@LaboGoon shakes off the tinsel to preview the Second Act
Hello Positivistas…
Today marks the start of the second round of fixtures for the Arsenal, and it goes without saying the we need to do a lot better than in the first. We won’t be facing Liverpool in this round but in it’s place Crystal Palace (twice), so if we can beat them on both occasions we will be well on our way by turning a first round 1 point into 6.
That brings us to matters of today, we are of course away to Crystal Palace and although considerably less daunting than a journey to Stoke or Burnley for example, let us not let their league position disguise what a pretty decent side Roy has turned them into. They didn’t have a goal, let alone a point after waaay too many games… now they got their mojo back, turned the proverbial corner if you will, even the atmosphere at Selhurst Park is better – where they are having a real go at teams and had scored 2 goals in each of their last six home matches. So our defence better watch out, and better not pout.
Be that as it may, on paper we would probably favour a relatively comfortable win for us, but unfortunately I’m anticipating a much more difficult affair… with the same result.
With Monreal that has joined Ramsey and Giroud on the sidelines, it would interesting to see whether we stick with two centre backs, in Kosc and Mustafi. With the concerns surrounding the former though either Holding or Chambers could be drafted in as a third CB to ease a bit of pressure, something I’m sure both would relish.
Playing three games over the next seven days also brings up the conundrum to rotate or not rotate. This being a “must win” game I hope anyone with a level of consistency do play each game regardless of rotation policy.
On what is expected of the team, not only today but onwards, Arsène Wenger couldn’t have been more clear in his pre-match presser: “What we want is to stop conceding goals and stop missing chances.”
See… not difficult figuring out this football malarky.
Good luck to all Gooners watching the game on the small screen. To the away Arsenal support, I really hope you get more in effort and passion from the team than you got on your travels thus far this season.
Enjoy!
Positively Arsenal 
Good morning campers.
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Good analysis Labo.
Uncle Woy has definitely done a positive on them. We’ll do well to get the 3 points.
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Good morning, All.
A nice Post raising justifiable caution about so-called easy games, but being positive about the outcome. Good stuff.
The phrase “our defence better watch out, and better not pout” is catchy, and dare I say it, un-Anicoll like, but perhaps it could be expanded upon — ‘our defence better watch out, and better not pout, Rudolf the Red Nose pinched the stout, if Santa catches him he’ll smack him on the snout, serves him right – he’s a Totnum lout’
Maybe lacks a certain je ne sais quoi — but ………. it’s still the festive season.
Anyway — I will raise a glass at New Years, (after kissing all the attractive women) and toast Arsenal to have a great 2018. lol
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Oops — a stage and a reference to Labo has appeared above after I originally read the Post.
Thank you Labo, a good Post, and probably explains why the prose seemed un-Anicoll like! lol
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Good day guys. Indeed is me H, A5 is more headmaster-like. Haha. I am optimistic about tonight because I the last everybody want is a repeat of our previous trip to Selhurst Park. COYG!!!
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* the last THING everybody wants is a repeat of our previous trip to Selhurst Park.
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Good morning ladies and gentlemen from a freezing Eastern England – Marvellous outdoor weather – gleaming sun, crisp underfoot – just right to set me up for a football match pitting beauty against brawn, the rapier v the club.
As Labo says we must ensure we remember to keep our wits about us and our hand on our holiday money.
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I gave up at half time last night at St James’ Park – I see most of the journos did too. Has it come to this ?
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Ah Ha A5. Your lament at 12:05 reminds me of my recent post on twitter:
“City winning the League on a canter before the New Year is surely a triumph for the Premier League, the FA and their apologists in the mainstream media; the triumph of money over a fair, competitive league. At least Spain has a duopoly.”
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I think they want an unbeaten Pep season to finally put paid to Arsenal and Arsene.
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They won’t get it though, for starters, our boys will raise their game and beat City at home
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Wenger: “When I speak of substance I mean the way to play football and the way to behave and the values you want to respect. “I would lose my job for the values I believe in are right. I believe that I am in accordance with my club for that and I am absolutely proud of that.”
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COYG
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COYG
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Experienced, hard edged side tonight – expect blood and bruises
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just need to win by 8 goals to move above spurs
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Hope Arsenal can start the second half of the season tonight with a win at Palace.
Team looks alrIght on paper.
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And thanks for stepping up to do the a Previews Labo goon.
Thoughts are with Stew, hope he is doing ok.
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Mustaffiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
1-0 to the arsenal, a fine finish from a tight angle by mustafi after the goalie had parried a lacazette cross
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Mustafi….I liked that goal, I liked it very much…..
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0-1 mustafi
Arsenal are in the lead in an Away Game.
Times are changing.
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We are playing some beautiful football.
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We need another goal to show for our dominance.
0 : 1 is never enough.
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BBC Radio 5 commentators not at all happy with how well AFC are playing and are trying to find a reason why our goal should have been ruled out.
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would an Arsenal player get away with a show of dissent like Zaha just showed to the ref, not a fucking chance
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HT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
Mustafi with a fine finish for our goal. We have had several other good attacks, our passing is much sharper tonight, energy levels are good. A second goal could kill of palace.
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Wow, I saw plenty of Wengerball in that first half…a joy to watch. We should be ahead by two at least…let’s hope they keep this up…I loving this.
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It’s hard to fathom how well Arsenal played and to be rewarded with ONLY one goal.
I hope that if the team play like this in the second half, Palace will crumble under the pressure.
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A good first half.
Palace seem to be getting away with a lot
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not sure what a palace player will have to do to get booked by Oliver, maybe break Jacks leg or some such.
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I read zaha was booked on the bbc commentary
seems Mike Oliver is in a good mood today
or Arsenal have raised their game
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Eddy 8:47pm
Zaha did get his yellow from Oliver as the teams walked-off at half time.
Lots of rumours of him joining the Arsenal, personally I don’t think he’s good enough.
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dc I agree on Zaha, Pat Rice done a scouting report on him a few years ago, just before utd signed him, and our Pat gave him the thumbs down, and I don’t think Zaha is one iota better now than he was then, all hype and no end product, he is 25, had his best ever season last season and yet it only returned 7 goals.
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7 more goals and into 5th….
Draws all round for those above us and we win in the next game and we are u to 4th
another draw round for those above us and we win again and we are up to 3rd.. no Chelsea will still be one point up and man u 2
and then draws above us again and a win for us and then we are up to 2nd!
Me being me… backing my team Arsenal
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1-1, sloppy defending, and palace fire home, lots of defenders back, cross let in too easy, and no one went to the cross and no on marking the scorer.
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Ffs, switched off, again.
Undoing all the good work, must react
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heads have dropped since palace scored.
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They need to get out of this habit of heads dropping, it has meant losses to what I would say with due respect, are inferior teams to Arsenal already this season.
Somebody needs to rally them, and fast
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Alexissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
AFC take the lead again, corner half cleared, played back in, Lacazette touches it to Alexis who fires home at the near post
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As I was saying.
That’s better, let’s not let this slip
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Alexisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
3-1, mustafi to jack over the top to alexis, and he fires home to give us a two goal cusion
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But the media keep saying he is already out the door and not trying!
What a response to being pegged back
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A brace from Alexis restores Arsenal’s lead.
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poor defending by bellerin leads to a corner, and palace head in, 2-3, with about 5 minutes of time left
we really have been poor in possession for the last ten minutes
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WTF even happened there?
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FT: Crystal Palace 2-3 Arsenal
Musfaffi and Alexis x 2 with our goals. we played some great flowing football, but we also had some awful defending and a period of sloppy play near the end. But a win is a win is a win. only our 3rd away win of the BPL season
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Well, we got what we needed. Some excellent play, great chances created.
Got,rattled a couple times but this time,,came away with a win, which hopefully will give confidence
But the coaching staff and players really need to work on how we defend as a team at times. Possession could also be better.
But it’s the points what count.
Here endeth my armchair verdict
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Bellerin was very poor defensively tonight, might be time to give him a rest and play Debuchy
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Little bit tighter than I anticipated – fair play to Palace – kept banging away on the door.
Jack Wilshere ?
Sign your fucking contract you dear sweet boy
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