Today a new ‘guest’ writer from Twitter, a certain @arseblagger gives us his take on yesterday’s game and then we’ll hear from @Blackburngeorge.
First up our new twitter friend @Arseblagger.
A gift of a penalty, an own goal and an offside goal gave us three points that we never looked like getting.
From the moment I saw the team that Wenger had picked I knew we were in trouble.
I called it. I simply knew we should have started Podolski and Theo rather than the hapless and out of their respective depths, Gervinho and Cazorla.
The game proved I was right and Wenger has lost the plot. If they had started we would have scored three goals in the first 10 minutes rather than the last.
We started slowly and quickly ran out of the steam we had never had. We never looked like scoring, and defended like a pub team. Norwich out-played us. Those reliable BBC statisticians told us that they had 51% possession. Imagine that. We are a disgrace of a team.
We should be beating teams like that by five clear goals at home.
It makes me sick to see us in such a poor position with this bunch of second-class players. If we manage to fluke a Champions League spot we will be humiliated again next year.
This lot are so bad they have dragged Jack down to their level. Now he is useless, as well.
ArseBlagger
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Okaaay, thanks for that Blagger. I’m sure I speak for precisely none of us here in looking forward to your next article.
Now here is how George judged the same game …
Alan Hansen, on Match of the Day (MOTD) last week said that Arsenal’s problem was that we could not play poorly and win. Well I am glad he pointed that out because Arsene seems to have addressed that particular problem this week, and put it right.
I find myself hard pushed to think of many moments of Wengerball.
I was disappointed in our first half performance. I think we were slow and lacking more than a little spark. Personally I think that missing spark was one Tomas Rosicky. His replacement – Jack – was definitely out of sorts. And Arsene removed him just about as soon as he could without denting the lad’s confidence.
Jack has been 6 weeks out and it really showed. I hope Rosicky is fit for the visit of Everton on Tuesday. For me he is currently miles ahead of the youngster.
Another youngster that was definitely not out-of-form is Aaron Ramsey. I thought he was our stand-out player – and by quite a margin. He worked tirelessly and looks brimfull of confidence and class.
It just shows what can be achieved with a little perseverance by the manager and a good attitude by the player. He has gone from deadwood to dead-cert.
I understand I have not mentioned their goal and how it came about, because I assume you have all seen it and I don’t want to think about it.
Anyway, Arsene hooked Jack and Gervinho, and Theo and Podolski entered the fray.
It seemed to inject a bit of pace and urgency to the team and the visitors were pinned even farther back.
The pressure mounted and on my dodgy internet stream Tony Gale urged Norwich on and lambasted our teams efforts and players.
Then Giroud was hauled down in the box and the assistant referee flagged it up. There has been moaning and carping about that ever since, but I don’t understand why anyone can complain about the correct decision being made.
Up stepped our cool cat Captain and it was 1-1.
Three minutes later we took the lead through a Giroud/own goal (I couldn’t care less which). By this time Arsene had brought Alex Oxlade Chamberlain on for Sagna (a bold move for a man who supposedly never makes good tactical changes or bold substitutions) and the kid burst into the box, made the byline and with the outside of his right foot cut it across the face of goal. Yippee.
Now I am cursing the fact that due to their persistent time-wasting they have six minutes of additional time to rescue an undeserved point.
Then Safehanski make a wonderful save with his legs. Safehansnlegski, it would seem.
However, when Theo was played in behind (quite a bit behind actually, but let’s not go there, either) Podolski showed us just why he has 100+ German caps to his name. It was a brilliant bit of finishing from him. He could have had a hat trick if not for two previous thundering efforts being miraculously tipped over the bar.
All the things Arsene has claimed this team have, grit – Finsbury will like that- mental strength and a never-say-die spirit were displayed in the closing stages.
It was, in the end a great three points and one step closer to our remaining target for the season.
It turns out we actually had 68% possession by the way (and no thanks to the BBC).
I suspect we will have to do better against Everton, and I am convinced we will.
Oh, and we are third in the table, don’t you know?
George
***
Positively Arsenal 
Marvellous.
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Well said George,
Yes indeed… we missed lil’ Mozart
“miles ahead”..means,
“Jack, I hope you are learning as much as u can from a master and the hype hasn’t gotten to your head?”
Hope to see TR7 return for the Toffees…as well as Per.
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Oh and PG, I couldn’t help but think the czar would have been the better replacement for Mozart as AM….
but hey…..
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According to OG on Twitter it’s his goal
“Incredible late comeback, isn’t it?! And it’s not BASSONG og… I SCORED se second goal!! 😉
Incroyable retour… http://fb.me/1vncsbFev “
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Further to that, I think there was one wonderful moment yesterday that won’t necessarily get reported but gave me and those around me a great deal of satisfaction:
As is often the case (for many teams defending a goal lead late on, to be fair) there was a lot of time wasting by Norwich, in the main from one Mr Bunn the Goalkeeper.
Again, as usual, the home crowd made it clear he was being a turd by vocally highlighting his shenanigans and numerous occasions. At one point he even managed to turn to the crowd behind him and shrug his shoulders as if to say “what’s the problem?” – in itself a rather brilliant piece of extra time wasting I guess.
On we move to the penalty taking us to 1-1. Still he didn’t speed up much – seemingly happy to take the point for the draw. We take the lead and, of course it’s all rush rush rush for Mr Bunn the Goalkeeper all of a sudden.
On to my ‘wonderful moment of the day’ – Theo is down near the right hand corner and the ball is out of play. Theo manages to pointedly leave the ball where it is (after ‘accidently’ taking it further away) and stroll back toward the half way line leaving only one option to get the ball back to the keeper – Mr Bunn the keeper has to get it for himself – Mr Bunn the keeper suddenly becomes Mr Bunn the Boilingmadman and remonstrates and gesticulates at the apparent unfair machinations of our Theo.
‘Up Yours!’ I say to Mr Bunn the Twat.
regarding the game – Yes George – Playing Poorly and winning is just what it was. The last 7 minutes or so were wonderful and help to remind one that a game is 90 minutes (+ a bit of Mr Bunn the Goalkeeper Time) and the win is the main thing on such occasions. uta
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hahah the tottenham clowns in media are sick ….they cant believe it…they wanted to screw the arsenal yesterday….and this one-sided commentary needs to be addressed at some point ivan…surely we have the power influence and connections to send a couple of these “journalists” to siberia, dont we ?
thanks pas and andrew for yeasterday comments on tickets…true andrew..imagine spuds just below or better, them horrible smug pink devils…too tempting….i will get thrown out for sure…after i pee on them from above….
best money ever spent..
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houghton :We gave a really good account of ourselves for 85 minutes.
you what? hahahaaa….you think you can come with your neanderthal tactics and neanderthal values on the game and “steal” points from the better side and deny us our victory ? you can fuck off now.
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What would we do without hunter?
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Hunter is a gooner…but he is a scary gooner😳
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Apparently you bloggers like comments so will add my twopenneth: was at the game yesterday (so didn’t have to listen to Moany Gale – he makes my ears bleed & there’s a limit to how much brain damage I can take per season). Norwich were horrible; overweight, unfit, timewasting, whingeing, cheating bastards. We didn’t play well & Gerv was disappointing, Jack too, perhaps not match fit & yes we missed the speed & risk-taking of Rosicky. Their goal came from a free-kick that shouldn’t have been. Nuff said. Point is, AW made the right substitutions at exactly the right time & we got a glorious 3 points. Now I’m waiting for the media, instead of disputing any controversial decisions in our favour and never giving us the benefit of the doubt, to do what they do for Manure, they didn’t play well but hey ho, they’re ruthless when they need to be and they got the result. But I’m not holding my breath.
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what a day it was yesterday, worked nights and got home at 8 but still managed to get in the kings head by 1, for numerous reasons I havnt drunk for a while but I was yesterday and it was good. it was a good atmosphere in the pub but everyone was saying we would miss tr7 the only discussion was how much …well we found out the spark just behind giroud wasn’t there and the norwich centre midfield was mopping up anything that came off their back four. after being outsung again by a bunch of farmers(maybe this was the possession the bbc was talking about as you cant have more of the ball if you only play for 20 minutes) the moans started to gather in earnest once they scored and the world was a very doomy place and the scribes of doom were licking their quills just waiting for the literary dissection. however after turning down one def pen when theo got in front of his man the linesman finally put his flag in front of his chest after the section of the crowd behind him roared in his earole. well from there we won I went back down the pub which was winningly packed and everyone was in love with ARENAL and each other again …..the world was bright and summery again what a day.
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We got (and Norwich got) what we deserved yesterday,in the stadium just before the penalty was taken there was at least a 2 minute wait for our number 8 to get his thoughts together,he was being given the usual shit from the Norwich players especially Bunn but as I’ve said before Mikel’s a good looking boy but his eyes are like sharks eyes and he dispatched that penalty like a cold blooded killer,fuck Norwich and fuck Tony Gale,we got what we deserved.
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I did not think we were all that poor to be honest and the reward we collected in the final 10 minutes was a result of the running all over the pitch and wearing down that NC had endured all afternoon.
By 80 minutes NCs heads and their lungs had gone which was a result of everyone’s efforts over the game
Pleased with Aaron, Arteta ticked all afternoon (baffled to see in the Sunday Times today we play with no holding midfield player !) , Giroo gave 90 minutes of strength and sweat.
Any coincidence Gerv looked a bit more hesitant in front of the adoring Emirates fans than at the Hawthorns or the Liberty ?
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Yes its sad that he fells more at home when ,well,not at home
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Oh and Arseblagger – it is good to have a bit of insightful and well reasoned comment to balance the agenda on here – I look forward to more of your well written contributions
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Nice one George.
Penalty was a penalty. I’m still baffled as to what all the hoopla is/was about. Linesman did his job. Oh yes I remember, it’s Arsenal isn’t it. Silly me.
What was Moyes doing on MOTD? oh yeah I remember, we play Everton in a couple of days. Silly me.
We are third. The sun is shining. So for know they can all just f*ck off.
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Without doubt the substitutions changed the game nice luxury to have Theo the Ox and Podolski to come on to inject much needed pace and trickery obvious lack in the first half with jack understandingly of the pace and missing Rosiskys influential input. them and Jenko were warming up for ages so AW was pondering different thoughts of strategy but how could he take off man of the match for me Rambo! Sagna had a decent game did was asked of him but some will still say more luck than judgement from the boss but probably more from the AW out brigade. Keeps us on a roll at this stage of the season more sboit the points tha
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Just got back from the game. If you sing back at a canary very loudly, all its feathers fall off. Try it.
MoTM for me was Aaron. I thought that we completely dominated the game and I have no idea what the pundits are talking about when they say that Narge deserved a point. No they didn’t. It is unbelievable that some fuckers are claiming that an obvious penalty should not be given because the linesman saw it. They conveniently forget of course that Snodgrass committed at least five bookable fouls before he actually did get booked, whereas Bacary got booked for his first tussle..
The booing of Gervais is a complete and utter disgrace. Booing any Arsenal player is a complete and utter disgrace.
Arsenal ‘fans’ need to get a sense of proportion the reaction to every missed pass around the West Upper where I sit is what you might expect from learning that one of your nearest and dearest has just died. Whining throughout the game half of them were. When will people learn that football is not rugger and that you don’t always have to move the ball forward….passing the ball back can often be the best attacking option.
However a more than usual number stayed to applaud the players which is nice.
Gervinho, Gervinho, Gervinho
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Yup. Plenty of gr*t. Bucketloads.
Games against Everton in recent seasons have also been gr*tty, with plenty of good defending on show from the Arsenal. I do sincerely try to remember that the team that came third in the league last season ‘couldn’t defend’ but, well, you can see where I had trouble with that. It’s a(nother) biggie on Tuesday. Another cup final.
–
On the shirt tug. What’s been hilarious about the plundits is that none of them mention that the clearance by the fouling Norwich player was made possible because he used his tug on Giroud as almost a lever to clear the ball, ahead of OG. Er, that’s a foul, any day, any where at any time? Right?
These new shirts don’t help either. If Tony Gale was really upset he should advise players he likes (those playing against Arsenal) not to pull the Arsenal players shirt where the sponsors logo is located. It’s these new fancy dan wishy washy new age stretchable synthetic fabrics. They are ruining the traditional and gr*tty game we all know and love. Seeing ‘Fly Emirates’ stretch into a blurry white line that was about twice the width of Giroud from the linesman’s angle for about a second or so made the decision easy for the Lino, not so easy for those hoping the Arsenal were going to drop some points.
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Anyone know why sir ches wasn’t on the bench yesterday?
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No but he was at the game, Mel. Saw him leave the ground in a land rover.Probably going hunting or farming.
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I suppose you get a different perspective if you watch the match (as I had to) already knowing the result. I had read before I watched that we were poor – but we weren’t. I suppose it’s inevitable that if you’re watching a match in which for nearly 90% of the time you’re on level terms with or behind an inferior team, then frustration dulls judgment. I’m sure I would have felt the same.
But 3-1 reflects the match reasonably fairly. 6-1 would have been even fairer.
(Incidentally, the BBC match report, which accords us 49% possession, also appears to place our second goal after the final whistle.)
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He should have borrowed your horse Frank, great win yesterday mate,how good was Rambo?
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Was at the game yesterday, upper Clockend so didn’t see much for the penalty, nevertheless how many times in how many games is Giroud fouled, kicked, pushed and generally mucked about and refs do nothing? Ood that…
What I did see (or rather didn’t if you catch my drift) was any legitimate foul conceded by Gibbs. Ref couldn’t wait to blow the whistle for that one, the player was behind Gibbs!
That changed the momentum of the game, the Yokles had a game plan that was working for them (remember Blackburn anyone?) but Wenger was ready and had the Calvary already warmed up on the sideline since the beginning of the second half.
never doubted that we would win that game, it could have been a cricket score but for the woodwork and their keeper making some fine saves ( that’s the only complement he will get from me,). Both Teams got what they deserved.
MOTM = AR16
I have always been a Ramsey fan – he could become a Roy Kearney type player with less cuntiness rather then copying Steveie G’s useless Hollywood style passing play. He should be given the time to develop.
Finally, little Santiago needs some rest time, badly. He has never had to play against so many teams of thugs week in week out and get no protection. Honestly he must have solid granite ankles. Mike Reily and his select pals are making sure English football is heading back to the dark ages, is it any wonder EPL teams are not performing well in Europe if this style of kick the ball-kick the man is still accepted.
Sorry to get that off my chest, I don’t see a conspiracy but for Christ sakes how many incompetent refs can we get in one season, it’s got so bad that I nearly home to get Clattenberg for games!
Co’s we can’t complain about it co’s we are the ARSENAL.
Oh one more thing- BBC 49% possession? I think they mush have their stories written up before the matches are played……… Hey, maybe …….um…. Y’know ….
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Having worried yesterday (unnecessarily as it eventually turned out) about the notion of “variance”, it occurred to me that it’s this very phenomenon which sustains those commentators on the gentler slopes of the IQ curve like Gale and Robson.
If you go on peddling an indefensible line for long enough, variance will ensure that just occasionally an incident will support your addled theories.
And when, as at present with Arsenal, the gaps between such moments become extremely long, you can always resort to picking on an individual player. Of course, you must ensure that your victim is:
a) not English
b) a “flair” player, whose variance is inevitably greater.
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49% possession is either a shocking mistake or a complete and utter lie. 69% would have been closer.
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Oh and how come Grunt Holt was still on the pitch at the final whistle? He was kicking the ball and occasionally our players away whenever the ball went out of play.
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That Grunt Holt is a horrible piece of work is he not?
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I think you have to count the amount of time the Norwich keeper had the ball in his hands, their players had the ball in their hands for throws and the amount of time the ball was on the floor for Norwich free/goals kicks (oh and I think they counted carrying a ball out of the tunnel before ko) then you can see they probably did have more possession.
oh I also believe they counted the time chris hue-ton took the ball home after the decisions went against him.
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I see even auntie beeb have finally given Giroud the second goal (another shirt pull by Norwich btw) so he is on 18 goals with eight more games to come.
Not bad for a lad who’s has been called a not definite article centre forward by some gooners and another wenger disaster by the doomers. The Know’Nothing Out Brigade as I call ’em. KNOBS.
……unbelievable belief
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Found ourselves in a pub full of returning Millwall fans last night. Certainly a test of my diplomatic skills. Cheeks are still aching from the fixed grin I kept on my face for the entire time. They don’t mind Arsenal. Couldn’t resist shouting ‘Wigan’ at the top of my voice on the way out though ….. then ran faster than I have ever run in my life. Lost them in the tube tunnel somewhere under Waterloo.
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Well George and the Positivistas have completely nailed it for me:
* A totally negative, uninspiring Norwich
* A biased, blinkered media highlighted by the disgraceful Tony Gale
* The totally bogus BBC statistics which underlies their football reporting
* The bitter anti-Wengerists typified by Mr Arseblagger
* The anti-support undermining our own players
Despite all these negatives, it is our GRIT, which our Finsbury has made famous, has prevailed. May the spirit and example of my MOTM, Aaron Ramsey, prevail to the end of the season and beyond.
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oops six games! Sorry, hangover still kicking in.
And for today do we want to see the Orc’s suffer more pain or see Robings new bestest friends forever roll along with the glory hunting?
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Pulis will be shitting himself watching the game from SJP – Stoke are deep deep in shit
What do you reckon on the odds of the little Dutch boy being Shawcrossed before 4pm ?
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Norwich got 51 per cent because Bunn spent about 15 minutes taking goal kicks. Whenever the ball went out for a goal kick on his left, he insisted on ambling over to the right side. Funny once we scored he felt it necessary to take kicks from the side the ball went out….Twat
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Why is this meme growing in the media and among the amatupundits that you can turn up at the Ems, do fuck all but kick us and hope for 1 arsenal ‘mistake’?
Where does it get you?
14th
15th
16th in the league and probably out of a job. Thats where it gets you. Take a bow Martin, Tony and Chris. Your collective sense of entitlement for doing fuck all to make any sort of contribution to the beautiful game really pisses me off. At least read the laws of the game you fools!
PS note about the Norwich fans – ‘celebrating yourselves’ is not the same as supporting your team on the pitch, but there wasn’t anything to celebrate out there was there?
Think that was witty? You were half right.
Nice touch leaving the ground before their team was off the pitch too, (I really hate our own crowd doing sometimes)..
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Brilliant summary George.
Arseblag is a hero!
Deadwood to dead-cert is hilarious. So Jerry Springer!
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Are we all following @arseblagger on twitter?
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Who cares. All that matters is that my team wins. Well, fuck me, everything his hunky dory in Sunderland, Paolo did the business. Who cares about his political persuasion, who cares where the money is from, who cares how your team plays…..
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PG
Is arise lager for real? Or are you being ironic?
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My iPad is too clever, it corrected me when I typed arseblagger!
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@arseblagger might be coming to a podcast near you soon .If I can work out how to do one.
Does anyone know?
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Arseblaggers a prick.
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He speaks very well of you Mel.
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Well who is he? Is Pedantic being provocative?
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I think he is from ACLF Georgaki
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I think he was being sarcastic.
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Hey, Jack may leave us after next season😢
According to Arsenal legend Perry Groves!
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“how many times in how many games is Giroud fouled, kicked, pushed and generally mucked about and refs do nothing? Odd that…”
I’ve noticed that too. He is so good in the air he wins every goal kick unless he is impeded, which he often is. The amount of shoves in the back and holding him down illegally that I see and somehow the officials don’t is staggering. I was convinced he was also wrestled to the ground for an earlier chance almost identical to the one he scored and even that one Bassong was trying to remove his shirt as well. I know he has quite the bod, but there’s no need for the opposition to start undressing him mid match!
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Sorry for sounding like a moaning shit over Gervinho yesterday, it will not happen again.
Pass, Giroud has a deft touch and it’s hard to see him get a foot on the ball. On the last goal he scored against West Ham, when we romped them, I had to slow it down and watch it from two different angles in order to discern how exactly he tapped the ball into the net.
Did anyone watch the little Dutch boy go hug his master when he scored? I saw it and almost threw up.
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