Well that was most satisfactory.
A three one win which could, and perhaps should, have been much more comprehensive. In the first half we were totally dominant with seventy three percent possession away from home, in the second we were less so but still much the better team.
One thing that worries me is Laurent and his tackles from behind that lead to the inevitable penalties. It does not matter that he is getting a touch on the ball, because it’s illegal to tackle from behind. So even if he is getting a touch the chances are a spot kick will be given. Do stop it son.
When you consider that Arteta, Santi, Tomas, Diaby, Podolski, Bendtner and AOC are out injured, the fact that we were able to field such a strong starting eleven makes talk of us having a weak squad seems a little ridiculous to me.
Our new shiny new superstar looked every inch just that. Given he was said to be under the weather the signs look absolutely fantastic.
However, it worries me that his acquisition is being talked about as the making of the team. This team has lost one game in six months, and that was to a referee rather than to a team. The growth of our existing players is the reason we look so formidable. When you think that the pre-Ozil team was built for a negative net transfer spend, huge credit must go to the manager.
The star of the show, once again was Aaron Ramsay. Most tackles (7), most touches (111), most passes (88), ninety two percent completion rate, two goals, and man of the match. The boy is quite simply the best player in the league this season so far. To think that as little as six months ago he was “not fit to wear the shirt” according to some expert fans and even pundits! Don’t tell me Arsène doesn’t know best; just don’t ok?
Imagine the Wengerball we will be seeing when the wounded return. Its frightening you know? It is !
Jack looked much improved. Its been clear that the two years out is going to take some coming back from, just like it did for Aaron and Tomas before him, but with his talent and will it is just a matter of time.
Oh, and how good has Flamini slotted back in? His signing could prove the master stroke of all master strokes.
So that’s it people, you likely all have seen it yourselves, so you don’t need a mug like me to explain to you what you saw.
Great innit ?
Positively Arsenal 
“If a blogger is tactically astute enough to analyse games at this level, then maybe they should be managing teams themselves”
What makes me laugh are those tactical geniuses who argue that AR16 was shit because he was played “out of position” on the right. Whereas if they knew anything or ever paid attention to what the manager says, they would know that he often plays young players out there so that they learn to use smaller space, from which they benefit when they have all that space in midfield. It also takes them out of the pressure area of midfield while they develop. Cesc, Diaby, the Ox and Ramsey have all improved their game out on the wing. Also, playing Ramsey through his growing pains allowed him the time to develop into the player he is today, just as playing Jack while he is still finding his best form is doing likewise.
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We are no longer at the top of the table. Wenger out?
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How Liverpool remain unbeaten is beyond me Evil!
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Hahaha. Please don’t overreact. Give the poor guy another chance.
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PASSENAL
totally agree. Playing on the wing has made many of our players better and more technical. Also , as a manager, would you play someone coming back from injury and/or young in center mid ,where any slip or mistake can immediately expose your defensive line. ? Even if that was their natural position? No. you let them find their feet first then gradually move them there to shield the defenders and be a link to your forward players…
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Is that 1 goal and 3 assists for Jonjoe?
Someone should have told him not to pass the ball to the team in red anymore.
Passeral, your are right, I see no other team in this league anywhere near Arsenal’s ability. This League is there for the taking, and if bloggers, journos or pundits can’t see that, sod em. Özil can see it.
Wenger said we will be ready for it next season, but I think he is being slightly downbeat on our chances this year.
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But in all honesty, if this is “Liverpool”, I don’t think we have much to fear. We are having half a team and I’d back us at this point to get a result against anyone in the league. Just imagine what it will be like when some of our most important players of last season decide to stop being injured and come back. This team is incredible right now, and the trajectory is only going up. The more I see us, the more I see other teams, I can’t help but getting more and more confident. Everything is in place…
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If we are going to play the predictions game:
1st Arsenal ( and a CL semifinal). 78 pts. Perfectly reasonable based on last seasons efforts. A couple more wins instead of draws, just score a few more goals and its possible.
2nd City (Pellegrini will sort out the style he wants eventually but will have lost too many points by then). 75pts
3rd Spuds (hate to say it, but only because the are the least worst of the rest) 73 pts for 109 million quid.
4th The Micky mousers, who will go on to loose the CL playoff the Celtic. 68 pts
5th Chavs – no new talent, no new ability from Mhorinho. 65 pts. Frankie would be able to rescue games forever.
6th or even lower – Red Manure. 64 pts, all from penos at home games. haha.
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Diaby destroyed Liverpool last season (along with the rest of the team). Him and TR7, not to mention MA8 coming back…. watering mouth, innit? Recuperation & Rest, Rotation & Return = Rhatid football. *Dripping*
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Looks like the FA will never miss a chance to have a go at Arsenal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24115826
What a shower of Stone Age fuckers.
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The only team I’d be worried about right now is BvB Dortmund.
I just saw the highlights of their 6-2 demolition of Hamburg.
Poor Johann Djourou was just a spectator for most of the goals.
rantetta, if we had Diaby back to his best for just 1 month this season, I’d be happy.
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I was temped to do a mincemeat joke, re:above.
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@DC
Yeah, Dortmund could be a tough one, I agree. I am more afraid of them than I am of any team in the Prem and that’s saying something considering on what shoe-string budget Dortmund are operating. But I think at the point in time at which we are playing them, we probably won’t have injury worries anymore and that should give us a decent chance if we have guys like Chambo, Poldi or Rosicky on the bench to make an impact.
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My top five predictions
1—– ARSENAL
2—– chelski
3—– shitty
4—– spudniks
5—– manure
Points respectively 81, 79,79, 77 ,76
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What, another Record EPL points tally for the Spuds, ‘Kam?
We are both flattering them, but Liverpool and Manure look far worse contenders right now.
I also don’t see City or Chelski getting higher points tallies than last year.
But a debate is good. Yawnited dropping 13 points, I’d love it.
Any takers on Moe being sacked by Christmas?
I think United will stick with Moyes even if he fucks it up in the first season. How the Glazers will react to loosing the UCL revenue is another matter, no rainy day money at that club.
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double canister, I felt a little bit tearful – reading your lovely comment about V Abou Diaby. Someone gets him, somebody has actually watched him.
I know folk on here aren’t the fools I’ve read elsewhere, but I so rarely read or hear positive comments about this magnificent player. Diaby’s an intelligent and humble man, in my opinion. I’ve watched him closely since his arrival at Arsenal. Dermot Gallagher and Dan Smith set the template for the treatment of Diaby and Arsenal’s other young players. The same constant ankle tapping/forehand-smashing happens regularly to our players, and can currently be seen enacted on JW10 and anyone else who the thugs can “get close to”, as I believe Stuart Robson likes to say.
I’m so proud of Arsenal for not discarding players who’ve been smashed up by the opposition.
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Yah DC
I can see them break into top four at manures expense.
Least they can do after the expenditures of the past four to five years. Or else heads will roll. Levy?? Avb?? Maybe both.
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You are right regarding moyes and manure. Except for a complete meltdown, he will get his full season.
but he better get winning fast or with their financial situation they might go into a nice tailspin. Oh, I can wish ,can’t I?
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DIABY is great. Everyone here wishes him the best of luck and a very successful year. ARSENAL is so much better with him fully fit. As for smith, Taylor, Gallagher and shawcross, butchers one and all. Definitely not footballers.
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DC
speaking of butchers , Ireland isn’t really thinking of replacing TRAPPATONI with Roy Keane , are they??
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I am Diaby’s greatest fan………there is NOTHING I wish more than for him to salvage his career and play his exquisite football for Arsenal Football Club…
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Not that I’ve heard, Goonerkam.
I think Martin O’Neill is in for the job on a short term basis until the end of the qualifiers.
Martin’s coin has devalued a lot – I don’t forgive him for turning Sunderland into a bunch of shitkickers.
Half of Ireland (the non manure fans) are still pissed at Keane walking out on the Team at the Korea Japan World Cup.
I’m surprised David O’Leary is still not looking for a comeback job. The Ireland squad is poor right now, it shames me to think that half of them play for Stoke and play like Orcs too.
Wroy has no excuse for letting England.
play like Stoke, either.
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GP totally agree.
Diaby is only a few months away from his latest return.
At least this time, Arsene Wnger can afford to let him back in gently and carefully ration his game time as we have so many midfield options (touchs wood).
Let him Captain the domestic cup teams save a few big performances against Fellani and Yaya Toure.
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DC
well I’m glad it isn’t true. Sky sports was reporting it. One thing the Irish are known for is heart. With a great coach other qualities will develop and the team will become stronger in time.
I’m with you in that I don’t think Martin is that coach. What do you think of a combined team of England,Wales, Scotland and Ireland as the team from GB. surly they will come close to entering the world cup and going deep in the tournament??
Just an idea, to pull all talent from four corners and making one powerful team from them.
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Was Jack playing wide left v. Sunderland? I think so. More evidence of Passenal’s point. Was JW’s best game for us this season too.
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I am a big fan of Abou too
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Goonerkam.
Only one problem with a combined team – 800 years of history of us Irish not wanting to be combined with anyone else.
The other thing is that each national FA has its own UEFA and FIFA vote, that’s a handy block of 5 votes for things that are mostly beneficial to football in this part of the world on these soggy little islands.
There are 2 different Irish teams, it’s all a bit complicated, and Martin played for the other one.
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Apologies for tooting my own horn here but please see this:
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/30394
I was ridiculed by many based on my faith but I am feeling vindicated right now. We still have 34 games to go but just look at the pundits’ favourites and you’ll see what I am talking about. Our form from last season and consistency (in not losing any key player) was scoffed at but look at us and the others now.
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Limestone,
last time i remember JW playing on the left was during the 1-4 at white hart lane. Won’t have been as tough as Marseille are going to be but he can do it.
–
What a class performance last time out in Marseille it was. The classic European Away performance. Completely ignored by the always reasonable defensive genius’ out there in their incessant tirades against the club, and Pat Rice!
Another controlled performance in honour of Pat Rice with the killer blow at the end will do very nicely.
I worry a teeny bit that with Arsene and Boro returning that it’ll be different with the refs: that is reasonable paranoia (IBSF).
Big Game nerves heh.
–
Contrary to some opinion above I like reading Old Skool balanced and measured reviews like those by Desigunner. Especially after a victory (IBSF II). I hope that divergence of opinion is ok on this allegedly extremist blog.
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finsbury,
Despite my disdain for game analysing bloggers, I have huge respect for Desi Gunner. I like him because he does not take himself too seriously even though his thoughts are usually spot on. I loath the type that analyse/preview/review matches and then get all high and mighty about the manager being terrible and players being shite etc.
Desi is a very smart and even a more humble indidvidual. He is an exception to the rule.
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“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of the frustrations fans had with Ramsey’s game – holding onto the ball too long, too many flicks and tricks when being sensible was the best option – have been eliminated and that’s down to listening to people on the training ground. Perhaps he didn’t listen quite as quickly as he should have, but better late than never.”
The above is exactly the type of comment that demonstrates the ignorance and the fact our bloggers are COWARDS. So, its not about Wenger showing faith in him and providing him a platform to express himself while protecting him from media and fans. Its not about the expertise and experience gained while playing in multiple positions. Its not the different scenarios of play he has had to learn and execute and cope with playing next to arteta. Its all about that poor awful Ramsey LISTENING to people on the training ground……As if Wenger or other coaches were disappointed by the welshman the last 2-3 years …nevermind they kept playing him no matter what!
Why cant this blogger admit that whatever criticism ramsey received was premature and mainly caused by frustration and impatience on behalf of the Fans !!!
Some think that 21, 22 and 23 year old players are the finished article….. It is only from 24-25 onwards that you can genuinely judge a players ability and development but i guess our blogger-fans are so thick they think every footballer is a like kaka and ronaldo and cesc when they were young. And anything below that is failure and deserves criticism…… Forget about waiting ..forget about being patient or allowing the player to go through the various proccesses his managers and coaches have already in program for any given player…..
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how will a player learn or gain the experience to know what to do if he aint allowed to make mistakes and learn from them.? our fans seem to be a bunch of lightweight fairweather fans who cant deal with the years of having to watch the young ones fucking it up again and again till they get it right.
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Hunter, how have Aaron, Theo, Jack, Carl & Gibbs improved so much?
It can’t be the coaching by mr. Control freak, surely? Hehe.
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I still can’t get over the comments by the pin up Director of Football, Commoli, that I heard on the radio last week. Paraphrasing: “a situation like that with Slurguson or Arsene Wenger* is the ideal. Most clubs just aren’t that stable…”
Absolutely hilarious.
*Acting as tyrannical dictators. Texting refs, throwing boots at players heads, spending years tapping up the likes of Ozil etc.
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I am getting a kick out of the “who me?” stance a lot of the bloggers in the Arsenal doom-o-sphere have adopted lately. Funny what a bit of sunshine has done to those cockroaches, innit? It’s going to be fun watching them turn into pretzels the further our season progresses and we are in with a legitimate shot at the title.
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Hunter & Double canister,
Remember that it is of absolute importance not to give that Frenchman any credit.
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Hunter,if you are going to quote bloggers.Credit them so as we all know who it was.
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This is probably for another days article:
But I’m just bored and looking at spuds 2012 accounts (really bored).
Their revenue was down to £144m last year with an operating loss of -£4m and they
paid £3m in tax.
The important thing is that they list staff (players and all others) wages at £90m. They have about 1/3 of the non-playing staff numbers of Arsenal. I do find their lower wage bill a bit hard to fathom, but these 2012 figures are from before AVB’s big spending spree.
Bottom line is Spuds are spending money they don’t have in order to keep on our coat tails, but our revenue was £100m more than them in 2012’s AFC PLC report and that’s before any of the new sponsorships kick in! Our wages were still £50m more than the spuds, but this will be substantially down this year, apart from deserved pay rises to Theo, Aaron, Jack and the rest of the lads who renewed contracts.
AFC profits are now very healthy (something for the doomers to grumble about I’m sure) but cash is king, and AFC is actually paying HM revenue £7m in tax.
AFC must be the only club in the world right now who could have got Özil with cash from their own pockets. I’m proud of that achievement. and we can do this every year now, if needed.
BTW – in case anyone is wondering about the myth of the disappearing stadium debt, it’s still there and the club still owe a quarter of a billion pounds! Not counting interest; and have to keep making payments for the next 18 years. AFC will need to be paying off close to £20m a year for a long time yet.
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It is good to see Spuds are in the pink financially DC – I am sure the residents of LB Haringey are relieved that Levy won’t be out with his begging bowl for another £20 million for his non existent ground development again this year.
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Fins, didn’t Ramsey score at away at Marseille near the death to give us a 1-0 victory two seasons ago? Hope for more of the same from him.
I think we could see Jack out there or even Gibbs. Depends, perhaps on who we are starting centrally and what our approach is. Maybe Gnabry will play too, though I wouldn’t be inclined to start him in our first CL group game away! But I think Jack played very well rather quietly out there.
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All this talk from Red Nose and the punditocracy about how difficult MU’s group is masks some genuine nervousness about Moyes’ lack of experience in Europe, I think. That group is not nearly as difficult as ours with league leading Napoli and Dortmund along with experienced Marseille. Sociedad are quite decent but have no experience at this level, Shakhtar is a reasonably strong team but weakened by sales of important players, and Leverkusen is solid but they also lost their best player in Schurrle. It is just that MU are used to absolute cake walks–though they still managed to screw it up recently–, so that now a respectable group (similar to the strength of ours the season before) looks so imposing. I think we’ll see how important an experienced manager is in Europe this season and expect we will benefit from AW knowing his way out of a CL group despite the quality we are facing.
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double canister September 17, 2013 at 12:34 pm
thats what frustrates me….the way they write about it is like saying ” we were right in bashing him…see how he improved after listening to us ” ….similar to ” if we hadnt put pressure on the club ozil wouldnt be here”
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pedantic george September 17, 2013 at 1:34 pm
arseblog
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Bootoomee September 17, 2013 at 1:29 pm
i get that when it comes from media..but from our own fans? It is pathetic. Some have made their minds up ( without having any understanding of the game or what arsenal had to go through) about wenger and carry on their narratives…..
the other day i read somewhere else of how we should respect the players who have given their all in the past few games and congratulating the players for their end to last season….i guess the manager had nothing to do with that either…. lol
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for instance take this patheitc comment from jon-jon at aclf
“as for rambo..really please for him..as a central midfielder hes the mutts nutts..im glad hes proved us all right and a certain someone wrong about where his talent is best utilised..”
LOL…….wenger proved wrong? if he hadnt played ramsey there or in various other positions he wouldnt be as good now playing at mid….if wenger hadnt entrusted him with a cesc/diabby role….part playmaker part bxtobx he woudlnt know when to spread it to sides , when to go direct, when to play one two with striker etc etc
i know jon -jon is better than wenger in identifying talent or how to develop it….how is that kind of shit allowed to be printed i wonder? insisting on promoting the idea that fans know better….that fans can tell wenger what to do with players…makes me sick im going home fuck them all.
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Typical JJ.TROUBLE IS i LIKE HIM.I dont like his opinions,but I could do a night out with him anytime.
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Arsenal first-team squad for Marseille fixture: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Jack Wilshere, Lukasz Fabianski, Isaac Hayden, Ryo, Nacho Monreal, Carl Jenkinson, Thomas Vermaelen, Chuba Akpom.
Eight first-team players are currently sidelined, with Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski, Tomas Rosicky, Gedion Zelalem and Santi Cazorla all absent, whilst Emiliano Viviano, Nicklas Bendtner and Ju-Young Park have remained in England.
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No Serge Gnabry? Is he unfit or just staying in London?
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Its such a disappointment when someone you had down as a top bloke turns out to be a snide twat.
It happens so often I should be used to it by now I suppose.
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It seems Serge plays for the u-19 against Marseilles u-19, same night I think. No, I guess he was not picked for the CL tie.
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