Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Gervinho, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Arshavin
News that the BFG would start with Kos dropping to the bench was greeted with good cheer from the Goonerati after Wednesday’s less than convincing CB performance. Would the blogs’ judgement be seen to be more accurate than last week’s cry to drop the BFG? Certainly with Carroll restored to the Hammers line-up a few extra inches might come in handy. The ex-Wales captain Aaron Ramsey was preferred to Coquelin for the Diaby spot and Olivier Giroud started as centre forward with a massive amount of well-wishing supporters willing him his first premier league goal.
A victory would see Arsene Wenger’s 350th 3 points in the Premier League.
Arsenal began the first half dominating possession. Pod had an early sighter in the 1st minute, quickly followed by Giroud nearly squeezing in a shot from the edge of the box, drawing a good save from Jaaskelainen.
Gibbs had an early cross fall short which became a feature of the first half, crosses either too short or too long from both flanks. West Ham barely touched the ball in the first five minutes.
On 6’ a sweeping Arsenal move started by Ramsey on the edge of his own area ended in a Cazorla shot and Arsenal corner. Meanwhile Mertesacker was continuing where he left off against the Light Blue Oilers – like a beacon of calmness. A superb tackle from the Teutonic tower in the Arsenal penalty area snuffed out a promising West Ham attack.
Arsenal lost their way for a few minutes with crosses going astray. On 17’ a Ramsey cross found the one claret and blue shirt surrounded by three yellow shirts. Santi began pulling the strings but the ball in the final third was lacking. A series of corners ensued, with Big Ollie nearly scoring with a bending effort from the edge of the area, blocked by Carroll. Each corner seemed to find Carroll’s head, the stats for his headers won throughout the game must have been huge.
West Ham’s first real attack ended in an expertly taken goal from Diame which left Mannone no chance. Ramsey was undone by a piece of trickery with Jenks outside him, leaving the Frenchman clear. Yet again Arsenal had had all the play but were 1 down – a familiar story.
On 28’ Diame committed a foul worthy of a 2nd yellow (he’d been booked for his goal celebration) but Phil Dowd waved away Arsenal protests led by Vermaelen. Nolan dived soon after and Dowd bought it hook, line and sinker. West Ham’s only tactic seemed the hoof upfield to the big Geordie pony tail. Not a long ball team, my a*se.
A couple of corners saw the Hammers threaten, Carroll heading straight at the keeper and then launching himself at Mannone who received no protection from the ref. At the other end Santi was buzzing like a yellow hornet. A Gibbs cross was flicked on by the BFG and Big Ollie was inches away from that first elusive Prem goal.
The 41st minute saw that longed-for moment finally arrive. A magnificent driven cross from Podolski was met by a lunge at full stretch from Giroud. At last a well-deserved goal was rapturously received by players and fans alike.
The final minute of the first half saw Phil Dowd again buy a dive, this time from Noble and West Ham nearly profited from the resulting hoof into the Arsenal box. Half time arrived after a fine piece of covering work from Jenkinson, who grows in stature game by game.
The second half began and Don Vito did well under pressure from a corner. Gervinho hesitated when clear in the box and Big Ollie just failed to find Rambo on the burst.
By the 50th minute it was all possession football from the Gunners with the claret and blue bus well and truly parked. The masticating walrus looked somewhat relieved that the West Ham ‘academy’ was still in the game.
On 53’, Santi plucked the ball out of the sky, drove forward and was unlucky to see his efforts end in another poor cross from Gibbs. Kieran was substituted soon after with another knock to be replaced by Andre ‘ he drives how he wants’ Santos. For some reason the phrase ‘not shy of a pie’ (thanks Rhyle) entered my head and immediately made me smile.
Gervinho then gave the ball away and only a fine challenge from our captain stemmed the West Ham break. From the resulting throw-in, Jarvis skied the ball over the bar after yet another Carroll flick on. This was the first time I remember Jarvis being on the pitch. He saw more of the ball on the ground with a relegated Wolves side than he did playing for West Ham today.
The 61st minute saw Arsenal’s second substitution, Walcott for Gervinho. Definitely a good call, our Mekon had not had one of his better days. A tactical substitution on the hour, whatever next?
Andre Santos looked at home immediately, pinging passes backwards and forwards with Cazorla and dispossessing Nolan when West Ham did break. The game was becoming an end to end affair with chances at both ends. A stunning move from the Gunners ended in a rather lame attempt at a back heel pass from Theo but his impact was proving crucial. Carroll should have scored at the other end when Mannone came but was beaten to the ball. No Arsenal defender was in sight.
Santi missed a great chance on 67’ and then combined with the Pod but the resulting effort was blocked. Mertesacker made an excellent tackle on Nolan at the other end and it seemed for a horrible moment that he was injured again. Thankfully he seemed to run it off.
A penalty appeal was waved away before Podolski drew a fumbled save from Jaaskelainen. A series of Arsenal corners built the pressure mounting on the West Ham goal, including a delightful turn and left foot cross from Mr Cazorla.
In the 76th minute the boys in red and white got their just desserts when Theo coolly finished off a perfectly weighted ball from Giroud. Another goal celebration booking followed. Did anyone give a flying f*ck, I don’t think so.
A couple of minutes after the goal Nolan missed a great chance for an equaliser. Arsenal shut up shop? – not a hope in hell. Theo had a good chance to the far post, then the BFG swivelled and turned in the area as if he was auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing, his shot deflected for yet another corner.
The third Arsenal goal was just sublime. On 83’ a little touch inside by Theo and Santi unleashed a bending, dipping drive with the outside of his left foot and the Away Boys went berserk. What a goal!
Koscielny came on for Podolski on 85’ just before Mannone was forced into a great save from Matt Taylor. Santi produced the pass of the game reversing to Giroud but the keeper managed to block the Frenchman’s effort. There was still time for another blocked shot from Cazorla. The Away Boys now confirming our magnificent Man of the Match with a non-stop rendition of ‘Oh, Santi Cazorla’ .
What a fabulous result, three points earned with a skilful and hard-working performance. And what a superb way to enter another absurd international break in this exciting season.
Ratings:
Mannone – Made a few fine saves and stood up to the usual Fat Sam tactics at corners and free-kicks……7
Mertesacker – Solid and a calming influence. Vermaelen seemed twice the player alongside the BFG……8
Vermaelen – Much improved from our captain. Benefitted from playing with an experienced partner…….8
Jenkinson – Excellent again from the Corporal. The commentator’s description of Jenks as ‘rangy’ made me laugh ….8
Gibbs – Another fine performance ended early with a hopefully minor injury. Needs to improve his crossing…..7
Arteta – Tick tock tick tock…….8
Ramsey – Rambo produced a mature performance linking well with Arteta and Cazorla ……8
Cazorla – Magnificent. A real delight to see a player with such a huge smile on his face bring smiles to countless others’ faces…….9
Podolski – Lukas worked extremely hard again and his assist for Giroud’s goal was superb …..8
Giroud – Off the mark with a great effort, Big Ollie troubled the West Ham defence the whole game. He is growing into the Premiership quite nicely, thank you …..8
Gervinho – Not Gerv’s best performance but again worked his socks off in the Arsenal cause….7
Subs:
Santos – 56′ – Settled in immediately and looked completely at home….8
Walcott – 61′ – Brilliant impact sub cameo from Theo. Found space and made crucial contributions…..8
Koscielny – 85′ – Brought on to secure the victory…..7
Written by chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Absolutely brilliant match report, Chazzer, and well backed up with those great Vids! 🙂
I have the tiniest quibble about the player ratings, in that I would have given Mannone and the Gervil a 6 each.
That highlights more the absolute class performance of the others, especially, as you have shown, that smiling wizard, Cazzor, ans also the sorcerer’s apprentice, Long Legs Jenks.
A tour de force, Chazzer, well done sir! 🙂
Only read it twice so far Chas, which is not enough.
Brilliant report, thank you very much.
“Teutonic Tower” is very good.
I liked Theo’s back heel, but I don’t think its anything to have a blazing row over 🙂
The thought that yesterday’s starting line up was without Sagna, Jack, Diaby, Kos, Sz, Santos, Rosicky, Coq or Theo must point the way to a very exciting season. The understanding between Caz, Gerv, Pod, Theo and Big ‘Ol can only improve and I can see both Pod and Ol getting 20+ quite comfortably, with Theo and Gerv around 15.
You do realise the Post Match Author job is now yours permanently? 🙂
first : ) Been waiting for this post since morning. Where am from its gmt+2/+3. I always have to cap my post-match report eagerness.
great result yesterday. 6 goals in 2 matches from 6 different players is great for the team and unpredictable for opponents.
I am surprised Santos got an 8? While he did well to come on for Gibbs, he lost a couple of balls and i must admit i was a tad uneasy when he came on. But, with 2 weeks to the next match, i’ll just take the positives to carry me through the lull.
The defensive 3 when Koscielny came on was a surprise, a good one. It means when we have really tough games and are a goal(s) ahead, we can strengthen the back to avoid those late winners against us that cost us last season.
any news on how serious Gibbs’ mishap was?
RA,
I believe Rasp and Peaches are still mulling that one over, given Chas’ new contract demands. Its not so much the additional wonga, its the rather “unusual” requests in the Terms and Conditions.
You must be smoking something very strong to give Gervinho a 7, he was terrible. What a player Carzola is, he is a delight to watch. I’m delighted for Giroud a lot of pressure has been put on him, mostly by the media. It’s looking good for the Arsenal.
Agree with RedArse @9.59 Mannone isn’t convincing enough. I think we need Sczny to get back to form. I have a strong conviction that his presence behind our D may significantly add to our strength at the back and possibly concede less goals.
Gunnerstone,
That’s nothing, I gave the whole bloody lot of them a pay rise!
Although I know what you are saying about Gerv’s performance, the good thing is that when someone is having an off day, AW recognized it, acted, and a goal followed from his replacement.
Bodes well.
kg/RA,
Whatever anyone thinks of Sz’s goalkeeping ability, he certainly doesn’t lack confidence, and it has to be a good thing to have a cocky/shouty man at the very back.
What a fantastic comprehensive report that is chas , best I`ve seen and from the stuff I`ve read on here that is saying something, worthy of a Gold medal !. 🙂
I still haven`t seen the game yet ( will watch on player later ), so it seems like I`m in for a treet.
Great day yesterday, sunshine, win and baby is out of incubator and gaining something like an ounce a day !.
Oh and talking to a guy whose making the timber frame for glic jnr`s Love Shack, I find out he`s a Gooner, along with two other of the timberframers !. Just a pleasant day allround. . 🙂
Gunnertone,
I’m just a generous kind of chap. We won 3-1 at Upton Park. No-one deserves less than a 7.
By the way, there’s no such player as Carzola.
Thank you chas for a fantastic match report and you are welcome to volunteer for as many as you fancy doing 🙂
Oh the joy of watching Theollypodorla in full flow. As Micky says above, yesterdays team was missing so many first class first team players and yet they looked like a great team. Very exciting times ahead, what a shame there’s a 2 week break although good for Arteta to have a bit of a rest.
Glic, Good news on the descendant.
Great report, Chas – that’s the first time I’ve ever been namechecked in a post anywhere…magic..!
Spot on the money, great performance all ’round – apart from their goal I think we limited them to two decent chances, both of which fell to Nolan and were scuffed. The rest were well-marshalled half chances.
I’ve been one of the few to argue against the Jenks ahead of Sagna calls, but the more he goes on in the consistent vein of form the harder it’s going to be to justify dropping him.
Arteta ran Cazorla very close for MOTM yesterday – as you say, he’s the beating heart of this side, the metronome setting the tempo we play at, breaking the play up and linking attack to defence.
Incidentally, did anyone read Matt Law’s review of the game this morning? Particularly upset with some of the abuse aimed at Wenger by WHU fans…was it the usual “sit down” nonsense he gets?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/west-ham-united-1-3-arsenal-1285954
Now for another international break, will have a good think about topics to tide us over…not to say I’ll write anything, you understand…but I might…
glic – lovely news about the baby
Peaches,
Extra gloating time. Silver whatnots and so on 🙂
Thanks Micky and peaches and everybody else after this comment ! 🙂
Rhyle,
Here’s a deal. If you might, then I’ll might 🙂
Off to village shop to buy things.
Day at home, so back later for more gloating.
I don’t think we’ve ever had a video from Belarus before!
With Rocky away walking in the woods 😉 we need a post for tomorrow, does anyone have a burning desire to write a Monday post …….
In addition we’re going to need lots of posts for the coming days so put your post writing heads on please.
Chaz, forgive my spelling I’m call him Santi from now on. I’m old enough to remember when the only foreign players for the gunners came from Ireland, much easier to spell their names.
Having a very pleasant morning, too…living in Brentwood most of my pals are gooners or WHU, with a few O’s, spuds, ManU thrown in for good measure. Had a shed load of rubbish thrown my way before the game, strangely both my phone and facebook have been absolutely quiet since the final whistle…
Shouldnt be too hard to spell Cha’s’ though? ..Nevermind..
Top write up Chas, im starting to get comfortable watching my team play again..I havnt had that since Bobby played..but thats just me..In recent times we have had quality teams on paper but no desire when the going got tough on the pitch..
I dont know, but this team look like a pack of fighters, like a team who know that the odds are stacked against them since the big name departures and politics surrounding our club..
Its a never give up attitude that everyone seems to feeding off that has filtered through the team, and in turn our fans are starting to respond in full voice, both home and away..
Still not sure if our squad is deep enough for all four competitions, we will give it a shake but id say we are good for 2 at the moment… 🙂
Chas, excellent report. But really generous with the ratings 🙂 vermaelen much more under control. Girouds work all around very good, great assist to walcott and passing in general. He is earning his pay. And great finish again from theo. ——- and i agree totally with using kozzer late. Make us more solid, and lock down the lead, secure the 2 goal difference. I hope we do that more this season.
I heard that jerk that purposely kicked mannone in the head got a seperated shoulder on his fall after. So perfect!
—– and did u see poldi when giroud tried to jump onto him to celebrate? Lukas was like- no way! Your too big, lets just hug or something. —
Morning all, nice report Chas, filled in all the important parts although i may have been revelling in VazTe’s dislocated shoulder from his knee into Mannone’s head.
I’m so glad we got the win from that very tough encounter. As you say Giroud, Arteta, Cazorla, BFG and TV5 formed a very good foundation for that victory.
I have to say i agree with your rating for Gervinho, i think his workrate is often overlooked as is his movement and unrewarded runs, he does a lot of good stuff off the ball and he creates problems for defenders. Although admittedly yesterday he wasn’t the greatest when he had the ball.
Jenkinson just impresses me with every performance although he and BFG left a bit too much of a wide open space between them for Diame to run into.
Was impressed by Ramseys display in the centre of midfield.
Arteta, the beating heart of the team, too right.
Thanks to the 442 app, Arteta completed 106 of 111 passes.
Of our completed passes he played 20%.
Of the remaining completed passes played by others he was involved in 23.6% (100). So of all completed passes in the game he was involved in 39%.
Of his 106 completed passes only 14 were played to centre backs.
Santi Cazrola….well the lad is just different gravy.
Top notch match report chas. A strong performance, our heads didn’t go down when we conceded, we had the confidence to keep playing our way.
Cazorla was superb, he has such good balance and a low centre of gravity that he rides challenges from players twice his size.
The score of 7 for Gerv may seem a tad generous, but there is a slight problem with that front 3. Gerv is much more effective playing on the left (cutting in on his right) but that is definitely the pod’s position. So Gerv can either be central or left to be most effective – therefore if Giroud and Pod are both playing, Gerv becomes less effective.
Hi GiE, Arteta and Cazorla – our Spanish Spine! Those two are the best we’ve had in midfield since 2004 ..
Will get around to seeing the game later, but is Santi`s goal the best Arsenal player goal of the weeekend ?. If chas can oblige, have a look at Denilson`s goal for San Paulo Vs Palmeiras , it`s a corker !.
Satisfying result from a good, but not perfect, performance I thought.
Only one team was there to play football, it was a classic Fat Sam team set-up we faced. We completely dominated in many ways but pretty much every player made errors along the way, probably Arteta exempted.
Was very pleased with Giroud’s performance, and not just for the goal. And I always like seeing Theo show what he’s about.
Having not got the points some of our performances so far have deserved (Stoke, Man City, Chelsea), we really needed all three points this weekend, so was great to get them. Hopefully, this will set the team up for a decent run.
Well done to the GLIC family, excellent news. And have a good Sunday you guys, catch up later.
When Koscielny came on near the end, it inspired the thought of a STARTING lineup of Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen in the back (a la Italian national tteam config), along with a midfield trio of Arteta, Cazorla, and Wilshere/Diaby. Then you sprinkle in either two fullbacks (Jenkinson, Gibbs), or one fullback with a winger opposite (e.g., Jenkinson with Santos – he’s a Brazilian winger in fullback’s clothing; Gibbs with Walcott). Top off up front with Giroud with Podolski/Gervinho.
Any takers? Would not use as a steady diet, but could be a useful alternative even in big matches, depending on the opposition. Would AW even consider this?
Jean,
……….Pod Gir
Gib Art Caz JW Jenk
…Verm Mert Kos
………..Sz
This line up makes me not at all unhappy, actually quite tearful 🙂
Mind you, right now, I’m so buoyant that AW can do what he likes.
Jean I had very similar thoughts, I liked that it made our possession easier, and there was always a triangle on between 2 CBs and Arteta to keep possession in middle, normally the triangle is FB, CB and Arteta, as Wonderman pointed out recently the FB is denied as many options by the touch line.
Do I like it as a starting option? Yes but is keep Jenks and Gibbs too, then go to a midfield 2 and 3 forwards.
Glic fantastic news about the baby!!
Great match report. dowd should get a -10 and a kick in the nuts, What a wanker
Right…had an idea for a post which could recur in international breaks: a “where are they now?” for some of the kids that have moved through our doors…has anyone got any names they’d like to see appear?
david bentley 🙂
Why the hell is Arteta not in the Spain national team? No national team should ever be complete without a player like him, even with Xavi and Iniesta
Oh, and i so love your write up!
davor suker
GIE,
I think the Vaz Te foul on Mannone was worse than you thought.
He deliberately left his foot in and ran his boot down the GK’s face/jaw. Disgusting!
Vaz Te should have had at least a yellow and quite possibly a red card for that. Poor from the ref and linesman who let him off because the poor dear hurt his shoulder.
I also think that Dowd was wrong to wave away at least a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, and possibly a penalty if the fouls was just inside the area, when Rambo was taken out when in full flight! Again, poor by the ref and the lino.
Hi rhyle, I heard quite a sad interview with Stephen Hughes on TS last week so he’s a candidate. Davor Suker was quite a character, and whatever happened to Owusu Obeye (sp. ? )
Hi Andy, maybe Arteta is so quietly efficient that even international managers don’t notice him. One thing is for sure, we notice it when he’s not in the side.
He has such intelligence, I believe he changed his role since joining Arsenal because he could see what the team needed and obviously it made more sense at his age to play furhter back, but he was never the fastest so I don’t think age is catching up with him yet.
Glicster, 🙂
Terrific news about your progeny! All the family must be so relieved. 🙂
Rhyle,
Randall, Alliadiere, Vince Bartram, Alex Manninger, Cliff Bastin? 🙂
Junichi Inamoto, Squillacci etc 🙂
Rhyle,
Nacer Barazite, Jon Sammels, Paolo Vernazza, Riu Fonte, Cesc Fabregas. What happened to them all? 🙂
Rasp,
Owusu played for Panathinaikos against the Spuds on Thursday. 🙂
Thank you all again , yes Redders, very ! 🙂
Just finished watching the first half and my “award winning” tactical observations are, we play nice stuff !. 🙂
Other than score, I dont know what more we could have done in the first 20 mins. Plenty of crossing to the back post, no one there !.
It must have felt like a training session with attack playing defence.
It says something when WHam`s best defender was a £35m striker !. Thought Ramsey was the best player in the 1st half, great engine !. Here endeth the glic analysis . 🙂
Right out to Garden Nursery.
Thanks RA, I make a point of not watching games the spuds are involved in 😕
David Hillier is a fireman. vaz Te reinforced my belief in karma
Ces Fabregas is working as a gogo dancer in a gay bar near the nudist beach in Barcelona
I did not watch it either, Rasper, but I heard his name mentioned on TalkSport – but thinking about it, Abeyie might have just been in the Pan squad.
He must have been with several clubs by now. What about it Rhyle? 🙂
It’s brilliant for us that Arteta isn’t in the Spanish National team, if he were he wouldn’t get the two week rest he gets right now and he wouldn’t come back as fresh as he does and as a consequence he almost certainly would not play as well as he does for us now.
GM, 🙂
Oops
Great match report Chas; in my humble opinion, they are getting better and better.
Rhyle,
Rui Fonte’s brother has just scored for S’Hampton.
Rhyle….Andy Linnighan, Ian Allinson, Alan Sunderland.
RA…..I agree on Vaz Te….he was a dirty f****** as I said at the time. 😀
RA…it was actually Rui Fonte that got me thinking about this…thanks for all of the suggestions but can everyone stop letting people know “where they are” as it kinda spoils the “where are they now?” nature of the post…lol…it’d get 10 comments all of which would be “we know”…
Was thinking along the lines of Fabian Caballero, Arturo Lupoli…the names that threatened to be the “next big things” and then disappeared to the lower leagues of Albania…Alberto Mendez, anyone? Amaury Bischoff? I may have to make this alphabetised with all the names that’ve passed through the Youth team doors during Wenger’s tenure!
GIE…can pretty much guarantee that all three of those, being predominantly footballers of the ’80s, are now pub landlords. 😉
Big cheer for the lads last night and an even bigger one for baby glic!!!
😀 Rhyle
Surely there’s not enough pubs for all the ex footballers.
Alan Miller owned one in Burnham Market for a while but that didn’t succeed from memory as he wanted a boozer and Burnham Market is the haven of Gastro Pub/Restaurants.
I was going to watch that Liverpool docusoap last night but found Magical Mystery Tour being screened on BBC2 which was much more enjoyable.
Has anyone watched it? Is it worth watching?
Burnham Market…that’s the Norfolk Riviera isn’t it? Wasn’t Johnny Depp sniffing around a property there?!
Here’s a few of Stuart Macfarlane’s photos.
Synchronised celebrating
Sign da ting
Wish I’d been there
GIE,
Like you, I didn’t watch the ‘Pool docu crap, but as one boring accountant to another, I must implore you to watch Lilyhammer on BBC Four.
It is absolutely wonderful. 🙂
An ex-mafia guy goes to Norway in a protection deal and ……….. well you have gotta watch it, it is just sooo funny!!
Then I watched (all recorded on Sky + HD bollix) Rookie Blue (Now I know why Rockadidleedoo went to Canada) all about some sexy young female coppers, and finished with Red Dwarf X ( a bit iffy) and Haven (I love its weirdness) and also, finally, finally Wrath of the Titans (hmmm well you know …) then Snow White and the Huntsman (well I love Charlize Theron 🙂 ) .
I am not allowed to imbibe alcohol, at the moment, because of medication etc — but it is Sunday and I will deny everything tomorrow. That’s my excuse!! 🙂
Damn! Bastard keyboard won’t stay still!
Where’s your analysis of the 2011/12 Arsenal Accounts, by the way?
Nobody does it as well as you!!
Chas, 🙂
We haven’t met, but I know i would love your humor in person.
At the very least you should write comedy, you have an eye for things.
Loved the ‘Sing dat ting’ … no, no — ‘sign – dat ting’ 🙂
Lillyhammer good and threatening to be great. Gets better every episode, and this weeks was an especially good watch. Steve van Zandt…I wish I was a younger, better looking version of him. The Sopranos, the E-Street Band and now Lillyhammer. Not a bad CV.
Really enjoying Person of Interest…and Homeland S2, of course, starts tonight…but will have to wait ’till I’ve finished El Classico…
I’ve also got to download the Jon Stewart v Bill Reilly debate…
Cheers, RA.
Spot the similarity……
Thanks for the recommendations, boys.
I don’t watch much TV at all, but will do if I know there is something worth watching.
Rhyle, its also known as Chelsea on Sea, and yes Johnny Depp was sniffing round and did infact buy it by all accounts, its up at Burnham Deepdale, I believe it has a helipad and is very secure (ie no Kate Middleton shots from any vantage point). So one has to wonder why bother buying a place there if you’re not going to go out and mix with the webbed feet masses 😀
RA I had no intention of looking at them, but if we get really bored during the interlull and now they are up on the Club website i may have a peruse and see if anything strikes me as relevant.
Want to get away from club finances and concentrate on the football, as no one is making noises about spending $1bn and getting Usmanov in at the moment, usurping Kroenke etc at the moment I figure its not worth the effort.
I will venture to iPlayer and look up Lillyhammer
Here’s an amazing stat (unfortunately it comes from the current bun)
Of the 5 top european leagues over the lasy 5 years, Santi Cazorla has scored the most goals from outside the box
Arsene will knock it out of him Rasp 😀
Man U have just put in their best 20 minutes of the season. They’re ripping the Barcodes to shreds.
I see where the Red Nosed Gaffer has countered the Geordie 12th Man (the crowd) with a twelfth man on the pitch (Howard the Copper). Now Fergie is furious at at the fourth official as his guy has already handed out two yellows to his side. He’s supposed to wait until deep into second half injury time.
That was a disappointing days results 😦
Just about to jump on the boat home,hope you lot are keeping your promises and we will be top of the league when I get home, lol
jump 🙂
how longs the journey back? 😀
They get back on the 14th, GIE , I am sure dandan will have lost weight 🙂 What is it they say.You gain a pound a day on a cruise ship.
I went on a cruise when I was about 22/23, the next season most of my opponents asked what happened to me over the summer, and my Manager tried to get me to wear bin bags in training. I assumed to aid sweat out but looking back he could’ve been trying to tell me something 🙂
Lionel Messi showing Ronaldo why he’s the better player…man…everything…AGAIN.
…and just as I say that the twonk equalises…
I’ll get me coat.
Going back to Glic’s earlier post on Denilson’s goal v Palmeiras. All I’ll say is ENJOY…
Sorry, I don’t have time to read the comments, has anyone offered to write a post for tomorrow?
I always said Denilson was great, never doubted him for a minute, ever. lol
He could always strike a ball….just not regularly enough.
Peaches don’t think so.
I’ll try and put a present in drafts for you.
Someone needs to take Podolski shopping…shows a distinct lack of a PL player’s sense of sartorial adventure…
Rhyle he was photographed travelling round London on the bus recently….I guess we can say the guy is modest.
I kid, I kid – I love someone who doesn’t forget where they come from and have a normal ego…unlike certain a******s who’ll go for the silver suit over silver shirt and ridunkulously huge diamond earrings…when I were a lad only the lasses wore earrings…lol
GIE – are you watching MOTD2? did that look a DB10 style forearm smash from BSR? Ban ‘im! 5 game ban!
Bale diving again…
Not watching Rhyle, can’t watch him in that shirt!
Peaches i’ve failed to come up with anything i have started about 5 different posts but they are all garbage!
Micky you need to go for an early morning float in the Atlantic
“Ramsey and Arteta completed a 190 passes between them, West Ham completed 199.”
That’s a pretty impressive stat Chas.
I was looking at the 442 app last night trying to get inspiration for a post. I was impressed that Rambo was our second highest passer and it was good that half went forward so the old Denilson sideways accusation couldn’t be levelled at him. And the only ones that went astray were forward passes.
Good Morning all yee early risers! 🙂
In addition, our number of passes completed as a team amounted to 600+.
The pass success rate was something like 87%.
Not that we are gloating or anything.
I hope they discipline RvP for the short arm smack in the face of Cabaye. It wasn’t the pointy elbow type, but was quite deliberate.
I think a 3 match ban and castration would just about be right!!
Bloody hell, no post.
Is there anyone important around to put one up should anything materialize in the next half hour or so?
Are you thinking as well RA?
I’m on it, but it will need someone to stick it up. Anyone out there?
I love it when you speak dirty, Micky! 🙂
Neither do I indulge much in thinking Mickledemius. 🙂
Is there a dearth of Peaches and Raspers?
Post sent.
Mild response RA. Glad Cornish isn’t around!
Chas…my three tiny pieces of Skids knowledge…the lead guitarist, Stuart Adamson, went on to form Big Country and sadly committed suicide in 2001, and the lead singer Richard Jobson is married to Mariella Frostrup.
There you go…a little Monday morning science
If BSR got a retrospective three-match ban for elbowing Cabaye, he’d miss United’s matches against Stoke, Chelsea and ……….. the Gooners.
26,
You are the Legal Eagle, File away!
Rhyle,
On a less scientific note, Jobbo had the stupidist dance of the era.
I used to watch Arsenal with Jobson; the Good Guys are obviously not his first choice but he needed a team to follow after moving to London and obviously made the right choice. The Fostrup thing broke down a long time ago. He has been married to Francesca for over 20 years now. They live in Buckinghamshire.
Can’t argue about the dance. lol
Fantastic write up Chas….
Mert really does settle the whole team down.
Fantastic goal from Big Ollie
Bloody heck LB,
We do need to watch what we say on here, as there’s always someone who knows what they are talking about 🙂
Morning, morning, just had to read chas’ match report again – it was very good.
Sad that everyone managed to win this weekend and so we didn’t get to make any ground up but as someone else said yesterday, better to go into the break on the back of a win 🙂
We are going to need posts chaps in the next few days, just something to start off the days chatting. Micky has come up with one for today, so big thanks for that 🙂
New Post ………………………
You somehow mist the stamp from Vaz Te on the head of Manone. Disgraceful
typo ‘missed’…