The first post (by @apra_gooner) coming through our new alliance with the facebook group commonly known as OTBAG
The Gunners host The Royals in a crucial game on the and we’re expecting no less than 3 points from the game against a side that’s languishing in the bottom and at the brink of relegation after five loses in a row. Reading are 8 points away from safety and with Nigel Adkins taking in charge this week; here’s to hoping that he can re-create the ‘magic’ from his early Premier League days at Southampton when they faced us!
In the reverse fixture in December Santi Cazorla scored a brilliant hat trick as we romped home 5-2. The highlight of that game was our blitzkrieg attack, especially from the left where Podolski and Gibbs were brilliant. Poldi in particular looked very menacing, cutting into the Reading defense like a surgeon. The experienced German has started to form a budding bromance with Giroud, which is reminiscent of Bobby and Henry. The two have already combined for many a promising offensive play this season. Podolski might get a start today with Cazorla moving to the No.10 and Oxlade Chamberlain looks to occupy the right flank replacing Theo Walcott who is nursing his groin strain that he picked during the practice for the England’s world cup qualifier.
Moving on to the centre of the park, yesterday we received disheartening news that Abou Diaby had picked up an injury in training and was likely to be out for the rest of the year. Injuries have been especially unkind to this extremely talented player and we wish him a speedy recovery and pray that he comes back fit and raring to go. The injury doesn’t leave the Boss in a state of polylemma as he has enough potent options to choose from with Ramsey and Coquelin who can play in Diaby’s role. Aaron Ramsey is likely to start along with Mr. Sexy Hair and we’ve already seen this combination being much disciplined and deal with the opposition attack with prudence.
One sweet headache for Arsene is getting the experienced. Sagna back to full fitness but with Jenkinson doing really good during the Frenchman’s absence; he might get the nod ahead of Sagna after two consecutive clean sheets.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS:
OUT: Gibbs(Illness), Jack Wilshere(Ankle), Walcott(Groin strain), Diaby(Cruciate ligament)
Team: Fabianski, Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Giroud, Rosicky, Gervinho, Coquelin, Podolski, Cazorla, Chamberlain,
READING TEAM NEWS:
OUT: Federici(Ankle), Kebe(Groin), Guthrie(Knee), Jason Roberts(Hip)
Team: Federici, Kelly, Shorey, Mariappa, Morrison; Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff, McCleary; Hunt, Le Fondre, Andersen, Gunter, Pearce, Carrico, Guthrie, Robson-Kanu, Pogrebnyak
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ARSENAL: Santi Cazorla.
Cazorla has been in brilliant form and having dominated the reverse fixture already, he is our man to watch.
READING: Adam Le Fondre.
Having notched up ten goals in the season already, Le Fondre is the man to watch for Reading.
Positively Arsenal 
Despite the injuries Arsene has a number of decisions to make, Fab or Szs, Jenks or Sagna,does the captain get a game? Rosicky, Gerv, the Ox. Should be interesting to see.
Assuming we get it right today I have a feeling the Swansea v Spurs game will be one of the crucial ones in defining the top 4″. If Spurs slip up today the pressure will really be on them
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a great post to lose your virginity with apra and here’s to many more. ARSENAL need to be awake and aware today coming back after the international break and facing a team fighting for points who have the dreaded new manager, if you add in the emotion from ROCKY as well it all adds up to a very professional performance needed. with the likes of Rosicky playing a full game while away we cant use tiredness or lack of cohesion as an excuse today. The sun is shinning and im hoping for a bright ARSENAL today.
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING REDS !!!
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Nice to see PA broadening its appeal and making alliances. Good job George and Adi.
Lets hope we have kicked the disease of complacency and sterile possession out of our system. Reading is a dangerous animal, cornered and fighting for its Premier League life. Add to that the “new manager syndrome” and we have a potent enemy. This preview fails to mention that Reading gave a good account of themselves in their last match vs United, finally going down by 1 solitary goal. They attack down the flanks with good effect and with Hal Robson-Kanu or Le Fondre looking to get on the end of good crosses we must be prepared. Lets hope our boys are mentally and physically prepared.
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I can’t wait to get over there today,this interlull has felt like the longest,surely with the Rocky tribute it’s written somewhere we win today,watch out for ‘new manager syndrome’ from our opponents,mind you Nigel Atkins has a touch of the David Brent’s about him and there back 4 won’t know whether they want a shit or a haircut,OG to score a brace today,3-1 to the Arsenal, COYG!!!!!
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Fabianski
Jenks-Per-Kos-Nacho
Arteta-Rambo-Santi
Ox-Giroud-Poldi
+Szcz, Sagna, Verm, Coq, Rosicky, Gerv, Arshavin.
COYG!
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I think gerv will start today
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I have a feeling Gervinho will start today.
Come on crazy legs,do you stuff.
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I think he has the ability to go past all 43 players !
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http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football/rip-david-rocastle-arsenal-legend-and-a-true-gentleman-of-football/
this is a good read for all those whose heart aches when we remember
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goodmorning! welcome ..3 points please..thank you !
re: crazy legs… + pimp…
fab = sitting bull
szce = horny giant
kons = geronimo
per = wise tree
vermaelen = charging bear
sagna = panther pirate
monreal = blond arrow
jenks = keeper of the flame
arteta = little mountain
ox = laughing boy
jack = spirit warrior
poldi = bison and thunder
santi = mouse on speed
ramsey = metal worker
walcott = wind and smoke
giroud = flying falcon
gervinho = crazy horse
rocisky = grey wolf
eisfeld = ice fox
gnabry = iron rabbit
bould = bald eagle
wenger = father shaman
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john cross= forked tongue
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usmanov = angry hippo in cyprus
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Why A or B ?
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because he all his stories are wrong ,to be honest it could of been a multitude of media hacks or pundits or high profile doomers but you get my point
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A lot of his stories are right too
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Teams are warming up, COYG!
Looks like Wookash will continue, Kozzamundo too.
Reading practising what looks like piggy in the middle.
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I know he says hes a gooner but I still put him in the lazy journo bracket
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Don’t worry arsenal have been practising their ‘drills’ too ; )
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Dragged myself off my death bed to try to watch the match. Excellent stream here http://popstreams.eu/stream3.html
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Gervinho scores! Fantastic goal.
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hhahah go crazy horse !!!
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Hm, why wasn’t this a penalty?
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If this was a boxing match they would have stopped it by now
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We were brilliant this half. A bit unlucky with our chanes, but the performance was near perfect. Should’ve had a penalty, too!
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What do we have to do to get a penalty?
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@George
Get Fergie as manager. Simples!
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Santi scores. Fantastic strike and an assists by Gervinho. Wonder how those people who have been slating Gervinho when he wasn’t playing early this year feel now…
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Giroud scores, another Gervinho assist. Can somebody tell me why we didn’t sell Gervinho in January like it was demanded? Unforgiveable.
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The commentator on my stream was overjoyed that we finally conceded! Unfortunately Monreal injured himself, but our Swiss Army Knife is now playing left back.
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Good win. Reading was never in it. We were a stratosphere above them.
I thought Spuds were going to drop points away at Swansea.
Chelsea lost to the Saints.
All in all a good week-end.
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Good win, the team worked really hard. The commentators I had couldn’t stop talking about how badly Gervinho was playing…1 goal, 2 assists…hmmm.
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Another very controlled and professional performance – Reading could have got a worse beating and were lucky to finish 4-1
Very pleased for Gervinho and how different he looks to the guy whose confidence was rock bottom before the ACN
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Anicoll – Clear now that Gervs is a confidence player with a certain skill set that needs to encouraged and nurtured. Arsene Knows.
Diaby is injured. Gervinho is on fire. So unfair to the deadwood crowd.
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Just thawing out after the game. Really happy for the 3 points and for MoTM Gerve the swerve. Excellent boys, keep it up. I was going to do my doomer impression and complain about Reading being allowed to score, but it’s nice for their fans to go home with something after freezing their butts off all afternoon! It’s Easter, we won, so I’m feeling generous!
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@Passenal
Unfortunately I have the feeling that in some places fans will do focus on the goal conceded instead of just revelling in a top performance.
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arse_or_brain retweeted this from @Back_OfTheNet:
Eden Hazard: £32m – 8 goals.
David Silva: £24m – 5 goals.
Juan Mata: £23.5m – 10 goals.
Santi Cazorla: £11.6m – 13 goals.
Arsene Knows.
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Vital win needed and the players delivered.
This new Arsenal team is starting to show it’s true form i.e. move like a panther. Some of the moves were, well….sensational (hehe). Started to feel a little sorry for Reading (not in an arrogant kind of way).
Hunter, excellent native american nicknames, quite a few of them were apt too.
Gervinho was crazy and dangerous. Did you guys see him push the ball under the feet of a defender, jump over his feet and run away with the ball?! His movement was good and he popped up everywhere in the final third (Thanks to the post on Arsene doing tactics. I saw players’ roles better). Trust Arsene to fine tune him.
I felt like smacking the stupid commentator for slating gervinho after a goal and two assists. Kept banging on about Chamberlain and almost had an orgasm when he came on and won us a penalty. These guys are ignorant or just blindly follow popular opinion. We shouldnt care for them and i dont, but it is annoying when guys like these pop up on my tv.
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santi not my fav player but still another ARSENE gem and I think he’ll get even better next season,
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where the fuck is everyone?
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I’m here George. just back home, a touch drunk but happy enough with performance.
Today felt comfortable throughout – would have been nice to be perhaps 2 up or more at half time but overall a good performance and one more banana skin avoided on the journey to end of the season.
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What’s up folks. It’s been a minute, been busy,
What a blow wow display. That was a top class display from the whole team, there were no weaknesses.
I don’t know but Wojo has a fight on his hands, Fabianski looks fearless and composed between the sticks. Per and Kos are also playing great. TV also has a lot to do to get his spot back. The team will be even stronger in the long run for these changes.
This team is on the up. What a bam bam next season!
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Rosicky. A victory. What more could you ask for? A goal just after the Rocky songs? That was the moment of the match for me.
–
This team is definitely on the up.
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4-1 wooooooooooooooooooooooooowowowwww
ARSENAL ! want more…!!! and more!!
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Interested to see Arsenal in second on form over last six games, 15 points from possible 18. ManU first with 6 wins. Spuds 3rd with12 from 18. Everton 10 from 18.
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Those are interesting stats Zim Paul. We just need to keep it going.
On another subject I thought Arsene’s comments about Diaby on Arsenal.com, the message on the players warm up T-shirts and the fan messages are a nice touch. He is obviously going to find this recovery difficult and will need all the support he can get. There are far too many empty vessels making a lot of noise on the net, so it’s important for him to know that a lot of us wish him well.
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