@LaboGoon says what he likes about Allardyce (?)
Good morning one and all.
What a week we had, down in the dumps the one day, high on positivity the next – as the saying goes: what a difference a day make!
Speaking of days ……… Arsenal host Everton today at the Emirates, to not only shake off the disappointment of our last game but also build on the joy of events these last few days.
Everton is a different beast to the one we trashed 5-2 last time. And credit to Sam Allardyce, he inherited Koeman’s imbalanced side and there’s no denying that their results has picked at since. They had a bump recently losing 3 PL games on the bounce, then they signed Theo Walcott and boom, they drew vs WBA, Theo providing an assist, then beat Leicester, once again Theo scoring a brace. So he return to his old stomping ground riding a wave.
Of course Everton hasn’t basked in the glory of an Emirates victory yet, something Theo is quite familiar with but hopefully he won’t turn out being the straw breaking that particular camel’s back.
(any excuse for a picture of a camel)
Arsenal, oh Arsenal. What do we bring into this fixture. Swansea wasn’t fun eh? Over the course of this season we have seen our defense being absolute warriors, but we’ve also seen them looking completely lost in a few games too many.
With us looking a difference beast too in attack with the former Borussia pair, we should be expecting a response. Not one where “attack is the best form of defense”, but just finding a balance between attack and defense in equal measure. Because if you have defensive solidity to not concede unnecessary goals, you don’t need to be handing out thrashings.
This will be an interesting game though, with our new talent it’s crucial getting all in roles that’s suited to them to maximize the overall output of “the team”. Sam will be aware of this and will set up to deny us space and making his defense difficult to penetrate.
Say what you like about Big Sam, but he enjoyed his battles with Wenger, not very successful but he did came out of retirement to renew the rivalry with his old foe.
To all going to the Emirates, do crank up the noise to give our new boys a warm welcome.
PS: on behalf of the PA community I just wanna say thanks to Mesut Özil for committing the rest of his peak years to the Arsenal. You are a model professional and truly deserving of the game’s gratitude.
Positively Arsenal 
Thank you Labo, we are on our way;
Interesting comment in this morning’s Times from Allardici about the relatively modest fee and his recruitment of Theo;
“There are no easy negotiations with Arsenal, but the insistence for the first time ever from Theo that he wanted to leave, plus the respect they have for each other and the service he gave probably was a factor,” Allardyce said.
“He was not a troublesome player who would throw the toys out of the pram. That respect between him and the club resulted in the move.”
Toys ? Pram ? To whom could the current Sage of Stanley Park be referring ?
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Aah, Allardici appreciate class. Nice touch from the big man…
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Quite interesting that in Everton’s last two games despite the four points they seem to have coughed up a lot of chances.
That was always likely to be the intriguing thing about Allardyce being there : ultimately he is going to have to show more attacking intent more regularly than he has at other clubs.
The good start he had was largely based on some seriously defensive displays, but he can’t do that all the time there, especially at home against smaller clubs.
Today,though, well I guess he certainly can and will go for some ultra defence.
Also intriguing is whether Theo finds himself getting to enjoy a lot more of the space he thrives in whilst at Everton. He should. They face a lot less bus, and will sit often themselves, effectively inviting teams onto them. Not today eh, Theo.
Swarbrick’s a bit of a worry in that respect as that West Brom game last year was a hell of a display of letting a team use aggression and fouls to disturb and thwart us, including a red-worthy late ankle smasher from Mclean on Alexis. Was causing them lots of trouble that game until the fouls wiped him out.
Luckily it’s at home.
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Yet another good review Labo. I hate to admit it but fat Sam deserves your praise.
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I was trying to figure out what our squad for this game might be, and so far the best I can do is narrow it down to 19 players, to pick our 18 man squd fom, for me Chambers or Welbeck(depending on fitness) are the most likely to miss out on the squad. Who do you guys think will miss out, or is there anyone different you think will be in the squad.
Maitland-Niles for me would be unlucky to miss out on a place in the squad.
Cech Ospina
Mustafi, Koscielny, Chambers
Bellerin, Kolasinac, Monreal, Maitland-Niles
Eleney, Ramsey, Wilshere, Xhaka
Ozil, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck
Lacazette, Aubameyang
up till recently it was fairly easy to pick what would be our 18 – once we knew who was available/fit. But with our recent sales, and our new signings, plus having Wilshere free from injury, add in the up and down form of our keeper and defenders and Xhaka in midfield, and I find it very difficult to pick our 18, let alone a starting 11.
Wenger says that Mkhitaryan will start, we know Ozil likely will too, Ramsey normally starts when fit, Jack has been in good form recently so would expect he plays too, so right there we are looking at four of our possible midfield/forward six right there. That leaves the question which 2 out of Eleney, Xhaka, Aubameyang and Lacazette gets in the starting 11.
at the back Monreal had mare v Swansea, so should we bring back Kolasinac, but it seems its felt he is not the best in a 4 at the back, more of a wingback than a left back.
in the middle do we stick with Mustafi and Koscielny, or do we twist and drop one of them, Kos for me has not been good recently, seems to have lost a little of his speed and this seems him rush in or miss time his attempts to intercept the ball, leaving us exposed. So do we go 3 in the middle, with Monreal back in there, or even Chambers back in the side, maybe even in a 4 put Monreal in at CB.
Bellerin looks like the only one of our defense that looks safe for his position, but is more to do with us not having an experienced back up player to challenge him. Maybe AMN could force his way in there.
Cech’s up and down form, major errors leading to goals in a couple of our recent defeats, might see Ospina feeling like he should be given a go, but I doubt Cech will be dropped.
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Our U18’s beat Middlesboro away in the youth cup last night, and will now face either colchester or reading in the quarter finals.
I was wondering what you guys think about us so far not using Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson in that competition, and if you think now that its getting to the business end of it, should they be brought into the side.
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Thank you Labo.
I hope that the team put a smile on your face later today. And Eddy’s too.
That wonderful FA Cup hauling era built on the foundations laid by Arteta, Mertesacker, Cazorla and yep Giroud too is coming to a close*.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this new combination of players shapes up. There’ll be an experienced CB joining at some point to help Koscileny carry the load (Mustafi is still young by CB standards) but not just yet.
*Based upon their gibberisms one can only conclude that those who’ve disappeared up their arsenals must have missed out on the record breaking cup run era? How else could some conspicuous and attention seeking people continuously groan at the very players bringing home the silver? Blinking weird behaviour if you ask me.
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< I'm addition to Sanchez's ego breaking through the stratosphere with those Copa victories the appearance of a Cazorla sized hole in midfield created a vacuum which he used as an excuse to leave his position/area with increasing frequency.
With that in mind I rewatched the last twenty minutes against Swansea, heh.
Shotta, I am guessing that one reason AW was open to the Utd switch is because he's found a decent and experienced heir to Cazorla in HM, and as we know such players like your Cazorla's and your Rosicky's they don't grow on trees (or in sovereign wealth funds). Rosicky was also a former Dortmund legend. I am…encouraged by the arrival of this footballer at Arsenal Football Club.
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don’t forget guys, if Aubameyang, who has been ill this week, does not start for Arsenal today its because Sven and Ivan bought him behind Wenger’s back.
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Great preview LG,
This season at home we to have been a different animal and we need another good performance today especially as myself and both my boys are going COYG.
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what a joker Pep is, he named only 6 subs today, cos “he simply doesn’t have anyone else to put there”,
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finsbury
Hope Mikki can fill the boots of the awesome little magician Santi and the Evergreen Skillfull Mozart Rosicky.
But personally i think both of our famous midfielders are superior than Mikki imo.
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No doubt those much loved midfield dynamos are a hard act to follow!
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< the Dortmund pedigree is where the optimism comes from!
Henrik may not have left Dortmund with the same mythical status as Rozza but hopefully he'll have more luck with injuries.
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what a joker Pep is, he named only 6 subs today, cos “he simply doesn’t have anyone else to put there”,
That’s what happens if you ‘dither’ in the transfer window my little bald Spanish chum
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Not a Tweeter I follow but I think East Lower has Peyton perfectly here;
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Ed
Willock’s a smidgeon too old to play. Gotta be under 18 at end of August.
Cut off similar to the old school year ones, which allowed me to be oldest in year and narrowly avoid being youngest in year. Close call.
Nelson could play though. I’d guess maybe he comes in if we reach semis. He and Nketiah could do with games again now as prob not many 1st team minutes for them.
Sounds like Smith-rowe excellent again last night. Brilliant few weeks for him. Really like what I’m seeing, with the running power, good dribbling, shooting, decision-making.
Off chance we have a really great result in Ostersunds away maybe we can see some youth one more time in Europa. Big game on the Sunday after 2nd leg.
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LaythVerified account @laythy29
One of the protestors numbered at around 25 here outside the Marble Halls just shouted: ‘We’ll never get rid of that c*** unless we march’
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quote of the day
“there are 25 people on the street that COULD be protesters”
the ASB are being shown up for the stupid cunts that they are.
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a 4-2-3-1 formation
the wilshere fan boys, xhaka hate mob, Ramsey boo boys and iwobi hate mob will not be happy with the selection
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suppose we will finally get the answer to the big question today
which is the faster player Bellerin or Walcott
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Wengerball is BAAACCCK! Goal #1.
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Aaron! Wengerball is back baby!
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my stream froze just before the goal, but as long as we are winning I don’t mind
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just seen the goal, Ozil to Aubameyang, to Mkhitaryan, to Ramsey – Goal
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stream froze again and its 2-0 Koscielny with a diving header, I am starting to think someone has in it for me.
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Rambooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 3-0 shot from 25 yards, took a big deflection and flew into the roof of the net
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kos booked
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theo let us off the hook there
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aubameyang’s first shot in anger, straight at the keeper from a tight angle, it was a full length breakaway after a great turn and pass from Iwobi on edge of our area
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why no booking for that foul on Kos
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Aubameyanggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg 4-0
he was offside but it gets given
Mkhitaryan with the assist
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Wengerball anybody?
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looks like my last post did not go up, so
aubameyang makes it 4-0 but he was offside, we got a bit lucky there, Mkhitaryan with the assist
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Monreal header hits the post and is cleared
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That Monreal is a threat!
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must say wrongly given or not, that was some cool finish from Aubameyang
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xhaka down injured, went up for a header, got a little nudge and he fell badly on his hip
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GX ok again
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So, how many times will that offside be replayed and mentioned before the end? Also if I see Savege I’ll put my full force into an elbow to his solar plexus and tell him there was nothing in it. Twat
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Never fussed about when Laca off-side at Stoke
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swabrick don;t want to book any everton player, game management hey
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HT: Arsenal 4-0 Everton
Ramsey x2, Koscielny, Aubameyang with the goals, we could have had 3 or 4 more too, Wengerball is on show, what a cool finish by Aubameyang, Ramsey in the mood for goals, and Mkhitaryan helping to share the creative load with Ozil.
after seeing the performance of Ref, Swabriack in the first half, I have no doubt that big fat sam will be telling his players to kick, bodycheck and get rough even more with our lads, as Everton players are above a booking with this clown of a ref.
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J¹⁸
@NeIsonEsque
30m30 minutes ago
Everton starting 11 cost 20 million more then ours lool
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Neville SouthallVerified account @NevilleSouthall
32m32 minutes ago
Arsenal cheating passing to each other
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Kolasinac on for Monreal for the second half.
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Let’s have another 45 like that – bloody excellent. Everton looked dizzy at times.
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