Match Preview

Chasing momentum or rainbows and pavements? Sanogo lights up the Championship…

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

I’m still in shock! Yaya Sanogo scored a hat-trick yesterday for Charlton. Thank goodness my local team Reading scored four. There’s no way I could have dealt with the stick from my family had his three goals won the game. Oh and don’t believe Micko when he say’s his Granny could score against Reading, remember how we huffed and puffed against them in the FA Cup last year….

Good for him though, scoring goals will do his confidence the world of good and who knows, there might be a striker in him after all. Charlton worked for Francis Coquelin, maybe the club will work wonders for our mega bucks French signing!

Back to reality- Leicester upped the stakes by winning yesterday. We dealt them a sucker punch last time out with a late goal, they did the same to Norwich so it’s back to a five point gap between them and us. City are involved in the Capital One Cup Final today and the Totts kick off at the same time as us – they face Swansea.

Today kicks off a run of tough fixtures. Arsene Wenger has said that this is the time to show our quality and Sir Chips has said we have enough in the squad to win the league. Well, something like that.

Arsene Wenger:

There is a perception that Arsenal fades in March and April. It is true we have lost the championship once or twice. But if you look over 20 years we have always finished stronger in the second part of the season.

What is different now is that on those occasions we were losing momentum. This time it’s the opposite We are chasing and gaining momentum.

He’s right, we’ve been at the top of the table before, only to fade away towards the end of the season, but this time, he and the players know they have to catch up. There’s something to fight for rather than something to cling onto and sometimes that can help a team.

Last season we came good around this time of the campaign and went on a winning run. Only a couple of bore draws and a defeat to Swansea ruined all of that just before the end of the season but we finished in style with a 4-1 defeat of WBA and a 4-0 thumping of Villa in the FA Cup Final.

Utd were one of the teams we drew against in May and that one was was at Old Trafford which is where Arsenal head to today to face a depleted and quite average Utd side. Rooney and Fellaini are definitely out as are Valencia, Schweinsteiger, Young and Shaw. Smalling, De Gea and Martial are doubts but I strongly suspect they’ll all start.

Oxlade-Chamberlain joins Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky on the injured list but Gabriel could be back which is good news.

I’ve no idea what to expect from this Arsenal side today as one day they can be great, the next, not so great. Scoring goals has been a problem and if the team go all gung ho again as they did against Barcelona, Utd will hurt us.

As the Champions League challenge looks over, if this group of players have anything about them, they’ll put all of their effort into the Premier League. A few need to work a lot harder for the team, one or two really need to find their form and if that happens, this team can be great again.

Arsenal need a big performance and if they remain to remain in with a chance of being crowned champions, they simply have to win today.

We battered them at home, so lets do the same away.

0-1 would do me though…. 😉

COYRRG’S!

rico

504 thoughts on “Chasing momentum or rainbows and pavements? Sanogo lights up the Championship…”

  2. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Just 1-0 Rico?? I am still smarting from that 2-8 reverse.

    I know that we are finding it hard to score, however life has thought me that when we find it hard then we wallop someone. And tbh, I have been waiting a long time for us to smash anything above 6. We should put them to the sword and give them a walloping.

    So, although I doubt it, I would feel a lot better with a 7-0 scoreline at their own backyard.

  4. Wavy says:

    A win is imperative! Any score will do so long as we travel back to the Ems with 3 points in our pockets.

    Lovely day here again. Morning all.

  8. potter says:

    Rico to me an unhappy player under a regimental Pulis regime , which is not surprising . He might prosper in our more relaxed atmosphere.

  10. Joaquim Moreira says:

    then we had played versus Hull, Barcelona and we had just scored one aganst Leicester in extra time… not two.

  11. dublingunner says:

    Afternoon, your post says it all, really, rico
    To my mind we either start the season well and fall away, or start slowly and go on a end of season run, its the balance between the 2 that has been our achilles heel
    Wenger blames our end of season collapses on other clubs tapping up our star players at decisive points in our past seasons, same old Arsene, not forgetting the fact he is just arrogant and that he rejects self-analysis and blames defeat on everyone and everything except himself, still.

    which team turns up today is anybody,s guess, we do know this Arsenal team do not learn.. They are an experienced side, not that you would not know it from how they play: naive, panicky and anxious, especially at home but also away and also when they do not take an early lead. This is more likely than anything else to cost them the Premier League title this season

  12. dublingunner says:

    Our recent collapses have been that parts of the squads have not been strong enough,To me it,s partly down to mental weakness and downright naivety. Are they mentally strong enough now to push on, to beat United, and to push on again during the difficult away games to come
    Are they strong enough mentally, That’s still the big question for me.

  15. rico says:

    Dublin. I read those comments from AW too and though similar to you. If players were looking elsewhere, wouldn’t they be playing well just to ensure they attract their next club? Sometimes that man really does say some odd things…

  26. Lewis says:

    Good day all.

    Must win game today, Utd are a very average team and a team we should be beating. Our team just have to want it more than the opposition.

    No more excuses from the manager or team, Leicester won again, the spuds will probably win today. Time to go on a run or kiss goodbye to the league.

  27. rico says:

    Got to watch that young guy who scored two goals in midweek, he has nothing to fear…

    I reckon it’s goodbye to the league if we lose too Lewis…

  29. Hell Raising Devil says:

    yes Rico…..you read it right….on the left. Alexis on the right will be a different proposition to Manure…..they have Depay on their right….on our left….so put Campbell there to help Nacho and in this way Sanchez will not worry on Depay.

  44. Lewis says:

    We have no one who can take the game from the scruff of the neck. Everyone waiting for someone else to do it.

    Sanchez needs to find some form.

  58. Kel says:

    If you can’t create chance against blind and Carrick ya might as well forget about it ffs….

    I’ve no other words to describe this team as fucking pathetic….

  62. scottfromoz says:

    Why is it kids at Utd can play first team football and make an immediate impact?
    Ours don’t.
    Why did we not start with Giroud??
    Theo is non existent again.
    His turn over followed by his lack of effort to recover allowed the first goal.
    Piss poor effort this far.
    Pathetic.

  67. potter says:

    Nothing upfront , Ozil trying to win headers , Theo missing in action , passing wayward all in all there goes any thoughts on the title.

  68. Bradster says:

    Ramsey galvanting of cause. Our complacent arrogance.
    Second goal Gabriel moaning at others for not picking up his man. Ridiculous

  86. scottfromoz says:

    Ramsey is back to his worst.
    The fancy shit needs to be removed, and he must get back to basics….the same way he became a super player in the first place.
    Still, and this goes for some of our other guys, he is looking up only to see no movement off the ball and so, no options.

  90. Kel says:

    I shouldn’t be shocked at that first Half performance from Arsenal as it happens so often but in a game were utd is full of injuries and we’re chasing a league title… I can’t believe how slow and passive we have been surely the motivation of the team lies with the manager..

    Win lose or draw today these type of performances are happening way to often change is needed.

  95. Joaquim Moreira says:

    we must play better and do thinks better.
    TW again, He is always where he must not be.
    Lot of space between the defenders and the forwards.

  97. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I would have taken Theo out of the game by the 15th minute. I dont care if its Danny up front or Ollie……with someone else on the wing. I would have taken him off.

    We are playing with 8 against 11. The others will sense it out and their levels drop.

  105. dublingunner says:

    Arsenal’s high possession game doesn’t suit Theo. He needs a counter attack and through balls, both things which don’t happen when patiently passing around a packed defence.

  126. Kel says:

    Hahahahah if ya don’t laugh you’ll cry…. The worst Arsenal performance of the season I’m genuinely embarrassed for Arsenal and wenger today….

  130. Bradster says:

    Wouldn’t say Carrick was on a yellow. Rather don’t get the ball in there instead of our usual passing around

  152. Bradster says:

    In the world cup our guy twice the size of the ref bent down and said sorry sir when he didn’t hear what the ref said.

  153. scottfromoz says:

    Rugby doesn’t have the massive amount of certain countries playing that brought diving into the game.
    Players in that game have more respect for the game itself, and the officials, than any other.

  159. dublingunner says:

    In answer to your post headline, Rico, It looks like it,s rainbows and pavements.
    A defeat here by what has to be the most talentless injury ravaged United team AW has ever faced, would be the ultimate humiliation for him, imo.

  162. Marshall says:

    Yes Rico ship him to Barca. Scott I can’t remember the last time Ramsey stoo out. How many waywards passes and possesion does he loose? Not good for a midfielder.

    Walcott=bleugh

  167. Marshall says:

    Still it’s all good huh. Aw and this shitty team.
    Campbell has to sell his soul if craps like Theo are preferred ahead of him. F*ck!

  169. scottfromoz says:

    Marshall, did I not say he’s been in poor form??
    You missed that, obviously.
    Sanchez has been terrible of late.
    Does that make him a shit player?
    No, it means he’s out of form.

  172. Kel says:

    Have to agree on the ramsey comments… A decent player but bang average all season.. maybe a new manager would get better outta him.

  175. Bradster says:

    We seem to always do this around the same time. Lose in last 16 champs league, lose the weekend, win 2nd leg cl but not by enough, lose again the next game.

  178. Lewis says:

    Another season of being also rans. This title was there for the taking but I think we all know until Wenger buggers off we won’t win the bigger prizes. He needs to step down!!!

    We’re an average team with an average manager.

    We have to pray Leicester can win this league, the alternative is too awful to even think about.

  180. Kel says:

    Scott I’m embarrassed for Arsenal today…
    They got beat by a utd youth team…

    Can I assume now that all gunners are now on the same page that wenger needs to fuck off…

  181. scottfromoz says:

    Sanchez ALWAYS goes to his right.
    Defenders took a while to sort him out….maybe that have him down pat now.
    Ginge always said his second season was nowhere near as good as his first….could be the reason why.

  183. Bob John says:

    Actually feel physically sick about today. Have tried so hard not to jump on the Wenger out bandwagon but I have no arguments left. Unable to organise or motivate the team in a must win game. We are a laughing stock and things will never improve under the present regime

  184. potter says:

    Yes scott drops his shoulder cuts in on his right and runs into the next defender. Maybe needs to swith sides and go outside .

  185. Marshall says:

    Scott. Ramsey been shit from last season or even one before. He is just not a winner. Atleast Sanchez you can say his form dipped Ramsey never had any to begin with. What with all those back passes? And misplaced ones that keep us in trouble.

    If I got a dime for everytime he lost the fucking ball. Today he lost the ball while he was alone!

  187. scottfromoz says:

    Bob, I say players should not need lifting for such a game, but, the mentality at the club is lacking.
    It’s what I was aiming at earlier when I asked why Utd can bring a kid into first team football and he has an impact, where we can not.
    That comes from playing at a club where a lack of success is not accepted under any circumstances.

  188. Marshall says:

    We didn’t have a midfield. Ramsey-coq got hustled. They just don’t fit. Why can’t we try coq-elneny? Again AW always seems to find a new low every season.

  189. Kel says:

    I’m not even that upset tbh.. i honestly thought that result was very possible, because I have zero faith on Arsenal and wenger to motivate his team…

  191. Marshall says:

    Am not surprised either. Even told a mate we looked cocky before k.o and that might cost us. Well it did.

    Off the top of my head I can mention 3 goals that Walcott looses the ball, Ramsey fails to cover and bam we concede- this season alone! Funny we still have defensive lapses.

  192. Joaquim Moreira says:

    The League is lost.
    The team showed what it is: no flame, no grab, unwillingly, accommodated with an anarchic football.
    Tw and Ramsey were zero.
    It does not understand how it kept the same team in the 2nd half and not corrected positions.
    Totts are already ahead of us and will not leave. Get ready, because they will be the champions.

  193. Bob John says:

    Scott the atmosphere around the club is too cosy and that manifests itself in performances. How many times do you see one of our players mess up or miss a chance then start smiling. Ramsey did it today when he knocked the ball out of play. The players know they can get away with this attitude because the manager is too soft. Who else would keep giving a lazy waster like Walcott a pay rise?

  195. Bradster says:

    Our problem is defence. Merts too slow but good positioning and organisational skills. Kos and Gabriel good at tackling but not good at been leaders at the back and both poor positioning

  196. Marshall says:

    Nah he never. Guess some fans have stuck so much on AW they accept his bunch of mediocres. Last time Ramsey had form was two seasons ago. He wasn’t being exposed cause he was hiding in the flanks. Fts!

  197. Kel says:

    Could you imagine Barca, Real, Bayern, psg, City… playing that utd team today..lol 4 or 5 easy…

    Apparently we’re just like those clubs?

    Imo what a load of bollocks

    We’re europa league quality at best, with a manager who’s pushing 70yrs.

  198. scottfromoz says:

    Marshall, you said Ramsey never had form, now you say he did.
    Brilliant.
    Genius.
    Confusing lol
    Bob, yep…cosy is a good fit.
    Complacent is another.
    Too comfortable on their own lot.
    Stan only wants top 4, and, whether people admit it or not, that attitude filters down through the club.
    Our kids coming through aren’t hungry enough, and apparently earning very good money.
    Sounds like our first team guys, doesn’t it 🙂
    Top to bottom.

  203. Kel says:

    At least today has United the supporters in one thing… wenger is no longer good for Arsenal..

    Finally the penny has dropped I would take koeman tomorrow tbh give him 100m in the summer and let’s see how we go, if we fail so be it at least we fuckin tried..

    Wengers job now is to hang on to a top 4 place.
    As per usual.

  204. potter says:

    with a manager who’s pushing 70yrs.

    Oi watch it ! so am I and I would be putting a few choice words about , In fact I would have started a few years ago.

  206. Marshall says:

    “Scott. Ramsey been shit from last season or even one before. He is just not a winner. Atleast Sanchez you can say his form dipped Ramsey never had any to begin with.”- where did I say he never had form? As for ‘he never had any’ I meant this season as well as AS dip in form. Follow

  207. allezkev says:

    Scott, this Arsenal team has no backbone, no spirit, no detirmination, no winning mentality, they are spineless…

    And it all comes from Wenger…

    His players.
    His preparation.
    His tactics.
    His failure.

  208. Bradster says:

    I still think it’s our poor defending as a team. If we had better organisation we would’ve won today 2-0 or 2-1

  210. Kel says:

    Lol sorry potter I mean no harm….. I just think that wenger is hanging on to Arsenal as I don’t think he is with his wife anymore, I feel he needs Arsenal more than we need him.

  211. potter says:

    That’s alright Kel , I may not have 30 years of managing experience but I do have 60 years of playing and watching . I think I understand by now.

  212. Nashua Gunner says:

    When your team is not playing well in first half, then they came back in for the second half, and performed the same way, it the manager’s fault. No change of tactics, no backup plans, no game changer from the bench, it’s all down to the manager.

  214. Lee says:

    Ramsey had a purple patch a few seasons ago and like a lot of this team now he’s just another mediocre squad player……

    Wenger has lowered the bar dramatically and some supporters buy into his bollocks….

    Wenger keeps making the same pathetic mistakes season after season, I’ve really had enough of him.

  217. potter says:

    If it’s true that Wenger was responsible for steering us through the turbulence of the stadium move I say Thank you. Tactically though I lost it with him after Cesc left and I can;t forgive him for letting Chelsea have him. A partnership of Cesc and Ozil together would have been reminiscent of Xavi and Iniesta in their prime the other team would have had to bring their own ball because they would not be getting ours.

  219. Lee says:

    Marshall but him along with several others are Wenger’s favourites and will always be shoe-horned into the team, to its detriment.

    Did Walcott play today? The geezer is a squad player at best, £140k pw what a waste of wages!!!

  222. Marshall says:

    Yeah Lee. We carried Walcott and Ramsey today. We can’t afford to be playing technically 10/9 men. Yet Ramsey is assured of being in the line up in the next match. Screw that.

  224. rico says:

    Afternoon.. The fresh air didn’t do me a lot of good.

    If that 95 mins didn’t raise alarm bells for Kroenke and the board, nothing will….

  226. Kel says:

    Have to agree with Souness. Just called Arsenal “a joke” and “a team totally without balls.

    And Rio

    Arsenals major faliure in recent years is not investing in LEADERS. People that grasp the moment,that set the right tone at the given moment.

  228. Kel says:

    How times have changed… we’re going to spurs to try and stop them winning the league…

    If that doesn’t spell it out for the board I don’t know what will.

  229. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Mourinho will be at the bench next Wednesday?
    I’ve read all the comments..
    This MU youngest team, was technical worst then us; I’ve watched the game at TV and I’m remember the statitcs of numbers in the middle of the 1st half (more or less). I made of my accounts. The 10 players of MU, each one, had run, compared to Arsenal, equivalent to over a length and a bit of a football field or 2.5 width of the field. Do you see the different attitude towards the game and the difference between having “fresh” players and not fatigued? I would like to see the sum final number of milles covered by each team.

  230. rico says:

    I didn’t mean that Lee as well you know. I’m merely saying that if our owner can’t see what a shower of shite his manager is fielding and the way things are going, then he never will.

    Grow a pair of balls is what I’m saying and get a different manager in. One who will sign a few outfield players!

  233. Kel says:

    Here is the priority of Arsenal football club

    May 2007 £74 million
    May 2008 £93 million
    May 2009 £100 million
    May 2010 £128 million
    May 2011 £160 million
    May 2012 £154 million
    May 2013 £153 million
    May 2014 £208 million
    May 2015 £228 million
    May 2016 £????????

  234. Kel says:

    07 -10 I can forgive due to sponsorship deals etc… but absolutely no excuse from 2011 onwards to not properly invest in the squad is neglectful and arrogant.

  236. Wath says:

    If that lot down the road win this league it’s the worst indictment ever on the shower or shit that owns manages and plays for our club…!

    The fact we show absolutely no appetite for the fight n matches that are part and parcel of trying to win the leagues shows how pathetic we really are and how as much as I blame Wenger for the vast majority of whats wrong with our team the fact the players look about as interested as a wet fart shows the total lack of professionalism as well, does no one have the bollox to rally the players… Do they not actually want to win the league…?
    The after match comments from Wenger saying we showed spirit commitment and desire….. That’s embarrassing, he needs to lunatic asylum because I have n idea what game he watched which is probably why we are where we are and won’t change til he is gone.
    Thanks for everything Arsene but it really is time to bugger off and take the board and the syrup with you…!

  239. potter says:

    Thanks for everything Arsene but it really is time to fuck off and take the board and the syrup with you…! not to mention the horse you rode in on

  241. Wath says:

    I reckon the horse may come in handy Potter, it could kick a few people up the arse who are in dire need of a large boot..!

  243. Kel says:

    Lewis that was one of the reasons I cheered when costa scored the equilser against utd a few wks ago…
    I knew then that we would need a 10pt gap to keep 4th….

  245. Wath says:

    JM, Ts will have those stats, ask him when he is around…………

    Arsene really is making himself look a compete dick isn’t he….. lets not forget Man Utd spent a lot of money…. is he for real, yes Arsene they did so why didn’t you and then maybe even with 12 injuries we may not of lost to them, we got creamed by a bunch of kids who were way more up for it than your pampered pirima donnas

  249. Lewis says:

    Spot on wath

    Tottenham have to be favourites for the title IMO and that is the saddest indictment of our club that there can be. They addressed their weaknesses last summer, yes they have made many poor acquisitions over recent years but when they have the money they take a gamble to try and better themselves.

    We procrastinate and stagnate. It’s so fucking predictable and boring. the syrup, the board, Wenger and half the players need to fuck off. The malaise runs deep.

    Usmanov upped his stake considerably this week. Hopefully a take over!

  250. Wath says:

    Lee, Wenger leaves himself open to such ridicule and even abuse by talking such complete and utter bullshit… open your eyes and smell the shit Arsene it’s on your shoes…!

  251. Wath says:

    We are predictable on the pitch off the pitch and what’s new, we have not been any different for years. All the FA Cup wins have done is paper over the cracks. We were pathetic today but whats new, we play like that and turn up like that in so many matches, our attitude stinks and yes it’s down to Wenger but also shows the mentality of our players. Piss poor and yet he sticks by mediocre and dross and carries on regardless. He can do no wrong in the eyes of the owner as the owner knows fuck all about football so he merely keeps the board in place to tick things over and they not going to tell the syrup to get rid of the great Wenger and besides the old chap keeps finishing in the top 4 and we are loaded, job done..

  253. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Told you during the match….we were playing 8 vs 11.

    Theo, Ozil and Aaron hardly featured. theo just touched the ball 16 fekking times. Ozil scored, but that does not excuse him.

    Sanchez is off the boil.

    There were moments during the latter stages of the game when I could have put two 5 a-side pitches between the attack and midfield. Danny worked his ass off….but what can he do alone. Sanchez has been found out.

    That left Elneny, Nacho, Gabriel, Kos,Bellerin and Cech to try and keep us afloat.

  257. Lee says:

    You can’t teach an old dog new tricks…..

    As per usual…
    Carling Cup out of it Check.
    Champion’s League All but out of it Check.
    Premier League All but out of it Check
    FA cup still in it hoofuckingray!!!

    Poorest PL in years and we royally fuck it up….Guardiola coming, Klopp getting his own players, mourinho at Utd, spuds will be there still and the chavs getting a new manager…. that really doesn’t bode well if silly bollocks is still at the helm!!!

  259. Kel says:

    That’s best case senario rico…. but tbh we can’t wait for that wenger needs to go.

    Before we hang kronke let’s see a manager who comes in try things differently and maybe uses the resources that wenger didn’t. .

  262. Nashua Gunner says:

    The manager failed to realised that we can’t get through there midfield. He should have changed the tactics after first half. Ozil was tracking and defending. Ramsey shouldn’t have been on midfield. He didn’t moved the ball forward as much to ease the pressure.

  264. Lee says:

    Before we hang kronke let’s see a manager who comes in try things differently and maybe uses the resources that wenger didn’t. .

    This.

  267. rico says:

    I think so Kel. I’m sure there’s money available to Wenger than he’s spent, heck, that would be a miracle if it wasn’t the case but the big fella would demand more from his manager the Kroenke does..

  269. Kel says:

    Lee that’s all imo most fans wanna see… we have a healthy budget of 60 or 70m every season

    A proactive manager who is willing to use it, and try things differently if we fail we fail… we pick ourselves up and go again…

  271. Kel says:

    Wenger on Manchester United: “Let’s not got overboard. They had a very experienced midfield and spent a lot of money.”

    I’m lost for words…

    Rico…
    Bilic, koeman, Tuchel… pick one give them a crack with the money wenger doesn’t want.

  272. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Someone here said that AW is 66 years old and past it.

    Ranieri is 64. And guess what??? he is leading the pack.

    AW has stagnagted. His ideas are not new. To AFC. He needs to go somewhere else and why not…be successful.

    but at AFC he has become routine……used to……and cannot motivate players anymore.

  273. rico says:

    🙂 Kel, did he forget the old midfielder playing in defence and the kids on show?

    He’s embarrassing the club and insulting the fans…

    Yep, even Big Sam would love a go with a big kitty… Lol

  277. Hell Raising Devil says:

    tbh………..I do not like Big Sam.

    Rico…..I always said it……a different manager would get better results with the same squad. Give Mourinho the same squad AW has and by now we would be miles away.

  279. Kel says:

    I really do think today is a turning point in the Arsenal support regarding wenger…

    The writing is on the wall now imo.

    Rico come may there should be around 240m in the bank.. of course all that isn’t available but I’m sure 100 is…The kitty is there its just a matter of who wants to use it…

    Who wants to manage Arsenal fc, 70-100m a season to spend. I’d say we’ll have no problem getting a new manager.

  280. rico says:

    But how much does Kroenke make available Kel?

    That’s the question I really would love to know the answer to…

    Perhaps the money hadn’t been spent because the next man in will get more, I don’t know but I sure hope so…

  283. Hell Raising Devil says:

    aye Rico…..i saw it.

    I am sure that he will get better results, simply by tweaking the formation and not standing any nonsense from players such as Theo. Buck up or fuck up he will tell him

  284. potter says:

    Which begs the question , chicken or egg. ( Wenger or Kroenke ). Don’t be fooled by the press reports of loads a money, They say we have £120 million but only a percentage of that is available to spend on players and wages. We seem cash rich but really only one Ozil / Sanchez is affordable and really that’s not enough.

  285. Kel says:

    Well I suppose we don’t know rico but tbh it would be naive of us to think we don’t have a healthy budget even kronke wouldn’t be that silly to not give the manager any money.

    The premier league is awash with money puma and Emirates give us around 65m a season alone.

  286. rico says:

    Agree Devil. And a rocket up everyone’s bum…

    Potter, which is just why I always ask the question about how much is actually given to Wenger…

  287. Kel says:

    I think most sensible fans know that potter.. we can’t spend all that we have, i for one wouldn’t want that.

    A sensible approach is all I want… but don’t be telling me we only had 10m for cech last summer. We probably had another 40m to spend and wenger didn’t bother as he couldn’t find anyone better than flamini.

  288. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Potter……..

    Theo is on 140K

    Kos is on 60K

    Who worked his ass off?????

    Sell Theo.

    Buy Wanyama and give him 60K

    Buy a fekking winger and give him 60K

    And that is two players with Theo’s wages

    For heaven’s sake………..Leicester have no Ozil or Sanchez. But a TEAM who work to win.

  289. scottfromoz says:

    We all like to think we have the answers, but I reckon Arsenals problems go a hell of a lot deeper than simply changing managers and personnel.
    The winning culture is gone.
    Blame who ever you like for that, (Wenger and Aaron, seemingly lol) but it’s non existent.
    The stadium saw us merely compete for several years, where top 4 probably really was our “trophy”, but once we did have the money to spend, we all hoped it was a matter of clicking a switch and we’d be winning titles.
    Seemingly, we were wrong, as he mindset had completely changed at the club, and it’s not easy to remove or change something like that.
    Tottenham, showed for years that spending brings nothing but disappointment.
    They’ve now got a younger team and new manager, whose been given time to build by the owners and board.
    Would Arsenal accomodate a new manager and team missing top 4 for a season or two in order to build and create a new culture??
    Will Stan allow it??
    I’m sure plenty will say yes but I’d suggest they’re dreaming.
    As I said, the real problems lay a lot deeper than simply changing the staff, IMO.

  290. Kel says:

    That day is coming scott whether Stan likes it or not… wenger ain’t no spring chicken…

    Spurs spent and failed.l, fair enough but some would say they tried, failed and tried again.

    I can’t see why a new manager and staff cant improve Arsenal we’re going nowhwre atm…

    We’re pathetically stale imo…

  292. potter says:

    Ive been down among the dead men before and I don’t see us dropping to far down the league but a spell in the Europa might not do us too much harm. Perhaps the realisation that the mantle is slipping might wake a few up.

  296. Kel says:

    Arsenal won’t be more valuable than they are right now. Stan would be as well to sell. we drop into the europa league the share price will drop…

    Sell sell sell Stan… 🙂

    Night guys.

  297. Marshall says:

    About the money offered for transfers I believe the board offers AW a substancial amount – afterall he makes it for them- it’s his stubborn valuation of players that gets him to look for bargains. He is still in the era where he bought Anelka, Th for cheap.

    If Wenger’s excuses doesn’t show/tell you he’s a major problem then nothing would. Wtf? Experienced players? Spent more? Why tf is he concerned of other clubs spending?

  298. rico says:

    I’m off guys, don’t bank on a post tomorrow- if someone else wants to write one, feel free but I’m in Arsenal mode, no interest……

  299. Nashua Gunner says:

    I love AW, but sometimes you’ve to call it the way you see it. The team he picked today wasn’t a bad team. But once you realized things were working you change it. Why buy a player and don’t have confidence in him?

    There are two parts to the aisles, SK, the Board and the fans/ supporters. Right now he is pleasing SK and the Board. He’s giving them what they crave for, money.
    And the fans/supporters, neglecting what they crave for, trophies. At the end of the day the FA Cups just not enough. And we are, fans/ supporters, the ones who going to remember him when he’s long gone. And in so doing he’s destroying his legacy along the way. When was the last time someone came in here (HH) and defended AW of late?

  300. Micko says:

    I’m with Scott, can’t believe some so called Arsenal supporters on here are calling for Arsene’s head !

    Potter, if you can’t beat them, join them, why get shafted !

  302. potter says:

    Well Micko I live in Norfolk some 140 miles away , so i have return trip that means for midweek games I leave about half past three and get back at 1.30 to 2.00 oclock in the morning and have to put about 35 litres of petrol in the car, so it’s not straightforward.

  303. Micko says:

    Potter, know exactly where your coming from, you could always flog it to some big eared Aussie, there’s plenty of them around !!
    Sorry that should have read big eared Paddy, wouldn’t want to come across as racist !

  304. Marshall says:

    We still have a certain Sanogo in our books and it’s all good since monseur Wenger rates him. He cannot get anyone in the TW to improve on quality like Sanogo. None at all.

  306. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Without a strong midfield we lost every games.
    We can not played with this line up.
    Have TW and Ozil at the same line up, two players not able to defend and always give lot of space free it’s a suicide.
    The games win at he midfield. If the oponent balance the midfield or have advantage like today, Arsenal always are down the game.

  307. Micko says:

    Jm, as world class as Ozil is on the ball there’s no excuse for not tracking back when you lose possession, it was so blantantly obvious today, has Arsene told him not to bother but stay up top and look for space to find him when we win the ball back again…….who knows ! I blame Kroenke myself.

  308. Wath says:

    I blame Micko and his big ears…………….

    Lee, where are you..? you still frothing and stewing over your mint tea early in the morning.

    Anyone feel any better this morning…..? Nope didn’t think so… Actually now sunk in how shit we are.

    Scott you have a point being used to not winning but how can a player not have a will to win…? that also falls away when you buy winners or look at players with a bit of fight in them and with an attitude that exemplifies a will to win. Wenger doesn’t like those kind of players as it’s confrontational and not good for the dressing room (supposedly) How many times over the last 5 years have we seen a pic of Arsenal players walking off a pitch or just after a goal where shoulders hunched heads down and they all have the same expression………. “i don’t want to be here, nothing is going right, poor me”….. fucking gutless mate and that comes from the manager firstly and above him secondly..!
    We are a soft touch because thats all our football is, tippy tappy pretty shit that isn’t even pretty anymore its just one dimensional and predictable, sad but true. If you got no leaders in a team and players who don’t just lay down and die then you tend to make the same mistakes year after year after year….! Ain’t we just…!

  309. Wath says:

    Potter, your conundrum is that having paid for your ticket your seat being empty means nothing to the club but on the other hand your own personal sanity may be better suited with your feet up mate and not having to stress about going over there and giving a shit when most wearing the shirt couldn’t give a rats arse presently…!

  310. Lee says:

    Yeah still fucking fuming…………

    “Let’s not got overboard. They had a very experienced midfield and spent a lot of money.”
    Wenger after we lost yesterday.

    What a fucking prick he is??

  311. Lee says:

    Walcott just sums up all that’s wrong with Arsenal……an over paid under achiever just like Wenger! Do the right thing and fuck off!

  312. Lee says:

    “Let’s not got overboard. They had a very experienced midfield and spent a lot of money.”

    He has got to be taking the piss???

  314. Lee says:

    Morning Brudder…..just really come to the end of my tether with Wenger.The trouble is he assembled this team of over paid under achievers for him to do the right thing (ie bin five or more players and replace them with proper players) is admitting that he’s wrong!!!

  315. Adam says:

    Brudder. I thought you and I had got to that place about 2 years ago. 🙂
    Nothing’s really changed. Wenger still has many fans in a thrall. They’ll be back on Wednesday morning, picking the team to face Swansea.
    Yesterday was beyond words really but it’s the price the club and the fans have to pay. The price that 20 years of Wenger’s management demands. Best to sit back and watch how it all turns out.
    The man who put it together can’t be relied upon to tear it all down though.

  316. Lee says:

    Maybe he’s lost the dressing room?

    “The man who put it together can’t be relied upon to tear it all down though.” Definitely not!

  317. scottfromoz says:

    Micko, where the Fukk did I say people shouldn’t be calling for his head?
    I’ve said all along if he doesn’t win the League this season he must go, but because that doesn’t suit your opinion, you ignore it.

  318. Lee says:

    We get back to 3-2 and there was fuck all urgency, no desire, no passion…..that just mirrors Wenger though imo!

  319. scottfromoz says:

    My post asks whether or not Stan and indeed the fans would put up with a season or two out of the Top 4 if it showed intent to build a winning culture, and look at the replies I get.
    Cheers all.
    Funny how plain English can be so misunderstood.

  320. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    I had the offer of a Swansea ticket, but decided to give it a swerve.

    The atmosphere at the Emirates this week, is not gonna be good, in fact if Arsenal go behind to Swansea, the place might be in rebellion.

    As this season unravels, we might actually be seeing the beginning of the end, or even the end of the beginning of Wengers reign.

    Would it not be ironic, and so typical of our lax Board, if that Wenger could even decide to call it a day in the same summer that Pep moves to England.

    But that’s Arsenal in typical Director mode, that is reactive rather than being proactive…

    Morning Adam, great noodles.

    Morning Rico, Wath, Lee and All…

  321. potter says:

    Wath :- I think I will put it on exchange and see what happens , if it sells I get some money back and if it doesn’t I still have a decision to make.

  322. bradster says:

    Morning all,

    I want to know what was Wenger’s instructions in this game, especially what was Ramsey’s role?
    Surely Wenger must’ve said keep the middle tight and ticking over because they have an experienced midfield (which it was Mata, Herrera and Schneiderlin) and allow the full backs to get at the young FB’s and test the CB’s with Danny’s height and their pace.

    I see where the problem comes with Sanchez as all he will do is run at them when a controlled winger was needed to complement Monreal’s runs. But how do you drop your star player (by title only).

  325. scottfromoz says:

    Bradster, the deeper Ramsey plays, the worse he gets.
    I honestly thought he had the brains to play deeper, but all discipline goes out the window.
    Santi is the player we miss more than any other, I reckon.

  326. bradster says:

    Sadly, having slow ass Merts to organise works better than pacy last ditch caos at the back. I think Gabriel has lots to learn in positioning and who he must mark. Kos and Gabriel are the same, good tacklers but not good at reading situations and need to rely on their pace to save them.

    Maybe Chambers is the answer but not sure on his organisational and leadership skills.

  327. allezkev says:

    I really am not looking forward to the weekends visit to the Slum.
    The Scummers could quite easily put the final nail into our stuttering League campaign…

    The guy that does Gunnerblog, put up quite an interesting video post after the game at OT. He kind of said everything for me and I’d guess a lot of other fans, who have tried to remain positive, but are feeling betrayed yet again by the inertia of the Board and the unbending stubbornness of Wenger, when we really needed a manager who was thinking on his feet rather than following the ‘old way’…

  328. potter says:

    Kev :- whilst they can meander on they will. They have never been given to decision making. Billy Wright only went because the fans hit them in the pocket with low attendances and GG because the F.A were going to drag the club through the mud and if they looked closely , what else might they have found ? Graham was not alone and I doubt if Rune Hauge was dealing solely with him.Rumours have abounded for years that the reason that the touts outside never get picked up because they have an in at the club , possibly there is dirty linen there , but what the eye don’t see or chooses not to look at ,as they say

  329. bradster says:

    i agree totally with you Scott on Cazorla. But then Wenger needs to use Elneny and Ramsey on the right.
    I don’t understand why Campbell is hung out to dry when everyone in front of him is playing terribly and do not give a stuff about tracking back

  330. allezkev says:

    Yes Scott, I agree, Arsene certainly does live in the past, he is still doing what he did and failed doing 10 years ago, because it’s quite inexplicable that he should have wanked away this season in such a predictable way, especially as it was there for him to take, with a bit more ambition in the transfer market.

  332. Adam says:

    Morning Rico, Kev and all.
    Because of Wenger’s long standing and status within the game I think he probably has forged himself a position in the club that is unique. The balance of power at Arsenal is unusual as a result. From what I understand, Ivan knows just what is happening but probably has to let it play out. Very few people at the top, in any endeavour, actually know when to go. It must all be wrapped up in ego and the ability to deceive yourself I suppose.

  334. allezkev says:

    Interesting you should say that Brad, I said to Adam, as we watched the game, that if BFG had been playing I didn’t think we would have conceded those first two goals.

  337. Adam says:

    True Kev. I believe we all watched it with a sense of astonishment, acceptance and incandescence. Like a bad dream that you’ve had many times before.
    The one thing that was absent though, was surprise.

  338. bradster says:

    My mate at work (Man U fan) said Rashford’s first goal was top class. I said how can a goal from 6 yards out be top class, he said youngsters panic but he looked cool and calm taking it.
    I said the second was better from him, headers on target are harder than a kick basically on the goal line.

  339. rico says:

    Morning Adam.

    If the men/women at the top don’t know when to leave, surely the big boss above them has to act? Isn’t that what happens in the real world…

    I’d love to see the back of Arsene Wenger but all the time Stan does nothing, we are stuck with him. Maybe Wenger will just do the right and sensible thing in May and depart quietly…

  340. tsgh says:

    Micko, Wath- I suggest the players be made to say 14 Hail Mary’s plus 2000 lines of ‘ no more excuses we are cack’…

    Good morning Wth, Rico, Adam and all you good peeps.

  342. scottfromoz says:

    Bradster, he’s scree more goals in one game than Iwobi has in several.
    Now, that is not a criticism or our kid, but of our entire club culture.
    We aren’t hungry enough.

  347. Kel says:

    Put your feet up potter if wenger can’t be bothered to make the effort why should you mate. We will win on wed though.

    I understand Spending doesn’t guarantee anything but what does NOT Spending guarantee??

    Chelsea fell outta the top 4 as dId utd how are they gonna get back in… £€ and new management.

    Spurs will finish top 4 this season will they spend in the summer with their champions league money in the bank, I’d say you could bet your balls on it.

    kronke doesn’t demand winning from wenger just top 4 so that is a real problem. But I don’t think he tells him to not spend.

    Maybe kronke problem is he’s a hands off owner who doesn’t interfere as long as the minimum requirements are achieved ie CL. But where is the desire from wenger to push beyond that. I just don’t see it anymore.

  352. Adam says:

    Rico. I think you and I have had that discussion ad nauseum. 🙂
    I doubt we will ever agree.
    Kev. Wasn’t that Arsenalist bloke having the same discussion that you and I had yesterday? Same topics, same sense of inevitability and the facts about our results since Christmas was bang on. He didn’t really come to any conclusions though.
    What, if anything, happens next?

  354. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, 6 wins from 14 and we are only 5 points off the lead shows exactly how crap the League is this season, which makes our failings even more ridiculous.
    Yes, I’m saying it.
    Wenger out.
    Unless he pulls an absolute miracle out, he’s simply got to go at seasons end.
    Even if he does win the League, it’d be by default so it must happen anyway, IMO.
    I still say things won’t truly improve to the extent we want while Stan hangs around, but hey, something has to give.

  355. rico says:

    Not suggesting he should ever return Lee, just highlights how crap we are…

    So would I Scott, at least I can run a bit.

    Adam, we won’t, but they are all playing their part, every one of them but the buck always stops at the manager, well, when a club has an owner who see’s a problem..

  356. Lee says:

    What, if anything, happens next?

    We’ll beat Swansea, draw with the spuds and get top four by the skin of our teeth.
    Get put out of our misery in the CL.
    Go on a mini run in the FA Cup.

    You heard it here first! 😉

  357. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, did you see Sanogos goals?
    His first touch for the first goal was woeful and bloody lucky for him it stayed in range.
    That’s his let down, because apart from that, he offers something, I reckon.

  361. tsgh says:

    Scott I gave to concure with this comment you have made…”Adam, 6 wins from 14 and we are only 5 points off the lead shows exactly how crap the League is this season, which makes our failings even more ridiculous.

    As I have been saying since last season, we have regressed. Our points tally is very shocking… moreover with certain players in the lineup we create absolutely NOTHING and score on far less goals on average than any other top 4 teams. But we apparently look more solid so…

    Also how the heck did Gabriel lose that header against the Yanited youngster Rachford?

  362. Adam says:

    I really can’t see how Kroenke is responsible for this pathetic team. Wenger’s only job is to win football matches. He used to be quite good at it, but now he isn’t. Too many poor decisions. His decisions.
    I can see how the next step will be relevant for Stan though. Getting a new manager is going to present a lot of headaches for him and Gazidis. There will be a lot of dismantling to do before the reconstruction can begin.

  363. rico says:

    You reckon we’ll draw on Saturday Lee? I don’t….

    I did Scott, just trying to make a point really… 😉 But if you shoot, they can go in…

  364. bradster says:

    ts he was ball watching. By the time Gabriel decided to try get goal side it was too late and a free header, then looks around with arms up who to blame for not following the striker which is surely the CB’s job.

  366. Adam says:

    When a team is doing badly the loss of confidence spreads through it like a virus. Gabriel looks half the player he looked when he first joined. And he’s not alone.

  370. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I wasn’t having a go lol.
    Just saying his first touch is awful and apart from that could be a handy player.
    Adam, he’s the owner, so is responsible, but he doesn’t want any responsibility at all.
    Who’s to blame for that?
    As I asked earlier, will he and the fans cop a season or two of missing Top 4?
    i doing Stan would,
    If Wenger leaves and the board publicly stated they were in a rebuilding stage, I wonder how many fans would support it, and how many would suggest we are the Arsenal, and this is unacceptable.
    I reckon most would support it.

  373. bradster says:

    The worst sight is that we are so bad at picking a pass and controlling a ball. We used to have the best close control in the league, now they are so average they can’t control anything and over/under hit everything.

  376. Marshall says:

    That guy in the blog video spelt it exactly as I would. Nothing lasts forever, AW will leave-maybe at the end of his contract at most. That’s the only positive am looking foward to fellas.

  378. scottfromoz says:

    Bradster, we are simply playing bloody terribly lol.
    All that has been good about Arsenal is gone.
    30 minutes of brilliant football is all I’ve seen this season.
    We’ve fought and won some games we seemed destined to drop points in, but the overall quality has been poor to average.

  381. Adam says:

    Rico. No, I don’t think so. I think that openly sacking Wenger would not be the way the board or most fans would like to see him leave. What is happening now has essentially been happening for a long time for me. These things should be done behind closed doors. Wenger should leave by retiring from being manger of Arsenal and the club should, indeed must, move on. A new contract now would surely be daft.

  382. Marshall says:

    I believe stan doesn’t have Veto Powers like Roman has. He wouldn’t want to upset the board lest they vote Usmanov for a seat. Still he’d use his influence and be vocal but he knows shit about football. I’d bet my roof he doesn’t know Sanogo’s full names or know him at all.

  384. Kel says:

    Scott I think most would except it as my grandad would say. you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs..

    We have no divine right to be in the top 4 we will fall out of it at some point. We have scraped in to it on the last day of the season 3 times.

    There is a possibility we could improve though, who knows it could actually be exciting to watch Arsenal again.

  385. rico says:

    I get that re the Glazers but who sacked Moyes, and who is already reported to be giving up on LvG?

    Who at Arsenal, if it’s not Kroenke is being pro-active?

    But Adam, so many ‘Wenger out’ comments appear here and around the other blogs which is why I drew such a conclusion…

  386. tsgh says:

    Personally, I will drop all the ‘reactional’ players we have in the team. No tactical nous for a club trying to win the title…

    Compare our midfield with Leicester’s for a start…

    Inler is far beter than any of our reactional CDM/CM we currently have starting…

    Per any day of teh week for me too…

  387. Marshall says:

    Wait till JW returns another AW’s favorite and Elneny won’t even make bench. Such stupid management is what got us here.

  389. potter says:

    Gabriel is a perfect back up for Koscielny, they are the same player albeit Kos is in front . Both need a better head around to keep them in check. One or the other with Mertesacker works the two together doesn’t. Nothing has changed we still need a dominating centre back that runs the back 4. And that’s just the start , we also need some energy , we have players with pace that don’t run and players with vision that don’t see. I really wonder if they talk to each other off the pitch because I am pretty certain they don’t on it. With no guidance from the sidelines and silence on the pitch it’s no wonder that the mistakes that were made all the last three seasons are being repeated again.

  390. Kel says:

    I think welbeck was the only player yesterday who was completely up for it i could see the fergie mentality in him.

    He even stuck his boot in when required, no 50/50s dodged with him. .

    Is a pity jack isn’t available because imo he shares the same passion as Danny.

  392. scottfromoz says:

    As always, when we are poor, we have little or no movement off the ball.
    Too many bludging or waiting for someone else to get the job done.
    Must be a tough life, earning massive dollars and training so hard, leaving little energy for the 90 minutes on the pitch.
    Winning culture……goooone.

  393. scottfromoz says:

    Kel, i’d love to see the club tell us all they’re not buying for two seasons, giving all the kids a crack, blood them that so succeed and sell those that don’t.
    Top 4 is no issue.
    Then, we build on what we have.
    A core group of (hopefully) proper Arsenal kids.
    If we can not or (more likely) will not compete with big spending clubs, than enough of the half arsed attempts, let’s go the other way and build something.

  395. Lee says:

    We don’t have a divine right but we should be definitely be coming closer than we have been….. we seem to get so close and with one or two more quality additions could win it but Wenger decides that he’s happy with his squad!!

  396. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, yes, we should be coming closer, no question, but look at Sanchez of late….it’s not tactics or coaching that has him playing woefully.
    Is he too now complacent?
    I’m starting to wonder, and he’s one of many.

  397. Kel says:

    That’s it scott for me its all about trying and that for me goes with anything in life.

    If you try and fail im ok with that, what I can’t stand is stagnation and continuously failing the same way.

    I just hope the duch set up at the club at youth level are teaching tactics this is were imo Arsenal fail badly along with physical power just to many lightweights imo.

  399. tsgh says:

    Scott- not sure much has changed with AS17. He goes through this bad patch every single season.. at least sincehe came to Europe.

    It follows on from the discussion from last week? How many elite players do we have?

    Apart from Cech to an extent, when did the club buy a player the club did not want to sell?

  400. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The blogs are awash this morning with over 95% wanting AW out. Some have even gone so far as to suggest the job is given to Pellegrini. In that case I would go for Ranieri (although I prefer a younger manager like Koeman).

    not Mahrez or Kante. Get Ranieri from Leicester. Then we will see them following him.

  402. scottfromoz says:

    Kel, that’s my issue with Stan.
    He doesn’t care if the club improves or not, as long as the dollars keep rolling in.
    Ginge, it’s a great point you make.
    For whatever reason, our bigger signings have been shopped around.
    The one we chased whose club didn’t want him gone was Suarez, and we all know how that ended up.

  404. tsgh says:

    Dev, has the tinkerman had a late epiphany or has he finally found a home?
    As good and underrated as he is there must be areason why he has averaged a maximum of 1.3 years at the 14 clubs he has maanged…

  405. Kel says:

    Ts you were right on sanchez, you have said that a few times even last season. I was wrong I said he would score the other wk against Southampton, Bournemouth, Leicester.

    The last big player we got who’s club didn’t want to lose him was sol campbell I think lol…

  407. tsgh says:

    Even when AS17 scored 20+ goals the season before he joined us, he struggled to replicate his form pre-christmas. It wasn’t until mid- march that he came back on form…

    OG12 also goes through periods of not scoring for 7 to 9 games every season…

    Most top teams have their midfielders or other non-scorers carrying the team at the moment, we rely on the same (4) people to score and expect the same (5) guys to defend….

    Until we get another regular scoring midfielder this team will be; a nearly team imho…

    I am sure AW knows it but he may not want to spent the £50m needed to buy that type of player..

  409. tsgh says:

    Kel- You have a point re. Sol; the cynic in me will say Sol falls into the Cech category…

    His club would have wanted to sell the season before but just not to us…; At that time Sol would not have been guaranteed a place ahead of Stam imho at Yanited…

    We shop from the reduced basket… unfortunately. it has always been the case…

    History repeats itself…; we will draw at best at Spuds and then go on a long run (8 games or so until late April and then choke again…

    To me tactics has less to do with this current run…

    Not claiming to know it all but Imho, our current non-competitiveness has more to do with squad rotation rather than tactics;
    AW keeps a small squad and so the squad is likely to peak together and lose form together…

    Fergie never played his best team until after christmas… ; AW on the otehr hand plays his best team adn then by November they are dead on their feet…

  410. tsgh says:

    Scott- apparently that midfielder went through a fluke purple patch…

    Put that said midfielder -AR16 next to a hypothetically younger TR07 or MA08 and AR16 will start scoring…

    Ozil will start playing with a smile on his face…

    As i say i have nothing against Le Coq but with him in the line-up we scor less goals.

    Is it a wonder our highest scoring game this season has come with Ma08 coming on in the first half? And guess what it was against the team that was on the top of the league the and now…

  411. rico says:

    If a team creates chances, players will score goals regardless of what they have or haven’t done in the past surely?

    But when a team is carrying one or two passengers each game, we don’t create chances..

    Football is simple game imo, but AW and his lot make everything loo so bleedin difficult…

  416. snaparse says:

    Good morning to the house….. Everybody has said it all…. I am really disappointed with the result but with the league so poor i am optimistic….. Wenger really overrate his players imho monreal has been the only consistent performer since last year and that says a lot

  417. Lee says:

    How much has Kroenke let Wenger spend over the last few seasons? It’s definitely north of £100m nett so there are a lot of assumptions about Kroenke’s intentions imo.

  418. Joaquim Moreira says:

    no, after a Wednesday game our midfield shoub be Coquelin, Elheny, Ramsey… then ozil, Sanchez,Giroud (wellbeck).
    We need won the midfield battle, If not, the team is completely split.

  419. tsgh says:

    Rico do you think we consistently create chances?

    I think we create chances sporadically like waiting for a bus… 😉

    We go 4 or so games creating 3 or 4 chances per game and then create 10 to 12 chances against a Ben Foster, Schmeichel (spelling),Stekelenburg or Butland and then tell ourselves if we had Aguero we would score 6…

    Morning Snap…

  420. snaparse says:

    Lee even when we spend do we really buy who we really want? Like ts said we dont shop from the top top bracket like Wenger would like us to believe

  421. Hell Raising Devil says:

    As I said Joaquim……we needed another DM (Elneny.Chambers) beside Coquelin. Then it should have been Aaron instead of Ozil with Campbell on the right OR Aaron on the right.

    But a double pivot of DM would have been paramount.

  422. tsgh says:

    JM- I think Arsenal can’t play the type of game a midfield of Elneny, AR16 and Coquelin should play on paper.

    With those 3 Ozil will drop deeper to pick the ball up because none of those 3 can consistently orchestrate play from our half of play…AS1 will do the same. In Ozil’s case he will hold onto the ball and try to dribble his way from the back…

    If we had a Suarez type striker or even an Ibrahimovich/Aguero who can create something out of nothing then maybe…

    We play best when Ozil and AS17 don’t have to come and pick the ball up from our half…

    Reason we miss SC19 so so much…

  423. snaparse says:

    Hi ts hope you are doing well………. Camacho has come back stronger and its reflecting on malaga…..do you still rate him?

  424. rico says:

    No Ts, I don’t which is what i said. But if we did, players would score.

    Our midfield doesn’t work, our wing play is non existent and yesterday we were lumping balls into the box to no-one then Ollie comes on and the crosses stop.

    It’s all a bit of a mess really…

  425. snaparse says:

    True rico… I agree completely we are very unbalanced at the moment… . big summer coming up . our midfield needs serious work….

  426. tsgh says:

    Snap- I am good bud.. hope all is well with you tooo…

    I still really rate camacho snap…

    Did you catch Juve vs bayern?

    Maschisio and Khedira double pivot reminded me of our midfield of 2 years ago…

    Marchisio with the brains and Khedira running around chasing play…

  428. rico says:

    Snap – not just our midfield imo.

    Has to be a big summer, either for Kroenke and the board to replace AW as hopefully he’ll walk, or for AW in the transfer market..

    The latter is the worse case scenario as it’s highly unlikely to unfold… After all, it hasn’t for the last 2/3 summers….

  429. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Rico and Ginge……..had I been the coach I would have played Bellerin as a winger much more. I suggested it yesterday infact. I would have taken Theo off, put chambers on at RB and put Bellerin up front.

    AW himself said something that he does not regret his decisions. Well he said that simply because he knows that he made them and they backfired. He said that because he wanted to prove a point. That is why he does not regret it. He is too proud and arrogant to do so because that would be admission of his failures.

  431. snaparse says:

    Ts marchisio reminds me so much of my favourite italian midfielder presently(montolivo) such a selfless player that doesnt get the praise he deserves.. .. i also must say juventus midfield is really beconing to gel pogba has been learning tactically too…. I’m sure he now realise that vidal is no longer there to do the work of 2 persons…..

  432. snaparse says:

    Rico i think our middle is the biggest issue…all our tactical players are semi retired we have good young vibrant midfielders but they are lacking seriously compared to other big clubs…….we can get away with it in the league(sometimes) but in cl we need brains and not brute imo….

  433. rico says:

    Devil. If AW ever thought about using Bellerin further up the pitch, surely the logical thing to have done was to keep Debuchy and play him at right back… That was our right hand-side is pretty secure…

  435. Lee says:

    Obviously everything is fine with the squad, you lot haven’t made 6 trillion substitutions and I’ll prove i’m right by not buy a single outfield player in the summer….. the bloke is fucking mental!

  437. tsgh says:

    Snap- i can’t wait to see Italy with Montolivo in the Euros.

    Without Montolivo italy even with Pirlo struggled in the WC.

    🙂 Rico.

  440. Lee says:

    Kev can you get the keys to Adam’s Sunseeker 155 yacht? We could keel-haul Wenger with it no?
    Is it still moored off of Cap Ferrat?

  444. allezkev says:

    If he retains the FACup, I think he’ll stay, his pride won’t let him walk away…

    Kroenke won’t relieve him of his position that’s for sure.

    If we blow out of everything, then who knows Lee?

  445. Lee says:

    The PL is still doable (ish)…..but this team / manager seem devoid of bollocks, ideas, git, tenacity, LEADERS is the big one for me!!

    Who when the chips are down grabs the game by the scruff of the neck??? It’s been like that for ages and Wenger has allowed it…..

  447. Adam says:

    Brudder. Apparently we have more cash reserves than any club on the planet. Quite how Arsene can cite Man Utd’s spending as an excuse for our defeat eludes me.
    Someone said, in an article somewhere, that it’s not lack of finances that is stopping Arsenal. It’s courage.
    Surely he has to go at the end of the season. But, for the reason it makes sense, it probably won’t happen.

  450. Wavy says:

    Afternoon all.

    Wenger has never broken his contract and I can’t see him doing so now. He may only have one year to run and he may feel that he has been an abject failure this season, he’d be right too! But he won’t walk away, it’s just not his style. So I think the club can look forward to one last hurrah. What we can hope for that his reign ends the same way as Sir Alex rednose’s did, with a championship winning side. Then by God he can bleedin’ clear off!

    And a question. Where has all our progressive one and two touch football gone to?

    I missed the TV game yesterday and chose not to watch motd2, I just couldn’t stand the humiliation! To lose to a manure heap of children who have played woefully all year and lose is shameful and also costly, we shall not be winning the EPL this year ( read in LvG’s voice) – love his use of the word “shall” in all his sentences. But the game was the turning point of our season I doubt we shall be winning anything at all. No cups and perhaps not even the 4th position Trophy!

    It’s not even March and we’re out of everything already, again. Season after season it always ends for us in February.

    Ho hum.

  451. Lee says:

    Theo Walcott had 13 touches yesterday and lost the ball 10 out of those 13 times….

    “The only thing Walcott has added to his game in the past decade is a beard.”
    Rick Rude on Twitter….

  453. allezkev says:

    If, as seems likely, Arsenal blow out in the EPL…

    Then Wenger should walk as he ain’t winning the EPL next season with Pep at City, Jose at Utd and a new man at the Bridge…

    But he’ll stay, because the alternative is no alternative to him – retirement….

    And Kroneke won’t sack him and he’ll give you 250 million reasons why…
    To him, that IS success….

  457. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Mourinho to Manure is no dead cert.

    I have one for the conspirators….. What if Kroenke and Gazidis have already tapped up Mourinho?

    Don’t shoot me?

  458. Adam says:

    Oliver did ref our win in the cup last year when he sent Di Maria off I think.
    He has to be better than any number of others like Dean, Mason and Mariner, to name but 3.

  464. Adam says:

    Lots of emails chez Adam today from those sitting round me at the Emirates. Seems like nobody is going on Wednesday.
    I’ll be there though. Cheering like a deranged man.

  468. allezkev says:

    Adam, neither my son or his two mates are going on Wednesday, I did decline the offer of a ticket myself, so there could be quite a few empty seats despite the club claiming a sell-out…

    The true attendance as opposed to tickets sold, could make interesting reading…

  469. Adam says:

    Kev. My brother has entered a period of solitude as a silent protest against the ongoing tenure of Arsene, so he won’t be there. Mrs Adam and I will have to make up for it with raucousness and the sheer fanaticism of the zealot.

  470. allezkev says:

    Just had a butchers at Leicester’s remaining fixtures, and if they maintain their current form, then to me they look nailed to win 9 of their remaining 11 games…

  472. scottfromoz says:

    Joe Say at The Emirates?
    I’ll not be waking up at 3am to achieve games if that happens, so a season or two of sleep will be had.
    Morning all.
    I said it just after the game, and I still feel the same way.
    In its context, that result was much, much worse than the 8-2 loss imo.

  479. Micko says:

    Kev, the more I listen to the spiel Arsene spouts these days the more I realise there just isn’t enough enough vomit in the world to go around !!!

    Nite Gooners.

  481. kai says:

    Cr7 ronaldihno mistakes mistakes . Sanchez Ramsey should be bench Walcott shouldn’t be on the bench . iwobi should start elnneny also welbeck on the right .

  482. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, give me that info in plain English hahahaha
    Damn, that guy puts in some work, and the details is incredible.
    Well, I think it is because I don’t understand most of it 🙂

  483. Marshall says:

    Cheers Kev, that blog was insightful. Very sober comments from financial perspective. Not a fun of accounts- am more into 0s and 1s but it’s pretty clear we’d have €100m+ available for transfers.

    It was a common consesus there the buck (in this case the pounds) stopped with Wenger.

  484. Kel says:

    Interesting read the Swiss ramble, I see yet again the commercial side of things is what is letting us down again that’s been the story of the last decade.

    To my knowledge after reading that is
    331m turnover
    192 wages
    19m mortgage repayments
    11m tax and utilities
    20m debt servicing reserve
    Around 242m to run Arsenal fc.

    89m remaining give or take..

    Plus there is currently 158m in the bank expected to be around 225-250m in may.

  485. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    If Arteta, Rosicky, Flamini, Debuchy, Ospina, Szczesny, leave in the summer. And you could probably add two or three more to that, then it’s gonna take more than £100m to replace them, unless of course, Arsene is looking to bring in 4 or 5 Elneny type signings?

  486. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    The Arsenal/Wenger debate is multi faceted for me. That he could have afforded more quality players is proven and it could be argued that, in not doing so, he made an error of judgement. That’s hardly a good sign as his judgement is a major part of his job and should certainly be something that singles him out from more run-of-the-mill managers.
    Another side though is that, if he had bought the players, could he have motivated them any better than the current team of rather pathetically drab bottlers who have done their best to capitulate their title shot recently.

  487. Lee says:

    I don’t want Arsene bringing anyone in, the bloke is a busted flush….. whoever comes in will have to bin some of Wenger’s favourites! All the dead wood needs shipping out.

  488. tsgh says:

    Mail say AW has been given £70m to spend on transfers out of £150m…

    What the media fail to tell us the masses is that when AW is given a transfer kitty, it also includes any signings salary.

    AW apparently had £45m last year and chose to use the bulk of it; £20m on contract improvement plus cech salary and signing…

    We are being conned by the club plus Aw poor management…

    Morning all…

  489. Marshall says:

    Still “let’s not get overboard”. There won’t be enough quality to replace Flamini and the departing pensioners.

    Per isn’t getting younger either.

  490. Adam says:

    TS. You know better than anybody that The Mail are hardly honest brokers. 🙂
    Brudder. I must agree. Clean slate time.

  491. Lee says:

    The nucleus of the team is ok, it just needs a more pragmatic approach to the sicknotes/under-achievers and some quality added, Wenger just isn’t the man to do that job imo.

  492. Lee says:

    The bloke has been given several “transfer chests” before he just choses to not use them and put faith in a plethora of sub-standard/perma crock players.

    Time to move on….

  495. Adam says:

    Having done the crude arithmetic on the back of a serviette and taking into consideration the departing players and the rising costs of transfers, I would say that £70 million will be inadequate, especially if that is to take salaries into account.
    We know that Arsene doesn’t like buying too many players. 🙂
    If you sell Theo and Ox and Ramsey, you are going to have to replace them. How much would those three bring in?

  498. scottfromoz says:

    The question then becomes if Wenger goes, and was doing such a poor job, why get rid of so many players?
    Flamini, Arteta, Rosicky should be moved on-that goes without saying- but people keep saying another manager would do a better job with the current squad, and seeing as though we are in 3rd spot, and still a chance, then a new manager shouldn’t need to make many changes, right?
    Seriously, there’s plenty of conflicting comments daily when it comes to this issue.
    As I said last night, if we fail to win the League, he must go IMO.
    If we do win the League, I hope he goes and on a high.
    Does the squad need an overhaul, though, or not?
    Is it simply a manager replacement that’s required, along with the normal few signings??
    Confusing?
    Yes, it is lol
    Morning all.

  499. Lee says:

    Ox and Theo have been at Arsenal for 15yrs combined and scored 61 goals between them which is fucking pathetic whatever way you look at it………. tell you what put them on bumper deals!! What a joke!

  501. scottfromoz says:

    Now before anyone says we do need a heap of changes, and that’s because Wenger brought in some crap, then the circling of arguments begin again.
    How good must he be at tactics etc etc if he has a shit squad yet remains competitive lol.
    Maybe he just needs someone else doing the scouting and negotiating.
    Confused again?
    Yep.
    For what’s it’s worth, I believe he does need to go, but the new guy should be given a bloody good budget to spend on 3-4 players at most.
    Let’s see what these guys can in fact do under someone else.

  502. Lee says:

    We’re in 3rd spot in the worst PL ever, we should be pissing this league. We won’t get a better shot at winning it…

    Scott what’s confusing?

    Do you think Wenger has bought well or motivates this current team?

    If you think only Flamini, Arteta and Rosicky need moving on that’s you’re prerogative but I don’t see it that way at all.

  503. Lee says:

    One of the main reasons that we are competitive is because the chavs, manure and citeh have been absolute shite….not from Wenger’s skillset.

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