Morning all.
What a disappointing match that was. The Totts turned up with fresh ideas. Instead of four at the back, Poch went to three and for some reason, Arsenal appeared not to like it. Well, that seemed to be the view of the commentators and pundits on BT Sport. I’m not sure why it would make much difference as don’t Chelsea play a similar formation? Thought so and we battered them….
Arsenal weren’t at it yesterday unlike when Chelsea rolled up a few weeks ago and to be honest, for most of the first half, they weren’t really in the game either. Passes going astray, few chances on goal and so feeble in possession. By that I mean we hit the deck far too easily.
We really need to man up and be stronger in possession.
But what really cheeses me off is all the pre-match talk, yet failing to deliver a performance to match it. We were far too pedestrian, we didn’t get at them enough, especially in their half, even more so when they were in and around their own penalty area. As they dribbled and passed the ball out, we watched on instead of applying pressure.
For ten/fifteen minutes before the halftime whistle blew, we looked a lot better and the pressure we put on them in their own half eventually paid off. From an Ozil free kick, Wimmer headed home our opener just before the break. We could have done with another fifteen minutes on the pitch right then as Arsenal were looking good. Walcott was unlucky not to have made it 2-0 with a rasper of a shot which smashed into the woodwork.
After the break it was like going back to the start, little urgency from anyone in red and after Koscielny gifted them a soft penalty, it was the away team who looked the better of the two. They spurned a few decent chances, Son let Cech off the hook after slipping having raced out to collect a through ball, and the woodwork also saved us from dropping all three points…
Maybe Arsene Wenger has a point about Wanyama being lucky to stay on the pitch for ninety minutes, just as he has a point about when he said ‘second half we looked a bit more flat physically, a bit more less sharp and we couldn’t find the creativity, the fluency around the box nor the vision we are used to’.
But why? We fans have been here far too many times before to believe this is just a blip. It’s become an Arsenal trend if you like. On far too many occasions the team look lethargic, lazy and out of sorts. Where’s the motivation, the passion and desire to win? It certainly wasn’t on show yesterday and considering we were, in his opinion, worse in the second half, what words of wisdom did he fail to spout at half-time? His substitutions were odd imo, especially when we had a midfield player on the bench who is great a winning the ball, pinging around passes and controlling our midfield. Not only that, Elneny keeps the ball moving forward and he’s not afraid to have a shot either. But no, on came Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who really was awful. Expecting Giroud to reap rewards against two tall and strong central defenders was a hope too far but what other choice did he have as Arsenal chased a winning goal.
In hindsight, Arsene Wenger would have selected a different starting eleven perhaps, maybe his substitutions would be different too as would his half-time team talk, if there even was one.
But the reality is, this is Arsenal, it’s what they do. Time and time again……
Morning Rico and the house
Spot on with the post
Apparently Wenger doesn’t do half time team talks… As said by ex players. I still believe we miss leaders on the pitch.
If Giroud is fit and has scored 2 goals on his comeback you don’t play a rookie instead of him.AW will ruin Iwobi as others.he needs to be brought in geently but the more upsetting is Ramsey’s lack of form.
As Herb said in the last post we are too predictable and not motivated enough on or off the field to win trophies unless forth place is a trophy and then cash reserves go up.
Hi Mg and Kelsey.
Quiet morning. Thought it might be busy here after yesterdays dreadful performance….
Iwobi was definitely out of his depth imo, either that or absolutely knackered…
Afternoon rico, all. I believe Chelsea were playing four at the back until the Arsenal result caused a re-think.
Afternoon Andrew. My mistake then but I do think blaming their system for our first half failings seemed a tad weak. If anything, it should have made things easier for us. I’d have thought…
BT commentators in a rare moment of wisdom pointed out that with social media and at worst 14.00 team sheets, Arsenal still had an hour to prepare. Says it all.
Rico. Wenger is doing what he has always done. Yes, the squad could always be improved but this squad really should have enough about them to win games like yesterday. It does feel more like a loss though I admit but games like this might give him pause for thought as to where we are heading this season.
Adam, I think Old Trafford may give AW even more pause for thought. Unless we play a lot better than yesterday.
Exactly Andrew
Yes Adam, I agree. I still can’t believe that with the players we have, we couldn’t beat that lot. I actually thought the opposition were pretty dire…
Afternoon All
The spuds turned up not to get stuffed.
3 centre halfs…..5 at the back,and a
lump of meat,just in front of them.
Arsene, for once never mentioned the Handbrake
the spuds must of thought we would be tearing
into them early doors..with that line-up.
Instead we had….
Walker and Rose were swopping passes on
the edge of our box.
Walnut and Iwobi were marking space,
It took over an hour for Arsene to change it.
Tactic’s,Tictac’s and half time Gung Ho Talk
That’s not Arsene is it.
We may have the player’s for a good shout,
but it all looks the same..again….To Me
NLD is always unpredictable. Form goes out the window as does ability. History just has no place either, unless it gets into the players’ heads. In fairness it was quite an exciting game, end to end basketball stuff! However, I accept we weren’t good enough to break them down, as we weren’t against Middlesbro’. It’s a failing of the team, one that needs addressing tout suite! We’ll win nothing if we can’t beat a team that plays 3 at the back and whose fullbacks/wing backs were hardly to be seen when defending!
Iwobi was poor yesterday, he reminded me of young Theo who was always eager to be a spectator! Alexi’ passing was rank, too, but in his defence what he was eager to do was move the ball quickly, he failed on innumerable occasions, but at least he had the right idea! Unlike Ramsey, who, when he appeared tended to slow the game down, as usual! And his shots at goal, woeful.
No, not good enough, not good enough by half. Back to mr motivator and the drawing board…….again.
Afternoon all.
The negative comments about Arsenal drawing yesterday are pathetic. It seams unless Arsenal win, it’s acceptable to criticise them. Spurs were just as flat and Clattenburg allowed Wanyama to make foul after foul after foul, which disrupted Arsenals flow.
Just as Everton did at Chelsea Fred… Didn’t work for them though….
Thanks Rico.
John Motson said that Chavs 5-0 against Everton and playing 3 at the back was the best football he`s ever seen in Premier League history, better than anything Arsenal or Manshafter ever played, saying it was football from another planet !.
They have a manager who can change things around when it goes wrong, like the game against us !…………………..Chavs or Liverpool will win it with the two Manc clubs behind, we will get 5th or 6th and although that would be a blessing in disguise normally in the pursuit of the ultimate trophy….EPL…..knowing Wenger he will still probably fcuk up by playing a full strength team in the Europa League and also knowing us, we would lose Alexis and Ozil because we`re too slow in tying them down before they see it`s not working that we missed our chance last season and we were never going to be so lucky again that the big clubs would have another dismal season but take it up another gear instead !………………………been saying it for years……the CL is a curse !…………..top European football was better when it was knock out and more exciting every game not like this group stage shit !.
Rico..
3 at the back was first used 125 years ago.
Arsene should have man marked Dimbele
and played ramsey floating around midfield
to draw Wanamumma out.
Simple really
Yes !………I know it`s about the money ! 🙁
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3913188/Antonio-Conte-s-switch-3-4-3-seen-Chelsea-score-16-goals-without-reply.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
You have a point there Fred…
As do you LC, it’s all about the CL money which Arsene admitted the club needed after the move. Sadly it seems that aim remains the same.
I know it’s early in the season and anything can yet happen but the trouble for me is that we’ve been here so many times before….
The club are in Groundhog day, Rico !………………which has a knock on ripple effect of bringing us supporters into it as well !……………hence being here so many times before !……………a feeling of Deja vu !………………precognition !………………..and any other cliche that comes to mind !…………but you knew I was going to say that didn`t you !…………………… 😀
Hi Rico and the House.
Your last comment at 3.48 nails it Rico, and also answers your question about why there’s a lull.
There are millions of bright, intelligent Arsenal supporters all over the world who are mentally exhausted trying to find a good argument for continuing with a structural philosophy that doesn’t work. It’s as though we’re stuck with this mind-set where not fulfilling our huge potential is good enough for a large number of fans because they worship Wenger. The rest of us are meant to shut up and politely respect their wishes.
The stadium move muddied the waters in terms of judging his performance, but he needs to be asked some pretty direct questions, because I’ve seen nothing that justifies him extending his contract in 2014.
Isn’t it about time there was some real honesty from Arsenal about the direction we’re going in, and why they persevere with a manager who no longer makes the cut at the top level?
Sorry, had to nip off.. I did.. lol
Hi Herb,
Another good comment. We have a gutless board who from the outside, don’t seem to care what’s going on and as long as we take in the CL money each season, all is rosy..
Add to that a manager who just a few weeks ago looked like he was mr motivator again, looks like he’s not….
Evening Rico and all. Bit gloomy on the Goonerweb today.
Evening Adam. No surprise really.
I suppose not.
And now for a boring two weeks before we face the dwarf and his awful tactics…
Anyway, I’m off to watch tv. Night Adam and all…
Lots of rumours Hector has signed a new contract ! 🙂
Just need the other two to extend……………..you know who I mean ! 🙂
Anyone remember the last time we played the scum at 12 noon, we won 5-4 but had a decent manager back then, often wonder what he’s up to these days.
16 games unbeaten in all competitions, we’re flying, fans can so fickle.
Le Coq, gotta pull you up on one thing, it’s not all about the money, players only want to sign for us because of Arsene Wenger, get your facts right lol.
Herb, I wouldn’t be getting too over excited by the scousers telling us this is their year, we’ve been getting it in the ear-hole for the last 27 years lol.
Having said that, we’re not too far behind the scousers especially with Giroud announcing he is fully fit again, no offense tsgh.
Nite Gooners.
rico, not bragging but that’s another hattrick for me, now only 2 behind Feo and 36 behind Messi, couldn’t have done it without ya gal !!!
Hi Micko
Yeah, it’s been a while since Liverpool last won the title, before the PL era.
But you’ll also be aware that they’ve won the CL more recently than we’ve won the PL.
Those of us of a certain age (which may or may not include yourself), have memories of Liverpool dominating from the mid-1970’s through to their last title in 1990.
But the thing that sets them apart from us is their supporters. The Kop in full voice is pure inspiration, a real 12th man, and we’ve never had anything like it.
The Emirates is a sanitised soul-less bowl, designed to pour money into Kroenke’s pocket, Anfield is a spiritual place of football worship which J. W. Henry has recognised and completely bought into. That’s why they sacked Rodgers and immediately installed Klopp. That’s ambition married with football intelligence, which sadly is something Arsenal don’t pay enough attention to.
You could be right, Micko !……………………………….before giving potential players the spill of the Stadium and facilities, he shows them his bank statement !…………” you get that much ! …………where do I sign ?” 🙂
Herb, can appreciate where your coming from buddy, I was in the clockend for the Basel game last month and the banter with the away fans was non existent….made me wanna cringe to be honest, I’m back over at Christmas for a game, I’ll be the first to say I need help lol.
Really is time for bunk, nite all.
The result makes me feel flat as a tack. Of what I saw (my link kept dropping out) Spurs played the better, but The Arsenal got a point which may be the difference at the end.
Judge him in May is AW’s default position, but I think the performance @ Old Trafford next will be how I judge him. If The Arsenal don’t come away with 3 points, then Arsene Wenger’s November curse will have been upheld IMO
Glad to help Micko.. 😉
Morning all..
Thank goodness the spat in the US will soon be over….
Morning All
Looking at the table 2pts behind..Looks good.
9pts dropped….11 games played.
Only thing is with that..We have not played
any of the top sides away.
We dropped 3pts to the Scouse
We dropped 2pts to the Spuds
both at home.
For me it’s only November..I know
But going by what I see we need to improve
quite a bit if we think we can win the League.
Rico..At least we don’t Beyonce or Lady Gaga.
……………………………..Yet
The bigger picture is often hard to see Fred. You sum it up quite well…
It’ll come, one day… lol
New post up now.