Comments on: Arsenal vs Birmingham: the complete preview

By: LRV

LRV — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:19:03 +0000

Phil you are absolutely right. If the balloon had pushed a goal bound ball on to the post or outside the post, no one would be making so much hullabaloo about it. However, it is sad to loose that way, irrespective of the number of chances created by Sunderland. The onus is on them to put the ball into the net, not on the balloon.

By: Phil Gregory

Phil Gregory — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:16:27 +0000

Arsento: sadly not, it’s just a hobby. The compliment is very much appreciated though!

Agree with Walter, I didn’t consider the impact international week would have on us comapred to them. very pleased with how we rested some players and got the points relatively comfortably.

The goal against Liverpool was, as well all know, awarded in error. However, on the weight of the game, Sunderland deserved the points. Even if the goal wasn’t counted, it would still have been two points dropped for Liverpool.
The Scouse do make me laugh though: I can’t help but feel there’s a little but of “Football-Darwinism” going on – if you’re stupid enough to throw a beachball onto the pitch near your own goal, you really can’t complain when it deflects a goal in. Lets not forget that, if Reina was beaten, and the beachball consipired to put the ball onto the post, there wouldn’t be anywhere near as much furore!

By: Abhishek

Abhishek — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:02:03 +0000

Nice article Phil.. Looks like you are a professional.. anyways nice match.. had to wake up to 3:30am to watch the match.. they preferred to show Liverpool and MU match.. but worth the wait and really nice to watch Arsenal match after so long…

By: walter

walter — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:55:13 +0000

On the Liverpool defeat. If this game was played in Belgium our Fa would have let the game replayed. I will quote the rules, translated of the official lawbook in dutch, on the balloon object on the field:
“A goal may not be awarded if the ball, before crossing the goal line, had contact with a foreign object. In this case the referee will stop play and resume play at the point where the ball came in touch with the foreign object.”
So it is clear that the ref made an arbitration error and that is the only reason, in my country, that a game has to be replayed. I must say that error is a soft word in dutch it is called a “dwaling” and that has a stronger meaning then error.

By: walter

walter — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:39:53 +0000

Birmingham had 3 shots in the whole game. On and off target together that was. Almost all our players played games over the last week (how many of Birmingham players did ?) Look at how narrow the win of MU was ? The lose of Chelsea ?
Why knew this would be a difficult game but we won, okay we didn’t destroy them as I had hoped, but here sits a pretty satisfied gooner at the moment.

By: don't believe the hype

don't believe the hype — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:33:36 +0000

The problem with many Arsenal supporters is that they are totally spoiled stuart. Unless we blow teams away without allowing the opposition any shots on target, they start whinging. Most of our players only returned to the club Thurs/Fri after playing games for their national teams around the globe. I thought the whole team played well and dug in to get the result. You can’t always expect champagne football – sometimes a good beer hits the spot just as well!

By: stuartlondon

stuartlondon — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:38:28 +0000

Have just got home from the 3-1 win over Birmingham. Reading some of the supporter sites I cannot belive how ungenerous they are in their post match analysis.

By: Arsento

Arsento — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:06:01 +0000

Are you a professional journalist? You write very well.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:33:16 +0000

After watching the 3rd goal several times, I have to ask: is it that simple to score or is the guy just a wizard?

By: walter

walter — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:30:44 +0000

We won 3-1. We didn’t destroy them, as is always difficult with evil empires.
But what the heck 3 points in the bag, Chelsea and Liverpool lost. If we win our game in hand we are 1 point behind the leader.
There could be worst positions. Look at Liverpool.

By: Marc

Marc — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:20:49 +0000

2 nil to Arsenal. Chelsea have lost and what must be the mother of all irony’s, a balloon has scored for Sunderland against Liverpool. So far not a bad start to my weekend.

By: Roberts Jurugo

Roberts Jurugo — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:26:58 +0000

I am waiting for another Arse. 6 Birm. 0.
I like the boys and i too have hopes in them. Big up boys!
Roberts from Uganda

By: Jonny

Jonny — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:23:40 +0000

Tony et al, FYI -

“Some of you may not know that Cesc Fabregas’s Grandad is critically ill in hospital at the moment. At a time like this we want to show some extra special support, so AISA and REDaction have produced large placards with the number 4 on them, to be displayed just before kick-off tomorrow. We are concentrating on the north end of the Lower Tier, your help is needed placing them on seats, please go to Block 6 entrance between 1.30-2.15pm. Limited numbers can also be collected between 11-2.15 from 11 Tannington Terrace, N5 1LE (just 2 minutes walk from Arsenal tube). Wherever you sit in the stadium it will be great if you can join in with this show of solidarity with Cesc”.

Unfortunately I’ll not be there today but, for those who are, I hope you’ll show Cesc some special Arsenal love and bring your own banners etc.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:17:16 +0000

Good reading Mr Gregory.

The Arsenal should win comfortably today, I’m looking for a polished but steely performance. A clean sheet is important too, not been enough of them.

I agree about the SPL too, though frankly I couldn’t give a monkeys!