Good morning fellow Positive Arsenal fans,
Another Sunday afternoon passed in a blur of frustration as Chelsea made off with all the points in a game where I fancied, I think almost all of us fancied, that we would win and stamp our footballing superiority, indeed our collective moral superiority, over the faltering Russian Empire of SW6. A team struggling along at 14th in the Premier League facing a side that only requires a win to return to the top of the table. What could go wrong ?
As for the ‘why’s’ of the setback no doubt the gallows and bonfires of the mainstream and social media have identified and despatched their scapegoats by the cartload since the final whistle, and in some instances perhaps before !
For my part I thought young Shotts had it about right during the game yesterday when he noted that we had begun the game too keyed up, too anxious to rid ourselves the blue monkey. There was very little relaxed about our possession, our passes were too hard or too timid, and when an occasional chink opened in the visitors’ defensive armour we lashed at the ball. It was a collective nervousness, and one that it took us an hour to really get out of our system before we settled down and began to play our football. It is not the first time we have blown up against Chelsea – different players yesterday but still the same edginess that allowed Chelsea to settle – one anomaly for the manager to ponder.
As for our visitors the format we anticipated developed exactly as expected. Deep defence, hard tackling, ugly but always retaining their organisation. If they were to hurt us it would come through a swift counterattack, and so for our BFG it proved. With his dismissal nervousness turned to five minutes of panic and for the only time in the whole afternoon Costa slipped his leash. With their lead the visitors returned to the trenches.
One question someone might enlighten me on. Why did it take four+ minutes to make the Gabriel substitution ? It did not matter as the Brazillian was on the pitch when Costa scored but it seems bizarre that in those circumstances, i.e. your centre back has been sent off, both the player and the bench are not better prepared. It is hardly an unforeseeable occurrence in an AFCvCFC game is it ?
There is very little I can find to say about our first half of football. I said we started poorly, it is enough. The red card disoriented us further, the goal punished us. A risk was taken, apparently, by taking of Olivier and using Theo up front. I do not think it is an arrangement that is likely to be used again unless the Frenchman is seriously injured. I can understand however that down to ten men and a goal down it took some time to regroup and by the very end of the half and in the opening few minutes of the second we were just beginning to show a spark of quality.
After the hour and with the arrival of Sanchez we finally began to put some pressure on Chelsea, pulling their shape about, getting into shooting positions( even if the reluctance to pull the trigger persisted) and making them commit fouls that drew cards. We began to take control of the ball for the first time. Ten of our men were taking the game to eleven of their men. The Chilean was very much the catalyst of the change but his vigour, and the need to have three Chelsea players chasing him freed up space for Aaron and Mesut and they began to create. During the final half hour I thought Hector was very good on the right, very, very good in fact. We never had the visitors’ goal open before us but during that final 20 minutes we were on top and an equalizer seemed entirely do-able.
Despite five extra minutes the doing remain undone however, and so the tale I had in mind for this morning of a spirited recovery against the Fates remains unwritten, for now.
Third birthday of PA on Thursday – for those who have already produced a piece I thank you, for those who are still contemplating the floor is yours . In either circumstance don’t forget to look in and light a candle.
Positively Arsenal 
Thought I’d move this so it gets properly read Gf
Old fart’s thoughts:
With some half a billion quidsworth of talent on view, the first 18 minutes were unbelievably poor. Air shots, Joel missing a good chance; passes all over the place, especially out of play and tension affecting both sides badly. Ain’t it just sod’s law that the first really threatening pass from Willian should result in Per’s dismissal. Whether Costa dived or was brought down is immaterial and doubtless will be debated at length but it left us with 10 men plus a forced substitution. Personally hooking Olly wouldn’t have been my choice, Theo or Joel seemed more likely candidates and in retrospect, Theo captain for the day or not, proved that it was not the best decision. Presumably the thought of his speed plus Oz back in the squad determined the thinking.
Whatever, we paid for it big time when a few minutes later, our re-organised defence left Costa free and his close range shot gave Petr no chance. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.
But we did settle down. Overall the side performed bravely and created more than a few half chances but apart from creating panic in the Chel$ki rearguard, no reward. Alexis came on to great acclaim and was buzzing from the word go. Seeing him and Oz back in the side was one happy moment of a disappointing day which deserved an equalizer. Hopefully Burnley will be dispatched next week and we draw them in the next round!
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I am not taking this set back well.
I now hope we will win the league rather than thinking we will. I’m showing a definite lack of fortitude.
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I think we’ll be okay,players coming back and a chance to give Ozil & Giroud a breather on Saturday and then go on one of those Arsenal like runs..
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I thought beforehand that we were likely to get a point at best, so little that unfolded really surprised me. But I also said that I was confident that after Chelsea we would likely go on a run that would take us to the top, and I still believe that. The bookmakers (unusually these days) have a variety of opinions, and a couple have eased us out to 2-1, while some still offer no better than 13/8. While this is perhaps not quite the time (or the price) to echo the late great Richard Baerlein’s advice after Shergar had sluiced home in the Sandown classic trial that now is the time to bet like men, I do feel tempted to put my money where my mouth is.
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Mel’s waters have spoken. I’ll get the champagne in.
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PG, if I feel down about football, I try to watch some of the film Samsara, (theres several parts on YT) for me it tends put everything into perspective (in fact the whole film does it for me)one is the part where people who once the dustcarts start to tip the rubbish and shit out start searching for anything they can grab, and secondly are the blokes working in the sulfur pits with sores over there backs. Makes me always want to start bawling at the suffering on this planet just to exist.
Although Im sure it is, I havent written this to irritate you,but to try and save anyone from unnecessary suffering.(f*ck off Mills you evangelical c*nt).
We’re not even out of January yet.Look at all the players coming back. And who can tell what the score would have been had we played with 11 men.Both times.
And dont forget Wenger if anything, knows how to inspire players to rise up.Its a tough season, a rollercoaster, and whether up or down it can make you want to chuck up, But thats why everyone gets on the rollercoaster.(f*ck off Mills we know this already).
Its not over yet.
Anyway all apologies if this is irritating.
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Steady George. We need you at the barricades or the “white flag brigade” would surrender en-masse. All that new-found belief in winning the title would be like the Iraqi army at Mosul and Ramadi in the face of ISIS. Who will shame them into at least holding their ground?
Thanks A5 for the hat-tip. The Chelsea hoodoo is like a mental monkey on our back. Both teams know the importance of that 1st goal, that is the key to our recent success over City and United. Chelsea has sitting deep and counter-attacking imbued in their DNA since 2004 while for 20 years we are drenched in the attacking philosophy of Arsene Wenger. Chelsea is willing and able to use every trick in the book to maintain that dominance. Sooner or later we will overcome.
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well anicoll on why it took so long to bring on a sub, was there a stoppage in play, did Gabriel have to warm up a bit, remember the stick Wenger got for Ox and Theo getting injured at Sheffield(we were told that it was lack of a warm up), or was the delay due to the habit we now see more and more from subs, where they have anything from their shirt, pads, even boots to put on, and then there is the usual instructions to them from Wenger or Bould.
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https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/revealed-true-cost-mesut-ozils-112908776.html
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Kenny Sansom giving Piers Morgan some stick
Kenny’s tweet
Kenny Sansom @KennySansom03 33m33 minutes ago
Kenny Sansom Retweeted Piers Morgan
Does the fact I’m on the side of the stadium, captained them & played almost 400 times mean it’s more my club? Kenny Sansom added,
cunts tweet
Piers Morgan @piersmorgan
Actually, unless you also own 10 shares in Arsenal, it’s more MY club than your club. So pipe down. https://twitter.com/DebstheGooner/status/690918669061353472
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I did not really see what Gabriel was up to eddy and I accept that there must be a bit of time for the player to take off his big fluffy duvet jacket (after a struggle with the zip), slip his pads in, pop in a new piece of gum etc – and I understand Bouldy might want to whisper that last piece of advice that he did not mention in the seven days before the match – but FOUR MINUTES ffs
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what stoppages were there, was he ready and waiting but Ref did not signal for him to come on, I don’t know, but it is very rare for subs to get on quickly now, usually only happens quick when there is a big stoppage for an injury, allowing time for sub to be got ready.
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Just Bummed. MOst dissapointing result after the liverpool brain fart. my resolve is waning and i’ve lost a bit of faith in boys. Those cheats should not have won that game.
Theo hasnt been awesome for a while quite frankly.
Think i’ll take a football break now. Just pissed. 2 point out of 9! No one is winning a title with that.
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Well given the quantity of comments so far, that small niche that comprise PA are not as chipper and optimistic as they usually are. It is clearly going to be a ding-dong battle for the title. Some battles won, some lost; the war will be won by those who show most composure and resilience. Even with victory in your grasp there is many a Gerrard slip between the cup and the lip.
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Don’t be too premature George,your missus mentioned something about that once..
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You are disappointed Vona and that is understandable. However by 5pm on Saturday you may be a lot less disappointed, do you think a five day break is enough though ?
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FOUR MINUTES ffs Mel !
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Just wondered who the beast prayed to before the game yesterday? I thought deceit comes under the umbrella of sin somewhere?
Answers on a post card to:
Chelsea Buns
19 Sphincter Lane
Kreml on Sewer
Halitosis
SW6 666
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leicester next four games, they play liverpool, city and arsenal. hope they lose against liverpool, draw against city and ofcourse lose against us.
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Arsenal will win the league the old Arsenal way.by Goal difference on the last day.
If that doesn’t shout op the scarfists I don’t know what will
Pity Per – If you’re going to kick Costa. Kick Him!
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Positives from Yesterday:
When Arsenal were down to 10 men, they rallied in the second half and ender playing as the stronger side.
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Chelsea get another chance to cause some damage to Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City, The Totts and Leicester before this season is over.
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Ramires agents are now finalizing the contract for the Brazilian to Jangsui (China) from Chelsea, the BBC are reporting that the transfer fee may reach £25M, for me if anything like that fee is paid it is nothing more than cooking the books by CFC, there is something very odd about the over the top transfer fees they have been receiving in recent years
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well done A5 for a preview that must of been hard to write.
First of all ive got to thank Steve_I for sorting me out a ticket and, apart from the result, showing me a good time (oh and apparently we look alike as well). Great seat, great football and great company. I also am glad to see he has to endure the same problems with his mates as I have to. Two of them abused Giroud for 20 minutes (even when Aaron lost the ball) only to moan when Arsene took him off. Like some of my mates they are really nice people who become totally illogical with football, well done Steve your work in the field is indeed needed.
Ive still not rewatched the sending off yet however whether it was Pers mistake or the refs its another game against this club in which we have played well only for one moment to have a major impact on the game. From what I saw, I thought clatts got the sending off right but many other things wrong and by his standards had a poor game. When refs make a mistake im ok with that however when a ref see’s a fowl and doesnt punish it correctly then they are earning their keep.
I am a little worried about our BFG, its not the first time he has been caught out and, with us needing to push forward in the search for victories in tight games, he may again be exposed.
Many people have already pointed out the positives from the game, the performance was excellent towards the end of the first half and all of the second. All we have to do is win 15 league games on the trot with a decent goal difference and the trophy is back with us.
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reports that Welbeck will resume full training tomorrow, and that Coquelin might be in the squad for the FA Cup game v Burnley on Saturday.
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Ramires is worth every penny of that 25m. Him and Willian are the only two Chelsea players I’d have at Arsenal.
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gains
where will ramirez play at arsenal? he’s not a DM neither does he have the brain to play the box to box role. the only thing going for him is his energy. i agree with edu. how can a player who cant even get into the team ahead of mikel obi be sold for 25m. how much is mikel worth then? 30m?
it seems arsenal are the only honest club in england. i’m sure if chelsea are the club that sold gervinho to roma, figures in the region of 30m would have been mentioned.
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Chelsea’s transfer dealings are beyond human understanding. They flog good players for modest sums such as De Bruyne and Lukaku then spend millions on players who never get a game like Rahmann, Saleh and Cuadrado. And what club anywhere would sell Cech ?
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http://www.balls.ie/football/diego-costa-dive-arsenal-frame-by-fram-analysis/322387
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just incase anyones forgotten…
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Ok even if youre not convinced by the above, this you do, agree,shurley?
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Got to love Peter Hill-Wood, he has branded Diego Costa a serial cheat who ‘rolls around as if his legs have been cut off’,
you’ll not be surprised that he gave the quotes to the Star
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Gedion Zelalem and Julio Pleguezuelo both turn 19 today
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Although Clattenburg was probably right to send Per off,surely he should also have booked Costa for simulation.
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it seems Carl Jenkinson has suffered a serious knee injury, possibly season ending
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/January/26-January/Carl-Jenkinson-update
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What crap week for Jenks – the ‘ appy ‘ammers buy Byram, then he does his ACL
Come back son, you will be safe at the Ems
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PG, no white feather!
We lost, so what?
As for Mesut, look at the payments plus 21% Value Added Tax for Spain! Circa €50 millions in 13 months.
Alas, note who signed for the Arsenal. The Chinese are not be amused!
Poor Ivan, he should have known better.
COTG, it is time for Chelsea to be our rabbit!!!
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Arsenal are top of the fair play league and have only been given 3 red cards all season.
All 3 have come against Chelsea.
2 have come in incidents with Costa.
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Well well well – so Pardew had the losing ticket in this month’s transfer window bingo game.
Bad luck Alan
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For what it’s worth
Roger East is the ref for Saturday’s game.
I have to meet a man about a ticket near Finsbury Park on Saturday- so I can only really request establishments on Blackstock Road before the game.
Anyone got a preference?
Positivists Assemble!
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Debuchy is still on Arsenal’s books, is he not?
Let’s see how he wants to play on Saturday.
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Happy 23rd birthday to Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo
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I have not had a drink in that direction for a long while DC – the Bank of Friendship used to be reasonable – assuming it is still there would that do ?
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Untold will publish an article by Bob Wilson tonight.That should wind up the WOB even more! Ha ha!
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Why hasn’t Bob been given a Knighthood by now ?!?
T’is a conspiracy I tells ye!!, and to think HM QEII is supposed to be a Gooner as well.
One is not amused.
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Haha Andy5
I don’t know about reasonable but I’ve heard rumours our very own Mel O’Reilly is know to be a patron. On that basis I’ll give it a go.
PVC chaps?
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Ah – kitemark of quality !
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Toffees a goal up at City. 1-3.
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Bugger.
2-3 now.
I want extra time anyway.
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