Morning all.
After our midweek victory, Per Mertesacker voiced his concerns:
The character is good, the mentality is good but, football-wise, we lack a few things.
Our passing game is not as efficient as last year. We have to admit we are not at our best, be honest with ourselves and train harder.
Wenger:
I don’t know what he meant by that. You have to be careful about the statements after the game.
I think we train very hard and the spirit is right, the attitude is there. But I believe it’s more linked with confidence at the moment but I cannot fault the attitude.
I’m with Per Mertesacker, they do lack a few things football-wise! He added:
We have to do better with our own possession to put more pressure on the [opposition], not lose so many balls in the middle of the park and play more in the wide areas.
If Arsene Wenger can’t see that then he either needs new contact lenses or accept his best days are a thing of the past!!
This is the story of our season so far:
We have won just one of our last seven league games, drawing five of the other six.
Eleven points from eight games represents Arsenal’s second worst league start to a season under Arsene Wenger. We had 10 points from eight games in 2011-12.
Fail to beat Sunderland today and it will be the worst performance after nine games in the Wenger era.
This is the first time under Wenger that we have won just two of our opening eight league games.
However, the team have come from behind to earn at least a point in a league-high five matches this season (W1, D4).
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make his 100th league appearance in Arsenal colours. I hope it’s a lot better than his performance last weekend!
That doesn’t make good reading does it…
I really don’t understand why we have started so badly. Well, perhaps I might. It’s not like we have a dreadful group of players as we don’t and I’m still convinced if everyone could find form and click together, we’ll start winning more matches. Of course the manager has a huge part to play as well.
Sunderland may have taken a battering last weekend against a very organised Southampton side but lets not expect us to do the same to them, it won’t happen, not on their own turf as Poyet and his side are unbeaten at home in the league this season with one win and three draws.
Poyet snapped up full-back Anthony Reveillere for free on Thursday and as long as his international clearance has gone through, he’s likely to start. Shame there’s not a defender or central defensive midfielder going for free!!
Mikel Arteta could make his return today, the rest of the injured remain just that, injured. Wilshere sits this one out after totting up too many bookings. Theo Walcott has one more game to play for the under 21’s then he’s back to face Burnley next weekend.
Any kind of victory would do today but added to that victory, we really having to start playing a lot better. We need to be far more organised, disciplined and certainly create more goal scoring opportunities. Opportunities which end up being goals.
No Arsenal fan wants this to be the worst start under Arsene Wenger, just like no fan wants this season to end being the worst under him but that sits firmly in his own hands. He has to get this team going because right now, all does not look good…
Pick up our form, pick up our results and sure as heck, pick up our season!
It has to happen, why not today?
COYRRG’S, go and do that shirt proud!!
Have a good Saturday all….
Just up after a tiring day , the wife and i took the opportunity of a lie-in. To all of you out there that have 1 – 2 years olds you have my sympathy because you just can’t switch off for a second .Maybe that’s the problem with our team having so many young children when they get on the pitch they relax and forget to think. Today is no push over , the Mackems are sore about last week and they are a useful unit at home and have enough big guys to bully us at set pieces. I would not be surprised at a draw to be honest.
As for yesterday the Arseblog article , Little Dutch is a shareholder and he writes an article every week and as with yesterday they usually make good reading.
I admire your stamina Potter… lol
Morning all.
We should concentrate on one thing….and early goal.
Get that, and we will destroy them.
Hi Scott.
I’m confident we’ll win this one… Agree re the early goal, if we can get that, it could see Sunderland drop their heads….
I’m with you Potter, all I can see is another frustrating draw today…
Certainly glad I’ve given the away games the swerve this season…
Morning Kev….
Taking Fido for a swim this morning so catch up later…
3-1 away win for me….
As with any protest. The effective ones start with a consensus. If anybody noticed the story last week about the American journalist who dared criticise the Kroenkes and what happened to him. You can see that bad publicity is something they will simply not tolerate.
Adam, I didn’t see that….tell us more??
Morning all. I’m still in Cyprus – We won’t lose.
I’ll take a 3-1 Rico, but I thought that against Hull last week so I’ll shurrup.
Hopefully everything clicks like it did in the first 20 mins last Saturday.
Adam, out there and in your face protest, is the only way to go, Americans hate bad publicity. With all Arsenal matches covered live in Stan’s own country, mass protest at games, shown live on his own doorstep will soon ram home the message..
That’s the problem though Adam , getting that concensus . As was witnessed by the scuffles that broke out on the ferries after the midweek match . There are still many Wenger lovers that will not take any criticism of the club. The support is polarised ,many of us are not happy but there are many that are and we are are all split into varying degrees. That is the Kroenke’s strength whilst their opposition is divided they can rule.
Morning everyone, 5-1 win for arsenal with sanchez getting a brace
morning, As i said yesterday anything less than 6 points from sunderland and burnley, should be deemed a disaster for the club. surely its time to start winning a few games,
Sott, try this..
http://screamer.deadspin.com/former-colorado-rapids-reporter-team-pushed-to-get-me-1647752540
Cheers BT?
That makes for very interesting reading.
Stan must go, else we will still be seeing the same thing from the club forever.
Morning Al. Match day, again!
I’m looking forward to this game? Wenger was soooo positive after the Anderlecht game as we had performed soooo well! I feel only a big win at the Black Cats is possible! Well, maybe not. A draw would be a good result just now, a win would confound the Bookies, and me!
On a different tack. The Syrup is clearly a money grabbing yank hoodlum but how close is our Russian ally to obtaining his 30%? And can he have any influence over the Board’s actions if he owns that much, or despite everything can they continue to do what they are doing? At what point can he declare UDI? Or whatever?
anyone know if theres any truth in the Ozil wanting to join Man City in 32 million deal, story. A few spanish papers reporting it. if true wouldnt that be ironic, after wenger turning fabregas down.
Play Szcz, Bellerin, Mert, Chambers, Gibbo, Arteta, Rambo, Cazorla, Sanchez (on the right to support Bellerin), Ox, Welbeck.
Wavy nothing would surprise me , I doubt it’s wholly true because last week the rumour was Bayern and the same figure was mentioned , I can’t see Kroenke taking a loss of that magnitude.
Potter. It seems to me that we have to be painfully honest with where we are and where we are going. Until there is a consensus on that, we are destined to remain exactly where we are on the field and the Kroenkes will do what they always do and that is to fulfill their business plan at Arsenal just like they are doing in the US with their other sports franchises. Who wants Arsenal to go that way? I know that supporting Arsenal can be emotional for all of us. How can any fan really be happy with where we are without reducing the arguments to a personal level about Wenger? We would all love to see Wenger take the club back to the top and we could argue for ever about whether he can or not. But that is not what I am talking about. How can anybody think, especially after the AGM horror show, that this owner and board are what Arsenal need at the moment with their spin and distraction.
To be for change at Arsenal is to put the club before personalities, but until we are horribly honest with where the team are at the moment and consider the decisions that are being made at the top then we can squabble forever, which would of course, suit the Kroenke business model perfectly. The fact that the team is performing so badly at the moment only serves to concentrate the mind and thinking about the future under the Kroenke heel does very little for me.
Afternoon all, couldn’t get Fido out the pool… 😉
Afternoon Rico
Oxford Street is mega-busy…
No wonder the EU want to pilfer another £1.7b out of the British treasury…
evening all – Adam, I see it this way. Wenger goes the American will be totally lost as will all of them. We need to understand just how difficult the job of moving Wenger is – we finish tenth, twelfth, nineteenth the line is already prepared. We can’t sack a man who has done so much for the club. Wenger has to be pushed hard by fans and the media. He needs to be dragged out of his ego filled hole and made to see it ain’t good enough, he ain’t good enough. No good leaving him there and expecting Stan the dick to move on. He’s getting ridiculous now and its becoming sad how far he’s getting away from reality. Even his own team are now disagreeing with many of his comments now-a-days
Afternoon Kev, my local town was busy this morning too, must be the end of the month spending…
Aldi was very busy….. 🙂
Oz, I still believe that if the American sold out, we’d see things change rapidly….
Oz. if he goes, sooner rather than later, then a new man will need to be installed. Gazidis made this the first topic in his recent interview. Kroenke won’t be involved in that process surely, other than signing off on it. A truly progressive owner and board would have already sounded out one of the best managers in the world by now.
Nobody I know likes the way that football is going and it’s anybody’s guess whether Usmanov would be any better. We don’t know. Perhaps trying to hang onto the ‘old’ feelings about our club is just unreasonable and unrealistic and people like me are truly pissing into the wind.
afternoon all!
First conclusion for this morning/afternoon: WH plays better then us
Second: they are very united, they play together, they play with passion, they have two good forwards, the fans are with them
third: here are some reasons why they are in 4th now
I agree 100% Adam , much of the problem is the different views held by the different facets of the clubs support. I contribute to another forum which was spawned from the original club forum when PHW did not like some of the comments that were posted and he shut it down. We have a fair cross section of views there but it is noticeable that a large proportion of posters perceive a comment about The club to be a personal attack on Wenger . My view on him is that we need new blood in his office but I would prefer, if it were a choice, to oust the Kroeke’s first. Arsenal is a strange entity , I think there are many more things written about them on the net , more blogs than any other club and this brings diversity. I find the House to be a fair to middling position wise blog and here we have overseas as well as U.K posters keeping a perspective that is interesting. Others however lurch from a Paranoia complex( Untold ) to positive hatred Online Gooner forum. Arseblog , Le Grove and Angry of Islington sit in the middle and sway from side to side and are more objective than the extremes . All of these blog owners need to be encouraged to talk to each other instead of picking fault with a lust for hits in mind. If common ground could be found , action could be taken. We already have Aisa , Black scarf, Red Action, that report on meetings with Gazidis but in truth they get fobbed away by a very consummate politician in dear Ivan. All of these people need to wake up, firstly we need a mole to produce the names and adresses of season ticket holders to answer a survey to find out a majority feeling on where we stand . The results published and then it could be opened to Silver and reds to contribute. If the club suddenly realised that a joint action was being organised perhaps Sir Chips might realise that his game of cards every week might soon turn to a game of thrones and a bit of claret might get spilled on the boardroom carpet. Although I am sure Lord Harris might be able to advise where to get a replacement with a fee slightly less than £ 3 million.
rico – Stan selling would do nothing to sort Wenger’s out of touch mentality now days, not to mention his poor training regimes and just plain boring game mentality
Hi JM, they are doing well against City…
Get them all out, maintaining the status quo is not an option in any shape or form….
enjoyed that read Potter
Disagree Oz, the difference would be that a new ‘owner’ perhaps Usmanov would not tolerate what is going on both on the pitch and in the transfer windows..
You watch Wenger change then as he’d be out otherwise…… imo of course..
Me too Potter…
I sit in the Kroenke out first camp….
I am here to help Oz.
half time : WH 1 m.city0
the best player in the first half: Song
In all honesty, I can’t see many of the blogs, especially those who are run by people who get invites into the club, wanting to rock the boat. It’s all very well making clear feelings on the internet but when it comes to doing something positive for the sake of Arsenal FC, I think many would decline any invitation…
JM, that could possibly be down to Sam being quite good at getting his players to defend.
I once suggested Big Sam could sort us out but not sure that view went down too well…. But I bet he’d soon have us defending a lot better…
United and our guy have both in my opinion lost the basics – if you don’t concede you can’t lose
Can’t believe Song is wearing gloves, what a whimp!
Pod to start today then i assume?
Good Afternoon Rico and All
Good Read Rico and I think Per is speaking the truth.
Btw Rico, I love your 1:50 pm. 🙂
Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Welbeck
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Ramsey, Campbell, Rosicky, Walcott, Podolski
wenger still saying we can win the league, I give up.
trouble is Dub he truly believes it – sad really
i would have started both Rosicky and Pod personally
Absolutely right Oz… 1.45
tell you what Potter – that is one average team you know that – lets be honest
Afternoon Ng, thanks…
2-0 West Ham… Song looks a very different player…
i have to rather agree Rico
AW’s wishful thinking is no substitution for reality in the pitch. He really must be detach from the rest of the world. Only SK and him believe Arsenal can still win the league.
Chambers again in the right… incredible!
AW lives in the moon…how can we win the league?
with this team and this strategy?
I’d like to be 4th and the best team from London in the table.
Two important targets.
i think this FIFA top 4 rubbish is messing us up big time TBH – setting bullshit records that mean nothing but money in the bank that has never been spent properly
Bad results certainly concentrate the mind don’t they? Wenger is here for a maximum of another 2.5 seasons. For me there is a distinct difference between his position and the long term involvement of the Kroenke’s. All they have done so far is to borrow a load of money and count on Wenger achieving 4th place every season. They haven’t had a vital decision to make yet apart from putting up the prices and nicking a few million quid.
Wenger will stay or go at the end of this season perhaps, but under the Americans, who have no feel whatsoever for the club and it’s history, the future looks mediocre to me and the match-day experience continues to become more and more impersonal as the clientele changes and the prices rise and rise. I know that the club that plays at the Emirates bears the name of the club that I grew up loving and that have been so much a part of my life as they are for many here – but sadly, little else. A shrewd and sympathetic owner could reap benefits without the overt greed and general ‘fcuk you’ attitude that is seeping through our club under the Kroenkes and the spiel of Gazidis. A shrewd owner would make the whole place more inclusive and tap into the fan’s loyalty for the benefit of the team.
MOTM again, A. Song.
of course. Was the best player in the pitch!
The next episode of The Arsenal soap opera starts in 15 minutes, strap yourself in….
BT – bit like that now mate so many mixed feelings now for me
you guys really need to calm down, don’t go on blaming AW when SK along with our so called obstinate and imprudent board is busy and obsessed with money counting, should I say arsenal is a financial institution, more proper that way but neither the less,I expect a clean victory today,AW really need to start those genius performance we knew him for
All strapped in Bt… Lol
Oz, no mixed feels for me mate……
30 on the bench..
How are we playing?
Oz 2.07; nah mate, he knows we can’t win it, but it would be Proffessional suicide for him to admit it…
The things he says contain every bit as much spin as what is said by Gazides…
poor….
stupid yelleow card Gibbs!
Road block. No where to go…
Sunderland building confidence.
Is a goal on 30 minutes early enough?
Sanchez!!!
Good job we have 1 world class player!
You gotta luv Sanchez
defence error and 0-1.
It’s not only us…
I do Kev…..
Rico, what do you make of all the Ozil rumours?
Very little Kev, can’t see him going anywhere, certainly not for £32 million. We don’t work that wat….
Javiel – Kroenke and the board have an awful lot to answer for but as far as I’m aware, they have nothing to do with training and tactics!
Why are we so complicated to play in the area and along with it?
We have players with a chance of a shot and give him the ball to insist on the same play and give next to no danger to the cross.
Hannover scores at dortmund. 0-1
If City want to swap Aguero and Milner for Ozil though Kev, would be worth thinking about…. 🙂 🙂
seems am partially right about the victory, another 45 minutes and you can say that I was totally right
rico, was a good dream, wasn’t it?
Javiel, we don’t do that ‘I’m right’ bollox on here!
JM, the Aguero one? Yes… Lol
I totally agree to AW bad tactical approach towards matches but let hope usmanov takeover and world class player will be uncountable at emirate stadium and ozil poor run of form is AW fault
Afternoon Rico and the House.
It looks like a better finish to a rough week.
Winning at Sunderland and U21 are winning 3-0 at Stoke .
Goals by Iwobi Maitlan-Niles and Gnabry.
Yeah Rico, to me those stories are either mischief making designed to unsettle Mesut, or his agent trying to engineer himself another big pay-day?
I’m all for usmanov taking over….
Afternoon Rick, I’ll feel a little more comfortable if we could get a couple more goals early in the second half….
Good to see Gnabry getting more playing time….
Cheers Rick, are you watching/ or watched, the U21 game.
How did/is Gnabry playing?
I find it the ozil situation interesting, If the player is genuinely unhappy at not been played in his preferred position, he could push for a move to munich or city. It didn,t take much for im to leave Madrid.I do think Ozil was way over priced, for what he has shown. If wenger could get 35 to 40 million for im, it could be shrewd business.
Is his contract due to be renewed Kev? Lol
Wellbeck now understand why is much more difficult playing for Arsenal then for MU.
Dublin, could be his agent simply looking after his player, one who is very cheesed off playing wide. An indirect way of telling Wenger where to play him.. Just a guess but I’m sure it’s mischief making by someone…..
Rico, of course 😉
How daft of me.
another and another yellow card…
We are still struggling.
There’s a way to go before we can even worry about top 4, but we just need to scratch out results atm.
Evening all.
we must be very carefully because the referee wants to send off one of our players…
Gibbs is injury…
Lucky we have depth at the back, so Gibbs is no great loss at present…….
🙂 Kev..
Hi Scott, top four, nah, not this season….
Because Arsene says we can win it….. lol
Depth at the back?? Where?
Tongue planted firmly in cheek, Rico 🙂
Damn Bellerin is fast!!!!!
we are completely tired…
I did wonder Scott 😉
JM, not surprised, those boys were chasing the ball for 90 mins on Wednesday…. lol
Just get the win, put it aside and move on.
Rico, I just got an email asking can Sean defend!!!!
Just have to hold on with our lives… All Sunderland according to Phil Thomson
🙂 Scott, you sure, we don’t do much if that…..
Finnaly a sub…!!!!
Why does an iPad always swap ‘of’ for ‘if’….. Doh!
It’s a struggle atm, Rico, that’s for sure.
Does Santi know where the goals are?
Three shots and none within 10 yards of the sticks.
2-0 game over. Phew!!!
Alexis for the golden boot 🙂 🙂
Vito must still be on our payroll.
Just thinking the same…. Lol
Ya just gotta luv Sanchez 😉
2 individual mistakes from mannone, terrible goalkeeping. southampton up to 2nd, lallana and lambert should,ve stayed were they were. We were dull again,but a win at last.
Sanchez is a machine, Kev.
Back to bed now, so catch you all later guys.
Balotelli has just missed a sitter! Hull get a point at Anfield…
Reading win too so I’m happy…
Doesn’t take away all the other crap at Arsenal, but a win is what we fans all wanted and that’s just what we got…. Alexis, i love you…..
Why we are play faster in the counter-attacks and in area?
Soton will finish around 6th.
Wait til they cop a few injuries.
Scousers will finish 8th 🙂 🙂
3 victories!
And Lovren Dublin lol
Night Scott…..
Thank god for Alexis.
time for Madrid-Barcelona
Jack Bruce RIP
Thank Gawd for that.
Yes. Rock on Jack. RIP.
Bit early for me Kev, but sad news. 71 is still young…. RIP Jack Bruce
I might watch that JM, should be a good game. Bit like young children at a tumbler group…..
Did you watch the game Adam? MOTD for me if I can be bothered… lol
wow just looking at southamptons goals against this season,5 very impressive. even chelsea can,t top that. If they,d off kept their players from last season, they could of built some side.
Clean sheet was very welcome…
Is that our first of the season?
Hi Rico. I did try to watch a stream but the quality was awful and it kept freezing. Irritating. I saw the first goal though and could just make out enough to see that we kept going, largely controlled the game and looked, through the haze, like a team struggling for form. I hope it gives the team some confidence because we really need it.
Hull drew at Anfield…
Wonder if Jackie Oatley will be interviewing Brenden Rodgers???
I didn’t even bother trying a stream Adam they do nothing but cause me problems. Just glad we won, we needed it…
Kev, I doubt it as liverpool seem a happy and settled club…. But I wish she would, she’s good…..
They look good Dublin, very impressed with their manager so far. Early days but all looks very good for them…
All quiet here so off to eat and watch the usual Saturday night stuff on the box..
Catch up tomorrow folks, night all…..
Rico. That is very wise of you. Streams are awful.
Night.
Booooo! A great night all in all. Arsenal win and Barca lose. Yay!!!!
Hi Kev have only just seen your 4.2.
I watched the Sunderland game and then wwas taken out for dinner.
I have not seen any reports of the U21 game but have been told that Gnabry looked sharper than last week. I believe that his goal was from long range and gave the G/K no chance. The lads are back on top with this win its looking good mate.
Morning Rico and all. Grey morning today.
Morning Adam and all. Grey old start to the day here too but it’s meant to brighten up….
Just have the game playing, we were a little bit fortunate perhaps….
Interesting times ahead. Gibbs injured so Monreal will play at left back, I guess either Hayden or Bellerin will benefit…
Santi could have had a bagful of goals…
I watched the MOTD coverage and thought it strange that they now have Wenger’s short and curt reply to the interview last week as part of the intro clips. Obviously they would like to humiliate him a little further. Perhaps to distract from Lineker’s bizarre new batwing haircut? Always sad, yet amusing to see an old creep like him, crammed into a pair of denims, trying to look hip for a younger wife. We controlled the game really but Sunderland defended deep. From the brief clips it seemed as though Arteta playing an anchor role did look a better shape than Jack’s erratic bursts forward and slumps to the ground. Cannot believe that Gibbs is injured again. That position is going to need to be addressed if this goes on. But glad to see that Nacho did ok again wherever he played. Seems like a team player to me.
I like Monreal Adam, he had a bit of a dip but now he’s playing each game, it’s clear to see just why we signed him….
Nacho always played well given a run of games.
Gibbs is world class, but another of our boys who is Injury prone.
The win was vital, but we need so much more to be competitive.
Morning all.
Rico, Monreal is surprisingly good in the air too. I like the fact that he is always keen to play wherever asked and seems genuinely to care. His celebrations when we score and the look on his face tell me that much.
Agree on Monreal Scott, not sure id call Gibbs world class though lol
Adam, we have a few of those but the odd one or two who don’t appear to be the same…
Rico. Although it seems fair to ask questions of Wenger, a huge dose of responsibility must rest on the players who have under performed this season. I agree re Gibbs. A very decent full back when fit but his dreaminess and lack of defensive positional instincts have let him down ever since he first broke into the squad. I still think it’s a position open for debate, especially when you factor in injuries. Sitting on the side of the pitch at the Emirates I always find full back play fascinating. There are so few defensive full backs in today’s game.
Adam. I have always said the same. AW makes some very odd choices and will always be open to questions from fans especially when performances are poor but players need to take a look in the mirror too.
There’s a few in our side that could try a lot harder and play a lot better. If they don’t have the ability to raise their game then perhaps the simple answer is that they are not good enough… But I don’t include Gibbs in that category, he’s clearly told to get forward as much as he can, the same on the other side with Chambers/Bellerin.
I maintain that the tactics concentrate on attacking far too much and with a little bit of attention to defending, we’d be a lot better and more organised..
Gibbs is superb.
The trouble is, every time he gets fit and finds top form, the inevitable occurs.
Bit like Sanogo Scott…. 😉 😉
Rico. On balance you are absolutely right. For years and years now I have sat and watched the shape of our team with a mixture of interest and horror. How many times have I seen us in the 88th minute, when 1-0 up, get a corner and push both centre halves into the box or go the completely the opposite way and defend from our goal-line. Tony Adams, in one of his more lucid moments, said that Wenger always had one too many offensive players on the pitch, but then I suppose he was schooled by GG whose philosophy was often that if you don’t concede, you won’t lose.
Arsene will never change now. 🙂 strangely enough Paul Merson is making sense to me these days. It must be the pills. 🙂
But haven’t most of us here said the same for years Adam? Too many players go up for corners and free kicks leaving us far too vulnerable at the back. Vermaelen was a terror for doing that but at least he had a little bit of pace to get back. Watching Merts go up for corners scares me to death…
In fact watching Merts full stop these days frightens the life out of me….
Your pills or the ones Merse must be taking… 😉
New post up now…