Here goes Gooners:
Norwich were without a win so far this season, so we Gunners fans approached today, confident of continuing our impressive start of this campaign but this wasn’t the team that I witnessed showing resolve and fight against Stoke RFU.
This wasn’t the team that I saw out-thinking, out playing and dominating Liverpool.
This wasn’t the team that I saw go a goal behind at Upton Park, but showing grit and determination to fight back and win 1-3…
Today was a lacklustre display, a throwback to what has had us pulling our hair out for the last six years…
Norwich set themselves up with a disciplined 9 man defence in front of John Ruddy, with Grant Holt as their sole attacker. A case of ‘Arsenal show us how good you are’, come and break us down, and Arsenal failed the test.
Before Mannone’s poor handling handed Holt his simple tap in, the Gunners had looked far superior to the Wurzels, all the same, there was a worrying sloppiness to a lot of the Gunners play.
When they had to chase the game, they just couldn’t shake off that sloppiness, there was misplaced passes, poor control and abject finishing.
To me, our front three conspired to have arguably their worst game in an Arsenal shirt all at the same time.
Man Utd, City and Chelsea all play poorly at times, but they still win those games more often than not and that’s possibly because of the quality they have leading their attacks.
Podolski was anonymous, Gervinho was at his ineffective best, whilst Giroud was just punch-less. For a big guy Giroud was feeble, and as I have supported him in the past, I found his lack of fight so disappointing.
Losing Oxlade-Chamberlain so soon after he came on, was a blow as young Alex was one of a few who looked up for it..!
Both Arshavin and Gnabry put in some effort when they came on, but I didn’t feel that they had a goal in them.
Maybe we could have done with Theo?
Or Lopez? Or Llorente? Or anyone???
I cannot recall any period, during the entire 90 minutes, when Norwich looked stretched. Yes, Arsenal got into some dangerous positions, but I never saw the Wurzels looking anything other than comfortable.
I’m not interested in all those excuses about the Inter-lull, all the top clubs deal with it and it’s about time that Arsenal dealt with it better than they did today.
I felt that we missed Gibbs on the left, he and Podolski have a great partnership.
Jenkinson and BFG had solid games, the latter finishing the game as a centre-forward. Santos was ok, Vermaelen a bit of a mixed afternoon. The midfield worked hard, but nothing they tried seemed to come off.
Hopefully today was just ‘One of those Days’…
More realistically, it puts into perspective where Arsenal are in relation to Chelsea, City and United.
And where we’ll remain for the foreseeable future…
Written by Allezkev.
Morning Rico and all. I feel your disappointment Kev and know that you had the long, expensive journey to support the team. Nicely balanced post.
Our entire side lacked movement,we showed no initiative and were generally flat.
We should sack everyone involved in AFC apparently lol.
Kev….”one of those days” describes it perfectly…i hope.
I reckon the endeavour was there,but still,we were woeful.
Morning all,
I too feel your disappointment Ak, writing that must have been grim. Going through it once was bad enough.
A lot of money, a very long day and all to watch that gutless display…
I agree too, yesterday did show us where will will no doubt remain for the foreseeable future. Especially if we continue to lose against the so called lesser sides in the PL…
PL winners, never in a year of sundays…..
We wre tired physically but the manager should have addressed that tactically.
Putting Gerv in middle instead of tired Santi.
Pushing Arteta in the Santi role and replacing him with Ramsey in the holding role with Ox in Ramsey/Diaby role
We had more possibilities than it looked. Its just that we have become a bit like those french drama queen teams of old.
Still Rico. The good news is that we are 2 points better off than last year at this stage.
I think sacking the lot is a bit extreme Scott…
Funny you should say that Adam, I wondered only this morning where we were in comparison to last season..
Good post AK
Lets just hope this is a one-off. Arsenal needs not slack further.After the Manure match in 2 weeks we will have a clear picture if we can contend for the title or if we are out of it. Matches like yesterday wins you league but we bottled it. No one wants to play on the wing again. Everyone wants to become a midfielder. We needed to use the wings more often but instead we kept coming thru the middle which was already congested making it easy for the cannaries to cut off our flow cause of the number of men they put behind the ball. We really missed Gibbs bombing forward on the wing, Santos was ok but always cutting into the middle. Gervinho has revert to his old self after leaving for international break last week
For the goal, the player who took the shot was not quickly closed down. Watching it again, I wouldn’t want to blame Mannone cause of the moment of the ball, Vermalaen should have being alert to clear but he lost his man who was a yard away from him
We might have had 72% of the possession but the only stats that matters is the final score.
Welcome Ritesh.
If the players are tired, then a game like yesterday was the perfect time to change things as you suggest. Why not start with AA instead of Santi.
Le Coq instead of Ramsey, mind you, the Welshman shouldn’t have been tired, nor should Arteta or Gerv.
Emma,is that right….72%?
We did very,very little with the possesion.
All opinions and opinions aside…we have not looked so tame in years.
We did not have any periods of dominance,nor did we threaten Norwich at any stage.
Still,considering we were so good a month ago,we must believe in the squad.
Oh,and i finally,finally,finally agree……Ramsey has had his injury,his reovery and ample time now to show his quality.
It is there,but for whatever reason,it isn’t being produced.
There is no way he should be starting for us…no until he can show some consistency.
He definitely has the talent……show us the footballing brain Aaron.
Hi emma, I am dreading the manure game….
Said the same here yesterday, those who believe we don’t need a DM imho are very wrong. Yet again no player closed down the player who took the initial shot for the goal…
I still think Mannone could have done better…
Ah the goalkeeping situation. There is probably an interesting debate to be had there.
Morning Gooners.
Thanks for the sub-edit Rico.
7shots on target Scott, is that right???
I
Couldn’t recall Ruddy making a difficult save all afternoon.
He actually looked a very safe goalkeeper…
Morning Kev. You working today?
Scott – Yes 72% possession but we did nothing with it. Just sloppy, lethargic and complacent thruout the match. Ramsey at best shouldn’t be starting for arsenal. He should be best used as a substitute
Very well balanced post, Kev.
What worries me the most this season is the lack of creativity in the team. We are creating 57% less chances this season according to opta.
I know the ‘interlude’ has been touched on but I think this is where my ‘conspiracy hat’ comes on. I am not trying to make an excuse by the way.
We had the joint 2nd highest number of international go away. The first being Manure but only 4 of their players played more than 90 minutes. Whilst we had 5 with Ox, Giroud and Poldi playing less than 90 minutes.
Remember Mata was omitted from the spainish matches whilst SC19 played in both and the full 90 minutes against Belarus.
Another point I made exactly 2 weeks ago was why Manure were playing at home after the break whilst the other 3 contenders were playing away from home. Out of the $hitty, the chavs and us we travelled the furthest (112 miles) whilst $hitty travelled 88 miles. The chavs travelled 10 miles down the round to play the scum. Even though $hitty won it was a very narrow win.
Are these factors that AW should have considered when selecting the team? Why was SC19 and Gervais not rested for instance? Poldi has an ankle injury put is being played when AW claims he has the required number of players.
Every one and his dog knows Santos is not a LB but Aw still persist with him there. He did ok there yesterday, but why did he not play in the place of Poldi and have Miguel as a LB?
Excellent post, rico.The performance more than the result was more devastating to all connected with Arsenal. The next few games, including Man Utd. will indicate if there is a possibilty of a decent season in front of us. If not then with great sadness, it is probably au revoir Arsene.
Tbh Rico, and I agre with your point of not closing down the player who shot, leading to the Vito fumble. But Norwich didn’t have a def/mid, they all did ‘that’ job…
We didn’t need a Vieira to stop that shot, Santi or Arshavin could have put him off, we just needed a ‘challenge’…
Anyone would have done the trick.
Interesting points tsGH. So many ifs and buts with the 4th richest club in the world, or is it the 5th?
just when thngs wer looking up for d arse, dey just go n muck it all up….no depth in d squad, n i bet my last buck on nothin being done about it come january. makes me pissed @ myself sometimes for being a gooner!.
Scott, that is the reason so many are so so angry, we did look tame, we looked totally awful.
Personally I take each game by game to do my own judging and yesterday was definitely the worst this season, one in which we should be growing and getting stronger and building on results like West ham, not failing to turn up and giving very little for 90 mins…
Hi guys! Everyone has spoken well about yeaterday’s toture, it felt like being immersed in crocodile pee, I must say I’m my 13years of being a gunner this was worst performance I’ve ever seen from any generation of the red & white. However,we have to be optimistic & stick with ak’s expression of “one of those days” I still believe in the red & white. Its only time, the canon will definitely shoot again. COYG!!!
Thanks for the positive feedback Gooners.
Fortunately, on occasions like yesterday, the trip home was made bearable by all the Arsenal chat with other fans on the coach.
Sadly, most seem resigned to another season ‘if only’…
Yes Adam, I shall venture out a bit later, but at present, I am enjoying being lazy, just like you lot… 😀
Kev,it was 7 shots on goal,but none were hit with any intent.
Should we keep going to and fro over the goal and who is to blame….it is irrelevant now,and to keep arguing over blame is silly,so let it go.
We were terrible……….forget the theories…come up with a definitive answer why,and you will be the new Arsenal manager!
Kev. I’ll have you know that I have been up since the unholy hour of 9am eating toast and seething gently 🙂
Emma there is one indisputable fact . Mannone had a shot to save went down and spilled it 3 yards out to Holt. 5 minutes from time Ruddy had the same save to make and the ball stuck. Living in Norfolk I spoke to a few locals after the game and they were buzzing and could not believe exactly what they had achieved and they all said they could not believe the lack of drive from our team and that all week Hughton knew how to beat us. . I haven’t checked this but one said that his last win in the prem before yesterday was at Newcastle against Arsenal.
What happened yesterday was inexcusable whether international break or not.
Potter. Let’s be honest. There wasn’t much to beat.
Someone made an interesting point yesterday about the Interlull…
Basically, why do we need so many International breaks?
Why not have 2 breaks during the season.
Play 4or 5 Internationals, and get all that rubbish outta the way without the constant disruption that buggers us up?
Morning all, before i comment on the post let me just say well done AK to actually go to an away game and get back and write a report is showing your support well done mate. As for your post i feel that i dissagree to a certain degree about the Internationals not mattering We had 15 players involved in international duty to Norwich’s 2 when you journey to play football and have to play different systems and with different players i feel it can put you at a disadvantage, The ox was a prime example lasting 9 minutes when you consider he should have been home the day before he did because of a Joke Polish fiasco gave him very little time to aclimatise, personally rather than blame the players i look at the system we are useing, keep ball football may look impressive but with one pass forward and 3 back is not a good system. I know we like to look at the Arsenal and say that the club is vastly experienced in playing football abroard but that is the club our players are not that experienced we have youngsters who have been thrown in at the deep end we have players who have been playing in different leagues prior to this season i feel that all this has to be taken in consideration when a bad result is posted. we are a fairly new team learning as we go we have 2 fullbacks out injured and who would normally secure our position better we of course without Diaby who is injured again just as he looked a promising prospect Kos was out injured as well. Monone i don’t hold responsible for the goal i blame the 3 defenders that never closed the shot down. Dissapointed i know you are AK and you deserve to be but Wenger needs to change this passing structure we practice and change the system to a more penetrative system we have the players its up to Wenger and the rest to sort it out quick.
Emma. I agree 100%. The question that naturally follows is the one that many don’t want to confront, especially the powers that be at Arsenal.
Keep the faith
Adam, please accept my grovelling apology…;-)
Kev. You are forgiven as you are such a lovely bloke. 🙂
I am AW biggest fan but I have to say his time is truly up. Time and time again he gets out-thought when it matters most. Against the chavs for instance if AW was not tactically lazy he would have realised that settting up Arteta and SC19 the same way Juve set up Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio would get nullified by Oscar and Ramires but he did exactly that and failed to change things at half time.
Why does he wait time and time again to make the same changes at 70 minutes? What is the point in repeating the same errors if they dont work. Is Boro to be blame and if it is him then AW has to change him or AW has to work!
Rico,i am sorry,but find a lack of performance and a lack of effort two entirely different things,and that is where we differ.
Nobody has been able to name a single player who didnt try.
In fact,the player who showed less effort than anyone in my eyes was Santos,and he has been named by some as one of our better peformers….watch his efforts at tracking back..they were non existent.
Every single commentator i have heard comment on the goal,and i do mean EVERY one,including ex keepers(hell,why would we listen to them),has said what a terrific save Vito made,and that backs what i said at the time,yet Arsenal fans choose to conveniently ignore it by saying he parried it to an oncoming forward.
This is what pisses me off.
Morning Ak – didn’t do a thing….
Your point about Norwich not having a DM makes it even worse for us, tbh, I thought they out thought and out played us and the ‘wanted it more’ – that yesterday was another Carling Cup final display….
I said if we ‘turned up’ we would win. we didn’t turn up, we were over confident imho…
Adam. When hasn’t the goal keeping situation been something which isn’t good for debate?? 😉
Fair comments Steve and Potter.
Should Wenger have rotated more or stick to a winning team?
AOC was ‘done’ by Bassong…
Offski for a bit…
Potter,there is absolutely no way known you could seriously compare the save Vito was asked to make with the dribbling ball Ruddy covered.
Seriously,that comparison is the most ridiculous offering anyone could give.
Get serious!!
I often wonder if you guys watch the game.
Potter you are right on Hughton win over AW. The lone Andy Carrol goal helped by the infamous Mike Dean ineptness in Nov 2010.Kozzer got sent off as well.
Cheers Adam.. 🙂
Ditto
Calm down Scott… 😛
Gone now
Sorry if I’ve pissed you off Scott , but from where I stood , Row EE level with the six yard box it was a routine save and he spilled it. ! He is our third choice keeper and should not be where he has been for so long however he was at fault and should have either killed the ball or got it away anywhere but straight out 3 yards in front of him. As I said Ruddy had the same save to make near the end and did it easily.
Tsgh….Ox came on earlier than we normally make a sub though.
He was gone after one minute,though stayed on for 9 guys.
Not that it made a difference.
Cazorla did little.
Podolksi same.
Ramsey…terrible.
Giroud…non event.
Gervino…woeful.
TV5…average.
Merts…..failed to cover Holt.
Santos….never tracked back once.
Jenks..one ofour best,but only went ok.
Arteta…did his job.
Vito….had little to do. Ex keepers will support him.
People who never played and that position will blame him,and that IS A fact!!
Arsene……why the hell would you take Podolski off first???
Until then,he was our only player that even looked like scoring.
Ox….injured in first tackle……
Arshavin….had little to do,and did it well lol.
Come on guys……nobody is lameless here.
Morning Tsgh, Potter, Steve, MW (Ak, post not mine 😉
just to read the comments now 🙂
Perhaps the benefit of television replays gives you a different insight but in the ground the opinion was it was his fault.
the reason we suck so bad is we are a one man team… none of our playeras are match winners… not a single one has a heart.. loosing to norwich is embarassing.. man u are real winners they do not accept defeat.. they fight till the end… i hate what wenger has dont to our team… we have no out and out winger.. our goliee is unproven and average… we play players out of position… we will never win anything… its a fact…
apart from southampton none of our wins have been convencing we are 9th in the league.. there is so much wrong going on at our club….
we need wingers we need a def mid we need a keeper and we need to sell our deadwood…
there are players out there who we should buy.. top priority for jan :
get these two wingers: iker munina and mertens.(we need creativity)
get a back up def mid: Copque.
get a goliee:Vorm
get a back up striker: Call Nikki b back from that Juve loan.
Our Squad in jan:
Giroud/ Podolski/ Nikki b/ Gerviniho/ Walcott(h)- 5 (strikers)
Iker Munian/ Mertens/ Aoc(h)- 3 (wingers)
Carzola/ Rosicky- 2 (CAM)
Ramsay(h)/ Wilsahre(h)/ Aretea- 3 (CM)
Copque/ Coquellen/ Frimpong(h)- 3 (CDM)
Santos/ Gibbs(h)/ Sagna/ Jenko(h)- 4 (wing backs)
Vermy/ Kozzer/ Mert/ Miquel(h)/ Djouru- 5 (CB)
Schezny(h)/ Mannone (h)/ Vorm- 3 (GK)
Scott- I agree with you on Don Mannone. The issue is what is happening between 15-22 minutes every single match for us to concede?
Even against Stoke they had a disallowed goal between those times.
There is no point in getting on the bad of a goalie especially if we do not have better cover. Personally I think I would blame SC19 for not tracking back. I know this is going to be unpopular, but Tettey had nullified him when going forward so likewise he should have been trying to disrupt him.
I mentioned it yesterday that the goal was the same as the Olympiacos goal in that, the midfielders who were meant to be tracking their counterparts did not do there jobs. Against the Greeks, Ox failed but we blamed Gervais for not trying hard enough when he was playing as a striker but had tracked back to help CJ25.
Yesterday Giroud tracked but instead of SC19 but because the whole team is drilled on keeping team shape they are failing to make individual decisions.
Agree with Emma that hopefully repeat hopefully this is a one off.We will meet our old enemy,red faced in two weeks time.By then ,hopefully again,the gunners could be 100% times 8 ready to storm his fortress if you can call it.
If Wenger is dead serious about ending the trophy drought the match against red faced is both an opportunity and challenge.I believe there won’t be repeat of the 8-2 massacre.Suffice to say there is nor reason why the gunners can’t cause a shock by beating the no 1 enemy of all gooner fans.
For this to take place every gunner must fight all the way until the ref blows the whistle.If there are 5 min aet make sure the concentration stops at 98 min.Believe me if the rf is trailing ,you never know the ref could give more than 5 min. Owen’s goal was scored against MC after 99min when the actual aet was just 6.
Potter,i will maintain that not one single keeper in the world would have held that mate.
Vito was in perfect position,until it dipped and swerved very,very late…..these balls they use now simply suck,and are designed to make keepers look silly,and strikers to look good.
I am not for one scond suggesting he should be our keeper…not even our 3rd best,but he can’t be blamed for that goal.
No pundit has blamed him,no ex keeper has blamed him,why is it so easy for Gooners to blame him?
Please,please,please read everything have written.
I was the first person to say how bad we were,and never shied away from it.
However,i never singled any player out for blame,either.
Scott we do differ, I thought we had already agreed on that?
Regardless, we were rubbish and we lost…
Morning all, still pissed off at yesterday’s lack lustre performance! As someone said Arsenal thought they just had to turn up and we’d stuff Delia’s mob…. How wrong!?!?
The old goalkeeping debate….I suppose if you took the best bits from each of them and made one player you’d nearly be there!!! It’s a joke IMHO!
Anyway I’m off to stand on a touch line in the bloody rain watching my 8yr old play football….
Potter – this is the link to the goal http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Arsenal-falls-to-surprise-1-0-loss-at-Norwich/tabid/317/articleID/273516/Default.aspx?ref=largepb
Judging by the flight of the ball you will see it curling away from mannone. BFG was keeping Holt offside. Santos was playing Holt on-side. If only Santos had the sense of positioning to align with Vermalaen or BFG it would have being offside. That’s where we miss Gibbs. I don’t want to blame Santos cause it’s his first start with the team. So i blame the fact we allowed too much room for the lad who took the shot on target which should have being a collective responsibility to prevent it from happening
Sorry i can’t bring up the Ruddy save. Just had a look at it again. the ball was not curling away from him making it easier to save Arteta’s shot on target
Tsgh – AW certainly seemed all out of ideas yesterday, or we simply didn’t have the players to change the game…
I thought he might throw Jack on, thank goodness he didn’t as that would smack of desperation….
And having seen their goal again., Mannone should have done better….
Morning Potter, i apreciate you were watching from a prime position, i only watched a stream and when it was shown from behind you could see a vicious swerve right at the end of the ball flight Monone did well n my view but never had the time to adjust to the flight of the ball i felt he did well . Manone is not my prefered goalkeeper i would like a better keeper brought in January but he does his best that shot maybe with a youthfull Seaman or a Pat Jennings who may have held it but in fairness to Manone the defence should have closed it down before the shot.
Potter. You are of course right. How any save that dribbles from grasp straight to an opposition player to push into the net can be called a good one is nonsensical. What separates a great keeper is consistency. Remember Almunia had an amazing series of saves against Barcelona at the Emirates a couple of seasons ago. Incredible stops really but he, by general consensus, was and is crap. The only person I know who rated him was Wenger. But then, there is a man with a blind spot where goalkeepers are concerned. The most important position in the team and he doesn’t believe they should cost more than a few quid. And this, despite bigging up Lloris at every opportunity. It is truly, truly scandalous. Yesterday was a perfect example of their importance. We have the worst goalkeepers in the PL and have done for quite a while now.
Talking of the goalie position, even $hitty fans are not happy with their goalie situation because they claim Hart has not got competition.
No other team has two world class goalies apart from the scums. One is n ot happy sitting on the bench.
Caesar has been atrocious for QPR but I bet he would be inspired next week against us.
Terry has made a good point. We do not have a winger in our team. Ox, TW19 and Gervais do not enjoy playing there it seems. Why have Chamakh or OG12 in your team when you do not cross the ball.
Emma,well said on the Holt goal v the Arteta (weak) shot.
The thing is,because you have said it,it will mean more to some than me waffling on about it…i am,after all,just a dumb Aussie.
What would i know,hey lol??
Steve…the balls they use these days would have made the best keepers of all time look silly.
tsGH I think that we should all be grateful we do not have Chamakh in our team. Small mercies I know but I am scrabbling for some comfort this morning. The winger point though is well made. 🙂
Emma- your observation on Santos is exactly the same as what he did at Blackburn last season. That 4-3 lose. And that is why I do not understand why Miguel is not used as a LB instead of Santos
And how anyone who has obviously never played between the sticks,let alone in the PL,let alone with the new balls,can pass judgement on current keepers is just the height of ignorance,or arrogance…….people can decide that for themselves.
Ha ha Adam.
When you are in the ground you get one chance only to see things and Norwich do not have the benefit of a big screen to see replays , not that the ones at our place are any use at the best of times. However it was not just me , it was the collective opinion of all in the ground that he should have done better. And just to stir the pot a little a friend who is a non league goalkeeping coach with a Norwich season ticket sitting on the Barclay behind the goal sent a text simply saying “” Dodgy keeper “”
tsGH. Thanks. Allow me some small crumbs of humour. I am hurting this morning and my crystal ball for the future is telling me ominous things. 🙂
Hi Lee, watching your son will make better viewing than yesterday…
I thought Coquelin should have started instead of Ramsey to help to deal with their counter attacks, which were very effective against us last season, and to give us more control in midfield. It’s easy to say retrospectively, however, but I thought this was symptomatic of our complacency – Ramsey really is an attacking midfielder imo. Also I really don’t rate Gervinho on the wing. He’s played pretty well every time he’s been played through the middle this season, but you could count on one hand the number of really dangerous performances he’s given on the wing since he joined the club. To put it into perspective, Gnabry looked more dangerous in his few minutes than Gerv did in the entire game!
Clearly the international break affected the side (a criticism, not an excuse), and Gibbs’ loss probably contributed as much to the goal we let in as did Mannone’s spill because Mert, TV and Jenks were in a straight line ahead of Holt, but Santos was a few steps behind, playing Holt onside. It’s the sort of thing you’d expect of a player coming into the side for the first time, and it wasn’t the only reason we lost the game. I don’t agree with the criticism of Giroud. I thought he worked very hard, and fought for everything, but there was no supply and no spark to the play behind him. There was no space for him to work with, and this was made worse by the poor performances of Gervinho and Podolski, who didn’t do much to create space for him or supply him with decent ball.
Only Cazorla, Arteta and Jenkinson (who defended well again, but needs to work on his attacking play) can truly hold their heads high, and our captain needs to sort things out because he’s slipping again.
Yes Lee. Tell the goalie to watch for those swerving ground shots.
Potter,as funny as it seems,i,living 1000’s of kilometres away,have the advantage of seeing every play live,and every defining moment replayed 4,5 even 6 times immediately.
Whether people coose to concede it or not,i get a better grasp on what is happening than they do,yet,because i am so far away,i know nothing.
Every commentator,before and after the game,said Vito did brilliantly to even save the shot,considering the dip and swerve the ball took,yet people here who have never played as a keeper and watched a dodgy stream seem to feel he didn’t…..you tell me who should be listened to??
Ignore my opinion…..listen to those who saw decent footage,and from various angles.
Its the same as Szczesny letting a goal in V Spuds last season…..the ball dips and swerves late,and the keeper is to blame….it is a joke.
However just concentrating on Mannone is just plainly wrong. There are just too many things to go over. The whole team performance was crap , we never turned up , the manager and players need to take a long look in the mirror and question themselves. Anyone want a ticket for Wednesday ? at the moment if they can’t raise the enthusiasm , with a 250 mile return journey why should I ?
Potter. The sad thing is that you could have written your 11.13 post at more or less any time in the past several seasons.
Hi Rico- I thought you never got angry? 😀
I guess I am new on here 😉
Like I have said AW is finished. He uses the same 15 players until there is injury before making changes. Manure hardly feel the effects of injury because he hardly plays the same 11 players 3 games in a row. This ensures no player is rusty. For example all their strikers have featured in at least 4 matches whilst we have only rotated Gervais and Giroud.
I know rotation is not popular here but we can not be successful without rotation imho.
Actually,the best advice for goalies would be to avoid criticism from those who couldn’t catch a cold lol!!?
Scott – it was a difficult shot and it wasn’t all Mannone’s fault (Holt was well ahead of his marker when the shot came in but the defence wasn’t lined up), but he does seem to spill shots directly outwards quite often. He’s a very good 2nd keeper imo, but not top class currently.
https://twitter.com/FutbolFan5/status/259961173959639040
Scott – chill, there is no need to start calling those with a different view to yours ignorant or arrogant.
You suggest we don’t know what it’s like to play GK with one of the PL balls, well, forgive me, neither do you!
Davi,i agree 100%.
He never should be our first choice,but others should be held accountable.
Rico,i am not the one suggesting it is easy though!!!
tsGH – it’s not that we don’t cross the ball, it’s more that we don’t seem able to do it well. None of our fullbacks seem capable.
I think the only thing Wenger did right yesterday was not bringing JW10 on. 😀
The number of times Giroud has run into the box only to see the ball go 6 feet over his head is pretty embarrassing.
Potter –
I actually wish Norwich had gone on to score more, they certainly had chances. Can’t recall who it was should have scored with his header and Mannone decided to go walk about, and that again could have cost us dear.
But yes, it was not all about Mannone’s blunder, sadly, there are many other talking points, like playing the offside trap together, using our wings, playing with pace, Santi not coming so deep, Gervinho at times was more static than Walcott is often, (didn’t think that was possible) not shooting from outside the area, not closing down Norwich, not being able to cross, wayward passing…
Best I stop….
Tsgh 😆
Not often, but Wenger and his merry men have a way of bringing the worst out in me….
Ah, can’t catch a cold, now that is Mannone, flu would be better..!
davi – agree re the crossing, dire, absolutely dire!
We might have benefited from putting Cazorla on the wing and bringing Coquelin into midfield. At least we could have made use of our best attacker higher up the pitch. It’s easy to say in retrospect, and it could have brought more problems – who knows.
Dire is being kind.
Funny,but Diaby would have made a huge impact.
There is a man who is paid £7.5 Million a year davi, apparently it’s his job to work out how we can change things around when things are not working…
Not sure where he was yesterday….
😉
So would Theo, but neither are fit. Depth in the squad exposed again I guess….
tsGH. You are talking a lot of sense this morning 🙂
Not that you don’t always of course 🙂
Rico. Didn’t you used to play in goal? 🙂 How well did you deal with the swerving ball? 🙂
Rico – I think Cazorla was so deep because he’s a responsible player and knew he couldn’t leave arteta to do everything himself. There was a block he made in the 2nd half to stop a Norwich cross on the counter which really said it all. Ramsey is an attacking midfielder who should be the backup for Cazorla in most matches. He was fine against WHU because we were on a roll and the defence was settled. We needed a more defensive player in midfield (hopefully Jack can solve that problem) to allow Cazorla to control the game.
I fully expect them to respond in the next game, but this complacency can’t continue.
rico – I don’t think it was a lack of depth that was the problem, it was a poor selection. Coqulein could have made a big impact in this game just by sitting back and helping Arteta to control Norwich. We’ve been great at winning the ball back quickly and stopping counter attacks in recent games, but that went out the window yesterday.
Davi I said the same after the chelsea and Man $hitty games.
That is why I believe AW has become content or lazy..
Its strange how he changes tactics when we are winning but changes personnel not tactics when we are losing. Everyone know knows that if you stop SC19 and arteta no one playing for Arsenal will make a killer pass. This is especially the case when Gervais is not playing up front.
Watch it Adam… 😀
Thanks
tsGH. I am trying to, but it’s swerving all over the place. 🙂
tsGH – I don’t think they stopped Cazorla or Arteta yesterday, they just stopped everyone else, so it was going to take a moment of brilliance from one of them for us to score, which isn’t going to happen in every game.
I don’t think Wenger is finished but it is a fair criticism. Yesterday was a clear display of complacency from everyone involved except Cazorla and Arteta. You could see at the start of the game they were expecting a walk in the park.
That’s my point about changing things davi, we all saw how deep Santi had to come and that had to be down to either Arteta or Ramsey, so change it, don’t just sit there in a nice seat doing burger all….
In fact I really hope that Frimpong is about to claim his place alongside Arteta and Ramsey joins the bench….
Diaby might have made an impact yesterday , last season , the season before, frankly since the Dan Smith incident wrote him off , he should have been replaced. We should not be discussing might have beens.
Aaaaaggggghhhh the master of deceptive sarcasm hasn’t changed.
Talking about swerving everywhere……..sometimes a full blooded drive is best for all concerned….it shows there is a man inside afterall lol.
Don’t you all just love how the “real” fan in everyone comes out after a loss.
Some people would have been in their absolute element for one “invincile” season.
The other 124 seasosn just don’t exist 🙂
Adam, Tsgh always talks sense 🙂
Swerving ball in hockey was very different – but still, if it was too hot to stop, I just nudged it too the sides where it was safe. Always made sure it never went straight back to the opposition…
Now lacrosse, that was a very different ball game…..
We really missed Squillaci yesterday. I know some of you don’t rate him but have to say that I do. He was at home yesterday, sitting in his stable doing some crochet work, comfortable that his £50k a week will keep him in carrots for years to come.
Potter….what should we be discussing then….players we SHOULD sign?
Isn’t everything on here ifs,buts and maybes?
rico – good point, Frimpong can be fantastic if he can stay fit. We are missing that physical presence in midfield, but Coquelin could have gone some way to providing that. Yennaris could have been more useful than Ramsey in this game. I agree that Wenger should have changed it, so it’s more down to him than a lack of squad depth.
By the way, what does Gnabry’s appearance mean for his near future? Is he likely to push his way into contention? From what I’ve seen, there’s little difference between him and Oxlade in playing style or ability?
Agree Potter, both with ridding Diaby and yes, why discuss who could make a difference when they are not available…
I said yesterday in the post, that squad was good enough if they turned up, they didn’t and we lost!!
Scott – really cheap shot there about real fans!!
Fatigue is a non-specific symptom, which means that it has many possible causes. Fatigue is considered a symptom, as opposed to a medical sign, because it is reported by the patient instead of being observed by others. Fatigue and ‘feelings of fatigue’ are often confused.
To me the patient has spoken yesterday. And the doctor didn’t diagnose properly.
The sense of fatigue is believed to originate in the reticular activating system of the lower brain. Musculoskeletal structures may have co-evolved with appropriate brain structures so that the complete unit functions together in a constructive and adaptive fashion. The entire systems of muscles, joints, and proprioceptive and kinesthetic functions plus parts of the brain evolve and function together in a unitary way.
So basically mental and physical fatigue co-exist, are interdependent and can cause a flywheel effect on each other. It can be experienced by an individual or an entire group. The fact it seemed contagious throughout the entire squad tells me our group proces has an undercurrent susceptible to lacklustre infections. A symptom that has been identified several seasons before.
Morning Gooners.
😆 Adam
Steady on Rico. The HH policeman won’t approve.
Morning Dg, what are you really saying 😉 😉
I doubt Le Coq would have made any difference yesterday. The problem is not the goal we concede but the number of chances we are creating. Ramsey played yesterday the way he should have played against the chavs ie as 1 part of the double pivot. The issue is that when we have the ball it takes longer for the ball to arrive in the opposition half. Are the 2 spanish players in midfield the reason? The only time we have counter-attacked this season are liverpood and the Montpellier goals.
What JW10 and Rosicky will bring is direct and quick transitional play from defense to attack.
According to opta we are creating 57% less chances than last year. Below are the number of shots on target we have had this season.
Sunderland: 3-2
Stoke: 1-2; stoke had 17 goal attempts we had 7
Chelsea: 5-5
Norwich: 11-4; off the 11 shots on target the Poldi shot in the first half and MA08 shot latter in the 2nd half can be considered decent.
Rico,if i read one more smart arse cheap shot about about swerving,and i will still be about ten behind,so there you have it!!
DG. Good morning. That is just the point I was making. Have you studied the Squillster’s skull. It is magnificent. 🙂
davi, I am not sure what the immediate future holds for Gnabry but I really like him, looking forward to seeing him and a few others against Reading. I bet the younger players wont let us down with their performance….
tsGH – I’m not saying Coquelin would have stopped the goal going in, but the inclusion of a 2nd more defensive or sitting midfielder might have given us better control. With someone like him, we’re more likely to win the ball back quickly and catch them out. Ramsey just chased around all game, I thought. Didn’t contribute much going forwards or backwards.
It’s sort of like when Liverpool came back against Milan in the CL final. They were losing 3-0 at half time and brought on Hamann, rather than an attacker, and it just gave them a better shape and allowed them to gain control of the game.
Good morning all,
My goodness but some fans are fickle, last week Wenger was a genius for buying top players, Cazorla, Podolski and Giroud, we were going to win honours under the French wizard with the backing of Bouldy.
Suddenly the same fans are calling for the manager’s head and the defence is about as impervious as a wet paper bag, whilst the mid-field is rubbish and the strikers non-existant.
Yes it was a very poor performance and one I suspect that will be repeated at some stage in the season but it was not the apocalyptic disaster some are making it out to be.
We dropped another three points, did we really expect to walk all over Norwich City just because they are stuck in the relegation zone. I suspect not just the fans did but some of the players also had that feeling.
It is a mind set that has dogged Arsenal for years, small, lower status club, big game coming up in mid-week, no need to over do it, we’ll win comfortably.
I can’t comment on too many of the players as I’ve only seen the few minutes highlights shown on MotD, but I have watched the goal about a dozen times and as far as I’m concerened Mannone’s attempt at a save was atrocious. He was late going down, he spilled the ball straight into the path of Holt and was slow in trying to recover. Yes some attempt to close down the player would have been beneficial but the ‘keeper had ample time to make a routine save.
Morning DG10.
Your comment sounds like an 8th week lecture at RMA Sandhurst. 😀
None have stooped as low as questioning the fans support Scott and you know that is a no no on here!
The ball may have swerved, so what, he got to it and should have pushed into safety, not straight into the path of Holt!
With no TW14 and Ox and Jack on wednesday night Gnabry will definitely feature
Adam, I doubt Dg would bother, fresh air is very hard to study….
Lets face it, Arsenal are no more than a middle of the division side,
win one lose one,you can forget all the Bull Shit that Wenger
predicts,like winning the Premiership,and all the silverware were
going to win,that will never happen while Wengers in charge and we
have a tight fisted bunch of director’s like we have,if you want the
good things in life,you have to pay for them,I will spell it out for you,
just look at, Man Utd: Man City: Chelsea: just to name a few,they
all have generous directors,people who love the game of football,
and aren’t there to make money. “LIKE OUR LOT”.I should also
like to add,the teams that i mentioned all had their international
players on duty,and it didn’t seem to bother them,two games in one
week.
That last sentence should read “Yes some attempt to close down the player would have been beneficial but the ‘keeper had ample time to make, what should have been, a routine save”.
tsGH- “What JW10 and Rosicky will bring is direct and quick transitional play from defense to attack.”
Quite agree with you on that. I would include an inform diaby to that list. Ramsey and Coq are best as impact sub at the moment
Morning JW,
I expected us to walk all over Norwich, I expected us to come away with 3 points and a 5 or 6-0 result…
I love Podolski, Santi and Giroud, but they were very very average yesterday….
JW…i disagree with you comment Vito’s attempted save was bad,but yes,he was very slow in his reaction afterwards….not good enough.
The rest though,on fickle fans is spot on……it all depends on what day of the week it is lol.
Tsgh, Jack will start against Reading won’t he?
JW. Good morning. Not sure you are right there. I think that most HH fans are pretty consistent in their views on Wenger/ the club/ the board etc. Having had a couple of dinners with some of them I must say that they dilute their printed views somewhat, probably out of respect to fellow bloggers. I don’t recall anybody suggesting that Wenger is a genius. Most fans I know are certainly not of that opinion at all. Anybody, like yourself who has been supporting Arsenal for a while must be quite familiar with the feelings after the game last night. It is the conclusions we draw from these things that are interesting.
Steve,
You really think the Glazers love football and are not in it to make money? Get real, they have loaded down the club with debt and are trying to flog shares around the world in an effort to make money before FFP comes into force.
Thanks Emma. I didn’t add Diaby because I think he has gone past needing medical help. He needs to go and see the woman who rubbed animal intestines on ‘you know who’ or go to Africa to see a witch doctor. 😀
I like the fact that AW trusted Gnabry to play as a No.10
You can’t hang your hat on Diaby . It’s not his fault he got crocked but ………………………………..thereby hangs the tale.
Everyone is entitled to their view and if that is wanting AW out then so be it!…
rico – mannone pushed it into safety. Just unfortunate that Holt was played onside by Santos which gave him a 2yard head start ahead of BFG. Otherwise BFG would have cleared it off. I posted a pic above to illustrate the positioning of Santos. Mannone was not helped as the ball took a dip swerve the moment he made the save. Wish i could do a gif. video of it
Are you serious Rico??
Everyone supports the club when things are good,but plenty show nothing but disrespect when we lose,and you call that support??
Others have agreed with me,yet you ignore those comments…..please explain??
Why don’t you tell us all why,after every loss,the same arguments take place,the same comments are made by the same people,and the same people have the same smart arse comments indirectly shoved down their throat with no repercussions??
Why don’t you tell me who the “real” fans are…those who support the club no matter what,or those who are calling for players and managers heads at the first sign of trouble.
Emma,you must be wrong,because you agree with me lol!!
Come on guys….attack Emma with the same smart arse reaponses directed at me.
I will bet it doesn’t happen!!
Emma…..you are a champion,because you actually think for yourself!!!
He should Rico but why AW has decided to play JW10 against Everton tomorrow evening is beyond me! I would have given him 15 minutes against Schalke on wednesday instead because the Everton U-21s are massive
Steve. I have to disagree. Arsenal are not a mid table side at all. They are certainly littered with players who are not good enough though. Arsenal are frustrating to support because every fan can see the potential within the club and are rightfully frustrated that that isn’t being fulfilled. Results like yesterday merely highlight that fact and this breeds discontent. It’s very understandable I think.
Scott – 😉
Let’s see this play out Emm……….
I have to disagree re the safety area though emma, maybe i’ll look again but for me it was too much in front of him rather than to the side….
Yes, Mannone clearly pushed the ball directly outwards, when it should have gone to the side. It’s not all his fault, but a better keeper would have dealt with it differently 9 times out of 10.
Maybe you will look again Rico……i said it,and it was disregarded lol.
Gotta laugh.
I don’t have to explain anything to you Scott, not today or ever!
Davi,if Merts was more alert,Holt would not have slipped in behind him.
If,if,if…..
Yes,i know that Rico.
Being open minded or not is everyone’s right lol.
Apart from the offside issue, the midfielders did nothing to stop the shot; just let it happen! would never have happened before the international break. We were throwing ourselves at everything on the edge of the box.
Santos was at fault yes ! kept him onside yes! work for Bould to do with the back 4 but, Mannone pushed it into the area where Holt could get to it. I don’t see why you serve to try to ignore this fact.
Exactly davi…..
Emma,
There’s no way that that ball was pushed into a safe area. it was one of the clumsiest “saves” I have seen from any Arsenal ‘keeper for a long time….and that’s saying something!
Scott – Mert was playing Holt offside. Should he have been more aware of Santos? NO, Santos should have been more aware of the other defenders. Perhaps he just wasn’t on the same wavelength because he’s not been a part of the defence this season really.
Davi….right again.
The interlull is not an excuse,it is a valid reason.
i honestly think no man can play to his utmost ability every time he sets foot on the field.
A player can give 100% effort,but still not perform.
We had 15 players away,Norwich had 2.
But this is Arsenal,and we should be better than that………apparently.
I think that neither Mertes or Santos expected Mannone to make such a hash of the save.
Scott – Mert was alert. Santos wasn’t he kept holt onside. Have a look at the image again
https://twitter.com/FutbolFan5/status/259961173959639040
Afternoon all,
Tsgh, give Wenger a break, he finally showed us his plan B yesterday, sticking Mertesacker up front for the last 5 minutes…..genius.
We didn’t even have a recognised striker on the bench, anyone know who picks the team on matchdays, decides tactics and does the half-time team talks, who-ever it is needs a good bollocking this morning.
Maybe we under-estimated what a big club Norwich are, they wanted it more than us, they needed a win to get out of the bottom 3 and we duly obliged, no fight, just rolled over.
Kev, this game didn’t deserve the post it got “No-one bothered to turn up” would have been sufficient.
The thing is, defenders will make mistakes, but in this case, it was a combination of 3 errors, which on their own, won’t usually cost us: 1) Mannone spilled the shot; 2) Santos was behind the other defenders; 3) no closing down. To be honest, of the 3, I’d say the latter is the least acceptable. Mannone’s mistake came from a very tough shot and was made only because of his own ability and Santos at least has the excuse of not really playing much 1st team football with the others. On the other hand, the lack of closing down was shere complacency/lack of effort. They should know better.
Davi,i said earlier Santos was slack all night,even though some tought he was one of our better players.
I still say that Merts left Holt too far away…..you can’t totally rely on a linesman to give an offside,nor other defenders to play the same line.
JW….plenty of experts,including ex keepers, say it was a great save.
Sorry….they are right.
davi, agree there too, close the shot down and we wouldn’t be talking about the goal…
Scott – it’s a valid reason for Stoke (when they have Europa League games for example) but not for a side looking to win or challenge for the title. It’s clearly the major cause of the problems, but why didn’t our rivals struggle so much?
“No-one bothered to turn up”
Trouble is loads of us did at £ 50.00 a pop. Plus for most travel expenses too.
Davi…..that is my point in every post.
People want to blame a few,when the entire side had a bloody shocker.
Hi Micko, seems one goal for Germany went to AW’s head 😉
Scott – that’s not my impression. Some might want to lump it all on Mannone, but I think everyone accepts the whole side was poor because we barely tested the Norwich defence.
I think we are blaming all, but highlighting the worst points….
Right, I have lunch guests so I will be back later…
But I will keep checking….
Potter, and I’m sure you will again on Wednesday, just venting my spleen.
“but I think *most people accept*”
Emma….
No nasty comments directed at you for saying exactly what i said…i surprise,surprise,surprise.
I bet that had we scored 4 goals yesterday we would not be talking about Manone’s handling but we never even made 4 attempts we had more slips than they do in ice hockey and that is our problem chances in a game are one thing converting them is something else but without chances you will lose and that is what happened. wWe didn’t just turn up and expect to win that is the mistake of supporters who believed we were that much better than Norwich but the actual truth is we struggled to penetrate and had no answer Wenger has to come under fire for he is the overseer he should be able to see the pitfulls at the very begining and rectifi the problems. If he chooses to leave it till half time to sort the problems out thats his perogative we know he hates to use his subs untill the 70 minute but that is also a bad tactic. In all seriousness we have a very good squad of players they have talent and the skills needed to win the Premiership but they are playing in a way that is not showing them at their best, Giroud has not had the correct service since his arrival our wingers cannot cross and whoever takes corners and free kicks may just as well pass it straight to their defence we have no arial threat because we can’t cross a ball and we over pass these are not bad things and can easily be overcome but they are being left to persist and that cannot be right. our breakaway chances have to be quicker and more direct if Gervinho cannot release the ball quicker he will need replacing we cannot continue this over passing its too negative.
Davi…the same old names popped up immediately.
Mannone,Ramsey and Gervinho.
Oh,and Wenger out was the other one.
A month ago,Wenger was god,Mannone was a better option than Szczesny,Ramsey was rediscovering his “pre injury” form and Gerinho had found his goal scoring boots.
Not once jave i said any of these uys had a great game….quite the contrary….but why Gooners consistently single these guys out,when the entire group were awful is beyond me.
Chill Scott…;)
I understand your frustration but I doubt Rico is being unreasonable.
The fact is AW is the cause of all this. You know I love the man based on my recent post etc. but how he expects players who have been away for 2 weeks:- Gev playing in 30 deg heat, SC19 and BFG playing 90 minutes away to carry the team is beyond me.
Purple nose mixed things up but we played the same text book team available.
AW set up the same way he thought Norwich did against Chelsea but Hughton didn’t follow that formula. That is where RedNose and even Roberto di Tomato are better than AW. There are times when a manager has to look at the squad and dressing room and ask himself what the vibe in the team is. Sometimes you have to say lets be solid for the first half and frustrate the opposition and then hit them when they get tired in the 2nd half. AW is also so predictable I am afraid.
Like I have asked, why have we conceded most of our goals between 15-22 minutes most matches including the Champions league CL? What is being done to counter that? Maybe its coincidental.
Chelsea goals- 19’28 mins
WHU goals 21 mins
Montpellier goal – 15 min
Norwich goal – 21 minutes
My ‘lecture’ was meant to point out that fatigue doesn’t only derive from physical demands preceded, like the interlulls. It can easily be rooted much deeper within a system of operation. Energy can be found or lost.
If group dynamics are changed accordingly you can influence perception and take matters much more into one’s own hand. Instead of undergoing a shared consensus that all abilities are affected and rendered useless.
Scott,
It was a straight forward shot. It wasn’t hit particularly hard, Mannone had a clear sight of it. It was low in front of him. Any competent ‘keeper should have been able to smother it.
Many experts, including ex-‘keepers, will tell you that the worst thing to do is to spill the ball forward into the path of an on-rushing striker.
Mannone made three basic errors, I) he was late going down, 2) he spilled the ball forward, 3) he was slow to recover. How can that be described as a “great save”?
Well said Steve.
Gervinho seems to take players on until he gets around the penalty box,then he stops and looks to offload.
I wish he would continue to press…it is the strength in his game.
Aplayer of his dribbling ability should be getting a penalty every few games,but he doesn’t look like it.
Take them on!!
Again DG10 you comment sounds like a lecture from Sandhurst. And that is a compliment 😀
‘system of operation’- military talk 😀
JW,you didn’t see the same shot i did mate……not hit hard…..compared to a rifle shot,maybe lol.
The initial save was great…the rst wasn’t,and i never said otherwise.
The marking,or lack of it,on Holt was much worse,as was Santos bludging….but Mannone is the flavour lf the week,as is our lack of keepers,so lets focus on that!!
TSGH…..sorry mate,but i say it,and it is torn to shreds,and has sarcastic,smart arse remarks directed at it by a few.
Emma,god love her,says it,and it is politely disagreed with,except by those who made the said smart arse comments,who simply disappear.
tsGH. Spoken like a true soldier.
I am off.
Good evening to all the loyal fans 🙂
Nite scott
Scott,
Perhaps we were watching different games. The shot that I saw, watched repeatedly, and still have the recording of was exactly as I described. Not particularly hard, from a comfortable distance, no deflection and should have produced, from a competent ‘keeper, a routine save.
Afternoon TSGH thanks for the compliment.
“There are times when a manager has to look at the squad and dressing room and ask himself what the vibe in the team is. Sometimes you have to say lets be solid for the first half and frustrate the opposition and then hit them when they get tired in the 2nd half. AW is also so predictable I am afraid.”
Exactly my thoughts during the game yesterday. Be a tactician instead of a drill instructor when you encounter rigid opponents. What’s given the opportunity to resists will only persist.
Gotta go!
Time for lunch and then settle down to watch the North-East Bloodbath.
JW. I watched the same game as you and failed to spot the mysterious shot from the grassy knoll.
Never mind guys…if you don’t know,you just don’t know…..
Fortunately,Emma knows 🙂
Nite Scott.
Rednoses win percentage is just 4% more than AW’s but that is the difference when it counts. We need the extra 5% to make us world beaters but where will that come from? A new coach, new players?
I never truly appreciated the fact football was alien to English fans….never mind,we Aussie will always set you straight,as will our scouser mate Emm!!!
Any questions can be directed to http://www.loyalgoonerswhohaveaclue.com
Emma or myself will answer your queries asap 🙂
A gooner who scored yesterday
Tea Up…..
Blimey it’s busy on ‘ere today.
Anyone would ‘av thought we lost yesterday… 😉
Ducking and swerving all over the place eh Scott? 😀
Lucky it’s only a game….
Off to catch up…
Haha Kev…
One of those days. You wait 2 weeks for a party and it turn out to be an anti-climax… 😀
Coquelin must played yesterday. AA perhaps. AW puts on the pitch must of players who played for their own countries. My opinion: wrong. Of course, we had many injuries but we must have enought players and give them minutes for playing for acquire confidence and be ready for be calling again.
It’s time for a balance. For win the title: 4 teams – M.city,chelsea,M.U and Totts.
For reach the 4th place, with lucky: Newcastle,Arsenal and Everton.
Next kick-of: wednesday. If we win, we get 9 points, money and probably, at least, we will be second in our group.
Scott 12.24, lets see, can’t blame it on an early kick, can’t lump it on the referee either, lets blame it on the International break this time, how convenient, why didn’t Citeh with 10 men, Chelsea or Man U think of that one first, no excuses for me, we were crap.
Any defeat is awful but to lose to a lowly team is simply unacceptable.If t. he gunners want to challenge these are the games they have to win.The buck stops with the fm. Obviously something is wrong if the gunners are confronted by anti soccer.
It had happened before during feb’s time. Well if it wins games,who cares.This reminds me of the vietnam war. Rather than confront the overwhelming power of US forces,the NV resorted to guerilla tactics neutralising the US.These are the tactics of theweaker teams.
Chelsea and other top teams don’t have a problem with anti soccer. Sadly it has been happening these years and yet Arsenal are easily stifled and lose their way and the game.Unless Arsenal can defeat anti soccer they will be fighting for fourt place,believe me.
Micko. I blame it on the location. Too easterly for me. It’s the magnetic fields up there.
Adam, you working?
You little tinker… 😉
Ginge, yesterday I was very very disappointed..
But the great thing about being a football fan is the next game.
By tomorrow, I will be looking forward to Schalke Nul Fear…
JM, “We’re All Doomed” 😛
All them combine harvesters don’t help either Adam.
Ok, off for a few jars now.
Very true kev. Unfortunately I am not able to travel to the away matches these days. The last one I saw was the Blackburn lose in september last year.
Fingers crossed we take 3 points on wednesday and also JW10 comes away from monday night unscathed.
We need to rotate more..
How are the masters of Lusitania doing, my favourite team from the Penninsula, the mighty Benfica….
What a great, magical team they are…
The Eagles of Lisbon, a wonderful club…
I’m sure you’d agree JM… 😉
I didn’t realise you were a navigator Adam? 😀
‘too easterly’..
Hi Kev. Too fed up to work today. Just popped up the Belgian patisserie for a bite of lunch. Where is Lee when you need his clarity of thought and expression? 🙂
Rotation Ginge, I am an advocate mate.
Ferguson does it, and he’s a genius.
Wenger does it and gets canned.
So if, for example, AW had freshened things up by playing Coq at L/B and Santos L/M, and we’d lost, he would have been castigated.
Imagine the stick AW would have got if he’d rested Santi and had played Arshavin?
The team AW picked was the team I had expected, that said.
But rotation is the answer, possibly?
Oh yes tsGH. Give me a ship and a star to sail her by….I actually spent many years in the Navy. I served at Trafalgar alongside Kev.
Adam, it was Caffe Nero cuppa for me.
Very refreshing.
Lee is doing his “I did not see it” impression somewhere in deepest Easterly, watching youth Footie.
Or just maybe, he is in the pub ranting and raving about AFC.
But in a clarifying manner… 😀
Gotta do a bit
Lata Gooners
Ah har, Adam, me old ship mate, hammocks and all.
Gone now
Mohd – I think Chelsea and Utd are more able to draw their opponents teams out, thus creating space for their forwards. We are trying to play Barcelona tactics, moving the ball around in front of their defence and creating small pockets for players to run into. It’s extremely difficult to play that way and a few of our goals have come from quickly nicking possession around the halfway line and hitting them, rather than drawing them out.
In the Henry-days we would counter attack extremely quickly and got a huge number of goals in that manner, but we don’t have the personel to do that any more. Our pacey players like Theo and Gervinho just aren’t as good at making those moves count as players like Henry and Pires were, even if they are even faster across the ground.
This latest setback is a continuation of previous seasons’ disappointing results. Recall the 4 goal lead against NU evaporate.Then we have the gunners losing to wigan after leading 2-0.If I were to compile the list of such results,it would really make all gunners turn against Wenger.The buck stops with him.
i believe the fm is too rigid tactically and as a result other managers know how to stifle him. He won’t change his system believing he will be rewarded. I am afarid the contract extension can be put on hold to see how the gunners fare by Xmas.
Believe me if the gunners are stuck in midtabel,it will be a mammoth task to get back to the top 6. Forget about third and fourth if there are more defeats.
Trafalgar Adam? that explains your dislike for Napolean.. 😀
Pissing myself at the “it wasn’t Vito’s fault”….what a load of bollocks!!! Swerving shot my arse, he fucked up and the rest of the team were as poor as him!
My son’s team lost 1-0 and the goal was scored in injury time…. 🙁
Isa- I think AW was astute up until the man $hitty match setting the team up to counter the opponents. The match at the Gaelic rugby club was a typical example when we nulified poo-lis.
AW becomes lazy when westart playing 2 games a season
gentle Lee… 😀
The 4-4 was almost entirely down to the ref. I can’t see how the players can really be blamed when he sends off our player, correctly, but let’s theirs get away with murder and gives them a penalty for an obvious dive and then a freekick at the end for an obvious dive – is anyone to believe that Rosicky can knock Barton or the giant striker to the floor like that?!
But yes, there have been some particularly poor results in recent seasons. A couple of times we’ve been similarly as toothless against Fulham and WBA and been well beaten. Of course losing is part of the game, but in the past we always made it close and sides would need a bit of luck to beat us. Every now and again these days we are being soundly beaten by relatively poor sides.
Maybe because Norwich used a round ball???
Davi- you mean fat suit wearing Phil Dowd? … 😀
His reward for that performance was a coupon to buy triple fried battered mars bars
Green grass?
what is most frustrating to me is,- if you look at all the results from yesterday, every top team that played a lesser team, took care of their business— except us! and ours was the biggest mis-match……—– and one more thing… the difference in the United match was a beautiful cross, and a sweet goal from van Persie… every time he saves them, it makes me sick..
allez. Benfica is rubbish!
They are like Mu: they control the referees, the media,etc.
Unfortunately, they play better then us
Nigel – I think we were a bit less fortunate because Norwich had recently been beaten heavily a few times, and the international break gave them a chance to sort things out and get adrenalised for this match. It had the opposite affect on us, breaking up a good run of form and tiring our players. Again, this isn’t an excuse – we should be able to cope better; at least get a draw, but I do think it impacted the match. We also appeared to be complacent, expecting an easier match, which is inexcusable.
Lee. So you don’t buy into the swerving ball theory then? 🙂 I know that you are generally a big fan of Mannone and Gervinho of course. 🙂
Ha ha JM, I knew you couldn’t resist a reference to The Eagles of Lisboa… 🙂
Maybe it was the green shorts Lee..?
The Cornish pasty in the stadium was very good btw…
TSGH
You seem to have viable access to insightful statistics. I wanted to ask you before. Are you able to find anything related to our non-existent threat concerning our corners. I’m curious how many we had relative to other teams since the beginning of the season. I my mind we are leading the charts in this department.
I also strongly suspect there is correlation between our ineffectiveness on corners and the number of crosses testing the opposite defense. Cuz our ‘wingers’ do not identify it as a possible threat. Hence the reason they funel the play close to goal instead of keeping the playing field wide.
0 – Fulham were the only team not to pick up a red card this season.
0 – Blackburn became the first team not to manage a single shot in a Premier League game since West Brom vs Manchester City in December 2004.
1 – Sunderland were the only team to avoid defeat against Manchester City this season.
2 – Gareth Bale was booked for diving more than any other player.
2 – Fulham were the only team to win more than 1 game after trailing at half time.
2 – Fulham and Manchester City were the only two sides Robin van Persie did not score against this season.
2 – David Wheater, Mario Balotelli, Djibril Cissé and Joey Barton were all sent off on two separate occasions.
3 – Scott Dann scored the most own goals this season.
3 – The three newly-promoted teams avoided relegation for only the second time in Premier League history (after 2001/02: Fulham, Blackburn and Bolton).
3 – Everton became only the third visiting side to avoid defeat after going two goals behind at Old Trafford in the Premier League (Chelsea 00/01 and West Brom 10/11).
3 – Everton were only the third visiting side to score four or more goals at Old Trafford in the Premier League (Liverpool 08/09 and Manchester City 11/12).
4 – Luis Suarez won more penalties than any other player.
4 – Paul Scholes scored more Premier League goals this season than any season since 06/07 (6).
4 – Fernando Torres, Joey Barton, Grant Holt and Adel Taarabt all scored and received a red card in single games this season.
4 – Liverpool were booked for diving more than any other team.
4 – Sergio Agüero and Salomon Kalou were the only two players to have scored in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Europe this season.
4 – Jean Beausejour committed the most foul throws.
5 – Victor Anichebe scored the most goals from the subs bench this season.
6 – Robin van Persie became only the 6th player to score 30+ goals in a Premier League season.
6 – Manchester City became the first visitors to score 6 goals at Old Trafford during the Premier League era.
6 – Danny Simpson made the most goalline clearances.
6 – Wayne Hennessey made the most errors leading to a goal.
7 – Shane Ferguson and Giovani dos Santos made the most substitute appearances without starting a single game.
9 – Arsenal scored the most goals on counter attacks.
9 – Queens Park Rangers were shown nine red cards, tying the Premier League record for a single campaign with Sunderland in 2009/10.
9 – Liverpool converted just nine per cent of shots into goals; the lowest proportion of any side.
9 – Martin O’Neill is now undefeated in nine previous Premier League clashes with former club Aston Villa; winning four and drawing five.
9 – Samir Nasri had more Premier League assists this season for Man City than he did in his entire spell at Arsenal (7).
10 – Robin van Persie hit the woodwork more times than any other player.
10 – Emmanuel Adebayor was penalised for the most hand balls.
11 – Manchester United were awarded the most penalties.
11 – Papiss Cisse equalled Mick Quinn’s Premier League record of most goals in his first 10 games (11).
11 – Cheik Tioté received the most yellow cards for a second consecutive season.
12 – Newcastle United cleared more shots off their own goalline than any other team.
14 – Tottenham won the most points from London derbies in the Premier League this season, Chelsea the fewest (8).
15 – Arsenal have qualified for their fifteenth successive Champions League campaign. Only Manchester United (17) and Real Madrid (16) have current longer streaks.
15 – David Silva lead the Premier League in goal assists.
18 – Everton had the highest number of different goalscorers.
19 – Blackburn and Manchester City both scored a league high 19 goals from set pieces.
19 – Fernando Torres scored the 19th and final hat-trick of the season, equalling the record from 1993/94.
19 – Shola Ameobi made the most substitute appearances.
20 – Manchester City set a new Premier League record of 20 consecutive home wins.
20 – Sergio Agüero, Matthew Etherington, David Ngog and Rafael van der Vaart were substituted on the most occasions.
22 – Andrea Orlandi scored the quickest goal of the season after just 22 seconds (versus Wolves).
23 – Arsenal recovered more points from losing positions than any other team.
23 – Wolves dropped more points from winning positions than any other team.
24 – Alex Song completed the most through balls.
25 – David Silva committed the most fouls without being cautioned.
27 – Darron Gibson is unbeaten in his last 27 Premier League games, dating back to 3 April 2010.
33 – Liverpool hit the woodwork more times than any other team.
39 – Danny Murphy created the most chances for team mates from set pieces.
41 – There were 41 own goals scored in the Premier League this season. Newcastle were the only side not to put one past their own goalkeeper, while Aston Villa, Norwich City and Wolves never benefited from one.
41 – Jonas Olsson blocked the most shots.
42 – Chris Eagles had more shots blocked than any other player.
42 – Andy Carroll attempted the most headed shots on goal.
49 – Arsenal conceded more goals this season than in any previous 38-game Premier League campaign.
50 – Clint Dempsey became the first American to score 50 Premier League goals.
52 – Goalkeepers made more saves from Robin van Persie than any other player.
52 – Emmanuel Adebayor was flagged offside on the most occasions.
55 – Stewart Downing created the most chances for team mates without recording a single assist.
59.6% – Arsenal averaged the most possession over the course of the season.
69% – 9 of Antonio Valencia’s 13 assists came against the bottom five.
72 – Stewart Downing had the most shots without scoring a goal.
74 – Chelsea were on the receiving end of the most yellow cards.
77 – David Silva created the most chances for team mates in open play.
77.9% – David De Gea has the best saves to shots ratio of all regular Premier League goalkeepers.
85 – Fulham made fewer substitutions than any other team.
85.9% – Manchester City completed the highest percentage of their passes.
86 – Moussa Dembélé won the most tackles.
86 – Jonás Gutiérrez was the most fouled player.
89 – Grant Holt committed the most fouls.
91% – Leon Britton had the highest long ball accuracy.
94 – Stoke fired in the fewest shots on target.
100 – There were 100 penalties awarded during the 2011/12 Premier League season. 72 were scored.
103 – Stephen Warnock made the most interceptions.
105 – Emmanuel Adebayor was dispossessed of the ball more times than any other player.
108 – Gareth Bale attempted the most left-footed shots.
114 – Liverpool attempted the most headed shots on goal.
118 – Joe Hart averaged the most minutes per goal conceded amongst regular goalkeepers.
132 – Liverpool allowed the fewest shots on target.
150 – Frank Lampard became the first midfielder to score 150 Premier League goals.
165 – Wayne Hennessey made the most saves.
174 – Robin van Persie fired in the most shots.
225 – Number of days between Paul Scholes’ last game of 2010/11 and his return from retirement in the FA Cup on 8 January 2012.
250 – Manchester City fired in the most shots on target.
254 – Ryan Shawcross made the most headed clearances.
267 – The number of players who received more yellow cards than Wayne Rooney.
270 – The number of players who scored during the 2011/12 Premier League season.
300 – Brad Friedel became the first player to appear in 300 consecutive games in Premier League history.
309 – Liverpool won the most corners.
400 – Chelsea became the third team to reach 400 Premier League wins (after Manchester United and Arsenal).
446 – Queens Park Rangers won more free kicks than any other team.
464 – Ashley Williams made more long ball attempts than any other outfield player.
485 – Wigan Athletic committed more fouls than any other team.
516 – Emmanuel Adebayor conceded possession more times than any other player.
800 – David Silva completed the most passes in the final third.
1017 – Newcastle became the eighth Premier League team to accrue 1000 points.
1066 – In all, 1,066 goals were scored during the 380 games of the 2011/12 Premier League season.
1440 – Luka Modric completed the most passes in the opponents half.
2215 – Luka Modric and Ashley Williams completed the most passes.
3420 – Brede Hangeland and Stephen Ward were the only outfield players to complete all 3,420 minutes (38 games).
How many players did Spuds, Stoke & West Brom have on International duty?
Great point Davi and definately a cause for our performance.
But aren’t we supposed to be ‘Contenders’..?
If you want to win the top prizes, you have to cope with these problems.
DG10-
I do have not been looking at that corner conversion but I no we have not scored directly from a corner unless you consider Kozzers goal.
I normally use this site for all my stats: http://eplindex.com/stats/#tabs-compStats
Kev- I do not think its the number of players who go away that is the issue but how many play when they are away and who and where they play against.
For instance SC19 played 90 mins in Belarus and the last 15 minutes against france. Mata did not play either games same as Hazard for chelsea. TV played 2x for Belgium whilst the BFG played 2 90 minutes matches.
Another issue is that manure did not have Wooney play the full 90 minutes nor did ‘you know who and Welbeck’. Yaya was poor yesterday as was Gerv playing in 30 deg heat.
The most telling though is that Manure played at home to Stoke whilst we played 125 miles away. the chavs played in london so no travelling for them whilst $hitty with their strong squad travelled 88 miles to WBA.
So we probably only trained on thursday and had to travel east on friday, whilst manure and chavs and tottenham could have trained properly for 2 days.
The Cornish pasty at Norwich was very good.
But my vote still goes to the chicken Balti pie at Stoke.
I wonder what culinary delights await me at Villa and Wigan?
Great points Ginge.
Thanx TSGH I will have look when I’m in the mood for it.
Just can’t remove the toothpick stuck in my brain as to why it doesn’t impose fear with our opponents. Given we have TV, BFG and Giroud as capable headers in corner situations.
Every time we have one, I just hear myself ‘skip the courtesy and get back in formation’ it offers to little for the risk involved.
kev- also Sky pundits were raving on the chavs performance but I think the difference was not that great. Had Bale played it could have been the difference.
DG10 another site is http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england.
Since Senegal has been disqualified from the AFCON tournament I think Ba will be a viable option in January
There doesn’t appear to be any info on corners conversion rate this season but for previous seasons information can be found on:
http://www.soccerbythenumbers.com/2011/05/why-goal-value-of-corners-is-almost.html
Ak the best cornish pasta I ever had was in KAF of all places. In the heat it was better than having one at London Bridge station wholst waiting for a train. 😀
Blimey, they must be goood Ginge.
Those at London Bridge are delicious.
Yes they were. Strange thing was it was been sold by Filipino ladies in an american shop…
Those london bridge ones are for special treats only… 😀
Why has Diaby, Szczesny & Rosicky been out so long..?
Were any of their injuries ‘that’ serious?
Frimpong was ahead of Jack a couple of weeks ago.
What’s happened to him???
Ah, maybe Agag has hidden talents???
Wonder if she’s any good at baking Cornish pasties.
I will have to ask her Ginge..!
Frimpong is ready but maybe not suitable for the squad in AW opinion… He played 90 minutes on thursday
Yennaris is also ready but AW does not trust them I think.
Diaby and TR07 don’t operate on earth times 😉 3 weeks Saturn times equates to 3 months earth times. (kidding of course)
Here’s a small analysis from the Sunderland and Stoke games on converting set-pieces. We effectively had a total of 18 corners in those matches without putting one dent in the net.
http://thearsenalkid.info/tactics/arsenal-should-be-scoring-more-goals-from-corners/
I’m no less angrrrrry now than I was yesterday. Very poor.
Haha didn’t realise agag was from that beautiful part of the planet…
do you know the KAF I am talking about?
Didn’t a local pie shop around the Ems won the crown of best pies in the league? They even been called to trial by Arsenal’s commerce office cuz it was an illegal front garden make shift cookery.
DG10 .D
Very good link he posted…
emirates pies are too posh…
certain foods have to be a bit on the traditional side…
Afternoon everyone, I’m still bloody seething…..
TSGH that was exactly why they been voted best and of course the ridiculous amount of coins involved purchasing your munchies at the Stadium.
Kev, cooking is indeed my hidden talent. But it is so well-hidden, I have yet to unearth it. 😀 😀 You know how it is, I’d burn water if I had to boil it. 😉
rico, same here. Soo angry last night I was kicking at things. Ow!
Hiya, Dutch. Howdy?
I bet that lot at London Colney aren’t feeling like we all are agag…
Howdy lovely, how have the typical Dutch pleasantries been received by friends and family? Heard you had an horrid time getting away from Brussel Airport. And had a atrocious jetlag to match it.
Ha ha, let me guess Agag…
You have long decorative nails, not suitable for kneading pastry? 😉
Either that Kev or she fears mixing creatinine with the ingredients. 😛
Tsgh, my earlier about Jack playing against reading, I goofed, I thought we play Reading in the CO Cup this week, but it’s not until the 30th – I can see Jack starting against Qpr next weekend..
And re Frimpong, I’d throw him in alongside Arteta, watching this Qpr side, we might need him!
rico, nobody showed up. They thought they had three points in the bag. Grrrr. So unprofessional.
Dutch, I have said only good things about your lovely city. 🙂 Although, as said ,we kept on getting lost, we were walking in the cold at 1 am trying to find our apartment rental. Those brick houses all look the same. 🙂 Our airline had to book us a hotel O/N, and another one for the flight delay.
Knead pastry Ak, a Kenwood does that 😛
DG 10 , It was a stall called Piebury corner, they bake their own and name them after previous players. They are tasty though.
They were too cock sure they’d win just by putting their kit and boots on agag….
AW should be saying that in public too…
Decorative nails— yuck. 😛 Nope, I like to cook well enough, but cooking does NOT like me. More to the point, the only rave reviews I get for my cooking are those I bestow upon myself. 😀
Creatinine, whassat??
Agreed Rico they do like the ball in the air and they are powerful in the midfield and Hoilett and Tarabt could give us problems. With our new found aprehension at the back we seem to be going backwards as others get their acts together.
Just watching Qpr v Everton, what a difference good keepers make to a team….
Don’t know why Wenger worried about Howard’s Tourette Syndrome when he could have signed him, the way we played yesterday has caused me to have a bit of that….
And just thinking about Mannone makes it worse!!
A Kenwood Rico..!!!!
A country gal like you….
What’s the world coming too… 🙄
Btw thanks for the info Ginge…
Still cannot understand why Frimpong wasn’t on the bench yesterday?
Spot on re those two players Potter…. plus a couple of others who’s name I don’t know….
Indeed Ak, I gave up kneading last Christmas when Santa came calling 🙂
Neither can understand why Frimpong wasn’t on the bench, especially as Jack was..
Also, I was against us going for Jagielka (spelling) but my goodness he has played well today…
And all those who doubted Cahill’s ability, I wonder if they are thinking the same now….
Potter
That’s the one. I recall being absolutely embarrassed and angered by the fact Arsenal’s commerce office were quite candid in their allegations. They stated that Piebury Corner had hatched a chunk out of the commercial explotation of the stadium. It then was raised to a level of animosity and total disgrace when Arsenal officials claimed the silverware was theirs to claim and display.
Such uncalled for actions make sad.
Qpr are yet to win a game this season, they play us next…..
Surely not??
Evening all,
Next up Qpr, another team that hasn’t won a game this season, they’ll probably start as favorites next weekend, Gawd help us !
How was your lunch date Rico? 😉
Sorry Agag I meant how the cheese and chocolate had been received. Creatinine is partially what your nails are made off.
Typical of the corporate suits that have gained control of the club. They think solely of maximising their image and ride roughshod over anything that stands in their way.
Dutch, Pac-Man had a blinder yesterday.
The more I see of Gervinho the more I like Theo, think we’re gonna end up losing the wrong player in January.
Adel Taarabt always has a point to proof against us… I will put Frimps there as you said Rico.
Its amust win game otherwise, 13 pts…
Micko, so do I….
Tsgh – all went well thanks, nice to get it right for family, they only moan otherwise… 😉
Oh family.. I thought it was the hottie you fancied.. 😀
Bit of steel Tsgh, English steel at that… Even though he’s chosen Ghana, he’s an Englishman in my eyes….
Nah, that’s my woofa and she had a little roastie as a treat, with one brussel 🙂
Hi, potter. How are you? Micko, too right you are, the way we played yesterday, QPR would be the favorites.
Dutch, they were consumed in no time at all. Stuff from Simon Levelt, in particular.
Evening Micko,
Damn those imaginary spots on the pitch. Whoopa Whoopa Whoopa Whoopa Whoopa Whoopa. Tutu Tataaaaaaaaaaaa Game Over. Raise your head up when you’re dribbling.
Potter re corporate suits I agree wholeheartedly.
Physically I am fine agag, but mentally scarred after watching that debacle yesterday.
Dutch, it did make me laugh, I thought it was just me seeing the imaginary spots on the pitch.
Agag, anything to get one over on Mark Hughes, a real nasty little pudding.
That nasty man Hughes was moaning about Everton time wasting at the end, bet they adopt the same tactics next weekend if they get a chance to get something from the game…
Micko I constantly hear that annoying Pac-man sound when I see Gervinho dropping chin to chest.
Sorry Agag been eating and replying. Yes Simon Levelt excellent choice. Holland has a high standard in coffee culture. They educate Barista (Coffee Science) to a degree of professional career. Did you take some Kopi Luwak, the world’s most exclusive coffee available?
Dg, that is not good for your digestive system 😉
How was tiote’s performance today?
More crazy than Frimps I will say..
Didn’t really notice Tiote..
I wouldn’t mind Holby of Schalke in January..
The red card
Don’t know much about him, guess we will see him on show on Wednesday…
Ginge, KAL (was it?), not sure what it means?!
I, would not, under any circumstances risk Jack against QPR.
Frimmers yes, he would love the muck and bullets.
I’d save Jack for the cup game at Reading.
Sagna must be close to inclusion in the squad…
Rather him on the bench, than Djourou.
Kozzer must be ok, maybe for Weds against Schalke?
Give Verm a rest ( It won’t happen)…
Gibbo fit for next weekend hopefully.
How quickly has he put all those doubts behind him to emerge as a key defender for us.
Kev- Kandahar Airfield
Lewis Holtby, now there’s an interesting player…
Ah, must have been off before i tuned in …
We really missed Gibbs yesterday Ak, and the other Englishman who is only good for his pace 😉
JD might be a surprise package, I know its highly unlikely, but maybe he has learned from Bould?
Hi Everyone,
I was always worried about this one, because Norwich are a physical team and our manager doesn’t know how to handle that. Our players come out demotivated. I don’t blame the goalie, he’s doing the best he can in a situation he shouldn’t be in. We badly missed Kos because he’s a fighter, and someone wrote that Poldi was injured and still playing, a trick that Wenger uses all the time. I lost all respect for AW in January last year, and can’t blame the players for this. It’s been coming all season because we don’t have a proper squad, and even if we did our manager wouldn’t know how to use it. We have lots of players in our team who are winners and it must be more frustrating for them than it is for us. I was very upset yesterday, but sadly not surprised.
Ginge, my local takeaway does a wonderful Kandahar chicken curry. 🙂
His contract expires in the summer
Holtby, ah, another German, who’s contract is up in the summer….
Hinge… 🙄
I meant Ginge….
Welcome Vonnie, I thought we’d romp it, they hadn’t won all season, they couldn’t buy a goal, but hey, we gift them one…
I blame the players for a lack of effort, but only one person is responsible for having the squad we have..
One which seriously lacks a class goalkeeper….
I am off dear friends! Enjoy your dinner wherever you are!! AK, you and Lee really love your curries, don’t you?
Dutch, Kopi Luwak (Indo), Kapeng Alamid (Phils), Ca Phe Chon (Viet) is sooooo much cheaper where I am from. 😉 It seems icky if you think about it, but it’s super smooth if a bit well… thin.
rico, go have a Spam sandwich. You deserve a treat! 😛 😛
Wikki
Holtby’s father, Chris Holtby, is a former English soldier from Liverpool who was stationed at the Rheindahlen RAF base in Mönchengladbach.[14] Holtby’s mother is German. Lewis, like his father is a fan of Everton F.C. and has said it would be a dream come true to play for them.
Lewis said: “My father was born in England and was a Everton fan since the age of five. He immediately infected me with the Everton virus! Since then I have been a Everton fan and have always followed their games.”[15]
Holtby is known as ‘Lucky Lewis’, or more often just ‘Lucky’ by the German media and the fans
Rico I saw Cookie Monster pictured yesterday in front of a sumptuous banquet consistent of fruit & veggies only. He didn’t enjoy the feast of plenty and rightly asked the question ‘What’s this crap?’
Same with coffee digestion, you’re either a Marlboro man capable of burning the most tar-like midnight oil in the company of handmade outback fire. Or you don’t. 😉
Cheeky agag 😉
Night night….
😆 Dg, I would have loved to have been that cookie monster..
Thankfully, I don’t, neither the coffee or the Marlboro 🙂
Vonnie, I heard that as well yesterday, Podolski has been playing with an injured ankle for the last 4 weeks, probably why he’s always substituted, strange one that, asking for trouble if that’s the case.
Agag you sale shopper. 😉 Quality isn’t expensive, it’s priceless. I thought it would make a difference in roasting processes applied. We have a strong liking to the more heavily aroma. Dark and intense. Most sold is Arabica beans.
Rico ‘the Marlboro man’ is a phrase of saying he’s a survivor of rough circumstances. 😉
Podolski has been injured since we signed him apparently, so why is he playing?
It’s same old same old taking risks, another few games and he’ll probably be out for a while, German players are strong, but not invincible….
Ah, oops Dg, I thought you meant Mr Smoker 😛
re poldi injury. Santos can do that job. He played in midfield during the far east tour.
Rico. your local chinese opposite wkg station? 😀
Rico it originates from the scenery in their historical campaign posters. The guy was always pictured to be as far from comfort as he quite possibly could. It send a shockwave throughout the entire Western industry for luxury goods as till then everything was pigeonholed as either female or male. Filter cigarettes where purely advertised to women before Marlboro made into a male sex symbol.
Its strange how Red McPurpleNose wants to discipline Rio for not wearing the kick it out t-shirt.
What happened to the free world and human rights? knight of the realm and all?;)
Evening all. I’ve still got the hump.
If Podolski was in fact injured,surely the excuse would have been given to avoid him playing the internationals.
I see we have more “it was a soft,straight shot” advocates.
Television coverage truly is poor in England…didn’t realise it was that bad though lol.
Sack Vito…no dramas at all.
Singling him out shows no imagination though.
Mornng all.
Another lovely day down under.
Amazingly,nobody died though our beloved team were defeated 🙂 .
As big as a camel’s? lol
Wednesday is another day mate
Off for the evening. Night Rico.
Tsgh….sponsorship means more mate.
I agree re Santos Tsgh, but you lost me re the chinese 🙁
Didn’t know all that Dg….
I said on Saturday that he was bleating on about jason Roberts of Reading and saying all his team would be supporting the campaign, however, SS’s reported that Rio and Anton were not wearing the shirts… He has embarrassed himself and now punishing Rio, absolute joke….
Evening Adam, so have I and a splitting headache 🙁
Put the replay on Rico…you will be asleep in three minutes.
Night Adam, have a good evening….
you are back Scott.. lucky for you. you are first to see money on here. 😀
Wenger has said Podolski has been playing with a ‘slight injury’!
I wouldn’t waste 3 more minutes of my life watching that crap Scott 😉
see monday I meant..
I liked the money Tsgh 😉
Id prefer money to monday mate.
I know Rico.
I would hate for anyone to think i actually enjoyed that debacle.
We offered up absolutely nothing…very disappointing.
Still,the result is another day older…soldier on,the pain does diminish slightly on a daily basis.
When i offered up the interlull defence,it was not as an excuse,but a relevant factor.
It only becomes so relevant because of our lack of squad depth though.
We do need a few more top players in,without question,and that display proved that,in my eyes at least.
Until then,i thought we were ok,but that definitely changed my outlook.
Sadly my pain takes a lot longer to fade, it just seems that Arsenal and AW have been playing the same old record for the last 5/6 seasons and it’s very tiring….
Sadly Scott, there have been too many errors both in front of our goal and in front of the oppositions goal to know that things had changed very little..
Chelsea showed us that, as did City. Now and even worse, so did Norwich.
We lack 3 quality players at least, one of course being a keeper and as I always keep saying, we are always just an injury or two away from being in trouble, and here we are…..
scott we have the depth. its the lack of trust imho.
Is Johnny Evans better than Djourou? I doubt it. Is Anderson better than Ramsey maybe or maybe not. Is Welbeck better than Chakmakh no I will say. Is Carrick better than Lego-hair definitely not. The list can go on and on but Alex trust the squad not just 15 or 16 players.
Better be prepared Scott cuz this game will pop up as reference and contrast to future expectations on our performances. It didn’t paint the obvious it carved its bluntness into granite.
Just saying, not hating.
Guys, my head is splitting and thinking of yesterday only makes it worse, as does my laptop screen light so I am off for the day…
Catch up tomorrow, Night all….
Aye aye, Adam has a strict case of the Notre Dames’
Rico is off for a spam sandwich.
Mick is off to the pub. Same old same old.
Stan is off his rocker. Dutch nutcase.
Lee is off, but I know not where?
And I’m off home. Goodnight Gooners
Oh, I loved that Happy Birthday Dutch, gonna keep that one mate.
Night Scott/Ginge
Gone now
Nite madam. Maybe the sporadic glass of wine will ease you into a more relaxed state of mind set.
Kev safe journey home. Enjoy the pre-heated slippers on arrival. Yours sincerely.
Nite guys..
Let me for one second cop Vito is at fault for the goal.
The fact we never really looked like scoring is what worried me the most.
We offered up nothing.
Tsgh,is it trust from the club,or within each player,or both?
We have uite a few players who look nervous and anxious as sson as they set foot on the pitch.
Possibly that confidence should be instilled into the, via Wenger,but we always here how he is like a father to the players,so i am not sure blame can be laid there.
Is our youth system so insular that those coming through the ranks do not learn how to be hard nosed pros?
I don’t know the answer,and,as plenty correctly point out,we do have a guy earning 7 million a year to do that.
I am off to work…have a great night guys.
Nite TSGH. Enjoyed your detailed contribution to the heated debate today. As many others.
Have joyful day at the labour camp Scott. Our blood, sweat and tears are much harder to cash in on.
Dutch,i can take it…….my gig isn’t too tough.
Dealing with the public is just a joy lol.
Morning all….
If I was your boss Scott, I’d keep you away from speaking to the public….
Morning all,
The beginning of a new week…..
Still seething about that shit show on Saturday… 10 points off the chavs, already! How can a club of our size have such mediocre goal keepers? You see Schalke beat Dortmund at the weekend 2-1?
Morning Rico and all btw…
Lee I am more angry now than I was yesterday.
I convinced myself than the team travelled the furthest of all the teams to play in Norwich so they must have been tired. Then I find out they flew to Norwich so they could not have been knackered…
Lazy buggers
I’m seething…
“We’re really down because we expected to win the game. They raised their game, they made it very difficult for us.”
Arteta’s quote sums it up really…..
My dad was over the moon with making the trip up there on Sat……we’re are going on weds so they better up their game!!
Morning Lee and Tsgh…
I’m still bloomin angry too, it’s like it was a bad dream, however…
Schalke beat Dortmund – I hope it was a tough tough game and they don’t travel well….
Morning Rico, Lee and tsGH. This has been happening for years and years now.
I told my self I wasnt interested in anything that arsenal written on it….. managed that for one day even at that,the game against norwich kept replaying itself in my mind….. and here Iam again trying to find out what went wrong with my weekend.
Morning Adam and bondex..
It has Adam, couple of good results doesn’t make a season does it.
Hope AW finally gets his head out of the sand today, but I doubt it.
Complacency, in a word!
Arrogance and over confident are two more…. ok, three 😉
New Post is finally up…..
I can think of a few more. 🙂
But what good would it do?