COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From My Seat: Arsenal (h)
By Ken Buckley : 30/12/2007 : 
Comments (40) :
Comments (40) : A 4-1 reverse at home in a game in which I thought we played the better football over the piece but lost out to both experience and power.
The opening half was ours and although Arsenal played the pass and move game we expect we closed them down and played our equivalent of their style to such an extent that it brought us a goal and no-matter no-one knew who had scored we were one up and going well. It could and should have been two but you can't make an Osman out of a Neville who produced a right back's shot when he should have netted.
The half was going well for us when with six minutes to go and after much gesticulating from Wenger they abandoned all semblence of the Arsenal way and went direct. We held out until the break without really being able to get out of our area, Arsenal were more like Bolton of old than I have ever seen them.
This approach was continued at the start of the second half and within a couple of minutes a long hoof unsettled our defence and Eduardo slotted home.
Arsenal were now in cup-tie mode and ten minutes later another hoof found Bentner who played in Eduardo for his second, both of these goals I am sure the manager would think were preventable.
We tried hard to respond but never tested their keeper and after 70mins the manager tried a change that I have to say I didn't agree with. He took off Hibbert who I thought had been one player able to stand up to and withstand the pressure and replace him with AJ whilst moving the ineffectual Neville to right back.
I was hoping he would replace the well-marshalled Yak along with Neville with Vaughan and AJ go 4-4-2 with Cahill in centre mid to at least try and use the channels to turn their rearguard and at least test the underworked keeper. He didn't and perhaps that's why I am a fan and not a professional manager.
Three minutes later Bendtner was sent off for a stamp down AJ's shin via a second yellow when many thought it should have been straight red. Wenger's response was to replace Eduardo with Adebayor when many would have shored it up and this paid dividends when another hoof saw the ball go back toward our box with Howard to pick it up or Yobo to clear, neither did anything and Adebayor got between them 3-1 game over.
By now the Arsenal tactic of winding our players up was in full flow they knew exactly what they were doing and it worked when Arteta offered an elbow toward his pal Fabrigas which he took in theatrical style. Red card, three game ban.
Arsenal continued in the same vein by breaking play up with fouls and goading our players into committing fouls and then in injury time put their only worthwhile move together which saw Rosicky leave Howard stranded and the ball in the bottom corner.4-1 .
Final whistle but no boos around Goodison just a show of solidarity with chants of EV-ER-TON.
Overall I thought despite the scoreline we did well but Arsenal left us with lessons to be learned when playing in the big arena.
They showed us the utmost of respect in terms of team selection and had enough experience to know how to win ugly and frustrate and recognised a team that demanded such non Arsenal like actions, in short they approached us as a top four side.
For my part I thought the manager could have done better with substitutions and as for a man of the match I couldn't split Hibbert, Carsley or Lescott.
Although we lost 4-1 at home I didn't feel despondant as I thought with an addition of a powerful central midfield playmaker and a wideman in the mould of Kanchelskis we can go places.
I wish the manager the best of luck in his search for the missing links and also thank him for a good show in the first half of the season.
UP THE BLUES
Reader Comments
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You deserved at least a point , but please don.’t keep making out Arteta is a saint .it was not the first time he had used his forearm against an opponent’s face (Clichy first half ) and there may have been one or two other examples.Swinging your arm in an opponent’s face is a sending off however they fall.Aswe all hate cheats. comments on..Neville,Arteta and Yakubu please doing a ’Fabregas ’and diving in the area.
What a refreshing piece! i am an AFC supportter and like my previous colleague agree with all your comments apart from the Arteta issue! my dear wife was watching MotD with me and she agreed that an arm across the face not only merited the red card but would also hurt quite a bit!
please keep up the excellent work, we need more REAL football supporters, like yourself, writing on sites not ignorant, foul mouthed, knee jerkers! If mr. Moyes carries on developing your team this way you may soon replace LFC as the top side in town!
please keep up the excellent work, we need more REAL football supporters, like yourself, writing on sites not ignorant, foul mouthed, knee jerkers! If mr. Moyes carries on developing your team this way you may soon replace LFC as the top side in town!
Your boys played really well and a 3 goal difference flattered my lot far more than we deserved. Cahill?s goal was especially well taken and your boys had some breathtaking moves out there.
As for us playing route one, it seems Arsenal are criticised for only having one plan when we refused to change our gameplan and now we?re identifying what teams have trouble with and changing to do that we?re now accused of "hoofing". Can?t win!
As for the red cards, there wasn?t much in Bendtner?s foul but he had to go because any foul of that type is a sending off offence. I?m surprised he didn?t get a straight red too.
But if Bendtner deserved to go (and he did) then so did Arteta, sorry. Same thing: Using the elbow like that isn?t really acceptable and if you get caught you can expect to go off. Them?s the rules, end of.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
As for us playing route one, it seems Arsenal are criticised for only having one plan when we refused to change our gameplan and now we?re identifying what teams have trouble with and changing to do that we?re now accused of "hoofing". Can?t win!
As for the red cards, there wasn?t much in Bendtner?s foul but he had to go because any foul of that type is a sending off offence. I?m surprised he didn?t get a straight red too.
But if Bendtner deserved to go (and he did) then so did Arteta, sorry. Same thing: Using the elbow like that isn?t really acceptable and if you get caught you can expect to go off. Them?s the rules, end of.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
A very good article, and another reason to respect the gracious Evertonians. I think we were awful in the first which was down to how your lot played us. I texted my mate at half time and said that the better team were ahead 1-0 and that we had deserved nothing. "very big of you" came his reply. "very commendable - you’re still a loser though" and although it was a bit harsh i had to laugh. The second half was a different story when i texted him each time an event happened (namely the scoreline and cards issued). I was happy for the fact that we had won when Man U(re) had lost earlier in the day and even happier when my mate texted "Promising for you that you can scrap your way to victory when you have to. You’ll need that ability if you are to be champions". And that’s exactly right, last year we would’ve lost or drawn this kind of match. Hats off to the blue noses. I hope all your coming games, (not against us though), you win......
I was embarassed for Arsenal yesterday. They showed a lack of class in everything they did and didn’t deserve anything from the game.
I left the ground proud to be a Blue. I am not ignorant to the fact that we need to be wiser and that Howard and Jags both had nightmare second halves but the bottom line is we played the better football throughout and it was our boys who played with dignity and pride - Cesc is a joke of a man!
Let’s bounce back straight away Blues. I can smell a cup for us this season.
I left the ground proud to be a Blue. I am not ignorant to the fact that we need to be wiser and that Howard and Jags both had nightmare second halves but the bottom line is we played the better football throughout and it was our boys who played with dignity and pride - Cesc is a joke of a man!
Let’s bounce back straight away Blues. I can smell a cup for us this season.
3 points was all that mattered yesterday and thats what Arsenal got.
Don?t really care that AFC are being accused of allsorts, from playing like Fat Sams Bolton or goading the poor little angels of Everton into doing fouls that they would never ever dream of doing the little darlings!
Lets not forget there is some previous here and cahill for one is an odious twat who has done some nasty and sly fouls before especially against Cesc.
So, we palyed route 1, got 3 points and are top of the league. I?d have bitten ya arm off for that at half time.
Who says Arsenal don?t have a plan B?
Don?t really care that AFC are being accused of allsorts, from playing like Fat Sams Bolton or goading the poor little angels of Everton into doing fouls that they would never ever dream of doing the little darlings!
Lets not forget there is some previous here and cahill for one is an odious twat who has done some nasty and sly fouls before especially against Cesc.
So, we palyed route 1, got 3 points and are top of the league. I?d have bitten ya arm off for that at half time.
Who says Arsenal don?t have a plan B?
I suggest that everyone who claims that Fabregas was feigning injuy takes another look at the incident. I have just watched it again. His head jerks back like a whiplash - you can’t do that to order!
Everton outplayed us completely in the first half, but, as my dad long since dead used to say, ?Look in the scorebook?.
Everton outplayed us completely in the first half, but, as my dad long since dead used to say, ?Look in the scorebook?.
You scouse mug. What a load of shit. Everton bossed the first half but did n?t come out in the second. Good to see The Arsenal giving your lot a bit back for a change.
Hi Ken, thanks for the report.
Have I stumbled on to a Gunners fan site?
I was hugely disappointed with the second half capitulation yesterday, but there were still positives to take from the performance even if there were no points.
I think the first half performance and the way we still tried to play football in the 2nd showed how far we have come and the result definitely flattered The Arse. As the gunners above have stated though, it would appear that AFC have finally found their plan B.
For me Jags should have done better with their first, he got caught underneath that long ball and tried to jump for a header he was never going to make. However, the 2nd was different and certainly not Jags’s fault.
Eduardo clearly controlled the ball with his hand, giving him the perfect touch into his stride. What he did then was totally class and I cannot find fault with Jags. The touch Eduardo took after the hand ball that turned Jags inside out and left him on his arse was pure class and the best defender in the world would have been helpless. The finish was nothing less than we expect from the deadly Croatian (or whatever he is).
And so on to probably the worst error of all, the 3rd goal. For me, this all comes down to Mr Howard. If you watch the replay, you will notice as the ball bounces Tim rushes out to the edge of his area leaving so little space between him and Yobo as to totally nullify any chance of Yobo knocking it back to him for a clearance. If you’re going to do that then you better be sure that you’re going to get it! Of course we all know what happened next!! Hopefully Tim will learn from that one.
All in all, a bad day at the office (save the first half). However, as in the Man Utd game, we showed that we can compete with the top four even if we can’t quite bring home the result yet. There was a time when that 1-4 result would have been par for the course and we’d have been completely outplayed in the process. Not so anymore.
PS. Can all the Gooners please go and find their own site
COYB!!
Have I stumbled on to a Gunners fan site?
I was hugely disappointed with the second half capitulation yesterday, but there were still positives to take from the performance even if there were no points.
I think the first half performance and the way we still tried to play football in the 2nd showed how far we have come and the result definitely flattered The Arse. As the gunners above have stated though, it would appear that AFC have finally found their plan B.
For me Jags should have done better with their first, he got caught underneath that long ball and tried to jump for a header he was never going to make. However, the 2nd was different and certainly not Jags’s fault.
Eduardo clearly controlled the ball with his hand, giving him the perfect touch into his stride. What he did then was totally class and I cannot find fault with Jags. The touch Eduardo took after the hand ball that turned Jags inside out and left him on his arse was pure class and the best defender in the world would have been helpless. The finish was nothing less than we expect from the deadly Croatian (or whatever he is).
And so on to probably the worst error of all, the 3rd goal. For me, this all comes down to Mr Howard. If you watch the replay, you will notice as the ball bounces Tim rushes out to the edge of his area leaving so little space between him and Yobo as to totally nullify any chance of Yobo knocking it back to him for a clearance. If you’re going to do that then you better be sure that you’re going to get it! Of course we all know what happened next!! Hopefully Tim will learn from that one.
All in all, a bad day at the office (save the first half). However, as in the Man Utd game, we showed that we can compete with the top four even if we can’t quite bring home the result yet. There was a time when that 1-4 result would have been par for the course and we’d have been completely outplayed in the process. Not so anymore.
PS. Can all the Gooners please go and find their own site
COYB!!
I would have accepted 1 point before the game, and we deserved that at least. The 2nd half was an aberration, and was lost by us rather than won by ?the gooners?. They have some annoying bastards in their team though, and if I was still a skinhead back in the late sixties, I would have run on to the hallowed turf and nutted that frog Clichy. Bad day at the office.
I have realised that the English really hate Arsenal. Why doesn;t anyone mention the fact that Yakubu fell on his own in the Arsenal box trying to get a penalty in the first half? Why is Fabregas the only criticised? Disgusting!!!!
Ken I thought you were spot on with most of what you say. However, I thought a more ideal move would have Anichebe for the Yak rather than Vaughan simply because all Howard was doing was punting the ball upfield and we needed a real aerial presence that could control the ball before laying it off. I think Vaughan would have struggled with far less game time than Anichebe to take on Toure and Gallas.
Nevertheless, I do agree (for once!) with what Alan Green said about us on 606.
2 defeats out of 16 and we are still the form team in the Prem.
It shows how we have come the fact that we played Arsenal off the park in the first half and we are all angry we didn?t get something from the game rather than wishing for them to keep the scoreline low.
Nevertheless, I do agree (for once!) with what Alan Green said about us on 606.
2 defeats out of 16 and we are still the form team in the Prem.
It shows how we have come the fact that we played Arsenal off the park in the first half and we are all angry we didn?t get something from the game rather than wishing for them to keep the scoreline low.
You know its a strange thing, after the game yesterday I didnt feel the usual gut wrenching twist I would normally experience after such a result. I had an air of confidence in Moyes and the troops and felt that this is by no means a hammer blow even at 4-1. Ok all but one of the ’big 4’ have beaten us this season, but very narrowly and in some cases unjustifiably. We are now a team to be reckoned with and even the hacks down on Fleet st are sitting up to take notice. Did anyone else notice the difference in Davy’s post match interview last night. He was defiant, confident and hungry. We are in for one of our best seasons in years and I get the feeling this is being felt from the Kit room all the way to the back row of the Park end. New signings to come in January, a cup semi and progress into the last 32 of the Uefa cup, the future is very bright my friends, very bright indeed.
Handballing, diving, dirty stuff from Arsenal. Eduardo spent 5 mins on the touchline getting ’treatment’ for what replays showed was literally nothing.
It was so refreshing to see us pass the ball around Arsenal in the first half - why did we switch off completely second half? It was like two separate matches, let alone a game of two halves.
Yakubu didnt dive in the first half-he simply fell over, it wasn’t a foul or a dive and the ref got it spot on.
Arteta was hacked from behind 3 times in first half, twice ref played advantage yet failed to call the players back for their bookings. I think Flamini and Fabregas were the culprits - and guess what both got booked later on...........
It was so refreshing to see us pass the ball around Arsenal in the first half - why did we switch off completely second half? It was like two separate matches, let alone a game of two halves.
Yakubu didnt dive in the first half-he simply fell over, it wasn’t a foul or a dive and the ref got it spot on.
Arteta was hacked from behind 3 times in first half, twice ref played advantage yet failed to call the players back for their bookings. I think Flamini and Fabregas were the culprits - and guess what both got booked later on...........
Just a quick thought on the Fabregas incident,and this will be relevent to recent displays by Gerrard and his ilk....if Fabregas was accidently hit in the face by his three year old nephew, would he fall down and roll over three times? If Gerrard was carrying a tray full of ale through the bar in the Bluebell and someone accidently bumped into him, would he fall over and immediately look towards the ref (or barman) before he?d even hit the floor? Er....probably not. All these so called sportsmen, Savage is another, who writhe around with "broken jaws" etc. as they try to get fellow pros banned are taking dishonesty to a new high. That is one thing in football that needs to be sorted out asap, before football is forced into becoming a "no-contact" sport. Up until yesterday I had so much respect for the way Arsenal had thrown off their old Boring tag but their time-wasting and theatricals sickened me. They were, and not for the first time, the first team to start throwing tackles in, and were the first team, and not for the first time, to start whingeing. Wenger, or Stevie Wonder as his visually impaired stance would have him, seldom sees any wrong in his side but constantly complains about being roughed up. Mind you, I would still rather the Gooners win the Title than any of the other Big 4. (so-called)
What a crock of cack. You played better for the first 35 minutes we spanked you thereafter. The problem here is Everton have got too big for their boots, another mid-table team thinking they are a top 4 club.
Whatever anyone says, football is a simple game of one side scoring more goals than the other.
The fact that we played Arsenal off the park, and forced them to play like Bolton counts for nothing as we lost.
They’ve muggged us like we’ve mugged other teams in the past.
This and the Utd game to me was a test of where we are as a team compared to the best teams in the league. We are clearly a top six team, but not yet top 4. For me, despite the loss, there were so many positives.
We should hold our heads up high.
The fact that we played Arsenal off the park, and forced them to play like Bolton counts for nothing as we lost.
They’ve muggged us like we’ve mugged other teams in the past.
This and the Utd game to me was a test of where we are as a team compared to the best teams in the league. We are clearly a top six team, but not yet top 4. For me, despite the loss, there were so many positives.
We should hold our heads up high.
Can all of the Arsenal fans please go find your own fan site? This is a site for Everton fans to talk about events from an Everton point of view. Also, well written article Ken, as usual.
Will someone please comment about the Neville dive. Moyes and all Evertom fans have said about Cesc, not one has bothered to comment on Neville?s dive. I notice MotD didn?t show it either.
To the numerous gooners who seem obsessed with this site, clearly you have nothing like it down sarf, so don’t come on polluting it with the same sought of arrogance your team displayed last night.
You won the game, but made few friends with your blatant gamesmanship no doubt encouraged by ’blind pew’ the manager.
The biggest suprise last night was seeing the vistors section three quarters full for a change, normally it’s a couple of hundred diehards, the rest are clearly the ’armchair’ type.
Go and find your own site to wax lyrical about the new ’Leeds Utd’ team you enjoy supporting!
You won the game, but made few friends with your blatant gamesmanship no doubt encouraged by ’blind pew’ the manager.
The biggest suprise last night was seeing the vistors section three quarters full for a change, normally it’s a couple of hundred diehards, the rest are clearly the ’armchair’ type.
Go and find your own site to wax lyrical about the new ’Leeds Utd’ team you enjoy supporting!
I have to say that I felt sick as a pig after the game yesterday. That defeat hurt even more than the Clattenburg Derby for me. The manner of it was gut wrenching.
I thought we outplayed Arsenal in the 1st half (YES WE OUT PLAYED ARSENAL!!!) & probably would have 2 up if Gravesen or Ossie had been wearing Neville’s shirt!
Some of our passing & movement was excellent & they didn’t seem to ahve an answer. The 2nd half started in the same way, but then a 60 yard punt caught Jagielka on his heels & Eduardo finished (why was Howard sat on his arse?)
The 2nd was an action replay & the 3rd an absolute horror show from Yobo & Howard.
Then the sending off - there was NO INTENT from Arteta & his "bezzie mate" went down like he’d been shot (note to Mikel - Find some new mates!) pure gamesmanship - the ref fell for it (there was some Gerrard’esque whispering in his ear from the slimy Flamini) & we’re without our star man for 3 games - including the CC semi for F ALL, & that after seeing the impetuous Bendtner walking after a leg breaker on AJ - with only a 2nd yellow & a 1 game ban!
Overall, I’m so disappointed, we mugged ourselves at OT last week & then this - hard to take really.
I thought we outplayed Arsenal in the 1st half (YES WE OUT PLAYED ARSENAL!!!) & probably would have 2 up if Gravesen or Ossie had been wearing Neville’s shirt!
Some of our passing & movement was excellent & they didn’t seem to ahve an answer. The 2nd half started in the same way, but then a 60 yard punt caught Jagielka on his heels & Eduardo finished (why was Howard sat on his arse?)
The 2nd was an action replay & the 3rd an absolute horror show from Yobo & Howard.
Then the sending off - there was NO INTENT from Arteta & his "bezzie mate" went down like he’d been shot (note to Mikel - Find some new mates!) pure gamesmanship - the ref fell for it (there was some Gerrard’esque whispering in his ear from the slimy Flamini) & we’re without our star man for 3 games - including the CC semi for F ALL, & that after seeing the impetuous Bendtner walking after a leg breaker on AJ - with only a 2nd yellow & a 1 game ban!
Overall, I’m so disappointed, we mugged ourselves at OT last week & then this - hard to take really.
I?m not a toffe or gunner?s supporter but to go on about gamesmanship from one side and not comment on your own team?s "blatant gamesmanship" does not ring of any sort of balance just being sore losers.
It's amusing to read the Arsenal fans comments. The result of the game last night was disappointing and only served to highlight the preferential treatment that the top four teams get from referees. Arsenal's Bendtner should have got a straight red. Arteta?s red card is going to stand although Fabregas showed how to make the most of things.
As regards some of the comments about Everton diving... very rich from Arsenal.
I have no problem with Arsenal playing route one football but I didn?t here them defending Everton?s tactics when we play that way and beat them last year and its a shame only one team played football last night!
We need to bring in a few players in January to ensure we profit from what has been an excellent season so far.
As regards some of the comments about Everton diving... very rich from Arsenal.
I have no problem with Arsenal playing route one football but I didn?t here them defending Everton?s tactics when we play that way and beat them last year and its a shame only one team played football last night!
We need to bring in a few players in January to ensure we profit from what has been an excellent season so far.
I’ve long had a soft spot for Arsenal, and still prefer them to the other so-called "big four", but they were generally disappointing yesterday. Apart from the move leading to the fourth goal, the most outstanding thing about them was their petulance and gamesmanship.
Arteta’s red card was a fair decision, though a yellow might have sufficed if the game was ruled by logic rather than the book. But Fabregas has shown a side to his personality that grates when placed against his undoubted skill.
In the end, Arsenal just about deserved the three points, mainly because we forgot how to defend the long-ball which is ironic considering our recent history.
The best thing is that none of us are too downhearted because, and who would have thought we would be able to say this, Everton played the better football against one of the best footballing club sides I have ever seen.
Onwards and upwards. This is the best Everton since the mid-eighties, and Moyes is the best manager we’ve had since HK in his prime... and I’m still loving it this season!
Arteta’s red card was a fair decision, though a yellow might have sufficed if the game was ruled by logic rather than the book. But Fabregas has shown a side to his personality that grates when placed against his undoubted skill.
In the end, Arsenal just about deserved the three points, mainly because we forgot how to defend the long-ball which is ironic considering our recent history.
The best thing is that none of us are too downhearted because, and who would have thought we would be able to say this, Everton played the better football against one of the best footballing club sides I have ever seen.
Onwards and upwards. This is the best Everton since the mid-eighties, and Moyes is the best manager we’ve had since HK in his prime... and I’m still loving it this season!
Everton is a club I respect. But some of the double standard I read here is crazy. Everton players dived (twice!), Arteta showed his tarentula elbow and all we hear about is that Cesc is a cheat and that Arsenal are undeserving winners.
Beyond the difference in the general quality of the players, Arsenal has another huge advantage. His name is Arsene. Like it or not mr. Moyes is not Wenger!
Beyond the difference in the general quality of the players, Arsenal has another huge advantage. His name is Arsene. Like it or not mr. Moyes is not Wenger!
Arsenal fans - the best example of double standard hypocritical twats you?ll ever find.
Please, you part time supporters, go find your own site. Your stink is distracting.
Please, you part time supporters, go find your own site. Your stink is distracting.
"As regards some of the comments about Everton diving...very rich from Arsenal"
You either acknowledge it or you don?t, it happens at all clubs. Phil Neville?s dive was disgraceful and Yakubu, one of the more powerful strikers in the prem can bounce off Toure one second but can?t maintain his balance the next when he is in the box? I wonder why that would be?
Also the pointless comment about you playing better football than us amuses me no end. Last year when we played you off the park and you got the victory your manager said it was about results and taking your chances.. This year he bangs on about playing better football.. Two faced at all? Nah, didn?t think so!
You either acknowledge it or you don?t, it happens at all clubs. Phil Neville?s dive was disgraceful and Yakubu, one of the more powerful strikers in the prem can bounce off Toure one second but can?t maintain his balance the next when he is in the box? I wonder why that would be?
Also the pointless comment about you playing better football than us amuses me no end. Last year when we played you off the park and you got the victory your manager said it was about results and taking your chances.. This year he bangs on about playing better football.. Two faced at all? Nah, didn?t think so!
You can call this sour grapes if you want but I used to have alot of respect for Arsenal but after todays disgraceful performance of calculated cynical cheating, and thats all you can call it, I hope they win bugger all.
They’ve lost all respect from me and I suspect alot of other football fans.
Where was the beautiful skillfull football we were expecting to see?
What was served up by the "Champions elect" was dross of the first degree compounded by the deliberate feigning of injury,handballs,constant crying to the referee, disgraceful tackles,in fact everything to break up our flow of play.
Tactics I believe they were deliberately told to do by their bent manager who is a blinkered cheat at the very least.
Arsenal should be ashamed of the cheating tactics they and their loathsome manager have chosen to adopt.
I would even go as far to say I hope the Mancs or Chelski win it before that crowd of girlie diving arrogant posers.
We gifted them three or possibly four goals with their second being the most blatant handball not seen by a ref or linesman anywhere,even their away crowd (which was one of the better turnouts this year so fair play to them at this time of year) sang "we only score when we handball".
That second goal which they didn’t deserve totally changed the game
All in all a disappointing day for us as they were there for the taking made even worse by the manner we lost.
Lets see how many games ladyboy Fabregas misses with his shattered jaw from Mikels powder puff WWE elbow .
Sorry about the rant but the whole Arsenal performance leaves a nasty taste in the mouth only put into perspective by the very sad death of Phil O’Donnel the Motherwell captain R.I.P.
They’ve lost all respect from me and I suspect alot of other football fans.
Where was the beautiful skillfull football we were expecting to see?
What was served up by the "Champions elect" was dross of the first degree compounded by the deliberate feigning of injury,handballs,constant crying to the referee, disgraceful tackles,in fact everything to break up our flow of play.
Tactics I believe they were deliberately told to do by their bent manager who is a blinkered cheat at the very least.
Arsenal should be ashamed of the cheating tactics they and their loathsome manager have chosen to adopt.
I would even go as far to say I hope the Mancs or Chelski win it before that crowd of girlie diving arrogant posers.
We gifted them three or possibly four goals with their second being the most blatant handball not seen by a ref or linesman anywhere,even their away crowd (which was one of the better turnouts this year so fair play to them at this time of year) sang "we only score when we handball".
That second goal which they didn’t deserve totally changed the game
All in all a disappointing day for us as they were there for the taking made even worse by the manner we lost.
Lets see how many games ladyboy Fabregas misses with his shattered jaw from Mikels powder puff WWE elbow .
Sorry about the rant but the whole Arsenal performance leaves a nasty taste in the mouth only put into perspective by the very sad death of Phil O’Donnel the Motherwell captain R.I.P.
so how comes if we are part time fans we pull in 6000 every time we play at home?
no you facts before commenting and to the guy that mention about our supporters go on arsenal.com and check away tickets we sell out every game.
face it do we really care what you think?
we are top of the league and that win is another 3 points towards the tittle.
no you facts before commenting and to the guy that mention about our supporters go on arsenal.com and check away tickets we sell out every game.
face it do we really care what you think?
we are top of the league and that win is another 3 points towards the tittle.
"I would even go as far to say I hope the Mancs or Chelski win it before that crowd of girlie diving arrogant posers."
Ronaldo or Rooney or Drogba or Joe Cole anyone?
"Tactics I believe they were deliberately told to do by their bent manager who is a blinkered cheat at the very least."
Moyes must be a saint.
"We gifted them three or possibly four goals with their second being the most blatant handball not seen by a ref or linesman anywhere"
Overreaction much?
This is biggest load of bile I?ve read in a while, what a pathetic post.
Ronaldo or Rooney or Drogba or Joe Cole anyone?
"Tactics I believe they were deliberately told to do by their bent manager who is a blinkered cheat at the very least."
Moyes must be a saint.
"We gifted them three or possibly four goals with their second being the most blatant handball not seen by a ref or linesman anywhere"
Overreaction much?
This is biggest load of bile I?ve read in a while, what a pathetic post.
Will the brainless,jobless Arse fans shove off and find somewhere else to spew their shit..we played badly and lost..but that doesnt mean that i think Fabregas isnt a little,cheating toe-rag!
When Arsenal had no plan b, and tried weekend after weekend to play football against teams like Everton, who pack the midfield and hack our players to death, it was generally anounced that we should develop our physical side. Now that we have done that, sore losers say they are shocked and outraged. Don?t forget, we had to change because of teams Everton.
And by the way, do you really want just one side of the argument on your silly Everton site.....how boring would that be, even more boring than watching everton every week!!!!
And by the way, do you really want just one side of the argument on your silly Everton site.....how boring would that be, even more boring than watching everton every week!!!!
To Santosh and certain other posters, will you please grow up. It is OCCASIONALLY refreshing to have an open debate about a game with the opposition supporters and I would like to think we Evertonians can do so without sulking and admonishing the gooners to go to away to their own sites. Get some perspective. The thread starts in a generally positive manner and views about critical incidents are expressed from the perspective of the respective camps - as you would expect from two sets of partisan supporters.
As usual, it degenerates following a posting by a red-shite, but no change there from the turds across the park.
I have to say I agree with the general sentiments already expressed. Arsenal treated us with respect and were up for the game. For the opening half, we were nonetheless the superior side. However, a small squad and a demanding December took its toll in the second half - Jags and Yobo looked out on their feet whilst the Arsenal centre-halves were able to repel our tired attacks with ease. For a spell after we went 2-1 behind we put some real quality in the box (I thought AJ was going to nick in front of Almunia for 2-2 from a corner shortly after he was on but I think Toure got a last ditch header in). In the end, however, it seemed we couldn’t muster the energy to create a clear chance and Arsenal’s greater experience / tactical nouse saw them through. Moyes will have to learn a few lessons from this experience.
Boro tomorrow will be a toughie, I think. They’ve hit a bit of form, beaten the gooners, and I generally think having played so many games in December the majority of our players are operating at 50-75% fitness. From memory our record at their ground is also patchy at best. I will settle for a point. COYB.
As usual, it degenerates following a posting by a red-shite, but no change there from the turds across the park.
I have to say I agree with the general sentiments already expressed. Arsenal treated us with respect and were up for the game. For the opening half, we were nonetheless the superior side. However, a small squad and a demanding December took its toll in the second half - Jags and Yobo looked out on their feet whilst the Arsenal centre-halves were able to repel our tired attacks with ease. For a spell after we went 2-1 behind we put some real quality in the box (I thought AJ was going to nick in front of Almunia for 2-2 from a corner shortly after he was on but I think Toure got a last ditch header in). In the end, however, it seemed we couldn’t muster the energy to create a clear chance and Arsenal’s greater experience / tactical nouse saw them through. Moyes will have to learn a few lessons from this experience.
Boro tomorrow will be a toughie, I think. They’ve hit a bit of form, beaten the gooners, and I generally think having played so many games in December the majority of our players are operating at 50-75% fitness. From memory our record at their ground is also patchy at best. I will settle for a point. COYB.
Is there a link to Toffeeweb on the L’Arse O/S????
I’ve never seen so much shite posted by rival fans on here.
At the end of the day we gifted them 3 points with some suicidal defending, it could & should have been such a different aftermath.
It’s the manor of the defeat that’s so hard to stomach. The gamesmanship & general attitude of the Arsenal side leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
Toure’s attempt to con the ref into thinking he’d been struck by a missile anyone? Nice bloke...his manager must be proud of him - twat.
I’ve never seen so much shite posted by rival fans on here.
At the end of the day we gifted them 3 points with some suicidal defending, it could & should have been such a different aftermath.
It’s the manor of the defeat that’s so hard to stomach. The gamesmanship & general attitude of the Arsenal side leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
Toure’s attempt to con the ref into thinking he’d been struck by a missile anyone? Nice bloke...his manager must be proud of him - twat.
Everton v the Big Four: Hibbert plays full back and Neville plays midfield in all these games; bad tactics and most importantly absolute fear in the whole team. We are so scared...
You scousemonkeys make me laugh, NEVILLE went down as if he had both legs broken by an imaginary tackle yet in your typical northern grit manner refer to Artetas elbow as being soft and cuddly- to Fabregas? face.
Double standards?
Hypocrites?
Tick all of the above......
Double standards?
Hypocrites?
Tick all of the above......
John Day
"How come we pull in 6000 at every time we play at home?"
Well, if you actually went to any of your home games, you?d see 60,000 you gloryhunting plank, not 6,000.
Now, I have actually been to the emirates (and can give you the directions if you want) and the place was packed to the rafters - with corporate hospitality, wealthy fair-weather "fans", tourists on packages, and rich kids whose daddies bought season tickets just to look big in front of their colleagues at work.
I?ve already said how much I admire the football Arsenal usually play, but you might notice I didn?t mention their fans. That?s because they make Chelsea fans look like die-hards.
The real Arsenal Football Club died years ago.
Welcome to the People?s Club you bunch of wannabes.
"How come we pull in 6000 at every time we play at home?"
Well, if you actually went to any of your home games, you?d see 60,000 you gloryhunting plank, not 6,000.
Now, I have actually been to the emirates (and can give you the directions if you want) and the place was packed to the rafters - with corporate hospitality, wealthy fair-weather "fans", tourists on packages, and rich kids whose daddies bought season tickets just to look big in front of their colleagues at work.
I?ve already said how much I admire the football Arsenal usually play, but you might notice I didn?t mention their fans. That?s because they make Chelsea fans look like die-hards.
The real Arsenal Football Club died years ago.
Welcome to the People?s Club you bunch of wannabes.
Yes Steve Taylor, it might have been a different outcome if your team were good enough to compete with any of the big 4. And if you look up gamesmanship, or cheating diving losers, you might find Everton are not adverse to it themselves.
Sandy - spot on mate :)
Paul English - we were that "scared" we played you off the park in the opening 45 mins. Neville was in midfield due to the injuries to Osman & Gravesen - you plank.
Paul English - we were that "scared" we played you off the park in the opening 45 mins. Neville was in midfield due to the injuries to Osman & Gravesen - you plank.
How sad that Ken’s report and the very gracious comments from Arsenal fans that first responded to it has degenerated into petty name calling
And some of us blues need to grow up, telling Arsenal fans to f-off and find their own site. Show some greater dignity and tolerance. A good few of them make some very valid points. Neville clearly threw his right leg out to give the appearance that he was tripped... I cannot condone what Arteta did, even though IMO CF milked it.
Similarly, Arsenal fans need to admit that there were some very hefty challenges from them in the first half that should have seen a yellow card.
Overall, I think it was a bewildering game and like many - including Moyes himself - I take great encouragement from it, in spite of the scoreline.
Our performance in the first half totally intimidated Arsenal. It was a combination of the biting competitiveness and high pressure football EFC has had until now in the five years under Moyes, but combined with incisive passing and inventive one-touch football. It gave Arsenal no escape route and it is a huge compliment that they had to resort to what some describe as hoofball. Somebody offer me a comparative game plan by Arsenal under Wegner as to the one they had to adopt against us yesterday, ’cos I can’t think of one. WE forced that upon them...
The goals we conceeded - other than the last one - were largely of our own making. Very un-Everton-like.
With suspensions, the forthcoming ANC and injuries our resources particularly in midfield are now stretched thin, but I continue to be positive and excited by how the team is playing this season and the potential that we now display at this club.
And - please! - more tolerance and acknowledgement of other’s views. We can learn from them rather than closing our ears and eyes to them...
And some of us blues need to grow up, telling Arsenal fans to f-off and find their own site. Show some greater dignity and tolerance. A good few of them make some very valid points. Neville clearly threw his right leg out to give the appearance that he was tripped... I cannot condone what Arteta did, even though IMO CF milked it.
Similarly, Arsenal fans need to admit that there were some very hefty challenges from them in the first half that should have seen a yellow card.
Overall, I think it was a bewildering game and like many - including Moyes himself - I take great encouragement from it, in spite of the scoreline.
Our performance in the first half totally intimidated Arsenal. It was a combination of the biting competitiveness and high pressure football EFC has had until now in the five years under Moyes, but combined with incisive passing and inventive one-touch football. It gave Arsenal no escape route and it is a huge compliment that they had to resort to what some describe as hoofball. Somebody offer me a comparative game plan by Arsenal under Wegner as to the one they had to adopt against us yesterday, ’cos I can’t think of one. WE forced that upon them...
The goals we conceeded - other than the last one - were largely of our own making. Very un-Everton-like.
With suspensions, the forthcoming ANC and injuries our resources particularly in midfield are now stretched thin, but I continue to be positive and excited by how the team is playing this season and the potential that we now display at this club.
And - please! - more tolerance and acknowledgement of other’s views. We can learn from them rather than closing our ears and eyes to them...
Unbelievable some of you Toffees. Very good match report but I have to say I have never laughed so much at double-standards. Philippa Neviile? Diver. He tried to con the ref in an attempt to gain an advantage. Arteta? Dived when Clichy made no contact with him in the first half. Yakubu? A 6 foot beast of an African? Fell over after Toure looked at hom the wrong way. 3 separate pieces of cheating. Everton moaning about route 1? LOL! For the past 2 years at Goodisn Arsenal have passed Everton off the park but gone on to lose 1-0. When Wenger moaned about Everton?s negativity, all we heard from the toffess was how ?only the result counts? bla bla...Oh yeah and how ?it?s up to you to find a way of beating us, You can?t mix it?. Everton defend their long-ball tactics which is fair. So imagine my surprise to see the toffees are sick and twisted as they?ve been given a taste of their own dosage. Always have respected Everton as I see their fans as more honest and gracious than the blinkered red half of Mersey. I still think that but after reading some of this guff I?ll water it down a bit. The fact is, Arsenal beat Everton at their OWN game. Bendtner may have received straight red but he was off regardless. And even with a man up you went 3-1 down. Who will you blame for that? Yobo? Howard? Nah blame the ref! Fabregas defo milked the Arteta incident. But the ref was right in fron of it, couldn?t have had a better view and it was straight red. Cesc milked it but only as Arteta gave him a huge breast to milk! Everton accused Arsenal of being ?sore losers? when we complained that we outplayed them constantly at Goodison but ended up losing 1-0 to an isolated sucker-punch. Yesterday we mixed it. Instead of accepting the usual dish of kicks from Phillipa Neviile, Carsley et al. we decided to kick back. Musta annoyed you to see us not fold eh? We won 1-4. Simple. We ?mixed it,. Wasn;t it ?up to you to find a way of braking us down?? Or did Everton have ?no plan B apart from their beautiful football? eh? Sorry folks. You got tanked. Deal with it and stop making excuses. You lost 4-1 at home to the better team. In fact you have lost so far to ALL of the top 4 teams. It can be no coincidence. You are a very good team in top form - but if you are going to try to play beautiful Arsenal football for once, please try and remember to win, and not lose 4-1. Cheers.
Very disappointing. The ignorant and unecessary comments from our uninvited guests who claim to be Arsenal fans means that I have to hope ManUre win the title now, which goes against the grain.
I thought the RS and the Mancs were sore winners until I read all this load of crap.
Shame.
Still, I never did like those spoilt brats from the Home Counties who changed clubs quicker than Jack Nicklaus. Looks like you’re all Arsenal fans this season; last year you were Chelsea weren’t they?.
I thought the RS and the Mancs were sore winners until I read all this load of crap.
Shame.
Still, I never did like those spoilt brats from the Home Counties who changed clubs quicker than Jack Nicklaus. Looks like you’re all Arsenal fans this season; last year you were Chelsea weren’t they?.
P.S I meant you have lost so far to ALL the top 4 teams you played at home. Of course you drew with the Chavs.
I woud like to say a huge big-up to ART GREETH in the post above. Exactly the kind of sound toffee I was talking about:not blinkered, balanced and fair. Arsenal are no saints and I know this. We do things wrong and I acknowledge them. Eboue is a huge f***g diver for example. One thing I cannot tolerate is when certain fans get high and mighty the minute they’ve had their arses handed to them. I can remember my Arse team gettig stuffed 4-2 at home by ManU a few seasons back. I was disgusted, but I just had to accept that the better team had won.
When you end up lsing 4-1 at home, somewhere along the line you have to accept that perhaps you really were simply beaten by a team who was better on the day overall. With a 2-1 defeat (e.g. the loss at home in the Merseyside derby. Everton were by far the better side and deserved the win) you could argue that. Yes. 4-1? No chance.
I woud like to say a huge big-up to ART GREETH in the post above. Exactly the kind of sound toffee I was talking about:not blinkered, balanced and fair. Arsenal are no saints and I know this. We do things wrong and I acknowledge them. Eboue is a huge f***g diver for example. One thing I cannot tolerate is when certain fans get high and mighty the minute they’ve had their arses handed to them. I can remember my Arse team gettig stuffed 4-2 at home by ManU a few seasons back. I was disgusted, but I just had to accept that the better team had won.
When you end up lsing 4-1 at home, somewhere along the line you have to accept that perhaps you really were simply beaten by a team who was better on the day overall. With a 2-1 defeat (e.g. the loss at home in the Merseyside derby. Everton were by far the better side and deserved the win) you could argue that. Yes. 4-1? No chance.
Arse was really a big s..t against Everton, I dont think they deserve to win the league neither manure instead I prefer Chelsea.
We gonna win against Boro,.. COYB
We gonna win against Boro,.. COYB
Sorry, Sandy Brown and others, but what I am reading from too many Blues in this thread is ignorant and unnecessary. I could also add ungracious and simply wrong.
Arsenal and United are the two best footballing sides in the country and in the last week we have given both a game, but ultimately lost. I want to learn and take from those two clubs the ability and the mental toughness they both have to be winners and champions, no matter what opposition they face... as Arsenal did yesterday in the face of a very good and very tough opponent... us.
Rejoice in just how well EFC played in parts yesterday and how we forced Wegner and Arsenal’s hand into playing in a style not common to them. ’Cos I continue to say, like Moyes, in spite of the scoreline, we are very much on the right path. Can we now consolidate and build on what five years under Moyes has brought us...?
I for one certainly believe so.
Arsenal and United are the two best footballing sides in the country and in the last week we have given both a game, but ultimately lost. I want to learn and take from those two clubs the ability and the mental toughness they both have to be winners and champions, no matter what opposition they face... as Arsenal did yesterday in the face of a very good and very tough opponent... us.
Rejoice in just how well EFC played in parts yesterday and how we forced Wegner and Arsenal’s hand into playing in a style not common to them. ’Cos I continue to say, like Moyes, in spite of the scoreline, we are very much on the right path. Can we now consolidate and build on what five years under Moyes has brought us...?
I for one certainly believe so.
The game seemed to me Arsenal realised they couldn't beat us fairly as we played them off the pitch. So they decided to indulge in probably the biggest show of thuggery I've seen on a pitch this season, Diaby should have gone for 2 knee high tackles in the first half alone. I agree our inexperience cost us in the end, but weve proved we can match the so called big 4 until they start cheating. That's where we fall down im afraid. As my old dad used to say about European competition "It's no use moaning about these foreigners cheating, it's our own fault for playing them." Unfortunately this is true of the big clubs these days, and its the continental style that has caused it.
Art Greeth, I agree with you in your assessement of the game, and I’m sure most others do on here, but I am astounded at Arsenal fans coming onto this, clearly a site intended for Everton supporters to discuss the merits and failings of their team, and trying to wind us up. The last thing I would have done if we had held on to win would have been to find GoonerWeb or whatever, and start slagging Arsenal off and calling them diving hypocrites.
I welcome fans from other clubs on here, but you’d have to be a complete dickhead to come onto a forum like this as a visitor and start shouting the odds. The only fans who should come on here to shout the odds and slag off Everton are us Blues, and we manage that pretty damn well!
I welcome fans from other clubs on here, but you’d have to be a complete dickhead to come onto a forum like this as a visitor and start shouting the odds. The only fans who should come on here to shout the odds and slag off Everton are us Blues, and we manage that pretty damn well!
Completely agree with Art Greeth. Most of the Arsenal fans on this site have been quite gracious and shown us the respect our performance (though not the result) deserved.
We played the better football, and frankly dominated the match from start to finish. Arsenal took 90 minutes to create anything, and by then we had simply given up. We handed them 3 golden openings, and they took all 3 - mark of champions.
As for the diving, we have to admit that our boys have gotten into this habit as well recently. Yes, Fabragas is a disgrace - but then Neville wasn’t too much better last night.
Overal, last night was actually quite encouraging. For the first time in years we outplayed a world-class side - sort out the mistakes and we can break back into the Champions League. Good match, great atmosphere, wrong result.
We played the better football, and frankly dominated the match from start to finish. Arsenal took 90 minutes to create anything, and by then we had simply given up. We handed them 3 golden openings, and they took all 3 - mark of champions.
As for the diving, we have to admit that our boys have gotten into this habit as well recently. Yes, Fabragas is a disgrace - but then Neville wasn’t too much better last night.
Overal, last night was actually quite encouraging. For the first time in years we outplayed a world-class side - sort out the mistakes and we can break back into the Champions League. Good match, great atmosphere, wrong result.
i used to like arsenal but after watching the game i hate them and i dont ant them to win the league. they may have been the better side but they were dirty little cheats who done evrything they could to try and get our players booked.
Then we disagree on what the Internet represents and how it is used (or abused...) Sandy.
You simply cannot control the traffic, content or comments in a live forum. What I see in this thread is initially a lot of gracious and very complimentary threads from Gooners and then some juvenile name-calling and orders to ’go away’ by Blues to said Gooners.
Predictably, this spirals out of control with hot-headed passions - from both camps - and the very legitimate challengers made to some Blues’ contradictory and hypocritical comments get lost in a sea of vitriolic abuse and a mature analysis of both teams and the game gets lost.
And whilst YOU might not go on a Gooner site to crow, there are plenty of Blues who do, so again... don’t make such sweeping generalisations and portraying us as angelic innocents. This thread clearly shows we are not...
You simply cannot control the traffic, content or comments in a live forum. What I see in this thread is initially a lot of gracious and very complimentary threads from Gooners and then some juvenile name-calling and orders to ’go away’ by Blues to said Gooners.
Predictably, this spirals out of control with hot-headed passions - from both camps - and the very legitimate challengers made to some Blues’ contradictory and hypocritical comments get lost in a sea of vitriolic abuse and a mature analysis of both teams and the game gets lost.
And whilst YOU might not go on a Gooner site to crow, there are plenty of Blues who do, so again... don’t make such sweeping generalisations and portraying us as angelic innocents. This thread clearly shows we are not...
I would rather loose 4-1 to Arsenal than Villa, or Man City or Portsmouth as these are our closest threats.
Also would rather we learn this lesson in how we need to cope with long-ball Wimbeldon 80s style play in the Premiership then be taught this lesson vs our next Norwegian opponents in the UAFA cup / or Chelsea in the League Cup or Oldham in the FA Cup.
Training ground next week Everton will be training this lesson inflicted from a team we least expected to be taught.
The Arsenal fans make this debate interesting. I look at other sides blogs to see how their fans react to Everton wins. West Hams blogs that I saw were sensible about their losses to us recently - which must have hurt badly.
Of the ’big 4’, Arsenal are more palatable than Man U, Chelsea and RS (who are the weakest of the 4 arguably).
Also would rather we learn this lesson in how we need to cope with long-ball Wimbeldon 80s style play in the Premiership then be taught this lesson vs our next Norwegian opponents in the UAFA cup / or Chelsea in the League Cup or Oldham in the FA Cup.
Training ground next week Everton will be training this lesson inflicted from a team we least expected to be taught.
The Arsenal fans make this debate interesting. I look at other sides blogs to see how their fans react to Everton wins. West Hams blogs that I saw were sensible about their losses to us recently - which must have hurt badly.
Of the ’big 4’, Arsenal are more palatable than Man U, Chelsea and RS (who are the weakest of the 4 arguably).
Art, I don’t think you’re actually reading my posts mate. I acknowledge that the internet is used in the way it is being used, what I am saying is that these people are dickheads. As are any Evertonians who go onto other clubs’ sites and abuse their hosts.
Sandy and others are missing the (original) point. The Arsenal fans who initially commented were not ’crowing’ or ’abusing’. That only came after some simplistic replies from Blues. ’Vicious thuggery’ and ’constant cheating’ - must have been a different game to the one I watched. Yes, there were some unsavoury incidents, but they came from both sides. Evertonians generally have a good reputation for fair-mindedness and appreciation of the beautiful game - let’s not throw it away as easily as we leaked goals yesterday. To complain about Arsenal going route 1 is ludicrous - actually it was a compliment to the way we were playing. Whilst this is our site - it makes a change to read some ’outside’ comments, at least before it descends into juvenile name calling.
Okay and with that I think we?ll terminate comments on this thread. It?s started to degenerate, and the more twatish mails have been removed. Arsenal fans: thanks for your input (when civilized) but please, go elsewhere now. ? The Editor
Very funny posts regarding my comments on the abuse thrown at Clichy & Arteta diving. As usual, the point is being missed and people are misquoted and ultimately the thread is closed. All I said was that IF someone threw something it was a disgrace. If players are paid a million pounds a week it's still a disgrace. If nothing was thrown then there's no problem. Dave Trudgeon says it's not cowardly to call Clichy a French Fucker. And you also claim that mentioning French isn't racist. Why the need to use the word French? Also, Clichy was taking a throw and had not been diving so it was just random abuse. But because he's paid well it's acceptable!!!! And this needless behaviour makes it's way onto sites like this. Tell me why football (soccer) fans feel the right to behave like this when rugby, golf, snooker, track & field fans can applaud their own team and leave the opposition to their own. On a more positive note it's nice to read John Pulman's intelligent comments amongst the shite. Now my old friends, hit this pretentious prick with some award winning abuse.
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