Gutless, toothless, yet so typical. Has Wenger got it in him to change things?

Morning all.

There’s been plenty of dire performances this season but the performance at Old Trafford has to be the worst.

Up against a side which not only has been poor this season but had nearly a dozen injuries, injuries which forced LvG to make changes. A makeshift back four which included Michael Carrick – a player close to drawing his football pension, and plenty of young players further up the pitch.

However, the brittle side of this Arsenal team was seriously exposed yet again. A totally hopeless Theo Walcott, a weak and non disciplined midfield and a defence which at times looked like Wenger had just plucked them out of the local pub, thrown a pair of football boots at them and said ‘do your best lads’!

Having told the world that this is the time Arsenal gather momentum as they go all out to win the Premier League, he and his players really performed dreadfully.

No tempo, no urgency and apart from one or two players, no desire.

I’ve always seen the good in Walcott but apart from a couple of times this season, he’s been rotten. His whole demeanor stinks! He jogs around, no, ponces around like he’s some kind of superstar but the reality is, he’s a bad egg and we all know what a bad egg does!

What has Joel Campbell done to be dumped on the bench so swiftly after showing just how determined and willing he is to fight for the team? How can he be considered to be a worse option than Walcott?

The biggest question though is why did the manager leave Walcott on the pitch for so long? Does the second half performance against Tottenham a few years ago remain in his mind, believing Walcott could repeat such good stuff? Surely not, not after four years have gone by.

Alexis Sanchez is another player struggling with form and a few headlines in the media suggest he should be dropped but that’s all well and good but who comes in and whose to say his form won’t return in the next game? It’s not like he can be compared to Walcott as the two are gulfs apart.

Then there’s Ollie, a striker who can’t buy a goal at the moment, he needs to drop out too but with Danny Welbeck having only just returned from such a long time out through injury, his fitness must be monitored. I doubt he’ll start tomorrow as he’s much needed for the NLD.

The midfield is still not right, Ramsey and Coquelin isn’t working, maybe Elneny and Coquelin would and perhaps Wenger will give that duo a try on Wednesday night because it’s an area which needs sorting fast and certainly before we head across town to face the neighbours. Anything other than a win there would surely end our chances of winning the league, a loss would make our most bitter of rivals favourites to lift the big trophy too.

Finally, there’s the defence, and I have to put my hands up and admit I was wrong. Koscielny and Gabriel doesn’t work (although I suspect it would if someone worked with them long enough) and as much as Merts is an old carthorse, I think he’ll soon be back with one of the other two.

Changes are all well and good, not that Wenger has a squad full of options and that’s of his own making, but unless the attitude of the manager and squad changes and the passion returns, this side will win zero this season. Wenger, Bould and the other coaches need to instil a bit chunk of discipline and desire back into the players and fast.

They shouldn’t need a kick in the butt to raise their game because it’s their job but clearly there’s a few who do.

Eleven league games left in this season and Arsene Wenger has to somehow sort this mess out if have any hope of becoming Champions.

Will he? Or maybe the better question is, can he?

139 thoughts on “Gutless, toothless, yet so typical. Has Wenger got it in him to change things?

  1. Adam says:

    Rico. Judging by recent events I would suggest the answers are no and no. But, as the events of Sunday dim, we see that time is a great healer. 🙂

  2. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies

    I agree with all you said Rico.

    I would have hauled Theo long before the customary 55-60 minute mark. I would have hauled him off after 15 mins……and I am being generous. I did it once during a match……hauled a player off after 10 mins, so I don’t give a rat’s arse on what wage he is.

    If Theo wants to leave after that he can bugger off. Do we really care???

  3. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Imo, and I stand to be corrected on this, there is a sort of friction. not between the players. But between the senior players such as Sanchez/Ozil etc and AW.

    Imo……they want to change things round but AW wants them to play the way he wants not the way they want. So its easy for them to play the way he wants but they do it half heartedly.

    So I feel that the schism is between AW and the players regarding the system of play.

  4. rico says:

    He’s not pro-active at all is he Devil. Not even reactive either…

    Same old timed subs each week are laughable. Seldom does he change the way we play after it’s clear things aren’t right….

  5. scottfromoz says:

    Effort.
    That’s what these guys lack.
    Why that’s the case is for everyone to decide for themselves, but to see some of these guys simply cruising around the pitch is disgraceful.
    Morning all.

  6. Adam says:

    I had wondered Rico. 🙂
    It’s surely time for a change. If Arsene doesn’t luck the title this year, is he likely to do it in the next 3?
    I wonder if the club will announce his new contract this week?

  7. scottfromoz says:

    Honestly, the absolute last thing I want to see is we lose this seasons title, Wenger stays on and makes some outlandish and expensive purchases, hoping to revive the lost faith of the fans.
    That will reek of desperation, and make a mockery of his stance and ethics.
    Go out, but don’t go out like that.

  8. tsgh says:

    Scott, you made convincing arguments on previous page but unfortunately like Mrs maggie T was hounded out, Aw’s time is coming to an end…

    Only Mugabe can help AW to stay past next summer imho… 😛

    The only confusion I have with the club and the board is why our transfer kitty is tied with potential new players/signings salary plus any contract extension to current players.

    When chelsea or other clubs ‘say’ (note they never say how much they have to spend) an amount X, the X amount is for signings only.

    When AW says he has £25m, only about £15m is available to him for actual purchases whilst the other £10m will be used for salary..

    good read Rico.btw…

  9. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning all. So sick its hard to post. Chickens coming home to roost. Lack of TW activity that annoyed 90% of us was glossed over as its been a mad Premier League and we were riding high. But we are now in the situation the majority of supporters would have forecast at end of last summer. Cech was a brilliant signing that seemed to fall our way, but no other player in two windows other than a squad player? If nothing else, to create a buzz and freshen things.

    We were told we had all we need, and when injured players returned all would be well. But if it wasn’t last season, why should it this? Cup wins again glossed over our shortcomings and there is never a sign they will end. But I heard a supported on TalkSport last night, Theo, saying that we are well progressing and that 4434344344 th position in the table (some sequence like that!) is irrelevant. Give up, AW has brainwashed so many.

  10. tsgh says:

    Maybe as loud as Aw says ‘he tries to do his best for the club and let the experts do the talking’ he is hugely influenced by what is said in the press..

    It appears that for the 1st time in AW’s time at Arsenal, the club has no clear identity…
    Even when we had eboue, NB52 and Gervinho at least, we knew what the players were trying to do albeit poorly at times against the Fat Sam and Pulis’s teams’ of this world…

    Now we do not know if we are a possesion team or a counter attacking team…; we have the wrong players for the team/system…

    Still we are 3rd and 5 points of the foxes so if we can go on anothe runbeaten run after the spuds game; who knows?

  11. Kel says:

    Is all about how we start a game we’re just to slow the tempo is all wrong we fuck about sideways passing going nowhere.

    C.palace home
    Utd home
    Villa away. .
    Liverpool away

    The only games we have scored a goal in the first 20 mins…

    With a high tempo we could blitz teams, we’re to bloody slow imo.

  12. Lewis says:

    Morning all,

    Nice post, bit easier once the dust settles i’m sure rico.

    Arsene can’t change, he’s a busted flush. We trott out the same crap year on year, the same weak mentality and half arsed performances when something is on the line.

    The one constant is Wenger. We need steel and leaders in this team, but personalities like that are not brought in or groomed because they are confrontational and that would upset his squad of show ponies.

    What I would give to see an Adams, a Keown at the back tearing players a new one when they trott around like Walcott this season or lose the ball as much as we do. We have no one like that, a nasty bastard that will go that extra mile to win. These twats will just go post a pic on instagram saying ‘oh, we were unlucky today’, bollocks to the luck, they have no desire!!

    So bored of the same rubbish, spend the resources we have to make us the best team possible, if a player isn’t good enough to make the cut, be ruthless and get a replacement. I disagree that there aren’t other managers available that could achieve more than wenger with the resources and squad he has available.

    He’s just not up to it!

  13. bradster says:

    morning all,

    We seem to suck when our full backs can’t get forward and offer width. We also seem to struggle when Giroud is not playing and there is no pass on because no one moves
    One point on Ramsey for me, he is getting in the positions I feel Ozil should be taking up. Perhaps that is why Ramsey gets forward so often because he can see the play happening but his finishing however is woeful.

  14. scottfromoz says:

    Andrew, on your “lack of TW activity” comment, I agree totally.
    Theo must do more 🙂
    Ginge, handed out….nothing new there lol.
    Still, I say what I believe so rightly or wrongly, I’ll offer an opinion……usually it goes against the grain hahahaha

  15. tsgh says:

    🙂 Adam. Even Theo might break his stride if he knew a fat cane was awaiting him at half time…

    It would be beautiful if Roman was not able to get Simeone for next summer but AW personally brokers a deal and Simeone joins us…

    Imagine Koke roaming our midfield instead of Ox/Theo.. come can only dream I guess.

  16. tsgh says:

    Lewis… well made comment; On the other hand I personally feel betrayed when, someone on £140kpw needs his colleague to motivate him… where is the self-discipline and personal pride…

  17. Adam says:

    TS. I can envisage a meeting between Simeone and Sir Chips Keswick especially when the Malvinas came up.
    I thought Chelsea were going for Conte?

  18. tsgh says:

    Simeone vs Sir Chips… who will drop his cigar first? 🙂
    yes Chelsea have signed Conte…

    Simeone said no to Roman and Marianna…

  19. Wavy says:

    It’s all very well stating “time is a great healer”, let me tell you my wounds are still open and dripping puss, I can’t see any quick end to them, scab Bing over would be good, not a chance of that yet. I’ve more chance of them turning gangrenous!
    What is it about Arsenal? Every year the same old period of failure and self destruction. Why? We have good players, we have a manager of huge experience and erstwhile, albeit occasional success. And yet we still fail at the final hurdle. Why?
    Imo it’s not the failure of one or two it’s a systemic failure and has been for years and years. The whole club needs a shake from top to bottom and the overpaid, pampered players too!
    Can I offer a solution? No I can’t. A few new ins and a lot of old ‘uns out would be a start but it would be long and it would be slow!
    Trouble is that they have all, mostly been around the club far too long and, familiarity breeds contempt, doesn’t it? It also breeds complacency and that is, I think the root cause of all our failings, from the top of the club to the bottom. None of them accept the responsibility for failure. They are all made of Teflon, nothing sticks to any of them, even the sh1t when it starts flying! And worst of all they are not proactive or even forward thinking. Planning for the future? New faces? Losing old faces? Players and staff, owners and tea ladies alike. ALL FAR TO COMPLACENT, they all need a really good shake up!

    Right, rant over…..for now I’m off to bathe in the rain. And,

    A happy St David’s Day to one and all.

  20. Adam says:

    Wavy. I was being facetious. Let those wounds bleed. I just get fed up with having the hump about what’s happening over there. 🙂

  21. Steven says:

    Ramsey,Theo & Ollie need dropping Ramsey has about 5-6 touches of the ball every time he’s on it sorely missing cazorla in the center dare I say Jack could do a much better job then Rambo right now… the answer in Elneny (whilst Cazorla is out) him and couq giving the freedom to Ozil to go and do his thing… sadly Man U employed a man marking of Ozil by Morgan S which has gone un-mentioned which exploited our two CM’s Elneny has the attitude and discipline we need along Couq… Campbell to come back in to support Hector or Ramsey wide right (he can’t cover the CM spot as much as he wants to cry about it)

    Welbeck has been great with his work ethic and yes should be used carefully but when we’re desperate for 3 points I suspect he’ll play more then he should… The Ox has really cocked up his chances again and I reckon he’ll be loaned out at the end of the season and agree even though I called for Gabriel to be back in the side Kos (normally Mr reliable) has been shocking since the turn of the year…. Chambers has looked really good and should be in with shout

    Same week every year the team just cock up if we played like we did against Barcelona at Utd and got turned over I don’t think any arsenal fan could of said “a lack of effort” “a lack of desire and heart” id of backed them all the way and said it was one of those dates…besides Cech, Bellerin, Monreal & Ozil even Campbell when he’s played can anyone else look in the mirror and say they’ve performed at the level they know they can? 4 players from 11 and it’s the same every season.. yet we’re still only 5 points of the top and if things go our way we could be top come Sunday night which doesn’t feel right it doesn’t feel like a team worthy of top of the prem that’s how tight it is this year and difference between giving 100% and 70/80% will be the difference for the first time I’m shitting myself going to Spurs…

    I really disappointed with Arsenal right now the team and wengers fault and everyone is calling for change and I think Wenger will call it a day at the end of the season as Merse said you can justify to the fans if you’ve lost the league to Chelsea or Man City with the money and quality of players they have but imagine losing the league to Spurs or Leicester I would expect Wenger to throw the towel in and personally is it his fault I’m sorry but I don’t need any motivation from my manager to perform in my role and when I’ve got an opportunity to prove myself and show my worth that’s on my head managers take too much of the blame these days its time those lads looked in the mirror and said am I up for it or not and tell the manager if you are or not 11 cup finals left away to spurs away to city i’ll look forward to 4th spot again

  22. Lewis says:

    If that is truly Walcott’s wage then that proves exactly what we as a club are about.

    Mediocrity is rewarded handsomely. He hasn’t progressed since we bought him and recently I’d say he’s worse!

  23. scottfromoz says:

    Devil, none of us really know what cash he has access to.
    I go back 3 years ago, or thereabouts, when Gazidis said we finally can match the big clubs financially, or words to that effect.
    That, after years and years of directors and Chairman telling us Arsene there was always plenty available.
    People tend to believe the version that suits their opinion.

  24. scottfromoz says:

    When Theo copped his big pay rise, it was on the back of selling RVP, Nasri and a few others, so the club had to make a stage,net.
    If we’d lost him as well, there would have been a massive revolt, instead of the large one that happened lol
    Plus, the facts he’s Wnglish plays its part.
    I am not suggesting he’s worth the money, but we must take all factors into account.

  25. Joaquim Moreira says:

    morning all!
    TW: needs at least 10 metres free for playing. He only can play in the wings because his speed. He hasn’t qualities for a central forward and is not physical enought. I never understand how can insist in play in central forward. Only if someone can put the ball in a free space for he running for it.
    AS: we paid now his deficient pre-season and not have rested and stopped enough before the start of the season. He still in agood performance until the injury; now, his lack movements and speed is evident.
    midfield: The season is long and we lost all the games here. we made a pressure very high but we lack our back, We must be more conservative. We must ply with two DM, one plyers in front of them, tawo midfields at th central/wings nd only a central forward. Have players who not want to defend is out of tactics of modern football. Mata was sell from Chelsea because we didn’t defend; Ozil out from Madrid from the same reasons… Look at Leicester, Chelsea, they only have a central forward, strong defense and a solidarity midfield. The football is not nice but is eficiente
    others: we have the players we have and it’s with those we must win something. I see, like everybody, Leicester and totts much more focused and determined to win and in a privileged position. Don’t forget they only have 3 or 4 defeats.

  26. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I stand to be corrected…..but the spuds and Leicester both have to go to Manure, Dippers and Chavs plus they have to play each other.

    We have only to play against the Spuds.

    so it might be that both drop points with these teams.

    that is our only saviour. But we have to win the rest of our games. ALL OF THEM

  27. tsgh says:

    Scott- you have a solid point bud.
    As you have said, no one truly knows what the club has but IG has been asked in past interviews about what our budget is and he has alluded to the point that AW is given money and he chooses to use some to extend players’ contracts and some for purchases…; when pressed IG has rightly not given the true figure…

    IG and AW post Ozil/AS17 signings said that we were not going to see £42m signings every year…

    If we could apply everyday life occurences to Arsenal; one would have to follow the proverbial money… in this case past star players like TH14, Pv04, Cesc and recently RvP10 who have spoken to AW when they were at crossroads before they left the club. They have all gone away believing its never AW’s fault but the club’s fault as to why we do not make the big signings a club of this stature should be making….

    Journo’s like Guillem Balague unbelievable as they may be have laughed at British press linking AW to big name signings knowing we do not go into the transfer market with the same conviction or clout as other big clubs.

    Yes AW can be blamed rightly for poor signings plus lacklustre performances and for being a good employee i.e doing what the bosses want.

    in the end doone question on my mind is whether from my armchair at home I think AW loves the cluband does the best for the future of the club…

    Not calling anyone out, but odd how no one admits they were wrong to call for Theo’s contract to be extended 2 times… 🙂
    It seems fans and managers could be deceived too; the difference being fans expect managers to know better and listen to fans needs…

  28. dublingunner says:

    Ivan Gazidis in 2012: “Arsenal in the next 2 years will have the financial capacity to compete with the biggest teams in Europe” lies damn lies.
    Afternoon, thats what we were told and led to believe,
    I suppose it boils down to the fact that we wouldn’t mind if we were making serious offers for top players and being outbid by others with more cash. But the way they have constantly lost out on targets for under bidding, downright stubbornness and just the unwillingness to take that next step up, suggests to me that whoever is in there to put these transfers to bed is falling short. Pure and simple. And obviously if it,s Gazidis, or Wenger it should not be allowed to continue, as it is already painfully becoming apparent that we are being caught up by teams who have less resources than us

  29. dublingunner says:

    In that respect yes, Rico, but how can you compete if you don,t spend, also begs the question, Has AW really got the power to spend 100-150 million, and if, just say, he did go to the board and say “look I,ve 3 or 4 players that I feel I can get at this moment in time, I,m goin to spend the best part of our cash reserves, which according to Tim Payton, of the Arsenal Supporters Trust,“ are the largest cash reserves in world football. would the owner actually give im his blessing. Unfortunately the board are more concerned about their short-term capital preservation( staying in profit and preventing short-term loss) as to take a pro-active approach to create a truly great footballing side.

  30. Marshall says:

    My wounds are still fresh and stinging. They go as far as zero transfer activity in the summer and thAt Welbeck lie!

    Starting a season with no decent squad is negligible. Well here we are and as suggested earlier I too down know what our game play is anymore. We can’t hold possesion and counter attacking is backfiring on us.

    We haven’t improved at all- it’s just the competitors who have dropped. Correct me if am wrong but I think with our current points we’d still be position 3/4. Where is the progress?

    What will be his excuse when we loose NLD. They spent more? Or are experienced? Bonkers.

  31. dublingunner says:

    Interesting Payton, also goes on to say , Wenger was actually operating under a “false economy” because keeping money in the bank now was a bad idea ahead of potentially rising transfer fees with the new TV money kicking in next summer, and when the full year comes in they will have around £250m in cash thanks to the TV rights and so on.

    Anyway, can our season can be salvaged, yes but time is running out, the players can redeem themselves by putting in 2 major performances to beat Swansea and Tottenham this week, easier said than done,I know. I don,t think Sanchez should be benched, although he has not been his usual brilliant self since he,s come back from injury,
    But surely Campbell and Elneny for Theo and Ramsey has to be looked into.

  32. Kel says:

    This has been debated to death… fuck it were gonna beat Swansea and Tottenham… you heard it here first 🙂

  33. Marshall says:

    Wenger couldn’t mention one leader in his team. He carefully sorts out the likes of Zlatans, Ronaldos and players who’d question his tacts and gladly assembles a group of ‘yes man’s… Last man who tried RvP was shipped up north before he’d finished his query. I bet there’ll be a standoff before AS renews.

  34. allezkev says:

    If you fail to carry out his instructions, Uncle Bob will have you skinned alive…

    His motivational skills are legendary…

    He will not tolerate complacency… ?

  35. Drake says:

    Afternoon all wenger was given 60m last summer to sign a cf, if i remember well it was one of our board members…the problem is they let wenger insult other clubs by putting low bids undervalue-ing their players

  36. tsgh says:

    Kev, imagine Uncle bob making a bid for Aguero? Can 2 wheelbarrow full of Zimbabwean Dollars finalise the deal?

    I will take Uncle Bob as Aw’s replacement if he can convince Bruce Grobbler out of retirement

  37. allezkev says:

    Ginge, Uncle Bob don’t need no wheelbarrow…

    He’ll just send ‘the boys’ around…

    Job done… ?

  38. Marinello says:

    Hi Rico, Wath, Lee, etc,
    All rather depressing.
    The performance against United, we have all seen many times before. Usually its against Chelsea…. We all hate seeing the team lose, but its the way that they lost against United. They were playing a team with many players out, that relied on youth with a few older heads out of their usual positions. The trouble is, I never know which Arsenal team is going to turn up from one week to the next. It needs a few leaders out on the pitch and a Manager who does not substitute like for like, when things need changing.
    I want to see more movement from players, when a player like Ozil has the ball.
    I fear a beating by the Spuds and then a fight for 4th spot.
    Such a shame when most of the top teams in the EPL have not been performing that well
    this season, a season where, with the right mixture of speed, skill, desire, back bone and steel, we could have made a real go at finishing as Champions.

  39. tsgh says:

    Marshall, we have 2 points more compared to last season but yes we will be 3rd behind City but 11 points behind Chelsea.

    Last year around this time we took 10 points from a possible 12 after

    So yes we haven’t improved..

    As I was arguing at the close of last season,we should be looking at overall points not where we finish unless we are first.we finished 14 points behind chelsea; The previous season we finished only 7 points behind City but fans and maybe AW also thought we could replicate the coquelin influenced form this season…

    If we should replicate last seasons form between March and May we will win only 4 out of a possible 11 games.

    Remember we have another slum in April every year as well…

  40. Thulani says:

    Hi Rico

    I also blame our board for being ruled and controlled by AW, We have too many average players who play without commitment. Instead of strengthening the team AW will buy 14th,15th and 16th year olds. Buy players are not play them like Elneny.AW will never take Ramsey out no matter what that is his weakness, he has favourites. That is why he did not buy Fabregas back he was protecting his favourites. We need a quality RW, CB and a striker. Coq is good but we need a classy DM like Javi Martinenez. We are here because of AW’s appreciation of mediocrity with the approval of our board. What happened on Sunday is unexplainable, its beyond a disgrace.

    Thulani

  41. allezkev says:

    The frontline and midfield were both poor, but Gabriel’s defending cost us one, arguably two goals in the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

    Though it’s certainly no excuse for a poor defensive display, speaking the language with some sort of fluency would obviously help. How is Laurent Koscielny supposed to let the Brazilian know where a striker is if he can’t understand.

    Can these two centre-halves even communicate with one another? (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
    “I would prefer him to have better English because in the fraction of a second sometimes someone can help you communicate,” Arsène Wenger said in Friday morning’s press conference.

    “He has Nacho Monreal next to him who can speak in Spanish, I believe now he’s working very hard on English and is improving quite quickly and well.”

    The centre-half doesn’t have to be absolutely fluent, he just needs a good grasp of quick football phrases to let him know where the offside line is or where opposition players are. Monreal’s Spanish helps, but Gabriel’s mother tongue is Portuguese, plus he was only in Spain for 18 months. The two languages are similar but far from identical and reports when he signed in January 2015 said that his Spanish wasn’t great, having only spent 18 months at Villarreal.

    We already know that Petr Čech speaks to his defence in three languages at a time but, when no defender has been introduced to the side in over 12 months, it’s ridiculous that they can’t communicate in one language.

    Maybe Gabriel is improving quickly now but, if he is, what has he done for the last year?

  42. tsgh says:

    Kev- from the little I saw of Gabriel in La liga, he was always poor in the air…

    Most times if the opposition keeper kicked the ball, he would let it bounce.

    Last season on his debut he nearly conceded 2 goals against everton doing the same…

  43. allezkev says:

    Ginge, that last comment was someone else’s work, the language thing amazed me, that’s all, that why I C&P it…

    You need a bit of a balance at centre-back, two players with different attributes who complement each other…

    I like Gabriel, and maybe with time he could work with Koscielny, but with so much at stake I’m not sure now is the time…

  44. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Kev…..like you i like Gabriel as well. However I feel that for now we should stick with Per till the end of season.

    Gabriel and Kos should work on their understanding from the preseason games, or else Gabriel and Chambers. That way they bed together.

  45. allezkev says:

    Coach, BFG comes in for a lot of criticism because of the areas of his game that are weak…
    He’s always had a lack of pace,
    so did Tony Adams,
    but he used to have Vieira, Edu, Petit and Gilberto in front of him…

    Mertesaker had Flamini, Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla and Coquelin…

    How many of that lot would supplant the generation Tony Adams had protecting him?

    The personnel we currently have are the responsibility of Wenger…
    Etc etc…

  46. Micko says:

    Kev, he had no postional sense on Sunday, should have stayed in bed, run ragged by an 18 year old.

    If I had to blame 1 player for the weekend performance it would be have to be the whole team.

  47. Micko says:

    Paddy runs into the pub and shouts to Mick “Someone’s stolen your car”
    Mick says “Bastards, did you see who did it”
    Paddy says “No but I got the registration number”

  48. Micko says:

    Have to agree rico, only Leicester have lost less games at home this season than Man U and that was against us.

    Who am I kidding !

  49. rico says:

    No-one Micko. Lol

    I was thinking about Walcott today and my comment about him being a bad egg. Many players are labelled that way because of their attitude, like Balotelli and I wonder if Walcotts attitude is bringing others down. Yes he seems like a nice guy in front of a camera but on the pitch he’s a real lard arse…

    AOC isn’t quire as bad imo but he’s all a bit to jokey away from match day….

  50. Micko says:

    rico, on a serious note I think it all started to wrong when Wenger started dressing down on matchdays, think it was the Chelsea game in January.

  51. Marshall says:

    Evenung guys. Tony Pulis just done us a favor. We can reduce the gap to three points tomorrow. Well if the bottling arsenal wakes up before the game…

    We can’t screw it this time, can we?

  52. Marshall says:

    Ts thanks for the info.

    2points better than last season. Cech has been vital for that. He has saved us lots of points (remember Kante’s curler). If only there was a ‘top quality’ striker in the TW who’d win us more points upfront.

  53. Micko says:

    Marshall, cop yourself on, at the Emirates there’s every chance you’ll come out of the stadium screwed with your pants on !

  54. Nashua Gunner says:

    Good evening or good night, wherever you are.

    If Leicester don’t win the EPL this season, the team that beat Leicester HOME and AWAY, is going to win the EPL this season. You heard it from me first.

  55. Micko says:

    Nash, realistically the best we can hope for is the FA Cup ! The last time Spurs won the league man still hadn’t walked on the moon, if you don’t believe me ask Wath……long may it continue, more than anything we gotta smash the Spuds this weekend, nite Gooners.

  56. Marshall says:

    Lol Micko, it will be a new low. How we manage to keep digging with our heads buried in the sand baffles me.

  57. rico says:

    Oh dear. The last thing we needed to hear re Santi…

    Surely Elneny and Coquelin have to be the central pairing if there’s any hope of plugging the midfield holes…

    Morning all..

  58. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Leicester gave us a sniff, and they keep doing it.
    Spuds will fekk things up again.
    The big question is will we keep shooting ourselves in the foot?
    Winning culture, or lack of it, is killing us.
    We’ve forgotten how to get the job done.
    Let’s hope we remember bloody quickly lol

  59. Lee says:

    Achilles injury…………. I mean starting a season with Arteta, Rosicky and Flamini as midfield options is a sackable offence!!!

  60. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    I am with you Rico regarding the Totts. I am not convinced either that they will muck up this time. The have one ace up their sleeve…….a hungry Pochettino. And his hunger rubs off on his players. The only way they will muck up is if they suffer an injury to Lloris and to a couple of their spine. otherwise I feel that are nailed on to be champions.

    HAving said that, I do not know what will happen if we win the NLD. We have to win against the Swans first.

    But one game at a time.

    My team for tonight…….

    Cech
    Bellerin, Per, Kos, Nacho
    Elneny, Coquelin
    Campbell, Ozil, Alexis
    Danny

    Subs…..Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Ollie, Aaron, Iwobi, Flamini.

    Theo can stay at home.

  61. scottfromoz says:

    Sevil, leaving Aaron out entirely?
    Damn harsh lol.
    Bring him on with 20 to go and watch him.
    He might simply be ratshit because for several months he’s been one of few that runs his arse off every game.

  62. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    I thought Arsene looked like a man in denial yesterday. Seems like he thinks this team is better than it actually is.

  63. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Its either him or Ozil Scott.

    AW has to be pragmatic in the run in now. I will play Ozil from the start of the match but around the 65th min I will change him for Aaron. And Ollie for Danny. Plus take off Campbell and put Chambers behind Bellerin.

    That is a fucking awesome plan B…..and it will work I can assure you because Aaron’s direct running and dribbling is different to what Ozil gives us.

    And Bellerin will keep the Swans defence stretched while Chambers will keep our defence settled.

  64. Kel says:

    The hammers will do spurs tonight, and the good guys will put 3 past the swans… 🙂

    Adam.. he’s been in denial for yrs lol…

  65. Kel says:

    Just don’t play chambers at right back tonight. .. wasn’t it montero who tore him apart previously.

  66. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Wasn’t it a similar Arsenal team which destroyed Manure 3-0 in the first round Kel????

    This is a different game. Chambers had no Bellerin in front of him but someone who did not pull his weight.

    And Chambers has matured imo.

  67. rico says:

    Kel, Bellerin was right back when we lost this fixture last season…

    It was the away match Chambers was torn to shreds. Hey, but at least Wenger noticed and changed things…. 😉 😉

  68. Kel says:

    I don’t think chambers played any part of beating utd Dev. . But I like the idea of what you’re saying I personally wouldn’t play him at right back tonight later in the game if we are winning yes him and Bellerin doubling up could be formidable.

  69. rico says:

    Chambers at right-back is a big no for me. Centrally though he’s a lot better imo…

    He certainly was against Leicester after replacing Kos.

  70. potter says:

    If he gets one on one with his winger tonight he will be booked for holding again. Someone needs to go back to Highbury and find George Graham’s piece of rope he used on the back 4 to tie his hands behind his back and make him play like that. ( Throw ins might be difficult ).

  71. Kel says:

    I think Arsenal will respond tonight after that pathetic performance at OT.

    But when was the last time we actually beat Swansea at home in the league.??

  72. Adam says:

    Rico. He came on with Leicester down to 10 men and Mahrez off. Vardy had run himself out by that time. There was very little to trouble the defence when he came on.
    At this time he is nowhere near good enough as far as I can see.

  73. Adam says:

    I see we are talking about the possibility of a European league along with the other ‘big’ clubs. All being arranged by a friend of Stan’s. I get a glimmer of where we might be heading.

  74. scottfromoz says:

    If we can not give Swansea a touch up, we can safely say we have no right at all to be winning the title.
    After the most pathetic performance in years, and a title to fight for, if these guys can’t roll Swansea by at least two, then sack them all and start again.
    Seriously, we have often discussed motivation and who or what should provide it, but as it stands, any player that needs anything extra to fire them up is a disgracefully inept and mercenary footballer, IMO.

  75. Kel says:

    He looked a good player when we first bought him. then he got exposed at Everton I think in fairness though we probably didn’t have any protection in front of him.

    When montero destroyed him he had the Ox in front of him.

    He’s still young but I think he would benefit from a loan imo.

  76. Adam says:

    Kel. Like so many of the Southampton talent train he might turn out to be decent but, looking at who they have sold and how much they have got for those players, only Bale really stands out as potentially top quality.

  77. rico says:

    I still think he did well Adam… Not suggesting he’s the finished article, but credit where it’s due I guess…

  78. Kel says:

    Exactly Scott… its time to stand up or fuck off imo although I don’t think we’ve beaten Swansea at the Emirates from 2011.. lol but that will change tonight.

  79. Kel says:

    Yes Adam they all seemed to look better at Southampton maybe we should just sign koeman then. 🙂

    I do think Shaw will become a top player.

  80. Adam says:

    Kel. Did you not see Koeman’s tactics last night?
    How on earth they took 4 points from us this season I will never know. That 4-0 loss over Christmas was utter shite.

  81. Adam says:

    I say forget their academy Brudder. We need to start buying the best as far as I can see. We have too many who ‘might’ be good in the future. We’ve been saying that for a decade about Theo. 🙂

  82. Kel says:

    I didn’t Adam I was surprised to see they lost.

    I think the 4-0 loss against them adam has more to do with wengers tactics. That was another terrible performance from Arsenal actually it was one of the worst imo.

  83. Lee says:

    There’s been plenty more of those “utter shite” performances this season Brudder…… insipid, like the players & manager too!

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