This time last year BR was up a mountain in Italy getting SMS’s from Peaches. It was in the middle of a huge thunderstorm when I received her final celebratory text. Today I will be watching from a joyous and hung-over Denmark.
I have stated often my belief that luck and referees will decide our fate – whether it be a dodgy penalty given to Spurs or a vicious deflected goal for Sunderland (I cannot put a bok on our team). It is in this regard that I have been pondering these last few days …. How is it that the normally clueless miscreants have been consistently picking up points instead of falling apart as per normal? Well, BR has reached his conclusion ……. I blame the new Pope.
It is well known to the right-minded supporters of all football teams that in previous times The ***** Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope – and this is what he said etc etc. One can only conclude that this new fellow (Francis) hasn’t read the Vatican Rulebook (sorry if that is blasphemous 😀 ). May I recommend to the Arsenal Secretary that he get an email off to St. Peter’s, sharpish.
If we had to choose a final game for this season’s fate to be decided it would not be away and it would not be at St James Park ….or would it? Our away record is almost as good as our home and Newcastle have only drawn once at St James – W9 L8.
We have had a week to prepare for this afternoon, there is nothing we haven’t discussed. We know the permutations, the choices available to Mr. Wenger etc etc so there is no need to repeat them here. We can share our nervous tension on the blog.
Tim Krul is out and Newcastle will give a final game to Steve Harper – let us wish him “a Fulop”. With Taylor, M’bia and Tiote in the side we can expect a midfield battle and I hope we don’t get sucked into a physical battle with cards aplenty.
Much depends upon the fitness of Arteta, he is so important to the tempo of our play and we do not know how the team will function should JW replace him.
My Team:
I am looking to The Little Mozart for a goal today. A hard working display with no players hiding during what will be a nervous game. 100% endeavour is all we can ask – after that it is the hands of the Gods
Today’s British Explorer. There just hasn’t been enough games for me to do justice to the hundreds of remarkable chaps who have traipsed around the globe under the Union Jack. I have just taken some random fellows to give a picture of the amazing impact a tiny nation like England has had upon the world.
This being the last in the series (perhaps) I would like to write once more about one of England’s Superheroes, a man who helped make Great Britain Great – Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922).
Shackleton is in the same echelon of Britons as Churchill, Nelson and Tommy Cooper. His story belies belief and BR can only recommend you investigate further to be inspired by his remarkable life. Ernie was the Tony Adams of explorers – nothing could conquer his indomitable spirit. Lose your ship on the ice? Winter under the upturned lifeboats. Thousands of miles from safety? Take a small open boat across freezing seas seeking help. Land upon an island with no-one around? Cross a mountain range never attempted before. Worried about your men left behind on the ice? Go back and save them.
Shackleton died on his way back to Antarctica from a heart attack, he is buried on South Georgia, there followed a memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral which was attended by the entire Royal Family.
Today I will be burning incense and floating lotus leaves at my TA6 altar and praying to the Deity of DB10. I will be avoiding ladders, looking for 4 leaf clovers, using my lucky toothbrush, wearing lucky socks, shirt, pants, eating the lucky cake and drinking the lucky beverage.
If we don’t win today don’t blame me ….. Blame it on Eboue.
We beat the odds at Anfield 24 years ago, Let’s do it again today!
COYRRG
written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Love the final pre-match of the season Raddy. It brought a big smile to my face, especially the bit about the Pope. The only thing that worries me is that Harry Redknapp is sending players to Newcastle to help beat us. Is this allowed? Have the Vatican intervened in some way?
No need for divine intervention Raddy.
St. Tott’s day has finally arrived!!
Good morning to you all,
It’s great to go travelling but it’s so much nicer to come home. Maybe someone could use those words in a song 😀
Great pre-match BR, we can do the business today, we don’t need the intervention of the Pope, just a fair crack of the whip from the ref.
I’d go with Nacho at left back, Mikel, Santi and Aaaron in Midfield with Walcott, Podolski and Giroud up front.
No need to worry about what the Spuds can do, let’s just win the game and take the Champions League place.
Just as it is.
Lately everything I write is wrong.
It stumbles along and putters out.
I can’t get the words to do any of the dancing that it needs to release power into the reader.
I’m tired of every stretch of sentences and bored with every turn of phrase.
None of this is going anywhere; sorry for wasting your time.
Unknown Poet.
Squeaky Bum Sunday Deja Vu !.
GN5,
Unkown and deservedly so! 🙂
It’s all gone quickly hasn’t it? Great post as ever Raddy.
It’s very difficult to type with your fingers crossed GM.
Norfolk,
I guess the deeper meaning went sailing along the broads?
GN5,
I must have missed the deeper meaning, but then I have never really appreciated poetry, nor can I get excited about so called modern art, I am totally unmoved by that pile of scrap iron outside the Olympic Stadium and at the risk of being called a Philistine, I would be happy to see the entire contents of The Tate Modern tipped into the Thames. Just like “Nouveau cuisine” it’s all a load of pretentious rubbish.
aaaaah, the last of Raddy classics….I am already feeling nostalgic…
Love the post, even the blasphemous statements and jealous of yet another great Englishman!
I would just swap BFG’s with Koscielny’s positions, but hey, what do I know?
Shackleton is the perfect choice for today’s pre-match, in my very rarely humble opinion, that is.
“Shackleton was the Tony Adams of explorers”
It’s funny, well it made me laugh.
looks like you’ll be laughing on your own LB, everybody else is running for the toilets 🙂
Bookmakers have 7/4 on for Arsenal to win. They seldom get it wrong. I am almost relaxed.
Norfolk.
Did you hear about the two little boys who found themselves in a modern art gallery by mistake?
“Quick,” said one, “Run ! Before they say we did it!”
Norfolk,
I think I know the deeper meaning – but as it’s unknown
– who knows?
Know what I mean?
Modern art is like a real kick up the arts.
Good final post, Big Raddy.
You say: “With Taylor, M’bia and Tiote in the side we can expect a midfield battle”.
Agreed… therefore if Arteta doesn’t play, I would actually expect Coquelin to play. Yes, Wilshere can battle, but he ain’t a DM. His two yellows=red earlier in the season is testament to that.
Wilshere can replace Coquelin later from the bench if necessary.
We need to win, therefore we need to score. So I expect Podolski, not Rosicky, to be chosen for wide left.
BFG’s lack of pace has been talked about by some, myself included, but he’s pretty well beaten the critics up ’til now. It would be a great shame, and somewhat ironic, if his lack of pace were to cost us today in our final and most important game of the season.
Other than my BFG “pace” comment I have no worries.
Thanks for your usual stylish pre-match Raddy after a season punctuated by your excellent posts.
I really don’t know how to call this one. The spud fans are convinced we’ll do it as much as we are worried we won’t.
On thing I am pretty sure of is that the tiny totts will get a comfortable victory against a Sunderland side in disarray after celebrating the end to the season a game too early.
Who will be key for us today? Well obviously The BFG and Kozzer need to continue their fantastic partnership, OG needs to keep their defenders busy and hopefully Santi can squeeze one last game’s energy out of his modest frame and conjure up something special.
If Ben Arfa plays he will be the danger man. At his best he can create a goal out of nothing, let’s hope this isn’t one of those days.
Is there really any real reason to assume that Newcastle will put up any more of a fight than Sunderland will against spuds.
This is a genuine question.
Hi LB, have you heard that Ashley has pledged the extra £1m earned by winning today will be spread amongst the toon support staff – that will put psychological pressure on their players to give their all.
Ashley is a north London spud ….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2326767/Mike-Ashley-offers-1million-bonus-Newcastle-staff-beat-Arsenal.html
Are you going to the Emirates Rasp?
I’m working today gm. In truth I don’t know if I’d be able to behave myself if it all goes wrong due to a corrupt ref at toon sending on off ours off or a last minute deflected shot from monkey boy 😦
Thanks for the kind words. I always enjoy writing the PM’s especially since I stopped making a fool of myself by talking tactics 😦
I am starting to get a little nervous but believe that all things being equal we will conquer
My dinner has hopefully given me a solid foundation, somehow I drew the short straw and am driving…..beer when I get home.
Could be won or lost at DM today, espescially if we are chasing a goal at any point. Hope Arteta starts.
Brilliant post BR. I agree with you about Ernie an incredible man and One of the best Irish exports. I can’t get the smell of fish and seal blubber out of my nostrils after reading his astonishing book ‘South’.
I’m delighted to read so many positive comments as I have a sense of doom which I can’t seem to shake off. I think I’ll go for a 3 hour hike and check the result when I get back for the sake of my sanity. Anyone know a good shrink?
No changes to the Wigan match. Arteta and Pod start.
Just seen the prize money difference between CL and Europa Cup. Blimey and 5th goes into the qualifying round of the Europa which means several more games,so that alone is an incentive to win today.
Belfastgooner….think there are not many shrinks that can help football fans.
lf the dreaded 5th place should happen perhaps the club should lay on a phone in psychiatry service for members free of charge.
Raddy,
Thank you for your epic contribution to the site this season.
The additional work and time you have put in with The Explorers has been much appreciated. Thank you very much.
Soooo looking forward to this.
Arteta starts? That is terrific news.
you should have had a prenupt for match days GiE
is it live on SS1?
It is indeed Evonne, I’m just taking the dog for prematch walk*, will be home for kickoff.
*what I like to call a 10 fag walk
Right.
Come on you Gunnnnners
OMG we’re live on sky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bit too much tippy tappy so far. Come on boys
Very pleased we’re playing a carefree attack minded side
Not a bus I sight
this is excruciating
Arteta goes off and the ox comes in, but why does it seem to me that the ox and cazorla aren’t swapping positions? Cazorla continuing to play on the left.
Make no mistake BR
From where we are now, I really really want to be sending you a hamper
this isn’t oing to be easy,mertesacker is having a mare and kos is covering him very well
We never seem to have a second gear to change up into?
This isnt working. The ox needs to swap with cazorla and let cazorla play in the middle where his creativity can flourish while the ox uses his pace on the left.
Exile
Outside for some fresh air?
It was an unnecessary risk to start with Arteta.
Some very strange decisions by AW, clearly Santi should be in the centre????
I’m there Micky…..
Bloody painful stuff this…..hopefully Arsene has soundproofed changing room and he can tell them Spuds are winning to try and garner a reaction.
We seem to be trying to let Toon come out to open them up on the counter, not bad idea giveaway they set up for first 5 minutes. But it’s risky….would like to see OG on and just bombard the box and feed off scraps.
Adrian I guess there is afraid that Santi and Rambo at the heart of midfield would be a little lightweight, Ox has engine to track back, Santi is running on fumes, would potentially switch TR7 into the midfield with Rambo but on a booking already again risky.
Possible change to 4-4-2 as Toon are against us, should keep their full backs more honest.
Take cisse out of the game and we should be ok., but we need to up our gears as we invariably do in the second half
Giroud for Podolski.
The Sagna I’ve seen this season is definately not the one I used to love watching. He needs to go at the end of the season, for his benefit and Arsenal’s.
I cannot understand why N’castle are so low in the table. They have some very good players, and I would not mind Ben Arfa.
Not a very inspiring half, and I cannot see where we will get a goal at this rate.
Rasp not sure Santi has started in advanced centre for weeks especially when TR7 plays.
We are playing two deep, Rambo now deeper of him and Ox whereas that was Arteta to start with. Then 3 across Theo, TR7 and Santi.
Btw think we all forgot to factor in the French Legion at Toon playing above themselves to get a move/prove a point given none of them were our targets.
Tiote is a red waiting to happen, we need to drive at him.
Longer this goes on, then fatigue must favour the team who wants it most.
That’ll be us.
I promise I’m saying lots of prayers ……….
Great pre match BR
We’ve done fine first half. Time to step it up now.
Good Girl
Ommmmmmmmmm
Come on Arsenal, do you want this or not???????????????/
Sorry Rl we haven’t done fine.if Spurs nick a goal and we don’t win I have to say that the players aren’t motivated enough and who does one blame .Let’s hope things improve.
Deep Breaths ……
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssss
Great goal by Koscielny!! Now please please please continue playing with the same intensity and don’t let the dreadful handbrake come on.
Come on lads. Turn the screw
Love you Kozzer 😉
Love your God Peaches. 🙂
Ok, I’m now just beginning to feel a little bit tense
Till now I don’t understand why Cazorla isn’t playing behind the striker while the ox plays on the left.
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Woop woop St Totteringhams Day is here again!!!!
Anyone got some Valium?
Fantastic but I have aged 10 years
And MonkeyBoy scored in the 90th minute
Oh the pain 😀
Get in there! That was horrid!
Enough of the celebrations. Time to get down to some serious business in the TW and realise that 4th is NOT a trophy.
5-5 at West Brom!
Adrian if you think Ox was playing centre attacking midfield I really don’t know what game you were watching.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker
Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
“Arsenal hang on and win a trophy for the 16th season in a row.”
Haha haha ha Jug Eared plum
Sooooo Happpppppy
What a fantastic run-in
No outright winner of The Didit Quizz. Will calculate shortly
Desperately need some fresh air
Happy St. Totteringham’s Day AAers
Well done boys. Super stuff. I was in need of psychiatric input for my nerves, now it’s a cardiologist. I think my ticker has packed in. Hoping for a much less stressful end to 2014. 73 points were improving!!
This is how I feel
Happy Totteringhams everybody 🙂
Koscielny probably won us $50M cl money in the past two years alone. What a player.
Long time coming but HTD
Well he was nowhere near the wing most of the second half, which safe to say was probably his best position against tiring legs.
Brilliant. I am absolutely emotionally drained, have chewed my nails into extinction, and have 4 young and terrified kids who can’t understand why their daddies were shouting so much. Please don’t do this to me again Arsene.
Oh goodie next up reaction from SHL….this should be fun hearing about their amazing season!
Back 4 and the DM play was superb. Chesney didn’t make a serious save.
Overall we played with the handbrake and footbrake on. Understandable but not good for the nerves – IMO attack is the best form of defence.
Adrian he was playing alongside Ramsey deep….so what I’m saying is not Santi’s position!
GoonerB, has said it …………. emotionally bust — last year WBA and now Toon, what is it with these barcode teams, let’s just win the darned thing next year!! 😀
Happy St T’s everyone!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
No need to thank me, but I did put on my lucky ’71 shirt at half time…
Back later to talk…
Kozzer was brilliant today, and has been for the last 2 or 3 months!
Spurs 72 points a club record in the PL and still don’t make it 🙂 😀
Oh ok then RA
Get results as we did during the run-in, and we’ll probably win not only the Prem, but La Liga, El Primadonna Liga, The Bundersliga and the Italian thingy as well 🙂
In other news, great comeback by West Brom to make it 5-5 during Fergie’s last game. Great way to sens him off if you ask me.
Must say though, i’m not very comfortable at the sight of the referees joining the fuard of honour for ferguson before the match. Surely this isn’t endorsed by the FA is it?
How many cigarettes did you smoke Micky 🙂
Koz was simply outstanding.Not pretty but job done. neville was spot on,we must build from that.
Ox was playing holding mid – albeit interchangeable Arsenal style – wasn’t he? Or am still drunk?
Lol, who cares, I’m going to have another drink! WE WON!
Great job, well done. Since the Bayern away game we have been a changed team. We are playing for each other and we truly have belief in what we can do. Of course we have not won a trophy but a top four team for 17 years straight is nothing to scoff at. Some good work in the transfer market with the right additions will see us challenging for trophies. Hate to mention the other site but LG is on meltdown! People saying they are ashamed of Arsenal and criticising the boys for celebrating. Unbelievable!
I was really suprised, but how well did the Ox play alongside Ramsey. He made forward runs but got back quickly and he seemed quiet disciplined. Lovely to see that the young players will be interchangeable in the season to come!
Koscielny was the man with his striker’s finish. Beautiful.
I said at the start of the season that we would get Champions League again this season. We done it with Almunia, Bendtner and Denilson. There’s no reason we cant do it with Sczesney, Cazorla and Giroud.
I know that Rosicky was nowhere near his best today, but at one point during the match I saw him chasing the ball from right to left of the field without stopping at all.. I hope he stays for a long time and teach the young player here how to fight until death on the field.
Koscielny man of the match. 8mil? are you kidding me?
and Happy Totteringham Day to everyone.
Kelsey
I only ever smoke outdoors, and as I didn’t want to miss hardly any of the game, just the one pack 🙂
Boy, what a beautiful summer ahead
I’ve just been on a Spuds site to commiserate with them, I wasn’t very welcome though. I wonder why. 😕
We have a winner of the quiz.
Better check my sums. Can’t be having any fights over a stunning pic of Mickey Thomas.
Might send results to Rasp as he can put it up along with the pic of the trophy.
Micky. Would be hugely disappointing if a one-off blogger won it but I guess c’est la vie.
Hamper buying next week.
4th place celebrations in the backroom http://www.flickr.com/photos/27453474@N02/8753765705/sizes/l/in/photostream/
We did it! Its been a roller coaster ride AAers! Now for the summer games!
Raddy
I’ll probably send you a hamper because I’m that happy 🙂
Raddy
Good news. One of the one-off entries came last. He he he
Great day, kozzer is a warrior. Can someone confirm who got the assist for his goal please
Podolski gets the assist.
Podolski assist
Hi Rasp
If I email a couple of words, and the top four, can you stick up a little something tomorrow along with a pic of the trophy (I’ll attach a copy)?
Obviously stick it below what I imagine will be tomorrows gloat 🙂
Brilliant atmosphere at the boozer I imagine LB.
Wether you agree with the way it’s come about, or not, finishing top 4 for the last 10 years with a net spend of £9m is just an unbelievable achievement.
Hopefully it can be the platform to push on to trophies and leave these final day battles with Spurs behind us.
Was brilliant to see those mugs at WHL jumping around when Wenger sent them a text saying Newcastle had scored! Genius!
Definitely Podolski asssist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrmOgqmZhE
Who wants to write about that amazing 90 minutes of nail biting, heart stopping football???????
Oh yess .. It’s great fun doing the Spuds on the last day for the third time. Dawson is devastated.. Adebayor and Bale are off next year..Hee hee. Enjoyed it in the pub more than making the long journey! The best moment was the Spuds fans celebrating a false Newcastle equaliser! Classic moment. Kos was awesome. Keep the faith!
Haha, FGG, the spook equaliser at WHL celebrations was one of the highlights of the afternoon.
P 16
W 12
D 3
L 1
F 34
A 10
Points 39/48
What a great run we put together to end the season. Hopefully we can carry it over to next year. Going to be a mental TW!
Hi Micky – if that’s an offer of a DidIt-style match report … yes please 🙂
Thanks LB, Podolski it is
WHERE’S THE PARTY???!!!! I think I prefer St Totterings day in March, my poor heart when Theo hit the post!!!were the gods going to punish us? but banishing sperz to the Thursday night club… at the death tee-hee☺(Levey’ll have to put the games ON the season ticket!) fanny Smelly, ginger pubes and all the other gobshites at talksh!t radio eat your words☺☺☺☺☺
(who spread the rumour Newcastle had equalised at WHL?)
What’s the world record for holding your breath? I did 94 minutes today. That must be close, surely!?
William 🙂
Ant sent a text to Villa-Boas.
I can’t quite believe the season is over. What to do now? I’m already looking forward to next season. Our players have shown that there is a basis of a great team in there, and what with some youngsters who might make it, as well as the increased funds to be able to get some quality players in, next season looks like one which might finally bring us a relief to the annual counting of years since trophy nonsense.
I paid no attention to the other games as our match was on, and had no idea what was going on. At the final whistle I was a little frustrated that Theo had missed the chance that might have put us third. But it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway, so 4th will do. We better strengthen before the qualifiers. Any German, Italian, Spanish, or even Russian team might give us some problems.
But speaking of not making a difference. AVB is actually cribbing about a penalty not being given in the first half because apparently that would have meant that it would change the running of the Arsenal game as well.
What is this about Spurs fans celebrating and fooling their own players? How did that happen?
I’m just working on the end of season widgets and I’ve discovered something surprising.
Who wouldn’t say that Giroud was far busier and involved in games than Podoski? ….. Well Giro has had 4 assists in the Prem and Podolski 10 and Giroud has been played centrally and spent far more time on the pitch
Its a fab statistic to keep Big Al happy 😕 but I haven’t a clue what we should make of it.
GiE, do I have your permission to remove your league projection table until the start of next season 🙂
Rasp, remove it permanently might be more appropriate. 🙂
It’s utter N17 nonsense.
Thanks for the post Raddy.
Very good. Strong defence and total commitment secures fourth.
It is important to note that we have reached a fork in the road. The club has planned for this period for a long time in the knowledge that new sponsership revenues would break the shackles of the Grove move and create a turning point
A word of warning however. Though it is the beggining of a new strategic chapter for the Club, the steps on this new road will be incremental. Those who expect massive splurges on the transfer market or a quick abandoment of our wage structure will be disapointed.
These issues are complex, and Arsenal willl work with one eye on its exsisting player contracts, potential of its young players, and the harmony and culture prevelant at the club.
We are on the rise and will secure a position as one of Europes top clubs, but as fans we should remain paitent.
The Ghosts of the Thirties are Stirring
As I’ve repeated throughout, you cannot compare like for like fixtures without taking into account when they are played during the season.
A projection widget that’s still wrong with one game to go. As Big Al would say, statistical nonsense.
Apologies, GIE, I’m sure that kind of stuff is very impressive for your accountancy clients. 🙂
Arshavin via twitter – Thanks a lot to all Arsenal’ fans, to all my team partners, who played with me all these years, to all the stuff and coaches!!! Many thanks!
Very proud of the team today. I thought they went about things just right.
First half – probe but don’t go ridiculously gung-ho. We’re a good second half side and we had to back ourselves to do it.
Second half – step it up, get the goal, then make sure there are no silly mistakes.
Great stuff by AW and the players. He took a risk starting Arteta. It didn’t come off but he obviously felt it was worth it on balance and – given the season that Mikel has had – who can blame him?
But when Mikel came off and Oxo slotted into the holding midfield position I was really surprised. Once again, Arsene knew better than the rest of us.
I feel really, really good about next season. We may not be quite ready to be champions, but I have no doubt our final day will not be spent desperately trying to cling on to fourth.
Kozzer was so clearly MoTM, but I can’t fault any of our players today. They all worked their socks off.
Just Ali @IAmJustAli 6h
If Arsenal lose today, I’m running from the Park Lane to the Emirates and sliding on my knees in front of the statue of Thierry Henry #COYS
Oh dear, this sperz twit must be feeling per-etty silly☺☺
I noticed that Webb booked Gibbs for arguing with the lino about a decision.
I have never seen him book a ManUre player for the same offence, despite them spending large parts of games screaming at officials.
But, frankly, who cares 🙂
If Bale goes the Spuds will struggle.
They’ll get a sh*t-load of money for him though…
Nerve-filled and agonising as it has been, I have enjoyed spending this season with my friends on AA.
Great to have the pleasure of reading your many brilliant posts Rocky and to put the world right in the comments section 🙂
I’m so you pleased you found us Rocky and decided to stay 🙂
When those scummy scummers beat us back in March I was texted by some young spuds about the gap …….. I’d love to text them back tonight but would it be too childish????
It’s getting emotional… 🙂
Hi chas, I personally see great value in some statistics and zero value in some people’s analysis of them 😆
I hope the stats I put up are helpful. I have selected them in order to paint what I hope will be a positive picture in terms of our year on year improvement.
But they still tell lies …. we’ve got more points, a much better goal difference, lost fewer games, conceded less goals and still finished 1 place lower in the Prem than last year 😕
Where are those Spuds who came on here after they beat us? It would be nice to have a chat with them now 🙂
I hope some of you have admired the banner …. we look so stylish in blue ….
For once we won’t have a summer of wondering whether our best players will still be here come August.
I was very pleased for Ramsey today. He completed a great return to form with a typical performance. So much of his important work is unspectacular and he always makes a few missed passes, but the good stuff is vital.
I noticed today that he wins a ridiculous amount of second-balls (in other words, when one of our other players is in for a tackle AR busts a gut to get within a yard of two of the challenge and regularly picks up the ball as a result).
Indeed – well played Rasp 🙂
It’s a sunny afternoon in Toronto and I’m sitting drinking beer with my son. We were both tense as corkscrews during the game and very, very noisy at the final whistle 🙂
Many thanks, peaches and Rasp for all your efforts in bringing us such a great site throughout the season.
RL. May I take this opportunity to 3rd Rasp and Peaches. It was a great day when you joined the site.
We have wonderful group of like-minded Gunners who spend their spare time yacking Arsenal. A clique? Perhaps but I like to think of it as time spent at the bar at the Arsenal Arsenal Tavern
And may I second Chas. Thanks R & P.
And chas etc etc etc (feels like an Oscar acceptance speech)
You forgot your parents Raddy 😆
To quote a certain manager today … we have exceptional team spirit 😉
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/the-moment-when-spurs-fan-thought-newcastle-had-equalised-v-arsenal/#.UZkd9NPdNHo.twitter
William. That makes me very happy 😀
TOLD U ALL LAST WEEK DON’T PANIC .
can I post a after match pic to arsenal nuts ,bosses
Haha William
A knighthood for whichever clever Gooner sent that message to the Spudders 🙂
Well done Sheep
You have certainly kept the faith.
High hopes for next season now, right?
I’m not saying we’re or who took it
Sheep
AS fanny smelly cock lard wobbler from talksh!t radio once said (ahem)…” I LUV FOOTBALL STAN, I LUUUV EEET!!!”
Send it through Sheep and I’ll have a look
I can write something, if something is needed for tomorrow.
Ooooh LB, that would be marvelous ……. looking forward to it already 🙂
LB
How was the Pins?
Peaches it’s not porn honest .
Sent it now one pic for a future post
Sheep
Fair play to the Spuds. They didn’t choke, like usual.
So we had to throttle them instead 🙂
What happened to the so called FFP that the majority of AKB’s have been lauding, can you please remind me of the fee Man City have purportedly offered Altletico Madrid for Falcao.
Sent boss lady
Much love
Sheep
Brb wife
God bless Gary Neville ………….
http://t.co/QBwhCOPJuo
I they called us 1 man team??? We were to finish mid table without the Judas! Who is the one man team? Not us, that’s for sure. We would have done better with R$P but we didn’t do worse without him.
Now, I know a one man team in North London 🙂 And that man’s body language after the game said it all – he is a gonner ! Probably off to St Lucia
oooh Peaches – that’s done nothing to diminish my growing man love for Gary Nevs 🙂
In one sentence he has outlined the whole context of the last eight years – and it makes you wonder why all the professional commentators and pundits never manage to contextualise in the same way.
leave Gary alone Peaches, he’s mine!!
Raddy – Case Histories on BBC1
This is doing the rounds on twitter and fairly upset Mr Piers Morgan who objects to the players celebrating as if they had won a trophy …….
http://t.co/EALThs3nGC
Happy days Alex gone and scholes and Owen and gerrarrrrrrd and its all change next year .
Retired
Bye bye the above u lot spoilt my arsenal life over the last ten years
Sheep ™
you too Rocky, clear off, Gary is mine
My picture was much sharper and in full view
Peaches
Piers Morgan is an idiot. It was a massive achievement to get fourth from where we were in January, and this sort of bonding by the players will prove invaluable.
Next time, they’ll be celebrating a trophy.
Iwona
Bog off. You can have Delap and his towel.
Put my pic up boss lady please it’s better
I’ll find another one like yours sheep ………… the one above is missing Rosicky and that would upset our irishgunner ….
https://dub122.mail.live.com/att/GetAttachment.aspx?tnail=0&messageId=5f88cd02-c0bd-11e2-99aa-002264c197e8&Aux=854|0|8D022E14A153610||0|0|0|0||&cid=1104a9ea57ce1ea3&maxwidth=220&maxheight=160&size=Att&blob=MHxpbWFnZS5qcGVnfGltYWdlL2pwZWc_3d
This might be it Sheep ……….
Michael Dawson interview where he says the Spud players thought they’d got CL football because of the crowd’s reaction to the “phantom” Newcastle goal 😀
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgBM4MY31n0
Peaches
I hope you noticed that LB offered a match report… 🙂
That’s a great pic, but its a bit sad, Vermaelen looks so happy. I don’t know what happened to him but he was that good that he was the obvious choice for captain.
Can’t see it peaches says I’ve got to sign in
Am in in jail
Ok I’ve got to go meet knuckles catch u all soon
We made it
Peaches
There is something in drafts.
I didn’t go to the pins in the end, I watched it at home.
Iwona?? well, well 🙂
No, Delap with or without his towel, is nowhere near as gorgeous as Gary
Hi Chas no offence taken…..
After 20 games my predictor said:
ManUre 97
Chavs 87
Shitty 85
Spuds 71
Us 55
No denying we were in the shit!
Rasp you can take it down, we can go with consensus for next season, I only provided because I was asked to, I’ll still do it for my own amusement when commentators say what teams are excelling early in the season only to realise they won exactly the same games the previous year.
As for Pod/Giroud assists I assume Pod’s assists tally come from him playing on the left so a contributor to goals, like Theo.
I find some assists a bit spurious, they are given for the last touch, or pass. Take Rambo’s goal on Tuesday night, assist given to Santi who passed to him on half way line, he still had along way to go to score. I think assists should only be given for the final pass before a 1 or 2 touch finish. Players get an assist for bring the last to touch it before a defender handles it in the area to give a penalty.
Fess up GiE
You’re predictometer had us in The Conference at one point ROLF
I like the Polish version of your name evonne 🙂
It looks kind of Anglo-Saxon… 🙂
Just ignore them GiE. I always enjoyed your predictometer…
I feel a vote coming on as to what charts for next season
I say:
League Table
Fixtures
And one utterly incomprehensible and over complicated thing with numbers and bollocks and stuff
🙂
GIE 🙂
So after 20 games it almost got the spud final points total projection bang on.
Everything else was slightly askew with Swansea, WBA, Wigan and Stoke finishing above above us but apart from that. 🙂
I went on a Spud site and was banned within minutes, they just didn`t want to come out to play !. hahaha
Who will be our first signing after one second past midnight ?. I like things done early !.
Heavy on the numbers and bollocks and my vote’s a good ‘un.
Oh goody PTs back to enjoy the evening.
Someone has used the picture in the dressing room after the game as a ‘Happy St Totts Day’ card, I can’t find it now so if anyone else sees it can they put it up please.
Peaches have you seen OGs tweeted pictures? One for the ladies in there let me find it for you and Evonne.
Gary Neville talking sense again for anyone who hasn’t listened to him:
http://youtu.be/IjfyvR2IZEg
Chas
I think its time we backed of Exile’s predictometer, after all he’s got other fish to fry what his little friend still hanging around ROLF
“That’s the way DidIt. Stir it up”
How pathetic a troll cannot come out and admit to being a spud – must be ashamed of his team. We’re all having the last laugh at those saddos tonight. keep trying, it just shows us how ridiculously small and insignificant you are.
😀 Micky
Shit, its out!
Thank you LB for the post 😀
Sorry Rasp
I’ll stop 😦
I’m going to say Good Night.
Very very good end to a fun season
It’s been a pleasure
’till tomorrow
I’ll guess now that LBs post will try to redress the across NLondon handshake that we had on this site a while ago 🙂
So many spud wankers think they can wind us up by trolling on this site ….. hahaha we can sit back and enjoy your pain .. bunch of losers … always in our shadow
GiE
Ha ha, that’s funny, and yip I’m sure it will. Hope so 🙂
Who wants to see a list of pundits who didnt think we’d get 4th?
Hansen
Redknapp
Shearer
Piers (Morgan?)
Bale
Smith
Hoddle
Wilkins
Quinn
Stelling
Thompson
Souness
Oh and who wants to relive AVBs thoughts after the NL Derby?
“What we think is it can have a direct effect on their motivation – on ours too, obviously. But particularly on them because the difference from last year is we are on an upward spiral in terms of confidence and they are in a negative spiral in terms of results – and to be out of that negative spiral is extremely difficult.”
Just took one win in the Allianz actually 😀
I wouldn’t have cared if we hadn’t qualified for CL, but I would have been devastated if there was no St Totts day.
I love the site. Thanks for all of your efforts during the dark days of the season. Kept me from cracking up reading the doom and gloom on LG. welcome to the new dawn:)
Happy Saint Totteringham’s day everyone!
Is there such a thing as being a ” Spudist ” ?
I went on a spud site and said that someone earlier had remarked…” Bale, where would we be without him ! “….I said….” You will soon find out ! “…..someone asked who said it ? and I replied…..” I don’t know…..all you Spuds look the same !. Is that being a Spudist ?
Cheers Belfast
Nice to have your company.
Ian
Spudism is not only acceptable in civilized society, I believe it is compulsory 🙂
Here’s the clearest pic of the boys in the changing rooms
Ok fellow AA-ers, a question for you: who took the pic of the boys celebrating in the dressing room?
I know the answer. Do you?
It must be Stuart McFarlane no?
The Truth is, the real Red Arse knows the answer !.
It must be Per, unless he is standing behind Girouds shirt !.
Is it Dyke Gashley with a million pounds stuffed up his rectum ?
Just a quick hi to wish everyone Happy St Totteringham’s and a jolly big FOYS to all and sundry.
This season has been emotional and epic.
So glad I chose The Arsenal rather than West Ham in that summer of 1973.
Just got back home, great afternoon watching the game with my son and 4 year old grandson, who I’m grooming to become an Arsenal nut.
As the game progressed my grandson jumped up into my lap and within seconds we scored. A future lucky charm has emerged.
I paced like a Lion for the last 15/20 minutes, even leaving the room each time they looked dangerous.
But anyway happy St. Totts day to you all.
I would like to join the chorus of thanks to all of the authors in particular, Big Raddy, Rocky and GIE – not to forget the work of both Rasp and peaches.
See you all in the morning.
That’s a shame Chary, you could have tortured a load of West Ham supporters with your guitar playing !….Why us ?. hahaha
Rasp/Peaches
I’ve added some player ratings into drafts if you eant to use them.
Good Morning
Well I was wrong as I didn’t think we would turn it round and our last 10 games though not alway pretty produced the required results and for that we must acknowledge Wenger’s change of formation and surely now he loses the “stubborn” tag.
Looking at the squad yesterday and the last few games the nucleus of the team is there though I presume Jenkinson was injured.
Question marks will be asked if Sagna,Vermaelen and gervinho are in the bosses future plans.We know already those who are leaving/out of contract and that leaves the players out on loan who I presume will have their contracts terminated.
When AW said words to the effect that this is the best squad he has had,I wonder if he meant that there were now no prima donnas or mercenaries left to disrupt things and that makes his job easier, and that he has already defined and ear marked the positions that need strengthening.
I see next season as pivitol for so many of the top 6 clubs but at least we will be the only one stable in management but more importantly in experience when facing difficult tasks.
We will hopefully know shortly if there is a real intent to buy 2 or 3 quality players as that is all that is missing.
What do you think ?
I like that song
“Its happened again, its happened again,
Tottenham Hotspur it’s happened again” 😀
Hanging off the BFG tree.
That song is at 6.00, GIE.
(don’t watch if you suffer from motion sickness)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lT7fEyZph8
Morning all.
Weird, there’s no pressure anywhere. Nice.
@Kelsey i think your level headed comments are the best! : )
Nice Chas 🙂
Kelsey I think you’re right about Arsenes comment, he refers to the way they stayed united despite the defeats to Blackburn, Bradford and Bayern. How they retained focus. Not necessarily referring to their ability with the ball but the spirit that has been created within the squad must be a good thing.
What I was interested by when looking at the player reactions on the bench was how Fab1 was up and jumping around like we all were with a couple of minutes to go, how he is in the mix of the team photos. As is TV5, any disharmony in the squad would be expected to be seen in those two, but it wasn’t there.
There’s something to be said for a loyal number 2 keeper, Steve Harper has given years of service to Newcastle, played second fiddle to Given, got his chance in Championship then got injured and was usurped by Krul, but he remained and was always able when called upon. He himself should have had a much bigger career as he was and probably still is a top goalie.
Arsenal bench at full time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftjNsTxDNNc
GoodMorning All,
I have watched yesterdays match with all cricket geeks who has 0 knowledge of football :D.. I have belif that if we add 2 or 3 great addition then we will fight for title next season.. chas thanks for the pic and I am wondering that TV5 is very happy in both the pics one is dressing room and second at final whilstle its shows that hBoss has some plans for him next season. I myself dont want to see him leaving He is great player he had badseason but he will come back stornger 🙂 🙂
I did forget to mention Diaby,what does the future hold for him.he was from day one labelled the new Viera which he isn’t but the amount of combacks is increasingly worrying
Morning All, 🙂
Hi Kelsey,
I agree with everything you say. It is impossible not to worry about all the things you are worried about.
For myself, I am worried that there are things I know I should be worried about, and do worry about them; then I worry about those things I should worry about but don’t know I should worry about, and so I don’t, which is worrying; then, of course, there are the things I should worry about but altho’ I know there are things I worry about but don’t worry about because I don’t know what it is I am not worried about, and therefore I don’t worry about them, which is also worrying.
Thank goodness a Realist like you is on the case and can help me and everyone else to know what to worry about. 😀
(Diaby, you say, now that is worrying.)
when is the next game?
Evonne
Quite clearly not enough pressure for you yesterday 🙂
enough of tension, not enough of joy that followed!! Crying Spuds (yes, I was driving near Tottenham after the game and saw real tears), amazing Gary Neville, picture of naked players….. what a day that was!!
i’ll answer my own question: 14th July Gelora Bung Karno stadium, great
Happy Days
ole ole ole ole ole!
VCC. 😀
If Tottenham hadn’t scored late in their game, it’d have left their fate in their own hands. Whats more agonising for them Spuds fans than the hope of Champions League Football killed by Arsenal! Yet another St Totts day in the ultimate game. I’ve never felt happier in this past one year!
Morning all, off to work, back later 🙂
Morning Happy Gooners
St Totts arrived at last and we have a New Post ……………………..
ole ole ole ole ole!
ole ole ole ole ole!
Oh Tottenham, oh Tottenham
Will you ever play in Champions Leageu 🙂
ole ole ole ole ole!
ole ole ole ole ole!
that’s being silly, get a grip girl 🙂
I could read about this all day!! Maybe you own an RSS feed I could possibly check out.
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