Boker Tov Positivistas,
I think the lesson I take from this season’s Festive football fixtures is “to expect the unexpected”, and perhaps it will be the theme of the whole 2015/2016 campaign?
Having allowed the in game adrenaline to cool I enjoyed the game yesterday. We were clearly not at our best. After a bright opening we found ourselves out of ideas and the visitors worked their way commendably back in to the game. By the half way mark it was an even contest.
My pre game expectation was that Toon would come for a point, ten players behind the ball all afternoon, park the proverbial charabanc, and cross the half way line only with great reluctance. As matters turned out when they found they were able to and allowed to play football they responded positively. It made for better entertainment, looking back, albeit a little hard on the nerves at the time.
The hysteria about McLaren setting out to ‘kick’ Arsenal out of the game seem misdirected. Precious little dishonest aggression from either side although the Ox was a little fortune that Taylor was following the ball rather than spotting his scissoring an opponent after 20 minutes. Don’t do that at the Camp Nou son, it will be noticed. Colback picked up his traditional weekly booking – regular as clockwork that boy – remarkably consistent. These things happen, no harm done, both sides I thought treated each other and the laws of the game with respect.
Into the second half and for a few minutes the visitors really did have the initiative with Petr Cech earning his corn in his busiest home game since Bayern ( or Spurs !). Man of the Match was not in much doubt. There was little rocking along the back four and, unusually, for our intrepid and older Spanish full back the incisive Geordie thrusts were coming down that left hand side. Nacho had a difficult afternoon by his smooth standards but, to his credit, stayed on the job and put in a few important interceptions and tackles. When we went forward we looked dangerous to the edge of the NUFC box but after that, in the tight confined of Barcode Central, we never managed to find the extra space to put in a killer shot or accurate header.
The one serious error I thought McLaren’s and his boys made in the second half, after about an hour really, and when they were still enjoying possession and creating chances was to start wasting time. It may have been part of their game plan, it may have been because after an hour of running at us they were knackered. That breather for both sides changed the rhythm of the game, as did the introduction of that old piece of Costa Rican deadwood Joel Campbell ! We steadied, and began to move forward again.
And then the goal, described by some as a ‘tap in’, by others as a ‘classic poacher’s’ goal. Probably somewhere between the two but Laurent did very well to find that yard of space that had eluded every other Arsenal player all afternoon and despatch the ball efficiently.
After the goal I thought we were relatively comfortable. Not that Toon did not push us and put in a couple of late headers but our defending was more assured, with Gibbs and later still Chambo on, while the visitors became more ragged and both sides tired on a wet afternoon. And the newly pink cheeked Aaron nearly rounded off the afternoon with a beautiful solo goal. Unlucky son but don’t stop trying the magic. Not aware of any injuries so a good afternoon all round.
New Years Honours List for Arsenal yesterday; Medals for Cech, Nacho, Laurent, and Joel. Mentioned in Despatches the Flamster and Ramsey. Must try harder/naughty step certificates for Theo and the Ox, the former anonymous and the latter still struggling to balance his enthusiasm with doing the simple things well. For the visitors I award the best player pennant to Wijnaldum. I suspect that Mike Ashley will have him in the shop window before long.
A week to rest and recuperate before Sunlun at the Ems and almost certainly a few of yesterday’s starts benched or given the afternoon off. Fat Sam will also rest what passes for first choices among his motley crew of the SS Black Cat. We shall see.
Enjoy Sunday !!
Positively Arsenal 
Thank you Andrew. Hardly hysterical to fear a kicking after their tactics at St James park but like you I was glad to see those fears were groundless. I would have settled to be in touch with the top four when the in juries began to pile up and with the December fixture insanity approaching. We have exceeded that by a country mile – so what if it hasn’t always been vintage football that gets us where we are? I’m sure every single Arsenal fan is just delighted with Arsene and all of his players this morning.
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All I ever wanted was that we get to January “in-touch”,well being top of the pile ,given our injuries, is more that I expected. Marvelous.
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Thanks Andrew.
3 wins out of 4 isn’t so terrible a return from the festive season’s games, is it?
Only downside yesterday was Watford’s inability to see out their game against City.
Blimey – That Yaya’s sure ate a lot of cake over the Christmas, the size of him now.
City have plenty of games in january for him to run it off.
I expect Leicester to slide out of the top 4 without a whimper, from now on.
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The old fart’s thoughts:
For once “1-0 to the Arsenal” rings a bit hollow. It’s very odd how much of a problem we’re having with the lower sides versus the relative ease with which we’ve been beating the top sides. For many seasons it’s been totally the other way round.
The game started with Hector putting in two dangerous crosses in the first minute and I suspect that most of us thought that a goal fest was going to be on the cards. So much for assumptions. Maybe it was the malign presence of Taylor refereeing that had us playing stodgily, maybe the weather, maybe the worry that we were up for a kicking held us back…whatever it was, not a game that will live in the memory. At the end only the performance of Petr and the goal from Kos brought smiles.
Even Oz was subdued albeit that he created more danger than the rest of the attack combined and the general lethargy resulted in the bar codes actually looking far more dangerous than we were. Elliot, the Newcastle keeper, must have thought he was in fantasy land. I can’t remember him having to make one save. For sure, unlike many other keepers coming to the Grove, he wasn’t even close to being nominated as MOM.
But can we complain at our festive haul…9/12 points? Not really. Now for the cup again. Keep the faith.
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Good three points, as three points usually are. Newcastle have beaten a couple of media darlings lately and seem to be on an upward trend …of sorts….so a win, especially in a strange season, and when not at our best is not to be underestimated.
Agree, we are doing rather well to be where we are with injuries and seasonal fixture congestion, huge credit to the players who have stepped in to cover for some key players. One blog proclaimed losing Coq for any amount of time would be a season ender, so stand tall Messrs Flamini and Chambers…and the coaching staff…and the rest of the team who have adjusted to an injury spell where I believe the list hit 10/11 at its peak?
Difficult games to come, but in a good place.
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Perfect write up Andy! Many thanks.
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Thanks Andrew,didn’t get to watch the game yesterday only brief highlights,what do they say about teams being under the weather and still winning? Tough 3 PL games coming up,but first our trophy defence..
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Gf60, Tim Stillman in his most recent article on Arseblog wrote an interesting piece on why we can sometimes struggle against so called lesser sides, yet, in his words routinely despatch a quality side like City these days, he refers especially problems with sides that offer us a lot of possession…..was not there yesterday so not sure if this applies to Newcastle. Apparently things have changed, we used to do well against sides when we had all the possession, we now do well against quality sides that can retain possession themselves….guess beating BM at home would be a case in his point. Not sure I agree with all that Tim said, but worth a read if you get the chance.
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A win without injuries is what I asked for before the game so I should be happy. The problem is the longer the season goes on the more nervous I get, anything less than a 3-0 win gives me palpatations.
I think the reason our full backs were struggling was partly because Theo and the Ox were neither driving their opponents back or tracking back and putting in the tackles we normally expect our two outer midfielders. Obviously that all changed when Joal come on and the toon couldnt handle him.
The Ox is not having a good time of it at the moment however in the future, as Arsene has proved in the past, he will be turned into a top class player. Those who suggest he should be sold have lost their minds or maybe had nothing there to start with.
Weve gone into the new year with a another win, are still top and more locally another excellent preview and review. Well done to all the writers during this busy period.
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Good write up Andrew, but I think Olivier deserves a shout out too. I thought he did well winning headers and holding up the ball up front and it was his knock down that led to the goal.
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Good point Pass – I suspect that Olivier did not get a mention because he did what he always does which is work his arse off all afternoon. He and Coloccini have had two great battles this season. Olivier and Mesut are surely the most deserving of the weekend off against Sunlun as they have both put in 26-28 appearances so far this season. Whether Arsene takes the risk might come down to Alexis’ fitness !
And Gf60 you are right about the first five minutes, it looked like murder was about to be done to the hapless Geordies. If you don’t put the ball in the net when the opponent is almost defenceless though ……..
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It may not have been the kick fest we feared, and that is to Newcastle’s credit, but by far the dirtiest play came from a Newcastle player. Mitrovic pushing Koscielny towards the advertising boards was intentional. He only followed him there to make it seem like an accident. He was never out of control. Apart from that, Anthony Taylor wasn’t calling fouls against them, but any touch by us was deemed a foul. You could see Wenger and some of the players getting increasingly frustrated. Still, at least he was lenient on the bookings for us.
Glad we found a way to win. We weren’t great, or even good. But that goal was very imporant. Not just for the 3 points, but the belief it gives us.
According to the commentators City sent a message to the rest of the premier league. The only message I got is that City seem to play only in the last 15 minutes on their travels. Pity that was enough yesterday. But if that continues, it won’t always be.
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He must have employed a cunning move on Kosc to try to get him over the boards Shard – I admit I never noticed;
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-newcastle/koscielny-and-mitrovic-looking-for-a-penny-which-went-behind-the-sofa.html
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Just about right Andrew. The major disappointment was after a bright start, with Bellerin excelling, we were simply unable to sustain the initiative. As the half wore on, Tony Gale opined on my broadcast that our midfield was leaving too much space in front the back four. While he is a dyed in the wool Arsenal hater, it was a correct observation. There was something ragged ragged about our shape for much of that first half which is concerning. Maybe it is tiredness, old legs, whatever, but something isn’t right. Added to the mix was an out of form and inconsistent Chamberlain. I applaud the boss for giving him a run at home against a relegation threatened team, in stark contrast to most managers of the top-teams, none of whom seem to give fringe players a start these days. Frankly it would have been an easy choice for the boss to start Campbell on the basis of recent form. Despite the huffing and puffing by Newcastle and the urgings of Tony Gale, they didn’t have the quality to take full advantage of their chances. I for one wasn’t surprised that we poached a goal within the last 15 minutes. But I am the proverbial optimist when it comes to AFC.
While we I share everyone’s relief that we were able to earn 9 points out of 12 over the busy holiday season, despite the injuries, I don’t think this is sustainable over the long haul. Tiredness and injuries will take its toll eventually. Ramsey at one point yesterday look like he did his groin, Ozil was pacing himself and Giroud looked leggy. Hopefully we can get one or two reinforcements or else this could be 2013-14 all over again.
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My last paragraph wasn’t too optimistic eh?
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The ‘problem’ with Ox, in my social media expert opinion and micro-blogger of the Arsephere opinion, is that he is obviously very keen to do well and stamp his contribution on the game every time he gets the ball, in fact he is TOO eager.
Consequently Shotts where playing a simple ball, or stopping and looking up, or avoiding lunging in to a difficult tackle, is not on his to do list as the Ox snatches at the game. Calm down young man, let your game flow.
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Thanks Andy and Stew. Top work as ever. Only saw MotD and the highlights on the Arsenal player and from the latter it looked as if the Ox had a good game: he is close to clicking and has the best club around him to help him do just that.
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Toda, Andrew – yishar koach. Not sure about the medal to Nacho – he had a mare of a first half with misplaced passes, being robbed of the ball and generally being given a hard time by Sissoko.
fh – I must take a look at those highlights if they show Ox having a good game – not my recollection at all. But I agree with Andrew – he’s trying too hard (when he tries, and not hard enough when he doesn’t, if you get my meaning). Still think Joel gives us more balance and all-round effort, but I suspect (hope) Arséne is giving him a bit of break – his first winter in the UK and all that. Never thought I would say that but the lad has proven me wrong about him – all credit to him.
eduardo published his team for the Cup game yesterday, saying he was insane but… and I agreed with him. On reflection, it wasn’t quite as mad as it looked at first sight. Depends on whether the lads have their fresh legs back by next weekend, otherwise some rotation is in order before the trip to Liverpool.
I see it’s raining down in South London and in Liverpool – could affect the results today, as it affected our performance yesterday, I believe.
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Nacho gets his medal for sticking at his job even though, as I say Dk, a lot of traffic was coming down his side of the pitch for a lot of the game. As impressive as anything was that in spite of the pressure he did not pick up a card, and nor did any other of the back four.
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I can remember playing on horrible wet Sundays like this as a kid, heavy mud and grassless pitches, changing on the touchline, the ball the weight of a small grand piano when you headed it, or tried to head it anyway.
Happy days.
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Thanks Andrew. Adapting to these conditions must be an interesting challenge for the current generation of players many of whom grew up playing on 4G pitches.
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The Toon were time wasting from the 30th minute if not earlier something we’ve seen before from this group of players. But they are good players and they grew into the game as all visitors do when you don’t get the early goal.
As holders playing away against pl opposition there won’t be as much rotation for the cup game as Some might be hoping for.
But it’ll be interesting to see how Iwobi performs if he gets he start against the manager that bought hs uncle to the UK (even Biggus Sammus has some redeeming qualities. Just about.) I’m offering good odds on both Campbell and the Ox starting the Sunderland game.
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in the 7 days after the Sunderland game in the FA Cup, we have away games at Liverpool and Stoke, so for me it is very important that the line up v Sunderland shows major rotation.
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Dinklage @Dinklage_Afc 4h4 hours ago
Arsenal are a mere 4pts off what “a rampaging Chelsea side” managed at this point last year.
The form is real lads
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Excellent a5.
Great comments as always. Thanks.
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Excellent write up and detail is very much appreciated as I’ve still not seen the game.
I am certain that at this time of year the overall standard of play for most teams dips – and especially for the fourth game of xmas. Citeh in particular looked very leggy according to most reports, so with significant injuries, on balance our overall performance over the period is to be lauded.
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Why aren’t there more suspicions mentioned in the media about Tottenham’s energy levels?
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Why would they dc? They never questioned chelski’s amazing ability to keep going all last season with mostly the same XI whilst a change of doctor has suddenly coincided with a massive slump this season. By fair means or foul they are routing for spurs to overtake us.
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routing? or rooting even!
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The media love Tottenham, almost as much as Liverpool. They did look shattered in the end of this game though, unless suspicions are well founded, can see them soon hitting a bit of a slump as they did last year.
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They might want to investigate why they run out of gas around 80 minutes DC – last time they faded against Toon and it cost them all the points.
Fair dos to Martinez – any team that relies on Gareth Barry and Tom Cleverly but is not bottom three must have a hell of a manager
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Routing is an Americanism
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Passenal, at the time, ie when he was managing Inter and drawn against Chelsea, I was amazed at the lack of media scrutiny on Jose’s Chelsea’s Dr Needles comments. It was dismissed as mischief at the time…..maybe that’s all it was, but if not, Dr Eva could be a dangerous enemy in time.
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I think Andrew deserves a medal purely for his trip down memory lane @ 2:10pm.
Ah – I remember it well.
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Here is what is ahead of The Arsenal in the league in 2016
HOME GAMES
1. Chelsea
2. Southampton
3. Leicester City
4. Swansea
5. WBA
6. Watford
7. Crystal Palace
8. Norwich
9. Aston Villa
AWAY GAMES
1. Liverpool
2. Stoke
3. Bournemouth
4. Man Utd.
5. Tottenham
6. Everton
7. West Ham
8. Sunderland
9. Man City
It looks tough, doesn’t it?
Getting 5 or more away wins will be vital to our title chances.
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A5, nice one and your clip made me search!
Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic shoved Mathieu Debuchy as he chased down a pass, sending him colliding into advertising hoardings surrounding the pitch.
Norwich, appear to make a habit of this? In Norwich, Norfolk.
Bennett pushed Alexis, into the camera pit, off the field of play. , Mesut Ozil went into a camera position before. But he chose a space where he was free to dive in. Aaron Ramsey went into the hoardings behind the other goal in the second half.
Now, we have this “foul” at the Emirates!
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wenger: I don’t give much away because I don’t know [what’s happening with transfers].
I want to talk about them and hopefully we are capable of doing something in the next 10 days.
It’s more about quality than quantity because our players will not stay out injured forever. Francis Coquelin is starting to run, Santi Cazorla will be back in mid-February, and Mikel Arteta is back now so, hopefully, if we can add one and, if needed, two maximum.
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if you ever wondered why Gavin Hoyte failed to make it at Arsenal
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Jamie Vardy: Leicester City striker to have minor groin surgery
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is set to be out for one to two weeks in order to have minor groin surgery, BBC Radio Leicester reports.
The England forward has been in superb form this season and his 15 Premier League goals have helped the Foxes to second in the table.
The 28-year-old has made 24 appearances for the club this campaign.
Vardy was also a member of coach Roy Hodgson’s England squad that qualified for Euro 2016.
The former Fleetwood Town striker played the entire 95 minutes of Leicester’s 0-0 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday
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WENGER – YOU CAN SENSE VIBES ARE RIGHT
Arsène Wenger says Arsenal’s attitude, charisma and experience will help them maintain a strong title challenge this season.
Saturday’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United saw the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the Premier League after Leicester City failed to beat 10-man Bournemouth at King Power Stadium.
Wenger’s side struggled to break down Newcastle’s resilient defence at times, but the manager believes that overcoming these tough tests proves how strong they are physically and mentally.
If you look at your team like a person and the vibes that are coming out – you can sense in this job if you feel it or not
Arsène Wenger
“I think we are more experienced than the teams I had when I moved into the stadium here,” he said. “On our day we could play everybody off the park and when you had to dig deep you experience it was a bit more difficult. It was different.
“Now, the experience, the quality of their attitude, the team always has the charisma. If you look at the team as a unit, it is like person. If you look at your team like a person and the vibes that are coming out – you can sense in this job if you feel it or not.
“I must say [you see] another aspect of your team in a game like [against Newcastle]. It is more the mental aspect – you fight, don’t panic and wait for your chance. We were more questioned on that aspect than the way we played football.
“I also believe that everyone else’s organisation has improved. What is even more [surprising] is physically you won games in maybe the last 20 minutes when you were superior technically. That is not the case anymore.
“When you go forward, the team against you in transition always has the resources to come out and kill you. Look at the players who come on. They always have the quality to finish you off when you go for it. That is something new.”
image: http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/images/dec_15/gun__1449329307_wenger.jpg
Copyright 2016 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160103/wenger-you-can-sense-vibes-are-right?#RVMKiJC3uFuhTOL3.99
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Limpar33 @Limpar33 8h8 hours ago
Chelsea’s missing ingredient was Mourinho. They literally needed him to be missing.
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So Vardy is going under the knife and will be out for 2 weeks. If you believe it is a mere 2 weeks then I have a bridge to sell you. This is after 3 games without a goal. I hear a gusher of air leaking from a big giant balloon.
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Since the recent Alexis tumble into the camera pit I have had my eye out for the perils of pitchside risks as well as the skullduggery on the part of players to injure one another as the ball goes out of play NOTH.
I saw a particularly ridiculous instance yesterday with an Everton player, Seumas Colman I think, crossing the dead ball line at the Spurs end and falling over two stewards who, for reasons that have no logical explanation, were crouching with their backs to the pitch just over the white line. Colman went arse over tit head first into the advertising boards and spent the next 30 seconds rolling around on the floor, clutching his shoulder as the stewards just sat there ignoring him.
Luckily there was no serious damage to the player but in terms of total stupidity that was right up there with the best.
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if we can win our remaining home games, we’ll be good for the title. in this league, home games is as important as the away games. you dont get awarded extra point for winning away. all the titles won by the ‘sacked one’ were made possible by his impecable form at home. now that the pundits realised that our remaining home games are winable, the are trying to give more importance to away games. i say we can get the job done at home. in any case, we’ll still win matches away as we are the best side away from home for some seasons now.
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i see how some fans are so upset seeing how well ramsey is doing since being moved to the middle. so the try to undermine that by pointing out that we are now more or to some very open in the middle. but the stats didnt back them. at least my own stat!
before he was moved, we played 18 games (excl. coc against sheffield ) we conceded 22 goals and kept 7 clean sheets. with him in the middle, we played 9 games, conceded 7, and kept 5 clean sheets. in that period, he played without coq who many rated far above flamini, without sanchez and most importantly, without ramsey on the wing, whose selflessness and willingness to drift into the middle has always help to shore up the central midfield, helping to keep possession and stop teams hiting us on the break.
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Hazard only lasted fifteen minutes before coming off yesterday. Unlike Vardy, he hasn’t scored in a while. It’s hard work being a consistent performer in this league.
it is very reassuring to see the GazCorp players actually playing in the absence of the aaa/goner’ pin up hero/icon. Bloomin’ hilarious.
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I don’t know how true this is:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/12080038/Arsenal-transfer-news-Serge-Gnabry-recalled-from-West-Brom-loan-spell.html
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We know that Serge was having a ‘mare at the Albion.
He wasn’t Pulis’s cup of tea as a player at all – not being 6’7″ and 18 stone and all.
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I hope our players enjoy their few days rest before limbering up for the cup and then the two away games against Liverpool and Stoke, who I see play each other at the Britannia tomorrow before travelling respectively to Exeter and Doncaster on Friday and Saturday. Herr Klopp seemed decidedly tetchy on the weekend. If he can negotiate Stoke and Exeter away from home this week, followed by home fixtures against Arsenal and Man U next weekend then he will have done well.
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Lovely Jubbily!
Two hard games for our ‘rivals’ to play-out this week
Capital Cup Semi-final 1st Leg.
Tuesday: Stoke vs Liverpool
Wednesday: Everton vs Man City
Given the need for any of these clubs to add to their trophy cabinets, we can see both matches having full strength squads employed.
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Serge – good that he’s left that cesspit. Can’t see that there’s room for him with AFC at present though. Maybe lend him to Villa or Norwich, somewhere he’s got a good chance of playing. Bournemouth another possibility – good team with plenty of style, but I think he would be dependent on injuries there, they have Ritchie on the right and Pugh or Stanislas on the left.
Or a Championship team – Brighton?
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