Morning all.
I haven’t seen the match or the highlights which by the sound of things, there weren’t many in any case. But I can imagine how the game unfolded. A slow start, often second to the ball and Watford wanted it more than us. 2-0 and this time there was no coming back despite the boys giving it a good go in the second half. About right?
This is what Arsenal do. On a night when clubs around and above us dropped points, we drop a bucket load, well, all three and at The Emirates against a mid-table side who have been struggling all season.
Arsenal to win the league? Let’s not kid ourselves, it just isn’t going to happen because Arsene Wenger can’t get his players up for a fixture on a cold, wet and rainy night. Yet just a few days ago, a different set of players gave their all in the FA Cup. They were hungry, determined and focused from start to finish.. They were first to the ball, passing well and as a result, romped past Southampton. So what was the difference between the approach to that match away from home and last night’s at The Emirates, apart from the opposition of course?
Is it simply a case of those players on the fringe of the starting eleven wanted the victory more than those on show last night? Did we have a few passengers in last nights team? Were we better once Ramsey went off through injury, after all, what a coincidence that once he’d left the pitch we didn’t concede another goal…
Giroud up front was an odd selection too, especially as we all know that with pace in our attacking unit we can beat any team on our day. And what does Lucas Perez have to do to get a start in the league?
Arsene Wenger said the second half was all Arsenal and we were unlucky to lose the game, maybe he’s right, I don’t know but we’ve been here so many times before, it’s hard to believe we were simply unlucky.
It’s the managers job to ensure the players aren’t complacent before kickoff but individuals need to take responsibility for their own performances too and this is where I wish Wenger was more ruthless. Those who aren’t up for the fight or are out of form dump on the bench and play those who will give their all from start to finish and not just for one half. But he doesn’t do that does he, he has his favourites and regardless of who we face, they play.
And that’s not a winning formula…
Still, at least Ramsey is injured and won’t be travelling to Chelsea which is good news. He’s been awful this season but he’s one of those favourites isn’t he…..
May be its time for Arsene to step down from Arsenal.
great to hear someone else with same views on ramsey and favouritism
It’s sad when people are happy players are injured, and plenty are.
Morning all.
Are we blaming Wenger, or Ramsey and Giroud, though?
Reports suggest very, very few were ready to play.
Hi all. Till proven otherwise I’d rather we started without Ozil and Giroud at the chavs.
Dropping/selecting players on merit would breed hard workers in the team. Phewx I won’t see Ramsey in a while. He was at fault for the second goal. Had to be unlucky for the deflection then again he never had positional discipline either in defence or attack. What good is he?
set up of the team. WIth Giroud upfront it is so slow, so ponderous – leave him as a good impact sub. Ozil struggled for runners,etc. It was a dire first 45, as bad as Bournemouth. Then you can’t keep coming back from 2 down. Sanchez also needs to know when to pass a ball rather than trying to take the world on.
Marshall, we know how good he can be, so maybe we should ask what’s gone wrong.
It’s been dramatic, whatever the cause.
Ginge, if you’re around…..stats on Rambo with Arteta in the side??
True Scott, when we conceded the first goal everybody was strolling. Nobody was bothered.
It is sad Scott, but if Wenger had any balls he wouldn’t be picking Ramsey at the moment…
Welcome to those new on here today…
Scott, true as in Euros he was terrific with Wales. At arsenal he probably is let to run loose alittle too much. You’d see his control that lead to us conceding the second. From an equally bad throw in by Gabriel I must add.
What’s the relevance of Arteta Scott, he’s long gone…. lol
Marshall, I’m not defending the guy……he’s terrible lol.
It seems we are either all good, or all crap.
There’s nothing in between, but with quality and some luck, even when we’ve been poor, we’ve scraped out some results.
Not this time 🙂
For example, on the throw in, atleast three players should make themselves available to receive the ball. Only Ramsey was there which made it easy for Watford to defend and get the ball and score. Talks alot about the mentality of our team. Nobody had switched on even at that time.
I know Southampton were an understrength side but the way we played was super, the first choice starting eleven simply can’t replicate that kind of performance… And when Alexis came on against Saints we got even better…
Rico, I’m wondering if Arteta had more influence than we gave him credit for.
If the stats show this, maybe Rambo was never as good as we thought.
Don’t be under any illusions, 2 years ago, we all believed he was near World class.
There were many just as lethargic than Ramsay last night. Ozil, Iwobi first half, in fact most of team. Mustafi was only one seeming to get annoyed and that was with ref.
Scott, Ramsey looked good at Euros. Seemed to be in a position where he knew what his job was and did it admirably.
Mustafi was defending his record 🙂
At Arsenal our first team is always as predictable, no matter how bad a player is. Only injuries and suspensions changes the first team. That is bad management!
Mashall, my thing with Ramsey and fans is for whatever reason, he’s blamed always for every littler thing, and you just pointed out the fact he was the only one who was bothered to give an option.
Ok, he made an error, but doesn’t that mean everyone else gets a leave pass simply for not being there?
Quite often it does.
Anyway, enough on that.
What has gone wrong with him, and why can’t our guys start a game?
Two simple questions, but the answers….not so much lol
Andrew, maybe he’s being given no specific instructions, who knows?
With Wales Ramsey has a set of specific instructions. He has his dos and don’ts. At Arsenal he even said he is given a free role. You can’t work with free role.
World class Scott?? ?
He did have one superb season, simply can’t work out why he’s gone downhill so rapidly… but I do wonder if a different manager would get him back to his best. After all, Coleman does…
1 1/2, Rico 🙂
He was phenomenal.
Could well be his instructions, or lack thereof.
Rico. Your comments on Ramsey and a different manager applies to many other players too. Surely Gabriel, for instance, can’t be as bad as he seems.
And I did say NEAR world class.
Hell, even Lee gave him a compliment one day hahahahaha
Morning All…
Morning Rico, good post…
I think we’ve gotta disregard the Southampton game, it was a different set of circumstances and if I’m honest, I was rather surprised by our performance, because it was so out of character with how we’ve been playing since the defeats at Everton and Man City.
We can dream, but this manager isn’t leading us to another league title…
He used finance as an excuse before Leicester won it last season…
Now he waffles through post match interviews…
What can he say?
We’ll scrape top four, but I’m really beginning to hope that we don’t as nothing will change.
Would a new manager turn us into a more dynamic team, a team that can really challenge?
Who knows?
I guess that the Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd fans are as disappointed as we are.
Watford were no great shakes, I actually expected us to come back and win.
In the end, after spending the first half getting totally soaked under our pathetic zillion pound roof, I spent the majority of the 2nd half watching the game on TV in the concourse behind the North Stand…
Few, if any, in positions of influence at the club, have ever been through a managerial change.
Morning all.
Didn`t comment yesterday as I had one on my “Bad feeling`s” about the game !…..no reasons behind it, but when I have a “bad feeling” about a game it always happens, so it came as no surprise !
Only thing I can point a finger at is that as soon as I saw the team I was thinking like Rico said…..No Pace !………………………….my team would always contain pace as imo the 3 main ingredients are Pace, Pace amd more Pace……………………oh and my revolusionary tactics of 4 wingbacks !…..add some extra pace in there ! 🙂
Not sure if I can put up two links on one comment so I`ll do one at a time, but I would like your opinion on it,, it`s very contrationary as you will see ! 🙂
On one hand……………………………..
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/826513849859842048/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And on the other hand !………………………
https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/826567961775374338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I’ll give you that Scott… lol
Agree Adam, Gabriel looked the business when he first arrived. Chambers and Wilshere are enjoying life away from the club and a few of the younger players don’t seem to be improving much…
Plus Adam, one only has to see what Conte has done with Costa to know a change of manager can improve a player. Wenger knew what he was getting with Xhaka but by now, he should have sorted out his reckless side to his game.
LC, he knows his troops, then lol.
A manager should know…….is he going through the motions, now?
Finishing up at seasons end??
Rico, as a few said, he’s been fantastic for Wales recently, so it’s not as if he’s forgotten how to play, and injury any be blamed.
Lack of motivation?
Lack of instructions?
Both?
Something else?
I don’t know.
Morning Kev, thanks.
His press conferences are very similar to the way we play, predictable and boring….
Good day ladies and gentlemen. From the start the team selection was completely wrong. Giroud needs crossers in the team for him to be effective because let’s face it he’s only gonna score from crosses he’s not gonna run onto through balls etc. Therefore, having Gabriel at RB will never work once Giroud is playing. Additionally, Monreal is very poor at crossing so that’s another minus. Then Wenger puts Iwobi on the right who likes to cut inside and play more central and Alexis does exactly the same.
Wenger realized his mistake and the second half started on a brighter note. Iwobi having switched to the left was changing the game single handedly and had the beating of Cathcart every time he ran at him. We get the game to 2-1 and then what does Wenger do? He takes of Coquelin, puts Iwobi in the middle where he had to play a lot deeper and could not influence the game as much.
The correct sub would have been Bellerin for Gabriel but maybe he’s not fit enough but then why would he even be on the bench?
So a comedy of tactical errors from the manager who you would think had a better view from higher up.
Rant over
I agree Rico. But, we have been saying this stuff for years now and nothing has really changed.
Ramsey isn’t a box to box midfielder or a defensive midfielder, he plays those roles but isn’t very good in them. His most effective position is where Ozil plays, we seem to have loads of midfielders who want to be No.10’s.
What I did notice yesterday was how pissed off Alexis looked…
It’s as if he knows this team isn’t good enough to win the league…
I’ll be amazed if he stays.
Not at all bothered about top 4 !……………I would rather be out of it and win FA Cup than be in it and no trophy…………………………4th is not a trophy !………………………….would gladly have swapped positions with Manshafter last season and have won FA Cup for 3rd time on trot and no CL this season !.
I would rather be out of top 4 aswell for the potential of having a better chance of winning league ala….Leicester and Chavs 1…………………….although it should in theory make it easier to win the league with no fixture congestion I wonder whether we could win it with our current manager for as I have said on many occasion, he is a great manager but not a great coach !
I have a good feeling about Chavs game !………………I feel some pace coming on ! 🙂
I know Scott, it’s a mystery. But I think it all comes from the lazy approach from the manager which filters through onto the pitch…
Lc, that’s not the first time he’s contradicted himself…
Am going mental on this mental strength BS.
True Iwobi going deep was odd for me too. I’d rather Ozil came off for Perez or as said there Belerin. When we started stretching them with width they were all over the place. Coquelin has a terrible loosing record this season.
With the team built, it is difficult to win a team that defends well, strong and that plays in anticipation.
The right flank does not exist. Gabriel is predictable, does not cross, always exits in what he will do; Giroud is perfectly abandoned. He plays (and well) with his back to the goal, but without support it is easy to mark him; The left side, depends on the descents of Monreal. Without playing through the extremes, it becomes difficult to build dangerous moves. Playing in the middle, with concentration of players and lack of space only facilitates who defends.
Rico, and that lazy approach comes from higher, but we won’t go there 🙂 🙂 🙂
Finishing in the top four Cocker, is all about the finance, we haven’t a hope in hell of winning the CL…
The players love it, Wenger loves it, Kroenke loves it, the TV companies love it, UEFA love it, it’s a money making jamboree constructed for the likes of Bayern, Barca and Real to dominate, I think it’s overrated, boring rubbish.
Scott I am always around even if I am not posting;
Finally learning to hold my tongue, or digits away from keypad.. lol
Still cant get my heard around why some folks will want a player injured considering what going on around us in this crazy world…
re. your 10:04am- Arteta and ramsey for 2 seasons up until 2015 had the best record after Edu and PV04, ahead of petit and PV04; win ratio 53.6%.
When Coquelin came back into the squad folks were going on about his 82% win ratio after 10 games.. when history has shown us that we are always better post December after a November slump…
The problem for Arsene is to figure out a way to get Ramsey back into central midfield, without sacrificing our shield in front of defence. The only answer to this short of a new purchase is to train Coquelin in his passing and decision making to the point where he can do what Mikel did a few yrs ago and what Santi has done for the last 6 months.
I still believe as said during the summer that without Santi we have the worst midfield in the top 6… from a tactical point of view
To a degree, I agree Scott but any ambitious manager would want to win for himself before anyone else.
I blame the board for giving Wenger too much control but what goes on at the training ground, in the game, tactics, approach etc, only one man is responsible….
My comment is only one thing what I always said that is with out Alex Sanchez the other players are not committed to fight with their competent and also AW is not hard to control rather than showing football arts even the playing styles of the players are not good to prevent from injury so I don’t thing Arson Wenger is more serious to control his players.
Ts, I don’t think anyone has said they wanted Ramsey to be injured, just saying that all is not lost because he is. As said above, Wenger shouldn’t even be picking him imo but insists in picking his favourites…
He took Jenks out of the limelight after he had a bad game, perhaps he should do something similar with the Welshman….
The issue with playing coquelin in our midfield without an Arteta or Santi type of player is that there is no one sweeping up behind him.
Folks will tell me that their eye see coquelin shield the midfield 4 but all data shows that he actually plays in the same role Song played with Arteta minus the Hollywood passes.
All heatmaps show Coquelin wins most of his tackles in the opposition half
The idea is that Coquelin is a decoy, causing a team to force markers to cover him as he moves higher up the pitch, and open up space for someone like Santi Cazorla, deeper in midfield.
It works in practice but without a tactical general next to Coquelin imho teams plus Ozil and Sanchez realise that Coquelin’s ability to put himself into good positions to play attacking, dangerous passes is limited and so both of our creative players move deeper to receive the ball.
Also statistically Sanchez holds onto the ball or has more touches on the ball without Santi in the team…
Hi Ginge.
I’m not surprised at that stat.
Arteta had that unique talent of making those around him better.
Santi is our biggest loss, and that’s stating the obvious.
How to replace him??
Any ideas for the future?
Rico, agreed Ramsey need to sit out his bad patch..
Conventional approach has been for coaches to play their better players out of a bad patch but Ramsey’s case is more about tactics or the lack off from him..
I said we should have kept TR7 and I stand by it.
He’s similar to Santi in that he gets us going forward the second he receives the ball.
Pay to play deal….why not?
Too late now, though, but we could us him.
I know Kev` !…………………………I have said this before and honestly couldn`t give a toss about CL, group stage is boring a fcuk !………………..it only gets exciting from now, whereas in the FA Cup every game is exciting………………even the draw is exciting !……………….and lets be honest we have no chance of winning CL yet we are the joint best evr team in the FA Cup………… a record to be proud and thats not an opinion it`s a fact !. 🙂
As Potter said a few days ago, Coquelin seems to be pushing further up the pitch at times and this is where other managers would stop that. He’s there’s to protect the back four and Wenger should be making that clear to him, but as he said the other day, his focus is on offensive football buts needs to find the right balance…
Clearly he hasn’t, however the football is pretty offensive… lol
Scott- Aw has to buy period from outside this window imho to save the season.
Elneny and ramsey seemed ok as well
Ginge, can he?
Our midfield problem is similar to what the scums had with Lamela, Capoue, Erikson, Sandro etc.
Capoue was used as the deepest lying midfield; like Emma and myself who watched Capoue in Ligue 1 Capoue played was better further up with a play maker sweeping up behind him…
Capoue is now playing in the same role he played at Etiene
We need a deep lying midfield big time until xhaka full ability come sto fruition.
Scott- I will try a cheeky bid for Clasie from Southampton to understudy Santi.
Someone like Rick or Kev might be able to advice if we have room for a non-home grown in the squad
Rico- I don’t know if Coq has moved further upfield in recent games. I will have a look at his heat map later this evening…
I personally think he has always played infront of Santi apart from his first 2 games in January last year and the night he was assigned to mark fellani at old Trafford.
I always argued I had nothing against Coq but his importance was being over inflated by the media and most fans. Imho Santi was the one doing all the important tackles and making the likes of Ozil and Sanchez stay further up field to impact on games and not Coquelin…
Ginge, Coquelin does neeed the right partner, but that partner helps make him damn effective.
Two way street, I’d say.
Classic…what’s he worth?
Kev- agreed re AW using finances as excuses but as said then I will judge Ranieri if he survives past 2 seasons.
As thinks stand they could become the first club to be relegated as title holders…
Scott- I think Ramsey plays the Coquelin role much better than Coquelin does in the Coq-Santi combination.
My reason is simply that the right player next to Coquelin or should I say an effective deep-lying play maker instils confidence in Sanchez and Ozil to stay in the right positions to impact games.
When Coq is assigned that deep role which he quickly abandons anyway; Ozil and Sanchez come deeper for the ball; plus without crossers in the starting XI OG12 is made to look like a donkey plus playing Gabriel makes us very predictable and toothless.
Folks slate Ramsey but don’t realise he is actually trying to cover up the gapping hole left when Coquelin leaves his position; plus when we have the ball, Coquelin does not have the confidence or Ozil and Sanchez do not trust Coq to bring the ball forward quick enough.
Personally I can’t see that Coquelin has any place at Arsenal, but changing personnel ignores the fact that Wenger simply can’t inspire or motivate players on anything like a regular basis. We had enough quality to win last night, but no desire to do so.
In my view, fans have the same misconception about Coq as they had with PV04 as being a CDM when he was never one.
Note how PV04 played better with Parlour as CDM than Gilberto; Also Edu was the deep-lying play maker behind PV04…
PV04 for France also played in front of Dacourt or makalele;
France flopped when PV04 played DM with Gourchuff as the creative player
I was always taught to go towards the ball. The throw was probably all that was on ,if he had moved toward it he would have got it with a yard to spare but trying to let it across his body and get caught from behind was the problem . Ramsey is a good player when he keeps it simple , when he complicates things they go pear shaped.
Ginge, ManCity won the title in the 1930’s and were relegated the following season…
And Rick is your man re: squad and foreign signing etc.
Debuchy leaving should free up a spot…
Ospina is another, Alexis ? and Ozil ?…
There ya go, four spots….
If the miracle that Ranieiri pulled off at Leicester last season, doesn’t afford him some security of tenure at Filbert St ( yeah, I know) then football really deserves all that it gets…
The people of Leicester should put a statue up of him, not fcuking complain ffs….
Cocker, I tend to agree with you, I would have happily traded a hat trick of FACup wins for another wasted CL campaign…
On the Coquelin question, his strength was always his tackling, he snapped into challenges, won the ball, gave it to Santiago or Ozil, job done…
But he doesn’t tackle anymore does he, why is that, is it Wenger changing him?
He isn’t a creative footballer, he never was, so why the fcuk try to change him and make him so ineffective…?
Why is it that we sign defenders like Gabriel and Mustafi, who initially look great defenders, getting in tackles and challenges, then after a few months they stop tackling and look ineffective?
Hi all
Only one word to sum up our team. Complacent. Either because they think they only have to turn up to win or because they take the lead and think they can stroll through the game. Add the fact that there are no leaders to shake the team up allows those that can’t be arsed to carry on in the same lethargic way. A good team is always more than the sum of its parts even if those parts are top class. Our team is far less than the sum of its parts because the individuals are playing for them selves; are not good enough or just can’t be bothered. Everyone agrees that Sanchez works his nuts off but a lot of times its because he is chasing back after giving the ball away rather than moving the ball quickly. With our style of play which involves players running forward en-masse the biggest crime is giving the ball away leaving 5,6 or 7 players out of position ahead of the ball. This has been highlighted before even on TV but still nothing changes. Groundhog Season again!
Good afternoon Rico and all
i am with you on Ramsey.He is just Arsene pet
I dont understand why people bring the his Wales performance ?
Over there is their focal point and everyone feeds the ball to him.
Absurd as it sound is doing the same thing with Arsenal team.Here we got Ozil-Sanchez-Iwoby the can do all the requirement better than him.Hence no discipline at all.
He is Every where to disrupt the rhythm.
He is not a dribbler nor has defensive attribute to warrant that position as well.
He is just Arsene pet.I hope his injury will sideline him till may for the good of the team.
Because being Arsene pet is un-dropable .This is not to wish him injury or death.
Kev- thanks for the bit of history re. Man city
BobJ- you couldn’t have put this any better ”…Everyone agrees that Sanchez works his nuts off but a lot of times its because he is chasing back after giving the ball away rather than moving the ball quickly.”
The likes of Sanchez, Ozil just trust their team mates and stay up the field…
The performance of yesterday i see it from different angle.
All the games that we lost has one common factor,The physical strength required for the premier league has been below par.
So injury table is not telling the true story as this players are below par physically.
The technicality level in that midfield is alarmingly low.Because when certain players are bit jaded their technicality compensates.
Take out the physical strength from Coqueling or Ramsey or choose anyone you want we are left with nothing.Yesterday it was clear example of both this players when we conceded the second goal.Both of them cannot catch the Capoue.
Sad but i am used to it,Gone those days to be furious
12-21 Kev, spot on imo.
Ts, I’ll survive without his heat map thanks… 😉
🙂 Rico
Personally I like Francis and have always backed him, but………………………………………..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4179450/Arsenal-won-10-games-season-without-Coquelin.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Has there been any update on Elnenys injury?
i’m not agree about most of the comments, We need wingers! And have wingers is not have a rigth winger and a left winger. We must play by the rigth and by the left side. We have to play in the whole field. It’s line up with a team Is to play with a team that takes on the game, fill in the square meters of the field and disorient the opposing team. Playing with players who prefer the central zone, because the team is poorly structured, inhibits players, does not give them room to maneuver and only makes life easier for the opponent, who plays head-to-head and simply covers the predictable lines of pass and put The physical power over the ball. It wears out much less, plays more compactly and can counter attack more easily.
If we haven’t Bellerin is not Gabriel the sub. Different characterits, Wit Gabriel-Mustafi-Koz why we not play with only 3 defenders? On the second half, Iwoby went to the left side, Walcott was moving forward,and so on.
moreover, for instance: why alexis replaced a player in southampton match with 0-3 ? He was not fresh yesterday (and the pitch was very hard). Management….
Well, I think you have a point there JM
I think you make a good point too Jm, when we have width and pace, we are so much better….
Wenger doesn’t really ‘do’ wingers. He prefers to convert midfielders. He’s not that keen on defenders either. 🙂
…he is exception at reacting s-l-o-w-l-y when things are not going to play though… 🙂
plan*
🙂 Adam
https://twitter.com/AFCFixtureNews/status/826838129495638016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
That’s great news Lc…. They deserve the tv money…
Catch up tomorrow guys. Nighty.
Evening All.
Logged on very late today.
Have not seen any of the Watford game and after reading Rico’s report and other comments
don’t think I will bother
Kev clubs are required to register their squads for both Champions League and the P/L today.
But ( as Rico has stated)we do not give out much info like this.
I think there will changes to both our squads for the following 9 players left on Loan yesturday,
Eyoma to Volendam
Macy to Luton
Bielik to Birmingham
Marc Bola Notts County
Zelalem to Venlo
Bennacer to Tours
Akpom to Brighton
Hinds to Stevenage
Mavididi to Charlton
They were all in both squads for the first part of the season.
The good news is that Ben Sheaf ( and AMN) did not go on loan and he
has openly stated that his one aim ie to play for Arsenal
Will post my thoughts on the squad situations later
Night for Now
TS you solve the midfield by playing Elneny and Ox together that will actually work.
And also if Sanchez and Ozil will stop playing the majority of passes to each other, and sometimes to Iwobi that might help. I said this several months ago, Sanchez in particular has a player right next to him and he annoys him.
Cheers Rick…
I notice Rick that Chris Willock didn’t go out on loan, I wonder if his contract impasse had anything to do with that?
It wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t on his bike this summer to join his brother in Salford…
Hinds apparently signed a new contract before going out on loan…
I think that we can safely assume that Niles is considered a part of the senior squad now Rick, along with Jeff…
I wonder if Sheaf will be involved in the Sutton banana skin?
The whole world and his dog will be hoping for an upset there, that’s for sure…
Having watched our midfield shambles against Watford, maybe Wenger should have a rethink on playing Bielik in defence. We could do with a big bastard defensive-midfielder, not anymore little ‘uns…
Kev, didnt we buy Bielik as a DM?
Morning all.
Makes total sense re Bielik Kev…
Morning all..
Morning Rico.
I’m right, aren’t I?
We bought him as a DM??
I’m sure he played first team football as a 16 year old at DM.
For his Polish club, that is.
Morning Scott, yep, his natural position is DM…
It’ll be interesting to see where Birmingham play him…
Well, play him as a RW then lol
Only Wenger would do that….
Morning Rico. How many times so far this season have Arsenal played at anywhere near their potential would you estimate?
In the PL probably 4 times Adam… and a few 2nd half’s when we pulled the finger out.
Morning Kel. Yes, we have been a one-half team for quite a while. I’d reckon you’re about right though. Not really good enough is it?
Morning all.
FA Cup trophy and finish about 8th would do me rather than just a top 4 trophy !…………..it might trigger Wenger`s end and we get a trophy to boot !……new manager comes in and with no CL we win league !……….what`s not to like ? :
Papers make me laugh……….Mansour City win last night so are back in title race !…………we are above them and have no fcuking chance !………………even beating Watford would have made it a slim one !
Wenger loves playing players out of position, but it can only work in certain positions………………..Ramsey on Wing is bollox……………wingers as backs is OK, because we all know all FB`s are former wingers, lets get back to….or forward to………………2 proper wingers and two fast FB`s……………..or as I call it…..4 wing backs !
Saturday is great as far as I`m concerned as I will feel no stress now we are out of running, go out and just enjoy it lads and Wenger………….do something revolusionary or something, play the hungry fast kids !…………..different formation, anything, just do something other than fiddle with your zipper up in the shelf !
🙂
5-0 to the Arse` !
We’ve been lucky this season imo in a lot of games and with city and utd not quite at it at times it has deflected how bad we’ve been…
Games that come to mind Adam is… Chelsea, Sunderland, West ham, Swansea…. the rest have been touch n go… late winners against Burnley, Southampton, West brom,
Just think then Kel…………………we are totally pissed off, so how pissed off must be City and Utd fans be with both having the best managers on the planet and having spent millions more than us and shiter than us ! I bet their versions of LeGrove are in meltdown…………………….then again, they are deluded northern bastards !…………………..well, apart from Man U glory hunting fans from Surrey who are southern bastards ! hahaha
Scott I see the boys will be in Sydney in July… ?
Lol LC.. I’ve had a few meltdowns myself this season m8.. just recently on facebook lol…
Thing is though imo utd and city are building they’ll not except 10yrs of falling outta the title race by xmas etc. Due to mental strength ?
I’m a northern bastard myself lol…
It`s ok Kel !……………..being an Arsenal supporter from up Norf means you are a top bastard !
😆
Had a good chuckle last night at the utd draw…. it was meltdown mode lol… of course I had to throw the mix in lol ha ha fuck em. ?
And yes, I agree that they are building, but that`s because their owners do not want to settle for anything less than a title, whereas our shareholder is quite content to just make a profit and 4th trophy !…………..all clubs are only as good as their owners ambitions…………………………and obviously their ability to spend their wealth !
Morning Adam. Once perhaps…
Catch up later guys…
Morning LC. True about Man City though Pep might well get it right once he has had a season and established himself. They were superb last night though the Hammers were way off the pace and just about everything else. As for Man Utd. I think we can see, in Mourinho’s latest press conferences that his rather unpleasant psychopathy has become a fixed part of his behaviour. He couldn’t escape it, even if he wanted to. If he carries on like this, and he has to, it will be interesting to see how long MU will tolerate him dragging their name through the mud. The man obviously has serious mental health issues all wrapped up in a persecution complex.
Our problems, on the other hand, are completely different but perhaps equally debilitating.
I agree to an extent LC imo I believe a hungry and smart manager will get the best outta his team and utilise the resources.
I look at Arsenal and see a big club on and off the pitch a club who can spend give or take 100m most summers but they just don’t compete and continually fall away due to silly tactics and a lot of the time stubbornness from the manager.
I hate kronke but I gotta call a spade a spade here wenger has had the money over 3 seasons now and hes not getting it right.
Morning Adam………………..your right……………………..Mourinho is definately a slice of cucumber short of a picnic hamper !………………no idea what that means but it sounds about right !. 😀
Catch up later guys..
LC. The cucumber analogy has a certain ring to it. 🙂
Kel, I’ve got my tickets to both games, and we will have access to some functions with the squad.
I’ll behave, I promise 🙂
I hate Kroenke more than anyone I can think of, Kel, but I also recoqnise that Wenger is not upto it and someone new would maybe take us to another level, but I`m worried that Kroenke and his Kronies will employ just a yes man, someone without the technical know how of Pep, Koeman, Conte etc`…………………….it could well be Steve Bould !
Secret mission for you then Agent Scott from Oz !………..infiltrate Stans syrup dresssing room and replace his downunder syrup with a semtex laden one !.
That bastard won’t show his face here, LC!!
If he does, I’ll grab his toupee an pull it down to his ankles.
Arsene is stuck trying to “make do”, as he had to for years, and can’t shake it.
He proved that at the start of 15/16 when signing Cech and nobody else.
It’s not easy to change a mentality of making do, to all out striving to win…..look at Moyes!!
Just read this on the BBC web site. I thought it quite appropriate:
Ozil:
: Ozil is that set of keys you always see when walking round the house, but vanish when you’re in a rush and really need them..
Hey Kel, have you ever come across a geezer called South Yorkshire Gunner, you’ll either find him in a curry house or building a tunnel… ?
Morning All btw…
Morning Rico…
Scott, yes, Bielik was a DM, he played his only 1st team game for us in the League Cup in that position and looked really good. It really annoys me that Wenger is set on changing him into a defender when we are crying out for a proper DM. We already have 5 centre-backs ffs!!!
Hi Rico and everyone,
Great post, summing everything up that was wrong on the night.
I went and thought that the effort shown, from all, part from Sanchez in the first half was woeful.
The Watford coach had done his homework and Arsenal players were not given time on the ball,
but so many times we gave the ball away in dangerous areas. Ozil went missing..
Terrible wet raining night, but the conditions were bad for both teams. 2nd half was better in bursts,
but the damage was inflicted in the first half.
May struggle now for a top four finish.
Kev- Syg is living the life of a ‘sultan’ in Cyprus… 🙂
Evening Rico and the House
Had a shocking day made worse by seeing the squads for Champions League
Sanogo not having kicked a ball all season is in it.
Lost for words.
Good night all.
@ Rick 9:47, LC you heard that. About time…release the BEAST!!!! “Yaya the Beast”. He must be beasting in training.
The blokes like a new signing, Rick!!!!
Morning all 🙂
I can see the advertisement now…..CL winning striker, Yaya Sanogo for sale!!!
Morning all.
Yaya is our secret weapon against Bayern. He’ll wipe the floor with them.
Lol, Scott. We’ll swap with ATM. Yaya for Griezmann+30M Euros. We’ll be so irked that Arsenal is all about making money for letting a world class like Sanogo go.
Morning all..
Stunned that Sanogo is in the CL squad….
Morning Rico. Agreed. Who knows what’s going on at the club these days?
I see that Arsene is asking for the love before he signs up for another two years. This should bring the Akb’s out in force.
Morning Adam. I think Sanogo’s inclusion sums up all that is going wrong. That guy shouldn’t even be at the club imo, let alone in the CL squad.
How must Akpom feel, at least he’s fit and has played a bit this season…. And I’m not suggesting Akpom is at the level yet, just Sanogo really isn’t…
Are there many left Potter?
Very few, I would say Rico. I have had so many discussions with Arsenal fans this season about Wenger’s future but have yet to hear a persuasive or even a sensible argument for him staying.
I can’t see any reason why he should stay either Adam, surely he can’t either..
Adam, Stan adores him.
There’s your argument, but I’m not sure anyone would suggest it’s senisible 🙂 🙂
Morning guys.
Rico. I imagine he is looking for a reason himself, but in a results-driven business….?
Did you hear his press conference Adam?
Not yet Rico.
He’s a broken man Adam….
New post up now..