I haven’t posted after the game. I was flat. Nothing mattered for 2 days. Maybe more. Today as another weekend dawns I desperately cling to the few floating straws of a league title and hope hope that somehow the guys will get themselves up at struggling Bolton and win 4-0. Probably too much to ask but no..I haven’t lost my love for football or Arsenal because we lost to Chelsea.
Two quick points on the game IMO before I get to the crux of this article. Oh and I’m not even going to bother justifying it; because I don’t want to get drawn into tiring arguments.
a) Just like we lost Diaby in the CC final after that kick in JT’s face; the loss of Sagna the outstanding unsung hero of the year cooked our goose.
b) Chelsea created nothing and we were equal for long periods of the game ; until the goal came. We were not demolished in the first half or anything as people claim.
Now for an attempt at some brutal rational analysis. Lets think back to when Paddy left..yet again. What let us down that season? Not that kid called Cesc Fabregas who replaced Viera or Flamini or that big Swiss centreback. It was Pires,Freddie,Gilberto,Campbell and to an extent Titi as well. Obviously I will get stick for stating this but this is the truth. Roll on to last season — Who underperformed yet again? Henry, Freddie, Gallas. Gilberto was the only one of the seniors who performed well. So what about this season then?
The squad overall has done a fantastic job considering the injuries that we’ve got and I really don’t want to single out people. However I still want to have a debate about where you think we lost it. Yes we may still win it but its just a little glimmer of hope and up to ManU losing at the Bridge. Let us see!!
Keeper:
Almunia - 3 or 4 near posts. Usual problems but if you go purely by performance and not by reputation the Spaniard has done well.
Defence: Sagna has been brilliant. Clichy brilliant most times but a bit prone to inconsistency at key moments which I’m sure he’ll overcome. Which brings me to one of the two problems — Centre Back. Unfortunately for all the Senderos haters he has been the best CB at Arsenal this season and believe that once Gallas leaves he will be here for a long long time. Kolo sadly has not been on form since he’s come back and Gallas has misjudged so much in the air that I don’t even want to start on the statistics. No, don’t get me wrong — I think Gallas has a very very tough job as captain of a very young Arsenal side and has done a job well overall but football wise I think he has cost us a lot of goals this season. He has injected that winning mentality into our players to an extent(though they havent won anything)..yet. Football wise I cannot see how much better than any of our other CB’s he has been.
Midfield: Hleb’s season has tapered off from brilliant to inconsistent. He is quite clearly a confidence player; when on song he is destructive and when not he loses the ball all too often ; strangely. Its the same with Cesc as well who is not controlling games like he did at the start of the season. Probably to be expected again..but he is so central to our cause that we have raised the bar more and more until its probably too high. Maybe we just need to ease off a little. Flamini has been an absolute revelation and probably just behind Sagna for player of the season. The troubled left wing berth has not been filled though with Rosicky,Hleb, Diaby,Theo, Dudu and even RVP recently all playing there. I sincerely hope Mozart gets fit next season else we’re gonna have problems again there.
Forwards: Ade has been inconsistently brilliant if there’s a phrase like that. RVP has been injured all the way. Dudu’s career is threatened badly and NB is just a raw talent. Ade’s goals have dried up and unless RVP can hit form soon we might have trouble during the remaining games. We didn’t remotely look like creating anything in the Chelsea game at all so that makes the forwards look even worse than they have actually been playing.
To sum up:
Best Players — Sagna, Flamini, Senderos, Almunia
Inconsistent Players — Cesc, Hleb, Gallas, Ade, Clichy
Poor Players(relatively) — Mozart, RVP, Toure
That in no way means anyone is surplus apart from Mozart if he does not get fit even next season.
Lastly I think we’ve done extremely well this season in a very very competitive title race where we have proved we can mix it with the best and probably would’ve been top still if it hadn’t been for the Dudu injury(yes conjecture). I think we have been spoiled as usual and are starting to moan yet again just because we haven’t steamrolled everyone 4-0 every game. Starting to talk about signings before the damn season is even over!!! Look at that losses column so far..we probably wont lose 6 more games out of the remaining and have equalled last season’s point tally before yesterday’s loss. We have come even further than anyone in their wildest dreams expected. Just that now we’ve got here people are starting to fall back on that soft “I told you so” pillow and beginning to crib yet again. Its really probably not as easy as we make it out to be — Sell,Buy,Coach,Perform. There’s probably much more to it and as I’ve said many many times before — If you don’t know all the facts don’t talk… If you’re not Pat Rice or Boro Primorac everything you conclude is just hypothetical. You may be right or you may be ridiculously wrong. Accept that - enjoy the ride - analyze - constructively criticize - appreciate - and don’t rant. Speech over.
Is the dream over? Probably but I hope not; funny things have happened in football. The CL is very much alive; how much will a “European” clash matter considering its Liverpool? All I know is — we are still alive both places. Just alive maybe but still alive.
Lastly…I thought some of this might be apt here…
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt
March 28th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Great summary of the season. Here’s to finishing off the season strong. Silverware or no silverware, we’ve shown or class over and over this season.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Missed the u! We’ve shown our class! What no edit?! ; )
March 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Love this article LDE. And this quote is perfect.
>>The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is >>marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly
This is exactly why I am so upset by this team. They have quietly given up, throwing it all up. With a whimper. Hushes. Silence.
>> So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Yup. 4 draws fits in with this. My fear is if this Arsenal team does not wake up now, it won’t next season either. After Arsenal lost the title in 2003, I was not sure how the team would react in 2004 but they did amazing. Ofcourse, back then the team consisted of players at their peak who were willing to put it all on the line. Plus the team had enough players capable of lifting the team. Not so more anymore.
One more thing LDE. I thought about that Diaby incident after he accidentally kicked Terry. I posted that was unhappy about how he faded away in that game. I was reminded by Danny that I was being immature and that since he was a young player, he was naturally upset because he may have killed a guy. Well, I had also said that if the situation was reversed, the Chelsea players would have carried on like nothing happenned. If Terry injured Cesc, he wouldn’t bat an eyelid and would continue kicking away.
Sometimes, I like to think this Arsenal team is too human and shows emotions that allow it to get bogged down. The kicked cheated loss to ManU in 2004 upset the team and they never recovered after that during that season. Although, to think of it, they were still top of the league then. But Wenger came out and said the team was in shock after not having lost for so long.
And then the Birmingham game. For Eduardo’s sake, that game shouldn’t be the turning point of a brilliant season. It can’t be.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
the funk started mid-february with the 0-4 L A to ManUre
then we lost 8 EPL pts
2/23 2-2 D A BirmCity
3/1 1-1 D H Villa
3/9 0-0 D A Wigan
3/15 1-1 D H Boro
we seem to be much more focused on winning europe. with 3 matches v. ‘pool coming up, it’s essential that we beat bolton. all 4 of the draws were winnable. it reminds me a lot of last season.
with dudu gone, i’d like to see walcott playing more forward with ade. it would be great it RvP can round into form. the ade - bendter combo doesn’t seem to produce results. i’m not sure mozart can make it a full season in EPL / europe. plus, between Ade, RvP, walcott, i think we have what we need, but we do need help on the wings and at CB.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Everyone seems to underestimate the mental strength test that Arsenal had to face. Our age and experience didnt help. Being in the lead with 5 points is not easy when you have Man U and Chelsea breathing under you neck. Here is a mental test. Then Arsenal loses 4-0 against Man U, then … the worst, when Eduardo got his leg shattered in front of the eyes of his teammate. Sagna was shocked and I saw the tears almost coming out of his tears. We are talking about top athletes here. These guys are bricks, and usually dont break so easy, but … here we go, Arsenal was shattered. Only to restore temporarily against AC Milan and for 71 minutes against Chelsea.
I think Arsenal while being by the Media ” less favored to win the title” will perform. With Chelsea yet to play Man u … Arsenal to play Man U, I think we somehow have it in our hands. Arsenal needs to beat Man U if they deserve to win the league.
If we go to the last game of the season with a chance to win the title… we will see crazy things.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
So what, LDE, judging by your Theo Roosevelt quote, should we just shut the site down? You want people to keep posting and not act spoiled but yet you know full well the majority of the posts will be negative. Do you just like to moan at the ‘moaners’?.
I’ve noticed that across quite alot of Arsenal sites recently. All the people who predicted Arsenal WILL WIN THE LEAGUE get rather touchy and sensitive when things go awry. And they usually respond by pulling out a ‘profound’ passage from a revered figure from sixty or so years ago to add some resonance to their perspective. When in doubt, pull as far away from the present as possible and philisophise as much as possible to detract from the fact Arsenal have bombed. Royally.
I just want the season to end now, and bring the summer transfers around. I feel, just maybe, the penny could have dropped with Wenger and he may bring in these four players I feel we need. Ben Arta would be a good signing. Kader Keita could be a good impact player. If we sign the players that are necessary then next season will be a good ride and Arsenal will be CAPABLE of lasting the pace. Even with a good squad there are no guarantess but at least I can enjoy it and hope. I was totally convinced from day one we would win zilch so I could never really enjoy the journey, apart from of course the actual games we did perform well in.
However, no one knows the damage this late collapse could have the on the team. I feel it will have an effect.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Fine writing sir.
For me it’s not over until it’s over. That doesn’t mean my own selfish ambitions for the team weren’t tested with the recent run of form and they were.
I still believe they can do it, but now it’s out of the hands of the team and in the hands of others which never bodes well. If the team really wants it then every game must be a win and not for Edurado but for each and every one of them. There’s no shame in a 2nd place or 3rd.
Right now my camera is taking me to places I’ve never been before and thus it acts as a good distraction. Besides image making is my vocation.
I’ll always be a Gunner, I bleed red and white now.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Fares, I was thinking the same thing earlier today. During some boring lecture, my mind wandered to football (as it often does during class), and I thought: Man U still have to play us and Chelski, and Villa as well. Perhaps if Villa hand them a draw, we will get some confidence if we beat Bolton. We’d only be 4 pts. down then (with Chelski 3 back). If we can manage a draw at OT and Chelski get a draw with them… then ManUre would be 1 pt ahead of Chelski and only 2 ahead of us… now that’s excitement!!
Things may not happen exactly like this, but my point is that Man U have dropped easy points all season, which means we are still in it. The cards are stacked against us, but we can do it. I think it would take winning the rest of our games, with a draw at Old Trafford. COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE!
March 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Why is Mazza an Arsenal supporter?
“I was totally convinced from day one we would win zilch so I could never really enjoy the journey, apart from of course the actual games we did perform well in.”
Absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever read! By that account the Charlotte Hornets fans should sue the club for their season tickets in a class action with Arsenal fans.
Look, supporting a team is like supporting a loved on. YOU TRUST IN THEM, YOU STAND BY THEM. They may dissapoint you, but you don’t kick them to the curb. One day they may bring home a nice present and you are proud an elated.
Come to think, maybe nobody should have kids either cuz they will just turn out to be a menace to society and die without accomplishing anything.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Even before the Eduardo incident, it’s been hard work trying to figure out what best motivates this current team. They are, to misquote somebody, an enigma inside a riddle wrapped in prosciutto ham.
Overall, I’d say they play best when they have been written off, i.e. at the start of the season and going into the Milan game. When they overachieved and went 5 points ahead, they were being hailed as world beaters by some. Mazza and co. knew otherwise. This is a young team with no depth on the bench, or the savvy to pace themsleves for the whole season. Take the case of Ade, who ran himself ragged for the first half, then dried up in front of goal, and will now have to be rested against Bolton.
Also, his is a team that very often let in early goals to make SOOOO much harder for us. More than a third of our goals game in the last 12 minutes, which indicates how few games we’ve wrapped up by halftime or the 60m mark.
The Eduardo incident combined with the sacrificial lamb approach to the FA Cup game against ManUre rather exposed our brittle confidence, personified by Hleb’s up and down form. So we are effectively out the running now, barring a few miracles.
I was there in 89 when we threw away a lead against effing Wimbledon. The difference was there was only one more game - and we merely had to reverse years of tradition and win by two goals. Now we have 7 games to go chasing two teams who look so much stronger than us - physically and mentally.
The romance of this side is undeniably, but it also means we don’t grind out results and we don’t know how to shut up shop. Christ, even the bottom teams know how to park the bus and keep us at bay. Why can’t we do it against Chelski?
The glimmer of good news is that we have once again been written off by everyone. We have no chance. We’ve blown it. We have a glass jaw. We’re not even flat track bullies any more. We can get hustled out of our stride by ANYONE. (Admittedly, all true in the past 5 or so games.)
Psychologically, I hope, this once again frees up the team to let rip and prove a point. It’s going to be hard without Sagna, but if VanP can get his game on and Bendtner pulls his finger out, and more importantly Hleb gets his bubble back, we have a chance.
Seriously, if we can’t dispose of this Bolton side, we’re pussies.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I’m just grateful to be a fan. Win or lose, I think we have - for the most part - been class this season. Now, that being said - I HATE losing. I hope we finish strong and give the other teams quite the run for their money. Losing to Bolton would RUIN my weekend. This season has drained me honestly, I no longer get emotional about matches. It’s sad. I need a BOOST.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Good Post LDE, don’t necessarily agree with it all but good stuff. Loved the Jefferson quote by the way I didn’t interpret in the same way as Sachin but I think the point was to to appreciate and respect the effort the players put in even when they come short.
I think Mazza took it as a dig at him and I suppose those who choose to wear the cap know it fits them.
Mazza@6 I think it was Rocka23 or something of the sort that said “Mazza you depress the hell out of me”. I have the same inclination when I read your posts of late. Ok you are welcome to express your opinion, I but you have given me the opinion that you have a really dark, cynical mindset. Sometimes you make me laugh with you weird interpretation of football most recently your critic of Ade, seriously funny stuff. Sorry got to disagree with you @6 most post are not negative but most of yours probably are.
At the end of the season you may well say I told you so if we were unfortunate enough to come 4th or 3rd. At the beginning of the season the was a predictable call especially from a negative Arsenal supporter as the media generally expected us to finish either 4th or 5th. The more realist, positive Arsenal supporters would have predicted 2nd or 3rd. The ultra positive (dreamers, lol) like myself said we would win the league. If I wanted to make a safe bet, if my ego would have been dented by being wrong I would probably have said 2nd or 3rd. But I honestly believed Arsenal would win it. But Mazza it has taken our worst run of results in 9 seasons to get us from 1st to 3rd. Even with our lack of strength and depth, the poor decisions against us (3/4 games Birmingham, Villa, Chelsea and to some extent Boro) and a psychologically damaging injury to a much needed striker put aside, no one would predicted this run of form.
In short those who predicted 3-5th place finishes would have believed we would have been chasing all season, no one would have envisaged us 5 points clear in Mar. In short you prediction does not make you a genius, any fool could have looked at the probabilities and come out with 3-4 as a safe bet. So your “I told you so” will not give you the respect your ego seems to cry out for, it may just show you up as an egotistical “neg head”.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.” yes Mazza the cap fits you, why not wear it. “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,” that’s why some of us defend our players against in what we deem to be excessive or undue criticism, we appreciate the effort they put in and the good things they do. Of course it OK for you to criticise and gloat at our teams shortcomings for the sake of you ego if you please. But expect to reap what you sow.
Where’s Fred? LOL
March 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
You go, LDE.
Irakli, bravo on post #9.
As for #6, I don’t know anyone who predicted that Arsenal would win the league at the beginning of the season. Your posting is more of the graceless “I was right, you were wrong” crap you choose to dispense whenever your negativity is proven correct in your mind.
All I know is that, unlike Mazza, I DO NOT “want the season to end now,” Neither does my 6 year old son who cries for at least a half hour when Arsenal loses and despises Drogba for what he did last Sunday. If that’s the way you really feel, just stop watching and posting like DannyT.
Finally, if Arsenal does or cannot dispose of Bolton tomorrow, I will still watch the team play Liverpool on Wednesday. And #10, you can speak for yourself regarding what “we” are if “we can’t dispose of this Bolton side.”
March 28th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
@8… really interesting view.
I actually still think we can still win it (we manage to beat mancs, mancs manage to lose to chel$ki) but I didnt know it could potentially be turn out easier than that. I kinda feel sorry for so-called fans who have given up on this team… it’s been one heck of a ride and I’ll enjoy it and keep hoping to the end.
Kiss the Crest
Gooner 4 life
March 28th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
The few who had predicted life were going to be doom and gloom for the Gunners throughout the season, and now feel that they have PROVEN right, they are just kidding with themselves.
Man, first thing first, the way i see it, unless we actually WIN something, it’s always doom and gloom for them. If Arsenal don’t win anything, they are bottlers, they are pussies.
But hell, how many TROPHIES out there to win? the only two matter are CL and EPL. And 20 teams in EPL, that means if someone predicted Arsenal was NOT going to win the league at the start, the odd of him to get it right was 95%.
Such a genius.
for the rest of us, all we CARE about is for our team to do well. We want them to win, we are thrilled they did, and upset when they didn’t. yet regardless of the last game was a win or defeat, we always want our team to win the next game, and believe in them that they can.
as far as i m concerned, the negative pete will always stand a far greater chance to TELL US SO at the end of the season. Does that mean those who back the team during the course of the season know nothing about the game? Hell NO. Because we are SUPPORTERS, we are not plundits. Even the team fuck up 10 games in a row, we would still believe they could win the 11th game. We are not here to make PREDICTION so that at the end of the season we could TELL people SO. We are here to SUPPORT Arsenal. At the end of the day, it’s ARSENAL that matters. That’s WHY we are here. Or else i might as well spend my time flirting around in Facebook.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:45 am
A good blog bur I am certainly in total disagreement with quite a few of your conclusions:
Senderos and Flamini in our best player category makes no sense based on the criteria used for your analysis.
Sendoros was horrible in his first few starts and substitute stints and eventually played better as he got more time. Combine his early ineffectual starts with the quality of teams he played against and there is no way he can be included among the best. To gauge him based on his performance in 50 % of his starts is irrational.
Flamini has been good, but for the past 4-5 games he has not been playing effectively as a defensive midfielder. He has gone forward too much, without any scoring effect I might state, and in essence, forced Fab to play more defensively and therefore remove another one of our few scoring threats. Combine that with 3 goals, 2 assists and a lack of aerial defensive help he is highly overrated
Clichy only had one poor game, as did Sagna when he left out his weave, and had one very poor defensive lapse which allowed a goal, in an otherwise very good performance. Clichy has to be rated as one of our best and has consistently, unlike Senderos, provided us with great performances over the course of the season and along with Evra certainly must be rated as the 2 best LB in the EPL this season.
I notice you did not not rate Fab and it’s a hard choice to decide whether he belongs in the best or inconsistent category. His inconsistency, particularly in scoring, may be the effect of Flamini who suddenly is an attacking midfielder although not suited for the position and probably is also playing outside of the designated team role.
To put Toure and RVP on the list of poor players is also unconscionable, RVP has been injured for most of the season not due his own doing. At season’s start he performed very admirably and since coming back is expectedly rusty and will need time to gain his match fitness. Toure has played very well for us all season and only since his injury suffered in the ANC has been less than stellar. In spite of all that there are only 2 games in which he did not perform well.
Anyone can arrive at conclusions, but the same criteria should be used for all players in determining their status. Failure to do so leaves one wondering if the thought process was totally visceral rather than factual.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:16 am
@Mazza ….Your predictions would have been worthy of praise if you had predicted exactly how the season would have progressed……However, you predicted that the team would never be challenging for the title in this season………The way I see it the team proved you wrong for a major part of the season….An unfortunate series of events have culminated in this bad patch but its definetly not for the lack of talent. and inspite of this horrendous form…we are still in the running although its not in our hands anymore.
Looking at things this way I wouldn’t go around saying that i have been proved right in this or that….especially when the team has surpassed expectations of most fans who were actually positive about the team
Cheers,
Wayne
March 29th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Andez, I predicted we had no chance of winning the league. Its OPINION. It was how I felt going into the league. I am HAPPY to have been wrong, and both impressed and enthused by the play of the team this year.
Am I just supposed to say we are great, we’ll win everything??
I don’t get it.
On the reverse side. Mazza, I don’t get the “I just want the season to end now” thought process AT ALL?!! Man… we are IN the Champion’s League. Playing possibly ONLY EPL teams. We definitely have a chance there. Why wouldn’t you be interested in watching our CL matches, at the very least.
You thought we’d be blown out by Chelsea by half-time, as well… you may have lost the plot!
There are some things that need fixin’… for sure… but we’re in 3rd place, within a shout of the top… and have a chance to make CL Trophy run.
If you told me that was the scenario way back in August, I would have loved it.
I’m dissapointed by our play in the run in. We have blown the league. No way around it… but its not all doom and gloom… there are some bright spots.
I doubt Wenger will buy anyone big… so forget that. Why would he do so now?
You’ve got to accept it. Its not the Wenger way.
And the demise of Kolo Toure, is GREATLY exaggerated. Maybe Sol Campbell was a lot better than we give him credit for??!!! But Kolo was immense with Sol playing next to him. He hasn’t forgotten how to defend. He has just had a less than stellar year. Try another scape goat… he’s going to be at the Arsenal for a long time.
I hope we beat up on Bolton, but it doesn’t matter much really… no injuries to important players… and a good effort, and I will be happy. Its all about the CL right now. I HOPE we win. I will watch with interest. But I don’t expect a big win. We can’t score with any type of regularity right now. I wouldn’t bet a dime on Arsenal winning on the road at Bolton, based on history and our current form. So we will probably win like 5-1!
March 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Thanks Sachin,SEH,arthur3sheds,villagegunner and caribkid. I enjoyed writing this piece.
@Mazza: Did I ever say we should shut the site down? On the other hand I did say we should keep posting in the previous post. I’m hardly running away from the fact am I? I’m saying we were inconsistent at times and ManU have been better recently. That is no reason to believe that the team is crap because they did not whitewash 19 other teams at all points of the season just because it did not fit your vision of football. I don’t know but sometimes I feel you would be better off as a neutral supporting the game and not an Arsenal fan. Just my view though. As for the quote “adding resonance” — I have that quote on my wall just behind my comp and look at it everyday each time I criticize someone who has done much more than me — that’s all.
@CaribKid: Here’s what I feel. Senderos bar that Sevilla away game wasn’t horrible. No way. No more than WillyG was and we still haven’t lost much with him starting games. Its either been wins or draws at worst. Not to say he is the next Paolo Maldini but I felt he did exceedingly well in tough periods when he’s traditionally been a slow starter. As for Flamini I’m talking football roles again…He has been an absolute revelation and has been a true box to box midfielder…maybe not scored goals as you point out but the amount of running and protection he gives surely have to be appreciated. Haven’t we lost a lot of games or drawn em when Flam hasn’t started and Bert has? Also its hard to say what’s causing Cesc to play deeper…maybe he’s tired ..maybe he feels he can control the play better while allowing Flamini to force rash passes resulting in him getting the ball quicker..its not because of FLamini though…surely Flam is more effective than Bert in this current style.
Cesc — Yes inconsistent because he’s played in almost all the games and apart from that big AC Milan game has not been in top form. Hard to ask that of him every game at 20 but I’m rating purely on performance here. Its very much the SAME CRITERIA. On hindsight maybe Kolo = poor is very harsh but he has lost more over the top balls and hasn’t been great after his injury either. RVP?? Yes poor - because he got injured again trying to come back soon and has done nothing since. Yes very harsh but again you have to remember that its purely performance driven(my ratings). Ditto for Mozart who has actaully fewer excuses than RVP.Clichy on the face of it might be harsh again..and he probably deserves a promotion as well. The reasoning was — To rate Clichy I compared him with Sagna. Who’s been more solid? Thats why I dropped Clichy a level but its harsh .. I agree.
I did say — poor(relatively) didn’t I? So there you go..yes perhaps there are few little flaws in that argument but I feel overall the way it is above is more or less the way I feel.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:17 am
This is more appropriate for the previous article.
The ice cream story is very interesting. Hleb and Inter would be made for each. Both have a big time loser mentality.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:21 am
I said it right at the beginning of the week. The site had fallen flat. Everyone was totally gutted and I think most have GIVEN UP. I don’t think anyone BELIEVES that we can win the title anymore. Unfortunately, this mirrors the lack of belief in the team itself. You can see that the players themselves are not believing in themselves.
That said, there is still a lot more to play. 2nd place in the league means direct CL qualification and, of course, there is small matter of the CL Q/F against Liverpool.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:25 am
It is kind of sad to see the confidence of the team is as brittle as their style of play. If everything is not functioning properly, the it kinds of falls apart quickly. Frankly, this is not single to just this Arsenal team. The way we fell apart after our defeat at OT (which ended the invincible run) was another sign of that.
Look at ManU, they have more defeats than us, but still 6 points ahead. I think they pick themselves up a lot better and faster. We dwell too much on what went wrong. Yes, Clichy’s mistake was probably a turning point but we still dropped points at home to Villa and Boro and also dropped a lead at Chelsea.
We should learn to ignore one match results (easier said than done, but have to). A bit like Sampras and Federer do in tennis. Notice that they never let the previous point affect their next one. They just keep on playing like they know.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:29 am
Arsene has clearly hinted that Ade will be rested and Bendtner will start. Mazza will get his preferred combination.
March 29th, 2008 at 3:32 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7319961.stm
Wow, seems like Mourinho is talking to Inter about being their coach. Now that will be interesting. The “special” one coaching a loser mentality club. I remember Hector Cuper going there with a big reputation and failing miserably. I wouldn’t mind a similar fate for Mourinho.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:25 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7319045.stm
Sad to see us lose out to Hamburg for the 2010 UEFA Cup final.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Cool down guys. It wasn’t mean to be another told you so, otherwise I could have gone on for a while on the Chelsea thread. However, I was responding to the jibes of the posivite petes who can’t let a bad defeat go without having a little dig at the people who predicted as such. It’s just a fact that when I talk about Arsenal I have to touch on my predictions to qualify a few opinions. I’m not necessarily trying to rub it in to people all the time.
The reason why I was concerned about the fact I thought we would win nothing is the effect it would have on the players. How many times can poor Cesc be disappointed before these setbacks affect his game? Lost in Champions League final, the Carling Cup final, and now looks set to be part of a team that collapsed in the league and threw away a five point lead. That’s why figures like Adams and indeed Van Persie have come out and said Arsenal need to win something.There comes a point where the team needs to win something to vindicate their methods and style of play. This could have been achievable if Wenger had signed a couple of players. Only he knows if he passed up the opportunity or if the players were not available.
That’s why I struggled to enjoy the season. How can one really enjoy the season if you know the ending is going to end in disappointing fashion, and how can one have cynical mindset when the team collapes in a fashion which appeared to forecast? As I said before, just accept I was right about our squad. I’m thinking there was a bit of ego involved in the positives forecasts as well. Maybe that partly explains the Roosevelt quotes. ;^)
March 29th, 2008 at 8:30 am
But you are Mazza. You do a “I told you so” every single thread - albeit in multiple forms. Gone on for a while on the Chelsea thread? About what? 2 amateur mistakes ; actually 3 if you count both Kolo n Gallas boobing on the second goal? What else was there to go on about? And really why do you need to touch on predictions at all? Isn’t it possible to take just that game instead of going backward and quoting yourself all the time. Why isn’t it possible to just say — Essien moving in to midfield and Anelka was too much for Flamini and that Gallas boobed on two long balls? Why not speak just in the present? Surely that makes more sense. Anyway those are just my thoughts.
Poor Cesc? Agreed he has a tremendous load on his young shoulders but poor Cesc? or poor Hleb? Its not as if he’s a sacrificial lamb for a cause .. you know. Its not even as if he has carried the team after his injury. The team as a whole has underperformed after Birmingham and that fictitious Clichy penalty. Sure Arsenal need to win something. Who doesn’t want that? But if you don’t win then how does moaning help in any way? Does that decrease disappointment? Not really — it just feels that way. Signing players is an art — I wouldn’t really question AW on that AT ALL.
You’ve predicted losses in almost every tough game we were involved in. You’ve been right in about 2 or 3 of them. How about you admitting you were wrong? Ego in forecasts? — Absolutely. I have an ego. A big one at that. I love being proven right. Only I don’t let it get in the way of reality and having an unbiased opinion. The Roosevelt quotes really explain nothing tbf…its just that its one of my favorite quotes in reminding us where we are as fans and where Arsenal is in terms of players and achievements…thats all. I’m not really sure how you jumped to the ego conclusion
March 29th, 2008 at 9:13 am
LDE, that’s why fans such as yourself never seem to able to judge a squad correctly and continue to predict success regardless- because you keep looking at games like Chelsea as singular events and not as you should be; one part of a continous process. On the surface, you can look at tactical substitutions and individual mistakes but if you look deeper you will see sort of stuff going for years at Arsenal. When get in position of strength we collectively choke as a team. Our team goes from compact to flimsy, and this is because the team is weak mentally. Players do not move as one and in harmony; they lose their composure and you see faults the size of San Andreas. For instance, last week you get big gaps between defence and midfield. Look at their first goal. Our defence sits deep and the midfield is twenty yards in front of them. That leaves a massive gap and opportunity for the opposition to swarm on the second ball. Why? Because the midfield sub-consciously wanted to keep on attacking and the defence wanted to shut up shop. This has been a fault of ours for a while and that’s why I do not take it naively as a one game event. If the Arsenal managerial staff thought that way we would never learn anything. In some ways they do, because Wenger doesn’t seemed to have learned from last year when it comes to squad depth.
@23. Yep, belatedly Wenger has realised Adebayor is a hindrance to our game. It’s a pity it’s about three games too late. Long-term I wouldn’t want him in the team at all but that’s another story.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Don’t you get it . . . long-term, short-term, Arsenal FANS don’t want you posting on this website and that’s really the story of this thread. Look back on it, who’s supported you?
We hurt deeply every time the team loses, probably hurt a whole lot more than you since we’re not being proven right with every loss and since we don’t care whether we are proven right or not. Your crap about Adebayor is transparent. Why don’t we take away his 19 goals and see where Arsenal would be.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:54 am
VillageGunner, Am I supposed to care whether people want me to post or not? Stop being a little girl and get a hold of yourself. Your boring, monotous, opinion-police posts contribute nothing to the site. All you do is come on and pull up something I said or something MacMac said. How about giving an opinion on Arsenal instead of acting like a priest in a strip joint.
March 29th, 2008 at 10:34 am
@28, I don’t think Wenger subscribes to your line of thought. He is “resting” Ade. Even if we win today, you think Bendter will play against Liverpool?
March 29th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Well, why hasn’t he ‘rested’ Hleb then?
It’s a mixture of both. He’s resting him yet also recognising he has been playing rubbish. No need to sugar coat it.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Lots of changes
- third choice kit
- Toure at RB
- no Eboue
- Bendtner for Ade
March 29th, 2008 at 11:02 am
If Rosicky was fit, maybe Hleb would have been rested.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Damn, Bendtner couldn’t even beat Andy O’Brian for pace.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:11 am
RvP misses an easy chance but is called offside (incorrectly).
March 29th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Toure beaten to a header and we are down again. After all the initial domination. When things go wrong, they really do.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:17 am
TOURE IS A PIECE OF SHIT DEFENDER!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
this season arsenal had a beautiful girl with her legs spread apart just asking for it, unfortunately arsenal decided to go limp
March 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Mazza. You should post twice as much… thats my opinion.
There are DEFINITELY folks that don’t want negative posts on the site. But without a yin/yang - opposing opinions, the site would be boring and one-sided.
Its the difference of opinions, that make the conversation and site interesting.
ooooooooooops. There we go. BOLTON 1-0.
I told you so.
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
And HLEB having a “loser’s mentality”… I’ll just speak for Alex, and say… FECK OFF!!!!!!!
How exactly do you get that Hleb has a “loser’s mentality”?
When have you or anyone on the site spoken to him? What do you know about him? NOTHING.
To be the professional football at the highest level in the world… and being a pretty damn good one… he would not be able to have this alleged loser’s mentality. This is a figment of someones warped imagination. Sorry. But thats utter bullshite… no way about it.
He is an unselfish player, who plays very much in the Arsenal way… of pass pass and pass again… pass before shooting.
Thats an ARSENAL issue. Its probably why Wenger brought him in.
Hleb is definitely one of our most creative players, and we’d be far worse without him. Loser’s mentality… yeah… lets see if we can come up some other non-sensical idea.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Now Bolton are going to park the bus and counter attack.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Just when it looked like the shackles had been lifted. To be honest it was hard to do much to stop that goal. Good cross, good header.
We shouldn’t worry to much. Keep playing the way we were and we should put a few past these lot.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Yes Fred. Toure is a lousy player. He should be stoned to death, because you don’t like him… he’s at fault for every goal. There are 10 other players on the pitch, there is a build up to a play… its not down to one man.
Perhaps he misses having the “invisible wall” on the pitch… because what the invisible wall did/does (he who shall not be named, U know, he’s Brazil’s captain)… what he does, is provide cover for the back 4… and make up for some defencies that we’ve probably always had… you get different things from different players. Its only when they are NOT playing, that what they do sometimes shows up on the pitch.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Stag, you can’t ask for opposing views and start abusing people when they give one. I can also abuse people, but I would never stoop to such levels.
When the chips are down this season, Ade has stepped up, Cesc has, even Gallas has. When has Hleb ever? When the going gets tough, he usually goes missing. I stand by my opinion. If you can’t take it, you can do the same thing you ask others to do.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Arsenal “kids” performed when no one expected, but now that we do they go back into hiding. That’s the difference between established stars at United and Chelsea and our “kids”. By no means are our boys young by age (twenty-somethings aren’t kids) but by experience and nerves they are still just kids.
No one in their right mind would replace all the experienced workers at my office and replace them all with kids. Only in Arsenal and Arsene would we applud such tactics (when it worked). if my boss did that he’d be fired by now.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Nip. WHO exactly ABUSES people?
I don’t believe calling out a player, saying essentially he is a LOSER, is acceptable.
I’ll stand up for the player every time in that instance.
The chips have been DOWN for how long now? When was our last win in the league? CESC, ADE and GALLAS?? They could be the 3 culprits who we needed and expected to STEP UP, and they have gone MISSING.
They aren’t losers. They just haven’t done the business when it counted.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Stag, I meant say things like - F**K OFF and all.
And I am not giving my opinion based on the last 5 games. Ade stepped up at WHL (and many other games), Cesc has done it against Liverpool and ManU, Gallas has done it against ManU and Wigan and Chelsea.
And now Diaby is sent off. Our season is going down the drain. Oh my!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
can it get any worse than this. 1-0 down at the Reebok and now down by 1 man. How will we respond? This is just so frustrating. Arsenal can not catch break of late. WTF!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am
this is always what happens. somebody….usually toure or gallas decides to f-ck…we are a goal down, the players become testy - now diaby is off and the game is all helter skelter.
NOW we cant play with RvP and Bendtner up front….RvP has to go on the wings were because of his slow speed will become useless. bendtner will now become isolated.
ALL OF THIS because some idiotic alleged CENTRAL defender (for the last 5 years) becomes an absolute moron when the ball is in the air.
ofcourse the rain becomes heavier. just typical!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:41 am
diaby is not going to be missed. he was not involved in the game before his sending off. we can still win this one, if someone decides to be MOTM and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
we need more aggression and intent on the attack…feck all the horizontal and back passes and attack FAST
March 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Who’s still watching ??
March 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Now ball deflects off Gallas and goes in. Earlier ball deflected of him and went out when we were attacking. That’s how it is.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
A deflection by Gallas in front of Bolton’s goal, it goes just wide.
A deflection by Gallas in front of Arsenal’s goal, it goes in.
That’s our luck right now.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:48 am
The art of tackling without getting cards is a dark art mastered by the likes of ManU, Bolton, etc. When Arsenal lose their heads, they go in like stupid men and end up getting sent off. Can’t really complain against Diaby’s red.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
This is what happens when you play with kids. They have no experience so they easily lose their cool.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Flamini misses a sitter. A bad run indeed.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:50 am
An absolute disaster.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Nip.
I was pointing out that if you or anyone else personally told Mr.Hleb… you have a “loser’s mentality”… he would tell you to feck off. Plain and simple.
In my opinion, its a ridiculous statement to say he has a loser’s mentality.
Meanwhile. Now down a man, and down 2 goals.
I think Cesc, Ade and Gallas have done VERY LITTLE during the recent run of form in which we have played ourselves out of the title race. Ade has been poor up front, Cesc has been less than stellar, and Gallas has played poorly at the back and not been a leader.
Its hardly been Alex Hleb thats cost us the title this year.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Despite all our faults, we are without the unluckiest side of I’ve ever seen. When things go against us, they go AGAINST us.
That second goal. That is Flamini’s weakness against sideS that push up on us and pressurise. He just doesn’t have the touch or balance to protect the ball.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
this is when you need a manager like SAF. Arsene is not going to be able to motivate the team to go and fuck bolton up in the second half. This team is just as pussfied as arsene
March 29th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Stag, I repeat I didn’t base my opinion on the last 5 games. I know the timing of my statement is not the best, but the ice cream incident happened recently and the last article (at least the title) was about gelato.
Anyway, we are just getting torn apart. What’s left to say?
March 29th, 2008 at 11:56 am
By the way, Diaby made a similar challenge two years ago when he just joined and Arsenal were playing in the FA Cup against Bolton. Diaby got a yellow and Campo was out for several weeks.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:57 am
dubsta, we dont need another red card on this rainy pitch.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Unlucky or Spineless?
As football fans, we know that things don’t always go our way. What we expect players to do is to cope with the situation they have and do their best. That’s all we can ask for.
However, these Arsenal kids now looks like a bunch of privileged nancy boys who’s complaing about how they aren’t allowed to practice their “beautiful football” whenever they are fairly or unfairly kicked off the ball.
In our last 5 run of games, we haven’t been excactly physically outplayed, it’s more down to our own mental instability and lack of confidence just because things don’t go our way.
Where is this fighting spirit? Or maybe we’re too much like the French in WWII and waived the white flag too early. Who will be the allied forces to save our sorry ass?
Sad. very Sad.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
There is no passion in this team as of now.
Miserable to watch. With this performance, I am afraid of Liverpool mid-week.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I agree dubsta. This is the sort of games where you need a tough manager to really get into the players at the half this is just unacceptible. Yes we have been unlucky but thats only because we have been dreadful at finishing our chances. We have just been passing the ball around with a lot of possession and NO finishing not just in this game. We will win nothing this season playing like this and frankly we do not deserve to. Part of me wants this team to really suffer this season so Wenger will stop this nonsense of saying he will not make major signings in the summer. Nonsense! I am pissed!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Mazza: Here’s my opinion. Bring in Adebayor, I don’t care if it makes him tired for Liverpool on Wednesday. Also bring in Walcott at 60 minutes. And, finally, I am done with Diaby. He and Eboue can and should go in the off season. As for Flamini, either he signs in April or not. If not, I think whoever signs him for the money he wants will discover that Flamini flatters to deceive.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
looking at the highlights, toure was IN FRONT of that twat who had never scored for bolton before. toure and that twat are of the SAME HEIGHT!
so before it is crossed he is in front, when the ball reaches the attacker he is behind. he NEVER jumped! how on earth is it not his fault. anybody who has played football on a pub team or playground will know a “razor” cross like that is a DEFENDER’s BALL.
before that FUCK UP, the team was just playing great! RvP and Bendtner were CLICKING. the rain was light and was making the pitch SLICK. it was just a matter of time before we plundered them.
after that FUCK UP, the entire team’s head hangs. the likes of hleb and fabregas will probably have less belief. people like diaby will feel they need to play “stronger” and get themselves sent off in the process.
and did you notice that immediately they scored the first goal, the rain became twice as intensive??? therefore meaning the pitch will become more bogged down than slick.
this is such incredible bad luck. and toure is the pin point.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Flamini has an inflated opinion of his own ability. Hence all this contract wrangling and ‘knowing what he’s worth’. As I’ve said all season, average player playing with passion. Only gets you so far as passion is hard to sustain over a long season.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Wenger is a defiant old bastard (in admiration). He sticks to his philosophy regardless of the outcome, because his ways have produced success before, just not as often as SAF or as much as us Arsenal fans would hope.
It would be wrong to criticize Wenger, for he had brought us unparalleled success for the club over the last decade. It would also be wrong to expect him, after all these years, to sell his soul and “buy” success like other big managers.
So if we call for some of the current players to be sold over the summer, it will be another batch of new kids coming in. At most they will be semi-established but froma foreign league and won’t adapt to the EPL for another couple seasons.
Get ready for several more year’s worth of “transition”….
March 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
So now its Wenger thats the problem. He’s made the team a bunch of weak lillies… that wilt.
When we were winning the league, he was the greatest thing since…. gelato?
And SAF is now what we need to motivate the players.
This is brilliant stuff.
Arsene Wenger is a unique manager and a unique person, that brings in specific types of players… to suit his vision and style of play. I haven’t always agreed with it, thats for sure… but … it is what it is. Its not likely going to change, and based on his success, I doubt it should. He will continue doing things the Wenger way, with Wenger type players.
He is not SAF or Jose Mourinho. I would rather we had Wenger than either of those two great managers… in their own right… but you either have to embrace Wenger and what he does, or you probably shouldn’t support Arsenal or at least be angry with the way we play or style. Its not likely to change much under Wenger. Accept it, embrace it.
Today is just a continuation of the pathetic form the PLAYERS have shown in recent weeks … while falling out of the race … rapido.
How its down to the manager when the players come out week after week and do not perform, is beyond me. They performed the first 2/3 of the season. Suddenly its Wenger’s fault the last third?
No. I don’t think so.
SECOND HALF under way. Ohhhhhhh yes. Can’t wait.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Remind me, which of these sides is facing relegation???
March 29th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
i think wenger is fantastic, but he does come off as being quite spineless. I dont see why he cant be a little more aggressive.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Players are no doubt to blame. Partly because of their own mindset, but mostly, i believe, down to their inexperience at staying composed when things get tough.
The manager’s job is to put together a team than can sustain a league campaign. Regardless of which manager you’re talking about, it is always a blend of youth and experience. All i’m saying is that Wenger’s team right now is youth bias and in games where we need to hold our nerves we dont’ have the players.
2nd half and we’re being bombarded… i’m amazed how composed i’m not when i should be infuriated and pounding my computer to death…
March 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Oh please Stag please read what I said! All I am saying is for this kind of game where we are 2-0 down and down to 10 men the tough approach is more effective than the Wenger style PERIOD!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
oh…and those of you who have been slating ade. he is going to score in this game
March 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
FUCKING GALLAS! YES!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
See, Gallas has stepped up again!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hleb earns a penalty. THAT’s stepping up.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
game on!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
good run by gallas. all the arsenal players to do that more often and pounce onto loose balls.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
This could TURN our season like the Fulham game.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
HOLY HLEB WE’RE LEVEL!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
YES!!! FUCKING YES!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
RVP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
So apparently Wenger must have really had a fantastic half time speech. He probably called SAF and asked him what to do… and presto, the team is suddenly good again.
Somehow its 2-2. With time to get the win…
So Wenger must get the credit. He must know what he’s doing now?
or is it the players that are overcoming Arsene’s deficencies?
Lets hope we complete the miracle comeback.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Im SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKING
March 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
We must go for it with INTENSITY!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Confidence looks like its flowing back in
March 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
@stag - actually wenger pissed his pants at half time, gallas sat in a corner crying so some of the guys felt sorry and decided to try for those 2.
all i was trying to say with my original comment was that if wenger was a little aggressive, maybe, just maybe, that would cause the team to stop being passive. i was not saying that it would make a change 100%. Why does everything have to be so black and white with you ?
March 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Ade, please stop getting offside. You can score so many more goals that way.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
RVP is really off.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
RvP is totally off. Great run by Walcott, but RvP blasts wide.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Van Persie had all day to control that.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Time for one of our patented last 10 minutes goals
March 29th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Walcott could have gone down and got a penalty.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Eboue would have gone down, of course with his reputation he probably would have been booked for a dive
March 29th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
IF only RvP was in better form.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
clichy almost fucked up…yet again
March 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Thank God he made the penalty..before he took it, I didn’t even consider that he might sky it.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
oh please oh please oh please….
March 29th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
LUCK!!!!! How many deflections was that?
March 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
yes i
March 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
FRANCESC!!!!! AHHHH!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
This is 2003 reseversed. SachinG, isn’t it?
March 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I meant reversed.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
YES YES YES YES YES YEST
March 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
FABulous!!!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Hoyte? what?
March 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
totally orgasmic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
How improbable a tale have Arsenal weaved today?
Absolutely Un-Fecking-Believable.
Football is a CRAZY game. No rhyme or reason.
So did Wenger weave some magic in the locker room?
How about a bit of of magic from the Villa boys? Please?!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
come onnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Let’s hope this game turns our season like the Fulham opener.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
WOW!
there is a god!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Ok; Arsenal just passed a real gut check. Diaby is out for 3 games. Is Fabregas with 10 yellows?
March 29th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
YES!
I love Arsenal. I love football. I love Billy Gallas. I love RVP. I love Cesc. And I love whoever the hell that Bolton player was who actually guided the winner in.
and canny, i’m shaaaaaaking too!
March 29th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Lady luck finally smiled on us today after all those deflections, wrong refereeing decisions, injuries, etc.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I think I’ll be watching that second half again when Setanta Broadband archives it
:) 
March 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
i think Cesc is on 10 yellows. Doesn’t that mean he misses the next 2 games ?
March 29th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
He’s on 9 now I guess
March 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Oh.My.God.
For some reason I had a feeling we were playing loose today and could score goals, hence why I didn’t slam the players after the first half.
We’re are some team when the shackles are lifted.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
SHAME ON U THOSE HALF TIME BABIES. What ya gonna say now?
DON’T….. F*CKING… WRITE….OFF…. ARSENAL!!!
And Wenger is tactical naive huh?
March 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Did he get one today? For the goal celebration maybe?
March 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Yeah Nipuna, this is 2003 reversed. At half-time, when I was quite upset, I still kept dreaming that maybe, just maybe somehow they can score 3 goals to come back. Wouldn’t that be something? But wow. Too stressful.
But I am glad they got a win this way. Because at half-time ManU were probably opening the Champagne bottles, and now are probably screwed up. Hope this f** them up as they take on Villa
March 29th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
That was a balls-up move by Wenger changing the shape of the team but to be honest i was just going to sit down and enjoy the football without any expectations like i’ve been doing for the past 6 weeks.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Ok, for all those who slated Arsenal’s character, go FRAG yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
@125, he got one in the first half for fouling diouf
March 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Playing with 10 men and 3 defenders. Don’t remember Wenger ever doing that.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
obviously a bit embrassed at my own rant at wenger, so I’m going to think that he actually logged onto Arsenalamerica.com and took our criticism and relayed that to the squad and wow did it work. So let’s all give ourselves a pat on the back (or be a little red faced like me right now)
i still think we need a bit more experienced players so we don’t have to lose composure so often and make it hard for ourselves…
March 29th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
It’s clear who the real hero today was..the third kit!
We come back to win @ Blackburn in the third kit after going down to 10 men (league cup)
We come back to win @ Bolton in the third kit after going down to 10 men