Morning all.
Rotten results yesterday, the Dippers are now hot on our heels, the neighbours are again above us and the Mancs and Southampton are pulling further clear. Not the kind of day I’d hoped for. Not the day any of us hoped for but saying that, we shouldn’t be relying on others to do us a favour in this league, we should be doing it for ourselves.
Today’s match has been billed a fight out between Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero. What utter poppycock!
Added to that, a few headlines have been quick to focus on our Chileans poor away form in comparison to his home statistics, with the latter being far superior. Again, what utter poppycock. It’s far more fair to say that over the last few seasons, our team performance has been all too often woeful playing away from home and not just against the so called better sides.
This isn’t something which has crept into our play overnight and certainly not just since Alexis arrived in the summer so expecting him to perform miracles when those behind him have been disorganised and pretty darn awful, just isn’t right. Football is a team game and if every single player put in as much effort as our Chilean does every week we’d be top of the league. But they don’t.
Alexis might be gifted with great footballing skills, a huge footballing brain and the ability to play his thoughts out with his feet but hard work and the right attitude goes an awful long way to winning matches too. Something which he has in bundles but sadly, the same can’t be said for all.
If we are to take something, no, everything from this game today, each and every player whether from the start or from the bench has to give their all for 90+ minutes. None of this ducking when the ball gets crossed, no standing and watching when the ball has been lost, (Theo) and no lolling around the pitch because you cost £42 million.
The team is not only made of strikers, the team is made of a balance between strikers, midfielders and defenders and that’s what you want to get right until the end of the season. – Arsène Wenger.
But we don’t have that balance, we haven’t for far too many years now and it’s really hard to disagree with what Dietmar Hamann has had to say:
There are players out there, who would instantly make Arsenal a better team. They are supposed to be looking at Ilkay Gundogan at Borussia Dortmund. He’s a very good footballer – but he’s a typical Arsenal player.
He won’t want to do the dirty work. His instinct is to join in further up the pitch, get a few forward passes going and try to weigh in with a few goals.
For me, Arsenal would be much better served, going for one of the Bender brothers, especially Lars.
Either of those boys would give Wenger something he hasn’t got in midfield. Someone who can read the game, is naturally defensively minded and who will thrive, operating in front of the back four, making sure Arsenal don’t get exposed.
Over the last few seasons, Mikel Arteta has been doing that job – and, with all due respect to Mikel, he is a player who used to be given a free role on the left by Everton.
It’s square pegs in round holes – and a team with ambitions of winning the title won’t get away with that in such an important position.
Why not both, then all our midfield woes would no doubt be put to bed. Yes, that would mean selling off the likes of Flamini and Coquelin, maybe even one or two others too like Jack and Arteta, but that’s life, that’s football if you want to be the best. Making do wins nothing!
If we see that midfield softness again today against Fernando and Fernandinho, Aguero, Silva and any other City player up front will have a field day because our defence will get exposed time and time again. Hopefully Ramsey and Coquelin will fill that hole today and fill it well and I hope young Bellerin continues where he left off last weekend too.
All eleven players and those from the bench have to give 100% from the off. Close Man City down at the first given opportunity, defend from the front like their lives depend on it and we can, maybe even will, get something from this game today.
And boy do we need it……
Would be a nice for Thierry Henry who is making his Sky Sports debut for our match too….
COYRRG’S…
We’ve had NINE players out. We got some of them back against stoke and look what happened. Take just three out of CHelski or Man City, let alone NINE.
p:s Big up Coqueline.
Morning…. As much as I like Chambers it would be a poor call if he plays him at right back today and not Bellerin…! Think we need to be brave and play Bellerin and then we have Chambers to come on into the middle if need be…?
I’d play Coq n Aaron Rico and Rosicky or Santi in the forward role of the centre mid, Ox wide with Alexis and Giroud. Theo to be an impact sub if needed and Famlni to come on once Coq has got his obligatory yellow card, hopefully it’s not in the first ten mins, yes thanks Dean we know you’ll pull out a card quick on any Arsenal player.
If we can compete with them physically and put ourselves on the front foot we can get a result, if we are going there to stop them then I would see us getting a thumping. Our game is about going forward we don’t have the players to defend so use what we have Arsene, Burnley and Sunderland both game them a huge scare so take note and lets get at em…!
It HAS to be Bellerin, surely.
Morning all.
9 out is hard to stomach Dave, but none of those were proper defensive midfielders because we don’t have such a thing..
I think he’ll stick with Santi Wath as he’s been so good of late, really hope Coq gets the nod over Flamini as his headless chicken play will fall into the hands of City.
I wouldn’t start Mesut, Theo or Szczesny today either, bring them off the bench if and when needed, not Szcz of course.. lol
Bellerin for me all day long, he’s a natural right back with speed and he’ll keep up with what City throw at him, unlike Chambers who will just push and shove players and gift Dean.
Now Rico, back to Deebee Teen…..that was nasty 🙂
🙂 Scott…
What “has” to be Scott doesn’t always mean “will be”…. lol
I know Wath, but surely………
Once again a team’s two best players are fit in time to play us! No doubt Kompany will have his usual freedom to foul with impunity
I think Ramsey, Chambers and rosicky should be on the bench. And Rosicky should come on for ozil in 2h.
Giroud
Sanchez Santi Ozil Ox
Coq
Gibbs Kos Mert Bellerin
Szcz
Bob – I hoping a game in front of the cameras might see a fairer Dean also, the fact that the referee performances have been in the media of late might help.
Or do I need to wake up… lol
grazy, that’s too soft a side imo…
When did Dean care about giving us nothing even when on TV Rico..? Never…!
Grazy, Chez back in goal, no thanks…. Think that midfield has about 3 tackles in them put together…!
Like I said Wath, I need to wake up from my dream about Dean being fair!
No Szczesny for me either….
Chores for me, catch up later…
We are winning today, that’s for sure(not that sure) lol. long time house, have been reading everyday but no opportunity to post. I hope coquelin and rosicky start today but I think we get will start his boy Ramsey today and that may cost us.
I wouldn’t fiddle with team too much…
The team that beat Stoke, for me…
Wastelands isn’t a place where we can carry anyone, so no to Ozil as a starter or Walcott for that matter…
We haven’t got a Petit or Parlour or Vieira or Edu or Gilberto, who can take up the slack and allow for luxury players, not in this game..,
Keep it tight, play a mature game and see where it takes us and definitely not a game for passengers…
You and a few others Sukky, HH has been really quiet of late..
Me neither Kev, last weekend was decent, more of that and anything could happen today.. If Ramsey is fully fit though, I’d be tempted to start him… But then Rosicky was good last weekend..
Tough call for AW…
Spot on re passengers Kev/Bt, we don’t need any today…
Afternoon all, I am starting to fear the worse already, with 2 weeks to go in the transfer window, we have our ever predictable manager, starting to spout his normal b—shit. Talking about supermarkets and finding it difficult to find the right quality. There is NO excuse for not having a centre back sorted this window. Meanwhile to today, Arsenal have played the so called big 3, i.e United, City and Chelsea 21 times in the last 3 ½ years and have only won twice and that was in 2011. And there I was wondering why were 6/1 to beat Man City today. Im trying to be confident about todays game but just can,t see it, I hope I,m wrong.
Afternoon rico and the house,
I don’t feel confident about today’s game..
3 /1 I reckon, I take a draw now
Dean definitely is not going to do us any favour..
I am surprised that not much been said about van persi incident last week against Southampton.
He was shouting and yelling abuse towards phill dowed, then he aggressively threw the ball on him in outrageous dissent.. Not even a yellow card.. If he was playing for arsenal it would have surely been a red card..
I see sanogo had a ripper of a debut yesterday (Not)
Well he’s gone now.. Good luck to him..
I just don’t see he can make it at arsenal..
I hope TR7 starts today along with Ramsey or Le coq,.
COYRGS..
Morning all,
Think I’d go with the same team that played last week, obviously with bellerin in at RB. The midfield trio were very good and worked their socks off, all look in form and not sure we can expect any players coming back from long injuries to hit the ground running in such an important game.
Hope Arsene has some sort of plan to deal with their numerous threats, unlike most big games.
Good read Rico…
I would playAR16 in the holding role with TR07 in the box to box role or a traditional 3 midfield like we played last weekend…
Re. transfers Lars will do a very good job for us as he is back to form for B04… last 2 seasons were not his best… A bit too expensive though and not maybe a proper DM as Rolfes is the main DM for Bayer…
A shock 2 goal win today for us…
Ts, are you going?
I think Pelle’ will play Clichy and Kolarov on the lhs to stem the threat of our RW…; Bellerin will need a lot of help on the counter something Le Coq does not currently offer imo; which will further expose our Panzer…
No Bt… its too cold for me… and I have an early start tomorrow so…
Ts, if that’s the case we may have a chance for your “shock 2 goal win”…..
Thierry Henry says we are missing a piece in the side. A Gilberto, Vieira, a player who will give his all to allow the forwards to play and protect the defence…
Well Thierry, go and tell your French mate Wenger!
with all due respect to TH14 though; Gilberto was attack minded when he joined us initially… the reason he scored a few goals and even scored on his debut in the community shield. Dunga asked him to do a job for brazil and he did it in the WC with Kleberson who joined Man u.
Edu and Petite are the only naturally defensive players Aw has bought for our midfield who have been successful…
Neither was Vieira a holding midfielder… in PV04’s case he had Edu and Manu Petit most times.
In AW’s successful teams they were a collective unit who worked hard on a small pitch i.e at highbury…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MPbcPkXFMk
Still, if we get battered today at least we’ll see some panic buys. I hear Kim Kallstroms back is fixed.
Dublin, he’ll sign a CB, just not until the last few days to save money… 😉
Afternoon Judge, I reckon we’ll get at least a draw, IF we can play as well as last weekend..
Thanks Ts..
Sven and Lars for me, sorted 🙂
Thierry,s own words “Arsenal look like a team who look to finish 4th.How true it is, we have been 4th so many times ,its built into our psyche, now
not the NZ defender on WH line up today.
come on Arsenal!
Cheers for that vid TS, geez we were spoilt back then!!
Lewis, that’s my fear, panic buying…
Surely he’s got something planned….
lol Bt…
😀 Rico… the twins?
Ts, you watching Barca tonight?
Did you get any snow down your way?
You are welcome Lewis…
I believe AW was lucky to have players who were selfless in the successful era like Gilberto… then again when a team is successful players become selfless. Its when the team becomes a ‘stepping-stone’ to bigger things that individualism creeps in…
A typical example is Gilberto choosing to leave when he was told to play CB for us instead of in midfield so that Abou/Flamini or Denilson plus Cesc could be in midfield… as the team was not as successful he jumped ship…
He joined Pana’thaikos and played in CM/AM instead…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7j3kYqYJlc
I stay in Wiltshire and around Cheltenham during the week; Bt and it did snow but the Mrs says it did not snow in the part of Surrey where we live…
It’s still thawing here…lol
Richmond?
Bt- I have my own HAARP programme so no snow yet Bt… 😉
Ts, that wouldn’t surprise me…..lol
Jonkers to be questioned about match fixing in Holland, apparently…..
another bad score for us today…
Afternoon Rico and the House
Just one change from last weeks team
Ramsey plays in place of Rosicky
Full team: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud
Substitutes: Szczesny, Gibbs, Chambers, Flamini, Rosicky, Ozil, Walcott
Rosicky gets the chop then. Ramsey in. I suppose we swap one Rs for another arse that is!
Arsenal to win 1-6! ……..”I had a dream last night……!
Coyrs
Full team: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud
Substitutes: Szczesny, Gibbs, Chambers, Flamini, Rosicky, Ozil, Walcott
Sorry JM… I didnt refresh my page
Hi Rick..
Bt, you didnt have anything to do with Jonkers stuff? 😉
Song is playing very well again….
As did Jenkinson. He even looked a bIt like a footballer! But agree about Song, had a good game, he still looks a bit on the lazy side though!
Hi Ginge , At lest he has got one thing right Ballerin and not Chambers
Did you see the news about Olsson left us and within days fractured his leg and will mss 3 to 4 months
A draw this afternoon will do me.
Well I can’t grumble, I hoped that would be the team… 🙂
Afternoon Rick and all…
COYRRG’S
Good Afternoon Rico and All. Another good read with lot of questions in our minds.
Ts, what do you expect when Song is in the midffield of an average WHU team? He’s made all the the difference. We missed him. We’ll some of us really.
2_1 to the Arsenal come on boys
After Song left JW is exposed.
Nice read rico
Sagna plays then….
Afternoon Snap/Ng thanks.
Loving listening to Thierry, he talks so much sense..
Unlike that other twit Souness!
No striker on the bench…… No Joel or akpom… … Are they injured?
The twit thinks we have ateam of son in laws
Moment of truths. Can we beat teams above us?
I’ll take a 3-3 draw…
COYRRG
But I’d prefer 3-4 to the Reds…
Odd one that snap, perhaps both are off on loan…
Vik Akers – what a guy lol
Morning all.
Any other team, that’s a warning due to it being early.
And so it begins.
Whatever happened to no early bookings????
Are we being kicked already…?
Good old Micky Scouser Dean…
The cheating Northern cnut…
I read about olsson’s injury and wanted to ask you about it but I forgot…
Ni Ng, Snap. Kev…
Ramsey is closing down all the spaces like Vidal or Rijkaard use to do for AC Milan…
Kos booked Kev, should have been a warning…
Fancy heating the home dugout seats but not the away… Gits! 😉
Rick, we have been talking about young Hector for over 3 years now.. I am pleased he is getting a chance to show his class…
A yellow just to shift the odds as early as possible.
Rico, the price of oil is down, money is tight…..lol
Team is right.
Tactics look right.
No excuses today.
No booking for the Ramsey trip then!
🙂 Bt
Penalty!!!!!
That’ll do
Yessss
Get IN!!!!!!
nice…
the new flat midfield 3 set-up is working
Wow!!
Dean will need therapy!
No card for Kompany?
We look like a football side with purpose today.
Need to keep it tight.
Silva is beginning to evade Le Coq… hmmm
In a way, I’m glad it was Koscielny and not Coquelin, Rico…
Le Coq is gonna be critical to us…
Indeed scott..
I think you might have a point with Le Coq… he has improved… 😉
Ginge we could see 3 years ago he had a touch of class.
Hi Ginge btw…
Dean, the Scouse cheat, giving Arsenal a penalty?!!!
He’ll definately make up for that… 🙁
Onya Gonge 🙂
I don’t get much right, but it happens lol
Sorry Ginge….
You have a point Kev but he shouldn’t have been booked imo
Ramsey booked, what bollox
2 yellows for us.
I penalty, yet none for them.
Two fouls two bookings. Have to stop us somehow!
Ramsey is pushing forward too much now, get back to what he was doing before, it worked!
Damn……a yellow??
I’m stunned /)
He should have been off by now, Kompany.
Come on you Gunners, hold it until half-time, then regroup for a massive 2nd 45
Hold on you Gunners…
Keep it up…
Come on you Yellows
(What happened to the red shirts?)
We have upset their rhythm.
Must keep up our discipline.
Dean oh Dean.. what a knob…!
Lol Rick..
Scott, you are resolute…
So Le Coq has taken over Flamsters playing up for the cameras move…
Good 45 mins,
Not that I’m suggesting anything, but an extra minute turns into over 90 seconds while Citeh were attacking…..they even had JUST enough time to take the corner.
Great first half and yes, Wenger can do tactics.
It might shut people up that say he can’t, though t could also raise the question of why he doesn’t do it more often.
Still, quite an enjoyable 46 1/2 minutes 🙂
Kompany should be off . He told Dean fcuk off when he got the yellow.
AW the tactical genius……
Ginge, Coquelin is doing more than arm waving though 🙂
Coquelin seems to be playing well…
Gotta keep his discipline and the others have to work their arses off…
Come on Rick, Dean send off Kompany at Wastelands? 😉
Tbh its a bloody miracle he gave us the penalty.
Is that the first spot kick we’ve been awarded away from home?
Is it the first that Dean has ever awarded us??
Ts, Coq was just angry and rightly so. We ask for passion and credit where it’s due, that’s what Coq showed there…
Produce another 45 mins like the last and this game can be won….
Kev, Kompany could leave Dean with no choice….
Arguably Arsenal are facing their biggest and most important 45 minutes + of the season, so far…
Could be season defining…
BUT are they playing Wenger’s tactic or Bould’s, or both??
Has the old geezer actually been listening to the criticism and acted upon it. It’s a first if he has!
Can we keep a clean sheet? Of course we ………..can………maybe………please, final stat should read played 2 kept 2. Clean sheets!
Blimey, Honest Mike???
Gotta see off this early pressure…
Get the City fans frustrated.
Why do our players not spot the little pass through the defence…..
Really Wavy?
The minute we start doing well, suddenly Bould has a say?
You’re kidding.
Come on!!!!!
Come on boys, back to what you were doing….
Wavy you old cynic lol
Having said AW doesn’t listen to others for the past few seasons, it would be cruel to take the first half credit away from him….
How the fuck is Kompany not booked for that???
I worry about Ramsey pushing forward, his job is not that today!
Someone tell him please!
True Rico, Scott re Le Coq
Scott 5:06.. classic
We are tiring….. 🙁
We need a 2nd goal…
Actually we need a 2nd and 3rd goal…
Rosicky on soon…..top move.
Ox is tiring.
The Mozart needs to come on…
COYRRs!!!
Wonder if Walcott will come on as the game gets stretched?
The longer the game stays 0-1, the more the temptation to use Theo’s pace…
And time is right, Ginge.
What a shame Welbeck wasn’t fit…
OG12… yes yes yes
Ollie Ollie ollie!!!!!!
Get that Into ya.
You bloody beauty.
Yessss
BT.. new year new predictions. 😛
You called it Scott, Rosicky on….
Yessssss
Now go get the 3rd…
But he was already warming up Kev…. 😉 😉
Where is Agag? lol
Kev, I saw him stripping off mate…..no great prediction bud hahahahaha
I did get Ox right though,…..he ran his arse off and had a fantastic game, but did tire.
Who scored again, guys? 😀 😛
Represent!!!
Ian Wright got it Agag 😀
Some french dude. Agag
If we manage not to implode, this would be the most perfect day. 🙂
What a performance thus far……
A good day to buy a pair of shoes Agag…
Silly me, that’s every day… 😛
One word so far: Discipline
I was listening to the commentary on my iPhone, but the battery is almost dead 🙁
Info info info Gooners, pleaseeee…
Haha, Kev and Ginge. I can be depended to be posting away when Ollie scores. 🙂 As Scott said, “You bloody beauty!” I mean the goal, of course. 😳
Big fifteen minutes. Be so big to know we can do it this way. How many strikers city have! And another in Africa.
Oh, you bet, I will, Kev. 😛
City have thrown in their third striker, Dzeko… They’ll be going for it now. Gulps!!!
Kev- In my view the most tactical AW performance since the FA cup final in 2005
Ramsey dead on his feet.
Ramsey has to come off…nothing left.
There’s not, as far as I know, been many, if any, stoppages this half…
So a maximum of 4 minutes added time?
Bet Dean gives ’em more…
Ten mins, come on boys!!!!!
City 14 corners. Arsenal 1. And we haven’t yet…. Conceded.
SC19; MOTM
So Ginge, it’s taken Arsene almost 8 months to consider the opposition again, when planning his tactics…
Not really good enough tbh, but I’ll take it.
Fifteen!
Kev, I said earlier Wenger is showing he can get things spot on, but it does raise the question why he doesn’t do tactics often enough.
If we hold on and keep that clean sheet, to me it would represent Wenger’s best performance of the season, and the team of course…
Merts did brilliantly there….could easily have given the penalty away.
Lol… Kev.
I believe Aw changes tactics when we play 1 game a week. when we start playing 3 a week that is when it goes into default…
Best for years, Kev.
You watch…..it will be about how bad Citeh were, yet we have been absolutely brilliant.
4 mins??????
Very true Scott…
Down to 9%.
Gotta go in a mo…
COYRRG
Fair call Ginge.
Composure now pleeeese
Ts. 5:38 spot on.
Lata you Gooners…
Fcuking get in 😀
Damn, the octopus is legless. lol
Great Rosicky.
La da dee da da, la da dee da da……
🙂 🙂 🙂
BOOM!!!
Don’t lose your head, lads!!
16th corner for Citeh. Is this us?? Have we really shut them out??
I’m happy.
Now some sleep before work.
Night all.
Go you good things.
Bloody brilliant performance.
Well done Arsene Wenger!!
Motm has to be Santi!
Bt.. now about to watch Rakitic the stalker for Barca…
Solid Aw…
This was a team performance… that is all we ask for.
Take that and swivel pundits!
If only we could play like that every week, bloody awesome!
Ng- if we got Song too as a backup… 😛
Beat you to it Rico.
Arsene nailed it today. Credit where it’s due.
Rico- even I would admit Sc19 was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch… definitely Motm for me too…
I hope this signals the start of consistently inspired performance from our team. What an effective neutralization of Citeh!!
Night Scott..
oh and by the way Ramsey was shite hot.. 🙂
Disiplined away performance. With a kid at full back. Six out injured. Well five and Diaby. Immense. Didn’t see that coming. 2-2 maybe if we played exceptionally well. And wasnt it needed after weekends results. City only losers.
Santi has left everyone in the dust in terms of MotM-ness. 🙂 Ozil will have to fight for his place in the squad now. 😉
Ts. Song would walk right back into the team.
Ts, I seriously think he is one of a few who has seen Alexis in training and accepted he needed to work harder and he does. He’s been outstanding of late…
Just how good was that performance by all, and Coq has really settled the midfield. Never thought I’d say that….
Santi without a doubt , We were wondering where to fit Ozil in to this set up. Tomas and Cazorla are a class act together and Bellerin playing for that spot.
Haha 35% possession.
Awesome Agag….
Silva and Aguero were anonymous.
Me too Agag-
Ng- lol…. which team? 😉
Ts. This current Arsenal team. No doubt.
What a result! We’ve beaten them twice this year, comprehensively at that!
It wasn’t 6-1 toys but we won! Yippee.
I blame Bould for insisting Wenger had his ears syringed!
Bring on the next lambs to the slaughter.
Ospina kept another clean sheet. How will Chesney get his place back? His next game will be with the U21’s! Not serious.
Marvellous and chicken for dinner! Soz Rico.
Rico- Le Coq seemed assured today but I wil hold my final judgment of him when he has no Sc19/TR07 or AR16 next to him…
Tacticaly i thought AR16 and Sc18 were remarkable… they closed all the gaps for Le Coq..
Tactically*
Souness seems disappointed.. he can’t hve nothing to moan about.
rico, what a fantastic performance. Our defense just looks so much better with Koz around.
ginge, for all the talk about Aguero v. Alexis, neither played brilliantly; and others shone. 🙂 🙂
Ospine now; Chesney has something to think about.
Ng- I believe he would but we know…
Where is my buddy Syg btw? Was he in the Cypriot bar during the game…
Congratulations boys and Arsene. Fantastic performance and result.
Ts, that’s a given and you are right, but he did today and he did well but we are a team, a unit and today it worked really well…
We had a wobble in the first ten mins of the second half and why? Because Ramsey pressed forward too much but clearly, someone had a word or he himself realised and once he pulled back, we looked really composed again…
I recall I wrote a post about how AW needed to allow Ramsey more freedom, well I got that wrong, him alongside Coq really worked today…
But seeing Santi winning tackles around the penalty area just makes me smile…..
I need to eat, back shortly….
Great comments from Souness. I’m stunned. Didn’t think Arsenal were capable of that. They were fabolous.
Amazing Arsenal today. Santi was the best player by a mile, epic. Actually whoscored.com gave him a statistically perfect 10/10 – the first time Ive ever seen that: http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/829683/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2014-2015-Manchester-City-Arsenal
I do feel that Francis Coq made this performance possible though, always there gluing the midfield to the defense and making sure there is no space for silva and others to operate in behind the midfield. Wenger surely saw the importance of this position today, and the need for long term quality there (even in addition if le coq stays).
Another point, the LB and RB managed to curb that desire to bomb forward at every moment, so defensively that added to our compactness.
Great result, well done boys..
Santi was immense, and Le coq did brilliantly..
He was assured and made perfect interceptions.
He protected the back four and passed the ball forward most of the time..
Saying that I hope Wenger doesn’t think he is enough for the defensive midfield position..
Over all the whole team played very well.. A true team effort..
Night gooners.
Hiya, Nash. 😉 Not overly fond of Song, and I think we can do better. Nice to see you still supporting him though. 😛
Adam, brilliant, wasn’t it?? We actually managed to play the Manc chavs off the park. AW came with a plan, and our boys executed it wonderfully well. 🙂
AW is spot on. In the big games the first goal counts the most…
Agag. Song is a true gooner. But he is not everyone one cup of tea.
🙂
SC was brillant!
We were vey united and with discipline
I think City came into the match a touch overconfident. Frankly, they looked lazy. They were counting on us to continue our poor form v. the top 4 teams, while our boys were determined to end it.
SC19 plays CM or DM for Spain on occasions and played like that on several occasions for Villareal so he has it in him…
Moreover, he wants a new contract so… 😉
But that true gooner couldn’t wait to play for Barca; and up and abandoned AFC, Nash. Just. Like. That. 😉 We got plenty of money for him though, I can’t complain.
Rico- I think Ramsey is as good defensively as Morgan or Lucas in Europe…
That Cazorla is playing out of his skin for a contract is nothing new. A few years ago, we saw the best of Theo at around the same time his contract renewal was being negotiated. 😀 😀
Spot on Agag. Their attitudes were shocking to say the least. Our team played as a unit. No passengers. Well Ozil wasn’t there in the lineup.
What a result see what we can do when the ref decides not to be biased but two fouls two yellow cards. But even with that it’s the fairest refereeing performance against a big team in years.
Good evening everyone wheres my manners.
Tsgh can I get next weeks lotto numbers.
Joe- only if.. 😛
Agag- you are becoming as cynical as I am…
Joe, Pelegrini not impressed with Dean, says he fell for the dive. What sour grapes.
No, ginge. 🙂 I leave that to you. Just occurred to me, cause I remember that Theo was unstoppable for a while when we were waiting to see if he would “sign da thing”. 😉
Hi, Joe. Citeh should have seen more yellows though. 🙂
Dench- sign da thingy.. lol
Rubbish from Pellegrini,it’s only because he was out thought by AW, and it rankles. 🙂 How was that a dive when there was contact. He should blame himself for playing a clearly rusty Kompany. And forcing the Aguero issue.
Andrew I know even the guy doing the interview did a double take but it’s Pelegrini putting pressure on refs just like the Chelsea Dwarf.
To right Agag.
Is it just me that thinks that Kompany should have got a yellow for the foul that gave us the penalty.
Great team performance, well done more of the same please..
Ts, just seen Messi’s goals and the Stalker’s pass..
Lol… Bt. Rakitic should be replacing TR07 in our team.. top drawer…
Agag- me cynical? Never.. just a bit suspicious… 😉
Joe, from the way the match reports have been coming out, it’s as if Monreal dived. Is it his fault that Kompany was too slow to get out of the way? 😉
Hiya, BT. 🙂 Messi and the Stalker have forged a fine partnership. I reckon, it can’t be too hard to set up goals for the maestro. I still can’t stand barca though. 🙂
Ts, i’d take that guy Messi, he looks a bit handy….lol
Pelle’ is morphing to be like AW… the pressure is on him now..
Without Toure they cant mean… still I don’t hear any 1 man team being sang by the media…
Hi Agag,were you on holidays?
Hah, ginge!
Gooooooooooodddddd Evveeeeeeeeeeeninggggg.
What a game!!!!!
I was impressed by the MOTM. He got every call right, made the correct decisions, was involved in the game all the time, pulled the right strings, had a calming influence on the game and did not put a foot wrong.
People may say that Cazorla was MOTM, while Coquelin was a close second. But my vote goes to just one person. MIKE DEAN. 😉
No, Bt. Just been busy. 🙁 Won’t be able to take one for a few more months. Plus, it’s been rainy here. Ick. Howdy? Where did you watch the match?
Can I agree with you Dev I have never seen him play so well 😉
Ginge, he’s worried for his job. 😀 You know how the oligarchs/petrol chavs roll. If they don’t get a shiny cup, they fire the coach.
Best performance of the season.. …. What a win.. Big ups to bellerin who was my man of the match carzola was also brilliant he is a brilliant cm… .. The team played well to monreal was great also I think he is the closest we have to Sagna in the team great player and very well underrated big ups to Wenger also he really set up his team well.. .. Overall a satisfactory performance hoping for more of the same.. .. Coyg
they can’t win* even…
I thought you may have got one for the big visit……
At home …..
lol Dev.. so true
Messi again……Deadly
I bet he is Agag.
Where else could he go after this?
You mean the Pope, BT? We have a five-day holiday courtesy of the pontiff. Among the many reasons he is soo well loved, here. 😉 He celebrated the biggest Mass, earlier. 🙂 6 million strong in the pouring rain, at that. 🙂
Messi and Rakitic…
I just read that the citeh players are off on a “sunshine break” and will be training in Abu Dhabi. Must be nice to be bankrolled by the sheikhs. 😀
Ginge, he can go to United. 🙂 Haha. He doesn’t even need to relocate.
Hi ts rakitic is just a brilliant footballer absolute top class imo…..
Yeah that’s the one, your holidays never end…..lol
That’s a lot of people, Agag, Could have made a fortune selling plastic macs…did you stream the match?
Arsene aWenger has been on the end of a lot of critical comments about tactics and justifiably so, but how right did he get things today…
Unbelievably superb, from him to every player on the pitch.
It would have been so easy to select Mesut but no, he stood by who did do well last week…
What a great performance and result, it truly was…..
Ts, apart from a mad ten mins today, I’d agree re Ramsey. He and Coq surely mean no jack and Flamini. Other than off the bench in the big games…..
Who’d have thought Coquelin would go from on loan at charlton and barely playing, to be a bug cogg in our defensive midfield…
No Arsene, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to sign a Cdm….
Joking apart. Its rare, very rare to see a referee control a game fairly like Dean was today. Pellegrini might disagree and he has every right, but imo the ref was fair. And after all we do not want refs who favour us. we want refs who make the right calls and be fair.
Who can you give MOTM to today. Even Ches was ok today. He warmed the bench brilliantly and did not do a single mistake.
Ospina made the right work. His positional sense was good today. And there was only one situation where he did not communicate correctly….and that was when Monreal felt under pressure and cleared for a corner when Ospina could easily have caught the ball.
Do I feel happy Ospina is getting on well?? you can bet on it. I like Ches since he is an AFC product, but ever since I saw him around 4 years ago I was impressed by him. And immediately sent a message to Kev regarding him.
I honestly hope that AW does not drop him in favour of his son in law (as Souness put it) but has the balls to stick with him.
True Rico Santi deserves to keep his place and ozil needs to fight for his place I know he doesn’t like competition but I don’t see him getting a start without working for it
Rico. I suspected you were AW’s accountant… did I just read we do not need to sign a DM? lol
Snap- Rakitic is top top player…. I am not sure who i rate higher though, Pjanic or Rakitic?
Ts, read my comment again… Lol
Ozil will be back for the FACUP Snap. I guess Ches, Chambers, Ozil, Flamini, Rosicky, Gibbs,Theo, Hayden, Campbell…..hell even Bielik might get a chance. Whatever team he puts out I hope that players like Kos, Coquelin, Ramsey, CAzorla, Sanchez might get a rest.
ha ha Rico…
I chose to interpret it that way.
Evening every one.
What a great team performance today .A lot of so called experts having said
we would take another beating will be eating humble pie tonight.
I think a number of our players came of age today an and can now clase themselves as first team regulars.
I bet our away fans are enjoying there journey home.
Evening Rick… a finely tuned performance. But as Aw alluled to. Its nothing different just that for the first time in a long time the players did not make a mistake in the first 10 minutes thereby requiring us to open up to chase the game.
Where is Wath when you need him to say ”it was a pragmatic performance…”
Rakitic more me ts although pjanic is proving to be everything we hoped jack would be and more……… I like Kevin in Roma too
🙂 Ts….
Think I would keep Coq in. He must be loving this turnaround and we need to see consistency game after game. Seven days rest and away Brighton gives him another chance. Hope this doiesnt stop AW getting an experienced DM but I can’t see it in Jan anyway. CB if we very lucky.
Strootman has vastly improved under Garcia- Snap.
As is always the case, two top signings and we could be a force. Coq could replace Arteta and Flamini as the second DM we need if he keeps up these showings.
The different with our midfield without JW is that no one ball watches..
Santi tried to read the game instead of reacting to things; I think they have all learnt from TR07…
difference*
I am surprised no EPL team is looking at Bacca
Lol Ah… Arteta is still our best DM at the club… imo..
well Scott might disagree
Changed my mind on Dean 5 fouls 3 yellow cards bloody hell.
Arteta??? Not for me Ts, he’s done… Love him, but he’s a square peg in a round hole imo…..
I’m of folks, great day for Arsenal, long may it continue….
Night all…..
Sorry guys. Lots of alcohol consumed. Coq and Bell will be the name of my pub when I open it. GET IN
Night Rico…
Interesting ts re bacca… …. I like him as a player but I’m not sure he has a big reputation yet that’s why he has gone under the radar.. ……. Lyon doing well I think we need to move for maxim imo he really is that good lacazette taking all the credit which to be fair he is but gonalos has been as important I like fekkkir too
rico 7.32, think your giving Arsene too much credit, as mentioned in your post it was all down to Terry Henry today, first game as a sky pundit, didn’t want to take on any bad comments, that’s my take on it anyway and I’m sticking by it.
Cazorla, simply amazing !
Didn’t fcuk it up today, great comradery……we want more !!!
How was the dish
9.30 am, I’m on 3 1/2 hours sleep by buzzing.
That was good performance as I’ve seen for years.
Absolutely loved it.
Up and running again Joe, great performance from the lads today, loved the nutmegs from Cazorla, pure class.
Scott, sleep is for wimps ! Having said that don’t know how you do it matey ! Auto pilot ?
Scott, just heard Monreal got off with a 3 month suspended sentance !
Kev, nothing yellow about us today !!!
Nacho, Nacho man….we all want to be, a Nacho man!
Top effort from him and he is shutting plenty up.
Micko, if I ever work out how I do it, I’ll let you know hahahaha.
Performances like that ease the pain bud, I’ll tell you that.
That was phenomenal.
Results like today give everyone a lift Scott, if I’m honest I wasn’t expecting it !
Brighton next week-end, got a funny feeling we’ll will hear from Stan aka Goonster, can feel it in my bones !
Nite folks.
Watched a film last night called Drive Hard the only actor I knew was John Cusack it was set in the gold coast the rest of the cast my have been Australian.
I sat watching it wishing some of ancestors had stolen a sheep or a loaf of bread 😉 looked like great place live.
Missed bloody MotD, typical…
Mick, all those ‘plastics’ in your local.
Give ’em hell buddy…
Night All…
Joe, it’s a pretty decent place to live mate 🙂
Micko, I thought we’d put up a fight, but I didn’t expect us to be dominant, and I believe we were.
Kev, we can sit back, listen to the “experts” and just smile.
Morning my fellow Gooners.
Get up and discuss the best performance in years by our lads.
Smile, and enjoy the day!
Morning scott,
typical, I was at the ODI cricket yesterday when Arsenal play their best game of the season.
Sounded like it was a real team effort and we defended in uniformity.
Bradster, it was simly superb.
Honestly, the best Arsenal performance I’ve seen for a long, long time.
You saw a decent game though
Ya for sure. Plenty records broken. De Villiers plays shots I’ve never see players try before.
I was watching the highlights…..the rules are in the favour of batsmen.
It needs changing IMO, though i guess fans love runs being scored.
Brad, AB was on another planet yesterday…! When Chris Gayle bows to you then you know you’ve had a good day at the office
What a great pragmatic win yesterday……………. Just for you Ts…!
It wasn’t just pragmatic it was controlled and classy…! Do i really have to ask why we not done that in the last 4/5 years…? Ok i won’t…!
You can ask, Wath…..don’t expect an answer though 🙂
Don’t worry mate an answer was the last thing i was expecting…. 😉
Well my answer would be wrong anyway hahahahahaha
Everyone still smiling then?
We should have scored more.. 😉
Morning all…
That has to be one of the best performances by Arsenal for 4/5 years..
The only one perhaps better was Napoli, but we were at home….
Check your inbox, Rico……
I haven’t stopped smiling since 3am, and it’s now 7.38 pm 🙂
I will Scott…
The game looked pretty amazing from the highlights. A friend said that we were ragged the first 10 mins and going gung ho but seemed to settle and take Silva and Aguero out the game when Ramsey stayed in the middle.
It was certainly a very focused performance.
First ten Brad, first 2/3 I’d say and then we settled. Bit of pressure just before half time and just after but again we settled and looked looked well organised..
First of many I hope Adam…
Quality opposition, which makes the performance all the better.
Rico. Could be.
Well what can you trust from a United supporter.
I’m looking forward to the write up on the game today either from Rico or maybe Scott has a summation.
Morning Rico,Adam, Brad, Scott and the whole familia…
Still buzzing. 2.5 hours drive this morning listening to TShite and no bad world from those lot…
word*
Patience, Bradster 🙂
Ginge, same here.
Scott has stolen the day today Brad and I’m pleased 🙂
Morning Ts.. Shut Souness up yesterday too… lol
Adam…..should be 🙂
No excuses now.
Give it your best editing , Rico 🙂
Morning all, can’t decide was yesterdays win or the away win to Munich the best in recent years.
Is the headline.. ”Ramsey Oh Ramsey”!? Scott
Lets hope the boys can do the same against Yanited and the scousers soon.
The chavs will get one over us but AW will get his revenge by eliminating Jose in the UCL…
I’m trying Scott… 😉
Tsgh you may have got it right the first the world does seem better with a good Arsenal win.
Adam, it has to be. We’ve seen what they can do now, no excuses….
First time
Did Thierry really say we need Song?
Ginge, I spread the sunshine mate 🙂
No way I could find fault with any of the boys.
The Stoke game began to convince me that the team had hidden depths and could function for 90 minutes and yesterday took that a stage further against a below-par but nevertheless, top side. I rather enjoyed it myself.
Were they below par or did we just stifle all they tried?
I lean towards the latter. We closed them down quickly and didn’t let them play their way.
I’m the same, Rico…..we pressed them harassed and hassled them, and they knew if they turned the ball over, we’d hurt them, which placed them under even more pressure.
I thought we only allowed them to play an average game.
Thoroughly enjoyable, whichever the case 🙂
They were below par as far as I could see.
Same here Scott, whatever it was, I loved every minute. Not even the media suggesting Monreal took a dive will change that… lol
New post up now…
Shows how good we were Adam… 😉