Morning all.
Interesting to hear the two managers speak ahead of tonights fixture, neither can praise the other high enough and to be fair, if only for events so far this season, both managers deserve such praise.
Tonight is going to be the toughest test we have faced so far this season in my opinion as we face a Napoli side who defeated Borussia Dortmund just a couple of weeks ago. They will be full of confidence ahead of tonight as they sit second in the Italian League.
Again, I don’t know enough about our opposition to write much so I have stolen the views of Daily Mirror man, Sheridan Bird:
Strengths.
Despite the sales of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani in consecutive summers, Napoli still boast a great attack. Gonzalo Higuain is a proven goalscorer, Lorenzo Insigne is a punchy, electrifying bag of tricks and new boy Jose Callejon has instantly won fans over with his determination, goal sense and Ace Ventura hair. Then there’s Mr. Hamsik.
The team have thrived this season thanks to improved pressing and ball possession. This is to be attributed to their famous new coach, who fans of Liverpool and Chelsea will recognise.
Weakensses
Pepe Reina can be brilliant one minute – like last week, when he became the first person to save a Mario Balotelli penalty. But the hefty ex-Liverpool stopper can lose focus and make avoidable errors. At times he looks as mobile as Geoff Capes.
Centre-back Miguel Britos is also prone to the odd lapse. The city is locked in a Britos v Paolo Cannavaro row: some fans want to persevere with the Uruguayan, others demand the reinstatement of club captain and local boy Cannavaro to the starting XI. Rafa Benitez isn’t so keen on Canna.
The absence of raiding right-back Christian Maggio is a blow. The Italy international is recovering from a knee operation so Giandomenico Mesto steps in.
I might not know much about the way Napoli play, but like everyone else, I’ve watched Arsenal enough to know that this season, no team will put fear into our squad.
Reina has always been a hit and miss keeper, he could spill the ball at any time and our front men need to be ready to pounce if/when he does and if Britos is a vulnerable as Sheridan Bird suggests, then Giroud could make he pay dear.
Their stand-in right back needs to be tested early too, Gibbs and Wilshere could enjoy life down the left.
They have good attacking players, one of whom is Higuain, well let’s show him that he chose the wrong side to join.
We have enough in our current first team to beat any side if everything clicks on the night but we have to start a lot quicker than we have of late. We can’t afford to sit back and soak up the pressure hoping that we’ll not concede. This isn’t Stoke or Sunderland, nor is it Swansea we are facing, it’s a quality side who, if given opportunities, will punish us.
On Saturday, too many players had an average first half but they can’t afford to tonight, not if 3 points are to be won.
Napoli may have managed to draw with us in The Emirates Cup but this is the Champions League, a whole different ball game and it’s competition Arsene Wenger wants to win.
He’ll make sure we are up for tonight because if we are to get through this group and add a few more millions to the kitty, we need 3 massive points….
It’s Rafa v Arsene, Giroud v Higuain on the striker front and it’s Arsenal v Napoli, it should be a cracking game but it has to be our night!
COYG’s…
That’s it for another day…
tsgh, Arsenal is class. Their manager is class. That’s something the pundits find very hard to deal with. AW makes world class player, and if you don’t believe me just ask TH14, PV, or George Weah. The french Magazine name Weah as the top player in Europe for 1995
Fifa Fair play Award 1996
African player of the Year
African player of the Century.
Weah was voted African player of the century, Pele won the same award as the South American player of the century and Johan Cruijff as the European player of the century.
Who Mourinho made????
New post up.
What I do not understand is that all the folks who were slating Flamini’s signing even before his first game are now saying that he is the reason why we are unbeaten…
Really?? He is doing very well but to attribute our recent resolve to Flamini is an insult to the rest of the players and the management imho.
Flamini has made less than 50% tackles than even Ramsey… Last night Arteta made more successful tackles and played more passes.
Last night was the first since Fulham that we have dominated a game and that that Fulham performance made Sammer and Klopp say Arsenal are a force this season…
Even the folks on LG and Gambon are commending AW about his tactics.. shocking.
Ha ha Ng… we are in October and November is around the corner… God forbid we lose 2 games, the daggers will be out again …
Good Morning tsgh, are you surprise at all? It doesn’t faze me. We’ve one of the best manager in world football.
Naples thugs doing what they use to do 20 or so years ago… a bunch of hooligans. I wonder how Blatter and his cronies never gave Naples any warning before the CL…
Morning all,
You got to love the pundits/media and how quickly the change their tune…
Yesterday morning, they were predicting that SSC Napoli will beat us… this morning they always knew Arsenal would win… lmfao
I’m here Kev.
Wonder if there is a Bobby Pires influence already???
Night All
Night Agag…
Good luck mate…
Night Stevo…
6am Agag, better get that duster out then…. 😛
Over and out from overcast Manila. 😉
Aren’t we at home to Dortmund next???
Then the return in Germany, before the home tie with Marseilles…
It’s almost 6 am here, SSP. Coffee. 😀 😀
Dutch, yes.:) Not for too long, I hope. 🙂
nte all.
I did hear that the crowd was quite impressive at the Grove tonight…
Where’s Adam?
Ginge my ‘other self’ will return when BFG is holding up a trophy or three…
Night to you…
Reus is a super player… I would love him at the Erms…
Agag
Were you serious on the recently became jobless remark??
Ginge
I expect Marseilles to gun for Europa League. So they are a few points short.
Their next CL match is already a do-or-die confrontation.
When is the original Kev coming back then? lol
Night all… Enjoy.
Micko stop drinking…lol
Boo Agag you on the piss 🙂
Kev well said. End off. As I said ‘Noblesse Oblige”.
It does Dg… I would have preferred a draw between BVB and OM as I have said repeatedly…
When we had RVP we only managed a 1-1 draw 2 season ago; I know we are stronger but so are BVB who are ahead of BM in the Bundesliga…
Westfalenstadion is a fortress so I am expecting for a draw.
OM have to win a match or 2 from BVBand Napoli imho to make it easier for us…
Scott, I have these odd moments of clarity… 😉
Boo, SSP!! 🙂
We’re gunning for glory, Kev. 18 points it is. 😀 😀 I’ve been reading that Napoli has vandalized shops?? God, how classless.
Sorry peeps that went horrible wrong. Hope it makes sense.
One other observation.. we normally start October with a lose or a draw.. new found believe or just continuity…???
Kev, your 10.15 is brilliant.
Champions League Table Group F
Arsenal P 6 Gd 3+
BvB 3 2+
Napoli 3 1-
OM 3 4-
Ginge, 🙂
Ha ha ha, never mind Madam Butterfly, you’re Madam Genius…
Yeah Agag, I’ll take 18 points, and I’ll do your housework for you if we do… 😀
ditto- kev
Dutch, it would be nice to win the group for a change…
We’re constantly being told that Arsenal cannot beat the ‘better’ sides…
Well I suppose it depends what or who you think is one of the better sides?!
Marseilles, despite their results are not mugs.
Whilst Napoli are flying high in Serie A…
Don’t let anyone tell ya ‘now’ that Arsenal have beaten average teams, when only a few weeks ago those same people/idiots, we’re telling us this group was a group of death.
When we lose we’re shit, when we win our critics luv to belittle our opponents.
Well fcuk them and look at the group table…
Winning mentality folks.
Isn’t it wonderful…
Mick, are you STILL in the pub…, 🙄
Milan are now a B team.wow. How the mighty have fallen. lucky draw.
Hahaha, Kev. Women get to the heart of things rather quickly, you know. We’ll take maximum points. 😀 😀
Dutch, I am responsible for the US government shutdown, too. 😉 😉 I’m currently jobless and can’t shop. 😕 Ick.
JMIM…i see weird stuff haha.
What a performance.
Work will be a joy today, but catching up with you all tonight we will be even better 🙂
DB10 on Ajax bench did he fly?
🙂
Be first, we need 12 points
Job done
However, next 3 games will be; BD away,BD home and Naples away. Can we reach 6 points in those 3 games?
Great result, great performance..
Top finish by ozil..
Giroud definitely gained few yards in pace..
Well spotted Scott I too think he changed the way he sprints…
It’s all about coordination and aerodynamics 😉
Midfield looks fab and the whole team well organised..
Confidence is high and it is showing..
long may it continue
Kev
12 points would be my managerial target, not 10. That’s called gambling.
Noblesse oblige.
If anyone tells you ‘Money can’t buy you LOVE’ don’t believe them. Ozil
I wonder if Goonster is ok and creaming…lol
Ramsey 8 successful tackles; Arteta 5; Flamini 3… wow
If I didn’t know any better Agag, you would be the conspirator responsible for orchestrating this global financial crisis.
SPi no passengers.. lol is it because your best buddy is injured?
:d Dna
Kev- I heard his base figures are up there with CJ25 and Ramsey . Impressive for his age and coming back from injury
Don’t worry Emma i watched it did you not see my comment, i told you we would have to have our best team and they would have to play their best stuff and the buggers went and done it, Not lucky in this one and definitly no passengers.
Dutch, I reckon we’ll get 12 points, maybe 13…
Napoli away to Marseilles next is it???
If so, then that’ll be interesting…
Eriksen is better than Ozil, it’s all fools day. Lol
I’m fine miss Genius.
You must be wallowing in pure ecstasy. No more season sell outs, shops just dump their new collection with sale tags already attached.
Napoli was missing Hig so that’s not the real test. What other bs they are going to come with. Lol
Flamini must be running in Duracell, he just keeps on going.
A great, if rather fortunate, signing…
Wenger doesn’t need too much rotation at West Brom, with the InterBore looming…
Gnabry back in to freshen up the attack…
Jack to start maybe?
I never in a million years thought we could keep a clean sheet. credit to the boys..
Not sure who works with what Ginge, you may be right, but they’re all doing a fantastic job, that’s for sure…
Was Rosicky a reaction to his injury…???
I hope so, then he’ll miss the bleedin’ Czech poxy Rep’ games…
AW does not do tactics… lol
Ginge
Indeed 10 points is a flimsy margin. Calculator journalism, nothing more. 😉
You sussed it out again Agag, trust a woman to just sort it… 😉
Win all our games. Just like that!
Simples… 😀
Agag, you’re a genius… 😛
There is no real test the team is just playing well, Napoli is still in shock. Lol. MOM the starting 11.
Kev, Bould and Banfield had a lot of say from day 1.
Banfield has worked wonders on our midfield.. he gets no credit.
All tonight’s action in bite size video GIFs. Courtesy of The Arsenalist.
http://arsenalist.com/
I hope sp1 watched tonight’s match or is Napoli not a big enough test. 😉 Well can’t wait to play those so called big teams in the league
Night Oz and Scott
That winning mentality… That’s the secret…
Remember all this has come on the back of that opening day fiasco vs Villa…
To bounce back as they have, is most in-Wengerish…
That’s what makes me think that Uncle Bouldy is having more of a say…
Sweet dreams, rico, Dev! 😉 off to work you go, Scott. 😀
Kev, we just have to win all of our matches, then. 😉 How are you, Dutch?
How pointlessless are Barca without Messi?? 😉
$hitty finished 3rd with 10 points Dg..
You do not want a soft team in your group from experience… It guarantees every team 6 points at least…
Ok Ok we wasn’t lucky, but i told you we needed our best team and we needed to play our best and we did well done lads. 🙂
very professional display – night all
Nite Devil.
Ginge
BvB picking up points on OM says to me Marseille is the weakest side. Win at home again and we are on 9 points. AW reckons we need 10 to progress.
Ginge, think back to what was being said and what many if us thought prior to Marseilles (a)…?
And to a certain degree before Napoli arrived…
Dortmund are a great side, but Arsenal are a better side.
It’ll be a great game.
And Arsenal will win..,
Night rico..
later Dev.
The no Hig excuse is not going to wash.lol
Night Coach
Nite Scott. Nite Madam.
Hiya tropical sunshine.
You that confident Kev.. 😀 I re-watched the BVB vs Naples match and the red card changed the game…
BVB picking up full points is a blow imho… it leaves no room for an off day.
Pleasant dreams Rico….
Dreaming of silver cups… 😉
that was a damn fine performance.
make no mistake Lads and Lasses……….we gave them a good footballing lesson.
off for tonight.
tomorrow is another tough day.
gd night all.
Agag, I thought BVB 09 will be the toughest test not Napoli… they lacked CL experience.. And the fact that AW played TR07 and Arteta confirmed the result…
They would have killed us though if Arteta had not played imho… we held possession for the first time this season…
Napoli on the final group games ‘should’ be a dead rubber…
Hopefully Arsene can field his League Cup ‘Winning’ squad… 😀
Wonderful night for Arsenal FC…..
On that note, I’m off, catch you all tomorrow…
Night all, sleep well 🙂
Rico, you are right….they have all been sensational.
Are we officially a bloody good side now?
There has been a little question mark over being a decent side in an average league, but Napoli are a damn good club.
Then again, who cares….we know we are good 🙂
Later guys 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks agag, will check it tomorrow as off to bed shortly…. 🙂
Ozil for me or Sagna…
Or Merts, or Giroud, or Arteta, Rosicky or simply all of them..
Great team performance tonight….
It would be exciting to play BvB. Wow, every match really does feel like a cup final now.. 🙂
rico, I emailed you earlier. 😉
Dev, I think Barcelona teaches players to overreact. Neymar was writhing like mad and got the Celtic captain red carded. Not that he didn’t deserve it. 😉
Arteta the drama queen 😉
I agree Scott
Giroud MOTM for me.
He has been immense.
Wonder if Adam is singing ‘There’s only one Arsene Wenger’ 😆
Someone pray for Robson… he might be out of a job. 🙂
The fact that we go to Naples on the final day bothers me.That was why I wanted a draw between BVB and OM but Rico told me off. lol
Dev… I don’t know how to take the BVB scores…
So am I at the moment agag 😉
Good point Devil..
Thanks Ts.
your*
Dortmund 3-0 up
Agag, you boy OG12 is flirting with elite club now… he has cut his barren runs to 3 goals only… lol
Cesc has put Barca ahead.
A mate just posted that the Npoli camouflage kit has worked…they have gone unsighted for the entire game 🙂
You are too right, Dev. 🙂
Ginge, my boy has scored again. And my other boy, Kozzer almost did. 😉
Hi, Dutch! 🙂
Different Zapata Rico… that one is a defender. That one plays for Milan.
that record is safe Rico.
Dont worry.
no one will beat it. they can only equal it.
But AFC can be the ones who do it again.
rico, soo sooo happy. 🙂
😀 Dev 9:19
🙂 Devil..
Need them to lose soon though, they are a threat to our invinsible season. I forgot them until Micko reminded me…
hi Agag.
someone told me that behind every successful woman there is always a pair of fabulous shoes. 😉
Cg, I reckon he has the wrong studs on, he keeps slipping up and he’s the only one doing so…
just had a thought……………Moyes has spent ten years trying to take Everton above Manure.
Miracle of miracles he has finally managed to succeed in the past 10 weeks.
We’ve been linked with Zapata before haven’t we?
Hi agag, 3 smiles = one more hopefully…
Ginge
Even missed tackles delay the flow. Cut Flamster some slack.
That was one humdinger of a save.
😛 Scott
😀 😀 😀
Flamini missing a lot of tackles…
good touch JW
Special needs Ts??
Haha Rico……yep….that was a stretch.
OG12 and Ramsey needs to come off; but MA08 may need replaced too…
Callejon the striker for Napoli now.
Mertens is a special player imho…
Steady on Scott 😉
Even Merts is lightning 🙂
who is the other commentator… pfff
Come on Jackie boy….
Mertens… another short talent
Step it up again Arsenal..
Scott
“Giroud found a few yards over the summer” perfectly describes it. 😉
Bitter sweet for me Dev…
Dortmund 2-0 up.
So then Rafa’s 2nd half tictacs are to clatter us…
As I always say some football philosophy always defeat others.. but the special one’s system vs AW’s is like Shaolin vs Lama.lol
Here you go Scott…..
2 okt. 2012 – US sprint legend Michael Johnson has been working with Arsenal ‘s players. The USA great, who won gold at Barcelona 92 and Atlanta 96 twice.
Mo Farrah helped Giroud so he could go the full distance 😉
I was being honest Scott 😛
It was Michael Johnson Scott…
Maybe in games like this Giroud looks quicker because he’s not having to come quite so deep in search of the ball. When he has the ball and has to run a long way he can still look a little sluggish, but, he’s not built for speed, just accuracy 😉
Nice sidestep Rico haha….love it lol.
Dutch, i reckon he is a little quicker.
Not quick, but quicker 🙂
TR07 will surely come off… I hope the sub is a choice one not one of those AW default subs…
Scott
I believe Colney was visited by Olympic sprint coaches last year, if I’m not mistaken. Seriously. No joke.
These guys are a bit reckless if I may say…
Just talking about Ramsey Ts and not risk him if injured, as Kev says him, we need him longterm, not just for this 45 mins or how long he lasts now…
I reacall the running bit Scott, just not which player 😉
Oh…. Arteta. Too good
Jeez, has Rambo stopped running for a second?
Has Giroud found a yard or two in pace this season?
Rico, do you remember me saying he does not know how to run?
I reckon he is better now.
Hiya Sir Devil. Glad you poke your nose in, if only for this evening.
Good point on Flamoney being a prime example of the evergreen syndrome. That’s a bonus on top of his free transfer.
I believe the faith and loyalty Wenger showed in Ramsey will be returned in spades.
Gunner for life.
Barca unable to win within Messi…
Rico- AW has to take of OG12 if we are still winning by more than 2 games with 15 minutes to go..
Two more in the 2nd half for the Arse and I will be well brainwashed, ha ha…
Seriously, I wouldn’t risk Ramsey…
We’ll need him at West Brom on Sunday…
COYFRRG
If Ramsey is at all injured, regardless of how slight, he needs to stay off the pitch in the second half…
Absolute wow- 378 passes in the first half. 90% completed
Let’s hope we don’t need to make a few million then Devil, we all know what happened the last time we did 😉
Dev- Ramsey won’t leave not even to join his compartriot at RM…
saying that when Perez and Zidane slip a player a hand written note on a napkin… its hard to resist. 😛
I feel that Aaron will do a Giggs/Scholes and stay for life.
Inler is a dirty bastard just because we never signed you does not mean you can injure Rambo…
so glad I stayed up – delighted
He wont leave imo. not unless AW shoves him out.
I think he will stay. MF will tell him that the grass is not greener on the other side. and also because I feel that Aaron is different to the other footballers.
I am with you Ng on TV…
Dg, that is a skill and a half…
Already Arteta and Ramsey have made more tackles than Flamini… not bashing MF but I think Arteta is undervalued for his defensive work.. albeit very slow but…
Scott, imho, he wouldn’t even think about departing right now but if he is just like most other footballers, he could leave one day…
I hope he stays a few more years yet…. and I don’t even want to think about players leaving…
Brilliant piece of Rambo skill.
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-napoli/gif-ramsey-turn.html
Goals posted earlier. Scroll up.
Well, what a first half that was, some of the best football our club has played in years…
If bale is 86m ramsey is 100m. Hope he is ok. Looks like he had a discomfort at the tail end of the first half
Pour yourself a beer….wee dram…hot chocolate…..i am ironing clothes for work 🙂
One of my best players in Arsenal shirt is sitting on the bench ‘TV’. keep the faith, TV, you’ll rise again.
BM will be bidding for Ramsey next summer as I said last year when he was being booed…lol
Ginge, that is because Ramsey is worth 60 million, so he should make them look average 🙂
Seriously, if his form continues, will we be fighting off bids or will he do what i think he will and remain a life long Gunner?
I agree Dev… key moment in most top games.
Ramsey is inured…
Ramsey is making £30M rated Insigne and Hamsik look ordinary.
we have to be careful not to concede between the 40th and the 55th minute. If we score between these times and not concede we will kill them.
Rico re your 8:23 that is what Arteta and TR07 bring.. recycling the ball when needed.
Smudger is being very honest and complimentary…
They still can Ginge. he has never played competitive games for spain.
But he does not want it seems.
🙂 Devil, it sure does…
Exactly, Dev… that was why I said Sky were getting their excuses in…
Alan Smith… another ex Arsenal trying to pay his bills I guess.
Think the boys are having a little rest now, ready to come out of the blocks after half-time 🙂
I love the way Arteta recycles the ball…
Its a shame England never selected him for the national team…
The commentator has just said that Napoli are playing without Higuain and that might contribute to the score.
LLLLOOOOOLLLLLL.
AFC are without Cazorla, Podolski, Theo, OX,
I think that contributes to the score as well no????
Giroud Goal
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-napoli/gif-giroud-goal.html
Surprised Tomas didn’t get booked for that little piece of naughtiness….
Goals for those HH-ers not able to watch the stream.
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-napoli/gif-ozil-goal.html
Mate, i have been right once and once only.
Flipping BVB are 1-0 up.pfff
Gingr, you are confused.
Take a pill bud hahaha
Not with Flamini and Arteta covering and most of their players are back defending anyway 😉
Scott, you must know by now I am right half of the time.lol
Did you notice that turn by Aaron?
Damn!!
How can we throw away a 2 goal lead when I am saying we will have 6 points… I meant BVB vs OM being a draw… 😀
Me too Scott.
At the moment Ng, Napoli don’t look like scoring so I wouldn’t be a realist to expect them to.
Bac is pushing too forward for my liking…
Not as good as it can be, throwing away a 2 goal lead would be a disaster…
Rico said “Keep those kind of views to yourself Ts… Tsk…” Rico, I always thought you’re a realist, what make you change? 🙂
Small video of both goals. Courtesy of The Arsenalist.
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-napoli/gif-ozil-goal.html
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-napoli/gif-giroud-goal.html
Gotta say i was wrong on wanting Arteta left out.
He looks pretty sharp.
Sagna is immense…
No Rico a draw will mean we get 6 points, Napoli 3 points and OM and BVB 1 point each… how good is that?
2-0 goes a long way towards a win:)
Oh… apologies
Mind you, the draw one is not good either, we need a win…
8.02 Ts.
Poor decision Ramsey after an excellent Donadoni type tackle…
Which one Rico? Re Marseille giving BVB a tough time… a draw will give us a comfy lead of the group. 😉
Greedy git Ramsey 😉
2 more and I’ll relax Scott 😉
Gibbs is giving his man far too much space..
Not a bad start i guess.
Keep those kind of views to yourself Ts… Tsk…
OM giving BVB tough time… long may it continue
SP1, can’t believe you just said that. 🙂
That showed at Real Ts..
Bang in thereeeeeee.
2-0 up.
They will score one though Ng…
Every player is on fire tonight so far…
Hi Folks. Where are my manners.
tsgh, what say you for the scores???
Were still arsehole lucky 🙂
He is awesome when he plays with the right players who do not tread on his toes. 😉
Ozil is awesome, just awesome….
Yes OG12…
This is the type of football TR07 and arteta bring…
Hi Ng,
Sky and the pundits have got their excuses already.. no Hig.pfff
Great play by Giroud to pick the pass to Ramsey
Blimey.
Ozil is faster than the football God DB10.
He took what now…..just slightly more than one game and a half to open his account.
little ball through to giroud would have got us the second then Flamster…
Who said money can’t buy you LOVE????
Get innnnnn thereeeeeeee
What an assist from the winger.lol
My crystal ball Rico.lol
Stunning!!!
dizzy even…
Jeez, I am getting dizzle watching the interchanging… lol
Hi Scott
Hiya Ginge. I am as fine as a fiddle thank you.
I think on the same lines as Kev. That is the most experienced line up he has.
tbh……..I felt a lot better seeing TR07 in place of JW.
Red Army lets go!!!
I suspected Ramsey will be tasked with Zuniga on the lhs
To me, that line-up is all about putting the most experienced XI he has available, on the pitch by Wenger…
COYFRRG
I knew Ramsey
It’s out now Dg, thanks as always…
Hiya Dev… what do you think about the line-up?
Hope you are well though?
Hi Scott & Oz..
Rico
Sorry, Live stream service is stuck in moderation.
Evening Devil…
Roll on October for you and HH….
Morning all.
See you in a few weeks Ts 😉
LIVE STREAM SERVICE. 3 LINKS SHOWING A MEMORABLE NIGHT.
1. http://cricfree.tv/sky-sports-2-live-stream-2.php
2. http://cricfree.tv/setanta-canada-live-streaming.php
3. http://cricfree.tv/ten-action-live-stream.php
Wait 30 seconds for the ads to disappear.
Close chat window for better image if your connection is slow, find the on/off button underneath the video player.
Cheers & Enjoy
COYG!!!!
Good Evening Lady, Sir, Gentleman and Ladies.
Taking a breather off from work to see the game. And come on HH.
This month will be a tough nut for me but by the end of Oxtober I will be more relaxed.
I see the natives are restless, Dont shoot the messenger 🙂 i see we have stiffened up Wenger, feels the same as me.
Amen to that Kev….
Catch you when the boy wonder scores..
I know Micko, bizarre that us and Chelsea are on SS’s…
Enjoy the pub 🙂
Still have Diaby, Ox, Walcott, Cazorla; Podolski out; not bad for a shoddy squad… impressive imho
Oz- I was thinking about taking out a job down your patch but waking up to blog and watch CL matches will get the Mrs to finally have an excuse to chuck my thinks out.lol
COYFRRG
like the line up – looks good to me!
That gets right up my nose rico, same the other week, Celtic vs Barca on the box here yet again.
Time to dig out the high viz, catch you later guys, C’mon Arsenal.
🙂 Oz no disappointment for you I promise; according to Rico’s faulty crystal ball… lol
Emma- I don’t dislike Liverpudlians honest but Jamie’s voice chesses me off big time…
I thought he was only allowed out on MNF?lol
2.31am and nearly show time – come on lads, show us what you got!!
Both Bender and Sahin start for BVB
😀 Micko…
That’s me tsgh, the shooting duck of HH.
Micko, go to any society and they have a flat map….
Well throw it Ts, it’s clearly faulty.
Kev, common sense is what tells us the world is flat and the sun goes around it !
You bought me the crystal ball… don’t pretend. Rico.lol
You see I mention Micko and he pops up like a target on a rifle range.lol
Pub for you Micko, SS’s 2…
I try Ts but sometimes, I just have to read, twice just to take on board how much you ‘knew/know’ will happen 😉
Steve, grinding out results away from home every other week hardly equates to arsehole lucky does it.
Are we on ITV tonight ?
Evening all.
Rico, if I asked you about any other team I will get the recorded message…’ I don’t care about any other team but Arsenal’.lol
Where is Micko by the way? Hope WATH is well?
😀 Rico- I thought you skipped my ‘spillage’. lol
Blimey you two, will you be applying for AW’s job when he leaves??
I think the aim for AW will be for Flamini and Ramsey to win the ball in their half with Artet asitting better and sweeping.
TR07 will then drive at them interchanging with Ozil…
I am sure if SC19 was fit we would not have started both Flamini and Arteta.
ts – Cesc i guess
Sagna on SKY: “Conceding 14 goals in last 21 games is not bad, but it could be better
I was overly concerned with Wilshere starting, glad that Rosicky recovered on time for this match. Even rafa seeing the setup will be confused.
Emma- Who do you think will start as the no.10 for Barca with Cesc, Neymar, Pedro as the front 3…
Come on you Rrrrrr…
Ozil goal and the BFG
Emma, I think the aim is to have possession though with Arteta and TR07 in the line-up and JW dropped…
ts – Very strong tactical approach. 2 DM midfielders with intelligence and positioning, a revolving midfield of rosicky, ozil, ramsey who are tactically astute in closing out space. It will be very interesting viewing
Hmm, Pandev starts… I think he is more all rounded than Hig so the threat is no less nonetheless…
Long overdue emma…
Hi Emma, its amazing how TR07 just walks into the team but he is considered a squad filer by other fans on other sites…
I knew AW would never start a game like this without Arteta…
As Brad said earlier this morning, Napoli can only counter attack if we give the ball away.
Higuain is out!
And people say wenger don’t do tactics. Gone are those days we need 70% ball possession. Do what you need to do to win the match. I would rather the other team have possession and we do the scoring
Someone like Ramsey may be tasked with taking care of Zuniga & Insigne.
ts – u re right about the setup
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/385101373496639488
Sp1 @ 6.05 – Don’t agree with your assertion about the team.
Ramsey in no.10 with Ozil and TR07 on the wings as suspected…
I suspected AW will drop JW for tactical reasons in order to stop Insigne.
Kev’s prediction… I like that
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/385100780929167361
the lineup would even get Rafa confused
strong tactical changes by arsene
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/385100463151923200
Hi Sp and thanks, you’re a hard man 😉
I thought Ozil was expensive, but then I think the price of footballers is much inflated in any case.
Hi Dg/SP1,
Higuain: “I believe that this deal (Özil) represents the hit of the market: paying €45million, Arsenal has really made a big bargain.
Evening all, Nice one Rico.
Gonna be a very hard night, Have we been lucky up till now or have we a team that can fight it out. My opinion is that we have been arsehole lucky. We have played no one of any substance yet, and our backs have been hard up against a wall on quite a few occasions. From what i have seen of our team this season tells me that we are not a 90 minute team grab a goal and defend as if our life depends on it. I reckon we will be on the backfoot all night but you never know i may have misjudged us. We need our best team playing to their ultimate best to pull this one off.
Hi Dg..
I’m off to get an early dinner….
PMS for insiders. LoL
Kev/Adam
Still got some member slots open for the Piers Morgan Twitter Society. Interested?
Afternoon Gunners,
Are you having a UEFA rule book shootout quiz? Empirical evidence and comment statistics clearly show only one person is firing quicker than his shadow. Oh hiya Ginge.
Anyway, just excited about the prospect of seeing talent at work. Hamsik is the one to watch IMHO. Flamster to cancel him out, guarding him like a dog on a bone.
11.49 Ts, you have me sussed…. 😉
Torres was always going to get away with a ban because he got booked at the time, about time they changed that rule imho…
Evening all….
Just off to catch up.
The special one has friends in higher places after all… lol
I notice that Torres got away with a one game ban…
Wow, yeah Adam, I have heard of the RTGLAA…
I recently signed up with the Jimi Hendrix Terrible Vocalists Club…
Head Office is 47 Percy Circus. 😉
Thanks Kev. I am also a member of the Horizontal Society, the Freemasons and the Robin Trower Guitar Lick Appreciation Association.
Indeed Kev, for a change…lol
Jm, I saw the 2 goals… very well taken by Gerv. I am pleased for him. I always thought he was a good player we just could not continue to nurse his fragile ego and self-esteem.
God, it’s bloody slow today…
Roll on 7.45
Well Ginge, that’s good re; Gnabry/Olsson. Couldn’t quite understand their omission in the first place…
Good to see ppl @ the club, on the ball, for a change…
afternoon all!
I think the line up will be not ver y hard to build
Who have seen the two goals scored by Gervinho las tSunday?
Adam, I kinda guessed that you might be a member of that esteemed society… 😉
To me, it’s a natural progression from being an avid member Hari Krishna…
Interesting stats…
Orbinho @Orbinho 28 Sep
In the Premier League era, Arsenal have only ever had more points at this stage on two previous occasions – 2004-05 and 2007-08
Quick clarification… as Kev said previously Serge Gnabry was ineligible to play in the previous Champions League fixture against Marseille, but, as he has now been an Arsenal player for two whole years, he has been added to the club’s list of eligible players for this competition, along with midfielder Kristoffer Olsson.
It seems clubs can continue to add to the List B during the group stages…
Subsequent registration
17.17 For all matches from the start of
the round of 32, a club may register a
maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registration must be completed by 1 February at the latest. This deadline cannot be extended.
UEFA rules on List B Article 17.15
Each club is entitled to register an unlimited number of players on List B during the season. The list must be submitted by no later than 24.00 CET on the day before the match in question.
A player may be registered on List B if he is born on or after 1 January 1987 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered withUEFA. Players aged 16 may be registered on List B if they have been registered with the participating club for the previous two years without
interruption.
Paddy… Wellington Silva is on loan with Murcia in La liga Secunda league… He qualifies for EU passport next year so he will stay and fight… imho, he will be a special player in 2 or 3 years time… he just went wayward like Countinho at Inter…
As for J Campbell I think AW was never keen… it was more Dick Laws signing and so will be sold if Olympiaco want him after his loan..
Le Coq is doing ok at Freisburg… in my view he was never a CM or DM but AW is quite soft on the french buys so there we have it…
The same way Flamini was hardly played DM with Milan but at Arsenal he is a DM…
I think Le Coq would have made an excellent career if he had wanted to play full back.
No club have trusted him to play DM whilst on loan….
What’s happened to these guys Wellington and Joel Campbell, are they still on the books. And can anyone tell me why the hell Le Coq was sent out on loan (or was he sold). This is a bit like Lukaka blowing them away at Everton, oh how the special one could do with him (Le Coq could have been a good understudy to Flamster), does anyone agree.
We will see anyways come 19:30…
Emma- that list is for players registered by clubs and ratified by UEFA.
He is not eligible that was why 2 weeks ago, he played in the u-19 UEFA cup. I am certain of that now…
The last spot on the A list went to Zelalem as he won’t qualify for the B-list for another 3 years.
ts – His name was on the initial list. I thought it wasn’t there in the first place but there was another page on that link that had his name and others who were missing on it.
But then Serge was not registered to play OM that is why he played for the u-19’s whilst Hayden and Akpom made the list because they are home grown and u-21
To qualify for B list the player must have been with the club 3 seasons before his 21st birth day
You are right my bad… Serge is on the list… Added in September
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/clubs/club=52280/squad/index.html
Good post rico,
Arteta or Flamini? A close look at the opposition we are playing simply puts into perspective that Napoli is a counter attacking team. The best player suited for this type of match will be flamini. Arteta is bit slow to cover spaces that could be left by Ramsey
Serge is on the B list and is registered for the CL.
My observation of this arsenal team in the last couple of games is we are not into the possession stats anymore but rather a counter attacking team. Stay compact when we don’t have the ball in the defensive areas and hit the opposing team on the counter. So even if the opposition have 70% of the ball, the key is to remain compact and deny them space and hit on the counter which I believe TW14 will thrive on. One unique feature about this team is that we are very resilient and robust compared to previous years.
Kev. I’m in the Flat Earth Society.
I checked on Uefa’s site, he’s on the B list.
I thought that any player under 21 can be on the B list for CL. Surely most of the fringe youngsters are in the b list?
Cheers Potter, that could explain why Wenger initially didn’t name him in the squad, allowing space for another in the retaliation that Serge would become available as a home-produced player, that’s if my assumption is correct?!!!
Likewise Olsson, who could probably play in a ‘dead-rubber’ at the end of the Group Stage when hopefully Arsenal’s passage to the Knock-out Stage is safe…
Scott, if we get 8 games out of Diaby, then I’ll believe that the moon is made of cheese and join the Flat Earth Society….
He’s in the squad training pictures on Pravda.
I’m sure I read somewhere, that now Gnabry has completed two years at Arsenal (as has Olsson) that he ‘can’ be included in our squad…
I could have misunderstood the report, but that’s how it appeared to me…
I guess we’ll all find out in a few hours
Later, a bit of lunch time run…
…. re. the Swansea goal is concerned it was Ozil playing on the rhs after Serge was subbed who left the lb to counter… Arteta and Sagna went to close the ball down, Flamini was marking Bony who flicked the ball over our back line’s heads for the lb to score;
It was typical of goals Arsenal concede where a succession of individual errors produced a domino effect leading to a soft goal… lack of concentration I guess and tiredness.
That is why we can’t afford to not dominate possession imho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BLnHPW7p8_o
Later Scott…
You are just skipping over my gibberish… I don’t blame you lady. 😛
Off for a few hours now, catch up later…
Speaking of sleep……catch you all at game time 🙂
See Ts, I told you I fall asleep 😉
Kev, if we can get 8 games out of Diaby, we will win the league for sure 🙂
Kev- Serge did not make the list for the CL; its either Ryo or TR07 I am afraid.
Brrr, there’s a cold wind blowing around the London Eye today…
Re; Arteta, I suppose if in doubt, an unchanged team them.
And tbh, why wouldn’t Arsene pick as unchanged team?!!!
Glad to see Roskcky back, he is still one lf our most intelligent players and will fulfil a vital role in our squad this season…
If we are to end our trophy drought this season, players like Tr07 will have a lot to do with any success we have…
Could be all smoke and mirrors re; Higuain, Rico…
Although I’m not sure that that is Benitez’s style…
🙂 can’t blame you Scott; Robson has gone AWOL since we beat Fene’ in the CL…
That morning he was on the radio saying that the game will be AW’s last in charge as according to him Fene were as strong as Gala… who beat us in the Erms cup with that dubious Drogba dive and penalty…lol
Robson…who the hell is he 🙂
WoW this chairman does talk a lot…
De Laurentiis: “I asked my people, should we call Real Madrid? In 10 minutes, £31.7m & add-ons deal for Higuain was done.”
“We were negotiating with Damião, but all image rights have to belong with me. We had trouble with this guy
Shite I missed out Ramsey in my line-up;
I won’t mind Monreal playing behind Gibbs on the lhs instead actually…
Scott talking about bashers and moaner: I heard if Arsenal continue to win Robsn will be signing on the dole come new year. 😛
Rico, I mentioned Cavani not Hig…
Expected line-up then…
Scez
Sagna BFG Kosser Gibbs
Arteta Flamini
TRO7 Ozil JW
OG12
Plenty live to moan about and criticise Wenger, Ginge.
Some journos make a career out of it.
Miserable bastards 🙂
I watched that i/v Ts, no mention of any clause in Higuains contract, unless I fell asleep 😉
I just remembered Serge is not registered for CL so he will not play.
That means Ramsey or TR07 will start on the RHS.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has told Sky Sports News that Manchester City made a £29million bid for Edinson Cavani in the summer…
If Arsenal had placed such a bid for a player the whole world knew had a release clause in his contract higher than that, the footballing world will be up in arms…
‘Another derisory bid from Scrooge Wenger’. lol
Exactly Ginge.
If we keep a clean sheet I will be very impressed and ecstatic. Hi Kene
Ozil, Giroud and Ramsey to score. Clean sheet for Arsenal tonight…. Morning all.
Scott- ‘Players will play for a manager who backs them.’ – I am certain Di Canio has found out the hard way…
😀 Oz and Scott
clubs enhance their reps through success on the pitch primarily tsgh, not stats that mean nothing. He needs to step up and actually deliver on all these season after season predictions of success he’s now famous for – Not much point if you can’t win the big ones and Wenger is certainly having serious issues doing that now days. Hopefully for him the page has turned hey? Maybe you can teach old dogs new tricks after all, which means there is hope for you and me yet! 🙂
Players will play for a manager who backs them.
What else would the guy say anyway?
Well, i bought him when he was shit and he is still shit hahaha
Muppets.
A few people are getting the ‘hump’ because AW said last night that OG12 was one of the top strikers in Europe… lol
Did they honestly expect AW to say that if he had a choice OG12 will be the ball boy not AFC’s no.1 striker? 😛
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 2h
If Arsène Wenger lost each of his next 130 games in charge, he would still have the best win percentage of any Arsenal boss in history #AW17
😀 😀 True; It doesn’t matter who scores tonight so far as the good guys win tonight.
Nah Ginge.
He will slot his goal as normal…getting bloody boring to be honest 🙂
Rico, you couldn’t have forgotten about our old adversary – the old diver doing what he does best? Drogba. 😀
Kev. Just a loose observation on Arteta really. I wouldn’t put too much weight on what I saw. I agree about taking a bit of time to get back to his best though. He just left Sagna too exposed and should have closed the space down to give the Swansea LB a bit more work to do to make the pass and get in the box.
Morning Scott…
Is the hat trick on tonight?lol
Morning Kev 😉
Morning all.
Arteta…not yet.
He showed last season it took a few solid games to get back to his best, and a CL game that could nearly deide whether we get through or not is the game to find his feet, imo.
Sky Sports are reporting he needs a late fitness test Kev, so some truth..
Ts, thanks, I got muddled with G’tasary, it was them who beat us..
big nights like these are why you qualify for the comps and the money of course 🙂 Big big game, hopefully we handle the pressure
Is that right about Arteta Adam?
Hmm, only saw brief highlights on MotD…
Might have been a case of a few cobwebs in his game after such a long injury layoff.
As you say, Wenger will know best having seen him in training..
🙂 Actually kev, I like your idea… Ozil likes to play from the rhs in the CL. I am sure Sagna can handle Insigne or Pandev by himself as their LB does not counter often;
Serge on the lhs were he is effective too and Ramsey bursting into the penalty box.
Both Flamini and Arteta will compliment each other with their deficiencies…
Hiya Kev.
Morning Ginge/Adam btw
Rico. I believe Lee has become a DJ and professional club animal in Ibiza. Sadly, I haven’t heard from my friend Rocky since I had him poisoned. 🙂
No news on Higuain Rico, it was an Italian source, probably a load of old tosh, but there ya go….
Personally I’d start both Arteta AND Flamini…
We need experience in this game.
Flamini also knows the Italian psyche having spent time at Milan.
Maybe Jack needs a rest???
Ramsey, Ozil, Gnabry as the ‘Inside Forwards’……
Wath will know what I’m talking about… 😉
….Passing to Hig like Sagna passed to Judas last season to win the penalty. 😀
Adam, any idea where Lee is these days, and Rocky. Neither have been here in ages 🙁
The score was 2-2 in the Erms cup;
Kosser kept Hig very quiet; Insigne, Pandev like their floating balls to Hig behind the back 4.
Thanks Ts..
Morning Adam. I wouldn’t start Arteta either, Flamini for me.
Ozil loves the CL Andy, just hope he doesn’t start passing to Higuain 😉
Did Napoli beat us in d emirates cup + wats d rumour bout JW10 been injured well TR7 is back I wanna see him play again tonyt
Morning.
Should be a great game tonight, hopefully a great advert for football as they say with 2 attacking teams going for it. I think we will see a few goals from counter attacks.
Flamini will need to do a job on Hamsik and Gibbs will need to put in a shift down the left to allow Wilshere to get into the box more, same on the right with Sagna as Gnabry looked far more effective infield than he did out wide.
I have a feeling Ozil will shine tonight and I’m predicting 2-1 Ozil and Ramsey to score.
Morning all, Napoli will not dominate this Arsenal team at the Ems. They are going to leave the Ems shell shocked, 2 nil to the Red Army. This game might be the wrong 1 to play MA08, Flamster will keep them honest. imo
Morning Rico.
Unless Arteta has stepped his fitness up I wouldn’t play him tonight as he has looked a bit off the boil since he came back and positionally unaware, witness the Swansea goal at the weekend. Who knows?
Wenger will know better than anyone who is ‘at it’ and who isn’t.
*job-wise
I am wondering how our American friends are doing job-wide with the latest news?
Rico, on Hig… he came of against Milan after 75mins; it looked like a small injury but it could have just been tactical with Napoli 2-0 up with 10 or 15 minutes to go…
Saying that Napoli should never have been that comfortable… Balo missed a penalty and Matri cleared a goal bound attempt.
They scored their goals from misplaced passes in midfiled… Muntari being on culprit.
I can see what you are saying Oz re. Arteta’s lack of mobility; but I think Brad has a point based on what I saw when I watched Milan vs Napoli (1-2)
We can’t afford to have moments where we play like we did against OM at home especially against Napoli playing away.
Rafa and Napoli are a match made in heaven away from home with their counter attacking style of play…
I will even say we drop JW and play TR07 instead to be able to dictate play and not run into their back 5 by losing the ball unnecessarily… but who ever starts I hope we win 3-1.
Kev – any more news on Higuain not being fit to play?
I don’t see it that way Oz. If we can control he midfield then their counter attack won’t work as well.
I don’t feel their midfield is strong at posession and that’s why they play fast counter attack through the wings.
This game we need to control like Arsenal of a few years back.
Thank guys, hope that record continues Kev…
morning tsgh and bradster – I actually think because of their mobility i’d start Flam TBH
I am with you Brad on Flamini… we can’t afford to give Napoli 58% possession in this game; we will get hammered.
Morning all… Brad, Kev
Morning Oz and Rico,
A very good read… I always knew you were an undercover scout Rico. lol
Anyway, this is one of those game where you know we can’t have a Kosser slip or late tackle or a BFG Panzer moment…
Most blogs have commented on the front 3 possibly minus Hig; Personally I think if Dries Merten starts he will cause us a lot of problems if our lhs is not given protection.
I will also add that most pundits are forgetting about another long term Arsenal target Inler. It will be interest to see Ozil turn up as always in Europe and dominate Inler and Behrami.
Morning all,
Truely up for this one tonight.
I want Rosicky to play, after his comments that he wants to win something, he’ll really be up for this game.
Need Arteta’s calm head so I’d leave Flamini on the bench.
If Ozil plays the number 10, he needs to work harder , get in the box and pcloser to Giroud.
Morning All…
Good post Rico. Yeah, Napoli will be a tough nut to crack.
But Arsenal’s record against Italian teams is almost as good as their record against French teams…
Napoli are good, but then so too are Arsenal…
The present Arsenal team will be a different proposition to the side Napoli faced in The Emirates Cup.
Morning all – I see can me pulling an all-nighter for this one – really excited to see this new look Arsenal take this very good side on – So many key battles around the pitch – Come on lads, Need a BM performance tonight, you have done it before! 2-1 to us with Arsene ending with 6 defenders on the pitch 🙂