Manchester City 1 – 0 Arsenal: Match report and player ratings
Since our painful, last visit to Manchester a few months ago, Arsenal have made tremendous progress. In fact, the club achieved such a fantastic transformation since the late arrival of experienced, quality players like Arteta, Mertesacker, and Santos that most of us were confident we could get something out of our game against the other club from Manchester today.
It was not to be. But, despite Citeh’s unforgivable luring of our players and hiring of our legend(s) over the last few seasons, and the shameless ‘investment’ in the club of £800m in order to buy a few pots, we still matched them in all departments today. The margins were small, and to be fair, Citeh did produce the best overall football at times and had the better chances, but throughout the game we played with spirit and class, with a never-say-die attitude and a real belief in ourselves.
The New Arsenal knows how to fight, it knows how to play as a team and for each other, it never gives up, and because of that we deserved a point out of yesterday’s game. It was not to be, but despite the loss of three points yesterday, our team will have won a lot of belief, confidence and real team spirit to build on further. In the long run, this game will prove to have been very valuable for us.
First Half
The game started pretty even, with both teams full of energy and confidence. In the 9th minute Citeh have a decent first chance: Zabaleta puts in a decent cross from the left to Aguero, who controls the ball well but then blasts the ball well over Szczesny and the goal. After that, there is more pressure by MC but Arsenal work hard as a unit and give very little space away. At this stage though, Song gets a yellow card – a very soft one – and soon after that Richards shamelessly tries to get our ‘Only Song’ booked again. A feat repeated by a few more Citeh players during the match, but referee Dowd did well not to fall into that oily trap. Arsenal struggles at the early stages to pass the ball through Citeh’s lines, and our opponents find it easier to pick an attacking through-ball. However, this changes when Song picks out a good run by Gervinho who hits a hard and low diagonal shot which Joe Hart, with an element of luck, is just able to save with his right arm. This was just what we needed to give us believe. The subsequent corner is played towards the edge of the box, where Ramsey hits a good low shot onto Hart’s left corner. The latter makes a decent save though.
In the 23rd minute, Richards puts a high ball into the box which is not handled decisively by our defence. Especially Mertesacker, who does not show enough strength in his one-on-one with Balotelli, is at fault, as the latter is able to turn and shoot at goal from close range. Szczesny imposes himself like an onrushing giant octopus and makes a very decent save. In the 35th minute, we witness another good run from defence into midfield by the superb Koscielny: he plays the ball to RvP, whose shot is blocked but still reaches Ramsey in the box.
Ramsey does not hit the ball cleanly, but does still almost score. Kolo Toure makes a clumsy tackle on Rambo but as he played the ball first, it was always unlikely Arsenal would be given a penalty for it. Gervinho and Theo work very hard all over the pitch and help out our defence on numerous occasions, and this is one of the reasons Arsenal never allows MC to have long periods of pressure on us. The teams continue to be pretty evenly matched. In the 41st minute, Aguero makes an energetic horizontal run across our box – reminiscent of Romario – until he finds a gap to put a decent diagonal shot in, but Szczesny had read his intentions well and saves his effort with ease.
Second Half
After two minutes, Djourou needs to be replaced and Miquel comes on. Arsenal needs to reshuffle its defence: Koz moves from CB to RB, Miquel becomes our LB and Vermaelen moves from LB to CB. Not good of course, but it had to be done. In the 53th minute, a good run through the centre by Gervinho almost finds Theo, but Zabaleta, who had a good game for Citeh, intercepts and the ball falls to Barry. Barry passes to Nasri who sees a sea of space in front of him on the left hand side – so he passes the ball to Balotelli who can collect the ball without any RB pressure (Koz is out of position). Song does his best to move into the space, but Balotelli manages to move the ball to Song’s left side and hits a low drive towards Szczesny.
Our goalkeeper is able to stop the shot, but the ball bounces up and Aguero beats Vermaelen brilliantly with a quick, horizontal header towards Silva, who puts the ball into our net from close range, despite Vermaelen’s flying tackle. A real shame, but plenty of time to make amends. From the subsequent kick-off the ball comes to Theo who shoots at once and forces Hart to make a half-decent save.
In the 56th minute, Gervinho instigates another attack. From Arsenal’s left hand side, he passes back to Ramsey who instantly passes towards RvP. Boy Wonder tricks Hart brilliant, but his goal is ruled offsite. It is very marginal, and at moments like this it would probably really help if we were playing at home, as it needed a ‘benefit of the doubt’ decision in our favour. For the game it would have been brilliant if that one had counted, but it was not to be.
Then, ten mad minutes of football ensue. In the 62nd minute, Aguero unleashed a venomous, diagonal shot across the goal that had Szczesny probably beaten, but it went past the right side of the post for us. In the 63rd minute our defence is carved open by clever interplay of Silva and Nasri. The latter only has to pass the ball sideways in the box towards the relatively quiet Balotelli, and an easy tap-in would have resulted in 2-0 and game over. Unbelievably, Nasri over-hits his pass and we are given another lifeline. In the 64th minute, Gervinho skins Richards with a quick move and brilliant wing-play, and he pulls the ball back superbly for RvP’s, normally lethal, left foot. Unbelievably, Robin scoffs his shot and Hart is able to make a simple save. Ooh, what a shame that was. Had we scored then, we could have won the game, but Robin is human after all! In the 66th minute, Zabaleta hits the post and in the 67th minute Theo puts in a good cross towards RvP and Ramsey, who ones again had made a good run into the box, but they are ruled offsite. Again, this is a marginal decision which did not go our way, but Hart saved very well anyway.
Theo is then replaced by Arshavin, and the former is, understandably, not happy with the decision. In the 71st minute, a good move by Ramsey leads to a pass towards RvP, who quickly finds Arshavin. The pocket Russian has all the time in the world to pass the ball into the box towards several onrushing Arsenal players, but he fails miserably. The only possible excuse is that he still had to get into the game, but nevertheless his misplaced pass, which was easily intercepted by Hart, was pretty unforgivable.
In the 77th minute, we could have had a penalty. It would have been a soft one, but it did appear that Richards moved his arm slightly to stop the ball from going past his body, and he definitely did not try to get his arm out of the way. I can live with the referee’s decision, but I am pretty sure we would have had a penalty if we’d played at home. In the 89th minute, we witness another Arshavin-horror moment, as he miscues the ball badly form a simple pass by RvP. The melancholic Russian made the wrong decision and his execution was equally poor. Theo’s substitution was a bad decision, in hindsight.
Was that it then? Well no, there were still two brilliant Vermaelen moments, which could have so easily given us a deserved point from yesterday’s game. Firstly, from an Arteta free-kick, he drove a fierce shot from outside the box straight at Hart: anywhere else and it would have burst the net. Secondly, he put his entire livelihood into a shot from well outside the box towards Hart’s right side of the goal that only just misses the target.
The last fifteen minutes were almost entirely ours, but ever so frustratingly we just missed a bit of luck and levelheadedness (mainly by Arshavin) to come away from the Etihad stadium with a well-deserved point. However, this game will have done the New Arsenal easily as much good as our recent victory over the Chavs and our qualification for the Champions League last 16. Something the Oilers can only dream off at this stage of their Petrodollar Bonanza Project. And long may it continue.
Player Ratings
Szczesny: top performance: oozes confidence and his decision making is nearly flawless. Strikers fear him and that is half the battle won: 8.5
Koscielny: great drive and positioning (before he became RB). What a joy to have such a dedicated and positive, beastly good CB in our team: 8.5
Mertesacker: some good positioning and he brings calmness and organisation to our team. Needs to become a bit more aggressive and decisive, but I still like his performance: 7
Djourou: had a decent first half in an relatively unfamiliar position, and tried at least a few runs forwards: 7
Vermaelen: absolute beast and works so incredibly hard for the team. Also played in a relatively unfamiliar position and, understandably, we missed the attacking LB play from him at times. His desire to score for us in the last 10 minutes was simply inspirational: an other great player to have at Arsenal: 8.5
Miquel: did very well, and what a classy player we have here: 7.5
Arteta: brilliant game. Fought like a stallion and worked his socks off for the team. Together with Song, he tamed the MC midfield: 8.5
Ramsey: brilliant game. Fought like a dragon and worked his socks off for the team. He was everywhere and made so many positive runs into the box. Sooner or later, he will start scoring goals on a regular basis and, ideally, we would have had somebody in Ramsey’s position yesterday, who can do what he did plus score (more) goals. But Ramsey gives absolutely everything and is learning and growing very fast: 8
Song: brilliant game. Fought like a lion and did very well not to get a second yellow card: a very mature performance. Together with Arteta, he tamed the MC midfield: 8.5
Theo: was often isolated in attack and when he had the ball he was unable to shield it very well at times. He is not able to attack defenders from standing still; the way Gervinho does and that really is a handicap for him in games like this. Worked his socks off to help out our defence: 7.5
Gervinho: some will say he needs to improve on his decision making. Although, he made a few not-so-good decisions, he made many very good decision and he was everywhere yesterday. Like Theo he helped out our defence constantly, but he also set up many of our attacks: 8.5
RvP: worked his socks off for the team, and scored a brilliant goal which was given offsite unfortunately. Missed a good chance, but was also up against one of the best CB’s in the world right now (Kompany): 8.5
My Man of the Match: the entire team. They did us proud yesterday.
Written by TotalArsenal.
Arsenal News 24/7
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This is a comment from the tail end of yesterday’s post from BlueValentine – a very decent City supporter who visits our site when out two teams meet …..
Couple of points before I plod off to commune with my City mates. Irishgooner – I live in Ireland too; don’t put too much into RTE’s take. Most of the sports guys there are Manure to the core – they even represented the 6-1 as “a bit lucky” and kind words about MCFC are hard to find.
Secondly, I know we take flak, understandably so (I’d have done the same if say, Everton or West Brom came into a fortune instead of us).However, fact is we did and we needed, for the sake of the plan, a good team in a hurry. The other side of the coin of what fans of other teams called “financial bullying” is that their managers and directors knew we were cash rich and screwed us into the ground . It’s a given that players up for grabs were tagged with a two tier price, one for City, on for everyone else. Yet we still had to buy – what did you expect us to do, stick with the appalling Danny Mills and lazy Steve McPointandshoutyman in the spurious name of “fair play”?
I don’t get to live games much these days (can’t afford the travel) but whenever I go I’m struck by the same air of whimsical exuberance City fans always had; you know, a “Can’t quite believe this, wtf, let’s go along for the ride. Yes, and somehow we know it will all end in tears and the tears will be ours. Meanwhile, stick on that Yellow Brick Road” sort of vibe.
And in this I’m discounting the very young kids who may become success junkies a la Cockney Reds. And the 10% of pure nutters who are attached to all football clubs, the fleas on the elephant’s back (or, in our case, the camel’s, I suppose). I apologise for any who invade your excellent site.
As biased as i am – the decisions made by the assistant ref on the far side of the pitch were farcical. Silva scored after coming from an offside position – while a few minutes later Balotteli walked out of the goal mouth and despite a yard or two of clear blue water between him and the last defender – no flag.
I am as wengerite as you get but 1 nil down with 20 odd minutes to play – Arshavin and Chamakh??? really?
It alarms me that in a moment of desperation wenger places his trust in two of the poorest performing players in the PL.
Rosicky? Benayoun? even Almunia for gods sake…
Oh Well onwards and upwards… we can still do great things in the CL and the FA Cup and i think we will get 4th. Interesting to see if he buys in the window
Great blog the team was brilliant yesterday City had a extra man yesterday the bloody ref handing out yellow cards like they were sweets to our team.really think we deserved at least a draw !
Before making any comments I’m going to watch the match again. I watched the recording late yesterday evening in a haze of turkey, Christmas pudding, Stilton and port. Yes the festive season got off to a blinder early doors due toy family travel commitments elsewhere.
From what I recall we were unlucky with the penalty shout and the offside but survived more than a few scares.
Fair result? I’ll give my considered opinion later.
Oh! I forgot to say thanks to TA for a great post.
Until later.
Good write up TA.
The clearest handball I’ve seen in a long time and the ref was only 2 feet away! Shame coz as TA wrote, we deserved at least a point. Must keep the mometum going for Wednesday night.
Agree with Diane, thought we deserved at least a draw, their keeper Hart was superb which tells you how well we played. Total I believe your ratings for the players are about spot on.
That Blue Val is a decent fan, like the idea of an opposition fan airing their views – some superb posts in the last 2 days.
Only one thing I disagree with Total is the Shameless spending of £800m. I believe they have spent £320m on players and received £80m back and have also increased their income from match days by about £30m per season (Their average crowd has increased from approx 40,000 to 47,400).
Whether the owners are in it for the long run, I don’t know but I doubt it.
Fantastic post as usual. I really enjoyed the game and tbh I expected to lose. We gave a fantastic account of ourselves away to the obvious champions.
Great write up TA, you always make me feel better with your positive and reasoned outlook.
I must admit i slumped into a footballing depression last night and still feel grogy even now. Not because of the performance of the team, which was exceptional, but for the fact of what could have been. I said the other night that i believed our current level is right up there with the 2 Manchester clubs and greater than the other 3 in the top 6, and last night confirmed this for me. We will have a good season and probably finish 3rd at the end, but the chaos of our pre season has cost us a tilt at the title.
On a happier note, nothing will stop me me from going to Munich in May to watch us lift the Champions League. I promise any AAers who i see in Munchen a well deserved pint.
First class post match Post, TA. 🙂
Your report covered everything very well and helped jog my memory because like LG, I too was watching with an alcoholic mellowness. (sadly only 1 glass of wine for me nowadays, but that’s the way it goes) 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful an exciting game, (altho’ not the result) in which we played with zest, spirit and an intensity that is becoming the norm. Credit too to Citeh who are starting to play good attacking football, rather than the dreadful defensive formation of last season.
We came within an ace of an inspirational fighting draw, and tho’ it will seem churlish to some, I think it is best to be honest and say we are still short of a player or two to really compete at the very top.
I am reluctant to say this TA, but you know I am not being wantonly malicious in making my views known, I very much agree with LG regarding my dismay when Chamakh and Arshavin came on as substitutes. Inn addition, I think Walcott had a poor game, even if he did show his anger at being taken off. His inconsistent is a real worry and yesterday he was a weak link.
There appears to be a general consensus that Arteta can do no wrong. I am therefore probably in a minority, but I call things as I see them, and I think El Zorro was distinctly average in that game, and was at least partly responsible along with the youngster Miquel for the goal.
I am not into ratings as a rule– but to give you some idea of mine, by comparison with yours; Walcott 5 (7.5) and Arteta 6 (8.5).
These things are subjective, of course, but it is a mistake to label all our ducks as swans.
This does not detract from your excellent report, in any way, and your view is as valid as mine, even if we respectfully differ with regard to the two players above! 🙂
Sorry for the typos above — not ‘quite the ticket’ today as my Brit friends say!! 🙂
I can’t believe people are trying to blame the officials for what were very marginal calls based around interpretation. In response to RL yday, I too have watched the replay on numerous occasions and he is offside.
I personally watched the game of the season yday between 2 sides giving there all for the teams. The refereeing decisions were difficult but I think were called correctly.
Some people commented yday about how our team lost in honourable fashion, maybe some of our fans should learn to do the same.
I’m with you ginger.
Good match report, TA, thanks.
I disagree with RA on Walcott, not because I think Walcott had a startlingly good game, but because he did ok given that he was playing without support and was up against a top quality defence. Gervinho and Ramsey were more effective, so deserve better marks, but that doesn’t mean Theo played badly.
And for me, Arteta had a very good game. City had most joy down the flanks but in the centre, he and Song held sway.
But as RA says, it’s all subjective!
Terry is on the button re what yesterday meant for our season: any (deluded) dreams we had about winning the title this year depended on winning yesterday. We didn’t and the title has gone now. But the far more realistic prospect of getting any one of the other top four positions is still there, and our form over the last couple of months, including yesterday, shows us and the world we can achieve that. Forza Arsenal!
Top comment from BlueValentine too. He’ll get my genuine sympathy when Abu Dhabi pulls its funds, all the players sue for unpaid wages, City get evicted from Eastlands and the club is liquidated, with a fans’ phoenix club starting in the Chum Dogfood South Lancashire League!
Well is onfurtunate we lost d game bt i bliv we ‘ll bounce bck against Villa.
On Theo.
He was played one or two hospital balls. Having said that, where were the midfield supposed to thread it through to him? Into the gaps that his clever darting runs and off the ball runs had opened up?
Ginger, I’m with you on the point about the decisions now being examined under a microscope having been marginal, and that losing had nothing to do with poor performances from the officials. But you go too far to say that those who see things differently aren’t being honourable, they just have a different view.
On the RvP offside call, I don’t begin to blame the lino, it was an honest and reasonable assessment. But with the luxury of forensic examination, one can see that it was onside, so I disagree with you on that.
Truth is fans and pundits are mad to think there could ever be perfection on offside decision-making: the rule requires seeing at least three different things (sometimes more) at the same time, all moving and often a long way apart. It is simply impossible for one person to get it right every time. So there’s zero point complaining when marginal calls turn out to be incorrect. Easy ones are different, but the van Persie call was definitely marginal, even van Persie seemed to accept that he was probably offside.
26,
That’s fair, and people will obviously see things differently and I accept that.
But I just dont understand the attitude of ‘Arsenal never lose, they just get robbed’. The first thing to be said about the game yday was how good it was, not to start blaming officials because we lost. Why not blame RvP or Ramsey for missing chances? Or blame Gervinho and Theo for making ‘poor decisions’ when in and around the box?
A good fighting performance yesterday and one the lads can feel proud of and like many others, I thought we deserved a point.
We had a couple of marginal decisions go against us, but some you get and some you don’t, they were our ‘did nots’ yesterday. Another ref may have given a penalty against Richards, another lino would have given Robin the benefit of the doubt. Lets not dwell on it as the game yesterday was great to watch and full of exciting attacking play. It could easily have finished 4-4.
Why was OXO not brought on for Theo? Arshavin has no confidence at all right now and the signs look like a January departure.
fgg 10:47 Your opinion. Not necessarily everyone else. The offside decision I cannot 100% make my mind up, but, hand ball is hand ball. not my opinion but fact.
Agreed Ginger, but to be honest, I don’t think too many people have done that. You’re right, it is churlish to dwell on the “what ifs” when the team put in such a good performance, but it’s inevitable that there will be chat on the incidents. I think most people on AA (can’t speak for all the nutter sites I avoid) have started their post-match comments with positive comments, reflecting the pride to be taken from the performance, if not the result.
Oh VCC, that’s not a fact at all! The question of whether handball is deliberate is a matter of opinion. My opinion is the same as the ref’s. But I know plenty of others take a different view.
If that handball had been one of our own and the pen given, cripes, there would have been strong opinions!
So what exactly is a “handball” then? Sorry but I don’t agree FGG and GM.
I am in general against showing replays of offsides – I never watch them. The modern game is too fast for most linesmen therefore until there is a change in this silly rule, I’m not interested. We’re not playing in the school playground shouting at some kid for “goal hanging”.
Well I’m sure I could debate the ‘handball’ and ‘offside’ rules forever but as you rightly say 26, others will have their own opinions on the matter. I have voiced mine enough now I think and will start looking forward to 3 points at Villa Park. If we play like we did yday then it should be straight forward, but I think Wenger will make changes as the lads put a lot in. I just hope the changes don’t affect the performance.
26may 1989. 11:26 My eyes show me his arm made contact with the ball (fact). Opinion = is weather it was intentional. I am only stating the obvious. Some guys on here agree and some don’t. I was confident before the game of getting a result and was pleased with our performance away from home. I can take a defeat but I am only posting my opinions, after all this is a site with peoples opinions. It would be a boring world if everyone disagreed.
Good morning gooners, just watched the highlights and can only comment on them, and from them, it looked like we were cut open very easily too often, but as i say , it was only 10 minutes of highlights. So seeing as it was the knowledgeable football brain of Total,I`ll except we must have played a decent game from his usual high standard report.
I have to agree with Redders, just a couple of quality additions in the TW and we will be there or thereabouts for the CL spot and be in a position to challenge properly next season.
I have just had 16 ton (another 16 to come later) of slate chippings delivered and the site of this “mini alps” is fiiling me with dread at the painstaking amount of shovelling in front of me, the last time i felt this worried was when i was in the waiting room of the Prostate examination clinic, and Dr Abu Hamza called “next Infidel”. 😯
Love the snowdrops , I think we should all adorn xmas /panto names. 🙂
chas the genie ?
Rudolph the “Red Arse ” reindeer ?
Snow white, Cinderella and Sleeping beauty, Evonne, Peaches and Irish, you`ll have to srcatch each others eye`s out for who`s who !.
Come on AA`ers, no party poopers, in with the name`s !
VCC 11.20am
I think AW put AA on instead of the Ox because he is a proven goalscorer of sorts, the same as Chamakh, I don’t think the Ox has the experience to come on and change a game of this magnitude.
Credit to AW for going all out attack though.
Danny, under the Laws of the Game, it is a foul to handle the ball deliberately (meaning it is not a foul to handle it accidentally). Part of the referee’s job is to look at the position of the arm when the ball was handled and whether it moved towards the ball or whether the player had spread his arms before the moment of impact.
So it’s always going to be about interpretation, and since Richards’ arm didn’t move and was by his side, and there was no time for him to move his arm after it deflected off Ramsey’s head five yards away, I can’t see that it could fairly be called a foul.
I agree with you re offside, things should be changed. Though I’d like technology to be brought in to deal with understanding the precise positions of the ball and players.
Agreed VCC, it’s all about opinions, yours, mine, they’re all worth the same!
Anyways, I have to shoot off, hope all you guys and gals have a good day, catch up later.
Danny
I don’t have an opinion about the handball as I only saw it once and didn’t really pay that much attention. I thouight at the time that Robin was offside. If I’d been a lino I would have flagged him.
I like your style Ugly Sister!
I just hope this bug is gone by Xmas day otherwise I ain’t gunna be able to taste my future mother in laws Christmas puddings! Does that sound wrong???
What can I say, I shouted so loudly “handball” that the Mis’ess thought we’d scored. Then watching Ramsey showing the ref exactly where the ball had hit the defender was hilarious/sad.
TA —
7.5 for Walcott –
I guess that must be on a scale of 100?
fg grinch,
My motherfucker-in-law`s saggy xmas pudding`s are so low, they tangle with her walking sticks to trip the bitch up !
All we talk about is two decisions that went against us, but the reality is that but for lady luck we should have been down 2-0 in the 1st twenty minutes.
The problems are clear to see-
An injury ravaged defense and the weakest bench of the top six teams – so weak that it’s embarrassingly bad.
OOTUSLIC
Thanks, you’ve just put me off my lunch
Morning all.
Excellent positive write-up of an excellent game with a positive performance from New Arsenal.
FGG
I think it’s funny that we have both sat poring over the “offside” and come to completely different conclusions. How sad are we? 🙂
I guess that’s the way it goes and it only serves to emphasize how marginal the call was. Ayway, you’re a funny and clever commentator on here so let’s agree to disagree (and I won’t be questioning your honour – I’ll just accept you have a different viewpoint to me).
Agree with some of that gn5, but we do have 6 odd players out. Were close to the January Sales now , so lets hope Arsene bags us a couple of quality bargains, if not some discounted bargains, then pay some top money Arsene scrooge !.
I think given our best fit team, we are as good as anyone in this league. It is as you say some of the understudy`s. We seem to have one extreme to another in some department`s . As an example :Goalie,Szczesny—— Flappy, Poles apart!. CB, Kos, Chateau Lefitte 1787. Squilacci, Chateau Middlesbrough. Striker, RVP, Dutch Master piece, Chamakh, Butch Masturbate. !
Good morning AA-ers! 🙂 Thanks for comments/feedback.
Terry, I have exactly the same feeling this morning. A bit of a hangover feeling.
FGG, good to read you are no longer going to comment on the ref decisions, as there is a lot more to talk about regarding the game.
RA, G5, we are not going to agree on Theo’s performance yesterday. Zabaleta and Kompany had him in their combined pocket yesterday, but he worked his socks off for the team and had not much support from the RB’s in return. He is still was a constant thread and that created space for others to benefit from. Maybe it should have a 7 instead of a 7.5, but it is the season of goodwill and generosity.
Arteta was superb RA. Maybe he did not do enough in an attacking sense, but he and Song had a big task in stopping Citeh’s midfield, and boy did he do well at that. He was immense in the last ten minutes: when virtually everybody else was flagging, he kept driving the ball from defence to attack.
Brilliant idea GLiC 🙂 and good to see you are full of Christmas spirit regarding your MIL 😛
Sorry Arsedave or is it I want my “lunch back of notre dame” !
my problem is the ref-yeah,the one & only “fat phil dowd”there wasn’t a chance in hell of ANY of those decisions going for us because the guy HATES us-one win in the last SEVEN matches he has reffed us-coincidence?check out some of the decisions in those matches=you’ll be amazed & i don’t want to hear these things even themselves out…they don’t
TotalBell,
I`d like to say, that I get on with my MIL like a house on fire, her screaming on the inside, me on the outside, then she might be a Christmas spirit ,but saying that more like a pair of saggy Ghoulies.!
Agreed, one ball is always more itchy than the other
GLiC, Freud would say that deep down you love your MIL with a burning desire! 😛
TB,
I recognize that we won`t agree on this but here goes.
Even when Walcott switched wings with Gervinho he still remained anonymous while Gervinho excelled on both wings. So it could not have been either support or coverage that was the issue.
He had one good shot on goal and on the ensuing corner he was joking with Hart rather than concentrating on the corner.
5 out of 10 would be generous in my mind.
oftuslic – you should remember the old proverb…
Always look at the mother in law before you marry the daughter as that is what you will one day end up! 🙂
I am lucky and blessed with a great MIL, although she is a Chelsa fan for her sins.
Whats with all this Christmas cheer? Ime in bloody mourning here. Humbug to the lot of you.
Brigs, why weren’t you around 25 years ago telling me that bit of advice.
Gn5, TB
I thought Theo had a poor game. I’m not going to slaughter him because he has been one of our best players this year.
Yes, he was well marked yesterday and didn’t get the quality of service he normally gets, but he was far too easily shrugged off the ball on numerous occasions.
Whats all this MIL stuff? Give me a MILF any day of the week.
Also, particularly in the first half, Theo was not tracking back after losing possession, which helped make JD’s performance look worse than it was.
TotalBell,
Yes , I love her…….. being deep down in the cellar all year, but I`m a kind person not a bastard and i let her come up for Christmas Day, although her Birthday is the 29th Febuary and i might change it ,to coming up on Birthday`s only !
G5, fair enough. I thought the MC defence gave away little or no space for Theo to run into yesterday, and our midfield did not give him much service either. The immense Kompany brushed Theo off the ball on a few ocassions as well. Let’s agree though that Gervinho had a better game than Theo and he is far more able to run at defenders with the ball and make something happen. I think the Ox is very similar and I hope he will get more chances this season. Theo could have got frustrated and let his head hang down, but he did not and kept helping out the team, which was of vital importance as MC had very few opportunities from Arsenal’s right back area. He also produced a peach of a cross for both RvP and Ramsey which was ruled (just) offsite. Therefore I feel a seven is justified. To be honest, I do not really give too much value to measuring individual performances, as a lot depends on factors outside the control of the individual. I look at what they can control and how they fare with that, and how they perform for the team. It’s a team sport after all.
Greetings one and all,
wow TA, the sun must constantly shine bright in your world. Reading your post, I thought we were racing away with the title in the bag! Sometimes it’s ok to call a spade a spade, and leave a margin for criticism. We are far from perfect.
I agree with GN5’s 12:07. I’m surprised you didn’t give Chamakh a 7.5 just for making the journey and getting on the pitch!
Glic re MIL. Tell her to slip into something long and flowing on Christmas Day = Like the Thames.
Hi TA, 🙂
Our views are not so diametrically far apart actually — my views on the game and thus the players is very similar to yours overall, and that is good enough for me. [I always factor in a positive margin for you and my friend 26M re Theo — perhaps when Diaby is back you will respond similarly when I eulogise about his skills] 🙂
The arguments about handball are natural and as every fan feels hard done by if the decision does not go their way, it is all a bit academic and pointless. The rule has been worded by a lawyer, obviously, because it is a nonsense in so far as it requires the ref to decide on a player’s intention — to make a guess as to whether a player meant to deliberately handle the ball or not is just that — a guess.
Unless the officials can be trained to read minds (and they cannot) how can they decide on ‘intentions’. Bah humbug!! 🙂
I am a great believer in technology helping the officials to arrive at correct decisions.
What I am not in favour of is the use of multi camera angles to ‘prove’ the ref got an off-side wrong.
We should that accept linos and refs do not want to get decisions wrong, and they have to make decisions in a split second – in interpreting what are difficult rules encapsulated within the current off side law.
Handball? Off-side? Interesting discussion points for fans, but most (all) those who criticise the officials would probably screw up more times than not if they were in charge, unless they are great mind readers or have computer like minds themselves to calculate the off -side law implications in a split second.
How many fans, do you think, actually know the laws by the way? If the ex-professional punters and their shaky knowledge are anything to go by — very few, methinks! 🙂
For me, I always want Arsenal to win!! If they cannot win, I always want to see them play with heart and skill and let me watch a brilliant game — like yesterday in fact!! 🙂
RL 🙂 we must have seen a different game re Theo’s back-tracking and helping out Djourou!
My MIL is one in a billion.
She’s Chinese.
TB
I seem to have seen a different game to several of the regulars here!
But I was in a room full of people all yelling at Theo to run, not jog, when he lost possession and City were breaking down our right flank (this happened a few times).
RA, all agreed 🙂
Hi Herb, just because we did not win it doesn’t mean the team did not play exceptionally well yesterday. Like TMHT said earlier, this performance confirmed how strong Arsenal has become and is now able to fight with the Manc clubs for the top-3 spots: especially if we had not had such a bad start, we would be right up there with them. For me that is a major achievement since September and I wanted to reflect that in the report.
Fans will always pick out on individual performances as a way of letting out frustration. I did it with Arshavin in this report, but it always better to focus on the bigger picture.
Scroogey,
I`m struggling thinking of a MILF, at my age they`d have to be 70 at the youngest, Is there any 70 year old`s out there i could f**k without having to Iron the wrinkles and crease`s out first ?
@gunnern5
Theo wasn’t joking with Hart, he was congratulating him on a great save which was cool to see between 2 England squad players.
Fair enough RL. I watched the game twice in order to write the report and having read some of the comments re Theo’s performance in between the watchings, I paid a bit more attention to him the secon time.
Must say, I kind of agree with G5 about Lady Luck. I would change his “should” to “could” have been 2-0 down early on. Same as at Chelsea a few weeks ago.
Turning the clock back, had someone offered me two points from the away fixtures at Chelsea and City, I would have taken them. We got three. On another day that could have been zero, so overall I’m happy about her Ladyship’s part in our points tally.
Onwards to Villa, The Ems on Boxing day and then into the January Sales!
If AW and Gazidis had got our transfers sorted out properly instead of taking us into the season completely under-prepared, we may well have been toasting victory today instead of yet another ‘heroic loss’.
Their goal came from Gervinho casually surrendering possession. Not good.
Danny,
Wow, so you can read minds?
RL,
Im a lover not a fighter….but he was offside! Lol
I thought Theo was poor yday but tbh he’s been brilliant 90% of the season so I ain’t gunna slate him. I thought bringing him off was a bad move as he was just getting into the game and the match was becoming end to end which would have suited his pace.
He wasn’t helped by Djourou’s lack of forward running. Theo had to drop in front of Zabaleta otherwise there would have been a great gap between JD and Theo. Also we didn’t keep the ball that well in the first half which also pushed Theo back for the risk of Zabaleta getting forward (as he did a few times first half). When Kozzer went to RB, apart from there goal, it worked much better for Theo and allowed him to push onto Zabaleta. We also kept the ball better which helped and he was definately getting into the game before coming off.
I think if Jenks or Sagna had played then maybe Theo would have been more effective. Having said that, I thought Gerv was excellent yday collecting the ball deep and linking with Ramsey to find space. Theo still hasn’t got that side of his game where he can collect the ball and dribble and link up with the midfielders. He prefers the ball in behind and with space, not in tight areas.
FGG,
I prefer the ball two yards out with the GK caught 10 yards off his line, but hey ho 🙂
Micky well said! If in September anybody would have said we will be fifth in mid-December with a good chance to become third after the crazy four Christmas/New Year fixtures, they would have had to endure howls of derision. Add to this, that Newcastle, Spuds, MC, MU, Chelsea all have to come to THOF and our prospects look rather bride. But it is the nature in which we performed yesterday, without any of our FB’s and Wilshere still missing, which gives us most hope for a good ending this season.
Micky
“I prefer the ball two yards out with the GK caught 10 yards off his line” – and if it was MC or AA in similar circumstances would you bet your house on them putting it away? 🙂
TA/TB
What I like most about your match report is that it reflects the overall air of positivity around the club and what we have achieved after our most difficult and traumatic start for half a century.
I am still confident we can finish top three, although I will be even more confident if we can add a decent, experienced striker in the TW.
bride = bright 🙂
Thanks RL, let’s see what happens in the next TW. I wish it was over in 48 hours though – I hate all the redtop speculations and fabrications. It seems to take forever.
Rocky,
Harsh but fair!
And a hello to you. Have to confess I spent a rather unhealthy amount of time over the weekend looking at life and future prospects in Canada. Then had a drink with a local chum last night who took his wife and two children to the Vancouver area, hired a massive camper job, and tooled around for a couple of months. He was not helpful in his one-sided conclusions!
Concerning the “handball”, I noticed that he moved his arm away after the ball had hit it, not before.
I believe that he intended to control the ball, and did so, and then moved his arm away, so as to give the impression that he was trying to get away.
I also think that he manoevered his body so that the ball would hit his arm.
It is very similar to the first goal the scum scored, where the player, whose name I forget, knocked the ball down with his arm, so as to be able to shoot it towards the goal.
As I said yesterday TA, we shouldn’t have been put in a situation where we had anything to recover from, we’re meant to be one of the worlds biggest clubs. This is one of AW’s biggest ever challenges, and one he needs to get right.
Total,
Its easy. You blot out all talk and then tune in with 20 minutes to go.
Or Plan B, is to do a BigRaddy and head for some internetless mountains.
Talking of the Big Man, hope all is ok if you’re reading.
Herb, you said: ‘Their goal came from Gervinho casually surrendering possession. Not good.’ You are joking right? If Arsenal players were to listen to you, they would never attempt anything anymore? The MC goal had absolutely nothing to do with Gervinho’s intercepted pass.
jjgsol,
Are you implying he “did an Henry” france against the irish styley manoevre? Whatever next!
Me? I think the guy was stoned as well as ripped to the tits.
You stick with ‘bride’, TA. 🙂
Got us all thinking what your double meaning was? Or should that be ‘double dutch’? 🙂
Now if you had not written such a good Post enabling us to engage in arguments, repartee, and enabling GLIC to run riot with his Ma-in-Law, we would all have buggered off by now.
Hi Rockydemius, 🙂 Stop supporting me! 🙂
Ooops … what do you mean you weren’t?
I don’t think we matched City at all, the 800 million gulf was there to see, not the grand canyon size that the number suggests but still big enough to make the difference.
It could have been different in my view, the one area they out shone us was their full backs, both Richards and Zabaletta are specialists and augmented their attack on numerous occasions but sadly neither Vermaelen nor Djourou were able to add anything to our attack down the flanks.
I was convinced at the start that the choice to play Djourou was a political one, that’s to say that had he been on the bench watching Miguel out there I am convinced he would have caused problems for Wenger: Arsene I want to leave and whether you like Johann or not we need his experience.
That said, I was lifted when he went off, because the change in formation meant that Miguel could help Gervinho, Koscielny is better down the right and we all know that Vermaelen is wasted anywhere other than playing centrally.
But I was wrong!
City scored from our right flank with Koscielny caught out of position not having had enough time to adjust to the change in formation.
The Theo debate is always difficult, some say he was poor yesterday others say he tried hard. To the latter I would say Wolves players try hard, they try bloody hard but, as we all know, they lack talent, Walcott lacks talent, the talent to go past players when space is at a premium. And before whoever it is starts, this comment has nothing to do with how he has played in previous games; the fact is that yesterday he was ineffectual.
Van Persie gets my outfield player MOTM, he was the only attacking player to be able to hold the ball, create space and then find a man, the reoccurring problem was that he was let down by Walcott’s inability to go past players and Gervinho’s poor decision making.
Ramsey, Song and Arteta were all as good as each other. I am proud of them.
Good match report TA
Micky,
I have a close English buddy [well he is not so close anymore – as I will reveal], who spent several weeks cogitating on the effect that a short-term move from London to Vancouver would have on his family.
He decided to go on an 18 month contract. Then he accepted another 18 month extension which is now coming to an end. Guess what? He has extended again for another 3 years.
Work is work, for him, wherever he is located, but his young family love Canada, the people, the education system, (they are all now bi-lingual), and I do not think he is ever coming back! 🙂
I was confident of getting something yesterday, yet i`m more worried about Aston Villa putting us further back than we should be !. Oh well i`m off for a run in the wind and rain, I need to be fit for my 2 Xmas porno panto`s, the first is, Cat Whittingham and his Dick, where I play Cat and John Terry play`s my Dick and then I`m in Snow White and the 7 inches, where Nigella play`s Snow White and I play one of the inche`s , we need another 6 inche`s ! any takers ! chas! ?.
gunnern5
Watch it again and you’ll see Theo give Hart a “Fist Bump” which is the same as a handshake or a high five for the great save Hart made – but if you reckon Theo was joking around – fine. Oh and no I can’t read minds, yet, but I’m working on it……
Blimey, LB, an impassioned and well thought out comment which I cannot really find much to disagree with. 🙂
A word in favour of Kozzer is that he did try from time to time to go forward and invigorate the attack, after he switched to right back, but got caught out upfield. Sing-a-Long facing Bally Telli in the penalty area did what he could without being drawn into a foul, but could not stop his shot.
Swings and round abouts, I guess.
For what it is worth – and I have refrained from saying this as it might sound like I was carping unfairly, but before the goal, Arteta tracked back with Silva, and Miguel also tracked back to cover.
Inexplicably, Arteta stopped when he got to the penalty area, leaving Silva to carry on, and Miquel after having tracked back, for some reason then started forward again, just before Belli Telli’s shot was deflected by Chezzer, and Silva was left on his own to tap in.
Neither Arteta nor Miquel is lacking in talent – both made errors of judgement.
Great match report as always TA.
Beit behind the 8-ball in terms of the comments will have to catch up on them.
As for the game, disappointed in the outcome, very proud of the boys though. I think i woke up the whole of western australia when the handball wasn’t given (any other team and it would of been), but hey chin up we can still do it! I really really hate Nasri!
Enjoy your day fellow Gunners
MD89,
I’ve spent a great deal of time in Vancouver and it is undoubtedly one of the world’s great cities with the pacific ocean to the west and mountains to the east. I was always a visitor on an expense account and was able to fully enjoy the cities great hotels and restaurants without concern about the cost. However to live and work there is another story, with the influx of Asian money it’s an outrageously expensive city and unless you have a job to go to it’s difficult to find work unless you want to work in the oil or forestry industry.
Toronto is a better choice for although it’s expensive jobs are more plentiful and it is multi cultural. Schooling is great and it’s a wonderful country to raise a family, crime is low and people are open and friendly.
from football365
* Oh, it was a penalty. Sure, the ball came from behind a group of players and it didn’t give Micah Richards a great deal of time to react and withdraw his arm, but the forearm protruded and struck the ball. It was as much of a penalty as the one awarded against Joleon Lescott at Chelsea earlier this week.
GLIC, 🙂 🙂
good idea in regards to the naming GLIC
Danny,
Mind reading aside – during a game the other side are not your buddies they are the opposition. Why boost Hart’s confidence with a “great save buddy” he should have scowled at him and said “you won’t be so lucky next time”
RA
I must admit that I didn’t notice Arteta’s movement before the goal, I will have another look.
That is a well-balanced comment LB 🙂
You are right re FB’s. We missed our FB’s yesterday, but what can be done about it if all 4 are injured? And how much did Theo suffer from a lack of FB support on the day?
frOZty the snowman 🙂
Red Arse. Just had another look at the Man City goal. Your right, what was Miquel thinking????? He left TV with two players to contend with, surely you stay goal side or level with the last man if you are a left back. Good spot.
Couple of quick points, Theo and Joe Hart have been friends for a good few years thro’ the 21’s.
OOTUSLIC; Don’t worry about the Villa.
Interesting stat, just looked through the 16 game record since Prem began, top 6 have accumulated 204 points at this stage which is a record. Next best was 2007/08 197pts and 05/06 196pts. Lowest was 98/99 with 168pts.
Our record after 16 games, Our best 04 – 38pts, 29 pts on 4 occasions 92/93, 95/96, 98/09. 11/12
Bettered 29pts at this stage for 10 seasons.
What these stats show is that the gulf is greater than ever and we have a very strong top 6 now that Spurs and City have joined us.
When looking through the past tables – surprising stat. Who was second to us after 16 games in 1996/7?
one can argue until the cows come home about if we should have had a penalty and if RVP was offside but Mancini was worried as the game entered the last twenty minutes and went for more of a defensive formation yet the only person who really tested Hart was vermaelen.RVP is human, he can’t score with every shot.
Walcott, my favorite player 😉 was having a poor game but his shot in he second half brought out the best in hart and therefore he was rightly annoyed at being subbed as he might have got his act together, but still far too inconsistent.
When vermaelen has ten times the shooting accuracy of our second string striker then questions have to be asked.
The transfer window could be frantic with 6 clubs chasing 4 places, but were are all these players and are they available.I suspect several loan deals in the offing.
Hi VCC, 🙂
LB and others have lamented our problems with the unprecedented injuries to or 4 full backs.
Miquel is inexperienced, altho’ full of talent, but he has had to be thrown in as an emergency left back, so that inevitably he will suffer from a lack of judgement occasionally.
He will learn! 🙂
Hi Kelsey, 🙂
Good points.
Actually, I am not sure questions have to be asked about Chamakh, and I think the answers are out there too, sadly.
Have you moved yet? Are you back in the UK? What news of your internet connections? 🙂
Hi Fr-OZ-ty, 🙂
Tell Shane Warne; tell your Welsh Prime Minister; tell the Ozzie Rules and the Wallaby boys; — Your man Jason took a hell’uv a beating in the final of Strictly Dancing.
[It was a fix!!! 🙂 ]
I must say i feel a bit sorry for Chamack. The guy hardly plays, comes on for 5 minutes and gets stick, i mean come on what did he do wrong yesterday? As for Ashavin, well the guys completely lost his confidence. It was terrible to watch him treat the ball like it was some kind of taliban grenade . Maybe hes lost pace and is basicaly finnished at this level, i dont know, but it was horrible to watch.
Now my depression has passed, i think it would be wrong to give up on the title just yet. Both Manc clubs have got to come to our place and there is a lot of points to play for, and even more importantly our level is just as good as Citys and Uniteds. It will be a tall order but we can still do it.
Cornwall my friend, age is irelevant when it comes to MILF but just for you may i suggest GILF.
With our first choice FBs (Sagna/Santos) or even our second choice (Jenks/Gibbs) we would have stood a better chance of matching and beating City.
We don’t need more FBs – it’s just ridiculous bad luck to have all four out at once.
I agree with LB and Redders that there was a gap between us and them (not a gulf, but certainly a gap). It was mostly in evidence in the strength of their attacking options from the bench versus the paucity of ours.
We were slightly second best in general play, but not by much and having real FBs might well have tipped the balance our way.
Redders – I thought Arteta had another good game but he is not particularly a game-changer. I see him more as a more progressive Gilberto – someone who keeps everything ticking over, often in an unspectacular way, but whom we would miss greatly if he wasn’t there.
I really hope AW makes a signing or two in January.
Hello Kelsey 🙂
I’d be happy with loan deals if they’re for the right types of players (like the Henrik Larson deal ManUre did a few years ago).
TMHT
I agree that it’s harsh to judge Chamakh on the brief showing he had yesterday.
But as a long time fan and supporter of our little Russki, even I am beginning to think his time is over with us…
I like FrOZty the snowman, your our Wizard of Oz! 🙂
I`ll say it again, the football and technical knowledge of you guy`s is outstanding ( yes i do read all the serious stuff and could comment more but you seem to cover all base`s and i`d only be repeating stuff ! ) and you put the likes of some expert (?) pundits to shame.
Back to normal stuff, stop being party pooper`s, I want more panto name`s!
Afternoon all, quality wrote up as always TA and for me MotM was our keeper. Thought he was magnificent in everything he did.
As for debates about handball I can whole heatedly recommend reading this fine piece. http://www.corshamref.org.uk/law12/law12hand.htm
For me Richards moves his arm towards the ball and I think that’s what Ramsey was trying to point out to Dowd.
The offside you win and lose.
Why people are complaining about Theo touching hands with Hart after his save is beyond me, sums up the respect DanDan was talking about the other day perfectly. There is nothing wrong with it.
As others have said Mancini was desperately getting his team to defend and hold shape at the end. This is the reason (for me) that TV became our most dangerous attacker as City were getting deeper.
This game actually highlighted TAs observations from the other day about the three individual teams within the current side. We are concentrating on defence first in midfield which results in less from the midfield three in attacking terms. Only Ramsey really got forward to support and the balls to Theo and Gerv at times lacked positivity. As LB highlighted when City attacked it was in greater numbers.
All that said the chances were fairly even albeit City’s seemed clearer cut, and I don’t think Harts saves were that impressive the only one that really impressed me was the one from RvPs (offside) header. If he had been beaten by any of the other efforts I’d be asking serious questions of the England No1.
All said it was a cracking game of football and like others I was impressed with the teams commitment and attitude especially after conceding, heads did not appear to go down.
My only criticism of yesterday is JD, he should not have restarted the second half, it was clear he had picked up the injury before the break and if we had started the second half already rearranged I don’t think Koz would have conceded the space he did to Balotelli, his movement after the ball was played showed he was stil thinking in Centre Back mode expecting a RB to be sweeping it up.
I can actually understand why Arshavin comes on for Theo he may be horribly out of form but he is a genius who has more vision than Theo and Gerv combined, unfortunately he can’t get his feet to do what his head wants them to at the moment. We needed better ball in the final third so Arshavin is a good choice if only he could rediscover the form. And again bringing Cham on has reason if City are defending deeper and we are able to get more crosses in, but we didn’t really offer him anything.
As I said yesterday I would have welcomed a shift to 3-5-2 when we took BFG off for Cham rather than holding 4-4-2 and dropping Song back, for me it may have well stayed as was. If we were not going to change the overall shape.
The final thing yesterday proved is that shopping for bargains in midfield and defence is achievable and players can be moulded to better by Wenger. But up front strikers cost money, and you have to pay it. We lost the title race last season being unable to bag goals in a couple of draws, so for me I would ask Wenger to spend big in January up front. Afobe is back in training but we need a proven goalscorer, so for me I would take Torres and Bent if possible (ok I’m in dreamland) Torres can lead the line and play across the frontline. Bent will always score goals (his shopping trip in Cambridge whilst Villa were losing to Liverpool yesterday suggests he may come available quite soon).
By all accounts we may recall Bartley from his loan spell with Rangers to ease defensive pressure.
GLIC,
Have thought long and hard — I stopped because that is very rude!
How about ‘the great Rock candy mountain’ for our maestro Poster?
I had a very nice name for MerryT but he has been so ‘orrible about our poor, little, useless Meerkat and bummed up that useless, poor, little Chammy that I cannot bring myself to tell you! The Beastly Syrup!! 🙂
Rocky,
Its a shame, but it does look like curtains for the little Russian. He looks completely over the hill both physicaly and mentaly. The only saving grace for him is his ability to find pockets of space to either unleash a shot or set some one else up but even then hes screwing up the execution.
I have now had a quick second look at the major talking points and have come to the conclusion that both the penalty and the offside goal where marginal. On another day and at home they may well have gone in our favour.
We had some good attempts on goal and forced some great saves from Hart, we were, in all honesty, lucky in not conceding at least one more goal.
Taken all round a fair but unsatisfactory result.
One thing that can be said as an absolute certainty, this side has improved out of all recognition to the one that was annihilated in a previous visit to the North West.
Terry Mancini Hairy Godmother,
I feel a punchline coming on , Whats a GILF ? ( hope its not grannie , saying that , I went to plenty of grab a grannie nights when I was younger ! ahh, when i was younger, trouble is, now being incontinent with dementia arriving, I have a crap memory, If i went into a night club now, I`d probably say to a girl, “do i come here often”)
No TA, I’m not joking. If I was joking I would have said something like ‘Chamakh oozes quality and what a lift we all got seeing him come off the bench!’
As LB said, his decision making is poor. Playing for The Arsenal is a big step-up from playing for Lille, and the quicker he makes the adjustment the better.
Our full-back situation is shocking. How come it doesn’t happen to any other club?
Redders,
I thought the Beastly syrup was ” Sherman Stan ” ! 🙂
hahahah, sorry Redders. However, observing Chamack, believe me the last thing i would do is bum up to him.
Got it in one Cornwall. Theres a lot of grab a grannie clubs just outside our old manor, Brentwood etc. I feel at home in those places, lots of old men with bad syrups.
Hi Rocky, 🙂
Your point about Arteteteta being a reincarnation of Gilberto rings true.
I had a soft spot for Gilberto, and I know he was a favorite of many, but I am an eye candy man. A player with flair, speed and great panache will always attract my attention. They are the guys I want to play for Arsenal.
By contrast, a player like Gilberto and perhaps Arta, who work quietly and competently in the background pulling the strings, but who are slow and not strikingly talented, simply do not do it for me, purely in the sense that they slip under my ‘visual’ radar or to mix metaphors, they are like milk in coffee — you know they are there but it is the coffee I smell!! 🙂
I suspect you and many others will view me as a philistine for saying so, and some other philistines (not you… obviously) 🙂 will rain brickbats down on my head for saying so, but I am what I am; I is what I is, and I says what I sees!! 🙂
I do not wish to castigate any of our players, because of the match yesterday, because I enjoyed the match so much.
My comments were specific unto that game but were really only a gentle counter argument to the ratings TA gave Theo and El Zorro, but as he and I have agreed, it is a subjective judgement prone to my personal bias for skillful razzmatazz, and no more than that. 🙂
LG
If dowd is the ref being at home wouldn’t have made a difference. He’s got a history of being a c**t to us.
GM,
I am glad you are back. I have been reading MerryT’s and CLIC’s ‘MILF’ and ‘GILF’ code all afternoon, and haven’t a clue what they are talking about.
Now you are here, I can honestly say that I would **** that **** if he ****ing looks twice at my ****ing ****!
It’s so good to chat to someone who understands everything I ****. 🙂
TMHT. Are you from |Brentwood?
Redders
I didn’t realise you were a Philippino.
I hope you have bot been affected by the flooding…
Now look here Rocky — just coz I am dopey (OK, OK I admit it, I am the can’t count dwarf) there is no need to show your cerebral dexterity.
Who is this Flippin Pino and why do you think I am he?
VCC, Not from Brentwood but as a kid grew up in Stepney. Most people from the old East End have moved out to Essex now but ive migrated to sunny Bounds Green in North London, very convinient getting to the games. Cornwalls from Bethnal Green but had to move to Cornwall coz hes on the run from the law, something to do with a failed bank job.
Red Arse. Did you know only one of the seven dwarfs was Happy.
Redders, Rocky,
For some strange reason a disproportinate amount of Wig wearing men court Phiippino brides, i wonder why that is?
VCC,
Yep, but that don’t count ’cause Snow White was asleep! That happy dwarf is a dirty little beast!!
Don’t you start batting your eyes at me MerryT.
I may be a philistine but I is no Philly Pino!!
Just had a glance at the Official Man City site, and they are absolutely delighted with their best performance of the season, and relief they won.
Puts our performance into perspective!! 🙂
Off now — if there is anyone out there!
A train hits a bus load of Catholic school girls and they all perish. They are all in heaven trying to enter the pearly gates past St. Peter.St . Peter asks the first girl, “Jessica, have you ever had any contact with a penis?”
She giggles and shyly replies, “Well I once touched the head of one with the tip of my finger.”
St. Peter says, “OK, dip the tip of your finger in The Holy Water and pass through the gate.”St. Peter asks the next girl the same question, “Jennifer have you ever had any contact with a penis?”
The girl is a little reluctant but replies, “Well once I fondled and stroked one.”
St. Peter says, “OK, dip your whole hand in The Holy Water and pass through the gate.”
All of a sudden there is a lot of commotion in the line of girls, one girl is pushing her way to the front of the line.When she reaches the front of the line St. Peter says, “Lisa! What seems to be the rush?”
The girl replies, “If I’m going to have to gargle that Holy Water, I want to do it before Tiffany sticks her ass in it.”
Terry,
In that case, Cornwall should be overrun by Bankers for all the failing banks and robbing the tax payers ! 🙂
Are there any failed Bankers on here ? Or is it one of those professions you sort of keep quiet about, like, Estate agent,Tax inspector,Parking warden, Catholic paedo..sorry priest. 🙂
Terry,
The problem with them grab a grannie places in Brentwood is when the lights come on at the end of the evening, all them syrup wearing grannies dont look to good even after a few bevvies, so it`s hand on syrup and run like f**k !
I’ve still not had a chance to read TA’s match report, but before I did I thought I’d have a look at the end of yesterday’s. These two from Blue Valentine were posted on yesterday’s so I thought I’d repost them here in case anyone hadn’t seen them.
Now off to read the post.
bluevalentine says:
December 19, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Back again despite my best intentions! This site sure is addictive. Just seen SharkeySure’s post asking me about the long term view on Yaya.
Basically, there are 2 Yayas, depending on how Mancini use him. One is the resolute DMF, where he slots in beside Barry or just ahead of DJ, his Barca role at which he’s pretty good, clears up a lot of lose ball and takes the pressure off the back 4 – important when we are playing good sides or especially when we play Richards and Kolarov who aren’t as defensively disciplined as Zabaleta – Clichy.
Then there’s the other Yaya – the one Mancini wants, the rampaging CMF who, ball at feet, makes rampaging runs towards and into the penalty area and causes chaos, unstoppable by sides with poor CBs Sunderland, Blackburn, Man U minus Vidic (hehe).
I don’t think Yaya is one of those naturally fit people – although in the earlier part of this season he was better in this respect than last. The last few games he seems to be carrying a knock which is slowing his gallop.
Overall, he’s been pretty terrific. Scores imortant goals too.
But lately, as I said, he seems to overdo the playground bully thing, more concerned with payback and giving someone a retaliatory dig or slap than is good for his concentration.
bluevalentine says:
December 19, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Thought I should also say that a City-following mate turned round at half time and said “If Carlsberg made 0-0 draws”
Excellent match report, TA.
I thought the BFG was slyly pushed in the back when he was one-on-one with Balotelli making it look like he was weak in the challenge.
Also, for the goal, as Balotelli was cutting inside Song, Miquel inexplicably moved away from the goal. I know he’d only just come on the pitch and he’s not really a full back, but the space he left behind him was the space occupied by David Silva. Aside from that, Miquel was very good, as you say.
The Cow, the Ant and an Old Fart!
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A cow, an ant and an old fart are debating on
who is the greatest of the three of them.
The cow said, “I give 20 quarts of milk every day and
that’s why I am the greatest!”
The ant said, “I work day and night, summer and winter,
I can carry 52 times my own weight and
that’s why I am the greatest!”
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Why are you scrolling down?
It’s your turn to say something…
Chas 🙂 v funny. Did you enjoy the match (despite losing)? What sort of song did the away fans sing?
Herb, we have different ways of deeling with an Arsenal disappointment. I am sure if you look back to previous debates between us you will detect a trend of me looking at the positives and not giving too much weight to the negatives, whilst you tend to focus on under par individual performances, Arsene’s decision making and the lack of investments by the club. I feel this is the wrong thing to do, but you are of course entitled to do so, and you are not the only one. You are a true Gooner with just another window on the world/Arsenal, and I respect you for that.
Regarding Gervinho, we will not agree. For me he was the best attacker on the pitch, and that includes MC. He is always willing to take players on and make things happen and his delivery is ofteb very good. On top of that he worked his socks off defensively. It is very simple for me: if Gervinho improves his decision making a bit further and becomes a better finisher he will become world class. Gervinho produced a couple of quality assists as a result of brilliant wing-play yesterday, and that is what he is being paid for.
Gie, wow great comment @3.53. You are great at combining a detailed analysis with giving us a good overview.
I fully agree with on: ‘My only criticism of yesterday is JD, he should not have restarted the second half, it was clear he had picked up the injury before the break and if we had started the second half already rearranged I don’t think Koz would have conceded the space he did to Balotelli, his movement after the ball was played showed he was stil thinking in Centre Back mode expecting a RB to be sweeping it up.’
Boxing day might be off 😦
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16256698.stm
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/important-information-arsenal-v-wolves
Well said Worlds No 1:
Getting above Tottenham is the main target. We don’t want to finish below them no matter what. That’s just my personal ambition because I am one of the fans and so it means a lot to me to finish above them. I am confident we will do so.
They will slip up eventually. They have been in good form – you have to give it to them – but I am confident we are a better side and will finish above them. Time will tell if they can handle the pressure but they look good at the moment. Hopefully they will drop points in the second half of the season.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2076158/Arsenal-finish-Tottenham–Wojciech-Szczensy.html#ixzz1h0l1RMqR
Cheers TA 😳 glad someone read it 😀
If AW makes the right calls during this transfer-window TA, this can still be a big season for us.
I accept your point about Gervinho.
As you know I was a big fan of the Dutch ‘Total Football’ during the 1970’s, and the Dutch seem to have a natural attacking philosophy, which for me is how football should be played.
So as much as we may differ in our interpretations, I want to see Arsenal playing attacking football, and as a native of the Oranje country, I always respect your views regarding our club.
Hi Herb, Holland are going through an interesting period at the moment. Bert van Marwijk is a very good manager and he has been changing the way Oranje play. The football is less ‘total’ now, and less attacking. I think this is mainly because Holland do not have any top class CB’s – Heitinga being one of them (!) – and to compensate for that they have been playing with two DM’s (De Jong and Van Bommel) and only four attackers. It is probably the best system for Holland, but there is hope that Strootman will become Holland’s new total midfielder, who can do both defend and attack and he picks a great pass with ease (he reminds me a bit of Fabregas). With Robben, Van Persie, Sneijder and (hopefully) Affelay fit in the summer, Oranje could go all the way, but the Spaniards, who now play the purest of purest of total football, remain the firm favourites.
Rasp, thanks for adding in those great pictures 🙂
Pleasure TA, thanks for writing a great match report. Apologies to you and others for not being around much during the day, I am snowed under at the moment.
literally or figuratively?
I want this to be sung loud and proud on Wednesday (from Twitter “Keith the Gooner”)
“Frimpong merrily on high
Emmanuel is a Gooner
Frimpong merrily on high
He’ll put his boot right through ya
TRA LA LA LA LA LA…!!”
I love that playing with “only four attackers ” is considered defensive in Holland 😀
Figuratively speaking TA 😛
On another note, does anyone know whether Tevez would be able to play against us in the CL if he signs for AC?
An own goal to beat Lee Dixons
TA,
Yes we still had a good day out even with the result.
We were very low down (as you can see in the pic) , so couldn’t see much down the end where Citeh scored. We were right behind Tommy’s screamer. Would have loved it if it had gone in.
http://twitpic.com/7vklrw/full
The singing was brilliant on the concourse. Don’t know if you saw this that I posted yesterday? Caused a stir as you can imagine.
http://twitpic.com/7v5bxy/full
There were two new songs. The first was Abu Dhabi related to this tune. Something like ‘It’s not about the money, money, money, cos you’re playing on a Thuuursday, playing on a Thuuursday’
The other song was less clear and about Gervinho. We didn’t recognise the tune but it had a lot of o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-0 ing at the end of Gervinho’s name. Sorry not very helpful that last one.
I’m quite hoping the Wolves game is put off until the 27th as I had to turn down a great invite for Boxing Day and will be able to do both.
I still have two spare for it whenever it’s staged if anyone’s interested.
Love the Frimpong song, GIE.
Ant and me are going to Villa too, so will report back if it gets an airing.
TRA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA Frimpong is a Gooner!!”
I hope the game isn’t moved to 27th as I will have to choose between The Arsenal and my brothers Stag. Hmmmm.
GiE, yeah that sounds a bit weird. But with De Jong and Van Bommel in the middle often not much creative stuff is happening from the centre of midfield.
So many spares for Villa available and I now have no work Thursday but Mrs Exile is putting me on ban as I’ve been ill for about two weeks.
I’ve been poorly for a month, GIE.
Thanks for the update Chas and good pictures! 🙂
You need to get fit for your brother’s stag though.
Rasp, Tevez played the last 10 minutes of their home match against Napoli, so cannot play for Milan, if and when he ends up there 😀
Chas, is that Arry R in your avatar?
Was it really necessary for the FA to cram 6 games in 16 days? 17th Dec to 2 January. That is crazy scheduling all to fit International breaks and friendlies in.
Haha, TA.
It would be the dogs b*llocks if it wasn’t a bitch.
Six games?
Its 5 not 6 GiE, but still madness. We need a win against Villa to regain momentum.
Chas 😀
Great Match report TA………
I did a long winded reply, but unfortunately, lost it as I was posting, gutted…….
Long day at work, so too tired to redo….
1. GIE spot on with your 3.53….the reshuffle caused the goal…….
2. FGG..Have u seen the angle shown on MotD, I thought he was offside till i saw that, defo onside……
3. For me was handball, but i see why the troll didnt give it.
4. Ramsey works and does more than he gets credit for, excellent performance….wish people would stop finding fault when he has done nothing wrong…
5. Arteta was outstanding in the 2nd half…..lucky to still be walking after that hospital ball by JD.
6. Push City all the way, even with significant shortcomings, defo in top 4 at end of season, more convinced than ever.
7. Need to beat villa, or this defeat hurts more.
8. Walcott had an off day, end of, still would have left him on and through the middle…..shouldnt have stropped though.
9. Worlds number 1 is worlds no1 and i would swap for any keeper out there….
10. Proud to be a gooner…….
Night all……
Harry,
I haven’t seen that angle, but if he’s off on Sky then I’m not sure how he could be on with the BBC, but then again, I haven’t seen it.
Anyone think Kalou could be a good signing? Apparently we nearly signed him a year or two ago and he does show signs of quality. A bit more regulatar football may bring out the best in him and with Sturridge and Lukaku coming through at Chelsea his playing time is getting less and less.
Oh yeah it is only 5. D’oh!
Blackburn Rovers have suffered another blow with the news that defender Scott Dann has been ruled out of action for six weeks after he ruptured a testicle.
…………………………………………………………………………
This must be driving him nuts……………………….
Chas, Chas, Chas,
Count me first in line for those tickets if the game moves from Boxing Day.
Will do, Micky.
Chas,
Whatever my heart tells me I’d like to do to strikers that think ruining one of the traditionally great family days of the year, I think I can hear the first few chords of angels singing!
Micky – do you want to take my mother with you to the game?
Chas – love the meerkats xx
Morning all:
I thought this might be a point of discussion or even a post.
Arsenal fan Alex Brooker believes Andrey Arshavin’s performance against Manchester City on Sunday perfectly summed up his disappointing year.
With his side 1-0 down at Manchester City on Sunday, Arsene Wenger looked to his bench for inspiration.
Who could come on and get the Gunners back into the game? Who could produce that moment of magic that would break City’s stubborn resolve? Well, with 69 minutes gone at the Etihad Stadium, Wenger felt that man was Andrey Arshavin as he was introduced in place of Theo Walcott.
This is Andrey Arshavin, the Russian magician who lit up Euro 2008, who looked a snip at £15million-ish when he arrived at the Emirates Stadium on transfer deadline day on 2 February 2009. This is Andrey Arshavin, who tore Liverpool apart with four goals at Anfield and a man who is capable of a moment of magic the game was crying out for.
But what Arsenal fans were treated to for the last 20 minutes of a pulsating game was exactly what they expected – the latest in a long line of woeful cameos from the 30-year-old.
Because as Gooners have known for well over a year, their number 23 is certainly not the Arshavin of old. This is not Andrey Arshavin, the magician. This is Andrey Arshavin – a player who constantly has the look of a child that has done a crap somewhere in the house. He knows it, but he’s just waiting for you to find it.
Well, Arsenal fans have found that crap and they have had enough.
But what has happened to the Russian to turn him from such a mercurial talent, to this comedy character? This was a man who Barcelona wanted after Euro 2008.
The obvious thing is confidence. Arshavin has pretty much hit rock-bottom in that department and there seems to be nothing that will bring him back to the player he was. When he arrived in England, he looked like a man on a mission and was an instant hit. That superb performance at Anfield was the undoubted highlight but he always looked like a player capable of changing a game, and Arsenal fans loved him for it.
That continued in the 2009/2010 season and he scored a belter against United at Old Trafford in a game which Arsenal somehow lost. But towards the end of the season there seemed to be a change in his performances. Games began to pass him by and that is a worrying trend which has never been halted.
At the start of last season he barely got going yet Wenger pointed to his assist and scoring ratio which was actually quite good. Yet, 2011 has proved to be a wretched year for Arshavin as he lost his place in the side and was reduced to the now-familiar last 20 minutes or so from the bench.
Occasionally he has produced: His late winner in the Champions League second-round first leg against Barcelona in February lifted the roof off the Emirates and is a moment few Arsenal fans will forget. But that has been the only bright spot of a desperately poor 12 months and Gervinho’s arrival has left him well out of favour with Wenger.
But how the Frenchman would love for it to be different. How the Arsenal fans would love for it to be different. With the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer, Arsenal are desperate for someone to produce the world-class bit of magic that they are now heavily reliant on Robin van Persie for. With Gervinho off to the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast at the turn of the year, Arshavin may get his chance. But the thought of him playing week in, week out is far from a happy one.
Off the pitch Arshavin has always been a fruity character, designing women’s clothes and answering fans’ problems on his personal website. But he has no answer to his fans’ biggest problem and it surely can’t be long before Wenger gives Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain more opportunities, turns to the under-utilised Yossi Benayoun or maybe even delves into the transfer market.
Andrey has done one too many whoopsies I’m afraid and if Arsenal want to carry on their progression from recent weeks they need to find a new magician.
Morning all. ….
……..New post …….
Mind reading games are usually associated with the theory of the mind where people relate with thought of other people around them. With these skills developed, those so called “magicians, mentalists or mind readers” are able to read through a person’s thoughts by many ways.
fatloss…
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