Tag Archives: Mathieu Flamini

Victory, Permutations, #SleeveGate, Stewards, Empty Seats and Bendtner

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Victory

The Good: 3 points closer to qualification, 2 goals for Wilshere, 1 goal conceded in 6 games for Szczesny, 67% possession and 112 passes for Ramsey.
The Bad: Overplayed the ball, poor finishing, lackadaisical play, that penakty miss,
The ugly: What was Marseille manager Élie Baup’s all sky blue track suit about?

Permutations

Forget about the complicated permutations, win or draw and we’re through top, lose by 3+ goals and Dortmund win and we are out. That is all you need to know

#SleeveGate

For as long as I remember, and probably over twice as long as that, The Arsenal captain has picked the sleeve length, and the rest of the players have followed. It is part of the class and tradition of Arsenal Football Club. Mathieu Flamini, however, feels he is above this. As against Manchester United, he cut his sleeves. His justification is he has been a professional footballer for 10 years, and is more comfortable wearing short sleeves. Is a players comfort above the traditions of a club? Long serving Vic Akers is not happy, Arsene Wenger is reportedly not happy, but can you fine a player for wanting to wear the sleeve length he wants?

Stewards

Once again, there are reports of over-zealous stewarding. Three stories seem to be appearing from tonight. The first is of an OAP being escorted out after standing up and shouting ‘ARSENAL, ARSENAL’ at a corner. The 2nd is of a father being threatened to be thrown out after holding his daughter in the air celebrating a goal. The 3rd is a steward being reportedly over heard saying “I am going to kick someone out tonight.” I think stewards need to remember they are their to steward the crowd, not police it. After recent performances by our stewards, the club needs to review the matter before more fans are alienated.

Empty Seats

6,000 empty seats at the Emirates tonight. The club do not allow the ticket exchange to be open for Champions League games. This is the main reasoning as fans who travel from Birmingham or Devon (where the chap infront of me travels from weekly) can not make mid week. They then struggle to sell their ticket. This leads to empty seats. Yes, there were problems in South East London, yes it was a bit of a nothing game, yes it was cold, but 6,000 is a lot. I feel it also has a lot to do with people getting bored of the Champions League. A final note is that Marseille had the smallest allocation possible. The club sold all of these extra tickets in the lower tier, so it is missing season ticket holders which is the problem.

Bendtner

Lots or criticism coming Bendtner’s way after his arrest for criminal damage. Silly? Yes. Immature? Yes. But it is certainly not the worst thing as Arsenal player has done whilst still at the club. Were it someone other than Bendtner, we would defend him. Bendtner is stupid, but it’s a nothing story, and we should perhaps remember our ‘naughty history’.

Keenos
 

10 Reasons why we will beat Marsellie+ starting XI

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1.. Chesney, another clean sheet on Saturday. He has now only let in 1 goal in his last 5 games.

2.. Seems pointless picking out the defenders for individual praise now, they are all working very well as a unit and would make George Graham proud with the offside trap. All that is missing is them putting their hands up and clapping the Ref and Lino once the right call has been made.

3.. Flamini is available, I just hope Wenger doesn’t make the mistake of playing him and Arteta. It Doesn’t work, much the same as chicken with cheese doesn’t work.

4.. Wilshere, whilst it was good to see him get a full 90mins in on Saturday he still doesn’t look totally match fit and at his best.

5.. Theo, wasn’t really upto much in his short cameo appearance on Saturday Vs his boyhood team. I’d like to see him start and make more of an impression this game.

6.. Ozil lots of people have been having a moan up saying he has been quiet lately, but hes working hard, covering plenty of ground and this is the kind of game he will shine in.

7.. Ramsey, by far our best player this season and even if he gets pushed wide by Wenger he puts in a shift, his back flick which hit the post Vs Southampton was a touch of pure class. With Theo back let’s hope he get’s put in his best position, down the middle.

8.. Marseille domestically are doing okay, but just okay. Winning 7 out of 14 games so far but drawing 3 and losing 4, With a goal diff of plus 7. That leaves them 10 points off the pace of current leaders PSG. in the Champions League group they are the whipping boys managing to lose all 4 games so far.

9.. Giroud, I’m so happy he got a poachers kind of goal at the weekend and as for his head/eyes/body/foot fake for the penalty, well just pure class.

10.. Wenger KNows, a win could put us into the next round, lose and we could face a tricky last game away.

Likely starting XI – Cheseny, Sagna. BFG, Kos, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Santi, Ozil, Theo, Giroud

COME ON THE ARSENAL !!!!

CL

10 Reasons why we will beat Saints + Starting XI and Henry’s back ?

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1.. Chesney got a new improved contract, well done to him for not only improving but for also looking like he’s knuckling down and working hard but also for not making a fool of himself on social media anymore. Other players at the club take note eh? Dench not even on the Bench..

2.. Gibbs – must of been great for him to get into another Engerland squad, as I said at the start of the season playing well and keeping fit for us will reap international call ups.

3.. Our Big Fucking German, really looked like he enjoyed the mid week win over Woy’s Boys. Clean sheet, scored the winner, was a pest in Engerland’s box and a rock in the Germans. Starting to really love him.

4.. This may be the most important reason, not only did we not get any fresh injuries we actually have players back. Diaby is obviously not one of them.

5.. Flamini is suspended after picking up 5 bookings which means Wenger cant play both him and Arteta in the same side, which really really does not work. I hope they sit Flamini next to Big Frank for the game, so Frank can have a quiet word about club traditions.

6.. THEO IS BACK! Two things we have missed badly so far this season is width and pace, Theo brings both. I cant wait to see Ozil spraying balls forwards for him to run onto.

7.. Southampton, They are a bit of a surprise to be sitting 3rd in the table but with a draw at Man Utd, a win at Liverpool and only letting in 5 goals in 11 Prem games (the meanest in the division) its no fluke. This will not be a walk over for us today.

8.. Ramsey and Wilshere are both fit despite injury fears this week, I’d expect Ramsey to start and Wilshere to be on the bench.

9.. Cazorla, Ozil, Walcott and Giroud…just think about that for a second…

10.. Wenger Knows, he cant take Southampton lightly and they will run and fight for every ball but we should have a little bit too much class for them.

Predicted starting XI – Chesney, Sagna, BFG, Kos, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Santi, Ozil, Theo, Giroud.

Henry, back training at the club during the MLS ‘off season’. This could be great for the squad to have him around as the better the players you train with the better you can become but he should not come to us to play. We should of bought a top class forward two summers ago and Henry to come in and play 3-4 games is not the answer. Despite the good goals we have all seen him put in for the New York Red Bulls the standard of play in the MLS is Div 3 (in old money) so yes it’s good to see him around but please no, please buy a world class forward not loan a former one.

henry