Morning all.
Arsenal tied young Serge Gnabry down to a new long-term contract yesterday which is great news.
Arsene Wenger is thrilled that the German has committed himself to the club for a few more years:
We signed Serge Gnabry because I believe that he will be a great player. He’s nearly there now, and competes for a regular place in the team in the Premier League.
He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He’s a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal Football Club.
We saw on Saturday what he can do when he runs at defences inside the penalty area and the more he plays, his confidence will grow and grow and I suspect we’ll see a lot more of that style of play from the German.
Serge Gnabry is pretty thrilled to be staying for many more years too:
Arsenal is a great football club and I’m so happy to be here and sign a new contract. For me, now it’s all about working hard and developing my game.
I’ve had some good opportunities recently in the first team, which has given me extra confidence, and this will only improve my game. I’m looking forward to giving my best for this club in the years to come.
That kind of contract deal is how good, hard-working, dedicated young footballers are rewarded at Arsenal.
However, another particular, good young footballer seems to have been the author of his own destiny throughout his career with us and that’s Emmanuel Frimpong. Ok, he’s been dealt some cruel injury blows early in life but he’s back in training he’s and while now and ready for selection but that is not happening.
Not even tonight, when he is no doubt the more experienced of the younger players, Arsene Wenger hasn’t selected him to play saying he ‘still lacks competition’.
I beginning to doubt that he’ll ever play for us after his latest comments on Twitter. Apparently, he was asked on the social media site why he wasn’t playing tonight, his tweeted reply was:
Sometimes I wish I was white and English.
What a stupid comment to make! Obviously realising his huge mistake, he then went on to suggest it was a joke. Why do people do that, do they really think others are that stupid to believe them? It’s a cop out which seldom works.
I think I am right in suggesting that Arsene Wenger has had to speak to Frimpong before about his Twitter usage, as have the FA but surely this latest comment will see any Arsenal career he thought he had, come to an end.
Suggesting your manager isn’t selecting you to play because of your skin colour and nationality isn’t the the most sensible of things to do is it, especially when that manager is Arsene Wenger…
Here are the match facts ahead of tonight’s League Cup clash courtesy of the BBC.
Head to Head:
- Chelsea have lost only four of their last 23 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (W13, D6, L4).
- The Blues have won their last three League Cup games against the Gunners, including victory in the 2007 final.
Arsenal
- Defeat would mean Arsenal suffer back-to-back home defeats (in all competitions) for the first time since February 2013, when Blackburn and then Bayern Munich won at the Emirates.
- The Gunners have won nine of their last 10 home League Cup ties, scoring 29 times.
- Their only defeat in that sequence was a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in 2011.
- They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight matches in this competition, a sequence that began with defeat to Birmingham in the 2011 final.
Chelsea
- The Blues won the League Cup twice in Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge – in 2005 and 2007.
- In total, they have lifted the trophy four times – only Liverpool (eight) and Aston Villa (five) have won the competition more often.
- Chelsea have won their last three away games in all competitions, scoring 10 times and conceding just once.
The one fact which sticks out like a sore thumb is the three defeats to tonight’s opposition in this competition, especially that final! Our overall record against Chelsea lately is poor to, very poor.
Jose Mourinho has been moaning about this fixture being so soon after their tough home league match against Man City and he’s hinted that he will field a weakened side against us tonight but what ‘weakened’ means exactly, goodness only knows, his squad is very deep and strong.
However, my own view is that he’ll field all the players who either didn’t feature at all, or those who started on the bench for their match against Manchester City, so the likes of Luiz, Mata, Eto, Mikel, Willian, Schwarzer etc, so their side will be far from weak!
Arsene Wenger might very well be tempted to field a stronger side than the one which knocked out WBA, but he might also be focussed on our Premier League campaign and leave the big guns either at home, or on the bench at least.
What he has done though is ruled out several players:
Mathew Flamini, Mikel Arteta, Emmanuel Frimpong, Thomas Eisfeld and Gedion Zalalem.
The manager has confirmed that both Isaac Hayden and Ryo Miyaichi will feature as will Serge Gnabry if fit. No doubt they will be joined in the squad by Carl Jenkinson, Tomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal, Nicklas Bendtner and Ju-Young Park and a number of the current first team players.
Whoever plays, this is Arsenal v Chelsea. It may be ‘only’ the League Cup, but this is Arsenal v Chelsea. It maybe our second team against theirs, but it’s Arsenal v Chelsea and that means an awful lot!
And, it’s Arsene Wenger v Jose Mourinho – a battle that the Frenchman really needs and deserves to win.
This game matters, and we need to win it!
COYRRG’s!
we really really need this game..all i do is win win win and win no matter what
Frimpong=dingdong.
What a stupid comment to make, and it would hardly endear him to the man NOT choosing him.
Time to go, i dare say.
Morning everyone.
We do Am
Scott, we can’t say it hasn’t been coming, he’s a buffoon. Wenger is the last man who anyone could accuse of being racist…
Agreed Rico….very naive comment…that is being kind.
Very polite Scott 😉
Any news on a line up yet, Rico?
Morning All…
Morning Rico, very good post/preview…
I must comment on Frimpong.
I can only think that his Tweets were borne out of frustration, because I cannot imagine that he really believes what he Tweeted…
Although he is still a young man, he isn’t a baby, and must now feel rather foolish.
As for the English ‘bit’, well Manny, that was in your hands me old son..
Good day all.
Nice post Rico.
Frimpong is a total numpty. Arsenal Career over, if it wasnt already.
I’m heading u to the emirates this evening, looking forward to seeing a balanced team of youth and experience give the chavs a hammering! Although their team will be very strong.
Wonder What the team will look like tonight?
Frimpong decided he did not want to play for England and the colour issue is his problem not Mr Wenger’s.
All the same, I am personally disappointed that he won’t be starting tonight, as we’ll need a player like Frimpong against the likes of Essien and Mikel…
Tbh, Bendtner has said some pretty stupid things in the past, and he’ll be starting tonight.
So it doesn’t have to be the end for Frimpong.
He really needs to stop Tweeting and start focusing in his football…
Morning Rico,
That is a really meaty Post and a good read.
Frimpong is inclined to go off half-cocked and he might be well advised to count to 10 before opening his mouth or twitty twatting.
I suspect he has seen the writing on the wall regarding his injury blighted career, and is fearing the worst, and of course this will not have helped.
AW is an understanding man and will know this but Frimpers must be in the last chance saloon.
No Scott, only the few AW mentioned..
Morning Kev, and thanks. Good point re Frimpong, he made his choice on who to represent.
It must be hard for Frimpong though. He is training hard and doing his best to get noticed, but all he can see are the other ‘younger’ players emerging from the junior ranks and seemingly overtaking him. Sadly the frailties of his knees have cost him big style! It’s a real shame, but it is probably time for him to move on……Wolves liked him, Aneke would put in a good word for him at Crewe, perhaps. He will have to re-invent himself at a less fashionable club in order to re-build his career! Sad but true, I think.
Thanks Lewis, hope it’s a great game and we win of course. Nice to see the club keep the ticket prices down, unlike the Mancs!
Morning Hb and thanks.
Kev, Nikki B has also done many stupid things off the pitch but I truly believe he is only here now because of ‘desperation’ after AW couldn’t/didn’t get a striker. I guess he never suggested AW was a racist though, that may have saved him 😉
You are right thought, Frimpong, if he’s truly fit, would be the better option tonight.
He has some serious grovelling to do to AW.
I also think it must have been hard for him when all the young Brits were tied down to new contracts and he was left out…
Good morning all. Frimpong afc career is over long time ago, he was with the Ghana squad for the last two qualifiers and AW claimed he is not match fit. I think he is gone in the Jan transfer window. AW on Hayden who seems to be in front of Dench at the moment: “I like his strengths in the duels,” the manager told Arsenal Player. “I like his capacity of concentration and I believe as well that technically he is very focused to do well.
“He is committed and at half-time [in West Brom game] I told him to behave well because he was on a yellow card and he did that well in the second half.
“He is maybe not a creative player but everything he does is intelligent. I like his intelligence and all these qualities together makes me choose him.”
Goodmorning all,
I guess that’s d straw that finally breaks d camel back. Frimpong will be off as soon as his contract ends. What a shame.
Coyg!! Lets do one over mou today
Wavy, for sure his injuries must have been horrid to deal with, but maybe he should/could have looked at how Ramsey conducted himself, maybe even Diaby, but he’s been tweeting silly stuff for ages…
Jack nearly went the same way, but he took the advice of AW and changed somewhat..
Gdna, I have a feeling this is his last year of contract so it might be a free transfer in the summer…
I too read the comments on Hayden made by Arsene, he clearly likes the player and rates him…
Hi emma, you gone all text speech on us? 😉
rico 😉
Very busy lately. Missed everyone though.
Good post b/w
That’s a very good point Rico re: British players getting new long contracts last season…
Not sure that Frimpong choosing Ghana was the main reason he wasn’t included tbh?
Being English didn’t gain Lansbury a deal after all…
All the same, I do really feel sorry for Frimpong, as I believe that he has a strong affection for Arsenal…
He still had time to turn it around, but it’s running out fast fir him…
Frimpong’s biggest problem is a lack of a brain! Last time I looked, Hayden and Gnabry were not white. Nor were Ryo or Eisfeld or Gnabry English! To even infer that the man George Weah referred to as “like a father to me” is not picking him because of his colour or nationality is stupid in the extreme!
Only game out of the upcoming fixtures I could afford Rico, Had a Tickets for the Saints game as well but had to let it go due to work. Bummer. Think that game will be a good un!
Emma’s so street.
evening all – I will be working come game time but Wenger must be hanging out for win against Mourinho. Has he ever beaten him? I think not. Expect us to go out tonight to be honest but never say never.
Thanks emma, get another job 😉
Just why I think his comment was so stupid Kev, not only Lansbury, a few other Brits have been cast aside, Meade was one I thought had a good chance but…
Didn’t Frimps once say he get on his hands and knees and beg to stay at Arsenal – he truly loves the club without doubt.
He just needs to grow up, get off of Twitter and give his all, otherwise, I can’t see AW keeping him.
Totally agree Bj..
I can understand that Lewis, spot on re the Saints game, the meanest defence in the PL against our attack will be very interesting to watch…
Oz – I am not confident either, but hopefully the Ems crowd will be right behind the team and it should be full for this match.
Slim Jim, or should I say Phil Dowd is tonights referee 😮
oz – now u re making me nervous 😉
Hopefully we scrap thru tonight. Mou and the media have already prepared their excuse in case the chavs loses despite having a deep squad. I expect him to start same 11 he used v shitty
Coyg!!! We can do it
Morning. Nice post Rico. Players have all been warned about Twitter comments, so cant have any sympathy for Frimpong at all. Just plain bloody stupid. And I had hoped he would cover our DF gap until January.
emma – no chance of him doing that IMO – They do have a deep squad but fair call on the fixtures. Arsene has complained about fixtures for years but this year, (he’s used the fatigue card twice already) its hardly anyone else’s fault the squad is so thin is it? Games there to be won, lets see if we’ve good enough. Fingers crossed
Frimpong, agree with most others, silly boy. Should have thought first but not a life changing event. Lets hope he buckles down and proves he’s good enough
Morning Ah, you’re a hard man 😉
But you are right, they have be warned…
Oz, but they have a relatively easy game at the weekend, nothing would surprise me with Jose…
Twitter seems to me to be entirely incompatible with human nature,
he has the tactical upper hand on Wenger Rico and knows it – I think he will make the changes then laud his own management for beating Wenger again – Lets hope Wenger can get one back tonight. Not at all sure we have a squad to go on any cup runs but again fingers crossed. You are right though Rico he can be very unpredictable. I expect 100% on defence and hit us on the breaks, we have looked very vulnerable to me in these areas due to not filling lanes properly. A win tonight could be huge for confidence as a loss will have everyone saying “there you go another decent club and another loss”. Will be tuned in on the IPhone hoping for the best!
better get a lie down as start at 3am for 12 hour shift – will log in through the phone if possible if not, up the lads!!!
Adam, twitter is for twits hence the name…………
Cheers OZ…!
Wath. You are probably right there. 🙂
Must be why I’m on it Wath 😛
Got to pop out now, catch up later…
Depends if your on there incognito Rico or as yourself…. 😉
Think we gonna get stuffed tonight just hope we give them a good game…! Tonight for me all about priorities and Sat is more important than 2nite the only problem is loosing to that obnoxious poisoned dwarf and his team of mercenaries…!
To go on Twitter, and follow someone, if I recall, you have to join.
So I joined Twitter, made about 3 Tweets and don’t bother anymore…
Am I a Twit..?
Hmm, I’ll leave that one to my many mates on here to decide… 😉
As for tonight’s game, I think we can win and we should win.
But will we???
Has Wenger learnt anything from 8 previously fruitless attempts to beat Mourinho?
Will he stubbornly make the same naive errors in tactics against that horrible asshole from JM land???
Answers on a postcard to 77 Percy Circus, London, WC1
Afternoon all…
Definitely incognito Wath 🙂
The brain of a dead ant !
I’m sure Frimpong is regretting it now, don’t these twatters usually delete their messages after such gaffs, can you confirm this kev.
Like you say ‘bourne of frustration’
He did delete it Micko and made out his comment was a joke and in any case, nothing to do with football…
His trouble is not thinking before typing.
Didn’t he get a dressing down for something similar last year rico.
Not overly confident about tonight if i’m honest, is the game on sky ?
Micko — yes.
He did, and not just once Micko, just recently he was told off by the FA too – when will he learn..
Me neither re tonight and yes, SS1..
Which means pub for you 😉
The drinks are on Mick…
After a long bank holiday weekend here kev, not sure I’ll last the pace !!!
Can’t see it going to penalties tonight somehow.
Mine’s a soda water 😉
Sir Bobby is 40 today and I missed mentioning that in my post. Wrist slap for me…
It will be cold tonight at the Emirates.
You going Adam?
No Rico. It isn’t part of the ST package, but it’s cold in North London this evening so I will watch on TV.
It’s cold here too, quite a change from the temperatures of late..
Then let’s hope the team warm our hearts this evening.
Sure hope so, should get some team news soon.
COYFRRG
Mick, mines a Peroni mate…
Strong Arsenal team…
Going for it…
COYFRRG
You there Kev?
Arsenal:
Fabianski, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Ryo, Bendtner
Subs: Viviano, Sagna, Hayden, Yennaris, Ozil, Giroud, Park
Chelsea:
Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Mikel, Essien, De Bruyne, Mata, Willian, Eto’o
Subs: Blackman, Ivanovic, Kalas, Ramires, Hazard, Torres, Ba
Mourinho and Chelsea…
An easy combination to hate…
COYFRRG
Fab, kos, tv, jenk, monreal, wilsh, rambo, caz, ryo, ros, nb23. Thats a pretty strong XI that should get us to d next round
Wish I was Rico.
Working
Stronger than I thought. Shame Gnabry obviously injured I guess. Mourinho taking no chances though with Torres a sub.
That’s a bummer Kev.
Ditto Ah, don’t want him on too early in the game..
I worry about Kos and TV, they don’t often play well together..
LIVE STREAM SERVICE CUP NIGHT.
*Link 1 http://cricfree.tv/live/watch-live-football-stream/arsenal_vs_chelsea/15032
*Link 2 http://cricfree.tv/live/watch-live-football-stream/arsenal_vs_chelsea/15033
Close chat if your connection is slow. Wait 30 sec for ads to close, otherwise click the small x-squares that appear. Please enjoy responsible. No swearing or troll people in the comment section.
Keep our name in high esteem. Tnx.
COYG!!!!!!!!
A very very strong Chelsea team…
Just as expected…
We’ve seen it all before from Mourinho…
He has no suprise’s…
A load of pre-match bollocks in the Press…
Then he picks a team full of internationals…
Full of shit..
COYFRRG
Rico live stream service is in moderation.
Evening madam. Good news on the youngster front. Glad Gnarby is tied down long term.
rico – dont worry kos and tv will do just fine today. Tv will want to use this match to stake a claim in d starting XI.
COYG!!!
COYRRGS !!
It’s out Dg, thank you 🙂
For a small man Kev, he’s sure full of a lot of it!
We’ll see emma… I hope you are right..
Come on Nikki B – show us all that you can score goals, or set them up, I’m not fussy!!
Catch up at h/t..
LIVE STREAM POSTED EARLIER. SCROLL UP.
Bendtner gives us zilch, nothing!!
Rico, Jenkinson needs to go on loan, Coq is a better squad player imo.
Just been talking to a friend about him Gdna, when he doesn’t play, he goes backwards quickly. The only way he will get better (imho) is to play week in week out but that isn’t going to happen whilst Sagna is fit so maybe you are right..
Not convinced by Coq though…
if i were wenger i will bid for lewandowski in jan if available. Lets pray that giroud doesnt get injured before then. NB23 not in this game. Jenko what are u doing? This is not the first time he heads a ball and doesnt know where it is or how short he headed it. He is one player that needs to be playing consistently to get his grove back. I see bellerin ahead of him in a year
Bendtner on the other hand needs to just go!
He is available emma, for £7 million!
This is where our striker situation is really highlighted, without Giroud, we have nothing….
Jenks is worst header of a ball I’ve ever seen. remembed Napoli in Em cup?
COYG!!! just do it
Can Park do worst than Ryo?
Why didn’t NB23 shoot?
AW is taking s big risk at the moment.
Liverpool (h) this coming weekend, is the most important game of the season…
Arsenal simply have to win….
Truly disappointed after that….
No Flamini, no BFG, no chance…
Wenger will not get the beating of Mourinho’s tactics as long as he has a hole in his arse. It’s all too predictable.Result not a surprise we have all seen this game before.
Its worrying how some of the players we have on the bench on matchdays is useless. Jenkinson, Fabianski, Ryo, NB an Park wages can be given to some other player.
it’s over now. Lets just dust ourselve and get ready for d dippers. Hope this big match mental block has not started again. Cheapish goals conceded v dortmund and now the chavs all echos of last season.
Nighty all
Add Giroud to those two Kev.
If Jenkinson is a afc fan, he needs to improve, if training with the current midfielders at the club can’t improve his skills he needs to go. He has very limited ability.
Sadly potter, I think you might be not far wrong….
I wouldn’t write Jenks and Ryo off just yet Gdna, they don’t play enough football….
Night emma.
Yeah Rico, on this seasons performances, Giroud has become a vital part of the team.
Hugely so Kev, we need another like him in Jan..
Rico, i disagree, they aren’t afc quality. Ryo is worse than Gerv. imo
Was Bendtner really as inept as he sounded on the radio Rico?
This result had seriously pissed me off…
Not just the score, but the manner of it, the predictability of it…
Before i hit d deck, jenko needs to go out on loan to play consistently. He wont improve with us unless he does that. We need flamimi and walcott asap for the big test ahead
But one is a mature and experienced player, the other is a player on his way up Gdna, huge difference. I’d like to see him playing each week on loan and then see. Now we are out of this cup, he’ll probably go too…
Kev, he was woeful, awful, dire, shite, rubbish, useless, hopeless and any other negative word I can think of….
Podolski could possibly be ready to be taken to Dortmund and to have him on the bench…
So, I kinda guess that Bendtner didn’t impress you then Rico…
I can’t believe how nervous this team play at home, cfc looks so composed, AW needs to sort it out.
Good, any news on Theo Kev? AW said a couple of weeks didn’t he, a couple of weeks ago…
Errrrrr – No Kev 😉
Some said the other day that Wenger will stick to his principles and play a younger players; well the result is not surprising again. I said it some time ago that Mourinho will not take any game against Arsenal lightly.
Jenkinson has always been a calamity waiting to happen. Twice now.
You never know Rico, we might see Theo on the bench for the Liverpool game?
Had a feeling that Wenger had him earmarked for Dortmund.
Just to give the Jerries a different problem…
It’s the players, when we don’t have a midfield rock, they look nervous, we really missed Flamini or Arteta, the latter would have handled that Chelsea side. Their only real threat was Mata…
They scored from an error, one or two shots off target and then we let Mata have all the time in the world to shoot…
With a fully fit squad, the PL game will be different I think, even against their first 11..
He had a bad game Ng…
Hope so Kev, we really miss him.. I bet even Sp can’t wait to see him back 😉
http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2013/10/29/caznutmeg.gif
Rico, is it as simple as the difference in quality of the starting XI that Chelsea put out?
Because we had a good team, at least on paper.
Or is if a simple case of Mourinho finding it so easy to read Wenger’s tactics.
As well as countering them so easily…
Psychologically tonight’s result has done a huge amount of damage to everyone connected to the club…
The players might begin to have doubts?!!!
The fans definately will….
He should have been booked for that Gdna and then off in the second half
It was the highlight of the game rico. lol
How did Vermaelen and Monreal play?
I thought that Monreal looked quite good at Palace…
Probably a bit of both imho Kev. We didn’t know how to break them down, well not until Oxil and Giroud cam on and then we offered more of a threat.
But for me, in the first half especially, we couldn’t get the ball and when we did, we passed badly. Tomas was one of a few who was everywhere trying to make something work, as did Jack.
Nik was so so poor though it was like playing with ten…
I’m darn piss off with AW right now. He’s the money to buy a striker this window and he cooked-it-up. What the hell was he thinking bringing NB52 back after all what he had said.
It was pretty special Gdna, ‘nuts’ 😛
Both did pretty well Kev.. Mata’s goal was disappointing though, can’t remember who could/should have closed him down earlier…
evening all,
Same as always make a lot of changes and get hammered. Frustrating and humiliating night for all Gooners. Wenger wants to save Ozil and Giroud for the weekend so brings them on when were 2 down.Ramsey Wilshere Corzorla absolute rubbish. Like i said the other day send all your centre backs up for a corner an d again they dont win any headers a quick breakaway and all we have back is 5ft nothing Wilshere who just got in the way and Jenkinson out on a limb typical Fabianski sold down the river, Arsenal football club must have more midfielders than any other team and Wenger picks the ones who can’t pass a ball forward., Lose the game saturday and what have we gained absolutly nothing.
That’s what many of us here were saying in the summer Ng.. Had a horrid feeling AW’s gamble would not pay off…
Rico, I guess that if Wenger can bring in another striker in January, that he’ll probably let Bendtner go…
Imagine Bendtner teaming up with Chamahk at Palace?
You’re not happy then Sp.
Good Kev, can’t come quick enough for me…
Rico, one two many and counting…
They say, ‘liquids find their level’, Jenk and NB52 need to fine their level elsewhere.
Would he get a place at any of our rivals? ManU, Chelsea, Mancity or ToTs?
NG, AW needs to get serious and loan Jenks and replace Park, Ryo, NB, Flappy and Dench. Paying these players is wasting the clubs money.
Each to their own view Ng, but I’m not quite ready to give up on Jenks, not yet….
Whats that noise coming from Mourinho’s pants…………..it’s just Wenger talking bollocks !!!
Tonite only went to show we don’t have the strength in depth.
Our first team can beat anyone on their day, the Scousers this weekend will be a great opportunity to bounce back, personally I think we’ll beat the diving thieving cheating robbing bastards myself.
If Wenger splashes the cash on a quality striker this January it could still be a season to remember,
Nite Gooners.
What the hell has happened to Sanogo?
How long does it take for, (what was it, a back strain) a player to recover from a regulation injury?
Where’s my pint Mick?????
Night All
Joel Campbell??????
I’m not going to put my money and hope on Sanogo. we’ve to be serious if we want to win games. The money is there; go and buy proving players. Even the blind will know that Jenks and NB52 are not good enough.
If Micko, If…
I too am off for the day.
Night all….
4 assists for him at the weekend Gdna!
Gone now….
I don’t really like Mourihno. Honestly.
Arsenals Hospital of injured players Sanogo Walcott Chamberlain Arteta Podolski Flamoney Gnabry and so on Fcuking unbelievable. No Rico not happy at all, Hammered by Chelsea’s second eleven at home and only one shot on target allnight. How big is a goal from 20 yards and they miss it.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KFBiGFAXOIY/UnAh__kJaGI/AAAAAAAAA0c/QVc291ezrT4/w506-h285/bendtnernotshoot.gif
nte all
http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2013/10/29/Mourinho.gif
Tap up…..
The same problem we had with the Dortmund has been repeated with Mourinho’s Chelsea . Mourinho puts the team ahead defending , doing very high pressure , with strong players and combat ( Essian , etc. ) not to give space to Arsenal to organize the game , the short pass and from the central zone. If Arsenal are not quick to change the ball , and only began to be so in the 2nd half , it’s easy to be stopped . As only attacks the sides when the sides go up , offsetting these passes , it creates open defense conducive to the counterattack . Therefore , with this system , you must have strong players in midfield ( Essian , Michel , Ramirez … ) , advanced rapid ( Eto , … ) , and a playmaker particularly deep balls ( Mata. . , who learned to defend Mourinho ) , strong and combative full backs to play facing the game ( Cahill , Louis , Terry … ) and quick lateral backs( Bertrand , Azbiqueta …. ) .
This system was used in two successive games because teams have players that allow you to do it. If AW does not quickly arranges an alternative to combat this type of game , we have several disappointments with teams structured and can defend and pressure in the midfield and not outside the penalty area .
Correct J.M . Mourinho sets up with two defensive midfielders protecting their back 4 . They have a powerhouse midfield. We are slight, small and play a game that falls into his hands. Our one touch passing trying to slide the ball through the wall he amasses is never going to work. Chelsea’s defence needs to be turned and it needs to be done with speed, we take too long to build up and lack the power and penetration needed. I agree that both of their goals came from mistakes but probably not the obvious ones that will get reported. Admittedly Jenks back header was not strong enough but Wilshere should have taken the responsibility and put the ball into the crowd. We don’t do that of course and we have not learned from the Birmingham loss where Koscielny should have done just that. The second ,:- at the throw in ,Ramsey was about a foot away from Mata and he walked away leaving him with the freedom of Islington to run on to a pass control and fire into a net. Ramsey and Wilshere together in front of the back 4 doesn’t work , neither are disciplined enough, Chelsea knew that all they had to do was draw us forward and swallow us up as we tried to go through the middle. You are all slating Bendtner whose touch in the first ten minutes was really poor but if you think about it , how much service did he really get ? Hardly any. Wilshere and Ramsey seemed unable to put a ball anywhere near Myaichi , too often we got pushed where we didn’t want to go and they just waited for the poor pass to come which it did too frequently. It wasn’t about the players so much as the tactics, Mourinho looked at his notes from 5 years ago , carried out the same system and kept his run of success over Wenger. Until Wenger thinks of a second method of playing these teams ,we will continue to push forward and get caught at the back. Would Rocastle, Vieira , Gilberto , Storey allowed them the park , of course not . They would have battled for the midfield , we just rolled over.
There you go , you wanted a post that’s just about one.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KFBiGFAXOIY/UnAh__kJaGI/AAAAAAAAA0c/QVc291ezrT4/w506-h285/bendtnernotshoot.gif
Look at it , he has his back to goal and Ramsey is screaming for it rather than telling him to turn. Blame him if you like but be a bit reasonable about it.
Afternoon all.
Plenty saying Ryo and Jenks are not Arsenal quality.
Now, i will not pass judgement, but i will point out that 12 months ago plenty of these same people said Ramsey and Giroud were also not Arsenal quality.
Funny how they are now indispensable, and these people offering opinions still think they are just right.
Oh, i should add that comment is aimed at Gooners all over the net.
Jenks always improves when he has a run of games, and plenty have said Ryo was one of few who actually teied to take Chelski on.
Still….time and patience can do wonders.
Ouch! Potter…
Haha…Potter/Rico some will blame a player simple because of who it is.
That will never change.
Disappointed but hardly surprised after last night.
I largely agree with Potter.
Scott, I am not as tactically minded as many I know and don’t try to make out I am but the things Potter/JM have said have been written for many a season now and nothing changes.
But I still maintain that Nik B offers us absolutely nothing, where Giroud will win an ariel ball, bring it down, hold it up and pass, Nik can’t even win a ball in the air. I’m sure if Giroud had been on from the start, our forward play would have been very different but he can’t play every game…
Bendtner was so slow of thought and movement last night he looked like he was playing in a different time-zone.
The better teams will ram home our deficiencies in the last transfer window every time.
One Ozil does not a season make.
I’m disappointed but not surprised either Adam. When it comes to Jose and AW, there is only ever one winner on the pitch…
Agreed Rico. Chelsea and Man City are going to be tough this year. Still, the January window offers opportunities for improvement.
Could be all too late by January Adam….
Rico, i never saw the game…i just commented on Potters video.
Adam, we are leading the League 🙂
We definitely need more in January though.
Is Wenger to blame for Bendtners failures for Arsenal when he almost always does well for Denmark?
Maybe he simply is not suited to our style.
Podolski coming back…Theo soon….our lads need to hang in there and be with the leaders come January.
Remember, there are no stand out sides, and everyone has dropped more points than us…who is to say it will not continue?
Rico. If we are still in touch with the PL leaders and make the necessary buys,then why not?
It is clear that Wenger is never going to change tactics for a more solid defensive midfield pair or a philosophy of not conceding. He knows this which may be one reason he has delayed signing his new contract. The question is can we beat all the other teams and will he buy the players he didn’t buy in the summer?
Last night had an uncomfortable feeling of familiarity about it. Like we had been here before- many times.
I think he’s got little/no confidence when he plays for us Scott and I don’t think he wants to be where he is.
given my post yesterday how completely predictable was that 🙂 Poor old Arsene, Fergie quits and in comes another dominator for him
I wasn’t suggesting he shouldn’t sign players Adam, just that our challenge could take a serious dent over the next two PL matches.
I got that Rico and I agree. I said “why not” about the PL title.
The Europa Cup would be a blow though with its Thursday, Sunday routine.
Ah, guess I need to wake up then Adam 😉
I can see us heading into the Europa Cup…
Then again, we are better away from home so anything could happen in Italy and Germany 😉
Not a particularly enjoyable proposition Rico. 🙂
“why not” We are not good enough is why not mate. Last night highlighted further tactical deficiencies in Wenger’s coaching and his “don’t pay to much attention to that result” is pure arrogance. They made 10 changes FFS and picked us off with ease
Abandon hope all ye who enter here?
One defeat shouldn’t make us too despondent, but I can’t shake off the feeling that I had a year ago, coming home on the coach from Carrow Road.
That feeling of ‘it’s all gonna fall apart again’….
It’s all so familiar, but understandable, given that we’ve suffered 8 years of ‘false dawns’ and therefore have a lot of misgivings about the resilience of our club and the frazzled confidence of successive disappointments…
Liverpool could be the making, or breaking, of our season…
hahaha while this guy is in charge, trophies will remain but a pipe dream IMO – Lets take the decision to rest Giroud and Oz, sound in itself, we get 2 zip down then he risks them both, is that not strange to you?
It is Oz. I am not going any more and will support Chelsea from now on.
But the right players could change that Oz.
New post up now..
i am tired so will shut up about it – to me, all the claims of improvement look real fragile right now yet again. Players are playing themselves out of form not in as the opposition gets tougher or is that misguided?
Oz, we are leading the bloody league.
Jesus, you are so intent on picking out negatives it is incredible!
If we are so shit and Wenger can’t manage, then the rest must be pretty crap.
Night all, i can see this going the same way it always does after a loss.
Not for me.
No it won’t Scott…
But Night to you if you are off…
I hope after the following two games EPL we are still there Scott – We offered chances to Norwich, WBA and Palace they made nothing of – Chelsea and the likes will and have taken those chances – yes i have concerns after a very advantageous fixture list start, is that really unreasonable?