Journey into the Unkown

I have to admit to knowing very little about Bate Borisov – I didn’t even know they were based in Belarus, in fact I don’t even know where Belarus is! But, if they are in the Europa then they have to be decent opposition!

I have read that Hleb started his career at Bate, that they have won the Belarus League the last 11 years running, Their ground holds 13k and will be filled with Arsenal fans because Belarus has many Arsenal fan clubs.

Beyond that ….??

So, this PM will concentrate on the away team. How many goals have Arsenal conceded in their last 4 games? I will tell you. None. Given  the start we had with 8 goals leaked in just 3 games, this is huge. Some may say that it is down to good fortune, fortunate refereeing decisions and poor opposition but the fact remains, we have gone 360+ minutes without conceding,

This is huge.

We are wonderful attacking players, so many that International first teamers cannot even get on the bench, but defenders? And defensive organisation?

And midfield control? Have we just been lucky or has Mr Wenger found a way to set up his team to stop the massive gaps exposed by Leicester and Liverpool?

Is the absence of Ozil and the resurgence of Ramsey just co-incidence?

3 games in 6 days means rotationand a chance to judge the quality of the squad.

Even allowing for over half the team being reserves we should still win tonight (though I hesitate to predict a victory as I usually put a bok on the team). A front line including Walcott, Sanchez and Giroud is potent.

My Team:

Ospina

Holding    BFG     Monreal

Bellerin   Maitland- Niles     Wilshire     Elneny

Walcott   Giroud     Sanchez

Perhaps it would be good to start with Ryan Nelson but given Holdings frailty aon the right it makes sense to give him the security of Bellerin.

6 p.m. kick off (7.00 CET), ideal, wish there were more.

Our first away fixture in the Europa. It would be great to start with a win … Let it be So.

COYRRG

 

 

 

140 Responses to Journey into the Unkown

  1. chas's avatar chas says:

    Cheers, BR.

    Bate were in the Champions League group stages in 2015/6 and actually beat Roma 3-2, drew 1-1 with Leverkusen but lost 0-2 to Barca, all at home.

    Last season they went out of the CL in the 2nd qualifying round, losing to Dundalk on the away goals rule.

    We conceded a goal to Cologne at home in our last Europa game but I can see how you’ve erased that from your memory. 🙂

    Loving the 6pm kick off.

  2. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    There might be a spell check glitch, otherwise I suspect Ryan Nelson is Reiss Nelson’s twin brother??

  3. chas mobile's avatar chas mobile says:

    P.s. read somewhere that Sanchez didnt travel.

  4. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Hi Raddy it’s good to see you back in the drivers seat.

    It’s tough to write about teams we don’t know, I’ll do a bit of sleuthing to see what I can dig up.

  5. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Raddy I found this in The Guardian

    The reality of an uncomfortably compressed schedule this week has prompted Arsène Wenger to leave a host of first team players in London as the best of the rest travel to Belarus for a Europa League encounter against Bate Borisov.

    The squad selected suggests Sunday’s Premier League match against Brighton is being prioritised. Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Laurent Koscielny and Héctor Bellerín are among those free to watch the game from the comfort of their homes, feet up, with no extra air miles and bleary-eyed overnight travel home to contend with during a busy month.

    Wenger is confident he has brought enough know-how and quality to earn a positive result. There was always likely to be a different composition to the Europa League squad but the overall feel of the travelling party is more Carabao Cup than Champions League. It brings another opportunity for some of the youngsters trying to make an impression, and Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and the teenage midfielder Joe Willock are all likely to figure with a cluster of other youngsters on the bench.

    Wenger expects leadership to come from members of the first-team squad who at the moment tend to be on the fringe when it comes to the preferred Premier League starting lineup. There will be game time for experienced heads led by Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Per Mertesacker, and another opportunity for Jack Wilshere to continue his recent progress. Although Arsenal have got away with these mixed teams in the cup games so far this season, beating Cologne and Doncaster Rovers, there are moments when the defensive blend looks questionable – particularly without natural wing-backs – so that will be an area the Belarusians will look to exploit.

    Bate Borisov, like Arsenal, have become accustomed to life in the Champions League – they made the group stages in five out of the past eight seasons – but are keen to make an impression in the Europa League. They opened the campaign with a 1-1 draw at Red Star Belgrade. Unusually, Bate are not actually top of their domestic league at the moment which is a surprise for a club who have completely dominated their nation’s football, having won the title in Belarus for 11 consecutive seasons.

    This Europa League fixture does at least come between two home matches for Arsenal, even if the timings on either side are particularly unhelpful. Wenger stressed that his team selection has been impacted by the fact they played West Brom on Monday evening and will host Brighton on Sunday morning – the two worst possible slots in terms of preparation and recovery for an overseas trek.

    Arsenal will return to London directly after the game in Borisov, the ground situated deep in a forest which is a good hour’s travel outside of the capital, Minsk. The lesser lights are challenged to show what they can do without a cluster of big guns.

    Probable team: (3-4-3): Ospina; Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal; Nelson, Wilshere, Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Giroud, Akpom

  6. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Thank you Erik
    Good to see you back doing some work 🙂
    GN5’s team looks likely given his inside info, although I’d prefer to see Iwobi in place of Akpom

  7. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Micky I would have been all at sea if I had to select today’s team.
    I was surprised that the Guardian seem to have some inside information. It’s not a team that I would have chosen but it looks good enough for the game at hand.

  8. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    I’m off out for most of the day – to meet with a surgeon for a consultation. Old age has some unexpected surprises.

  9. chas's avatar chas says:

  10. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Bum. Spell check did me on Mr Nelson.

    The Koln goal, as you rightly say, has been expunged from my memory.

    Thank you all for the Bate info – perhaps I should spend a little more time on research 😀

  11. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Raddy, your PM’ s are aways a joy to read and insightful. In fact they are the ideal start to my game days.

    Research can be lenghty and many times fruitless. (except if it’s done by that Chas bloke)

    Don’t change a thing.

  12. LB's avatar LB says:

    I wonder where you can buy those Arsene Wenger mugs?

  13. LB's avatar LB says:

    Thinking about AW mugs, Le Grove crossed my mind for the first time in quite a few years so I thought I would have a look. Where have all the adds gone? Why are there so few contributors? It’s so different.

    I was glad to see I still have a comment in the AKB comments section; actually, truth be told, I am quite proud of it. lol

  14. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Ok, over we go to legrove to have a look at the LB comment. Back in a mo

    ps Chas, the Fat Kim fish ‘n chips thing is brilliant

  15. chas's avatar chas says:

  16. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    ha ha, ooh to be…. indeed 🙂

    They have loads of ads. Anyway, a very good pic of tonight’s stadium, although not as good as my one with snow

  17. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Thinking of GN5’s team, surely Akpom must be about 45 yrs old by now and retired

  18. chas's avatar chas says:

  19. fred1266's avatar fred1266 says:

    Shouldn’t Bellerin get rest soon

  20. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Fred

    Here’s another predicted XI I just found from some newspaper

    Ospina; Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal; Nelson, Wilshere, Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Giroud, Akpom

    So, there you have Bell rested. I agree with you.Oh, and to answer my own earlier question, Iwobi is broken

  21. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Chas
    That DT fellow. If your son acted like that when he was eight, you’d tell him to grow up. Jeez 🙄

  22. chas mobile's avatar chas mobile says:

    Dont think Bellerin travelled, Fredster.
    Fret ye not.

  23. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Excellent … thanks, and welcome back Raddy.

    Absolutely we should prioritise the Brighton game. Start with Rohan Nelson, and Jack Derbyshire running the midfield all on his own 🙂

    Our B team could finish in the top half of the EPL. I’m chilled about this game. Even if it doesn’t go our way, we have the ammo to get through to the next stage, at which point we may consider taking it more seriously.

    We’re just building momentum in the EPL … 7th is so much more comfortable than 11th. The lunatic optimist in me thinks we will only go higher than 7th from now on.

  24. chas mobile's avatar chas mobile says:

    Micky
    That DT a*sehole has over 100k subscribers on youtube who watch videos of him recording himself as he watches games.
    It’s almost beyond belief how lowlife some of the arsenal support has become.
    I blame Pedro the twat and Thatcher.

  25. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Is it the top two from each group that go to the next round
    Hoping for a trip to Zenit St Petersburg

  26. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    100k..like, wow. That really is quite disturbing.

  27. chas's avatar chas says:

    Just had a look to see if I was misleading you and it’s actually 130k!

  28. chas's avatar chas says:

    Yep, top two from each of the 12 groups plus the 8 3rd placed teams from the CL groups go into the round of 32.

  29. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    “plus the 8 3rd placed teams ”

    Crikey. Very little to panic about. As Rasp says, you simply bring on the big guns for the last 30mins of home games if things looking a bit dodgy

    ha ha, just noticed your blame Pedro and Thatcher
    I certainly blame Thatcher for Erik 🙂

    Pedro? An excuse would be a career thing, but to daily surround yourself with such utter misery is not a price worth paying. His Dad did the right thing. If it makes you miserable, jump.

  30. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    I’ve got the headline for the match report ….. Arsenal Master Bate ….

  31. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Chas
    If we get Zenit (other than a glamorous semi of final), what are the chances of you getting an away ticket……for me!

  32. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Rasp
    Win, lose or draw, that’s nailed on 🙂

  33. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    🙂 … I wonder how many times we’ll see that tomorrow in headlines? I claim provenance 🙂

  34. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    No silly jokes about shooting and pulling players off though if you don’t mind 🙄

  35. chas's avatar chas says:

  36. chas's avatar chas says:

    Fairly good, Micky, depending on allocation and take up, of course.

  37. chas's avatar chas says:

  38. chas's avatar chas says:

  39. LB's avatar LB says:

    Wow, what an exciting team.

    Mustafi:

    Looks at the team sheet and asks himself why am I the only first team player to be included in such a far flung game.

    Wenger:

    Puts Mustafi’s name on the team sheet and says to himself, that will lean him to ask for a transfer.

  40. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Indeed, very exciting team.

    The bench is very exciting as well

  41. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Love the look of that flat round meat and sauce stuff. Top presentation

  42. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Does the word Belarus come from Belle Russe, kinda beautiful Russia idea?

  43. LB's avatar LB says:

    Chamakh was a greatly underestimated Italian waiter.

  44. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    There’s this:

    Rus, also known as Ruthenia, refers to the Eastern Slavic lands that nowadays belong mostly to Belarus and Ukraine. … While Bela does mean white, Rus is a different geographical and political term than Russia

    and this

    The name Belarus is closely related with the term Belaya Rus’ , i.e., White Rus’. There are several claims to the origin of the name White Rus’.[26] An ethno-religious theory suggests that the name used to describe the part of old Ruthenian lands within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that had been populated mostly by early Christianized Slavs, as opposed to Black Ruthenia, which was predominantly inhabited by pagan Balts

    So there, yer culture vultures

  45. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Must be a disappointment for Akpom not to start.

    Exciting team

  46. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Micky. Did you know …. that the Vikings who rowed up the Volga and founded St Petersburg were called Russer (viking for rowers). Hence Russia

    Come on one of my tours and learn more:-D

  47. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Of course I didn’t know that Erik
    I’ll be using it in a casual surely everyone knows that kind of cocky know it all manner from here on 😎

  48. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Theooooo

  49. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Some really great stuff already

  50. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    Thanks for the post Raddy, very informative indeed 😊
    I don’t believe your story about Russian Vikings, you made it up

    Oooooooh bates almost scored

  51. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Theoooo

  52. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Told you we were potent

  53. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    This is sooo much better than that nasty league shit 😀

  54. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    I don’t mind playing shit opposition

  55. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    27 mins and 4 goals
    Marvellous
    And it’s on our big telly

  56. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Cracking half. End to end thrills. Bate’s goal was a cracker.

    We had a dodgy 5 minutes but not the defensive frailty that the commentators keep harping on about, though Holding’s passing is a bit suspect.

    Jack just magnificent. Willock and Nelson clearly inexperienced but a perfect game for them. M-N (Cons) looks very comfortable.

    Really looking forward to the second half.

  57. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    That is a good game so far.

    Disappointed with the Bate goal. Maitland-Niles went missing leaving Holding exposed for a 2 v .

    Ospina should have done better with the header – I know he is another short ass, but even so ….. should have palmed that over.

    He made a great safe to push the Bate players cross cum shot – but height is his Achilles heel — umm, height and heel – interesting metaphor. 🙂

  58. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Can I change my opinion of the defence?

  59. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Thoroughly enjoyable

  60. chas's avatar chas says:

  61. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    I am warming to Giroud 💃💃

  62. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    It was the sound track wasn’t it Erik 🙂

  63. RC78's avatar RC78 says:

    I am convinced we can win this Cup because the team has the desire to do so. Players like Ospina, BFG, Holding, Wilshere, Walcott and Giroud want to show the fans, the team and the coach that they can achieve great things – throw in the mix Willock, Maitland and Iwobi and you have a team of hungry players. As we move closer to the next stage, I am sure the coach will start involving the likes of Bellerin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil and Wellbeck more as well so what if we pulled a Man Utd this year? Give a shot to the top 4 but then clearly make the Europa League a priority?

  64. Cheers Raddy

    Sorry for not been around much. Have become obsessed with 1960s show “The Invaders”. It’s fantastic, totally believable, Aliens taking human form and taking over the earth. I would also now like to make love to a women with a beehive, preferably in technicolor.

    The only thing that puts me off is that the hero, David Vincent, happens to be an “Architect”? Giving an alien a beating with a four foot tape measure and designing a ground floor extension on a three bed semi, only to discover the Planner is an Alien so the design has to be reduced by half a metre is pushing its credibility.

    That’s what I thought of Jacks performance? At times fantastic, he could pass a ball through a needle and design a Loft Dormer peering directly into your good looking neighbors bedroom, but is he the real deal?, or an injury waiting to happen? We will see.

    Delighted for the youngsters. Willock really surprised me, bit like Vincent stoping the assisinatiion of the UN Secretary General by obtaining a court order for a Party Wall breach.

    Overall a good run out, and no neighbour objections

  65. LB's avatar LB says:

    This competition is more fun than I expected.

    The interplay between the front line and Wilshere was superb in the first half all of which led to a three goal lead.

    Tiredness started creeping in earlier than it should have in the second half and the sparkling interplay turned to greed as all the above started running down blind alleys rather than playing the simple pass to a team mate in a better position. The resulting frustration was personified by the looks of absolute disgust on the faces of Giroud and Wilshere when Walcott failed to find them.

    However, just at the right time the ref gave us a helping hand and Giroud scored his 100th goal for the club from the spot.

    Bate, to their credit, never gave up and came closer than was comfortable to leveling things.

    Still, the second string held on all of which would have done the younger players confidence no harm at all.

    Who would have thought that spur’s night would be this entertaining.

  66. LB's avatar LB says:

    Great read as ever Terry.

  67. oz gunner's avatar oz gunner says:

    haha excellent stuff Terry.

    This Europa stuff couldn’t have come at a better time for Jack. If we were in the league would he be playing games? Maybe, but he definitely wouldn’t be starting. I hope his good run continues and he earns another contract. Then he can sign a movie deal when he scores a hat trick in the CL league final next year.

  68. LB's avatar LB says:

    “But one of the few advantages of Alexis and Özil running their contracts down is that the manager does not have to handle their egos with kid gloves any longer. Nobody gives the guy serving his notice a company car.” (Tim Stillman)

    This caught my eye and made a lot of sense.

  69. chas's avatar chas says:

  70. chas's avatar chas says:

  71. fatgingergooner's avatar fatgingergooner says:

    Games 237
    Goals 100
    Assists 41

    3 FA Cups

    I wonder how Giroud will be talked about when he eventually leaves the club?

  72. chas's avatar chas says:

    The same as he’s talked about while he’s still playing for us, I’d imagine.

  73. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    fattie – depends on who you’re talking to. Some will say he was pants, others that he was a great team player even if not the best striker, but most would probably agree that he was the best looking striker Arsenal ever had 🙂

    I like Ollie, a lot. He gives his best in every game, 90 mins or a short quarter of an hour – he works for his corn. Good bloke.

  74. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    LB – I am enjoying the competition too and have even allowed myself to hope we will win in Europe 🙂 Who else is in our group?

    I think that Bata’s goalie was tragic, looked nervous, made all text book mistakes, lost them the game.

  75. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Morning All,

    It was a fine evening of football with a sensible kick off time.

    More of the same please.

  76. VP of Oz's avatar VP of Oz says:

    its a sad sad world when you hear that Aguero was in a car accident and will be out of action for weeks and my first thought was, thank god I didnt transfer him into my fantasy team

  77. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    VP

    Perfectly reasonable 🙂

    It could also elevate The City January offer for Sanchez to more than 10p 🙂

  78. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    VP – what?? is that true about Aguero? googling….

  79. LB's avatar LB says:

    That is very sad but very funny VP

  80. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    😀 😀

    I am walking in the Swiss Alps this weekend, so no PM from BR.

    UTG

  81. chas's avatar chas says:

  82. chas's avatar chas says:

  83. chas's avatar chas says:

  84. chas's avatar chas says:

    It would appear Kroenke has made an offer for Usmanov’s shares.

    No idea what it would mean but assume it might be of interest to some of you? 🙂

  85. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    If Usmanov cashed in his shares to Kroenke, it is possible for two things to happen.

    First, Usmanov might shack up wth his old mate and buy up the available shares at Everton and pour dollops of cash into their transfer kitty – and suddenly there would be 4 ultra rich kids on the block, with the Spuds, ‘Pool and ourselves left fighting for 5th, 6th and 7th place in the not too distant future. OK – I guess we already are in the eyes of some?

    Secondly, Kroenke could then take the club private and avoid some of the governance issues faced by all public limited companies.
    It would also enable him to publish less extensive information in the Published Accounts so no one outside the club management would ever know the full extent of of the owners vision etc, etc.

    Don’t worry I will finish it there — otherwise, you guys would be bored – and so would I — Terry could give you the lowdown tho.:D

  86. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    Eddie,

    Did I see you flirting earlier today? 😀

  87. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    aha Zee it was you, the clever machine 🙂
    Yes, I am looking for a new blog

  88. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    What topic of blog Eddie?

    And, afternoon all

  89. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    heterosexual sex micky.

  90. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    That’s stopped Micky in his tracks, Eddie. 😀

  91. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    Zee- I knew it would, he loves lezza stories 🙂

  92. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Yes Zee, it did 🙂

    I was invited onto a closed google group thing last week, and having read posts over the past few days, decided I simply cannot join as I’d so strongly disagree with every single person on it

  93. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Hang on a sec Eddie, I thought you told us you hated all that full contact business

  94. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Zee

    No idea what I think about any significant movement of Arsenal shares. The Europa experience may be altering my outlook. I’ve always wanted the CL Trophy before I snuff it, but realize what kind of club we’d have to become in order to compete, and I’m not sure I’d like that

  95. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    micky – I do, I will not change my mind about hanky panky. I discovered another Arsenal blog, really good articles and beautifully presented. And, some bloggers criticize Wenger!!!! Revelation, I can let myself go 🙂

    Zee goes under sooooo many different names my head is spinning

  96. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    And on sooooo many other blogs too, Eddie! 😀

    Very few speak to me on here, except for the occasional ‘old-timer’, and I have to find ‘chat blogs’ to talk Arsenal — and other rubbish!!

    Did you see my poetic response to you regarding who the Post-writer was and when he is around?

    You can do both — you have many friends on AA and they would miss you if you cut your ties with them. [I’m sure you won’t!] 😀

  97. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Arseblog has the best posts in my opinion, and was in fact, the first blog I ever came across. Don’t like the comments format, so have never read them

  98. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    it was a very good poem, did YOU really write it? Hillarious. Zee, I am as guilty as the rest for not talking to you. I read your comments, check and google meanings of 5 syllabus words and forget to reply. Please do not take it personally, I tend to respond to micky only, not idea why.

  99. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    Micky,

    The shares thing is speculation at the moment — and seems childish to me. Usmanov made a bid for Kroenke’s share so he may simply have retaliated.

    I agree with you – winning at all costs is not for me – and yet I would like Arsenal to win – which they have done handsomely with the FA cup successes.

    Difficult to get my head around, in a way — but the ‘at all costs’ stuff is not likely to sway me.

  100. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Yes Zee, agree, and I often wonder whether the Ems moved has enhanced the match day experience or not. I think my view is clouded by the inevitable newbie fans that arrived on the scene prior to leaving Highbury on the back of the early Arsene successes

  101. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    That’s fine, Eddie — I don’t really mind being ignored for myself, there’s a big world out there, but the AA blog needs plenty of chat, and after so many years I still have an affection for AA, that’s why I still pop back to try and help, in the hope other faithful bloggers will realise the writing is on the wall, and help Chas and GN5 who carry the main load these days. [And you and your dogs …. of course] 😀

    Oooops — that’s me sent to Siberia, again.

  102. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Thing is, the writing has been on the wall for years…and…here we are

  103. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    Micky,

    I always have thought that people/bloggers have every right to say what they feel – even if I disagree with some of them – but there is an unpleasant undertone to some of the comments that are now accepted as ‘normal’.

    Rasper will be on my case if I do not make it clear I am not talking about the gentle souls on here. 🙂

    Eddie is right — if someone does not agree with the way the team is set up, or that the tactics are wrong or …….. (well you get my meaning) then, if the manager is seen as responsible, they should be allowed to say so. And vice-versa.

    [Again, I am meaning that to be the case throughout the blogworld – but what do I know?]

    Offski now — before I bore everyone – well you and Eddie anyway – Geronimo!! 😀

  104. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    “mickydidit89 says:

    September 29, 2017 at 6:21 pm

    Thing is, the writing has been on the wall for years…and…here we are.”

    Fair enough, Micky.

  105. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Just looking at weekend fixtures

    Apparently there’s a team called Liverpool Ladies, which I guess must be along the lines of Doncaster Belles 🙂

  106. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Just tuning in – I’ve been busy with Doctor’s today.

    I’ve been blogging in various forms since the early 90’s – Kelsey introduced me to AA in Sep 2010 and it became the main site that I blog on. Certain people on the site have really got under my skin over the years and have caused me to seek out other blogs (after some unsavoury personal attacks) but AA has folks that have a diverse body of knowledge – which I enjoy so here I stay.

    I have no issue with those that are anti Wenger so long as they don’t keep on saying the same thing in different ways over and over and over – that drives me crazy and drives me away (for a while).

    Zee you are one of the most well respected bloggers that I know so I wish you were on here far more frequently than you are currently.

    I write posts to fill in the voids and some of them get very minimal response – but I stick with it and try to stay positive regardless.

  107. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    GN5

    I generally think the lack of in depth knowledge is the glue that keeps the thing together

    Big fan of ill informed opinions when it comes to trivial matters like football 🙂

    Hope doctor was ok, also hope that you’ve made appropriate provision in your will to hand over that Amstrad Home Computer of yours, along with all those AFC related floppy discs to Arsenal FC 🙂

  108. chas mobile's avatar chas mobile says:

    Micky

    Eddie has been talking about claustrophobia and secret whatsapp groups to Red Arse and Norfolk Gooner on ACLF.

    Btw, the last comment on the secret whatsapp group was on 11th September when BR was asking if someone would publish a post for him as he was working.

  109. Zee's avatar Zee says:

    GN5,

    I hope the doctor appointment was ‘just’ a check-up and all is well — altho perhaps you have not had the results yet.
    Anyway – I wish you well.

  110. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Thanks Zee. It was an appointment to discuss the results about some very scary tests I had. Unfortunately for some the results were excellent and the Dr. was amazed that given my age the results were so good. So my longevity chart still has no known end.

    I’m off to write a PM for Raddy, while he spends some time walking in the mountains.

  111. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    Micky I find the banter a lot of fun and Terry adds a wonderful and very unique sense of humour while Chas never fails to entertain us all with all of his fine tweets and comments.

  112. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    naughty Eddie, naughty, naughty Eddie

    but the secret app exists, see, I thought it did 🙂

    look, confession time. I have been going through some serious scenarios in my life and on top of it some bright spark decided to twick my meds. That sent me loopy. I know it is not an excuse for bad behaviour but I genuinely apologise for upsetting people, especially GN5 and chas. I am back on my happy pills and love you all again.

    Seriously though, I am sorry.

  113. GunnerN5's avatar GunnerN5 says:

    No problem Eddie – just take very good care of yourself.

  114. Aaron's avatar Aaron says:

    Mendy out for season and Aguero out for over month. Can’t make this stuff up. Oh well, let the Arsenal collect a few more points this weekend.

  115. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    Eddie

    There are loads of secret apps. My Daughter is for ever trying to secret facetimeapp me, and secret messengerapp me, while she also uses secret whatsuppapp at me as well.

    Stick to what you know I say. Secret blogging is the simplest 🙂

    Morning all

  116. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    thank you GN5

    micky – I don’t like secrets and secret societies. Take Free Masons for example – there are a few of them at the allotment and guess what – they always have best plots, are members of the committee, looking well after each other. I stopped talking to them and there was a backlash, surprise surprise. I wonder how many AAers have a secret handshake?

  117. mickydidit89's avatar mickydidit89 says:

    I was asked to be a mason and told the bloke it was full of pigs, so no thanks

  118. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    pigs ??!! 🙂 🙂 ha ha ha, why pigs, they are such lovely gentle creatures

  119. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    but you could have a lovely rent free allotment plot 🙂

    the game is tomorrow, pssssshhh

  120. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    A late good morning all.

    Unlike last week, we have the opportunity to gain some points against our rivals this weekend …

    Re the blog: … I think it is stronger now than for some time ….. after 6 years we’re already becoming nostalgic about ourselves 😆

  121. VP of Oz's avatar VP of Oz says:

    AFL grand final today. My team Richmond won. It was only 37 years since the last one. My school friend is now CEO of Richmond and was a past celebrated player through the lean years.

    100,021 in attendance

    They interviewed one of the payers afterwards and it went something like this on Live TV “last season we finished 13th and lost our last game by over 100 points. Look at us now, we are F#cking Champions”

    It was great, I could hear the constant roar of the MCG from my house.

  122. VP of Oz's avatar VP of Oz says:

    Ozil out injured, Kos in doubt

  123. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    more horrific results today 😦
    at least chavs and City cannot both win by 4 goal difference

    So far so good, City are awesome even without Louis and Sergio.

    That Fabregas dude is very good too. Remind me why he is not playing for us?

  124. GoonerB's avatar GoonerB says:

    Evening all. Many thanks to Raddy and GN5 for recent posts. Sorry I didn’t have time to comment properly.

    First can I ask who is going tomorrow and is it feasible to get a light ale anywhere with a 12 kick off?

    One thing I would like to see with Arsenal now is that we promote both Iwobi and Jack ahead of Ozil. I have never been an Ozil detractor and like him but he hasn’t signed a lucrative contract and we have excellent, if not world class, options with players who are committed or more likely to be committed to us.

    I know he is injured now but I think he needs to understand that a deal needs to be done in Jan or else he risks minimal playing time in a world cup year.

    Probably can’t comment tomorrow but I would like to see Ramsey in the all action CM role with another, and Jack in Ozils role as a double number 10 with Alexis playing behind Lacazette.

  125. Eddie's avatar Eddie says:

    great game from City, well deserved win

    Blimey, I didn’t know that Ancellotti was fired by BM following the CL defeat to PSG. Most managers must be gagging to replace Wenger in 2 years

  126. chas mobile's avatar chas mobile says:

    GoonerB
    Kings Head have suggested they will be open after 10am.

  127. chas mobile's avatar chas mobile says:

  128. chas's avatar chas says:

    NEW POST

Leave a comment