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 
Kons? Who dat den?
LikeLike
As in upside and downside? For and against? Pers and Kons?
I’ll get my coat. Taxi!
LikeLiked by 3 people
heh i just wanted to get you going….its too damn quiet at times !!!
first of all 7 am talks bollocks and manipulates stats to suit his narrative…..secondly he was a fence sitting coward around two seasons ago…. thirdly …i dont have any thirdly
now…you may not be able to determine which of the two goalkeepers we have is better. let me show you how simple it is. one is first place for his country who came 4th (?) in the world…the other is not even second choice. one is a quiet professional at the stage of his career/age where he takes things and opportunities presented seriously, the other one is still in college doing selfies and smoking in the dressing rooms…..
i will not even go into details about each keeper’s attributes because then it will become intolerable for poor wojo.
just like right now you would prefer a cazorla to an eisfeld likewise arsene prefers an ospina to a wojo….and long may it continue
i dont have any agendas i just hate it when media and blogs try to create a fuss when there is none. right now ospina is the better keeper ..for many reasons….ospina plays. end off. whoever does not like it and needs to find reasons for this and that is not thinking about THE TEAM .
the team and players feel more comforatble with an experienced international goalkeeper …i can see it…..im sure those who have played the game can see it too.
we do not get to see a panicked keeper rushing out and clashing with his own players nor do we see saves in desperation and a keeper putting everyone in danger every 15 minutes…..
wenger is not a fool to put wojo in the fridge….
LikeLike
eduardo we have to accept …irrespective of personal preferences…that right now ospina is the better option.
now what a few idiots say on twitter is none of arsenal’s business ……
LikeLiked by 1 person
and because of all these blogs and parrot people creating a fuss we get the …’ oh look he didnt kick it correctly this time….wojo is better …no david is..look…this …blah blah ‘ oh look he missed that cross….’
i.e stories for children
LikeLike
and if wojo wants to become an oliver kahn when he is in his 30’s (stop laughing…) he needs to be ‘trainned’…and i dont mean just football trainning ……
LikeLike
actually…anything that makes konscielny play like the way he has the last month or so is welcome…the man plays with a new liberty..he knows he has someone behind him who is going to take care of things. and so he goes forward and does his achilles chops and the ninja locks and those tae kwon do interceptions
LikeLike
Erm, I really like both Osp and Woj. Due to my terrible spelling I most often refer to the latter as WS1. I was just thinking the other day that W started the match at OT – 5 years ago. Is that right? (2010). I like WS1.
I like what I’ve seen and heard about Osp, too. I’ve seen them both come out for balls, and miss them. (At corner kicks). I feel I’ve only seen that more from WS1 cos I’ve seen him in substantially more games. I’ve seen both goals kicked by the opposition, in true anti Arsenal stylee. Neither get awarded free kicks, generally.
I haven’t quite noticed the reverse mid-flight body swerve from either of them (as I’d seen from Bob Wilson), but then my eyes aren’t as good as they were then, and the balls used now are different.
I just don’t like to publicly bitch about which player is better despite sometimes having a preference. To contradict myself, I think Bellerin is much better at RB than Chambers (and they’ve both had dodgy games/made mistakes, but isn’t that normal for even the best footballers?) Jenks had a couple of dodgy’s but as well as improving with a larger number of games, I’m most interested in the fact he was brought to Arsenal, so I revel in seeing him progress, which is my case for Bellering and Chambers, and is my case for WS1 and Ospy13, too.
Up the Aresnal.
Please.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen both *goalies* kicked by the opposition
LikeLike
One interesting thing about the two keepers which surprises me is I think that Ospina is only about 17 months older than Szczesny. The popular narrative is that one is near the end of his career, the other hardly started. I wonder if too much time at a club you join in your teens can be detrimental in terms of maturation as both player and person?
LikeLike
Was it here on PA -I saw a link to Chambers doing a step-over in the attacking third?
I found it hilarious, esp. as the facing defender simply watched and intercepted the ball.
Where did that come from? Never mind, maybe he’ll learn to do them successfully, or find another way to get around the player he’s facing…
LikeLike
FEH
I hadn’t thought about our keepers’ similar age. I’m slightly worried about Wojos dad!
LikeLike
I wonder if too much time at a club you join in your teens can be detrimental in terms of maturation as both player and person?
depends on the character of the youngster and how you handle the youngster
in an environment liek ours which encourages self-learning, and self improvement…a keeper like courtois for instance might not have any issues .. bit like ramsey…..whereas a lighter more playful character like wojo or jack would need a ‘whiplash’ to finally reach their potential…
LikeLike
“I hadn’t thought about our keepers’ similar age”
but theyre not..one is 26-27 and the other is 17-18
LikeLike
Ospina makes me feel calmer than Szczesny.
LikeLike
did you all see the classico? i thought madrid was betetr first half…could have made it 3-1 easily….
LikeLike
they won teh tenth last year…and their fans are chasing players and managers..lol…
LikeLike
http://gfycat.com/QueasyAlarmingIsopod#?speed=0.75
LikeLike
the keeper battle is interesting but the four right backs next season is a bigger conundrum and especially when Tafari Moore is another year older and will be pushing for game time in booth full back places. Who we loan, who we keep and maybe even sell will be a difficult to decide.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ve still got my money on Jenks staying with the squad and ‘ector getting some loan action. Might not happen but it’d give the club the perfect mix if and when Debuchy switches to CB.
Wojo, Coquelin and Chambo all played that game at OT (I think).
Wojo (don’t need to mention my spelling!) lost his polish place when he tried to play through that injury in the build up to the last euros.
And Koscielny is playing better because his tendons are giving him less jip and he’s not freakin out about possibly missing years of his career or worse a little bit like Rosicky. Fortunately his case, like the lesser Ronaldo, has had an impact but both Kozza and Ronny look like they might be ok.
LikeLike
here is the dilema……you have the opportunity to sign nicola gaitan for 19 million and make that left side solid….or lars bender at 27 million …cant have both …only one….
help me fins…
i also scouted jedinak as a tribute to you fins but steve rowley told me to look for others…
LikeLike
if hector keeps playing like this…controlling ball with his backheel inside the opposition area and crossing for the assist… and winning valuable time and free kicks and throw ins when he realises he cant go any further…..will be hard to keep him …he is too good for his age….its ridiculous.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Was it the Jedi in Jedinak that prompted the tribute?
Can’t you just promote Coquelin after he’s recovered from injuries and stuff and built up his fitness on loan?
Rowley’s definitely a good scout in real life as well as in FM *COUGHs*, at least he was in the 04/5 version…
LikeLike
Rants
Chambo Mk II has picked up a couple of assists with those step overs already. Definitely at Brighton for Theo’s opener, can’t remember the other.
It’s all already good! Though some things weren’t coming off for him on Saturday I guess everyone knows that he’ll work that kind of stuff out with experience. Understanding when to work out that even though he was less knackered that his teammates might have been struggling with heavy legs and passes that were simply running out of juice. Starting alongside Gabby for the first time etc. What with him being a rookie at the start of the season an’ all. At least, I hope they do. For their sakes!
LikeLike
you dont understand how much im suffering ..coqlin and bellerin were scheduled for loans from arsene and by the time i realised i couldnt cancel…… and the bithc of it is that arteta takes about a whole week to recover everytime he plays… no chance for wednsday – staurday…so i play jack or bite the bullet and get mugged by leverkuzen….i nearly did it but i thought lars was being unreasonable asking for 14k appearnace bonus and also for bonus when he sits on the bench (????) ..
LikeLike
Think there was what a plundit might describe as a “driving run from deep” from Chambers following a ninjutsu interception to help set up Ramsey’s goal against West Ham.
Yup. The more you listen to a Groaner, the more you realise that they’ve taken their eyes off the football.
LikeLike
Hunter, what about the option where you go to the board and ask for more Wonga…? Hehe!
LikeLike
you disappoint me fins…the whole concept of playing fm is to approach it like wenger would…asking for more money? thats degrading…… having said that off course ive tried that …but theyve already bbought sanchez, welbeck debuchy chambers ospina and given me a remaining 30m budget out of which i have spent 19 for gaitan so far ……
and for some strange reason…we are in august 14 and i got gabriel in the squad….
LikeLiked by 1 person
The chambers groans remind me of the reams of reflection written or spoken on the Monaco tie.
That second Monaco goal in the home leg came about through a little bit of inexperience from ‘ector, in my humble and irrelevant opinion. And following the exit on Away goals against Munchen for example we all know how important individual goals are in the knockout rounds of the CL.
People will go on about narratives and patterns but these games are decided upon very fine margins because the quality is high and the skills of all the players at this level are closer then many like to think. At least that’s what I think. Sport at the very top top levels is decided by fine margins, not a notional mood, attitude or some distant guess at “tactics”. In case that wasn’t clear AFC didn’t underestimate Monaco: Monaco had a teenager in an attacking position and arsenal had one in a defensive position (they were opposite) and we all do know, as in all of us, that it’s easier to be the less experienced attacker then defender…it’s not rocket science? Is it?
A fit Debuchy and imo arsenal would’ve had an easier time of it. Simples.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hunter on reflection a bit of experience could be handy:
Have y ou considered a loan move for The Arsenal’s FA cup hero and FM alogorhitimic legend that is Kim Kallstrom?
LikeLike
heh…no…but i did check for sebastian kehl….
LikeLike
Where indeed was KK when we needed him against Monaco? Typical short-termism from the manager.
I love watching Chambers. He plays as if he thinks the whole thing is enormous fun and more than most I have seen approaches each match, no matter how important, as if it is pick-up seaside game on a Bank Holiday Monday. AW didn’t buy him as a replacement Right Back, Centre Half or even DM. Without a doubt he is the next Gareth Bale, and if right now he is more Stepford toy-boy than serious Stepover merchant then that is all part of any young man’s learning curve.
And on that vague theme, well played Andy Nic for titillating the rosy-faced urchins on (Norfolk) Broadway. Should the Skrt be missing the Emirates clash then we all know who to thank.
LikeLiked by 3 people
fins
Ta for reminder about chambos successful stepover-assists. They’re not imprinted in my mind and I’ll have a look for em as I like things like that (not as much as the team goal that Ars and Giroud scored before half time against west ham.
I wanna stress, my main thing about the .gif I posted was NOT to slag off Chambo2. No, it’s about my personal amusement.
Another irrelevancy I remember was during A Traore’s first game (I think) where he done a 360 to leave the oppo on its arse and went flying off down the wing. Ooh, so exciting – but maybe that was the high point of his Ars career? (Was that even High?)
As a person who knows nowt about FM or similar gaming whatnots, some individual bit of skill from the past (or even the last match) is all I have to go on.
As I’ve already moaned elsewhere, Debuchy had his leg broken twice this season already. The perpetrators skipped off happily, as always. This means 2 RB’s have had their legs broken twice in three seasons.
Surely we therefore need all of Jenko/Bello/De-b-o/Chambo and Tafario?
LikeLiked by 2 people
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenals-arsene-wenger-admits-hes-5387854
Despite it being a rag, there are some interesting comments from the boss
LikeLike
“This means 2 RB’s have had their legs broken twice in three seasons.”
2 legs and a shoulder Rantetta
LikeLike
Correct, passenal,
But I missed a little detail. The legs were broken twice in one season.
Arsenal single broken leg/shoulder/whatever-rers are two a penny, every season.
Just had this picture of someone knocking out Artettas tooth. And no, it wasn’t a foul, just an unfortunate coming together, tee very hee.
How mant times has Coq’s nose interfered with delicate soft elbows and wafting forearms? Must’ve “invited the tackle”.
Haha – Coq and tackle. Where’s weak ankle Wilshere then? Oh, 4 months out with non targeted injury. What odds can I get for Alexis foot no longer facing the right way, and can I get extra moola if the assault isn’t even called a foul?
Where’s me coat?
LikeLike
Only a Scouser would have the balls to think Skrtel didn’t deliberately leave his studs in on DeGea. According to the Mirror poll, as unscientific as it may be, an overwhelming number of fans think it was intentional:
Do you think Martin Skrtel intentionally stamped on David De Gea?
YES – 78%
NO – 22%
Once a cheat, always a cheat.
LikeLike
I can understand players diving to win fouls. I can understand (just about) players trying to get others sent off. but I can’t understand deliberate, career threatening stamps. I always assumed that there was a bond or loyalty between fellow pros that lay deeper than club loyalty. An honour among thieves if you like, a footballing omerta. Perhaps this too has gone, but if it hasn’t it will be interesting to see how comfortable future games are for Viktor Brendan’s latest monster.
LikeLike
The only leg breaking was by the Norwich player on Sagna. Debuchy tore his ankle ligaments against Citeh all on his own. Strange but true.
LikeLike
So Milner didn’t cause that?
LikeLike
Quite right anicol
78th minute against Man City – De bu turns and turns his ankle.
My memory though is of the softening up coming from a Milner stamp earlier in the game, which I haven’t yet found.
Sangna’s first “leg break” came courtesy of asshole ekotto, who attacked Bacary in mid air. Being totty, Mike Dean saw nowt wrong, but Sagna didn’t get back on the pitch.
I am often incorrect to use “leg break”, but that’s kinda what it amounts to, in that summat is broken, resulting in the player being out for 3 months.
The 2-2 at the Ems against ManC – Clattenburg was ref. The little bit I’ve looked at on Arsenal Player, betw. 65-78 mins, the ref is booking Ars for most fouls but not calling some nasties from ManC, which I’d expect from the man who took no action when Adebay stamped on rvp’s face.
I’d call Theo’s year out a leg break too, tho I know it was cruci-summat. That was lovely Mark the clatterer allowing a totty player to stamp on Theo’s heel. That was the softening up and it was no accident, and Clattenburg saw and ignored it, just as he ignored Danny Rose finishing the job off at the other end of the field. (Sure, the thing didn’t fully snap until Theo came back up the pitch).
I was amazed to hear the co- commentator on Arsenal player actually moaning about Clatters bias during the ManC match at the Ems. I’ll have to go back to the, start of that match to find out who it was. It wasn’t Stuart bassturd, obviously.
LikeLike
Yep, minute 18. Milner flies in and cleans out De Bu. Clatters allows the softening up process from ugly James without a card. I’m sure Milner made another horrible foul but for now, I can’t look.
LikeLike
I always assumed that there was a bond or loyalty between fellow pros that lay deeper than club loyalty.
ahaahaaa . ssshhhtop!
LikeLike
George
There were a couple of off side decisions against Arsenal at Newcastle that defied belief, at least on first viewing on’t t’ telly.
And the ref forgot to bring his yellow card with him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
According to John Cross,
the Pros think spitting is worse than a leg breaker.
Shame no one spat on Diaby, Jack or Ramsey instead, they would have got over that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
according to john cross the earth is flat.
yes dc spitting is far worse than tackling. tackling is part of the game. off course it could go wrong and you can end up smashing someone’s leg in pieces but thats just an occupational hazard…you know what youre in for when you make the choice to become a pro…you want to earn 200k per week ? there is a risk involved. just like all high paying / high risk jobs…drugs, arms dealing etc …….spitting and/or biting though are uncivilised behaviours (on and off pitch) and thus carry more outrage and should be punished severely. with life bans if necessary.
LikeLike
remember how that terrible foreigner …..that disgraceful sportsman….that abomination of a footballer…an abhorred and greatly disliked personality straight from the gutter …that tall fella who would run rings round everyone in midfield who never saw reds for his tackles but saw about 50 of them for expressing love to the referees ? a demon…
LikeLike
Wenger: “Sometimes I watch match of the day to see how we’ve been perceived. Sometimes it’s better to watch it with the sound turned down.”
LikeLike
and miss out on shearer’s analysis? never….
LikeLike
Ranty
Two scissor tackles by Milner on MD in that game. I think just one is required for a yellow or red to be awarded. MD was limping after one, the first one I think, and not ok to carry on. Very similar to the Walcott incident.
Ben Thatcher’s relatively unpunished elbow on Jonny Foreigner Pedro Mendes is strong evidence that cowardice has been rewarded in football and that the PGMO/FA rules can be observed to be different depending upon who they are applied to. Spitting? Yeah, right!
LikeLike