Another London derby, another vital game in our hunt for the Premiership and another game against opposition desperate for points.
West Ham come on the back of a poor run of form and are struggling to stay in the Premiership. They have suffered a dreadful season both on and off the pitch, but hopefully (for them) the arrival of the porn barons will bring happier and more settled times. The Hammers record at the Emirates is very good, having won two and drawn 1 of their 4 games – with a record like that they could almost be classed as a bogey team. Balancing that is the fact that West Ham have not won away since the first game of the season and have yet to win a London Derby in the last 10 attempts.
If a team plays as a reflection of their manager (which is a great shame for Blackburn) then West Ham should be playing joyous, expansive and intelligent football, but to play that way requires the personnel, and sadly the Hammers financial problems have restricted the signing of flair players. Zola’s team is forced to survive through organisation and endeavour. A decent defence led by ex-Gunner Matthew Upson ( I wonder if he would consider re-signing as our back-up CB next season) has been porous, despite having a potential England goalkeeper. The Hammers strength (if they have one) is in midfield, and in Scott Parker they have a fine midfield general. He scored an absolute pearler last week in the loss to the Chavs, and continues to be a vastly under rated player. Sadly for both Parker and Zola, though not for us, he is injured for today’s clash. A player some Gooners had on their wish list is Behrami, though I cannot understand why, we have at least 6 midfielders better than the Swiss-Albanian. Mark Noble is due to make his return from injury and is a competitive little chap – a Jack Russell sort of a player.
Up front, returning from injury, is Carlton Cole. Another target for some Gooners who were begging AW to sign him in January. A dangerous forward but one who will be meat and drink for Sol and TV (hopefully). Benni McCarthy may make an appearance, his second since signing for the Hammers. Benni is one of my favourite players and I wish him the best of luck, starting next week!
We go into the game with most of our squad available, and AW has a midfield headache. Should he continue with Nasri in the centre, giving Fab a few extra days rest or start with our inspirational Captain? If I were the manager, I would bring Cesc on after 70 minutes, alongside Walcott. That would be enough to scare any team !!
We saw at Hull that there are no easy games, and I expect West Ham to give us problems unless we score early. If we do, there could be a rout. Nik is on fire, AA looks hungry again and our midfield is full of goals.
I have always had a soft spot for the Hammers due in part to the Famous Three (Moore, Hurst and Peters), but also because of “Half-Time Bob”, a good friend who initiated the leaving early epidemic which has sadly spread to large parts of the Emirates. Bob is a West Ham season ticket holder, and as such I can well understand why he developed his early departure strategy
There has been much talk in the press about the colossal signing fee that the late Michael Jackson is receiving (?) from Sony. Quite what he needs the money for I cannot fathom, but despite MJ’s life being chronicled to a degree rarely seen before, his biographers have disregarded one of his major passions. In 1979 Michael was in the UK to perform on the Jackson 5 tour. Whilst staying at The Savoy, he asked the Hotel concierge “who are by far the Greatest team the World has ever seen?” and of course the concierge being a wise and sagacious man told MJ that it was the Mighty Arsenal. The concierge arranged tickets and Michael’s first game was the Cup Final against Man Utd – Liam Brady’s last game, and one of Wembley’s iconic matches. Alan Sunderland (who co-incidently modelled his hairstyle on the young MJ) scored the last minute goal that cemented Michael’s burgeoning love of the Gunners
You may have wondered why MJ’s coffin was covered in red roses, and why the Brothers wore white gloves. Well, it was because Mr Michael Jackson was a committed Gooner ….. 😉
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning all
Great read Raddy – MJ a gooner eh, what a fine man he was.
I’ve always like West Ham too – maybe its because they don’t have ideas above their station like some of the other London clubs and I agree its a great shame that Zola hasn’t had the money to build a fab team. I hope they stay up though.
Morning all
I have just woken up and don’t understand why I am the first on here, anyway, another good read BR, In anticipation of the ending I was laughing before I even get there.
Morning BR
Good stuff, and did you know Michael Jackson wrote an album about the game, I think it was called ‘Thriller”
Morning Chaf
Thriller….nice one
Are you able to make the game today or are you pubbing it?
I’m watching it with the Biggs family old boy!
In addition there’s the exciting prospect of a win today taking us to the top of the premiership – I love singing that song
‘We are top of the league say we are top of the league’
Chaf – you’re such a name-dropper 😆
Morning all. Good write up leaving me feeling less stressed about today’s game. I hope Nasri gets his chance to be the midfield general but Cesc had better be warmed up and ready to go.
Morning Peaches
I hadn’t realised that…..Arsenal,top of the league,it has a noble ring about it.
Ahem – if you check the title you’ll see that the aformentioned album has been cleverly incorporated by BigRaddy……..
Morning Peaches
Lot of good it’s done me!
OOOohhhh subtle
Morning London
I thought the chavs were playing today but they’re playing at 4 tomorrow against Blackburn away and the mancs are playing the poo at 1.30 I think.
Morning, evening, night Alfa
It’s got to be one of those where you are. Have you found a bar to watch the game?
Peaches I didn’t notice that! Nice one BR. How about the one he wrote for Sol then.. “Never can say goodbye”…
Yep, that’s right peaches so as you say by the end of the game we could be top of the league.
Or ” I want you back”..
Can you feel it
Hey Chaf what song would you chose to have playing when the team comes out of the tunnel?
London
I rather liked the Fat Boy Slim music they played at Highbury, which gets faster and faster, and I rather suspect that the Elvis song has been chosen by the in house commentator, who looks a bit ‘squiffy’. [Which is a shame].
The best I’ve heard is ‘London Calling’ probably. What about you?
Looking back, I think the commentator is quiffy, being early 60’s Elvis fan, I think squiffy probably applies more to me.
I absolutely agree and share your dislike of the Elvis song.
The music that is played as the players come out only lasts a minute so it is all about the intro so for that reason I like the Jackson 5 “Can yo feel it” I also like the intro of “Crazy” by Beyonce. London Calling is a great song with the right sentiment but it takes a while to get going, perhaps a remix?
Evening London. Nowhere to watch the game, it will be 4.30am when it kicks off anyway. If I wake up I’ll try and find a stream. As long as we get a result I’ll cope, especially with Barça to look forward to.
I’ll go with London Calling but I’ve always fancied them running out to Pressure Drop by The Maytals.
I’ll do a quick remix over the weekend for you! I’ll send it over in the next few days!
By the way – I was thinking of ‘Can you feel it’ as well, it must be the age…
Alfa you’re just an old Jamaican at heart.
Pressure Drop is a great song but it is a bit laid back. It congers an image of the team walking out onto the pitch smoking huge spliffs with a bit of good ol Jamacan Regge playing.
I think the song should have the affect of Amyl Nitrate
Allegedly
I think the best intro music i have ever heard at any game of football..
is “final countdown”
blasting out, full volume.. pure mood lifting, motivating tune.
( coincidentally, i heard it at OT back in 2003, great awad trip to watch that infamous fa cup game which we won 2-0, giggs missed an open goal, and beckham got the boot, literally, at the end )
Morning Raddy, great post made me laugh to.
Wife’s a hammer, so either way doubt we will speaking tonight.
When we win. Our DJ should play Arividerchi Roma for poor old Zola, as this could well be his last game.
Whilst mentioning the porn boys who remembered that Karen Brady was supposedly interviewed for our general managers job, when DD left. Would have been a bit different for the club.
I don’t think there is any doubt that Arsene’s song should be “My Way”. and lets hope the teams song will be “Top of the World” Come May Time.
i can’t see zola being sacked, not at this stage in the season, only a proper norvern monkey club would unstabilise a club with less than 10 games to go.
zola’s brand of football deserves to stay in the premiership, i always root for the worst footballing team to go down.
think the current bottom 3, will be the 3 that go down.
Morning all a little story for you.
A lady walks into Tiffany’s. She looks around, spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more closely, she unexpectedly farted. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone noticed her little whoops and prays that a salesperson wasn’t anywhere near. As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her. Good looking as well. Cool as a cucumber, he displays all of the qualities one would expect of a professional in a store like Tiffany’s, he politely greets the lady with, ” Good day, Madam. How may we help you today? Blushing and uncomfortable, but still hoping that the salesman somehow missed her little ‘incident’, she asks, “Sir, what is the price of this lovely bracelet?” He answers, “Madam… if you farted just looking at it………..
…………………………you’re going to sh*t when I tell you the price!”
Sorry to lower the tone, but it made me laugh.
Morning all,
😆 dandan
Excellent post Raddy, you’ve set an unbelievably high standard for yourself 😉
I have always liked wham. They have produced some great players and have a history of playing good football, another good reason is that they hate the spuds as much as we do.
Chaf, less of the old 😉
Pressure Drop laid back?
The Final Countdown?
My Way?
You’ll all be asking for Simply The Best next. Or Hot Stuff? Have I arrived in some kind of MoR time warp?
PS Look me in the eyes and tell me you’ve never imagined EE skanking his way onto the pitch with a big spliff…where else does he get some of his ideas from?
Morning SH
“The final countdown” to me conjures up Americans high fiving, and Rambo snarling his teeth, and the Neville brothers, and dodgy haircuts.
I think we are culturally different at Arsenal. I can’t imagine images of Wenger with ‘The final countdown’ being played in the background. Maybe a bit of classical would go down nicely!
Alfa
Any song with the word ‘pressure’ in it, to come on to, might be a bit frightening for the players.
I thought that you all might like to listen to what Barça fans sing when their team come out…
Maybe we will learn to love ‘The Wonder of You’ one day. At least their’s sounds like an anthem and has a bit of shouting.
hi chaf.. forget that it was played at OT
go to you tube and play it
it’s a very uplifting song, it’s a timeless tune that is now nearly 25 years old.
defo not american… VERY european 80s power poppy.
the group that sang it are swedish.
Chaf, especially Sol.
SH
I understand what you are saying, and agree to a certain degree, but unfortunately its the kind of music I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid!
Although my biased is now in decline with older age, I’ll give it one more go..!
What about ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ by Wagner
This is by far the best music to take to the pitch to ….
Does he forget the words for the first 30 seconds?
Strangely I can go with a bit of Led Zep…
Don’t you think this version has more bite than the zep original Chaf?
Thats definitely the right title….”Take to the pitch music.”
…. you’re right though, it’d have to be just the music because the vocals are pants …..
We must be pretty unexcited by West Ham. Vauxhall Carlton could score, that’s plausible. Parker is inconsistent for me, but he has been playing well. Upson could have been very good but he left before he’d been fully brainwashed and I think he’s forgotten a lot of the subtle stuff now.
Yeah, I always liked this, I’m a fan of sampling the best bits out of tunes, principly because they are the best bits.
There was a program on last night about prog rock, which was not my thing as I was a skinhead when it kicked off, but I found myself liking some of the stuff, as I said to SH earlier it must be an age thing! Or I never listened properly!
I don’t get this Upson nonsense at all. It makes no sense.
Stop trying to bring football into it Alfa!
Oops Ups-on your head, Ah said oops Ups-on your head.
Just trying to mash up both themes here…
London, what don’t you understand?
I agree with London. Upson was in a top team and was released, he’s never been in another, and let’s face it, the England team would struggle in the Prem. If it wasn’t for the imports we’d still be watching the Championship, in theory.
Iron Man – by Black Sabbath in reverence to TV?
Off to sleep – best of luck all for the game.
The bit in ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ after the quiet section with the scream and the power chords. Pete Townsend’s the man, best rhythm guitarist ever and somehow made a Gibson SG sound awesome.
disagree this what we should come out to
or
but seriously this is what we should have
afternoon all
Who like me, will say a little prayer for Torres tonight, he could earn the freedom of the Grove tomorrow
will be church front and center and will light a candle for him and steveie g
just hope rooney ugly head doesn’t blow them out
RSD
Are you saying that that would be your suggestion for the take to the pitch music?
soz yes that would be
hi im jonny cash!
but now that we’re men does seem very fitting for the next decade
Paul Merson just now on Sky Sports, “Arsenal could score so many goals today that they will have to put extra light bulbs in the scoreboard” wouldn’t that be nice
Real, will we play in black. LOL
he still comes up with magic sometimes dont he dandan
Hi DanDan
Every now and then, Merse comes up with an absolute gem.
I’m going for 4-1
Is there any team news?
Far to early yet London its an evening game
tho RVP is ahead of schedule
There is a rumour that Ramsey may be at the game – that would be a very good move to lift the team and the crowd
I think it would be very good for him too ….. poor boy
Shame villa couldn’t have beaten wolves, that would have put them level on points with the spuds. Wham have to play Wolves on tuesday so let’s hope they save themselves for that game and give us an easy ride today 🙄
Good read that Raddy…..
What a first half. denilson makes two awful blunders in the first 3 minutes and then low and behold he scores a beauty.
Song and Clichy awesome.
Penalty, absolutely no way, but great save by Almunia
Vermaelen 3 match ban not clever.
Sol better watch it, he is treading near the mark.
Still feel confident, some of our play has been outstanding, a beauty to watch.
i would gamble now and take arshavin off and put theo in the centre.
Get in there!!!!!!!!!!
upson had already been booked,gives away a pen. and no yellow.
what a gutsy performance. we are the arsenal.
I’m following this on text, it’s not easy.
WH have committed 3 times as many fouls as us according to the stats. Are they Bolton in disguise?
correct, that was a magnificant performance and great credit to Almunia for the save.
Thaks Kelsey. Was it really not a penalty? any chance of the red card being rescinded? So typical, they commit all the fouls, we get the red card.
Have to hope that Willi G can come back.
Vermaelen will miss one game, the panel can increase it to 3, but it was so soft a sending off that I do not think they will do
agreed daddan, diaby was a great sub today, but still no theo.
if it was a penalty it was extremely harsh, the linesman gave it not the ref, alpha.
Thanks Kelsey.
sorry folks aint had chance to read back, but hows the feeling about denilson tonight?
he’s done us some favours with long range shooting this season…. and…. highlighted on espn this afternoon at the 60minute stage he had 100% pass completion rate of about 40 passes.. dont know what ratio it was at the end like!
Tommys, fair play, sounds like he had a good game and that is 2 important shots. The problem is when he is put under pressure by top teams he folds. Then again he is still young, there is still time.
maybe maybe……
He made a dreadful mistake in the opening minutes but came good. It was a day when the players who normally are outshone by others did a grand job. almunia, clichy, eboue,and diaby when he came on. song had a great game. nic, nasri, cesc and arshavin where not up to their best. vermaelen was his usual steady self and the sending off will be debated at length.sol lacks pace but all in all got stuck in, as they all did, as i said before a great team effort.
Can someone clarify this red card….I thought straight red was three game ban.
see my previous post London
Straight reds are normally for dangerous or serious foul play, in this case the WH player went down very easily under a very soft touch, the ref didn’t give it the linesman did, who was well behind the play. So the disciplinary panel may decide that a penalty and a sending off are enough punishment.
By the time of the World cup it is reckoned that a sending of for such a foul will no longer apply. the penalty being adjudged sufficient punishment
So DanDan
Are you saying there is a possibility that Vermaelen might not miss any games?
He should miss just the one…Brum away.
Very poor pieceof play there from Vermy….might not be a penalty in actuality, but he really brought that all on himself
Even allowing for his 4 missed tackles in the 2nd half, I thought Song gave a master class today.
Yaya who..??
Correct Sharkey 1 Game
Which bit DD??
Hi all – just in from the game – got soaked 😦 Don’t want to give it all away now but how inspired was that substitution of Bendtner for Diaby !!!!!! Amazing, Diaby changed the whole game.
Two things
1. dandan I hope you’re right about the red card and TV only missing 1 game
2. dandan are you signed in through wordpress, I don’t understand where your avatar has gone
How sweet does this look ……
1 Arsenal 31 31 67
2 Man Utd 30 30 66
3 Chelsea 29 29 64
Peaches is on military mode
3. DanDan are you wearing a vest, you don’t want to catch a cold.
Hi Sharkey – how’re you doing? Did you go to the game?
I like the yellow pen that goes over the team we just beat up top on the right
I could not get in through wordpress so I used the original Icon on my desk top. see if you can sign in. please peachey
Ha ha ha London and I haven’t even had any alcohol yet ……. maybe thats the problem
Did you enjoy the game London
Yeah rasp isn’t home yet but he’ll do that soon I reckon
This is peaches pretendng to be dandan
I loved the game Peaches, I really loved it.
I’m even happier now that I know Vermaelen won’t miss spuds game
Alright Peaches, not today….I’m an occasional these days…
Four kids to look after and provide for…
This is without me being logged in as you
Hi Sharkey
There is a guy who sits near us who takes his three small daughters; we are for ever saying, that must cost him a fortune
I will try again peaches thank you
dandan – you can either be logged in or fill in the boxes above the comment box and your avatar should still appear. I’m going back to being peaches now….well after this comment anyway.
That was such a poor red card he should be able to come on at half time in the next match
Who am I now…….. 😉
London are you going to be describing your joy for us tomorrow – I can’t wait to read it 😆
Chaf ….lol
Good point though…..
We couldn’t see it as it was up the other end – Franchise sits behind that goal and he thought it was a red………….
Peaches – with 4 kids and an unwaged wife, its not just the cost of taking the nippers to Arsenal…its the cost of everything !!
Good point Sharkey – luckily I only have to worry about myself and as I don’t do shoes and handbags I reckon I can do Arsenal whenever I want.
Peaches You seem to have cracked it for me, thank you very much
I love you sense of humour Chaf
It sounds like I better go and have a look at it on the telly. The trouble is I have been at the match all afternoon and now I am trying to write about it and I feel a bit guity marching in and taking over the only sky plus telly in the house.
Peaches
Yes I am trying, I have done all the player ratings but I haven’t got a clue how to start the report.
Happy to help dandan ……
Its not on Football First London…it was an ESPN match.
Its MOTD or nowt I’m afraid…..
Here is a comment I posted on Le Grove ages ago….doesn’t it seem dated lol
“Song is shite no matter how you package it”
I love a challenge. Was Song to blame for his selection at right back on Saturday? No. Is Eboue to be blamed for being picked to play in midfield? No. The point I am obviously trying to make is that Wenger should take the lions share of the blame for not playing them in positions that they are both eminently better suited to.
I actually got asked to leave and take my pro Song and Eboue rhetoric with me.
Hi folks,
Another rollercoaster of a game. Song was magnificent throughout and Diaby superb when he came on. What’s the situation regarding the length of TV’s ban …1 or 3 games?
Hi Rasp
The general consensus is one match although chaf suggested that is was so weak he should be able to come on at half time for the Brum game.
London, you’ll always be welcome here 🙂
Alfa what are you doing up? What time is it there?
9.20 on Sunday morning. Just getting ready to go off on a drive down the Great Ocean Road.
In my world we’ve already been top of the league for a day! 🙂
Thanks London, I’m relieved because 3 would mean he would miss the spud game even if it were re-scheduled.
I’m going to watch match of the day but I have to say a drive down the Great Ocean Road has its draw. See ya
Enjoy MOTD. I’m pretty sick of seeing rugby league highlights already. See you all later.
Morning all,
The informed opinion is that TV will only get a one match suspension for denying a goalscoring chance – although the qualified referee in my family says all red cards are a 3 match ban 🙄
Morning Rasp
The post will be up at the usual time.
Morning London – you are a star xx
You’re a diamond London, I read your comment late last night and appreciate the effort you’ve put in – so good you wrote it twice 😛
Peaches, I’ve sent you a pic as I shall be driving to work at 9
Got it rasp
New Post