Today we celebrate both a home FA Cup fixture and the birthday of one of our most esteemed bloggers. Happy Birthday.
What was your reaction to drawing Lincoln? Joy? A quantum of fear? Both understandable as this is a no-win situation for the team and a possible disastrous, history-making banana skin.
I cannot see any way Arsenal will not win this tie, our U-23 team should be good enough to win handsomely. Or cheapest purchase costs more than the entire Lincoln squad.
Lincoln City have a long history playing in the same ground (Since Bank) since 1895! They won Div 3 in 1975. This afternoon may be the biggest game in their long history – I hope the Imps have a good time.
What to say of our team? Rifts, cliques, disappointment, dissatisfaction, resignation and anger – this seems to be the language used about the dressing room in recent weeks, even our club captain stated that there was not enough fight. It is simply not good enough. These charlatans are paid a fortune to do one thing …. give 100% for 95 minutes. To lose is OK, what is not acceptable is to go missing when under pressure. Can you remember the last time Arsenal gave a 90+ minute performance? I can’t.
Do you give credence to the stories that Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to leave? I think it must be agent talk ahead of his new contract. Ox has played 35 games already this season and started more than half of them. He appears to be committed and is one of the few to work continuously. It must be paper talk.
My Team:
Ospina
Bellerin Holding Gabriel Gibbs
Ramsey Xhaka Coquelin
Perez Giroud Jeff
Given the flu bug (and I know just how debilitating that can be) I doubt Welbeck, Ozil or Iwobi will play. We can have a brilliant bench with Sanchez, Theo, Kos, Maitland-Niles etc
I am hoping for an open game with Arsenal scoring early to settle the nerves. A goal for Lincoln would be good gesture as long as we have at least 3 goals more.
Beating Lincoln will allow us to go into what is sure to be the most competitive semi-finals in FA Cup history.
Let it be so.
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thanks Raddy. I’m really looking forward to it. Late kick off so plenty of time to socialise, comfy first class carriage, pleasant opponents determined to enjoy their once in a lifetime day out, and a chance to reach the FA Cup semi final against a non league side rather than say Chelsea!
I don’t call that a no win situation.
See you all later on the train for unending drivel..
SECOND!
BR
Who the heck is Jeff ?
“brilliant bench with … Maitland-Niles”, says BR.
um, er.
There’s talk that Ospina has a (minor) injury.
I personally think that “news” may actually be a “face-saver” for player/team – I won’t be surprised to see Cech starting.
Will Arsene “risk” Holding?
A costly error against non-league opposition by that relatively inexperienced young man could end his Arsenal career. I don’t think Arsene would overlook that fact.
I don’t think he’ll start.
Cheers Big Raddy.
Thank you very much Erik 😀
On mobile so can’t comment much
Will miss game but hope it’s a great day for all
Up the Gunners
Ant
We’ve never conversed til now.
“HELLO”
I’ve seen about 500 pics in your Facebook pages.
95% are pics of beer bottles. Mostly empties. Um.
Let’s hope your comment “enjoy their once in a lifetime day out” doesn’t become “twice in a…” – see my own “Holding” comment re where I’m coming from.
Enjoy your day.
Big Al. Holding will start IMO.
As to M-N, a little gentle humour perhaps?
Cheers, BR.
I know what you mean about today being a bit of a can’t win situation. At home against non-leaguers, we just have to beat them, preferably by a considerable margin.
The semi-final prize is a big one though, so getting through is all that counts in the long run.
I watched the first two thirds of the 10 metre platform yesterday and really enjoyed it. Just about to watch the rest.
I’ll see GoonerB and blog royalty at 4 ish in the FFB after sipping some Cockburns on the way down.
chas. Deeply envious
BR
What the heck is gentle humour ?
Holding…
…League Cup Final, 1988…
that’s where I’m coming from
Take a risk, pay a price?
A mighty BIG one if we mess up today.
Hi Big Al,
You can’t live your life fearing about a big error!
And Holding is showing great potential in all his appearances so far.
It would be an opportunity for him to affirm his excellent start to his Arsenal career rather than the opposite. And if he were to make a mistake, he and his team mates should rally round to ensure that we still win comfortably.
And…. I hardly drink!
See you later on the train with Duck
P.S. Need to bone up on tactical bolleaux and writing essays to pacify Gooner B
Morning all,
Oh how I would love to be going to the game but 3,650 miles and two gammy knees seem to be getting in the way.
Enjoy the train trip Ant and be sure to keep us, jealous ones, entertained along the way.
Hi Raddy, thank you for your post.
What a wonderful day out for the Lincoln fans, it will be a trip and game that will be spoken about for years to come, regardless of the outcome – but it will become legendary if they win or even draw.
Excellent PM Raddy, I expect a party atmosphere today if we can turn on the style and stroll to victory.
I’m loving the Lincoln story and I’m a big fan of the Cowley brothers who gave up teaching to co-manage Lincoln.
One great thing that Danny Cowley said when interviewed was that he signed people not footballers. I hope whoever our next manager is, he signs more warriors and fewer negotiators 🙂
The Ox has been our most improved player in the last 10 games and showed he has the heart for a battle. I’d hate to lose him for that alone. He and Theo were also the only ones to clap the supporters in the last game, I’m sure Mertesacker would have been there too had he played.
Today’s line up is just in
We’ve gone for the full range today to keep the taste buds tickled
😂
Cheers GN5. That sounds a long way! Ours is only 125 miles and 4 beers on the train.
Recently a routine police patrol was parked outside a bar in the Outback. After last call, the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so apparently intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the parking lot for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After what seemed an eternity, in which he tried his keys on five different vehicles, the man managed to find his car and fall into it. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off; it was a fine, dry summer night, flicked the blinkers on and off a couple of times, honked the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little, and then remained still for a few more minutes as some more of the other patrons’ vehicles left. At last, when his was the only car left in the parking lot, he pulled out and drove slowly down the road. The police officer, having waited patiently all this time, now started up his patrol car, put on the flashing lights, and promptly pulled the man over and administered a breathalyser test. To his amazement, the breathalyzer indicated no evidence that the man had consumed any alcohol at all! Dumbfounded, the officer said, “I’ll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station. This breathalyser equipment must be broken.” “I doubt it,” said the truly proud Redneck. “Tonight I’m the designated decoy.”
I get it Ant most of us calculate mileage when we travel but you guys count beerage.
Seeing these on Monday evening with the Stranglers
Guy: Can I buy you a drink?
Girl: Sorry, but alcohol is bad for my legs.
Guy: Do they swell?
Girl: No. They spread.
Alcohol is a perfect solvent: It dissolves marriages, families and careers
My wife told me to go out and get something that makes her look sexy… so I got drunk.
Why is there so much blood in my alcohol system?
Q: What is a man’s idea of a balanced diet?
A: A Beer in each hand!
Imagine if you had to support this! Gruesome
“Of all my favorite things to do,
The utmost is to have a brew.
My love grows for my foamy friend,
With each thirst-quenching elbow bend.
Beer’s so frothy, smooth and cold–
It’s paradise–pure liquid gold.
Yes, beer means many things to me…
That’s all for now, I gotta pee!”
There is one certainty today and that is that Lincoln will play out of their skins, so the players need to make sure their mindset is right. Its difficult to stay focused when you’ve played mighty Bayern one week and little Lincoln turning up next. Hopefully we get to see more of Perez, Jeff, AMN and Holding and we get an early goal so we can play on the counter where we are often at our best.
Who scored Arsenal’s 1st goal when we beat the spuds 2-1 at SHL in the league cup semi final replay in 1987.
Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocastle
Ian Ian Ian Ian Allinson
how many passes for Wilshire’s slick passing goal versus Norwich?
9?
Not quite
City through to the semi final 2-0 over Boro.
23?
No the answer is 11
It was a goal that needed to be watched several times in slow motion before the sequence of passing could be identified. For the record, it went Mathieu Flamini, Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Santi Cazorla, Wilshere, Cazorla, Olivier Giroud, Wilshere, Giroud and then Wilshere again. The last five passes, together with Wilshere’s finish, happened in less than four seconds.
I was lying 9 is correct
Sober again!
HI all
Thank you Raddy for the pre-match, my mum read the post before me and had already asked her gentleman friend what ‘she wore’ meant. At 84 things slip her mind but she arrived at my house singing it much to the delight of my grandchildren 🙂
Don’t worry GN5, I’m taking my two gammy knees, schlepping to the FFB first as well. I’m full of Ibuprofen 😉
Soon to be full of beer 🙂
Who did Dennis Bergkamp score against to get Arsenal into Europe in May 1996?k
Aston Villa or Bolton?
Who scored the goals in the title clinching win versus Everton when the famous line “that sums it all up” was uttered?
Happy Birthday Micky xx
Actually afraid to watch
Enjoy your day Peaches.
From the pictures FFB looks like a great place to go.
I don’t know the answer by the way
Overmars 2 Adams
Not sure about the other Parlour?
Fred
Man up and grow a pair. 😬
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/freezeframe-arsenal-4-everton-0-may-1998
We love Fred and his auto correct
Micky – were you born in 1959?
Fred – what’s your take on Holding?
And have you booked your flight yet?
Happy birthday, Micky
1.19 The Arsenal flask looks very promising
Where’s the camel wormer?
Yep …. add my name to the Happy Birthday greetings Micky ….. have a fab day 🙂
Yes BR it’s spiced rum with vanilla notes, but not mead
The FA Cup semi-final draw will take place on Monday, following Chelsea’s quarter-final tie with Manchester United.
As there are no replays at this stage of the competition this season, the semi-final ties will all be known and confirmed on Monday evening.
The dates for the semi-finals at Wembley are Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, 2017.
The numbers to look out for are:
1: Chelsea or Manchester United
2: Manchester City
3: Tottenham Hotspur or Millwall
4: Arsenal or Lincoln City
15 mins to touchdown and 60 mins to GoonerB and AA Royalty
Mmmmm. I love a spiced rum – one of faves. Who makes it?
Just imagine not being allowed to watch the footie on your birthday.
Then again, it’s probably for the best – a bit like the recommended treatment at Arsenalaholics Anonymous.
It’s an Aldi special BR. We love a bargain.
£7.99
75cl bottle
74 responses time for someone else!
Come on you Gunners
7.99??? Must be more water than alcohol and spices
On the train 🙂
Where’s Eddie?
Might have to go and find LB at half-time
here I am, here I am, how do you do 🙂
blimey 80 comments!! that’s must be a new record
Well deserved, very good PM. Thank you Raddy
ant – I was born in 1959 and micky is about 10 years younger than me. So
Surprisingly strong team. Cech for Ospina and Gibbs for Monreal otherwise same as BM !
Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Xhaka, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Giroud
Arsene means business.
Ant
You mistook sensible caution for fear in my early post re Holding.
My post wasn’t only regarding my own opinion, but Le Prof’s.
Enjoy the game.
How we looking
Unconvincing … Xhaka has just picked up another totally unnecessary yellow card
Why hasn’t someone stopped Xhaka from going to ground? The man gets yellow cards every game.
We are dominating but nothing too dangerous as yet.
Come on Arsenal
poor Lincoln keeper, the whole country is watching and he has to wear pink babygrow
fred – nothing to write home about.
No replays any more at QF onwards. Didn’t know that. Can also use a 4th sub if goes to extra time.
BT commentator just saying how the Lincoln right back was quoted this week as saying ‘if Sanchez runs the channel against me I’ll smash him’. Co-commentators respond was ‘brilliant’.
Hmmm
Massive gaps in our midfield … no one in the hole ….
We’ve just had our first shot in goal …..
Refs a joker. Never a yellow or even a foul!
Perfect by Lincoln so far. Turned it into a stop/start half. No wonder we can’t get any rhythm or pressure going.
We’ve been poor .. no denying it
At last … we play direct …theooooo
Great goal
Ramsey finishing is woeful today.
Commentary on BT is awful
Winning which is all that matters. We will score more.
Ramsey used to be so good when given a chance to shoot, the man has lost his scoring mojo.
Theo deserved the goal.
Referee completely crap. Booking of Kos a joke.
Got to praise Lincoln. They’ve been excellent and really organised. We are playing exactly how a team lacking confidence plays – too slow and taking too many touches. Hopefully the goal will give us some confidence and we can play at pace on the counter as Lincoln come out more. I’d love to see Perez introduced for Giroud. He’s the one player in our team who probably has a bit of confidence as he’s not really been involved in the big defeats and has been playing well when on the field.
Stunning goal. Tempo is so much faster this half.
Who is this muppet on BT Sport. Everything we do is lucky and when we start winning ‘it’s only a non-League team’. Absolute clown.
Chris Sutton I think it is. What a tit
Many people on many blogs commenting how poor the Arsenal were in the 1st half, yet went into halftime 1-0 to the Gunners. Knew the second half Arsenal would push forward. Blew them to the weeds.
Next…
Job done. I imagine all the other teams in the hat will want us as we are not playing great at the moment but hopefully we can find some confidence and form before the semi’s.
Classy Arsenal fans clapping the Lincoln team by looks of it.
Another example for f a referee changing the rules according to the opposition … 4 goals and 4 subs = 4 minutes of extra time …. there can only be one set of rules irrespective of who is playing
4 subs?
How many subs for both sides did you count Fred … at least 4
Didn’t watch so was asking
have you noticed how the second goal changed the way we played? Got the confidence, skills and fluidity back.
And that is what could have happened against Bayern. If not for the referee we could have beaten Bayern at home. Perhaps not by 4 goals, but we would not be humiliated.
Rasp – for the record.
Ox off – Ozil on 27 mins.
Xhaka off – Coq on 61 mins.
Giroud off – Perez on 65 mins
Muldoon off _ Margrets on 54 mins
Rhead off – Ward on 66 mins.
Hawkridge off – Marrit on 78 mins
Equals 3 subs per side.
Thanks GN5, the Ox sub was in the first half so 5 in the second … plus 4 goals means at least 4 minutes of extra time … I doubt there was 1 minute so unless there are different for the fa cup, the ref /4th official changed the laws because he thought Lincoln had had enough I presume?
Out of interest someone give me an example of what is deemed negative from the first half??? We were poor … would anyone contest that?
Done the job effectively and enjoyably. Not too concerned about the amount of injury time when we are 5-0 up.
Good to see the AA hierarchy and GoonerB pre match.
Eddie is speaking a few words of sense …..for a change even though she is apparently 10 years older than Micky
Delighted with a 5 goal win.
Rasp. I would contest it. We hit the post, missed a couple of chances and yet went in at halftime winning.
Cech made one save in the whole game.
Rasp.
We were poor only in the opinion of those who promote negativity and an end to the Wenger era.
So let me see – we were poor because we played against a very determined team who had nothing to lose and made a series of rough house tackles on our team that were ignored by the referee.
It was to be expected that it would be difficult until we scored and that was how it played out.
Your level of negativity is very high and anticipates the worst outcome – although you consider it to be objectivity and not negativity.
I’m off out to buy some wine so that I can drown my sorrows after an insipid 5-0 win.
Chas … where is it written that we’re not allowed to comment when at games. Your idea of criticism and mine are quite different. You’re obviously not lost for words as you seen fit to criticise the opinions of others. I’m pretty sure the rules of the site say that all shades of football opinion are fine as long as expressed reasonably … I don’t remember anything about criticising others for possessing an opinion
GN5, of the two of us it is you who are deluded. You constantly attack those who have opinions you are uncomfortable with. Whatever my opinion is, I have a perfect right to it, you however shove your opinion down people’s throats masquerading as fact.
We want Arnie!
😀 😀
Please, can we not argue.
What is the point? Nothing changes. Those who see AFC in a negative light will never persuade those who don’t.
We won 5-0, are into the FAC semi-final at Wembley.
Why ruin the enjoyment?
I am the author GN5 and you are not expressing an opinion on football you are trying to stop others expressing theirs …
Raddy you have it back to front … I’m not trying to convince anyone … I’m just a bit fed up with the thought police trying to exercise censorship
The hotel is now booked for the semi final
I am delighted that we won handsomely.
It will do wonders for the team’s confidence.
I note with interest aw’s take on the bayern game in his press conference today.
No doubt that will cause apoplexy throughout the gooner blogosphere amongst the many bloggists who hate aw and can’t wait for him to be shoved out so we can get a manager who will move us down the league.
I daresay it may be heresy, but perhaps he actually knows the players better than all of us.
No one can say that he is not brave to say what he said in the face of the torrent of bile and nastiness that has been sent in his direction.
Why was my last comment deleted – I just voiced the facts?
Great comment Jigsol.
“No doubt that will cause apoplexy throughout the gooner blogosphere amongst the many bloggists who hate aw and can’t wait for him to be shoved out so we can get a manager who will move us down the league”.
Think Holding is great
It’s brave to blame the ref? I’ve seen house league parents do that. Nothing brave about blaming the ref for losing.
Wenger doesn’t need any help moving us down the league. He seems to be doing the job by himself quite nicely.
did I mention my son is playing u/16s for Melbourne Knights FC, the home of Mark Viduka
Lots of talent has come through this great club with almost 50 players who represented Australia or their own country. Even Peter Beardsley decided to finish his career at the Melbourne Knights…
I am loving going to local games again. Next season I might take my son to watch a few Arsenal games….
http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/the-club/history/where-champions-are-crafted/
Morning anyone up? I do believe we’re going to Wemberley 🙂
Fine morning all
Thanks for B’day wishes.
10 years younger eh Eddie? That was the nicest comment 🙂
Chas. Vid watched and appreciated. Along with Erik’s Friday movie, this site is getting really rather high brow arty 🙂
Sounds like it was a great day.
What did you do for your birthday micky?
birthday boy 🙂 never mind your age, what presents did you get??
Morning Eddie, how are you? Did you watch the game?
This morning it feels very much like I didn’t do anything other than eat, which is not far from the truth.
Anyway, another canoe trip today should sort that out.
When is the draw for the semis?
finally!! I could not blog using edge, the whole page was a sea of red. Switched to chrome today and it is fine
Hi Peaches, I bet your knee is better today, how many times did you jump to celebrate?
Only four times, Ramsey’s goal wasn’t worth standing up for. My bad
Poor knee 🙂 such important win for the morale. The team have changed as more goals went in. They really needed it (the fans too) to put Bayern behind us.
And guess what? I am delighted we are out of the CL! Good riddance
I’m not glad we’re out of it I just wish we’d get more luck in the draw sometimes.
did we give £50k to Lincoln?
Still not sure why there was no time added on at the end of the second half……..there was still time for Lincoln to score and there supporters deserved a goal to celebrate. They were brilluant
I think they got a lot more than that Eddie 🙂
They’ll get half the gate which I think is around £1m, do they get any of the TV money too?
I think Eddie is referring to the 50k we gave Sutton
Difference being, with yesterday’s game at The Ems they get share of receipts.
Peaches, do you know what % of gate they receive?
50%. Wow.
So we got 50% from Sutton then. Hardly cover the cost of the mini bus and packed lunches 🙂
I was thinking ‘oh just let them score, for the fans’, but I think Lincoln players were not up to it at the end.
If we give £50k to Sutton then we should give £50k to all, chavs and Spuds included 🙂 they are all building new stadia
Agree about the CL draw – for once we finished top of the group and the bloody Krauts finish second!! grr…..
micky – why are you not telling us what you got for your birthday? Was it rude? Leather trousers?
Also I think we tried to give Sutton the whole of their gate but it wasn’t allowed and that’s why we donated £50k to their academy.
Yes, hole in one Eddie, some really really rude leather trousers 🙂
Have a nice day all.
Morning All,
Leather trousers on a 5?? man!
Noooooo
Morning all, I’m a huge Millwall fan today 🙂
Me too though I fear they will get hammered. If it was in Sarf Larndan I would be more confident.
I’m one of those that regards the FA Cup as one of the BIG trophies to win. However there are some who now call it the Mickey Mouse Cup. Seriously!
VP. I would have thought you were old enough to realise the world is full of twats
Match summary from Chris Sutton
https://streamable.com/vda3g
chas. Do I want to listen to it? Is it likely to annoy me?
There were a lot of comments about his co-commentary being a tad biased.
I’d imagine if it was live you wouldn’t want to listen but as we won
5-0, I found it quite funny knowing how pissed off he would have been that we won convincingly. 🙂
I’m devastated … Kane has had to go off injured 🙂 🙂 🙂
Big thanks to the Vines yesterday and great to see them, Peaches and Rasp in an exceedingly busy FFB.
don’t be upset Rasp, Spurs won, by six goals to nil
Well we sprung forward today but the weather is not cooperating it’s – 6c with snow on the ground and over a foot more forecast in the next day.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears he could be without star striker Harry Kane for a number of weeks after the forward suffered suspected ankle ligament damage against Millwall.
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/12/mauricio-pochettino-fears-long-lay-off-for-harry-kane-after-ankle-injury-vs-millwall-6505249/#ixzz4b8NvCWX5
Hi everyone, how are you all? not been around for a while……..
whats the current feeling on here regards to Arsene Wenger and the Protests?
Formally known as Harry671 / Harry2671 /. Harry……..
I still want him to take us forward
with all the publicity, its surprising how very few fans actually turn up to protest. Based on the numbers reported it is much less than one percent of the fan base.
I think for every protester who threatens to give up their season tickets if AW signs up again, you’d have x 200 fans ready to step in and take that season ticket allocation happily.
There lies a conundrum, for the unhappy fan that goes to the stadium to protest, there are close to 50,000 fans waiting for them to follow through with their protest and give up their season tickets to help reduce the approx. 11 year waiting list.
Morning all.
Harry and VP, I’d like to respond to your questions given I’m the first over the top this morning, but I won.t because it’s too damn early and it’s illegal before 9am
So you want this sort of garbage instead?
Yip
Having said that, I’m on an early school run and not back ’till later
Morning All,
7.14. This is what we need of an early morn.
brill photos of the standing stands.
When did that changed, when did they build first sitting stands?
It would be great if just one stand was converted to standing one, I bet you people would want to be there rather than in comfy red plastic seats
my friend went to Crufts last weekend. One of the judges had to be replaced because she was very drunk 🙂 🙂
And a house in Islington cost 4 times as much as one in Stratford.
Today probably even more.
Highbury, with an overall average price of £705,776, was similar in terms of sold prices to nearby Newington Green
Stratford, with an overall average price of £363,141 was more expensive than nearby West Ham (£302,924), but was cheaper than Stratford Village (£393,117)
Eddie. I meant Stretford in Manchester. Bloody spellcheck!
You can buy a terraced house in Stretford for @100k and a detached 3 bed averages 200k. How much does a detached house cost in Highbury?
Eddie
Highbury had a sitting stand (for the posh people) when it opened in 1913, I believe.
This from 1929
Mmm. Not Brighton, Margate or Southend. Nor Blackpool. No cliffs. Sand beach.
No idea.
Where is it chas?
Margate was close
It’s not Broadstairs.
Southgate?
I know you meant Ramsgate, BR, but autocorrct changed it to Southgate. 🙂
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