Bonjour fellow Positivistas.
Since Friday we’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster and we will only be let off to truly come to grips with it all on the 13th May 2018. So till then let the countdown begin having the great man in the technical area as we host West Ham United at the Emirates today.
Following last Sunday’s flat performance which put an end to a seven game unbeaten run, Arsenal will look to bounce back and get a positive result if we want to take any kind of confidence and/or momentum toward more pressing matters on Thursday night.
Now when these two teams met back in December the Hammers did well to add to our travel grief by producing a very solid defensive display to hold out for a goalless draw. David Moyes was so pleased with himself that he quipped in the post-match that he’s “really enjoying” life.
To be fair he got reason to. When he was brought in his primary goal has been to keep his team safe from the relegation trapdoor, and I think they’ll probably survive just. But all of the leg work has been done at the London Stadium as they themselves are terrible travellers, with only 2 PL wins on the road and Moyes himself still without a win away to Arsenal in all competitions.
Despite our rather grim looking away record we have grown to appreciate the Emirates as a fortress for the Arsenal. Making it a double whammy for the WHammers and I’m sure the bookies are in agreement that victory for the home side is a safe bet.
On team news: the Boss will have a near-full squad to choose from, with Jack being a minor concern and Mkhi unavailable, though he is expected back after today’s game.
With our domestic season such a clanging disappointment and Europa our only avenue to absolution, we can expect Thursday night to be uppermost in Mr Wenger’s mind and his match day 11 to reflect that as he would want to ensure the players are battle ready and in good health.
When news broke of the Boss’ ‘retirement’ I’m sure we all felt a bit numb for at least a brief moment, now we can only imagine how difficult it must have been for the players to whom he has became a father figure. So my hope is that they don’t get too overwhelmed by the moment because if there is anything that the great man has taught us all… it is that the show must go on and whatever life throws at us we must always trust in ourselves.
Every day Arsène Wenger went to the mat for this great team, now it is time for us supporters to take to the mat for him as the sun sets on what will forever be remembered as an illustrious managerial career, to make sure he gets a send-off befitting of his class and stature. Let the Emirates ROAR as they sing:
“There’s only One Arsène Wenger”
Positively Arsenal 
Listening/viewing the two Robbies on #NBC football giving their “obituary” to Arsene. These guys are utter Neanderthals. Like many old school English football people, they are bitter that Wenger won the battle for beautiful, technical football. They jizz over Pep, the irony.
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Stoke 1-0 Burnley
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Feels like we are very susceptible to long ball at minute. A worry with semi upcoming.
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not been great so far, WHU having some good chances
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Smith sounds like a West Ham TV Commentator.
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Welbeck close
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markyb
Glowing tribute of last ten year’s from him there.
Anyone who doesn’t take into account financial changes in that period can’t fail to come up with a very faulty analysis. Smith has no excuse for doing so.
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Least he came back for free kick but such a clear and obvious booking.
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welbeck heads over
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xhaka booked
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Poor Elneny. Looks like that’ll be him for season. Just hope for his sake he can return for world cup. Bad news for us as well
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Elneny injured, Maitland-Niles on, Elneny taken off on stretcher, suggestions its a broken leg
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HT: Arsenal 0-0 West Ham
not been great fair, both sides with a couple of decent chances, been scrappy. Need to step it up in second half. With Burnley behind at Stoke, its a good chance for us to increase our lead on them.
Elneny injury a massive blow, some reports now that its a dislocated ankle, poor lad
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Decision making poor, passing poor, opposition defending dogged.
Ramsey getting into good positions, if his team mates looked up and pick him out.
Iwobi is ruining things.
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Hoping A-M-T turns into a Young Viera in the 2nd half.
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very apprehensive and tentative at the moment. little sign of speed or wengerball. hopefully saving it for the second half.
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#Entitlement The generation of 1995 to 2005 think Arsenal should never struggle and suffer to break teams down. Forget that in the 1st 10 years Wenger had the cream of French football. Now we are outspent by City & Chelsea. What are you doing to level the playing field?
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Arsenal medical staff confirm Elneny rolled his ankle ‘they don’t think it’s a serious problem’
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should have been a red card for the hammers player there
Monrealllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll fires past Hart to make it 1-0
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Monreal comes up trumps for us once more, one of Wenger’s best signings
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Arsenal have better tempo since we scored
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stoke 1-1 burnley
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AMN booked, mason not so quick with cards for hammers players
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ah for fucks sake 1-1, we have dropped a level in last few minutes and let them back in
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Keep working for the 2nd goal. Need an offensive sub.
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Arnautovic was offside when the ball was first played in I thought.
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Aubameyang on for Iwobi
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welbeck gone right side, aubameyang on left
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Auba is on. The offensive sub that is needed.
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yes he did look offside
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mustafi booked, mason never changes his spots
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that should be a second booking for noble, but of course mason has not given him one at all
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welbeck brings great save out of hart
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yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Ramseyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
mix up on his cross in and it goes into the net
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2nd goal should win this.
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Ramsey the hero 2-1
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What is it with is at home that raises opposing keepers
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Lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 3-1
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3rd by Laca. That should do it.
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Chambers on for Welbeck, for me this was time to bring on nelson
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Lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee again 4-1
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FT: Stoke 1-1 Burnley
AFC now 4pts ahead of Burnley with a game in hand, Burnely have only 3 games left, if we beat them in our last home game we are certain to finish above them
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FT: Arsenal 4-1 West Ham
much better second half, Monreal, Ramsey and Lacazette x2 with our goals. good till we scored, then dropped a level for about five minutes, west ham scored then we kicked it up again and got a deserved win. Thought ref mason was useless
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Will our entitled lot learn from today’s Arsenal must work hard, very hard for success up against the financial behemoths and the PGMOL.
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Mason is a clown
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Ref was pathetic. Thought Auba’s movement was important and helped alot with the goals. Too bad he can’t play on Thursday.
Interesting how the defence looked good once we increased the speed of our played and movement.
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Excellent flourish at the end from Arsenal.
Wenger Knows his tactics.
Ramsey’s goal still needs explaining to Joe Hart.
A-M-T doing himself a lot of favours.
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In other news, the Host of Mordor drew 1-1 at Barad-Dûr, leaving them still in the bottom 3.
A good day for the Prince of Wales.
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Sorry, AMT?
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What a jackass! #Robbie_Earle criticizing @DannyWelbeck saying he is not good enough for Arsenal. Danny was one of our best player’s today finally recovering from his injuries & back in form. The guy can only think of competing with the biggest budget & buying the best players.
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