Morning all.
Karim Bellarabi is making the headlines today and according to The Metro, Arsene Wenger wants to sign the German winger in the summer. A proper winger at last? Goodie! He’s 6′ tall and plays for Bayer Leverkusen.
Emiliano Martinez has joined Rotherham United on an emergency loan until the end of the season which is good for him. It’s better to be playing than watching from the bench but I hope we can call him back if one of Szczesny or Ospina suffer injury.
Young Hector Bellerin has been called up by Spain for their under 21 squad. No great surprise. Neither is Gabriel being called up for Brazil for the first time. Down side for us is both will be involved in the stupid international friendlies next month as will Alexis Sanchez who Arsene Wenger has admitted needs a break and today should see him get one, well, at least have a sit on the bench. We need him fit and raring to go next Saturday when the Dippers arrive in London. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two others drop to the bench either with that fixture in mind.
Today we face a Newcastle side who aren’t having the best of seasons.
Head to head:
- Arsenal have won their last six games against Newcastle, scoring 18 goals and conceding five.
- This fixture ended 4-4 in February 2011 but the subsequent three league meetings at St James’ Park have produced two 1-0 wins for the Gunners and a goalless draw.
So history is on our side and as said yesterday, Newcastle have all sorts of injury and suspension issues to deal with, and they’ve lost three of their last four league matches, conceding nine goals along the way.
Today’s the day we see what Arsene Wenger and his squad are made of after being knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday.
If players heads are down and they’re still feeling sorry for themselves then this fixture today will be over before it’s begun. But, if they actually realise how well they played, regardless of the not being able to find that one last goal, and take that performance with them to Newcastle, this afternoon should be fruitful.
At lunchtime today, City face a West Brom side who on their day can cause an upset and Utd and Liverpool thrash it out tomorrow with both hoping to catch us and City for second place. One or both of those two sides will drop points.
Arsenal need to put more pressure on both sides and make sure three points are on the board for us before they kick off.
We are going through a purple patch, winning 13 of 15 games since New Year’s Day, including eight wins from nine league matches and only Liverpool can brag a better 2015 with just one more point chalked up..
Ollie is on a roll with nine goals in his last eleven matches, Coquelin is doing well in the midfield and the back five look good. Going forward we have plenty of creativity, perhaps the only complaint is we aren’t clinical enough in front of goal. That and trying to walk the ball into the net. It’s not a crime to shoot from distance, just ask Frank Lampard – shoot and anything could happen…
Big game after Tuesday, we need a big performance and three more big points…..
We are on a very strong run and I believe we are a much better team than four months ago. That’s what we want: to continue to stabilise our results. – Arsene Wenger.
COYRRG’S – show us what you are made of!
Good post Rico…
Good post Rico.
I agree. Take the positives from Monaco game and move on. Every game now is like a cup final. Newcastle up next and 3 points are needed.
Mo Farah is in Lisbon.
He had take photos with Arsenal shirt !
A nice postcard from Lisbon!
Half Marathon tomoroow in Libon
Come on Arsenal!
3 goals to the good today…
AS17 needs a rest before Chile vs Brazil.
Good read
Morning Rico, Kev and all…
Thanks Kev, Marinello, Ts..
Morning to you three and all…
Ts, do you know much about the winger?
Bugger Chile v Brazil I say, Arsenal need him more than they do…. 😉
Hope you snapped him Jm… 🙂
Well said and analysed… Kudos Rico.
I can feel a another clean sheet for Ospina as well as a Goal for the buzzing Giroud. I would be happy ifTheo too gets on score sheet to get the needed confidence to pick the strings onwards till end of season. He is one player av always rated highly but dammmmm(injuries) seems to drag him back.
I bet a comfortable win today guys.. #Gooners* COYG@ARSENAL.
Good post Rico. Almost Henry V in its rousing nature. 🙂
Welcome and thanks Edgar..
Amen to Ospina having another cracking game and a clean sheet…
🙂 Thanks Adam, I try and do my bit…. lol
Think today is massive, how we bounce back from going out of the CL will perhaps dictate the rest of our performances this season…
And with Man Utd playing Liverpool, could be a chance to move away from them a bit…
Let’s think of it as St Crispins Day Rico. 🙂
Good read Rico.. ………a must win today and we should rest alexis imo he looks jaded don’t want him breaking down during the run in…. .. . Don’t know much about bellerabi but from the little I saw of him he does like to dribble a lot
3 points, 3 points, my Kingdom for 3 points!
Karim Bellarabi is a German professional footballer who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, as a winger. Wikipedia
Born: April 8, 1990 (age 24), West Berlin
🙂 Adam…
Is he any good though Kev? lol
Thanks snaparse. So do I when I forget to put my teeth in… 😉
I haven’t a clue Rico…
But he sounds exciting… 😀
🙂 Kev, he’s German so has to be good….
German/Moroccan to be exact Rico…. 😉
But if he’s come through the German coaching system, then yes, he must be good…
Rico, I have seen him in Bayer 04 starting XI but I haven’t taken much notice tbh…
I don’t rate much of Leverkusen players about from Drmic who we were linked with…and Kreisling
Ha ha Kev 🙂
apart* from
Thanks Ts…
Snap- le Coq didn’t get Les Bleu call up?
Kondogbia called up again…
I tend to agree with Lee, and want to see a Bender in our squad…
Morning all,
Did Bellarabi take a spot kick for Leverkusen the other night ?
A very ungermanic penalty taking fiasco.
At least he hasn’t got any Turkish blood in him, they tend to be over-rated and very lazy I find.
Typical… 😀
that must be Micko’s comment then… 😉
I see Nicky B. is not scoring as much goals nor starting as much games at Wolfsburg as he would have liked…
I also rate Spahic and Rolfes but you folks tells me both are too old… 😉
Did anyone catch Lars vs Ath Madrid last week in the UCL?
Koke vs Bender and Rolfes was sensational…
Where’s your manners tsgh, that’s Lord Nicklas Bendtner to the likes of you and me.
😀 Micko
COYBaggies
with Baggies being one man short… 🙁
I’m far away rico…
2 minutes. One WBA player sent off. Not agrre with refere sentence.
I must watch Bellarabi with more attention.
2-0 now
Looks like Bayern were given an easy draw in the CL….
Psg vs Fc Holywood final me think…
Micko… for you.
https://vine.co/v/OVwUmTvOheT
lvg saying top 4 is like winning the title…
https://vine.co/v/OV7MEEJ2T3Q
Alexis plays again then!
Afternoon folks….
Full team: Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Welbeck, Giroud
That’s a shame Jm….
In all interviews, Mo Farah said he is na Arsenal fan… and then they asked for mourinho…
I predict Sanchez will play. I am right.
Allez is wrong again
Who have Sporting got in the next round?
Mo is a big Gooner JM…
Incorretamente JM
Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies
Good Post Rico.
Shame Ozil is missing through illness. He could have shoved another one up the ginger broom’s backside today. I hope we batter them though
Newcastle might have a lot of injuries, but this ain’t gonna be easy today…
Surprised to see Sanchez start…
Wonder if he’ll score with Ozil out of the team?
Whose on the bench???
If Ollie, Alexis and Danny put pressure on their central defence they will fold like a pack of cards. The players should give Ollie the ball to his feet and run off his feeding passes.
Just a few minutes and they already look suspect at the back.
Ches, Bellerin, Walcott, Merts, Flamini, Rosicky, Gibbs…
Where the feck is Akpom???
Substitutes: Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Héctor Bellerín, Per Mertesacker, Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott
How are you Kev???
Good question Kev…
Forster off badly injured at Southampton…
Lloris off injured too….
The NUFC backline are suspect. Today its a match for tippy tappy short passing movements in which Ollie should be the main man.
We needed TR07 big time for this match.
OOOOOLLLLLIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!11
His 15th goal this season now. And he missed nearly three months.
There seems to be a good understanding between Alexis, Ollie and Danny. They are getting used to know where each one is and usually find each other quickly.
OOOLLLLIIIIEEEEEEEEE with his number 16
Please, replace Chambers for Bellerin!
Hi Coach….
All good up here…
How’s things down there?
Arsenal need to pass the ball around quickly and shortly. They must refrain from over the defence balls which is playing into NUFC’s hands. Or long balls tbh. If we play short passes and quick movement we would murder them. Literally.
We are ok Kev. Just spoke to PA. He is watching the game as well. He said Hello to you.
🙁
bollox
There goes the clean sheet. Grrrrrrr
we should be more careful. and keep possession. Where the hell was the marking.
NUFC are up for it atm
How are we doing Devil, just back in from a walk…
Our shape, our concentration and fluidity have all gone down the drain.
Spuddies are 2-2 now.
Coach, say hello to Pa, for me…
Maybe our legs are going to go?
Wenger may have to make some early substitutions?
In the first half we were ok. not overly good but we did well enough to race into a 2 goal lead courtesy of Ollie. we were playing into their hands a bit with over the defence passes and long balls, but we were never really threatened.
But now our shape, concentration etc have gone down the drain. we are just running around like headless chickens. we need to get our discipline back.
Dear oh dear
Legs to go???? fucking hell they are pros. And its only the 60th minute.
We need subs yes………to get some organisation back. Bellerin and TR07 any day for me.
there goes the nose again.
wow……point blank save from Ospina.
Walcott might be an interesting option…?
TR07 needs to come on…!
Well 90 minutes effort in Monaco, with all the associated travel, whilst Newcastle had their feet up, could have an effect Coach..?
Sounds like the Barcodes are causing a few problems then….
the players seem as if they are total strangers.
Final ball is awful.
we need to stay calm and disciplined. We are being outfought in every department atm
snap- Cabella top player!
you must surely rate him now. 😉
🙁 one sub left to make a difference….
you have a point regarding Monaco Kev. But that was Tuesday as well.
Theo an option??? I would prefer Bellerin in front of Chambers. We need cool heads not ones who run into blind alleys and dont give a fuck.
Les hang in there….
last minute…3rd goal
Flamini is an accident waiting to happen.
Why is Ollie on the flanks??? Danny should be there on the left. Thomas on the right.
We are making Cabella look a great player.
Top save Ospina
Blow the darn whistle ref….
well done boys!
finally
we have survived.
that was a bloody TORTURE.
4-3 to the scums
All over Ts?
Lucky penalty at SHL…
Anyone want to write the match up for tomorrow?
Backs to the wall stuff today ! Thats what you call living life by the seat of your underpants !!!
All sounded a bit too close for comfort!
Still 3 points are 3 points. History will not record how poor we seem to have been in the second half, nor how dominant we were in the first.
Game over, move on……
Come on England 🙂
Good to see we can graft a result out Micko….
Chambers: his level now is under zero!
Ramsey seems a little fool in the pitch: Misplaced, running after the ball, always late, without clarity, tired.
Very poor second half.
Hope Debuchy will be fit soon.
Alexis and Cazorla need a rest
Well done tsgh? close of an heart attack on the second half
Jm, maybe sometimes the result is more important than the performance?
I think today, after being knocked out if the CL, was one of those days……
Ireland is in the top now, rico.
I think that England must win for 15 or 20 points
No doubt the critics could pick holes in our performance today, but considering the efforts that most of that team put in, in Monaco, all the travelling involved, not least the slog up to Newcastle, I think that that was 3 brilliant points…
Coquelin, what a warrior, smack on the hooter and he still fights on…
Yes Coach, you were right about Bellerin.
Tbh I was thinking of Walcott on the break, but I suppose 1-2 is better than looking for 1-3 and finishing up 2-2..!
rico, when the going gets tough……well you the the rest, have to say we do make life hard for ourselves sometimes.
tsgh, Cabella…..top quality diver you mean ! The ref wasn’t having any of his antics.
I will do the match report boss.
Hey JM, voce esta indo para o disco esta noite? 😉
Try 26 JM, Ireland have it in the bag.
Wenger should have rested Sanchez we would have got as much from him today if he had stayed on the bench and come on as a sub.
Jm, England need a miracle….
Micko, it’s tough for me to say much as I didn’t watch, but today I only cared about three points… 😉
Devil – thank you, that’s kind….
33 now Micko, isn’t going to happen. France are all over England… Think it’s yours….
Micko, Cabella is only little… it takes little for him to fall over… 😉
JM- 3 points. we still held on so… lol
I can only imagine how the train ride to Euston or St pancraes will be like…
Micko since Ireland are winning…
blob:https%3A//vine.co/4165e92a-46ea-4860-aee5-870c620e1d52
Shame the scums managed to hold on to a win.. well done to Kane. He isn’t a gooner by any chance ?
allez.do you translate in Breszilian.
No I will not going to disco tonight
More chance of Arsenal winning the Champions League rico !
And the Reds go marching on on on.
tsgh, he’d better watch out, a mad Aussie will be coming for him.
oh… that aussie is probably dreaming about Ramsey. lol
🙂 Micko, it’s all just kicked off… Love it…
Rugby proves that technology works….. Footie needs it…
Hahaha tsgh, you’ve just reminded me of a scene out of Alan Partridge…..just don’t ask, I’ve got a slightly warped mind.
warped mind? I could have guessed. 😛
rico, earlier today the wrong player got sent off for wba after 2 minutes, he was pleading his innocence but the ref wouldn’t have it, all he had to do was ask the fourth official to look at the monitor, the game wouldn’t have been held up as a penalty was given…….plain crazy and plain stupid !
Micko, the ref was following the script. 😉
It’s not fair to always blame the ref it’s right but not fair it seems the idiots have a hard game.
Job would be better than game
he he he Joe. was that a compliment to the refs? 😉
Interesting how La liga bosses look after their own in regards to fixtures…
Joe, what are you trying to say, spit it out man !
Exactly Micko. Rugby has it right. No play ever stopped, they just let the end result take place and then the review. It’s simple and things like what went on today would be easily remedied…
As Paul Whitehouse would say ain’t refs great.
well, we reach the 60 points! Incredible!
Who believes this last December?
Well done Ireland…..
Not me Jm..
Inbox boss. Hope you like it.
the match drained me today. good thing i have a good heart. Pa told me he had to watch another game with 20 minutes left. Good thing he did. Even he was amazed at how we were playing.
2nd half ratings should not be over 5 imo. And I feel I am being kind.
4 points behind the chavs???? 😮 😮 yes they have two games in hand, but who is to say they will not loose them or drop points.
19 more points then JM
I am hoping for 24 tsgh
I am hoping for 24 as well. But i am realistic. I just hope we win the FACUP and sneak 2nd spot. If we were to win the EPL??? Well I would be over the moon.
But…..feet on the ground mates.
I read a report about Cesc’s 2nd half of the season’s syndrome. And there seems to be a pattern similiar to AFC and Barca seasons in the Chavs from January onwards. And it told me the following…..
1) maybe AW has been right in not buying Cesc after all. he knows the player more than we do
2) if the chavs were to loose the title then we can rightly lay the blame on Cesc for our capitulation season after season when he was here.
3) Ozil and Cazorla are more durable then Cesc over a whole season.
Got it thanks Devil…..
Never wanted Fabregas back anyway…. Sulky little git!
I have a slight mistake Rico……if we were to count Ollie’s Charity shield goal that would take his tally to 17 not 1 6.
Now I do not know if that counts as well.
With Coquelin, Cazorla and Ozil performing as they are now I believe that Cesc would have been in difficulty to claim a place in the midfield 3. But I think he would have been much more better than Jack and Flamini. Especially with Rosicky and Aaron beside him.
Ok devil, I’ll try and remember in the morning 😉
Why do some people think Giroud is not good enough for Arsenal it beats me is it he’s lack of pace?
I think it’s really hard to fault Ollie right now Joe.
Ollie’s lack of pace becomes evident if he is used badly. For example if he is given the ball in front of him to chase then when he comes against fast players he will suffer and hence people will think he is not good. But if the ball is played to his feet and players like Ox, Alexis, Danny, Theo and whoever is playing on the wing or behind him do good runs then he is worth his weight in gold.
He needs to be used well and the team has to play to his strengths. Same with Mertesacker. If we play a high line with Per he gets caught out. but play deeper and we are playing to his strengths. MAybe today the team should not have pushed up quickly since this made the midfielders play over the defence and long balls quickly. Had Per been playing we would have had a longer team shape and therefore made it possible for short passes and quick movement.
But three points is all that is important.
I just wish to see Giroud and Alexis score over 20 this season with three or four other players getting over 10 goals.
I doubt even Arsene expects Ollie to do an Anelka or Henry Devil. He’s a big fella, a target man who right now is seriously performing well….
watch this mates…….a tirade against Mike dean. 😆
lol…..forgot to post the link
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2015/03/21/10057572/one-of-the-most-arrogant-men-ive-ever-met-pearson-slam?CMPID=FBUK_150321_PearsonSlamsRef
Funny how Ollie is performing better than Costa right now 🙂
I bet the man city manager thinks the ref was great today I am wondering how the other two teams who benefit most from the refs in PL will get on tomorrow.
Joe, what about the Newcastle penalty shout? Lol
You mean the dive, Kos got to the ball first and he didn’t touch the player. 🙂
If that was a penalty then I am better than Ronaldo and Messi combined.
The ref had a good game today.
Just asking… Another ref may have given it…
Playing devils advocate really…
Theo did not get on today. Shows were he is in the pecking order.
If Gnabry gets selected for the team and comes on as a sub instead of Theo till the end of the season it will tell us all….Theo included….where his future lies.
According to NN its Podolski plus cash for calhanoglu
But he was born in Germany Devil, so that’s a bonus…. 😉
I’m off for the day. Night guys…..
Chuba Akpom bought his Mum a new car for Mothers Day…
Better than a card…
I just can’t help it…
But as much as I enjoy watching Hector Bellerin playing so well for us and gradually developing into a top quality right-back.
I just have this nagging feeling that once Hector reaches the required level, that those cnuts Barcelona will begin tapping him up, unsettling him and ultimately luring him back to Spain…
Don’t worry Kev, by that time he’ll be no good after Christmas. 🙂
Morning Adam.
Bellerin….maybe he will learn from the farce that was the Barcelona “career” Cesc had that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Morning Kev, Scott, Adam and all…
Agree Scott, perhaps he won’t sulk and throw his toys out the pram either…
Let’s hope not, Rico lol
He’s going to be one hell of a player, if he isn’t already.
Yes, that Cesc is nasty isn’t he? Feigning injury, refusing to play, wanting to go home. And useless after Christmas too. What a waste of money.
He sure could be Scott..
Totally agree Adam..
Adam, all true mate, all true.
I can’t believe I actually wanted him back at Arsenal. Just goes to show.
Good morning Lovelies and hunkies.
I agree with you all regarding Cesc. But let’s be honest…..he is much better than Jack, FLamini and Diaby combined.
Morning Devil…
That’s not difficult… 😉
Adam, at some point, we all did.
I can admit it.
The more I learned, the more I disliked the man.
Devil, it’s never been an issue of his talent….he is a genius.
Pity he’s such a petulant little shit to go with it.
Scott – I didn’t. 😉
You’re right, a few didn’t, Rico 🙂
I’d forgotten there’s an international break now, thought it was next month. The next two weeks will be a bit of a bore…. 🙁
Rico, I’m off next Saturday for two weeks golfing in Thailand, so I shall survive.
Yes, I’m bragging hahahahahaha
Honestly, I wish I could get out of it as the timing is terrible but that’s another story lol
Sounds lovely Scott. Didn’t know you were a golfer…
Who said I was lol
A mate goes every year and invited me along.
It’s worked out cheaper than a two week holiday in Oz!
I wanted him back as well but why so hard on Jack he’s problem is injuries remember he is out at the moment because of the fact he was butchered by a tackle from a manu Orc. (not punished)
Adam, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a big slap of irony in the face on a bright and sunny Sunday morning.
Morning all.
🙂 Scott…
Morning Micko, it didn’t go unnoticed here… 😉
That’s why Cesc is better Joe, because Jack isn’t playing… lol
Neither is Cesc! He’s on the pitch but, he ain’t playing!! Lol
At least Jack has an excuse, he’s injured.
Cesc’s footballing brain is miles better than a fully fit JW imo. I am not talking about injuries. I am talking if both were fully fit. Technically and tactically Cesc is a mirage for Jack
I still have to be convinced by JW. The more I see him the less I am impressed
rico, this darn winning streak we’re on confounded by the International break next week, what the hell we gonna have to moan about, you got your work cut out.
Devil I said it a week ago….Jack is no better than three years ago.
Same as Theo….Szczesny as well.
Rico asked me could it be the coaching and yes, it probably is I’d have to say.
It can’t be coincidence.
Micko, you are right there….
New post up now…