Can't help but think it's a big advantage having a 6 day break between games at this time of year tbh.

At least we're actually a London club and Charlton went professional after we moved!

Have done this stats comparison between Wilshere and Arteta on this seasons stats. Some of the stats are very interesting and I wonder if they are what you think they would be. For example, for Arteta to be so high in the fouls conceded, tackles and interceptions categories is surprising.

If we bought in Fellaini in January, where would he play for us? Would we bring him in at DM as the number 6 or would he play up front for us? Or would we put him in the number 10 role and move Santi wide? Decisions, decisions!!

http://jakecohen92.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/stats-comparison-mikel-arteta-vs-jack-wilshere/

Unless of course we get FA Cup replays throughout Jan/Feb before CL comes back then fittingin the WHU game becomes problematic.

Specifically for this match though, on the back of Newcastle's last ditch loss hopefully we can get at them early and our freshness should get us the 3pts... if so that's a legitimate 'Winning Streak' - haven't seen one of them associated with the club for a long time!

Always love seeing Titi back at the club, even if it is just for training



Edited by sydneycroatia58: 29/12/2012 12:06:57 AM

Paraphrasing the latest from Arsene: "If you ask me about specific players, I have no problem lying to you."

Bringing back Thierry on loan is just a cop out really, let's get Demba Ba or even David Villa- they appear to be the most likely transfers right now. The above was pretty much what Wenger said in relation to Demba Ba when he was "ruling him out" according to the BBC. Didn't sound like it to me...

Yeah Ba and Villa seem the most solid rumours going around at the moment. When asked about any interest in Villa Arsene said something along the lines of "any interest we have in players has to be kept secret".

Also the trusty old M'Vila rumours popped up last night :lol:

M'Vila is definitely the new Hazard for us, we'll be linked with him every window until he moves to another club :lol:

Apparently M'Vila is available for 8m at the moment. Incredible just how far he's fallen in the last year or so, doesn't seem like any club wants to go near him.

Evident attitude problems are probably the main reason. Although I can see Wenger "fixing" his attitude if he comes to us. Would be more in the 10-13million range imo.

If we do get him at least we won't have to worry about him being injured on international duty considering he's banned until 2014 :lol:

Just wow. Don't really have any words to describe that match, just unbelievable. Theo fucking Walcott, sign him the fuck up, give him whatever he wants.

Also gotta say, although he was overshadowed by Theo's hat-trick, Giroud was fucking incredible when he came on. Causing problems all over the place and what a brace he had, that 2nd goal was just phwoar. Devo he couldn't get his hat-trick.

Only real downside was Gibbs' 2 massive lapses in concentration but ohwell, can't be to upset with a 7-3 win.

Who says we need a striker in January again?

Brilliant hat trick from Theo Walcott, That third one would have been one of Messi's better goals. Theo MOTM for sure. Giroud with a nice double too and should have had a third.

Poor defending from Newcastle though..... and us.

Crazy game.

I also never thought I'd see it again after 5-3 at the Bridge last season, but Theo did 'The Walcott' again :lol: Except this time he was fouled and didn't just trip over his own feet, but how about the awareness to get up and keep going, didn't even bother appealing for the penalty.

Also think that in the last 20 minutes we saw just how big an advantage we had with the 6 day break between games.

Life without Van Persie, in terms of goals, after everyone said we'd struggle isn't to bad. Last season after 19 games we'd scored 35 goals, this season after 19 games we have 39 goals.

Strange thing is, it didn't really feel like that sort of game. It just sort of happened out of no where.

Yep was really out of the blue. Think a lot of it had to do with the fresher legs we had after having a 6 day break. Also loved the way we didn't just sit back and hold at 5-3.

Theo Walcott: 6 shots, 4 shots on target, 3 goals, 2 key passes, 2 assists. Clinical

How many of Van Persie's goals won us a tight game?

Also: FUCKING GET IN

Need to give him a contract ASAP.

<3

It's interesting when you compare where we were after 19 games last season compared to this season.

We are 3 points worse off(33 this year to 36 last year), but we've scored more goals, conceded less(21 to 26), lost less games (4 this season to 5 last) and a better GD (18 compared to 9 last season)

So really, not all that bad going into the new year. Only United have scored more goals than us and only Chelsea, Stoke and City have conceded less.

"The Theo"

Apart from nearly two months of awful performances? This is the first game we've won on merit for a while and defensively we were still poor. The "we scored more goals" stat is a little daft considering we just scored seven and the conceded stat is also silly considering we conceded eight in one game last year. Don't forget last season's awful start and the transfers which appeared to plug our bad form. Even if we are marginally worse then last season- last season wasn't good enough for Arsenal and we only snapped a champions league spot thanks to Ben Foster.

I'm enjoying this win as much as the next gooner but this is still our worst league start for a very long time and transfers still have to be made.

I'm somewhat fearful that the euphoria surrounding this win will dictate our spending (or lack of it) in January.

Best thing Gibbs did all game.

Look, I'm not saying it's all rosy, far from it and we are nowhere near where we want to and ought to be. All I'm saying is that it's not THAT bad really. I mean, put the performances out of the equation for a minute, if I told you that after selling Van Persie and after 19 games we'd have scored more goals than last season at the same stage and would have the 2nd best attack and 3rd best defence in the league you'd be pretty happy with that.


I don't think this result will dictate our spending, as much as some people like to act as if he's stupid and doesn't know what this team needs, Arsene knows what we need, and he will be going out for it. He won't just be buying for the sack of buying, it's January, he's not going to be buying someone unless they can come in and do a job in the PL right away, that's why we're so interested in Ba, and I dare say his performance last night would've piqued Arsene's interest if it hadn't already been.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 30/12/2012 04:56:31 PM

The most pleasing thing about that whole goal was not the ridiculous run or the great finish, bit the way even after he was fouled he didn't go down and appeal he saw the ball was still up for grabs and got straight back up, scoring his hat-trick was the only thing on his mind. If you ever needed any proof for whether Theo has what it takes to play upfront that moment right there is it.

Speaking of Theo upfront, am I the only one who would salivate at the chance to see Theo and Giroud upfront. They would cause some insane problems for defenses.

Well that and his assist for Theo's 2nd. Wasn't a great night for Gibbo :lol: