Manchester United 2 Arsenal 1
I’M going to start this blog in a calm and rational way. The first thing to say is that we gifted Manchester United two of the cheapest goals you will see.
On top and ahead, we committed suicide. For their penalty, Wayne Rooney was going absolutely nowhere, except perhaps to retrieve the ball from the crowd after his heavy touch that was taking it out of play. Manuel Almunia, a little rusty this season, had no need to really come in the first place and no need to give Rooney the chance to go down.
For the second, Ryan Giggs put in a frankly nothingish free-kick, Abou Diaby simply had to head it out and instead he smacked it past Almunia. Ignore SKY praising the quality of the ball. Just before it came to Diaby nobody thought for a second he would do anything other than clear it – in contrast to our so called “lucky” second goal at Celtic Park, where the defender was genuinely pressured to put through his own net.
Other than a Patrice Evra shot (not dissimilar to the only Celtic chance at Parkhead), they created absolutely nothing until William Gallas and the midfield threw themselves up front in search of an equaliser in stoppage time.
Before I conclude the calm and rational bit, I was very disappointed to see Eboue’s dive too. To do it in this week of all weeks showed great stupidity, it made us look unnecessarily desperate and it was a crap dive anyway. We Arsenal fans all know Eboue is a diver and nobody disputes it.
Right, that is the calm and the rational bit dealt with. Now the rest. I have three points to make.
1) We were denied the most blatant of blatant penalties in the history of Association Football in the first half. Arshavin was not so much tackled as ploughed. That Fletcher touched the ball was irrelevant. That he then felt the need to scoop it up with his hand before clearing added to the outrageousness of it all.
But, you say, it didn’t matter because Arshavin scored 30 seconds later… You what? It was a separate passage of play and by that logic you may as well say had he given the penalty everything in the future would have been different.
Andrei Arshavin had one surprise 30 yard screamer where he would go for the near post rather than the far to deliver yesterday and there is absolutely nothing to say he wouldn’t have simply done it five minutes later had we got the spot-kick.
Equally, look at this way: there was a penalty for both sides in yesterday’s game (saying nothing for the ignored RVP incident). We didn’t get ours (incredibly blatant) where as they got their one, which was a penalty but with issues around it.
2). Wayne Rooney threw himself to the ground before any contact from Manuel Almunia yesterday. It is a fact, simple as that. Watch the replay and see his legs go from under him.
There was no difference between what he and Eduardo did – only between the Celtic keeper who completely pulled away and Manuel Almunia, who didn’t.
And yet it being Rooney and he being English, the incident is brushed under the carpet, which is particularly astonishing given his well known propensity for diving in this very encounter. Why weren’t SKY replaying the 2004 incident after the game?
The excuse Andy Gray seemed to have for him is that there is nothing in the rules that says you have to hurdle a goalkeeper. Fine, but that doesn’t explain why Rooney’s legs go from under him before Almunia even arrives.
I’m not saying Almunia didn’t then make it a penalty, but at least have the balls to admit the truth.
3) 95 minutes into yesterday’s game an Arsenal equaliser was correctly ruled offside. Arsene Wenger celebrated, realised what had happened and kicked an empty water bottle into the air, nowhere near anybody.
It was a solitary act of frustration. He was not out of control, he was not bemoaning the decision.
And then two jumped up little idiots behaved disgracefully just 20 seconds from the end of the contest, sending Arsene off.
As Mike Dean and his assistant will well know, for 13 years Arsene Wenger has had to endure thousands upon thousands of people sing at him “sit down you paedophile” every time he stands up at Old Trafford.
Presumably even the majority of Spurs and Chelsea fans think it beyond the pale because despite the tune being around for years, the only place you ever heard it song with any great gusto is Old Trafford.
And we’re not talking about a small minority of the fans. We’re not even talking about only United’s vocal away following. It is thousands upon thousands of them.
It is a vile, inhumnan chant when aimed at anyone. When aimed at a man with a daughter now just old enough to understand what it means, it beggars all belief.
Not only were the officials giving a man who has had to endure all that not even the tiniest bit of leeway, but they were sending him to the stands to be surrounded by the vile mob who abuse him every year (including last season, when Dean was also in charge).
I honestly believe nothing less than a public apology from both Dean and the fourth official will do and a suspension for both. It’s an appalling way to treat a man, who let it be said, with enormous dignity, still refuses to even mention the treatment he receives. Contrast that to Fergie who literally kicked the bottle when on the end of sporadic abuse from a handful of fans sat around him at the Emirates.
And what of Manchester United? Frankly in my eyes it besmirches their entire existence. If I’m blunt every time I see those thousands of faces fall silent to commemorate their club’s glorious dead I remember how many of them will be the same faces who a few weeks later will think nothing of plumbing such vile depths.
At the crux of it is the point that it is not the mindless few. Every club has those and there is only so much you can do. But at United it is endemic and it has been going on for years.
And of course United could do so much to stop it. On the street, that kind of abuse could put you in court and with their CCTV cameras that cover every part of the ground, United could very easily vow to ban perpetrators next time it happens and then make examples of a few to deter the masses.
But they don’t.
Ratings
Almunia 6
Bad for the penalty. No need to come and certainly no need to challenge like that. All keepers do it but it doesn't excuse the mistake.
Sagna 7
Very solid, kept Evra fairly under control and got forward well to put in some decent crosses.
Clichy 6.5
Did well in general play but his crossing let us down.
Vermaelen 8
He and Gallas restricted them to next to nothing and was not to blame for either goal.
Gallas 7.5
Rooney got in behind him for the goal but was going nowhere. Was generally strong and did everything right. Shame about the offside at the end.
Song 7.5
As a midfield we were a bit sloppy in the first half but certainly no worse than United. Then we improved and Song never looked out of his depth.
Denilson 7
A few misplaced passes but otherwise looked neat and sharp. Again, not outclassed.
Eboué 6.5
Spoilt it all with a ridiculous and needless dive that makes you wonder just what is going on up there. Did well otherwise.
Diaby 7
How do you rate him? A terrible own goal which could have happened to anyone but somehow seemed bound to happen to him. Other than that made a difference, particularly late on, forcing the play and getting into positions. Nearly equalised after one great run.
Arshavin 7.5
It's a sign of a great player to make keepers look bad and he did that for the goal, going near post when far seemed logical. Flitted in and out at times but did brilliantly to set up RVP for Foster save.
van Persie 7.5
Will feel the gods are against him. Got into the box as a good striker should to meet Arshavin's cross but somehow Foster saved, then hit the bar and then had one ruled out in stoppage time.
Bendtner 6.5
Can't remember too much of great note.
Eduardo 6.5
Got involved and played his role in the offside equaliser.
Ramsey 6
Never got into the game and crossed poorly.
why is it that all decisions at old trafford goes man utd way,even the guys on ESPN said it.
horrible horrible..
Eduardo getting booed butRooney dives aswell
what bout Ronaldo ,van nistlerooy?
thing the manu should get fined for the fans shocking behaviour
diaby was useless,did anyone how much he gave the ball away?
and then the free kick he gave away?
he had a shocking game,he does 1 or 2 things good and suddenly he is compared to vieira,,,rubbish
still the best team lost
Please sell eboue!!! Should have played Ramsey or Wilshere instead of him.
Bang on, thats why the press are hypocritical over Eduardo all strikers play to push the ball past the keeper and fall waiting for the contact, striker pundits should admit it. It is practically impossible for the ref to see.
As for Diaby’s og there was a Man Utd player behind him waiting for the cross so he had to deal with it (but not into the back of his own net) I feel Almunia’s indecision on crosses may have contributed to the confusion.
@vivb but you hardly thought “oh no, he’s going to head it in” in the second before it arrived, did you?
Spot on a fuckin disgrace
Also, Rooney could have gotten two yellow cards, one for abusing the referee through out the game and having a swipe at Abou Diaby. If Sagna can get a yellow card for showing dissent at the referee when an incorrect throw-in decision was given against us. Then why not Rooney? And he deceived the referee, that is a fact. But when you give an opportunity to get robbed, you get nothin’ from the insurance!
The referee was a disgrace – he should be demoted/banned – but, knowing Arsenal’s ‘Luck’, he will get promoted!
I wish Arsene would abstain from speaking to the media, in a protest. But he is too proud man to do something like that. If, there is nothing in the law, then we should get a Media Manager to travel with the team to all the matches and he/she should speak to the media pre/post the match. Wenger should only speak to Arsenal Online TV!
Anyway, I had said we weren’t lucky in the previous games, so I won’t say we were unlucky in this game. We had played well in our first two league games and we played well yesterday but we made two costly mistakes. This game was so like our home game against them last season but the result is opposite. I wish we had got more out from Arshavin and Van Persie, both had good moments in the game, but they weren’t involved much. Still, top captaincy from Van Persie, to lift Diaby’s spirit after the own goal. And another magnificent goal from Arshavin. People think players again disappointed him again. But, I don’t think that, our back four and three in the midfield gave absolutely everything. In fact, they would have liked if Arshavin had got more involved with the play. But you can’t criticize him when he scores such goals :-D
If our two positive results tell us nothing then this loss doesn’t tell us anything. Same rule should apply. +2-1=+1 (Not doom!).
I still believe we will win the lot. This team is a fighter team. There is a saying in our culture that, “keep doing the hard work, if it is written in your destiny, then you will get it, otherwise you won’t” (well, something like that) This season is our destiny, I hope.
Good read as usual. Summed up pretty much what we all are thinking right now.
I will add this though. Yesterday we committed 16 fouls and recieved 6 yellow cards. Utd, 22 fouls and 3 yellow cards.
Somehow we are going to be hit with an FA fine for the 6 cards, how that is i will never know.
We were better than they were and they know it. I feel disgusted at what happened yesterday but we will prevail over the course of the season. This Arsenal side can go all the way and Manure are on an obvious decline in my opinion. I am proud of Arsene and our players and feel very hopeful what’s ahead.
Almunia is suffering from ‘big-headed-ness” as we can see so far in the season. He is definitely not the ‘World-Class’ keeper for us if we want to challenge for anything. He certainly lacks the composure and communication which is among the basic attributes which a keeper at the first-team of a big club should have. He was so obviously quiet when Diaby scored that freak goal when the rest of his teammates are awaiting his command. He will become a calamity for the team.
Another player i would like to comment on is Denilson. Did you see the way he ‘panicked’ after the penalty? All his usual ’side-ways’ passes went astray and he kept on giving away silly freekicks when United’s players are going nowhere. Inexperience is certainly not the thing for him since he was in the first team for years now.
Why was RvP made the captain? He is certainly not someone who can get the team going when things are not happening. It is true that when ihe’s on his day, he’s an ‘unplayable’ player, but how often does that happen? During the game, all i can see was a frustrated figure at the United’s half pondering what must he do to get the ball in the net.
@Tank With a bit of luck he might have had a hat-trick.
Agree totally with comment about chanting at Wenger – its a disgrace and all such chanting should be banned at grounds. Spurs fans do the same chant with equal venom. Check out also the vile chanting of Chelsea fans when they refer to various players as c**ts, all very audible on TV. As for the match, Arsenal played well and it needs to be remembered that only the Chavs are unbeaten amongst the top 4. We will know more about them when they face real opposition.
even if he scored a hat-trick he will still be seen as an isolated lone-striker, without instructions or getting the stick up his defence or midfield.
We were cheated. Fletcher could’ve gotn a red card 4 his lunge on arsh n no1 would’ve complained. If fletch [their best player in this game by a mile] had seen red, denilson, song and diaby wuld’v eaten giggz n carrick for lunch.
No team can be a top team without a decent goalie. Almunia is a clown. He can be a decent shotstopper sometimes, but his judgement is appalling. He fails to come when he should, he comes when he shouldn’t. Diaby screwed up, but it wouldn’t have happened with a proper goalie. Our team is a talented attacking team and now looks like it can defend too – but it will not succeed with that Goalie. I don’t understand Wenger – he knows that Almunia isn’t good enough – he’s said so. He thought that Fabianski was going to step up, but it didn’t happen, and yet he does nothing about it.
So glad that someone actually shares my view about “Clown-munia”..
good article. united at OT do get away with murder, Benitez sis so and got slaughtered.
but
almunia is a good keeper, name one who does not make mistakes
i am sick of eboue, a dive just when i thought he had started playing well
diaby, ah well, now here i differ with most. he drives me nuts. he is constantly a danger-IN HIS OWN HALF, dribbling at the wrong time, holding instead of passing, and going forward inevitably mkes the wrong choice. give him time to think nd he buggers it up.
i too would have bought JW on and not ramsey. nothing against ramsey, but Jacks ability to skip people at close quaters and the ye for a pas would have been far more effective, in fact i would go so far as to say we would have scored
as for unt fans, unfortunatley most of them are and always have been the les intelligent glory hunters from outside of town
completely agree
the rooney dive was similar to the eduardo dive yet the media reaction to the two has been completely different
the way manu as a club let the fans chant what they do at arsene speaks volumes about them, they are a disgrace and hypocrites
PS. PLEASE CHANGE THE YELLOW BACKGROUND, ONLY BOLD TYPE SHOWS UP WELL
Almunia was the most consistent keeper in the league last year, CL semi aside.
Ultimately you have to get somebody in who is better than what you have, and looking around the world that type of signing is in short supply.
I’m getting so sick of the modern day fan. Nothing but constant bitching and moaning. You win a game 4-1 and its not good enough, you outplay utd on their own patch, come away highly unlucky, and its crap this, crap that, sell this player and lynch that one. And the solution, well just go and sign so and so because he ’s good on football manager and youtube.
Being a supporter, means supporting your club. The clue is in the title!
Success is not a devine right, it is earned through progression and hard work.
If all you people want is 100m spent every summer then go and support man citeh.
In the meantime i’ll stay here with all the other Arsenal fans who started supporting the team before 1998!
Diaby – “how do you rate him? ”
…Not with a 7. Had a few nice touches. But made his usual lazy passes, didn’t track back, missed a 1 on 1 and fell asleep once more in defence.
Does not have the concentration span to play for Arsenal.
Being a supporter means giving your club money at the turnstiles every season, not agreeing with what they do. I’m glad that you were supporting them before 1998 – I started in 1964.
Almunia can stop shots – he has 0 judgement. He doesn’t command his area, either. Wenger knew this a year ago, he admitted it and was hoping that Fabianski would become the number 1. It hasn’t happened.
Of there’s no point in replacing a player unless you get someone better. You can’t judge a goalie purely by stats. The defensive team works as a team. Look at the difference with Gallas and Vermaelen over Gallas and Toure. A solid goalie with sound judgement would make that team even better. I would definitely have preferred Given who was available and wanted to come and wouldn’t have cost £100m.
Anyway, I’ll carry on supporting Arsenal with my hard earned cash and I’ll also carry on saying what I think.
What is it exactly that “Manchester United stands for”? An unhealthily cosy relationship with Sky sports to the extent that it is never the centre of the considerable Murdoch machines machinations or opprobrium? An ability to prevent players from playing for their country by making up seemimgly near-fatal injuries in the gap between league games and internationals which without fail are cured such that Lazarus-like the players in question are available for selection the moment they come back to their club?
Let’s not perpetuate this fawning nonsense on your fine blog.
yesterday before the game, i saw the ref and predicted man u will get a penalty, and they did. i also predicted arsenal would get a clear penalty but the ref will not give it, and it happened. those things happened too often at old trafford. maybe the bookies should put a bet on it.
1964…, your postings gave me the impression you were approaching your 15th birthday.
You can’t judge goalies on stats, likewise you cant judge goalies on isolated incidents. People make mistakes, it happens, the guy is human.
Ultimately he’s a solid keeper, falling shy of world class yes, but a good keeper none the less.
To back that up, i’ll take the opinion of the most successful manager in the club’s history, and not a guy named ‘Melvyn’ who spends his sunday mornings trying to convince the world he knows more about football than Arsene Wenger.
@clockendrider I meant what they claim to stand for.
I’m sure Mr Wenger is aware of the issue that Almunia is not the kind of keeper he desires, but he still keeping his faith in him, why? His hands are being tied up by the finance of the club. Year in year out i have been hearing from P-H-W that the club has got $$$ to spend. But in the end what happened? We do not need a ’selfish’ board of directors, who only care about how much dividend will end up in their pocket.
[...] more reaction to the Wenger chants at Goodplaya, Listen to GilbertoSilver of Gunnerblog give his reaction to the Eduardo [...]
The thing is that we outplayed the bastards. Totally agree about Wenger, the chants are a disgrace. Maybe the next time we play there it should be behind closed doors, with only our fans allowed. Would never happen though cause Ferguson would have a sissy fit.
You have some good points here but I do not understand you and everyone else blaming Almunia for the penalty when you clearly say (and that is true and correct) that Rooney 1) had kicked the ball too far and was never going to reach it before crossing the touch line 2) he (Rooney) was already falling (”… threw himself to the ground …” your language). Now tell me, how, in the name of truth or the laws of the game, was that a penalty!! It means, in my humble mind, Almunia did not foul Rooney. Simple! There is no difference between what Eduardo did and Rooney’s actions or even Eboue who got a yellow card for his troubles. Of course, I am not right, the difference between Eduardo’s actions and Rooney’s actions lie in that he, Dudu is 1) a Johnny foreigner 2) plays for Arsenal under a french manager (to most english, I am sorry to say this, Arsenal is not english); while Rooney is 1) English and 2) plays for Man U. Arsenal fans (particularly English ones) make the same mistakes as the referees and commentators because you are all from the same pot. Your feelings and opinions, like everybody in the world, originates from the way you, as a nation, perceive things. The ref (Mr Dean) saw it as a penalty just as you saw it as a penalty even when you conceed that Rooney was already falling when Almunia made contact with him and the ball was going out of play. Tell me, in those circumstances, how was he going to score or how was he impeded???
I wasnt aware of the chants. An absolute discrace that makes me sick to the stomach for Wenger who remains to me the most dignified human being in football. However, having seen the photos of him on the platform in front of the Man Utd fans it seems to me that the vast majority of them were applauding him and laughing in good humor. I hope it this Wenger takes comfort in and not the 2500 or so scum who should be banned for life from attending matches and are little better than the West Ham and Millwall fans who did so damage to the game the other night.
Speaking about these things in arsenal blogs is not really going to help much. We have a huge online fan base. One of the largest in fact. We should flood the popular newspapers and sites with this shit. That is more likely going to put the issue in the spotlight. Come on you cunts. Do something about it.
@ Barry. Sure, some were applauding but it’s more than 2,500 or so who sing it and they were singing it even as he was led away.
Rwandan Gooner Submit on Sunday, August 30, 2009 11:56:48 AM:
What a team like Arsenal can do with such haters like English referees? How can u say that the competition for the premier League trophy is free and fair when you have incompetent stupid referees like Mike Dean officiating? this is terrible for the popular English premier League. Millions were watching you thief!!!
Arsenal faced a broad day robbery at Old Trafford. We can’t win the league with such haters. How can this stupid referee in the names of Mike De*n sent off a man of high quality and respect like Wanger, because he is protesting a genuine goal? this thief will never even make 10% of Wenger’s status. Shame on you thief. FA should improve the standards of referees which is the lowest in the world. even my Rwandan referees cant be so stupid like this.
Then, i also have a question for Almunia! my friend, there is no room for errors. your timings as a keeper are awful. If you cant command your area, just quit this club.
Rwandan gooner
Those chants are vile. I’m wondering whether we can do something about it, like complain to the FA by asking every Arsenal fan to email them. Or burying Sky Sports with a flood of emails. We really should utilize our online support.
firstly every decision at old trafford goes man utd’s way. does any 1 remember the last time a ref gave the opposing team a penalty? the way the officials acted yesterday was pathetic. the 4th official was ridiculous, the ref was absolute heavenly sh*t. seriously fletcher was fouling the whole game but didnt eve get booked. plus i am sick of this bullsh*t about the eduardo dive. yes he dived, yes we shouldnt encourage diving, yes football has to do something about it. but the media storm the has followed the entire incident has been way over the top. honestly, could we count the number of times steven gerrard has dived. and ashley young, that boy seems to be affected by gravity more than the rest of us. anyway it was a good performance. well until the penalty. we lacked steel and didnt pick ourselves up when we conceded the 2nd. we lacked a leader. will cesc have produced the mental reinforcement we needed? thats a question he will have to answer this coming season. he has to step up and be the captain. lastly united are c*nts and know they were gifted the win.
Very good piece. In addition, I was surprised to see Mike Dean explaining to Valencia why he shouldn’t use his elbow on Thomas Vlmn’s face instead of a straight RED CARD.
One thing I forgot to mention that doesn’t seem to have been mentioned anywhere is that when Diaby scored an own goal, none of our players went to him right away and he was left there by himself. I think RvP talked to him during the restart but surely one of our players could’ve gone to Diaby and reassured him. That’s team spirit isn’t it? That incident was disappointing to me.
I’m afraid recent history has shown that the only way to stop United fans using a particular chant is to respond with Munich chants, and thereby establish a mutual deterrent. United fans know this better than anyone having used the ‘threat’ and occasional reality of Hillsborough, Galatasaray and Matthew Harding songs to stop Liverpool, Leeds and Chelsea fans singing ‘Runway’ and other Munich songs.
Frankly, I’d hate to see Arsenal fans stooping to that disgusting level, but it would certainly be interesting the next time Man U fans sing the paedophile song at the Emirates if they had 55,000 people retaliating with a short burst of ‘Runway’ to make clear we regard the two chants as equivalent. At least it would bring the issue to a head.
Sure BGun, that’s very true. I saw that. The other time too against ManU in the CL semis at Emirates, Gibb’s blunder… only RVP came to him. Needs to be checked by AW.
please let us sign a new goal keeper before anywher else on the pitch , almunia is the week link and think your 6 was being overly nice. 2 goals both would have been stopped by a reliable keeper . then it wouldnt matter how much the ref wants us to lose !!
ManU fans call themselves the “men”. But their all juz immature little boys. They didnt deserve even a point tonight.
And jus saying, in my opinion, Diaby was excellent throughout the match except for a moment of horror. Almunia did well when called upon (he was barely needed) but made a mistake which was actually the refs mistake.
Nevertheless, ManU once again take three points with all the controversy in the world and their fav ref at their side.
ManCity here we come. Ade and Toure are gonna regret leaving. GUNEERS ALL D WAY!!
@Johnno
I get wad ur saying, but a penalty is a penalty. Last tym a gud keeper would’ve done well. The likes of Buffon and Lehmann who study penalty takers and all dat but we just dun c dat anymore. And for the giving away the penalty, yes Almunia shudnt have come out but hes juz a little rusty, u saw him last season, excellent. He nids to find himself agen. Get bk to his best.
As for the other goal, he cudnt hav done anyting. dat was it. haiz.
Spot on !!
- for all the idiots saying start ramsey and diaby and song are shit, learn to play some football before you comment
Almunia has been talking to the press too much for his own good. He is talking as if he is the irreplaceable STAR player of the team. When did Mr Wenger learn to be so tolerant towards his keeper? I remember the time when Lehmann lost his place to HIM, he made a few mistakes that causes the team victory then he found himself on the bench. Also Almunia lacks the commanding presence and aggression which a keeper needs to have to prevent the opponent from bullying him or his defenders. Can anyone argue about this point?
Having seen the replay a number of times, it is clear that Rooney dived. he was almost on the floor already before Almunia touched him. Even the picture in the papers clearly shows that, as Almunia’s legs are below Rooney’s torso, not by his legs.
The problem is that Rooney is English. Not only that but he is the main England striker now. It would be inconceivable for the FA the take any action against him, or even acknowledge that Saint Wayne might be guilty of cheating.
The same applies to the media who would never suggest that their favourite over regarded (so called world class) English player is a diver, despite that fact that it has been seen many times before, especially against us.
I remember a number of years ago, shortly before a world cup, Shearer, who was one of the dirtiest players I have ever seen, committed a disgisting foul and yet was not even booked.
When it comes to English heros, the media and the FA are blind.
Firstly, I do not believe there was a difference in how eduardo and wayne rooney went down to the ground. However there is adifference in how the keepers went for the ball is (almunia arms out), it is purely almunias fault going for a ball he did not need to go for, unfortunately I believe rooney is smarter than eduardo in the diving area.
Secondly, It is a game we should have won,but these things happen in football, and we need to ensure we improve upon that. But we need to remember we were 4 players short being rosicky, walcott, fabregas and nasri. I know Man u were missing rio ferdinand, but the fact we put so much pressure on them despite missing what i consider 4 of our best players is good. I totally believe in wenger as a manager, always have, but I hope he will sign one more player for experience and when our injured are back we will have a solid squad.
Thirdly, I totally agree with you as to Man Uniteds Fans behaviour. The abuse that was thrown at Wenger was disgusting. I could easily lip read a 30 year old woman cursing at him and I couldnt believe it. I believe that anyone caught on camera ranting that kind of abuse should be punished, we need to crack down on football hooliganism. I think many people forget that people such as wenger are only human beings like us all, who have familys at home etc. But full credit and respect to wenger, he can take all that abuse and it rolls of his shoulders. If we stuck that woman infront of thousands of people screaming abuse at her we all know she wouldnt be able to take it.
all keepers make mistakes. almunia made one yesterday, but he’s been generally doing well.
now, all those people who have been trying to teach wenger how to manage a football team in the summer are voicing their wisdom. oh dear.
Mate .. have to correct you on one point … I was fortunate enough to have sneaked into Stamford Bridge last season on a corporate and sat smugly amongst the Chavs as we stole 3 points .. There were times when the whole stadium were singing that chant you mentioned to Arsene … I looked over and saw Dad’s next to their own kids blasting it out … pretty nasty stuff anywhere … there are a few clubs with real class however .. like Pompey, Fulham, NEwcastle and from the big 4 just us and Liverpool in my opinion.
Goodplaya- a truly great piece- should be published or you should put it in a letter and send it to every media outlet!
To make your blood boil and go onto repblic of mancunia and read what those muppets have to say.
United fans are absolute cretins- unbelievable- double standards, childishness, tunnel vision- they have it all
@tank… Arsenal do not pay dividends to shareholders or board members so your comments about the board not spending money to increase their dividends is idiotic. Learn the facts about the club before you make ridiculous accusations like that.
Great piece, Goodplaya. I expect this match to have the same galvanizing effect that our early season trip in 2003/04 had. Especially following the Eduardo vilification in midweek, it will only increase the “Us vs. the world” attitude that was such a hallmark of Arsene’s greatest sides.
Last year we would’ve wondered how this would affect the team mentally, but this year I can only see it bringing the team closer together and I have to disagree with someone’s assessment of RvP as captain. After the shock of the own goal, van Persie went back to the center circle with Diaby to kickoff and instead of being upset he was trying to pick Diaby up. He didn’t yell at him or headbutt him…
I believe this match will prove to be a turning point in not only this season but for this side in general.
[...] would be a whole hell of a lot nicer if all songs along those lines were stricken, but calling for police action and bans is not only a bad idea, it’s at least as bad as the chants themselves- invoking the power of [...]
I don’t understand Wenger – he knows that Almunia isn’t good enough – he’s said so.
He never said anything of the sort, don’t be dense.
Almunia over the course of last season was no worse than the other keepers in our league. He deserves the benefit of the doubt. Though his start to this season hasn’t been terribly impressive, what the fuck do you honestly expect to happen? Buffon to join before the end of the season? Almunia’s our keeper so just live with it.
Diaby, Denilson and Song are much too immature to hold their nerve in a big game.
That’s what this game shows us pure and simple. It’s not the conceded penalty or own goal or bad refereeing that’s the problem for us.
It’s just that this team of young ones has just too much self doubt to win a crunch tie like this one.
when the going gets tough, the lads can’t get going.
And that’s precisely why Arsene needs to sign 1 experienced midfielder who has the kind of never say die attitude that can push these lads all the way when the chips are down (and cesc is on the bench)
I have just read your comment on my post Goodplaya … fair play. Ferguson should publicly bombast his own fans for their behavior. He has said it before http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1084063/What-pages-papers-saying–November-8.html but should now start banning “fans” who fail to comply with the request one at a time. Otherwise it is just hot air.
6_tone fair point re Chelsea fans singing it. Not that it makes it right from anyone. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that were the shoe on the other foot I wouldn’t sing it.
@Barry Yes he has indeed called on the United fans not to sing that song. But it has been once in 13 years and only in the context of complaining about his own treatment at the Emirates.
Here is the press office email for the premier league:
info@premierleague.com
Write them in a rational way and protest the outlandish bias in officiating, the grotesque chanting, and whatever else is on your mind. Try to avoid expletives though to be taken more seriously, I suppose.
At last, I’ve seen the stuff The Gunners are made of this season. Mark my words – no team would ever bully Arsenal into pathetic defeats THIS SEASON. And take it from me, we’re winning silverware this season and I don’t mean the Carling Cup. As per World’s most-hated team, I believe Wenger is too much of a believer to let detractors like his countryman, Platini pull him down. GUNNERS 4 LIFE!
It is indeed hard to swallow why the English press and FA hate Arsene Wenger and Arsenal with so much venom. I thought Hitler was German! UEFA banned Eduardo based on articles by the likes of Martin Upton. If anyone had gone through what The Croat went through after his leg was whacked into two separate parts, then they would have understood his intinctive reaction when a bull like Buric came charging. The real disgrace is PLATINI!
[...] Samaisessa blogissa Goodplaya kertoo näkemyksensä Arsene Wengerin saamasta punaisesta kortista ja ManUn kannattajista niin hyvin ettei siihen ole juuri lisättävää. It really is Us against the rest, tai ainakin yksi esimerkki siitä. Näin on aina ollut ja näin tulee aina olemaan. H*lvetti, Platini ja Abramovich ovat ilmeisesti nyt parhaita ystäviä ja Venäläinen mitä esimerkillisin jalkapallomies kun hän ymmärsi ettei hän olekaan enää rikkain kukko tunkiolla. V*ttu mitä h*lvettiä Uefassa ja Fifassa oikein ajatellaan?! [...]
http://www.unitedrant.co.uk/?p=2322&cpage=1#comment-1331 Please feel free to add your own two pennies worth but keep it clean and dignified.
The chants that Man Utd fans direct at Arsene serve only to make them look ignorant. I’m sure as Arsene settles into a comfy chair at the end of the day, having worked with some of the worlds best players at one of the worlds best stadiums and perhaps nonchalantly checks out his 7 figure bank balance a bunch of poorly educated, flabby, badly tattooed northerners are probably far from his mind.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1210138/Manchester-United-2-Arsenal-1-Keep-chin-Arsene-Wenger–Sir-Alex-Ferguson-reason-worry.html
check dat out.
beautifully written
Great post,
I tried to put a comment on the Republic Of Mancunia site about the chanting at Wenger by Utd scum. Drawing comparisions to how they feel when other fans chant about Munich 58. I pointed out that both type of chants were disgusting and should not happen.
However the moderator choose not to put it on the forum (probably worried it would offend the Mancs). He had my email address but as yet has not contacted me to give me the reason it was not included.
Don’t be downheartened Gooners we gifted the game to Utd with to sloppy errors, last season they outplayed us over two legs in the CL.
We were also missing several key players in Cesc, Rosiscky,Theo, Samir. They were missing just Ferdinand and VDS.
I will be amazed if they finish above us this season, unless they do some serious business in the rest of the transfer window.
You wrote:
‘For their penalty, Wayne Rooney was going absolutely nowhere, except perhaps to retrieve the ball from the crowd after his heavy touch that was taking it out of play. Manuel Almunia, a little rusty this season, had no need to really come in the first place and no need to give Rooney the chance to go down.’
Gallas being a couple of yards off, if Alm hadn’t come out, R**ney could have had the time to, perhaps, take a shot at goal from close, or make a chance from someone else. It was because of Almunia’s arrival and proximity, that under consequent pressure R**ney controlled the pass as he did. Even though Almunia seems more rusty than last season, he is not as much to blame for that decision as the midfield and defence for letting Giggs have the time to pass, so close to the box.
Btw, this is the most reliable and reasonable of Goon blogs out there – and now, even more attractive. Passionate, yet measured opinion among the tad frantic. Keep up the good work, sir.
Thanks Fab’s left foot. Appreciated.
I don’t diagree with many of t he sentiments particularly the way Rooney started to go down before any contaact. That said if a keeper comes, doesn’t get the ball and ‘touches’ the attacker then – in top flight footy in 2009 – that’s a pen. That said I’ve 2 points to make:
1) Almunia is a perfectly respectable keeper but for a club with championship or European ambitions he is not good enough. I question his big game temprament. His mistakes (and all goalies make them) come in big games or high pressure ocassions. Compare to Jens or David Seaman who could watch the game for 90 mins and then make the save/decision that kept the points.
2) We wouldn’t be worried about the ref’s decisions if we’d put the game away like we should. When you’re on top you have to take your chances. Lets grow up and reflect that we should have been at least 2 up before the pen. I hope to God this is a genuine learning experience but, to be honest, how different is it to other big games we’ve dominated but somehow lost.
[...] now, thanks to some serious publicising by the likes of Arseblog, Gunnerblog, Goodplaya in their blogs, and the same trio plus East Lower and 7amkickoff on Twitter, the press have been [...]
i bet that had almunia stayed in the post instead of charging forward, he would have been called names too. the only bit i got beef with him is that he didnt pull back his arms to show the blatant dive. u will never expect a player to be good under the sort of criticisms most people are giving. almunia is good. he wouldnt have been in arsenal if he wasnt. there r points of improvement and thats where we need to concentrate on. this team is way way and i mean way better than manure. if u dont see it then u need to go and support manure. dont u
[...] Goodplaya: Wenger chants smear everything United say they stand for rant. As Mike Dean and his assistant will well know, for 13 years Arsene Wenger has had to endure thousands upon thousands of people sing at him “sit down you paedophile” every time he stands up at Old Trafford. Presumably even the majority of Spurs and Chelsea fans think it beyond the pale because despite the tune being around for years, the only place you ever heard it song with any great gusto is Old Trafford. And we’re not talking about a small minority of the fans. We’re not even talking about only United’s vocal away following. It is thousands upon thousands of them. It is a vile, inhumnan [sic] chant when aimed at anyone. [...]
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