Good Morning Fellow Positives,
I suspect I would be hard pushed to find many Arsenal fans who would regard last night’s result, as opposed to last night’s performance, as anything other than a disappointment. Two points we might reasonably have expected to collect went unclaimed, the single point sparse recompense.
I might however gently point out to those likely to submerge into long term grief that the single point leaves us just two points behind everyone’s title favourites Citeh, and just five behind the still scampering Foxes. Admittedly the result also places us behind the Neighbours which I appreciate would test the patience of St Monica, but a temporary arrangement I am sure.
The reason for optimism immediately practical. Citeh and Leicester meet on Saturday, and the following weekend we play the Foxes and Citeh take on Spuds. Certainly the arrangement of results require us to take our chances, with wins in both games against Bournemouth and against Leicester, but do that and we could be on the same points as Leicester, in front of Citeh and Spuds. Admittedly the results would have to fall for us the right way but that would depend on a bit of luck. Even without a bit of luck and already tight race for the title is likely to further bunch up in terms of points.
The key theme of theme of luck, providence, good fortune etc. leads me neatly ( well I think neatly) into last night’s game and the review of events.
I thought we played well last night. The opening phase of 15 minutes or so Saints came out and put us under pressure and I assume were looking to snatch an early goal before retreating behind what is a well organised defence. Koeman is no idiot and he knew he was in for a difficult evening. When that initiative failed we gradually took control and, as we all saw or heard, created openings in the visitors’ defence. We were not quite at our best but still effective despite Saints disrupting our midfield by being quick into the tackle and roughing us up. Where we did break through, and create clear goal-scoring chances Fraser Forster got his foot, arm, hand, shoulder* (tick box as appropriate) in the way.
Half time came and went and it did not seem conceivable that with the pressure we had imposed that eventually we would not break through and yet, and yet…….
From 60-65 minutes onwards we stepped up the urgency and the speed of our play while Saints engaged in some blatant timewasting that led to the predictable 6-7 minutes of time added on. During that final, frantic half an hour we created goal scoring chances on Southampton’s goal every minute. Shot after shot and headers poured into the opposition and yet again Forster managed to leap and claw every on target effort away. One important point should be made is that where Arsenal have failed to score earlier in the season a lot of the problem came from shots that went high and/or wide of the target. Not last night. The official statistics say ten shots on target. I am surprised, it seemed like more, much more.
And so eventually we ran out of time. The visitors, who looked exhausted in the final few minutes, celebrated. They will not earn a point in a harder game all season. Credit to Forster, excellent display of keeping and while the pure goal keeping art was absent from some of his saves, he had the occasional flashes of luck that gave his side the result they were evidently delighted with.
For us I thought both full backs were magnificent all night. I thought Mesut and Alexis were excellent. I thought Koscielny was a leader all over the field.
So onwards to Bournemouth, Sunday lunchtime. Let us bring Arsenal’s footballing destiny back into our own hands.
Enjoy the week.
Positively Arsenal 
ARSENAL ADD ELNENY, MCGUANE AND EYOMA TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD BUT BIELIK LEFT OUT
Screen shot 2016-02-02 at 15.00.48
Zimbio.com
Arsenal have submitted their updated Champions League squad for the knockout stages of the competition.
The Gunners face Barcelona in a two-legged tie in the Last 16.
Mohamed Elneny, who joined from Basel in the January transfer window, has been added to the list of eligible players, whilst Dan Crowley and Stefan O’Connor have also been included after returning from loan spells.
Youngsters Aaron Eyoma, Tolaji Bola and Marcus McGuane, who recently signed their first professional contracts with the club, have been added to the squad.
Despite being part of the first-team squad Héctor Bellerín has been included on the B-List as he is still classed as an U21 player. Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, meanwhile, is on the senior list as he isn’t yet eligible for the B-List.
Carl Jenkinson and Serge Gnabry have been left out despite the fact that they have been re-called from their respective loan spells.
All of the players out on loan (Wojciech Szczęsny, Mathieu Debuchy, Yaya Sanogo, Emiliano Martínez, Chuba Akpom, Isaac Hayden, Glen Kamara, Wellington, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Gedion Zelalem) have been left out.
In addition the following players are currently ineligible for the B-List and have been left out of the squad altogether there isn’t space for them on the A-List: Ismael Bennacer, Krystian Bielik, Kristopher Da Graca, Hugo Keto, Ben Sheaf, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Yassin Fortune.
All of the players on scholarship contracts have also been left out: Marc Bola, Ilias Chatzitheodoridis, Vlad Dragomir, Charlie Gilmour, Savvas Mourgos, Edward Nketiah, Kostas Pileas, Nathan Tella, Donyell Malen and Joe Willock.
The squad rules state that two goalkeepers must be included and Arsenal fulfil that quota with David Ospina and Petr Čech being named in the squad.
At least eight players in the squad must be locally trained, with no more than four of these players being association trained. Below is a breakdown of how Arsenal have fulfiled this quota.
Five club-trained players have been named. (UEFA regulations state: A “club-trained player” is a player who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which he turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which he turns 21), and irrespective of his nationality and age, has been registered with his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons (i.e. a period starting with the first official match of the relevant national championship and ending with the last official match of that relevant national championship) or of 36 months.
Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin all fall into this category.
Three association-trained players have been included: These are players who, between the age of 15 (or the start of the season during which the player turns 15) and 21 (or the end of the season during which the player turns 21), and irrespective of his nationality and age, has been registered with a club or with other clubs affiliated to the same association as that of his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or of 36 months.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck fall into this category.
ARSENAL’S FULL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD:
List A: 13. David Ospina, 33. Petr Čech, 3. Kieran Gibbs, 10. Jack Wilshere, 14. Theo Walcott, 16. Aaron Ramsey, 34. Francis Coquelin, 15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21. Calum Chambers, 23. Danny Welbeck, 4. Per Mertesacker, 5. Gabriel, 6. Laurent Koscielny, 7. Tomas Rosický, 8. Mikel Arteta, 11. Mesut Özil, 12. Olivier Giroud, 17. Alexis Sánchez, 18. Nacho Monreal, 19. Santi Cazorla, 20. Mathieu Flamini, 28. Joel Campbell, 35. Mohamed Elneny, 49. Matt Macey, 54. Jeff Reine-Adélaïde.
List B: 24. Héctor Bellerín, 38. Dan Crowley, 42. Kaylen Hinds, 43. Ryan Huddart, 44. Deyan Iliev, 45. Alex Iwobi, 46. Chiori Johnson, 50. Stephy Mavididi, 51. Tafari Moore, 52. Stefan O’Connor, 53. Julio Pleguezuelo, 55. Tyrell Robinson, 59. Chris Willock, 60. Marcus McGuane, 62. Tolaji Bola, 64. Joshua DaSilva, 67. Aaron Eyoma.
Posted in Uncategorized on February 4, 2016 by Jeorge Bird
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AFCPressWatch™ @AFCPressWatch 2h2 hours ago
NFL exec confirmed Arsenal rejected the chance to stage NFL fixtures at Emirates Stadium before opting for Spurs. http://www.cityam.com/233878/superbowl-50-potential-of-london-nfl-franchise-discussed-with-arsenal-owner-stan-kroenke-and-manchester-uniteds-joel-glazer …
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Manchester United to close entire tier of Old Trafford due to lack of interest in Europa League tie despite 25% drop in ticket price
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liverpool fans are planning a protest after LFC raised the price of a ticket from this seasons £59 to £77 next season. Several of the LFC supporters group want the fans to walk out of Anfield at the 77th minute of their next home game
£18 hike in price is massive and LFC have not even tried to explain the price rise, no wonder their fans are in a rage. LFC fans are posting the following screenshot of the Fenway Sports Website
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Mason isn’t fit to be ref, if you agree sign this;
https://www.change.org/p/premier-league-mason-is-not-fit-to-referee?recruiter=482537166&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=whatsapp
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I see twitter is going mad about an administration charge for season tickets holders. Anyone know anything about it?
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arsenal have added a surcharge of between £18 – £30 on tickets for the Barca game for gold members, as its a Cat. A game.
its a total PR mistake by the club, you do have to wonder at times like this who the hell is advising them on PR stuff.
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Adrian Clarke article on the difference between punditry and actually managing a team.
http://bet.unibet.co.uk/football/la-liga/gary-nevilles-valencia-struggles-highlight-difference-between-punditry-management
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They just cant help themselves sadly, they sniff the chance of another £ and they are after it
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by the way Ian, fans have the option to opt out of the CL game, at no penalty to them, I’m sure many of them will going by their obvious dislike for cup games, as seen by the lack of numbers at the Burnley FA Cup game.
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No doubt Arsene will be blamed for the surcharge eduardo! I don’t understand why the club is doing it, I don’t think they ever have before?
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They may however for once have paddled up shit creek – while i cant go my plan was to furnish No1 son with Barca ticket when Red Members (small) allocation goes on sale
Today was second date it had been listed for sale and pulled at short notice.
Never known that to happen before.
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Alex Teixeira who was said to be a transfer target for both Chelsea and Liverpool in the January window, is going to a football club in China for £38m, with all the recent over the top prices the clubs in China are paying for players, the new TV money in the BPL might not see the influx of top players that many expected. There is a whole host of new rivals out there in the market.
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Andy, I suspect the demand is so intense it keeps crashing the system. Maybe that’s why they need the surcharge, so they can afford to upgrade the system!
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Interesting issue though indicative of a bigger canvs – while ST holders may feel themselves different and their view and interests more important – the hard cash requirement says otherwise.
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passenal I’m not sure, but I think the club have done this a few times in the past, but its a total own goal, team not on a good run, many disappointed by the latest transfer window, a massive bank balance, unhappiness about SKE getting a £3M consultants fee, a new massive TV deal about to come into effect and the club go and add a surcharge, its stupidity of the highest order by whoever decided on it.
The whole PR end of the club has been a lot less than it could be for some time now.
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Could be Pass but first date was 27th, the next today, the next the 10th
Sounds to me like they are still unsure how many tickets they will have to flog to Reds
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Ridiculous thing is the crowd will still be full of Japanese honeymooners, Latvian stag parties and a couple on a picnic from Obergurgl who leave at half time.
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Andy, I’m still trying to get a ticket as a silver member. At the moment the only supporters with tickets are season ticket holders who haven’t opted out.
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More chaotic than i thought – I may have to marry No1 son to Japanese lady ?
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He’s old skool – he’ll understand
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Tim Stillman @Stillberto 2h2 hours ago
The more money Arsenal take from fans, the more people will get up their arse about spending it &, ultimately, the sourer the atmos will be.
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Alexis tickles the ivory:
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Arsene Wenger confirmed that Rosicky is out for 2-3 Months, no surgery required. Welbeck will play for thee U21’s today (at least 45 Minutes), and that he will need 2-3 games to get his match fitness and the club will arrange behind closed door U21 friendlies to get him game time. AW says it will be 3 weeks before we are likely to see Welbeck back in the first team.
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FK² @fkhanage 2h2 hours ago
Alex Teixeira is on £192,000/week in China. Jackson Martinez will earn £250,000/week.
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This is just heartbreaking
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160205/rosicky-i-had-tears-in-my-eyes
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Jon Toral is 21 today,
the piss will boil with the AAA when it turns out he replaces Rosicky in next season’s squad
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unless Rosicky is given a new contract he is unlikely to play for AFC again, especially if he is out 3 months with this latest injury. Another case of what might have been but for injuries. A great talent that injury prevented greatness.
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Longford GAA club Dromard have been fined €2,000 for having hosted a summer camp last year owned by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
The ex-England star was the special guest for a summer camp run by UCL Harps FC last August, with the camp taking place on the grounds of Dromard GAA.
That has caused the club to fall foul of the rules of governing the use of GAA property by other sports.
The fine was handed down by the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee (CHC) at their meeting earlier this week, with Dromard having the option of appealing to the Central Appeals Committee.
The GAA announced the fine in a press release:
An Choiste Bainistíochta (Management Committee) instituted Disciplinary Action against Dromard GAA, An Longfort, alleging a breach of Riail 5. 1 (a) T.O. 2015, which deals with the use of property owned by or under the control of units of the Association.
Dromard GAA requested a Hearing. At the subsequent Hearing, An Lár Choiste Éisteachta (Central Hearings Committee) noted that the Club admitted the infraction and imposed a fine of €2000.
Dromard GAA have the option of appealing against the decision of An Lár Choiste Éisteachta to the Central Appeals Committee.
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its being reported that the BPL had a board meeting yesterday and that they decided that there would be no cap on the price of an away ticket, it will remain up to individual clubs to set their own price list.
I’m sure our fans will see this as all Arsenal’s fault.
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Rosicky on his injury “It does not look good at all. At the moment I can not imagine that I would go to the EURO”
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Welbeck is back in action
Arsenal Under-21s starting XI: Macey, Da Graca, Bielik, Pleguezuelo, M.Bola, Nelson, McGuane, Bennacer, Willock, Welbeck, Mavididi
substitutes: Huddart, Eyoma, Da Silva, Mourgos, Malen
Brighton Under-21s starting XI: Walton, Hunt, Barnett, Molumby, Hutchinson, Dallison, Ward, Starkey, Ayunga, Harper, Tilley
substitutes: Doherty, Bjordal, Deen, Tighe, Barclay
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We Can Do It. #AFC
@_The12thMan
Arrive after 5, leave on 40, return at 50 and begin leaving on 80.
And in the middle, abuse Giroud/Ozil/Campbell/Theo whoever else.
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on the barca ticket surcharge james olley was stopped mid question and told it was not a question for the manager. He then changed it to a general question about the new TV deal and if ticket prices could be lowered.
Wenger said all the TV deal will do is increase transfer prices so there will still be the same need for more money.
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afcstuff @afcstuff 19m19 minutes ago
Most saves in a PL match this season:
Forster v Arsenal (10)
Butland v Arsenal (10)
Krul v Arsenal (9)
[@Orbinho]
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rumor that our FA Cup tie against Hull City has been picked for TV and will be played on Friday 19th February, great if true as it would give an extra days rest for Barcelona game.
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isn’t it rather odd how the media focus on Arsenal when it come to the problems of high ticket prices for all fans, and how even one outlet deem to know how Arsenal voted on a BPL motion on the price of away tickets, despite they themselves call the vote a “Secret Ballot”, they claimed 7 or 8 clubs led by “greedy Arsenal” voted it down, its this totally agenda led reporting of the issue that helps keep the ticket prices high. Until the media and fans groups admit that it is a league wide issue and not the fault of one or two clubs, then there will never be a chance that the BPL will act on the problem.
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The chance to opt out against Barca is a red herring, as there was no option to opt out of the other “smaller” games.
This condition is not made clear when the ST was brought or renewed,
Previous seasons rebates have been only on the number of games missed not the grading of games.
The 7 games are not optional and the money is collected and available to use at the start of the season.
All ends up this is a total rip off and while I don’t agree with all those who constantly link Arsene with these decisions the club should take all the criticism coming its way.
Corporate PL capitalism at its worst.
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http://northlondonisred.co.uk/blaming-arsenal-keeps-ticket-prices-high/
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Reiss Nelson has put AFC U21’s 1-0 up after 2 minutes
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a nice article about supporting Arsenal
http://itsallaboutthearsenal.com/2012/01/29/my-50-years-as-a-gooner/
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Bielik has made it 2-0 to Arsenal U21’s, after 14 minutes.
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almost half time in the U21 game, Mavididi made it 3-0, and then Macey saved a penalty to keep Brighton at bay.
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Arsenal FC @Arsenal 3m3 minutes ago
HALF-TIME: @Arsenal Under-21s 3-0 Brighton Under-21s #AFCU21
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the official arsenal twitter feed has not mentioned Welbeck at all but there are reports that he fell heavily and was subbed off limping after 9 minutes, replaced by Malen.
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Positively Arsenal @Blackburngeorge 2h2 hours ago North West, England
With Rosicky.Flamini Arteta leaving and Jacks unreliability.to replace them with say 2 top MF players. That will come to about £100 m
it might very well come to £0,
Jon Toral, Ansley Maitland-Niles and Gedion Zelelam, not forgetting Calum Chambers, Mohamed Elneny and Alex Iowbi
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Arsenal U21’s bring on goalie Ryan Huddart in place of Matt Macey for the second half
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it was a fake report that Welbeck was injured and replaced after 9 minutes (really despair of the AAA/WOB and their attempts to cause trouble for the club they claim to support), Welbeck has played 60 minutes of the game and been replaced by Josh Da Silva
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Bennacer makes it 4-0 with a fine freekick – 78 minutes
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Ed, plus Issac Hayden, Wellington Dan Crowley, and that’s just midfielders obviously Chuba etc.
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