Morning all.
Firstly, a big thanks to Wath for keeping HH going for the past week whilst I took a break. I did get to see the PSG game which was awful, especially the first half but a point is a point and if Arsenal are to top their group, it could turn out to be a very big one.
One can hardly say it’s been a good start to the season though, the football, has in the main been pretty awful to watch. Some of the players look like they are just going through the motions half the time and Arsene Wenger doesn’t seem to have any fresh or exciting new ideas in his mind about the way the team plays. Poor old Alexis has been playing up front on his own and he’s clearly not enjoying it.
Maybe the best is yet to come as the new boys gel with the rest and others build on their fitness after a tough summer of international football. Maybe, maybe not!
An away fixture at Hull has often been good for us. Earlier this year we romped home 4-0 in an FA Cup tie thanks to two goals from Ollie and two from Theo Walcott late in the game. Mind you, the then Championship club held us at home 0-0 to force the replay but other than in September 2008, Arsenal have never lost to today’s opposition and since that freak defeat, we have only dropped one point in seven Premier League fixtures.
And we are a stronger side these days, certainly on paper but as always, it’s about who the manager selects to play, how motivated they are and how Arsene Wenger sets his team up to face a side who are probably enjoying the best start to a season for a while.
Apparently both Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott require fitness tests ahead of the game. Aaron Ramsey is not quite ready to return and the other absentees are as we all know, Gabriel, Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck.
I hope we get to see Elneny and Xhaka on show today and perhaps with both Coquelin and Cazorla having played on Tuesday, we will. Same with Perez, surely he’s got to start this one. Hull City won’t know much about him, he’s quick, he’ll run at the defence and he’ll cause problems.
At some stage, these players have to all click and when they do, it could be pretty special.
Let’s hope it’s today…
I got a hundred lines while you were away.
I must be positive
I must be positive 😉
Is Walcott a possibility or is he saving him for the carling Cup.The Ox must be dropped surely and it would be nice to stop this nonsense with Sanchez alone upfront but see the new boys perform.
Sanchez
Play him on the left..Happy Bunny
His game is running at defenders
I’m absolutely Positive of that
Rico is it alright to put my
system’s on to this one
Oh dear Kelsey… lol
For sure Fred, it’s only boring and tedious stats I dislike… lol
Cheers love
Love the stuff on systems
yesterday,
I played around with them yonks ago
Point is you have to have the right player’s
to play any system.
Would you believe the first system was 7-2-1
one at the back….1860
The Pyramid 1880……………………. 5-3-2….
Then 1925…..W-M 3 at the back.. 3-2-3-2…
1950..M-U..3-2-5..Hungarians
1960…4-2-4..Brazilians
3 at the back has been around longer than me
I mentioned GG with Leeds on how to get at
the best back 4 in history.
Now these coaches have all the help they need
most listen.
I know one who’s Mutton Geoff.
What system does Wenger play Fred? Once the game gets going it’s hard to tell as sometimes it looks like we are playing like kids do with so many players so close to the ball… lol
Rico;;
Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, is set to miss out entirely. The France international striker, who was dismissed after coming on as a substitute against PSG, is struggling with an injury to his big toe and a decision was taken late on Friday that he will not be risked against Hull.
Perez must start,surely.
Thanks Kelsey. Only Ollie would stub his big toe!
afternoon all!
Kelsey, ” surely Perez must start”. But where, would AW play him as DM or LB? Lol….. Sanchez to Juve just won’t go away, now they want Sanchez plus cash and a player. Well, I will take Claudio Marchisio any day. Then again maybe not AW will turn him into a CF. Arsenal 1 – Hull 0, ugly football continues. Watch my boy Sondgrass the most underrated UK player in the world. I would swap Theo for him anyday, I might even throw in Ox and Ramsey.
Buona sera lovelies and hunkies
Ollie stubbed his big toe??? which one of his three did he stub?? 😛
Hopefully AW will play Perez not Alexis up front as the former needs minutes especially with Ozil, Alexis and maybe Iwobi behind him. Or maybe play him on the left, Alexis on the right with Akpom up front. Otherwise why keep Akpom instead of sending him out on loan??
Definitely not Theo or Ox on the flanks….otherwise it will be back to square one as one does not do any tactical runs while the other runs with his head down. only one of them should be on the field at a time……not both surely.
Arsenal
Petr Čech; Héctor Bellerín, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla; Theo Walcott, Mesut Özil, Alex Iwobi; Alexis Sánchez
Substitutes: David Ospina, Kieran Gibbs, Rob Holding, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas Pérez
Incredible. talk about stubbornness. No Xhaka, no Perez, No Elneny.
I would have given either of Xhaka or Elneny a run out. and why continue to persevere with Alexis up fron???
Guys I just paid cable so that I can watch today’s game. However I’ve lost all interest simply because Wenger continues to be stubborn with his team selection. I’ll be happy to see the boys win but I can’t wait for a day without Wenger at Arsenal
Devil maybe he’s sticking with your micro-cycle theory, it hasn’t been 9 games yet.
Mabo, I share your disappointment…. Am off to the gym, I will watch this later on ﹰExtra ﹰReply’.
it can be Obi. Micro cycle is a very efficient in keeping players fresh. But he should remember that Santi is over 31 now. he has played in all games. So he needs a rest for sure.
Sorry Rico had to pop out
Arsene plays a Flexible 4-2-3-1
he likes a link player(10) and 2 niftie’s
either side.
The niftie’s have to cover the full-backs
could say most area’s covered.
Granite and Perez are a yard of the pace
training ground must have found these two out.
Wrong tean, what’s he playing at does he want to burn Sanchez ouut
Nice open game.
Pleased for the lad Iwobi
Seems that Alexis got a touch to it.
infact it is Alexis’ name that is written as the scorer.
that should have been 2-0 by either Iwobi or Ozil.
Iwobi is there to stay…..this season I have seen more from Iwobi than Ox. It would be criminal of AW to drop him atm.
Alexis has been credited with the goal.
How does Walcott get in this team and why can’t we put a game to bed.Familiar pattern developing.
Not another penalty lol 🙂
what an idiot. that should have been Santi’s penalty.
poor penalty and why didn’t cazorla take it.
Coqueling, Cazorla, Ozil and Iwobi are on the same wavelength. Theo is not.
Game on in the gym… Devil your theory of defenders and 5 attackers is on display… wow who is the striker here strange formation. Kev help me on this one. Lol.
we should have put this game to bed (3-0 at least). And that is the 2nd penalty Coquelin has won this year.
its the third penalty in 5 games Kelsey. lol
if Cazorla is not careful the ref will soon even things up with regard red cards.
Watching us is like going out with a virgin.Hard to put to bed 😉
Why did Alexis step in for the penalty??
Ginge may be right!!!!
Wasn’t penalty?
Is that our football for win the League (or something else)?
We didn’t shoot… Cazorla can took the penalty but everybody knows from where he shoot..
We should solve this game yet but I’m always with heart in hand.
So predictable our football. We play in the same way versus PSG, Hull or against the team of my street.
And I never understand the line up. I think I must watch must more football for understand this line up
Cazorla will be sent off unless subbed by the next 5 minutes…..he is walking a tightrope now.
Kelsey, re virgins and bedding, it’s quite clear we certainly can’t score!
Two world class players, Ozil and Sanchez and neither of them can score from the penalty spot. If the team has a designated penalty taker, Cazorla, unless he was injured, should take the spot kick, why didn’t he?
Team in disarray? Or lack of overall control at the top, well on the side lines?
Wavy
or not really playing for the manager.
Honestly Waddle was right years ago,Walcott hasn’t got a football brain, and is a very expensive luxury.
Walcott got his goal but Iwobi made a wonderful assist.
You ssee,he heard me 😉
All credit to Iwobi
Kelsey…..I have been saying it for years now….that Theo is a player and not a footballer. he has no football brain….anyone can notice that.
I would take Theo off for Perez now and Cazorla for one of Elneny or Xhaka
I agree,but will AW do the logical thing
if we get the 3rd goal I would tell Santi to stay on and then after the 89th minute get another booking so that he will sit out Forest as a suspension.
he will sit it out anyway.
we still need a 3rd goal. and keep that effing clean sheet
there goes the effing clean sheet.
Never a penalty IMO
I don’t understand….why Elneny for Iwobi???
It should have been Perez for Theo.
3-1
Alexis
Hopefully we get another to make it 4….increase the difference in goal
but why put on Elneny for Iwobi????
wow … isn’t Hull a man down? you will never know.
XHHHHAAAAKKKKKKAAAAAAA
wow what a thunderbolt
the look on Elneny’s face as that Xhakagol went in says it all.
What a great goal by Granit.I love these long range shots that go in,don’t see enough of them. Job well done. this Swiss guy has a bullet left foot.
No wonder doesn’t get his pick! He just won’t be Arsen-ised! If scores goals from 35 yes out Wenger knows he hasn’t got him under his control. Don’t expect to ‘Granita’ start a game for weeks now, clearly he has not been listening to his manager!
I may even watch MOTD tonight. There’s a first time in a season for everything!
Like my old times, Xaxa!
However, someone must say to AW on Arsenal TV or in another media, the small area does not exist, to limit the area where you can shoot at goal!
Xhaka will get a ban for shooting from outside the area. Wavy, it’s not Wengerball is it.
No wonder Xhaka …..
And
35 yards…..
‘Kin iPad… It’s too clever than its keyboard!
Chelsea next week that will tell us a lot more
Good result guys, think I might even watch it later… 😉
It certainly will Kelsey…
that was the third penalty Alexis missed. I would have let him take one if we were 5-0 up, but not just 1-0. Cazorla should have taken that.
Hull were very poor, yet sometimes we are our worst enemy. we had the lion’s share of possession lion’s share of shots on goal and off target, yet we were just 1-0 at halftime.
Iwobi is a footballer. he has the vision of the pitch around him and even when his back is turned he knows where to find his mates. He had two assists today as his first shot was an assist to Alexis.
Ozil was quiet today, did a lot of work with his movement but clearly he is only functioning at 75-80%. Not there at his imperious best.
Although Alexis got two he is definitely not a CF. yes his movement creates problems and with him in attack everyone is more mobile, but Perez would have given us the same. If AW is to continue with Alezis and Perez upfront then we might as well say goodbye to Ollie in June. Theo works hard and did help Bellerin, but honestly his movement is predictable.
Coquelin still works his ass and socks off and gives a lot to the team. He should work on his psychological state though, as he still makes himself humble and small.
Chelsea will be more difficult as they will ask more questions than any team we have faced so far. But if AW and the team approaches the game with the right frame of mind and with the right selection there is no doubt that we can take something from this game.
Coquelin has definitely upped his game since Xhaka was signed. that is what competition does. He was impressive again today, as he was intense, dynamic, reliable, focused, mistake free. He leads and carries the midfield. Yet I still feel that he has more to grow and should focus on a Keane like reputation, where opposition players are scared of him before kick off.
I wouldn’t let Santi take a pen either, his are weak…
Evening Rico. An excellent result.
Evening Adam, did we play well?
I dunno Rico. I wasn’t really following it, but the team seem to be getting a bit of confidence together. They will need to sort the penalty situation out though I would think. 🙂
That’s what I’m hoping Adam, the boys gradually work it out, gel together and it all comes good.
Totally agree re the penalties- need to get one player, maybe two who can really belt them in. Not Santi, not Ozil and not Alexis…
Maybe Xhaka or Mustafi have a powerful shot, or Perez…
Surely Santi must be favourite. Or Xhaka, when he plays. 🙂
No Santi for me, he hits it too soft and always in the same place…
Evening all,
It was the 3 o’clock live game over here, one way traffic from start to finish today, a very comfortable afternoon.
Think Sanchez has missed two or three on the trot now, Santi missed one last season against West Brom which cost us and 1 this pre-season as well, didn’t Xhaka miss the deciding one in a penalty shoot out this summer and as for Ozil his spot kicks are like back passes but what does it matter, we never get penalties anyway !
Gotta say Santi did look like he had the ump for the rest of the game after the penalty miss !
Hi Micko, Xhaka did miss one, but I don’t think he often does but as Adam says, when he plays… Seems AW is introducing him to pl gently… Gawd knows why…
I agree Santi takes a risk going down the middle with his penalties.A perfect penalty shouldn’t be saved.
It doesn’t really matter but no one would have expected Sanchez to put such little venom into his shot nor direction (bring back Podolski)
Ah yes, Podolski had a wicked left foot….
interesting as Wenger played Coq, Xhaka and Elneny together, I guess AW been reading HH because someone suggested that this week.
In the penalties the football must be like in handball: come in a player for shot it… (or defend)
Anyway, show us how we are not confident in front of the goal.
Watching Everton., They have a very good team.
Slimani scored twice for Leicester today
playing Coq, Xhaka and Elneny together is a good formation as it keeps the midfield solid. However that forces the formation into a natural 4-3-1-2 which means the wings will be weakened.
Off for the evening. Have a nice time Rico. Night all.
Well, hopefully AW will find his best central pairing and soon!!
Catch you tomorrow guys, night all.
Night Adam.
I am still not convinced with Walcott. You have Sanchez,Ozil, the very impressive buy young iwobi and perez to get going. Yes he scored but generally he is a clss below our better players.
I am watching Everton closely as they now have our ex shareholder who sold to usmanov with 200 illion to invest and a good manager in Koeman.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/hull-vs-arsenal/goaaaalll-granit-xhaka-1-4.html
Saw some highlights on YouTube, and it looked a very accomplished performance with my only criticism being our finishing prior to that late 2 goal flourish.
Great finishes from Alexis and a Granit to give the shoreline a realistic look after Arsenal dominated especially in the 1st half…
Good to see Theo having an impressive game.
He ain’t ever gonna be more than what he is, so making a goal and scoring a goal is par for the course and he’s more effective than Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.
Now for a good performance at Forest with some of the squad players before a real test vs Chelsea at home next week.
At least the crowd at the Emirates should be up for that one, so fingers crossed for a positive result…
Nothing like a positive HH.
First away game and fans were amazing.Micko I think I have found the best away day pies…lol
I must admit le coq was impressive today.
Santi sulking after penalty was funny too…
I think we need another strong personality in the dressing room soon.
Ginge, you’ll go a long way to beat the chicken balti pies at whatever they call the Derby ground these days…
Delicious…
Sorry Rico ?
MotD now, it’ll be interesting to hear what those idiots says about the game…
Let me guess,
the red card for Livermore was harsh…
Cazorla was lucky not to be sent off…
Lol kev one fan I was on train with said the same as what you have just stated.
Kingston upon Hull’s pie was savoury today… ??
Scott you can’t be asleep…
How’s it going tsgh, first back to back away wins since last October, we’re definately on a roll, reasons to be cheerful one, two, three !
Been offered a ticket for Burnley away, might have to check out the pie’s on line first lol.
Was always a home banker today, Hull haven’t beaten us at their ground since 1915, if you don’t believe me just ask Wath.
As for Santi, some-one must have been looking down on him today, that’s all I’ll say.
Kev I never had the pleasure of trying the pride park pie…
Interesting to see Pep has converted kolarov to CB.pep has a have a left footed CB.
Pep, 8 games, 8 wins, he’s not fit to lace Arsene’s boots and I ain’t got no reason to lie ! So glad we didn’t sign him in the summer.
Micko have you been to Burnley before,?
Kev as you would expect,motd downgraded the red card to yellow….in their view at least.lol.so so predictable.
Micko.what are you suggesting re wath and 1915? Lol
No Tsgh but I believe it is a step up to MoanChester ! Do they have a roof at the away end ?
I haven’t been either…
I am told it’s quite an intense ground.
I would like to do a few more away games before November.
Tsgh, good to hear you made it back safely, naturally I’d like to think that you threw a lucky Hull supporter a dirty fiver today to pay off their mortgage ! Us Gooners are good like that.
Nite Gooners
Scott, Rico and LC this one is for you. NBC has the rights to EPL in the U.S. they have a documentary series called Primier League Download. So primiering October 1st it would be….get ready for one….”Inside the Mind of Arsene Wenger”. So finally guys your questions will be answered as to what goes on in AW mind. lol.
Night micko
Ginge, we wasn’t disappointed by those coaching genius’s on MotD, so so predictable as you say…
Coquelin would have scored and Livermore could have got his hand out of the way,
Case closed, move on….
Is it still Pride Park, I thought it was some other naff name Ginge…?
I can’t be bothered to Google it, I like seeing Derby out of the EPL anyway…
I still can’t understand why West Ham thought it was a good idea to drop an iconic name like the Olympic Stadium and re name it the London Stadium…?
It just makes me think of Peterborough Utd…
Night Ginge, night all….
Some goal by Gnasher !
https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/777207967296983044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Derby hold the unique distinction of being the only club to have had three home grounds host full England internationals. England beat Ireland 9–0 at the Racecourse Ground in 1895, beat Ireland again, 2–1, at the Baseball Ground in 1911 and, most recently, Pride Park hosted England’s 4–0 win over Mexico in May 2001.[36]
Pride Park was renamed the iPro Stadium on 7 December 2013, as part of a 10-year, £7 million sponsorship deal with global sports’ drink company iPro.
Obi, I doubt even Wenger knows what’s going on in his mind, so it’ll be interesting to see if anyone else could work it out lol.
If on the pitch, Giroud would take the penalties, for mine.
I’ve seen him take a few, and he’s always confident and strikes them beautifully.
Why Alexis stepped in, I’ll never know.
Good performance, not great, but the result was important.
Still, it was an improvement so at least we are headed in the right direction.
Next week will tell us if we are improving quickly enough.
If Arsene coaches long range shots out of Xhaka, I will come over and fix his zipper so he can never, ever pull his head out, again.
That strike gets better every time I see it.
Morning all,
I missed the game yesterday but caught the highlights this morning.
What I could pick up is Iwobi is playing the number 10 role superbly, Ozil looks out of sorts, Coq has improved his engine in getting forward and back and Theo is getting really involved and offering width. Theo is actually really good at crossing and I’ll give him credit for this game.
Top class strike from Xhaka, let’s hope that isn’t coached out of him.
Buongiorno lovelies and hunkies
Ozil is still out of sorts mate. Very quiet. But he is not being a detriment to the team. He is quiet by his own standards.
I loved seeing Iwobi play. He is a footballer. If Aaron does not play on Tuesday Iwould put him in the hole behind the striker.
Ospina
Debuchy,Holding, Gabriel, Gibbs
Elbeny, Xhaka
Ox, iwobi, Perez
Akpom
Morning all.
Just watched the highlights too Brad, agree with you re Walcott and Iwobi. Both had very good games imo, although Theo could be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. The play for Walcott’s goal was very very slick…
Ozil does look a bit out of sorts, he could have done with that shot of his finding the net, he might have smiled then… lol
Morning All
Being a gooner can be nerve racking
even when your so far on top.
We nearly always let teams back in
1-2 against ten..Who’s arse/nal began
to quake.
Aways fans went quiet Ts..Did you.
Anyway I thought you was a prawn sandwich
fan.
We have Pie’n’mash this end.Don’t we Kev
Morning Rico and all. Good all round performance yesterday for sure.
Morning all.
Yeah Ozil was rubbish ! 🙂
http://www.squawka.com/news/mesut-ozil-plays-most-passes-hes-ever-made-in-arsenals-win-over-hull/774967
Morning everyone.
Theo is putting in, so is being more effective.
Iwobi looks very classy, and I think he’s gained confidence from that good run of games last season.
He could end up an absolute ripper for us.
Morning Adam, at times I thought we were superb going forward… Plenty of pace and a lot of movement which has been missing…
Morning all
Well we beat 10 men, a crap newly promoted team, missed a diabolical hit penalty, cech had a mad moment ,but I loved it 😉
I love your infectious positivity Kelsey ! 😆
So did I Kelsey…. 🙂
Morning All
Morning Rico, dare I say that Theo had a good game and is starting to look quite a dangerous player for us.
Now if he can stay fit and continue his form, then maybe even at this late stage of his career he might finally mature into the player we all hoped he would become some 5 or 6 years ago…
Dev, I think Bielik will get a start, Bennacer, Zelalem and Willock should be in the squad.
If pigs could fly,kev 😉
https://youtu.be/XiSWCrKAUhs
Morning Kev, I reckon you could be right about Theo. Best game for a while yesterday and he seems to be really working hard. Long may it continue.
I am not convinced after 11.5 years I would have like to see a much quicker progress from Theo.If he does it consistently now I would change my mind,On the otherhand Iwobi is mighty impressive,he has got a football brain.
Kelsey, Theo won’t suddenly workout how to play, but at least the lift in work rate means he’s not a liability when playing.
Yes, he needs to do it every game he plays.
New post up now.