Rope-a-Dope versus Tika Taka

October 21, 2015

In 1974 Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman for the Heavyweight Championship of the World.  Throughout the bout Ali hung on the ropes, covering up, defending and soaking up the punishment being dealt out by the favourite.  When Foreman inevitably tired, Ali took advantage and won the title.  Ali called it his Rope-a-Dope method.

Last night Arsenal emulated the great Ali.

Bayern came to play Tika Taka, a style of football developed at Barcelona under Bayern’s manager Pep Guardiola.  They dominated possession, they dominated passing, they dominated territory.  Arsenal defended, as the first half went on Arsenal defended deeper and deeper, Cech pulled off some terrific saves.  It was not all one way however, Arsenal attacked on the counter and it was Neuer who pulled off a great save to scoop Theo Walcott’s close range header off the line.  Still Bayern created the intricate passing patterns but the didn’t score.

The second half was a repeat of the first, Bayern keeping the ball for long periods, racking up the pass count but being unable to break down Arsenal’s resolute team defending.  Eventually the Bayern players began to tire and the inevitable happened.  Santi Cazorla swung in a free kick from the right, Koscielny went for the ball Neuer flapped at it and missed, Oliver Giroud stumbled into the gap left by Koscielny and somehow got enough contact on the ball to force it over the line.

01

On nil to the Arsenal.

The tiring Bayern players swarmed forward in a desperate search for an equaliser, leaving ever widening gaps at the back.  Hector Bellerin won the ball near the half way line, sprinted forward and beyond his full-back to square the ball to the onrushing Mesut Ozil whose shot crossed the line fractionally before Neuer knocked it out but it was just too late, the fifth official stood with his arm upraised signalling the goal and a remarkable Arsenal win.

02

A two nil victory that seemed as unlikely as Ali’s over Foreman all those years ago in the Rumble in the Jungle.

Written by Norfolk Gooner.

We have been blessed with 2 match reports today – only fitting after such an epic performance 🙂

…. and now the inimitable Steve Palmer’s unique view of the game …..

Morning all,

And what a beautiful morning it is, One sentence sums up the game just right. Hook, Line and Sinker. They came with a long run of wins, and feeling we would just roll over. They had taken the hook. We gave them line lots of it, and we let them take as much as they wanted, but we defended Magnificently, in  the final minute we sunk them good and proper, the first sinker came after Giroud replaced  Walcott. In the first minute of him coming on, a flighted ball into the box Had their goalkeeper scampering to the penalty spot, but Koshielney’s jump  made him lose sight of the ball, a diving Giroud had the ball hit him, straight in the face which ricochet onto his hand, and then in the goal. Our final sinker was steered in by Ozil, after a fantastic interception from Belerin who robbed the defender by sheer pace , he was being wrestled, but shrugged that off, to slide a perfect pass to our German Midfielder, Hook Line and Sinker in one.
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I watched this game live on TV Lineker gave us little chance, after all Bayern had won Nine Bundesliga games on the trot, plus their last two Champions League games, Ferdinand sporting a beard that did little to hide his wonky mouth, he felt like all defenders, that our defence needed to be aware and Per Merts would have trouble with Lewandowski, after all the man is a goal scoring machine.
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Asked if Arsenal could win this game , Ian Wright said of course, to sniggers from the panel, Michael Ballack Rio Ferdinand all looked at Wrighty, and he said, Well they have to. The talk was all about Lewandowski, Hardly a word about Arsenal but what else would you expect. Even the news reported the game, but no mention of the fantastic win, only about the Bayern Munich fans arriving late to their seats, in way of protesting the price of tickets.
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The fact that Arsenal had beaten probably the best team in the world at the moment, by two goals to nil. was secondary to the price of tickets. Last nights result showed Arsenal to be the best team in the world on the night. When a team claiming to be, the New Invincibles, at the Home of the original Invincible’s, are asking to get beat, and beaten they were.
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Chances for both teams through out the game,  the better chances for us in my opinion, but we squandered them, I felt we could have been leading comfortably at half time, but instead we were level. Bayern had the majority of the possession, and were playing majestically, but they were playing against a very robust Arsenal defence. They tried and tried to force a way  through, but Arsenal were resolute, Arsenals breakaways were fast and swift, often penetrating Bayern’s defences, but poor finishing let them off, time and time again.
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We did have a tendency to rush passes, and we gave the ball away on many occasions, but the way we recovered and massed in force kept Bayern at bay. Every Arsenal player worked their socks off, they worked from the first minute till the last, every one a hero, Sadly Aaron Ramsey suffered a hamstring, and will miss three or four weeks, but every body else walked off Jubilant, and no others looked to have any visible signs of distress, tired of course, but all should be ready for our next game.  Petr Cech made some very good saves, and was adjudged MOTM I felt his half a dozen great saves was secondary to our magnificent  team, i would have awarded it to the whole team.
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There were things that could have been better, but that’s for another day, today is to sit back and reflect, Arsenal’s talents are surprising me more and more.
Steve Palmer.
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………. and just to celebrate the victory from every aspect, here are the thoughts of one of AA’s most insightful analysts Gooner In Exile

It was interesting to hear Ferdinand’s thoughts on Ollie coming on and the difference it made, basically he said that if you are not switched on as a defender it is tough to switch from the way you have attempted to contain the small pacy forward and suddenly you have to switch to a physical game against someone who wants the ball in to his body.

And I guess that the defenders have been worried about the ball in behind so much they are giving themselves one or two yards head start on the foot race, suddenly the ball is going into Ollies body and he is bringing midfielders into the game with a platform. Also the fact that at the set piece with they had to put Muller on Kozzer so the centre backs could deal with BFG and Ollie, and that adds further confusion to their game plan.

Whilst possession might not have been level according to stats zone we had an equal number of shots in the box however we got far more of ours on target, and Munich were adjudged to have 2 clear cut chances whilst we had 4.

And that at the end of the day was the biggest difference.

Here’s a stat for you, we completed 207 of 278 passes against the possibly the best team in Europe, Chavs managed only 278 out of 378 in Kiev with an equal number of passes on the other side.

Biggest difference between us and those Chavs playing Munich in the CL final is the way we break with the ball, it’s not a hit and hope to someone to chase and then attempt to polish a turd, it’s worked through the midfield with pace and precision, we did the same vs City last season.

But best of all is probably the way we have changed our game in the last three matches.

United….high tempo….high pressing….
Watford…..patient…..passing possession…
Munich…..defensive shape…..quick counters…

But obviously we never change our game plan for the opponents 🙂

The thing is it’s always been the same 11 and the same formation, and that is why players should be able to drop in and out without issues. The subtlety in tactics is what we do with and without the ball.

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.

United have a front three that can hurt you, but if they can’t get the ball to them they can’t hurt you, so you press their poor passing through midfield and from the back, Watford like so many others will sit back and kill you on counter, that tactic will work against us once in awhile but generally we find a way through to a win, and Munich like us to teams like Watford can kill you with fullbacks, midfielders and forwards, so you keep them in front of you and use the ball when you have it well.

There was a very interesting discussion about Klopp and his style on one of the podcasts, basically the theory being that he won’t yet have realised that the game is played at 100mph every week in the PL and that teams do not accept their fate even 1 or 2 nil down. His ability to cope with that will make or break him and his “heavy metal” football at Liverpool.

Gooner in Exile

 

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We won 3 nil, but it was not as good as we think ……

October 18, 2015

It’s a funny old game, football, ain’t it? as someone famous once said. And that is not the half of it.

During the first part of the game against the Hornets, Arsenal played like a light bulb that is undecided if its day is done, or not, and flickers indecisively between light and shade.

One minute the Gunners were brilliant, and the next they were as gormless as any Sunday League team down the Marshes before the traditional booze up, and, frankly, with a better forward Watford could have been one or two goals up in the first half, and as it was, the feller sitting in Row Z had stinging hands parrying the ball as he became the target for the ball rather than the net.

The second half saw a better attitude and after our indomitable Chilean had made the most of his opportunity and opened the scoring we suddenly found ourselves 0 : 3 up and coasting as Giro, on for an ineffective Theo, nonchalantly tried to put the ball over the bar and fluffed it by hitting it inside the roof of the net instead, and the industrious Rambo managing to dink the ball slowly into the net through a ruck of players.

What is it with this team? Capable of the most sublime football and the most awful dross all within the same minute.

That said, they collectively played pretty well and special mention is due to Bellerin, Cazorla and Ozil but the real star of the show was Sanchez. When we are hitting our noses on an invisible screen in front of the goal, he is always alert, energetic and capable of pulling the plum from the pudding.

Fo me the player who personifies the Arsenal at the moment is Rambo. He frustrates the hell out of me with his poor decision making, misplaced passes and wonky finishing. And yet his sheer guts, never say die spirit and his ability to cover every blade of grass on the pitch and yet somehow he still manages to be in position in the area to score a killer goal while Theo is busy posing or Giro is handsomely scratching his ass.

Football is a results driven business and all fans love a win, but some of us also love the beautiful game, like the one against Manyoo, and this bunch of players is capable of delivering both, but they are also capable of self inflicted, fart-assed, puke inducing, brainless stupidity which seems to occur for no discernible reason.

Fortunately the good outweighed the bad yesterday, and all teams have off periods during a season, while Arsenal are capable of off moments every week, but I think we are going to eliminate these moments with wins like this – and I am now prepared to call it — we will win the Premier League this season.

Red Arse

We’ve had some debate as to who should be awarded Man of the Match for the game with several candidates being put forward. Place your vote below and let’s see what the majority think …….

 

 

 

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Arsenal AGM. Bloody furious.

October 16, 2015

What am I so damn cross about? Well pretty much everything.

Shareholders.

Who the hell do some of you think you are? Reckon you have rights or something? Seriously, Stan owns the place that he bought with his money, not yours, and he can do whatever he bloody well likes. Do you honestly think anyone up there yesterday was actually going to answer your stupid questions and reveal anything not already in the public domain? Jeepers.

Board/Management

We are not ‘effing interested in the ‘effing finances. Don’t care how bloody marvellous you have been throughout a difficult time, but most of all, don’t ever tell us that qualifying for the Champions League is  good for the purposes of repaying debt. We don’t give a shit. We’re interested in the football and what happens on the pitch.

It’s marvellous news that for 18 months we can compete, and that Alexis, Mesut and Cech prove this. Equally fabulous, that the manager has the backing of the board to compete in the market.

So don’t bloody well give the impression we have to prioritise any one competition. Of course we should never enter the bloody League Cup or whatever it’s called these days, or The Europa should we ever sink that low.

I mean, do you really think that ever once, at any point in Utd’s history under Ferguson they’d be allowed to walk onto the pitch with either their fans, or the opposition players, getting even the slightest whiff Utd weren’t that bothered?

Come on, prove me wrong. Sanchez, Theo, Mesut and Coquelin against Bayern and let’s show ‘em.

MickkyDidIt89

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Usmanov wants answers at the AGM

October 14, 2015

It’s the day of the Arsenal Annual General Meeting.. The day when shareholders and other interested parties get to ask questions of the owner, board of directors and manager.  Whether any of those questions is rewarded with a full and frank answer is open to doubt.

It was reported in the press yesterday that Alisher Usmanov, Arsenal’s second largest shareholder, has written to Stan Kroenke seeking a detailed explanation why, for the second year running, Arsenal have paid a sum of £3 million to Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.  According to Arsenal Chairman Sir Chips Keswick last year’s payment was for “the wide range of services” provided by KSE.

Another item to be brought up is a request for an independent review of the club’s transfer strategy following the failure to sign any out-field players during the last transfer window.

There will, no doubt be questions asked about the size of the club’s wage bill, how much money there is in the transfer kitty and whether the price of match day tickets is likely to be reduced in view of the greatly enlarged sums pouring into the Club’s coffers from both television deals and sponsorship.

I’m sure AAers will have other questions that they would like to put forward,  Why not list them in your comments below.  You never know someone attending the AGM may just read them and may just put one to the hierarchy.

Written by Norfolk Gooner

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Arsenal Angling for Luck

October 14, 2015

Reading Arsenal blogs across the web can often mislead supporters. Many reflect Arsenal in a good light while others have a tendency to be quite cynical. Blogger’s usually find a site (and there are many out there) which sways to their own way of thinking – who wants to be constantly arguing with another who is adamant that all is not well?

I find it difficult to see negativity in a football club that finish top four for close on twenty years, and in those twenty years, have won Leagues, cups, doubles, and had a season unbeaten in the League,  A title that Arsenal created in An Invincible season, and named the team, The Invincibles.

What tends to happen after victories, is spells of near misses, In Arsenal’s case, our spell of near misses, coincided with a rebuild of the stadium and a move. In the last twenty years we have also made changes of owners and shareholders. Changes also with supporters, as new ones come and old ones pass. Usually a Gooner does not pack in his or her support, season tickets yes, as the price can effect many on budget, but when tickets do become available, are usually snapped up, and the ones who have let their ticket go supports from home.

Many supporters have hobbies of some kind. Mine is Fishing. I class myself a Specimen Hunter. I have fished, off and on, most of my life, and the similarities between the two sports are surprisingly similar. When I first started I didn’t care what I caught, but as time went on and I started to realise just how many species there were, I planned my fishing trips for certain species and fished till I caught that particular type.

Football is similar where the team tend to target what they feel is their best chance and field their teams with their best players they have where an angler will choose a bait that they know will appeal to certain fish. This way of planning may cut your chances of catching other fish but, like in football, may also reduce your chance in other competitions.

Once a specimen, the bigger the better, was captured I moved on to the next species and so on and so on.  Finally an angler picks out his favourite, and mainly fishes for them. Football again similar, where a cup is won, the priority then moves on to the next competition. The league in football is classed as the Holy Grail, as consistency all season gives more chance of winning, that of course is like an angler catching a fish that is bigger than his personal best.

Even in fishing the sport is competitive. Many want to catch bigger and better than the others. Football is very similar and the supporter wants bragging rights, the same as a victorious angler.

Money is, of course, a factor in both sports. The more you spend the better the equipment, the better equipment the better the chances. Of course in both sports again the word Luck is also a factor, as who knows what will happen before you start. Will the fish be biting or will the team play like they should, will the fish take a certain bait on the day or will the other side have injuries, all this down to luck on the day.

An angler will look at records other anglers have broken, record size fish that are recorded in angling echelons and they will hope that their next fish will be bigger, much like a footballer who also has his goals, both want to be recorded and put on pedestals for others to ponder other.

Someone said to me a long time ago that you only get back what you put in which I guess means the more effort you put in the more you will receive. Maybe a bit of truth in that, but I still believe luck beats all. Luck will keep you injury free, luck will score you goals when you least expect them, and luck will win you Leagues and cups. Of course luck will put the angler in the right swim on the right day and with the biggest fish. And luck will also see that big fish in the anglers net.

Being an old Arsenal fan, I hope Lady Luck follow’s us all season, I also hope she helps me on the bank as well. Tight Lines and fierce shots and be Lucky.

 Written  by Steve Palmer

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…….. Ospina in goal against Bayern anyone?

October 13, 2015

Thank you Arsene and Arsenal for sending us off into another tiresome international break with a warm feeling of positivity and optimism following the magnificent performance against United.

Contrast those emotions against the feelings of despair and déjà vu following the home defeat by Olympiacos and you will see the two extremes of supporters’ reactions.

It has been suggested (by LB and others on this blog) that Arsene’s decision to change 6 players for the game against Zagreb and  5 against Olympiacos was evidence that Monsieur Wenger is targeting winning the EPL over the CL.

The most controversial decision on these occasions was to opt for Ospina in goal. Why when we have finally secured the services of a top class keeper would we choose not to play him in such important games?

It has been suggested that there may be a contractual agreement to play Ospina in cup games – if this is the case we cannot argue except to question the sense behind such an arrangement. It may be that Arsene is trying to keep Ospina match fit and motivated as we never know when we might need him to step in for Cech.

Either way, I was shocked that Cech was left on the bench. The defensive unit looks far more solid and assured when he is in goal and apart from the West Ham game, he has been excellent. I think it is fair to say that Ospina has not impressed in his CL appearances.

Some say that supporters should not concern themselves with such matters – leave it to the manager and trust his decisions.

This is a personal decision and is down to every individual to support the club in their own way. Some supporters feel more engaged with the club by wanting to understand what goes on and express their feelings and aspirations – an equally valid form of support.

So back to the euphoria we are currently feeling after spanking the mancs 🙂

Most supporters believe that with the prospect of Thursday night football looming, we need to take at least 3 points from the 2 games against Bayern to progress through to the knock out stage of the CL. But how would you feel if the team for the Bayern game is announced and Ospina is in goal?

What would this tell us?

I’d really like to know how supporters feel on this matter … so place your vote and send out a message.

Feel free to join us in ‘Comments’ to explain your reasoning …. just for the record, I think Arsene will play Ospina.

Rasp

 

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Getting Shirty ……… When Gold isn’t Gold

October 9, 2015

arsenal-away-15-16-img3

It’s the international dull…. so what is there to Rant about?

There was a discussion on here the other day about the Arsenal new Gold away kits. Some like it, some think it looks dirty. Peaches thinks it looks ‘mean and dirty’. Well she would, wouldn’t she 🙂

It got me wondering about how these shirts are conceived, designed, agreed upon and then go into production. Who has the final say, Puma or the Arsenal? Does Wenger have input into the final product? Do the players have a say?

I’ll say right from the start, I don’t like it. It’s not the colour, I think gold is an excellent choice, but it’s the way our shirts look…. they look dirty and when a player has perspired a bit, it looks even dirtier. Who ever came up with the idea, it was a good one, but somewhere along the production line it seems that the material used isn’t right for its use.  As someone who uses colour in paintings regularly, I know how difficult gold as a pigment can be. From a tube it can be dull, not like the gold you would expect. Alternatively, using gold leaf produces an excellent colour. So how did we end up with a gold that looks like a dull, dirty gold?

Psychologically it’s a great colour:

The color gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance, the psychology of this color implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance.

Gold in its physical state, by its very nature, denotes wealth and prestige in every country, culture and market in the world today – it is probably the most valuable and easily traded commodity available in the global marketplace.

This color is linked to masculine energy and the power of the sun, compared to silver which is associated with feminine energy and the sensitivity of the moon.

So how did we get the current material and why does it look so dull and dirty?

It probably started with some pimply kid just out of Art and Design college, employed by Puma on minimum wage, he/she draws a few ideas, chooses a colour and that goes to the next level of the design team. A few Puma employees then make a decision that it’s good and a prototype is produced. Then it’s probably presented to Arsenal FC for their approval. All good so far….. but I think something went wrong between the idea and the final product.

Before the modern shirt of polyester was conceived,  shirts were first made from wool, and then cotton. Heavy and made worse by get soaked with sweat. Polyester has revolutionised shirt material and now it takes sweat away from the body, polyester is light weight, durable, resistant to creasing and only absorbs about 4% of its weight of water, so most sweat is carried along the fibres and evaporates.

So why do our new gold shirts look sweaty and dirty. I think there wasn’t enough thought put into the colour and how it looks after just 20 minutes of running around a football pitch. As I said, gold is a difficult colour to work with and someone within the production team failed to take this into consideration.

Which leaves me with my final thoughts….. I like the idea but I don’t like how it looks on our players. I think it should go back to the production team to sort it out. Or maybe the psychological affect of Gold is making us play the way we did against Man United…. oh hold on, we played in the Red and White that day.

NorthBankk69

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The Battle at The Bridge

September 20, 2015

The morning after the game, and still my anger is strong. Arsene Wenger said Gabriel was wrong to retaliate, perhaps he was right, but if you do not retaliate, then somehow that also seems wrong.

As a kid at school, we had a school bully, this kid from the off didn’t like me, I don’t know till this day, what it was that he found offensive about my presence, but from that day till I left school, we fought regularly, I lost every time, I got nose bleeds at the slightest touch, so usually there was a mess after a tussle, perhaps he got excited at the sight of my blood I didn’t really know.

The trouble with me, was I found it hard to walk away from a bully, and I never knew I would lose, until I did , how many times do you lose but still not know, that was me. The strange thing was after I left school we met again and of course the habits of a lifetime, we fought again, strangely the battles ended after that fight, but I showed weakness, or should I say mercy, as I had the upper hand after all those years of defeats, and when he said he’d had enough I stopped hitting him and walked away. I realised that day that bullies are like mad driver’s, they meet themselves one day coming the other way.

I suppose Wenger would have said I was wrong to have fought in the first place, but if you are sought after, what do you do, walking away got you a clump round the head, so you have to protect yourself.

Gabriel was goaded, he took it for so long, but the man is only human. If he was guilty of anything it was trying to get away from him.

The game itself was a spectacle until the first half ended, both sides were evenly matched, chances for both sides. the second half Chelsea seemed to have found extra space down the left hand side and Arsenal’s defence was looking a little shaky, it has to be said that Chelsea’s fast attacks were picking up pace, and Arsene would need to bolster up somehow.

On one of those attacks the sequence of what was going to change the shape of this game a tussel between Chelsea’s Costa who had been a pain in our side all game and Koshielney, where off the ball Costa was all other our man, hands in the face a forearm pushed in Koshielney’s face and then an elbow. The Officials missed all of this action, but when the action stopped Koshielney looked to have said some thing to Costa and Costa retaliated with a chest charge where Koshielney was barged to the ground, Koshielney raced to his feet where it looked like the two players were to square up, When Gabriel turned up and stood between them, Costa Looked at Gabriel, they too had had a few tussles leading up to this incident, Costa looked to be saying something to Gabriel but he stood his ground and tried to ignore him , that seemed to antagonise Costa and he looked like he was getting more infuriated, the Referee intervened, he had words with both players and as they walked away, the two player looked like they exchanged little slaps to each others body, but the slaps did seem to look as if they wasn’t friendly slaps .

Again the referee stepped in again but this time he branded yellow card to both players. Had he seen the whole incident from the start I feel he may of acted differently but of course he hadn’t. The two players walk away again, but Costa would still be talking in Gabriel’s face until Gabriel turned his back on him Costa still continued until Gabriel retaliated with a lame raise of his foot backward and in full sight of the referee Gabriel was then issued a red which seemed to calm Costa down.

Now of course a game against last years Champions is always a tough game but down to ten men even tougher now, Pressure was to build up as Chelsea seized the advantage, the Arsenal players felt aggrieved for what had happened but they now had a battle on their hands They battled valiantly until Arsenal was pushing out from the back Ramsey who was trying for a little space was adjudged to have fouled a Chelsea Player I must have missed that, and couldn’t understand the decision, but a free kick was given in Chelsea’s favour, a well flighted ball to the far post saw a rushing in Zoumer to glance a header past the hapless Petr Cech many said that Arsenal should have covered him but with a man down almost impossible to cover 11 men with your ten.

Wenger made changes as the players were working hard and some looked out on their feet but just before the changes Cazorla was adjudged to have committed a reckless challenge that would be his second so out came another red and Santi was on his way, changes came on and still the pressure mounted but now and again the Arsenal still showed this game was still alive even with 9 men, Arsenal held out to the 91st minute when a ricocheted shot came off Chambers who diverted the ball past a stranded Cech and that was to be our fate, 2.0 to Chelsea.

I felt I had watched a stage managed game, where decisions were made without the full facts being known, Decisions that seemed to go against one team only where many would feel we were harshly dealt with. Whether the powers at be will look at the video and feel the same as me i am not sure but Gabriels possible 3 match ban will undoubtedly be challenged by Arsenal. Cazorla will be difficult to argue with.

I felt this competitive match was handled atrociously, if there is any justice in sport this is a game that needs investigating. Of course Chelsea may see the outcome differently but a fair FA must surely step in – but will they?

Written by Steve Palmer

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Who’s been Arsenal’s best player in the Premier League era?

September 15, 2015

Arsenal’s best player?

While watching the game against Stoke at the weekend I got to thinking about who was Arsenal’s best player, not in that particular game but in the Premiership era.

I wasn’t concerned with who scored the most goals, who provided the most assists or who put in the most miles on the pitch, no none of that statistical bollix.

Who got your blood racing when they were on the ball? Who got you on your feet when they were lining up a shot on goal? Who entertained you?

There’s a whole host of players to choose from.

The back line that Arsene inherited from George Graham were awesome but watching the choreographed raising of the right arm to signal an off-side to the ref didn’t raise my pulse rate, except when the ref got the decision wrong and our opponents scored, that is.

Smiffy, Wrighty and Merse excited but Dickov?

The incomparable Dennis Bergkamp.  What can I say?

Patrick Vieira, in his pomp, striding imperiously about the pitch always gave me a lift.

Nicholas Anelka?  For a while.

Marc Overmars and Manu Petit wonderful, Isiaiah Rankin hmm.

Freddie Lundberg’s runs behind the defence and Kanu scoring from an “impossible” angle.

Davor Suker’s silky skills and of course Thierry Henry.

Sylvan Wiltord and Bobby Pires, Gilberto and Andre Arshavin, four goals against Liverpuddle, who can forget.

I could go on but will only add a few more up to date names, Santi, Alexis, Mesut, Theo and Ollie.

These are all players that I could watch and enjoy forever.  Over the years these are the players who have entertained me.

How about you AAers,  which players have put a smile on your faces?  What was your favourite moment?

Written by Norfolk Gooner

 

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First home win of the season to Stoke Arsenal’s fire.

September 12, 2015

Morning Gooner’s.

Big Raddy’s PM’s  are what most of us look forward to, his insights and his odds has us all debating – the man’s a genius, but he has to have a break now and again, and somebody has to try and cover. Word went out or should I say plea, so to follow the great man’s PM views is asking quite a lot, but if this is used, here goes……..

Today’s game at home against a tough rival  Stoke City have seen many physical battles, Stoke have a reputation of tough tacklers and putting themselves about. Mark Hughes, Stoke City’s present Manager has brought a slightly different approach to their game as they can play some attractive football now. Hughes was known for his aggressive play when he was a player, the same mentality is now put into use as stokes Manager.

Stoke have had tough times at The Emirates, played seven, lost seven. Her’e a few comments from Hughes leading up to this fixture.

Mark Hughes believes his Stoke City side are better equipped to tackle Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium than ever before.

Despite enjoying a frustrating start to the 2015/16 campaign Hughes is optimistic ahead of Saturday’s fixture and has pin-pointed the attacking qualities of his side as potential game-changers in the capital.

“It is never an easy place to go to be perfectly honest with you, and in previous seasons we haven’t managed to cover ourselves in too much glory down there,” the Welshman told Stoke City Player ahead of the game.

“In fact there record against us at the Emirates in the Premier League is perfect – having taken maximum points from all of the games between the two sides up until now.

“I would like to think that we are better equipped than we have been in seasons past to go down there and deal with them given the quality of player we have inside the building now.

“We have been to other very difficult places and picked up good results; obviously Manchester City springs to mind, so we know we are able to take positive results from these games.

“Arsenal are one of those teams who are difficult to play against, especially on the road, and they have that upper hand over us, but that has to change at some point I would suggest.”

Hughes admits he has been unable to pin-point the factors between the Potters contrasting fortunes against the Gunners at home and away.

“It’s a difficult one to figure out really. I’m not sure what it is. I suppose they are one of the top teams in the league and in Europe to be fair to them and when you take on teams of that ilk it is difficult,” he added.

“We have been very good at home against them and performed exceptionally well for the best part, but away from home we have struggled somewhat.

“They are capable of hurting any team in the world on any given day, but we know that we have our own game-changers who can hurt them.

“It is all dependant on what happens on the day. If one or two things go for us and we play to our maximum capabilities and remain resolute then we have a real chance of picking up a positive result.”

Well those few words from Mark Hughes says to me that he feels today will be a tough game. Of course we still have to win at home this season, so Hughes must feel a little easier.

For ourselves of course there is bad news. Wilshere who was to make his comeback in this fixture has had a setback and won’t feature, Welbeck has also had a setback, and has undergone surgery, so he too is long term. Our Striker Oliver Giroud was boo’d off the park in his international match by his fellow Frenchmen, so his confidence has taken a knock.

Koshielney has had problems with his back, and was left on the bench while on international duty, where his fitness is now will soon be announced

On the positive side Theo scored twice for England so he could be a starter.The rest of the squad seem to be available but I wont be doing a Raddy and predicting a line up, as he I’m sure gets inside information.

I also wont be giving a percentage as is normal on Raddy’s post I leave you all to do that for yourselves. Arsenal have to kick start their season. I feel that our possession stat’s have been excellent, but we just seem to be lack that finishing touch. Get that sorted and I see another win on the cards. Seven wins on the trot at home, looks good on paper but Stoke can cause us problems. We have a few injury problems and after this hard fought game I expect a few to have bruises, hopefully just bruises. I predict a win, it has to come, and today I feel is the day.

Speaking on Friday, Wenger explained that many supporters were unhappy at the lack of signings in the transfer window. He did go on about the reasons but many have heard all that talk before so I won’t bore you with it, but he has asked supporters to get behind the team, he feels that the players deserve your support. Arsenal supporters always get behind the players, today will be no different, Perhaps Arsene feels guilty, I honestly don’t know why, Do you?

COYRRG’s

Steve Palmer

 

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