I began my first draft of this little missive by suggesting that today’s game was a case of back down to earth with a bump. I scratched it out and started again for two reasons. Primarily because we don’t deal in tedious clichés here at the home of positivity but also because, as exciting as Champions League and FA Cup fixtures are, a visit from West Ham United is absolutely as important. We are right into the gristle of our league season, teeth sunk deep into the thigh of the Premier League beast and it is the teams which put together a good run from March onwards who are often sitting most prettily come May.
Arsenal cannot take anything lightly from now on. We have Man City firmly in our sights and we won’t bring down such a bloated, huge, cash rich brute without we maintain a constant, slavering, blood thirsty snarling at their heels. They need to feel the hot breath on their necks every step of the way. We want them looking over their shoulders and the chasing pack to falter and lose heart behind us. How to achieve this? By treating the likes of West Ham with precisely the same sense of all embracing commitment and concentration as that with which we approached the Man United cup tie on Monday night.
I know we weren’t perfect at Old Trafford. United actually had far more of the game and many more chances than most of us liked to pretend when revelling in the result on Tuesday. That is often the way. Just as we were nowhere near as bad as everyone said after the Monaco game, people do love to allow results to cloud their judgement of what actually happened over the ninety minutes. One thing we can all agree about our performance in Manchester is that it was resolute. There was an unwillingness to get beaten and a determination to keep sniffing for the winner which was so beautifully encapsulated in Danny Wellbeck’s goal. Those same qualities of determination, resolution and a refusal to lie down often count every bit as much as superior ball skills as we lace our flats for the final pas de bourrée.
The other significant factor which we’ve witnessed recently is the role of the so called lesser players in lifting the team when stellar performers are perhaps slightly off their game. It is of course nothing more than an essential aspect of any team sport that people step up when others experience a small dip in form. It is fantastical to expect an entire squad of players to simultaneously hit the high notes. Some may have a stand out season, others may enjoy a number of purple patches, many stay at a decent level throughout. Form comes and goes and individuals fight their own personal battles to get back on song while still contributing to the overall choreography of Arsène’s beautiful ballet.
I’m thinking particularly of the way Nacho Monreal and Francis Coquelin gave themselves up to the needs of the team and the desires of the supporters with the commitment and passion of drunken bridesmaids at the end of a reception, whereas Alexis batted his eyelashes and flirted but never really took things in hand as we know he can. He’ll come good again I have no doubt, but that isn’t my point. I’m more interested in the way the side plugs its own gaps and the way we have been getting results when not at our sensual and fluid best. All of these qualities go together to make up a successful team and if we can keep doing what we’ve been doing the winning confidence will lay the foundations for a return to the free flowing instinctive football of which we know this squad to be capable.
So what of our opponents today? The last time we met them they were above us as we strove to achieve fifth place, which we duly did by taking three points home from Upton Park and playing leap frog with Fat Sam and his merry men. After a good start to the season they were beginning to slide while we were in the process of hauling ourselves in the opposite direction towards our by now customary seat at the top table. The recent form statistics do not make happy reading for our friends from the East End. We are still second, just behind Liverpool while our visitors today languish in eighteenth having failed to win in their last six. A small cautionary note does sound on closer examination of their last six away games. They have drawn four, results which include taking a point home from Swansea, Southampton and Spurs respectively and so the warning signs are there.
Can I tell you anything about how the lugubrious old saggy faced gum chewer will set up his players? Can you tell me the numbers for tonight’s lottery? I can guess that he might suggest they keep a lot of players behind the ball, frustrate us and look to hit us on the break. It wouldn’t be the strangest thing we’ve ever seen but I have noticed our opponents often opting to harass Per and Kos high up the pitch to force us to hoof it long thereby thwarting our taste in patient build up. Tactical geniuses like Brendan Rodgers have been known to send out their teams with the express instruction to go four up within twenty minutes and so we can’t discount that possibility. I recall Hull trying something like it in the cup final last year but they fell short by two goals and so their whole plan went to shit rags.
Personally I don’t give a hoot how the other bloke sets out his stall. It is the way we play that ought to determine the outcome. If they defend in depth we will slowly pull and prod at them until we get a couple of threads started and eventually we’ll get them to unravel. If they come at us we will hit them with rapier like, counter attacking football. If we have one of our perfect games (and we are due one) then they won’t see the ball at all, so it won’t matter if they come out juggling fire and singing the Bolivian national anthem. Like predicting the team line ups I know no more than the rest of you so I’ll leave that to the discussion which I trust will follow my half baked ramblings. Speaking of half baked, my vegan croissant should be about ready by now so I’ll bid you adieu and if you’re not at the match I hope you manage to come across a decent quality stream. If you do, let me know where to find it. Thanks.
Positively Arsenal 
A fine start to a Saturday Stew. Sam will be aiming for his point and have his pudgy fingers crossed for something better.
Compared to most seasons the East Londoners are enjoying a good programme. Normally they are scrabbling to avoid the drop in March so it is progress. The ‘Ammers were most unlucky to miss out on a win at the Lane after leading with seconds to go, and only a bit of clumsiness on Alex Song’s part clattering into Kane cost them.
As you say a day for patience today, to look for the gaps as the opposition tire, and exploit the openings that will surely follow.
Chris Foy has the whistle for his first start at the Ems for two years. A check on his results back to 2010/2011 showed only wins and draws. I shall encourage him to stay on message.
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Nice one Mr B. Must admit I was assuming a draw at one point v Mancs but it would have been undeserved and, not for the only time this month, a team falling back on the dark arts have come a delightful cropper.
Versus Monaco I think we temporarily lost belief in our abilities to score at any time, absorbed the anxiety of the crowd and got hit twice on the break having lost the requisite composure to trust in our normal game. That lesson was well and truly learned by the time United came around; I doubt we’ll unlearn that any time soon.
You are right, whilst Monaco may feel they have the tie tied up and in the bag, Arsene, the supposedly planless one, will have other ideas. The proximity of the second half of that game is the only thing that may impact on today’s display but I don’t anticipate anything too negative at the Home of Football.
And one final point in our favour for Tuesday – should the tie be level at 90 minutes, we will have 30 minutes longer than the French team had to get that final extra away goal. It’ll be tough but not impossible by any means. Exciting few days ahead.
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Nice one Stew.
Being one of those fortunate souls with a seat for the game, I need not worry about streams but I also never try to fathom nor worry over who might be picked and where they might be playing until the team is announced.
I guess I worry more about the outcome in ‘Where’s My Cow?’ Than whether Arsene will get it right.
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I should have done something about one Sam worrying about Arsene’s choice while his namesake worried about the whereabouts of his cow but I’ve missed that chance now. Doh!
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Nice reference Steve!
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This sentence did it for me, “If they come at us we will hit them with rapier like, counter attacking football”. Now I can’t wait for the game…..well done Steww, thanks
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Vegan croissants sound more Hampstead than Highbury but I suppose some things just have to be done.
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Artistic license foreverheady. It was far more basic than that in reality.
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The ‘appy ‘ammers haven’t had much joy at TNHOF of late but they can be dangerous Anything could happen. Fortunately Valencia is a loss but they still have a good midfield.
I’m still enjoying the previous result. What was the highlight of the match for me now that I’ve had a chance to catch up? Too many to mention but I think my pick was in the aftermath of Bellerin’s foul on Young. As everyone knows Young is a diver though in this game he was out-done by two of his teammates. The foul by the cockney Catalan ‘ector was I think just a foul (though I admit I could be biased…) however like his soul mates at Gazprom Young did not hestitate to jump immediately to his feet following this outrageous and filthy foul to demand a second yellow. However unfortunately for Young as he jumped to his feet he found his path to the offical obstructed by one Mesut Özil who blocked his path, barged him in the opposite direction and cleared the loose ball into touch (no quick FK!) all in one smooth motion.
Top top quality from Özil there: true gr*t.
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Top quality stuff Steww and many thanks. I’m guessing there will be one or two particularly keen to show Arsene their true quality this afternoon with important matches to come and a Wembley outing in the offing, so maybe this afternoon won’t be so much a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show as it might sometimes have been. Here’s hoping anyway, especially as some of our recent games against them have been much tighter at times than the eventual score line has suggested. A brace for Theo, one for Kelly’s boy and the first goal from the HFB would be fun.
Loved the Ozil anecdote Fins. I suspect that of all the players at the club he is the most determined to see Arsenal at the very top. It may not have seemed that way last year but he will have done a lot of thinking in the time he was injured. I fancy he is brighter than most, feels things more keenly and has a special understanding of what the manager is trying to do.
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Lovely start to the day.
I think Aaron will come in, As for the rest? Arsene alone knows.
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I see the AAA have now replaced Ozil with Walcott in their “i’d sell ______ this summer for £25M he is useless”
after all apart from his goals and assists what has he got
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I disagree George. I think Steve Bould may have an idea too. But only if Arsène has discussed it with him.
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Eduardo: I am guessing that even in these inflationary footballing times it is hard to sell a useless player for 25m. But as you rightly infer, he is very far from being useless and has much still to give us – like, for example, the full flowering of his career.
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That photoshopped painting of the Arsenal Ladies pretending to do some ballet is pretty cool too.
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On consideration when footballers are happy to try a bit of Yoga I suppose it’s true that the Arsenal Ladies might have had a go at some ballet…
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Ballet, half baked vegan croissant’s, knees up mother brown….come on the Arsenal!!!!
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Nice article Stew, it reminded me of that Citroen ballet advert I liked from a couple of years ago.
We are coming off a big win away and WHU off the plane after sunning themselves. Winning this game is massive as it will keep the two teams in front of us on their toes.
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10 games to go.
This one is as massive as any of the others, it’s a London derby after all.
They don’t have Andy Carroll which will make defending a bit more comfortable for us.
Our boys better treat this as a full dress rehearsal for Tuesday, so let’s crack Big Sam’s nuts!
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A fantastic read as ever-on my wAy to the game now. 3-1 to the Arsenal I reckon.
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Have we thought there might be some hangover after such a big win over our historic rival on Monday night? I sincerely hope not to every fiber of my being but I have seen this happen in the past, too often to be complacent.
As your usual a blogging masterpiece by Steww. He never disapoints.
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Well I’m here
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And he is Bolivian
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Injuries have deprived us of the chance to see the successful combinations of Özil-Ramsey & Giroud-Walcott take the field together and multiply their efforts. Could today (and Tuesday hopefully!) following on from last week and the cheeky little rotations (at CB etc.) in the QPR and Palace games mean that we are beginning to witness the full power and depth of this squad in action?
Come on the Arsenal!
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I’m here. But I bet it’s not the same here as your here.
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I’ve been stood up Stew
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Sniffs loudly and clenches quivering upper lip !
Good up here though – usually I only end up in the upper tier in sub zero temperatures when polar bears leave early – Spring like here
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Steww:
http://www.rojadirecta.me/en
The Italian stream (look for flash links under the arsenal game) seems to be good so far
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Thanks for the brilliant brilliant post sir!
You are my favorite poster on the entire internet, on this site too 🙂
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Arsenal team to play West Ham: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Bellerin, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Akpom
can’t believe that is the team, as I seen an AAA state today that Walcott would not start a game for Arsenal again.
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walcott should have got his shot away before the challenge
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Rapier like, I tell you, rapier.
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Walcott was fouled.
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i wish Alexis would shoot with his left foot now and again, defenders are waiting for him to turn on to his right foot
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Definite penalty. Except that ref decided it wasn’t so it isn’t.
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good header by Alexis, corner for AFC
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ospina with a good save after west ham given too much time down our right
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Ramsey close from six yards, should have done better
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walcott with another great chance after a fine pass by Ramsey, this time he shoots straight at the keeper
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Their keeper the difference at the moment. Theo and AR both getting into great positions. Alexis passing, to be polite, is a little unpredictable.
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Alexis close after great inter play by AFC
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alexis booked for handball
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Good to see Theo doing what he does best, making fantastic runs getting into great positions – no surprise he’s a little rusty after so long on the sidelines.
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west ham taking an age over throw ins and corners
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We look a totally different proposition with Theo back in the side. Such a shame that the moron brigade have decided he’s the whipping boy today. I’d love him on one side Ox on the other that would be a nightmare for defenders.
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Well that fuckwit Tony Gale 1st denied it was a penalty even after 2 replays. Producer must have over-ruled him because 1 min later he admitted it was a pen.
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Close again, first Mesut, then Theo. It’s coming.
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fuck, Walcott misses on the rebound, this game is a matter of inches away, we are so damn close to scoring but the ball is just not running for us so far.
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Told you it was coming.
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Larry! The big handsome French bastard. Goal.
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