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 
Arsenal’s next league game is away to Liverpool, we can with a win there virtually end any lingering title hopes LFC have.
Sunderland next week in the FAC, they won 3-1 today.
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Liked the look of the midfield with Calum and Flamster, Aaron in front of them. Be nice to see that with Mesut and Joel. Oh wait – nobody on one of the wings. Bugger.
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Newcastle unlucky – gave us a game – Cech kept us in it.
If Aaron had just looked up near the end there, it was just a tap-in for Joel, who was furious. Bloody selfish Ramsey is at times.
Both full-backs had a bit of a ropey day, I thought – missed challenges, misplaced passes. Walcott anonymous. Ox – no comment.
Not a good performance – a game to forget quickly, but 3 points anyway.
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Very useful 3 points as most teams seem still to be shaking off the Xmas hangovers. That we are winning whilst (apparently) not being at the top of our game is encouraging and exciting that Sanchez is now due back; his arrival will feel like the proverbial ‘new signing’, I suspect.
Also interesting that Leicester are finally slowing down and Vardy not scored for several games now. It’s hardly a collapse but the intensity of the PL must be beginning to tell.
Liverpool’s new dawn is hardly breaking, but Spurs look an interesting prospect, quietly getting on with things while all around the high spenders are looking more than a little wasteful.
I actually don’t mind manure winning as it reduces chances of LVG disappearing too soon but I’d love Watford to capitalise on Citeh’s ‘disappointing’ away form.
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getting there game by game, I would imagine there will many games like this. We just have to find a way somehow. I thought Theo and the Ox struggled today so even with our multitude of players out its brilliant to see Joal come of the bench and add such vibrance.
To be honest all the subs done well and all were unlucky not to feature heavily in a second goal. As predicted Petre had a very big hand or two in the win.
I think the barcodes will take some points of some big teams during the rest of the season so thanks Kos for once again finding that knack of just getting there before the opposition keeper
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This is the typical game where a win is a win and we have gotten a massive 3 points to set us n our way!
Steww…set the write tone with the write up… the players picked up and continued with the gradual build up… the WOBs will be sad and all other normal arsenal fans happy… good way to progress in the new year!
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Demarai Gray, Birmingham’s England U20 winger is on his way to the BPL, an as of yet un-named BPL club has triggered his release clause (something around £4M), it is reported to be most likely to be Leicester City who are set to sign him.
A silly season rumor is that he is joining LCFC to replace Riyad Mahrez who is off to AFC for £25M
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LCFC missed a penalty, and were up against 10 men for over half an hour. We could do with city dropping 2 or 3 points at Watford this evening.
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We certainly picked up when Joel came on, of course Kos getting the goal meant we had more counter attack chances.
Alexis is expected back next week, and will certainly be a big boost, as several of our attack today looked drained.
Cech made a couple of great saves, the CB’s were solid, but the fullbacks were not at their best, either in defense or attack. Sadly Ox once again had no end product. He did however show his explosive burst of pace a few times, he really needs to get his head up once he beats a man, and maybe just take the simplest option.
Chambers was for me impressive in the short time he was on the pitch
Ozil good again, even if he did not have the support his play deserved.
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Mills
January 2, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Taylor doesnt have a clue.
never a truer word spoken, how this guy is still on the BPL refs list I do not know (well I do have an idea, but there could never be bias or corruption in the English game)
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AW: “There is no update on Elneny. I have nothing to say – he is not our player. We are not imminently in a position to say that.”
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John Cross @johncrossmirror 3h3 hours ago
Perez fouled, Newcastle carry on because they’re attacking, lose the ball then get the hump when Arsenal don’t put it out. 0-0. Zzzz
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Watching the Watford City game i’d still have Chamberlain ahead of Stirling.
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thats an assist for giroud right?
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afcstuff @afcstuff 1h1 hour ago
Arsenal after 20 PL games
Jan 2015:
9 wins
6 draws
5 losses
33 points
Jan 2016:
13 wins
3 draws
4 losses
42 points
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the one guy who must have been a little unhappy with the timing of the AFC goal today is Alex Iwobi, he was about to come on, but once we scored that all changed and he did not get on at all
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HT: Watford 0-0 Man City
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WENGER ON NEWCASTLE, CECH AND KOSCIELNY
Arsène Wenger faced the media after Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. You can read a full transcript of his press conference below:
on the three points…
It was a difficult game against a good Newcastle side. Our legs were heavy today, I must say. Overall we were tested against a team with a lot of technical quality and our fluency was not there and our movement was not there. Our motto was try to stick together and win the game how we can. The mental aspect of our team and our defence mentality was tested today rather than our quality going forward.
on Petr Cech…
He made two big saves, one in the first half and one in the second half and on top of that he gives calm dynamics. Today we needed that.
on if Cech is one of his best signings…
I read more about the bad singings I have made so I don’t know.
on winning ugly…
I have been in football long enough to know if you are Newcastle’s players you feel for them because they played very well. But I know because I have been in a long time when you are capable to win and don’t play well that shows a mental aspect of your team that will be very important in moments that will be difficult.
on Mathieu Flamini…
Flamini has played well and it was a difficult game for the midfielders because they put a lot of pressure on us and we didn’t find our combinations. You never know when you play in midfield if you move away from the ball and get into areas where you can get the ball or if you sit. He is intelligent and has experience.
on the win…
To not drop points with the way we played today, I think it is very important. It helps the team as well because you go through moments where you don’t play well. The memory of having done that before and still having won the game, helps you to hang on sometimes.
on a title-winning performance…
It is too far. We are on 42 points. Let’s be realistic. I think we should focus being on a strong performance and focus more on our performance. We try not to look too much at the other results and for us it is important to get the quality of our game back.
on being out of form…
A little bit. I think we have given a lot during Christmas and we have had games before over Christmas. At the end of the day what do people look at after Christmas? Four games and how many points you have made. Nine points is acceptable or even good. Ten is close to ideal because you look at last year and I think Manchester City made 10 and after the second best made seven and we made six or seven. Manchester United made seven, Manchester City made 10 points over Christmas. Nine is not bad.
on Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil…
They did quite well in the minutes they stayed on because I put Ozil centre forward and he has quality to keep the ball and run from deep spaces and Aaron Ramsey can do that.
on if there is an update on Mohamed Elneny…
No.
on what type of player Elneny is…
You know that.
on what he thinks of Elneny…
I have nothing to say because he is not our player. We have not signed anybody and we are not imminently in a position where we can say we have signed somebody. We are out there to get someone but at the moment we haven’t signed anybody.
Copyright 2016 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160102/wenger-on-newcastle-cech-and-koscielny#qPUMDOX1LzJe2Ppj.99
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Come on Twatford, do us a favour dear Hertfordshire Brethren.Lets face it, Watford is full of about 50% Arsenal fans anyway.
Shame Manure won though.Can only hope the Smeagles give CFC a beating-certainly a good chance what with them playing at the nest.
Bournemouth despite their pos.have had a good run against most teams though.
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reports that Mane is joining Man Utd from Southampton, for £24M plus add ons, its said Mane put in a transfer request this morning, after Utd had bid, he came on for 10 minutes today.
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watford 1-0 up!!
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Its being reported that Debuchy is off to WBA on loan, that all is agreed.
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only another 40 minutes to go, its going to be looong
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Well plucky Watford – what do you know?!
1-0.
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Maybe the Orns can sneak another…?
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Orns giving the mighty Citizens a run for their money! Come on Shitford!
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John Cross @johncrossmirror 8m8 minutes ago
Wenger at knowing grin, I know it, you know it, not our player yet respectful answer stage when asked on Mohamed Elneny. This week, I reckon
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The good Sheik hardly getting his money’s worth with £1 Billion Citeh struggling even to draw level with Watford, with 10 minutes or so to go.
Just shows, no easy games (Villa aside).
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bugger!
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Commentators curse as Toure bursts into life for his traditional last ten minutes of the game.
1-1
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Wankford.
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Sagna makes the city goal turning defence into attack and City take the lead 1-2
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And now Aguero shows a bit of interest.
1-2 but hardly a confidence generator for the blue mancs.
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Wankford nearly equalised! Still Wankford though.
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ighalo shoots straight at Hart and that’s it I think.
Hopefully having to play Aguero and possibly Toure through the crunch whilst not fully fit has drained their reserves for the long term run in.
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some rumors that Jenkinson will be coming back to AFC this month, with WHU set to sign Sam Byram from Leeds.
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So Citeh’s first away win since September. If this was Arsenal their title hopes would have been written off months ago. Credit to them for fighting back but that away form could well be their Achilles Heel.
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Watford nearly did it and prob.deserved a bit more, alas football doesnt give a crépe about “deserving”.
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top of the league and some are still moaning! are fans all over have been spoilt by wenger.
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i see some moaning about ramsey. they moan when he’s played wide, they groan when played through the middle. yet we only win just above 30% of our games when he’s not in the team compared to just below 70% when he is in the team. that stat ofhim playing through the middle is even better.
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Sometimes the result is all that matters. Glad to see that the AFC players mentality stood up to the test. Onwards and upwards.
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just because ramsey didnt pass the ball to campbell, they said he’s selfish. just because he is not as good at making the right decision as ozil doesnt make him selfish. in any case, i havnt seen any player as selfless as ramsey. he works himself up forthe team. covering every bit ofthe pitch. he could have just keep to himself a bit more, but that’s not aaron. we’ve only lost a game sincehe was move to the middle, despite not havind coq and alexis in the team. tha last time he had a long run in the middle with arteta we were by far the best in the league. and now that he’s been moved to the middle, i’m not surprise that we are top of the league.
it was as a result of his selflessness that made wenger to always play him in the team. even if its on the wing.
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I don’t like how some people are claiming Cech ‘saved’ us, like he’s not part of the team? Surely he was just doing his job as has every player during the season. Different players step up to get us through depending on the game and it’s not always going to be the forward players that make the difference. I would expect a player of his quality to be able to make a significant contribution when required, after all that’s why Arsene paid the big bucks for him in the summer.
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well guys with AFC playing away on the wednesday after the FA Cup game v sunderland next saturday how much rotation would you like to see Wenger do. For me I think he has to go full on rotation, Hayden is back from his loan, all todays seven subs, and reports suggest Elneny is likely to get clearance in time to play too, and if Deubchy is still with us, and Arteta is back in full training, and Alexis expected to be fit too, so maybe we have scope for a lot of rotation. I do expect Sunderland to rest a lot of their first choice 11, with them in the middle of a relegation battle.
for me we could or should go with something like (but be warned I am insane)
Ospina
Debuchy Chambers Gabriel Gibbs
Hayden Elneny(if signed)
Oxlade-chamberlain Iwobi Alexis
Walcott
subs Macey, Bellerin, Monreal, Koscielny, Arteta, Flamini, Giroud
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if arteta is there he would certainly get in ahead of the new guy… better to ease him in… u expect him to partner hayden? ha.
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the new guy and hayden would both be much closer to being match fit than Arteta, who only returned to full training this week, after another long injury lay off, regardless of who the starting 11 is, I just don’t see Arteta getting a start, maybe a sub for 15 minutes or so at best.
Anyway what I’m suggesting is rest as many of those as we can with the LFC game in mind.
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Wenger comments on the injured, and on possible transfers
Wenger: “Coquelin is running again, hopefully Cazorla will be back mid-February. Alexis could feature next week.”
Wenger: “We might need two maximum but it’s not like they just knock on your door and say ‘I have a fantastic player to sell to you'”
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As you say, eddy – you’re insane.
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well dkg what would be your starting 11 v Sunderland, considering we have LFC away the following Wednesday, or would that not come into your thinking in regards selection next weekend.
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