Never Give Up

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Stadium of Light

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal    11 February 2012

McClean [70]                Ramsey [75]
                                          Henry [90]

There are times when football is pure entertainment, at others a necessary distraction. After the work week leading up to this match, and the last performance versus Blackburn, I was hoping for both.  It seems every available preview made a significant point about the 120 minutes Sunderland played in midweek while we were rested. Nevertheless, I found myself continuing the Star Wars theme from the roll call for this trip to the Stadium of Light. My first thought upon arrival at the Factory was "I have a bad feeling about this." 

First of all, not having a midweek game for a set of about 15 players who have featured almost every match up to this point is not the same as being rested. Second, if any manager knows how to conserve resources, get behind the ball, and counter attack it's Martin O'Neill. Third, our team doesn't need the kind of complacency that we showed based on the assumption that the opponent will be tired. And fourth, there is a much more glamorous tie on the midweek horizon where a trip to the San Siro awaits. This does not a cocktail for a winning Arsenal performance make.

Welcome Bac

all you see is Bacary Sagna

I think there are a good many Gooners who would have spoken very highly of Bacary Sagna before this season. In 2007-08 he was selected to the team of the year by his fellow footballers and has maintained a high and consistent level across his Arsenal career since. In recent seasons he has stepped up his attacking play and improved his crossing, while maintaining his defensive tenacity and physical strength.

This year, he started on that same trajectory despite the team’s miserable start but we have been robbed of his services by a broken leg sustained at White Hart Lane in a game that halted the mini-revival after Blackburn.  His absence may have been softened, only for his understudy to also come up lame. Instead his period out has seen our attack suffer, teams regularly profit from attacking down our right flank, and recently a run of dropped points that has undone the real revival we enjoyed post-Tottenham.

His return could not have come at a better time, as we enter into a period of very difficult fixtures across three competitions. He hasn’t featured much yet as he regains fitness, but with a little luck he will be up to full speed very soon. It’s good to see you, sir. Welcome Bac.


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That Was Unexpected. And Fantastic.

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Andre Marriner

Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn Rovers     4 February 2012

Van Persie [2, 38, 62]                  Pederson [31] 

Oxlade-Chamberlain [40, 54]

Arteta [51]

Henry [90]   

                                

I must apologize for the tardiness of this post. A polar bear fell on me.

Speaking of tardy, I got to the Factory in the third minute and joined Carissa on the main level with Liam behind the bar. Unlike my last late arrival, the Arsenal were not so gracious and scored about 90 seconds before.  That lack of hospitality from the home side would become a trend on the day. No need to ask who scored though. Our captain does like his goals versus Blackburn. Ever since his first season in 2004-05 when Van Persie emerged in the FA Cup semi-final, he’s had a thing for scoring against the Blackeyes.

The question that also just about didn’t need asking was who set it up. It seems the thing you have to do with Theo is speak authoritatively about how he doesn’t get THAT many assists and he fucks around and busts a triple. Walcott, gotta say it was a good day. My opening volley was that at kickoff Song had more assists than Theo on the season, with Van Persie and Gervinho level.  If I have to make ridiculous bets and wear egg on my face with this kind of trivia to drag this Arsenal side over the line then so be it.

Which Bourbon Will That Be Jack?

from the factory floor

FA CUP Fourth Round

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Mike Jones

Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa                  29 January 2012

Van Persie [pen 54, pen 61]       Dunne [33]

Walcott [57]                                    Bent [45]

After 45 minutes this was a glass three quarters empty. But after an hour the glass was quite full. The usual mistakes undid us in the opening period, as the Arsenal set about this fourth round tie with purpose if not precision. Vermaelen had a rocket of a free kick punched away, Van Persie hit another into the wall, and we had yet another half of possession without much threat. It was a low key morning with most of the 4^th round program taking place on Saturday and in general the mood at the Factory was fairly amicable between us and the NY Villans. Inevitably, they went ahead when one of their numbers infiltrated our grumpy inner circle to chat with Barry.  

Aston Villa looked dangerous on the few chances they created but otherwise tried to concede possession and hit on the break. Early on, the visitors singled out Coquelin, who did well without looking fully comfortable, and Agbonlahor was proving a real handful.  I think it was their first corner, and just like in the Champions League earlier this season when Chamberlain got caught on the right, Villa pulled a little training ground short corner routine, Keane stood one up to the back post and Dunne hammered in the header over Koscielny and a couple of other red shirts. I’d moan more if it weren’t the umpteenth time it has happened in recent years.  Then again, I’d moan because of that too.

Lack Of Depth Means Lack Of Width

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Mike Dean

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United     22 January 2012
Van Persie [71]                  Valencia [45] 
                                       Welbeck[81]

Arrival at the Factory was early for this one, necessitated by the overwhelming majority of United supporters that frequent the place, and I was greeted by a pair of them at the door. The banter started there, but in generally good spirits from Mark. Billy however seemed a bit ‘ready.’ More on that later.

Went downstairs to a half full bar, found Clint there and got some beers. Soon enough we were joined by Barry, Steven, Carissa and Chandler, then eventually Jack. A solid core of NY Gooners to fight the massive United turn-out. Other Gooners were dispersed in small pockets around the place but we braved it in our grumpy clump from just about center stage. The side effect of this is that we're right amongst the enemy, but that is unavoidable for these matches. So, having just chided me about not engaging Jason too much, Steven proceeded to chat with Oro for the entire match. The fucker who Keowned me the last time I was there for Arsenal-United. We are a popular lot for being a bunch of grouchy old men [apologies to Chandler and Carissa].