Good Morning Positivistas,
Having looked forward to the opening fixture since the game was announced in mid June the afternoon did not disappoint and will certainly be one of the ‘opening days’ that are carved in the memory of games worth watching.
Clearly to be on the wrong side of a seven goal contest, and to drop three points that I fancied we should collect before the kick off, is a disappointment. A few hours reflection, sober and at times less sober, has however brought that disappointment into perspective, and allowed a drawing apart of the footballing strands of the afternoon.
Of the game itself both Arsenal and Liverpool struck me as rusty in the first half, with passes being hit a little aimlessly and no fluidity our movement compared to our Maytime/end of season smooth run through the gears. Liverpool were scrappy in front of the nervy Mignolet. Holding and Chambers looked fine. Monreal spent the first half hour leaping as high than an elephant’s eye, given any opportunity! A goal I sensed was coming from an error and, lo and behold, it was provided by the ridiculously top-knotted Albert Moreno.
First, his clumsy penalty challenge, then a charge up field to leave Theo unmarked who coolly slotted home our opener. “Theo, Theo, Theo”. A considerable relief for our new right winger and we were on a roll, surely ?
(I do not know if you were watching on Sky like me but the word “assassination’ was used by Neville to describe his own comments on the young Spanish wing back – for once Gary had exactly the right word).
Moving swiftly on however, as we all saw, having forced ourselves in front we did not follow up on the advantage. The Scousers managed to get a foot in the game and took advantage of a soft free kick award to slot an unstoppable rocket into Cech’s corner pocket. Bloody hell.
And then, and then, and then ….. the first fifteen minutes of the second half.
We stumbled out after half time as though under the influence of a mighty jab of dental pain killer. Our minds were as numb as our bodies, we did not appear to know how to keep the ball, or have the individual or collective wit to resist. I have no idea where it came from. I have seen it before, at Stamford Bridge, at Anfield, at the Etihad, even St Marys. One goal deficit becomes two, becomes three, becomes four etcetera. It was not, in my opinion, the second goal that rocked us on our heels. We were already stunned before that went in. But after that excellent finish by Lallana, and it was a very good finish btw, we had ten minutes of team wide, hollow eyed confusion. I have no idea why during this period of confusion in the game two players went down injured, and both had to leave the field ? Cause and effect perhaps.
We suffer from a collective mental malaise. It is not down to individual players, to signings, or to injuries. It is not even down to dodgy refereeing and Oliver was excellent yesterday, imo. We require composure when a game turns against us, and when we look in the basket we have none.
Can I explain why experienced, reliable players, suddenly switch off ? No I can’t. No doubt the experts will have a ‘000 plausible ideas. I shall however call what I cannot explain the meringue.
Much focus in the media, mainstream and social, has been in Chambers and Holding and the ‘weakness’ that they created at the heart of the AFC defence. I am not convinced, not remotely convinced. For goals two and three we were undone by very slick, fast passing and good finishing. Hector was taken out in the move for the second Liverpool goal, Nacho beaten by an excellent Clyne cross for the third. I doubt very much Kosc, Per or Gabby, or the unnamed and newly signed ANOther would had done any better. They certainly did not at Stamford Bridge, Anfield and the Etihad etc.
As Mane’s fourth went in I admit I was heading for the metaphorical exit on my armchair as I stared toward what appeared to be turning into rout. Jurgen Klopp, foolish man, celebrated with his players. Nevertheless that strike proved the difference in the end between the teams.
And then, somehow and against my and Jurgen’s expectations, the Ox twisted his way toward Mignolet who duly obliged with a howler to allow the shot to squirm in. Chambo’s glancing header brought us to within touching distance with about 20 minutes to go ……….
Could we ? Would we ? Should we ?
Well after those excruciating minutes Mr Oliver put us out of our misery, we never really looked like we would grab that fourth and probably did not deserve it. No clear chances created. The nearest we got was Theo standing on the ball on the 92nd minute. During that final phase Le Coq was fortunate to stay in the pitch, as I said the referee was in a forgiving frame of mind. LFC were better than us on the day, creating chances and tucking those chances away. Hard work required. I shall welcome Giroud back like along lost son.
So off we go, sunshine bus loaded, destination Leicester.
Positively Arsenal 
George,
Managed to hack my way back into my machine. Hopefully it’s not all gibberish.
LikeLike
Wenger’s comments about English clubs loosing their financial advantage have really caught my eye as an Economics student. We all remember how much of a nightmare Adebayor became for Spurs and Man City when they wanted to transfer him as no team could afford his exorbitant unwarranted wages; now imagine having 5 or more such players on your books and you’re headed for trouble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Arsenal u23’s are away to Man City u23’s today, kick off 7pm.
LikeLike
SlovenianGooner@slovenianGooner
So, we have a spine. 4 essential players. 3 were missing on Sunday. We struggled. Surprising.
LikeLike
The Gnabster@foreverheady
@NorbyAFC As a golfer would Know, cutting your handicap from 20 to 10 is easy, 10 to 5 harder, 5 to scratch really difficult.
LikeLike
What’s up folks?!
LikeLiked by 3 people
LikeLike
in the picture above, is that xhaka, and if not who is it.
LikeLike
if only we had a manager like klopp who says the transfer market is massively inflated, and that far too much stock is put by fans on the price of a player and not on if the plaeyr is good enough and the one that is needed or conte, who says the transfer window is mad, and that he is finding it hard to bring in the players he needs, including a top class cb, or pep, who says any player who does not want to play for his club can leave, he only wants those that are committed, and willing to buy into being part of the squad, or pochettino who says its impossible to get the squad fit for the start of the season, due to the euors, and that the players need more time to recover as they are not machines.
fucking wenger always making excuses, you don’t hear other managers moan about the transfer window, players loyalty, the euros, etc etc.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Right then – Friday night football is finally here and fingers crossed for the Saints to inflict a consummate doing to Jose over-priced and over-aged show ponies in front of a struck dumb Trafford Park.
LikeLike
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 42m42 minutes ago
Arsenal U-23s to play @ManCity: Macey, Johnson, Da Graca, Sheaf, Pileas, Kamara, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Bennacer, Willock, Mavididi
once again arsenal official twitter can’t be arsed to do updates on the game, not even listing the subs. awful from the club.
LikeLike
SummerPunner @gunnerpunner 55m55 minutes ago
The only evidence of PL clubs’ ‘buying power’ so far is West Ham bidding for players, Bolasie & Benteke going for stupid money.
LikeLike
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 2m2 minutes ago
It’s half-time at @ManCity and #AFCU23 have had chances but trail 1-0.
LikeLike
S @attwood10 9m9 minutes ago
Henry turned down a coaching role at The Arsenal to act the prat doing silly dance moves for Sky TV? Tremendous player, but absolute bin.
LikeLike
Steve Gooner @Merse10 21m21 minutes ago
Amazing that Sky can have FOUR pundits in studio for their Dress down Friday Football coverage but none of them have anything of note to say
LikeLike
arsenal official twitter waiting to receive smoke signals from manchester to find out who won the u23 game. pathetic from them again tonight.
LikeLike
FT: Man City u23’s 1-0 Arsenal u23’s
Rodney Kongolo with the city goal.
any of you on twitter please pass on the result to the official Arsenal twitter site,
LikeLike
Bold, original, well researched, insightful, almost beautiful journalism at its very best, our free thinking, objective, data driven , scientific, yet almost poetic pundits really are at the forefront of football knowledge. They add magnificent colour and tone to all aspects of the game we love. Yet, such gravitas. We truly are blessed to live in their era as they educate and enlighten us all.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/robbie-savage-column-arsenal-only-8664556
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m looking forward to this season. I fully expect The Ox to take a giant step towards greatness (that young man is special). Xhaka looks like an excellent buy; strong in the tackle, composed on the ball, a very good passer and a wicked strike!
Then there’s the likes of Zelalem, Akpom and Reine-Adelaide. I really want to see these kids flourish at Arsenal. Extremely talented. Exciting times ahead if you ask me. Signings or no signings.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Wenger: “We have Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Akpom and Sanogo who is still here but is injured atm – the players we buy have to be better.”
LikeLike
interestingly Arsenal did double training sessions earlier this week, that is something that is normally only done in pre-season, the euros certainly having an effect on our season preparations.
One thing I don’t understand, why did the BPL season have to start so soon after the euros. There is no international tournament next summer – or is there one planned – so why could the BPL not have started a couple of weeks later this season and ended later next summer.
Also if the season had started two weeks later they could have shut the transfer window before seasons started, which would be a good idea.
LikeLike
mandy, you will find robbie savage is a special kind of pundit, or should that be special needs pundit.
LikeLike
reports in portugal tonight say that Joel Campbell is already in Lisbon, to undergo a medical and complete a season long loan deal to Sporting Lisbon.
cue meltdown from the malcontents, and him only doing what they told him to do a couple of years ago, “get our while you still can joel”
LikeLike
mandy you will find danny murphy is also a special needs pundit.
Baba Grumpy @BabaGrumpy 25m25 minutes ago
Danny Murphy thinks Leicester defeat to Hull is no big deal as they missed Huth but Arsene has big calls to make coz of defeat to Liverpool
LikeLike
Danny Murphy……he is certainly up there.
Not sure what the pundits would do if it wasn’t for Arsenal at the moment
LikeLike
have sporting lisbon anyone that might be of value to us
LikeLike
just seen the sp squad, we have been linked to their striker Islam Slimani, and their CB, Naldo always looks good in the highlights
LikeLike
I see the whole fake outrage over the news that Campbell might be leaving AFC, is in full flow. Amazing the way some are speaking about him, you’d think he was messi, and not a guy with 4 goals in 40 games for us,
LikeLike
Chelsea manager, Conte: “At this moment it’s very difficult to buy because, also, if you ask a player of medium level, they might ask for £55m. But for a medium player, it’s right to pay the right price, not £20-30m over. That’s not right. The money is not mine but I don’t like it. That is why we are waiting for the right situation. We must be patient and wait. “
LikeLike
If Campbell goes, wish him well, always thought he did a good job for us.
LikeLike
Congratulations to Utd, according to some quarters, the title race is over already
LikeLike
the shame is i think JC is better than theo and always works hard going forwards as well as backwards. If english players are attracting so much more and we need to let some players go then Theo is the way to go although obviously I would prefer to keep both.
LikeLike
This was posted on the ARSENAL ARSENAL website in response to an article about the atmosphere of paying members inside our stadium.
TERRY MANCINI HAIR TRANSPLANT says:
August 18, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Nice one GN5.
In my early twenties and unhappily married to my first wife (thank god i remarried and was unhappily married to my second wife other wise i would have thought there was something wrong with her) we often visited her much better looking sister, who I sexually admired.
The sister had a six year old son called Charles. Little Charlie was one of those kids who made you long for Victorian Sweatshops. He was hyperactive, aggressive, and always had dog shit on his shoe. Though I had never been intimate with the sister in law, I often wondered whether Charlie was mine?
One day sitting round her house little Charlie came steaming in to the living room, bringing a bit of the neighbours dog with him, and commenced diving to the floor where he flailed his arms and legs and yelled “mummy, theres no ants to kill in the garden”.
“Ahh” the sister in law said “Charlies feeling tired and a bit lonely”. My instant reaction was to respond with “No hes not, hes a little runt devoid of respect and stinks of dog shit. Hes also a threat to insectoids”
Obviously this didn’t go down well. The only consolation was that the ex wife went a week without talking to me.
A few years back i was just moving towards my seat at the Grove were I noticed an odious little twat holding a banner “Spend our money”. As i drew closer I realised it was Charlie, the smell of dog shit was undeniable.
Yes GN5, there will always be those who think they are owed something or are magnetically draw to dog excrement. They feel this because they fork out for season tickets and have the secret knowledge required to make Arsenal great.
My reality asks me what kind of people turn up at football to spew negative emotions? I suspect the same kind of people who are generally dissatisfied with there job, sex life, lack of intimacy etc
They should know that next time they vent spleen, I am watching and conscious that when ever it takes my fancy, I may sleep with there wife.
LikeLiked by 1 person
New post up
LikeLike