I could only watch about 15 minutes of the first half. I found a steam with french commentary. Besides the beautiful way in which they pronounce the names of our players, it is so enjoyable to watch a game where the commentator describes each move with an enthusiasm that rubs off on you. I admit that when I joined the match, I searched for Bendtner among our players. Wenger had instead gone with Podolski and Walcott alternating at the centre-forward role. He would have had his reasons.
Arsenal were camped in Cardiff’s half for the entirety of the match. The only change was that, at halftime we moved our tents to the other half of the pitch. Cardiff decided to do a Chelsea and parked their less expensive double-decker right in front of their goal. I don’t think our fans or players begrudge Cardiff for parking the bus. They defended well, crowded us out and more importantly didn’t kick the shit out of us. Also, you didn’t want to punch their caretaker manager.
This was a challenge. Even though the goal was scored in the end, Arsenal kept trying right from minute one to last. In the first half, Arsenal tried various tricks to get around Cardiff’s defense. A delicious long ball from Wilshere to Walcott almost did just that. Cazorla wriggled and wriggled around the penalty box trying to feed a player or find room to shoot. Towards the end of the half, the ball fell to Podolski but he was quickly herded out before he could improvise a shot or feed a free Cazorla. Arteta and Flamini guarded the defense against counter attacks. Cardiff’s outlets were closely patrolled by Arsenal’s defense and the ball was regularly won in the halfway line.
The second half saw Arsenal increase the tempo. Like those “defend your fort” games, the waves of Arsenal attacks increased in speed, intensity and frequency. Enter game changers Rosicky and Bendtner. Rosicky shifted Arsenal up a gear and to the horror of Cardiff’s defense started playing telepathic one-twos with Cazorla. Bendtner slotted in well into the centre-forward role. From two corners, in the space of a few minutes, Mertesacker had opportunities to put us in front. Painfully for the current Mr. Arsenal, the balls went wide. The second one might have been covered by the player at the post.
As the clock started creeping towards the end, Arsenal did not panic and kept a determined focus to win the game. At the 88th minute, the video of my stream froze, but the sound was still streaming. The unmistakable crescendo and peak of the french commentator’s voice drowned out by the eruption at Emirates meant that a goal had been scored. Replays showed that Monreal’s cross was hit like a bullet by Sagna, parried by the keeper and slotted into the roof of the net, intelligently by Bendtner. Bendtner was injured in the aftermath when the keeper fell and twisted on his ankle. As the Arsenal players (with the exception of Mertesacker, who was busy roaring like a bear) piled on Bendtner, it became clear that he was in some pain. It was the sad part of the evening. Lets hope he recovers quickly. We need him. It was nice to see the Arsenal fans applaud him off the pitch and him to acknowledge that.
Now, Cardiff decided to attack to try and get a goal back. Arsenal concentrated, won the ball back and made a few more attacks. In one such attack, deep in injury time, Master of pre-assists, Rosicky while being chased by a few players, fed Wilshere who in turn nonchalantly and almost arrogantly fed Walcott. We all know what happens when Walcott is through on goal.
A good win for Arsenal.
Today’s post was by our own Sensational Arsenal.
Positively Arsenal 
“To lose one striker, Mr. Wenger, may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness.” But what a top result, and on we go.
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Very enjoyable read today. “The only change was that, at halftime we moved our tents to the other half of the pitch.” tickled me no end.
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Excellent description of events SA. Thanks for another enjoyable read.
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Good writing and may your stream flow abundant and in full spate for many moons.
We played a lot of good creative football against Cardiff, and even as we edged towards the the final few minutes we did not resort to hoisting in high, hopeful balls that so many clubs resort to when they are desperate to score ( yes Moyes I do mean you).
And as I may have said before but am unashamed to repeat it that was also a consumate defensive performance.
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Bendtner will be out “for weeks”. That makes things a bit more interesting in terms of possible transfer issues. We are top, but more tellingly it is winning games of this nature that wins titles; Yoonited’s helpful officials aside, how many times did they snatch winners in dying moments, and if you go back further, famously in Liverpool’s 80s heydays, you will find this trait in every title winning side, including Arsenal’s. You also find it in so many heroic escape stories, like Wigan. It’s not luck. It’s belief. It’s not “we can”, it’s stamping authority on a game that had other ideas. It’s the difference.
Now the shape of this season becomes clear, somewhat logical. Three title chasing side. Three sides in the chasing pack, not far off the pace. Two slightly behind that group, chasing them. Top eight, and fairly typical of the ebb and flow of a season.
Theo is really back. Lukas still subdued and needs game sharpening. Next we have Mesut’s return, a little later Aaron’s, so vital for the season’s defining battles. Jack finding who he really is. Rotation, enforced or not, is working quite nicely for a change.
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SensiArs
Lovin’ this write up. Thanks.
I must say; despite the ref “not seeing” penalty(s) for us, the way Moss done his job appeared (relatively) even handed. He even booked their goaly for time wasting – around 60 mins. This meant I only had to filter Trevor Francis out of my matchday experience, and not be screaming at the ref all arvo. Lets face it, it was shit weather to play footy properly and yet Arsenal did just that.
Nice match, lovely article. Happy New Year, all.
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Painfully the balls went wide
Ahahahaaaaaaa!!!!!
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Tickets for me and son safely gathered in for the Palace game earlier – a good start to the year
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Lovely stuff SA,late winning goals are better than trouncing teams 4 or 5 nil,but not very good for the ticker that’s for sure. One point I don’t think many have picked up on is that Jack looks very close to fully fit at last,he was superb yesterday.
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BFG:
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Oh did oscar try to provoke a penalty and a red? I thought this is a mans sport … 🙂
Fuck you jose…you know something we dont. 4 months now he is hiding in his shell and the last two weeks he has attacked main competitors, has cuddled to refs and “english football values” and has left the door open for the clubs best player the last two seasons. Either toman is bringing you falcao and de rossi, or he has had reassurances for how tjings will unfold in epl….
Already chelsea won decissions that gave them points…..
Ivan!!!! Eyes open!!!!!
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An old friend of ours, OneOfUs, wrote the following on the Guardian blog:
“Wenger, Mark Hughes, Mourinho and Redknapp could all claim to have reinvigorated Adebayor’s career in the past. It’s impressive how many times he’s been rehabilitated.”
BTW: Good job SA.
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I suggest ivan creates a team of nerds and trolls to follow chelsea games and refs and challenge every call officially to all bodies (f.a , media etc) – (even when decission is correct) just to get under jose’s skin. Psyche him out. Provoke him….. ; )
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War!
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Interesting to see on Twitter yesterday how many Mancs are sick to the back teeth of the constant diving of Young, Welbeck, Hernandez etc.
fucking clowns
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The conventional wisdom is that City should wrap up this season’s EPL with their depth, and – fair comment – improving all the time under an excellent manager, while Chelsea remain fragile at times and Arsenal are untried (we still haven’t played any of the teams above us … have we?), and a striker short, or a short striker maybe.
Fuck ’em.
We are 101% title-contenders as of now, the team to beat, the team to top. The depth of midfield, the tactical genius of AW, the return of wide players, the impeccable defense (is it 12 goals conceded in 19 matches if we exclude the strange City game; 9 goals conceded in 18 games if we exclude that and the Villa opener); that is Arsenal’s. The record is now much more than a trend, the best team of calendar year 2013. Mostly though it’s mentality running through the squad. Let’s wish for the best for the lads. If ever a time to scream and shout, to be 12th man, to get excited – it is right now. And the more we can win on the treadmill second half of the season when it’s all about points accumulation, the more we will continue to win; it’s a habit. Let City blink first. We need now to outperform our 2012-2013 record (last 15 of so games).
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Thanks everyone.
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Let City blink first.
Great comment Zimpaul!
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Zim Paul ,not sure that simply ignoring two results is telling us much.We did play those games,
Our defensive solidity is fine even if we include them
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Nice write up SA, thanks.
If we are in for a striker and AW has said he wants to buy in January, I have absolutely no iea who we should go for, unsurprisingly. The rumours about the ex-spud/manc Berba dont fill me with much emotion, positive or negative. I can understand those who are against it (he is too old, slow, lacks desire, would only a short term option etc) and those who think it would represent a very canny acquisition; he has super super quality, Wengerball technique, would suit our style of play, can fill the role of main striker, or play upfront with OG and is not cup tied.
Looking at the 2 lists, and given the lack of realistic and suitable alternatives (Benteke for £25m+, Diego Costa for £35m??? Pffft!) I may have to reconsider my opinion! He would appear to be a decent signing until the summer at least.
As for other matters, I am getting more and more concerned about the state of officiating. Man City and the chavs seem to get more than their fair share of decisions, especially against Arsenal and Liverpool strangely enough. I am sure the fellas on Untold are all over this, but its clear, now that Fergie has retired, the refs have offered themselves to the highest bidders! The fact refs simply refuse to give us penalties isnt a new concept though, there was an official mebargo after the (perniciously orchestrated high profile media campaign) Eduardo penalty vs Celtic, but to see it re-emerging now is very worrying.
Hunter;
Jose is a c*nt. And a conniving, cheating shameless, scummy vain, arrogant two faced bullshitting one at that. The english media lap up his shit because they are too lazy to think of anything interesting or original to say themselves. better for them to quote the twat who they have decreed is a breath of fresh air, a rogue genius a rascal and who is soooo good for the game.
Bollocks he is! He is a low life duplicitous turd and the hacks who buy into his bullshit, lies and ego centric theatrics are narrow minded blinkered ignorant tools. The italian and spanish media were onto him in about 5 minutes and they didnt fawn all other him as the british counterparts do.
The chavs recent form is a worry, I didnt think he’d last a full season.
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The PL and SKY/BTsport did us no favours in terms of fixture scheduling for that Man City game. Coming after such a hectic run of games, with hardly any turn around time. Add to that a few key injuries a couple of players just back from long term injury and the officials who seemed hell bent (apt word) on giving us nothing and the home team EVERYTHING, RESULTED IN A FREAKISH GAME AND RESULT FOR ME. i WAS THERE AND THERE WASNT 3 GOALS BETWEEN THE TEAMS. (Oops, capslock!)
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As ZimP highlighted the trends are positive. I would add, in our favor we have a battle-hardened squad with the the majority having 2-4 years experience of kicking, scratching and screaming to keep our top-4 status. Along the road have been some testing battles: Eduardo, Ramsey, defeat to Birmingham in the League Cup final come to mind. These experiences will come in handy over the next 5 months as I expect the leadership in the table will change hands a few times before the dust settles. Somebody is bound to break under the pressure.
My only concern is whether Arsene can find the right player to strengthen us during this winter. Unlike some, I am not in the camp that believes victory is guaranteed by a new signing. Some factors external to the club are out of our hands. Focus on our strengths, play the Arsenal-way and we should be OK.
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I am not so sure about the meeja’s love of Jose Dex. I think they, like the rest of us, have woken up. Matthew Syed let him have it on his appointment at the Bridge in May.
A little excerpt for your delectation;
“A football pundit recently offered the view that José Mourinho press conferences make for “the best theatre around”. He needs to get out more. Shakespeare is on at the Globe and Terence Rattigan at the Old Vic. The ramblings of an egomaniac, at a press conference or anywhere else, are not good theatre. They are banal and increasingly tedious.
Mourinho is apparently on his way back to Chelsea and, speaking for myself, I am already bored stiff. A man with a tendency to narcissism when he arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 has morphed into a parody of the modern-day football manager. Any semblance of irony or self-awareness has been sucked, like interstellar debris, into the black hole of his ego. We are left with a caricature, a man who speaks so much that we can’t hear a word he says.
Some will argue that being an arsehole is part of what makes him a great manager (and his record suggests that he is, indeed, very good), but I beg to differ. Bob Paisley won three European Cups and remained, on the whole, decent and grounded. David Moyes has done a marvellous job at Everton while keeping his dignity intact. Other serial winners, such as Roger Federer, Lionel Messi and Paul Scholes, seem to retain more than a semblance of modesty.
That tells us all we need to know about the monotonous soap opera that has come to surround Mourinho: it provides neither explanation nor mitigation for his behaviour. As the Harvard Business Review once put it, and I paraphrase only a little: “to be successful as a manager, you don’t have to be a complete prat”.
“A complete prat” – yep – I think that covers Jose.
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Anicoll
Good example of an alternate view on the old git, but I’d still suggest that fella is well in the minority, unfortunately.
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The halfwits on The Sunday Supplement dubbed his “the best manager in England” just this week.
Shower of cunts
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The sunday supplement is a cunts convention all right. The only bright spot is when Paddy barclay is on it.
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Sunday Supplement ? I don’t know why you do it to yourselves (banned smiley thing)
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I have quite taken to Olly Holt recently.
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Have you and John Cross finally called it a day then George? Has he taken his toothbrush and spare undies?
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No mate ,we are still pals. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t talk shit though. I like a lot of people who talk shit,as you well know.
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Yep, PG we did play those games, and one can’t massage the stats accordingly. But we might as well put it another way then. In 2 games we conceded 9 goals! Yikes! What happened? In another 18 games we also conceded 9 goals. Wow! That is some record by any yardstick, utterly superior in EPL. It has kept us at the top, and even conceding 9 in those games, we have best defense record in EPL. I also think our record in top six (mini-league) is reasonable, but sure might be improved L1, D2, W2. 8 from 15 pts.
People talk about how many points will obtain the title, usually in the high 70s is a decent shout. This season I suspect 80+ is needed, for us minimum 40 from a possible 54, that’s going to be tough, something like 2 losses and 4 draws from 18, with 12 wins. Maybe we need more than that, one draw less. We were L3, D3 for the first half of the season. The most important is that the goal is within reach.
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Martin Samuels, Haywood, Winter, Howard…. Now that is a cacophany of cunts right there…
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18 to go. Every game a cup final! Come on Arsenal!
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Thanks SA.
–
http://t.co/drRPNTs2VD
It will be interesting to see how Campbell does in the CL. One to bear in mind for next season. As for current rumours? Last January Arsene pulled Monreal out of his hat. Which was nice – y’see there is a meme that says that Arsene started the season listening to Bouldy, stopped listening to him, and then started listening to him again. And that explains the pattern of Arsenal’s season. A simple hypothesis, and a stupid one too. I don’t think there is any doubt that the three coaches (poor old Banfield!) have been working together, but as we’ve said before, “it’s the players stupid.” Or in this case a LB who had lost his way and the confidence of his teammates, and a LCB who was on the return from long lay offs and struggling with his own pitchside demons. To be clear: The left side of the defence. There is so much speculation about what goes on between the gaffer and the man he has groomed to be a massive figure at the club: why do people ignore Bouldies own comments to the TV cameras from after the Schalke Home game? It’s not like we required a translator for what was said: Santos was on his way out at that moment, at the least. And I don’t imagine Bouldy was speaking out of turn. I suppose, as far as the malcontents are concerned, fiction is greater then truth. Each to their own, I suppose.
The only advice I can give is the same as during the Summer: Please try not to be surprised if Scrooge McWeng and his team of bargain busting deadline day daredevils haggle out (yet) another (fantastic) deal on the last day of a transfer window.
I’ve always liked Hugh Wizzy’s reports on his beloved Arsenal, way before he was on the Arseblog. Running down a high street in New York(?), screaming, wearing only his undies in celebration of the Özil signing was very funny, this sane Arsenal plundit had got a little excited at the early Summer rumours about Özil and had made a bold promise! And credit where it is due, he was true to his word. His latest video from yesterday’s game was very well made, I recommend it. After the game he said one or two things to the gaffer (& Carzola) that many of us would like to say, so deserved props there. And my guess is that some comments by the gaffer in the video may help to feed the frenzy of transfer speculations. I haven’t got a clue myself (about transfers, not sure I care either!) but I enjoyed the vid.
UTA
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Fins
It will be interesting to see if Joel makes it back to Arsenal (and possibly Wellington Silva too) next season. Hopefully he gets to showcase his talents in an Arsenal shirt.
As for this transfer window, I think the injuries to Giroud and NB will determine if AW signs a replacement sharpish, or leaves it till later in the window.
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Mel: “One point I don’t think many have picked up on is that Jack looks very close to fully fit at last,he was superb yesterday.”
I don’t think there’s anyone in the team with better close control than wee Jackie.
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Gains.Santi and Tomas have better close control imo
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Well, I for one think its jolly spiffing we have so many technically gifted players. I do wish you wouldnt insist on trying to start fights all the time George. Its very tedious….
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Fin, I think Campbell is way ahead of expectations, as far as his development is concerned.
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Here’s the team I would pick for the spuds…
Szczesny
Jenkinson Per Vermealen Monreal
Rosicky Flamini
Theo Wilshere Cazorla
Podolski
I found it rather strange how Lukas has been written off as a centre forward after one start there and him only coming back recently from a 4 month lay off.
Give him another go there and, hopefully bring on Gnabry at some stage too. Its a shame we havent gotten an easier draw against a lower league team as we could have fielded a few of the yutes. As much as I think the league has to be our priority, it would be silly to throw away a chance of the FA cup by resting too many players. We have 10 days after the game before the next league game anyways.
Enough time for Cavani and Falcao to get settled into their Hertfordshire mansions.
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Nah ah, George.
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This Gooner (sorry Frank!) is sticking to his guns.
As guestimated in pre-season, with Wilshere it is just the same as it was with Rambo:
After so long out, interruptions etc. St. Jack is finally starting to get back to the level of conditioning & stamina required at the top top level of the PL*. Different injuries, but the vague logic works for me. He needs a good run, free from serious niggles, not necessarily playing all the time to really complete the process. Just like Rambo!
An interesting question for the future could be ‘which of three players will be the better midfielder, Ramsey, Wilshere or Chamberlain?’ The answer is: ‘Who cares! All three in the squad? For years to come? Thank you very much, Sir. I do believe that you may have had some kind of a cunning plan…’
*you’d never guess so listening to the comments about Rambo during the first half of last season made by those who have a self declared interest in “Sports Science” *coughs*, but we also know why that is the case.
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I thought the Ox was going to be the break out player of the season before his injury.
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Well, hopefully the Ox has better luck and gets more patience and understanding from some fans after his long injury than Aaron and Jack got.
I think he is more talented than the other two (but as we have seen many times before with young players, talent alone aint enough) and could be a really important player for us.
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Well done SA. Sensational work. So sorry your picture feed froze at the worst possible time. I wonder if there are clubs or pubs where you can catch the games with fellow football enthusiasts and gooners.
Anywho, the spudniks are next probably very full of themselves for beating the poor red manc squad. To put an end to their FA CUP campaign would deliver another blow to their fragile confidence. Lets do it and set the tone for the future while Sherwood is in charge.
I felt JACK had himself a very decent game and was happy for his efforts. I don’t understand all the put downs directed his way. Granted he wasn’t perfect but he played well considering the conditions. Sometimes I wonder if we are all watching the same game. I wonder about the team that will face the spudniks over the weekend. Here is to victory and advancing in that competition. UP WITH THE ARSENAL!!!!!!
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another quality read S.A., so definitely not last resort get your regular writing boots on as it were.
I know this is a positive site but I think the title is just out of reach this year. Fixtures, refs, administration is always against us and to emerge victorious over these three imposters will take a monumental task. we are not lucky with injuries and the February and March heavy pitches and travel will take their toll.
qualification for the CL is a bigger achievement this season than at any time since the competition started. Third place is realistic and although many fans will see it as failure actually it will be another step forward for just about the only English club who is doing things without a cloak, dagger and doggey accountant.
Having said all that and immediately contradicting myself I do believe if we are still top on April the 12th then will win the thing.
journos, Maureen , football coach, please don’t associate these things together while Maureen is a winner he has been given numerous chances to produce a team worthy of the beautiful game and he has failed to do so on each occasion, the fact journos do not castigate him for this is testament to their ignorance in the subject are whores to.
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I think around 86 points might be enough to win the title. Working backwards from that we would need another 41 points from our remaining 18 games. Of those, I would say 12 are very winnable games, many of them home and against teams from the bottom half, given how well we have been beating the weaker sides this season. Villa and West Brom being the only two occasions we have dropped points against teams outside the top 7, and we all know why we lost to Villa. If we maintain the consistency we have shown until now we can, realistically, win 10 or 11 of those 12 games.
That would give us 30-33 points and leave us needing between 8 and 11 points from the 6 ‘big’ games left – Liverpool (a), Man Utd (h), Spurs (a), Chelsea (a), Man City (h), Everton (a). Neither and task easy nor an impossible one, and wins against Chelsea or City (if they are to be our closest competitors in the race) would effectively be worth a little extra than just 3 points.
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Thanks for that superb extract from Matthew Syed. He is a very good writer. Just think how good he might have been had he spent more time practising that and less time playing Table Tennis.
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Thanks a lot GK and a_or_b.
There are no good pubs here GK. I get to watch a decent amount of games on TV, so it is not bad. A few years ago, all I had was BBC text commentary. Imagine the drivel there!
Jack had a great game yesterday. He would want to play on saturday. It should be a good game.
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Good write up SA; the kind of game we might have struggled to win in previous seasons, Cardiff were tenacious and surprisingly committed given the madness currently swirling around their club.
I also take ZimPaul’s point that is being missed by most in the media that, though disguised by the two strange games that reaped 9, Arsenal this season have become a side that is very hard to score against. Many commentators are claiming that Citeh are the team to beat and they look every inch champions in waiting. Dazzled by the goals ‘for’ tally, City’s inconsistencies are largely ignored. This suits me, there’s nothing better than for others to underestimate the dangers AFC present to the chasing pack.
Agree with the Jack remarks – it’s just so strange that those getting on his back have forgotten the lessons handed out by Aaron’s ‘journey’. And those same people who have been complaining about Giroud all season are now panicking thanks to his sudden absence from the side. Our wonderful fickle fans, eh?
I recently finished reading Alan Sugar’s autobiography and he is adamant, based on his experiences as owner of the Spuds, that sports journalists, like the footballers they write about, are generally thicker than the average professional. He compares them unfavorably with business journalists and certainly, watching Sunday Supplement (with the notable exception of Holt and Barclay) does little to challenge Sugar’s prejudices.
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