Morning everyone and I trust there is a spring in your step this Tuesday morning?
Another pleasant Start to the working week after last night’s demonstration of the football art at its best. You saw it, you coo’ed, you purred, you WOW’ed at Ozil’s back heel to Sanchez about ten minutes before the end. Even Steve Bruce probably WOW’ed at that flick and who could blame him ?
Like most Arsenal fans I suspected a difficult game, with opponents desperate to get at least a point out of the fixture and having enjoyed a couple of decent performances recently. But it was not to be. It was never a contest that would go the distance or require the counting up of points or rounds won. It was a KO. Opponent on the canvas, eyes-rolling, stars swirling, concussed, fight over at the 45. We took control of the game when Mr Mason whistled, and never, as far as I recall, looked like allowing it to slip from our steely grip.
Admittedly the evening got off to a humorous start with Dawson’s slightly unlucky re-direction of Sanchez’s free kick. Having fallen behind Hull knew they were in for a difficult evening. They did try going forward, they really did both in the second part of first half and in the opening phase of the second. But then the sky fell in. Two killer passes cut the centre of the home defence open, the finishing was as good as the passes. The game was decided.
After half time we had our usual ten or fifteen minutes dawdle, by the final 30 we had re-engaged top gear and the only question was whether we might get four or five. Some decent keeping and close misses kept the score reasonable. Harper I thought had a good game and for a 40 year old shows no sign of fading.
Turning to our lads though;
Front and centre stage last night clearly our goal scorers, our German wizard, the French spinal column of Giroud and Coq, and Santi – I must not forget Santi.
And Jack, my goodness that was a great 25 minutes !!
But less obvious was a very good evening from the defenders, all five of them. They concentrated, they marked their men at dead ball kicks, Ospina took the ball cleanly when he could, and punched hard when he was obstructed, they tackled sharply and stayed on their feet, and dealt with every Hull attack. Now very different to the pattern four or five months ago when the likes of Swansea seemed to reduce us to quivering jelly ? A little unlucky to lose a goal but these things happen, a momentary lapse with Kosc temporarily hors de combat thanks to Meyler.
On that point of the occasional overly physical challenge from Hull I must also praise both Kosc and Coq for their high quality efforts at retribution for earlier kicks received. It is not something I often see which makes it all the more welcome when it does happen. Francis’ stamp on Quinn’s ankle was almost Italian in its cynical perfection, and the ginger Irishman departed a short while after. Mason was oblivious. Kosc’s studding of the cheek of Meyler was equally high class and the Hull player did not recover, though stayed on gamely. Again Mason accepted the tangle as a misfortune. It is very difficult to prove intent. Had it been the other way round I would have been spitting. I would never condone a deliberate and violent assault on an opposition player, however the fruit is always sweet.
The Daily Mail has these pictures this morning of the incident and the aftermath.
Reading the mainstream media this morning ample recognition of the dominance that brought us three points. No doubt that will last all of five minutes until the transfer window opens.
For us it must be tracking Citeh and taking the opportunity to secure second place. Onwards to the Swansea game.
And just for you to enjoy one last time, Ozil at his very best;
Positively Arsenal 
Vidal pre his last injury? not sure he’s reached previous levels that would be required for AFC in the PL. Maybe he will?
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mascherano? i dotn know ….he can still play i reckon…. i dont entirely agree that they turn to shit when they hit 30 years of age. some age well..really well.
maybe not wingers and/or forwards who have to battle and run but midfielders and defenders can certainly play at 31 32 33 34 even and be even better ..tons of experience that can make them effective wihtout the running.
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Fins I would agree Mueller is quality but he would add that much more than Rambo? Maybe? He has certainly achieved more.
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theyre not all like van persie…..
ahahhahaha
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Clarification: Vidal is still recovering, he’d have a season or two in the PL and in the meantime arsenal have Ramsey, you’d spend the Wonga elsewhere, wouldn’t you?
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Muller for me is a forward and Ramsey definitely whilst having tennish tendancies is a ‘midfielder’ for me.
Totally different players, different builds but in way I’d compare Chambo and Muller, I hope that makes sense!
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aha! so if ramsey is to reutn to the box to box role …what happens on the right? wonga=reus? and will santi reveal the tricks to aaron or do a copperfield and vanish
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Wasn’t Mueller playing in midfield tonight? Got to look more closely.
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Not sure many 32-34 year old CBs would’ve enjoyed being on the pitch tonight?
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how old is chielini ?
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More in the wide right forward role for me, supporting the CF? Vaguely similar to the German role he had when they picked a volunteer to fill in at CF during the WC? Guivarch styleeee.
Could be wrong.
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Too old
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If I was Wenger I would persist with developing the Ox as our wide forward on the right and get some goals out of him. goals from the right would make us unbeatable.
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Walcott can do that, and with Sanchez coming back in October, I’d advise the punters to hold on their chips during the transfer window on Walcott leaving. Could be very wrong.
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< possibly coming back in October
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What do you mean sanchez coming in october? Wenger has clause ‘no copa america’ in the contract. Its in small print under paragraph 16.b
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Fins: Looking at a replay of the match and Mueller is popping all over the place right but predominantly wide right.
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I’m preparing for the worst!
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Wenger’s going to the Copa himself, and coming back with a couple of new peaches.
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Against City Away the team was Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Chambo, Sanchez, Giroud.
Interesting variations are now possible and I guess the starting eleven just comes down to who is in form and fit.
If Arsenal were still playing in there CL, there’d be some rotation I’m sure of it, and it would be harder to work out what the first eleven would be because that would be relative to who doesn’t need a rest etc. so I won’t worry about it.
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d_c: Preferably a right footed goal scorer. Heh, Heh, Heh.
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Going back to suarez he may not have finished but a constant threat always hussling opponents always fighting…neymar on the other yes he has skill but i dont like him..bit of a poser….this rakkitic..not bad at all
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If they ain’t better than Walcott, I would keep my powder dry.
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Blown away by Messi’s second goal. The way he dinked it past Neuer was wicked. Ronaldo couldn’t make that play even in his wildest dreams.
Muller is amazing. He doesn’t look like much of a footballer, but the kid is out of this world.
This type of game is the reason no one will ever remember Mourinho.
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I would love it if we nicked Javi Martinez from Bayern this summer.
I hope Bellerin soaked up all he could from Dani Alves because, damn it, that dude can play.
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Read it somewhere else cant remember exactly. Chavski fans watching last night going : what sport is this?
Class
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Problem for the rest of us is that Mike ‘clean as a whistle’ Riley was thinking the same thing!
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even arsene played the system ‘everyone around the D’ in camp nou
but pep plays only one way…apparently …buhahah..tactically inflexible
fuck them all..arsene took pep to the cleaners at the home game..if he didnt have messi and the academy of the century with characters like fucking puyol and xavi ffs how much of this pep myth would have been in our faces.
im with beckenbauer.
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It took a combination of Busacca’s and Bendtner to save Guardiola’s arse in that last Arsenal-Barcelona tie, the pelanty miss against Munchen last year miss him saved from his Muller-phobia. We still saw Young Pep outsmarted in both Home legs of the Arsenal-Barca ties (well the Groaners missed it…) with Messi doing the damage in the first tie on the return. Like all managers he makes mistakes in most, probably all games.
As he gets older and wiser he might become more canny. He might get Munchen playing as well as Jupp Heynckes had them playing haha! Perhaps he needs to go back to copying one or two ideas from AW too, as he has done in the past.
Funny how the sly plundits and other broadcasters are so quick to refer to injuries for these uber-clubs. They really don’t like the Arsenal, do they? For some reason. We don’t care! Heh.
If pep couldn’t make use of Shaqiri and Goetze with Robben and Robert out I’m not sure I have much sympathy even if the younger two were out, was Shaqiri on the bench? Where’s the Munchen equivalent of say a Gnabry? Oh, he’s at the Arsenal! Hehe. Good player is Gnabbers. I hope he recovers well from a year out the game.
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VACANCY POSITIVE SUNSHINE VEHICLE SERVICE – FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE ON THE BUS OR MORE REQUIRED
PSV operator/driver required for the visit of Swansea City to the Ems on Monday the 11th of May.
In recent weeks I have been writing up a review of the games but for the week starting on Saturday I shall be on a walking trip with no access to either the internet or, I fear, any TV on Monday!
Therefore I thought I would advertise the opportunity for one of the formidably erudite and knowledgeable boys and girls who contribute to the blog to step in and save the day, and pen a match review of the Swansea game. It should be a good game of football I think as Swansea are no cloggers. We need the points. It will be a proper contest.
Desirable skills; GSOH, wisdom, humility, the capacity to inspire and disgust in equal measure.
Essential skills; “keeping George happy”
(Previous Groaners need not apply)
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Boateng, he had a great game in last summers WC final. Football, eh?
He was relatively fresh for that game not having played every three days throughout the tournament. And Aguero and Messi and had strains last season and both were slugging it out through knocks and niggles during the WC so Argentina were not at their best or sharpest going forwards I felt.
Last nights game started at such a furious pace, did the Munchen players tire a fraction in that second half? Was Boateng a tiny bit heavy legged, just enough to make the difference on that move?
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I find it very difficult to criticise any defender of any club or any country if they come up against Messi when he is on fire.
And last night for him he was relatively quiet for 70 minutes then kaboom! He flicked up a gear and left Boateng on his arse, the same as I suspect he would have done to any other player ( or players) who happened to be in the way.
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When Munchen beat Barcelona 0-3 at the nou camp two seasons ago Messi was injured and on the bench. They had the F Word on the pitch!
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I’m going to the Swansea game. I’ll have a go, looking forward to what should be as usual a good contest between two teams that like to play. But my efforts might not make it past the management.
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Excellent Fins – I suspect we shall be in for a double treat !!
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konscielny – the power of Arsenal fans
smile…candid camera …..
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ray parlour why oh why? wont you think of the children ????
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Fins: Pep almost cost Munchen the tie in the 1st 20 mins with his choice of 3 at the back vs the best attacking trio in the world. Adjusting to 4 at the back is not the mark of a tactical genius, it is the act of a manager too clever by a half, much like keyboard mgrs on other blogs who keep prattling away that AW is dumb to play Ramsey cause we lack width. As things turned out Barca destroyed them in the last 20 as they succumbed to the pressure as the 2nd half took its toll. Somebody on twitter made the point that given the fatigue and strain Pep should have made a sub at the 75th minute to relieve the pressure. Hindsight, yes, but pretty damning for somebody who is supposed to be s tactical genius.
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My impression was Pep had played a tactical masterclass ’til Messi struck Shots.
Clearly Enrique must be the tactical genius, appearing to allow Munich to control the game, with Messi, Neymar and Suarez blunted between the 15th and 77th minute, before cleverly unleashing the Argentine when I, and Pep, least expected it !!
( and if you believe that you will believe anything)
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Pep was possibly hoping for a little bit better from the best goalkeeper in the world who seemed to choose last night to produce the kind of performance that would have been slated in an Arsenal shirt.
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“I find it very difficult to criticise any defender of any club or any country if they come up against Messi when he is on fire.”
I know a certain French-Polish defender who faced a younger, fitter Messi and kept him in his pocket. And his Swiss-Ivorian partner wasn’t too shabby. either.
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Forever: I don’t blame Neuer in the least. His 3 man defence was ripped open twice in the 1st 20 minutes and only his almighty feet kept out goal bound shots. In the last 20 minutes his luck had by then run out as Messi was too good. He deceived him with his eyes for goal #1 and the lob with his weaker right foot was sumptuous.
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Fin, I believe Boateng threw himself out of the way in order to avoid a foul, hoping that Neuer would make the save.
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Kosc did a good job on Messi at the Ems, Gains
He might have done a good job at the Camp Nou but for Cesc and his bloody back heel, to which Messi said ” thanks very much”. Kosc giving away the final penalty was a bit of a downer. Just the two goals that evening.
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heh ….you trolling anicoll?
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Shotta: I think I was more pointing out the inconsistencies of critics and the value of reputation than really blaming Neuer – and in fairness Netball duty meant I didn’t see the first half anyway!
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The exchange has come up trumps and I have managed to secure a ticket for the final League match of the season. If any other Positivas are going it would be fun to meet up beforehand.
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I am impressed. I have looked at the TX about 5 times a day for the past week and since Chelsea won the title in the expectation of seeing a few seats come up – the only ones I have seen have been club class which i am far too tight to go for.
I am relyng on WBA sending a few back
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I just looked again to see four club class seats £189 each for the Baggies. FFS !
£189 ( banned horrified face)
the TX for the Sunlun and Swansea games are absolutely open though – dozens for each game upper ad lower tier
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Some great snaps from the brilliant Stuart MacFarlane
Stuart MacFarlane @Stuart_PhotoAFC 2m2 minutes ago
#Arsenal and Wigan line up before the last match at Highbury 9 years ago today. A bit of a self portrait. #afc https://flic.kr/p/9n6n1G
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