Morning all,
How did we lose that game against a team without a few of it’s better players?
My answer to that is, we just aren’t good enough. This squad is full of good to great players but they seriously look lost at times, fragmented too.
A well worked passage of play saw us take an early lead. A ball to Alexis, a super pass to Theo, who to be fair to him, had made a good run into the box, was followed by a fine finish….
City were shaken, the fans were unhappy and all was looking good for The Arsenal….
A second goal for the visitors was denied by an offside flag which was tight but fair so when City equalised with a goal from Sane, who was in almost an identical position, one has to look at the linesman for a dreadful decision. Being in line with play might have helped, but he wasn’t. This kind of shoddy stuff is not acceptable, not in any league, let alone the top one. Decisions like that cost points, even titles.
It is well known, the referees are protected very well, what is right, like the lions in the zoo so we have to live with their decisions.
I want them (referees) to be very well protected. I want them to be safe. But if they could make the right decisions it would be even better. – Arsene Wenger
Anyway, what annoys most of us more, I know it does me, is City scored their first with just 47 minutes on the clock, there was plenty of time for us to get at them and go again but no. As good as our first half was, the second was awful.
Pep made a few positional changes at half-time, Arsene left his team alone. Or that’s how it appeared..
The equaliser lifted City and it was only a matter of time before they nabbed a winner. Our defence couldn’t clear the ball, the midfield couldn’t win a ball and City were made to look good. With 20 minutes left in the game, de Bruyne found Sterling in the box and the Englishman fired home what turned out to be enough to secure all three points. Just what Koscielny and Monreal were doing when trying to block the shot must be a question they are still asking themselves this morning. You wouldn’t have seen Keown, Winterburn or Adams let that one get past them… Pathetic defending.
Even then there was still time for us to get a point or even a winner but it never looked like we would, not really. And we didn’t…
Arsene:
We have to come back next week and win our game. I think we’ve had an absolutely horrible week and what is worse is that out of two good performances, you get zero points. And out of two leading positions, we lost two games. That of course is very disappointing. Before we think about the nine points, we have to come back and be realistic. For a while we have not kept a clean sheet, and if you want to play at the top you have to keep clean sheets.
I think he has his head in the sand. The last two performances haven’t been good at all. Both times we’ve taken an early lead against two sides who have been right out of form. But it’s almost as if the players and manager believe 1-0 is enough and the level of performance drops. This of course allows the opposition into the game and on both occasions, their confidence grew, their performance improved and the home fans, who had been pretty quiet, got right behind them. Once the 12th man comes alive, up a gear their team goes again.
It happened at Goodison Park and it happened again yesterday at The Etihad and it’ll probably happen a few more times before this season ends. Arsene Wenger needs to up the anti, he needs to get this team playing better, working harder and to be more organised and ruthless from start to finish. 1-0 is seldom enough in this league, not these days.
Not when we play Arsene’s way….
It’s hard to say any more than was said on yesterday’s thread. I just believe that the players have stopped listening . He has nothing new to say and they have heard it all before.Sad but he has outstayed his tenure in my opinion.
The results and performances on the field are a manifestation of the manager and his ethos. We have desperately needed change for so long now it has become farcical that the debate for the last weeks has been on whether Ozil and Sanchez should be paid £1 million plus per month each when really it has simply diverted attention from far more pressing matters.
Everything has gone dreadfully stale hasn’t it. It’s been heading that way for a while now…
We have the squad to win the league, but don’t have the manager…
Have you been watching the cricket Adam…?
Rico. I completely lost interest in this series after seeing the pitches that had been prepared. I will check it out now.
Blimey. I wish I hadn’t bothered now. 🙂
come of it,its quite simply we were rubbish especial in the second half,couldnt even take control of the ball an ameteure side would have done better,and ozil and sanchez,they still beleive they are worth 200.000 a week,bugger off and find another club who are stupid enough to give youthat money,against top clubs both of you go missing
🙂 Adam.
Stunning batting by the young man…. Time for Cook to give the armband to someone else I think…
I have read alot about the 2 consecutive losses suffered by Arsenal this week. One of the fans mentioned the fact that the saga surrounding contract negotiations with Sanchez and Ozil could be the cause of “dressing room” sabotage of the team’s performance of recent. I tend to think this is partly true.
I am also wondering why Lucas Perez is not given a start on the wings ahead of Iwobi. For the few matches he has played and scored, I find him having a better eye for goal than either Iwobi or Ox. Now that Ox is out injured, should we see Lucas on boxing day? What do you think of that?
Wenger needs to have a long hard look at his players and then get ruthless with them. We have a couple that can disappear in games and another couple that aren’t good enough at this level to start every week.
We now have the cash coming in to replace them and he’s not doing it fast enough.
Lucas has to come in Peter, imo anyway…
Hobart, as some have said before, it matters not who Wenger buys, it’s him who is getting things wrong…
Morning all good commentts but let’s face it the season is more or less over in mid December and we repeat ourselves time and time again.I have had enough.I don’t mind losing but it would be nice to be entertained a bit more than this season
I also don’t think we have a strong squad which I initially thought.So many things need to change and I hate to say it but perhaps a total freefall so we finish 7th or 8th might I stress might make a few heads turn and Wenger walks .
Might do Arsenal the world of good to finish outside the top four Kelsey.. Kroenke might wake up then… 😉
Wenger needs to leave. Arsenal is tethered to him and him being stagnant we can’t move. We are standing still. The next weeks will be full of desperation and then the team rallies to a top four finish and come May he is praised of how he managed to steer the team to Europe, again.
We always want the best for Arsenal but if a spiral dip to mid table is what will bring proper changes so be it.
Agree on all points Marshall. Although the way others are slowly improving, this year he might struggle to get into the top four. Chelsea, Liverpool and City are all better than us, so are the Totts which I hate to say and it looks like Mourinho is starting to get his players ticking.
Europa league might upset the latter two….
Can’t Monreal see how other full backs close down attacking opponents. I hate how he brings a player into the box.
Not sure if there are stats about it, but I bet most corners we concede are from his side. Well it’s obvious for the goals. Entire career in the premier league and we manage to give Cech his worst run…only at Arsenal.
Another thing, when we were pegged to our goal, I couldn’t see anyone talking. Coq and Xhaka don’t even look at each other, Kos lets Monreal and Gab get clumsy without saying a word. Theo, Iwobi and Ozil….well.
Rico, I think (and hope) return of Welbeck and Cazorla will get us going. So I don’t think we’ll fall that far behind.
Monreal is having a stinker of a season, surprised Gibbs hasn’t been given a start in the PL yet…
Coq and Xhaka doesn’t seem to work does it, again, Elneny needs to be given a chance again as soon he’ll be off to the ACON’s..
Good point re Welbeck and Cazorla, their return will be like ‘new signings’… 😉
Won’t the season be over by the time Cazorla is fit and ready?
Good afternoon Rico
I am kind asking myself that you bloggers if is there any difference in regarding what you wrote about the bottling under Arsene before 13 years and now ?
Change the names of players and it is all the same i guess.
So i will find you guilty if you fail to post early to satisfy you readers because all you need to do is copy and paste.
Cheeers
Probably brad…
Thanks Rico.
You know what ?…….I feel totally numb and I hate it that Arsenal has this affect on me !……………..honestly cant think the last time I was this pissed off with football, I cant seem to get my head around the fact that last Sunday we were top for a little while and a week later we are 9 points adrift !
I never thought we would win the league at the start of the season as I always thought Chavs and Bindippers had the great advantage of not being in Europe at all, but you always hope and last Sunday was great albeit Chavs had a game in hand.
I cant even put an excuse to the squad as it looks OK, so I`m afraid it has to be down to the manager and his failings as a tactical coach !……………….Conte gets Chavs rocking after an inept 1st half at the Ems and hasn`t looked back since, could Wenger have done the same ?…..
I totally agree with Kelsey in that we need some tough medicine as a club and fans………so it would be better if we had some 4th place trophyless years for a few reasons……two mainly being Wenger gone and hopefully Kroenke gone !
I haven`t even looked on my customary first port of call…….newsnow and will try and completely avoid Arsenal`s next game as I need a rest from the stress they cause me………………………….see how long I can last ! 🙂
Hi Rico,
Good honest post.
As you say, we were not at the races again. I watched Sanchez telling players to come towards the City players, to close them down, no one listened….
Lots of things wrong on the day, some of Cech’s kicks were all over the place, Montreal does not get the protection from Iwobi, we gave the ball away too cheaply and as Bill Shakily said “Without the ball, the opposition cannot play…”
Certainly is a roller coaster ride being an Arsenal fan.
These last two performances have been coming. On another thread I was critical of the West Ham game which we were in danger of blowing before Sanchez rescued us. But I got slaughtered for my comments because of the final result. Yesterday and Tuesday just reinforced what I was saying about our attitude when we go ahead. Sloppy and casual. The class of 2002-04 used to kill teams off with two or three quick goals and then relax. This lot obviously think they are better than they are!
Hi Alex, Marinello..
It’s unbelievable Lc, well, actually, it isn’t because it happens every season..
Bob, it all started v Boro imo….
Rico. You could be right there.
I didn’t say which year though Adam… 😉
Obviously 2008 Rico. 🙂
Hanging on for dear life comment..I know.
Let’s hope December’s not the new November.
Looking back at the game again….
Was’nt that a strange tactic/tictac
for a Wenger team.
Floating the ball over the Midfielders.
Cech reminded me of Gunter Netzer.
The last 21 away games vs the current top 6…
Won 0
Draws 7
Loses 14
If anyone can explain why we keep bottling the big games without putting any of the blame on Wenger then your a better man than me
Indeed Adam.. 😉
Rico. Did you see the rumours that Wenger has a 2 year contract, agreed in principle, on the table?
Could be a wind-up though. 🙂
@Kelsey
And it is all down to referee …hahaha
Has he ever questioned himself ever ?
I never see the statistics, i follow my gut instincts but no surprise there.
That shows he has not got the ability to asses the fitness level required to win the league.
The mental toughness and leadership required for the task is beyond his ability to assess and decide
It is not in him to read in advance opponents tactics and make swift changes .
Ozil as good as he can be he has this kind of disappearing in certain games .
Will he be able to do that under Lou with the German international team ? No way ….and fearing that he will.be shreded into pieces by his captain and team mates will dear think of it.
But here under the cushion of another weak persona he can do it for ever and no.problem at all.
In my eyes yesterday we where only 9 men against 11 men.Ozil the supposedly provider was no where to be seen and as consequence Sanchez was left by his own on high field..
Disgusting really.
I think someone else said that a while ago Adam…
Kelsey, didn’t you say you’d seen that?
Sky mentioned our dreadful record against the top six Kelsey- dire isn’t….
Perhaps they’re saving the good news for Christmas Day Rico. As an extra present for us fans. 🙂
Another season of Wenger and am taking a hiatus until he leaves. Really
Let’s hope not Adam…
As am I Marshall… I’m serious too, not writing the same old crap for another two years….
I hope we don’t get there Rico. I was already feeling at home here :). But since I got here I’ve been writing the same comments through the good games and the bad ones, going through them I’d sound like a really broken record. Surely we can’t do these for two more years, life is too short.
It was me Rico.he was handed the contract for 3 years in March but is sitting on it.
I feel the same with the post writing Marshall, it’s the same stuff, but a different season… I’ll be back when a new manager arrives so don’t go too far away… 😉 😉
Thought so Kelsey… let’s hope he doesn’t sign it…
Interesting…..
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsene-wenger-taken-arsenal-far-9483583
?
Not sure about this but it does indicate a contract has been drawn up
Arsenal and Wenger agree a new two-year contract
19th December 2016 – by Myles Palmer
There was a board meeting three weeks ago.
The meeting was told that Wenger and the club have agreed a new two-year contract.
It’s not a rolling one-year deal, as I’d been told a few weeks ago.
I don’t know if it’s been signed yet.
But I do know they can’t announce his new deal after back-to-back defeats.
At Everton, Arsenal bottled it and lost 2-1.
At Manchester City they failed to build on an early goal by Walcott and lost 2-1.
Their second half performance was pathetic and Ozil was invisible.
Real Madrid were right: Ozil doesn’t turn up in big games.
Near the end there’s an injury and Alexis Sanchez sits on the ground with his arms round his knees. He’s been a winner with Barcelona and Chile but he knows he’ll never win anything big with this shower.
It’s been confirmed: Wenger till 2019. Ghastly news, I know.
And I hate to be the one to break depressing news like this.
WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO START CHRISTMAS WEEK
Where is that blunt knife…. So hope Palmer is wrong…
Night guys, ’til tomorrow……
Yes, Interesting that one @ 5:57pm, Rico………..and one of them hits the nail nearly on the head apart from my own opinion that a better coach may have helped us do better even on our limited budget ( compared to the top 3 rich clubs, you know who I mean ! )………..what he says in this quote below is basically what Kelsey, me and others have been saying…..as long as Kroenke is in charge we will never complete with the “Big 3″……..
David Maddock
Has Wenger taken them as far as he can? Yes….but only because Arsenal’s financial policy has gone as far as the board can take it.
The Gunners believe it is possible to create success whilst capping budgets – and that is an admirable sentiment.
Against the likes of City, Chelsea and United though, with their apparently bottomless financial reserves, that policy is doomed in the long term.
Of course you can get a Leicester over a season, so of course Arsenal can win the league this year. But over a longer period, the club which spends the most on wages wins the league.
Arsenal are not skinflints, they are fourth highest wage spenders, but they are some way behind the big three ahead of them.
That means Wenger will usually finish fourth, and anything else is a bonus, an over-achievement. He has taken them as far as he can, because this is as far as Arsenal can go.
So there you go, we are always going to be destined for 4th………………..well that is untill Spuds and W Ham start to benefit from their new stadiums !……………only way to win the league is to have an owner who spends some of his own money……….or a tactical genius of a coach……………….we have neither and not only will Arsenal be in Groundhog Day, but us supporters will be there too in moaning, but like Kelsey has said before, we moan because we care and it absolutely fcuking hurts !.
Don’t blame Stan-he has nothing do with it 🙂 🙂
How long have I been saying this?
Until he leaves, we are stuck in a rut.
He loves Arsene, so while we have Stan, Arsene is our manager unless he decides to leave, so whilst everyone is happy pointing the finger at the manager, I’ve pointed it squarely at THE man who really can make a difference, but refuses to.
Arsene leaves, things could get better, they could get worse….whether people like to admit it, nothing is certain.
Stan leaves, I would bet my bottom dollar things will improve, because if a new owner comes in and Arsene still can’t win the title, he’ll be gone, which simply won’t happen under Stan.
Stan out.
Arsene would follow very soon if everyone here is right and he’s lost it, so where’s the downside?
Oh and another thing !…………………………..when we play away against a team wearing blue why do we not wear our beautiful red colours ?………..really pisses me off !…………………..may have helped if only a fraction, but I bet the players like the red kit better as well………………….should always be red unless a kit colour clash !
I blame you Scott !…………you`ve had ample opportunity to kidnap Kroenke and bury the bastard deep down inside Ayers Rock !………………..we are on the same page, but you have to stop fcuking about in that holiday camp of Australia and set a plan into action !………….Kelsey will finance the operation cos` he loaded !
Operation KOKOK………………………………Kick Out Kroenke OK
Yankee Go Home!!!!!
LC, I’ll bury him next to JFK and Harold Holt-there’s plenty of room here 🙂 🙂
If you guys can arrange the kidnapping, Kev can handle the transport and I’ll prepare the hole.
Morning All
Looking at the upcoming fixtures, Arsenal will probably win the next 6 EPL games…
So by the end of January, and if (I know it’s a big if) but if Chelsea drop a few points during that period, Arsenal could make up some of the 9 point gap between them and the Chavs…
Therefore we could go into February with Welbeck back, Mustafa back, Ramsey back, Mertesaker back (calm down Rico ?) with possibly a big’ish signing in January, Santiago close to a return and everything looking more positive, we may even believe that we’re back in the title race again, it can turn around that quickly. I mean just look at where Arsenal were a ‘week’ ago. On Chelsea’s coat tails ready to take advantage of any slip up by them…
But with all that said/written, have a look at the February fixtures, because that’s the month that will finish us off. And if Wenger has already re-signed by then, then its as you were till 2019…
Kroenke doesn’t care, why should he?
Nothing is going to change for the next 30 months…
Enjoy!
Kev, the voice of doooooom 🙂
Rico, as far as the cricket is concerned, there’s really no excuse for England not playing out the 5th day…
The pitch is dead, so if our batsmen get out it’ll be down to their weak mentality.
It’s about time that Alister Cook played a proper innings…
You can’t stay in the England team on past reputation forever…
Adam, I hope that when India tour England, I certainly hope it’s for a 5 test series because they deserve it.
I also hope that the English groundsmen prepare some nice green wickets to really swing the ball and help Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Co…
kev
Is Jimmy Anderson older than Arsene Wenger?
Scott, I’m afraid that it’s the voice of resignation…
We’ve been here too many times before…
Regardless of your admirable optimism, even you must accept that we’re on a familiar path to eventual disappointment…
Good luck to you if you choose to believe, but I’m bored with seeing our players seemingly unprepared and undermotivated in the biggest of games…
Arsenal needed, in the words of Amy Lawrence a few weeks back, a fuck off win, something to build on, a statement, but once again they failed, as they fail too many times.
It’s too much of a coincidence, just as that spineless 6-0 capitulation to Chelsea you witnessed a few years back was just par for the course.
I will watch and try to enjoy the rest of this season, but there’s not a cat in hells chance of me believing that Wenger can motivate this team of players to any real success in either the EPL or CL…
Sad but true Digger…
George, Jimmy still has a couple more years in him…
I don’t think he’s as old as Glenn McGrath yet…
Afternoon all,
When I got back into the office around lunch time, one of the admin girls said her Spurs supporting husband wanted to know if I was enjoying 4th again. I said not as much as I enjoy St Totteringham’s Day.
Then it dawned on me. I’ve been copping a fair bit of piss take since the northern chav loss, as, it would appear, has been the experience of all Gooners, probably the world over. I reckon this tsunami size out flow of emotion from opposition supporters is a bit premature. They’ve gone too soon.
So my message to all Gooners, take it on the chin & don’t bite. Say nothing & put up a facade that we are all getting along fine (even if its not true) & as the wins come along again, all those who took the piss will start to shit themselves. Mind games is how we must play it now. Remember, revenge is a dish best served cold.
Morning all..
Kev, don’t forget India have a few good fast bowlers… 😉
Morning Rico and all. I was just about to write, yesterday evening, that at least nobody had blamed Stan this time. 🙂
Morning Adam.. 🙂
Goodness only know why Stan and his cronies would entertain the idea of offering AW a new contract though.. If they are which is quite likely…
Dreadful stuff in Berlin, terribly sad….
The answer to that one is elusive Rico. They might be afraid of change, like a lot of supporters seem to be.
Morning all,
I really think we are missing Mustafi. I thought he was over priced but after the last few months is well worth it.
I personally think the last 2 results would’ve been very different with him playing. I think Pep was hoping Stones would play like Mustafi. Able to start attacks and play like a holding mid.
Better the devil they know Adam. Change is most welcomed by me.. 😉
Hi Brad, definitely missing Mustafi and Santi but even so, this lot should be able to defend better than they did in the last two matches…
I don’t rate Gabriel and he does not seem to fit next to Kos. I think even Holding would make a better pairing.
He could fill in for Kos as their game’s are similar.
We’re so disjointed when we don’t have someone who can play from the back. I thought maybe Jack could fill that role when Hodgeson started playing him there.
I agree Rico. The club is screaming out for it now.
Good shout re Holding, he might be young but he certainly looks the part.. And with the fixtures we have coming up, maybe he would be the better option… I doubt AW sees it that way though..
Surely Gibbs will soon get his turn too…
Adam – isn’t it just…
New post up now…