Good morning Positivistas,
I trust this Monday morning finds you bouncing happily into the new week, seven days of opportunity with Spring emerging all around us. I feel quite chipper myself, as you can probably tell.
I had a good day out yesterday. Good company, good weather, good food, good football, even the railway functioned for once to the specification set out in the schedule, so there was very little to lower my mood.
Of the game itself we dominated, scored once and should have scored more. Very nice goal by the way, clever from Danny and Alexis, a real ‘pick-the-lock’ strike. We did not however trouble the scorer again and a speculative shot from Bolassie in the 79th transformed a decent performance against a solid Palace side into the draw. As we know any Arsenal result, W, L or D, has the nutcases of both wings of the social media civil war reaching for their expletives and last night did not disappoint in that regard. Twitter hummed with indignation, the Scarfists howled with righteous fury. Was it ever thus ?
I thought we played well. I was particularly impressed with my current favourite player Mo Elneny who has slotted in beautifully in the box to box midfielder role. Even in the few weeks he has been in first team action his tackling is more crisper and his positional sense better. There is no evidence I have seen that Mo succumbs to the traditional complaint of players who join from Euro clubs that they struggle with the intensity of the EPL game or to last 90 minutes. Irrespective of which players return to fitness over the next few days I think Arsene will be reluctant to take our Egyptian out of the firing line.
Elsewhere on the pitch I would be hard pushed to pick out any outstanding performer for AFC, or to identify anyone who had a noticeably poor day. Everyone was 6 or 7/10. My impression on a few occasions yesterday was that our possession game worked well to the edge of the Palace box. We passed round the visitors, the players used their speed and guile to get us into the area in which their goal could be put under threat …………………………… But then we sort of “stopped”, took a breath, hesitated, checked our progress, I don’t quite know how to describe it, but in that half second the momentum of the move expired. The next ball was never quite the right one, the pass went astray, a defender got their head in the way etc. We seemed to lack confidence to press with no break in the fluidity of our movement. I would be interested if the ProZone monitoring and stats can pick that kind of subtle change (or whether it is just in my head) ?
I thought Hector looked tired and in need of a rest. He was not running with the ball as he has been, and his crossing radar was awry. I thought Olivier looked frustrated to not get on earlier and he certainly looked busy in the 20 minutes he had. I expect at least those two to change on Thursday. And will Aaron step in for Alex Iwobi against the Baggies ?
And last but not L’East even Roger, not one of the PL’s finest in my view, had a good game. I know, I know, it is an addiction on my part.
Palace celebrated at the end the point that I suspect makes it mathematically impossible for them to drop. In fact they did OK, “disciplined” is the best word. I was impressed with Zaha and his final 20 minute contribution. I would like to see that sort of contribution from Theo and/or Joel. I am not quite sure why Theo is first choice over the Costa Rican at the moment from the bench.
Onwards to West Bromwich Albion and a Thursday game – Thursday! – most odd. Another club with no real requirement to turn in a good performance at the Ems but Pulis is a professional and he will send a side out to compete.
Now get out there and give Monday hell.
* and thank you to Ian/Gf60 for the extraordinary picture today !
Positively Arsenal 
Hi,
Unfortunately it appears that many of our supporters go to games to be “entertained” and not to watch a competitive sports event. They don’t understand or care to hear that one of the most important members of the team is the 12th man. The role that the 12th man reacts has a vital impact on the way the team plays and it’s pretty obvious to this blogger that moans and groans can only have a negative impact on the team.
Our home support is among the most critical in the PL and it serves no useful purpose – other than to boost the egos of the know it all’s.I
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Attendances for some games are below capacity and will remain so (as in nothing new or surprising) because
A) there’s a recession. London has more people living below the UK poverty line then Scotland (that’d be the kind of context missing from a disingenuous and dishonest set of numbers that only relate to one season, for example. Or, the way the stats bloke owned the arsey blogger when discussing the AFC defence since the arrival of SB thankfully saves me or anyone else having to write anything at all on that one! No need for smearing oneself in pure unrefined gibberish is there)
B) football has been overpriced for a couple of decades now as those honest puritans who are against Modern Football are well aware, not just AFC, and aftv AFC can you only sell so many tickets at a discount (not selling out at the moment the club could promote their family enclosure better)
C) the sport has lost credibility (see messi and his taxman, Suarez and his taxman, Neymar and his taxman, scandals in every league save one, the FIFA story, the lack of competition in the oligarchical era..) etc.
Those following the game all know and understand why football grounds don’t and won’t sell out (unless Barca are in town, or you reintroduce safe standing or etc.) and many will draw the line on the day the or any club start to pump in ‘tinned’ crowd noises. It happens elsewhere even in the PL but not in N5 just yet. I don’t blame Venga.
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What to make of people that hiss at a simple is placed pass but won’t applaud a bit of skill or a nice move?
Whatever it is they are doing it certainly is not “supporting”.
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Finsbury,
The first game i watched was in 1947 so I’ve been around a long time and witnessed the teams of every manager since Tom Whittaker and for me Arsene has no peers among the managers since Chapman. it’s hard to compare him to Chapman as his life was cut short but AW’s overall record is better.
I make no bones about my support for AW and I’m constantly crossing swords with those who “know better” than him.
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Finsbury it’s seems we were cut from the same block.
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Walcott over Campbell off the bench? Senior pro gets the dibs? The inverse of our guesses for why Walcott was asked to play left?
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TBF GunnerN5 I do move around. Most of my friends are sat upper tier, but I prefer to watch the footy from the lower echelons – one friend arrived at what is for him the perfect place, front row upper tier, following a letter he wrote the club asking to be moved. Certainly that worked out better for him by paying or inviting a Chelsea supporting hack to studio which the club (Arsenal) had hired for him in order to attack his host club. I can’t think of any such sociopathic examples, can anyone else?
Thinking…thinking…thinking very hard now…could be a while…
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I ask for forgiveness as I’m about to watch Stoke vs Spurs.
One can only hope they lose……………..the game……….. and a few players to injury.
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Arsenal FC @Arsenal 8m8 minutes ago
HALF-TIME: @Arsenal Under-21s 0-1 West Brom Under-21s #AFCU21
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Revisionism is the tool of opportunists. We needed a 2nd goal to be safe. We are not Chelsea or Leicester who sit on a 1 goal lead and sitting deep waiting to counter-attack. As Chelsea have proved such tactics betray cowardice and a commitment to negative football. Mourinho, despite his successes, was twice booted out of Chelsea for failing to inspire not only the owner but the players as well. On Sunday AFC patiently probed for the 2nd goal for most of the 2nd half. I don’t blame Bellerin for pushing up. I think Gabriel was naive for thinking he could shepherd Ade away from goal rather than clattering him and reset for a throw-in or free kick.
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Arsenal FC @Arsenal 4m4 minutes ago
GOAL! @JackWilshere is the scorer! 1-1 (51)
Jack is back! The midfielder brings the ball down nicely in the box, before lifting it over Palmer to equalise 1-1 (51)
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we’ve got Mike Dean as ref for the Sunderland game on Sunday
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Arsenal FC @Arsenal 2m2 minutes ago
Nabi reacts first to Macey’s save and pokes the ball home. Johnson is booked for trying to restart things quicker 1-2 (75) #AFCU21
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some reports suggest this incident happened while AFC were 1-0 up
AFCPressWatch™ @AFCPressWatch 4h4 hours ago
MetPolice: “Three people were arrested yesterday, Sun, 17 Apr, at the Emirates Stadium following an incident where a steward was assaulted.”
Arsenal spokesman: “We are working with the Police regarding this incident. The stewards received medical attention after the incident.”
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afcstuff @afcstuff 3h3 hours ago
Happy Birthday to Arsenal goalkeeper (on loan at AS Roma) Wojciech Szczesny, who turns 26 today! #afc
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u21’s running out of time to pull it out of the fire
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the U21’s lose again and the Division 2 title is Derby County’s. AFC now go into a 4 team play off for the second promotion spot. A major let down for the lads, after defeating Derby, the title was in their own hands, but two defeats in a row, leaves promotion in the balance. Disappointing that even with the likes of Wilshere, Rosicky and Gnabry in the line ups, the one victory that was needed from last two games was not achieved. Good to see Jack get a goal tonight. Seemingly our keeper made errors on both of WBA goals, and their keeper made a string of good saves. Oddly Arsenal did not start a recognized striker in either of the last two games. Mavadidi out injured, and Malen was ill for the last game, but was a sub tonight. Gnabry started as the striker today.
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spurs going 8pts clear of us, they are 3 up at stoke
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Keep up Eddy – Stoke have disintegrated
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finished 4-0
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This is a good time to play a team like Stoke. They are safe from relegation and really don’t have anything to play for. There is also no history of animosity between them and the spuds like there is with AFC to fire them up. So there was not really much hope of them doing us any favours. We are where we are so might as well enjoy what we can of the last few games, dust ourselves down and start again next season.
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I am watching some extraordinary arselicking on Sky about Tottingham, especially from Carragher
Apparently this is the start of many years of Spuds dominating English football – trophies, the PL, Leicester might as well pack it in
How long ago was it the same Carragher was predicting the same glory for Brendan and his boys, and then Stevie slipped on his arse ?
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Ed, Macey certainly can’t be faulted for the first goal he made a good reaction save and the ball fell straight to the feet of Joe ward who promptly despatched it. The second he might be faulted for not having stronger hands with the shot but there were other mistakes in the build up.
The rest of the game we controlled and we hit post and bar and Came close on numerous occasions, some of the saves their keeper made he new nothing about it just hit him and bounced away typically to a defender.
The ref was extremely lenient even for an U21 game and West brom were happy to fowl away to their hearts content. Their keeper was time wasting from early in the first half even taking a drink before each goal kick which was ignored by the ref and drove Gatting and the bench into maf frustration to the point where they suggested to the fourth official he should be allowed to take a toilet break before he took the next one. Jack had received treatment after being sandwiched in the box but the ref still only added one minute extra time.
All in all we played well but against pullis influenced sides you need more than that.
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I’ve got to say amazing dedication from Kelly and Mike to make down to the U21s tonight something some of the so called die hard through and through “only locals count” brigade never manage, well done you are true gooners.
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Phew- a lot of negativity out there. As always this is a good place to be. Onwards to thursday!
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well Ian it sounds like the “arsenal will not have a penalty” rule is in full swing at all levels, I watched the highlights of the U18’s defeat v LCFC on saturday, and another clear penalty not given, our U21’s had one clear penalty not given last game too, and the youths in the FAYC also had couple of great shouts turned away. I also notice in these youth/u21 games, the commentators suggesting, when AFC players fouled by a nasty tackle, which ref fails to issue a card, that at this level refs try to just have a word and not card people, then low and behold, an AFC player puts in a tackle, and out comes the cards.
As one guy said after the youth cup game v man city, “its good our kids get used to the bias reffing early on in their Arsenal careers”. I would love to know what AFC have to do for us to get fair treatment from the refs.
Talking about refs, we’ve got Dean on Sunday, v Fat Sams, sunderland. Can’t wait to see MD turn a blind eye to the shittery.
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kelly and mike sound like my sort of tourist fans. I recall when I traveled over for the Littleswood Cup final in 87, going to the Reserve game v West Ham at Highbury the day before. Rix and Merson the two big names on show that day, one coming to the end of his first team career at AFC and the other just getting to the fringes of the senior side. the two other lads that really stood out that day were Lee Francis at right back and Russell Milton in midfield. Don’t know what happened to Francis, but Milton had a few years at Dover Athletic before getting a few years of league football with Cheltenham Town
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We had a great time at the U21s! Honestly, I’ve never seen football at that level from such a close vantage point. The athleticism is remarkable to see when it’s right in your face. Was standing behind the goal when Crowley’s free kick rattled the post in stoppage time. I now understand the phrase “cannoned off the post” much better. It was like an explosion.
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Kelly – I personally think all football followers should attend at least one U21/18 match at a place like Borehamwood. As you rightly say, only with that kind of proximity can one properly appreciate the athleticism, the skills and the sheer speed of professional football. Even if it is ‘only’ the kids.
Podolski once almost decapitated me with a practice shot at one of the Members’ Days a few years back. Only now is my heart rate beginning to settle down from that particular near-death experience. Basically everything is twice as fast, skilful, struck harder – than you imagine it to be either from watching on the telly or even at the distance imposed by watching at the Emirates.
Loved Podolski, me.
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a soundbite that I have seen more and more lately, that really baffles me is,
“If Arsenal have no succession plan, and there is no evidence they do”
what does that actually mean, and what evidence can there be, what do people expect, and how many of the big clubs have the next manager already at their club, working with the current boss.
Did I miss when Pep was already working at City, or Klopp at LFC, or Conte at CFC, where was these clubs succession plans.
The days of the Liverpool boot room are long gone, and in fact it was an unusual, almost unique case in the first place,. And anyway who is to say Steve Bould is not the succession plan at Arsenal, and would that satisfy the succession plan seekers, like fucking hell would it.
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Why do some people think Wenger will leave or be sacked if AFC don’t make CL, do they really think he would cut and run, or that the Arsenal board would abandon the way the club is run, do these people not know the Board are not as fickle as they are.
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The Dude from Bude ✌ @pjbish 4h4 hours ago
These disgusting fans abusing Wenger, are the same fans that will remind everyone what Rocky said. Absolute vile, ignorant cretins.
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Arsene alone will decide when he will call it a day. He has done absolutely everything he could have done to ensure our success but has been unable to satisfy the insatiable lust of the Trophy Hunters.
I get my thrills out of the chase and the ups and downs, oohs and aah s of the sport of football, of course I want us to win but I recognize that you cannot predetermine a winner in a sporting contest.
In my 70 years of watching Arsenal we have only won trophies in 19 – or only 27% of the time. Arsene has brought us trophies in 8 out of his 20 years in charge – or 40% of the time.
I know my preference as manager and I hope AW delays his retirement for another few years – at least another 3 year contract.
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I am not quite in your longevity league GN5 but the longer I watch the more I enjoy each game, the performance, the event, the ‘theatre’ for want of a better word, rather than being too focussed on whether a trophy is won at the end of the season, or not.
It is not about trophies it is about good football, played the right way, with every player giving his best effort.
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One for the regulars;
I have just read elsewhere it is “like the end of an era” (!)
(great big banned smiley)
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Oh. I’m thrilled when we do win trophies but failing to does not diminish my enjoyment of the game. It’s only spoiled by negative smart asses, who believe and then repeat everything they read and hear in media reports.
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anicoll5,
The first game I watched was on Nov, 22nd 1947 when we beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 it was my Grandads treat for my birthday. I hardly missed a game after that but coming from a very poor family I had to be very “creative” in finding ways to get into the ground.
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GN5 – you have the advantage on me of 17 seasons or so ! Gf 60 is your contemporary on here – he is ’48 vintage (I think).
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An interesting and very fair write up on ex Gunners striker John Hawley on the Arse.com site today;
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160419/john-hawley-life-saver
Hankin and Hawley – tell the children about it today and they’d never believe you
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What annoys me is the fact that if we had won on sunday Or at west ham I still think we could of been in the race. It looked to me like a howler from cech, the distance from goal, the fact the shot was coming with no opposition player in our box. The fans sounded very resigned after and before…the problem is when you dont know what youve got til its gone, to quote joni, and that feels like the case with Arsene and his brand of fotball at the moment. Anyway he will be around and I will enjoy it while it lasts trophys or not.
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http://wrighty7.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/twitter-bane-of-akbs-and-wobs.html
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I don’t think it’s possible to fully appreciate Ozil till you see him up close, lower tier close. You can see the shift in balance from upstairs but you don’t get to see the footwork as clearly (that is if the play is on your side heh!).
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Hard to say without the use of Occulas Rift goggles but it looked to me like PC was marginally unsighted at the crucial moment on that shot? As others have said Gabby should have been practicing his fouling or tackling but he misjudged it. Reminded me of Kosciely on Diouf at Anfield which cost a goal if a remember correctly, but I guess some will think Gabby should’ve adapted by now however this is his first run of games. You could argue he could’ve been blooded earlier in the campaign, if you like to argue but fair to say the BFG had earned his stripes too.
I’m going to wait till i get to hear the thoughts on Marshall’s former wicketkeeper on that one before I’m going to let someone tell me what to think haha!
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Newcastle equalise, always a treat to see a RB find a fine finish with their left foot.
If I was lucky enough to be going to the football on Thursday I might attempt to keep an eye on Özil for the first half, if he is a little fatigued then he’ll probably tire as second progresses. We might see Wilshere come on for the last ten if he’s ready.
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The day I get bored with AFC might be the day when they spend £30M on a rookie non-home grown status CB of Mangala ‘s apparent or current quality.
Are City a better team without £50M worth of Sterling? I don’t see enough of them to know.
There could be more goals in this game.
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Zelalem on his first appearance in an Old Firm derby and the possibility of returning to Scotland for another loan spell:
“This is what I wanted in football to play in these types of games and big derbies be it Arsenal v Tottenham or Rangers v Celtic. I’m living the dream and I hope to continue to do that.”
Manger Warburton on his loan players: “I hope they enjoyed the experience and they’ll go back to their clubs, I hope, better people and better players.”
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Darren @DarrenArsenal1 1h1 hour ago
.@PatrickDoyle83 If your adamant that your not going on thursday to make a point, why renew? Have some balls and give it up your ST.
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FT: Newcastle 1-1 Man City
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Shötta @shotta_gooner Apr 18
Unbelievable!
RT @TheFalseNein: Arsenal’s chance conversion away from home is 26%, the league’s highest – but at home it’s 9%. Any theories?
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just had a quick look around various arsenal blogs and the like, and its very revealing on the topic of attendance or non attendance of the game on Thursday. Its laughable how many of the AAA/WOB have, without even realizing it, revealed themselves as not being “Arsenal” fans, but in fact “Successful Arsenal” fans, loads of them have been admitting that if AFC was in the title hunt, or out in front of the title race, nothing would stop them attending the game, but seeing as we are “only” fighting for top 4, they are choosing not to attend. Some of them even admitted that they would not be missing the game if it was one of the big teams we were playing and not lowly WBA.
Its odd, till tonight, I had never really considered that someone could still see themselves as “loyal” or “true”, Arsenal supporters, yet hold the view that its only “successful Arsenal” that they actually will support. In my day that was what we called a glory hunter.
GunnerN5 made some interesting points in his posts, and it made me ask the quesion.
Do I want my Arsenal back?
well I’m almost 50 years supporting AFC, and in my first two seasons as a supporter AFC lost league cup finals, one to a lower league team. Then we won the Fairs cup, followed by the League and Cup double. then came 17 years that seen us win one fa cup and one league cu, before we won the league again. And we lost five cup finals of various descriptions in those 17 years.
so for the best part of my childhood, teen years and my early twenties, AFC we not very successful, do I want my Arsenal back?, well as much as I liked John Hawley(and I did like him), and even remember the fat blob that was Ray Hankin in an Arsenal shirt, I don’t want my Arsenal back, no, I much prefer this Arsenal.
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