Imagine this: 2010. You support a club which has won the European Cup, your team has a wealthy American owner , they are Wembley regulars and are usually in contact with the League leaders, they are managed by one of the best PL managers (O’Neill) and have some decent players in the squad.
Move forward a couple of years to 2012. Suddenly your club is owned by a man whose personal fortune has diminished from 1.5 billion to less than the cost of your new striker. They have taken on a manager from your hated rivals with a football policy that harks back to the ’50’s, your club is over 50 million in debt, and sit 15th in the PL with little hope of improvement.
A Face like the Smell of Gas
Just think …. there are Gooners who think Arsenal have problems!!!
Aston Villa are one of those clubs almost everyone has a soft spot for. A family club with good traditions. Decent ground, decent supporters, no real challenge for The Arsenal (we have lost to them twice since 1999) – what is there not to like? OK, they beat us at The Emirates last season but we were awful that day, with Darren Bent scoring twice in the process of relegating poor Squllaci to the reserves
This season we beat Villa in a tight game with Benayoun scoring in the 87th minute. Can’t see Bennie getting a bench seat today. With the return of our first choice MF’s (bar JW) his days are numbered.
Bennie and Arshavin. Will we see them again
I know many are extolling our fantastic run as a return to the Arsenal of Old but I am yet to be convinced. We were definitely second best at Anfield with the woodwork and Szczesny’s brilliance saving us, and at Goodison we were hardly outstanding. I have said previously the difference is that we are getting the breaks which we certainly didn’t get earlier in the season when we hit the woodwork over and over again, and got beaten by teams who had 2 0r 3 shots on target all game. Luck matters, it is often the difference in a tight game.
My Team:
Having an almost full squad to choose from is a luxury we have not had for some time (1982?). Mr Wenger has options in almost every position which makes guessing the team considerably more difficult. The back 5 pick themselves though I expect to see Santos get some pitch time – he will be important in the run-in. The Gerv/Ox position is difficult. Ox plays deeper and can help the midfield more consistently than Gerv, but Gervinho is better on the break and we can win this game with pace.
Unlike the Everton game I do not expect an 8 man midfield battle. I expect AV to park the bus and look to hit us with the ball over the top to Agbonlahor (Bent is injured). In N’zogbia, Ireland and Petrov they have players who can hurt us with clever through balls.
This week’s Gooner. How about another Old Timer? The writer George Orwell was a Gooner. Born in India he became a fan during the late 1920’s. Orwell then moved to Hampstead and later Kentish Town where he witnessed the great Arsenal team of the 30’s winning absolutely everything. In his Collected Essays he writes of the pride he felt when 7 Arsenal players represented England in a game at Highbury. After WW2, he moved to Canonbury Sq.Islington where he lived until bad health forced him to leave the borough of his beloved team.
Real Man
Another important game today. Whatever the result at the Bridge we have to win. There are tough games ahead and Villa, despite being a decent side, are just the type of team we have to dispatch in what will be a tight contest for the CL places.
COYRRG
written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
First
oh my… wrong web site 🙂
Face like the smell of gas ~ love it! COYG’s only a win will do!
Bloddy Brilliant Big Raddy, 🙂
love your pre-match..
No bent, no Dunne, and N’Zogbia only a 50% chance of playing (knee injury)..so who is their biggest threat? id say Ireland, but id also expect for Song to keep him in his pocket..Heskey might try some mumbo-jumbo but under McLeish he looks another has been..
it looks really good for us but there should be no room for complacency..if we go out playing our game, we should be too strong, especially with our new found 12th man..
Not sure if its a good thing for our players to know opposition results before our game but who knows, it might just push us to another higher level of confidence…
COYRRG!!!
Every time I look at the pic of McLeish I laugh.
i keep remembering that pic we had with that dog as his face, last time we played em
Nice one BR informative and great fun as always. I wonder what part McLeish would play in Animal Farm, after all Orwell did say ” Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words: it is war minus the shooting. ” Sounds a bit like our Alex’s methods dont you think
Aston Villa are the only side in the premiership to NOT score from a corner this season..
DD. Excellent
London (LB). Where are you? I miss your ascerbic comments
Lovely stuff, BR. Face like the smell of gas. What a corker!
Very quiet here this morning. Must be the Spring weather.
Top PM Raddy, sorry I haven’t been about – lawn to cut 🙂
What’s the chances of the Ox starting in front of Gervinho. Of the two, Gerv still looks jaded from the ACN
Excellent post as always BR. I cant see us having any problems today, the defence are fantastic at the moment, options in the middle and we have the boy wonder. 6-0 to the Arsenal.
it’s weird how far villa have fallen, used to be my second team after arsenal before mcleish ruined them. And that’s a good shout about luck, used to be we’d destroy teams possession-wise and then wasteful finishing and a quick counter would undo us, nice to see us doing that to other teams on occasion now (such as liverpool).
By the way
Whers is everybody?
Are we all that infatuated with the spuds losing today?
Strange. Chavs game dul, but not as dull as the site this morning.
Get out of the Sun and get blogging!
Raddy,
a very cagey affair..i expect fireworks if either team concedes
What a bad game is is.
Spuds fans being funny though – singing “Frank Lampard, he eats what he wants…”
BR
Who would have thought your pre-matches could get even better?
A brilliant read and a lovely start to my day. I had no idea Orwell was a Gooner and I’m delighted to hear that he was. I should have realised from the title of his classic “The Road To Wigan Gooner.”
Finally some action. Chelsea lucky to not be going in a goal down – great save by Cech and then great block on the line from Cashley.
i might go paint the lounge room….and then watch the paint dry..
By the way BR, I assume you were picking up good vibrations about today’s game?
Hi Rocky, my friend a Chav told me that they have a song for Torres just waiting to release it 🙂 some wait
What time is it in Canada now?
Morning Evonne 🙂
Canada is 4 hours behind the UK at the moment – so when we kick off today it will be 11am here.
Tomorrow, when your clocks change, it will go back to the usual 5 hour difference (our clocks changed two weekends ago).
RL. Very funny.
It’s great that Some get my Music connections.
Game picking up at last
Munch easier than the aussies and West coast Americans
Afternoon Rocky 🙂 Time change tomorrow? I didn’t know
Raddy – great pre-match, thank you very much.
The Spuds must be thinking ‘we win at the Bridge, Arseholes lose to Villa, and we are back in 3rd, happy days’
George Orwell? It just get’s better and better. Great pre match as always Raddy. We have the best Celebrity fans (apart from that arsehole from the daily mirror)
Spuds fans singing that Godawful slow-motion version of “oh when the Sp*rs go marching on”.
It sounds like music therapy hour at the special needs home.
Evonne
With your leisurely European emigre lifestyle you don’t need to trouble yourself with such trifles as the changing of the clocks 🙂
LMAO Rocky 🙂
Chavs hit the post. Great free kick from Mata. He’s a really good player 😦
Torres on.
I’m coming round to the idea of a 0-0
im sure if Torres puts spurs away, his 50mil price tag will be justified
and he will make many gooners very happy
AW might well agree about Mata. Little doubt we wanted him
Rocky – it has nothing to do with my leisurely lifestyle, it’s the drugs I am rattling with, all legit of course 🙂
Foock, ade almot scored, not in the script
cahill just justified his price tag 🙂
Adebayor fluffs a good chance. Don’t miss him at all.
bar
ha ha ha
bar
phew….
Bar – pah!
Helemt had it covered anyway.
Gervinho has been named among the starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium.
The Ivorian international starts his first league match since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, with Aaron Ramsey dropping to the bench.
Theo Walcott continues on the wing, while Robin van Persie will be looking to add to his 26 Premier League goals this season.
Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Gervinho, Walcott, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Santos, Djourou, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Benayoun, Chamakh.
from arsenal.com
Are you going to the game Evonne?
Thanks Rob
Good team. It made sense to start Aaron up at Everton, but we need to be more attacking today so I’m happy to see Gerv back in the side.
Rocky – no, I am not, not well enough. But I am going to stand outside Southgate station greeting spurs fans returning from the game, in my Arsenal jacket 🙂
Evonne
You are a very interesting person 🙂
0-0
Happy with that.
As the game wore on I realized that the only result I really did not want was a Spuds win.
Now it’s up to us to do the business against Villa.
Rocky – is it an euphemism for mad? I am also a compulsive liar 🙂 Peaches, Rasp and Micky just phoned to check the result, they are happy, saying Hi to all
Chelsea love a dive. Should have been at least 3 cards for simulation.
And Luiz is laughable
A draw suits us assuming we win today.
BR scores 100% on the team. A good portent?
Your team exactly Raddy.
They both dropped 2 points. It’s the best result really.
rumour has it that modric was not allowed to create or score any goals today or he would lose his signing on bonus courtesy of abramobitch 🙂
Spurs good value for the point. Ade worked very hard and was best forward on the pitch.
Has RDM been sacked yet?
Happy with that draw….was a pisspoor game though.
COYRRG
Tiptop prematch Raddy
Happy with the team, happier with the bench. Imagine what it’ll look like next year with BFG, Jack, Pod in the squad?
abramovich has just called RDM into the office 🙂
in the famous words of donald trump- ‘your …..!’
GM. 🙂
Kozzer withdrawn half an hour before kick off.
JD in.
He’ll do fine.
My biggest fear is Dowd.
JD injured
Bugger JD on
bloody hell, injury time gives polish commentators to remind us Villas game from last season, I don’t want to hear it!!
Any streams guys?
Ah. maybe it wont be quite so easy today. JD in place of Kos. How long before Song steps back and Rambo comes on ?
Sorry VCC – it’s on TV here in Canada
Shit that was a 3 on two. Concentrate Arsenal
Song or Arteta has to be more defensive when they break.
That’s twice they’ve looked dangerous.
yessSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tra la la tra la la Tra la la!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gibbs? on Twitter
Get in!!!!
Yes GM
Assist from Gerv. Gibbs low shot from inside the box, coming in from the left. Given got a hand on it but it went under him.
1-0 – come on!
Beautiful goal.
TR is on fire today
One month ago we were 10 points behind Spurs 🙂
Villa fans openly hostile towards McLeish
Is Kozza not playing because of his yellow cards? They only count till 6th April, no?
evonne,
injured in the warm-up
I don’t think so Evonne.
Apparently he had a knee problem. Hopefully not serious.
Robbin – thanks, I thought AW didn’t want him reaching 10 and consequently missing 2 games. Nothing serious i hope?
TA – should Tommy’s name be pronounced Fermalen? I know he is Belgian, but they are similar languages, me thinks
Theo!
Alex is a genius, love him
i must say that walcotts first touch has been world class thus far…
COYRRG!!!!
What a goal!
Another astonishing long pass from Song, brilliant first touch from Theo, who finished as calm as you like…
Great long range effort from Arteta. Good save. Corner.
Well well, they have just said on Polish TV that Boy Wonder requested that he, Theo and goalies stay after each training and practice shooting, to improve Theo’s confidence and skills
Another cracker. Great pass frm Song and fine control by Theo.
Come on you rip roaring Reds.
One for RvP now…….
GM
Are you cutting hair?
Going well then?
thanks to Exile Seniors 😉
Pool 0 Wigan 1
We are far more fluid without Ramsey holding up the play.
One team in London, there’s only 1 team in London!!
Nick B has scored 🙂
That is one the best moments of defending I have ever seen from Warnock. RVP must be stunned. Amazing!
Djourou does not look the least bit comfortable – especially when he’s the last man back.
Fine first half. Important we keep going.
http://www.livefootballol.com/streaming/epl/week-30-arsenal-aston-villa-24-03-2012.html
Try this guys, its working well for me.
two things im very impressed with:-
1. theos’ first touch
2. our pressing game has improved dramatically of late
Gn5. Why so negative?
We are totally outplaying a decent team. It would be 4-0 but for two super saves.
miyaichi with an assist 🙂
bolton up 2-0
What say we club together and bur GIE’s parents a season ticket?
im in for that..every year 🙂
Come on you Reds.
Score early and finish it.
Hahaha I’m trying to promote them to the idea of getting one for themselves 😀 Then I can have the odd one they can’t make 😀
BR:
Not the least bit negative, just obvious observations.
ok, we would like one more to bury the game..dont wanna see villans play themselves back into a no contest..
COYG!
Not obvious to me GN5
JD’s having a solid game and the myth of Ramsey slowing the play down is just that – a myth.
Our most fluid spells against Everton all involved Ramsey bursting forward and there have been plenty of games where we have not been fluid but where Ramsey was not playing (eg Liverpool away).
We can’t afford to take the foot off the gas.
Raddy – I sent you an email, could you check please
RL:
JD has settled down in this half and is looking more solid,
If it’s a myth why is he getting splinters?
Just finished a haircut and watched the highlights. Fantatsic. How did the defender save from Robin?
Thanks for the stream, have a flash one working, got to say we are taking the piss a bit.
Villa really only had one shot on goal all game?
Cisse got sent off and mises our game with QPR
Big leap from Theo trying to get on the end of that!
GM
sort of flying header
Gn5
By that reckoning Oxo must be rubbish too. And Santos.
Theo definitely more confident lately, so good to see that
Funny how some watch different games, cant argue with you Rocky 🙂
gm,
didnt he just come back last week? lol, hughes is a great scout
Dowd is starting to give Villa free kicks for nothing. He’ll be doing his best to get Villa back in the game.
I saw it Rocky I just don’t know how he managed it 🙂
Had a text from my Dad saying D Deadman was the 4th official. Some with good memories will remember my story about him from days of yore. Thank friday none of the 3 got injured.
Looks like we will get an opportunity to make a comparison.
come on ramsey, pull them splinters out 🙂
watch ramsey bury em now
GM
🙂 I realized after I commented that it was a rhetorical question 🙂
Well well well his 1st pass is a misplaced back pass and they almost scored from the resulting play……………….or are we watching a different game?
That was Santos GN5
GiE – how could we forget Deadman, you still remember after 20 years 🙂
Gn5…yep, very slow
And if it had been Ramsey, why take such apparent pleasure in the mistake?
Lots of our players have given away possession in this game – strangely you haven’t mentioned any of those.
https://twitter.com/#!/TeddyEastoe/status/183591585047511041
No Rocky it was not – Santos misplayed the poor back pass from Ramsey………..
Np pleasure – just observations…………….
Think Sz is bored….
THEO theo THEO….my MotM
Fair enough Gn5
I guess we just see it differently.
GiE – an intelligent person is never bored.
A Chorus of “One Arsene Wenger” Happy Days 😀
we really need to focus for the remaining minutes..
We don’t need to play as if we’re chasing the game.
In fact, you could argue we need to slow things down…
Was thinking the same Rocky, just keep possession.
Anyone else find it hilarious that Wigan are beating Liverpool at Anfield
thats a free kick why?
GiE
Because it’s Dowd
What a STRIKE….TAKE A BOW SON!
oh my God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! foocking hell
off to look at the table again 🙂
Qualiteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Great stuff Arsenal.
two englishman score in the same game for arsenal for the first time since 1997..but the third by our panic buy spaniard…what a goal…absolutely gorgeous..well done boys, well done to our fans at the grove and
GiE, please thank the parents…
We are now 7 points up on our like for like games.
Not bad for a team that sold its best players and made panic buys and couldn’t cope without a 21 year old Wilshere.
There is only one Arsene Wenger, thank the stars he is ours.
I’ll pass it on RurP 😀
So considering at the recent AST they discussed that as we had the 4th highest wage bill we should be expected to finish 4th. Does that mean 3rd is overachieving?
LOL GIE Love it 🙂
Oh it’s good to be a Gooner 🙂
dont bother GiE, some dick will probably retort with “its the least we should expect considering the price hikes for tickets”
their silence speaks volumes 🙂
.
Off subject….. A year ago we got done by Wigan overturning a 2 goal lead in the last 1/4 of the game and all hell broke loose, every pundit, “Expert” and disenchanted fan took to the airwaves on Talk Porkies and the like, crucifying the club, the team and the manager.
QPR did the same to the Pool last week, have you heard calls for Kenny Ds incompetent head. I haven’t, wonder why? They have lost at home today let’s see what happens
Last Wednesday about 4 o’clock there was a madman on talk’s cheap, ranting that Arsenal didn’t deserve CL football shouldn’t be allowed in because we don’t try to win it, as evidenced by our lack of transfer spend. Chelsea and the spuds at least give it a shot. You couldn’t make it up. Even Goughie sound incredulous.
Well said about holding the ball late second half.
Santos wasn’t going forward and the whole midfield were “siiting”.
My MotM. The midfield 3. Hard to seperate as all were excellent.
Arteta goal vs Aston Villa http://dai.ly/H11j6C
Stats I think this is called domination:
Possession : 57%-43%
Shots : 20-3
On Target : 10-2
Corners : 15-5
Fouls : 6-13
Biggest surprise Dowd failed to produce a card to a red and white shirt.
If Pool keep playing this well, they’re gonna win the championship
🙂 🙂 🙂
Rurp. Not if King Kenny is still in charge 🙂
I said in a comment last night that even if we lost Kozzer to a suspension because of accumulated yellows, I was not concerned about JD slotting in.
Let’s give praise where it’s due – he had a really good game today.
His bad performances were pretty much all when he was being asked to play at fullback. And although he’s a good CB, he certainly isn’t a FB.
Gn5
What did you think of Ramsey’s contribution?
(Genuine question)
Sure JD has his limitations but who else is a better 4th choice CB in the PL?
Big Raddy,
at the start of the season, my youngest brother (a pool supporter) told me that the best thing for Arsenal would be to cut our losses and get rid of wenger, spend shit loads of money and start fresh just like them..
im still waiting on those dinner reservations he promised a couple of months ago..so i sent him a text asking if he maybe lost his appetite? 🙂
RL,
yes agreed..i had my reservations about him maybe having to come in..my main concern would have been too much tinkering with a stable starting 11, full of confidence and momentum..
tonight JD can hold his head up high and be proud..He had a solid game and kept a clean sheet..he will only get better by playing these games and along side TV5
8points ahead of Chelsea is very positive.
Top Club in London? Don’t be silly
Do you think any of Nasri, Toure, Adebayor or Clichy would get in our first 11?
Thanks for the 60+m
liverpool?!! HAHAHAHAHAHHAA!!!
BR
Haha – no chance.
c’mon Stoke, pave the way for 2nd 😉
Great result. Comfortable performance.
Walcott was very effective Today and took his chance brilliantly.
Djourou was excellent aswell.
Song had a good game also and controlled the game from start to finish.
Didn’t really find out anything new about any of our lads today due to Villa not really testing us, but you can only beat what’s in front of you and I liked the way the team went about their business. Too many times in recent years we have failed to capitalise on other teams poor results, but that was never a problem today.
8 points clear of Chelsea with 7 extra GD, 3 clear of Spuds with 4 extra GD. I would’ve taken that at the beginning of the season. Onwards and upwards.
Calm down Robbin, calm down
Also good to see Bolton win Today.
This may sound awful, but the Muamba tragedy could be the thing that keeps them in the PL. they will be fighting tooth and nail for the lad on the pitch and I hope they stay up. Coyle has shown what a good guy he is and I like the way they play. Also sounds like Ryo is playing well at the moment.
2nd RurP? Surely you mean the title?
What a load of rubbish! If that had been Liverpool playing Villa, they would have won by at least 6:0.
No wait — that’s bollix — I was trying out being negative, and it’s like acid on my Arsenal soul!!!!!!!!! 😦 Those binners would have lost 0:4!!! 🙂
Brilliant, brilliant game!! Just to make my view clear — Djourou was excellent, especially in the air. Rambo was fine. He will score with one of those shots soon and then we will have loads of goals from a very good player. Rosicky is special – what style!! What’s not to like? 🙂
Loved the game — everyone gets a 10 from me, but Theo’s goal was exquisite, and Artettetttaaa’s free kick was suuuuperb!
Yaaaay for GIE’s mum and dad!!!!
you just never know..
stoke may grind out a 1-0 win, we take on shitty with our new found confidence and then bacon face takes out the derby…best 1billion dollars the sheik has ever spent on players…
ok evonne, i’ll calm down now
Sorry, Randy, 🙂 I was getting carried away.
I should first have commended you on yet another wonderful pre-match write up — sorry I could not be around earlier, (I was watching the Rasper gardening!)
You, Rocky and TA really have got this Post lark down to a tee.
All our other fine authors are hard on your heels, so you guys have to stay on top of your game!!!! 🙂
RL,
I have just re-played the game from when Ramsey came on.
His contribution was neither positive nor negative, in fact it was quite minimal. However his 1st pass could have altered the course of the game and we were very fortunate to not be scored against.
Our game was far more fluid with Gervinho on the pitch- but a comparison between the two is difficult as the game was, to all intent, won when he came on.
I am not a lover of his style of football and truly believe that he is given a “pass right through to go” because of his terrible injury.
But that said I hope one day to eat humble pie.
It should also be said that I find it offensive to be accused of taking pleasure in a players plight when all I’m doing is making observations.- and not rose coloured ones.
I’ve watched close to 1,000 live Arsenal games I have never, ever, booed or jeered any of our players, I have far too much respect for them – even though many of them deserved derision.
and guess whos the ref for the shitty v stoke game….
yep, howard webb..maybe SAF is the fourth official in his ear 🙂
Rocky,
Do you wear glasses?
hey Redders, 🙂
so Kermit is back?
what happened to you black beast?
7th heaven. Great peformace and if you listened to AW he said he purposely made the three subs as he has to rotate as some of the players were still pretty tired after the Everton Game.
Another assist by the much maligned Song, and Theo took it superbly.
Villa are a poor side,especially with Dunne out and we fans are strange lot. 6 weeks ago many thought we would finish mid table now when we are 2-0 up and cruising they want another 4 goals.
Ireland was lucky with that tackle on the OX, but having already been booked, i reckon the ref gave him the benefit of the doubt and therefore no penalty.
I loved arteta’s bullet lke fre kick, would love to see more shooting from distance.
All i will say about Santos is that he has been out for a long time and is ring rusty.
I reckon this team could easily improve by 20% and then everyone watch out.
By the way what happened to kos ?.
Djorou’s best game this season but overall a good competent performance by all.
Gn5. I am not looking for a row but I do not consider that I wear any colour glasses.
What I see is a young player who is top quality. One cannot compare Ramsey with Gerv. Or anyone else at AFC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yV_SShlTkE
Hi RurP, 🙂
That is a WordPress avatar — and I could not be arsed to log in!! 🙂
kelsey, Kozzer injured his knee in the warm up. No news yet on how serious it is — unless someone has heard more? 🙂
You are right, Santos is ring rusty, like Rambo, but once they have the games under the bonnet they both will be fine!! 🙂
Kelsey. You should be writing your report in the early hours of tomorrow.
We have a duty to stick to tradition!
I should BR and thanks for yours,but I have a game to play and want an early night. 🙂
Raddy,
I don’t wear glasses either, but if I did, I reckon that rose tinted sounds a bit pervy! 🙂 Now that would be offensive! 🙂
Not sure about Rocky, he has not replied yet — highly suss! 🙂
and the clocks go forward which i forgot.
Not talking to me then Kelsey? And after I had answered your question too!!! 🙂
Well I am off then.
Have rasp and peaches eloped, where are they ????
BR:
My “rose coloured” comment was a general-ism as I genuinely believe that folks are desperate for him to succeed due to his injury and give him a lot of rope that is not extended to other players.
Read my comment again, I made no attempt to make comparisons.
For the record – I never argue – I simply express my opinion and then, if required, defend that position.
Peace………………
RA,
you handsome long haired oh so tall beast, I am so so sorry 😉
Somebody gave me a bottle of sake yesterday and it’s gone straight to my head
koscielnys’ injury according to AW is ‘waking up with tendonitis’…it started to bother him in the pre-game warm up…
Gn5
You’re right – I shouldn’t have accused you of taking pleasure in his mistake. Apologies for that.
But, as I said earlier, many players made misplaced passes about which no comments are made.
There was little wrong with Ramsey’s pass to Santos – all our players are trained to cope with receiving the ball under pressure. Santos’ error was unforced.
You also suggested that Ramsey sitting on the bench was evidence that he slows the pace down.
To me it’s just evidence that we have a strong squad and that TR7 has been on great form lately.
I think Ramsey’s opportunities are purely down to his abilities and nothing to do with his injury.
Like all our players he struggled during the bad patch when we had no FBs. Unlike all our players, he happened to be singled out as a target by some (online) supporters. Very unfairly, in my opinion.
Clearly we have a different view of his talents but I think he’s an outstanding player.
Peace
Love
Understanding
RL:
That`s fine, It would be a strange old world if we all shared the same opinion.
I would be as delighted as the next person if he were to be an Arsenal legend.
Arttttettaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
And Happiness
Crouch!!!!
what a gol.
what a goal, almost as good as Arteta’s
Redders
I don’t wear any glasses, although rose tinted ones sound quite appealing.
I do, however, have one eye that does close-up stuff (reading) and one for distance, following some eye surgery last year. 🙂
mancini…..your fired
Kelsey – they are still on the train. She insists on walking to Finsbury Park and that takes forever…
I was laughing at those gunners that left early to avoid the crowds, ha ha ha, they missed the last goal, serves them right, I hate it when fans cannot wait to leave, disrespectful to the players
evonne,
are they going to getna green as opposed to golders green 🙂
The same way City pips us for 3rd place last year, were going pip them for second this year take that you bitches
Kelsey – Bounds Greek, i think or Greek Planes
did you see that one evonne?
oooogh, RoryD warming up
i thought you already warmed him up 😉
Robbin – ay, I did. All bloody day in front of the telly watching footy. And my bees need new frames or they’ll swarm
Two good corners from Pennant. Why did we get rid of him, because of his drinking?
Robbin – I am not allowed to talk about adult stuff on this blog.So don’t you start
Rocky, I am squeamish at the best of times — one eye at home and one away? Arghh!!!!!!! 🙂
Yaya misses next game 🙂
evonne- understood. 🙂
shitty fans are crying..(money cant buy me love…or trophies)
Robbin 🙂 Actually, Shitty fans are genuine, they were always there for their team. And they are proper Mancs, not like the ManU supporters from London.
I remember about 6-7 years ago we played Shitty in the first game of the season. It was unbelievable, the ball would just not go in for us, unreal, was a good game and great atmosphere
Of course, it is not all over but that was a big 2 points to lose with MU having the easier run in.
Good job too, I hate the idea that petrodollars can win the title.
If we do MC at THOF, their title hopes are finished, and the worst MU team for 15 years will win the PL.
Raddy that’s defeatist talk, don’t we still have 24 points to play for? 🙂
Ok maybe not this season but I do hope people shut up about spending money this summer, this squad without Wilshere, Arshavin, Diaby….the only reasons players will leave in future is lack of opportunities, the last time that happened we were invincible.
As TMHT isn’t here I’ll say it:
Ghosts of the 30’s are rising, as are the ghosts of the noughties.
H
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yjCzY9VgUI
…..and Rocky thinks that I am mad, hello GiE 🙂
Wenger has already said he won’t spend big this summer, for a change
Can’t help thinking about one of those staring dogs one of you were on about. We are on the train sitting opposite a muderer and just because we cant stop glaring at the worst comb over we’ve ever seen, he’s getting off the train wherever we do and it will be dark and deserted. Hey ho
Arteta is a rocket shotter according.to my son
Now now Evonne.
I never said you were mad, just interesting.
Mind you, there is an old Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.”
Great stuff from the pre match king Raddy.
My thoughts at the moment are a combination of excitement and anticipation.
This pool of players is growing faster than i thought. Next season i expected them to fight for the title, now i expect them to win it. With every pasing month this squad grows in maturity, togetherness, and quality. For now, we must concern ourselves with lesser clubs like Totnumb and Chelsea, but next year we will have bigger fish to fry. Our battles ahead will be with Fergusons Utd and Ponceinis City and it will become tense and heated…..i cant wait.
As GiE said, “The Ghosts of the 30’s are stiring”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKRmP-OKLuA
Get out of here Micky, ok, stare at the comb over all you like, but murderer? Ive never killed any one in my life. hahahahaha
Chas 8.48. Many thanks…I had to shoot out on family duty with 5 mins to go.
Knew Arteta had scored fom a FK, but didn’t get any info to suggest it was such a great strike.
Agree with the later comments from a few about not spending this summer. Our squad is truly amazing.
Catch up with the rest tomorrow….
Night all
Home now.
What a strike. Thanks for vid Chas, andgreat to see you and your gang. That goal was right in front of us, but the Song ball for Theo’s finish was at the other end and I cannot wait to see that again tomorrow morning.
Hope you had a great day Micky (and gave the murderer the slip). Did your lad enjoy himself (farting, burping etc)?
Micky
You won’t be disappointed by the Theo goal:
Unbelievable pass from Songinho.
Amazing first touch from Theo.
Supercool finish from the young man “with no footballing brain.”
Terry,
He bloody well was a murderer. He was one of the weird film telepathy types.
Great day, fun with Peaches, Rasp and Chas. I will sleep well. Nite anyone.
Hi Rocky,
Loved it. We’ve been home ten minutes and he’s sparko. Chas very kindly gave him a mountain of Arsenal stuff which we waded through on the journey back. A superb Arsenal day. He will sleep happy and so will I.
Really nite now.
MIND THAT GAP!!
Lastly,
The atmosphere was fantastic. Hope it came across on the tv. I have a feeling our poor start to the season may have weeded out some of the whingers, while the second half of season fight back has really created a sense of togetherness. Dunno, but it gets better and better.
Really really nite.
Nite.
this wordpress thing is confusing – I’ll say it again as my usual name for this site – MIND THE GAP 🙂
We dont mind saying that now do we – cant wait to watch the game! Had to record it but sounds like it was a good one…
Just looked at some Spuds comments.
Will they never learn?
Just because they got a point at the Chavs in a piss-poor game they seem to think third place is in the bag (their reasoning is that they have an easy run-in, while we still have the Chavs, Shitty and the Orcs).
They have also convinced themselves that they put in a great performance today. I watched the match and they where rotten. As were the Chavs, admittedly.
They’re already giving it the big talk again.
So funny.
We’ve got to stay ahead of them, because if we do, this year’s will be the best St Totteringham’s Day ever.
Pat
I think the important thing is that we (i.e. our team) need to mind the gap and make sure they don’t let it slip.
There’s still a long way to go before we can start gloating and we don’t want to behave like the N17 doughnut-brains and begin shouting before the job is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HYE-O4xfUI
Thanks for the links Super.
What did you think of the game?
hey Rocky – I’m not gloating – we are going to win the league now! 😉
Pat 😀
was a great game, i especially enjoyed seeing Walcott being so clinical
Agreed Super
Theo’s really answering his critics at the moment.
Morning all, happy Sunday everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReK_PAi4Yzs
I love the gasps at Arteta’s free kick each time it’s replayed.
Rocket shotter indeed.
Short feet, haha.
Wenger on Mikel Arteta’s free-kick, reportedly…
I prefer it when he takes free-kicks with his laces because he has short feet. Usually the guys who have good insight have bigger, longer feet, and when a guy has short feet like that they are very talented at hitting the ball with their laces. The ball floats a little bit when they take it and I think he is more built to hit the free-kicks like that.
That Chas is why Arsene Knows Best 😀
But I think he might be over technically doing it.
Surely it’s about:
Big Feet = Toes in turf
Short feet = Toes miss turf
What I really liked about it was that it was a traditional pile driver both feet off floor when striking which allows that extra power. The ball stayed set in flight too no spin at all.
I know Given was probably slightly culpable for Gibbs goal but if Villa go down I would like to see him come to Arsenal as no 2, I think it’s one or two years too early for him unfortunately in terms of taking it easier in old age.
Morning all,
Just watched MOTD. That was some ball from Song and a superb finish from Theo. Best goal so far this season, or would that have been the Song pass to the Robin finish against Everton?
I see a familiar pattern 🙂
Morning all
New Post ………………..
yea he is, know it’s time for Gervinho and Ramsey to do the same