Well that was disappointing, to say the least.
I can’t think of a single player (with the exception of Bendtner of all people) who did themselves justice.
Theo took his goals well, but did little else. He was by no means on his own.
City set off like a runaway train but I felt that after ten minutes we were their equals.
The sad truth is you can’t defend like we did and hope to win, you just can’t.
I thought the midfield went missing in action and the back four were terribly exposed. It was shocking at times, it really was.
There is no point slating individual players, it would take me all day. Almost to a man they were below par.
On the bright side we scored 5 goals away at City.
FIVE!!!! I hear you say? Well yes, the three that stood and the two perfectly good ones ruled out by phantom off-side decisions.
We had a clear penalty turned down and they got awarded one for a Tom Daley moment produced by Milner.
So with the correct calls we may well have won 5 – 6 and that is a fact.
I just hope we can put it down to fatigue, but even I can’t imagine how those who didn’t play in Napoli could be offered that excuse.
I can’t bring myself to write any more, I’m sounding like someone I despise.
Anyway, we are still top and look like a team that can go on to better things.
Lets hope we do!
PS. Having reflected on it, it must be pointed out that the awful officiating at the most crucial part of the game, when we were fighting back and matching them, may just have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Positively Arsenal 
well you’ve just about wrapped it up there George, after a physically but more importantly mentally draining week you need a bit of luck to see you through, so to play a fantastic attacking side with the most expensively assembled players in it and the officials is a step to far.
yes there were below par performances but like I said it looked more tiredness of mind than of body and defensively you cant get away with that.
we now have 8 days off but then play our bogey team at a time when we’re on our worst form of the season and then is one thing for sure there will be no homer officiating in that game so after all the fake test this is the real one. a win in this game will represent true progress
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The week of Dec 8-15 will not live in the memory, least of all yesterday’s spanking. (An exception may be Ron Griswold, an American gooner, who took the week off to visit the Galapagos. Good timing Ron)
I don’t mind losing to a better team on the day (actually I hate it) but self inflicted and/or referee and/or linesmen inflicted pain really pisses me off. Every other Gooner must feel the same. And when it’s accompanied by the injury to Kos that will probably keep him out for several weeks, then double the pissedoffness.
There are stories/pics doing the rounds of Jack the lad giving the finger to City fans and Per having a dip at Ozil for not acknowledging the fans. UNTRUE. Jack was miming to a mirror. Per was politely mentioning to Ozil that he could have pulled his finger out. Both were fully justified. Mind you, there were a few others that looked on the bones of their butts, even those who hadn’t been fully occupied on Wednesday. For sure, Nacho didn’t enhance his chances of keeping Kieran out for any length of time.
But we scored 3. Should/could have been 5 had the assistants known the offside law. At least Nic’s ‘goal’ was correctly disallowed and the penalty against Ches justifiably given. But that is not counting the very obvious penalty that we were denied. Theo’s two goals were an un-subtle reminder that his absence on Wednesday may well have been an error.
Not that a 6-5 scoreline would have been deserved. On the day, City deserved their 3 goal margin albeit that we laid 4 of their six on the plate for them. They often resembled wasps attacking a can of Coke such was the speed of their movement and inter-passing. Fortunately they don’t seem to be able to do it away from Etihad so we have a chance to pay them back next year.
At least the lads have an 8 day break before meeting Chelski. They looked as though they needed it.
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Yes, The Chelsea game takes on mammoth importance now.8 days off and no excuses.
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Long way to go. Plenty of hurdles ahead.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought the Milner dive was remarkable. Celtic will be writing to UEFA. There’ll be a witch hunt against jonny rotten foreigner in the slighly loony wing (think Tea Party. Take away the tea and the party, and you are there!) media. You heard it here first.
–
Arsenal top of the league in mid-December having had all of their top scorers from last season apart from OG out for long long stretches. Having missed MA for a stretch earlier on (I think yesterday’s game reinforced just why the Prince has been the most important player at the club over the past few seasons…I love Flamini but people need to get serious!), Chamberlain (sobs). I wrote earlier on that getting one of Plodders or Chamberlain back before Xmas would be a bonus. don’t think Podolski will be ready,to start against Chelsea but there’ll be a fair few games over the holidays. I didn’t imagine they’d be top!
This squad showed some serious gr*t and gumption last year. As Arteta said the other week, I expect them to improve as the season goes on. As they did last season. When no one believed that they were capable of such a feat.
Didn’t Carzola have surgery? Always tricky afterwards, he’ll be ready and rested for Chelsea. A few weeks out for Kozza could be useful as well. He gets a little breather, a mid-winter break, and Vermaelan gets the chance he’s been waiting for. That must bewhy someone planned to have three top CBs in the squad. A plan! The longed for plan. Right there. in front of everyone. Who could’ve imagined such a thing. A shame it won’t stop the indocrinated bleating over a new striker. I won’t complain if a football club signs a footballer, but I can’t help but notice that there is a very good finisher already at the club:
Podolski for Koln, who weren’t the best. Playing as a 9 & 10, more or less:
189 games 86 goals
For ze Germans: 111 games 46 goals, most of them from LW!
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I thought supernic was level and therefore since the last rule change gives the benefit of doubt goes to the attacker the goal should of stood, although instinctively we give benefit to the defender because it seems fairer but there you go..
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George and friends: Don’t forget what we said at the beginning of the campaign and during the run of good results; it is inevitable that we will have setbacks but it is how we respond to the peaks and the valleys that will set us apart from past campaigns.
This is no time to doom our prospects. Learn from our defeats, pick ourselves up and go on another run as we did post Villa.
Unlike those who are crippled and overwhelmed by the negatives, we have to build on the positives that served us so well since we rallied at Bayern last March:
* Team defending. Our back-4 needs the 100% support of the 6 players ahead of them.
* We win games without depending on one world class striker to bail us out. (BTW our two most prolific goal scorers from last year are just returning from injury.)
* Our older, maturer players such as Rosicky, Arteta, Mertsacker are crucial in the run-in especially in big games.
* Our success will be against the odds; the Oil-based clubs will spend big in January if we are still top-of-the tables, poor officiating, constant undermining by the press whose journos and pundits have a vested interest in our failure, doubting bloggers and fretful fans (in order of importance).
Older, experienced heads like Henry, who was on MOTD last night, urged the players to treat yesterday as a bad-day at the office, review the game-tape, learn the lessons and forget about Eastlands. Yesterday decided nothing. We are still top of the tables. Build on that and move on.
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Fins @ 11:18 am – Great minds think alike or fools seldom differ?
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we should also remember that this is a team game and when we are at our best we play as a team. Defeats or bad performances always give credit to those not playing or unavailable however yesterday the whole team defended badly and although I also rate Arteta and Gibbs as no 1 in their respective positions they also may have been affected by the teams performance. Likewise missing players have an unattainable measure of affect on any game. Probably the only time an estimate on a missing player can be anywhere near accurate would be when a form player misses his first game.
Yesterday the team picked was good enough to win, a point proved when going forward, but was just not on their defensive game collectively
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PS: Count me among the fretful fans but like the players, whom we exhort, it is how we channel that anxiety, positively or negatively.
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I agree with Fins (and Shotta).
Little bit much needed breather now.
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I am glad that for all the mocking by the commentators ( and their desperate attempt in showing Arsenal fans not pleased with Bendtner coming on; They managed to show one guy with raised arms.) that Bendtner played well.
I am scared that the team could get afraid to play in big games, but I see their reaction to the defeat and I see how much winning means to them and what Arsenal means to them, so rationally, I am not worried.
Are the defeats in the big games a result of us being too tentative? I hope it is not a case of us showing the big teams to much respect. We seem to realise our game after going behind. When we played Manure towards the end of last season, we came racing out, grabbed their throats and frankly, Manure were lucky to escape with a draw.
The Chelsea game will be the test that I believe the boys will pass. Lets hope the fans create a rocking atmosphere. Lets cheer the team from the first minute to come racing out, spank Chelsea and rack up a big score and leave them scarred.
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Tbh we need and can get a better striker than giroud in Jan, his finishing is not one of the best. Wolcot and Podolski are better finishe than giroud. We just have to beat chelsea and be on top till new year and they wud take us serious
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a_or_b @ 11:42 am
I agree that after every defeat or poor game there is always a post game idealizing of the “missing player(s)”. It is a dangerous tendency as it is avoids a honest assessment of the real reasons for the poor performance. Yesterday we defended badly especially our midfielders who too often gave away the ball and were frequently caught out of position unable to give help to our defenders especially Monreal.
But there is one fact that may have some credibility; that in all the big-games since Bayern, where we have done well, Tomas Rosicky was a starter. Wins vs Napoli and Dortmund come to mind. Going further back, he has been critical in the run-in to secure our Champs League place in the past two seasons. Something is there about better ball retention and better defending from the front. I don’t think the younger pretenders to his position are up to that level, yet.
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Anyone who says winning a league season comes without a stall is mad-stuff like this happens. Time to crunch ourselves back into gear and press on.
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@shottagunna I totally agree with you, Rosicky has been key in big games, he has the experience. We overpowered yesterday,am sure a win against chelsea might have the Bayern effect.
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Shotta@ 11.35
A bit of both.
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Finsbury
I borrowed this from your post over on untold.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/arsenal-had-four-offside-decisions-go-against-them-at-manchester-city-pictures/
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Thanks PG for the article.
Sky sports news hyping the Arsenal’s poor form,
Interesting that they are starting to go into full hype mode in marketing the Chelsea game next week.
West Brom sack their manager, and I see that as mostly him being a victim of ref decisions against the baggies – but they can fuck off about still bleating that Kos ‘fouled’ Shane Long.
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Shotta, Watching the stooped arsed MOTD plundit at lunchtime I take it back.
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Those are some fools.
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DC
I’m looking forward to their review of the ref’s, er, performance.
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George
I keep seeing people on the telly box showing the ‘foul’ Shezzy is supposed to have committed on Milner, as if it’s obvious he brought him down.
It’s not obvious, I have seen this now five or six times on 4 different tv shows by now and Shezzy did nothing wrong.
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Tbf most of these plundits on the box had the foresight to know how last season was going to end after Tottenham’s victory at home.
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When Wenger said this game could have ended up 6-6 I did not think he was out of his mind. Until they scored their fifth goal, I kept thinking the boys could score a couple more and get the draw.
How the boys respond against Chelsea will tell us if they’ll be contender come March and April.
By the way, Agüero has a calf strain that will keep him out at least one game. Their away game at Fulham.
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The commentator on MOTD said “he was already going down,but there was going to be contact” I mean fuck me, just call it a dive you cowardly cunt.
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No mention of yaya’s leg breaker tackle on Giround?
Thanks Fins for finding a vid of that.
Rosicky and Arteta will be back for Chelsea. Probably Santi too.
We know Chelski will use the big thugs in the middle – Ramires, Essien, Mikel, and if the ref likes to see rugby we will be screwed again.
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The offside calls were awful, but our defending made them look much better than what they are. What hurts me most about this loss is the confidence we’ve given the bastards.
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Refs are missing some nasty tackles. Mirallas on Suarez immediately comes to mind. Yaya’s tackle on Giroud was as nasty as that one.
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English players don’t dive, George.
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For what’s it’s worth
come on the Villa!
And a 0-0 for the two bullshitters who have never won the PL would do too.
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Just watched the Keane-Viera, Best of Friends documentary. I was left to reflect on something Viera said needing big characters to win trophies. My difference with Viera is the so-called big characters are only anointed post-game and post victory. In that vain, our big character over the past two years have been Rosicky and Arteta. Hopefully Wenger will challenge them to step up as the competition heats up.
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Manure are only 10 points above the drop zone, but Fulham, Palace and Sunderland are doomed.
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An excellent piece and similarly high quality contributions from every poster
I thought our football was very good yesterday and we cut Citeh apart at Eastlands in a way no other team, although Bayern came close, have done this season
It was three and could have been 5-6 – perhaps 8 and that is really no exaggeration had decisions gone the correct way and chances been converted just that tiny bit better
So I a not sitting here groaning about our football
We were undone were mistakes made , often by players such as Kosc who have been superb all season
I do not take anything away from MC who had the ability to seize on those mistakes and convert them into goals
That however was a very close game – I look forward to the return fixture
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DC
It’s tempting to think Chelsea is the perfect game for Flamini and Arteta. With so many games close together in the period after that game it could happen with other players getting the call a few days later.
Random tangent:
Aguero didn’t play against Munich becasue he was obviously carrying this knock which was tweaked and niggled by playing against Arsenal. Apparently, for our non-jingoistic plundits (not in the slightest!) this means that the jonny in charge of City cannot count. Hopefully, as with RVP, Aguero be out for ages. Not that I’d ever want to wish an injury for a player. Never. Unless he, or she, played for a team run by some dodgy geezers with an unlimited budget, a fetish for islands or castles made of sand and that kind of thing.
Unlike City Arsenal didn’t risk any Key players (who had had to play two days earlier) such as Carzola, Gibbs and Arteta (I have no idea if MA was rotated or rested but I’m happy to guess it was a bit of both) in their games this past week, and that was the reason why Walcott wasn’t risked against Napoli (for gf60 above). Everyone in football apart from the people responsible for running a fair league appear to know the difference between two days and three days recovery. This is one reason why the German FA are building their own base camp in Brazil, they don’t want their players having to travel between different facilities whilst they are playing every three days. So, the comments by the PL on TV contracts being adequate reward for such inconvenience doesn’t really give us much confidence in those who are meant to be running this league, does it?
Walcott may not have impressed PG, but I told you all he’s a big game player! First start back, he did ok for me. As far as I can understand what allowed the Arsenal to sucker City in that pre-season counter attacking masterclass was express Pace on both flanks. Without that you’d need, say, someone playing like a Carzola to step in.
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Something is definitely wrong. Even Le Grove had a level headed reaction to yesterday’s match.
Shotta, as the elder statesmen, Arteta and Rosicky are at the top of the totem pole. But right underneath sit Özil, Santi, Mertesacker, Giroud and Koscielny. There’s a layer of maturity and steady characters which makes this team incredibly solid.
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Theo was magnificent yesterday. Finishing like that after being out for two months is bloody impressive. I’m looking for him to make a similar impact as Ramsey has made this season.
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Good piece George. I’m still very optimistic about our season. I went to the game yesterday. We started rather sloppily, improved and then I thought we became visibly ‘leggy’ in the last 20 minutes or so. A plausible explanation must be the effects of the midweek game and travel. Shitty had a better rest and have a bigger squad. At the very top the margins are narrow and the difference can be down to slight weaknesses that are severely punished by a goal. We were by no means outplayed. It would have been a much closer game had we had the same rest time as they…
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So Villa are already 3 goals down vs United. Don’t seem to have learned anything from Arsenal’s game yesterday about the dangers of cheaply giving away possession.
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i think we made a bit of a mess tactically this past week. please bare with me. positive, yes- naive, no. the everton game should have seen us come out like in the napoli marseille liverpool hull home games and the two away fixtures should have been the waiting game lets strike like cobra variety. in games which we should clearly come out and dictate tempo, and i include home game against everton as such, we should use a more aggressive approach and thus a combo of the energies of flamini and rosicky. required. in games where our approach must be more ‘european’ the calm qualities of arteta should be at force. equally in games of the epl gibbs should take the position instead of monreal. sure the fatigue played its part and made things look worse than they were. the only thing i didnt like and surely wenger and steve didnt like either was conceding after scoring. it shows a lack of concentration and is not very professional and it is not what this team is about. as for the individual incidents with mert ozil jack etc i love it cause it shows they care and are angry with themselves and will sort it out between them .like teams do. you could say we hit a dip of form in a crucial week but luckily we havent had to really suffer for it as we still top the table and still in europe. this team will come out fighting and i trust them to do so when they next play. oh and i wuld like to see a big team getting shafted by officials when they come to emirates like they do to us when we go to their grounds for once….. see how them teams deal with it………
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and a quick recovery to Lolo !!
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Well being at the game after several beers (courtesy of Arsenal!!) I didn’t notice how poor everyone played. It reminded of the 4-2 a few years back where City seemed to score from all their attacks. I didn’t feel as gutted as I did after the Everton game tbh.
We just have to beat the chavs, which we no doubt will.
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I agree with Gains, Theo took his goals really well and showed what we’ve been missing. Great to have him finally back.
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I didn’t feel as gutted as I did after the Everton game tbh.
eeeeexactly.
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Agent Dawson.
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Really enjoyed the Post PG and could find nothing to disagree with.
Reading the comments I came across another classic that made me chuckle;
“I mean fuck me, just call it a dive you cowardly cunt.”,
and the passing thought crossed my mind that George has an impressive turn of phrase. 🙂
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The fact that we should probably have been credited with not 3 but 5 goals is remarkable, given that we did not have the services of either of both of the types of CFs as Aguerra or Negredo.
I really like Giro for his gutsy putting himself about and lion heart but he simply is not in the same class, although his defensive work is also important usually – but not yesterday.
I hope AW can find a CF for us in the New Year.
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I agree. GIBBS for EPL games and MONREAL for European nights. Sounds good. NICKY B was very helpful when he came on yesterday. He is progressing Nicely. I don’t know if I agree our tactics were flawed in the past three games. I think lack of focus and concentration has had something to do with taking the type of goals we are letting in. Most have been defensive and midfielders give aways In areas of the pitch that have cost us dearly. I don’t think it’s nerves but it is psychological. We most become more aware and careful passing it in our own half. Certainly when we break at pace to counter and one misplaced pass leaves us completely exposed. I’m glad OZI came out quick to apologize and explain.
Accepted. Don’t let it happen again.
We will miss KOSHER but part of me is very confident TV will take this chance and run with it. He must be very hungry. World cup year and all that, added incentive. VERMINATOR, judgment time.
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HENRY B
I wouldn’t change OG with no one, except maybe that pool basterd. He is single handedly carrying most of the weight and he is on a role. He is scoring at will.
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I’d have preferred a 0-0 draw at the shithole but a 0-5 rout by the bin dippers will have to do.
I hope Brenda forgets that Liverpool are more potent without Stevie G when he returns.
AVB is going to be the 14th LWC to get the chop. Their fans make the WOBS look like Mensa.
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Trust the Spuds to help gooners to redeem a bad weeken.d 0-5 to the bindippers at home is the kind of result that gets a manager sacked.
Well to quote George on twitter time for Levy to spend some “farking money.”
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