Good Morning Positives,
A wintry morning up here in Norfolk with a swirl of snow across the grey sky.
I trust that those who did not attend last night’s game have, like me, had a chance to review the highlights of the game since. Very enjoyable it was with our players finally cracking the Huddersfield defence and goals pouring in after the hour, with the visitors clinging onto the ropes. In truth the game could/should have finished about 8/9-2 but for some last ditch defending and a good goalkeeping performance. Huddersfield managed a couple of good quality strikes on Cech’s goal, so they were a little unlucky not to manage their first goal on the road for five games.
Stand out player in red for me was Aaron, a hand in all four of the opening goals and his back heel to set Lacazette on his way for the first was evidence of a player on top form. Sensible to take him off with a quarter of an hour to go and keep him fresh for Saturday against a team he generally does well against. Well done to Olivier too and he must have relished a full 45 minutes of hard running. The other laurel wreath this morning goes to Sead Kolasinac , for a ‘tank’ he showed some lovely touches.
I rather liked Huddersfield – they have a bit of quality and a good spirit – I hope they don’t go down.
As for those readers with an eye to the ethnic minority of referees I see the man in black last night Graham Scott was born in Oxfordshire. In most people’s atlas that is ‘Southern’. I thought it was an easy game to referee and I imagine we shall see more of him as he moves up the PL whistling hierarchy.
Not much else to say, busy Saturday coming up. Mr D.Cannister and I shall be indulging in a small libation before the Manchester United game at the Bank of Friendship so if any are passing drop in.
Enjoy your Thursday.
Positively Arsenal 
How pleasant to have stumbled across this blog via a reference from GF60! I’m a likeminded gooner (basically someone who actually “supports” the club no matter what), and has taken the stance that while arsene has his faults, he can do pretty much whatever he wants with arsenal due to the fact we are where we are today purely down to him. I gave up on blogs a few years ago when it became apparent that we seem to boast an incredible amount of “fans” who seem to get off on slaughtering the club. It got so bad I found myself only commenting on a sp*rs blog as firstly i like to laugh at them lot, and secondly because weirdly they seem to show arsene more respect than some of our own fans!!
anyway, last night was fantastic. finally produced the spanking we’ve known we are capable of for a while. special mention to cech who seems to have rediscovered his form, making a crucial save at 1-0. he also made big saves at 0-0 on sunday.
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How pleasant to have stumbled across this blog via a reference from GF60! I’m a likeminded gooner (basically someone who actually “supports” the club no matter what), and has taken the stance that while arsene has his faults, he can do pretty much whatever he wants with arsenal due to the fact we are where we are today purely down to him. I gave up on blogs a few years ago when it became apparent that we seem to boast an incredible amount of “fans” who seem to get off on slaughtering the club. It got so bad I found myself only commenting on a sp*rs blog as firstly i like to laugh at them lot, and secondly because weirdly they seem to show arsene more respect than some of our own fans!!
anyway, last night was fantastic. finally produced the spanking we’ve known we are capable of for a while. special mention to cech who seems to have rediscovered his form, making a crucial save at 1-0. he also made big saves at 0-0 on sunday.
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May I be forgiven for thinking that between our first and second goals we were a bit akin to trialists for the Pig & Whistle’s Sunday league side? Indeed the beauty of our second so closely followed by an even more beauteous third made my turnip spin. Poor Huddersfield couldn’t have known what hit them and worse to come.
Let’s hope we can repeat that on Saturday. Keep the faith.
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Welcome labwam.
Good point about Huddersfield Andrew, I was thinking how good it was that they did not resort to the rough stuff we see too often. The more teams play that actually play football the better.
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Lovely stuff Andrew. Last night was a real joy and the ideal ‘practise’ match ahead of Manutd. Pity about Lacazette but boy did Larry put his hand up. He got himself in great positions and could’ve easily gotten more had he been a bit warmer.
You forgot to mention the German lockpicker, Mesut Özil – 2 assists and 1 goal within 4 minutes. I read he’s now up to 47 assists at Arsenal. That’s a damn good return.
Roll on Saturday.
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First time we’ve seen Mr.Scott in the PL Andy.
Had him in the cups.
He was supervised by the friendly Mr.Friend.
When I saw the preview for the officials, let’s just say I was gutted to be missing this football match.
If we get Mr.Friend for a third league game this season (in the middle), as opposed to the usual limit of two, the bubbly has been on ice for longer then Captain America. Could it happen? England expects a system that isn’t questionable at best but I don’t think there’s any evidence that Riley will do his duty, he’s had nearly 20 years.
Hopefully we’ll see the newbie Mr. Scott again. In a functioning system not exposed to ridicule, which means that would be before next season. Will it happen? What odds can I get?
The Lino from Kent had a few tricksy calls, his boss might not be impressed. The souther softie impressed me with his application of the law:
Calling in favour of the attackers is what most fans and other refs (not mentioning plundits) expect to see and can’t and won’t quibble, I believe that’s an instruction that is written into the rule book? Which is why people found that call at Stoke to be blinkin’ weird!
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Mr Marriner on Saturday Fins – get your retaliation in first
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I had 50/50 odds on Marriner or Atkinson.
There’s no need for a retaliation when one can make such a piss easy prediction.
One to file alongside my accurate predictions published in advance of the *gollum gollum* spectacles over the last few seasons, crystal footballs not required.
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A southern ref. Bloody hell! Better get a move on if he’s gonna go up the hierarchy as he’s pushing 50 and only been trusted with twenty games in his two and a bit years in select group.
Anyway, i’ve been forced to admit it was all in my head.
Goal published this yesterday.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/premier-league-referees-do-officials-favour-big-clubs-such/wx6k4t7nyfl21e4dxpnk6y0it
We actually come second in being favoured by refs! With Spurs and Utd not doing so well towards the bottom.
Opposition had better watch out with Dean and Atkinson as they favour us a bit.
It was brought to you by FreeSuperTips, who Goal don’t go into detail about but certainly don’t question the credentials of.
Any doubts I had about the methodology were assuaged by the information they used a ‘new algorithm’ to put it together.
Anyway, there is a little bit about how they came to their conclusions but i couldn’t make any sense of it.
Nor could I find anything on the good people of freesupertips, apart from a little piece elsewhere on how this new breed of tipsters make their money: they get paid when followers use their tips and make LOSING bets through the gambling companies they are affiliated with, and lose money when those bets win.
Who wouldn’t trust those fellows!
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Andrew’s review was succinct and accurate.
Can I mention just how good Lacasette was in the first half: his runs, off the ball movement, anticipation and all round play was excellent.
Apart from their fans unwavering and noisy support for the entire game, our visitors offered little threat, all they were waiting for was an Arsenal player to make an occasional mis- placed pass at the back or pounce on Alexis and force a turn over in possession to make anything happen.
Shout out to their no 6, who insisted on wearing a very short sleeve rugby league type shirt.
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Very odd ref decisions last night, all decisions that were 50:50 went to the visitors, every time Arsenal won back possession in what I thought was a fair tackle were given as fouls.
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Last night the ref blew for a ‘handball’ by Alexis, only because it was right in front of the away fans and they screamed for it. It looked like a perfectly controlled chest down to me.
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I love that data Rich – I see Mossy is 70% Arsenal
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One for or newest contributor Labwam
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Great again Andy but once again you’ve offered me a little something to challenge. I thought Sead was worrying again last night, in recent weeks he looks imobile and defensively suspect.
I’m not saying he is a bad player I just think it’s current form and apparently he’s carrying a knock having said that his best ten minutes was the last ten so no problem with stamina
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Glad you liked it Anicoll
Must admit, he has hidden it well. The Xhaka reds, his distress when linesman signaled for last minute pen for us, and that time he let Southampton kick shit out of us and turned his head to look at nothing when Long was about to clash with and trip Kos had me fooled, but not the new algorithm.
Speaking of which, wonder if it recorded Mignolet’s yellow last night counted as an act for or against Pool?
Mignolet kinda gave the game away Atkinson made a ‘mistake’ there by proudly saying in his Motd interview he made right choice, to lunge in wildly and wipe out player, in middle of goal with unguarded net, as ‘taking yellow is right choice as otherwise it would be 1-1’
Never seen any attempt at gathering stats for such calls, but boy do those decisions matter : your lead up there vs the orcs jeopardised by playing more than a half with ten, or a sympathetic yellow?
No such luck for Arteta back in day, but ref probably took Chamacks unerring ability from touchline into account.
Anyway, who am I to doubt FreeSuperTips and their hunger for truth and accuracy?
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Meant to keep my last post brief and light, Anicol, instead of the old indignation again.
Apologies. Can’t help myself on that topic
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think that was the first time we have had referee Graham Scott in the BPL, despite him first reffing in the BPL 3 years ago and getting on the official list 2 years ago, replacing chris foy
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FT: Arsenal U23’s 0-0 Reading U23’s
Team: Macey, Osei-Tutu, Dragomir, Sheaf, Debuchy, Pleguezuelo, Nketiah, Dasilva, Akpom, Willock, Nelson Subs: Bola, Keto, Smith Rowe, Gilmour, Medley
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New post up
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