It will be Newcastles’ first home game following the sale of Andy Carroll, how this will affect the home crowd is hard to predict. The club are trying to convince fans that they did not want to sell, however the relationship between fans and the owner has been strained for some time, so I would not be surprised to see some protests. An early goal for us could tip them over the edge.
Newcastle will be without Shola Ameobi, so I expect they will play a very defensive set up, crowding the midfield with the lone Ranger up front. It is a game where we could really have done with Alex Song. The Toons midfield is combative to say the least and I’m sure Alan Pardew will have them fired up for a game against Monsieur Wenger (remember West Ham). We will have to keep our discipline, particularly after the media attack on Cesc this week.
At home, Newcastle have won 4, drawn 4 and lost 4, scoring 6 goals once and 5 goals twice. Their firepower has been greatly reduced with the loss of Carroll and Ameobi but we have to be wary of Kevin Nolan, and Ranger is one of those quick players that sometimes cause us problems.
In the game against Fulham, Newcastle had Nolan standing in front of the goalkeeper at corners and set pieces. I hope we do not put a player in between, crowding Szczesny, but we have to be aware of him on knockdowns, as this is where he scores most of his goals. If we get this right we should win the game.
Diaby is likely to play alongside Cesc and Jack (if fit) in midfield, with Theo and Andre on the flanks, although I would not be surprised if Nicky starts instead of Andre.
Another must win game, 3-0 to the gunners, 3-1 if we start pulling off players toward the end and lose our shape.
.
Today is AA’s first birthday. The site was launched on the 5th February 2010 and began in fine style with an article written by Big Raddy – Stamford Bridge Over Troubled Water. We’ve come a long way in the last year – 374 posts, 623,000 hits, 40,300 comments and a growing team of authors.
AA has been fortunate to attract some great bloggers and recruited 34 talented writers who have provided a diverse feast of nostalgia, analysis, entertainment and sometimes challenging posts for the site. New writers are always welcome to ‘join the club’.
In the main, we’ve achieved what we set out to do and that was to provide a blog that allowed freedom of opinion without fear of abuse – a haven for those who value the friendship of fellow supporters, who appreciate the written word and reasoned debate, and most importantly, share the passion for our wonderful football club – so good we named it twice.
A big thanks to all those who have been involved. COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning all
Cyber hugs and kisses and cake all round 🙂
A huge Happy Birthday and Thank You from me. You should be very proud.
Geoff,
Great post and great headline. Thanks. However, could you clarify one line: “3-1 if we start pulling off players”. Thanks.
Morning,
Yet another superb maiden post by a new writer – thanks GS.
I know I’m kidding myself, but this feels like the most important game of the season – as will every match from now to the end.
In recent years there have been a few weekends when our rivals have slipped up and we’ve failed to capitalise by dropping points against teams we should beat. Toon will have a point to prove and will be fiercely combative in midfield. I hope the officials will keep a close eye on Barton and not let the recent bad press for Cesc cloud their judgement as he will undoubtedly come in for the usual ‘special attention’.
Nice read Geoff. Happy Birthday to A-A.
peaches
Thanx for your kind words. & in turn I will try & come up with some more words of my own. Where is Big Raddy @ present?
How is it that that little fella Joey Barton is tough. He looks like a wimp 😉
sorry to hear of this sad loss to the arsenal family rest in peace
gg,
Raddy is off getting piste … sorry on the piste 😉
stephen ????
Rasp,
I know exactly what you mean about how important this game feels. I cannot see Utd dropping points today (who knows though), so we need to stay in touch. However, I can see them dropping points over the coming weeks, while we have three consecutive home games, so we need to be ready to pounce.
Thanks Geoff for the post. We have to be of the mindset now that we can win every game and hope that the battling spirit of Tuesday night stays with the team.
I’m looking forward to Arshavin playing today, his goal the other night was a beauty and there’s more to come from him I’m sure.
Agreed micky. I can’t see us taking to the pitch with an air of complacency. It’s going to be a battle. I still think that AA could emerge as the hero of our season. The guy has magic in his feet. Having said that, RvP, Cesc, Song, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou (and most of the others) are already heroes! I’m beginning to wonder if a less than match fit TV returning would be a good thing now that kozzer and JD are beginning to forge such a strong partnership …. helped by having Sz behind them.
@Stephen….sad loss?
@Rasp….Exactly it is the most important game…..
@Geoff…….Nice Article mate and your dead right about it been a game for Song who is out unfortunately….However We do have the enigma that is Diaby, who on his day can dominate any midfield, his strength and power are awesome, if he’s up for it and remembers to release the ball at the right time, also with the little terrier Jack nipping away, we’ll be ok…But I do rate that Toite chap, he is very powerful.
I just fancy Walcott having a blinder today, SJP is a wide open pitch with space for him to really take advantage of. I just wish some of the players would realise how to get the best out of him, playing the ball at his feet with a defender 5yds away is pointless, play the ball past the player into the space, where walcott will destroy any opponent…..
@Peaches, Happy Birthday and you have achieved your aim, without question the friendliest site I have been on and enjoy visiting to actually debate football without insults, 3 cheers………
Hello Rasp 😛
Morning peaches,
Do you think stephen interpreted our announcement as the end of the site?
Rasp,
With you on all of that. My secret secret weapon is Diaby. Clearly I am a half full kind of guy!
Thanks Harry but there’s a whole list of people that take the credit – I just do the nagging 😉
@ Rasp, I think TV will defeinitely slot back in when fully match fit, but we dont have to rush him, so your right it wouldn’t be good if he aint quite there…But to able to choose between JD, TV and Kosser bodes well…
My only grumble with any of the defenders and Djourou is guilty of doing it most is when they try and shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, against the blue noses at the end, JD did it with Big Hairbear behind him, fortunately getting a soft free kick…. When I coach my players I teach them that is the last resort, try for safety of a throw in first if unsure….I have seen so many top class defenders been done as the last man doing this…….
Top bet for the day at 11-4 walcott to score at anytime and arsenal win……
Morning all,
Thanks for the kind words.
Micky, now I know the mind set of the readers I will choose my words more carefully in future.
I believe Stephen is referring to Pat Boyle who worked at the training ground and passed away this week. There is a tribute to him on Arsenal.com. I’m sure you will all like to join me in sending our condolence to his family.
Happy Birthday and well done one and all.
I have splashed out on a set of worry beads for Rasp. together with some comb-in dye for his fast greying hair.For Peacheys a new subscription is in place for the Chutzpah magazine, mind you, no doubt she will be writing for it soon when they discover her natural talents.
So here’s to many more years of celebrating and examinig the heartaches and triumphs that are the perogative of all Arsenal fans and of course our own jewel in the crown the wonderfull Wenger ball.
Diaby, Diaby, Diaby how I would love to love him, to cheer when his name is announced, to oooh when he does great things and not have to moan when he gets the ball nicked off the end of his boot.
micky – can’t you have a word with him, get him to concentrate for the whole time he’s on the pitch. I hate it when he’s defending, he stops to think and thats when he loses possession – where is his best position??????
micky/Harry,
Diaby is key to today’s game. I hope he isn’t burdoned with too much defensive responsibility because he can become a square peg. He needs Cesc beside him on the same way Kozzer needs JD.
OOPs sorry well done Geoff, with a name like that you were bound to be good.
Rasp – next week I suggest we sign in as each other one day and see if anyone notices 😀
Rasp
I think stephen is saying that the barcodes are going to win, i.e the post has appeared on Planet Geordie in Newsnow.
Morning dandan,
My cup may be half full, but it’s a sparkling, bejeweled gold goblet 😛
OK thanks gg,
With pithy comments like that from toon fans, we really are in trouble 🙄
Nice post Geoff. Every game is going to be important now and it is definately going to be a stubborn battling toon army today I think. We need an early goal and hopefully a more confident performance from the little Russian following his cameo last week. Peaches..in all honesty I think the place where Diaby would help us best is probably Man Utds first team.
Ha ha ha bg very good, yes you could be right but AW loves him and he can be amazing. London wrote a great article following a game when Diaby was awesome last season – I’ll just go fetch it.
Worry not Diaby is a star in waiting. He can play
I know the one you mean actually Peaches and I so want to be proved wrong about him but when Ramsay is back I really cant see a place for him in the Arsenal squad. He is a luxury imo which has failed to prove himself consistently at the level required.
Congrats on the bday by the way. Truly a great site.
Here it is, we were all in love with Diaby after that night – well for a while at least ………
hope thats it 😳
AA’s song should be Twinkle twinkle little star because thats what he does shines when the gloom lifts from his face.
Diaby is the key agreed, people need to get behind him and believe in him. He has done well to come back from an horrendous injury, some forget that.. Since then he has struggled at times with injuries and playing out wide…..and not getting a run of games…
His best position is in the middle, dominating other teams. He can do it, but lacks consistency and holds ball the ball too long at times….
The other thing I think he lacks at times is that little bit of extra agression, dare i say like Roy Keane…..
@Barum, if he went to United he would play week in week out and would get the run of games he needs to get better and better, he would give United something they actually lack, so I dont want to see him go there……He is a very important player, more so now with Blondie out…….
Nice one Geoff,
Happy Birthday and congrats to AA!! 🙂
Rasp/Peaches, in your whippet at the end of Geoff’s Post, you forgot to include the descriptor “tolerant”.
To paraphrase Groucho Marx; you can include me OUT of any blog that has me on it! 🙂 Paradox, eh? 🙂
There was another game where Diaby was like a cross between Henry and Vieira – all long legged and skipping runs – you know how Thierry used to stop and skip in the middle of his runs to put the oppo off.
@barum, agreed when Ramsey comes back it will be crowded in and around the middle and Ramsey is special, a legend in the making, just hope he does return fully back to his best…..
Diaby gives us so many options, he is worth perserving with….
And when Ramsey returns will our mercurial captain be staying for next season?
Morning RA – tolerance is my middle name 😀
Probably true Harry but some players just never live up to expectations and I think Mr Diaby is one of them. As I said earlier I hope i’m wrong and would love for him to become as good as he can be in a more consistent way but cant help worrying whenever he gets the ball.
I dont know about the Cesc situation now Harry. At the start of the season I was sure this would be his last but looking at him play (and speak)with such passion i’m just not certain he is ready to give up just yet.
Football more than most sports engenders tremendous extremes of opinion.
This is not only true between clubs, with a natural and large slice of tribal biase, but also within clubs.
Opinions about the relative merits or otherwise of individual players are, by definition, subjective and frequently perverse. (dependent on your viewpoint).
This perhaps explains the gamut of opinions expressed about Diaby, our virtuoso midfielder.
He is certainly in the forefront of tremendously skilful and physically imposing midfielders. So why the diversity of opinions?
He is sometimes maddeningly inconsistent, perhaps as a consequence of the myriad serious injuries that have befallen him since that career threatening injury inflicted at Sunderland in his first season with us.
For his pure class and the belief that these inconsistencies will be ironed out eventually, I would always take Diaby over limited, if hard working, players such as Denilson.
Have just been speaking to Kelsey, he has asked me to pass on his congratulations and best wishes to Arsenal Arsenal and all the folks involved, he appreciates the debate, comradeship and the shared love of our great club and will be back to join in ASAP.
Interesting points about Diaby. I believe JET has similar potential and has not been given as many opportunities as Diaby. My guess is that only one of those two will be an Arsenal player in 2 years time.
Hi dandan,
Thanks for the msg. Kelsey was a founder member of the ‘co-operative’ as you know and it’s great that those original names still feature on the blog. We’ve gained and lost some really good people over the year and there are one or 2 that simply won’t go away 😆
P.S. I love you really RA 😳
Agree with you Rasp and in all probability it will be Jet who leaves, by all accounts another with attitude. Young English and arrogant they say
Rasp,
Cannot argue with you regarding the opportunities given to JET as he has had practically no exposure to the Prem other than 10 mins at Chelsea.
However, that is not a totally relevant comparison, with respect, as it has no bearing on whether or not Diaby is a worthwhile member of our team.
Perhaps in 2 years time they will both be gone from Arsenal, and they would both be a great loss to us. Bet your wrong tho’. 🙂
Rasp,
It was nice of you to acknowledge Kelsey. I have always enjoyed his comments and posts, both here and elsewhere and hope he is back and full of beans soon!! 🙂
As for your comment that I won’t go away, that could not be further from the truth, nothing is for ever.
RA,
Don’t you dare go away, you add a touch of je ne sais quoi to the site. I’m sure the phrase ‘thinking outside the box’ was written with you in mind 🙂
I’m really confused about player potential. Clearly AW knows what he’s doing. Two of the most impressive players for me in pre-season were Nordtveit and JET – HN has been sold and Jet can’t get a look in. I saw Fabregas, Hleb and Toure play in pre-season friendlies when new to the club. They were all impressive, and managed to make it to the first team, obviously the difference between success and failure is very slim. Bentley is doing his usual and looking very good for Brum, it won’t last.
Great post Geoff, and congrats to the founders of the site, a refreshing place to come talk football & Arsenal.
@dandan our Szcezney tweeter to say everyone should follow JET, as “he has a bigger head than me which means he will be a great player for the club”
Been watching the twitter feeds of some of our players it is interesting how the likes of LJ, Cesc and RvP compare to Eastmond and JET etc, the latter seem to enjoy the trappings of football rather than the football itself, perhaps the loan spells will help.
Henri Lansbury is another who seems to care about the game more than the fame, he tweets a lot but he is obviously lonely stuck in his Norwich hotel.
As for Diaby i’m sure it depends on whether he is awake or not, he has all the attributes but he needs to make them all work together, I think we all hope he will be a Viera although I don’t think he has the fighting spirit to put his physical strength to good use
Rasp,
Again I cannot disagree with you re JET and Nordveidt.
Dandan may be on to something with JET and his attitude. I know nothing about that but AW would not tolerate anyone with a poor disposition, if that was the case.
I was disappointed when Nord left. You know I am not a big Eboue fan, and dread it when he covers for Sagna at right back. That role would have been perfect for Nordveidt, but like you and your whippet/snippet I do not always understand AW either! 🙂
GIE,
I liked your potted summary of the tweets. Can I ask you, and anyone else who is into that, to give occasional brief updates that would be of interest.
You probably gather I don’t have the slightest inclination to twit, tweet or twitter! On non-footie tweets (?) I am sometimes subjected to animated and lengthy discourse by 2 or 3 friends who are addicted, while I sit and pretend to look as if I care!!! 🙂
@Barum I can see where you are coming from Cesc does seem even more determined, only time will tell….
JET has all the talent in the world to burn, but from what I have read on the Young Guns site and elsewhere, he has a poor attitude at times…..I really hope the loan will help and he fulfils his potential…..
As for Nordveit, I was disappointed to see him go, really surprised…..Miquel seems to have jumped in the queue…..
Anyway I am off to Football trg now, coaching an U12 team, I help out as their coach left, my own team is U18’s so my weekend is pretty busy….
Keep the posts up about the match and team news when on guys, i’ll keep a watch out…..
3-0…
Hi all- just popping in as not really “around” this weekend. Congrats to Geoff on his maiden post-top notch pre game with some of my own feelings echoed. Not going to be easy this one!
Huge birthday congratulations to the site! All the friendly intelligent witty opinionated eccentric people on here make it a daily pleasure to be in your company. And especially to Rasp and Peaches for all the hardwork put on to giving us this forum. Cheers!
Rasp- re your question yesterday- it’s Mark Twain’s- no poetic flair here I’m afraid! I did enjoy Gnarley’s little verse yesterday though 🙂
No London today? I need a prediction!
RA – you might not have been around yesterday when I let it be known that there is a blogsite with just Arsenal tweets – we have it in our blog roll, its called
Just Arsenal Players on Twitter
I’ll get the link again
http://arsenalplayersontwitter.blogspot.com/
You don’t have to have a twitter account you can just read the tweets
I omitted the most important characteristic of all the good folk on this site- committed passionate Arsenal supporters! Anywho- gotta go again! COYRRG!
Peaches,
You are such a delightful person and clearly much loved by those who have met you in person at the Emirates.
So I don’t want you to think I don’t care about tweetees! Pretend to care? Moi? 🙂
You have your work cut out with a philistine like me, but don’t give up, I might be worth it? 🙂
Carlito,
You have managed to accurately sum up all the extraordinary, eclectic bloggers on this great site, except I have not seen an adjective in your comments that describes me!
Probably best if you did not canvass for adjectival suggestions, especially from 26May, after all Peaches will tell you I am a gentle, sensitive soul!! 🙂
Wow ! Got the team right for today ! (pretty easy guess really).
2-0 after 5 minutes …. Not a bad start I suppose
3-0 after ten, where is everyone?
wow at training……………………need to get home, serious?
No it’s now 4-0
Alrght GIE. I had to go into the office for a few hours this morning, got home at 3pm. By the time I got onto my stream it was 4mins gone and we were 2-0 up. Happy days !!!
How did Walcott mess up that last breakaway..?? If he squares to RVP thats 11pts on my dream team score. Sub him…useless 😉
Home now, internet on, stream on, 4 more please, I said the bet of the day was walcott to score and arsenal win, that is a tidy sum for me!!
I need to apologise for Spurs goal as I dropped Fan of Farts from my fantasy team today, did replace him with AA23 tho, and replaced Clichy with Djouro happy days.
Did I miss anything????????
I can’t seem to get live streams to work, so will just listen to radio.
JD off 😦
Home in time for the game and a fab first half, both offensively and defensively.
Another 45 mins of the same please.
As to AA’s birthday. I cannot believe it was ago I wrote that first post!!
So many interestiing discussions, memorable diagreements and much laughter. Above all it has been a real pleasure to spend time with such pleasant folk. Thanks to all of you.
Diaby sent off? bugger
Bolton equaliser 😀
Sorry but thats a joke
Bartoon is a thug
GIE,
In the US the FBI have embargoed at least 10 football “streaming” sources which in turn feed many other sites. That’s probably why you cannot get a feed.
Barton almost broke Diaby in half. It was no wonder he reacted. And Necastle are giving us a fearful kicking this half. Once again one must ask …. WHERE IS THE PROTECTION FROM THE REF.
Equally worrying is the injury to JD. Looks like a thigh strain … at least 2 weeks out
Danny Mills on R5 said that Barton made a fair challenge that he had every right to go for. Obviously BR you disagree?
I cannot believe that arse Dowd.
He gave the softest of penalties and after Barton scored, Nolan wrestled the ball from Chezzer and Dowd the clown then booked Chezzer instead of sending Nolan off!!!
Are we worrying yet?
GIE,
I am seriously worried. Our defence is crumbling and Chezzer is keeping them out on his own.
Still 4:2
Glad i’m not alone, might have to switch off radio for last 5 minutes.
According to R5 commentators thats 2 dodgy penalties awarded.
Sodding hell!
I’m speechless!! And gutted, sounds like Dowd has given them the win, must have had a call from SAF at half time.
well the draw, but this one feels like a loss!
How the fuck does that happen…??
Just how many times in season can this team embarrass the hell out of me…??
I’ve almost got a tear in my eye
Sorry sharkey the team is not at fault, joke of a sending off, barton nearly broke his leg….
2 absolute jokes of penalties, nolan takes chez’s head and chez gets book?
The officials were a joke….
Van persie scored at the death and it was given offside, which he wasnt, yes it was tight call, but just about everything went against us…..
One of the worst refereeing displays I have seen (though Diaby had to go). No protection for our players who were kicked remorselessly. A non-penalty, dodgy offsides, Dowd was dire.
As dire as our defence once JD went off.
In essence Diaby cost us the game. Once he went off we had no rhythm. Plum.
And it is rare I resort to 4 letter language but the last 45 was an exception
Thank you Mr Media for ensuring Dowd didn’t make it easy for us, absolute joke by the sounds of things.
Why does it annoy me so much that R5 commentators are saying credit Newcastle despite the two softest penalties being given.
Thanks to Dowd we will now see other teams kick us off the park expecting a reaction and a red card.
A shocking referee
kicked off the pitch and out of the title race…massive blow……..
Oh king ell!!!!
Ref……??’:><:@;/1?!
But still..4-0 up!!1
Brilliant finish by RvP for the dubious offside goal. I am sure being level with the last defender is not offside
I am going to be furious for days
I’m just going to forget about it
It’s Ironic that after Fabregas questions refs we get a performance like that from the ref
I am struggling to remember a more incompetent performance from a referee, I dont somehow think I have ever seen one.
The sending off was fair, but why was Nolan not sent off for the headlock on Chesney, the first pen one can understand but the second was a caricature in slow motion.
The final insult of course VP goal was not offside.
Final verdict if you want a homer for a referee pray you get Mr Dowd
Having watched the game in full, I have the following thoughts:
This wasn’t as bad as the Spuds collapse because this time we were undone by an appalling ref, not by ourselves.
At the end of the first half there were two minutes of stoppage time. Dowd allowed three-and-a-half minutes because Toon were attacking.
Djourou’s injury was as much a turning point as the sending off.
Diaby was sent off for a push on the back of Barton’s neck.
After Toon’s first penalty (which was a pen) Nolan grabbed Chesney round the back of the neck and hurled him to the ground – no red card. Chesney may have been intending to timewaste, but he didn’t get the chance – Nolan assaulted him with two seconds of him picking the ball out of the net.
The second penalty was the biggest non penalty I’ve seen all season.
Tiote joins the long list of players who score their best ever goal against Arsenal. He’s never scored for Newcastle before.
RvP was level when he “scored” what would have been our fifth and winning goal at the end (although, in fairness, Toon also had a goal incorrrectly ruled out for offside).
Toon’s shirt-pulling and niggly fouls to break up play went entirely unpunished.
At one point Dowd even over-ruled the linesman who gave us a throw-in and gave it to Toon instead (the lino was two yards from the incident, Dowd 6 or 7 yards away).
I am seriously beginning to wonder whether there is a refereeing conspiracy against us this year. This stuff is happening way too often.
Rosicky was a liability for every second he was on the pitch.
Lots of swearing around here too – what is it with referees, why don’t they see any transgressions against us. Dowd waited until injury time to give Newcastle a yellow and waste more time for them.
Obviously Diaby had to go but Barton should have been on a yellow card and if so probably wouldn’t have gone through him the way he did.
Two soft penalties and a collapse of gigantic proportions once Djourou was injured and Diaby got sent off. What happened to our football in the 2nd half?
Rosicky was very poor 😦
RL. Good analysis.
All 3 of our subs were poor. We would have been better bringing on Gibbs as opposed to TR.
Hi Raddy – how was the snow?
Wolves have equalised
Agreed BR
Was Bendy on the bench? I would have brought him on – we were being murdered in the air at the back once Djourou went off and Bendy is very effective in the air at the back.
Song, Djourou, Denilson, Vermaelen all injured, Diaby with a three game ban – will we regret not getting in some defensive cover?
But amid the woe, this is NOT the end of our title aspirations. It’s a setback, not a disaster.
Just listened to AW, well done him for not being drawn to discuss the decisions, he told the Beeb to go and ask the ref to talk him through the decisions, as it wasn’t his job.
He also said Diaby should go for the reaction but Barton should probably have gone for his tackle.
I’m with you Rocky, its not over until its over but it is kind of unforgivable to be 4 up and to draw 4-4.
I’ve just got back from the game and haven’t read through the comments yet so apologise if I am repeating what others have written.
Reasons we dropped 2 points:
1. The ref
2. Diaby
3. Rosicky
4. Barton
The loss of 2 points may well not be the biggest negative of the day, a lengthy injury of Djourou could be the most costly.
Koscielny + Djourou = excellent
Koscielny + Squillaci = nightmare
Just seen on twitter that Djourou’s might be knee ligament damage.
Haven’t seen the AW interview yet.
Excuse my language!
What the FUCK! Joey Barton has just said that we have discipline problems and there was no reason for Diaby to react like he did…….JOEY BARTON giving out moral lectures on discipline….what the hell is the footballing world coming too!
Peaches. Everything was wonderful, thanks.
We desperately missed Song
For those who understand twitter, Phil Dowd is trending. There are rumours that the £35million for Carroll was well used in buying Dowd
Barton should have received at least 1 yellow if not 2 by the time he scythed through Diaby. He had already perpetrated 3 other fouls going through the back of our players right in front of the ref that resulted in free kicks but no cards.
I find it unbelievable that a ref can make so many poor decisions right under their nose – I accept that some decisions are difficult and they only have a split second to make them BUT today saw poor refereeing hit new heights.
I wonder how many will be shown on Sky’s football first coverage.
I’m assuming Diaby will be out for 3 games?
Rosicky was particularly poor and played a part in 2 of their goals. He may not be match fit, but he is currently a liability and should not be trusted in important games. It’s time for bold decisions, if Denilson is injured, we should consider giving Ramsey precedence over Rosicky.
Peaches,
Red Card for violent action is a 3 game ban!
Hmmmmnnnnn Wolves have just gone ahead
The only problem with this is that they’re coming to the Ems next Saturday
Thanks RA, thought so – hopefully Song is on his way to a quick recovery then.
There is no question that the fake furore around Cesc’s “indiscipline” played a part if that awful effing reffing performance today. Dowd was reluctant to punish Toon and eager to punish us.
Rocky,
I only saw the second half, but your report is spot on from what I saw. One addition would be Squillaci into the Rosicky absolutely awful bracket. Very very depressing afternoon.
BR,
I hope you had a great skiing holiday.
The injury to JD is possibly the worst aspect of the day. Nightmare.
Before I clear off, can anyone tell me about Diaby’s first half performance.
If it really is JD’s cruciate, that takes the wind out of our sails in a massive way. And I’m sorry to say, it will prove to be a mistake on AW’s part not to have got in defensive cover in January.
micky
Diaby was pretty good in the first half, as were the rest of the team. He was fine in the second too until the sending off.
Is LJ going to get in trouble for this on Twitter.
“Inconsistent refereing needs to stop.its killing the game.if Diaby goes..whats the difference between that and Nolan on our keeper!?? #joke”
As I recall, Barton went through the back of Arshavin with a 2 footed tackle which Dowd depite being 5 yds away didn’t spot. Then Diaby took out Barton and was injured in the process,( looked like his shoulder). Barton clearly wanted to gain revenge and Diaby was lucky not to have a serious injury – of course he was angry, but he should know better than to give Dowd an opportunity to send him off.
I wonder if there is a place fans can complain to? After all it is the fans who ulitimately pay Dowd’s wages.
Geoff Strong highlighted Nolan standing on the keepers feet for corners and he did it to Sz today. He’s nearly as big a thug as Barton. Obviously he should also have recieved a red card for wrestling Sz to the ground.
If you go to Youtube, you will find clips of Diaby chasing another young player around the corridors at Clairefontaine. Despite repeated attempts by his teammates, no-one can calm him down. He clearly has an anger problem. The red mist descends and that is a major reason why we conceded 4 goals in the 2nd half.
One person who absolutely did nothing wrong today is Arsene Wenger. He played his strongest team. Once again we were unlucky with injury and the rest is down to the ref and our players.
Here’s the Barton on Arshavin right in front of the ref
http://arsenalist.com/video/?id=xgwiyk
Blimey. 41 goals in the prem today. So far, as Wolves only beating Utd by 2-1!!!
Thanks Rocky.
Rasp,
I feel you are in charitable mood. I think relying on Squill and Ros in any capacity is not good.
It seems that way micky. Squillaci was much better earlier in the season – he seems to have gone backwards. I shall be on tenterhooks over the Djourou injury. they reckoned it was a hammy on the commentary, but a recurrence of the knee ligament problem might see him out for the rest of the season
Ouch, did you see that – Rafael’s dislocated finger yuk
Rocky, your calming comments have lowered my temperature but I am still livid…
I have to see the penalties again, internet streams aren’t the best….I thought both were soft…
When Barton nearly broke diabys leg, as they were on the floor I am sure barton has a little kick out?
Personally I still think red was harsh….
And why didnt Nolan get booked or sent off, it was on the linesman feet nearly….
Van persie was definitely onside…..
They just kick us off the park, we now have JD out, Song out, Diaby banned….oh for a transfer….
Ramsey must return and I would get Bartley from Rangers….
Harry Diaby raised his hands to two people he had to go, whatever the rights and wrongs of Chestney there is no excuse for Diaby
dandan
Agreed – Diaby had to go (the way the rules are interpreted these days) but what’s shocking is that Nolan didn’t go for a similar but worse offence.
Thinking about Dowd, I reckon he got caught up in the excitement of the Toon comeback and couldn’t wait to give the second pen – which was an absolute non penalty. No complaints about the first pen though.
Who can tell Rocky, but if Wolves can hang on things will look brighter
DAn I know what your saying, with the rules interpreted by the letter, but when are they ever done so in our favour…?
I have seen worse pushes and nothing……….All i want is consistency and Wolves to hang on!!!
You had to say it didn’t you Dandan 😉 I will hold you fully accountable if the MediaLoved Utd equalise
Evening all and a happy Birthday to AA.
I am sorry but when one is 4-0 up and it could have been 6 at half time there are no excuses whatsoever for not winning the game.
Ref decisions are wrong in every game,but Diaby however much he was provoked was just plain stupid.Even so with 10 men we should be experienced enough to deal with a team that were at the time soundly beaten .
Surely Ryan Giggs should be off by now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How was giggs not carded for that assault?
Kelsey, in theory your right, but so much transpired against us it was unreal…..
But as someone has said the biggest loss was actually JD at the back, I think we would have held on if he had stayed on… Just hope his injury isnt much….
United have just been given 5 extra minutes as usual…..
Chris smalling just blantantly elbowed doyle and nothing……
wolves beat United and todays negative has at least seen us gain a point……..Unbeatable…My arsenal,,,,
Yes ! Wolves have won
So not invincible LOL
Wooooohooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
I can go downstairs and talk to the wife again now!!
Evening cheered up all of a sudden
Thanks kelsey, you are right of course, Arsenal should never lose a game in which they are 4 nil up. We and the team know that they can see out a game with 10 men. The loss of Diaby was stupid but the injury to Djourou was more damaging.
Who’d have thought that it would be Wolves to end the manks unbeaten run.
What was that about prescient comments on AA? – manu lose 2:1, Rasp said @10:06
….”In recent years there have been a few weekends when our rivals have slipped up and we’ve failed to capitalise by dropping points against teams we should beat.” …. I take no joy 😦
O boy what a favour wolves have done us, lets hope they used all their luck up today. we need the three points next weekend
We should alll pray for Djourou this evening (and maybe TV too), to make a swift recovery
Rasp and Kelsey you both know that every season there is a period where Sods law takes hold,
Sods Law States: what can go wrong will go wrong, starting with the tunnel incident and hopefully ending with Little Jacks Twitter our week has run its course. Perhaps Mancs has just started with Wolves
Is TV in training?
@Rasp, if both games had ended at the same time my mood would have been still livid and little to no joy at their loss, but having had two hours now since that debacle, i take some solace from their unbeaten run ending and also it will lessen the grief i am due to get tomorrow from my united mates who i was giving it to when we were 4 up, actually that was it…my fault sorry guys……
So to summarise today’s events:
ARSENAL CLOSE THE GAP ON MAN UTD AT THE TOP OF THE EPL.
Rocky……..amen to that………
And when they come to ours there isnt the added pressure of trying to stop an unbeaten run…….
Harry
Good point. It would have been lovely to end their unbeaten run, but horrible to fail to do so…
I suspect they’ll lose one or two more in the next couple of weeks now.
Geoff Strong. Apologies for not acknowledging your fine post. More posts please!
Wolves ….. hahahaha ! But then Newcastle who are shite took 5 points off us!
Whoops, well done BR, I’ve forgotten my manners too:
GS – fine debut post. Thankyou.
And birthday congratulations to Rasp, Peaches and all involved in launching AA. There are many good Arsenal blogs out there, some truly awful ones, but only one that feels like home to me.
Raddy!!!!!!! Where did you leave your hat?
Enough already, we dropped 2 points – horribly, I have to admit – but the manks lost their unbeaten run at Wolves!!!!!!!
I’ve arranged for Diaby to be shot at dawn so we won’t have to worry about whether he’s going to turn out ok or not.
More worrying is that that team that just beat the manks are coming to the Emirates next Saturday and we have to hope that, with players going off for International duty we have a selection of first team players to compete!!!!!!
Don’t worry Peaches – we’ll batter the Wolves.
So disappointing. so so very disappointing!!!! Champions dont lose 4 goal leads. Reality !!!
They say every game has a bit of the last game in it….on that basis lets hope our next game has the devastating movement, delivery and passing that the first half today showed, surely our luck must change some time ?
Chesney has been allowed on Twitter now….oh dear
“It is hard to make any comments on today’s game without using the magic word “referee”… Thought he was brilliant today…”
Well I have seen both penalties again, the 1st was very harsh, not stone wall, i can only just accept it, second was a joke. The free kick leading to the 4th was also a joke, should have been our free kick…..
They did have a goal chalked off wrongly and so did we RVP was onside, even though MoTD couldnt see that…
Joey Barton is a thug, Pardew thinks he should be selected for England, if he does probably be the first player I wont cheer for wearing an England top…
Phil Dowd is a CLINT!
He sends Diaby off for pushing a turd to the ground, at the very least they should both have been sent off; that challege was crap.
Anyone who may not be convinced that its rigged against The Arsenal should just watch the replay of that game. An absolute laughing stock of a referee.
On the up side, we all no Newcastle are destined for lesser things, poor, poor club. There is still only one Invincibles 🙂 & Johan is off the mark 😀
But still it was a set up 2nd half. That wimpy little ankle tapper was given a free run by the authorities. A former jailyard bitch, a former receiver in prison, now carrying on as if he is a tough guy. Barton is just an awkward looking dork whos best weapon is intimidation coz he knows that the system will back him as a reformed prison bitch.
Go FLICK yourself barton 👿 You’ll get yours when you least expect it 😆
Unfortunately we can try to find all the reasons and excuses but at the end of the day we surely have to be able to hold a 4 goal lead dont we ? Even against a bunch of thugs with a penis of a ref we need to be better than that. Agree with Rasp that AW did nothing wrong but the players panicked again as they did against the spuds. I think Cesc is a great player but this is the kind of situation to me which Denilson was referring to a few weeks back. I honestly dont think a PV or TA would have allowed that sort of collapse.
Morning Barum, Evening Gnarley.
Barum,
You are right there, never under TA or PV, and I am really not for blaming the ref over this result. However, if you want to put some positive spin, then surely AW must realise that he cannot play Rosicky or Squillaci any more. Ooops, yes he has to play Squillaci. Sorry Barum, but you really can blame AW for not buying another CB. Unless Verm or JD are back soon, we are in real trouble. They have three weeks to get one of them back for when the league starts getting tougher again.
Wolves saved the day for us, so we are really well placed to win the league. Come on Carroll and Suarez!
Morning Micky, yeah fairplay i have to agree that we can blame AW for yet another over cautious tw but on the day he has fielded the best available side. I think that (sadly for the ladies on here) TR will be on his way in the summer as will perhaps one or two others. Squill is looking more and more like a fourth choice back-up but to be fair that is probably what he was brought in to be.
Barum,
After Squillaci came on (I missed the whole first half) Newcastle appeared to win every high ball lobbed into the box. Hopefully, that will be less of a problem against Barca, but still the thought of Squill and Sagna for the first leg is pretty terrifying.
I agree, we need to think less selfishly about ourselves regarding Mozart, and more about one of our own. Poor, poor Irish!
Off to watch MOTD.
Morning everyone.
having watched this horror show again there is no doubt that the ref and his linesman were not for the first time totally inconsistent,but we can’t change the result.
It has been muted that Diaby reacted to barton’s near leg breaking tackle mainly because he didn’t want another leg break, but he is a professional,had a good first half and should know better.
Djourou is of more concern with yet another injury,a pattern is emerging with him.Squillaci is no more than a back up and as I have said all season Rosicky is past his sell by date.
both penalties were soft, RVP goal which would have made it 5 was not offside yet one had the feeling if the game had gone on for another 5/10 minutes we could have lost.
Chesney didn’t do much wrong,but now we are down to the bare bones at a crucial time of the season.
On the positive side all our 4 goals were well executed and RVP is back to his best and Arshavin yet again provided two excellent assists.Theo down the centre is a must.
Wenger has a lot of hard thinking to do with running out of defensive players,at least in the short term.
If ever there was a game of 2 halves this was the plum.
Evening fellas
The ref/linesmen were deplorable to say the least. You can forgive one dubious penalty, but 2 was a disgrace & the bloke who took the penalties should have been having a shower. Apparently Barton made sure he never dropped the soap in the prison showers 😆
My advice to Wenger is to say all our players being called up for international midweek duty are injured,regardless if it is true or not.Fergie does it all the time.
Very good point you make kelsey
Greetings from an airport departure lounge somewhere. I haven’t seen any of yesterday’s proceedings yet (followed it in glee then horror on BBC online) but, even if Dowd made all the mistakes alleged, I can’t help thinking this must be the ultimate case of self destruction. A little while ago I said here: “We really need the players to concentrate from here on. No more two-goal leads thrown away (or one-goal leads come to that)”. Little did I know that our players would show that throwing away two-goal leads is nothing, they had something much more impressive to show us when we went to Newcastle.
In terms of what was expected, an away draw yesterday, while it would have been disappointing, wouldn’t have been a disaster but what throwing away a four-goal lead will do to the players and fans in coming weeks is a real concern.
I think I’ll be shaking my head for days to come.
yes, agreed in theory, any professional team should be able to hold a 4 goal lead with little over 25mins remaining….
If we had conceded 4 open play goals with absolute no dodgy decisions then i would still be livid now, and might have even driven down to Colney…….for a little chat….
But when there two dodgy penalties, assaults unpunished – i just cannot blame them entirely….
I agree in that a lack of leadership of the fist clenching never say die attitude is missing and the TW was a massive mistake for Wenger…..
So what we should be looking at now is what is the extent of the injuries and who can we recall? Ramsey and Lansbury would be my first choices…….
Ramsay and Lansbury should come back, also Eastmond and JET (a big lump who played CB for most of his young life).
Don’t forget Gibbs is also a CM by choice.
May also be necessary to field Bac at CB if we feel Squilli isn’t up to it and JD’s injury is more than a precaution substitution at 4-0 up and game won.
Admittedly we shouldn’t draw from 4-0 up with 26 minutes to play, but we scored 4 in 26 minutes in the first half so why should it be impossible for a team to score 4 against 10 men in the same space of time?
On reflection I don’t think Dowd was totally to blame, having seen all the incidents you can see why they have been given. TR shouldn’t have put his arms on the attacker, Kos did not have to try and win that ball (Best made the most of it), and Bartons tackle looked at worst fully committed (however if he doesn’t take the ball it’s probably a red), we used to love watching Winterburn tackle like that, ball then man. Diaby needed to lay on the floor and count to ten, it’s what Cesc, Theo, AA, RvP and others do in the face of constant hacks.
Morning all
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