Morning all.
Wenger says he has never managed a better attacking unit than our current strike-force.
“I think certainly numbers-wise and quality-wise together [they are the best],” he told the official website.
“We’ve never had so many players who could perform and score goals – certainly never. Dennis and Thierry had the quality but that didn’t mean we had a large number of options to choose from.”
Perez, Alexis, Walcott, Welbeck, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud being better than Bobby, Freddie, Henry, Bergkamp, Wrighty etc? I’ll leave you to decide but I know who I preferred to watch.
Arsenal drew Sutton Utd last night in the FA Cup fifth round draw but it’s a shame for the National League side that the fixture isn’t at The Emirates as that would have been a huge pay day for them. I suspect this one will be televised so at least they’ll get something financially. Another reason a home fixture would have suited us better is the playing surface as Sutton have one of those 3G pitches which will be alien to our players. This match takes place over the weekend of February 17-20 when Arsenal old boys Craig Eastmond, Roarie Deacon and Jeffrey Monakana will be out to cause an upset.
Before all that though we have Watford at home this evening, a trip to Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime and then a home match against a Hull City side which appears to be selling it’s better players. Then, wham, Champions League returns as we head out to Germany to face Bayern Munich.
The away trip to tonight’s opposition was a good one for us. Cazorla opened the scoring with a penalty early on and just before half-time, Alexis and then Ozil pretty much put the game to bed. We conceded a goal just before the hour mark but to be honest, had we taken more of our chances, the home team would have been on the end of an embarrassing result. That was our first win of this 2016/17 campaign.
Danny Welbeck is expected to return to the bench tonight as Arsene Wenger manages his comeback after a lengthy injury which makes sense as his energy and all round play is better kept for the Chelsea match. The rest, barring Sanit, Xhaka and Elneny are fit and raring to go.
This fixture has usually been kind to Arsenal over years gone by but let’s not forget last seasons FA Cup defeat. That was a horrid day matched by an equally horrible performance by us.
We can’t afford a repeat of that tonight, or for the rest of the season if we are to catch Chelsea. Out of the blocks from the off, with Smart passing, plenty of width and pace and let’s sting the hornets good and proper….
Finally, there’s a story going around which suggests we have agreed personal terms with Chelsea target Kostas Manolas and the Greek defender will join up with his new teammates in the summer…
If true, which I doubt, great news but I’d rather that kind of money was spent on Griezmann…. 😉
Have a good day guys….
Morning Rico. Warmer but duller here. Hopefully we can beat Watford this evening.
Morning Adam, you’d like to think we can…
Morning guys.
Another stinker here.
It was around 29 degrees at midnight last night.
A little cooler tonight so we can turn the air con off!!
Bring winter on!!!
Poring with rain and dark here…
29 degrees would be most welcome Scott…
Morning all. Winter reigns supreme here. Dull, damp and drear. Oh dear!
Should win tonight or who’ll we let Watford turn their season round? I doubt the latter. It may not be a game of beauty but so long as we win who cares?
Manolas? Beware Greeks bring gifts!
Morning Rico. Arsene Wenger will never pay the asking price of Griezman. Also, I don’t see any new signings in this window.
Wenger speaks about his current forward line up being better than Bobby, Freddie, Thierry, Bergkamp, Wrighty. ???? has he finally lost the plot completely. Expect to see shots of our Manager later in the news, being taken away by guys in white coats. lol.
Watford should be a win for us, but we all know what happened last season at home in the FA Cup. Extremely bad day at the office.
We need to come out of the blocks firing with all guns blazing.
I think I will join LCM for the first 20 minutes behind his sofa.
Will we……iPad user’s nightmare error!
Morning Rico, Adam. If we don’t win, its one step forward, two back! That’s happened before when we have optimism hasn’t it?
Not at midnight Rico, believe me lol.
Too hot to sleep.
Morning everyone, few new comments between page load and posting, LOL
Morning Vcc, Andrew..
I had to read Wenger comment twice too. Just glad he didn’t add Sanogo to his current list otherwise the men in white coats would be called… lol
Rico, you did list 8 current players compared to 5 in the past squad, so that supports Wengers claim, as he did say numbers wise.
He’s talking about different options, and didn’t suggest they were better players than Dennis, Thierry and the likes.
Damn, even I’d say he’s lost is completely if he meant that lol
Scott, I typed etc as we can’t forget Wiltord, Kanu, Reyes, Alialilililidiare lol
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – Re: “Arsenal drew Sutton Utd last night in the FA Cup fifth round draw but it’s a shame for the National League side that the fixture isn’t at The Emirates as that would have been a huge pay day for them.”
Can’t the teams switch the game to the Emirates, by mutual consent. It would be a much bigger payoff for Sutton.
Scott – It’s been cold here lately, but I wouldn’t trade for your 29 degrees at midnight. I couldn’t sleep in that heat.
That’s true, Rico, but surely Yaya is an etc bahahahaha
Hi CG.
It’s impossible to sleep in this heat.
I’m over it.
I’m sure some think I’m boasting about it but trust me, it’s far from the truth.
I much prefer the cooler climate but maybe not -10’s lol
Heart bleeding for you Scott 😉 When I came to Australia in height of summer it was so black and non-stop rain we caught a plane to Ayers Rock after 4 days washout!!
Morning Cg, it’s happened before so perhaps they will…
Andrew, not my fault you brought the weather with you 🙂
Rico – Bergkamp to Reyes and Aliadiere, that going from the sublime to the patently ridiculous. Are you working on a routine as a standup comic? I’m just glad you didn’t mention The Incredible Sulk aka Horse Face.
I think Scott has it right – better numbers and more tactical flexibility than in in the past. We were very dependent on Thierry and Dennis for most of the seasons they played. We had our our best seasons when the likes of Sir Bobby and Freddie contributed 10+ goals each.
I believe our forward and defence (bar LB) are sorted. Our Midfield still needs a fix. Does the 50 from Barca still stand? We can bring in Pjanic.
?Cg, my tongue was very firmly in the cheek…
..or Kroos.
A german core of Mustafi, Kroos and Ozil. I wouldn’t hide behind the sofa.
Rico – Yes! As was mine.
It’ll be very interesting to see who starts today with some other very important matches coming up.
I’m off to bed for a good night’s sleep before our game kicks off.
I’ll catch you all after the game. Have a great day everyone.
Rico 11:08……Wiltord, a very underrated player for us IMO.
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Another bitterly cold day down south not
the weather to be watching football
Its half time at Southampton where a Goal by Malan has given the u18s the lead.
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico, good post…
I didn’t take much notice of what Wenger said about his current forwards, because those comments were meant for his players, not for the fans, classic Wenger psychology…
When it comes to being an efficient finisher, a top class striker, I’d put Henry, Anelka and Wright before any of today’s incumbents, and Bergkamp would walk into any Wengers best XI’s, so it’s a not really debatable….
Sanchez would push for a place in the Invincibles, but I’d say that Ozil could even struggle, I mean, I luv Mesut, but even he isn’t ousting Bergkamp…
And then try comparing the mentality of those past teams with today’s?
It’s all good stuff though… ?
Manolas!
£55 million?
You couldn’t make it up…
Is he really that good?!
Did I say ‘you couldn’t make it up’….?
Silly me, of course you can… ?
Won 1-0
Win game in hand they will move into 2nd.
Brilliant goal by Malen at last he has found his shooting boots
Afternoon Rick, Kev and all..
Good for the under 18’s Rick….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38727389
There’s the team. I guess that’s the pace up front gone….
COYRRR
Still worried the foreign channel I watched Soton game on, twice showed Welbeck struggling before coming off.
Wenger hasn’t said anything about Welbeck being the injured…
Got soaked going to the ground…
Just like the old days ?
Its looks bloody cold there kev.
Rico, Wenger only announces injuries the day AFTER Transfer Deadline day!
True Andrew…
That’s Tasmanian cold that is 🙂
Last four first home goals conceded all penalties!
Mustafi getting angry at free kicks given against him. Even more so now!
Here we go again!!!!!!!!!
Ramsey turns his back!
0-1 !
Ozil and Iwoby at the same time again…
Well that wasn’t in the script….
Ffs. 0-2
WTF!!!!!!!
Familiar
Playing for a draw at this point.. ffs
We look sluggish and tired! Watford so much more fired up.
Ramsey sitting on floor. Injured!
Ox on.
Gabriel looks like a goat & I don’t mean GOAT!!!!
What on earth… 2-0 down…
Ozil shirt pulled for 10 seconds, no booking. First Gabriel foul, yellow straight away! So familiar.
Monreal penalty! Um no, booked for dive after being nudged!!!
Was it a pen?
Bellerin on the pine, Gabriel starts!!!!!
Not a chance on goal yet. 33 minutes!
No pen rico, simulation
Thanks GG..
It’s going to be 0-3 soon if The Arse don’t pull their fingers out of their arses 🙂
Get Bellerin on, NOW!!!!
Thank goodness I’m not watching…
Lot boos at whistle. Wenger out!!!
The only input the home crowd has made is a polite boo as the whistle went for half time 🙂
Isn’t Bould copping the abuse?
Wtf is happening?
Days like this I’m glad to be at work lol
Well people, in the spirit of the late Brian Moore, Arsenal’s season is up for grabs now!!!!
Am disgusted! Wtf?
This team started running after conceding the 1st goal. Iwobi – Gabriel are making our RW look weak. They should never start again. Not that it’ll matter after we loose this one.
Chavs 1 up
It’s not over yet… epic comeback on the cards ?
Cech can’t save long shots. (although tonight took a deflection).
How glad am I to see Ramsey out. I hope never to see him in an arsenal shirt again.
Only one player awake. A least Petr stopped us being 0-4.
Who said our attack stronger than Invincibles? We had one feeble drag wide in 45 mins.
What will our team, now in crisis do without an impassioned speech from our great motivational speech expert, “come on down Mr Wenger, the time is right and the time is now!”
2-2 would be good but I can’t see it!
Sutton must be well in with a chance of getting to the next round. Thank goodness we didn’t get Lincoln!
Usual service resumed, an opportunity to close the gap and shock horror the serial bottlers shit themselves!!
Best strike force I’ve had since I’ve managed Arsenal…..please just shut up or fuck off…..
3-2 to the good guys???
Sutton and Bayern must be shitting themselves!
No chance Lee..
Re the comeback I meant,,.
Watford.
Farken hell.
We make average sides look brilliant.
Iwobi. Now come on.
Good chip assist from Sanchez.
We are so inconsistent, which is why we all get so cheesed off…
Night guys, I need to sleep…
Better 🙂
It wasn’t our fault. We didnt expect Watford to come out fast first half.
I didn’t watch the game so won’t comment on the performance, but same old, same old……as soon as we work our way into contention, we kill ourself with results like this.
Yes, Wengers time is up, but those above him need to go as well.
The winning culture is gone-has been for a long time-and it’s not easy to get back.
Terrible from Arsenal, yet again that moment of truth is on the horizon can we put pressure on Chelsea… bang…. we collapse…
Deja vu… ?
I’d say our only chance now is if we can clean Chelksi up, but it seems that’s too big an IF to be reality.
This game may well have killed off any chance we did hang on to.
We are a team who always play for one half. That’s why we’ll always be ‘nearly’ there all the f*cking time.
Actually the second half you can’t fault the commitment . They tried but they just are not good enough to keep giving teams a start. We upped the pace and put them under pressure but as usual we rarely threatened their goal.
In injury time we have a free kick on the corner of the 18 yard box, Ozil takes an outswinging chip into an area with Walcott , Oxlade , Lucas and Sanchez against a defence the size of a forest. It gets cleared . Why wasn’t it put in with pace by a left footer :- who knows maybe a deflected own goal if you can get them going back towards their own goal. It seems that either we don’t think or we don’t talk about alternatives. For all the possesion I doubt that Gomez had more than half a dozen shots to save . Standard Arsenal self foot shooting. Same old Arsenal struggling tor the top four.
Left footer should be a right one.
It’s arrogance! They think they only have to turn up to win! The manager is a little to blame. When you have the best attacking options you’ve ever coached, the players know the opposition will just lay down and let Sanchez et al score at will. ( I understand the psychology of the self fulfilling prophecy, I used it enough, successfully, when I was doing the day job,) but it can have the diametrically opposite effect. Seems that’s what happened tonight, again.
The Arsenal will keep us interested until early April and then lose the lot, all in the space of a week! Mark my words.
God I’m pissed off!
Nothing new same bottlers as usual.
Probably the good thing night one of Wengers pet will not be around for some time.
Always at the wrong time at the wrong place…..run his guts just to disrupt the build up the attack and this year after year.
i cannot wait to see the back of this manager.
Easy to knock Arsene but in his defense fair play to Arsenal, never to be outdone, Chelsea drop 2 points so hey lets drop 3, never fail to let us down do our lads.
First half was worst 45 minutes I’ve seen this season. Out paced, out fought. After that and at home you deserve nothing. We’ve seen it before, Bournemouth. It happens again and again. You just wonder what message they were sent out with.
Just got home from the game absolutely soaked. Pathetic and totally abject. Been here many times before though.
Been here many times before though.
Where’s that home ? I am glad I was throughout the whole debacle . At least I got my £ 35 quid back .It just makes you wonder why we bother when you witness that first 45 minutes.
Not sure what to say after that abject 1st half….
Why do Arsenal seem to look so unprepared in so many games?
Who watches the opposition before games?
Does Wenger take any notice?
It all strikes me as quite amateurish by those in charge…
Defeat at Chelsea could be the start of a gradual season unraveling February and ultimately Wenger accepting the fact that he can’t do it anymore.
It was always bound to end in tears…
Night All
After all the outpouring of adoration for Steve Bould since the weekend, was it really in Arsene Wenger’s interest to beat Watford, especially with him yet to sign a 2 year contract extension. Team selection was wrong & the 1st half was diabolical.
You have to wonder if the poorly prepared comment was a knife in the back.
Poorly prepared is surely more a reflection on Wenger as is the weak mentality of the players, he is still running the show, Bould is just a front man…
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10751427/questions-for-arsene-wenger-ahead-of-arsenals-trip-to-chelsea
No mention of Bould here chaps…
Bould had nothing to do with the Soton win, nor the Watford loss, imo.
Wenger surely this has to be your last season? I really can’t put up with this bollocks any more get a new manager in pronto!
Perfect opportunity to close the gap and Wenger/team of serial bottlers choke yet AGAIN!
Been the same for the last 10 seasons!
Capoue a spud reject, ffs!
Why pick Giroud & Ramsey? They make us so pedestrian it’s beyond a joke!
Wenger has everything to do with everything, that’s the fucking problem!
We beat Chelski this week and you’ll b his no. 1 fan again, Lee 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
Morning all.
That’s just what I don’t understand, we are at home yet we slow the game down with Giroud in the team and as for Ramsey, he’s really been poor of late and I’m so glad he won’t be going to Chelsea on Saturday…
We always better at speed….why change?
No answers here lol
Morning Rico. Yes Lee, the wheels came off big time last night. It was beyond pathetic. It was totally embarrassing. I don’t think I have seen a worse performance by a player wearing an Arsenal shirt than poor old Gabriel’s. Although Giroud’s impersonation of a cart-horse in the first half ran it close.
What does Perez have to do to get a league start?
Morning Adam.
Wenger says Bellerin is not completely fit and wanted Gabriel’s height.
With Debuchy fit, why not play him?
Rico. It’s poor planning again but I feel for Gabriel. He’s not a great centre back but he’s a shocking right back. Wenger won’t play Debuchy, Jenkinson’s out of favour so how come we haven’t bought a proper (Tall) right back? The Giroud and Ramsey situations are diabolical for such a big club.
Gabriel is one player who’s gone backwards, in a big way, in his time with is.
Why buy a player, then knock his attributes out of him?
Same with Xhaka…..we needed someone who’s stick the boot in.
His two send offs have been a joke, imo, but still, he’s a presence.
Let him be…..don’t tone his aggressiveness down.
The only positive from last night I hope is it pushes wenger closer to the door..
I honestly don’t think we’ll even make top 4 this season.
Morning Kel. If only that could be true. 🙂
I feel for him too Adam, it’s not his fault. Agree re Ramsey and Giroud, I know there are games which the latter suits but surely at home against Watford is not one of them.
Ramsey, he’s just dreadful these days and I don’t understand at all why he’s selected. I don’t wish injury on any of our players but his is certainly timely…
Kel, there’s little chance of him going imo….
Rico. It’s always the same old thing with Wenger. He states that the team weren’t prepared for Watford as if it’s someone else’s job to prepare them. A new contract for him makes as much sense as Gabriel at right back. He plays our most potent striker wide left so he can fit a lumbering CF into the team?
Adam, agree.
Morning Adam/Rico
i hate to pick on one player ie Ramsey but fuck me this kid has been terrible for literally 2 seasons now either he needs a fresh start elsewhere or a new manager to help him.
The Ox had a really good performance on Saturday and was probably buzzing with confidence why he didn’t get the nod over Aaron I don’t know.
I’m not so sure Rico about wenger staying….
Hi Kel.
I hope you are right, another two years of him will be unbearable….
I’m thinking Wenger will leave.
Ramsey is either a shot or moletely, or needs a change of scenery.
Who knows what’s gone wrong, but he isn’t 1/10th the player he was.
He isn’t, I wonder if the rumours of Barca wanting him turned his head… lol
I agree Rico. Another two years of the same will be crippling for the fans. But, like Kel, I have a glimmering hope that he will go. If ever a club needs a new, fresh direction, it’s Arsenal. Wenger won’t get rid of his favourites. It will need a different manager to do that.
This apparent contract sitting waiting for him is most likely true but I think wenger is realising himself that his times up…
He’s been lucky this season he got outta jail twice against Burnley, 3-3 with bournemouth saved his blushes, very lucky at Old Trafford, struggled at home to WBA, Swansea, Middlesbrough…
I personally think last night his luck ran out and as of today I think we’ll miss top 4 I really do.
Certainly does Adam. A new would probably move on half of this squad…. lol
Well if not getting top four means a new manager, bring it on…
Within the ground, there is little support for him and a notable apathy about the prospect of a new contract.
Kel, I’ll go against you on Top 4, but due to the fact Spuds an Dippers know how to fall apart when it counts, rather than us winning when it counts.
Haha morning you sulking lot.
By now we ought to have known arsenal and Arsene aren’t cut for it. Honestly that same team beat Swansea. It’s our guys who have no pressure at all. And they haven’t been told loosing like that is not acceptable. Until change in personell happens, arsenal will always flatter to deceive.
Even if we fell outta europe and only had 1 game a week to concentrate on i still think wenger would fuck it up….
How many times this season have we not turned up first half or weren’t prepared for the opposition starting fast etc….
Marshall, the question on that issue is our favourite…who to blame?
No need for our answers bahahahaha
Chelsea will stroll to a win as the chasing pack aren’t even chasing. We bottle it as much as spuds and dippers do.
The best scenario is come second and he leaves….
Ok Scott.. I hope ur right btw. Top 4 challenge excepted.. ?
I really don’t understand why we are cold starters.
Forget Wenger and his lack of influence, surely the players recognise the problem.
I strongly suspect we’ll be 4th or 5th come end of play Sunday…
Scott, it’s pathetic. Really. In the second half you see them putting a shift and you’re like where tf have they been? (bar Walcott who increased the tempo btw).
This was a replica of our Preston game in FA, only that they didn’t score their chances. Teams have us figured that we sleep in the first 30 mins. Same old same old. It’s like those grown ass men don’t learn.
I know Marshall, but we are no better and no worse than the rest.
As with last season, a side will win not because of how good they are…..
It’s a deal, Kel lol.
As for starting I’d blame everybody! the manager and especially the team. They are highly paid professionals, paid to play 90 mins. Not 60 or 45 or whatever time they choose to.
Professional pride is lacking, Marshall.
That’s something nobody can blame Wenger for.
People either have it, or they don’t.
We seem to have too many that lack it.
Listen to me…..I’m miserable and I did not even watch the game lol.
Agree Scott I can’t get it either why can’t the players fucking realise how they start a game… fucking infuriates me.
It has to be the attitude…
But a midfield of Coq-Ramsey was always a bad idea. Couple that with Iwobi lack of possession and positional discipline.
Sanchez stayed too long with the ball yesterday.
Everyone know arsenal are a bunch of lazy players who don’t like to play in the cold. All rested 9 outfield players looked jaded.
New post up guys…
Someone needs to put posters up in the dressing room showing their weekly wage, then have a hundred fans in their each showing their annual wage.
Shame the bastards into performing.
Scott, all they play for nowadays is money, they don’t care for the club – evidently. As a player one should really be ashamed doing way below his average.
You dodged a bullet there Scott. I couldn’t watch the last 15 mins. My heart was pounding and am too young for that stuff.
We should try next game without Giroud and Ozil (yeah I know). Selection should be strictly on performance base not how fond you are with Wenger.
As Wenger said, the team was not prepared correctly for Watford. Though he declined to offer an explanation as to why.