Games like this are often the toughest to play. Last weekend we beat the Northern Chavs on their own turf, followed that with a very good away win at Newcastle in the Carling Cup with many a changed side, so confidence has to be high.
But not too high I hope, every players feet must be firmly on the ground otherwise we could slip up. Yes we are at home, The Emirates is where we all expect us to win but as yet it’s not our Fortress. Winning games like todays will help it one day become that, just like it used to be at Highbury.
We all know what happened after our 4-1 drubbing of the Tiny Totts, we were all so elated after beating our most bitter rivals, we took the next game for granted. West Bromwich Albion taught us a big lesson that day didn’t they?
West Ham earned themselves a good win in the week, a 3-1 home victory against Stoke City so they will have a little more confidence than of late but as already said, we are firing on all cylinders and scoring for fun which is what is needed again today.
West Hams last league game was a home defeat to Newcastle and this was their starting eleven.
Robert Green
Matthew Upson
Lars Jacobsen
Danny Gabbidon
Manuel Da Costa
Valon Behrami
Scott Parker
Mark Noble
Frederic Piquionne
Victor Obinna
Carlton Cole
We all know Scott Parker is a wonderful player and Carlton Cole on his day can cause any defence problems. Robert Green is ‘one of those keepers’ who you just never know which side of his game will turn up. He can be outstanding one match and then the next he can be as bad as Almunia and Fabianski put together. By that I mean the Fabianski of old, not the one of the present!
Talking of which, Fabianski needs another solid display, he’s got real competition for the number 1 shirt now and I don’t mean Almunia. Our young Pole, who is now in talks about a new contract, showed us all in the week that he’s ready to take over between the sticks. This can only be good for the club, before then it just looked as if Almunia and Fabianski would just thrash it out between themselves.
Jack Wilshere sits this one out, the last match of his suspension and Kieran Gibbs is out too, other than that there are no new injuries from last weekend or the mid-week game.
What is there to be said really about today’s game, other than more of the same please boys and I hope Arsene Wenger is thinking only of West Ham as he picks his side to face the Hammers, Wednesdays team will take care of itself!
West Ham sit bottom of the English Premier League, we need to make sure they stay there today. After that, I hope they go on a winning run, beating all the sides who sit around us in the league!
Other news is Jack Wilshere is also in talks about a new contract extension which Arsene Wenger believes him to sign very soon and the same goes for Szczesny. Those two could turn out to be two of the most important signings Wenger has made in a long while!
So, back to today. I can’t see many changes from the side that won in the City of Manchester start today’s game, maybe Johan Djourou will make way for the fit again Laurent Koscielny.
It’s not going to be easy, games against London sides never are but it’s in our hands, play well and the rest will follow…
West Ham may sing ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’, but lets not let ours be burst today!!
Have a great day all, only a win will make mine that!
New one up
Mark Clattenburg has to be a Gooner 😆
Morning all, anyone around??
oliver, just about to log off my laptop and i caught your comment, thank you my friend, i can have a lay in in the morning now 🙂 thanks again and enjoy your evening 🙂
agag, can’t argue with your choice, song must come second 😉
Def off now all…
rico, if you should pop on again, i will do the match report. i was able to watch the match in its entirety as it happened. i am quite busy right now, but will have it in your inbox later today….walking along, singing a song…
rico, I just cast my vote for MoTM on the dotcom. 😀 It’s been a while since “Clichy” and “MoTM” went together like toast and tea. (smiles sweetly)
Gotta go all, my dinner needs cooking and Strictly Come Dancing is on soon 🙂
Be good and stay safe, nighty night all
Sure is agag, i am down to my knuckls 🙁
Good result for the northern chavs STV, love it 🙂
Ladies please RA, ladies 😉 it was horrid though, i pictured a late Parker or Cole goal looming 🙁
No, I was very far from calm. I don’t bite my nails but it was the mental equivalent.
I suffered with the increasing concern expressed in the comments from you girls. Terrible!
Then the goal! I was pretty much resigned to a poor draw.
I will try your link again next time, Rico. 🙂
Now city off from us.pensioners escaped.. but what a nervous victory.. sort of forgotten ritual of “keeping it late” as agag/ rico comments shown 🙁
That sort of game is bad for manicures, RA. 🙂
http://soccerjumbo-mem111.blogspot.com/2009/11/channel-2.html
here it is RA…
RA, the link is in a previous comment of mine, it was pretty good….
So you remained calm through out then RA… well you will possibly be the only AFC fan that did 😉
I loved reading the game thru the eyes of Rico and Agag and occasionally Stef.
Doom and gloom and then the goal. 🙂 🙂
You girls helped depress me and exalt me!
Just could not get a stream feed at all. Where did you get your link Rico?
Anyway, thanks girls, it was better than nothing! 🙂
My stream wasn’t good enough to see that agag, to be fair, but clichy should be grinning, his cross was bloomin good…
The real Green is always great agag, he just has ‘Almunia moments’… and too often….
He was Stef, had to be against us didn’t it, we still should have won a bit easier though, how the heck WH are at the bottom of the league i will never know…
i guess that lack a goal scorer…
To be fair, Green was nothing short of amazing tonight. Did you see how wide Gael’s grin was as he he walking back to the tunnel??? I’m a very happy girl. And I think the alter-ego Songinho is making a case over good ole’ Alex Song. 😛
We dug in and ground out a great win agag, and nasri was unlucky from his free kick…
One-nil to the Arsenal 😀 yeay we should of scored more god damn Green was on fire today
for once i found a good stream to watch too which was good 🙂
What a win!!! Cesc and Theo were unlucky not to score. We deserved that though.
wow, i’m glad i dont have a dicky ticker……
That cross from Clichy was the best from him in a long while agag, and great credit to song for getting on the end of it…
we all ask for gritty wins on bad days, we just got what we asked for, now who was it that said 1-0 yesterday, SD or STV….
rico, you’re right… Focus, focus, focus. Come on, boys. I wish our players hold their nerve…
Phew agag, now stay focused til the end, not you agag, them 😉
Gael, je t’aime
nd who engineered the move, rico??? Hmmm. Is that Gael I hear?
Soooooonggggggggggggggg 😆
Song!!!!!!!!!
Chelsea leads now…
Green has been ridiculously good…
Dire, dire, dire…
nikki and chamakh…
agag, its dire!!
Against the bottom of the league, and we struggle??? Goodness.
could only happen to us, probably saying ‘you should have signed me arsene!!’
Come on, Theo!!!
Why does Green have to be good tonight???
Theo Theo, so so close….
wolves are 2-1 up v citeh…
Just one goal… Come on you, reds!!!!
they are warming up agag, come on wenger
What’s AW waiting for??
I’m starting to have this horrible feeling…..
def agag, denny boy is really off his game, also get AA off, he’s not firing today….
We’re too narrow… Time to pull out Denny Boy.
I think we should bring in the subs earlier. It’s too defensive a line-up and Chamakaka has seen so little of the ball…
We know AA is shite when alex song is the biggest threat. All credit to green worldclass saves
We did OK Green had some big saves.
Denilson has been off today.
Arsh is struggling he tried even to go on the right side.
Fresh blood will do us good maybe even Nick in for Chamakh I lost him for a while.
Anyway first in will probably be TR or TW
Bummer re the chavs…..
H/T then and we need a big talk from the manager…..
bald man gave chelsea one
TR7 for Denilson, Theo for AA, that should do it 🙂
why we do that i never know agag….
the afc reporters are sayin TV is way off a return….
Sounds like a plan, rico or bring TR7 in… 🙂
Yeah, and we’ve conceded some silly free kicks..
we do indeed agag, i think its denilson who’s the weak link… time to think about theo coming on 🙂
denny boy is not at his best….
We look off… 🙁
Northern chavs are 1-1 with wolves…
Could do we the chavs dropping all three points STV, but we need to capitalise, we don’t look like doing that at the moment….
chelsea in pit
B’burn 1-0 up 🙂
Great save from Green!!
Thanks Stef, i’ve managed to find one and i don’t like it, it keeps showing wesyt ham in possession and attacking our goal….
surely that’s not what is really happening… 😉
I am watching on sopcast but English link keeps getting down so will probably watch the game in Chinese
if any1 needs links
http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=91318&part=sports
http://soccerjumbo-mem111.blogspot.com/2009/11/channel-2.html
good link and in real time 🙂
STV, you able to watch?? I can’t find a decent link 🙁
Rico am looking forward to denilson’s play today. he is only the one remaining to show “BIG THINGS” up
too many STV, good to draw them at home….
they got some results though in their home matches..
Thanks STV, saves me looking 😆
kc we’ve thrashed them in last home mach.. we won the 2 home matches before that thanks to tr7 late strikes
Kc, i’ll have a look…
Hi STV 🙂
Chesney deserves better tan barcelona.. he deserves some thing like arsenal..
Of course I rmbr tat stupid game but I m pretty sure we had trashed them a few times in te league but not in the cup games
RA, Chesney deserves better than Celtic, i’m keeping fingers and toes crossed that he realises he has a great future with us…
i think that is why Almunia has been dropped and not injured, fully expect Almunia to go in Jan….
RA, its off the afc website…
Kc, we lost at the end of last season to wigan, 2-0 up then blew in a few mad minutes 🙁
ade, so do i 😉 😉
Rico r u sure we havent beat them since tat day?
keeping an eye on denilsen…
RA that’s the line up
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9129438.stm
Nice line up typical AW. I would of go with Theo but we don’t want to burn him, 20 mins cameo with 2 goals will do just fine.
Rico,
I read in the Times today that Celtic have made overtures for Chezzer.
Hope Winkie Wenger is on the case.
Is that the official team?
Hello all.. I see arsenal ready to hammer down westham
rico
he gives early and correct team news
Team in full: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Denilson, Arshavin, Nasri, Chamakh
Subs: Rosicky, Vela, Walcott, Djourou, Eboue, Bendtner, Szczesny
who is alex ade??
where is alex for the team news?
RA, i am more concerned with the Chesney contract than Jacks, the latter i am sure will stay, but chesney….
If Almunia gets back in this side other than through desperate needs, i will be amazed, and pretty peed off….
Hi RA, for sure i am…. 😉
I am amazed that Arsene has got to within 18 months of Jack’s contract ending, and 8 months of Chezzers finishing.
Sailing a bit too close to the wind methinks.
You a vengeful person, Rico?
Surely not!! 🙂
Kc, i hope for revenge after earlier this year 👿
Boo, who’s about??
Kc, we haven’t beaten wigan yet 😉
Glad with the cc draw. It’s gonna be sweet revenge of the semi defeat in wigan few seasons ago
How did fabianski warrant himself a new contract? Isn’t he signed a “long term cotract” 2 yes ago? Besides that, he only had a couple of solid game doesnt meAn barca or r.m is coming to lure him away. What if him flops again after he signs the contract?
We have drawn wigan in the CC.mancs have drawn the hammers…
Hey, KT. 🙂 Howdy? Mourinho is entirely too fond of ready made stars. I’d be lying if I were to say that doesn’t have its benefits, but I think there’s that much more pride in being an Arsenal fan because we are not buying trophies, but building a team capable of ensuring that we get said trophies!
Most mancs i know want mourinho to take over from red nose due to his CV.it is understandable but part of the reason red nose has built a legacy there is due to signings like chicharito.also there is nothing better than watching a young player breakthrough and if mou signs for them he may win trophies but manutd won’t be the same club again.he is also a very short term manager…
Haha, rico. Will be around. I schedule my weekends around our games, remember? 😉
Hola agag.its good to see you again.rico you only need to purchases like koscielny and vermaelen to see how good he is.if we had signed palacios lil jack wouldn’t be having a breakthrough year and jack is a player we can really bond with.Sergio Canales is the most promising youth player in spain but since signing for madrid mourinho won’t play him.he’d rather play alonso/diarra as an Am when özil is absent not canales and thats why i wouldn’t want him anywhere near our club.
That Mourinho has to validate his accomplishments by knocking AW speaks volumes of his class… He has none.
Back in a bit….
Typical, agag arrives just as i have to pop out with the woofas, you around later agag??
I hve no doubt KT, honest – every now and again, usually after the transfer windows when he has failed to improve our squad i’ve thought maybe he’s had his day, but now we see the likes of JET, Lansbury, Eastmond etc etc coming through you can see what he saw…
What would happen to them all….
He needed time…
Boo! How is everyone? The Dippers, the red Mancs, and the Pensioners are all clubs in decline for various reasons (financial, Shrek-related, old age issues) yadda yadda.
Arsenal, on the other hand, I am more convinced by the day, are on the cusp of greatness. Life is sweet.
And would be sweeter if we win against the Hammers today. 🙂
AW will come good rico.we just need the first trophy and it should be the CC…
i was talking to a friend the other day, he ‘supports’ the chavs, he was honest and said that he had followed them for years but when Jose went their he started to support them more.
but, what he said was very interesting and it was in praise of Rafa Benitez. Seeing the dippers slide into the bottom three has made he realise what a great manager Rafa is, what he achieved with his squad was pretty good when you consider what is happening there now….
made me think a bit… not for long though 😉
many seasons ago, man utd had to make the biggest decision they had faced, do they sack Fergie or give him extra time, they were in a mess…
they stood by him, gave him the time and the rest is history.
arsenal have done the same with arsene, yes we have a long way to go to achieve what fergie has done but there are finally signs that this squad are mature enough to start winning again.
manure and arsenal stand alone but together in their ways, they trust who they employ and don’t just sack them if things aren’t all rosy all of the time..
the likes of moanrinho follow the money and those kind of clubs want it all overnight… hence he moves on!
Rico mourinho launched an attack on barça but credit to pep he just kept quiet.Aw should just ignore him.mourinho may win trophies but Aw is building a legacy and mou is envious of it.
KT, i wanted madrid to bash barca too, but pep is a far more gracious manager than moanrinho will ever be… he should shut up and worry about his own club…
Later WATH, have a good day, and here’s to a big win….
As good a manager as he is KT his ego is the thing that makes him all bitter and twisted…. I love it that he is so irritated by us….! he also knows none of his teams have ever played the football that we play he just turns them into machines…! Ok, I’m gone…
WATH he is sad because despite madrid doing well in the CL everyone is talking about how good we are.Madrid were holding a record of 12 goals in 3 cl games but we have surpassed that as we are now on 14.he must be worried about us to take a swipe at Aw everytime he gets an opportunity.
Ok am off see you all when ever, long day and night ahead enjoy the game all and be good 😉
Rico i want madrid to topple barca but these cheap shots at Aw are not helping his case.we really need to win the CC to remove this indian sign ‘no trophy in 5 years’ that is hanging over our heads…
Moreenyo is a worried man even all those euro’s and he can see we now at last becoming the team Wenger promised, not there yet by any means but it’s def taking shape…!
He’s getting worried KT, thats why – don’t know why he takes so much interest, hes a sad man….
Mourinho has just slammed AW again…
Morning K-TR7, big signings, two class players….
Hi Stef, wondered where you had been 🙁 glad all is back up and running, catch you a bit later, hopefully you’ll be back before KO 🙂
WATH, i can’t see where Almunia fits in anymore, as long as Chesney signs…
Could the keeping headache finally be over….
Morning all.glad to hear we are tying up szczesny and jack.
Morning Rico, Nick and Theo will be probably on the bench today although they both had a good dame the other day, which is good selection wise to have more attacking options.
my internet was down for a while but now i s back don’t think I have stop reading you rico :D;)
Will be back in hour or so…bye bye
Get those two youngsters signed up on good long term deals and thats very important..! Chez was good wednesday a new contract offer and he knows he’s wanted and bye bye the waiter me thinks did u see AW’s face when asked what about Almunia…? was a picture of intrigue “oh a nother week or two” what for a little bruise on the elbow… me think more like a kick up the arse pack ya bags n don’t come back 😉 lol
Pleased to hear that Chesney’s deal is on the table, best he get on and sign it, Arsenal are a team on the up, while a few big names are on the way down….
Great news re Jack too, Wenger obviously isnt going to take a risk on this kid, 2020 contract no doubt 😆
Morning WATH 😆
Morning all….
Bursting bubbles very apt………..