Maybe being a bit disconnected from things out here changes it, or maybe it's just a sign of how far we've come, but I wasn't particularly excited about the game. Honestly, I was expecting the usual solid defensive performance without really threatening and a close defeat with lots of what could have beens. I was wrong. So wrong. Watching the replay, I'm not sure I've ever seen anybody hit the ball that hard before. Took a few moments to accept that he really did hit the back of the net. We've got a real chance now. It's there for the taking if we've got the balls for it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are absolutely devastated tonight. We did not see that coming. We thought Guedioura was the new manager of Manchester City.</p>— Wenger Knows Best (@wengerknowsbest) <a href="https://twitter.com/wengerknowsbest/status/709041221285629952">March 13, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
29 years and it was worth the wait. I was there in 87 at Highbury and this ranks alongside that. Great day, great support, and a cracker of a goal from Gueds. Love him, and I hope he gets some more game time. He's not afraid to have a shot, which is something our midfielders have been lacking this season. Lovely ground, but same old Arsenal supporters. I was so happy I even bought a half and half scarf for 2 quid after the game as a souvenir of this auspicious day.
Agreed, for me it's the length of the posts, really enjoy reading your posts LondonOrn, they're always a good read, but by God they are long sometimes, keep em just a bit shorter m8.
For those who believe in omens.. This year's FA Cup Final will take place exactly 10 years to the day since we won our last trophy, in the play-off final at Cardiff.
Watched all these clips on the net last night. Enjoying the re runs this morning. Can't wait to get into work to share them with my team. All day.
Woke up today dreaming of a Leicester esque goal from Troy to lift the cup. Still buzzing from the match. Though I also keep thinking about the stress of getting tickets when they are available.
......or the last time we beat Arsenal away in the quarter final of the FA Cup we got thumped 4-1 in the semi with a wine-waiter in goal. I much prefer your omen though
I'm surprised Watford have played it down as much as they have. QSF has even said he didn't think it was a red and was just a normal tackle. Maybe he was quoted before seeing it on the TV replay, I'm not sure. But that was an extremely rash challenge and a red card all day long. Mariner thought it wasn't even a foul, Joey Barton thought is was ok and Wenger also thinks it was fine. I'm a bit baffled by what the experts are saying.
I'm glad my omen meets your approval! Sunday May 21st..a day in our history and hopefully our future too!
Don't worry, we don't have to rely on wine waiters now, we have a washer up in Ambarat on the bench if thinks get messy!
I sort of agree with you, but the way deeney has reacted is great. He couldnt give a ****. I'd much rather him just dismissing it than bleating to the media for days on end. I'm sure he got his own back on that phoney hard man during the course of the game somehow.
In a strange sort of way, re the Gabriel non-sending off, maybe we were better with 11 v 11... Going down to 10 men seemed to inspire Arsenal at Spurs. Plus, as Moog already said, it was Gabriel who was at fault for Ighalo's turn and goal. I still can't believe Welbeck missed that chance..and I've watched it 5 times now! Imagine how terrible we'd all have felt throwing away a 2-0 lead..on such fine margins can sport and destiny turn
I agree with this. Maybe we benefited from Gabriel still being on the pitch because he's not that good. This could be why we've played down the "red card" tackle as we want him available for the game in a couple of weeks. 10 v 11 can backfire a bit on you. Arsenal are one of the best teams for holding on to the ball, so going down to 10 does not affect them as much as most teams. I watched the game again today, and now the emotion of it has subsided a little, I can really enjoy it. It was a very exciting match, with plenty of incident and talking points.
I can't ever remember a season for us when the first goal was so important. I think in the league we've taken 31 points from a possible 36 when scoring first... And in the Cup we've scored first in every tie. The crunch is coming to come if/when we conceed first.
Very similar circumstances. I had to take the kids to hockey matches on Sunday, but I got a ticket (just in case) and on Friday afternoon gave it to my son's gooner teacher. On Saturday morning the whole household was knocked flat by, quite a nasty, virus. So the whole family sat around the box watching the match. The Man Utd - West Ham match afterwards was classic end-to-end cup stuff of yesteryear. It's good to see clubs taking the cup seriously (well the quarter finals anyhow). I saw the gooner teacher this morning and he said he had a fantastic day (other than the result) as: 1) He had never been in anything, and only seen on European games, like the atmosphere the 1881 "made". He was gob-smacked. 2) He couldn't get over what a good side "we" looked, playing fantastic football.
I felt the same way. Having the extra man would have psyched us out, and encouraged us to attack more than we need to. And Arsenal would have shown much more urgency with 10 men. Weird game this football.
Love the pure shock when he clocked that it was actually a goal! I couldn't believe what i'd just seen either
Was at game in 87 but this was better. Our players,our support absolutely fantastic even though it was split between the tiers. Couldn't believe how quiet it is at Arsenal with 50,000 home fans hardly making a squeak, I would be miffed if the Vic was that quiet. Fantastic day, the days you remember forever. COYH!
Just woken up from a great dream where we won 2/1 ! ,wait it wasn't a dream . Fantastic day great support legs are killing me from jumping around like an idiot . Have to mention the owners , what a great job they have done together with the manager and staff . Love this club and everything about it.COYH
I love the way Deeney just drifted to the edge of the penalty box when he laid the ball off the Gueds. Presumably he knew what Gueds was going to try, even if the Arsenal defenders who all backed off towards Ighalo didn't.
Except that we had a midfielder in the team who's willing to take risks to keep the ball moving forward - and even risks giving away a goal-kick by having a shot.
We already had that in Suarez TBF but obviously the more of them the better. Could they play in the same midfield, if so which positions would be best given that we'd need to keep at least one of Capoue, Watson and Behrami in the starting XI?
Yes - Iggy played his part in that goal. Took about three defenders over to the other side of the box with him out of the way....
