Is this just becoming a football blog?

I don't care cause I'm a season ticket holder so I can go on about my team as much as I like now.

We don't need to see their goals; they were pretty insignificant in the end so let’s just feast our eyes on these four bad boys!

1-2...

2-2...

3-2...

4-2...


I'll probably be back down to earth this time next month! So I'll enjoy every minute of it while I can. I wonder if we can continue this success past: Villa, Manu U, Chelsea then Liverpool. We'll see, watch this space.

Superstition? To be or not to be?

Question: are us football supporters too wrapped up in superstition or does it really have an effect.

CASE 1 - we were having a tough game against Villa, 0-0 at half time when D realised for some reason that we were in the wrong seats. Usually I always sit in the end aisle seat. Not that is matters but she made us swap round, we suddenly start playing a lot better and eventually we get THREE goals. I hear about us being in the wrong seats all the way home and how that was at fault for the goalless first half.

CASE 2 - D wears a hat for the first time, after going 2-0 down against Bolton she slighly removes it, it was cold so I asked her was that superstition or something, she reluctantly nodded. Whatever floats your boat? Then the dramatic come back, how funny...boy did that hat go sailing in to the crowd when the 4th goal went in, she launched it as far as she could throw it, LOL.

Well we can all do what we can to help the team.

Vs Bolton PART 2

This game had just about everything and will be a fond memory for a long time to come I think! What a thriller, makes the season ticket price worth it for moments like this.

After the first game I thought Bolton played really well and caused us a few problems despite us eventually running out 2-0 winners. If there was anything to be learnt from that game, they would sacrifice a forward and deploy a man marker on Fabregas. So they did. Only surprise was they dropped Klasnic, he looked very sharp in first game so that was a bonus for us. I thought they would keep him in and push Davies out on the wing. Kevin Davies is an underrated player, no he doesn't have all the glitz and flair, but he contributes a hell of a lot to Bolton in a way an old fashion traditional centre forward should. I've looked at him closely many times and he’s a handful. He works incredibly hard for the team, a real asset to Bolton.

So we've suffered a few niggley injuries this season but it seems every time a players out, we have good enough cover. By jolly, does this finally mean we have learnt the error of our ways :-) Previous seasons we've missed out I feel due to no strength and depth in the squad, compared to the likes of Chelsea and Man U who could field a strong 11 and an almost equally strong back up 11 out of the same squad. So we have loads of tricky samey samey attacking midfielders and everyone gets on Wengers back (me included) sign a forward no more attacking midfielders, but have we not needed them all?! Not once have they all been fit at the same time. So our big guns...Diaby, Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri, Denilson, Ramsey, Song, Arshavin. YES that’s EIGHT for FOUR places, bingo. That’s without mentioning Eboue who has been a good versatile player for us, but is he not surplus to requirements now? A bit like Senderos (Sols a gooner, der der der dert, Sols a gooner) Craig Eastmond, impressed (Jack Wilshire, Fran Merida cameo’s have been ok too)

OK we have struggled up front with Van Persie and Bendtner out. I feel Eduardo's still finding himself a bit and Arshavins done ok up there, surely we could benefit from a BIG target man. That said we have not struggled for goals. We are top scorers in the league and the goals are coming from a range of players. So once again IN WENGER WE TRUST. Boy am I going to appreciate Bendtner when he's back!!!! Recently signed a new contract cries of WHY from the fans, it takes us a while...but we get there in the end. Wenger, really in my eyes you are a legend and I honestly can not imagine my Arsenal without you.

So, we go 2-0 down. I thought they would score, I even thought they would get the first goal, as that’s typically us and I've seen it all before. Sorry, I never envisaged them getting 2! After the first goal went it was the usual deafly silence, and then the crowd got straight behind the boys. Not so sure after the second one though. I know this is a bit arrogant, but even at 2-0 down I never thought we'd lose the game not once did doubt set in at all. Fabregas was having a frustrating half, but the team was creating enough chances. It would only be a matter of time before we got something; right now we are just way too creative.

What a break through though, that Rosicky goal was awesome. just before half time and we piled it on them big time, could of got another in quick succession. I looked at Bolton and thought they began to tire if that’s possible, I don't know. Its just they were first to a lot of balls 1st half and their work rate was so high, in the end though does the fast fluid football pull though...you can't chase the ball round forever. We really let the ball do all the hard work.

So second half much better, kept the pressure on and got a controversial equaliser though who else, the man of the moment: FABREGAS. I saw the Gallas foul in the build up and at the time thought to myself he got away with that one. As for Owen Coyle and his assault. No. Yes it was a bad foul. Yes we played on but it was behind the attacking players (how may times do you drill in to the kids, play to the whistle) you don't know if the player gets up and no you can't kick the ball out every time a player goes down and your on the attack 2-1 down at home in a crucial match that could put you top of the league. Could you imagine, players would be dropping like flies? Cast your mind back a few matches when Denilson dropped unchallenged going towards our goal with the ball...in full view of play this time. Did we moan that Everton pounced on this and took the ball right the way up the pitch and nearly scored, no we never.

At this stage I was happy. I remember looking at Bolton home and away within a week and thinking 6pts maybe not possible. So 2-0 down back to 2-2 I was satisfied as I felt my faith had paid off. Hold on, surely not, VERMAELEN: GOAL and we go crazy. Ha ha ha. Taylour, what’s the score, Taylour Taylour what’s the score. Taylour, what’s the score, Taylour Taylour what’s the score. Egg on your face disgrace. You dare to celebrate your penalty goal to put your team 2-0 up in front of our tribe with only 12supporters backing you up and have the wrath of at least 50k plus gooners on your case. I bet he wanted the ground to swallow him up. Now we just play out at a slower pace, purely concentrating on retaining possession. With that just come more penetrating flicks here and there and BAM Arshavin bundles his way through their defense to coolly finish the fairy tale off for us!! So we not only win the game, but that gives us the two goal cushion we required to go...we are top of the league, say we are top of the league.

After the game I was on such a high, what a feeling, checkout the table when I got home...

Vs Bolton PART 1

Feel dreadful today, coldy, headachey, sore throaty mess. Would of loved to stay home wrapped in a duvet all day, but hey ho the show must go on.

So we beat Bolton 2-0 yesterday and have the unusual pleasure of playing them again Wednesday due to all the weather disruptions etc etc NOT TO SELF: wrap up warm.

Let’s hope finally this game goes ahead and for as long as I can remember we are able to sing, TOP THE LEAGUE, TOP THE LEAGUE, Whaooo Whaooo :-)

Our underdog title status is finally coming to fruition; Sunday's win ensures we remain 3pts behind Chelsea and 2pts behind Man U with a game in hand. Not to mention the fact we play both of these end of Jan, beginning Feb! I’m not counting my chickens yet, but we have a very big say in where we will be in the table come mid February time :-) Which could be a very dominating position if we play our cards right.

This is why we love the Premier league, after suffering our 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea we've responded by dropping just 4pts in our next 8 games. Where as Chelsea have since dropped 9pts in 7games and Man U have dropped 8pts over the same period. Whey hey.

ohh 2, ohh 2b, ohh 2b a, GOONER

Postponed

So after all the anticipation, it was called off!

Of course we must emphasize again, the Emirates pitch was playable but there were safety concerns about the surrounding areas of the stadium and transport problems.

So I guess there will be another revised date for this fixture. I hope we are still in the mix by then. Hopefully we will be playing it out to go 3pts clear at the top of the table by then!

So the official statement read:

"Despite making every effort to stage tonight's match against Bolton Wanderers, the sudden and unpredicted adverse change in weather conditions in the Highbury area has left us no choice but to postpone the fixture."

"We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and wish to state that this decision was not made lightly and supporters' safety and travel arrangements were major factors in our thinking"

"All tickets currently held will be valid for the re-arranged fixture."

3:40pm I think it was officially called off, so I made my way across the river from work instead of across London to the game...checked in on sky sports news when I got home, those poor Bolton fans actually at the stadium...

"watch the Arsenal, you only come to watch the Arsenal, come to watch the Arrrrsssenal, you only come to watch the Arsenal" Good luck with your trip back, see you next time!

The long awaited game in hand against Bolton

Just over a month ago our title hopes were in tatters, after a 3-0 home loss to Chelsea leaving us 11 points off the pace. What a joy that was. No complaints, I thought defensively Chelsea were absolutely solid. Probably the best unit I have seen for ages. We don't help ourselves though, chipping balls up to the likes of Arshavin/Eduardo/Vela etc who probably have a combined height of 6ft between them, what’s the point. Easy pickings for the likes of Carvalho and Terry. Why not play to our strengths rather than to their advantage?

Their open play goals. I'm sure they were two carbon copy crosses from Cole. What did we not learn the first time? Why back off that much after only allowing him in to our half twice, two times is all he needed to play two decisive killer balls in. Ok great, lets just rub salt in the wounds.

Leads me nicely on to Drogba. Oh how he was the butt of everyone's jokes. Now look at him. What a good player, it pains me to say it. Reminded me of a game I watched from behind the goal at Euro2004, Ruud van Nistelrooy was very much the striker in form back then. Germany was beating the Netherlands 1-0 and Van Nistelrooy was a virtual spectator for the whole match. No exaggeration, Germany never gave him an inch all game, he hardly touched the ball. That’s when you find out you have a world class striker in your ranks, on 81mins with the centre back all over him somehow he managed to score a superb goal and rescue a point for his country. But that was all it took, one touch, one chance, one goal. Bit like Drogba, did nothing but stick the final boot in on a couple of goals. What more do you need your striker to do. It was just one of those days, when they got that free kick around the edge of area on 86min, of course that went in too and I walked out with everyone else.

Our midfield had no problems against them; I would probably go as far as to say we were stronger than them in this area. I actually thought our defense was ok too, I know they let in three goals (ok I’m bias but sorry it was a flattering score line) but really if they are top of the league and they are the benchmark, yes they have the best defense I've seen but we are not that far off them! We struggled big time up front. We were never at the races. That was what the difference was in my eyes, once they got the ball up there they had Drogba and Anelka. We had sod all. So for all our efforts at getting the ball up there, it was never going to materialise in to anything.

Come back Bendtner all is forgiven I now I see, understand and miss all what you offer to the team and I promise to appreciate you from here on in cause I will cast my mind back to this period we sustained without you. Groveling and promises over. Hey its January any 6ft target will do at this stage, nudge nudge wink wink Arsene, please... I trust in you n all but 'big size' cover for our impressive centre backs and forwards, no more pint sized attacking midfield maestros, we have loads of those now.

While were on the subject, a MOAN: I knew it was too good to be true, Van Persie, great player but way to injury prone. Loads of promise and potential but he has never completed a full season, has he? Call me unsympathetic but it just really annoys me. He broke his toe in January 2006, fractured a metatarsal in January 2007 and damaged a knee on international duty in October 2007. After finally starting to enjoy a relatively injury-free 2008/09 season, he started out in all Premier League games and in only 11 appearances was our second highest scorer with eight goals but check this, he also had eight assists. So vital to the team, then gets injured again on international duty. Let’s see if he can impact on the 09/10 season, he was on course but I am sure he is never going to be a 25goal a season player. There I said it.

So our first season as season ticket holders and everyone was poking fun at us saying it will be the first season we finish outside of the top four. Oh I guess all them haters must of been referring to Man City wedging us out or something. Rain check: Man City are 5th and Mark Hughes has been sacked. So despite only losing 2 and the four above all losing 3, 4 even 5 games each its the ridiculous 8 draws that have been their downfall. Shame on you Toure and Adebayor. See you in April!

So, back to the game in hand (what an important match, I will be on tender hooks) a win will put us, ER HELLO yes 1pt in front of Man U and only 1pt behind Chelsea. Right in the mix with every chance of winning the League, we are doing ok in the Champions League and still in the FA Cup (where were you when Jermaine Beckford's goal dumped Man U out, LOL) We love a big match fact: Manchester United had never before lost in the third round of the Cup - or been knocked out of it by a lower-division side - during Sir Alex Ferguson's 23-year reign as manager, but they began 2010 on the wrong end of their biggest upset in this competition since they were dumped out by Bournemouth in 1984. Shame. Well done Leeds, only forty-two league places separate you from Man U but I thought you thoroughly deserved the victory. It was a thrilling tie and I enjoyed all 95 minutes of it.

Ok really back to the game tonight, see I'm so anxious I can't concentrate...

I immediately thought Bolton are considered our 'bogey side' but news just in, that was only under Sam Allardyce! So there is hope as we've won our last six games against Wanderers, scoring 14 goals in the process. Also, the Trotters have only won one of their last 20 league games in London. We will be missing the absolute revelation of the season, Alex Song who has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations and there's nothing like a sacking of a manager to fire the troops up?! Wanderers will again be led by assistant manager Chris Evans and first team coach Steve Wigley. Cries of WHO? I hear. We'll see how it goes, you never know on their day anyone is capable of beating anyone in the Premier League so let’s not get complacent.

How exciting.

Snow Snow Snow

So severe weather warnings, I mean how many times have we been promised snow for it never to materialise. Not these days.

So we've had our fair share recently, oh how I love the chaos it causes. Not to mention the fast journeys in to work! Ok a little tricky getting out of my own road but after that a clear run (on clear roads, I must add)

Arsenal tonight, as if the Emirates couldn't handle a few snowflakes! As usual credit to the fabulous ground staff and of course the fantastic facilities and procedures we have in place at the greatest club in the world. I mean under soil heating, hey you lot at Ewood Park and the Eastlands what's going on?

Check out the pitch pictured this morning. Cover off and you'd never know the rest of the UK is hidden under a few inches...



A bit of tidying up around the edges here and there...



Pull the cover off the big mans seat and were good to go...