… we’ve made it to 40 points. We’re not getting relegated this year Grovers. Phew…!
So what about the game? Well, it was a pretty damn fine way to sign off the decade. In true Arsenal fashion we knocked the ball about like a training exercise and conceded a sloppy goal. Vintage Arsenal you’ve got to say!
It’s funny, most Arsenal fans are calling for the coach to sign a striker despite us scoring a record number of goals. I’m not disagreeing, I think with the right signing in the middle we could score even more goals, however, I think a centre back as cover is more essential.
So the team lined up the same as it did for Villa minus Denilson who was replaced by Rambo.
The first five minutes weren’t the best. We struggled to get a hold of the game and after a Song slip we could have been one down as Piquionne forced a neat save from Almunia.
Eduardo had a couple of chances that he failed to snatch at like he normally would. What I found amusing about this was the way in which the commentators were talking about him like he’d just hit 36 and lost his game… it was like they were talking about a dead person, like they truly believe after a bad patch, it was all over for the Crozillian.
Little did they know. Eduardo skillfully picked out ex-Spud Kaboul and smashed a dead ball at him causing the perfect ricochet into the bottom corner, he even managed to use a mind trick to render Hreidarsson inactive on the post he was marking. Two fingers up to the commentary box… Eddy was back. No goals from freekicks in ninety two and half weeks, then three in so many games… like buses, or parking tickets!
It didn’t take Eduardo long to cause more problems for Pompey. He picked up a floated pass from Song, cut it back to Ramsey who laid it off for Nasri who drilled it back across Begovic’s goal. 2-0 and Arsenal were cruising like a 67 year old lottery winner (On a boat, not for sex you dirty perverts).
Arsenal came out for the second half knowing the game was done and dusted. Sky were still trying their hardest to convince us otherwise. Well, it didn’t take long for us to deliver the hammer blow. Rambo won the ball in midfield, cut inside that useless excuse for a striker Pompey have and smashed the ball from 20 yards past the flailing hand of Pompey’s number two.
Arsenal then hit the switch off button. Passes started getting sloppy, we lost a little shape and before we knew it, Belhadj slipped into the box unnoticed and scored.
After that we witnessed Almunia flap at a cross. Kind of an expectation these days, still, he is the captain, we must learn to forgive.
Arsenal decided it was time to finish off the decade with something unexpected. Song masterfully kicked the ball against his foot and played it out wide to Nasri… the Frenchman spotted Song at the back post, floated a perfect cross which was met by a perfect header! Yep, Song scored a goal and a very good one at that.
The game still had time to see the introduction of Rosicky, Vela and Eastmond.
The slight south Londoner gave away a cheap corner which Almunia did his best to concede from… he then went up the other end and nearly scored. A pleasing 9-10 minutes and nice to see Wenger blooding a member of the Brit pack!
So, there we have it, Arsenal football club have just red carded the last decade with a superb 4-1 victory over a team we’ll probably never see in the Premiership again. We’ve bagged over 50 goals in the first half of the season and we’re still in the hunt for three types of silverware. Things are looking good and come January, with some intelligent purchasing, we could find ourselves in the hunt come March. This is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan and a happy time to mix it in our comments section (if you haven’t given it a go, make it your new years resolution)!
Ratings:
Almunia: Looked like a frightened rabbit as he chewed this inside of his mouth in the tunnel. George Bush used to do that when he was lying. It’s a shame that I’d probably prefer ol’ George in goal at the moment, even after I watched him duck that Iraqi shoe. Sorry, I digress… not a great performance. 6
Sagna: Why oh why do we let him get forward. Watching him cross offends me. It’s embarrassing that after three years of world class training at our prestigious club, he still hasn’t mastered it. He defended ok. I suppose that’s his job. 6.5
Vermaelen: A solid performance from him. He was part of the trio that forgot to track for the goal, but he can be forgiven as he’s my favourite. 7
Gallas: A solid performance from him. Where the hell was he looking when he should have been tracking Bell-boy for the goal? 6.5
Traore: A bit of dodgy game from ex-Pompey legend, Armand ‘Knuckle-duster’ Traore. His passing was as weak as Chinese baby milk and if I’m honest, I think that long ball to Theo went to his head a little. His tackling and concentration were also a little off today. 6
Song: Song, Song can do no wrong. That’s what I sing to myself when Geoff goes to grab a beer. He slipped over once and made few dodgy passes. However, he started the move for the Eduardo goal and I’m pretty certain he scored one of the best headers of the game in the second half. He also showed a few flashy pieces of skill, especially the one when he brought the ball down, turned it inside and duffed his shot. A good game from a man who talks in the opposite way to Adebayor. 8
Diaby: Well, I don’t have a song for Diaby… nothing rhymes, bar Abu Dhabi. However, if I did have a song about him, it would be a nice one. He played very well today. He’s getting the ball out of his feet early, distributing it to people on his own team and boy can this man run! He’s starting to play with consistency, now all he needs to do is prove his fitness over more than 5 games. 7.5
Nasri: It was all going so well for Samir untill he fell on his hand and started bitching like a little girl. What does that magic spray do? Anyone know? Does it cure hangovers? Anyway, bar his whinging, he played solidly. He bagged his first goal this season and he manged to chalk up an assist for the Song goal. Teeing something up perfectly enough for Song to score is almost deserving of 2 assists. A good game away from home. 8.5
Rambo: Again, it was all going well until his interview. I thought he was Welsh? He sounded more confused than one of those illegal cab drivers when I tell them where I want to go at 4 in the morning. A good job he’s a footballer, not a public speaker. A top effort from him today. His passing was predictably erratic but his talent is in no doubt. He’s bulked up so he doesn’t get bullied out of games and he is sharp and incisive when given the chance. The way he took his goal was superb, winning it in midfield, cutting in and smashing home like Stevie Me himself. That’s talent I’m happy to wait for… 7
Eduardo: I’m surprised SSN didn’t run a career obituary for him before the game. Still, it’s nice when the pundits get it horribly wrong in the space of 15 minutes. He’s never going to be great in that wide position, but he’s got an eye for goal and more importantly, an eye for a cheeky pass. He’s feeling his way back into Premiership football and only a fool would write him off. 7
Arshavin: If he wasn’t so amusing to watch on the pitch, I’m sure I’d have more negative things to say about his game. I do love him. He’s got a certain spark only a few players have, but through the middle, I feel he’s wasted. He doesn’t have the chance to run at players and it’s very easy to knock him off the ball. The sooner we can get a big striker in to relieve him of the burden, the sooner we can see the little Russian working some proper magic. 6.5
A word from the admin team…
This is the last post from Le Grove in 2009. I just want to reiterate Geoff’s Christmas message.
This year, we’ve accrued 1.5million more visits than the last, proving Le Grove is recession proof. We’ve registered nearly half a million comments since we went live and I don’t think there has ever been so many Grovers from so may different parts of the world interacting on the site daily.
Le Grove has truly developed into the best place on the web to talk football, bar none… and it’s all down to you, the Grovers! So thank you kindly. We truly appreciate the fact you put your employment, relationships and social lives on the line everyday to engage in football talk and for that we’ll continue to serve up more finely balanced articles and a whole lot more for you in the New Year!
So, it’s that time of year again and without wanting to sound like a nag can I just suggest that you drink yourself stupid tonight… you wouldn’t want to remember how embarrassing you were in the morning!
Happy New year!
Geoff + Pedro
Fireworks or sea urchins?
Sharkey, well done mate….you lasted less than one day.
Surely you must have realised that the rules don’t apply to Geoff, cos it’s his blog?
Thanks for the blog throughout the year, Geoff and his sidekick (only joking Pedro).
Not sure I’d wear “journo” as a badge of pride though.
No peds did. Ive been tring to post all day.
Phew….. Finaly
On second thought something wrong with something. I cannt see my comments.
OK, Im off too, See u next year
landsbury extension, he apears to have a long term future at the club i hope he can start spme prem games next season.
Happy new year guys
Chozzer he just can’t help himself, the reason I got abusive to the other prick was he called you all Song haters.
That simply isn’t true, but he started getting abusive, then Sharkey started the digging out again because of that so I’ve had enough, it’s Pedro that lets him on, not me.
Samir the only way I could see Vermy starting is if silvestre is at right back, I can’t see anyone who’s in the first team squad every weeks but not a regular not starting for game, so for me silvestre is a definite, along with vela, ramsey and fabianski
Geoff, I think Pedro lets him on because he’s always got something interesting to say, but hey, as i said, it’s your blog.
Happy New Year to Pedro too…………
A,
Boss takes FA cup seriously. He always plays his best squad. I don’t think so he will break center back combination other than for injuries.
I was reading some of the many “Club by Club transfer possibilities” blogs out there, and every time I come to Pompey and see they are going to offload 80% of their team, maybe we should loan them our whole reserve squad so they can get PL action. heh
And by the way everyone the West Ham game will be on ITV1
Nice avatar chozzer
Happy New Year Geoff and Pedro and all Le-groovers
I always read the great stuff we got here right from the heart of the grove, even tho being continents away.
You guys are all red and white and that’s all that matters. Cheers and here’s to winning the treble in 2010. We’ll then call it the year of Arsenal’s Treble.
Happy new year Geoff, 5 months to go before we see who’s right.
Rest assured if it goes Arsenals way I’ll have to join the queue in dressing up in womens clothes because that’s what I like doing.
Anyway keep doing what you do best, telling the truth and keeping pricks like me in the bin, which is where I’m going now!
Good evening everyone
Happy New Year to all Le Grovers
Geoff & Pedro, another year passes by, another year of reading top notch posts day in, day out, incredible..
I truly wish you both and all Le Grovers a peaceful and ‘very silver’ 2010
Happy new year gooners
Lets hope wenger can pull huntelaar, gignac or even benzema out of his hat in the new year.
The benzema situation in particular reminds me so much of the henry one when he went off to juventus and was then sold to arsenal only 6 months later after flopping.
Hello! Happy New Years!! Wish you guys the best!
On a side note… Does anyone else think that RVP is one of the most underrated players out there?
Happy New year Grovers
Thank you Geoff and Pedro, I always keep up to date with you guys and usually only comment when i’m steaming so sorry for that. BIG BIG 2010 to The Arsenal love to my brother Gooners
Cotto how is Benzema situation anything like Henry at Juve?! Benzema starts more or less every game, and has scored and set up a fair few goals, no chance of them letting him go, he’s hardly flopped, just not been as good as Ronaldo!
You never know though, if they get Torres in the summer should Liverpool fail to make the top 4, a swap with clichy could be on the cards!
Really no idea who could or will come in, gignac is the only one that seems plausible, but not seen enough of him, dzeko is unrealistic and I wouldn’t want him anyways, chamakh seems to have ruled himself out, carlton cole is injury prone and would be pricy, adriano has question marks over his temperament and attitude, huntelaar just isn’t very good, and his confidence is at an all time low, saha injury prone, not sure what other rumours there’ve been?!
Kreshnik, Maksud, Tenerife and Rico, Happy New Year to you all, see you next year!
Brady’s right foot, man you’re weird, but funny all the same!
Happy new year all you grovers who aren’t out on the piss.
I’m on the piss but here for another 15 Michael, Happy New Year to you too!
Hi A
Agree that KB has not been as big a flop as henry was at juve, but he has hardly set the world alight.
Higuain is ahead of him in the pecking order now, i watch a lot of la liga on sky and he does just seem to fit in there.
He would have been a monster for man utd with rooney linking with him.
So thank heavens he did not end up there.
*not fit in
Gotta agree there Cotto, if Utd had gotten him we’d be buggered! I agree that he hasn’t set the world alight, Ronaldo and Kaka are the real top dogs, and Higuain has been sensational this season, but he’s still doing pretty well, and although I wouldn’t be surprised if they were willing to let him go in the summer, I can’t see them letting him go now as he’s still first choice, not to mention the fact they’d want what they paid at least, which was silly moneys!
Happy new year all!! have a mean arse headache!!! anyway what a game it was apart from the commentators trying to & wishing that Pompey would come back!!! i just have to say i really gotta eat my word in regards to Diaby & Song, Song the most cause he has really developed and i get a wee bit excited when he gets the ball! anywayz im gonna go back to bed cause im rooted!
Great site and even tho i havent posted for a while now i still read every post and it has become routine!! Solid lads very solid!! take it easy all! and look forward to 2010!
We signed anyone yet
Happy new year to all grovers world wide!!
Still sober bah !!!
Happy new year to everyone at Le Grove!*
*Except Ethan, who is a knob
Happy New Year All.
Are you pissed yet Irish?
sky,s the rabbit,!!
Happy new year all you Gooners!
May your God, or not depending on your beliefs, bring you all you desire in 2010. All we can ask for is our health if we are honest because at least that leaves our fate in our own hands.
But bollocks to that, let’s all pray for the Champions Leaguie and the Premier League for 2010 and relegation for the cunts up the road!
We are all Gooners at heart, even if some of your opinions are complete tosh and not worth atuppence (lol).
hny to all those who bleed red & white!
The last message was sponsored by Tattinger and Stolichnaya!
Listen all i can say is .believe this could be the moment of wengers truth!
Mike, you can’t handle the truth!!!!!
1st of january 2010 reality arsenal its gone a happen!
lol, Mike, WTF are you actually saying???? Not you being (too) ambigous, but I can’t work it out.
Zorro you will comprehend in due course!!
lol, hanging completely here, are you saying AW will be proved to be a genius (flawed, as all)??
Do You believe! if so watch this space!
Spoke to Tom Watt at the Villa match my opinion is as toms!
lol, Mike, stop being so fucking cryptic and spit it out, if you and Lofty share the same opinion, let’s all have the chance to disect it!
Zorro all of aw predictions are will happen in 2010 . Song (theres only 1 off) Diaby best midfielder unlike Viera, Denilson not another Gilberto and Ramsey so unlike cesc you would swear they are brothers!
I’ve got no idea what all that means?!
“Song (theres only 1 off)”
1 off?!
“Diaby best midfielder unlike Viera”
Diaby is the best midfielder, but Vieira wasn’t?!
“Denilson not another Gilberto”
Who said Denilson was another Gilberto, and what would be the problem if he was?!
“Ramsey so unlike cesc you would swear they are brothers!”
so “UNLIKE” Cesc?! so not like him at all? To be fair brothers are often pretty different, but I wouldn’t say that the more different people are the more like brothers they are?
Or is all this written in opposite land, so it’s Diaby LIKE Vieira, Denilson IS another Gilberto, and Ramsey LIKE Cesc??
Confusing….
A nailed on!!
lol, so A says Mike is confusing him, and then Mike say’s ‘nailed on’! Well fuck me, i am hammered and that has just confused the fuck out of me!
A, have a good one. I am gonna treat you to a game soon as I know things are tight. When I play, you can have my ticket, then come back and teach the naysayers a thing or two.
lol cheers zorro, have a goodun yourself, and i’ll definitely take you up on that offer! New years is often a massive anticlimax, but being bedded with the swine flu has to be an all time low! Still been a pleasure Grovers, happy new year!
Nite
A, ask pedro for my email address and I will sort you out, prob 20 Feb, Sunderland at home unless I cannot shake this fucking cold in time for Everton Saturday week.
Ha Ha song – can – do – no – wrong ,
———————————————
well maybe V’s the bottom of the EPL he can .
In fact the last 2 games were good for him ,
is it just a co-incidence that its V’s 2 shit teams? ..
i think it has everything to do with it .
and give me essien any day or a caliber player
who can still control the park V’s a TOP TEAM !
still aiming too low IMO , pedro …
the measuring stick changes after every match as the conditions change V’s each team , lets see if song can -(do no wrong )
and dominate a chev midfield or a manc midfield ..
(without the aid of cesc )
then he will be where he needs to be …
Ethan, Song played v Villa, 4th in lge. Back in your fucking box! Milner got moved to FB because he couldn’t see in the dark of Alex’s pocket!
Fuck it!
BBK. You need to get laid. I can sort you out with a couple of sorts who will see you right.
Franch. You are an enigma, but you need sorting too!
Geoff. Love you man for the work you put in here, but still just a little bit too much on the negative side of the middle line. But, you have been a fan just a bit longer than me, so you have seen a lot of the same shit/glory, so fair enough.
Pedro, you seem to tread the right line between acceptance of AW and the naysayers. Respect.
Mangoo, big up for a Gooner in Mancland!.
Reggie. Old skool Gooner, remember a lot of the old ‘faces’ like myself, so respect, but have seen you pass over to the dark side of late. You remember 73 to 86, so have faith buddy!
A, like your posts, you try to talk sense and judge players properly, as opposed to just youtube verdicts! Especially as you seem to me to be younger than your posts, i.e. I would have you down as at leat 35, but I reckon you are younger.
Lots of others post good sense, but some, like I think it was Tom, who slated eduardo mercilessly the other day; well you are entitled to an opinion, but that was just plain wrong! Not saying that Song is the answer, but even Geoff must see that he has improved immensely the last year with a bit of faith. I was at Fulham 2 years ago, when he got subbed as he had a mare, was not one of those who booed him, but he deserved to go off, so it shows that maybe these youngsters need some leeway at times!
End of the day, I would rather follow this team than any other, even given the success of others in recent years. Would you rather be a manc or chav?
LPH all!
Happy new year everyone!!!!
yes and he did nothing V’s villa did you watch the 1st half prior to cesc coming on ?
back in your box son .. he wasnt anything special
that night or we wouldnt of had to send on cesc FFS !
OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES
villa could of done us that night if not for the 1 man wrecking ball cesc , even AA looked energized after we tweaked the midfield .
and villa aint 4th in the league they are behind man shitty and pool ! easily ..
so back in your box a 2nd time …
even the spuds could roll villa on the night with 50% odds …
so if villa is 4th when the season ends youll be dreaming .. they faded away this time last season and they will do the same again …
2010 Arsenal wish-list:
1. Brede Hangeland (our CB WILL get injured)
2. Edin Dzeko (taller clone of Arshavin)
3. Hunterlaar on loan (RVP lost twin baby FYI)
4. Thierry Henry as player-manager
5. Spuds relegated and Arsenal champions next 10 years and forever.
Happy New Year To All Gooners!
And also,
Joe Hart as new Arsenal goalie our duplicate of David Seaman and Mad Jens all-in one.
JOE HART A NATURAL GOONER!
another 3 weeks ou for clichy and bentner, f***!
Happy new year guys!
Pedro the FB message was a good touch!
Ethan,
Why would he need to? Can Essien control control our MF without Lampard? Can Yaya Tourre w/o Xavi/Iniesta?
He’s good foil for the likes of Cesc. If he keeps playing like this there’s very few DMs I’d take over him.
Morning all, Happy New Year and new post!
Happy New Year to all!
May Arsenal win all trophies possible, and love and happiness shines on all Grovers!