Bonjour mes Positivistas,
A slightly rocky path in our Premier League form safely negotiated yesterday, and three points safely in the basket. My impression was of a thorough performance by us, plenty of sweat and concentration on our part. There was the occasional flash of quality, such as Mesut’s through ball to Joel to tidily finish*, but we did not run through our full repertoire. Could it be perhaps, with a big game not far away on Wednesday, we played just a notch down from top gear in order to preserve a little energy ? Perhaps the final half an hour in Piraeus will provide the answer to that !
Who done well ?
Mesut ran the show and while watching from Row 2 by the edge of the corner box I could see nothing of the ‘big picture’ of the match it did give me the chance to see how skilful the player is, how difficult to dispossess, even along the very narrow edge of the pitch. Time and again the German would wriggle through and away from the opposition, retain the ball and place the pass. I thought Nacho had a good game and in the past few games has much more of an attacking threat, with no obvious decline in his defensive concentration. Flamini I thought did well in the middle alongside Aaron, and allowed the Welshman free rein in the final third. Aaron slightly unlucky to get only one goal yesterday. Another day it could have been three.
And no match review would be complete without a word for the Arsenal fans “go-to scapegoat” (I stole that in case you wondered) Olivier Giroud. Against three centre backs Olivier was in for a hard afternoon. He’s up, he’s down, but he never hides.
On other against a Sunlun side that had come with a BIG GREEN bus plan, and to be fair to whose plan worked pretty well. They came for a point, the extent of Fat Sam’s horizon. Fair enough they are never going to out-football us at the Ems or at the SoL. Five at the back, four across midfield backed up by a 7’ goal keepers was always going to pose us problems but we negotiated the obstacles well. What the hour long TV replay I watched last night on Sky did not show was the long periods when we retained the ball and pulled the visitors backwards and forwards. I heard some total nonsense about “Sunderland were superb”. No they weren’t. “Superb” in the context of Sunderland’s possible performance yesterday would have been clinging on to the 89th minute at 0-0, and then scoring a breakaway goal. They had a plan, tried to execute it. It did not work.
Now, you know me. You know I am not a man ever given to exaggeration or hyperbole. But in the course of yesterday I was part of, indeed fully experienced, what it must be like to suffer from the psychological condition I often natter on about “dysphoria”. You may recall that is a condition in which the sufferer feels a constant state of dissatisfaction, irritability and disappointment, irrespective of the objective circumstances they may find themselves in. I have also highlighted the probability that professional football, and club teams, provided a focus for people of this type to congregate, physically and through social media. Well yesterday, at the front of Block 4 at the Ems I found myself immersed in what appeared to be a mass rally of committed of dysphorics !
I have sat next to and around some shite Arsenal fans. At one of the scale there are a small minority who appear off their heads with their abuse of our players and manager. They suffer from acute and possible incurable dysphoria. At the other end there are the “tutters”, the “groaners”, the “off-for-an-early-half-time-drink-with-30-minutes-gone” brigade. These are milder cases, treatable in most cases but dangerous if allowed to cross contaminate and develop new strains of pessimism and collective misery.
Well the front few rows of Block Four is, without any doubt on my part, the worse epidemic of the condition I have come across. Not one good word to say all afternoon, not one positive syllable.
So Block Four at the Emirates I award you the Joel Campbell Trophy for your Outstanding Contribution to Football Supporting in 2015. Wear it with Pride.
Enjoy your Sunday !
* the header photo courtesy of the Independent of Joel’s composed finish.
Positively Arsenal 
Mandy I’m glad you asked this, as I too can not perform the like function either.
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why are the media(and so many arsenal fans) so keen to further the idea that the BPL this season is so substandard(especially the top couple of teams) compared to previous seasons,
why is it deemed that a league is stronger or more worthy when like in 12/13, at this stage there was already a 10pt gap between 1st and 3rd, or last season when there was 8pts between 1st and 3rd. Surely if one or two teams have already broke away from the rest, it is a sign that the league is more substandard than when no one has got a big lead.
BPL after 15 games this season and the last three seasons
15/16 – 1. Leicester 32pts. 2. Arsenal 30pts. 3. Man city 29pts
14/15 – 1. Chelsea 36pts. 2. Man city 33pts. 3. Man Utd 28pts
13/14 – 1. Arsenal 35pts. 2. Liverpool 30pts. 3. Chelsea 30pts.
12/13 – 1. Man Utd 36pts. 2. Man city 33pts. 3. Chelsea 26pts
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Eddy
English club teams performances in Europe this season have been – at best – moderate.
One reason for weaker top team is that the mid table team have been able to but really quality players – for instance Stoke and West Ham.
Another reason is the FA’s insane demand to start the season 2 weeks too early. All clubs pre-seasons were cut short. At least Arsenal didn’t go on any excessively greedy global tour – but Alexis had no rest after Copa America
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I like Mandy Dodd at 8.06 pm.
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DC the point is that the stats show that this year is basically no different than any of the last few, so why unlike last season why CFC cantered to the title, are the media saying the league is not as good, surely the fact that is tighter shows it may be in fact stronger
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dkg never mind liking it, how about explaining how to get the function to work.
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Kung Fu George is injured? Get well soon, Georgie.
We needed that win. Hopefully we can go to Greece and get a result.
I’m still laughing at all the WOBs who thought Klopp would have been a good replacement for Wenger.
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No idea eddy – I’ve logged in and clicked it several times. Don’t know what’s supposed to happen. That said, I’ve never actually noticed the Like star before. But I see Gains has has got one.
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an article about lifelong Ernie Crouch who died on his way to the game yesterday, the AAA/WOB and the likes of Piers Morgan who is quoted in the article, should take note of the last line of the article
Tributes paid to lifelong Arsenal fan, 90, after freak accident
Anna Slater, Chief Reporter – north London / 23 minutes ago / News
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Tributes have ben paid to a 90-year-old man and lifelong Arsenal fan who died in a freak accident on his way to see a match.
Ernie Crouch died when a gust of wind threw him onto the road and into the side of a moving bus in Chaville Way, Finchley Central, yesterday afternoon.
Described as “the most loyal Gooner ever”, he had been travelling to the Emirates Stadium to watch his side’s match with Sunderland.
Arsenal Football Club wrote on Twitter: “Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong fan Ernie Crouch. May he rest in peace.”
Others on the social networking site called him a “fantastic, loyal supporter.”
Arsenal fan Piers Morgan called for players to wear black armbands during their next game to mark Mr Crouch’s devotion to the club.
He wrote: “I hope @Arsenal players wear black armbands for Ernie Crouch on Wednesday night. No more loyal Gooner ever.”
Meanwhile the Arsenal Supporters Trust said they would be organising a memorial service for Mr Crouch.
They wrote: “RIP Ernie. Loved Arsenal no matter who was in charge or what position we were in, win, lose or draw.”
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Ah. now he should have 2. It says “Like by you and 1 other person”.
I should point out though that I only clicked on Gains’ post to test the system – not because I like it.
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Now Mandy has a Like – someone’s switched the system on.
Come on – own up!
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It seems I can like my own posts – that’s gonna be fun. Only once I guess.
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I like Chelsea 0 AFC Bournemouth 1.
I liked that a lot. Celebrated that with a VERY large Balvennie.
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I shall investigate the Like glitch tomorrow
I suspect browser issues
But I love a challenge ( banned smiley)
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anicoll what I get if I click on the like option is a request to register for a free wordpress domain(which then won’t accept my attempts to do so), or to buy one for £18
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Going back to Andrew’s match report, it has always been like that with supporters. The great thing about the terraces was that if you found yourself standing next to a nutter or a whinger, you could move away. I guess that won’t be accepted by the PTB as a good reason for bringing back terracing though.
My theory is that these moaners moan about everything – the government, their spouse, their Xmas bonus, their lack of a Xmas bonus, the beer in their local, you name it. For them, life isn’t worth living without a good ol’ moan.
I think Andrew’s strategy is great – be just as hysterically positive as they are hysterically negative. Go way over the top with positivity. Have fun with it and the moaners won’t get you down.
I must remember that with referees in future.
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Someone’s hacked your bank account, eddy. Seen that enormous positive balance.
I was just asked to login using my userID.
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You should tell them to fuck off Eddy – or in fact just cancel it – this is a free site – I don’t have any pop ups or stuff like that – as I say I shall have a look tomorrow – I am a technical igoramus. Occasionally I’m lucky.
Sadly I have a family issue at Aberdeen Sherrifs Court that requires my full shit for several angry hours in the morning
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Thanks for the like, and thanks for any attempts to look into it, but consider yourselves all liked until I can like officially
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Going back to an earlier post about home and away games played, it seems that Leicester and United, like us, have played 7H and 8A. City and Spurs have played 8H 7A.
Next week wil bring us and United to 7-9, Leicester to 8-8, and City and Spurs to 9-7.
Not sure what all that means, but I have a feeling the force is with us.
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6th of December last season we had 23 points
Leicester were bottom – 10 points
Football eh ?
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anyone watch Match of the Day 2 this morning, for me, that Amy Lawrence was having sly digs at Arsenal and Wenger.
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Just heard from George. He’s on the mend. Good news to end a good weekend.
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it is being reported that Wenger has confirmed that Cazorla has ruptured a knee ligament and has had surgery and may miss rest of the season, its being said its a minimum of 3 months, but expected to be much more, even six months.
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Speaking after the win over Sunderland, Wenger said, “The surgery has now happened. It’s not the season. It is at least three months, maybe four.
“Santi wanted to have a chance to come back quickly so he didn’t want to last too long for 25 opinions. He decided to go straight away.
“The guy said, ‘Look, it’s a clear case – it’s a rupture of the external knee ligament.’ And he said, ‘Okay, let’s do it straight away.’”
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from the mirror, AW on Alexis recovery
Wenger is hoping Sanchez will be back from his hamstring problem before Christmas and says sending the player home to Chile while he’s out will also allow him to recharge his batteries.
“He’s used to working there with the national team physio,” said the Arsenal boss.
“I think it will have a double benefit. He will not be miserable here and he will be well treated there and it will give him a kind of mid-season break — which is what you all [the media] wanted.”
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Haha brilliant andrew thanks.
I felt the same experience sat amongst the wannabe celebrity Groaners.
The NE corner, the entire east side of the ground overall is just much more fun. I guess they didn’t stake their credibility on attempting and failing to drive out the best manager in the history of their club on the eve of back to back FA cup glory. It’s a hard knock life for some.
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Thanks for the article Andrew (anicol5, a5)
Sorry to read about you and others being at games and hearing shite from others. I don’t get along to the Ems that much but I know I’ll get beaten up one day cos I call out the names of the refs when they’re cheating and I think the people around me look at me like I’m mad (plus I’m sitting in a mates seat, and having attended Reading 5-7 With him, I realised he doesn’t see or take into account that which I [correctly and righteously] do.)
Indeed, he was trying to get me to leave before full time but I refused to let hom past where I was sitting on the gangway, and we’d gone up there in my car. So there!
And what happened? Theo scored to make it 4-4. Extra time. The rest is his……
So I look different to the folks around me. I sound different and spend half my time looking through binoculars and pouring hot ginger tea from my flask – frankly looking a bit of a prick, but on my rare visits I want my money’s worth (is my excuse).
I didn’t see Amy on TV but she always at least borders on negatives when it comes to Wenger. A few years ago she ventured onto untold. People better than I told her where to get off. Let’s face it, for all the good work the Guardian do/did, they’re with the rest of the Presstitutes when it come s to the slagging and twisting of anything Arsenal! Fact!
I’ve only recently learned of Liverpool’s defeat. Long live Sports direct arenaville, at least for today. Unsurprisingly I’ve yet to forgive them for their assaults when we visited them at the start of the season. McLaren must’ve thought he was still blessed with Unitedism and that he could send his thugs to smash our player’s to shit, and to some extent he succeeded, albeit with one of them sent off. What peed me off was Stevo’s assertion that what his team were pulled up for was “soft”.
Watch out Stevie, you’re high on my wish list of “thug teams I wan to be relegated”, along with bastrd Norwich gits (who stamped on Sagna 3 years ago, breaking his leg for the 2nd time on the season, with neither punishment or acknowledgement, obviously), and Chelsea, Manu, et al. (I mainly try to offload at UA. Sorry)!
Not that I harbour grudges, innit?
Now, when it comes to the “like” button (cos I have to get my 2-penneth in), I really wanna Like so many posts, but refuse to seemingly sign-up my life away in order to so do. Notwithstanding the work and tasks awaiting you, a5, I’m requesting that in the medium term – you investigate the possibility of a Like button which one merely presses – and the Loke registers.
One huge benefit could be that I don’t write lumber-long posts, though I can’t promise this. After all, the articles on here are so good. So heartwarming. So positive.
(Have I mentioned how Steww’s previews allow me to choose to keep the old ipad bedside, and how I’ll have a much better match day experience as a result of these literary and somehow pulsating gems)?
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fins
(Not to put too fine a point on it), Like.
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Oh,
COYGeorge.
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Touch:
https://streamable.com/rg5v
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Thanks for that clip, Rantetta. I had a dodgy stream and missed that moment.
Sublime.
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dkg,
You’re welcome. May I offer the following to you, Kelly, and Shotta (for further use of his wonderful word), and naturally, to PG. Ramsey v Sunlun:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vsWSuywcISo
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Thanks Ranty at 12:43pm. I am trying my best to wean Kelly from the cult of Ramsey and you have not made my job easier.
On a serious note though, it is clear that Rambo is a greater goal threat than Cazorla when playing in the middle but we have to compensate for the gaps that may open defensively.
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Right that is Monday safely negotiated, no trip to Aberdeen in the pre dawn, hip-hip-hooray.
Everton v Palace tonight – two good teams, bit of steel, bit of quality.
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Kevin Friend has been confirmed as the referee who’ll be in charge of our Premier League clash with Aston Villa
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Thanks for that clip Rantetta, I remember that moment in the match thinking, that is one of our defenders! More skillful that many other teams creative midfielders!
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Arsenal v Sunderland in the 3rd round of the FA Cup
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Second helpings of Black Cat,
Spurs vs Leicester could go to a replay or two – the media wanking over Vardy and Kane will go off the scale.
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The entire 3rd round is kind of – ok
No ties between the big 4-5-6 unless Leicester at the Lane is a top tie
Sunlun ? fair enough
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Hi folk. Been in hospital for a couple of weeks with no internet access.
Back home now and hopefully on the mend.
Thanks for all the kind wishes .
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Best news of the day. Take it easy now leader.
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GEORGIE!!! that’s more like it… welcome man… knew it had to be serious for you to be off like that… TAKE CARE OF YOU!
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I actually thought sun at home wasn’t a bad draw until you think abit deeper. With the amount of teams in the draw the chance of pulling another PL was quite small. Also if you look at some of our rivals and the opportunity to rest players once again we are disadvantaged.
Fat Sam normally plays a weakened side in the F.A. cup but he won’t against us. Both pool, who play us on the Wednesday, and Stoke have restable games which can affect our games straight afterwards.
When our squad is fully fit this is not an issue but in January it could put us under extreme pressure.
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Talk Sports mugging off Arsenal and Wenger as usual. If we followed Collymore and Saggers fair weather ideas we would be like their beloved Villa, Spurs, Liverpool who have never had a sniff at consistency. Yo-yo clubs. Yo-yo pundits.
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Just noticed that my old mucker George is out of hospital and able to make a post. Welcome back George. Was really worried for you. Take it easy my friend. Don’t rush it.
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Welcome back Skipper!
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Oh what a relief, welcome back George…
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You’ve made me smile big. Welcome back George.
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Shotta
You’re right, our team have to compensate for those gaps. Hopefully we will.
There’s also a chance that Aaron will get in his groove and score regularly.
As Ramsey improves back in the centre, Jack’ll soon be on the subs bench waiting to join in (presuming Jeff & Maitland Niles haven’t already forced their way into the team).
Theo’s form will pick up and Danny will be chomping at the bit. Callum will play bit parts in order to get up to speed, and Gabriel can come on to break the legs of opponents who insist on injuring our players!
(Sure, I’m getting ahead of myself but there’s good stuff on the horizon).
And George’ll inch his way back to tongue-lash the twatters. Hallelujah!
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