No defence for the premiership

December 27, 2012

We like to think that our football is the most entertaining to watch, but this season we are seeing games where the defending is so poor that the event becomes a goal fest. Why is this happening?

The Manks sit top of the table having conceded 28 goals at the half way mark. The three teams at the bottom of the table have conceded 33, 34 and 35 respectively – so not that many more than manu. Stoke have conceded the least with 14 to their name …… only 4 goals conceded at home, the best in the premiership.

Arsenal have the fourth best defensive record at the moment with 18 goals, but 10 conceded at home!!!! The other Mancs have conceded 16 and the chavs 17 so far this season – and many of the big clubs are looking to sign a striker.

Obviously the points tally is what is important and winning games 4-3 will get you to the top of the table as the manks have proved but old red-nose must be doing his nut.

We started the season being very tight at the back, we weren’t even giving away corners but then sadly that began to change and we have had a few games where we’ve allowed team to score easy goals against us.

Last season’s title was decided on goal difference, City conceded 33 and United 29. City are doing much better so far having only conceded 16.

I have always felt that defending is an area that can more easily be improved with extra drilling and training but maybe some managers have decided to have a more free flowing, entertaining style and hang the defence.

Another upside is that it seriously offends most of the football pundits 🙂

So are we seeing the worst defensive play in Premiership history this season?…… and if we are  …. why?

Written by peachesgooner

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

An Arsenal Arsenal Christmas Concert

December 26, 2012

Apologies to non regulars, but on this matchless Boxing Day (thanks a lot London Underground staff!) this is a little festive offering in praise of the motley bunch of characters who make blogging on AA such a comfort and joy throughout the year.

Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

So with no further ado, I am pleased to present the Arsenal Arsenal Christmas Concert, at which the following timeless favourites will be performed:

God Bless Ye Terry, Mental Man

No matter how dire the performances, no matter how gloomy the outlook, we have always been able to rely on Terry popping up to remind us that the ghosts of his underpants are stirring and glory awaits for Arsenal. Thankyou Terry.

Jingle Kels

Those flowing silver locks must surely make the sound of sleigh bells when Kelsey is skipping across the bowling green with gay abandon…

Rudolph The Red Arsed Reindeer

“Will you guide my sleigh tonight?” asked Santa.

“Affirmative,” replied RudeArse. “Verily I will coxswain your hibernal perambulator this eventime.”

“Eh?” said Santa.

When A Child Is Born

For GiE, of course!

He’ll be the loudest Dad in the schoolyard.

A Fairytale of New York

For our Johnnie, keeping the flame alive among the New World Philistines.

I Saw Irish Kissing Santa Claus

She had no idea it was really Chas in a fake beard and 1971 home shirt.

Chas Nuts Roasting On An Open Fire

After Irish found out.

Dan Dan Merrily On High

Shock news: our veteran Blogger hits the spliffs…

While Sheep Hagger Watched His Flock By Night

See – even the relative newcomers to AA get a mention! Welcome to the blog Sheep – you have brought us many smiles already and long may it continue. Just get ready for Peaches gently suggesting you might like to write a Headline Post. Then not-so-gently suggesting it…

Raspin Around The Christmas Tree

What can I say? Let’s hear it for the old rocker who keeps this site bopping all year long…

In The Peach Midwinter

All is bleak and frozen… until someone agrees to write a match report and the sunshine returns. Thanks for giving us this playground to play in Peaches.

The First Big Al The Angels Did Say

Was for a certain poor Gooner in fields far away.

Living in Thailand for the “climate and the food,” eh Big Al? Yeah, right. We believe you.

O Little Town of Brig-le-ham

Somewhere up in Scotland, if memory serves me well. Is that right Brigham?

O Come O Come Evonnnuel

I’m not explaining this one. Even at Christmas.

Do They Know It’s Charybdis?

Once he starts laying into the purple conked Gorbalian they certainly do.

Winter Wonderman

Like the Rough Legged Buzzard and the Barnacle Goose, Wonderman is only an occasional winter visitor but it’s always nice to see him.

Silent Night

For Sharkey and 26May… who have been uncharacteristically quiet lately. Come on boys, we want to hear from you.

Mullet of Kintyre

Soon dealt with by our very own Prince of the Scissors, Mr GoonerMichael.

Have Yourself A Micky Didit Christmas

Which basically entails lots of smoked meat, healthy moorland walks and not making eye contact with the in-laws.

Joy To The Shard

Another of our super-positive Gunners this year.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Glicmas

Which basically means it’s X Rated. Sorry kids.

Mistletoe and Slime

As a newlywed, our Slim Ginger Gooner is going to be making full use of that mistletoe. Best not go into the slime bit though…

Christmas AA Alphabet

Season’s greetings to LB, PPP, VCC, JM, GN5, Kgooner, GoonerB and everyone else with a capital identity.

I Saw Three Ships

For Richie, who spends half his life swanning around the Med. And must have seen a sight more than three ships while doing so.

Rad Tidings

Which usually consist of reminding us all to keep our perspective after a bad result. Big Raddy has seen it all, done most of it and married several of it.

The Little Donald Boy

WeeDonald has been an interesting addition to AA this year. A feisty little fellow, but as stout hearted as Terry in his support of our great manager.

FrOZty The Snowman

He may be Down Under, but Oz is always an “upper” on AA.

Santa Claus, Is Tony Cummings In Town?

Santa: “No – he’s gone to Malta.”

The Double98 Days of Christmas

The world’s longest Christmas song: “On the 98th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… one Champions League title, two ‘worldie’ signings, three players mended etc etc.”

Angels: “We Have Herb On High”

“And he keeps insisting that Chapman was the best Arsenal manager ever.”

Peace on Earth

For Buddhist Steve: stay chilled Steve, stay chilled…

All I Want For Christmas

Is a Carol with a title that provides a pun for Jonathan, ArsenalForever, Goonerjake, Neamann, Adrian, Reddawn, Carlito, Tomstoned, Barum and anyone else I’ve forgotten.

Happy Boxing Day fellow AA-ers.

RockyLives

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A Merry Christmas from all at Arsenal Arsenal

December 25, 2012

 

Seasons Greetings to all our Gooner friends across the globe.

Whatever your beliefs, be it religion or 4:5:1 as opposed to 4:4:2 😛 we can join together at this time and celebrate what unites us.

COYRRG 

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Posted by Rasp

Santi has goals in his sack

December 24, 2012

I loved Andrey Arshavin when he first joined. He was always prepared to try the outrageous and had the talent to pull it off. He scored by far the greatest goal I have seen at the Emirates when he stroked in that winner against Barca – and don’t underestimate the finish, it was top drawer and he was probably the only player in the side that would have put it away.

But sadly my little Russian friend has gone off the boil and doesn’t even make our bench these days … but being a fickle fan, he has been replaced in my affections by another 5 foot 6 inches of footballing genius.

untitled

Santi Cazorla is the type of footballer that we have become accustomed to under Arsène Wenger. He’s a pocket sized bundle of football trickery. He plays the game with a smile on his face and magic in his feet.

Like AA, Santi will see 3 defenders lining up against him as an opportunity not a dead end. His vision, range of passes and ability to use both feet to equal effect are key to his success – but it should also be acknowledged that his work rate is terrific and an example to all those who play around him.

But beyond all this, the point of this short post is to highlight the fact that he is improving as a goalscorer as each year passes. He has doubled his strike rate since joining Arsenal compared to his year at Malaga.

2003 – 2006, Villareal, 40 apps, 4 goals = 0.1 goals per game

2006 – 2007, Recreativo, 34 games, 5 goals = 0.15 gpg

2007 – 2011, Villareal, 127 games, 23 goals = 0.18 gpg

2011 – 2012, Malaga, 38 games, 9 goals = 0.23 gpg

2012, Arsenal, 17 games, 7 goals = 0.41 gpg

Arsenal’s future success lies in the hands of Santi, Jack and the Ox. If they can develop the understanding of each other’s movement, to instinctively know where the other will be without needing to look up, to expect the unexpected pass when weaving into the box, then the discussions about our best choice for CF will be redundant.

Arsène’s sides have always relied on creativity from the midfield. We have a new maestro, the orchestra are just fine tuning their instruments, we can play sweet music in 2013.

Hastily written by Rasp

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Posted by Rasp

Crisis, what crisis?

December 23, 2012

As I write this Arsenal are driving back home down the motor way with three very valuable points from a tough encounter with a Wigan team fighting for their lives. These points, as I am sure you know, put us in third place and if we stay there at the end of the season we will get an even bigger trophy than we usually do from finishing forth. Not enough to warrant an open top bus driven through the streets of Islington but perhaps a mini bus decked out in red and white with a few beers in the back. Get it where you can I say, lol.

Yes, only two weeks ago people on this site and many others were calling for Wenger’s head but now we have gone three League games unbeaten the faithful can breathe a little easier. Phew.

Have you noticed Wenger’s cunning plan?

We have all heard the stories about the club offering Walcott 75k per week, just as much as we have heard the stories that he wants 100k per week, what irritates me is that some actually believe that if he were offered the 100 he would gratefully sign to Arsenal for a further five years or some such number. To you I say this; no he won’t. With Ballotelli reportedly earning 190k per week Theo’s agents are going to do their best to try and make sure some of that action comes their client’s way. Only if no other oil rich club is interested in Walcott will his agents suggest re-signing to Arsenal.

So what’s Arsene’s cunning plan. Prior to the Reading game, Walcott playing through the middle had reached almost mythical proportions. Thierry Henry was talked about in the same sentence whenever the subject of Theo at number 9 came up. It is so easy to imagine Theo’s agents talking to other clubs in excited tones about how great Theo would be playing down the middle of their club; all it would take is the same wages as Balotelli and Theo is your boy.

Wenger’s cunning plan was to simply pop the balloon. Theo was pretty good against Reading. He was quite good today but 190k a week good he was not. His close control does not put him into what? Oooh choose anyone of the Barcelona front line including those who regularly make the bench. Bringing Walcott’s real talent as a number 9 into sharp focus maybe Wenger’s best shot at keeping him..

Back to the game

According to Arteta in his post match interview, Arsenal were expecting Wigan to come onto us strong and the expectation was correct as come onto us they did. Arteta also made the point that it was easy to see that with that kind of drive and the occasional rub of the green Wigan are capable of inflicting serious damage. All in all I would say that the first half was honours even with Wigan perhaps shading it.

The second half was different; of course, from the restart Arsenal upped the pace with superb runs from the Ox down the right and the rest of the team moving the ball around with far greater urgency.

It wasn’t long before Wigan had been pinned back and a goal looked on its way. It arrived courtesy of a penalty awarded against Walcott, Theo did well to get this it must be said. Up stepped our penalty king to slot home his third in a row, one nil to the Arsenal rung out. This was the signal to Wigan to double their efforts and they almost came straight back with an equaliser. It became clear we had a nail biting twenty minutes in store. Mertersacker stood strong and Szcesney made important saves but Wigan just kept on coming. Time for Arsene to batten down the hatches and batten them down he did, throwing on every defensive player available with the only exception of Steve Bould but I am sure that thought crossed Wenger’s mind.

The end finally arrived followed immediately by a huge sigh of relief. Three points, third place, now that’s my idea of a good Christmas present.

Written by LB

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Wigan’s a Biggun ….. and where’s Myaichi?

December 22, 2012

Lose to Swansea, beat West Brom. Lose to Bradford, beat Reading. Should this continue we may be disappointed by this afternoon’s game. The need for consistency is paramount if we are to be genuine contenders.

Wigan are struggling as they often do at this time of the season; fortunately, they have a knack of picking up points close to season’s end and thus escaping relegation.

Just 80k people live in Wigan which is a testament to the brilliant job done by the management, both at team and board level. Especially as this is Rugby League country, a town where football is for nancyboys. Wigan Rugby club have been World Champions 3 times which is astonishing.

The football club will always be in the shadow of the Warriors but nonetheless are a club to be admired. Formed in 1932 they are the youngest club in the PL.  In 1995 when Dave Whelan bought Wigan they were a 4th Division team sitting 83rd in the 92 club league, yet just 10 years later they made it to the PL. Back in ’95 their average attendance was 1,800, now it is almost 19,000 – a huge success for a small club.

Unknown-1

Remember Me?

I do not  know very much about Dave Whelan but he has done a great job for his club and his support of his managers is a lesson to other trigger-happy owners. Roberto Martinez has also done well given the constraints he works under;  he is destined for bigger clubs and bigger budgets.

As to AFC: The only question is whether AW will continue with Theo playing in the middle. My guess is No – I expect to see Giroud start and Theo back on the wing but with license to venture infield. The problem with this is that Ox doesn’t start and I think he needs to get a run of games to re-establish himself, alongside Jack, as the futures of English football.

Koscielny is fit again but I cannot see AW starting him today. I believe the Kos/BFG partnership is our best CB pairing, whether Mr Wenger agrees remains to be seen.

My Team:

wigan v arse

The 5 midweek signings were a sign of the future for AFC. A sign of the media narrative – that AFC are in crisis and AW has lost support of both the fans and the dressing room, is the obsession about Theo. Please, please, please Theo either stay or go. The uncertainty must be a negative around the club – if we ask the question do you imagine his team-mates don’t? I would send Frimpong round to Dench him.

Right onto the important stuff: Today’s English Explorer. Sir Walter William Herbert (1934 – 2007). Usually our explorers are long dead but Wally Herbert was lucky enough to enjoy The Invincibles. He is described as the Greatest Polar Explorer of our Time.

Herbert , not the American Robert Peary, was the first person to walk to the North Pole – it took two years (1968/9) to complete the 3,800 mile return trip and he was forced to winter on the ice. Peary’s claims have been disputed since Herbert, as the great Polar expert, was asked to write a biography about Peary. He discovered that there were huge discrepancies in Peary’s account of his journey and that it would have been impossible for Peary to complete his walk. Thus Herbert became the first man to walk to the North Pole. Having spent 15 years living and exploring the Polar cap and in the process walked and sailed over 23,000 miles Herbert retired to become a renowned author and artist.  He was knighted in 2000.

Unknown

Beard. Moustache. Ice. Knighthood.

My hope is that the euphoria of the players surviving the End of the World scare will promote a fine performance. The Mayans have predicted 3 points.

p.s. Ryo has only played 3 games for Wigan in an injury plagued season. He is currently out with an ankle injury.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

A New Wage Distribution System at Arsenal

December 21, 2012

Anyone with children or someone of “uncomplicated taste” in their house will probably have heard of The X-Factor. This season’s contest was staggering for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there was a chap called James Arthur, and he was good. Secondly, and even more incredibly, the children and the “uncomplicated” got it right and Arthur won.

This got me thinking about the power of the Digital Vote. This thinking period also coincided with concerns I have over the way Arsenal FC allocate their pay.

As a club, we are stuck in no-man’s land. The Club wisely like to achieve CL Qualification, and let’s face it, until last season it has been a bit of a stroll in the park given the poor competition. As an end to realistic league ambition, this must severely dent the incentive of the footballers themselves.

So, and here’s the point of this post, perhaps it is time to reconsider the incentive scheme at The Club. It really does boil down to cash, unless of course, one of you bright sparks can unearth a better system, in which case I’d love to hear it.

What is in the kitty? I am not sure anyone really knows exact figures, so I’ll go ball park.

£135m paid out in total. Let’s say the total players’ pot stands at around £100m. Here’s the plan. Everyone in the first team squad is on £25k a week. Nice. They are all reasonably comfortable, have a little surplus for their jewellery, and enough orange for their wags. Tidy. This £25k is deducted from the pot. The remainder is divided equally over the total amount of games possible in a season (as we get eliminated from Cup competitions, the remaining allocation from that tournament rolls over).

The rest of the cash is performance related, and on a match by match basis. Here’s The X-factor connection. My system shall include Audience Participation. Fans simply text in their player ratings, and from these results, the pot will be divided up in accordance with the ratio of points scored.

I have done my sums here, and reckon a consistently top performer would end up on around £150k a week, while players only making the odd appearance from the bench would be hovering around the £30k a week mark.

I’m not entirely sure I can see a problem, can you, and if so how would you improve the current system?

Written by MickyDidIt89

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Posted by Rasp

Was Bradford the Worst defeat ever?

December 20, 2012

I was a young man; enjoying school and starting upon a proper social life. you know – the one that happens outside school when you meet like minded folk from other schools. And there were girls. Yes, it was more than just telling your close mates that Gail X was very attractive, it was having the nerve to go and ask Gail X for a date.

But the problem with girls was that they got in the way of football and football took up all my waking time (and most of my dreams). By this time I had realised the need for priorities in life; I knew that going to Highbury was more important than a Saturday job. I knew that listening to Radio London was more important than doing my Geography homework and I knew that Clapton was the heart, Hendrix was the soul and Tamla Motown was the feet.

What has this to do with Arsenal? Well, such a combination was sure to have it’s problems. My attachment to Arsenal was the over-riding feature of my life but girls were coming up fast on the rails. Then this happened …..

Swindon. Wembley. Saturday 15th March 1969.

Unknown

I had been going out with Gail for a few weeks. Not got much further than a bit of canoodling but I knew she really liked me and there was potential (if you get my drift 🙂  ). I had my Wembley tickets  and arranged to meet her at Golders Green station after the game.

The journey to Wembley was a victory march. Gooners were celebrating pre-match,; how could we possibly lose to a 3rd Div side? We knew the pitch was difficult but we had Ure and we had Raddy and we had Geordie Armstrong, Bob Wilson and Captain Mclintock. Hard men, experienced Internationals, men who had grown up playing on ploughed fields. You know what happened …. it went tits up.

Post game was a disconsolate walk back to Golders Green (a long way) thinking about the dreadful week to come at school. All my mates were Chelsea, West Ham or Spurs. I knew what was in store for me. I wanted to hide away – even better move to a secret Caribbean island with no contact to the outer world, just a few coconut trees and a Girl Friday. But I had Gail to look forward to.

She was waiting for me by the number 13 bus stop, the one under the railway arch – you know the place. She looked great; miniskirt, platform shoes, tight cashmere jumper and was smiling when she saw me. I was gutted, just gutted by the result. She kissed me, I didn’t respond, she kissed me again, I didn’t respond. Then she said the words that echo around my head all these years later …….  “It’s Only a Game”.

I knew immediately. There was a lightning flash of awareness, an understanding of the path my future life would follow.

“A Game?” I replied. “This is the single most catastrophic event since Adam ate the apple”

I turned and left, walking the couple of miles home. Gail phoned me many times over the next week but I was and remained cold to her charms.

How could anyone not understand the pain a defeat like that can cause to a bleed red and white Gooner? How insensitive was this woman? From this day forward I would protect myself from such callousness (well, at least for a couple of weeks!)

But what was the under-text? It was this: Whatever has happened in my life – and there have been many catastrophies and triumphs – Arsenal have always been there. The camaraderie, the  bond, the facing tribulation with common purpose.

So, when we lost to Bradford it wasn’t the worst defeat in my Arsenal history, it wasn’t even in the Top 20. Sure it hurt but the win at Reading was more important.

I have spent tens of thousands of pounds, lost girlfriends and mates, been scared witless, been hugely depressed and suffered taunts and abuse as a result of my support for Arsenal. But the joy …… the joy …..

Would I change it? To be honest there are some days when my obsession has weighed heavy and I think to myself. – “it is time to let it go” – but I know I won’t.

I made my choice when I walked away from Gail.

What was your worst Arsenal experience?

p.s. Gail later married (& divorced) a cousin of Peaches. He’s a West Ham fan ( served him right 👿  )

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Walcott to Follow Van Persie

December 19, 2012

There is a worrying trend at Arsenal of players having their best ever season for us and then immediately departing to pastures new.

Samir Nasri was always something of an enigma for us until his final season. He was capable of great runs and great goals, but was also frequently a lardy-arsed passenger in important games.

Then came the first half of the 2010-11 campaign and Samir was like a man possessed. He was arguably the best player in the EPL up to Christmas.

As it turned it out, he had been possessed: by the spectre of a huge pile of filthy wonga dripping with crude oil.

Likewise Brave Sir Robin who, last year, finally fulfilled his potential to become one of the best strikers in Europe. We had nursed him through injury after ludicrous injury so that he could achieve his destiny. But once he did he shoved all those years of support back in our faces and upped and offed to the red half of Manchester.

Hleb and Flamini both also decamped immediately after their best seasons for us.

And now it looks like Theo Walcott is about to do the same.

In just nine starts this season (plus nine more appearances as a substitute) he has already clocked up the sort of stats that it has previously taken him a whole season to amass.

In his 18 games this year he has 11 goals and 7 assists – which is a quite phenomenal return. In the whole of last season (with 41 starts and 5 sub appearances) he scored 11 and made 10 assists. The year before that, in 25 starts and 13 outings as a sub, he scored 13 and had 9 assists.

In other words, this season he is performing at least twice as well as we have become used to.

The sad thing is, Theo’s displays have all the hallmarks of yet another player busting a gut to put himself in the shop window so he can make a big pay day when he leaves.

I would love to think Theo will stay, but every sign points to him departing. I don’t believe Arsene Wenger will let him leave in January (indeed Le Boss has categorically stated that that will not happen). But a summer exit is on the cards and, if rumours are to be believed, there is every chance an unofficial deal has already been done.

It’s a depressing thought: yet another hero whom we need to boo and harass when he turns out against us in alien colours. To be honest I’m getting pretty bored of booing our exes.

Some of us regulars on AA have better relations with our ex wives than we do with our ex players (although I believe Goonermichael still boos some of his erstwhile spouses).

Against Reading on Monday Theo got his wish to play as the central striker. You could argue that Wenger’s willingness to give him a chance there is an indication that Le Boss thinks he may still sign for us.

After all, we all know Theo has said it’s not about the money – it’s about wanting to play down the middle.

In truth, I just think it shows how all the cards are with the player: Wenger has been benching him and refusing to play him centrally precisely because he knows that he is going to leave.

But in the end, none of our other central attacking options (Gervinho anyone?) have really convinced so Le Boss has had no choice but to go with Theo, even knowing it can never be a long term solution for Arsenal.

So what do you think?

Is Theo having a stellar season simply because he is putting in more effort in order to get a huge new deal elsewhere?

Are footballers really that capable of turning on the brilliance switch for such venal, materialistic reasons? I find it hard to countenance, but the facts are starting to bear out the theory.

Or is it just that Theo’s years of learning his trade have finally started to come to fruition. He is now 23 and is about to enter his prime years. We fans have watched him thrill and frustrate us in equal measure but now he is turning into what we all hoped he could be: a deadly forward with devastating pace and a clinical finish.

Just in time to b*gger off elsewhere.

RockyLives

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Santi gets his Claws into Reading

December 18, 2012

Nobody seemed prepared to predict the outcome of this one. Would The Arsenal rise from the ashes of the funeral pyre built and torched by the press since the Valley Parade debacle or would they produce another Xmas turkey of a performance?

The line-up seemed bright and attacking with a Pod, Theo, Ox combination up front. Mozart couldn’t find a space on the Conductor’s stand with Santi set to continue baton duties. The bench looked strong with Giroud and Koscielny returning after visiting Abou.

teamsheet

  • Subs  Mannone, Koscielny, Rosicky, Ramsey, Coquelin, Giroud, Gervinho

 

Arsenal began the first half in threatening mood. Chamberlain broke away in the 2nd minute, fed Santi then cheekily took the ball off the Spaniard’s toe before unleashing a fierce drive. The first five minutes were all Arsenal with only a key pass in the final third missing.

A superb cross from the Ox needed Podolski to attack the ball. This was one of the few occasions where Arsenal didn’t attack the ball coming into the box which later became a feature of tonight’s performance. Some poor defending was followed by a swift break resulting in a Podolski shot which was blocked.

Reading won a corner on 11 minutes and the deficiencies of zonal marking were clearly exposed as the Reading player attacked the ball and got in front of the static Arteta. Arsenal responded with some fine passing play. The ball went wide to Podolski who slipped the ball on to Gibbs. Podolski continued his run into the area and controlled the ball with his right on to his left, bang. Arsene and Bouldie still looked less than happy. Mind you, you can understand that after the slaughtering they’ve had this past week.

wenger and bould

Cazorla suddenly looked back to his early season form, spraying the ball around and taking pot shots given half a chance. A move involving a particularly delicious through ball to Gibbs breaking down the right, ended with another Podolski effort screwing wide of the goal.

The 21st minute gave Theo the chance to confirm and consolidate his claims to play up top, but he fluffed his lines allowing the Reading keeper to block. At the other end Sir Chez was catching the ‘impossible corners to defend ‘ from Shorey and as a result gave his defence some much-needed confidence.

Arsenal were now slipping into turbo with a great run from The Ox and a Wilshere shot after a bout of pinball in the Reading penalty box. A vague threat from the home team was snuffed out by Vermaelen and Gibbs got in a fine block. Theo found Cazorla at the far post and yet another block meant that Arsenal couldn’t capitalise on a period of virtual total dominance.

A second goal was required to cement Arsenal’s superiority and it duly came in the 32nd minute. Podolski took on his full back (what a lovely sight, that is) and sent in a great cross, Santi stooped to head into the net for a lovely goal. Late runs into the area and players getting on the end of crosses, whatever next.

santis header

A relatively uncommon sight then became the norm as Arsenal now oozed confidence. The third goal came down the right with Theo shifting the ball to give himself space to cross to Gibbs on the back post, arriving late again. Gibbs headed back into the danger zone and Cazorla swivelled to put the Gunners 3 up and cruising.

Jack’s Christmas celebrations may have to be put on hold for a few days as he received an early present of crushed nuts from McAnuff in the 39th minute. There was no malice in the challenge but studs into the groin in December are sure to make the eyes water.

jack gets it in the nuts

 The first half came to a close with an Ox run, some excellent interplay from Gibbs, Wilshere and Walcott and nearly finished with an Ox headed goal from a Sagna cross.

The second half began brightly but Arsenal’s spark seemed to dwindle as the intelligent movement off the ball started to diminish as that horrible casual ‘job done’ streak crept back into our play. We were still creating some chances though, with Theo slipped in by Jack and Santi unlucky not to latch on to the rebound.

A few minutes of Reading revival saw some good command of his area from Szczesny and the BFG was reminiscent of Beckenbauer at times with his calm interceptions and beautifully timed tackles. Even then, Walcott had another great shooting opportunity but the ball went wide.

What we needed was another goal and that’s exactly what we got after more sharp play, Jack to Podolski and a tap in for a well deserved hat trick for the man from the North Pole.

santis hattrick

Theo had a chance to make it 5 but shot straight at the keeper. Then came that moment we all dread as Arsenal fans, coasting at 4-0, Gibbs played a risky ball infield to Wishere, Jack slipped and Reading scored. Only a consolation said the commentators, but you never know.

Arsenal’s foot was well and truly off the pedal by now. If they keep the tempo up it takes the pressure off, relax and even a team whose form is as poor as Reading’s sense some uplift. The second Reading goal was utter garbage from the Gunners. The commentators delighted in reminding us of the day Dowd engineered a Geordie comeback. The options for the man on the ball had dried up and nobody was willing to kick a few backsides.

On 74’ the Ox was subbed for Ramsey. The Ox had been non-existent in the second half. Complacency? Tiredness? I’m not sure but after a fine first half it was disappointing. Bacary looked half-hearted at times going forward then with little effort to get back when the ball was lost. Passes were going backwards in our own half as if we didn’t know whether to stick or bust.

The 80th minute saw my personal prayers answered with a brilliant piece of play from Cazorla and a fine finish from Theo. Theo’s pistols were finally discharged into the Reading net and we could breathe a sigh of relief.

theo scores

A round of substitutions, a Podolski blast and a near thing for substitute Giroud saw the game out for the Gunners. The BFG had time for one last majestic interception and Vermaelen got back well when the Reading player took a fraction too long when clean through.

All in all, a fine way to go into the festive period.Reading weren’t very good opposition but you can only beat the team in front of you, so upwards and onwards to a lunchtime date with Wigan. I’m looking forward to going already. Please can we play like we did in the first half for the whole 90 minutes. Please.

Santi took the ball home after a fine hat trick and man of the match performance.

santi gets the match ball

Ratings

Szczesny– Looked commanding from any aerial threat and didn’t stand much chance with either of the goals……7

Mertesacker – Majestic. Calm and assured, admittedly against a limp attack……8

Vermaelen – Much better from Tommy after his Yorkshire nightmare……7

Sagna – Got forward well, looked a little slack 2nd half and seemed to be arguing with TV5 at the final whistle….7

Gibbs – Supported Podolski really well in the first half. His two assists were balanced out by a poor pass to gift Reading the glimpse of a lifeline. …..7

Wilshere – Jack was excellent in the first half, then seemed to stop showing for the ball once the team believed they’d already won  …..8

Arteta – Effective, reliable. Allows Jack and Santi to play …….8

Cazorla – Magnificent and back to his best with a deserved hat trick …..9

Podolski – Much much better from Lukas. Took his goal superbly and looked dangerous on the left flank with two assists…..8

Walcott – Theo’s pace and subsequent threat seemed to occupy Reading all night. Could have had several more goals. Sign da ting Theo…..7

 The Ox – Great first half. Perhaps he tired in the second. Lovely to see him build as the season progresses…..7

Subs

Giroud – Nearly scored as a late sub….7

Ramsey – Added some drive…..7

Coquelin – Brought on to give Santi a standing ovation …..7

Written by chas

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