Morning all.
When it comes to Arsene Wenger v Claudio Ranieri, the Frenchman often wins in the domestic challenge but back in 2004, it was the Italian who came out on top in the Champions League quarter-final when Wayne Bridge popped up late in the game to knock Arsenal out. That hurt didn’t it!
That was a big game, today is equally as big. Win and we’re really in it, lose and I think we can wave goodbye to the league title. An eight point gap would be too much to chase down at this stage of the season imo.
Leicester are in great form, whereas we’ve been suffering the usual kind of wobble we so often do but last week we were back in the goals. This match is big, Arsenal need a big performance.
The visitors have pace all over the pitch, they have players who can be ruthless on set-pieces and they have a better defensive record than when we battered them 5-2 at The King Power Stadium. Confidence is high and they are enjoying themselves on the pitch.
How Arsene Wenger lines the team up and deploys the players is key today. A gung ho midfield and we’ll lose. A slow Mertesacker in defence could play right into the oppositions hands too because Vardy will eat him for lunch and if we are to believe reports from yesterday, Gabriel is injured. Mind you, the big German was in defence for the last game between the two, as was Mikel Arteta who had to replace the injured Flamini after just 20 minutes.
Tippy tapping football around the box won’t work, pace and firing shots at Kasper’s goal is the way imo. He’s not as good as his Dad was so put him under pressure and watch the mistakes unfold – she writes whilst hoping….
One of the best results we earned last season was at The Etihad where pragmatic football won the day and it must be tempting for Arsene Wenger to set up in a similar fashion despite being the home side but one of best performances this season was against Utd when we started fast, got at them and scored three first half goals! Then in the second half, played a strong defensive game.
Back to the King Power Stadium game, a game in which Alexis Sanchez was superb. Having gone 1-0 down which nearly became 2-0 but for Vardy’s header hitting the bar, Theo Walcott made it 1-1 with a calm finish.
After that, our little Chilean took control. He was all over the place, causing the opposition defence all sorts of problems. He was running at them, around them and even out jumping them as his second goal proved. He wasn’t afraid to shoot either and fired a rasper past Kasper for his hat-trick and he could have scored more. Vardy did make the score 4-2 but then Ollie came off from the bench to make it 5-2 in what was a super game of football. End to end stuff and I think it’s fair to say that we can expect more of the same today.
Arsene Wenger has said:
They are in a position still where they think that they have nothing to lose. But once you’re on top of the league you can think that now you can lose what you have.
I believe there is still a long way to go. It was very important for us to win (last) Sunday and I think we are back to our normal level.
I guess he might have a point considering the way we have surrendered top spot so often!
Ranieri has hit back by saying it would be a disaster if Arsenal don’t win the league this year.
Mind games win little, I just hope Arsene has done his homework and gets his side playing today because anything less than 100% won’t be enough….
Massive game as far as the Premier League goes and it’s one we simply have to win..
I reckon we might…..
Morning all,
Half time I was feeling really down, Arsenal 1-0 down and SA 17-4 but it all ended up pretty great in the end.
The ref’s are biased. How can the same ref officiate Totts vs City in both legs and with dodgy decisions the first time.
Quite scary if “someone” said something to Atkinson to officiate properly. Does that someone have power over him, surely not the PGMOL
Rico. That is somewhere between and outrage and a joke.
New post up now.
Morning Adam. No foul on Ramsey says Atkinson. No FA action… Disgraceful.
You could be right Kev re Merts, thought he had a good game too…
Yeah, me too Rico…
When Chambers came on, I thought that that was our lot, but he did ok.
Maybe BFG helped him through it..?
Morning Rico and all. I saw gas meter thief Danny Murphy on MOTD2 last night along with an emaciated Tim Sherwood. While tripping over themselves to belittle our team and citing poor girlfriend-beater Simpson as some sort of scapegoat they conveniently forgot to mention that he had also committed several atrocious fouls in the first half during the interval of rotational fouling on Sanchez. Also, extending the hand of understanding to Drinkwater for the attempted leg-breaker on Ramsey, ignoring Mahrez blatant penalty attempt to con Atkinson and that thug who tried to remove our player’s head for the foul that lead to the last goal was a trifle one-sided, passing swiftly over Kante’s hand to ball penalty shout of course.
Actually with all their off the ball body blocks, trips and general unpleasantness I would say they are the dirtiest side I have seen at the Emirates all season.
Can’t entirely agree there Ts, he launched a scathing attack on Wenger for his managerial skills which I know plenty of us do too but his face is on TV and he’s paid a lot of money. I really hope he struggles and for a long time…
Morning Kev.
I worried when Chambers came on, but he surprised me and for the good…
Any idea if Akpom and Hayden are permitted to play next weekend?
You are have a point Rico. But from an Arsenal point of view he was much less critical of us…
He always said Arsenal tried to do things the right way; of course being on TV he had to have the right sound bites…
On playing the right way, I meant he tried to get Valencia to play an attacking style of play…
Morning All…
Morning Rico…
Koscielny will have two weeks to rest and prepare for ManUre.
With the FACup next weekend, Wenger could go again with BFG/Chambers as his centre/back pairing…
Welbeck to start up front, see if he can get into a real scoring groove against Hull…
He could be vital during the run-in..,
I didn’t. Any guy who sits on the sofa having a go at other managers for a living when he’s never managed in his life is a bit shallow imo.
Now he’s finding it hard so maybe he’ll understand a bit more..
Play football the right way?? What, by kicking Reyes every time he could and not only him…
Lol Rico…
I felt sorry for him. As he was mostly honest unlike jamie C and his ilks…
Also at least Gary tried to play football the right way.
Morning Ts and all..
I was quite enjoying Neville’s poor run…
Good morning Rico and all,
Danny Mills on Talk shite is not pleased we won; one would think he is a spuddie the way he was raving about the sperds win this morning.
Pleased to see Neville get a win for the (non-existing) British coaching contingents overseas.
Where did the ball go when he ran into Monreal.s leg? Did the ball go at an angle away from goal? Did Vardy poke it too far to catch it? I say this because if it went away from goal then Vardy continued his run straight so that he could catch Monreal’s foot. If it was too far in front for Vardy to get to it is it a penalty?
On another point: how the hell was Clattenburgh so sure that Sterling handled the ball in the Shitty game? He didn’t even seem to ask the linesman if he saw it as a handball.
That Pub Team win threw a ball of shite at my previously happy celebrations
Night rico. Am whistling, do you know how happy I got to be so I can whistle?
Am a happy gooner! That stoppage winner was the best feeling i’ve had on arsenal this season.
Ladies and gents, did Wenger actually do tactical changes for the game? The subs were spot on!!
Coq for Walcott was balls. Getting rid of a potential red card while injecting attacking force. That old man should pull such rabbits quite often :-). Am a happy gooner, my date is jealous arsenal makes me more happy :-p
Night Rico, enjoy your evening..
Ha ha…
I’m off for the day so night Bt and all..
That fook for that, thought I was heading for a long overdue visit to the opticians… Lol
Kidding, I edited after hitting the 9 in error. And I knew it was 36, honest… Lol
It’s your eyes Bt… Lol
I wish this group of players would stop all the selfie stuff and concentrate on their football. Yes, a great win but it’s not like they’ve won anything….
Did u edit that or are my eyes worse than I thought…lo!
I doubt it Rico, we would need another game for that…
Can’t believe just twelve pl games left… Can we get 36 points, that’s the question…..
Fingers x …..lol
Thursday/ Sunday kicks in now, hopefully it’ll have an impact… Lol
Frightening really re the refs. I always thought Clattenburg was one of the best but this season, he’s been awful in the games I’ve seen him officiate..
If ever there was a time for technology, the two matches today have proved its now…
If they’re the top two refs,what does that say about the rest…
As for the spuds, having seen them a few times this season they look like a well drilled side….
I guess we will have to bring them down to earth with a thud at the Drain.
Looks like the Pep announcement is backfiring….
Sssshhhh Kel lol
And he and Atkinson are England’s best refs Bt. What a joke…
Spurs very tough to break down, pains me to say it but credit were it’s due.
Match at the Drain is going to be fun..
Ffs….bloody spuds
Your right Rico, never a pen and Yaya…is a lucky boy.
Never a pen Bt..
Toure shouldn’t be on the pitch.
1-1 and hope it stays like that…
Haha…..
yes, with the help of the referee…
never fault, never penalty, two wrong decisions in two important games.
Without MU and Liverpool at the top, totts is and will be aid… Leicester also because it’s nice
One up to the spuds
Pen for the totts
hi there!
I’m calm now
A very good game with a poor ref, hope we answer with wins, points and quality next 12 games.
Totts are playing well. I think they have a more confortable set of fixtures until the end of the season
I reckon he had a rollicking….
Think you’ll find that’s the other way round Orf… Lol
Potter. I think so re Atkinson.
Great result but it should not hide the fact that we are still shot shy , we don’t work the keepers enough especially when we have so much of the ball. they were 10 and still we tried the old cross to Giroud and spurned shooting chances. Both subs scored which is good but we could have should have wrapped it up earlier. Not commenting on Atkinson other than I reckon something was said at half time .
I know it’s the most effective time to protest but if we pulled a Liverpool reaction like last week I’d be p*ssed off
Toure haha!
Superstar!
So Unaytid next!
Think we need a repeat of the previous game blitz em early in fact if we play that fast start take ur chances football that we can play it’s hard to see us not becoming champions!
Haven’t been consistently good yet tho but we gotta take our chances when they present themselves, today I thought it was gone for us and why? We fluffed chance after chance! Wish we had gone for little pea wen he left Unaytid he would get so many chances.
Great match to remember for a long time folks.
Hope this remarkable win will give our boys the confidence to finish the league with the title.
Please, Rico, you owe everyone free drinks here, just bring them.
Was that a protest by the Villa fans for ticket prices?
Most left on 65 mins… ??
But I bet the media rave over Liverpool Silky.. Lol
Even Toure scored… Lol
Aren’t they just Rico no fight!
And ya how long will he stay?
Bad move for him!!
And quite frankly Agbonlahor is lookin like he’s gonna be the biggest lard arse in prem history!
He’s the “local lad” this mystical super being capable of driving the crowd to a state of delirium whilst winning games singlehandedly.
Still just a diver imo
Kel ur a man after my own heart! Hate to see players injured but;
Hart or Aguero for a few weeks
Lloris or Kane for a few weeks
We’ve had our share
Villa are dreadful Silky. Can’t see Garde staying for much longer…
6-0 haven’t been watching it! Waiting for 16:15
Liverpool 5-0, goodness, and Villa have been on a great run…
Hope you feel better soon Andrew…
Afternoon guys, I must have watched Danny’s winner a dozen times now… Lol
Just home from the match. A game of two halves with Martin Atkinson the deciding influence in both.
Villa taking a right old hammering.
What a rollercoaster! Laid low with chest infection but that cheers you up! It made up for the late Liverpool goal. Leicester could have been down to 8 players as well as dodgy penalty so well deserved!
Silky… 3 each or 4 each will do in the city game 😀 and a load of injuries.
Ts was hoping it would be tough for Liverpool and hear Jamie gargle-shit try to play down how terrible they are but 2-0
later Dg
Has to be said, hats off to leicester, although we dominated the game, and showed them just how hard it,s going to be for them to win the league, you can,t take their victories over Spurs,Stoke,Liverpool and City away from them, but today they might of just came up short to the Champions in waiting.
Already can,t wait for United, need to be more clinical though.
Have a good day all.
lol Scott- well no need for sleep.
Silky- just mute the sound so you dont hear the scouser biased commentary
Silky, 1am here.
Time for sleep…….it won’t be easy lol.
Night all.
Phenomenal…Best game we have played for ages. Ox Monreal and Giroud great games. Credit to Arsene for good game changing subs. Foxes played well but we were deserved winners. So pumped for the team maybe this accelerate us to title. Need Spurs and sheikhs to draw now.
Scott it’s 2pm ere 1 min into game n I’m yawning maybe Liverpool will put me to sleep also no beer ?
I’m not slow ?
Was reading the posts after the game loldiggity I’m buzzing first day back after a week off wit flu mite go on d beer lol
Comment of the year…..a mate just asked how we Aussie get to sleep after that.
Another chimes in…..watch the first ten minutes of Liverpools game.
BOOOOOM.
Haha kel
Might as well throw welbeck on ffs we can’t hit a barn door
Good call my dear man
The biggest yessssssssss, Ive gave in a long time
Title hopes still alive
2 subs got the goals!!! Well done Arsene
Danny Welbeck, super sub
Ginge, nothing surprises me lol.
I was wrong.
It wasn’t a belting but hey, job done.
The League truly is now ours to lose, IMO.
That had old Fergie all over it…Well done AW for that sub. it must be said…
\well done Welbz…
Scott- re. the Bets in South Earnern Asia re. the 10 men… very very interesting.
High scoring draw later just for entertainment value lol go on dweeb wat a guy better than him celebrating at old tranny
Well that was stressful!!
COYGS.
Happy Dayz ?
Still can’t believe it.
Off for a walk with Fido. With a spring in my step…. 🙂
Catch up later…
Yessssssssssssssss
Told you so 2-1 it is
2 points in it
Judge us in May!!!!!
3pts next…
How many times has that happened against us? So we’ll deserved
DAT GUYS WELBZ
Still, our two goal scorers are shite!! ???
Fuck I should have known better… A fergie player scoring the winner on injury time… 🙂 😛
O Danny boy the pipes the pipes are calling
Bloody awesome finish!!
What champs are made of.
Welbz………..
Come on!!
Dat guy welbz
He only bloody well did!!
Danny boy…..
Danny you baby
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Toothless….. well done Leicester
How only 4 mins added on I don’t know should be about 6 tbh.
What a save
Great save by kasper
Funny how we can not hang on with 10 men like other teams do
Would have been easier to score.
How did he miss??
Its not going to happen for us….
I saw the replay Scott. Shocker, one which should catch the eye of the FA.
Welbeck on. He couldn’t could he??
Rico, it was a deadset leg breaker.
Just below Ramsey’s knee….
Ten massive minutes in our season…
Might as well throw welbeck on ffs we can’t hit a barn door
Campbell Arsene, come on….
Alexis is having a mare in front of goal..
That is 12 shots off target and only 1. Embarrassin.. Theo did well to blast it in. Now we need to find a winner. A draw is no good
Omg sanchez that was pathetic
Giroud has been very good today.
Drink water should be off
I missed that bad one by Drinkwater. A straight red card tackle…
Apologies for my rant earlier…I have neve, ever been so filthy over a game.
Anyway, let’s do this.
We MUST.
I’m so stressed out. Hahahahaha
Now watch the ref revert to type…
Feoreo
Yeah baby, there’s the cross
COME ON!!!!!!!
Get in da FUCKKKKK
There’s your touch Scott.. 😉
Yessssssssssssssssssssss…
We need a touch of magic.
Is it in us…that’s the question.
Giroud sleeping there
Great cross from Walcott, where the heck was a guy in the box?
Zero spark in this team.
A draw ain’t good enough
Difference is Fergie United would be peppering crosses into that box and long shots
Agree Brad. Maybe Elneny for Ramsey too. At least he shoots…
Bring Ozil off for Gods sake
Kitchen sink time
Ox needs to come off too for Campbell
So toothless.
Odd change.. Hope it pays off…
Come on, free shot
Coyrrgs!!!!!
Ffs ozil wake up
Bring Walcott on
Sure Atkinson will even it up.
If we do not win this we have a bunch of floppy dicks
Oh don’t worry the ref will even this up soon enough…
I was going to comment, get at Simpson after his booking. Too late ?
Ref now trying to show he’s not a cheat.
Lol
Pity you didn’t bet on Leicester a red Wavy
Not denying that Scott. Just saying it was bad defending.
Making vardy beat him outside the box is pretty basic defending, instead he backs off and let’s him in the box.
Bloody heck! 🙂
About fucking time
I give up with this. It’s like we don’t care. No urgency at all. Ox and Ramsey are passengers again. Oil is anonymous and when he gets it tries too much and gets caught out. Alexis is a shadow of his former self. Doesn’t look like he has the beating of anyone. How Wes Morgan is bossing us AGAIN is beyond me.
Leicester has us exactly were they want us… I can’t see a way back into this for us the quality isn’t there today..
That’s a yellow, surely if not a pen
Did we have a shot on target in that half? Cech saved us twice before the penalty. About time we turned up.
Dead leg for Kos..
Big money wagered in the Far East that we wouldn’t finish with 11 players on the pitch!
I’ve got the 1 right now come on Arsenal give me the 2 required to make my and our day!
Kos off for Chambers… Oh dear oh dear….
Chambers on for Koscielny…
We’ve lost this…
And no booking for Kos either Scott..
Def pen for us Bob.
Just seen the Leicster penalty, and Monreal maybe should haven’t stuck his leg out, but Vardy deliberately ran into him and fell over, no penalty to me…
Atkinson is just a fcuking useless cheating wanker
But if the ref had given the foul Lewis, the rest doesn’t happen.
Lewis, it WAS a foul on Ozil, so we should’ve been taking a free kick, thus no break, thus no dive and no penalty.
Same handball given against Sanchez that wasn’t given for us in the box
champions win this game.
Another cheating northern ref. Leicester players not booked for bad fouls yet our players are. Totally corrupt
just listened to David Pleat, saying the past 12 arsenal games Atkinson has officiated, has arsenal win 5, lose 5 and draw 2, now I don,t know what that means, but lets not get too bogged down with this shit.
If were good enough, we should be winning this match. some of our big game players are not in yet, no excuses imo.
Why has monreal let him in the box?!
It was a foul on ozil but…..
How many niggling tackles from behind and the ref plays on
Giroud is doing a good job but needs help.
Özil, another big games, another anonymous performance.
Sanchez, way off the pace.
Ox, few glimpses but gives away possession to easily.
Everytime mahrez or vary get the ball our defence shit themselves.
Not looking good folks.
I’m so fucking tired of this shit… my tv is on mute the rest of the game as I’m exhausted listening to the pro Leicester commentary…
Red card coming up guys get your money on it.
Lewis, this referee has previous, but ultimately its down to Arsenal to take their chances, and so far we haven’t…
We’ll see if this team has balls now. Let’s go and rip them apart…
Yet we can’t blame the officials according to plenty of Gooners.
Biggest joke in history.
Handball.
Ozil was bloody manhandled.
Giroud as from a corner.
BFG literally had an opponents arms wrapped around him.
Play the fuck on!!
Fucking Hardy cheating cnut..
Perfect weekend effing SA and Arsenal.
Spot on Kev..
Had a look at our penalty shout, and I thought that Kante moved his arm towards the ball.
So penalty to me…
But we know all about this referee, a serial cheat…
They’ll pick us off now
Won’t be surprised if we’re down a man or 2 today
How morgan gets away with crawling all over the back of Ozil I don’t know…
We’re gonna get a red card in this game it’s a fucking cert.
Vardy is a cheating git too!
How the fuck are we not taking a free kick 20 yards out at their end?
Fuck Atkinson.
Fuck officials and fuck the game.
I sit up to watch pricks like this decide games with the mere blow of a whistle…or not.
Ozil should have had a free kick just outside the box before they broke..
The need for tv referral
I stand by my last comment Atkinson is a cheating fucking cnut
Referee you cheating cnut
Atkinson you knob!
Agreed kev.
Cheating Cnut.
Sanchez is having a shocker.
Ozil not quite at it today
Phew
Atkinson = Double Standards
our big players not looking on it today.
Too much for Arsenal to pay Lewis.. Lol
He’d have got to the ball Ramsey couldn’t Kev.. Lol
How much do they want for mahrez and kante?!!
Come on lads. We’re the better team, make it count!!
Agree Rico…
Despite Theo being in the midst of poor form, I’d have started him against Huth
We’re so weak at challenging the 2nd ball. Too many players switching off and hoping a team mate does the dirty work.
You win that one then Bt. Lol
Could do with Walcotts pace up front imo.
I”ve Townsend and some other geezer…lol
Great defending by Coquelin…
We’re gonna have chances in this game, as are Leicester, it’s all down to who is less wasteful
Better from Ox..
Smudger and some other guy I don’t know his name Bt.
Agree Kev…
lollllllllll
So Sanchez handles the ball exactly in the same fashion as the leicester defender. And they are given a handball. cant believe it.
Great save by Cech. That is what a top keeper does…..win you points.
Cech is fantastic.
Rico, this is gonna be end to end
Who is on Sky Ri o?
Cech…. saving us again
I hate listening to Talk Rubbish
Great save Cech.
The commentator went into hysterical mode when Leicester came close.
Not much different on Sky Sports Kev.
Listening to Talk Rubbish, they’ve got a right pair of pillocks commentating
I didn’t see much if the protest today…
Arsenal against 11 plus the ref as usual
That was a fekking penalty all the way.
I like today’s attitude. I hope we keep it up for 90 mins
I’d say that was a penalty….
COYRRG
How is that not a booking? Fucking refs!!
On it Scott…lol
Wonder what Campbell has done wrong…. Lol
Thanks Kel.
Morning guys, great post rico… so here we go decision time… COYG
Bloody shoot!
the kick off!
I’m going to my proper place
catch you later
I do Devil, can’t see AW preferring Merts myself.. Also, Gabriel would be on the bench if not injured..
BT, we will win 3-1 and Aaron will bag a hat trick lol
Morning, looking forward to a good game, should be counter meets counter, might well be a game of who wants the most, that said I worry about Girouds form, Having not scored in the league since the Liverpool game, it is a big concern. big game from Ramsey too, needed.Has yet to it for me this season, among others.
Good day all.
Who’d have thought this would be the biggest game of the season so far?!
If mertesacker costs us this game then the Wenger Out cries will be heard.
We should have too much for them though. Lots of goals.
COYGS!!!!
Can Ospina play central defence?
Real shame about Gabriel, they’ll just get Vardy to stand next to the BFG and lob balls over the top! Piece of piss!
Still think we should win 2 or 3-1.
Don’t let us down play like the champions you know you should be Arsenal.
Make us proud.
I dont believe he has a ‘slight’ hamstring injury Rico. Per is captain so he plays.
Its Cazorla we need atm. he would have settled our midfield.
🙂 Bt, neither do I..
That answers my question then Devil..
Hope Merts has a great game…
Rico, I don’t think the motivation/half asleep theory just applies to the early KO.
Funnily enough Gabriel has a hamstring injury. I was looking forward for him and Kos to continue their partnership together.
On a happier note…..Elneny and Welbeck are on the bench which is looking a bit stronger than of late.
Any news on Gabriel?
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies….
Arsenal team: Cech; Bellerin, Mertersacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud. Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Flamini, Elneny, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck.
Scott, give me your prediction and I’ll put a quid or two on it, I do think we will win.
Think it will be very similar to the away fixture – we will win, but there will be a few heart thumping moments. Ozil, Sanchez 2 and Vardy for LC.
I don’t either Bt, it’s a pathetic excuse. But the results do suggest Wenger has problems in motivating the team early in the day, and of course the players are often still half asleep…
Sorry Rico, I never bought into the early KO myth myself..
It always has been Bt, you are right. Not many times have we won home or away at lunchtime…
Have we ever kicked off at midday before?
I thought the early KO was a fact, I must have been wrong…
BT, what about Wenger belting Ranieri all bar once…does that not apply?
How about us spanking them last time?
We will belt them.
I hope so Scott…
What about the early KO voodoo Scott, does it not apply anymore?
We will towel them up, Rico.
A spanking Scott, for who? 😉
The IPad said meaning.
I say morning…
Meaning all.
Let’s get it on.
A spanking is happening.
Wenger at it again re Kante… Why does he do it….
Watching the cricket Jm, England are doing their best to lose the ODI series…
morning all!
Back to the football!