They keep saying that we haven’t played any big teams yet. The same people who talk about the strength of the league and how there are no easy games are suggesting that the points we get are somehow easier gained than those of our rivals. What is a big team? Should we win today, it would be hard to imagine our old friend Alan Hansen saying that Liverpool are not a big team but some will. There will be those who move the goal posts and say that we must beat Chelsea and/or the Manchester clubs before we’re “real contenders”. The fact is it doesn’t matter how highly any outsider rates our chances. What does matter is that we’re top of the league after this weekend – and every weekend.
I believe that it’s up to Arsenal who wins this game and Liverpool will prove a good yardstick for how far we’ve come. They have won three out of their last four games with the most recent being an impressive win against West Brom. With every second pundit being an ex-Scouser, their strike-force and three-at-the-back shape have been analysed to death so there really isn’t much left to say. They’re dangerous in attack but 2-2 away draws against Swansea and Newcastle suggest that there are gaps to be exploited. If Arsenal go out and play at close to 100%, we’ll see Szczesny enjoy a comfortable afternoon. Our midfield is more than capable of controlling the game and creating chances for Giroud to finish. It’s up to The Arsenal.
The Arsenal back five will more than likely be the usuals upon whom we’ve come to rely. I suggested that Vermaelen should start ahead of Mertesacker during the week but I’m putting that down as a moment of weakness. Per will start and rightly so. Arteta, Ramsey, Santi and Özil are also likely starters so the big question is over the right wing. Jack has played well there, in my opinion, and I think he might start ahead of Rosicky — complete guesswork, of course.
Whatever has been said about the atmosphere in the stadium recently, I have no doubt that it will be electric today. Every player and fan is desperate for this win so let’s hope our boys can do it.
Thanks for reading and enjoy the game.
Up the Arsenal!
Positively Arsenal 
You lot really think MOTD will give us any credit tonight? Boycott the pillocks.
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My standing ovation started five minutes ago. Thank you Arsene, thank you
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Excellent win!!
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Steww it will be even more entertaining if hansen keeps his line
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@steww
Hansen will be in tears because of the goal not given, it’s all he will be on about the whole night. To me, that sounds like good telly!
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Sagna could be a fine captain; real leader. Sign him up!!
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We made pool look bloody pedestrian.!!
What will the f••••Ing nonbelievers come up with now?? Oh wait.
SHUT THE F••• UP.
no one interested in you crap opinion .
Booya
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Missus is in for a treat tonight. Arsenal football club can expect a thank you letter from her.
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Ooo look at that table look at that table
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@Apropos
I am going to twist my neck from having to look up all the time to see us.
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It could have ended 4-0, even though Olive and Özil were a bit off today. I can’t even begin to imagine how awesome this team will be with Poldi and Theo.
I hope Arsene plays this same team against Dortmund. I thought Mozart out on the wing was a great selection by him today.
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Its ok evil, try look down and find manure and neck will be fine again.
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And so it starts, according to daily hell the visitors failed to turn up. Tossers
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How good were we in the second half? Cazorla seemed to have suddenly come close to his old self. Absolultely enjoyed minutes 45-60, when we just kept attacking with tempo and creativity in wave after wave.
Any, now to the most important part of the match. Did anyone else notice the eyeliner that Brendan Rodgers was wearing?
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Steww, I don’t care if MOTD give us any credit. I just want to see Hansen squirm after writing that article this week.
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The Emirates crowd were amazing today. The atmosphere they created was spine tingling. Surely the fans can see the effect of this kind of atmosphere!
Long may it continue.
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I forgot who brought this up last game, but Koscielny can add Suarez to his Panini collection. He absolutely owned that buck tooth cheater today.
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Full credit given by telegraph, I’ll take it. Haven’t read such a positive match report in a while.
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dortmund and man utd.
nice!
is there a better striker than giroud at hold up play in the world currently?
he is reaching the van persie level already! omg what a fighter..what a player/
ramsey is just killing it day after day..
what a team we have!!
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He won this round Gains. Great spectacle. Looked to be a contest between the two fought in the right spirit too Otis occasion. Suarez dropping deeper and deeper desperate to lose his man. Great stuff.
Ramsey? He’s not bad is he?
Arteta immaculate and back to his best.
The only problem is I don’t have a week to enjoy the result and goals and the clean sheet. There’s too much good football about. It’s tough, being an Arsenal fan.
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What a game. Santi’s back, Arteta is a monster, Koscielny went home with two strikers in his pocket, and Aaron… Oh, Aaron. My goodness what a goal, son. I almost choked on my beer. So, can we stop calling it “the form of his life” now, and just acknowledge that he is a hell of a player? We’ll see.
What in the world will we be like when Mesut settles in to the pace of the league, when Walcott, Podolski,Flamini and Chamberlain are back, when Wilshere gets his ankle sorted? It’s almost unfair. Almost…
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Great win great atmosphere on the train home packed with loads of happy gooners
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Genuine Chelsea Pensioner in the bar at Kings X
He doesn’t look happy
Newcastle is a long way at that age
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How sweet it is! I just loved our dismantling of Liverpool especially the way our central defenders owned Suarez and Sturridge. The cringeworthy SAS description will slowly die a slow death. The damn commentators are so reactionary, fear-mongering from the very start. Lee Dixon, former gunner, was on NBC wetting his underpants about Kos getting tight on Suarez or Sturridge whenever he came out to tackle them. Damn ninnies. You defend by being proactive not giving your attackers space. I hope this performance will cause them to STFU. Not betting on it.
How imperious was Mikel Arteta? Didn’t I commit myself by saying there is no need to to have two defensive midfielders when playing at home. Mikel just owned the space in front of the back four and his passing to transition from defense to attack was a master class. Mikel or Mathieu at home, not both, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
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£42 million or not
He knows he has a fight on to keep his starting place
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Did seem like a great atmosphere. Major compliments to Kos as Gains points out. He stifled Suarez and Sturridge all but that one move by Sturridge on the by line.
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I think Liverpool believed their own hype and the nonsense talked about us. They were taken aback by how good we are. I think this has been a reality check for them. All through the summer while the Suarez saga was being played out I had the impression that they harboured a superiority complex where we are concerned. So looking forward to Alan Hansen having to choose between calling Liverpool a poor side, or giving us credit.
But what a price we have paid. Gibbs is our ninth player to succumb to injury. The league average is three or four. It’s cruel and unfair.
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#@%^%!@#%$$
!!!!!! 5OOM !!!!
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Would you believe it,Hansen is not on MOTD tonight ?
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Shotta, Arteta and Ramsey are on two clean sheets. And I too had Dixon on my feed. He said Suarez would have scored that easy chance Olive had, but then said nothing when the vampire whiffed that play where he was clean through against Szczesny.
Fin, I was very impressed with Koscielny not giving Suarez the opportunity to dive. He played him clean throughout. The guy just likes making the very best strikers look average.
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aaron fucking ramsey
what.a.goal
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chelsea lost ?
ahhahhhahaha …. good to be..
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And let’s not forget about the BFG. He is as good as Santi at getting himself out of sticky situations. What a deceptively good football player he is for being such a tall human.
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agree on per 100%. very intelligent.
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Gains,
from Untold via L’equipe,
Koscielny:
“Who is the forward I hate to face? Suarez… He is tiresome to defend against. He cheats. He pulls your shirt, giving small blows. You always want to give him a kick but you have to be careful not to be red carded.” : )
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Mesut Özil @MesutOzil1088 33m
That was Football in formula 1 speed. It’s wonderful to be a gunner. Thanks all.
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why are we booing luis …he might still come in january….flamini and suarez in the same team…yes..
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George, Hanson not on motd how sick must he be and lawrensons so dull he’s probably not realised the result yet
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Now the media will say the test is against manure,city , and chelski they won’t hive us any credit
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That’s ok. We seem to like passing exams and tests. Let’s pass the next one: going away to Dortmund, last year’s CL finalists, and getting at least a point. I think we will.
Too bad about Gibbs but Monreal is no slouch. Hopefully nothing serious for Gibbs. I’m more eager to have Flamini, Podolski and Walcott back to give some players a rest and more flexibility/options for AW.
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Just back from the game. Top of the league baby, what more can you say? A good night’s work by every man in red and white. Arsene really wanted to win that game – 6 defenders on the pitch in the end and we nearly scored a third!
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“why are we booing luis …he might still come in january….flamini and suarez in the same team…yes..”
Because he’s a dirty, cheating diver? He lived down to his reputation once again today and he will not be coming in January. Liverpool will not do business with us and that particular ship has thankfully sailed.
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Great tweet from Ozil, ts!
@ Gains,
Always makes me laugh when I hear people predict how Per is going to be turned inside out by a speedy forward. Hello, people – he has faced speedy forwards before. He’s clever. Speed of thought can trump speed of movement.
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I thought I could hear Passenal screaming especially when that second goal went in.
@ PG
Shame about Hansen’s absence from MOTD. Still, it’s been a great day, mustn’t be greedy.
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@FG… yeah… top man (gunner) that mesut fellow… even the entire arsenal squad to a man… they really did look good in those suits. LOl
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http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/02/olivier-giroud-arsenal-second-season-france?
Good article
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Fin, if Suarez hadn’t dove to get Sagna booked, the ref wouldn’t have halted play.
Did anyone catch that retaliatory elbow to the back of Stevie G’s neck by Arteta in the first half? Stevie G elbowed the shit out of Olive’s neck and Arteta whacked the crap out of him not two seconds later. It was beautiful.
Arse or Brain, those tests are coming, but our injured will be in contention as well. Hopefully, one of Theo or Poldi will be back in time for Manure. I can’t wait to see this team with genuine pace on the wings. For one thing, it will give the likes of Santi, Aaron and Özil acres of space to operate in. Oh, and we’ll have more bodies in the box, waiting to finish all these exquisite chances we create.
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I thought Sagna deserved the booking for a smart foul, which was worth it. But I wouldn’t ever defend Suarez from the charge of simulation, which he may have done even if it was a foul.
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Horrible outfit worn by Rogers. Navy suit with solid black shirt and tie. Just awful. Our new suits were really very fine, I thought. The boys looked very sharp.
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Nice article on Giroud, Passenal. He was superb today and just unlucky to fluff that chip. His performance certainly deserved a goal. He really has become a very effective focal point for our attack. He works very very hard and plays quite physically. Tough player. Hopefully he doesn’t get too jaded or injured. I didn’t see the League Cup match but I didn’t hear much praise for Bendtner’s performance. I think Podolski might be the stronger option when he’s fit in a couple weeks or so…
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