Hard Point Gained

Top of the Day to y’all

Saturday’s game against Stoke was billed as the toughest of our remaining three games of the season and one in which the team had to fight from start to finish to be able to get anything from it and fight they did and it was definitely one hard point gained.

We started brightly and in the first 10minutes, we had created two good chances as Benayoun and Van Persie saw their efforts saved by Begovic before Etherington swung a cross in from the left and Crouch headed home. I had predicted an interesting duel between Crouch and Szcz in my last blog and we were all feeling confident of the fact that Szcz had dealt with 98.5% of crosses this season, so it was pretty dis-heartening to concede such a goal so early. Credit to the team though, they bounced back strongly and equalized just six minutes after going behind as Rosciky’s perfect cross was turned in by Van Persie. We created some good chances after that and for some incomposure in front of goal, we should have been ahead at half time.

The second half was largely uneventful and scrappy as Vermealen, Ramsey and Van Persie all had decent chances, then Benayoun had legitimate penalty claims turned down by the referee. Stoke also battled hard and Jerome tested Szcz and Sagna made an important goal line clearance late on in the game. All in all, it was a creditable point gotten with a lot of hard work and though we could have won it with some efficiency in front of goal, credit to the team for the way they played and handled the physicality of the opposition. Stoke City is not exactly a comfortable place to come and we don’t especially have a good record there.

Arsene said of the performance afterwards,

 ‘I believe that it was a game where we have shown great character, great battling qualities. It was a game of two different approaches - one very direct in the air and one who tries to play on the ground’.

‘We had good chances, especially in the first half. In the second half I felt our fluency dropped a bit in midfield’

On the penalty that was not awarded,

‘It will go on the tape of all the penalties we have not got this season’

On the crowd booing Ramsey,

‘I don't think you can be especially proud to boo Aaron Ramsey because I don't see what he has done wrong in his behaviour’

I think Arsene is too nice. I was perplexed on Saturday when I heard boos when Ramsey touched the ball. It’s one of the most stupid things that I have ever seen in football. I wonder what grounds that the Stoke fans have foe booing him. Oh let me guess “our player broke your leg and almost ended your career in the process and as such you have become an object of ridicule for us”. I don’t think they are classless over there at Stoke, I think they are Neanderthals or the sort of sub humans in Species 4.

 If Ryan Shawcross has any sort of decency and remorse in him, he should come out to apologise to Ramsey for the jeers he has suffered on his account and denounce the actions of the supporters. That am sure would deter further insults on Ramsey in further visits.

That's all for now folks, be back on Wednesday for a fresh package.

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God Bless the Arsenal. Iree o