Morning all.
Lacazette, Monreal and even both of Elneny and Xhaka being named on the team sheet surprised me. Mustafi, our 100% fit experienced centre back being selected was again a big risk imo. This should have been a game for the youngsters I thought, keeping the experienced key players fit for Atlético Madrid. I’m not stupid to think the entire under 23 squad should have turned out at St James Park, just a few more than Joe Willock. I know players can suffer injury in training but why take risks for a match which means little. After all, it’s not like we aren’t used to losing away from home this season. Thankfully though, injuries didn’t occur although we might not get so lucky next Sunday against West Ham.
There were a few odd decisions made by Anthony Taylor too, certainly in the first half. The first was not sending off Kennedy after a high, studs up tackle on the shin of Lacazette. There looked to be little intent on going for the ball and to be honest, he was lucky not to have suffered a game ending injury. Instead though, he was the player on the end of an Aubameyang Cross and with a super finish, earned us the lead. His chance was far from easy but he certainly made it look so. Another odd one was not giving a penalty after a handball in the area. The contact made was enough to warrant a corner instead of a goal kick so surely he should have pointed to the spot. There were others, but those were key.
Newcastle made it 1-1 when a long ball over the top to Gayle caught Mustafi out. Gayle to Yedlin out on the right who into played the into the box for Perez to slot past Cech. Silly goal to give away.
Arsenal had numerous chances before the break, Chambers with a couple, Lacazette decided to pass instead of sticking his laces through the ball and Newcastle caused us a few moments of concern too but 1-1 it remained.
I thought Arsenal might come out of the blocks and get at Newcastle in the second half, after all they had something like a thirteen year record to protect but in all honesty, we did what we have so often done this season. Gifted the opposition another goal and lost away from home.
Arsene Wenger said after the game that he was baffled by the result, the opportunities we failed to capitalise on and he said the only way to improve is by not making the same mistakes we keep on making by which I took to be in defence. He also suggested that our Europa campaign was taking its toll on the players legs which in itself was amusing considering half of them didn’t play last Thursday.
I know he’s got to say something to the media but to be honest, we’ve heard most of it before. The reason we’re as poor as we are is staring him in the face every time he looks in the mirror. I know he had a mixed team out yesterday which is what we expected as the focus now is on Atlético Madrid but it matters not who plays really because the system remains the same. The approach remains the same and invariably, the end result is the same, certainly away from home.
Nothing will change no matter how many times he tells us otherwise. After all, he’s had the five or six years to do that and it’s not changed yet regardless of the players he has had at his disposal.
Finally, we’ll done to Man City who yesterday became Premier League Champions. Utd losing at home to bottom of the league West Brom meant Peps side couldn’t be caught.
Have a good Monday guys, summers on its way…
Morning Rico and all. What a miserable, underperforming club Arsenal have become. Wenger bleats for days about avoiding complacency before the CSKA game – and the team deliver? Complacency. He seems to spend his time coming up with new excuses and post-mortems on the truly shocking performances that he manages to extract from his players. It’s almost as if he thinks that explaining why we lost is all part of the job and shows his vast and detailed insight, while, at the same time acknowledging that doing something about it is completely beyond him these days.
Yet, as we see, there are still those who think he should be further indulged for another season-at least. I sometimes wonder just what it would take for these people to come to the conclusion that, for Arsene, it’s all over.
Morning Adam and all.
I’m at a loss what to say really, it’s all just ‘so Arsene’
Have you seen the Piers Morgan banner on This Morning?
The more I see of Lacazette the more I can see Wenger’s words of wisdom ringing in his ears .”Before you shoot , look to see if there is a better alternative ” . Now that’s fine if it’s Xhaka or Elneny taking a punt from 30 yards but not in the box and only 6 yards out. Top scorers in the Wenger years , Wright , Anelka , Henry all had one thing in common , they lived to score and they were greedy with it . They didn’t look for someone else , they looked for the goal. At Lyon he was the focal point , here he is being trained into the collective and the half chances go with the process . Worryingly the praise that Auba is getting for passing up the penalty means that he is going down the same track . All three of the above averaged 32 goals a year, we could do with someone with that return now.
Rico. I haven’t. Personally I find Morgan a further embarrassment to AFC and am not keen on the fact that I share as much as an opinion with him.
To be fair, Aubameyang and Lacazette might score that number of goals a season in a different system. Both are top players but as you suggest, the extra pass or two isn’t going to help them try.
Zero away points won this year……….embarrassing!
Wenger loves breaking records with Arsenal, shame it’s the fucking wrong ones!!
That alone Lee would get many managers the sack. Throw in the dreadful level of performances and he should be a gonner.
Ha ha Adam. It’s quite funny though, a big Wenger Out banner behind him..
Morning All, morning Rico, I was reading yesterday that we might have to qualify for the UEFACup if we finish 7th, how exciting!
I wonder what Josh made of it all while he was in the UK?
Or didn’t he bother going to the games and spent all his time in the office….
Mr motivator got it wrong again yesterday. 10 years ago a result like that just would not have happened! The club its players and perhaps even the infrastructure have been gradually eroded to the point that we just accept, as good ol’ Aresene did years ago, that we ate crap and we know we are. The shame is that we can all see the faults and our supreme, exceptionally old and failing manager has no idea what to do to put the club back on course to string a few away wins together!
I hate to echo anything Piers Morgan subscribes to but I’ll swallow my prejudices and repeat,
“Wenger out!”
Morning all. A bit sunnier here, for now, bit I smell rain in the air!
Morning Kev, Wavy.
Oh dear then, more early season fixtures for us not to be prepared for. Still, it’s World Cup year so Wenger has an excuse ready…
Why is that no body is seeing our disastrous away form from another angle.? The same (or almost ) set of players that won three straight matches at home are the ones that performs so woefully once outside the emirates stadium .May be it s time to stop wearing that stinking blue jersey .Any time we wear that jersey, it is defeat for sure, even if we play a team from the fourth division.I could still remember Northingham forest tearing us apart in FA Cup third round .In fact if i am not mistaken, the only away match we won with that blue shirt was beating AC Milan away in the Europa cup. And that was really surprising. However the main issue is that Arsene Wenger need to go. He has tried, but it’s time to say goodbye. With this pathetic defence of ours, I am really scared of our forth coming semi finals with Atletico Madrid. May God help us the Arsenal.
Cg, if only it was that simple eh….
Afternoon Rico and the .
Nice sunny day where I am but not so warm as they said it would be.
Rico it could be a great end to the season for our academy sides.
Tonight our u18’s play the home semifinal game against Bl pool in
the Youth Cup. Win and we play Chelsea in the final on the 27th and 30th of this month
Tonights game is live on arsenal .com and the 2 leg cup final live on IT4.
On friday the U23’s play the last game of this season away to West Ham.
A win will see us win the league our first silver ware for 8 years.
Will be back later theres more to come
Should be the House and Blackpool
With a bit of a break now between Newcastle and West Ham next Sunday, we should be in a position to field Nelson, Nketiah and Willock in the U23’s Rick, that should be enough to see us over the line…
Blackpool have a really good side, our U18’s are going to have to be up for it, let’s hope that Theresa a good crowd at the Emirates….
Theresa, wtf….
there’s a good crowd
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
Only divine intervention or Kev`s Mother Theresa will help us this season !
🙂
My missus stopped me and my sons Red Membership direct debit this morning !…………..our little responce to our dislike of how the club is run, I bet Kroenke will be seething !
🙂
Nice one Rick……………..I look forward to watching the Youth Cup game on Player whilst missus watches her soaps…………..although I shall keep one eye on Corrie incase Phelan comes looking for Eileen !
🙂
Here`s what Rico was on about earlier………..
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-fan-piers-morgan-uses-12371516
Afternoon Rick, all.
Is the under 23 match on television Rick? Would be great if both end the season with silverware, learn8ng wha5 it’s like t9 win at a yo7nger age can only be good for them..
Kev, won’t those you list be in the squad for the first team on Sunday?
Rico at the moment I don’t know.
Its away so down to west ham
LC/Rico if you are watching look out
for Smith Rowe and Ameachi(spelling)
I’m not sure Rico, I’d imagine that Wenger will go for a full strength team to get the Newcastle result out of our system before Atletico turn up Thursday week?
Thanks Rick.
Bit risky though Kev, but you’re probably right. Wouldn’t do them much good not to play I suppose, just hope that should we get a good lead against West Ham, get a few key players off..
4-0 to the Young Guns and not yet H/T..
The boys are doing well Bt. I’m sure I saw a few forward passes… lol
They certainly are Rico, and yes you did see forward passes….lol
rico ..no mention to arsenal ladies through to the cup final beating Everton ..unacceptable ??
Slacked off second half though Bt. Missed a sitter too.
Kk, my wrists have been slapped… lol
Just like the 1st team, sounds like they’re gonna coast through the 2nd half.
Night guys..
5-0
Indeed they did slacken in the second half,missed a few before they finally hit the fifth..
Night Rico..
Looks like another Arsenal reject is going to fail and be moved on at a ‘bigger’ club. I refer of course to Alexis Sanchez! Shame we had such high hopes for his rising career when he joined Manure! Their name says everything. The dwarf is going to dump him. Quelle surprise!
Well done to the children. I wonder if the ancient coach will or has noticed the result, or even whether he even can put name a to face of any of the junior players? As you know as you reach the “ancient’ stage and start walking on three legs your powers of retention fade to nil!
Time to go Arsene. Piers has said so…..!
Is there anybody there?
No Wavy… lol
It’s been all chop chop work work busy busy bang bang today . No time for Arsenal and frankly they have no time for me.
If the sun is out it will be the same tomorrow ,try to finish what I have started.
Morning Rico and all. I’ve been trying to think of something different to say about Arsenal. Another angle perhaps. But, I do believe it has all been said, hence the lack of activity on the and other blogs.
Anyway, I hope all HH’ers have a great day. 🙂
It’s lovely and sunny in London.
Morning Adam and all.
Me too Adam, and I think I’ve managed to come up with something different this morning. Not without a little moan dropped in but otherwise, I’ve been quite positive. ?
It’s beautiful here too, really warm and sunny..
Sealed the leak in the hot tub just refilling it now and hopefully it should be warm enough for a little dip later on. Now I have fences and a gate to put up , cement to mix paths to lay . Life without Arsenal takes on a whole new meaning.
New post up now by the way…