Hello Positivistas far and near,
Three games, eight days, three wins, eight goals scored, one conceded and that blemish was off the boot of Olivier in a moment of Gallic over-exuberance. Our French hit man moves to 50 goals. Our Czech keeper to a record 169 PL games with no goals conceded. Goodness knows where Petr will leave that record when he finally hangs up his helmet! We sit top of the League with a small but useful margin of a point and a two goal+ difference, CL draw this morning and this evening more grief either for Jose or a check on the aspirations of the formidably improved Leicester. Tricky innit ?
But enough crowing around the farmyard Andrew, what of yesterday’s match ?
Our trip to Villa Park yesterday was like consuming a bowl of raspberries, a portion left at the back of the fridge that I had overlooked in recent days. The fruit had begun to soften, to just be past their crispest best, but with that change the berries had become a little juicier and sweet. Armed with a simple spoon and just a dash of fresh single cream the dish was quickly empty, delicious and wholesome.
Aaron and Mesut ran offensive operations yesterday and when they switched on the gas they were simply far too fast for the Villans. Campbell looks as though he has been doing the job for ages. Our defensive organisations squeezed what little threat the home side had into a couple of speculative long shots and misdirected headers. Cech had his quietest afternoon of the season, as far as I can recall. And when the chances came they were converted. I have ranted about efficiency this season, and yesterday was efficient. 2-0 is a score line so, so much better than 1-0. Ask Everton, and ask the ever entertaining Tottingham.
Theo was a little unlucky that his late first half goal was disallowed for offside, the decision debatable and probably wrong. 3-0 would probably have been a more accurate recognition of the gulf between the teams but there we are. I have no particular gripes with Mr Kevin Friend. Why he gave the penalty, given that he was behind the action involving Theo and Hutton, I am not sure. The right decision however so even referees are allowed a little luck from time to time.
I can find little comfort for Villa from yesterday’s display. They were abject in the first half and by the 38th minute and our second goal any hopes they may have had of nicking a point a la Norwich had been extinguished. They roused themselves a little more in the second half but not to the extent of exerting real pressure. Even their four corners in a row never looked like generating even a single effort on goal or forcing a save from Cech.
Nothing is impossible in football but the home side had the pallor of the condemned man about them, with relegation a nigh on certainty. The occasional view of their fans provided faces of those who have arrived at A&E with an injured relative and anticipate a long wait until the unfortunate victim can be seen to. Resigned and anticipating the worst. Derby must have feared their 11 point disaster in 2008 might never be bettered but I feel this Villa side could have it in them. I really do Clive.
Some hard work for the players and Remi Garde if they are not to be relegated with the lowest ever points total in the PL.
But Remi, might I suggest one small improvement that will cost neither money nor much disruption to team affairs?
Tell Alan Hutton to shut the f*** up on the pitch and stop wasting his time and energy rowing with the officials about every single decision.
That will do nicely for this morning. For those of you with an eye to later today 11 UK time for the CL draw.
Enjoy your week.
Positively Arsenal 
9 league defeats in 16 bpl games for Chelsea so far this season, but its Arsenal that are in crisis
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The look on Ranieri’s face as Mourinho slinked up to give him a hug. Haha!
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Oh how we laughed
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I shall break the habit of a lifetime and wait for Jose’s post match interview
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Just got to go and look at the bottom of the table before going to bed. Sweet dreams.
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No surprise the sly plundits declare that the three best players in the league play for Leicester.
When they play for the only team to have beaten Leicester.
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Jose nails it
It’s the players fault
#betrayed
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Jim Proudfoot @JimProudfoot
Jose: “I feel like my work was betrayed (by the players)”
1 retweet 1 like
Will
@IAmWillMarsh
@AngryFeels Jose used to park the bus, now he throws his players under it
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The self-destruction going on at Chelsea is worth cheering for Leicester to go back to the top for tonight.
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Although I enjoyed the discomfiture of Chelsea and their manager, I wasn’t that impressed with the conduct of the Leicester side, nor the way the game was ‘managed’ by the ref.
But it did look as if Hazard waved the white flag, as if there is no love lost between Costa and his teammates, as if the manager was making public what many have suspected for a while – namely that the Chelsea players are actively working against him.
They are living in interesting times. Who would have guessed that the Ox’s wonder strike on August 2nd would have quite so much resonance.
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I see Andre Marriner is ref on Monday.
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I thought Leicester’s conduct toward their opponents last night was spot on Tim. There was plenty of ‘robust’ challenges from both sides and Costa pouted and squealed all game. It seemed to me though that Leicester had more energy than Les Bleus and their morale was far superior. Hazard’s alleged injury and his immediate departure was bizarre.
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We are on a good run with Mr Marriner Dk – although it is his first start at the Ems this season – I shall not jinx it.
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WestStandTone @WestStandTone 14h14 hours ago
Eva Carneiro definitely hid the drugs before she left Chelski.
1886Gunners @Timbo_Slice1991 13h13 hours ago
The Jose Mourinho 3 Season DVD Collection:
Season 1: Buy The Bus
Season 2: Park The Bus
Season 3: Throw Players Under The Bus
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Robben refused to play for the specialist when injured and Hazard is the same. They are not just mules for his mates that would be happy to take multiple injections (cortisone etc only I hope!) that’d clog up their limbs prematurely (please see Terry since about that of 26) but they rightfully see themselves as skilled professionals, above and beyond the ken of the specialist.
Too late to put your chips down on hazard leaving I’m afraid, he was long gone and no self respecting athlete would act otherwise.
Only winning a title kept hazard at a Mourinho team for a third year but I was surprised he lasted this long.
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There is some evidence that Clattenburg is not Mourinhio’s or Chelsea’s favourite official.
I laughed when I saw his appointment. Still laughing. Hehe.
Can’t imagine why Grand Master Riley has taken a recent dislike to the gaseous Russian Corp. no idea! No tall towers in london pointing the way there, not at all.
I hope the Arsenal can stop the oilers this year, or the Thai scammers (Leicester). And speaking of tall buildings in London I see AFC drew the Exxon/Qatari Methane Foundation in the next round of the European cup.
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I see Clattenburg and Martin Atkinson have been chosen as two of the 18 referees to the UEFA 2016 finals in France in June and July. I told Atkinson if he performed well the sky was the limit. Our friend Signor Rizzoli is the Italian representative, another good lad.
Any readers of a paranoid disposition will be disgusted ( but not remotely surprised) to hear that England is the only country with two referees chosen. ( banned winkey thing)
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IFAB is no conspiracy. But they certainly tick all the boxes. Such as most people not knowing that they get to tell everyone else what’s what.
Clattenburg definetly has earned his berth though I thought Moss was pushing him close in my completely unbiased and reliable opinion!
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I see all the officials are up for our holiday fixtures;
Saturday 26 December
7.45pm Southampton v Arsenal
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: M Mullarkey, S Child
Fourth Official: K Stroud
Monday 28 December
5.30pm Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Referee: Roger East
Assistants: L Betts, D Cann
Fourth Official: D Deadman
Saturday 2 January
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: S Burt, P Kirkup
Fourth Official: S Martin
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IFAB are the people we have to thank for the patheric and inexcusable lack of logical assitance for the officials. Radios such as we saw with Mr.Friend on Sunday and the arbitary use of available video screens depending upon officials’ moods is tellingly not quite the same as what we see being practised rugby and cricket.
No. I’m not impressed with IFAB’s stewardship.
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FAO anicoll
7.45pm Southampton v Arsenal
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Assistants: M Mullarkey, S Child
Fourth Official: K Stroud
so can we expect Moss to be up to his usual Child-ish Mullarkey towards Arsenal but for it to be covered in a Stroud
Monday 28 December
5.30pm Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Referee: Roger East
Assistants: L Betts, D Cann
Fourth Official: D Deadman
East will be a Deadman if he Cann Betts on the result the way I’d expect him to
Saturday 2 January
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: S Burt, P Kirkup
Fourth Official: S Martin
I’d like to give Taylor a Kirkup the Burt and Martin – yeah i know
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Steww on the off chance your looking in, I sent an email to the show, but if Kye isnt there then my suggestion for song/news is “Judy is a dick slap” by Belle and Sebastian.
Cheers!
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I admit I am having a bit of a larf with Signor Rizzoli – good mate of Arsenal etc
It goes back to my comment after the Zagreb game that I hoped UEFA appointed a really really good ref for what would be a hell of a game in Pireaus
And strangely enough they appointed Rizzoli – the whistler at the 2014 World Cup final
The bastards
Mind you I read elsewhere what a fucking disgrace he was
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Mills – gotcha!
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Good show tonight Steww,-good to hear Standards and Shotta’s choice was top drawer!!!!
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Was impressed for the little I know about Rizzoli following his performance last week.
The sight of him puffing and blowing out his cheeks at FT certainly reflected what must have been a hard task and big effort on his part.
Made a contrast in body language to, forgive me I can’t help but make the easy and telling comparison, the pallid and excitable when certain teams score *gollum gollum*
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Alls quiet on the Positive front today so here some good ‘ol vibes:
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Fins
Since the broohaahaa at the Bridge, there has been no sight or sound of ‘Him’ getting another gig for an Arsenal game.
Did the petition work?
Doubtful.
I suspect PGMOL are keeping ‘Him’ in reserve, just in case Arsenal get too many points ahead of the pack.
He’s at his best when he’s in his comfort zone against us, Stoke away or Man Utd away.
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I see yesterdays “Welbeck suffers new injury set back” story has been denied today, it was amazing to see so many AFC blogs go into meltdown over the Mirror story that had no quotes, no new info and was not even written by AFC correspondent John Cross, and rehashed old info, but with a sensational headline. I wonder how many of said blogs will be as quick to write articles covering the “No new set back for Welbeck” story today.
I warned in comments sections yesterday on a couple of blogs that the Mirror story was rubbish till proved otherwise.
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Deano has been active on the refereeing circuit but since his little rick at the Bridge, but he has been assigned to the more mundane of PL and Championship fixtures. His stock is low and next gig West Brom v Bournemouth – the shame, the shame
http://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=135&season_id=145
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The two arms raised gesture whilst sprinting amidst the Tottenham players as they scored probably did not help Deano’s cause.
But it did make a lot of people laugh.
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Renato @th14Renato 2h2 hours ago
Atlético Madrid president: “Diego Costa opened the door for a return? He should close the door because it’s cold.” 🔥🔥🔥
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So pep to city. Anncelotti to Bayern, the managerial merry go round rumours start already. Meanwhile chelski could be running out of options as well as compensation.
Nice to see John cross getting yet another ARSENAL story wrong, his closeness to inside information is about as close as mine.
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and Fat Sam misses out again !
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Martin Keown demonstrating his lack of basic footballing knowledge
Martin Keown, a former Arsenal star, had this to say to the BBC about the penalty award:
“This is just an early Christmas gift for Arsenal. It was never a penalty, it’s very harsh on Alan Hutton.
“Aston Villa had started so well too, with the fans right behind them. Everything is going wrong for them at the moment.”
It was certainly a 50-50 decision and when the luck is with a team it is the sort of decision that goes your way.
Unfortunately, as with many things at Villa this present moment, luck is going against them.
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New post is up!
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