Match review

That’s More Like It!! FA Need To Throw The Book At Arnautovic & Crouch!

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

There are not many times when I read the newspaper and think ‘at last, he/she saw what we all did’ but clearly, Neil Ashton in the Mail Online did:

Mark Hughes and his team were agricultural in their approach, looking for a fight at every opportunity. What they got in return was a footballing lesson.

And neither can be denied…..

The same old dirty tricks, a horrid and clearly deliberate shove on Mathieu Debuchy causing serious injury and more of the pushing, grappling, kicking and all other things that we gave come to expect from Stoke were again on show yesterday. I hope the FA review that incident and Marko Arnautovic receives some kind of ban. The same could be said about Peter Crouch for his elbow on Nacho Monreal. Deliberate? I strongly suspect so…

Stoke were allowed to have a field day under the supervision of Jon Moss, perhaps the worst referee in the Premier League. The man can barely run more than ten yards so how can he keep up with the play and really see tackles for what they truly are?

Ah, he can’t and he didn’t….  Shocking!

I thought we were superb yesterday. We played with pace, directness and with a style once bragged about back in good old days under Arsene Wenger.

Santi, Tomas and Alexis were on fire and they chased everything regardless of whether we were pushing forward or chasing back. A sight to behold…. Francis Coquelin proved he’s a much better option than Mathieu Flamini, going about his business quietly and effectively. Yes, I’d love to see someone better in the heart of our midfield but until then, I hope Coquelin continues to improve.

Laurent Koscielny was back to being the player we all know he is, he had a great game. Monreal, Bellerin and Debuchy before his departure all had a really good afternoon, especially Bellerin who I thought was really really good. But he can’t defend that well? Darn right he can I say!

We went into the break 2-0 after two cracking goals. The first from Koscielny, the second from Alexis – our little Chilean really is a majestic player and I’ve run out of words to describe him. The part Tomas played in the goal didn’t go unnoticed either and what about our little Spaniard Santi Cazorla? He’s truly come alive over the last few weeks.

Half time card and went and suddenly, the fat man in black not only found his whistle but he found his cards. Did someone have a word with him at half time?

Alexis scored again. 3-0. Loved it. To cap off a fine day, seeing Mesut Ozil return to pitch was a delight, seeing Theo miss a sitter was not. But it’s early days for both so give them time…

In fact everything was great yesterday apart from the officials being so very poor and their keeper having a great game.

As Neil Ashton said, we gave Stoke a proper footballing lesson…

So well done to all, including Arsene Wenger……

That’s it for today, a good day for all…..

 

rico

91 thoughts on “That’s More Like It!! FA Need To Throw The Book At Arnautovic & Crouch!”

  1. rogerbij says:

    Nice positive post Rico. I couldnt stay up all night so was thankful for the full highlights on Arsenal.com. We looked just like you described – pretty awesome! I sure hope we can take this into the City fixture. With Southampton continuing their amazing form its possible that it will be Utd we will need to beat to the top 4 CL spot.

  16. potter says:

    Discussed with my son yesterday how things can be so different from a few weeks ago. Then they were quicker to the ball , picked it up everytime it went loose and hounded our team out of the game. This time was an exact reverse. We concluded that the Shawcross effect worked in our favour . Stoke were so determined to live up to the physical hype that they had generated that they forgot to play football at all. Their bravado backfired on them , they put themselves under pressure and cracked under it. It is gratifying to see members of the press for once calling them out for what they are but I don’t expect the F.A or PGMO to do anything because the scenario has history and to rake it up would be to expose their mistakes and lack of action in the past .They are cowards after all at best. Remember the day after the Ramsey /Shawcross incident the meek and mild centre back was called up for his first England cap. We also wondered whether the English F.A and media would have reacted differently had it been Rooney that was carried off with “” Let him Die ” ringing in his ears.

  17. Wavy says:

    Good one Rico! Nice to see that we are all happy for a change. No hint of criticism for our team! So much like the Arsenal of old.
    Sanchez reminded me a little of Henry at his best! Engagement, movement, unselfishness, control, balance and GOALS, goals galore! He is our revivalist! Not even the Stoke thugs could get close enough to him to kick, maim, disfigure him. Genius!
    In praise of the other heroes, it has been noticeable recently that when Ox and Tomas play our football is much more direct, it carries far more danger and threat. As someone else remarked there was very little crab, tikka takka play yesterday, just get the ball and move it forward. Not just lumping it either! It was so refreshing!
    Ospina? No. 1? Played 1, clean sheets 1. Good start! I suspect smokin’ Wo would have conceded one, in between drags, of course!
    Next week? City? Yeh, why not? They are vulnerable at the moment, a good time to meet them. Let’s hope so, eh?

  18. joe says:

    It was strange that the yellow cards only came out in the 2nd half.
    Did he forget them and leave them in dressing room.
    our did he get a call PMGO telling to start given cards cause he was making the bias to obvious.
    or he’s just a unfit idiot

  19. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. As Arsenal fans we tend to havie short memories I think. We all know that our players, most of them anyway, have been playing well below par for a long time. The club have also been let down by big-time Charlie’s like Chesney and Giroud on far too many occasions. But they are rich young men with a sense of entitlement the size of a planet. That is why they need strong leadership and I lay this at Wenger’s door. He has failed to motivate the team for far too long and when I have seen his rather tired, hang-dog expression lately, I can understand why. What motivated them yesterday was perhaps a reaction to the dross they served up at Stoke several weeks back. They played with confidence yesterday. But there was something else. They played 90 minutes without fear and with a degree of pride that has been sadly absent for a long, long time. For me it makes little difference to the overall picture except that I hope it confirms to the players that, as a proper team, we are actually far better than our recent form would suggest. I include the fans in this.
    Better late than never I suppose.

  21. bradster says:

    Afternoon all,

    I feel Rosicky’s positioning was suberb yesterday. From our corners and free kicks there were opportunities of counter attacks that Rosicky mopped up just outside the box or jockeyed and chased to give players time to get back behind the ball.

    I think Shawcross wanted Giroud’s shirt, i saw him try it on a few times and that deserved a punishment or in the least a talking to. Poor reffing the whole first half.

  23. George says:

    Afternoon all

    Good write up Rico

    Very good performance yesterday, but against City we will have our work cut out.

    I expect a draw up there at the very least.

    A bit of effort to chase everything makes all the difference.

    As for team selection, Ospina deserves a run, and Chez a wake up call..A sign of a good player is one who comes back better and stronger.

    Maybe we let the wrong Pole leave…As for Wenger praising Martinez as a class goalie, err I don’t think so.

    As i mentioned previously, Afobe is on his way out. One only hopes he doesnt go the way Jay Simpson has..Wolves will tell us if we will rue the decision to let him go. a brace against United is 1 more than Giroud this season….Wish him the best of luck. I only hope we got a 1m+ for him

    With Sanogo off to Hull or Bordeaux , we will be very reliant on le quif , Campbell , Sanchez, Welbeck and Theo.

    I expect Chuba Akpom to go on loan as well…

    Have we signed anyone yet …or is Diaby like a new signing again..?

  24. tsgh says:

    A nice and up beat post….
    Brad- your summation of the Mozart’s contribution yesterday is another indication le coq was carried by TR07 imho.
    Afternoon all btw

  25. Marinello says:

    Great performance yesterday from the team. Would still have liked to see Mertesacker do a “Tony Adams” and line up Crouch and the ball and take both out without being penalised for a foul.

    Lets hope the same mentality is kept when we play City.

  26. Marinello says:

    Diaby was seen leaving London Colney training ground with a portable fold up treatment table to lay on at home….
    Interesting to know what he cost per game..

  27. bradster says:

    All i can say is that it worked ts. I worry when Wenger will tincker with the line up to accommodate Ozil and Ramsey. Neither will do what Rosicky did and we’ll be exposed.

    I forgot to mention Ox. i was thoroughly impressed by Ox’s directness, pace and running. Finishing and decision making will be honed as he gets more experience but damn he looked good. I’d even go to the point of saying the Walcott we always wanted.

  28. tsgh says:

    Ox is changing my opinion of him slowly. Lol.Admittedly I never rated him much but if he continues in that vain I will be in board…Lol

    Brad- as I always say our best and most tactically players are tr07 and ma08.
    They should be made coaches…

  30. Adam says:

    I did Lee. I wish I had rammed it up Mark Hughes tbh. What a dreadful excuse for a football manager he is. It’s easy to see how he got the job from Pulis thus ensuring the culture of anti-football violence continues. Just seeing Stoke on the pitch leaves a sick taste in the back of the throat.

  31. frednerk says:

    Very good performance yesterday,3-0 could have been 5-0,
    amazing how good we can be at home,
    we look good…don’t we.

    Setting up a team with a bit of nous
    away from home,is what gets you up the league.

    Its hard to believe 200 miles up the road,
    ………………we look lost.
    Wonder what our team/manager are scared of.

  32. bradster says:

    That would be great if those two stayed on to coach. Bit weird that article about Sol Campbell and Jonker refusing to let him get his coaching badges with us. Perhaps there’s more to that than just observing.

    I still worry about Mertesacker, yesterday he showed his titanic maneuverability and his tendency to favour playing back to the keeper.

  33. allezkev says:

    Adam, 12.27….

    Some your Grammar was simply unacceptable.

    I take a very dim view of that posting.
    Make sure it doesn’t happen again… 😀

  35. allezkev says:

    OK, the performance yesterday was a massive improvement on what has gone before.
    But let’s not forget that Stoke are a load of shit, who Arsenal managed to make look world class up at their shit-hole of a slum…

    We should have destroyed them, but as per usual, eased up and let them off the hook.

    Don’t get caught up in the hype of one decent performance because it doesn’t make Arsenal contenders…

    City are another level, and we’ll find out where we are in the food chain next weekend, because even shorn of Toure, they have quality in every position…

    I would take a draw.

  37. bradster says:

    I actually think we went to their ground looking for a physical battle and didn’t play our own game. That day Stoke threw the Rugby handbook out the window and actually pushed ball with crisp passing.
    this weekend the rugby manual came out for them and we played silky football.

  38. allezkev says:

    Brad, we should be capable of thinking on our feet…
    I think we collectively bottled it in the 1st 45 at their slum…
    No excuses imho…

    So if we struggle to cope at the Brittania shit-hole, why should we expect anything out of the ordinary at Wastelands?

    Sorry, but I can’t ses it myself…

  39. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House
    Not a very nice day down south damp and dark.
    Much better performance yesterday,good to see the Rugby team go home with their tails between their legs.
    Loved the chant that went up after the train announcement. Your losing 3-0 and you not going home. Thought I was back on the Northbank for amoment.

  40. Wavy says:

    Next sunday’s result will depend on which Arsenal turns up. Will it be the ‘turned on, tuned in eleven or will it be the ‘dropped out’ one?
    If it’s the former then I would expect us to get at least a draw if it’s the latter, a cricket score is possible and not in our favour!

  43. Adam says:

    Kev. A verbal tongue lashing from you and Brudder Lee has found me in the corner wearing the dunce’s hat and whipping myself with a Bull’s Pizzel.

  47. allezkev says:

    “Mezut, Mezut Ozil
    He’s the Turkish Boy from Germany,
    Madrid
    Sold us Ozil,
    And instead they bought a chimpanzee”

    Sung at the Cup Final, to the tune of the Flingstones. 🙂

  50. Rick says:

    Even worse now Rico Strong wind and raining .
    I hope it is better at boringwood the U21’s are at home to reading tonight.
    I have been trying to find out the situation with Isaac and Serge and I am hearing “They are not injured just not fit” ????
    After tonights game the boys do not play again untill Feb 9th so it could be another month before we see them.
    By the good read Rico

  52. Rick says:

    Tonights game off pitch waterlogged.
    Macari what a turd. Disliked him as a player dislike him even more now.
    Can only see one side in the P/L

  55. Joe says:

    PMGO making sure city win they have put their chief henchman in charge to make sure we don’t get a result on Sunday.
    C*nt
    DEAN

  57. rico says:

    I just read that too Joe, what a joke appointing him!

    Mind you, they are all as bad as each other…

    Let’s hope he wants the Chavs to win the league… 😉

  70. Rick says:

    Sky have published the latest set of figures for clubs wages .They show [the following
    Man U £218*8million
    Man c£205Million
    Chelsea£190*5 Million
    Arsenal £166*4 Million.
    Another bit of News I hear Dick Law has flown to Poland

  72. Lee says:

    Shame he wasn’t flying to Southampton to sign Schneiderlin as opposed to a Polish midfield embryo….ho hum’

  75. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico, Rick, Kev and all..

    Oh so Dickie law has flown over to complete ‘the youngsters’ signing… Law is definitely a master at basement signings. lol.

    I hope Fox didn’t fly with him… 🙂

  86. allezkev says:

    Morning Rico, Ginge, BT, Lee, Adam et al.

    13 days of the January Window gone…

    20 days left before it closes on February 2nd…

    Three forwards out the door.
    Nobody in…

    A normal Wenger TW then?!!!

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