The Arsenal travel west to kick off their FA Cup campaign against Swansea with Gooners, especially those who were at Ashburton Grove last month, fearfully recalling how we were outplayed by today’s opponents that day.
I was behind the goal where their two goals were scored and which triggered off the most hostile final whistle response from the home support I have ever seen in all the 50 odd matches I’ve attended.
My initial reaction to drawing Swansea in the FA Cup was not the best, mainly due to seeing other Premier League teams draw the likes of Crawley or Peterborough, and therefore given more latitude to rotate their squad.
To date Arsenal have won 6 of the 12 meetings with one draw and of course the aforementioned win for Swansea. The only major absentee from that defeat was Sagna, who is suffering from an indifferent spell of form and I would like to see Jenkinson take his place with the BFG coming in for our captain, who is also not playing to his potential either.
Due to the eternal absence of Diaby there is little room for rotation so the middle three will probably comprise Arteta, Jack and Santi with a top three of Theo, Posdolski and Giroud. The variations on this are Oxo in for Theo with our current contract rebel in as a late sub. Another possible change is to insert Ramsey in the middle three, perhaps instead of Santi to make for a more defensive set up. although he is bound to receive a “warm” reception being an ex Cardiff City player.
This is more or less the same team that Swansea faced in December and one would hope the manager will send the team out with the challenge that they make amends for the insipid performance that culminated in the late Michu brace and resulted in the home league defeat.
The opposition only have one absentee, long-term injury victim Neil Taylor who won’t be seen this season, and therefore they will be at full strength and with the previous meeting fresh in our minds our best hope is that complacency will be Swansea’s downfall.
Especially if they look at our listless performance last time out at St Mary’s.
Today’s explorer is Edgar Evans, from Roshili, a village near Swansea, who served on the ill-fated 1911-12 Scott expedition to Antarctica. He left his home town to serve as a Torpedo lieutenant on the HMS Majestic before he began the first of his three exploratory sojourns.
He was one of five men who failed to return to base camp after they reached the South Pole in January 1912 and met with an icy death, with Captain Oates uttering those famous words: ”I am just going outside and I may be some time.”
Should Arsenal fail to win today I suspect a good many gooners will be feeling similarly cold to their team, however with an energetic, and dare I say vengeful, performance theirs no reason we cannot progress to the fourth round.
The away support will do us proud, as they always do, but it will take a brave and committed performance from the good guys to keep us in the hunt for the FA Cup
UTA !
Charybdis1966 (on Twitter and Youtube)
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Really nice PM Chary. Thank you.
I even forgive the inclusion of yet another Ice Man given the connection with todays opponents.
Is Rosicky fit?
Rasp
I too read Arsene’s comments about his “socialist” pay policy and how all will be well when Fair Play rides over the horizon.
I completely dispair.
“I don’t know how it works at other clubs, but the wages at Arsenal are decided in consultation between me and the board,” Wenger said. “There is an amount of money that is dedicated to the wages every year. Within that budget, we try to come up with payments that are sensible and defensible.
“As long as the economical balance within a club is respected and you pay the people with the resources that make economical sense, then it is fine. If I want to pay a player a little more than the budget, then I ask for the authorisation from the board.
“The set-up we have means sometimes you have to let one player go to make space for someone coming as the squad is limited and sometimes you need to knock out some good players to make room for others.”
Wenger went on to reveal his policy on wages is different to many of his top-flight rivals, with the Arsenal boss explaining there is a balance within his squad that ensures none of his players are paid vastly more than their team-mates.
Is that clear enough
Back to the post.Thanks Chary, as I said earlier I wouldn’t be surprised to see an unchanged team from the one that started at Southampton as Wenger never goes with the flow of what many fans think. My prediction 1-1 🙂
Chas
if you are about re RVP, would Welbeck have scored that last minute equaliser 🙂
Wenger’s socialist wage policy continues to be the problem and despite IG’s statement over a year ago that we are moving away from that model, clearly AW has no intention of changing his ways. Wenger is the problem, time he went.
Hi Kelsey
You left out the really bad bit!
Anyway its off to the beach for the new year bbq
Come on you Gunnnnnners
Well done CharyB, a good pre-match Post! 🙂
Rasp, 🙂
I, too, read the ‘socialist’ comment, but I also read this comment from the same interview.
“[Arsene Wenger said] I find it difficult to analyse the players and to know what they are capable of.
“When you score seven goals in one game and only get an own goal in the next one, of course, it is hard.
“We have good offensive potential but we are not consistent enough. I change my mind whether I need to go into the transfer market from game to game.
“If you look at the Newcastle game, you’d say fantastic but if you look at the Southampton game you can say we need to strengthen our offensive department.”
Now, I did not hear the interview, so the usual caveats apply, but if at this stage of the Transfer Window AW is still vacillating about whether we need to buy another ‘top, top’ forward, or not, my heart sinks.
There have been mounting rumours that Arsenal have lost out, in the past, in transfer market dealings, not simply because of the money, but because Wenger finds it so difficult to make up his mind, and this interview, if correct, tends to bear that out.
The S/Times is also carrying the story that no discussions, other than courtesy calls, have taken place between Walcott’s advisers and the club.
What happened to all the deadlines he gave Walcott to get this sorted? Why did he say he would not go into the market until Theo’s contract was resolved?
I am becoming uneasy about all this. If AW said he would or would not do something – end of – and stuck with it, right or wrong, I would accept it, and we would move on. This uncertainty is not good for Arsene. the team or all the fans listening to or reading these comments.
Thanks guys, this PM was a last minute candle-lit post last night. Must dash, let the best teamn, I.e. us, win !
The other day there was a lengthy debate about our finaces and I just read without leaving a comment, yet I still don’t believe kroenke is the right man to lead our club forward where it really mateers on the pitch and to eventually win trophies.
He only acquired the shares as Fiszman and co didn’t want Usmanov to get them.
I understand we are one of the richest club in the world but in my eyes kroenke is going to try and raise more and more revenue by making Arsenal a world wide brand, TV rights and even applying for 7 music concerts this summer at the stadium.
None of his franchises in the states win trophies, yet they maybe profitable (I don’t know).so what is his ultimate aim. to take dividends, sell out or is he in it for the long term.
Fans don’t want to see the best players leave on a regular basis,and even taking into account that we can’t compete with the 3 money clubs in the EPL surely a better balance can be found.
We have a long list of players who are not wanted anymore,a couple have been loaned out, we tried to sell Santos but wouldn’t ake a partial loss and we keep players far too long who are forever injured and all of them are eating away at our wage bill.
FFP is something we as a club are far too reliant upon and regardless what the optimists say, I just can’t see a turn around. Who will be the next to leave of the few class players we have.
I think many fans blame the Bod in general as well as |Wenger and I would rather they said what most realise that the last 5 years of transition hasn’t worked out as first thought and we are now finally starting to remove deadwood so that a bit of quality can be brought in to bolster the squad.
I know most of you will question me on this,but i notice lady nina is still sticking the knife in and quite frankly I don’t know who to believe these days.
Thasks for the pre match chary, sterling ork and at very short notice. I think you’ve summed up the way we a feel.
Sagna or no Sagna …. I think I’d play him and use Jenks i the prem until he looks like returning to anywhere near s old form.
Can’t wait for the match!
2 and a half hours of sleep and then off to work! The life of one watching The Arsenal in Sydney. But worth it to be sure.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2257787/Arsene-Wenger-decide-Theo-Walcott-stays-Arsenal.html
Apparently whether Walcott leaves or not is up to Arsene now and not Walcott anymore as many fans have thought. In a somewhat related matter in line with all the comments above as well as Wenger’s recent interview which sheds a different light on the transfer dealings of Arsenal FC, what do you guys think about a manager having seemingly so much unprecedented power over a club?
Hi Kit, speaking purely personally (not reflecting the majority view on this site) I think the control that the manager has over matters over and above the football side of the cub is the main reason we are underachieving. The Board are at fault because it is their job to manage the manager.
I never thought I’d say this, but I have some sympathy for IG as he is stuck between an aged Board who are out of touch and a manager who wants to do his job as well as everyone else’s.
A fine pre-match, chary.
The team does need to redeem itself.
Today is the perfect opportunity.
kelsey,
Welbeck probably wouldn’t have scored that last minute equaliser.
However that doesn’t invalidate what I said about the simplistic 11th in the table analysis, as you know full well.
Afternoon
No Michu starting for swansea today not sure of he’s on the bench.
Look out for a good youngster at swansea Ben Davies he’s very talented.
TEAM NEWS: Wenger makes three changes
Arsène Wenger has made three changes for this afternoon’s FA Cup third-round tie at Swansea.
Per Mertesacker comes into the heart of defence in place of Thomas Vermaelen, while Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud also return to the starting line-up for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski, who are on the bench.
Elsewhere, Andre Santos returns to the squad after returning from injury.
Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud.
Subs: Martinez, Vermaelen, Santos, Coquelin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski.
Ramsey on the wing I presume? Or are we playing a 4-4-2? (I seriously hope its the latter, Ramsey on the wing is most probably going to make a painful sight for my eyes for 90 minutes)
There will be loads of Boo,s from the boo boys aimed at Ramsey because he’s an x Cardiff player.
And the jacks hate Cardiff city.
No one will get more stick/abuse than young Arron today.
Much love
Sheep ™
Great point mate. The manager has too much influence on board agenda, and this is a major reason for why the club is under achieving. Not only does he get to chose who gets to chose who get to review him by having a say on the CEO appointment, but perhaps more worrying, you get the distinct impression that he also conducts his own annual appraisal.
Yep,the comment you made about Glazadis being stuck between a rock and a hard place, is a fair comment. He has been charged with aligning the clubs interest with that of both the shareholders and the fans. The fact that he is answerable to a board who are out of touch with the fans, means that long term shareholder wealth will always be his first priority. Is it possible to keep both the fans and shareholders happy? some may say that they go hand in hand, but i am not so sure. I strongly believe that the club’s strategy needs to be more realigned with that of the fans, i really do. People often forget that an important aspect to sustainability is ensuring that first and foremost, present needs are being met. Eighteen points behind top spot, and not having one a trophy for eight years would suggest that this is far from the case.
I was referring to rasp’s comments.
Anyone fancy writing the match report ……….
Hi all
Thank you chary for stepping into the pre-match shoes at short notice ……. that Big Raddy has so many holidays 🙂
I don’t understand why we are letting Swansea suck us in.
It’s obvious they are drawing our midfield out so they can play through us, so why don’t we just sit back, like they do when we have the ball.
because we only know how to play one way slim
Purple, why are we playing in purple ffs!?!?!
These ESPN commentators are awful
why isn’t arteta taking free kicks?! after his ripper last season it should be all his.
Agreed slim. ‘Merts always exposed for pace’ – saw it once last week in his arsenal career. ‘Wilshere should have taken the free kick’ – he never takes close ones. ‘Podolski will be missed because of his great delivery’ – not sure crossing is one of his strong points.
It’s your job to know these things but they know bugger all
Exactly Oz.
He even made our run of 4 straight wins and a draw sound like a bad thing!
We must get a DM soon.
Far too often 1 ball bypasses our whole midfield. I’m not blaming Arteta for it, but it needs sorting.
Need to find a way to get Cazorla in the game around the Swansea box.
you’re right its like a hot knife through butter at the moment. We are attacking then bang we are countered in dangerous positions.
Our work rate is quite dismal
If we’re not going to cross the ball to Giroud then he may aswell come off n put Theo through the middle. Every time Theo’s gone central he’s looked dangerous. I would like to see Rosicky and Ox for Giroud and Ramsey.
Arteta has been poor for me this game.
That was pretty dismal.
Do you think that is our new strategy — walking football?
it may lull the opposition to sleep RA!
It’s an interesting tactic, that an on a break pass it out to Sagna in a corner and then don’t support him, or do a slow 1-2
Oh FFS do they even want to win this game!!!!!!!!!
What has Rosicky done wrong????? I really don’t undertstand why he’s not playing. Come on Arsene, sort it out!!!!!!
Oz,
The only explanation I can think of for this slow passing and movement is the obvious one — we are too slow, we have no pace, except for Theo, and I am not sure he has been on the pitch in the first half.
Ooops, where did my comment go??????
you’re right it really is unexplainable. doesn’t matter who we buy, with these tactics we aren’t challenging
WHAT!!!! webb has it in for ramsey this game
ok i stand corrected!
Kyle Bartley is a monster!!!!!! Arsene only likes pussycats 😦
it’s called slow mo ESPN, i want to see how giroud was hurt.
Great start to the second half so far except gor Giroud getting injured.
Ramsey fouled himself 🙄
it was a shame to see him go peaches, can fault him for wanting game time but I thought it was a mistake
That was fking bs.
We are a joke at times
come on what the bloody hell is up with this guy. he’s the new drogba against us
Shit shit shit
Come on boys, dig in …… we need this FA cup
absolute joke
WE NEED PAT RICE BACK. WITH HIM WENT OUR HEART.
over and out
Bould needs to start smacking heads in i think!
We are lost at sea, we have not cutting edge and look as awful as normal. Its time for change people.
Bored of this team. Think I’m ready for change.
How unsusual, one of our midfielders caught on the ball.
giroud come on! that’s what you’re there for, ramsey gave it to you on a plate!
We’re just not interested in winning ……… period 😦
FFS, must we always wait for the 67th min for a sub. Fucken Rosa pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!!!!!!!!
where has this urgency been all game? should be playing like this all the time
thank god for jack that’s all i can say
If we lose this our season is over.
As Donna Summer sung ‘Enough is enough is enough
I can’t go on, I can’t go on, no more no
enough is enough is enough
I want him out, I want him out that door now.
Did she write that song for Arsen Wenger.
It’s time for a change as its getting boring now.
Much love
Sh
It is time to ditch Sagna, I would rather have Jenkison there, at least he tries. Sagna is lazy and has been woeful for the last four games.
This is the worst team Wenger has produced, and I’ve no doubt that he knows that.
He MUST bring some players in
Oh Theo 😦
Mozart does a great job of decorating the bench 🙄
I’d give him a run out for the invisible Santi
Sagna has lead in his boots 😦
I think the quality is there slim just not the tactics behind it. It’s getting very tiresome and is clearly not working. We get out worked every game, the opposition knows how we are going to set up and knows what to do to win.
Workrate
Tactics
Pace
it’s all gone!!!
Cmon Arsenal!!!
In fairness, they are giving it a go, but why in the first place do we put ourselves in these positions?
come on dig in!!! we can do this!
YESSSSSS!!!!!!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
PODLSKI!!! We fking deserved that, lets knock them damn swans out and silence their crowd!
Great work by Sagna – he set up the goal……….
quality
now lets pack their bags
he should be central!!!
GET IN
AGREEEED OZ
Agreed agreed agreed
The girl iin the red top has just made my day, sticking two fingers up at the Swans in the crowd,
FUCK YEAH
DELIRIOUS IN MY HOUSE!!!!!!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
get in boys!!!! stuff you, bogey schmogey!!!!
Rewind it to see if you missed it, she is on the left of the screen, redtop and white bobble hate. Brilliant!
RVP? Who needs him when we have Gibbs, been immense throughout the game, what a goal! Fk yeah lets knock them out.
How dare I question them!!!!!!
How do you do the red face!?
that was brilliant brigham!!!
Van- Persie- esque by Gibbs.
Van Judas-esque finish by Gibbs.
What a goal by Gibbs, I love you man.
Snap GN5 🙂
Over confidence could equal vulnerability…..
FFS!!!
Awful header at front post.
perfect timing GN5
We just cannot defend
Nice set up by Podolski?
We have to go for this NOW. We dont need a fixture pile up when fighting for fourth
damn you vorm
What do our defenders practice during the week, cos it ain’t fking defending!
I agree slime, its awful bud.
and they cant cross for shit
do we practice slim?I don’t think we do at all
They practice walking
We deserved to win but we live to fight another day.
Had it won, could do without a replay ……. what mugs!!!!!!
At least we are on the draw for the 4th round.
Some awfully defeatist comments on here today – I’m glad you’re not the away fans as we would lose for sure!
That was a great game of FA Cup football.
If you actually look at the whole of the 2nd half we dominated it and could’ve had 5, but it’s the same story for the last 5 years, WE CANNOT DEFEND!
When is it going to be sorted? We have had loads of different players in that 5 years yet we still have the same problem, so it has to be the formation and the way Wenger applies the tactics. It needs to change.
We won it and then a total lack of defesive concentration cost us and now we have a replay. What is going on with our defence, we seem at sixes and sevens most of the time. I will say it once again – GET RID OF SAGNA NOW!
that we do gn5, i’ll take that any day after that first half performance
GN5 – we are entitled to our comments and can you honestly call it any different? No, you can’t!
That second half was as intense as it was frustrating. Seriously terrible defending for their second goal. Once again we only really looked like we wanted to win when we went behind.
Shout out to Gibbs and Wilshere though, they ran their hearts out today. And Podolski for that absolutely beauty of a goal – great technique and finish. And ofc Gibbs’ goal too. Arteta and Cazorla had pretty poor games IMO though.
Oh and just for the record GN5, I have been an away for lots of games. I see the same people at those games as well and most have the very same opinon, we cannot defend.
Could have won it at the end. Happy not to have lost. How was Podolski for giving Kyle Bartley a hug at the end, shows the class of the man. And a lovely strike from Gibbs.
G5 I suspect again winning is all that matters to many, I really enjoyed that second half and the bonus is,I get to see the Arsenal play again later this month. Stretched play like that always leads to incidents and the bounce of the ball becomes the final arbiter.
Brigham, one things for sure you cannot speak for me, as you have no idea how I think!
Their 2nd goal was not down to poor defending it was simply an unfortunate misdirected header from Podolski.
We created a lot in the second half. Shame about giving the second goal away.
no need to turn on each other gents. We are all frustrated at the minute. Lets wait till the emotions die down a little then forensically dissect it
Their second goal was a terrible defensive header by Gibbs into our own penalty, while it may be an individual mistake it still is really poor defensively.
GN5, your are right, I have no idea how you think. I know how I do though and I go to games, home and away (when I can) get off your high horse, you are not all you think you are mate.
Dandan,
We are in sync, I find it unbelievable that folks can fault that performance.
Do they expect perfection?
Penalty box*
Exciting for the neutral dandan my friend but so many poor performances again today, why play Ramsey on the wing, Santi needs a rest but we haven’t got a decent replacement and I stand by what i have always said mertesacker hasn’t got the pace for the PL.
We got out of jail and then weren’t discipined enough to hold a lead.
our final third play is just not good enough.
best squad he has ever had.wenger is having a laugh.
Brigham, your comments are distasteful and unnecessary!
Exciting for me too Kelsey, Ramsey played as a direct role reversal of what we normally do, sub the pod for him, this time it was round the other way and it worked
GN5,
The negative comments are made during the game, not in hindsight. Emotions run high during the game and some people’s patience runs shorter than others. Even though I’m an avid Wenger supporter, I was ready for a change when we went 1 down, why? Because I’ve seen it all before in the last 8 years. Now, however, I will commend the players for a great comeback, and onwards with Wenger we go, in the hope he can turn it around. Does that make me a negative supporter? No. It just makes me someone who shows his emotions during the game, and someone who is starting to get annoyed with this Arsenal side making the same mistakes over and over. As positive as you are GN5, I’m sure you also must be annoyed at how many times we dominate games and then give away a cheap goal? Things need to change, tactically at least.
Chaps …….. there is nothing to be gained by turning on each other. You are both entitled to your opinions about how the game went and whether you enjoyed it or not.
Rasp. 10:40…..I think your right.
What I need is for someone to offer to write a post for tomorrow please …………..
Brighton away if we go through. Another tough draw.
GN5 So are yours and I am done with here. I look forward to seeing Peaches, Rasp, Chas and Rocky in the Tavern at some point. (for you GN5, that is near the ground) – Goodbye.
Not too sure anyone wants me in their camp – Anyway here goes! 😀
— Disappointed by the first half slowmo performance? Definitely.
— Ecstatic with good old fashioned FA Cup football in 2nd Half? Yes!
— Concerned about certain players? Sometimes.
— A knee jerker? Mmmm, maybe.
— Defeatist? Never!!
OK, so what team wants me? ……………… No one? Bugger it! 😛
I only listened to the radio and coleman was pretty fair in his summing up.he kept repeating ramsey was out of position and gave a lot of credit to both our goals but slated BFG for being too slow.
Arteta and Santi should have been rested but for whom. I would question that we waited a bit long to make subs, is that a fair comment.
Come on, Brig, we do not want your to go!!
I enjoy your chat, and your knowledge, let’s give it 24 hours to cool off …………… and anyway, I cannot get to the Tavern for some time, so you will only be punishing someone who likes you!! Me!! 😀
red arse is right
it’s all about opinions and I tend to agree with you and even if i didn’t i wouldn’t be rude.
it’s really no surprise with us this season lack of consistency is frustrating for all.
Hi Kelsey.
Was Rosicky on the bench? There is your answer.
BfG too slow? Maybe, but that was only the second time in his Arsenal career that he was caught for pace. By the way he did slip, and it wasnt a shoulder to shoulder race. Have you got anything else??
Gibbs looks great on attacking. How can this strength be best utilized whilst not letting the defense wane? Another LB then he can move up the wing?
Kelsey,
Rosicky was on the bench — maybe for Santi, never for Arteta.
I think AW made the right subs call, so apart from one of those frenetic anything could happen in injury time goals he would have come away with a win.
We were by far the best team in the second half – it’s just that we seem to be treading water lately, and need a decisive goal scoring CF, and that is not Theo!!
Slime, just seen your post and one with which i totally agree and that is why GN5 does not get it. He does not go to games, he does not travel away, he just sits there watching on his TV without the emotion of being there. Ask Chas what its like to go away, he is areal fan, he is there where it matters, supporting his team through thick and thin and that is why I respect his opinion over and above your GN5. You are an armchair fan, a fake in my book.
I will no doubt get flammed for this, but you know what, I do not care. I have been a loyal Gooner for many years, going home and away, including Europe and when someone like you (GN5) questions my thoughts, then I get angry. Try spending time supporting your club in real life, not just watching it on ESPN or whatever it is. I have no respect for you at all, nada, zilch.
Once again, people like Chas will always have my utmost respect, because he, like me has been to crapholes like Barnsley, Rotherham and the like on a wet cold night and not got back home until the wee hours.
That ladies and gents is my last post on here and to the ‘Loyal and wonderful Gooners’ I bid you farewell.
I said a while ago that Gibbs should be moved forward. If we can get a defensively solid LB then we could give it a go. I hear Ashley Cole is up for grabs!!!!! 😉
As i said i only listened and I agree with your last paragraph RA
maybe rosicky still isn’t fully fit
Besides Gibbs poor poor header that lead to their second goal, he was outstanding today to me. Brilliant going forward and was directly involved in most of our attacking play.
I agree it was weird that Rosicky did not come on, especially when he could be seen warming up for at least 20-30 minutes by the sidelines.
slime,
didn’t gibbs start his career playing higher up the pitch.
Prince,
Kelsey is only repeating what he heard on the radio, and you are right that Per brings a lot to the party with his anticipation, reading of the game, and calmness under pressure.
After all is said and done he is a Germany international and they are not ten a penny ……………….. but after being out injured for quite a while, his lack of pace did show a bit today.
Let’s face it, I am tall, I reckon I am athletic, or I used to be a little while ago, I have a mop of unruly hair ……………… but I am an ugly bug – can’t deny it – so what? – me and the Mert don’t care!! 😛
Umm, I am here to be corrected, but I think the header (which is hardly anyone’s fault, anyway) which led to their 2nd goal, slid off the pod’s head, did it not, and not Gibbs’s.
But, I could be wrong!! 🙂
I could’ve sworn I heard the commentator say Gibbs, but I might be wrong though. Will have to look out for the replays.
Redders,
I get your point. But the draw today had nothing to do with Merts pace or lack of it. Kos was in two different minds and failed to clear the ball, so when Merts tried to sweep the crumbs he was lobbed and then slipped in trying to recover. His lack of pace has never, imo, been a direct cause of a loss for the Arsenal.
By the way…YOU NOT ugly man! The Sydney girls have told me stories of your ‘athletic days’. Humble? Yes. Ugly? No. 🙂
We were very good second half. They gave MOTM to Michu. Should have been Gibbs by miles
You are a true Gooner, Brigham, and you have my respect!
I have often wished I was able to get out and about with you guys who go to most of the away games, and I have been thrilled when listening to your support on the TV, even when we are being trashed.
I have been to quite a few games myself supporting the guys, but no where near as much as you and Chas.
Do what is best for you, but do it because you want to … not because you are angry with one or two other bloggers, who probably did not mean it the way it read!!
Brigham,
I was happy to leave well alone but your 4:05 pm missive is incendiary and ill conceived and demands a response.
I will have to bore those that already know with my background.
Born on Avenell Road in 1937.
Watched my 1st game Nov 22, 1947.
I have been at close to 900 live games, home, away and in Europe.
I’ve watched over 1600 games on TV.
My personal and business schedule has always been arranged around Arsenal games.
Living in Canada makes it impossible to watch live games but I never miss when I visit.
Fake armchair fan indeed, I was a supporter before you were born.
Prince,
I am a big fan of Per! 🙂 And your tremendous support for the guys!! 😀
Sturridge starts as lone striker for dippers.
Hit or miss? We shall see…
GN5 that’s some record
Brigham,
Is it a bad moment to point out that I’ve only ever attended 2 games!
GM,
Totally agree that Gibbs was MOTM. Don’t ESPN viewers vote for it?
The corner came off Pods head for the 2nd.
Kelsey,
Wasn’t he a striker? His volley would indicate he can finish! 🙂 I really do think he could be our Bale (no, not an overrated monkey!).
I agree that if Merts is playing then we should expect his partner to be covering. Kozzer got himself in a mess for the 1st. Also, I noticed against Southampton that Kozzer and Verm played much deeper than whenever Merts plays. Surely it should be the opposite!!! Unless Merts is requesting the high line?
Hi Slime.
Gibbs started his playing days as a winger, as did Eboue and Lauren. I guess Wenger likes to mould ‘these sorts’ into fullbacks as their speed and overlapping becomes deadly in attacking plays. (forget that i mentioned Eboue 🙂 )
In regards to Merts, he can push the high line as he plays the offside trap to perfection. Im sure Wenger likes the high line as well as it compresses the play and really should suit our passing game. Sad thing is, that this compact passing game of ours is non exsistent at the moment.
Slim,
Only 2 games – then you are obviously a fake,,,,,,,,
I’ve just watched it again and it was Podolski that headed the ball back into the box from the corner. But the corner came because we couldn’t manage to clear the previous Swansea attack 😦
I was just waiting for the big guns to come out there.
You should all check out the ass grooves i have made in my armchair whilst watching the Gunners.
To be fair, if the Arsenal played closer to Oz, i’d probably go to more home and away games.
Still need an offer of a post for tomorrow …………………
Hi from Swansea.
I’m in hiding from the locals after we blew it yet again.
Away to Brighton if we beat Swans make sure if any fans are going to Brighton wear many pairs of underpants,there are rumours Brighton is the gay capital of England.
I don’t know as I have never been there.
Yet again another average/poor showing defending was not there and until they scored we we slack with no vision.
Much love
SH,
I stick by my guns on BFG.Only last week he was completely outpaced on a one on one which led to Southampton scoring ( though he should have had cover near him).He may have numerous caps for Germany but they don’t play the way we used to play i.e. fast neat controlled football..he can’t even jump when needed.
Wenger only knows one way to play and that is an attacking option with numerous intricate passes which is fine if you have the players that have the experience and quality to do that .
if vermaelen when playing keeps bombing up the pitch mert is invariably left stranded as the full backs also often haven’t tracked back
of course a draw is better than going out but we are seriously short of at least 3 players to even think of getting 4th IMO.
P.S. from an overseas fan, who knows sweet fuck all about football.
Sheeper,
Do not fret, your comment regarding the state of the Liberty pitch was fair.
It did not affect the game, but the Emirates? — you are ‘avin’ a laff! 😛
(Did I get that right?) 😀
Maybe ” a larff”? 😛
Kelsey, 😛
Peaches, 🙂
With the unfortunate comments this afternoon, no one will want to write a post match and be labelled as a — this — or that type of supporter, unless they are beyond reproach.
That will be you, or the Rasper then – or GIE jnr, if he has popped out and managed to see the game!! 😛
PPP
Can’t you get a weekend city break to London?
Leave on a Friday, arrive in time for the game, you are flying back in time after all; then, after, take in few sights, a bit of shopping and maybe a meal before flying home.
Easy?
Before I toddle off; We all made comments about Jack when he stood to the side of the wall at Ba’s freekick for Newcastle, and gave away a deflected goal when he ducked/turned away from the ball.
As far as I can remember, no one has mentioned Arteta doing exactly the same thing for Graham’s equalising goal in injury time.
If Arteta had courageously stood up (Dare I say it? – John Terry style) that goal might not have been scored. I cannot really say.
Just mentioning it!
Tara all! 🙂
Kelsey,
I just checked to make sure and BFG was an unused sub against Southampton in the 1-1 draw.
LB 😳
I have plenty of excuses….none of which would be good enough for not making a trip. I’m afraid i might fall in love with London, and would hate the feeling of rejection when told its time to leave.
Will be this year or next. No fiance on my back 😉
Easy
Arsenal v Swansea City
FA Cup 3rd Round Replay
Wednesday 16th January 2013*
Emirates Stadium
Kick off 7.45pm
I believe that Gibbs started off as a winger.
After today’s performance, if I were Wenger, I’d be taking a long, hard look at Pene, Inkei and Piemel.
Sheep 3:21..the only thing they practise is checking their bank balance online.
Tickets on sale for the replay tomorrow. I think I’ll go to that as I have the week off
/large
Gunnern5
must have been another game fairly recently, sorry
Kelsey 4:09…..yes
Hello any 1 out there.
🚬🍺👀🐏⚽
Peaches I’ve sent a post for the morning use it if u wish
Sheepy
I’ve sent it to the e mail address
Arsene. . . “Yes, if we have no injuries. Today we had four players at home, and I didn’t bring on Chamberlain, Coquelin [or] Rosicky. Diaby’s coming back and if we find one or two on the transfer market, then why not. ”
🙂
Over – simplistic to say Mertesacker is too slow for the league. Really shallow reading of the sport. And unfair to a player who has done an incredible job for us. He deserves much more appreciation. What he does with his physical abilities, effort, and more importantly his intelligence and instincts is well above average, and if our other players worked their positions as Merts does, we would be leading the league.
Hi
Jync he’s not the quickest centre half I’ve ever seen but he tackles well and he German engineered that’s ok and he a few German caps.
We not short of centre halves,or midfielders but we need new players ASAP
Well said jnyc – Mert is a very accomplished centre-back and he is hardly ever caught for pace by a CF. His reading of the game is immaculate. Even Verm and Kozzer can get caught for pace if the opposition are allowed the space to slice through the middle of the pitch #justsaying 😳
Hey sheepy, just saw your comment about a post in arsenalnuts, thank you, I’m going to have a look at it right now 🙂
Evening all, I’ve just got in after a long drive having listened to much of the game on the radio.
This is how it sounded: they were the better side in the first half and outplayed us at the passing game. Michu is the level of striker we need. We played better as the 2nd half progresssed – the usual show of urgency too late in the game. Gibbs was magic, their 2nd goal was a cock-up 😛
It appears that Swansea are a slightly better team than Arsenal on the showing of the last 2 meetings – I expect them to finish the season mid table.
Were u driven from Rasp .
Hi sheepy, don’t go upsetting those Jacks any more, they seem a tad sensitive 😕
I took my son back to uni on the south coast sheepy, where did you watch the game?
In a bunker in mumbles u English based rasp.
I watched it in Espn ,them jacks bit like my dog he’s called Gunner I took him for a walk tonight .
Didn’t were my arsenal cap and jacket incase I got duffed up
Hi Rasp,
First half was too poor to give to either side. Boring stuff.
Both our goals were excellent finishes, there’s we’re down to poor defending. As for Michu, not for me. Wouldnt give us a great deal different to Giroud, problem is we don’t know how to use Giroud!
I would like to see us sign a top class CB and a DM. We now have only 3 CB’s and I would be really annoyed if Wenger went out and bought a 4th choice cover rather than a top class defender. I heard we had been linked with Olsson from West Brom, for example, and that’s not what we need.
Rubbish him Olsenn let’s hope we don’t sign him another second rate player
We actually started the 2nd half better Rasp. Their goal was against the run of play.
Been linked with Villa, M’Vila, Yanga-Mbwia, Lopez and McCarthy today. Probably wont sign any of them, but would like Yanga-Mbwia and McCarthy.
Not seen much of M’Vila or Lopez and Villa seems unrealistic, but would definately take him.
I just want to see some positivity from Arsene in the window. I’m sick of us coming out of TW feeling like we’ve depleted the squad!
It looks like we welcome back that unwelcome guest “fixture congestion” to our January thanks to late, dozy far post defending and the tube strike. I suspect this season is going to be even more of a rollercoaster than the last. Oh well, we’re all in it together,so we press on together. UTA !
West Ham have a replay too and Swansea have the worthless cup.
Arsenal, between 1998 and 2005, reached the semi-final or better of the FA Cup in all years except 2000.
Lets reignite his form with victories over Swansea and Brighton and march on!
Evening all – I’ve been a long drive too.
Some bloke in front of me driving slowly all the way – I think it was Rasp 🙂
Didn’t hear any commentary but I’ve just watched the goals on Arsenalist.com
It sounds like the sort of performance that seems worse in the light of other recent bad showings, whereas if we’d had this game after a run of good outings we’d be saying things like “it didn’t really click today but we did enough to get the replay.”
I’ll know better when I get to watch it all on Arsenal player tomorrow.
Seems like a fair summary, Rocky.
We were shite in the first half. The commentator said, ” It’s Dyer” a couple of times before half time and I thought he was making a comment about the match.
The reason for the angst is that we managed to turn around a difficult situation with two excellent goals only to throw away the advantage with some criminally lapse defending at a corner. The zonal marking continued after a poor first header which meant that Graham stood in acres of space on the edge of our 6 yard box. Arteta’s attempted block was pathetic.
We have to play effective football. We should have scored more goals than them on that second half performance.
Shots
Swansea 8 Arsenal 15
On target
Swansea 5 Arsenal 9
Morning Chas
Didnt see the game or even goals yet
On the face of it a 2-2 away result seems ok.
I kept asking yesterday morning about Rosickys fitness.
Why not givw Santi a break?
Roughly how many players in total on our books?
Have to ROLF at the cut of the Rasp jib
Swansea are better than us and they are mid table
🙂
Morning, Micky.
How was the barbie?
Haha. Relegation for us.
What made me laugh was kelsey listening to the game on the radio also, thinking that Coleman was likely to give a fair assessment of the game with a Welsh team playing us and likely to give a fair assessment of Ramsey’s performance, too.
You might as well say Craig Burley was even-handed. 🙂
Really good. Only began to rain as we left.we were at a place called Duck Pool North Cornwall. Google it. Stunning.
Looks amazing, Micky.
Would you say it’s only the Arsenal bit of your life that is continually less than perfect? 🙂
Must dash. I wonder how the GIEs are?
Chas
No
🙂
I’m too nervous to ask about the Exiles but my thoughts are certainly with themm
Good morning, Pimples! 🙂
morning all
chas, coleman was fair in his commentary and also complimented ramsey about why he took the captaincy away from him, but he stressed throughout the game that ramsey was wasted on the wing and he and i agree about bfg 🙂
Morning all, I just got back to London, lots of catching up to do…
Why are people worried about GiEs?
That team of yours drives me insane!!! But never mind, we beat Swans at home, Brighton could be tricky, but with some luck we shall win and then the cup is almost ours, hurray!
Two minutes later, the tie swung in Arsenal’s favour as Gibbs exchanged passes with Mikel Arteta and crashed in a volley from a tight angle.
That’s from the BBC. The assist was from Giroud. If they can’t get that right I wouldn’t trust their stats.
Ramsey had one of his better games Kelsey. I would have moved him to the middle and taken jack off.
Morning all 🙂
Tickets go on sale for the replay today Cat B I’ve heard
first black footballer’s in UK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20878659
Morning all, Micky, thanks for appreciating my little aside 😛
Welcome home Evonne, everyone is hoping that little GiE will arrive the natural way today before the impatient medics get involved – hence the ‘good luck’ wishes.
I think we could offload about 20 players from the wage bill and thus afford 3 players that Arsene would think good enough to be able to rotate in the first squad.
Blimey, we only need athletes that can kick a ball about a bit.
Morning again, we have a peachy/sheepy match report for you today ….
…. New post ….
Hi micky, I’d like us to buy players who are nailed on in the first squad, I see no point in bringing players of the same quality as we currently have. We are where we are because 1. we are uinderperforming as a team, and 2. we are missing quality players in key positions.