The Goon Blog

Morning you lot.

Another fantastic weekend for us saw Liverpool beat smash Aston Villa to give us a three point cushion in fourth place and a very healthy goal difference advantage. At this stage of the season with the games we have got coming up in all competitions any gap to give us room to breathe is so important, taking the pressure off a bit and not having to look over our shoulders as much.

After another win on Saturday evening Wenger said it was our mental strength that won us the game after a tough first half and an instant reply to our opener:

They had a very good first half and put us under pressure and could have been in front, of course, with the penalty. They had two or three other good chances. In the second half we kept the tempo high, slowly took over and then won the game in a convincing way. I must say as well Newcastle were unfortunate to lose players, like Sebastien Bassong and Steven Taylor, at the wrong period of the game.”

Ok, he didn’t actually say that but i thought he did, and i really can’t be fussed to change what i said back there…. Sorry. Awful isn’t it. I have to say the penalty was crucial because if they scored it the game would have been much much different, it would have been more about our capabilities of breaking down an eleven man wall at the Newcastle end.

And even though we have an advantage in fourth now Wenger has warned us against complacency, using Aston Villa as a fitting example:

“The only thing that has changed from two weeks ago is that it is in our hands now. We do not have to focus too much on the results of Aston Villa. That shows you, if you drop a little bit, you are quickly caught. We could have been eight points behind Aston Villa two weeks ago, so we want to keep our focus, and our performances at a high level.”

Again, he didn’t say it in as many words but you know what he means, any slip up from us will be punished and we can’t afford for that to happen, hopefully Villa get stuck in this rut so we can open up a gap that should end up being unassailable.

Now Wenger’s future. Ivan Gazidis has said that he expects Wenger to remain our manager for a long time yet, he hardly ever signs contract extentions until his current one is nearing its end which leads to a frenzy of media speculation and of course, the Real Madrid links. Gazidis has though said he does not picture Arsene anywhere else:

“It is difficult for me to imagine him not being the manager. Arsene’s identity and the identity of the club are intertwined.”

Well its in his name isnt it! Gazidis goes on to say:

“I’d like Arsene to stay for as long as he has the motivation to do the job – and I don’t see any dimming on his part, he believes in the project. He’s built a superb team of young players with great characters and real quality. Arsene is one of the best managers in the world and I cannot imagine a situation where he would want to walk away from Arsenal”

The only situation i can imagine Arsene would walk away is if the club is taken over with hostility, i imagine Arsene the kind of man that would take a stand against that. However, i don’t think that will ever happen and we are safe until the day that Arsene retires to his chateaux in France with his wife. Ivan Gazidis is still gushing in praise of the boss, whom it seems he greatly admires:

“I think he has redefined not only the way Arsenal play but I would argue even the way The Premier League is played and even beyond that. I am a huge admirer of his and we are extraordinarily fortunate to have a manager like him at the helm. As for spending money, we believe in the young players that we have. If we go out and spend money in the transfer market then it relegates those players. We only make investments when we are signing a player who adds something to the squad”

Wenger brought a different brand of football to the Premier League, it is a shame that it has been citicized so much for being ‘too lightweight’ or whatever but the people saying that need to take a step back and appreciate what this great great man has done. Arsene Wenger is a legend.

Any stick he gets is because people are scared what he can get his teams to do, i firmly believe that. Wenger will be at Arsenal for many years to come.

Ivan Gazidis seems a really good bloke, he has been saying all the right things but something tells me he is not just spouting hot air. I really think he means what he is saying, we need him to listen to the fans and he could be the bloke that the fans really get through to. There is something about him. He seems a Arsenal man.

Ive published this a tad early because Ive got a lot to do before the morning so apologies for that. I really hate Monday mornings but after a weekend as good as this it might well soften the blow, oh so many times have i come in for stick because of an Arsenal performance on a Monday morning. Isn’t it funny how they have shut up recently?

Arsenal are back, the real Arsenal are standing up. Now, Ive got work to do.

’til tomorrow

One of the best second half’s i have seen in a long, long time secured another win in an unbeaten run that is the longest since the amazing 49 game run of the ‘invincibles’.

That is quite some run from a team that has been citicized as much as this one.

I need to start off on a sour note or three though.

Stephen Taylor.

Why was he not at least carded for that horrible assault on Andrey Arshavin? *one look, two look, THWACK!!* It was disgraceful and all we got was a free kick? The way it has been brushed under the carpet yet again by match analysts is criminal as well. My next gripe is with Lawro, he called spitting ‘the worst thing in football’ when having a dig about ’spitgate’.

• I would rather be spat on than have Stephen Taylor’s elbow swung in my face like Arshavin.
• I would rather be spat on than have my leg snapped into little bits like Eduardo.

Rant over.

In the first half yesterday i was pretty nervous, we did not really get a hold in the game and when Almunia had a penalty awarded against him (one of the softest i have seen this season), i was really nervous. The turning point probably came when he saved it, he is a renowned penalty saver and does not get enough credit for that. He has won us penalty shoot outs in the FA Cup before and saved one at a pivotal point in a NL derby from what i can remember.

Despite his assault Stephen Taylor was doing a good job of being a right pain in the arse to our strikers, he saved a couple of dead cert goals whilst ‘keeper Harper was in inspired form as well. Before the game i thought it would be down to whether we can score more goals than Newcastle who will put up a good fight due to their league position, it is stating the obvious but what i mean is that emphasis will be on how good our attacking unit functions because i was pretty sure we would concede with our defence looking very uncomfortable at times.

Then Bendtner stood up in the face of his critics and buried a fantastic header, he has so much potential and some people need to realise it, if you are going to earmark a player to spring a big surprise next season it could well be him. He had another very good game up front.

In typical style we then conceded due to a defensive cock up, maybe there was something in the water yesterday? Man Utd were dire in defending, as were Chelsea.

Then it was Abou Diaby’s time to silence the ever growing group of critics with one of his stunning runs encapsulated with a brilliant finish, it was like his run against Villa but more central. He picked up the ball near the center circle, played a one-two with Van Persie and blundered forward, finishing it with aplomb. The boy has bounds of talent but he is far to erratic at the moment, this goal came after a horrible first half where he was managing to pass pinpoint balls through two Arsenal players to a barcode. That sure takes talent.

A couple more minutes later it was Nasri’s turn after being played through by RVP again, he finished it brilliantly at the near post after another great game. Again, next season he could be a quite brilliant player, he has notched seven goals so far in his first season and at 21 that is impressive.

The team is really starting to click but now we have to go two weeks without another game, and what effect will that have on the team? So far this season we have been very poor after international breaks (Fulham) and we can’t afford to let this one knock us out of our stride, with things really looking up there are murmurings of the title which i think is ludicrous but it shows what this season really could have been. We have Adebayor, Fabregas and Walcott to come back after the international break and with those players not jetting off on international duty it will be a big bonus, things are really starting to look up for this side. There is a sense that this season we can win something, i feel something i have not felt in a long time, a trophy could really be on its way.

The wry little smile has returned to the face of Arsene Wenger and the players really look like they are enjoying themselves. I think it has been a year since we have been playing like this, when we threw the title away last season with a run of draws we were not the same despite murdering Derby 6-2 or whatever it was, we struggled a bit in every game after that. Now, this team looks rehabilitated, and hungry.

This team is capable of special things i am sure. When were we last confident of saying that without getting ridiculed?

The sun’s out, the Arsenal have won. We have two big trophies to play for. Lets savour the moment.

’til tomorrow

Saturday at last. Heavenly.

As most of you probably know now we drew Villarreal in the next round of the Champions League and whilst its not the toughest tie around, it sure as hell ain’t gonna be a walk in the park.

Spain is a tricky place to go and Villarreal made it really tough work in 2006. The matches should be very entertaining and i really can’t wait for the next round of the Champions League to kick off. Potentially we may have a tie with Man Utd in the semi-final, couple that with a potential FA Cup final at Wembley the old sparring day’s might just be returning. All shall be revealed in due course.

Soon after the smiles on many fans faces was well and truly wiped off with the news that Theo Walcott’s knee ‘locked and swelled up’ after training yesterday. Wenger said:

“We are surprised and worried.

“He locked his knee so it could be a cartilage problem. He did it walking back from training. He was fully normal during training but maybe it only came out when he stopped. We have to see how he responds today and I hope it’s not really serious.”

It really is awful news because not only will it be a big body blow for him after sitting out for the past four months, but he is a massive part of our squad. We can’t just replace the pace he gives us and the threat he carries. Lets hope its not as bad as it first looks and he is back fighting fit after the international break. We can hope can’t we?

Wenger has been talking up the clubs protocol regarding players that are out injured and not in the squad. He fines players that are not present at match-days when they are not picked in the squad, and he has no problem with them being on the pitch afterwards.

Phil permaBrown does but does anybody really care?

Wenger said:

“Why? You know, you want the team spirit, you want the players to be together, you want the players who do not play to be happy, as well, and to share it with the players who played. And, on the other side, you cannot say that they do not turn up, they are sitting behind me. I think [it is part of the captain's job].”

I 100% agree with the protocol because they are paid members of Arsenal FC, and therefore (unless they have special permission ie. Cesc, Eduardo) should be present. Arsenal is a football team, the clue is in the name.

Moving on to the game later tonight and we have the news that Eduardo is in the squad and Almunia is expected to start. The front two should be made up of Robin Van Persie and Niklas Bendtner, supported by Nasri and Arshavin with Song and Denilson in midfield. The back four will probably be Sagna, Clichy, Gallas and Toure. I do not think there will be any suprises, Eduardo might get a run out later on but as he only just scraped into the squad i don’t think he will be risked if we don’t need him on the pitch.

We will be up against one man that has made a few tackles this season that might rile a fair few people, as he is English it has hardly been mentioned but take a peek at this.

Anichebe is so lucky his leg is not in three or four pieces. Suffice to say he is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury sustained from that very ‘tackle’. What ban did Nolan get?

3 games.

Three. Games.

Three poxy games. He deserves a prison sentence for that, that is a problem the FA have to sort out but let me just say that if it was Bendtner or Eboue doing that they would probably be chased out the country by a skinhead mob.

We will be roughed up, kicked and probably barged around but we should have enough in the tank to see them off. Once again an early goal is very important, if we get that all important goal we could have quite a healthy goal tally on our side but if we don’t the nerves might start to sneak in. We can’t drop points like this at this vital stage of the season. Lets crank the pressure up on Villa again. They play Liverpool and we have to sieze the chance of perhaps pressing home an advantage.

This makes very welcome reading indeed. Are people starting to side with us at last?

On that bombshell i will leave you; enjoy the game – if you need a stream there will be a fair few here.

Til tomorrow and up the Gunners!

Happy Friday; its going to be an important day as we find out our path for the rest of this seasons CL.

Straight on to the first bit of teamnews for the barcodes at the weekend, Manuel Almunia should start after shaking off his injury from that despicable excuse for a man at the weekend. Meanwhile Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo have returned to full training once again and just miss out so they will be back for sure after the international break which is fantastic news for the team.

Now…the draw for the Champions League. I would love to avoid all English sides, both because they will be the hardest to beat and it would really piss of Platini and Blatter. If we see two all English ties we know the draw has been fixed.

I would just love to get Porto so we can give them another beating at the Emirates, it would be the best tie out there to get but something deep down inside me says we will get Liverpool again. I don’t know why but its just a gut feeling i have, hopefully its just something Ive eaten because if we did pull Liverpool we would be really up against it. I’m kind of hoping if we are going to get a really tough one that we get Barcelona because i think we can beat them, i really do.

I’m going to tell you something now and i can assure you it is 100% true, its as true as true can get. I was sitting on the toilet having a little daydream and i had this vision in my mind of Cesc slotting a last minute penalty in the back of the net in the Nou Camp. Take from that what you will.

The orange man of the moment Phil Brown has been handed a fine by the FA for a separate event a few weeks/months ago. I have a short message for him.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Take that you orange ear-set wearing bung taking big mouthed muppet.

Gloating out the way… we really could do with a nice draw in the CL because it takes the pressure off us a little bit in the FA Cup, it would be nothing short of a disaster to draw Chelsea in both cup competitions because they have  inflicted pain on us before in these competitions. No team can be under-rated at this stage but you really would fancy us to go through if we got pitched against Villarreal or Porto, we could beat Bayern Munich as well but their confidence will be running sky high after the tonking they gave Sporting Lisbon.

I will say it again though, i would love to play against Barca again – and knock them out with Cesc Fabregas scoring the winning goal with a Hleb own goal preceding it.

It might just be destiny. Later on we will find out. The draw is at 11am GMT so keep eyes peeled around that time.

My thoughts will be on twitter at some point so stop by for a chat.

Til tomorro’ and may the draw be lucky.

I’m not really a fan of  Thursday’s to be honest, i think its a day designed to taunt and tease you about Friday, you are so near to it yet you have another painful morning to wake up on. It really is not very nice at all.

Straight to the rather startling news that Amaury Bischoff rejected the chance to play against Hull City on Tuesday night in favour of training with the Portugal national team. To tell you the truth it has shocked me a bit as i was expecting him to be greatful to Wenger for giving him a chance to actually have a football career. He said:

“Arsene Wenger wanted to play me on Tuesday night against Hull City. But I absolutely wanted to train with the national team. It is important to me.”

Arsene wanted him to play so he should have played, i think it is the height of disrespect after we waited and waited for him to be fit to give him a chance to play football again at a high level. We give him a chance to play in the world’s oldest cup competition and he says no!

Anyone fancy a bet on the first player to leave this summer?

On his Arsenal future he said:

“I will reach the end of my contract with Arsenal, which remains my priority. However, I am free to do what I want. I know FC Porto and Sporting are following me. I have a preference for Sporting. It is a very prestigious club that plays a beautiful Football.”

Oh how lovely! I thought this guy could have a chance of a future at Arsenal – a far far better side than Porto or Sporting Lisbon. He has just thrown it away i think, sorry mate but after all the effort the medical staff have put in to get you fit you re-pay the club like this? It really is poor form.

Sadly the rumours circulating around after the game on Tuesday night overshadowed one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from an Arsenal youngsters and it was the performance of one Kieran Gibbs. He was fantastic from start to finish, solid in defence and very dangerous coming forward whilst also having a very good cross on him, he looks a goal threat coming forward and maybe its worth giving Gael Clichy a few games on the bench so we can see more of this guy; he looks a real talent.

Some of the youngsters may just start to appear out from under the cover of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey – namely Kieran Gibbs and Jay-Emmanuel Thomas who looks one hell of a talent. He is the top goalscorer for the reserves and scored another crucial goal last night to get us a win away at a team that hadn’t lost this season in Manchester City. Where has all the criticism gone of us not having and bringing through enough English players?

Onto our speedster Theo Walcott and he has admitted that the second goal was offside but thinks you need that kind of luck to win a competition such as the FA Cup:

“In a way, the winning goal was the sort of luck you need to win the FA Cup, The cameras showed it was offside and it’s the referee’s decision in the end. We can’t do anything about that but we deserved it. I suppose that’s the FA Cup for you. As long as you get through it doesn’t matter how you play. We played very well at stages, we got the win and we are going to Wembley which is brilliant for all the lads and the fans.”

The next three months are massive in the development of this team and you have to wonder that if in three months time Arsenal are trophyless how many of the youngsters will still be here. Winning something of importance could really be the making of this team, and not winning something could be the breaking of it. Thats my take on it.

Now, sadly, we have to move onto the inevitable. There have been a few developments today, the first one being Hull’s assistant manager making an official complaint (which really makes you wonder what happened). The second development was a shoddy interview by Phil Brown on radio 5Live this morning that GilbertoSilver from Gunnerblog was on.

Its HERE and worth a listen, he really really squirms.

Note: He denies comments he said on the Setanta interview (which is linked on the last blog). He denies shaking Wenger’s hand at the 2-1 loss at the Emirates in September and the return fixture at the KC stadium, though these pictures prove him wrong.

Handshake at Emirates. and handshake at KC stadium.

My thoughts on it have not changed since yesterdays blogs and it was probably the most angry blog i have written in the eight months i have been writing. I would like to apologise for my language as it was not acceptable but im sure you can see my take on it, and him as a manager and person.

Right i will leave you with that today. ’til tomorro’

Morning all: been an eventful evening to say the least.

First the game; it was tough fought but we were deserving of our victory in the end, even Hull’s constant time-wasting did not mean time ran out to soon for us to grab the winner. A bit of Karma bit Hull in the arse last night, they constantly wasted time, every time their keeper had the ball he deliberately wasted as much time as he possibly could. This came back and royally fucked them over when the ball took the slightest touch off Djourou and then the keeper for Gallas to head home the winner after Robin Van Persie’s equaliser.

See the goals here.

After the game a very, very bitter Phil Brown said this to the Setanta cameras:

“For their club captain – Cesc Fabregas – to spit at my assistant-manager at the end of the game just shows you what this club is about.”

You what? Well you can fuck right off Mr Brown, enjoy the championship next season because all you have done this season is prove what an utter nob you look with that ridiculous fucking headset round your noggin. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

If Cesc did it why hasn’t their assistant manager come in front of the cameras and accused Fabregas?

It is worth noting that immediately after the incident Cesc came out and said it was not true:

“I categorically deny that I spat at anybody after the match. I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing? I can understand the frustration of losing a game to a dubious goal, that has happened to me many times in my career as well. But this is not the fault of me or any of the Arsenal play”

Right, i believe him. He did not do it and its Phil Brown and his cronies looking to drag our name through the mud.

They can fuck off. I am going to listen to a Phil Brown interview on 5live at half past 10 and see if he retracts his comments.

The one thing that has really really really really pissed me off is the fact that he has criticised our fans of getting on the back’s of their players. Isnt that part of being a football fan?

What is wrong with giving the opposition some stick?

Fuck Hull. Fuck Phil Brown and his stupid headset. Fuck Nick Barmby. Fuck his stupid assistant manager and fuck their claims.

They are unfounded and total and utter bollocks.

We then have this tit writing something on a game he obviously didn’t watch! Fuck him too.

Then, some stupid fucking journo says that Nick Barmby can give Arsenal fans a lesson in loyalty! Who the fuck are Hull City? Who the fuck is Oliver Brown – the author?

Jesus christ the world is mad. Why does everyone insist on bad mouthing our football club? After all, we did go through a season unbeaten and the jealousy must still be rife.

This stinks of unsettling us in the FA cup too. Fuck off Rafael – who the fuck are you anyway?

What gives these people the right to judge our football club? A club that has brought some of the world’s best players to these shores and helped the Premier League become one of the best in the world. It makes me sick and angry because this club does not deserve it, Wenger gets dissed every time he stands up for something but when Fergie does it its ‘funny’.

It is despicable.

Now beware of the media witch-hunt that will surround Fabregas and Arsenal over the coming weeks; you just wait.

One last word in this very angry post goes to the referee last night – it was the poorest game of so called officiating i have ever seen.

Lets just say if he had his dick out as many times as his notebook he would have every STI going.

Right, i will leave it there before i get sued or something. ‘Til tomorrow.

These games are coming along rather fast and this is another game i am confident of winning, but as we know Hull can pull off suprises.

Just remember back to that very, very dull September evening.

It is the FA cup so Almunia will be on the bench, (he is injured anyway after that goal molester nearly snapped his ankle), Gibbs is set to start with Ramsey not being involved due to tiredness. At his age they really do have to watch out for that, it does sound a bit of a ’soft’ excuse but from personal experience pushing yourself too far in your younger years can hold you back for the rest of your life.

Eduardo misses out again due to that groin injury which is a shame.

The biggest doubt is over Arshavin who had to have eight stitches into his foot at half time against Blackburn, apparently he is ‘desperate’ to play:

“Arshavin had eight stitches in his foot but he is still in the squad we will make a decision tomorrow. He is desperate to be involved. He just wants to play. He couldn’t practice today but we’ll assess him tomorrow morning.”

I have a feeling he will start, he comes across as a player that would play with one leg if he had too. Injuries like that tend to be alright after 24/48 hours and by tomorrow night the pain should have subsided almost entirely, they can always give him an injection to make it a little less painful on the off chance it could still hurt.

One player that will probably shine will be 20 year old Theo Walcott and Wenger has been singing his praises from the rooftops. There have been times when his development has really had question marks over it but at the tail end of last season he really started to shine and that England hat-trick has transformed him into a hell of a player. It really is amazing what a little confidence can do and this Arsenal side are buzzing with it at the moment. Back to Theo, and Wenger said:

“Compared to one year ago there is no comparison,That is what people have problems to accept because at that age every three months you improve. You can never predict how much he will improve but there is still a lot more to come from Theo. He had a good start [against Blackburn] and he became stronger and stronger,” continued Wenger. “He gives us something which is important as well when we play at home when he goes behind the defenders. He creates room and has a direct game. We need that. I don’t know [how big a player he will be in the rest of the season] but it’s important to have him back because he gives you something that can make a difference in any game.”

His pace gives defenders nightmares and in a one on one situation there are two outcomes, Theo goes flying past the defender or the defender clatters Theo and takes him down. He is a player that defenders do not like to see on the teamsheet.

One rather amusing comment by Wenger was on Diouf’s attempted assault on Almunia with Wenger admitting if it had been Jens in goal he would have headbutted Diouf:

“I spoke to him about it at half time of course. I had some experience with Jens Lehmann before – I think he would’ve headbutted him [if he was on the end of that sort of tackle].

That would be one thing i would have paid to see, this moment still cracks me up!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNHOBdHyRfM]

Good ‘ol Jens, a legend!

Just before i leave you there is some sad news about Thomas Rosicky who has suffered another two week setback. He is due to be back after two weeks after the two weeks after the two weeks. Another two weeks after that he will return to training. Seriously, i hope he does recover because he is a fantastic player and it would be a real shame for everyone for his career to end on such a sour year.

Good luck Thomas, you can return.

Right, heres to a good win tonight and our boys visiting the overpriced show ground in the West for the first time!

Up the Gunners!

’til tomorrow.