Football isn’t played on paper! Lawrenson talks Reading v Arsenal…

Morning all.

I do like reading Mark Lawrenson’s comments, especially as he’s had to change them all so often recently:

Reading will try to make it difficult for them but even if Arsene Wenger’s side find themselves in a battle or under pressure, they are better at dealing with it than other Arsenal teams of the last few years.

Of course Reading will try and make it difficult for us, otherwise why bother? And if we don’t ‘turn up’, we’ll be in trouble!

As for Arsenal, yes, we are better than we have been for a while, a long while and if football was played ‘on paper’ – we would romp to an easy victory this evening, but it’s not and I for one don’t envisage an easy 90 minutes for the boys.

They have nothing to lose and it is a special occasion for them – Arsène Wenger

In the Championship, Reading have suffered a pretty poor season. Not too long ago they were in the Premier League causing a few upsets but right now, they look a long way off of repeating that achievement. Just eight points separate Reading and a relegation place. I hope they are safe, I really do, they are my local side and if they were playing anyone else today I’d be right behind them…..

But Arsenal sit above them in my footballing heart….

Reading haven’t had an easy route to Wembley. Ok, they haven’t faced a Premier League side but they’ve been drawn away in every round and got the better of Derby, Cardiff and of course, Chelsea conquerors, Bradford City…

They have nothing to lose and it is a special occasion for them – Arsène Wenger

Our route to this semi-final has been a lot tougher – certainly the quarter-final but that night in Manchester was special, not only did we finally beat Utd but we booked our place for Wembley today.

This time last season, Per Mertesacker spared us from what would have been a dreadful defeat to Championship side Wigan. His equaliser meant penalties, Lukasz Fabianski stole the show…

Reading have players who can create goals and score them. They have Pavel Pogrebnyak up front who has plenty of experience, including international at International level. Jamie Mackie, Hal Robson-Kanu, and Garath McCleary can all cause problems on their day.

Arsenal cannot afford to let it be their day….

They have nothing to lose and it is a special occasion for them – Arsène Wenger

I hope Arsene Wenger drills that message to the players because if they don’t perform, or think this game will be easy, we’ll be out of the FA Cup.

Reading will be up for it that’s for sure and there’s little, perhaps no pressure on them and that’s when sides perform at their best.

I’m not going to guess who will start but barring Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arteta, we have a full squad.

Whoever plays has to want this victory badly. It’s our Cup right now so let’s do all we can to keep it. Don’t take Reading lightly, treat them with respect, play well, work hard for each other from start to finish and get the job done.

100% Arsenal. Give 100%!

We are on a great run, let’s not let it end today, in fact let’s not let it end until this 2014/15 campaign is over!

COYRRG’S!!!

246 thoughts on “Football isn’t played on paper! Lawrenson talks Reading v Arsenal…

  1. goonster says:

    Wembley wembley we re the famous arsenal and we re going to wembley. Wembley wembley we re the famous arsenal and we re going to wembley.

  2. goonster says:

    Morning rico you have no idea. Am so pumped up. Can’t wait to smash them coonts. They owe us a whupping after disrespecting us by scoring 4 against us. That was the height. Come on lads let’s smash them a new one. Come on. Yeeeeeeaaaaaah.

  3. goonster says:

    49 49 undefeated 49 49 I say 49 49 undefeated playing football the arsenal way 49 49 undefeated 49 49 I say 49 49 undefeated playing football the arsenal way. Come on….

  4. frednerk says:

    Morning All
    Out last night 3 west ham fans 2 millwall 1 chelsea
    me and me brother gooners.
    Other than me and me brother,the others, not not
    a bit interested in the semi’s this week-end.
    One of our mates a cab driver,reckons he
    had a geezer in the back last week,who told him
    Klopp was on his way to West Ham……..
    we all pissed our selfs.
    The porno twins getting Klopp with the enticement
    of the new stadium..could it happen.

  5. scottfromoz says:

    Fred, Klopp has been linked to Citeh and the like, but I reckon it’s more likely he’d end up at West Ham than the Etihad.
    Ask Kev…..cabbies know everything 🙂

  6. goonster says:

    Am buzzing guys….can barely sit still. Watching the route to wembley. All the highlights. Ooh to be a gooner.

  7. rico says:

    Hi fred – the others will no doubt be watching the Chavs and Mancs kick lumps out of each other…

    I reckon Klopp is off to Citeh…

    Back in an hour, want to get Fido walked before it gets too hot…

  8. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico and all…

    You missed your calling as motivational speaker… 😉

    Goonie… what have you been smoking my bro’. 🙂

  9. tsgh says:

    Fred-I didn’t know you were related to the Gold family. 😛

    Klopp to West Ham… are you trying to get me choke on my gibberish? 🙂 Jeurgen can’t leave my BVB and join Alex Song surely?.. 😉

  10. allezkev says:

    I got up this morning and felt really chilled out, no pre-match nerves…

    And that isn’t good!

    Fortunately, after reading that great post and recalling miserable afternoons at Wembley, (Swindon, West Ham, Birmingham), the pit of my stomach started to churn….

    Yep, that’s more like it…

    Don’t take anything for granted…

    COYG…

  11. Wavy says:

    Morning all
    Trouble is, with this game, it’s football! Football is never predictable, at best it’s probable, but any more would be foolishness. Nothing is absolutely nailed on no matter how likely the result should be!
    I’m certain we’ll win……probably!
    Who’s the Ref, is he straight or is he bent?
    Remember the final will be Dipper Gerrard’s final match and nothing will prevent him picking up a winners medal, now that is nailed on! So if the ‘matchmakers’ can see us defeated at this stage in order to engineer the passing of a loyal servant and giant knob they will see that the fix is in early and that the final will be a foregone conclusion!
    Nothing is certain in football…unless the result is already ‘fixed’!

    Now there’s a positive start to my day! Could be a close run thing. Come on you gunners!

  12. Vegas goon says:

    Wow. I was trying to explain to a friend today why I felt a little uneasy about today’s game. I couldnt really find the words. Now I know to just send him a link to this page lol.

  13. Wavy says:

    Morning all
    Trouble is, with this game, it’s football! Football is never predictable, at best it’s probable, but any more would be foolishness. Nothing is absolutely nailed on no matter how likely the result should be!
    I’m certain we’ll win……probably!
    Who’s the Ref, is he straight or is he bent?
    Remember the final will be Dipper Gerrard’s final match and nothing will prevent him picking up a winners medal, now that is nailed on! So if the ‘matchmakers’ can see us defeated at this stage in order to engineer the passing of a loyal servant and giant knob they will see that the fix is in early and that the final will be a foregone conclusion!
    Nothing is certain in football…unless the result is already ‘fixed’!

    Now there’s a positive start to my day! Could be a close run thing. Come on you gunners!

  14. allezkev says:

    Rico, it’s a beautiful sunny and warm day in London Town…

    Really don’t have a strong feeling on the way AW is gonna go with the line up…

    Kinda thought that Welbeck would start up front with Walcott and Sanchez.
    But I’m not sure now?

  15. rico says:

    Leave them as they are. It’s not broken so don’t fix it I say…

    And it’s not like we are playing the Chavs midweek…. They’ll have a week to rest before then…

  16. Wavy says:

    I know Rico. That is not the first time, having left the site after posting, when I refresh my egocentric iPad sends the message again. It’s a virtual error. I’m innocent, honest!
    Villa, they lost most of their influential players last week either to injury or suspension. They are so weakened the dippers only have to turn up to win! The fix went in for Villa a week ago, called forward planning, they probably could buy the Ref for the semi!!
    Allegedly!

  17. andrewh1313 says:

    Afternoon, good post rico. Unusual situation being such big favourites. Still trawling through all my old videos, decided to keep them and convert to digital files. Great memories, just seen about 10 match highlights and chat from double and Invinciple years I’d taped. Pires and Reyes scored some crackers as well as our big two of the time.

    In the mood now, why got to wait so long…… come on 5.30.

  18. rico says:

    That’s it Wavy, blame the equipment… 😉

    Afternoon Andrew, thanks. Don’t think we’ve been such big favourites since we faced Birmingham in the league Cup. And we know what happened then…

  19. potter says:

    It’s Chelsea supporting Martin Atkinson .So it’s unlikely that we will get him two weeks in a row to influence our game against them, so don’t be surprised if he aids them today by sending off one of ours . Kos or Le Coq would affect us next week ,

    Afobe scores again. Wouldn’t have wanted to kill Sanogo would we ?

  20. rico says:

    Oh deep joy Potter, Atkinson!

    I hope none of our players give him a chance to be sent off..

    Selling Afobe doesn’t seem too smart right now….

  21. potter says:

    Scott , yes they do . We need to get control early , take the chances , put it out of reach and play a nice relaxed game and just give Atkinson no opportunity to influence anything.

  22. potter says:

    Lee :- Walking without sticks , still got ankle swelling but , hoping to make London for the Chelsea match . No real pain just a bit uncomfortable at times.

  23. rico says:

    Like the story in the Star saying we have agreed a deal for Morgan for £15 million…

    Shame it’s likely to be poppycock…..

  24. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Goonie, what did she wear?

    Lovely sunny day here, had a hair cut can now see the world again…

    Rico, as you say if it ain’t broken, field the strongest team.

    Afternoon all, nice post..be professional and focused today and it’s job done…

  25. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, the side contained 7school boys, though i think the u18s have had a bit of mare at times this season. Da Kat has the u18s, they play the Saints next…

  26. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House
    Its afine sunny day down south and there is just 2 hours to go for the semi final
    I’m hoping that we field the strongest side we have and we put on a display like the one against the dippers.

    Bt I think the time has come for heads to roll for the way our youth teams are being run. This morning the U18’s squad contained no fewer then 9 schoolboys and no reason has been given as to why 6 of the regulars were missing It is not doing the younger players any good what so ever to keep being thrashed every week.
    Rant over for awhile come on Arsene stronest team possible.
    Good post Rico by the way.

  27. rico says:

    I’ll forgive them then BT… Lol

    Seriously though, didn’t Jonker say he was changing the way the Academy teams will play? Could be the reason for so many losses…

  28. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Stoke 1 Saints 1,

    Rick, your right mate, big questions need to be asked regarding the youth teams…

  29. goonster says:

    Has anyone seen the team news???? The tension within me is palpable. Oooh come on already. Am dying to see the mighty arsenal. Come on you fucking gunners. Come in Yeaaaaaaaaahhhh.

  30. goonster says:

    That’s the death knell on theo’s arsenal career. If he can’t even make it on the pitch against reading then tell me how the hell he ll feature against stronger opposition. And ffs why “rambo on the wing thingy ” I thought we opt for that because welbeck was out. I just don’t get the logic.

  31. goonster says:

    Hahahahahah bt I can’t drink no more dev ll be on my case. He’s the green reaper you know. Plus I gotta set a bloody good example for brianna says a guy named the devil. Oh well here goes nothing.

  32. andrewh1313 says:

    Four recent first teamers left out and we have a strong side! But three of those brought in were starters at beginning of season. Sz, Gibbs, Debuchy.

  33. goonster says:

    Bt do you have a good stream? ? It’s not on tv can you believe that? I spent all day gearing up for this game yet it’s not on tv. God help me I ll kill someone if I don’t see this game. Grrrrr

  34. Bt62 Gooner says:

    It’s listed on Firstrow mate, i can watch on the BBC today, no streaming for me…good luck..

  35. allezkev says:

    Rick, I knocked off at 2pm…

    I’m having a few glasses of Merlot and relaxing in front of the TV mate…

    You watching Rick?

    Rico, yeah, we have more than enough quality to deal with any eventuality….

    This isn’t gonna be easy, and we’re gonna be on the edge of our seats…

    We may need extra time and penalties again?!

  36. allezkev says:

    Interesting to see Ramsey start, glad to see Wenger go with a team that can defend properly as well as do the usual Wengef stuff.

  37. goonster says:

    I know maam but it’s a semi final. It ll come. Once we score one we ll score more. Remember the liverpoop game??

  38. Vegas goon says:

    We’re sniffing about goal. I’m liking what I’m seeing so far. I have a question though…because I’ve never been to wembly. ..that pitch looks gigantic for some reason. Am I seeing things?

  39. andrewh1313 says:

    That goal worth staying up for oz?

    When you have been unable to get the ball off Sanchez and are frustrated, is it OK to just push Sanchez over in the back off the ball without being booked?

  40. Micko says:

    I can see us winning this 3 nil, the day is only gonna get worse for Alan Shearer.

    That goal didn’t wake you up did it Scott…..bloody Arsenal.

  41. Micko says:

    rico, it’s weird for me watching us playing at Wembley, I used to be able to see the arch from my house.

    Bollox, I should have said 3-1 ! Put the mockers on us now.

  42. potter says:

    Debuchy getting caught for speed , Ramsey doing sod all , build up too slow , We need Giroud out there.

  43. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Slack defenders but we came in not concentrate on the 2th half
    Where is Ramsey?
    giroud the solution?

  44. Micko says:

    They have nothing to lose and it’s a special occasion to them, sure it’s been mentioned already !!!

    C’mon Arsenal.

  45. allezkev says:

    I’m ok BT, thanks….

    I just need to see the men in red shirts show a bit more in front of goal…
    Be more clinical.
    Have more composure as befits players who earn the wages they earn…

    We all knew that Reading would give their all. That’s no surprise.
    Our finishing had been very very poor….

  46. allezkev says:

    I reckon the BBC commentators have been a fcuking disgrace….

    We know that one of them is a Scouse.
    The other one is a Cnut.

  47. goonster says:

    Somebody should tell sanchez to release the ball earlier. God in heaven he’s enough to make a man shit himself.

  48. potter says:

    If we play like that next week it will be more of the same , and if we do it again in the final you can cancel the bus.

  49. goonster says:

    Rico Atkinson saved our asses. That handball by debuchy is a flat out penalty but hey I can’t complain God is a gooner 😀

  50. Vegas goon says:

    @Potter agreed. Very sloppy play at times …but isn’t that what makes champions? Winning ugly?
    But I understand the other side of that is losing ugly too…

  51. potter says:

    Typical Atkinson performance , allows the physical but allows the elbows ,the scrapes down the Achilles , the off the ball stuff but misses a penalty to even it up.

  52. allezkev says:

    When we play the final and hopefully win, nobody will worry about this game….,

    We hit the post twice and would have comfortably won in normal time with a bit more composure in front of goal….

    I couldn’t give a shit what the pundits say, Reading played out of their skin, but Szczesny had one difficult save to make and fcuked up….

  53. Bob John says:

    Very similar to last year. Apart from the goal Reading had very little threat. We played shit but hit the woodwork three times. Had the bollox kicked out of us but we WON. All that matters. Still think that the team selection was wrong

  54. Micko says:

    Same goes for Reading, lost count of how many semi-finals we’ve lost in the past and the heart-ache it caused.

    Just had a thought, no tsgh today….oh that’s right Chelsea were at home today weren’t they !

  55. Micko says:

    Bob John, there were a couple of very scary moments at the back were Reading had either a two on one or a one on one, the most uncomfortable game I’ve watched this season…..still the final beckons.

  56. Micko says:

    rico, the Chav’s winning gives us a bit of breathing space but wouldn’t it have been great going into next weekend knowing a win would really close the gap, squeaky bum time for Jose, I suppose in reality they’d still have enuf to make it over the line whatever the outcome.

    I’m off out to play, ooh to, ooh to be, ooh to be a Gooner.

  57. rico says:

    Micko. I think we all know we won’t catch the chavs so yes, a bit of breathing space between us and the mancs so unless we truly Fook it up, we should avoid the cl playoffs and that’s important

    You have a fab time….

  58. Vegas goon says:

    I feel the same Rico. Scum to win or draw for me but a manUre win, no thanks. I like the space now too we just need to capitalize.

    Repeat the FA cup and finish second IMO is better than last year . Only just…but better.

  59. allezkev says:

    Now, Come On Villa, stuff the Scousers and that’ll really gut the media and ruin their Stevie G love affair…

  60. Joe says:

    Went to a mates home to watch the match but I am going to have to stop that it’s always the same we either lose or scape a result my heart can’t deal with games like today to often.

  61. andrewh1313 says:

    Not a penalty for me. Arm had ball kicked at from about four yards, arm didn’t move to ball. So how was it deliberate. Constant fouling from Reading, one booking each. Rotational fouling certainly works against us. Still we had 70% possesion. But little width, only Gibbs. Dubuchy not ready to go forward like Bellerin would have, nice he’s back though.

  62. allezkev says:

    Night Rico….

    Don’t worry what those idiots in the Press say, we’ve got another FACup final to look forward to, so the media can ‘do one’..,,
    Suck it up you mugs…

  63. allezkev says:

    Andrew, it was good practice for facing Chelski, because those boring shits will be rotationally fouling us all afternoon next Sunday…

    And I have a ticket for that game 😀

  64. Bob John says:

    At the end of the day we are in the final. Was disappointed that Wrighty didn’t go for it with the two elbow meisters Shearer and Roberts. Counted at least 4 in the first alone on our players

  65. Wavy says:

    But you know what …….we won….who ever remembers who lost a semi???

    Not the best the Arsenal have ever played but 2-1 to the Arsenal sounds pretty good to me! And I think Reading played out of their skins. They gave us a proper game. But we WON!

  66. Vegas goon says:

    @andrew I agree. If you’re gonna call that then call the foul on Theo a penalty too. Both calls were subjective in my opinion.

    You guys are spot on about the mug fest that went on out there. Sanchez was getting mauled but I love the fact he’djust jump back up and start running again .
    Like alezkev said…perfect prep for next week.

  67. scottfromoz says:

    Hi guys.
    That was a tough ordeal.
    Watch the manhandling of Ramsey in the box….it was every bit the penalty that the handball was, and more.
    The handball…..some refs give it some don’t, but an arm around the waist and one over the shoulder when ten yards out is never anything but a penalty.
    Very disappointing performance.
    Where was the spark??
    Ramsey missed some golden opportunities, but at least made them.
    He and more shots than the rest combined.
    Let’s hope that game is not the beginning of a downward spiral in form.
    Winger we’re by starting two backs who’ve had very, very little, if any, game time of late.
    Anyway, a win is win, but if we keep that up, we will not finish 2nd and won’t win the cup.

  68. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico, Scott et al

    Hey Micko, you know I am always around….
    Oddly, my posts were getting lost yesterday and so there you have it. Nice to know I crossed your mind.

  69. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning, Sanchez is something else? More he is fouled and man handled, more determined he becomes. And such skill. Bargain at not far off half Di Maria’s price.

  70. goonster says:

    She wore she wore a yellow ribbon. She wore a yellow ribbon in the merry month of may and when I asked why she wore the ribbon she said it’s for the arsenal cause we re going to wembley. Wembley wembley we re the famous arsenal and we re going to wembley. Wembley wembley we re the famous arsenal and we re going to wembley. COME ON YOU FUCKING GUNNERS. COME ON.

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