Good Morning Positives,
An interesting evening at Gander Green Lane. The expected result and, on reflection, an evening that I probably should have expected. The non Leaguers came on in the same old way, and with our superior firepower we despatched them in the same old way. Twas it (almost) ever thus when a very big club meets a non League minnow?
I admit I had been hoping for a more resounding victory, three goals up at the half hour market least, and the chance to ease off for the remainder of the game before a 5-6 final count. That is not however the Arsenal way, and in spite of my jitters it made for a better match to watch, with Sutton still dashing forward until the final whistle.
Of our players I thought Rob Holding had a good game, growing assurance on a windy night and a pitch though flat had an unusual bounce and the speed of the ball across the plastic was slightly different to grass The Ox was probably our best player, albeit a late entry. Industrious at the back when he needed to be, willing to give us width going forward. I shall forgive his error in the final few moments as by them as in Munich, the result was never I doubt. And Theo of course, captain on the night and 100 goals up. To be honest Theo had one of his less effective games I thought last night and what the plastic pitch offered him in speed of movement and acceleration it seemed to reduce in his ability to control the ball. Good night for Perez again. As I have said before, other than two or three PL clubs, the Spanish striker would walk into most starting line ups in England.
The negative sides I believe Alex Iwobi has his ankle strapped and iced after the kick he took. And Jeff ? Not a good night for him last night, hesitant from the start and the game went on around him. Hard to recognise the player who performed so well, so confidently, in the last round at St Marys. I think a loan spell and regular week in and week out football for JRA an absolute necessity.
Our opponents, 293 places below us in the English Football League pyramid, or some such tosh, acquitted themselves admirably on what as probably a match they will remember forever. For a few, particularly Deacon, it must surely be a ticket to back into a league club and rekindling their former ambitions.
That is all from me today. I see we did not give Sutton a pennant at kick off – much to the hilarity of the BBC commentators. We are however a little classier than that.
We have a lengthy break before the next game, and it is a biggie. Perhaps a chance to relax and breath a little, for the players, the manager and above all the most important group of all at our mighty football club, the fans. Enjoy your week.
Positively Arsenal 
well passenal I would sort of disagree, as having Martinez, Jenkinson and Holding in defense made it easier for Sheaf and Bramhall to shine, and we had Maitland-Niles and Reine-Adelaide in cm, so again a strong foundation for Malen, Nelson and Willock to play off, and then Welbeck up top. Holding just oozed class and composure today. AMN bossed the game, especially first half, the knock he took to the head at start of second half subdued him a bit.
Odd thing was we did not make any subs, and that with Bramhall suffering from cramp for last 20 minutes.
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finsbury I see, well the night of “the Big Fall” Big Tony took a header down some stairs at Raa-Raa’s, Tony’s behaviour during those times was not to put too fine a point on it was great deal less than stellar. They say he stumbled, but many say he was tripped and pushed. The upshot was several stitches in a bad cut above his eye.
Did you know that story?
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Arsenal spent £14.5m improving Colney and Hale End, the Hale End development is almost complete and the Colney development will be completed this year too.
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Positively Arsenal@Blackburngeorge 34m34 minutes ago
“Wenger Out protest is on evening of Bayern game”
Good luck you bunch of attention seeking wankers.
No offence.
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Darren@DarrenArsenal1 4h4 hours ago
Emirates cup is being held on the weekend of 29th and 30th July.
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WBB
Nope! Thanks for sharing.
TA recovered (some say AW saved his life?) and went on to learn the piano. A mild concussion at worst!
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The only downside to the improvements to our reserve facilities is I can’t get to see our young lads in the flesh and it just not the same when they have the games at the Emirates. Modern football having made it more difficult to see the first team is now depriving me of the youth players as well, this at a time when i am majorly excited about Chris Willock among others. To make matters worse my mate who has worked as a scout for ARSENAl for ten years has just had an argument with the Dutch coach and quit meaning I can’t go to hale end either nightmare
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sorry to hear that ian, what did you mate fall out with jonker over
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also Ian isn’t Arsenal building a mini stadium at Colney so fans can go to watch both the ladies team games and the youth team games
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Gooner&Gunner@GoonerAndGunner 7h7 hours ago
Apparently we’ve spent £87mill this summer & the media expect immediate results. United spend that on 1 player & he’s got ‘time to develop’👀
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couples counseling not going so well by the looks of it
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Hi Ed, He fell out over a period of time about some of the changes he was bringing in. Emphasis on pushing foreign lads even at a very young age rather than local lads. Although you have to bear in mind my mates all time hero was Liam and so anything different to what he said was always going to be difficult for him to take.
I’m not sure the mini stadium is going to be any time soon. I think that is one of the gripes the ladies were unhappy with.
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Ranieri has more class than the LFC board.
Eduardo, I didn’t suggest that the first team players didn’t have any influence, I said it was not just down to them as I thought the youngsters stood out more.
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Or LCFC even
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The sacking of Ranieri is bad enough, but the sanctimonious media make it even worse, especially when they have been trying to get Wenger sacked for years.
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George I’ve been to see Leroy Hutson from the impressions tonight at the union chapel by Highbury and Islington and if you get a chance to catch him he’s well worth a watch. Also his support singer Gesel Smith done a great version of I’m cashing in, the voices of Harlem number. She’s a real talent.
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Osman@OsmanZtheGooner 19h19 hours ago
Mourinho (OCT 2015) “He (Ranieri) is almost 70, and he has won a Super Cup and another small cup. He’s too old to change mentality”
Suddenly he likes Claudio, funny cos Mourinho just trying to justify his sacking by Chelsea after winning the league 2 years ago as wrong.
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Did you all see how Swansea was robbed of a pen by a clear hand to ball by CFC defender? I made the point in my ref bias blogs that it is the “smaller” teams who are being screwed out of penalties by the PGMO refs.
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Yep he accidentally left his arm there didn’t he
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Costa got away with very clear dissent too after a foul for a high boot was given
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Mohamed ELNenyVerified account@ElNennyM 5h5 hours ago
Thanks Allah for everything 🙏🏼
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the u18’s beat swansea u18’s 1-0 today
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Former Arsenal favourite, Eduardo da Silva, turned 34 today and he has signed for Atlético Paranaense.
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http://dailycannon.com/2017/02/video-arsenal-nurturing-young-children-eastern-uganda/
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Stefano Conforti@confortistefano Feb 23
Sometimes they come back. Aleksandr Hleb and Andrey Arshavin during the friendly game between Krylya and Kayrat.
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The pgmol seem to quite like Chelsea……strange, despite the fact that a player, backed up by the club falsely accused a ref of racist language
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it was ten years ago today that Theo Walcott scored his first Arsenal goal, earlier this week he scored his 100th Arsenal goal.
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Squawka NewsVerified account@SquawkaNews 2h2 hours ago
Paul Merson on West Brom being in 8th: “If you take away the top seven, they’re top!”
Man’s a genius 🤓
I’d say Merson is an idiot savant but without the savant part
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Ed, you are far to kind to Merson
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new post up
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