Another weekend, another change in mentality of Arsenal fans once again. From delirium to despair to delight to devastation, a huge amount of Gooners have been acting like a teenage girl on their period recently. Sort it out.
To action on the field, and my heart rate has just about returned to normal after Olivier Giroud broke the crossbar in half with a stoppage-time bullet yesterday. What a pulsating game that was; horrible if you supported either of the two clubs, but wonderful for the neutral.
Speaking of ups and downs, it’s been a while since we’ve gone from the verge of winning the match, to inches from losing it and back on the offensive again, such were the scenes in the final 10 minutes of our 1-1 draw with Everton. I’m not sure that it has done any good for the life expectancy of any Gooners or Toffees, but it was gripping to say the least.
Having started the week four points clear of the chasing pack, a comfortable 2-0 win at the Emirates over Hull City in midweek, coupled with yesterday’s stalemate in North London, has seen us extend that lead to five points with well over a third of the season gone.
Yet despite this, a lot of fans have still found it necessary to moan, cry and even declare ludicrous action such as below an absolute must.
#WengerOUT we will lose both games against Man City and Chelsea and we won’t win the league
— Sacha C Wild (@Swinestar96) December 8, 2013
If we can’t beat fucking Everton then how the fuck do people think we stand a chance against Man City and Chelsea
— Sacha C Wild (@Swinestar96) December 8, 2013
We had a chance to get out of sight and 7 points clear, again Wenger doesn’t want that. Exactly why he doesn’t deserve a new contract
— Sacha C Wild (@Swinestar96) December 8, 2013
That’s just a sample of some of the things that were being said by certain pessimists after the match, which is just mind boggling. I mean some of the points made above explains why we should be feeling good about ourselves.
“WE’RE FIVE POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE WHEN EVERYONE DOUBTED US TO MAKE THE TOP FOUR YET AGAIN, LET’S SACK THE MANAGER!”
Fucking hell, get a grip you short-sighted haters and actually support the club and get behind them.
Below are two Tweets from one of my best mates; a Plymouth Argyle fan as well as an not-so-secretive closet Manchester United fan. He pretty much hits the nail on the heads in reference to some sections of our “support”.
Arsenal fans are truly awful
— Tom Veitch (@tom_veitch) December 8, 2013
They draw to Everton, who are a top team, and all they do is moan! You are 5 points clear at the top of the EPL
— Tom Veitch (@tom_veitch) December 8, 2013
We have a really tough month ahead right up until the moment when Arsenal v Cardiff hits us on New Year’s Day. Anyway, on with the show.
[heading]Gunners Town Top 5: Talking Points of the Week[/heading]1. Rotation, Rotation, Rotation
We’re finally starting to get back to having a fully-fit squad and it’s making for some nice reading every time the team sheets are sent to the press. We rested several players for the game against Hull amid a tough run of fixtures on Wednesday but still came through the 90 minutes with a comfortable 2-0 win that saw a NICKLAS BENDTNER GOAL!
While it didn’t result in our rested players getting us all three points against Everton on Sunday, I thought the squad for the game did look a lot more positive compared to how it did in the opening month of the season. This was our bench for yesterday’s clash:
Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner
Now that’s a lot more like it if you ask me. The fact that when Bacary Sagna is fit again, you can add Carl Jenkinson to that, as well as Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is exciting. Abou Diaby and Yaya Sanogo are a bit too long-term with their problems to warrant putting them in that bracket, but the likes of Serge Gnabry I’m sure would have something to say about their exclusion from the squad.
Nonetheless, players are coming back, and that is only going to help us in the midst of a busy Christmas schedule of live football.
2. A case for the defence
I know we conceded yesterday, but I thought our defence was brilliant again. The talk of half time was that Everton had bossed us for the opening 40 minutes of the game, yet they barely came close to going ahead.
They had a hell of a lot of attacking possession, but they frequently failed to penetrate through our solid defence with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny in particular proving why they are among the best in Europe right now.
I’m a big fan of Romelu Lukaku and know that he will be one of the world’s best strikers one day if he carries on the same path that he is currently treading, but he failed to get a sniff of the action for the majority of the clash. I lost count of the amount of times I witnessed the BFG cut off the Belgian with a vital interception, or Koz come out on top in a duel with the big man.
I don’t think there was too much Wojciech Szczesny could do about the equaliser. It was hit ever so well and soon by Gerard Deloufeu that no keeper would have been able to keep that out. Plus Woj had made some cracking saves over the course of the match, so it would be very harsh to pin the blame on him.
Still, it was just the one goal we conceded against an Everton side that went into the match of the back of winning at Old Trafford, smashing four past Stoke City as well as finding the back of the net three times against Liverpool.
Kieran Gibbs was his usual self, while Jenkinson capped a good week of personal performances for him with another good display. Kudos to the kids, and a pat on the back for our defence once again.
3. It could be worse…
If you felt like crying after drawing with Everton, keep in mind that it could be far worse. I don’t like to laugh at United, because it may come back to bite us in the arse, but at least the week didn’t look like this for us.
Wednesday:
Saturday:
I think United’s season so far just goes to prove how good Sir Alex Ferguson was and how much he got out of a squad that was far from their best ever. They eased to the title last year, yet they are now 13 points behind us in December.
In a week where we’ve picked up four points out of six, they’ve accumulated zero, having lost 1-0 to Everton, before suffering another defeat by the same scoreline to Newcastle; both at home.
So yes Gooners, it could be worse. A lot worse.
4. Nobody is safe
In case you missed it, we extended our lead over the weekend, although you wouldn’t think it given the fallout on Twitter and what not.
Nobody is invincible in this division, even though Manchester City and Chelsea are being built up to be just that when being compared to us. They’re both superb teams, but that doesn’t mean that they will never be topped. I mean look how unpredictable the Premier League has been this season, and I don’t expect many had predicted these results on Saturday.
Stoke 3-2 Chelsea
Southampton 1-1 Manchester City
Arsenal fans would be demanding victories in those games, so it just goes to show that we’re not oceans behind the “Big Two” as some are making out.
5 .FIVE. FIVE. FIVE. FIVE. FIVE.
Sometimes, a picture is worth more than 1,000 words.
Have a good week.
Never forget that you’re a Gooner.
Matt Cotton
Matt has been the editor of the site since June 2012 and was born into a Gooner family 21 years ago. He recently graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sports Journalism and strives to work in the Sports Media industry. As well as currently working as a reporter for Sports Mole and TIBS News, Matt has been providing football commentary for the visually impaired since 2008 at Arsenal, Exeter City and Wembley.
 
His earliest Gunners memory is watching the ‘Boring, boring Arsenal’ VHS as a six-year-old on repeat, to the extent where he could recite most of the commentary from that season. Matt was lucky enough to witness Arsenal lift the Premier League in 2002 as well as being present during the last match at Highbury in 2006, and at Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial a few months later at the Emirates Stadium. Matt’s favourite players include Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Tony Adams, with the 5-3 comeback victory against Middlesbrough in 2004 the best match he has ever spectated.
 
Matt is an optimistic ’In Wenger we trust’, kind of guy and believes that the glory days are not too far away…
 
Apart from his editorial duties, Matt will also be bringing his Arsenal knowledge to a column called “Where Are They Now?” – which focuses on former Gunners.
Yes, because one idiotic kid on Twitter is definitely an accurate representation of the entire Arsenal fan base. It’s not even abuse as your headline claims, just idiocy. Another site to add to my NewsNow ignore list.
With all due respect, I clearly state that it was just an example of the kind of thing that was said, by certain sections. There was a lot nicer as well as a hell of a lot nastier. Nobody expects an entire Twitter timeline to be posted.
To be honest smudger there is more than one person out there earlier today another blog just arsenal news ran similar rant that we can’t win anything if we can’t beat Everton. The truth is it was an entertaining game and hats off to Everton they have been the best team we have played so far this season. Now on to the city came at moment city are averaging 2.85 goals a game slightly higher at 3.25 at home I think and we are averaging 2.18 a game now when I did stats check city were at 1.01 a game to concede goals we conceded every 0.71 games so a draw is probable but I’m more of an optimist and think we will win it 2-1 and as for Chelsea match well Wenger has to eventually get one over moaning Jose. Napoli next and to be honest I would love to see a whole raft of changes and rest the big boys for the premier league sat we don’t need to chase game we can afford to sit back and conure for that reason I would have gnarbry and Walcott on pitch gnarbry in am role I would put Gibbs as lw and Monreal lb move tv5 into holding midfield role to rest arteta or flamini put rosicky in and have bendtner as a starter to rest giroud. A risky move I know but Napoli won’t put three past us and once you get out to knockout phases you have to beat the best teams in Europe anyway and there are no easy games so finishing first or second is irrelevant in group stages.but Wenger will not do that so the team is likely to be 1. Chezza 2. Sagna 3. Merit slacker 4. Kos 5. Gibbs arteta flamini Ramsey Ozil cazorla giroud as first 11.
That s s guy is anti arsenal but case
9 years of failure and selling our best players, Wenger Out!
So- a manure supporting friend tells you Arsenal fans are awful- and you generalise with him- instead of reminding him there arer manure muppets all over the net calling for their managers head after 10 games.
Every club has muppet fans. How dare you
You’re completely missing my point. Of course you get muppet fans everywhere, but I was merely stating that my friend has a point when stating that we should all be happy with the position we’re in. I never said that the ENTIRE set of supporters were awful.
The abuse is because expectations have risen.The fans based
on current expections for the gunners to finish top of the tree.It is natural.
That is why the gunners are in a strong position.
If Wenger gets it right,Arsenal will win the epl.
In contrast,MU have struggled, Having been so dominant the last five years,
they are struggling.Imho,This is inevitable.All good things must come to an end.
All empires have their day.
Matt, totally agree and let’s not forget Piers (I love to publically shame) Morgan who, at 6.30 in the evening post-match, tweeted that Giroud was clumsy! Yet Giroud’s work rate and stats were phenomenal on Sunday.
Give me strength! If someone had told me at the beginning of the season that by Xmas (or nearly Xmas) we would be sitting top of the league with 5 clear points, I would have taken that result straight away and signed Wenger up for another 4 years. Yet there are some muppets who still declare ”Wenger out!” Tools.
What a rubbish headline. You quote 3 tweets, all from the same person. At least try to get them from 3 different people to have some credibility. I came to this article after seeing the website name on newsnow, as most arsenal blogs I’ve been to have sensible posts that have some common sense, not Daily Mail-esque rubbish headlines screaming for attention.
I’m actually never this rude to any writer, but your article just put me completely off. As someone else said, another site on newsnow added to my ignore list.
Cheers.
As I stated before, I clearly state that it was just an example of the kind of thing that was said, by certain sections of our fans, which is embarrassing. I’m merely trying to put a positive spin on our current situation which some people seem to be finding hard to do. We’re in our best league situation since we last won it, yet people aren’t happy.
While it’s nice to be 5 clear, it could have been more, what’s wrong with wanting more, why settle for less, that’s why Everton scored, 1-1 is acceptable, well if you want to win the title it’s not acceptable, Arsenal defended their goal for 80 minutes, why could these idiots not defend for another 10 minutes, Arsenal led 4-2 against Spurs in injury time, final score 4-4, Arsenal led Newcastle 4-0 at half time, final score 4-4, Wenger should get stuck into the players and say, we are at home we are up 1-0 at home, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, we threw away 2 points, we didn’t gain a point
United are getting beaten by bums, Arsenal were flying, yet we could not beat United, we should have spanked them, but Arsenal are afraid of United, they shit themselves, threw away 3 points, at worst it should have been a draw
Christ make a statement, shut out Everton, defend for your lives for 10 lousy minutes, we don’t need any more goals we have one, play 10 men behind the ball, win the fucking game
Wenger has them trying to make it 2-0, he doesn’t have a clue, these players are not mentally tough, they are brittle
This club has had a history of conceding late goals for the last 8 years, they cannot see out a tight tough game
I don’t care we are top, that is a combination of good draw and 3 top clubs under performing, Chelsea have conceded more goals than the whole of 2004-05 season, City can’t win away from home, United have lost 5 games already, City 4, that my friend is why we are top, and it is good, but it has not much to do with Wenger
And another thing Wenger did not buy Ozil, Chips Keswick insisted Wenger buy him on the last day of the window, as an afterthought, Ozil is a Keswick signing, not a Wenger one, Wenger and Gazidis’s business in the summer was Sanogo and Flamini on a free, they sold Mannone and Gervinho for 10 million and got two players in return for nothing
Wenger went into a season with one recognised striker, Giroud, great planning, what a tool, AFC had 150 million quid in the bank, Wenger has never bought anyone for more than 10-16 million, never in 30 years of management, what makes you think he would spend 42.5 million on Ozil, he wouldn’t, and didn’t, the fans would have shredded the Emirates, no money spent, the fans anger pouring over, because of no new signings, except two freebies, Wenger style, he hates spending, in steps the new Chairman, list Wenger we have 150 million, bid for Suarez, Wenger says, I’m not buying him, the manager telling the Chairman what he is doing, so after the pressure ,Wenger bids 30 million begrudgingly, Liverpool ask what are they smoking at the Emirates, the bid is turned down, Wenger hears about a buy out clause, so he is told again to make a bid, 40 million and 1 pound, turned down again
they guy is worth 50 million, Wenger knows it will be turned down. AND HE’S GLAD IT WAS, he has done his business, Sanogo and Flamini
And so, to the last day of the transfer window, still nothing, the fans going berserk, spend some fucking money they cry, Wenger tells them to get fucked I done my business
Chips steps in like a good Chairman and tells stupid Buy OZIL otherwise there will be revolution at this club you dumb French motherfucker
Wenger is sick in the stomach, 42.5 million pounds is not his way, not his style ,never was, but we got Mesut luckily, on the last day of the transfer window
What manager, with 100 million quid cash in the bank goes into a new season with one striker, Wenger tried to loan Ba, but guts ache Mourinho would not allow it
What planning is that, Wenger gets 7.5 million a year, and he can’t do simple transfers in the 3 months alloted
This is an incompetent manager, a man who thinks 4th is a trophy, yes we are top, no thanks to Arsene, he is busy floating around the fucking twilight zone, 3 new managers at City Chelsea and United, that’s why AFC sit atop the league
I for one cannot wait for him to go, 8 years is long enough, his goal is to finish in the top 4, thats the limit of this mans ambition
Neil- I didn’t even read most of either of your posts- because it became apparent so quickly that you are talking through your hole- how are you so ITK? How do you know Chips insisted we sign Ozil. Whe people on the net make statements like that- it proves you are full of shit
Niel save yourself the embarrassment and shut the fck up. Hate fans like you that always look for the negative no matter what. I bet even if we win the treble this season you will moan about us getting knocked out early in the carling up.
Neil who the f is Chips Keswick?
Ozil himself said that Wenger rang him and persuaded him to come to Arsenal. Why is everyone lying? To protect SuperChip’s secret identity?
I agree with the article. Their are a lot of Arsenal fans being idiots about this. We are going to lose and draw games this season and this was an Everton team on top form.
The team played well, credit to them, and us, and move on. Get your mummies to put your toys back in the pram.
The comments on this article confirms my beliefs about the majority of footie fans… They have more emotions, passions than
Logic.
Logic says arsenal fans should be grateful of the current situation but they are not and some are guided by the media rather than their brains
That’s my point. Too many are completely missing my point and trying to put everyone in the same box.
Get a life I am a 34 year gooner from dublin now living in Paris.. wenger is correctly admired here as his 17 years is respected world wide …. it is uneducated verbally vile that shows your uneducated views. .
oh and I also played professionally for 8 years… try getting in a tram you plonker….. gooner for ever…rsin or shine…