Morning all.
It’s a sad state of affairs when the only thing that gets us laughing about football, is when the Totts, despite coming back to level the scores twice against Chelsea yesterday, lost 4-2. What a goal Matic scored, a simply stunning strike which Lloris could only watch crash into the top netting.
Having not been overly fussed about our match against City this afternoon, I really hope we can beat them. Wenger versus Conte in the final would be interesting to say the least.
All we have to do is be organised, switched on and ready to battle for ninety minutes. Arsene Wenger will want this one big time. He has a chance to make history with Arsenal by becoming the leading FA Cup winner of all time.
Ok, back to reality, it’s going to be tough. City have stars all over the pitch and Pep will have worked out a plan to stop us from scoring which to be fair, anyone could because we are so predictable. Or at least have been but maybe today that will change. I’m not holding my breath of course but last Monday he went with three at the back, maybe this today he’ll have something else up his sleeve. Something which Man City won’t be expecting. We can but hope eh.
Somehow I doubt we’ll see a similar starting eleven to the one which brushed aside Lincoln City, or Sutton Utd before that as this is our last hope of winning a trophy this season, we need the big guns out there and they need to turn up. None of this going hiding when things get tough, nor shying away from a tackle either just because they can. We have to want every ball and fight for it. For once, wear the shirt with pride and play for the club we all love and not just turn up for the occasion.
Some of our players have really let themselves down this season with so many lacklustre performances, as has the manager with most of his but today is a big day for The Arsenal, it really is. If the players can’t perform for their manager which really does appear to be the case, then do it for the fans because we deserve it.
By 3.10pm this afternoon, we’ll know if these players are up for the match.
Away from the pitch, the likelihood of Arsene Wenger staying seems to be growing stronger as the media write about the future and Arsene himself talks about certain players. Contact talks with Jack Wilshere are soon to take place regardless of his latest injury and both Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are our future said the Frenchman along with the rest of the British players.
Sead Kolasinac, Kylian Mbappe and Emil Forsberg are high on Arsene Wenger’s list of summer signings, as is Udinese midfielder Jakub Jankto, an Czech star, already earning the ‘new Rosicky’ tag. With a release clause around £6m, he could be a real transfer target.
I know, it’s all media talk, speculation and spin but if Arsenal FC want Alexis Sanchez to stay and sign a new contract, they are going to have to show a bit of ambition this summer. Prove to our better players that next season we mean business. Next season we will be title contenders, next season we won’t get battered 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich and next season we won’t just turn up to make up the numbers.
And fingers crossed the most ambitious move made by the club this summer will be to make sure there’s someone other than Arsene Wenger sitting in the dugout when the season kicks off.
But for some reason, I don’t think there will be….
Forsberg is brilliant – watched Leipzig a lot this year and he’s a real creator. I’d also go for Keita as well. As for Mbappe – I don’t think our pockets are deep enough.
Interesting to know that Db, I haven’t seen Forsberg play.
Agree re Mbappe, another club will probably fork out mega money for him..
Kolasinac earned very good reviews the other night…
Morning Rico, so that 4 players we are signing – hooray…
It is the responsibility, I believe, of all season ticket holders to renew asap, so that Arsene can complete all the mega deals he has planned and take us to the next level – the Europa League… ?
Just getting ready to leave to get the train to Wembley Park, Wembelee, Wembelee…
Morning All, enjoy the day.
Morning Kev, you going today then?
Morning all.
We definitely won’t be beaten 2-10 by Bayern next season…..
Big day, city aren’t great but definitely better than us. Cup semi though, anything can happen
No Lewis, not being either in Europa or out of both…
Now that the catastrophe of Spurs doing a double and beating us in the final to do it is gone all the pressure on today is lifted. I hope we put in a solid professional performance take the game to City and get at their defence.
I’m quite looking forward to the Europa League, Mr Adam, Lee and I have already discussed the prospect of visiting those interesting football outposts in Eastern Europe and those old Soviet Union states.
Makes a change from boring old Barcelona.
Kev. They do a serious Walrusburger up in the Baltic.
Yummy, do they do it with penne Adam?
I don’t think we’ll get a Europa spot…
I hope not. 🙂
7th Adam, that’s what I reckon by the time the season ends… Maybe 6th…
The club have bigger fish to fry Rico.
They sure do Adam..
Celtic 1 up 🙂
Afternoon all!
Afternoon, I think Henry said it, “the F.A cup can,t make up for Arsenal,s failings” this season, when you do not win the league you have failed in that objective. ‘And winning the FA Cup doesn’t change that. If players are happy just winning the F.A cup. It wasn’t the aim at the start of the campaign and you can’t alter your ambitions halfway through. You shouldn’t be at clubs like Arsenal.’
Anyway I,m Fearful today, All I can say is, “thank God for Sanchez”, he could be our saviour, without him we are just a bang average team, to see Bournemouth beat a truly hopeless Boro side 4-0, a side we fought hard to beat, just shows us up for being the very ordinary side that we are.
Apparently we have our very own Frank Lampard, in Ramsey. More futile, meaningless bullshit.
2-0 🙂
Afternoon all…………………thanks Rico and happy St Georges Day to the greatest country on earth !…………….I can say that freely as we all support The Arsenal from England……………..the country that invented the game we love……….also, we invented all the sports of any worth !……………..shame we aint like the Americans and demand that “soccer” be called English Football, like they call their game American Football ! hahaha
https://twitter.com/GeezyPeas/status/856037885136470016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2017%2F04%2F21%2Fthe-magic-of-the-fa-cup-returns-on-sunday%2F
Could be a great day if we win the Semi, along with the London Marathon and …….St Georges Day……..and did you know and not a lot of people know this…………Spuds loss yesterday was their 7th FA Cup semi- final loss in a row !……………what a great record !……..from our point of view ! hahaha
Enjoy your day Kev….Europa League here we come…
Seeing a few “Wenger Out” signs along the London Marathon route ! hahahaha
Henry is spot on Dublin.
As for Ramsey being like Lampard, well I just laughed…
LC, just for you:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-fans-given-chance-vote-10278935
Afternoon Rico and all..
Cheers BT…………………..just voted and currently 64% Wenger Out !……………….I make that 36% deluded bastards ! hahaha
I haven’t seen them Lc, so obviously not enough of them… lol
Afternoon Bt, if only we did have a vote eh. He’d soon be gone.
Same team which beat Boro to face City…
Three at the back too. This could go horribly wrong….
If only Rico, looks like three at the back today…
Snap Rico..lol
Same team same formation !……………win today and he will consider himself a visionary and a genius again !. 😆
🙂 Bt.
No chance of us winning imo..
Hmmm 3 at the back.. probably 4 or 5 past us today.. ah well it’s not like we’re not used to it.
Elneny must be running the marathon as he’s not in the squad again…
I`m playing it safe for my stress levels and will record the game and watch if we win ! hahaha
Love knock out, no dreary draw one point stuff !…..some time today we will be happy or sad, no inbetween !………toss of a coin…………..50/50…………..and all the other old cliches ! 🙂
Do you reckon Elneny`s wearing a “Wenger Out” sticker on his marathon vest ?
Dont want to jinx it , but Arsenal have won on their last 6 Wembley appearances ! …………………………similar size pitch, it`s like a home from home ! hahaha
De Bruyne, Silva, Sané; Agüero and if that don’t work bring on Sterling.
We go 3 at the back
What’s the score prediction then?
4-1 Man City….
Ridiculous imo Potter.
Not Bellerin in the line up is a terrible mistake.
Potter… that comment has just made me turn it over before it starts lol
Stress free day for me.. let’s see what’s on Netflix ?
MU 2 up…
I’m sooooo excited!
Utter crap so far
Pep wanting a booking? I hate seeing that.
Commentators all wearing city shirts today or what.?!!
We are a shambles
Giroud and Sanchez having words…
One way traffic i take it…
Surely we’ll go back to four in defence after halftime?
It is Kel…
We got lucky there…
Rico, any manager worth his salt would have changed in after 15minutes.
They sure would Lewis…
So Alexis falls over really easily in the box.
But Aguero, who trips over his own feet should have had a penalty!
These commentators really are useless.
Howard Webb. Ours was a pen, theirs wasn’t.
Terrible first half from us but it’s 0-0… ?
Any contact and they are down .Yet Kompany and Otamendi are doing whatever they like to Giroud.
Can we play with 12 at least?
Giroud is no saint though, he knows what he’s doing when he’s backing into their players. The little look over his shoulder before hand gives it away…
I think both were pens.
And their goal was a goal.
Lucky to be at 0-0, will arsene change it?!!!
Aguero kicked his own ankle but they should have had theirs and ous was a pen
Xhaka is pony
awful.
Ramsey gave the ball away.
What a strike Nacho….
Get in!
Chambo our best player. Again.
Game on Nacho
Has Ozil not got a right foot?
Welbeck you plank!
We can do this…
ozil is ended for the game 30th minutes ago.
Xaxa is out the right place in the goal
Ramsey had completely open on the left and went for the right side whre was alone and rounded with 3 City players…
Cecs was slowly…
That’s what you get when the ball is at Alexis feet!
Credit where it’s due, great result after a much better second half….
Awesome lads. Well done!
Well done Arsene and the boys. Ox and Gabriel excellent. We needed that.
Arsenal v Chelsea could have been worse.
lucky but we will be there!
Thank fcuk Spuds didn`t win yesterday ! hahahahahahaha
Have we others 11 new players for wednesday?
Sunday evening !…….so this calls for a celebration take away Kebab !
We’ll done boys credit where it’s due…. the OX and Gabriel excellent also young Holding very good…
Gabriel was superb today Adam. Really good stuff from him, and Ox as you say…
Ozil, well I’m saying nowt…
I don’t know the rules in England, but if Chelsea win the League we are not in the Europe competitions again?
By the time we get to the final, perhaps we’ll have mastered the three at the back system.
Gr8 result. Gutsy stuff!!!!
Now to put a hammer blow into Totts title hopes on May Day, then win the Cup in May, & you should all be ok to give any totts supporter u see the bird over the off season ?
Something to keep us in the mood and possibly arouse some…..well, me !………..nothing like a crying young spud !………I have this photo on my bedroom ceiling in case the viagra doesn`t work ! hahaha
We would be Jm, I’d forgotten that… Thursday Sunday football it is then….
Genius is that Wenger……….two 2-1 wins on the trot with his revolutionary new system !……………..I expect a new deal announced this week !
Hi y’all! Hope everyone is well haven’t had a chance to post for a long time!
Rico I must thank u for the blog as I look forward to reading it every morning generally on a smoke break!
I was wondering if anyone else thought that City brought on 4 subs?
Hi Silky, good to see you back.
Four subs is a new ruling in the Cup I think…
I think the new ruling was that you can bring on a 4th sub in the FA Cup when it goes into extra time, Silky.
Be honest !…..how many thought we were going to get hammered in this Semi ?……………..I did !…………………funny old game football, two semi`s where the winners had a lot less possession !…………it`s all about taking your chances !.
The team did well on the whole. I was disappointed that Welbeck, with fresh legs, didn’t do more to shut down and win the ball. Mind you, even when he had the ball he was crap.
What is the point of Xhaka? He is slow, dirty and kept slipping over in his stupid orange boots.
Ozil is a lightweight, but has a few nice touches, trouble is he was knackered? Wossthatallabout?
I thought he should have been replaced by Theo.
Ox played well, as did Sanchez and Gabriel.
Cech is over the hill and could have lost it for us.
Wenger was very passionate and quite emotional at the end. Ian Wright is saying the problems aren’t down to him, but the board and owners.
Let’s be honest, City should have had a goal allowed, but it’s swings and roundabouts with referees decisions. We’ve had plenty of them go against us.
Old Arsene looks like he’s lost a lot of weight this season. Pep’s lost a lot of Cup ties?
I did Lc, I thought we’d get battered.
Wenger contract announced week before cup final! Anyway, let’s enjoy making final, well done, wish we had that much effort every week.
In a time of civil unrest that has plagued The Arsenal in resent times, it’s important for all Arsenal supporters to savour this win, coz it’s for both sides of the warring fractions. This one is for the fans!!!!
Thanks Rico n also for clearing that up!i thought I was after uncovering a conspiracy ?! Great result but city will b kicking themselves for all the misses!
Thanks LC
yes rico, new rule. A team can make 3 subs during the normal time and 1 (or 2 ?) more in the extra time.
Woodwork and the Lino saved us Silky…
Don’t forget Kev being there, Rico..
On a lighter note, both Pep and Le Prof looked like male models! Exquisitely turned out in their navy cashmere sweaters. LOL. Real role models.
Liverpool have lost at home to fat Spams Crystal Palace. I can see Manure sneaking into top four.
Meerkat
Wenger looked like a human coat hanger. He needs to spend more time @ McDonalds!
No rico, Monreal & Alexis saved The Arsenal. Enjoy.
Why are people surprise? Many of us have been telling AW that he needs to play players to their strength and rotate the team. He’s finally listening. I remember earlier this year when LC and I was saying he should play Ox as the RB, I have said for a while that Rob Holding is the best young CB out there having watched him in the Championship, many have said for a while that we need to play 2 CF etc, etc. My point is Wenger gets no credit he stubbornly refused to make any adjustments and we lost many games because of that. But now he makes them for self preservation….AW, “The Selfish-One”.
Yes, Kev there too Bt.
Gg- I know, honest….
Do you think Holding would have played had Mustafi not been injured though?
I think a lot of us have wanted to see Holding play. Martinez too as he’s the future…
I’m giving plaudits to Gabriel. Today he was the player that tamed Costa in Spain. Had a great game.
Best game in an Arsenal shirt for me Potter. Really cool head in the box… He was the player I thought Wenger had signed today…
Catch up tomorrow guys.. night all.
The win was great, but the fight we showed (especially after going one down) was what pleased me, bodies were being put on the line and there seemed some proper aggression and commitment, shame this was not on show for the last few months !.
We need to stay with this formation and hopefully it will improve defensively for the final, so use the rest of the league games as the learning curve and it will be an interesting final against a team who changed to the same tactics after we beat them .
I know Monreal got a goal, but he isn`t The Ox ( who is going to thrive in this position), shame Bellerin or The Ox cant play on the left as that would give us the proper ammunition needed for Wing backs…………..pace either side !.
Got in about an hour ago with a celebratory kebab and a sore throat.
Great day, even two cancelled trains couldn’t spoil my day.
A great performance from the team, full of determination.
Oxlade Chamberlain had another impressive game.
Night All
Today is why I guess we get so frustrated as fans, these sporadic type of performances, the all too infrequent dogged displays full of energy and desire, the type of performance that befits our Great Badge and history. memories of the past when we rolled up our sleeves, gave everything and came away with such joy and pride, even to watch my 10 year old son jump for joy at the final whistle, brought back what it is to be an Arsenal fan, something ive sadly lost touch with these last few years, but negative emotions aside, dismissing our current state of affairs and the realisation of the fact that we,ve won nothing yet and there is still a good chance that this season could be our worse in 20 years, for a brief few hours today, I remembered the good times, and “boy it felt good”
Forgive my sentimental ramble, “whats seldom is wonderful”
LC at 11pm, re pace on both side, the alternative is to sit Arsene’s favorite, Ramsey, and play OX in the middle and Bellerin on the wing but we know AW will not drop Ramsey.
Morning Rico and all. Well said dg. I am sure most of us felt those emotions too.
Morning Adam and all.
Yesterday was great, yet so darn frustrating. For the first time in a long time I was actually on the edge of my seat.
I even wrote today’s post straight after the game because for just a short time, I was really happy again…
However…..
Rico. I think that, seeing the determination, skill and fight in the team yesterday makes Wenger leaving even more critical. I had really begun to believe that the players were as bad as they seemed but it appears that they can come together and put in a performance when motivated to do so.
A few times a season really isn’t enough.
To be honest Adam. I’ve always thought this squad was a good one but I’ve often be told otherwise on here which is no big deal as it’s all about opinion.
I totally agree, yesterday proved so many things and none help a case for Arsene Wenger to stay.
The one player who really doesn’t fit in imo, is Giroud…
Imagine having Lukaku up front yesterday instead of him…
Morning all.
Watching and listening to Ian Wright on BT Sport after the game yesterday it was plain to see that he was just as frustrated as we fans have been , he too wondered where the same kind of performances had gone missing, the fight and determination had took a sabatical and if these players wnated Wenger to stay, they should have put more into the previous games !
To me there was a stark contrast yesterday compared to recent weeks/months and one that should be a given seeing how much they are rewarded each and every week .
Beautifull and sunny here, yet they are expecting snow up northern bastard territory !…………..like the stark contrast to our performances ! hahaha
Where does Theo fit into this 3-4-3 formation ?
I don’t think they do want him to stay Lc, I really don’t…
Theo has a role to play, but off the bench perhaps. I was surprised he didn’t come on yesterday in place of Ozil. City’s defence was tiring and Theo could have really got at them…
Rico. I know you have been saying that the players are good and for ages now. Get rid of the deadwood and add a few quality players and we could do ok. Especially with a modern, tactically astute manager.
Giroud looks really out of place out there for Arsenal.
Yes Rico, I thought that as well, with City piling forward in search of an equaliser Theo would have caused problems with his pace !
We could easily get rid of 4/5 Adam and we’d really be up there with, if not better than the rest. That’s with good additions and a new manager as you say.
Giroud would be one on the out list for me… He offers very little I think..
That’s where a more proactive manager would come in Lc, he’d have had Ozil off the pitch, and Giroud much earlier.
New post up now.