Sanchez out, now who starts?

Morning, Well now the boring internationals are done and dusted for… hmm yes a few weeks… utter nonsense but that’s another matter, we can now get back to proper football.

We are told none of our players suffered any knocks whilst away and Iwobi has been added to the squad as he is back in full training again. Aaron Ramsey is still missing and with his history of hamstring injuries i’d bring him back very slowly as we really don’t want to risk him doing it again and then being out for 3 months….. not like that’s not happened before.

Alexis may be missing today, reports said he took a blow to the head but with the PSG game on Tuesday and all the travelling he’s done i think it would be wise to give him the weekend off. We know he doesn’t like to be ‘rested’ but probably good for all concerned if he not in the squad today. That would obviously mean we should see Perez in the starting line up which gives us a different option up front and gives him his first game, nerves aside that in my mind allows him to settle quicker as well and get his debut done and dusted and at home, lets hope if selected he has a good game and shows us we’ve got a player on our hands.

I think Mustafi will probably replace Holding at the back also for his debut and it will be interesting to see if he is vocal or not in defence, does he order people around and shout and talk which we do so need, the midfield is of course where it’s any number of connotations but i’d go with Xhaka and Santi with Mezut in his normal free role, Do we start with Theo and Ox wide with Perez through the middle or will Giroud start up front with Perez wide and one from Theo or Ox…. well we shall see later on this afternoon.

Southampton have the voodoo over us at the moment and Koeman def had us in his pocket so hopefully we put that to rest this afternoon and we become a little less predictable and give the fans and other teams something to think about in the way we play, a slight tweak here and there and who knows how good we could be. Time for the players to step it up and show us.

Have a good day and lets hope for an encouraging win.

236 thoughts on “Sanchez out, now who starts?

  1. Wavy says:

    1sst again and I’m late!

    Perez start? I doubt it we all know Wenger is very cautious when bringing a new player in. Mustaphi the same, but in his case the old one may feel that his experience outweighs his normal caution. Holding has done very well , so far, and hopefully will continue so to do, but we are a bit short of wise old heads. I mean Muustaphi is 24, a near geriatric!! Ox or Iwobi, or Feo? As I so I is just coming back the old subs bench is where he’ll be today and, at the moment Feo is probably worth his place, so………

    Hope we win today and I hope we turn up and play some decent entertaining and destructive football.

    Raining stair rods here. A typical Saturday!

  2. allezkev says:

    Morning Wath,
    Gatting and who runs the academy is a bit of a grey area mate, surely Joncker should have an important say as its his job and he’ll be the one who’ll lose it if it all goes tits up…

    Not sure if Wenger can over rule Joncker or if Jonckef can have some veto on a Wenger decision that he sees as damaging…

    I don’t suppose that Wenger would want to accept responsibility for our U21’s, as they were back in the day, getting relegated, so who knows who has the final say in a power struggle…
    Maybe Joncker could threaten to ‘walk’ if he felt that Wenger was undermining his position..???

    What do you think?
    And you Rick, what do you think?
    And Fred, you have some knowledge in all this, what do you think?

  3. Wath says:

    Morning Wavy, I have a feeling Perez will start, you’re right normally the old man is cautious but the fella should be chomping at the bit to play and prove his worth, the more you hold that back the more expectation maybe you set him and then he over tries etc etc… give him a run and lets see, Yep probably Theo on the games seen and the effort he has been putting in but we shall see.
    Holding and Mustafi to give Koz a break even..? we need to wrap the Koz in cotton wool with his sore back…! Makes a huge difference that Mustafi speaks perfect English so communicating not going to be a problem at all..!

  4. Wath says:

    Kev, very grey area, the way we play is set in stone from Wenger down apparently, does he look at certain players and say he wants them played in position A,B or C to see how adaptable and versatile they are and in his eyes are they technical enough to adapt despite that position not being where they are best suited, we all know he loves a player who can adapt and he says it makes them better to appreciate other positions. Does this not hinder them though when they playing out of position and the team keeps getting beat..? They all play in their best positions and we win…? surprise surprise…!
    Joncker is overseeing all the work at Hale End Kev, that’s his baby and how much influence he has over playing style and positions of the players is anyone’s guess but think Rick and Fred will know way more than you and I…!

  5. allezkev says:

    Wath, Kozzer can have a rest at Forest…

    Paulista is back in training, although I’m not sure, given his recent performances, if that’s s good thing or not…

    # OnlyJoking.

  6. frednerk says:

    Morning All
    Never met Joncker Kev
    Wenger wanted Henry to be involved
    so Freddy could be inline..Just a guess.
    I would be surprised if Arsene did not
    have a say.

  7. allezkev says:

    Wath, our academy, or whatever they used to call themselves when football was affordable to working class people, has always played players in different positions, they were doing it when I used to take you to watch the Stiffs on the Clock End just after the Suez Crisis… ?

  8. Wath says:

    Things have moved on since then though Kev, was good to see if players were/are adaptable but not half the team in a game so they all over the bloody place…! stick to the basics and play maybe one max 2 per game out of position to see how they cope that’s workable but more that that just stuffs everything and everyone up. They also see plenty enough of them on a day to day basis to know who can play where and adapt, I know it’s also about attitude and temperament but surely they know that as well when they spend so much time with these kids and the 599 analysts they employ as well to look at all these kind of things

  9. Wath says:

    I thought it was just after the Boer war you took me…? I can’t remember much was to busy drinking the whiskey out your hip flask.

  10. allezkev says:

    Wath ?

    Afternoon Fred, I just wonder who has the final say mate, I’m sure that Liam Brady wouldn’t have been anyone’s poodle and Joncker has a wealth of experience…

    For example, Bielik looks a classic Wenger experiment, which I think is wrong, to me he’s a defensive mid who can do a job at centre back in an emergency, a la Gilberto.
    But playing him in the back four isn’t, imo, doing him any favours…

    It just highlights Arsenal’s cock-eyed recruitment policy and a lack of quality scouts in the UK…

  11. frednerk says:

    You hear fans go on about Bouldy
    Why he just sit’s still and say’s nowt.
    I saw him years ago when he played for stoke
    at millwall.
    I would back him against any man to say his bit
    but sitting next to Arsene..You would think he
    was a yes man..
    Brady I would say said his bit.
    I sat next to him when we beat chelsea at
    cardiff and he was just like one of us.
    Not to sure what role Steve Morrow has
    regarding the scouting.But he supposed to
    be in charge.

  12. JW says:

    Nice bits of practical advice and Arsenal information regarding our 3 o clock kick off against those spoilers, South Hampton.

    Who knows or can tell what Wenger’s tactical direction will be this afternoon?Nobody! We’ve spent almost a decade (The Arsenal) in this gurry pool of underachieving and underachieving due to Sir Wenger’s unphatomable despositions, unmanageable decisions and suicidal directions. Today might be one of those days we go for a dip in that muddy gurry pool. But I earmestly truly do pray not!

    I hope Giroud and Perez start. We need a working-fiesty, formidable-attack partnership. We haven’t had that luxury since the invincibles. Thierry, Bergkamp, oh! how we’ve missed you

    Would prefer if Muatafi came off the bench for Holding. The young man has done noteably well, and deserves every passing minute in the first team starting squad. Plus he’s English and looks like a fine world class prospect.

    I tip Arsenal to win this one simply because, we’ve started the “Chasing Game” so early, so soon, already this season.

    Enjoy the game folks, something tells me it might turn out to be quite MAGICAL!

    JW

  13. Rick says:

    Good morning to the House.
    This is just a short visit will be back later
    With a hour played our U18’s are winning 2-0 against Soton
    Scorers Nketiah and Dragomir.

  14. Obi says:

    So this what over £500m in players look like. 9 minutes into the game, Sterling and Ihnnacio are ripping Shaw and Bailly, no surprise there.

  15. Obi says:

    What a tactical job so far by Pep and so far no adjustments from Jose. United players are just running around. Are Pogba, Rooney and Ibra on the field.

  16. Wath says:

    Thanx Rick, least that’s a couple of decent results for the “kids”…!

    Citeh are ripping the Mancs a new one yet a comical mistake and they back in the game..! Hoof ball gets them a goal back, could be a cracking 2nd half.

    Was Moreenyo at Chavski when they let De Bruyn leave..? The bloke is head and shoulders the best player on the park…!

  17. Tsgh says:

    Interesting to see pep bringing over the philosophy of no player turning on the ball in their own half.if a players back is to opponents goal they pass backwards…

  18. Wavy says:

    Wath you were right, I was wrong. The new recruits both play. Extraordinary! The old chap must have been on the wacky baccy! This is quite out of character. Do you someone on the coaching staff has had a quiet word?
    Perhaps that’s what he’s fallen out with Gazidis over…..team selection!

    Will it be enough to start playing catch up on the top teams? I bloody well hope so! We haven’t really started our season yet, in my opinion! Today’s the day.

  19. Obi says:

    Watching Pep today standing up and constantly barking instructions to his players vs what we are used to at Arsenal was an eye opener.

  20. Hell Raising Devil says:

    You should have woken up long before the match Bradster. shame on you. 😉

    Buona sera Lovelies and Hunkies.

    That was a bloody lucky goal……Cech saved it only to see it hit a post and then his back and roll in.

    The team selection makes sense….only Bellerin, Ozil and Theo were on national duty. The rest stayed home. So it was normal to pick it. But I would have though they had two weeks to prepare and gel as a team…..up till now they are anything but.

    Still…..around 70 mins left. so plenty of time to turn it around.

  21. Tsgh says:

    Dev my concerns with our midfield this season is only sc19 is capable of dictating play…
    Our defenders are going to be under pressure more because we are not gonna retain possession as well.

  22. Obi says:

    TS @ 3:30 and 3:48, agree…but at least with Xhaka he can pick a pass so Santi doesn’t have to come that deep. Or play Elnery and Xhaka for the second half and move Santi up since Ozil is still asleep.

  23. Tsgh says:

    Obi sc19 is playing the deepest role…he also played the deepest when le coq had his second coming two seasons ago…
    Agreed xhaka has an eye for a pass…at Mong’bach he had 2 runners around him who were very tactically as well

  24. Obi says:

    TS… but the problem now is Santo is 2 yrs older and coming off a major injury so you need some1 that has some ability to also move the ball.

  25. Obi says:

    Earlier today when Jose made an adjustment after the break, Pep’s response was immediate, am not a big fan of Pep but thats what managers are suppose to do. AW problem is that in the last 10 yrs, except a few situations, he doesn’t make adjustments. Giroud should be in this game after the half and so should Xhaka. Theo n Coq off.

  26. kelsey says:

    Welcome fergie time at The Arsenal.I won’t say what I really think or I might get banned from here.I will say that it is obvious we have the players quite a bit of talent but motivation zero.

    Only one man to blame. Absolutely predictable yet agin.The oOx is shot and Walcott played the hard man to no affect.if only we had three like Sanchez. no blame on Perez but this intricate passing to nowhere ttime and time again has to be changed.

  27. Hell Raising Devil says:

    That WAS a penalty. Were we lucky? No. We deserved it much more than they deserved a point.

    Don’t grumble just for the sake of it.

  28. Bradster says:

    We’re so used to not getting penalties we can’t help it Devil.
    So we finally paid our bribery subscription to the referees fund. Guess it was Gazidis and that’s why they’re not talking to each other.

  29. allezkev says:

    Just take the 3 points and move on…

    It sounded quite dull on the radio, but listening to that prick Clive Allen didn’t help.

    Sounded like Perez had a forgettable debut with Mustafi underwhelming everyone…

    It can only get better…

    Can’t it..?

  30. Kel says:

    Southampton seem to have the measure of Arsenal. We definitely find it difficult against them.

    I agree the Ox and Walcott done feck all .. unfortunately we loaned out the better player in Campbell imo.

    3pts in the bag is all that counts so I’m relieved…
    And celtic tanked the gers 5-1 🙂 good day all round.

  31. Le Coq Monster says:

    Thank fcuk for a lucky win !……………much better than unlucky losses !……………plus I would have been suicidal if I had to listen to Wenger`s excuses !.

    Soton lose players every year, Pelle, Mane and Wankyama this window, yet we always struggle against them …..why ?

  32. Wavy says:

    A ever ever heard Clive Allen ever say anything positive about Arsenal. As an ex-e,player you’d think he’d show a little loyalty!

    As for the result, this time last year it would have been a draw! This year we seem to be getting a little more of the rub of the green. How long will it last……..until we go one point in front of manure! The fix is in for this year’s already decided top four. I think we’ve paid our dues so our results may be remotely ‘controlled’!

  33. Adam says:

    Just got back from the game. We didn’t look like a team in the first half. Never closed anyone down or pressed the ball. Second half was much better and built of Coquelin’s work rate and a quicker ethic all round. Yet somehow we always looked vulnerable. I feel for Ox but now the chips are down he really has to get his game together. It’s no good producing a great bit of skill and then giving the ball away. As for the penalty. It was right in front of me but there was such a frantic scene I couldn’t tell. I’ll take it though. 🙂

  34. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Leicester loosing 1-3

    That is already two losses in 4 games. Vardy seems to have run out of steam. We dodged a big bullet.

  35. andrewh1313 says:

    Wavy, not sure he owes us loyalty as an ex-player. If I remember correctly, he was a pawn in a threesome! We wanted Kenny Sansom and bought Allen to swop! He never played a competitive game for us.

  36. Wavy says:

    Sorry Andrew, I was being ironic!
    I’m surprised we even gave him shelf space! However, Kenny Sansom was worth 20 Allens imo.
    And of course you are quite right about the bed and breakfast arrangement.

  37. kelsey says:

    We were dam lucky to win.Just look at the whole match.Can’t argue that we got 3 points but we are nowhere near being a top 4 side based on the first 4 games.Hopefully we can get a settled team,especially in defence but quite honestly this intricate passing game doesn’t work anymore,we play in a predictable manner and that’s why no game is a given.I will judge us when we play the Manchester clubs and Chelsea and put away the lower placed clubs with ease and the new boys have settled in. Based on today we are IMO a long way off.A draw and the noose would have tightened around the boss.

  38. Dublingunner says:

    Kelsey I agree, we are going nowhere fast, very unconvincing yet again, with the help of 2 dodgy decisons v Leicester and today, It could,ve been an absolute abysmal start to the campaign. We,ve definitely got our work cut out this season,

    To me a good manager is man who can motivate, get the players he has, playing to their maximum potential and start and change tactics based on what team he faces, Wenger can do none of this.

    A season to far……

  39. potter says:

    We really have to move the ball through the midfield quicker. There was movement from all of our front players but either the suppliers were not looking or just unable to release the ball quick enough. Perez started very quickly running down defenders and trying to press but the rest of the team was too far away from him to give him any service. My thoughts on him are still inconclusive .It was only when Alexis came on the Ozil started to play, I thought that both The Ox and Feo are surplus to requirement , if they weren’t English home grown I would take cash for both of them, people complain about our strikers but I would invest in a true flying winger of the Overmars , Freddie , Pires mould . With an outball played quickly we would open defences that know just how to nullify our tedious never take one pass when you can play three., Taking three steps forward and two steps back football.

  40. kelsey says:

    Morning.
    potter you have hit the nail on the head,we have to move the ball much quicker through midfield so we don’t counter attack in such a laborous fashion.

    I say it again that the majority of the squad just don’t look motivated and if you didn’t know one could easily have thought it was an end of season game with not that much at stake for us.

    Again i agree about The ox.he had a stinker and knew it as he walked off the pitch and Walcott could end op the longest and highest paid player at the club with no real value.

    AW doesn’t know his best team but let’s hope Ramsey is back soon and firing on all fronts.

    If we had drawn we would have already been six points off the top.

    I know I said begore it’s early days but despite some change in personal we look no different to most of last season.

    Of course those who can’t or wont see the reality will say nothing except “we got 3 points”.

    Paris will be a real test and at this moment of time I think a huge improvement is needed in 3 days,which I doubt is possible.

  41. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Kelsey, in all fairness, plenty of fans complained when we looked pretty, played fluently but couldn’t get a result, so that 3 points discussion really does go both ways.
    At the moment, 3 points are massive and while we are, hopefully, finding our feet and headed the right way, those points still need accruing.
    On a brighter note, what a goal from Kozzer.
    The guy is just a brilliant footballer.

  42. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Buongiorno Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Kelsey…its not ……”those who can’t or wont see the reality will say nothing except we got 3 points”

    You see what you want to see in everything. If you want to see the negatives you see negatives. If you want to see the positives you see the positives.

    Every game you can only beat what you have in front of you. And you must remember that the other team wants the ball, wants to put the ball in the net as much as you want, want to take the ball off you all the time and keep it, want to win as much as you do and with all type of means…fair and foul. So you can only play however much they allow you to do so. And in the circumstances we managed to do that. Mourinho wins games with far worse displays from his teams than we did yesterday….yet he gets praised for tactical awareness.

    some people will never be satisfied even if we win 10-0 every game. they will still find flaws and mistakes and want to criticise.

    People set an agenda and they follow it….even if events point to the contrary………we had only two shots and scored from both. How many times people grumble just because the opposition had one shot and managed to grab a winner against us??? As Wavy said…..this time last year it would have been a draw.

    Yes I see reality….and know how to see it. But if you say that “those who can’t or wont see the reality will say nothing except “we got 3 points”……on the same vein I can easily say you are a person who will still find flaws and mistakes and want to criticise.

  43. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The thing is……yesterday we had Xhaka, Alexis and Ollie on the bench. And those who came in….Coquelin, Ox and Perez had at least 60 minutes holding the fort until all three were playing.

    Remember when SAF used to put his best players on the bench and play the reserves to grind out results and then introduce his first teamers late in the game?? Many used to call him a genius for doing that. AW does the same and supporters grumble.

    As I said……people will still find flaws and mistakes if they want to see them.

  44. scottfromoz says:

    I’m yet to see the game, but still, a result against s club we’ve had dramas with for a few years now just must be seen as a positive, especially if we didn’t play well.
    Wenger must get the boys firing though, no question, as we don’t want to rely on Kozzer and penalties for goals.

  45. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    I only caught the briefest of highlights on MotD…

    Lineker, Shearer and even Ian Wright, presenting MotD, all said that the penalty was harsh.

    But Fonte had a hand full of Girouds shirt, when did that not become a foul..?

  46. allezkev says:

    Have to say how good Man City looked, I can’t ever recall when I last saw a Mourinho team look so 2nd best, so dominated, so lacking in organisation and drive..?

    A combination of Mourinho’s waning powers?
    Or the brilliant coaching of Guardiola?

    The longer Guardiola is at Man City, the more it will show how lacking in ambition our Owner/Board were in allowing Guardiola to slip through our fingers. The opportunity to hire a manager of Guardiolas ability won’t happen again for many many years. And we’ll have to watch Pep develop City into a top top world club and wonder what he could have done with Arsenal…?

  47. scottfromoz says:

    Hiya Kev,
    Pep would never be given 180 million to spend in one go at Arsenal 🙂
    It’s a loooong season ahead, so I’ll “judge him in May” lol
    If he wins the League, I’ll be the first to say he’s a great manager as that’ll prove he can do it in a competitive league.
    Hope he fails miserably!!

  48. allezkev says:

    Hiya Scott…
    £180 million, did he spend that amount this summer Digger?
    Who was that on, I don’t remember mate?

  49. allezkev says:

    I didn’t see too much of the £90 million man or hear his name mentioned much when I was listening to the radio yesterday…
    All I heard was Rooney this and Rooney that…

  50. Adam says:

    Morning Kev and all.
    Kev. At the ground there was a very subdued feeling and atmosphere. The team really looked undercooked. In fact, the term ‘team’ did them a favour as I saw a load of individuals running around. Southampton were far more together but probably because we stood off and just reacted. Leaving out Xhaka, if fit, was an odd one but Coquelin stepped up in the second half and Santi and Mesut worked out a way to play that didn’t involve them duplicating each other’s work. Not sure that Ox and Theo offer that much in the same team and with Perez looking completely at sea we certainly looked unbalanced. Wenger needs to get them together and quickly if we aren’t to be left behind. We still look a deadly striker short to me.
    I liked the look of Man City too. Still, I imagine Mourinho will spend another £100-200 million in January so the press can eulogise over him-again.

  51. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, I read that somewhere but to be honest, I can’t remember where.
    Im certain that was the figure quoted, but I stand corrected if it’s incorrect.
    Either way, he gets my vote for manager of the week, as does ANYONE who beats Joe Say lol

  52. allezkev says:

    Morning Adam, I’m going to the Basel game, too busy atm to go to a weekend game…

    As you know I passed up the chance of a ticket yesterday, quite glad that I did from what I heard on the radio.
    I don’t think it’ll take too much for the atmosphere to sour over at the Emirates, a couple of poor results against any of the top sides or European opponents will concentrate the minds when we see where we really are after last seasons fluke.
    I fear that Wenger has lost, permanently, too many of the home and crucially away crowd, to turn this around…

    We know we aren’t going to win either the EPL or CL under his management, and that breeds its own kind of frustration as we see the inevitable conclusion to his tenure inexorably approaching.
    We can all see it, it’s just a shame that the Luddites on the Board and our absent owner continue to ignore the obvious….

  53. allezkev says:

    It demands success Scott, but you need to be a special coach to bring all the elements together, Guardiola is a special coach and despite any slight hiccups, I’ll be amazed if he doesn’t take the EPL title this season…

  54. scottfromoz says:

    Yeah he may well do that, Kev.
    I always try and clarify my opinion of him….I’ve never said he isn’t a top manager, just that, IMO, he hasn’t proven much YET.
    He may well do so this season.
    Again, I hope he fails miserably hahahahaha

  55. allezkev says:

    Scott,nth at a matter of opinion and I respect your view, but he has totally eclipsed Mourinho whenever they have been competing in the same league.

    Yes, he has massive resources to call on, as does Mourinho.

    Other coaches have huge resources as well and have failed to better the Septic One, only Pep has been able to dominate Mourinho so completely.
    Notice how Mourinho blamed his players yesterday – his players, the players he prepared, coached, picked and many cases signed, what a cnut…

  56. potter says:

    Mourinho and United , I think it will end in tears. He already has undermined his players It used to be the way that you could bully players into better performance but threats don’t work now as they are too rich to worry.

  57. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Hiya Kev and Scott.

    Pep has won in Spain and in Germany. He has yet to win in England and in the mother of all tactical nous…Italy.

    So even if he wins in England he will not have proved anything unless he wins in Italy…..and certainly not as Juve coach as they will win even if anyone from HH coaches them. So Pep will be a complete coach if he wins in England and in Italy.

    Mourinho has won in England, in Spain and in Italy. Only Germany left.

    On another note….again on yesterday……we played with this team

    Cech…..Footballer
    Bellerin…Footballer
    Kos…….Footballer
    Mustafi…..Player
    Monreal….player
    Coquelin….Player
    Cazorla….Footballer
    Ozil……Footballer
    Perez….player
    Theo….player
    OX….Player

    So that is 5 Footballers and 6 players.

    On came Alexis (Footballer), Ollie (player), Iwobi (Footballer) in the place of 3 players.

    Of the team above Ox, Theo, Ozil and Perez did not turn up. Maybe it was match fitness, competitive sharpness or just laziness or a lack of footballing and tactical awareness. Or a mixture of everything.

    Whatever…..considering that for the first 60 minutes we were playing with just 7 overall while the other four did not contribute that much to game and then for the last 25 mins the balance was heavily in our favour ………a 2-1 win is a positive result considering that the only way Southampton managed to score was a Cech save hitting the post and hitting his back before going in.

    The way some people comment is similar to a kid getting 7 out of 10 in an exam (after having got 6 out of 10 the previous exam) and instead of congratulating him for the improvement he has shown his father berates him for the remaining 3 points he did not get.

    yes there are deficiencies which must be acknowledged and corrected…..but credit is where credit due.

  58. scottfromoz says:

    Hi Devil,
    I’m about to watch the game so obviously can’t comment on the performance yet, but 3 points is imperative ATM.
    How we get them is important, but hopefully we can play better football soon.

  59. potter says:

    Hi Devil ,I don’t think my summary was unfair on the players yesterday , Ox and Theo haven’t shown enough over a long period not the last 90 minutes and Perez , I thought tried to work the channels and get in the box . He went off like a rocket trying to close the centre backs and keeper but after 20 odd minutes realised that he was getting no help. If we are going to get at teams we have to press them early, we let them get too far forward before try to win the ball back so that when we do the short passing game we employ allows them time to get back and reorganise. That is why I want the transition to be immediate then players like the three I mentioned will get more chance to be more effective.

  60. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I was not referring to you Potter as your assessment was fair. I would love to see Perez playing with Sanchez, Ozil and Iwobi/Aaron behind him as advanced midfielders. Then we would see much more improvement.

    You made a fair assessment and gave reasons for your answer and that is positive criticism.

    Some people criticise just for the sake of it without implementing them with a reason and a solution.

  61. kelsey says:

    HRD

    I set high standards that I expect from a team that is consistently in the top 4 but always seem to falter. I will give praise where it is deserved and we do have some outstanding players but IMO as a unit we aren’t improving as of yet and which ever way you put it we struggled to win as has een the case for many games,especially these past few seasons.I question Wenger more and more but at least he took off theright players and replaced them with better ones (on the day) I know people who went who actually were clapping that Walcott was being subbed.Not an ideal situation for him, but most hav had enough of he nearly man.

    I want to enjoy gmes regadless where we finish each year but our whole movement based on Wenger’s philosophy is poor compared to the early years.

    What i meant earlier was that some people do not comment or have an opinion on a game and just write”we get 3 points” are the cop out merchants.

    maybe I am negative or half glass empty but with the personel we hae we sould do better and forthe moment I don’t see t and as long as the coaching ad manager remain I personally can’t see things chaning.That’s my opinion,hopefuly i am wrong but I certainly don’t look to be negative each and every game.

    I say again we got lucky and hardly deserved the win.

  62. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Potter….Theo will never be more effective now. He is shot as a player and is there only because he is trying hard enough and getting stuck in. For the first part of the season and as a stand in he is good to have around. But if everyone is fit and after January his game time will be less. It is still early in this season so players like Theo are important. But he will never increase his output now. As age creeps in he will discover that his speed (influenced by the cruciate) will diminish more. Is he skilled enough to go central? no, he is not. he is a player not a footballer. Pirlo, Cazorla etc did it because they are footballers. But Theo will not do so. So we do need a winger who can play in more than one position.

  63. kelsey says:

    HRD

    that’s very negative about our best player and third highest earner 🙂 but at least we agree on that.
    We tried to ship him out in the Summer to liverpool and West Ham.No takers and too high wges for very limited talent.

  64. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Kelsey…..try the same approach with your own kid (if you have any) and deep down they will end up hating you more and more. You have to accept when progress is made…..and using high standards as the yardstick works only when you do them on yourself. When you put those high standards on others there is more negative attitude fostering deep down than gratitude…..and believe me…when they get the chance to sharpen their knives and train them on your back they will be doing it willingly…..even if they happen to be your son.

    When my son once got low marks in maths…I refused to criticise him. I told him that in the next exam he must improve that mark by 5 points. He not only managed to do so by 5 points but by 18. Then I congratulated him and told him that he must aim for another 5 points the next time. He improved by 10. Again I set the standard of 5 points more. and he got 12 more. Now the next exam we have to wait and see…..but its all the time improving. Had I criticised him negatively I don’t think that improvement would have been shown.

  65. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Kelsey….I say it as I see it and when they play well I praise….and when they don’t I don’t.

    But I keep in mind the whole picture which includes the other team as well. We are playing against other men, other players and other footballers.

    And when I assess my team I always say….how many players in the opposition can get in my team. but keep in mind that for one player to come in…..one has to go out of my team.

    So…would I have Foster instead of Cech?? Ans is simply a big NO.

    Would I change one of my defenders for any defender at Southampton?? Neither there.

    Would I change any of yesterday’s midfielders for any of theirs…..again a big fat no.

    Maybe Theo and to a certain extent OX but not Perez.

    That is how I assess the opposition. But I keep in mind that the opposition all have players who want the ball, want to score, want to win and want to try any means….be they fair or foul…to do so. A game is made of two teams of 11 players. not one who runs rings around the opposition and score at will.

  66. kelsey says:

    I can’t except that HRD as there is at this stage no improvement and how long does one have to wait. I honestly believe we might falter at first but Wenger needs to go.A club like our needs to speculate much more to accumulate but then we have another obstacle in global branding kroenke but never put his own money into our club and never wins anything with any of his sports clubs investment.

    By the way I have 3 sons,1 daughter, and 4grandsons and only one of them hates me, and have had my own business for 45 years so I must be doing something right 🙂

    We will have to gree to disagree.If you think our play sofar this season is even above average and bordering on being great,I and a growing number disagree.

  67. scottfromoz says:

    Kelsey, with the new signings, I think you’re being a little harsh judging the performances thus far.
    Yes, they must improve, and if they don’t, then fair enough, but we should at least offer them a little time.
    Yesterday two were making their debut, and watching the game now tells me Perez was lost but I reckon he will start making the right runs soon enough, once he knows what Ozil is thinking.
    Time will tell whether or not we are better.

  68. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I never said our play is above average. Nor bordering on being great. I always take one game at a time with an eye on the previous game. And the last two games showed an improvement on the previous two.

    Many here say that winning when playing badly is a hallmark of a great team.

    We play badly, win and still negative criticism pops up more frequently than positive one.

  69. Le Coq Monster says:

    I think we should play Mustafi and Perez more often as we have never lost or drawn a game they have been involved in !

    I just watched MotD and if only by the highlights we were fortunate that Long had an off day, but as I said before I`ll take any lucky win against an unlucky loss.
    Agree with Kev (if I understand him correctly ) it`s not so much the players we have but the manager and believe Pep would get much more out of our players both physically, technically and tactically than Wenger does and without spending millions more……………….although I would imagine Pep would easilly outspend Wenger and not only that , but on players we actually need !…………………..saying that, I am also of the opinion that quite a number of EPL managers would out do Wenger tactically with same squad…..Koeman, Poncetino, Maureen, Dave Bassett etc` etc`

  70. Le Coq Monster says:

    Ian Wright Wright Wright made good points to where Perez should have been involved !….he was too wide ( which is not a problem if that is what he was bought for ! ) and should have been making a nuisance of himself amongst their defenders in the pockets of holes centrally !.

  71. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Coach, I think we need to bit patient with Perez, Mustafi and even Xhaka, it’ll probably be 2 or 3 months before they adapt.
    Alexis was an exception, most foreign players take awhile to settle.

  72. ScottfromOz says:

    LC, I’ve said all along that Wenger is not a great tactical manager, so I’m with you there 🙂
    At the hour mark on the replay, we are playing a fair bit better than most comments here and FB had me expecting.
    Soton have been pretty decent thus far.

  73. Wath says:

    I find it strange that Perez is getting so much grief, his first game, he had zero service and looked to me like he made the right kind of runs and wanted to be in the right place but never received a pass nor were the players looking for or at his movement, perhaps Wrighy is right but what if Wenger told him to drift wide and come deep to collect the ball….. Early days on a new player and i’ll give him til Xmas not slag the bloke off after one game when he had Theo and Ox either side of him…! Enuff said on that.
    As for Mustafi, solid enough doesn’t shirk a challenge and was talking at the back which i lied, he will also improve greatly once he has a rapport with Koz.

    Our pedestrian pace and lack of urgency is a worry, the tempo is a worry and the same ole tippy tappy is a worry but we rested players we ground out a result which isn’t all bad, for me it was a 6 out of 10 performance hopefully we do improve but like Kelsey it worries me that the fundamentals don’t look like they going to change at all.

  74. allezkev says:

    Kelsey, maybe some those fans were clapping Walcott for his efforts, maybe some were clapping his replacement, maybe some just like to clap, you know, to keep warm… ?

  75. allezkev says:

    I’ll guess we’ll never know how good Theo or Ox can be until they’re playing for another manager?

    Gael Clichy, who was a walking disaster for Arsenal, certainly hasn’t had the same issues at Man City, despite the odd relapse…
    And Sagna has been superb, still….

  76. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Wath…I don’t think there is anything wrong in the comment when all I said that those who want to win every game 10-0 and outplay the opposition should go and support RM or Barca or celtic. I do not recall anyone here saying they want to run rings and outplay and win 10-0 against any opposition….so implying that I was referring to anyone is way above the mark.

    I know what I said and I stand by it. I am not going to erupt like a volcano nor try to ram my opinion down anyone’s throats.

    But I know I am right when I say that some people criticise simply for the sake of criticising. And some people will always see the bottle half empty even if it is 9/10 full. They will still complain about the missing one…..and they have every right to.

    But when someone implies something about me I have every right to defend my position back.

    The only difference between me and Scott is that I say the same things with charm. He does not.

    Funny how people throw mud (not Scott) yet when someone throws it back to them they whine.

    Maybe that is why I love players like Roy Keane, Cantona, PV04, PEtit…..they knew how to cop criticism and dish it back.

    If someone doesn’t like it…..hard luck. Shit happens.

    I accept it and get on with life.

  77. allezkev says:

    Cocker 12.36, yes, for some reason you did actually understand my musings…
    I often re-read my stuff and don’t have a clue what I was going about.

    Many on here may agree… ?

  78. Wath says:

    Dev, your comment insinuates that if they don’t agree with you they should watch Barca or RM which is uncalled for and as I said argue all you want don’t bring up watching other clubs please, thank you..!

  79. allezkev says:

    Cocker, I recall chatting with Adam last season, during the period when the Guardiola to Arsenal rumours were quite strong…

    It was quite scary when we wet through our squad and wondered who Pep would keep or dump…

    So yeah, he would have made some interesting signings if he’d come to Arsenal and probably would have outspent what Wenger did this summer and would have done his business a lot earlier.
    He would have like Iwobi and Bellerin, but maybe not the likes of Walcott or Giroud or BFG or Paulista etc….

    I know this Cocker, we would of all been a damn site more excited by our prospects this season and enthusing about the tactical changes Pep would have brought and the modernisation of Wengers dated way of doing things…

  80. Hell Raising Devil says:

    are you sure Wath??? “that if they don’t agree with me” ???? Never said that.

    And insinuations are always subjective never objective. Its how others interpret them, never 100% foolproof.

    As I said….I know what I said and I stand by it.

    Ok….will not bring up watching other clubs. Let me put it more correctly.

    Supporting a club means standing by it through thick and thin. Even when they loose badly.

    So if you are not ready to do that and want to win every game 10-0 and run rings around the opposition its simple……do not support this ARSENAL team with its flaws and defects.

    I love them as they are. Do I want it to change? yes I do. Do I criticise it negatively? no I don’t want.

  81. allezkev says:

    Pires did OK didn’t he Scott, and Vieira, Henry, Cesc, Nasri, didn’t they all win titles?
    I’m sure there’s more…

    And quite a few of those that left Digger, and did bugger all, probably shouldn’t have been at Arsenal in the first place….

  82. Wath says:

    Yes Dev i’m sure…. I coudlnt care less what you stand by, do not insinuate on here that anyone with an opinion that isn’t in line with your’s should go support someone else…! Simple as that…! You been here long enough to know that isn’t acceptable how ever much people disagree with each other…!

  83. ScottfromOz says:

    Can anyone tell me how exactly people are claiming we were lucky to get the penalty????
    There’s no question at all on that call.
    The rules haven’t changed, it’s just that the officials are now abiding by them, and isn’t it great to see?

  84. kelsey says:

    “So if you are not ready to do that and want to win every game 10-0 and run rings around the opposition its simple……do not support this ARSENAL team with its flaws and defects”.

    That is the most ridiculous comment i have read today and furthermoe no one said it.

    Funny how what is often written can be misunderstood by many.

    However to the best of my knowledge no one on here is directly employed or connected to our club,so every comment are opinions and the best part of any blog is to respect the person and their opinion and disagree politely if one does atually disagree.. Not be aloof in ones response.

  85. potter says:

    Calm your skins down lads , we get a good debate on here which is why we all come . I was the opposite side of the penalty box from the penalty decision and the goal and Kos obscured my view , not to mention that great lump Forster . However having watched it a few times on the box it was given for Fonte raising his leg and tripping Giroud , the shirt pull the ref was letting go. Definitely a penalty but we wont get them all season now that motd have noticed that we have have had the most so far..

  86. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Up till now we have scored 3 goals vs Klopperpool, 3 goals vs Watford and 2 goals against Southampton.

    Chambers, Theo, Ox, Cazorla (2), Alexis, Ozil, Koscielny, are the scorers. That is 8 goals in 4 games scored by 7 different scorers.

    That is how it should be……all goals evenly spread and not a burden upon one goalscorer.

    That is 2 goals by defenders, 3 goals by midfielders and 3 goals by forwards. Very good imo. If goalscoring continues like this in the long run it will only be beneficial to the team.

  87. Hell Raising Devil says:

    we have to keep in mind that in the four games we have played so far we have not began any of them with the first 11 players….that is….Cech, Bellerin, Kos, Mustafi, Nacho, Cazorla, Xhaka, Ozil, Alexis, Ollie, Ox. I would have loved to put Iwobi instead of Ox, however I feel that he is not yet ready to be labeled as a full top 11 player atm. He will be but not yet.

  88. allezkev says:

    When I was watching Manchester City, I saw a club/team with a plan, a direction, I saw a manager who was motivated always involved, constantly looking to change things if need be, to improve.
    Someone who is ambitious and when he talks about winning titles and the CL you believe him, he means it, he isn’t just saying things for PR purposes…

    Arsenal are dated, tired and going no where other making a profit for our disconnected yank owner…

  89. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Exactly Kev. one has to acknowledge that Pep’s influence rubs off on his teams. He will be here for three/four years at the max. then he goes. And that is the way it should be.

    That is what is wrong with our team…AW has been there for two decades now. And has seen a total change for the club from top to bottom. but now as has been said before…..we need a different mind…a different modus operandi to take us forward. The problem is as you said…….our club is going no where other making a profit for our disconnected yank owner. Until that changes…nothing will.

  90. Lee says:

    It’s Wenger’s last twelve year influence that’s rubbing off on the players…..that’s why we’ve been so shit in the league and even worse in Europe! ✌

  91. kelsey says:

    Strange tou agree with Kev, HRD, as I do but critisize me for saying more or less the same thing, but I am nrgative in your eyes becauseof my views,which by the way haven’t changed for a few good years.I said more than oce we have become predictable,easyto pay against as Wenger hasn’t moved with the times. I don’t understand you or do you pick and chose who you either agree or disagree with.At least I am consistent.

  92. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I can call a person a liar….I can tell the same person that he is not telling me the truth.

    I am saying basically the same thing.

    Its one thing to criticise something in a constructive way. Its another to say it in a negative way.

    There is an amount of difference.

    go back through my posts……and you can see that I always banged the drum against negative minded people. those who see a glass half full.

    it is up to you to decide which side you are on.

  93. Obi says:

    I DVR the game and I have watched it 3x. We all can’t see things the same way, but re Wath at 12:54, Ozil sleepwalks for 60 minutes, Santi is so deep to get the ball, Xhaka who can pick a pass is on the bench, but Perez is pedestrian. Really ? Watch the guy runs and the holes and alleys he creates that Ox and Theo fails to fill. He is clearly a player with football brain. Now it could’ve, should’ve or would’ve doesn’t matter, what matters is a win. As Devil said, is not like Southhampton didn’t have players who wanted to win too.

    On MC and Pep, yes tactically he was brilliant but Jose was tactically deficient from the start. Rooney is shot, Fellani is average/ slow and Pogba, as I have said over and over again is overrated, they had no speed to match MC midfield movement. Even Lee Dixon commenting on the game from 10 minutes in started to point out the deficiencies in United and the adjustments that needs to be made. Let’s not Pep too much credit yet. As I have said on several occasions here Jose is done as a manager.

  94. Adam says:

    Afternoon Brudder. You’re right. I have seen nothing new or remotely surprising in our play so far. The supporters in the stadium know it. They love the club but surely they want a new approach and energy.

  95. kelsey says:

    Try actually answerig the question .If we are talking Arsenal at present I am in your eyes negative yet you agree with much hat I say. I also don’t like this high and mighty approach when you comment.

  96. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I also don’t like negative comments but have to put up with them. C’est la vie my dear.

    I have already answered the question many times…..yes I love Arsenal, I don’t like what I am seeing, I want it improved upon and keep on improving again and again, but criticise them in a positive way. I have been here longer than you and those who know me know that I will never forgive AW for sending out our team to be humiliated 8-3, 6-1 and 6-0 but will never criticise them just for the sake of criticising them again and again. That was then….this is now. I have seen game 1 vs dippers up till game 4 yesterday…..and in each there was improvement upon the previous game. not necessarily 150% but an improvement all the time. And I do point out the problems….but also praise the improvement.

    Much more different than keeping on picking the negative aspects all the time.

  97. Adam says:

    The apex of Southampton’s ambition yesterday was a draw.
    Chelsea are buying so many fouls with their antics that surely I sense the finger of Riley in the stinking pie.

  98. Le Coq Monster says:

    Agree there Kev @ 1:11pm……………………………….Shame we will never have Pep, although it may have been a lot different had we had Usmanov as the owner !…………..yes we may have had a succesion of managers, but I adamant we would have had more trophies !……………….bit like the Chavs ! hahaha

  99. Obi says:

    If we had played all 4 games just like yesterday and won all by 2-1 as yesterday, and moreover went on to win the EPL (like Chelsea in 2015). Would we be complaining? Am sorry fellas I just want a title. Now granted we might not win one with AW, but a win is a win.

  100. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Obi….even if we had won all games 2-1 some people would still complain.

    tell you what……I would not mind loosing the first 4 games 10-0 and win the rest of the games 1-0. That would give us a total of P38, W34 D0 L4 F36 A40. PTS 102

    And we will still have those who see the glass half empty.

    Even if we won all 38 games 2-1.

  101. Le Coq Monster says:

    One plus point this season and I`m not sure why that is……………..we have already reached the same amount of penalties awarded to us as in the whole of last season !……….definately a penalty imo and it is also satisfying that when the oppo`s goalkeeper is blantantly wasting time that we get extra minutes added on for it and get a penalty in that time !…………so lets give Forster a big hand for which can be argued as an assist !…………had he not wasted so much time we may have not got the penalty !.

  102. Micko says:

    Wath 12.54, if your gonna pull on an Arsenal jersey and have the audacity to call yourself Perez then you’d better be a proper footballer !

  103. Le Coq Monster says:

    Now if you can guarentee me that scenario Dev` ………………………..I will go and put some money on it and become a rich man with enough money to buy you the worlds biggest glass to fill half full !……………………………….I like the new chant of …………………………….2-1 to the Arsenal !

  104. Le Coq Monster says:

    Just because I said tippy tappy was nicked from Cornwall by Barcelona doesn`t make me an asshole, Kk !………………I`m deeply hurt !…………………………….although working as a sign language operator for the deaf on porno films has given me an inferiority complex !

  105. Le Coq Monster says:

    Must have read my mind Kev`………..I was reading the Chav report on BBC and this sentence came up…………..”Costa, who could have been sent off, capitalised on poor defending to fire the dominant visitors into the lead “………………………seems to me like I read that every game he plays, that he could have been sent off !

  106. Le Coq Monster says:

    Mind you, would I swap Costa for Theo,Perez ?……………you bet !………………..love a nasty bastard up front to go with a nasty bastard midfielder and a nasty bastard defender !…………………….a nasty bastard spine !………………..now that`s what I call horny, Dev`………..what you think ?………….horny bastards will do as well !. hahaha

  107. Micko says:

    Wath, your barking up the wrong tree, it was a play on words with Perez / Pires, pronouced the same but spelt differently, loved Pires, maybe Perez is a good feel factor signing by Arsene to boost team morale !
    I’ll stop there before I confuse anyone else lol.

  108. Le Coq Monster says:

    Surely not a conspiracy by Reff`s against the Arsenal. Wath !. 🙂

    Steady on Obi !………………….all this talk about swapping will have the tongues wagging !………………………..anyway, unless you look like Ross Poldark the wife`s not interested !. hahaha

  109. Kk says:

    Sorry potter I didn’t mean you, i agree with everything you said..
    in fact I didn’t mean to offend any body..
    It was the condescending and disrespectful comments by the devil towrds other posters..
    There is nothing to argue about ..we still miles away from being a top team. .you can stir it left or right ..you can dress it how you like it, the reality remains…we are still as boring and predictable as ever. .still early days so..
    I am just waiting for rambo and sanago to save our season..

  110. scottfromoz says:

    KK, when you say we are boring and predictable, do you mean the 11 on the pitch, or the fans?
    Same thing on the pitch, followed by the same thing off it lol.
    4 games in.
    Why is everyone so stressed already?
    If we buy players in Januaru, people complain and suggest we should get them at the start of the season because they take time to “bed in”.
    Well, doesn’t that apply in August/September?
    Is there something magical about this time of year that means players are automatically comfortable in their new surroundings?
    Didn’t think so.
    Let’s give them time before we all throw ourselves off a bridge, hey?

  111. scottfromoz says:

    And before anyone says we should’ve bought them earlier, we got Xhaka pretty early, so that point is not relevant, as any top class talent was busy at the Euro’s.

  112. Tsgh says:

    Micko you know I take offence to that comment… There are always forces pulling the strings you know…Lol

    Morning Wath,Scott and all

  113. Lee says:

    The fans are bored because it’s the same shit every season and this season will pan out like the majority of the previous ones…. Maybe a good cup run, knocked out last 16 of the CL and 4th in the PL?!?!

    Col U are doing ok though!

  114. Wath says:

    Morning you lot, cannot believe Micko can make such a contentious comment about humpty…….. The man has no feelings…

    Think boring and predictable is a reflection of where we are as a club and a team and have to agree with Lee it’s not been an overnight thing and new players will not change that unless the set up of the team and the team dynamic is changed and doesn’t seem like it will be, but we have until May to judge it seems.

    Don’t think people are stressed Scott they pissed off because as said on numerous occasions they care….! If they didn’t they’d not bother making comments or having the hump about how they perceive how club is doing right now.

  115. scottfromoz says:

    Hiya Wath,
    it’s been 4 games?
    We’ve got decent signings, and people wanted that, so why not least give them time to settle in?
    If people weren’t prepared to give them time, why ask for the signings in the first place?
    We will know around November if we are a live chance.

  116. Wath says:

    Scott 4 or 40 makes no odds mate, it’s the set up the tempo the tactics, I am not moaning about any of the signings at all thats not it at all it’s the way we playing yet again that’s no different at all..!
    No directness, no width, no sharp interplay… it’s slow, tedious repetitive and oh so predictable….! that’s my issue and point and yes it’s the same as the last 4/5/6 yrs..!

  117. Wath says:

    Someone made a valid comment about Sat, it looked like an end of season game with nothing to play for and we were just going through the motions…… so spot on…!

  118. scottfromoz says:

    Fair enough, but nothing going to change on the tactical front…….no point stressing over what we can’t control.
    I say we will improve.
    I also say we were not even close to as bad as plenty like to make out v Soton.
    Time will tell.

  119. kelsey says:

    Morning

    Sounds ominous but I am not surprised .

    Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is not interested in speaking about a new contract with the club. The Midfielder is on loan at Bournemouth for the season and has said that he is focussed on his job with the club (via Football365).

    Jack Wilshere surprised everyone when he made the move to the South Coast on Deadline Day. The 24-year-old made his league debut for AFC Bournemouth on the weekend during the 1-0 victory over West Brom.

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on the weekend that he expects Wilshere to sign a new contract at the Emirates before the end of the year. “I want him to extend, yes,” Wenger said. “I don’t know [when talks will begin], I think around December.”

    However the player has hit back at these claims. “I don’t want to talk about that at the moment,” Wilshere said of Wenger’s remarks. “I’m a Bournemouth player now in my head. I want to help Bournemouth get as high up the league as possible and also for myself I want to play 25 or 30 games.

    “I don’t care what people say. The decision was down to me and it was best for my career. I could have sat at Arsenal and just come on now and then. The manager couldn’t promise me I would play now.

    “That wasn’t good enough for me. I want to play week in and week out. Bournemouth have given me the opportunity to do that.

  120. Wath says:

    I’m sure by now you’ve seen the game on Sat, we were not bad, no but we were decidedly average with the same old issues which you say won’t change so is that not something to be pissed off about that yet again it’s the same deficiencies week in week out from the manager and staff that we do the same things over and over expecting a different result, sorry mate but if thats fine with you it ain’t with me. As said before I couldn’t care less what I can or can’t control but when a bloke gets paid a fortune to run a club then at least take your blinkers off and see the horse shit for grass because the team and the players are better than what we getting served up due to narrow mindedness from the manager. Only time we looked dangerous Sat was the odd occasion Bellerin got in behind their fullbacks, why don’t our so called wingers do that, why the 600 passes across the penalty box, I could go on but it’s boring and tedious and you’ve heard it all to often but it’s reality and sad and fucking pisses me off.

  121. Wath says:

    Kelsey, if he focused that’s a good thing and i don’t have a problem with Jack’s comments at all. If he has given up the fight to win back his place “if” he stays fit this season then shows he lacks the bottle which we need in a player in any case so if that is how it is then it would be no great loss but the media am sure have also taken stuff out of context and that’s something we definitely only need to worry about next summer.

  122. kelsey says:

    Wath

    I thought it was a good discussion point. I read he has had 11 injuries in 5 years mainly to his ankles but also he is a bit of a rebel and AW is a strict disciplarian as seen with Bedtner and ,Szsney lately.he says he isn’t guaranteed a place at the moment.What intrigues me is who is paying his wages ,Bournemouth, or possibly a split.

  123. Adam says:

    Morning Wath and all. I was there on Saturday and it was poor from a technically superior team with supposedly high aspirations. Still no striker. Yes, Perez might turn out ok but it’s not that the issue is a new one is it? The first half was absolutely abysmal from what is supposed to be an elite club with a top manager. But, there is a sense of inevitability about the whole thing now and you can feel it in the crowd.

  124. Le Coq Monster says:

    Always thought the eggcellant Humpty Dumpty would have made a crack striker for us but due to typical dithering by Wenger he was poached by Jose Meringueho !

  125. scottfromoz says:

    Wath, I remember seeing us have plenty of opportunities to score.
    I’d say Sotons last gasp tackles and blocks stopped 6-8 shots from great positions, but as Arsenal fans, heaven forbid we give an opposition side credit lol.
    I kept reading that if Long had his shooting boots on, we’d have lost but that’s laughable, as we had plenty more chances.
    Come on, we were pretty decent and we will get better.
    Will we win the League, probably not but then, none of us thought Leicester had a chance, did we?
    Kelsey, I read they’re paying his full wage.

  126. Wavy says:

    Agree totally that we have become predictable, slow and undynamic and probably have been for the last 8-10 years. Imo.

    On the same theme:
    Whilst watching MOTD2 last night and, specifically ‘Goal of the Month’ I noticed that the Arsenal were not represented by any hopeful goal scoring contenders. We did appear twice in the gaols against us! The Coutinho free kick and Mane’s mazy run and rifled goal! Both of which had the thing that our play only very rarely achieves these day, vis the WOW factor. That quality that out of nowhere a goal is scored, from any angle, any distance, any amount of touches till the ball ends up in the net. We can’t do it anymore. Largely because we don’t have the players with sufficient class or quality on the books. In fact the last time I can recall, when we scored a wow goal was the one Wilshere scored after the ball was pinged first time all round the penalty area.

    When the wow returns we will be contenders again but, until we redevelop these ‘luxury’ players we will win nothing, niente, zilch, etc etc.

    Sad to say

  127. Wath says:

    How many saves did their keeper make Scott…. None, we just scored the 2 shots on goal we had which is great but you’re missing my point…! If you think we were decent then we watched a different game so we’ll call it evens
    Southampton came for a point got behind the ball and we struggled, as is the norm..!

    New Post up…

  128. scottfromoz says:

    Wavy, if you didn’t say WOW over Kozzers goal, then sorry, but nothing will make you happy.
    Seriously, 4 games, coming off a win v a bogey side and I’m being fed this tripe??
    Lucky I’m in such a good mood else I’d deadset neck myself.
    Smile, ya whinging bastards 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  129. kelsey says:

    Wavy

    I said that yesterday we are becoming more and more predictable and our counter attacking is far slower and now I am told I am being negatve 🙂

    The team lacks motivation IMO and I might be right or wrong but I don’t need the insults as Kk pointed out.

    We are so near to being in a position to challenge and that really irks me and that shows I and many others care, and support is never questioned.That’s not being negative it’s being realistic.

  130. scottfromoz says:

    Kelsey, we are close because we strengthened-isn’t that what we asked Wenger to do?
    He did, so rather than praise him, people move on to their next topic of criticism-tactics.
    Sorry, but though I don’t agree with how Devil out things, he was right-plenty will always criticise, no matter what the club or Wenger does.
    Plenty absolutely disappear when we carve a side up, but are back in an instant when we lose.
    That is fact.

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