Previews
Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 23 September 2011 22:41
After hitting the canvas and being out for the count at Ewood park last weekend, our victory over Shrewsbury with the youngsters will hopefully give our first team a much needed second wind. The end of the match left us all distraught and furious having witnessed how we managed to shoot ourselves in the knee caps once more. After having spent the first half point the gun straight at the opposition. I still remember how I felt at half time, a feeling of satisfaction that we have finally found our game and rhythm again and that is what I have to cling onto. We have missed fluidity in our game for some time so it was nice to finally see it in action again even if it was only for 45 minutes.
The players will have been working on that all week seeing as many from the Carling Cup will not be involved in the game, at least from the kick off so you would expect plenty of defensive work as well as continuing to work on our pass and move game.
Opposition
Bolton Wanderers are currently second from bottom in the table and even with the worlds saviour Gary Cahill in their ranks they are shipping goals. 13 to be precise. One less than ourselves so that should give our front line a bit of hope that they can be breached as I am sure they are currently thinking about our defence right now.
I suspect the injury to Chung-Yong Lee as well as Daniel Sturridge returning back to Chelsea has hit the Lancashire club.
I am interested to see how Gary Cahill tries to handle Robin van Persie and I am also very intrigued with the Kevin Davies vs Per Mertesacker battle. Bolton will be aiming for Davies as often as possible, especially after watching the Blackburn game. Davies is very good in the air so 6ft 6in Mertesacker will have his work cut out. While our German is a massive player physically, he is not the most aggressive. The opposite can be said of the Bolton forward.
Goalkeeper and Defence
The only real selection issue for Arsene is who to play at left back. We do not yet know who Arsene's first choice left back is right now, especially as Gibbs scored in midweek and gained more confidence as the game went on. Andre Santos looked short of match fitness at Ewood park but would have had the week to work on that. I expect Laurent Koscielny to partner Per Mertesacker in central defence, while a spot on the bench could be available for youngster Ignasi Miquel. Bacary Sagna will also return to the team after limping off against Blackburn last week which is a massive plus.
Midfield
Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky are back off the treatment table and are included in the squad. Mikel Arteta and Alex Song are certain starters so it will be down to Wenger to decide who from Ramsey and Rosicky is the best suited for this game. My money is on Ramsey after the Welshman's fantastic first half at Ewood park. I have fallen head over heals in love with Francis Coquelin after his energetic display against Shrewsbury so I hope he makes the bench but he will have strong competition from Emmanuel Frimpong who is another top quality young midfielder.
Attack
Arsene has pretty much everyone fit in the attacking area, so some players are likely to miss out on a place on the bench, let alone the first team. Gervinho, Arshavin, Walcott, van Persie, Chamakh, Park, Chamberlain are all fighting for three places in the team. While Andrey Arshavin is fighting for a starting spot, it seems as if Wenger's preferred choice is currently van Persie with his two speedsters Gervinho and Walcott out wide making runs off the Dutchman.
Injuries
Johan Djourou has a slight hamstring strain and will miss the game along with Yossi Benayoun who also picked up a muscular injury.
Injured list:
Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere, Yossi Benayoun, Johan Djourou
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

It is important that we manage to find the form that we produced in the first half at Blackburn and it is equally important if not more that we avoid making the errors that we made in the second half.
Offensively we are pretty much at full strength apart from a massive Jack Wilshere sized hole in the attacking midfield position. Apart from that we cannot really complain and it is time that we find our pass and move game over a run of games and not just for sections in certain games.
I am hoping that the team use the pain of last weekend to give them that extra fight from the very first whistle. We clicked into our rhythm nice and early against Blackburn and we will be wanting to do the same again against Bolton.
Come on you Gunners.
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24-Sep-2011 08:32 | | keith - Matchday grub!!!!
Attention all Gooners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matchday grub has a new dimension! Gastro 2 Go! Check us out on St Thomas' Road before the game! We got something special for ya! See you there. Come on the Arsenal!!!
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24-Sep-2011 08:57 | | Sobs the gooner
My 11(4-4-2)
sczezsny-santos-mertesacker-koscielny-sagna-song-arteta-walcott- gervinho-vanpersie-park
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24-Sep-2011 09:23 | | indian gooner forever... - Wilshere to have surgery!!!
Just read on the official website that Jack will have to undergo surgery on that pesky ankle..............so that basically rules him out untill December atleast. That is a huge blow to us and I just don't know how our best player from the earlier season always manages more than half of next season injured!!! Some jinx we have gotten into........
Anyways - with Diaby due back after the international break - I think we should rotate Song, Frimpong, Coquelin and Diaby(in that order - that diaby needs to sort out his solidity big time) in the holding midfielders role and rotate Ramsey & Arteta in the central attacking midfielders role..........I would also love to see Arshavin in that role a few times - his ball retention has been a bit of a problem for the past 9months or so but he can thread a pass as beautifully as anyone!!!
And maybe we can just sign that 'World Class' guy in jan for our midfield and with Sir Jack getting fit - we would have two world class guys bossing our midfield..............who the hell is gonna miss that Cescy fella then!!!
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24-Sep-2011 09:24 | | Mark - Wrong formation
I still don't understand why there are so many gooners thinking that our formation is a 4-3-3 when all these while we have been playing 4-2-3-1. These 2 are totally different formations.
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24-Sep-2011 10:23 | | MeanLean
Mark, we haven't played with a designated link man since Cesc left. Ramsey and Arteta were rotating position against Blackburn.
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24-Sep-2011 10:26 | | MeanLean
Haha, I am not sure Arshavin is first choice right now. He certainly has the ability to but not consistency
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24-Sep-2011 15:49 | | MeanLean
Forget Ramsey, Arteta and company. The closest thing we have had to Cesc this season is Alex Song. Some of his through passes have been fantastic. His goal was superb as well.
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24-Sep-2011 17:47 | | dy - Song
if Song starts to sing this season, a lot of mid field problems and team lineup will be solved.
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24-Sep-2011 19:08 | | MeanLean
Where is Spectrum? Surely he has plenty to say today. His team has just won and he is an Arsenal 'supporter' right?
Three goals, clean sheet. Long may it continue.
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25-Sep-2011 05:27 | | Man United Killer
Agreed! Song is getting good at this.I have always felt through passes is definitely one of our strongest points.I am glad we are not focusing on crossing too much.That is one area we do not particularly excel at.And I have to say that Gibbs is a very decent crosser.He has definitely improved that side of his game.
It's a good win but I would like to be cautious about getting too excited just yet.In any case, the boys have done well.
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25-Sep-2011 07:25 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - Good to see a win. Song and Arteta stood out for me. Song's through pass was lovely, and he appears to be putting some consistency into his game, let's hope it continues. RVP's goal was taken with aplomb. As far as the defence was concerned, at least there weren't any big errors, for a change, and they coped with what little was sent their way. I haven't made my mind up about Koscielny yet. He seems to blow hot and cold, but yesterday he was "efficient ", as Our Great Leader likes to say. Jaaskelainen for them, was outstanding, despite conceding three. So all in all, a satisfactory performance - more so in the second half.
Now ( unlike you A.K.B.'s ), I believe in balancing the picture. We were only good in one half of the game ( the second ). It was apparent to me before the match that Bolton did not have much up front to trouble us. In fact, they were toothless for the WHOLE match, and hardly bothered our defence. They crowded the midfield, and successfully cut off the support from our attacking full backs,( so Owen Coyle had done his homework there ). We controlled the first half, and though dominating the possession, we didn't create much, and struggled to break through. Which was a worry.
Bolton's form going into this game was like ours - also poor, and they were without Gary Cahill, their best defender. Add to that, let's bear in mind they were down to TEN MEN for much of the second half. So you'd expect us to win well against modest and depleted opposition.Our home form seems stable, but our away record will let us down this season.
Looking at the BIGGER PICTURE as we realists always do - the three points moved us up the ladder, but we have not made up ground on the leaders.So we are merely treading water. And with the way the Spuds demolished Liverpool, I worry about our tendency to concede goals away from home. We're shaping up to be a mid table team, as I predicted. We'll win some, and lose some. But we WON'T win the league, and we won't make the top 4. Which simply is not acceptable.
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25-Sep-2011 08:08 | | Spectrum
Man Utd. Killa - Hello again. I must say I thought Wheater didn't make much contact with Theo. Theo seemed to go to ground very easily. Harsh decision in my opinion. Still the ref would have been seeing it from a distance, so I suppose it looked worse from his angle.
But I believe these things even out over a season. Next time we could have a dubious decision go AGAINST US. Speaking of Theo, what is wrong with him ? Not too serious I hope. When we eventually clear out the coaching staff, perhaps that should include the physios as well. There's an endemic problem with our injury woes. Just how competent are our medical people ? We're hit with injuries every season, and yet nothing seems to change.
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25-Sep-2011 08:21 | | Spectrum
Indian Gooner Forever - What makes you think we'll sign a "world class" guy in January , when we could have done it NOW ? We still have 50 million unspent !!! Why wait till January ? Weren't we meant to be aiming to WIN the league THIS YEAR ? So surely it makes more sense to have our best possible squad available from the starting gun ?
And if Wenger has not paid more than 15 million for ANYONE in his entire time with us so far, why would he suddenly change the habit of a lifetime, and throw money around in January ? He won't. You know it, and I know it. More deluded A.K.B. thinking. You all live in fantasyland.
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25-Sep-2011 09:46 | | Spectrum
Congratulations to RVP on his 100 goals. Well done Robin !
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25-Sep-2011 10:11 | | pika
Looking at the BIGGER PICTURE as we realists always do
pmsl ..relax you realist ...there is a realisation which hasnt yet dawned on you the last 6 - 7 years .
A 450MILLION STADIUM
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25-Sep-2011 11:26 | | MeanLean
The idea of writing your catchphrase after congratulating RVP is really weird to me. Can you not manage to write anything without it? Are you obsessed with Arsene? Do you dream about him? The ironic thing is you label people who support the manager in charge of the club when the only person I know obsessed with our manager is you.
I must admit I thought of you when the whole of the Emirates sang 'One Arsene Wenger' it rang loud around the whole Emirates. You must feel absolutely powerless.
Fortunately many people actually understand what Arsene has to work with and what he has to fight against. People like yourself think that Arsenal are on a level playing field with Man City, Chelsea and Manchester United and the reason for our failure is down to the manager and the manager only.
We have started the season awfully but if you think this is a midtable squad then you need your eyes adjusting. We may not be as good as the very best this season but we are still a very good team and that will become apparent as the season continues.
"In Arsene we trust"
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25-Sep-2011 12:13 | | Podge
You're unbelievable. Yes Theo slid to ground but was clearly tugged back by Wheater and as the last defender that is ALWAYS a red card there was nothing harsh about the decision. These things in no way even out over a season we have found that out year after year in particular 07/08 where repeated shocking refereeing during the run in cost us the title. Our medical team doesn't have the best record sadly but they got Rosicky back to premiership standard far quicker than ManU's got the similar case of Owen Hargreaves near a return. Like all medical teams Arsenal's use surgery as a last resort and because of our possession play coupled with the lack of protection we receive from refs our players get injured more.Arsenal are targeted for a kicking in most games opposition players and managers have practically admitted as much yet the refs are more lenient with them when they play Arsenal as it's "how they compete with better footballers"
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25-Sep-2011 12:23 | | Podge
You sum the game up pretty well then act the bollox with what is just an annoying catchphrase at this stage and I'd say even a spurs fan reading this page would think you are a dickhead.We have had a shocking start to the season and it would take a miracle for Arsenal to win the league now but we will hold out hope as long as the manager and players do.If Arsenal can get settled now win 5 or 6 in a row and a few clean sheets crush a team by 5 goals then we will be sitting pretty for top 4 I see the 2 Manchester teams as stronger than us right now(and that saddens me on a neutral level those 2 being successful is terrible for the game) but Chelsea are nothing special and Liverpool are overrated.
We need a convincing win against Spurs to put them in their place and remind everybody that ManU's crushing win was against a lot of half-fit reserves, a team that would never have trained together and that Arsenal are still one of the top teams in the premiership
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25-Sep-2011 12:58 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - "Really weird" to you ? It's balanced. You see, I can also see good things with Arsenal, and when I do, I praise them. You A.K.B.'s have difficulty coming to terms with that. That's because you can't reconcile the fact that realists separate the team from the management of it. To you, the two are inseparable. To me, I have no such illusions. I put sentimentality aside, recognise the realities of our decline, and want change. A.K.B.'s have trouble even seeing that anything much is wrong, let alone agitating to do anything about it.
Yes, you could say I'm on a personal crusade to get rid of Wenger. Because he's NOT THE ONE for us anymore. I would have thought his recent record, behaviour and statements make that obvious. He's done well for us, but now he's yesterday's man, who has lost the "special something" he had.Stadium and other excuses aside. Yet you cling to him, like he's Moses, and will lead you into the Promised Land of future success. I'd love him to prove me wrong, but I can see he won't. Many others have realised it also.
Through our poor forward planning and neglect, we have given ourselves an 11 point handicap. Wenger himself has said we cannot afford to drop any more points. But of course, we will at some stage, thus making it even harder. This is not pessimism, just a sober reading of THE FACTS. Things you A.K.B.'s like to gloss over, in your unrealistic optimism.
We have no chance of winning the league. None. Even the bookies have us at 50/1 to win it. Yet you're happy to sing "There's only one Arsene Wenger" at the ground, after one win against a weak Bolton side, that was down to ten men. Bolton are not the kind of team we should be patting ourselves on the back over. We should be asking why we're 11 points adrift after just six games ! That's the bigger picture.
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25-Sep-2011 13:10 | | Spectrum
pika - Standard A.K.B. excuse. The stadium repayments are on a long term manageable basis, at a low interest rate. They don't have an effect on the transfer budget. You know as well as I do, that we have had plenty of funds available to Wenger for at least the last couple of seasons. Gazidis has said more than once Wenger has the money if he needs it. Wenger chooses not to use it.
I'm not saying we should spend ridiculous amounts like Man. City and Chelsea. No realist says that. As you say, we're not on their financial level. But we can improve the team, by spending wisely and sensibly with what we've got. We could have afforded Mata or Hazard. Yet Wenger always go for the cheap option. It's simply not in his nature to spend the amount necessary, even when the situation demands it. That's negligence. It's not wanting the best for the team. And it's shortchanging the fans and their expectations.
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25-Sep-2011 13:31 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - " The only person obsessed with the manager is me. " ? You really need to get out more. You spend all your time on this, and other A.K.B. blog sites, and aren't seeing the other side of the coin.
Why don't you come over to Le Grove for instance, and put your rose tinted views to them ? They'd love to debate them with you. Other good realist sites are "Arsenal Truth", "Arsenal News Review", ( yes with Myles Palmer ), and others. I realise these are anathema to you lot, but that's because you won't open your mind to an alternative view. These bloggers are solid Arsenal fans, many long time supporters, who love the club as much as anyone. But they're not afraid to tell it like it is, without fear or favour. Even if it makes them unpopular. Why ? Because they CARE. They're not self satisfied brown nosers like many of their detractors.
You wonder why I come on to A.K.B. sites like yours ? Partly because I'm curious as to how your minds work, and partly because those who have a more balanced outlook and are undecided, can hopefully appreciate an alternative way of seeing things.
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25-Sep-2011 16:56 | | Man United Killer - Spectrum's Response
Hello Spectrum.I hope all is well with you.With regard to Theo going down.I think I know what you mean.true.Look at it this way though.Many times in a season,similar decisons go against us so though Theo may seem to have gone down a little easily, many strikers would in todays football era given the smallest amount of contact.All that is needed is a reasonable amount of contact.That said, I think Wheater received his marching orders mainly because he was the last defender.
I think early assessment of Theo's injury reveal that it might be a knee problem.Hopefully he wont stay out for long.Speaking of Theo, I dont think that his best position is on the flank.I feel he is better suited for a center forward.His pace will always force teams to defend deep.
There is something really wrong with the coaching staff.especially the defensive coaching staff and the physios.You've pretty much outlined my thoughts on the medical staff.Is it that they are not doing something righ or is it our training schedule?There are questions to be asked. In Arsene we rust indeed!
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25-Sep-2011 17:08 | | Man United Killer - Podge
Spectrums earlier assessment of the game shows that he is happy with the performances (just like most Gooners) but his final comments show that even though he is impressed wtih our perfomances he still has his reservations about the quality of the team that the manager claims "can win the leage" which is quite a lofty ambition-given the squads depth and strength compared to our fierce rivals.Do you really expect everyone on here to act like its all nice and rosey?We cant act that way because that is not the situation.The man has given credit where credit is due.I am not sure what else you expect. I complain about things I am not happy about but ninety percent of the time I am in the stands.Complaints dont mean you dont love or support your team if you know what I mean.
That said, I have to say I agree with you on your assessment of Chelsea and Pool- though chelsea might be stronger than they seem.
Like you, I am looking to remind Spurs that we will always be a cut above them.But we have to admit they have been increasingly hard to beat in the past couple of years.Their squad has gotten a lot stronger and this will be a difficult job to do if they keep strengthening their squad and we keep dismantling ours without proper replacements.
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25-Sep-2011 17:12 | | Man United Killer
I concur Spectrum.Spot on! It cant all be good.We will give credit where credit is due but how on earth can we act like its all good when it really isnt.Selling all our world class players without proper replacements.Pesisting with a defense that leaks more goals than a sieve leaks water and we are supposed to act like its all nice and rosy? I am not even sure how to begin to do that.
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25-Sep-2011 20:32 | | MeanLean
Speccy,
What in gods name are you on about? Balance? From you?
This is the very first time I have ever read anything remotely positive about anything including van Persie, Wilshere, Vermaelen, Sagna, Chamberlain, Ramsey or any of our players.
The only reason why you said what you did today was because I questioned you. Why do people who think everything is bad pretend that they are realists and have balance? That is the funniest thing I have ever heard.
As for those sites you mentioned, each to their own but I tend to avoid sites that try and twist every thing into a negative regardless of the situation.
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25-Sep-2011 21:22 | | Anonymous - Sp'Rectum the troll
ML,
you're nearly right. His team won, but they were away at wigan
'At Sp'rectum we laugh'
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26-Sep-2011 05:15 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - Yes, BALANCE. The reason I'm not as 'positive' as you is simply because the team and in particular the manager, does not GIVE ME MUCH REASON TO BE. A temporary piece of good news like a win, does not compensate for all the other things that are wrong at the club.
When Wenger starts acting like the man we all remembered and loved, then he would regain some of the respect I had for him, and his actions would flow through to the team, boosting their confidence. Then the results might improve.
But he has become ever more stubborn and single minded in his beliefs, to the detriment of the team. He won't listen to good advice, (ANY advice for that matter).He obsesses with the future, and ignores the realities of the present. He treats the players like they're his sons, indulging them instead of reprimanding them when required. He talks about how great they are, making them think they're better than they actually are. Thus the players settle into a comfort zone of complacency, knowing that even when they don't perform, there won't be repercussions. They'll always be praised no matter what.
These traits of his (and many more), show up on the pitch, and contribute to our poor performances. So to me, it's only natural that we should criticise him. When it KEEPS happening, how can we be positive about it ? But I notice that you and the other A.K.B.'s never seem to mention these sorts of things. That's because your devotion to him blinds you to his shortcomings. And it would be considered disloyal and ungrateful to him for you to do so.
Proof of this is pika's asinine comments. He stated in one of his posts that Wenger should never be questioned, or challenged. More or less saying that he can do no wrong, and that we should accept everything he says and does as final. And that he won't even discuss it.That is laughable and tragic. It's the kind of thinking you'd find in a communist state. Total obedience and denial. Try to point out the error of this type of thinking, and you're abused, and regarded as some kind of subversive.
So to summarise - If and when Wenger changes ( won't happen, of course ), things will likely improve and the gloom can lift. I'm not just talking about a few good results ( i.e. Bolton ), or a temporary winning run. I mean LONG TERM change. Our problems are chronic and entrenched. And they mainly STEM FROM HIM, and the weak sycophantic board. But change won't happen because he's declined badly, and he doesn't even recognise it. And no-one has the heart or courage to tell him.Until he goes, we'll continue to underachieve. There are plenty of others out there who can take over and do better. When that happens, I'll be glad to be more optimistic.There will be good reason to. Because we'll be back on track.
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26-Sep-2011 08:32 | | pika
lmao mean why do you even bother mate ? lol ..cant you see these two are anything BUT arsenal fans...its so damn obvious one can only laugh at their good cop bad cop routines that only a rival fan would do so as to show some pseudo balance.
man this is your site..you can control the traffic ..just give us their ip and youll see within 24 hrs that i am right. you know how many spud and chelsea trolls are loving it to see us in this condition? u know how many little engladers would love to see arsenal lose its most succesful ever manager ?
snap out of it mean...dont argue with them ...send them wehre they belong..flush them down the toilet.
no real arsenal; fan would ever boo the manager or show such stupidity when comparing what we can spend with the others. no real arsenal fan would ever complain about expenditur..they are trying to pass on as the caring football fans who worry about the fans money and where its going ...well thats a rivalo trolls arguement..certainly not a gunner's.
a gunner can see where his money goes ...ultra modern stadium and facilities to bring out player after player to play wengerball. and a real gunner is proud of that. and if he aint...thats his problem ..not arsenals
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26-Sep-2011 08:35 | | pika
justa simple example to explain to you what i mean Meanlean
thsi spectrum right above says he wont let a positive ( a win)hide all the negatives ( wrong things) at the club .
why dont you ask that cretin what is WRONG in a club that is between 3rd and 5th richest position in WORLD FOOTBALL....and all that without a sole benefactor to cripple the club on debt after debt.
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26-Sep-2011 08:42 | | pika
it happens on all fiootball forums blogs all across europe /world mate ...psg fans log in as marseille fans to pretend the balnaced fans always talking abotu the negatives...braca fans log in as real fans to talk about their negatives and so on ... the same happens here.
the natives do NOT LIKE ARSENAL OR ARSENE WENGER and will not rest until they see him gone.
the gunners would do well to remember that
arsenal records a victory ..a well needed result..and the first thing on the papers is DOUBT about van persies contract which ends in 2013 ( 2 years) and doomsday talk about theo s injury and beratting our medical team again.
wenger gets the club in the champions league with a depleted squad and martin samuel only has time to COMPLAIN and CRITISISE about results in epl.....LOL ....someone should inform mr samuel thatthe udinese games represented 30million while the first 3-4 fixtures of the epl in august are fixtures where the points lost can be gained in the rest 34-35 games.
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26-Sep-2011 13:24 | | Spectrum
pika - Wow. The bigot in you is really being revealed now. Anyone who doesn't agree with you and your views should not only be denigrated, but silenced as well. That's it - censor and suppress all opinions contrary to your own.
I think you should get an extra supply of blood pressure tablets, the way you're going, you'll be having a coronary. What next ? Will you find out my home address and send your mates round to do me over ?
This is a forum where everyone is entitled to their point of view. Whether for or against. That's what living in a democracy is all about. If you can't handle criticism of your beloved idol, you are free to just read the posts that agree with your narrow minded outlook. But you prefer to rant and rave, don't you ?
Now you 'll no doubt reply with more of the same, thus proving my point.
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