It is some time since the final day’s matches have carried such import. So may permutations, so much angst – one thing is certain today, there will be tears.
This being Big Raddy’s final pre-match of the season it should be stated that I have an agenda today; not to muster the troops nor review the possibilities and permutations – there are other sites who can do all that for the reader – No, this post will be a paean to the 44 (some say 48 – he joined as an apprentice in 1964) years of Pat Rice.
Can you imagine working at the same place for 48 years? Going the same route to work, the same route home? It is almost impossible to conceive of such loyalty.
Pat started at Arsenal when I first became a Gooner, his time almost exactly corresponds to my initiation at The Home of Football. Alongside the Hill-Woods he has been a constant, and the Arsenal Club we see today is set in his image – honesty, hard work, tradition, belief in an ideal, and above all loyalty.
I cannot honestly say I saw Pat’s first game (though it is highly likely, I foolishly sold all my programmes!) but I did witness his progression as he became part of one of Arsenal’s best ever defences – Wilson, McNab, Simpson, McLintock and Rice may not get the plaudits of the Famous 5 but believe me they were a solid unit, a good enough unit to win the Double at a time when no one club (nor money) dominated football.
As a player Pat was good enough to force the existing right back, and England International, Peter Storey to move into midfield. What is more Pat played with a smile, always had time to sign autographs, and yet was a tough man, as any player with over 500 games for the Arsenal must be. 49 caps for Northern Ireland in the same team as George Best, he never got the chance to go to a World Cup, but what a career he has had; Club Captain, 5 FA Cup Finals, League Winner, Arsenal Youth Team Coach for 12 years, 16 years as Assistant Manager to AW, and even a short spell as The Arsenal Manager (surely the pinnacle of any football career).
It is a testament to the man that he retains his enthusiasm for the Club after a lifetime of work. Like his fellow ’71 Double Winners, McLintock, George, Wilson etc his commitment to the Club is total – you know that if he didn’t work at Arsenal he would have a season ticket. Cut him and he bleeds Red and White.
People are often called Club “Legends”, few deserve such an epithet – Pat Rice is one of those few.
So…. onto today.
Calm down. We will win.
Nothing else to say.
My Team:
Difficult selection today. I would be tempted to play Coquelin at RB and Ramsey in midfield thus allowing a flexible 3-4-3. but with WBA’s attacking pace I would pick an authentic RB. If Theo doesn’t make it then Bennie should go left. Not a game for O-C to start but one for him after 60 mins. We cannot take risks.
Why the title today?. SBS. Squeeky Bum Sunday. Sunday Bloody Sunday. The portents are aligned with us. Forget Hodgson’s last game – his one season hardly compares to Pat’s commitment!
BR has to admit he is not good with this type of tension, in fact he is so bad he is sitting in Italy as you read this, out of internet contact and even TV coverage. Lilly-Livered? You bet. However, be assured that lucky socks, shirt, pants and hat will be worn. Lucky beer drunk (Peroni), lucky lunch eaten (scrambled egg on toast), sacrificial herbs will be burned, prayers said, acorns buried, St Cristopher stroked, Buddha patted, horseshoes hung, pennies picked up, 4 leaf clovers picked, coins tossed into fountains and every digit and limb will be crossed. If a team is to win by good fortune we are nailed on.
All for One, One for All.
Pat’s Final Game on the bench for Arsenal. 3rd place. St. Totteringham’s Day. Get out there boys and show why we are “By Far the Greatest Team the World has ever Seen”
COYRRG
Written by a very tense Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
[…] Sunday Bloody Sunday. […]
Raddy masterpiece for final day. Well played, even if you are a chicken!
T-5 hours …………………….
I’m going to immerse myself in some serious weedkilling for a few hours as the sun is shining. My stomach is in knots …………….
well said BR. Roy who? he’s given then 18 months of service! that’s nothing compared to Pat Rice. If our players need to step onto the pitch and give everything they’ve good, there is no two ways about it! If players don’t deliever today for rice, arsene, the fans, and their team mates a lot of questions need to be asked!
Once more into the fray
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know
Live and die on this day
Live and die on this day
Fantastic post BR. I relived my youth whilst reading it.
You and I must have been at Highbury supporting Aersenal at the same time.
That was a mighty fine back five = Wilson, McNab,Rice,Simpson (best uncapped England player) McLintock(my favourite Arsenal player). They would have pushed the Adams back five very close.
I go back slightly earlier= McCullough, McGill full backs, do you remember them?
Big Dandy, what can I say? You have been consistently brilliant with your pre-match Posts, but this one is a work of art absolutely fitting for the tense ultimate game of the season.
I am amused by your use of the ‘third person’ in this essay, which perhaps is a subconscious device to reassure your other half, that the guy who was enjoying the ‘mile high club’ yesterday was really some one else. It won’t work! 🙂
The reference to the burning of your acorns was a little wince inducing, but if it works we will hold you to that in future tense games!
Doh! — A swift re-read reveals your acorns were ‘buried’, not ‘burned’!
Now that is seriously weird!!!! 🙂
Nice morning here, Sun shining Top notch Raddy post to read, whilst eating my Marmite and cream cheese on toast, Sunday supplement watched, will take the border collie across the fields in the 4×4, watch her, chase a few Hares. Chat to some fishermen, “soon be time to get my own gear out again”.
Home again, make the BLT’s for my visiting sons, the dipper and the Sheik city supporters pre match snack and knock the top off some Bud’s. Two Sky TV,s in my den, plus on line footy on the computer, so all angles covered, City for the league, us for third, spuds 4, pool got their cup. I get to wish the spud in Spain happy St. Toteringhams day Everybody happy, Perfect day ahead.
By the way Rasp. I have alerted your local hospital that should the Albion score first, they will probably have to remove your foot from the TV. 🙂
Happy blogging tonight AAers, then the summers guessing game starts and what fun that will be.
sounds bloody good dandan, enjoy your day. I think if that happens there’d be a few foot in tv’s. My preference will be the tv out the door and into the pool
Morning dandan, fortunately I am working today, but even if there was a TV available – I wouldn’t be watching 😦
Fantastic PM to round off the season BR and how clever of you to focus on PR to avert our minds from the mounting tension
Tension Rasp? I don’t know what you mean….altho my cigarette pack tells a different story…as does the Complex Excel Macro I’ve just completed in record time!
Time to think about others less fortunate than ourselves:
I’ll be donating what I can as it’s not the fans fault they are in this position.
Defoes got the day off to a good start…
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/4312774/Alexandra-Burke-dumps-Jermain-Defoe-after-he-cheats-again.html
Look at the pic and ask yourself why?
Cracking write up Mr Radders.
Lets start sharp and fast today.
My son’s match is due to finish at around 3.10, so I’l lbe straight on to LOF on my mobile. My son will have to watch it on there and tell me whats up as we drive home. I’l have to pull over for corners and/or replays of good bits.
Should be home in time for 2nd half though.
C’mon you Gunners !!!!!
Hi fellow AA’s,
Big Raddy, Masterpiece my friend..Really enjoyed that pre-match 🙂
But not enjoying the pre-match nerves as they breed inside me closer to kick off 😦
its all a little surreal when i read everyones routines and agenda for the day, like VCC pulling over, holding his breath, hoping to hear the sounds of Arsenal fans scream out in ecstacy as we put one away, or others retreating away to avoid the ticker skipping a beat or two…these are all fever pitch moments 🙂 its weird, as much as i dread the last game, i cant wait!!
Imagine being a fly on the wall, listening in on Arsenes last pep talk for such a crucial season ender, and a last warm up with the Legend that is Pat Rice…
COYRRG !!
my apologies, i confused VCC with Sharkysures ghost when he mentioned listening on the radio and pulling over for corners..
https://twitter.com/lagvilava7/status/201612246881808384
https://twitter.com/arseblog/status/201659810230452225
You got your wish
cheers GiE
no Odemwingie or thomas which is good news! I like that line-up looks very strong!
Fantastic!
From Arsenal.com
…………………………………………………………………………………
TEAM NEWS: Three changes for West Brom trip
Arsène Wenger has made three changes to his starting line-up to face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Carl Jenkinson replaces the injured Bacary Sagna at right back, while Andre Santos comes in for Kieran Gibbs on the left side of defence.
Francis Coquelin, meanwhile, replaces Aaron Ramsey at the heart of midfield.
Robin van Persie captains the side once more as he looks to end his prolific season on a high note in the West Midlands.
Team in full: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Santos, Song, Coquelin, Rosicky, Gervinho, Benayoun, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Santos, Djourou, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Chamakh, Park.
What a team!!!!!!! Come on you gunners ……….
I’m confused is Santos starting or on the bench??????
BR, you left the best PM for the last one of the season. Absolutely brilliant – top-top stuff. 🙂
I love your touching tribute to Pat Rice and the description of your ‘lucky habits’ preparation, even though you will be doing those far away from your home. 😆
As for the game, I feel confident we will play well and get the result we need to finish third. WE ARE THE ARSENAL! 🙂
Peachy, Santos is playing and Ramsey is on the bench. GN5 info is not fully correct.
No Foster or Brunt either for WBA…come on Arsenal!!!!
Peaches,
I noticed the same thing, but with no Gibbs it must be Santos at RB and maybe it’s Ramsey on the bench.
I like the balance of the team. By playing 2 attacking FB’s I’m assuming that Coquelin will drop back when we are attacking and we will have a sort of 3:5:2 / 3:4:3
Santos must be LB and Jenkinson RB – or have I missed something?
Awesome, we can sell one santos in the summer and keep the other.. 😉 Genius Wenger
Yea it’s left back…………..
Raddy – ‘Nothing else to say. Calm down. We will win’ and then you go on to say you are as nervous as the next Gunner!! Honestly 🙂
I am no longer sure what are my lucky charms, but no way I am going to phone my mum before the game, she definitely is not on the same par as GiE parent
Come on, come on, come on, come on!!!
I shall be approaching my favourite match report writers after 5, think of it as as honour if I get in touch with you 😉
This matters.
Come on you Gunnnnners
Great team
Greetings friends – thought I wasn’t going to be able to follow the game live but suddenly find myself free – but need to find a good streaming site for the game and quick.
Any suggestions???
This is good, I’ve hurt my back so I’ll be standing to watch the game, makes it easier to pace the floor 😦
Someone help 26, I can’t.
iraqigoals is usually ok
26M,
hi 🙂
Try wiziwig.com , download sopcast and choose english link, its free and good quality…
COYRRG
@ 26
if you have wiziwig
use this:
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=155529&part=sports
i love you Benii
Thank you friends.
Benny does it – now don’t screw it up you lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Benny. Benny good.
yeah baby
thank you fulop. great follow through by yossi. i hope he sticks around!
Spuds are 1-0 up already, Ady Barn Door
Spuds 1-0 up too
man city loanee scores for the spuds and a chav loanee scores for us?
WHAT!!! that was miles offside!
Oh dear an offside goal.
bollocks
Mile offside AND Long knew it, he checked his run waiting for the flag then saw it didn’t come.
Get back to it boys…..
we learnt nothing from the Norwich game obviously …. to be exact our training staff learnt nothing……
Oh fuck here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh shit, now we’re in trouble….
ummm is this last week in disguise?!
Rasp how can you judge if you’re not watching?
We have not learned a thing have we? We do not deserve to finish third with this continued piss poor performaning.
How bad was the offside?
two soft goals, wrong decision to play coq and jenkinson is really nervous.
Do we look like a team really going for it. So far disappointing..
not even close GiE!worse thing is the commentators were blaming szcz! how is it his fault and not the linesman’s?
GiE, will be questioned for years! changed the take on the whole game
GiE, as far as my employers are concerned, I’m not watching. Are you saying that you think there is no similarity with the Norwich game?
no it won’t ruvp we aren’t man united
Everton 1 Newcastle 0
When was the last time Robin scored from a free kick? That one was poor.
thank you everton 2-0
marry me santos! awesome finish!!!!
Santos is a god!
2-2 Santos
Bugger….are we getting into it?
come on you GUNNERS..we can do this!!!
after foster’s game in the carling cup final last season all i can say is thank goodness it’s not him and it’s fulop instead. Shot on sight i say he’s as nervous as buggery!
Great goal by Santos, come on boys.
should have saved but no complaints 🙂 this is like a relegation game defence wise.
We are 🙂
God I need to be in front of my computer
United are winning at United Rejects, sorry Sunderland, and City only drawing vs QPR, so United on for the title right now.
Everton are 2-0 up with the barcodes at the moment.
Arsenal tryin to giv me heart attack!
Just lost my feed – channel been closed down.
Santos is our new striker
fuck i dont blame RVP, frustration, our midfield is stagnant, rosicky needs to get involved and le coq needs to make himself available
Come on boys
City just scored, Zabaletta
Consistent fouls on RVP sir, wheres the cards for them …?
swear that linesmans bodgybrothers.com
my stomache is in knots….oh man
we need fulham to score
I agree about rosicky,not one of his best games so far. The whole team are lacking a yard.Defence is all over the place,they are playing as individuals not a team.
RVP is getting man handled. why oh why did it have to be adebayor as well?!
Well the linesman is definitely a Spurs fan!
The bad news is we have defended dreadfully as a team. The good news is they are letting us play. If we can up the tempo then we can run away with this.
Song has proved why M’vila is a must. The fact Song can win the ball higher up the field is what gave us our 2nd goal. He is the perfect box to box midfielder and we just need M’vila to come and sure things up behind him.
Gervinho has been direct but lacked the final ball, a common complaint with him this season. What I like about him though is that he gets to the byeline. One decent cross/shot from him could win us the game.
We’ve had a week to prepare for this game and learn the lessons from the Norwich game – we’ve learnt nothing. We’re giving them way too much space in midfield and not attacking the ball. This can only be as a result of our training – it has to change.
The first goal was clearly offside but our defensive team-play has disintegrated in the last couple of games. That side of things was good for March and April, but between them, the defenders and defensive midfielders, seem to have forgotten how to play in an organised way. They need to get themselves sorted for 45 more minutes of the season.
Am feeling optimistic for the second half though.
Why do we allow teams to just play through us, why don’t we want the ball? I’m so angry……………..
how tough is long sizing up to verm while he was on the ground. stupid w*nker!
Looking on the plus side, Everton are at least threatening to consign Newcastle to fifth place. But none of us wants the agony of depending on Bayern beating Chelsea.
Ok home for the second half….should I watch…if I can get a stream.
Good to see Bolton winning. Dislike QPR and Hughes.
West Brom have had 3 shots and scored 2, 1 of which was 3 yards offside.
Bayern were thrashed 5:2 by Dortmund in their cup final so I’m not sure we can rely on them to beat the chavs. Our best hope lies in Fulham equalising/winning.
This is not fun.
Right. Its 0-0 and a 45 min game. 1-0 To The Arsenal.
we have conceded 5 goals in one and a half games and all were avoidable against mid table teams.this is just as disturbing to me.
Rasp,
Our best hope lies with us playing 10% better 2nd half. That’s all that is required to beat this West Brom team. Personally I don’t think we have played that badly. We have defended poorly on the 2nd, but the 1st was 3 yards off.
They are allowing us space out wide and with Santos and Jenks pushing forward I think we have a great chance of winning this game.
it is worrying Kelsey, far too easy!
I agree can’t rely on Bayern, need a win it’s as simple as that!
We need to keep/find the ball in mid-field, West Brom are on onto every loose ball and then break ……………….
A wonderful game for the neutral; a nightmare for the Arsenal fans.
In a nutshell? Static play, again; and clearly a crime for us to close down the oppo.
Still 45 mins to go, so all to play for, and we can do it! 🙂
we cannot doubt ourselves, we must believe..cmon
Hi SGG, I was at the Norwich game last week. I would say that if we get a 3rd, there is a very high chance W Brom will score again as the whole team psyche changes when we go in front. If we could play like we do when we’re losing all the time – we’d win more 😕
No Luck with getting a decent stream – please keep us updated Ozzy-fans.
1-1 at Citeh… ooh dear!
QPR have just equalised, United on top again.
Song just had to tell TV5 to go back to defence…finally organisation!!
will do TA
I cannot find a decent stream now at all. Oh well, probably for the best as I am sure my heart cannot stand it! Come on Arsenal!
TA go to Wiziwig.tv and then choose the Hall of Sports feed for the Arse, rubbish quality images but good enough.
when is chamakh coming on
GET THE FUCK IN!!!!!!
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
goal for kozzer from corner, thanks tho a big blunder from fulop
And Spurs’ ex-keeper does us a huge favour! Ho ho ho!
Cool finish by Kozzer
yesssssssss..now concentrate guys, hold it together and keep shape, keep your heads on…. CMON gUNNERS
Get in Kozzer!
I am actually laughing at this keeper, maybe the gods are with us.
Fulop is such a Gooner 🙂
Just soo obvious
Cool finish by Kozzer ha.ha,ha 🙂
fulop is passing almunia for the worst game in a west brom vs arsenal match!
come on boys!!!!!
Why are we letting them run at us?
score another 4 or 5 should do it.
Barton off for another off the ball incident – he really is an odious toad. He just kicked Tevez as well, what a clown.
Concentrate, just bleedin’ concentrate you lot.
lol at Oz contender for comment of the day at 4:14pm
Sorry, Barton kneed Aguero.
Oz
You leave Fulop alone 🙂
Cheers GiE, that link is working!
Barton got sent off for kicking out in a relegation mustn’t-lose-game for QPR? I don’t slag him off as much as many others, but that is a proper failure to do your job, if I were a QPR fan I’d be bloody furious.
Just keep the ball for 30 minutes….how hard can it be? If we’ve got the ball they can’t score, just pass it across the back four until they start closing.
link is getting sticky now.
we are playing a new formation the defence is in attack and visa versa
stream down 😦
Bloody hell, Spurs two up.
oh how i miss the counter attacks of old! bloody scum 2-0
Spuds are now 2-0 up, the midget Defoe
GiE, when they close down no one in our midfield presents himself as an option..static animation
Need a fourth here, come on Robin
Bit of security!?!? Gibbs for Gerv?
But that leaves Santos on the park!?!?
your right Kelsey, its not pretty today, but an ugly win might have to do…
COYRRG…
You cannot buy titles it seems – UNBELIEVABLE 1-2 to QPR
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bloody ell 2-1 to QPR
10-man QPR are winning!
no !!! gibbs for gervinho , not for me
That don’t look good.
Shitty are bottling…this is so tense
Who’s left on the bench to solidify our midfield……oh i see…..bugger we miss Arteta.
QPR’s goal was created by Armand Traore, possibly the worst defender I’ve ever seen.
Chezzzzer!!
3-0 to Everton, looks like 4th is the worst case scenario…..
I would actually drop RvP into the midfield he would play with more understanding of what is required than most of this bunch!
kelsey gerv wasn’t doing anything but ruining our counter attacks or crossing into defenders. Good move he and santos can swap freely
Bugger do i not like that!
Get ready for abuse for the manager
here comes our match winner….aaron ramsey
i don’t like seeing scharner come on, he is dangerous in the air also. come on no free kicks or corners guys!
Yossi back on left wing, Rambo in “hole”?
The pace of the game is pretty slow now, which has to be good for us. Bringing on Ramsey makes sense for keep ball.
I can’t breathe….”nurse”
Have just seen that if Bolton can get back in front of Stoke, Villa would be in the relegation zone. Would definitely like that.
I know you bought the free kick Alex but for the sake of my heart can you clear it deep into their half please!
wenger has run out of water bottles
Don’t think so 26 not without huge GD swing
Oh no, that was wrong, the BBC as-it-stands table has just been updated, Villa are safe due to GD.
Jenks is getting bossed by Fortune, big lessons being learned.
we need health checks for numerous AA’ers:
micky
GiE (smoke induced coma)
Evonne
Peaches (choc induced coma)
chas
sharkespeare
glic
the list goes on!
Lost stream the rest are about 3 minutes behind, going for a fag.
GiE,
Outside for a fag at the whistle?
Cheers Exile, the Beeb temporarily showed Villa and Bolton level on 38 points after Bolton had conceded the equaliser, but they corrected Bolton’s to 36.
bugger off odemwingie!!!
26 – not likely unless Villa conceded a hatful in the lasts 10 minutes.
5 minutes of added on?????? WTF?!
5 minutes, we aren’t playing man united for christ sake!
5 minutes injury time…seriosuly!
concentrate boys…
What a tackle….heart attack here
thank god for gibbs! my heart!!!!!!!
Robin, Robin, you have to get it on target…..
Kieran Gibbs saves us….
I need valium…..
Three minutes left…..
Less than two to go….
City equalise, Spurs FT.
Are we there yet….these home brew defiblirators don’t reach to the garden!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank god!!!!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Never in doubt…. 🙂
By god, that was unpleasant.
City have won?????
She will forever be in my heart
Arsenal I LOVE YOU..
Not pretty BUT Jobe done 🙂 🙂 🙂
Is it done are we third?!?! Can I have a lie down now?
what the hell happened at man city. one minute 1-2 then its 3-2
Aguero has scored. Bloody hell, most dramatic end to the season since that day in 1989.
hahaha the look on the man united supporters, their tears are strength for me!
quite a relaxing game on reflection 🙂
3rd bloody 3rd bloody 3rd!!!! Well done everyone…….
Oh and ITS ST TOTTERINGHAMS DAY!
Lol at Oz, i’d decided if i didn’t get a stream for the Arsenal game i was going to watch the post match for whoever didn’t win the title.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
the worst thing about this moment is nasri is happy! any chance of a man united sniper at etihad ready to take him out before he gets his medal?!
Thank gawd for that and at least we do not have to worry about Chelskis result or having to pre qualify. Need RVP to sign now and life is good.
Happy happy happy St T’s day everyone
So damn happy
Hope England go out in the group stages because my heart needs few months off!!!!
What was all the excitement about?
This is what a certain Red Arsed Gooner said at half-time;
— “Still 45 mins to go, so all to play for, and we can do it!”
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!
Excited? Me? Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!!!!
Oz,
Sod Nasri. Did you see the Utd fans…fantastic
Phewww!!
https://twitter.com/positivegunner/status/201703980290682881
Red Manc crying 🙂
agree brigham, Arsene needs to book in a coffee quick smart. So we can all sleep easy for a few months. None of this ‘need to focus on euros mumbo jumbo!
thank god we won! hahahaha the scum will be sweating bricks for a week! I hate to say it but i want chelsea to win so we can laugh even harder!
OK here come the gloating Spud tweets from midseason:
https://twitter.com/arsenalgent/status/201704252203204609
https://twitter.com/arsenalgent/status/201704444986015744
https://twitter.com/arsenalgent/status/201704593049137153
Ok thats enough laughing at the back!
Sign RvP he didn’t score today and we scored 3….sign Yossi 😉
hahaha..sunderland fans doing the ‘poznan’..squeaky bum celebrations fergie…should have seen manure players faces…GM is gonna be a happy man…
well done to our boys… i just jumped into the pool with my clothes on, my dad thinks im crazy, so i did the poznan (hes a manure fan) LOL
did i see it micky? i recorded it on my tv.
I’ll be watching it every morning while i’m eating my breaki!
It’s up there with the scum kid crying at shite heart lane back in the carling cup last season
Happy St Totteringhamd to all golners everywhere. 🙂
Players who know!!
https://twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/201703652677783552
https://twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/201703383835488257
https://twitter.com/afobe/status/201702934818463744
Happy St Totteringham’s Day everyone!
What a final day of the season!
https://twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/201705760122617857
Oh and a bitter spud:
“@tinworthtime: “@JackWilshere: #northlondonisred and always will be…” f*** of c*** hope ur injury is career threatening”
As Jack replied…someones bitter
@ RuVP
did you see cahill? threatened to fight cabaye in the carpark and kept pointing over to the car park (‘me and you…carpark, now!) and he got a straight red! haha
Can we talk about that tackle again please….that was superb by Gibbs
@ Oz,
nah i havnt..watch the replay..listening to Kompany, hasnt sunk in yet..he said its unfair to be judged as mercenaries, that he has dreamed of the EPL title since he was a kid…fair play, hes one of only a few i respect in that team!
so Timmy got sent off? he wont care if the won to overtake pool, its in his Aussie blood to not back down…
deep breaths….im so relieved!
it was truly brilliant GiE, after that and Santos’ goal i’m ready to say we have the best LB’s in the league!
Whats all the fuss ?, just emerged from behind the settee, bollocks, I said earlier in the season that I would eat Terry`s syrup if we got 3rd !. 😥
Anyway AAers, hows your bums ?, what an incredible squeaky day !. 🙂
Young Gibbs tackle was immense and the sort of game winning memory. Well done young man.
GiE, that tackle will go down in history as one of the most important recoveries in our history. On top of that in the last few minutes gibbs was heading every ball away, first to it and just way more hungry!! im over the moon…
hey Defoe? PAY UP BIATCH!!!!! 🙂
🙂 finally able to exhale.. let the boys enjoy it…arsene, get on the phone tonight and complete mvila deal..seriously. and keep the momentum going on the transfer front.. get more done early !
Who wants to write about it then …………….. 😉
haha GLIC, dig in!
i think they are a lot cleaner than what the dark side of north london will be over the next week
Happy St Totteringhams day everyone. I can finally come out from the back of London’s sofa now.
Phew…..what a season.
The natural order has been returned. FOYS – enjoy your Thursday nights mugs(when you fluff your pre qualifier)
and a word to ole Bacon face – RETIRE !!!!
AS for barton, GiE you are right! Lucky QPR are safe otherwise he’d be playing Football for Antarctica division 2. What a hot tempered thug, lucky he was being restrained when mario gave him an ear full. He has a ridiculously short fuse!
Best left backs in the league!? I think so.
Love Gibbs, love Santos and hats off to our honorary Gooner Yossi Benayoun.
Have a lot of respect for this tweet:
De_Law says
Le Grove, Myles Palmer, Tim Payton, Kevin Whichter and the rest of the f***tards who revelled in every bad result, F*** ALL Y’ALL.
What a dilemma? Do Gooners want Chelsea to knock Spurs out or not? For me, go Bayern! Never want to see another London club win CL before Arsenal, and it will be fun watching Spurs humiliate themselves in CL. And when Bayern win, there’s always the possibility Spurs will bottle it in the play-in.
Peaches,
I think everyone does, but maybe it’s hard to do it justice! How about a montage of everyone’s joyful comments on this greatest St Totteringhams day!!!!!
you were spot on GIE about gibbs coming on for gervinho.
of course the match was fixed as fullop had been bribed and i got a bit concerned the way arsene embraced pat not once but twice.
Gibbs tackle was truly great.Kos had a blinder, and even though it was a bizarre goal it gave us the victory.
I felt for jenkinson he was ring rusty and generally our play was hap hazard. Anyway, we have now got no exuses not to strengthen the squad which we really must do, do you agree.
So who do we want to win CL now ?.
Personally I`m torn. My head says Chavs , because the Spuds will lose a lot of wonga and maybe some of their best players and push them further down the pecking order. My heart wants Arsenal to be the first team in London to win it ! . What will be, will be.
After our dreadfull start, how comes Wenger didn`t get Manager of the year instead of Pardew ?. A Mission Impossible, Tom Cruise would have been proud of !.
You’re right of course Kelsey, that was a very scrappy performance, perhaps a few too many changes, it was a big ask for Jenks and Coq in such a crucial match, but was right to keep Ramsey out of the limelight i think.
It was Oz who was up for Gibbs coming on, i wasn’t sure about it at all 🙂
In fact i wasn’t sure anything Arsene did today was right, Rambo for Santos confused me, as did Theo for TR7. Altho I didn’t see the first half.
But then i’m not paid £6m to make those decisions and hug Pat for comfort. Watching Arsene then I have never seen him do that too much and you realise (if you didn’t already know) just how much he cares.
Ok an explanation for Szczesny:
https://twitter.com/positivegunner/status/201713290378870784
https://twitter.com/positivegunner/status/201714413005312000
No recriminations today, just a day of joyous celebration and huge thank you to the whole team!
We got 3rd, finished above Tottenham, and RvP won Footballer of the Year, Players Player of the Year, and the Golden Boot.
And a fond farewell to Pat Rice for over 40 years of fantastic service and loyalty.
LOL at Jounalists:
@OllieHoltMirror: My top four for this season has not changed. Still think PL will finish: 1. MUFC 2. MCFC 3. CFC 4. LFC
Good to see #NorthLondonisRed trending on twitter. Proof of the strength of Gooner Internet power.
To be fair i’m happy with the result but it shouldn’t have been that hard! Does anyone think thats a breakthrough for the team actually getting the job done when under pressure?
GiE,
I watched the 90 minutes and wasnt sure about the Santos for Ramsey, but suppose Santos lacks a bit of fitness.
Rosicky wasn’t really in the game first half whereas Benny was decent so made sense to push him infield. Also we looked strong down the flanks against poor full backs so putting Gerv left and Theo right was a good option, though neither did much 2nd half!
GIE,
I guess the rationale for bringing on Ramsey for Santos was to shore up the middle and cling on for the final whistle.
Think it worked — don’t you? 🙂
Our first win without Arteta…save the best for last 🙂
Ugly win, but 3rd place looks pretty 🙂
Damn that was awesome.Watched Arsenal on the internet and had Shitenham on the tv.Damn must be good living in London now 😀
Just a point with had as successful a season as ManUre 😀
BosnianHero – North London is Red 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPctTI9dknM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYfY87K8yQo
I turned off before I had the chance to see players lifting Rice up in the air,I saw picture but any video link?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYfY87K8yQo
City had 44 shots and 81% possession! A
Amazing stat.
Still looking for someone to write tomorrows post …………..
So proud of the Arsenal lads right now. Apparently 3rd place isn’t an achievement, but the feeling I have right now towards the squad tells me different. Some said we would be lucky to get in Europe, some said we would be lucky to finish in the top half, some even said we would be lucky to avoid relegation. To all of you haters out there, you’re lucky to have such a fantastic team to associate with.
Well done fellas, it may not have been a trophy winning season, but it was still one to be proud of. To all the fans who kept faith, enjoy this moment, and remember, those who hated don’t have the satisfaction that you feel right now.
Superb end to the season.
Specially big love to peaches and rasp who have been there all season. True gooners, I love you both.
Up the Arse.
What’s the definition of irony…? Manchester City winning the Premier League title in Fergie time…hahhahahahaha
We did it and stuffed the spuds.. so happy.
HSTD to all…… especially Spuds
Keep up the cheerfulness and positivity everyone at AA
P.S Chas is my brov!
Chas 🙂
Can’t say I’m happy about City winning, but I’m over the moon about Utd not winning.
Like like like
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Totteringhams-Day/286837588333
Also, let’s not forget that Chav’s came 6th.
Micky,
Thanks to you, too, for making it a memorable season.
One manc team had to win. 😦
Our trip to Munich is a win-win situation regardless. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpNOWlv27nc
Chas – it worked!! I didn’t text you b4 the game and we won!! deleted your number from my mob now 🙂
Happy St Totteringham’s Day everyone!
My new virtual friend Gary Neville said a couple of weeks ago that it would be Sir Alex’ worst nightmare to lose the title on goal difference! Wunderbar!
Chas,
You are the site “away” fan. We owe you.
So, let’s see, losing wasn’t down to no Arteta then. What could it have been? Thinks…….
Did Raddy go further abroad for this one? 🙂
This needs updating
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/virals/2011-12-21/pic-proves-arsenals-superiority-over-spurs-its-st-totteringhams-day
I would also like to thank Chas with all his videos and helping me on more than one occasion to get things up on here.
Biggest under achievers of the season for me are liverpool and over achievers Newcastle.
Kelsey,
You’ve been having problems getting things up? What exactly did Chas do to help out 🙂
I’ve just had an amazing night laughing at mancs and spuds in Ho Chi Minh. What a great end to a season that started so badly
Well Micky, he took a picture of it, examined it then reduced the size. Do you want to know more 🙂
Kelsey,
Only fair to the ladies 🙂
GM,
I thought of you as I watched the Utd fans 🙂
Kelsey,
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts for next season. So good that we don’t fave to fret on CL Final. Its going to be a fun summer.
Right, family stuff to do.
Goon to the Moon.
Kelsey,
I have to disagree.
The overachievers award has to go to Spurs for keeping Redknapp out of prison!
The underachievers also goes to Spurs for fucking up a 10/11/12 point gap (can’t remember just how big it was!)! What a bunch of tits!!!!
Special mention also goes to Harry Redknapp for losing a 1 horse race for the England managers job. What a guy!
Slim,
fair enough i accept your unbiased view 🙂
Kelsey, you wash your mouth out! 🙂
What’s wrong now “He of the long words that no one understands”
This is a very personal matter between myself and Chas. Go and have a meal at Caprice to celebrate 🙂
Chas,
We have missed your vids lately, glad you are back to do your duty!! 🙂
It was weird watching the end of the season on 5 screens. The manc fans were all celebrating ever time qpr made a block or a save. The really weird thing was that they weren’t showing the manu game. The owner must not like them. They had the city game on the biggest screen and the did that double screen thing as the games ended. I nearly pissed myself when shitty scored. The Arsenal match was on a screen next to the spud match they are a bunch of twats. I had 3 draught tiger beers and it cost me 175000 dong (about 5.50) all brought to me by a cute little Vietnamese waitress. I’m sorted 🙂 I’m never coming back.
I’m off. Happy Saint Totteringhams day everyone. It’s nearly 2 AM here.
add one more
http://twitpic.com/9kqrel/full
I love this site (and everyone on it) BTW
kelsey.
the feelings mutual.
Thanks Kelsey. My integrity is in tact, I wouldn’t dare let rivalry interfere with my unbiased view!
I am so unbelievably chuffed right now with just how well my (and your!) team has done this year. A season is not 90 minutes away at West Brom, or 90 minutes away at United, or 45 second half minutes at home to Spurs (although I wish it was!!!!), it is 38 games, and to finish on 70 points with the start we had, the injuries we had, and the general feeling around the club that we had, I am one happy (if slightly pissed!) gooner right now.
Proud. Proud. Proud.
Echo GM’s thoughts. Regardless of whether you’re lucky enough to get to games.
Off now.
Up the Arse. 🙂
GM – when the news reached the red Mancs and the faces dropped, I just saw you laughing 🙂 it was beautiful, van Gough could not paint a better picture
One more tweet to finish:
I’m guessing VCC’s Boxer would do better than Alfie at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO2XMX8lDms
Chas that last vid will cue rumours of whether it’s a goodbye or a thank you.
Whatever Robin has been fantastic for us this year and led the team impeccably question is should we wait to see if he gets injured in the Euros before negotiating?
Oliver Holt@OllieHoltMirror
If Arsenal get more business done like Podolski and get it done early and keep hold of RVP, could be MCFC closest challengers next season
Goodnight all ye of little faith, told you it was in the bag, will discuss further tomorrow.
http://pic.twitter.com/NgAc0y29
HSTD !!!!
I’m fucked O_O
What a day, what a day. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
On another note – Villareal have just been relegated from La Liga, they played in the CL this season
Gibbs tackle:
Class is permanent! 🙂
I don’t know how we did it, but we won and finished third whilst conceding two goals in an away game. Simply incredible stuff and the future looks very bright now. Happy days and HSTD! Mind the crap Spuds! 😆
I am actually so tired after that – it sounds so over dramatic but I’m mentally drained 😆
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3zYo2Kyqpo
Just seen the pic for tomorrows post.
Sorry to have missed all the chatting today, but I have just had a fantastic half hour reading all the comments.
Especial thanks for all the uploaded Tweets and vids. I’m not a Twitterer so it’s nice to have them reproduced on here.
What a marvellous bunch of people you AA-ers are to share a football team with 🙂
And well done Arsene, Pat and the boys. The table does’t lie and for us to finish third after the start we had is arguably one of AW’s greatest achievements.
Watching MotD you’d think Hansen wasn’t playing in 89, maybe he was too scared to look when Mickey ran through.
This one makes me smile so much…sorry for the swears:
https://twitter.com/charliesedgwick/status/201759549789716480
Bolton have been robbed today. Two words Chris Foy….joke ref.
If I was Bolton I’d consider claiming for loss of earnings from the Refs Association.
Crouch as well for that dive….simply shocking considering the one we didn’t get last week.
GiE
What did Foy do/not do?
Thanks for all the great comments and happy St Totteringhams day to one and all.
Ironically after achieving what seemed impossible, we have no post for tomorrow.
Come on one of you who said we’d get third – why not write an ‘I told you so’ post …. pretty please 😳 , peaches and I are tired and stressed after the last few weeks
I’ll do a report Rasp
Thanks so much Rocky, I don’t know what we’d do without you.
It’s been one hell of a season Rasp – and I can’t say all of it has been enjoyable, but tonight I’m just proud to be a Gooner (and proud of the lads, even though they made it hard on us!).
I’m tempted to do a Spuds-baiting headline, but as I won’t be around much at all tomorrow to help deal with the incoming, perhaps I’ll take a more sensible approach 🙂
Rocky to answer your earlier question, Stoke took the lead when Waters tackled Bogdan in a way that was last popular in the 1950’s. Bogdan had ball in hands and Waters just barged right through him knocking ball out of his hands. Then Crouch dives to get the penalty for the equaliser.
Barton should be on the receiving end of a long ban. 3 -5 match for the initial elbow then another 5 for kicking Aguero and another 3 for the headbutt at Kompany. QPR should rip up his contract and the Police should charge him with assault. Maybe his self enforced Twitter ban left him too pent up, or maybe he is just a scrawny little front bottom.
Rasp I really think everyone is having a good lie down.
It’s been a good season here on AA, I’m glad there are a lot of bloggers happy to keep it fun here. It’s only football after all.
Now everyone together now. FOYS. FIOS.
Oh to oh to be oh to be a Gooner!
http://heblogswhenhewantsto.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/its-poznan-in-my-pants-time-picture-gloat-fest/
I heartily recommend this.
Something’s different this morning.
Absolutely no football related stress. Nice. Very nice.
Morning all.
Morning Micky.
I think it was you who asked me yesterday about my thoughts for next season. Today is not the day having seen a preview of today’s post.We are all happy, the adrenelin is finally slowing down and we should enjoy.
I will put into a post my feelings for next season which will certainly cause a lot of debate and possible disagreement.
We win.. we win.. OMG we win..
3 goals.. 3 points.. 3rd place..
Woow.. What another grazy games..
But I’m so sorry for RVP for not score any goal.. If only just one..
But it’s okay.. It’s mean that RVP still have another target to acheive in Arsenal.. So he will stay.. hehehe..
Next thing to do is sell the deadwood..
And bring good player in.. Attacking Midfielder is the most important..
Some of the list: Kagawa / Dempsey / Sneijder / Sahin / Cabaye / Ben Arfa / M’Villa
And also Defender : Vertonghen for Vermaelen and Van der Weil for Sagna..
If we can bring 2 or 3 of them.. And keep RVP..
We will win the cup.. Go gunners..
Any happy peoples out there? 🙂
Morning 🙂
I have to say that was the most uncomfortable half of footy I think I have ever watched!
But just like media people are saying that if City had lost yesterday the team would have been labelled chokers, has our squad finally lifted that hoodoo by winning yesterday?
A lot of Spuds are £1 worse off this morning as they have to pay to charity after their bet with Wilshere and Defoe is £5k worse off as he also made the bet with Jack. 🙂 which is ultimately good for the Jack Marshall Fund.
SAF has already started planning for next season making sure a number of players are not available for the Euros.
Looking at a re-run of the game, I am overjoyed that Fulop played in goal. Two and maybe all three goals were helped in by the ex-Spud!!
Whatever, we have suffered our own misfortunes this season so good to get on the receiving end for a change! 🙂
https://twitter.com/ozyakup/status/201727583753224194
https://twitter.com/afobe/status/201764414007951360
https://twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/201705760122617857
https://twitter.com/persie_official/status/201744256392630272
I’d like to keep Yossi.
True RA, Fulop got his revenge on Spuds for not playing 🙂
Just watched City fans rush the pitch after they won….small club still 🙂
Barton tweeted:
“People are forgetting Tevez started the fracas by throwing a punch to the head.”
“Can do nothing but apologise to the players and the fans. Still don’t think its a sending off.”
“The head was never gone at any stage, once I’d been sent off, one of our players suggested I should try to take one of theirs with me. It never worked but god loves a trier.”
As I said last night what an extraordinary front bottom!
Barton is seriously psychotic!
Forgot to give Keiran a special mention. He was immense when he came on, and THAT tackle was absolutely fantastic to keep us in the CL and was worth £25m.
Well done Gibbsy!!! 🙂
GIE,
Did you get to bed last night?
Thanks btw for those great tweets. I follow the guys but I always forget to look at them until much later! 🙂
Was a great tackle by Gibbs, watched Irish’s link about twenty times last night…proper body on line defending.
😀 RA yeah got to sleep after I had to have a couple of espressos to bring the adrenaline down
Micky must have gone crustacean creeping this morning. 🙂
He usually holds Court first thing! Can’t believe he has let work get in the way of AA. 😦
RA,
Work does occasionally slip in under the radar. It is very careless of me and I must work on my defensive systems.
Two questions I’m dying to get stuck in to.
1. Will Stevie “got no hair, we don’t care” Bould add defensive organisation? and,
2. What is my budget for my 10 goal a season AM?
Morning all, apologies for not being amongst you for yesterday evenings celebrations, I was emotionally and physically exhausted.
I recommend you all tighten your girdles in preparation for a real classic from Rocky – to be published shortly 😛
I do think we need to crack on with the transfer speculation, as I suspect that it may be all over done and dusted very early this summer.
….New Post ………