Morning all.
I didn’t see the entire game, just a few highlights including the goals. The two we scored were pretty good weren’t they and good to see Danny Welbeck open his goal scoring account and Mesut Ozil get his first for the season.
I must admit, I didn’t expect us to get anything at Villa Park against a side which had only conceded one goal so far this season and who Roy Keane and Paul Lambert had clearly got his players set up to defend well.
That wasn’t the case yesterday at all and they gifted us a large amount of space at times which clearly suited our game, how it was only 3-0 at the end I don’t know but it was and it’s always fantastic to win and especially when we haven’t conceded a goal and Villa had a few chances, and a number of set-pieces so we did well to keep a clean sheet.
Our goals were like buses, as soon as one came, three were in and the game was over and all within a few minutes.
No doubt they’ll be a lot of talk about the Villa players being poorly with some kind of bug but so what, no-one cares when we get a bug do they, and we have had our fair share of those in the last couple of seasons.
All in all a good day for the fans but I’m not getting carried away. I doubt we’ll face another side who will give us as much freedom on the pitch for a long while and until we can come away from grounds like Anfield and the Etihad etc with a respectable result and start beating those same sides at home, nothing has really changed.
Things could have been very different for Calum Chambers yesterday had the referee not been so kind. Already on a yellow card, he tugged back one of the Villa players and could, in fact should have received a second yellow card and sent off. He needs to learn from that very quickly.
Mesut Ozil is taking all the plaudits today after a very lively game with a goal and an assist and the manager was asked about our little German:
I didn’t really consider leaving out Ozil. I have a lot of attacking players and you are always looking to find the right balance. Alexis Sanchez for example has played every game and I felt he needed a rest.
I wanted Ozil to play behind their midfield. It was important for him to find space between the lines and it worked.
I felt we were at the point where I had to show confidence in him. You never know how people respond to being left out. It’s a sensitive point.
At least he knows where Mesut prefers to play:
In the middle. But I can find you 10 more players in my squad who want to play in the middle.
Maybe that’s true, but I doubt very much that all of those other ten players, if any, will give our side what Mesut Ozil can and just why it’s taken so long for Wenger to actually play him there beggars belief. Let’s hope our little maestro stays there now….
Southampton up next on Tuesday and we should see a bit of rotation…
Maybe we’ll even see Abou Diaby who was on the bench yesterday so he’s clearly fit and ready to play….
That’s it for another day…
Morning rico, house. Not sure our squad stretches to four competitions, but its our best chance of silverware. Have to start Diaby, whats to lose? Need to find out once and for all, if he has a future with us.
Morning Andrew, domestic cups for me and the PL.. Blow the CL, we aren’t going to win it…
Morning all. Told you we’d win. LOL
Some media now going overboard on Ozil after weeks of dumping on him! Lets hope he does continue to contribute like yesterday though and he plays where he can most contribute. I don’t like building a team around one player, but last seasons transfer budget was all in one basket, so at least make the most of him. Nice to see Ozil smile 🙂
You and me both syg, but I did wonder if I’d been rash. Hows sunny Cyprus? You need to stay for quite a few weeks, at least until after Chelsea game!
I reckon you’re right Andy.
Scott in the bar was playing hell up as I missed the Dortmund game. The weather’s nice – but I’m back in Doncaster in the early hours.
Andrew, that’s probably why old silly bollox plays Ozil out of position, he doesn’t like having one superstar in a side apparently.
Diaby has one excellent game each season. We will hit jackpot if we learn how to place that particular game right.
Syg, you are lucky, some of us had to suffer the Dortmund game.. lol
Morning rico, All…
Nice post.
It’s great that Wenger had to respond positively to the heartbreak he caused all fans in Germany. Yes, Wenger because he had the players to have snatched at least a draw against Dortmund only if he had been flexible tactically.
I was shocked at how little Villa offered yesterday but glad we took full advantage. Still, if Szczesny did not do what he should be doing consistently – make himself big as a big guy he truly is to thwart that header, the result would have been different, even if we rallied to grab all three points.
Glad Wenger had to play just one out of Ramsey and Wilshere to create space for Ozil to slot into his comfort zone. Glad for Welbeck to assist and score to shut LvG up, even if temporarily.
Whatever happens on Tuesday …as long as Wenger lines out the untested and recovering players instead of any starter that featured yesterday. Without Giroud, Walcott and Debuchy, we’re already missing sure starters…Wenger must not risk further first team injuries. Diaby, Flamini, Campbell, Coq, Ospina, Bellerin, Hayden, Monreal, Podolski, Zalalem, Akpom should all get their chances. COC should not be anything more.
ha ha. Love u Rico. Dead cool.
I was talking to a guy in the bar who’s son runs
http://www.theawayend.net/about
I’d never heard of it before.
Morning Tai, thanks..
Think we’ll see a couple of changes Tuesday, but not many. AW will want to win this game…
And Syd,
Pls, for heaven’s sake, you should be watching all our matches where you did yesterday.
Scottish football, what’s that then? 😉
http://www.footballbloggingawards.co.uk/about/how-to-vote-football-blogging-awards/
Cough cough!!! 😛
Exactly, Rico.
Hiya Tai.
Scott’s wife is Angie – As soon as I came in yesterday she knew that we wouldn’t lose.
Scott had £5 on Arsenal winning 3-0 and it was the dad of the kid that runs the Scottish football website that was running the book. He was dead happy.
Diabys back!!?? Cant wait 😉 To be fair, I dont know how a player can be out so long so often and have it not affect his quality and development. I mean, Im sure it must… but I would think if youre not regularly playing at the top you will drop off the cliff… but apparently not with him. So if he comes back and plays well Ill be amazed. He must be doing something right behind the scenes to keep his skills up, even if his fitness is terrible.
Ps we were good yesterday. Did someone say 10 games in the PL undefeated? Not bad… Like most of you Im not concerned about us beat the mid-table and bottom teams (even if they can be stuborn to break down. Its against the big teams I worry.
Cough Cough
http://james-durose-rayner.co.uk/i-am-sam-by-james-durose-rayner.php
I do mention you Rico
Roger, from the bits I saw we looked good, but Villa were very ken to give us acres of space. I hope we can start playing as we did yesterday against the so called better sides…
You really need to go to that Rico. Get a few up. It would make a great night.
Rico! Stop coughing, I cant hear you properly 😉
Now, what category are we voting in? Social? All? You want the HH website address?
You sure you want that link on here Syg?
Yup, youre right Rico, they gave us too much space, they played badly. But you can only beat the team thats put in front of you!
Like I said before the game the reason they were second was LUCK – their stats were not good, and they just had some good results in the first few. They have a tough run now, so watch them stand still.
Wait until the publishers send over the book cover, Rico and then I’ll come cap in hand … I could write another four books in the time it takes them to publish one !
Not my kind of thing Syg…
Roger, no idea sorry, I haven’t looked at the link as I can’t vote for my own website.. 😉
Syg, I am more than happy for the link to be here, I’ll put it in the post each day if you would like, was only concerned for Ts and his identity…
Fabregas is talking…sure to infuriate Mourinho. Cesc said Arsenal refused to activate the buy-back option and told him we had Ozil…so he was left with no option but to go to Chelsea.
Yet Mourinho told us Chelsea was all Fabregas wanted straight from Barca. Lying b++tard.
Totally agree Roger and we did just that, but I am not getting blown away with one good performance and result against what was a very average Villa side..
Let’s beat Southampton, Spuds and a few more sides first…. Haven’t we got Chelsea soon to?
Cesc said that back in the summer too Tai which is why most laughed at the dwarfs comments…
What are you on about Rico? Ginge has been opening supermarkets and kissing babies the past week. In fact he has his own person fan site and even the producers of Big Brother have asked him if e fancies joining the house. He says he’d do it but he’s too busy compiling stats to piss people off at Highbury House. LOL
VOTED. Dead easy
🙂 Syg…
Who for…… 😉
Morning Rico and the rest of the house good win yesterday seems to me it was the best game we played this season.
Let’s hope we press on from here for the rest of the season.
Voted too.
Come on Rico. There’s no divided loyalty with me. HH all the time.
Well done Tai
It’s still early days Goonerjoe, but I have to say it was a great game – as was the Man City game. Hopefully we’ll kick on and see more of the same.
Morning Joe – we can only hope…
Just kidding Syg…. lol
Thanks Tai..
Morning all,
Ozil’s first away goal in the league yesterday, what took him so long ?
Great result at Zuprin Park as well !
Gjoe, Ireland about to be Kingdomised today, come on Kerry !!!
Morning happy Housers everywhere.
3-0 to the Arsenal! Who’d have thought it? I thought we’d probably win but I was not convinced.
What a magical master of tactics Wenger is! He put Ozil just behind the striker on not using him as a spectator, on the wing. You’ve got to take your hat off to him, a master stroke!
As it worked so well I wonder if Le Chef will use him in the same way the next time he gives him a run out?
SYG. I’m sure your book will make an interesting read. I remember Sammels well. I thought he was 10 years ahead of his time, as was Eastham. He was too good for the rest of the team seeing things way in advance of them! They could not play to his strengths I think. The crowd got on his case, big style as they did/ do with many of our players, Geoff Strong, Ray Kennedy come to mind and look what they went on to achieve elsewhere. There are plenty more too, down the years. We can be unbelievably vindictive to our ‘own’ often to the clubs detriment and the teams performances. It’s the nature of being an Arsenal fan!
However, my own interest in Sammels is more prurient, where is he now and what became of his life after football? Does any body know? I should be most interested. It’s a sort of hero worship and a where are they now time line that intrigues me and probably many others?
Any ideas?
Good assessment of yesterday’s game Rico. Very honest.
Voted too, not in the gambling section or female sections though 😉
Micko, come on, you know it’s tough scoring from the wings… lol
HH is always top of the tops, rico.
Syg, remember to stay two days inside the pub you watched yesterday before we play Chelsea…then if needed, two days more after we win.
Thanks Wavy, and to think we thought AW was past it eh, then he comes up with a master stoke with Ozil… lol
I think Kipling said it better than I ever could over the start of our season
‘if’ by rudyard kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master,
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
Hope this is not to over the top but I thought it covered our last two games and probably how the rest of the season will pan out we are Arsenal after all.
Now I am off to vote and I am not looking for a brown envelop 😉
A master stroke indeed wavy, he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves does he, pure genius !
Thanks Tai..
One of my favs Joe…
Ha ha Joe…
Micko
friends and family will be going to the pub to day so we watch the all Ireland and the man city v chelski match.
I am afraid it’s Donegal In our group me I don’t care Wexford are not in it.
True rico, jimmy carter would love you !
Jon Sammels had a driving school in Leicester after he retired from football. Is now in retirement. Settled in Leicester after a successful career with City.
He lives in Leicester Wavy.
I wrote to him just to let him know that there would be a book coming out with him at the heart of it and felt it the courteous thing to do by letting him know. He thanked me by text and offered to speak with me. I didn’t straight away as I needed to send him an unedited draft or spine of the story.
I then had him on the phone for a good 90 minutes and I now keep in fairly regular contact with him.
“I can’t believe how you knew how was feeling at the time,” were his first words.
It’s not a bio as such – It’s a lovely story to tell a story.
I asked if he had any objections to me using the ‘face shot’ that appears on the website with the snow on his head. He definitely didn’t. I hope it goes okay, because he deserves a lot better than he got.
A truly lovely man. I mean that.
Glad somebody would Micko….
I have a few chores to get done before 1pm, can’t miss the Singapore GP…
Come on Theo… lol
Catch up in a bit….
Voting is easy why so much coverage of the Scots doing it 😉
ye micko donegal knocked the dubs out, They look strong,worthy favs,imo.
Rico if you could put a link ,it would be appreciated, Im only new to blogging, didnt think there was awards.there,s only 1 site i post on. Wasn,t it a joy to see welbecks face when he scored, you could see how much it meant to him, and Ozil. Let,s hope he,ll keep Ozil there v spurs
Wenger is basically saying, I played Ozil there because I am the boss. I did not play him there because the media told me to.
PS I thought that was a perfect game for Diaby to return.
Surprised no one praised Ox’s defensive contribution. He really was good there especially with block he made in the first half.
I don’t know what’s going on with Ramsey. He looks distracted. He even gets simple passes wrong. His energy and work rate are the things he contributes to,now.
All the same,it was a good game.
Mainz destroyed BVB yesterday. Ginter with an own goal
Have I really gotta vote for such a crappy site…?
oh ok then……………..
Afternoon you lot…?
Amazed we won yesterday but the goals were good and shame we decided to use the 2nd half as a sunday afternoon stroll but many will say it was a professional way to play, I always say you should destroy rubbish and hammer then 5 or 6 nil when your 3 up and the game is so easy and they purely playing to keep the score down, shows we nowhere near ruthless enough. Oh well sounds like I’m moaning and yes I am to a degree but chuffed that we won but then to see how easy it was is frustrating that we couldn’t be bothered to truly batter them.
Eyes right, skin back tight, bolloxs to the front….
Afternoon you happy people, oops there goes the swallow…
Dublin, rico put the link up at 10.36.
Just need Welbeck to bang in another 19 by May !
Hattrick against the scum next week and we’ll all be laughing !
Pub calls.
Micko, all Ireland final is it?
Bt62, whats the make of your mattress ?
King coil…Micko…lol
OK Thanks i seen a link, didnt open it,
Kerry = man u in the world of Gaelic football always bloody winning 😉
That’s me voted…
Cough cough
Gj, are they as obnoxious as manure fans?
No!a very modest bunch-unlike the Corey’s!
Sorry that should read Corkeys!
Thanks for that SYG and MG for the info. It’s nice to know where your one time heroes have ended up. I’m pleased to hear he ‘lived happily ever after’.
There are plenty of other snow haired brigade that it would be interesting to hear about too. Any other bizarre offers? Ian Ure!!? Fingers Jim? McCullough and Magill? Peter Storey? Inside or out?etc etc.
Or I could Google them I suppose!
Arsenal were a very different club in Sammel’s days. Only the name remains now.
Hi BT and Micko.
Adam, so true mate, i take it you had a good Sat. evening…
Uwot, that explains Roy Keane then…lol
Yes thanks mate. My friend from France, who left this morning, hung out with us and we listened to some music and then watched MOTD. I trust you got chilled?
Roy Keane looks plain weird now with that beard.
Adam, pretty much the same as you, mate was over to watch the match, left him passed out on sofa about 4am..lol drifted around YouTube hunting music, in the wee hours…lol
You’re all heart Wath… 😉
Thanks guys for the votes…. lol
Adam, Keane has always looked weird, I just thought he took his pet ferret with him yesterday…. lol
Afternoon all..
Good Afternoon Rico and All.
Nice post Rico and maybe our manager would start to listen when he realize he’s human after all and, make the necessary adjustments that seem obvious to everyone. A Striker (proving top man with pace), D-Midfielder and CB.
Voted, each and every category except Gambling.
Do we Gambling Here???
Keane looks like that other great humanitarian Saddam Hussain.
Afternoon mee Lady, good post, watched the whole match, a good 3 pts, but hey, there goes that one swallow….
Afternoon Ng, thanks re the post and the votes…
It’s only taken AW just over a season to work it out, he’s still think about the CB and CDM I expect….
Rico, thought you were an animal lover?…lol
Afternoon Bt, thanks – chuffed with the 3 points, chuffed for Welbeck and Ozil too, but that’s as far as it goes at the moment for me. I think Arsenal Ladies would have beaten Villa yesterday… lol
Ha ha Bt, but ferrets are a bit stinky for me, clearly doesn’t bother Keane though… lol
Talking of Keane, what was going on with him and Chambers?
Or the ferret….lol
🙂 Bt..
Keane was having a pop. Usual stuff from him. Some blokes think that growing a beard qualifies them to indulge in psychological warfare. Once a moron….
Thanks Adam, he can be a horrid man can’t he….
I think he IS a horrid man Rico. And now with a ‘hipster’ beard. I am surprised he doesn’t gave a Mohican and skin-tight trousers too.
That beard will soon be off Adam, I bet. He looks hideous….
You going to watch the City/Chelsea game?
Manure winning 2-1 at half time, spuds 0-0. The beard will never hide the person he really is, ie. A proper cnut…
I couldn’t quite bring myself to say something like that Bt… 😉
I am Rico. Just watching the tedium of the GP and the Man Utd game. Great strikers and approach play but flakey in defence. LVG will address that though I would imagine.
And rightly so mee Lady, leave it to uncouth people like me …lol
just sayin, If clarkes 6 yard free header had of went in,after the first 20 mins, the game could have easily took a different turn, apart from that freak 5 mins of goals, you could argue we didnt offer much. of course we,ll hold judgement till the spurs game, If we cant get up that game ,I,ve seen enough.
Dublin, i see the winning euro millions ticket was bought in the Republic, have you something to tell us? lol
I’m enjoying the GP Adam..
🙂 Bt..
I know Rico. 🙂
Rico, i hate GP…sooo dull..lol
Superb driving Theo.. 😛
Dublin, thankfully that didn’t happen, but you are right about the rest of the game, having got the 3 we just eased off when really, we should have battered them…
I think it’s more to do with Lewis Hamilton Bt… lol
Mancs 3-3 now….
Rico, you do like your candy…lol
Spuddies 0-1 down.
hope they stay like that.
Good Afternoon Bugs Bunnies and Minnie mice.
Good match report Rico.
hope the Manures stay like that or concede another two. Now if they loose 5-3 that would be hilarious.
Fantastic Lewis!!
Off out with Fido now and back to watch City batter the Chavs:)
And Leicester go 4-3 up.
Leicester 4 Man U 3. Funny as fcuk.
🙂 Bt…
Hi Devil, thanks. I hope Leicester nick a winner….
ye i bought a euro millions ticket in a syndicate, but unfortunately It,s not me., i,ll keep dreaming though. wow cmon leicester.
Totts 1-0 down too 😛
Down to 10 and a pen….Brillant
5-3 to Leicester
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
5 now…lol
5-3 Leicester
Two penalties (the referre was wrong twice..)
Boo!! It’s no accident that Ozil played well because he played in his preferred position. AW should acknowledge that; and stop pretending that others can do as good a job (whoever those 9 other players may be) 😀
rico, I have voted. I certainly hope HH wins; you deserve it. 🙂 🙂
Hello, all!! 🙂
All together now……..
there’s a hole in the bucket dear Louie, dear Louie,
there’s a hole in the bucket dear Louie
a hole
With what shall I fix it dear Giggsy, dear Giggsy
with what shall I fix it
with what
with Gus Ceasar dear Louie dear Louie
with Gus Ceasar dear Louie
With Gus
Let’s all laugh at Manure. 😆
Spuddies lost.
waheeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy
rico, I think we play Southampton, totts, Galatasaray and Chelsea…
Blow the CL? We must go to the second stage. It’s a question of pride, dignity and world affirmation.
If it was the Europa League, maybe …
In my opinion, should run almost all the team for Tuesday.
Hi,Agag, have you made it home yet?
Bt, yep. 😛 Yesterday! A pretty good end to an otherwise crap week for me. 😛 The look on LvG’s face is priceless. Roo was a poor appointment as captain.
JM, imo, it would be better we go into the Europa lge.
Why you may ask?
for the simple reason that if we play in that competition, players like Ospina, Bellerin, Haydn etc will have more games due to having a greater possibility of going all the way.
Imagine certain players like Poldi and the three mentioned above getting run outs and resting the starting 11.
A season in the Europa lge will benefit the club. for sure.
So, imo this season it would be better for us that we finish 3rd in the group. At least the EPL will get priority while the 2nd 11 will be getting games under their belts.
The last time Leicester put FIVE past Manure was way back in 1930. And that was the year that saw the start of a decade of dominance by Chapman and his red army.
Is it another omen????
Are we going to see a decade of dominance by our team???
Voted rico!
Not often get such good set of results. That will knock the spuds before next weekend. Our three draws Everton away, Leicester away and Man City not looking too bad at all.
Adam, what’s it like over your way today?
I’m not agree Devil. Not only sports questions but economics too.
Those players must play in the league cup and be preparing for playing in the others competiitons.
BT. It was lovely earlier but as I cleaned the car it has now clouded over and looks like rain. It’s usually raining in Ireland isn’t it? 🙂
Now I realised we didn’t drop points in Leicester.Leicester 5- lol 3
Agag, hope your home OK when you got there?
Adam, fortunately of late we’ve had little or no rain, it’s glorious here, just been watching a bird of prey,drifting on the thermals….Might take a look at the chavs in a while…
Good news that you’re home Agag. Hope it all dries out.
BT. Sounds like the Serengeti. 🙂
All good in my home; the roads were impassable is all, thanks for asking guys. 🙂
Can’t stop smiling about the Manure result. I think Arsenal have a soft belly, and then I see this. 😀 😀
Adam, haha on the serengeti. Where I live it’s all stray cats and dogs! 🙂
Adam your right mate, one the cats is lying in the shade, striking his best Serengeti pose…lol
Let’s all laugh at the Scum
And let’s all laugh at ManUre…. 😆 😆
BT. I envy you the cats. I love them but, after we lost our boy, we can’t bring ourselves to get another one. Sad but true.
Roy Keane looks like he’s on a Jihad…
Boring Boring Chelsea btw…. 😉
Adam, you should take the plunge…
There’s a kitten out there that needs a good home… 🙂
Afternoon all, feisty old game going on right now, will it end 11 v 11??
Thanks Andrew and Agag for the votes, and glad all is ok where you are Agag…
Agag, how’s things shopping devotee?
You been having some dodgy weather I gather?!
I said it – Leicester will finish in the top half of the table. They play like a team. Logging off now. Flying back to UK tonight.
Funny how Dean can book a City player within the first 12 mins, yet when we played them, nothing given by Battenburg!
Costa’s first red card cannot be far away…
Safe journey Syg….
Rico. I just said the same thing to Mrs Adam but she was polishing off her 2nd bottle of champagne and didn’t hear me.
He’s an animal Kev…
Go Mrs Adam, my kind of Sunday afternoon Adam…
I still have a nice bottle of Prosecco waiting to be enjoyed, Christmas Day I think now….
I did wonder if it was still ‘live’ Rico. 🙂
I quite like Atletico, but I was never a big fan of Costa; he seemed quite one-dimensional to me, plus he’s very much Barca-ish in the diving department.
Adam, if you go to the pet shops/homes, there will be a cat that will take to you and Mrs Adam, and it won’t be so bad. 🙂 I promise.
Keeeeevvvv!! No big ticket purchases. Except last week, when we lost and I ended up with a bag. 😕 How are you, sir?
No prob, rico. 🙂 🙂
Coach, your 3.30 makes a lot of sense.
An early exit from the CL would hurt Kroenke, but force Wenger to focus on the things that his squad have a realistic chance of winning, namely the League Cup and FA Cup.
The Europa Cup could be fun as well…
Surprisingly yes Adam.. lol
Mrs Adam has such impeccable taste. 😀 Go, Mrs Adam!
I missed that from Devil about the CL exit – I’m all for going out of it too…
Rico. That is a surprise. 🙂
JM, we will not win the CL. Maybe get to the quarter final!!!! But that is all. So for our sake, for the fringe player’s sake, for the supporters’ sake and for everyone’s sake, I think it would be better if in this year’s competition we finish 3rd in the group. It is only in this way that AW will play the fringe players in the Carling cup, the FA cup and the Europa cup. We have a bigger chance of winning 1 or 2 of these 3.
We will not win the CL
and AW might leave the first 14 players for the APL challenge. We have a good team. but not deep enough for the EPL and CL.
So imo….I would forfeit the CL this year and try to finish 3rd.
I’m good Agag, a new bag eh?
You go for it gal, nothing should come between a woman and a pair of new shoes or a new handbag… 😀
Sadly I am still in saving mode buddy, it pains me to pass all the shops and not be able to acquire a new pair of trousers or a shirt…
I am suffering withdrawal symptoms 😉
Adam, some day it will all click into place, one will catch your eye and fill the void.
It makes sense Rico.
Imagine players like Ospina, Bellerin, Hayden, Akpom, Martinez, Rosicky, zelalem, Diaby, Podolski, Gnabry, Campbell……all could get regular games in three competitions.
If we finish in the 1st two places then these players get lesser games
Better than a ‘b’ league Devil… lol
Kev, such shopping wisdom. 😀 By your next payday, you’d be buying a few more pairs of trainers, Kev. 😛 I’m sure you shopped for a fair few last year. 😀
Hello, Dev. 🙂 I really look forward to the CL matches though. It’s a different kind of exitement. I’d rather Arsenal were there than not.
Yes, the Europa Cup has a kind of romantic sound to it…
I can imagine myself, Adam, Lee, maybe even BT, all of us, on the Orient Express, travelling to some obscure part of the old Soviet Union, to watch our Gunners taking on the likes of Slovan Sebastopol etc….
How exciting….
BT. I know. We are often visited by local cats who know I am a soft touch. 🙂
Perhaps we should just finish 4th in the group stage, that might make Kroenke look again!
Saying that, we might anyway…..
I agree Kev and Agag. However we have to be realistic.
Can you honestly say that with the squad we have we can win the CL?
what do you prefer………go out at the quarterfinal stage or participate in a competition which we have bigger chances to win and use it to give experience and playing time to fringe players??
At the moment I prefer the latter.
A, The Orient Express, count me in……lol
After yesterday’s magnificent victory I can see us winning the CL and the PL.
Adam, i can see us winning PL,CL, La Liga,Bundesliga, Irish League, pretty unstoppable me thinks……
Me too Adam.
Be out of the quarter-final is be in the 8 better European clubs.
Nothing can replace the presence in the CL and the money you can win .
Not going to the CL, means: you must sell (well selling) the best na attractive players of the team; be at the final or win the europa cup, ot give you much money; who was the winner of the last Europa cup? and two years ago? Everybody knows the answer? Probably not.
Be at the CL, specially after this first stage, is be in all Tvs arround the world. The europa cup at the moment, his miinus interesting then the UEFA cup or the Fairs Cup
Rico. It was you and BT that persuaded me. 🙂
Just looked at the current league table, I noticed that we are fourth!
A sign of things to come?
I don’t know that ‘qualifying’ for the Europa cup would make much difference to the stubborn old git’s selection process. Now he has the smell of silver polish up his nose he will have only one objective, to WIN and that means selecting his best personnel not the hopefuls and maybes!
JM…..I am not saying we enter the Europa lge from the beginning of the season. What I am saying is that while I agree with you that its of utmost importance that we enter the group stage every season, for this year at least it is better that we finish in the 3rd place in the group stage so that we would have entered the group stage but then go into a cup which we have more chances to win than the CL
you said that at least we would be one of the best eight teams of the competition. you may be right. But what is the difference between loosing in the final and loosing in the quarters? The difference is that the finalist is the first looser while the quarter finalist is the eighth looser. but still……a looser.
AW will continue playing the first 11 to the ground if we go all the way to the semis. He will not play the fringe players. but at least in the Europa league from January onwards he will play the fringe players especially if the EPL game is on Saturday.
And at the end of the day……in the club’s roll of honours you would read…..Winners Europa league 2014.
you will never read……..quarter finalists Champions lge 2014
Guilty as charged Adam… 🙂
I missed Chelsea signing Mike Dean in the summer…
Can’t see it myself Wavy. Not unless a few sides carry on their dreadful run of results..
I’d love a player like Kompany in our side….
Costa should have been booked then as well….
Palace are beating Everton 3-1 😮
Seeing Sagna come on for City hurts more than seeing Fabregas in a Chav shirt…..
Chavs 1 up, balloxs
Dean is useless!!
Two penalties not given to City and how was Schurle not at least booked for that tackle?
Am I taking to myself on here… 😉
And no booking for Fabregas, what a joke this ref is….
I hope he doesn’t officiate the match when we play the Chavs! But I bet he does….
He’s not fit to ref a pub league!
Dean has been laughable today.
I’d be mega pissed off if I was a City fan Adam..
Lampard…. 😛 😛
Fat Frank strikes again.
He looks quite trim these days… lol
Ah, the irony. Lumpolard should made it two.
Wish he had Agag…
Fat Frank, another of the Roy Keane breed, A Proper…..
Rico. I am an Arsenal fan and I am mega pissed-off. 🙂
Frank Lampard, class. RVP Ungrateful. MOTM MILNER
priceless every result I wanted, this weekend. lpool, spurs, man u, everton all beaten, A chelsea, Man city draw, And an arsenal win. doesn,t get better eh.
I am off. 🙂 Good night, guys! And we kept a clean sheet, yay!!
So am I Adam, mega!!
Night Agag…
Nipping off to get dinner….
Night agag, good to be in your own bed i bet.
Ha Rico, great monologue back there!! Oh some nice twists in the tail of that game wasnt there?! Go Frank, sweet movement. Hold back Chelsea for us all so we can catch up there 🙂
Dublin, good call, great results for Arsenal, we are undefeated and in the mix, without having played so well yet. So when the cogs click into gear there is hope.
Ps Rico, yes, Kompany is so good and strong, we need a player like that.
Zabaletta (spelling) is pretty good to Joe…
I’m off guys, catch you all tomorrow..
Nighty night..
Night night, Rico.
Good night Rico.
Dev, will beg to disagree.
1. You drop out of knockout, you drop points that’d put Arsenal as seeds next season.
2. You play your matches on Thursday nights and most times have just 48 hours for next EPL game.
3. You start making it believable you could drop off top 4 or even fail to qualify next season if you came fourth.
4. If you lived in Nigeria, you’d get slaughtered by Chelsea fans for playing on Thursday nights.
5. You drop the pedigree of Sanchez who wouldn’t enjoy taking Arsenal to third for the first time in a pretty long while in the first season of joining.
6. Etc, etc.
Besides, I rate Europa League winners as the 17th best team in Europe. I wouldn’t want Arsenal to be so labelled.
So? Let’s get to knockout…it carries prestige … let the fringe players progress via COC games.
The first time I ever enjoyed a Lampard EPL goal!
Just back from the pub Kerry win the all Ireland Micko will be unbearable 🙂
Gj, he’ll be drowning in the black stuff by now..
BT 62 I know I did and I was watching both games boy does Chelsea know how to park a bus.
Gj, couldn’t find it on tv here, a bit strange it’s usually is on. Saw most of the Chavs game, typically performance from Maureen away from home, against a top side.
BT 62 the Kerry game wasn’t great I see there’s a new Swiss rambler post up on newsnow. Dealing with our new results should take me at least an hour to read and understand. 🙂
So BT, you fancy a trip on the Orient Express with us….
Excellent mate.
But….
I must warn you that Adam always dresses up for dinner.
Not only is he a stickler for the correct grammar, he is also strict when it comes to the correct dress sense.
And woe betide anyone who picks up the dessert spoon and uses it for the soup. I’ve seen him go literally beserk at such an error of etiquette. It’s all Lee can do to hold him back…
Other than that, he’s quite a decent chap… 😉
Kev. Decency must be maintained at all times. 🙂
Kev, i also dress for dinner, i put my clothes on…. Soup spoon you say, always had my soup in a cup….Jeez, talk about hifalutin….a spoon for soup….lol
Gj, i’ll catch up with the Swiss Ramble later, can’t concentrate at the moment, still trying to get my head around the idea of a spoon for soup.
Adam, I’m with you on the decency issue.
It’s the only thing that seperates us from the mob… 😀
Don’t worry BT, we’ll get Lee to keep an eye on you… 😉
Had to laugh st Pelligrini’s comments about Chelski playing like a ‘small’ team,
10 men behind the ball and all that.
A team that Abramovitch invested half a billion pound in…
You gotta laugh.
And wasn’t Portugese Prick, prickly about those comments.
A bit too close to home for the midget.
Highlight his sterile tactics, show him up for the football bore that he is.
Mourinho’s negativity was the reason he didn’t last at Resl Madrid.
And the reason he wasn’t considered for the ManUre job.
Despite their wealth, Chrlsea are, and always will be, a small club.
Small man at a small club…
Morning Kev and all..
I quite like Pellegrini…. lol
Morning all.
I get the feeling that Pelegrini is moaning rather too much about every team citeh have to play. It all reminds me of old red nose! Still it adds a bit of spiteful spice to the EPL scene!
Morning Wavy, I love it and to be honest, I think he’s right this time..
New post up now…
When you’re bringing on John Obi Mikel at 60 mins, 0-0 when you’re a title chasing side to grind out a point you deserve to be shot.