@LaboGoon leads the congregation in this morning’s worship
“Victory through Harmony” vs “To do is to dare”
The North London Derby. What a fixture to restart the PL after the international break that finalizes places for Russia 2018.
Arsenal and Spurs both go into today’s game having so much to play for; namely pride, bragging rights and to not lose further ground on Man City who have built up a bit of a lead out on top.
That Spurs have come a long way under Pochettino shouldn’t be devalued. They grown into quite a formidable outfit and being runners-up to Chelsea last season is testament of that. So it goes without saying that we need to approach the game with caution, but there’s also no reason to be apprehensive.
Arsenal have got some quality man and it’s just a matter of things having to click and cutting down those little lapses when needing to stay focused.
For that to happen the team will need self-belief and what better place to get it than the Emirates. Being unbeaten in our 9 home games (in all competitions) this season is nothing to scoff at and I think the Emirates faithful deserve much of the credit. And with Spurs bringing Mike Dean along, I doubt more encouragement is needed for the home crowd to turn up and be absolute vociferous in creating a hostile atmosphere for those clogging yobs and prima donna Mike Dean, from the very first minute to the last.
They can’t dare come into our house and expect us rolling out the red carpet. NO NO NO! So whatever side of the fan divide any ardent Arsenal supporter find him or herself in, this is the one fixture we should all stand united in our dislike for Totnum.
This game is more than the Wenger IN/OUT debate. More than anybody’s dislike for Stan, Ivan, Doris or good ol’ Vic Akers.
The media picked a side.
The pundits picked a side.
The English NT management picked a side when they rest Spurs’ English “stars”.
Whomever appointed Mike Dean picked a side.
Ian Wright picked a side.
Let’s make them eat crow. See their 12th man, raise the roof off the Emirates with ours and let it echo through the social-media sphere:
“WE ARE THE ARSENAL!”
That’s right.
On team news: Danny Welbeck and Shkodran Mustafi are back in for selection, while Olivier Giroud will sit this one out after picking up a knock.
Good luck to all Gooners going to the Emirates and those watching from wherever around the globe.
This is the big one, most important game of our season and we need to make ourselves heard to give our boys that 5-10% extra.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Labo and a rousing start to North London Derby Day
St Totteringham will not go unavenged. Bring em on. We have the players, we have the crowd, we have the hunger. And just perhaps …………
Last 2 time Deano has been in charge we have rattled in Four goals – I want at least that today.
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Good morning Andrew and PA community. We got the war paint on and hopefully Mike Dean asked for forgiveness and is ready to walk into the light.
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I’ve had a terrible night. pain everywhere, can hardly breath and feeling sick as a pig. But I tell you what my friends. Labo has made me feel a whole lot better.
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Least we forget https://positivelyarsenal.com/2014/03/15/an-old-cock-and-bull-story-2/
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A rousing speech to start the day LB.
Everything is seemingly against us today, we are told the best spud side for 50 odd years will be visiting us today, the ref loves them and hates us and loves giving penalties against our keeper who cant save them, we have the a bumbling old fool as a manager against their footballing genius, half our side want to leave and the other half are crap and of course the crowd all hate each other and the new stadium and even the fish and chips dont taste as good as they did in 89.
Of course football doesn’t follow the media dictat and we have seen many “clubs in crisis” come up with great results when they actually are out on the football pitch. ARSENAL have repeatly done this over the years much to the annoyance of the modern media. Today is such a day and again we need Arsene to pull a performance and result out of his magic hat that would pull us to within a point of the spuds.
We know we can be brilliant when we click so heres to a great day COYG.
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I am unlikely to get to see the game live today, so can I just say now
The Referee is a wanker
The Referee is a wanker
The Referee is a wanker
The Referee is a wanker
as I stated in the last thread, Mike Dean gives Arsenal a penalty on average every 21 games, but what I did not mention is that oddly enough he also on average gives Arsenal a double yellow Red Card every 21 games, he again oddly on average gives Arsenal a straight red card every 21 games.
So mike dean is as likely to send off an Arsenal player on a double yellow Red Card, and on a Straight Red Card as he is to give us a penalty, we are twice as likely to get a player sent off by him than for him to award us a penalty.
All Say it now
The Referee is a Wanker,
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Wonderful Labo. Sums it up perfectly. May the result do the same. I’m being joined by Gooner grandson from Cape Town and my old mate Gordon from JHB. So fingers crossed we’re all smiling like Cheshire Cats by the finish.
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one final think on Dean, he only on average gives AFC less than 2 yellows per game, yet we have six red cards from him in 62 games.
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great write up labogoon, but sorry to say it just aint happening, an Arsenal crowd get on the refs back, or even the opponents, not a fucking chance, that is reserved for the team the “love”, its players, the manager, the majority shareholder, in fact anyone bar the opposition and pgmol “game manager”
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i love this post! You don’t take away from Spurs progress but you have it in perspective! Personally I think we a better side with more heart now just yo own it!
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The great thing about Citeh’s sprint start is that every game among the chasing pack, homecor away, has to be won. Spuds failed at Trafford Park as they looked timid on the day – we will see if they have learned anything since.
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No card for their RB for the clear foul on Alexis.
Xhaka gets a yellow for Alli’s acting.
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Am I reading right? Ars – 2; Spuds – 0. 45 minutes for Deano to even things up.
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Great game so far. 2 quality goals. Just need to keep it tight at the back and take them apart.
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Thanks Labo for your rousing piece which I read during half time.
So I’m rather content at the moment. Just hope we remain focused because we assist in our losses when we make silly slip ups. It’s rarely because we are outplayed.
I hope I’ll be as happy as I am now in an hour or so….
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Where is everybody? Holding your collective breath until the end of 90 mins? Don’t blame you all.
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Hhhhmm – that has been a cracking first half – very proud of our lads – next 15 minutes will be the killer
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I think I just picked up Kevin Friend saying the words “swings and roundabouts” to tottingam’s ashen faced Argie supremo
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Monreal yellow for not putting in a tackle.
Not happy about Lacazette bring taken off. But I hope Arsene has got it right.
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No stoppages. Yet 4 mins?
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Fucking brilliant – every man – every minute
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Could have easily been 5 is Sanchez had taken his chances.
Played superbly.
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Excellent, blood thunder passion and commitment, and no shortage of ability. not that we doubt it on here, but they showed the world they care.
So pleased for them all.
And almost as pleasing, who will be pissed off at this result. The media and malcontents will be drowning their sorrows. But they big up the Spuds so much, they have to give praise where it is due
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We have lost games when decisions like those today that led to our goals went against us….
We deserved it today….
Laccazette looks great but I wonder if he should chase after seemingly lost causes that turn out positively, a bit like Sanchez does….
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I bet the media, pundits, Ian Wright and others of his ilk are feeling damn empty inside seeingtheir favourite team being victimised by +60000 strong.
Ya Gunners Ya
Ya PA ya!
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Get in the Gunners
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We won because we were better.
Every player showed up.
Mustafi (my MOTM) & Kos were excellent.
The team focus was incredible.
Dhaka showed admirable restraint without drop-off in effort in the 2nd half.
Rambo was forever buzzing…+/- the errors.
Bellerin also kept it going +/- the errors.
Nacho & Kolasinac abbreviated all advances all game on their wing.
Petr Cech is still one of the best in the biz…especially in crunch games like zis.
Coquelin came in and did not miss a bea and shook lil Winky.
Iwobi came in off key but regained his composure and blended in well with the effort.
Lacazette, Mesut & Alexis can only get tighter..(imagine that)
All in all, after all is said and done….
THERE IS NO POWER SHIFT IN NORTH LONDON!
on to the next game…..COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I always said that Dean fellow was a throughly nice bloke…..actually at times he was as mytifying as usual and his consistantcy on fouls was all over the place.
Anyway back to our boys, we were brilliant if not clinical and poch’s tactics are obviously shit if Arsene can beat him so easily.
well if chelski lose by about 7-0 we will go into the top four. Arsene’s magic again and there will be wobs jumping off buildings all over the place.
There are moments in all teams development which are very important and this could be another big step for most of the squad.
Great day I feel like that pissed bloke in the pub who goes round telling everyone he loves them. Well I love you all and I love the ARSENAL.
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Dhaka = Granit = Xhaka = f** off auto-correction.
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Very much enjoyed AFC allowing this great Tottenham team to have the ball for the second half so that they could watch them do sweet FA all with it.
Almost a training ground session a times in the second 45, with a bit more luck The Gunners could’ve scored four.
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Ian old habits did hard even when you’re auditioning to be the next head of the pgMOB!
He was booed off, booed on, and that’s with the home team winning by two goals. Well done those people, proud of them.
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I had to miss this game, but I’m so happy our boys confounded all the critics and delivered the right result. Onwards and upwards gunners!
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And we love you AoB, we love everyone in fact
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Hilarious
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Almost as funny as his call to play a limping striker after the juju beans and the high from the special sauce had worn off (Madrid game).
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Kane with one leg is just about as effective as any AFC player after they’ve been given a dead leg (often without a card or foul being called, numerous examples.
Alexis targeted today but no team were allowed to hack away today. as I’ve been droning on since before the season started, *gollum gollum* is auditioning for the top job this season, so today as always: an entirely predictable from the official which is simply not how it should be 🙂
Going back to Alexis, alongside the rest it as the gaffer said, this “heavyweight” (no doubt about who is the better football team, with the better footballers, not this season, not last etc…please refer to England vs Iceland if in doubt) Alexis almost killed off their season there at the end, if not earlier on in the match hehe. He deserved that extra goal with that close range shot just before full time for the brilliant footwork to make the chance.
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Very much enjoyed the Xhaka pushing Alli over off the ball (before his yellow card! Not in the line of sight of *gollum gollum*, I think…)
Almost as if he knew which opponent to wind up.
I blame Vengarrgggghhhhhh!
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<predictable performance in the art of, and I quote (please don't shoot at the messenger) "game management".
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so proud of the lads
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I enjoyed the hell out of that. To a man, top notch heart, desire and performance. So glad I got out of bed for it, even if I was a bit nauseous at the start. I admit I was unsure. I wanted that win so much after all the shit that’s been talked about them this week. And I was a little afraid they might want it too much, as well…too much to stay focused and calm and patient. Well, they showed me, and everyone else that questioned them this week. Well done, boys.
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MP must’ve missed the tug on Sanchez which is why the foul was called? haven’t seen a reply. Perhaps if he instructed his players to not always fall over or to push/pull players with two hands, all the bleedin’ time, he might’ve got a different call. Might work well at Home, Away only with charitable assistance.
That judicious push on Alli by Xhaka is the perfect example if someone feels so inclined.
When you rewatch the match you will notice that most of the stadium are heckling and abusing the official just before Ozil and Sanchez set up the free kick for Mustafi’s header (great dummy by Sanchez too – how often does a great free kick benefit from a clever dummy?), and this is because most of the 25,000 people on the east side with a clear line of sight unlike MP who didn’t have the best view from the opposite side and low down, the crowd were querying the lack of a yellow card for the Away player who had made the foul. And well they might, no? The card to foul ratios at the end of the game were: clucking weird. Safe to say, unusual. Remarkable even, and we can’t help but to remark upon it.
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Mauricio Pochettino, against last seasons top six away (W1, D6, L9), 9pts from 48
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George,
I hope that match helped to aid your recovery!
(check email please if you can, sent you picture/souvenir).
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Nice to see that Hayden has earnt to the trust of a top manager like Benitez. Will he prove to be a better CM/CB type then Dier (did himself no favours today!)
Another feather in the cap for the Royal Academy. Shambolic innit?
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afcstuff @afcstuff
Arsenal have won 11 PL games in a row at the Emirates Stadium for the first time ever, extending their record breaking run
Arsenal’s last 11 PL home games:
West Ham W
Leicester W
Man Utd W
Sunderland W
Everton W
Leicester W
Bournemouth W
West Brom W
Brighton W
Swansea W
Tottenham W
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12 games into the La Liga season and Barcelona are 10pts clear of 3rd placed Real Madrid, and 4th placed Atletico Madrid
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just watched Match of the Day, I thought Arsenal had a goal disallowed today, but it seems I was misinformed, also I was led to believe that Arsenal were by far the better side throughout the game, but again this seems to be incorrect, as they just said it was an even game till spurs were robbed.
Watching MOTD you would think Arsenal had only four attacks all game, while spurs pinned us back.
the commentator was oh so disappointed that the spurs hammering of Arsenal he was hoping for and commentating for did not happen. All this bias commentary really annoys me, you know the kind of thing, a spurs defender “clears his lines”, an Arsenal defender “scrambles” it clear. a spurs defender “blocks” the ball, an Arsenal defender makes a “last ditch” tackle
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Power shift?
Mr Wenger just kicked out the plug.
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