(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 1)

Leggy surely you meant a subtle dig in there? 

Interesting write up on Giroud here:

https://arseblog.com/2014/04/tactics-column-on-giroud/

I hadn't realised he'd chipped in with 19 goals in 43 games. It's not prolific, but given he's clocked up 8 assists in those games (which excludes FA and League cup matches stats from here https://www.whoscored.com/Players/24444/).

His ultimate weakness as pointed out is his mobility, which appears to be the difference between him being prolific. I think this, and his heading is the difference between him and a 30 goal season.

Is that good enough for an EPL team trying to win the league and have a crack at the champions league? Unlikely.

He would be a good back up or 2nd striker IF we sign a prolific striker, If theo had been fit we would have possibly scored a few more i think, to get the best out of Ozil we need a pacy striker and wingers i think. Apart from Gibbs and Ox at the moment we dont have much pace.

Giroud had a lot more joy when he had Walcott assisting him. He loved those low crosses in to the box, or just balls from the byline - but we've missed that without Theo. More so, Giroud has missed that. I 100% think we need a better striker though!

Giroud also looks very good when players like ozil, wilshere and ramsey are playing to his feet and running beyond for the give-back

He bagged most of those assists early in the season when those guys were all playing

Leading 2-1 with 20 mins to go. Been particularly impressed with Cazorla. He has put in a great shift.

3-1 phew...good goal from poli

soooo good to have rambo back

Very good win that, I fully expected us to drop points given the short turn around from 120 minutes.

That's a very important three points.

Onwards.

That Giroud touch and goal >>>>>

Great win. We really needed that and good to see Podolski in the goals. Takes a bit of pressure off Giroud. Hopefully this lifts our confidence. One down, four to go............and the Cup Final

My bad leggy...my thoughts are that he sounds bitter (can't tell whether I mean Keane or the writer). While I don't think this Arsenal squad is where it needs to be yet, but ultimately this current United side have gone from champions to europa league qualifiers within the space of a season. I still maintain winning an FA Cup semi final regardless of your opposition is worth celebrating. To not celebrate is an insult to the significance of the cup, and your oppisition.

I think you'll find ManU are outside of the Europa qualification spots... poor darlings.

Nice birthday present this morning with 3pts over West Ham. Didn't see it but another come from behind win. Maybe we are starting to develop a little backbone.

strange old game

lame quiet crowd despite the importance of it, almost sounded like they wanted us to fail to have something to boo about

We were there for the taking really, but westham just weren't very good. 

In the end the game was great for our confidence, you could feel we grew into ourselves as it progressed. Ramsey's form was very encouraging for the run-in and FA Cup final. 

happy birthday buffy

Sums it up brilliantly.

I actually thought Källström looked decent last night. He tried a few too many Hollywood passes early on but was lively. I'm not sure what we would have done had Wenger not signed him in January!

surprisingly entertaining game last night (not there, but watched on TV). I thought it would be rubbish because you guys are tired, and we are……well, rubbish. Mertersacker had Big Andy Carroll in his (big) pocket, and although we started well, once we scored we went into panic mode and couldn't get out of it.

Rosicky and Downing are obviously good mates off the field, and decided to take a tab of acid together just before kickoff.  That is the only explanation I can come up with for their performances.

This Everton-Palace game is entertaining...

Hopefully palace can hold on

They just banged in another one. 

C'mon Palace!

Everton got one back, 3-2, 4mins plus stoppage time remaining

6 minutes of stoppage time, jaysus

It's over, you ripper, back in our hands.

Go you Eagles. Great result for us. FA Cup dress rehearsal this weekend. Really need a win for obvious reasons but also want to keep Hull down in the relegation battle so they can't rest their players for the last game against Everton.

I went to the awards dinner last night and had a good chat with Stein Huysegems. I finally got to ask him who's Arsenal shirt he got when he played for FC Twente against us at the Emirates in the 2008 CL qualifier second leg. It was William Gallas. He then said how funny it was to play against him again when the Nix played Perth. He remembered the game and what an amazing atmosphere it was to play in front of 60,000 in London. He thought the score was 5-0 so I had to correct him and say it was only 4-0. He reckons it could have easily been 10 or 12. Awesome guy to talk to and he will be missed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBF_lS4QiWk

Check out the video one minute in to see the shirt

seems odd congratulating a Pulis side, anyway a bit of luck for us is good.

Pound Hull this weekend, 2003 took Southampton to the cleaners as a warm up. Same again please.