SOUTHAMPTON HOME THREAD

[northbank123]

All in all it was a good team performance. As mentioned above I don't necessarily think Cazorla played worse than in previous games, there was more creativity elsewhere so it wasn't a case of pass Santi the ball and hope he does something with it. Fuck me, imagine how many passes him, Wilshere and Arteta would get through as a midfield three!

Love Podolski's work rate too, the extent to the wingers are being asked to track back is impressive and hopefully means we won't hang our full-backs out to dry like Old Trafford and numerous other occasions last year.

Actually looked like we had a team of players who wanted to work hard and want to play for the club. Which made me fucking angry when that greedy prick Walcott came on.

[GranadaJoe]

Although it's early in the season, there are some encouraging signs. Apart from the obvious improvement at the back, we seem to be moving the ball a bit quicker and our movement off the ball is better. The OX, Gervais, Santi and Pod all seem keener to get the ball forward quicker and yesterday, when Gervais dropped deep, others were willing to get into the box. Last year RvP seemed to be the only player allowed in the opposition's area. The players also seem genuinely happy as a group.

As it's Sunday; 'Thought for the day': "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone". SheepsheadSong has gone and surely now we can see just what a liability he was. 15 million! Sale of the Century!

[Robin_L]

Without even bothering to check I'm willing to bet some of the following things have already been written in this thread:-

1. It was only Southampton at home.

2. "We won and all is rosy in the Wenger garden."

3. Player X didn't make enough of an impact off the bench.

4. Player Y gave the ball away too much.

5. It's a meaningless victory until we beat someone 'good' away from home.

6. We conceded a poor goal, therefore our defence is awful and must be sold.

7. I love Online Gloomer.

[mcdowell42]

Without even bothering to check I'm willing to bet some of the following things have already been written in this thread:-

1. It was only Southampton at home.

2. "We won and all is rosy in the Wenger garden."

3. Player X didn't make enough of an impact off the bench.

4. Player Y gave the ball away too much.

5. It's a meaningless victory until we beat someone 'good' away from home.

6. We conceded a poor goal, therefore our defence is awful and must be sold.

7. I love Online Gloomer.

The best 1 i read on here was this


Great result so far. Has Giroud scored yet? If ever there was a gimme game to score in surely this HAS to be it?




An arsenal supporter allegedly and didnt even know giroud was on the bench

[richpye]

Without even bothering to check I'm willing to bet some of the following things have already been written in this thread:-

1. It was only Southampton at home.

2. "We won and all is rosy in the Wenger garden."

3. Player X didn't make enough of an impact off the bench.

4. Player Y gave the ball away too much.

5. It's a meaningless victory until we beat someone 'good' away from home.

6. We conceded a poor goal, therefore our defence is awful and must be sold.

7. I love Online Gloomer.

Hmmm, don't see how you can start a debate without reading the facts. What is great about OnlineGooner is that fans with different viewpoints can all coexist (admittedly you'll probably get called names, but are any of us really 12 anymore?)
It's one thing going on a pro-Arsenal forum and putting your point across to people of the same viewpoint, it's entirely another level when your viewpoints are being challenged and you have to back them up without resorting to the above level of classless-ness.

[northbank123]

There was a boy of about 18 sitting two seats down from me yesterday that came out with some absolute gems.

(Before kick-off) "Thank fuck Gervinho's playing up front, I've been saying for ages that he's our best attacking player and I don't understand why he's ever on the bench."

(After Southampton's goal) "To be fair that was a difficult catch."

(At full-time) "United would have put 10 on that team, we didn't really play well at all."

Did then hear him saying not a bad result for his first live game though so that made sense.

[SteveO 35]

Enjoyed the game yesterday. Thought the team showed exactly the right attitude against a team like Southampton, where as we've been guilty in the past of allowing a team like that to settle for half an hour and then making it a really tight, tense affair. Not yesterday - was really impressed with how much we were closing their defenders down right from the start and squeezing them back into their own half. There's no doubt that pressure contributed heavily to the goals in the first half.

Podolski was really impressive. The stuff he did back to goal like a classic centre forward was something I hadn't appreciated with him before. He' strong, doesn't stop working and shoots on sight - at this early stage looks a great buy. The midfield looked strong throughout - possibly only the Ox who wasn't completely on top of his game, but playing against a team he has a lot of feeling for and on the back of 2 internationals he probably wasn't quite right. The only downside would be Chesney (sorry Red 'the arrogant moron') who quite clearly looked unfit to me - not just for the soft goal but his awful kicking and the fact he was visibly feeling pain at the start of the second half. Much as Mannone still gives me nightmares he should be back in the team for the CL game if Chesney is still in this state.

Really good win though. Passing was excellent throughout and work off the ball was top drawer. Oh, and the Feo Feo Fan Club in Block 2 were able to mess their pants too, which was nice for them

[clockender1]

interesting post match interview with AW about forehead - when asked why he switched gerv to centre forward, he replied with a wry smile " we turn wingers into strikers here"

he was joking right ?

right ?

i would have thought theo would have been switched across before gerv, theo must be pissed off. maybe it's little reminder to theo that we can manage without him ?

[StuartL]

interesting post match interview with AW about forehead - when asked why he switched gerv to centre forward, he replied with a wry smile " we turn wingers into strikers here"

he was joking right ?

right ?

i would have thought theo would have been switched across before gerv, theo must be pissed off. maybe it's little reminder to theo that we can manage without him ?

Was probably a reference to Henry, but also a subtle reminder to Theo that he may get a chance on occasion to play upfront.

[1989]

Enjoyed the game yesterday. Thought the team showed exactly the right attitude against a team like Southampton, where as we've been guilty in the past of allowing a team like that to settle for half an hour and then making it a really tight, tense affair. Not yesterday - was really impressed with how much we were closing their defenders down right from the start and squeezing them back into their own half. There's no doubt that pressure contributed heavily to the goals in the first half.

Podolski was really impressive. The stuff he did back to goal like a classic centre forward was something I hadn't appreciated with him before. He' strong, doesn't stop working and shoots on sight - at this early stage looks a great buy. The midfield looked strong throughout - possibly only the Ox who wasn't completely on top of his game, but playing against a team he has a lot of feeling for and on the back of 2 internationals he probably wasn't quite right. The only downside would be Chesney (sorry Red 'the arrogant moron') who quite clearly looked unfit to me - not just for the soft goal but his awful kicking and the fact he was visibly feeling pain at the start of the second half. Much as Mannone still gives me nightmares he should be back in the team for the CL game if Chesney is still in this state.

Really good win though. Passing was excellent throughout and work off the ball was top drawer. Oh, and the Feo Feo Fan Club in Block 2 were able to mess their pants too, which was nice for them

Szczesny needs proper competition for his place. Craig Gordon hasn't got a club, seems a no brainer to me.

[augie]

Agree totally - a Scottish international with enough experience and hunger to provide a genuine challenge to chesney instead of the clowns we currently have as back ups makes so much sense that it is only someone like wenger that wouldn't see the wisdom of his signing

[Herd]

Craig Gordon,are u for real ?
We won easily against a team that gave city and utd some problems and we looked very solid again in defense ....
I'm happy for now but in February/March arrives ,when Injuries cost us and we have no back ups and we exit the race for the League get knocked out of the CL and have allready gone out of the FA Cup I will again be frustrated !

[augie]

Craig Gordon,are u for real ?
We won easily against a team that gave city and utd some problems and we looked very solid again in defense ....
I'm happy for now but in February/March arrives ,when Injuries cost us and we have no back ups and we exit the race for the League get knocked out of the CL and have allready gone out of the FA Cup I will again be frustrated !

So basically you are saying that we would be mad to sign craig gordon but when things go tits up in the spring cos we have no back ups you will be pissed off ? What kind of logic or thought process are you using there ?

[DB10GOONER]

Chesney cost me €200 on my 6-0 bet, the stupid Kúnt.

Apart from Chesney's pisswank flap I thought we were very good. Podolski has a brilliant work rate and a great touch. Cazorla and Arteta were excellent in midfield. We look so much more relaxed and in control in there now without Song lumbering around, overelaborating and losing posession.

Defence was very good again.

Thought Feo was a right little Kúnt for not feeding Geroud early. A real team player would have thought "I can help my mate get started here" and given him the early pass for what would have amounted to a tap in.

Yeah, it was "only" Southampton but I believe you can only play against what's in front of you. You still have to perform, you still have to win. The more of these results we can put together the better equipped we will be to play teams like Manure, Citeh and the chavs.

[Red Member]

I find it a bit worrying that we appear to have started the season without a top class goalkeeper.

that fumble from Chesney on Saturday was unbelievable. Could flapianski have done any worse?
and I don't see why Mannone was dropped after keeping a clean sheet at Anfield.

and how come Spurs have 2 of the best goalkeepers in the PL?


So who should be the number 1 at Arsenal? - I say give the italian another chance