Top of the league and top of the world.
I used to love cars. Spent a fortune on them over the years.
The one I loved the most was a 1966 MGB Roadster. I bought it in 1990, it had been restored lovingly to concourse condition by an enthusiast who came on hard times during that particular recession.
I saw the pictures of it before the chap had worked his magic. Even then it looked nice and he said it had always been reliable. But afterwards? Oh, it was a thing of beauty. Stainless steel wire wheels, leather upholstery – the whole nine yards.
Of course he might have not bothered and simply sold it and bought a nice new Golf GTi. Thankfully he didn’t. He worked with what he had and in the end he produced a work of art. Can you see where this is going?
Yes? Thought so.
Well our wonderful set of players are quickly turning into a thing of beauty. Just as my MGB was.
Even when, like yesterday, it’s just cruising around in second gear.
I thought yesterday was a very professional job. We started off totally dominant although never getting into top gear. After the Welsh Wizard scored the opener, we dropped back into second. And paid the price. Not that an equalizer had looked on the cards, but we had stopped dominating.
But what happened next?
Well we moved up into third again and wrested control back. And it looked like we could , if need be, move through the gears further if it became necessary. It looked to me that the many games this eleven has played recently meant they were happy to conserve energy and win with as little physical exertion as possible. That’s what we did.
Three points and top of the league.
I don’t want to go over the top in praise of the team, because it could come back to bite me on the bum.
However, I am as happy with this team and squad as I have been since 2004.
I love this bunch of lads and I love what I am seeing.
Happy days.
Positively Arsenal 
It was a very encouraging and much deserved result yesterday though I’m looking forward to watching a game where I’m not fearful of the safety of the players nor the integrity of the game from a refereeing perspective.
Next up: West Brom and it’ll be very interesting to see how AW shuffles the pack against what will surely be a strong WBA side.
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I know exactly where you are coming from. I have a thing for car too. The team was purrrring like a tiger yesterday. A professional performance that netted three beautiful points to send us up to the summit. And oh it is such a wonderful view from here. Back where we belong. Having gotten back MIKEL & TOMAS is a huge boost to the moral and confidence of the team . SERGE was very composed and put in a great shift. We could have been more clinical earlier in the game and it could have been 4-1 or 5-1 if OG had converted. This was a great weekend and I’m elated for AW & the TEAM.
UPWARDS AND FORWARDS…….
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And I will have no Andrey Arshavin to look forward too AA.
I think I will pick young Ryo as my next project.
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I thought along those lines too George. We are professional and controlling and step up when need be. Touch wood, but you get the feeling that these guys will calmly respond to going level or behind.
Regarding cars, after laying my eyes on the AC Cobra, no other car seems beautiful. Hopefully one day I can own a replica.
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Aim high SA ,shoot for an original.Quarter of a million £ should do the trick
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haha. I need to rob a bank or be an investment banker (same thing) for that.
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” it had been restored lovingly to concourse condition by an enthusiast who came on hard times during that particular recession.”.
well said PG,
AW knows.
The Baggies game, as AA said, should be interesting.
Should further qualify our present level of professionalism.
DiCanio needs to grow up, improve outer calm OR forget about being a manager.
How do you get yourself canned so soon into a season?
Titus Bramble called it in the summer.
Oh well, so Ryo it is then PG?
I’m stuck on Nico…
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Arsene said something before the game along the lines of we are on top of the league and I am going to do my best to keep us there. It is clear the boss and the players are aware of the challenge ahead and are intent on meeting it. This group is as good as the 2008 lot but they are tougher mentally and more mature. I have no doubt they will give the title a shot by meeting every challenge presented.
Like George’s car you are looking at genuine quality.
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……………..flamini………….
……….arteta…..rosicky…….
ozil…………………………cazorla
……you or me or anyone……
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my dennis… we do have a ridiculous midfield indeed…
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Sorry George but I think the Feyenoord fans claimed first dibs on Ryo.
He had a pheneomal time at Feyenoord.
If those dastardly football furies had not robbed us of Carzola, Rosicky, Chamberlain and now Walcott I might not get the chance to see Ryo and Gnabry on Wednesday.
Oh. We are d**med.
Btw those know nothing numbnuts, Coyle and Martinez both liked to play Ryo on the right. Though I feel Coyle made an mild error he had to obviously give preference to his senior players on positions given the circumstances at the time.
Could be a three behind NB of Ryo, Gnabry and Eisfield in front of Flamini and Arteta. But I’m going to guess of the three nippers I mention above that Ryo And Serge will get the starts.
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Excuse the spelling. I blame these phat fingers.
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I have a problem with your choice of title PG…..I’ve been contaminated, I can’t get that damn awful song by The Carpenters out of my head……
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there’s a difference between riding your luck and winning with minimal effort. the former is what man utd does, while what we did yesterday was the latter.
with a stretched squad, 3 points with minimal effort is all that matters. there will be lots of other opportunities to turn it on. like at old trafford for example.
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kori??????? wow ..such a long time
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I can only agree with you, George. Throughout all our games (the loss against Anthony Taylor apart) I have never felt that the team played at anything like 100%, but it was always evident that we are able to push on. It just wasn’t required so far. To think that we have been winning comfortably and haven’t even approached our best while a handful of players watch on from the injury tables that could improve almost any team in he world, it’s a mouth watering prospect. I am really happy to see this particular group of players go out there and enjoy themselves because to a man each one has a story to tell of how they were “not good enough” and now they are combining to prove them all wrong. Long may it continue!
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And another one has found his way back home. Fantastic to see.
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Actually, I learned clutch control and reversing in an MBG GT. (OK, so it’s onlu me that’s interested in that – but you brought it up, so yah boo sucks).
Yes, it was lovely yesterday. The fact that Dean still tried to **** it up, allowing the usual kicks from the orcs, but despite what looked like weariness, the Arsenal players did indeed step up in between the episodes of cruising. Professional but still entertaining. Am I right in thinking there was a very good atmosphere at the Ems?
I’ve read that Stoke fans booed Ramsey when he picked up an award before the match. Is this true?
It seems Stoke fans are angry at Ramsey’s celebration following his utterly magnificent goal. Don’t bother clicking the link if you’re wishing to avoid negativity. I, unusually, found their comments hilarious, though this is the first time I’ve managed to laugh at anything coming from Stoke. Apart from Pulis being sacked and Fellani-tio beating up Shawcross:
http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/220275/ramsey-classless-prick
I’m going to have to look through all those bloomin’ comments, again, from your last post, PG. There was one where someone summed up the whole ‘Stoke are now a passing team’ crap – and called it, succinctly, for what it actually is. Bollocks.
I can’t wait for Wednesday. Come on Arsenal. You’re loved, and you know you are.
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sorry hunter, just don’t have regular access to a proper functioning keyboard (only have a tablet and it’s not as easy to type long treatises)
i do read the blog though
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“Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around, your love’s put me at the top of the world, da da-da da da da DA, plink plink.”
Georgaki-pyrovolitis: Why did you even have to mention that? Should’ve kept it to yourself. Now I have to suffer, and I’ve got the single somewhere and probably the LP too, you know, the one with the beige cover. It was No. 1 forever. All your fault, somehow.
As penance you must listen and sing along to it – on a loop:
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its fine kori..good to see a name from the past..
everyone i foudn this in the guardian…excellent
guitougoal
22 September 2013 5:06pm
Jacob Steinberg’s wishful thinking : « Tottenham will do very well to finish above Arsenal this season. »
-Yes also Liverpool will win the League and the Pope is moving from Rome to Jerusalem .
About the game, nice to have Arteta back with Gnabry in action and 3 Set pieces in : what about that !
Remember all the fuss about the defense ? to the usual critics, guess what : it’s the defending that got you in first place..Beside today you had Jenkinson, Nacho and Vermaelen watching from the bench.
Also don’t you think the AST witless activists should have to apologize to somebody ?,….for trying to influence the board by promoting their own inept agenda with frequently a paranoid suspicion against Wenger .It was done with what I think of as a kind of « soup kitchen mentality ».short term and no flavour.
When the cynics prophesied « he would have to leave soon, he has lost it, Arsenal would soon be in a whole bunch of trouble etc.. » Arsene rolled up his sleeves and got things done with the right attitude : »we’re busy here, don’t interrupt » now he should be laughing at them, I think his comments about making his own evaluation before signing a new contract was his way of sending a kind of f*ck you message to the AST, « I’ll leave on my own terms ». And that the way it should be.
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from “when the cynics” till end…someone should go and post that in front of the jellystone park ranger’s face every morning.
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On reflection with the benefit of hindsight is it any surprise that this growing, settled (no horrific summer disruptions to momentum!) squad is showing mature game nous under the leadership of Arteta and The BFG two players who changed the dressing room in their first season at the club?
Oh yeah more panic buys (with friendlies arranged as a part o a deal? must have been some panic…) of top players with PL experience or random Arsenal fans chosen by lottery who just happen to have 50+ caps for Allemande anytime please.
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FFS what site is this “Jellystone”?
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ahahahah george…the cartoon yogi bear..yellowstone park ……jelly as in spineless…
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Was the car BRG George ? Wire wheels ! Marvellous
Another Monday with a gentle glow after a weekend victory
Word of praise for Szcz yesterday who had a couple of tricky shots to deal with as well as the usual high level bombardment from Stoke – the lad yet again was impeccable
And to think the acquisition of Begovic was high on some agendas a few weeks back
Well that was £15 million + saved based on what I saw yesterday
And Mike Dean – not on my Christmas card list I admit but in contrast to a few of his performances I’d give that a 7/10
Hands up everyone who thought Dean would point to the spot when Bac upended Charlie Adam on the edge of the box ???
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Giroo put on a hell of an effort yesterday against Hoof and Shawcross
If that does not earn the chap an evening off nothing will
Pleased with Gnabry, tidy, kept himself in space and available, and showed good confidence for a youngster
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Oh no …. ! Not …. The Carpenters. Whoever is responsible for this mental anguish must, according to the rules (of life, the universe, stuff), suffer cruel and unusual punishments; I can only suggest recording him/herself singing the lyrics of every Carpenters song and posting online under the title “Why I love the Carpenters, by XYZ”. Harsh, but this cannot be allowed to happen again, not in this lifetime anyway.
Shudders … (twice in 3 days …!).
Wonderfully efficient win on Sunday I thought, an Arsenal squad that seems to know what to do, how much to do it, and when. We seemed to be at 70%, but did what was necessary, shifted up a gear and sorted it out. So Stoke can pass against a tired Arsenal. That first chip over to score against us was really worth a goal, so I didn’t mind; it was the beautiful pass that did caught both CBs out, not a defensive lapse.
Team for WBA, 4-4-2ish, if we were to rest the entire first choice except Arteta for game time.
Viviano
Jenks/Hayden/TV/Nacho
Serge/Frimpong/Arteta/Ryo
NB/Akpom
Frimpong hanging back a bit more.
Somehow I think Kos or Per will play.
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My blog aggregator threw up two headlines from ANR.
These people just wish to be proved correct about Wenger. They are hoping for Arsenal to fail so that they will be shown to be correct about Wenger.
FFS I can, and will, enjoy any game of football. Even Chesterfield who are playing great stuff this season and are top of League Two. The Manchester derby was great entertainment with some excellent football….why can’t these miserable bast**ds enjoy the team? Surely they can see that we have been playing very good football so far this season?
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Good call finsbury, Mikel and Per are just fantastic for the team.
And who can resist the trio of Santi, Lukas and Mesut. Between the smiles they only know how to have a good heartily laugh.
That’s not to mention the young enthusiastic British core. The future is now and the beginning is Wenger.
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@anicoll
I will put my hand up: I wanted us to sign Begovic (primarily because he is from the country of my birth but also because he looked impressive when I saw him play against us) but on yesterday’s evidence, it looks like we have dodged a bullet. That none of the other top teams rumoured to be interested in him solidified their interest probably points to some major flaws in his game.
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Thinking 18-year old debuts, at home, against a competently physical Stoke, you won’t find too many better than Serge’s yesterday, mainly because he grew into the game as it went on and began to play to his natural talent rather than avoid mistakes.
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@GP
It’s down to the “end of an era” agenda making the rounds. As you point out, some people are desperate for Wenger to fail. Because if he succeeds now that we have more resources and can compete again, he will have proven them all wrong.
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Jellystone is a conundrum of lick-fickles. In my mind anyway. My wife thinks I can be obtuse.
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Dammit, G-P, you just had to go and mention that song, didn’t you? Now it’s just there bouncing around in my head. And @rantetta, there’s a freaking YouTube video for it? I’m having trouble picturing the person who loves the Carpenters AND knows how to upload to YouTube. They must be even weirder than me.
Hope some of the boys get a well deserved rest against WBA, although none of them will want one I’m sure. But if it’s a choice between being rested for Swansea and Napoli vs a cup game against WBA, I’m going with the first one. Good thing I don’t have to decide.
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Evil
You make sense about those malcontents.
On another note I followed your exchanges with the doomers on the other site. I thought you mentioned that you had Germanic routes, is that so? Begovic is Bosnian?
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Evil
I just love the international flavour of our support….
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I love the Carpenters. So there.
Had a great day yesterday and that’s a lovely write-up Steww. It’s funny you mentioned the parallels with the 2004 squad, as I’ve thought that myself a few times lately. There is that sense that we are on the cusp of something potentially wonderful again, not quite there yet imho, and I’ll be happier when we get players back from injury (Santi back soon!), but it’s looking very good. Very good indeed. The team has a confidence in it’s itself now, growing with each game (boosted by the arrival of Özil, no question), and the importance of that can’t be underestimated. They did just enough yesterday, dipped a bit in the second half perhaps, but never seemed to doubt they would get the points. Marvellous.
I agree with ‘Coll about Dean. Can’t stand the fella usually, but fairs fair he had a decent game by his standards.
Onward.
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Harry
You do come across as a very gentle and nice fellow…gentle and nice like The Carpenters……
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GP, I can’t work out if that is an thinly veiled insult or a backhanded compliment (wink).
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Harry
After Saturday I’m pleased that you are still posting on here…I really enjoy and appreciate your thoughts….
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@GP
Haha, yes, you got that right. I am Bosnian but birth, but I have lived most of my life in Germany (and my mother is German to a certain percentage). And I plan to move to the UK eventually. So there you go!
And yes, I am also happy to see Harry still making the rounds. I like the diversity we have going here at PA!
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by, not but.
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Cheers GP (and Evil). Good man yourself.
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Evil
Don’t move to Chesterfield. Your English is too good, they won’t understand you……
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“Stoke should really man up, this is a man’s game. Mark Hughes and his fancy dans didn’t like the direct approach from Arsenal. Three goals all scored as a result of set pieces. They didn’t like it up ’em and Flamini and co. stopped them from playing their natural passing game.”
“Poor old Stoke can’t cope with a sunny Sunday afternoon in North London.”
Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
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Kelly,
Looks like the next evening kick off will be Tuesday 1st October against Napoli. I hope you can join the Virtual stadium……
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Damn Carpenters……
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http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/patrick-barclay-why-i-will-never-consider-lionel-messi-greater-than-diego-maradona-8834548.html
Personally I think he’s the best football writer out there.
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Wow! Those Stoke fans really hate Ramsey.
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