A fantastic result last night and a good performance to boot. The United and Rennes results have given us the platform for and end of season run that could be real fun.
Now I’ve been critical of Emery , at some points this season the football was dire and our best two players were nowhere to be seen, but it would be mean spirited of me not to congratulate our head coach for recent results. What seemed obvious to me, that Ozil and Ramsey should start together where possible, now seems obvious to most others, including Unai.
Our playing style has changed, we have gone from artistery to endevour, but recent results, and the way the players appear to be onboard with it, suggests that it’s a good thing. Ok, it’s not as easy on the eye, but if results are better, then that change is justified. It’s not as if it’s ugly football.
The problem many of us have is that there are people that can’t let Arsene go. Credit can’t be given to Emery without they disparage Arsene in doing so. We are told that a mess was left, but we then see our best team is made up of entirely Arsene Wenger signings. Then a defence of Arsene is seen to be an attack on Emery. Our respect and admiration for Arsene, Aaron and Mesut is formed from years of evidence, yet we are expected to turn on them and show equal respect and admiration for complete strangers. Well that’s not how it works for me. The new players and coach will get it over a period, if they earn it. It’s not something that comes with a contract of employment.
It would be great, if as a fanbase, we could all move on and get behind the new head coach and players but the same poisonous halfwits that went out of their way to make it almost impossible for Wenger and his players to progress, are now making it impossible for there to be any real unity moving forward.
The run in could and should be exciting and enjoyable, but unless we leave the past behind, both the good times and the not so good, it will just be a bunch of fans sniping at one and other from long dug trenches, that should have been vacated by now.
Emery and the players need support and we must give it. They are doing well now, any perceived mistakes should be put down to adapting and learning. We are definitely on the up. We can’t go back so arguing about the past is fruitless and disruptive.
So let’s just hope our best players play their best football for what remains of the season.
See you again soon.
Positively Arsenal 
To be honest whatever happened this season some ppl would be using it to defend some agenda or other.
What’s more important is the true parts of wisdom I left on the last post which is now defunct, it can be looked back on but will never be relevant in this posts world abit the new era at ARSENAL.
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Cannon Insider
@CannonInsider
5h5 hours ago
Our updated schedule for April:
MON – 1 April – Newcastle 🏠
SUN – 7 April – Everton ✈️
THU – 11 April – Napoli 🏠
MON – 15 April – Watford ✈️
THU – 18 April – Napoli ✈️
SAT – 20 April – Crystal Palace 🏠
MON – 29 April – Leicester ✈️
A huge month after a deserved break. #AFC
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Thanks George – that’s a great article and a very fair-minded one too. Pulling the two goals back so early in the piece yesterday made it an easier watch than I had feared, and as you point out, the game certainly seemed to matter to the players. Long may that continue.
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Well done to the boys again yesterday. Things are really taking shape at the moment. Hope all our players return healthy and refreshed from this interlull.
The AW-UE “debate” is somewhat lost on me at this time. ‘Tis nothing but another sign of these digital times. Founded on “ones” and “zeros”…it’s the,”either you’re for us or against us” mantra revisited in red & white. Antics of the underdeveloped childishly spewing without restraint everywhere is now officially boring to me. So pay ‘em no mind is my stance.
I can’t wait for Naples.
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Matteo Guendouzi has been named in the France U21 squad for the friendlies against Germany and Denmark.
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Arsenal Academy
Verified account @ArsenalAcademy
54s55 seconds ago
OGUNGBO WITH THE EQUALISER! 💥
🔴 1-1 🔵 (20) | #AFCU16
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Arsenal Academy
Verified account @ArsenalAcademy
1m1 minute ago
Huge cries for an Arsenal penalty as Vigar is bundled over inside the area… but nothing is given 😩
🔴 1-2 🔵 (32) | #AFCU16
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Arsenal Academy
Verified account @ArsenalAcademy
1m1 minute ago
Goal for Chelsea. Peart-Harris makes it four from the spot.
🔴 1-4 🔵 (40+1) | #AFCU16
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Arsenal Academy
Verified account @ArsenalAcademy
46s46 seconds ago
AZEEZ WITH A STUNNER FROM DISTANCE 🚀
🔴 2-4 🔵 (51) | #AFCU16
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Nice post and well put.
We seem to be going through ‘New Manager Bounce Pt 2’ and long may it continue. I don’t know what went wrong after we lost our unbeaten start, but the prolonged absence of Ramsey and Ozil appeared to play at least some part in the at times shambolic performances, when we were nothing if not totally unrecognisable.
If I’m honest I retain an element of anxiety over what happens post-Ramsey and if Ozil ends up sold. Those are two pairs of HUGE boots that may need filling, although we’ve always known this summer’s transfer window will likely be of immense significance. If we make CL, then the means to cover the loss of one or both our star men will at least in hand to go with anticipated improved commercial revenues. Fingers crossed that knowledge helps keep our collective sleepless nights at bay.
So now we appear to have an extended break until the next meaningful action – who needs a mid-season break?!
Well, all power to our end-of-season charge – may it be as headily successful as we are all secretly hoping it will be.
Enjoy the break, unless you’re a lost Spurs follower, in which case – mind the gap!
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Hmmm. Chelsea got away with paying Cristensen’s father 11 grand a month for four years for work he didn’t do (scout), as they apparently confessed to it during a premier league amnesty in 2015.
Could easily be unclear reporting, but story doesn’t make sense as it is written given that Cristensen only joined club in 2013. (Did they confess, then keep on for the remaining two years? Wouldn’t put it past them, I guess)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6815429/Chelsea-escape-punishment-making-illegal-payments-Andreas-Christensens-father.html
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Well said. Others will have differing opinions, but I cannot see anything positive coming out of comparing Emery and Wenger at this stage, Emery will never match wengers achievements over 22 years, but he might just do a decent job. Too much toxic stuff, should be left in the past
Wenger is no longer with us, Emery deserves and needs our support and he is making a job of it in as far as I can see. If Emery is to be judged, the time is not now, far too early. He might yet even surprise us this season.
Still think in a year or two, our biggest problem with Emery might be trying to hold onto him, but we shall see.
Just hoping this season ends well for us
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The palace game will be on the Sunday and if we progress the Leicester game will go back to the Sunday also
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Taking over as leader of an organisation is seldom easy, taking over an organisation that has been led by an icon is well-nigh impossible. What I like about Unai Emery is that he seems to care very much about the club and the team, that he seems genuinely excited when we do well, genuinely upset when we don’t – and that he is prepared to work very hard to achieve success. He has also put his own stamp on things and is seemingly not afraid to make difficult decisions. What I liked about Arsene Wenger is that he seemed to care very much about the club and the team, that he seemed genuinely excited when we did well, genuinely upset when we didn’t – and that he was prepared to work very hard to achieve success. He also put his own stamp on things and was never afraid to make difficult decisions.
Emery’s Arsenal is not the same as Wenger’s Arsenal, just as Wenger’s was not Graham’s. But enough of the DNA remains now, as it did then, for me to know that it is still Good Old Arsenal – and still a team that occupies far more of my waking thoughts than it really ought to do.
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Bloody Chelsea youth ey. Even in year they didn’t win FA youth cup, after their pretty incredible success there of late, still deny our young lads a trophy! Gits.
I was quite hopeful for us given we had three very highly rated players in midfield and the lad at back who has played plenty of u18 football.
Main thing, as ever, not trophies but player development, and loads of reason for optimism at moment.
Do find it weird that so many of our better prospects are attacking players, so few defenders, or cb’s at least. Can’t think of many centre backs at prem or championship level in last 10-15 years who started with us: Barkley, Ayling and Hayden, Connolly
Any suggestions on that, is it just the way of it for clubs with attacking philosophy? Easier to develop cb’s at clubs with strong defensive culture/ anything-to-win/dirty all the way through?
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If we hadnt have had the dip in form, and all the frustrations, perhaps everyone wouldnt have known what they we missing? And the trough meant stepping on the gas and raising our game. The lads and Emery know that without the trough we would have been in there with the top two. And he knows that he has to get the lads flowing and working together( which is happening)…next stop is stepping up (even if this is next season). Rambo and Cech going will be a massive loss, but who knows who will come in next?
Emery was a brave man to step into the job, but to his strength he doesnt seem to have any competition with the past (AW etc), there can be no true tabula rasa in life, but he does have something, a quality that we cant quite pin down and articulate yet. Of course the season hasnt finished, and theres much still to be lost, Im pretty sure hes a cautious guy.
Plus how much has everyone had to adjust…never an easy thing? I loved the way the lads stood by Auba, and after the ManUre pen, the guy was fired up again, and was really hungry in the Rennes game. Thats good shit to see.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
3h3 hours ago
Arsenal U18 v West Ham: T. Smith; Daley-Campbell, McGuinness, Clarke, Lopez; M. Smith, Swanson; Greenwood, Cottrell, Coyle; Balogun.
Subs: Okonkwo, Alebiousu, Dennis, Flaherty, Matthew
Arsenal U18s leading 1-0 v West Ham. Swanson with the goal.
West Ham 0 Arsenal 2. Balogun scores to take his tally to 17 goals in 14 games.
West Ham 0 Arsenal 3. Joel Lopez gets his first goal for Arsenal.
West Ham 0 Arsenal 3. Joel Lopez gets his first goal for Arsenal.
West Ham 0 Arsenal 4. Mark McGuinness gets on the scoresheet
Arsenal Academy
Verified account @ArsenalAcademy
47m47 minutes ago
#AFCU18 ran out 5-2 winners over West Ham in the #U18PL this afternoon 👏
Joel Lopez scored his first goal for the club, while Balogun hit a brace to take his tally up to 2️⃣2️⃣ for the season (all comps) 🔥
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Man City’s quadruple challenge looking shaky at the moment, they are 2-0 down to Swansea at half time in their FAC game
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now 2-2 with ten minutes left
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city now winning with a few minutes left
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Check this out and understand that Arséne Wenger was the greatest manager of all time…
https://youtu.be/yJi_crxbxSg
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Watched the money thing above a few times now. Fascinating and ,of course, reflects very well on Wenger.
So much going on in there it’s hard to know what to follow.
Think we first pop up at 95-6 (Bergkamp + Platt?) and are last seen 2000-2001?
Spurs being there a long while and appearing as late as 2012-13 is comical given their performance relative to ours.
Chelsea and City incredible to watch. Also intriguing to see Utd’s spending explode in recent times.
Bozos have never had any good excuse for not comprehending the impact of money on football, nor how it has affected us over the years. Maybe this can help a few of them, though.
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If Wolves had a little more pacvghey would be an excellent team
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Pace they
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Wolves were very impressive on their visit to n5.
Good technical ability.
Most impressive football that we’ve seen from any visitors after City & Utd and Liverpool.
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While we are concerned about the fate of individual teams, the PGMOL continues to defy implementation of the video assistant referee in English football, especially in the Premier League where the real money is made. This is despite the repeated humiliation of English referees. Give my latest blog a read and leave a Comment.
https://uniteforvar.com/?p=1839
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oh what a blunder by the Millwall keeper, a simple catch and he let it slip through his fingers into the net
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liverpool take the lead v fulham in the 81st minute from a penalty, oh what a surprise
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Ed
Clearly a grab, probably impeded player (not sure if he was reaching ball- didn’t notice; suspect not)…but how can they completely gloss over the fact a pull on your arm doesn’t make you go over in explosive fashion from legs up?
Maybe it was a pen, maybe there’s a real issue with not getting pens when fouled unless go over, but still…Tyler described it moments later as keeper taking out, crashing into…something like that…this second describes him as ‘bringing down’ Mane.
Simply not what happened. Momentarily grabbed his arm in case of that unfortunate instinct players have to try rectify a mistake instantly, that was all. A toddler wouldn’t fall over from that grab in real world situation.
If that’s indeed a legit pen, why the need to pretend it was more from commentators?
We know why players do it, but why do commentators so often go along with the fiction?
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Rich imagine if people in everyday life fell over the same way from the contacts that see footballers fall over with such force,
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
7h7 hours ago
Arsenal centre-back Mark McGuinness has received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland U19 squad. Has done well for Arsenal at U18 level recently.
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Ed. Yep, it’s bloody embarassing.
I’m sure all the tv pro’s must be given guidance not to go on about it too much- though they made an exception midweek by lumping us together with Rennes for their shameful antics, and talking about it a lot- especially the channels who invest big bucks in it, but I still gotta have a big moan about it sometimes.
Maybe it’s a little worse on a weekend when you watch a fair bit of rugby. Football wants us to believe completely different laws of physics etc apply to the two sports
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I see all the club’s we are traveling to seem to be doing well at the moment, Everton, Watford, Leicester, Wolves and of course Burnley well Burnley haven’t been doing well recently but im sure they will by the time we play them.
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Surfs down; RIP Dick Dale, king of the surf guitar.
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so it is Swansea who can surely claim the biggest high profile injustices of the weekend
I suspect City may well win the quadruple, though Barca or Juve may have something to say about that.
But also expect Liverpool to be given every assistance in the League, City taking the lot will surely embarrass even Englands shameless football administrators when even UEFA eventually crack down on them or their funding, which could cause untold damage to the game in this country. City eclipsing Fergies treble will also upset extremely powerful neighbours
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ianspace
Table looks good at moment, results have been positive recently, and think most/all rivals have 1/2 games against fellow top six sides, but think I’m right in saying we will need an improvement on away form from this year and last to get the job done.
Big ask to find big improvement to such a long-term issue at this particular high-pressure moment. .
Everton, Watford, Leicester, Burnley, Wolves. All sound tough assignments.
One game at a time I guess and fingers crossed.
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Mesuts getting a bit of stick again this week. The SPD minister who defended him is now putting the boot in.
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the latest edition of the Yorkie Show, with many of the song chosen by our very own Dave
https://www.spreaker.com/user/cavanonlineradio/the-yorkie-show-18th-march-st-patricks-d
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Jonathan O’Brien
@obrien_jonathan
18h18 hours ago
Bloody hell, no wonder Man City are in with a sniff of the Quadruple – here are their cup runs so far:
League Cup: Oxford Utd, Fulham, Leicester, Burton Albion, Chelsea
FA Cup: Rotherham, Burnley, Newport County, Swansea, Brighton
Europe: Lyon, Shakhtar, Hoffenheim, Schalke
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Those City draws are unbelievable.
Remember a while back pundits like Adrian Durham, and a few Arsenal blogs, including one run by a Tottenham lover saying Arsenal were lucky with the draws during their FA Cups, despite beating Utd, Spurs, City, Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea , and the defending Cup winners, Wigan during those victories, but this city thing is something else, as far as I know, not highlighted by the media.
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“Pitchside Monitor? Who Gives A Shit?” Mike Riley and the PGMOL are determined to not implement the pitchside monitor. Do you care? Take a gander: https://uniteforvar.com/?p=1863
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The choice by the Chelsea coach to start Higuain who didn’t have as good a WC as Giroud last summer, just after Giroud had scored a hat-trick and Higuain had missed a midweek game through having a virus makes about as much sense as a rival club with less resources choosing not to start their best footballers over the most intensive part of the season (midwinter).
But I am not complaining at another coach’s stupidity at another rival club! When rival clubs act to injure themselves we celebrate it, when Arsenal do it I hope that we are allowed to express concern without offending any deflated footballs.
We had all hoped for the Higuain-Asprilla affect. As the damage done during midwinter had left the Gunners with a lot of catching up to do.
Fingers & toes crossed the signs are looking good so far.
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The Asprilla effect was amazing and dramatic proving a team will always be better than an individual (Andy that’s not a dig just a response to fins’s post). It would be fantastic if Higuain has the same effect, chelski could finish mid table.
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Arsenal FC
Verified account @Arsenal
54m54 minutes ago
🗞 An update on @_NachoMonreal…
Nacho has not travelled with the squad to Dubai – this is as a precaution due to tightness in his calf
#ArsenalInDubai 🇦🇪
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Great to see that we’ve taken Hector, Rob and Danny there for abit of squad bonding. Great to see all the youngsters with the squad and some of them are massive. I normally love these type of friendlies with all different players old and new playing, the only worrying thing in this one is injuries because we are going to need everyone if we are going to win all fifteen games when we get back.
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17 year old goalie Okonkwo is very tall, seems to be tallest player on the trip
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