Morning all.
As Fun Boy Three and Bananarama once blasted out, ‘It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it….’ And the way we were dumped out of the FA Cup last night was pretty grim. Toothless up front, devoid of common sense and organisation in defence.
How was Lukaku allowed so much freedom, why did we continue to play the ‘lets pass our way through the box’ instead of whipping in a few crosses or shooting each time the goal was in sight? Why are we still vulnerable on the counter attack? How the heck did Cech let Sanchez go round him to score Utd’s first? Why the heck can’t this team defend?
To be fair, before Sokratis trudged off injured, I thought we looked ok at the back. Mustafi came on and soon after we went a goal down. Worse still, 0-1 was 0-2 when more comical defending was on show. Although it wasn’t funny. Hopes were raised when Aubameyang pulled a goal back just before the break.
No sooner had the second half kicked off, Romero pulled off a great save to deny Ramsey from levelling the score line but that was about as close as we came to beating the Utd number two keeper.
Losing Sokratis in the first half was bad enough but when Lukaku stuck his studs into the side of Koscielny’s face, not deliberately of course according to Jenas, we were snookered. Xhaka dropped into defence and that was that. Well, not quite, Martial made it 1-3 after tapping home a save which Cech couldn’t only guide into the path of the Frenchman.
Handbags were drawn before the final whistle ended what was a miserable night all round. It’ll be more than miserable for one Arsenal fan who decided it would be a good idea to throw a coin in the direction of the players involved in the scuffle when the club/police catch up with him/her.
Much is made of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and what he’s doing with this Man Utd team but honestly, I didn’t think they were particularly good. Arsenal made them look better than they are in my opinion. Yes, we played some nice football at times, certainly going forward but as soon as we arrived at the Utd box, we hit a brick wall. We went for the perfect move which more often than not was snuffed out with ease. If not that, the final pass was straight to a Utd player. I’d go on but I’d just be repeating myself.
Before Sokratis went off, Utd couldn’t get into the game. Whether that would have remained the case had he not picked up an injury we’ll never know but it’s no coincidence that Utd started to play a bit better after that. Or our own game dropped. Then again in the second half when prior to Koscielny having to go off, we’d looked like we might snatch an equaliser if someone could be bothered to try but instead, our game dropped off and Utd got a third.
Laurent Koscielny ended up in hospital last night. A sensible move as who knows what damage he suffered. Sokratis, well Emery doesn’t think it’s serious although I think he’s being optimistic. Either way, it looks like both our centre backs will miss the game against Cardiff.
See you in the comments….
Good post Rico. Great summing up of the game. Our defence never seems to do well against a big striker. Lukaku was allowed too much space, room and time on the ball.
We looked okay for the first 10 minutes, overall had a lot of posession but lacked the end product. The United keeper did all that was asked of him, but should have been tested more. We also gave the ball away too easily after winning it back.
Thanks Marinello.
Can’t believe an old pro like Emery was out thought by a novice like Ogs. I still don’t know if it’s better players we need or better coaching ideas.
Too many Wenger players still playing the Wenger way though..
Hi Rico
Fair comment, I think.
The only difference was that they had a decent goalie and we didn’t. Chec was at fault for all the goals. He was too slow to get to Alexis for the first, YARDS out of position and his goal for the second and he pushed out a tame shot from Pogba when he should easily have gathered it.
I’m sure we would have scored if he had saved it.
Brian
Hi Brian. Cech certainly didn’t cover himself in any glory but there was still defending to be done before then.
The difference with Utd is as Adam suggested imo, Utd will get the ball and drive forward, when we did, like with Iwobi, we get to their box and stop.
That’s why I often suggest we need another midfielder, someone strong, but fast who will just drive at the opposition..
Good morning Rico, a fair enough post considering how much more could be said about the shambles that is our defence.
If, as seems likely, both Koscielny and Sokratis are unavailable on Tuesday will we see one or more of our back-up central defenders or will Emery continue Wenger’s tactic of trying to hammer square pegs into round holes?
Morning Cicero, could be the chance Mavropanos or Medley are waiting for…
Morning all:
I reckon Kev is right in asking how Utd have changed so dramatically so quickly, yet we continue to fall into bad habits.
Seems they’ve quickly put the Jose era well and truly aside so when do we stop blaming Wenger?
Injuries aren’t helping the cause, no question, but still, our defensive lapses keep happening.
When a defender makes an error, a goal inevitably is the cost.
How many errors are our attackers making this season?
They’re never treated as harshly.
We seem to be slaughtering relatively easy chances every game and even when we win, it’s usually fair to say we could’ve and should’ve won by more.
Scott. Imo there’s a big difference, Mourinho was at Utd five minutes compared to Wenger at Arsenal. There’s a whiff around the club of complacency from top to bottom which my guess and hope is that the new regime are trying to eradicate. That’ll take time.
I also think overall, Utd have better seasoned players, players who suit the PL. They lost faith in Mourinho for a few months, not ten years or more..
Rico: United came to soak it up and catch Arsenal on the break, which they did. Both United Substitutes scored.
Not sure who will be in defence against Cardiff. Monreal was on the bench so will probanly play alongside Mustafi. Ozil started well enough but faded quickly.
I know Brian. We played right into their hands.
Rico, that may be so, but if players lost faith in Wenger for such a long period, surely they’d be on the improve.
Scott, I’m sure Josh Kroenke said that the running of the club is down to the board so perhaps it’s there where much of the blame should lay.
Rico, just to add-I do agree that the place is reeling with complacency, as I always said our owner put no pressure on anyone below him and that fed down through the ranks.
Has anything changed in that regard?
I think this is as good as it gets for Arsenal.
Arsenal are being stripped of its assets to fund the LA Rams.
Kroenke is asset rich but cash poor and Arsenal are never going to be a priority against his NFL franchise – especially in the hot bed of LA.
Arsenal are in terminal decline and there will be very little if no resources to buy players in the summer unless we sell players – who will buy our players?
Very sad end to this club…
Wenger was a good manager over time , his running of the club was excellent but his tactics were becoming stale and easily overcome by those that wanted more to stifle than to expand and express themselves . He had noble ideals about the way the game should be played but unfortunately they were not shared by others.
We needed to change and it was always going to be an interesting period in the way we started the new regime.
The problems within the club appear to be running much deeper than just changing the manager. Many of us whilst not wanting a complete take over by Usmanov appreciated that his shareholding held a handbrake on any motives that KSE may have had. Sadly this has now gone and we seem to have gone from a thriving financial institution , “”remarks from Gazidis “” to a club on our uppers waiting for a new deal to come through to raise enough finance to possibly fund two or more likely one player.
The previous regime left us with a squad of players that on the open market will not raise any cash . So the Bale , Coutinho scenario is not happening for us unless we unearth another Anelka from Hale End. ( I know we did not get him from there ). our work with contracts and wages had sadly reduced our options.
The cries to sack the manager are way off beam though, so far he has not had much of a chance and it looks like he will have a long job on his hands to rebuild . Changing him will only get us more of the same.
Since I became involved with The Arsenal during Tom Whittaker’s time we have always gone through peaks and troughs . His last trophy was in 1953 , and joining in 1956 I waited 14 years before Bertie Mee led us in Europe to the Inter Cities . We then went a further 9 before the Sunderland winner at Wembley ( that always seems forgotten when the media re-run cup matches between us and United )then a further 9 between Neill and Graham . Following him we , after a few interims , appointed Wenger and with a few of Grahams old players we won the league after 3 years. We were consistently successful for a long period of time before his departure.
I suspect that we are due a further period in the doldrums but once we have revitalised the squad we will rise again albiet I may well be in the latter end of my 70’s before we do.
Me: good points made. But not the end yet. I hear what you say about Kroenke, but surely as a Businessman he will not want to see the share price of Arsenal Fc drop and without future investment in the team, no Champions League money etc, that is what will happen.
Emery needs time to offload/keep/buy the players that he feels are right for the way he wants to see the team play. Some of that money will need to come from the sale of players who just turn up at games and need a fresh challenge elsewhere.
On the bright side, there are some talented young players coming through, Emery and the club need to nurture this talent and mix it with experience.
Not sure what Steve Bould brings to the party anymore. A good defender in his day, should he not be coaching the defence?
Afternoon Gooner’s
Afternoon Rico, as I wrote earlier this morning, any late transfer business the club does now will have a whiff of panic about it and there we go, linked to 29 year old Ivan Perisic, on loan until the summer then £35m for a guy in the Autumn of his career and looking for one last big pay deal.
Good points Potter.
Afternoon Kev, desperation or just desperate times if we have no money? If only we could offload a few but no one wants them it seems.
Hey Potter, hope all well.
I started supporting Arsenal in 1965. Mid table team then, 2 League cup final defeats followed, then the Inter Cities cup win followed by the first double.
Yes it’s certainly been up and down following Arsenal and the next stage of building a decent successful squad is really only just beginning.
To be frank I’m still gathering my thoughts on the new regime. While I won’t disagree that Wenger needed to go, I’m not sure if we have progressed or regressed since.
Certainly over the last few years Wenger had his power progressively stripped and a few strange decisions were made because of this.
I was generally happy with the Sanllehi, Mislintat, Gazidis trio to manage things. However that’s fallen quickly to pieces and since then I’m not impressed with things. That’s just off the pitch.
£35m for a 29 year old Perisic is the latest one.
Crazy management and going in the wrong direction if it’s true.
I’m worried that with our limited war chest we have a networker used to Barcelona’s money and a manager pushing for aging Eufa cup standard players. If they blow this summers window then we will take a decade to get back if ever.
As for on the pitch…….
I started watching Arsenal in 1958 and had to wait 10 years before I saw them win anything. At the moment I feel like I’m not going to see them win anything again. It’s the grand kids I feel sorry for though, they will have a looooooong wait. Cheers Stan. Oh, and thanks to all those on the old board who sold to tosser Kroenke.
Afternoon all !
The game was over when Ozil came in and Xhaxa went to central back.
Until that, the game was open.
Good point Rico about no one wants the players that need moving off. There have been many odd purchases over the years but unfortunately that’s the modern game today. A player who has played a handful of Premiership/European matches is suddenly allegedly worth millions, yet still have not proven their consistency.
Cannot believe what Liverpool paid for the big lump Andy Carol….
Really Jm, I don’t think we looked like scoring despite the game being open..
Me neither Marinello but they soon got rid too…
What’s wrong at the moment is surely the lack of a well-drilled defensive unit. We are so easy to play against. You don’t need to be a genius to work out that packing your own penalty area and hitting Arsenal with big balls out of defence will nearly always yield results. Especially if you don’t often enough.
Emery should demand sufficient funds to do his job. If he doesn’t get them then he should leave and who could blame him.
Agree Adam, an artist like Picasso wouldn’t have been such a success using paint brushes only intended for use on wooden fences…
Marinello as I said it’s going to be a long time coming I reckon.
Kev , that is a true reflection of how the football world players and agents view the club.
We have still got a name but have the reputation as a rest home for the elderly to see out their remaining days and that’s not just in the board room..
Over time they have seen players milk us and with Ozil now the prime example feel that they can get on the gravy train because we are desperate.
We were linked to Persic some time ago when he was playing for Dortmund and it did not happen .
Dortmund again ? is this just a 2 plus 2 execise for the media.
We need to take stock now , out of both cups , little chance of Champions league and the Europa cup. I reckon 5th 6th or 7th is up for us and an outside chance in Europe so lets concentrate on that and blood youngsters now and let them find out whether they can step up or not.
That should read “If you do it often enough”.
I’d be really disappointed if the likes of Monreal or Xhaka fill in at CB on Tuesday instead of playing one of Mavropanos or Medley.
The only problem is though Adam if we really are top heavy on wages as far as the restrictions go. If we are then it matters not what money Emery is given, he can’t spend it anyway until he gets rid of a few.
Thanks Daniel. Having been successful against Chelsea with less possession, you’d think we’d have learned…
Rico, great post. But we seem really emotional and attached to winning the possession war. Manu has always ceeded possession to arsenal and in the days of Rooney (who always waited for that long ball and straight run to our goal), always sucked us in, then hit us on the counter.
Please also note that it was not the inability of our attackers to do damage against them but due to the organisation of their defence who snuffed out all our attempts. Coming to the game, it was easy for Solksjaer to quieten the left side of our attack (kolasinac + iwobi) as that has been our go-to route for a while now. We cannot boast of such defensive ruthlessness and irrespective of personnel, this is what Emery should be working hard on. Slack marking, lack of invention under pressure and lack of steel in some of our players will always hunt this arsenal side.
Rico. I agree, but there are ways. Emery is paying a price for all the Wenger years from what I can see. Having said that, there are many teams with worse defenders than we have who have better defences. Our defensive coaching and general mindset is still incredibly flakey. Yet still we are seldom even linked with a decent defender in the market.
Adam, perhaps those other defenders aren’t worse though. Perhaps they just listen and learn better. I still think a lot is down to personnel.
I still say get Cahill on loan if we can
As for the defence, it’s worse than last season. The only reason I’m not pointing the finger at Emery is the injuries. Although I’m not sure the constant changing of formation is helping much either.
This might sound stupid but I wonder if the turf at The Emirates is any different than it was… strange how Sokratis and Bellerin got their injuries.
rico, even always played 8 square meters on the left side in quick combinations (which was a mistake) you could have scored and won, as long as you did not get the whole team unbalanced.
But we didn’t Jm..
I think it’s semi-synthetic Rico. the injuries to Bellerin and Sokratis were jus plain bad luck. .😕
Same at Colney Cicero?
I don’t know Rico but I would think so.
I think I have at last updated my gravatar on both my PC and my Amazon Fire. Let’s see…..
Yeeesss!
The pitch is semi-synthetic?
But that it’s terrible for the ankles and knees!
I might not sound so daft then Jm… lol
Evening all and thanks Rico
I feel numb !………………….my favourite cup has gone for another year and all I look forward to this season and in order is……………..Spuds getting knocked out of any comp`…………………..ManU getting knocked out of FA Cup at some stage……………………Watching our run in FA Youth Cup…………………trying to win EL and not getting relegated !
Never wanted Dick and a few said he needed 3 transfer windows !…………………well this is his second one !………..do I think he will sort us out with the 3rd one in the summer ? hahahahahahahaha…………we are , sorry, he is looking at midfield attackers when we are desperate for defenders !!!!……….fcuking joke !
The Kroenke situation !…………..as much as he is the most hated person in my life since my MiL passed away, I did understand that as just a majority share holder he why would he want to put money in the club when a fat Russian had over 30% of the shares !…………….some were saying that we would see how Kroenke fared when Wenger went and if he owned all the club, well he owns all the club and still hasn`t put a penny/dime in it, now if he aint going to put a penny/dime in it when he is outright owner and when we most need his money, when we are looking at borrowing players, then we all know he will never put a penny/dime in this club ever !.
We are seriously fcuked with him as the owner and have no idea apart form a Leicester moment where we will ever compete again !
If Dick was replaced by Pep tomorrow we would still be fcuked because of Kroenke !…………………we are in a Universe of shit in that the shit is never ending !
We have young defenders, but they are defenders !……Xhaka is not a center back, the young ones have been training probably since they were 9 years old, they must have an inkling of defending !
Feel sorry for Dick and I wonder if when he got the job he was told he wont have any money in January !
We have gone forwards in some areas and backwards in others, like Brexit promised so much, but delivering fcuk all and although Wenger had to go, at least from a sinking ship he got us 4 finals in 5 years with 3 wins !
With Wenger we for years cried for a defensive midfielder, will we for years crying out for a CB with Dick ?
Will any manager see what is blatantly obvious which us non knowledgeable fans can see ?
Whats blatantly obvious to me is Ornstein should be manager ! hahahaha
Talking of which…………………..rumours from the managers …..sorry………….davids mouth
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/1089133911114952704
JM, it’s natural grass with synthetic reinforcement. Apparently it plays like a normal pitch but doesn’t wear out as quickly. Unlike our centre backs. 😉
Charlie agrees with me !……….
“If you don’t help the manager strengthen where you’re weak, what do you expect to change?
If we can’t increase our current wage bill, how can we sign players?
I think the grass has a few percent of some form of plastic to help hold it together.
It’s pretty minor.
I know a lady who runs a football gear shop and after doing extensive research on her own due to a few she knows copping nasty injuries, has stopped selling blade style boots altogether as there has been research to show that something ridiculous like 80-90% of major knee injuries over a certain period involved players wearing such boots.
She only stocks good old fashioned round studded boots now.
Calls for Emery to be sacked are absolutely ridiculous.
I’m seeing it more and more on the net and for once, I leave it go 🙂
Rico, can you or anyone else explain in simple terms the wage bill issue?
Surely ours is a lot less than that of Citehs so is the problem in house or is it some form of regulations?
I haven’t gone into it so genuinely don’t know.
I’m not 100% sure myself Scott and I’m feeding off internet reports etc. From that article posted the other day, I get the impression it’s to do with how much we earn v’s spend etc.
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/latest-news/premier-league-update-their-ffp-rules
Clear as mud… lol
Ok, I’ll live in blissful ignorance hahahahaha
Rico, I did have a quick look and it’s pretty obvious that some club(s) tweak or manipulate things to ensure they’re not restricted as much as others and funnily enough, it’s also the club(s) who can afford to pay massive wage bills.
I take it you mean City Scott…
It does make some kind of sense though re us only being able to complete loans right now. With 3/4 players leaving in the summer and others possibly being sold, things might improve somewhat in the transfer department.
I know you don’t like to look back on what Wenger did but he left us in this situation, and Gazidis.
rico 8.28, I wouldn’t get your hopes up, didn’t Bananarama predict a “Cruel cruel summer” as well !
They did Micko..
Rico, I absolutely hold Wenger accountable, but as you know, I hold those above home responsible for allowing him to wield so much power and operate under little to no pressure.
I still believe a clubs culture, be it good or bad, comes from the very top.
But as suggested before Scott, Wenger already had the power before the Kroenkes came to the club so I’d imagine that’s just how it stayed. Only now are other people actually able to do what their job description suggests. In my opinion anyway and getting a lot of the wages off the books must be high on their agenda.
Doesnt excuse the football though but that’s a different story…
Rico, I can just hear you, Lee and Micko belting out “I want you back” to Arsene 🙂
10:38 – not a hope in hell Scott. Lol
It seems lowering the wage bill is priority no. 1 but hopefully it’s being done for the right reasons because generally speaking, a higher wage bill does mean better quality players.
Generally Speaking 🙂
I don’t subscribe to that theory Scott…
I do, Rico because the top sides do have the highest wage bills.
There are obvious exceptions such as, well, us hahahahah
There is a clear correlation between spend on wages and league position, but the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester City have proven you don’t necessarily need to splash out on transfer fees to achieve success.
Generally speaking, the more a club spends on wages, the higher up the table they finish, which is unsurprising given the best players tend to get paid the most money.
Planet football august 2017.
I have taken this as accurate , not my research but it does kind of support Scott.
Morning all……………
Good luck with trying to entice top quality players to our club if we are going to try and pay lower wages !
The majority of players in our squad are not fit enough to lace Mesut`s laces yet he is the one taking most of the flak ! 🙂
Windy but sunny here ! 😎
Afternoon all.
There’s a new post up now.