With over a quarter of the season left and his glass still half-full, Blackburn George reflects on yesterday’s game.
Well that was another bitter pill to swallow.
Anyone who failed to see us dominating play can only do so by being blind to the events on the field. Particularly for the first 35 minutes. We were in complete control for that period. Their midfield simply had no answer to our play.
Sadly in the space of two minutes or so, two decisive plays from them, combined with two defensive lapses from us, left us an uphill struggle that in the end proved to be a little too much.
None of us can be happy with the result, but we should at least take some comfort from the performance.
There is no getting away from the fact that we lose too many games that we should not. But to simply point the finger at any one person or reason is far too simplistic.
The team needs to grow as a unit, defend as a unit and attack as a unit. This takes time and patience. And we fans should accept this and understand how hard it is to achieve.
We have six midfielders, Jack, Santi, Mikel, Abou, Thomas and Aaron. A combination of any three of them are better than anything else I see in the league.
Personally I have no idea which is our best three. So add Le Coq and AOC and we are well set for years to come.
I believe we would benefit from a quick centre forward and another centre back. But even without additions I am convinced we will be much stronger next season.
There are thirty points still to play for.
All is not lost by any means. But even if it was, nothing is to be gained by withdrawing our support for the team. Every week I see a team of huge potential. We simply must give them to time to fulfill that potential. I honestly don’t see why people can’t relish the challenge. Rather than throw their arms up and ask for change.
Change may come all to soon, I fear, unless the majority of fans don’t quickly see sense.
You can share a glass of positivity with George on Twitter @Blackburngeorge
Positively Arsenal 
I agree with your assessment, George. Disappointing but not deserving of the rants I heard after the game. The mistakes were silly but at least the one involving Nacho is understandable. People preach defensive coaching but Nacho has only been with us a for a month because of Kieran’s injury.
We can make up the points in the next ten games. Done it before and we can do it again. Let them have their day, but it may well turn out to be a false dawn for the other team.
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The other team celebrating as if 4th place is in the bag despite their stiff run-in; could yet be their undoing.
We will be fresh for Bayern and plenty of time to get over this.
A long way still to go …
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Even if I don’t share all of it I respect your positivity and measured outlook George and maybe myself and other fans have been over the top because we have been spoiled over the Wenger years. You’re right though. The team needs us now more than ever and for what Wenger has done for us, he should be the one who decides when he should go. The players, like Giroud, are not as good as what we had in the succesful Wengers but way better than what we had in the Graham years, when I first became a fan. Hopefully with continuity they will improve. Even without Champions League football or trophies I will still support the boys and am confident we will be at the top again. Hopefully with Wenger. UTA
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haha yes andrew..world cup momment for them troglodytes …did you see what it meant to the little team to win by one goal while outplayed in their best season in their ground ? ..them 6 mins stoppage time must have felt like an hour to them.. 🙂 stay strong arsenal support !
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hehe its villaboa’s desperation to create the impression that the tables have turned that will prove their undoing. you spoke to soon andre…. its ok ..youre young.. youll learn…
he played his cards right pre match ..silent…but a knowing coach would keep his players heads down and remind them of the work needed to be done,,,its not over. lots of games still to play for.. plus his effort to have a pop at wenger and arsenal in general about winning and losing streaks…so funny.
you know theyre gonna mess it up when dawson ( who?) walks around the pitch talking to refs and others as if he is beckenbauer or something….
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Well said PG…
We’ve paid our dues, each & every doubter has been fed, 30 points left to play for, after which I expect them to swallow like they do every year.
RASERS!
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Come on people.Fucking buck up.The fight back starts now.
No point hiding.
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Well said George. 10 games/30 points. Not over by a long shot.
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Categorically deny being young H13.
Out of interest – in what way in particular did you think I spoke too soon [insert banned smiley].
Was it just me that was puzzled by the near total absence of ball boys at the Spuds Stadium of Trite yesterday? And how they were utterly unable to cope with the possibility the crowd might on occasion delay the return of the ball?
I thought overall Clattenburg had a decent game yesterday although Adebayor was very fortunate to stay on the pitch. Spurs did well to take advantage of defensive lapses and they defended with resolution, but overall I saw little to impress me which suggests to my untrained eye that they are punching above their weight. If that is true, there is only so long that can go on for. Certainly they’re riding the crest of the Bale wave which is likely to prove fleeting given the noises coming out of Spain …
Unusually for a Gooner I actually dislike Chelski more than the Spuds (it’s a marginal thing though and dates back to school days).
But I do vehemently agree with George that there is still much to play for this season and plenty of twists and turns still to come
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the anger is more about the media coverage of events rather than our team… i think we fucked them in first half ..and all of a sudden..two goals from nowhere…..ok tommy v needs to be slapped a bit argh..arghh..arghh.. ok ok ok ,..bite the bullet now..nothing we can do . but we are the better team and stronger club no doubt. who the fuck is tottenham..we have bigger fish to fry .
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no andrew not you ..i meant ANDRE villaboas mate..lol..sorry for confusion
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i just got too much into character and was talking to him in first person…. 🙂
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have you read what he says about his 12 match unbeaten run and how we are on spiral of defeat and hard to ge out of it …..the little andre is trying mind tricks on wenger…ahahahaha
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Sorry Hunter, my bad!
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absolutely no problem andrew ..dont mention it. plus who knwos now..ten days media will be grilling arsenal..perfect conditions to lock the players in training and work and come out giving answers ..
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Mind games? He’ll have to buck his ideas up. I find it hard not to slip into a coma before he’s even finished talking. The hacks must stick pins in their legs to stay awake during his press conferences.
Anyway, nice one George. Next season we will be stronger. No doubt about it. They just have to learn to turn that dominance in their favour, the defensive lapses will be ironed out. Teams have to grow together. I don’t understand the impatience (and venom) of some today. Then again I never really did. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Like Andrew, I didn’t see much from S***s yesterday to justify all the hoopla. They played like the away team in the first half. They will perhaps struggle to hold onto the greatest player since time began, extract him and they look thin.
Under AW we have never been out of the CL places, considering the financial muscle of those above us, in recent years, that is a truly extraordinary achievement in itself, something many now take for granted. And some cannot wait for an excuse to throw such a man to the wolves. Alas, no point telling these fools to be careful what they wish for.
Still time to shove it down their throats. Keep the faith.
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Well said George!
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Considering that every other angle of critique has failed when opposed with Reason not finishing 4th has been what many have been hoping for, it is sad to say. Still this will not give them their bile’s desire.
It is why very there was little credit by the know everything critics for coming 3rd last year, it is sad to say.
However, AW started building the heart of a team for the next manager when he signed Campbell (great game for Betis last night in their CL spot encounter with Vela scoring and assisting for the opponents. Vela who has a cheeky ‘buy back who needs loans clause’ last night, Hmmmm…..) and this is something that all these experts seem to be taking great pains to avoid discussing. How, well, strange. Is it not? I thought all these experts know their football? I guess not. Did I mention some of the others? Chamberlain, Jenkinson, and Ryo who was missed out of George’s list of midfielders who won’t get a game (Bad George!). The club have been and are after another Forward.
All this work is smothered by the PR war that has been going on between the the shareholders since DF signed over the club on his deathbed. Some years ago now. I though the melodrama of such an event was something that many of the self declared ‘realists’ and experts on the club would’ve picked up on. Whatever his opinions, and I guess it’s reasonable to speculate that he respected the judgment of the previous board in who they sold to that AW continues to front up, and protect and build up the club. Anyone who spends a fair amount of time following the club and doesn’t get that is seriously stupid.
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Someone from “northlondonisred” keeps trying to post
From what he says it should be “northlondonisyellow”
Quitter coward
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All across Europe we see the most settled sides winning their respective leagues, A lot goes in to maintaining a squad of quality and we have been picked at for a while now. Vermaelen was the only starter from the same fixture a couple of seasons ago.
Now I post quite a bit on another site so don’t want to be repeating myself and this site seems to have its house in order (with regards to numpties).
How a team can maintain a challenge when constantly being circled by vultures is an amazing feat in itself, however given our current push for stability the future seems even more rosy, although very competitive.
People cry out for change but it is this constant change that is harmful and doesn’t allow for a settled squad. You look back to 91 when we only conceded 18 goals and lost once you will see we had the same back four together for 3/4 years prior. 2004 unbeaten we had the same back four together for 2/3 years prior with Gilberto coming in that season to provide the shield that the back four flourished behind.
Yesterday we had a back four that have only played a handful of games together yet people want instant defensive stability. They mouth off without knowing what goes in to making a solid defence. Time. Patience.
Regards and hats off to this site.
“You need big shoulders to play for Arsenal. The cannon is heavy.” “TH14”
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great last para fins ! funny how a foreigner to arsenal is more willing to respect and uphold traditions set by previous owners/custodians in comparison to the local scum surrounding our club be it ex players, pundits, journos, supporters trusts , whatever, all of them kissing arse to genocidal “changebringers” and its entourage…
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Well said, Adam.
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That Spam bin must resemble the bowels of hell George. A pit of doom, ignorance and stupidity. Abandon hope all ye who enter.
We have a manager who personifies class. In all that he does. This is sometimes a grubby sport these days, which doesn’t cover itself in glory too often, money has perhaps fatally corrupted it. In Arsene we have a man who absolutely loves football as a purest, loves the club and tries to do things the right away. Yes indeed, that’s the man we should be crucifying.
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Well done George, don’t know about anyone else but I’m enjoying the gloating from the spuds manager,players and fans-we’ve been here before and as George says 30points to play for,it’s gonna make it even sweeter when we do finish above them and we will. I’ll probably go on radio/newspaper blackout though,not because this “power shift & arsenal bashing” thing winds me up but because it’s boring,almost as boring as AVB’s sentences,blimey he could send a glass eye to sleep. Onwards and upwards and up the Arsenal!
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AVB amusingly talking about spiralling – a subject he knows a good deal about.
A little surprised he’s elected to hold himself to fortune but maybe it’s the first time he’s had the chance to do so. As Hunter points out, he’s young.
Someone should send him a packet of Locketts and tell him to shut up for a few months.
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i have a functioning keyboard for a couple of hours, so pardon me for spamming.
George, i admire you for your unwavering faith. i was absolutely gutted yesterday, because we played well. we played like the home team and played them off the park for 35 minutes but gifted them the two goals that allowed them to sit back.
i think full credit must be given to Wenger for daring to take off Jenks to throw rosicky in. i actually thought Jenks did really well. once again, it was individual errors which led to our undoing.
30 points to play for. we are actually in the same position as last season, 7 points behind them after the NLD. but this time, the momentum is with them, not us. we have to be very strong now.
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Refreshing to see grown up , sensible comments. I made the mistake of listening to Talksport this morning, and some of the numpties on there make me want to crush a grape.
This team is not that far away from being very competitive, and if anyone thinks Wenger has lost it and should be sacked, they really don’t understand what he has been competing against since Abramovich and the Sheiks entered the Premier League.
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stability is very important. this will be the first time in a while where we can actually look to build on our team in summer. but finishing in the CL place is very important,
i don’t know how the likes of pool and spud attract and keep players without CL football. i don’t want to find out. not in this era where agents are blood sucking ingrates with too much influence on the players.
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I think you just have to bite the bullet and pay them an extra few grand a week Kori
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George,
now i see the brilliance of AW in tying the players down to new contracts this season. (and that of Kos at the end of last season) at least no funny business from the agents of the players who will form the core.
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I agree, we can make the points up. They have Anfield and Stamford Bridge to come, plus City and Everton at the Lane. We have United and Everton – both at our place – in terms of tough fixtures left. Also their final 2 fixtures, Stoke (33) and Sunderland (38). Our final 2 Wigan (55) and Newcastle (49). Goals conceded in brackets. Disappointing performance but that is an ‘orrible, ‘orrible fixture – surrounded by gangs of baying c*nts. They often nick it there, and we often give them an absolute pasting at our place. Not a great barometer for either team – just nice for them and sucky for us.
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Yes it is a shit place to play Limps. Full of horrible throwbacks (and let’s not mention the fans). Easily forgotten that we have absolutely tonked ’em 5-2 on the trot at home. Let ’em enjoy the DVD.
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Liverpool will be the key. they play both chelsea and spuds. who knows, by beating them both, they might haul themselves back in contention for CL football.
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they actually werent baying in the first 30 minutes. you could hardly hear them on tv. you could hear the Arsenal fans, but not the spuds until we gave them their goals.
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Good morning/afternoon peeps!
Short and sweet, George.
It is a hard one to swollow because (obviously) we are the superior team but as you said, it will take time for the team to play as one, but you can see the makings of an excellent team.
THIRTY POINTS to play for. I say we will capture 4th or 3rd.
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I don’t agree with the choice but it speaks volumes that the man of the match selection on Sky was one of their defenders. Last ditch defending all the way for the home team yesterday.
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Perfectly summed up George. Some otherwise sane and sober people having a right old wallow yesterday. A long way to go and yet it seems Spurs have just won the World Cup. Ah well we’ll just have to struggle on.
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Yes, George.
Basically, it was a derby at their place, they got a narrow win, we tonked them at ours. 30 games to go.
And yes, a couple of seasons of stability is what we need most – not getting the heart ripped out of the squad every summer will be a big bonus.
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And forgot to say, there are no implications about the balance of power. They usually hang on for a win or a draw SHL, nothing seismic about that. Last season’s late-season match-up was at the Emirates, this time it was at SHL. The results of both matches, down to the score, were exactly the same as last season.
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10 month loss of £41 million and £87 million in debt at 2012, I think Pool has a lot of incentive to fight for a Champs League place. Not that there underlying problems are solved.
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Carl Jenkinson was MotM
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agreed.
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Since coming back from the red card, Jenks has been excellent. He is going to be an Arsenal great.
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Sorry – I must have missed something. Did Totteringham manage to eke out a narrow win yesterday?
Can’t be right. There’s been no sign of the DVD.
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Ive heard it all now;
“Arsenal have vowed to ban for life the fan who threw a banana at Tottenham star Gareth Bale during yesterday’s heated derby showdown.
Police confirmed on Monday that they have launched an investigation after the fruit was thrown while Bale was taking a corner in the 27th minute of the match at White Hart Lane. Spurs have also agreed to help police with their enquiries.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Police are investigating after a banana was thrown on to the pitch from the away section of supporters during the Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal match at White Hart Lane on Sunday March 3rd. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue to try to identify the suspect.’
Arsenal say they operate a zero-tolerance policy towards any such act, and will therefore ban anyone who is found guilty of throwing the banana.”
So as the man on Police Five used to say “Keep em peeled”
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“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” – Groucho Marx
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OK then time for a reprise…..
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I’m not sure anybody’s taking this seriously enough – though it’s hard to be sure exactly what crime’s been committed. Clearly, throwing a leek at Mr Bale would be racist, so throwing a banana must at the very least be . . . . . . . speciesist.
And the Met must have handled thousands of cases of assault and battery by crazed banana-toting gangs, so they’ll know the precedents.
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Way over the top it seems but perhaps they’re taking the attitude that it doesn’t matter whether it’s a banana or a coin or a full bottle.
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‘….One banana contains 467mg of potassium, providing powerful protection to the cardiovascular system. Regular consumption of the potassium-packed fruit helps guard against high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and stroke. Since bananas also contain tryptophan, serotonin and norepinephrine, they help prevent depression while encouraging feelings of well-being and relaxation. In addition, the vitamin B6 in bananas helps protect against sleeplessness, mood swings and irritability….’
Hardly an act of aggression. Giving someone a banana is a very caring thing to do.The least the recipient could have done is to thank the thrower.
Actually in some countries it is considered to be the height of ignorance not to accept food given as a gift.Very insulting. No class at all at that club.
I am writing to Arsenal about this before some terrible injustice is done..
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