Bore da Welsh speaking Positive people and good morning to any others who have stumbled across the threshold,
A foul, wet morning in Norfolk which does nothing to deflect my good mood and optimism this Sunday.
Of yesterday’s game it provided probably the easiest three points we have earned all season. Given the thumping we administered to the ‘Ammers that is saying something but I say yesterday had the edge in terms of easy contest.
Admittedly the afternoon started a little differently. With the shiny new Mr Clement in charge, hair neatly cut and black overcoat tightly buttoned, I anticipated a vigorous workout against a club who have had the ‘eye’ (¤) on us in recent seasons.
Our hosts starting purposefully, playing a bit of real passing football, harrying our lads with intent for half an hour. As is our usual modus operandi we allowed the Welsh dragon to run out of puff about the 30 and then imposed ourselves to take control of the game. Sanchez. The opener before half time was inevitable I think as by that stage Sanchez and Ozil had run off the rust that had accumulated from their lengthy holidays and both were able to find space and receive enough ball to weave their respective magic spells.
The kerfuffle that Olivier’s ankle caused following the goal was a bit mystifying, but not as mystifying at first sight as the card that young Ki picked up for diving in our box. HOWEVER, having had the opportunity to review the incident from a number of different angles while I see contact, yes. I do not see contact sufficient to fell the player in the manner observed. Good call referee and a considerable relief to go in 1-0 up after what had been a strong finish to the half by our hosts. On such small details victories pivot.
If Mr Jones eagle eyed wisdom in spotting the South Korean’s deceit was an omen the Welsh failed to heed its portent. Instead, as the game sparked back into life in the second half, they found themselves pinned in their half by a mighty hurricane in black and fluorescent yellow. We really turned up the game to top gear and the Swans could not live with it.
Over the next 20 minutes they disintegrated like an upset jigsaw puzzle when the fates turned against them. And what fates they were on the day! The goals themselves I acknowledge were hardly classic Wengerball, and I admit a certain sympathy for our former keeper as he plucked the ball out from the second own goal. Rage at the moon all you like Lukasz, with our lads banging in accurate shots from all around the box there is a probability that one day the deflection will be in our favour, and yesterday the luck fell our way.
Of our lads ? As I think was said yesterday by several contributors on here Alex Iwobi had an outstanding game and the longer the game went on the stronger he got. Four shots in the box – that is what I want to see. The first time that Aaron has started two consecutive games this season and that continuity was reflected in his greater influence and more certain touch. I thought Monreal was great yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed the physical battle he and Dyer and Naughton got into. And finally a word of praise for Gabriel who, as he always does, came in and did his job thoroughly and quietly.
Of our opponents Sigurdsson is a good player. He will find suitors knocking if, as seems probable, Swansea slip away in May. The rest ? Over to Mr Clement for some hard work.
Hwyl fawr am nawr and enjoy your Sunday!
Positively Arsenal 
Aaron Ramsey is a £50m footballer ,in anyone’s money.
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The old fart’s thoughts:
It’s hardly fair to be a little hesitant in applauding a 4-0 away win but the same old problems emerged as per our last two away games. Why is it that it’s taking so long to get started? In all honesty for the first half hour or so Swansea dominated and but for a really good save from Petr, may have taken the lead. It was very much a case of “Oh Gawd, not again.” Eventually, we got it right and the goal maestro did his thing from close in. But, had he damaged himself in the build up.? For sure, he was asking to come off and was limping when he resumed to wait for the half time whistle. Oz, young Alex and Alexis all played a role in that goal and whilst it was a bit scruffy, it seemed to totally knock the Swans for six. Bar a penalty shout that looked stone cold, Mike Jones also brandishing a yellow card I thought for Kos, turned out to be a card for diving. Subsequent replays proved it to be a superb ref. decision. And that really was the end of the Swans as a force.
The second half was basically one way traffic but our goals all reminded me of billiard strokes, including Olly’s in the first half. Two in off white. Two white onto red for simple put aways. I was sorry for young Alex who created both of the in off white goals. He deserved a goal with his performance. And the back five deserved a clean sheet…Shkodran looking much happier with Kos beside him and Gabriel putting in a good defensive role.
Now for Watford, going through a bad spell at the moment. Let’s hope the lads don’t think that all they have to do is turn up. Then they’re turnips rather than turn uppers. Keep the faith
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good piece Andy, Yeah I thought the doctor was cutting Oli’s toenails although my stream wasn’t perfect.
The call on the pen was excellent, at a critcal time in the game, especially as 1, I would have give the pen and 2, I’m normally critical of refs (indeed I was before the incident).
The four-nil did flater us but we are not generally a lucky side as Steww said yesterday the pin ball impressions normally go against us.
I thought we started slowly yesterday and it wasn’t until the second half we started moving the ball quickly, first time and Alex starting running at people and shooting.
Gabriel was good defensively but either through lack of options in front of him or lack of confidence kept playing the ball negatively which put us in trouble at times and that will always be the difference between a natural full back and a centre back.
Overall a good away performance to get back on the away winning track.
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Gf and Ian – I would go along with us starting a bit slowly yesterday but an important part of our discomfort was Swansea were on the front foot and playing well. I thought we were a lot lot lot better than against Bournemouth ( as the scoreline after an hour reflected! banned smiley)
I picked out Monreal and Gabby as two good performances because I thought both had solid defensive games, because we have struggled on the wings against Swansea for a few seasons but yesterday it was much tighter. Gabby is not a natural right back by any means but he gets the defending bit, probably better than Hector at the mo.
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Big Andrew certainly has a way with words especially when he is in a good mood. I really enjoyed this post match report.
As many of you know, my biggest concern going forward is central midfield. Because Ozil plays a free role further forward; the two behind him have to be exceptional players who teams will try to press and overwhelm with numbers. Yesterday I saw Aaron Ramsey playing smart intelligent football which suggests we may not only cope but even thrive without Santi Cazorla. Somebody posted this earlier; the Xhaka-Ramsey pivot have played 312 minutes together we’ve scored 13 goals (one every 24 minutes) & conceded 2. Small sample size but a good omen.
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I think Swansea stays up. They have what it takes to put together a run that sees them glide past Hull, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
I like the stat regarding Ramsey and Xhaka. It seems they’re starting to understand how to play together and that can only mean good things.
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A5; I don’t thing most left sided wide players in the PL love running up against Gabriel. He is usually bigger, stronger and equally as fast. What we lose in the speed, passing and guile of Bellerin is made up by better defensive work.
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Thanks Andrew,
It was a good start to the match by the home team possibly as expected. Once they’d warmed up did Alexis and Özil play just a fraction quicker and fresher then before their rests?
It can’t have been a plan to bring to the club two stars of the game who do not just happen to both be hardcore mavericks, but who have opposing yet complementary tendencies in their idiosyncrasies? When it comes to that canny old bird Arsene Vulture who knows?
Was the signing of Cazorla a lucky swoop or the signal that a master predator was at work?
I don’t know about any of that.
What I do know is that I’ve been enjoying the football.
Cazorla was a great player before he arrived yet he has peaked at AFC, perhaps naturally so given the stage in his career he was at when he made the move.
Likewise Özil, Sanchez and can I add PSG busting Giroud to that list as all these players have fantastic records and stats from before and after their time at AFC. And all these players have improved at AFC, no doubt about it. Their records speak for themselves.
All of which leads to the obvious and inevitable conclusion: whatever the future holds the gaffer still “has it”. The evidence is fairly strong…
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Ramsey gave an interview after the game where he might have explained our slow start to the game, it might have been due to us having a cautious approach, with us trying to make sure we did not concede a first half goal, or go behind. Knowing that we would get chances and if we took the lead we could then pick them off, as we did.
On the subject of Ramsey, I thought he had a good game, but just going by the lack of hate and vitriol aimed at him in the arseblog comments section I must have misjudged his performance and should upgrade it to outstanding, cos if his haters there are not attacking him then he certainly was great.
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Mesut Özil @MesutOzilStats 1h1 hour ago
Mesut Özil has been voted Germany National Team’s Player of the Year 2016.
Mesut Özil has been named Germany National Team’s Player of the Year for the fifth time. (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 & 2016)
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A very good afternoon’s work.
Haven’t we read some where that if Arsenal played all their games at 3pm on a Saturday we’d walk away with the league title?
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Agree with everyone’s assements of Ramsey and Xhaka, more time together is making the partnership work better.
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Bayern & Germany @iMiaSanMia 17m17 minutes ago
Fans’ German player of the year award winners since 2010
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A very satisfying result, and performance once the boys got in gear.
And, despite initial worries about having a ref called Jones against Swansea, that was a great spot on a player clearly looking for a penalty ….we have been on the wrong end of a few of those this season, but this guy got it right in real time.
Hope one of the meanest strikers in Europe on goals per minute is ok
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Caught up with the match then enjoyed reading through everyone’s comments as the action was unfolding yesterday. Then and only then treated myself to Andy’s rather excellent, playful and evidently exuberant match review. It’s a bonus on top of our usual pleasure in victory to know that Andy will enjoy his write up.
Key points from yesterday’s conversation yes Monreal received dangerous tackles which should have been punished but the ref was spot on spotting the Swansea player anticipating Koscielny’s challenge – which challenge never came as our man withdrew his leg. Not Vardy level simulation but nonetheless falling over a non existent foul.
As far as the drama queen debate goes I always saw that as homophobic rather than sexist – the queen in question being the flamboyant homosexual stereotype with which my generation grew up.
I don’t mean literally in my house, I mean culturally.
Football? Oh we were the better team even if we were a little less fluent than usual in the first half.
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Funny how things work out. The kick start Everton’s season got from their unexpected victory against us may pay dividends as they take that confidence forward against our rivals.
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Totally agree about Gabriel defensively but the cautious approach with us going backwards often lands us in trouble or Petre has to kick long. Although Oli wins a great proportion of these they don’t always fall to our players and we lose momentum.
When we play quickly with short diagonal passes we can cut most teams to pieces, width is also essential to move opposition defences around.
Teams who are trying to close you down will lose both confidence and energy when we Maintain possession rather than being forced to give it back to the keeper to kick.
At the moment Xhaka’s indecision is a factor in this although he is getting better and will be at the same level of the rest of the team.
As I said he is only one factor and several players are guilty of taking the wrong options especially in the first half of recent games.
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Better front foot defending in the 2nd half
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Ian I’ve always seen the long punt from the keeper to Adebayor/Giroud as a variable tactic designed to beat the press, keep the opponents guessing, and to not be predictable?
Sometimes it becomes a habit and sometimes a bad habit that frustrates but there are also times when the Arsenal struggle without such variable options, depending upon the opponent.
Young Pep thought it was such a good concept he once signed Zlatan to be his ‘target man’ in his squad unfortunately for him Zlatan did not have Giroud’s quality of character and so that didn’t work out for the squad, yet fortunately for us at AFC Giroud took the top target man mantle from Zlatan’s shoulders a little while ago now.
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Tricky place to go is Goodison
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Always like the variables however if it forced upon you the opposition get confidence from their hard work, if you manage to play it out teams get dispondent and mentally tired.
Take Gabs, if he plays the ball down the line to Iwobi we have a chance to create something further forward get a throw or even if we lose possession its in a less dangerous part of the field. Once he turns and goes backwards the press is on a we are forced to play it back to the keeper and kick long.
If you watch the second half both full backs passed earlier and forward or diagonally inside and it created movement further forward.
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Tricky place to manage, this league, even for foreign coaches of impeccable pedigree
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An absolute thrashing in the end – no bottle, no leaders, no mental strength – spend some farking money #PepOut
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Supporting Mourinho through clenched teeth today folks?
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So far this is working but of course it can go pfffit during the game. Better to install Sopcast really.
http://vidi.tv/embed-player/GentiSPORTS
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Boys and girls: The Stones v Holding debate is over; £50m v £2m.
P.S. Stolen from twitter.
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So Everton away is a tough fixture, huh?
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Michael Oliver eh ? What a guy
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Even Mike Dean could’ve seen that one Andy!
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agenda against utd, how else can a penalty award against them be explained
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Germany @DFB_Team_EN 3h3 hours ago
.@Arsenal attacker @MesutOzil1088 claimed 54.5% of the 316,850 votes to win the award for the fifth time: http://bit.ly/Özil1501
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man city first six bpl games 6 wins, Pep had reinvented football
man city last 15 bpl games W7 D3 L5 – so does that make Pep a has been outdated manager, or is is a few injuries and bad luck, or what will the media stance be.
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Although in fairness Mike Dean’s speciality isn’t just seeing things, it’s seeing things which haven’t happened
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1886 @1886_blog 14m14 minutes ago
Always fucking dabbing
how the fuck could the ref give that as a penalty, it was only one hand, mike riley will be furious
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Michael Oliver is the boy who whipped out the red on Di Maria in front of the same Stretford End – balls of steel
What I don’t get is why no Liverpool players appealed? Did they not see it !
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Anicoll you are probably bored by now of reading about everyone’s pleasure with your match report, but I am afraid, however late I am, that I must also add my thanks to the chorus of approval.
It has been well covered, but my view of Ref Oliver’s judicious booking of Ki for cheating was that Kos started to put his foot out to tackle him, but rapidly withdrew it, and Ki snaked his foot out to make contact on Kos and go down with a 9 out of 10 dive.
That sort of cheating does sometimes win a penalty, and it was a relief that Oiver’s view was unimpeded.
Anyway, great win, and deservedly so.!!
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Umm – sorry – watching the Manure game I seemed to have transposed today’s Ref Oliver with Ref Jones yesterday. I know, that you all knew that I did not know who the ref was, but you will hopefully accept the above mitigation for my error ……. [lol]
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You were clearly caught up in the emotion of the moment H
My money is on a red at Trafford Park – too many ManYoo players on the edge of losing it
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Anicoll.
It would suit us better if the ‘Pool game ended in a draw or a loss for them — but the intense dislike of Maureen is ingrained in my very DNA, and a severe beating for YooNited would make me a happy man — gotta say — it has been all Manure in the second half.
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62 mins gone The Specialist yet to put the most effective player in his squad (Mata) on the pitch
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Rooney! (Not close)
–
Martial best Utd player on the day (?) off for Mata
amazing really
Unless I’ve jinxed it and Ronny scores a deflection there’s no way back for Utd here (I’d prefer a draw!)
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Well PA you are seeing the unfolding of one of my theories. United subs Carrick at the half deciding to give up control of central midfield in search of a goal, you know the English way. Their midfield is totally open as Liverpool counter at will. Who will prevail?
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I was thinking: the last two world cup winners, Spain and Germany, emphasize control of central midfield. Coincidence?
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The football gods heard my prayers!
1-1
I hope they haven’t forgotten the part involving the points deduction…
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And an offside in Utd’s equaliser once again that is 7 in 5 now
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Liverpool could not prevail. They did not have enough quality to maintain possession and counter attack. Klopp was angry at how they lost the ball. Lesson to my Arsenal.
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Oliver not allowing this game to spiral out of control. Not tempted with any bizarre or multiple red cards such as I dunno the Xhaka one
Shame
Still time for a late flurry from the pocket
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I hear that man utd are rebranding as ManUtd6th
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As pleasant as it would have been to see Jose lose, probably not the worst result for us
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Oliver faded in the second half and allowed Jose back into it to collect a lucky point.
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