Ozil Back to Magic a Win for the Good Guys: Predicted Line-Up v Chelsea

TotalArsenal

What a game we have tonight. Forget about the table, the contract sagas, our recent form; this is a game where pride and quality football are at the top of the agenda. It looks like Ozil has recovered from his Wengury, and Koz is a doubt, which probably means he will play too.

We could really do with a good win tonight and I reckon we will get it. I just feel it. For this we need Ozil to be fully fit which he most probably is. We also need Lacazette and Alexis to be in good form, and we need Koz and Mustafi to play together at the back. Furthermore, we need Jacka and Xhaka to play as a solid unit in the middle, and the rest to play as well as they can. Seventeenho will do a live blog later on, but I reckon the line-up will be something like this:

submit football lineup

I would be inclined to play Debuchy ahead of Bellerin tonight, but Wenger will probably stick with the young Spaniard. A big game for Ainsley but with Koz behind him, he should be fine. I predict a goal by Granit tonight and one or two by Lacazetter.

Come on You Rip Roaring Gunners!

TotalArsenal.

197 thoughts on “Ozil Back to Magic a Win for the Good Guys: Predicted Line-Up v Chelsea”

  • Not sure where you got the gist about Ozil’s and Kos’ fitness, but can only hope you’re correct. I did not see either of them in the training pictures yesterday and that’s usually the first indicator. However, just so we can have 2 Holding-type midfielders, we may just do a 4 at the back (more especially if Kos isn’t fit) so we can have one reliable CB on the bench in one of Mertesacker or Chambers.

    Very important game. If we do not allow the occasion get to us, we can make this a happy evening. COYG!!

  • Hi all..
    TA, 10 from 11 except Holding..
    No Debuchy and Kolasinac in the bench..
    We have a bad injured time..

    Glad to see Ozil back..
    We need his magic for sure..

  • Arsenal: Cech, Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Bellerin, Wilshere, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette. Subs: Mertesacker, Ospina, Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck, Coquelin, Elneny.

    Okay so Koz has a real injury, but Ozil plays. 11/10 right. Attack is our best defence….

  • Oh, and i’ll Like to see Danny start this one, though that will only happen in a 4-2-3-1. We need his strength and speed in this one. Wenger prefers Xhaka and Bellerin, but if it isn’t a 3 at the back formation, I will give Coq a berth with Jack in the middle and Ozil just in front of them. Debuchy is likely to do a better job as a full back (Bells if as wing back).

    It don’t matter who plays though; it is a derby and I fully expect (nay, demand) a performance from any one who dons the shirt today.

  • Two o’clock now..
    2.45 when the game start..

    No.. She already sleep with her 2yo little sister Yoren.. Hehehe..

  • Oops! Guess the team sheet was announced while I typed that. It took me nearly 15minutes to finish that as I kept getting distracted by one thing or the other. That’s a very inexperienced defence line and Chelsea forwards may be licking their lips unless the boys rise up to the occasion. Problem I see is with Mustafi trying to play “Daddy” and trying to do too much to protect the boys flanking him.

    Poor Cech. He must be wondering how much longer before he gets his 200th clean sheet.

  • No Eris.. Chambers – Holding were solid partner.. With Mustafi in the middle and a step forward.. They will be fine.

    As TA said.. Attack is the best defense.. Hehehe.. Go Gunners..

  • The injuries at the back means the team will have only one way to play and that suits Arsene/Arsenal. It will give us a clear mission and identity.

  • Thanks TA..

    Let’s hope no one injured tonight..
    With so limited wingback.. I wonder why don’t we play 4-3-3..
    I like to see Walcott tonight.. Cause it maybe his last performance with us..

  • Hi guys… This one will serve just fine… I’m back late from a dog outing where she ran off a bit to play with some folks so all the better that TA put something up… And, of course, I would’ve had to put up my sad-sack ideas, lower expectations and the like…

    Count me among those whose prayers were answered by Ozil being fit to play… Now I need to give a glance at the opposition line-up…

    Arsenal: Cech, Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Bellerin, Wilshere, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette. Subs: Mertesacker, Ospina, Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck, Coquelin, Elneny.

    Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Hazard, Morata. Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Drinkwater, Pedro, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi.

    Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

    Well, generally, I like the line-up and am less than completely intimidated by Chelsea’s. What I don’t like is Chav’s 12th man… I think I read that AW was hauled before the FA due to complaints against Taylor fairly recently… Will the super-bald guy (Taylor) want to show us that he supports the guy with just a fringe (Dean)…or will he try to show that not ALL calls go against the Gunners?

    Thanks again, TA…

  • Hmmm I like the posititivy that’s being shown. Whilst I think both Chambers Holding will be great in the future, so much will depend on Mustafi holding it all together. If we can keep our heads and don’t give any stupid free kicks , pens away we have a chance. A lot will depend on keeping Hazard quiet, which is why i don’t necessarily think attack is the best form of defence.

    Still a positive is if you had said to me we would be 22 points behind the leaders after 21 games, I would have said we would be in relegation trouble.

    One last request, if Chelsea get a Pen, someone tell Cech to stand still and don’t dive out of the way.

  • 17 HT. you make a good point about Taylor. The only thing I would say is if we get a similar situation as we did against WBA he would be either very brave or very stupid to give it against us

  • Arsenal’s starting lineup of necessity in the FA Cup vs Chelsea (May 27th 2017) left the Gunners as decided underdogs– with many predicting a beating from in-form Chelsea– 3-1 or 4-0.

    (3-4-2-1): Ospina | Monreal, Mertesacker, Holding | Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka, Ramsey, Bellerín | Sánchez, Özil | Welbeck

    The midfield-4 were superb, stymieing Kante and Matic. Alexis stunned the favored Chavs with a 4th-minute forearm…, er, um (let’s call it a) bundled goal early to lead 1-nil. With Kos suspended and Mustafi injured– Wenger ‘Mertesackered’ together a back-3 which held firm but for a single Costa-ly moment going level at 1-1 in the 76th minute. Lasting only a few moments after play restarted; Ramsey gliding in solo with an open goal, taken coolly for a 2-1 lead– and the Cup. Ramsey’s second FA Cup winner in three years.

    COYG!

    jw1

  • Yeah, if I had needed to put up a live-blog I was gonna talk about our recent, more successful recent outings vs Chavs…

    We have kick-off!

  • First corner going to cagey Chavs… Cesc bends it out of play after taken short…after the FK was taken quickly… Seems they sense some inexperience out there…

  • We might as well throw the kitchen sink at it tonight, start as we did against the Spuds.
    Nobody gives us a chance anyway.
    Personally I’m leaning towards 2-2…

    Glad to see Holding start, I hope he has a good game.

    The Arsenal team at Forest, or the basis of it is on our bench, add Debuchy and we should put out a decent team up there.

  • Both teams playing conservatively but trying to win the midfield 50-50s…

  • Lacazette gets a call after a bit of hesitation from Taylor… Good spot for Alexis-special…

  • Our first decent corner since the CP game but it finds a Chelsea head…

  • Chelsea going short with all FKs thus far… want to keep numbers back, I guess…

  • Ball’s in our half but we’re OK and finding some space on the break… Alexis, well over Ozil who maybe was hoping that Laca was on the far post…

    Other end… Chambers blocks Hazard’s shot behind for a corner… which Cech claims easily but boots long and back to Chavs… Wrong, out off Kante… Nerves? Maybe?…

  • A bit of pressing from the front but Chelsea break it w/o much trouble…

    We break but it’s all a bit hesitant and ends with AMN crossing gently to Cortois…

  • BIG LET OFF!!!

    Morata wide after a huge mistake by our CBs pushed up to the center circle… Hopefully it looms large…

  • We’re looking the more aggressive– really like AMN’s takeaway to start the break– that he concluded with cross/shot that Courtois scooped.

    jw1

  • Another, much smaller, let off… Moses’ cross reaches Morata and Cech at the same time but our guy holds on…

  • Gotta turn off Lee Dixon… He made it to the 16th minute this time… Not so bad…

    WOW… Off two posts from Alexis… Big Chavs Let off that time…

  • HT, your feed is 30 secs ahead of mine… both equally comforting and frustrating.

    jw1

  • There was an AMN pen shout in the build-up… and the chance sort of looked like it came when everyone watching the ref…

  • Not to mentipn the second ricochet went straight across and back to Courtois– when Alexis was lurking!

    jw1

  • Wow, JW, my TV is never ahead…

    Building pressure but Bellerin gives it away…

  • Good point about the rebound, JW….

    Ozil does some dancing down the left but his pull back cross is rebuffed…

  • You’ve got Lee Dixon eh?

    Well I’d swap him for Danny Mills, and I can’t turn him off… 😟

  • Jack, a bit long for AMN (who was just a bit deceptive for the Pen shout) but we end up with a corner… Nothing from it, however…

  • Does that mean it has to go back to space twice, JW?… Or space then through a cable?…

    Blooped cross by Bellerin and Xhaka’s blast is blocked…

    Alexis turn and shoot is blocked by Cortois… Which is why they let us have Cech?…

  • Replay shows Cortois also got a very good hand to put Alexis’ shot onto the post…

    Corner Chavs, now…

  • That might be, JW, but that beats a lesser keeper, for sure, I think…

  • Morata nips in on Chambers but Mustafi does likewise on Hazard and almost finds Laca with a throughball…

  • Bakayoko (sp?) forces a hand save over by Cech… Another corner… headed over by Morata but Taylor spotted a push anyway…

  • Chambers giveaway but Mustafi blocks Hazard’s shot after pulling it back center…

  • We were fortunate Hazard didn’t trust the man to his left on that last attack.

    jw1

  • Mustafi tries another long one… past everyone…

    AMN keeps one down their end after Alexis can’t go through defenders to Jack…

  • Agreed about Hazard there, JW… Chambers would’ve been in trouble for sure but the angle would have been more difficult…

    Jack late, gets yellow for a tackle on Cesc…

    Hazard playing for that balloon ball to be blocked?… Weird…

  • Alexis has to be immediately decisive with a move when receiving a pass or chasing down a ball. Chavs are sending two defenders at him every time.

    jw1

  • Turned the sound on briefly only for Lee Dixon to shite on Ozil… Off again…

    Laca offside but showing off his ball control skills…

  • Mustafi nips in and gets us going on the break. Ozil squares and Xhaka leaves it for Jack who is too slow shaping to shoot… Xhaka blasting might’ve been the better option…

  • Not a good day for Wilshere.. He missed some nice touch.. But I like the way he cut Fabregas.. Hehehe..

  • Oooohhh… Cesc flat ball is over holding but the tall guy whose name starts with a B misjudges too…

  • Cesc’s linedrive cross fools everyone– seemed to ‘knuckle’ (waver) from resistance.

    jw1

  • Holding, I meant…

    Down their end but Ozil’s loft can’t find Alexis… Bells loses it and it’s back down at our end…

    Ah geez… Bakayoko wins a FK…

  • It’s a bit close for an up and down and Marcos Alonso only does the up part… Row O or P maybe?…

  • Jack turns Cesc and eventually Ozil tries from distance and goes just wide… Cortois looked to have it covered…

    Alexis fouls Cesc (called) but they’re buddies and hug it out…

  • Bells does well and finds Xhaka but his blast is beaten at the point… Hoping for Cortois to do a Mingolet seems not the best idea, anyhow…

    Hazard just nips in on AMN to win a corner…taken short but we defend well enough after Hazard gets in the box but can only try to cross…

  • Ball more with Chelsea as halftime nears but we’ve forced the better goal-keeping…

    Yellow for Cesc after he got to the ball first… Jack was playing with fire there…

  • Last ditch tackle but perfectly executed by Chambers… Chavs win a corner but Holding clears… Ozil tries to break, looks fouled but gets no whistle… Hazard drops a nice one for Cesc top of the box but his curler is poor–wide and high…

  • Hazzard, Alonzo and Fabregas all playing from the left side.. Chambers really have a hard day..

  • That should do it for the half…

    Chavs shooting let them down…but we failed to beat Cortois so it’s all even… We maybe look more potent as they drop deep defending but they finished the half on top but for the woeful shooting… I’m not listening to the commentary but I’m guessing Dixon thinks Jack should be gone for that 2nd challenge on Cesc…

  • Boys played pretty well, but we are looking very amateur at the back. If it carries on like this, lcant see Chelsea not scoring. The question is can we get one as well. Really impressed by Maitland Niles he looks really good going forward

  • I cannot stand the US studio people but I guess I’ll listen to their “talking” points…

  • Enough chances that they didn’t focus on the two Jack-Cesc coming togethers… Some praise for Ozil but some anti-Chambo diagramming stuff…

    Is it too late for an espresso?… it would only be my 2nd of the day (plus sips off my wife’s, of course)… and two is my usual habit… Hmmm….

  • Missed the last few minutes of the half– but retsub– I felt our back line made few missteps. The one I mentioned where Hazard pulled-an-Alexis turning inside to a mass of bodies was fortuitous– but other than that– my ‘spider-senses’ rarely ‘tingled’.

    jw1

  • Maybe NBCSN will run one less commercial online and I’ll lose the 30sec delay?

    jw1

  • Not on the Morata 1v1, J-Dub? You are tougher than I am…

    Dammmmnnnn… That is one sweet ‘spresso I just pulled… Shorter is better… 🙂

  • I have to be honest, I didn’t expect us to d9minate the midfield as we have, when I saw them with 3 in midfield, but Ozil appears to be playing from the middle a bit more wchich has left Bellerin running the right side and given us a bit more control than they’ve had. Very open so far, but it must be said we’ve gifted them some very clear chances (they have had more clear chances than we have, even if Courtois has been worked harder).

    Not sure if we need to start thinking of a change now as I cannot think of who may come off. Chambers needs to have a word in his ears though. Two of the chances they have had were down to errors by Chambers. He is a good defender who needs to be told to keep it simple and he will be fine. There are times he just seems to find the need to do something expressive (like that pass across our box which could have easily been intercepted).

    I daresay Bellerin is playing well, maybe buoyed by the presence of Spain mates all over the field. Let’s hope we keep it going.

  • Let’s hope Wilshere find his way back.. Cause I don’t sure.. Will Wenger brave enough to change Wilshere with Elneny or Coquelin

  • Right HT– forgot that one.
    Though Morata doesn’t put the fear of Costa (or Drogba!) in me.
    Like a young giraffe– mostly graceful, but clumsy enough to think he’s not capable.

    jw1

  • A bit of pressing from the front but Marcos turns us… Eventually we cut out the cross and Laca is successful pressing Cesc who is seen moaning at Taylor… Nothing came of it, however…

  • Yeah, Morata seems a bigger threat with his head… And cool enough with loose balls in the box…

  • Anybody see possession stats for the first half?…

    Ooohh… Cech up to the Hazard shot and the header as the ball is turned back is also palmed behind…

  • AMN does and Alexis pull-back down the left but his cross is long for Alexis who is one of few who could actually reach it and get a hair to it…At least among guys under 6′

    Other end, AMN deflects a cross making it an easy grab for Cech…

  • OHHH…that looked like a goal… Cortois got to it with a foot after Laca turned and measured his shot is acres of space… Keepers earning their keep tonight…

  • It was nifty work and Laca’s attempt to re-find Ozil bounced PERFECTLY to set up the shot…

    Jack down, gets no call from Taylor…in what would’ve been a good spot for a lefty FK…

  • Great camera shot from behind Courtois– Laca had no choices as the GK made himself large off his line.

    jw1

  • Arsenal on the front foot and a long one to Bells is just tipped out for a corner…

    Replay shows the defender just (barely) got his toe to the ball before Jack…

  • That looked like a corner Xhaka had won… Call goes to Chavs…

    Hmmm… 2nd angle of replay makes a better case for Jack…

    Getting divey & tetchy out there, Mustafi getting the latest whistle…

  • Cech called into action on a loopy deflected cross… Up to it again, however, but Chelsea look encouraged… One goal might win this one tonight…

  • Some possession now and Ozil and Bellerin get into the box down our right… Out for a corner… Good delivery and it bounces around before being cleared. Other side, Alexis shoots into a defender and wins a 2nd… Which we also keep in… Some good crossing but eventually Chavs get a whistle… Not sure why on that one…

  • We come again but that pass was never gonna find Alexis…

    Oooooh Laca and Ozil 1-2 but the latter, Cortois bearing down tries to pass and its just cut out…

    THERE IT IS!!! THE GOLDEN CHILD!!!!

  • Placed perfectly on the high, near bar…where even Cortois (close to it) couldn’t stop it… Whattablast!! Holding tried to find him directly but Ozil ticked it into the shooting spot…

  • We’re coming now… Winning a corner off a Laca deflected shot… Cortois was down to it also…

  • The corner is bouncy but kept in…Until Alexis can’t quite do likewise at the end-line… Jumps the hoardings nicely, however…

    Chavs win a Pen… Replay is gonna be very, very close…

  • Looked a 50-50 with Hazard and Bellerin… Possible that Hector was just a hair late…

    Cech dives out of the way and Hazard buries it…

  • 1-1

    Hazard went down like he’d been shot… Personally, I don’t that should be rewarded, but that’s just me, you know, an Arsenal supporter…

  • Delicate work down our end by AMN to stop a Chav long bouncer…

    We’re trying but Chelsea are as buoyed by their goal as we were by ours…

    Chambers holds off Morata, who again can’t hit the target… Looked like it might be another 1 v 1 but Chambo did good work there…

  • Hey J-Dub… If you’re still on delay and prefer to be surprised, I can just watch… Lemme know…

    Kante deflected out for a Chelsea corner… which was poo…AMN heads into touch but there’s still danger and Marcos Alonso wins a FK… from a distance, however…

  • No HT. I’m just dismayed– not delayed.
    That we get called first. Then wondering what Bells was doing kicking iin toward Hazard’s frame/torso rather than playing positionally.

    jw1

  • AMN and Alexis can’t get through on the left but we build again… Laca can’t handle an Ozil pass but we survive some nice Hazard play which kept a Chav break alive, Cech grabbing the low cross in the end…

    Getting even more divey as the match rolls on…

  • Welbeck (maybe) getting prepped to come on…

    Marcos, with the worst dive yet, gets a “c’mon” look (why not a yellow?) from Taylor…

  • Can’t see Wenger making any changes, there’s not really anyone on the bench who can come on and win it, and these guys are going to have a few days off after tonight, I’d imagine…

    Not sure if Giroud and/or Ramsey will be fit for either of the next two games?

  • Alright, 80th minute… Chavs have been on top since the exchange of goals…

    Mustafi rides a tackle after breaking up a counter… Into touch and Lacazette comes off for Welbeck…

  • Listening 17tino….

    Went on Arsenalist to see the goal from the Golden Boy 😄
    And any other opportunities….

    Didn’t have the pen up yet. 😟

  • Neither team wants to lose this one, I don’t think…

    Morata called for undercutting to stop a potential counter…

    Pretty good cross from Go-to-fecking–Hell-erin…but it’s over Welbeck who can’t time his jump…

  • Welbs likes the idea of a long ball down the left but it’s well over-hit…

    Willian on…

    And Chelsea score…

    2-1

  • The funny thing is against ManU, Tottenham and now Chelsea we’ve been good, or at least better.
    It’s against the lesser teams that we’ve been pants…

    That’s it, goodnight nurse….

  • A Willian long ball to Drinkwater who turns on AMN and crosses to Marcos A running across the box…

    5 mins plus ET to try and get back level…

  • Is “goodnight nurse” something about we need a hearse in Cockney?

    We’re trying here but diagonal crosses aren’t finding targets… Still time…

  • Very poor attempt at a cross by Welbeck there… Out for a corner, however, I think…

    Last roll… Chambo off, Theo on…

  • The corner is cleared but we’re still coming… Mustafi shaped for a volley and it looked strong…but blocked off Cahill’s arm… That’s a handball at West Brom…

  • Mustafi volley’s off Cahill’s arm earlier?
    Mike Dean would given tha… oh, wait.

    jw1

  • 4 mins, ET

    Holding crushed but gets the whistle…

    Can’t fault the effort here and Alexis is almost able to turn and fire a loose one in the box…

  • It was Debuchy-esque quality!!

    BUT NOW WE ALMOST GIVE IT AWAY

    WTF!!!!

  • This is absurd and I will have to watch it again when the final whistle goes…

  • Finishes 2-2…

    WTF happened there after the goal… Morata 1v1 again rebuffed by Cech then Drinkwater off the cross-bar? Sleeping at the kick-off, perhaps…

  • Or was it ZappaCosta (who?) I think he was definitely the one who turned AMN for their 2nd…

  • The Go-to-hell-erin folks will just love the toe-poke penalty… but that was the finish of a guy who can get away with a man-bun….

  • Watching highlights.
    Why doesn’t Cech just stand still on pens? He would get the occasional block– no?

    jw1

  • I dunno, lotsa action in that match and a draw seems at least the right result… I saw Cortois play up close (in Spain, back in 2012) and he’s the real deal… Cech matched him, tonight, however, I think…

    Yeah, Morata not as strong untangling his legs after several good runs behind our back line…

  • HT– I whined loudest when pen was given earlier– but I do like Hector.
    And did see a replay that changed my view– literally. He was attempting to clear– not contest.

    jw1

  • Bellerin and Hazard side by side getting interviewed… Punch out the f**king divey guy, I say…

    Sorry fellas, I love the Bells… A little extra experience so he doesn’t stick a toe out in that spot can’t hurt… Still, a very soft pen, well sold by the I’ve been shot Hazard dive… At least he made amends with the strike… I know, I know… Not as good as Jackie’s but still not just total luck either…

  • Nice finish. I just caught the last 10 minutes.. Their second goal was poor defending by Holding, i think he should have cut out that cross. We still have a shot at top four. People saying Morata had lots of opportunities due to our poor defending, have to keep in mind 2 of our top 3 Cbs were out. But balls over the top, and not staying with Morata is kind of inexcusable for professional defenders.

  • Yeah, Cech doesn’t seem so good on Pens, JW… Despite winning a CL final that went to pens (though maybe he also lost one, but that might’ve been John Terry getting too many tears in his eyes before taking his)…

  • Seen the penalty, it was very harsh, I don’t think the challenge warranted Hazard throwing himself over, to me it was borderline simulation. Let’s be sure, Arsenal would never get a penalty like that at Anfield, Old Trafford, WHL etc.

  • That result–And I’m not one to rely completely on results as being the holy grail–was much needed and could be a turning point in terms of our belief being rewarded… Yes, there’s a lot to be cleaned up in our play–and points to be made up to finish where we want–but we should get some bodies back (and I’m craving a new one or two in the TW), but at least we stayed at it and got the point. It seems (to me) fully deserved as Chavs profligate shooting was mitigated by world class goal keeping…

    But, maybe I need to make room for the haters… near loss from a winning position, Bellerin’s strike doesn’t solve him being stupid, etc., etc., etc…

    I will say this… I’m sure glad Jack the Lad (stayed on and) got his goal…

  • Agreed J–
    Gary Cahill would have been horizontal– just for the sake of blocking a potential path.

    jw1

  • I’m totally agreed, Kev… People say things balance out… They don’t (though I’m still amazed by Rambo’s at Burnley)… TA’s told me not to generalize, but, since I’ve been watching Arsenal–only Gooners (and then just a portion of them/us) want to see us succeed, I think… Blame it on Arsene’s smug (always fit, great hair, OK teeth, too intellectual, etc., etc., etc…) demeanor, but it’s something all non-supporters seem to hate… And that trickles down to the refs, unfortunately… As does, most probably, IMO, a bit of oil and gas money…

    Ah well, whatchagonnadoaboutit?…

  • It was good we came back to two-two…says AW… That’s not something a real man would say…

    “You could give 10 penalties like that per game…” “It’s all opinions…” “When it is repeated it is not coincidence…” “Farcical.”

    Those are the words of a loser, right?… Better than the Moo-man saying, “I cannot comment, I cannot comment, I cannot comment,” IMO…

  • Yeah, I’m off too… And moving about quite a bit over the next few days… I think TA most certainly can get some positives out of this one… Hopefully I’ve got television for the FA Cup match on Sunday (I think I do)…

    Thanks JW for the in-match as well as some toes-in from others…

  • Watched the game in a pub without tv sound on. Bliss. A shame that Alexis and Laca did not take their chances in the first half, but the boys did us proud. Great goals by Hector and Jack. More tomorrow.

  • So our composed, reserved, studious, and respectful manager– who– is also to respond to standing charges by the FA by this Friday?

    Calls the decision on the Hazard penalty as given– ‘farcical’.
    Perfect choice of word.

    far·ci·cal
    ˈfärsək(ə)l adjective | of or resembling a farce, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects.
    “a farcical tangle of events”

    synonyms: ridiculous, preposterous, ludicrous, absurd, laughable, risible, nonsensical; senseless, pointless, useless; silly, foolish, idiotic, stupid, harebrained, cockamamie; informalcrazy, daft
    “the idea is farcical”

    madcap, zany, slapstick, comic, comical, clownish,
    amusing; hilarious, uproarious; informal, wacky
    “farcical goings-on”

    May his tirade continue. I would certainly do the same.
    If Arsene chooses presently to stride through the Gates of Hell?
    Rally the troops. Those bleeding Red & White will follow.

    jw1

  • Jw1, and you will see Gooners around the world making more noise than before and boycott PL matches. Sounds like anti-Gunners, but it is anti-Premier League.

    The refs are well known to go against us.

  • However, if Morata is more prolific in front of goal we would have lost. Similar scenario should have been seen for us, as we had chances that went awol from the net.

    So, I see it as 4 points lost in the past 2 matches and the gap between us and the top 4 is opening up. Grrrr…

    And to 17ht, it does not seem like you to criticise Le Prof like that. Surely refs are against us, so it is normal for him to rant. And its not just a few games….

  • JK.. It is not the referee against us.. It’s FA against us.. Hehehe..

    Ozil playing well last night.. Maybe because he get more rest.. If only some others players also did.. And Koscielny is around.. We can win this game..

    And yes we are so lucky for 3 times Morata chances.. What a bad luck for him.. Or is he really bad..?? Hehehe..

    Maybe we must search for a taller GK like Courtois.. Hehehe.. He so extraordinary.. As great as DeGea..

  • I hear you Ko Henry. We were lucky not to concede more. Look at the space that Morata has been offered by our defenders.

    Our first signing of the winter window seems like a non-signing at all.
    We needed good backups but we got a youngster which we are loaning to Werder Bremen.

    You can do much better than that Le Prof.

  • I had to stop watching the game just as the 2nd half started (had to go pick a family visiting from the UK, from the train station after they called to let me know they were early) and so, haven’t even seen the rest of the game. I am glad we have not lost and feel the media and pundits need to realize we seem to have Chelsea’s number now.

    Will comment more after seeing the rest of the game.

    Good job, as always, 17ht. I’ve been able to get a sense as to how things transpired. 👍🏽

  • Anybody know what really happened with our new signing.. Mavropanos.. I like that name.. Hehehe..
    Is it the permit..??

  • Just read on Espnfc that Hazard will not be referred to the FA for diving to win the penalty, but to hell with the FA, if that was not a clear dive and trying to deceive the ref then what is it?

    More Gooners should try to get at FA. Utter rubbish the FA.

  • Maybe the press in England will modify their view if Belgium play England in the WC and Hazard dives to earn them the winner.
    What delicious irony that would be…

  • What? Eden Hazard lives?!
    Was certain a snipers round found his lower-leg at approx 9:20pm GMT.

    Perhaps our defenders ought start carrying tasers. For better (self-)defense.
    Also, then there could be immediate punishment for diving. And yes, probably for the tasering.

    jw1

  • That will be just crazy, jw1. I wouldn’t wish to be caught dead in such a game. 😎

  • I thought that was a cracking game of soccer and befitting of a London derby. I feel we could have won that but for the injuries to our key defenders in Koscielny, Monreal and Kolasinac. The players looked up for it, though Chambers was guilty of giving away too many opportunities (for one game) for them to score; good thing Morata forgot his shooting boots at home. Credit to the players for coming back from the dead, with such little time left. Had that been Arsenal conceding so late, everyone will be writing/saying how fragile we are at the back and how we can’t hold on to a lead. But, it’s happened to Chelsea and all is well.

    Special mention for Bellerin. That must have been his best game in a while; he took his chance at redemption very well too because that wasn’t a shot taken in hope. He has guided that into the one area Courtois wasn’t going to reach it. Ozil was immense as well. I think we should have had Welbeck in a bit earlier, but as usual, there will be groans about how Wenger subs Lacazette at the 70th minute. Anyone could see he’d worked his socks off and won’t be so useful when we needed to bombard their area, aerially. Alexis has also shown fight while AMN was very effective down that right side, despite being beaten for the cross which led to Chelsea’s second. I will rather question the positioning of the CBs for that goal. It was clear the wing back was beaten and a cross coming. Holding should be taken a position along the potential line of the cross, but he was caught too close to the edge of the 6 yard box instead of deeper.
    We have to work our way up the table. It will be slow and arduous but we should still make top 4.

  • Mike Dean has been rewarded for his error at the Hawthorns with a centre role in the other London derby tonight, at Wembley. Shameful!

  • Wow! That was a rocket launched by Oblang to put west ham ahead in Wembley, and with West ham’s first shot on goal.

  • And Son responds with a rocket/curler of his own. 1-1. You’d expect spurs to go on and win it now.m

  • To be fair, there was a shout for a foul at the other end when Lanzini was hacked to be dispossessed.

  • TA, I saw that piece in the Guardian earlier and my reaction is So what, if the Manager points out refereeing errors which go against him? Who else will do that for him? For me, it can work for the team if they take it as a “backs against the wall” situation and fight back each game. It also helps our defenders know they can’t afford to make errors or get too touch tight on opposition players because the refs will give something against us.

    Coming so soon after the WBA call, I can understand the manager’s angst. If that Bellerin incident had taken place in the middle of the pitch, the Ref won’t be giving a foul; it’s almost as if he was just looking for something to give at that point. Bellerin’s touch wasn’t enough to cause Hazard to go Dow; as he has so, clearly, he was trying to fool the Ref into calling it. Today, a similar penalty shout was evident (Winston Reid on Alli) which (shock, horror) Dean didn’t give. There needs to be some consistency!

    I think Wenger is dying to make his case to the FA, even if he knows he is bound to get a long stadium ban or at least, a long touchline ban. Let’s see how that goes.

  • Sorry Eris but that does not wash with me. Wenger is handling this very badly and I reckon we got that pen against us yesterday because of his over the top response to the WB penalty. There is a time, place and way to address these bad refereeing decisions and Arsene is making a mess of it imo.

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