Sabā il kẖayr Positivistas,
Despite the downpour currently inundating North West Norfolk a fine morning to be a Arsenal supporter I’d say. We can bask in the warm glow from last night’s victory against, yet again, a stubborn Hull side. Checking the book it is more than a year since we put four or more unanswered goals past an opponent. The last time we managed such a crushing result away from home was 3rd December 2012 at the DW Stadium (for those grasping the long departed and lightly missed Wigan).
To bring in the result just three days after an exhausting North London derby, with players missing and on a night when the curse of further injury ambushed us at the KC was even more to our credit.
Of the game itself a fair opening from us, busy in midfield, rock solid at the back, but a little toothless in the final third. We kept at our work however and the dividend came in a rotten back pass from Meyler, and Olivier slotting the ball through the legs of the diving Jakupovic. 652 minutes according to the man on the TV since the locals had to put up with that indignity, 7+ games – I admit I was surprised! If the Bosnian keeper had the a good game and a slice of luck at the Ems three weeks ago his fortune had surely deserted him last night.
So 1-0 up and playing smoothly up to half time the shot from Kieran deserved a goal and I would be delighted to see him and Hector, and Nacho, trying that more often. We have never had prolific full backs in terms of scoring goals but the occasional strike in tight games can contribute mightily.
After half time we wobbled, caused through a combination of Hull picking up their game, and the series of injuries with first Nacho down and obviously hurt, then Gabriel pulling up. Having lost Per to a bang on the head ( no one mention the ‘c’ word – ssshhhh) the evening showed signs of unravelling.
But no – having wobbled we regained our composure, our defence was resolute and then, on 71 minutes, scored what was the killer goal on the night. In its way the second goal opened up the Hull defence as easily as our first. Nice ball in from Theo, exactly where it was meant to be, right height, right weight, right time. For Olly who has suffered some wretched luck in front of goal over the past few weeks it was a second gift, neatly unwrapped and buried.
The remainder of the game was anti-climax, The home side recognised they were not going to come back from 2-0, they knew it, we knew it, they streamed for the exits and an early fish supper, the away fans sang and most* Arsenal fans pondered where to watch the match on Sunday.
Though it would have been easy to settle for the two goal win up popped Theo with a pair of fine finishes. The first was created by probably the best pass of the night from Joel, a perfect diagonal Pythagoras would have been proud of, the second found our English striker/winger pushing in from the right and his deflected shot spun in. Good finishing and a boost to the boy, another who has spent weeks on the bleak plain of indifferent form.
My man of the night though has to be Mo Elneny. I thought he was excellent all night in central midfield, creative going forward, his passing accurate, disciplined when the opposition brought the ball forward, solid tackling, and even winning balls in the air. A little unlucky to be booked for his one foul, but even that had a certain ‘tactical’ origin.
Others worthy of praise Alex Iwobi, the Flamster who silently tidied midfield then slipped neatly into right back, and David Ospina. Just one great save from our keeper last night. Had he allowed the Hull chance to get in front on half an hour …….. well, who knows!
Enjoy your Wednesday.
* And no I am not giving ‘them’ space on this blog.
Positively Arsenal 
FT, 3-0
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on season tickets, I would also say its high time Arsenal take the tickets off those that miss games on a regular basis, at least off those that do not put said ticket up on ticket exchange. Basically use it or lose it policy.
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I see Red action are recommending all season ticket holders, silver and red members boycott the Watford Cup tie
They want to use the ‘unique’ opportunity of the short time space to sell tickets to Sunday’s game to show Stan and Ivan how much fans ( Red Action) disapprove of the way the club is run
As they say it’s on tv so who cares
Very true – Who gives a fuck anyway
6th round of the Cup
Semi final place on offer
Third FA cup in a row
Red Action another bunch of self indulgent sanctimonious wankers
Never ever again
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Next time they are waving one of their soppy big flags around ( quivers with excitement at the thrilling design) I shall set it ablaze
Well it sends a message
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never thought red action would turn out to be such a shower of attention seeking twats.
Well I hope if Arsenal reach the cup semi final, and then on to final, that those that do go to the Watford game get preference when it comes to both semi and final tickets, any clown that boycotts it certainly does not deserve a ticket for Wembley.
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don’t the club pay all the expenses of those redaction displays.
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Di Maria with the assist to knock Gazprom out of Europe. No Matteo inspired fluke for Hiddink, when they had no games to worry about in the league.
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Silver bin bags at barca game Andrew!
Hehehe
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But unfortunately only people behind the goals got a silver bin bag. My friend became quite irate at this flagrant injustice and almost started a pre-match protest that evening in order to blag himself a shiny silver bin bag (a fantastic technique at disguising pre-big game nerves in my humble opinion and very amusing for everyone sat near us!)
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Lesson their for the club
Start bending on the price of away tickets and it encourages the mob
Whiff of grapeshot
Closed doors
Opening PL game of next season in Jakarta
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After all it would be on the telly
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Red Action’s boycott is a non-starter – I bought my ticket today and it looked like the tickets were moving fast despite the short timescale, which is hardly the club’s fault.
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red action quoting and backing the Black Scarf mob & GoonerFanzine, the same gooner fanzine who only last week said they wanted Arsenal to lose v spurs, and all games for rest of the season, shows the shower of shit redaction are.
its amazing how these groups like redaction, aisa and ast, who the club have aided financially and who are given so much interaction and time with the club officials, get so fucking full of themselves and turn all self important, forgetting what they are meant to stand for, and what club they are actually meant to support. Big headed idiots, the lot of them.
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have to laugh, CFC losing 1-2 on the night, 2-4 on agg, and Hazard walks off slowing when being subbed, he really couldn’t give a shit, could he.
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anyone see LVG’s comment on any utd fans not happy about being in the EL, needing to realize that times have changed, and year on year CL is a thing of history.
maybe AFC fans should take note too.
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I’d guess Hazard may just keep walking until he gets to either PSG or Madrid – the pity for Chelsea because of the transfer fee is that he has had such a terrible season – probably halved his price
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can anyone tell me what I need to do for me to be able to like other peoples posts, when I click on like the following box opens up – is this a required step
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Irish tv commentator, “Chelsea are now respectfully 10th in the league, it would be a great achievement for them to get EL place” – have we gone back to the 90’s
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Steve Gooner @Merse10 27m27 minutes ago
RedAction telling fans to boycott game, AST spreading lies about the club & Gooner Fanzine not wanting the team to score. #FanGroups
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Admittedly the way Hazard has played for most of this season he may turn up at Villa Park in August
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REDaction Gooners
@REDactionAFC
Group of Arsenal fans who work to improve the atmosphere in the stadium. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
Does anyone want to answer their question, and point out the flaw in their mantra
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CFC our of CL, lets hope that Everton knock them out of the FA Cup this weekend.
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Darren @DarrenArsenal1 1h1 hour ago
If your an Arsenal member and find it hard to get tickets for games, this Sunday’s game could be your chance to go.
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redaction must have the hump with AFC, the club must have refused to offer to pay for a pre match display
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redaction have the hump with AFC, the club must have refused to offer to pay for a pre match display v Watford.
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Liam Brady just said that when he was Head of Arsenal Academy he was up against Chelsea, and that CFC must have spent upwards of £250M on their Academy in the last 5 or 6 years, and yet they refuse to give any of their youths a proper chance in the first team.
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Brady said it is very difficult to get a youth through to be a first teamer, even one every two or three years, but to be fair to Wenger he has always down through the years, and is still, giving youths a chance.
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just thinking about those comments by Brady, if he is correct that CFC have spent £250M on their Academy, and he would know as he said CFC blew AFC out of the water in deals to sign the best young players, Brady added CFC had a money is no object policy, it really puts into perspective what AFC are up against, CFC were able to spend more on their academy than AFC could spend on the first team.
I do remember a couple of years ago CFC played Fulham in the FA Youth Cup, the CFC players were taunting the Fulham lads by telling them what wages they were on, at least two of their team were on a basic salary of £30K a week, a few more on over £20K.
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Steve ⚽Gooner ⚽Martin@HarlowGooner
Hello fans please be in ground 15 mins early to help with plastic bag show v Barca. But we’re boycotting the Watford match.
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Liam Brady said tonight that it looked like Fabregas’s legs had gone.
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Sam @samuelJayC 1h1 hour ago
Ramsey out for 6 weeks, @TeleFootball reporting. Mertesacker & Koscielny should be fit for Sunday. #afc
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Eddy, we’d like a bit more professional medical checks done before anyone announces that Ramsey is out For 6 weeks.
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Ed, you just need to sign into your WordPress account and check the ‘stay signed in’ box. Then you’re good to go. You’ll have to do it on every device or browser you use to access the blog. Once done, you don’t need to do it each time you want to like a post or comment
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Strange times at AFC. A fanbase divided. Some hate players,manager and club and want to be customers and the others still love football and support the team,manger and club.
Notice how Theo didnt really celebrate with the crowd after the Hull goals? It was the same in the thrashing of Spurs a few years ago(dancing Dean?),ironically after he had been given loads of stick.
Whats going on at UA? They keep publishing odd articles undermining everything they stand for.
PA is now the bastion of support and positivity.Long may it be so.
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New post is up.
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