Arsenal vs Stoke City Sunday 11th January KO: 13:30

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Ozil, Ramsey, Giroud and Flamini all back in contention

No reason not to rest Alexis against the Mongrels

[Master Splinter]

He's had a week off. No need for a rest. All our players eventually succumb to a long-term injury anyway so he might as well be used while he's in good form.

WUMger will reward Giroud for his stupidity by handing him an instant start on his return rather than stick with the flexibility, movement, speed, directness and unpredictability that a similar forward line to the one versus Hull would offer. The midfield should stay the same too, as it had more balance and fluency than we've seen in a while. Ozil and Flamini straight back into the team too, then.

2-0.

[Syn]

If Giroud had some competition then I'd agree but Walcott looked very rusty last week, Welbeck's injured and don't know what to make of Campbell. Giroud was actually showing some good form before his ban. The only other choice is Sanchez at CF but Giroud would be better on physical battles. Don't think Ozil will start this, so Sanchez will still have his free role to do the damage.

[Master Splinter]

Stoke orcs find it easier against players like Bif. They thrive on the barging and hussling and grappling and elbowing. Speedy, nippy fuckers will trouble them more.

Feo's finishing was crap, but he made some superb runs.

[AFC Leveller]

Giroud has got to start upfront, he gives the team a nice and betetr ballance than anyone else. When Sanchez as played upfront; we have looked toothless because he doesnt play the lone striker role as well as BIF.

Id go with:

Ches

Debuchy---Mert--Kos--Gibbs

Cazorla---Coq---Rozza

Sanchez----Giroud--Ox

id love a 6-0 but cant see it, 2-1 more likely.

[Injury Time]

Flamini straight red within 10mins, Orc will literally kill Sanchez and get a cuddle and penalty from the ref. 0-1
Chez to be sold after the match for rolling a big fat joint.

[adzzzbatch]

2-1. that is all.

[Niall_Quinn]

3-0 Ozil hattrick.

[Syn]

RAMSEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

1-0!!!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Can't believe Ozil is actually back! I'd say his Rambo and Theo's comeback puts less onus on us to rest Sanchez so I don't see why he shouldn't play really.

I'd be inclined to go with Lev's team.

[Munchies]

3-0

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal: Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud.
Subs: Szczesny, Bellerin, Flamini, Ramsey, Özil, Campbell, Walcott.

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Wollscheid, Shawcross, Pieters; Nzonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Bojan, Walters; Crouch.
Subs: Butland, Muniesa, Ireland, Wilson, Moses, Adam, Sidwell

Ches. :wave:

[adzzzbatch]

Chesney :pal:

[Maestro]

for once i can't argue with the selection as none of the returnees from injury should walk back into the team. without welbz, we have no choice but to recall bif. monreal is shit but gibbs hasn't convinced either. ches and his dad are hyenas, so there we are.

[adzzzbatch]

Worst points tally after 20 games for 20 years, progress! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hoddle on Crouch:

He's as technically astute as anyone you've ever had in the Prem.

:haha:

[adzzzbatch]

hoddle: "stoke are amazing, stoke are great, stoke are brilliant etc. etc."

[Niall_Quinn]

This game will be as dull as a Hoddle.

[Maestro]

scrote last won at our ground in the early 80's i'm sure, just don't know if that's a good omen anymore ...considering the ostrich effect

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bojan, Cazorla and Monreal having a nice cosy chat.

[adzzzbatch]

COME ON YOU 'ORRIBLE LOT, BEAT THESE CUNTS!!

[adzzzbatch]

Bojan, Cazorla and Monreal having a nice cosy chat.

That shit needs to stop.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah I don't like it either. Do it after the game in the tunnel if you have to.

Anyway, come on Arsenal. :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

Coq to get sent off today.

[adzzzbatch]

19 seconds last time :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Made it past 19 seconds.

Us. :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

shawcross gets half hearted boos, pathetic attempt from our lot :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

His "clash" with Aaron Ramsey :haha:

That's one way of whitewashing it I guess.

[adzzzbatch]

oooooooooooooo

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good curler from Alexis, Begovic saves.

[adzzzbatch]

His "clash" with Aaron Ramsey :haha:

That's one way of whitewashing it I guess.

:haha: :haha:

[adzzzbatch]

"stoke have real quality going forward"

since when? :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bionic Mosquito. :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

oooooooooooooooooooo

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a save from Begovic! Unlucky Rosicky.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

KOSCIELNY!!!!!

[adzzzbatch]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! GET IN!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Look at Alexis running his guts out while everyone else strolls around.

Begovic will be having the best game of his career ever by the look of it.

[Master Splinter]

KOSCIELNY!!!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Good header.

Now let's sit back and invite them to get the equaliser.

[A Gunner]

1-0

[adzzzbatch]

Don't sound too happy sky :rolleyes:

[Master Splinter]

Have they done the "why haven't Arsenal gone for Begovic?" thing yet?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BFG showing Crouch who the technically astute footballer really is.

Old Men Henry and Pires. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Stoke defending like we do.

[adzzzbatch]

HENRY + PIRES :bow:

[A Gunner]

Bobbi and Henry

[Master Splinter]

Pires :loveblush:.

[adzzzbatch]

Have they done the "why haven't Arsenal gone for Begovic?" thing yet?

Yep :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Have they done the "why haven't Arsenal gone for Begovic?" thing yet?

That's later, after they dig up some shit on Ospina.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bobbi and Henry

Are they eligible to play?

[adzzzbatch]

come on get a quick 2nd!!

[adzzzbatch]

debuchy :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well Shite. :lol:

[adzzzbatch]

we're pretty shit a booing

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Terrible from Walters.

Arnautovic being a prick to Debuchy. Fuck sake.

[adzzzbatch]

That was a fucking foul!!!

[adzzzbatch]

Arnautovic should be sent off!!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

So no booking for that deliberate shove into the hoardings then? And it certainly was deliberate.

[adzzzbatch]

How the fuck did know one see it!?!?!?

Oh we only scored because of stoke misunderstanding :rolleyes:

[adzzzbatch]

down to 10 and play carries on :rolleyes:

[Master Splinter]

The start was too good. Too many players returning from injury.

Someone had to die.

Coquelin to break his left ear next.

[adzzzbatch]

This is a fucking disgrace!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Something like that generally ends in an injury, the pushed player has no control and not falling on anything even slightly protected.

[Niall_Quinn]

The orc gameplan is on track then. Injure as many as possible until the final 10 mins when the ref will wake up.

[RomfordPele]

Arnautovic is not that kind of player. Blah blah blah.

Exactly the "challenge" giroud lost his shit over a few weeks ago.

[adzzzbatch]

ref sees that foul :rolleyes:

[Niall_Quinn]

LOL - that's a foul though :haha:

[adzzzbatch]

meanwhile debuchy is still down

[adzzzbatch]

oooooooooooooooooooooo

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ox always hits it well but never on target.

[Niall_Quinn]

Good try by Ox, great play by Alexis despote being fouled.

[adzzzbatch]

debuchy still down, looks like a knee and a shoulder

[McNamara That Ghost...]

An unnecessary injury? You mean, he was pushed?

[adzzzbatch]

It was a fucking foul!!! He didn't hurt himself!! :rolleyes:

[RomfordPele]

Fuck you sky. This was an "unfortunate injury" apparently. That's the media line.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I'm sorry, why are the commentators talking about what happened like a mishap, it was the result of unmitigated thuggery. Just shoved him off the ball.

[Master Splinter]

Good try by Ox, great play by Alexis despote being fouled.

You said "despote". :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

They "clashed"

[adzzzbatch]

fucking joke ref!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alexis gets a talking to for asking the ref to do his job.

[Niall_Quinn]

You said "despote". :haha:

Said deliberately to draw you in.

[adzzzbatch]

Anything to excuse stoke from being cunts :rolleyes:

[adzzzbatch]

well played coq

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a save from Begovic to stop Bif.

Alexis. :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Composure Bif, composure!

[adzzzbatch]

fucking useless giroud

[Niall_Quinn]

Best game of his life ever Begovic saves again.

[adzzzbatch]

smith urging stoke on...

[Niall_Quinn]

Here we go again, should be 3 or 4 by now.

[adzzzbatch]

shawcross dragging giroud all over the place :rolleyes:

[adzzzbatch]

that was a lunge by poor ryan nothing given.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bif being a bit thick again. Don't give the orcs what they want.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nobody supporting Cazorla in midfield. Weird.

[adzzzbatch]

booking for us coming up

[adzzzbatch]

boyan fell over gets a free kick

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ospina trolling Ches.

[adzzzbatch]

ref letting the stoke players do what they want :rolleyes:

[Niall_Quinn]

Bif needs to calm down or he won't last the game. Gentle Giant Shawcross has obviously been sent out to provoke him at every opportunity.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Whelan. :haha:

[adzzzbatch]

croach gets away with fouling in the box all the fucking time.

[Gooner23]

This ref is a prick. Biased or incompetent? I'd say both.

[Niall_Quinn]

Crouch complaining that Merts is reacting to his fouling.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wake up Rhino!

[adzzzbatch]

our crosses are a joke!

[adzzzbatch]

fuck off ref!

[adzzzbatch]

fucking joke!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Pretty impressive stuff from Stoke. 60 fouls per minute.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arnautovic still no booking.

[adzzzbatch]

commentators more concerned how quickly giroud recovers rather than the foul itself :rolleyes:

[RomfordPele]

Foul by the fella who shouldn't be on the pitch.

[Niall_Quinn]

Coq doing well on a couple of occasions to clean up after Santi.

[adzzzbatch]

mertesacker doesn't jump :lol:

[adzzzbatch]

chamberlain :doh:

[adzzzbatch]

alan smith urging stoke on....

[adzzzbatch]

fuck off merts!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ALEXIS!!! I LOVE HIM!!!!

[adzzzbatch]

YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! !!!!! FUCK YOU STOKE!!!!!

[adzzzbatch]

GET IN!!!!

[Master Splinter]

SANCHEZ!!!!!!

[A Gunner]

Alexis 2 - 0, thought he was going to pass

[adzzzbatch]

We only scored because of a stoke mistake again :rolleyes:

[Niall_Quinn]

Seriously though, what a fucking goal and what a fucking player.

[RomfordPele]

Absolute genius. Let's hope the orcs don't cripple him in second half.

[Niall_Quinn]

We ended up getting Suarez in the end, the younger version.

[Gooner23]

Lovely goal

Thankfully our good football is outweighing their cheating and ref's incompetency.

[adzzzbatch]

come on sky how about actually giving Arsenal credit!?!?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Send him off!

[adzzzbatch]

fuck off crouch dirty cunt

[adzzzbatch]

it's a fucking elbow smith!

[adzzzbatch]

such a lovely goal!

[Gooner23]

Not an elbow apparently :haha:

[adzzzbatch]

yes you could say getting kicked all over the place is a blot on the copybook :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'd suggest Stoke being relegated is best for all concerned but the same players will only find themselves at other clubs I guess.

[Master Splinter]

Former Stoke captain Andy Griffin on BBC Radio Stoke: "These Arsenal players should have signs around them saying 'Do not touch'. It's ridiculous, the fans are up for everything."


Has this turd been to any other ground in the country? If our crowd bayed consistently like stupid cunts, we might get something once in a while.

[Gooner23]

Our two injuries?

More like their two fouls. Fuck off sky.

[RomfordPele]

One dislocated shoulder. One broken nose. No yellow cards. Not one.

Closest to a card was when alexis had the temerity to suggest the ref might like to get one out.

[Niall_Quinn]

As I was saying over in the Film Thread - we're blotting our copybook by having our defenders killed by orcs.

[adzzzbatch]

Has this turd been to any other ground in the country? If our crowd bayed consistently like stupid cunts, we might get something once in a while.

what a disgusting cunt.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BFG. :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

"oh stoke what a beauty, how lovely" :sick:

[Niall_Quinn]

Heart in your mouth when you see our lads going in for those 50/50s.

Commentators finally getting a bit excited as Stoke get a cross in.

[Master Splinter]

Just one Stoke player needs to be booked and one referee to do his job and their whole gameplan completely unravels.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great run from Ox, shame it was Bif supporting the run - not the fastest.

[adzzzbatch]

"eased out of the way" :haha: fuck off sky!

[Niall_Quinn]

That's a silly dive by Bif.

[adzzzbatch]

fuck off crouch you cunt!

[Niall_Quinn]

Just one Stoke player needs to be booked and one referee to do his job and their whole gameplan completely unravels.

Do not forget they have spare foulers on the bench.

[adzzzbatch]

"he's having a great season"

by fouling every fucker he meets?

[Niall_Quinn]

Crouch should be off by now. But his name isn't Chambers and his fouls are intentional.

[adzzzbatch]

still no bookings :haha:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Was that not a blatant foul by shawcross on Bif?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Five added minutes. Not sure how with no fouls though.

[Maestro]

what scrotes these orcs are, hate them and they can all die as far as i'm concerned. let's pump 'em a few more

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Crouch. :haha:

Waster.

[adzzzbatch]

kos outrun by crouch wtf!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Very calm backpass by Crunch.

[adzzzbatch]

You never would've thought Smith was ex Arsenal would ya?

[Niall_Quinn]

Merts slows our play horribly.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ox with another beauty, out the stadium.

[adzzzbatch]

ox :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox almost getting one on target again.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can you imagine if Alexis played for one of the mancs clubs? Every game would be suspended for all the commentary cum on the pitch.

[adzzzbatch]

Poor old stoke being punished for nothing acroding to sky :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke, HT.

Shawcross is a nice guy!

[adzzzbatch]

"Only blot is the injuries" :rolleyes:

You mean the fouls right sky?

[adzzzbatch]

Doing ok, just gotta stop injuring ourselves all the time!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Decent half considering what we are up against.

Blotted our copybook when Debuchy injured himself, but otherwise the passing has been decent, we've done well down the flanks and Alexis has been too fast for their lunging and barging. Should be more than 2 but that'll do provided we don't sit back in the second half. 35 mins more of pain before the booking window opens.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ray Winstone's dulcet tones. Tasty!

[Master Splinter]

Should be 4-0 and Stoke down to nine.

2-0 will do in a world where refs are corrupt.

It's amazing how these innocuous fouls and long stoppages have the strange effect of stopping the attacking team's momentum. It's almost as if it's planned and condoned by officials just to add security. It's what Chelsea are allowed to get away with every week. Stoke are also shit at football, so they can't have an effect at the top of the table. Yet.

[Niall_Quinn]

Should be 4-0 and Stoke down to nine.

2-0 will do in a world where refs are corrupt.

It's amazing how these innocuous fouls and long stoppages have the strange effect of stopping the attacking team's momentum. It's almost as if it's planned and condoned by officials just to add security. It's what Chelsea are allowed to get away with every week. Stoke are also shit at football, so they can't have an effect at the top of the table. Yet.

This is why it's tBLitWtbf - you never know when some player is going to be viciously assaulted.

[Master Splinter]

It's not dirty because there have been no yellows apparently.

:haha:

[adzzzbatch]

the studio no doubt saying that stoke should've done better for the goals.

[Niall_Quinn]

There's no "good fortune" by Alexis being quickest to the ball Hoddle. That's his game. That's why he's better than everyone else on the pitch.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They didn't even mention Debuchy. :unsure:

[A Gunner]

Everyone is against Arsenal, even our own fans...

[Niall_Quinn]

It's not dirty because there have been no yellows apparently.

:haha:

That is why it's tBLitWtbf - you never know when a ref is going to see a blatant foul happen under his nose and book Arteta.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Henry is on Sky soon? I wish they would mention it a bit more.

[Niall_Quinn]

They didn't even mention Debuchy. :unsure:

tbf, it wasn't smart for him to injure himself like that.

[A Gunner]

Henry is on Sky soon? I wish they would mention it a bit more.

But it would be like 10 against 1, he mentions it, and get shot down

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ser Jorah. :bow:

In the friend zone.

Khalessi. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

But it would be like 10 against 1, he mentions it, and get shot down

Yeah hope it ends in a punch-up.

[RomfordPele]

Let's hope The arrival of Henry forces sky to be a bit less violently anti-arsenal in their editorial.

No question in my mind it's the reason why we get crap refs all the fucking time. They know if they give even a 50-50 in our favour they will be carpeted by the studio. Not even a mention of the shove that put debuchy in hospital. If it were giroud, we'd have seen the push from 20 different angles by now.

[Niall_Quinn]

I can never remember, is the one who looks like van Gaal Beavis or Butthead?

[adzzzbatch]

couple of cunts off and a couple of cunts on for stoke

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nzonzi and Pieters off, Muniesa and Sidwell on.

Sidwell used to be an Arsenal youth player you know.

[adzzzbatch]

"disruption to the stoke team"

So Arsenal haven't had any then?

[Niall_Quinn]

Two fresh orcs vomited from the hell pits of Mordor are coming on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a counter-attack.

[adzzzbatch]

I sense that sky don't like the fact that alexis plays for us.

[Niall_Quinn]

Maybe we shouldn't let Santi take corners?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Freekick to us, dangerous area.

Still no booking.

[adzzzbatch]

still no booking

No smith he didn't get the ball

[Niall_Quinn]

That was a blocking challenge btw, not a foul.

[adzzzbatch]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ALEXIS!!! WHAT A PUB!!!!

[adzzzbatch]

That was a blocking challenge btw, not a foul.

:haha:

[Master Splinter]

SANCHEZ!!!!!

[A Gunner]

3 - 0 With the wall 6 yards away!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

That'll do. And it has really upset the commentators so that's the icing.

[Master Splinter]

Begovic is world class.

[Maestro]

hahahahaha ......fuckin orcs

alexis on the bitter and ales .....pubbin' it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Kos, stopping that oaf Walters.

[Niall_Quinn]

For once, the cheating wall has been caught out. They ignored the line, were virtually on top of the FK, so it's pure justice they helped the ball into the net. Nice.

[adzzzbatch]

sky getting excited with the walters chance :haha:

[adzzzbatch]

YYYYYYAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY :haha:

[A Gunner]

Finally a yellow card for Stoke

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wellshite booked.

[adzzzbatch]

"just there"

It was fucking obvious Alan

[Niall_Quinn]

YELLOW CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, just wowwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Come on, let's do these cunts by 5 or 6. Definitely there if we want it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Staples in Monreal's eye? I don't think so somehow.

[adzzzbatch]

monreal has staples in his head, but it wasn't a foul by crouch :rolleyes:

[Munchies]

http://giant.gfycat.com/SoreRecentHammerkop.gif

http://giant.gfycat.com/ScrawnyPoliteAlpinegoat.gif

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Very good sliding tackle from Bellerin.

[adzzzbatch]

sky are depressed now :lol:

[adzzzbatch]

merts is so slow :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ox. :haha:

[adzzzbatch]

Smith is still hoping stoke can get something from the game

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arnautovic freekicks, curls away.

[Niall_Quinn]

We've stood up to this bashing really well so far. When is somebody on Sky going to notice that? Right now they are trying to pretend this is a self inflicted defeat by the orcs. But we've taken their typical shit and have played quite well despite it.

[Maestro]

merts is so slow :lol:

like a rhino?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Loving the ospina chant :-)

[Niall_Quinn]

Smudger trying to get the dubious goals panel involved.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Coquelin with a pass to himself.

[Niall_Quinn]

like a rhino?

Well he's no hippo!

[Maestro]

We've stood up to this bashing really well so far. When is somebody on Sky going to notice that? Right now they are trying to pretend this is a self inflicted defeat by the orcs. But we've taken their typical shit and have played quite well despite it.

english football all over. stand up to the thuggery first before you can play, otherwise we can pack our bags before kick off.

[adzzzbatch]

Has Alexis scored as many as that cunt kane yet?

[adzzzbatch]

Where was the fucking advantage there!?!?!?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why was the advantage played there?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cameron booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rosicky. :blink:

[adzzzbatch]

Another booking? :faint:

[Niall_Quinn]

Another yellow and bloody right too. Shame the yellows weren't there in the first half or they'd be down to 3 by now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Crouch pubs it.

BFG and Ox being daft.

[adzzzbatch]

Fuck off merts!

[Niall_Quinn]

english football all over. stand up to the thuggery first before you can play, otherwise we can pack our bags before kick off.

Yes but with Rooney we could win the World Cup you know?

[Maestro]

Well he's no hippo!

:haha:

don't make me go there

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Crouch booked.

A game of two halves. :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

crouch you cunt!!!

[adzzzbatch]

"he did get the ball"


NO HE DIDN'T!!

[Maestro]

all these yellows should really be second yellows by now

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox is quietly becoming a very good player.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cazorla gets sandwiched.

[adzzzbatch]

foul ignored by the ref.

[Niall_Quinn]

Dirty bastard with his 117th leg breaker. No red.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alexis on another planet.

[Niall_Quinn]

Magic by Alexis, pubbery by Bif.

[adzzzbatch]

I think Alexis is alright.