Good morning my positive friends.
When Andy Nic. and I arranged a job swap for this game, I have to admit I thought I might have gotten the shitty end of the stick. But no, not at all. I sit here in my bed in Blackburn (I’ll get up soon, I promise), with a smile on my face and an easy task.
We sent out the same team as we did vs Palace. No doubt hoping for a similar early display, champagne football , but no, Chelsea were all over us, pushing us back, forcing errors and rushed clearances, controlling the game and frankly making us look distinctly ordinary. They quickly worked a great goal, and i feared the worst.
Then we went to plan B. Dig in. Refuses to panic , roll up the sleeves and work harder on being solid. Monreal attacked the ball and fired a header goalward , It took two ricochets and ended up in the net . 1-1 . Better. For the rest of the first half it was more of an even game, but a fair man would still say Chelsea were shading it.
Then half time ,and the chance for Arsene to reorganise, plan C emerged . It appeared to me (I say “appeared” because I am far for a tactical expert) that we went to some sort hybrid system between 5 2 3 , 3 4 3 and 4 3 3 . The player dictating the changes was ElNeny.
He seemed to be playing as a CDM when we had the ball and a CB when they had the ball. Our wingbacks were more fullbacks off the ball than usual too.
There were odd moments of free flowing football,as you would expect, but this was a more grit,determination and sheer force of will performance . The winning goal was all about effort over excellence from both Lacazette and Xhaka, fortunate, but earned.
Monreal was exceptional, ElNeny outstanding and young Iwobi worked harder to contain them than we could have expected, and of course Mesut was glorious.
It was a fantastic effort from everyone involved. Working together as a team, fighting tooth and nail, just what the “experts” constantly suggest we cant do.
So we find ourselves looking for a 10th consecutive Wembley win against The UAE FC . I cant wait.
We can all enjoy this for a few days. and then a few days more.
Pedantic George ( @Arseblagger ) @arseblagger
Positively Arsenal 
Shard
In your last paragraph I thought you were commenting on Brexit
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with no game till Tuesday, if we don’t have some transfer deals done, it will be one long fucking weekend
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A debuchy swap with Jonathan Evans- I’ll take that. At least Evans is match fit if nothing else. I would rather get a better CB than Evans but perhaps Wenger sees Evans as a short term solution to allow Holding/Chambers to develop.
Auba deal I think will be done but will go to the wire. Seems we are at the brinkmanship stage- the clincher for me is that he has stated quite clearly he wants to leave BVB and they want to get rid of him.
I would love us to sign Moura- I am a big fan of his. I do not know the ins and outs why he has not succeeded at PSG but he is a super talented player. Not many teams are chasing him though so there must be something a miss!
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I think I’ve done it Andy . Techno-wiz
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Georgaki
Alexit means Alexit! (And a missed drugs test. Oops)
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Morgans self aggrandisement knows no bounds, he wants the known proven, liar, cheat, racist, broke non billionaire Putain , Russian and Sicilian mafia plaything. Pretty much every reprobate government and shit cunt gangster in the world,Trump has sold property to. This tosser wants Trump to buy out Stan Kronke, firstly Trump is broke but he knows enough criminals with dirty money that he can launder. Trump and Kushner are close friends of you guessed it Abramovich the man who showed the way, if you have a look at what is happening at Chelsea with regards to the site. There is no reason Chelsea should be getting a 60,000 seater stadium, on normal weekends they don’t fill the one they are in, good forbid they play a team a league below no turns up much less bottom half prem teams.
Yet Chelsea are talking about a 16-20,000 seats for ‘Hospitality’, I say old chap.
Chelsea looks like a high end washing machine , it has the most bizzare player movements. Stamford Bridge will take its place as a place to come for friends to get a service wash perhaps?.
This what that wank stain Morgan wants for the team he preports to love as I said Wank stain.
I don’t know The Kronkes personally but , I know that Stan actually made his own fortune he was not given a little 10 million dollars by his dad (When 10 milllion dollars was real money) to start off with which the loser Trump lost . Kronke has never been bankrupted unlike Trump who has been bankrupted several times and does not like to pay people what he owes them.
I ask one question what the fuck could Trump do for Arsenal ?
I tell you just drag the club in to administration just like the casinos in Jersey.
Trump is such a loser he managed to lose money with two casinos during a recesion , no other major casino lost money during that time.
He is looking to take America back to the dark ages
He would come over to Arsenal looking for deep state after watching AFTV the fuckwit.
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you can guess I am double pissed off
Aparently we have fans that are upset the Mr Wenger left a little light on for Santi Cazorla, these so called fans are losing it because Mr Wenger said he would get a new contract if he could prove his fitness.
Why do they hang around this club if loyalty to one of out recent ‘Great’ players is being offered support by the club.
I despair!
I personally think he is done,as a player I am saying it outloud because I want to jinx it.
The truth is if Santi is able to walk and play football with his son that would make me so happy, if he ever played for us again I hope I am able to see it live.
I am hoping his kids love England so much when Arsenal offer him a coaching role to work alongside Big Merts, his wife will pressurise him to stay and bring along our next generation.
Santi is still and in the future can be very valuable to Arsenal.
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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/arsenal-vs-chelsea-efl-cup-carabao-final-nacho-monreal-unsung-indispensable-hero-manchester-city-a8176921.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true
When the Vulture went back for a tasty second helping from the carcass of the petrolaudrette Malaga football club.
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Enzo Cazorla!
You didn’t hear it hear first. Raiola beat me to his signature/hand print.
Modern Football? Terrible eh? I blame the likes of Vengargh and Mr & Mrs. Cazorla, the scoundrels…
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Unlucky with the shot at the end there.
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What is Dick Law waiting for…????
“Dithering”
“Shambles”
What will the thesaurus sugggest that I use in next year’s PR campaign whoopsie I mean blog?
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https://www.arsenal.com/news/meet-arsenals-magnificent-seven
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https://mobile.twitter.com/Cechque/status/956584727376314368
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My final comment on Sanchez is my certainty that he always planned to have a final massive payday and behaved in such a way as to achieve that – falling out with teammates while keeping the fans onside. Clever boy/agent. And I think it’s cost Wenger 2 years of team development and, as evidenced by league position, we could clearly argue we have gone backwards.
I’ve no doubt Arsene will undertake a rapid repair job and the determination to move certain players on to create (one assumes) squad and wage space is clear for all to see.
AS will enjoy his honeymoon with Manure but how long it lasts is a moot point as everyone last night picked up on his horrendous distribution and constant lost possession. Against lowly Yeovil last night none of this mattered but how long Maureen tolerates him constantly dropping back into Midfield to cause chaos is anybody’s guess.
If it goes pear-shaped, his tendency to berate teammates every 30 seconds won’t be far behind but it won’t matter to us anymore, thankfully.
As a final note, I don’t think Sanchez ever anticipated staying long in England – in four years he’s never learnt a syllable of the language. No crime in that, but telling of his motives, overall.
Let’s hope he doesn’t mind the rain of Manchester over the next half decade …
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U18 PL League Cup QF,
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
AET
Arsenal 4-4 Norwich
AFC scored leveler 2 minutes from end of extra time
it was 2-2 at full time
Balogun
Coyle
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Dortmund have said today that they are in talks with Arsenal over Aubameyang, but that if they don’t get the fee they want he will be kept till the summer. they said the player wants to go, and they are willing to sell at the right price. Aubameyang is playing in their game today.
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Meet Arsenal’s ‘Magnificent Seven’
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101 hours left in this transfer window. Today Aubameyang played for Dortmund, but seemingly was very poor, 19 touches, 1 shot, the Dortmund fans had banners against him, and they booed him during the game.
Dortmund admitted that today that they are willing to sell him, but that so far afc have refused to meet their valuation of the player. with his poor display today, maybe they will lower the fee enough for AFC to buy him.
Reports suggest that we want to sign Johnny Evans, and WBA have also said they are willing to sell him if their valuation is met. They have stated that any deal has to be agreed by tomorrow, as they want a few days to be able to spend whatever fee they get for him, on new players.
Arsenal are looking to loan out a few youths, and are willing to sell Debuchy and Akpom.
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Ben Sheaf’s loan deal at Stevenage has not started well, he got injured in his first training session yesterday, will be out for up to 2 weeks.
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The Sun ,The Evening Standard, the metro, the mirror, telegraph and mail, MOTD, The Redknapps, Talkshite, just about every malcontents forum going – those boyos from South Wales have just given your team one hell of a fright.
Well done Newport, good luck at Wembley.
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Lee Mason has been appointed as the referee for Tuesdays Premier League match Away to Swansea City.
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I only watched the 2nd half from Rodney Parade but a great effort from Newport. They defended with organisation and concentration that Spurs rarely run into in the PL.
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FT: Liverpool 2-3 WBA
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Very creditable performance from the Baggies, clung on for the final 20 when it really really mattered.
Loved all the home fans streaming out at 2-3 with 10 minutes to go.
Shower
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You’d have to think that the negotiations between us and BD must be very peculiar. With Sven now having joined us and involved in the process he must know the BD mindset and strategy. With them knowing this, what adjustments will they make…
If Auba was booed all game today no doubt that it was his last game in BD colors. I hope we wrap this up sooner than later!
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2 media darlings less than perfect this evening
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AA, agree on Sanchez, was probably never going to stick around.
TBH, going on what has been reported, I am a lot more pissed off with Ox than Sanchez, at least the latter was clear on his future, gave the club time to find a replacement, and despite reports to the contrary and falling out with players, I never saw him not at least try . Whereas, if reports to be believed, Ox, or his agent led to the club believe he was going to sign, but was carrying a very different agenda behind the scenes. His performance at anfield should shame him for good.
I hope I am wrong, but fear another one of our finest is being less than frank on future plans, but cannot fault his performances or attitude though
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simple question on VAR,
why can’t the big screens in the BPL stadiums show the replays of the incident VAR are looking at, just as we get on the TV. And wouldn’t this also let the ref see it too, without having to go over to the sideline or question the VAR decision. Don’t the rugby show VAR incidents to the crowds
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reports that Burnely want to sign Rob Holding on loan, and that a deal may be done if AFC sign Johnny Evans
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Arsenal U23’s are away to Sunderland U23’s today, kick off at 12
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link to the u23 game
https://www.safc.com/news/academy-news/2018/january/live-u23s-v-arsenal
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Arsenal U23’s Iliev, Osei-Tutu, Bola, Dasilva, Mavropanos, Medley, Dragomir, Smith Rowe, John-Jules, Nelson, Amaechi Subs: Omole, Keto, Burton, Benson, Balogun
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Eds
that is a far too simple, straightforward and sensible suggestion for those upstanding ungents at the pgMOB.
Who could have predicted such a bungle in light of the decades of proven models elsewhere? Asking for a friend.
It is: what it is.
Looking at some of the pitches in some of the games in this last round of the cup, they’ve been used in the NHL where the officials who deserve to be referred to as referees -for that is how they conduct themselves in the full glare of the public both at home and in the stadium as it should be, not like some bumbling charlatans who apparently have something that they want to hide, for that is how they are conducting themselves.
So much negative press about a simple replay in the post analogue (video replay!) digital world. I say more power to the pen of these critics, let them unravel their craven stupidity in the full light of day, with what we know of the contextual environment surrounding all modern sports, unequivocally for and on the record.
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Emile Smith-Rowe with a brilliant curling strike from edge of the area gives AFC the lead
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Thanks
eduardo792
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Nelson attacked three times in less than 5 mins and nothing done by the Ref
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Same old Arsenal…?
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….bloody vengarggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh
It’s clearly the gaffer’s fault that Wilshere has already been fouled more then any other player in the league (something stupid like that) despite only playing in the PL since December/late November.
Or, maybe Wilshere holds onto the ball too long?
Or, maybe I’ve just cut out a lump of my brain and now have a “Harry is as good as Messi” sized hole in my head?
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HT: Sunderland U23’s 0-2 Arsenal U23’s
Emile Smith-Rowe and Tyreece John-Jules have given AFC a deserved 2-0 lead, in a half that AFC were by far the better team, and created a lot of good attacking play
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AAndrew
I wrote to Shotts and shared the opinion that Sanchez would’ve been on the blower to his agent after the Cahill clump, more likely after the push into a pit that took him out for about a quarter of a season, more including the time required to play himself back into form post injury.
It would’ve been unreasonable to imagine otherwise.
This screamingly obvious consideration would not have been expressed by any craven end of an era hoping arse blagger.
It is, what it is:
(As in not a foul: L.O.L away!)
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Anyone willing to believe in let alone wrote about the fantasy that it all evens out in the end contrary to what multiple coaches at AFC are telling you and me and all of us, they would also have genuine trouble accepting what the players like Wilshere have been telling them for years.
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There was one incident towards the end of the Chelsea game which was the only incident in this lung busting run from Wilshere where he “held not the ball too long” and that was probably because he was out of puff and thought after all these minutes and matches he’s played in over the Xmas crunch.
Great credit goes out to the coaches and physios and the player that put him on a recovery curve using the Europa games that have prepared him so well, for when he was needed.
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< held onto the ball too long /overdribbled
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Yep.
It’s been great fun, inspiring, watching this return to top level form from Wilshere.
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sunderland pull a goal back 1-2
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Tyreece John-Jules makes it 3-1 to the gooners.
Sunderland had escaped a couple of times with last ditch blocks and tackles, since they scored, but some good build up play seen JJ fire in from six yards out
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its not only in the first team games AFC won’t be given penalties
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Balogun on for John-Jules
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