The last few days have been all about the match against Everton and who said what or not to whom. Reality is Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have said the book is closed on the incident and that’s probably a good thing too. The FA say there is no case to answer so let’s put it to bed and focus on today.
We are up in the North of England again to face Newcastle, the side who beat us earlier in the season thanks to bit of uncertainty by Fabianski which allowed Carroll to head home the only goal of the game. Newcastle were under a different manager back then and their tactic was to target Fabianski who was going through a difficult period trying to convince Arsene Wenger and most fans that he was the one be given the number one shirt. That day he did little to convince but he got better, now though he is out for the rest of the season following surgery.
Another change in the sides today will be the absence of Ameobi who has a suspected fractured jaw and of course Andy Carroll has gone off to Merseyside for a staggering amount of money – well played Newcastle I say, the player wasn’t worth half that amount.
Alan Pardew is now Newcastles boss, he’s another manager who has a ‘spat’ with our old Arsene!
For those who don’t recall the little incident, we were playing West Ham at Upton Park and were the better side by far but Marlon Harewood came on from the bench and nicked a late winner. Pardew was over the moon of course but celebrated a bit too close to Arsene Wenger. Wenger took umbrage and gave Pardew a shove – handbags draw, final whistle went and Wenger sulked off without shaking Pardews hand. Wenger got a hefty fine for his actions and regretted his behaviour, Pardew admitted he was a be OTT too…
I can understand Wenger being cheesed off, it was one of those games where we missed so many chances, had a clear penalty turned down and to top if off, both Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie were hit by coins thrown by the home fans during the game. Not a good day!!
So today the two managers come face to face again!
Thomas Vermaelen is still out, Song, Nasri, Frimpong, Fabianski and Denilson are also out through injury. I strongly suspect we will start as we finished against Everton with Diaby in the middle and Arshavin for Nasri. Sebastian Squillaci is available for selection having served his one match ban and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start in place of Johan Djourou. I hope he doesn’t but I think he will.
One good bit of news and it seems like ages since this has happened but finally, after this game today, our players get a whole week off to rest, win today and they’ll deserve it too.
Newcastle got thrashed 1-0 in the week at Fulham and that’s when Ameobi picked up his injury and I’m sure the last time we faced them without Carroll or Ameobi was in the Carling Cup. We know what happened that night don’t we? We cannot forget they have some good players, Kevin Nolan in particular and they have that nasty little Joey Barton in their side too.
It won’t be an easy game, no game is in this league anymore and we’ll need to be concentrated and patient and solid at the back. Play that way and I’m sure we can get the result we need to keep on the tails of Man Utd. In fact if we win this afternoon we will be just two points adrift of the leaders before they face a tricky away fixture against Wolves.
So, its same again then please Arsenal but don’t leave it quite so late!!
Have a good day all
Morning
I’ve just read Nikki B has split with his partner, not nice for him just after becoming a dad…
Maybe she decided his view of his parenting skills is as delusional as those of his footballing skills…
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Nicklas-Bendtner-has-stunned-Arsenal-s-sports-psychologist-with-the-highest-self-confidence-rating-ever-recorded-article690591.html
1-0 isn’t a thrashing. but yeah, with andy caroll out of the way we should be winning this one. Predicting both shava and chocolegs to score today!
😆 clockend…
trooop, it’s called humour re the 1-0 😉
I’m not surprised by that rating though….
Self confident or arrogant? Its a fine line….
I’d have thought there is a spectrum from “total lack of confidence” through to “self confidence” with the far end being ” Believes himself to be responsible for the creation of the universe”. At the moment I thunk Nik just hears voices telling him he’s the best.
When they stop it might be because he believes himself to be the supreme being.
Pity he couldn’t start showing a bit more confidence in front of goal…. i haven’t read the article, maybe i will now….
why start with the squid?are u trying to panic me?every time ,he & kozzer play together we..can’t bring myself to say it!as you say we have a whole week off after ,so play djourou!!
Morning all, 5-1 today. Had that score line all week in my head.
Hi KG, i don’t want him to start but i bet wenger does 😉
Morning Rocastle, that’s a big scoreline… when did we last score 5 goals 😉
Wed have done it a few times if NB52 didn’t keep spanking the ball into the clock end!!
Last time we beat the Geordies 5-1 was dec 9 2000. Utd and spurs either lost or drew after conceding in the last minute.
I’m not an anorak, we were wetting my ffirst daughters head that night and I remember thinly what a great day.
😆 – A hatful of goals is due, we create so so many chances its got to come one day, i hope its today, i’m not a fan of Pardew!
Unfortunately, most of the players will probably have to play in pointless international friendlies during midweek, so there will be no rest for the likes of Arshavin, van Persie, Fabregas, Djourou and now even Koscielny.
Another good post!! I really fancy us getting a hat full…it’s been brewing for a while and hopefully it’s the Geordies that get it!!!
Hi Lee, thanks
I hope its today, its long overdue, the midfield worries me though with Song out, Diaby no doubt will start and he’s going to have to be on form….
Dowd needs to keep an eye on Barton too….
Hi Tristam, didn’t realise there were international friendlies, that’s just bloomin crazy at this time in the season, especially with the CL KO matches up soon….
Great post Rico.
Morning guys, hope you are all well?
I think we need to be up for a physical battle and take the sting from the Toon. I have a feeling they will come out all guns blazing but, if we can score early, I have another feeling that the Newcastle fans will turn because of the Carroll sale.
I also think the ref will need to be on point as I can see Cesc and Jack getting a bit of the rough stuff their way.
So, in closing of this long, rambling, nonsensical post, a quick goal or two and we should be ok.
Hi Will, thanks 🙂
It’s going to be tough, i’m interested to see who wenger plays today, have a feeling we may see a couple of changes sadly
Boo!! “It won’t be an easy game, no game is in this league anymore and we’ll need to be concentrated and patient and solid at the back.”— Too true.
We have a score to settle, and we shall do just that, I am optimistic. 🙂 🙂
Who do you want to see starting today?
Boo agag,
i’m optimistic but we need to start finishing a lot better than we have been….
The same that finished against Everton, i think that was
Chesney
Sagna JD Kos Clichy
Cesc Diaby Jack AA
Theo Robin….
I no particular order of course 😉
You have to watch this.
Good team that Rico.
Would rather Song but, can’t so Diaby has to be the bestter option, he needs a good run of games and run of good games, then he’ll keep denilson out too 🙂
Maybe Cesc can teach Diaby a little about positional sense and knowing when to go and when to stay.
I met him Will, a real gent…
Did you shake his hand?
Theo needs to watch that – he’s the nearest we’ll see to the great man one day if he keeps working and learning, even then it won’t be close….
Will, I did indeed 🙂
But i think you already knew the answer to that 😉
Thierry Henry is truly one of the greats. Fantastic player, and easy on the eye, too. 😉 rico, that must have been quite the experience.
Hello, will. 🙂
Have you washed that hand?
I think Theo needs to learn to be free. Thierry was so good because he played without fear.
Hi Agag, how are you today?
yeah Rico, the midfield worries me a bit and also all the hype surrounding the Cesc/moyes storm in a tea cup, just hope Cesc & Jack deal with “rough stuff” as Will put it….
Anyone watching Soccer Saturday?
agag, it was 😳
Many times Will, you watching Soccer Sat, charlie Nicolas has given both barrels to Stelling…
It was wonderful Rico. You could see the Bonny Prince was angry and with every right.
I am well, Will. I don’t think our match is being shown where I am though. 🙂 No Soccer Saturday where I am.
rico, I’m sure I’d have done the proper girlygirlcrazyfan thing, and fainted. 🙂 Haha.
Hello, Lee. 🙂
Jack will Lee, just hope Dowd isn’t influenced by any of the media stuff around cesc…
Agag, where are you?
Will, I liked Le Tiss’s comments too about people in glass houses…..
Moyes had to be restrained once in the tunnel at St Marys to stop him getting to the ref, Everton had lost to Southampton….
agag, i am far too old to be doing that 😉
Will, he’s right though in everything he said, shut them all up too….
Exactly Rico. Moyes should do the professional thing and shut the beep up.
What annoys me is, the way he mentions it and then says, but I don’t want to make anything of it.
Moron.
Spot on!
Hope they get battered today if they are playing…
Yep and then we can see what he is moaning at.
Any team news yet?
No, I can’t find any yet.
It seems to be taking ages to get to 3pm today….
Afternoon HHers I am watching Stoke-Sunderland game, 1-2 for the visitors 😀
Stoke keep on fouling the goalie and the ref let them score the equalizer in the first half.
Hi Stef, good, we have Stoke soon don’t we, need them low in confidence 😉
Arsenal:
Szczesny
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Diaby – Wilshere
Walcott – Fabregas – Arshavin
van Persie
Hi Rico and Will, good team Will.
2-2 goal from offside plus with a handball from Carew, Sunderland are being ripped off 🙁
Good – no Squilli…
Just heard Smudger Smith say the same Stef, bet stoke nick a winner now…
4 minutes added and 3-2 for Stoke in 93rd minute no offside this time, but the first goal came with a foul on the goalie very very bad game for the ref.
Steve Bruce looks pissed off.
that’s un-like stoke to be heavy handed…
There you go Stef, typical and those points could cost sunderland and all from an offside goal to give stoke the momentum –
video replays not needed… of course they are..
I would be peed off to if i was Bruce….
Lee, heavy handed and pumping high balls into the box, unheard of.
Get in Theo.
And now JD 2-0.
nice one rico..
alot of managers are just jealous..
bonjour 🙂
ive had a lovely last few days..
spent it with my girl and then i come home home and its 2-0 after 3..
let it continue
whos up for a 7 nil smashing and wolves to take points tonight.. 🙂
3-0 Rvp. This is the start we needed.
and now its 3… 😆
just hope we don’t settle and slow down JJ.
neither do i will.
i want a thumping today..
but i will understand if they do..
3-0 up and cruising..dont switch off but just keep it tidy and pass it around..dont have to knacker ourselves the games won but that doesnt mean switch off..
the games won after 10mins..80mins to relax
its like having a week off.. 😉
I must go and shower at 2.55 every saturday 🙂
Yeah but we switch off, they score, start pumping balls into our box and panic sets in. Now is the time to go for the jugular.
Hi jj 🙂
To true, we are due a high score, surely it has to come today 🙂
4-0 🙂
4
4-0 RvP again.
RvP on for another hat-trick 🙂
I love you, Robin. 🙂
hands off agag 😉
My 5-1 is looking pretty good Rico m’darlin!!!
Could be more at this rate!
This is the Arsenal of old.
G.D will look a whole lot better..
lets go for the record eh..??
lets go for 10
hands off the pair of you
hes mine 😉
JJ, I would be happy with 5-0 at half time.
this is now perfect game for AA to kick on
no pressure..just do what u feel is right..
relax..let the talent flow get a few goals and hes back in business
Rocastle, it sure is but can you see us conceding ? 😉
jj, put ’em up 😉
I agree JJ, now let’s have some fun and play free from fear.
call me greedy but i want double figures, shove that right up Pardews snozzer 😉
Citeh 3-0
Spuds 1-0
Everton and B’pool 1-1 🙂
Haha, the toffees have had a dreadful decision against them WHEN the ball was in the net 🙂
I see Man City are being given a helping hand.
Leyton Orient are losing 1-0 😉
how did rvp not get his third 🙁
Do you guys have any links?
http://fsportshd1.blogspot.com/p/channel-1.html
this is a good one will
ive had no probs with it so far
Thanks JJ.
The 4th was wonderful one touch football.
Rico, Theo took it past the defender, slid it in and RVP side footed it in from 8 yards.
i’m going to try that one too, mine keeps stopping ….
Clean sheet today and 2-3 more goals should be enough 😀
But a mythical 10-nil would be even nicer 😆 it is possible but highly unlikely.
I missed all the goals 🙁
Can’t wait for Footie First Will… I just want more goals now…
wonder if Sky will put us on the main match replay… bet the spuds
10-0 Stef, in the words of Keegan
‘I’d Love It’ 🙂
Rico, but game is on Sky now? Vila-Fulham
but* =what
No prob, rico. But JJ wants dibs on him, too. 😉
I think my favorite LB is having a good game, btw. 😉
Hey, Stef. 🙂 I like that 10-0 scoreline. 🙂
Hopefully they won’t show that on the first footie showing later then stef….
Diaby off – red card!!!!
Great, I turn the game on, we lose JD and now Diaby gets sent off.
Diaby is just such a donut. Completely unnecessary.
yes abou
kick the fuck out of em
Whats happened to JD Will??
Thommo desribed the red card as handbags??
agag, we’ll fight jj for him…. 😉
Love the way Barton gets away with kicking Diaby.
was that all down to that little squirt Barton?
now we have no diaby for three games, any chance we have an appeal coming? all streams for me have dropped out….
have u ever seen barton so scared lol
Just pulled up Rico
I am pissed off that Barton got away with an assault yet Diaby gets sent off for a push.
Spuds 1-1, come on bolton
barton should have gone for that
diabys leg nearly snapped…
jd looked precaution..
cesc and rvp hobbling
its a war
I see it is another case of kick Arsenal with impunity.
Bollox, hamstring gone then, TV best be near a return, unless of course its just to keep him out of the swiss team in the week ahead 😉
diaby sent off for doing barton and nolan..
barton ended up on his arse.lol
nolan came steaming in like rocky and ended up in row z lol
But Barton is a win-up merchant, not to mention a thug… Surely, Abou should know better. 🙁
I have witched it off, i am screaming at my laptop.
No Agag, Diaby did nothing but push Barton. Barton on the other hand almost broke Diaby’s leg but it is another case of retaliation getting the punishment and not the original crime.
B’pool 3-2 up 🙂 🙂 🙂
Rico, with Ss18 on the pitch, we can ALWAYS concede.
In the words of Wenger – I didn’t see it 😉
cant critise diaby for that he almost lost his leg
barton was lucky diaby didnt bury him for that..
newcastle had no intention to play 2nd half
they came out to kick..
ref needs to start dishing cards
I am going to write to the FA and ask for clarification on why the original offender gets away with it scot free but the retaliation gets you sent off.
With our injuries count ever-increasing, why get yourself red carded? I’m not saying Barton didn’t deserve it, but that was a silly sending off.
agag, i’m with you on that, let barton look the idiot, why retaliate…
Anything happening?
Told ya !
the ref is a twat
nolan throws ches to the floor and ches gets booked
Here we go.
newcastle score from pen dive
che is assaulted same way diaby did and ches booked
by the way
squil is shit
we are losing it..
4-2
If we mess this up, I am will so pissed off.
You just bloody knew it…..
This is ridiculous… Argh.
I am going to throw up…
What is happening?
I should never of turned the game on.
Rocastle, that little s**t has ruined that score
This is horrid!
For me, this is another example that cheats do prosper. Kick and foul, get away with it.
Dowd is a clown…
Never never never!!!!!!
Unbelievable!! Fudge.
Just been told it was never a pen, is that right?
Tommo on sky is stunned by such shocking decisions by dowd….
Tommo says nevr in a million years Will…..
bloody diaby!!
SHOCKING!!
I am done with Arsenal.
We had a fucking window too strengthen where we needed and Wenger did FUCK ALL and now we reap what we sowed,
😥
The season is officially over for me.
im disgusted…
4 all what a disgrace….
I am heartbroken 😥
nothing to do with arsenal
barton shouldnt have been on the pitch
two pens from fuck all
nolan should have seen red for chesney attack..
refs are paid off..
I am angry.
Angry that Barton got away with an assault
Angry that they get a pen that never was
But most of all, angry at Wenger for not strengthening the squad when everyone could see we needed to.
I am serious, I am done with this season. I don’t care if we win everything, Wenger has let Arsenal and more importantly, us the fans down big time.
How could we not have held our nerve??? 😥
COME ON WOLVES
I’m stunned, absolutely stunned, what on earth has happened in the second half to surrender so many goals…
Will we have too many players that are not good enough to wear the Arsenal shirt and sadly Wenger thinks they are….
Will, i have to disagree today, what has wenger done wrong?
Diaby got himself sent off for reacting, had he stayed on then no way would they have come back….
Lee, we weren’t saying that at H/T?? we were 4-0 and cruising, then the sending off changed the game, wenger cannot be blamed for that….
I am absolutely absolutely gutted. 😥
Some days, it is unbearable to be an Arsenal fan.
we were winning 4-0..
what would have strenghtening in the window achieved in this game
the fucking officials gave them it
not just one pen
but both pens..
barton tackle on AA 1st half and tackle on diaby 2nd unpunished..
diaby sent off for raised hands nolan does same to ches and ches gets booked..
that was fucked up…its fucking obvious where the titles going it was chosen from day one
What did Wenger do that was wrong?
How about not replace Squil when he had the chance?
How about not get a top class DM in when he had the chance?
just sooooooo frustrating….absolutely cruising, even with 10 men we should of won that game!
Today is that day agag and to top if off i have friends coming for dinner, one of them is not too keen on our team, he’ll have a lovely evening at my expense….
now where did i put that arsenic…. 😉
This draw is as much on Diaby’s head as on that clown, Dowd.
the sh1tty texts are starting already…
You know what jj, i think you are bloody well right, the FA want the mancs to win the league and every bloody ref is against us, it says it all when a liverpool fan and commentator agrees…
also, rvp was level for that last goal, according to the commentary
Diaby was an idiot agag, we all know what Barton is like, he is a cheat and a thug. Diaby should have risen above the bad tackle, maybe then Barton would have seen red but Dowd was given a gift with bows on….
At least, we didn’t lose. Our ten men should have been enough to close the game out… Instead, they imploded. Pitiful.
Cancel dinner, rico. Or go find that bottle of arsenic. (But don’t you be the one drinking it) 😉
oh dear.. never seen any thing like that in my life!!!!!!!!!!!
Bloomin Spuds won in the end and Citeh won too, not a good day, unless Wolves pull a rabbit out of the bag….
GG does not go well with oatmeal cookies, by the by. 😉
2 things happened today we got a red card and we saw an old man in def.. everi thing gone then..
agag, i won’t i promis, i have a blog to run 😉
cookies and GG – yuck!
this has nothing to do with wenger
watch the highlights see the decisions the ref wanted newcastle to win its so obvious…
ive never seen nothing like that in my life..
i thought sahas goal was bad..that was nothing compared to this
we take some **it from arry’s mouth..
JJ. I don’t know about you but I want a better defender than Squil coming on. That s what Wenger did wrong.
I don’t know whether my head is spinning from our results or my tipple and cookie combo. 🙂 Eurgh.
Hi STV, Tommo is just talking on Sky Sports – he says that Nolan should have seen red for grabbing Chesney round the neck when he wanted the ball for the penalty..
i want a better defender than squil as well
but this game had nothing to do with that..
you cant defend when the ref is giving pens away for fuck all and not sending newcastle players off…
not even fucking booking them..
what happend to ches was an outrage..especially after the red for diaby..
outrage
ches got a yellow for that rico
I have this horrid thought that todays game will hit us hard emotionally, very hard – the next game will be interesting…. or darn right horrid….
im fucked off..and for once it wasnt with the performance 😉
we collapsed yes but the ref gave them everrything
absolutely everything
even things that werent there
wat can u do about that?
jj, just shows how bad dowd was then…. i’m looking forward to watching, we are the game of day on sky
wenger i/v coming up, he must be furious, absolutely furious, that game should have ended 5-2 with us down to ten and them nine!!
why wont they allow the RVP goal, why wont they send barton off too, why 2 penalties, who gave those permissions to them.. disgrace.. all refs of game should get life time(imprisonment)ban..
calm i/v by wenger
STV – ‘supposedly’ – Barton got the ball in the diaby tackle, i haven’t seen it yet so i cannot comment but two pens should never have been given….
i think thats the title gone now..
not the result but i think only one team is set to win this league..
it started v manu blackpool where blackpool had a clear pen..clear pen turned down at 2-0
utd win
last game sahas goal…but we came through
now this game..second half was the refs show..
we are fighting for second..it doesnt matter how well we play utd are being given the league..
its fergies last chance…he wants to beat pools record..his teams shit it has been all season he’s being given it…
The day we lost the title in what a manor it was unbelievable. :S
How did we lose the three points?
1.Diaby gets a stupid sending off.
2.The ref gives away free penalty every time he can.
3.Wenger makes the wrong moves our fastest attacking options AA and Theo put on the bench, in doing so we are left with no counter options.
I must admit am most angry at Wenger he should of known better. I wish I didn’t watch the second half.
bartons tackle was arguabley a red..
but it was at least a yellow
he fouled AA from behind in the first half in a cruncher and that was a yellow too but the ref gave nothing..so diaby hacked down barton next phase
bartons tackle on diaby was retribution for first half..
but the ref gave them all to newcastle…no bookings, no fouls, nothing..even when ches was attacked by nolan he fucking booked ches…????
and the pens??? i give up…
Maybe we shouldn’t watch games anymore the FA should tell the score upfront before the game.
That would clear things out.
wolves have equilised 🙂
The PL should be stopped from now and FA should give man u the title.. Oh yes a play off for other places would be good..
Its not over yet, not just yet, there are a few fixtures that could throw a spanner in the works….
Sorry guys and gals, i have dinner to cook now and stuff so i bid you bye bye for a few hours, will pop back later if i am sober enough 😉 mind you, grapefruit and soda doesn’t quite do it really…
heres to wolves doing us a favor…
later all….
FA told arry that title fight will be b/w chelsea and man utd..
Arsenal v Spurs L 2-3 Phil Dowd
Arsenal v Wigan L 2-3 Phil Dowd
Arsenal v Sunderland D 1-1 Phil Dowd Alex Song (red)
Arsenal v Newcastle D 4-4 Phil Dowd Diaby (red)
knicked that from another site…
dowds a twat
I watched it Rico out here!
I knew we were in trouble as soon as Djourou had to go off as Squillaci-Kozzer doesn’t work & I’d already seen enough of Dowd’s reffing!
JJ: Agree entirely. How did Barton not get at least a yellow for the tackle on Diaby?
If Diaby’s ‘throttler’ (reaction) on Barton was a red then Nolan’s(?) on Chezzer should have been as it was more aggressive & dangerous.
As for the last penalty ………..well. Apparently we should have had a VP goal but so should they have had a goal (that was also disallowed).
One totally stunned Gunner here, next games will be crucial as well as what Djourou ends up with (/TV).
JJ in all that games dowd fuels the come back all games are in similar nature re fab hand ball..
.. well forgot game in a business like manner, atleast RVP had a double..hoping for 1324th man utd draw this season, night all
I want to punch people.
wolves winning 😉
you wanna help me find dowd, will
im up for it 😉
All joking aside JJ, if I saw him, I would and I am really not a violent man.
Ref’s should officiate, not dictate.
i agree will..
i dont normally watch highlights after such results i shut myself away have a cold shower and sit in a darkened room..
but i will tonight..
Please Wolves just please!!
i never watch the lowlights when we lose but as JonJon said definitely watching tonight…
It feels good to see the mancs losing, but it doesn’t make it for the lost three points today.
and that made it so much easier
dont class it as two points lost, we can now class it as another point gained…
we would have been mentally affected by the newcastle game..
but the mancs hand us back the momentum..
get in..
newcastle game now forgotten..
well done wolves
Hey guys!! Mixed feelings today!! How do we let 4 goals slip?! I was busy and only had time to check the score after the 1st 40 minutes and was excitedly looking at the tv waiting for a 6 or 7-0 scoreline!!! definitely feels line a huge opportunity thrown away over some silly ref decisions and what seems like a loss of nerve and composure by the whole team!! Cue the usual anti-arsenal punditry by the usual suspects tonight!!! GUTTED!!!!
The Wolves result certainly
has taken the edge of that diabolical second half….un-beaten all season “my arse!!!”
I see Pardew is saying Barton is fair and only aggressive. What a load of shit.
watched the highlights
i maintain my view that we were fucking robbed..
What utter biased crap from the MOtd fucktards.
Good thing I don’t follow BBC then Will.
We still can win the title Mancs gonna drop more points and hopefully there will be no doubt(no dowd) for our game for the rest of the season.
Another drawback is Djourou injury(major 1), we gonna bite our arses till TV or Djourou.
Although it looks good on the table after the mancs defeat I am afraid I am not gonna sleep well after that comeback(the best comeback in the History in the PL).
It is what it is then a History, good night folks sleep well.
New Post up…