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

On the plus side, Bellerin is back

Never know with our track record. 

Great call on theo/bellerin valeo

God it was good to see hector being hector. What a player he is. 

Most good attacking full backs are converted wingers. Reckon he suits it perfectly. He's more direct than most wingers.

I reckon he'll stay there, and could be the no.1 RB in the world if he carries on like this

Re: the charlie adam stamp, credit this from arseblog;

this angle shows beautifully that a) it was definitely deliberate, and b) it slowed him down enough that the stamp itself actually cost them the goal, and killed the game off for them, even though no one noticed it initially

In your f*cking face charlie adam you w*nker

https://mobile.twitter.com/JOE_co_uk/status/807628...

What a prat, is he getting retrospective action?

Did anyone else enjoy the new found creative attempts at corners? We've hardly scored off them at all this year, but it seems like yesterday we had a wealth of ways to mix it up - hopefully they keep it up!

Overall a good weekend. Not sure who will line up Wed morning but IMO more important to get three points at Goodison than 'rest' for City.

The only time we should be resting players is if the game is of no consequence. This could be a cup match against weak opponents we're not focussed on or an ECL game we can afford a draw in. Every game in the prem has to be focused on as a critical one, regardless of opposition.

Exactly this. Both games are massively important. Should be aiming for 6 points over the next week. That's the only way to keep pressure on Chelsea.

http://news.arseblog.com/2016/12/arsenal-turn-to-f...

Interesting; turning to former All White Ceri Evans.for psychiatrist services.

Of all the athletes or teams that I watch, the All Blacks are probably mentally the strongest, so pretty optimistic about this appointment.

Wonder if he will he get them to do the Xhaka before each game. 

Anyone staying up for the CL draw tonight?

You got Bayern Munich.

Rigged.

Well, f*ck.

Not the worst though. While they are top of the Bundesliga, they don't look to have the swagger of years gone by. You've got more than enough to trouble them. 

Really, it's just the mental side.

Should have put money on it, was so certain. Getting a bit difficult to believe these things are random when you draw the same team every season.

Not at all! Especially with Bellerin back Walcott should be starting right while the Iwobi vs Ox vs Perez battle for the left rages on. 

While Leicester manage to avoid Real Madrid, Bayern and PSG

PSG even drew Barca from 2nd in our group, so the footballing gods were making sure they had their bases covered when it came to us.

No matter though, I'm more confident than years gone by - since we last played them we are better, they are probably worse, and we have the 2nd leg at home this time. 

To win the champs league we'd have to beat teams like this so may as well play them in Feb, if we win we march on, if we're out we can focus on the league and FA Cup (if we're still in them of course). 

Boooooooooooooring

Live on the main channel, though thankfully there only seems to be one other game on so goal rush hopefully won't be as bad as the weekend.

Giroud and le Coq have signed new deals. thats good news. Now lets tie down Sanchez and Ozil

I forgot to say, The Commontator kept saying "theArsenal game is on the left screen" which was obvious and annoying ...so I then missed Iwobi goal by looking at wrong screen lol. 

Everton in a run of poor form. Do have Lukaku... We need a win COYG

Gutted about that. We will stay second if Liverpool don't win by 3 or more, but the gap to Chelsea might increase to 6 points.

We really need a win against City this weekend now. 

Also how unlucky were we at the end, 2x shots cleared off the line and a peno shout turned down;

http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/everton-vs-arsenal...

def dropped ponts

A number of missed opportunites. 

Disappointing. 

Also Ozil might want to watch that back a few times, failed us at a couple of vital moments today... big chances I would expect him to score, and the lack of defending for their 2nd goal, that was very weak. 

What is Cech up to here?

Goal # 1 Monreal, and both CB's are trying to cover 4 players including a midfielder making a late run and Xhaka/Coq are nowhere to be seen.

Goal # 2 Xhaka & Ozil are caught not marking Williams and tracking his run.

Just poor defending all round.

Good arseblog tonight

http://arseblog.com/2016/12/everton-2-1-arsenal-di...

Dealing with a nose bleed perhaps?

shark round of results to rub it in

That loss to Everton just got worse after this mornings results.