Well that feels better doesn’t it, back to winning ways, the sweet smell of victory. When Arsenal win angels soar, birds sing and spuds groan, all the ingredients that make for a good start to any week.

I know it was only Bournemouth and I might be going a bit over the top but it feels like quite a while since I had this feeling and what with spuds losing their unbeaten status and us moving ahead of them in the league I think there is plenty to be happy about and I am going to milk it.

Three – one was about the right score, we made hard work of it as we are all too often prone to do against this kind of opposition even though collectively, talent wise, we are head and shoulders better and that is the way things appeared shortly after the game got under way. Oxlaide-Chamberlain getting sharper and sharper with every game was carving them open down the left flank but unfortunately his incisions came to nothing until in the spirit of the Christmas season Bournemouth handed us an early present by gifting the ball to Sanchez who calmly fired the ball low and hard past the helpless goalkeeper.

One – nil and all was going to plan, Bournemouth would be forced to come out in an attempt to score which would create the perfect situation for the speedy skills of Walcott on the right flank and Chamberlain on the left, what could go wrong? What went wrong was probably the most unexpected of scenarios: Debuchy got injured, well I don’t mean that was a surprise what was a surprise was how the simple addition of Gabriel seemed to completely knock us off our stride and shortly after with a reciprocal sense of seasonal giving we handed them a way back in the form of a clumsy challenge on one of their chaps which was deemed a penalty. It looked a fairly clear pen to me but I have read others who felt it was harsh; this hardly matters now as the fact is that it was converted to bring Bournemouth back on terms. Arsenal continued in this giving spirit handing them opportunity after opportunity but all were declined.

Half time came and went and although we started the second half better and the switch of Gabriel and Debuchy became an insignificance the problem was while the score remained 1-1 there was always that nagging worry that we may be looking at yet another November draw.

Both bad Theo and good Theo were on display today. The game was live on telly and everyone reading this saw the game. Walcott’s close control is poor to say the least, however, before people start running to his rescue he did, of course, score the all important second goal, what can I say; sigh, we are going to be stuck with him for even longer.

Going a goal behind sent Bournemouth out on the attack again and they had a few good chances but our defence stayed calm with Koscielny and Mustafi putting in a title winning shift before Wenger brought on Giroud and Ramsey and their fresh legs tipped the balance completely back in our favour with the French Lumber Sexual gaining a fantastic assist, allowing Sanchez to get his second and put the game to bed. Sanchez was man of the match, people worry about the accidental loss of Özil but the real doomsday scenario is the loss of Sanchez.

Back to Bournemouth and Eddie Howe, I have been watching how he has been handling Wilshere and his reintroduction from injury has been impressive, first 30 minutes as a sub then 45 from the start, then 50 then 60 until now he is able to play the full 90. Simple perhaps but you have to do it and you have to make it work and getting Wilshere to work could be the difference of that club staying up this season and not. It was quite a coup just getting him but to get him firing on all cylinders and remaining in the EPL will be an impressive achievement.

And on the subject of staying up let me ask a question: how many people think that Bournemouth will be able to stay in the league for the next three seasons? Or let me put it a different way, what are the chances of them staying up for the next three seasons? My answer would be very slim. Why ask about the number three, well there is a reason: Wenger is in the last year of his contract but all the smart money is on him extending another two years which means, including this one, he will be at the club for another three seasons. So what I wonder is: would there be the same clamour for Eddie Howe to come and join us at the home of football if he were the one in charge of a relegated team?

An LB offering.

Truth be told, this loyal Gooner has been very patient.

Bearded, cantankerous and grumpy he may be, but very patient.

Well, until now. But ultimately, the limits have been breached, and sadly, a spade has to be called a spade!! I am truly outraged.

Since the past quarter century or so, we fans have been promised the holy grail of European glory. The lottery ticket has been duly procured every year, only for us to stumble at some or other hurdle. Admittedly, the lottery ticket itself is somewhat valuable, particularly for the countless numpties populating the English League that have not managed to procure a ticket consistently for such a long time. Still, this is no better than a fourth place trophy, really! Such a disaster!

At the same time, the predictable same old stories have continued. Lack of activity in the transfer market, tiring European group stage adventures affecting our chances in the League itself, together with an injury-plagued lion’s share of the season, all contributing towards no better than fourth place trophy! Such a disgrace indeed!

Imagine my joy last season when the so-called pundits and realist doomers proclaimed, finally, that we were not good enough for fourth spot. Finally there was light at the end of the tunnel, a chance to turn our back on Champions League and overturn the permanent saga of fatigue and injury. Finally, then, there would be a chance to win the League this year. In the event, this turned out a blank promise! The light came from an oncoming train that would run us over! Useless doomers! No fourth place trophy, but instead second place! Pray, what good was that! Same old, same old! Such a disaster!

This year, the realists and pundits were at it again. Predictions of doom were duly proclaimed, and gullible me, I even believed them. Finally, we were destined for the lower half of the table. Perfect for a good shot at the title next year; or so it seemed! Particularly, come November, and surely the good guys and their classy manager are going to vanish off into oblivion.

But, as usual, M. Venga had to spoil it all. Take the trip to Old Toilet, for example. It started off nicely, leaving our most productive striker on the bench and inviting our other tall Frenchman to leave his defensive role to populate the ManUre box. Oh, how one would have wished a quick counterattack to then leave us exposed at the back and jettison us out of the top four. That would be a good start. But the wily cruel Venga had to spoil it all. Who asked him to bring EFF (Everyone’s Favourite Frenchman, courtesy chas) on for a final few minutes, against the best advice of the doomers. And then the inevitable happened. The EFF just spoiled all the fun with yet another last minute goal.

How cruel! And such blatant favouritism towards the French. Sadly, we still remain in touch with the leaders. This way we will continue to remain in contention well into the new year. Such a disgrace!

Why, oh why? When can we have the pleasure of a lower half finish for a change? With nothing to focus on except the following season’s league triumph, which will no doubt automatically follow. Alas! All that we fans can do is remain in hope.

Sadly yours,

Red Arnie

Playing the Welshman on the left wing is not ideal, of course, but are people’s memories really so short that they cannot remember how nervous Iwobi was in recent games?

The international break does drag on I suppose but surely we can swim round the bowl at least once and retain some of the previous game?

Iwobi’s confidence was shot, it was generally acknowledged that he needed a break and that is what he got and rightly so in my opinion.

Iwobi offers nothing defensively, Ramsey doesn’t offer that much but he certainly offers more and furthermore having him on the field meant that he could fire fight; that’s to say, that he could be deployed anywhere that needed an extra hand. He was also able to be played in his second best position when needed which is deep-laying midfield, picking the ball up from the back and driving the attack forward.

Wenger made this switch on Saturday as happens every single time that Ramsey plays on the wing which is usually wide right, it is a game plan, otherwise known as plan A.

 
It didn’t work as Wenger hoped so he reverted to plan B which clearly got us out of jail.

For those who have bothered reading this far you might have noticed that I said “second best position” his first choice is Ozil’s and that obviously isn’t going to change unless his German Greatness gets an injury.

 
Being an Arsenal supporter I understand the need to scapegoat one player, it is in our DNA and I am no different — Walcott, Walcott — Why?

Theo seems to have improved but when you look at it; or at least when I look at it, it becomes clear that he has only preformed better against lesser teams because when it has came to crunch time which has been the case against spuds and manu he has underperformed. During both games Theo had slightly less time when he got the ball and due to his poor close control he repeatedly lost possession and this impacts on Ozil and Sanchez’s effectiveness.

You can see them both thinking when they have the ball, shall we pass to Walcott who they know will more often than not lose it or if he does control it he doesn’t have the skill set to be able to return it to either of those two; so instead, both Özil and Sanchez have to look for each other which makes it easier for defenses to defend against us; that’s to say, it is easier because it is like only having two men up front instead of three.

We were playing with ten men on Saturday and the problem is not Ramsey it is Walcott: Perez cannot come back quick enough for me.

An LB offering.

A subdued Arsenal performance was rescued with an 89th minute equaliser at Old Traffford with Olivier Giroud thumping a header from an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cross and earning Arsenal a point.

The journey to the North West began at 6am and much of the talk on the coach journey was whether Alexis would start after international duty and a slight hamstring strain. The other conundrum was who would replace the injured Hector Bellerin as it was confirmed the Spaniard would be out for 4 weeks with an ankle injury. There was some reservations about Jenkinson playing in a game of huge importance having been out for almost 9 months and not having played much first team football since his return.

The news filtered through at 11:30am that Alexis would start but despair about Xhaka not playing and Ramsey slotting in which seemed a surprise. As the Arsenal supporters were streaming towards the away end the fans were in fine voice as per usual.

The full ferocity of the Arsenal away fans was felt when Mourinho came out and was welcomed by a hostile reception from the Arsenal fans.. “F**k off Mourinho! F**k off Mourinho! F**k off Mourinho!” The poisonous Manchester United manager then acknowledged the Arsenal fans with a wave.

The game started and Arsenal kept the ball well and the first real chance fell to Alexis and he missed a sitter. A cross from the left was met by Alexis and his header was wide and the supporters were regretting a missed opportunity with the goal gaping at his mercy. By this time the fans were questioning the Manager’s decision to play Ramsey who was looking very slow and the decision to also stick him on the left hand side. The travelling support were becoming more and more frustrated with Ramsey’s lack of effort. One fan declaring “Monreal has been made to look s**t because Ramsey is not helping him!!!”

The fans then became very irate as referee Andre Marriner did not produce a yellow card for the Utd player who hacked Walcott down on an Arsenal counter attack and then a minute later booked Alexis for a foul in the same area of the pitch. A chorus of boos greeted the referee.. The fans were then screaming at Marriner to send Darmian off for a bookable offence. “Off off off off!” was the scream from the fans. Again the referee bottled it. Then, as Valencia entered the Arsenal box, it was claimed Monreal had fouled the right back but the penalty appeals were waved away and Arsenal fans gave Valencia a rollicking for what we thought was a dive.

United then started to ramp up the pressure before half time and Cech saved brilliantly from a low shot from Juan Mata. Half time then came and fans were bemoaning Ramsey’s performance on the left and rightly so. One fan gave his view “He should be making the f**king change at half time by bringing Ramsey off! What does he offer to this team!”

The second half began and the away support were taunting the Man Utd fans for their lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford…… “Shhhhhh shhhhhh shhhhhhh!”.  Arsenal were having lots of the ball but doing very little with it with cries from the crowd “stop passing it sideways!” Twenty minutes had gone by and still no signs of an Arsenal substitution. Then the killer blow arrived on 68th minutes as Herrera played the ball back for Juan Mata to slot the ball home and put Man Utd in the lead. The Arsenal fans felt a sense of injustice at not deserving to be a goal down. “This is absolute bulls**t” said one lady in the stands.

The substitutions were finally made with Giroud and then Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on and were greeted happily in one sense, but with absolute dismay in another. “What the f**k is Ramsey still doing on the pitch?! Why is he being shoehorned into the team and not having to fight for his place FFS?!….. was one supporter giving his rational view on the matter.

Then on 89 mins came the moment which the fans had been waiting for all game. Chamberlain whizzed down the right flank and produced a peach of a cross which Giroud met and powered past a helpless de Gea. This sent the Arsenal fans wild and many rushing towards the barriers to stick signs up at the Man Utd fans.. On a sad note though some Man Utd fans started to racially abuse a fan who was celebrating Giroud’s goal which left a sour taste in the mouth. The police intervened and he gave a statement which delayed our coach getting back to London.

The game ended and there was both a sense of relief as well as a feeling of an opportunity missed, as supporters felt Man Utd were there for the taking today with a makeshift defence. The Arsenal fans had to stay behind but didn’t care as they chanted as Mourinho was walking off, “You’re not special, you’re not special, you’re not special, you’re a ****!”

So Arsenal rescued a draw after a busy international break and now we move on to the midweek game against Paris St Germain in the Champions League. As fans were going back to their coaches much of the talk was about the team line up for PSG and that Ramsey should be taken out of the team or put in his best position. The play was slow and lethargic today because of Ramsey playing on the left when Iwobi or Chamberlain should have played. Perhaps this could be a valuable point come the end of the season.

Up the Arsenal!!!

Written by Sir A Hussain