(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 2)

I thought Ospina was superb to be fair. 

Man did I bottle watching this match this weekend, thought it was a Sunday game UK time *facepalm*.

Anyway caught the extended highlights and man did I enjoy our goals. Thought they created some good chances too, but alas some lapses in judgement (aka Per for Kane's goal) was a bit disappointing but not surprising.

It's also disappointing to find ourselves with our 3rd red card in a massive match, when normally we get maybe one red card a season (although I'm struggling to find historical stats to validate or disprove this point so it's purely my impression.)

Looking forward to midweek I hope we get up for the Hull match. Should we win we get our EPL game rescheduled and play a quarter final at home on the Sunday.

I'm guessing we'll see the side line up as follows:

            Giroud

Walcott Iwobi Campbell

      Flamini Elneny

Gibbs Per Chambers Bellerin

            Ospina

Bench: Welbz, Ramsey, Sanchez, Ozil, Monreal, Koscielny, Macey

How long is the coq suspension? One match? 

If it's longer winning this match strategically helps us get through with the subs in cup matches while the Coq misses less EPL time and is fighting fit for the Barca away leg.

Worth a shake in the Barca leg, we'll surely go there with our best side.

I agree with that team brumbys. Although Chambers could play RB to rest Bellerin, and keep Gab/Per together to build understanding - if Kosc is out for a wee bit (no idea?) then we need those two to get used to eachother. 

It'd be great if we won and then backed up with a similar team on the weekend at home, thus allowing the others a bit of rest before  Barca and then a long stretch of must-wins in the league...

I'm probably in the minority here but the FA Cup is our main chance for silverware this season. Play close to our strongest side. I'd be starting Alexis

interesting

And an interesting thought I had this morning - from the so-called "big four" of 10 or so years ago, we're the only ones still actually in the top 4! Times change eh. 

2015/16: Arsenal – 6 matches, Manchester City – 7, Manchester United 7, Liverpool 6.

2014/15: Arsenal – 10, Manchester City – 12, Manchester United 10, Liverpool 13.
2013/14: Arsenal – 9, Manchester City – 12, Manchester United 7, Liverpool 16.
2012/13: Arsenal – 10, Manchester City – 15, Manchester United 18, Liverpool 8.
2011/12: Arsenal – 8, Manchester City – 14, Manchester United 12, Liverpool 8.
2010/11: Arsenal – 16, Manchester City – 7, Manchester United 24, Liverpool 6.

Longest unbeaten runs per season by these sides, can't believe we haven't had more than 6 on the trot and are still in the top 4.

I wasn't suggesting we'd go there and pump them Fitzy, just that I'd like our best DM to be fit and up for the fight :)

I'm doubtful we'll get the result but I do want the lads to go there and have a crack. 

Yeah fair shout, although with one of your key CB's out do you risk your back up & other starter in a cup match?

Could go either way :-)

Good point. I'm just worried about Bellerin, he's just about been player of the season and would be a huge loss were he to pick up a muscle injury right now - he's been playing 90 minutes game in game out... something's gotta give. You'd hope the CBs  would be better placed for that, since they don't have to get up and down all day like the fullbacks. One option would be giving Flamini a crack at RB, he'd do a job and can just hang back, and give Gibbs the licence  to roam on the other side... plenty of options, we should be able to deal with this with our current squad. 

Kosc is out for Hull and probably the weekend too, and Cech for 4 weeks. Monreal had a niggle but no word from Wenger, so probably back fine this week.

Typical  Arse fans

Arse Fans

A little song about having more foreskin than Tottenham supporters gets you worked up? I'm guessing you follow social media closely and failed to hear about the many years of Tottenham supporters picking on kids, females and scarfers when outnumbering them.

Cracking first post there mate. Looking forward to plenty more of that in the future.

It's Leggy's son. 

Or father. 

Prob 

Gk Ospina

Rb Chambers
Lb Monreal
Cb Mertersacker
Cb Gabriel

Dm Flaminiho
Cm Elneny

Am Iwobi

Rw Campbell
Lw Walcott

Cf Giroud

cracking read via the telegraph

Piers Morgan is The Arsenal

Arf! Thanks for pointing out

For others benefit

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/ar...

-

double post

Not a fan of Piers at all, but the article only seemed to again miss the point of our frustrations.

I like the bit about Arsenal fans sense of entitlement

Replay at Hull is on ESPN this morning

1-0 up. Lets see if we can hold a lead for once

Mertesacker was a head clash, shouldn't be serious unless he's fractured his eye socket

Oh god.

All 3 CB's out!

FFS

Kill me now. I'm so over sh*t going wrong. 

So if Mertesacker doesn't make it back for the weekend it'll be Monreal and Chambers in there. 

Man, that escalated quickly. 

2-0 now. At least there's that.

Per should be back, unless he has a concussion which doesn't seem likely.

Oh and fudgeing get in Giroud!

Ramsey's injured now.

This is a clusterf*ck.

Jaysus we've lost Ramsey. All subs used. F*ck me.

At least we're 2-0 up :)

Na they weren't all used, the Jeff came on for Rambo. Now they're all used. 

3-0. Walcott with an Henry finish from a lovely Campbell ball. 

Sorry - that's what I meant that Ramsey was the last one =)

Great finish etc.

4-0 now

Walcott been pretty rubbish all day, yet somehow has 2 goals and an assist

FT

Result = good

Injuries = bad

I think we can handle Ramsey being out, Elneny and Coquelin look to be our best bet in the engine room at the moment, and we have plenty of options in the forward line. 

Really hoping Mertesacker will be fit. Kosc will be out, and surely Gabriel gone for another month with that hammy. 

Gabriel gone just as he started to find some form - typical.

Hurry back Kos.

Good win, and good to play both Theo + Giroud into some kind of form, but the injuries are very costly.

Much needed win. Losing Ramsey is unlucky but means we aren't forced to start him right now so we can play with a better DM combination and a proper right winger. Hopefully some of the CB's are back for the Everton game Saturday week