Morning all.
I’ve go no idea what to expect from Arsenal today or Newcastle really apart from Steve McClaren hinting that the best way to stop Arsenal and in particular, Mesut Ozil, is by playing tough and we all know what happened when Southampton played in such a fashion. That’s half the problem with this Arsenal side, on their day they can be fantastic and blow any side away with ease but when when going gets tough, they don’t like it too much.. Change that and 2016 could be good for us fans.
Newcastle are similar in a way, they’ve produced a few good performances, ones which have seen them beat both Liverpool and the Totts of late but those kind of performances have been few and very far between which is why they sit in the relegation zone.
The visitors will be without midfielder Vernon Anita due to a hamstring injury and their keeper, Rob Elliot has some kind of stomach bug so he too could miss this one.
Earlier in the season, Arsenal huffed and puffed their way to a 1-0 victory at St James Park against ten men after Aleksandar Mitrovic saw red just sixteen minutes into the game. Once the sending off took place, Newcastle were hard to break down as every man defended. Theo Walcott made little/no impact, neither did Ollie either really after replacing him, in fact it was a tough old day all round for the boys but we came away with three points thanks to Fabricio Coloccini who deflected a shot from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into the net. That’s football though and a little bit of luck going our way made a refreshing change, especially as referee Andre Marriner missed a certain penalty when Bellerin was tripped in the box by Thauvin.
Plenty of Newcastle bookings that day too which kind of supports the theory that Newcastle play a tough and physical game so Arsene Wenger and his players should know exactly what to expect. It’s Anthony Taylor’s job today to ensure the physical side doesn’t cross the line.
We still have a few out injured but Mathieu Flamini is back in contention to start so it’ll be interesting to see whether the Frenchman returns or the manager sticks with Calum Chambers who had a pretty good game against Bournemouth.
Whoever plays has to be up for this battle because sure as heck Newcastle will be and Arsenal need to kick off 2016 just as they left 2015. This game won’t be won just because the visitors are where they are in the league, it’ll be won with hard work, 100% commitment, speed, width, and great football.
COYRRG’s, kick off the New Year with a top performance and three big points…
True hahaha
New post up now…
He’ll be ready to retire by the times he masters English Scott… 😉
I always thought Jack would be captain but……
Certainly up there with the best, but Beefy’s Ashes takes some beating… 🙂
Rico, it’s a big if, but if Gabriel sticks with us for a decent number of years and masters the English language, he could well be a candidate down the track.
We need someone now though.
Stokes is playing one of the best test innings ever I would say. Brutal hitting.
The Sydney test v the Windies will possibly end up losing play time on each of the five days.
We’ve got your weather guys lol
Scott, I know you’re not and as you say, it’s an issue we’ve had for years, probably since Adams was captain….
Adam, for sure, since it kicked off this morning, fantastic batting from Stoke and Bairstow…
Rico. Are you watching the Test match? Unbelievable.
Rico, I agree, totally, and I’m not trying to deflect criticism, but it’s still an old issue for us.
What would Adams have been saying to him??
I shudder to think.
I did Adam… lol
Back to the lack of leadership on the field Scott, but and experienced player like Ramsey should know himself when to sit rather than bomb forward..
But that’s Arsenal for you, always going in search of goals….
Wijnaldum was impressive yesterday. He had a really good game and walked through us with far too much ease.
🙂
I must admit, I’ve always said Aaron could play DM.
Nope.
No chance.
He’s by far too attack minded.
Flamini has moments, both good, and bad.
At the moment, my biggest scare is our single minded attempts at playing out from the back.
Some of our guys are very worrying on this department.
We always seem one pass away from conceding from a turn over.
Rico I never mentioned Ramsey as he wasn’t playing in CM. Harsh? Not in the slightest. I don’t expect Flamini to be capable of running Arsenal’s CM area alone, hard though he tried.
Rico, he needs a rocket up him, no question, but should it come from Wenger or Mertesacker?
That last 15 or so, when defending a lead, was when he created a few chances but that’s obviously wasn’t what he should be doing.
Morning Adam.
I do wonder how Ramsey would play with Coquelin his midfield partner. My own gripe with him is that when the game is a struggle, he appears to lack the intelligence to sit back and defend in a way Santi does.
Bit harsh, Adam.
Our strike rate seems fair with him playing central.
Yesterday, though, his positional play in defence was pathetic, though 🙂
Morning Rico and all. Drab performance yesterday in a game where Newcastle were the better team. On the other hand all the usual cliches apply so we take the 3 points and move on.
There are quite a few players who need to sort themselves out soon for the up and coming games and our current CM is shocking beyond belief.
Kev, sorry about the email, hopefully you won’t get any more… 🙁
Morning you lot…
Aubameyang would be a sensational signing, can’t see it happening though sadly…
Morning all.
Rumours Arsenal are prepared to bid £40m for Aubameyang this window…… I imagine he’d convert a fair few of Ozil’s chances he creates?!? That would be a dream signing IMO!
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
you are right Kev…..easily forgettable game. similar to the cup final 4-0 vs Villa. at the end of the day its only the result which is remembered.
Seems that now Ospina is angling for a move as well……same as Debuchy
As it stands we have the following team………
Cech (New GK)
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Nacho (new RB, Gabriel, Chambers, Gibbs)
Coquelin, Cazorla (Flamini, Aaron, Arteta,TR07)
Theo, Ozil, Sanchez (Ox, Wilshere, Campbell)
Giroud (Wellbeck)
Of the above Cazorla, Wellbeck, Wilshere are long term injuries. Arteta and TR07 seem to be ok next month (???).
If Ospina goes we will be snookered (as Rico put it), while Chambers should not be burdened to play second fiddle RB, CB, DM. Stick him in one position and let him get used to it.
So an experienced Keeper, a new defender, a midfielder and a striker. A player in every position.
Recently Ozyakup and Nordtveit have been mentioned.
While I still like them both I cannot see anyone of them coming. Why should they trade a certain starting spot for a place on the bench when the above return??
Elneny seems to be the first step. I hope others follow.
Ah, just deleted a dodgy email Rico, no problemo…
Anyway, Ramsey seemed to be on a mission to be as over elaborate as he could possibly be, when a more simple approach may have seen him score a couple of goals rather than the overindulgent attempts on goal that went to waste.
Walcott likewise, whose finishing was pure Hackney Marshes.
As for Alex Oxladè-Chamberlain? I was glad when Campbell came on instead…
Nuff said!
Arsene really needs to bring in some fresh blood…
Night All
Really enjoyed going to the game with Adam, even if he makes a bit of a racket when he’s snoring…
Easily forgettable game and in a fee hours that’ll be the case, forgotten…
We were ordinary, lacking in any spark, but we won, so fcuk it…
Daylight!
Top of the league.
That is all.
good one Micko.
Night
My only gripe with winning is you can’t really blame all the corrupt refereeing decisions or terrible weather conditions for that matter, no idea how we’re top of the league.
Over and out tsgh, nite Gooners.
Most probably…
You know you don’t mean that really !
I have a hunch Malaga is in sunnier climates at the moment and who can blame him.
Micko- Malaga is losing his touch.
Agag- my sperds and chav ex-neighbours were driving me mad. joking.
The Mrs likes the whole village life…; everyone here I suspect read the telegraph. 😉
Me I am a Brixton boy…
lol Micko.
Bt.. not quite.
Agag- its about 70 miles or 1hr 15 mins on train to Ldn Waterloo
Hi agag, January, a very busy time of the year for you and Malaga, sales and transfer windows !
tsgh, the man fom Valderrama !
Quite enjoyed seeing Liverpool’s record signing getting on the score as well today, poor ole Scousers.
Ts, did you pitch up on the Plain?…..
How far is that from London? Grew tired of the city, eh?
Hey, Micko!! Sukky, you’re hahaharsh.?
Micko, hasn’t the world gone bonkers when the spurds could put a 5 points gap between themselves and the other pack chasing the top 4 spot?
It must be a dvd season for spurds…
ha ha Micko, who wa sthe wise man then?
With a decent RB with brain, we could have be 3 up in the first 14 minutes.
tsgh, as a wise man once said to me if Wanyama was any good he’d be playing for a top 4 side lol.
9 straight wins against Newcastle now, told you all it would be a doddle.
Here we go… Micko at it again. Giving the tabloids something to write about. 😛
Same here Agag. I was not in London on NYE.
I have moved out to Salisbury so…
I see Remi Garde refused to shake hands with Fat Sam after the game….obviously a French thing !
Uneventful, Ginge. How was it in London?
Hiya, Ginge.Hazard has been embarrassing. A non performer and a petulant one at that. Hard to believe he was player of the year just last season.
lmfao A1313
Odd how Wanyama gifted Norwich 3 points earlier but against us he was playing as well as Keoman did in 1994 for Milan…
TS, that’s because I had Hazard and Depay in my Dream Team!
Hi Agag, how was the NYE celebration?
Watford didn’t deserve that!
Another proof Yao Gerv was under rated… 🙂
Laurent Koscielny has scored more Premier League goals (3) this term than:
M.Depay (2)
C.Eriksen (2)
E.Hazard (0)
Oh well…
And Aguero now!?
Arsenal fans are so spoilt these days that we have stopped celebrating scrappy 1-0 wins with a heroic GK performance?
I blame the sh*tt*st, longest serving, no ambition and most over paid manager in the EPL for that. lol
Nightynight, Lady!
Catch up tomorrow guys and gals..
Night all
Rain and celebrations simply don’t mix. ? And Toure has scored.
1-1
Bloody Toure! Minutes ago he looked disinterested.
Rained hete forvdays agag! Never mind. Could have been 2-0. Come on Watford.
Hi, Andrew!! All is well here. It rained on NYE. The neighbors’ fireworks (they spend a fortune on the stuff) fizzled out too soon. Haha.
We all make exceptions for the New Year, Joe. And bubbles are so good!
Hi agag, how’s tricks out there?
From a poor display, what a day it could be with Pool losing and City needing two goals?
Hahaha. Come on Watford!! Shut up shop!! ?
Twenty minutes Watford!
Kolarov own goal mates……..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqNWOQ-f2Zo
I reckon so too Andrew….
Agag no way I couldn’t handle it our afford it as for my body it’s been pickled so it can be donated to medical science.
BT ?
Corner straight in!
Yes Rico, about 4th or 5th spot without Cech.
Joe, were they not thirsty?….
I hope that is not a weekly event, Joe. ? Ask WATH for tips on how to care for your liver. He’s the expert in drink here.
Joe, I hope so, too. Would give us some breathing room at the top.
I think my family and friends may have a drink problem had a dinner party last night and we polished off 8 bottles of wine and 4 bottles of beer. ?
Evening Agag sitting here watching Watford and city hoping for Watford win
Debuchy has lost his spot in the French squad for the Euros, I guess. But West Brom is hardly the place to regain it, so yeah, that one is weird.
They weren’t alone Agag….. Lol
BT, that must be one tasty check. ?
Hahaha. You sniffed out my diversionary tactic re Giroud’s crappy match. ?
Cheek, bloody tongue,it’s stuck……lol
Debuchy rumoured to be heading to West Brom on loan… Wth would he want to go there?
Agag, i’ll take my tongue out off my check….lol
🙂 Bt, that’s me…. Lol
Best not mention Ollies fine performance Agag 😉 😉
I think Theo is often picked out because he’s been such a wet lettuce in the past, I bet he’s back on fire when we go to Liverpool…
BT. Nooooo!! The only time Walcott rests is when he’s injured. And he’s already had his annual ‘rest’ at the start of the season. Haha.
Quick fingers Rico….lol
rico, I knew you’d react!! I was kidding. But tbh, I was expecting a bit more from him now that he’s had a run of matches. ?
Good Lewis, they’ll be focussed a lot more for those and we might have a couple of new addition before we travel to Anfield…
Big phew Dublin..
Bt, not by way of injury I hope… Lol
next 3 PL games will be tough
Hi, Adam. I hope our scouting team has been hard at work. We need reinforcements.
Hiya, Joe. The press will always find a way to be down on us. Nothing new there, really!
Agag, he is due a rest soon.
🙂 Joe
Agag, after day like today, is it not harsh to single out Walcott? 😉
Evening, Not exactly much to enjoy about the performance, but again a huge and very important 3 points, safely bagged. Phew.
Could be why Wenger wants a couple of midfielders Adam, hope he gets them too…
I’ll be glad to see the back of Flamini…
rico, and the good thing about how woeful Theo had been playinf is that he is bound to improve. ? Hah.
What will the media say now that it’s not just goal difference that has put us top all week it was joint top as if a team can’t win the league on goal difference again. ?
On the way home. We were pretty awful today. No midfield to speak of really.
3 points always good but the playing bottom team complacency reared it’s ugly head again.
He’s there already isn’t he Andrew? Lol
Spot on Agag, give me a scrappy loss over a pretty defeat or draw any day of the week…
Night Scott…
Night all.
Great result, if nothing else.
positive… just the 3 points!
We need fresh players quickly!
I hope so, AGAG.
How good would that be??
Yep. I agree. Maybe, a hattrick v. Barcelona. Come on, Ramsey!!
AGAG, I agree, but I’ve seen us play a lot better and lose.
Aaron reminds me of his form a few years ago.
He is ready to explode.
The chances are coming, and the goals will follow at some point.
I meant CL. God, I hate predictive text.
When JT said Cech is worth a dozen points, I thought big exaggeration. Don’t now 🙂
Devil, a bold prediction from me.
Cech will break that record a few more times hahahahahahahahaha
Scott, we are capable of infinitely better football us all. ? Your boy Ramsey missed a couple of really good chances. Maybe he’s saving all his goals for the Class. Hah.
That’s the all important factor….we won.
Honestly, it was a bloody awful performance.
We can’t always be pretty, but I still say credit to Newcastle, who came to play.
Utd won the league many times by winning like we did today Lewis…
🙂
NUFC gave it a go and nearly succeeded in getting something. credit to them.
We were crap. We allowed them to take us down to their level and at least we nicked it.
Positives???? Very few.
But at least we won……when we were awful.
And we got three points…..Leicester drew 0-0. So that puts us 2 points ahead.
And Cech broke his own record….171 clean sheets. And did it with style……at least 3 match winning saves.
What a relief! Butchered several great chances to wrap it up. Cech mom!
Big relief today, hard fought win, not vintage Arsenal but a league double thrown in.
I’m happy tsgh.
Better a scrappy win than a pretty loss. Phew. ?
Scott, don’t forget that when we beat sides like Newcastle, we only do so because they are crap too… 😉
Champions performance?!
Kos and Cech were excellent
Phew, winning when not playing at the top of our game is good… 😉
If we dropped points in a game like this, we all say these are the games a title winner needs to work through.
That’s what we are doing, yet we still grumble.
Irony.
Fickle?
Never happy?
3 points won the butt ugly way lol
It’s all very well going for the second, but why not be a bit more mature with so little time left…
Flamini lucky to get away with that one! Good job his foot got the ball and not the players head!
Walcott has been awful
We are looking pretty dire. ?
Ginge, the quality of officiating is the same the world over..ABSOLUTE SHITE.
Devil, nobody is better than Dennis 🙂
Scott- A league is turning into Aussie Rules…lolk
We are crap and dire……make no mistake.
But at least we are 1-0 up.
Leicester still 0-0 while Manure 2-1 up
Kos the boss
Phew.
yess…
Kos 1-0
we need another…..this game and NUFC are not dead yet.
I am waiting for Ozil to flick one over Coloccini’s head, turn around him a la DB10, juggle it over the keeper and dick it in the empty net…….to show he plays with three legs and is better than DB10. lol
Halleeeefekkenlujah.
Ginge, yes I saw it.
It’ll be interesting to see what period he sits out.
The week before, a Mariners player copped a forearm to the back of the head and the guy cot one week, so a headbutt should be worth three??
Really, he should cop 6 months lol
Arsene warming up on the sidelines in his track-suit lol.
Newcastle more committed than us, we’re second to every loose ball…. no bite or physical power in midfield as usual.
Agreed Scott. Newcastle are playing the game on their terms and we’ve allowed that to happen. So has the ref though. He’s completely inept, or has an agenda….
Anthony Taylor is an absolute joke.
Scott- did you see Ray O’Donovan’s headbutt in the ALeague Australia a few days back?
Our midfield is dreadful…
The referee is destroying us AGAIN.
Just a fair crack…whys it so much to ask?
Leicester missed a penalty.. Bournemouth down to ten…
Guys, why not at least give some credit to Newcastle?
there having a red hot crack here.
Just tuned in to see those misses Bob, thank gawd for Cech eh…
Cheer up Micko… its a new year. 😉
Our midfield is non existent. Will he make a change before the 70th minute?!
I’m listening to Stewart Robson so you have nothing to complain about lol
It’s actually worse than Southampyon Rico. They have just missed two sitters!!
We do have an ability to make shit teams look good.
You got one too then Micko… 🙁
Making it even worse having Tony Gale commentating!
Do I dare watch the second half Bob? 😉
move*
Sissoko has been good.
\He is another player I never understood why AW never bought..
Things can only get better 2nd half ! Started off brilliantly.
Binned ya rico !
Ramsey and TW were very poor. Ramsey tired.
Sissoko is very dangerous and did what he wanted in the 1st half.
Hope 2nd half is better… the good news is they haven’t produced much so when we moved to 4th gear the points are there for the taking…
HT Stats Shots 5-7 On target 0-4, Fouls 3-3 Duels Won 46%-54%, Pass Accuracy 88%-89%, Possession 50%-50%
Hi Ts..
Up and running Bt… Not that it’s worth watching judging by the highlights…
First half as poor as we have been all season. Nothing going forward and making them look likd Barca when they are in possesion.
At least Cech has turned up.
Garbage so far.
Flamini off please.
Rambo and Walnut awful
\there is a win here…
Haven’t tried yet Bt, had to pop out which was rather annoying…
radio commentary sounds like we are dire….
Afternoon Rico and all
Bt- I thought I would get you going…Olivier Giroud has managed 5 headers on target v Newcastle in the Premier League and scored with all of them.
I’m afraid this is as bad as Southampton
This is one occasion Aaron is most definitely siting too high up the pitch.
Gaps very where.
Morning all.
Very poor so far. Players jogging, poor control, losing tackles
Got a good stream bt
Gabriel not in the team…. my opinion: a player who never play when a scored a goal, an important goal, win credit for play in next game and specially for him. Send him to the bench, would be a bad resolution.
2-0 is a good score for West Ham. Hope we win there…
Are you sorted for viewing Rico?
Catch you guys at half time…
Email address is the same Devil, just delete the spam one…
Better thank you Rico. But still a bit tired.
I got spam email as well Rico. Not with the things posted above though. Can you kindly send me new email address pls.
Kos, Flamini and Monreal restored, otherwise same as v Bournemouth.
How are you feeling today Devil?
Gabriel on the bench…
darnnnnnn. Gabriel is not beginning the game.
Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.
Rico……what have you sent me???? A picture of Kev and Wath with bottles in their hands cavorting semi naked alongside some exquisite buxom chicks. I could not believe my eyes. Especially Kev with the G String. 😉 Ah well. Some people have all the luck in the world.
I hope Gabriel starts today. We need a no nonsense player. Especially as Coquelin is not available.
Arsenal team to play Newcastle Untied:
Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud
Arsenal substitutes: Gabriel, Gibbs, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide, Ospina, Chambers, Campbell
Klopp has a lot of work to do with that team,
AW talking of needing to rest Ozil now between games, is another way of saying he,s in the red zone, so lets hope a comfortable result today, take him off and wrap in cotton wool till the away game at anfield. He,s certainly making the team tick at moment.
any team news yet ?
Horrid here Wavy, very dark and non-stop rain…
Slippy pitch today I reckon….
2-0 Hammers 🙂
I meant strong and at us Sukky but I reckon they’ll be quite defensive too to keep us out…
Afternoon all. Very grey and dull here. Doesn’t do the cockles of your heart much good!
Happily though, we will win today, 3-0 I think.
We are officially the weakest team in the league as all 91 of them are needed to hold us up! And long ‘may’ it remain so!
Nice post. I doubt Newcastle will play like Southampton at emirate. The scoreline will be embarrassing for them. Speaking of midfielder, I think sissoko can do a job or two.
Dean, I reckon he’ll go with the best today and then rest a few for the FA Cup next weekend…
Good Micko, I hope the hammers go on and win it…
Hi,
Can’t help thinking that we could-should rest Ozil today: move Ramsay up and put the Ox with Chambers behind?
News of Elneny is a relief! Still like to see Rabiot one day too. But mindful of Jon Toral working his way back to us (hopefully).
****** Guys/gals – my HH email has been hacked so if you receive any strange emails from an email address similar to the HH one, please bin it asap.. *****
Gabriel’s header against Bournemouth last week was his first goal in European football, hopefully the first of many for us.
Scousers 1 down at West Ham.
Let your Mrs at it, i’m sure she won’t have a problem……
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-transfer-news-mohamed-elneny-deal-subject-to-new-work-permit-regulations-a6793691.html
Afternoon Kev…
Yep, have the cricket on and enjoying it….
Dublin, I reckon your’e spot on about McClaren, he won’t be the last manager either…
I knew it would be you Micko…
Bt, I’m up there with Arsene when it comes to parting with my money, just can’t do it !
Micko, get your euros on it….
Olivia Newton-John anyone !
Afternoon all, comfortable win today.
Alex Hales just out, but a maiden test half-century is just what he needed…
Pile on the runs Rico, 450/500, then let Anderson, Broad and Finn at them…
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico, still no Elneny news then?
I remember us missing out on the Brazillian Edmilson, around the same time we tried to originally sign Edu.
Edu eventually joined the following January, after a frustrating summer, but Edmilson ended up elsewhere, Bayern if I recall, so we missed out on him…
Afternoon, Mclaren will have no doubt studied that southampton game, and decided the way to play us,will be to get physical, but you,d also have to question their mentality, whereas Soton had the heart for the fight, I question whether Newcastle have, then again sometimes you wonder do we?
Insigne linked, thats him not joining us so!!
Throw the paper out with the rest of the trash……
Think we are looking at a Special Dispensation regarding Elnery…
We are linked with Insigne this morning. Could be just idol Agent talk though….
Iceman, you’d like to think the club would have looked into all the visa stuff so fingers crossed.
I’ve never seen him play and to be fair, hadn’t heard of him before.
Rico – hopefully he will get a permit – he is actually a very good player, but you never know with Arsenal – we’ve had many a long wait before now.
Couldn’t have put it better Iceman, he’s such a two faced buffoon!
Surely Elneny would get a Visa with ease…?
He’s in the papers Bt… 😉
He does spout some rubbish about Arsenal. Perhaps he’d be better talking about his old club!
Carragher is a mouthy twat! One minute he is spouting that it will be Arsenal to win the title for the amazing AW – then he is screeching that we are weak, AW is a bottler and we will not win the league ever again if we don’t do it this time! BELL END!
Question: When our scouting network look at players – of whom we are in desperate need – do they not factor in that a work permit might just scupper the deal? Surely there are many other players who won’t need such a document?
Morning all….
Turn the volume down Rico!!!
I wish someone would shut Carragher up!