Morning all.
“It was an excellent game, end to end, but you just cannot be convinced by Arsenal.”
“At times, some of their passing and movement was mesmerising, just brilliant – but at the other end you see their vulnerabilities and frailties and why they are sitting sixth in the league.
No, that’s not Arsene Wenger bigging up our attacking play, that’s our old defender Matthew Upson stating the bleedin obvious. He can see it, we can see it, in fact everyone can see it except for Arsene Wenger. Actually, he probably can see it but does very little about it. How many seasons now have we all been talking about the way our defensive unit looks disorganised? Possibly since the day Sol Campbell and Gilberto left the club. Both of those were leaders, in different ways of course but they knew what was required on the pitch. Nowadays we don’t have any leaders as all our lot are far too pink and fluffy.
We scored three goals though which in itself was a miracle but the pick of the bunch for me was our third. The ball from Jack Wilshere was perfect, the finish from Alexis the same. We needed that third goal too as sloppy stuff at the back allowed Palace to make it 3-2. Too little too late though as the game finished soon after.
As many of us predicted back on September, all the talk now is about contracts. Sanchez, Ozil and Wilshere. Every press conference brings up the subject of who is staying, how long for and have we received any enquiries about one of the above three, especially Sanchez. It’s not healthy and it must be having an impact on the rest of the players as well as the players themselves.
Is there a divide in the squad, the same squad Wenger tells us is together? Well Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness think there is. I do too and not because of last nights shenanigans.
Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil were the players who joined Alexis and his celebrations.
Callum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac, Jack Wilshere, Hector Bellerin and Laurent Koscielny headed off back towards their positions.
Thierry Henry on Sky Sports:
‘There is a division in the team. He is asking them to come. ‘Why are they not coming? Don’t you want to celebrate?’.
‘You’re not here for Alexis Sanchez, you’re here for Arsenal. Arsenal scored. Go and celebrate. Whoever does it (scores), we don’t care about that, go and celebrate with your team-mate. Maybe we are reading too much into it but I noticed it. Sanchez made me notice it. It was like he thought he was alone.’
Graeme Souness agreed:
‘That tells you there is a divided dressing room. That shows they aren’t having Sanchez at the moment. I only see that when teams are 5-1 up, not 2-1 up. You’re elated, you’ve just scored a goal. It is clear there is a dynamic in the dressing room that all is not well.’
Maybe Henry is right and we are reading too much into it but I doubt it. He knows what playing for our club means, as did his teammates back in his day. Celebrate? They used to go bonkers and rightly so. Badge punching, interaction with the fans, kissing of the badge, there was everything. Not these days though, certainly not from all.
There’s been noticeable friction between certain players before but just like our defensive frailties, Wenger has done nothing about it. This group of players aren’t working for each other and they’re certainly not working for the manager.
Before the match last night, I watched 89. In a way I wish I hadn’t because The Arsenal back then was nothing like Arsenal today. They were a team, a group of players who we’re together as one, certainly on that night at Anfield. They may have thought George Graham’s plans for the match were bonkers but they followed his every word and the game played out exactly how Graham planned it.
Can you imagine our lot going to Anfield needing a win by two clear goals under Arsene Wenger? Me too, we’d get battered 5-0!
On that happy note, have a good Friday guys, West Brom up next…
Morning Rico and all.
I think Souness and Henry both put up different opinions on Sanchez and Ozil which ere valid..
Sell both in January and replace with who, but receive some money or keep them both and hope we get top four and let them go on a free in the Summer.
IMO I think Ozil will stay and shown after the second goal half the players didn’t congratulate Sanchez and that means he has to go.A major split in the dressing room and as Souness said Arsenal are themselves to blame.
The defence is another thing,still awful.
Jack though was a big plus.Please read below.
5th January 2013 Wenger said:As he prepares to finally offer Theo Walcott close to the £100,000 a week the England international has been seeking for his new contract, Wenger revealed it was he himself who insisted that the gap between the club’s highest-earners and lowest-paid players is narrower than at the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
“We pay well. We pay very well,” Wenger said ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie away to Swansea City. “I’ve spent all my life making sure people who work for us are paid well and I believe if you can do it, you do it.”
Wenger said that his principle was “to pay something that makes sense and is defendable in front of every single player” adding: “We make exceptions sometimes but they are not maybe so high. If you want to keep making profit you have to respect that.”…… Now arguably our current best players in Sanchez Ozil and Wilshere could all walk for free.3 players who would cost today to replace in excess of £200 million not knowing if any are avaiable.A huge financial loss for the club and massive on the field.Debuchy wants to leave,Mustafi and ospina were meant to leave in the Summer, Giroud now has a dilemma and rumours say Walcott will finally go in January and he’s one 140K a week. Total mismanagement by Wenger but ultimately the brainless Board and Kroenke.Next season all but 4 first teamers are also out of contract.It is unbelieve the incompetence by one of the richest clubs in the world
Sanchez scored two lovely goals. Did he send any messages? I think he did. With all of the furore surrounding everything Sanchez and Ozil, surely he would have bagged his first, run over to the fans and kissed the badge? For me, he is going and Ozil will stay. Furthermore, to coin the much used rose and summer phrase, against Southampton Sanchez gave the ball away 32 times! Before his first last night, he had already given it away 14 times – once resulting in their goal. It seems that there is a divide and this is not good for the club. When Sanchez was at Barca he was labelled a poison snake by their chairman who said he had upset the dressing room. For me, cash in now and maybe get £30m. Get Carasco and Draxler and hope a decent keeper is found before next season.
I would also like to add at 3-1 up you don’t take off your main striker and go all defensive with all due respect to Palace..You press forward, but time and time again Wenger does this and we concede,as in the very last game against Liverpool We don’t have the players to play as a unit.Just look how many goals we have conceded this season compared to those above us..
Personally, I don’t care who celebrates with who.
It’s in Sky’s interest to stir up as much shit as possible to deflect from the fact that the PL has become so turgid. Henry and Souness are happy to oblige in that respect.
Morning Kelsey, DB and all.
If Sanchez is the bad apple in the camp, he should have been sold back in the summer.. Not celebrating us scoring though is wrong imo and look what’s it’s done? More questions, more unrest and certainly more problems.
The amount of goals we concede is embarrassing but as Upson said, that’s why we’re sixth in the league. Although I’m surprised we are that high up the table.
Adam, not celebrating a goal though says a lot about what players think of the club.. and the fans..
Is this Sanchez we are talking about Rico?
He was celebrating Adam..
We are in the top group of the 2nd tier of Premier league teams. Always in with a shout but also walking the tightrope above the next grade. For years we as supporters have known that the club has been a leetle bit short but often we have said that it was two players light. Now it has become obvious that it is also in leadership.
Many have said that his book would be a must have read but I don’t think that I would want to read the ramblings of a demagogue laying the blame on everyone else. If there is a split between Wilzhere and Sanchez it didn’t stop the pass for the third or much of the interpassing between them.That’s the way of dressing room politics,it’s not a sunday league team with your mates.
Rico
Bigger divide within the supporter base tbh. Hang on, these are opinions of former players who you reckon should ‘shut it’
Oh, & You were thrashed, contrary to what your crayfish coloured, lager fuelled, fat gutted tourists care to sing about?
That’s not a nice comment Gg… I could return the compliment but I won’t stoop to such low levels..
Sanchez leaving but he still come up with the good..I thought he was fantastic last night ..so it’s not his problem ,its the club and wenger who messed up with his contact.
Yes he looses the ball, but always tries to get it back and last night he did some excellent defensive work as well.
I thought Hector was awful last night like he has been all season.
As someone here pointed out he looses the ball and then jog back casually when other players are busting their guts to recover.
He is big part of our defensive problems for sure and wenger seems to do nothing about it. .just like the need for that illusive defensive midfielder!
Interesting time ahead!
Afternoon rico and all
I certainly won’t be buying it Potter… Twenty one years of listening to him has been more than enough.
Afternoon Kk, goodness knows what’s happened to Bellerin. Perhaps he needs some time off. Debuchy could do with a game, at least he can defend..
Bellerin got double his wages and Barca have shown an interest,so it’s gone to his head.
We will never progress again under Wenger until the defence is sorted out and he isn’t capable of buying the right player or doing it.What Bould does is a mystery.
This is a No-story, really. Soon they will question why Cech has not joined the celebrations for a goal midway into the game. How many sides have been so scrutinized when not all 10 outfield players join the celebrations? Is it possible the players felt it was “normal service” to be ahead against a Palace side we should ordinarily have been out of sight against in the 1st half? Is it possible the distance from the celebrating players made it more sensible to congratulate Jack (closer to the defenders than to Alexis when he gave the pass) and return to their positions so as not to be caught cold in the euphoria?
Sky will always put out different ideas to suit their narrative for Arsenal: we celebrate too much (recall Giroud’s scorpion kick celebration) and they slag us off for being too boisterous over an equalizing goal; we celebrate moderately and they declare there is a divide. We just cannot win with these lot. Don’t help carry that narrative, HH.
Kelsey, he probably goes around saying ‘yes’.
Just throwing it out there Goonereris..
More 3 points without the double Ozil-Iwobt at the same time in the pitch.
I’ve watched the team celebrate in two different points immediately after we scored and then all together. What’ was wrong with this?
The difference between City and the others is clear: City, is really and hard concentrate during all the game;the others, have lack of concentration in perioods of the game (specailly Arsenal).
Hi Rico and all.
There are divisions running through every area of the club, and the stadium move is looking a bigger sham day by day.
We are miles away from where we should be and heading in the wrong direction.
We are in a bleak horrible mess which makes absolutely no sense to the fan base, there is zero communication between the club and fans, and unless it is addressed as a matter of extreme urgency, the whole Arsenal project is pointless.
The club has become all about celebrating financial profit over sporting success and we are being strangled of our passion and excitement.
Arsenal are by some margin the most cowardly and least competitive big club in the football world and it stinks.
Arsenal supporters have nothing to celebrate under this incompetent, out of touch regime,
They have made us look cheap, the bargain buys have often hugely backfired to everyone else’s comical effect as we’re getting thrashed out of sight. No other manager would be allowed to oversee as many humiliations as Winger.
Where is the sense of professional pride and dignity in that.
Arsenal should be bigger and better than all this rabble, something big needs to change, if it doesn’t they’ll lose their massive fan base and Arsenal will be a distant memory.
When you are at the stadium , something that for various reasons I have not been this season, As you look around take a look at the average age of the crowd…. It is ageing . The proportion of pre and early teens is very low , I have friends that sit in the family section and most of them are pensioners taking advantage of the discounts. The next generation of fans isn’t there in great numbers and the club will find out soon enough that once the appeal of the club receeds , selling out their white elephant might be more difficult than they realise.
At the moment they are selling out to baby boomers who can in the main afford the exhorbitant prices , come the next generation Kroenke , Keswick , Friar , Lord Harris will be gone but the mess they leave will still be there.
Herb’s Army, I suggest you speak for yourself rather than taint others with the same, rather unfair and entitlement-seeped, brush you have chosen. 3 FA cups in 4 years; consistently playing in Europe for many years at a stretch, some great football (even if City is best at that now, and there’s no shame in that) and a stable well run club, are all reasons to be proud.
Afternoon Rico and All
Not to long to go before we see whats whats,
judging by the people I know,out of the three
out of contractors..it’s Jack who is the most loved.
Wonder why that is..
He loves this club,just like most Gooners do.
Lets be fair most of our team seem to turn it on
when they feel like.
I love Sanchez..but he has to go.
Ozil I can take him or leave him,
he looks a snider little fucker,he could be
after a top up,the way his upped himself.
Talking of the young local fans,most watch the game
in and around the pubs,very passionate.
Afternoon Herb, Fred and all.
I don’t think the club itself is on a mess, just under Arsene Wenger it’s a mess. I’m still of the opinion that in the main, we have a very good squad. Not as good as City’s As course, but better than most of the rest. As GoonerB said yesterday I think it was, give this squad to a more dynamic manager and we’d be so much better.
Imo, Arsene is ruining the players, the team and the way they play…
Fred, I reckon if Alexis is leaving next month, he’ll go early. Ozil I think might stay, Jack too but knowing our luck, and Jacks, he’ll sign a new contract then pick up another bad injury..
That’s my point Fred , Kids are in the pubs watching but they are not in the stadium. Once the season ticket holders give up or just by natural selection don’t renew , will they leave the pub and find £ 1200 plus to go and sit inside. ?
Perhaps the fans in the pubs are the ones who choose not to sit in their seats on matchday, along with others too of course. I bet if Wenger left today and a top manager replaced him tomorrow, The Emirates would be full next home game..
The major feeling, I and many friends have is one of enormous frustration with the club. I tend to agree with Rico in that I think the squad is pretty good. But, for the last decade or so it’s always been just that – pretty good. Seems to me we have always been just that few really good players away from being able to achieve the really big targets of the PL and the CL. My frustration has been over the way that Wenger seems a man enraptured in his own legacy and that he has convinced himself that the ONLY way is his way and bugger everyone else. He and Arsenal have become a club out of time and stuck in a perpetual circle of making the same mistakes and falling at the same hurdles season after season.
Obviously in doesn’t seem that way to Arsene and I am sure he has his own theories as to why we are not up where we should be. As the seasons have drifted by I have watched Wenger’s inertia and really horrible performances in the transfer windows and now, as I look through the squad and those positions that are going to be problematical from now on I cannot imagine that he is going to suddenly re-invent himself and demand the considerable sums that are very likely going to be required to get us back to where we all think we should be.
I know what you mean Potter.
Not to sure what I call the locals could afford our new club
prices or would want to pay upfront its a strange crowd we have
now..Imo..Then again I’m an old git.
Can you imagine on the other hand Rico,
Jack leaves for F..All and starts to turn it on
for another club.
Adam are you trying to say Arsene
hasn’t reinvented himself.
You’re so right imo Adam, it’s his way or the highway. Always a recipe for disaster in any working environment..
Did he not take one bit of notice of how Fergie continued to be as successful as he was? Clearly not.
Hi Fred. If he did I must have missed it. 🙂
Fred, I think he loves the club too much to leave of his own choice.. If Jack goes, it’ll possibly be after Ramsey returns to fitness and Jack returns to the bench…
He would be unlikely to note how anyone else handled the same problem afterall he is the original AKB.
Instead of flying planes around with banners,
why don’t they buy him a racehorse,as a
leaving present.
It’s worked for Fergie.
Going by the paper talk Jacks signing
after the chelsea game Rico.
Maybe he should sign before , They said that Sanchez had agreed before the 10 -2 against Bayern and then strangely changed his mind. I wonder why ?
Wonder why it takes so long though Fred. If a deal is agreed, get on with it.
It seems to be the Arsene way now adays Rico.
Sure does Fred. I guess it’s all part of being in control.
Night all.
New post up.