Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Throw in the towel
By Boris Mellor
February 26 2010
Why doesn't Wenger toughen up? He has every right to complain that Stoke spend 10 minutes every game wiping the ball with a towel, but rather than raise it afterwards deal with it in advance. How? Insist that Arsenal have access to a towel at throw ins, so we don't do long throw ins, well actually Stoke don't all the time.
Last game at the Britannia on one occasion they spent time wiping the ball and then threw it two yards. If we aren't allowed a towel then its unfair advantage. So Wenger should tell the ref in advance that we want access to towels.
Petty, yes it is, but that's how Stoke like to play it, niggling fouls, time wasting and so on. Come on, all this fair play is getting us nowhere, fans sing same old Arsenal always cheating, yet we are riding high in the fair play league, and what good is it doing us? Can nobody in our team develop a long throw? Is Wenger such a purist we can't develop one? I am sure I remember Radford doing them in the 70s. Come on get stuck in Arsenal.
Fans are talking about Stoke being the hardest game, and true it will be a tough one, we have lost our last two games there. Its also true that we should look only to the next game, but if it is said that it is the toughest game then that is looking ahead to the next 10 games being easier.
A lot of the press are talking Arsenal up that they have the easiest run in of all the top 3. On paper that is true, and if Arsenal win convincingly at Stoke then maybe there will be a case for that argument. But even if the Gunners win at Stoke are away games at Birmingham, Hull and Spurs shoe ins? Will Fulham and City roll over at the Grove? Are they all bums of the week as Sunderland were?
I have my doubts. The team will have to work hard to beat these teams, and I don't detect much of a work ethic these days. Arsenal struggled to score against the Black Cats, how easy will it be to score against the teams listed above?
This team is looking increasingly vulnerable at the back, they could have beat Sunderland 10 nil, or drawn 2-2. Four-four-three is leaving the full-backs isolated. The system worked well at the beginning of the season because the whole team was pressing the opposition, they are not doing that now.
Gallas, Arshavin and Diaby are all out, but good news we have another midget available for Stoke. Let's hope that Campbell and Bendtner can give the team a spine.
Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 21:38
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:28:13:24:44 by Padre Pio.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:28:13:24:44 by Padre Pio.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: celine dion (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 21:43
There is an argument that Gallas Diaby Arshavin and RVP have been our most effective players of the season, (along with Fabregas I suppose) therefore it is a case of grinding the victory out in any way we can and worrying about the quality of our football at a later date.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Philly the kid (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 21:58
I reckon Verminator has been pretty good too tbh.
And fully agree with pretty much everything the article said. Except the 4 4 3!! Last time I saw that formation was vs pool in the cl when the ref joined the scousers to dump us out!
And fully agree with pretty much everything the article said. Except the 4 4 3!! Last time I saw that formation was vs pool in the cl when the ref joined the scousers to dump us out!
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:04
We don't have Shay Given so all is well.
Official 1000th poster in the classic transfer rumors thread of 2014.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: celine dion (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:09
Gallas has been better than Vermaelen all season and that is a fact. Vermaelen has been new shiny and exciting and also he has scored a few goals so people like him even more, but Gallas is like a beautiful elite rolls royce week after week, if I could marry a footballer (in a theoretical way) it would be Gallas, he is a genius.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: iceland (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:15
haha you lot make me laugh. Stoke, fouls?! Arsenal are the dirtiest team going and have been for years. Same old Arsenal, always cheating.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:18
Yeah and the fair play league is rigged just to make Arsenal look good
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:20
Idiot. (That was addressed to Iceland).
Sometimes you just have to be blunt.
What's this obsession with Shay Given Tom?
We have one of the poorest gks in the prem.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:26:22:21:45 by Chapman's Ghost.
Sometimes you just have to be blunt.
What's this obsession with Shay Given Tom?
We have one of the poorest gks in the prem.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:26:22:21:45 by Chapman's Ghost.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: iceland (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:23
you don't have to be high in the fair play league to be fair 
that doesn't record the amount of rolling around on the floor your french poofs do
that doesn't record the amount of rolling around on the floor your french poofs do
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: celine dion (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:27
Quote:iceland
you don't have to be high in the fair play league to be fair
that doesn't record the amount of rolling around on the floor your french poofs do
Your team was the most sh*ttest collection of ball lumping c*nts I have seen at the emirates in about 3 years mate and if you want to bang the billy britain french po*f drum you can do it all you like because you'll be banging it all the way into the championship in the end, as history has shown, you and your nasty fans. bye.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: iceland (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:32
hahahaha. Touch a nerve cockney?
Stoke fans don't care if we lose tomorrow, they're bound to and not expected to do anything else. All the pressure's on @#$%&.
Stoke fans don't care if we lose tomorrow, they're bound to and not expected to do anything else. All the pressure's on @#$%&.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:38
Do give us a list of your trophies stokie
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Rockstaar (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:45
aaah finally proper banter! no good luck...wish you well and s.ht!
what an absolute silly thing to say...embarrassing really
[arsenalsigs.blogspot.com]
Quote:hahahaha. Touch a nerve cockney?
Stoke fans don't care if we lose tomorrow, they're bound to and not expected to do anything else. All the pressure's on @#$%&.
what an absolute silly thing to say...embarrassing really
[arsenalsigs.blogspot.com]
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: iceland (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:49
OK OK you knew what I meant. Don't play silly cockneys, you knew what I meant Stoke fans would obviously care if Stoke lose, but there's an expectation for Arsenal to beat little old Stoke isn't there! So the pressure's on you!
You're bound to win tomorrow anyway, Stoke are on an unbeaten run, and you certainly know how to play the referee!
Stoke fans would obviously care if Stoke lose, but there's an expectation for Arsenal to beat little old Stoke isn't there! So the pressure's on you!
You're bound to win tomorrow anyway, Stoke are on an unbeaten run, and you certainly know how to play the referee!
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:55
Oh yes we are the best at playing refs stokie - you should try thinking about some evidence,
Two penalties all season.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Two penalties all season.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: celine dion (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 22:56
Mate, the only 'cockneys' left in London support West Ham. We're mostly well heeled gentlemen from the home counties. When your fans turn up at the Emirates and sing all your naughty songs, we don't know where to put ourselves!
The referees don't like us, whatever your silly northern working class hero conspiracy theories, otherwise we would have had more than 2 penalties in about 5 years.
May the best team win. And remember, your team will probably have cost more than ours...
The referees don't like us, whatever your silly northern working class hero conspiracy theories, otherwise we would have had more than 2 penalties in about 5 years.
May the best team win. And remember, your team will probably have cost more than ours...
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Rockstaar (IP Logged)
Date: 26/02/2010 23:05
Quote:You're bound to win tomorrow anyway, Stoke are on an unbeaten run
mindf.ck
just be a man and stand behind the thug life team of yours
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 00:32
did that stoke fan pick his name from where he works or shoplifts
The stoke game is only a hard game cos it may be in the minds of the players we lost there twice in a row, win and it gives a tad more confidence in the idea that the title is realistic target, lose and it may affect them too much.
but overall Stoke is the hardest game cos its the next one, once its over burnley is the hardest game
The stoke game is only a hard game cos it may be in the minds of the players we lost there twice in a row, win and it gives a tad more confidence in the idea that the title is realistic target, lose and it may affect them too much.
but overall Stoke is the hardest game cos its the next one, once its over burnley is the hardest game
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 00:49
Quote:Chapman's Ghost
What's this obsession with Shay Given Tom?
We have one of the poorest gks in the prem.
Its an obsession with the obsession. Its clear what I mean when I mention him.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 00:53
Didnt Given fall for the Delap throw
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 01:00
He's an average goalkeeper at best.
Official 1000th poster in the classic transfer rumors thread of 2014.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 07:53
Bit like ours in fact. Any of them.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 14:42
Id have Almunia over Given any day of the week, and 90% of Premier League goalkeepers. Only Reina, Cech and VDS (on form) can claim to be better.
Official 1000th poster in the classic transfer rumors thread of 2014.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: AFC4life (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 15:58
Quote:Goofle
Id have Almunia over Given any day of the week, and 90% of Premier League goalkeepers. Only Reina, Cech and VDS (on form) can claim to be better.
Hahahaha! Goofle/Tom I used to think u were serious when u wrote about ur love 4 Denilson and now Almunia. The fact u rate them despite both playing matches where both r d often the worst players on the pitch clearly shows u've been joking all this time.
Seriously write a serious comment on the board or dont bother wasting ur time.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 16:20
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Official 1000th poster in the classic transfer rumors thread of 2014.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 16:30
Almunia is shockingly poor for a team that wants to
challenege for the league. As I pointed out before
he is statistically the second worse shot stopper in
the prem.
challenege for the league. As I pointed out before
he is statistically the second worse shot stopper in
the prem.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 16:32
Good for you.
Official 1000th poster in the classic transfer rumors thread of 2014.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 23:04
Yeh I know you love stats. It was good for me wasn't it.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 27/02/2010 23:05
Quote:iceland
haha you lot make me laugh. Stoke, fouls?! Arsenal are the dirtiest team going and have been for years. Same old Arsenal, always cheating.
We beat your dirty little team. Fouling ba*tards.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 28/02/2010 00:02
Yeah and we cheated a pen, an excellent day cheating all round
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 28/02/2010 00:17
After being denied one.
Shawcross was more clumsy than malicious I'd say.
Shawcross was more clumsy than malicious I'd say.
Re: Time to Throw in the Towel? Stoke the hardest game?
Posted by: Gööfle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 28/02/2010 02:40
Quote:Chapman's Ghost
Yeh I know you love stats. It was good for me wasn't it.
I hate stats, well, I have having to refer to stats due to the incompetence of the average human brain.
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