Annyeong hashimnikka my fellow Positivistas,
A polished performance against Everton yesterday and an entirely deserved win set the weekend rolling forward in a very pleasant fashion. We shall see how it ends by abut 6 p.m. tonight with the final whistle at the Lane and Trafford Park.
Of the game itself I admit even at 2-0 up I was never quite comfortable. Given that we were dominant, and defended well I can only put my edginess down to recent trauma and disappointment. To play as well as we did in Barcelona, to work so hard and yet still to be defeated would surely sap the (mental) strength of Achilles?
Not at all. After 63 hours off we looked the fresher, fitter side. A week after hammering the hated Chelsea it was Everton who struggled to match our energy and initiative.
Loud clapping for Danny and Alex Iwobi whose composed finishing was crucial in deciding the contest. The younger player particularly took his chance with great maturity, pace, balance, accuracy of shot = the holy trinity of finishing. What a week that young man has had!
I think the best moment in the game however was in the 44th minute, edge of the EFC box, Iwobi backheels to Danny, who immediately backheels to Iwobi. The Everton defenders’ heads were spinning, outrageous cheek and sublime skill.
Other plaudits for Ospina who, despite getting a painful bang, soldiered on. It would have been easy, indeed understandable for him to withdraw. I was yelping at the TV screen for a change as our Colombian hobbled about. He stayed in there and did his job. Brave boy. Elneny and Le Coq worked perfectly to see off the Everton midfield, Kosc and Gabriel sniffed out any spark Lukaku or Barkley might have lit. Bellerin and Nacho very sound going forward and disciplined as the home side got a toe-hold late on in the game. Sanchez good and unlucky with his penalty which really would have killed the game. Ozil always a yard ahead and a second faster than the pack of blue dogs chasing him. If I have left anyone out please feel free to add your comments, they all deserve it.
As for our opponents the opening sentence of the match report on the Toffees’ fan website Nil Satis Nisi Optimum ( Only the Best is good Enough) sums up their afternoon “Everton have fallen to their eighth home league defeat of the season after a first half masterclass from Arsenal condemned them to a 2-0 loss”
In line with my opening reference to being a little unsettled the game was just seconds old when the little urchin Coleman managed to clip our woodwork! The early high point however was about as exciting as it got. For the next 94 minutes Everton were, I thought, pretty bloody dire. That they apparently have the second worst home defence of any club in any top flight league in Europe surprises me not at all. Roberto Martinez can thank Mr Clattenburg that they are still only second in that league of Euro defensive infamy. The booing at the end of the game by what sounded like a lot of home supporters is ominous for the smooth Spaniard, especially with a new owner recently aboard and no doubt keen to make a splash. If I owned shares in Martinez I would sell.
We now all have a well earned break over the next few days. Use the down time wisely and enjoy your Sunday.
* for those who do not know the picture is of Speedo Mick, Evertonian and charity fund raiser – a man who laughs at adversity, with very tight trunks on and in all weathers.
Positively Arsenal 
ali @aliladiere 4h4 hours ago
City 51 pts
West Ham 50 pts
United 50 pts
Race for 4th involving the teams that make the most fourth place trophy jokes about Arsenal.
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Ozil confirms he is fit to play for Germany
Mesut Ozil: “My participation in the two games is not at risk.”
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I wish it was.
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Chile U17 Captain Marcelo Allende has had a two week trial with Arsenal
here is a translated article about him
Sparring Pizzi which is followed by Arsenal and go after the steps of Alexis Marcelo Allende just debuted in professional football 16 years and already was training in the English club. There listened to the advice of tocopillano. Joaquín Muñoz García Stadium SANTIAGO Santa Cruz. 81 minutes into the game and the stadium is coming down. Ovation shared for a small steering wheel leaving the ground. Moreno, with footballer hairstyle and nine on the back, raise your hands and appreciated. The midfielder often comes to banking and home team coach, Gustavo Huerta, hugs and compliments. The boy with a boyish smile seems excited. It’s Saturday March 13, 2016 and the match against Naval by the Second Division will not be erased more than the image of this promise of Chilean football. It was the day of the professional debut of Marcelo Ivan Allende Bravo, former captain and Chilean selected Sub 17, formed in Cobreloa, but about a month ago joined Deportes Santa Cruz, equipment of Second Division football Creole. Allende is now one of the largest projects in Chile. Without going any further Juan Antonio Pizzi already joined the work with sparring partners selection where from this week Juan Pinto Duran works. And his career seems to go in the footsteps of Alexis Sanchez. Both are trained in Cobreloa, debuted professionally at age 16, figures in the minor teams and now could join their careers at Arsenal. Yes, because the London club is following the young midfielder. What’s more, he was already in England training two weeks with the smaller divisions, but equally there was space to meet the tocopillano. “I shared with Alexis about cortitos times, but received me the best way. in the dressing room talk because the first team with youth are together and I saw when we went to lunch, ate together and when we were in the pool or kinesiology talked a lot. ” and what do you say? ” I was advice me to go there, to put me to physically strengthen, because there do not charge anything, I threw the likes long I stressed, ‘Do not throw, because here no charge . ‘ ” But you said something from the leadership option back? “Yes, the idea is back, my agent (Cristián Ogalde) is seeing that. at first I struggled, the first three days, but then one gets used to the pace of the courts to the physical, the last weeks I was one more of them, but did not understand them much, all we caught is telling me ‘good’, ‘good’, but did not understand them a lot. ” And it’s true that you can return to London the former 10 the U 17. the daily Dailymail revealed this week that the box Gunner sent some suppliers to “monitor” the Chilean steps in our country, because apparently, hit the taste of the coaches who asked to continue his work in Sports Santa Cruz. But return will have to fulfill certain tasks. “Technical asked me some things to improve my physical strength and muscle mass , ” says the wheel of 1.62 tall and about to turn 17 years old. So – and did not want to go to Calama- decided to leave and join Cobreloa Santa Cruz. “I want to play in the first team and move up. The touch is different, players with great force, that can make me grow and improve , ” he predicts. For now, next week will have another meeting with Alexis Pinto Durán, where both share in the selection, but should before playing his second game for Santa Cruz, now in La Pintana …
Fuente: Emol.com – http://www.emol.com/noticias/Deportes/2016/03/17/793614/El-sparring-de-Pizzi-que-es-seguido-por-el-Arsenal-y-va-tras-los-pasos-de-Alexis.html
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DC reports suggest that Ozil has a swollen ankle, but has declared himself fit anyway.
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an interesting little titbit about Iwobi, its claimed that Steve Bould has had words with him over how low he wears his socks and shin pads, Bould is said to be worried that the lad will get injured having them so low.
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anyone see the Daily Star story that Ozil had given Arsenal a Wenger out or he goes ultimatum, and of course the WOB have jumped upon it with glee. The DS link it to a story run in the Don Balon, the Spanish equivalent to the Daily Sport, the very same Don Balon who not that long ago ran an exclusive claiming they had proof that Messi was not actually human, but an ET. It sort of puts the desperation of the WOB/AAA into perspective, when you see them hitch their wagon to this sort of source.
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ah bless, one of the banner wankers is not happy that other banner wankers are getting coverage for their banners, very revealing of the real motives behind the banner, its not the message that is the important aspect, its the messenger, now who would have thought the banner is all about getting twitter hits, and face on tv/papers, interviews etc, and not actually about a real interest in the fortunes of Arsenal. I’m shocked, you could knock me down with a banner.
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Osman @OsmanZtheGooner 6h6 hours ago
Mr. Oliver not booking Dier & Smalling says he just wanted to book Coquelin. Different laws for different players? Maybe
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So the Star is saying Ozil is a WOB….!
Maybe Ozil wants Coyle, Martinez, Laudrup, Moyes….or current day darling Bournemouth manager in his place?
Maybe Ozil should do a little homage to the banner boys on his t shirt when he next scores.
Ozil wants Wenger out, despite playing some of his best very football under our manager… As said, desperate, desperate stuff…..
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http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35846322
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WOB out.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/20/patient-arsenal-embody-arsene-wengers-class-to-infuriate-their-d/
I hadn’t expected to see an article like this, but nice to know that somebody loves us.
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Danny Welbeck has only played 3+2 BPL games this season, and has scored 3 goals, and the fact that this 3 goals make him our top league scorer in 2016, shows why we have struggled so much in the second half of the season.
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Lets hope the keeps stuffing them in the back of the net with knew strike force partner Iwobi.
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or even new partner…
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Did You Know? @iliveforfacts · 2h2 hours ago
An Alabama man went to the hospital for a routine circumcision and left without a penis.
Rumours he suggested Ramsey might struggle to displace Elneny not entirely unfounded.
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http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/articles/5261-sola.html …
Wow, just wow.
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its actually insane how blatant the propaganda against the club truly is: at the same time as the AAAA and friends and their handers rachet up another attack on the club, as “the flop” Ozil says he’s a WOB to the funny papers, the AFC fans could clearly be heard to sing at Goodison Park:
“we’ve got Ozil…he’s Arsene Wenger’s man”
For only the Xth game in a row.
Ah well. At least we’ve got fans singing the gaffers name even if it has been on sly so that the ginormous football brains wouldn’t notice. Which, when you think abut it all, is very very funny.
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Protests at every home game since the Leicester game?
What’s that all about then?
George your old pal the racist idiot (the really really stupid one) has been planning this futile and blunt attack on the club for a while. If they think one of the richest men in america is about to sack the man that Pochettino described as the ‘Messi of managers’ they are in for further dissapointment.
Fortunately you created this haven so that we don’t have to deal with such sick minded and unwell people.
Thnaks again G! You are a star.
Hope you’ve recovered a little from your illness too.
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Thanks George— thats a great article!
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George has lots of stupid friends, Fins. ( incl many here)
That doesn’t narrow it down much.
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hey I may not be the sharpest tool on the box but I’d like to think i’m not that stupid. Most of the time.
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Yeah DC, that’s fair, but I have @bradyesque7 to balance it all out.
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http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35864765
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Have any of you been tracking the convo me, Andrew, Kelly, and d_c (Gains has no patience with conversing) with some WOB-lites? For me it is painful to confirm that humanity is capable of widespread stupidity. No wonder why our various rulers treat us with such barely concealed contempt.
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Shotta
One must have the patience of Job to engage with fuckwits….
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shotta that telodell seems to be a right idiot.
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He’s a pussy cat – treat him gently
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MBSPC @mbspeedpc 13h13 hours ago
Alex Iwob signing are age 7. Roy Massey & Shaun O’connor
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Sniper @clockendsniper 2h2 hours ago
Arsenal till I die starter pack
1. boycott games
2. beg Piers Morgan for attn.
3. want Arsenal to lose every game
4. pray Jose is nxt mngr
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Keep it up – glad there´s at least one sane Arsenal blog left.
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Good Grief ! – Investigative journalism;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/21/exclusive-referees-live-in-fear-as-grass-roots-game-spirals-out/
Or is it just me trolling again on my favourite topic ?
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Very interesting A5, I sent your link to my brother who runs a team in Herts. he wrote back to me:
All parents, coaches and players have to sign up to Respect. I know in our league, if anything went on like that, their club would be fined and booted out. You can see it happening, after our game at the weekend one of their players wouldn’t shake hands with one of ours, and instead shoulder barged him! We also have chartered status – which means coaches must be FA Level 1, CRB checked and have Emergency Aid and safeguarding children qualifications. Assuming that the club was in any shenanigans, they could quite easily lose it.
Im sure my bro has a few stories, could make for an interesting article?
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[Stepping out from the shadows]
Top notch comments all round and wow to that blog you posted PG.
This one warmed my heart and I just wanna share.
http://player.arsenal.com/videos/7571/iwobi-wilshere-and-wenger-on-arsenal-s-academy?autoplay=true
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Thanks for the comment from your brother Mills – up here in Norfolk we have a similar well organised County Association and coaches and referees are all well organised.
I don’t watch as much village football as my children are older and away but when I did 98% of behaviour in games by players and spectators was impeccable. The other 2% were nutcases although probably as bonkers away from the pitch as watching a game.
What used to get me was the way people speak to their own kids ! Some of the cursing and ranting would have made Fat Sam blush
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Mesut ÖzilVerified account
@MesutOzil1088
Have seen the media reports today. Arsène Wenger was a big reason for me joining Arsenal – this hasn’t changed! #Respect #AFC
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the WOB/AAA in a tizzy over Ozil’s tweet, it shows them up for the mugs they are, after all the bull they spouted when the stupid article in the Star, that was a rehash story from the spanish equivalent of the Daily Sport, the Don Balon, a made up story that the WOB/AAA ate up and repeated with glee,
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Im sure hes got a few stories A5 and has told me a few,hes usually pretty busy, but hopefully I might be able to grab some elements and write an article.Shame he can’t do it as it would give a unique insight into whats going on.
He was pretty much saying the same thing as you regarding the behaviour of some people at games.However, I know from having been with his team a few times that they also met some really great people-the kind that always stay in your mind,who were trying to instill some sportsmanship and decency into the little kids in urban areas where they might not feel like being to sportsman-like or too decent. I find those people really unforgettable and sort of life affirming,showing that not everything is really bad as if often seems.Bit like coming onto PA and meeting you guys.
Of course its nothing new in some ways, I jacked it in at 16 after I had to go off after an opposing player called me “c*nt” and scraped his boots down my shin and that was before kick-off (a played right wing at that time).Mind you the kids at that school burnt their art dept down a few weeks before.At that point I thought Id rather just stick to art,lit,chasing women and wearing stupid clothes whilst listen to Japan/Sylvian and hanging around at Covent Garden( this was back in 85 so not too busy in those days even in the afternoon) and generally being a perfume ponce.
Mind you its nothing to the 6″scar I have on my leg from a guy spiking me at an athletics meeting-from a misunderstanding on his part.
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afcstuff @afcstuff 7h7 hours ago
Alex Iwobi is in hospital in Nigeria after suffering from food poisoning. [BBC] #afc
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Thanks for that link Santi Claus. When I hear Arsene talk so passionately about the club and the future I really cannot understand the hatred he faces from the bottom-feeding element in our fan base. I have nothing but respect and admiration for that man.
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Alexander Iwobi @alexiwobi 2h2 hours ago
Had The Maddest Food Poisoning But I Am Good Now & Feeling Ready For The Egyptian Match ✌🏽️
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Haven’t seen many sorry I was wrong tweets from the great unwashed. Maybe a we’ll believe anything banner would come in handy, it wouldn’t be the first or last time they could use it.
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Cheers Shotta! Thats one of my favourite ska tracks and was great to hear it tonight.Thanks for the dedication!
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MATT MACEY SIGNS NEW CONTRACT
Goalkeeper Matt Macey has agreed a new contract with the club.
The 21 year-old has been part of the Arsenal first team squad this season, making Arsène Wenger’s bench on 15 occasions as he has deputised for Petr Cech and David Ospina.
Macey has also shared Under-21 duties with Ryan Huddart this term, with three clean sheets in nine outings for Steve Gatting’s side.
The Bath-born youngster joined Arsenal from Bristol Rovers in 2013.
Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to Matt’s continued contribution to the club
.
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/20160322/matt-macey-signs-new-contract#JHasRQpj2isyEMkR.99
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The Dean of Football @HectorBaelIerin 10m10 minutes ago
“I don’t want to talk about other clubs, whilst on international duty.”
Granit Xhaka when asked about meeting with Arsène Wenger / Arsenal
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FK²
@fkhanage
@LeWookieGooner @arseblog We must realise that change guarantees nothing; neither success nor failure and that Arsène is our greatest.
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afcstuff @afcstuff 1h1 hour ago
Gabriel: “Despite being here more than a year, I’m still adapting to the language and have a great personal challenge in mastering English.”
Gabriel on title race: “We have a great chance to be champions this season, We do not throw in the towel and we can make a difference.”
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