Holy Christ what shit storm have I awoken to? Cesc is accused of spitting, Phil Brown is spitting dummies, Arsene is spitting mad and not shaking hands… have you people all lost your minds?
Because instead of focusing on a well deserved 2-1 win over a pack of notloB bred, time-wasting, lucky-goal having, lying, cheats we’re now dredging up video of Cesc supposedly spitting on Ballack back when Cesc was 12 years old, or spending time reading about how Brown claims Wenger “never does” shake hands even though there is photographic evidence to the contrary, and most incredibly, an accusation that will literally make your mind boggle, is Phil Brown calling it a disgrace for Wenger to complain about time wasting when his pack of talentless hacks had started wasting time from the moment they scored the goal!
To recap: Phil Brown is a proven liar, a moaner of such epic proportions that he puts Fergie and Wenger to shame, and Arsenal still won the match 2-1. End of story.
Man of the Match
Unlike other matches, this is a bit tougher. I really liked Song’s poise in the game and feel like he has made tremendous strides in the last two weeks. He has added forward passing (he picked out a beautiful pass to a streaking Gibbs that made me remark to the local Arsenal supporters) to a reprotiore of good tackles and tracking back. He also seems to have gained pace and defensive awareness. I don’t know who’s handling this kid but whoever it is is doing a heck of a job.
Another obvious choice is van Persie, he scored the equalizer and I really liked his perseverence in the face of all the missed chances. There was a period there where I swore that Arsenal was going to have another one of those games — 100 shots, 0 goals.
Gibbs too was outstanding and is turning into quite a likeable replacement for Clichy at left back. He put in several crucial tackles and showed the requisite ability to get forward. I also really like his crosses, they seem to come in at better pace and with more accuracy than Clichy at the moment.
Honorable mention goes to Bendtner who still can’t score but at least he really, really tries. His perseverence in front of goal is directly responsible for the equalizer.
As good as those guys played, I have to give the award to Andrei Arshavin. He started slow and at first I thought it was a mistake to include him in the lineup as he looked to be suffering from the cut on his foot but as the game wore on he took over. He was the most creative player on the pitch and more than once threatened to score — the best of which was a volley that only needed a whisker less curve to go in the net. But it was the equalizer which made him MotM for me. Instead of taking the shot, he made the right decision and put the ball on van Persie’s chocolate leg with just the right pace for him to pass the ball into the net. Then he calmly gathered the team from their celebrations and reminded them that the game wasn’t over yet and spurred them on to victory.
Selfless leadership. Fuck it’s been a long time since Arsenal had some of that.
Match Video
If you need to see the ball played off the Hull keeper, go to The Arsenalist, of course
Conclusion
Before the match I read a great interview with Phil Brown where he was humble and talked about how when he was earning his badges they did a review of him and the reviewer mentioned that Brown’s training was down the line exactly the same as Wenger’s at Arsenal. Then the reviewer asked how many shots Hull did during training and Brown said 250 or so and the reviewer said Arsenal does made 60-70 and scores twice as many. In the interview he was being humble and said that that’s how much class Arsenal have and what the difference between the two teams really was all about.
What a shame he couldn’t keep that same humility after the match. Any good will he earned from that interview he burned by falsely accusing Arsenal of all kinds of crap after.
During the match I had some English guy near me complain about how Gallas was offside and how the linesman had bungled the whole match. I disagreed and he wanted to press the point, so I just grabbed the Arsenal crest on my shirt and showed it to him. I don’t care if the world thinks Gallas was offside (he wasn’t) I don’t care if the world thinks what’s his cunt was onside (he wasn’t) I support Arsenal and after all the shiat we’ve been through in the last few years a little good luck was well deserved.
In conclusion, f*ck Hull and f*ck all the detractors, bring on Chelsea.
We’ll have Ade and Spitting Mad Fabregas back, probably Eduardo too, if the Hull match was a cracker, Chelsea will be a test of these boy’s manhood.
After this week?
I’m putting my money on Red.
The title for this thing is hilarious man.
Que sera sera
Whatever will be, will be,
We’re going to Wembley
Que sera, sera
Love the blog Tim. My sentiments exactly.
2 things:
1) The video below shows PB doesn’t know what the F**K he was talking about re the spiiting incident.
http://www.setanta.com//uk/Videos/football/2009/03/18/Did-Fabregas-spit-at-Horton-video/
2) The goal was offside. The key is where was Gallas when Djourou headed the ball, because that was the first touch, and not when the ball was deflected by the GK. The video clearly shows Gallas in an offside position. Having said that, without the slo mo replay it actually looked as if the ball was fisted by the GK and the Assistant Ref called what he saw in a split second.
On the basis of 90 minutes we deserved to win and the refereeing was horrible for both sides throughout the match. Fabianski had to make a fantastic save to deny a free kick given against Gallas right outside the box, when he obviously got all ball on that tackle. Just one of many bad decisions. Also, we have gotten so many crucial decisions against us this season, we were overdue some going our way.
Once again, good blog.
Now thats a true Gonner writing!!! Fuck the rest we are the BEST!!! Bring on CHAVSKI next!!!
Thanks Arsenalist! I link to you pretty much every week, keep up the good work.
You forgot F*ck that asshat in the stands dressed up as a tiger. What a doucher
I admit it was me. I was the spitter on the grassy knoll. In my defense I was getting rid of some gum and admittedly tried to get it into Phil Brown’s hair, however Horton saw the oncoming projectile and dove in front of his boss. Cesc was an innocent bystander and a case of wrong place, wrong time. I’m sorry and will try to improve my aim and timing better.
wow what an article man , aggression to the core
Agreed on the motm, and yes the others mentioned deserved a sniff as well. A team with so much talent and at times frustrating inconsistency is just flat desperate for some leadership -enter the unassuming arshavin into that gaping void. Whatever happened in the spit incident with cesc is unfortunately again probably just a function of his age, a 21 year old captain was again a decision that to me made very little sense, albeit who else was there? to which i answer – exactly! Good all around game though, players improving but sometimes measuring that improvement is like watching grass grow. As for the offside, yeah our referees once again demonstrate that they are basically useless tossers, but i think we all know who the won the game, i suppose it was our turn to benefit what has become an utterly shameless standard of refereeing in the epl.
Nicely written, Arshavin played really well which is no surprize to be honest, Arsenal is his chance at a regular international stage of viewers, the place where he’ll prove his undeniable talent and win trophies.
Now if Cesc would just learn to swallow instead…
Damnit Bongo, I didn’t know your bread was buttered on that side.
phil brown missed one opportunity to tell the world: he saw a yellowish brown, black-spotted coat, small head, slender body, and long legs that is the fastest land mammal in the tunnel. it was the cheetah, not the tiger that spat at his assistant manager.
WC i like your joke
Phil Brown, he of the un-immaculate dress code. If you saw the post match video you obviously realize he doesn’t take fashion advice from the wife or he’s trying to imitate Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci in “Goodfellas”.
On a more serious note, the whole football world has now found out PB is a profound liar. Both in the post match interview and another later interview he reiterated that Wenger never shook his hands in either of the previous two clashes this season.
The above video proves he is a shit faced liar.
Loved the ill fitted Tiger in the stands. Hull can’t afford a team mascot so they ask for low budget volunteers.
@ A Y T,
The brother of an ex GF was named Teklu and her uncle was Yohanne. Just wondering if you are originally from the land of the Conquering Lion Of Judeah, Emperor Haille Selassie?
Forgive me if I spelled it wrong.
Has anyone else been keeping tabs on Arshavins personal website? He pretty much gives loads of information on what wenger says half time and the way he plays after every match, it’s very good.
The English translation is under the Russian just scroll down.
http://arshavin.eu/news.php?id=377
Some good info on the Hull match, judging from his answers I think he has a good tactical mind, probably make a good manager some day.
wow, hull had us worried… we still need to have 2 CB’s come in next season and 2 proper midfielders.. we have to remember what kind of opposition we are playing.
robel – what are u talking about?
song, denilson and diaby are good enough now, especially song, to play next to fabregas
we maybe need a fourth CB, unless we lose gallas/toure over the summer
but then senderos will probably return
we already have a massive squad, and although its taken too long, next season the players will be good enough next season
Phil Brown takes it easy on us by stating only three objections to Cesc Fabregas continuing to live. “One, being on the pitch after the game – whether there is a ruling against that I have no idea, but he had no right to be there. Two, dressed in the manner in which he was dressed. Three, the pictures in the national papers verify the aggression he was showing towards players and staff after the game. I could go on, but I’m not one for crying over spilt milk. I then witnessed him going down the tunnel and turning round and spitting at my assistant manager’s feet.
Is he the Mr. Blackwell of the sport? His second objection is terrific.
Good thing he’s not one for going on about something. Yes, very good indeed.
Keith, he went on after that quote to redact the “spat at the feet” part and said “spat at the ground in the general direction of the assistant manager’s feet.”
This guy is a retard in a teacup.
What’s gotten into you, Tim?
I really like Arshavin, by the way. Like his class, like his attitude, like his cool, dry wit. To think he demanded to play against Hull, even with half a leg – marvellous stuff. The Owl’s not as nice as Theo, but he’s a pretty cool dude.
Thanks Tim for the match comments, But ownestlly it was offside but I do not care we are in the semi final and we are going to beat Cesca Chelsea. We do not care who they have, becuase we Arshavine
Right after the match Setanta sports and Telegraph posted a pic of Wenger shaking the barely human manager of Hull. He is such a liar and a disgrace to the beautiful game.