A guest post from @foreverheady
Meaningless methadone it may have been and for the manager and team no doubt a low stakes game, where getting fit and building up gently for the rigours to come was the main priority. And yet Arsene would have known that it was also a game that the team was expected to win, and win well – and that the right result would do much to build momentum and confidence. It was a useful, risk free game for the critics too: a win would be treated as all that should have been expected and that counted for nothing, while a stumbling draw or embarrassing defeat sure signs that the team was lacking the key personel so obstinately ignored by the out of touch manager.
But as things turned out, something rather wonderful emerged from a game which certainly exceeded my expectations – and given that this was the third time in a row that this has happened it is perhaps time to start taking it seriously. In the final game of the 14/15 League season Arsenal needed a point to secure third place in the table, their charge towards second spot having been derailed by two disappointing home results (with no goals scored each time) and a lacklustre point at Old Trafford. West Brom at home was a nice way to finish the campaign, but there were plenty saying that if we couldn’t break down the Swansea and Sunderland defences we would struggle to do so against a Pulis team. To add to the interest the following week’s Cup Final ensured that players would be anxious to make a last claim on a starting spot, while also remaining injury free. Arsene rested Giroud and started with Walcott up front and in an astonishing display of free flowing football Arsenal scored four goals, with Theo bagging three. It was breath-taking and the WBA defence was shredded. Much the same happened at Wembley: once again Walcott started centrally; once again the team scored four with Walcott the first scorer.
Fast forward seven weeks or so to the game yesterday, and Walcott was again a central attacker, although this time paired with Giroud in what looked suspiciously like a 442. I have to say it didn’t come as a total surprise to see Theo open the scoring, but what was slightly unexpected was the fluency and sharpness of the team, who seemed to pick things up exactly as they had left them at Wembley. At times the Everton players looked compleley bemused by the speed and trickery of their opposition, and if you haven’t seen the game I urge you to find a recording of it somewhere. Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere were unplayable, the stretching runs of Walcott almost impossible to predict. This was football of the highest order, football that no English club has produced for some time – and as I say, it was the third time in three games that it has happened. Yes, it was only a pre-season friendly (although before the game I was told Everton would provide a stern test). Yes, Aston Villa were poor (although before the Final I was told that they would be awkward opponents). Yes, the Baggies played as if they were already on the beach (although before the game I was told they would be resolute and well-organised). And yes, harder games lie ahead and we won’t always have it our own way (thanks for pointing that out because I would never have thought it, wet behind the ears that I am).
But given the evidence of yesterday, you would be foolish to think anything else than this side is transforming into something rather special who play football in a most unusual and next-level way. Any new signings will have to fit into this new evolving pattern – and, of course, help it evolve still further. These are exciting times to follow The Arsenal – and yes, it is only pre-season, but if you can’t be optimistic and excited in July, then you really have no business being a fan at all.
Positively Arsenal 
Rantetta,
that link is brilliant so here it is again http://forums.liverpoolfc.com/threads/375497-Arsenal-Wenger I know im late but im going to post it on twitter maybe it might make some of the haters feel guilty
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Comment no. 50.
‘Spose I’ll be kicked and cheated!
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as it is, liverpool fans value arsene more than most arsenal blogers.
on aclf today (sorry to bother you guys) yw says the only advantage of finishing in the top four is financial and that there is no sporting merit. sometimes i feel the idiots at le grove are more cultured than this snake. how he managed to hide his true colour for so many years is still beyond me.
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As, I’m obviously feeling a bit Victim this morn.
I thought my 50th comment to be so clever… And then, not only was it not the 50th comments but A or B had beaten/copied me with the very idea. (I thought of it first). Tut!
I must confess, I was momentarily worried about posting that Liverpool link, but at the time of viewing it there wasn’t a single anti Wenger comment.
I couldn’t believe it. I really wanted to write and tell the scousers that the anti Arsenal brigade are mere contrivances, and I’m glad I didn’t, having seen Laykside’s 09:51.
Would someone post that link on aclf,,please? (I can’t go on there, sorry. It’ll Fk up my day).
Ok. You’ve kinda done that already, A or B thank you. These so and so’s really need to be shamed (again and again).
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Ox is sage:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCjcFEv1a4
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can anyone tell me why Coquelin “can not be expected” to play a full season, he is 24 years old, so not a kid, he is a tough little so and so, playing on with a broken nose for example, and he played at a high level for the entire second half of last season, in fact he played regular from early november (5 games with Charlton), and in total played 35 first team games last season.
But I see so many on the web say he “can not be expected” to play the full season for us this coming season, none of them have as yet explained why this is, anyone got any ideas, for me I think its cos he did not cost £25M, as that would make all the difference.
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Eddy,
‘Cos Ramires will come in and give him another ankle stomp (previous one has been ignored by the self declared experts who airbrushed his previous performances before last season against Tottenham, Chelsea, Utd etc. out from their tiny little minds).
That’s why the Flame’s valiant performance against Besiktas has been airbrushed from the record by these liars, alongside the impact of such draining, hardcore and intense contests on the start of a season (Udinese etc.). He covered his wages over the last few years with that performance and then some.
When all the experts were attempting to compare Bellerin with Merida even though he had been named in the first team squad in order to justify their depressive sado-masochitsic bleating (bells, chains, whips and whistles), well, I guess that we can see what Experts they truly are! Experts that don’t appear to watch the actual Football!
Maitland-Niles is just one player who played in the two last season for the first team, and play well. Hayden seems to be going through some re-conditioning which might mean he’s not ready for if rst team action, but he also impressed in first team games playing in the Position of D**M (think it was against West Brum?).
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I wouldn’t waste your time with those who failed in their attempt to propagate such lies as:
Doesn’t do tactics
Doesn’t coach defence
Vengargggh is an incorrigible Scrooge
Etc.
Hoisted by their own petard. Quite high. For all to see!
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yeah fins, I see some say cos Hayden and Bielik were not part of the Asia cup squad that this means they are no where near the first team this season, never mind that Hayden stayed back in London to work on his recovery from injury and Bielik had not returned to training at that point cos he had played youth international football for Poland during the summer.
So many of the AAA give themselves away when they let slip that they wanted x, y or z signed for £25M but had only seen x play once, maybe twice- against AFC in the CL, x scored in the first leg, but they are not at all sure if he played in second leg as they can’t recall any impact he had on the game(by the way he did play in second leg and was useless), they also think y would have been ideal but have never seen him other than in highlights and of course z is a great player although they never seen him play, are not even sure if of his name but he plays in La Liga and for Poland and would cost £25M so he has to be better than not only Coquelin, but all our midfield choices.
Now to be fair to some of them they have seen the guy the want, he ticks all the boxes, he is massive, he is black, so they will ignore that he is as slow as fuck, but at 23 years of age he was outstanding at this summers Euro U21’s,(that is where they seen him on TV) and of course he will cost a shit load of money, as I said all boxes ticked.
Spend some fucking money.
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That was the same Besiktas that dumped Liverpool and the tiny totts out the Uefa Cup (I think).
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Anyone notice the change of tack in regards Sanogo, he is no longer useless, not now that God is part of the management team of the club that has taken him on loan, no now they are already laying the foundations for “Wenger not able to coach the lad to the right level, it took Bergkamp to get the undoubted skill out of him, Dennis should replace Wenger now”
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yes fins they did indeed knock both pool and spuds out of europe, but they were a pub team when they played us.
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I nearly wet the bed when he missed the pelanty. Seriously funny.
Problem is, who could or would trust a Mendez Mule to take the last pelanty in a shoot out in a final? Not me! Nope. I get the impression I’m not the only one who would think that.
–
Imagine being trolled so badly that you act like a puppet on behalf of a slimy Special Agent (one who has more influence in the game then most, bar maybe five or six clubs)? Either that or you are an “expert” in PR. Not for me, thanks.
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Apart from Hayden and Bielik we also have the bloke who plays the position for England and a bloke who has captained wales who can also play the position. Thats if we totally ignore the club captain and a young player from southampton who Arsene said thought his best position might be DCM. I have also seen Glen Kamera play the DM role very well on a number of occasions. So if Le Coq needs a rest or losses form I think we have enough cover. There are some people who dont understand just how much quality our squad now has
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“Which youngsters will appear for Arsenal in the Emirates Cup”
I’d swear it was here a minute ago ?
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Here is the link to George Bird’s excellent blog which I accidentally reblogged (without George B’s permission a few moments ago). Timely as ever, it’s “Which youngsters will appear for Arsenal in the Emirates Cup”.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/
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Gotcha Andrew
Its very good – have a look at it
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its jeorge he’ll get upset
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11754230/Arsenal-transfer-news-Roma-poised-to-take-Wojciech-Szczesny-on-loan-following-Petr-Cechs-arrival-at-Emirates.html
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Those comments on that Liverpool blog are amazing for their genuine honesty about admiration for Wenger.
If it was the usual PA posters saying any of that we’d be accused of just being happy passengers on the sunshine bus, but fair play to them scousers who see it as it really is.
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99% pure steaming horse manure of a rumour Eddy.
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“Sun is shining, the weather is sweet
Make you want to move your dancing feet
To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know ya, where I stand”
Is what Santi Cazorla sang to the dressing room when he joined the other two leaders (MA+BFG, ably assisted by gunnery sergeant Flambo) in the wake of the Great Betrayals.
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I wonder if LFC will be able to match the turnaround seen at AFC following two successive losses of such important players. I doubt it.
Even though they have spent grit loads of Wonga already.
And that’s why the Liverpool fans praise such a brilliant job. They know that given Brandon Rodgers record, the comments from departing players, that it isn’t going to be as quick and impressive a turnaround as has been witnessed at AFC.
I wouldn’t waste my time looking at the comments of the bitter and prejudiced Experts who are still in denial of what has already happened. AFC have left them behind.
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Not forgetting their insane or questionable board.
Ripping up and smoking your players’ contracts amidst a negotiation is not going to impress the other clients of such agents who look after top players.
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Ranty, this is what former Gazprom coach Steve Clarke had to say on the signing of Cech:
“I do smile a bit when I see Jose’s comments because I know inside it will be killing him having to sell one of his best players to a title rival.”
Worth every penny even if he spends his whole time on the bench!
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Glancing through the article by Matt Law, the errors show:
Cahill fouled Sanchez, on the touchline, so Wenger went to the 4th Official to complain. Mourinho, knows his object, so blocks Wenger and thus the foul by Cahill, falls by the wayside.
It was a Southampton fan, who ran over to the the Arsenal dugout, to gloat over Wenger.
The Telegraph, now employs scribblers for football reports!.
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Ivan Gazidis, to show that he was made of the right stuff, led a sleep-out for Centrepoint.
This was on the night of 6th/7th December, 2010.
The Aysenal staff, who took part, were Bruce Tracy, Hendrik Almstadt, Karen Ann Allchurch, Trevor Saving, Laura Rodgers, Karen Laurens, Sarah Chase, Chris Soult, Sam Scammell, Tom Bennett, and not forgetting Lukasz Fablanski for part of the evening at Old Spitallfields Market.
If, I have omitted anyone, please accept my apologies.
As for those cretins who called Fablanski names, who cares! The truth is out there.
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Ta Fins
also for exchanges during arvo and evening with a or b and edu (everyone, really).
The telegraph piece doesn’t sit well with me, as there’s too much airbrushing. No mention of how ManU injured our players at the Ems, or Gazski trying to cripple our players at Hammersmith&Fulham.
It reminds me of the 4-4 at Newcy, where Barton and Nolan, among others, had the “grace” of phat phil, as they tried to snap Diaby’s shin and clearly rabbit punched WS1 respectively. That match was called the best ever prem game??? (I guess the one before must’ve been the kill-fest at le Olde Toilet?)
I’m fascinated to see who’ll ref the CS@ Wembley, and how they’ll do it.
I only found out today that Fab’s ban was reduced to 1 match! WTeffingF!
Bad enough that as always, I way behind the “news”, and typically naive of me to have ever believed CF would get his just desserts.
Trouble is, I find no point in thinking there are changes in the air in relation to Arsenal’s players being hacked from any title attempts – when the ‘same old, same old’ is ongoing. (Though I still find it a miracle that AV players actually got booked in the cup final, given what happened in the 2014 final). Will Stephen *unt types be allowed to visit their knees upon PC33 now that he’s on Arsenals books? Etc, etc. We shall see.
Did I read here earlier that Taylor and Taylor are related, and that the former Eng boss encouraged his nephew to tief Arsenal out of that opening match against AV?
You couldn’t make that sh*t up! (But I was there – and it happened on front of my very eyes/binoculars).
Right, I apologise. I’m not meaning to add misery. I think I’m reacting to my uber
sloth-icity – in learning the info re Taylor’s & Fabregazprom.
Pardon me, please.
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Rantetta, Actually someone did make it up In fact it was Darren Berry that made it up and posted a fake article on twitter.
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Fins: your posts at 636 onwards touch a point I make in a piece I sent George earlier this afternoon.
The comments from the Liverpool fans do not surprise me – there’s a long history of not recognising prophets in your own village, and as my old man used to tell me, there’s none so blind as those that won’t see.
That Darren Berry – he’s a one!
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Don’t know if he’s related to the former England manager but as some wit pointed out in The Gunners pub during the City game, some of these officials, the type observed to send off AFC players for having the wrong colour skin,
“They all look the same”
Same haircut etc.
That’s why clattenburg is a marked man. And missed out on the Supercup game too, which is just a little bit obvious after the final snub*. Not for the hilarious non-pelanty he called during the Leicester victory at the ground where AFC once won a title, did Riley not like that oh no, but for having a healthy head of hair that he shows off at rock concerts, the filthy scoundrel.
Clattenburg is the MOB’s (“RICO Enterprise” haha!) senior official now, Deano is no longer a FIFA official which helpfully explains his last phase clattenburg is the top official with the most experience and we know that Riley is not exactly subtle in his, ah, erm, his methodology. Not giving him either final is just a leeeetle bit too obvious.
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Not ‘fake’
Faction perhaps but never ever fake.
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You sent me a post Tim?
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seemingly Maitland-Niles had a fine game for Ipswich tonight, scoring and assisting in a 3-2 win over Cambridge. Mick McCarthy called him an outstanding talent.
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A new post is up
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