Can’t Blame Arsene For That, Can You?

Well, we know Stoke away is a tough one, so rather than be up for it from the start, we start slowly give up a goal inside one minute and to then be 3-0 down before half time was simply disgraceful.

In what was probably the worst forty-five minutes I’ve seen from an Arsenal side, there simply wasn’t a positive thing to come it of it, so what went wrong?

Having Koscielny on the bench was a very strange decision to me. If he’s injured, he’s injured, so why have him on the bench? If he’s fit, he starts and he should be first picked every week in my opinion, so it’s a mystery to me and hopefully someone has a logical explanation on how that decisions was made.

Other than that, and I know plenty will disagree, I’m not sure what else Wenger did wrong tactically in the first half. Don’t think I’m defending him overall as I know he’s got a lot to answer for but yesterday, individual slackness and lack of effort cost us dear and saw us not only three down, but not on the score-sheet either.

The defending was virtually non existent, a polar opposite to our very decent performances of late, but let’s be honest, as badly as we played, we had our chances to score, yet failed to take them.

The second half saw things change both with players, set up and attitude and we very nearly turned things around. In saying that, we could so easily have been 4-0 down, but the officials seemingly managed one good decision during the game.

We were making a decent fist of the comeback but the sending off of Chambers after a second yellow card pretty much killed us off. Strange though how Charlie Adams stayed on the pitch after what he did to Alexis….

Let’s be fair here, Chambers was very silly and very naive to put himself in that position having been booked already but Adams assaulted Alexis!
Whether Adams being sent off would have made a difference or not is irrelevant because he remained on the pitch, but now that precedent has been set, football needs a change of name…..football or free for all??

Looking at the overall picture, Wenger has let us down terribly by not strengthening our defence when it was obvious to all and sundry it was badly needed but if we isolate this game and take it on face value, we need to accept the fact that individual attitudes and mistakes cost us this game more than a lack of quality playing staff.

Simple misses, non existent defending and a lack of effort were the primary factors in this woeful loss.

There are a few players who should be cropped for our next game or two but it won’t happen, and why……well, we have no other options, do we?
That’s unless Wenger bites the bullet, and gives some kids a run out. Kids who will likely put in a shift, because they have a future to play for and I’d rather an average performer who gives his all than a brilliant player who doesn’t, and that’s what we have.

Of course, the issue is blooding our kids means talking one hell of a risk of missing top 4 and Stan simply won’t allow that will he?
I’d suggest if we did play the kids and give them their chance, fans would at least be tolerant as we could see some logic behind this, and probably accept these woeful performances as they have some context to them.

Arsene must stand up to Stan and do what’s right by playing kids, or tell Stan where to shove his job.

Either way, the club would at least have some direction because as it stands, we are merely treading water.

Arsenal FC is better than that!

By Scott From Oz…

217 thoughts on “Can’t Blame Arsene For That, Can You?

  1. Ren Vassilliou says:

    Once again we fall to a team that has a little more physical presence and height about them , when will Arsene Wenger learn that we need more height and strength in the team , I watch both games Chelsea and Man Utd where both teams stand side to side before the start of the game and both teams looked like Giants compared to the Arsenal team, It’s not just that to be honest, Arsene has been a Legend at Arsenal but I do feel now is the best time for him to go , he will be remembered as winning something before he retired , I don’t believe that Arsenal have the power ,Skill and strength to go on a run and win the league again while Wenger is in charge,

  2. frenchchloe says:

    Mate – yesterday was a typical arsenal performance that could have been from any of the past 5 years. The manager is incapable of either building an adequate squad, or coaching and motivating those players at his disposal. I will be making my feelings known both pre-match and if needs be during the home game next weekend – i hope there will be many others doing likewise – we need to rid our club of this old fool, or the slow painful decline will continue

  3. Adam says:

    There are simply too many facets to what is happening at Arsenal at the moment. From the suitability of some of our regular players to the ownership and Wenger of course. The manager is failing for a whole host of reasons. Yet there will still be those who won’t have that at all. It’s turning out to be the longest farewell concert in history.

  4. rico says:

    Morning all.

    Thanks for the post Scott and to a degree, I agree but sadly, yesterday was all too typical of the way Arsenal play these days. School boy errors which to be honest should be drummed out of them on the training pitch.

    The midfield, well was there a midfield?

    If AW is to see out the remainder of his contract, this squad needs a serious overhaul, as does his training methods….

  5. Adam says:

    Rico. One of the problems, as I see it, is that you could have written that 10.55 am comment many times over the past 4 or 5 years. Arsene is finished surely. He is proving that on a game by game basis. An Elastoplast won’t help with a broken leg.

  6. rico says:

    Adam. I know. It’s same old same old each week and has been for a good few years but, all the time he is here what else can I do but hope?

    I know deep down nothing will change all the time AW is allowed to carry on the way he does but until Kroenke grows a pair and sacks him, he’s staying put…

  7. scottfromoz says:

    Has Arsene caught David Moyes disease?
    He’s been in survival mode for too long and forgotten what a winning mentality is?
    That was Moyes issue when he moved from Everton to Yanited….that as as well as an aging squad.
    Maybe Arsene can’t shake that mindset.

  8. Baldy says:

    The fact that it takes forever to bring players into the club should give you an idea of how long it will take to get Wenger out. I’ve stopped watching now, in fact I didn’t renew my season ticket and haven’t been to a single game this season so I can’t say how good or bad Arsenal have been, but the blogs say it all really.

  9. Adam says:

    Rico. We seem to be going round in circles with this debate don’t we?
    For me, change is the way forward and it’s best that Wenger accepts that his time is up and enjoys his retirement or goes and manages another club. Arsenal have bigger fish to fry. My real worry is for the identity of the club. There are so many long-term supporters who don’t go to watch the games any more and that, for me, remains the apex of support. With the loss of those people goes the identity of the club. I know things change but I can’t help but think it is a great shame.

  10. frednerk says:

    Amazing to see the tide turn,
    after sticking up for wenger,for so long,
    for me 100%,the mans gone,we going form game to game,
    and hoping,for some guidence.
    Wonder what his last words were to the team in the dressing room,
    was it keep it tight at the back or was it go for goal.
    I know what my opinion is.

  11. rico says:

    Adam, for me there is only one way forward and that’s without Kroenke and without Arsene Wenger and his training staff.

    But, unless Kroenke sells up, or at least sacks AW, nothing will change and like you, I fear for the club all the times things remain as they are.

    The only way AW will go now is for the fans to make things very difficult for him to stay but I can’t see that happening either.

  12. rico says:

    Baldy, I doubt you are alone in giving up your ST which is a sad state of affairs. I doubt Kroenke cares though as he lives in a world far removed from caring about the people who really matter. The fans!

  13. emma says:

    Completely newlook HH
    Good post scott
    Hi Rico

    Wenger has to go at the end of the season for the love of arsenal. We have remained staled for so long. He cannot legislate that there is no money that’s why he couldn’t get the players he wanted. Now he is using the cover of injuries to players to cover his own shortcomings. How pathetic despite having the opportunity to strengthen in the summer(DM &CB) and didn’t.

    Couple of days ago he came out spouting his guts that if Diaby is fit he will be giving a new contract. ‘smh’. Our captain’s(arteta) legs are gone(picks up his calf injury after 2/3 matches). It is very likely he will be given an extension to his contract as well. Diaby is finished, arteta is half finished

    That is 2 dumps in the club. Don’t get me started with Flamini. Why not think outside the box but rather mosieur is thinking of how to extend their contract. Get in 2players(DM) as replacement of this crook players. Mertasacker had a good last season but not a brilliant one, Should have bought a first choice CB in the summer after selling Verminator. If he knew all along that a CB wont be bought why send Jenko out on loan. We allowed the better keeper to leave in Fabianski and got that Egostic Szeszny to put up with. Can’t remember the last time he made a world class save.smh

    Tired of all this makeshift excuses about injuries, inexperience defending, no solidarity etc Manunited came to the emirates with a makeshift Defence and won.He should be ashamed of using that as an excuse.

    Then talk about putting square pegs in a round hole. Bought the best #10(ozil) in the world and what did he(wenger) do to him? threw him on the wing. Monreal is not a CB but a shit LB. Wilshere/Ramsey don’t seem to gel together but only one man thinks so and ready to force issue. (Even their ego wont let them gel together)

    Just a shame that once a great coach has being reduced to the rubbles we are now seeing. So freaking annoying that we’ve got to put up with 2 more seasons of this shit

  14. frednerk says:

    Going over the Arsenal now is not the same anymore,
    the fans are split and are looking around at each other,
    not knowing who to blame or what to shout out,
    Wether you know about football or not the fans are bewilded,
    and the fans are never wrong.

  15. Adam says:

    Rico. As you know, I am no fan of the Kroenke clan but, as I don’t really know what they do I will reserve judgement for now. That Arsene has to go I am in no doubt at all. This alone would bring a completely new look to the club and we could perhaps become the Arsenal once again. Ideally and like you I would like Usmanov to take over but, to be honest, I have no solid proof that he would be any better, just a feeling. The club is drowning under the weight of Wenger now though and I personally don’t see any young kids magically turning it round for us at all. Football at this level is a tough uncompromising environment and the evidence of success or not is to be found on the field. Wenger has completely blown out in this regard and his ineptitude in the transfer window and subsequent disasters are merely a result of cause and effect. It has been happening to managers for years and years and is nothing new. His red hatted supporters must genuinely believe that he can literally go on forever.
    With Kroenke’s ownership should come responsibility to push the club forward and that is why he must tell Arsene that his time will be up at the end of the season so it will be best if he retires. If something doesn’t happen there will be a lot of unrest and the press will feed into that like the vultures they are.
    As Gazidis said, the main focus is to facilitate the changeover smoothly and successfully. How Wenger must have loved hearing that.

  16. waiyuen leong says:

    Stoke have the physicality that took advantage against Arsenal players direct contact upfront where the referee sometimes could not see during the game. Cuddling of Sanchez as an obvious example where the referee did not give a red card that could make a differene in the game. Overall, inconsistency,poor defense, lack of pace and poor passing that caused the biggest issue in the game. Probably, the players were too tired after the game against Southampton on wednesday where they beat a strong team standing second in the EPL.

  17. anon4cec says:

    this is 4th game in a row that i haven’t watched and i’m not going to watch another one until wenger gets sacked/leaves.

    after a decade of making the same mistakes year after year i had enough, we’re not going to win anything as long as he remains…

  18. rico says:

    Adam. why wait until the summer tough, why not now? We could finish mid table the way things are going but if another manager came in now and with a January transfer window, things could quite quickly improve…

  19. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Chambers is a little naif.
    Ramsey is completely out of form
    We had played with the some players along time ago.
    The midifiedls was very lack
    We have na unballanced team
    I did not realize the difference between a hard tackle, aggression and consecutive sent off and the only thing that Adam had, in preventing any form and in an aggressive manner that Alexis continued with the ball. It was the first? An aggression has atrenuantes to be the first?
    The 4-0 was positional off-side but in the replay I didn’t know if Gibbs put the player on.
    At the beginning of the season, which would play with Bellerin guessed or had some “unknown” players on the bench?
    Palying with Atteta and playing with Falamini is a big difference.
    For me, that Alexis missing was the fulcral point of the game. If ihe scored it, we could drew, at least.

  20. Adam says:

    Rico. Do it now then. As you see I also suffer from the classic Arsenal dilemma of being caught up with what Wenger has done for the club in the past. I don’t want to see him humiliated which is why I would like him to walk away of his own volition. But, if he walked out today, providing they don’t get someone in straight away who would prevent them from getting the right man at the end of the season, then why not? As long as we avoided relegation I don’t see that CL is that important. The ‘right’ man is really what should be exercising the whole management at Arsenal right now and I guess there are massive debates among the fans as to who that should be.

  21. allezkev says:

    I am a great advocate of bringing through young players as I think many of the regulars know…

    But I’m not sure that now is a good time to do it…

    Arsenal have suffered many ups and downs over the last 45 years and during that time I’ve seen more than a few young players destroyed when thrown into a team struggling for form and confidence…

    I have always preferred to see young players introduced gradually from the bench and give 15/20 minutes at the end of games, and then given starts against weaker sides..,

    Stoke are not a weak side and Wenger lacks imagination when it comes to substitutions…

    Fred, what’s your view on the way Wenger has been integrating young players in recent seasons…

  22. Omar says:

    ofcourse when a team loses, the manager has to take a share of the blame… However with the amount of international players we have and considering their wages, no1 can say its all wengers fault. Theres only so much a manager can do and im not saying wenger is doing everything right but the players were really poor yesterday

  23. Adam says:

    As the PL develops I see less and less opportunities for kids at the top clubs, barring the occasional really, really exceptional player. The skill comes in buying the right players and sending them out equipped mentally and physically. But the term “the right players” has far reaching implications not always associated with their price. If you don’t equip the squad in this way then the result is the unbalanced mish-mash we see at the moment. Add an arrogant manager who refuses to move with the times and…..

  24. BT62 Gooner says:

    Adam, doubt does not come in to it, it’s as predictable as the Christmas frenzy….
    Hope all is well with you and Mrs A…..

  25. Adam says:

    Not bad mate. We are at home, hiding from Christmas. :). It’s even too bad weather wise for a bit of detailing so I am listening to some music as a way to relax instead.
    All the best to you and yours.

  26. Adam says:

    BT. This morning I have been listening to some classical music, Chopin and Mahler plus a bit of film music. I have Kev’s Robin Trower’s Greatest Hits double album staring at me but have managed to resist it so far. Our Kev’s a bit of a head banger you know. 🙂

  27. goonster says:

    Heroes 1977 was dad’s album. He jammed to that constantly. Catching mum in mid air amidst laughter. Lol good times.

  28. BT62 Gooner says:

    Adam, i find listening to James a big stress reliever after watching Arsenal…Born of Frustration being a total apt track…..lol

  29. Adam says:

    BT. I didn’t know that but just checked it out on YouTube. I agree that music is a nice way to chill and take the edge off. 🙂

  30. Adam says:

    I was at the Spiders From Mars gig at Earls Court in the 70s when thousands of people dressed like Bowie stormed the stage. It ended in a riot. The following week I saw Pink Floyd there doing Dark Side.
    Now that was cosmic, in all senses of the word. 🙂

  31. goonster says:

    Lol that must have been swell adam. Lucky. I feel so jealous. You guys grew up in an Era when the best bands were around. What did I grow up to westlife nsync backstreet boys oh please.

  32. BT62 Gooner says:

    Adam, you are a lucky man,Pink Floyd and Dark Side, awesome, oh to have been there…..
    I can only imagine the cosmic scene….lol

  33. goonster says:

    Now talk about incompetence. Arsene sent jenko out on loan to west ham while we rot without o proper right back. Who does that?

  34. goonster says:

    Well I guess fat Sam is a better coach than arsene then because jenko is playing really well this season.

  35. goonster says:

    Baresi at his peak ll still be made to look like shit by dear leader. I ve been watching the Chavs lately. Both full backs don’t bomb forward at the same time as a matter of fact ivanobitch is the adventurous of both. Azlipecurta (spelling ) seldom goes forward.

  36. frednerk says:

    Kev you know I love young players given a run out,
    Going back over the years,with the rebuilding and all,
    wenger has stated the aim of bring youth through,
    but hasn’t lived up to it..has he.
    What gives me the hump is,putting youngsters in away from home,
    inexperienced young players can do without being chucked in the deep end.
    Thats not arrogant is it

  37. Ren Vassilliou says:

    The thing is …. we always seem to look for excuses to shadow the problems, Arsene has in the early days been a great Manager for the club but the fact is …NOW …. he needs to go , he has been given too much power by the Numtees that run the club they know nothing about the heritage and roots of AFC all they smell and have been for the past 10 years is $$$$$$$$ and as long as $$$$$$$ are coming in they will never see a problem, This year will be our most challenging season and fingers crossed we make it top four,

  38. rico says:

    Sam is certainly a good man to sort the defence out Goonie…

    Ren, I don’t think top 4 will be ours this season unless some kind of miracle happens..

  39. goonster says:

    Rico we won’t make the top 6 at this rate and I won’t lose sleep. If dropping out of the top 4 ll stem the rot within the club and the expulsion of wenger then am all for it.

  40. allezkev says:

    Yes Rico, fortunately I think she lives in Manila and it’s the coastal communities who are copping it…

  41. goonster says:

    I see why Winston Reid is so highly rated. He’s a class act. Unfortunately I don’t see us getting him. He ll end up at manure.

  42. scottfromoz says:

    I said it the other day…..Ae her brought scouting, diet, training regimes and basically professionalism in football to a new level in England.
    He didn’t bring tactics.
    Now the rest of the League have caught up, his advantage is gone.
    Still, watching a video just now of “fans” abusing him getting on the train home from Stoke makes me realise even more that plenty of Gooners are the scum of the earth, and I guess the pedestal we hold our club on is based on a fake premise.
    Disgusting.
    No matter what happens, he does not deserve that from people without an ounce of intelligence or class!

  43. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, people saw him as a messiah when he wasn’t, he was very intelligent and saw what was lacking in the game.
    He’s toughed it out for 10 years and deserved a happy retirement after the Cup and made a poor decision to go on, but still doesn’t deserve this treatment.

  44. goonster says:

    Scott it’s a shame but had he addressed all our concerns and strengthened accordingly we won’t be on his neck. Deep down inside no gooner wants wenger gone. We all want him to do the simple things.I don’t expect to win the league every year but I want to see my team put up a fight till the end and not lose scandalously like a pub team. It’s a shame scoto but he had it coming. I feel for him but he should have done things differently and not be so pig headed

  45. rico says:

    Scott, I’m not sure any human being deserves that…. I know fans are very frustrated and emotions are high after just watching that dross….

  46. goonster says:

    Scotty oz arsene has never beaten maureen while Pardee does it every season….Arsene haven’t beaten manure in ages. We have a dismal record at stoke city. Yet we charge the highest fee in Europe. Come on mate.

  47. goonster says:

    Look at what fat sam is accomplishing with a mediocre squad. Alardye beat shitty this season wit a less talented squad. Ask yourself this question is sahko tomkins et all better than the players we have at arsenal??

  48. Wavy says:

    The last person they said that about was Julius Caesar, and look what happened to him….in the Market Place!
    Often what makes a person great IG his reputation and his ability to ,know’ when to leave. Sadly Wenger ahead the opportunity last summer, he could have gone, heaped with praise and the acclamation from the whole footballing world, instead he has managed to ruin his reputation and lose the admiration of the fans, both ours and others!
    Hubris is the downfall of all tragic heroes and Wenger has it in spades. I hope he doesn’t cop it in the Market Place ( the sack) I hope he makes a dignified exit, on his own terms, but I fear for his soccer future!
    He will last till the summer simply because there is nobody out in the footasphere available to step in to his trainers at the moment, with the exception of Tony Pulis, of course. He, at least would ensure that we weren’t relegated!
    Ah the end of yet another blissfully happy weekend!

  49. goonster says:

    Sunderland have taken 4 points off chelsea in.less than a year. Knocker them out of the carling cup and ended maureen’s unbeaten home record. With a team made up of washed up ex manure players???? Come on mate. This fans are just angry. I don’t condone it but like rico said last night you wouldn’t too if you braced the cold and travelled up north to watch that show of shame.

  50. rico says:

    West Ham don’t have better players Imo, well, not all but there’s certainly a few there who would make arsenal stronger but they are clearly coached and drilled very well. Even Song looks a totally different player….

  51. frednerk says:

    Seems a long time ago now,sitting on the train
    singing about wengers magic hat,
    Going up north to get wacked,by inferior players,
    supporters,those on the booze always do give it the big-en.
    To hear that abuse,is what we have been saying on here,
    for some time now.
    Will he walk straight out or will it be a straight jacket.
    Generations of gooners are giving up season tickets,
    and its because of wengers continued lack of respect,
    for gooners who live and breath The Arsenal.
    Stop the season tickets and go back to pay as you go,
    prehaps we might see who supports The Arsenal,
    under wenger.

  52. scottfromoz says:

    Stan, you can keep throwing up what Arsene is doing wrong, but I don’t care…the man doesn’t deserve that from scumbags like that!
    That’s all I said!

  53. allezkev says:

    I was gonna speak to Adam about it, but he really gets the hump if you phone him when X Factor is on…. 😀

  54. allezkev says:

    Hi Scott

    Fred, that’s why they don’t wanna bring back terracing.
    Especially if if was a case of turn up on the day and not tickets….

    But that’ never happen…

  55. allezkev says:

    Arsenal love this season ticket lark…

    They’ve got all your dough up front…

    And they can give out am the old bollkcks about selling out, even when there’s empty seats….

  56. allezkev says:

    They’d probably have to reduce ticket prices for many of those crappy CL games and early rounds of the FACup, just as they have to do in the League Cup…

  57. goonster says:

    Scott I never said he deserved it…..just saying 5hise fans have every right to ear their grievances. They pay a hefty sum to watch their team.

  58. allezkev says:

    Scott, there was a time when there was an unwritten understanding, between the club and season ticket holders.
    So when a big cup s/f and final came around, you was certain of a ticket as a ST holder…

    Well that doesn’t apply anymore…

    So why should you be expected to pay up front for cup-ties???

    Why doesn’t the club offer you a EPL ST?
    At a reduced price….

    Well I know the answer, and it just makes me more cynical about the Franchise we now support….

  59. scottfromoz says:

    Stan, I’ve said plenty of times Wenger brought new things to the League, not just Arsenal, and I said it a long time ago, so posting that article means you agree to agree with me hahahahahahaha

  60. Wavy says:

    I think the article posted by Goonster summarises all and a bit more that we have been writing here for several months, or more. The sadness is that articles like that are being written, that feelings expressed of the downfall of a once great and revolutionary man are being repeated over and over again. We are not all wrong! He’s done. End of!…….
    Who will write his obituary??? My bet is Rico!?!?
    And with that prophecy I will bid you all a very goodnight, wherever you are.

  61. rico says:

    Morning Lee, Scott and all…

    Pass me a cheque and then fill your boots, could do with a few extra pennies before Christmas……. 😉

  62. scottfromoz says:

    Hi Rico.
    I think this episode yesterday will force Wenger into realising he must act, and act fast.
    If not, then he has absolutely no hope of ever regaining the support of Gooners.

  63. allezkev says:

    Morning Scott/Rico

    I thought last summer was Wenger’s last chance saloon….
    This January could have an air of desperation about it…

    You know, signings like Glen Helder and Chris Kiwomya spring yo mind….

    Mega traffic jam in Brixton.
    Great way to start the day, not… 🙁

  64. Lee says:

    This cracked me up….

    “We should have been ready for this?
    this is injustice? Man up and defend your teams for once! What a damn excuse?

    How about I tie your hands and get you against a kid into a fight and when you lose I tell u, yeah you should have been ready for this?

    Its your type (and you Dan) who keep those cheaters safe in their jobs! We played good or bad that was injustice. No way I can accept this no matter how bad we played, no matter. Get me a level field and then tell me its our mistake we lose.”

  65. rico says:

    Scott, I’d have thought the penny would have dropped long before now.

    The summer was his chance and he blew it big time….

    Hoist by his own petard springs to mind……

  66. tsgh says:

    Good morning Rico and all,
    Let’s be honest the squad is not good enough and AW has been punching above his weight for too long now.
    Even a cat is said to have 9 lives.Aw has definitely used his 9th life.Lol

  67. bradster says:

    Morning all,

    I see Mark Hughes told his team to get at Arsenal’s weakened defense and target the flanks where we leave plenty space.
    Nice sucker punch from them though. Like a prized fighter talking smack before the fight that they going to kick us and be aggressive and come the day they knock us out with something unexpected.

  68. tsgh says:

    Brad, to me flamini has gone from mouthing off and flapping to chasing shadows.
    He neither covers the fb’s nor occupy the hole in front of the defence.
    He does not link play from defence thereby requiring Per to push up.Its all fine for per to push up but flamini at 30 years old should cover him so that if the attack broke down we would still have at least 3 players behind the ball.
    It about time Niles or kamara is given the chance because a club of our stature should not be paying for players who need coaching.
    Dare I say Song is showing he was never appreciated. … Imho
    .

  69. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, we didn’t appreciate him but neither did Barca…….maybe his attitude changed when he realised he wasn’t as good as he thought…..just saying 🙂
    Howdy pal…

  70. Adam says:

    Rico. There probably was no plan whatsoever. That would fit in with what has been happening for quite a while. If the alarm bells aren’t ringing between Ivan’s office and the quarter million acre ranch in Texas, or wherever it is, then the club is in deep trouble. Mind you, it was always going to be like this wasn’t it? So few people ever leave at the right time anymore, whatever the profession. It’s gonna get bumpier too as Arsene becomes more entrenched and Chips plays another hand of Bridge.

  71. Lee says:

    Pack the team with loads of technical midgets?
    Play players out of position because he didn’t strengthen the squad correctly?
    Play a CB that a sloth could out run over 40m?
    Blame the state of the graminoid surface?
    And the absolute all time classic blame the referee!

    No mirrors at chez Wenger?

  72. rico says:

    Adam. That’s my point really, no plan. There’s never a plan and unless we play a side which opens up and let’s us play, we seldom do well….

    It’s all a ghastly mess….

  73. potter says:

    Wonder tactician that Hughes , lets expose the gaps down the wings and throw over centres for 6 foot 99 Crouchie and while we are at it lets set up with set pieces and get him jumping with Sanchez . Wenger won’t see it coming as it’s far too devious.

  74. Lee says:

    The writing has been on the wall for ages this was going to happen, Wenger has papered over the cracks for a few seasons! Sad but true.

  75. allezkev says:

    I see that Gary Lineker has criticised those Arsenal fans who were giving stick to Wenger and the players as they boarded the train at Stoke railway station Saturday.
    He called the fans behaviour ‘disgusting’.

    Rather ironic really as Lineker, Shearer, Hansen and all the other BBC sponsored, bloated, arrogant and overpaid ‘has-beens’ on MotD have spent the last few years taking the piss out of Wenger & Arsenal for being ‘weak, defensively naive blah blah blah’….,

    Yes, Gary Lineker, the man who deserted his family, is certainly the last person to give a sermon to anyone….

    A See You Nnn Tee of biblical proportions!

  76. tsgh says:

    In my view, the club has gone beyond buying players who still need coaching.
    It is a worry when players like Per and Flamini still play in certain games like 22 y.I tactically.
    Why is the Mozart not getting games when he and Ramsey will be better foils for our style of play than sc19 and flamini as the pivots?

  77. Lee says:

    But Wenger has assembled this team and Wenger sends them out week in and week out not Kroenke…… success surely leads to more money, no?

  78. allezkev says:

    Rico, it’s the same with the Press…

    They spend all their time writing negative reports littered with snide, biased comments, regarding Wenger & Arsenal. And then throw their hands up in mock horror when the fans react in an equally negative way, after spending hundreds of pounds following their team…

    Would be nice if Wenger and the players reimbursed them eh?

  79. goonster says:

    Ts cast your mind back to early last year after the shite hart lane debacle. He dropped tv5 and chezzer and allowed bouldy to coach defense. The next game was again bayern and those same players who folks slap off looked a different prospect. We went to the allianz arena and thumped them 2.0. I can’t remember fabianski being troubled that night. That decision changed our season. We went on a winning streak that helped over hauled the scummers and we finished 4th. What happened next is baffling. Bouldy was getting all the praise and dear leader got pissed and reverted to norm. Look guys these guys are not shit. I ve seen them all play before arriving at arsenal. Monreal was the shit at Malaga he was only behind alba because the latter plays for barca. A change of coach and tactics and you ll see a different beast emerge. There’s no way southampton defense is better than ours bar the defensive mid field.

  80. goonster says:

    Allow bouldy to coach the defense or fuck off…simple as that. You don’t get picked a 100 times for the German national team if you are shit.

  81. tsgh says:

    Aw said he felt sorry for the fans but the team got off the bus and went through the plush first class waiting area onto the wholly hired virgin train without saying a word to the fans whilst we had our toes frozen off…
    It’s all too comfortable for the lot of them…

  82. rico says:

    Kev, you are right.

    Sadly, I think once the foul language comes into the abuse thrown at Arsene Wenger, it all looks rather ugly doesn’t it and no doubt that’s why the media and tits like Lineaker feel they have a right to speak.

    What they lose sight of is how long this has been going on, fans are the ones who get up early, pay vast sums of money to go to places like Stoke and after getting thrashed what do they expect?

    ‘Dear Arsene, please leave now old chap, there’s a good fellow’….

    Emotions are high, very high….

  83. Lee says:

    Scott but wenger’s spending is the majority of the time in the wrong positions…. it’s not like we’ve need a DM for ages is it? And he’ll waste money on Santos-esque players hand over fist! It’s a fucking joke and he needs to be held more accountable and there lies the problem!

  84. allezkev says:

    Wenger has treated the fans at Arsenal with the minimum of regard since he’s been at the club. He barely acknowledges them…

    As a fan, you almost feel like your in the way, as Arsene indulges himself in his career whilst paying us ‘lip service’ but in reality dismissing the fans.

    And now that lack on regard had been turned on its head…

  85. goonster says:

    If I remember correctly we only conceded like 5 goals during that period. Clean sheets was a norm then. Look guys we have a cracking team bar a beastly dm and a back up cb…maybe another striker. The problem is coaching. Simple as that.

  86. goonster says:

    Gibbo on his day is one of the best left back in the country. Debuchy is decent. Anyone keeping sagna out must be something else. Kozzer and mert fits like gloves. Out on the wings theo sanchez aoc and gnabry are a handful for any defense. Welbeck and giroud are not world class but could be improved upon. Santi wilshere rambo tr7 are some of the best ball playing mid fielders around now just add a dm in the mix and you be suprised.

  87. goonster says:

    Diego simeone ll make this current team a thorn in the flesh of most clubs in Europe. Like I said yesterday I dintend expect to win the league every season but I ll love to be in the mix till may not out by January. We are not Dagenham and red bridge for fuck sake.

  88. tsgh says:

    Goonie,if players on 80k a week need coaching then I want to be president of the US of A for a day with coaching of course. Lol
    Do we think Jose coaches John Terry?

  89. scottfromoz says:

    Stan, because we suddenly started defending well, Bould was allowed to do his job, and then, when we started defending well, Arsene took control again, we started defending poorly and he kept control?
    That is a hell of a stretch.

  90. Adam says:

    Wasn’t it the crisp-munching moron who did that embarrassing and disrespectful mime of Wenger on MOTD in front of its audience? Waving his hands around like the make-up-caked fuckwit he is?

  91. goonster says:

    So they just go on the pitch and play without instructions?? Are you serious? Have you read fergie’s autobiography? There’s a whole chapter dedicated to us in there. How to nullify our threat and thrash us. You ll think a smart man like wenger ll have changed tactics by now. AnywayI stand by what I said earlier. The problem is coaching and tactics. When bouldy took charge of that we saw how good we looked defensively.

  92. goonster says:

    Scott it was everywhere that wenger took back the defense duties off him. There’s no smoke.without fire. You don’t have to believe it mate

  93. goonster says:

    So scott what happened back then the players just suddenly got good or wenger got his head out of his ass for a minute? ? Come on scott. Gee are toy serious?

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