And so it began on a cold winters day in February, the boys had been told to rise and shine early for a 1pm kick off…..
As the referees whistle blew, it didn’t take long before Francis Coquelin picked out Theo Walcott down the right, he then played an inch perfect ball along the ground in front of goal and Robin does what you would expect him to do, magic!
With it came belief in the players, the perfect start and one we all hoped for.
Next up, Chamberlain and Rosicky combined well but our young Englishman couldn’t really get enough on his shot and Blackburns keeper gathers with ease. Already the pace of Chamberlain and Walcott was causing problems…
On the fifteen minute mark, it was heart in mouth time as Szczesny got caught by the studs of Modeste and had to receive a bit of first aid. Thankfully the big Pole was up and all seemed ok, the thought of Fabianski coming on at 1-0 was not what we needed or wanted! A deserved yellow card was handed out to the Blackburn player!
Soon after we got a free kick which Robin took, Merts got to it and his touch nearly found Vermaelen… Close, but not close enough….
Next up was a bit of good stuff from our other Englishman – Theo got into the box, cut his pass back for Tomas Rosicky who’s shot was blocked and Arteta fired wide after getting on the end of the rebound– much better from our winger than of recent weeks…
Chamberlain then went on another great run and after breezing past Petrovic; he earned a corner which came to nothing.
Merts was the next to go close after yet another corner but the big fella is still to get off the mark..
Nzonzi went in the book for an awful tackle on Rosicky, another day, another ref……
We were in total control of the game but at 1-0, nothing was guaranteed, we needed another, maybe two to really make us fans feel we could get a much-needed result.
On the half hour mark we have a penalty claim turned down after Walcott got his head onto a Chamberlain cross. Yes, you read right, Walcott got his head on the end of a cross. 😉
Robin then tried one of his cheeky chips on goal but it goes wide….
Soon after that we witnessed some sloppy defending, this time Koscielny is the guilty man and after a bit of pulling and tugging on the Blackburn player, he gave away a free-kick in a dangerous place and picked up a yellow card for his troubles!
Up stepped Pederson, wonderful free kick and 1-1!
Bollox I thought, why do we do it to ourselves!!
Shortly after, my stream crashed and when it came back, we were 3-1 to the good. What the heck I thought but I soon saw the replay and was thrilled with what had unfolded…
Song had picked out Walcott with a super ball, the winger then cut his pass back to Robin – 2-1 and maybe the nerves settled for a while…
Shortly after, Rosicky appeared injured on the ground but Robin played on, he passed the perfect ball to Chamberlain who then took the ball past Robinson in Blackburns goal then coolly and calmly slotted home.
Stunning goal, great composure and what a way to get off the mark in the Premier League….
3-1 and any nerves had to be fading fast……
All the talk this last week has been about two footed tackles and how they are not acceptable in the game and any such tackle would be punished with a straight red card. Well, Blackburn’s Givet must have been out of the country all week because his tackle on our captain was awful, it was the perfect example of what had been described and deemed to be totally unacceptable and no surprises when he received his marching orders.
At least he had the decency to apologise to Wenger as he trudged off!
Thankfully, Robin walked away from it unscathed.
Shortly after, Vermaelen saw a wonderful volley hit the woodwork and referee Andre Marriner suffered an injury 😉
Half time followed, and what a half it was eh, Theo grabs two good assists, Robin gets two goals and Chamberlain, well he well and truly showed why fans already call him The Ox, what a player he is going to be, he isn’t bad now eh?
The second half kicked off with us attacking the ‘North Bank’ and what a second half it turned out to be…..
Blackburn have a chance with Orr curling one towards goal which failed to trouble Szczesny and soon after we had another penalty appeal rebuffed by Marriner after a Coquelin went over in the box.
Moments later, Robin whipped in a corner which was half cleared, it fell to Koscielny and his touch was blasted home by Mikel Arteta.
4-1…. Yes, 4-1…….
As expected, we were all over the ten men of Blackburn, they didn’t have a clue what was happening or what to do about it and it wasn’t long before we made it 5-1.
Yet again, Theo was involved; he made a great run from right to left, looked up and found Chamberlain. The latter lost his man and slotted the ball into the bottom corner…
Finally our goal average was improving and we were moving away from the teams behind us and with it, catching Chelsea too, we may need these goals at the end of the season.
On the hour there was a bit of a scare with Vermaelen but after a bit of cold water and magic spray, he was able to carry on!
Chamberlain then performed more magic, he made a great run down the left hand side, made two Blackburn defenders look silly, played a wonderful ball in towards the back post which Arteta volleyed just over. Goal of the season had that found the back of the net!
Coquelin was the next to get in on the action, he supplied another perfect ball played in along the ground found Robin who of course, helped himself to a superb hatrick and take the score to 6-1!
With half an hour still to go, how many would we get???
Walcott had a chance to make it seven, but his shot went high and wide…
Chamberlain strutted his stuff again down the left but he gets snuffed out….
That was it for him, and this time as he went off to the bench there were no boos, no chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ – as on in his place came the old boy Thierry Henry….
Koscielny too came off and was replaced by Sagna and not too long after, Song got a breather, he was replaced by Yossi. (Weird one, especially as Sagna was now at left back – maybe Wenger doesn’t know what he’s doing 😉 )
The subs changed the game, everything calmed down and we took our foot off the gas, we’d won and the three points had been secured and that’s all that mattered.
We had another penalty shout turned down, Henry looked set to volley another Walcott cross home but a Blackburn defender got in the way annoyingly and then Vermaelen picked up a silly booking.
We had yet another penalty appeal turned down and Nzonzi was lucky not to be sent off for a naughty challenge on our old man Henry!
Just before the full-time whistle and to the cheers of the away supporters, Blackburn won a corner, not that they did anything with it though!
As we went into added time, many fans will have wish they stayed just a few moments later as the game ended in such a wonderful way…..
Thierry Henry tried to gift Robin his fourth goal of the day but our captain was having none of it. Instead he played the ball straight back to Henry, who with a little help of a deflection, made it 7-1….
Game over and what a day for Arsenal FC, the players and the fans alike…
If anyone says we only beat Blackburn because they were down to ten men, think again.
We were 3-1 up when Givet got sent off, maybe against eleven we would have scored more than seven, after all, Arsene Wenger always says it’s more difficult to play against a side who have had a player sent off……
Wasn’t a bad game was it, and after it Wenger hinted that Henry might stay a little longer with us, long enough to play one more match at The Emirates and we all know who that is against…..
Have a good day all…..
Good Morning all…
What a difference eh, couple of silly bookings picked up, sloppy free kick to give away for the goal but that’s being pedantic 🙂
Seven pretty classy goals eh?
Sadly though some will say it was only against blackburn, some will say we only won because we played ten men…
Poppycock, we started well, battered BB all through the first half and tbh, we let them off the hook in the last 20 mins, we could have have double figures….
Spare a thought for the BB fans though, we know what it’s like….
And, we shouldn’t forget, BB have won their last three away fixtures…
Morning all.good read rico.
What a game! Am still buzzing you guys. Morning HH,feels good to be home again. I missed blogging people. Anyway how’s everyone?
Rico,very good article….you had me worried with the title lol.
I just watched a replay,and picked up quite a few things second time around.
Song was great…his pass leading to the second goal was world class.
Rosicky….his best game in a long,long time.
Ox…..I raved enough last night…..he will simply be world class.
RVP…brilliant.
Theo…..absolutely fantastic.
Theyre just a few,but everyone was very good.
I reckon they can beat anyone playing that style of game….more direct and more speed in getting forward,it was lovely to watch.
Morning Kt – thanks
Morning Goonster, we thought you’d done a runner 😉
morning scott – thats what some will say in the red tops though, i did think about changing it but too late now…. you can only play against who you face….
Can’t really fault anyone after that game, only those who got booked 😉
Morning all. Just popped on quickly, but back on later. Good write up rico. Feels good to wake up the day after an arsenal match and actually look forward to reading the back pages of the papers!
Stan – good to see you back mate! Welcome home!
Catch you crazy kids later!
Hi rocky, catch you later….
We must have been good, even Lawrenson and Shearer praised us 🙂
Hey rico, me too, am having none of the ’10 men’ jibes! We were pretty convincing with against 11 too. People will say BB were piss poor, yes I agree but Arsenal made them look piss poor!
What a player the Ox has been this season, I kinda wonder who sits when the Gerv trots back from motherland…he’s not lighting the Afcons up either, Gervinho.
What can u say about chesny? I think his form has dipped terribly, he gets 3shots at him all match and concedes 1 or 2 per game..
That is the Arsenal that we love.its so refreshing to see us move the ball at such a freakish tempo.without cesc to thread through balls through walls of defenders we need to give the opposition no time to settle.most of our goals yesterday were quick breaks and B’burn couldn’t handle it.its fair to see that we are slowly ditching tiki taka for a more direct and incisive philosophy.
Rico,the obvious comeback is we were 3-1 up as you pointed out.
Anyone that didn’t enjoy that game would boo Santa Claus lol.
We simply played fantastic football.
Theo also had one of his best games because balls were played into space not to his feet.he was devastating yesterday.
Nedox I’d right,come to think of it…..Szczesney is down on form.
I don’t blame him for the goal at all,but some of his decision making making is terrible atm.
We know how good he is though.
hi nedox, spot on, we totally battered them, ten and eleven and we deserve plaudits for the way we played, now we need to play like that until the end on may…..
Cisse made a cracking debut for QPR – Early Bath 😉
Morning rocky, it feels great to be back. Rico,me “do a runner? No way. You are stuck with me mama bear. Hey what about DG AK and lee. I really missed my HH family.
I have been catching some barca games and i spotted a certain number 4 fella trying to hit ’em through balls like Songinho.its fair to say he could learn a thing or two from our no.17 😉 😉 …
Hi goonster.hope all is well.
re Ches, thats what happens when their is no pressure on him to perform, had we a keeper like friedel lurking behind him he’d step up….
the same can be said for other positions/players, some have no-one breathing down their necks, Chamberlain may just be the one that makes Theo….
KT,you’re right.
When Theo chases down a ball and has no time to think,he’s great.
I guess we all blame him for having no other weapon to beat a player,when really the team havent been making the most of his speed.
I wonder if it was an intentional tactical change.
Whatever it was,it worked.
Looks like you and me could be agreeing today Scott 😉
Not only Theo Kt, some of Songs passing was awesome, the one he played through to Theo especially – and great to see Theo running into space inside, rather than sticking on the wing….
Would be back in the evening. Got some “community service” to carry out. If you know what i mean*winks* see ya pals
Rico,everyone has dip in form every now and again.
I’d give Szczesney the benefit of the doubt.
All still around Goonster….
Had to happen one day Rico!!!!!!
Oxo is superb on the ball.like rvp he wasn’t dispossessed at all during the match.his dribbling technique reminds me of AA when he first joined us.it doesn’t matter if you play the ball to his feet or into space.i slaughtered wenger when we purchased him but am happy he is making me eat my words.at this rate he will be an assured first 11 player by March.
Ah, does that explaing your absence Goonster 😉
Scott, i’m not knocking him, he’s going to be one of the best in the PL as he gets older but he’s still a kid in goalkeeping terms and still has a lot to learn…
He will but still think he needs an older, mature, ‘been there’ keeper to learn from and i don’t mean either Fabianski or the waiter,,,,
Did you all notice the pure joy on RVP’s face after all 7 goals,and at the end of the game?
I might be looking too hard,but he looked like a bloke very,very happy at his club,and with his teammates.
Hey and AGAG too. Wow i really missed that hot mamachita. Alright am really off now you guys. Can’t afford to be late. See ya.
Rico,I reckon Fabianski would be a sensational keeper if he had Szczesneys confidence.
He always looks scared of making a mistake,and it shows.
Technically,he’s brilliant,but he always seems so bloody nervous.
We are no longer a possession based team.we should be making use of our pacey players by running at teams and playing through them before they can even bat an eye lid.there was so much off the ball movement and B’burn couldn’t handle it.no team likes facing that.i hope it wasn’t a one time thing and we build on that.rosicky was a huge catalyst for that perfomance yesterday since he didn’t dally on the ball unlike ramsey.Milan would not like to face that kind pacy movements when we face them.
Kt, i can hold my head high and say i was chuffed when we signed the Ox 😉
He makes too many blunders for me Scott, but thats just my own opinion, think he will leave in the summer, unless Ches has a run of really bad games, he won’t get a look in with us and he’s too young to be sitting on our bench – he wants to be polands number 1, and i think he knows to get that, he needs to play somewhere else….
We were awesome yesterday but i’m not going to get carried away with one outstanding performance – lets see how we do next weekend against a really in form sunderland side, the first of two probable fixtures away against them. Unless Boro beat them in the next round of the FA Cup….
KT,I think you’re a bit harsh on Ramsey.
As you said,the movement off the ball by the entire side was brilliant,and it offered more choices for the man on the ball.
Any midfielder would have enjoyed playing yesterday.
And Theo Scott, we need them both to sign and they both looked pretty happy yesterday….
Loved seeing Arteta plant a big kiss on Chamberlains cheek….. 😛
And Arteta showed just how much we missed him when we played Swansea.such a classy and elegant footballer.he had a 94% pass success rate yesterday.he also attempted more passes than anyone else on the pitch.
Arteta is just class,and you can tell he is enjoying being a Gunner.
This is who want on the pitch…..players who WANT to represent the club.
Scott i think that is a factor too but i feel ramsey dallies on the ball too much.i felt sicky ensured our tempo stayed up because of his quick speed of thought and decision making.i have no doubt ramsey will improve on that front but am not sure he has what it takes to be a worldclass AM.a CM maybe but not AM.
Le coq was fantastic too.he is Mr.versatility.he has a bright future ahead of him.
I have a sneaky feeling Ramsey will shock a few in the years to come, we can’t forget just how many games he has played in, he needed a rest..
imho he tries too hard, he’s always looking to make things happen but over the last few months our movement off the ball has not been at its best and Ramsey has limited options when he has the ball and thats why play is slowed
the difference yesterday was every player did their job and did it well….
So wish his volley had gone in, would have been an oustanding goal after the work that Chamberlain got through and then to find Arteta with the perfect cross to the back post….
Kt, agree, and he’s our for a good few years to come now that he’s signed a new contract…
Now we need a big Man Utd win today 🙂
KT,I agree totally….
Don’t think you were on,but i said last night that Ramsey has an expectation in his head of being the new Fabregas,and I think its affecting his game.
I asked people’s opinions on Ox possibly becoming a striker,with RVP playing as a true #10.
Any merit???
We’ll have to wait and see on that rico.his workrate is first class i agree but since returning from injury he has yet to convince me.pre-injury i was convinced he would be better than cesc.now am not so sure…
I’d leave Chmberlain where he is right now, especially if he’s going to do that every time he plays 😉
Like you say, only time will tell Kt….
From behind the goal it was obvious that there was only one place the ball could go in. Strangely we didn’t have Mertesacker there to make the ball go higher. We do seem to have a problem setting up against these free kicks . I wonder how much we actually practice with the players as opposed to a wall of cardboard dummies. ( no cracks please ) I bet we dont have a 6 foot 6 one to put on the end. Those of us that were there and even on the North ||Bank there were many empty seats called the goal before the kick was taken. Perhaps a man standing over the ball before the ref gets there might prevent them from shifting it a few yards to make an angle. But all in all a satisfying game that took away the anticipated revolt in the stands , yes they played a half with 10 but it really did not have much effect to the points just the goal difference.
Scott the sky is the limit for Ox.he can hit crossfield passes effortlessly,dribble past players,make solo individual runs,score,assist…basically the total package for an attacking player.i think he’ll end up as a false 9 in the end.
Morning all,
Ricolicious, outstanding post, i thought it was a book, but couldn’t put it down.
Welcome back Stan, been pretty quiet while you have been “AWAY” We have found a noisy neighbour from downunder who’m i’m sure you are going to get on well with, as long as you agree with him that is, claims he’s a Gooner but the “jury” as you know is still out on him. I think he must have been a Spud at some time but must of changed to us this year, and may have thought he had made a bit of a mistake, but i’m sure he’ll come good as long as we keep getting 7 goals every week. A blinding result and i never had a doubt :-d) Oh and Morning Scott 🙂
I so wish Arteta had scored after oxo’s great run.i was on my feet.that instant revealed just how intelligent the lad is as he was able to spot Arteta in such a crowded box.i am really chuffed for him.
Hi Potter, what was the atmosphere like at The Emirates??
Sad news yesterday re Notts Forrest owner Nigel Doughty, only 54 and died in his own gym………
Morning Steve, thank you kind Sir 😉
No golf today then? 😉
Boo!! Good one, rico. A match report that oliver would enjoy reading as well! And top of newsnow last night. Niiiiiiice!
Ramsey will get better. He already has the instinct for getting into good positions. Now, he must get clinical in front of goal. Like rico’s said a number of times, people tend to forget he was out for a year and Cesc’s boots are not easy to fill. It was a horrific injury to have to come back from. And he’s done it fairly well. Plus, he’s very young! 😉
Hi, KT. Rosicky was great. More of those types of performances, please.
Goonster, tut tut. If you behave yourself, you wouldn’t have to be away from HH, you know. 😛 🙂 Good to have you back, Devil’s been looking for you.
Hello, Scott. 🙂
Hi, steve. You’re being cheeky again. 😀
Boo to you agag, i hope oliver still reads, i know he’s very busy these days… Didn’t see that on NN, nice 😉
We had 3 inches of snow here last night, you’d have loved it – not 😉
Six inches of snow here rico, shame i was gonna cut the grass too 🙂
Morning agag how was your cake:(
I agree agag.ramsey gets into so many good positions much like Gerv but his composure is off at the moment.i do maintain though i don’t think he can be a worldclass AM to compete with the likes of özil/götze.
Hi steve.long time…
Hello Agag….good call on Ramsey.
KT……I am just trying to teach Steve and his crew how to look at the brightside,and I have big shoulders,but its hard bloody work…..Damn hard.
Don’t ever agree with me though,I’m used to flying solo lol!!!!!!
Still,the world is good for us all today!!!
😆 steve, but six inches in mens terms is only really three inches
😳
If only Arsenal could play like they did in the game against Blackburn week in and week out we could actually achieve fourth place and perhaps third and not have to start the qualifying procedure all over again then I know the fans would be happy, but we also need to bring in a couple more players one in the shape of a striker to support RvP and perhaps a defender as we can’t rely on Keiran Gibbs being able to get through a whole season without injury and who knows how long Santos and Jenkinson will be out for. So come on Arsene get the cheque book out and splash some cash in July.
Scott from Oz says:
February 5, 2012 at 11:03 am
KT,I agree totally….
Don’t think you were on,but i said last night that Ramsey has an expectation in his head of being the new Fabregas,and I think its affecting his game.
I asked people’s opinions on Ox possibly becoming a striker,with RVP playing as a true #10.
Any merit???
——-
Nope! No merit me thinks! Robin has scored tanker load of goals since 2011 and you want to convert him to 10?? If its nat broken, don’t fix it..
I think The Ox starts as a winger buh never plays one wing, he always gives you options either on the flank or roaming around the centre..sometimes I can hardly believe he was playing for a league 1 team last season!
Steve,all this talk if snow,but it was about 32 degrees here today…….no wonder I’m always positive lol.
Morning Scott, glad your back mate.
KT, welcome back mate, your just in time for the Champions league mate and i’m looking forward to it.
Agree Judith, we’ll see what next weekend brings… And the summer has to be a sepending one….
Had it and ate it, too, Steve. 😀
I like Ramsey as much as rico likes Theo, Scott. 😀 😀
KT, Rambo will be a different type of player. 🙂 He has not had anyone to learn from, really. Cesc had our greats to watch and emulate and exceed. No one can doubt he has a good engine; but maybe he needs to play with less fear; fewer fancy back flicks. he will learn. I am confident of it. Gotze is soooo good. he would thrive with us.
I can see gervinho being our ‘new striker’ 😛
Fair enough Nedox,though Robin does play pretty deep.
Rico,in Oz,6 inches means 12…..pretty modest lot here.
Ox has composure in front if goal……its gold.
If Gervinho finds it,he will be brilliant.
Not even this result can change the fact that we have an average EPL side….. Remember Blackburn were without the only true forward they have (Yakubu)…. They played they same way we would without Robin !!!! And yes they did play all of they 2nd half with only 10min men! And yes they are next to bottom!!!
Realism of our real problems was shown in the ridiculous substitution Wenger made!! Why leave RVP on once he had scored his 3rd? Our 6th…… on 62mins…to risk him for 30 pointless mins was irresponsible, but not untypical of a man who has quite clearly become a liability.. and it will become obvious in the rest of season!…7th place may be a blessing!
Oxo is what wenger wanted nasri to be except that nasri doesn’t have electric pace and guile of oxo and therefore had a tendency of tucking in most of the time narrowing our attacks.oxo can tuck in or hug the touchline to equal measure making us unpredictable on that front.its astonishing to think he was a lower division player last year 😮
ramsay is lampard with high work rate but he has not shot on him as lampard. he makes very good runs into the box like lampard but his ability to win the ball in midfield and his shooting is very average he needs personal coaching from wenger to improve certain aspects of his game. he also holsa on the ball for very long which again is something the coach needs to train him on.
the guy is gona be one of the best midfilders in the world, but he should be guided properly.
Where abouts are you Scott,
I can’t wait to see jack and oxo in the same team.
going back to to the question about Chamberlain, we all know we need a striker, what we shouldn’t be doing as a club is moving players around to suit our needs – Ox showed yesterday how destuctive he can be, why change him?
What Wenger needs to do is go and sign a striker to compliment what he is already doing, that has to be the only way forward…
oh, and get rid of a few too 😉
Atmosphere at the Grove , muted , cold , uninspiring really. As I said even at one up we were waiting for the set piece to concede, There is an acceptance of our position and the crowd is a lot more relaxed rather than anxious . We enjoyed the victory but in the main after the match the chat was all about Wenger’s mind games. If RVP was in the red zone then why not take him off after his third and why not give Park 20 minutes instead of Henry. There is a certain annoyance that the club are trading on the Henry experience and all the shops are full of Henry 12 shirts. Most of us felt that there was more use in giving Park a run than Henry being set up for another goal. At the end a few chants of “”Theres only one Arsene Wenger “” came up but only by a handfull and they were not joined in with. The crowd remains cynical.
KT,its astonishing to think he’s only 18 this year…..scary.
Agag i bet you had new shoes on yesterday i can imagine them next to my six inches—— of snow 🙂
I can see gervinho being our ‘new striker’
I thought we wanted to score goals. If the Ox and Theo keep up the form they showed yesterday, Gerviho will find a place on the bench.
Kevin, they maybe a poor side, but they have just had a run of good results, things were getting better for them…
They had no Yak – we had no Chamakh 😉
They had no Samba – we had no Squilaci 😉
I don’t think anyone is getting carried away, but i’m sure going to enjoy this win until the next game, I have to suffer when we lose, so I’ll enjoy this win…
Sunderland, we will see how we get on….
I noticed that the comentators kept on about the enpty seats in the ground yesterday but i Watched the city game and they had the same with hardly a mention.
Central Coast of NSW,Steve……about an hour north of Sydney.
Potter,not for one second am I questioning you,but the crowd sounded great on tv.
Ramsey,id play him a but deeper….maybe swap with Arteta and see how it goes.
Ramsey can be a worldclass CM imo.he has duracell bunny energy levels,can make astonishing passes and has a mean shot on him.he is also very good in terms of tactics since Arsene apparently passes tactical instructions through him.he just needs to calm down a little in order to make better decisions.he has talent to be a worldclass CM.
Thanks Potter – just as most thought it would be – i was surprised to see RvP stay on for the entire match too, especially with 30 mins to go and 5-1 up, what was the point… Perfect time for Park, just as we said yesterday in the comments…
That was all about RvP being on the pitch with Henry, for what could be his last game at home…
Says it all really….
Crowd pleasing? If so, i doubt it worked…..
Potter, i was being ironic about Gervinho 😉
Kevin, by ‘average’ what do you mean? Must u find grapes in the middle of oranges?
AW left RVP on to set up Henry for his goal! That’s why
That was down to the weather though Steve, it was snowing in Manchester 😉
Scott – i think they play a recording of the fans on television, i watched again on Sky Sports, it was really quiet 🙁
Kevin,I was excited by the way we went about our business,not about who,we beat.
There was much more enthusiasm and the workrate of the players was fantastic.
Plenty to like,but still a long way to go…….they have to back this up.
Darn good read rico, enough to warm the cockles of any gooners heart, not even an Antipodean could begrudge you that.
As for the blackburn fans, they got a day out in London, a treat and a half in itself, better than a fortnight in Bernidorm for most of them.
We just gotta enjoy days like yesterday.
When jack plays it always seems like he is in acres of space all the time be it against barça or leeds.that is a very important attribute to have if you are to hack it as an AM.if you watch the likes of özil/iniesta they have that attribute.just like the aforementioned two jack can glide through pressure.the only thing jack lacks for an AM is scoring/shooting but am sure he’ll add that to his game since he scored some ridiculous goals for the reserves.Jack has the potential to be a worldclass AM/CM due to that.
rico, move the deadwood, I agree. KT, a fully fit jack and a firing Oxo. That would be some combination!! 🙂 Steve 😛 I just bought new ones. Potter, maybe if we have a run of winning ones, the atmosphere would improve.
I reckon Wenger did the right thing keeping RVP on….i will explain why.
Actually,a member here did it yesterday,and everyone agreed.
We too often don’t go for the throat when in front,easing off when having an easy time of it,when we should finish the job.
The thought was that sometimes putting 6 or 7 past a side gets our next opponents thinking.
Good midfielders seem to come at a high price, the way the Ox can use either feet and has the ability to find a player with his passing his ability to get into forward positions and of course his shoot at will aproach has me thinking that he could be so much better than a winger. if he keeps this up he will be very hard to keep him out of the team. He seems to me to be a natural footballer i bet he could play anywhere and still be the same. I like the way he looks forward and not backwards, he’s direct approach is very refreshing and he is exciting to watch as well, He looks before he passes unlike his compatriot on the other wing, he has composure under pressure and although not massive in size can hold his own when the going gets tough, he launches into tackles and he shows he wants that ball, he is like a bull dog with a rag and will not be shrugged off. I am afraid that Wenger may not completely understand just what a talent he has uncovered
Steve,Wenger did buy him.
I just doubt anyone predicted the rate of his improvement.
Hi Micko, thank you, did you celebrate well? 😛
I agree steve.oxo seems to have fingers on his feet instead of toes that grip the grass making it so difficult to put him off balance even at full speed.i underestimated the boy and at this rate his initiation to top level might be against Milan just like jack against barça and cesc against madrid.am very excited about him now.
KT, IMO, I don’t see Ozil as world class yet, maybe because he plays in a team full of stars but he rarely dominates games like, say, Xavi or Messi or Gotze! I think he still doesn’t play well enough in Europe especially to be considered world class yet
Its well overdue agag…
Looking back though Scott, maybe if Park had got his chance whilst we were flying high he would have got a goal, that goal could have given him inspiration and confidence, then suddenly we could have a striker ready and able to come off the bench and make a difference…..
However, it may not have done 😉
Maybe RvP didn’t want to come off, he was enjoying himself, he sure looked like he was…..
Scott, £12 mill will be small investment to what this lads worth is going to be at the end of the season, I hope we have him tied down to a very long contract, as he will attract huge interest. I have been one of Wengers knockers just lately but this young lad has everything. But can he play 90:)
Steve i also like his fearless attitude like jack.the £15mil may end up looking like a bargain.its quite scary to think of how fortunate we may end up being having oxo/jack fulfilling their potentials with us.
steve – i actually think wenger knows, chamberlain has a good pedigree, look at his dad, both of whom talk the right talk, his head and feet are staying very level, he knows he has a long way to go and has improvements to make – and thats his words…
the comparrisons between him and rooney are only to be expected but the difference is, our boy is still a boy and already he is built like a brick outhouse – i think wenger has bought one of the best footballers England is yet to see….
Like i said earlier too, i think he will be the making of Theo, as daft as that may sound, i know it should be the other way around….
He is on a long contract and he wants to be where he is, all through the summer and before, both he and his dad made that clear….
And walcott is soon to sign a new contract I read, £80K a week…..
Rico, he has certainly made Theo take a look at himself thats for sure and i agee with you hopefully for the better
Nedox i think that has more to do with how madrid are setup.they mainly play through the wings and the team is built around Ronaldo.watch him play for Germany and spot the difference since the team is built around him and Schweinsteiger.also if you watched him against barca in the 2nd leg of the copa de la rey at the camp nou he tore Abidal to shreds time and time again.
Its funny Steve, i thought Henry would have that kind of influence on Theo but it seems a younger player has….. If that continues then we are in for some happy viewing….
Bale who????
😉
Steve,
I thought at the time we signed him that Ox was just going to be a star.
Seriously,tightarse Wenger forked out big dollars for him,so that in itself suggested the kid just must have been a freakish talent.
Utd went hard at him,but he chose us,partly due to our style of play and partly because we give kids a chance…..Wenger is responsible for both, so he deserves a massive chunk of credit for the kid wearing our shirt.
Hes come to our club by choice,and is getting his chance….he will be around for a long,long time,I reckon….hope lol.
KT, loks like the future has just started getting brighter, i was a bit like you in your way of thinking , but even the Coqu worked well yesterday The better sort himself out soon with Jenks and the Gerve’s iminent return.
I did have a few lemonades rico, when i left Wath was still propping up the bar !!!
I would have to think very seriously about giving Walcott 80 plus grand a week, rvp on the other hand would be a no brainer.
Anyway,guys….its that time of night.
Good evening all……great discussion,I look forward to catching up with the comments tomorrow.
KT…..no.
Ox wants to be there.
Hazard isn’t sure.
Id have both,but wouldnt lose Ox for Messi.
Big call,but hey,I’m always positive lol.
Evening guys.
Scott – did you see Chamberlain play for Southampton before we signed him? Just wondering what made you think he’d be a star and i’m not being awkward here either 😉
Scotty Boy , i hate agreeing with you but i will on this one 🙂 we have a huge talent there well done tightwad Wenger,
Catch you guys later .Going out to face the snow, i may be gone for quite somtime said Scott— of the antartic.
Kt – i have removed your comment as i am just finishing a post off, great minds eh, and we can debate it tomorrow 😉
Night Scott, laters steve, i know you are off to build a snowman…. 😉
Glad to help rico.that is such a tasty topic.
I started it earlier this morning Kt, then your comment came up so thats why i removed it, i thought spooky, Kt is thinking similar to me 😉
I can tell you missed my input.maybe i’ll write a post or two prior to Milan…
What was mixed with the lemonade Micko 😉
Wath, i did see he made a late appearance, he must have been thrown out the bar by then 😉
Television Crowd noise depends on where they put the mikes. In the Australian tours they always put pick ups near the Barmy Army to get the atmosphere. Always annoys me that the mikes at The Arsenal are put near the away support which is why they then report that the Arsenal crowd is quiet. If they put them at the North bank perhaps it would be different . Although it was quiet everywhere yesterday.
😆 Kt – everones input is missed when absent
only if you have the time, i know you are very busy with exams and they are more important… …
I didn’t know that Potter, that explains a lot about the noise comments…
Im done with exams for another 4 months.im all yours for now.
thats good news then Kt, bet you are fed up with the studying… the champions league posts would be good news then, thanks kt..
off for an hour, back laters…..
Afternoon Gooners.
Afternoon Rico.
Gotta say Madam, that was a damn fine post.
Nice to hear the positivity coming thru.
Gotta go. It’s busy & my public need me Mick.
Oh and calm down Stan. Good to have you back you crazy Dutchman.
Hiya Lee. COYRRG.
Afternoon AK, thank you – good to hear you are busy 🙂
Hi from me too Lee….
That’s dedication beyond the call of duty kev.
And stan has risen from the dead, whatever next.
Come on Villa 🙂
1-1 good…
2-1 🙁 Cisse the new boy….
yes, the new boy…
When Arteta plays we don’t lost…
Miss 14 games. Only 40 points in 24 games. How we can reach the 75 points?
Milan 0 Napoli 0 (75 mnutes…)
JM, we are now safe, maybe it will unlock the shackles to see us make a late challenge for a top four place.
To think this time 3 years ago Arshavin came into the team and drove us onto get a champions league spot, now we have a young lad in the Ox keeping him outta the team, could he do the same thing.
european press:
President of the federation wants Wenger after the European
The French Football Federation will not renew the contract picker Laurent Blanc, valid until the end of the European Championship.
Information is advanced by Le JDD this Sunday, which advances as the preferred body president, Noel La Graet for the position: Arsene Wenger.
And not any success in the tournament, according to the newspaper, demoverá the leader of his intention to change things in bleus.
The personality marked Blanc and his alleged independence within the Federation are not pleasing to La Graet as the fact that the staff team coach has become too costly for the coffers of the body.
Arsene Wenger is at Arsenal since 1996, but the consulate to be on the verge of order, dictated mainly by the lack of titles.
The options on the Gallic coach transfers are also not fall into the goto gunners, which thickens the clouds about his future in London, in Paris, but his reputation remains untarnished
Micko, we are not safe because there are now 7 teams (at least) fight for the same.
rico, Cahill is playing for Chelsea 😉
JM, 40 points usually guarantee’s safety and as for wenger, I live in hope, roll on the summer i say.
Hi JM, i’m watching him – and he should have been awarded a penalty against him….
Micko, long way to yet but if we play like we did yesterday, top four is definately on…
Come on the Mancs 😉
Rico, I’ve got all next week to come down from my high, don’t you worry about that.
I won’t come down off my high until we lose again and i’m hoping that won’t be for a bloody long time Micko 🙂
That performance was wonderful on the eye …..
Rico,
Just up checking scores……6 y.o. came in and stole my spot in bed,actually.
On Ox at Southampton….never saw him.
Knowing Wenger doesnt exactly throw the cash around,I figured the kid must have simply been outstanding for Wenger to throw so much to get him.
This and the fact Wenger has such a great eye,just told me he must have been aomething totally out of the ordinary.
Call it blind faith,if you like lol.
naughty 6 yr old Scott, bless him/her…. 🙂
Now there is an admission – especially knowing he paid similar money for Theo 😉
Scott, Southampton played Man united this time last year in the FA cup, it was on the box over here and the Ox stole the show that day, the mancs went on to win it, I think a lot of scouts stood up and took notice that day.
2-0 chelsea!
Onlu us lodt agaunst MU…twice!
What a cracker from Matta thats what Artetta should have done yesterday
only us lost against MU .. twice
bollox, 2-0
Micko,I didn’t see that game.
Rico,Theo hasn’t been a failure though.
If we continue to play the up tempo game we did yesterday,Theo can continue to show his worth.
Sean,my boy,is a future Gunners striker,so I better look after him lol.
3-0 🙁
3.0 chelski
we want 4
Micko, i saw that game too, just why i so badly wanted us to sign him and not Fergie – thankfully the player and his Dad made the right choice…
Can you see my halo 🙂
Hi Steve, no, we need the mancs to get a draw at least, if we are going to catch the chavs….
we can take points off of chelski but we cant off of utd
I recall a certain blogger on here wanting us to sign De Gea, what a idiot that person was eh… …..
Torres is like Chamakh, soon as he gets the ball he wants rid – i know which one i’d prefer though 😉
Mata is one we let slip straight through our fingers.
He was made for Arsenal.
Back to bed now…..catch you all later.
I can and it looks like its slipping !
Laters.
Have to agree again there Scott – wonders will never cease eh 😉 Night…
Hiya folks. Good afternoon.
Had a day full of Lego City and spent it also at the cinema with the little one. Puss in Boots was amazing.
Just back to see the chavs lording it 3-1 over Manure.
Is that a hairdryer I can hear starting up? Will be warm in the Man United dressing room at full time if they do not pull it back.
Night Micko, have a good one….
Hi devil, sounds like you had a lovely day, good on you…
Couple of dodgy Webb decisions went the way of the Chavs….. One a clear cut penalty for manure….
3-2, what a game of football this is, come on the mancs 🙂
What a bent ref , can they get 3 penalties Howard webb you are a disgrace
they should have had 3 steve, one at 0-0 😉
yes I had a really good day. Very enjoyable.
seems as if Manure are giving it a real go.
Hope they win now to keep the chavs within distance
Webb probably needs a new car
Good to hear devil…
I hate them both but def need the mancs to win….
Bus steve, a new bus – got to be big enough to get his ego in ….
This is hilarious 😀 Howard webb…
Perhaps Webb is a Gooner and wants us to catch the chavs 😉
3-3 hoorah 🙂
What a fantastic save by De Gea, just incredible…..
That Torres is shit is he Arshavin in disguise
Draw suits me 1 point each. 2points on both of them
Chamakh steve 😛
Great game to watch though, really enjoyed it and a good result for our club….
need another draw tomorrow too steve….
For the moment I do want to go 7th. Hope the dippers give the scum a good old whacking.
Yep 🙂
Fergie has all the best referee’s…
Ha ha ha.
Now we need the Scum to win [ did i really type that, aaargh]
I hate the dippers though devil, truly hate them….. but…..
Maureen back at chelski next year
before then steve 😉
just seen the Mata volley again, WOW ….
off for a bit… laters…
BBC Sport Chief Football Writer at Stamford Bridge Phil McNulty
“Stamford Bridge is a mixture of stunned silence and jeers at the end of that pulsating second half. Wonderful fightback by Manchester United – they may not have the quality of old but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.”
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
……..but that resilience is in-bred by the manager.
That is what I have been saying all along. The buck starts and stops with the manager.
AVB…………some strange decisions today. At Old Trafford, we lost two goals to two offside decisions. These things keep happening. Today, the first one was a penalty, I do agree with that. The second one I don’t think so. I don’t know if Howard Webb is trying to compensate for something.”
So I can rightly say that….
The buck starts and stops with both the manager and the referees.
I will stand by what I have said a few days ago…….its fishy and its staring everyone in the face.
I have been telling that to a friend of mine since 2005.
😆 😆 devil…
We know what you have been saying…..
But and in Webbs defence, he missed a clear cut penalty to manure in the first half, and a free kick to manure comitted by cahill who should have been given a yellow card….
and that was right on the edge of the penalty area….
But its happening too often Rico. Too much now.
We have suffered from decisions against us in penalties since the Eduardo incident at Birmingham. Too many soft penalties against us and none in our favour even if they were stone wall ones. Do you know that Manure are the first team to score four consecutive goals from the penalty spot. Two today and another two in the last game. Is it a coincidence that Webb referees most Manure games???
It will soon explode…..time will tell. It did in Italy and it will do so in the EPL.
BDW…..good match report. Check your inbox if you have a chance.
I am squilling off now. I had a great day and became a kid once more.
I know devil, but as much as it pains me to say, maybe all our dreadful decisions came back to help us today 😉
Thanks re the post and rest well, nighty to you….
And devil, thank you for the email 😛
I’m off for the day too, nighty all, catch you tomorrow…..
Stay safe all……
Devil,are you sure its only the “buck” stopping with SAF?????
If the resilience is inbred into them by him,why haven’t any of the arseholes got red noses?????
Theres no way even Ferguson could produce something so ugly as the little hobbitt Rooney.
Youre going to have explain their true origins to Evra,Nani and a few others as well…….may come as a surprise lol.
Let’s hope Liverpool beats S*CUMS..then 3rd and 4th place are up for grabs amongst Arsenal, S*CUMS, Chelski and Liverpool.
In fatc, Top-4 status is well wihtin our hands as all we need to do is to beat Liverpool, S*CUMS, Chelski and Newcastle.
Or Wenger said: “Remain Invincible now”.
And that does not means we draw 5 or more matches for the next 14 games…
New Post up