Match review

Painful! Three rumoured to have signed on & Back where we belong….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

This was from former England striker Gary Lineker on Twitter last night

He’s a delightful footballer is Jack Wilshere. Sublime finish followed by a terrific pass for Giroud.

That must have been painful for him to write eh but seriously, how good was his finish last night?

And yes, the pass to Giroud was pretty good too wasn’t it.. The Frenchman got a tad fortunate with his control but once the ball was in front of his left foot, there was no doubting he’d finish well.

What about the central defensive pairing, just how solid have they been?

Pretty Good eh!
Pretty Good eh!

They wouldn’t have conceded a goal last night had those ahead of them not gone to sleep…

The first half was good for us, one in which Giroud could easily have nabbed himself a hat-trick. His first chance came very soon after kick-off and after another super cross into the box by Bacary Sagna. We’ve seen plenty of those crosses this season but we aren’t making them count enough and Giroud is not the only player guilty of not heading home our chances…

At 2-0 up, I honestly thought we would go on and add a few more to our goal difference but during the second half we took our foot off the brake, tried to be a bit to clever and allowed Benteke to score his first goal in five months. Then of course Villa got their heads up and cause one or two scary moments before the final whistle blew but thankfully we didn’t concede another…

The downside to last night – two more join the injury list. Tomas Rosicky had not long been on the pitch when Gabby Agbonlahor elbowed him in the face. He went off and it’s suspect he could have a broken nose. Nacho Monreal also had to be taken off and Arsene Wenger fears the worst:

Rosicky has a bad nose. I don’t know if it’s broken or not, but it looks bad. It was an elbow, but I didn’t see it honestly. Tomas told me it was an elbow, but he doesn’t know if he did it on purpose.

Monreal was an accident, but we have to check his metatarsal in the morning. He got kicked on the top of the laces.

I truly hope that neither injuries are as bad as feared, we need them both…

There were many great moments, plenty of them in the first half but in the second half, there was plenty of very average passages of play and misplaced passes which could have cost us all three points. Ok it didn’t last night but…

Last night should have been a night where we won with ease and comfort, not by having to resort to hoofing the ball up the pitch to clear the danger towards the end. We allowed Villa back into the game by making errors and we have to start cutting those errors out.

Maybe the nerves kicked in, especially after the weekend when all the other clubs around us had secured maximum points but if Arsenal are serious about winning the league, there will be tougher tests ahead, a lot tougher and the players need to stay focused from the first second of the game until the last….

Chuffed to punch that we secured all three points and returned to the top of the league though and great to see the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain..

Great night for points, just sharpen up Arsenal and this league title can be won….

Rumours:

Well the biggest one going around relates to three signings with Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker and Arsene Wenger all supposedly having signed new deals which the club are soon to confirm….

Great news if true but I hope it’s more than just those three who sign on for Arsenal FC before the 31st January 2014!

That’s your lot for another day….

rico

0 thoughts on “Painful! Three rumoured to have signed on & Back where we belong….”

  3. ArsenalDK says:

    Morning everyone.
    Benteke is fed up with Villa, obviously. Why not try to buy him? I wouldn’t complain… And he can play in the CL

  4. potter says:

    Agbonlahor ? He leaves his foot in , goes over the top , dives when under pressure and in my opinion knew exactly what he was doing to Rosicky. He also leads a charmed life with referees , he’s one of the players that doesn’t have a bad rep and he often gets away with it

  5. rico says:

    Adk, I wouldn’t complain if we got Benteke either, although I think a few would 😉

    Agree re Agbonlahor potter, nasty player… Sly too…

  6. Scott from Oz says:

    Morning all.
    Gabby….grubby.
    Benteke…..why not.
    Have a crack….Villa may be tempted to cash in as he is doing little atm.

  10. rico says:

    Scott, I loved his determination to head his goal in. How often do we see one of our players do that with their head?

  13. rico says:

    I knew you’d say that Adam. 😉

    I guess my own thought is Benteke or no-one? Then I’d be glad to sign Benteke.

  21. Scott from Oz says:

    Actually, Rico, we have more headed goals this season than any side in the League, so plenty, i reckon 🙂

  23. rico says:

    That’s not what I mean Scott, we miss so so many of Sagna’s crosses and we don’t attack the ball in the way that Benteke did..

  25. Steve says:

    So a deliberate elbow in the face, not seen by the ref ( and ignored by Sky) will lead to an investigation and charge from the FA and a 3 match ban……..nah, only joking !

  26. Adam says:

    Lee. Being behind Holt, Kolo and Lampard at the buffet would be a bummer. If Sakho barged in front too, you’d be better off down the KFC.

  32. Steve says:

    I thought that we missed Theo last night. As we came under more and more pressure towards the end Theo is the one player who could have provided an outlet.

  35. rico says:

    Yep, playing the ball to Giroud isn’t quite the same as playing it up front to Walcott…

    FA must have gone off Utd, they play late on Sunday and then again on Tuesday night…

    Liverpool have a late ko on Saturday and play again on Tuesday…

    We play Fulham at 3pm Saturday and then Southampton on Tuesday

  37. Wavy says:

    Morning all.

    Agree Rico, the re blooding of the Ox was quite deliberate. Wenger wanted to see a, how fit he is, b, whether he was frit of the team that crocked him and c, is he back up to EPL demands. He probably, in his cameo part showed he could cope. Whether he will be picked to start at Fulham we will have to wait and see.
    As for Podolski, the squad is thin enough without reducing it further. We need players, good players, can’t see Draxler coming this window, maybe next. And Podolski leaving would be a retrograde step both for him and the club. He, like the Ox is not yet match fit. He needs some playing time, he will probably start at Fulham.

    AND….as for Giroud being merde, well ……….what can you say?? Utter nonsense. No he is not the best striker in the world, not by a long way but, he is better than the rest vying for his place at the club. I defy anybody to find better and sign them this TW! Wishful thinking and pie in the sky. AND completely wrong and totally out of order. I sometimes wonder if I’m watching the same players when remarks are made of such a derogatory nature are made.
    Psycholgist, psychiatrist is probably required for the author of such nonsense!

  38. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Benteke. Another money orientated whore. And there’s SUPPORTERS that want him for Arsenal? Do you not learn anything? The reason Villa are in the pedicament they are in is because their so called ‘main man’ doesn’t give a fcuk. He told them that in the summer when he wanted out after whoring himself to Wenger. Adebayor MK2

  41. Scott from Oz says:

    Brilliant post Wavy.
    Syg, mmmm……as soon as a player gives a hint they want out, i say let the bastard go.
    I said it with RVP, and maybe Villa should have let Benteke go.
    Suarez may be an exception, but he may not…..i still reckon he will go in the summer.

  43. kali says:

    morning Rico and all

    accurate summation…

    a better team could have punished us ..
    we got there at the end thankfully..feb/march far tougher tests

    worry about our bench ,couple of injuries and we look thin all over again

  45. Wavy says:

    Much better now Rico.
    A rant a day keeps the shrink at bay!
    That’s maybe what GDna does on a regular basis although I do believe a shrink may help him through his delusional posts!?

  47. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Benteke’s a big dirty, one dimensional whining bastard. Adebayor is twice the player he is, which tells you something. Watch him close up rather than on the telly and you will see all his off the ball movements, antics, fouls and petulant behaviour.

    A player like Benteke would upset the dynamics of the Arsenal squad. Ok for Villa, a problem for Arsenal. Stick to what IS working. And it IS working.

    For the past three transfer windows Wenger is going in the right direction. Carzorla, Giroud, Podolski, Monreal, Ozil, Flamini … all sound.
    I keep on saying it – If Wenger wants Eden Hazard, go get Eden Hazard, don’t settle for anything less, I’ve no problem Wenger procuring the asparagus tips of soccer – but never fckng ever plump for the fckng turnip. To some its size and colour might look appealing, but it tastes like shit.

  50. Gunnerdna says:

    Good post Rico, two transfer window and afc can find a CF, too many chances going beside the goal, we are not going to be lucky against better teams.

  60. kali says:

    so quite re transfers for us….just hope its the calm before the storm, where we see 2/3 new faces coming in…

    sitting back and protecting a 2/0 lead is predictable,but we
    didn’t have the personnels to do so imo…

    Cazo,Jack and Ozil are so light-weight ,that’s when when we need
    a tougher beast in there, was craving for Frimps to be that one,
    he isn’t playing for some reasons…..
    sell/loan him and bring someone in a la mode de Tiote,Mulumbo, Wanyama ,Carvalho……

    we are doing so well , credit to the back4……awesome

  63. HenryB says:

    Good Post Rico.

    You were not being negative, just pragmatic.

    I enjoyed the game although the last 15 minutes were nerve jangling but that is what football is all about. If it was dull and boring none of us would bother. 🙂

  64. tsgh says:

    Very good post Rico…

    Excellent post Wavy and Kali…

    Maybe FIFA should look into taking away OG12’s goal because he is shite…

    Afternoon all btw..

  67. Gunnerdna says:

    The stats are there to prove OG12 is shit, it’s not about tunnel vision it’s reality. I’m stating the oblivious because my not an arsenal fan, I don’t watch arsenal money I have mines.

  68. Lee says:

    Grant Holt has failed his medical, due to him being overweight! Apparently he suffers from an over active………knife and fork!!!

  69. potter says:

    Basic fact Giroud is not shit. He is better than probably 99% of the population. He may not be the predatory centre forward that many want but , Wenger has adapted Wengerball to incorporate a large presence that brings others , the real footballers into the game. So far the new system appears to be working, hence the reason why we are top of the league. Whilst I agree that there are better goalscorers with a better touch and more speed , Giroud is doing the job asked of him and quite well too.

  70. vernat1066 says:

    O.G. I don’t think will ever be a prolific striker scoring 30 + goals a season but he will score 20 – 25 in all competitions. And more importantly every time he is on the pitch in that shirt he will give everything he has for the team, in my opinion he is invaluable to us and along side the BFG, Sagna and Kos sets the standard for what is the level of commitment, workrate and attitude when representing Arsenal Football club.

    I know this is what every professional should do but too often they don’t.

  72. NashuaGunners says:

    I cant disagree with you there Potter. ” OG12 the Wenger’s ways.”

    But, there are games when we need CF with pace especially when we don’t have TW14 as an outlet. We all can see OG12 trying to put the shift, but there are times when opportunities go begging. And giving him a serious competition for the CF role cant hurt him but can only improve him.

  73. NashuaGunners says:

    I remember those days when we beat teams on the counter-attack. The one two passes and dribbling to get to the other teams’ half. We rarely do that now, instead we pass sideway or huff the ball to OG12 to holdup play.

  74. potter says:

    Granted we need pace and I am not stating that giroud is the final answer, however last night we took off Gnabry who we could have left up but i was just countering the statement that the man is shit.
    I played for many years at a reasonable level and i wish i was as good as him.

  75. W.A.T.H says:

    Afternoon Potter, I think the amount of people that think OG is shit is maybe 1% of Arsenal fans…. I’m not going to say they are delusional or blind or anything like that as we’re all entitled to our opinion but I think that 1% that think he’s shit are completely missing the point.
    He’s a very very good striker, what he lacks in some aspects he makes up in others, he gives us an option we not had in years, what we now need to do is add a top quality striker to help him out and to compliment what he gives to the team.

  82. rico says:

    Benteke is s***e then… Those stats are shocking…

    I’m with most views re Giroud, he’s not the fastest, neither is he the most clinical, but he’s a darn good defender 😉

    Afternoon all and thanks re the post earlier Ts/Hb…

  85. Wavy says:

    Sorry been doing my chores, it’s part of my therapy!

    What Giroud needs is a rapid, skilful and predatory striker playing alongside him and playing off him. Aguero or reluctantly Suarez type players spring to mind. Might Gnarbry or one of the other young hopefuls rise to the surface and complement our ‘merde’ ridden over criticised number 9 a helping foot or two? John Radford was never quick and neither was Stapleton but they both scored and made plenty.
    Leave the big lad alone he is doing ok as Potter said earlier we are not top for nothing. What’s more Wenger’s latest creation has plenty of guts and plenty of skill, plenty of goals and plenty of points. The individuals all go to make up the whole. At the moment Giroud fits the style and commitment along with the rest of a surprisingly strong squad, despite its lack of numbers.
    I rest my case!

  86. Micko says:

    What is it on here today, some sort of lynch mob, it’s painfully obvious Gdna has got Giroud mixed up with Bendnter !

  87. kali says:

    afternoon all

    ‘Some officials don’t understand the offside law and need to go back to school’ says Chris Kamara

  89. rico says:

    Micko, I think you mean Park 😉

    I’m going to have my phone disconnected – it only rings when I’m home… pfff

  90. Micko says:

    Funny that rico, it’s always engaged when I try to ring you.

    My nerves are shot after last night and there was me thinking I had mellowed.

  94. rico says:

    Darn it Micko, and there was me thinking you were just avoiding me…

    Afternoon Kev, thanks..

    Which one? 😉

  104. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all;
    I’ll say nice post as you did sound like it bored you as well. AK Often comes on and states boring boring Chelsea, i would argue that that display last night was just the same.. We started off passing like champions but going nowhere, sideways backwards passing with monotonous ease then throwing a pass to Sagna who races forward only to see no one in the middle check back and pass it backwards till were in our own half then start the same move all over again. Our goals came from man of the match Wilshere who i felt was finding it hard, His own goal was miss hit very much like most of his shots, but that is probably why it went in, Girouds mastery was down to a lucky fumble and when he shot the ball went through some ones legs, our luck is still holding out. I see some are saying what a great defence we have, so we should with every midfielder in our own half, thump it out to a waiting Giroud who picks it up on the half way line with nobody near him, and also not wanting to help him either. Attacking midfielder Wilshere called himself last night when does he ever get in the box, mesut Ozil the genius never in the box when Sagna or Monreal are ready to cross no cazorla either Giroud is as slow as hell he is never going on a Rosiski run ever untill we get a striker with pace and attackin midfielders who actually wants to go forward this boring boring football will remain. Yep i know i’m being negative, but i’m sorry i like to see good football this is a long way off, top of the league or not.

  105. rico says:

    Hi Sp.

    It didn’t bore me, just frustrated me but that’s only because I know the boys can play better and when they do that for 90 mins, there will be no complaints from me…

    But, I’d rather last night and 3 points than pretty football for 90 mins and end up with 20 attempts on goal but no points…

    Man Utd have been winning the PL for years grinding out results like last nights…

    At the end of the season, no-one really looks back on how a team played when they are champions, they are simply champions….

  106. BrainwashedKev says:

    Listen ‘ere Stevo, Wath is Grumpy on here, so you’ve got no chance of usurping his position as Uber Grump, doesn’t matter how hard you try… 😛

  108. BrainwashedKev says:

    Evening Rico…
    How does it go? ‘You can’t please all of the people, all of the time’… 😉

  112. stevepalmer1 says:

    Manchester United has never been toothless up front, not leading the league as usual, but they still attack with pace and the flow is still amazing. But they do have good players with pace where is our pace. sitting with his leg Raised after one game up front with no back up at all. Walcott walcott Walcott all i hear is how much we miss Walcott, one game wonder (injured)

  127. tsgh says:

    Shite is a registered trademark of Shite….

    Hello all again…

    I see the debut is still ongoing…

    I had been waiting for SP1’s views since last night… howdy Sir?

    I think Costa is shite but you know I like mediocre so no surprises there. lol

  131. NashuaGunners says:

    We football fans/supporters are fickle. When footballers played well and scored we are behind you 100%. Not all of us expect you to be Messi or Zidane, but play as if you care. Show us that you would put your life on the line for your club (Arsenal), and we will support you thick and thin.

  134. Lee says:

    Spxrs to help us out again (according to Twatter)….Holtby wants to be playing more regularly ahead of the WC so wants a loan back to Schalke thus freeing up Draxler’s move to a proper team! Simples.

  135. malaga gooner says:

    Ng when I look at what the chavs paid for Torres and what we piad for Ollie I just have a little giggle.

  141. Lewis says:

    If draxler is available now we should go get him now, I have a feeling the summer a few more clubs will be sniffing around.

    Morning all.

  144. W.A.T.H says:

    If we faff about as usual trying to save a fe p here and there someone will nab Draxler in the summer and we’ll lose out again… Be pro active for a change and get the players we interested in… A good world cup and everyone will want him… Get it done….!

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