Morning all..
Well, so much for getting an early goal and killing them off as they went in search of an equaliser eh. Yesterday was all about perseverance against a very defensive West Brom side and that’s just what the boys did. With 86 minutes on the clock, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud combined well with the Frenchman heading in the only goal of the game. Three points and no more than we deserved.
Tony Pulis only had one thing in his mind as he set up his team and that was to not concede and his tactics, no matter how boring they are, nearly paid off. Ben Foster was superb in goal, we were denied a penalty, the woodwork kept moving all over the place in order to prevent us scoring, Gibbs picked up an injury and apparently, Gabriel and Perez had a little fall out.
It’s difficult to write much about the game having only seen the highlights but the effort put in by all the players seemed to be much better than we’ve witnessed during the last two matches, certainly in the second half. They got at West Brom time and time again and only strong defending and a goalkeeper in very good form prevented us from romping home with a bigger scoreline. To keep going for the entire match is all we’ve been asking for and that’s exactly what they did despite lady luck looking to be against us.
Lucas Perez made a difference when he came on, he caused West Brom all sorts of problems and supplied a delightful ball across the box which really should have resulted in a goal but neither Ozil or Giroud could get a toe on it. Unlike Alexis Sanchez who gave Giroud a toe poke in the backside when the big Frenchman was on his knees celebrating… All in good spirit of course.
Three points, the losing streak ended and perhaps, just perhaps, this Arsenal team will kick on from here….
Next up for us is Sam Allardyce and his number 52 bus….
Have a good day guys and gals…
Morning Potter. What really made it boring was the total negativity and absurd time-wasting tactics from West Brom and Foster in particular. He took absolute ages to do everything. Pulling up his socks, changing the position of the ball and I lost count of the amount of feigned injuries their players went down with. Whenever we built up a head of steam, down they went as if crippled by some invisible assassin. What a crass and obvious tactician Tony Pulis is. As I mentioned yesterday, we played ok really and every player deserves credit. Pulis’s sole tactic is, in practice, never to let an Arsenal player behind the defence without him being offside. It nearly worked too but to the team’s credit, they never gave up. Just the sight of Foster sprinting around his area as if he had a carrot jammed up his arse, trying to get the kicks taken early after so much cheating earlier, provided some light relief and the crown slaughtered him for it. Quite rightly.
Adam, it was incredible how quickly things change after Giroud scored 🙂 🙂
Those bastards got exactly what they deserved.
There were a few little moments when we had slick, one touch football happening, and looked very sharp.
Still, it takes two sides to make a football game.
Potter, its obvious I watch games differently to most, thank goodness 🙂 🙂
I couldn’t watch if all I did was look for the negatives lol.
Scott. True enough but I doubt Pulis sees his away games in quite the same way.
I’d deploy the same tactics away from home if I was a manager.. Not the time wasting though, that’s cheating…
Hi Adam , Problem is that this is a well worn tactic that we have not found a solution for over about 8 years. That I think is where the crowds frustration comes in. We can all see solutions or things to do differently from our positions in the stadium where you can see the whole pitch , but our style is regimented to such a degree that both the crowd , the opposition and the Staffy in the sweet shop in Gillespie road knows what we will do next. Occasionally we attack quickly and score early and that puts time wasting to bed but all too often we go with the wear them down pass it around and it will work out in the end. This puts the crowd on edge and time wasting becomes more important and noticable as the clock runs down.Next up is Allardyce who probably at Bolton either devised the scheme or at least was the first major proponent to make it an art form. I am not going to this one either and from an armchair somewhere in Norfolk I hope to see a similar points haul but a little more invention in our approach which might put peoples nerves at rest.
Rico. Not for me. Entirely too negative and if they had tried they might well have nicked a goal, especially as we are quite brittle at the moment.
Adam, I did mean if I was at a club like West Brom heading to face City, Chelsea, us etc etc…
I know managers will try and play to their strengths, and cover the weaknessess, and I know I’m an idealist, but it’s still entertainment, or meant to be.
I also know things will never change, an I certainly don’t have an answer to it.
It’s all about PL survival for o many clubs, if they try and entertain each week, they’ll soon be in the Championship… 😉
True, Rico, but I’m glad I support a club who at least goes out to play.
Imagine paying cash to watch a Pulis manages side each week??
It would be like having teeth pulled lol
As am I Scott, That’s one thing which is great about AW, but sometimes I do wish he had a bit more in his defensive locker. And with his attacking ideas..
There’s a difference between playing sensibly, and being just plain dull.
Arsene doesn’t always get it right, but Pulis never does…he isn’t the only one, either.
Maybe we should make Pulis our defensive coach hahahahaha
I wouldn’t want that bloke anywhere near our club…
Agreed 🙂
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence. I hope everyone had a good Christmas.
Scott – Clueless Tony Pubis isn’t interested in entertainment – only survival. He will never have a team capable of challenging for anything major. So, he takes perverse pleasure in frustrating and nicking points of teams who can. He is predictable, but also effective.
They came – as many do to park the bus for a draw. I think we deserve credit for 26 attempts and forcing their keeper into several outrageous saves. It sometimes doesn’t matter how you win, as long as you do. If this was a United win, they would have lauded them for grit and determination. Our next two games are winnable, so fast forward to the title I say!
Rico – Amen to that!
Tony Pubis would be as welcome as the Black Plague. He should be eradicated like any other disease.
Merry Xmas, CG……
Yeah he’s an original, no doubt 🙂
Morning Cg, had a lovely one thanks, as I hope you did..
DB – spot on..
Scott – Where does Santa switch over from reindeer to kangaroos?
Morning All
Wish we had played with a bit more nous
last week.
The one thing we lack when we don’t have the ball
is to be compact or we just stop in other words.
Sorry but Pulis has been sending teams out to play
like that for years.
Two weeks ago watching the chavs v WBA
I was cheering them on..Great defending.I thought.
I can’t agree with those who know the result then watch
the highlights after,the passion is lost.
I wanted to kill Arsene at one stage,now I like him a bit.
4 mins to go 0-0 is a lot different to sitting with your feet up
knowing we have a happy ending.
The fans running to the station 10 mins to go were most likely
jumping up and down on the train after spitting feathers along
holloway road.
Arsene has to make changes earlier in stead of fidgeting
We had the water bottle’s,
We had the Zip
Now we have the Elastic band.
Rico – Glad to hear it.
I had a very quiet Christmas as both sons and their families were away to their respective in-laws and my daughter was working, So, we are having a late Christmas celebration in a few weeks time.
Just as well as I’m a reluctant shopper and take no pleasure in what my daughter refers to as ‘retail therapy. However, it has given some extra time to complete my shopping and I do enjoy it when I’ve given a ‘good’ present. especially to the grandchildren.
Fred – Arsene is too predictable when it comes to tactical changes. He very rarely, except for injuries, makes substitutions before the 70-72 minute mark. You can almost set your watch by him.
CG
Nothing new….I know
only the Elastic Band.
I was listening to the commentary Fred, I totally get where you are coming from… His changes are so frustrating and then when he does make them, it all seems a bit desperate…
Really hope Perez gets more game time very soon..
That’ll be nice Cg. Just as everyone is flat after Christmas, you’ll be celebrating.. 🙂
Thanks Rico, love the headline .
I just watched MotD and the only attack they showed of WBA was a corner !……….I can see why they are called The Baggies, although I would add Tea !……The Tea Baggies, because they suck the life out of your scrotum !.
There`s always been something that I just dont get and it reminded me from potters earlier comment and that`s why does our/any manager not watch the game from higher up in the crowd ?………….it`s so much easier to see what`s happening on the field of play !, maybe that`s why so many supporters have better opinions on tactics than Wenger, because they can see what`s really going on from higher up !…………..Im` sure a lot of Rugby coaches do it and relay instructions to staff below.
Rico I think we have the player’s
Watched the highlights Chavs v Bournmouth
Chavs 100 mile an hour run they googles off.
I hate keep blaming Arsene…..But
Look at the Chavs this season,
more or less the same squad.
The old saying of telling yourself your tired
is one thing….But when the manger say’s it
Then you are..Well I am.
Coq
Boro Primorac sits higher up in the stands.
Not sure if he tells Arsene anything or Arsene
just ignores him…Who knows.
Cheers Fred, I didn`t know that, but it seems the blatantly obvious thing to do to me !……………….does Arsene listen to anyone ? 😉
Good point Lc about sitting in the stand but dear old Arsene loves to be hands on and in the thick of things doesn’t he… 😉
Fred, agree, we have the players, just the wrong manager….
Hi all, saw all but first 15 minutes of game. Home late after watching local team Southend United climb into the top 6 ;-). It was actually refreshing seeing a team attack forward directly, rather than our tippy-tappy sideways approach!
What makes me laugh at Goalkeepers time wasting, or even showmanship, is they catch a routine lob or cross above their head. Then fall down with the ball under their tummy as if they are an animal protecting a new-born child! Seems to be happening more and more every game and there is just no need for them to fall onto the ground. But it seems allowed, never seen a referee have guts to say ‘why did he need to go down’?
If he went to watch in the stands he would deprive someone of their club level seat. Scott it,s not negative to point things out that seem obvious. Watch our goal their back four. Bellerin goes to the by line and two defenders dropped to goal line to cover the post and the edge of the six yard box.As he pulled the ball back they had to come out as Ramsey and Giroud went in.For once they were caught out of position and instead of Giroud battling two it was one on one.GOAL.We need to get behind bus parking defences, turn them and break their concentration. Trying to play through them is hard and variations work.
If you were 28 the star of a famous team and there were offers that we understand to be 400K a week surely that must play on his mind,he wouldn’t be normal if it didn’t.I just saw the highlights and he looks totally pissed off.Maybe he really wants to stay and deservedly wants a huge increase but the talks keep going on and off.Frustrating for all concerned.
so many teams come to our place over the years and invariably we have the same issues or their keeper has his game of the season.
My problem is though Giroud scored we are
mostly depending on Sanchez to score or assist and when he eventually burns out who replaces his goals and workrate
Cazorla the assists and partly workrate Keysey, not many goals though!
Cancel that, was thinking he back soon, he’s not is he!
Kelsey, what makes you think Alexis is cheesed off?
Afternoon guys..
Did you see his expression when he left the field,Rico
I didn’t Kelsey…
Catch up tomorrow guys…
New post up…
Morning guys..