MWG. I could stop here, couldn’t I? Having spent three days of almost constant vodka drinking it may be for the best but such a peach of a game deserves more.
Tonight’s match is everything we long for as football fans. An evening kick-off at home against probably the best team in the world. Our team is in good form, we have few injuries, the weather looks clement, the pitch is perfect, we have the chance to see Lewandowski and his pals try to repeat recent victories at The Emirates. It should be a great game.
One major difference between our 0-2 loss last time out is our goalkeeper. TPIG/Fabianski or Cech for an important CL game – who would you pick? Though to be fair TPIG was sent off thanks to a Robben dive.
Team selection will be interesting; OG or Theo or both? BFG or Gabriel?
I would start with Theo and continue the successful policy of bringing on OG for the final 20 minutes (should we need goals). Walcott is in the best run of form of his AFC career and pace is more likely to cause BM problems than OG’s more ponderous play.
Gabriel may be more suited to playing against Muller and Lewandowski but BFG has the nous and we will need his experience (plus he can understand what the opposition players are saying to each other!)
Big night for Ozil. He was poor when we played BM last time. I wonder whether he would rather be playing for the opposition tonight? This is no throw away question, my guess is that any German player wants to play for BM just as any Spanish player would like to play for RM or Barca; this is not the case in the PL where we have no stand-out club.
If we are to win sound defence is essential. We are potent upfront and in good goal-scoring form. Total concentration and no mistakes from the back 5 please – none of that silly stuff we have seen in the previous two CL games.
Did you read that Mr Wenger is in the list of 10 managers who can win the the Ballon D’Or ? So too, is Guardiola. Guardiola’s BM contract runs out at the end of next season – as does someone elses. Co-incidence?
The Bayern team is full of big names, thankfully Robben, Goetze and Ribery are unfit but BM don’t seem to be affected by the loss of two wonderful players.
Coquelin will have fun tonight. Vidal, Xabi Alonso, Alcantara and Costa are somewhat different opponents to the chaps at Watford and Leicester! I am really looking forward to seeing how he copes with this challenge and judge just how far his game has progressed. Discipline will be important – his habit of picking up silly yellow cards could become costly. It is amazing that Coquelin has become such an important cog in the team, long may his development continue.
As regulars know I am a huge fan of Aaron Ramsey. His goal at the weekend could be the start of a return to his form in front of goal which has been so sadly lacking of late. Add a few more and he is amongst the best MF’s in the PL.
No point writing about the effect a draw/loss would have upon our CL future, we all know the situation.
On a personal note, should we lose tonight it will result in another season with no Raddy/Didit tour – for that reason alone I am desperate for a win.
I cannot say I am confident but I do give us a fighting chance. Arsenal are a bloody good side when we are on form and we are in the midst of a good spell. Play like we did against MU and we can win.
Football is all about Glory. A win tonight would be Glorious!
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
An excellent pre-match, Raddy, and no sign of you being sozzled either. 🙂
In games such as this I think it would suit the team tactics to use Theo at CF, as his reputation for pace may well restrict some of the fantastic Bayern attacking impetus.
As you say, we could bring on Giroo in the latter stages, if necessary.
Cheers, BR.
I’m excited about tonight.
As you say, this is what CL qualification is all about. Pitting your wits against the big boys, hoping for glorious victory.
If we do end up in the Europa this season, you and Micky might fancy a trip to Kazahkstan or Macedonia, surely?
Azerbaijan takes some beating, Chas, as a glass of fermented yak’s milk rates highly with Raddish, as an acceptable alternative to vodka.
‘morning all, nice one Big Boozer.
At least the U Boat (AKA Arjen Robben) will not be on the pitch tonight. “Achtung! Dive! Dive! Dive!”
I think we are definitely better than when we last met Bayern, as Raddy says Cech as opposed to Szczesny or Fabiansky and of course Le Coq in midfield.
The whole team must be on it’s toes and must defend as a unit when required. Merts or Gabriel? Hmm, I’m not sure, in the interests of non-tinkering I suppose it should be the BFG.
Theo to start, which will make Redders a happy bunny.
I can feel an Arsenal victory coming on. 68% confident.
Morning all
I have heard from a very secret source that Ospina has to play, it’s in his contract, so sod that.
I wouldn’t play Pers but Peter Gabriel with Kos.
Walcott has a secret weapon.He squeezes the opposition defenders by the nuts as he rushes through the middle .he has been training this move all week.Ask peaches she watched it at the training ground.
If we don’t win we will lose a draw is absolutely useless 😉
Look, Kelsey, I told you about Ospina’s clause in his contract that he must play, in the strictest confidence.
Now Norflok will keep pestering me to learn the secret clause in Theo’s contract that says he must play, and sod Giroo.
Damn it – now look what you have made me do.He knows now – and so does the awful GoonerB.
I told Kelsey
OK, come on then Redders, out with it! What’s the secret clause in Theo’s contract that says he must play? Hang on a minute… if there is a clause in Theo’s contract that says he must play and you know about it, then it can’t be a secret clause…but that still means there is a clause, even though it’s not secret….so….Theo has to play. QED.
Are you Kelsey’s very secret source then Big Boozer? cos if you are and we know about it you can’t be his very secret source anymore…but I suppose you could still be his not so secret source… so that’s OK then.
Soothe your fevered brow, Fornolk, and I will reveal all to you.
The secret clause in Theo’s contract that says he must play, says ‘Theo must play – so there’ – it had been kept very hush hush until the Hippy found out and told me, and I told Crystals, and he then told the world – and GooonerB.
In my present fevered state you revealing all to me is too much to contemplate Redders. I’m off to pick apples in the garden while the sun is shining.
Nice one Raddy 🙂
I’m behind the sofa already…. if we are to win tonight we need a mentality of Battle of Britain proportions…. repel the Germans at all costs. However, if we lose no problem for me… out of the CL… concentrate on the EPL and FA Cup double.
Excellent PM Raddy, you hit the proverbial nail on the head in every point you make.
I believe we have a big enough squad to fight in the EPL and the CL (with Welby and Jack to return in a couple of months). We need to make changes for some games to rets players, but not wholesale changes. Tonight only our strongest side will suffice.
The two key decisions are as you say – Theo or Ollie and Per or Gabriel.
My choice would be Theo and Gabriel, but this is where the manager earns his stripes, I trust AW will make the right decisions.
I can’t take suggestions that we have contractually guaranteed Ospina CL games seriously – surely no player ever receives such a promise, what happens if they are out of form?
Brilliant stuff, Raddy. 🙂
No complaints except for your views on players. But then, I am perhaps in the minority. Or the silent majority as oppised to the vocal minority. You never know. 🙂
Well my point is: There will be at least a couple of good chances for us. We are good enough for that. We better have someone upfront who can score. This is a game of football, not a 100m athletics contest.
Both Theo and Giro is an interesting call. Certainly more attacking, and we know Micky likes it. 😛 But then, we will have to scarifice Rambo. This may or may not be such a bad thing.
I would go for Theo and Giro to start, and if we find ourselves lacking in creativity, bring Rambo on.
At the back, IMO, easter is a fair call. But with Easter and Coq, we run the chance of cards. Perhaps Kos as well. Cheap cards is what we must avoid at all cost. This is Europe where they play football, not a glorified version of rugby.
All to play for. When the going gets tough the tough gets going. Or so you hope. COYG. 🙂
Micky. Your provocation from the motning batner @5:58am. 🙂 That is almost midnight!
Anyway, “Style is an irrelevance to your sort.” 🙂 Eh!
This is style for me:
and this is playing to the gallery.
Actually, I love both. It would be nice if both were embodied in the same individual. Alas! 😦
There is no PM like BR’s, classics and today’s is a living proof! ta
“should we need goals” ??? are you serious Raddy? That bloody vodka has long lasted effects 🙂 Of course we need goals, many for that matter.
I cannot see us stopping Lewy (meaning Left) scoring, he is in form and may prove unstoppable. I would prefer Gabriel dealing with him for strength and speed, but Lewy is a diver and Paul Easter could find himself in serious trouble. For that reason Per for me.
Micky would be furious, but I think we should have 4-4-2 or even 5-4-1 with Theo starting. We must not let them demolish us, this could have impact on other competitions.
Afternoon all, nice one Raddy, I prefer Giroud to start, simply because he can hold a ball, he mixes it up as well and wins headers, Theory I feel will only be useful coming off the last man, and we seem to take an age putting the ball past defenders. Theory could be useful later when legs get tired.
Clause in contract or not, the best keeper should play. Cech I feel will handle the pressure easier , and he needs a Champions League game
BFG will get roasted against this team, a little bit of pace wouldn’t go amiss so Gabriel for me
I would urge the players to stay on their feet, and to make sure their passes go to where there meant. Crisp clean fast passing will be the order of the day, I would also mention playing out from the back, sometimes you just need to hoof it.
Rasp,
I too cannot believe for one moment that any player gets a free pass to play every game in one or all competitions.
It would probably have legal niceties to consider including restraint of trade, perhaps, for those players who get the shitty end of the stick by being excluded in such deals.
It is the imaginings of a conspiracy sniffer. 🙂
Arse u19s now…..
2-0 Arsenal. I would be very happy with the same result tonight
Thanx, Chas, I enjoyed that. We definitely have some very good kids coming through. 🙂
Who says cats are brighter than dogs? 😀
Rasp 🙂 I thought my bambi was clever ; he gets up to the roof in Cuffley but cries when he wants to get down the temporary staircase
Put a bone at the bottom of it Eddie 🙂
He is more if a slice of cake type of boy, poof 🙂 are you going tonight?
Yes, I’ve been lucky and acquired a ticket late on. Don’t tell the others though as I’m considered a Jonah and I’ll get the blame if it doesn’t go to plan 😦
Oh no, you are going to jinx it 😣😣 I think you should give me the ticket pronto!
Thanks Adolf Raddy for taking the time out during your invasion plans to write a PM !.
This is my take on the CL tonight…………we play our strongest team and if we win then do the same for the return game, but lose or draw and I`m with the same feelings as Shearer and the previous God to Bergkamp…..Wrighty !………….our best chance to win the EPL is to be out of Europe full stop.
Quote Wrighty…….”If winning the Premier League comes at the expense of no European football at all, I’ll take it every day of the week.”
Seeing Herb is now an AKB !………I shall take over his mantle in a pre dig ……no win tonight and Wenger will be a mug imo if he doesn`t play fringe players for the rest of the group stage and if by chance we manage the indignity of playing on Spursdays….. then use it to give experience to the youngsters, just like he did for many years in the League Cup ……remember this game !……………..the average age of the Arsenal team was na na na na …….nineteen !
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7626710.stm
Wenger is going great guns at the moment, but he does tend to have the occasional brain fart and do something that defies logic !……remember when we had a dead rubber last group game a few years back…..I think it was the Greeks again……when he played a full team and I for one was calling him all the names under the Sun before the game and you`ve guessed it we suffered two long term injuries !…..complete and utter naive madness !.
So come on Arsene, you have already said that the EPL is the top target !….you are known as the Professor…..don’t do school boy stupidity and lets win the EPL with your best chance in years .
That Dog vid has so obviously been edited, shame on you…….
Three glasses of red and only 5.30, pressure is on………..
Don’t worry Rasp !……..think of it this way, if you jinx us and we lose and Wenger takes my and Wrighty`s advise, you will possibly be responsible for Arsenal winning the League !……………….and AAers will probably write a song in your honour called……..Jinxy Raspy. hahaha
LB…………………Did they ever do the T d F on these ?………………………..loved to have seen the King of the Mountain stage !. 😀
Gg
Oh well that worked
Fantastic Eric thank you
Think we will win and I land at Bristol 8.50
So through passport thing and hope for good signal to catch last 20 on mobile live footie
We will get our trip 🍺
Still the best pre matches Raddy.. I, like Arsene, am focused on the league title. But we can do this and get out of the group too.
good luck, Rasp. 🙂 and good luck, everyone. Oh I forgot, it is all about right team selection on the day, and teh good guys putting their best foot forward. 🙂
Opened the lucky wine … a cheeky but sophisticated Italian Red from the Veneto region. Give it a bit of time to breathe and both the wine and I will be ready for kick-off.
Really looking forward to the game and hoping the referee doesn’t ruin it
very nervous. COYGs.
Please someone put up team news moment it appears
Take off 20 mins
sorry DidIt, I have just seen your message
4 strikers, 6 attacking midfielders and no defence
Arsenal
33 Cech
24 Bellerín
04 Mertesacker
06 Koscielny
18 Monreal
34 Coquelin
19 Cazorla
16 Ramsey
11 Özil
17 Sánchez
14 Walcott
Substitutes
02 Debuchy
03 Gibbs
08 Arteta
12 Giroud
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
21 Chambers
49 Macey
Bayern Munich
01 Neuer
21 Lahm
17 Boateng
27 Alaba
18 Bernat
14 Alonso
11 Douglas Costa
25 Müller
23 Vidal
06 Thiago Alcántara
09 Lewandowski
Substitutes
08 Javi Martínez
13 Rafinha
15 Kirchhoff
16 Gaudino
26 Ulreich
29 Coman
32 Kimmich
What a shower of. ….. You lot are
Cech Belkerin Mert Kos Nacho
Coq Ramsey Caxorla
Walcott Aluxis Ozil
Sorry changed a few names to make it interesting 🙂
On the train
Our strongest team unless you’d rate Gabriel over Merts
Peaches ❤️
Coyrtr
You’ll need updates from your pilot micky
Get him to fly over the Emirates Micky so you can see for yourself 🙂
Keep you phone open and I will send texts.
Surprising to see Chambers on the bench instead of Gabriel.
They’re saying Gabriel is unwell – in which case AW is playing his strongest team !
Thanks for the post raddy. I think one of the BM games is a must win. Better to do it at home if possible but we know we can beat them away. The one thing i dont really want to see is Ramsey playing off Ollie to the right. Too slow and means other teams only have to worry about nullifying Sanchez and can play a high line confident that Giroud, Ozil and Rambo will not cause problems behind. Am ok with Rambo right if Walcott is striker or Walcott right if Giroud is striker.
lovely stuff, Theo, come on!
Terrific game so far. BM are superb but we are in this.
unlucky.
I was out of the chair and shouting “Get in” only to be dashed by one of the best saves I have ever seen.
Amazing
feck, come on Theo. get your proper shoes and headgear on!
Theo is NOW our CF….. but it’s gonna take some special magic to beat Noeur tonight
yes, Raddy, but the header was too close to the keeper. open goal. we have to do better with our chances.
Arnie…. most keepers wouldn’t have got to that.
But our breaks are looking dangerous…. playing Theo and Sanchez up front, 4-4-2
NorthBank I am sure Theo can do better. Play as CF, if you score you are hero, if not just excuses.
We should have scored at least one. let us see. COYG. 🙂
Bayern on top but we’re containing them well and relying on some very good breaks…. we could nick this if our defence stays focused.
Don’t think Theo could have done better, he placed it well, Neuer was well to the right but pulled off an amazing save. Theo thought it was in, even started to turn to celebrate. Then Neuer flew across the goal… left hand kept it out.
Arnie. You are a tough critic. The header would have beaten 99% of GK’s.
Been a wonderful half spoiled somewhat by an idiot co-commentator who doesn’t understand our game plan. By defending deep and pulling their CB’s forward we are creating the space to allow Theo and Santi to run into the spaces created.
Raddy. 🙂 hard critic, yes. but I will always back the guys putting the shirt on. 🙂
Great atmosphere here at the ground, we’re singing as loud as we can. Hopefully Theo or Alexis can convert one of their chances second half.
Great game so far
Anyone else imploring Theo to just larrap it? I don’t like his attempted Henry pass I. To the net, firstly although Henry often passed it into the net, the pass was intended for a receiver at least twenty yards behind the goal line.
Other than Owen Hargreaves trying to unsettle nerves by insisting Arsenal should be pressing higher I felt quire comfortable in that half, Neuer has made the two best saves, Cechs were fairly routine, when we’ve been shooting their defence has been at 6’s and 7’s whereas we have mainly let them have their chances from slow build up.
I like the way we are defending, pointless trying to press and break up play in our half of the pitch because they will pick us off easily and we will ensue with too many chasing back towards our own goal, keep them and the ball in front of us, but if we are in their half we can afford to send at least three to press which should be Alexis, Rambo and Theo.
I’ll settle for a point tonight, if it stays level in Zagreb it’ll be a good night for us.
yes, good game plan. so far so good. just need to convert one of our chances, hopefully a couple. 🙂
Yes me GiE 🙂
nice one, GiE.
two wrong decisions, one not to shoot, one not to pass, but there is a goal or two there. COYG. 🙂
Peaches. 🙂
Brilliant comma
Thanks all
Cheers cockie
Flew over London
Effing saw the s!!!!
Saw the ems
He is a bit good that Costa isn’t he?
shit. Rambo. 😦
Rambos hammy’s gone
understatement, GiE.
Great noise coming from the fans…..
Come on Giroud.
Get in!!!!!!
ha ha ha. thats a CF, friends. 🙂
La la la,
La lala la
Giroud
Ollie 😆😆😆
Raddy!! It’s nah nah nah nah na Giroud
Girooooo….. super sub only
Bellerin is a beast…..
Game over….. yes yes yes
🙂 🙂 🙂
Lol Owen Hargreaves still hasn’t realised that was a goal!!
Brilliant brilliant stuff!!
27% possession….. ha ha ha
My 2.55 predicted the score.
This is a very happy BR.
Superb from all our defence and covering MF’s
I think that’s what you call adjusting your game plan….tried and tested we know Guardiola teams will run out of energy if you can frustrate them long enough.
Great performance by the lads, everyone of them left it out on the pitch.
My only worry is that we are too honest, I was asking for our players to buy the fouls after we went one up, but they keep trying to stay on their feet.
Astonishing to think that Monreal, Bellerin and Coquelin were bit part players less than a year ago.
All were fantastic tonight
Massive result and another huge psychological barrier overcome.
Absolutely brilliant ! ! !
Cech was immense, and that’s why a WC Goalkeeper makes all the difference.
I hope Ramsey’s not out for too long.
Special shouts for Bellerin, Ozil and Giroud.
Momentum and belief is growing.
Buzzing, bring on Everton ! ! !
Wow! What a match and what a result! Thought we had a chance tonight but still didn’t expect that. Wow again!!!
Sorry BR, I forgot to compliment you on your excellent PM.
Thanks for a quality read.
Amazing game, so proud of our boys
To think there was a debate about our full backs not being good enough at the beginning of the season! They have been stunning these last few weeks.
Just hope this hasn’t come at too great a cost with Rambo going down. Now we need to hope Zagreb get at least a point in the return fixtures and see if we can nick something in Germany.
We don’t beat big teams but we are 5-0 up against United and Bayern! 😀
Only negative from the night was the Ramsey injury. Ox seems to have learned how to miss a sitter from him – let’s hope neither are long term.
Happy Dreams
Belerin amazing for the 2nd goal
Never mind tica taca that was Rope-a-Dope football.
What a game. Simply amazing stuff. Bellerin was getting roasted for letting Costa dribble through him like he wasn’t even there in the first half but who’s having the last laugh now? Incredible run by him there after defending for 90 full minutes. Only worry is that Barca will start taking attention of him, here’s to hoping we manage to tie him down to a new contract soon.
Raddy I think LB predicted the result with the aid of the cats! :-0
Theo ran the Bayern defence ragged again and made it easy for Girooo to score again!
You agree don’t you Redders?
LB says:
October 20, 2015 at 7:22 am
A bit of a treat this morning, two cats vids, which probably means we are going to win 2-0 tonight, yes, that’s it, it’s official, we are going to win 2-0. And people think cat vids are not football related, puh, what do they know?
I was at the game but I haven’t actually seen the second goal, does anyone have a link?
youtube of course.
Your wish ….. Might not stay for long as on YT
Thank you
Did we get the second from goal line tech or was it the first time in history that one of the extra officials did something useful?
LB: the second time. First time was on Ospina’s howler vs. Greeks.
Fifth official, no goal line technology in CL….god knows why.
It took Owen Hargreaves until about the fifth replay to realise Arsenal players were celebrating the goal not the full time whistle.
BJ that wasn’t useful was it 🙂
That is very obscure BJ 🙂
Ahh, I see, it is me who is being a bit slow.
I had completely erased the Olympiacos game from my memory. I swam around the Emirates fish bowl so to speak.
The Ozil goal was right in front of me and I didn’t see it cross the line. Viva technology 😆
2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 hahahahahaha
You don’t expect to get any sense out of me do you?
You do all realise that we probably still need at least a draw away at Bayern assuming BM beat Olympiacos 🙂
O
Anyone want to write about it? How did it look on tv? How did we sound?
A lot of fuss about Lewandoski before the match, either he had a poor game or our defence was outstanding. No! There’s no doubt a out it the whole team defended brilliantly.
Brilliant game. Despite the superior passing and possession stats of Bayern I never really felt they were a significantly superior team. I have felt for a while we are close to this level. I would still say we are a bit behind but what is really encouraging is that we now seem able to play a game where we dominate the team in possession and passing but also have a counter-attacking game that can succeed as well.
We probably still need a couple of certain players to compete at this level on a regular basis but this performance shows we are an elite team in the making. We just need to cross the i’s and dot the t’s.
Norfolk, I think GIE had it on the money earlier on in his 8.40. I was with friends that were imploring us to close down and press quicker but as GIE said would that have just provided them the space to play through us? The disciplined shape we kept frustrated them and we always looked dangerous on the break to the point that it made us look as if we were equal opponents in a game that the possession and passing stats would have indicated otherwise.
2-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow
Fantastic bloody fantastic
ha ha ha ha. just back home. tra la la la la la la
Girooooooooooooo. 🙂
Cech MotM for me, closely followed by Giro. 🙂
absolutely wonderful fans tonight. 🙂
What a great night!
And a prophetic pre-match from BR given that, in my humble, Le Coq was our man of the match. The work he puts in is phenomenal and we look so solid when he’s playing.
But more than that, he can also pass well and play the intricate one-touch triangles that we so often employ to get out of trouble.
Top man.
Closely followed in the MoTM stakes by Santi, Mesut, Cech, Belli and Ramsey until his injury.
morning all 😀
Rasp you doomer!!! Although the Olympiakos result wasn’t great for us.
The worst thing that can happen now is Olympiakos to win again against Zagreb. If we can snaffle a point in Munich, it’ll still be in our hands.
Scenario time:
BM bt AFC
O bt DZ
BM 9
O 9
DZ 3
AFC 3
Everyone will still need to win to qualify so if BM beat O and we beat DZ we will need to go to O and win by more than 1 goal.
If we all draw next week I’ll feel very comfortable, if we can somehow sneak a win it could be a very interesting last couple of matches 🙂
Best result in the next game is a draw or win for us and DZ to win at O
Just couple of things;
Peaches, the crowd sounded absolutely brilliant last night – they really were the 12th man – well done you guys.
And as for the second goal, Rasper there was no technology involved – it is not permitted by UEFA. The goal was given by the 5th official, altho how he could see it, I don’t know — but he was right.
RA the only thing I can think is that thankfully for us the ball was under Neuer’s flight, so his hands were lower than his body, and therefore the 5th official could see.
Otherwise as Wrighty said on BT last night he has just taking a massive guess 😀
Morning all
One in nuts should we not have one, wrote it last night late, so may need a once over still smiling
Hi GiE, I like the way you call me a doomer and then go on to prove my point 🙂
Good morning all…. and what a lovely morning it is. 😀
That result was an exceptional feat of tactics, perseverance and solid defending. Brilliant. Cech MOTM for me, followed by Le Coq.
Peaches, the home crowd came across on my PC LOUD and CLEAR. It was great to hear. However, the BBC match report is saying there was only 49,800 at the match…. is that correct?
That’s nonsense NB, the ground was virtually full
Morning all
Just seen the highlights as I was in A & E from 6.30p.m. until 1.45 a.m. and was told the score after the game.
Hpow much is Cech worth and a great all round performance by our boys.
Have to laugh at Giroud’s goal, I think it glanced off his ear onto his shoulder then his elbow but most importantly into the net and to round things off I notice Ozil’s enrtgy levels have shot up and for him to score in the 93/94th minute is admirable,I just wish he didn’t always try and glide the ball into the net.
A great European night for our boys, pity I missed it.
NB: It says we only had 27% possession, is that right ?
We aren’t quite there as a unit but we certainly are getting very close to the big boys in Europe.
Despite Theo’s header which IMO was well saved, did he play well.I can only think that AW decided to bring on Giroud for the reason to give us another option or he thought he would give us the edge.
The Theo and Giroud debate continues.
Morning Kelsey
Why didn’t the night nurse turn the TV on for you 🙂
The possession stats vary slightly, 27% for us but in another report saying Bayern had 74,5%, which would put our possession even lower at 25.5% ha ha ha….. stats mean nothing, it’s the goals which count.. whey hey. 🙂
Arsenal and Wenger are the only team and manager to beat Gladiolis’ Barcelona and Bayern in CL.
The French ponce has scored four goals this season coming off the bench. Obviously, Theo softens up the opposition defence with his running and movement ready for Ollie to come on and score. It’s a system that is working so hope it doesn’t change, apart from Walcott scoring before he is subbed. 🙂
Hope this is good enough?
Thanks chas, it would be easier if you could email a JPEG or png to nuts if pos 🙂
For me, there is no Giroud/Walcott debate, for the simple reason that having Theo in the side scares the cr*p out of opposition defences and gives us more room for our creative players to operate in. Is Giroud a good weapon to have and use in certain situations? Of course, but I would still start Theo whenever possible.
Looking at the fixtures, all our games up to City on the 21st Dec are winnable but will need smart rotation from Wenger to keep us fresh. Looking at the way the team is playing it is going to be difficult for any of our squad players to step in and be anywhere near the desired level, so Wenger needs to be doing only 1 or 2 changes at a time (with the exception of the C1 Cup).
If we keep winning then players won’t notice the fatigue as much, but the Ramsey injury shows just how quickly things can change. If the likes of Sanchez, Özil and Coquelin can keep going until Wilshere and Welbeck return then we could have a big season.
I think we might be hearing three dreaded words in the next few games
The Red Zone!
Couldn’t just leave such a doomy comment!
What a great result last night and we will qualify for the CL knockout even if Olympiacos win next time out. 😄
Rasp
If you right click on the image, then left click ‘open image in a new tab’.
Go to new tab, right click on image in new tab, then left click ‘save image as’.
Surely that’s easier than email?
But I’ll email it if you prefer.
Rasp
Actually
right click on image, then left click ‘save image as’ is sufficient.
Above photo by Stuart MacFarlane
Epic victory!!
That was Plan B executed to perfection, bloody per-fec-tion 🙂
I was so nervous watching the game that I didn’t notice individual performances, how can I watch the game again?
Cech. Now we know how poor ospina and polish keepers really are.
Thank you Petr
Peaches/Rasp, Match Report e mailed to arsenalnuts.
So we have two match reports from Steve and NG.
How lucky we are. 🙂
GiE – Ollie confuses us, let alone the opposition 🙂
I actually thought yesterday that like us, other teams don’t give Ollie much credit – that ponce can’t score , surely not
There were no weak links in our side last night. Cech was superb, Le Coq, Ozil excellent. Bellerin grew throughout the game and is probably the only RB in top flight football who would have had the pace to get in front of the defender and into the box to deliver the cross for the Ozil goal. To have that energy after 93 minutes of full on intense football is amazing.
I think the formula of letting Theo run the defence ragged for 70 minutes and then bring on a fired up Giroud is the perfect use of both players. Giroud was superb when he came on – the competition is proving productive for both players.
Rasp – Yeah, that’s a much better plan then bringing Bendy for the last 10 minutes of the game.
The beauty of Theo – Giro combo is the fact that even if the opponents know our plan there is nothing they can do about it. Saving energy means giving Theo space, perfect
GIE @8:35am
I saw it that way as well… and as Rasp has just said,
“the competition is proving productive for both players”.
My favorite comment:
Bellerin could win a F1 race without a car 🙂 🙂
Clever stuff GIE
“The thing is we often play sides like Watford so that style gets seen as our norm, we rarely face three contrasting opponents in quick succession so the tactical changes are never as evident.”
Morning all can I request we put GIE’s 8.28 and 8.35 comments together to make a 3rd post. Have we ever had 3 posts? It is a special day though so why not 🙂
Morning All,
Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day
I’ve got a wonderful feeling
Everything’s going our way
Raddy…. that’s just the Vodka still in your blood stream 🙂
I agree with GB that we should use GIE’s comments for a post and have removed them.
GIE. I hope that is fine with you.
NB. No, it was the duty free whisky 🙂
I can’t find a GiE comment @ 8:28???
Oh I see Raddy has stepped in 🙂
I am now preparing a 3 person match report 😀
Imagine if this Giroud header had gone in instead of sqeezing against the post against Zagreb.
(Poor quality, I know, but you can just about see it)
Last night he scored with the ball hitting his beak, then on to his arm before going in the net and suddenly he’s a hero.
Fine margins. 🙂
Thanks for all your input guys. It only seems right to publish everything that has been submitted – so please enjoy today’s ….
…. triple post!!