A Tale Of Two Halves
Oct 31st, 2015 by 'holic
Arsenal arrived at Swansea with Joel Campbell selected to fill the gap on the right hand side of midfield, and the rest of the side as expected. In a slow opening quarter of an hour the only attempt on goal came when Nacho Monreal blasted one well wide of the target.
In the fifteenth minute Joel Campbell produced the first worthwhile effort on goal but just missed the target by inches from the edge of the box. Five minutes later Shelvey sent Gomis free but as the striker tried to go round Petr Cech the remarkable Hector Bellerin recovered to make a spectacular clearance.
Gomis was presented with a chance to make amends from a Montero cross but Cech was perfectly positioned to save at the far post. A series of niggly challenges from behind by the hosts were deemed not worthy of yellow cards by the incredibly patient Kevin Friend.
Set up by Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud hit a first-time drive just over as Arsenal sought to impose themselves on the game. Generally though the visitors were not retaining possession as well as we have come to expect. Montero was coming more and more into the game and looking a real handful on the left flank. We survived what appeared a decent penalty shout when the referee decided that Per Mertesacker had not deliberately elbowed the ball at a free-kick.
Campbell, keen to impress, tried his luck again but shot straight at Lukasz Fabianski. The heart in mouth moment we feared came just before halftime when Giroud went down in some discomfort after a clash of knees with Montero. Fortunately after a couple of minutes treatment he was able to continue. With our resources limited by injuries we certainly could not afford to lose the Frenchman at this moment.
Arsenal were quicker out of the blocks in the second-half forcing a couple of corners, and from the second Giroud got between defenders and directed a glorious header inside the far post. Swansea City 0-1 Arsenal. In the following minute Petr Cech’s concentration was tested and he made a fine diving save to deny Ki. The match was definitely warming up. Next to try his luck was Alexis, but his curling effort sailed high and wide.
Bellerin produced another astonishing clearance when an offside Ayew took aim at what appeared to be an empty net. In so doing he collided with the post but after treatment to his ribs he was able to continue.
Mr Friend’s patience finally snapped when Ki was impeding Giroud as Arsenal looked to make further progress. Just short of the hour Mesut Ozil, coming more and more into the game, started the move which ended in a Campbell cross just evading Giroud.
Swansea had a real let off when Shelvey slipped over, presenting a chance to Alexis, but the referee spared his blushes by awarding the Swansea man a free-kick. The Chilean might have done better when heading over the bar after Koscielny had headed a corner on to him.
The reprieve was only brief. Fabianski dropped the ball under pressure from Giroud and Koscielny and the latter turned to knock the ball in. Mr Friend pointed to the centre circle despite the protests of the Swansea players, staff, and crowd. Swansea City 0-2 Arsenal.
Five minutes later the points were secured when Ozil and Sanchez opened up the Swansea defence with ridiculous ease and the German’s cross was met at the far post by Campbell who produced a tidy finish for hiss first goal for Arsenal. Swansea City 0-3 Arsenal. It is difficult to explain how the midfield that misfired so completely in the opening forty-five minutes had taken complete control of the contest after the break. Let’s just be grateful they did.
Swansea attempted a response but Cech was again comfortably equal to Williams’ effort. Arsenal brought on Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs for Campbell and Giroud. A sensible precaution under the circumstances. Williams misery was complete when he finally saw yellow for hauling back Alexis. Fabianski had to make a smart double save from Ozil and Alexis. It was the last sight of Ozil, substituted by Alex Iwobi to a standing ovation from the once again magnificent travelling Gooners.
After the match Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny admitted we had not played well in the first half and that we turned it around in the second. Both emphasised the importance of the win. Sadly Manchester City’s late winner at home to Norwich means we are still in second place on goal difference but today we knocked a couple of goals off that advantage.
All in all a good day for the Arsenal, and the back-up ‘holic pound!
119 Responses to “A Tale Of Two Halves”
Get in.
Hector great in both halves, ‘holic. From the previous drink that just missed the cutoff:
What about Hector’s two miraculous recoveries in this game, one to deny Gomis in the first half when he ran back half the length of the field to toe poke it off him when he was rounding Cech, and the other when he slid across goal to prevent a Swansea goal that would have been ruled out anyway due to an offside call if I remember right. Big and miraculous injury escape for Hector on that one when he slid into the upright and clattered his hip bone. Ugly red marks and abrasions if not difficulty in walking tomorrow for him, I imagine. Near the start of the game Dean Sturridge on the commentary called him one of the best fullbacks in the Premier League and Hector went out and proved him absolutely correct.
bt8 from previous drinks – those two recoveries by Hector were world class, as much as I think that he struggled to contain Montero initially (I think Calum still has nightmares about that lad), he was once again outstanding today. Same goes to Nacho, he is steady and calm force in the back, show me better LB in the Prem..
He posts when he wants. He posts when he wants.
Goonerholic. He posts when he wants.
Hey ‘holic. Now having read your excellent match summary I see you gave plenty of prominence to Hector’s exploits. Congratulations on the ‘holic pound prime. 🙂
Managed to see much of the game on Setanta Ireland. Having watched BT Sport for the early KO, how do they select the muppet studio guests and especially the “co-commentators”??? Is a lobotomy a pre-requisite???
Impossible DG. To have a lobotomy you have to start with a brain.
Hehe 🙂
Time to get a stint on the Beeb site, yours come earlier and are much better. Perhaps you were eager to mention Iwobi too 😉
It’s great to see the players sticking it in after a slow start like they did against Watford. That’s how confidence builds up and now only 4 goals behind City.
A win, another clean sheet, Leicester third, United sluggish as ever, Liverpool on the up and Chelsea on the brink. What a great week-end!
There is a man employed bt BT who stands behind the camera and holds up a sign every few seconds that simply says “breathe.”
There is another man who is employed by BT on a permanent basis who ensures that those in front of the camera are capable of reading the aforementioned sign.
When I watch BT the standard is so low that I actively look forwards to the contributions of Glenn Hoddle.
He can barely speak English and talks a lot of pony but he does try to make comments based on the football match he is watching. The rest of them sound like they have the words fed into their mouths from a pre-programmed script. It’s like Fifa commentary. Except with Michael Owen.
*weeps softly*
Anyhoo.
We won. Another 3-0. Fantastic stuff!
Goal differential on the up.
First 6 games: 5 for and 5 against.
Last 5 games: 16 for and 3 against.
Just keep the same number of points as Man City and keep this trend going and we are near shoo-ins to win the league.
More numbers:
We are now joint leaders for fewest goals conceded in the league. Credit is due to our back six and to Petr Cech in particular.
Congrats on the pound, Holic !
Streams all failed or demanded accounts be created so I resorted to Player – audio only. Blimey, that’s a hard way to get through a game these days.
Thanks for the account – i’ve seen nothing at all so far, so cannot comment other than to say that 0-3 is a terrific result. My pessimism clearly paid off !
One other thing to say in the light of Joel Campbell’s contribution – a goal on his first Premier League start – and that is, Theo AHHTTT !!!
There, that should ensure a lively bar for you ! 🙂
I tolds ya it’ll be 3-0 back in the previous drinks!! (See post#24)
Yeashhhhhhh!!!!!
UP THE ARSE!
😀
..and F Moaninho!
Trev. Here is some more fuel for your fire:
Joel Campbell is now at 50% of Theo’s Premier League goal scoring total for the entire season. Olivier Giroud of course is at 300% of Theo’s total but he has had more minutes than Theo. Oh wait, he hasn’t!
Shouldn’t kick a man while he is down injured, I suppose though.
Thanks for an excellent match report, Guvna, and congratulations on the back-up pound. Good work both.
Like Trev, I was reduced to listening to proceedings on .com though with a lifetime of listening to live radio broadcasts of games i didn’t find it too bad and certainly found it a lot more relaxing than a stop-start dodgy stream.
Another excellent three points. Can’t wait to see the action and Joel’s first goal for the Arsenal. Sounds like several players had excellent second halves. Surely we must be the early match on Sky Sports tonight?
WDYG
My only eye witness account comes from an anti- Wenger mate who thinks Mourinho would bring us the title. He said we were very lucky to be 0-0 at half time. You can’t please everyone but from the reports I’ve read and heard we outlasted them and although they’ve enjoyed huge luck against us, this was a big win today
Pity Citeh got the win
Evening one and all. I’ve not seen any of the game or heard any commentaries so your match report was very welcome. M
Any 3-0 away win can never be sniffed at. I will look forward to the highlights later. An excellent 3 points and 3 more than Maureen and CSKA Fulham. Great stuff.
Bring on The Germans.
Kos has now scored in two straight Premier League games. How much longer until they start calling him the new Jamie Vardy? 😉
TTG,
I hope you gave your mate an appropriate response.
We can see how Mourinho would bring us the title. Not. Just for once he is having to work on and rebuild a team, rather than inheriting one full of big stars all set to go.
He was a bit part player at Barcelona, hence the ‘translator’ tag. At Chelsea, first time round, he inherited the core of his squad from Ranieri, went to Inter Milan when they were stuffed with top international experience, and from there to Real Madrid who, after a couple of seasons, couldn’t get him out the door fast enough.
Please tell your mate not to compare Arsene Wenger to such a specialist in arrogant, spoilt-bratish buffoonery ( the most polite summary I’ve ever managed), as our manager builds his own squads, sometimes with almost impossible financial restrictions and keeps them at a level which is already proving way beyond Mourinho.
Then tell your mate that Mourinho is a vile, spoilt, snivelling little turd.
That is all.
Thanks for the report boss; I shall compare it with what I hear from pundits on MoTD. Thanks also for the preview, which I apologise for not acknowledging earlier. Finally – thanks for the link, in the preview, to the very reassuring podcast. I had almost allowed myself to be convinced that “it” really was simple.
COYG
88: How many minutes Giroud has taken between scoring for Arsenal this season.
251: How many minutes it has taken Walcott between scores.
Good thing Giroud turned out not to be injured today.
bt8 – i was only joking about Theo.
Do you realise what you’re getting into ? 😉
Minutes between Wayne Rooney goals this season – 405. That figure will have gone up today as ManYoo failed to score for the fourth game running. 🙂
Great win arsenal.
Bellerin … Wow. That boy is near superhuman.
Happy for JC.
Happy for AW ….
Trev
No need to worry I have no illusions about the relative merits of the two men. There is apparently a group in the East Stand who are hugely anti- Wenger. This guy and several of his friends go to all the away games and were got at by the very negative views of several people last year. Every time we meet we argue about the merits of Wenger. He takes the view ( you’ve heard it before ) that Wenger has taken us as far as he can. I point out to him that nobody on earth with the resources given to Wenger could do better and I genuinely mean that. These Wenger out merchants will change their tune when we hit the top ( it almost happened today) and then have another slump if Wenger doesn’t make big signings in the January window.
Frankly I think part of it is that these morons haven’t ever known another Arsenal manager and harbour thoughts that it will be fun when someone takes over who will do things differently.
We will only appreciate the man’s greatness when he is gone even if from time to time he frustrates us. I dread the day that he leaves .
As for Mourinho I think he is writing one of the longest suicide notes in history. Today’s non- interview was cringingly embarrassing and illustrated a man under stress much of which is of his own making. Arsenal is a football club not a Circus.
Great drink TTG, and an even more fantastic result for the Arse. 3-0 away at Swansea is a top, top result.
RE: the whole Wenger/Mourinho debate. There was a really interesting article by Richard Williams in The Guardian yesterday, the gist of which was critiquing the Twattish One. I was drawn though to one of the comments underneath the article though which articulated my feelings on the Wenger v Mourinho debate better than I possibly could. Quoted verbatim from ‘Ranga’!:
“I’m amused by how people think Mourinho is better than Wenger. In Statistics, there exists this concept of effect modification and confounding. Adjust for the dimensions that Wenger and Mourinho have to work with and Arsene Wenger will wipe the floor with Mourinho. I say this confidently. Over the past 12 years, I challenge you to adjust for spending per year, investment into academies, transfer budgets given, injuries faced, wage budget and player departures and media bias towards the manager leading to scrutiny. All of these are quantifiable and measurable. Run a regression model. Conclusion: It takes MEGA bucks to beat Arsene Wenger. This is a fact. Backed up by statistical significance of these variables. On top of that comes the persona. I’m not even referring to persona, ethics and morality when comparing Wenger to Mourinho. I’m just talking numbers. Guess what, that ass-hat knows this. It makes him cringe and feel small. You can see the results of this realization, every single day in how he behaves and treats people around him. Arsene Wenger will be a mammoth figure, having contributed to football and player development and the betterment of a club. Mourinho will vanish as just another intellectual midget who knew he was just smart enough to realize the above fact.”
Excellent early report ‘holic. Congrats.
Strange game though. I thought all my fears about a COcup reaction were coming true in half 1. We could have been at least two down with the Per handling (very clear on TV Trev 😉 ) and Gomis deciding to be Messi but just being messy. Maybe 3 down on the balance of play.
Then Half 2 and there was no swan on the line for Ollie’s opener and Friend was friendly indeed to Kos. Most other refs see keepers as a protected species and would have blown before Flappy hit the ground. So two up and the third seemed inevitable.
Excellent goal for JC, although he looked a waste of space for most of the game, couldn’t hold the ball or pass it. And another excellent assist from Mesut even if he was probably aiming for OG(?) in the middle. As for Alexis I’m still looking for him, not his best by a long long shot.
But Belle had the strangest game of all, imo. He couldn’t get near Montero at times but still managed to pop up in the unlikeliest places, running onto a through ball in the CF position one minutes and clearing off his own line the next. Are we sure he’s not a vampire? He moves that fast at times.
Next, a point midweek would do nicely. And then the LW Filth…
Oskar
Ttg.
Damn. Well said.
Jameson on the bar for ya.
Yes, yes i know. Jameson is not “world class.”
But thats what i drink. ?
Cheers.
Gregoire right on the money. To paraphrase Mourinho in Mourning . He’s now the “specialist” in come from the front losses !
Thanks for the kind comments.
TTG, I can see why your mate viewed things that way, and why Swansea fans may be a bit miffed with the referee today. I always gauge incidents by how I would have reacted if they happened at the other end. I would have expected a penalty for Mertesacker’s elbow, and I would have wanted a free-kick for Giroud’s contact with Fabianski for the second goal (Koscielny had eyes only for the ball and Fabianski was ‘helped’ into him by Giroud).
At the end of the day though they wasted a golden opportunity (Gomis) when they were the better side and once the midfield got going after the break we were different class and well worth the win.
Come to think of it Oskar, Bellerin does look a bit like a vampire. Did he reveal himself a bit too much due to Halloween or was it just coincidence?
Trev, Theo convinced Wenger these last few months and that is good enough for me. He led the line and brought us to a tie for first position in the league before his injury. His goal scoring statistics are creditable but tell far from the whole story of his contribution to the club this season, and as you point out he has scored far more than Rooney or a series of other media darlings except Jamie Vardy. Come on back Theo, we need you. 😀
Oskar @29, I have to take issue with your comment,
“Excellent goal for JC, although he looked a waste of space for most of the game, couldn’t hold the ball or pass it.”
This despite my doubts about him hitherto.
NZ TV must give you very different pictures to lead you to have that opinion.
The lad worked his socks off going forward and coming back, made some critical blocks and interceptions, made a couple of good dribbling runs into the box, laid off some nice balls in attacking positions and had a couple of decent shots before he scored.
I think he has cemented his starting position against the neighbours if not Bayern.
Do you have “Specsavers” in NZ?
Don’t just take my word for it either:
“Joel Campbell took his goal really well and he is still a young player who had to wait for his chance,” the Gunners boss said.
“He’s adapted to Europe, been in a few leagues and come back and I like his team spirit and work rate.
“To show he can be on the end of things as well gives him a chance.”
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/473221/Arsenal-News-Wenger-hails-Joel-Campbell-after-Swansea-win
Oskar, bath,
Just seen the extended highlights on Sky and was about to come and say what Bath has already said.
I thought Campbell put in a very decent shift, tracked back well to help Bellerin and took his goal very calmly.
He also, to date, has a one goal per game scoring rate.
Much better than Theo. 😆
And highlighted by Jenas (I know!) on MotD for an excellent performance bath.
He wasn’t my man of the match, but he wasn’t far away…
bla bloop
oop de doop
back from fireworks display
ran into an oul flame
feck off ya wannabe multiple posters
😉
bring me pineapples
and etc and so ons
or
you’ll know the reason fuckin why
buncha daisies
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
.
.
.
GOD LOVES THE ARSENAL !
HE DO !
HE LOVES THE ARSENAL
see above
Nice early report again H – in another era you would have been a shoe in for a job on the Evening News Saturday pink football edition 🙂
Rode our luck a bit in the first half but a much improved second half gave us a deserved victory. Everyone contributed in their own way and an encouraging performance from Joel Campbell – certainly deserves another crack at RM whilst there is little alternative.
Also, I believe Campbell added to our fluidity in attack in a way that AOC or Walcott sometimes don’t, holding the ball up and spreading it around with some space creating passes.
32
i. didnt give ye kind comments ‘hol
ye have been consistently consistent 🙂
ye have collected
the weirdest super collection
of uber smart uber gooners
[OTHER SITES ARE AVAILABLE]
pffffftttttt
does anyone really still read blogs
(hides from terry ARSENAL wogan )
feckin paddys
at it again
fulla feckin shite
NO NEED
.
real life
4’6″
club foot
club ears
cluB footbaL arsenaL
*rrrrrrrggg*
.
not really
6′ of goodlooks
apparently
but what does michelle pfeiffer know
– i think she drinks-
‘hol
look within
🙂
you could not manufacture
this place
‘ceptin ye did
ya feckin nut
please keep the bar open
and
please keep the bar open
🙂
always a star
(hates justified praisifying)
FUCK OFF ALL O YE
*raspberries*
and
NO
dr smartarse Z
i wasn’t drinking
i still am
.
*flicks dino on the forehead*
“messing wi the grownups”
lonely 🙁
where’s a night time grumpy oskar
when ye need him
i like oskar
a smart soldier
who
makes this place interesting
slainte fella
love de know yer music club stories
from yesteryear
50s 60s wasnt it?
have ye or are ye gonna
write a book
****SAME GOES FOR SEVERAL HERE****
****FRONT AND CENTRE , ‘HOLIC******
I sometimes wonder whether some of you guys watch the same game as me. In truth I didn’t mean to damn young JC, especially as his goal was well taken and, having had few opportunities to date, he could improve with a decent run in the team (my argument about Theo when he was condemned by many as a hopeless defender and a flatterer to deceive in his primary role previously). But while I saw a lot of enthusiasm and effort from JC while watching him closely today, I also saw a heap of stuff that wasn’t working for him (and us). Give him more chances while we’re short of fit wingers by all means, but I thought he was overrated in the WC on the basis of a single game against Uruguay(?), and nothing I’ve seen of him in an Emirates shirt since has encouraged me to believe he’s quite the standard we need.
Let’s hope I was wrong … it has been known! 😀
Oskar
mother o fuck
you must have bodies directed here
from other sites
‘hol
[DISCLAIMER]
i should say that the views
of the drinkers are
in many cases
their own
or others
and in no way
is tonight representative
of that vagueness
oskar :))
how are ya , chief?
HALF TON
Oskar
I was not overly impressed with KC either.
Seemed to slow things down a fair bit. But he did help out Bellerin with montero. Amd he took his goal really well. Jad A few really optimistic chances. I like the look of him tho.
Not to worry. Hell do better.
oskar
ye know i’m serious
ye said , maybe a few years ago
ye ran a club or two
‘holic has my email address
and
if i can just stop being annoying
in general here
he could pass it on to you
genuinely interested
I cannot believe how fast Hector is. It is worth watching this over and over. Like Superman, faster than a steaming locomotive.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/swansea-vs-arsenal/omg-gomis-should-ve-scored-bellerin-with-great-pace-to-clear.html
i am sure
i said this before
fuckin sorry
But
why the fuckin fuck does every dj
call a song or a tune
A TRACK
jeeeeezzzzzzzzzzz usssssssssssssss
track ?
.
Toto have tracks
tracks ?
twats
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwkZrj2VT4
The players are in the zone at the moment. Long may it continue.
I thought that once we had weathered the storm we had the measure of them. them being too reliant on gomis also helped. gomis was easily handled by our center halves.
the swans propensity to get into good areas of the pitch and then pull the ball back for a safer pass helped us to recoup at times.
if campbell gets on the same wavelength as ozil, alexis he can be a real handful.
we need our injured back quick if we are going to give it a real go this time.
Enjoyable as it was to watch our second half filleting of the Swans, the latest instalment of the Mickey Mousinho comedy show is utterly hilarious. The reptilian one’s odious personality in triumph has been transformed into a pathetic paranoid wretch. The men in white coats must be on their way.
The fantastic run in the league continues. The most heartening aspect of this team is the maturity with which they are playing .. They don’t get ruffled by a bad patch of 15-20 minutes in a match. This trait has been developing since last season and it is a very good sign indeed. No matter how good a team you are, there is hardly ever going to be a game where you dominate the entire 90minutes. Certainly not in the premier league. The ‘youth project’ teams of Wenger used to blow away teams when they were in good rhythm but their immaturity showed up a lot of the times when they couldn’t get going. That made it easier for opposition teams to plan against us despite of the individual talent and flair of those good albeit immature players.
Speaking of the game itself, Joel Campbell played well for his first start in a league game. Like a lot of people had remarked after the league cup game, he immediately looked better when playing alongside first team regulars. A good run in the team for him could unearth a useful player for the squad especially given the injury proneness of the Ox and Ramsey to a lesser extent.
The Spanish fullbacks are vital contributers to the way we play and they again had a very good game. The fact that Alexis had a bit of an off day might just mean that Bayern are in for an Alexis attack…
Two good results in the next two games would make this team even more confident in their potential and confidence is a vital ingredient in title winning teams.
Homer
Many thanks mate. Jameson will do fine. A tipple I enjoy though I’m a Bushmills man if pushed. But it doesn’t take much to push me to Jamesons. In fact I slide over to it….and away from it ….with relative ease?
Interesting that the Mourinho / Wenger thing is attracting such great headlines and some informed comment from the better journos.Sustainability is the key. Can you establish foundations firm enough that you can build consistency year on year? The travails of Citeh ( to a lesser extent) and United , Liverpool and now Chavski show that consistency, which is mocked as the fourth place trophy is much more elusive than many would have you believe. How I would laugh ( and probably cry a bit) if Wenger pulled it off this year. A Premier League winner when so many doubted. I didn’t expect him to comment on Jose. But can you imagine it around the other way? A supposedly supportive comment containing a fierce barb. That’s the way he operates. You can’t buy class Chavski though no team have tried harder to do so. But at the end of the day as they say in football that’s the whole point.
Nice one, ‘Holic, as ever.
With Campbell we are almost playing 4-4-2 again when attacking. He gives us something different and more direct. And defenders are less used to a left-footer coming in from the right than a right footer coming in from the left.
The same weekend that the Specialist in being a complete Cunt bucket gets another 100 articles written on how he’s not so special anymore also sees a Fat Sam side taken to the cleaners live – Hopefully the two odious Twats will skip merrily away hand in hand never to be seen or more importantly heard from again 🙂
As for JC he was always going to look better with better players around him as does any player – Not sure he will ever be a world better but let’s give him a chance and besides with a work rate like he shows he will always be a useful addition in some games, He reminded me a little of Parlour but with a touch more threat and that’s no bad thing.
Up The Arse,
Theo may not have scored as much as Olivier but he’s the main reason Arsenal’s attack has been good to watch this season. His movements and runs upfront provide Mesut and Santi good passing opportunities and Aaron and Alexis great spaces to exploit for goals. I would make him the starter and bring Olivier in later to exploit defenses already run ragged chasing Theo around over the course of the game.
I also believe it’s just a matter of time before Theo begins to convert the chances he’s making with his movement and runs. No one can argue he hasn’t had the chances, only that he’s not taken enough of them, so far, and I believe he will, soon. It’s only people who don’t know a lot about attacking play in football who will criticize Theo’s play this season, so far. I believe he’s the best center forward Arsenal has on current form.
Cheers for the report H and well in with the pound.
Indeed a tale of two halves, I thought they looked the better team in the first half, although apart from the Gomis one on one I was never overly concerned. We couldn’t really find any rhythm in our play which I suppose could also be explained by the refs refusal to show a card for the consistant tackles from behind from the Swansea midfielder and back line. I think he evened that out by not pointing to the spot after the BFG raised his elbow, but that happened so fast that I don’t believe he saw it, I know I didn’t until the replay.
On our second half performance we deserved the win, OG’s goal was class movement (slingshoting off Per’s shirt) and finishing, I saw nothing wrong with our second, that was all down to Flapplesworth, he should of punched it, he didn’t, instead trying to catch it, he knew he’d fucked up because of the way he grabbed Kos around the shoulders, the guy on the line should of made an effort to stop it, but didn’t, play to the whistle apparantly not such a thing in the Valleys. Our third was classic Wengerball, the defence passed to death and a clinical finish, taken really well by our debutant.
Once again Ozil and Santi were magic, Bellerin superb effort, and I thought that Campbell did really well for a first outing in the PL. I’m not going to get carried away, but he looked a lot better then I expected and maybe with a run in the team, surrounded by better players, he may improve. The attitude seems to be right and I loved the way he worked hard to retrive the ball.
Another three points, another three goals, another clean sheet. What’s not to like!?
UTA.
bt8 @ 55.
Superman was, according to the original annimation, faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and as icing on the cake, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Bellerin is good too, though.
Well done Arsenal Ladies;
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34682637
H2H. Unlike Superman, Hector is faster than a steaming locomotive. 😉
Hector may not have icing but possibly has vampire-like ice in his veins.
H2H: the lovely Hector first took my eye in the Ems Cup last season.I followed his fortunes following his elevation to the first team and now have his name on the back of my current shirt and his poster is on the wall of my kitchen!
It’s a long time since an Arsenal player has made such an impression on me. I did have a brief flirtation with Nasri but not since Dennis has a player grabbed me so with his talent. Yes, his defensive skills still need some improvement but his attacking play, his speed and work ethic measure up to the best in the business. We must remember he is only just 20 and the best is yet to come. He is class personified and we are very lucky to have him in the team. Hands off Barca, he is ours.
Delia,
be careful now. The lovely Hector has taken your eye, very clearly your heart and will have the shirt off your back before you know it !
I would recommend you take steps to protect the rest of your vital organs before it is too late !
And not WE but YOU, dear lady, must remember he is only 20.
I admire your pluck but fear serious damage could result if you do not curtail your wild flights of fancy.
I have informed Matron.
She sees all 😉
Unsurprisingly Hector the Hero has made Garth Crooks’ (I Know) Team of the Week and so has Joel Campbell:
“I saw this lad to play for Costa Rica in the World Cup and he did well. I couldn’t understand why Arsene Wenger hadn’t given him a run of games to prove himself in the Premier League. He’s had the fleeting appearance here and there but nothing substantial. He seems to be a natural finisher, composed on the ball and not overawed by the occasion.
For Arsene Wenger to announce to the world, ‘it’s now or never’ for Campbell, shows an overwhelming scepticism from the Arsenal manager. Perhaps after such an impressive performance against the Swans, Wenger might ignore the overtures from some of his more established stars, some of whom appear physically fragile and who keep breaking down because of injury, and give Campbell an extended run. There is no reason why this arrangement could not work for Campbell and Wenger.”
Apologies cba, I didn’t spot your *46 immediately before my *47 (musta been posted while I was composing).
Not sure a book would be a good idea. Most of those I’d likely libel may be dead but few of them would be particularly well known anyway. And, apart from Paul Simon being in a car that rolled on our way to the Victoria Sporting Club after a gig, there was nothing noteworthy about the few ‘names’ we had.
Then again … you’d be astonished at the things we heard on the mic we set up in the girls’ loo. None too flattering for some I have to say!
Mr Holic, if you read this, cba would like you to send me his email address. And you may also send mine to him, noting I have recently changed my ISP to the kinect addy.
Cheers all.
Oskar
H2H nails it @68. It is 11 years since the ladies had a trophyless season. Another season and it’s ‘well done’ again. I’m very proud of them.
No big club should be without a women’s team. The fact that we have consistently put a big effort into ours is well worth more air time than it gets. As are the ladies who play for us.
We are Arsenal Football Club. The ‘Club’ bit should never be undervalued.
Is Hector becoming the new Bobby Pires? People are swooning all over the gaff.
How long till Blogs describes him as ‘dreamy’?
I assume H will keep his composure. Even when Hector’s next goal sees him perform a wild shirt-off celebration which sends the rest of the bar into delirium! (Hector, not Holic!)
cheers oskar
love a good anecdote
me own activity
created a few
unfortunately
i remember few
*phew*
and sorry ‘hol
know ye say sorry not needed
from friends
but
increasingly making a bigger mouth
of meself
see ye for a still top o the league
celebration
new year time
🙂
UP THE MIGHTY ARSENAL
And thanks for the contact ‘holic.
This could be the beginning of a … (something) 😀
Oskar
Trev: I appreciate your concern for my welfare, the problem is I have never grown up. In the “old days” it was posters of Danny Clapton, Derek Tapscott and Vic Groves. I like to think in my mature years that my taste has somewhat improved!
Oh 78 comments and no mention about Mesut/Santi and Laurent??? Well i am sure it is now taken for granted. The trio were magnificent and the 2 creative geniuses we have in the midfield is a joy to behold.
Bayern mid week is a double edge sword. If the team gives it their all then the the fatigue and injuries factor will come into picture. There is a small matter of the derby over the weekend and i just want us to win that than the bayern game. I do not foresee us beating bayern, yes it has been done and i am sure we can do it again but i rather see us win the derby because this is our best chance to win the league in a long time.
Can we win both the games? yes of course but the possibilities are less of us beating Bayern than that of a much improved defensively spurs. Rather see us rubbing it up kane’s face with a win than do the same at Neur/Vidal who have said we will show Arsenal. Now surprise me Arsenal again, i love it when you do so.
P.S- jose not being sacked is only because there is no one to replace him, Ancelotti/Hiddink only options which have already been tried by Roman.
Jose Mourinho is to be the subject of an individual legal claim from former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro in addition to the action she is bringing against the club for constructive dismissal, it can be revealed.
The Press Association are reporting that legal papers will be served on Mourinho this week as part of separate but connected claims against him and against the club.
————
Karma…..
😀
GSD, as Blogs himself pointed out recently, Hector does have excellent hair! Here’s some other reasons why he stands out:
1. Boyish good looks.
2. Did anyone mention his pace? Seems like the bar haven’t noticed that he’s fairly quick.
3. He is fortified with 5 vitamins and iron.
4. Comes with a money back guarantee.
5. Donates his old combs to an orphans’ charity.
Vinay, I think you are correct on Mesut, Santi and Laurent. The latter is one of the best central defenders in Europe at the moment and his quality and self belief (not to mention the support of his manager) have got him through the sticky patch at the beginning of his Arsenal career when the doubters had written him off as just another Squllacci. Our creative geniuses in midfield are completely taken for granted, until one or other has an off day, when the knives come out in an instant.
As to the forthcoming games, we have to simply take each one as it comes, hackneyed phrase though that is. We cannot have half an eye on the NLD while we are preparing for and playing Brian Munching or we will be battered.
I think that if we get anything from the game on Wednesday, this team will benefit from such self belief and confidence that tired muscles and sore bones will not affect us on Sunday and that self belief will carry us to the PL title in May.
Vinay: I am not sure the Bayern game has to be as taxing as many would seem to think. Why? Because a draw would actually suit both teams quite well as that would mean Bayern would still have the chance to secure top spot in the group by beating Olympiakos in the next game and because it would mean we would “only” have to win our two remaining games to go through and not worry about having to beat Olympiakos by two goals.
If we would somehow manage another win against BM then they will all of a sudden have lost the driving seat in the group to us and we would have top spot in the group in our hands, so the longer we can keep the score level the less adventurous Bayern are likely to be. They know what we can do on the counter and on set pieces and if we can make it to about 70-75 minutes with the score still at 0-0 then I’d argue that the smart money would be on the score to remain that way the rest of the game as well. I expect them to come flying out of the blocks to try and get an early lead but if we can play as well in defence as we did the last time then I don’t see a draw as an unlikely result at all.
Love you guys, ur banters makes my day anytime. Brian munching @ lars 83 is just unbelievable. Keep it up guys, and gunners for the title dis season.
Lars, i would love a draw to. I expect them to come hard at us as well. They have a hurt ego and they would want to massage it with a win in front of their fans. My worry is even we would want to prove them that we can do it again and in trying to do that, will we end up stretching ourselves too much.
I understand you cannot plan an effort, of course you need to put in your best but the concern is will that best effort be physically and mentally too taxing?? This is just my concern talking but deep down i want to beat the shit out of those loud mouthed cocky arrogant bunch.
Would like to see at least a draw in Munich; wins by Bayern and the Greeks on match day 4 would set up the possibility of Bayern and Olympiakos settling for a draw on match day 5 to eliminate AFC.
while i appreciate the nuances and fears as much as anyone, i want us to beat the tar out of munich (or, as we will now call them “brian munching”). that puts our qualification in our own hands, and no worries about game 5. 12 points will definitely get us through, 10 might even depending on what else happens (i haven’t run the numbers).
i expect it will be difficult, maybe we won’t do it, but i really want to see a positive team out there. i’m loving the nil drawn first halves, with a goal or three in the second, all a-cluster. i’d take one of those games (watford, swansea) in a heartbeat…or even going up as against manure and winning running away.
WE CAN DO IT!
One Nil To The Arsenal… That’s our score!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixr2TiF2Ahg
😀
not an arsenal story, but if more football players could be as grounded and real as this guy, it’d be a hell of a lot more fun to watch.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/13928506.Ikechi_Anya_is_a_little_different_to_most_Premier_League_players/
I’d rather lose than win for Mourinho, too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p036wqry
A suggestion in the story that it could be Eden Hazard?
Re: BB @80. “It can be revealed.”
Bring on more of the burlesque. 😀
Park the bus in Munich, keep them out or catch them on the counter. A point is all we should aim for. Be too ambitious and it’s us could be caught out. Then leave Bayern to beat Olympiakos and it’s in our hands to qualify by winning our last two. Simples. 😀
Oskar
Speaking of burlesque, sooner or later somebody is bound to write an opera about Jose Mourinho and Dr. Eva. I nominate Tabs to do the libretto.
The clock is ticking for The Specious One…
Oskar
Tick Tick
Abramovich sits in front of TV watching Mourinho answer a reporter’s question.
Mourinho: “No Comment.”
“No Comment” clearly will be one of the songs in the libretto …
Watch Mike Dean after Dembele scores tonight. Arms in the air just like the celebration of Saha’s goal in the first 5-2 game. Not a natural reaction from a referee in my view
He was waving play on due to Clark trying, but failing, to bundle over Dembele.
Did look wierd though.
Puts it on a plate for…..
ttg, dean’s bent, i’m sure of it. no evidence but mine eyes via the television, but nearly certain. either that, or very, very stupid, to let his prejudices affect his job.
another song, bt8b: “don’t cry for me western london”.
punts an upfield cross, a la coquelin.
ooooh, and it bounces over courtois’s head! outstanding plating, h2h. cheers.
I do kind of feel sorry for the “specialist in whining”. Am I wrong for feeling that way. Hmmm…..
SAG – Yes. Very.
for delia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tEjFW70zck
@Trev lol?
Good one scruz. 🙂
“No Comment” to the “tune” (?) of “No Survivors”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQMos9K5Eg
lol, that might work, bt. well in 🙂
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34705246
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium ban with immediate effect and also fined £40,000 by the Football Association.
————
Keep it coming …..!!
😀
This is a site probably everybody knows about apart from me. I just found it last week. Wonderful nostalgia.
https://arsenalonetwofive.wordpress.com
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3300867/Mike-Dean-Did-referee-celebrate-Tottenham-s-opening-strike-against-Aston-Villa.html
———
With apologies for the source.
Re: Cynic @109. Great link. Just wondering about the lack of captions in the newer photographs. Has the newer technology somehow made captions obsolete, or is it just lack of diligent captioning by the newer generations? Multiple thanks to the old folks for their diligence in captioning those older photos!!
Fabregas leading the anti-Mourinho revolt? No, only co-leader with Hazard, and a few others.
112 refers to this story: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34708509
He didn’t deny that Chelsea are revolting.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34708509
😉
bt, how can *anyone* deny chelsea are revolting?
that’s like someone saying they feel pity for the moaning ho.
then again, is anyone *really* surprised (except, perhaps, neil ashton)?
http://www.espnfc.us/arsenal/story/2695701/arsenal-duo-mesut-ozil-santi-cazorla-top-europe-midfielders
bt8b – There’s a fantastic photo on that site of the 1968 League Cup final and the mud bath that was Wemberlee.
https://arsenalonetwofive.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/082-1969-03-15-mee_0213.jpg
Evening all. Have a rose-tinted preview. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>