So the jittery Jonas worked their dark magic, cast their evil spells and brought down upon us the wrath of the Injury Gods. Meanwhile their minions have run free on twitter and loosed the Arsenal Hate Mob from where victory after victory had forced them ever deeper into their foetid lair. Even they will not feast for long on a League Cup exit however; poor, scant pickings which cannot long sustain even the hungriest of malcontents.
It’s true they have a couple of minor injuries to keep them going but these were not the result of playing in the League Cup. They didn’t come about through contact sustained at Hillsborough, they would have happened the next time those players hit the training ground or on the next match day. As such even the self deluded Arsène haters must baulk at harping on for too long over injuries to an ex scapegoat and the chèvre-du-jour. They have picked over the bones of the inclusion of a couple of youngsters, the existence of whom they had hitherto not even suspected, and now they are left howling and hungry and hoping Swansea will win this afternoon.
Meanwhile back in the land of the marginally less swivel eyed we are all excited to see who gets the nod on the right wing. Le Boss appears to have pencilled in Joel Campbell but he also mentioned shuffling the pack or picking exciting young Nigerian winger Alex Iwobi. Nervous times for Joel. If he doesn’t get the fabled managerial nod and loses out to a player from the under 21 squad it would send a very negative message.
It’s coming it a little high to say I’m a huge fan, but I do feel that Joel has a lot to offer and his performances at international level and on loan suggest he has the right stuff. As ever we’ll wait until the team is announced and then suffer a loud and public nervous breakdown about it, humiliating ourselves with a show of petulance on social media which would embarrass a teething toddler who’d just heard of a cut to their milk ration.
I like to remain positive as you probably know and keep a sense of perspective. We have a big squad because we may suffer a lot of injuries. We have a fantastic youth set up because the club’s ethos is to promote from within as well as to buy from without. When injuries begin to exact a toll the youngsters and squad players need to seize the opportunity and put on a show.
One man who has hit form at just the right time is Olivier Giroud. His control, the jealous way he protects the ball, the impudence with which he plays in those around him and his finishing skills are a joy to behold. True the team doesn’t play in the same way with him on point as it does with Theo, and true the other players have been adapting to Theo’s movement and pace, but they are all big boys, professionals at the top of their game in fact and as such they can and will quickly adjust.
The key when you play Larry up front is not just crosses and anticipating his deadly near post runs it is being alert to his little flicks and nudges around the edge of the area. He needs people who will run on past him as he out muscles the centre back and plays the ball into the box. It is whoever comes in for Aaron that needs to be most alive to these possibilities, but Santi and Mesut can profit as well. Theo’s pace is a weapon no team would want to lose but the world is full of things we want and can’t have. I for example would love a Bruce Thomas Profile bass with its classic salmon pink finish, and tortoise-shell scratchplate, but I don’t have a spare 500 spondulicks and so I’ll make do without it.
Unless we’re talking food, freedom or a home there really is no need to wring your hands and bemoan what you don’t have. Look at what you do and then thank your lucky stars or a deity of your choice. Yes we have a huge injury list. Yes it has suddenly blown out like a dodgy remould on the M6. This is only one side of the coin though isn’t it? There are plenty of reasons to be positive too and as I keep saying whether you focus on the negatives in life or upon the positives is simply a matter of choice.
People on both sides of the debate will argue that no, they are the realists, facing the facts which the other side simply find too inconvenient to consider, but that is so much hogwash. Choice. You choose. You make a conscious decision to look long and hard at our injury crisis and push away your untouched dinner plate as you choke back a helpless sob. Likewise you choose rather to look at our amazing and enviable away record. It’s your choice to toss and turn as you agonise over our defeats against Chelsea and Olympiacos rather than smiling warmly at thoughts of our consistency taken over the long term. Do you ponder on how many years have elapsed since we’ve won the league, or would you rather revel in back to back FA Cup victories?
Choice. Don’t pretend you don’t exercise it because you do, we all do. If all you can talk about are the negatives, the portents of disaster and the failings of previous seasons you are not making stuff up, you aren’t a fantasist, all of the things you say are based in fact but you are choosing to make them the central thrust of your thesis. It’s a toss of a coin. There are reasons to be cheerful and there are reasons to doubt, but you have free will and only you can choose which of them is the most important.
The late great and still so painfully missed Bill Hicks put it best. He was talking about life in general, and not just that part of it given over to following a football team, but I’m going to give him the last word on the subject. Not because I’m lazy and can’t think of a better way of putting it myself, at least not only because of those things, but because he sums it up so well
“The world is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it’s real because that’s how powerful our minds are. The ride goes up and down, around and around, it has thrills and chills, and it’s very brightly colored, and it’s very loud, and it’s fun for a while. Many people have been on the ride a long time, and they begin to wonder, “Hey, is this real, or is this just a ride?” And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and say, “Hey, don’t worry; don’t be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride.” And we … kill those people. “Shut him up! I’ve got a lot invested in this ride, shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry, look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.” It’s just a ride. But we always kill the good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? And let the demons run amok … But it doesn’t matter, because it’s just a ride. And we can change it any time we want. It’s only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. Just a simple choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one.”
So where does all this leave us today? Apart from the subs bench it is a simple question of who starts the match in front of Hector. Oh and there’s the small matter of overcoming Swansea and keeping up the pressure at the top. The Swans represent a curious bête noire do they not? I love the place, being as it is the gateway to one of my favourite spots on earth. The Gower peninsula is as rugged and beautiful as the incisive football with which it’s local team has undone us on more than a couple of occasions. It’s odd for me to try and see them as a bogey team or bugaboo if you prefer because I like the way they play. They have some pretty good footballers and an unassuming coach, and of course are emphatically not Chelsea.
As you know I eschew the league table this side of Christmas but I do like to lift the skirts of the form guide and have a quick look at our opponents recent run of matches. Swansea sit fourteen places below us having only won once in their previous six games when they bought home all the points from a trip to a beleaguered Villa Park. Their home form tells a different story. In a season where more points than ever have been won by visiting teams Swansea have only lost one in their previous five home matches.
So the stats tell us much the same story as our guts do. We have the fire power and the ability to overcome the home team but they will be difficult to beat and dangerous going forward. Whoever plays in front of Hector will need to work with him in defence and as such I believe Joel Campbell is the right choice. His crosses may have been a little wayward at Wednesday on Tuesday but his tracking back and tackling were one of the few highlights on that most forgettable of nights.
I will as ever be enjoying this latest part of the ride, my eyes full of hope and my lucky Arsenal cup a mere coincidence. Those of you fortunate enough to be going to the game can always drop in for a cuppa on the way back, turn off at junction 18 of the M4 and I’m just down the road. I’ll join the rest of you here at three o’clock.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Stew – the force is with you today
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Steww you take us to another level # Enjoy the ride
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Arsene has said he doesnt really want to disrupt other departments so I would imagine switching Santi, Alexis or Hector wont be his first option and a straight replacement is more likely. Campbell is obviously the favourite as Steww says his tracking back and tackling is a big plus. I think he has undoubted talent its just his decision making that needs to improve when to pass, when to shoot, when to beat a man. If he is to play there today he will also have to learn when to take players inside to give Hector room to attack.
If Iwobi is one attacking option on the bench then maybe the recalled Dan Crowley just might make up the second. His simmilarities to Jack have been well noted and after a loan spell at Bolton Jack made his debut away at Blackburn also from the bench.
He is certainly more advanced in his developement than the other youngsters involved with the first team training in the week.
November looks difficult on paper and if we are to avoid another black November we may just need a kickstart result today to surpress and doubts about the injuries.
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Bloody hell. I had not even considered a “black November” ……………….until now.
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A Stew Black November is a positive November.
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How this site doesn’t win awards , is beyond me.
3 years and no silverware, with all the talent on show is a disgrace. It can only be bad management. I blame……………………………oh…….bollocks.
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i was going to make a funny comment about injuries but then I started to think about losing key people at key times which of course we have. George you have had some true greats on here.
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Gaw, I love it. Waking up to a free literary-gasm!
The first paragraph is ****ing epic! and then it gets better.
The whole Campbell thing fits nicely within the subject matter of our players ‘finding their feet’ thing, which has been widely explored over many days. Indeed, I’d written a long piece following our last win, but didn’t send as I wondered about any perceived hypocrisy/sanctimony.
In “reporting-live” during the last home match, I mentioned Everton’s goal coming after Ox had tried a shot which was blocked – when he could’ve passed to the right. I hadn’t intended that to slag him off, (I know the plundits wanna talk about us ‘walking the ball into the net’, and that they’ll have loved the shot-block followed by a goal coming from a massive, unfortunate deflection, but that’s cos they’re simply a bunch of ****’s, IMO).
I felt crestfallen whilst reading the twatter posts berating Ox. Yes, I’ve read here and elsewhere that anti Arsenal negavistas do this stuff but I don’t read twatter, so it somehow came as horrible shock to me. And that was just one thread!
Cue: Bill Hicks. Inspired.
You know, even if we didn’t do so well in our next few games, I choose to rest easy just from the knowledge that Danny, Aaron, Jack and Theo, etc won’t be playing internationals. Hurrah.
I wish Arsenal all the best over these next few weeks and hope Ashley Williams isn’t able to break our teams’ bones, as is his wont. Today’s match should largely be… football.
I guess I’d better go and clean up.
COYG
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PG @ 10:37
“Like”.
“Smiley”
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Concurring with Rantetta; If Carlesberg wrote opening paragraphs…
Damn miffed I didn’t manage to get a ticket now, what with the offer of tea and chat on way home.
UTA
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This post really put those choosing to remain negative in their place. Great stuff Stew. We’ll miss Ramsey, Theo and Ox but them “rebooting” also open the door for Joel to impress and show everyone he belongs. The same door that gave Coquelin, Bellerín, Ramsey, Monreal etc their chance.
I’ve seen some already said Arsène is setting Joel up for failure by unfairly “putting him under the microscope”. These same idiots burn Giroud, Ramsey, Özil, BFG, etc relentlessly with a magnifying glass under the bleating sun. Hopefully scraping the bottom of barrel will lead them back that holes from whence they came.
I’m expecting the game to be tight. Those Monk’s hv been using their energies sparingly the last 2 months in preparation for this one. Hopefully an early goal will wind them and we’ll beat them by 3 goals, ruining their next few months too.
I made my choice – Up the Arsenal and enjoying the roller-coaster ride, including it’s ups and downs. Wonderful memories made.
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Nice one Stew,we always win after a comedy result. 2-1 to The Arsenal today.
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there is no doubt that injuries have badly hit our match day squad, possibly all 8 of those injured would be in our match day squad any given week, but with everyone fit no more than two of our injured would likely be in our first choice starting 11, be it Ramsey and Theo, or Jack and Welbeck, etc etc.
Yes having 8 players out is bound to stretch our squad, and for me its now or never for Campbell, he has done the loan thing, he has a wealth of experience in several leagues, he has starred at a World Cup, he now looks like he has a direct route into the Arsenal team, so its up to him to do a Bellerin or Coquelin and take his chance.
I really do hope that Crowley or one of our other attacking youth players are included along with Iwobi on the bench today, as I don’t see the point in having 4 defenders and Flamini on the bench and only Iwobi as an attacking option. Crowley, Willock or even Mavadidi on the bench gives us more scope
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Up the Steww. A total demolition of the negative Nellies. Ever since Wenger led the modern transformation of Arsenal into a Super Club,there is a certain vocal section of the fanbase who who need very little prompting by the media to pour doom and gloom at every setback, every defeat and every injury. They learn nothing from the fact that Wenger’s Arsenal has a history of triumphing over the odds consistently among the top-four and more recently back-to-back FA cup titles. Every loss of a great player has been an opportunity for new stars to emerge. Who remembers Van Persie or Fabregas of modern vintage when we have Ozil, Alexis and Cazorla. So it was at the beginning, so shall it be at the end.
Come on Campbell, Iwobi or Dan Crowley
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Come on the Arsenal!
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Great piccie too, thanks.
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HT: Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Couthino will now be better than Ozil again.
I see Matic and Cesc dropped by CFC today.
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I don’t bloody care about the stupid comparisons with Ozil If Coutinho can sporadically score as many wonder goals against our top opponents as he just did against Chelsea. Come on Liverpool.
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Arsenal team to play Swansea: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Campbell, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.
Substitutes: Macey, Chambers, Debuchy, Flamini, Gibbs, Gabriel, Iwobi.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20151031/-team-news-campbell-starts-at-swansea#pFIEAOlJ5AoV6YBz.99
only complaint I’d have is only one attacking player on the bench, 4 defenders and Flamini is too negative option wise
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quite a defensive line up…YES POOL … with just Iwobi on the bench but maybe the other lads just weren’t ready. Maybe when Jeff is back he will be there with Crowley.
COYG
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Good to see the Gower get a mention. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Culver Hole back in 1980 on an early May evening, when the tide was in and the waves were about 5ft high with a massive swell, coming down on Overton Mere and looking at the bay, then creeping over at looking at CH, pure magic. Later I managed to climb up and have a look inside but that was a few years later in 82 or 3, was a bit disappointing but I’m not sure what i really expected.The old man wanted my bro and I to go and have a look at Paviland cave but we told him to sod off as it seemed to dangerous what with the tides and reports of people going down into the Davy dark.
I had a look recently and the Lucas salt house looks to have been renovated a bit, and protected form high tides/storms,back in 80 it was just a shell, but a magical place to go and explore. I suppose its only the little kids that do that now.
I recall the best rock pools I ever experienced as a kid at Overton Mere, hermit crabs, fish and no plastic crap in those days.I also recall finding a dead Herring Gull there with its wings spread wide-doesnt sound much but they are big birds, its odd you dont see dead birds to often.
Fall Bay, and all those southerly beaches down to Rhossili, the drop down to Kitchen corner and the wide expanse of Rhossili beach, enough room for everyone.Never made it onto Worms head though.Still got the old guide to the Gower. First time I went we stayed in the old lifeboat House at Port Eynon, and the Arsenal played Valencia in the CWC Final during that time, and the only person who had a radio was some Tottenham fan,(facking Chickens get everywhere!), and the little sadist went on and on about us losing.I hid under the sheets and shed plenty of tears and felt angry and lonely as hell.What a season that was, 70 odd games and empty handed at the end of it and Brady buggered off and we seemed then to be sent to purgatory for years.
Great article Stew, sorry about the nostalgia.Whats does your mate in Bury think of the new sculpture centre that replaced the library?
COYG! and all the best to the Positivists. And may the Swans be dunked in the sloe black, slow, black,crowblack, fishingboat- bobbing sea an that.
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Wonderful stuff Steww, a joy of a read…I fear the negativistas that might read this, will not have the ability to comprehend the first two paragraphs let alone the remainder…
I think Campbell needs to be surrounded by much better and experienced players than last Tuesday in order to play to his maximum…if he starts he may well enjoy himself today…
As I write Liverpool are three to one up….I need to “Kalm down, Kalm down, yah know, hey hey, Kalm down”…
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Comment of the day from Mills at 2.24. Better than my post by a mile. Wonderful. Chequebook George.
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Bellerin started well. Joel tackling back well. We obviously miss Aaron who makes things happen all over the pitch.
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Ki gets a tiny shoulder charge and falls down clutching his knee. What silly Ki.
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Fair to say, I think, that Swansea’s game plan is working better than ours. No one shackling Shelvey and he drives them on. Our best player a defender and only a four attempts none of them particularly troubling Fabulanski.
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The guys are either still drunk after a week off or pacing themselves for Bayern on Wednesday. But that was a terrible 45 minutes of Arsenal football.
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YES YES YES…. 2000TH GOAL NO LESS under AW. well deserved scorer! now for a hattrick for him
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Oh ye of little faith.
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Get out while you still can Joel!
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man city 1-1 norwich, hart with a major error
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chambers on for giroud
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fuck it ruddy cocks up to help city lead 2-1
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Labo Goon called it correctly. Three goals to the Arsenal, three points to the Gooners! The relentless march continues. Brilliant preview, Steww. As always. As always
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Well I told you guys two days ago that Joel Campbell will rise from the ashes despite the negativity from social media especially from the so-called big bloggers and big accounts on twitter.
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am so happy for Campbell.. very hard worker… he deserved that!
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A good afternoon’s work all round – listened to the game on the radio so looking forward to seeing it live later
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Sounds like Campbell is a good ‘squad’ player at the very least…..
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I almost lost it with that Giroud knock.
I am extremely happy for Joel Campbell. I thought he had a good game.
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Shame City didn’t drop points.
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Serious rotational fouling going on from Swansea, with help from their Friend. His 1st half tilting was unacceptable.
I’d be happy to give MOTM to Campbell. How bloody hard did he work? How many tackles did he make? And he’s been waiting soooo long for a chance to play properly with the 1st team squad – out on loan all over the shop. I’m sure I read that he and his partner had a baby, too?
Kudos maximus for “no predictions/won’t tell you line-up” Steww, who well and truly Nailed It.
Alexis put in an amazing shift given the usual kicks and how he looked tired at times. Bellerin stuck to his task so that the frisky Montero ran out of puff. Giroud got a kicking but still scored his 65th Ars goal on his 150th appearance. Kos was Kos, and scored. Čech selfish in his desire to not let anything past him. Per/Coq/Santi/Nacho/Özil/all worked super hard.
This is by far the most resolute performance I’ve seen vs Sawnsea (nee Bolton), all coming on the back of a tiring couple of weeks.
Well done PA, well done Arsenal.
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Solid and professional generally. Good game from Campbell – shutting up the doubters (me included).
I thought the ref was fine – many would have given the penalty for Gomis’s dive and a foul on Lukas for our second, but he gave us both of those decisions. No complaints from me.
Let’s hope all are fit for Bayern.
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Campbell worked so hard today and derserved his goal, champagne charlie said just before the match we should of sold him in the summer, well if he had of worked that hard in just one game he may well of done better at ARSENAL.
It was a strange game from everyones friend, I liked how he let lots go early on however after a time just keep talking to players meant they were happy to foul away to their hearts content. in the context of the game then maybe you can understand how the Boss’s goal was allowed to stand when in 99.9% of games it was and would of been a foul on fab.
That descision was so important as the game was finely balenced up until then and we never looked in trouble after.
Cech was again brilliant in places and very very efficient in others in a game our defensive caperbillity as a team was not at its best. Having said that swansea looked very good and I dont think it will be long before they start climbing the table once again, as Arsene said gary monk has done very well and will carry on doing very well.
Iwobi’s minute and a half plus injury time went well and he kept the ball well and got involved quickly.
Finally our breakaways were awful today and we will have to be more efficient against the germans to get a result, I think that was mainly due to decision making again rather than execution so its something we can put right.
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In retrospect this game ended perfectly from AW’s perspective. The main guys returned from a week’s rest, played themselves into the game in the 1st half, turned it up in the 2nd half, scored 3 goals and no injuries. Perfect preparation for Munchen.
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For a crucial 2 minutes today our season hung on the state of Giroud’s knee. When Colin Lewin whispered in his earphone I feared the worst.
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colin
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a_or_b: I suspected I got the wrong one.
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and to cap off a good day, the special one refused to answer questions in his post match interview with the BBC, petty, petulant, ignorant little man, who acts like a spoilt toddler anytime things don’t go his way, yet so many AFC fans stick up for him.
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some say Bellerin does not possess a defenders instincts
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