A pleasure to be reminded this morning that the return of domestic football is not too far away with the release of the PL fixtures.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the World Cup, even as an England fan, but international football does not have that total grip of Arsenal and the daily twists and turns of PL football. It does not have the means of inciting the same exquisite pain as following Arsenal.
I thought I’d have a look at the ten opening games and a possible 30 points in the bag. Lets face it by 1st November we will know if it is three more glorious years or back to marching, turquoise snoods and civil war.
We start with a visit from the nutcase with the drum on the 16th August. I am attending a wedding that day so that clears me of any responsibility for murdering the bastard. Assuming Mr Taylor is not handed the whistle we should get our domestic campaign underway with a positive result and some momentum. Next up A trip to Merseyside and the chance to make amends for the recent disappointment at Goodison in April that nearly, nearly, spoiled a good season. Will Lukaku still be there …… or even Coleman ? Who knows –who cares. I think we can assume that the Everton game will be televised.
Leicester, who apparently did not like it up ‘em, or was that us? I have no idea but I suspect of the three promoted teams it is the Foxes who will struggle most. We shall run the fox down and the hounds tear the quivering vermin to pieces.
And then the great blue Satan, at home. A real serious test of our, and Citeh’s, League credentials. No hiding place.
A ticket to the Citeh game somewhere has my name on it, the fixture falling closest to my the 50th anniversary of my first game at Highbury.
Villa away ? Three points, Spuds at home ? Well conceivably they will make a game of it though about six games into the season it seems reasonable to anticipate the N17 faithful will be calling for the head of Pochettino.
And then, the weekend of the 4th October, Chelsea – Stamford Bridge – no hiding place for them, and their new signing, and none for any Arsenal player – no sir – not that day.
Hull, S’nlunn, Burnley ? Ppppppfffffff !
So 30 points in the bag ?
Well that would be a tall, tall order. We do however possess the tools, we must make sure that we do the job.
Right, you can get back to the World Cup now, Lawrenson and all !
Today’s dose of positivity was brought to us courtesy of @anicoll5
Positively Arsenal 
Gwan Oli G! I’m glad for Djourou that he got away with that one, but it’s probably only a temporary let off.
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Just as I predicted! Giroud showing the AFC moaners that he can be world class too – and where did he get that burst of speed from?
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Giroud clears the header from the header, SPRINTS clear, receives the pass from Benzema, sprints halfway up the pitch and plays a perfect cross for MV. Showing off his all round game.
A good debut in the World Cup.
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****!
‘…clears header from corner…’
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I’m convinced that this is what we would have seen from Giroud last season if he had Theo alongside him. It’s amazing what a bit of confidence can do for a player.
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Giroud is ours and he is a man inspired tonight. He looks meaner and trimmer too.
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“This is just my take on things, but i imagine balotelli isn’t that smitten with playing for the national team. Given the amount of racist shit he has had to deal with from his own country folk.”
I get that possibility, but the new Arsenal carries no passengers, so I was a little disappointed that he seemed to give up so easily and resorted to petty fouls on the defenders in between strolling around or becoming increasingly static. For a striker who can allegedly make something out of nothing unlike OG as we are constantly told, he did very little to try to make something happen when he was not getting the service.
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Good example today of why Mario is moving for the third time to a new club this Summer
When things are going to shit on the field where’s Mario ?
Admittedly a poor Italian performance but where was the effort Mario, where was the heart ?
I cannot imagine why anyone watching the World Cup would put Baliotelli ahead of Campbell
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Nice dummy from Benzema !
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Paul N, I love his all around game and maybe that could work. Certainly worth a try in pre-season. He can pass and likes to tackle/intercept.
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Let’s not forget that OG is well rested too. He didn’t play against bruising Honduras. Get another striker to rest and play with OG and he’ll be even better.
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anicoll and Passenal;
As has been stated many times, by Mr Wenger amongst others, a world cup is a really poor way to judge a player, both positively and negatively.
I am sure Mesut has been accused of exactly the same misdemeanours by so called fans and pundits, during his fledgling Arsenal career,. yet most of us (if not all( recognise and value his qualities and attributes.
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Same thing applied to Thierry. He wasnt particularly well received for his 98 world cup performances, or during his time at Juventus either. He was accused of being a lazy, uncommitted and a bit of a flash git.
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France switched off there at the end, fortunately for them they were far enough ahead that Switzerland couldn’t make them pay. The Swiss are usually so mean defensively that was a real surprise to see them concede so freely. Were the French really that good or were the Swiss having an off day?
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I should just like to unreservedly castigate the referee for blowing his whistle and ending the game a couple of seconds before Benzema knocked in a final goal.
This is yet another craven example of a corrupt referee using so called ‘time’ to influence a match at the behest of Sepp Blatter
Clearly technology – a clock for example – would stamp out these outrages
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Hahahahahaha. Giroud with the afterburners. Great game from him.
I hope that Swiss player is alright. I’m so conditioned to expect the worst possible outcome from injuries that I automatically thought Giroud had popped his eyeball.
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That is a shame for the Swiss player Gains. I did not realise he was that badly hurt.
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Dex, I know better than to write someone off on the basis of one game. It doesn’t stop me being disappointed in their performance on a particular day, which is what I meant. I know the club will not buy a player on the basis of one performance, so if they decide to invest they will have watched him many times and know what he has to offer the team. Just because I haven’t seen it yet, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not there. We’ll find out soon enough.
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Yeah, he apparently slit his eyelid open.
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It’s likely that France is going to face Bosnia in the second round. That’s going to be a smashing game. Pjanic is an awesome little player.
Lordy, not one minute into the game and this Honduras v Ecuador is already a hackfest.
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I wonder how many of them will be left on the pitch at the end?
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Anyone can have a bad game, but like anicoll said – where was the effort? If it’s not working out, you fall back on hard work and helping your teammates. That doesn’t change whether you’re in or out of form or however the team is set up.
Arsene will probably sign him now just to annoy me. (banned smiley face)
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The Swiss bloke got a kick under the eye and what was said on the TV was that he had been taken to hospital for x rays for fracture of facial orbit/eye socket which is quite nasty.
If you feel your facial bones under your eye they are thick so breaking them takes a lot of energy – thicker than your skull
I doubt OG caught him hard enough to fracture it as he hit him side on but a very nasty bruise
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FG
Didnt you read the memo about NOT judging a player’s worth at a national tournament?
Pffft!
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Wow 2 unexpected goals to liven up this game and make it about more than the ‘robust’ tackling!
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City is such a cool last name.
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Costly
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Perhaps Diego should change his!
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I wrote a comment agreeing with Anicoll, but managed to erase it.
Anyway, I agree.
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About the original article.
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Swiss player Von Bergen did have his face bone fractured – out of World Cup and on his way home
Ouch
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I knew he was really hurt by the way he went to ground. Poor guy.
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That is unfortunate for the player. Hopefully he’ll be ready for the start of his season. Probably was a yellow for OG?
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I erased a comment about the usefulness of clocks earlier, weather vanes and old father time leaving the officials to get on with the game. I don’t think it was a funny as these quotes attributed to AW as he commentated on the France Switzerland game:
Commentator ” why this last goal wasn’t counted”
Wenger ” because the referee has a swiss watch”
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so many overrated players in this tournament. i dont think higuain can give us what giroud give all round. how much is di maria again?
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Clear penalty denied to Iran. Brave defending and a great chance for Reza headed straight to the keeper, unfortunately. I love an underdog.
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Lol! Fins, AW is such a wit!
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Where’s the yellow for Gago?! This ref is bent.
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Iranian defence very calm and in control – Zabaleta is a lucky boy
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Iran deserve a goal. Valiant team.
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Strolls about for 89 minutes like he is taking part in a a kick about in the park – then puts in the 5 second stint to win the game.
Bloody hell
Iran a great performance
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if messi can single handedly drag this team to q-final, it will be as good as winning the cup in my book. i have never seen a team as one man as this. so many big for nothing players in this argentina team
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layksite @ 6:59 pm – Frankly i don’t see Argentina going further than quarter finals with this over-reliance on Messi. Aguero and Higuain are not comfortable drifting wide and being water carriers for Messi. Can’t imagine them being benched for Lavezzi or Palacios who are better suited for that role. Argentina’s midfield is not good enough to control the tempo of the game and send through balls to Messi. When Mascherano is your best passer that is quite an indictment. Finally their defense and goalkeeper are very suspect.
The only redeeming value of their game today was putting to bed the notion that Higuain is a super player. Give me Giroud any day of the week and seven-times on Sunday.
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Messi? Meh.
Very unlucky Iran.
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The Boateng brothers on opposing teams tonight? Very cool.
Should be a tough game for ze Germans.
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No need to even mention Higuain’s reasonably consistent injury problems…
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Actually Argentina’s keeper had to have a good game and made the save of the tournament to tip Dejagah’s wonderful header just over.
Horrible ref. clear penalty denied to Iran. Deserved a point. As I said above: valiant.
Argentina have an easy group in moderate conditions, with an easy path to the semis, so they will likely grow in this tournament. But there is no way to say they have been impressive.
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shotta
messi really dont need a water carrier. all that is expected of them is to do their bits. i mean, higuain cant even put in a decent cross when under no pressure from any iranian players. i saw the great assist by giroud yesterday, it was just as perfect as any ball by ozil.
zabaleta? will only bench sagna based on his reputation at shity. that will only last for a few months before bac takes his place.
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Another upset coming down the road here ? Ghana playing well enough – defences on top so far.
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That pass from Özil to Lahm just now deserved a finish.
I agree with Gains’ thoughts on this German set up.
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What a superb contest !
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Have to give credit to the players, great stuff from both sides.
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