See, that’s the kind of seemingly innocent enquiry which really chafes my backside, brings me out in hives and makes me want to go hunt down the editors who instruct their minions to ask such loaded questions. Journalist to Arsène at this week’s presser: “Can you tell us a bit more about the work he’s done off the pitch to make such an improvement on the pitch?” This enquiry was, believe it or not, about Mesut Özil. Why do I get in such a lather about such an irrelevance as the form of words chosen? Isn’t the hack actually praising one of Arsène’s key signings? More than that wasn’t there an unintended sliver of praise for the great man and his coaching methods?
The editorial line and media mantra where Mesut is concerned has shifted to ‘the jury used to be out’ (certain ex managers have failed to read the memo on that one haven’t they Mr Moyes?). This in turn had followed on from the nonsense about him being a ‘flop’. Now that it has become simply impossible to deny his genius and maintain credibility with any other than the criminally insane (and a few Chelsea fans), the line has had to be altered once more.
Of course what matters to the press is that their earlier gibberish about Mesut being a flop must under no circumstances be shown up for the utter horse shit that it always was. So rather than apologise for the lies they have consistently told about him they have to suggest he has improved. Not that he was and always has been one of the very best players in world football but that he has miraculously got better since a couple of seasons ago when he committed the ultimate crime of signing for Arsenal. An act heinous enough in itself but one compounded by proving that Arsène Wenger will in fact spend money when he has it to spend. For these sins our Deutsch Genie simply had to be castigated. Being part of a disgraced and disgraceful body of men and women the apparatchiks of the press must now say he has improved. Not admit they were wrong, but say that things have changed.
Ian Wright uses the same damning with faint praise on the telly. I accidentally had English speaking commentary on the other day and the one time Arsenal legend couldn’t just say what a great player Nacho Monreal is. Neither could he point out how brilliant an Arsène Wenger signing he was, thus proving so many people wrong yet again by not being a huge ‘name’ and not costing the earth. No, Ian had to describe him as the most improved player in our squad. Once again that word, implying that all the undeserved criticism wasn’t short sighted and ill informed over reaction but that things had unexpectedly changed. It is grudging false praise, disguised, self serving criticism and hearing it makes me want to sit on a barbed heated spike for relief.
How anyone can defend any of these lying, parasitic, twisted, immoral scumbags defeats me. They dig the well and fill it with the poison upon which the anti Arsenal Regiment sustains its moronic hordes of foot soldiers. They direct the herd, they are cheerleaders for all that is base and wicked about the modern game and society in general. Eschew them I say! Eschew them vigorously and at every turn.
Right, now I’ve cleared that one up let us turn to the matter in hand. A Saturday afternoon three o’clock kick off, nearly a week after our last game. Some semblance of normality returns. I used not to mind Newcastle. There was a time they played good football and were a thorn in the side of the red nosed prince of darkness. Since that ruddy cheeked ex side kick of Sauron took over at St James’ Park and sent his boys out with the express instructions to boot us off the park back in August of what I suppose I must learn to start calling last year, my views have tilted away from such magnanimity.
It was as horrible and inept a display of the violent thuggish approach to stopping us play as you could hope to see. Inept because even the referee couldn’t ignore it. Also, given that some of their team can actually play, it was unnecessary and ultimately self defeating. Some will feel that we ought to have won by more goals but then some people would moan that a million pounds was too heavy if you handed it to them as a gift. McClaren’s reaction to the frustration of his plans was almost one of disbelief. Brought up to believe that Arsenal are there for the kicking and they may be shoved around and stamped upon with impunity he must have been bewildered to see the rules of the game applied.
How different are the two teams today? Back in the late summer sunshine we were bruised and confused by an opening day defeat, injured by a wrongly disallowed winner against Liverpool and with only one victory in three might have viewed a trip to Geordieland with mild trepidation. Newcastle had drawn two and lost one in the league and played us on the back of a four one victory over Northampton in the League Cup four days previously. Now, at the time of writing, we are top of the tree and they sit languishing in the relegation zone with the abject Aston Villa and a sorry Sunderland for company.
They had an up down time in November and December losing heavily to Palace and Leicester and beating Liverpool and Spurs since when they’ve drawn with fellow bottom feeders Villa and lost narrowly to both Everton and West Brom. Pick what bones from that lot as you see fit. I think that in line with everything else that has happened this season it means they are unpredictable. As of course are we. Out on our feet against twelve man Southampton and two days later gambolling through the Bournemouth defence like spring lambs.
We are now in the wonderful position of holding our destiny in our own hands. Win by at least as big a margin as Leicester and we stay top. It really is as simple as that right now. Like all good recovering alchies I take the season one game at a time. This approach prevents me from getting carried away with the end of the season before the February snows have fallen and helps me to live in the moment. It also means that I’m extra crushed by poor results but every philosophy has its downsides. As long as I don’t wallow in disappointment then I know I only have to stay sane for a few days and another match will come along to sustain me.
I hope Newcastle don’t try to boot us off the pitch today. I’d like to see a good game of football. This supporting lark is, after all, about entertainment first and foremost and results are a secondary consideration. A good result can console you after a poor performance but nothing beats seeing us in our swashbuckling free flowing pomp as when we scored that most Arsenal of second goals on Monday evening.
More of the same today please chaps. If you’re lucky enough to be at the match I hope the pies are hot and the urinals fragrant. If not I hope you find a stable stream with unintelligible commentary and lets hope we continue to prove the pathetic drones of the press corps wrong – even if they are too craven to ever admit it.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Stew, I watched the Spurs Toon game a couple of Sundays back and from a position of total domination the neighbours managed to fling three points away. Lloris partcularly inept in the final few moments was their ultimate doom.
First therefore we must get our hands around the slippery Geordie throat, then we must squeeze and squeeze until life is extinct.
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Remember though what Thomas Merton said, ‘the more you squeeze the less you have’
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Tell me Andy – were they as brutal against the noisy neighbours as against us?
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Brutal ? Not that I noticed – pure marshmallow. They were sensible enough at the Lane to keep 11 men on the pitch which against a tiring Spuds made a difference. Against us Mitrovic lasted about ten minutes and the referee was flashing yellows like cheerleader I remember.
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Let’s hope they’ve learned a lesson then.
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Checking the stats Toon finished with six yellows and a red = colourful
I forgot we won by an own goal as well – not their day really
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Stew, many fans use the same tactics, claiming the were right player X was indeed “shit” but they improved. Never admitting thty know fuck all and were blind to the players ability
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But…. nacho has vastly improved his level and consistency… It’s hardly a criticism. More a recognition of the players standing at the club and in the league.
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Morning Stew, everybody.
Excellent piece (and thoroughly enjoyed George’s from yesterday, also).
Little doubt in my mind that transplanting a footballing genius such as Ozil into a side playing a particular type of football such as AFC’s was always going to be a complex affair, for all interested parties. It is now obvious that Mesut is a more effective player for Arsenal these days but that is as much about his teammates learning about him and his contribution potential as it is about Ozil’s personal development. I suspect under Arsene he HAS become a better player but that is only a relatively small part of the picture here.
That commentators generally fail to make this key distinction, highlights their own bewilderment (ignorance) as to the forces behind our development as a team.
And of course the vile, sometimes bordering on the xenophobic, media abuse of Ozil from just a few months ago is the factor that sticks in the throat like no other. All the more so as Chelsea, Manure and City all appear able to routinely spend fortunes on players who have subsequently flopped with barely an eyebrow – far less a headline – being raised.
On to today’s game which has to be an encounter whose outcome sits most uncomfortably in the hands of the referee.
Newcastle have little to lose and will be buoyed by our struggles against Southampton last week; hopefully I’ll be proven wrong but no prizes for assuming Newcastle will be adopting the playing template on display at St Mary’s. Only a referee with a mild inclination to apply and enforce some of the rules of the game will foil them, I fear.
Actually, my biggest fear is for the safety of the players; at the moment, if opponents can stop Ozil they may well stop Arsenal. Any repeat of Southampton’s evident targeting of Mesut really needs to garner an instant reaction from the whole team – even if that includes surrounding the ref in order to make the point. Our occasionally ‘patchy’ home crowd can also play a key role here.
So here’s hoping for a fair result, at the very least, and ideally one featuring all three points to Arsenal.
Enjoy the game everyone.
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This was brilliant Stew. From the lashings to the disaster vultures, the summation of our opponents season to date and Arsenal’s star shining brightly atop the xmas tree at the turn of the season.
Arsenal look in good nick and are generally expected to win this game. We all know about complacency but hopefully the kick up the Arsenal after the Saints game packed a good sting.
I love the alchie analogy and if I can add a golf one: We are leading the pack going into the back 9. The best thing going fwd is not getting ahead of ourselves but taking it one hole at a time to set it up nicely as we approach the clubhouse. We shouldn’t try too hard other than hitting par.
Just read PG’s post and will comment here:
The quality of the so-called ‘making up the PL numbers’ teams are indeed considerably better compared to seasons past and their desire to qualify for CL and Europa spots has definitively add to the eccentric PL results we’ve seen this season. Ofcoz many would argue that if the PL are so much stronger why don’t English teams perform in Europe. But the other side to that same coin would be that to perform in Europe the PL teams need good form and momentum going into those games, that the results-could-go-either-way nature of the PL don’t always guarantee.
COYG.
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I’ve had it suggested to me that saying a player has improved isn’t a criticism. Of course this is true and I apologise for making my point with insufficient clarity but I am aware my tendency to ramble has drawn criticism so I’m aiming for brevity.
I am referring to the way the improvement line is trotted out by people to cover the fact that they can never give credit to the manager for buying good players. That the player was already a good player and simply needed time to bed in and play with his natural fluency is the real observation more often than not.
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Indeed Steww, I find this whole Mesut Özil episode infuriating. The media have demonstrated yet again that they are sheep, guilty of ‘groupthink’ as accused by Glen Greenwald (who was referring to far more serious issues that football). Nonetheless, it still amazes me that hacks and pundits are prepared to speak publicly or write without any preparation. Please will somebody check what I last read, that Benzema over the last three seasons has very much the same goal scoring rate as Giroud?
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Steww, you are of course 100% correct. Not only are our players not good enough one minute and brilliant the next but those brilliant players who these pundits suggest we have to buy are forgotten when their form dissapears or they don’t quite forfill their potential.
I too am looking one game at a time as when I did look at the second half of the season as a whole it frightened the bejesus out of me. When your dreaming of victory every little hurdle seems like a mountain.
On today’s game as always the first goal and the officiating will be important, having said that the teams togetherness will get us over many hurdles I’m sure. Interesting to see if Callum gets another chance to tidy up and set things going as he did so well against Bournemouth. Once again, it would nice to be in a comfortable enough position to see both Jeff and Alex but I would take any win without any injuries. COYG
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Most of the most vicious barbs towards Özil were not during and following the period when he arrived because the team’s form took off at that time. They were thrown his way when he tried to play on through an injury or two or when he missed a pelanty against someone he played with since he was kid, a penalty that a teammate like Santi or Giroud should’ve been taking (& they say Mesut has no ego…Mmmmmm….).
In particular I remember listening to a podcast longer then 90 minutes where none of the podcastateers could bring themselves to mention that the player was hobbling through a match. It happens, you see it at all levels, players hobbling on so why ignore it? Especially at AFC when we’ve had recent examples of players who like to hobble on, no different to any other player, the most recent example being Alexis trying to stay on the pitch after smacking his leg in the pit at Norwich. He couldn’t move for fifteen minutes!
On top of that a certain venal hack dwarf actually apologised for an infamous comment he was paid to make because he said that he didn’t notice that the player was injured. So, according to their own words, either these people some of them Experts ignore the football on the pitch or, I don’t know. Safe to say the critique of Özil was not that he was poor and needed to improve but simply that he was a poor lazy modern money grabbing player who also just happens to be a filthy foreigner too (please refer to Biggus Sammus’ comments this week). Against modern football. And what the quaint hacks scribe as “continental” (Association) football too. Against it all!
As far as I’m concerned the above from Steww is fair comment.
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PG, thanks for the previous article. It’s obvious and so satisfying for me to read that.
Steww – I’m very glad for those first 4 paragraphs. They save me from typing (some of) my bile on the subject of inarticulate Presstitutes. (Ta, Shotta).
Aston Taylor, McLaren, Newcy & Arsenal being top all adds up to a good kicking, I’m afraid. I think we have to pray – mainly for no injuries.
It’s funny, not that long ago I was thinking or writing about Newcastle fixes, like the 4-4 where Barton bent up Diaby’s shin (wheres phat phil now?).
There was another match – Gervhino’s first in the league I think, where he was sent off after Taylor and Barton kicked him down in the penalty area, Song was retro banned after sage-Joey had tried to rearrange Alex’s ankles. I’m sure there was an injury or two to our team as well, plus we’d played CL qualies (Udinese?).
This was all leading up to the 3rd match being at Old Toilet and the desperation to stop Arsenal having a good start in the league, and enabling ManU to get another title, etc.
(I seem to remember Barton giving Nasri a good kick at the Ems. Sammy gave him one back. Oh what fun).
Well, Arsenal’ll have to suck it up and do their best. I’m sure they will.
COYG
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Don’t worry Ranty aim sure well see Rooneh given a retro for that rake down the calf it’s not like any plundit or ex-pro would be unable to recognise the hack for what it was. “He said he didn’t mean it” oh, phew!
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He’s England capitano. He doesn’t and hasn’t ever done anything wrong. He’s a lad. He’s brilliant, inspirational, et al…
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…he’s just not that kind of player!
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Thanks Steww, I liked the “fire and skill” that comes out of your review today, great stuff.
Unser Deutsches Genie? To me the blokes always been fantastic, its just taken time for the others to clearly see it because they are preoccupied with other things, Zola had something to say on this.
Everyone knows Damian Hirst, but I could show you the real geniuses in art that most people have never heard of and may not in their lives, but the media/Gov.culture offices concentrate on Hirst for export(import purposes), flying the flag.The footballing media certain has agendas with AFC and concentrated on other teams and players for a long time.
This is Mesuts third league to get used to, fourth culture at least to get used to ( thats much more difficult that the WOB might realise), hes obviously a sensitive bloke whose had a fair few personal problems, and struggles with a third(?) language ( fuck I struggle with a second).But he was expected to be player of the year from day two.
If the jury was still out on him, why the fork was Ronaldo so upset about the bloke leaving the Mad-men? Time for a different jury, Mesut is an asset to the BPL for ffs!!!Since day 1!!!
He not an a typical football personality, so what? Mesusts been fackin red hot since he joined us, and now hes even better.
As for the WOB slagging him? They cant even play football to save their lives.
Cheers Steww, and heres to créping on the Toon, like. Im off for a fokkon Stotty.
COYG!!!
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I wonder which of Flamini or Chambers will get the nod today. Is Flamini fit, will he get the start because of other considerations?
I think only the most sado-masochistic of Arsenal fans (there are a few) would begrudge Flamini having held out for a three year contract when he returned to the club. Given recent form, the league cup game, I for one am grateful that this almost unique player who has avoided transfers throughout his career is his own man or person, and that he does things his own way. Who doesn’t appear to be in thrall to agents. He’s an interesting example no doubt about it. And he was right about that three year contract!
I’m happy to see both. Flamini’s passing isn’t as poor as claimed (through ball against villa) and Chambers is an exciting young player.
With Hayden who’s impressed for the first team at CB and CM returning it could be useful for the trip to Sunderland trip. I guess one reason he went on loan was because Chambers was given the opportunity in the squad this season, in particular at CM if required. Easier to clock up the minutes at CM then CB for a young player / 4th choice back up CB?
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My impression form what Arsene said was that the Flamster would start Fins. We have a lot of games over the next couple of weeks so I expect Chambo to be in against the Black Cats.
Rumours of Aaron sidelined with unspecified ‘injury’. If correct I’d like to see the Ox in the middle.
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I hope the Tyneside Constabulary have had the good sense to keep their horses in the stables today.
I
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Fins I think Chambers will keep his place in midfield today, and on that topic I do wonder why so many of the AAA/WOB keep trotting out the line that “as bad as Flamini is, he has to be picked today as no matter how good he was agaisnt AFCB, Chambers will be found out against better teams”, this begs three question,
1. is flamini “that bad”
2. what proof is there that Chambers will be “found out against better opposition”
3. aren’t AFCB a better side than NU, at this moment in time.
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I thought it was the Flamster who would be “found out” against better opposition Eddy ?
Have a word with these WOBs – tell them to make their minds up
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as you know anicoll its impossible to have a word with them, as they keep moving the goal posts.
anyone see Klopps interview with football focus today, knowing how much the AAA/WOB praise the guy, I do wonder what the thought of his views on transfers, and how no matter how much silly money a player costs, there is no guarantee it will work out as “its football”. Klopp also had a go at the crazy prices being asked, and how fans demand that “you just pay whatever is asked”
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The way Arsene spoke about Flamini being back made me assume he’d play. The boss seldom drops anyone after one good performance from an understudy. He will if that understudy puts an impressive run together .
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Spot on Steww. The initial and some would say continuing ignorance by most journos and pundits of Ozil’s qualities is a stinging indictment of the state of football journalism. How many times would one of these “experts ” say: for a player who cost this much I expect Ozil to takeover the game, blah, blah. Now that he is creating at knots they suddenly have an epiphany. For me it agains affirms media reporting is usually a contra-indicator of reality. By their pouring doom on Ozil one can easily predict he will eventually become an Arsenal legend. Worked very well for Bergkamp didn’t it.
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HT: WHU 1-0 LFC
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I see old Kloppas castle is being beaten by Wet Spam.
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sorry Eddy didnt see youd put that up, (he said reaching for the spectacles)…
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I see jamie carragher is continuing with the discrediting of Ozil, you Mesut can set all the records he likes, but if we don’t win the league then it counts for nothing, as far as JC is concerned, funny that, when you consider that JC refers to Stevie me as the greatest ever BPL midfielder, and he never managed to win a BPL title, he did let one slip by him. One rule for everyone else, a different rule for AFC players.
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DeanAFC #MANDM @HectorBeIIerin_ 7m7 minutes ago
Merson just said, if Özil isn’t assisting he’s “carried” in the team.
Bloke hasn’t got a clue.
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G-rude @GoonerJDK 1h1 hour ago
Coutinho has taken 42 shots from outside the area this season and only scored 2 goals. Less than 5% conversion rate
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not sure what Gabriel has to do to keep his place in the team, he was outstanding in the last game.
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Given injuries that is pretty much our first team right there.
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Liverpool’s record signing has scored at Upton Park, its now 2-0 to WHU, Andy Carroll
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Team as expected then, with Chamberlain coming in for Campbell (Monreal and Koscielny returning after their respective breathers through the Crunch).
The front line have to be juggled through the next few days and the harder tackling Billy has been tasked the Sunderland game with Chamberlain coming in today against Newcastle’s slowish back line.
COYG!
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Eds with gabby playing LCB with Mertescaker and RCB alongside Koscielny it becomes not one but two changes if you rotate the two starting CBs through these league fixtures.
Safe to say the starting CBs know they have some competition. Ignoring one off performances I can’t remember the gaffer praising Kosicelny as early on in his AFC career as he has already done so on behalf of Gabriel.
Fortunately the plundits keep on telling everyone ad nauseum that we need another CB
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He could come back in for the FA cup game, but,
Newcastle first.
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Newcastle team: Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Kevin Mbabu, Jamaal Lascelles, Siem de Jong, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Ivan Toney
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“Eschew them I say!” I have to figure out a way to use that in casual conversation. Brilliant stuff, Stew, as usual. It is absolutely killing the pundits that they were wrong about Mesut. It’s killing them that we’re doing well, it’s killing them to have to admit that Arsene might just know what he’s doing. Bless them (not really).
I am a bit worried about this kicking us off the park thing. I have a feeling that’s exactly what they are going to try to do. I hope Mesut is wearing his titanium shin pads.
Thanks for yesterday’s article, George. I never made it over here to comment, but I did read it. I hope the supporters in the stadium are behind the boys all the way today. I don’t think this is going to be an easy one. And it looks like a grey, rainy day in London. I’ll be wanting to hand out blankets and hot cocoa to the boys before it’s over. Come on you Gunners!
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Could do with some blankets down here in the West Country Kelly – it’s horrible (again) today.
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I see rumors of Aaron’s demise are premature, as usual. He starts. I did notice that he wasn’t in training pictures yesterday, but I assumed his fitness was being managed, as was Mesut’s. I should have just started and injury rumor instead. *shakes head*
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Stew, let’s hope a cracking performance from the boys serves as a blanket to keep you warm today.
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FT: WHU 2-0 LFC
West Ham have done the double over Liverpool this season
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Afternoon Gents!
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hello Millsey. We have been ripping through them. Hopefully the goals will start to flow soon.
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Wonderful one touch move. If only Hector could have played it earlier when we had four unmarked in the middle.
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Arsenal been very much on top so far, but final ball not been good enough, Bellerin getting lots of joy down the right, but his crossing and passing has not be good enough so far.
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