I had hoped Ian Holloway would hang on at least until I’d written my Crystal Palace preview. He is the only real connection I had with today’s lunchtime opponents. I used to watch Ian from the cold stone steps of Twerton Park as he plied his trade for a then homeless Bristol Rovers during their most successful period in yonks. His playing style was akin to Matthieu Flamini but with goals. In Bristolian the word goal is pronounced to rhyme with ball (sounding more like gall) hence our terrace chant of “Holloway, Holloway, Holly Holloway, He gets the ball – he scores a goal, Holly Holloway.” He was one of those combative, no frills, all action midfielders who inspire team mates and supporters alike and even though he comes across these days as more than a little bit deranged he still holds a special place in my heart.
But of course he’s gone now and so I can’t really include him here. The only other image that immediately springs to mind when I consider our hosts is the Crystal Palace kit from the late seventies that looked like a cigarette packet. You remember – the white one with the diagonal flash like a pack of Embassy Blue Regal. These days they dress better but remain one of those sides who flirt with the big time and then slip away from view for a few more years. I must say their early results this time around don’t suggest that will change any time soon. In fact if it wasn’t for the truly woeful form of Sunderland (the only side Palace have beaten thus far) then the Eagles would be anchoring the bottom of the table, already adrift and with the outlook bleak.
We have had few notable dealings with them in the transfer market over the years. In fact all that I can recall is a couple of centre forwards one from them to us and one from us to them. Whether Marouane Chamakh will go on to enjoy a similar level of success with Palace as Ian Wright did with Arsenal remains to be seen, stranger things have happened I suppose, but the portents are not encouraging. Big Nic Bendtner was rumoured to be heading their way for a while and may be sat in the dugout this afternoon wondering at how curious life can turn out sometimes, let’s face it, if the Pulis rumours are true then our Danish sumo star must surely consider himself the single luckiest man in football today.
According to a bloke at work the game today represents a massive potential banana skin for Arsenal. Bill gets his views straight from the back pages and Sky Sports News. You can readily imagine how stilted our conversations are whenever sport is on the agenda. I employ him as a pundit barometer. I don’t need to read the gutter press nor watch gutter television to know which way their hot air is blowing, I just listen to Bill. He even likes the odd wager so certain is he of his sources and the veracity of their editorial line. In the last couple of seasons he has gleefully shaken hands with me on, among other things, Arsène’s demise. Out by Christmas was a recent prediction and that was a fiver I happily removed from his wallet. This time around however something is stirring. Arsenal are looking good this year. Arsenal have splashed the cash and have been transformed into title contenders. Arsenal, get this, have a great looking squad. Seriously. From the same people who told us all summer long how thin and weak our squad is, we now learn that the same squad bar an awful lot of departures and only one notable addition is significantly stronger. But, Bill warned me, title contenders and top teams can often come unstuck at places like Selhurst Park. Just when everyone expects you to win, you turn in a lousy performance or hit the woodwork and have goals disallowed and nailed on penalty appeals turned down.
OK so we all know these things do happen but if we have serious aspirations to the title this season we simply cannot allow such aberrations. I don’t believe in banana skins nor in bad luck costing you over the long haul. Yes maybe in knock-out competitions. Let’s face it if Chelsea can win the Champions League then it proves that anyone can win any cup tournament with phenomenal good fortune and a string of silly unlikely results. Not the Premiership though. Consistency, a settled, balanced squad with good injury cover in the reserves and one or maybe two players having the season of their lives. That’s what wins titles. I think our problem so far with that list is that we have only one player in absolutely dazzling all out amazing form and the fact that he is so very very young places a hell of a burden on his shoulders. It’s no coincidence that when Aaron is relatively quiet we don’t look so threatening. The problem as I see it is that he is still learning the game and at his age will suffer dips in form and won’t be able to achieve his best week in week out. When Bergkamp or Henry did it for us in the past they had been at the very top of the tree for long enough to deal with the demands of a long season. I think we need one of the senior players to stay injury free and get his performances up to the levels achieved by the man who is so far our player of the season.
I don’t care who the player is. Olivier Giroud has shown he can provide as well as score and if he does both or either every week he could well be the man. Santi has all the attributes, Mesut is still finding his feet in the hurly burly of the Prem so it might be too big an ask this early in his Arsenal career. As I say it could be anyone but it has to be someone. Football is a team game but successful teams have stand out players. It’s similar to cricket in this respect. In cricket no match is ever won by everybody getting forty five runs. Someone steps up and hits a ton. Aaron shows he has the skill, the lungs and right now the confidence to be that man, but when you factor in the time he has lost to that unspeakable assault at the hands of a Pulis protégé we are talking about a guy with equivalent experience of a twenty year old. It’s a hell of an ask for him to boss the midfields of every top side we face between now and May. I’ve said it before, if only Tomas was five years younger; the cruelty of the injuries suffered by Arsène’s squads over recent seasons cannot be underestimated.
So to the match. It’s an early kick off, so don’t get caught out by that. If you have the free BT channel my advice is using live pause to synchronise the timing, have the commentary on Arsenal Player and the pictures on your telly. Don’t whatever you do subject yourself to Michael Owen’s soporific insights, they will drain every ounce of pleasure you might otherwise derive from the spectacle. Of course if you’re lucky enough to be at the match you don’t need to concern yourself with such niceties, you can just sing your heart out and be the twelfth man that the away support so often is. Arsène was cagey about Jack after his ankle problems in midweek so I’m guessing he might be rested, but hey – what do any of us know? Plenty thought Aaron should be rested when he was at a similar stage in his rehabilitation as that through which Jack is currently playing. Form unpredictable, only flashes of what he is truly capable, often played out of position lacking a little composure and consistency – the parallels are obvious. Far from resting him Arsène played Aaron at every opportunity and if he feels the same will work with Jack then who are we to second guess him? With that in mind I expect the side to be similar to the Dortmund game with Santi in for Jack being the only change, after all they will want to redeem themselves and they’ll get a rest for the league cup game when the reserves will have a run out. So, given the unlikelihood of these predictions ever being correct, expect wholesale changes from Tuesday’s line up.
OK, it’s an early one so I’m off to walk the dogs and get myself in the mood. See you here later.
Positively Arsenal 
Your description of Bill just described 99% of football fans that I talk to. The sway that the papers have is frightening. Is it really that ardous for people to from their own opinion?
As for todays squad. After the midweek announcement that Giroud can cope with all the pressure of a season I immediately thought that top knot bendtner may start today. I’m probably wrong though. I’d like to see Santi start and perhaps a good 35 mins gnabry. At whos expense, I don’t know. I agree with playing jack constantly. We can’t mourn the loss of Ramseys experience due to good old Ryan (he’s not that sort) then not give Jack the chamce to rectify his form on the pitch. Besides he’s never been in better goal scoring form. It seems to be cool to deride Jack and like Ramsey now. More bowlox. They are different. Jack will always lose possession as he plays in a less possession based role. He’s still going to be great, but I’m sure we all know that.
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Quite agree Els
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Flamini will play because he needs a yellow card today.
Els.Jack lost possession 50% of the time on Tuesday,he was woeful.Any other player would be receiving the Gervinho/Eboue treatment by now.If he is fit I would play him against Chelsea on Tuesday ,in his best possession and give him his best chance to find his game and confidence.
But what do I know?
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Getting excited for the match here….
Gnabry might get a runout.
Steww, how many dogs you have? What breeds are they? You said in one post that you had a three legged dog.
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Holy moley. What happened to all that Holloway hair. Side effect of coaching football teams,I suppose.
GEORGE
I agree.
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Top o’ the morning to you all.
I agree with Steww, don’t expect wholesale changes to the team today.
These points are going to be vital.
Özil and Santi will start.
So will Arteta and Flamini.
Giroud will start, so that leaves one midfield place up for grabs.
Only question is will Vermaelen get a run out?
Shezzy might get benched too.
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Comments like a ‘potential banana skip’ are interesting. What criteria constitute a ‘potential banana skin’? Do those who make such comments use any specified observations that lead them to making such comments? Of course, sometimes unexpected outcomes occur. If it is the case that someone is predicting a loss then without any specified assumptions being attached this means the probability of a win or a loss is the same as the toss of a coin. The technical term in statistics for this is ‘bollocks’ and those who use such clichės are ‘twats’
Hey Sensational Arsenal are we watching the game together again?
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I had the ‘pleasure’ of having to listen to one of these experts after the Dortmund game.
Talk about fair weather fans.
He would not stop spouting the mantra of no throphy in 8 years, Wenger and the board are responsible for all woes. Dein needs to come back and we should have stayed in Highbury.
I swear he must post on the other place!! Haha.
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Morning SA, I have a terrier (cross between Yorkshire and Jack Russell) and a three legged collie. We sometimes look after Mum’s little terrier too so I will often be seen with three of the limping, snarling, snapping and barking little buggers.
Off tomorrow for a week by the sea so lots of long sandy wet walks in store.
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it’s a London derby.
The Palace fans will want their team to raise their game against the Arsenal.
Still,
I can’t see us not scoring.
I can’t see Palace not conceding.
1-4 to the Arse, is my €5.
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I hope we do a Napoli on them.Blow them away early doors and coast through the second half.
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I expect a similar gameplan to Fulham away PG.
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Georgaki, it would be a bit tricky today. I can make the Chelsea game. Shall we watch that one together?
Steww, that is nice. I once had a terrier who had the height of a jack russel terrier but looked like a airedale terrier. He was a very elegant and calm dog. Now I have two hunting dogs, one of whom is the complete opposite of elegance. They are a breed from the country side of my country. They are usually used to dig up the earth to hunt for small animals. So our garden and pathways are full of holes. The joke in the family is that if a burglar were to try to come to our house in the night, he would break his neck by tripping into one of the holes.
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If I knew how to do it I would post a picture of my little dog.
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what breed is he George?
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I think there could be rotation. Jenks, TV for starters, maybe even Nacho. Flamini no doubt, and Santi must play. Serge more than likely, and NB maybe, he’s perfectly capable. Jack, I think, needs to play unless injured, he needs playing time. I think we might see a midfield of Mikel with Flamini (sorry Shotta), and Santi, Mikel plying a more advanced role. If Jack is OK, we might see him on the left, and Serge on the right. Upfront is guesswork. Options are still a bit limited until Ox, Lukas and Theo return. I notice reports now that Mesut was ill for Tuesday’s game, it figures.
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good preview again stew, I think we all have a bill or two in our closet I even go to football with one, he has many ARSENAL fantasies based on what hacks and pundits have put in his head.
hopefully it will be a good game today and palace wont be buoyed by the manager sacking effect. I cant see many getting a rest today as ARSENE is a pragmatist and although would never say it in the press Tuesday game is all about the long term benefit of young players and those who need more game time.
oh by the way I have cairn and Australian silk haired terriers got from rescue as family pets that now I have sole walking responsibilities.
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I don’t mind rotation, just as long as the team is not weakened.
Giroud must start, if we are coasting later Nik and Serge can come on, once the job is done.
I liked the line someone said that Nacho is like our victory cigar.
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arse_or_brain, cairn terriers look quite cute. Australian silk haired terriers seem to look like Yorkshire terriers.
Apologies for turning the comments section into a discussion about dogs 😀
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She is a mongrel we rescued SA.She is the size of a Corgi but looks like a miniature Golden Retriever.
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My predicted team.
Sagna,Kos.TV,Monreal.Flamini,Ramset,Ozil.Gnarby,Giroud Santi
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SA not only have you turned the comments section into a dog forum but you’ve gone and put a banned smiley on as well, you’re tearing in up today.
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@George 9:34 well then thank heavens for small mercies. It’s really poor that Gerv got the treatment he got. And just look at him now eh. I agree with you and am fairly confident that the fact that Jack is playing out of position affords him certain room for error in Arsenes eyes. If he is played out wide it will benefit the team long term to ’round’ his game. But I doubt the club expect him to play at the level of Walcott out wide. 50% possession loss in an unfamiliar role against one of Europes best clubs for a player who’s main role is to beat the man with the ball at his feet…. it could be worse than that. He’ll play he’ll gradually improve and Arsenal will benefit long term ala Ramsey. Just one more reason to fucking love Arsene Wenger and his management skills.
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Many years ago I played against a footballer known locally as Hound-Dog, or “Dog” for short. Does that count towards all this dog talk? Here’s my story of a dog.
He was a dogged type, bit of a terrier, an ankle biter, took the man out brazenly and if possible, maybe, the ball. He had the football skills of a loaf of bread. I once had my left hand around his throat, my right bunched into a fist high and ready, him on the ground, my knee on his chest; a moment frozen in time. An alert ref blew like crazy until I “woke up”. I was my team’s striker and the final straw had been Dog’s flying tackle, studs to my ankle, while I had the ball at my feet about to attempt a curler inside the post from just outside the box. Grounds here are hard, like concrete, in the dry season. It hurt and had been about the 17th time. We got nothing from the free kick, but I scored later.
I liked Dog personally and he bought me a drink after to say sorry, and no hard feelings. I asked him to stop please shamwari, one day Dog, it won’t be me, it’ll be a player from one of the army or police teams we all played in those days, and those guys, tough as they come, will have a half time talk and decide to end your “football career”, even if it is only friendly league (there is no such thing).
What I had warned came to pass a season or two later. Dog ended his career injured after such a retribution tackle.
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Nice write up Stew, sets us up nicely for the game and the whole weekend though the concept of the Billometer is one that clearly chimes with most of us, regrettably. It’s one that is unlikely to be leaving us anytime soon.
(Email me a pic of your hound George and I’ll post it for you).
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London derby, blustery day, Palace players, well the professional ones among them anyway, feeling aggrieved that the enormously likeable Holloway has been slung out of the balloon as a result of their shortcomings. The remainder aware that they are playing for their contracts and the new manager will be shedding personnel faster than Paolo Di Canio at a Communist party congress.
And a great home crowd – as far as I have seen and heard at least.
From the depth of despair the flicker of spirit might yet rise, as it should.
So no lads and lasses I do not take the three points for granted. In Twitterland it is all 4-5 nil to AFC, barely worth Palace turning out.
I’ll go for a narrow 1-0 and Bendy to start and get on the scoresheet
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I would if I knew how to do that Andrew.
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Not good Zim not good. But at least you tried to stop it.
Has anyone had the misfortune of seriously injuring someone whilst playing? I’m afraid I have 3 times now. Quite a number. I’m not for a second pleased about this. Not all were really bad but 2 of them stopped the lad in question for a long time. I sometimes wonder if i’m hypocritical in my hate for that type of play as a fan but seem to be a bit heavy footed or just clumsy when playing. Certainly no malice.
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I’m with you on that Anicoll5 bendy and a tight win.
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gunner_gethca It wasn’t 50% possession loss.It was 50% pass completion.
That would have seen Arshavin lynched.He too ran with the ball.
Jack needs help from some source or other.
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GG you could change you’re name perhaps
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And I admit I had to check the picture but Mike Flanagan was one of those great heavyweight strikers that used to steam about on the pitch and with the advent of the frizzy perm in the late 70s early 80s was a sight to behold.
The best moment I remember about Flanagan (I think) was him getting sent off for fighting with another heavyweight centre forward bruiser and frizzy perm merchant Derek Hales during a match – memorable as they were both Palace players at the time.
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Bentner on the bench and no Jack
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The Blackburn Carrier Pigeon just landed with a link to a pic of George’s dog:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1431&bih=839&tbm=isch&tbnid=c8sbiPoMUNnDlM:&imgrefurl=http://canineangel.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/understanding-and-breaking-the-cycle-of-dog-aggression/&docid=zb6bq70u7WMHWM&imgurl=http://canineangel.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/aggressive-dog1.jpg&w=275&h=360&ei=759rUvvHHYSE4ASRm4DABA&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:12,s:0,i:125&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=179&tbnw=139&start=0&ndsp=19&tx=61&ty=68
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Been a while we’ve been so well placed for a title challenge. Make sure to the three points I say. Can rest players next game.
COYG
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AA longest link to a pic I’ve ever seen but very funny
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ARSENE praises the fans v Dortmund saying “it was a great atmosphere that has changed at emirates”
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I have not injured another player, except their pride, Gunner-gethca but early in my teen playing days we played a ghetto township team called Black Forest (ours being from the “suburbs”, well actually the flats close to town, relatively better off). Not a single player in their side had boots or shoes, every one barefoot! We all had some form of footwear. A few minutes into the match one of their guys had their leg broken, accidentally but still. They had no reserve and proceeded to win the match exactly 10-0, ten kids playing barefoot! For the last 20 minutes they did everything possible to get their keeper on the score-sheet. Then, to rub salt into our wounds they sang this song, “bata mwana tsike banana, ten-ten, hey!”, saying “Hold tight children, you’ll slip on a banana, ten-ten”. Ouch!
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George, shit I thought we were talking incomplete passes and runs. Well AA wasn’t afforded much room for error was he. He was more custom to the wing though. Tell you what this would be the team for Arshavin. I’ve been thinking that a lot lately. With a relatively tight defence and Arteta and now Flamini protecting. Andrei would be able to do for us what he did for Russia. Sighhhh
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arse or brain. It’s been like that since my first post. Can’t be buggered. Wont I have to add a new email address to the username?
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Zim. I think by the sounds of it your team came off worse than the leg guy. Me and my mates have been schooled a couple of times. Haha it’s always fun.
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SA okay I’ll look forward to Tuesday….
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COME ON YOU YELLOOOOOOOOOOWS
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Feck.
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The only stream that works has Michael Owen commenting on the game. Why?????
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Their stadium is rocking and Palace seem to be buoyed by it. Fairly even half.
The message will probably be to step up a gear.
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I just knew they would commit an error. They are n ot good enough to sustain the high level they were playing. 1-nil to the Gunners.
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Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Red for Art eta.
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Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaah!
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We are better with ten men…..Girooooooooooooooooud!
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