@LaboGoon spies out the Land of My Fathers
Good morning Positivistas.
It’s the day before the transfer window slam shut and Arsenal is travelling to Swansea City, and as it’s known on these streets, to escape the transfer hoopla even if just temporary.
Last time we played Swansea they were in a bit of a mess but in Carlos Carvalhal they now have a new man at the helm. Life has been pretty kind to him thus far as his new team, while still rooted to the bottom, seem to be finding their stride a little bit as they come in this fixture having lost just once in his seven games in charge. Them playing in the FA Cup this past Saturday make this a short turnaround while Arsenal is coming in a bit fresher and off the back of two convincing victories, which they will want to follow up with another win to stay in touch of top 4.
When Carlos looked at the Swans’ fixture list and saw Liverpool and Arsenal in back-to-back PL games he probably told his team that if they can pick up 3 out of 6 points here it would be a great return. After picking up the 3 points vs Liverpool it now mean that although they can still fancy their chances, they can also afford to revert to a more defensive approach by looking to just restrict us whilst waiting patiently for chances to open up, which would be fair enough when even getting a single point will do it for them.
That being said, with our away form a bit of a worry we can expect a difficult game, so tonight we will have to put in another great all round team performance to batter through a proverbial bus.
On team news: Giroud is back from injury and our new boy Henrikh Mkhitaryan look set to make his debut in what is expected to be a very strong line-up and bench.
After a bumpy start to the year this last week has been great for us. We can sense there’s a real feel good feeling in and around the club, so win here tonight and we will have an opportunity to really kick on as we approach the final quarter of the season.
Good luck to everybody going to the game and all watching via the small screen. With Deadline Day looming… the Arsenal squad look set to be in much better shape than we started the season.
Come on you rip roaring you know what’s!
( a little musical interlude to get you in the mood – very emotional the Welsh)
Positively Arsenal 
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AW 4.0 is ruthless as hell!
We’d better win EVERTHING we haven’t won!
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Bloody transfer window. Arsene is right, do transfers in the off season. It’s too freaking distracting. This would be the third time this season a pending transfer has messed with the squad’s heads just before/during a game. Let’s hope they keep it together tonight. Oli is well liked. This could upset a few.
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Ed
There are limits to doing right by players,though, surely?
I think there’s a good chance he’ll be a superb signing for them. Could link excellently with the likes of Hazard, Willan, Pedro.
There’ll still be the issue there of him struggling if isolated, but perhaps that will be offset by skilful speedsters supporting him. Other times he’s a great option if they have team pinned back, chasing goal etc. Maybe I’m wrong but feel they get in more crosses than us. I really don’t like it.
Ultimately,however, if it is necessary in order to bring in Aubameyang, then I understand it happening.
There is that question of why not go somewhere with a higher probability of getting lots of minutes in WC year, but he may feel he’ll get enough. I think he probably will.
Few months back he did the goal celebration of sticking ball up jumper, which made me think he might have another kid on way. If so, that would pretty much explain a determination not to go abroad/ leave London.
If deals happen, feel we are better off than at start of window. Still, though, Ollie at Chelsea!
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giroud is named as sub for our game tonight, a lot of ITK’s wrong again
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OG, Please stay
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I so wish we could use Welbeck as a makeweight instead fo Giroud. My fav player. Please Arsene. Don’t let him go.
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Welbeck is nowhere near the quality of OG so I hardly see him as an alternative plan ‘B’. But I’m sure the club know what they’re doing, so I’ll just sit back and hope everything works out for the best.
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Exactly why I would rather see him go than Giroud.
But yeah. We don’t know the stuff that happens behind the scenes a hope it goes well for arsenal.
Cesc and Giroud could be lethal for them.
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“Aman you talk about respecting Giroud, well then show him some respect, he is better than an everton or west ham, he is a top 4 team striker, it would be discarding him to a lesser team that would have been a show of disrespect.”
Eduardo, not after his final WC. Not at 32. What I meant was give the man the time to plan and choose what’s best for him, final payday etc, and his family. Cesc moved to Chelsea because his new family was set to live in London and AW opted not to re-sign him. Much less painful than this one.
Balancing between rationality and the emotional ain’t easy at all.
It takes mighty cojones to be a gooner…let alone manage the gunners.
…right, we have a game to win.
OG to come off the bench and deliver the winning goal.
COYBG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUz14LWW0AAhnmL.jpg:large
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we have gone with a back 4 again tonight, it looks like we have decided to be mainly back 4 again, the reserves and youths have for their most recent games gone back 4 as well.
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Ramsey saves our blushes at the back,
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Rambo back with a bang.
Outstanding challenge in his own six yard area.
COYG!
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The ambition and love for the club these two under 10s show
The future
Lets be happy
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A minute later Rambo inches away from good teasing pass from Iwobi as he gets to the opposition six yard line.
COYG
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elneny with a goal saving last ditch tackle when we were opened up, big gaps in our midfield
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commentator just said Debuchy is joining St. Etienne on a free transfer
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Monrealllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll our fox in the box 1-0
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for fucks sake, our lead only lasted little more than a minute, awful
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I see my one goal wins it was utter utter bollox
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Looked like another foul on Ozil as he played the ball just before the goal Mason needs euthenizing
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no movement in our attack
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HT: Swansea 1-1 Arsenal
Monreal gave us the lead from a lofted ball from Ozil, but less than 2 minutes later it was 1-1, xhaka not aware of the forwards run.
our play has been so slow, and static, really need to up the tempo in the second half if we are to get the win.
Swansea have caused us all sorts of problems
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I don’t think it was a foul on Ozil. Xhaka dropped off Mawson on the ball to mark Clucas and ElNeny didn’t close him down giving him time to look for Clucas who Xhaka let walk past. Poor from him.
Lacazette looks like he is playing for a different team. Ramsey needs to get in the game more. Some good one touch paying but also lost the ball in some bad areas a little too often.
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I’ll take 1-1 at ht
On the back foot as far as creating chances and hitting the target – more blood required
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Monreal has been great as usual. Lacazette needs to make some runs to drag defenders out of position. Right now he is playing like a wall. Giroud does that better.
Not enough movement up front. Everyone looking for the ball to their feet.
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We really need to take some shots from the edge of the box. So many of Messi’s goals against defensive teams are from the edge of the box. I’m sure guys like Ozil, Ramsey, and Xhaka can hit the target from there.
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conceding a goal like this is unacceptable. xhaka the culprit. completely lost in the game not to be aware of a player right in front of him. arsenal always with players hoping others will do their job for them.
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Looks a shell-shocked team to me.
The spirit of the tea clearly affected by the OG situation.
“What exactly is loyalty?”, they wonder. While Fer, Olsson, Clucas, Ayew and Naughton up the aggression and try to make us pay for our club’s indecisiveness in matters of the heart.
Rationality comes across as cold-heartedness the longer you delay decisions.
We are living witness to this in HD right now
I hope they (our players) all grow from this.
I hope Mikhi’s not freaked out again.
And most of all I hope and pray Ozil chooses to remain a gunner.
The 2nd half beckons….COYG!
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*spirit of the team
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They are making Wilshere look really good
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I shall go 3-1
No reason – wishful thinking
Olivier perhaps
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Elneny booked for handball
we have not really upped it in the second half yet, all sideways, too many touches, slow passing, and running into crowed areas
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Beginning to switch it on
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Mkhitaryan on for Elneny, surprised at that, as he has been better than Xhaka and Ramsey in this game.
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No no no no no
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keystone cop times, Cech hands swansea the lead,
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our shots on target are powder puff, and any shot we put power to is way way over the bar
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is the arsenal team serious? what kind of goal is that to concede?
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Bellerin booked
need to get Giroud on, and Nketiah or AMN too
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what the fuck has come over Cech, he is in panic mode.
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That was lucky
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we are lucky to still be in this game,
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20 minutes to go chaps – time for the best players to seize this
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Ozil booked
Giroud on for Iwobi
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So far , nothing short of pathetic, they really need to up a gear or two
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Poor control from Ramsey
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