So far Arsenal have failed to score in only two thirds of our Premier League games this season.
That would be wrist-slitting form if it was now late November – but it’s less alarming when you take into account that we have played only three games and that we remain unbeaten.
Nevertheless, after scoreless draws against Sunderland and Stoke the media weren’t the only ones asking whether finding the back of the net would be our biggest challenge this year.
Nerves were soothed somewhat by the two-nil win at Scamfield, but I believe there is cause for optimism that’s even more recent than that.
Looking around the international games that have taken place in the last few days, Arsenal players have been prominent on the score sheets.
Santi Cazorla nabbed a tidy goal and also had an assist in Spain’s 5-0 ‘friendly’ thrashing of Saudi Arabia.
Gervinho whacked home a peach of a goal
in the Ivory Coast’s 4-2 defeat of Senegal (in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers).
And Abou Diaby got the only goal of the game as France clinched victory in Finland.
Meanwhile for England against Moldova, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provided an assist during England’s comfortable win. Given that the assist was for Jermaine Defoe – who’s about as lethal in front of goal as a dead sheep – it should really count as two assists.
So what conclusions can we draw from this?
For me it’s that New Arsenal have the potential for goals from all over the midfield and attack.
Last season we were over reliant on Brave Sir Robin* for finding the back of the net but this year I expect the goals to be shared more widely.
Podolski showed at Liverpool a wonderful combination of determination and skill to open the scoring (that powering run, that single touch to control the ball at high speed and that clinical finish). I would expect him to run close to 20 goals this year. (He featured as a substitute in Germany’s 3-0 over the Faroe Islands, but will probably start against Austria on Tuesday).
Cazorla – class act that he is – is well known to be a decisive finisher as well as a provider. Close to double figures for him too.
And then there’s Diaby. Like many, I have had my doubts about him in the past (and I don’t mean over his injury record). At times he seemed to dwell on the ball too long and make poor decisions. However, he always showed a keen eye for goal and his winner for France just hints at what there is to come from him.
And what about Gervinho? He’s a bit of a divider among fans at the moment (some relish his dribbling skills, others feel he runs into blind alleys or fails to use the ball well when he breaks through).
I remember the goals he scored in pre-season last summer (2011) in his first games in an Arsenal shirt. His composure and finishing skills led me to believe we might have Thierry Henry Mark Two on our hands. Suffice to say he didn’t live up to that promise throughout last season. But his fine finish for Ivory Coast will boost his confidence and I expect him to start chipping in with his share of goals. Again, nudging double figures is not an unrealistic ask.
Of course there is also Giroud. I see that in some reporting it now a “fact” that he has missed two open goals in his short Arsenal career. Two good chances, certainly – but open goals? Come off it. Let’s put the hysteria away and assume that Olivier has a “steady” first year with the world’s best football team, giving us 12 goals.
Last year in the EPL we scored 74 goals, shared as follows:
Van Persie 30
Walcott 8
Vermaelen 6
Arteta 6
Gervinho 4
Benayoun 4
No-one else got more than 2.
It’s a really unbalanced picture.
When we tot up the statistics at the end of the current season I would hope things will look more like this (and I am trying to be conservative: I assume fewer goals for Arteta because of his deeper-lying role and I have not assumed any defender getting above two):
Podolski 18
Giroud 12
Cazorla 10
Gervinho 9
Diaby 8
Walcott 8
Oxlade-Chamberlain 7
Arteta 4
With the usual array of people – including defenders and less frequent starters – scoring one or two goals, we can expect a total haul that is considerably higher than last year – perhaps closer to the high 80s. You will notice I have not included Wilshere, Rosicky or Ramsey – any or all of whom could also chip in with important goals.
Events may prove me to be over-optimistic; injuries might throw some almighty spanners in the works, but I genuinely believe that we have a broader range of goal scorers this year than last and that we will do better as a consequence.
What do you think?
*I’m not praising our errant knight with that comment. It refers to the “Brave Sir Robin” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail who is anything but brave:
Brave Sir Robin ran away.
(“No!”)
Bravely ran away away.
(“I didn’t!”)
When danger reared it’s ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
(“no!”)
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
(“I didn’t!”)
And gallantly he chickened out.
****Bravely**** taking (“I never did!”) to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat.
(“all lies!”)
Bravest of the braaaave, Sir Robin!
(“I never!”)
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Err… spain do have to play World cup Qualifiers. they are in the same group as France and belarus.
Vishal’s right, that winner gets an automatic place was put to bed one or two tournaments ago.
Enough with the details. Thanks for the thoughts Rocky. You make a compelling argument, but looking at last season’s figures, boy oh boy, do we need to prove something in terms of being able to cope without BSR.
Your observations also underline the importance of underperformers (Gervinho), newbies (Giroud, Pod, Cazorla), youngsters (Ox) and injury-returners (Diaby, Wilshere) earning their wages with some goals this year. And (at the risk of opening up a well-worn argument) to me it also underlines why we need Walcott to stay, even with all his flaws.
Re Cazorla, it’s also worth bearing in mind that he’s never got to double figures in league goals before. Am not saying he can’t or won’t but finding the net hasn’t been his strongest suit to date.
Thanks for the info, I’ve updated the post to remove the reference to Spain’s qualification.
Interesting predictions, but if it does come true and our left winger outscores our centeal striker by a decent margin, questions will definitely be asked of Giroud. Frankly I don’t quite know what to make of Giroud. On one hand, he was the top scorer in the french league and on the other his games for Arsenal so far have been average due to him hardly getting the ball at all. Something has to be done on his side as well as the way the team passes to him, as a striker it seems to me hes getting way less of the ball than he should be.
Great post RL
Yes well i would rather be in this seasons boat where goals can come from anywhere.
Last season my heart skipped a beat for every Robin tackle, one injury would mean season over.
Enjoy That MUFC.
Hi Rocky, thanks for an excellent footie post about an important topic. 🙂
There appears to be a lot of angst about our depth in our strike force and your post should alleviate some of it. I still think you focus a bit too much on both the Pod and Giroud making up for bsr’s goal tally of 30 last season.
If we continue to be lean and mean at the back we will not need a huge number of goals to win the league. I would not be surprised if we win a considerable number of games by just the one or two goals.
Arsenal are still not using Giroud enough. Yes he has got goals in him and I don’t think 12 is unrealistic or too much to ask of him, but he can be used to bounce the ball off a lot better. This should allow the midfield to move closer to the goal and will give the likes of Cazorla and Diaby more time to pick a deadly pass towards one of the wingers or shoot at goal themselves. We saw great progress against Pool and I reckon this will get better over the the next few games. Therefore it is not unrealistic to expect 22 goals from Diaby, Cazorla and Arteta, compared to the 10-12 goals we got from Arteta, Benayoun and Rosicky.
I would be delighted if we could get 42 goals from our wide men (assuming the Ox will start a lot on the wing), and it is not impossible with Cazorla in the team to pull the strings and Jack on his way back and Diaby finally coming to life. If we do, we will surely become champions and with a decent margin as well! 🙂
It`s not Rocky`s fault, the info was given to him by Rough Harris, although a fine song writer, he knows nowt about football, which is what you would expect, as there`s only two down under boy`s who know anything about football and they are contracted to this site !. 🙂
I`m in agreement with the Rock Files Report. It will be even harder ( hopefully ) for the oppo` this season as last season they knew where the goals were coming from, this season they will be coming from many others, it will confuse them. I`m confused already and I`m not even playing !.
I only come on this site to look at my avatar. God I`m so handsome !. 😆
I really like this Rocky. Thanks.
Here’s what I think. You have too many for Theo and Gerv due to their restricted playing time this season (competition for places).
I agree with 26 over Santi.
However, while that would appear to bring my overall tally down, it does not, because, Ollie will be top scorer and there will be defenders with more than 2.
Here are my predictions in brackets:
Podolski 18 (14)
Giroud 12 (24)
Cazorla 10 (8)
Gervinho 9 (6)
Diaby 8 (4)
Walcott 8 (6)
Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (10)
Arteta 4 (4)
I also predict a total of 10 from the central defenders.
These are the final For and Against that we have to improve upon
:
City 93 29 +64
Utd 89 33 +56
Us 74 49 +25
Them 66 41 +25
Oh dear Total,
Now I’m not getting at your total football thing, but you are slightly obsessed with having centre forwards to “bounce” balls off. I can tell you that Ollie is not here to knock down, lay off or pass back.
This is what he said to me: “I’m sorry DidIt, but I’m not listening to your mate Total. Non. I’m going to turn and shoot.”
His words, not mine, Total. So don’t take it out on me 🙂
Top post Rocky and pretty much as I see it.
I hate to disagree with my esteemed fellow bloggers, but I think Santi is good for at least 10 goals. He is loving his free role and has already had many shots on goal so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get more than 10 this season.
But Rocky, Rocky Rocky ……. are you the same Rocky who wanted to bet me that Chamakh was going to get 10 goals this season and yet he doesn’t even feature on your list! …. I’ll take that bet right now if you still think it’s even a remote possibility 😛
haha Micky, if he scores 24 PL goals or more this season, I will get a dog – and you know that we both agree on our views re the freely pooping four-footer – and I will call it Ollie-G.
Most of our games – at least the home of footie – will be park the bus games and Giroud will have to be used to bounce the ball off. As others have said, we need to involve him more and pass the ball to him more. But is still early days and I missed the first game of the season, so let’s wait and see.
Great read as always, Rocky.
Over the last 7/8 years our play has always narrowed to focus on one outlet, be it Henry in his last few years, Fabregas or RvP. The problem was that, more often than not, stop that player, stop Arsenal. I think, and hope, that you’re spot on in that we don’t move back to this, that we maintain a team ethic and don’t revert to type.
This team certainly does have goals in it across the pitch and I agree that you have been conservative on the squad (particularly marking Vermaelen as 2 goal season!), if a little optimistic on Podolski (thought 18 from the wing isn’t out of the question…and I’d be made up if you were right!). I always remember Diaby’s goal at the Emirates against Derby…smashed in a 25 yarder that reminded me of Vieira’s goal from the same distance against Newcastle at Highbury. Again with the PV4 comparisons…but coincidental in this case, point is that I hope we can pull the trigger a bit more from distance this season, too. it’ll help with the distribution of goals as we won’t be reliant on our midfielders always hitting the box to get on the scoresheet.
I know some of you AA technicians get all excited with your stats of possession and the chalkboard stuff, so if you pop over to Arsenal .com, there`s a page full of it, under the heading , Arsenal analysis : Simple lines of possession. Go knock one out !. 😆
Freely pooping four-footers 🙂
If only you knew what lurks beneath the apple trees in my orchard!
You wait until Ollie gets going.
I hope so Micky and he appears to have all the attributes!
Btw, you really should do a post about the Ox one of these days. I think he is a great prospect, ready to rock for us in two seasons or so, but you seem to believe in Ox-tales and think he is ready now – you even believe he will score 10 PL games!…..
Again I hope you are right! 🙂
Cheers Glic, I reckon you are into measurements and stats and all that sort of stuff. All the fixation with erotic stuff is just a cover up! 😆
Rhyle, I agree and I think we have seen already a lot more shots from distance this season.
Total,
In light of your rather gloomy outlook on how we’ll deal with The Bus, I think I’ll do a post on how simply we’ll cope.
Mr van den Total, you are absolutely right of course, if we concede fewer goals, we need not score as many. But it’s still going to be a big challenge to increase our goal difference, which last season was a rubbishy 25 (goals for 74, goals against 49). To put it in perspective, that is Wenger’s equal worst performance in terms of goal difference, being level with 2000-1.
In the Wenger years, the average goal difference of the title winners is 48.81 goals (based on average goals for of 79.69 and goals against of 30.88). And last season, City finished with a GD of 64 (GF 93, GA 29).
To be contenders, we’re going to have to go some, both in attack and defence, virtually to double our GD in one year.
Can we do it? Definitely!
It isn’t gloomy Micky, but nevertheless, I cannot wait to read your coping strategy. The wipers on The Bus go swish swish swish 🙂
Crackerjack of a Post, again, Rock My Boat! 🙂
Hopefully, your predictions that crackerjack goals will be shared around our midfield like crap transfer rumours will come to pass! 🙂
I missed the epic Glic poem @ 8:07 last night by only a couple of minutes, and then your sterling effort a little later.
The plus side was that I have almost wrecked my laptop laughing at them this morning.
That Terry Telescope will soon become world famous at this rate!! 🙂
Brilliant stuff!! 🙂
Maybe some of these Premier League managers should have their job title changed to Bus Conductors and their captains to Bus Drivers !.
Hi 26, impressive stats there my friend, and you are absolutely right of course. Among others, this will put a smile on GN5’s face, no doubt. 🙂
It is very early season and it is potentially frivolous to make predictions, but on what I have seen until now, I have a strong feeling we will score in the mid-60 region and concede in the early twenty region this season. And that could well be enough.
My dear 26, a perfectly sound analysis and summary of the required goal scoring/defence ratio. 🙂
The benefits of our hoped for improvement in defensive discipline, will accrue not just to ourselves, but will also be to the detriment of our opponents.
If we manage to reduce our 49 goals against to say 25, then that will be 24 goals scrubbed off our opponents goals for calculation.
Yaay!!
Total
I will be amazed if we concede more than last season. Infact, If our gambling duo of Stretch and VCC can get me some favourable odds, I will have a flutter !.
PS
The only fluttering I normally encounter is the fluttering of ladeez eye lashes at me !. 🙂
Many good points about points this morning 😉
Our new defensive strength should mean that we are less likely to lose against the mid/lower table sides and therefore our chances of winning the PL will rely on how we fare against the top opposition. If we can keep our best 15 players fit, I think we will do very well … but I’m not mad enough to predict us as champions, there’s way too far to go.
Hi Rasp, agreed re your last sentence at 11.49. We will know so much more at the end of this months with games against Southampton, Northern Oilers and Southern Oilers to come.
GliC 😆 – my last flutter was when Arteta torpedoed the net against the Northern Oilers
Hi Redders
I suppose, you being an accountant, everything can be solved by a mathemactical calculation !.
So, If I chop my MiL into ten pieces and feed half to my pup and half into my new extention`s footing`s , then I would have solved 100% of life`s aggravation !.
Good stuff this mathematics ! 🙂
Hi Total, I think our best first team squad is a match for any of them and it looks like we have the best defence of the lot – quite unArsene like, but maybe very Bouldy 😕
In fact, it would be great to “Bouldly go where no Arsene team has gone before” and concede the fewest goals in the Prem.
I’d be amazed if we conceded fewer than 30 goals this season. Delighted but amazed!
If things go well, I reckon we’ll score around 70 and concede around 35.
“Bouldly go where no Arsene team has gone before” 🙂 Brilliant. Sounds like a great title for a post! 🙂
Rasp, our defence will be really tested in the next few weeks and if they can stand up and be counted in those games, I am with you all the way.
Rasp, great line, but not correct! In the 1998-99 season, the rejuvenated Seaman-Adams-Keown-Dixon-Winterburn defence leaked just 17 goals, the next best defence haing conceded 30 goals.
If the only goals we concede are in the games we win and if we dont draw any of our remaining games, then by my caculations, we will have won everything !.
Just needs verifying by Red Einstein Arse !. 😆
Damn you 26 😆
I don’t think we need to go back to 1 nil to the Arsenal, just something nil would be great for say … half the games this season – do you think that is achievable?
RL. Yet another top quality read. Having nailed my predictions to the mast, it will come as no surprise to find that I believe we will score heavily this season. 80+.
I expect Cazorla to score 15+ in his much freer role. Giroud and Pod between them will knock in a further 30. Which leaves the rest of the team to score 35+ between them and given the stellar talents of Theo, O-C, Diaby TV Gerv etc this target is achievable.
With a defence that concedes max 35, the PL title awaits.
Brave Sir Robin ran away…
An early heads up to say we need plenty more posts for this week.
Don’t leave it until I have to set peaches on you all …. you wouldn’t want to be ‘peachganged’ into submission!
peachganged …. 😀
@Rasp – 19 clean sheets would be a good objective. We managed 13 last season, which was pretty good, but some way off the Manc clubs. I do think getting into the 17-20 range is achieveable this season, but it’ll be a tough one.
Thanks 26m, I can feel a new widget coming on …. to compare GD/cleansheets game by game against last season
I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of a new widget……….
Afternoon all, what the Rockster(thanks for the post as ever) suggests, as have a few other commenters above, is that with a goal threat not concentrated on one person we will be a harder proposition to defend against, or as happens a lot with the mid-lower table teams and the northern Oilers(strangley), park the bus.
While we are talking of widgets is there one for the Tavern this Saturday ? If so I’ll put myself forward as being there – around 2 at the latest.
Great post as usual. I think we are more balanced and less reliant (yes I know).
Morning Rocky,
Stats, of course, hit the right note with me.
Although last season’s goal scoring was dominated by RVP – 14 other players also scored, I don’t have (can’t be bothered to look up) the amount of players scoring in other seasons but 15 in total is very impressive.
Here is a quick analysis of our 3 title winning seasons.
1992/3 GF68, GA33, GD35.
2001/2 GF79, GA36, GD43.
2003/4 GF73, GA26, GD47.
Here are the 3 seasons where we scored the most goals.
2002/3 GF85, GA42, GD43, Pos 2nd
2004/5 GF87, GA36, GD51, Pos 2nd
2009/10 GF83, GA41, GD42, Pos3rd.
Here are the 3 seasons where we gave away the least amount of goals.
1993/4 GF53, GA28, GD25. Pos 4th
1998/9 GF59, GA17, GD42 Pos 2nd
2003/4 GF73, GA26, GD47, Pos 1st.
So in short we’ve never won the league when we have scored the most goals – it’s an all round solid game with particular emphasis on defence that appears to be the winning combination.
Last year’s goals against was an aberration as if you take away the Man U and Blackburn games the our GA would have been 37 and our EPL average has been 35.9 GA, so it was, otherwise, an average season.
By the way our average GF is 67.3 so 80 plus seems unlikely but also, according to the stats, not needed.
Here is an incredible analysis from Arsenal.com which summarizes the suttle change in our style of play.
………………………………………………………………………………………
Arsenal Analysis: Simple lines of possession
By Nick Ames
Arsenal’s passing game has long been feted for its creative possibilities but could it prove their best form of defence too?
The notion that a team is less likely to concede when it has the ball is hardly radical, but it only becomes watertight when the side’s positioning is correct when possession is lost. Much of that depends on the more defensive-minded of the central midfielders on show, and on his relationship with his centre backs.
For example, key to Arsenal’s fine win at Liverpool were the sensible passing choices of Mikel Arteta and, equally importantly, Per Mertesacker.
The German’s 10 passes to Arteta at Anfield last week – all safe, short and forward – proved by some distance to be the highest combination involving an Arsenal defender.
Nearly a third of Mertesacker’s 34 attempted passes during the game were fed to the Spaniard, who in turn completed the highest pass completion ratio in the Arsenal side – succeeding with 94.6 per cent of his 92 passes.
Mertesacker himself completed 88.2 per cent of his passes – the best figure among the Arsenal back four. He did nothing spectacular, staying within a small area of the pitch and feeding others better placed to recycle the ball, but this is exactly where his relationship with the deep-dropping Arteta becomes important.
Arteta himself keeps things, on the whole, very simple – generally feeding his wide players or the more advanced midfielders, Abou Diaby and Santi Cazorla. Few long passes are attempted, and there is no involvement around the penalty area.
Dropping deep to receive simple balls from his back four, principally Mertesacker, Arteta lays them on once more for others to use in more advanced areas.
Arsène Wenger recently told the Official Arsenal Magazine that, at the top level, deep-lying midfielders need to be technicians nowadays. The destructive element is being phased out in favour of accurate passing and technical quality.
Arteta himself has said that his new responsibilities hinge upon “the first pass” – that ball to Cazorla, Diaby, Lukas Podolski or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for example. It seems simple enough but it appears to mark a change from the style Arsenal employed last term.
Compare this season’s win at Anfield with the 2-1 win there in March.
On that occasion, Laurent Koscielny played at right centre back and Alex Song started as the deepest-lying midfielder. During the game Koscielny passed directly to Song just once – that’s out of 412 made in total by the Gunners.
Song himself tended to look further up the pitch, often seeking longer, diagonal balls – one of which results in a goal for Robin van Persie – and aimed to make the incisive pass himself.
As a result, a comparison between Koscielny’s and Mertesacker’s overall passing patterns in these games is quite interesting. We see the German restricting himself to that smaller area, playing more of those shorter passes to Arteta and his team-mates as they come deep for the ball.
Circumstances ensure that direct comparisons can’t always be exact. Arsenal took a relatively early lead at Anfield last week, curbing their need to attack and ensuring that, when gained, possession didn’t need to be used extravagantly.
But it’s precisely this kind of methodical, straightforward use of the ball – aided by deploying a midfielder happy to sit and recycle – that helps deny opposition teams momentum. Spain and Barcelona, of course, have set an example in this regard.
Arsenal did not actually dominate possession at Anfield, especially during the middle period of the game – but they made 79 passes more than in March’s encounter en route to a clean sheet.
And those simple lines of possession between defence and midfield played an integral role.
Now look here Statto, don’t go dissing 80 goals. Sounds brilliant to me 🙂
And with the inclusion of that excellent article, you return to GunnerN5 🙂
Trust Gn5 to do a much better job of analyzing the stats than me!
Great analysis Gn5 – and a very thought provoking point about how our highest scoring seasons haven’t necessarily been our most successful.
I would never attempt to out do you Rocky but Micky is so right I’m a statto.
The Arsenal.com article included some great charts but I’m technically deficient and don’t know how to copy them……….it’s a task for the more proficient amongst us.
You made some great points Gn5 – and I’m certainly being ambitious in hoping for 80+ goals… But I remember seasons where the like of Fredddie, Pires, Dennis and Wiltord would all pitch in with double figures.
GN5
It prove`s something I`ve ( and other`s ) always thought, great defences win titles, being hard to beat should be the number one priority when planning an oncoming season. It`s not just the defence`s problem though, the attackers should class themselves as the first line of defense.
We defend as a team, which, I`m sorry to say, leaves out the like`s of Arshavin and although not here now, Denilson and Song, they always left me with the vision of just jogging back. I have not been the biggest fan of Podolski ( yet ), but I cannot knock his work rate.
I have said this before, there is no excuse for not putting in the work rate, it doesn`t cost anything, just hard graft, they have top sports science to guide and help them.
I did tell you boys earlier to go on Arsenal .com, it would have saved GN5 all that time writing it out . 😆
GLIC,
A solid defence leading to a goal difference of more than twice the goals against seems to be the holy grail.
Steve Bould is instilling a very different work ethic into the team and the short crisp, accurate, passing scheme, if played to it’s maximum effect, will lead to more positive possession and therefore (hopefully) less goals against. I think that Steve will be the task master that has been missing and if the rumours are correct he will not stand for any slacking or Prima Donna’s..
GLIC,
I copied and pasted the article but the charts are beyond my level of knowledge.
A solid defence leading to a goal difference of more than twice the goals against seems to be the holy grail.
………………………………………………………………………..
Oops that should have read a goal difference greater than our goals against.
GN5
I too, hope them rumours of SB are true and in all honesty, it`s probably been needed.
I dont expect more than 4th this year, but I do feel something stirring at the Arsenal which will only be good for the on coming years. We have done the right thing over the past few years in building solid foundation`s for which only a modern future visioned club will excel. We are that club. There are hundreds of years of potential Arsenal glory, lets get it right now. Good times ahead. ! 🙂
Bloody hell, I swear Stretch was guiding my hand then !. 😆
🙂
GLIC,
It’s more than possible that all of us devotee’s are so starved for ultimate success that we exaggerate the early positive signs and reach the wrong conclusions.
The one thing that does appear to be different is that there is a calmness about the team that has been missing – especially in defence.
The short, crisp, accurate passing is something that can be highly successful, (especially with our squad) and that along with a, seeming, reborn passion can propel our season.
Like you I think top 3/4 is a realistic goal – but I hold high hope of us winning a cup.
Cornwall, look into my scope, not around or above the scope but into my scope. I will count to 3……. 3, 2 , 1, and you are now fully within my spell. I require you to believe and do the following.
Arsenal shall win the league this season. Even if Arsenal are 20 points adrift come April you shall continue to believe we wil be champions and let everyone know this undeniable fact.
Arsenal shall win the champions league this season. Even if Arsenal get knocked out you shall continue to believe and maintain that we will be crowned champions of europe. If some one points out that we have been knocked out, you shall punch them in the face.
Totnumb shall be relegated this season. You shall point out this inevitability to the biggest and most brutish spudders you can find. If they dont believe you, then it is you that will be punched in the face.
You shall no longer make mockery of Terry M’s superb footballing tactical insight which brings joy and harmony to millions.
3,2,1, you are now awake and will remember not the conversation but only the compulsion to act on the above.
Great post Rocky. I do believe that everything will rest on Giro. If the guy is a big success then we will win the league. If the bloke is a flop we will still win the league but it will be tighter.
Terry 🙂
TMHT. You are wrong. This is The Year of the Chamakh. He will undoubt the doubters (in the highly unlikely event that OG fails)
Brilliant Transplant 🙂
I wastched a few of the games (highlights) from last year on Arsenal player. I only watched wins. Chavs away, spuds at home and WBA away among them. What struck me was how rubbish our defending was. It has definitely change. Song was quite bad defensively ion the games I watched
I am not at all sure why no-one appears to share my very high hopes for Ollie. People are encouraging, yes, but not confident. I’m not going all Arsenaloopy when I say he’ll bag more than 20. I really believe it.
He will continue to start, and so will Santi, meaning the understanding will develop and the goals will then flow freely.
Chamakh will score 10 this seson Raddy.
Raddy,
I had not read your comment before posting mine.
Ah, no he won’t Raddy and GM. Only, and only, if Ollie gets a bad injury. Giroud is a far superior footballer.
There’s a bet looming 🙂
Giroud is obviously better but Chamakh will still score 10 as a supersub Micky
Hi all
I’m having to blog from my phone as my pc is unwell. Has anyone offered a post for tomorrow or do I need to get heavy handed?
Thinking about why bsr scored the majority of our goals surely it’s because a. He was expected to and b. None of the others got themselves into good enough positions. Now we have three new boys who want to score and make assists plus a very exciting looking Diaby and more importantly we look we have learnt a bit about defending.
The ‘We’re gonna score one more than you Wengerball’ has given way to a possible 1-0 to the Arsenal but hopefully 2 or 3 nil to the Arsenal 🙂
We need a bet widget
Peaches,
I’ll do a post in exchange for a DidIt Says: “Giroud to be top Arsenal scorer” widget 🙂
How weird, I feel asthough I have lost a time period during the day, never mind, anyway I think we`re going to win the quadraple this year and next, followed by Arsenal winning the World Cup in Brazil !.
Glic,
Is that all?
Dooming again
Sorry Micky, I forgot the Community Shield, European Super Cup, World Club Championship , FA youth cup, EPL U21 league, NextGen and Emirates Cup !.
And the Olympics, Rugby World Cup, Twenty Twenty world cup, World Series, Stanley Cup, Ryder Cup, NBA, SuperBowl, Britains Got Talent, X Factor, Family Fortunes,Big Brother, Dancing on Ice, Strickly……………………………………………….. 😯
Rasp
My Peroni bet still stands! Chamakh to score at least 10 this year in all competitions.
I must be right – GM agrees with me!
You’ve got nine months to save up for that Peroni – but then I’ll be calling 🙂
Sounds like a plan Didit, I’ll sort it with the gunner 🙂
Who wants to be a Millionaire, Subuteo, Monopoly, Mouse Trap, Cluedo, Mr and Mrs, Red or Black, Take your Pick, The Toss, A corner, A penalty, Winwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwin
GLiC
Do you know that Rough Harris song about “Tel the Peg and his Extra Leg”?
Just wondering…
You are a bunch of cuckoos. Chamakh wont even make the bench unless it`s the Capital One Cup !. 😆
Yes Rocky, it`s not even as if they could blame us, as it`s Rough Harris , he`ll take the blame, maybe Redders could sing it . 🙂
Hi Rocky, does ‘all competitions’ include the championship manager he plays on the team coach because that ‘s the only way he’ll get 10 goals. I guess he’ll start the Cap1 cup games and therein lies your irrational optimism lol
Actually he’d probably miss the team coach too ……..
Then again Rasp, they do allow 3/4 overaged players in the Premier U21 League !.
Just noticed a post in drafts Didit, don’t know who it’s from but rasp will be able to find out a bit later. Let you know if we need yours for tomorrow.
Diaby has picked up a knock ! 😦
10 goals Rasp… 10 goals…
Ah, let me know by 7am. Thanks.
I’m feeling left out. Rasp and Rocky hammer and tongs over a Cham total, and no-one taking me on over Ollie being top scorer.
Where are all the Podolskiites when you need them?
Glic,
An Arsenal treatment room “knock” or a real world “knock”?
One is 6 months, the other is wednesday latest.
Micky
He will miss the Belarus game tomorrow, “he took a bad knock and felt mucle discomfort”. This is Diaby we`re talking about, I could give him a chinese burn and he would be out for 6 weeks !.
Well, if we are being Transplant Level Optimists, then its good news he’s not playing tomorrow.
Mind you , if Fwank Wibbery gave him a love bite when he scored the other night, then I`d give him anti-rabies injections !.
ROCKY, great idea for discussion. last season i thought i noticed RVP’s dominance causing other players to be a little gun shy. It can be intimidating when the captain is on such a tear..but i didnt like that it led to over reliance on him. I hope this season that problem is gone, Arsene always preaches for EVERYONE to try and score……
26MAY, about Cazorla, he said publicly that Arsene has told him to play as a sort of second striker, for the first time in his career.i think Arsenes correct, because Santi has a great shot on him..i think he will relish the scoring. my predictions will be slightly different, and a little optimistic.. I say Giroud 20– becuse when he gets hot in our team, he will have some multiple goal matches, and be really prolific.. pod- 12-15 …Cazorla 10-15.. i know..very optimistic.. where i am worried is whether and where walcott plays (ox could provide at least as many as theo), and Gervinho must start to shoot ! so far he has been going only the long way around….he is so talented, in our system he should have lots of goals and assists. and — he should draw more penalties if he drives TOWARDS the goal, not only the by line..
Let’s all hope that this latest news does not mean another Diaby dance – you know – one step forward and ten steps back.
Micky
I happen to believe – like you – that Olivier G will do very well this season. I was deliberately cautious with him in the Post because he hasn’t started doing it yet and, well, you never know. But on balance I’m with the Didit!
johnnie
Spot on about Gerv driving for the box, not the corner flag!
Excellent post, Rocky.
I’m really hoping the tight-arsed defending continues. The goals will start to flow once the new players settle into a groove and will be spread over far more players than last season, as you say.
I’m so looking forward to Southampton. Parking a Hampshire bus seems beyond them, so we might actually see some football at home.
Micky. I will take on the wager. Pod will score more than OG.
Same terms as last time?
Theo not playing tomorrow but will be fit for Saturday
I’ve just added my goal difference comparison widget. The green squares are clean sheets
Rasp. Great work – you are a glutton for punishment
Rasp, I LOVE that widget, top work!
Now, back to epic tennis and the good version of Scotland vs Serbia.
Sorry, but for any fans of any sport who are up and about right now, switch on the tennis – Murray and Djokovic just contested the most amazing rally. And the jock won it. Bloody fantastic stuff….
Andy Pandy Kissed The Girls made them Cry but Andy Murray swang his racket and made Novack CRY………………
What a fuc..ng weekend for British Sports – Andy, Rory, and Lewis,,,,,,,,,,, does it get any better…………..I think not…..
Superb widget, Rasp.
This time last season we’d only scored two goals, too!
A call to prayer. ( the volume goes down for Tommy’s goal)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5qtZYYQwsk
Nice subtitles.
Damn I wish I’d seen the tennis. Spent ages trying to find some kind of tennis stream 🙂
Morning Chas,
Loved that Newcastle game.
Rasp,
Me too in the loving the new widget. Very good, thanks.
(now to get rid of the “G Spot” name for Olivier. Thanks 🙂 )
Morning all,
Hi Chas, i prefer the arabic commentary to Stewart Robsons bullshit any day of the year..
Micky, you don’t like the G-spot?
you will, once Ollie finds it..thats when every gooner will climax 😉
Morning both.
Micky,
Didn’t Wiziwig have a flash stream?
Micky. The bet?
Chas,
Wiziwig??? Must look it up. Thanks.
Raddy,
You’re on. Podolski or Giroud as top scorer? All comps, or just league. I’m happy with either, as I’ll win so easily 🙂
School run.
OK Micky, TGS = OG now 😛
Just the League
Have a look at Conor Henderson’s goal for the Ireland under 21’s…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhBcVKPIIA&feature=player_embedded#!
Raddy,
Just the league. Done.
Rasp,
Thanks. Far more dignified for our top scorer 🙂
Great goal, thanks.
Morning all……
….. New post ……..
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