Via @Arsenal Instagram
I don’t really abide by the winning ugly notion. It’s often used to explain away consistently poor performances that are often a precursor to a dip. However, yesterday’s win over Watford was the most delicious ugly win of the season. Emery proved his mettle, he lined up with a strong side, the aggressive working mentality he’s brought to the team won the first goal, and we held out for our first away clean sheet of the season (felt like our first away win of the season if I’m honest).
Troy Deeney, a man famed for beating up students, did his teams preparation no favours when he threw out a cowardly elbow at the smallest player on our team and took a straight red card. That was a fucking bold decision for the ref to take and in a world of weak decision making, he needs to be commended and give a WH Smith voucher for good service… OR A KNIGHTHOOD.
We didn’t really take advantage of the ten men. Watford showed us that they were still in the game. It didn’t matter though, because lady luck was on our side and grit/determination paid out big.
The first goal came from Auba, he chased down a back pass aggressively and Ben Foster smashed the ball into his heel and the goal was his. You cannot knock that attitude. He has been such a good player for us. He’s clinical even when he’s not looking.
We rode our luck a little. Bernd Leno continued to prove one of the shrewdest signings of last summer. His wrists are rock solid, his reflexes are cat-like and his timing when rushing players gets better and better. He was a real lifesaver last night. It’s been well over ten years since we had a keeper worth net+ points. I love him. It’s a huge risk to buy a keeper on a downward spiral, it’s such a confidence position, but Sven M dropped a world class decision there.
I think it’s worth giving Mustafi a shout out. Always a huge risk at the back, but his aerial aggression kept us in it late. Whatever you think about the German, he’s an absolute athlete and he loves the fight.
Also… AMN, my man… that tracking late on to deny Andre Gray late on was exceptional defending. He really has grown into his position. I didn’t have faith he could be a good right back, I know the club rated him as a midfielder, but my oh my, he has excelled. We don’t need to go into the market there this summer, that’s for sure.
So two things we learned last night. Away form is in the head. We have the players, the performance was rough last night, but we delivered the three points. Now we have build from that and do it against Napoli on Thursday and then the really tough one… Wolves next Wednesday.
The second thing we learned is this team, under Emery, can deal with pressure. An Arsene Wenger side would have collapsed under the barrage of yesterday. Our boys didn’t. Everyone put in a shift, even if the performance was grim.
A good day to be an Arsenal fan… we’re in the mix, keeping up the pressure, onto the next!
x
Lacazette or Leno for me.
Torreira running them close.
Walcott was a wasted commodity.
Iwobi has potential but needs to learn fast.
COME ON CITY 4-1!
What about 6-1 ??
*how
2-0 Will do just knock them out!
Agree with Graham’s choices
Walcott had himself a very good career. The notion that he wasted his potential is nonsense. Limited player who made the most of his skillset. Just because your a phenom at youth level, doesn’t it will translate to senior football. Lupoli and Bendtner we’re the Bergkamp and Henry of our reserves.
Sokratis being on that player of the year list is a travesty. Man loves a card. Think Lacazette will win it.
If Aubameyang finishes as PL top scorer, then he should be our player of the season. We haven’t a high quality goalscorer at centre forward since RVP.. He’s not a busy player like Lacazette, nor is he a high touch player. He has knack for being in great positions. For a team that plays average football, his skill set is invaluable
Dream10
We’ve got Auba on 18 goals and Laca on 13. It’s a pretty good return from both on them.
1)Laca all day for me, especially from his first season. You could see, what he could bring to the table.
2)Leno
could interchange between either (2) or (3)
3)Torreira
Player of the year? Christ no one stands out. Literally a problem with consistency with all of them. I mean arguably been the most consistent the last few months but how do you give a player of the year award to someone who has a handful of clean sheets all season.
*Leno
Bamford10April 16, 2019 20:39:17
MarcI never proclaimed Solskjaer a “genius,” mate. I said that based on what I’ve seen from him so far, I think he’s an excellent manager. That is all. However, Barcelona are still Barcelona, Messi is still Messi, and United have a long way to go be anywhere near a Barcelona.
=======
United have never been anywhere near Barca..
Barca obliterated Man Ure twice in the 2009 & 2011 CL Finals as notable examples.
Fact.
One of the great Champions league nights – Ajax knocking out the mighty Juve and a footballing masterclass from Messi. Everyone raves about unbelievable on the ball skills of Messi but his awareness of the space around him, his reading of the game and off the ball movement is equally unbelievable.
As for Arsenal player of year, Laca and Leno are strong candidates. Not so long ago many were talking about selling Laca to fund a winger, it will be quite something if he wins POTY.
Although it pains me to say it, I have a feeling Spuds will get a result tonight.
I hope I’m proved wrong.
Sorry folks.
G62. I still maintain that Iwobi and AMN are both average. Iwobi has no vision and no end product. AMN has no attributes whatsoever. Players can improve, but who is going to do the coaching at Arsenal to improve them?. Look at Sterling for instance. 3 years ago I used to laugh every time I saw him on the ball . but no more. He is a much improved player under PEP and if he continues with this trajectory, will be a world class player by the time he is late 20s. At Arsenal we will continue to coddle and… Read more »
As long as they are destroyed in semis.
More though games to deal with for them, so where’s the problem ??
“If Aubameyang finishes as PL top scorer, then he should be our player of the season. We haven’t a high quality goalscorer at centre forward since RVP.. He’s not a busy player like Lacazette, nor is he a high touch player. He has knack for being in great positions. For a team that plays average football, his skill set is invaluable” 18 PL goals so far playing for a team that doesn’t play to his strengths is not bad if you ask me. We just don’t have the resources at the back to play proper counter attacking football. If Guendozi… Read more »
And how crazy is it that we are almost at the end of the season and nobody on here is harping on about their TW shopping lists.. For once we don’t need a striker, goodness me when last?
I think most of the Gunners supporters outside England wont get why local gooners hate the Spuds so much, but surely the fact that City have basically bought the league means that we should be backing the Spuds tonight? I mean, we support a team that got r@ped of our best players every TW and we want City to win? Doesnt sit well with me. If we are brutally honest, Poch and Levy built that team up from nothing, they deserve some kudos
My TW personal list : Mustafi, Elnino, Jenkinson, Licht, Mavropanos, Monreal, Suarez, Wellbeck ===>> THE EXIT DOOR.
” they deserve some kudos”
No they don’t.
Steveyg87 “City have basically bought the league means that we should be backing the Spuds tonight?” Very interesting point. Like most rational Arsenal fans, I hate the Spuds because – well, its the Spuds. But I cannot celebrate Man City, a club that has splashed over £1bn in a few years to buy trophies. The owners are despotic dictators of a tiny nation in the Middle East who are trying to dominate world football buying teams on all continents as a global PR-marketing exercise to aimed at making the medieval regime faintly respectable. I like Pep and think players like… Read more »
Steveyg87
From a footballing perspective, I agree.
Problem is…………………….IT’S FRIGGING SPURS!!!!
@GlobalGunner,
We don’t have the funds to buy a team of ready made players. So our only option is to buy/form them young and coach them properly.
If your point is that nobody at Arsenal is going to do any coaching to improve players, then the problem is not with the players but with the coaching staff.
You said yourself, you considered Sterling useless, now he is a top premiership player, best English player without any doubt. There is no reason to think that with proper coaching, Iwobi, AMN could not also dramatically improve.
In 100 years time, the records will show that both Chelski and MC won this and that trophy,but the truth of the matter is that everybody will know that they did it by being bankrolled by dirty Russian money and the government of Abu Dhabi.
Maybe by then Accrington Stanley will be Champions of Europe.
Who knows.
Fortunately, whatever happens this evening, neither Spurs or City will be taking the pot home ultimately.
Barca, are far better than either, Liverpool, would most likely beat either in a one off, and even Ajax cannot be written off.
Barcas to lose
People creaming over Klopp yet he too has bought Liverpool to the top, not at the rate of City admittedly but still a substantial amount. And before people start droning on about net spend they still had the luxury to sell Coutinho, Suarez and Sterling at exorbitant prices and got well above market rates for a lot of the shite they’ve sold. I for one am willing City to win the league because I hate Liverpool, and I want Barcelona or Ajax to win the CL because I hate Liverpool, hate Tottenham and don’t like City buying the CL and… Read more »
God just saying that out loud makes you realise what a failure Wenger actually was – 20 years of Champions League Football and only 1 final.
Absolutely atrocious!
“Problem is…………………….IT’S FRIGGING SPURS!!!!”
I hear you
But its a case of backing the lesser of the 2 evils tonight, Spurs win tonight and we might see City crumble the rest of the season, Pool could shut the United fans up for a year. I don’t think we have a choice here, its spurs for the win tonight
I also want Liverpool to win the league.
As an Arsenal fan, it’s a no brainer.
Can’t stand MU and their fans.
Didn’t know that Manure were on course for the title…
Did I miss an episode ??
Wanting Liverpool to win the league is actually a dead brainer. Do you not remember the 80s and early 90s and their rivalry with us? Their fans are insufferable and twice as bad as Man Utd fans. I’d much rather City win the league all day long. And Man utd fans actually feel the same. Because of their rivalry in terms of number of league titles and European cups they don’t view City as their rivals in the same vein as they do Liverpool, and one Man utd friend of mine who’s a regular match goer says the feeling amongst… Read more »
Can’t stand Spurs, Utd, Chelsea and Pool. Yes, City are built on oil money but I would rather have them any day than the other four. We have never had a fair ride from the overwhelmingly Spurs, Pool and Utd loving media, so stuff them all.
“I’d much rather City win the league all day long.”
Amen to that.
“I’d much rather City win the league all day long.”
No disrespect and I am not trying to start an argument. But anyone supporting City should first Google – Abu Dhabi Human Righs or Abu Dhabi Slavery.
People forget that coaches win prizes even more than money does. PSG have money but cant win it . If PSG had hired Pep, the team would look a lot different from what it is now, but it would be a better team. Pep is the missing ingredient at City and I do not begrudge him winning anything. Mourinho could have been hired at City and 10 years they wouldnt win the CL. Pep and Klopp have spent money..yes, but they are both special coaches who would improve any team. having masses of money at their disposal only makes them… Read more »
Whilst I don’t want City to win the CL I would much prefer them to win the league over the Scousers. If the Spud’s get spanked tonight and then on Saturday we might see a mini collapse which could help us in a race for 3rd. If the Spud’s were to miss out on CL next season it could also have huge repercussions on their finances.
Micheal. I find your moralizing hard to take. A country that invaded and destroyed another country on bogus pretexts has no business complaining about others human rights. Based on human rights very few countries have any licence to play sports, except maybe the Swiss and Iceland.
bennydevito
Yes I do but my outlook on things is based on ancestral connections.
I was born in Chester, 20 miles south of Liverpool. My connections to the city and people are engrained. The fact that you feel their fans are insufferable is your prerogative but I will always stand up for a place and city where my roots still run deep.
MU were our main rivals for many years and despite the rivalry with Liverpool in the 80’s and 90’s, I will always see them(MU) and their fans, in a far worse light.
Cheers.
City to win league.
City to thrash Tottenham today and at the weekend.
Tottenham to not finish in top 4.
Ajax to win CL.
Oh and Arsenal to win EL and finish 3rd beating Chelseain the final.
Too much to ask?
No disrespect and I am not trying to start an argument. But anyone supporting City should first Google – Abu Dhabi Human Righs or Abu Dhabi Slavery. You ever buy a pair of Nikes? How about an iPhone? Drink a fanta perhaps? I wouldn’t sit atop that soapbox you probably bought or buy something from a corporation or entity that makes it’s money in unethical ways. That’s just the way the world is. Sure our owner is a republican who’s into trophy hunting (not the good kind) animals and who’s wealth comes from fucking over it’s workers and making Americans… Read more »
PSG, Bayern, Juventus, these are vain, self centred clubs who think their domination of their domestic leagues is a good thing for them. Neither will likely win the CL in the next 10 years IMO…unless they allow their own leagues to become more competitive.. Clubs that have sewn up league titles by end March each year are simply kneecapping themselves
Fair enough Graham 62.
“Micheal. I find your moralizing hard to take.” GG: I resect you opinion. However what happened in, say, Iraq or other parts of the British Empire going back centuries is in the past – for right or wrong. And I was no supporter of Iraq war. Nor can I do anything about, say, the masscre in Amritsar, the Irish Famine, etc. But people on this very day in Abu Dhabi are being locked up, denied basic human rights, kept in salvery, etc while the regime splurges billions to buy globabl respectability by winning football matches. I wish it was only… Read more »
And I’m not “supporting ” City, they are just my first choice over Liverpool and Spurs in the context of potential league and CL winners.
Abu Dhabi may have terrible human rights records but let’s look at our arms trade with Saudi Arabia bombing Yemen and the terrible historical crimes of the British Empire before trying to claim the moral high ground.
I can’t stress how amazing it’d be for us to make champions league while Spurs drop out. I mean we could start looking forward to the future while they’d honestly start bricking it big time. What a monumental fuck up it’d be if they missed out on champions league football after going 600 million over budget on their stadium. The belt tightening has already started they signed no one the last two transfer windows that isn’t expected to get much better if they’re not in the Champions League
@Marko : I’m not supporting City, I just don’t want Liverpool to win the PL.
Completely agree Marko.
HL I want Ajax to win it. I can live with anyone else winning it except Spurs. With City it’s inevitable and Liverpool have already won it but it’s that league title that they want and yet keep failing in
Bob N16April 17, 2019 15:06:37
City to win league.
City to thrash Tottenham today and at the weekend.
Tottenham to not finish in top 4.
Ajax to win CL.
Oh and Arsenal to win EL and finish 3rd beating Chelseain the final.
Too much to ask?
>>>>>
This would be the stuff of dreams. I’m in total agreement.
Even though if Ajax do win it expect the price of Neres and Tagliafico for example to go up. Two players that I hope the rumors that we’re interested are true
“Too much to ask?”
After all these years of pain ?? Not so much…
Visit……….Rwanda!!!!!!
I suppose we can’t take the moral high ground.
Marko
I thought Spuds initial budget was £650-£700m.
Maybe I’m wrong
Graham the stadium was to cost 400-450 million and ended up costing over a billion. People tend to gloss over that in the media when they’re talking about the stadium and the toilets they got and the long bar too.
Marko
You might have already picked up on this but if you haven’t I think you might like it.
Spud attendances in the new stadium
Palace – 59,215
City – 60,044
Huddersfield – 58,308
The Spud’s have made a huge thing about the capacity being 62,062, I have heard that for football matches that the capacity is less. the 62k is for Rugby or American football.
Why has the press not picked up that this amazing stadium is coming up on average 3,000 below capacity in league matches?
Seriously, Go Ajax!
They’re darlings of the media for some reason Marc.
Marko
Can you imagine what the press would’ve said if we’d gone hundreds of millions over budget and then couldn’t fill the stadium for the first couple of matches?
Who in they’re right mind wishes well on Tottenham, we are an intriguing set of fans I tell you that.
If the shoe was on the other foot, Spurs would almost certainly want City to hand us a beating.
Liverpool fans are insufferable also so I guess I’d prefer City to win the league. The City fans I know (hold your giggles) are actually decent aswell, also the ones I’ve met on matchdays.
“The City fans I know (hold your giggles) are actually decent aswell”
Excepted the Gallagher Brothers, of course.
(what a great pair of dickheads)
Leftside
The best thing about City fans is they are actually from Manchester therefore easy to avoid.
I agree with Marc, that ManCity fans tends to be much more relax and pleasant people. Even with the oil money, They don’t have yet that sense of entitlement. They mostly still behave like the kid who has just won the jackpot and can’t believe his luck rather than the jaded arrogant prat who think the earth belongs to him.
Marc,
Tell me about it, the other half of Manchester dear me. I know a tonne who have never stepped foot in Salford aswell (not that it matters ultimately but it does make laugh at times).
Lots of agreement right now….victory through harmony?
Bob
Fuck off!
Fair enough Marc….
@Bob : we simply enjoy the moment, as Victorious, Champagne, Charlie George and Co. are not around.
Leftside
Don’t know if you saw the match but ManU vs Chelsea couple of seasons ago, finished up 1-1 but Chelsea were 1 nil up until really late on. So loads of ManU fans start to leave early and got a round of “We’ll race you back to London”.
Bob
I was kidding
Unfortunately it won’t last.
Highbury
Maybe Pedro’s banned all the trolls.
Nope still here.
Really can’t wait to see how the squad will turn over this summer. Whether it’s great or good or bad it will be something to see.
Said the same earlier today Bob.
Much more palatable reading today with the usual suspects/trolls missing.
Has Pedro gone on a binning spree? Probably the lull before the storm of game night tomorrow.
I’ve been banging the Overmars drum for a few months and with others wanting him I hope Raül is on the same page.
Not holding my breath, though, with Raul because Overmars is no shrinking violet, so probably doesn’t suit Raul’s agenda.
Would be very happy to be proved wrong,
Looks like the relationship between Emery and Suarez is turning sour according to some reporters. I suspect the bitterness is coming from the agent who is seeing the signing-on fee disappearing.
I would not mind us getting Thauvin on the cheap. Hard worker, good dribbler who commit defenders and he knows where the goal is. He has grown up since his Newcastle days.
Come on spurs
Hope they wipe city out tonight
@Tony,
I don’t think that Overmars is a real possibility any more.
According to numerous previous reports, we were interested in Overmars and he was interested. However after some conversation with Arsenal, he decided against taking the job and instead opted to sign an extension with Ajax.
Raul is now in the process of redefining the role and maybe downgrade the job level to head of scouting department and keep some of the director of football prerogatives to himself.
Raul is now in the process of redefining the role and maybe downgrade the job level to head of scouting department and keep some of the director of football prerogatives to himself.
Top notch journalism, Valentin. Did he tell you if there are any new sponsors coming in next year?
Raul is now in the process of redefining the role and maybe downgrade the job level to head of scouting department and keep some of the director of football prerogatives to himself.
Would genuinely take statements like these with a bucket of salt honestly
Why is Valentin’s opinion worth less than anyone else’s? He’s a careful and measured poster but the usual bullies can’t help themselves can they? He’s virtuous and respectful yet he’s continually derided, scorned and insulted by the usual bitches. You lot should have been born with minges you sorry excuse for XY chromosome carriers.
Anddddddd they’re back!
The peace and measured posting on here were fun while it lasted.
Oh well.
That was widely reported in British newspapers.
Steve Morrow is likely to be promoted, but to the level of full director of football. Raul will stay Director of Football Operations that already encompasses what a Director of Football does at other clubs.
You just need to Google Steve Morrow or Cagigao who was the other internal candidates newspapers were reported about.
“The peace and measured posting on here were fun while
it lasted”
what peace, if I may ask? You lot couldn’t do without them which explains why you have been mentioning their names.
it’s a blog, not your heritage
I cam see spurs sneaking through tonight 1-1 or – 2 – 2
I’m well aware of that Valentin and it seems this is the way they’ve structured things while they look for a DOF. Certainly you’ll agree it’s more plausible than saying Steve Rowley is back at the club. Raul has come out and said that he can’t do the job and they are by all accounts still looking for a technical director/DOF hence the links to Zubizurretta to Mitchell and Campos.
Tee If people like me aren’t around they lynch the more pleasant and respectful posters Look at Charlie George. What has he done that’s so bad to receive the abuse he gets? He wants English players? Liked wemger? Doesn’t like emery If you don’t have the right views according to some you’re a target for abuse on here The only reason I started to post was when I read the comments section so many decent posters were getting hounded I decided to put the cat among the pigeons; and they are pigeons. That’s 100% true I’ve never commented on another… Read more »
I suggest the club studies how Ajex’s academy functions. Maybe buy the same training equipments and hire some of their teachers. Just like any university, it should have the most advance technology.
Tee
If you have no idea about what I meant then I have nothing else to say to you.
Angel cakes has spoken.
The reason CG gets “abuse” as you put it is because of his inaccurate agenda driven rhetoric towards Emery.
As for bullying you’re a fine one to talk. The minute you’re challenged you start labelling them effeminate pansies, pink haired etc etc. You’re in no position to take the moral high ground like some self proclaimed LG SJW.
Come on spurs. Who wants crass oil clubs steam rolling traditional English teams who do things the right way, promote their youth and play traditional british blood and thunder football while they are at it?
Benny
Ok, when I’m debating someone though I’m usually on my own and taking on 2,3,4 at a time. You travel in packs and hang up on the more reasonable posters. Valentin and CG have never stopped to that level.
I don’t even think they swear in their posts.
Just an observation.
Ps. Keep calling me angel cakes it revs my engine. XX
traditional English teams who do things the right way, promote their youth and play traditional british blood and thunder football while they are at it?
By youth you mean Winks and Kane. Everyone else was bought and paid for
The reason cg gets abuse is because of his rhetoric towards emery
So if someone has the wrong rhetoric they get abuse
And don’t give me agendas. Every single human being alive has several agendas going at any time. It’s human nature. No it’s biological nature. Every animal alive has some sort of agenda.
But according to you lot if your agenda/rhetoric (which really means opinion) is incorrect then you deserve abuse
And don’t put abuse in quotation marks. It’s abuse. He gets called a cunt, thick and all sorts
Told to crawl back under his rock. Facsism
Bennydevito
“The reason CG gets “abuse” as you put it is because of his inaccurate agenda driven rhetoric towards Emery.”
Some might say it’s similar to the inaccurate agenda driven rhetoric towards Arsene Wenger by the wenger of over the last ten years ….how ironic.
MC team: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero
Subs: Muric, Stones, Sane, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Otamendi, Jesus
SPUD: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Alli, Eriksen, Son, Moura
correction
“Some might say it’s similar to the inaccurate agenda driven rhetoric towards Arsene Wenger by the wenger obsessives over the last ten years ….how ironic.
Some might say it’s similar to the inaccurate agenda driven rhetoric towards Arsene Wenger by the wenger of over the last ten years ….how ironic.
Nice try. Hardly inaccurate the guy was THAT shite. He’s THAT unemployable
Pierre,
Not quite, but nice try.
Un Battle,
Fair point. CG never does swear and is always polite, but despite our heated disagreements I do quite like him and have said as much.