I don’t know where to start, so this might be quite a disjointed ramble. It’s supposed to be the season of goodwill, but I’m not feeling it. Not one little bit.
Once again I don’t intend to give a detailed account of a game you have all seen and who all know enough to form your own opinions of what went right or indeed wrong. So I’ll just give you a feel of how I felt.
Before kickoff I had some good news, Tomas Rosicky was to start. Now, anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge for of the little Mozart. Well he didn’t let me down. He was my man of the match. I thought he and Santi were subline.
Sanchez got MOTM from Alan Smith and at times was unplayable. At other times he was annoying and wasteful. It was clear that Santi was the designated penalty taker and that Alexis pushed him into the shadows and stepped into the limelight. He them proceeded to do an impersonation of Mesut Ozil taking a penalty and rolled the ball to Green. He and Ozil might be our best two players, but neither should be allowed near a penalty kick again. Frankly, it was a pathetic attempt.
Had we gone one up in 7 minutes , the way we were playing, I am convinced the floodgates would have opened and Arsene would have been in a position to make early substitutions and saved some legs for West Ham.
Instead, with only a one goal lead at half time, a moment of utter stupidity in the second minute of the second half, saw Giroud leave the field and the game changed. Now it became more of an even contest and we ended up working hard to the very end.
However, despite the incompetence of the referee in giving a penalty against Debuchy for making an excellent tackle, we won. With 10 men for half the game and some third choice players on the pitch.
Once again despite winning, the usual twitter experts when into meltdown. Moaning that we should have scored double figures and talking bollocks about “in-game management” and poor substitutions.
The thing is that had it been me, I would have left Debuchy at right-back and had Chambers sit slightly in front with Flamini. But that does not mean I think that is what should have been done, I just think thats what I would have done.
It seem to me that no matter what Arsene does, these know-it-alls say he got it wrong. Even if he does what they would have done, they claim he should have done something else.
The bottom line is WE WON. And I cant think of a single player who had a bad game.
Its our job to support the team, not manage it.
Positively Arsenal 
ianspace2014 j
the next two games are going to be extremly difficult, two away games at clubs above us one a derby and still with many players missing. Six points would be a massive show of intent for the second part of the season but in any other season we would probably be happy with four and even content with two. Thats not because of the two teams involved but the form they have showed this season. why would anyone expect 3 points at southampton when we only got a point there last year and the circumstances were more in our favour. i’m not saying i dont think we are more than capable of beating these teams just its not a given.
Alexis passing has been the same all season and i have commented on it many times. I believe the injuries meaning the constant changing of the team has not allowed him to form connections with the rest of the team yet and when he does he has about 25% to add to his game if he doesnt i’ll understand why barca sold him as to them possesion is everything and he plays with the possesion banner hanging on a string
lastly ive got to say old arry got a cheek complaing about Kierans challenge when the ref gave his players so much all game and when you time waste when your 1-0 down you dont derserve anything not only in that game but all season.I can honestly say thats the worst team ive seen all season and they need to thank oliver for not being on the end of an absolute spanking
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cheers George i take so long writing a comment that i always miss the new post.
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We could/should have absolutely spanked the hoops;
Why we didn’t may be down to several factors: weather, luck, a bad ref and most of all a new team formation.
2-1 home win after last weeks away draw. It’s still a decent run of form if nothing spectacular. We could have done with OG’s physical presence for the West Ham game, – I doubt there is any point appealing it, but that was a soft red card.
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At times in the first half the visitors were barely able to get out of their own penalty area and that total mastery we achieved with an injured roster that would provide an excellent starting line up in itself. So I took a good deal of pleasure in the first half. Admittedly Rangers were a shower but you have to play what is in front of you. Their only player who had any quality was Caulker who I have long thought a decent footballer.
As I said yesterday I though Danny looked a bit jaded. I look forward to Theo coming back into contention which should allow for a break for a player who has played a hell of a lot of football these past three months (18 starts since 1st September in case you are wondering). The other good thing about Theo coming back is it will remind fans that Alexis is not the only Arsenal player who can be wasteful in possession. (Banned smiley).
Mozart’s performance was excellent yesterday and, as he said himself, hope Arsene noticed. The man I want to see striding the Upton Park touchline tomorrow is Poldi. A bit of explosive shooting violence will set Sam’s boys on their heels and tomorrow will be a game where the first goal wins it.
Rumours on Kosc coming back for the Ammers?
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and they will have to play their reserve RB as Jenks cant play
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Oh the excuses! We should have had dou le figures, should have spanked them,worst team you have seen! Really, so why didnt you spank us with double figures. Thats football, we defended heroically at times throwing bodies and tackles is, what did ye expect. We left out a number of our starting players as we have palace and burnley up next! Glad we dropped them as we need to stay up! But you obviously have not seen any of our games away from home! We always set up to frustrate and try keep soreline low and then hit hard for the last 15-20 mins! That is what happened and you nearly fluffed it. If anyone is to blame its yourselves. You are not the team of years gone by,clearly still rebuilding so do not insult weaker opposition with this tripe and as for the comment on giroud being a weak red card, it was a headbutt, where is the arguement ya tool! Do not care if he barely touched him, every single player knows its a straight red for that! You won as the writer pointed out so stop moaning! Insulting to read!
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did d qpr guy actually read d post? and if we are to be so thorough abt following d letter of d law how cpme rio did not get his second yellow in d same incident?
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Iriah please dont think i having a dig at QPR just for the sake of it so let me give you reasons behind my comments. Firstly after seeing the other teams at the bottom all have something about them I genuinely think your team is the worst. I fully expect all sides to defend deep, get plenty of men behind the ball and time waste at the emirates, even city and chelski do it. The difference was with your side is you was time wasting when you were 1-0 down , this was defenitley a tactic to reduce the defeat with no intention of even getting a point. Then you had your first stroke of luck Girouds mad moment that give you a chance.I expected a scary second half with ARSENAL having to put all hands to the pumps however what happened was your sides responce so meek that we had more possesion and were very wasteful and that is why it was only 2-0 going into the last 15 minutes. jr should not of been on the pitch when he won his pen even after MD had touched the ball first sending it in another direction. Per had a shout for a pen and although it would of been harsh he got to the ball first and was fouled and so by the laws of the game it should have been given. After the incorrect penalty call qpr came back but this was with ten minutes remaining plus stoppage time if thats all your going to offer you will go down. The Gibbs challenge could have been given but i think the ref knew he got the first one wrong and was even it up especially after the Per refusal. so I dont hate qpr but arry is certainly making you live up to your old nicknames Quarter Pound of Rubbish and Quick Promotion and Relegation
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QPR were extremely ‘physical’ throughout – the number of yellow cards they got tells it’s own story and they were lucky not to see a couple of reds as well.
Having seen the replays now I see why OG had to go, but there was really nothing to it and Onuha’s oscar winning flop was a disgrace, when he should have at least got a yellow card for his foul on Giroud. I was surprised at OG because he normally takes a battering from opposition CB’s and just gets on with it, but he just never seemed right yesterday. We are really going to miss his presence up front for the next few games – he has made the manager’s job a lot harder than it needed to be.
Is Sanogo injured? If not his physical presence could be useful against the hammers. Rumours are that Podolski is off – whether he plays tomorrow will show whether he remains in the manager’s plans.
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“The other good thing about Theo coming back is it will remind fans that Alexis is not the only Arsenal player who can be wasteful in possession. (Banned smiley).”
Top top quality! Love it. I’m a big fan of both players. You can tell I played like Riquelme as a kid. Or maybe not! Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on the game and before too. QPR fans too!
You do need some players in the squad who can get on the end of passes, but the moment I realised that Wally had taken that major step up was when he played in Judas between the lines for that home winner against Dortmund two seasons ago. Hopefully he’ll be ready for about ninety mins over the next two games. With Chambo struggling too he’s needed! He’ll need a period rebuilding strength but that could coincide with Sanchez finding that extra 25%, both kicking on around about the time for the trip to Berlini!
Rosicky. What can we say. The tormentor of Tottenham.
I tried to explain his worth back in the day with some usual Experts, but after that second 5pur2 match it became apparent with their inability to celebrate that the Groaners had become Goners. Those bold and gallant end of an era hopefuls had nailed their stickers and banners to the mast. Before the Özil wind filled out the sails and decorated the deck with new baubles and streamers and other bounty (Sanchez! And the other new signings…).
For these bravehearts it is Regime Change or death. And death it is. Of their hearts. For all their efforts all they have achieved is parity with the Kean Out loons.
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We’ve had the pleasure of discussing Rozza’s role in recent seasons with someone we all admire and respect, Mean Lean/Arsenal Visionwho is also a big big fan of the Dortmund legend. Meanie is also appreciates Theo’s game (“sign da ting”)!
Think it was last year that Rosicky didn’t have niggles that kept him out for the first part of the season, though I could be wrong. True to say that in recent seasons he’s been a Key player in the run in, to great effect. It took a season or two of rebuilding after his initial return from ravaged tendons to find those levels, though all the Experts and Redzone Enthusiasts appear to have been incapable of that consideration. Same as it was with Ramsey and Wilshere coming back from long long lay offs. So the decision to give Wilshere the nod ahead of Rozza at the start of this season had many reasons. Protecting Rosicky for when he’ll be more important in one hand, and getting Wilshere back to his best with the other. And as could be seen Wilshere had regained that fractional burst of acceleration he’d been looking for in the period just before he got hacked off the park*, if he’d been as slow as a season ago then most probably the Utd clogger would not have been so reckless and desperate with his foul,which of course was not called as the simple and basic foul that it was.
The biggest problem for AFC players in the last period is this lack of protection. That could again seen yesterday. In the clear contrast with how other (diving) teams are protected. The Goners can ignore the exasperated reaction from the hundred cap World Cup winning German international who is the captain of their team on the pitch,but unfortunately we’ve seen the same exasperation in the body language of the previous three captains too.
It takes some effort to ignore that’s decile your own players so consistently. But it seems that young Jack Wilshere has more maturity and understanding then the Goners: on getting kicked: “when you play for Arsenal you expect it” etc….
*why do so many of AFCs players get injured by hacks from players with connections to Utd or Gazprom? Apart from McNair taking out Wilshere we had Ba’s unpunished I season stomper in the first CL QL on Arteta – his ankle is what’s giving him grief atm. Another “non-foul” which ruins a players season. Coincidence? I’ll leave that judgment up to the usual experts.
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< To ignore the bahaviour of consecutive captions with the refs
though perhaps all captains in the game are exasperated by these poor officals, of who there are too few…but that's all a debate for Untold, not here. Sorry for the tangent!
Back to Rosicky: he might not be good for more then fourty five against the Hammers tomorrow, ideally you wouldn't play him, but there might not be any choice!
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Not sure any team or manager could have done any better with the injuries we’ve had,it’s been the reason why we haven’t kicked on from winning the cup,struggling to remember anything like it to be honest.
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Mel describes what I was struggling to articulate with far less words.
And he tells us he isn’t clever…maybe not, but he loves his football!
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My above comment on Arteta’s injury is of course a guess from a far. Could be the other ankle that’s troubling him for all I know, though I doubt it.
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Harry Redknapp is such a terrible manager, I feel for the QPR-fans. Ive seen Championship-teams play more positively at the Grove than they did last night.
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PG
Great piece, succinct and pithy. I saw it much the same way as you did.
I had to endure the game because I had my brothers (both West Ham supporters) up for Christmas and my younger brother is one of the most hostile people toward Arsenal and Arsene, in particular. It is interesting too, that he doesn’t watch much football, as he works in mainland Europe four days a week and doesn’t have SKY. So he repeats what he hears in the media. I kept very quiet, something I not been able to do in the past. Anyway, it is typical how he saw a shocking headbut from Giroud and I saw a player collapse to the ground at the slightest of touches. I also saw Rio grab Giroud around the neck in full view of the red. My brother kept silent over that one. Typical.
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Not sure about the clever bit Fins!
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FUCKING AUTOCORRECT!!!!
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Physioroom have Sanogo down for a late fitness test.
First time I’ve used the site! If he’s been out for a couple of a weeks then he won’t be ready to start? Opportunity for others to impress.
Midfield will be a little bit low on battery power, hopefully others like Chambo are at least on the bench .
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seemingly Oxlade-Chamberlain has only a very slight chance of being fit for West Ham game. Koscielny has a little chance, he might be on the bench. Wenger did not mention Ramsey but he had said a few days ago that he had a chance of being fit. It might be that Kos and Rambo will be subs
Szczesny
Debuchy Mertesacker Monreal Gibbs
Flamini Rosicky
Alexis Cazorla Podolski
Welbeck
subs
Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Chambers, Ramsey, Coquelin, Campbell
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seemingly Oxlade-Chamberlain has only a very slight chance of being fit for West Ham game. Koscielny has a little chance, he might be on the bench. Wenger did not mention Ramsey but he had said a few days ago that he had a chance of being fit. It might be that Kos and Rambo will be subs
Szczesny
Debuchy Mertesacker Monreal Gibbs
Flamini Rosicky
Alexis Cazorla Podolski
Welbeck
subs
Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Chambers, Ramsey, Walcott, Campbell
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Jake Cohen @JakeFCohen · 2h 2 hours ago
All in, Chelsea invested almost £85m in Fernando Torres, which represents an absurd ~£4.25m for each league goal he scored for the club.
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Crisis Club Arsenal’s form over last 8 matches: W6 D1 L1
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I don’t know who will play for Arsenal,today. But I do know that West Ham will try and bombard us with high crosses.
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If the Hammers do try to push high against Arsenal, it might be a good idea to put Theo on the half way line, just to put manners on them.
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Going by Gus Poyet’s description of the Xmas Krunch (schedule) it is probably fair to say preparing a squad for this run of games looms large in the plans of all managers in the league.
With twelve odd very good players out or some only just back there’s very little room for rotation. It’s not ideal for Monreal or Debuchy to have to play so quickly again on the return from injury, but conversely maybe they need the games? Might see some juggling at the back.
What was good in the last game was Chambers coming on as a third CB (I think), that’s a late option we saw used so well last season that’s been missing due to the injuries. This squad coped the last time OG received a poorly timed three game suspension, they can do it!
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Nil all at half time in the spuds vs red manc game, can see it staying goalless though.
I would hope for a draw, but I think whoever scores first will win this one.
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The spuds team selection looks bonkers, it looks like they are resting players for their Chelsea game on New Year’s Day.
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Good result at the swamp. Same at St Mary’s would be a bonus.
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Interesting to hear ManIOU fans say their form has improved since former Spud (I think) Carrick has returned. Scandelously underused in my ignorant opinion by the Eng-Ger-Land dreamed of by the likes of Neil Ashton and ‘Arry’s Boyz, he’s essentially a very similar player to our own Captain. Not the quickest, not the tallest, and now definitely not the youngest! But he can play football. Which helps.
Slurgus’ last title, if it was legit, was won with a midfield of Carrick and not much else. Which is where and why you have to start to consider the above question haha!
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DK’s words are wise though victory and possibly several minor non-career threatening injuries for the Saints, just enough to take them out for the next game, that would do for me.
But first up is Samwise Allerdici.
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As rumoured Kosciely comes in, a rest for Gibbs – that was an outrageously good cross against QPR for Sanchez.
And as expected some essential juggling in midfield. Flamini and Coquelin opposite Song and O’Brien(?) or Amalfitano. Chambo starts, hope he’s not too stiff etc.
Theo, Plodders and AKPOM on the bench, I guess that Sanchez, Welbeck and Cazorla will be the obvious candidates for substitution in the second half.
Crunch time!
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What is Mourinho doing playing so high against the saints with Terry?
Groangroangroan hehe! The thing with the AAAA that we’ve observed is that they’ll defend Maureen in such circumstances, such as when he sold mata an cost Gazprom the title last season (as most Chelsea fans I’ve spoken to think!)…that’s why we call them the AAAA!
Mane with far more joy already then in the league cup game when opposite Hayden Chambers and Bellerin with Coquelin at RB!
The penalty challenge (a cheeky dive well won I guess) by Rosicky in that game was understandable but I think Bellerin would’ve recovered from his green positioning in that moment with his silly pace (again!).
Koeman proved long ago that he’s a better manger then the Latin Pulis for me. Hope his players (& the official) can hold out for him.
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The old place was a busted flush when you witnessed AFC fans saying Hazard was nothing special when Gazprom outbid every other club (wages I think) for his services. All he needed was to grow and adapt to the PL, which at his age was a little harder then for Cazorla or Sanchez. They said he was nothing special as to admit AFC were simply outbid would remove some of the *coughs* “logic” used to excuse the lies and abuse of the AFC manager
A petro-club that can pay wages and fees for a twenty yet old that others can only afford for proven twenty five year olds (slightly older for Santi when he came). It is a denial of this simple and easy understanding (I’m not an accountant!) that has led the Groaners down into their deep dark hole!
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Bad goal to concede by the Saints. Too many players caught upfield when that ball made its way to Hazard after pinging around in midfield. Hazard was always coming inside onto his right foot. What was Yoshida thinking?
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See you all on the other side
Come on The Arsenal!
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Phew!
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Fair play to Jose – few managers would choose to play with just ten men inn the field + Mikel
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Mikel cost a lot of money to be fair.
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Sanchez robbing Song for the counter. Nearly on the return from Chamberlain. Close!
I need to watch this game, see you all later.
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Though I’d just like to say that wasa gritty (and clean) tackle from Coquelin on Song on the halfway line. Good stuff.
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Cazorla scored a penalty he won, to make it 1-0 to the Arsenal, wonder why Reid was not booked or even sent off
Welbeck makes it 2-0 a few minutes before half time after good work from OX
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As George said yesterday, Santi Cazorla is our designated penalty taker, not Alexis. Proof positive for our 1st goal.
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well… that was cool
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Well – I’m watching on an NBC stream. Don’t know who the commentators are but they seem to think we’ve been outplayed. Just shows you. I don’t see it that way at all. I’ll give Spammers the first 10/15 minutes but since then we’ve been right in it and it’s all about who takes their chances. We did, they didn’t. Simple as that.
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I have that bitter f*ck Tony a gale on my feed. He is closing to having a heart attack whenever we score. He may not make it for the New Year.
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the unstoppable Chelsea look like being only 1pt ahead of city by end of today. Half way mark of the season.
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dk – Part of that NBC-SN feed is that notorious anti-Arsenal, Tony Gale.
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shotta – Ah, that explains it.
He’s biased one way – me the other.
LOL
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might have spoken too soon, Burnley have pulled a goal back at Man City.
Alexis softly booked, hope he don’t pick up a second one.
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Schneiderlan sent off for the Saints and as prescribed by DK a draw in the other game.
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Almost a third before ht and a good start to this half. Another promising counter this time led by Welbeck. I thought that the game started with both teams trying to counter before they found the rhythm of the game? Though that could all be rubbish…
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Virtually all the pundits crowned Chelsea champions since September. Now only one point in the lead. Tells you how much they know. City is a better footballing team as demonstrated in their ability to score goals compared to Jose’s negative tactics.
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