Hopes of Arsenal winning the league over in December?

Morning all.

Arsenal really are at an all time low, that’s if the Internet is any thing to go by. Forums, blogs, whatever you choose to call them, just don’t have as many fan comments as they used to. Even Le Grove, which is possibly the most popular website for all things Arsenal is vastly down on it’s comments. Highbury House is too but I won’t take it personally, not yet anyway. ?

My guess is that we are fed up with repeating the same things day in day out as it’s boring. Nearly as boring as watching a press conference with Arsene Wenger or a post match interview after we’ve been beaten. Tomorrow though, should we lose again at St Mary’s, an excuse we’ve not heard of for a while might pop up. It’s cold, Mesut Ozil couldn’t wear his snood so he struggled. Ramsey forgot to pack his skates which is why he kept slipping up and Ollie couldn’t head the ball because his hair had frozen over his forehead.

I jest of course as hopefully after the game, Arsene is talking about how well we played after winning what would be just our third away fixture of the season so far. Losing at Watford and Stoke isn’t what potential league winners do. Neither is getting hammered by Liverpool having fielded a mix and match team because the manager had no choice. He’d had a choice before though and that was during the transfer window when he had the opportunity to ensure we had a squad which was strong and deep enough to really fight for the title this season. Yet here we are in December and already Arsene Wenger has pretty much given up on our chances because we’re so far behind Man City. We blew our chance to close the gap on Utd too last weekend so all that’s realisticly left for us to aim for is third or fourth spot but even that’s going to be a tall order. In any case, finishing anywhere other than top means we’ve failed yet again. Saying that, to finish runners up knowing you’ve given it a darn good go is kind of acceptable but we haven’t even done that for a long time.

The sad thing is, many of us could see our season unfolding as it has long before we had our butts kicked by Liverpool because not only has it been that way for many seasons now, but we always go into a new campaign two or three quality players light. Goodness only knows how long we’ve been waiting for a top notch central defender to arrive and it’s the same in midfield. Just those two positions, had they been filled in the summer, would have made us stronger. But no, instead, we sold Gabriel with Arsene Wenger no doubt believing that Callum Chambers and Rob Holding would suddenly morph into world class defenders and Lauren Koscielny would pop a magic tablet which fixed his Achilles problem for good.

As we know though, life doesn’t work that way and neither does sport. As the saying goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have been failing to prepare for too long now and no doubt that’s why The Emirates often has many empty seats and why the Arsenal internet interest and comments are down.

Still, with the stuff going on behind the scenes at the club, at least there’s a little bit of a shining light and I’m sure that once we get to see a new face in the dugout on a matchday, things will improve both on the pitch and the Internet..

In the meantime, we’ll just have to plod along, a bit like Arsenal will…

117 thoughts on “Hopes of Arsenal winning the league over in December?

  1. DB10 says:

    The nail on the head – and nothing to do with an excellent blog site – but most fans are so tired of the boring rhetoric and groundhog day moments. We all pray for the day a new manager arrives – Louis Enrique please. Until then, it is picking moments of clarity before posting.

  2. jon fox says:

    Our title hopes were over way before this season even began, In fact precisely when Wenger signed a new two year contract.

  3. Andrew Halling says:

    You are spot on rico, same manager for twenty years, at least 10 with same tactics, same poor buying, same gaps, it gets tedious saying same thing over and over and over…..

    I’m looking for the excuse of less time to prepare than Soton, having had a home game and valuable time on the field from fringe players or subs!

    PS – Invalid token error on Edge. Fine now on Chrome

  4. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Good post.

    The depression and air of resigned failure that are clinging to the club is contagious. The problems are all too apparent. I am trying to remain positive (reasonably anyway).

  5. jeff wright says:

    Wenger’s already put up the less time to prepare excuse than our rivals although he rested all of his first eleven on Thursday ! However I think that Wenger is making a drama out of nothing to make a win on Sunday look better than what in reality it will be. I go for us to beat the Saints because they are not in great form and struggling to win games .A narrow win probably though because Southampton are better than Bate who really were third division class at best. Wenger’s demands that every team should play at the same time is hypocritical because he knows that the 5B+ TV deal money for Prem clubs that is based on games being played over a period of different times and days and nights is money that Stan will be rubbing his greedy paws with glee over,it is theTV cash that counts to his paymaster and not trophies like the FA Cup or even the Prem title .4th place will do nicely and Wenger himself once said that he would be happy to finish second in the league for 20 years ! That’s never looked likely and he could not even manage 4th last season but according to him it was no longer important. Wenger really does talk some right old tosh but he long ago realised that some folk are easily satisfied and that helps him to stay in his well paid job talking complete shite that he is very rarely ever pulled up about by the media.

  6. rico says:

    Afternoon Adam, thanks.

    Nice to see the Hammers beating Chelsea at the moment. They will be tough next week in both matches…

    I’m on Chrome too Andrew but on Safari, I can’t leave comments..

  7. micko says:

    rico, it’s hard to be cheery even with Christmas around the corner !

    18 points up for grabs over the next few weeks and a semi-final place at stake, hopefully we won’t show too much charity this December.

    As for excuses, it’s hard to beat Ollie’s frozen hair lol but I’m going with “I do not think any of zee balls were fully inflated today”

  8. allezkev says:

    Yep Rico, you’ve pretty well summed it up and if anyone doubts your narrative then have another look at the attendance at the Emirates on Thursday. Now if that hasn’t made anyone sit up and take notice, then nothing will…

  9. Kk says:

    Some legitimate excuses there rico.. lol..

    I don’t know any arsenal fan who is not bored to death or in complete state of apathy with everything at arsenal.

    In fact most have stopped wearing the Arse gear let alone buying new merchandise.

    We loosing the young generation to the likes of city, Chelsea, Liverpool and even tottenham.
    You go anywhere in the world and hardly spot someone wearing arsenal jersey these days.
    Its all well to keep bragging about financial planning, but Wengér and his fellow accountants should know it’s football based business first and foremost. .loose the football and you loose your business.

  10. rico says:

    Sorry Micko, I nipped out to stock the cupboards up, we’re due a massive downfall of snow in the early hours of the morning. At least 2cms…

    Ha ha, and I don’t think you’re talking about the one used to play the game….

    Kev, I was prepared for a few challenging comments today but nothing. Speaks volumes eh..

    Kk, I wouldn’t waste my money either, not when I know where it’s not going…

  11. kelsey says:

    Evening all
    to change the subject the club have come down heavy on those trading arsenal retro merchandise without a license,it’s not a copyright issue.|They gave several big traders until 6thDecember to sell or stop trading and they are closing down on all traders selling any merchandise as it all has to go through a company called Toffs.

  12. Wavy says:

    I wonder who owns Toffs?
    Wenger/Stan’s syrup I presume!!
    Didn’t the club have a load of touts arrested last week?
    What are they up to? Maximising their dwindling profits I assume.
    Greed is One of the seven deadly sins.
    They’re doomed, all doomed!!
    Thank the Lord for that! There is a God after all! Hallelujah.

  13. kelsey says:

    Toffs are the official suppliers of most things Arsenal in merchandise as they are for other clubs.They pay for that license though I haven’t seen anything about The Clock, something that is retro and is part of our club.
    You will never stamp it out especially with knock offs from the Far East .

    People get refused with the horrible reversed cannon.That was a copyright issue.
    With regards to touts it’s not only them it is season ticket holders who pass on or sell their tickets even to friends.The club will be tightening up on this as well and are also advertising more than ever the Red membership
    Now they want to pay off Puma and get a better deal with Addidas.

    All these things happening but not where it matters, new players contracts or extensions.
    Plenty of hints Giroud wants to be loaned out in january so he makes the French WC squad and even Theo is stalling until the end of the season about a new contract,when IMO we should have sold him years ago and of course Jack who is a real talent but injury prone hasn’t signed a new contract as yet, his is up in May.
    All this must be upsetting the dressing room and thus we get no consistency in our games.
    Wrighty thinks Sanchez will do a precontract deal in January to join City in the Summer.Do they really need him ?

  14. rico says:

    Kelsey, I don’t think Alexis can seal a deal with a PL club in January, only overseas clubs..

    Perhaps the club don’t want to offer Theo and Jack new contracts but the papers choose to put a different spin on things.

    Ollie out on loan or sold was always going to hit the headlines once one paper wrote that Deschamps said he’s not playing enough football..

    It’s all spin and perhaps lies…

  15. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Rain most of the night and now a pretty deep amount of snow has settled. As for Alexis. Can you imagine Pep’s reaction if he kept passing straight to the opposition or lost the ball with anything like the regularity he has shown recently. Also, doesn’t Sanchez want to play every minute of every game and sulks if that isn’t the case?
    It might happen I suppose. For some players, the grass is always greener.

  16. kelsey says:

    Rico, Sanchez can do a pre contract in January where a fee is agreed with Arsenal, with say City and that blocks all other clubs getting him in the Summer.
    Yes he can move to an overseas club in January.

  17. Wavy says:

    Morning all.

    At Southampton today we should win quite comfortably providing we can find the back of the net on more than a few occasions and not just give. Forster a goalkeeping practise session! Anything like our performance last week, excluding the oppositions goals, should see us bury the saints! Here’s hoping?

    Kelsey, if as you say things are going on behind the scenes and the club are trying to adopt 21st century methods of marketing, then that may be a good thing. If, however, they are seeming to penalise the supporters with their hard line tactics I fear they will be driving yet another wedge between the Board and the grass roots. Not good PR, I think. As for the players who are heading towards the end of their contracts, we may well find half the first team squad will be walking away with Wenger at the end of the season. It will of course leave a chasm to be filled by the new manager, with players of his choice and not a load of the wrinkly one’s mis-fits!

    After a late start it is now snowing here. The world is white and quite wonderful……..to look at! Travelling may prove a little more challenging. A day by the log burner I think.

  18. Rick says:

    Morning Rico and the House
    Its a shocker down south heavy snow overnight now heavy rain,
    Todays team one change BFG for Mustafy

  19. kelsey says:

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/09/jack-wilshere-arsenal-contract-expiring-what-will-happen?CMP=share_btn_tw

    good article by Amy Lawrence re Jack not really knowing about his future with his contract up in May..

    Wavy, Southampton have conceded 1 goal in their last 5 games and our Away record isn’t great.On the otherhand the team have a chance to redeem themselves after the loss to United but then again the defence needs to be straight out of the starting blocks as a unit.

    The club are making it quite clear, no license to sell our products then they have to stop or be prosecuted.I have seen the letter,honest.

    The season ticket thing is hard to implement.Many people have two or more season tickets so why not give them to friends if not needed or sell at face value but not to sell at a profit.

    Simon Jordon said the other day that our match day revenue is the biggest in the world.It’s obviously based on the price of a ticket not the capacity.

  20. Rick says:

    Its very wet at Soton not good for tippy Tappy.
    Happy 18th birth
    day to Reiss Nelson.
    Should be in action today against Man City.

  21. kelsey says:

    Walcott not even in the squad, was captain on Thursday then subbed, had a cold for the two games before and before that a bench warmer and he wants to stay.Not surprised 😉
    Defoe would have been a cheaper option just for one season IMO,scored two good goals yesterday.

  22. BT62 Gooner says:

    Bright and sunny here, but bloody cold, snow still on the ground..

    Rico, glad to see you’re still going strong given the circumstances, it must be a struggle.

    Kev, enjoy tomorrow mate another year older and wiser..

    Morning Adam, hope all is well with you and Mrs.A.

    Good morning to everyone new and old.

    Off to watch the latest offering..latta

  23. kelsey says:

    I have seen this film several times before and one man a journeyman Austin should have already had a hattrick.Pathetic management and poor players who obviously don’t learn.

  24. Kel says:

    Arsenal look like a team that was sitting in the changing rooms with the heaters on while Southampton was outside adopting to the elements…..

  25. Joaquim Moreira says:

    We must cover our right side. Bellerin is playing alone versus two Saints oplayers.
    Why we not shoot?
    Very slow. We take two steps, while Southapton only needs one.
    With the wind in favor, maybe the game changes and starts shoots the goal…

  26. Kk says:

    As kel said,we should take merts off and bring welbz or a midfielder. .but will arsene do anything before 70 mins or after we go 2 nill down! ?

  27. Kel says:

    i fuckinh hate this eye of the needle stuff…. we’ve had about 70% possession in this 2nd half and yet Southampton have the chances……

    tippy tappy bullshit.

  28. Kel says:

    well looks like another groundhog day for Wengers Arsenal… Slow starters tippy tappy possession, think the world owes them something attitude..

    but come Tuesday morning they’ll be on Instagram hugging and kissing each other in training.

  29. rico says:

    Dreadful performance. So so predictable Arsenal. I can’t believe we still play this style of football, it’s boring and non productive tippy tappy rubbish!

  30. Kel says:

    Bad result… shitty performance yet again with a refusal to fucking shoot… Wenger and this team ain’t good enough for top 4….

  31. Wavy says:

    What a marvellous, marvellous game of football contested by two of the mid table premiership teams!

    Arsenal are just totally clueless… Clueless! Players fault? Manager’s fault, inadequate coaching? All of those plus a few more. How very very disappointing.

    Lee where are you? Wenger out. Sack him now, give us all an early Christmas present.

    I’m off to sulk.

  32. Kel says:

    I don’t know about others but i literally watch Arsenal now with little to no emotion… I don’t even cheer when they score…

    I Normally went to 2 or 3 games a season, I stopped that last season as watching the tippy tappy is just boring as fuck.

    looking forward with hope to the end of the season maybe see change.

  33. Adam says:

    What a truly shambolic and nonsensical performance. Put that lump Giroud on and then resolutely refuse to cross the ball. Do it once and score.
    Yes, what the hell has happened to Bellerin??

  34. allezkev says:

    The fact that so many who were regulars on here don’t bother anymore, tells you all you need to know.

    We’ve been gradually sliding into mid-table mediocrity since the move to the Emirates.

    It’s gonna take a massive job and an expensive job to turn the Arsenal tanker around and we won’t do it with the present manager in charge.

  35. allezkev says:

    Adam, and we’ve discussed this before, another manager would be inclined to move on quite a few of our present underachievers.

    A new manager would, as a priority, sign a proper defensive midfielder, possibly two and he’d be sure to sign a decent centre-half or two and maybe a new goalkeeper.

    Wenger will probably sign another attacking midfielder this January.

  36. Alex says:

    Hi Rico
    Check …..5….. ….could have done better on the goal
    Bellerin…..3………this chump is simply no where good defensively and offensively …..absolute average but not criticised much
    Mertesaker…2…..is long time dead football wise…. so exactly as expected
    Monreral……4 …..look at his body position on the goal…
    Xaka………..2…….Is just an expensive flop…has no premier league quality …….
    Alexis………4…….He suppose to be benched at half time.Is doing nothing at the moment.How many times lost the ball to day?
    Ozil……….5………He did not hide for sure but was in the pocket of Sotton midfield
    Ramsey……3…….Wenger pet.

    Wenger the manager ….10 …spot on everything ..Come May he will deliver the trophy ……absolutely no doubt that

    It was good chance to capitalise as Chelsea lost yesterday.Not expecting anything from this team anyway

  37. Rick says:

    Our u 23’s have beaten Man C 1-0 with a goal by Tutu.
    Could have been more Willock hit the bar and goal keeper made brilliant double save(Gea type) to stop Reiss scoring.
    Kev 4 players returned from long injurys
    Bielik (Full 90 mins) Jeff and Fortune all played Mcguane on bench.
    Up to 2nd.

  38. allezkev says:

    Since Arsenal lost at home to Watford, 1-2, on the 31st of this year, we’ve played another 31 EPL games:-

    Home : P16, W13, D1,L2, F37, A12
    Away : P16, W5, D2, L9, F20, A29

    Total : P32, W18, D3, L11, F57, A41

  39. GoonerB says:

    Cheers Rico. I think your post and the other comments pretty much cover my thoughts on things. Another 2 points dropped today. I genuinely think there is more talent in this team than we show, even before you consider what needs to be added to improve us. Arsene’s sides seem to be very poorly prepared mentally and psychologically despite many churned out comments about the spirit of the team. They just look to have a poor understanding of what they should be doing and we get lackluster performances as a result.

    I think another manager that mentally and tactically prepares this side better could add 12 points a season just to start with. I think those few that still support Arsene as being the right man have more a fear of the unknown, having had the same thing for so long. It may even be that the next manager doesn’t turn out to be the right one and we slip slightly even from where we have stood still under Arsene. This however is not the right reason to just keep going as we are, because we have to now initiate the change for the long term good of the club. I have always said that we may have to kiss a few frogs before we get our prince, and Utd have shown that it is not easy to replace a long standing successful stalwart.

    In reality we made a mistake in not going for Guardiola. There have been strong rumours that we were his first choice but the board didn’t go for it. Who is the right man I don’t know. Not sure about DB10’s choice of Enrique. I don’t think he has really pulled up trees having inherited such a talented team. I would probably look for an experienced well respected manager to oversee the transition, even if it is only for a couple of seasons before maybe going more adventurous with a dynamic full of promise younger one but isn’t as guaranteed as a safe pair of hands. I think I would still consider Ancelotti who will be respected by top players, knows how to win this league, and will probably bring a bit more Italian mental preparation and tactical solidity to the team without upsetting our attacking style too much.

  40. allezkev says:

    Cheers Rick, nice to see Bielik is back, shame that he’s been wasted at CB when we need a DM. Yeah Jeff was on the bench vs BATE, I kinda forgot about Fortune, think that Nketiah has overtaken him, wouldn’t surprise me to see him leave in the summer.

    As for McGuane, I think he’ll leave.

  41. potter says:

    We would have got Pep had Wenger stepped aside but we all know that wasn’t going to happen. These players with a couple of additions need organising . We don’t need a genious just someone who has a plan and the ability to pass it on to the players and make them do it.

  42. rico says:

    To get over Arsenal losing I went and bought a Christmas Tree. Now I’m wondering which one of our fairies should go on the top, Wenger perhaps!!

    Nice result at Anfield…

  43. kelsey says:

    I am sure you have noticed practically all the teams we play are physically stronger and taller than us especialy in defence,thus tippy tappy is not the answer,but the wise one doesn’t see it. Ozil had a good game but Ramsey could hardly walk at the end and we are as usual so predictable to play against.2 Away wins so far, nine goals scored five of which were against Everton is not top four form and hardly Europa League form.The manager just has to go,and Bould, no more excuses, and which players should start and who shouldn’t even be here if we really want to be a top draw team.1-1 but again our Away support was tremendous.Giroud put himself in the shop window,though grateful for his goal.Wenger learnt nothing from the United game,practically the same game.Mertesacker is passed it,Kos is also and isn’t 100%.Mustaphi wants out and was leaving last Summer, Xhaka was a bad buy and then a huge gap to Holding and Chambers and even Maitland Niles.Jack needs a run, but is undecided if he is wanted or actually wants to stay (his quote).A complete and utter mess from top to bottom. Lacazette was the wrong choice to take off should have been the want away Sanchez.Welbeck is just well, Welbeck.Grow some AW but we all know he will never change.2 wins Away and look at this.

    Goals conceded away from home in 2017 Man City 14 Man Utd 14 Chelsea 15 Spurs 17 Liverpool 27 Arsenal 32 Swansea 23 Southampton 25 Burnley 26 Everton 28 Bournemouth 29 WBA 29

  44. allezkev says:

    Wenger said after the game.

    “In the last two weeks unfortunately we are losing points after a bad start,” said Wenger, who saw his side concede twice in the first 11 minutes of the 3-1 defeat by Manchester United eight days previously.

    “I felt the Manchester United game played a bit of a part in the head of our defenders,” he said.

    “They were a bit apprehensive to start well again and that’s why it is sometimes not good to talk about the problem because you create a bigger one.”

    Excuses, excuses.

  45. Kk says:

    That’s some shocking stats kelsey..
    At least we are top of something ..

    Who on earth would extend merts contract especially after his long injury lay off.
    Yes he was good in the cup final , but he should have long been replaced along with many others. .

  46. GoonerB says:

    Hi Kelsey. Great to see your silver bouffant again 🙂 Haven’t seen you in a while but as so often I find myself in agreement with you.

  47. rico says:

    Kelsey, I agree re Alexis and Lacazette as out of the two, Lacazette looked the more likely to score. With him playing off Giroud, who knows, it might have worked.

    Ramsey and Alexis kept getting in each other’s way. Just watching City and whereas we always seem to have loads of players in the box which ends up being congested, City don’t. It’s not rocket science is it for players who play wide, to stay wide…

  48. GoonerB says:

    Clicking on that Kelsey but it doesn’t seem to load anything. Is it just me and my rubbish computer skills?

  49. kelsey says:

    Actually kev put it up,Gooner B

    Wenger said after the game.

    “In the last two weeks unfortunately we are losing points after a bad start,” said Wenger, who saw his side concede twice in the first 11 minutes of the 3-1 defeat by Manchester United eight days previously.

    “I felt the Manchester United game played a bit of a part in the head of our defenders,” he said.

    “They were a bit apprehensive to start well again and that’s why it is sometimes not good to talk about the problem because you create a bigger one.”

    The man is going mental !!!!

  50. GoonerB says:

    I think it is a refusal to accept the harsh truth Kelsey that there are flaws in his methods. I think a while back if he had accepted that he needed help with the modern coaching side of things then things could have been different, but his stubborn nature is now proving his undoing in not accepting that he needs help to change methods from younger coaches. He still thinks his ways are the best and without fault. In this he reminds me of Clough and his eventual slip as a top manager. It seems to me that Ferguson was much more pragmatic and realistic as he got older, surrounding himself with top coaches and letting them do their job, which is probably why he remained successful even in his latter years.

  51. ScottfromOz says:

    Morning all.
    I thought this game would show where we really are as a club, coming off the back of a string of tidy performances, and it did.
    That run was just a little good patch, and not what we can expect too often.
    There is a distinct lack of spark and energy at the club.

  52. ScottfromOz says:

    Arsene seems isolated from the rest of the world-maybe that should be insulated.
    Surely, he knows what everyone else is thinking and what needs to happen for the club to take a step forward.
    I can understand how and why Stan wouldn’t know, or wouldn’t care to, but there’s absolutely no way Arsene doesn’t know the entire football world thinks his time is up.

  53. rico says:

    If Wenger knew what the club needs to move forward he’d have left by now but he’s too bloody stubborn and darn right pigheaded.

    He’s destroying the club we all love..

  54. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Yes, the drip, drip, drip of underachievement is in full swing now. Personally I found yesterday’s turnout especially frustrating. Our horrible sideways and backwards non-commital football is hardly the stuff of a top team and as for our defending? How could anyone begin to explain that?
    Obviously Wenger is clinging on and trying fashion something on the pitch but it clearly isn’t working. There seems to be no collective team thought of in-game intelligence out there at all.
    I know that when things are bad it’s hard to find anything very positive to think or say, but I do hope that when the new manager arrives, he can extract more out of these players that’s Arsene is doing at the moment. From where I stand it looks as if we are going to need almost an entirely new defence and midfield, to say nothing of our strikers. Surely Hector cannot be as bad as he seems and Xhaka? Is he really a £35 million Arsenal player?
    Certainly more questions than answers, yet still Wenger plods on. One week we are good then, the next, we are dire. Frustration doesn’t begin to cover it.

  55. ScottfromOz says:

    Damn, Klopp is under a hell of a lot of pressure judging by the interview I just saw.
    Maybe he’s copping some from his bosses.

  56. ScottfromOz says:

    “Experts” are asking why his team lack defensive responsibility, and why he doesn’t choose his best side for big games.
    Where have we heard that before 🙂
    Someone said a few years ago that he was a young replica of Wenger.

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