Arsenal cruise, Partizan bruise and Fabianski at last has a decent game

by & filed under Uncategorized.

We went to a tough country to play football, the stadium had a power cut because that’s what happens in these places, I expect it was done on purpose, however after an early predictable onslaught we soon settled into our stride, Jack and Arshavin combined sublimely to get our first, top drawer back heel from our little maestro and a great finish from Arshavin. One nil to the Arsenal.

Arshavin was unlucky not to claim a second shortly after but an overhead scissor type kick from their defender put paid to that so it remained one nil, until dopey handballed it for no reason from a 20 yard pass going nowhere, the dimwitted look on his face said it all, 1-1.

The second half started well and when Chamakh was brought down and the player was sent off, there was only ever going to be one winner, up steps the Russian hit man and dribbles it straight down the middle into the keepers grateful feet, still 1-1!

Soon after after two great headers from Chamakh we are 2-1 up. Not wishing to miss out on the aerial stuff, up pops Squillaci to make the score 3-1, so much for the stupid Belgrade banner that said in English that we were going to be steam rollered!

Gibbs took down their forward to give them another penalty but this time Fabianski went the right way. Shortly after that he pulled of a fabulous save, one of his trademark acrobatic ones that had Wenger gloating that ‘that was the Lukas I see every day in training’ Predictable Arsene, predictable.

Yes Fabianski had a good game, but that should be the norm, whatever he did last night, he should remember and try that in his next game, which I’m guessing will be Chelsea on Sunday.

A good all round performance from the team, after the shambles of Saturday it was heartening to see, I won’t do any individual assessment of the players save to say they all deserved an 8, well apart from two of them, I won’t say what two but one should get a 6 as he at least tried, the other a 3 because his kit looked good.

If you couldn’t see the two I’m talking about you couldn’t have been watching.

Fabianski had a good game so credit to him, but don’t forget, even a blind Squirrel occassionally gets an acorn, put a decent run together and maybe I’ll change my mind, we’ll see, but Arsene, if I were you I would save the ‘I told you so grin’ until after the next game.

To sum up, well done the Arsenal, great game, great play and Jack, you just keep getting better, keep it up son, we’ll soon have Theo back, Bendtner back, Robin back and Cesc back, then think what we could achieve! I’m licking my lips in anticipation.

Have a great day Grovers, I know I will.

425 Responses to “Arsenal cruise, Partizan bruise and Fabianski at last has a decent game”

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  1. Steve Biko

    Afrogoon

    unfortunately Yes a fan did kill himself when manure thrashed us in the CL at home two seasons back. Football fanasticism is big here in Kenya. Towards the end of last season an Arsenal fan stabbed a manure fan who happened to be his cousin over disagreement on who would win the League. Thankfully the guy survived. Our local football is only emerging from years of neglect during which most Kenyans have taken English clubs as their own. By the way Supersport has saved Kenyan football by pumping money into it. You may have seen some of our games on Supersport some time.

    Anyway off to work now.

  2. afrogoon

    i am always open minded about player positions….i remeber a few arguments when fab started to play in the hole….people wanted him to be the deep lying playmaker…..now look how good fab looks….maybe jack is learning the defensive side of the game and just as fab did or he could be a revelation over there……him and cesc could be the next xavi and iniesta…..i still think song offers that brutish capacity….frimpong seemed to be coming on nicely till he got injured…..having said all that why would anyone want the someone with the talent of fab and messi to be like makelele……seems like a waste of one’s talent to me.

  3. Brian

    I think Geoff’s midfield can work even on strong opponents because lil Jack has shown that he is not afraid of challenges and putting a foot in. He holds pretty well. That midfield works in the traditional sense that the best defense is offense. With that midfield we can break down teams and pass the ball well and go on to score a few. We might concede but with Chamakh, Nasri, Jack, Fabregas, Arshavin, Robin and Theo all capable of free scoring, we can score more than we concede and as a result win more games.

  4. afrogoon

    talk about die hard fans….smh…have a good day steve…..gotta rush off myself…..later folks…..ps geoff…..you know you love song..you sing a song every night before you tuck yourself in…stop denying it….mwhahahahhaahaha….exit stage left..chao

  5. Big Dave

    HB.

    Not sure, thought his reffing was poor all the game.

    MC better watch it or he will start to get a reputation for going down easily like Jordan on a night out

  6. ZARgooner

    With a FULLY FIT squad my “dream team”:
    No Idea
    Sagna Koscielny Squillaci Gibbs
    Vermaellen
    Fabregas Nasri
    Arshavin RVP
    Chamakh
    Bench: No idea GK, Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott, Song, Rosicky, Bendtner

    mmmmm delicious

  7. Honest Bill

    Big Dave.

    Haven’t you heard? all Arsenal players have that reputation already just by virtue of playing for us. Who gives a fuck?

    We came consistently at the top of the ‘fair play league’ since we moved to the Emirates, and we still get chants of ‘Same old Arsenal’ and we still get referees doing that smug ‘get up you big puff’ gesture when one of our players gets blatantly brought down in the box

    You know what i say? Fuck fair play. Let’s go back to ‘Same old Arsenal, always competing’

  8. ZARgooner

    Please enlighten me Gambon/AKB….

    Im just playing around. Obviously TV has never been tested at DM (but dreaming that he knew the positional requirements) combined with his skill I thought it would be good. Formation wise the post didnt come through as required. Bench wise obviously lacks defensive back up but hey this is dream world…..

    For which i forgot you are the emporer of….

    So again i ask enlighten me/your take?

  9. ZARgooner

    Jag…. if we had Casillas in goal do you think we would still concede 4?

    Hey at least denilson and diaby arent anywhere near my team right?

  10. Jaguar

    ZArgooner

    Vermaelen is back from the injury and wont find it easy against Chelsea.Chamakh uprfront means 10 open chances wasted.WTF can RVP do when Chamakh misses open goals.Fabregas is not going to figure in the starting eleven either

    Kolshitieny will be eaten alive by Dogpoo

  11. Jaguar

    ZArgooner

    Vermaelen is back from the injury and wont find it easy against Chelsea.Chamakh uprfront means 10 open chances wasted.WTF can RVP do when Chamakh misses open goals.Fabregas is not going to figure in the starting eleven either

    Kols**itieny will be eaten alive by Dogpoo

  12. ZARgooner

    Jag perhaps read my post again where i said IF team was fully fit….

    You and Gambon loving jumping on the criticism band wagon you dont take time to read guys comments…. just foam at the lips (the ones between your hips) to criticize guys then beat one off at your immense power

  13. Kushagra

    Geoff
    A midfield of Nasri Cesc and Jack can be lethal as well as they can share defensive duties only their roles need to be defined clearly ,they will keep more of the ball .By the way in 2006 WC sneijder played as CDM SO IT CAN WORK,but the trio need to be highly disciplined

  14. Kushagra

    and if Cesc is not fit to start I will put denilson there and will tell him and Wilshere to just sit there, play Arshavin in the middle ,Rosicky and Nasri on the flanks we’ll have all fronts covered

  15. Arse&Nose©

    I have a feeling that jag is short for Jagielka, and Phil Jagielka is still bearing a grudge against us for not signing him.

  16. abnet

    A&N jagielka is at least a professional in one major(football) bu some of z comments jag makes i see no professionalism in any matter

  17. soulrebel

    All for the cesc, nasri, wilshire midfield against Chelsea but it won’t happen.

    Whats up with Diaby? Is he definitely out? If not I’m worried we’ll do our usual and play him in a big game when he’s unfit. That boy had shown such incredible talent at times but is the most frustrating player in our squad to watch. Minor injuries seem to set him back weeks and weeks. If ever a player needed a full pre-season…just look at the effect it had on Jack, Theo and Nasri.

    Any word on Theo’s injury??

  18. choy

    Jag.. do you remember the bet?

    Chamakh has scored 4 goals already and its still September!

    Haha… not to mention the numerous penalties he seems to win us!

  19. Ja_Gunner

    Guys I think most of us are being hard on Song for yesterday’s match…

    I do agree that he is attacking far too much this season…….I hope he curbs it…..if he can cut it down by 50% it will make a big difference…

    BUt as it relates to yesterday’s game..he did well…

    He initiated 3 of our attacks….he is trying more forward passes…I count that as a good thing because it cuts down on our crab football…let me highlight his forward passes that had direct benefits…

    First goal:

    Song to Arsha to Jack to Arsha…Result Goal

    Penalty:

    Song to Arsha to Chamakh…..Result Penalty

    Second goal:

    SOng to Rosicky to Chamakh….Result Goal

    So Song was was involved in 2 of the 3 goals we scored plus the penalty…

    He is trying more forward passes which cuts out the crabbing which is good..makes us less predictable…

    However I agree with everyone who says he should not make so many forward runs…..Especially against the bigger teams…We will be punished…

  20. Arse&Nose©

    Ja_gunner 3rd man assists are misleading stats and can never be taken seriously. For example look at how much happened between Song passing and JW and Arsh combining for the 1st goal! 3rd man assists are flawed IMO.

    Myles Palmer summed this seasons Alex Song up in one sentence.

    “SONG thinks he’s better than he is. He looks ridiculous and should sue his hairdresser.”

  21. Ja_Gunner

    Arse and Nose..all I am saying is i like the forward passes……

    However I do agree he is making too many runs leaving the defense exposed and over working himself…

    BUt if you look at the replays of those 3 instances highlighted..its clear that if SOng had just slowed down and passed sideways…those chances would never have been created…never…watch the replays and you will see….

    Also the penalty incident also highlights why I think that Arsha should play Cesc’s role in his absence…whenever Arsh pops up in the middle he makes wonderful killer passes….Remember the CL game last year when he had 3 assists….they all came when he was central….I mean he was even releasing the master himself Fabregas…

    Wenger usually plays Nasri there in Cesc’s absence but Nasri but not have the passing ability to play that role….I would like to see Nasri play in Theo’s postion til he comes back….Nasri looks good coming in from the right like Ljundberg…Nasri should use his skill more and get into the box…we saw that against West brom…he would score more goals and draw many penalties with his close control…

  22. sixx pac

    Denilson should play DM now. Song is crazy. He doesnt play midfield anymore. Every time I looked yesterday he was on the left wing

  23. sixx pac

    Isnt that where Nasri always plays when Cesc is fit,RF? I dont think that Theo has a claim to that position either.
    Its Nasri,Chamak then Theo in my estimation.

  24. Arse&Nose©

    Stat attack:

    Arsenal have played 9 games in all competitions so far this season. Of those 9 games we have won 6, drawn 2 and lost 1.

    In 4 of the games we played against 10 men. In all of those 4 games against 10 men, our decisive goals were scored after the opponents went down to 10 men.

    We have been awarded 6 penalties this season and missed 2.

  25. Geoff

    Come on boys, we’re all Arsenal fans, except of course the sad cunts I won’t let on, they aren’t even football fans.

    So will he play my midfield against an ageing chav side?

    Wilshere, Nasri and Cesc.

  26. zeus

    This is the first bit of news I’ve seen as I did my round-up of the Arsenal.

    “Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski declares he is ready to face Chelsea”

  27. zeus

    Wilshere, Nasri Cesc doesn’t give the right balance to beat Chelsea.

    But with Alex ‘Valderrama’ Song acting like a muppet and Diaby being an Arse, we might as well try it.

    At least Wilshere is disciplined enough to STAY in midfield and Nasri has shown he has that same discipline.

    With Flappy though, my heart will get a serious workout at the weekend.

  28. gambon

    ZAR

    Aint it time for you to head to the schoolgates with your Gary Glitter album and a bag of sweets?

    Or are you still locking yourself in your room with your Arsene pictures?

  29. sixx pac

    I think its obvious that Wenger has given Song the freedom to go forward but to be opportunistic with it. I dont think he expects him to be playing LF and neglecting his defensive duties.
    I think that midfield can work Geoff. Wilshere has been doing most of the dirty work in midfield so far

  30. Arsenal Tom

    song will play on sunday whether we want him to or not

    if fabs back and with jack thats pretty good. ramieres has looked pretty shit so hopefully he’ll start for the chavs

  31. ZARgooner

    @Gambon/AKB

    Ive been awaiting your counter from earlier…. but instead you are more pleased just to batter others words… justification is something a demi god like yourself doesnt need to do.

    PS who is gary glitter… not from your parts… but sounds like a guy you should be with!

  32. TOM TOM

    I never really liked Song BUT I thought he is an ok squad player but certainly not first choice DM. He has a good first touch but he lacks a bit of physicallity and his tackling and aerial ability is poor. He has no vision for a clinical pass and slows down our passing game. He would be ok as back up DM but if we intend winning trophies then Song should not be our first choice DM.

  33. zeus

    Fifa have unveiled a new electronic Transfer Matching System (TMS) to stop clubs “playing chicken” with deadline day busting deals.

    All international transfers will have to go through TMS from this Friday. The organisation believe it will prevent money laundering, protect minors and make transfers more transparent as third party ownership must be declared.

    TMS also shuts down the moment a deadline passes, meaning clubs will not be able to rely on last minute negotiations.

    In recent seasons, technical problems have been blamed by clubs for delays. In the recent window, Tottenham cited computer server issues for the delay in sealing Rafael van der Vaart’s £8 million switch from Real Madrid.

    Speaking to reporters, Fifa president Sepp Blatter hailed the innovation.

    “This is a historic moment for football. TMS is a relatively simple online system but it will have a tremendous impact on the international transfer of players,” he said.

    “Thanks to TMS, football’s authorities have more details available on each and every transfer. The most important thing is that it increases the transparency of individual transactions and helps us to tackle issues such as the fight against money laundering and the protection of minors in transfers.”

    TMS general manager Mark Goddard added: “It’s no longer a good idea to play a game of chicken in the negotiations for transfers.
    “Over the last two-and-half years we have seen examples of big clubs like Real Madrid who last year came out very early in the transfer market and did their business in the first two weeks of the window.

    “They avoided leaving it until the last minute as they didn’t want to risk playing a game of chicken with a computer system which would say time has run out.”
    ******************

    Think that will change Wenger last minute policy?

  34. sixx pac

    It was reported during the summer that the Everton and South African international midfielder Steven Pienaar is keen to join Arsenal on a free transfer next summer. the 28 year-old has refused to sign a new contract with the Toffees but has decided to cash in with one last big move while he can.

    There are rumours flying about that Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and even Juventus are ready to make Pienaar lucrative contracts, but FanFc reports a “source” as saying: “Steven was very flattered by Arsene Wenger’s complimentary remarks last summer and has made up his mind that he wants to play for him.”

    In case you didn’t catch Wenger’s remarks in the summer, he said: “Pienaar has grown this year,” Wenger told Sky Sports. “He was usually a very busy player where the final ball was missing a little bit, but this year he has gained in personality and he has kept his work rate, so he has been much more efficient.

    “What also played a big role in his growth was that Mikel Arteta was not there for a while and that he had to take the responsibility of being the playmaker of the team.

    “He was one of the best players in England this year. He would get into the Arsenal team. I always had an eye on him since he was at Ajax.”

    Could it be that Wenger has already persuaded him to come to the Emirates?

  35. Baafuor from Ghana

    So now wenger is making noise about Flappy eh.We are fucked cos he will be in goal on sunday against the chavs and he will do what he knows best.At least Clichy was dropped yesterday and Diaby is out so two of our 4 main problems were solved.Now Song should be told to stay at the back on Sunday and Clichy should still be on the bench,but we all know wenger will go play Clichy.we will lose on Sunday if Flappy starts.FACT.

  36. zeus

    Geoff

    We beat them 2 seasons ago 2-1 at the bridge with Song and Denilson playing I think.

    Not getting my hopes up. I’ll just watch and see.

  37. David

    Zeus

    We also Had Ade in the team. And he got one of the assists.

    I like Chamakh. But he’s no Van P. And he doesnt come up with the odd/weird goal like Ade.

    He’ll be perfect for Bolton imo.

  38. Mayank

    Suicide of the highest order… What does that even mean? ;)

    How about throwing a curve ball with Denilson in the DM position.

  39. Rohan

    Adebayor had the first touch of rapist, was nowhere near as hard-working/intelligent as Chamakh, but when arsed, was a great player. Average finishing skills both have.

  40. David

    Its stupid comments like that that just make me wonder how your brain works Rohan.

    30 goals in a season is very hard to come by

  41. BillikenGooner

    It’s good that Drogba speaks French so he can at least whisper sweet nothings to our defenders as he has his way with them.

  42. Baafuor from Ghana

    David, be ready for it mate!Flappy will be in goal against Drogba.Almunia even shits in his pants just at sight of Drogba, how much more Flapyy.It really scares me when I think about Sunday.

  43. Rohan

    I’m not just talking about goals, David. Chamakh in terms of link-up play passing physicality and aerial presence offers us more as a whole. Would you start Adebayor in front of him not to mention he had a shit attitude?
    Yes, Adebayor is probably a better natural goalscorer but if Chamakh stays fully fit and remains first choice, I full expect him to bag 20. Also, Ade has never repeated that again has he now. 6 of the goals came against fucking Derby county, the worst team ever in the Prem.

  44. Rohan

    The 07/08 team was built around him too in that he was the focal point around which Cesc and Hleb worked. If we tailored the team such taht Chamakh was our main attacking threat he would probably score more too. That said, Adebayor had the penchant for the absolute spectacular.

  45. David

    So what?

    Did Drogba, Rooney or any other striker in the prem get 6 against Derby?

    A goal is A goal is A goal

    And Arsenal Need strikers that put the ball in the back of the net. End off.

    Thats like saying Bendtner is shite because he only scores against shite opposition.

  46. BillikenGooner

    Score a goal from 25 yards? Are they even allowed to try that crazy kind of stuff nowadays?
    I figured there was some kind of fine for our players if the shoot from outside the box.

  47. Rohan

    Don’t you say that though, David.
    To be fair to Bendtner, he has scored goals against Tottenham, Chelsea, Villa, Bar-fucking-celona at Camp-Nou, Liverpool just off the top of my head.

  48. David

    Sixx

    Absolutely.

    Bendtner is shite.

    You cant say Ade is shite because he only scored 6 shite goals.

    what happnd to the other 24?

  49. Rohan

    No one’s saying he’s shit David, just that he wasn’t/isn’t all that special. Loads of strikers would have pulled those sort of stats given the sort of service he got.

  50. BillikenGooner

    Seriously?
    Other than Arshavin’s standard goals from the top of the box after cutting to the right and Denilson’s howler from like 30 yards, don’t remember that many…

    ah well, age and beer catching up to my brain, I guess.

  51. zeus

    Rohan

    Thats true about Ade. That goal vs Villareal (Ronaldinho-esque chest and volley) not in a million years would you see that with Bendtner or Chamakh.

  52. sixx pac

    I think Chamakh has more skill and technique than Ade zeus. He wont do the volleys that Ade does cause he’s not that kinda striker.
    But u only have to look on his control and his Marseille turns and all

  53. Baafuor from Ghana

    Adebayor has lots and lots of talebt that Chamack does not have and will never have.The only reason why we are having this argument now is because Ade has a shit attitude and doesn’t give a fuck about any thing.If he was serious the way the way Chamack is, he would be in the class of Drogba.I would pick Ade in my team ahead of Chamack and give him akick up his arse.That is something Wenger doesn’t like doing.

  54. Wenger the liar

    Now that Song has started pushing forward at every given chance, we shall pay for this maybe not today maybe not tomorrow, how long til some wanker on here says he is better than Essien?

    I give it 2 months.

  55. zeus

    Sixx

    Don’t get me wrong. Chamakh is a much more complete player. Better control, better link up play, better attitude, understands the offside rule……..but he doesn’t have that outrageously spectacular goal.

  56. Baafuor from Ghana

    Wenger-“[Thomas] Vermaelen [will] certainly not [play] and Cesc Fabregas has a little chance, we will see. It’s encouraging but it’s too early to decide.”
    What is happening to TV5?There must somefin wrong happening at Arsenal.He was the fittest member of our squad only last season and suddenly he has become a crock.if this continues for a while, I’m afraid he will lose form.

  57. DaleDaGooner

    Baafuor, are you on igbo? Adebayor does not have Chamakh’s workrate, touch and Heading ability. He is good as a scoring point man, the lots and lots of talent is HIGHLY exaggerated. When Fabregas gets in more games, he’ll make Chamakh’s goal scoring ability rise. Ade had 30+ goals ONLY one season when Fabregas was on fire assist-wise.

  58. Ricky

    Evening grovers! Miseed all the post match talk from the scrooge but i can imagine what he had to say about flappy the silly toss.

    Now i see a few ppl giving JD a hard time including myself but i still think had he played a run of games like the kreepers, song, diaby, clichy, denilson & eboue had then the criticism would be fair but the guys been out with long term injuries so its hard to really say much about him.

  59. sixx pac

    Bauufor no. I would have Chamakh over Ade every fucking day of the week regardless of attitude.
    Its funny how some criticize Bendy for missing so many chances but seem to forget the ‘clinicality’ of Adebarndoor

  60. Baafuor from Ghana

    Dela, I’m a Ghanaian and can’t be an Ibo. I know Chamack is a more complete player than Ade, that is what I said earlier.If only Ade could give a fuck about the team and other people, he would be much much better than Chamack.Ade thinks he is ‘there’, whilst Chamack is humble and ready to learn.I bet u if Ade had been sober and stayed with us for another 2 years, he would have been great.I av always believed in his talent even though he is a cunt.lets wait and see how many goals Chamack will get wen Cecs returns.

  61. Baafuor from Ghana

    Sixx, have u ever seen me criticise Bendy on hear before?No!I am one of the few who still believe Bendy will be great.I have been having that argument with my pals most of the time.Ade was a horrible finisher initially,but remember in his last season he hardly missed chances even though he was out most of the time and when he was on the pitch he gave fuck all to the team.Even now at City he hardly misses chances.That’s why I said he would have been immense if he had kept a cool head and stayed with us for even another two more years.

  62. Matt

    If Chamakh keeps on going like he is, you are going to owe me and a lot of other people some money Jaguar.

    You had better start saving that pocket money up.

  63. choy

    Ade can’t even get into the man shitty team.

    He’s not the striker he is made to be. When he scored 30 he took pens as well. Not to mention one of the best MF that season in the world.

    If he was so facking good, why would he be sitting on the bench? You don’t ever see Drogba on the bench do you?

  64. JJ

    Fair play to Fabianski. He did well despite the pressure he has been under. Let’s hope he turns the corner like Gomez did.

    What is Song’s position? Denilson was further back than him all game and for the last 20 minutes I think Song thought he was a striker… although he can’t pass or shoot. Wenger needs to have a word.

    JD is still crap. Bambi on ice. If he plays against the Chavs it could be a cricket score.

  65. Baafuor from Ghana

    Choy Ade is no Drogba, neither is he Tevez or Torres ffs!He is o the bench because of his attitude.He thinks he is better than what he really is like most of our players are made to believe by Wenger.

  66. David

    Agree

    Sixx

    Ade has missed some horrible chances.

    But i will change my mind about Bendtner if the fairy cant score a goal on his own without the help of Walcott.

  67. JJ

    Choy – I wonder what Song’s pass completion rate was last night. He was awful. I think he should stick to DM and master that position…

  68. David

    Bendy scored at Tottenham? Walcott.

    He scored at Villa? Walcott.

    Did he score against Liverpool? Must have been Walcott again.

    Or was this in the CC?

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