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

I was top tier, directly above them. First game, Westham, was great. They were loud, funny, and then we scored a late winner so we could give it all back to them in a glorious burst of emotion. 

Second game was a horror show. 1-0 loss to Newcastle, I can't really even remember how it went. I developed a stomach bug during the game and threw up in the Emirates toilets after the whistle! The missus still tells people that I was throwing up just because Arsenal lost. It was the stomach bug I swear! Although Andy Carroll did score, when flappyhandski flapped, so it was definitely a vomitable experience in itself.

I was on halfway for a Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce and their fans were amazing. I was then in the upper tier just to the right of halfway for our game against Spurs. These were both in Aug/Sept 2013. We won 1-0 with a goal from Giroud and Flamini made his first appearance after we resigned him on a free. This was about a week before we signed Ozil.

Tip from me would be to get to the stadium early and take in the atmosphere. Also hang around afterwards especially if we win. After the Spurs game, a lot of fans congregated around the Tony Adams statue and went through the repertoire of chants. My favourite was "1-0 and we spent f*ck all...."

I did the stadium tour with Perry Groves and a few weeks later did it again with Charlie George. Even though Perry's comments about his hatred for Spurs were funny, I actually enjoyed Charlie's tour more. He gave you more time at each section to take photos and was always more than happy to have his photo with him. He also did a Q&A in the media room where we could ask him anything we wanted.

Check out the Arsenal museum as well which is at the stadium.

Me with Charlie George

I was there for this game! I was upper deck above the Sp*rs fans, was incredible and agree about the atmosphere. Loved sitting around the tube a few days later randomly chatting to people about the Ozil signing.

Signing option: Lautaro Martinez. Kid is 20 years old and has 18 goals in 40 games for racing.

Here's some of his best work:

His close footwork is amazing, would love him coming to learn his trade with us.

Your seat is probably in the background of this photo somewhere. This was after the game and I got to meet Alan Smith who was doing commentary work

Was that the game when Flamini came tearing on and pole-axed someone, and it was all like "welcome back flam!!!!"? 

That was bloody great. Remember it fondly. You guys were so lucky getting to go to a derby. 

Cheers everyone! Fair to say I’m absolutely fizzing. Tickets have been organised through Arsenal NZ so no idea where they’ll be. Got hotel accom for the first game but hopefully will be staying in an air bnb in highbury stadium for the West Ham game. Definitely planning on doing a stadium tour and have heard good things about pre-match beers at the Bank of Friendship or the gunners pub.

Enjoy mate. I went in summer 2009 so went to the Emirates Cup rather than a real game. Had trouble trying to book through arsenal.com as it didn't like my billing address being in NZ but delivery address being my Grandma's address in Wembley. Eventually sorted it over the phone. Had no idea where tickets were but ended up on half way only a few rows behind the dugout which was pretty awesome. Before the game Eboue came out and walked along the touch line signing autographs so I ran down the front and got a photo with him and he signed my program.

Sure was. He came on amongst a bit of doubt, but within a couple of minutes had put in some huge tackles and was geeing the team up. Would love to see that from one of our current CM's to be honest!

So Elneny has signed a contract extension. It's Ramsey and JW10 I'm now worried about, especially if we were to lose both of them.

Any UK based gooners on here going to the EL final, or planning on going if we make it?

I've got a Cat A ticket.

How did you score that?

Went in to the UEFA ballot and got lucky.

What a horrible first half. My goodness we are bad.

Buffy that is bloody awesome mate, really hope the boys pull through and make the bloody thing!

That football was so awful I had to turn it off. Good to see Laca/Auba back on the score sheet though, will do Laca's confidence some good.

Does Shaqiri look better than he is because he's a class above his team mates? Or could he actually be a handy new wide player for us next year?

Shaqiri has found his level imo, big fish, small pond; he's not that good.

That first half was as bad as you'll see. Eye watering.

There were some decent moves in the 2nd half and the win was deserved. 

Chambers impressed for me. Not much else to say!

Very interested to hear Wenger's comments on Aubameyang, that he played wide left at St Etienne, and at Dortmund while Lewandoski was there. He suggested he could play there to accommodate Lacazette. Auba did look good picking it up on the left after Laca came on. 

Would be very interested to see that. Just means one out of Mkhi/Ramsey/Wilshere has to miss out to enable it. 

Of course it's not so much an headache for the Europa League games left, with Aubameyang cup-tied, but it could be experimented with in the league. With the rumours that one or both of Wilshere/Ramsey could leave, it could be our best option for next year. 

Laca looked very sharp for a guy who was out for quite a bit of time, I thought. We were noticably better with Xhaka, Laca and Mkhi on.

Annoyingly my MySky recording ended at 72 minutes. So avoided the result on a busy day until watching at 6pm tonight. Sat through a pretty pony 72 min to then find it wasn't available on demand on the Bein app so had to look up the result anyway. Would have enjoyed that last 18 minutes.

Same thing happened to me ajc! I was absolutely fuming when I checked the score, would've really enjoyed seeing us put 3 on stoke in the last 20 minutes in "live" time. Wasn't the same watching it later. F*ck Sky. 

Was equally annoyed at Bein with the inability to watch the game straight away on-demand. 

This crap should be unforgiveable with the technology we have available now. 

Totally agree.

I also loved that Auba didn't fight Laca to take the penalty which would have been a hattrick. His comments afterwards indicated he knew it would be good for Laca to score so didn't get involved - very cool.

Did anyone spot this in the game? I missed it completly. Can't say I'm disappointed though, good to see senior players like Ozil calling out the younger guys on quality: http://metro.co.uk/2018/04/01/hector-bellerins-brilliant-response-verbal-lashing-mesut-ozil-stoke-7433341/

Yep, noticed when I was watching; but didn't understand exactly what he was trying to say.

I thought he clearly said "you talk to much" and was then pointing to the dressing room, as in, lets sort it out there.

They both posted on social media afterward playing it down. 

I thought at the time that they were both right. 

Ozil had wanted to the pass earlier and it was on, but after Bellerin had not passed it, it was easy for Ozil to get back onside to receive, but he didn't. 

Based on what we saw on the weekend I'd be keen to start Laca over Welbeck. Also be good to get Ramsey and Xhaka back together in midfield, with Ozil and Mhiki in front of them. Don't think JW10 advanced worked for us on the weekend, seemed to take up the spaces Ozil was best in.

What are Arsenal's attendances like this season?

Still filling out the ground? 

Nooooo

Empty seats regularly in the league since our position in it became irrelevant. 

I thought Laca was surprisingly sharp when he came on; that move where he beat two players and then got scythed down displayed that. Think he can do a very good job in the EL.

Cheers for Ox

You've got exactly what we saw at Arsenal so far. 

Looks good occasionally, not in the first eleven when team fully fit.

CSKA are shocking at the back, we should be getting double figures here. We ourselves look suspect at the back though it has to be said.

Some great goals scored too, both Ramsey's were excellent in their own right.

I can't believe we haven't got a 5th yet.

4-1 should be safe heading to Moscow.

CSKA are dodgy enough at the back that even if they attack us relentlessly it will present us with opportunities. 

Yeah I'm guessing we'll go with a fast front three of Laca, Welbz, Mhiki and get the others to sit deep and be prepared to counter attack.

Any word on what Mkhitaryan's injury is and if it's serious?

Remaining draw (excludes potential further europa league ties);

Knee, out for Southampton. 

wooweee!! that 2nd from Rambo, just delightful!

Replays didn't show any twisting so shouldn't be too bad, hopefully just a contusion that needs a short burst of rest.