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

Dier and Lamela should also get retrospective bans. Three points behind them with two to go (although a much worse GD).

A whiff of Lasagne in the air

City away and Villa at home for us, SOTON at home Newcastle away for them. If we can take the 6 points this could be an amazing end to the season.

I could see Spuds dropping off now and Newcastle could certainly beat them. 

Can't see us beating City, but.

City play on Thursday in Madrid, they got humped by Soton the other day, and our away record is very good. All signs suggest we've a good chance.

So we'll probably get battered.

;) 

It'll need a massive improvement from the performance against Norwich. I'd take a draw at this stage.

Today is definitely a time for reflection. I'm sure you'll recall when we last won the league we beat Leicester in the final game to end the season unbeaten while they got relegated. At the time I thought that was the beginning of our era of domination like Liverpool in the 80s and United in the 90s. Never could have imagined Leicester would win the Premiership before we did again.

I didn't anticipate a dynasty at that point. I seriously thought Vieira was leaving straight after that game, our squad was fairly thin and we'd been lucky with injuries, we were in need of some serious re-building.

I see huge missed opportunities from that period now - we could've feasibly won two doubles and a treble in three years. I know that sounds crazy but we threw away the league in 2002/03, we threw away the Champions League in 2004, and we really should've won that 2004 FA Cup semi against ManU. 

Got lucky in a FA cup final a season later.

With those players 2004 was the CL we should have won. Would "only" have been Monaco then Porto in the semi and final with all the traditional big sides out. Though in hindsight I guess we'd never have beaten Mourinho in a final. Wayne Fudgeing Bridge of all people. Only other thing he's remembered for is John Terry shagging his wife.

That FA Cup semi final against United was typical Wenger too. Rested everyone ahead of the Chelsea CL game in midweek and lost, then just lost the CL game anyway.

To brighten the mood here's Ashley Cole getting 2 yellow cards in 15 seconds:

Man City lost this morning, Kompany injured, Aguero on for the full 90.

Good outcome for us.

Fixed ;-)

The Granit Xhaka rumours just keep on coming, got a feeling he's definitely coming our way this off season.

Interesting since he's a defensive midfielder, who can also play box to box. Elneny, Coquelin, Ramsey, Wilshere... I wonder if one of these guys is leaving?

More likely that Wenger is accepting that he'll probably have one of them off at any point and time, and that with Flamini, Arteta, and Rosicky out the door he need's to let go.

The more I reflect on this year Flamini, Arteta, and Rosicky all should have moved on end of last season on a high, rather than now on the back of a disappointing season marred by injuries.

A decent piece by Tim Stillman on the 'protest':

https://arseblog.com/2016/05/bonfire-of-the-sanities/

Ox wouldn't have made the squad anyway. It's a shame how things have gone for our English players. I remember feeling overjoyed early in the qualifying when we had 5 or 6 players in the squad. Think there was one moment we actually had 5 on the pitch at the same time. Fast forward and now we may not even have 1 in the squad for the finals. Welbeck is probably the only one with a real chance and now Sturridge is back fit and in form it's probably between the 2 of them for 1 spot. Wilshere may have returned to fitness too late.

Getting stronger...

sp*rs 1 - 2 Saints

Wow Tottenham have fallen to pieces. Great chance to catch them now, especially with Villa on the final day.

.

Decent result, especially given no Özil and the Welbeck injury. 

So we need a win at home v Villa and a sp*rs loss at Newcastle. The latter might be difficult given Newcastle will probably be relegated by then but you never know...

So once again it comes down to a final day scrap for CL. Things won't be pleasant in the stadium if United have won their game in hand and we're 0-0 going into the last 20 minutes.

We only need a draw though as we are 3 pts clear of City.

We need Everton to go to Sunderland mid-week and win, it'll keep relegation battle alive for the final day!

An Everton draw should be enough... we really need that

Yep, rooting for Toffe and Iron this midweek

Real pity Swansea turned over WHU

Ah right was thinking we had to win. Don't think it will be easy just because it's Villa. Their last PL game for who knows how long and most of them will be playing for PL transfers.

Also sounds like Welbeck might be out of the Euros. Don't remember him being injury prone at United but looking like becoming another crock for us.

Wilshere looked pretty good this morn.

Iwobi showed that he is still young. I know he's done well, and promoting youngsters is a club value, but I wouldn't have started him in this game in Ozil's position. 

Frightening how much we missed Ozil, although I guess that's natural with any player of his quality. When we won the ball and went to move it, no one knew what to do! They all must be so used to Ozil just floating into space in front of them for the easy ball. 

Real shame about Welbeck, but hopefully this means he'll be in for a full pre-season and nice and fresh. Hope it's not really serious and he misses the start of the season...

Walcott, sheesh, sell him quick Arsene. I'm done with that guy. Sometimes he looks pathetic when he gives it away - wee bit of pressure on the touchline so he meekly hits it straight out. So bad. 

Wilshere one our best this morning, despite those "injuries" you can't fault his quality and on-field commitment.

Highly amusing we can still catch the yids, will make for a bit of last day entertainment.

In my opinion, a great but long article about where the club has gone. Also show why inside the stadium, proper issues will never be tackled - https://thelab.bleacherreport.com/gooners-out-tourists-in/

Iwobi performed well at the Nou Camp - no suprise he started against City. Hasn't been great the last few games, though.

Pretty unlikely given the relative form of the two clubs but here's hoping. 

omg i just read that mangala cost m.city 42 million pounds... is that for real????

that is so f*cken funny

Nasri's loving life at City I see

All that money and can't get himself new jeans

Westham have bid 24mil for Walcott apparently.

Sounds to me like that'll be that. 

What an immense failure that 10 year project turned out to be.