@LaboGoon cocks an early snook at the snow
Good morning one and all.
Barely recovered from Sunday’s loss to Man City and it’s subsequent hysterics (which does have a life of it’s own) and here we go again……. hosting them at the Emirates. Hopefully our players are better at shaking things off than we are because tonight’s game is a big one.
Finishing outside top 4 last season was described as an anomaly, but should it happen again we can expect the suits not to be too chuffed as we are seen as better than that. Rightfully so.
10 points off CL qualification means each game going forward falls in that ‘must win’ category, because that is key if we want to prevent the points gap developing into an unassailable chasm. So with little room for slip-ups it is now time to throw caution to the wind.
This of course is easier said than done as Pep’s boys are beaming with confidence. In de Bruyne, Agüero, Sanè and Sterling they have four players who has been a real pain in the neck for all comers this season. So defensively we need better awareness and organisation, each minute of the game, we also need to be more clinical in our finishing than in recent times, when presented the chances to score.
There’s no denying that Mancity is by far the most dominant PL team, and sometimes in these circumstances the rest need to have a look at themselves to try other ways than the norm to negate their threat. We have seen the odd game this season when the Oilers didn’t particularly liked it when being pressed. And we have attacking players who, when able to overcome their mood swings and inconsistencies, can be as good and devastating as the best when things click. For me that provide the hope that we can beat these lubed-up chumps tonight.
We have Monreal out, which will be a big miss, however we have Mkhi back and I don’t doubt him and the rest will be determined to respond to Sunday’s disappointment.
A bit of history is on our side as Mancity hasn’t won a game at the Emirates in over 5 years – the 13th of January 2013 was a long time ago – so fingers crossed the Ems faithful help the boys keep that going a bit longer.
Can Arsenal do it on a frosty Thursday night in North London…
Positively Arsenal 
Thank you for that Labo – we have now been moved on to a ‘Red” warning by the UK Met office, though not in London, which may be a good sign football wise but probably I don’t see us kicking off tonight. What do I know though?
It is said that as both teams are out of the Cup the re-arranged fixture would go to Saturday 17th March which would suit me fine.
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As Eddie said in the previous post, wwwb hasn’t done any weather updates this morning, so we can only speculate what that means. I’m quietly hoping the game is played as Mancity would be the team less pleased about it.
“cocks an early snook”… I wouldn’t mind cooking a snoek on the braai this early. Haha
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Very good Post, Labo, thank you.
As you have not had a weather update, and Sir Anicioll probably lives in a god forsaken mansion in rural ruritania, I look done up for you.
It will remain below freezing al day today, in Highbury, London, with no significant snow, just breezy, with a son of the beast from the east puff.
Game looks on, as the surrounding area seems OK, if TV pictures from central London are a guide to the roads and pavements around the Emirates. A distinct lack of people hitting their bums on the sidewalks seems to be the case.
How’s that for an update? lol
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Umm — “I look done up for you” is perhaps true — but what I actually typed was, “I looked one up for you” small but significant difference!! lol
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Blow, winds and crack your cheek
It isn’t the case we are up the creek
Contrary opinion is a bloody cheek
I name such varlets snivelling sneaks
(OK, at least I stayed away from pure smut — which I am pretty good at actually) Lol
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Good Afternoon
My fellow Positivas!
I am back with the latest(Sorry about the morning report, had leave a bit earlier) at 4.45 it was snowing in old Londinium (As well as Islington) the Health and Saftey report is..
It’s dangerous on those streets! You can be hit by falling snow, (it’s a bit surprising when cracks through the trees) on a cold quiet morning . Also dodging the snow balls on the way home will be a challange, but in the spirit of the Londoner ‘We will not be stopped’ , we’ll just slipp and slide our way to the game. Then try to be philosophical after you go ‘Arse over tit’
Play On!
At this late hour there are still on going comunications with Authorities still a good 70/30.
Biggest game of the season.Beacause it’s the next one.
I am
When we were Boring
Positively Arsenal Weather special report News Flash LIVE
London
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I can tell you that I was hit by several vicious flakes of snow this morning, but like a determined Gooner I took them on the chin …… and the top of the noggin, the shoulders and my tissue after my snitch came into play when an errant wet flake decided to sport with it.
Fear not, I took it all like a man, (that is not sexist — it would be inaccurate to refer to myself in any other way, as I have a willy) and those damned, freezing, icy crystals gave up and prostrated themselves at my feet, where I retaliated by treading on the blighters.
Game on!!! (At the mo anyway) lol
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as of about half an hour ago, the game is still on. But that can change.
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May the game go ahead and the cold give Pep and his bald head a brain freeze. (Arteta though will remain unaffected)
I stay away from much of the drama surrounding Arsenal these days, and I usually don’t look at the table too closely. I think top 4 is very unlikely but performance and results both need to be much improved if we are to give ourselves a chance to get back into the CL next year via any route. And that has to start now. No better opponent to do this against than the might of Oilchester City. We generally match up well against them and despite the disappointment of the final, we should be looking to get out there and win.
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foreverheady
I just saw your comment about Arsenal’s media strategy or lack of it in the last post.
No matter what Arsenal do, it’s never going to be enough to counter a determined media narrative because by its very nature, the voice of reason is moderate and calm, and drowned out by the noise. None of it would matter very much if the Arsenal tribe would do what a tribe under attack is supposed to do. Keep the dissent inside and circle the wagons against anybody from outside. Instead we have the Aftv idiots shouting their dissatisfaction from the rooftops, former players spouting off at every opportunity to take pot shots at the manager and the club to serve their own (or borrowed) agendas, and the rest of the media delights in the show of it all.
Arsenal do what they can. I mean, how do you know about all the advancements the club had made/is making in the various areas that provide the foundation for the future growth of the club? Because the club puts its message out.
Another thing I have noticed is that the club’s media policy seems to have undergone a slight adjustment. Right from Wenger to many of the players, Arsenal are talking more and more about things like,their frustrations with referees, how former players and legends describe us, how so called fans behave, and how media makes up rumours and foster discontent. Arsenal players would not (be able to) do this if the club’s media policy didn’t allow them to. So I think Arsenal are doing what they can. To directly counter stupid and smug allegations would only make them look worse, weak and give the idiots more attention. Facts and reason are not going to change anybody’s behaviour if emotion (protect your tribe!) doesn’t.
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Really could do with a performance this evening, really need to halt the current narrative which is getting out of hand, and potentially damaging
It has been a very poor season, few have covered themselves in glory, but as Forever Heady and Jeri, amongst others have reminded us, there are mitigating factors, there is significant change ongoing, as opposed to the views of what seems an increasing number that the club is solely run by a deranged, deluded, stubborn idiot living in the past and scared of the future.The sort of qualities that win a manager 3 trophies in recent years, and maybe another this year. The playing / coaching side look to me like they could do with upping their game in certain areas, but what is being written is very disrespectful, and inaccurate.
On another note, we see Poch is no fan of VAR, well I guess the manager of the biggest cheats in the league wouldnt be, would he
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I hope this poetry lark doesn’t continue….by the way nice post Labo, thanks.
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Sorry about the (so-called) poetry, and the (questionable) humour, Georgaki — no one else involved – just a whimsy that leaped upon me from the blank page.
It seems I am an unreformed miscreant — so I will sod off
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Nothing worse than random poets
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I am surprised we are on tonight but let us take advantage. A good sharp early start, get a goal and lets see if we cant undo a little of the grief from Sunday.
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the Emirates pitch earlier today
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COYG
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not going well so far, city lead 1-0
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2-0 now
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3-0 down, woeful
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Cut
To
Pieces
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City are good, but what has happened to our team? Inexplicably poor so far
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HT: Arsenal 0-3 Man City
been too easy for city, have opened us up at will.
arsenal have had a few good chances but not been clinical enough.
this could turn into a real hammering if we don’t fight back in the second half.
Ramsey has been our best player
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we are heading for 3 defeat in a row
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Our midfield is not tracking back fast enough…that’s why we are being over run…
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Is this what it felt like to play against the Invincibles? We are playing well but ManCity have a great team with some great players.
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this team is going to see the end for Wenger
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Wow not sure where we go from here something very fundamental is broken with this team and it will take an extraordinary effort to resolve it.
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I think a lot of our problems are from our attack not knowing each other well enough. We can’t string together enough quality passes and put other teams under pressure. So we keep losing the ball and they keep coming at the defense.
Arsenal 7 attempts ManC 6.
On target Arsenal 4 ManC 4
Score Arsenal 0 ManC 3
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Michiel Jongsma
@JongsmaJongsma
17m17 minutes ago
Manchester City have scored more PL away goals tonight in 35 minutes than Arsenal have in 2018.
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Are we being overrun Georgaki? I saw it differently.
Apart from the third goal I guess, but we’ve generally been playing well, both in terms of pressing and defensive positioning. City just have players who are able to get past defenders. When Ramsey did it past one player it led to a (half)chance. It makes a huge difference. I don’t see this as a poor performance from us. Just a better performance from City. We can play better, but when is that not true.
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OptaJoe
Verified account @OptaJoe
17m17 minutes ago
3 – Arsenal have conceded three goals in the first half of a Premier League home game for the first time ever. Overwhelmed.
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We’ve not had the same players up front for long periods at all this season. Every match or 2 seems to have a different combination.
They send like they are playing with each other for the first time whereas ManC players know each other well. That is the difference.
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Oh please eduardo. Let’s not make it all about Wenger here too. It’s as if there’s nothing that can stand by itself anymore. It all has to be about the club and its direction and the manager’s future. Very tiring.
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The ridiculous thing is we are playing far better than on Sunday – from 30 yards out though they are absolutely deadly
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We need to stick at this – apply ourselves – show our quality – we have lots of football before May
(And stick the occasional ball in the fucking net)
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We play well we get hammered we play poorly we get hammered
Seems nothing is going right this season
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penalty to arsenal as Mkhitaryan is fouled
Aubameyang fails to score it, fucking hell
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Shit. We can’t even score from a penalty. Should have just spanked it.
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Monreal is one of the players we really miss
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FT: Arsenal 0-3 Man City
very poor first half,
better second half
had chance in both halves but not at all clinical, including a penalty.
13th defeat of the season, 9th in the league
1st of March and Arsenal have played 12 game in all competitions in 2018 and its
W4 D2 L6
we have 4 games in the next 14 days, 2 of them in the EL v AC Milan,
there will need to be a big turn around in our results if we are to turn this season around, our best run of results has been 4 wins in a row
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Our attack needs to sort itself out soon. As an attacking team if we don’t instill fear in the opposition with a dangerous attack then they have increased confidence to come at us.
Even Ozil can’t pick out a team mate at the moment.
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Put in a shift in the second half, but too little too late. Nothing is coming off for them at the moment.
City are well ahead of , sadly we are a very distant 6th.
Won’t go on too much , but don’t feel too positive about this team at the moment, I hope come the summer, they look at every thing they need to to improve things, and as it stands, I would include the manager in that, he should not escape scrutiny just because of his past achievements. yes changes are in progress, but at the moment, we do not look like a team progressing.
Onto the next game, and hoping for something better than this season, and 2018 in general has given us.
for some reason, in fact, probably many reasons, this team are less than the sum of their parts
Not all teams we face will be as good as city, but nor are Stoke, Watford, Bournemouth, forest, Swansea et al
Wake up Arsenal
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found it odd that we did not bring on any subs tonight, we face Brighton on Sunday, it will be the 4th game in 11 days, 3rd in 8 for vast majority of the team,
maybe Wenger intends lots of rotation on Sunday with the AC Milan game in mind
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Aaron played well. I’m going with that as my positive on the day.
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I noted the lack of subs too Ed. It might have been to try to get the strongest available XI more game time playing together.
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Things simply aren’t going our way anymore. We both had 5 shots on target, they scored 3 goals, we got nothing. When you look at the actual game, we didn’t play badly, their opening goal was against the run of play after again missing a presentable chance ourselves. Considering we couldn’t even score a penalty, just bad.
I don’t know what else Wenger could have done except getting onto the field himself.
On the other hand though, we played against the best, most in form and expensively assembled in Europe and got rightly outclassed. Perspective eh.
Now to avoid any and all media nonsense about dressing room mutinies, board losing faith, and other made up stories that are bound to surface in such times.
On to the next…. #coyg
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Well there will be the traditional melt down. but I thought we played ok, Its just City were brilliant in the first half. Not sure anyone did much wrong
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