As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Well last night didnt really affect us in the slightest looking at the games...we couldnt give a shit about Chelsea in the Champions league and we arent in the FA cup....but.... Stoke had to play extra time in what was a tough game, so they will be knackered, especially with only 2 days rest now and we have had over a week! They played a full team as far as i could see so i think we can go and beat them saturday!
Also Cech got injured last night and some are speculating it could keep him out for a while, add to that the fact Cole is out for a while and John Terry isnt in the right frame of mind they could easily faulter at the back in the coming weeks!
I really feel there is a massive possibility of us sneaking in and winning the Premiership...Chelsea only need to lose one game they dont expect to, which has happened a fair bit this season. Then United have to play Chelsea, and Chelsea have a few tricky encounters coming up...its looking more and more likely every day!
If we go and win on saturday, that will be one of the tricky games gone with 3 points achieved...then i will be getting extremely excited! If we win it this season it will be a massive achievement!
Swale_Gooner1985 wrote:Well last night didnt really affect us in the slightest looking at the games...we couldnt give a shit about Chelsea in the Champions league and we arent in the FA cup....but.... Stoke had to play extra time in what was a tough game, so they will be knackered, especially with only 2 days rest now and we have had over a week! They played a full team as far as i could see so i think we can go and beat them saturday!
Also Cech got injured last night and some are speculating it could keep him out for a while, add to that the fact Cole is out for a while and John Terry isnt in the right frame of mind they could easily faulter at the back in the coming weeks!
I really feel there is a massive possibility of us sneaking in and winning the Premiership...Chelsea only need to lose one game they dont expect to, which has happened a fair bit this season. Then United have to play Chelsea, and Chelsea have a few tricky encounters coming up...its looking more and more likely every day!
If we go and win on saturday, that will be one of the tricky games gone with 3 points achieved...then i will be getting extremely excited! If we win it this season it will be a massive achievement!
Steady on
Stoke may tire but it's more important that we take the initiative from the start...something Stoke will definitely be trying to do.
I don't read too much into the Terry thing. The players are so far up their own arses that they tend not to take thoses things on the pitch - Lee Bowyer being a (head) case in point.
Even though I know deep down that Mr. Disappointment is in the train and on his way to the Arsenal, your eternal optimism is genuinely nice.
Swale_Gooner1985 wrote:Well last night didnt really affect us in the slightest looking at the games...we couldnt give a shit about Chelsea in the Champions league and we arent in the FA cup....but.... Stoke had to play extra time in what was a tough game, so they will be knackered, especially with only 2 days rest now and we have had over a week! They played a full team as far as i could see so i think we can go and beat them saturday!
Also Cech got injured last night and some are speculating it could keep him out for a while, add to that the fact Cole is out for a while and John Terry isnt in the right frame of mind they could easily faulter at the back in the coming weeks!
I really feel there is a massive possibility of us sneaking in and winning the Premiership...Chelsea only need to lose one game they dont expect to, which has happened a fair bit this season. Then United have to play Chelsea, and Chelsea have a few tricky encounters coming up...its looking more and more likely every day!
If we go and win on saturday, that will be one of the tricky games gone with 3 points achieved...then i will be getting extremely excited! If we win it this season it will be a massive achievement!
I've said for a while 29 points from our last 11 games should be enough, Saturday is the first big test in this latest round of tests, unfortunately we have failed in the previous rounds.
So whilst I agree it is indeed possible, I am very reluctant to get my hopes built up.
It's a real cliche but I'm only looking at our next game.
Stoke have been our banana skin fixture for a while. Normally I'd take a look at the Chavs and Mancs games each week thinking and hoping they'd slip up. I know we need to win ourselves but this week I'm only concentrating on us first! I've no idea who the others have.
Swale_Gooner1985 wrote:Well last night didnt really affect us in the slightest looking at the games...we couldnt give a shit about Chelsea in the Champions league and we arent in the FA cup....but.... Stoke had to play extra time in what was a tough game, so they will be knackered, especially with only 2 days rest now and we have had over a week! They played a full team as far as i could see so i think we can go and beat them saturday!
Also Cech got injured last night and some are speculating it could keep him out for a while, add to that the fact Cole is out for a while and John Terry isnt in the right frame of mind they could easily faulter at the back in the coming weeks!
I really feel there is a massive possibility of us sneaking in and winning the Premiership...Chelsea only need to lose one game they dont expect to, which has happened a fair bit this season. Then United have to play Chelsea, and Chelsea have a few tricky encounters coming up...its looking more and more likely every day!
If we go and win on saturday, that will be one of the tricky games gone with 3 points achieved...then i will be getting extremely excited! If we win it this season it will be a massive achievement!
Possibility yes but massive possibility no. As for the stoke players I will say that movement off the ball and shit like that is not in their game plan anyway so unless delap's arm's are too tired to throw the ball then I dont see it affecting them at all
It is not impossible by any means but I fear very unlikely.
We keep saying that Chelsea will slip up again but conveiniently forget our rollercoaster form. The league suggests we are more likely to slip again simply because we have lost more games already.
Also, one more injury in a critical position and I would say our chances would be well and truly fucked.
Fancy us basically going unbeaten without either of TV, Cesc, Willy or Arshavin?
We have the talent - about that there is no doubt - but our problem over the last 3 or 4 seasons is that so many players can't handle the pressure of the make or break matches.
The players need to discover a way to come out on top at "squeaky bum time". Until that changes, we are destined to be good, but not good enough.
[quote="Boomer"]It's a real cliche but I'm only looking at our next game.
Stoke have been our banana skin fixture for a while. Normally I'd take a look at the Chavs and Mancs games each week thinking and hoping they'd slip up. I know we need to win ourselves but this week I'm only concentrating on us first! I've no idea who the others have.[/quote]
Do you happen to know the results from our last six fixtures aginst Stoke ?
Nope!
All I know is our away form since they joined the Prem last year is: They beat us last year, beat us in the cup this year and Saturday willl be another test.
So them being a 'banana skin for a while' is not really the case. If the team were to go into the game with the same negative approach they'd be on to a loser from the start.
I think the media approach to football journalsim has worked it's way into some supporters heads. They create problems that aren't there just for a story/reaction, and to create the illusion that they have seen something that no one else has.
Stoke are not a banana skin, they're a team we should beat comfortably if the physical and mental preperation is right.
Aaron Inglis wrote:So them being a 'banana skin for a while' is not really the case. If the team were to go into the game with the same negative approach they'd be on to a loser from the start.
I think the media approach to football journalsim has worked it's way into some supporters heads. They create problems that aren't there just for a story/reaction, and to create the illusion that they have seen something that no one else has.
Stoke are not a banana skin, they're a team we should beat comfortably if the physical and mental preperation is right.
FACT !!!
So having lost at Stoke 2-0 last season and 3-1 this season where are you saying we fell down? Cant Wenger prepare the team physically or mentally?
With Stoke, we have to be strong mentally... ala Wenger.... The first time they get a throw in, comment on how long it's taking - make sure Delap is warned about time wasting, and eventually booked. A throw in shouldn't take 40 seconds to organise, so we need to make sure the referee doesn't give them an unfair advantage. And ffs, we need someone to stand as close to Delap as possible when he's taking the throw, I can't believe we haven't done that (I remember Pires doing it a few years back, can't remember if it was Delap or not).
We should shit all over them.
Chelsea's injury problems are more interesting. Unfortunately Hilario isn't as bad as everyone seems to think he is, but they will leak more goals.
Hmmm...if we're being picky Banana skin = 'A banana skin is something that is an embarrassment or causes problems. [Urban English] While = 'for a short time' or time, period, little or bit.
So technically "Stoke away has the potiential of an embarrassment or will causes problems as have had for a period of (unspecified) time in the past."
FACT!
We all know that but the truth is and like a few of the other teams that go there come unstuck.
You could even see the fear in Wenger when the forthcoming games mentioned.
At the grove or anywhere else Stoke won't be a problem. It's just the small club mentallty they have.
