Good morning Positive Arsenalists.
Another grey morning over Norfolk but a familiar sensation of satisfaction as an Arsenal fan still lingers after last night’s game in the North West.
Yes, yes I know we were pretty dire in the first half. The home side rushed into us with great energy and not a little skill at times and made us look a bit little silly. On several occasions they opened up our defence in a manner only PSG had done previously this season. When we did have the ball some of our passing and efforts to use possession constructively were discomforting to watch, so inept was the outcome. I see even Arsene said the only positive was that it was only 1-0 as the players went down the half time tunnel. He knows, you know.
I have no real understanding of what was going on in our players’ heads during the opening 45. I can only point to the lack of experience of Rambo, Xhaka, Mustafi and Gabby + the youngster AMN, in actually playing together before, that might explain the spaces and gaps that Preston were allowed. Why we seemed unable to hit an accurate 5 yard pass I don’t know, but let us not dwell too deeply. One interesting point was that in spite of the difficulties we had there was no rowing between the players, everyone just got on with the game. No Sanchez=no scrapping (perhaps) !
HOWEVER whatever the reason for that collective early confusion, after the break we turned out as a team transformed. I have no idea if the manager stamped his foot, or Steve Bould identified and corrected the tactical defensive mistakes that had disrupted us. Whatever switch had been flicked however after Mr Madeley blew his whistle Preston were hardly in the game again. Our defence became resolute, our passing text book Wengerball. After peppering our goal in the first half they created nothing in the second, with Ospina a spectator. The home side adopted the posture of a boxer pushed back around the ring by jabs, short straight punches and the occasional hook, backed into the corner and, eventually, floored. As with so many things in football however the timing of our equaliser, with Preston minds still not focussed on the pitch, was crucial. Lovely goal from Rambo, lovely set up by Iwobi.
For the remainder of the second half it was increasingly desperate defence by the home side and, to their credit, their defenders were well organised and flung their bodies in again and again to block shots, headers and deny our clever flicks and short passing. The home crowd roared them on, a replay at the Ems a tasty prize if they could just cling on. As our hosts energy gradually drained however, up stepped Larry. Ah Larry, a performer, a worker, a leader. A man who recently has been the decisive weapon, and yesterday he put the blade through Preston hearts.
It had to be, it was Fate.
Of our lads I thought Perez, Larry, the Ox and Iwobi stood out. Aaron’s goal was excellent and he stamped his authority on the second half, an intelligent game from the Welshman. AMN was getting some stick but I though he did fine, as did all the back 4 after their early discombobulation.
Of Preston? Their central defender Clarke and their winger and goalscorer Robinson were good. With the transfer window open you could see the national limelight probably inspired a few of them to greater heights.
No complaints about Madeley last night – 7/10.
The third round of the Cup safely negotiated and a lazyish Sunday in prospects with our fingers crossed in the hope of some embarrassment for Tottingham or Chels. It would be a big turn up if either gave up their Wembley ambitions but that is the magic of the Cup isn’t it – that little spark of hope?
Finally while I had a good day yesterday others may have enjoyed 3rd round day even more:
Lovely story, enjoy your Sunday.
(opening photo by @rebeccaherber44 – good innit?)
Positively Arsenal 
Thank you Andrew. Perez was lively, alert and now looks like he feels part of the gang which is great. Iwobi continues to play with a maturity way beyond his years. When a team comes at you like Preston did it must be pretty difficult to resist. The only thing that matters though is the way we kept trying to do the right thing regardless of whether it was working and did not lose our heads. In the end the opposition could not play like that for 90 minutes – without PED who could? We on the other hand got stronger and stronger.
The only negative was that Danny’s shot was tipped over. A goal for Aaron, heroics from Larry – a comeback goal for Danny would have iced that cake.
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Morning Andy, nice write up. I was looking at AFC fan tv, and shocked at that articulate lad Chris getting so much verbal abuse,when the worlds falling apart its blokes like that that can hold it together.
I wondered if he had ever been over here or on Untold? Is anyone in any kind of contact with him.I like the way he discusses the game.
What was it that Bragg wrote” sweet moderation,heart of this nation,desert us not for we are between the wars”? Probably a bit fanciful in the first place, but the damage thats been done in the last six years or so is quite frightening.But no matter who you are all have to tread the path to consciousness one way or another? Physics, Ive read has proved that no energy cannot be destroyed so it cast a strange shadow over the keen materialism in many peoples minds, if we could all only see it and sustain our vision in the shadow?
Yesterday I saw the list of endangered species (and whats happened to many species populations since 1950)and got pretty upset about how we are destroying the planet,(rather than just groaning to myself daily).The human being is on the endangered species list,yet most of us don’t seem to know it. Its a shame that football cant be put into a greater perspective?
I liked the link,good to see a bit of the old agape around, from both Chris and the Arsenal helping that young lad with kindness.
Thanks again.
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I have to confess that there are times when keeping the faith is a trifle difficult. Two self-same first halves in the same week puts a strain on the best intentions.
It’s not just that we were bad, but we were at best, bloody awful and retreated to the dressing room at half time grateful that we weren’t 3 down instead of 1. Possibly a word or three may have been passed in the dressing room. For sure we must all be thankful that Alexis wasn’t playing. Dong-po pork and Chinese lettuce may have seemed a very attractive option. Hopefully he was walking the dogs.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if the efforts of the seniors hadn’t rubbed off onto the youngsters. I felt sorry for both AMN and young Alex who were both let down badly by those around them.
But there were 45 minutes to go and once again, whilst we weren’t treated to a football fest at least there was some effort albeit that on many occasions that was let down by some poor refereeing.
Indeed it paid off in the very first minute of the second half with young Alex passing to Rambo who did something right at last. A good goal and then another but rightly disallowed for Olly being off-side. Much more pressure from us now with some smart saves from the PNE keeper including one from the returning Danny W. So good to see him back. And then a clever back-heel from Lucas and Olly doing his late thing. What a good thing it saved us from a replay.
Keep the faith lads and lassies, despite the traumas!
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Great write up – yes, Larry’s sword just keeps getting mightier by the game.
Was it on PA that I read his stats are comparing favourably with Drogba’s? A player for whom an entire team was set up expressly to support and exploit his talents. Whereas Sir Larry can barely start a game these days. Tremendous stuff from him, yet again.
This ‘game of two halfs’ malarkey is a tad concerning. On another night we could have been staring down the barrel of a multi-goal catch up requirement by half-time. For sure – and for reasons you give, Andrew – it was Preston’s cup final, whereas we were expecting to face mid-table lower league opposition with the game half won by the fact of our mere arrival at the ground. Risky.
The Premier League is a showcase league, most of the clubs enjoy the best services of players from all around the world. It is scarcely recognisable as an ‘English’ league per se. Unlike the Championship, which has, on last nights evidence, retained the robustness for which the nation’s number one game achieved fame on a world stage.
The problem usually arises when teams from both leagues clash and last night was no exception. And whilst the ‘robust’ approach is no longer tolerated in the PL, last night’s ref was happy to allow PNE to play their – and ‘England’s’ natural game.
It was highly noticeable that after Gabriel’s head injury, Arsenal’s warriors became much more warrior-like, fought fire (and elbows and bodychecks) with fire and took control of the game, pretty much from the off.
All of a sudden ‘plucky’ Preston didn’t appear to like it up ’em after all, and the unedifying sight of Pearson and others imploring the ref to book Arsenal players for being too rough became some of the most memorable features of a lively encounter.
As an effective ‘feeder’ league, most seasons will see an injection of English-style football in the PL. But until the FA get to grips with excessive refereeing tolerance in the lower league, the national game (i.e. England) will always suffer and very likely fail on the international stage.
In that neither the FA nor the PL can get to grips with the referees performances in the top division, this development would appear exceedingly unlikely.
So, job done by our boys in the north last night. Let’s hope for some more banana skins for our dearest rivals in the games ahead.
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Another good review Andy although I respectly have to disagree with alot of it. I am forever having a go at pundits and the media in general for commenting on the final score and not the game and we shouln’t let it cloud our judgement either.
I think that was one of our worst performances for a long time and although it was a makeshift team and yes if we win the cup no one will remember it, the fact it comes on the back of a poor game overall against Bournemouth is worrying.
The first half was atrocious and yes although we improved in the second half I think saying we were a team transformed is being a little liberal with the truth unless were talking about the first 50 seconds only.
I see a few people pick out AMN for being poor in a game when some of our senior pros were not leading by example and in alot of areas were alot worse. Nacho one of the players at fault for the first goal, Mustafi and Gabriel getting the offside wrong and causing major concerns and the midfield was just awful. If you watch Xhaka virtually every time he plays the ball forward he hesitates and that highlighted the indecision that was prevelent yesterday.
Finally 7/10 for the ref are you sure? The refs priority when he enters the field is to protect players from injury and he failed throughout in this aspect yesterday. two players led with their elbow on Ospina the we had the Gab incident and then pearson going through the back of Ramsey not once but twice in such quick succesion I thought I was watching an action replay. The first was a booking the second was a booking and then when he finally got booked for stopping a breakaway with a tap tackle (you know the type Xhaka got a red for) he should have long been down the tunnel. Sorry Andy but if you are really happy with that standard of refereeing then we are oceans apart on that one.
On the positives we have to admit we have played badly in two games, scored five goals and not lost and have a weeks rest to put things right.
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Thanks Andy
I just feel a sense of relief after hearing the post match interviews with Giroud and Ramsey. They seem almost baffled by their first half performances against Bournemouth and Preston. Hopefully, the team will act accordingly.
I tend to agree with you that we had a combination of players not quite accustomed to playing together that must explain the first half shambles. The positives are that Sanchez has a much deserved rest and Mesut should be back next week. Oh, and Welbeck looks like “a new signing” (banned smiley).
It should have been no surprise to me that the one chap, Chris on Arsenal Fan TV, whose post match comments I enjoy and respect, receives so much hate mail that he has challenged the haters to get him off the chanel. He has challenged the haters that he will abstain from AFTV for all on 2017 if the haters donations to the Macmillan Cancer charity exceed £5000. He is just too smart and sophisticated for this numbskulls. Doesn’t it say so much that a fan who remains behind his team through thick and thin is hated? It’s bizarre and absurd. It’s the Dunning-Kruger effect!
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I agree on the criticism of ANM Ian – I don’t think he was any worse than our far more experienced defenders in the first half, and like them stepped up his game in the second. Hector got loads of stick in Bournemouth, and HB is the best right back in the PL, so the players’ performance more to do with our set up and not being switched on that individual performance or errors, imo.
Generally if you don’t have Mesut, Alexis, Santi, Le Coq, Theo, Hector and Kosc ie probably six names the Boss would have in his first choice team are we THAT surprised we did not win 7-0?
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Genuinely surprised and hugely disappointed how even here people want to wallow, wade and revel in whatever negatives they can draw from Preston’s excellent first half.
I seriously worry for your mental health.
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Danny strode about the pitch for his short run out – looked fit and no hesitation in his movement – obviously he has been brought back slowly and carefully.
The Jeff and Holding substitutions – that was a bit odd ? Running down the clock I suppose but putting on a new defender at that stage was puzzling
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Happy to be through and to have played well second half.
As for physicality and aggression, the thing that gets me is it so often goes hand in hand with going down easily in return or even waving imaginary cards.
So it’s not really about old-fashioned (English) toughness, though it does feature crunching challenges and lots of niggle, instead it’s about pushing the rules and the ref and doing anything to win.
Most I’ve ever seen a player throw himself about looking for free-kicks for instance was Jonathan Walters playing for Ireland against Germany. It was laughable but commentators were utterly blind to it. Walters reputation as a pure, old-fashioned, tough honest player goes untouched by it.
Giroud would have given them a week’s worth of moralising if he’d stopped and waved that card, for instance, but that’s just the hypocritical way of it.
Anyway, it all played its part in an entertaining game which came close to producing what the people want.
We got there in the end and the disappointment of Mcmanaman and the BT crew was golden.
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I was devastated at our first half performance, so much so that I convinced myself that my main culprits,Xhaka, AOC, Mustafi and AMN were crap second half too.
I have watched it again, and they certainly were not.
I’m as shit as the rest it turns out.
Bugger.
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Stew, When Arsene says he was angry at being dominated by a Championship team, I think the rest of us mere mortals get a pass.
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Steww, while never wanting to wallow on any negative around the club (and thats why I get frustrated with wobs) when you any team at any level get so many basics wrong, controling the ball, short passing, tracking players, it gets worrying and certainly comment worthy. We have just seen two ARSENAL teams play well below their normal standard and because I do unfortunately invest so much of my mental health in the fortunes of the club then it does affect me. Its a bit like fever pitch, every now again you get a wake up call to remind you your life doesn’t really revole around ARSENAL but that doesn’t stop me feeling really shit and grumpy when we lose. I know its wrong but my whole family know that.
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Should definitely go easy on Maitland-Niles. He plays centre mid for England u20s, was a winger through most of his youth career and at Ipswich last year, and I’m not sure if he played a single game at right back before this year.
Ideally, you’d want an experienced player tailoring their own game to help out and cover such inexperience, but that didn’t happen.
Also, even in a tough,tough first half he did provide an excellent cross which could easily have brought an equaliser.
I played left back once for a new team having always played further forward and it was worst I’ve ever played, a nightmare of unfamiliarity, alternating between losing the ball immediately on the rare occasions I got it and feeling exposed and disoriented when the ball came the other way.
Ainsley did a hell of a lot better than that and it could be a great experience for his development.
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If there are any benefits from 2-1 at Deepdale apart from being in the 4th round tie, we have to look for them.
The biggest concern is midfield, Xhaka is not going to be a old school defensive midfielder, neither was Viera btw. Therefore we still need a Coq or Elneny sitting in fromt of the back 4. With Ozil returning to a starting 11, that leves 2 places up front. For the big games it would be both Giroud and Alexis up there, unless the boss decides to tactically change things around from time to time.
In defence, we have another scratch-built back 4, which is too open and conceding too many goals, however more communication and more awareness of each other’s roles will help plug the leaks.
There is nothing to criticise in attack. We have many options now Welbeck is back, and assuming Theo has done with tasting all the sample coffee modules in the box set.
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I agree with Steww on the fact that PNE played out of their skin in the first half and could’ve easily done the same to any team they played against. This being said, you just can’t ignore some of the awful football we played in the first half.
For starters, I had a hard time watching the Ox try to dribble past Pearson and either lose the ball due to a poor touch or having it poked away. I feel that if you’re a bad ass premier league attacking midfielder you should at least be able to get past a championship defender when you’re one on one. Our left wing, at least in the first half, was utterly useless.
As far as Maitland Niles is concerned, I felt he did good considering he was playing behind Lucas, whom I don’t recall dropping back to help through out that first half. Personally, I saw a few glimpses of what could be a very good RB emerging from within the young’n.
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I think Andy might have a bit of northern bias if he thinks Madeley gave a 7/10 performance.
Rules are rules, and bugger ‘game management’.
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Steww: I have been thinking about why I was so upset about the 1st half. It may be unrealistic and downright idealistic but I expect us to play as a title-challenging team every time we take the field. Yesterday that 1st half we were shambles with our midfield and defence opened up as easily as a knife going through butter. I was upset because without Santi, Elneny and Le Coq these are the players who have to see us through January and February. I give PNE full credit for the 1st goal as McGeady was Maradonaesque with that turn which took out about 3 players but that aside we were simply too easy to get at. At half-time we could easily have been 3 goals down.
I have done the research and presented the data showing over the past 10 years in particular we have been let down by a relatively poor 2nd half of the season. I suspect I am reprising that fear when I see poor performances vs the lower level teams despite extenuating circumstances, i.e. no recuperation time, injuries etc. To return to my initial thesis, I don’t think I am being unrealistic and idealistic by positing that this squad is better than any over the past 10 years and I expect them to prove this. We should demand and expect more than that shambolic first half vs PNE.
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Andrew,
Thanks!
At a guess the Holding sub was for a little bit extra height in case there was a last second set piece etc.
I agree with AorB and AA.
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BTW: Throughout the 1st half I kept wondering if Lucas was playing. Now I understand why AMN was so exposed. It seems that tallking to by Gabriel has not gotten through to Lucas. As a wide player you have got to help your defenders and be involved in the build-up. Hanging around in the opponents half may be fine and dandy in Spain but not in the PL.
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I thought Gabby’s method of dealing with Hugill’s elbow was far, far more effective than the yellow card the Preston player received from Mr Madeley. Straight through the back of him, striker in heap, never heard of again in the tie. And did you see the cheeky little grin on the Brazilian’s face afterwards ? even the referee was smiling !
More! More !
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Chamberlain had an early niggle on that hammy, or so I thought, affecting his decision making (also why he came off slightly early) nevertheless he kept his discipline and even showed that he’s been working on not injuring himself whilst tackling with a fantastic late challenge mid way through the second half. So even though it wasn’t his best performance ever there were some encouraging signs.
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Tbf gabby’s love bite was not the same as repetively going through the back of an opponent following a ten yard sprint. Pearson should’ve been off and off again. Simple.
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Sorry I meant the PNE No.4
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Pearson it was!
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Andrew (12.35) – yes, absolutely!
A real high point of the match and I’d love to see our lot all do that a lot more.
Fight fire with fire and back each other up to the hilt, while they are at it! The little shits perpetrating this behaviour in the first place would think twice about doing it if they knew they were going to get it all back in spades – with interest!
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Yes, definitely the little prick Pearson. Charmed life, could have easily seriously injured two or three of our players.
And why the ref didn’t get anywhere near a 7/10 for me; the players (including Gabby) knew they could get away with anything and that is simply not a safe state of affairs.
Boo the ref.
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I am posting my own tweets again, sad bastard, but David Walsh in the ST this morning has woken up to the deplorable state of the football punditocracy on TV;
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Definitely Pearson Fins – 10th yellow of the season I heard last night. Very industrious record if I may say so.
Obviously not that “kind” of player.
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So I am the only one realistically expecting consistently higher level performance CES from the boys?
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AA: I loved how Gabby needed a translator after giving that little piece of talentless shit a taste of his own medicine. Honest to god Guv I didn’t know you were against being physical in this game.
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Shotta, I hope for , rather than expect, expecting in sport is a fools errand.
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I’m happy that Xhaka and Ramsey had their full baptism as a pairing in this tricky Away fixture, usually an ideal scenario for Coquelin and boy was he missed in that first half not that the experts will be able to acknowledge that!
Given that they’ve got to carry the CM through January and that they’ll have tougher tests ahead I’m happy that they’ve got time now to look back over that first half, and improve for the PL matches to come.
Failing that there’s always the disciplined and experienced (hehe) CM pairing that achieved that infamous squeaky bum 1(0)-1at Newcastle: Ramsey and Chamberlain.
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Respect to Chris on AFTV a non caricature, the insults and threats he receives from so called Arsenal fans is bizarre. His reaction to criticism compared to other high profile ‘talking heads’ on the channel is straight out of Arsene Wenger playbook, but the reality is trolling is part of the ‘post truth’ agenda, facts don’t matter.
I am so conflicted, as Macmillan is one of my favs, the price of his success is too high, but true commitment is selflessness.
Chris I think has been the unknowing representative of the ‘Positives’ of the Arsenal fan base.
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I was one of those yesterday that highlighted AMN poor first half, but I was only highlighting how he seemed to be strolling about much of the time, there was no urgency in his play, something that is normally a big part of his game, he is an all action type. Plus this was a chance for him to show the boss that he is ready to be the back up right back and that its ok to let jenks and matt leave this window.
By the way, for me the biggest disappointment of the first half, actually the entire game was Oxlade-Chamberlain, I’m not sure if he was carrying an injury, or was one of those that had recently suffered the flu, but he was awful, not only in his inability to beat a man, make a simple pass, but his work rate was awful too. there was one incident in around the 21 minute mark, where he, 30 yards from their goal, attempted a cross field pass and it was about 20 yards short of its intended target and was straight to their left back, Preston were on the break, Ox looked around and a couple of their players closest to him were heading for our goal, at first it looked like he was not going to track back, then he “burst” into a jog, our midfield was open and Ox never put on the after burners to catch them, even when they slowed down, so did he, Preston got in for a chance on our goal, the best way I can sum up Ox’s effort to help out our defense would be to say it was Denilson at his worst.
All season long we have had Ox’s people feed stories to the media, about how he feels he is not getting enough game time, how x,y and liverpool are about to sign him, how he will not sign a new contract unless he is first choice, or unless he gets over £100K a week, and here was, unable to get past a championship defender, unable to make a simple pass, unable to track back. I would say that none of our attacking four actually were given the ball more than ox in that first half, he was our outlet, but it was a dead end outlet, it was turned over more often than alexis ever does, but without the alexis efforts to win it back. Very disappointing. Ox has enormous talent, he has a massive physique, he has speed and power, and here is at age 23, with 175 Arsenal games behind him, 24 England caps, and we are still wondering if he is going to make it or not.
Perry Groves made an interesting point at half time yesterday about how all at sea our defense and midfield were. he said that we really should not be making the excuse that this was new combos, cos we play the same system from u18’s, to u19’s, to u23’s to the first team, so set up and system is not new to them, the offside we want to play is not new to them, so it came down to the players just not doing their jobs well. We had two of the back four on several occasions try to play offside, and the other two not. Our inability to make even the most simple of passes had little to do with the selection.
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I wonder if the pitch was the same size and condition as our players are mainly used to.
I wonder also what would happen to our players if we adopted ‘that kind of physicality’ from the start. My guess is we’d be down to 10 in no time.
I wonder what it is like playing most matches against sides who treat it as their only match.
I wonder what it is like playing when your every move is criticised by fans and pundits alike.
And all the time I am wondering those things I shall continue to thank the lord for brief encounters on stairways to heaven.
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“cos we play the same system from u18’s, to u19’s, to u23’s to the first team”
Well I cant comment on the younger age groups eddy but perhaps when we have a new set of players due to turn out in a competitive game, or as on Tuesday Mustafi back after a longish break, then in the previous few days on the training pitch they need a bit more vigorous a workout!
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Yup Eds looked like Chambo was restricted in his movement there for a while, stretching and rubbing his hammy in the first half.
He’s one of England’s best talents and that’s why his agent is keen to cash in, palpably so! considering his cut for the lesser Sterling he must now be regretting Chambos move to the Arsenal. No doubt about it. I’m not going to contribute to their PR campaign though some AFC blogs have already shot their guns and emptied their loads there, unfortunately and prematurely.
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yes foreverheady, it is a bit of a mystery as to why so many clubs up their game so much when facing Arsenal, only the other day we seen AFCB record season high stats for distance covered, not only most km’s in a game from them, but the most of any team in the BPL this season. The ran so much that all 11 were rested for their cup game yesterday, and they got dumped out of it.
We see lower half BPL sides(and lower league) up their game all the time when they face AFC, we see them be more physical than usual, more up for it. Why, as we often see them meakly roll over for city, utd, chelsea, liverpool and spurs. We certainly don’t see the physical approach used against those teams. So why is it so often on display v Arsenal. Is it the fault of the refs, is it the fault of the pundits legitimising it, like yesterday on football focus, “Preston will kick the shit out of Arsenal”, and not one word of objection to it, no pointing out that to kick someone is actually breaking the rules. No its accepted as a legit tactic v Arsenal.
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Ryan @RyanTomes 3h3 hours ago
Yesterday’s game between Man United & Reading was Man United’s 55th consecutive televised game in the FA Cup 😳
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Osman @OsmanZtheGooner 5m5 minutes ago
Torino Sporting Director says Arsenal offered €65m for striker Andrea Belotti “Yes, we received the offer, but he is worth more”
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I knew I shouldn’t have said anything about Ainsley. Now people think I was complaining about him. I wasn’t. I was only commenting that in a list of “best” players in that game, I wouldn’t have listed him. That’s all. I don’t complain about players – it’s the opposite of what I do.
Nice write up Andy. Now, I think I’ll lay low a little while, so everyone can get the “we were horrible”s and “how can professionals play that badly”s out of their systems.
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Gary Lawrence@garythegooner56
Coming away from Deepdale yesterday a so-called Arsenal fan said to his mate. I can’t celebrate Giroud’s goal as I hate him so much. #tosser
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On Ox: I also wondered if the hamstring injury was in his head. I wonder that about Aaron every time he comes back from that injury. It’s like he hesitates about those lung busting runs, I can almost see him thinking “go” and then “no, not yet”. I saw that same thing with Alex yesterday. Caught in two minds: do what his instincts are telling him vs don’t challenge that hamstring any more than you have to.
I don’t think we ever really appreciate the mental challenge of muscular injury, especially a repetitive one. It must always be right there in the back of your mind – one wrong move, one too hard sprint, and here we go again.
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Alabama: Seems to me you were only voicing the disquiet some of us do our best to suppress. Sufficeth to say AMN was not our worst player on the field yesterday. I only picked on him because I know he can play a 100% better which he did in the 2nd half. I never trashed a player when wearing the shirt and I don’t intend to start.
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Btw there is something about AMN; he is such a talent, everything seems so effortless. Look at the quality of the crosses he puts in the direction of Giroud’s noggin. One occasion a PNE defender had half of Giroud’s shirt in his hands and then a hand over his shoulder, making it hard for Big Oli to get good purchase on the header, all in the eyeline of ref Maddely, no call. Giroud didn’t even bother to appeal. AMN can do that with ease.
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home to Fulham in the next round would be nice.
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One more thing (she says after she said she wasn’t going to say anything else): this is heresy, I know, but I wonder what 1st team PL players really think of playing lower league sides in the cup in these early rounds? I know what they say…they know what they are supposed to say. But one wonders, way down in the depths of their souls, if they really “look forward to it”? Why would they? 100% nailed on that you will play in an unfamiliar team, terrible facilities, pitches unlike what you’re used to, opposition players that are going to play out of their skins and kick you at every opportunity so they can say they got at the big boys, refs that let shit like that go, and fans that will be livid at anything except a blowout win. If it were me, I’d dread it. Of course, they are professionals, so they shouldn’t have those feelings.
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I hear you, Shotta, and I’m not criticizing you. But I feel a little bit like I started a pile on with him. I never do that. I’m a bit ashamed of myself. Have to look in the mirror and do better, you know? (banned smiley)
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@alabamagooner I hope you continue to voice your opinion and concerens as long as you are respectful.
The players need to be critcised, when they are at fault they do it to each other.
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