What would we do without the comedy villain? In the past it has been Shearer, then Sheringham, Van Nistelrooy or Keane, Shawcross etc. I guess it has always been such as we construct our narrative about our favourite game. Chelsea are unusual insomuch as they have two.
And we all know who we want to get a good shoeing and a red card this afternoon.
Diego Costa is a player whom I would love to see in the red and white of Arsenal, he is a horrible but efficient, destructive player. I suspect that off pitch he is a really good bloke but on-pitch he changes. We do not have anyone like him and perhaps we are the lesser team because of our “niceness”. Perhaps Xhaka will change this.
Of course ,the other villain is the ageing and possibly missing JT . Be honest – if he had been in the Arsenal shirt and under the tutelage of Mr. Wenger for the last 15 years we could have been a legend; instead Terry is a boor.
We need to win today, we need to beat Chelsea and get this monkey off the back. Me-rinho has gone but we still haven’t beaten them in too long, much too long.
Let’s be clear, whatever they do Chelsea will always be in our shadow. Arsenal are the biggest club in London and no amount of illicit money will change that. Yes, they have won more silverware in the past 10 years than we have but so what? We have history, Chelsea have Russian money.
I still admire Fabregas. Bear with me, this is a man who desperately wanted to return to his home club in Barcelona, got binned and saw the error of his ways. He wanted to re-sign for Arsenal but Mr Wenger decided we had better, it wasn’t Cesc’s fault that we signed Ozil and Cazorla. Why castigate the poor chap who has to pull on that repulsive Blue shirt? Isn’t that enough punishment? Imagine the pain every time he has to walk into the dressing room. I think the chap deserves our sympathy not our dislike.
We go into the game on a strong run of results and must be confident. The Alexis experiment is likely to continue and I expect AW to pick the same team which won at Hull
My Team:
Cech
Bellerin Mustafa Koscielny Monreal
Cazorla Coquelin Iwobi
Walcott Sanchez Ozil
One of the most interesting aspects of today’s game will be how Mustafi copes with the aggression of Costa, let us hope he can control himself better than Gabriel!
Also, how will Hazard play? If he is on-song the man is a potent weapon and will certainly stretch our defence.
It should be a cracking game, especially if Chelsea and Conte choose to attack.
I see no reason why we cannot win against a team who, quite frankly, have besmirched our wonderful sport since the days of the execrable criminal Ken Bates. We are the men in the white hats waiting for the outlaws to arrive. let’s give them a thrashing and send them home crying.
Let it be so
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
great title 🙂 off to read the post
Great PM, thank you Raddy. Good point about Cesc hating the repulsive shirt 🙂
I am not sure if we will win, I think it’s going to be another draw. Conte will play the Italian style, heavy defending and lots of cheating. Costa, JT and Mourinho are by far the most vile individuals in football. Add Drogba under Mourinho to it and you have the revolting quartet we had dubious pleasure of seeing at the Ems.
Why would you not play Xhaka? I would, let him lose on chavs. They are not familiar with him yet, will no doubt give him space and then we might see some crackers
Hahahahahahaha haha…..what a laugh, thanks.👍👍👍😅😅😅😅
chopper is a chav 🙂
Cheers Raddy
Love it first that Chopper is plainly a bit nervous about today.
Happy that JT is (probably) not playing, and believe we must take note of Klopp’s tactics against them. Make Costa receive the ball with his back to the CB as far away from edge of box as possible. Close Hazard, with two if possible, immediately he receives the ball, and vitally, push him down the line if possible.
As I have indicated regularly recently, my team would be quite different from you, however Raddy.
Cech
Bellerin Mustafi Kos Montreal
Xhaka
Elneny. Cazorla
Ozil
Perez. Sanchez
My concession to Micky is Sanchez with Perez. Firstly, because he is on fire at present and likely to trouble Chelski defence most (secondly because Giroud has hurt his toe)
Iwobi for impact sub earlier than normal if necessary, but not starting. Likewise, if you have to AW, TW.
Coq as replacement energy if Elneny’s effort to keep Hazard quiet tires him or likewise for Xhaka after he has done a Lampard with another whizz banger.
COYG.
Google it Eddie
Made me chuckle
Last one until the train
Ooooo BR. I can tell special effort went into that. A fine rallying call and a fine read. We are on the same page re Fabregas but I do respect the other side of our fans view.
That has to be today’s team any variation will be a big shock.
Big day for a big win.
thanks ant, very funny 🙂
Cheers, BR, top quality.
No-one will ever convince me that Fabregas wasn’t born in the year of the snake and that his favourite dice throw is double 1. 🙂
Big game today. We’ll learn a lot about what we have and what we might be capable of.
Chelsea not on their best form either.
Looking forward to seeing how we’ve adapted, and who plays.
Thanks Raddy. Team will be as stated by you unless Arsene surprises us.
It’s our turn to beat Chelski, I hope.
It’s good to be back on the train but not a luxury suite like those from Devon.
Always Appy
A fine selection of alcoholic beverages and salty snacks
Have you seen Terry Mancini is in the background of that Chopper pic?
What do you think of Fabregas, Ant?
Classic
23 where are ya?
A super pre-game Raddy, it sums up my feelings and the majority of Arsenal fans.
Just imagine if John Terry and Tony Adams had been on the same team – they would have been known as the “Terrible T’s”.
But sadly Terry preferred it in the gutter…………….
Manu 4 Leicester 1
A wake up call for Vardy and Mehrez?
More like a wake up call for the benched Rooney.
Thanks for the comments.
Any team news?
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Kos, Monreal, Coq, Cazorla, Ozil, Iwobi, Theo, Alexis.
Subs: Ospina, Holding, Gibbs, Xhaka, Ox, Lucas, Giroud
11/11. Happy Days.
Look at the bench! Add BFG or Gabriel and we are looking tip-top.
Well done Raddy 🙂
Why no Xhaka or Perez? Power subs?
Worrying that all the top teams have won today
two little people are on their way to see me in half hour
Football or grandchildren? Sorry AFC, two little people are unmissable especially when the other grandma went to the Ems
Eddie. Lucas Perez, Xhaka are both on the bench. As you say – power subs
Eddie. I have the same dilemma. Solution? Record the football
And Elneny is not even picked plus Welbeck and Ramsey still injured.
AW when asked about recent results against Chavs said “we face inconvenient facts”. Quality
Thanks for the PM Raddy, I’ve bed putting the cricket square to bed this morning and just met up with peaches, Chas, ant and LBG before the game – on the train home now – no ticket 😦
Raddy – children are a terrible problem to have 🙂
so far really poor results today
Come on you Gunners!!! Score before my darlings arrive here!!!
Thanks Erik very much
Come on you Gunnnnnners
What a fantastic goal by Theo. Brilliant build up play.
And Cahill does it twice in a week. England quality?
Great start
I know this is fantastic but it’d be so much better if my connection didn’t break so I missed both goals!!!!
Fantastic half here at the Emirates 😃😃😃😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sorry Raddy, forgot to say thank you for the PM. I’m looking at Cesc with kinder eyes after you reminded me that he has to pull on that shirt 😬😬😬
Must be absolutely brilliant, Peaches
You must all be making a cup of tea 🙄
No viewing Peaches
Not sure if its my end, or BT Sport 😦
The quality of the second goal (Theo) was out of this world, such precision and crisp passing – pure poetry
so Sanchez’ goal was rubbish??
Chavs had 0 shots on target 🙂 🙂
Phil Seeva @philseeva · 1m1 minute ago
“A bus ticket, an old cola cube and a petrol receipt. Things Diego Costa has found whilst he’s been in Koscielny’s pocket this evening”
Amazing game, richly deserved result, very very happy 🙂 🙂
Chas – I told you I had s feeling about this game 🙂
Iwobi – yes he can perform in the big games
Koscielny and Mustafi – already the best CB pairing in the EPL
Easy! Easy! Easy!
Fabulous performance. Iwobi was stunning, our midfielders were always in control, and our defenders were tuned in and controlled the Chelsea threat with ease. Even Cech made the save when needed, which wasn’t very often! We are starting to find our rhythm.
Big shoutout to Walcott who I thought was outstanding and has started the season like a different player. He still frustrates with his touch, but if he’s going to work as hard as he did today and play the RW role like he did today then he has to stay in the team. He was always where he needed to be in both attack and defence. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Said on some other blogs today before the game started..
“Ebb and flow mates.”
The FLOW has started.
Woo hoo!
Super team performance.
With the fixtures coming up that flow could soon turn into a heavy flow of red…..what a nice thought!
That was proper fab, we made Chelsea look like utter rubbish. Hahahahaha
Thanks to Raddy. Thanks to the good people who are keeping this space going. Knot quiet ear, but always a great pleasure whenever I can make a fleeting visit. 🙂
Now, on to proper business. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
not to speak ill of the dead, though. 🙂
Arnie 😃 lovely to see you, that was some outing at The Emirates, the whole team were brilliant …. hopefully it’ll be repeated
I think chavs knew what was coming, only chopper attempted a laugh before the game despite a very provocative title.
I am delighted, we carry on like this and 2nd place is ours 🙂
I do hope LB’s not going out for dinner tonight and fancies writing something 😉
thanks, Peaches. 🙂
truth be told, I was quite nervous before the game, particularly with all the rubbish results elsewhere.
there were some close-ups of Conte’s face on BTSport. He looked close to crying.
Yeah Eddie
Oi Ant! 🙂
Oi Oi o bearded lovely
Ant 🙂 🙂 🙂 cannot stop laughing. 🙂
Fantastic day. Arsene is developing a very strong team here. Iwobi has a bit of the Pires about him, Granite reminds me of Petit, and the comparison that amazed me, Mustafi plays like Frank Mcklintock.
All the players were magnificent but I am most happy for Arsene. His critics better brace themselves, they are going to be made to look like idiots.
But, I suspect they are use to that.
The Ghosts of the Thirties are Stirring.
It’s a lovely day today!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Alexis Sanchez has scored 47 goals in his first 100 appearances for Arsenal, one fewer than Thierry Henry managed
The stats you need to know
Arsene Wenger inflicted Antonio Conte’s heaviest league defeat since October 2010, when he was manager of Siena (3-0 loss to Empoli).
Chelsea found themselves three goals down at half-time in a Premier League game for the first time since May 2012 (v Liverpool, 4-1 FT).
This was the first time since October 2012 v Manchester United the Blues had conceded twice in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League game.
This is Arsene Wenger’s first win over Chelsea in the league since October 2011 (drew three, lost six).
Chelsea’s first shot on target came in the 82nd minute.
Hector Bellerin has provided more assists than any other Premier League defender since the start of last season (six).
Theo Walcott scored in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 2013 (three in a row for the Gunners).
Someone has just checked Arnie’s stats and he is really only 35 but his beard is 40
Oops – Ant parts of that bread look as though they are older than JC……………..
Arnie, were you laughing at 8.53pm or 9.12? TMHT was laughing at 8.53!
beard………….
Nothing is older than JC..GN5
Not even Arnie’s bread!
What happened to our penalty today!?
Surely we will get 2 in our next game to make up for it!
ha ha ha, Ant, closer to 50. 🙂
GN5. Nice stats. 🙂 Terry the brilliant. 🙂
Iwobi is going to be unbelievable once he fills out. He has a bit of pace already but he will only get faster and stronger. His vision and football brain is clearly already developed. Not many players are as good as he is at 20.
Just look at Chas downing two pints at the same time. 🙂
yes, agreed, FGG. 🙂
Are you at home Arnie or on your travels?
He is currently up the Zambezi and he hasn’t even booked his B&B for the night yet
And he doesn’t have a coat!
Peaches
I have only just got in.
So, if someone is in the mood to write something in depth about the game please go ahead. If there are no volunteers I will put something up but it is a bit different a bit minimalist lets say.
There are MOTD nights and the nights to avoid MOTD. Tonight is, without a doubt, a MOTD night.
GN5. here at home in sconny Botland, up the Forth, not the Zambezi just yet. 🙂
As per AW, Arsenal are playing with “Style and Steel”
Iwobi was great for the second goal but the intelligence from Özil to give him it back after the 1-2 was what created the space. Not sure even Iwobi was expecting the ball back. Beautiful goal.
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