The Proverbial Game Of Two Halves
Aug 5th, 2016 by 'holic
For the first leg of a Scandinavian weekend for the Gunners we warmed up for Sunday’s match against Manchester City with a match against Norway’s Viking in Stavanger. It would prove to be a very different two halves of football.
We missed an early opportunity to lead when Mathieu Debuchy went to ground somewhat theatrically after having his arm tugged. From the spot Santi Cazorla saw Austbe claw his effort to safety.
Chances were exchanged as both sides looked to go forward with pace and close opponents down all over the pitch. Mohamed Elneny impressed and almost scored the opener with an unmarked header from a corner. This ploy did eventually lead to the visitors taking charge of the contest when Joel Campbell got the final touch to another fine header by the Egyptian.
Viking 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal made two changes at half-time bringing on Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi for Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The hosts made a number of changes and were about to find themselves over-run as their young substitutes were no match for a hungry Arsenal squad.
A couple of minutes into the second-half Theo Walcott teed up Cazorla for a volley that flashed wide of the post. It was a sighter, and a couple of minutes later Santi drilled a drive in from the edge of the box with Walcott again providing the assist.
Viking 0-2 Arsenal
Three minutes later Walcott got his first goal of pre-season when he applied a fine finishing touch to Joel Campbell’s pass. Hopefully this gives him a much-needed boost in form and confidence.
Viking 0-3 Arsenal
With less than ten minutes of the half gone it was four. Cazorla freed Campbell and his cross was bundled past his own ‘keeper by the unfortunate Haukas.
Viking 0-4 Arsenal
As the hour mark approached we had a fourth goal in nine minutes. Campbell provided the spectacular finish off the crossbar after another Cazorla inspired attack.
Viking 0-5 Arsenal
We made a raft of changes during the following minutes but the rout continued when Gedion Zelalem and Cazorla set up Iwobi for number six at the far post.
Viking 0-6 Arsenal
Santi’s eventful evening saw him booked for a blatant trip with eleven minutes remaining. A minute later Reine-Adelaide played a fine pass inside the full-back for Iwobi to place one in off the far post.
Viking 0-7 Arsenal
Second-half substitute Pedersen blazed over as Viking threatened a consolation on a rare break. At the other end Chuba Akpom from point blank range presented a double save opportunity to the ‘keeper. A minute later he did find a finish when Hector Bellerin’s shot was parried by the recently introduced third goalkeeper.
Viking 0-8 Arsenal
The final whistle on ninety minutes spared the bewildered hosts further damage. Quite what Arsenal will have got out of the match, or more accurately the second-half, is anyones guess. Match fitness has been gained, and a little confidence for one or two, hopefully. The answer is probably going to be seen on Sunday when we will have a direct comparison with where City are a week before the Premier League season kicks off.
At the end of the day you can only beat what is in front of you, and we did that most emphatically. We can also draw a positive from the performances of Elneny, Cazorla, and Campbell. Are we really considering letting Joel go?
Have a good one, ‘holics.
73 Responses to “The Proverbial Game Of Two Halves”
8-0.
See, we don’t need any more stri…oh damnit!
http://tinyurl.com/z5u6drg
Going to come in handy against Moaninho…
😀
Nah, BB.
For that cretin, its a wooden stake thru the heart. Assuming there is one.
Cool pic tho.
That was a quick report! 🙂
I am with ‘Holic. If we are to keep Theo and Ox and let Joel go then I think the conclusion would be it is not just performance and on-field dedication and attitude but something else (may be off-field issues) contributing to that decision.
Campbell has bulked up considerably, it is much harder now to get him off the ball and his positional play, technique with ball on his feet and the movement and passes have been consistently of high standard in the pre-season. Today on top of two goals and two assists he had another terrific through ball to Theo who in a better shape would have easily scored.
Thanks, H. Another great report.
Today was a bit too easy for the lads really. They dominated the game from the off and were never extended. It was a great training session with hardly any pressure and as such no concrete conclusions can be drawn from the game.
Cazorla, Iwobi, El Nenny,Campbell and maybe Bielik will feel hard done by if they don’t make the match day squad for the Liverpool game. They have proven themselves in the past few games and have given AW areal challenge. Who can say what team will face Liverpool next week?
I really do think that we have the best midfield in Europe(stop laughing back there). Honestly the only thing lacking is an experienced option/complement to Giroud and a seasoned defender that can help bring up our prodigiously talented young Centre Backs.
To think that the gaffer has to choose from Theo, Campbell, Iwobi, Ox, Sanchez and maybe Gnabry and Rambo! I would be very surprised if AW ever considered approaching Mahrez.
Dr F, Campbell has always had superb technique. His major issue has been decision making and lack of confidence. I agree that he has bulked up. Come to think of it, the team as a whole seems to be bigger. It seems that there is greater emphasis on physicality in the squad as a whole .
It does seem as if the gaffer is reverting to the style of play pre Fabregas. Direct counter attacking football and increased phsyicality coupled with extremely technical play. We could be in for one heck of a season.
I agree with Doc and Solid re Campbell. I definitely think he has something, and hasn’t been given a fair crack. I also want to see Gnabry, Adelaide, Chris Willock & probably Zelalem given chances in the league this coming season, despite their ages. It’s all very well hearing about these outrageously talented youngsters, but they need to learn to fly.
Evening H
Hope all well in your neck of the woods.
Can anybody enlighten me to the point of playing this Game. ?
What possible benefit can be gained by this farce.
Praising certain players in this ‘ training ‘ exercise is completely lost on me.
You can learn little from these games, but its all part of pre-season, and certainly better than the training ground.
You are limbering up nicely for the new season yourself Guvna.
Fitness and familiarity are the key at this stage of the season Clive and playing even opposition like this is better than yet another session on the training ground. Tonight’s match adds the bonus of a morale enhancing run out for some of our youngsters and fringe players.
If we sell Joel and keep Feo then we are barmy.
Add an effective striker and an experienced CB and we are right in there.
Anyone forming conclusions about our youngsters and bench players from this kind of game knows as much about football as Moaninho knows about ethics.*
*What little he does know he gets from watching TOWIE. 😉
If A – X > B – X
Even if Y >> X
Still A – Y > B – Y
And A > B
Arithmetic that ten year olds learn.
Best of luck to Mo Farah in Rio. 🙂
Can’t knock today’s result but I admire the hutzpah of those who can.
But how many 10-year-olds rely on Goonerholic for their maths, Dr F?
What I’d like to know is … If a < x < b and c < y < d, is x < y?
…and which is correct … a < c or b < c?
But more importantly is 18yo Highland Park > 16yo Lagavulin?
(Btw, this is not 10yo math)
Thanks for the report H. I have an uneasy feeling we may play Liverpool with either Bieliik or Holding at CB….and then sign Johnny Evans
If you (monetarily) value striker A more (less) than striker B, than it doesn’t matter by how much their market value X is increased – it would always be more worthwhile to buy striker A (B).
Seems like a statement that even 3 year olds know, Dr. Faustus. 10 year old seems a good age to learn to model it mathematically.
Well after that game, it’s been a long time coming but that’s for the fucking Danelaw*.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQkdNXzsE9Y
*OK so technically that’s not much to do with Norway but it’s all Vikings so same difference.
maths , eh ‘hol ?
ye can’t fool me – i see what yer at
sexing things up to attract a little bit the ladies to the bar ?
hound dog !
Afternoon all,
I have to admit Cynic I had to resist the strong urge to have a Viking pun headline.
More like old dog, me, cba 🙂
Well resisted, ‘holic. 😉
West Ham sign Ayew from Swansea.
Not a bad signing but they are spending a lot of cash not having figured out how much income they will actually get in the new stadium.
Will they need to pay with an IOU?
well ‘holic
ye know what they say ….. !
?
.
.
nope
me neither
.
fuckin’ korsakoff’s
Signed anyone yet? didn’t think so. Same old Wenger stubborn as fuck. Happy weekend folks..
Hoping not to see a French kiss today when the USA women take on France at the Olympics. On the other hand, I could probably handle it. ???????????????????????????
“pssssst”
.
“pssssssssssst , ‘holic ”
.
“think you have a glug glug Ooooooohaaaaaaahhhhh merchant at the quarter ton”
.
seemed like such a good fella too
?
Maths eh ?
yyur
yyub
icur
yy4me
Answers to cba,
whose name is an algebraic expression all on its own, by the way. ?
many’s a good soul we’ve lost to that particular lifestyle
.
troubling
Double double toil and trouble
Lifestyle, my arse.?
and again with the doubles
.
INTERVENTION!!!!!!
Probably calls for a nurse cba but she hasn’t been seen in months. I promise to calm down to help settle the nerves though. Maybe they will transfer me to another section. Whoops!! Sorry, I know gratuitous use of the word “transfer” around here is or should be verboten. Calming down now.
good lad
.
decorum
always been my middle name
.
GOD BLESS ALL HERE !
howdy trev
how art thee ?
Declan O’Rum?? Is that you? 🙂
no
if that’s a funny name
it’s not very good
so
before ye bar me
YER NAFFIN BUTTA F…. …. …………
ps
i wouldn’t get all uppity bout the mess under an a bit over the pool table neeva
.
Kindest Regards
C.Bartholomew Arsed
Former Gentleman of This Parish
2 Ys U R
2 Ys. U B
I C U R
2 Ys. 4 Me
?
Howdy doody cba,
I was going to have a brain transplant ..
But then I changed my mind ?
the mighty trev
wish i could talk but
‘holic has thrown a massive hissy fit
he wants me to wear the lamé pantsuit
he bought me
but he knows it makes my ankles look big
but we have this function to go to
and he’s leaning on me
so i really don’t know
.
BIG ARSENAL BULLY !
.
my favourite
(in between beatings from the Holicmaster)
.
I have two tenners , 3 twentys, 4 fives and seven 20p in my right pocket
I have two fivers and ten bob in me left pocket .
.
What have I got ?
.
.
.
.
.
.
SOMEONE ELSE’S TROUSERS ON !
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
??
sort yer bouncers out ‘hol
tucking into a new
double distilled batch
.
Excellent interview with Lauren in the next Gooner. He says some stuff that fair brings a tear to the eye.
Especially if you’re a Portsmouth fan 😉
Bed toime! (as Pam Ayres would say)
The chickens of unreasonable demands coming home to roost.
http://news.arseblog.com/2016/08/walcotts-wide-wishes-shot-down-by-wenger/
Theo only has himself to blame with his demands to play centrally. His forte was always outflanking defenders with speed and positioning and providing assists, or cutting in and scoring himself.
As for his ‘poor defending’ I just don’t buy it. There’s precious little difference between his defending and that of Alexis or Özil who are rarely if ever criticised. No, his play can’t be compared to either currently, but it might come a lot closer if he was allowed equal license to do what he does best.
The best thing for Theo would be to move on to a club where he’ll get more game time. He’s still relatively young and would surely be an attractive make-weight in the right deal.
The chickens may be circling, Dr F, but it’s the cows coming home to roost. Someone needs to get our transfer idioms sorted.
‘The Chickens of Unreasonable Demands’
Isn’t that the name of the house band H? ?
I really don’t know why this is a big deal now.
Anyone would think it’s because he is a payer who is the new whipping boy and there’s fuck all else to talk about.
Did Viking mistake it for a game of proverbs?
*player
Typos R Us
It is really frustrating that we don’t have a full squad with the needed reinforcements yet again at beginning of the season … here we are pondering on wether to start Alexis or Theo as the striker ; feel e like pulling your hair out … groundhog day anyone !!!
Mourinho again fallen out with Juan Mata, allegedly, with Mata having to be held back from lumping him by the coaching staff.
Now … would you go in for him as a possible Santi/Jack/Ramsey replacement?
Would you?
We had 4 sitters , 2 of them with empty goals, and City is 1-0 ahead thanks to a cool finish from Aguero.
Excellent finish by Iwobi after some good work by Theo.
Elneny is bossing the midfield. Should really start for us against Liverpool.
Brilliant free kick by Alexis hitting the crossbar.
Superb combination play by Theo and Alexis and a lovely finish by Theo.
Akpom making it 3-1 … He is the closest to a natural poacher we have.
Looks like Holding will be making an appearance earlier than planned…
Gabriel to miss how many weeks?
🙁
Gabriel had done something horrible to his ankle or knee in the dying moments of the game. Had a good match as well. What awful luck. Very sad.
We now really need to get a CD before Sunday.
They obviously don’t think much of their new signing
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Co4fVw0W8AUHU9D.jpg
Three players lost to injuries in pre-season. Today’s was so unfortunate.
A very good evening to all the Holics from sunny Slovakia!
Very good second half by the lads what a terrible luck for Gabriel it doesn’t look too good he was crying in pain.
Very sad for him indeed!
Very disappointing for Gabriel.
Certainly need to sign an experienced CB now but he won’t be ready for Liverpool.
I didn’t watch the second half. Dr F, how was Xhaka in your opinion?
What a bad luck for Gabriel. I don’t think I have a stomach for another season ravished by injuries.
@68: Elneny replaced Xhaka in second half. Xhaka was good in the first half, physically didn’t look quite as sharp as you want him to be. Kind of expected that. I don’t think we will start the season with him, but as it progresses expect him to become a regular member of the starting eleven.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks a lot Doc! Good to have you around.
Maybe that decision with Xhaka was not the best – but of course that is what he did, removed him. So finally that was a match, even when it hurt like nothing else – a bit of pity overcame me as I read more on that, anyways there are more good news as I read at online-betting.me.uk quite some transfers and changes, which always makes it more interesting to see how it changes.