A guest post from Seebs.
While lofty butt cheeks is getting all the press for making the squad for chelski in a game of no consequence our plethora of youngsters was taking on the turkish champions and giving them a good thanksgiving to be honest.
Bulat the turkish keeper started with a full head of hair and was clean shaven however after several Poldolski rockets, including one that broke the back of the net in the opening minutes, he was bald with the hair ending up round his chin giving him the appearance of a beard. Of course the ever increasing lunacy of Paul merson suggesting the keeper should of saved it even though it was measured at 473 MPH.
The youthful team had Bellerin starting at left back and Chambers in the middle and further infused with the young Sanogo, Campbell and the Ox. With the more experienced heads helping them along the gunners went further ahead through Aarons left foot after a clumsy Poldolski challenge wasn’t punished and the Ox carried the ball from the centre circle to the edge of the box before feeding Aaron. Although we didn’t know Aaron was only warming his weak foot up as from a Campbell corner after the ball was headed away from the area he scored a world class goal that even our biggest critics are creaming over.
We had other chances but at half time it was 3-0 and after the break both teams reappeared having made two changes. Aaron and Flamini both being taken off as a precaution after both complaining of minor knocks. Maitland -Niles and Zelalem coming on and performing well although galatasaray started to come back in it and in the end had about 30 attempts although I can’t remember Sczceney having much to do and he was only beaten after an excellent Sneider free kick that sailed past him. Not to be outdone the ever youthful Lukas P. decided to dance around a few defenders play a one two with Yaya and finish with his weak foot just to match Aaron. The second half also saw the introduction of Stephan O’Conner for his debut after the returning Debuchy ran out of puff in an impressive display.
So 4-1 away from home in the ultra-competition qualifying for the knock out stages for the 103rd straight year that’s not bad thanks for the new memories Arsene because according to Bredon and Mancheni (and the wob brigades GG who failed against benfica) it’s not that easy. Yeah there were better results we could of hoped for to put us top but once again all the teams finishing top of their respective groups will not want to play us.
P.S. There may have been a few exaggerations in this post however I tend to do that when, in the words of the great JB, I feel good !!!
Positively Arsenal 
I’ve carried this forward.
HenryB
December 10, 2014 at 6:08 pm Edit
When I saw the team roster last night, I confess that I thought, momentarily, that the boss had decided to take a time out as regards putting out the strongest possible team to face Galatasaray, and to simply ride out the inevitable storm, by letting some key players take a much needed break, after the traumatic game against Stoke, which itself had followed closely on from an undeserved and against the run of play loss to a crap United team.
But I need not have feared. The old Wenger magic came to the fore, and he surprised many of us, including this writer, by constructing a winning belt and braces team containing 5 players not always seen as first choice in the first team, or returning from lengthy injury, and brilliantly supplemented them with some rising cream from the youth system.
Writing after the event, there will no doubt be those who will dismiss and pooh pooh such an emphatic score by saying that Gala were a poor side who were not interested in playing a dead rubber, but the muscular fouling and diving displayed by their players did not convince me for one that there was nothing to play for.
These guys, having gone down 0 : 1 and 0 : 2 early on, were playing for their pride – no one likes being stuffed at home by a supposedly poor Arsenal team, shorn of 12 key players thru injury, and needing a rest after hitting the red zone with so many Xmas and New Year games looming, and whose own fans (some of them) were already writing them off – again.
Among the players keen to take the opportunity to show the fans and the manager that they were worthy contenders for a regular first team role, were Campbell (almost a ‘who he?’ this season) and the under-used Pod (he of the dynamite left peg) — and they did not let us down.
Rambo another player who has struggled to match last season’s stunning performances seemed to have upped the ante, and showed us that he never gives up with a storming display, starting with an incisive pass to Podolski in the third minute, and – wow – that left peg blasted a goal, and if the net had not got in the way, the ball would have gone into orbit such was the power that left their Keeper groping thin air.
Fists punched the air, an overwhelming screech of ‘yeeeesss’ greeted the German’s insouciant strike – at least mine did – and the feeling crept up on me that this could be a turning point in our season. Don’t know why – but these things are not always susceptible to rational reasoning – they just are!.
But following up swiftly there was more to come, this time another player showing his true worth, Oxo, picked up the ball after an admittedly rare tackle by the Pod which dispossessed Camdal, and then slipped it through to Rambo, who galloped on, then checked his stride and dabbed an exquisite little ball past the keeper to make it 0 : 2. Could this get any better? was my delirious thought process.
Oh, yes, it could!
These excellent goals were just the appetisers, the entrée, if you will, to the spectacular main course scoring crescendo of this or any game.
Campbell took another fairly innocuous corner and it was headed out to Rambo standing some 30 + yards out from goal, and he unleashed the most beautifully controlled volley which flashed into the net before the Keeper could hitch up his jock-strap.
Note that – it was not struck on the half-volley – it was a perfectly timed strike taking the ball while it was only 6 inches from the ground. Bang!
Stunning – magnificent – breath-taking, name it what you will!
Even Rambo’s Arsenal team mates were gob smacked at the sheer ferocity and composed brilliance he had displayed.
Going into half time, we heard that Dortmund were only drawing 0 : 0 and another 3 goals would take us top of the group. After that first half performance who was to say that another 3 goals was not possible?
In the event it was not to be, Rambo and Flamini were subbed by two more of our gifted youngsters, Maitland-Niles and Zelalem who conducted themselves very well indeed, but instructions may have been issued to calm the game down, and keep a clean sheet,.
When a tiring Debouchy had to go off, a 17 y.o O’Connor came on at right back to strut his stuff.
Therefore we did not get the chance to see Akpom come on for his debut, which many of us had wanted, but what a marvellous blend of youth and experience we were treated to in this game.
If the referee had not had a brainstorm and given a ridiculous free-kick on the edge of the box, and allowed an admittedly brilliant shot from Schneider, we would have kept yet another clean sheet, Bugger!
But then up popped Podolski and despite having his shirt tugged and evading a futile attempt to trip him, he smoothly slipped the ball into the net to make it 1 : 4.
Sublime!
However you call it, that game and the selection of the players called up to the team was a master stroke by AW, and he keeps hitting back at his detractors, even when his back is to the wall.
Long may it continue.
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Glad i was able to catch portions of the game.. really enjoyed it… someone other than gala is due a full blown beat 8-0 style… we are building up to it
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Seebs,
A very good review, and much the same as I saw it.
My apologies for my rambling comment – I did not know you were writing yours — I started writing a one para comment, and somehow it became far too long — it won’t happen again!
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Henry, If you want you can have my Email and write as often as you like?
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Fuck, all we need now is to get an easy second round draw and that’ll give us time until the other wounded players come back.
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Henry, thanks for the comment but after reading your post I wish yours would have gone up first its much better written. It was a shame we couldn’t make 7subs and seen all the youngsters.
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Gervais causing City problems but still 0-0
Lots of ex-Arsenal players involved in both squads
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Someone mentioned aneke in the last thread. in case they missed it:
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Short and sweet from Seebs. That was as pleasant as I felt today after that enjoyable game last night. Watching so much potential on the pitch is one massive reason why I feel I am priviledged to be witnessing these Wenger years. No other manager has the balls to blood so many youngsters at this level and so frequently. I’m sure you also savour it, screw the doomers…..
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http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=548396
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Careful gainsbourg69 – the accepted line on this blog is that there are no easy draws in the last 16. Which is true enough – but some seem less difficult than others.
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And – not very positive I know, but … – experience shows that the returning wounded will very likely be replaced on the treatment table by some of those not currently injured.
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Just read some of the comments from yesterdays Telegraph piece by Wilson. Excellent stuff from a guy called John Souttar. I think George should sign him up.
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So, using my expert eye (please don’t laugh) I’m happy to guess based upon just two games (Roma X Bayern 7 odd; Roma 0 Citeh 2) that Manolas was not the top drawer LCB that AFC were looking for.
I think of all the players out there available that we’ve seen play this year that were even vague considerations only Alderweld (can play midfield too) has impressed and that’s a name I haven’t heard the hear the Expert Groaners groan. And inspite of those who think that Vermaelan had serious flaws I believe Toby is behind Tommy when fit for the Belgium coaches – Pre-injury Vermaelan was obviously considered to be a very good player by the Belgium and also the Barca coaches. it’s why they shelled out so much for the player who’d had some bad injury problems – few CBs play at the level that Vermaelan or Koscielny reach when we’ve seen them at their best.
I guess AFC are looking for a LCB who can play at that level or has that potential.
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Corr.:
toby alderweireld
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Fins: I think Geoffrey Kondogbia is the man we are looking for.
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As for the legend of D**M?
Even though it was Ramsey who took his box to box standard CM role I believe Song wrote himself out of the running, he could’ve been Arteta’s heir if he had kept his head, and (whisper it) a different agent…
There are three teenagers at the club who can play there:
Hayden who debuted against West Brum in the role. Very impressive at CB against Southampton.
Chambers, but I think we are looking at Per’s heir here. Could be wrong. Those opening games at CB for the kid were staggering, opposite top players too. My guess is that as with the younger Thuram AW wants him to get in some minutes at RB?
And last but not least Ainsley Maitland-Niles. As Ian noted there was no hype from our media, as opposed their coverage of those poor kids who will never play at the petro-clubs. But that could be a good thing too, for the Arsenal player.
Obviously Hayden and Niles are complete rookies. But they look like they have some decent potential. We guess there may be a signing there too, I think Flamini’s contract is only till May? Odds are another senior will come in at some point. For me the D**M of AFC is not as bleak as some have chosen to believe.
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Old Jeffers impressed during the pre-season friendlies. You saw him live FH?
Problem is he’s at Monaco at they may be just a leeeeetle bit reluctant to trade or do business with AW and AFC.
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Or given that he’s at Monaco he might have an agent who’s not willing to lose the cut that a transfer to AFC will earn him?
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Kronke and Tapie could just have a krunk & toupe dance off battle in front of the Arsenal letters?
The loser had to deal with the agent.
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Fins: I did see him live but can’t claim any useful knowledge, other than he looked the part. I think, if I am being honest, it is the name as much as anything that appeals to me. I just like the sound of it. And of course I hadn’t factored in all the reasons why it would be difficult to do the deal, which is why it is probably wise I am not in charge of transfers.
More importantly, thanks for the constant updates on the young players coming through. The fact that there is talent there and that it will get used is one of the joys of the club. Continuity is not for everyone, and certainly not for the impatient, but is an aspect that I love.
Rambling on, I did enjoy the way Campbell played the other night. I can see why his performance was not headline catching, but he does seem to have that happy knack of attracting the ball. He is often involved, and it is perhaps not totally ridiculous to think that he might develop more along the lines of a player like Cazorla than a Podolski.
And as for Podolski, maybe the answer is that when we have 8 players who are rock solid behind him, and a marauding centre forward in front, then he is very much worth his place in the side.
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I see the rumourmill has started for January with the marca saying we’ve had a bid for Silva accepted the only problem is we’ve heard it all before
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Alain Pardew of Nouveauchâteau FC:
“Arsene Wenger has done an unbelievable job at Arsenal and in some ways their stadium should be named after him.”
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Standard technique for an agent to raise a bid: “link player to AFC through one of your sub-contracted hack-dwarfs”. Quote taken from Mendes’ guide How to be a Football Agent for Dummies, Chapter Two, verse One hundred and One.
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You have reminded me Fins my favourite time of the year is near – the window opens – grown men and women become hysterical with excitement, lifelong friendships are fractured on disputes about the quality of a defensive beast from Fiorentina or a nippy winger from Arbroath.
” I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me
libertya really expensive German or give me death!”LikeLiked by 2 people
There’s a great laugh on gunnerblog today, for those who haven’t seen it yet.
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Of course, the problem with the Lucas Silva rumour, even if true, is that with UK work permit rules, he would most probably have to be loaned out to Spain for 3 years because he doesn’t have enough international caps. I think we’ve been down this road before – Campbell, Wellington and others.
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Latest team news for Saturday is not entirely promising on the defensive front. Some ingenuity needed unless it is deliberate disinformation.
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Hehe I think that’s straight from the press conference FH. I hope Hayden is fit to play! I’d like to see how he does. Could he have been more unlucky with the timing of his injury?
Otherwise a FB at CB? We shall see. I expect Debuchy and Gibbs to start at FB.
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If Hayden if fit then I hope he plays – What a pity almost all our fit midfielders are so short though.
A few seasons back when Barcelona were missing defenders the were able to draft in YaYa for a few games and later Busquets to do a temporary centre back job and being very good footballers they did a fine job.
I jus don’t see Santi as a centre back ! I would not rule out Ramsey for the job though – he is about our tallest available midfielder and knows enough to do the job.
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Trying to compose an XI for Saturday. If Hayden is to play might that also signal a start for TR7?
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After several weeks out I can’t see Hayden being ready. Could be Debuchy at CB and Bellerin? Will find out tomorrow.
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Andrew were you thinking of Bender or Khedira above or neither!
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Draxler, Reus, Hummels, Doesn’t matter who Fins – as long as he is expensive €$¥£££££ !
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Maybe Ajayi or O’Connor at CB, or could Wenger surprise us all and play Welbeck at CB
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Schneiderlin sounds quite German, as indeed does Wenger, so might he do for you, Andy?
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that a football club in possession of a good fortune is in need of an (expensive) German midfield beast.
I’m full of this nonsense
We could go BOGOF though, Lars and Sven !
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Very apt Andy. I see there is a small storm brewing between She wore and the gay gooners, so as you suggest we have both Pride and Prejudice.
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Our latest DM doing not too badly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZc6uP_U6Cs
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i think some of the youngsters should be blooded in gradually… it cant just always be about buy buy buy
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Ramsey and Koscielny ruled out of Newcastle game, Leaves us very short in defense and midfield
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A Charlton blog is reporting that Coquelin has returned to Arsneal, maybe he will be in squad tomorrow
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the moaning has begun big time over the headline
WENGER: IF EVERYONE IS FIT WE DON’T NEED TO GO INTO TRANSFER MARKET
But the actual quote is somewhat different but he cult of Wenger out will not notice it
“If everybody is fit and available, we don’t need to go into transfer market but we have to accept Koscielny has a question mark over fitness, so we may have to go into market,”
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Interesting choices across the back line for the Boss tomorrow then ! No word on Hayden either way so perhaps Debuchy in the middle against his old Geordie muckers ?
A start for Poldi too seemed to be hinted at – good man Lukas
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AW: “Defensively, I have 24 hours to think about it. I will find a solution for Saturday..We have to play somebody with no experience or somebody who is not used to playing the position.”
so its a choice of young lads Ajayi or O’Connor and out of position players Debuchy or Gibbs, or a real wildcard Welbeck or Giroud
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eduardo, @ 10:28
If there is any validity in the headline, and Arsene did say something along the lines of – ‘not needing anyone when our injured players are back’ – because let’s face it – who wants to say to the selling club – ‘we are absolutely desperate to buy X, so just name your price, whatever it is, and we will take him.’
When I have gone out to buy something, I wear my poorest looking clothes (well they are all like that, so no problem there) and languidly slide up to the sales dude with my ciggy dangling seductively from my lips (more problematic as I do not smoke – but I can be sexily seductive) and say, in my best ‘couldn’t give a feck’ whisper, ‘I might think of buying something, maybe, perhaps, possibly, if I could be bothered, and if you make me an enticingly tricky little offer I cannot refuse – horse heads excepted’.
That has to be better than; ‘Excuse me your majesty, your sales-ship highness, I have a huge wad of mint fresh cash burning a hole in my pocket that I am just dying to throw into your hot, fat (exquisitely shaped, six fingered) hands, for whatever vehicle you can be assed to sell me, because I am totally desperate to get a ride, and I am also as thick as elephant droppings and would be crappily incapable of negotiating in a closing down sale where every thing must go.’
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Henry, we do note that somehow AFC appear to be consistently paying half the petro club market rate for the likes of Cazorla, Sanchez, Chambers etc. it’s not an accident!
–
I’d put my money on Debuchy moving across. Hayden’s luck just sums up the luck with injuries at the moment. I’m off to head butt a brick wall…
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Hayden and Coquelin both trained today so maybe both are available for selection tomorrow, Ajayi also in training today.
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Thanks Eduardo. Thought Coquelin had a decent outing for his last start at LB, opposite Tadic from Southampton I think that day? I guess he’ll be on the bench.
A midfield three of Chamberlain, Cazorla and Flamini could have fun. I don’t think Chambo will last the ninety after the mid-week game (yes indeed, I’m expecting Expert booing from the Experts when the tired young player, one of my favourites, who’s only recently comeback to full fitness comes off with the Xmas crunch looming, assuming he starts etc.). Rosicky?
With Rambo out there is a chance of minutes for the likes of Podloski, Campbell and hopefully Walcott over the next period.
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Finsbury,
That was my point – Arsene is too cagey and experienced a man and manager to reveal his hand before any negotiation for the transfer of a player.
His record shows he is rather good at matching the player’s skill to the asking price – or more importantly what he is prepared to pay – value for money has always been his creed.
Actually, I think he could well believe that if the injury jinx had not struck shard, that he would not need to go into the transfer market in January, a notoriously difficult month in which to do business, and I am sure that he would prefer to wait until the Summer, when there will be a greater choice, if he deems it necessary.
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