Hello positive people, how the hell are you?

In this podcast we have a look back at the NLD and wax lyrical about the players, team play and of course, Mikel Arteta. Then we consider the chances of going on to win the title.

Feel free to be critical in the comments section, the blog is nothing without you.

Pedantic George (@arseblagger)

Good morning you happy lot.

Yesterday really was a day the likes of which I’ve never seen in the on-line Arsenal community. The fan base, or at least most of them, went from the misery of learning that long time target Mudryk had left us standing at the altar, to the ecstasy of giving our fiercest rivals, what can only be described as a very good hiding on their own patch.

I have to say the game itself was also a little bit of a roller-coaster. The first half was football of the highest attacking quality. It was a joy to behold , almost total domination and control from whistle to whistle, while the second half was a much closer affair, while we still controlled the game, but in a more defensive way. Both sides of the game were displayed to great effect.

Our midfield three purred like a Rolls Royce engine, each complementing the others skill set ,passing around, dribbling and running past the Spurs two defensive midfielders like they weren’t there. Saka was running riot and Eddie seemed to be occupying all 3 of their centerbacks. Spurs look hapless in that first half. Magic I say.

Anyway, I’m sure you all saw it for yourselves and don’t need me to describe what you saw, so all that remains to say is “8 points clear people and roll on United”. I really believe that if we beat them we will go on to win the league, something none of us saw coming 6 months ago.

Have a great week people.

Pedantic George @arseblager

The FA Cup is great until it’s your team’s turn, playing on a windswept pasture versus rugged opponents, with Sam Matterface commentating from a different, dumber reality. 

It took us a while to get on top of the conditions and our opponent’s man-marking, but we did it comfortably in the end.

Bear in mind that not even Oxford United want to play at the Kassam Stadium, which is the third-biggest attraction in a retail park with a bowling alley and a Frankie & Benny’s. 

They have steadily trended upwards in the last decade, and aspire to more than this unfinished parody of Stoke’s Britannia Stadium.

With the ball wafting around like a penny floater at Cleethorpes, this was not a night for subtlety. The ball seemed to gain momentum rather than slow down with each bounce, and just wasn’t sticking. It took us about an hour to clock that fact and adapt. 

Every loose touch was punished by an organized and revved-up opponent. Of the men in yellow, I remember right-back Anderson, who matched Martinelli in a couple of races. 

Then there was Moore who went through the back of our attackers a couple of times. Brown with the man-bun was defending Saka. And finally you had the scowling Brannagan, who looked like an accident waiting to happen. 

Trying to put together a dainty move in these circumstances was pointless, like composing a watercolor landscape in heavy rain. Lokonga flailed, Saka and Martinelli toiled, while Vieira was having the worst time of all. 

We needed to be more direct, and much later on it was no shock when Zinchenko—fresh with instructions from Arteta—launched the ball behind the Oxford defence with his first pass. 

What you can say is that we were ‘on it’ defensively, tracking runners, winning headers and second-balls at the back. You can bet that Matterface wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to seize on a hint of defensive frailty. 

In the meantime, referee David Coote did intervene when we got buffeted, hoicked by the neck, barged in the back, even as the home crowd seethed. Still, Coote might have called a penalty for handball in the 35th minute. It was marginal.

So the first half drifted by without either side coming remotely close. For all we could tell ourselves that Oxford would tire after the break, it was hard to shake the idea that we might not rise above the conditions and stop trying to trap the ball with our shins.

Our prospects looked bleaker in the 49th minute when Holding was caught out. Their striker Matty Taylor went through before being put off by Turner, who looks good, by the way. 

Back to Fabio Vieira, who is happiest when has a clear picture of what’s in front of him. He is not one for a midfield scrap, but wants to move into space to use that left foot. So it makes sense that he found some clarity from a dead ball situation.

He whipped in a perfect cross, which found Elneny’s head and then the net. Did Elneny know much about it? Who cares! Elneny was as dependable as ever all night. 

From that moment, everything became a lot easier. The snap went out of Oxford’s game, and the distances between the lines grew, to the point that Vieira could receive the ball, turn and play Nketiah through to round their ‘keeper (can’t remember his name—oh, McGinty), for the second. 

Emile Smith-Rowe came off the bench for a 15-minute practice session, with all jeopardy removed by a delicate scooped finish after a neatly weighted pass by Martinelli. Was Nketiah offside? Who cares!

There was time for some comments about Arteta leaving his technical area. Now, a lot of managers are animated on the touchline, and a lot spend time out of that little box. 

Just like a lot of managers defend their players and avoid talking about contentious moments, like Arsene Wenger used to do. 

Is this going to be the new version of “I didn’t see it”? 

By then, Matterface had retreated into his alternate reality, claiming Arsenal had the benefit of no European football and could concentrate on the league and cup. 

Whatever, the win sends us through to a 4th Round tie at Manchester City. 

Birdkamp

Good day one and all.

In this podcast we look at the Wolves game and consider just what realistic chance we have of finishing above City and what may act in our favour.

Pedantic George

Hello Positives,

In this podcast I try to drag Shotta onto the sunshine bus against his will.

Are we going to win the title? probably not, but we should enjoy the challenge while it lasts, and who knows what might happen given a fair wind?

All Arsenal can do is beat what is put in front of them and we did that with quite some aplomb. It was a welcome return to our good play at just the time when we were becoming concerned.

Pedantic George

Hello one and all.

In this podcast we try to work out how we went from deadly to dire in the space of 90 minutes. Referee is bemoaned and some players scolded. However, when you return from an away game, having been very hit and miss, still with a point to show and remaining top of the hardest football league in the world, we mustn’t grumble .

If you do listen or watch on Youtube, please like, subscribe and if possible leave a comment.

Pedantic George.

Hello all.

Today we talk about how we got thrashed in the second half and somehow or other managed to come away with all 3 points. The first half was great entertainment from both teams. Both attacking and it was very good fun to watch. However, the second half was pasting for us, we had no answers and it looked like we didn’t even understand the questions being asked. All semblance of composure deserted us yet miraculously we held out, goodness only knows how.

Regardless, it’s 3 points that gives us 27 from a possible 30, the best start ever to a season and that’s great. We were quick enough to give it to Arteta in the neck when we were setting worst ever records the other seasons, so we have to put the same energy into praising him for us sitting 4 points clear after more than quarter of the season.

I honestly can’t think how anything could be much rosier in the Arsenal garden right now. It’s magic. Well done to everyone concerned at the club.

Pedantic George

Hello everyone.

In this podcast we look back on our super victory over our recent nemesis. It was a performance full of skill and energy against a Liverpool team, that although perhaps a little below their last few years form, did play as well as I’ve seen them this season. Put it this way, that Liverpool performance would have brushed us aside last year, the year before and the year before that.

The podcast turned into gushing praise for Arteta and the process that we have openly mocked prior to this season. Much humble pie has been swallowed and the egg on my face is acknowledged.

So have a listen and let us know in the comments section what you think .

Pedantic George

Hello one and all.

In this podcast we have a grand old time basking in the reflected glory of a convincing performance from our exciting young team.

No one can question that Arteta has this group playing in a way we have waited for for a few years, it’s all good at present and we should make hay while the sun shines.

Pedantic George

Hello Positive people.

In this podcast we look back all the way to the Villa game, one which I thought saw us displaying everything that will be needed for us to take a tilt at top 4 this season.

There was fast energetic and considered attacking, which saw us overcome targeted violence and some of the worse officiating I can remember, and I can remember a lot. We sowed great and immediate resolve to bounce back when we conceded one of the softest goal in our history, and I can remember a lot of them too.

Of course it wasn’t all good and there were a few worrying old traits on display and some below par performances from some of our lads, fortunately they were countered by some outstanding efforts by others.

It’s 5 on the spin, and although the fixtures,and form of our opponents, have favoured us, we couldn’t have done better points wise.

I know the transfer window closing seems to be the big talking point at the moment, but we fell it’s worth actually talking about the football.

Please like and subscribe to the Youttube channel and leave a comment either here or there, as it would help us greatly going forward.

Pedantic George.