Hello el Positivista!
Arsenal is kicking off 2018 with the Emirates the stage as we welcome London rivals Chelsea.
The Blues come into this match with great form and an extra day’s rest, we, of course, got winded by the Hawthorns con-job and, well, we also haven’t exactly been vintage these last few weeks.
However, I don’t think any of that matters. This is a derby and like most, if not all derbies, it should be looked at in isolation as there are more than just the 3 points at stake. There’s the matter of pride and bragging rights as both set of players usually give that bit extra of themselves. And permitted referees don’t go into the match with “a gameplan” to allow elbowing, amongst others – because apparently it add to the “theatre” – more often than not the team that wants it more get the result.
In recent history Arsenal has been that team that wanted it more. Which is why I feel we shouldn’t be filled with too much apprehension when our players walk out on the Emirates pitch tonight.
This match is the measuring stick for Arsenal as far as the PL is concerned, so there will be hopes of leaving the Emirates feeling good about ourselves on having given a good account of us and our status, by putting on a decent display and preferably get a good result as the battle for Champions League qualification intensifies.
Do that and I’m pretty confident we can kick on to enjoy a really productive 2nd half of the season.
On team news: a decision on whether Mesut Özil will make the matchday squad will only be made later today, and we’ve lost Kolašinac and Koscielny too during the battle at the ‘Thorns, so I guess our tactics will be altered to keep things more tight at the back and not play to high a line. Playing uncharactically from deep and lobbing balls over the top to try and get Chelsea on the counter.
Wouldn’t that be something having Alexis, Alexandre and either Theo or Danny chasing down long balls.
The Emirates crowd has been the backbone this season so I expect there to be a reaction from them after events these last few days to make life very uncomfortable for the match officials. It’s time for us to fight back as one. Don’t make Arsène Wenger feel that he is on his own.
Enjoy the game everyone.
@LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
now there is some PGMOL decision
LikeLiked by 2 people
wilshereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
oh jacky boy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Likelihood of us getting the benefit of that foul called for the Italian elbow monster?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh Jacky!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Have to say AMN has been amazing and he’s made the space down that side and elsewhere.
What a player!
Wilshere he’s not bad either.
LikeLiked by 2 people
ball broke to him wide left of the area and he just let fly into roof of the net
LikeLike
So predictable
LikeLiked by 3 people
Mike Dean is just the tip of the iceberg
LikeLiked by 3 people
This will unfortunately continue until Wenger departs
LikeLiked by 2 people
Who needs a football game when you have the “Theatre”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Top finish by Jack
Top cheating by the serial cheating cunt that is Hazard
I think that covers it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Niles doesn’t get a penalty but Hazard does. Predictable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neville predictably making excuses for the ref, apparently if you make any kind of challenge you are asking for the dive
LikeLiked by 2 people
Trouble is, the serial cheats get away with it time and time again.
The refs know who the cheats are but indulge them
LikeLiked by 3 people
Diving panel anyone?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah yeah – blame Taylor for Hazard cheating
Bald headed corrupt wanker that he is
LikeLiked by 1 person
Out dirty players are now right near the top of pens conceded,
LikeLiked by 2 people
If that was not a foul by Mustafi how was it a pen?
What a pile of stinking Theatre
LikeLiked by 1 person
welbeck on for lacazette
LikeLike
Sorry Andy but with that Mustaphi call you can’t defend this bollocks.
Transparent mate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
maybe cech would have saved about 5 penalties if he decides not to dive at all. i’m getting tired of him trying to save a pen by diving in the wrong direction all the time.
LikeLike
fucks sake we are now losing, defenders caught flat footed and alonso gets in front of them to fire home
LikeLike
Marco fucking Alonso
The evening gets better
LikeLiked by 1 person
come on arsenal, one last big effort required
LikeLiked by 1 person
3 minutes to go, walcott on for chambers
LikeLike
only 4 minutes of injury time
LikeLike
Bellerin not having a winner from Alonso
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the hair
LikeLiked by 1 person
morratta has been dogshite for cfc tonight, thank god
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Fantastic advert for the Premier League”
Another game resolved by cheating shite
Fucking rubbish
LikeLiked by 2 people
Morata like a new defender
(Banned tounge out smiley)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done to those players. I can only salute their mental strength and spirit after some of the games this season.
It takes something to come back from that,after whatever that was at west brom.
Yet again, we were cheated in the penalty box. Yes, it was a dive, and again the ref bought it, as , for some reason, they tend to with the likes of hazard, vardy, Kane, Alli, but not it seems, our players. Why do they keep falling for it with these players, and why aren’t those doing it rep remanded?
I hope the dive panel look at it, but come on, what are the chances.
Almost as if someone doesn’t want us in the top four, and doesn’t want Wenger around, couldn’t happen in football could it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
FT: Arsenal 2-2 PGMOL
a free flowing game spoiled by cheats and their enablers at the PGMOL, the decisions in this game shows, as many predicted that the Dean spat at the weekend would not in fact help to get the PGMOL to have a second look at themselves and sort it out, but go the other way, they would show Arsenal, Arsene and the world that they are not for turning, they are fully at peace with their game managment
AMN and Ozil our two top performers, Jack who for me was having a poor game with a great finish got our first, then Taylor stepped up for CFC and gave them another one of those 1 in a 100 penalty calls, then our defense were caught on their heels for alonso to score, and Bellerin who for me was our poorest performer tonight, got a screamer to make it 2-2 in injury time. A draw was the least we deserved for our performance, AMN should have had a penalty in first half and we had a goal disallowed too.
sick and tired of the cheating, sick and tired of the pgmol
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your clinging on my friend and I don’t crotise you for doing so.
I’m glad you enjoyed the Theatre but if I wanted to see a show I’d be in L.Square right now and not in N5.
Have a good evening back home and back to revision for me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I blame Taylor
LikeLiked by 2 people
Laca impressing over Moratta.
LikeLiked by 1 person
BFGunner
@BFGunnner
32m32 minutes ago
What’s there to say about this garbage ref that wasn’t said about the last?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ainsley Maitland-Niles 6
Jack Wilshere 9
Not out of 10
But under 10’s
That looks like good foundations
LikeLiked by 2 people
You blame Taylor for giving Hazard his only end produc in the entire game?
Well give he was playing Football for the inferior Football team, it’s the only way he made an impact in the game.
It’s charity. Or “Theatre”. “Game Management”. Therefore to “blame Taylor” would be irrational as he’s only following “Game Management” instructions. As per the Quotes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always liked Hazard but he’s not close to Alexis or Ozil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well he is close but they do stand out.
As did JW10 and the two young CBs.
JW10!dismanteled the F Word today who had one or two moments but not quite.
Very good players the two CBs and great prospects.
And AMN…
LikeLiked by 1 person
The disallowed goal really pissed me off, Alonso going down theatrically, then appealling. Given straight away. Tables turned foul ignored goal given, Arsenal player outmuscled, criticised for stopping. I’ve had it with this farce.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Might have to watch some highlights too.
LikeLike
Hope Arsene continues to let him have it, right up until the time he goes.
Damn the consequences, to hell with the bans, they have done enough damage already, Stoke, Watford, city, west brom, Utd, this evening. It seems the powers that be will do their utmost to ensure no more top fours under Wenger, Wenger can afford the fines, and with what he knows, pretty sure he can seriously embarrass certain people .
Will be interested to see what he says
LikeLiked by 4 people
AMN was great today except maybe for the Alonso goal. Ozil was good too. We really need a lot more movement when in possession.
Weird combined interview with Hazard and Bellerin at the end. Glad Bellerin scored from Alonso’s assist. Nice way to get back for the elbow in the head.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Positively Arsenal (Blackburn George)
@arseblagger
16m16 minutes ago
The are not enough points available in the rest of the season for it to even itself out.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That was a fantastic game of football. That’s what matters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jim Beglin
Verified account @jimbeglin
22m22 minutes ago
Honest opinion – Hazard dived. #ARSCHE
LikeLiked by 2 people
New post up
LikeLike
Wenger: It’s a farcical decision, people come here to watch football and it’s spoilt by factors we can not master.
LikeLiked by 2 people