Morning all.
Whilst fans and media alike are raving about Mesut Ozil and his deep box of trickery, Arsene Wenger believes that Mathieu Flamini has been, and will continue to play a key part in our season:
Flamini has given us a balance between attacking and defending. He is somebody who accepts doing the dark role in the team and you need that for balance.
We looked a little bit frail defensively sometimes on the big occasions. Flamini gives us something more on that front. He is 29 now and you know better at 29 who you are as a player. When he arrived here he wanted to be a bit more offensive, today he knows his qualities and he accepts that.
So, another tough fixture today in fact, they are all tough in the league this season and West Brom will be flying high in confidence after their victory at Old Trafford.
They have a few injuries. Victor Anichebe, Nicolas Anelka and Shane Long could all be absent, meaning Saido Berahino could make his first league start. Scott Sinclair is definitely out with a hamstring problem. Berahino hit the headlines after their OT victory. (Can you believe he only earns £850 a week?)
Bacary Sagna joins Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla on the injured list but it’s hopeful that a few of those will return after the international break which is welcome news as November will be a very tough month.
Less than two weeks ago we were at The Hawthorns for the Capital One Cup but with a very different side than the one who will be on show today. The same can be said about the home side too, their side will be a lot stronger than the one Steve Clarke fielded that night.
We head off up to the West Midlands on a very good run of eight away victories in the league and our record up there isn’t bad either. We have been victorious on three of their last four occasions.
I’ll drop the match facts in now:
Head-to-head
- Arsenal have not lost any of their last six visits to The Hawthorns in all competitions (W4, D2).
- The two sides drew in the Capital One Cup less than a fortnight ago, with Arsenal winning the penalty shoot-out.
West Brom
- West Brom have lost two of their first three home matches in this season’s Premier League – their only win came against bottom club Sunderland.
- The Baggies have scored fewer than half as many goals as Arsenal (6:13) in the Premier League this season.
- Saido Berahino, who scored his first Premier League goal in last week’s famous win at Manchester United, has already scored against Arsenal this season in the Capital One Cup.
- Morgan Amalfitano has scored in his last two Premier League appearances for West Brom.
Arsenal
- Arsenal have won five league games in a row, something they didn’t achieve last season. They are the only team to score in all six of their Premier League games this season.
- The Gunners have won their last eight away league games in a row, equalling their best run in the Premier League. The all-time record for consecutive away wins in the Premier League is 11 by Chelsea in 2008.
- Aaron Ramsey has scored eight goals in his last eight appearances for Arsenal.
So history points in our favour.
However, history means very little, what matters today in how we are prepared and how we perform over 90+ minutes.
On Tuesday, we were all treated to an absolute master class in ‘perfect football’ for 45 minutes and that was followed by another 45 minute master class in football but of a very different kind. The second half was calm, professional, organised, very controlled and a perfect way to see off a top quality Italian side.
Whether the team can reach such dizzy heights again today remains to be seen but playing away from home, I suspect we are more likely to see something similar to what we witnessed during the second half and then hit them hard on the break.
To be honest, as long as we win, I don’t really care how we play. I’d rather it’s scrappy and we go into the break with all three points on the board than to play with style and flair, only to lose.
Let’s get maximum points, go back to the top of the league and then sit back during the break and pray for no injuries….
COYG’s…..
spot on post – 3 points, anyway they come will do – likely to be a stern test i think but we’ll play plenty bigger (already have) so lets get it done lads!
Points mean prizes Oz 😉
Morning all. Nice post.
Has to be another three points today, a winning habit is hard to find but easy to lose. I know West Brom are a decent side and dominated Utd last week, but we are better than utd this season and should dispatch this lot.
3-1 to the Arsenal.
they do Rico, they do. If you get enough of them of course 🙂
Thanks Lewis. 3-1 would do just nicely…
🙂 Oz, yes, there is that small point…
Morning all, nice one Rico apparently Rico his wage has gone from 850 pound to 17 grand from what i read but i could be wrong. COYRRG,s
Thanks Sp, I didn’t know that, sensible of West Brom, is that a week of a month. If a week, that’s a lot of money, more than NB is on.. 😉
Does anybody know how often we have played teams in the Milk cup with the second team and then played the same club again a few days/weeks later, having won the first game and then lost the league game? Or indeed repeated the result and won them both?
WBA are a test. A team on a good run. Are we top of the league, with a positive result? Yes we are!
COYGs
Sorry, morning all.
A good positive article about the value of Flamini in today’s Sunday Telegraph.
I still believe Wenger never intended to sign him. He became Hobson’s Choice! No other players were available so he was ‘last man standing’!
As things have turned out he has been a real good signing. Let’s hope he doesn’t have a dip in form or an untimely injury. I”m reluctant to say this, but he has played beyond my wildest imaginings! Can it last?
Happy days!
Agree Wavy Arsene has admitted he had no intention of signing him but the failed window and Flamini good form at training obviously changed his mind. (and maybe injuries) I notice Wenger has also come out with “we couldn’t say no” on the Ozil signing – another one not expected by the sound of it?
Not me Wavy…
AW has admitted he was in two minds over Flamini and I totally get why – but as it’s turned out so far, AW made the right decision in the end…
17 grand is not going to protect him though Rico – we pay our tea ladies more than that 🙂 Once a back door offer hits, offering him 30k he’ll be pushing to move on. Seems like he has high ambition this lad and in fairness he does look quality
I read that too re Ozil Oz, he said we had enough in midfield didn’t he. Thank goodness he didn’t let that one go…
🙂 Oz, I haven’t seen him play but I did read that Clarke wasn’t happy his low wage info leaked to the press…
You are right though, if he’s good, he won’t be at Brom for too long..
Real bankers were at the heart of it Rico it is very obvious – they wanted some returns on that Bale outlay. Knowing Arsenal were cash rich and wouldn’t argue to hard on terms made us the logical call? Now all they do is whine about loosing him ha!
I have not seen this 17k confirmed, obviously they want a stronger contract but the kid holds all the aces as usual
Morning rico and all,
Indifferent results yesterday.. I see Moyes has unearthed another gem…apparently…
Westbrom will be tough test today.. Sessegnon can be very tricky and dangerous on his day..
We should sign him in January…. 😉
1/2 to the good ones..
COYGs..
Well I don’t care either how we win as long as it’s 3 points …as long as after the game we wouldn’t have any additional long term injuries adding to those that hopefully come back soon. … On the other hand, a nice win with flair and some enjoyable tiki-taka football won’t harm either ….
the United kid is Rooney’s ticket to Arsenal 🙂
the lad is free in January as well i think – now there’s a headline
Another good post…
Khedira is literally asking Arsenal and Aw to make a bid for him in January… he has tipped us to be champions of England… I hope is his right. 😉
Sessagnon vs Flamini will be very interesting… I hope the ref can keep his cards in his pocket.
I am hoping Norwich can get something from the special one…
Gerv and 37 y.o Totti had another man of the match performances for AS Roma. ” assist for Gerv…
Morning all btw…
Morning Judge..
Two goals and he’s going to save all Moyes problems, haha, and now there’s a fight for him to play for England…
morning tsgh – he’s always in the news this Khedira lad, unless it’s constant rewrites of an old news article? We’d have to let players go surely, do we have room for any more midfielders, as much as Arsene loves to buy them?
😀 Oz…. the midfield has coming so congested even our JW is being placed on the wings for the short to medium term…
I think Khedira’s time has passed… he could have joined us 3 or 4 years ago but he chose RM so…
We have players like Olsson, Aneke, Frimp, Yennaris, Hayden who are Arsenal like us who deserve a chance imho… not forgetting Ox is also a CM at least that is what he prefers…
Khedira is in the news because he has lost his partying partner in crime.lol
On a serious note,he has really voiced his discontent with Ozil being sold… if Asier and Alonso were fit I bet he will be dumped..
he’s let them have it alright mate, that is for sure. I wonder with Arteta and Ros knocking on in years could he be an end of season target? He is quality that is for sure. What is he 25/26?
Thanks Ts..
I’m off out with the woofa, need to make sure I’m back for ko 😉
Later…
catcha ya later Rico
Rico, heard it on tshite, my putors down so wont be commenting to much. His wage was weekly.
good morning rico and the house,..khedira is overrated..can’t believe joachim low prefers him over gundogan and kross….like ts i don’t think we need him…we should give hayden a chance imho
Just goes to show that had the board shown just a little intent during our period of trophy drought, players may not have left and like now would have queued up to join.
Good post rico. 3 – 0 the Red Army today.
hello everybody!
hope we win today. Come on Arsenal!
I’ve watched yesterday Rome. Gervinho was fantastic!
I’ve watched too BM-BD. Nadtveit (Norge) is good. Hadn’t he space in Arsenal one year ago?
Forget Khedira. He is a good player but follow me: keep an eye in William Carvalho (Sporting). young, strong. good player and not so expensive. Unfortunatelly, I read somewhere, United is sniffing arround… Where is our scout for Spain and Portugal?
JM- Nordtveit wanted to play as a no.5 with Arsenal but there was no way he could make it in the EPL with his physique…. he was too good for reserves even at 18 so he was sold…
The same way Le Coq preferred CM and did not want to play in defence for us but plays everywhere else but DM when he has been on loan…
potter – which has been my point for years –
JM they are all in Germany these days :-)..
I see Gervinho has changed his head gear.. I am convinced that the plastic he used to wear was
causing overheating in his brain and hence his calamsiness 🙂
3-0 might be optimistic mate but I’ll take it! 🙂
calamsiness – is that a word? Learn something new every day 🙂
did they move the clocks in the UK today?
No Oz- 27th October
Chelsea up … 0-1
tsgh – cheers mate
europe time change on the 27th
thanks JM
What do you think?
Wayne Veysey @wayneveysey 1h
2/2 …Wenger will make late call on Mertesacker. He is physically in the ‘red zone’ & could be rested. Vermaelen would come in if he is out
JM- Costa 8 goals in 8 for Ath Madrid.wow
only got the kid left up front so good a game as any to try out Verm i guess, they have serious striker injuries don’t they?
You are right Oz… I think AW is probably thinking of the pace of the opposition too…
Bender and Sahin is currently injured for BVD, it’s going to be interested if they don’t recover in time for the afc game.
yes, Costa…
He was playing in secondary teams in Portugal before going to A. Madrid … amazing ! 😉
Germany already qualified for the WC, AW need to have a word with JL and ask him to rest Mert. I don’t even know why they pick Ozil who is still trying to settle in London.
Good Afternoon folks.
Good read Rico, this one will be in the bag. 3 points for the good guys.
@tsgh, the Verminator was our best defender not only in Arsenal but the EPL as well. The guy just deep in form, but he’ll rise again. I still believe and have confidence in him. It just that when he plays with Koss there is not enough communication and errors are made.
Flamini might help them both Nash, he never shuts up
You’re right Oz. MF has walk himself into the M-field so well like a missing puzzle. He just have to be careful with those yellow cards.
Why is Verm still the captain?
gdna cause arsene still has him in his plans and stripping the captain from him will make his confidence drop imo
Because AW still believes in him. He has that leader qualities. He has been one of our best defender since big Sol left.
So if AW took the armband he doesn’t believe in him? Jeremy Wilson @JWTelegraph 2m
Barely 2hrs before KO at spurs v west ham and there’s a chap wondering down tottenham high road outside WHL with arsenal kit on. Brave.
I don’t know what Arsenal’s policies are, but whenever the presumed Captain of a team walk into the pitch, the Captain handband should be hand-over to him (the said captain)
Hi Ng, Snap, Dna
T’s, do you think the Verminator should be demoted because he’s not up to par?
hi ts…i think oscar will end up as a deep lying playmaker….his tactically awareness is as good as gundogan imo
Sorry oz its clumsiness 🙂 🙂
Pardon my phone spelling its just as clumsy 🙂
Norwich should have had a penalty… Blatant one..
No Ng, I rate TV very highly…
Personally, all the ‘on field leadership’ talk is irrelevant…
Important games in the midweek… Chelsea has paying this.
Hope Arsenal will be in a good shape.
Southampton leads 1-0 Swansea (another one who played in midweek). If finish 1-0 Southampton climbs to the 14 points
I rate Oscar highly… I think he has a better all round game considering his age compared to Mata…
That was one reason why I was never in favour of AW and the media over hyping JW…
Its no surprise AW has finally conceded that JW is not a natural no.10 as I have said for awhile…
Ts, presently our capt and v/capt is struggling to make the first team. The he capt and v/capt should be the two first name on the team sheet. Sagna and Mert. imo
Eduardo (Schacktar) was scored one goal yesterday (7-0 versus Arsenal Kiev)
A quality player, with class, in his goal
Norwich 1 Chelsea 1.
i’m afraid for this afternoon for the second half
Dna, I do not subscribe to that in all honesty… re 2:50pm
It is no disgrace in my view for Arteta to be playing 2nd fiddle to MF at the moment…
It will be a concern if TV and MA08 all walked into the team after long injuries.. that would mean we were playing badly and a change is needed.
MF is doing very well but again things have to be put in perspective… at no point has he made the most tackles since he came back into the team..
at the moment Ramsey is carrying the midfield the same way Krooos is making Lahm look natural as a DM for BM…
It was telling also that we played our 2nd best football this season after Fulham away when Arteta and TR07 were in the squad…
Pep, Conte and Klopp all commented on our impressive performance against Fulham especially the way the midfield 3 of SC19, Ramsey and TR07 interchanged…
It is obvious AW does not place much emphasis on the captaincy as the English media nad fan place on it…
If Gerv had never played for Arsenal and we wewre scouts we will think Gerv is a better player currently… ; Strange that one isn’t it…lol
I am happy for him…
The man in charge (AW) has said TV is still the Captain.
In football, things change very quickly imo…
The season before MF left he was on the blink of joining Steve Bruce’s BCFC; Abou Dhabi’s injury allowed him to join Milan a year later…
Even in July the BFG looked like a spent force on the Far East tour so TV could come back stronger too…
Before last season Barca wanted him and we were all praying so he did not join Barca… luckily Song joined them instead by most fans expectations…
Ts, In regards to gerv, playing for Arsenal in the PL is different from playing for Roma in the Serie A. Gerv got many chances to prove his worth and he wasted them, he is no more than a squad player. imo
T’s, Gerv is a good player IMO. But for some reasons, the guy just can’t make it in Arsenal. You cannot place hope in Gerv for a winning goal or when down by one goal . One of the best dribbler, can take a defender one on one on the wing. But just don’t hope for goal.
Its obvious when Arsenal went to Lille they chose the wrong player in Gerv over Hazard because of penny pinching. Football has changed money got to be spent to win titles.
I agree with you both Dna and Ng…
Its good for all parties especially Serge…
Ts, i’m quite sure if AW had confidence in Gerv abilities he would never been sold irrespective of what others think, Gerv is another Victor Moses six a side player. Arsenal is a big club, look what Ozil capture has done having his intl team mates crying to join. Reus for me in January, top player.
The thing with Gerv was that he joined when the fans were expected another Nasri and Cesc as replacement…; moreover he never had the temperament to succeed as a game change.
Fans did not want another African who will be off in January in the AFCON…
He also did not help himself by getting sent off in his first match against NUFC (that bitch slap).lol
Arsenal
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Giroud
Subs: Fabianski, Monreal, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Gnabry, Ryo, Bendtner
West Brom
Myhill, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Yacob, Mulumbu, Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Berahino, Anelka
Subs: L Daniels (gk), Popov, Morrison, Brunt, Lugano, Long, Rosenberg.
Yep.. but on the other hand if Ozil had been bought after an 8-1 lose to Yanited he may have struggled… Ozil has not truly been worth £42M yet but what he has done is made fans happy and gotten behind the team….
In my view, AA23 contributed more in his first few games more than Ozil has but it could just be my own view and under diffferent circumstances…
Ts, its called inflation? How much did Henderson, Carrol and Downing cost? I think Ozil is worth every penny even from a commercial stand point.
T’s, agreed with re: AA23, L’pool and Barc come to mind.
We fans are unforgiven. Gerv never help himself in some fans good book after that NUFC game. The same can be said about Diaby against NUFC, Ebue against L’pool.
Potter – your 1.01. Couldn’t agree more, build round the best, not sell them…
Afternoon all, just home in time 🙂
i agree with u ts re kross making lahm look world class….i really rate kross(my best german player)still can’t understand why pep would have chosen thiago over him if thiago was fit
Wilshere replaces Rosicky, Jenks replaces Sagna, otherwise, same 11 as the Napoli game..
Oops, sorry Gdna, didn’t see your earlier post of the team..
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ENJOY responsible. No swearing in the chat box please. COYG!!
Afternoon Rico…
get in boys…
Predictions people: mine is 3 nil to the Red Army.
Rico live stream service has hit moderation again. Sorry.
Afternoon GoonerdomWorshippers!!!!
Hi Rico and Hi DG
Ramsey on the right today then 😮
It’s out Dg 🙂
Hi Ts, Ng.
Dna, I am not saying Ozil is not worth it… all I am saying is that if there was pressure on him to make a difference i.e because we were not winning, then just maybe he won’t be seen in the way as he is seen now…
Its all hypothetical anyway…
No more prediction from me… I do not want to be the soothsayer.lol
Ts, did you see the Sunderland player who try to exchange shirt with Ozil at halftime? lol
COYG’S…
Yes I did… a la Santos.. all over board to be honest but…
2 LIVE STREAM LINKS POSTED EARLIER SCROLL UP TO GET YOUR GAME.^
Dna, Mulumbu doing what he does best… very underrated imho…
I think we have too many players behind the ball without TR07/Theo or Serge in the side…
COYFRRG
Scez is on form…
Good Afternoon Lady, Sir, Gentlemen and Ladies.
Fine Post Lady but not a fine line up to booth by AW.
Too many defensive players in midfield as Ginge said.
Hi all,
I agree ts, too many similar players, Giroud is isolated and we need to use the fb’s for width
Hi and the Dev shows his face,lol. howdy?
Hi Bradlop
maybe AW is trying to contain them in the first half and use counter attack but change it for the last 30 minutes.
But with a 34 year old NA in the WBA attack why not leave him isolated up front and make WBA chase the game instead of defending it?
Hiya Ginge,
life is a bit tough at the moment due to work. but it will tail off come the end of Oct, early Nov.
Did I hear Vinny Jones is playing?
Looks like Ramsey is going off…
I agree Dev, Sessagnon caused Fellaini and Carrick loads of problem last week and it has influenced AW’s selection…
Jack and Rambo are not there today. I think they are carrying knocks both of them.
Over played Dev…
🙂 Brad
Fingers crossed things cool off soon…Dev
but Ginge, putting the ball behind the Albion defence is more effective in stifling Sessegnon than crowding him out with three defensive players. Gnabry and TR07 could have rendered him to a peripheral figure in the match.
I think Jack needs acting lessons. From KO for a few seconds to sore eye
No urgency so far.
Id swap rosisky for wilshere soon enougb
bradlop, maybe Jack has been watching Joel Campbell playing for his country 😉
What was the point…?
I’d prefer Gnabr with Oil 10 and Ramsey box to box
I agree again Dev… re 4:35; I am not sure why we are playing 2 square DM in this game but….
Still time to win 2-0 so.lol
We are certainly missing Walcott/Gnabry down the right imho..
2-0???
you’re aving a larf.
we will concede today.
What a shoot by Ramsey…
Brad, AW will definitely make a change… either swap Flamini and Arteta’s positions or drop JW…
MF is playing ahead of MA08 but he is offering nothing offensively imho…
🙂 was scared to say that because Rico is around.lol
We’re on the ropes, ring the bell ref.
Bugger!
No Dev… your fault.lol
Very poor. Balance is all wrong. Ramsey on the wing? Why?!
As I said…………
giving them too much respect and space will eventually lead to conceding a goal.
We need that h/t whistle…
Blaming Schez? Surely that was Jerk’s man or was he covering a CB?
This is getting nasty…
yellow card for Jack who got the ball???
We will still win…
For a team that just rolled over SSC Naples we are playing with the Renault hand brake on…
Maybe AW won’t have played JW this game if the photo had not come out; he certainly does not want questions on that topic by dropping him.
This game shows that MF is being over hyped imho… no interception or successful tackle yet. 😮
Jenks was the wrong side of his man…
We played the same front four against Napoli and the balance was fine.
Jack doesn’t look right at the moment tho.
The referee is having a mere, i cant understand why the officials in the PL is so poor.
Woody… the difference is that TR07 is not present from Tuesday’s line-up… he made Ozil play his best game in 2 years imho…
JW is cutting in-field too early for my liking… Gibbs is being isolated; no one is supporting OG12… its all a bit last year… no runners in this game…
Jakub and Mulumbu are out thinking us unfortunately…
MA08 needs to hit some of those balls forward too.
That was not a ball for Chezzer to come out. He was properly positioned. It was Jenks and the defence who should have marked him properly.
Jack needs to be dropped ……….. for the benefit of the team, or be played in his proper position. not on the left. Having him on the left, Aaron on the right with Flamini and Arteta DM smacks of defending the result plus square pegs in round holes.
With Jack and Aaron on the wings we go back to square one….overworking the full backs and expecting them to cover too many ground.
Very true DNA. The reffing standard is shite!
It’s all a bit pedestrian imho, we need to zipping the ball around a bit more with much better passing. But WB are closing us down a lot quicker than Napoli did, or were allowed to..
Rosicky for me is the missing link.
I worry about both Jack and Flamini being on yellow cards, Jack looks pretty uptight…
Exactly devil. Balance wrong.
JW out. Besides, he had a yellow card.
Another yellow card to Flamini and this one was very soon
Ramsey is tired…
We mut replace JW for a player who didn’t played last Tuesday
Jenkinson is very poor after the midfield
It should have been a free kick to Arsenal in the first place, these referee are dishonest as fuck.
I think we started well but we have one or 2 players who are very attracted to the ball… at this level it is a no-no imho…
After 25 minutes they worked us out because we are not being dynamic…
There is an opportunity for JW to have his best game on the lhs but he is still trying to come in-field no thinking…
Rico, the sky pundits are reading your blog for point of discussion. 😛
game really needs Rosicky – we look very pedestrian and a little disinterested?
We all can see that JW is not having a good game. He cut in too quickly and being over crowded by WA thugs. What the use rushing forward and being losing the ball.
clearly not suiting Jack tsgh i agree
JM-Sagna is underrated… CJ25 is still not ready to be a starter;…. maybe a tad rusty but he needs to improve because Bellerin will is not far from his level if he can improve defensively…
JW hadn’t a good game a long time ago. The game not fluid with him
No changes made, must mean Ramsey is ok then…
Why Ts, are they blaming the ref?
Very lucky there…
That was a penalty on Jack!!
COYG’s….
Good play MF
🙂 Rico; sky blaming a ref… not in this lifetime.
Very lucky again, this is horrid on the eye….
Is Mr 75 minutes going to wait that long?
Nasty tackle on Giroud..
I hope not….
Its like Norwich last season… we are out of ideas…
Here comes Tomas. Good.
We’re making WA looks like worldclass
MF should have passed to Ramsey…
Ramsey off, no Wales for him…
Very amateurish TR07
Sloppy!
AW is giving me the creeps with everything today…
MF has to be careful
Jackie Boy 🙂 🙂
Wonderful strike…
wow what a goal.
Very nice… well done JW.
Good play TR07
Actually, I’ll take that back, nice deflection 😉
Some luck for us with that goal too…
I just can’t believe this. Look how we’re playing an average teaM???
The Hammers have scored…
hammers 1-0 up.
Ng, I think you are underestimating WBA a tad..
Lee Mason is a cnut.
Shane Long can cause a few problems….
Rico they are being assisted by Lee Mason.
Rico, where is that team that dominated Napoli from start to finish?
is Jack going to score the winner today???
hammers 2-0 up
wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
yes… if the spuddie match ends 1-0 excellent.
I’m not sure by that much though Gdna, we are our own worst enemy today imho…
I don’t know Ng, but this is a very different kind of game imho
A right footer would have scored…
what???
WHATTTTTTT???
that was a stonewall penalty.
Thats a penalty.
Great keeping by the WB goal keeper
How is that a good challenge Alan Smith? lol
Looked like it to me too Devil..
Jack got booked for a similar kind of tackle as the one on him…
3-0 hammers
ha ha ha 3-0
spuddies 3-0
😆
That score means nothing if we don’t win…
COYG’s….
Bendtner coming on now 😮
2 up front? wow
Gdna, you were right about Mason, 2nd half he’s been shocking, absolutely shocking…
Bendy to score with a header.
the WBA defenders will not know how to control it!!! 😆
The ref is having a larf…
where is Ozil today????
Ozil has to score surely…
It’s one of those days for him Devil
but it will still make our weekend a good one with a smile Lady.
yes if we remain 1-1 it would mean only a point. but it would be apoint gained on the spuddies.
Come on you gunners!!!
the only thing that the ref did right today…..nay make it two…..whistling the beginning and end of the match.
he was a larff himself
Hard hard point earned today….
Not mine Devil, not when we drop points…
Hi agag, we weren’t at the races today…
Tired performance. But go on the hammers!
I didn’t think he was that bad first half Devil apart from Jacks booking, but second half he was shocking…
The result at WHL just shows how hard this league is going to be this season.
I think last season we would have lost this… well done to the boys…
The balance was not right today… AR16 is very tired after laying nearly 15 games thus far and the team suffered…
All in all a decent point but Norwich after the interlude could be another fight especially after their lose earlier.
AW need to have a word with TR07, he needs to retire from international football, he looks tired more than the players that started the game, he didn’t do much and it’s small details like this cause teams the title. I think it was 2 points dropped.
Wasn’t penalty?
AW prefer don’t loose the middle and concentrate players there. Was na option. I ask if we have a player on the right side and Jenkinson back, WBA defence must open and defend in other way (not look in front off of gunners players)
rico, Vaz Té scored for WH ! 🙂
SC19 comes back after the break… hippieee
Poldi and Ox not far after…
had a few having off days today, never slipped into any sort of passing theme at all and we seemed slow – not a bad point away and they worked very hard considering what they have
I still think we need someone else like Ramsey to rotate with him…
Kroos or Gundogan for me…
Muriel on the wings in January will give us something else if AW can’t trust Serge and Ryo i games like this.
I’m with you there Oz… WBA are very strong imho…
Norwich will be tricky too…
Ts – playing him on the right didn’t help. He may be tired but then so are a few, Merts, Giroud, Flamini, Kos, Gibbs – just a few who have hardly any rest this season…
Did he JM, I quite like him…
Off for dinner and to scribble some old rubbish about the game. 😉
Catch up later….
4 points from Swansea and WBA away is not too bad but still 2 points possibly dropped…
AW’s selection will be more important now than ever going into or historical bad patch of the season… Oct/Nov
MA08 shouldn’t have started.
Good point considering all injured players..
Giroud ran out of gas finally and bendtner is not the answer.. Not in millions years..
Wenger could have brought in the tea lady and we would have had some bope!!
I thought TR07 was not match fit and lost the ball many times..
Jack did well in the second half..While ozil went missing..
The ref was awful and denied us a clear penalty imo..
Westbrom is a well organised team and dangerous in counter attack.. A draw is a good result imo..
Hammsters mashed the spuds at their own turf.. Joy..
off to bed – in a week or two we’ll have players like theo, pod and Caz to change things around with – big players to call on and match winners on their day
Night Oz… true the 3 are not bad options are they?
I thought TR07 added the bite to our flat attack… he set up JW’s goal too with that lay off…
He was rusty and as mentioned before it is about time he retires from the international fold;still I am biased so… 😮
Apart from Barca, chelsea, Yanited, Shitty,Napoli and RM most of the top teams who played in Europe struggled this weekend;
BM drew 1-1, BVB lost 0-2; we showed some much needed resilience as Kev always says today.
Boo! Shame, we couldn’t get three points, but at least, we nicked a point. The ref was awful in the second half.
England trying to knick debutant Adnan Januzaj… we are becoming a joke of a nation football-wise
Hiya Agag… I think it was an ok point…
Still on top.
Don’t complain.
Every season needs a bit of pain.
This is as worst as its gonna get. 🙂
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/league-table.html
Hiya Dg… the dippers look strong defensively which is a worry…
Hiya Ginge!! And Dutch.After our first half performance, I felt like I would take a draw.
Ginge,
Suez Canal has the rare ability to sink their ship solemnly in a mad flash of subconscious schizophrenia.
Hiya Pacific Butterfly,
How goes scouting for new flowers? Any worth landing on?
I would have gone with this formation today…..
Chezzer
Jenkinson, BFG,Kos,Gibbs
Aaron, Flamini
Gnabry, TR07,Ozil
Giroud
I would have subbed TR07 for Arteta and then put on JW for Ozil.
Gnabry I would have left on.
I still think the initial formation was wrong and imbalanced which was intended to suffocate Sessegnon instead of putting WBA on the backfoot.
How did the PL favorites loose 3 nil at home?
DNA
Simples, Toot’s fishnet trawled 3 whales. That’s some weight to pull, even in your own harbor. LOL
Flamini and Arteta sitting was the main reason for our pedestrian approach play. Both jack and Ramsey were nullified, Ramsey couldn’t play his box to box game and that left Giroud isolated up front . Rosicky sped up the ball through the midfield but it was too little too late. They were quicker to the ball and stronger in the tussles , we got what we deserved albeit the refereeing was somewhat dubious.
Worst refereeing performance of the season so far for me. Surprised that Kos didn’t concede a penalty at the end with Mason buying every WBA dive.
Take the point, count the bruises and move on.
yes Ozil has certainly bought us some status and impetus with his arrival, but I still think that TR07 is still superior to him tactically wise.
Imagine Cazorla, TR07 and Ozil behind Giroud. Ramsey and Flamini behind those three and we would tear everyone apart.
Dev re your 6:51 is that the new pragmatic, fail-safe AW approach?
Like you I would have preferred us to have kept Mulumbu and Yacob on the back foot instead of on the offence but as mentioned before we take the point on hopeful it counts in the end…
I am with you on 7:26… but I am surprised TR07’s finishing has regressed with age… his finishing from midfield 10 years ago was far superior to his amateur attempts now…
Depending on how Poldi and SC19 come back I would still make BVB an offer they can’t refuse for Reus…..
I love Arteta but I honestly think he hasn’t got much more in the tank…
He was good today btw making the most interceptions, tackles and clearances between him and Flamini but he looks like he is far from being capable of playing 3 games a week currently…
keeping things in perspective a point today was good. we did not loose and stayed top which is great when you are playing bad.
but I still feel the initial formation was not balanced.
had we kept Mulumbu and Yakob on the backfoot we would not have conceded before we would have been out of sight.
When is Diabolic back… we needed him. 😛
Dev – the old lady is losing? 😮
Southampton are quietly climbing up the ladder… They look very strong… they and Cardiff bought very well imho…
Micko should be pleased for his buddy Wanyama… lol
I do not understand JW saying he is trying to get used to playing on the wings?
Did he not play on the wings whilst on loan at Bolton and also at Youth level? 😉
Adam, I didn’t think he was as bad in the first half as the second but he’s definitely in the ‘Riley’s finest’ range…
And there are far too many of those in the league….
Hope things soon calm for you Devil, go steady until then…
I’m off so catch up tomorrow sometime no doubt
Night all…
Rico. I thought he was shite throughout. 🙂
MOTD was sanitised.
Someone mentioned earlier Norwich (a) last season.
If my memory serves me well, that result 12 months ago, was at roughly this stage of the season.
Now I didn’t see the game, the chances Anelka had to make it 2-0, or the penalty we could have had or the Giroud chance that could have given us the win…
But we didn’t lose!
That to me is a step-up from a year ago…
And a sign that this team can play below it’s usual level, and still pick up points…
Look at the Spuds for example….,
Change in the balance of power in North London… 😆
Yeah yeah yeah…
I was a bit suprised that Gnabry didn’t start….
It seemed that the team lacked the pace and energy that he may have brought to the party…
Don’t be too harsh on Jenkinson…
He has only an appearance in a League Cup game to his credit since the early weeks of the season…
With this game in the tank and a possible England U21 game/s during the Interlull to sharpen up his performance, he should be ok against Norwich, next time out…
Morning all,
Kev you are right about Norwich (a)last season.A year ago this past weekend OG12 scored his first goal for us against whu away.1-3 was the score just before the October international break.We then came back 2 weeks later and lost 1-0 to Norwich;a bad run that took us all the way until we got to February this year…
Fingers crossed we are more experienced and resilient this time round…
morning tsgh – what the hell happened at White No Heart Lane last night? Amazing
not sure if the strong are getting weaker or the weak are getting stronger but no dead certs anymore in this league
Good Morning Lady, Sir, Gentlemen and Ladies.
A bit of a breather today which means that I can come a bit into HH.
I am with Kev on the Gnabry situation. I was amazed that he did not start. He combines the trickery of a winger plus the defensive solidity of a midfielder together with the ability to support the attack from the deep. So why not start him???
That is how it should be Ozgunner. No more dead certs in the league. it will suit us fine, since there will be no one who will influence the refs towards manure.
till last season every ref was influenced by Fergie. Not anymore now. he does not have them under his thumb. Now they are all like lost sheep. And no one will be able to co-ordinate them anymore. they have no leader.
so whilst their decisions usually swung in favour of manure, now their decisions will sway here, there and everywhere. And this will even itself out in the long run.
And it will suit us fine.
Refs will be like rabbits caught in the head lights.
and they will not know which way to whistle.
And this is where the crowd at the Ems comes in. Now is the time to make the Ems a FORTRESS. Where every decision will be in AFC’s favour.
but dont bet your life on it yet.
Infact we saw this yesterday during the game vs WBA where the ref had a horror game. He was at fault in various decisions either way. There were instances where he should have whistled in favour of WBA and gave the decision to AFC and vice versa.
He tried to do what many refs do ……….. make up for one mistake by failing to whistle the obvious so that things would even out. However this is where refs fail imo. A mistake does not condone another. So if a mistake is whistled the wrong way, it would be another mistake to try and even it out by failing to award what is the other team’s dues.
Morning Oz and Dev,
Fergie rednose is still around like a bad smell… is he not the hidden hand behind the Yanited machiney? Like OTO….; lol
Whilst Mike Riley is in charge we will never get a fair shake..
You lot still moaning about Mason ..
Rightly so, new post up and Morning all..