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

Most importantly, good form going into the final. Can't wait. 

Walcott showed exactly why he should always be in the side when fit. He puts the ball in the goal and we never have enough players who can do that. Whether he should be on the right or in the middle most of the time I'm not sure but he's always someone you want on the pitch. To start him in the final it would probably be between Ramsey and Cazorla for one place (as I don't see Wenger leaving out Giroud) but I don't think you can justify leaving out either of them. I expect we'll probably start the same lineup as recently (with the only debate over the goalkeeper) with Walcott and Wilshere unlucky again to have come back a little too late to force a way in but would expect to see them off the bench.

I guess Szceszny will probably keep his Cup place but was expecting him to play yesterday like what Wenger did with Fabianski last season.

I am surprised szczesny didn't get a run-out yesterday in advance of the final.

I guess there is the possibility that Wenger has decided to let him go, with all these Cech rumours around, and that he may not play in the final at all either. That would be a bit sad. 

Would be a bit sad, but I still think you play your top side in the final and that would include Ospina. As it should have included Szcezsny last year. Thankfully Fabianksi didn't cost us in the end, though very nearly did when he ran off into row Z leaving the goal wide open, not for the first time at Wembley either. Szczesny not playing yesterday maybe suggests Wenger is sticking with Ospina as I would have thought he wouldn't want his keeper going into the final having not played a game for 6 weeks.

Can't see any details about the Four Kings thing yet (how to get tickets etc). But they will be busy with State of Origin first so guess it will be sorted later in the week.

Wenger has been known to drop keepers for performances like Ospina's lately - he's not been convincing at all in the last few games. Some good saves but definitely some errors arising in his game. 

If it was mid-season I wouldn't be surprised to see him dropped, but it's a little bit murkier given it's the final now, what happened last season with szczesny, the smoking, and all these cech rumours floating about...

Supporting you Gooners in the FA Cup - if you lose, it may screw up the LFC tour to Aussie!!

25th Anniversary today of this great night. I still clearly remember watching it live on TV

You sure home slice :)

89 and 15 will not be 25.

Regardless, best morning of football I can remember. Think I had 6 Camels in the second half alone

Wish I could have witnessed it at the time. That scene in Fever Pitch must have been what every Arsenal fan was like.

We didn't get live football back then. Each year we got the FA Cup Final , and then the odd random  game like Inter Cup from Japan and the European Cup final if we were really lucky.

Back in the day etc..

Brian Moore knows the score. He was the host of the 1 hr highlight package , normally shown 7-14 days later , of English D1. 

Here I am, supporting you Gooners (completely selfishly) for the FA Cup and you drag that up. Imma' leave this here... 

Yep.. Happy 26th Anniversary.

What a strike. He won Match of the Day's goal of the season for the second year running after Arsenal fans hijacked the Twitter vote.

What are everyone's plans for the Cup Final this weekend?

I'll be down at a popular gooner pub from the early evening across the wrong side of the Tasman.

For me this weekend I would have Giroud up front, Sanchez and Walcott either side. Ozil in behind with Santi and Coquelin in the middle. Ospina in goal too.

While the Chavs are getting turned over by Sydney this week we will be adding to our title as the biggest and best club in London. They talk about not winning the league in 10 years, how were the 50 years before Abramovich turned up?

41 trophies to their 26, 13 league titles to their 5, 11 FA Cups to their 7. Know your place.

Chelski are only 4 ahead of Spuds, Villians and the Bitters.

Teams who have more  League titles than Chelski.

United 20

Liverpool 18

Arsenal 13

Villa 7

Everton 9

Sunderland 6

One behind them: Citeh, Toon, Sheffield Wed, 

Looks like 5AM kickoff NZ so I will be getting up to watch as I am too old to pull all nighters anymore.

Arsenal Supporters from the youth team I coach will stay here, Foal31 is organising that.

Sorry to bang on about Giroud but this is interesting: http://www.football365.com/topical-top-10/9864234/...

Sounds like Martinez is on his way out of Porto, could be interesting to see him come in. Would spell the end of Yaya I imagine.

I'm going to watch it at the Emirates. They're putting up some big screens for 40,000ish people. Should be decent. 

Awesome.

I'm still undecided between Four Kings or home. All nighters are not for me either so would try and get some sleep first if I go to Four Kings. Tried last year before Backbencher and failed though - managed maybe an hour but couldn't shut my mind off thinking about it! Anyone else here going to Four Kings?

It is definite, they have details up now. Have to get a ticket from them by 4pm Saturday.

https://www.facebook.com/events/903313223047659/

Just want to bump this beautiful piece of writing ;)

A hundy tickets sold to their venue last year and a bigger venue on ?  

http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20150528/the-...

Best be more than 5 lads at the 4 Kings this weekend (fakebook says a coupla dozen lads are 'going')!  

Although my ski plans up at the 'Kune have been banjaxed I will now be watching in the house here in Wellington and minding my sick wee 10 month old (fek, he'll be awake anyways.  Will get him in his Arsenal pj's for the night/morning).

I can't wait for Sunday.

Right decided I'm doing Four Kings. Backbencher last year was one of my best memories so have to do it again. Will go and get a ticket today. Hope to be able to catch up with some of you lot properly this time. Got an Arsenal fan mate coming too and will check with a Villa fan today.

I'm gonna stay home and watch this one. Wee bit financially challenged at the mo, and with goofy666 staying at home that's my gooner partner in crime out of action, so will do the same as him and watch from the confines of me lounge. 

Have just emailed the missus from work enquiring whether or not me daughter's Arsenal PJs are clean/dry, as she will be required to be in those tomorrow night. 

Got 2012/13 home giroud on today, as well as arsenal socks. Will wear same shirt tomorrow, as well as Arsenal socks again - plenty of fresh pairs at home, when you're this big of an arsenal fan socks seem to be the default gift from most people!

Also, hardly a solid rumour, but I must say 60mil for these three would be a bit of a coup;

http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/news/football/arsenal-...

Will be watching this one from the couch as I feel sitting at four kings in my Arsenal boxers would be unpleasant for all involved.
Tossing up between wearing my Highbury home kit , this years away strip , 88 away shirt or my lucky 71 retro red shirt.

Edit: thumbs up to all of you with kids dressing them in Arsenal pjs. 

Those 2/3 signings would definitely take us to the next level (or two).

Full kit wanker today or no shorts? Can't say I've ever had a pair of shorts. My gifts have been things like mugs and keyrings.

Mugs , keyrings and Arsenal branded confectionery are what I seem to get a lot of. Might ask for socks this year as a man only needs so many keyrings lol

Also calendars and diaries which are handy to get each year. Got the desk one at work and the wall one at home this year.