I honestly cannot remember being so nervous before a Liverpool game. Not for ages. They’ve been in fine goalscoring form and we struggle to keep a clean sheet these days. I blame Mike. Ever since he put Wojciech Szczęsny in his fantasy league team we seem determined to leak goals win lose or draw. He will be all smiles when I return to work tomorrow though, thanking me for the points, which is a little insane but when you’re as unpopular at work as I am you have to take it where you can get it. The bizarre thing is of course that hidden behind the quite breathtaking talent that is Aaron Ramsey, Wojciech Szczęsny has actually been one of our very best players. The defence in front of him looks as settled as I can remember it and the midfield generally work their socks off to deny teams room in which to operate when they enter our airspace. And yet I was nervous that we would not keep them out yesterday. In my defence I kept my jitters to myself and didn’t pollute either this place or twitter with such pathetic weak kneed negativity. There was one other reason that I was concerned, not just for Mike’s fantasy league side but for our very real team as well.
Let us be perfectly honest we have been in a small dip, a minor depression, operating under a briefly passing black cloud of late and Liverpool have been in rampaging fine spirits. Our blip, as I sincerely hope it will prove to be, has been at once entirely understandable and at the same time extremely interesting. Understandable because we play in a fast hugely competitive league where players are usually only good for about four matches before they start playing in the red zone and given our injury situation we have had to wheel out the same old faces for just a few more games than has been desirable. The blip, or dip if you prefer coincided with some players returning to the side. I never expected such crucial personnel as Santi, Tomas and Mikel to simply glide back into their best pre injury form, who would predict such a thing? They didn’t of course, all players need time to find their groove, and with Mesut still adjusting to the frantic pace of the EPL and still finding the pushes and shoves shockingly under punished by lenient refereeing it was no surprise that we have struggled of late. This little period has been interesting though hasn’t it? Interesting and telling because we have somehow contrived to come through it five points clear domestically and joint top of our Champion’s League group. Oh and I ought to mention we’re shot of the pointless fixture clog of the league cup as well. Which I consider to be a result. How often in the past have we turned in below par performances, lost a couple of home games and been in such a powerful position?
Happy days to be an Arsenal fan.
Yesterday I was proved wrong. I had no real need to worry did I? I don’t need to tell you what happened of course. This isn’t the nineteen fifties where you need the written match report to tell you how the drama unfolded, but I shall at least share the moments which stood out for me.
Per’s ludicrous level of calm insouciance as he intercepted, dummied a Liverpool forward before instigating a counter attack. It was simply gorgeous.
Wojciech Szczęsny playing a one two with one of their player inside his area with the relaxed attitude of a man who meant to do it.
Giroud’s entire performance. Yes, yes I know he fluffed his lines in front of goal a couple of times but he made more dribbles than anyone else on the pitch, was a tower of strength in our goalmouth whenever they had a corner, he bothered and pestered their defence into errors all afternoon thus relieving the pressure off those behind him and he tracked back, closed down and generally made a nuisance of himself all day long. A fantastic, skill filled, gutsy, tireless performance.
Santi’s goal. What can you say? The guy scored and got the assist. Not many players can play a thunderous one two off the opposition woodwork and then crash home an unstoppable volley.
Aaron’s goal. I laughed out loud. How else could you react?
Koscielny’s performance. All of it. Suarez must still be smelling Kos’s deodorant on himself. The young man not supposed to be Arsenal quality continues to keep our club captain out of the team and world class strikers in his back pocket.
Arteta’s tackling. No individual moment stood out but the slight of foot with which he gently relieved his opponents of the ball was just a joy to behold.
Arteta late in the game making Stevie G look so very past it.
Arteta dragging/back heeling/side flicking the ball to Gibbs next to the corner flag while under pressure.
Arteta’s hair.
Tomáš Rosický spinning, running, injecting urgency wherever he went and looking like a man ten years younger. Long may it last.
There were many other moments – I’m sure you have your favourites, but before I go I have to credit Liverpool for making a game of it, they had their chances and on another day might well have got something out of the match. However their strength is their attack and we neutered that strength for the most part by keeping the ball in their half. Can you imagine how good we will be with Podolski and Theo back in the side? It is a terrifying prospect. Oh and while I’m gazing with my red tinted spectacles into the future how about when Mesut Özil catches up to the speed of the EPL? It’s like we have this unexploded bomb ticking away in our midfield. He already has an understanding with Aaron, he just needs to adjust to the crazy pace of the English game, and, well, boom!
Positively Arsenal 
actually ill need to broken down phonetically
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SA make up is part of his well … make up
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let me help you arse or brain..for trequartista read silva .. 🙂
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or ..the not deep playing playmaker 🙂
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..who is in other words…the regista
ahaha….
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so phonetically is it tre-quart -tista or trequar-tista
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FFS
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do you think im beating the point
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Hey TS!! 🙂
I was trequartista’d last night…
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I say! That brazilian Pato chap is apparently available for transfer this very winter wardobe window.
Would he fit the bill visa vee Arsenal striker back up for the use of?
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normally the player we sign is not the player anyone has suggested especially if he is going to be a back up and not the main man
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Shotta, he supposedly wanted to come in the summer, but he’s not here is he? If Liverpool are anywhere near the top 4 in January, they will not be letting him go to another premier league team. I still believe that Arsenal is only his fall back position if he can’t get to Real Madrid, so let him go there direct.
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I think my favorite position is right or left wing forwards.
That and the sweepers. 🙂
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Nice one Steww, good stuff. Exciting games coming up.
The game v Manure could prove pivotal.
For them, obviously.
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The Italian identification of the attacking number 10 starting with Rivera
A unique position
The young priest
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I don’t see how any serious team buys Suarez after all the shit he has pulled in England. I can’t imagine guys like Ancelotti or Wenger dealing with such a mental case.
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Suarez is off the menu.
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Thank god. We should focus on that Draxler kid from Schalke. We should get Özil to go round his mom’s house and have a talk with her.
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I just heard Stewart Robinson on talksport being (by his standards) quite positive about Arsenal. He still has a go at Wenger.
And he still thinks the team still can’t defend.
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Its weird not to have abrazillian in the squad and he has played in Italy and would have flamini to help him settle down i guess… Would be nice but u sure he wouldn’t be looking for where he can get starts or is his world cup place assured?
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For me i don’t think the team is missing Suarez… lets move on from him please… its his loss that he didn’t join. Ozil proved that if he really wanted to, Liverpool would have sold. i believe he preferred Madrid and we can do without the selling of stars 1 or 2 years down the line… this team is just gelling and we are about to take off on a long winning streak! Our game requires familiarity!
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Anyone wanting to,or prepared to write some articles,please let me know
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Spot the utter stupidity of this comment from bbc’s latest post
“Arsenal winning means nothing:
1.) Arsenal have still not played anyone above them in the league yet, all the teams they have played are lower than them in the league so should win easily.
2.) Liverpool have now played a good team in the league, where as Arsenal are yet to play a good side.
Until Arsenal play a team who are above them in the league, they cannot be considered challengers.”
It worries me that people like that are allowed to vote in elections.
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Did he DC? with all the venom he’s spewed forth about AW, and with Arsenal currently doing so well despite all the shit he’s come with out, he’s well and truly backed himself into the stupid corner. Arsene has to fail or he’ll look like an even bigger tit. If we do win the league he’ll be back-pedalling for the rest of his life..
Patrick Barclay happened to be on 5-live this morn, and he said it would be a great thing for football if Arsenal were to win the PL this season. One of the very few (only?) journos who has always been consistent in his admiration for Arsene, and his utter contempt for the egotistical show boating of Maureen.
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we are top of the league so the BBC expects us to now ensure we drop 5 points and even then the matter of goal diff still has to be sorted out so we can play someone beneath us and hence test our title credentials? when the whole point of trying to win the PL is about being above everyone in the first place?
Calling that writer stupid is definitely an insult to stupid people! At least in their case teir problem is more clearly defined!
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I dont even think the games against the likes of manu, chavs city will define our season or determine who wins the league. Thats unless the inconsistency of the other teams is addressed radically.
I think we’ll sign a striker in January, one from the Premier League too.
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DC – I strongly suspect that the writer of that BBC piece was taking the piss out of some other commentators.
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@dc
Surely that must be irony? I can’t imagine that someone this stupid is actually allowed to live…
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Folks a Slight clarification,
That’s not McNulty’s comments (but only just about), the quotes are from the comments section which is full of Chavs, spuds, manures and bitter koppites.
Nevertheless thank the bejasus we can be here talking sensibly to each other.
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I reckon we could just send Ramsey out on his own against United next Sunday.
It would be 3 or 4 nil to us.
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I really would expect Wenger has given the team the target of getting 25 more points in the next 10 games.
It will be a bit more difficult, but that’s how to win the league.
A. Manu
H. Southampton
A. Cardiff
H. Hull
H. Everton
A. Man City
H. Chelsea
A. West Ham
A. Newcastle
H. Cardiff
That brings us up to Jan 1st 2014.
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If we get our speedy strikers back after Manure, we can pull away from the pack by a significant margin.
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Chelsea and Man City have virtually the same fixtures as us during this period.
City:
Sunderland (A)
Spurs (H)
Swansea (H)
West Brom (A)
Southampton (A)
Arsenal (H)
Fulham (A)
Liverpool (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Swansea (A)
Chelsea:
West Brom (H)
West Ham (A)
Southampton (H)
Sunderland (A)
Stoke (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Arsenal (A)
Swansea (H)
Liverpool (H)
Southampton (A)
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“After the Aston Villa game, if I had told you we would have been five points clear in November, I would have had to run away because you would have killed me,” Wenger said.
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I can definitely see that and I conqer . If we get POLDI, THEO back from injury for an extended run, we will pull away from the pack. I was concerned with chelski, shitty & the spudniks. But as we can all see they all have consisting issues and keep dropping points. We have the best crew out there. We must get our injured back and there is no stopping us..
Between ten to thirteen points is what I see possible that is if we keep playing smart and eliminate mental lapses and errors.
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HUNTER @ 126…
HAHAHA. he is right . Not too many people had this much faith in those guys wearing the RED&WHITE. this crew is proving them wrong everytime they get on the pitch. They are saying have faith and be strong. We are. And so shall the supporters. We can allready see better behavior at the EMIRATES and god bless the away supporters. They have seldom let us down. We are on the right road.
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Not having watched every single match this season, and who has anyway, so I can’t say for sure, but when we play, really play, ferocious, extremely hard working, but distinguished and disguised by such artistry, it is mesmerizing. Those attacks around and into their box look carefree and elegant but they are lethal, composed and poised constantly to strike fear. Comparisons with 2008 and a sublime Eduardo, also then 5 points clear, are certainly valid but I do not think then we reached this level. We have not played better this season over 90 minutes as against a threatening, capable and confident Liverpool, entirely undone in the middle and back, whose dressing room I would not like to have been in after the match. Poor old friend Toure, spoke to soon, not to mention Sturridge, and Suarez, excellent individually, not so great together.
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ZimPaul
I have watched every match (on the TV so far) and what you have said so eloquently is exactly right:
“Those attacks around and into their box look carefree and elegant but they are lethal, composed and poised constantly to strike fear.”.
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I’m afraid we are going to have to make Ollie work just as hard for the next week or so.
Dortmund and Manu are vital games. (Manu is vital just for fun reasons!).
After that we have Southampton (dangerous), Cardiff & Hull. Theo and Poldi (and even Bentner) are more than capable replacements for these games – although we will have to re-adjust the game plan to use them effectively.
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Just read through all above and reminded myself what a pleasent place this is. Have been frequenting the onlinegooner forum… heck they have some sad buggers there! Got attacked by a mod there for using the terms ‘fickle’ and ‘gloryhunting’ in a post I made, while they let abuse of Arsene go without a blink of the eye. One day, Hunter, you should visit there I think and have a post or two in the Arsene Wenger ‘for or against’ thread. You’d be barred within the first few hours I’d imagine.
Thank heavens for PA imo.
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minutes…
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lol
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what is truly remarkable is that there are posts there calling for wenger’s head from 2007 and from 2008..jlol….ust two years after the club;s first ever appearance in a champions league/european cup final…… astonishing….
klopp has some nice things to say…
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Indeed! on both counts
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If all goes well we won’t have to play against anyone above us in the league.
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Although obviously only concentrating on the next game, if we are looking ahead the Everton / Napoli / city week will be very difficult especially as the midweek game is away on Wednesday and the weekend game is Saturday midday hopefully we have a fully fit squad at that time. To be honest its best to enjoy the ride at the moment and just go and raid Germany for another away win
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I’ll be happy with a draw!
As Anicoll wrote, the second placed team from Allemande looks a teeny weeny bit better then the second placed team from the PL.
The Arsenal players will have had less rest and little rotation, except at LB I guess with Monreal coming in for Gibbs. And it’d be nice to have the option of some Pace in this Away game against the uber pressing Kloppites. One of Walcott Chamberlain or even Gnabry would do *sniffs*, Ryo not playing with the same confidence and sharpness we saw at Bolton or Feyenoord just yet after those injuries (plus he is still green when playing RW, much more dangerous from the left at this stage).
–
I can’t see many forwards out there who could play Giroud’s game. With his attitude. Possibly Lukaku is a younger player who could go on to do it? Maybe Giroud’s fantastic attitude is a by product of his journey to date? It’s a good thing I’m not a scout.
Any other striker coming in will need the variation from the team around him. One thing that freaks me out is to see the ball wellied upfield to beat the press when Giroud isn’t playing. A great and simple tactic (AW doesnt do tactics btw) for a passing team when against say a Dortmund tomorrow (not sure if that fits the the orchestra metaphor Mr. Klopp) not as useful if there is another type of striker up there, but it will always take a team one or two games to adjust. Which is why I’d like to see Plodders with a five game run at CF. Obviously that will only happen if required such as when Giroud got banned for three games but I think he could do a good job. I think Plodders is the German teams best bet at CF but I guess not many agree. The shame with his injury is that I’m sue he’d have got a few chances at CF, in the diddly cup, in the upcoming international friendlies etc. We’ll see how he gets on.
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Everton should have gone second yesterday, FFS!
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I’m sick of all this nonsense that we have no options without Giroud.
And this is from the people who said he was no good in the first place, the hypocrites.
Poldi and Theo will work very well for us together, we just have to spray the ball out wide left and right rather than up the middle.
Ramsey, Ozil and Santi can make the passes.
Flamteta holds it together in the middle.
Other options/formations can involve Jack, Rosicky, Gnarby & the Ox. Bentner Even .
Only panic-mongers should insist on another striker in January. Wenger will do something weird like buy another fullback, or even (drum roll please) a winger!
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….another striker would be nice, but it’s not a necessity.
Wenger has got to find the right one.
I’d like to see what Sanogo can do.
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