Morning all.
It’s fair to say that in recent years, the Arsenal team haven’t really clicked together on on a regular basis. There’s been the odd few occasions of course with City away last season or the one before, Chelsea at home early this season but the one which sticks with me is the way we played against Man Utd in October 2015.
It’s often said that football is a game of two halves and on that day, it really was. Alexis on six minutes, Ozil on seven minutes and then just before twenty minutes of the match had past, Alexis made it 3-0. Utd didn’t know what had hit them and we Arsenal fans were loving it. The score should have been 4-0 before thirty minutes had gone by but Ramsey fired his close range volley wide when he had all the time and space in the world.
Much of the speedy and exciting attacking play dwindled in the second half. Utd improved slightly, we though simply stayed strong. We showed a different side, a pragmatic side, a good side. But even so, late in the game we nearly made it four when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chipped de Gea, but unlucky for him, the bar got in the way.
After the game, a jubilant Arsene Wenger said:
We did not give them any chances to score and that was vital. We surprised them with our start. From Petr Cech to Theo Walcott we only had superb performances. I have managed many strong teams and never had one that played 60 games at the same level. You have to accept that we are human beings.
I’ve been at the club for 19 years and I know what you want is a strong response in a big game when you have a big disappointment. We are in it, we are two points off the league leaders, Manchester City, so I hope that result today will give us belief to fight for it.
We’d just been beaten at home by Olympiacos 3-2 in the Champions League!
Over the following weeks, the belief remained. A 3-0 victory over Watford, a 2-0 beating of Bayern Munich, yes, Bayern Munich and defeat of Everton. Then we were bombed out of the League Cup losing 3-0 to Sheffield Wednesday, beat Swansea and then a dip in form and results followed. Out of the Champions League, out of the FA Cup and as the season drifted on, out of the Premier League race. That’s how it’s been.
Today it’s a re-run of that fixture, albeit much later in the season and against a different manager with a different team. However, unlike last season when there was hope, this time around we have little to play for but pride. Yes there’s a slim chance of getting into the top four but I can’t see it happening. In any case, what’s the point apart from the money it brings?
Wenger v Mourinho is often an unpleasant experience and already the shorter man of the two has been dishing out the mind games although at this stage of the season I really can’t understand why. He’ll play a weakened side he suggested as his team has an important Europa league fixtre later in the week. Well I’ll believe that when I see it and even if he does, no doubt that will be more about getting one over Arsene Wenger again but with a weakened side. Saying that, a few of his younger players have travelled to London with the first team but I suspect none will start.
For us it’s about pride and as said yesterday, building some confidence ahead of the FA Cup Final. Unless both Man City and Liverpool drop more than three points in their remaining three fixtures, it’s Europa for us and even if they do drop points, who’s to say we’ll win our remaining matches.
For once, barring Santi Cazorla, we have a fully fit and healthy squad, Utd though have a number of injuries.
I’ve no idea what to expect this afternoon from Arsene Wenger and this Arsenal team but I hope for once, the Frenchman beat his Portuguese counterpart in the league.
It’s long overdue.
Finally. I smiled at this headline. After Bobby Pires said a few days ago that Mbappe could be an Arsenal player next season, The Daily Mail write:
‘Arsenal promise £85million Kylian Mbappe a central role if Monaco wonderkid shuns Real Madrid.’
Apparently like many shoved out on the wing these days, the youngster wants to play central. The Mail suggest at Madrid, he’ll be played as a winger because they have so many top draw strikers whereas at Arsenal, he’ll be an out and out striker. That alone should convince the Frenchman to move to north London.
We’re also after Wilfried Zaha apparently. Tottenham want him too but bearing in mind he’s a self confessed Arsenal fan, surely he’d choose us over that lot..
Expect more transfer nonsense as the summer goes on…..
Morning Rico and all. Surely the Zaha ship has sailed.
I have resigned myself to expect the unexpected when it comes to Arsenal games over the past few years. As you say, we are capable of football that can blow any team away, but like very hot British summers, these are few and far between!
Yes, if we turn up, show desire and actually break sweat we should easily beat Manure. Trouble is, I don’t think the players want to play for AW any more.
I would love Mbappe – albeit I can never see it happening, and besides, I want AW gone and if he’s the carrot for the kid – who knows? As for Zaha – please no! He’s a dribble king with no direction (Walcott) who often loses the ball/dives/moans and rarely scores.
Morning Adam, Db and all.
You’d have thought so Adam. We could have got him for half the price when he went to Utd.
I don’t think they do either Db, he’s lost them..
Interesting to hear that Wrighty (the spud) thinks that Dick Law is moving on..
It would make sense if Law moved on, after all, it’s suggested that he’s the one partly responsible for us losing many deals..
Mbappe to Arsenal, 85 million haha,
Afternoon, Ye it seems they muster up 1 or 2 great performances a season to leave us salivating and thinking what could be, but we,re quickly brought down to earth with a large, crash,boom bang,
Expectations today will be at a minimum as usual, if i even bother to watch it….
It,s the Munich readying a 50 million bid for Sanchez that worries me..
Mbappe to Arsenal, yeah, come on fellas, fork out for those season tickets, get ready to be mugged off again…
Did somebody mention a war chest – mish.
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico, there’s nothing quite like a bit of transfer speculation is there?
Nothing quite like it and nothing in it…
Spin, spin, spin, it’s laughable. ?
I can’t remember the last time, if ever, that I’ve been less bothered by an Arse cs Manc game…
I just think it’s a bullshit story made up by the Media, sure Wenger flirted with the idea last season, but that was before he was worth 85 milllion, that ship has sailed imo.
I don,t know whether he,s worth it or not, but we certainly do not match that ambition to pay those prices.
If Alexis is going, I’d rather he went to Bayern than a PL side. Can’t let him run down his contract in hope…
Kev, how can you be so cynical….. 😉
Good afternoon. .
looking forward to watching the game.
Ramsey is the holding midfielder assisted by wimp Ozil and calamity Xhaka
Giroud is to lead the attack
Gibbsy is the left wing back
Walcott and welbeck at 69 minute substitution. .
The Emirate will be rocking!
Afternoon Kev. It’s really sad isn’t as back in the day, we’d all be really up for this game yet today, it means nothing..
Hi Rico and HH.
Rico I left a comment on the last post, could you transfer it to this one please.
Thank you.
From Herbs Army:-
Hi Kev.
Haha, you’re right, some people on AA did make me boil with rage at times. If it wasn’t the condescending tone it was accountants throwing numbers around to prove how right(eous) they all were and how wrong I was, Wenger walks on water, and turns that water to wine etc. It does take a special kind of talent to neuter a major football club in the manner that he has accomplished it though, so perhaps they had a point.
On your point about being constructive, we have to voice our opinion with conviction or the argument is lost. Who among us hasn’t been a huge Wenger fan in his early years? Who didn’t love him after the historic ‘Invincibles’, and who of us hasn’t backed his corner against Fergie and Mourinho? But he treats Arsenal fans with complete indifference and feels no obligation to acknowledge or reward our loyalty. He is as close to being a King as is possible without actually being bestowed with the official title.
The trouble with this Wenger In/Out debate is that it got vitriolic and nasty, and people are using extreme measures in what seems like a constant merry-go-round of one-up-man-ship.
As with every other Arsenal fan, all we can do is share our passionate support through excellent forums like these.
The 2009 CL semi-final second leg at The Emirates against United raised my first concerns. But three years into a stadium move, a CL semi-final, at the time it felt like some sort of progress, so I let it go thinking surely it was an invaluable learning experience…
The 8-2 is unforgivable.
I’m sorry in advance to anyone with any affiliation to these players, but as if the defeat wasn’t painfully humiliating enough, his reaction was to completely under-sell our status by going on a last-minute trolley-dash to spend good money on players who had all seen better days.
That isn’t The Arsenal’s standard, that is insulting in every sense.
However, much deeper than this, he has lied to and misled Arsenal fans with any number of players we could mention, some who wouldn’t be given a Boreham Wood shirt, and he has either lied about his willingness to challenge for major trophies (PL, CL), or he is woefully out of his depth, and doesn’t have the required level of football intelligence.
Arsenal have given him a far greater status than he deserves, and one he never would have had were it not for his friendship with David Dein.
In spite of all this, I genuinely believe the fan-base would be a lot more at peace if Wenger showed some humility and remorse, and accepted ownership of his failings. People get angry because they see through his worn out excuses, which contributes to even more angst amongst the divided fans. Fans would embrace those failings with him instead of feeling disconnected and disenfranchised. Their critique of him would be far less harsh, and their anger would instead turn into sympathy.
He knows he has nothing left to offer at the top level, this is purely ego driving him to equal or better Fergie’s length of time at United. He must be stopped if only because he doesn’t reflect our values, and this should be about Arsenal’s future not his. With the amount of money he has amassed from our club he should embrace retirement and invent himself a bucket-list that doesn’t include anything Arsenal.
I’d be amazed if they didn’t have a member of staff reading certain Arsenal blogs to get a sense of the mood emanating from the supporters, given the size of Arsenal as an operation.
You’re an intelligent man, Kev, and what you don’t know about The Arsenal isn’t worth knowing, so it must make you angry to see how easy it is for a couple of egotistical megalomaniacs to dismantle our club.
69 minute subs Kk, isn’t it 71? 😉
Afternoon Herb. All done.
Thanks Rico.
Herb.
‘In spite of all this, I genuinely believe the fan-base would be a lot more at peace if Wenger showed some humility and remorse, and accepted ownership of his failings. People get angry because they see through his worn out excuses, which contributes to even more angst amongst the divided fans. Fans would embrace those failings with him instead of feeling disconnected and disenfranchised. Their critique of him would be far less harsh, and their anger would instead turn into sympathy.’
Spot on imo. The tired and lame excuses have long worn thin and the constant ‘we will buy if we can find someone better than who we have’ really has cheesed me off over the years as we all know there are plenty of players who have moved during a transfer window who were better than who we have.
Fans will always support their manager’s failings as long as there is a healthy respectful relationship between the two, and as long as there is some clarity too, Rico.
Wenger’s relationship with Arsenal fans is just weird.
Agree Herb. Wenger’s relationship with the fans is non existent imo, other that a few months ago when he stood up as his loyal sheep sang ‘there’s only one Arsene Wenger’….
True Rico, there’s absolutely no sense or feeling from the club that we’re all in this together.
I can’t even get excited about today’s game, which sums up everything about Arsenal right now.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
“The tired and lame excuses have long worn thin and the constant ‘we will buy if we can find someone better than who we have’ really has cheesed me off over the years as we all know there are plenty of players who have moved during a transfer window who were better than who we have.”
That statement Rico is even more damning when the great man himself admits with some kind of weird narcissistic pleasure all the players he was so close to signing……….the latest him being around Mbappe`s house for a cup of tea and a bagette !
Danny up front !.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Great comment Herb, and thanks… ?
I was torn between visiting my son and watching the game on TV or going to work?
If would have been nice to play with my granddaughter, but I decided on work…
My interest in watching the games are at an all time low. And I’ve seen some really crap seasons, 1975-76 was a corker, most of the early 1980’s were appalling until George Graham arrived, then the 1995-96 season when we flirted with relegation. But this season is just boring,
I’m bored with our football, it’s rubbish, bored with the way the club is being managed, the Board/Owner are a disgrace.
And I’m particularly Board with hearing the same old crap emanating from the mouth of Arsene Wenger.
As you so rightly say Herb, Wenger holds the Arsenal fans with the minimum of regard, barely rising above contempt, he makes absolutely no effort to communicate with us and treats us like a necessary irritant that he has to tolerate whilst he goes about his business of repeating the same old errors safe in the knowledge that nobody among our management has the courage to question him…
The obsession with finishing 4th encapsulates everything we need to know about his reign since 2006.
LMAO, KK @ 1:13 hilarious. It’s that predictable?
The midget is salivating, I bet he wishes he can play Wenger every game. I am afraid that Alexis will possibly lose it today.
To show you how much we have declined, through the same amount of games JM record is the same as LVG, and Klopp is no better than Rogers, but we are out of the top 4. However both LVG and Rodgers are no longer at their respective clubs. The view that AW will get it right is farfetch because we are getting worse.
I see Jose is playing a weakened team like he said !…………………….one player I`ve never heard of and the rest are just multi million pound average players !…………………should be a walk in the park, expect the 8-2 revenge today !
….getting worse even with the best team we gave had in years, imho.
….getting worse even with the best team we have had in years, imho.
Absolutely Lc..
And still no Elneny or Lucas in the squad. Crazy!
Obi, good point made about the points and us being out of the top four. Says a lot really.
Kev, you made the wrong choice…. lol
Agree re the squad too, best we’ve had in a long while yet our football is worse than ever before under Wenger.
Just got here. Big anti Wenger demo outside
Good Adam.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Hope it’s massive Adam, enjoy the game mate..
Afternoon Bt. And hope the American media are watching on…
I’m here Rico, at Victoria.. ?
In the sunshine Kev? Lol
Our tackling is powder puff. Losing 50/50s to Martial, Mickiitarian and Mata FFS
Yeah, it’s like being on a beach in Portugal, Rico… ?
Listening to the game on BBC5LIVE and the atmosphere is like a reserve game.
What a frustrating first half..
why we not shoot?
Marco silva (Hull) – WH or southampton?
With the playerswe have Jm, Silva could do well with us…
Welbeck and Sanchez should switch, seeif it brings any joy.
That’s what happens when we shoot.
Great cross, great header.
Nice for Welbeck 🙂
Yep, good to see him celebrate too.
Credit when it’s due… Arsenal deserved that today always nice to beat the poisonous dwarf.
Probably Ramseys best game since the cup final v Hull.
What game was Mourinho watching…?
Spot on Kel.
Training match played to half asleep crowd.Where were you Adam we were there 3/4 hour before kick off didn’t see a thing
Mourhino talking bollocks Rico..
Well, I for one will be watching MotD tonight even if it was a training exercise !………………beating Manshafter is up there just behind the Spuds in wanting to beat, add Bindippers, Chavs and now Mansour City to that special list !………..from what I`m reading on newsnow we played well and haven`t they not lost for something like 25 years this season ?
🙂
No time for doom when we beat that lot, lets enjoy for a few hours and Wenger slagging can start again sometime tomorrow when he reveals another super star player he nearly signed ! hahaha
I bet in Wenger World, he is thinking to himself……………..” I`ve just beaten Jose in a competitive match for the first time……..shall I announce a new two year deal ?…..could be a good time to do it ! “
Had the feeling all season that playing a weakened team against the Dippers first game would prove costly. Looks like it just might.
Wenger in!
Didn’t he just Kel. To say his team performance was tops is nothing short of ridiculous.
And at Leicester Bob, bad preparation from Wenger. 5 points dropped…
Bill Davis was right… ?
You’re a WUM! Le CM?
Sweet beating Napoleon anytime.
I’m abroad for a couple of weeks, so can only watch highlights. Those two goals were definately highlights!
In Arsene we trust! LOL??
(Until next time that is)
? Kev, Meerkat..
Off to watch the Durrells, I sure know how to live… lol..
Night guys.
Yer Rico but they’re a better team than the Arsenal’s! Although dysfunctional everything always turns out all right, in the end! Unlike our esteemed team!!!
Didn’t see that coming! But the petite moron made excuse after excuse about his team, all week. They’re not over tired or weakened by too munch football, they’re just crap and have been throughout this season and the poison Pygmy knows it! The real pleasure will come when, having put all his eggs in the Europa basket manure are overcome by Ajax and are consigned to another energy sapping week after week of Thursday football. Oh the joy, whilst we make the CL for the 21st time and Wenger signs another 2 year contract only to see us fail in every competition again!
C’est le change!
Having a great time sailing the blue Danube. It’s all been very Strausful. Okay I’ve got me coat again!
Very dark here.
Night Rico…
Morning all from Scorching Kernow . 🙂
https://twitter.com/ArsenalPoper/status/861264601069039616
Morning Lc and all..
That clip is funny…
Morning Rico and all. Hard to know what to make of yesterday’s game really. First half was very ordinary indeed. Better second half performance against a uninspiring Man Utd.
Demo outside, empty seats inside. Three points.
Sums it up I think.
Morning Adam. It was pretty dull until we scored.
New post up now.