Arsenal won a great game of football yesterday.
Of course if you read twitter this might come as a shock to you. Apparently they didn’t do it with the assurance and panache that many uber fans demand. Clearly we should dominate the game from start to finish and not let the opponents have a kick of the ball in their own back yard.
The total lack of understanding that these halfwits on twitter display is a never ending frustration to me.
In the first half we were dominant and created many opportunities, scoring twice without reply. We were not at our scintillating best, for sure, but would you expect that ? It was our fourth game in 14 days and our 3rd away game in that period. And we won them all.
The game changed early in the second half when the hosts scored a goal with the help of some good play on their part and some sloppy play on ours.
What happens in these circumstances is the home crowd go berserk, the home team find an extra yard and start playing with freedom and flair. Why? Because that is how it works. They would have felt the game was lost, All of a sudden they are back in it. Tails are up, caution thrown to the wind. They are the home team after all. They are entitled to have a go .
The problem yesterday was that we were unable to take back control. The tanks were empty. So………. we had to hang on and defend.
Its almost like Arsenal are the only team that are not credited for being resolute in defence.Other teams win while not at their best and are hailed as great teams. Arsenal do it and its the players being crap and the manager being unable to motivate them. Double standards much !
I watched that game. What I saw was a home team putting in a fantastic performance in the second half against a very leggy opponent.
Its was a great 3 points and under the circumstances, a good performance.
I
Positively Arsenal 
I totally agree with you and some Arsenal fans join in criticising the team like it’s a taboo to look at any positives
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I listened to the game on the radio yesterday and to a first half in which we dominated the game and could have scored more than two.
I listened to the second half which was obviously much closer with the crowd roaring every Toon move. Listening to it the game sounded as though we were totally out of it, Ospina pulling off save after save and Newcastle missing open goals left right and over the bar. Even penalty appeals we managed to skate luckily over.
A quick glance at social media later confirmed how lucky we had been, totally outplayed, Toon deserved at least a point blah blah
But then I watched the game on Sky at 10pm and what I saw was the first half in which we were well ahead though probably not as dominant as I expected.
More interesting though was the second half which certainly on the 30 second half minutes I saw were much more even than the hysterics on the radio and the general doom-in on social media led me to believe.
As you say George they attacked, we defended. They probably had two decent chances one of which they skied, the other was saved after an unfortunate deflection by Ospina, that is his job. There was no desperate lucky clinging on, it was good concentration and solid defensive work that got us through and earned the points.
And we had at least two chances ourselves to score a third in the second half which Krul foiled, that is what he does.
All in all I was very pleased with our performance yesterday.
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the moaners are so far up their own arses moaning that they know nothing else, so win lose or draw there has to be a moan fest. Players have to be scapegoated, Chambers and Ramsey the two big targets yesterday, and amazingly I seen a number of these uber moaners have a go at Szczesny – yes Szczesny, I thought I’d watched a different game, the lad did not even play yet some had a debate about how poor he is and how we need to dump him, and of course dump Wilshere, Gibbs and Walcott while we are at it. I can see too that Welbeck is getting very close to being the next big target for the scapegoat gang.
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Let the others bitch and moan,we’re here to enjoy our selfs…
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i had the stream going on but i was simultaneously downloading fm15 ….at times it felt i was having a conversation with a sedated chappie …after ivan and pete greeted me and gave the club’s targets ( continental qualification) ..i met the squad and told them ‘ we aree going for the title’ ..21 players went ‘yeah!!!!’ and two arseholes showed fear and concern ….naxo and alexis ….so i had to spend the next month fixing their morale….
i got to ssee the second goal live and end of first half and then focused on fm for 15 minutes and forgot about the real 2nd half…. i switch windows and i see 2-1 and flamini in there with tomaa and the newcastle people making a lot of noise for nothing….i never saw any threat…then again my focus was elsewhere…
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i saw achilles bossing things…as usual.
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Not one mentioned when giroud was through on goal only to be wrongly flagged for offside. That was a certain goal.
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The most sense I have read from any blog probably this season. It’s almost as though some of our fans think that we shoul never ever be out played by anyone. It’s just not possible in football, I really wish some of these people would go and support Chelsea or spuds. Their constant negativity must drain them. I’m looking at you “arsenal truth”
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It was an open entertaining exciting first half and a bit more of a nail biter in the second. You simply do not put in the kind of shift we put in on Tuesday and not pay for it somewhere along the way. Having said that we were OK in the second half, wasn’t as close as the nerves make you believe when watching live.
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Noticed Sissoko though – good game he had – very mobile, veryt strong, pure coincidence he puts in his best efforts against Chelsea and us I am sure
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Followed game on journey home from hols on bbc comments bit on phone. Quite an exciting way to follow, I found.
subsequently watched game and we did good I think… All things considered… Very good.
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Michael Gooner @MickTheGooner · 4h 4 hours ago
On This Day 1986: Arsenal beat Coventry 3-0 in front of 17,000 @ Highbury. Don Howe resigned afterwards. We were 4th with two games in hand.
I want my Arsenal back
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This article is spot on, as is Stew. Our players put in a real shift mid week and I was slightly nervous about yesterday’s game because of the CL exploits. It’s been an exhausting couple of weeks and yesterday we had to travel up North to a team that raises their game by quite a few notches when we play them, and not to forget the Newcastle fans who are always really up for this match too.
Yesterday’s game was the kind of scenario we would of lost or drawn a few years ago, so irrespective of what is said, we are definitely doing better this season. It’s not just our own fanbase muttering though, I’ve read a few things and listened to a few commentators, who talk as if we should of beaten Newcastle by at least 10 goals.
But like I said, there are a lot of positives to be taken from the match yesterday. I think that was the first pairing of Gabby & Kos I’ve seen and think it needs work – but it wasn’t bad. If the consensus is that ManC’s win kept the pressure on Chelski, then our win kept the pressure on the two of them too. I really thought West Brom would come away with a hard fought draw yesterday, but it wasn’t to be.
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and leicester……
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Looks like my farewell to Steven Gerrard will have to come at Wembley
Lunatic behaviour
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Ha, Stevie Me is so used to getting away with all sorts of things in Liverpool, today is obviously an exception to the rule.
At least the question of what would happen to the team if started Gerrard as a sub has now been answered.
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at least he kept his feet
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I read this blog in order to avoid having to read what the morons say.
Great win yesterday. I thought Giroud and Welbeck were good, but we missed Ozil’s passing.
Gerrard just gave Liverpool’s CL spot to Man Ure and assured that we will not end up outside of the top four. It’s up to us to hold on to third now.
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In years to come what will people remember more the slip or the stamp? Has the slippery G song just got a second verse? Will these points be mentioned on MoTD?
So many big questions……
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ahh, forgot my last one, why did this game with so many incidents play the same amount of extra time as Arsenal’s yesterday, when we had hardly any? I would of expected at least 6 mins added on today.
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Well done George; just the job. For the last few years we have been ridiculed for the 4th Place trophy idea, but I note that this season because United, Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton are all in contention, it is regarded by the massed ranks of punditry to be a genuine and praiseworthy target. Funny that.
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Hull players obviously put a bet on a Chelsea win today….
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I stand corrected, Hull to do a Bradford?
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2-2 between Hull and Chelsea at the interval. This could be an interesting 2nd half. Can Hull ride their luck, can Chelsea hold their nerve?
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so arsenal are 7 pts off top and 6 ahead of 5th, with 8 games to go, which way will it go, our game v Liverpool could have a massive bearing on our final outcome to the season.
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Nothing amazes me more than that people go on twitter to read what the morons say. You have a choice – just ignore them. K.I.S.
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Every time I think I am out Dk
They drag me back in
( Great Line – one of my favourites )
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I shall give a shiney new shilling to a local urchin when news of Skrtel’s ban comes through.
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chuba akpom has 12 clubs trying to take him on loan for the rest of the season, window closes for emergency loans on Thursday. he seems to be very close to joining Norwich, but many other Championship clubs still in for him, with Nottingham Forrest very keen on him.
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Hi guys, good to see AFC still on form. I’ve got some family stuff going on at the moment, so not much time for posting, but I’m still following the posts and comments when I can. Be back soon.
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Great news for Akpom – he deserves a chance to show what he can do, although lending him to Norwich might unduly affect the Championship race – would it be fair at this late stage of the season?
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how it impacts the championship race is of little concern, no rules being broken and in fact several of the promotion contenders are in for him, Bournmouth, Ipswich and Derby are also in for him, up to each club to make their offers to the lad and persuade him that they are the best choice.
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ah Skrtel was only “naughty”, and not a downright bloody thug, good to know BBC and MOTD are so even handed, God forbid a liverpool player would get banned for”leaving his foot in” on a goalkeeper “deliberately” with a view to causing injury, as the MOTD pundits said, yet no real fuss just in case FA might take action against aplayer from a BBC favored club
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Eduardo: the write up about Liverpool on the BBC website by Phil McNulty tells us all we need to know. Imagine if The Arsenal were six points off 4th place, failed to make the group stages of the Champions League before being knocked out of the Europa League by lowly Besiktas (I remember that description from August when we went past them to qualify), had been taken to an FA cup 1/4 final replay by Championship side Blackburn, had sold our best player, had palpably failed to manage Balotelli, and had failed in negotiating a proper final season for Gerrard. Not to mention said Gerrard stamping after one minute on the field, to be followed by an even more cynical stamp on the keeper by Skirtel. But for McNulty this is “merely a temporary interruption to the fine form Liverpool have shown in the last three months.” You couldn’t make it up, but given the nonsense the media routinely makes up about us, I suppose that is no problem for them. Mendacious so and sos.
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No idea how much of a playing break, if any, our players will have during the interlull but if a change is as good as a rest then it’s come at a good time after an outstanding run of games, most of them away from home with the majority of our players in decent form.
Chelsea not exactly running away with things but their good fortune on the injury front may yet be telling with some very leggy performances as of late. City could still catch them even if we can’t/don’t. Manure’s emergence into good form looks interesting and certainly disastrous news for squandrous Liverpool.
Could yet be a fascinating end to the season and already looking forward to the semi-final, with or without a ticket.
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that was never red on gerrard….. disgraceful refereeing…at hiome the captain gets nearly butchered and you punish his reaction????
english refs are the worst in the world …they dont know how to referee..cought up between applying the rules, ‘managing the epl product’ and then they add that bit of allowance for ‘pashun and tradishun’
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A group of rosey faced urchins has formed at the end of my drive in keen expectation
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the AAA are continuing their attack on Ozil, its now not acceptable for him to fly to Germany on Saturday and go out for the evening with friends to a nightclub, just cos he did not travel up to Newcastle on Friday for the game on Saturday due to him having a cold. Never mind that how he was on Friday may not have had any bearing on the state of his health on Saturday, or never mind that the Arsenal medics may not have wanted him to travel with the squad in case he infected other players. No, to the AAA, nothing matter except to have a petty go at one of their main scapegoat targets.
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FH @ 8:04 am – Spot on my friend. The BBC in every respect (politics, economics, sports) is so shameless in its mendacity. Can you imagine Arsene and Arsenal making so many catastrophic choices in one season? McNulty has no shame.
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the hate mob are getting very worried and confused, their player of the year – Alexis – is now only 2 goals (19) ahead of one of their main hate figures – Giroud – (17 goals) and in fact they both have 13 league goals. Giroud has played 14+5 league games, and 19+7 in total, Alexis has played 26+1 league games and 40+2 in total.
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an interesting piece on how Coquelin is the reason Ospina is doing so well and how Szczesny is unlucky to not have had him in the team when he was in goal.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150323/arsenal-are-better-with-coquelin?
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Like Gains income here to get away from the Arsenal holes.
A space where we can enjoy the fact that Ozil was “ill”* and earned his first rest after his return from injury much to the delight of his physios. Whilst the Arsenal still could win their third away game within about two weeks (with the odd home victory thrown in there). Not too shabby.
* “ill” in the hip-hopian sense:
“Ö-zil is ill”, He most certainly is.
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As for Chuba, it’s up to the clubs to convince him that they suit him best. Any manager that can bring him in and give him the minutes whilst managing and not upsetting the rest of his squad giving a promising young talent the minutes they need, that manager deserves to reap any benefits from giving youth a chance. Certainly beats the Gazprom/Maureen agent friendly model so beloved by the gullible AAA
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i dont get it ….i dont see the doomer’s movement around for some time… where do you find all that eduardo?
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For a the talk at the moment about Walcott, an god knows there’s a lot of it, I think most commentators have missed the point in their very long and repetitive thoughts:
He’s a proven good PL player who has a UK passport. Sturridge for example whilst promising when signed by Liverpool was not proven, still isn’t to a degree.
He’s not the same physique as Welbeck and the Ox and in fact all three are very different players. The final late to mid twenties version of each of these talents will be players that could and should be playing together.
No. That’s worries about these players or Alexos is not what is going to be giving Walcott’s agents some difficulty in any negotiations. Any sane player would want to be playing in such a strong squad. They’ll be worried about the joker in Arsene’s hand:
Akpom.
Or maybe not! But that’s my best guess.
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“an interesting piece on how Coquelin is the reason Ospina is doing so well and how Szczesny is unlucky to not have had him in the team when he was in goal.”
??????????
do you prefer shezchney to ospina eduardo?
some crusade of yours to talk the colombian down. … and from many angles
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eduardo…..have you noticed that kons and wojo dont get along? that they dont trust eachother?
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now both kons and per do get along….
and so far all three..ospina kons and per …..have all been more relaxed, tranquil and able to deal with things….its a chain….
not only coqlin….
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cannon what you on about, where have I talked Ospina down, all i have done in regards our keepers is highlight those moaning about szczesny and calling for him to be sold, (this is something that happened as recently as Saturday), I do not know why Szczesny was dropped, I do not know if Ospina is a better keeper or not, which ever one is in our goal I will support, but I do not understand why Szczesny has become another one for the scapegoaters to target.
The article I linked to is from Arsenal.com, and all it does is bring up valid points that should be evaluated when considering any players performance, and that is points such as who else was in the team, and how does that effect performance of others, does having Coquelin at DM and even Koscielney at CB and maybe even Monreal at LB in the team on a regular basis instead of chambers at CB, or Monral at CB and Gibbs at LB mean whoever is in goal will actually have less to do and so have better chance of keeping a clean sheet. Its same as does having Ozil and Giroud fit again and in the team mean we will score more goals.
cannon seeing as you did not even bother to spell Szczesny correctly suggest you are the one with a crusade to talk our pole down, and you will not countenance any thing that might suggest Szczesny is the better keeper. Never mind that the article is suggesting that Coquelin’s performances is helping the defensive side of our game, meaning less goals conceded and more wins for the team.
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cannon13
March 23, 2015 at 12:49 pm
eduardo…..have you noticed that kons and wojo dont get along? that they dont trust eachother?
proof if any where needed that you clearly have an agenda Cannon.
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