If you read the scoreline, 3-1 against Manchester United sounds pretty impressive, even at home. If you have watched the game, you would notice we are still in the chaos mode; but positives first.
We beat ’em. We got the three points against a top 4 team and the game was as exciting as it can get. For some reason, coming from behind after Rashford scored the first feels like a much needed confidence booster after Fulham’s result. Havertz missed an easy one in the 14th minute when the ball landed on his feet somehow, and he mis-shot it. It was him again when he played a sloppy pass to Eriksen in the 27th minute, who passed it brilliantly to Rashford. Rashford never fails to score against Arsenal, does he? We reacted this time. It took only a couple of minutes for us to level the score. Eddie picked up the ball, passed it to Martinelli and the Brazillian found Odegaard on the edge of the box. Two link ups between Eddie and Martinelli, and the other one should have been a goal too. I see a chemistry building up finally at the left side, but it requires Eddie to move from his goal scoring positions. I think Havertz has been tasked to finish it but we would need better precision and output from him.
In the second half, there were few exciting moments. Ramsdale and Gabriel denied Martial a goal, we got a penalty that was overturned. We made some changes – Jesus in place of Eddie, Tomiyasu for Zinchenko and Vieira for Havertz. Saka missed one, which should have been a goal again, Garnacho scored in 88th which was ruled offside and Nelson comes in place of Martinelli before extra added minutes.
The last 10 minutes were a mix of joy and chaos for us Gooners. Rice, in the United penalty box, takes a corner ball on his chest, and does a volley. It takes a slight touch from one of the United players and lands into the net. It was a crazy scene, first goal for our future midfielder, 2-1 against United with only 2 minutes left on the clock. The celebration spoke of madness. It wasn’t the end though, a Vieira pass led to Jesus run and that slide from Dalot wasn’t enough to hold him. Game ended with 3-1. Brilliant result, some good performances from Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli. Chemistry between Martinelli and Eddie has improved, and our captain scored one again. That goal at the end will provide Jesus some confidence and Vieira was on the assist sheet again.
Concerns?
Our finishing. You can’t miss two easy goals (Havertz and Saka) against a top 4 team and expect to win. We did win, but the game could have ended with a completely different score. Most of the time, we are responsible for our losses. This could have been another one such game.
Havertz will take time. He hasn’t been convincing in his first 4 games for us, but Vieira has. Even with the performances from the bench. Concerning thing is that, Mikel is going to stick to Kai and not use Vieira who looks much more confident this season. I will Kai doesn’t take 3 seasons like he did at Chelsea, to get into his pre-Chelsea form.
We are in much better control with a proper back 4 and Saliba + Gabriel partnership. I hope Mikel doesn’t go back to Partey at RB once he is back. We got Rice to rotate with him in the middle, so that he is fully fit for the games that matters most, and there will be plenty this season. We didn’t bring Rice so that we can move Partey to RB.
—
Not trying to be a spoil sports, but there is a lot of improvement needed, and unlike last season’s winning run when you could hardly find a thing we did wrong, we have been very much chaotic and nervous in our first four games. We will only improve from here.
Cheers.
Do you reckon they’d let shirts be printed that said ‘Art Fraud’ or ‘Kroenkephobe’?
I remember the old days before City were owned by a state oil company. The last proper owner was a hideous twat called Peter Swales, and two bright sparks had shirts printed with ‘swalesout’ on the back. By the time they’d sold them and the blokes posed for photos in the media it was too late to cancel the order. Swales was fucking furious apparently.
The last time I had an Arsenal tracksuit was in the mid 70s. Top and bottom and I was thrilled. Navy blue with yellow trim (including a cannon pointing the right fucking way) with those loops that went under your feet to stop the legs riding up. Anyway, I was at my granny’s house in Chatham tear – arsing around in said tracksuit. Cut a long story short, I slipped on her lino and my knee went through a glass door. Two cuts, above and below my knee. 18 stitches, and the tracksuit bottoms were shredded.
I looked pleadingly at my mum when we got back from hospital, but something in her eyes told me that tracksuit was a one time offer and there’d be no replacement.
Even to this day, I cry myself to sleep every night like a sad clown lamenting the loss of those tracky bottoms. 😭
I remember some cunt got lamped outside a pub in Blackstock Road for having ‘McGoldrick’ on the back of his shirt after a 3 0 loss.
Especially as he was a fucking awful player.
Rightly so.
The kit is for the players to wear not some soppy fat cunt who can’t be arsed to dress properly.
KSE will milk these soppy cunts dry with more kits otherwise.
Now, Eddie and I have history (and I think Almunia is quite fond of him too because of his exploits in an Ireland shirt). Eddie is a few months younger than me but we used to play against each other frequently in Sunday leagues when we were kids in Corby. He was good then and a cut above but it was a pleasant surprise nevertheless to see him at Northampton and Palace where he was loved. An even bigger surprise when GG signed him. You’re right, he wasn’t our finest player at the time but he gave it everything. I was at that away game in the CWC in Liege when we won 7-nil and Eddie scored. There’s no way he’d make my all time greatest XI of course but he wouldn’t be in my worst XI either.
Tony and Art
That fucking accursed international break horseshit… I was idly speculating about who we were due to play this weekend, looked at the BBC and realised we were playing…. Err, no one.
So it’s Haverfordwest County at home to Newtown on Saturday for me.
https://youtu.be/R8vl8WxFMXE?si=1Y5NPqi_YqDsGw2B
That was some night. We’d been getting hammered all day on the ferry and then the bus. Plus Belgian beer on sale inside the ground (and allowed on the terraces). I know it was a relatively trivial game (we’d win the first leg 3-0)but it was a memorable night with my mates and the Arsenal end was jubilant. Got back to London at about 5am and went straight to work.
Check out Eddie’s goal right at the end.
As we were coming out we were hearing manure had been knocked out of the CL by Galatasaray I think.
A perfect day!
A welcome break coming tomorrow, France v. New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup. Temperatures in France 30C-36C oof that would be hot on the pitch.
Killroy
Hiya mate. I’m hoping for an Ireland v NZ final (if that’s possible with the draw). If France or South Africa get there I’ll be disappointed. From an ingerland perspective, they’re going to get mullah’ed and Borthwick will be sacked ASAP.
Was just thinking of you guys reading the below link. Buddha has released some long overdue karma with our latest 2nd hand DVD recorder. Just got to hope it works. They sell at £80 but you pay extras and it ends up over £400. When you have no choice, you really have no choice!
.
Buddha and I will be having words if it doesn’t work.
.
I’m taking the glass half full and will wait for junior to set it up in his room day (2nd lounge).
.
Other than that my fav rugby man is Clive Woodward the best England manager we ever had.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-12493805/A-tournament-opener-excited-underdogs-confidence-England-overcome-messy-situation-Sir-Clive-Woodwards-World-Cup-lowdown.html
I was going to stay up for the France v NZ match as it could be one of the best in the world cup and a dress rehearsal for the final, although Ireland and SA will feel much differently.
.
A great world cup in prospect; just a shame it’s on European time for me where I’ll have to record 🙂 (fingers crossed) and Buddha willing.
.
More importantly, if it works I won’t miss any of or Arsenal games.
.
Hard game to call this evening and 0215 my time. France historically have had disciple,ine problems particularly in France where the emotions run unrealistically high and has been witnessed in recent years with the violence in the streets. Nothing to do with rugby, of course, rugby fans are mostly intelligent and very into their ales with most having had higher education or at least from ‘B’ upwards demographics.
.
That said, the grass roots game in the UK, and I assume Europe is slowly catching up with NZ where rugby legends make up much of the country’s folklore, which is a long term indigenous tradition throughout the country as Killroy found out when visiting the hallowed grounds.
.
For those of you who are “not really into rugby” but could be curious with it being a world cup my advice is to wait for the last 8, and then don’t miss a game. For those of you who have a mild interest I’d start at the last 16. Don’t get me wrong the earlier games will have some sublime play in each game or they wouldn’t be at the WC.
.
Just that the nearer you get to the pointy end of the competition the more there is to play for, which means elite rugby and wars all over the pitches.
.
Make no mistake it will be brutal with extreme, controlled violence and prejudice from the KO to the final whistle, and then like the gentlemen they are, they will shake hands and head for the medics for assessment.
.
For me, especially Killroy and KP, TRVL and Marc, who I hope is ok and just busy. Although, KP has local football about 4 hours drive. Still working that one out. 🙂
.
And so fellow Gooners, alas we have no games this weekend but only 9 days to Everton and Dyche with hid hand-over-mouth softly spoken tactics to an assistant who really can’t hear properly but nodded all the same leaving Dyche grimacing remembering it’s what he did as an assistant and why he’s such a shit manager, but I digress.
.
Knowing the boredom we have to face especially if you don’t like rugby here’s a list and a joke and a song to start the weekend.
.
Have a good one LIR:
.
Top 45 Oxymorons
.
45. Act naturally
44. Found missing
43. Resident alien
42. Advanced BASIC
41. Genuine imitation
40. Airline food
39. Good grief
38. Same difference
37. Almost exactly
36. Government organization
35. Sanitary landfill
34. Alone together
33. Legally drunk
32. Silent scream
31. Living dead
30. Small crowd
29. Business ethics
28. Soft rock
27. Butt Head
26. Military Intelligence
25. Software documentation
24. New classic
23. Sweet sorrow
22. Childproof
21. “Now, then …”
20. Synthetic natural gas
19. Passive aggression
18. Taped live
17. Clearly misunderstood
16. Peace force
15. Extinct Life
14. Temporary tax increase
13. Computer jock
12. Plastic glasses
11. Terribly pleased
10. Computer security
9. Political science
8. Tight slacks
7. Definite maybe
6. Pretty ugly
5. Twelve-ounce pound cake
4. Diet ice cream
3. Working vacation
2. Exact estimate
1. Microsoft Works
Jokes
.
Police in England are warning all male clubbers, party goers & unsuspecting pub regulars to be more alert & cautious when getting a drink offer from a woman. There is a new date rape drug going around called “beer” & it is generally found in liquid form.
.
The drug is now being used more frequently by female sex predators at parties & pubs to convince their male victims to have sex with them. The shocking statistic is that beer is available anywhere! All that girls have to do is to persuade a man to consume a few units of “beer” & simply ask the guy for no-strings attached sex. Men are literally rendered helpless against such violent attacks.
.
After several “beers” men will often succumb to desires to perform sexual acts on horrific looking women who they would never normally be attracted to.
Men often awaken after being given “beer” with only hazy memories of what has happened to them the night before – just a vague feeling that something bad & shameful has occurred. There have been reports of severe cases where the unfortunate victims have been stung for their life’s worth in an horrific scam known as “a relationship” – apparently men are easier victims for this scam after the “beer” has been administered & have already been sexually attacked.
.
Please forward this to every male you know.
.
However, if you fall victim to this insidious drug and the predatory women administering it, there are male support groups in most towns and villages in the UK where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter in an open and frank manner with a group of similarly affected and like-minded men.
.
For the nearest support group near you, just look up ‘Public House’ in the yellow pages or contact me by e-mail, but not during normal evening licensing hours.
.
.There’s nothing worse than a snotty doctor’s receptionist who
insists you tell her what is wrong in a room full of other patients. I know we all have experienced this, and I love the way this old guy handled it.
.
An 86 year old man walked into a crowded doctor’s office. As he approached the desk, the receptionist said, “Yes sir, what are you seeing the
doctor for today?”
.
“There’s something wrong with my penis,” he replied.
.
The receptionist became irritated and said, “You shouldn’t come into a crowded office and say things like that.”
.
“Why not? You asked me what was wrong and I told you,” he said.
.
The receptionist replied, “You’ve obviously caused some embarrassment in this room full of people. You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something and then discussed the problem further with the doctor in private.”
.
The man walked out, waited several minutes and then re-entered. The
receptionist smiled smugly and asked, “Yes?”
.
“There’s something wrong with my ear,” he stated.
.
The receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. “And what is wrong with your ear, Sir?”
.
“I can’t piss out of it,” the man replied.
.
The doctor’s office erupted in laughter
.
Good old blighty and doctor’s assistants bred to be nosy cunts.
.
Music
.
It’s TGIF so time to breathe:
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrojrDCI02k
Was just thinking of you guys reading the below link. Buddha has released some long overdue karma with our latest 2nd hand DVD recorder. Just got to hope it works. They sell at £80 but you pay extras and it ends up over £400. When you have no choice, you really have no choice!
.
Buddha and I will be having words if it doesn’t work.
.
I’m taking the glass half full and will wait for junior to set it up in his room day (2nd lounge).
.
Other than that my fav rugby man is Clive Woodward the best England manager we ever had.
.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-12493805/A-tournament-opener-excited-underdogs-confidence-England-overcome-messy-situation-Sir-Clive-Woodwards-World-Cup-lowdown.html
.
I was going to stay up for the France v NZ match as it could be one of the best in the world cup and a dress rehearsal for the final, although Ireland and SA will feel much differently.
.
A great world cup in prospect; just a shame it’s on European time for me where I’ll have to record 🙂 (fingers crossed) and Buddha willing.
.
More importantly, if it works I won’t miss any of or Arsenal games.
.
Hard game to call this evening and 0215 my time. France historically have had disciple,ine problems particularly in France where the emotions run unrealistically high and has been witnessed in recent years with the violence in the streets. Nothing to do with rugby, of course, rugby fans are mostly intelligent and very into their ales with most having had higher education or at least from ‘B’ upwards demographics.
.
That said, the grass roots game in the UK, and I assume Europe is slowly catching up with NZ where rugby legends make up much of the country’s folklore, which is a long term indigenous tradition throughout the country as Killroy found out when visiting the hallowed grounds.
.
For those of you who are “not really into rugby” but could be curious with it being a world cup my advice is to wait for the last 8, and then don’t miss a game. For those of you who have a mild interest I’d start at the last 16. Don’t get me wrong the earlier games will have some sublime play in each game or they wouldn’t be at the WC.
.
Just that the nearer you get to the pointy end of the competition the more there is to play for, which means elite rugby and wars all over the pitches.
.
Make no mistake it will be brutal with extreme, controlled violence and prejudice from the KO to the final whistle, and then like the gentlemen they are, they will shake hands and head for the medics for assessment.
.
For me, especially Killroy and KP, TRVL and Marc, who I hope is ok and just busy. Although, KP has local football about 4 hours drive. Still working that one out. 🙂
.
And so fellow Gooners, alas we have no games this weekend but only 9 days to Everton and Dyche with hid hand-over-mouth softly spoken tactics to an assistant who really can’t hear properly but nodded all the same leaving Dyche grimacing remembering it’s what he did as an assistant and why he’s such a shit manager, but I digress.
.
Knowing the boredom we have to face especially if you don’t like rugby here’s a list and a joke and a song to start the weekend.
.
Have a good one LIR:
.
Top 45 Oxymorons
.
45. Act naturally
44. Found missing
43. Resident alien
42. Advanced BASIC
41. Genuine imitation
40. Airline food
39. Good grief
38. Same difference
37. Almost exactly
36. Government organization
35. Sanitary landfill
34. Alone together
33. Legally drunk
32. Silent scream
31. Living dead
30. Small crowd
29. Business ethics
28. Soft rock
27. Butt Head
26. Military Intelligence
25. Software documentation
24. New classic
23. Sweet sorrow
22. Childproof
21. “Now, then …”
20. Synthetic natural gas
19. Passive aggression
18. Taped live
17. Clearly misunderstood
16. Peace force
15. Extinct Life
14. Temporary tax increase
13. Computer jock
12. Plastic glasses
11. Terribly pleased
10. Computer security
9. Political science
8. Tight slacks
7. Definite maybe
6. Pretty ugly
5. Twelve-ounce pound cake
4. Diet ice cream
3. Working vacation
2. Exact estimate
1. Microsoft Works
As For tonight’s world cup inaugural game?
.
NZ to win by more than 6 points. Either France loses a man from ill discipline or just a high penalty count from the French shooting themselves in the foot once again, as England so often does.
Hi Tony
Just a quick one. Two more oxys from different ends of the political/economic spectrum. Compassionate capitalism and the old one… Socialist worker. Boom boom! I enjoyed reading those.
I didn’t realise the customs duty was going to be so mad on that dvd recorder. Fucking hell. I could’ve bought one here and flew to Thailand with it in my suitcase! Anyway, fingers crossed that you and junior can get a tune out of it.
I think you’re right about RWCs getting better as the tournament progresses. Many early games have results that are foregone conclusions, but this one might be better, not least because of the extra, err, fluidity that exists for players to become citizens of other countries.
Some French self-combustion would be pleasing, not least to see that awful cunt Macron crying into his pernod. And for me, the south African team is always on the wrong side of acceptable brutality. As I said, Ireland or NZ for me, but to see the men in green win one would be terrific. 🍀
Joke Friday
Two kids were arrested by the police in my village last night.
One had been drinking battery acid and the other was found stuffing fireworks in his mouth.
What did the police do?
They charged one and let the other one off.
Interesting stats, from Belfast Gooner.
.
I hadn’t looked at them before. Still trying to make my mind up with him as a 9, as he’s never an 8, but the stats don’t lie for a 10 and even worse for a 9.
.
Is expecting better playing into Sigmund Freud’s definition of madness?
.
.
When it comes to the Premier League, the competition that matters most to us, Kai Havertz’s stats are…
.
2020-21
27 appearances – 4 goals, 3 assists, 1 big chance created, 18 tackles (50%), 80 duels won, 119 duels lost.
2021-22
29 appearances – 8 goals, 3 assists, 3 big chances created, 17 tackles (47%), 97 duels won, 154 duels lost.
.
2022-23
35 appearances – 7 goals, 1 assist, 5 big chances created, 34 tackles (47%), 155 duels won, 208 duels lost.
I mean how does a PL manager look at those stats and think we need to buy him?
.
Anyone?
Does anyone read that Athletic?
What a load of absolute bollocks.
Not even worse a nicker a month.
Treats its readers , as If they are all adolescents.
It’s gone.
Journalism ain’t like it use to be. Where are all the hard nosed cynics and antagonists gone?
Harry Harris, Steve Curry , Glanville and Woolnoughs.
I have a subscription to the Athletic about $2 a month and don’t mind it. I am reading very selectively certain journos. Horncastle, Ornstein, Honigstein and I read a few others that were excellent regarding the Brighton football operation, plus those that discuss the Barca, Juve and Super League problems and found them to be excellent.
.
However the the journos covering Arsenal are not very impressive and every now and then you get the odd peace of rubbish and juvenile writing that must have slipped through the editor.
The Rugby World Cup committee decided to air live games for free on rugbypass.tv for countries that don’t have providers who have the broadcasting rights. Free to watch with a VPN using servers in the Bahamas, Greece, Iceland and Vietnam just to mention a few among the 40 countries where it is free. In addition they have excellent pre and post game shows plus highlights from their vaults of previous world cups an excellent site for all things rugby.
Ambarish, Hoopah and Divyanshu
Thank you for hosting the UK’s Prime Minister at the moment. He’s such a monumental arsehole and lying bullshitters that I’m relieved that he is spreading chaos and misery elsewhere.
The guy claims he’s a Southampton fan but knows the square root of fuck all about football. Says it all really. In the unlikely even that he visits your community, make sure everything is nailed down because he’ll either steal it or fuck it up. He’s the Tony Pulis of politics. Avoid at all costs.
Killroy
That opening ceremony thing is soooo embarrassing I can’t even watch it. Baguettes for rugby balls. Merde alors!
On that evidence alone, I’m hoping the ABs massacre les bleus once the fucking game gets started.
No Canada and no USA…what the fuck happened there?
KP
No opening ceremony on the channels available to me but I am watching the pre show on rugbypass.tv and will watch the game itself on Peacock and that is what counts for me. For me also I hope the Kiwis will win.
Kronkephobe
He’s such a monumental arsehole and lying bullshitters that I’m relieved that he is spreading chaos and misery elsewhere.
Are we talking about this slippery cunt Sunak or the other slippery cunt who ‘manages’ The Arsenal?
Yours
Confused.
Art
The former. God knows what our very own managerial bullshitter is up to this week, but I have a feeling the labrador might be involved.
Killroy
It looks like someone has bought a job lot of our nasty fluorescent second kits for the refs to wear at the rugby WC.
It was a good opening World Cup match but the France team will be hard to beat especially since their home advantage is massive. The ABs had uncharacteristically lots of handling errors plus they developed a discipline problem. First World Cup loss for them in a group stage game as well as being beaten bi France.
.
For me as long as Ireland and Scotland are doing well I feel happy.
Killroy
Thanks for the rugby pass link we can’t get the WC in Thailand. Hopefully, my laptop can host the link and then transfer to the big screen.
.
I knew the French would be hard to beat if they kept their collective tempers and just played their game.
.
The French love their dramatics in life, the Tango is a good representation of this, when the Europeans, of the time, preferred the waltz and fox trot. So, it’s no surprise to hear of their over-the-top opening ceremony.
.
NZ will bounce back. They can be slow starters in tournaments, so expect big fireworks in their next game to save face. I wouldn’t want to be their opponents. Think Everton beating City 6:0 and then City playing Luton next.
.
Whatever your day is looking like I hope it’s a good one LIR
“For me as long as Ireland and Scotland are doing well I feel happy.”
.
Bit rough on the English and Welsh, Killroy. I guess you are looking at form going into the WC. England and Wales are in transition this world cup like most before as well. 🙂
Hi Tony
If ‘in transition’ means absolutely fucking shit then I think you’ve summed up the 🏴 and 🏴 teams pretty accurately.
I don’t know about you Killroy but I thought that game was a little dull and underwhelming. Plus that SA ref (Peiper? ) is awful.