Greetings on this fine early Autumn morning to you all, and above an excellent snap from the Mirror this morning that captures the moment the battle turned decisively last night.
A little more chipper in my mood this morning and I suspect I am not the only Arsenal fan with a little skip in their step, a gleam in his or her eye. If I were a squirrel I would have risen especially early to grab some extra winter store.
And the spring for this more joyous demeanor we all know. Well who would have thought it? The man they could not hang – or allegedly Arsenal football club could not give away in the Summer – Mathieu Flamini. Deadwood to destroyer of worlds in the space of 90 busy minutes at the Lane! Well, well, well.
The game itself was what I expected. Plenty of scurrying after the ball, both sides a mix of experience and squad players. Having sat largely un-played on the bench since August these players were not going to pass up the chance to impress the crowd in the stadium or the legions at home. Fewer youngsters than I expected in red shirts, perhaps a firm indication of how much stronger our squad is these days.
Our players?
Per and Chambers I thought were excellent at the back, with Callum showing none of the nerves that characterized his start against Liverpool. He is growing into the role literally and metaphorically. Huge bad luck to net an own goal but after a brief shake of the head there was no evidence of him letting it prey on his mind and he played as well as before the accident to the final whistle.
Ramsey did his box-2-box thing which he does so well. The Ox worked hard and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet. Olly worked his arse off again and will earn his just rewards soon.
Debuchy was picking up some stick but given his lack of match time so far this season it seemed a bit unfair. Whisper it quietly to the Scarfers that Danny Rose – yes him – was actually having what is known as a “good game” and flying past Debuchy and Joel. It happens sometimes – opposition players play well; in Rose’s case unexpectedly well. Gibbs’ header off the line at 1-1 was another crucial roll of the dice. Thank Gawd for goal line technology or that would have brought the game to a standstill.
I did not see anyone in red fail to put in a decent effort. I suspect Campbell is disappointed that he did not make a bigger splash but he was eager with some good touches, more chances will come his way.
And the opposition?
It seemed Spuds had decided to go rather more youth/experimental than us but I thought they put up a decent performance that on another night, and we have had a few, might have earned them at worst extra time and possibly more. Very much in the balance at 1-1. Eriksen is a top quality footballer, Townsend did well and, as I mentioned above, Rose nearly cracked us open. Fazio looks like an accident in a constant process of happening – with a face like his surely a career in gangster movies beckons if he does not master this football lark.
So onward to the KingPowerWalkersCrispsDrome on Saturday for what will be probably a good physical working over from the Foxes and our old friend Claudio Ranieri. Am I worried? No I think we have our mojo retrieved and shining brightly.
Bring on the next one.
Enjoy your Wednesday.
Positively Arsenal 
TEAM NEWS: COQUELIN, WILSHERE, WELBECK
Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Leicester City:
on team news…
After Tuesday night we have no new injuries. We have an uncertainty about Gabriel as his case will come forward today and we will find out if he is suspended or not and overall that is the news we have.
on Coquelin…
He is progressing well, but he will not be available for Leicester. He has a scan today but the evolution is quite positive. He might start practice tomorrow. He has a little chance for Tuesday, and a bigger chance for Man United. It is very difficult to be definite today.
on Wilshere, Welbeck and Rosicky…
They are all doing well. Jack just had surgery so at the moment he cannot do anything. Danny is doing well, Tomas Rosicky as well.
on Wilshere’s operation…
It was very successful and touch wood hopefully all goes well now.
Arsenal.com is the only place to follow live coverage of Saturday’s Premier League game at Leicester City. Our show starts at 2.30pm (UK time).
Copyright 2015 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150925/team-news-coquelin-wilshere-welbeck#Oqw61BGmIUWC4dtf.99
LikeLike
Arsenal Under-21 starting XI v wolves : Macey, Moore, Bola, Kamara, Bielik, Pleguezuelo, Iwobi, Sheaf, Mavididi, Hinds, Willock
subs: Mourgos, Huddart, Chatzitheodoridis, Robinson, Eyoma
LikeLike
Sport Witness @Sport_Witness 4h4 hours ago
In decades to come A-Level psychology students will be taught about the The Wenger Complex as suffered by Jose Mourinho.
LikeLike
Wenger: “Ranieri built Chelsea’s team at the start. In 2003/04 they were 2nd – they were on the up.”
Wenger: “I have a big respect for Ranieri; he is a great manager & a great man.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walïd Arsenal @1Walid1 4h4 hours ago
I’m in tears laughing at Jose’s latest press conference.
Could easily mistake him for a drunk tramp mumbling on about how life is unfair. 😂
LikeLike
What mistake would that be Eddy?
Haha.
LikeLike
Arsenal U21’s went behind on 20 minutes, then Macey made an outstanding save on 22 minutes and then a minute later Willock levels the game, 1-1 at the moment.
LikeLike
the saddest thing about the whole Mourinho obsession of Wenger is how the idiot British journos do not call him out on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gabriel got 1 match suspension, I guess the Spurs game won’t count, so it’s the BFG and Kos for Leicester with young master Chambers as cover on the bench.
I must say I’m liking how he is growing in his role as the Young Apprentice.
Livepool at home and Spurs away are a tough baptism at CB for anyone.
Our defensive options do look pretty nifty, eh?
LikeLike
FH @5:50 pm
If you’re on Twitter I’m sure our Hong Kong Gooner brethren can give you a heads-up on where to watch. normally I’d suggest going to be nearest Orish pub in these circumstances where ever you are in the world, but I think Rugby tomorrow would take precedence.
LikeLike
HT: Wolves U21’s 1-2 Arsenal U21’s
Mavadidi gave AFC the lead on 33 minutes.
LikeLike
Iwobi has made it 3-1 to AFC, 80 minutes
LikeLike
Wolves have made it 3-2 – 82 minutes
LikeLike
FULL-TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s 2-3 Arsenal Under-21s
LikeLiked by 2 people
thats five wins from five for the U21’s, and five goals in the five games for Mavididi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fight… Oh sh*t. (Jolly tune):
LikeLike
so minimum of 3 changes for AFC from the CFC game, Cazorla and Gabriel suspended, with Coquelin injured. I’d expect
Cech
Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal
Arteta Ramsey
Oxlade-Chamberlain Ozil Alexis
Walcott
subs
Ospina, Debuchy, Chambers, Gibbs, Flamini, Campbell, Giroud
LikeLike
I thought Santi’s one game suspension was spent at the Lane Eddy ?
LikeLike
Santi has served his suspension.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Santi not suspended he only missed the spuds game
LikeLike
jinx
LikeLike
from what Arsene was saying Flamini/Arteta will be a close call, he will make up his mind in the morning. Personally I dont think our captain is 100% match fit. whether that means its best to play him to get better or let him recover more in training is a difficult one.
LikeLike
I expect Santi to be on the bench – he looks a bit tired and a break will do him no harm so he is sharp for the Greeks
LikeLike
Interesting news about the World Cup in Qatar in November/December 22
I have no doubt Arsene is on it already, ensuring we take the inside track
LikeLike
yeah my mistake, santi is available, so likely to play I would say, with Ramsey moved out to the right again, ox to miss out.
LikeLike
16 year old Dutch striker Donyell Malen has received clearance from FIFA to play for Arsenal, after his summer move from Ajax.
LikeLike
on the same day our first team beat spurs in the coc, our u18’s beat spurs 5-3, with some class goals
LikeLike
Alan Davies view of CFC
LikeLiked by 1 person
Argentinians bantering with Brazilians about the pope being one of their own. This is fucking hilarious.
LikeLike
Morning Positivas!
Steww, where art thou? I need my match day fix…earlier is always better. Especially as some commitments would deny me the opportunity to see the match as live.
LikeLike