Daily Bits and Bobs

A reason to celebrate Mesut? Fifth time lucky against the Swans?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

mesut

Firstly, a big happy birthday to Mesut Ozil who is 28 today. By the time he heads out to party, I hope he’s also celebrating three big points. Oh, and go and sign that new contract extension old chap!

We had two low points (last season) .The first was to lose at Man United and that was straight before Swansea. We damaged our chances. Last year we had a very negative experience with Swansea who killed our opportunity to win the Premier League.

We were really criticised a lot after the Tottenham game but we did extremely well. With 10 men we came back to 2-2 and played extremely well. But after that we had the negative environment after Swansea.

I believe our fans are behind us. It is strange because in 2016 how many games have we lost away from home? One at Man United. When you listen to people you’d never believe it. So we have to perform.

I must say that the negativity comes very quickly. It is a virus that travels very quickly and goes away very slowly.

Arsene Wenger doesn’t really get it does he. It’s not always the results , it’s the performance and who we are up against. Against perhaps the worst Man Utd team many of us have ever seen, we were dreadful. Against Tottenham, well I’ll give him that one as once Coquelin was sent off, I thought we were done for but we managed to come away with a point and let’s be honest, 11 v 11, we were getting the better of our neighbours.

The fans didn’t turn on the manager because of one or two bad results, no, they turned because last season was just another which followed so many before, when Arsenal under performed, the squad was short and couldn’t cope with injuries and he couldn’t motivate his players to do better. There was no leader in the pack, no-one to shake the players up on the pitch and get them playing well. And all he did was to sit on his hands and watch it all go wrong, failing to make changes in attempt to improve things.

We dropped points at home far too often, as we did away from home against clubs who we really should have beaten. We were hammered at Southampton, against a team which at the time hadn’t been able to buy a victory and we were spectacularly dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford when we had a chance to create history. A team we battered 4-0 just a couple of weeks later!

So yes, if things start to follow a similar pattern any time soon, then I for one wouldn’t be surprised to see the fans on his back again because for once, he has a good, deep and strong squad. Perhaps the best he’s had for a long long time. Yes we are a bit light up front, but other than that we look good, very good.

It’s still very early in the season to get too excited but the way Arsenal dispatched Chelsea with such ease gives us great hope that season might just be a little different. But it’ll take a long time for me to truly believe that it will.

Anyway, if Arsene Wenger doesn’t want to see the ‘virus’ return, then make The Emirates our fortress this season and not a place where other teams roll up expecting this team to crumble. Which is exactly what it did when Swansea arrived in London in March this year. We hit the woodwork three times, squandered many many chances and even after deservedly going 1-0 up thanks to Joel Campbell, Swansea, out of nowhere, equalised. Mesut Ozil was fouled up in the build up but not according to the referee that day and that goal seemed to wake the visitors up. Before then, they’d been simply outclassed. With just fifteen minutes left in the game, Sigurdsson fired in a free-kick and Williams made it 2-1 to the visitors.

The season before that, Swansea had done exactly the same, although on that day, an 86th headed won all three points and the one before that ended up 2-2 with Flamini scoring an own goal in the 90th minute. The worst was the season before that one, the 2012/13, we lost that 2-0. In fact one has to go back to September 10th 2011 to find the last time we beat today’s opposition at home, and that ended 1-0 thanks to Arshavin just before half-time.

But as said, this Arsenal team look quite different this season but then so do Swansea. They have another different manager too, an American who is no stranger to the game, although he probably calls it ‘soccer’. But that’s just a name, he’s been coaching for years and he’ll be out to start with a bang and his players will be desperate to impress.

Swansea have a few injuries, as do we but for once, we are able to cope with them…..

I just hope whoever starts, copes with Swansea and for once in a long time, they head back to Wales with nothing….

Enjoy the game guys and gals, 3 points to the The Arsenal!

rico

106 thoughts on “A reason to celebrate Mesut? Fifth time lucky against the Swans?”

  1. allezkev says:

    I hope I’m wrong and that Arsenal rip Swansea apart today, but I’m expecting a very tactical draw today…

    Morning All

    Morning Rico, Adam, BT and George….

  4. allezkev says:

    Swansea have really become a Jonah to the Gunners, although I hadn’t realised just how bad our record was Rico…

    I’ve been to Swansea a couple of times, nice ground, and seen Arsenal win and draw, one was in the FACup, so I guess that those results influence my feelings about playing the Swans…

    Funny how some teams, despite their line-up and manager, seem to do well at certain grounds.

  5. rico says:

    Just seen our fixtures over the Christmas period, both at home, WBA and then Crystal Palace…

    Wonder if someone out there other than Arsenal fans, wants us to win the league… 😉

  6. rico says:

    Yep, we’ve really struggled against them Kev and I’ve no idea why. Perhaps it’s one of the teams the players expect to win by just turning up…

  10. BT62 Gooner says:

    I’m up now Rico, I’vw to make the brekkie and get the eyes focusing again. .

    But your right. …lazzzzy. ..lol

  27. kelsey says:

    Watching Chelsea v Leicester.Talk about one way traffic.Leicester just aren’t in the game and are lucky not to be 3-0 down and yesterday there was a flood of money from 20 to 1 down to 2 to 1 that Conte would be the next manager to be fired.

  28. Obi says:

    Rico, as you pointed out, in previous matches they did well against us by fluke, not this time. Totally different team and mind set. Beside, Bob Bradley and tactical does not go well together …Arsenal 3 – Swan 0.
    Off topic, putting his antics aside, Diego Costa is a very good footballer his vision and 1st touch is superb.

  29. AndrewH says:

    Afternoon, match day at last! Considering how poorly we played and were lucky to get three points last time out, surely a barnstorming display today? Goals from Walcott and Cazorla.

  30. AndrewH says:

    Obi, Leicester haven’t turned up have they? Chelsea 7 shots, Leicester 0. Mahrez on bench. Vardy no service whatsoever. Suppose he’s happy with his pay rise, that leaving Arsenal dangling obtained?

  33. Obi says:

    Andrew, I reckon he’s not…. the dude looks frustrated today. Mahrez on the bench was a surprise especially the way Musa gives the ball away, but then again he’s been horrid. Am happy with Perez because imho he’s much better and u kill 2 birds with one stone with that transfer.

  35. Wavy says:

    No pigs flying today, Rico. Alexis starts as predicted! Rest? What rest? Two from him today!

    We’re off………

  41. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Half time. I’ve seen this movie before.
    Always the same. we don’t shoot and suffered a goal with lack of concentration.
    Swansea grew up after the goal. In all senses.

  50. Obi says:

    Atm Ox is useless, he shouldn’t be on the pitch especially when we are down to 10 men. He has no concept of defending

  53. kelsey says:

    Nearly every time i watch us it’s practically the same film, especially at Home.

    Monreal got murdered by Barrow .how can a team so often dominate for most of the first half and then hang on for dear life.

    Having said that Theo should have scored 5 but Ozil’s goal was magnificent.

  56. ScottfromOz says:

    We could have won easily.
    Probably should have.
    Xhaka was stupid and naive, at best.
    Obi, Oz was fantastic and it was a good sub-he had hmon the back foot from the word go, so All is well I guess.
    Job done, a win over a side we simply struggle with, and a few other sides had average results so I’d say a good day at the office.
    Later guys-time for bed!!!

  57. Obi says:

    Scott you are right about Ox going forward, which was exactly my point. With 10 men and he’s is hanging for a break way rather than in and around the box. But with me as long as we get 3 points nothing else matter.

  58. Adam says:

    Just back from after a wet and windy drive home. It was a strange game that might have had any number of outcomes but I guess the three points is all anyone will remember after a while.

  83. Adam says:

    I’m just cruising up the stairs towards bed BT. It was a draining match today.
    Night BT. Good to see you around again. And to you Meerkat.
    Martha Longhurst, of course. 🙂

  85. kelsey says:

    Not much has changed defensively these past 2 or three seasons yet our attack definitely looks more potent this season.Xhaka had not one but two bad moments resulting in a 3 match ban and if we are going to be ultracritical Monreal was exposed far too often.Sanchez has now provided 3 assists and Ozil’s goal was sublime.Still early days and the much critisized Walcott showed his good and bad points yesterday,but I reserve judgement.Every team appear to be vunerable at the back bar one which I can’t get myself to name.

  86. ausscotty says:

    Xhaka wouldn’t of needed to do that had Arsene brought on Gibbs earlier for Nacho. Clear for all to see that Nacho was simply outpaced and Xhaxa didn’t trust the defence to cover.
    Bad mistake from Xhaka on the first away goal but 1 CB should of dropped off.
    Arsenal playing really well lately but defence needs to remember they are defence first before attacking.
    Horrible positioning First and Second goal from both CB’s. (Although best partnership we have had in long time – must be lack of training in that area)

  87. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all

    Nothing wrong with being ultra critical Kelsey ! 🙂
    Lets be honest, other than the Chave result, surely we expected to beat Watford (A), Soton (H), Hull (A), Burnley (A), and Swansea (H) !………….and carrying on shouldn`t we expect in our next two games to beat Middlesborough (H) and Sunderland (A) until we play the Spuds !.
    On the game………learning curve for Xhaka and lucky we have strength in depth in the middle.
    Their second goal was terrible defending and Monreal doesn`t like being up against any fast trky winger, he neads a 5 yard start on them !……..we need to sign a reverse Belerin !.

  88. Le Coq Monster says:

    Got Manshafter away after the Spuds at home………….two must not lose games !…………… 🙂

  89. potter says:

    The trip home was a nightmare Adam. The M11 was a skating rink saw two bad accidents and it was 10.15 when I got back , not bad for 130 miles. The game was a typical Arsenal performance almost snatching a draw from a position of strength. After Iwobi went off Monreal was abandoned and like Chambers a few years ago was getting roasted for speed and it took Wenger until the death to bring on Gibbs to give him support . Their two big men won everything in the last 10 minutes and had they not been as poor as second half Theo they could of actually won it. Great finish from Ozil and I wonder if Moss and his lino were keeping up with play , thought he was calling fouls to get a breather especially when he called the quick free kick to Ozil back.

  90. potter says:

    Re the Ox , once he took Ozil and Alexis off , it was 9 back and two for the break as they pushed forward. In fairness it should have worked apart from Theo’s poor finishing having been set up twice

  92. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. I bet it was Potter. That journey sounds awful. London was awash last night.
    Couldn’t agree more. Their right winger Barrow was a handful all afternoon and good though Iwobi is looking, he left Monreal exposed far too often for my liking. A small in-game tactical adjustment would have prevented him continually getting into an overlap position against Nacho and I cannot understand why that didn’t happen. Xhaka’ s careless mistake for the first goal made them realise they could get something from the game and our sloppiness played right into that. Up until then it looked like a 4 nil was on.
    As for Moss, I reckon that was the worst refereeing display I have seen so far this season.
    You are right though that we had a couple of opportunities to kill the game but failed to take them.
    Still. Three points.

  93. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    We stuffed up just as many red hot chances than they did, and probably more.
    Nacho was belted, but yes, left exposed.
    We got the points and against Swansea, we’d have all nervous about that happening pre game.
    Even when we were well and truly on top, for some reason we let that side back in it every time.

  95. rico says:

    Morning Adam, the two Scotts, Potter, George, LC, Kelsey and all..

    Considering the international break and both City and Totts dropped points, I guess it wasn’t that bad an afternoon… 😉

    Walcott should have had 4 with ease….

    Moss, shocking, absolutely shocking officiating…

  99. Adam says:

    Moss looks completely out of his depth physically I would say. If he disallowed that quickly taken free kick to put Ozil in because he wasn’t ready, I would ask why he wasn’t ready. And the linesman in front of me was awfully keen to get his flag up for offsides. Whether they were correct or not, I don’t know, but he wasn’t as sharp when it came to all the pushes in the back and sly fouls. I imagine roly-poly Moss had told him to ignore them.

  100. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, I reckon the linesman got one wrong, and I can’t think which player it was, but he was away and one on one.
    The rest, and there were plenty, I reckon got right….replays, the only benefit of watching on TV 🙂

  102. Adam says:

    Scott. You’re right. It’s always difficult in real time, especially as I wasn’t level with play. But I will despise him anyway. Just to be on the safe side. 🙂

  105. Le Coq Monster says:

    Slow indeed !………………..even Wenger`s quicker to get the cheque book out !

    Even though he missed two great chances at the death ( and great work by Ox on each occasion ) but at least he got into the positions, the difference in Walcott to the one that is wasted by England !…………he must love playing for us compared to them, should just retire from that set up, he`s just wasted !……….

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