Morning all.
The reality is, Arsene Wenger and this Arsenal side will never have a better chance of winning the Premier League. A different manager may do in years to come if he’s prepared to spend big AND he’s the right man of course and a right man is hard to find these days……
LvG – a man who has won a lot during his managerial days has spent vast amounts of money already at Utd but let’s be honest, they are boring to watch, they’ve been dumped out of the Champions League and they are hardly setting the PL alight. Yesterday they got beaten by Bournemouth. Ha!
Mourinho – the now ‘not so special one’ as his side, filled with superstars which cost the club masses of money, are nearer to a relegation battle than they are top spot.
Pelegrini – another side which cost millions upon millions to assemble but their season is hardly running smoothly and yesterday, only a huge deflection at the death, earned them three points against a Swansea side who are really struggling this season.
The ‘Tinker Man’ – sacked by Chelsea a few years ago, now loving life it seems at Leicester with his side playing attractive football and flirting with top spot but not by spending huge amounts last summer. Good for them!
Then there’s Spurz and Liverpool, both of whom could quite easily take two of the top four places if their form continues, especially the former. The latter have spent an awful lot of money too.
Finally, there’s Arsenal with a squad nothing like Chelsea, Utd or City – not when it comes to money spent that’s for sure but we are right up the table, challenging those who have spent big. We’ve progressed into the knock-out stages of the Champions League and all with a squad battered by injuries.
We can for get the Champions League for a couple of months now.
Now it’s time to really push on in the league because between now and the 9th January, when we play our FA Cup fixture against Sunderland, we have a great opportunity to get to the top and then stay at the top. Yes it’s a busy schedule, it is for all the clubs and yes, we have injuries but then so do others so let’s not hear Arsene Wenger hide behind that excuse if things go wrong, because it was his choice not to sign cover for Francis Coquelin back in the summer.
The way we responded to the injuries was very positive.
It reinforces the belief I have in this group. I always thought this group can go far. They have the attitude and they have the spirit. But you have to show on the pitch that you have the talent.
Before the January transfer window opens we play:
Villa Away, Man City Home, Southampton Away, Bournemouth Home and Newcastle Home.
I’m not saying anything other than, if we are going to win the Premier League this season, we should be thinking about 13 points, if not 15 from those fixtures! The key to getting those points is to treat each and every club with respect and don’t think any game is won before kick-off just because they are further down the table, playing badly or are newly promoted etc. Go into every game with the same approach and attitude which we saw in mid-week. Focussed, determined and fully committed.
That has to start today.
Villa are struggling, everyone knows that but we must not be the team which buckles to give them the confidence they so desperately need. They have a new manager in Remi Garde and his players will know that their chance comes all over again, to prove their worth and what better way to do that by working together to take the scalp of a side near the top of the table…
Garde will want to get one over his old manager and club whom he played for on 45 occasions during his three year spell at Arsenal. Perhaps the Frenchman will be best remembered for his penalty miss against West Ham in the FA Cup back in the 1997-98 season. Not that it prevented us from winning the competition and the double…..
Arsene Wenger and the players would be fools to think Villa will be easy to beat and I doubt they will, not this time:
That message will be stressed to the players. The luck we had last week was that we won a game that could have gone the other way and the other results went for us.
But Villa need the points just as we do. It is a dangerous match. That means it will be a physical battle.
All we can ask is that Arsenal too are up for the fight, the boys give their all and of course, come away from the Midlands with all three points in the bag…
Have a great day guys…
Even in seasons they clearly dominated, City have never found Arsenal easy like Chelsea and United did.
And I don’t see anything to worry about. I’m not in the habit of underrating any team, let alone one of City’s calibre but I know the quality of the Arsenal side, even with some injuries crippling.
We’ll beat City on Monday.
I know you were Scott, I thought it was funny… 😉
New post up now…
Who said beating City would make us Champions Tai?
All I’m saying is that surely it’s best to judge where we are right now when playing the club we are perhaps most likely to challenge for the title…
Win on Monday and we go three points clear of them so it’s a big game as far as the title goes. Of course though, we still need to beat many other clubs before even thinking about winning the league…
Adam, teasing people is just nasty lol
Damn i’d love to be there.
Rico, I was being cheeky…..Citeh are still the barometer, IMO.
Okay Rico…
I’m schooled in appreciating little favours as well as big ones…losing to the likes of Aston Villa and beating the likes of Man City will not making us Champions…
We’ve beaten Villa…thanks to that…now, it’s City…and we can and will beat them on Monday.
🙂 Scott, we did, and a very entertaining match it was too… lol
I’m sure it will be Adam, good, just what’s needed I think….
I’ve got a spare ticket if you want to pop over Scott. 🙂
Adam, let’s hope the boys give the crowd good reason to fire up.
As will I Rico. I am expecting a hot atmosphere at the Emirates on Monday next.
Rico, we did beat the side that until 24 hours ago sat on top of the League….just saying 🙂
🙂 Adam..
I’m not belittling any victory Tai, just keeping my feet firmly on the ground and not going overboard after beating a side which sits bottom of the league and are simply awful…
Should we beat City, I will probably break into a bit of a smile…..
Every side loses games that, on paper, they should have won.
The trick is to lose less of those than everyone else 🙂
It’s a simple game lol
Certainly Rico…those games should have been won but they weren’t.
Hence no need belittling winning others even though we should have won them too.
I know Tai… I watched both so I know they lost and drew. Perhaps those two results woke the players p a bit and made them realise that even a team like Villa can’t be taken for granted. Both games should have been won imo…
Shush Rico. Don’t spoil the romance of it all. 🙂
🙂 Adam re the botox.
Yes, winning after a CL match which must have been mentally challenging, facing a side like Villa did us a favour and thankfully no slip up. Unlike at West Brom and Norwich of course….
Lol Adam.
But think of who we are signing….Messi wants to join us, amongst others 🙂 🙂
I see that Mesut is going back to Real Madrid though and Alexis will be joining Pep at Man City or United. A great shame. But we have players coming through.
One thing we can all agree on……actually, two things…..
The League is there to be won, and there’s a long way to go.
Yeah…you got it Lee…May! We stay lucky and we’d be.
Rico…against sides we should beat…Sanchez, Carzola, Coquelin all started at WBA…even though the latter got injured…we lost to WBA…
Carzola and Sanchez started in Norwich, again even though the later got injured…we drew…
And talking of sides we should be beating…there’s nothing like that phrase this season…any team can beat any other one on any turf this EPL season!
West Ham dropped just two points in matches involving Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man U…all on away grounds except Chelsea’s.
Bournemouth last two matches were victories against Chelsea and Man U.
The same Aston Villa prevented a complete City side from scoring…
So celebrate any win whether against City or Aston Villa…they all fetch three points.
Soldado scored the winner against Real……….oh the irony!
Exactly Lee! Too many false dawns…..
Agreed, Lee……that’s why January is important bud.
Wenger can make a good thing of it, I reckon.
Rico, yep…no times a good time lol
Rico. I read a recent American study about the effects of Botox on rational thought.
The nice thing was that, after arriving back on n London on Thursday at about 6am, we managed a win. A triumph of ze mental strength and resource management. I see that Barca drew and RM lost. Which is nice.
We may be top now but we’ve been there before haven’t we? It’s where we are in May that’s crucial…..
Mines out already Adam.. 😉
Agree Scott, but Arsenal have had plenty of summers to work on injuries… 😉
You had me worried, Tai lol
Adam, that’s pure genius.
Ozil truly is on another level when it view to vision, IMO.
There may be others, but from what I’ve seen, he is the best in world football when t comes to picking a pass.
Genuine question…..HOW THE HELL DO THESE GUYS GET A GIG AS PUNDITS.?
Strike that……Aussies have the same issues in sports commentary.
Seems the dumber they are, the more people love them.
Against sides which we should be beating Tai, I’d rather judge where Arsenal are after watching how we play against City, whoever we draw in the CL, Chelsea (who can’t win a game bar against us) etc etc, not a bottom of the league side and another not far off it…..
Well, I think Spurs were having too many draws…and getting too worried of them, started praying for the draws to end…
Prayers answered!
Scott neither will I re Ozil…what I meant is…if Ozil got injured…!
Scott. I really enjoyed David Moyes’ comment that jury was still out on Ozil. Tremendous comedy value all round.
Tai, not even for Aaron would I want Ozil moved lol.
That guy is pure footballing heaven.
I enjoy watching him as much as Dennis.
Yes, they’re different, but just poetry in motion and with vision unsurpassed.
Ok, I’ll add this…..I counted 2 through balls/long passes from Aaron that were simply out of this world.
Hey, it had to be said 🙂
Adam, I just saw the Spuds “highlights” and your little comment on Lloris was spot on Hahahahahaha.
What a blunder.
Exactly, Scott…on Rambo.
Wenger knows how influential he is but Coquelin and Carzola probably give him better balance in the middle…but he knows of Ramsey’s influence, plays him wide to keep him match-ready…
Wenger so trusts Ramsey that should Ozil be out…we’d see Rambo in no 10. That is probably why AW didn’t go for Vidal…for Ramsey’s sake!
Tai, I’d love Ginge to check in and let us know the win/loss ratio over the last few years with Ramsey playing central.
I’d say it’s pretty fair.
No knock on Santi there, but Aaron is just so much more influential than when stuck wide.
I’d have Alexis and Coquelin in the side any day though.
Rico, mid season isn’t the time to be messing with training, though with Arsenal, no time seems right lol.
Adam, regardless of who we have beaten recently, the season isn’t 2-3 games old, so as it stands, we deserve to be where we are.
We must improve, and that goes without question, but there are clubs out there who spent times more, and are well behind us, so they must improve a lot more.
What do we need guys?
A DM and what….a striker, CB or winger?
Even Flamini is going ok…go figure lol.
Hard one, and being at the top of the heap has obvious positives, but the negative could be Wenger sees no need to strengthen.
Hold on Rico. I’ll get the crystal ball out of the cupboard. 🙂
We ever remained injury or two away from serious trouble…
But has anyone bothered to recall that since we played without the trio of Carzola, Coquelin and Sanchez that we won all three? Scored eight and conceded just one own goal?
To me…the route to winning this season’s title is team chemistry, dressing room harmony and that luck. We have the first two, I’d always pray for that luck.
Tai, nothing is a guarantee in life and certainly not in football but a bigger/stronger squad certainly gives any club a much better chance….
And I mean at Arsenal, if AW had a much better squad, I’m pretty sure he would have won the PL again long ago…
Still, it all falls back on his head so whatever comes his way, he’s only got himself to blame….
Luck with injuries never happens though Scott as the root of the problem never seems to be addressed…. And expecting the injuries not to come our way is quite naive of the manager, as is not having a great deal of depth to cover for them..
Morning Adam.
Even with the biggest squad, it’s no guarantee. And then the anti-Wenger will start that any fool would have won it with our squad…if Chelsea, Man City and Man U could struggle with the amount of money they spent…there’s no guarantee adding to the squad would do it.
And over the next five months after travelling to Anfield, OT and a few other places like St Marys. Then there’s the home fixture against the Chavs….
Plenty of points to be won, but plenty to lose too and right now we remain an injury or two away from being in serious trouble…
Morning Rico and Lee. Agreed Brudder. We beat Sunderland, Olympiakos and Villa.
Lee, we are top of the League, in front of Citeh so we are good enough.
That doesn’t mean anything other than we are a chance.
Rico, decent luck..just a fair share would be nice, though.
And a purchase or two.
I just find it funny Scott, it’s been going on too long now to worry about the crap they write… All it does is prove how anti Arsenal they are…
I must admit, rather than relying on luck to win the PL, it would be nice to win it with a strong and deep squad…
With City up next, I do worry about our midfield….
We’ll see if we’re good enough after the Citeh game…..
Media…..we all know what they’re like, Rico, so Bugger them.
Let’s just hope on getting things done.
Tai, some good luck would be a change for us, but it seems we are good enough.
Morning Lee, Wath, Scott and all…
Plenty of headlines about the lack of handshake, but not a sniff of the kind of stuff they throw at Wenger…
Morning Scott, All…
You can re-echo that poetry again and again…
Many people didn’t believe we have a squad to win the League…I knew from the off we did and all that is required is luck…luck of injuries, officiating, bounce of the ball, etc.
For instance, every team has its injuries…but the luck in it is which team are you playing with when you have two or three major players out? Without Sanchez, Coquelin and Carzola…chances are we shouldn’t dream of beating Man City if we were playing them without their own injury worries…
But having given appreciable game times to their replacements…we can beat City starting with same squad that beat Villa. Sanchez will only be an added boost.
Who believed after summer business, or lack of it, that we’d be topping ahead of City, Man Utd, Chelsea and even Liverpool with Klopp? With all our injury woes? City tasted the bitter injury pill and plummeted, despite their ‘acclaimed’ solid squad. Utd are at the receiving end of severe injury spell. Without injuries Chelsea are tasting loss of form!
Believe me again…if we’re lucky, we’ll win it with or without any January signing.
Morning all.
We are doing what we need to do, at present.
Just stay within reach until (a) January and purchases (hahaha) or (b) our injured guys get back.
I was a tired into during the game so can’t remember a hell of a lot, but Ozil is the most selfless footballer I’ve ever seen, Giroud is our best penalty taker by a mile, and Ramsey is much, much better played centrally than wide, though I do understand why he’s out there.
Cech…..can’t remember what he did but I’d bet he did it well.
I was excited we signed him, and though I knew how good he is, I didn’t fully appreciate how much confidence he brings to those in front of him.
The Leagues buy of the season, without question.
Don’t be daft Lee it’s not Arsenal related so it’s not on the agenda to cause shit…!
No media witch hunt over Klopp not shaking Pulis’s hand????
A Manchester United fan goes into a travel agents and says, “I’m looking for a weekend away in England, but I don’t know where to go?” The travel agent says, “You can’t beat Bournemouth this time of year.”
Nose bleeding time
“We are top of the league,
Said we are top of the league…………………:)
Rico. Judging by the look of him he left his false teeth in a glass by he bed. 🙂
Night Rico….
I,m with you Joe, I,d like to stay top now.
A draw would keep us there. that,ll do.
After all you have to hope the team in the bottom 5 beats a team at the top of a table team.
Don’t you even Chelsea ???
I’m off for the day guys, to watch Aladdin…. 🙂
Chat tomorrow, night all…
Whatever he did Adam, I’m laughing…. Lol
OK Bt62 thanks mate
Now we are top I’d like us to stay there so come on Chelsea ich ??
Joe, an injury to Loveren.
All over 2-2
BT62 how come so much stoppage time
Lloris. World class. 🙂
I’m for a Leicester win too Allan….
I was a bit premature with the pool result. Still
Totts lose… Ha ha
Just a great weekend to be a Gooner. Now if Leicester can just rub salt into Jose’s wound tomorrow…
Darn, dippers score..
2-2 WBA Deflection ….ffs
🙂 Joe, wise move….
Dublin, I chuckled at that little song too….
Hopefully Cech will break the record next Monday…
Totts losing 2-1 lol
Brilliant Joe, it just gets better….
oh Just equal is it, Rico, no doubt it,s in the bag for im,
I thought the Arsenal fans chanting “Jack Grealish he drinks when he wants” was funny.
Pool lose and Spurs lose
Can we dare to dream ?
Newcastle just gone 2-1 up
WBA under pressure but almost there…8 mins et..
November is the time to hide away and hope we are not to far off the top. ?
Fab BT, hope it stays that way, and at SHL…
Sorry Rico, WBA 2-1
1-1 at SHL too….
He’s only equalled the record hasn’t he Dublin?
Yep, good week…
To West Brom?
2-1 Now…lol
What a week,clinch last 16 spot and go top
Maybe the wily old goat isn,t finished after all, Lol.
Loved the Ozil story, heading to the tunnel after being subbed, villa fans hurtling abuse at him, looks up, and blows a kiss at them.
Congrats to Cech too, broke James,s premiership clean sheet record (169)
Darn! Lol
Ruled out..lol
2-1 WBA LOL
Totts 1-0 up..
Can’t beat it Bt…
Joe, where have you been? I’ve missed your positive views… Lol
🙂 Adam…
Well done to the lads, being as Rico has started dolling out the I told you so’s here’s mine for the CL advancement midweek tsgh and I told you all that even if we lost in Munich we would still make the last 16 of the cl.
But it was mostly me ?
1-1 lol
Open fire lit today…..Luvvvvly.
Dippers 1n up….
I wish I had one Rico. I am sitting by the radiator. 🙂
Not quite the same unfortunately.
Indeed Adam and I am just that… Log burner is in full swing and just waiting to shut the feathered ones up in bed….
An afternoon to be indoors by the fire Rico. 🙂
Good to see him make the bench Bt, hope he gets on and does well…
Afternoon Adam. No rain here just really foggy…
Hi BT.
Gnarby throughing his talent away .. He needs to work harder. .
Ozil needs a nice rub down
What’s up with ox i thought this would be his year as they said
Gnaby on the bench for WBA…Hi Adam, same here..
Afternoon Rico and all. Horrible, damp and dull in London today.
17 consecutive games at Villa Park without defeat, that’s some record, could be a while before we meet again !
top of the league until tomorrow.
2-0 to the good guys. Top of the tree, all week?
Prediction:
Leicester 1 Chelsea 1
The beginning of a long run in to the title!
Nice. Good first half. Second a bit sloppy but good enough.
Top of the league for 24 hours.
What a great way to round off the week for The Arsenal…….
Great result. Great week for the boys. Now a good rest before City…
Chuffed for Cech, and he does it in an Arsenal shirt…. ??
Ha Micko..
4 mins for Cech…..
German mentality rico !
Is Cech about to pick up a well deserved record today, don’t wanna speak to soon.
Ozil looks a right old misery guts… Lol
Few tired legs too….
Think we’ve shut up shop…..Boring boring Arsenal.
Very sloppy Arsenal!!! Wake Up!!
haven’t come out this half!
Sloppy…..
Wake up again….
Go steady Ollie…. 😉
Hutton needs to get over the penalty lol.
He sure works hard for the team….
I’d love to see Lil’ Joel knock one in , just reward for his efforts…
I did Micko. Cheeky… Lol
Don’t know whether you noticed rico but they kept switching in Greece !
Could do with a couple more to boost our goals scored total.. Just in case.. Lol
yesterday Barcelona was 2-0 and at the final 2-2….
fingers crosses!
Without trying to sound like a smart arse, I’ve always wanted Theo play on the left if he gets played wide – just makes so much sense to me..
Arsene starting Campbell on the right and moving Walcott to the left, must be a big boost for Joel !
What a way to spend a grey dreary Sunday afternoon…..great to watch..
Offside maybe but what a cracking turn and finish….
Certainly was Micko…
Not sure many defences would have coped with that, and certainly not Villa’s…
Garde has as thankless task on his hands, can’t see him sticking around for too long…
Class rico, counter attacking football at it’s best.
Looking solid today.
Villa have to resort to being dirty because they are so bad.
He didn’t need it did he Micko? Lol
Rambo wins possession, superb play by Theo and Ozil and a simple tap in.
What football….beautiful.
We all know he doesn’t have a right foot rico.
And what a great ball by Theo… 😉
Quality!
How unselfish was that from Ozil….
Yeah they’re grubby, especially Hutton on Theo.
Dirty lot.
The others behind him must have been slow… 😉 😉
Solid start and Giroud always looks confident over penalties, and delivers.
3rd fastest Arsenal player ever to 50 Leaguw goals.
COYRRG’S….
Moyes is such a knob!
Unfortunately I might not get to see the whole game, check in later.
Yes the 2 lads are a credit to themselves and their profession, great lads.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re right Dublin..
Have you just seen the SS’s interview with Bellerin and Monreal?
What lovely chaps they are and their English is incredible….
Fair enough ,Rico
I still think on Wenger, that the purchase of Chambers and Welbeck, still has hint of regret on his behalf. Still.
Tai, no-one knows he won’t, that’s for sure…
Dublin, Lukaku I think… But perhaps to replace Ollie… 😉
God point re Bellerin Jm, maybe today he’ll be back to his best…
Dublin, I’m not overwhelmed by Chambers, but he’s still young and it must be hard to improve when not playing. But, I’d imagine that AW has been working with him in regards to playing in midfield because in all honesty, he has no other options available.
Maybe he’ll play there and surprise us all and he’s played there before, albeit at a much younger age…
Who’s dreaming of AW signing a striker this January? Not even if he’s given one free!
I dunno, You rate im more than I do ,Rico,
I still feel chambers has a long way to go.
Hypothetical Rico, but Welbeck or Lukaku,
I think AW could turn im into another Drogba.
The team will be the same at Greece.
My concern is not only Flamini but Bellerin too.
I don’t know if it’s time for Debuchy line up
I reckon Chambers might be ok in midfield… Anything happens to Flamini and we’ll soon find out I guess…
That,s a relief, didn,t mind Ozil rested so much,maybe bring him on late, but the Flamini/Chambers pivot.
Substitutes
02 Debuchy
03 Gibbs
05 Gabriel
13 Ospina
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
21 Chambers
45 Iwobi
🙂 Dublin, he spurned a few chances yesterday, not that that put’s me off Lukaku. Good player and would look better in red….
Official:
Arsenal
33 Cech
24 Bellerín
04 Mertesacker
06 Koscielny
18 Monreal
16 Ramsey
20 Flamini
14 Walcott
11 Özil
28 Campbell
12 Giroud
again, i,m not sure if it,s true, think ill wait to see the team sheet first,
Maybe he is in the market for a player like stones, which would be good move, I feel.
Maybe go in and get Lakaku too, still only 22. or am i being greedy now!!
I reckon so Dublin, and I bet Everton would rather do business with us than Chelsea after their pursuit of Stones during the summer and how it was discussed publicly by the dwarf………
Afternoon Kev..
Good thing is that after today, they get a good rest as we don’t play City until the Monday night I think.
Ozil rested? Hmmmm…
Afternoon all
Afternoon, I suppose injuries apart we do have a lot to be grateful for, Rico.
The stones/Chambers would make sense.
Just picked this up online,
Özil rested for today. Ramsey starts #10, Flamini and Chambers DM. Flamini given a slightly more advanced role, Chambers stays back. I dunno if true or not.
Afternoon Rico
Fatigue is gonna be a factor for us today, physical and emotional after the victory in Greece…
We gotta go out fast, try to get the job done early before our legs start to go.
Wenger should hold Theo back and bring him on in the 2nd half to keep Villa on the back foot ( he’ll probably start him now ? )…
Villa Park can be a bear pit if the home team get on a roll…
I’ve seen many a strong Arsenal team wilt in that atmosphere there…
A draw may not be a terrible result all things considered and seeing what happened to ManUre, whilst City struggled…
Hopefully a narrow win….
Have a good one….
Good Morning/Afternoon All
Grey and raining here Wavy, hope the sun shines over Villa Park today, for the away team of course…
Totally agree, what is he midweek result worth if we flop today? Nothing I’d say….
Let’s hope the team have the same mind set as they had on Wednesday. Olympiacos and Villa are of a similar standard, imo. If we turn up we should win comfortably but if we’re still bathing in the glory of Wednesday’s result, we probably won’t!
Consistency, that’s what we need, consistency! Now, today would be a good time to display it!
Arsenal to win 2-0
Morning all. Another grey day!
Reports in the papers, which I know are normally garbage, suggest Everton want Calum Chambers to replace John Stones…
Why now do a swap and give them Chambers and £25 million? Or more if that’s what it takes….
Agree on both there Bt.. I caught the end last night and wish I hadn’t… 😉
Btw, I think AW is still the right man to lead us to success IF he spent some bleedin money and we had a strong and deep squad….
However…
Let’s hope the players do also Rico…
I can’t believe they dragged the bloody X Factor out for another fecking night…aaaahhh
Nice post.
Morning Tai, Bt..
I chose to forget the early kick off… 😉
Good morning all….
3pts today please, none of this early KO voodoo nonsense thank you…
Morning Rico, All…
Top post…
I believe we’ll grab the three points today…
I think other teams will end up regretting not sprinting away while Arsenal muddled up three matches in November. Prayers, however, must be for Ozil to remain fit until at least Wilshere returns.
Its in our hands
I hope so Scott… 🙂
You going to get some sleep before ko?
Top post, Rico.
We will be winning 🙂