Alexis, Theo and Ox again………..

Morning All,

Well at last proper footie is back and it’s an interesting one for sure.

We all know the problems Stoke have caused us in the past and yes they are still pretty physical and direct but they also have some decent players as well. I would imagine the biggest conundrum our manager faces is who does he start with up front for us. Do we try and play with speed and width or does he start with Giroud and we try and give him as much decent service as possible?

I’d say playing Giroud sort of plays into Stokes hands as they used to crosses etc etc and dealing with that will be easier than having the likes of Alexis, Theo and Ox getting the ball on the floor and running at them… We tend not not attack the spaces in behind defenders although for the first 15/20mins up at Newcastle we did, I hope we start with the speedy three and I hope Arsene tells Ox to stay on the wing and get at the full back, if you drop off and into midfield I will substitute you…! Maybe that will sink in with Ox that he doesn’t have a free role he is there to spread the game and stretch the stoke defense. The other selection headache Arsene faces is does he start with the team that faced Newcastle or does he reinstate Ozil instead of who..? Do we rest Aaron or Santi for Ozil? We can’t rest Coq as he will be needed for sure, I’d say be pragmatic against stoke but the boss is never really pragmatic is he… The players we are told are intelligent and they evolve on the pitch as the game unfolds. The problem with that is how many times have we seen that happen and we left looking unbalanced and not sure how to play. Maybe we play Arron with Coq in the middle and Ozil behind the front three of Alexis, Theo and Ox…. If that’s not working then change it around at half time but again not something that Arsene tends to do if things are not panning out.

I’m not going to bore you with stats on todays games or of a recent history on results as in my mind that’s all in the past and isn’t relevant, what is relevant is that we approach the game with the right attitude play with tempo and intensity and then we win it doesn’t matter how stoke play. When we play with tempo and movement we are a different side altogether the problem comes when the tempo is slow there is a lack of movement and we resort to tippy tappy backwards and side wards play.

Let get stuck into them and let get a few goals to our game so we can kick on for the rest of the season. After the transfer window we need a good result and we need the fans to believe…. Fans only believe when they see the team perform…!

I’m going for 3-1 to us and a good performance….! Lets hope so.

Have a good one.

58 thoughts on “Alexis, Theo and Ox again………..

  1. Geziah says:

    Morning all.

    I agree we need to play with width and speed. Today we will see if Arsene is willing to adjust and maybe not use Ramsey on the right wing. I think if he does then Stoke will defend the width of the 18 yard box and find it very easy.

    If we have The Ox out wide then that will stretch Stoke. I’m looking forward to seeing Iwobi and Reine-Adelaide play again. They seem like the only two proper wingers in the squad.

  2. Wavy says:

    Wel done Wath. Good start to a match day but, no stats? What will Ginge do?
    I like all our fans will be expecting a comprehensive win against Stoke RFC! 2-0 for me although I think our defence is a bit fragile. So a clean sheet will be a move in the right direction as would a pre match motivational speech from George Graham. None of this freedom of expression stuff, more you’ve got a job to do, do it! May work wonders!
    Anything less than a win Arsene and we will be looking for blood……yours!

  3. Wath says:

    I left the stats out so Ts has something to do this morning, he can go look them up Wavy.. Long as he don’t share it’s all good lol

  4. Joaquim Moreira says:

    we haven’t many solutions because we haven’t enough players and we have a few injuries. The team has to be more or less the same. If this fails, replaces one and put the only alternative that exists. And God guide us …

  5. Wath says:

    I want what you’re drinking Mg…. lol

    JM, we have a few options but does Arsene even trust them..? He needs to do whats right for the balance of the side not just keep playing his favourites so as not to upset anyone by resting/rotating them..!

    For me the balance of the side is mostly the problem and then we play without pace and movement.

    Time will tell.

  6. Wath says:

    Lets not shout to loudly just yet re the chavs… hopefully Everton get a 3rd and put this to bed…! Then we can smile briefly then then wait for our lot to get a win.

    Thanx Ts, but I know you been itching to go look them up lol

  7. tsgh says:

    Just one stats for your sake Mg…

    Mark Hughes as a manger of 5 clubs has a 100% loss record as an away coach against Arsenal in the Premier League W0 D0 L8. T

  8. tsgh says:

    šŸ˜€ Wath you did not have to wait long…

    Arsenal record at Emirates v Stoke in Premier League Pld 7 Won 7 F17 A3; media telling lies like Daily Fail lies on politics… lol

  9. Wath says:

    So Arsene plays Ozil and puts Aaron out on the right again it seems or does it means Alexis plays centrally and Theo on the right seeing as no Ox..!

  10. tsgh says:

    Conspiracy…alert

    Jon Moss will officiate Arsenal v Stoke. The Gunners have won all nine Premier League matches with him as the man in the middle.

  11. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Are you sure we will be winning 8-0 today Ginge??? lol. B ut I hope so. Giroud to break Drake’s scoring record.

    Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Its irrelevant who plays……its the grey matter between their ears and their willingness which counts.

    If we are to give a whacking to someone….Stoke are one of the clubs I would willingsly dish it out to.

  12. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Per not included??? neither as a sub???

    Hasnt he recovered from his bowel-anal-dysfunction then???

    Sounds so much smelly it stinks.

    The poor lad is already pencil thin…..he must be dehydrated by now. Anorexic and fastly becoming a wraith.

    hmmmmm. it really stinks.

  13. Joaquim Moreira says:

    We play at home….if we play away, what will be the diifferences in the team?
    Everton scored 3 with a center forward and with the goal in their mind.

  14. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Mourinho is not a happy chappy these days.

    His team is falling apart.

    He is growing older.

    AW is infront of him in the league.

    And his daughter’s dress is wide open as the chavs’ defence. A bit of breeze and everything is shown up as it really is.

    I wonder if JT has seen Hosay’s daughter!!!! I bet she gave him one look and he became so scared he has not yet managed to pull himself together.

  15. Wath says:

    I wouldn’t touch her with your’s Dev….. Plus she is still in her nappies…. Just don’t let Stan see…!

    3-1 good enough for the toffee’s now for us to do the business….!

    Ts, your next goal will be avoiding the bin………………. šŸ™‚

  16. Hell Raising Devil says:

    some game statssssssssssssssssss

    Possession….Arsenal 76% Stoke 24
    Shots on target Arsenal 5 Stoke 1
    Shots off target Arsenal 6 Stoke 0
    Corners Arsenal 5 Stoke 0

    Goals just 1. We hit the post/bar twice

  17. Joaquim Moreira says:

    It’s hard to realize that TW does not win a duel with a defense (unless it is in the race), it is hidden behind the central defense, has no physical presence, runs away from the shock and the fight with the defense, is not a reference in the area, is not seen in the area, do not play wit his head, not table with the midfields?

  18. Hell Raising Devil says:

    28 shots of which 12 were on target with a paltry 2 goals scored. Today we should have scored 5 to 7 imo.

    Its crazy really. We have shot 97 shots over 5 games and scored just 5.

    At least another clean sheet. šŸ™‚

  19. Hell Raising Devil says:

    At least he used to give us half a season till December. Now not even that for the last 6 games.

    Cesc FĆ bregas today against Everton:

    0 tackles won
    0 aerial duels won
    0 interceptions
    0 assists
    0 shots
    0 crosses

  20. allezkev says:

    Rick, really enjoyed the game…

    Arsenal needed a bit of luck to score, but didn’t have any. Both goals were well worked and executed.

    Hitting the post twice early in the game, had feelings of ‘one of those days’ bubbling around the crowd. But our team showed great maturity and calmness not to lose their patience and go gung-ho…

    Some team is going to get one hell of a thrashing once everything clicks…

    Gabriel and Koscielny were superb, in fact our defence were excellent…

    Seeing Cech in goal was surreal, but very welcome.

    Alexis was top draw, he just needs a break.
    Good to see Walcott and Gitoud score.

    Still need some help from the midfield in goal scoring, my only criticism was too much unecessary passing when one thoughtful pass would do.

  21. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Why we didn’t play with TH and Giroud at the same time?
    Gabriel could be sent off…
    The subs were too late
    We have another important match next wednesday… and we will play we same players.
    AW could give a few minutes to Campbell
    What you think about Martial? I hope not see at The Emirates what I’ve seen last year when he played for Monaco…

  22. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I feel that AW will go with the following formation on Wednesday…..

    Ospina

    Debuchy, Per, Kos, Gibbs
    Coquelin, Cazorla,
    Ox, Ramsey, Campbell
    Ollie

    yeah I know you will not agree but I feel that it will be necessary to rotate.

  23. Wavy says:

    Very late I know, but if I’m any judge of these things I think the pugnacious Pygmy has lost the dressing room, and I suspect his irascible treatment of the club doctor was the final straw. As a control freak once the fear or scariness is lost, you present no fear and your HOLD is lost and thus your control is gone! In short Mourino is history! It’s only a matter of time. And good f***ing riddance! He can take himself and his ‘lovely’ family back to land of his birth and never darken our doors with his cynical arrogance ever again. Nasty little bacterial microbe!
    But I wish him no harm……….well not much…… but may his pedigree camels die in the dried up oasis of his hope and ambition!

  24. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    So another three points gained, a few positions up to 2nd/3rd…just one goal is the difference, and we are still on match day 5.

    Scoring has not improved, we are still wasteful seeing that we have had 97 shots in just 5 games and scored only 5 yet we are winnng with the team not playing that well.

    As Kev said……someone will soon get a thrashing when it clicks. because we are not two players away from winning the league. we are just one click.

    yesterday the players played well. and it was only Butland and wasteful finishing that prevented a 6/7-0 thrashing.

    Against the chavs its paramount that AW begins the game with Ollie. Hosay will park the bus again and Theo will be nullified. So Ollie will be needed.

    In the meantime next wednesday we have the little matter of Zagreb. A win will do. yes. even 1-0

  25. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Zagreb is the start of some difficult away games for us, but we’ve just gotta get on with it…

    Arsenal have done better away from home this season and there’s no good reason why that winning run shouldn’t continue.

    I’m not dreading visiting Croatia, or Stamford Bridge or the Slum, I’m really looking forward to those matches.

  26. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Morning Kev.

    This team has the potential to get something out of every game they play. yes even against Barca, Bayern, RM, shitty, chavs, MAnure etc.

    I am not saying that they will win them all, although with the right mentality they can do so, however if everyone digs in and plays with the right mindset the team can get anything.

    if the goals start flowing in then we will look dangerous every time we go up and the chances of winning increase.

  27. Tai says:

    Morning Dev, Kev, All…

    I knew Gabriel was good…I just didn’t know how good. With Cech and Gabriel, Wenger has silently improved our defense to unbelievable level. Our attack? They’ll score goals and plenty too.

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