Morning all.
Not quite as good a Dennis Bergkamp’s incredible goal against Newcastle a few years ago but Mesut Ozil’s winner last night was not far behind. As Craig Revel Horwood would say ‘A MAZE ING’!!
It really was very good and what a way to ensure Arsenal are through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League yet again. Rather annoyingly, Basel couldn’t hang on in their match to earn a draw with PSG, who like us, left it late in the game to snatch all three points.
2-0 down in the first fifteen minutes of the game with goals from Jonathan Cafu and Claudiu Keseru it looked like we’d blown our chances of topping the group once again but unlike in so many matches before, Arsenal fought back to secure victory on a cold night in Bulgaria. Three points in the bag and we are sitting pretty at the top. All that’s left now is to get something from the PSG match at home, and get a victory against Basel away from home. Sounds easy doesn’t it, but it won’t be.
Arsenal do make things difficult for themselves don’t they? On Saturday it took a penalty from Sunderland to wake us up and last night, two quick and early goals conceded through dreadful defensive work, left us with a hill to climb and climb it we did.
Just five minutes after the home side went 2-0 up, Xhaka made it 2-1. Mesut Ozil played the ball into the box, Giroud couldn’t get to it but the Swiss international fired the ball home into the corner. Just before break, Olivier Giroud made it 2-2, heading home a cross from Aaron Ramsey.
There were chances at both ends during the second half with Ospina making a couple of decent saves to keep the scores level and then just as I thought we’d mucked it up by dropping two points, Mesut Ozil showed what a wonderful footballer he can be.
Mohammed Elneny played a long ball over the top into the path of Mesut Ozil. Out came their keeper, Ozil chipped the ball over his head, controlled the ball, left one defender sitting on his bum with his fancy footwork, left another stood still and then tucked the ball home into an empty net.
Game over, but boy don’t we do things the hard way….
Morning all
I keep saying that at all costs we must keep Ozil and Sanchez and buy two more great players to implement the side so that we are a real threat.Jenkinson is not first team quality and Mustafi is still a bit iffy.Ramsey is not the player of old but give him the benefit of doubt for the time being.Hopefully all the extra energy consumed after giving away 2 sloppy goals will not drain the boys for Sunday.
Overshadowing the victory was the news that Alexis Sanchez is facing tax evasion charges in Spain with the taxman trying to take all his dough or a million euros of it at least. Interestingly, the only players so far hunted down are Barcelona’s although Real Madrid’s sins are far more unsavoury as a French court is going to find out. The original story broke in El Periodico
Just what we didn’t need, chaising a game for two thirds before the big one on Sunday.As you say we never do things the easy way.
Yet again, thank`s Rico.
Here`s the goal…………………great defending by the underated french hunk to set up Elneny`s superb pass ! 🙂
Think I`m right in saying that a win against PSG will mean we can play the U18s against Basel as the group will be won because of our head to head with PSG
http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/ludogorets-vs-arsenal/goaaal-mesut-ozil-2-3-let-the-bodies-hit-the-floor.html.
We certainly don’t do thinks easily Kelsey.
Hopefully those out injured will be back for Sunday, especially Bellerin and Walcott..
Rico you are on fire this morning? Do you have Alicia Keys playing in the background? 🙂
It must be said it was a very well taken goal… arguably the most compose goal Ozil has scored in his career thus far.
Good morning all btw…
The more I see the goal Lc, the more it looks offside… 😉
Spuds group is tight, all teams are still in it, so they wont be able to field a weakened team tonight………………………. a few decapitated limbs would be nice, a bout of leprosy, ebola, anything will do, I`m easy !
A Madrid have the best record so far of winning all 4 games !……………whilst scoring a massive 5 goals !…….but at Dev` would say it`s all about winning, so would we be happy for Simeone as manager winning every game 1-0 ? 🙂
No Ts, but I am making a chilli…. lol
Does top spot always matter ?…………………………at the moment it is close in a few groups and even being top we could face either Bayern / A Madrid / Real Madrid / Dortmund / Juve / Sevilla if we`re unlucky !…………………….or if lucky………,Napoli / Benfica / Besiktas / Monaco / Bayer Lev / CSKA / Porto / Copenhagen………..I say lucky, but you know what we`re like ! 😆
Cross overs are always difficult to see especially when it’s a long ball.I think he was onside but I would not have been surprised if it was given off. I wonder if their papers are querying the decision and showing whether Ozil ‘s centre was off the pitch.
Looking at the CL tables and my previous comment I honesstly dont think it matters whether we are 1st or 2nd in group and I know it wont happen but for health and safety reasons I would play the last two CL games with our weakest team available !……………..Am I missing something with who we could face ?……….because to me it looks like pot luck whether we play a so called easy team or a hard one !……………….save the players !.
I think it matters Lc, gives us a small chance of getting a better draw in the next round… Although as Bob said last night, knowing our luck we’ll get either Dortmund or Real Madrid..
potter
I`ve looked and stopped the action quite a few times from my link of Ozil`s goal above and he`s definately on side !
Cant see it matters Rico from the teams I have put above, it will be pot luck !
Take a look yourself from the tables, we cant face an English team or PSG in the next round.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/champions-league/table
Just watching it again on TV, great timing of his run…
Really good stuff from Ollie to win the ball back so that Elneny could put Ozil through…
I think some of you are beginning to warm to the underated hunk !. 🙂
But we could get Benfica, FC Copenhagen or Sevilla if we come top and they finish second in their respective groups LC.
Potter- RvP was flagged offside in similar scenario against barca in his final season
I suppose the only good thing about topping the group is that we wont face Barca !…………………..unless they capitulate in the rest of the games !
When do we ever get an easy draw Rico ?………………..well we got Monaco, but they beat us ! 😆
Two observations on this great goal. Ozil did the same little chip that was saved a few days ago when the goalie got a hand. This time it came off but he could have chipped big both times and probably scored direct, Bergkamp would have dinked it. I still wanted him to shoot when it came down!
Secondly, a lot of credit to the played who came running back, was it Giroud?, to rob Luds of the ball and start the move off. Surprised that player got no credit on tv.
Rico, you didn’t really tuck in before the goal did you?! Hoping you only left H House for the night, LOL.
Lc, no game will be easy, just some might be less hard… 😉
I didn’t Andrew, just logged off ready for when the game finished… Phew.. 🙂
Haha rico, you made just the same point about Giroud chasing back, as we cross-posted. It was after 86 minutes and without it, no goal, couldn’t see one coming. So the big lump scored one and started another. When he’s had barren spells, its because Walcott, Ramsey, Ox, whoever haven’t been getting down the line and giving him any service! Hail Giroud, he’s not France’s main striker for nothing 😉
Although Ramsey started poorly I thought he got better as the game went on, though where he was playing remains a mystery. His pass for the Giroud header was pure class though. But there are a certainly some recurring things that Wenger might want to have a word over. Xhaka’s recklessness in the tackle could cost us big as could Sanchez’s constant bitching and petulance. Jenks cuddling his opponent and dragging them down could well merit a quiet word too, though it seems to have become a permanent fixture of his game.
Morning all.
A good come back and credit is due for that but a worrying trend of conceding goals before we kick into gear seems to be occurring. That’s fine against these lesser teams but I fear against better ones we might not be able.
Got to be aiming for top of the group, as Rico said we might get a slightly easier game in the next round. Plus it would be a psychological boost for the team as we always manage to makes a hash of the group and come second so it would show progression imo.
Hopefully the spuds are run ragged by leverkusen this evening!!
🙂 Andrew..
Agree re Ramsey’s pass, inch perfect and well executed by Giroud too..
Even Michael Owen, who appears to have a new head, said Ozil’s goal was great.
That worries me too Lewis. Many better sides will either shut up shop or just continue to take their chances. I thought our defensive play had improved, but it seriously hasn’t on last nights showing…
Ditto re the Spurs game, hope Leverkusen get stuck in to… lol
I’m glad you said that Adam, I thought it was just me who thought Owen looked different. I guess he’s put a bit of weight on…
Morning Rico and all again. This’ the one I was waiting for 🙂 I hope you’re filing income on the money coming from those sponsored posts 😉 I don’t think they”d allow you to post daily in jail lol
Rico. I think it’s a bit more than that. A touch of cosmetic surgery I would imagine. I still can’t stand the little creep though. 🙂
Ha ha Marshall, I was but then I was told I didn’t need to.
Cosmetic surgery Adam, surely not…. I can’t stand him either! 😉
He will just pay it off,it’s the Spanish way.
Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez faces investigation over fraud allegations regarding “actively withholding” £900k in t
Spain’s Inland Revenue claim the issues have arisen from the Chilean’s time at Barcelona where he spent three years before joining the Gunners
Alexis Sanchez could face off-field trouble amid reports the public prosecutor in Barcelona is opening an investigation into the Arsenal star.
The Chilean stands accused of attempting to defraud the Inland Revenue of €983,443 (£888,736) during his time at Barcelona.
According to El Periodico, the Catalan newspaper, Sanchez is being accused of “actively withholding” taxes, with relation his image rights.
Prosecutor Miguel Angel Perez de Gregorio has revealed Alexis failed to include income from the transfer of his image rights in both 2012 and 2013.
Sanchez was in action against Ludogorets last night in the Champions League when reports emerged
Instead, he is accused of “simulating the transfer of those rights” to an offshore company based in Malta, Numidia Trading.
He is alleged to have failed to declare €587,677 in 2012 and €395,766 in 2013, without including details of the company in his declaration.
It is a similar situation to that which saw both Lionel Messi and his father found guilty of defrauding Spanish tax authorities of €4.1million (£3.5million) in the period between 2007 and 2009.
And Bale is now on 600k a week net down to 350K,.
Spooky Kelsey, I was just reading that story… Funny that only Barca players have been found out…
Mental strength ! 😆
https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/793755454715359232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Shame we concede in the first place…. 😉
Am just glad we can afford to go in such games without Theo,Bellerin and Santi and have impact subs like elneny to come on and we end up with a result. Which arsenal is this?
Ozil reminds me of the American “footballer” Jerry Rice, when tested for speed he was very average, yet when the ball was in the air he outpaced every one. Ozil’s pace to the ball is awesome.
Rico, I think Ozil’s goal was better because of the run, the sneaky pace he showed, the touch and the placement. Basically he did a lot more than DB10 did.
Btw re Sanchez tax situation, forget it being just Barce players, why is it mostly South American players? Maybe they feel that they shouldn’t pay taxes where they do not live or are from.
Btw AW has had the Midas touch with his substitutions so far…… Ox, Giroud, yesterday Elneny.
Ozil reminds me of one of the muppets but he sure can play football and his stamina has improved immensely he originally never played more than 70 minutes at Real orfor us, now he can do the 90 with apblom
Good point Obi re South American players….
Evening Rico and all. Nippy out there.
Evening Adam, it certainly is….
Just sent you a pic Rico. 🙂
I know Adam.. ?
🙂
Think I’ll bid you all farewell for the day…
Night Adam and all…
Night Rico.
Le Coq, he’s such a wag is our blonde bombshell Rambo isn’t he !
rico, Ozil’s goal was so a-maze-ing it has to be up there with the best on Bonkers.com lol
You gotta love Spurs, they always some how manage to put a smile on ya face…Yiddo’s…Yiddo’s.
Howdy micko
The scum make me laugh
How’s you Malaga, long time no hear, I’d like to think we’ll give them a good kicking this weekend mate and send them back to their cesspit with a nice cup of tea afterwards, we’re good like that lol !!!
I’m good mate… Staying in Wexford till the new year… No sun tan this year.
We will hammer the shit on Sunday… Can’t wait
Malaga, we’ve all got our shorts on in Kerry, come on down, you know it makes sense lol !
Nite matey.
What was I syaing earlier today about the teams we could face if we come 1st in the group and does it really matter !………………………..at the mo` Bayern, Juventus and R Madrid are 2nds !………………1st or 2nd at this moment in time doesn`t make any difference !………………..we could easily rest players now, if we dont it could come back to haunt us !
The great news is the ever giving Spuds have still got a lot of work to do and cant rest, they have some tough fatigueing CL nights still left !………………we have a great chance here to rest players and I cant believe I`m the only one seeing it !……….alas, it is to common sense for Arsene with his eyes on topping the group and not looking at what`s happening in the other groups ! 🙂
How about some Spud misery to sleep on ?………………………Halloween may have been last night, but there`s plenty of Boo still around Wembley !
https://twitter.com/AFC_GLEN/status/793931225484378113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Spurs are on their way to Wembley…. ?
Tottenham’s gonna do it again………… ?
You can’t stop them……………………… ?
The boys from Tottenham……………… ?
The boys from White Hart Lane……… ?
The balance of power in North London and all that shit…. lmfao ?
Can we look forward to yet another St. Totteringham day in 2017? 2016 would be better, but you know, I’m a realist!
You’ve got to feel a bit sorry for the Y..s haven’t you? …..well maybe not.
Is Wexford really sunny and warm? In November?……I don’t believe it! Lovely country but it’s rarely warm, rarely dry and usually misty? I mean there are warmer destinations, although in fairness, not so many that are more welcoming.
Good afternoon to you all,
Who was the Arsenal player who stripped them of the ball, b4 Elneny passed the ball to Ozil. I watched it live/replays but I still can’t work it out who it was. It was a 1%er in the scheme of things but those efforts win Titles CL Cups, etc. Brilliant tackle, yet its all about Ozil. Mind you, it was a gr8 goal & I actually thought he wasn’t going to stuff it up when he was weaving his magic 🙂
rico, that DB10 goal v Geordies is my favourite DB10 goal. I still can’t work out how he did it 🙂
Spuds would be fragile now, I hope The Arsenal smash’em 🙂
George, it was Giroud…
Morning all..
Morning Rico and all.
Morning guys.
Morning Adam and Scott..
Frosty start to the day…
It is Rico but warmed by the Spurs result last night. Seems the BL manager is destined for great things, or so I read. He’s got a good team playing progressive football. Compared to Pochettino’s Neanderthal tactics anyway.
What’s happened to Pochettino?
I thought he was going to be a super manager….has he not got the cattle, though he chose them lol
Indeed Adam. 😉
Who is the BL manager?
New post up now….