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 also laughed at the clip of Chambers failed stepovers (IBSF).
LikeLike
heh laughing my arse off at arseblog defence of the bfg………… hehe…… preferences and narratives…. maybe if we all owned a german shepherd dog we’d see the light ….
ahhhh well…..
LikeLike
because mert losing his player and getting beaten in the air by smaller opponents is all to do with defensive partnerships and debuchy injury….lots and lots of shit there im afraid.
LikeLike
I am pleased to see that Gabriel has been awarded a call up to the Brazil squad and I hope he gets a game against Chile. While in a number of countries an international cap is not much valued Brazil is not one of them. It is a great honour for the boy and I presume his family as well as those who have brought him on in the game as a kid to his present success.
LikeLiked by 2 people
lots of planes crashing the last few years…wtf….
LikeLike
instead of getting better its getting worse…everywhere…on all fronts…. elysium….neil knows
LikeLike
Now the other Arsenal thing on my mind has been Danny Welbeck.
I have to admit when he arrived I was cautious as he came in very much as a last minute gap filler for Giroud. Presumably but for the unfortunate Frenchman’s fracture at Goodison Danny would have been either cluttering the Carrington training ground to Van Gaal’s annoyance or been farmed out elsewhere. I got no sense over the Summer window that we were trailing him.
On taking over the main striking duties cold he did a an impressive job with his speed and movement. We were not great at the time but he scored goals and showed great energy. He scored some important goals, against Hull, against WBA and a hat trick against Galatasary at home in a game where we needed 4 goals. He played game after game and he did not disappoint.
He had a busy December and inevitably perhaps he succumbed to injury and missed January but since his return, against Spuds I think, he has been pretty much a regular although competition is fierce. Bags of the right attitude. Compare an contrast to the clown on Merseyside who the Anfield club signed a few days before we signed Welbeck. Ludicrous to even bother comparing them isn’t it ?
Now the point o f this post is not just to give Danny a pat on the back though the lad deserves it. It is to draw to your attention that against Newcastle I saw a slightly different player to that which joined us on deadline day.
The running is still there, the quick movement over two yards, unfortunately so is the slightly wayward shooting with a couple of half chances not hitting the target as they might have.
What has changed though is we have a much more direct runner at goal, who does not dally but speeds ahead in a straight line, into the box, past a defender , with one idea in his mind.
That directness in his approach was not there in September, or at least I did not see it.
Still hard work to do, especially on the hitting the target and converting the many good chances his speed and touch creates into goals. At 24 years old he has plenty of time to learn, and is playing alongside good players from whom he can learn.
LikeLiked by 3 people
What do you man Skrtel’s “contesting” the charges ?!?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Loved this:
http://arsenalist.com/f/2014-15/other/santi-cazorla-full-control-2014-15.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
PG, an interesting insight on the “cannon fodder” and the way they can twist and distort an article on Rosicky and why he was not playing.
“Čím to, že hrajete víc na jaře, než na podzim?
„Já to opravdu nevím. Otázka je to dobrá, mě by to také zajímalo. Můžete jít na tiskovku a zeptat se přímo trenéra Wengera.“
I leave that for a Czech to translate!
According to a Google translation, there were discussions in September and October. We do not know what these discussions were about.
We know that DB10 could only play for 70 minutes or so, before he ran out of breath. I suspect the same could be true of Rosicky?
The training staff has increased from 42 in 2010 to 80 in 2014. With 67 playing staff and 97 ground staff, there is obviously delegated authority.
LikeLike
Anicoll
Which one is a young George?
LikeLike
George always wears a hat #dignity
LikeLike
well fkn siad anicoll!!!! danny ..we have a word in th egreek vocabulary which im failing to translate to english..perhaps pyrovolitis can help…ταχυδυναμη…… its a combo of the words speed and power.
like cars 0-100…giroud is strong but needs …say 3.5 seconds to reach maximum charge….danny needs a mere 0.3 secs….something like that…makes sense?
LikeLike
and yeah im 100% supportive of danny…good kid……if he listens and learns how to finish comfortably …welbeck will go a long way…even without the natural talent…warrior!
LikeLike
torque?
LikeLike
“Čím to, že hrajete víc na jaře, než na podzim?
„Já to opravdu nevím. Otázka je to dobrá, mě by to také zajímalo. Můžete jít na tiskovku a zeptat se přímo trenéra Wengera.“
thats easy
did you not see me and petr in the deep purple concert in st moritz? Honourable guests and performers …massive amounts of coke ..girls from all over the world ..even mezut got jealous when he ‘s shagged all the miss worlds from 2005 – 2015…, he even picked up the phone to call Wenger.
LikeLiked by 2 people
athletico bilbao – arsenal : 1-1
hull – arsenal : 1-1
arsenal – athletico bilbao : 3-0 …………………………. yeah!!!!
arsenal – burnley : 2-2 ……no comment
manu – arsenal : 5-3 …..eeehhhmm
arsenal – crystal palace : 4-0 …que? was ist das?
newcastle arsenal : 1-2 ….ok ok ok my tactics are working, they listen to me.
grasshopers – arsenal : 1-1…you bastards
arsenal – liverpool : 2-2….
crystal palace – arsenal (cc) : 1-0…meh…
arsenal – sporting : 0-0….aaraaggehh $%#^#$@
arsenal – chelsea: 3-3
je suis very brave/dumb…all these terrible results and still have not pressed ‘quit and exit’ / restart
fins wtf ? i mastered this game in my youth… i have degrees…and i cant beat fucking sporting at home? embarassing…ok alexis is injured but still…i feel stripped of my dignity
they have this new function nowdays where there have interviews at the tunnel right before kick off…obviously i ignore them all pressing no comment..could this bitch of an ai punish me for not being epl pr? will it react the same if i do it in la liga…? should i ‘fergie’ the refs? its a big mistake to load/install this game unless youre….unemployed… a sickness
LikeLike
Ah simulation games do take years off your life, literally.
I remember using RTW to attempt a Carthagian reversal of the Punic wars. Took weeks, played every battle, finally succeeded, a very real and satisfying sense of accomplishment, if that can make any sense.
I did try Football manager a few times, but its complexity baffles me. Learning curve was Eve Online levels of insanity so I gave it a miss.
LikeLike
sav ..have you played skyrim?
LikeLike
Spot on re Welbeck Andy Nic. I remain convinced he has it within him to become a true Arsenal and England legend. A bit of me thinks that we are best when either he or OG play up front as I don’t think we see the best of him when he is in that supporting role, but that is a minor quibble. The goal against his old club was very good: explosive speed to get there, skill to push it wide of the keeper, agility to change direction to collect the ball again and then ice in the veins to slot it home. All of those things needed to happen, and although in the end it looked simple it would be foolish to think that it wasn’t the goal of a truly top class striker. I am afraid that his arrival spells the end for Sanogo and quite possibly for Theo too, which would be a great shame. In fact, such a shame that I don’t think it will happen.
LikeLike
the hat trick against the turks…..one under the keeper’s legs..a placed shot bottom corner ala thierry… and a cheeky dink over the keeper. world class
LikeLike
I hear the Norfolk Urchins are now rolling in it. Perhaps they will spend their shiny new shillings keeping an eye on young Chuba.
This strikes me as all round good news.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Three games FH – on the money;
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/50413205-typical-street-urchins-who-lived-at-hull-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=OCUJ5gVf7YdJQI2Xhkc2QLbBWpU8x4GRpDCYASWkA58NlKholHx98vLISHjjlpmy
LikeLike
Hunter, I started playing Skyrim on Boxing Day last year as I had a few days to kill between work. Currently about half way through – but it is quite simply one of the best stories I have experienced. Epic in every sense.
LikeLike
hehe … e-p-i-c …and the music too….i lost the plot when i discovered that there is underworld as big as normal surface map……. ridiculously vast. pause …magic…fireball….play..pause…shouts…thu’um ….
LikeLike
Ajayi has been loaned to Cardiff, following Martinez going last week. Many saying Chuba will go before the Thursday deadline however I have a sneeking feeling it may be better for him to stay here for the next couple of months and then go out next year
LikeLike
Bit of football on tonight thank Gawd
Germans v the Aussies, Scotland v Ireland or a very good U20 Mexico side take on England and Chuba at Barnet ( if I can find it anywhere)
LikeLike
Going back to a slightly earlier thread about our keepers, I think I have worked out the problem with Ospina – or rather, worked out the problem that many fans seem to have with him. The actual way he dives for the ball and catches or punches it manages to look completely different to most pro keepers, who all look much of a muchness in terms of style. There is something almost amateur about it, and what’s more it looks familiar- which bothered me until I realised that his style is 100% modelled on the greatest screen keeper of all time. Take a bow, Sylvester Stallone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if the Skrtel suspension will mean that Brenda will play four across the back at the Ems instead of the 3-man defence he’s been using recently.
LikeLike
DK it’s going to be a long wait for match day.
–
All players involved in the games today seem to be ok, and a goal for Podolski.
I think both Walcott and Gibbs will play a little for England. At a guess the friendly for Gibbs which means Monreal will start against Liverpool?
LikeLike
Time flies when you’re having fun, fins.
Bendtner scored a fucking hat-trick – if that ain’t fun, nothing is.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Čím to, že hrajete víc na jaře, než na podzim?
„Já to opravdu nevím. Otázka je to dobrá, mě by to také zajímalo. Můžete jít na tiskovku a zeptat se přímo trenéra Wengera.“
May I offer another translation regarding what was said about Rosicky :- yes, the man the guitar, the hair – all very amazing. Perhaps we will make a song after him and ask Wenger to judge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ foreverheady – that video should be mandatory training material, Stallone demonstrates technique and coolness many goalies could note of.
LikeLike
Since Ospina has been between the sticks for last 10 league games he’s conceded 6 goals and Kept 5 clean sheets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hands up all those Red members who have just snapped up a Chelsea ticket ( banned very smug face)
Get in !!
LikeLike
The VfG @ViewFromGwladys · 22h 22 hours ago
Premier League teams with most homegrown players: Burnley, QPR, Leicester.
Teams in Premier League relegation zone: Burnley, QPR, Leicester.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“I speak to Rosicky a lot, he is a legend….”
Chuba knows.
Learning off some fancy dan outside of the boot long haired Jonny Foreigner. Greg Dyke wants his UKIP back boo hoo, just don’t mention the coaching for the kiddies…AFC are blessed to have had Rosicky. One more season at least please Tomas!
–
Gnabry? Been out as long as theo more or less – a run of u21 games and a good pre-season to re-build his constitution might be the prescription for now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you think about it, Rosicky has already done more for English football then Greg Dyke ever will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
effn psycho…dennis knows!
LikeLike
3 Arsenal players gone on loan for rest of the season
Ajayi gone to Cardiff, Jebb to Stevenage, and Akpom to Nottingham Forrest
LikeLike
Arsenal have followed chelsea’s example and are now paying their staff living wage
LikeLike
Özil’s best bits from last night.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hj6FBM3_oZ4
LikeLike
Ed, unfortunately its only permanent full time staff. It doesn’t include part time casual or sub- contracted staff which is the large majority. It is a big embarrassment that the so called bank of England club has to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing. I love this club but on this issue I am ashamed.
LikeLike
ian are you sure that its only full time staff, I know all FAPL clubs agreed at a meeting earlier this week to pay full time staff the living wage, but I seen it reported that Arsenal had already taken the decision to pay all staff at least the minimum wage, just like Chelsea had.
LikeLike
Ian, obviously you have no knowledge of running a payroll system?
According to the last available Financial Report (2013/2014), the Arsenal employ 864 match-day temps.
The Arsenal Payroll, will have the National Insurance number of ALL the individuals and a Tax Code for each. The majority of the 864 have a main job and therefore have failed (?) to notify the Inland Revenue, of their second job. The Tax Code applied by the Arsenal, will be BR, which stands for Basic Rate.
The temps will work 4/5 hours per match day!
The so-called Living Wage is based on working over 30 hours per week.
The Inland Revenue have a PAYE and NIC enforcement agency, and they DO check the petty cash etc. That is the way the minimum wage is administered.
The Living Wage is an aspiration that is based on regional variations. Impossible to administer, as people move from one region to another.
It is a stick to beat The Arsenal with. The average wage for the North London region is over £35,000 per annum.
COTG
.
LikeLike
the Russian goalie was struck by a flare after 30 seconds of their game away to Montenegro tonight.
LikeLike
The living wage is different regionally however it is a realistic and moral aspiration. Its nothing to do with ARSENAL or any anti ARSENAL stick. Any major organization who won’t pay it are not only morally negligent but also behind in business ethics and modern thinking. Two of the biggest movers in organizational thinking People Management and CIPD have both backed the living wage and the importance of business responsibility. You could also argue that now legislation has changed regarding corporate responsibility and duty of care that paying below a recognised living wage could be challenged in law. Lastly these changes are happening as the PL and the clubs realise their brand could be affected, they will not be the “employer of choice” and there may also a national change to the way the minimum wage is paid. That is why I said they were being dragged kicking and screaming to make a change rather than being a forward thinking responsible employer. So tax codes are irrelevant and as I have seen Mark Gonella asked this question at an open forum I know who guilty
LikeLike
I am surprised there is a single hourly rate that is fixed as ” the living wage”.
If I was a single parent, couple of kids, living in London then I can understand someone working out how much I/we need to live with a degree of security above the poverty line, and divide that weekly sum by, say, 38 to get a figure of £X per hour or currently £9.15.
On the other hand if I am a student, say 16-17-18 years old, living at home with parent or parents, fed, charged nothing or a token rent, working to earn cash for extras in life then obviously my weekly income requirements are a fraction of the first ‘genuine’ example. I might require £Y per hour to fund my lifestyle, but it will not be the same as £X. The second point is presumably that, as NOTH mentioned, I will only be working part time anyway.
LikeLike
Aha – the Living Wage Foundation website has an eligibility criteria section. Age wise every over 18 irrespective of whether they live independently or not.
The eligible workers status is a bit trickier ” work on your premises 2 or more hours per day for 8 or more consecutive weeks per annum”.
LikeLike
I would be pretty convinced that anyone moaning at The Arsenal about the “living wage” is more concerned to tarnish the name of the club than securing a better deal for its allegedly downtrodden employees.
Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed watching a fine performance from our guy Welbz last evening. I am biased of course, but he looks a better player now than the one who joined us in September. Football inflation is what it is of course, but it does seem remarkable that AW managed to buy Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck for £28 million – the same price that City forked out for just one Wilfried Bony.
LikeLiked by 1 person