Morning all.
The boys put their troubles behind them yesterday evening as they headed off into town for a knees up, well, a trip to Leicester Square to see La Soiree, a show full of cabaret, saucy burlesque and circus acts. (There’s a joke in there somewhere I’m sure)
Most of the players were snapped with their girlfriends or wives, whereas poor Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mesut Ozil were on pictured on their lonesome.
You have to pick yourself up. There is a big period coming up now with the games coming thick and fast and there is no time to dwell on the defeat. You have to move on and get ready for the next one.
Sometimes I think it is best if after a big game you play another big game. You have opportunities to win, it’s a kind of a six-pointer – it’s probably a perfect game for us – Petr Cech
The old cliches are being quoted, like ‘we have to pick ourselves up,’ ‘we were unlucky’, ‘we only have ourselves to blame,’ etc etc and as much as we’ve heard it all before, Petr Cech is right. This team can’t sit and sulk about losing to Everton on Tuesday, they have to pick themselves up, learn from that late defensive cock up and go again. As the big keeper says, when we have everyone in the box, we should be able to clear a corner. The defending for their equaliser wasn’t good either.
Last night’s results didn’t do us any favours at all with City, Utd, Totts and Liverpool all winning and as a result, we are down to third in the league with six points between us and Chelsea. Six points may not seem much at this stage of the season but it’s six too many with Chelsea playing as well as they are. Those below us in the table aren’t too far behind either.
Sunday’s match is a big one, probably the biggest so far this season on paper. Despite beating Watford 2-0 last night, going by reports in the papers this morning, their performance was far from convincing. Pep switched back to the old faithful four at the back with Jon Stones being dropping to the bench as a result of his dodgy defending this season. Bravo was more assured in goal apparently and for once, they didn’t concede goals in what was their first home win for yonks. Gundogan suffered an injury during the game which means he’ll miss this weekends fixture along with Aguero, Kompany and Fernandinho.
Regardless, they still have plenty of classy players who will cause us all sorts of problems if the boys aren’t up for this one, de Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Toure etc etc but at the back, they are still vulnerable. Walcott or Perez, whoever starts, should be gunning for Clichy. Their two centre backs are hardly convincing and only Bravo spared their blushes last night and even he isn’t the most reliable of keepers. Bravo has been on the end of a lot of criticism since joining City in the summer. ‘He is a great shot stopper who can play the perfect pass from the back’ we were told but there’s not been much evidence of that lately, not really and at just 6′ tall, high and wide with our shots on Sunday is the way to go. Of Bravo I mean, not the woodwork!
But not only do City have very good players, we do too, in fact right now, I’d say better. Koscielny, Cech, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ozil, Sanchez, Elneny, Monreal and even Walcott when he’s in the mood. In fact the list goes on and all they need is the right words said, the right attitude together with the right approach, and this team can beat any side in this league.
If that loss on Tuesday has brought Arsene Wenger and the players back down to earth and they learn from it, or rather, react positively because of it, then Petr Cech might be right. A trip to Man City might just be the best thing for Arsenal right now….
Have a good day guys…
Morning all.
Citeh away….the prefect remedy for a loss 🙂
It will be if we win 🙂
Morning All.
Kelsey 8.18am………..Exactly.
Rico fingers crossed *hity should be up
our street…Goals Galore if we take off
the handbrake.
Be nice if they went back to 3 at the back.
Sweeper Keeper…Sanchez loves them.
They should be Fred, they’ll certainly be no parked bus up there….
Ref’s for the next game could be
Whistle Happy,Don’t Touch Him,Stop Pushing That Guy
“you Brute”..Yellow,Yellow,Yellow..Reds.
Some Ref’s like a bit of contact.
For some reason our players cannot weigh up
how far to go with a Ref who likes a tear-up,
Granite and Coq in some games look capable
as well as Mustifa.
So is it Arsene putting the handbrake on bookings
Our fans at the game the other night were having
a go at our lack of bottle.
It’s rare we have a One for the Team booking.
Good morning Rico…
Haha ….it is good time to play Mancity as there is no Aguero Gundogan and one of the Inios.
Sure three first players will be absent and normally it is an advantage for any opposition bar Arsene.
Remember Manure when they where decimated by injury last season ? Oh….countless similar opportunities missed through out the decade.
Arsene chopped and changed every single player but this disease to botlle it is in him and he knows how to embody it to the players.
Call me pessimistic but is just what it is.
The sooner ho goes the better.
Who is the ref Fred, any idea?
Hi Alex, just trying to stay positive… 😉
Martin Atkinson… 😳
Wouldn’t feel too sorry for the Ox Rico. He’s apparently knocking about with Perrie from Little Mix!
Wow, how generous….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4036426/Ex-England-defender-Rio-Ferdinand-shocks-charity-donating-500-000-toys-needy-children-Christmas.html
I read that too Bob, they are on tour aren’t they..
Hi Rico, all.
Just coming to terms with the loss but another one will bring the numb feeling of season’s past. Iwobi abuse though are unwelcomed, Arsenal (most) fans we are just the worst. Everton cheered their team all through but us we remain quiet waiting for our team to fail so we can come out hurling abuses.
Wenger needs to learn how to do his job though, some players are out of steam, rotation would do a world of good. Especially in the midfield. Mustafi is terribly missed, as per yesterday’s post.
Hi Marshall. Is Iwobi getting a lot of stick then?
Totally agree re the fans, but I guess Everton don’t have as many tourists as Arsenal do… lol
Afternoon Rico
Afternoon All…
Yeah Rico, I did read that some ‘brain cells’ on Twatter have been telling Iwobi to go back to Nigeria because he didn’t score on Tuesday.
I’ve not seen it myself, I’m sure I read about it on Arseblog…
There’s a worrying lack of maturity and intelligence on some social media platforms…
Some tweeting tw*ts were all about it Rico. Being racial and all. We do have lots of tourists though.
Afternoon Kev, idiots, absolute idiots!!
Marshall – that’s so offensive for the the poor guy. Why do we so often kick our own…
Marshall, that’s an interesting point you make about the passion of the crowd, you know it could be a London thing?
I’ve read books on the Arsenal in the 1930’s and even then we had a crowd that lacked passion and they moaned and complained even then, so it isn’t a new thing…
I’ve been in a 13,000 crowd at Highbury (vs Sheff Utd) and stood through some really God awful matches where the ground seemed empty for lack of atmosphere.
The Northerners always make more noise, especially when playing Arsenal.
Everton have always had a great vocal support, I’ve been to both Goodison and Anfield and find the Goodison crowd more passionate…
The North-East, they’re all mental up there, Villa Park can really rock, Old Trafford used to be a bearpit back when Tommy Docherty was their manager.
Only Milkwall and West Ham can come anywhere close to the northern crowds…
Maybe it’s because Millwall and West Ham are/were working class, where as Arsenal, Chavs, Scum are more middle class…?
The rest in London don’t really matter. ?
Rico, I know that it’s something that the youngsters are more into, so our young players like Wilshere, Ox and Iwobi it seems, go on Twitter, but really they don’t need it, it’s sad as some players enjoy interacting with the fans, but there’s some really sick people out there, who are a ‘waste of internal organs’ as Lee so memorably puts it…
Rico, did you get my texts?
As much as I hate to say it Kev, but the Totts fans make a lot of noise….
Couldn’t agree more Kev. It’s funny how brave and offensive people can be from the warmth of their own kitchen or office…. On one hand fans want players to me more in touch but when they do, it backfires.
What kind of good will such abuse do Iwobi, a youngster who is still learning?
We could and should have won that game long before Iwobi missed his chance….
Kev, sounds true about the upper/middle class in london who are ‘civil’ and hence rarely cheer the team. Its always louder at Scouscers and I recall Newcastle being vocal too. You could clearly see Everton were having a 12th man (the crowd)- they were applauding every tackle not a single grunt.
Our next game at home you’ll hear lots of them on a misplaced pass. I think the ‘bigger’ seats at the Ems are too comfy. They fit my bum perfect. The manager,team and the fans we ought to change.
No Kev, I’ll go and check again…
Normally I don’t see fans from other teams give their club and players stick like we do… Maybe cause we pay the costliest tickets on land we feel we are entitled to a perfect team? I think we need that Psychologist from Oz too 🙂
The Emirates was built specifically with comfort and corporate theatre entertainment in mind. It certainly does numb the passion. However Kev is right there was always a target in Arsenal teams going back as long as I can remember and that’s quite a long time.
We also have the largest social media following of all clubs and that is why radio stations and the press make such a fuss over us because they know they will get a reaction. Just ask Adrian Durham who without The Arsenal would not have had a programme for the last ten years.
🙂 Marshall…
Not just Durham, how many journos have enjoyed battering Arsenal over the last ten years….
Night guys.
Good point Potter, Club Level brings in a lot of dough but adds zero to the atmosphere, it’s how football has evolved…
When football was the preserve of the working class, we were all yobbos and hooligans…
Since its become gentrified it’s ever so sexy…
Morning Rico, all.
Contract stand off are the headlines today. Why are we slow while making ‘big’ contracts?
I believe most teams (from mid-table downwards) will start getting physical against us since they are almost certain that’s how to get a result against ‘sexy’ arsenal.
Morning Marshall and all..
I’d love to know where these journos get their info from as it’s hardly likely that anyone at the club would tell them what Alexis has been offered…
Agents stirring the pot….?
They already do don’t they Marshall? Physical is fine imo, but when it crosses the line, the ref needs to step in but they don’t and there’s the biggest problem.
How Rojo or whatever his name is at Utd has been allowed to get away with two leg-breaking tackles so far this season is a disgrace and shows just how useless these refs are.
One day real soon someone is going to be seriously injured in the league, I just hope it’s not one of our players..
Morning all.
As a tourist, I as disappointed when visiting the Emirates at the lack of noise, so am I to blame, the locals, the design of the stadium, stewards, Wenger or the players?
Maybe Its all of the above, but what always stood out to we tourists watching on Television was the singing and chanting.
It still happens at other clubs, and they have tourists, so to blame us is way off course I’d say.
Ps-I do realise there are tourists and then there are proper overseas fans, but still…..plenty of English don’t see any difference.
There’s a big difference Scott. I’m on about those who get given tickets but don’t even like football much, let alone Arsenal…
Rico, I’m adamant plenty are on holiday so have to watch a game, just to say they did it.
Any idea what percentage of the Emirates is Season ticket holders??
I don’t know Scott..
It’d be interesting to find out.
I also wonder how ST holders actually use their tickets, and how many sell them regularly.
I know the recognised International Supporters clubs get 6-12 tickets per game, and even if there were several hundred of these, it would hardly put a dent in 60,000 odd, so how do the non football fans get their tickets?
It’d be nearly impossible to stop.
Similar to an FA Cup final i’d guess, but no idea really…
It comes down to the dollars and little else, but I dare say plenty of ST holders can be guilty of that, as well as the club.
One article I just read suggested 45,000 ST’s were sold by the end of July.
Morning Rico and all. There are a lot of tourists for sure but, when the team play well and win, the atmosphere is always better. Some games stand out for sure but the clientele has changed over the years too. It’s all entirely predictable really.
Morning Adam.
Playing well, winning and happy fans go together like Stilton and grapes.. 🙂
Morning All
Mate of mine know all my life
never kicked a ball nor has his kids
would’nt know a goal from a roll.
Comes from New North Road.
never in 50 years heard him mention
football ever.
Is now a season ticket holder at The Arsenal
corperate of coarse.
My brother loves it when he wants to talk
football..Cracking stuff.
Even as a tourist/foiregner, I find it disappointing that proper long term fans have been priced out of it.
Fings ain’t wot they used to be.
That’s for sure.
Will the REAL Adam stand up lol
When I went to Stamford Bridge, a Chav fan told me probably 2/3rds of the crowd were tourists.
Good for the bank accounts, but terrible for the game.
The worst thing that happened to football was Sky Sports….
That’s London for you Scott…
New post up.