Match Preview

What’s that hanging over ‘The Lane’?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

These games are high intensity and high intensity is dictated by how well you prepare mentally and how well you’re ready physically. I believe that on both sides that we will be ready. – Arsène Wenger

It’s Derby Day!

Remember March last year and the same trip? Two minutes on the clock, Tomas Rosicky, 1-0 up and game over. How sweet was that victory…

There’s nothing like beating the noisy neighbours, especially on their own turf and repeat of last seasons feat would make a perfect Saturday. The only annoying thing for me is I’m going to miss it.

Alexis might start, he might not but I fully expect him to be at least sat on the bench like a coiled spring just waiting to get a taste of playing at such a dump.

The back five picks itself on recent form, as does the selection of Cazorla, Coquelin, Ramsey and Giroud so that’s nine done.

Two places left with Ozil, Walcott, Welbeck and Rosicky fighting to fill them. One place if Alexis is passed fit.

What a great problem for Arsene Wenger to have……

And what a strong bench we will have too, one full of game changers should we need them. Ozil/Walcott, Welbeck/Rosicky with Gabriel, Gibbs, Akpom, Flamini and Szczesny. Added to them is Alexis if he’s not deemed fit enough to start.

Surely there’s enough quality, depth and strength there to win this match……

As said, it’s a derby, it’s against that lot from the wrong side of North London and it’s a game we Gooners all want to win. Arsene Wenger shouldn’t need to make some big motivational pre-match talk, the players should know by now what this game means to all.

There’s only room one top class club in North London, that’s all there has ever been and today is a good time to remind the neighbours that they have and always been clouded by darkness….

Forever in our shadow

COYRRG’S

rico

164 thoughts on “What’s that hanging over ‘The Lane’?”

  4. potter says:

    The game I hate , wish they would go down again so that I didn’t have to go through it every year. On paper we should have enough , but with Atkinson in charge a man that allows knocks and bangs but cracks down on little tugs and will fall for a dive from any player running at pace with a forward roll and pike , we have to be very careful. Mason doesn’t mind “” putting his foot in “” expect a display of rough and tumble and a few falling cockerels in Erikson’s range. If we keep concentration we should win , but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Marinello says:

    A somewhat Churchillian post Rico, very good.
    This is always a difficult game to call. Emotions, pride, a few nerves, it has all the ingredients of a great match. As long as everyone is on their game and concentrates for the whole match I see a victory on the horizon.
    Could not face a week of ribbing from all the armchair Spud fans…
    A repeat of the Man City performance would or should carry us over the line. May pick up a few injuries today methinks…

  6. rico says:

    Coq on Erikson, Kos on Kane and both like glue…

    I hate the fixture too Potter, just as much as I hate the team we are playing…..

  9. tsgh says:

    Bt- i got my hands on Syg’s book…
    Try to get you hands on 1.. just 2 chapters I have read have been excellent read…
    Syg’s slated the ginge character though 😉

  10. rico says:

    Thanks Marinello..

    That’s what I think too, a repeat of the commitment shown at the Etihad should be enough, but I’m nervy as the Toots beat the Chavs with ease not long ago. Maybe they were a bit complacent, and that let them down.

    It’ll be tough but we can win this one…

  11. Marinello says:

    I agree Rico. Both teams are on form and confidence will be high in both camps. The first 15 minutes will tell me how it will pan out.
    Let’s hope that the result keeps us all warm inside on a cold Saturday.
    Have a good day Rico.
    What is the name of the book by SYG?

  14. Snaparse says:

    Good read Rico…… Hi ts jm marinello and all…. . Can’t wait for the game hoping for a victory today….. Rosicky to start as well.. .. Coyg

  15. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, you’ll be missed behind the sofa…….
    Must be something important to miss this one…
    Morning all

  25. Bob John says:

    Biggest worry is the likes of Rambo dwelling on the ball in our half. We know they’re gonna be pressing high and have a bit of pace if they nick the ball. Hate this poxy fixture

  31. Lee says:

    I fucking hate those knuckle dragging deluded fucktards from up the road! Our bench will be the difference IMHO. Rosicky and Walcott to rip them to shreds…. FOYS and COYRRG!!!!!

  37. potter says:

    Atkinson running true to form. Missing the off the ball and falling for every rolling over collapse. Mason definitely due a yellow.

  38. Joaquim Moreira says:

    I’m very concern with this game. They won the midfield clear. We didn’t shot. They had clear opportunities. They are very strong in the game…..
    We must change something at hlf-time

  41. Bt62 Gooner says:

    O 2 O2B O 2 B A GOOONERRR!!!!!

    Tighten up our right hand side and move the ball faster, make every pass count…

    Smash the Spuds!!

  42. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Just got back and began watching the game from the 25th minute onwards. What is Atkinson on actually??? Wellbeck’s and Monreal’s yellows were totally undeserved. Neither players touched their opponent. Actually they jumped rather than being fouled. Yet Atkinson deemed them to be a foul and a yellow.

    So he is hell bent on sending off someone.

    Good Afternoon Brandies and Whiskeys.

    Nice post Rico. It will be a great one if we emerge from the spud sack with a clean sheet.

  44. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Bellerin needs to be careful. Yes, he and DW23 may have lots of speed in their legs, however they are leaving holes behind them which are being exploited not and again. So we need to tighten that area up.

  45. Hell Raising Devil says:

    That was spot on by Atkinson. Kos got nowhere near the ball. and with that speed it should have been obvious that he would take the man with him. Kos should have never committed since the spuddie would not have managed to control himself and then the ball. He should have continued to run with him.

  58. allezkev says:

    Well, to me, the team that showed more desire and more fight, won the game…

    I thought that Arsenal were far far too nice.
    Don’t put your arm around the referee Giroud when the ref is booking you.
    Get in his face…

    Too many nicey nicey players in the Arsenal team….

    And Rico, you’ll be pleased to hear this, I thought that Mertesaker was awful…

    Arsenal got fcuk all and that’s all we deserved, imo….

    Btw, Michael Owen, what a fcuking boring cnut.
    Can’t BT do better than him?

  60. Judge me in May says:

    Afternoon all
    Potter you called it absolutely bang on..
    However our midfield was non existent..
    Ramsey and Caz didn’t show today..
    Welbz was rusty..
    Ozil was.. well just Ozil..
    Ospina had a good game.. Shame he is in the loosing side..
    Rosiscky improved our midfield a bit and Walcott did nothing..
    Giroud did well with little service he had…
    Cameo for akpom..
    Disappointing afternoon, atrocious refereeing, but we didn’t deserve anything tbh.
    Hopefully we move on..
    Try to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

  62. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Relax m’lads and lasses. Yes, the spuddies might finish in 4th place……but we will win the CL and leave them to enjoy Thursday footie.

    That was not a team vs a team. It was a team plus ref vs AFC. Atkinson got many decisions wrong imo. However that is no excuse for the performance by AFC players. With hindsight everyone is clever, but although Coquelin and the CBs stayed disciplined some of the others did not. Nacho was ok, however Bellerin was too much far up many times and left a lot of spaces behind him. Cazorla and Aaron worked their socks off, while Ozil got his 3rd goal in as many games since he came back. However, I felt that our team were less compact than usual. There was a sort of dis-coordination between the midfield and attack.

    One thing though……10 out of our last 15 games are against teams in the lower half of the table. The spuddies still have to play against the likes of Shitty, Manure, Southampton, etc. So relax mates. Yes, we lost today. but the season is still long.

  63. kel says:

    For me today ospina looked dodgy mertsacker was terrible, Ramsey done fuck all, cazorla never turned up, and giroud was also very average. Walcott had 20 mins and tbh he was ineffective the ox and alexis were sorely missed. overall we really lacked tempo and aggression today, spurs had those in abundance, which is why they dominated start to finish, that’s how i seen the game today Not a pretty picture. 🙁

  64. Wavy says:

    Ospina conceds two, two!
    Chesney back next week then?

    We were never in control, we never had the ball! We never passed the ball with any authority, we never really came out of the changing room…….conclusion….another 12.45 failure.
    From heroes to zeroes in the space of 94 minutes!

    Back to the drawing board Arsene! You are not forgiven yet. A few good results do not a season play!

  66. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Do me a favour mates…….what chance Ospina had in saving those two goals?? On the first he made a good save but was unable to prevent a goal since Kane was not tracked.

    The second was a good goal and he was well positioned. But even at full stretched would have been unable to save it.

    Ospina was ok. It was someone else who was at fault, but certainly today neither Ospina nor Coquelin were bad. They were disciplined.

  71. Wavy says:

    Ospina? I wasn’t blaming him, honest! I was being ironic!
    In fact I was in ‘Wenger mind set’ , like what will he do to rectify a losing team? Well it’s obviously the goalkeeper’s fault because he let the goal be breached, twice. To Wenger’s thinking it’s as plain as the nose on your face!
    Me now, drop Ospina? Never! Chesney is not as good as even ‘fingers’ Jim Furnell! Mind you i liked him, he made me both laugh and cry! Chesney only makes me cry!
    Today the whole defensive unit was made to look a bit dodgy.
    Bad day at the office……let’s move on.

  72. bradster says:

    Hi all,

    i think we tried to hard to get stuck in and Tottenham knew the ref would blow for them.
    When you can get the biased commentators saying that most of our yellows shouldn’t have been then u know the ref was blatently wrong.
    Ramsey for me was poor and Kos too.

  74. Joaquim Moreira says:

    TW was incredible. on the second goal, the spurs player had time for everything!
    Well, won the best team on the pitch. Merit for them. They want to win. Maybe the best game of the season for Totts (better then versus Chelsea). They have good young players and they can be the surprise of the League.
    We scored early (was offside indeed), and we went back very early. We could lost the game but we invited them for control the game and grew up minute after minute. We suffered the second goal when, in my opinion, we were over the game and we were most closer to score then them. However, in my opinion TW disdn’t make his job.
    For be in the first 4, we must win mostly of the next games.3 points lost, means fall down in the tale, one, two or more positions.
    Thw score was right but I didn’t Forget Arsenal-Totts two months ago where we were must better then them and finished 0-0. With those 2 points, we climb up.

  76. Lee says:

    They wanted it more than us….Ramsey amongst others were shite! I suppose the untold wankers will blame the referee, the problem lies closer to home! Smell the coffee.

  78. Lewis says:

    Our players only turn up during the transfer window. Not a single one of our players won there battles today. They obviously don’t understand what a NLD is! I can accept losing to that lot but the manner in which we lost today is unnacceptable. We sorely missed Sanchez today and merts was always going to get owned by Kane because let’s be honest he’s shit.

  82. potter says:

    Actually Lee , Atkinson was as expected just Atkinson, Others may put the blame on him but the way I see it the blame lies in not making allowances for him in the first place . We should have planned for his style and seeing that we were losing any midfield control should have made the changes earlier to try and break up their building momentum. His refereeing was one sided and poor but when he referees The Arsenal that’s the way he does his job.

  85. rico says:

    Well I hope AW gives them all a swift kick in the arse and this loss pushes us in the right direction…

    I know that’s being really optimistic but it how I feel. Losing against that shower of s***e, makes this loss a thousand times worse….

  86. Marinello says:

    Kev, Wavy, Lewis, I agree with your comments.
    Apart from the goal, we never got going. Certain players went missing, we were second to every 2nd loose ball, and overall poor. Physically Spurs won individual challenges on the floor.
    Red was poor, but Spurs wanted it more from what I saw.
    Giroud for a big lad, gets pushed around too much for me.
    Hey, never mind, at least we are not homeless and are having to sleep out in the cold tonight…

  88. kel says:

    That’s how I see it rico, hopefully a wake up call… also come Tuesday I’d start Rosicky and gabriel just to show one or two players if you snooze you fuckin lose.

    Business end of the season no room or time for passengers imo.

  89. rico says:

    Kel, it would have been much better to continue our good form and run, if that there is no doubt and especially by beating that lot of diving cheating scumbags but I’d so love that to be the kick in the butt which pushes us up to 3rd or even second…

    I’d sure bring Gabriel in for Merts…..

  94. kel says:

    Well 14 games to go and we’re lying 6th… if that doesn’t wake these players and manager up I don’t know what will.

    Sanchez and chamberlain can’t come back quick enough for me they will make a difference.

    Also Theo needs to take note, that silly comment he made earlier in the season about sanchez needing to calm down… no theo you need to up your game son, you need to hound and harrish defenders like the ox and sanchez and even danny does…

  95. allezkev says:

    You know, these kind of performances, keep on occurring with the 12.45 ko…

    Ok, I’m not saying that it’s some kind of jinx or nonsense like that. But maybe Wenger has to look at his preparations for these early kick-off ( there here to stay) because it keeps on happening.

    Arsenal again looked lacklustre, low on energy and second best all over the pitch, especially in midfield where our passing was slow, sloppy and unimaginative…

    Tottenham looked stronger, quicker and more energetic than our mob…

    It can’t just be down to home advantage.,.

  97. kel says:

    I think ur right kev… there’s something not clicking for us at that time. They way we were playing is the way I felt, knackered and not much energy but i sat up watching American sniper with a six pack lol… i hope they’re not doing the same.. 😉

  98. allezkev says:

    Theo Walcott is 25, he’s not a kid anymore.

    Now I’m not singling him out for criticism, and he has scored 2 goals in his last 3 appearances, and he wasn’t alone in being below par today, but surely it’s time for Theo, as an experienced international, to start to provide a bit more and on a more consistent basis.

  101. Marinello says:

    I agree Kel, although Walcott wasn’t on that long, he needs to pick up the tempo of the game wicker and get involved more.
    Sanchez sets the example for all to follow. Track back and all defend as a unit.
    Off to Cambridge now, have a good evening everyone.
    Take care.
    Marinello

  103. tsgh says:

    If it wasn’t a bad day I would be enjoying comments from everyone…ditto Kel and kev’s point re Theo

    My next door neighbour has avoided me for months and then he comes around asking if I would like to go to the pub… blooding sperds fan.

  110. tsgh says:

    Bt- i asked him if his Mrs would approve as he informed him he had been instructed to lose some weight for his daughter’s wedding? 😛

  111. rico says:

    Re Theo, I backed him when he was younger because he looked like he could have everything but I’m no fool, he’s a lazy luxury who needs a rocket up his backside!

  112. Nashua Gunner says:

    When I watch Arsenal playing I alway try to take notice of players who loose the ball up the pitch in the other team half and how that player respond.
    We seem to have those that just stroll and never chased to recuperate the ball back.

    You can say all you want about Wayne Rooney but, when he gives the ball away he try to get it back. The same goes for AS17.

  113. tsgh says:

    So true Rico. I can stomach Theo when he turns up on the big occasions plus the Nth london derby but; it sounds like he had a stinker…
    Was Theo checking himself up on the big display like he always does? 😉

  116. kel says:

    I watched some of that game tsgh I had a financial interest dortmund played well… Morgan and gundogan would be nice indeed.. tbh tho I’d take Mccarthy from Everton.. someone like him today would have put that twat Mason in his place.. Bad day all round fs even my local club got beat …. 🙁

  117. tsgh says:

    Rico-Ramsey’s shite performance was reported to me before half time by a mate at the game.
    kel- I like McCarthy.. i like Jedinak even more…

  118. Nashua Gunner says:

    Ts. Where was that team that played Mancity today? I just can’t blame AW for this performance today. We have to hold these players responsible and put the blame on them.

  119. tsgh says:

    Good question Ng…

    In my view, most of the players are idle…
    They cant handle playing every 3 days and get complacent when they win 2 games in a row…

  121. allezkev says:

    The problem is, this Arsenal team will probably give Leicester a spanking, Theo will be brilliant.

    Then we’ll knock Middlesborough out of the cup and might even turn over Monaco, but there’s more players, who’ve been with Wenger a long time now, who need the Podolski treatment, moved on pronto..,

    And replaced with players of Sanchez’s mentality…

  131. allezkev says:

    Thanks BT…

    I was chatting to Adam earlier, and he said that he wasn’t totally convinced by Arsenals recent results and didn’t seem suprised by today’s result, if still disappointed…

    I suppose the next few games should tell us a lot.
    Looking at the fixtures, up to the end of March, we should expect this present Arsenal squad, if we are going in the right direction, to actually win the lot…

    I suppose we’ll know where we are in a couple of months

  133. Micko says:

    What a shit start to the weekend, think we’re reading too much into the Citeh result, they’re struggling themselves, Middlesbrough turned them over the week before us and only a late goal against Hull saved their blushes today.

    A draw would have been a good result, 85 minutes gone at the shithole and we were sitting pretty in 3rd place, somehow fcuked it up and now 6th, as Kel said earlier 14 games to go, we gotta get our act together, running outta games.

  134. Micko says:

    Just working it out in my head 14 x 3 points =…………………….the 4th placed trophy ! it don’t get any bigger than that Gooners !

  135. Nashua Gunner says:

    They must all have Direct Deposit and that how their monies go into their accounts. If I were the manager (AW) I’d put a hold on all the Deposits until we watch the game again before the funds are release. It’s a shame what some of our players can get away with then played the next game with their names first in the team sheet.

  136. Micko says:

    Easy Nash, it that were the case Diaby would be a tramp sleeping on a park bench in Islington with only a spurs top for a blanket !

    This game was for the fans, some of our players have to take a long look at themselves in the mirror tomorrow morning, let us down badly.

    Time for me bunk, nite all.

  140. potter says:

    Ozil and Cazorla together in a game like that is too much of a lightweight thing. In the middle only Coquelin did himself justice , Ramsey was overrun and did himself no favours playing statues for Kane’s first and the second was almost a force of nature as they swarmed over us and didn’t let us string two passes together. We were poor and probably will be again later in the season when we play the next ” big team “. Nothing to do but accept that when push comes to shove , and there was a lot of that today , we are not good enough.,

  142. allezkev says:

    Morning Rico

    The Scummers were out in force yesterday after the game…

    Change in the balance of blah blah blah.
    It’s the same every time you let a Scum out of his box, it goes right to their empty head.

    But we need reminding, from time to time, just what a bunch of tossers they are…

    Whatever the result, they’re still, and always will be, in our shadow…

  147. scottfromoz says:

    Hi Rico.
    I don’t belive we over rated how good the sides recent performances have been, but I reckon the players may have.

  148. HenryB says:

    Morning, Rico.

    Every one is disappointed, and it is difficult to find a way to rationalise how bad it can make all Gooners feel.

    The fact tho’ is that every game can be influenced by how individual players feel on the day, or how good or bad a referee’s decision making is etc. Even tho that is true it does not make it feel any better.

    But it is just one game, and there is still all to play for in terms of the top four, and frankly it was never likely that we would beat mainly bags Citeh and Chavs to the title.

    Let’s go again on Tuesday and let the team take out their hurt on the opposition then, and we can stick to supporting our guys.

  149. rico says:

    Same for me Scott, it’s all to easy to suggest the opposition was poor and that’s the only reason we have won recently. Like you, I think the players underestimated how poor Atkinson was going to be and yesterdays opposition.

  150. HenryB says:

    There are two things that cannot be denied about yesterday’s game;

    a) Our midfield was poor. Ramsey, Cazzor and Özil were overwhelmed. That buggered up both the defence and the attack.

    b) The Spuds (sadly) were good on the day and deserved to win. 🙁

  151. rico says:

    Morning Hb, it’s just because it was ‘them’ – all the talk about ‘can’t lose the Nld’ by the players and they choked it….

  152. scottfromoz says:

    Yes, they were very good and much better than I thought they could be.
    They were up for it and we weren’t.
    All the talk during the week of the players knowing how big a game it was fell by the wayside after the whistle blew.
    Atkinson was his normal shit self but we didn’t deserve to win the game and that’s quite clear.

  154. rico says:

    Morning Bt…

    Just can’t understand why our lot didn’t turn up. Lunchtime ko’s really aren’t something our boys cope well with away from home…

  155. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I know that is a fact….early kick offs…..but damn, it’s a poor excuse lol.
    I wonder why it has such an effect on them.
    It MUST be preparation.

  156. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Away from home, they only travelled a few miles up the road…..load of …
    Early kick offs, they have not played for a week, well rested, no excuses.

  161. rico says:

    Too many excuses really Scott, I just think the players need to take a look at themselves in the mirror, well those who were shoddy yesterday…

    New post up now…

  162. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Scott, it’s a poor one if it’s a fact, pampered over indulged individuals, now that’s a fact.
    Not a conclusive fact…Scott

  164. HenryB says:

    Not sure what is being said about Pep G but Simeone the manager of Atletico Madrid is a good manager, and a bit of a nutter, but after beating Real Madrid 4:0 yesterday and making it look easy, as well as doing so well in the CL last year, maybe he should be looked at when Arsene calls it a day.

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