Wigan 0- Arsenal 4

Part of todays blogs has been kindly put together by Dan Bailey, Ian (his uncle) and Dan Littlechild (Dans B's lover)!

Catching the 8.30am train from Euston ( no i don't know why he caught the early train either) we settled ourselves in for the 3hr slog to Wigan - not suprisingly there were'nt that many Gooners on the train but that didn't stop me getting excited about Wigan!! Consumed a few beers on the way up - read the pre match blog - and arrived in Wigan around 10.30am to be met at the station glorious sunshine and cheerleaders  -, yeah right,  it was p#ssing down!!!

Wigans Finest?

We headed for the first cafe we would find and tucked into a full English for the princely sum of £4.00 - handsome it was then onto the Red Robin Pub

Nice couple of pints in there but as they weren't showing the early game on the box we did one and moved on to The Brickmakers Arms

Football was on , they had a pool table and got chatting to a couple of Wigan fans - good blokes, but very downbeat about their chances prior to the match and were even more down beat after we whipped their arses at pool - we knew it was going to be our day! Wigan lads were telling us that a season ticket at Wigan cost £250 for adult and £50 for a child!!! It works out cheaper to travel up by train to Wigan watch game and return back to London then it does to go to The Emirates ( but you wouldn't want to go to wigan every other week - once a year is enough) Also told us that when Spurs came up they didn't take their full allocation !!!

After knocking back our drinks we headed to the stadium - place was buzzing -away end was full and in good voice (at least 4500 i'd say) Wigan fans were disappointing and if it wasn't for the annoying drummer they'd have no support! Shame really - but it is a rugby town i suppose.

Game itself was good - without us really hitting the heights - but to have 4 different  goalscorers is great and does our goal difference a world of good - not going to comment too much on game as i'll leave that to talkinoutmyarse.

When RVP scored the shout went up "He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants, Van Perise he scores when he wants" - the man is on fire and deserved the goal for his all round effort.

Had to leave before end as had to catch 5.09 train back - so with Uncle in tow and my lover, we ran for the staion got lost 3 times, waved at the cheerleaders who were still there and got on the train!!! Managed to get into first class where met some great lads from Essex ( thats what away games are all about - the craic) had a good old drink and sing song with them          " We'll sit where we want, well sit where we want, we are Arsenal, we'll sit where we want" was one of our better efforts - that good it cleared the carriage of passengers so we had it all to ourselves!! - Back into Euston for about 7.30 - home, and in my local for 8pm - great day all round and great support.

Thanks Dan

The game itself

Previous years have seen Mr Wenger take this game too lightly, but obviously after reading the pre match blog from The Eaglet Has Landed N7 - he started with his stongest line up - however we started a bit sloppily and if it wasn;t for Santos timely intervention we could have found ourselves one nil down - but we didn't and a specualtive 25 yarder from Arteta seemed to pass through the hands of the Wigan keeper to put The Arsenal one up - within a couple of minutes it was 2-0 . The ever impressive Vermaelens headed home from a corner - the first goal from 179 corners!!

Having been in this position before it was vital to get a 3rd and it was down to Gervinho to finish off a fine 33 pass move - have a look -    Gervinhos Goal

For his massive heed - found in changing room after game

RVP sealed the win with a 4th - just reward for a tireless performance. Thought Mr Wenger may have brought him off but kept him on to the end - and made 3 substitutions all at the same time on the 80th minute - Song, Walcott and Gervinho off, Arshavin, Coquelin and Benayoun on.

Szczesny is slowly becoing a cult hero and led the singing with the fans after the game - nice touch- Szczesny Singing

Overall, very satisfactory - rest all of em mid week, wrap RVP in bubble wrap and bring on Everton next week

Up The Arse

Apologies for the lazy blog -over celebrated the win down The Loop Bar, London with a certain Andy Wadding - those looking for a good night out - go there - behind Bond Street - so the blog is a bit lazy.



Fulham Red Rose and The Eaglet and 10th

Well first thing first - The Red Rose has reopened and f##k me if it doesn't look like something from the early 80`s - all it was missing was Del Boy at the bar - and guess what @wadsquadcm17 turned up and the bar was complete!!!
Blue decor and soft lighting - and pole dancers a plenty!!!!
Beer was ok £3 a pint and in real glasses - being a northern monkey, i love a real glass - not them crap plastic things. Any way Merv the swere, (@wadsquadcm17's dad)  the leg end @AImpey ( Andy Impey- QPR hero, not put a llb on since his playing days - doesn't spend many a £!!!) @Northbankjay ( Jay - the dark destroyer - sure he has a glass eye - doesn't seem to stay in one place!!!) all met for pre match drinks - hats off to you. Only had a couple in the red rose - cos to be honest it was warmer outside than in !!!

Made our way down to The Eaglet N5 - home to the Eagletasc (Eaglet Arsenal Supporters Club) to carry on the pre match drinks. Those that don't know The Eaglet - traditional country looking English pub serving traditional home made fayre with buxom wenches behind the bar and a landlord that makes Shrek look like Brad Pitt ( thats a joke - he's a top bloke if not a supporter of that mob from west london - you know sh#t club no history) - lovely toliet facilties with open views all round!!!

Jay tried his hardest in there - was pretty desperate attacking play from the wing man - little bit out of practice methinks -chin up old boy!!

Good drink had by all, good to see the North West Arsenal Supporters Club in there - hats off to Terry and the boys who make the trip down week in and week out from Chester, Stoke and the surrounding areas up there - puts some of us down here who don't turn up - to shame.

After a few beers, talk turned to the Eaglet Arsenal Supporters Club Christmas event - well drink up - agreed its the 10th December - to meet at 12, members to bring food ( more about that later in future blogs) - landlord will put aside an area for this - The Awayboyz are on - to drink, go the game - return to the Eaglet (Awayboyz on after) and basically go from there - Upper Street maybe - but still need to finalise plans.

Game itself and atmosphere - fair play to Fulham - didn't come in a taxi this year - filled their allocation and are the noisest away fans in London ( you'll get to know me soon!!) much louder than that mob from Enfield.. Our support and i'll be honest - lazy lazy lazy - our problem - arrogance - its Fulham - turn up - those that do - tooo many spares floating around yesterday - 5-6000 down on capacity again!!! - grumble when it doesnt go right but rarely pipe up and sing!!! Redaction - pull your finger out. Difficult for me as 2 rows back from away dug out but give it a go despite the stewards warning me repeatedly - SUPPORT YOUR TEAM!!

Fulam played well, Dembele, Zamora ( worth a sniff in January - let you decide) Murphy all contributed - we huffed and puffed - my view - yes we had a tough game mid week and yes we've played a lot of games but play your strongest team - win the game and then bring your Gervinhos your RVPS yoour Kos's off.

Had a goal rightly ruled out for offside - the ever so hard working and totally committed Arshavin, after 4 minutes from a pass from RVP, slooted home but linesman was right - Ramsey 10 minutes later should have done better after great interplay between Song and RVP, but blazed over - other end Dembele forced a good save from Szczesny.

2nd half Arteta ( not having one of his best games - does he make way as, if and when Wilshere gets fit?) gave ball away cheaply , Theo caught out of position cos of this, Murphy plays ball in behind - total confusion - great finish from TV5. Needed something like that to wake up the theatre going fans and the players - few interesting changes from Wenger - BFG off- Song to centre half and Diaby in to central midfield, Gervinho on, Ramsey off - and then to a 4-4-2 with the tireless Arshavin (im one sarcastic f##ker) playing alongside RVP - paid off with a great cross from Walclott and TV5 making ammends with a powerful downward header - fair result -1-1

Anyway its Sunday, she's at Zumba or rumba whatever you call it - im off for a hangover cure

as always - talkinoutmyarse