Morning all.
There’s often an exchange of words between managers before a match, certainly one as big as today’s. Not face to face of course but through the media. Just watching Arsene Wengers press conference this week suggested that those asking the questions were trying to provoke him into spitting out his dummy. The question, which was asked more than once, referrred to the balance of power in North London and has it shifted to the white side. Wenger defended his club by quoting last season was the first time during his reign that Totts had finished above us, but quickly added that they’d not won anything, yet we had and in some style against the newly crowned league champions. Pochettino is quoted to have said he wouldn’t swap the progress his team are making for an FA Cup Trophy as his focus is on bigger things.
Wenger is right, today’s opposition haven’t won anything for a long time, a long long time but the difference between the two clubs is that they look more likely to win the league than us. Not that I believe they will any more than us because all the time there’s big money in the game with top quality managers who aren’t afraid to spend it for the greater good, they’ll be the winners.
The two managers showed respect towards each other, one for being at one club for what seems like a 100 years, the other for simply being a good young manager.
That’s where the respect should end. This is a North London Derby and it’s about time Arsenal won one in the Premier League. 2015 was the last time.
Most of us realise that Arsene Wenger’s better days are far behind him and it’s time for a new face but for now, we’re stuck with him. We know the squads he builds these days are far from being as good as they were during his early years but even so, every now and again they are capable of spring a surprise so today better be one of those days. Players themselves should know what this fixture means to the Arsenal fans. This is one of those rare occasions when The Emirates will be rocking, well it should be. Wenger won’t be able to criticise the support after the match, not if he and his tactics win the day.
Lose though and he’ll want a big hole to swallow him up because they’ll be no hiding. It’s down to him and him alone to select the right players. It’s down to him to send his team onto the pitch with a plan to nullify Spurs strengths. It’s down to him to ensure we have no weaknesses and it’s down to him to oik off any player who isn’t up for playing or is continually making errors. Mind you, he’s only got three subs.
After that, it’s down to the individuals on the pitch to play for each other and play for the red and white shirt which represents our great club. If they can’t do that in this NLD today then they shouldn’t be playing for The Arsenal!
Over to you Arsene, for once in your old age, don’t cock it up!
Morning Rico, a nice balanced post considering the relative positions of both clubs, relative positions in as much as where our squads are, how they compare and who looks the most likely to have the more impressive League campaign.
But we can’t ignore silverwear and Pochettino can dance around that point as much as he likes but as far as I know he’s won zilch in his managerial career.
Wenger had his silverwear drought constantly rammed down his throat until 2014, which doesn’t seem the case with the Spuds, who last won a trophy in 2008 ( I actually thought it was longer than that!) when they beat Chelsea in the League Cup final.
The point still remains as that will be 10 years come the end of this season.
I’m off to London soon, it’s been a few years since we beat the Scum, so let’s put them back in their box. COYG…
Morning all!
Morning Kev. Well said. These media darlings don’t give other club managers as much stick as Wenger gets….
You going to the game?
Morning rico, House. At last the international break is over, although I did enjoy the Sweden v Italy match. Come on AW, pull out a masterstroke, I don’t know, maybe make Jack Wilshire captain, and let him give the best pre-match team talk in years! I fear another Watford, hoping I’m wrong and we play with guts and determination. If bloody Kane scores again ….
Yes Rico, leaving now, park up and get the tube to Finsbury Park.
Days like this remind me how much I despise Tottenham.
Lata
Morning all.
The “shift” in Power really doesn’t mean a lot unless when club is winning trophies and the other is not, but when we are second best in North London, we are certainly a long way off being the best in England.
A win today won’t mean anything as far as title aspirations are concerned, but we must beat them anyway.
A defeat today, 7 points behind them, and even the top 4 cup is possibly a dream. If that happens, just another year of apathy awaits. Amazed we got to this.
Morning Andrew, Kane likes playing us eh. Let’s hope his tweaks his injury problem and goes off…
Bring us good luck Kev, enjoy…
But like Cup Final, just when you don’t expect it, there could be a good outcome. Want 14 players standing up and being counted.
And the manager for once, he needs to get it right today. Not just sit on the bench doing nothing if things aren’t going well, only getting up to moan at the fourth official…
Agree there Scott but as said in the post, they look the more likely out of the two sides to win the league right now. Not that they will imo… Not this season anyway.
No question they’re more likely than us, but then, Australia are more likely to win the Word Cup than we are of winning the League 🙂
Morning all,
There’s no such thing as a bad question………just a bad answer !
Sounds like a perfectly legitimate one to me.
Do we have the ability to bounce back after a bad defeat, we’ll soon find out I guess.
Perhaps Mike Dean could answer that one Micko… lol
rico, they’re also more likely than us to win the Champions League right now lol
🙂 Micko..
Dembele and Sissoko against Xhaka and Ramsey….. Does Wenger ever learn? This constant team selection in the dark is ridiculous.
Only one pairing winning that battle Obi…
Rico, I guess AW is relying on Ozil and Sanchez tracking back as they did against Man City…….
Wish Spurs doctors were in this hospital with the,speed of their recoveries
Ha ha Obi… I was hoping Jack would start this one..
If their players were injured in the first place…
Dean really is a dreadful referee.
…but is Mike Dean really a referee or just plays one on TV? I can’t believe he’s an EPL ref.
What a header…
Xhaka deserved his yellow, but it came a few seconds after Vertingjen ram straight through the back of one of our boys.
Dean is pathetic.
Get the fukk in there!!!!!
What a goal.
Alexis You Beauty…
Scott, be grateful Dean didn’t book Xhaka earlier, otherwise he’d have been off..
I know Rico, but why wasn’t Sanchez booked for stopping Alexis-he was last line of defence?
Bloody Dean lol
Our boys are again raising more questions than they’re answerering.
We’ve been superb thus far.
Let’s hope we keep it up.
Jack on for Xhaka???
I say yes, or even Elneny (is he on the bench?).
Commentators can’t shut the fuck up about the question of a foul on Alexis for the 1st goal.
Scott, If you mean the ‘foul’ which led to our opener, thought it was a bit soft to be honest, not that I’m complaining..
Also, Mustafi was just offside I reckon, but it’s about time we had the luck…
First goal: off-side? who cares 🙂
Second goal: a clear goal. The arm could be off-side
The problem: Dembele and Sissoko must stronger then our midfield. hope they will be tired quickly.
Atmosphere @ The Emirates sounds electric!!!!
Mustafi has had Alli in his pocket, and Koslasnic and Bellerini are neutralizing Dembele and Sissoko because they are really pushing up. But Mustafi controlling Alli is the game changer….. I can’t believe they are doing it with Defense
Merts reaction to Mustafis opener was great..
Need the same level second half, 2-0 will mean nothing if we slack off…
Keep your heads Xhaka and Alexis because Dean won’t hesitate to send one or both off…
Has anyone else noticed Cech is kicking out more today?
Thank bloody goodness!!
Ramsey is dreadful..
Rico,
He’s lost his footing 4-5 times.
That’s his problem because he’s been good apart from that-stupid bloody mistake to make but he’s just changed boots.
Yeah Scott he only changed one…..lol
Disagree, some of his passing and fancy footwork has been really poor.
Obi, as long as it’s the right one hahahaha
He and Xhaka are edging their direct opponents.
That’s the main thing.
Get a Xhaka off else we will end up a man down!!!
I would have taken Xhaka off, really can’t risk 10 men. Maybe Wiltshire for X next.
Ozil is knackered…
He has worked his arse off, Rico.
Best game he’s played for us for a long time.
I know..
Iwobi first touch nearly cost a goal.
Looks like they’re all knackered.. ?
Ozil MOTM. Well done.
Love the Sanchez dive!
Mustafi, Kozzer or Ozil MOTM.
I wouldn’t even argue with Alexis.
So many superb performances and it’s been a joy to watch!!!
I’ll give the nod to Mustafi though…
Mustafi must have been a close second, thought he was outstanding today..
Well done Wenger and the boys, a much much better performance and a great victory over that horrid lot…
I thought Mustafi. Edging Ozil. Some great blocks, defence so much better with him in on that form.
I really enjoyed that!!!
Let’s all enjoy it for what it was, today.
Tomorrow, we can ask why the hell it doesn’t happen more often 🙂 🙂
What a performance!!!
Great performance boys. Three or four MOM performances. Excellent from Wenger too. 🙂
Kozzer and Mustafi work perfectly together when they’re both aggressive.
Too often, they’re toothless but when they show some starch, they are a superb pair.
Why don’t our front three hustle opposition from start more often? Set the tone straight away.
We beat the scum…………convincingly! Who thought we do that????
One of the arsenal’s better performances. How satisfying.
The Arsenal will win the PL Title again b4 Spurs?
As someone once said..it’s a funny old game ! So Wenger escapes yet again and for the spuds just another false dawn with nothing for the cockerel to crow about .That win over Real Madrid looks like one of those anmolies that happen from time to time Poch’s posers caught them at the right time but have now lost two games on the trot and look nothing like the world class side that some have claimed them to be .In the greater scheme of things the result today means little because neither side will win the league but it makes that top 4 finish look more interesting now albeit that Wenger claimed it’s not important ! Somehow I suspect that the old man from Alsace will be changing his tune on that if he can cobble together a few more good results. I wouldn’t bet on that happening though after all we have been here before .. many times…
Jeff, you can be happy for just one day… it’s allowed ??
Deep Joy !
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Hope this comes out, because it is a cracker
😆
https://twitter.com/GeoffArsenal/status/931279290062086144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2017%2F11%2F17%2Fspurs-an-obsession%2F
Think we need to win the quadraple to make Jeff happy !
😆
Who cares what cracks may be covered up by todays performance……………let`s just look smug and absorb it all `till the next game !
I`d love to see a crying spud now as it`s a great way to deal with erectile dysfunction…………………not that I suffer from that, but other people may who I know ! hahaha
This is how astronaults feel when they are floating !……………………………………………..Le Cog Space Station to Ground Control Jeff…………………..do you need beaming up ?
😆
I’m always happy when we beat the spuds Rico .Anyway I was never convinced that they were the nailed on certs to win today that some claimed. My prediction about them being dodgy on defending on crosses proved correct so well done to our lot for exploiting this weakness. As Pep said the spuds are really just the Harry Kane team and if he fails to perform they struggle.
Second goal: a clear goal. The arm could be off-side , seeing as Lacazettes laces were apparently earlier this year that was a good evening out call for us . but we sucked them in blew them out.
Same here Jeff, re both..
Oh and thanks Rico for the post !.
Going to attempt a ten min` plank………………usually no problem, but as I`m floating I may need my missus to sit on me to keep me on terra firma !………………………
Pleasure Lc.
I thought planks came in feet and inches. Oh, and human form of course… lol
https://twitter.com/mertesacker/status/931906937133977600
Two players are missing from that celebration…
A good day to be a rugby loving English Arsenal fan… ??
Technically there`s four players missing from the photo, but it`s a narrow photo and they are probably just on the edge !
😀
I was being ironic.. lol
I know and I was being technical, which takes great mental strength !…………..I have plenty today !
😆
I suppose our Aussie Gooners dont know whether to laugh or cry today !
🙂
##BREAKING NEWS##……………..
Mike Dean`s been fined a weeks wages and put on the transfer list by Pochittino !
Lc, he sure ditched them today..
Night guys..
Morning again.
4 bloody hours sleep and off to work AGAIN.
I hate this time of year 🙂
Just saw the highlights of the Rugby-boy, we were really done over by the the officials lol
2 disallowed tries.
2 ridiculous yellow cards minutes apart and no luck at all, but the Arsenal win so who gives a rats 🙂 🙂 🙂
LC
Are you the Late Rik Mayall in disguise? Always a joy to read!
Why can’t The Arse be always like that? They tore Spuds another one. And the crowd noise sounded electric, Highburyesque even!!!
What those performances by Ozil & Alexis mean I’ve got no idea, whether they are going or staying in January or beyond?
All I know is Tottenham Hotshit is Arsenals’ bitch again?
Mike Dean????
Kiwi Dick Turpin refereed the rugby. Stole 2 tries from the Oz & gave to the poms, inbeteeen standing round between scrums paraphrasing the rule book into the mic & reducing us to a Thugby League 13 for 10 minutes. What a load of boring dross rah rah has become. And people actually pay money to see it, & buy expensive turps to get drunk to it.
Anyway, the 1st test starts Thursday & that’s a Starc reminder of what’s Cummins ?
GG, Ozil and Alexis out to impress before the January window?
I hope that’s not the case.
The cricket worries me, as everyone is tipping us to ruin the poms.
We’ve hardly been dominant these last few years.
Aussies robbed of two tries? Rubbish. Don’t be sore losers, your boys were outplayed and deserved the thumping…
Ashes, I reckon it’ll be close but not having Stokes is a big loss…
Morning all..
Robbed.
Bloody kiwi referees 🙂
Morning Rico.
Are you still buzzing?
Morning Rico. Is Stokes out of the Ashes officially then?
Morning all.
Off to look at a caravan as it`s so bloody sunny down here that it`s officially been stated that Cornwall only has one season………….Summer !……………………had an Hornet or Wasp ? ( big bugger it was)buzzing aropund in my gym testerday !
🙂
Morning Scott. Not really..
Morning Adam, not entirely sure but I don’t think he’s over there with the rest..
Just checked Adam, a decision is to be made this week. I guess if he’s charged by police then he won’t join the squad but if he’s cleared which he might be since that new witness came forward, then he’ll be on the first jet out… fingers crossed the cps see sense…
New post up now.