I think that should really end the argument tbh. But of course there will be people who will come out and say "Oh he's just been told to say that".

Can't blame them. Did Ox know he had the claf injury? :d

I think it's mighty impressive he managed to make an excellent run and then play in RVP with this 'Calf Injury'.

What's also interesting, and I'm not saying this means anything, but this is the 2nd time this season that Ox has set up a goal just before being subbed. Happened in another game this season where the sub was on the sideline waiting and Ox set up a goal, and happened again this weekend where Arshavin was on the sideline kitted up for a full 2 minutes before the goal. Indirect Arsene assist :lol:

As for the calf injury, Ox was holding his leg and did signal to the bench, and that's when Arshavin was told to get ready. And that's from someone who sits right behind the dugout.

Bacary has returned to full training with the 1st team which is great news. Hopefully it won't be too long before we see him and Jack playing again. Will be a massive boost when they come back.

what ?sanga the mystical fullback we hear about:lol:

This may sound crazy but if he is out for the season, it could actually be a positive for us. Why?

-ATM, We need all the points we can get. When Wilshere had of returned, who knows how long it would of taken him to get back into the swing of things?
- He may miss the Euros. Gives him a full pre season with us, and after Last season when he played a ridiculous amount of games, with a solid preseason, he could come back raring to go.

Agreed with the above. Althoguh I wouldve prefered him back and it is a blow. Although as I've said before, the club needs to look into the fitness training/ trainers at the club, also thed doctors. The injuries and set backs we get are always the same and its rediculous!

Fair points but no. Just no. We quite simply need him back, even at half strength. As well as Bacary back and everyone else fit and playing well to do anything for the rest of the season.

I just gained an incredible amount of respect for Arsene. Can now see why Fab regards him so highly as a "father".

Edited by jlm8695: 29/1/2012 11:28:53 PM

Starting XI v Villa - Fabianski, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Rosicky, Ramsey, Ox-Chamberlain, van Persie, Walcott.

Bench - Szczesny, Sagna, Arteta, Benayoun, Arshavin, Park, Henry.

Now that is a strong bench, by far our strongest of the season.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 30/1/2012 02:13:27 AM

So if we get past Villa tonight we have either Sunderland or Boro away.

Ffs,.ht 2_0 down. Where playing alright though. So fucking frustrating

:lol: I can't believe there are actually people blaming Fabianski for both goals. Hilarious the lengths some people will go to criticise a player

Scintillating stuff, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead within 7 minutes, brilliant!
What about those substitutions!? Great to see Arteta and Sagna back, things are looking up
:d
Can't wait for the next round where we (hopefully) face Scotty Mac and Rhysy Williams' Boro

Edited by sanga1: 30/1/2012 05:21:06 AM

If this was last season, we'd have lost 4-0.

Great stuff, but Flappyhandski is still flappyhandski; he didn't look comfortable at all sydcro.

Walcott is such an enigma, he's shite for a month then all of a sudden he does very well. Seemed like he was on the ball regularly, made a nightmare of it for Warnock. Hopefully the threat of the OX, who was fantastic again, keeps him on his toes.

Tbf to Lukasz, the only time he looked uncomfortable was where Bent almost scored, but apart from that dealt with everything he had to very well.

As for Walcott, hopefully more of last night to come from him.

Chamberlain was excellent once again, but I think our MOTM has to be Rosicky. He was just sensational in the middle. He's really stepped it up recently with Arteta out.

Koscielny was an absolute monster once again. The man just goes from strength to strength.

Also one thing I just don't get, is the booing at HT. I mean we played well in the first half and were just undone by 2 defensive mistakes and some brilliant finishing by Bent. Hardly a reason to boo. I just don't see the point. Boo all you want after the match, but don't boo at HT when there's still 45 mins to turn things around ffs.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 30/1/2012 01:30:57 PM

Arsene has announced that it is likely that Ryo Miyaichi will join an English club on loan before the end of the window.

Looks like there may be some good news regarding Jack's setback. Apparently it's not as serious as first feared when it was reported he would miss the rest of the season. Nothing definitive yet, but the fact that he's not wearing a protective boot, or on crutches can only be a good thing.

I thought Fab was quite solid. coming off his line, punching the ball and catching the ball he was good and he didnt really have any shots to stop.

Ramsey MOTM for me. Took the game by the scruff of its neck after half time, and made a difference.

RVP could be in trouble for an elbow on Cuellar. Just watched the video, its pretty clear. As clear as Lescott's..... but he didn't get banned because they nabbed Balotelli. Will be interesting.

:lol: It's totally different from Lescott's. For one it wasn't deliberate. RvP looks back to see where Cuellar is, Cuellar then starts to bend over, after RvP has looked away, to jump for the ball and that's where the elbow happens. Nothing in it. The only reason the elbow happens is because Cuellar bends over, which RvP doesn't even see. Totally different to Lescott where he had eyes on the player the whole time and thrust his elbow up into the guys throat.

Also a big well done to Alex McLeish for proving just how much of a twat he is :lol:

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 31/1/2012 10:23:10 AM

If the ref saw it then it was a red, seen it so so many times.

Well the referee did see it, decided not to give anything, which is why no action is being taken.

I just think it's a bit rich for McLeish to be moaning about refereeing consistency, especially when he should be counting his lucky stars that Richard Dunne even stayed on the pitch.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 31/1/2012 10:58:03 AM

So we have (apparently) signed a talented 19 year old youngster from Dortmund.

No, not that one, a young player by the name of Thomas Eisfeld. An attacking midfielder who leads Dortmunds under 23 scoring charts with 6 in 13. Did his knee pretty seriously 2 years ago, so is undergoing an extensive medical.

Hopefully he turns out to be a star, but at only 600k, we could at the very least make a substantial profit on him.

Edited by jlm8695: 31/1/2012 03:03:46 PM

Yeah saw that one, also some murmurs about us signing another young German in Lewis Holtby. Great young talent and would be an excellent addition to the midfield.

Havent seen the rumours about Holtby. If true Holtby would make the AMC position his own. A phenomenal talent (Is also pretty good in Football Manager ;) ) Another young German we've been linked to is Julian Draxler, another exceptional talent from Schalke.

We've been linked to a shitload of players in Germany recently. Podolski, Gotze, Draxler, Holtby and add Mertesacker to that list. I mean it's no surprise, Arsene has always loved the Bundesliga and German Football in general.