Morning all.
There’s a story in the Mirror this morning which suggests Chelsea could be set for a points deduction following their after match brawl against Man City. Apparently this is the fifth time in 19 months that Chelsea have been hauled in front of disciplinary chiefs for breaching FA Rule E20 covering the behaviour of players.
Go on FA, you know you want to….
It’s been a long time since Stoke City left the red side of north London with a victory. Another win yesterday by two clear goals would leave Arsenal top of the league, which at this stage of the season may mean little but what it would do is keep us close to Chelsea and that’s crucial.
Stoke had lost just one of their last nine matches going into this game and with their number two keeper in great form, they hadn’t been conceding many goals. This would be a different test for the visitors though as we can’t stop scoring goals these days with five against West Ham last weekend and four against Basel in midweek. More of that would be just fine.
Lee Mason had a mixed game from the highlights I’ve seen, a soft penalty given against Xhaka but later in the game, a good piece of refereeing having allowed us to play on and score after Alexis was fouled. Shame he didn’t spot Charlie Adam adjust his running line in order to stamp on the Chilean as he went by. Perhaps the FA will take a look at that one, not that it would do much good had Alexis been seriously injured.
That soft penalty was converted by Adam as the visitors took the lead, this would test Arsenal’s character and they passed the test rather well.
Mustafi suffered a hamstring injury which was not what Arsene Wenger needed just before a busy Christmas schedule and as he went off, Gabriel moved central and on came Hector Bellerin. Our play down the right stepped up a gear from thereafter. That’s not a criticism of Gabriel by the way as he’s been good at right-back, but he’s no speed king like Bellerin is he…
Just before the halftime whistle blew, Alexis whipped a ball into the path of the Spaniard, he crossed it into the box and there was Theo Walcott to bang the ball into the net at the near post. Cue celebrations! (as Mel Walcott reached for her iPad to google ‘coffee machines’)
Soon after the second half kicked off, we took the lead. A lofted ball into the box from Alexis Oxlade-Chamberlain where Mesut Ozil was waiting. A quick look at the keeper who was off his line and the German lobbed the ball over his head and into the net with a simply outstanding header. Smiles all round, especially from Mesut.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock, Iwobi made sure that three points were in the bag. Alexis was fouled, play on said Mason, then Alexis was stamped on by Adam, the ball was with Iwobi who made no mistake. Cue his celebration, the fans celebration and Arsene’s celebration.
And Arsenal were far from being at the top of their game, but after a Champions League fixture in midweek, I’m not overly surprised. Stoke caused a few problems here and there but they couldn’t get past Petr Cech, only through a dodgy penalty were they able to do that…
Next up is a trip to Everton on Tuesday and we’ll be without Mustafi. In fact we won’t see him again for a few weeks Arsene Wenger said after the game.
Finally, a big happy birthday to our very own Mr AllezKev who is 21 years old today…. 😉
Have a good Sunday guys, let’s hope West Brom can shock Chelsea and the match at Old Trafford is a spiky affair…
Morning all.
3 high quality goals, especially Theo’s which was just beautiful to watch.
A fine performance which keeps us at the right end of the ladder.
It was a joy to watch.
Morning Rico and all. Good write up. It’s always such a beautiful thing when a multi-millionaire like Theo gets a coffee machine from his wife after scoring some goals. Really touches the heart and makes you realise how ‘normal’ he is. Cue the violins. He had a really good game yesterday so I guess the mere idea of a caffeine machine did the trick.
The level of time wasting by Stoke yesterday was epic and Mason only let play go on because he was too inept to get the whistle to his lips in time. He seems curiously ill-suited to his new slimline frame. Overall, he was appalling. But we played well and didn’t panic after the penalty. Quite the opposite in fact. Everybody did well but a special mention for Xhaka I would say. Stoke were rubbish and I believe the attempted lob, by Adam, from about 60 yards halfway through the second half was their first shot on target. They play stone-age football. All that stuff about them getting better is crap really and I do wonder if the FA will sanction Adam for his customary stamp. I suppose it depends if it’s highlighted by the press.
Happy birthday to dear Mr Allezkev.
Morning. Managed to catch the 2nd half. Great stuff from the lads, Ozil pointed to where he wanted the ball and Ox delivered. Gabriel’s been a good stand-in these last few games, putting his heart and head on the line with courage. But Bellerin is class, although he had a very optimistic wayward shot that frustrated a well placed Chillian! Come on Alexis, don’t look grumpy when going off, unless it was because of the kick he had taken. Shame about Mustafi, one comes back and two get injured. Although Ramsey not showing at moment he warrants starting. Rest seemed to do Iwobi good, looked energetic from moment he came on. Encouraging performance.
Morning Adam, Scott, Andrew and all… I made the mistake of taking my cuppa back to bed. Cue snooze.. 🙂
I thought they’d be better than they were Adam, but apart from the Crouch header, which at 10′ tall, you’d expect him to win, they were poor.. Stoke mirror all that Hughes was and still is…
I think Ramsey just has a cold Andrew..
Stoke are Stoke.
Happy birthday Kev, ya old bugger!!!
Rico. I heard he was having his highlights refurbished. 🙂
Rico. For such a ‘physical’ side, managed by serial thug Sparky Hughes, they kept throwing themselves on the floor while holding various limbs or their faces in agony. All in the name of time wasting. A truly awful side.
🙂 Adam..
Agree, wimps, the lot of them. Allen certainly made a big deal of his so called elbow in the face… Funny enough, Dermot on ref watch had to review a similar one last week which he said no foul, as the offending player wasn’t looking at the player so it wasn’t deliberate…
3-1, Rico…come on, that’s comfortable 🙂
In all seriousness, we were very composed, and smart, which leads me to believe we currently have the right squad to seriously challenge for the League.
It’s another example of a game we’d have potentially dropped points in over recent years.
Grown men, earning massive money, throwing themselves on the ground at the slightest touch……..it really is an embarrassment.
I meant Stoke Scott. I was pleased with our game.. Especially having played on the road in the week…
What’s more embarrassing though Scott, is a referee who can’t spot when players are really fouled…
Mason is up there with some of the worst, the highlights probably made him look better than he actually was…
Happy birthday Kev, hope you have a grand day. I thought you were 49 again not 21!
Xhaka, if the elbow was the reason Mason awarded the penalty, surely our man should have been sent off. Just saying……….it wasn’t a penalty though, was it?
Perhaps Ramsey having the sniffles was a blessing in disguise! Perhaps we didn’t play that well in the first half, according to the radio commentary, but at least we weren’t subjected to aimless flicks and too much backward passing! Did we miss Aaron? Probably not. Shawcross didn’t turn up either.
Adam’s stamp, absolutely deliberate and potentially dangerous. The FA will dip it like they always do. No backbone!
Bright and nearly sunny here. Morning all.
Sorry that should have read, 49ish!
Rico, these alleged men are so bloody good at diving, it’s near impossible for refs to know.
Plenty are just inept, but still, managers and players don’t make it any easier for them, and that’s why players should be copping suspensions after video reviews, IMO.
On the “comfortable” comment, I was referring to my pre-game prediction 🙂 🙂 🙂
Good morning Rico and all…..i was expecting that tug Adams would have caused serious injuries either to Alexis or Ozil. Well he didnt disapoint ….i mean that stamp on Alexis is an absolute red card.Ref might not have seen it and nor Alexis or others had protested .Every one was carried by the Iwobi goal.
What the possibility are there to ban that idiot ?
I didnt hear Arsene or other sources talk about it.Sad.
Rico. Having just watched Goals On Sunday, the agenda is clear. They highlighted a very slight push by Wenger on some official who was getting rather close but chose to disregard Iwobi’s goal completely. Not a mention. Therefore no hint of Adam’s stamp.
I was being kind with 21 Wavy… 🙂
No booking either for Xhaka, makes the decision a joke all round…
Just why I wish technology would come into the game Scott, it’s the only way to stop the cheating..
Morning Alex, I hope Sky Sports get on the case and they will eventually as someone will make it known to them imo.
What a joke Adam!
Rico, I agree to an extent….on diving and missed foul play, I most defensively agree.
My observation is that Charlie Adams has some sort of agenda against london clubs as the same goes specially the way he treat the spuds.
I believe first the club has to make a complain .Secondly the FA no matter whether they had a complaint or not should investigate every game and take action.
To rely on Sky only i dont think is good for the game in my opinion.
Defensively is Aussie for definitely, apparently 🙂
Thing is Alex, Sky Sports are so big now, if the get hold of an incident then they show it time and time which puts pressure on the FA.
But as this match wasn’t shown live, not much fuss is being made…
I guessed Scott… lol
Sky should have no influence at all, ever! With Muddleduck in control who knows what their agenda may turn out to be? It certainly won’t be non judgemental, unbiased or impartial.
What a world this is turning into!
They shouldn’t, but sadly, they do…..
Morning all and thankyou Rico…………hope you enjoyed your company for dinner last night and that they didn`t complain as they were being devoured ! 🙂
Glorious sunny day in the Duchy and I`m off to do some boring Xmas food shopping with the missus, my only hope is I meet a fellow Gooner down the aisles !.
If only The Chavs could be deducted points, but they aint Arsenal !
I agree Rico the Sky thing though not ethical.How about the club itself ?Are they waiting till someone get cut his legs ?
I guess it is one of the weak point of this club under Wenger .They should take some action.Silence is not an option to me
🙂 Lc, I think both guests have bad heads this morning… I’m fine though.. lol
Arsenal seldom complain about anything as far as I know Alex, probably because when AW used to, he was scoffed at by other managers etc for being a moaner… ‘It’s a man’s game’ they said, Arsenal don’t like it if you get at them’ was another, ‘southern softies’… the list goes on.
But some of the tackles on our players, and others I hasten to add, are leg breakers…
As Iwobi’s goal went it , Mason rushed over to Alexis on the ground and said something . At first I thought he had pulled the game back for a free kick . I* think he saw it and I think because of the goal he chose to ignore it . I also think it’s why Adam went off soon after.
As for points deduction , I am not sure. Look at the way it galvanised our lot “” You can stick your f****ing two points up your A**e.
I don’t want points deduction for the others teams. I want to win at the pitch, not in the media or in the secretary.
Xhaka – was a penalti, was a yellow card and wasn’t the 1st time he made mistakes with the consequences for the team. However, may have been “good” because he made a good second half, the best game since being in Arsenal.
Mustafi – It’s difficult to understand because he didn’t play in midweek, but that can happen in any time. 3 weeks left. Gabriel and Holding are ready. Hope Kos still fit.
Everton: The next game. They will want to avenge their defeat this weekend. They could play against anyone but they will play against Arsenla. We must be superior. M.City? One game at a time
Joaquim, you are right on Xhaka it was a clear penalty. Even if the elbow was accidental, the grab was not and the flow thru with the legs was not either. I accounted 3 infractions on that one play. My issue is that the refereeing should be consistent because we see that all the time. But a clear penalty he impeded the player.
Afternoon All, it’s a beautiful sunny day out here in Essex…
Afternoon Rico, that was a very good post, I really think you’re getting the hang of this blog thingy… ?
And thanks ?
Appreciated my dear Mr Adam ?
There’s no doubt in my mind that Charlie Adams deliberated stamped on Sanchez, but he actually prevented himself from getting close to Iwobi, allowing our Nigerian a free shot at goal…
So a 3rd goal to Arsenal and the strong possibility of a 3 game ban for Charlie Adam…
Kind of sums up what a moron he is….
Agree Andrew, Paulista has been a breath of fresh air since he got back into the team, not sure if it was a language thing with him but he looks a lot more comfortable, so although losing Mustafi is a blow, Gabriel looks an able deputy, I’ve certainly no worries about his presence in the team weakening it…
Scott, it seems that Arsenal are employing a Kiwi psychologist to assist with the teams approach and confidence…
They certainly seem less brittle and more able to shake off an early set back without imploding as has been the case in the past…
I guess that’s the advantage of having a Kiwi on board, and thanks ?
Good point about the points, we went on to win the league after being docked two…
Afternoon Kev, I guess it’s all the practice… 😉
Wavy, I’ll take anything between 21 & 49, cheers mate…
Personally I think the FA will act, not sure about the Chavs though, 1990/91 as Potter mentioned and it did cross my mind when I first heard the report…
Even if it’s justified you can imagine Conte using the ‘injustice’ of it to create an ‘us against them’ mentality….
I’d rather Fabregas and a couple more Chav players getting a suspension…
Act of Adam that should be….
Yes Rico, I have been very impressed with several of your recent posts, they are really very good…. ?
Even Mr Adam mentioned it to me, in-between a cup of pennyroyal tea and some oysters as we chatted.
That’s very true Mr Allezkev. 🙂
They have improved immeasurably.
Now I know you are kidding Kev… lol
Utd 1-0 up..
Nice assist from ‘Arry Kane.
Good strike wasn’t it..
Pogba missed a great chance early on…
But he’s rubbish Rico. 🙂
He îs Adam… ?
Shame about the Chavs, but not really a surprise…
We’ve just gotta keep on winning our games, ensure we don’t lose to anymore of our rivals and stay within touching distance of the top…
Chelsea having no European games is a definite advantage, we could really do with going to Stamford Bridge and turning them over, we may need to to stop their momentum…
I thought that Man City looked a defensive shambles, but Pep will have them prepared for us, I’m sure of that…
Everton are going through a terrible run…
Reminds me of Southampton a year ago, know what I mean Adam?!
Don’t get me started on that one Kev. 🙂
I think we all know what you mean Kev, but this group of players are looking a bit more steely this season… I can only see us improving, certainly up until the CL matches return…
According to “Football Intelligence” a think tank that gathers stats for major football clubs all across Europe, including Arsenal. The advantage of not participating in CL or Europa is minimal…. the most point it has ever yield was 6 points in EPL..
Just got home from Xmas food shopping with the missus and it makes me want to take her to one of those euthanasia clinics in Switzerland !…………then found out the Spuds lost and life is great again !.
The guy was on Richard Keys and Andy Gray show…. Interestingly they work with mostly all the top teams in football which I thought presents conflict of interest.
Obi………are you saying the Chavs would be 6 points behind us now if they were in CL ?………………..I think I can speak for everyone and say ………..yes please !. 🙂
How about the stat ( if there`s one, I`m sure there is as Arsene uses it enough ! ) that teams playing away in the CL normally have a dip in performance come the weekend !…………..well,my friend !…………..Chavs have none of that as they haven`t any mid week games to get fatigued 1
What comes across to me is that whoever “Football Inteligence ” is…….they dont seem that intelligent ! hahaha
Also, if we are talking minimal, well, it only takes a minimal one point more than the second placed team to win the league……..or less…….a minimal one goal scored or one less conceded !……………………..Anfield in `89 was very minimal ! 😀
And ! 🙂 us bastards are always in the CL and dont know whether a season out of it would have given us a minimal trophy for not being in it !…………………..lets face it we have minimal CL trophies since being in it ! 🙂
LC, they said 6 point was the most gained by a top 4 team that was not in CL and that was Liverpool.
LC minimal meaning that people think it’s 6-10
points or more but not the case. Because the leagues are always almost won by those in CL.
Last season was different and this season could be as well on that front, Obi……………………anyway, dont try and baffle me with technical stuff, it`s a relaxing Sunday and i`m feeling aroused after Totnumb`s loss ! 😆 😆 😆
….And Liverpool still didn’t win the league.
Talking of Liverpool……………………….if WHam manage to beat them I will probably die of tantric sex with myself ! hahaha
Oh and Happy Birthday Kev……………………surely a good one when Spuds lose !…………………………best ever Birthday I ever had ( apart from my original birthday ) was beating Aston Villa 4-0 in FA Cup final !……………………….obviously had we lost, it would have been the worst !
It’s simple, win our remaining fixtures, and we’ll win the league… ??
Firmino should have a licence for those hampsteads.
Had some old characters in the north bank yesterday , songs were coming out that had not been heard for ages The totts visit to the papal city. Wings of a sparrow , Your sh1t aarrgh, and Charlie Adam was subjected to Fat , round arse upon the ground. Quite a few people were looking around and obviously had never heard them before.
Two more good results for us…
Night all…
No licence needed, Adam…………Firmino gets a government tarif for solar gain on them !……..In 90 mins his teeth can supply enough electricity to charge up 200 bindippers power tools to take the wheels of the cars of visiting away supporters !
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES TO MY OLD MUCKER AK47!!!
I definitely read somewhere that we’ve got a Kiwi ( that’s an Aussie with class and the ability to swim!) ? helping out psychologically with the team….well something has definitely changed for the better. We go a goal down and I feel we’ll still win, I’ve not felt that way about us for quite some time. Long may it continue.
Rumour time will be upon us soon, Draxler apparently coming to us in January. I know it’s bollocks but let’s hope this calibre of players come to compliment Sanchez & Ozil and not replace them! Let’s start competing with the “big” European powerhouse clubs in the CL not just make the numbers up.
Felaini was being booed by the manure fans as he was warming up to today, imagine just imagine the uproar in media if it were an Arsenal player getting booed!?!?
Homocide :- you killed some one.
Suicide :- you killed yourself.
Genocide :- you killed a large group of people.
Merseyside :- you never won the Premier League.
Pestercide ; Strong enough to erase Totnumb !…………………………..keeping them in our shadow is not enough, just turns them into Morlocks !…………………..here`s a few Spud woman on the pull on a N17 night out !
https://davewatchingstuff.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/morlocks.jpg
Yes, the Aussies and Kiwis felt so damn sorry for you poms, we sent some of our lads over to improve your cricket, Rugby, League, Cycling and even the Arsenal.
We are enjoying seeing you lot actually competitive again 🙂
Lee, they can all swim……that’s why we have so many of the buggers here lol.
Class though…..there’s a stretch, hey bro 🙂 🙂
Great to see a few results go our way this weekend.
Cheers Lee, pie n mash sometime over the next few weeks?
35 years rico….that’s the last time Stoke won away at our patch in the league !
Lee, re Fellaini, the bigger the hair the closer to God I believe.
Yes Cocker, every time the Scum lose it’s like a celebration…
Quite a good weekend for us results wise…
Lee, I like that story about Draxler, I’ve kept it to myself, but I’ve watched his career stutter at Wolfsburg and Wenger likes to take a player whose not realised his potential and coach them up to where they should be.
Regardless of the complaints we’ve had about Arsene over the years, you can never doubt his ability to work with and improve most of the players under his guidance, both a Ozil and Sanchez have improved since coming to Arsenal and I think Draxler would as well…
He certainly wouldn’t expect £200k per week either…
Just wait till his agent gets involved though. Apparently these are the latest figures :-
Julian Draxler 2016 Income $6,864,000 plus bonus $457,600 = $7,321,600
divided by 1.25 gives his current deal at £5,85728 per annum or £112,640 per week.
http://celebrityglad.com/julian-draxler-salary-net-worth-midfield-left-wing-of-fc-schalke-04/
Morning all, it’s out there…..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4022548/Did-Charlie-Adam-stamp-Alexis-Sanchez-Stoke-midfielder-appears-step-Chilean-blooded-encounter-against-Arsenal.html
Rico, the way the officials have been this season, I dare say he will cop a suspension.
Maybe I’m naive 🙂
Morning all.
He deserves one Scott.
Sure does, so let’s hope justice prevails.
New post up now.