Le Grove

Our excellent start to the season continued with a one nil victory over West Ham. Not an entirely convincing performance but you have to say, if this was last year that would have been a draw or possibly even a loss.

I managed to catch the game down the pub which was heavily weighted in favour of West Ham fans. In fact, I think I was the only gooner™, well the only gooner™ willing to get involved in a bit of banter!

The game had some nervy moments but overall a pretty dominant Arsenal performance. I would write a match report, but I know my literary limitations. Find the reports here, here and here.

Instead of a match report I’ll just give you a quick summary of the performances.

Freddie watch:

He caught the Flamster napping after 4 minutes and nipped through one on one against big Al at which point I had a “red head Freddie” flash back and saw him bury, but lucky for us big Al was quickest off the line. In the second half there was a comical moment when Freddie was played through on goal, he buried his shot and it looked like the equaliser. Queue pandemonium in the pub, twenty west ham fans slapping me on the head, shouting abuse at me, chanting obsceneitys at me… then, as my head briefly rose to look at the screen - my savioiur had arrived in the shap of a orange and yellow chequered flag!

Queue my leap into the air, much fist punching plus some hysterical madman laughter. It felt good to get that off my chest at the time, but it did leave me feeling pretty insecure for the rest of the game.

The rest of the match Freddie did what Freddie has done best since 2002, he picked up the ball, ran 50 yards and hit the nearest defender hoping for a free kick.

Keeper Watch:

Big Al was at his best today, making two tremendous early saves from Freddie and Ashton. His kicking was good all game and he claimed some important crosses. He is did a good job and showed no signs of his erratic decision making. Has he made his claim on the number one permanently?

Have your vote in the graham*.

*Poll

Senderos Confidence watch:

He was shaky to say the least. I don’t know what’s happened to the beast of a defender we had 2 seasons ago? He hasn’t been the same since the Drogba games? If that is still the issue he needs to get over it fast. He was poor in the air today and his passing was off. I lost count of the amount of needless free kicks he gave away. We need a confident Sederos back or we will have to look at Gilberto.

I just hope Wenger doesn’t play him long enough for him costs us a game, like he did with Jens earlier in the year. It is becoming more and more apparent that we sent the wrong Swiss defender out on loan.

Moan of the Match:

Well the decision was unanimous, Mark Noble your wreckless challenge takes the award.

Your tackle on Hleb was calculated, dangerous and it showed you up for what you are, a poor mans Flamini. I read a crazy article the other week on one of those 400 articles a day sites; sportingo I think it was? The article suggested Mark Noble was the best young player in the Prem; yes better than Cesc…

Do me a favour.

Striker Watch:

Adebayor had a strong game causing problems with his pace and power; he also had a hand in the set-up for Van Persie header. RVP had an improved game; getting up well for another very un-Arsenal goal and hitting the post with a Bergkamp-esque curler.

Injury Watch:

Wenger is optimistic on Hlebs return and said nothing on Ade. Speedy returns for both please!

And in other news:

Drogba was sent off, Terry broke his cheekbone and Chelsea; under the leadership of managerial legend Avram Grant, drew 0-0. Oh and the Chelsea fans booed them off the pitch.

Doesn’t it make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

Finally, Thierry Henry banged in a superb hat trick for Barca in their 4-1 victory over Levante. Well played Thierry!

So another tough game, another good win - the Arsenal Premiership title train roles on, next stop, the Champions league!

A merry morning to you all!

I’ll start today’s blog with some opinion on Usmanov. I for one am very bored of the story, I think the beast of an oligarch needs to show his hand and if recent quotes are anything to go by he needs to show a good hand because his PR is failing miserably.

It seems the board are united and reluctant to sell their beloved Arsenal to a bit part star wars actor, no matter how much money he has accrued in royalties. Its interesting that Stan the man has stopped hoovering up shares? Is it because his interest has waned, or is it because Jabba has been paying way over the odd’s?

Anyway, sign up to the petition, its your duty! Links to your right ->

Wenger talks about how Thierry told him it was over; I know how Claire feels now, what a choker. He also flirts with the idea of spending some money at some point in the next 10 years. Don’t talk rubbish Arsene, you big spend thrift you! He also has a sly dig at Chelsea’s Ronnie ambitions.

Onto the big match today!

Its bogey team time and my guts have been turning all morning. I hate playing West Ham. They have the greatest fans in the world when things are going well but a sniff of a bad season and they are no where to be seen, until of course… they play Arsenal. Cuntbags.

We were done twice last season; the second time was the worst. I think it is actually in the record books as the most one sided game in history that was lost? It actually replaced the 2005 cup final!

This year I think things will be different.

West Ham have spent a shed load of cash on some interesting players. Kieron Dyer was a notable addition, followed by our beloved Freddie.

Note to West Ham Board:

Signing the worlds most injured player was a dumb move, signing the worlds second most injured player to replace him while he is out injured was surely dumber.

Freddie said some pretty spiteful things about Arsenal in the summer, but I put it down to jilted lover syndrome. Of course we’re not ambitious darling and your new ugly football club is way better ours. However, I forgive him after he made amends in this article earlier in the week it turns out Arsene has too.

West Ham have been playing some pretty average football this year, and I received this text message from a West Ham fan on Thursday,

I fear Saturday. If we play like we did last night I’m going to have to go into hiding Saturday night because you are going to spank our bums so hard they’ll be the colour of your shirts!! Even Flamini has a chance of a first career hatrick!!

Don’t worry Grovers, he was fully chastised for mocking the Flamster. I also asked why his bum turns white when he gets spanked, hammers eh?

I think it is finally time to lay our demons to rest. The new team needs to go about their business as usual, clinical and efficient. It feels like every game this year is one that I call a turning point, but this game for me is the penultimate turning point before we play Bolton.

I am predicting victory dances, 15 texts at full time to tearful hammers and loads of Monday morning smugness.

Come on boys, give us back our bragging rights!

That’s what Freddie said when he left us, or something like ‘I’m going to a club that’s going places and is ambitious, unlike Arsenal’

This is coming from an injury prone has been that scored 1 premiership goal in two seasons.

We loved you Freddy, but you bad mouthed us and for me that’s unacceptable.

So eat pie, very humble pie, just like John Hartson did, only not as much pie.

Another notable injury prone ex Arsenal player, and Arsene’s first English signing is Upson, as injury prone but no bad mouthing, so good luck Matty.

Big, big game this, as these were the no-hopers last season that we couldn’t beat, so big barometer I think.

I listened to West Ham yesterday, Freddy was anonymous and the team was lucky to beat Plymouth so there are no excuses.

Check out the injury news here, a bit of Almunia talk here and a bit of chat from my one to watch, Henri Lansbury here.

Arsene Wenger delivers his opinions on the soul of English football here. Arsene has been particularly chatty since getting his brand spanking new column in the Sun!

I came back from the Airport with a Chelsea supporting cab driver who thinks we’ll storm the league if we keep this up, have to agree there, but it was amusing when he said that money didn’t buy them back to backs, so he got educated big time.

Just had the Arsenal accounts delivered and they make for very smug reading.

With the lock out rolling over for another year Tango man and his mates have to wait until April 2009 to do anything, do you think Red & White will pay his salary for that long? I mean he won’t have anything to do for nearly two years and by then we’ll be debt free and have Stan’s shares in the bag, with more money to spend on players than Chelsea.

Watched Liverpool struggle against the Reading reserves and to be honest would not feel as scared to go to Anfield as I did last season… When we won 6-3!

I was a big advocate of signing two wingers and a centre back pre-season, still am a bit, but I tried thinking who I would buy come January? Apart from Goofy, there really isn’t anyone and we have £70mil to spend.

Being an Arsenal fan can sometimes be a bummer.

Bring it on WHU!

Good morning Grovers; and what a fine one it appears to be, the sun is shining, the Mancs are crying and Martin Jol will be in his job for at least another week! Could things be any better?

Well they could.

An injury to Blogger Geoff means I will be taking over the Le Grove captaincy for a while. Its rumoured the injury was a groin strain, so how long I’ll be in charge for is indefinite to say the least. Get well soon Blogger Geoff.

Onto things of a more footballistic (sic) nature.

It seems my suggestion of Gilberto leaving Arsenal was wide of the mark, well at least if Gilberto has anything to do with it. I really hope Wenger has a long term plan for him. Myles Palmer gives his insider take on the matter.

Harry Redknapp has uncovered the truth. The truth about what makes Arsenal tick. Read this shocking news article to find out more.

For a more comical read, please take a look at this article on how the Manc’s gamble on youth backfired spectacularly last night. Jeez Sir Alex, if Arsene Wenger jumped off a bridge would you follow?

And in other, semi related news - semi related because I want to put my, “I told you so” comments out there, read what Curtis “The cure to Arsenal’s defensive woes” Davies had to say about his performance last night.

“I was just awful. I didn’t contribute anything. I’ve been bigging myself up, saying I’m ready and obviously I’m not. I’m not good enough to get in the team yet. I’m honest with myself in every performance and that was rubbish - I looked like a pub team player.”

Yes you did young Curtis.

And finally, sources close Nikki Bendtner claims the striker is tipping himself for an early Oscar nomination:

“Nikki watched Forest Whitaker’s performance in the last King of Scotland and thought he was wank, he reckons his post match interview with Arsenal.com was way better”.

Read the transcript from that interview here.

Happy Groving.

Well, Bendtner big Bollocks, it appears you read yesterdays blog and took heed. Only one goal though… seriously?

What can I say about yesterdays performance that hasn’t already been said a thousand times on the feeds this morning!

FANTASTIC!

I won’t go into the ins and outs of the performance but I will have a quick player reveiw:

Fabianski:

Commanded his area excellently all game, he caught every single cross and his distribution, bar one kick was exceptional. He rolls the ball out to the the flanks almost as soon as he catches the ball , it caught Newcastle out a few times yesterday. He also made a great save at the near post from an Oba’ header. One for the not to distant future I feel.

Hoyte:

Solid most of the game, had a few decent runs. I like Hoyte and think he is a solid foil for Sagna.

Song:

Boy did I shit my pants when I saw his name on the team sheet. I came in at half time most unimpressed but I think I had my song stained glasses on because everyone else thought he played well. In the second half he played very well bar one poor clearance. He does go about his business in a very uninterested way? Still, two solid performances in a row. Well played.

Senderos:

Now, I am a fan of Senderos. Anyone who plays in a defence that keeps 8 clean sheets in the champions league on the way to the final is a good player. However, last night… he was shite. He missed headers, his passing was crap and he must have comically fallen over about 8 times. Then in about the 86th minute oba broke free, rounded the keeper and Senderos tracked back to make a dramatic clearance! What a save! He righted his wrongs in a second… Hopefully he can kick on from that!

Traoré:

Fucking excellent. His physical presence has doubled over the summer, he looks a real menace going forward and his defending was good too. Arsenal seem to be Europe’s premier left back production unit. His crossing was out of this world yesterday!

Theooooo:

His play was patchy. Moments of genius, followed by a poor pass. He grew with the game yesterday, and one thing is for sure… he gets bums off seats! When he surges forward, the crowd have the same anticipation they used to when Thierry and Pires took players on. I am looking forward to seeing what he can offer this season. Anyone questioning his potential or ability needs to take this into account:

HE IS 18!

Eboue:

A good performance. He is fast and has quick feet and will always cause the opposition problems. If he gets his shooting boots on, he will be a real asset on the wing this season.

Denilson:

Rough in the tackle, and calm on the ball. He is like a mini Cesc, except he is taller and more powerfully built. His passes strayed a bit, but he is only young;I expect him to be as effiecient as Fab4 which is ridiculous. The goal was amazing though, I was at the perfect angle to see him hit it, and if he’d hit it another inch to the right, I would have taken the shot in the face. A good performance.

Diarra:

A humorous song was sung about Diarra leaving Chelsea because Cashley was making him feel uncomfortable in the changing rooms. It was very funny, a shame I have forgotten it?

I digress!

What a good little player. Tenacious, fast, incredibly strong on the ball and he has the ability to play himself out of tight situations. Kind of in a PV04 kind of way? He looks like a faster, stronger more productive version of Gilberto. I think we could see more of Gilberto in defence if last nights showing was anything to go by?

Diaby:

Came on late, but worth a mention. He changed the game for me. When Diaby came on, Newcastle started panicking. He is another big player who is very skilful. His tackling was good last night and his attacking play was much more decisive than normal.

Eduardo:

Worked hard all night and deserved a goal. He draws defenders out wide and he has a great touch. He also linked up well with BBB. From a corner in the second half he some how managed to turn this header towards the top corner; it is amazing how he seems to fashion chances out of nothing.

Bendtner Big Bollocks (BBB):

He certainly lived up to his “Balon D’or” candidate billing. I thought his play and work rate was brilliant yesterday. He is surprisingly nimble on his feet for a big lad. His header was the type of goal Arsenal have been lacking for ten years, and it made up for the earlier header he missed. I love the arrogance of the player and hope he fulfils his potential and becomes an asset to Arsenal.

In conclusion, a great performance.

I think Sam Allardyce deserves the sack. I may call into Talk shite this evening and see if I can spark a debate?

Enjoy the rest of your day fellow grovers!

What a week for the Gooners™?

• Mourinho gone…

• Jol on the Way…

• Spurs in the bottom 3…

• Arsenal Top of 3 tables – The Premiership, The Champions League and the rich list…!

I could go on, but I wouldn’t want to come across boastful.

It all feels a touch surreal, but it goes to show, Arsene knows as do the board. Does anybody else get the feeling that Arsenal refused to respond to talk of financial meltdown this summer to gain some sort of transfer market advantage? Like the friend who claims to be skint in the hope you’ll let them off a round in the pub?

Just before I get stuck into my thoughts on the Newcastle game, I want to express my feelings on Talk Shite’s breakfast show. I have listened to their show all summer; talking of the doom and gloom surrounding Arsenal. How we won’t compete with Spurs (hahahahah), how we can’t compete financially with anyone, how we don’t have the muscle and that Arsene Wenger is a certainty to leave.

We are now a couple of months into the new season and we are the flavour of the month. How can every pundit be so categorically incorrect with their preseason predictions? How can they be so wrong, all of the time and we as the listeners, still listen and even bother to phone in!

The latest trash they were talking this morning was that Spurs missed out on a great opportunity to break into the top 4… at Chelsea’s expense! DO ME A FAVOUR! Not in a million years. I would put my house on Chelsea finishing inside the top 3 this year… Did I just have a bit of a Myles Palmer moment there?

Speaking of Myles “I heard a rumour” Palmer; he’s another one. I love his site and I know that I am in a minority amongst many of my Gooner™ chums. Seriously though Myles, how wrong were you? About everything to do with Arsenal this summer! What happened to the two transfers we were expecting at the last minute? What happened to Kroenke? Where was your inside knowledge about Usmanov? What about the Fizmeister selling up because he is spent with Arsenal? Dear oh dear!

Anyway, onto the interesting stuff!

I tend to get more excited about Carling cup games these days. More so than prem games against lower standard opposition, like Derby. I am looking forward to seeing the next generation of Arsenal children! I was hoping to see Fran Merida in the starting line up, but from what I have read so far it is going to be a fairly strong team.

It will be interesting to see how Diarra fits in; he looked pretty tasty for the ten minutes he came on at the weekend. I would guess that he is the replacement for Gilberto, with talk rife today of his impending departure. I must say, I would be very disappointed to see a player of the Brazilians calibre leave, especially taking into account his loyalty and form last season. However, with the Flamsters talent finally coming to fruition, the emergence of Diaby, the added competition of Diarra and Song, it is looking likely someone is going to have to leave.

Let me give you a suggestion Arsene, SONG, SONG, SONG, SONG, SONG! Although, it pains me to say it, he did look ok on Saturday.

Bendtner big bollocks is looking like a starter tonight and based on his own self proclaimed talent I expect nothing less than a 4 goal haul. I would expect Dudu to start alongside the precocious Danish talent. I am also excited about Fabianski starting in goal. I have read a lot of good things about him, and with Almunia failing to impress it would be nice to see a solid performance from the next Polish number one.

Check the squad out here.

Onto matters fat and grotesque, BFS (Big Fat Sam) was talking about how the big 4 missed a trick by not signing Owen, the point was emphasised by Talk Shite. Oh how I chuckled when I saw him limp off at the weekend. No one missed a trick BFS and just to make you feel better, Talk Shite were questioning your handling of his return to injury!

Anyway, I am feeling confident! Come on you gooners™!

I just watched the Seville game again and what struck me was the movement and the chasing down every ball in packs, fabulous, I really think we can do something this season, we look so good.

Shame about the Chelsea coach, who’s name I’ve already forgotten.

When he was wasting 100 million a season, he said spending money was irrelevant and didn’t guarantee success, so when he loses to Villa, he says they will take points off the big boys as they spent a lot of money, tosser (now I remember his name).

The Champions league game they had against the unstoppable Norwegian giants showed what a load of glory hunters their fans are, 24,000! Says it all really, I think we had more than that for the training session open day.

It couldn’t happen to a nicer side, well maybe Top4tottenham but at least they fill their ground though.

I’m really looking forward to the Derby game, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bendtner, Walcott and Diarra start, I have a horrible feeling though that we’ll see Song in for big Phil, I hope not.

With West Ham and Sunderland next up after Derby, we should really try and put the points on the board, wonder what Freddy’s thinking? As he left us for an ambitious team that’s going places.

I’d also like to knock fat obnoxious Sam out of the Carling cup, so I hope he doesn’t pick too young a side for that one.

I reckon on a big score tomorrow say 5-0.

Usmanov, you’re nothing more than a thug and a small minded bully and Dein is your pathetic poodle who is now hated by most Arsenal fans.

Let me begin by congratulating Arseblog and Goonerboy for standing up to the playground bully boy tactic currently being used by Usmanov and his pathetic poodle Dein.

Good on you bloggers, keep it up.

David Dein, I met you a long time ago and thought you were a good guy, now all you seem to want to do is de-stabilise the team when they’re on a run, and spoil our day in the sun. We’re top of the Premiership and about to start our Champions league games, and all you want to do is cause us problems.

Blog sites are the internet version of speakers corner, they allow supporters to rant and have an opinion, we are not the national press. We are part of the process that allows supporters to have some light hearted fun, you appear to want to stop all that.

In my opinion Usmanov has no interest in anything other than making money, the current Arsenal board are more interested in building an even greater club and money is not their prime motivator.

You have lost the fans, Usmanov never did and never will have them. So tell him to fuck off as well.

I am a shareholder and I would sooner eat my shares than sell them to you and your henchman.

When you sold yours, you no longer had a say, so fuck off and leave us alone.

Threatening to sue the blog sites is narrow minded and cowardly, this is England, if Usmanov wants to threaten people then he should fuck off back to Russia, where that is the norm, here it’s not.

Dein If you learned anything from your time with Arsenal it’s that we are at our best when our backs are against the wall.

If you find something in this you can sue, bring it on there are millions of fans out there that will back the bloggers.

To the Arsenal board, if we didn’t support you before, we do now.

This blog, by the way, always did.

As we beat top4tottenham to a pulp and Bent showed how dangerous he is (to the yiddos chances of finishing top 4)

The redtops have run out of nice things to say, so they invent a Stan Kroenke story.

Let me tell you why this is bollocks.

1) He fell out with Tango man, if he didn’t he would have bought his shares.

2) If he sold to the Russian, he would lose face in his own country.

3) Arsenal will be unveiled as the world’s second richest club shortly, so why would he sell now? and if he did, why would he sell to someone he doesn’t trust or like any more.

My view is he will either sell to the Arsenal board (the current one) or sit tight and team up with Fizman.

We are top of the league and playing great football, so why on earth would anyone want to change that.

In my view the redtops should fuck off and start writing about top4tottenham’s problems and not inventing ours.

Next premiership game is Derby at home, West Ham away , Sunderland and Bolton at home which suggests we can really open a decent gap at the top before we play Liverpool.

This is such a great time to be an Arsenal fan.

Next up Seville, perhaps Dein and his new Russian friend should buy them, it would make sense Tango man and Seville oranges.

Europe here we come!

Yeah sure they did! So now the 49ers (thats what they spent in millions) are 11 points behind, haven’t beaten us in 19 games and by the time we play them again, 9 years, and have propelled us to top of the league for the first time in three years.

God I hope they don’t sack the fat clown Martin Jol.

I watched his post match interview, he said we had the luck and should have put the game out of reach, no wonder his chairman hates him, he’s blind as well as fat and stupid.

What I can’t understand is why Levy let him spend over 40 mil on average players that everyone knew weren’t worth anywhere near that and then wants to sack him.

He’s as stupid as Jol, only not blind and nowhere near as fat. I did say stupid though, right?

Fantastic team performance though Diaby missed a sitter and does have lapses of concentration at times, but I think more games will straighten that out.

Adebayor needed to score after missing an even easier chance just after, but then made amends with two fantastic goals.

Cesc appears to get better as the season goes on, year by year I’d expect but game by game??? Boy are we lucky to have him.

I was suicidal for the first half but this team just don’t give in do they?

Bring Eduardo back for Seville and give Bendtner an airing or he’ll get stale.

I can’t wait for Seville and will watch them on Sky tonight to see what we have coming.

Well done the boys, I really think we can go all the way now.

Oh did you see he brought Song on for the last few minutes! He couldn’t resist could he? still I’ll forgive him that!

Update

I just listened to those three muppets on MOTD and all they talked about were the top4tottenham misses, wankers.

We had 8 shots on target they had 2. The chances they missed were Berbatov being tackled by Kolo, Clichy clearing off the line and 16mil Bent scuffing one, two out of those three were long balls, but they never mentioned that.

Can we all chip in and buy some shampoo for Berbatov, I don’t think they wash their hair in Bulgaria do they! He certainly hasn’t since he’s been here.