Good morning Positively Arsenal,
A genuinely good contest last night, which is unusual for Monday night. Very much the “game-of-two-halves” for Arsenal.
The first 45 we played in patches and, for my second surprise of the evening, the visitors set about us with a bit of quality. For various reasons that were debated to death last night we may have been slightly lucky to go in with a 1-0 lead at half time. “I’ve seen ’em given Ron, I’ve see ‘em given” et cetera. If it had been Deano rather than Bobby Madeley last night the penalty count might have been 4-2 (to the Arsenal obviously). If I was looking for a decisive moment in the half it was Nacho’s kung fu clearance from Rodriguez’s header. If the Baggies had gone level at that point, and they were playing well, it would have rocked us hard.
The second half there were no patches in the Arsenal display. Cech barely touched the ball and Mustafi and Kosc had a leisurely time at the back. We controlled the ball and pinned the Baggies back. The second goal seemed a long time coming despite our dominance and until it arrived the visitors were still in with a slight chance. From the 67th minute however the points were assured. I was hoping for one more but we slightly eased off the tempo, perhaps with Thursday night in mind.
For us as has been said elsewhere on here Nacho was in his element last night. Decisive in defensive and on two occasions he could have scored, with only a bobbling ball and the grasp of Nyon defeating him. His left side partner Kolasinac also had another good evening, an uncompromising physical first half and a much more fluid attacking second. And finally on the podium this week I place Alexander Lacazette. Two chances, two goals. The first a classic ‘predator’ six yard line finisher goal. If you look at his penalty thought it was even better. Foster dived the correct way and any less power or careful placement of the shot he would have had a hand on it. An important penalty, and they all count.
For West Brom I was impressed with Krychowiak and Rodriguez. Both were at the heart of the expansive first half effort were they attacked us hard and in numbers. It is interesting that the Baggies have the profile to attract a player as good as the Pole on loan, and Rodriguez I have always liked. Nice to see Kieran get in 90 minutes last night too. Good lad. Whether it is the influence of the new Chinese owners or Pulis has seen the light I don’t know. Watching two quality ball players must be a tonic for the Hawthorn’s regulars though who for years have had to put up with some dull stuff. I can see a top eight finish for WBA if that progress continues.
Anyway that is me done this morning. I will be missing on Thursday evening, and on my way to Wroclaw (Ryanair permitting), but back on Sunday so if anyone fancies a little post match delight from Byelorussia speak now !!
Enjoy your Tuesday.
Positively Arsenal 
Always knew the police were great people… they are highly encouraged to not move it!
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some reports that the Arsenal game tomorrow is being streamed free on BT Sports.com
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Wenger on Maitland-Niles: “I’m convinced he is ready to play. He has to improve a little bit on the concentration front.”
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Doof. That news Sky can play around with us (and Pool *) like that, significantly increasing chances of us dropping points in the second game two days later.
Really feels like crossing a line. Reality is, I guess, the line was crossed long ago, and these decisions from tv companies have been affecting probabilities of wins/defeats, and injuries, at certain times for a while now.
Bit much to hear in same week of our very strange scheduling of Mon, Thurs, Sun.
*they also play on 26th I presume?
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Is anyone else enjoying the St Harry of England hype as much as me?
Never saw as much hype for Welbeck when he scored a CL group hat trick against the UEFA/Europa cup winners Galatasary as opposed to some part time sailors from Cyprus (lovely place according to all the lovely Cypriots in N.London – Tottenham’s draw against the Cypriots can be described as the coincidental Edmonton/Middlesex Derby).
But “World Class” Kane’s most significant contribution in Europe remains the own goal that sent his team out against Gent (or Ghent, one of those giants).
He must be in the same World Class category as Rooneh etc.
The PL and the PL broadcasters are so unpredictable eh? The spectacle must go on!
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Good luck to the boys today vs Bate Boris.
The team I expect:
Ospina
Mustafi – Mertesacker – Holding
Nelson – Elneny – Wilshere – M.Niles
Walcott – Giroud – Nketiah
S: Cech, Gilmour, DaSilva, McGuane, Willock, Dragomir,
Akpom
COYG!!!
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I would like to see Niles make the definitive step up as he is on the cusp. he just seems to play a little bit within himself when in the first 11. He should trust his ability and have the confidence to believe he belongs in the first 11.
Would hate to seem him go the route of Lansbury etc
Reiss definitely has the star quality about him but he is not yet an effective wingback, I tend to forget is he is 17/18 so the fact that he is getting regular call ups to first 11 shows we have another super academy player. I believe and u know we have always hyped our youth but we genuinely have two or three or even four who can make it to the first team from the current crop.
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Oopps , forgot again.
Blimey I miss Stew,
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Willock starting his first senior game, Nelson his 3rd and just the 5 subs who have yet to make their first team debut and 1 more with just the one sub game to his name, Akpom the most experienced sub.
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if we use 3 subs tonight then we will see at least one debut
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Arsenal have announced pre-tax profit of £44.6million after turnover at the club rose by over £70m in the year up to May 31, 2017.
Turnover at the north London giants hit £422.8m, the first time the club has exceeded £400m. This was partly account for by £58m in additional broadcasting revenue from the Premier League in the first year of a three season broadcast deal and Champions League earning.
That led to a notable upswing in profit at the Emirates, £44.6m before tax compared to £2.9m the preceding season.
Commercial income increased by 10 per cent but wages and amortisation on player registrations – the cost of transfer fees – was also on the up.
The cost of wages rose by £4m to £199.4m, representing 47.2 per cent of football revenues. However Arsenal Holdings plc’s report noted: “Year on year comparison is distorted by there being no players’ Champions League qualification bonus in the 2016/17 figures.”
Arsenal continue to have significant cash reserves, with the club having “fully self-insured” against a season’s participation in the Europa League within its cash reserves.
That will have to be accounted for in a year’s time, with Arsenal having dropped out of the Champions League for the first time in two decades after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season.
Chairman Sir Chips Keswick said: “The Club’s thirteenth FA Cup win was some compensation for the disappointment of dropping out of the Premier League’s top four for the first time in 20 years.
“This summer we have again moved to strengthen the squad and we are optimistic about the season ahead.”
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis added: “In order to compete at the top, we need to strive to be better than our competitors in everything we do.
“That is why during the past season we have continued to make substantial investments to drive the club forward. At the top of the pyramid, we have scaled up our investment in our First Team squad significantly in recent years, spending a net £203 million in transfer fees in the last three seasons.”
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walcott hits the post after being sent through by wilshere, he then has follow up headed out for a corner
Theoooooooooooooooooooo taps in after goalie saves his header, jack played one two with giroud before crossing to Walcott
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wilshere goal ruled out for offside, theo did not look offside in the build up to his cross
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Theoooooooooooooooooooooooooo intercepts the goalies pass and steadies himself and fires home to make it 2-0
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Oh Jacky!
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last ditch defending stops giroud from scoring,
Holdingggggggggggggggggggggggggg taps in from the flicked on corner
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ivanic powers in a header, elneny should have cut it out, 3-1
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Wilshire is on fire playing unbelievably
Theo is looking sharp and now 3-0 with holding getting on the act
Wot on paper looked a difficult game is turning into a route
But they have one back so game on
Thus could be a fun game
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Fucking ref fucking arsehole
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willock gets his nose busted by a swinging arm but freekick goes to bate
bate have put in a few nasty tackles on jack
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goalie makes a fine save from Theo
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Holding hits the post
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And it has been a hugely entertaining game
Bate throwing caution to the wind created a flurry of chances. But their defence looks calamitous and we could have scored a couple more easily.
Bate do put in some dangerous crosses though
They should have been down 10 men
Theo should have had a hattrick
Holding hits the post too
This is a tremendously entertaining game
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Joe Willock maturing before our eyes
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HT: Bate 1-3 Arsenal
AFC been the better team for the most part, Bate have come more into it since the scored. Wilshere been very good.
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Theo Walcott.
He may not have the finer technique of Pedro, the Spanish Theo, but he has the better record in front of goal finishing or assisting.
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COYG!
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The foul on wilock though how you elbow someone in the face twice and not only not get booked but get the free kick in your favour blimey
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penalty for a foul on mustafi
grioudddddddddddddddddddddddd joins the 100 club
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The problem Theo will face is Lacazette is a clinical and better player so he displace Laca
With Welbeck preferred as a starter Theo has to battle with Giroud but Giroud offers the big man quality you need as a target man is the go to super sub
Then you have Alexis and Ozil- filling the attacking slots
With Iwobi getting his place back and young reiss knocking on the door Theo has a hell of a task getting into the first 11
And oh it’s 4-1 now 😀
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Oli has been moaning like drain for the 100
Now he can settle and start scoring again.
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That should read
He can’t replace laca
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Oli has not been moaning as much as John Hartson about the penalty we got
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ospina with a point blank save
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Ospina another great save ,not mentioned
As opposed to the criticism with the goal
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awful defending a bate score, we had 3 or 4 chances to clear it
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Wilshire seems to be feeling the pace a little bit now
Willock has been for man of the match so far simply because of the maturity he has shown in the middle of the pack against some very physical players what a performance
A shout to Elneny too who has been his usual dependable self
Maitland Niles has not put a foot wrong either
Holding enjoys the physical nature of the game but needs to work on his positioning and passing
Metersacker has had a bit of an off night
Bate have another goal and the tempo is up
So expect another arsenal goal
Great entertainment
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very ragged at the back again, and bate fire over the bar
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Should have 4-3 !!!
The front players should hold the ball and press
They are hardly closing down and the midfield us exposed
But if the score a couple more who cares really this could end up 7-4
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McGuane on for his debut, Nelson off
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Nketiah on for his debut
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FT: Bate 2-4 Arsenal
AFC the better team, Theo x 2, Holding and Giroud with his 100th AFC goal, 2 subs made their debuts too.Jack very good, Maitland-Niles very solid, Elneny good in first half, but not so good in the second, Willock had a few good moments, Giroud a bit sluggish, defense a bit too open a few too many times, we always looked like we could score more.
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#BATEvARS: Arsenal did what was expected with a few bouts of nervy defending. But the biggest victory is 6 English starters with 1 as sub. Enormous development at Arsenal.
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shotta both McGuane and Nkeitah are English
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UberArsenal™ @UberAFC 1h1 hour ago
FACT: Olivier Giroud has scored 100 goals for Arsenal in one less appearance than Robin Van Persie did for the club. 💯
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good that the young lads are getting game time now, cos if we have a fully fit squad their chances might be limited, Chambers, Debuchy, Coquelin, Welbeck all expected to be fit shortly, which will give us more options to rest and rotate experienced players.
We play Brighton on Sunday and then its another one of those fucking International breaks.
Looks like no Arsenal players in the England senior squad this time around.
6 of the younger lads in the England underage squads.
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Marcus McGuane has been at Arsenal since he was 6. He has played youth football for both England and Republic of Ireland, but it looks like he has now settled on England.
Nketiah joined AFC after being released by Chelsea at age 16, cos he was considered too small,
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