Morning all.
Having not taken part in European football for as long as they have, you’d have thought the FC Koln fans would have looked forward to last nights fixture and enjoyed themselves. Instead though, the fixture brought 20000 plus German fans to London, most determined to ruin the occasion and they nearly succeeded. The game which German outlet online-sportwette.net were offering good odds on, was delayed by an hour as the away fans caused chaos in north London and The Emirates. It was dreadful stuff, a throwback to times gone by when football hooliganism was at it’s worst. It’s a great shame that Arsenal were caught up in this mess but I can’t see how any investigation by FIFA could portion much blame, if any on our club.
Arsene Wenger:
We waited patiently, at one stage I thought we will not play. I couldn’t see the police taking any risk. We live in a society of 100 per cent security. I thought they would not take a gamble when we saw the scenes around the stadium. Our supporters dealt well with the situation.
What was difficult for me were all plans to think about. Do we play tomorrow? What time? Or next week, but they had a Bundesliga game and we had a League Cup game, so do we move that to Tuesday and play on Thursday? All kinds of things. If nothing now happens after the game then yes, it was the right decision to play.
He wouldn’t have said that had we lost and when FC Koln took the lead so early on, it looked like we might. David Ospina, returning to his European duties, made a right cockup of his clearance to gift the German side their opener. That kind of set the tone for the first half which in all honesty, was awful. Whether or not the players were on edge following the goings on inside and outside the stadium I don’t know but sadly we’ve witnessed such a performance too many times before to believe they were.
At half-time, Wenger made a change with Kolasinac coming on. Just minutes after he’d made the scores level. Then Alexis Sanchez made it 2-1 with a simply stunning finish and before the end, Hector Bellerin popped up with our third.
A good result for Arsenal but there’s a lot of work to be done on the performance but again, we’ve been saying that for a long time now. The brighter side of the night was seeing Jack Wilshere make his return and he looked pretty good. If he can stay fit for a long time, our midfield is going to be better imo. But he’s frail, his body overworked when he was younger has left him vulnerable to injuries.
Chelsea are up next and they’ll cause us as many problems on the pitch as the Koln fans caused the police/stewards off it last night. Play like we did last night from the off and we’ll take another roasting from one of England’s top four/five sides but play like we did against them at Wembley a few months ago and you never know we might have a chance.
On Sky Sports this morning they are discussing which of our players would get into the current Chelsea team which is a good question but sadly, I can’t think of many. Alexis Sanchez perhaps, maybe even Kolasinac but after those two, I’m struggling…..
Have a good Friday guys…..
Morning Rico. Good post.
As per usual, more questions than answers and what has happened to Rob Holding’s early promise? He looks completely out of his depth now.
Morning Adam, thanks.
I feel sorry for Holding… Another going down the Wenger defence route…
Lots of fuss being made about the Cologne fans, well if the Police did their job and nicked the ticket touts then we might have avoided some of last nights issues, not that we’re gonna face a group of fans like the Germans every week. I didn’t see any trouble last night despite the Germanic invasion. It certainly improved the atmosphere at the ground.
Kev, it actually gave the ground some atmosphere for a change.
Put the locals to shame and the Germans have lost 3 on the trot.
That’s support.
Morning all.
Morning Adam/Rico, I can’t believe how Holding has been hung out to dry.
We were getting nowhere last night in the 1st 45, so Holding goes on a couple of runs, trying something different to maybe draw the Germans out and create space, but nobody on our team had the nous to drop into the space he left so when the moves broke down it was mayhem.
Nobody in our team seems to have the sense to think on their feet if Wenger hasn’t instructed them beforehand. What a fcuking tactical shambles we are.
Nobody at our club seems to have a clue how to coach defenders and defending, it’s a fcuking joke.
Scott, if 20,000 Arsenal fans turned up in a european ground, drank the district dry, tried to forced their way into the group, the riot Police would be out, English hooligans would be the common theme and Arsenal would be banned from europe.
Double standards as usual, but I never felt intimidated by all the Jerries, I thought it was great for the atmosphere and a throw back to a time before football was gentrified.
I know, Kev.
Who’s to blame?
UEFA, or the local police?
Or, as you hint at, maybe it’s the do gooders 🙂 🙂
Well done defending Holding.
He’s a kid, and kids make errors, especially when defending.
He needs experience and there’s only one way to get it.
Morning Kev, neither can I re Holding. First Wenger says he’s low in confidence, the next week he plays him.. Doesn’t add up and only one person is going to struggle in this and it won’t be the old Frenchman..
Rico, he can’t regain confidence from the bench, though.
Isn’t this what we are hoping to gain from this competition-experience for the young guys?
Kev, I’m just watching the replay, and what you said about Holding is spot on-he’s trying things, making runs but it’s because there’s nobody in front of him getting into space so he was forced to do something.
That’s what happens when we haven’t got Ozil or Ramsey as they always give an option.
Complete management madness with
young players…Hold it why stop there.
Lets include:
Older players
Young fans
Old fans
Arsene has stated he will not change the
way his team plays,so I expect he ain’t
goner change how he treets the rest of
us and them.
The more we see and hear Arsene
the doubt gets thicker.
Scott, I’d have thought the under 23’s for a couple of games would help him..
Fair call, Rico, but that’s similar to being benched, really.
John Stones is the classic scapgoat
from mocking fans,every mistake he made
was given the full monty from people who
would’nt know how to kick a ball.
Keyboard experts and what a player is worth
is not the guideline,that is used on the internet.
Systems,inexperience,coaching and management
will ruin any player.
John Stones suffers because of his price tag, not his fault.
I’d rather have Holding in our defence that some mindless thug like Shawcross.
Holding needed his teammates to help him and they all failed.
Mainland-Niles was rubbish in defence, but did ok in midfield, that’s Wengers call, after pre-season Wenger should have realised that he wasn’t a defender.
Good point, Kev, and how many of our own players get that treatment for being “overpaid”?
Arsenal fans use that one all the time when it suits their argument.
I don’t think so Scott. Sitting on the bench or playing, which will he learn more from? Also, maybe the under 23 coach would be better for him than Wenger.
I guess it depends on the player, Rico, and how they handle that type of thing.
He seems a level headed kid so maybe it’d be perfect for him.
A different manager might just do the trick. For Holding and a few others…
Morning Rico and all
Of course no advance planning against a notorious fanatical following so blame the club,the security and some of the German fans who gave nazi salutes and peeing on others.
A friend took his 7 year old daughter into the family enclosure and left at half time.Oh yes there was atmosphere alright but we were absolutely dreadful again with a slight improvement in the second half . Atmosphere didn’t encourage our lot did it?
We have now played the bottom placed team in the PL and Bundesliga within 5 days and as an outfit we look mid table at best.
Wenger will do a good job at killing Holding as he has done with others before, and where was Chambers ?.
Do we have a first team and a second team ? They all look disjointed as a unit.
Ospina should have been sold,he’s a liability.
The Bosnian looks the real deal but by far the best player when it really mattered was the want away Sanchez with another great goal.
I dread Sunday.
Sorry folks but having one or two class players doesn’t make a team.We are in dire straits,I really hate to say that.
I’m watching the replay now, and so far (midway through the second half) have seen Ospina make one error-there may be more to come.
I said during the game how many one of our best players had made, 4 or 5 before half time.
Holding has come up, as well, as a champion later who made errors.
Why is it we see errors by defenders and keepers more vividly than forwards?
Well, we all know why, yet it doesn’t stop us being harsh.
Morning Kelsey.
Perhaps if Wenger had a defensive plan and somehow could execute it, Ospina and Cech wouldn’t always be under so much pressure.
“Champion later”-should be “another player”.
Kev. It’s the classic young player conundrum for me. Holding comes in and shows promise but then has some dodgy games so he gets dropped, denying him playing time and experience. We have seen it with Chambers and many before him. I liked him after the cup final but struggle to see those qualities now. It’s more than likely in the head as much as his sheer talent and ability.
Watched the spuds the other night
against a top side,outplayed through out.
Spuds blooded a 21y old at the back and won.
The spuds looked organized without the ball.
Point being even against the best you can play
youngsters and get away with it.
Most opinions are based on what we see
not the cost or what wages the clubs pay them.
What I’ve seen of Holding
his know better than Chambers.
Adam. Add to that Wenger comments in the media about Holding, that would hardly have helped him…
Odd that others who play badly keep their places though…
i wonder what would have happened if English fans acted that way in Koln ?
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Fifa have started Disciplarny prosceedings against Koln and Arsenal.
Koln are being charged with Crowd disturbances, Setting off fireworks, Throwing Objects and acts of damage.
We are charged (under safety act) Stairways blocked in away supports section.
They are not blaiming us for any thing else.at the moment.
Kelsey. Good point.
Amazing seeing most of the ground
full of tourist.
Luckily the old gooners gave up going
years ago,otherwise it would have been carnage.
Scott, price tag wasn’t anything to do with salary, but transfer fee.
Too many of our players are irresponsible, or under coached, all this Wenger shit about players working it out for themselves mish, if he sees things going wrong don’t sit on the bench with your stupid head in your hands get off of your arse, get in the technical area and do some fcuking coaching.
So if Ramsey goes walkabout, Wenger should be up telling the other d/m to hold his position, because our players are seemingly unable to talk to each other and make the adjustments themselves.
I’m sick of watching Arsenal play like some team playing in the Essex & East London Sunday League over the Wanstead Flats….
Adam, it’ll be interesting to see how Gibbs develops or not, under Pulis at West Brom.
If Adams and Keown were 18/19 year olds coming through now, they’d get slaughtered.
Good Afternon !
Holding was good player when arrived and now is in the full process to get ruined.
I will say son ” do not get ruined by these old man and his yes man Bould .Stand up to them and refuse to their bullshit”
There will be many clubs that will queue for your signature.
We all saw you how good you were on arrival and now to this.
In fairness ge cannot have a good game when the team is c**p.
For Christ sake the boy is playing among Feo.
The ultimate symbol of failure has been caught offside God knows how many times.Feo need another decade go bit the offside trap.
Anyway if you write off this 2 season like me the easy the pain.
Adams got the donkey tag for a reason ,his early years were full of errors.He overcame them and became a rock. But his confidence saw him through. In the case of Holding and Chambers both have been hung out to dry and their confidence is shot.
Adams also had George Graham coaching him, but the donkey tag came from the Daily Mirror and wasn’t it the season Arsenal won the league 1988-89.
The Mirror ridiculed Adams after the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford where he gave us the lead, but then scored an own goal.
Afternoon Rick and all.
Kev raised the same point earlier Kelsey. Our fans would have been battered by the riot police, tear gassed and had plenty other stuff fired at them I suspect…
Gibbs could do ok up there Kev although seeing Pulis everyday would make me ill.
I wouldn’t mind him coaching our defensive unit though Adam. Saying that, I wouldn’t mind Bouldy being let loose on them either…
Boulder looks like he’s gone to me. Totally washed out.
Boulder? 🙂
I use to love Boulder…
Who is he? ?
Adam, I think if you saw Pulis every day, that he’d eventually grow on you. ?
Kev. Don’t you remember Axis Boulders Love?
A great track Adam…
Crosstown Traffic is one of my favourites
I remember you playing it on the M4 Kev. 🙂
Yes Kev but I prefer ” The Donkey that won the derby “. Great day at Wembley.
You reckon Bouldy will go Adam? I see there’s a headline on NN which suggests Gazidis might be..
Rico. If a new manager comes in then probably. Then again there is the concept of continuity. 🙂
Agree Adam, if Wenger goes, we’ll probably see a whole new team come in, but if they have any sense, they’d keep a bit of Arsenal at Arsenal..
Evening All.
Our u23’s are playing at home to Leicester and are leading 1-0 with an own goal
Chambers is playing C/H his first game of the season following an injury.
A group of Koln fans have made it to Boring Wood and are surporting Leicester.
What idiots they are Rick…
Evening all and thanks Rico.
https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/15/arsenal-cologne-fans-europa-league
Game finished 1-0
Chamb ers played 73 mins and looked prtty good.
The next u23 game monday 25th away to Everton
As things stand I think we could see some of the kids in action against Donny,
Getting quite serious now, hearing they’ve had to hire extra security at Elstree Studio’s tonite.
Could all kick off at the Queen Vic yet.
I’m here! It’s Melbourne but with funny looking money. Off to see The Arse 2morrow @ Chavland.
Morning GG and all…
Hope you’ve brought with you better luck than that other Aussie did for a trip to Stamford Bridge… 🙂
Rico, you horrible woman-I was just starting to forget hahahahahaha
My passport has been stamped!!!
GG, enjoy.
Bring the boys better luck than I did.
Everything I touch turns to win, win win lately. Will a draw do 2morrow?
Swans spanked I see S2H!!
I hope you don’t come back to watch another match Scott…. 😉
Oh no, another Aussie going to his first Arsenal game at the Bridge.
We’re doomed… ?
Ha ha Kev.
New post up now.