Tonight is now the most important game of the season. We’ve failed most of the big tests so far, but somehow, we’ve always managed to sneak back into contention as everyone else has been doing the same thing.
Yesterday, results didn’t go our way. Spurs won, United won, City won… even West Ham managed to pull a result out of the bag.
This is the part of the year when someone gets it together. Something clicks. Someone races away, usually with a friend who will last till late March, early April. This year, it needs to be us. Tonight, we can kick start our season again. Tonight, we can have a defensive dream night… keeping Drogba quiet and bagging ourselves a clean sheet against a team we haven’t beaten in the last five.
I”m not sure how the team is going to line up, but if I had my preference, I’d have Chesney in goal. He’s better at dealing with crosses, he commands his box in a more mature manner and he’s got all the shot stopping ability Fabianski has. It wouldn’t be a gamble for me because it’s not like Fabianski has bundles more experience. In fact, pound for pound, I’d say the younger keeper has had more game time after his stint at Brentford. At least we know he won’t be targeted at corners.
In midfield, we know that Diaby is fit… he was for the Stoke game, so another week of training could see him fit enough to start. In midfield, I’ll be disgusted if I see Denilson and Song starting together, that will be a tragic admittance we can’t handle the Chavs with our best players and the chances are we’ll crumble. Cesc is back from his mental injury which will be a huge boost… it’s not often we have him ready for games like this.
Nasri and the rest of the boys have had a nice little break so they’ll all be fresh. Our main man this season really has to get his teeth stuck into Chelsea today. Chelsea’s backline ain’t what it used to be and they’re certainly weaker at the back than they’ve every been before. We need a big game from Arshavin… he needs to be direct, use his pace and work tirelessly for the team.
At the back, I’m sure it will be Koscielny and Squillaci. It’s pretty simple, those two need to have their best game ever for us tonight. They have to talk to each other and they have to get their decision making bang on. Get in tight to Drogba all game and no day dreaming please!
Clichy will be slipping in at left back… please, no calamity’s tonight! Show us the player we saw in 2008… left back of the year! Up front, I’m not sure who he’ll play… I’ve got a feeling it’ll be Chamakh. I’d be happy with that, equally as I would if he played RVP. Whoever it is… pull the trigger on sight and test the keeper!
These players owe Wenger a big game tonight. Rightly or wrongly he’s put his trust into these boys and they’ve let him down. You can blame inept tactics, bad selection and bad luck all you like… but the simple fact is, most of these boys have the technical ability. Tonight, they’ve got to show grit, determination and a truck load of character. It’s time for this crop of players to stop hiding behind age. It’s time for them to man up and show that they can compete with the best there is.
Everyone has to turn up today, especially the fans. Lets have a massive performance from everyone and see where the night takes us! I’ve got a feeling we’re due a result. I’ve got a feeling Arsenal are coming away with 3 points… keep em’ crossed and sing your hearts out tonight!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, not before I leave you with this cracking memory!
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_38j89ozWg4&fs=1&hl=en_US]
Time of our lives on sky with Ray/Merse just now was quality
no one like a mediator pants!
Also for tactics, since everyone loves tactics, watch who we decided to run in behind, we let Terry be and iolsated Ivanovic, Van Persie had two quality chances after running in behind him.
Co-incidence ? Heh.
Dan, sadly that is true, we’ll probably see a relaxed team on Wednesday…truth is they gave it all today and i doubt they have the energy to do it again. My curiosity is will Wenger leave the pair of JD and Kos as starters baring injuries?
And we did this w/out HRP. @Rohan
Re Kozzer, I thought he looked excellent at the start of the season paired with Verm. Then things got a bit rocky when he was alongside Squilly. I don’t see that as a massive criticism of Squilly, just what you’d expect when 2 new boys to the premiership had to play alongside each other in the centre of defense. Alongside Djourou he looks pretty decent and has a load of potential IMO…
no Keyser, tactically AW was spot on. has to be said he read my teamsheat this morning tho.
well almost.
Lurch LeRouge says:
December 27, 2010 at 11:28
fine post pedro
——-sceszney
Sags—JD–Kozz_–Clichy
Diaby—-Cesc—Song
Theo—RVP—Nasri
Lol Lurch.
Now… time to get a couple of hours of shut eye before I’m off for a family thing. Have a great day grovers and may we continue to perform like this for the rest of the season!
Wigan:
Fab
sagna/eboue – koz – djourou – clichy
diaby – song/wilshere – rosicky
nasri/theo – chamakh – arsh/bendy
Wenger praised djourou in bbc interview
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/9323093.stm
Dale, Well you would imagine wenger would have to after the performance the pair just had, especially JD. Until Vermin is back that is… I’d expect him to make a few changes to freshen the team up but the CB pair must stay the same. Fabregas is suspended for Wednesday so he’ll get a rest
strewth pants, come back! can’t we talk cricket now!?
Just looking at their goal, pretty difficult to defend that, 8 out of 10 teams would let that in.
keep the core of the team vs wigan, continuity and they have had 2 weeks off before today…
I like Rosicky, But buying Eden Hazard in january prepping him to replace the Czech international is well in order. He is a good talent, but not a difference maker, sadly.
No links to a Chelsea forum?
Their pain sustains me.
if it was the other end, terry would have challenged better than koz did…
weak effort from koz
JD shoulda covered that as the leading CB imo, but it was a great ball in – low and fast.
Fabianski got caught on the 6yrd box in no mans land.
i had a quick look zeus, but we lost a wicket and i got distracted…
shit another one…
hopefully stuff like that which comes with experience, wont stop us from going all the way this season.
101 great goals, have our 3
Thought the Theo sub was a bit odd, he was playing well and with cole on a yellow he should had stayed on
I thought that Lurch but then you also have Terry and Drogba to contend with.
I think it was right that Djourou was marking on of them (cant remember who) as they were the bigger threats. Difficult to defend but Kosser could have done better.
But hey fuck it, who cares, we were awesome tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xoclQueu-g
got another game in 48 hours though Dave
made sense to bring him off.
Hazard and Inler. Not sure about a CB unfortunately in terms of who to buy.
We need people ahead of AA23. Brilliant, but without work rate, I couldn’t care less.
I LUV ARSENAL
I thought Fabianski might have called it for it or something because he started to come out and then realised he wasn’t getting there.
Overall that was one of the few mistakes we did make as a team, I think it was Fabregas who gave away a weak free-kick in the first place, he did it again later but we defender better I think.
If you look at the team as a whole, or even isolate the defence we did well, we looked organised and disciplined.
Just back from the game how fucking good was that.Song my MOM.
yeah
the defence played with real determination and heart for once.
really enjoyed it.
need the same grit for 10 games in a row now…
We did Keyser, but I still felt very nervy even when it was 3-0
The more we perform and get the results the more those nerves will ease.
Szczesny is LEGEND lol. I think Djourou and Kozzer were great. I think we have 3 really good CBs. When Verm comes back we should be sorted there. Though if he is out for the season ( which I think he is) we should buy in January.
sure big dave but if you can’t give returning players minutes at 3-1 up it doesn’t say much of the confidence in the bench does it.
I’m not going to answer anymore question for the rest of the season…LOL
TIE, I dont think even Geoff can argue the performance of Song tonight.
Was Cesc upset at his removal, he seemed to shake his head when they removed him…or was he shaking his head at being injured again?
How in the world are you gonna stop Songilinho…How in the world are you gonna stop Theo?
Scezney maybe would have made that save or even claimed the ball, but fabianski’s confidence in distribution was warranted his selection – he found RVP’s head on many an occasion and im not sure Scezney would have served as well after his shaky distribution against the mancs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q5hunYOzRA
How in the world are you gonna stop SONGILINHO?? How in the world are you gonna stop..THEO??
he shake’d his head because of the foul no?
I’m sure i saw Geoff leading a group of Gooners singing ” we’ve only got one Song”
agreed pat, i was petrified even when we were 3 ahead….
entire second half very nervous too, especially after they got their goal. analysing it without the emotionalness though we didn’t play as if we were that nervous, we were pretty confident and solid!
Wigan on weds is absolutely huge though, if we don’t win then tonight becomes pretty irrelevant….
I hope Birmingham beat united tomorrow, the thought of them still unbeaten really worries and especially with the media Licking their arse
Theo had run his socks off, glad we used the bench like that, we’ve had no games for 2 weeks and now we’ll have what 6 games in a couple of weeks ? Sure fire way to get those players back injured.
was it a full house TIE?
Dale, I think cesc was shaking his head at the refs decision just before he was subbed
Song and Denilson, = Batman and Robin
Brilliant result – just wanted to say:
Cesc’s pass for Song’s goal was sensational
Walcott’s starting to come good (his presing especially) but his pass to Cesc was almost not hard enough.
Great finish by Theo and Wilshere had kept running pretty much unmarked was there for the save
The defending on their goal was unbelievably shocking but I still think it was savable.
Nice to see no heroics required from the GK
its gonna be grim up norf…
wigan are 16th
we should smash them, rvp, theo and nasri to start.
This is England says:
December 28, 2010 at 00:29
I’m sure i saw Geoff leading a group of Gooners singing ” we’ve only got one Song”
=====
LOL, LOL
The victory was so good that I’m just about to settle down to watch it again
no way incesc regarding vp! he makes a big big difference to us but having been out for a LONG time starting twice in two days would be suicidal!
Nice bit of rotation, take advantage of our big squad.
Fabianski
Sagna JD Koscielny Clichy
Rosicky Song Diaby
Nasri Chamakh Arshavin
but remember the reason the team isn’t top by 9 is cos they lost against WBA, Ncastle and didn’t hold on against Spurs and Sland not cos they lost against Chelsea and ManU away.
And the only reason they’re there at all is because they have been so consistent away.
So……. if they can get that consistecy at home they could be in with a great chance BUT if they start dropping points away they could be under pressure to stay in the top 4.
Andy Gray does talk some shite sometimes, Defoe’s red card yesterday was deserved, when you jump your arm doesn’t keep going up, Defoe’s not Superman, and he wasn’t getting anywhere near the ball anyway.
Bit of a harsh red, but small man syndrome from Defoe, he knew he wasn’t getting there and was protecting himself by leading with his arm.
Lurch pretty much a full house,just the odd gap.
he played every few days i the wc.
but ok
Fabianski
Sagna JD Koscielny Clichy
nasri song diaby
walcott chamakh arshavin
yeah TIE, but not two days after starting his first match in months! We need to wrap him in cotton wool for City, or maybe play him against Brum, four days rest after that….
Yeah I’d go with your side too. Is Gibbs still injured I take it.
Squad depth wise we’ve got too many players fit – Denilson, Eboue, Vela not even making the bench….
good to hear TIE, the boys deserved to be witnessed en masse. crowd was in fine voice as well it seemed.
‘too many players’
steady on A, dont jinx us
i’d give bendy some time against wigan instead of Arshie, the lads got a lot to prove.
lol, wee bit tongue in cheek lurch….
we do certainly have a big squad now though, compare our bench today the chelsea’s!
I was thinking about Bendy too Lurch, maybe instead of Nasri with him being rested or dropping into the midfield three?
I reckon part of Arshavin being rested was so we have him fresh and raring to go on weds – we can’t treat them that lightly and he’ll be eager to show that he shouldn’t be dropped for the big games….
We could just go all out and try
Fabianski
Eboue Squillaci Koscielny Gibbs
Rosicky Denilson Diaby
Bendtner Chamakh Arshavin
ramirez looked like he should of started, but yeah thats a very fair point. they missed Carvalho and ballack big time tonight.
the spud and shitty’s benches however aren’t so weak are they…
So i reckon everyone’s favorite players, Denilson, Eboue, Diaby, Bendtner, Squilaci, would get a shot on Wednesday….
yeah but id like theo and Cesc to get regular with each other before Barca and its against the smaller teams that i think we should be doing this.
Arshie could do with another bench purely for psychological reasons imo.
Quality night at THOF, the crowd were proper loud. Thought we got nervous for a few mins after they got their goal, but we seemed fairly solid. JD was awesome and I am hoping to be eating large portions of humble pie at season’s end if he keeps going.
Why did Diaby not strike with left foot; plum!
Weds team will be interesting to see, Rosicky in rather than Denilson for Fab. Chamakh to start, Rosicky on left, Theo on right. Arsh, Song and Nasri in middle, then mix it up with subs when/if we get ahead. We will need to use the squad to full extent in Jan and some fringe need games, but when to rest them, I would say Leeds with a strong bench is needed after this heavy 13 day period of 5 games.
i know AA23, Bendy and Denilson will start on Wednesday… not too confident, but they have to prove themselves after tonights game.
too many rotations for me Dale. three of those max, and i’d do nb, diaby, and ebway for sags, cesc and JW.
nasri as quaterback.
Saw game in local pub in New Romney. Thought RVP was immense, never gave up against Terry & co, didn’t give them a moments rest. As for Song, has to be one of his best games in an AFC shirt. Wilshere worked his nuts off and Djourou was a monster at the back. Almost like the ‘good old days’.
Rmirez gave us some problem last game at stamford bridge
emotionalness?
yeah Dale hes a fiesty character, some crunching tackles on JW. like to see him try it on Nasri.
ffs. swan out.
How long before John Terry calls a press conference and does his best to undermine Ancelotti.
Humble pie for everyone as far as JD is concerned.
Great result and performance. We have played this well before and not got the breakthrough so is was important to score while on top. Song outplayed essien!
Yep he was absolutely superb today David, very impressive, slightly outshining Koscielny but as a pairing they were absolute class, as was most of the team!
here you go zeus.
lol!
http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=501&fid=468&sty=2&act=1&mid=2119043404
Dale you a bengals guy?
Line up for Wigan has got to be
Fab
Eboue,Koz,JD,Clichy
Rosicky Song Diaby
Theo Cham Vela and really make Arsh sweat it
Give a few the night off and ready them up for Citeh
That team should be able to manage 3 pts and some although not entirely sure Rosicky could manage being the only eye for a pass on the pitch.
This is where Ramseys return will really give the squad that
we are fucking set…feel
classic. chavs cunts venting…
on abramovich…luv it.
Has anybody ever heard him speak ? i think he,s a deaf mute who hasnt quite grasped sign language yet and told Wilkins to fu ck off and get me a vodka to which Wilkins thought he said fuc k off you bald headed hills have eyes mongrel
The suspension to fabregas is a blessing in disguise. He needs to rest that Hamstring.
85% agree with that A,
Still not convinced by Koscienly at all.
Times he made a clear mess of things.
And clichy did his usual slip up.
But fuck me, we were due a fantastic game and the boys didnt disappoint.
YangKamp10, nah J-E-T-S or my blue giant brothers
Lurch, thanks, I thought it was only at Le Grove people vented…HAHAHAH, I didn’t know they hated us that much….”I feel dirty” one of them said about admitting that their mute owner had handed us the title…lol…..you would think he was referring to the spuds the way he said he felt dirty about handing us the title win
I thought that was a Stoke City message board?
yup it was. oops but i found it off a chav board hence the confusion.
Wish we could get Clattenburg in every game.
tracey
#3 28 Dec 2010 00:55 Complain | Prev | Next |
Signed: March 2008 re: Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1 …
Posts: 395
First Team
I especially enjoyed the usual suspects cuddling and smiling with their opposite numbers. Wonder what the French players will be bitching about tomorrow?
The Prem is so crap even Arsenal could win it (but won’t). I’ll have a £20 bet with you about top 4.
A,
Im yet to be convinced by Koscienly,
I think he has to take part in some blame for their goal.
clatenburg did us a favour by booking Cesc tonight. he also admitted to Cesc that he’d have given the pen had song not scored.
Ha ha,check this out:
http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=132&fid=77&sty=2&act=1&mid=2119042780
yeah…is it lets blame Koscielny time yet?
david,
JD was in front of ivanovich, wasn’t just koz’s fault….
it was a wicked delivery from dogbreath, must be given credit.
remember….’he makes the impossible possible’
Agree with Lurch 100%
JD was on Essien, Kozz was on Ivanovich and he let him run by him.
It was a wicked delivery id give you that. But we couldve done better.
I was expecting Vela to come on and make it 4 or 5.
could always do better…
but lets start by not giving stupid fouls 30 yrds out from goal, which we were regularly guilty of tonight. which I though was strange because I thought we’d improved that side of our game in the last couple.
vela wasnt on the bench.
Lurch
Thx m8. This is a gem.
‘Have to agree what a total **** he is…ruined Chelsea over and over again.Ancellotti seems a good sort and a top class manager but what funkin chance has he…ffs.I make no appologies for this I ******* well fokkin hate Wengers Arsenal,a team molded in his own image ,C u nts fakin ****s .I’ll even go this far I hope the Scum win it….God I feel dirty but there we have it that’s how much I ******* well hate Arsenal ……. ‘
I was stating yesterday how important it is for a defender to be able to pass out of the back, kOS had a nice 10 yarder to RvP who tried to turn and lay it off for TW14 to assist Cescy on the second goal…it was a beautiful pass from the back
Lurch, again correct, I believe Cesc was guilty for both fouls in that area.
Dogbreath seems to like it in that position, you just know when he’ll send in a dangerous one
he was dale, but im not in a blaming mood. too happy for that shizzle.
zeus
where is that from?
Once again, what a wonderful day. Congratulations to all of my fellow Gooners!!!!!!!
Should have been 5, Nasri had to sure goals saved by a good keeper, that’s what saved them from an awful night, that’s what we are really missing. Cech would have saved their goal
*two…goal against us…cech would have saved it, had he been in our post
that nasri looping effort was sheer class, id forgotten about that. he really should be taking more speculative shots from 25 yards out.
it was good to see him come inside when rosicky arrived. hopefully wenger realises playing rosicky inside is a waste of time on wednesday.
David
From Lurch @ 01.22.
Hell Yeah
Happy New Year to all grovers which started last nite
off for the exam
It was tougher than the score line suggests, we really did well to press them and make them make uncharacteristic mistakes.
The Nasri freekick was the only shot on target we had until the Song goal.
Hopefully we go on our long ruthless unbeaten streak
sure but we had 2 very good chances in the first 10 min from the flanks. But for some reason we put the brakes on around 20 min…. Probably when the cunts started the aerial bombardment.
oh dear australia
Just got in from some proper crazy drinking with both gooners and chavs, what a top performance, pushed them back for 90 mins, let this be a huge catalyst.
Right I gotta get mo drinks.
Fucking great performance by arsenal.Thought Djourou was absolutely fantastic.His heading was excellent but he read the game really well too.Glad to see Cesc and RVP back.Diaby is back and he looked fucking slow as hell.Hopefully Wilshere won’t get dropped for him
moderation??
Happy New Year guys
going for exam now!!
BBK/ANB
respect mate. You are the first one to have a go but you showed your true colours tonight being over the moon with the win and admitting you were wrong.
I thought we were going to get battered too.
We done them fair and square.
Get the fuck in.
Feels so good to have done them. If we ever had a first choice 11 we would have done them a lot more over the last few years. Bring on the shitty mancs next, they haven’t played a hard game yet, most of ours are behind us.
Come on.
Morning all!
The next three games will come thick and fast.
For now people around me are telling I have been grinning and talking/singing to myself all morning. Am I embarrassed? As a self-confessed AKB, NO
“It was a double impact,” Wenger said.
*ing Robin Van Damme!
Cheers to the gunners!!
Cesc Rule
best post of the season.
Cheers to you too mate.
That was incredible!
wohooooooooooooooooooooo
what a win beautyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
That’s how to win games, press and fight and when you’ve done that, have a fucking shot.
Djourou, man of the match for me, he is now our best centreback by a mile.
Robin, getting back to his best. A real fighter.
Theo, I always said he will be England’s finest striker, his finishing was top drawer.
Wilshere, looking like the flair player he was earlier this season and tough.
Cesc, Arsenal through to his socks.
Song back to doing what he should, stayed in his own half in the main and played well.
Nasri, ripped them all night.
This Arsene is what they should do in everygame, not now and then.
Add a couple of top drawer players and we can dominate for years.
who is righting the post today goeff
Best day since my wedding day. It was tears of joy.
NEW POST!
Abnet, Pedro does the match reports, so he’s writing the post, fucking glory boy that he is!
AA23 – cheers to u too mate .. we need this win more than ever..a perfect boost to catchup on the mancs
i m gettin my hopes high for dis season