Good afternoon Positive Arsenal fans,
I did not expect to be writing the post match commentary on the Cologne game as I was travelling to the US and, having taken off at 6.00 pm by 8.00ish I was very long way West of Ireland, quite a long way South east of Greenland. According to the polite chap from American Airlines we are at 34,000 feet (and he knows).
No1 son however was fiddling with the seatback entertainment console and lo and behold …. what pops up ? Lucky kick off was delayed.
Global game eh – there is no escape, no release from the Arsenal – even when the air is thin outside the game will get through.
Admittedly I’d missed the first half hour and other than the gruesome replay of David’s little difficulty I saw nothing else. A decent line up, enough good players to do the job. Good to see Sanchez and Giroud starting.
That final fifteen first half minutes was ok, a little reminiscent of our Britannia trip. Good to the edge of the box but solid defence and a lack of sharpness/guile took us no further. Midfield of Elneny and Iwobi not used to working together produced a lot of effort but not much creative output.
Second half kicking off so I will be back from time to time, optimistic we shall trouble the scorer…….
Get the F*** in you beautiful Bosnian – he really is very good.
This is more like it, let’s concentrate though lads – no silly second for the visitors. Enjoying Hector Bellerin tonight.
Cometh the hour cometh the Chilean assassin – super strike – and that is why I think he is a man to keep.
Just crossed the Newfoundland coast. Jack bright, surely the 3rd is within our grasp?
And Hector obliges, first to the block and a good finish, intelligent dummy from Jack. I think that is the Germans done for.
A harder game than I expected but credit to Cologne. From the hour I saw Elneny can be pleased with himself and his push for first team action. Sanchez is looking fit and dynamic again( ed. I hope he was joking?)
Positively Arsenal 
A succinct summation of the events on the pitch, thank you Andy.
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You were almost as lucky as i was Andy! Safe travelling.
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Arsenal FCVerified account @Arsenal 40m40 minutes ago
#AFCU23 to play @LCFC: Macey, Osei-Tutu, Dasilva, McGuane, Chambers, Pleguezuelo (c), Nketiah, Willock, Akpom, Reine-Adelaide, Nelson
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Arsenal subs: Gilmour, Iliev, Dragomir, Fortune, Bola.
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well done andy.. lucky for us for d delay eh?
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Leicester CityVerified account @LCFC 3m3 minutes ago
Goal. 😞 Arsenal take the lead with Osei-Tutu’s cross being turned into his own net by Johnson. Little the #lcfcu23s man could do.
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Jeorge Bird @jeorgebird 22s23 seconds ago
Dragomir replaces Chambers, who was very impressive.
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Jeorge Bird @jeorgebird 12m12 minutes ago
Pleguezuelo limping off injured after some rash challenges. Tolaji Bola coming on.
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Jeorge Bird @jeorgebird 33s33 seconds ago
Ft. Arsenal 1 Leicester 0. Hard-fought victory in the end. Willock and Osei-Tutu very impressive.
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When I saw Sanchez needlessly losing the ball or not passing when he should I could hear the meerkat blowing his gasket
It’s Friday night and I’m relaxing. Surfing YouTube when I saw four pics of Robbie, Troopz, Claude and DT from Arsenal Fan TV. I had no desire to launch those videos. Just thought what a bunch of whinging WANKERS!
Ah! It’s great to cuss every now and then….
Bastards, I want to watch the second half of the game against Köln!!! When will it be available?
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Decent result in the end.
I didn’t make this game but my friends that did spoke highly of the Koln fans ,the ones they met at least, despite articles of Night Of Shame, 1980s dark days revisited and other sensationalist headlines by John Cross et al. Not saying events last night were ideal, they may well have been scary for some , but perhaps just not as portrayed by the anti Arsenal media?
Hope The Beast gets a game against Chelsea , and doesn’t get Xhakad
Three at the back or four for Chelsea?? Would be tempted to go for the latter?
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An absolute beast of a goal from Alexis, however ARSENAL are a team and football is a team game and Alexis stops the team.
Wheather he is going round in circles in midfield or predictably cutting in from the left he loses the ball more than any other player and stops our flow, he is frustration personified. Thats not to say for those split seconds of brilliance he excites, electrifies and gets fans off the edge of their seat.
For me one of the the most telling moments on the Alexis debate happened late on when Wengerball was in full flow the one touch passing, the flicks perfectly falling in to the path of the onrushing Arsenal players all at fast pace, another brilliant ARSENAL goal beckons until it got to Alexis, he took two touches didn’t pass to the wide open Oli for his 100th goal but instead put his foot on the ball and then chipped to the back post where once again the move died.
Football has long been a game where a team can add up to more of the sum than its individual parts and I think that is the case with Alexis. His impact has become progressively less as teams have worked out he always cuts inside, he rarely passes first time and mainly looks to pass to Mezut when he does pass. Strangely enough one of his best contrabutions apart from the goal was a first time reverse ball that compleatly caught out the German defence, when you see the skills and vision he has in his locker its even more frustrating you see so little of that and so much of giving the ball away losing so much possession, time and critically pressure on opponents often defending deeply and dying for a breather.
I will always support any player wearing the ARSENAL badge, whichever way the cannons facing, and cheer loudly whenever Alexis majic is on display, however on the question of “what are we going to do about Alexis” if we could get decent money for him at christmas and get an out and out left winger into the bargin then thats the way I would go.
Team always over the individual and pure football wins.
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Post of the month that A or B.
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Anyone fancy doing the pre match? Or is it another of my Micro blogs?
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a_o_b its telling for me that Alexis after all these years here has still not built up an understanding with Giroud, a man who is expert in the one touch lay off, the one two, Alexis plays the ball to Ozil a lot cos its normally sideways or backwards or cos Ozil is making the late run, which means Alexis will have taken his 2 or 3 or more touches before Mesut looks for the ball, Giroud and Ramsey and even Theo who all want first time passes for their runs do not suit Alexis, or should I say he does not suit them
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oh the irony, AFTV and other ASB and WOB going on about how great the Koln support was on Thursday night, its all the non local fans for the lack of support at the Emirates it seems, nothing to do with all those twats moaning and whinging and bitching and attacking everything Arsenal at every chance. Shower of two faced cunts.
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Good morning positives – my apologies for the rambling monologue that passed for a post match review. The excitement of watching live football on an aeroplane got the better of me.
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My god Andy! Apologies for what? My only complaint is you were late. How the hell could you be flying, have to deal with security, transportation from the airport and then post a blog? It’s not as if George pays for limousine service so you can get the job done. Apart from my ungratefulness, excellent work my friend.
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Arsenal U18’s lost their first U18 PL Cup group game today, away to Man Utd, after having led 3-0 at half time Arsenal lost 4-3.
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Ed. Saw that. Only bit I’ve heard from someone there is that we were ‘pathetic’ second half. I’ll suspect we were probably tucked up royally by a good ole Northern ref, at least until I can see highlights.
Uncanny that just like the Newcastle game the comeback featured two pens for them. Would bet the house Utd came out kicking anything that moved 2nd half, ref allowed it, soft pen or two, players couldn’t find answer to it. Also seems good chance that for 3rd youth game in a row, one of our players went off with injuries sustained in fouls
Last week our off colour team had two serious pen shouts in their game against Chelsea, both rejected of course. Those decisions obviously change games.
Oh well, good preparation I guess
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Shotta, Andy wasn’t late, he sent it on Thursday evening , but I didn’t look at my Emails until Friday afternoon. I need a secretary.
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“I see! I’m all alone in this, alright, I’ve been alone before.”
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Ah ha. Now I get it George. All these years and Andy hasn’t learnt you run a low budget operation.
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WATvMC City has an overwhelming advantage in talent but 2 offside goals is totally unacceptable. Case of 11v13. VAR cannot come fast enough.
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A_or_B at 10:12 am:
Excellent post. The Boss took a big risk not cashing in on Alexis. I suspect he couldn’t get a suitable replacement and knew there would be hell to pay if we didn’t get similar goals and assists from somewhere. Birdkamp made the very good point earlier that one factor behind 3 at the back was to force him to play in the opponents half. But it is increasingly evident, that he may be a hell of a goal scorer but the turnovers, the delays in passing the ball is killing us. With all due respect to my friend, Fins.
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shotta BBC say Watford should have had a penalty too
and on the subject of penalties, BBC say LCFC penalty was a clear dive, will be interesting to see if the lad is banned on Monday.
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if we had been able to sign Lemar then Alexis would have been sold
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Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham have now lost 6 games in a row, I wonder does SKY pundit Jamie Redknapp think that Birmingham should have appointed an up to date modern manager.
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Yes Eddie: I would have take £60 million and Sterling for Alexis. Use the money to acquire Lemar. All the deals must happen or no dice. That’s me.
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Ed (5.33). Ha.
I’m guessing they steer well clear of asking questions at this point. If he talks, it’ll probably be dark mutterings about problems behind scenes/ with chairman…broken promises…about which an honest manager can’t be blamed.
That back could well flare up again any day I reckon.
Just noticed it’s Dean for Spurs game, so well worth a bet on pen/red or both if odds don’t reflect fact it’s… Dean and Spurs
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well its clear shotta that Arsenal wanted at least one of Sterling or Lemar for us to sell Alexis, either would have made good sense, and both would have suited out passing style, neither might have had as a direct goal/assist input, but would have possibly improved the team overall.
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Needless to say I have a positive view of Sterling. He is perhaps the only young Englishman who can successfully take-on any player in the league with his dribble and deliver a decent final pass. Apparently City is working on his shooting. His potential is incredible. He is so widely underestimated by the British public especially by the usual suspects in mainstream media. Just saying.
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shotta that has much to do with the racist hate directed towards him from that rage the Sun
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P.I.M.P. @PoznanInMyPants 4h4 hours ago
“Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain are two of the richest countries on the world. They produce oil and football.”
Modern Geography.
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Oh yes Eddie. I know there is more to the Sterling hate than meets the eye. You are correct; the not so subtle racism is fed by the mainstream media. Sterling is currently one of the most creative young Englishmen around. He may not score as many as Walcott but he can create for himself and others. I was excited when the deal with Sanchez was mooted cause I was very sure he would thrive at Arsenal.
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Not only would he thrive but he would make us better.
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isn’t it odd that the journos who were laughing at or lambasting Wenger for not starting Lacazette v LFC, have not a word to say about Klopp not starting £40M Oxlade-Chaberlain in any of the 3 games he has been with them for.
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there will be some gnashing of teeth tomorrow when team announced and Alexis is only a sub.
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What have Arsenal ever done to Paul Merson?
that is apart from making this monosyllabic dribbling wreck look a bit stupid at the end of last season
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well we have given him a salary at sky, without us to attack as a “legend”, there is not way sky would have hired him, although his part in helping skybet with his downright stupid tips may have still seen him get a gig.
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should always add Paul the chelsea fan Merson
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Very true on Merson.
Breaking news, Arrys left Birmingham
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Bramall might get a game now.
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I won’t say a word re the Totts vs Swansea. Tempting fate.
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I enjoyed my paella much more in the knowledge that the scum only managed a draw against Swansea…
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3 home games into the new season and spurs can not match their home record of last season
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some reports that Ramsey trained today but that Ozil did not, suggests that Mesut will not be involved tomorrow, maybe Alexis will start, a front 3 of Welbeck, Lacazette and Alexis.
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if crisis club Arsenal win by 2 or more goals tomorrow we will be 3rd in the table,
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