A word for Big Vic as well - he tired quite badly with about 15 to go which led to some misplaced passes, but if anyone still thinks he's a 'crap footballer' after watching that game and what he gives to the side, then sorry but they don't really understand that football isn't all about pretty stuff and goals.
I agree with him too. Davis was excellent. Yes, he can never seem to finish a move these days, but he links moves so well.
Targett's shrug at the ref as he booked him for walking the width of the pitch as he was subbed. Brilliant.
Oh it just gets better - Neil Ashton ‏@neilashton_ 18m Arsenal were played off the park against Southampton. What a lesson this was.
Koeman just thanked the fans...he thought the 5000 was a fantastic turn out. Praised his team...said this is how we want to play, not too defensively. Said this is the kind of football the fans liked. His smile will need to be removed surgically.
I would go as far to say that last season's team wasn't capable of that performance this evening. They may well have won, though I doubt it. It was the manner of the performance this evening that astonishes me. When Arsenal had the ball we held them off at arm's length and it didn't seem as if anyone in the team was too bothered by their Arsenal opposite. In attack, we looked as those we could score almost any time we chose. As Paul Jewell said, it could have been 4 or 5-1, rather than just the 2-1.
I'm now bathing in a wave of schadenfreude - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2767086/Arsenal-1-2-Southampton-Dusan-Tadic-Nathaniel-Clyne-bring-Saints-send-Gunners-Capital-One-Cup.html?ito=social-facebook (I know they have to file copy super-quickly, but it reads like Ashton writes with his elbow).
Good all round. So different from a Pottechino performance. I'm sure we were stuffed on possession but we are creating a lot of chances and defending strongly. I still don't think we are playing anywhere near our best yet either. That was a pretty strong Arsenal team especially in the second half. Bring on QPR.
And how are you, this evening, Fran? Read that your blood pressure went up a little dangerously. Hope you're OK now. The Lads did you proud.
