Just before we look at today’s game just a little snippet from Arsene Wenger which I think is bloomin harsh on our dynamic winger 😉
Wenger was talking of AFC.com and reflecting back on our Champions League loss to The Dippers in 2008.
Walcott came on as a 72nd-minute substitute and went on a brilliant 60-yard run to set up a tap-in for Emmanuel Adebayor to score a goal that would have been enough to send the Gunners into the Semi-Final. Seconds later Walcott and Arsenal conceded to let Liverpool back into the tie and eventually lost 5-3 on aggregate. Adebayor scored and we were going through – At the time Walcott was 18 years-old and we had scored an important goal and he forgets absolutely that Liverpool can still be dangerous.
If you put the same Walcott at 28 years-old – if he scores this goal he will run straight back and think ‘this time I will not be caught because I made the mistake ten years ago. That’s the difference with having experience.
I personally think there were a few more reasons why we lost that game and not all of them were down to Theo Walcott!!
Young Aaron Ramsey is well on his way to making a full recovery which is great news for him and for all of us fans.
All I have ever wanted to do is be a professional footballer – I am doing that now, even though I’ve had a little blip, and I’m very confident I will come back from this as an even stronger and better player. Hopefully I can keep improving and can become a great player for this football club.
Can’t wait to see him back fully fit, just hope he stays mentally strong as well as physically….
Talking of which, on to todays game, we need to be physically strong, mentally strong and clinical with our passing. Any mistakes will be punished. Sunderland are not Braga and The Stadium of Light is not The Emirates.
Tough test ahead, yes, but we can overcome it and with it get another trip up north out of the way with three points coming home.
So as we head to Sunderland, Steve Bruce has jumped on the bandwagon that wants to have a say about our manager….
Bruce told Talk Sh**e this yesterday
I applaud all the old-school managers when they’ve got this huge desire to keep working. With Arsene Wenger, and I think I’ve said it repeatedly, he’s been to the detriment of the English/British manager because he’s been that good.
He’s been that good for so long other clubs have said ‘well, hang on a minute, we’ll go and get another Arsene Wenger’, a foreign manager, and obviously they’re not all like him.He’s done a fabulous job, the way his teams play. Arsenal have always got this bit of class about them and it epitomises in him. He’s up there with the best there’s been.
You have to say repeatedly without the money of the other big clubs to keep Arsenal where they are and the way they play you can only take your hat off to him.You can sometimes criticise him, he’s been famous for ‘I didn’t see it’, but he does that to protect his players. The one thing you can’t hide away from, year after year, he keeps Arsenal at the top, in the Champions League.
Mind games? Possibly, but just in a different kind of way 😉
Well Stevie boy, I like you too but today I hope you continue to admire Arsene Wenger and our football team. Yes, today I want you to get thrashed off the pitch and lose by a huge margin….
But after that, I hope you go on a long run of being undefeated and you end up taking Sunderland in to Europe. And I mean that. You were a great player, now go and show the world you can be a great manager!
We can all debate the team selection in the comments, but we do know we have no Vermaelen, Theo, Diaby, Frimpong, Robin or Nikki. Any team we put out this evening, which I suspect will be similar if not the same as faced Braga, just needs to play football. Do that and keep the mind on the job in hand and three points will be ours…
However, I strongly suspect the points today may be shared…..
Have a good day all….
Morning all….
He said the whole team lost their focus ie Hleb didn´t hear his instructions, so he didn´t imply Walcott was the only player at fault.
Hi Chappers, I know the content of his i/v but what he says is Theo had just scored and we were through.. then Theo mucked it up… and we didn’t go through….
Howdy 🙂 whats up people Sunderland we must get this three points guys as Cesc said we will need every single point Come on Arsenal
Hey Erick, i seem to miss you these days 🙁
this is more than three points too, its about overcoming another tough test and building confidence…
Nice post Rico only change that might happen is Jack for Denilson or Rosicky
Rico internship 😉 How are you though 🙂
What no Jack Erick 🙁
He’d reslish a game like this one, but I see where you are coming from.
Its a tough call on who will start
I’m good thanks Erick, how’s you? and how’s the intership going?
I wouldn’t change much Rico but we are away may be Rosicky 🙂 but tought call
I think Eboue might come in today.. I hope he starts with a 4-4-2
Maybe…
Sagna Squilli Kos Clichy
Eboue Song Cesc Rosicky
Chamakh AA
Vela to come off the bench to get his usual goal 😉
Its great Rico learning alot 🙂
Rico Vela will get a goal 🙂
Thats good Erick, hope you are behaving too 😉 😉
Morning Rico and Erick, Think Bruce is spot on Rico, because of Wengers success Chairman have jumped on the bandwagon gone foreign and flopped with the managers thy’ve appointed…! I don’t think it’s stopped quality english managers from succeeding but prob stopped a few getting a job as 4 fat sam moaning about not enough time at Newcastle if he was still there they’d still be shit cos he’s a useless prick in anycase. Egotistical knob…!
Not really Rico 🙂 I have been a bad boy 😉
Wath howdy Mate hope your good 🙂 I know you gave stocked the GG
Welcome to the rico and Erick love-in, folks 🙂
No way will it be a draw. 2-0 to the Arsenal.
And what’s all this “Sunderland are not Braga” nonsense? As if Braga are a crap team. They qualified by beating Celtic and Sevilla. If we had beaten either of those two 6-0, would people be saying, “Oh, but they’re a weak side.”? Don’t downplay the achievement on Wednesday, especially following on a 4-1 win over Bolton. Every game fills me with more confidence in this squad and I don’t expect to be disappointed today. Doesn’t matter which team AW puts out, they’ll have too much for Sunderland.
Morning WATH, I think you are spot-on too, look at the Spuddies, how many have they tried and failed 🙂
dkg………. No one saying Braga are crap but they not sunderland at home either and they will get in our faces and close us down much more and better than Braga did, totally agree if teh mancs had won 6-0 the media would of been bed wetting but it’s us so they don’t but Sunderland will be a more difficult proposition up there than Braga at the Emirates that’s for sure.
Erick, you should behave then 😉
The more they try the merrier Rico………… lol
Morning dk,
I’m not saying Braga are rubbish, I’m saying they came to the Emirates and played football – the media all jumped on the ‘Braga sub-standard’ reports as we discussed here the other day… We often fail up north and that is what i’m getting at…
WATH, they will probably try a few more once ‘Arry gets the England job 😉
Only job arry getting is on her majesty’s service the tea leaf…………
Is he still under investigation??
He’s prob paid em off 😀
Whats your team for today then WATH…
I’m not AW so I’m not answering that one lol…..
I think he may rest Jack n Nasri (Ebooie n Rosicky) and maybe play Gibbs again as well….! Apart from that same team that played wednesday night. . . .
But you did 😉 😉
I honestly can’t guess at his team today but i think he may keep Gibbs for that little game in the week unless Tom Cruise plays then…
Hope we have a strong ref.. not bloomin Webb though!
Just checked, Phil Dowd is the ref…
I beleive Steve Bruce on his comments of the Proff,Steve was a good proffesional, it makes a change to hear a manager speaking the truth, unlike Alladyce and Rednapp, who have ulterior motives,they dont keep jobs very long, both are interested in the money, and move to and fro to find it,now both angling for the England Job, with its 5 mill salary,if ihad to pick the England Manager, you wouldnt go far wrong with Stuart Peirce passionate English and knows all the young England players coming through, wouldnt we be lucky if managers like them went abroad
Dowd………… Hmmmmmm depends what side of the bed he gets out of, sometimes he sensible other times a pratt
Boo! rico, I’m guessing Rosicky is in. We should take advantage… He’s on a break from being injured. It might not last long, you know.
Hello, Erick. Howdy? Been bad, have you? 😉
Hola, Invisible Man. 🙂
Afternoon AGAG hows you..?
Welcome steve, i think he has said it before, i don’t put him in the same bracket as FS and a few of the others either…
Boo to you agag, you are naughty, it will last the whole season long 😉
I’m good, WATH. You? Save the GG for later! About to head out in a bit. But I should catch kick-off.
I have to pop off for a bit too, back in a couple of hours, ready for the countdown 😉 😉
rico, watch TR7, he always kicks with such abandon, I always feel that his joints will unhinge or something. And when he goes into a tackle; I feel like we won’t be seeing him until half a year later… 😉
Enjoy your evening AGAG and catch ya lata… you to Rico…!
Agag howdy Wath you still around 🙂
Boo, anyone about 🙂
Hi all, where are the Sunshine fans 😀 I dare say it I bit of miss ’em.
Great post Rico nice, short and clean 😉
My guess about who steps out today is:
Eboue in for Nasri (or Sagna), Gibbs in for Clichy, and Denilson in for Wilshere, it may include Rosicky as well on the right side where Nasri played or on a CM position.
The most surprising will be if he doesn’t include any1 of the subs from the Braga game.
Hi Stef, i think we’ll see eboue today, just for that bit extra defending….
robert green is playing well for the ‘ammers….
Howdy Stef we don’t need major changes one maximum
Hi Erick, not long to go, you able to watch later?
Where you all gone 😉
I was eating 🙂
About the first team I think there has to be a change cause 2 games a week you got to rest some of the players, rotation will be the key for less injuries and this seasons the subs are doing well and to be involved as often we can.
Ah, your forgiven then Stef 😉
Itds the CC in the week though so I don’t think he’ll rest too many today, then it West Brom next weekend, maybe we will see a few rested for that game…
Rico I will watch the game had landury to do 🙂
Stef how was lunch mate hope your revising the Swahili words
Didn’t saw ur post although I refreshed at exact time of the post oh well 🙂
Nasri was coming back from injury surely he will rest him at least the next game if not today.
I think Jack will make way for Rosicky 🙂
Siku njema Erick
I think I remember most of the words:D hakuna matata
Maybe Jack needs to rest sometimes 🙂 although he is better in defense
Laundry Erick, I dislike doing that 🙁
I reckon Eboue will replace Jack 😉
Salama sana(am very fine) Stef am sure Nasir will play
Rico I had to I was getting out of options
hey rico 😉
we dont want eboue replacing jack..
we dont want denilson coming back in either..
eboue maybe funny and denilson may make 400 passes per second but when they play the team loses direction in attack..
typical example is the other night..
we were smashing braga and when denilson and eboue came on we lost momentum because they are not as efficient in attack as the likes of jack and rosicky..
we lose that type of player..when your 4 nil up its not an issue but when your looking for goals they are better off sat on the bench again..
keep jack in..or play rosick..
Hi JJ what you reckon about the first team no changes at all or?
Ha ha Erick, thats the way to go, wash it all just before you have no clothes left 🙂
Hey jj, good to see ya 🙂
Not me wanting Eboue, just think thats what Wenger will do, Jack would be right up for a game like this and after his loan at Bolton it should a breeze for him 🙂
Denilson…… No thanks, I am sure he needs a rest 😉
JJ am also thinking Rosicky for Jack can work or no changes at all
Rico spot on 😉
I’d start with the same eleven as Wednesday, they have a big win under their belt and confidence will be high…
Spuds are being held by Wolves Gallas got some few boos
Pardon me Spuds 0 Wolves 1 🙂
😆 Erick, you are pardoned….
Your watching the game Erick?
I was reading comments by Arry about CL etc.
Spudies are on there knees 😉
The mighty Everton is losing at home by Newcastle 😀
this season looks like it’s gonna be entertaining
Nop Rico just getting the highlights from twitter and Espn 🙂
And here 😉
Stef, its our season, there are some strange scorelines today…
Rico 🙂
jammy spuddies have got a goal, VDFart from the penalty spot 🙁
Bollards, spuddies now 2-1….
Arsenal
Manuel Almunia
Gael Clichy
Sebastien Squillaci
Laurent Koscielny
Bacary Sagna
Andrey Arshavin
Cesc Fabregas
Samir Nasri
Jack Wilshere
Alex Song
Marouane Chamakh
Substitutes
Lukasz Fabianski
Emmanuel Eboue
Johan Djourou
Kieran Gibbs
Denilson
Tomas Rosicky
Carlos Vela
I’m off to watch, see you at H/T
Now there’s a freak goal… 🙂 Our defense is worrying me though.
And a freak injury, it’s looking like. Oh no… 🙁
We are rubbish today, Jack is too fancy and Sunderland are playing the better football…. however, we are fitter…..
agag, the tv channel report cesc has a stomach, leg, knee and ankle injury… they just don’t know which one yet!!
He’ll be fine, bet he’s just got a dead ankle from that wonderful struck goal 😉
Clichy is worrying me…..
What a goal I was laughing for 2 minutes. 😀
I think Fabregas will be fine.
Second half hope will be a different story with more possession of the ball.
worried about Jack lost couple of balls for no reason.
atvo says it could be a knee or hamstring injury… But oh my… Bizarre.
Jack just needs to calm down. Nasri and TR7 should switch, imho.
Arshavin is being all lazybones again… 🙁 Shame, he was so enterprising in the CL game…
hmmmm
it appears we have been the more physical today..
songs red was due
kos has been a rock
That second was not a yellow, JJ, surely??
yeah..
songs made about 7 fouls and about 3 of them were yellows..
im not complaining though he played well he got stuck in when we were under pressure..
vieira got sent off loads of times
we still have enough to win we just need sunderland to tire out..
i can still see us scoring we play better with 10 men sometimes
chamakakaka looks knackered
maybe vela last 15mins
Nasri looks tired. Denilson has been neat so far.
hhmmmmmmmmmm
But Chamakaka has worked so hard…
maybe someone on goalscoring form would have been a better option
not someone who hasnt scored for god knows how long
Another chance gone begging… 🙁
nasri still looks like hes got 90 minutes in him
its gonna be tough tho now weve missed that
i think we need another goal
a cleen sheet would be impressive but i wont be settled until we hit another
im still confident..
they’ll push everyone forward last 10mins and we will have plenty of chances to hit them on the break
just hope we take one
I think I’m gonna throw up now…
Maybe Vela should be brought in. He’s in scoring form now…
enjoy the ride AGAG 😉
its times like these where we find out if we have what it takes to be the best
next 10 mins are critical
yes i agree..
wenger telling nasri to keep the passes short
we going for the one nil
hahaha come on boys
sit denilson on the half way line and just keep passing it to him and we can pass it around the centre circle for the next 5 mins 😉
In which case, JJ, Denilson may well win it for us…
he scored on 94mins 15 seconds
the ref should have blown
Ugh
not happy
i want to know where those 15sec came from?
Well well well…..
Nighty night all, match report will be short and bitter!!!
Stay safe…
we should of scored a goal even before the penalty
The Ref cost us the game what a downer the defence was great
That was abyssmal refereeing. Very upset…
rosickys miss cost us the game..
im unhappy with the ref but it was the miss..
we should have been 2 up..
Clichy’s clearance was… 😥
clichys clearing is clichy
hes bot the most composed
i think gibbs time is now
Stupid ref… I need a stiff drink. I’m fit to kill. 😡
We can talk about the 45 seconds all night, reality is, we were shocking tonight, totally outplayed, out fought and we got lucky with our goal… But for dreadful finishing by Sunderland, we would have been slaughtered!
However, had AA took his early chance, who knows… How can the same team play so well against Braga then play again tonight the way they did??
not really poor performance today, we had a lot of possession in the second half especially when Denilson came on.
Didn’t understand why Rosicky got the armband in the first place would of tip Nasri for it and to take the penalty.
And all the misses of Arsh and Chamakh on 1 on 1.
we didn’t deserved the lead in the first half and yet scored, and certainly didn’t deserved the goal in the second half.
We were ugh in the first half; but I thought we played well in the second, rico. Definitely better than Sunderland. The first was a freak goal; but there can be no complaining about it. The second one shouldn’t have counted; and it’s impossible not to rail against it.
sorry, 15 seconds 😉
Rico they were probably 5 seconds really but our guard was down.
What a weird second half …
agag, i get the 15 second thing, but we were poor overall – they kept going until the end, we didn’t…
i’m gutted, but to be honest, it was a ‘fair’ result in the end…
My one gripe is about AA, he was totally of key today and should have come off after half time and let Vela on…
Guys am done for the day see you tomorrow gdnt and Keep the faith
Stef, our defence, well, Squilli and Kos had done so well, then a hash of a clearance let old gooner Bent in… we have only ourselves to blame, not the ref or anyone else, just us….
Also Stef, you are right, the second half was weird, only when Song got sent off did we start to ‘play’ a bit…
I thought our center halves battled well until the 94th, rico. 🙂
Ah, but what can you do?
me too agag, kos, almunia and squlli were good… but at the death, we made a complete hash of a simple clearance…. 🙁
Anyway, i’m offski for the night, off to cath up with X Factor 😉 😉
Night all, for real this time…. 🙂
When we didn’t scored in the second it makes you think if Song wasn’t sent of I would of tipped Vela to come on and he would of scored 1 on 1.
goodnight all
Morning All, New Post up….