Can’t guarantee this blog will be worth reading. There are two reasons for my starting a little with the handbrake on. Firstly I could have sworn I already did West Brom just the other day and secondly I have a raging toothache and just necked a chemical cocktail of pain killers including some prescription pills we found when we cleared out Dad’s bedside cupboard after he died in 2004. He had them for his bad back but anything will do when the hot tea hits the root canal. I will persevere for as long the words swim in a vaguely legible fashion but once the old pink pachyderms start floating across the page I shall retire gracefully from the fray.
Our opponents today have been the surprise package in the early part of the season. Apart from routine wins at places like Old Trafford and creditable draws against Fulham and Everton they really raised eyebrows by managing to take Arsenal to extra time and penalties in the Carling Cup. Rumbelows Cup. Milk, Littlewoods, Coca Cola, Whatever The Hell It Is Now Cup. You know the one. Here’s an idea, let’s all go back to calling it the League Cup and we’ll know where we are. What the hell is Capital One anyway? No idea. Could be a chain of airport jewellers or an Albanian Lama Farm for all I know and frankly I don’t care to be educated on the subject.
I have watched the Baggies twice this season and found them to be a bit of a curate’s egg. They were in the one instance prepared to commit a range of niggling and unnecessary fouls and in the second showed themselves capable of some scintillating skill on the ball, good movement off it and against admittedly poor opposition in Manchester they played with a calm maturity which did them credit. I was particularly impressed with Stéphane Sessègnon but also the strength of the central defenders and the speed of the whole team on the break. In fact I have to say that in the past sides have done to us what West Brom did to United with solid obstinate defending and fast opportunist counter attacking football and even though we look a lot less vulnerable to such tactics these days I am fairly certain that they’ll adopt a similar approach this afternoon.
How am I doing? Seems OK so far but I know people under the influence often exaggerate their own coherence so I’m aware that when I read this back later it may be so much gobbledegook. I might have written out my shopping list for all I know. It’ll certainly make the trip to Lidl interesting as I try to fit a match preview into my trolley. At least I haven’t mentioned Winston Churchill this time. That seemed to kick off all sorts of problems in my previous write up. I do want to focus on an aspect of our game as well as the usual stuff about German supermarkets and dead statesmen that you expect to find in an Arsenal blog. I’ve been impressed with almost every aspect of our play lately. I am in the minority perhaps in thinking that the second half against Rafa’s merry men was in some ways more significant than the first. How can I say such crazy stuff? Well it’s partly down to the cough medicine I used to wash down Dad’s out of date pills but also there are arguable footballistic reasons behind the assertion.
In the first half we blew away a team who were I believe unbeaten in all competitions prior to stepping onto our hallowed turf. Blew them away. It was a mouth watering tsunami of football from a group of players at the top of their game and I doubt anyone could have lived with us in that mood. In the second half some folk were disappointed that we didn’t continue apace and put them to the sword. A five or six goal humiliation is of course always fun for us to witness, especially if we’re dishing it out rather than bending over and receiving the punishment. There was understandable discontent that we appeared to lack the killer edge of the first half but I feel very differently about what happened and the possible reasons for it. In the past we have been in similar situations and not known whether to shit or get off the pot. If we went gung-ho at teams we ran the very real risk of shipping annoying goals as against Tottenham Hotsuprs a few years back when we ended up drawing a game we could have won and yet at the same time we never looked comfortable trying to see out the match once we’d taken the lead. This is why I have enjoyed our recent performances, especially the second half on Tuesday.
There are two things happening. On the one hand we are playing with much more maturity and confidence than in the past. Sometimes the ‘Per….. Kos….. Bac… Per.. Kos.. Per KosPerKos – Aaaargh! – Szczęsny hoof it away’ routine still happens and that fills none of us with pacific tranquillity, but more often than not we defend a lead in tigerish depth and, when we win it back, play the ball around with enormous composure. This was much in evidence against Napoli and is the stuff winning sides are made of. The second thing is that a squad battered and bereft by a spate of untimely injuries to top class players and with a new face occupying a vital position have had to play a lot of games in very quick succession. High pressure games with all sorts riding on them. They’ve done this in the certain knowledge that most of them will be wheeled out again in a couple of days as the reserves just aren’t there at the moment to allow tired legs to be rotated. So they’ve preserved themselves. They’ve been good enough to get their noses in front and go into cruise control and see out the match with the bare minimum of fuss. No mean feat and requiring no little skill and self belief. On occasions, such as the last time we travelled to the Midlands to face today’s opponents, the match has descended into more of a dog fight but the players have shown themselves more than capable of rolling up metaphorical sleeves when the situation demanded it and getting stuck in. Skill. Composure. Maturity. Determination. Flexibility. Qualities any sporting team need and I believe we have in abundance.
There is a sense of us approaching the turning of a page as far as the season goes. I’ve heard plenty saying ‘let’s get to the international break and see where we are’, or ‘we could be top of the league and top of our group at the international break’. As Churchill said, ‘this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning’. Phase one over, still in all cup competitions and top of both league groups would be a decidedly acceptable place to be. More importantly the break actually comes at a pretty good time for once as we await the return of our injured players. I believe that win lose or draw today and we have still had a fine beginning. We have of course been here before and seen the wheels fall off. We’ve seen United struggle in the first few weeks and walk away with the league. However we’ve also seen Arsène build sides that start breaking club records during the course of a season and go on to achieve true greatness. Which will this season be? Of course I don’t know any more than you do, I have a gut feeling, but I am as superstitious as the next fan where the beautiful game is concerned and so will not speak of such things in a public forum.
Let me conclude by saying that this elephant is becoming a little uncomfortable and I may need to buy a new cheek in Argos today as I appear to have bitten through the old one. Or perhaps it’s just my wife’s jumper, I wish it would climb down from there. It’s high time for another tablet; your round I believe?
Positively Arsenal 
Fine, fine work – and under duress, too. Sorry to hear about that rotton, rotten tooth; always think toothache and stomach ache are the worst commonly suffered pains although childbirth has to sting a bit.
I too have given up referring to the League Cup as anything other than that; think that period as the Milk Cup helped to undermine its status as much as anything else, if only in my mind.
Agree very much with your remarks about the second half performance v Napoli. It was telling in its maturity and effectiveness though you always felt you knew we could go back up a gear (or two) if we had to.
Always have mixed feelings about the inevitably interminable Interlull; fingers crossed our returnees don’t pass a fresh wave of newly-injured on their way back into the squad …
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Yes,I think I should take some drugs before I do the match review.
I honestly believe that the more confident West Brom are,the better our chances will be of putting in another outstanding performance.If that make any sense at all?
I feel the only decision for Arsene to make is Wilshere or Rosicky.TR7 would be my choice.
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Excellent piece Steww
You are of course a freak. Somebody that can write so well with an aching tooth is a freak. A very impressive freak, but a freak non the less.
At last the idiot hack that coined the phrase “poor man’s Fabregas” is John Richardson of the Sunday Express. Remember the idiot and throw metaphoric tomatoes at him….what a buffoon….
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Let’s see what more guff Richardson is about to spew on the Sunday Supplement…they are going to discuss Arsenal next…
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Forcing a talented side like Napoli to take potshots from 30 yards, with Szcz snoozing for most of the game behind his windbreak, we must be doing something right
A statistic I was not aware of til this morning was the Baggies poor home form so far this season
played 3 lost 2 won 1 – and the victory was the final nail in Il Duce’s coffin
And of course the League Cup exit
Are they due to finally to turn up or is it business as usual for long suffering Duderllly
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I hope your tooth is dealt with soon and you can once again sit without pain although your writing still excels .I find lidl normally plays with a strong defensive base a hard working and flexible midfield that mixes with their attacking flair.
although we feel we don’t know which baggies team will show up, We should remember we used to say that about our own team and we have at shown the improvement to expect a consistent level.
The baggies adeptness at counter attacking football will obviously be easier to deploy and be effective away from home and that could account for their poor home form and our second half display against Napoli should hold us in good stead.
The one worry I have when we are trying to soak up pressure rather that press play is it sometimes means tech9 is forced to kick long with the chance of losing possession especially with one of our best headers of the ball, Bac , out we try to make the full backs go wide to receive the ball and build from the back.
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Think we’ll see a very similar game to last week at Swansea,both teams happy for each other to have the ball but the team with the better players having the quality to make and take it’s chances,that’ll be us then!-I’m with George-TR7 in for Little Jack for the first hour then Jack to come of the bench and push us forward for goals,goals,goals!!
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Steww, I can guarantee you that your posts are always worth reading.
A few more tablets and we might see some pure William S. Burroughs type writing.
or maybe that’s too much of a health risk.
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Yes, the second half against Napoli was pure Catenaccio football it’s finest.
We will need a lot of our tall players today, to counter the baggies aerial threat.
NB23 to come on in the second half?
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As one addictive pariah to another, be careful with that medicine, friend.
Which reminds me, if our boys keep doing the unsportsmanlike thing of not allowing the opposition to have the ball, maybe we can start calling them The Untouchables?
Do rate the opposition, though. Amalfitano and Sessegnon in particular.
COYG
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I hear you Mickey.
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Sessegnon is a class act – I remember seeing him years ago in the Emirates Cup, not playing us but some other mob of foreign johnnies, and he was the best player on the pitch by some distance
I am surprised West Brom were able to capture him as he could play for most of the top clubs as out and out striker or as cunning, just-behind-the-front man assassin
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The great thing about toothache is the almost indescribable relief and joy that follows your visit to a character who makes you wait for a little while just to emphasise his or her total power, then puts lots of sharp steel things into your mouth, stabs you with a long long needle, then charges you an eye watering sum for the privilege
And you are so so so grateful that you offer to wash their car on the way out
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As a male. worst pain of all is a toothache. But there is a steely determination by Steww to be one of the best bloggers around, much like this group of gunners Arsene has gathered. I take heart from today’s blog. We will overcome the Baggies.
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When is Yaya Sanogo coming back?
I’ve heard nothing about him recently.
Or my boy Frimmy.
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Another good piece Steww. You’re a bit like Santi Cazorla, now that I think about, consistently brilliant, eh? Good luck with the tooth and the painkillers.
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Btw, have you guys seen this interview with Thomas Eisfeld – http://goonertalk.com/2013/10/04/mertesacker-is-a-father-figure-to-me-says-eisfeld/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mertesacker-is-a-father-figure-to-me-says-eisfeld
This part stands out for me ““When I was 16 years old, my agent asked me where I would most like to play if I could choose. I spontaneously said, ‘Arsenal under Arsene Wenger’ without even thinking about it.”
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I appreciate the compliments but it’s down the management really. If George didn’t rotate me out regularly I’d be fucked by now. Couldn’t do it every day.
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Steww, you can write beautifully with either foot, too.
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Ba starts.
Interesting.
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The Chavs strike 1st. Norwich beat by a long ball as Oscar latches onto the 2nd ball.
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A near clanger by Ruddy. If Szczesny had anything similar the eruption on twitter would be of earthquake proportions.
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De Gea did well yesterday.
Just shows what sticking with a developing player produces.
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Another random Chelsea XI from moe,
Even if he gets it right, he will just press the randomiser again for the next game.
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COYG
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Thanks for the link Sav. Been wondering about Wengers approach during training, so much for being a dictator eh.
Great with so many gooners in this team. According to Eisfield five teams can win the title and totts are not one of them hehe.
Big game tonight, hope the team can show same resilience as previously and go back to top before international break.
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Wilshere starts. Thought he showed good sprint and intentions against Napoli.
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COYG
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We’re missing that bit of speed down the right that Theo provides. I’d take Jackie off and play Gnabry or Ryo on the right. I’d also assess Ramsey’s energy at about the 60th, to see if it’s better to play Rosicky.
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When do we get Poldi back?
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Ah well, a draw does not mark the end of the world, especially when it propels us back to the top of the table and we also have the laughing stock down the road get beaten 3-0 at home by West Ham. COYG!
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End to end contest in the extreme – decent performance from us – Szcz quite handy again – pleased for Jack who looked much stronger in the 2nd half of late
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I’m a spoilt brat. I expected and demanded a victory…..
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Peeps: That was a horrible performance by Lee Mason who allowed West Brom to foul Jack repeatedly without any penalty including 2 clear cut pens. We were not at our best in the1st half especially Rambo but we were good enough to grind out a draw against the odds. Hopedully afer the inter-lull we will get back some of our best players especially Santi and ready to kick some asses, ref or no-ref.
Up The Arsenal!
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Shame we couldn’t get those extra 2 points to keep us further out in front, but we knew we couldn’t win every game and 1 point keeps us top of the league for now. Fingers crossed no interlull injuries and a few of the walking wounded come back to share some of the load.
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Shotta, Ramsey may be carrying a little niggle – the signs were there on Tuesday, but he has been so good, he was probably due a little dip. Lee Mason is the Everton supporter, who has previous with us as well.
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@shotta
Full agreement. I think at the end of the match I counted five or so fouls on Jack that went unpunished. Thankfully he did get his revenge in the end but that referee probably had half an eye on the international break, considering how little went in our favour.
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This was the hardest fixture of the week-end, and a draw is a very fair result. I thought Sessegnon, Amalfitano and Berahino were exceptional. All the credit to them and their manager. With a few of the injured back we perhaps would have fared better.
As far as we’re concerned, Ramsey took a knock from Jonas Olsson early and we lost our engine until Rosicky came in. After he came in, it gave the team a lift which enabled Jackie and Ozil to spray it around. I thought we’d surely nick one late, but West Brom remained solid until the final whistle.
Bright spot of the game for me was Jack’s defence splitting pass to Giroud. That was just as good as anything I’ve seen from Ozil, to be honest. I hope he and Giroud work on combinations like that.
Dim spot of the game for me was keeping Flaimini on for the entire ninety. I thought he was clumsy with his distribution and got in the way of the creative players on the counter. I would have preferred Arteta and Ramsey in the middle with Gnabry on the left, Ozil in the middle and Jackie out right.
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Congratulations to the crew and AW ON RE-CLAIMING TOP SPOT. they weren’t at their best but the resilience showed and very happy that JW scored his first goal this year. IMHO, many fouls went uncalled. JACK treatment in particular made me nervous that he would be next to go on injured list. Baggies on an emotional high after their result last week. Hopefully it will be quite on the injury front during the internationals and we can kick on where we left off.
Up WITH THE GUNNERS!!!!
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Good Point? I think so
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well down steww, pressing on in adversity like the boys… glad they could go back tops despite Lee mason’s intentions otherwise!
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Jack gets yellow for sliding tackle but gets the ball.
Sliding tackle on jack in the box does not get a foul.
Explain the difference please?
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Spud’cuses already.
Bwwwwaahh, bwaaah.
Sid fuckers.
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Lilly White Runts.
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Fat Sam,
tactical genius.
Sami allidicci
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Geez, BBC steal my line 10 second later.
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Shotta 6:56pm
Exactly.
Was every single penalty decision wrong this weekend?
I think so.
If this keeps up, we might as well buy scratch cards to see who wins the league
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West Brom deserved their point, on the balance of play today.
I’m not happy that they kicked us about with impunity to earn it.
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Oops, forgot about the first penalty foul on jack.
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Tottingham still can put on a performance of hilarious quality unmatched at any club in British, probably world, football
So lucky they are local
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