Well, the fans have giving the team a good kicking this week, we can only hope they pass it on to Aston Villa this afternoon.
We are always unlucky about meeting a team as they are in good from and today is no exception. Given last season’s miserable performances it was more likely that Lambert would be sacked rather than make his young team into the formidable opponents they will be post kick-off. Fair play to the man.
Or could it be his assistant who has engendered this startling change of form? Keane doesn’t like Arsenal, never has. He does however respect The Arsenal and has been involved in may victories over us. Has he learned from Surralex? I am convinced he has and expect to see Villa play the same way MU did when they could beat us … that is, with violence. Not just violence but cunning violence. Expect the game to start with a flurry of nasty tackles on our creative players (rotational of course). How the game develops from here will depend upon two things
1. How our delicate flowers respond to a bit of aggressive pruning (just for you Peaches 🙂 )
2. The strength of the referee. Today we are blessed with Mike Jones.
Before discussing Jones may I remind you of how the referee affected the game in our opening fixture last season. Anthony Taylor was so poor he was demoted – deservedly so. Do you recall how he waved play on after a TPIG foul in the area and then when Agbonglahor missed gave a penalty (which they scored)
Where was I? Ah yes, Mike Jones. Last season in 32 games he gave out 108 yellows and 3 reds. Yes, you read that right! This season after 3 games 10 yellows and one red. This chap is card happy. Will this be a good thing this afternoon? The stats do not show whether he is affected by the home crowd as so many refs are. We must hope not and that he continues to brandish yellow each time one of AV’s thugs ploughs through the back of our heroes.
We welcome the return of Big Phil. A player I have always liked – not Arsenal quality but a top bloke and one of Peaches faves. Alongside Vlaar he makes a fine CB partnership and with two quality FB’s Villa have become very difficult to break down. Especially as they have a busy midfield with Delph showing just why he was so highly rated as a teenager at Leeds.
Upfront, they rely upon pace which is not good news for BFG. Breakaway goals are an AV speciality and we can only hope the lessons of Tuesday night have been learned. We cannot afford to be too gung-ho.
Arsenal: Please, please play Oxlade-Chamberlain today. I don’t care who gets dropped, we need his energy and drive.
The difficulty as I see it is how does a player recover from a bad bout of form without playing? Ramsey is one of our best players but of late has been completely anonymous (apart from scoring two vital goals 😃 ). Can Mr Wenger drop him? Can he drop Ozil? Of course he can but will he?
Can Sanchez play twice a week given the amount of energy he expends during a game? Or Welbeck, who has covered more ground in 3 games than Giroud does in 6.
This is a tough team to guess but let’s try
I am excited to see Chambers get a run in the position he was bought for. Once again we have a powerful bench though lacking in defensive possibilities
Being in the Midlands the food I associate with Villa is always a curry – so I will choose one of my favourite dishes, a Daal Makhani. I read that one of the best can be purchased at the Sanskrit in Stratford Rd.. Add in a Paneer Marsala and a few breads and you are assured a veritable eating extravaganza.
All it needs is a chilled Lager
Birmingham is home to a host of famous drink and food brands. Typhoo tea, Birds Custard, Bournville cocoa, Cadbury’s chocolate and HP sauce all originate in Brum.
Can we win today? Of course. Our team will be desperate to absolve themselves after the Dortmund Debacle. If it goes tit’s up it will not be because of lack of effort. We have attacking talent in spades, our defence will be augmented by the excellent Gibbs, and we have a fine record at Villa Park
COYRRG
written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Quality pre-match BR, much appreciated as always.
I have a question: do you purposely put Wilshere in the middle with Arteta to his left?
LB. No. I am aware we do not play 4-3-3. It is purely an easy format to place my chosen players …. and as you know it is a format I have always used.
My guess is that JW will be playing ahead of MA as always. Whether they can work in tandem remains questionable but Mr Wenger believes so.
Ant & Duck on tour again, having fun regardless of the result, hating doomers, drinking various fluids and eating 8 varieties of pork snacks..happy days!
Love the preview Big Daddy.
Arrived in Derby… Sheepshagger alert!
What’s up, bitches?
Just steamed into the Pilsner and Savannah Dry on the way to Birmingham. Ant has flopped his nuts on the table in the hope of grabbing and a 4 seater for the two of us. ( three of us, I should say, after my op)
Pre-matches have recently been above you usual stellar standard, BR. Top stuff.
‘morning all,
Another fine pre-view BR, well done and thank you.
I think Alexis instead of Ozil, if only to provide a more resilient target for the rotational fouling. I think I read that Vlaar is unavailable due to injury.
I’m trying to clear my mind of the negativity prevailing this last week, but my best expectation for today is a draw.
Baaaaaaa.
Excellent pre-Match Randy Dandy. 🙂
If AW asks the FBs to keep charging up the wings again today, I will be a little cross with him.
We should contain them for the first 20 minutes and then hit them on the break.
I know, Arsene, you do not agree, but ……. 🙂
Wasn’t the Balti invented in Brum?
https://twitter.com/antvines/status/513260172308127744 and snacks
Hi Ant and you Duck, 🙂
A duck with titties and that can ‘baaaa’ would make a fortune for you.
The markets that open up for you are amazing — the Chinese restaurants, the Welsh farmers and the pervs …..
Of course it would probably be a one time deal …. but I suspect Micky would make a bid. 🙂
Gaah.. Any mention of the Anthony Villa game last season makes me mad. BY the way, it is incorrect that Taylor was demoted. The media ran with that story but all that happened was that he was the 4th official the following week. Something which is not normally considered a demotion. Mike Dean was another who was 4th official that week.
I hope to see some rotation, but I agree that it is unlike Wenger to drop players so quickly without giving them a chance at redemption. Still, I’d like to see Cazorla and the Ox play. I think they deserve it on form. Poor Rosicky will probably only play in the COC, along with perhaps Podolski.
If we play with focus, we should be able to counteract Villa’s game. DOn’t commit too many forward, and yes, not to put both fullback forward against them, because they attack from the flanks with speed on the counter. They’ll love to win it back in midfield and so the likes of Arteta and Jack (if they play) will have to be much better than they were against Dortmund.
I wonder who will play RB today. Will it be Chambers, or does Bellerin continue there. I would like it to be Bellerin because i don’t want all 3 of our CBs on the pitch at the same time. Also, I think Bellerin’s speed will help.
Ah The Ant and Chastitty show.
Brilliant.
NG. I don’t know – was it?
Micky,
As long as you announce yourself as in expert in something which contains the word bollix, you are on solid ground with me 🙂
So can we look forward to another episode in the Ant and Duck continuum in the near future? 🙂
NG – Baltis very famous in the Sparkbrook area of Brum with nans the size of tables!
Shard. Good point about Chambers.
“Demotion” was lazy from me – I didn’t do follow up research and just used my memory
Ant and Duck alive and well and happy as Larry!
I can balance my chin on any beer bottle!
Stopped at Burton and can still smell beer.
BR
That is not quite what I mean. I understand you choose 433 for ease which of course makes sense. But do you opt for:
Ox, Wlshere, Arteta on purpose or out of convenience. Isn’t
Ox, Arteta, Wilshere, more likely? That is to say Arteta slightly more central?
Tamworth next. Does anyone know anything about that place!
Ant, 🙂
We have 3 real ale pubs on our Brum central pub crawl. Any suggestions?
Ant, it’s to be avoided! 😉
It’s a market town, and I think they have ginger pigs named Tamworths, and was famous for an escaped couple of ginger piggies who tunnelled out of the slaughter house, and lived happily ever after.
I think you and Duck ate the others! 🙂
LB. You are right. Arteta is the fulcrum
I bloody love Birmingham!
Ant. Avoid the locals. They are dangerous
Ahh now BR I feel I have the authority to put the team on a green pitch back ground.
Ant,
Don’t try crossing the Bull Ring after the first real ale pub. 🙂
Temporary break soon to get off train and refill glasses… Expecting to see very little of the game!
Who thought it would be a good idea to have a 97 year old as our captain and fulcrum?
BR, good one again. thanks.
have avoided the internet as far as arsenal is concerned since the away loss in Germany, could not afford to read all the doom (even the subtle ones) & frankly there was not a lot of positives to take from that game & so I resume my internet attendance of all things arsenal with raddy’s pre-match!
I don’t know about the ox, but two players I think have got to start are santi & little Mozart (& this has nothing to do with him being my all time fave).
I can see the merits in playing a player into form, but I think it finally bit us on the bum in Germany. One quality the Mozart has is making everyone around him play better. Alexis & welbeck do a good pressing job up front but the opposition defenders always seem to have a passing option in their midfield who is under no pressure.
With rosicky in the side, we would have a middle harrier! Plus much quicker transition & link up play.
Santi, the man for the occasion when chips are down & scattered all over the floor.
so, if I agree with BR, then it’d be a front three of welbz, ox & santi, a middle three of arteta, jack & Mozart with the usual (available) suspects at the back.
Will be watching chambers very closely, he’ll be up against gabby agbonlahor, he’ll have his work cut out for him today & will truly earn his week’s wages if he comes out tops.
COYRRRRG!!!!!!
BR the only thing dangerous about Brummies is the accent
RA – we always follow the green cross code!
BR
I have no idea what happened to the comment first time, but I have reposted it now, if someone with authority could please remove the first one so I don’t come across as an asylum escapee i’d be appreciative
I thought the comment got its point across very well aized 🙂
Ant. It is an awful accent. Always reminds me of dreadful times coming home and finding my mother watching Crossroads and that Bennie fellow.
Mozart. Done …. though it makes Shard’s last comment equally nonsensical!
Great pre-match Raddy as ever. Villa are proving to be difficult to break down and we’re going to have to be patient and clever today and hope we don’t concede any silly goals. Normal Arsenal really.
I’m thrilled for Phil but hope he has a stinker today 😉
The Ox must be given a starting berth, he can’t be expected to come on at 70 minutes to change the game – it’s too much responsibility for one so young and he just runs around trying too hard to make something happen. I feel that Wenger is using him in a very unusual way. In the past he’s blooded young ones with 5 minutes at the end of a game slowly increasing their time on the pitch over a number of weeks but maybe he doesn’t trust The Ox. I’m not sure I understand why he’s not starting.
I fancy getting stuck into a ginger pig right now.
BR
About par for the course there 🙂
Brilliant stuff, Raddy. One of the best IMO. 🙂
I have a few bones to pick, though. Some that others have pointed out.
First, Bellerin. Yes please, thanks Shard. Perhaps rest BFG. Is that possible?
Second, Alexis. IMO he has to play and in the centre. He is the only one who is fighting for 50-50 balls in the midfield. Yes, he has been working hard, but he is Chilean so should be fine. I would leave Ozil on the bench.
Third, Welby is OK, but let us not bloat up the burden of expectations. I think “Welbeck, who has covered more ground in 3 games than Giroud does in 6” conveys a sense of achievement and enterprise that is yet to be reflected in his performances for us. Yes, Welby makes a lot of runs, but more like headless chicken. What Welby has to do is try and beat the covering defender to the final ball. No use running in and hitting your head against a brick wall.
Giro stayed fit all season, scored 20, many assists. Come on Welby, beat that!
COYG. 🙂
chas
I’m all for you barreling into Paul Scholes.
Love the Ant n’ Duck show!!!! Brilliant. Nice to see Chastitty and Ant’s chin on the road! 🙂
BTW, brilliant motning banter today. Nice to have Rasp back to full capacity! 🙂
BFG back on the bar here at the Wellington
X http://t.co/mO9niSCs09
When there doing the show, does any one else find Ant and Chas worringly atractive? Or is just me?
Cheers Raddy. Top stuff from the pre match king.
Its a tough game but we should really beat these. We know whats going to happen. As Raddy says, they will foul, defend deep, and hit us on the counter.
There crowd will be up for it to. A chance to go top of the league dosnt come often for Villa fans. Neither do attractive women and charasmatic personality.
Ime not sure about the Keane factor? Knowing him he probably wants Villa to lose, thus givig him an excuse to attack a Villa player or headbut a wall.
For that reason I expect a hard and uncompromising affair in which we win 5-0.
After the game Arsene will praise our spirit and Lambert will claim his team were excellent and if the linesman had spotted that handball that wasnt five miniutes before we scored our first goal, his team would have won. Because they were excellent.
The Ghosts of the Thirties are Stirring
Worryingly attractive? 🙂
We are not worthy! TM for king😃
Ah, modesty as well! 😛 Do we see Ant n’ Duck blushing? 😛
Great write up Raddy.
I will remain schtum 🙂
The beer is so good in pub 1 that we are stopping for a third
12.21 Kelsey 👍
Terry,
You three should try and meet up. It would be something special! 🙂
Ant @ 12:24 to Kelsey.
Is that a thumbs up sign, or is it a Willy?
(I am on an old computer) 🙂
Chas,
I think Terry meant ihe was attracted – and t was worrying for you.
It’s probably your new addendums he is after!! 🙂
Leave my addendums out of it.
Brilliant write up Raddy. Thanks to LB for the pitch graphic, my teks are still letting me down.
Just loving the ant and duck show, we should charge non-regulars to read this stuff 😛
Chas, are your new addendums detachable then? If so maybe you could rent them out to your mates.
Chas’s packed lunch is so popular people in the beer garden are sampling it!
Pub no 1 is so good we can’t resist beer 5!
Arsenal here Arsenal there …….
Hereford Pale Ale …… Wonderful!
Late change the OX replaces Alexis, who is on the bench.
Arsenal substitutes: Ospina, Coquelin, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Wilshere, Podolski
Arsenal team to play Aston Villa: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck
Arsenal
Szczesny
Chambers Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Arteta Ramsey
Ozil Cazorla Sanchez
Welbeck
Subs: Diaby Coquelin Podolski Ospina Oxlade-Chamberlain Wilshere Rosicky
Looks OK, but no Ox. Ozil and Rambo playing. COYG. 🙂
Chas, brilliant poster! 😀
snap. GN5. 🙂
Thank-you raddy. I agree it is a difficult team to pick. I expect us to control much of the game but As you said they like to counter attack and have the pace to do it. As such i would sacrifice experience for pace drop bfg and play bellerin at rfb and chambers with kos. I can go with the rest of the team you have and giving sanchez a breather. The only thing is i would line up with jack as one of a deeper 2 and keep him more disciplined today and give the other 4 a more free attacking licence. That gives us loads of attacking intent but pace at the back and a 2 man midfield screen. That should stifle their counter attack plan. Go too gung ho without pace at the backand lack of protection in front and it could play into their hands.
Is that right GN5? hmmm.
According to Arsenal.com arnie.
Found my stream. Replica shirt on. Beer poured.
COYRRG
COYRRG. 🙂 🙂 🙂
COYRRRG!!!!!!
Not too sure about that team. We should really beat Villa with any number of formations but it still smacks of a team that pays little or no attention to how Villa want to play or their strengths. Looks like we are benching some pace players for slower players. We shall see it should hopefully be fine.
I just looked back on some comments and am a bit perturbed by the Ant / Duck / Terry menage a trois. Having searched my feelings I realise it is not horror that is bothering me but jealousy. It seems RA has become a self nominated dating agency so i will have to ask him if there is room for one more.
any good streams?
Uncomfortable viewing so far.
I was using Cricfree. it was decent until a moment ago. 😦
I mean cricfree NBC. It is OK again. 🙂
Ozil. Wonderful. 🙂 🙂 🙂 class. Welbeck assist.
Welby. yoooo hoo hooo. 🙂 🙂 🙂 The comeback is on! 🙂
2-0 to the Arsenal. tra la la la la!!!!! 🙂
Brilliant ball from Welbeck for Ozil to score!!!!
COYRRG
And Welby scores from an Ozil pass!!
Own goal. Cissokho. ha ha ha. 3-0
At last. 5 minutes of the real Arsenal
Not watching the game but football is amazing at times. Raddy posts his uncomfortable viewing comment at 3.26 and by 3.35 we are 3-0 up.
Make that 3-0. Gibbs assist 😄😄😍😌😆
GB. I can assure you that we were poor for 25 mins, but I am a happy bunny now
2-0???????
That’ll be a whoopee
what 2-0, Micky? how far behind is your stream! 🙂
3!!!!!!
And I can’t ‘king watch 😦
sorry, Micky, I forgot. you are having some quality time with your sister! 🙂
I love the look on the bearded guy’s face in the AV dugout. Keane!!!! ha ha ha. 🙂
Has anyone found a stream that works?
Must have been pert of the plan Raddy. Make them think we have nothing then whollop.
OK, half time. 3 goals to the good. should we/ will be give some good guys a rest? 🙂
NBC cricinfo is not bad. link from wiziwig.
thanks arnie
Roy Keane looks like a jihadist
Have just had a look around the other blogs.
Two of them were particularly appalling in their criticism (not everyone, but cliques in each) of Arsene and, well all the players really, and now they are all crowing that it was their criticisms that changed Wenger’s mind and therefore the current score is all down to them.
The world is going mad, as we all know, but really when football blogs come down to this nonsense, it makes you shudder.
Has the Ox come on as a sub?
rasp – try this http://www.stadium-live.biz/Channel2.html
no, late change for Alexis who is on the bench, dont quite know what happened!
I’m afraid LB is going to have to put up with me going to the Pins for away games, I can’t get a stream to work 😦 😦 😦
RA. Ox started and looks lively on the right..
Ozil playing more central with Ramsey doing his box to box stuff, so far with lots of energy but not too much success. Santi has been quiet but playing responsibly.
TPIG has made two fine saves keeping us in the game when we struggled early on and Kos was our best player in the first half
More later……
BTW HD streaming is excellent but I don’t think they are taking more customers
Good to see Ramsey “take one for the team”. Perhaps we have learned a little fro Dortmund
agreed about Rambo, Raddy.
I like the way the good guys are keeping possession. why do we not do this more often?
I heard on BT Sports that Villa fans clapped Villa off because they had played so well, before Arsenal had a magic 5 minutes.
First time I have missed an Arsenal game since last November, I think, on TV or on the net, but my link just is unwatchable. Bugger.
Thanks for the update, Raddy/arnie. 🙂
Another Arsenal goal could help me to believe.
Rosicky, Poldi, Jack coming on. I would prefer Santi to stay on.
Rambo, Welby, Ox off. 🙂
really? what’s wrong with another 10 perhaps! 😛
Apparently Senderos has complained that someone has put a hex on him and he cannot tell his left foot from his right.
Stand up Peaches!! 🙂
Those boys, Ant and Duck, will not get home tonite, they will still be celebrating when the sun comes up.
The back line has been superb. Kos and Chambers, BFG was OK, Gibbs as good as I have seen him play.
Rambo and Ozil I thought were very good. Welby good.
correction. Ozil was superb. my MOTM.
We have had 80% posession in the second half yet I cannot recall a single shot on target!
I thought Ox had a fine game. Everyone played well
all done.
Newcastle came back from 0-2 down to Hull. 2-2.
So ….just us and the Chavs unbeaten
Excellent three points there, very happy gooner 🙂 Sadly I didn’t get to see any of it 😦
I cannot wait to see the highlights.
Is it a coincidence that with Chambers playing at RB we presumably did not have both FBs changing upfield leaving space at the back? 🙂
apparently, AV’s excuse is a virus going through the team. In line with Raddy’s theme, too much curry last night? 😛
Redders. I think there might have been a subtle change of strategy. Both Chambers and Gibbs focussed more on their defensive duties. IMO.
Is that JC @1:21? He looks good. The boys would have enjoyed this. At least as much as we enjoyed the Ant n’ Duck show. 🙂
Sorry I thought they’d be all in one video but you have to pick them individually.
If a better one comes along I’ll delete this one.
Do we get Ant ‘n Duck: The Return Journey?
Mind you, post The Op., I reckon it’s Ant ‘n Duckie
Fabulous result. Highlights pour moi
brilliant, Peaches. 🙂
Oh wow great goal from Danny Welbeck and assist from Ozil
There you go! 3 – 0 to the good guys, didn’t I tell you so @ 10.35?
Oops, just checked I had us down to draw at best. 😉
You know how I love to nag and moan ……….. if someone is writing a something for tomorrow could they please alert us on the blog so that I don’t nag for one and then get three 🙂 Thank you xxxxx
Nice one Big Raddy,
What a change, completely different team turned up, and a pleasure to watch, I had a bit of a dodgy stream but didn’t miss any of the goals. In five minutes we took control Villa was destroyed, A fine display of keep ball in the second half, and although it got a bit annoying, they never looked like letting Villa have a look in. Somebody must have read my comment about taking one for the team as that is what happened on a couple of occasions. Calum Chambers is beginning to be a man for all positions, didn’t see the line up but it looked like he played his roll on the wing and he has a turn of speed as well. This guy can play anywhere and get away with it. Mesut was a little maestro today involved in everything that was good, scored a fine goal and was involved in the others,
Eddie owes me a drink, although she will say i got the score wrong, so keep your money in your pocket 🙂 For those who wasn’t there or watching, i believe you will enjoy the highlights.
I still believe we can better this display and when we are ready we could easily drub somebody bigtime.
Yes Arnie, that’s JC
Thank you Raddy for the post. Really love this seasons’ theme 🙂
7 mins gone at West Ham and 2.0 to the Hammers
Song playing well for WHU.
L’pool suffering after mid-week CL game?😆
That was a really good professional performance. More confidence in a much changed team.
My guess is that Sanchez has a slight problem and might have been brought on if needed.
Ozil,Gibbs and Kos were outstanding,everyone played their part though I think in a way Ramsey is trying too hard and therefore it is having a reverse effect on his game,but it is a temporary lack of form.
Pleased for Welbeck, that will boost his confidence.
On a personal note I have so much going on in my personal life that I will pop on when possible but concentrating on anything for a period of time, is extremely hard, therefore I wouldn’t do justice to a match review.
I am going into hospital on Monday and then hopefully things will become clearer.
keep well my friends.
kelsey
Ooops. Spoke to soon!
take care, Kelsey. 🙂
fingers crossed, Shitty does a favour tomorrow. 😛
Best regards Kelsey, hope all goes well and speedy recovery. You will be missed.
Kelsey,
Can I echo the good wishes of others and hope all goes well for you on Monday! 🙂
Arsene: “They (Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil) combined very well, especially in the first half. Our plan today was to play Mesut behind their midfield and it worked.
“I’m confident we will go from strength to strength now.”
Yeeeeeersssssssssdd⚽️🍺👍
Time for just 1 more in the Spoons on the way back! Both phone batts low.. Cheers A & D x
Ant n’ Duck. Brilliant show. 🙂
ROLF.
Safe home guys. 🙂
You must have hollow legs!
Superb stuff BR – you’ve been in form since the start of the season. I guess because you didn’t play in the world cup.
Fine win today. Ozil definitely looks better when he has the licence to play more centrally.
I’m really liking DW – he could score a lot of goals for us.
Glimpses that Ramsey’s form is starting to recover.
Theo still to come. Sanchez not even used.
The ghosts….
Hello there. Am on the road again, but did I get it right, 0-3?? Very impressive, and good to hear our Mancunion got off the mark and our German main man got one to tell the doubters where to shove it. Looking forward to finding some highlights somewhere.
I have found coverage of Whammers v Pool – the scousers are making a go of it now but West Ham deserve to be in the lead. Alex Song did well until subbed a few minutes ago.
26, how was Jenks?
Still a couple of mins left, arnie, and West Ham have just wrapped up the points with a third goal. Jenks came on a little while ago, no errors but hasn’t had much of a chance to shine.
ha ha ha ha. ROLF ROLF ROLF. 🙂
You know the answer. Because teh swampdwellers are shite! COYG. Roll on. Next stop Spuds at home. 🙂
in moderation!!!!
Just where you belong, arnie!
Did I say that?? Didn’t mean it, honestly…..
ha ha, 26, yes Peaches’ mum is keeping watch. 😛
feck, in moderation again! 😛
have a laugh, 26. 🙂
That’s AW’s new excuse for I didn’t see it! 🙂
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bx-8wZmIEAAgMrw.jpg:large
what are you drinking steve?
good luck Kelsey xxxx
Sorry, I only just read back through the comments. My very best wishes for Monday kelsey.
I’ve just updated the stats widgets and everything looks a whole lot healthier now. I can’t do the league position until all the weekend’s games are complete.
Shard
If you are going to write something intelligent let us know if not I have about 500 words that could be used.
We quite enjoyed that!!!!!!!
Özil through the middle and plays out of his skin! Maybe he’s trying to tell the manager something? Great to see Welbeck score his first goal. Just what he and the team needed and could be the first of many.
Great result today and makes up for the 2 we lost at Leicester in comparison to last season. Still unbeaten.
Brilliant, Ant n’ Duck. 🙂 But where are your reds and whites? 😛
Wow, just seen our first 2 goals. shows what an injection of pace and 1 touch passing can do. The 2 assists were outstanding, but it was the quick passes before them that really opened up Villa.
A couple of vital saves from Szscesny too which kept us at 0-0. The space we found for our goals doesn’t appear if you are 1-0 down. If we can get a consistent back 5 for a few weeks then the clean sheets will come and our attackers will find it easier to win us the games.
Teams good, teams average, teams good, teams shit, teams great.
The joy of being a football fan.
Yes we didn’t play well against Dortmund, no one can deny that. But the reaction to it from some quarters was as per usual a bit too much egg for the pudding.
Haven’t been on since not because of the result or the reaction but been busy, so busy I didn’t even try and find a stream today.
Maybe the media will crucify Liverpool for their two results either side of CL, but maybe they’ll give them the excuse of that CL tie against a team that was amateur 4 years ago.
Maybe they’ll question Rogers tactical nouse or use of players or maybe they’ll just call it a blip.
Every year we see and hear the same old shit and every year too many seasoned fans fall for it. Let’s just support and see what happens. 183 comments for a 3 pm victory, 250+ comments for a 8pm defeat. And most of today’s comments are the enjoyable pre match entertainment drinking tour of Ant n Duck
GIE,
Your last paragraph is why I no longer enjoy blogging and have restricted my involvement. Far too many people are led by the nose based on media (including the internet) reports and it’s both infuriating and disturbing.
Against Villa today Mesut Ozil put up a big F.U. finger to his critics and showed just what an incredible player he really is – it seems that only AW believed in him. Here we are one of only two unbeaten teams in the PL we have the FA Cup and Community Shield in our trophy cabinet and it’s still not good enough.
Chas and Ant show us what REAL supporters are like and I tip my hat to them and just wish that I could join them in their travels, Thank you both for showing the moaners and groaners and pseudo intellectual experts how real fans should really behave, the noise from you away supporters today was overwhelming.
Hi Kelsey, good luck on Monday my friend, I called several times today but the number was busy or maybe I was using an incorrect code, I’ll try again tomorrow.
All the best for Monday Kelsey.
Kelsey
Good luck for Monday. I really hope all goes well.
Chas and Ant
Thanks for all the pics. Really does add something wonderful to the site. Love your whole family, packed lunch, travel, enjoyment of being a football fan.
Good luck, kelsey,
Thanks to you all for putting up with our drivel.
It was great fun, though!
This deserves a better outing than first time.
This was posted on twitter on Friday with a caption from the Ox about Danny playing guitar. I think we can safely say he’s settled in. 🙂
Just imagine how much nicer it must be to hug Mesut rather than bsr and stinkfinger.
Can you spot, Ant?
Here are some old Highbury photos from the magnificently named Bob McNabs Cat.
(I think the second lad is Micky and the one at the back BR)
Like an air shot at golf.
Ah, the Met Police band and the North Bank. Swoon.
Chas
Where did you find that Hop Stuff on sale, surely not in Brum?
Great pic of Ant, and is that half of you to his left
The Hop Stuff was from our local real ale hostelry here in Notts.
Haha, this has us in both crowd shots after the goals in the same place as the screenshot above.
Right, I must go.
I have six different types of ginger pork products to work off and my new pecs need a bit of firming after yesterday’s gallon.
I so hope it’s Invincibles Day today but it’s probably too much to ask for.
great photos, but not one of cute dogs. Noted.
Ozil is a dog lover and has a black pug like mine!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fair play to Balloteli yesterday, that WHU goalie deserved a slap, what a tool. Glad we didn’t buy him
Some wonderful pics this morning.
Always brings a smile when seeing fans with their scarves wrapped around the wrist. So long ago.
I blame the Bay City Rollers.
Post in drafts ready to go should one be needed. I am off on my bike to Hertfordshire to take advantage of this sunny morning.
Morning Gooner’s,
Always a great day after a win, but i must admit to giving the team a fair bit of stick. Like most supporters who care, i am usually critical of my own team when they don’t perform.
When i look at the talent that Arsene has amassed, i have to say i expect more at times. Yes we can always say we need more players in certain positions, but although our finances look very good in print, we have spent more than we have in years.
I can be very critical at times, but we have a very good team, although we lost some pretty good players over the years, i think its fair to say that Arsene has still kept us in the top half of the league.
Many clubs would certainly like our record, of top 4’s but supporters like myself often expect us to be better. I feel we are building towards a better squad, and things take time to happen, but we are doing it the way Football clubs should, and that is buy who we can afford but not stupidly.
Arsenal FC have a solid foundation, we are one of the wealthiest clubs in the world but we are not into buying success, that has to be admired. Wenger is now buying top players but he is not going overboard.
Very hard to compete with clubs who spend over a hundred million a season, and could quite easily spend the same in every window. Top 4 is still a blinding position to finish In a league that has multi billion owners, so what we are doing is very commendable.
Watching our win yesterday has lifted spirits, still a long way to go, but the way we have started is very encouraging and who knows what could happen for the rest of the season.
At present i don’t suppose we can moan that much, we will of course but who doesn’t.
raddy – I forgot to thank you for the great prematch! it kept me busy for a while – had to google big Phil, dal makhani and referees you mentioned. Never called Sanderos Phil, always Phillip 🙂
I am delighted that you were wrong about Keane employing Fergie’s dirty tactics, Villans behaved. Except for a few minors it was a decent game
Eddie. True about the fouling. It was one of the cleanest games I have seen for some time.
Raddy – clearly AV read your prematch 🙂
Exile and GN5
Slight Tit for Tat, I know, but I do find your criticisms of this site very patronizing.
So people have a moan after a bad performance, but on here it is always polite and civil.
Sorry, but had to get that off my chest.
stop moaning DidIt
do you just love the photo of Mezut? Never mind his brilliance yesterday, he gained top marks from me for the dogs
Yesterday was a classic day of fun for the memory bank. Glad that everyone seems to have enjoyed the match and our trivial comments/pics. Cheers
Morning all. Only just about to watch MOTD so I have no comment on the game as of yet.
I love all your pics Chas. I don’t always have time to comment on each one but normally always look back on each of them when I can.
BTW Chas I have no idea how you can go on a mission like yesterday and still be up contributing to this side before 7.00am. My hat off to you sir. Remind me never to head away with you boys for any weekend with a general description of “there may be a couple of drinks involved”.
Have you been up since before 7.00 as well Ant?
BTW, remember my Friday rant about the “former Liverpool legend” pundits. I will now be looking forward over the next 2-3 days to hearing them offer some positive praise to Arsenal while dissecting all that is wrong at Liverpool. Or maybe they will just conveniently ignore it and not say anything. I suspect they will all go silent until we reach a weekend when Liverpool have a big win and we struggle.
We have ……. drum roll ……… A new Post
Sorry guys I’m on grandma duty, there’s a post from LB in drafts can someone publish please
Obviously that’s me peaches not Rasp
Well done Raddy, just seen you’ve done it, thanks