Chelsea 3 – Arsenal 5: Madness, Absolute Madness

last thing, Wenger got his attacking tactics absolutely spot on.  I was wondering if the German coach was in London to tell Wenger how to abuse center backs that lack pace.  It seemed to me that RVP was pulling either deep or wide and allowing the wingers to run at Ivanovic and Terry to great effect.  

Both Santos and Djourou lack the pace to effectively shut down pacey wing backs/wingers when Arsenal play a high defensive line.  If they want to limit this as an outlet they need to close the space more in midfield or position the wingers deeper.   This was a tactical gamble by Wenger (which he corrected after taking the lead in the second half) and it went largely unpunished as the goals came from mistakes by BFG not from Chelsea exploiting this space.

Djourou improved his positioning and didn't get burned again, but Santos was having a terrible time with a wasteful Sturridge.  Santos is fantastic going forward, but he is a defensive liability because of his lack of pace.

great analysis of the game here, both in the write up and comments. 

I wanted to make a case for a much higher rating for Koscielny, who had an incredible game.  I think a compelling case can be made for him having a MOTM performance.  He intercepted a cross from Cole to Torres that would have scored, as well as covered back with his great pace to make Sturridge hold the ball too long on another cross.  In my mind he saved two early goals that would have put the game out of sight.

Secondly, he absolutely owned Fernando Torres throughout the game.  Torres has been on a good run of form, but i can't think of a moment when he looked dangerous.  
Kos has put together quite a few dominant games.  His timing and feel for the game is growing and he is looking like another excellent buy from Wenger.

Not being a party pooper or discrediting our team's brilliant performance, but would we have won the game if Drogba was playing?

 when was the last time he scored against us, he is having a horrible season just as Torres and i think he would not even have started that game since he is Torres sub

The homey bandwagon is empty now. So sad...

I'm thrilled about the win.  But let's remember that we're still behind Spurs, behind Newcastle, and currently out of a Europe spot.  Not being pessimistic, just think that its too premature to refer to any bandwagon (positive or negative) as dead.

How many times  in the past 6 years (an obviously random generated number) have we played a great game in a top game only to end up with empty hands at the final whistle? More than enough.
And the critical part of the fans went out and said that playing pretty doesn’t count if you cannot win the game. Maybe even a fair point of view. But I must say that I always have liked the past 6 years because we always played to win. In almost each and every game (I know there have been a few exceptions but I can only count them on the fingers of one hand) we went out and played our own game. Based on skill and technical ability. We just tried to score more goals than the opposition.
And sometimes when we didn’t score enough or things just didn’t work on the day we got punished for our open football. With losing two of the best players and the problems at the start of the season we have been working on a new Arsenal. Today was, as Wenger pointed out, the first real test in a real top game for this new build Arsenal team. A team that has only started on September 1st.
Now we are 2 months further and what do we have? The new players are coming in the team and are showing what they are capable of.  I said in an article this week that I noticed that the team was willing to work real hard. Maybe in a way that we haven’t seen in the last seasons.  Maybe the way the players are showing their hunger and desire to win each game is the main difference between now and the seasons before.
Maybe in the last seasons the team was relying on the brilliance of Cesc or Nasri to bring the game home.  And maybe they were  thinking that they could win the game on their brilliance or some special moment.  But now we maybe are lacking the brilliance of those players but we have been gaining a lot in work rate and desire.  And maybe this is the difference. The way we not just try to play our own game but also the way we are wanting to fight on the pitch.
Is everything perfect in the team? Oh no. Far from.  But that is just part of football: a team is never perfect. Apart from the invincible during their 49 run maybe.  People who want to be critical will have a go at Mertesacker today. Yes he didn’t get to the ball for the first 2 goals. For the first goal I had the impression he lost his footing a bit just when he wanted to jump. Losing your footing is something that can happen on a former coal shed. Isn’t it so, John? [Yes Walter that is a very impressive knowledge of footballing history, but just remember that I am the official historian around here, ok? - Tony]
I think the second goal was not just Mertesacker getting beaten by Terry. The ball was dipping and in fact came in very low. It shouldn’t have gone past the first defenders in my opinion. And when you look at the replay you can see that a defender on the first goal post should have made an easy clearance. But if people just want to have a go at Mertesacker for those two goals they should also mention the fact that in the second half he played really strongly and worked hard.
But what was important was the fact that even with the score going against us in the first half we never got outplayed by Chelsea during long periods in the game.  You could always feel that we were capable of scoring. In fact we should have been 2-0 up before they scored.  How on earth did Gervinho and RVP miss those two chances within the 13th minute?  Both Theo with a great assist for those chances by the way.
But after going down we just went for the goal. And what a great combination that was. Ramsey to Gervinho who unselfishly gave the goal to Van Persie. Chelsea had a few chances themselves after that but we also could have scored another. The goal just before the interval was a hard blow and we went in the dressing room being 2-1 down. Now would come the biggest test for this new team: 2-1 down at Chelsea at half time, how could and would we respond?
Well we blew them away in those first minutes after the interval. Again we could and should have scored a few goals. But you just felt that the confidence in the team was not gone. We would fight hard to gain something from the game.  So it was no surprise that we were equal within 5 minutes after the restart. Santos went unnoticed by the Chelsea defence and the ball from Song was perfect. And the Brazilian left back showed that he is a good finisher. I think he got already more goals in the few games he played than Clichy got in all in years at Arsenal. Not bad to have a scoring left back.
The next goal was an utterly amazing piece of skill from Walcott. Going through two defenders, a brilliant piece of trickery by fainting to lose your feet but this was only done to made the Chelsea players wonder what he was trying to do. Then he quickly got up and went again past 2 defenders and produced a great finish past the Chelsea keeper. Suddenly we were 2-3 up after only 10 minutes in the second half.
And then our real team effort began to show. All our players were really fighting for each and every ball.  There were moments that I thought some players would collapse on the field when seeing them run back to shut out the danger.  But no, they just kept on running and well Chelsea didn’t create that much. Until 10 minutes from time when Marinner was giving Chelsea all the freedom to regain the ball and Mata had a wonderful shot for the 3-3.
The not given foul on Santos (who gave the ball away seconds before that) was adding to the feeling of injustice being done. And so the football gods decided to make up for this. The slip from Terry was the best slip I have seen for a while. And then the agonising moments before the meeting of two of the best players in the PL. RVP against Cech… it felt like the gunfight at the OK corral. But the way and the confidence shown by Robin to round Cech was amazing. The pictures of the Gooners behind the goal was great to watch.
Chelsea threw everything at us but the defence threw all they had in front of the ball. And when the ball broke loose and we started a counter with even Santos joining I wanted to scream: stay back Andre, stay back. But once Van Persie had the ball in control he had only one thing in mind: kill them off. And he did. What a majestic finish and Cech again was without any chance to stop that powerful shot.
3-5 what a game, what a performance.  And most of all: what a collective performance by every single player on the pitch. I really also liked the fact that captain Robin called his team mates after the final whistle to go to the away supporters and celebrate this victory together. This was a victory to be celebrated by the Gunners and Gooners together

Dude, this is a comment thread. A simple link to the original article would've been a lot nicer.

Fudge that hole. I read that and enjoyed it. 

off subject, related to RvP s contract,

Dont you think that in terms of avoiding heavy wages, Arsenal could fight vs high wages offered from sugar daddy clubs by offering shares to key players?

I hereby request shares for RvP (and then some others)

How would that work? I don't think players having a say in how the club is run would do any good. Plus, I don't think anyone would want shares over a weekly income.

Well they dont need to have a say. In some jurisdictions the law states several types of shares, in my country for instance, there are preferred shares that can have rights whereas the regular ones cant, for example a right to vote, and only have a right to an opinion, which I think as players and ways to do so on the pitch, it can only be good to a business decision when buying players.

Nonetheless I agree with you, for some people its better to have a sure monthy paycheck, if it was me I d take a percentage out of profits of t shirts sold with my name and start scoring like crazy hahaha.

Another way could be a bond, you could have the benefits without the risks or responsibilities, and still get a piece of a cake that got bigger because you helped the team win a trophy.

JUst sayin

Agreed on your first point, but when you are already $$ rich, shares in a profitable club for a the long run would be an incredibly smart move.

Ì will call Perry for business partner! :)

Terry just couldnt receive a pass from a black guy...

Ok let's stop the racist comments. Arsenal fans are supposed to be gentlemen, men of beautiful football. We'll leave the dirty things to the spuds and Liverpool fans.

Is it racist to criticize someone (e.g., Terry) for being racist?

I think he meant comments about racism. 

I think he's racist.

I think you're racist for saying he's racist, and because of your long history of being racist.

Martin, you are one funny guy. Terry got paid back when the grass ate his boots in RVP's 2nd goal and we went ahead 4-3. No bigger embarrassment for Terry. Getting abused in front of 41000 home fans.

"Arsenal were only too happy to play on the counter to finish the game off." :)

Grat pic and effect on the Hails the Vantastic BTW.

Also, I saw the highlights in the official site (Fred Jacob didnt put any..? Fred were you so drunk on joy that forgot to? hehe).

In hese highlights theres something I ve been praying to happen; I dont know the word in English, but its the fact that atacking players, or player in attacking situations follow the play and then the player with the ball has a choice between the shooting and the passing, but not when the area is crowded.

Two micro seconds delays gave two goals to Chelsea, we should pay attention to being really accurate in timing vs big teams.

Fred Jacob left highlights in the comments' section of the live blog.  So he's still doing his job around here.

I knew he couldnt leave us without, he is earning himself a title, you guys should appoint him "official video link provider". As you probably read I had a hard time at live blogs and comments section for a week and a half, so didnt see it.

AR5-3NAL!!~

So I guess the Homey train has ground to a complete halt?.

i'm still on board. The train doesn't reach the station until May.

Just idling on a side track until the next run of bad form.

Don't underestimate Homey's stubbornness ;)

I'm just astonished at the fact that a couple of games into the season, and everyone was calling for Wenger's head. Now that we've won a couple of games, its fallen really really quiet. Strange, bordering on hypocritical.

Those hypocrites are just waiting for the right moment. (not referring to you either Homey). AW is OK now, but lose a game or two and watch out.

Those Asian hypocrites are particularly virulent. Like the flu. Almost as bad as a hospital acquired MRSA infection. Antibiotics are completely useless. Very often fatal. We should see how AW is doing.

hhmmm I dunno. For me its not bordering hypocritical, I love AW, for what he s done, and is hes not mistaken we will do good, but if beause of some of his stubborness Arsenal (I love the team better than AW) does bad, then I would want Wenger out again.

For the record, I still got the Homey train ticket, I just got down in one station to see some games and for coffee hahahha.

For the record, I was saying I wanted Wenger out BEFORE a single game was played this season.  I based in on the last several years, and the way we fell apart in the last couple of springs.  I still have all my same objections, despite our nice run of form right now.  Get back with me in May and we'll talk.

Well i want you out as the Moderator of this offside

Well I want you out as a replier to Homey's comments that start "For the record". 

am already out, don't you see i hardly post

Not agreeing with the moderator is not a valid reason for not coming around this corner of the internet. Come on Fred, we miss ya'.

It's ok.  I won't be here forever.

You do a great job Homey, i just have a soft spot for Arsene my kid is name after him that's to show you how i love the man, talking bad about Arsene is like saying something bad about my son, so i really get pist

But everyone on the offside does a great Job

Good thing naming your boy after him doesn't give any corrolation to the real Arsene Wenger.
They are two seperate people, so try not take it so seriously Fred. No one is dissing your child :)

 yea but you dissing a guy i have the world of respect for, i love Arsene just as much as i love Arsenal

Well, to be critical of ones job is not necessarily 'dissing' someone, it is just being critical.
If there is a problem with that, I would suggest for you never to be critical of anyone yourself.You may be 'dissing' someone who another commentator loves alot.

Hang around long enough, and your wish will come true.

I wasn't aiming my tirade at you, Homes. I knew you were consistent, even though I didn't agree with you. I was referring to some "fans", whose comments I read on various websites, during the past couple of weeks.

Excellent point Homey about "the way we fell apart."  Nobody can argue that with who we have replacing them that we got a better first 11 without Cesc, Nasri, and Clichy.  However, other than striker (and maybe Park will prove me wrong), I like our depth this  year so much better.  In past, Arsene seemed stubbornly committed to a very small nucleus.  Yesterday, he brought in Jenkinson in a very important game.

Last year the Martin had a very easy time predicting the starting line up (no offense intended the Martin)  because it sort of wrote itself.  This spring I hope you have a very hard time whether it will be Gibbs or Santos depending on opponent.  Whether this is a game to play Arteta over Wilshire based on what we can exploit.  So yes, you are right the spring will tell, not a short run of form in the fall.  Still, I think Wegner did overcome one of your biggest (and legitimate) complaints...he addded depth.  About 3 or 4 weeks too late but he at least finally did do something.

Vowed not to post my any more of my homer (as opposed to homey) optimism until this team won a significant game.  Yes, Wegner mismanaged the transfer window.  Yes, the "Cesc era," much as I love him a, was a trophyless failure.  And yes I think the rebuilding this year will likely mean we don't challenge for the EPL title.

 But we are playing exciting football, mostly getting good results and do have grounds to believe the future is bright. Keeper not a problem; Kos andTV5 both solid players with much more legitimate back up than before.  If Gibbs, Sagna and TV5 are starters then we have been doing this with only one healthy starting defender.  The midfield is of course filled with talent and a healthy RVP is a solid strike force.  We could buy another if there is no confidence in Park/Vela/Chamakh/Bendtner/Theo as second striker but overall the team is rebuilt and ready to challenge against anyone.   Let the RVP era begin.

And by the way, if anyone wants evidence to support the "Arteta is a vampire" theory if you happen to have the Fox feed taped look at him celebrating after RVP's last call (91 27 on the game clock).  Happy Halloween all.

WHAT a game. WHAT a team we have. WHAT a manager we have in AW. WHAT a great captain we have in RvP. We are gonna show them who we are. We are THE Arsenal!!

WENGER OUT!!!1111111oneoneoneone

waw Amazing Result Sir Vinger  ,Pleas Can we holding this way of playing ?
 all is in your hand next to God pleas do something to make happy to all Arsenal Fan .But I always with Arsenal till to my last date of life ......................Arsenal be the Gunners 

Great cofee story, I am a cofee drinker myself. And the analogy is priceless.
Homey! Brujo! PLs keep u the kind of article on Theo for the rest of the team!
Well, what caen be said? Surprise and nice surprise.
its all smiles and a good sleep now.
Didnt see the game, and I havent seen any of the last victories live, so might as wll not watch so we keep winning.

A game that left me breathless; couldn't feel my legs right after. Probably cos I spilled hot coffee on them, but hey, anything for the Arsenal.

In the words of Mark Twain, I'd imagine Arsene Wenger telling the reporters the following words: "..reports of Arsenal's demise have been greatly exaggerated."

3 points out of 3rd, 8 out of 9 wins, West Brom, Norwich, Fulham, Wigan up, 4 wins surely(?), could be 3rd by then, what's not to be upbeat about? We crushed Chelski at the Bridge today and left them dazed and confused. Had a really good 2nd half, D got much better and Terry falling down was priceless and fully deserved! Arsene is now our Savior and Homey will let him stay, maybe. RVP says the Arsenal can count on him. We should be thrilled. Twain also said "when we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained".

Maybe I'll let Wenger stay?  You misoverestimate my power and influence.

Nah Homey. I would never misunderestimate you. You were frustrated, disappointed  sad, angry, etc., etc. All natural feelings and reactions, really. Arsene has the unwavering support of his board and owner. They will always back him, even in seemingly disastrous circumstances. He brings in big transfer fees and operates pretty successfully with a wage structure that can not compete with Barca, Real, City, United and Chelsea. He's a lifer. And he really is a world class manager. Getting trophies, however, is almost impossible without an adjustment in the wage structure.

I was watching Fox Soccer today and Warren Barton and Keith Costigan were double teaming Eric Wynalda and saying that Mancini could not be considered a "world class" manager until he wins trophies - either EPL or CL. And that City has still not yet become the preeminent team in Manchester. I so badly wanted to say, "will you think it when City has the EPL all but wrapped up by Christmas"? Will you think it when City sets an EPL record for total points and biggest point differential between 1st and 2nd place???? Will you think it if they go undefeated this year???? Well shit boys, it's almost time to start thinking it!!!!

The EPL is 10 games in. City has won 9 and tied 1. They could play their second string for the rest of the year and easily win the EPL. The difference in class between City and EVERYONE ELSE (EPL) is a Grand Canyon. Don't think they will win CL, however. Bayern handled them quite easily in Munich and Real and Barca will beat them. Not enough CL experience for City yet.

I love how 10 games in, and we are already crowning city as champions by Christmas.
Of course, we were a club in crisis just 3 weeks ago....

There are 28 games left. ANYTHING can happen, of course!! City have a world class team, depth at every position, and many world class players. AND still has an unlimited budget. They are not even using Tevez, and will probably sell him in January for big $, making more $ available for purchases. And if they keep him, he is world class. They DESTROYED the defending champions at OT, 6-1. Embarrassed them, totally. Sure, United were on the front foot for the first 20 minutes, but had NO dangerous goal scoring chances. City, after 10 games are leading United by 5 points, and it should be a lot more. (United have been lucky against Liverpool and Norwich). They DESTROYED Spurs at White Hart Lane 5-1. In 10 games City have scored 36 goals and allowed 8. 8!!!! Their defense IS awesome. The way things are going, City could have a 15 point lead by the end of the Christmas period. If that's the case, we'll all be on the same page. 

I don't like City and I don't like their fans. I am hoping they collapse and/or have a rough patch. It is highly unusual in a 36 game season to not have a difficult stretch of games. I AM NOT crowning them EPL winners, not yet. But, they are the BIG favorites, after only 10 games. United now look like the only team that could even pose a challenge to them. And they have to play them at Etihad. Anyway, we'll see, but I'm no fan of City or Mancini.

For the record, Mancini is not a good manager. He was gifted an unlimited supply of oil money, its essentially the real life version of playing fantasy football.

You can say that the good results do not prove that Mancini is a good manager due to the fact that he has spent a lot of money, but you can't say he isn't a good manager for that reason.

You can spend a lot of money and still not get the results (as Mark Hughes discovered).

I think you missed some facts , like Hughes was getting started and Mancini got the end product. Or like Mancini at Inter didnt have the success Mou had, exact same players.
Just sayin'

Hughes was not very successful. Many of his acquisitions are gone. Robinho and Adebayor cost $60 mil alone. Robinho was not suited to the English game. Roque Santa Cruz, Jo, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Craig Bellamy. Hughes spent $200 mil. Finished 10th place 2008/09. 2009/10 season his record 7W-2L-8T -- 29 points. Team was on a downward spiral.

Exactly my point, Hughes was not very succesful, because the money was still on buy trials, once the money got the good team, Hughes was gone and Mancini in.

Hughes had ALREADY spent $200 million and brought in 15 players by the BEGINNING of the 09/10 season and had a SHIT record until he got his ass fired on December 18, 2009. His record was 7W, 2L, 8T for 29 points in 17 games (7 ties in a row). Mancini REVAMPED Hughes squad, got rid of $100 mil of SHIT, stamped his style on it and came in 3rd. Mancini DID NOT just take Highes squad and roll with that. 

Mancini did not just take Hughes squad...duh.

What I am saying is that the PROCESS didnt start with Mancini, he got the END product of a lot of trial and errors.
 
Mancini REVAMPED, there you go! RE, meaning doing again, right?
 
So in the end: Hughes had started and Mancini continued. I never said he had the same players, but it is a process, and Hughes dealt with the beginning, it is a fact and you just cant deny a fact.
 
But if you cant see that, then you re saying that Hughes was a great coach? or that Mancini built a team from zero?

I am saying that Mancini IS a great coach with a lot of experience and a tremendous record in Serie A. His three consecutive Serie A titles and his European record of 17 consecutive league wins with Inter speak for themselves.

Yes, building a world class side is a process. Hughes began it and Mancini continued it.
But, Hughes would NEVER have been able to do with City what Mancini has done. He would never have been able to mold them into a top world class side. Give him $500 million and 10 years, it would never have happened.

I am saying that money ALONE will not allow a team to do what Mancini did with City in his first year and what he has molded them into now. Yes, agreed, he inherited a talented team. But what he has done from that point is not due JUST to having money available. It is due to many factors. He got rid of players that no one else would have. He brought in players. He decides on tactics, trains them, coaches them etc. etc. Mancini's tremendous coaching and managing capabilities are as necessary as the money. Only a handful of coaches would have been able to make City into the world class side they are today.

You're kidding right?

1.) Its very easy to get rid of players because again you have an unlimited supply of cash to purchase new players. Lets not forget that 2 of his players he had to loan out because there are no takers for them.

2.) He brought in players - Down to money yet again

3.) Tactics, trains them? What training, what tactics? Seems they have a high scoring offense that is down to the players he has in his squad and the raw talent they own. Again, down to money.

4.) Put Arsene at the helm of that team, and they'd be better than the invincibles.

Just like Pep, face it, Mancini got gifted an abundance of spending power and can do whatever he pleases to make his team better. End of story.

They are already much much better that the invincibles. They will be both the highest scoring and best defensive team this year. Mancini is an Italian defensive minded coach. Arsene would do just as well. Have always considered him world class, still do and always will. His and Arsenal's impediment IS money. They will never have the budget of City, Chelsea, or United. Without that, Arsenal will never compete for an EPL title. The job Arsene is doing with the budget he has is ten times what ANY other manager could do. The issue here is whether the board will adjust the wage structure to compete with City, Chelsea and United. They will not. Bringing another manager in and keeping the wage structure the same will render the Arsenal a mid table side. That is NOT "the answer". 

Mourinho at Real has a LOT more money than Pep at Barca. Barca will always kick Real's ass. That is down to the style of play and the team assembled to execute it, created by Pep, that owns possession of the football. Not money. Barca is the best team ever to play the game! Money without Pep would NOT have created THAT!

Really..? "Great"? well thats your opinion and everybody has one.

But I think a lot of "decent" coaches could have done what he has done so far with that kind of money and the previous work done by another one.

If boulding a great team is a process I think you should wait a little more before calling him Great, and by that I dont mean that Highes would have done it, it is not black and white, theres grey.

One of the tremendous records in Serie A (and what started it) was that they won after Juve and Milan got punished, just as a reminder and Juve handed the title to Inter. (Just checked some facts in Wikipedia)

One question for evidence, what do you think our own AW, a guy like Fergie (like it or not), Del Bosque, could have achieved with THAT kind of money available...? I am sure a lot more.

Chelsea have that kind of money and AVB is tremendous. How are they doing? City will spank us this year like litle boys. So get used to it now. It should be fun. Mancini is already great. This year he is likely to set the points record in the EPL. Arsenal will never again take an EPL title. Not in your lifetime. "Once the money got the good team". It's not that simple!!!! Never was, never will be.

1. Chelsea has less money I think that the City sugar daddies.
2. AVB is tremendous? Mou did more with the "kind of money" you mention (yep the same Mou that coached Inter and did some more stuff than Mancini)
3. AVB is sitting 3rd with "tha kind of money", which is not too bad, right?

4. I get it now, the "Arsenal fan" name is a joke and you are actually a Vity fan...well, it would have been easier if you were not ahsamed of naming yourslef after your team, oh wait, yeah thats a gunners thing hahaha.

c'mon dude, enjoy your team, its like you re winning but you re still so pissed with us for being better for so long that you still hurt? go ahead and love Mancini in your teams blogs!

peace! 

Mou has more money that God at Real. More than City and Barca combined. He can't even compete with Barca. Pep beats his ass every game. 5 nil. 11 guys on defense. Mou needs some coaching lessons from you, obviously.

Are you for real?
1. Real Madrid has a considerable debt/ City lives out of oil money.
2. Are you really that bitter that you cant enjoy your Citeh without mentioning the real big boys?
3. Are you really comparing 9 times UCL winner, dont know how many Ligas Real madrid to City..? really?

4. What does all you said has anything to do with the fact that Mancini is an average coach?

I'm telling you that your idol Mou has more money that Pep but can't compete. Real has $400 million of annual revenues. Their debt is minimal. They have $0 interst costs. If it was about money Real would own Barca. It's Pep that own's your boy Mou. Mou only did well at Chelsea because he had more money then. That was only about the money. You must be one of those "fans" that wanted Wenger gone when his only impediment IS money. It's our board that will not provide a competitive wage structure. Not Wengers fault.

FYI, I saw your:
"Like Orion said. AW and the Arsenal can use less Hypocrites like you".
But I dont see it here, so heres my answer:
1. ..wow I really am important to you since you answerd at almost 1 am! Thanks!
2. You are putting Orion words out of context, he didnt say those words, read again.
3. Wow, wow, I must really, really be important to you since you go around reading evereywhere I comment!.
4. Check the definition of hypocrite. As opposed to someone that changes his opinions, here is a little example of what I am saying, you dont have to thank me for sharing knowledge with you:

The presidential candidate Juan Manuel Santos said that "only fools do not change their minds when circumstances change," referring to the situation of more than 15 years with the FARC,

It is sad, actually, that you want your club to have less supporters, and, unfortunately for you, I remain an Arsenal fan,

Adiós!

"our board"? are you really an Arsena fan, come ooon, you just said things as a City fan, be real.

Oh wait, Real has money, Mou is my idol...wow those arguments convinced me: Mancini is a great coach!

Yes. I am a 20 year Arsenal supporter!!! You are the type of fan that says "I love the Arsenal more that AW, so AW should go!" The logic is exquisite!! 

1. I am a 16 year Arsenal supporter...what the number of years supporting has to do with your first argument?
2. I am important to you, you have read my comments, thanks!
3. Logic exquisite....aahhh I get it thats why Mancini is a great coach!

Dude, seriously, if we are both gooners I dont see any of your points, what? do you mean I should stip supporting??

I think deep down u support Stoke, feels like replying to one of those...

Like Orion said. AW and the Arsenal can use less Hypocrites like you.

AW IS The Arsenal. He personally created and is responsible for their greatest successes. The fair weather fans like you that said he should go and got on the Homey train should just keep your asses on that train. Don't hop off at the first station after he wins some big games.

and therefore Mancini is a great coach, we get it

PS theres no more space dude

Of course when you have unlimited $ to acquire talent, it is a HUGE advantage. And even after spending a ridiculous amount of money, he still has an unlimited budget. Nasri, Clichy, YaYA Toure, Mata, Fabregas, Aguero, David Silva, Tevez. These are all players Arsene would love to have, but, he can't afford them.

3 consecutive Serie A titles with Inter and a European record 17 consecutive league wins with Inter, FA Cup winner last year, 3rd place in EPL in first full year tied with Chelsea for 2nd on points. Ain't exactly shit, now is it?

I thoroughly enjoyed watching them get their ASSES kicked by Bayern in Munich in CL. They were completely outclassed. They were down 2 - 0 at the half. Mancini needed to bring on a striker to try to get some goals and get a draw. Tevez was the only striker on the bench. So, Mancinin decided at the half to make 2 early subs; Tevez for Dzeko and De Jong for Nasri. But, he and Tevez have been at odds, and being an amateur psychiatrist, as some managers consider themselves to be, Mancini hatched an Evil plan. He would sub De Jong for Dzeko and then, 5 or 10 minutes later, sub Tevez for Nasri. This way he could embarrass Tevez and still get his subs on. His plan backfired on him, big time. At 56 minutes Dzeko sees his number go up for a sub and sees De Jong on the touchline waiting to come in. He gets embarrassed and angry and can not understand why Mancini would do this to him, take him off and sub a midfielder. So he blasts Mancini for the next 30 minutes while he's slamming his shoes on the ground. Tevez, being pretty bright, immediately realizes that Mancini is trying to embarrass him. So 5 minutes later, when told to warm up, he goes into his "I don't understand English" routine and basically ignores Mancini. The rest of the story, I'm sure you read about. But, no one has this version, which is how it went down. Mancini wanted to embarrass Tevez and got it stuck back in his own ass by both Tzeko and Tevez. So, maybe you are right, he sucks.

Anyway, Bayern, Barca and Real should all handle City in CL this year due to their very limited experience. But, again, who knows. 

By the way, Inter is yet another example of a club heavily in debt. What he has done there does not gain my respect nor does it show his "managerial" finesse when he's just debiting his way into silverware.

I know, Mourinho taking two serie A titles and a Champions League title at Inter was shit too!!

How would this embarass tevez??

Why did Tevez not understand English when he was told to warm up? Why was Tevez so irate? Because Mancini made a point of not putting him in when City Desperately needed two goals to tie the game. Even the game announcers were completely confused and kept saying over and over "I don't understand this substitution. Why would he not put in Tevez?"

a bizarre game, but what fun to watch; 5 goals; 5 GOALS!!!!!!! A great one from Theo, a goal from Santos?!?! And oh; yeah, there was that RVP guy too.

And fun to watch Chelski's defense as disorganized as ours.

And to see Terry fall and look like an idiot; priceless (as they say on the commercials) 

go gunners!!

Where in Canada? So far we've got Edmonton and Vancouver covered. And a few Torontonians, but no one likes them. 

I take personal offense to the 'nobody likes the torontonians' comment. 

and they dont have a sense of humour either

sorry bobj, that was sarcasm, maybe your hotboxed city is clouding your judgment.

"hotbox" is a new one to me; thanks for expanding my vocabulary

i live in Vancouver but am presently working in Cyprus; 10 time zones ahead of you. I got used to getting up early to watch games there. Over here the Champions League games start at 21:45!

hey I deal with Cyrus quite often, nice people over there. Dont deal with Canada much but a good friend is Canadian so..good people too, nice combination!

Nailed the ratings, except Santos, i'd give him a 6.5ish. Good write up. I was busy all day, managed to stay away from the game, come back to me DVR, and I lost my voice in the first 15 minutes, no lie. Incredible game, there is no team I hate more than Chelsea, so this one felt good, real good. Go GUnners!

arsenal return

Nice write up Darren, def on point. I admit I have been able to stay focused all day after the win. Gerv did pretty good today, including defending, I saw hi cover a few times for Santos. Anyway, Santos seems to like those "lungeing" tackles resulting in him getting beat far too easily, hopefully he works on that. Overall, inspiring performance, that free flowing football that we've been deprived of since Cesc left is starting to find its way back. I'm loving it right now. Our guys were having fun out there today and it showed. Singing Arsenal, Arsenal.

I see what you mean about those tackles. I hadn't noticed him doing them so often, but I watched the match again and he does them non-stop.

In addition he is very unfit I think compared to most of the other players on the pitch. I suppose that his distance covered would have been very high, but Cashley would have covered much more distance I would have thought, and he was in much better shape in the later part of the match. I think later in the season when Santos is a bit fitter (if he gets fitter) and he and Gibbs are able to rotate, we should have a very solid duo there.

Think about our back 4 with Sagna, TV5, Kos and Gibbs later in the season. That makes me excited.

Ramsey is also playing a lot better at the moment, and I am glad to see him taking some chances with some of his plays. I am beginning to get a bit excited about this season! If only we hadn't had such a bad start. The loss to Blackburn hurts now more than it did when it happened...

Yeah, Ramsey looked really good. I was extremely happy with his performance. He was pulling the strings throughout the whole game. He passes were excellent, vision even better, and ingenuity amazing. I must admit that since yesterday, I didn't know Ramsey was soo good. I knew he had the potential to be good, but never really saw it until yesterday. 

Also, we have great parts in every department, its just a matter of having them on the field all at the same time. That's always been an issue we've had, but the prospect of it all is exciting. Like you said, a defence with Sagna, TV5, Kos, and Gibbs, is mouth watering, Also, I agree that Santos could stand to lose some pounds, hopefully when he gets on the "Arsenal diet" he'll lose some of that weight and get fit. 

We won't need to do too much work in January, i don't think, seeing that everyone is settling now. But we are still a little thin in the forward/striker department. We have all these forwards out on loan, and a striker who doesn't fit into our system the form of Chamakh, so it wouldn't hurt us to get a proven goal scorer to back up RVP in January.