First up today is Steww
I’ll let you into a secret. Not all of us regard the North London derby as the biggest game of the season. I’ll go further. None of us should regard the North London derby as the biggest game of the season. In fact only Spurs fans should regard the North London derby as the biggest game of the season. For them, beating us became the holy grail. Year after year, season after season the dream of finally winning a match against Arsène’s Arsenal had them tossing and turning at night , feverish in their hopeless dreaming. They knew they would never win anything of significance would never join us at the top table with Europe’s elite, but would live forever in our shadow hoping that one day a lucky shot would bring them a brief transitory moment of joy which they could put onto a DVD and then masturbate in front of for years to come.
Before you rush to unfollow me on Twitter just hear me out. I know that for North Londoners there is a genuine local rivalry going back years, to before Spurs were even a London club in fact, and I respect that. But even if you all decided to take an unlikely interest in the fixture list of Welton Rovers I shouldn’t expect you to suddenly hate Radstock Town or Paulton Rovers. The people of Peasedown St John may be a hissing and a byword in the leafy lanes of lovely Midsomer Norton but I don’t expect the good folk of Hartlepool or Antrim to despise them just because we higher evolved people have an ancient rivalry with the thumbless mutants from up on Bath hill. The point is that nowadays Arsenal is supported on a global level, and while we all enjoy seeing a silly side like Spurs getting stuffed they aren’t the real enemy for much of the fan-base. The truly despised team for me has historically always been Manchester United.
There are some who have moved away from Man United, preferring Chelsea as the demons du jour . There are people who tell me I despise whoever is at the top of the league simply because that is a place I regard as rightfully ours, that my feelings stem from jealousy at another’s success. You can psychoanalyse it all you like but the simple truth is that along with huge swathes of the football supporting population I have never ever liked Man United and there has been a deep seated rivalry between us and them for as long as I can recall. When I used to watch matches on television, before being forced from that medium by the appalling one eyed agenda driven drones spewing their pro United bias from the commentary box, I would record the United game. This wasn’t so that I could rewatch it over and again but so that I could fast forward through any of their possession and thereby minimise my exposure to them and their horrible players. I have always struggled to watch them and as Ferguson’s grip on the referees and the British media and football establishment in general reached its apogee it became all but impossible for me so to do.
Of course post Ferguson they have become a whole lot more entertaining to watch. Granted there is still Rooney’s presence to turn your stomach and that grey haired old man they sometimes wheel out up front is an off putting spectacle. I still wouldn’t recommend watching them whilst eating, but they have shed the indigestive collective of Evra, Vidic, and Ferdinand in recent times and that has helped lessen their toxicity enormously. It doesn’t hurt that they can go out and lose to the likes of Milton Keynes either.
The problem is that even in their wildly unpredictable current condition they seem to exert some kind of malicious hoodoo over us. Remember Old Trafford last season? We had never been better set to humble them in their own home until a mystery virus meandered through our squad on the morning of the match. The home side were effectively playing against a team shambling about in hospital gowns – those that could be dragged out of bed to actually take the field did their best but the result had a horrible predictability about it once we’d heard of the contagion in our ranks.
This time around neither side is in the best of nick, either can lose to anybody but unlike us they don’t look really capable of beating very many teams either. At our best even in this stop start season we could take them apart. Unfortunately we could also dominate possession and lose to a couple of quick counter attacks, it’s an outcome which we don’t want to consider today. A lot of people are predicting a very open game based on both sides having a loose hinged back door allied to attacking mentalities. Of course that entirely ignores the fact that Arsène will want to tighten up the defensive side of our game having seen us pegged back from winning positions in recent matches. I’m excited at the prospect of Theo’s continuing recovery and were he not suffering with his groin, he might have been expected to start in place of Sanchez who will be eating his breakfast while the rest of the squad are having their supper. Or something. I take my holidays an hour down the road at Brean so I’m not all that clear on jet lag, what it is or how it affects people. With Welbeck knackered wasting his talent playing in a pointless international, Giroud not match fit, and Sanogo just back from injury I haven’t a clue who will start up front. Sadly it is atrocious luck with injuries which once again will define our season. Not the manager. Not the tactics, the training, the referees, the opposition’s spending power but pure and simple rotten luck.
It’s hard to bear but for today’s match it is rendered almost irrelevant as the opposition have had their fair share of injuries too. Nowhere near as disruptive as ours nor over such a long period but when you look at the side they cannot field today it does look as if the playing field may be a little more level than usual. The Mirror even goes so far as to provide us all with a graphic. Funny, I can’t recall journalists making such a song and dance about the way injuries have destroyed our title challenge season after season but then, Arsenal aren’t the media darlings that United have always been.
Today I shall be watching the entire thing from the kick off and I hope that we can stick it to Mike Riley, The FA, Sky the BBC et al and take their favourites to pieces. If Giroud really is fit enough to start and can hit the ground running I believe we have more than enough to beat them even with the players we will be missing. He has been the grease in our gears since he arrived, at the heart of so many of our best moves and very best goals. A massively underrated player, who has the prefect first touch, the vision, the selfless team play and a pretty good eye for goal but above all he keeps the ball moving. So much of our attacking play has looked faltering without him. Oh, and he’s pretty handy defending corners and other set pieces which I have to admit would be no bad thing.
So chin up Positivistas, today is, for me, and many other non London based Arsenal fans, the big one. Can we win? Of course. We can win any game, the script hasn’t been written yet and this Arsenal team hasn’t shown what it is really capable of yet this season. This evening would be a perfect time to start.
And now we have Andrew @anicoll5 , (don’t tell me this blog is on the decline !)
The cyber static clears, the media can break from its incessant clatter for a moment, the blogocracy can wind its collective neck in in anticipation, and that instant of hush caused by another football contest, and one that is traditionally between the two biggest clubs in the country, and usually a highlight of the season’s fixtures for both clubs. While I rely on the figures produced elsewhere this is the 200th league game between the clubs, stretching back to a 3-3 draw between Woolwich Arsenal and Newton Heath on the 13th October 1894.
And into the silence, albeit a short silence until the noise starts up again, I come with my three ha’pence worth. Let me illuminate the scene tonight, as I see it;
It seems to me a long time since the final whistle blew in South Wales. The opportunity finally arrives to right the wrongs of the Liberty, to set our compass for the Pole and stride onwards. To open our eyes and our minds to the joy of football, and more particularly Arsenal football, again.
A wet day in London and likely to remain so to kick off and through the game. And what therefore can we expect to see as Mr Michael Leslie Dean, hops, skips and a puff of his shiny pink cheeks at 5.30 p.m. Our first meeting with the Wirral whistler this season I see, which just goes to prove you can’t keep a good man down.
I shall not stray into the statistics that attempt to measure the event and predict the future based upon the arithmetical measurement of previous events. As Rich so eloquently explained this week( I think), statistics are right about 50% of the time, and wrong 50% of the time. I will not ponder who ill be deemed fit and remain fit until 7.20 p.m. , and who will not. We all have our favourite players and hypothetical starting line up, an infinite jigsaw of flair and steel. You are a well informed bunch and know enough to make your own minds up.
Both sides come into the game below full strength but with more than enough good and experienced footballers, particularly in the attacking departments to ensure that it will not end 0-0. I do not however ser a lot of goals. The handbrakes will be on, the result of paramount importance for both sides.
Both sides have had at various times in recent weeks, against the Belgians for us, against Leicester for our visitors, a dose of the ‘yips’ that embarrassed both clubs, players, manager and fans. For me that suggests that today there will be less concentration on the high pressing game we have tried this season, Mikel will tackle more and run less, more care taken of possession and no time on the ball or for self indulgence. Again that suggests the scoreboard will not click over more than once or twice.
I sense however it will be our afternoon. We are physically stronger this year, slightly cleverer, and at home. The Ems will rock, as it always does on big game afternoons. And it will bring our first win since Sunday 1st May 2011. What will make the difference, where does he spark of confidence come from ?
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
So said the immortal Vince Lombardi. It is wisdom and a message I think that our players have grasped and can put into practice in the undeniably tight contest tonight.
Positively Arsenal 
Let a hundred flowers bloom (banned smiley flower)
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Let that be a lesson to you losers of faith.Eh? EH !!!!
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2 fantastic posts for the price of one,Stews always said he hates United more than anyone else,for me it’s Chelsea-rotten from top to bottom,anyway,like Andrew I fancy us today,it feels like it’s time.
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Excellent blogs both. Honestly I don’t know what to expect from our team given the injuries and disruptions. Cautiously optimistic.
PS: George – This is a blog of quality not quantity. Ignore the noise.
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Andy Nic as deep play-maker, Steww as attacking 10. Who said George wasn’t flexible, didn’t do tactics?
Despite the media noise, it looks to me as if we are worse hit than them on the injury front when it comes to key players, and I fear that their midfield of Fellaini, Di Maria, Rooney and Dean will be slightly too much for Ramsey, Wilshere, Oxlade and Alexis..
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Blimey
2-0 for positively Arsenal this morning!!
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Bookies still offering 5-2 against a Man U win despite the selection of Dean. If I were a neutral punter, I’d be very tempted by that.
(Great cartoon in the Guardian this morning with the punch line : “Alright, fine – let’s say it’s half full. Still not ideal, is it. . ?”
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See if that works;
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/cartoon/2014/nov/22/2#zoomed-picture
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The four basic personality types
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you wait all morning for a post and two blinders come along at once.I obviously owe everyone big apologies.
I am always nervous before big games so these post are my valium to be honest. Everytime i think about a close game being deceided by dean or the ball being pinballed against van traitor and shrek and accidently ending in our net or a totally out of charactor wonderstrike by smalling, I just have to come back on here and believe about the wonderful talent in our squad.
I have seen many teams come to us who have had the indian eye over us and all of them have eventually been felled on wonderful afternoons with resugent ARSENAL teams. I have noticed this current squad has a bond and a wealth of personallity that I havent seen in years and years and that is one of the ingrediants for sucess so COYG lets rip!!!!
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It’s a weird one. In spite of their obvious efforts to undermine AFC by “buying all the players” I dislike Abu Dhabi City less then the other odius ones.
Talking with friends yesterday, we agreed with Mel, Gazprom are the real stinker. But, then, it is Man Utd. Steww will be happy to hear that growing up in N.London I was singing songs about Utd before I even knew who they were. Kenyon is a parasite upon or involved with both horrible clubs. I find I can just lump them all together into the same bin as Dave Whelan, Leeds, etc. they don’t deserve any special treatment.
Because it’s Arsenal FC
The greatest team the world has ever seen
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Come on Arsenal!
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Spurs fan in peace….
I did chuckle at your take on the nld rivalry cause it’s basically true… A draw at your turf feels like the highlight of our year, which really is a sad thing lol.
I’d much rather see the gunners win the league than anyone else. City, Chelsea are only where they are cause of money and that really pisses me off. Where as you guys play good football and don’t go spending 50m on players for your bench!
Peace
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Fins, I found a ticket on the exchange for Dortmund! Let me know if you fancy a pre-match pie. I am excited as I think it is the biggest match so far of the season (after MU, of course in deference to Steww–and I agree that MU are the real historical enemy, while Chelsea are an odious but doped up upstart).
But all that must wait: business to handle today. I hope Anicoll is correct. It would be a good time for an Arsenal win over that lot. Sanchez to break the deadlock of 0-0 at 78′.
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But if there is poetic justice, Danny Welbeck gets a cool brace!
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Predictions! You guys are bold.
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Like London buses. Wait forever for one and then two come along at once!
Great stuff fellas, excellent reads!
We should do it today……
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i fancy us… not via any racket scientist analysis… just that i always do before any game…. I was really down with that Swansea winner for a few days cos i really felt we could haw avoided it since it was not so spectacular a header or anything inline the first goal…. Am bouncing back and fancy us for the 3 points and teams above us for draw or loss… my usual position on a match day!
Well written steww and Andrew…Typically as a non London fan I also dislike man u and Chelsea (cos of Jose – probably more than usual) more than spurs
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Found a great Russian stream, hope it holds up for the whole game. The middle aged men in sweaters just said something like Манчестер Юнайтед сосать задницу and I’m not going to argue
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Great start
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Jack should have scored.
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We have had a number of very clear chances, but we are passing and pressing really well. Infinitely the better team. A shame we haven’t gone two or three up. We owe them a good spanking but I would grudgingly settle for one nil.
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Very good performance first half – more of that and we shall collect our proper reward
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Literally incomprehensible commentators are usually to be preferred, Steww.
I like the way we defend.
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Half-time. We should be in the lead – Jack missed a great chance to tap it to Alexis – get your head up, lad 🙂
United came more into into it the last 15 minutes. RvP very quiet – do I not like that!
The other highlight was Ollie’s barnet – good to see he’s got the priorities right.
Anyone else think Danny’s trying too hard?
Ox is a revelation the last few games – really showing some consistency – no doubt it comes from the confidence from his manager in starting him regularly.
Why is Theo not on the bench?
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According to twitter we need to score. And who said social media wasn’t a wonderful fountain of wisdom and knowledge.
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We have been very sharp, creating chances and should have scored. How good is Arteta? We look so secure at the back. Hope I don’t jix him.
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Steww @ 6:24pm – Most twitters simply think you can will a goal.
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Good energy but some of ours are displaying their inexperience. Utd’s there for the taking.
Looks like a game that could be a blow out but we’ve let them off that hook.
Oh well, on to the 2nd stanza…
COYG!!!!!!
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Hate to say it but someone with Podolski’s calm in front of goal would have had a field day today.
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Not in the script that one was it?
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Just our rotten luck. 2 injured players in 5 minutes.
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Couldn’t make it up could you? No free kick never mind card for the foul on Jack, Gibbs shoved in the back by Fellaini causing Szezzer’s injury. Fuck our luck but the fuck the officials more.
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Saw the replay of the injury on Jack. Clear foul by McNair.
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Possession something like 60/40, shots our 20 to their 10. Clear domination. Couple of seconds of bad luck and bad refereeing and here we go again. It’s Denilson’s fault.
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One shot on goal by Manure, two goals. That is not a bad defence.
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I am proud of our players today, I am pleased with our performance throughout the evening. I feel for young Kieran – no doubt there is some statistical formula that explains that coming together with the ball but the mathematics that will produce the formula are several centuries away.
Sanchez and the Ox tie for my MoM
Even Dean was reasonable
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Man Utd have 2 goal-scoring opportunities and score once, not counting the deflection off Gibbs. We fail on several and fall behind and have to press for an equalizer. Is there any mystery there?
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I saw this coming. It’s always something against the fucking Mancs.
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Jack’s injury looked horrible.
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Over on Twitter and in the media, fans and pundits have fun slaughtering our defending when it had nothing to do with our losing. We need to convert our chances at a much higher rate, period.
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The team generally defended very well. Two goal scoring opportunities. Next to no killer passes but we dominated the game. Dramaturgically, the game was a huge let down because we were so on top. I am sure you can blame Wenger for something, but what? We were unlucky. Nobody died.
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We really need to working on finishing in a tight defense… this is the kind of thing that make talks of doing tactics come up… I should expect that with such an inexperienced defence, it was clear that man u were set up to conter; Although the players on the field were good enough to have done better!
Sanchez and Ox did not pass once or twice when they should have… decision making comes into play and you cant really blame the coach for that… then there is the unfortunate own goal. for me Gibbs being a little more aware ought not to have gone for that! he was right in front of our goal and his keeper was already down injured! the little things… i trust the team gets mentally stronger for this loss and forget about the officials giving them a break… they should be used to that by now! i thought fellani was of side for the goal apart from clattering Gibbs into WS1
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Great goal from Giroud. Very good to have him back so early. Is this thanks to Forsythe? They say the players recuperate and return faster. Hopefully we should soon have Walcott back to add killer pace past the 70 minute mark. Weird shit happens. We might see Diaby.
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the better (by a mile) team lost..onwards and upwards.
i feel wilshere is putting too much pressure on himself..he must start realizing he is a fucking super star of a player and that he doesnt need to prove jackshit to anyone..this is second time his simple 1v1 has cost us a big match..on the other hand he scores a peach against city to salvage the game for us..
the whole team played fucking brilliantly..we were screwed over by the referees yet again..and also our own ineptness to score.
may arsene save us.
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Execution is critical in high level football. Criticize him you will but Rooney shows Jack and DiMaria hpw to convert when one on one with the keeper.
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Just on my way home and you have l summed up the game above quite well!
Rooneh, who was well shackled for pretty much the whole game apart from his break finishes his one on one. Arsenal missed theirs
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How anyone can not understand what Arteta brings to the table after that game of football is beyond me. Sure he’s not perfect, but he was head and shoulders above his former Everton teammate. Not even a debate.
The real shame about this game was the hack on Jack. I think that we saw a midfield three of Arteta behind Wilshere and Ramsey have their best performance (I guess) together till Jack came off, which caused a little bit of disruption before the first goal.
It’s coming. Maybe not in time for Wednesday. But it’s coming!
I’d like to see a little bit of rotation for that game simply because the intensity of these games, it is, intense!
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They parked the bus and had 3 CBs, no team has it easy against that sort of strategy even with a fully fit squad. When we tried to attack through the middle the area was congested and the players tried too many long-range shots. When we worked the ball wide there werent enough people or height in the box to make it count. Decision making let us down when the chances eventually appeared(Özil sorely missed in that respect) and they hit us on the counter. Bad luck, no more, no less.
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…you have all summed up the game…
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On twitter the same muppets who said Giroud is not good enough blame defending for our loss.
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