Morning all.
I’m pretty happy with that point, especially with our history at The Britannia Stadium and like most Arsenal fans, I believe the result at Anfield was more annoying and frustrating. Having led 3-2 only to concede so late in the game left the draw feeling like a loss.
So many clubs have gone to Stoke and left with nothing, so to come away with a point was good. Arsene Wenger had previously said that Stoke play football these days rather than adopting ruby style tactics but clearly deep inside he didn’t believe what he was saying. Leaving Mesut Ozil at home and not risking Alexis Sanchez perhaps confirmed that.
The performance was pretty good I thought with a few who’ve been struggling of late, putting in a lot of hard work. Petr Cech was outstanding again, as was Jack Butland for the home team but it was our man who edged it for the man of the match award.
Ollie might be feeling a tad downhearted having seen two great chances stopped by Butland, both I’d say were a case of great keeping rather than the Frenchman fluffing his lines. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also denied a goal when Butland tipped his shot over the bar.
Stoke too had chances, but again, the goalkeeper was at his best, very best. Mertesacker did well to head clear a goal bound chance from Diouf. (I think)
A few penalty shouts too, one on Walcott, the other on Giroud – both were ignored by referee Pawson. Stoke thought they might get one when Joel Campbell got his hand/arm in the way of the ball but to give that would have been soft and wrong.
0-0 was probably a fair result and as much as the home side were a bit rough and tumble at times, the team stood strong and showed great character.
Unlike the home fans who were vile from start to finish. What a horrid lot they are and thank goodness the players only go up there once a season in the league….
The feud between Mark Hughes and Arsene Wenger has kicked off again. The Frenchman accused Stoke of being “very physical” and “very direct”. Hughes responded by questioning which game Wenger had been watching…
It’s all a bit petty really isn’t it because at the end of the day, a football team wants to win and they’ll try and do that any which way they can and if they cross the line, then it’s the job of the referee to step in. Yesterday he didn’t, perhaps he didn’t feel he needed to…..
The Daily Telegraph report that Arsenal have snapped up Leicester’s Ben Wrigglesworth who was the head of their technical scouting and he’ll officially join his new club within the next few weeks. Apparently he’s doing a bit of gardening until his move is confirmed…
Have a good Monday guys, next up is Mourinho’s lot. Sorry, I forgot, he’s gone…. 😉
Bit of a rushed job this morning guys, still, better than nothing… Just… 😉
Good read Rico; why a rush job? 😉
Your second favourite sites Caught Offside and metro have no transfer links.. whats happening? 😛
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Another lost opportunity to put us ahead of the chasing pack. Much like the Liverpool game, Stoke pressed us us hard and challenged for every ball. They didn’t give us any time or space. We lacked composure and were forced into making many errant passes.
We still lack height and physicality in the mid-field, someone to grab the match by the scruff of the neck like PV4 of old. Hopefully our new Egyptian signing will remedy some of that.
Morning all.
If only it was as simple as that Ts…
Morning Cg.. I think similar and as you say, hopefully Elneny is just that.
Ginge – CoS and Metro’s trained chimps went on strike. They’re tired of throwing darts at the team and player dart boards and decided it better to throw them at the lazy journos. I’m sure ‘normal service’ will resume they reprogramme their computers to have random rumour generators as their journos are having great trouble hitting the dartboards.
Good Evening Scott. How are the family and your hounds? I trust you haven’t been troubled by any of the big fires.
Bit of a rushed job??? I enjoyed reading that Rico. It was a good post.
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
I will still say that considering all factors we did well to get a point.
Seems that the coaching/scouting staff is going through an overhaul. Good.
Hi CG.
The negative if having few tress around my house is a lack of shade, but at times like this, the positive of not being at risk far outweighs it.
We are lucky, but plenty aren’t.
Mother Nature is boss, no question.
Dogs are well, as always 🙂
I’m guessing you’d be pretty cold at present?
You’re just being kind Devil… 😉
Re the scouting, I’m glad too… Not sure what ours have been up to of late… lol
Ginge…..
tsgh
January 18, 2016 at 11:19am
Scott I agree his injury could not be envisaged but I disagree MD was the best RB we could have gotten for £10m. there was Riether, Coleman etc who were better than Debuchy..
But then Coleman and Riether do not have a wife whose name is Ludivine 😉
Devil, I didn’t actually say he was the best available though…just that we needed a replacement and I thought he was a good deal.
He looked pretty sharp until injured.
Once he regained fitness, he was second in line.
On Coleman…..I remember debating his ability last season.
I still think he’s over rated 🙂
Scott – Cool with frequent showers, just enough to make it miserable. Weather our English housemates would be very familiar with.
I just wish we could get Ola Aina from the Chavs if he is not going to sign another contract with them. He is 19, English, can be easily moulded into the AW philosophy and and compete with Bellerin.
I thought Debuchy was good for us and had it not been for his injuries, I suspect he’d still be first choice Rb.
Hi Coach, yeah it’s a bit nippy here in South London. I’m having a day off, paperwork and stuff to do, so I’m indoors in the warm mate…
Jenkinson coming back would make sense if Debuchy leaves.
Not sure how the agreement with West Ham is fixed?
I guess if West Ham send him back, Arsenal won’t need to repay the Hammers any of the loan transfer fee.
But if Arsenal request his return we may have to pay a penalty to WH.
It’s all about the money…
Rico – Had Debuchy staid fit, it might have stifled Hector’s development. Hector is and will be the better player. He got his opportunity when Debuchy was injured and grabbed it firmly with both hands and wont readily let it go.
Afternoon Rico…
I agree, I didn’t see Debuchy as a poor signing, in fact I don’t recall anyone questioning the transfer in the summer of 2014. Mind you, my memory ain’t what it was…
It’s just extremely bad luck on Debuchy, nobody could have foreseen what has happened to him…
Who knows, if he hadn’t got injured and had got into a run of games he might be as impressive as Monreal..?
Just unlucky for him, lucky for Bellerin, lucky for Arsenal and especially lucky for Arsene…
Cg, cream will always rise to the top and Bellerin would have pushed his way through eventually imo
Debuchy’s experience would have helped us big time in certain fixtures I think…
Afternoon Kev. I don’t recall anyone being against him either, only Ts… After a while.. 😉
Ginge, against Debuchy, surely not Rico..?
If I recall Ginge was extremely enthused by the news that we’d signed Mathieu D…
I think you are being a tad harsh on young Master Ginge, Rico… ?
Wait till Micko hears about all this…
Debuchy was a good buy, but Lady Luck was not with him.
🙂 Kev…
Rico – Further to your comment about the Stoke fans;
Stoke chairman Peter Coates slams his own fans over vile Aaron Ramsey chants but insists ‘I know it’s a minority’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3404793/Stoke-chairman-slams-fans-vile-Aaron-Ramsey-chants-insists-know-s-minority.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Cg – he’s got his head in the clouds hasn’t he – ‘just a minority’ don’t get heard in the way we could all hear them yesterday…
😀 Cg..
Dev, got get me started on Ludivine…; she makes me behave like the blon Adonis. 🙂
Kev, Mickoknows he has to toe the party line… 🙂
I guess that, all things considered, we’ve gotta be satisfied with two draws at arguably the two most difficult away games for any Arsenal team…
All our ‘friends’ in the Press, will be gutted we didn’t lose both, as would have been the case in recent seasons, so we’ve gotta take the positives…
I know that ManCity are still most pundits favourites for the title, and considering the Arab oil money investment, that surely should be the case…
But I can see them slipping up and dropping points, as there is, it seems to me, a complacency and arrogance about the City players, almost as if it’s their divine right to win.
An air of entitlement, personified by Yaya Toure…
And I cannot tolerate complacency….
blond*
Kev- Micko should be campaigning for better mobile coverage at the Britannia…
The home fans were even more vile than ever yesterday…
Most visits are bad but it can be deemed as bunter but yesterdays’ was taking it into FA investigation territory
Our match at The Etihad will be very interesting.. As will Leicester’s visit to the Emirates…
The conspiracist in me thought that Shitty’s money would close off when the oil presses fell due to world affairs; however, with the Qatari oil money now owning as much of London real estate as the Crowne Estate, it makes one wonder…; I guess conjecture dont get far when it come to oil money.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3401468/Qatari-billionaires-Lords-manor-snapping-550-acre-Scottish-estate-add-property-portfolio-includes-Harrods-Shard-Olympic-Park.html
Good Afternoon Rico and All.
Good read Rico.
Afternoon Ng…
Hi there Ng
Rico – Stoke fans are living proof that Neanderthals are alive and living in Stoke, but what can you expect from a club run by a proverbial ostrich (head buried in the sand). However, there may be hope for them yet, as they did get rid of Clueless Tony Pubis.
As for their ostrich chairman putting out a message to their fans; I doubt the fans concerned would be able to read it or anything else. Pity!
The sun will be up in a few hours, so I’m off to bed. Have great day everyone!
Ts. Your comment on the previous post about Sagna was right on target. I remembered we said the same thing during the World Cup matches. Now according to his comments posted yesterday he is blaming AW. What exactly does he wants AW to do when Bellerin is in such a fine form?
Yesterday’s gane I can’t complain, Arsenal put in the shift and I am much impressed with Owbi. That should have been done sooner and for the OX, imp.
I agree with you. With Chelsea man u and city all having dropped points we should be encouraged. One thing is for sure is that I hate Stokes game I felt like I was watching Chelsea play 🙂
Next up is the game that should keep us too top the league 🙂
Exactly Cg, all starts at the top and he’s in denial…. Sleep well…
Night Cg…
Ng- if rumours are to be believed, AW was always going to make bellerin a first team player.
Unfortunately for CJ25, he had not established himself well enough to make the RB spot his own when Sagna’s contract came up for renewal.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing but as mentioned on a few times then, AW should have bitten SC04’s hand when they offered to take Poldi from us in exchange for Uchida who has been considered/voted the best RB in the Bundesliga on several occasions.
Lichtsteiner(spelling) of Juve was also a viable option but apparently they also wanted Poldi as part of a deal.
And you cite CO and the Metro for my posts Ts? Seems you are trying to get a job with either – or both… lol
rico, that has to be up there with some of the best rushed jobs I’ve read !
Debuchy, he’s seen his shirt taken off him by a 20 year old, obviously doesn’t fancy the challenge of winning a premiership medal this season, only needs another 3 appearances should it happen, He should be told he’s staying put.
Ha ha Micko.. – best I rush them more often…
Totally agree re Debuchy, he should stay and then leave in the summer. Allowing him to go at this stage of the season would be foolish…
😀 rico…
I have made 25 imaginary applications to Metro and CoF but have had no call backs… 🙂
Maybe all my typos…; put a good word in there for me please… 😉
Micko, you can’t force your dictatorship views on Debuchy.. 😛
Walk time for me, catch up later..
I’m with Micko, Shut up Debushy your under contract your going nowhere stop whingeing and get on with it ya big jessie…!
I think you secretly love Stoke Ts….. why would you travel to that shit hole year in year out otherwise…? Is it the pies or something..?
🙂 sshh wath…
I keep asking myself why…
I’d be saying…. Nope not a chance, I ain’t going…!
Its teh sadist in me…
or one of the cheapest away tickets available because no other Arsenal fan wants to go there apart from tourist like myself… lol
I reckon it’s the balti pies…
Knowing that lot they are rat pies to the away fans…………. Especially us lol
Pies in Stoke, surely not…
Have we signed anyone? 😉
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3404687/The-Premier-League-crown-grabs-Arsenal-Manchester-United-City-Tottenham-Leicester-Sportsmail-predicts-ll-celebrating-title-success.html
What a load of bollox…. Lol
Yeah Ben Wrigglesworth lol, it’s in the post rico.
Apparently we stopped Stoke from making history yesterday, they would have been the first team to have beaten Chelsea, Citeh, Man Utd and Arsenal at home in the same season without conceding a goal……there is a football God afterall……I know, i’m grasping at straws again.
Darn, I missed that Micko..
Can you imagine us being part of their history, goodness me…
They’d have had to put a statue of Arsene up outside the ground lol.
Interesting one on the Ox, his only goal this season was against Chelsea in the Community Shield, I never would have thought that, good time to double it this weekend.
Ha ha..
Really hope we beat the horrid lot this weekend. Hope it’s not a lunchtime kick off lol
Kev, good to see you’ve perked up a bit today, you were a bit grumpy yesterday.
Just checked the side-bar, do you want the good news or bad news.
tsgh bemoaning us a 3 o’clock kick off in the FA Cup had me in stitches.
4pm – I just checked…
Ts just likes moaning I think… Someone has to.. Lol
His ears must be wriggling rico, catch ya tomorrow, over and out, nite Gooners.
Night Micko, I’m off too.
Night all..
Morning Rico and all.
RIP Glen Frey. What a shock.
Morning Adam and all..
Dreadfully sad news about Glen Frey.. RIP.
Did Ramsey score in meeting yesterday? Dev.
Micko, I thought you had my back… talking about loyalty…
Wath, nothing wrong with rat pies. Especially if its cold and you dont know what it is… 🙂
Morning Rico and all
scorce in training* even
Adam, I didn’t see you as a Hotel California fan… 🙂
Morning TS. Not particularly, but he was a good acoustic guitar player and he wrote good songs. Watching the 2-part documentary of The Eagles recently was interesting. Plus, I had to learn the chords to some of their songs a few years back for a mate’s project. 🙂
Morning Ts. Did you happen to read the interview with Aaron Ramsey relating to that daft claim? He wasn’t very amused….
Morning all, Ramsey can’t be blamed this time.
Not only Glen Frey but the drummer from Mott the Hoople Dale Griffin has died.
Rico- I think it was daft for AR16 to be asked that question in the first place…
They’re dropping like flies.
Bob Denever…aka Gilligan…the other day.
Incredible stuff.
The Eagles were a little before my time, but a mate loaned me their “Hell Freezes Over” concert on DVD and it’s still the most incredible, crisp performance I’ve seen.
Not a note was missed.
I’m not sure if it’s a subconscious thing, but most if their songs I preferred had Frey doing the vocals.
RIP….and other musical gem gone.
Morning all.
I’ve got to say those stupid jokes about Ramsey scoring piss me off no end.
Celebrities die every day.
Cheap humour.
Their, I’ve said it once so will bite my tongue forever more on the topic 🙂
Just seen that one Joe..
Couldn’t agree more Ts, really stupid of the person asking Ramsey…
Ditto Scott..
New post up now…