Today’s post is by ZimPaul
Well we already knew the football was out of this world …
I like a little 22 game mid-season snapshot sometimes.
It doesn’t actually get better, not much anyway, adventures in the life and times of Arsenal. Sitting top. Knife edge battles to come against the two arch-enemies of any semblance of remaining football equity, against the two most financially stupefied until their eyeballs pop, full of strut and sweating arrogance. We are the sole representative right at the top of something approximating any sense financial fair play.
We are rotating week in and out the best, most attractive, most intelligent and sublime midfield in the league playing in front of the tightest defense. We have a great goal scoring record too, and most goals coming through the midfielder machine. We are producing exquisite football moments, and have put another sweet little run together, WWWWW, most recently a football-spirited game against a respected second tier side playing some decent stuff.
We have the mouth watering prospect of Bayern to come. We are into the 5th round of the FA Cup. And best of all, we are a team’s team that stands by each other. No mega-star studded team of pin-up divas this. Just very, very good players enjoying playing Wenger-ball, several of whom are implausibly young like Gnabry and Gedi, Aaron and Jack, Jenks, Ox and even Chewie. Lukas in particular is sounding and looking hungry, I like that. Just the right time too. A team that believes in itself, because it fought and won battles before this. Amongst the more mature, the reals gems, as determined as they are assured, Per, Ozil and Tomas and Santi, Mikel and Flamini.
Do we have a chance in hell?
Ask Giroud. That epitome of the team’s team player, outrageous confidence without the swank, superb work-rate, sublime skills, the unselfish provider of so much to others.
We better start believing, really believing.
Because the players and manager do.
Positively Arsenal 
Yes we do believe… and why not?
Come may, we would have arrived at our treble, made sweeter by the sheer guts and effort that has gone into securing them
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Thanks ZP…yet another in the long run of good articles on this site. One query please. Who’s Chewie? I always refer to Bacary as “Chewbacca” but you can’t mean him?
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Good Post, ZP.
If it is not possible for someone to believe that there is everything to play for, now, when we are top and playing well — time to re-consider what they are looking for in football.
It is easy – Support the team – Support the manager – and everything is possible.
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Top post Zim. funny how the serious rotation that has been happening in our midfield just about all season has gone so largely unnoticed. Beginning to think that it is AW who has been creating the myth about our lack of sqaud depth: classic misinformation so that under the smokestream we can quitely rotate our way to the title.
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Thanks ZimPaul
Another great post on this Blog.
Today Positively Arsenal is 1 year old.
Here are some of the people who have made it a bit special:
Adam Adam Borgen(rip) Adi Alabamagooner Aman
Anicoll5 Apropos Arse_or_brains ArsenalAndrew Arshavin23
Billysboots Bob_Fisher Bootoome Bradyesque7 Brady’s right foot
Broutherdoug Calamity_Jane Dexter Double_Canister Dupsffokcuf
Eltamatrox Emmanuel Epicgooner Eric Evil Finsbury Foreverheady
Frank Fungunner Gainsbourg69 Georgaki-Pyrovoltis Gf60 Goonerdyllan
Goonerkam Gunner-gethcha Gunnerwife Harryflowers Hawkeye HenryB
Hunter13 Lagoonervida Laitianlight Lankylorde Layksite Leon_rouge LeoS Limestonegunner Loomer Lorde Mean_Lean Mel Merlot Mickey_Finn Mike
Muppet Nish Passenal Paul_N Pedantic_George Poznaninmypants
Rantetta RedHenry Rednwhitez Redshark Sahil_sehrawat
Sav-from-Austrailia Sensational_Arsenal Shotta Steve_I Steww
Tabs Team_Spirt The_beck WalterBroderx ZimPaul
I have missed loads of people I am sure, but if I have do keep posting.
The are a few on the list who can post more often too.
Well done again, PG, AA and the crew.
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Read that to the tune of
Destroy Rock & Roll by Mylo-
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ooooooohhhhhhh dc !!!!!
and i thought it was early for techno…silly me
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oh yeah…tuesday was made for this
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double canister,
As someone who has not been included in the ‘special’ Hall of Fame, and rightly so, 🙂 can I add my independent congratulations on the anniversary of Positively Arsenal and its maitre d’, Pedantic George and all those you have named, including yourself.
Well done all. 🙂
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Please. don’t post music videos
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Oops, dc, I read the list and did not realise you were kind enough to include me, until I re-read it, and now I am blushing with embarrassment! 😳
I do not deserve to be included, but thank you. 🙂
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Happy birthday Postively Arsenal!
Nice post ZP. And nice list DC.
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Just want to echo the compliments of others as PA clocks 1. It’s the only blog site I read and post comment on. Many thanks to PG and all others who has given us this haven to come to.
Hoping for another 3points today as we march on to the glory that awaits the ARSENAL come may.
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Good and stirring piece ZP
I trust Arthur Boruc is working hard on getting that Cruyff turn up to speed. I have spoken to Arsene and passed on the usual key points to watch tonight. He seems relaxed. He was in the bath so it was to be expected. He can’t decide between Nacho or Kieron. I told him to give Gibbs the start – I want us to get amongst the Saints early- we shall see.
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Ps – he says Happy Birthday
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Wonderful list DC, many terrific commentators.
Agree, one of the blog’s greatest strengths is the range of contributors, most of whom if not all, should post more main articles.
All hail the George.
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Happy Birthday Positively Arsenal.
Thanks for being here and thanks for superb articles.
ZP, this is another superb piece, thanks.
DC, The name-roll you posted is beautiful, and it immediately reminded me of the roll call from the Spike Lee film “Do the right thing”. Good post. Sorry I can’t list the many peeps on here I so admire, but thank you all. You all really make my day(s).
PG, Wot, no music? Music is the key of life (or some such sh*t). Are you a closet curmudgeon? (PG the CC). Yes, I amuse myself. Apologies, but mainly – Thank you.
You, with your smooth and conciliatory Norvurn tones, utter reasonableness, and no little foreskin… sorry, foresight. Very, very well done. You’re a top, top, top guy.
x
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Happy Birthday P.A. And well done to George and the team on a truly brilliant site and a real phoenix from the flames of that old site.
ZP, yet another great post and apt for today and the attitude of all on here(listed above by DC ) on match days I get nervous and sometimes need a post like this to give me a kick up the Arse and so many thanks COYG
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Apparently French papers are saying Bacs is close to signing a 3 yr deal on 80k a week. I really hope so
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Happy birthday PA
Sagna, a “Gunner forever” alongside Rosicky, could it be true? *swoons*
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In truth, and you might have guessed, I don’t mind waiting till any official announcement, or the end of a window when it comes to transfers.
Try as might, the sweet resonance of Alan Brazil’s beautiful tones on Murdoch Me Radio whilst he warbles about Vengaaar’s wage and lack of signings and programmes the Groaners listening, the size of the agents cut from the fee is still not that interesting to me. I can’t help it! Though I do admit the amazingly surprising Neymar revelations, who could have imagined such a thing, were vaguely interesting for a few seconds.
But
AW did say the other day how important Sagna was to the group. I am excited!
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POSITIVELY ARSENAL!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & MANY MORE…
the continuation of the golden dawn of
THE BELOVED ARSENAL.
thank you PG, AA & all others who worked so hard in its creation and continued success.
Well done indeed.
C O Y G
PS. Great post ZIMPAUL & great list DC. we might need a larger double-decker for all these die-hards.
Pps. First the AW contract extension and now SAGNA the warrior. Happy birthday indeed.
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Someone at the ARSENAL timed these extensions perfectly.
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Now for a great game and a famous win today to top it all off. COYG
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Totally off topic but didn’t have much time to do anything beyond work from Sunday evening until now so probablly missed the oonversation – but did it strike anybody as beyond coincidence that City were drawn against Chelsea and Arsenal against Liverpoolin the Fifth Round? And what might the knock on be from that with regard to Champions League matches the following week?
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It is all massively bleeding confusing Tim (but only if any of the ties are drawn) and especially for CFC and MCFC
Because replays have to have at least 10 days notice that will require the tie be held midweek 25/26 Feb which is the date CFC play Galatasary in Istanbul
I suspect the CL tie would not be affected but the Chels v Citeh tie would usually be moved to the Saturday/Sunday
The difficulty with that neat solution is the following Sunday ( 2nd March) Citeh play Sunlun in the CC final at Wembley
The 6th Round is 8/9 March so not much scope for
all looks a bit complicated !!
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Well we must hope for a City/Chelsea draw then.
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anicoll5
January 28, 2014 at 2:28 pm
lol im sorry but the f.a cup organisers are very comical. dont knwo if they do this on purpose with these high profile fixtures but sticking them right in the middle of the champions league clashes is a joke.
one day they complain for the lack of english teams in cl semis and qaurters the next day they complain about the fading magic of the fa cup…..
champiosn league = 50-70 MILLION
FA CUP = 5-7MILLION ??
i wonder which comp clubs will prioritise………
all they re up for is fucking up those with high ambitions in order to assist the underdogs left right and centre who dont have european comps to play in….
i guess they have to spread the food around…….is this cabotage?
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“all they re up for is fucking up those with high ambitions in order to assist the underdogs left right and centre who dont have european comps to play in….”
yeah, lucky old Spuds – out the Cup and only a month till their next Europa Cup (banned smiley thing)
seems to me if you have ‘high ambitions’ then you should have a squad to match – and not bleat about having ‘too many’ fixtures – no doubt Jose will be moaning fit to burst
still, as Forever pointed out, it could throw a spanner in the engine of even the richest of our rival clubs
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but the spuds fixture was meant to screw with arsenal’s high ambitions……. had the game gone wrong for us wed have media and fans shooting at arsenal for being out of two comps and then would have upped the pressure for epl and europe…
high ambitions i dont mean “high budgets” ….. our team/club is set up to go for everything based on philosophy, elite level, quality players, training , professionalism…we exist to go for everything at the highest of levels of the sport etc etc…. but if you give us spurs in one round liverpool the next round, united next and then chelsea and then you have to play all these guys again for the league every three days and then factor in the european fixtures……..lol..what kind of squad woudl you need for all that? 3 times the galacticos in quality and cost? is that doable/reasonable?
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I smell something very fishy and it ain’t that pistolero from end of an era. C•••s.
Then again, we have had similar fishy schedule assigned to us year after year. It’s nothing new.
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Lovely stuff Paul & well done to my friend in the North….S’alright ere..innit?..
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happy anniversary POSITIVELY ARSENAL!
the most insightful gooner blog on the planet bar none!
well done PG et al & keep going strong.
Absolutely love the spirit/vibe in the camp
We are looking truly capable of some special things this season.
And Abou has not even added his bit
Upwards & onwards Gooners
nice one ZP
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nice list there DC….
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Happy Birthday, PA.
I’d give Wenger a percentage of shares for what he’s done for the club. That there are people still bitching about his wage, boggles my damn mind.
OT: Florida put Medical Cannabis on the ballot for the 2014 elections. What what..
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The Spuds fixture ‘was meant to screw us’ ????
Funny way to try and screw us – send the mob from up the road with a terrible record at the Grove who had sent yet another manager overboard in the month before the game
Shrewd strategy
But
I can see why it did not work
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All credit here should for those brave enough to write the posts, and for PG to have set up this blog. At the end of an era too.
Everybody happy on the sunshine bus?
I should think so, Positivistas!
The next best thing to AW staying for the foreseeable, would be for a new post from Steww next Saturday morning. We can only hope.
A tough match tonight is in prospect, St. Mary’s away – Arsenal will have to play very well to deserve anything. City only got a point here.
Up the Arsenal!
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Hilarious to see Liverpool fans trying to convince AFC that they are a small club like Coventry City and can’t afford big boy’s prices for tickets.
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COYG!
No Rosicky still, who was magnificent in the Home game*sobs*
Flamteta to start. So, if they’re chasing a goal or a winner in the second half expect one or both of Plodders and Chambo to be thrown on with Carzola to join the mix in the middle.
Arsenal!
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Seems odd for Arse to be playing midweek and NOT be on the tellybox.
Guess I’ll just have to find some streams to wade around in; desperately trying to avoid following the game on Twitter, I’d likely be topping myself by halftime.
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The injury gods, the bastards, have taken tribute from the Saints in recent weeks.
Hopefully the training ground incident does not help the Southampton players with their focus.
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Not a stream, but proper radio commentary on Radio 5 Live Extra. Broken noses can affect breathing. Gnaby with a brace I fancy tonight and strangely pleased to see Monreal start.
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Alternative audio only stream is on the .com show with Muamba as guest
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Live on NBC over here.
Slow start and 0-1. We had looked pretty solid before that even though they had most possession.
Hope we start fizzing the ball around soon.
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We need half time.
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Much better in the last 5 mins of the half. They play such a strong pressing game that has made it difficult to get our normal pacey game going. Reminds me a bit of the Everton game.
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I see. Its one of those pr••k referee nights.
The goal should not have counted. Blind as a bat. Will come through though. I have every belief.. COYG
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Fantastic goal!!!! Great interception by Sagna.
Much better now. Let’s stay on the front foot
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