Match Preview

This is our time! Batten down the hatches and hit them on the break….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Never is there a better time to beat Barcelona. That’s what Arsene Wenger believes but I’ve no idea why he thinks that. Suarez, Messi and Neymar alone is enough to suggest that Petr Cech and the back four are heading for a tough old time tonight.

But what about if the boss plays it safe, you know, give them the ball, defend well and then hit them hard on the break? We’ve done it before and it’s paid off handsomely so truth be told, we could do the same to Barca.

Play Barca at their own game and well concede goals, so be smart, defensive and don’t concede. Then we remain in the tie..

So many times in seasons gone by, we’ve been too gung ho, always in search of a goal regardless of the score and all too often that’s been our downfall as despite us often being victorious in the away leg, that away goal or goals has killed our chances of progressing.

Batten down the hatches, keep the supply to the front three quiet, and more importantly, don’t let any one of their free scoring strikers get a sniff on goal.

Then if we get a chance, which I’m sure we will, take it…

Just don’t let the Catalan’s get a goal….

It’s going to be tough but it’s not impossible….

rico

372 thoughts on “This is our time! Batten down the hatches and hit them on the break….”

  3. Marshall says:

    *here

    Nice tact. Lets approach them like we did bayer. Let’s not forget unlike arsenal, barca can shoot from 30+ feet. They shouldn’t be allowed to get near our box. A handball, a late tackle in there would cost us dear there.

  6. Marshall says:

    Dylan are you going to be that relaxed. Am expecting a high tempo game, no time to reach out for that juicy bacon.

  7. rico says:

    Good point Marshall. Hope Flamini doesn’t start as he’s known for a foul or two. I reckon we might see Coquelin and Elneny central midfield with Ramsey on the right…

  8. tsgh says:

    Very good read. A busy night ahead.
    Those attending the game should be the 12th and 13th men/persons and not wait for the players to score before they show their presence.

    Dev and Wavy, you brought up excellent points on previous page.

    Interesting how Ajax, PSv and Barca are still ripping the rewards of foundations laid 25 or so years back by previous managers who towards the end of their tenure were being hounded out for being finished managers…

    In Ajax and PSv’s cases with relatively no money they are still able to succeed albeit not to the heights of yester-years…

    If only the Milans’ of this world had clinged onto the likes of Saatchi and Bersellinti phylosophies things would be different.

    Seeing Barca and RM all resort to past players as their managers goes to show that t
    BM did it in the past until Pep with the kaiser, Berti Votz etc.They are bring carlito in for a shot while and then lahm will take over…

    We need to start our won instead of fans always looking for the newest mercenary/manager on the block… imho.

  9. Marshall says:

    Flamini would be disastorous Rico. Elneny and Coquelin mid gives me more confidence cause Ramsey is prone to cheaply losing possesion which puts pressure on us.

    Plus we need guys to cut their supply to the guys upfront.

  11. rico says:

    He certainly would Marshall..

    Big game for young Hector, just hope he’s not left exposed and someone covers him should he get forward.

  12. Marshall says:

    True ts, we need a manager who ‘feels’ the club. My view for seeing MA08 being Pep’s protegè is cause he will learn alot and Pep might not inhibit him as AW would.

    If you were a young aspiring coach you’d want to learn from the best. Let him go, if he has his heart at arsenal he’ll come back a better coach.

  13. tsgh says:

    Pep learnt from AW and LVG though Marshall. i am with you otherwise btw.

    The prof in UCL who marked down my thesis is still teaching the same old b.s whilst i work in real world… lol

    Back to 2 nights game I will go for 3 at the back instead of playing 4.

    This is a midfield game. No team can stop the front 3 with a back 4 spread thin…

  16. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Bonjour Lovelies and Hunkies.

    I agree with all you said Rico.

    My team would be the following…..

    Cech
    Bellerin, Per, Kos, Nacho
    Elneny, Coquelin
    Campbell, Ozil, Alexis
    Ollie

    I would go for Campbell simply to protect the right hand side. Then introduce Danny later on.

  17. George says:

    Good afternoon all

    I fear for us tonight. I would play a totally uninterested side in winning- all our defenders.

    Cech
    chambers koz mert monreal
    bellerin coquelin elneny gibbs
    Ramsey
    Giroud for set piece defending.

    If we play for a 0-0 , we can perhaps have a hope for the return and actually play to actually take the game to them.

    In all honesty , if we were to nick a 2-1 tonight , they would destroy us over there as the ref would surely send someone off to ensure the catalans progress…

    i hope Wenger has practiced for 10 vs 11.

    Sorry to sound pessimistic, but we havent exactly been playing brilliantly for a while. Ozil and Sanchez need the games of their lives, and we need to boss the misdfield. Can’ see who will do that

  19. rico says:

    I reckon it’ll be the team you suggest Devil, but Ramsey instead of Campbell. Ramsey was rested for Hull so that’s a huge indication he’ll start…

  21. tsgh says:

    Rico- ‘learn’ I guess has a wide meaning under this context.

    will ‘influence’ be a better word?

    In a few years time if Arteta becomes a coach, I guess it could be said that Mikel learnt from Pep and Inrique has mikel has spent severral days recently at both BMs’ Sabener and barca’s training ground to see Pep and Lorenzo..

    I read one of the bios’ of Cruyff-
    Cruyff claims he advised Pep to join Arsenal when he was leaving Barca to learn from AW as Pep long harboured aspiration to mange Arsenal. AW mentioned Pep was keen but at his age of 30-31 he thought he might not be able to adjust to the physicalities of the EPL.

    Was it because Aw suspected Pep was dodgy with nandrolone… 😉 I have to be careful here but
    As i have said in the past,Lorenzo the physio is a curious character and does indeed influence pep’s high tempo style…

    pep smartly went to Italy where he played under defensive mastermind Mazorne.

    It is well documemted if true of course that Pep spent time at Coney whilst he was doing his badges. He also visited Sabener whilst LVG was at BM.

    Odd that both LVG and AW are Cruyff-ist… I guess the major influence on pep’s defensive game was Mazonne.

  22. dublingunner says:

    Morning. A 32 match unbeaten run and quite possibly the best strikeforce in the history of the game, does not fill me with any confidence. The best I can see happening is maybe hold them at the EMS, but away I fear a beating of Munich propertions, It will be interesting to see how far we,ve progressed under AW since last season.
    I think trying to beat them at their own game is pointless. Many have tried, and everyone has failed. I think if we defend deep and counter up the wings, use Campbell, Ozil, Bellerin to get balls in and around the box, Luckily we do possess one of the best headers of a ball in the game in Olivier Giroud. I think an aerial line up is essential. with Giroud or Welbeck to utilise the knock downs for Sanchez and Ramsey to run onto.
    To simply stop this Barca side from scoring tonight would be a fantastic achievement in itself, we are certainly in for a tough tough night.

  25. Hell Raising Devil says:

    George….

    Cech
    chambers koz mert monreal
    bellerin coquelin elneny gibbs
    Ramsey
    Giroud

    Do you honestly think that side will be disinterested??? Not when you have Gibbs and Bellerin. That is a counterattacking side mate. 4-4-1-1.

    then Introduce Sanchez and Danny after the 75th minute.

    that side will nick it 1-0 or 2-0 imo.

  26. tsgh says:

    Dg- Neville’s valencia tried to play the counter attack style you have suggested and he was ass-whipped.

    Celtic were the only team to have succeeded recently countering Barca and that was because messi was having a bad game…

    imo, playing deep when Messi, neymar can dribble 4 players in a telephone box imho is calling for disaster.
    Psg tried to do that last season and the midfield 3 gave cabaye a horrid time; they run rings around him and the front 6 ended up camping in Psg’s half.

    It was like a military style onslaught against a mud wall… eventually it will crack and fall…

    Juve’s style 2 years ago is the best imho… you try to play in their half. Push Iniesta central and stop him from pulling wide to set up play. Play 3 at the back and have 5in midfield with 2 upfront stopping Barca from playing from the back…

    We also need to track/stop rakitic from making late runs into the box… something i doubt Ozil can do…

    Placing a player on Busquet so that their back 4 plays long and definitely. Same as Fergie did instructing Wooney to sit on the shoulders of our playmaker making him go deep to pick the ball up…

  27. Uwot? says:

    Watch out for the dodgy Turk ref who has already sent off five,yes I said five English players in prev games.just uefa’s making sure that should anything go wrong plan b will be in full swing for their darlings….

  28. dublingunner says:

    Press or sit deep? Realistically, we will probably need to do both, albeit at different times. It,s about getting the balance right. Press from the off, and start like we did against United would be fantastic, we need to be intelligent in our approach either way.
    No silly fouls or mistakes as Ozil, Campbell or Giroud are sitting on yellows, I think.

  29. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Going back to my original line up I feel that Aaron might be more suited as a sub to replace Ozil while Danny replaces Campbell. The third sub leave it just in case the ref sends someone off.

    I predict that this ref will be looking to send off Arsenal’s most important player….Cech. Take him out of the equation and AFC are out.

  30. Bob John says:

    I think a couple of people have hit the nail on the head. Doesn’t matter what formation or how well we play, UEFA,s hand picked officials will ensure their Barca darlings go through over the two games

  31. potter says:

    3 at the back ? I have touted that for some time when we play against bus parking teams but usually that included Gabriel with BFG sweeping. It should give us midfield control however with their 3 up top I fear it could turn into a you score 3 we score 4 game.or vice versa

  33. Nashua Gunner says:

    Good Afternoon Rico and All. Good read.
    No one mentioned Theo, but I think because of his pace he would give Barc something to consider when Ozil makes that killer pass.

  36. George says:

    We wont finish the game with 11 and at best a respectable raw or narrow defeat will feel like a satisfactory result for me. I would just love it if we just parked the bus and nicked a 1-0 with our only effort from the only corner we get off the quiff.

  38. Lewis says:

    Good day all.

    I don’t hold out much hope of us getting anything from these two games, I’d obviously love to be proved wrong but really can’t see it. We’re going to be chasing bloody shadows. hehe.

    I did read something about how Celta managed to beat them, they isolated Busquets and put a lot of pressure on him. His pass completion stats were the lowest they’ve been this season in that game and Barca build their attacks through him so that has to be at least one of the things we should try tonight. Smash Busquets!!

    Lots of energy needed in our midfield so Id go for:

    Cech
    Bellerin Merts(no choice) Kos Nacho
    Ramsey Coq
    Welbz (brings some physicality) Ozil Sanchez
    Theo(they are scared of his pace)

  39. Adam says:

    Hi George. How’s it going mate?
    If I were to try and anticipate the game on most of what I have seen lately over the Emirates I would probably get worried. So I won’t.

  40. George says:

    Hi Adam,

    We are in for a long night. The ref will be their 12th man and ozil and Sanchez aside the rest will be overawed

    we are facing a hiding here. We couldnt score past Hull…

    Food for thought

  41. Marshall says:

    The players have to have their heads switched on even before the game. Everyone should know his responsibilities, when you loose the ball go get it back don’t leave the defence to do it for you. No blind passes, cover your guy forget about twitter/fb/IG for 90 mins.

  43. Wavy says:

    No matter what the result I shall content myself in the knowledge that the Arsenal will be short of at least £16 per head as supporter power and a shrewd petition sorted the greedy’uckers out! Were they looking for a bumper pay day as they knew the fix was on and there would be no more CL for this club?

    0-0 if we can’t win would be an excellent outcome. A pasting would be an embarrassment. A,small loss would be sad but not too damaging.

    I’m facing east and searching for a minor miracle!

  44. Obi says:

    Good Day All:
    Fellas we are not talking about the invisibles here (lol).
    Notable Barca results this year: at La Palmas 1-2, Lavante 0-2,
    Valancia 1-1, Malaga 1-2, Espanyol 0-0, Deportivo 2-2, Leverkusen 1-1, Sevile 2-1,
    Roma 1-1. Don’t sell the boys short. With the proper line-up, re: Devil’s, a win is
    more than a possibility. I have watched nearly all of Barca’s games this year (Bein Sports
    should be called Barca, Real and PSG TV) their whole games are not as good as the highlights.

  47. Hell Raising Devil says:

    No Elneny then….. 🙁

    Arsenal confirmed starting line up: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

    Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Chambers, Flamini, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck

  51. dublingunner says:

    Evening, butterflies in my stomach. what an occasion, just think we,ll fall short. 2-1 to Barca for me. I suppose Ramsey could have a good game, knowing Barca could be watching im, tonight.
    Lets hope Cech has a great game.

  69. Lewis says:

    Should be one up. This ref is a fucking joke, but what do we expect. Wonder how much his bank account will grow after tonight.

  106. Lewis says:

    Masters of our own defeat. As usual. Too much fucking around with it and committing too many forward.

    Game over.

  111. Lewis says:

    Agreed micko, we’ve had some very good chances here and should have registered at least once.

    Just before they scored we had several opportunities to deliver into the box, incisively before they regrouped.mbut we f’ed around with it, committed bodies forward and get suckered. God knows how many times we’ve seen that with this team.

    Completely lost our shape now.

  113. dublingunner says:

    Coqs pass back, when were on top and attacking, has just left me bemused,
    bad bad decision making in the build up and in front of goal. ultimately will cost us all trophys this season.

  122. Kel says:

    Barca is the best about atm so losing is expected … but Arsenal yet again the most naive team in the champions league.

  123. rico says:

    I reckon he’s thinking about Utd Kev, Coquelin has put a lot of work in. Although I’m sure there’s one man who will say he’s been pretty poor….

  126. Silky says:

    At least there won’t be extra time in 3 weeks!
    Flamini’s inclusion instead of elneny was laughable u reap wat u sow!
    Was thinking to myself just before the first goal that Messi was having a quiet game!

  127. allezkev says:

    I can see that Rico, but this result is the consequence of not bringing in enough top quality players…

    We might get away with it in the domestic game, but you ain’t gonna win the Champions League on the cheap…

  130. rico says:

    Agree Micko, but…

    I’m off to bed…

    No post tomorrow as I’m off out early in the morning and no way am I staying up tonight to write…

    Night guys..

  136. Marshall says:

    We played superbly. Defending and being there for your team mate. What sucks is we aren’t clinical enough! We are null everytime we attack.

    Then Flamini came on to f*ck sh!t up. I really do hate that french c*nt. Why tf did he come on?

  141. Micko says:

    rico, spot on with today’s headline post, pretty much nailed it…..only missed “Just mind the gap”

    Nite Gooners, keep it real.

  142. Kel says:

    It’s just disappointing to go through the groundhog day senario again its tiresome yr after yr even though most of us expected it.

    We just never seem to be good enough, I fully except being defeated by a superior team but fuck me we had the chances first half to make a game/tie of it but yet again the quality wasn’t there,

    Relying on players like flamini just isn’t good enough we all know this and I can’t understand why we signed a player in January that can’t even get in to the squad I think wenger agian has been penny wise pound foolish.

    So now unless a minor miracle happens that’s 6 yrs in a row going out at the last 16 stage. imo for a club of Arsenal’s size that has the most profitable stadium in europe and located in one of the best cities in the world that is a dismal record.

    The game in the nou camp is for pride now I hope we can avoid a thrashing and injury.

    The big danger domestically is the annual collapse we’re basically out of the CL, lose to utd and Spurs and that will be the final nail in the coffin for the season and maybe for wenger to.

  143. allezkev says:

    Having seen some highlights, all I can say is that Arsenal were lucky it was only 0-2…

    Tbh Barcelona should have won 0-5, such was the paucity of our attack and the flimsiness of our defence…

    Totally outclassed…

  144. Kel says:

    I agree kev They’re an elite side we done really well in the first half, but the energy levels dropped 2nd half and it could have been 5 as you say.

  145. George says:

    Good morning all. I would have taken a 2-0 defeat. They are miles better than us. if we lose 2-0 over there as well and give the kids a run out i would be more than happy. The tie is over. At 0-0 we could of at least had a slim chance of a counter attack backs to wall. We will have a sending off over there and tie over inside first 15 minutes. Campbell should have come on for the Ox and chambers for the tiring Coq.

  146. Lee says:

    Arsenal need a dominant CB, a technical DM, a quality wide player, a top class ST….and have done for ages! The gulf in quality of players last night was there for all to see yet we’ve got bundles of cash sitting there…..
    If we had a top drawer striker we would not of lost that game last night, it’s just a massive shame Wenger doesn’t see it! Walcott on £140k pw is fucking embarrassing and after signing his latest deal we are lumbered with him for a few more years!
    As for Alba, that cheating cnut was play acting directly in front of me and the reason I’ve lost my voice!!!
    So out at the last 16 AGAIN looks like another groundhog season is about to unfold yet AGAIN!!
    Still I suppose we’ll get the usual bollocks spouted by an Arsenal player on Arsenal.com?!?!
    20yrs in a completion that Wenger will never win time to let someone more dynamic have a crack.

    This mediocrity has to cease we are supposed to be a big club lets fucking act like one!

    Morning all, rant over.

  147. Lee says:

    Wenger blaming the naivety of the players….how about the naivety of you?

    You love telling everyone about the 50,000 substitutions you’ve made, the fact that we’ve been at the top for 20 years and yet you’ve learnt fuck all.

    You have blind faith in certain players that just aren’t good enough to wear the red and white of Arsenal. You rely on players with appalling injury records. You never quite strengthen the squad enough to mount a serious challenge.

    No mirrors at chez Wenger????

  148. Lee says:

    AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal
    Arsenal 1-3 Bayern
    Arsenal 0-2 Bayern
    Arsenal 1-3 Monaco
    Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona

    Last 5 seasons CL first leg results…… must be the naivety of the players!?!?

  149. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Its not the time to batten the hatches. Its time to pick the pieces.

    I am sorry, but I do not agree with those who say we could have scored, nicked it or what have you.

    But I agree with those who say we fucked it. Royally.

    Sorry…..but an overall 34% possession tells me a lot of things. Just 3 shots on target to their 6 and overall 10 shots to their 15 tells me even more. Just 1 corner against their 7 opens up sore wounds. At one point what was it…..we had some 198 passes to their 500+. That was hard to stomach.

    Yes, someone might tell me that out of their 500+ passes, around 300 were between their defenders and DM. That they were in the defensive third. Do you know what that means? That time was ticking by and impeding us to score. Because while they have the ball and play torello with Ollie (poor sod…he did all he could) there was one glaring fact……while they had they ball we could not score. So while away the time, not attack, stay safe……KEEP THE BALL…..and when you notice a crack…..WHAM…..BAMMMM…..THANK YOU SAM. 0-1 down.

    Cech had to come to Arsenal to concede a Messi goal. Hang on….2.

    Yes we might have given a good account of how disciplined we can be…..but for us to think we are a big club we simply have to look at Barca’s players. How many of our players would have made it into their first 11 yesterday? Remember…..you have to take one of Barca’s players out for an Arsenal player to go in.

    That rules out Sanchez immediately……as a coach I would not dream of taking out one of Neymar or Suarez or Messi.

    We had Ozil, Aaron and Coquelin. Talk of Ozil being courted by Barca??? Dont make me laugh. Barca want improvement not regression. Aaron going there??? lol. Who do you remove from Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic???

    As for our defensive four, only Bellerin might make it into their team….simply because he is young and Alves is past the 30’s.

    Hang on….Only Cech will improve Barca as he has the experience needed for big games.

    Yes we have a good team for the EPL, FAcup, LC…..but not for Europe. Yes we are a club with a very sound financial structure and a very good blueprint for the club to get better. The foundations are laid but not for success right now.

    Why did we attack in the last 20 minutes?? Why didnt we keep ball knowing full enough that a 0-0 draw at home (effectively at HT since it was match 1) would have benefitted us much more than barca as they would have had to win to go through? Why didnt we sit back and defend tightly and park that FUCKING bus in both games and let them have the ball??? Is it better to go out fighting bravely and gallantly than to scrape through on pens??? Why not. Why fucking NOT???7

    Was our performance admirable as many blogs and writers and people say??? Imo no. a big resounding NO. It would have been admirable if it ended 0-0 at full time. It would have been admirable if at their own ground the first half would have ended 0-0 as well. And then the second 0-0 as well. And then onto extra time…..hit them there.

    Players should have been cagey at the EMS. Even at Barca. They would have tired. And if it meant being cagey during extra time then so be it.

    Penalties might have given us victory because during that lottery there is no difference between Messi taking it and Flamini taking one. Shades of Brady missing his pen, Bergkamp Platini, Terry, Baggio (it pains me to say it)…..even great legends miss crucial penalties.

    When something like yesterday happens…..a scene from Gladiator comes into my mind…..Maximus telling his team “Hold, Hold, Hold” while they were enclosed in the turtle huddle. They were outnumbered and their arsenal was limited. But they attacked when it was right.

    Yesterday Arsenal players should have held.

    Was that a rant????

    now its over.

  153. Marshall says:

    Ox blasted our best chance of going foward. Then there was that lay up Giroud passed to a ghost. We need players who take half their chances.

  154. scottfromoz says:

    We lack either a true winger to best utilise Giroud, or a different type of striker.
    Well, that’s why we can’t score as often as we need to….we do have other flaws but hey, we matched them for a bloody decent part of the match.
    Devil, Kozzer makes any side for mine.
    ANY side.
    Morning all.

  155. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The moment the Ox went off was the moment which defined yesterday’s game. In his place Theo came on. That should have been Campbell not Theo. Or Chambers, who would play as RB and allow Bellerin to take the place of OX. It would have given Arsenal speed and technicality up front. Or else Gibbs……who would have gone to the left and Alexis to the right. That would have kept Alba and Alves quiet as they would have had two speedy players who are also technical to handle. Review the game…..after Ox went off, the ball kept going to the left, where Alexis is. Simply because the players do not trust Theo that much. Speed is only good if you know what to do with it.

  156. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    Arsenal have two vital EPL games – West Brom/Everton, either side of their CL return in Spain, and with the likelihood of a 3-1,4-2,5-3 etc, Arsenal victory in the Camp Nou, being in the realms of total fantasy, I would think that the prudent thing to do, is to save key players for the league…

    Therefore, expect Wenger to pick his strongest squad available…

  157. Lee says:

    As Marshall (I think) said earlier why buy Elneny if he can’t get a game in front of Flamini?
    Walcott was dire……..again!

  158. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Lee….imo yesterday was a game made for Elneny. He would have kept us ticking. His stats of over two games where he touched the ball more than 100 times each game and had over 90% success speaks for itself.

    But Flaffineee was preferred. lol. He should be given number 47 at his next club.

  160. allezkev says:

    Coach, if you take Koscielny, Bellerin, Ramsey or a fit Wilshere, have them trained in the methods of Barcelona (including play-acting) where the players have to be disciplined and tactically aware, I could see all four of them getting into a Barca 1st XI…

    It’s all to do with what is done on the training field and Wenger is light years behind the really top coaches in Europe….

    Wait until Pep Guardiola gets to Man City, that’s when you’ll see how far behind Arsenal now are…

    To be fair to Wenger, he’s only had 20 years to get it right!!!

  164. Adam says:

    Morning Brudder, Kev. Last night was full of the black arts on the pitch and the ref was highly suspicious. We huffed and puffed but the better side won. At least the Elneny stuff has given me a laugh this morning.
    We lost to Barcelona. Nothing new in that. More of the same for the foreseeable future I think.

  167. allezkev says:

    Morning Adam, it went pretty much as you predicted, when we’d chatted yesterday…

    I’m not surprised really, the stats Lee brought up re: our results at this stage of the competition, are both depressing and stark.
    And what’s worse, is we know we’ll probably be bemoaning the same way in 12 months and 24 months etc etc etc…

  168. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Kev….you may be right regarding Bellerin, Kos, Aaron and JW. But they would have to be schooled in it from the age of 12. Now its useless to train them. It will not work. 95% of a player’s technique and skill is formed by the age of 13 while tactical skill is formed between 12 and 16. Failure to do that will give you a player….but not a footballer.

    That was the problem with Theo. Up till the age of 16 they used to play him up front. Leave him there. Defend…….and then give him a long pass in space. He would switch on his turbo….and VROOOOOOOMMMMMMM……in front of him he would have only the keeper.

    And therein lies the problem. For all of its resources, population etc England’s clubs do not produce fine footballers. They produce run of the mill players where they are hyped up as the next big thing, only to fall flat on their face.

  170. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ok the Elneny stuff made you laugh mate.

    Just count how many of his one touch passes find one of our players, just count how many times he looses the ball, just count how many times he is in the right place. And then comment.

    and then compare them to how many times Aaron, Jack and Flamini loose the ball after taking too many touches

  171. allezkev says:

    True Coach, but Arsenal have had a French coach for 20 years.

    We now have an academy run by a Dutchman, staffed with Dutch coaches…

    There’s more to it than that mate…

  172. Lee says:

    “Scott, I’ll be more interested in how much Wenger will spend next summer?”

    Err fuck all………

    “Some big decisions coming Arsene’s way at the end of the season”

    He’ll make the wrong ones again, put Crack Wheelchair on a bumper new deal, sign the Ox up on a new bumper deal too……

  174. allezkev says:

    What you say, may well be true Coach re: Elneny…

    But then, that must make it inconceivable and unforgivable for Wenger to not have him on the bench…

  175. Adam says:

    Kev. It was all so predictable though. Good heart but not enough quality.
    The ‘soft-evolution’ style of team building that seems core to Arsene’s whole schtick will certainly continue I would think. He’s a bit set in his ways to become a footballing revolutionary now. But perhaps that will be for the next manager to indulge in because our lack of progression is catching up with us now and the gap looks set to increase.

  176. potter says:

    Dublin , you asked why Coquelin passed back , it was because we had a line of 4 maybe 5 static players all marked in a line across their penalty area. Nobody moved and he had no options. There are players out there last night who I would hope never to see wear an Arsenal shirt again. Walcott , Flamini ,and I am sorry to say Oxlade Chamberlain. When compared to the players we saw last night from Barca probably five of our starting eleven are good enough to be reserves and that shows the paucity of our squad. With Rosicky , Flamini and Arteta finished . Mertesacker to be used as a back up next year , Gabriel as yet unproven , Giroud needing to be a 20 minute sub , Ramsey a reserve at best and Sanchez a one trick wonder , I can only see Wenger going at the end of the season and The Arsenal sinking back to a mid table team until the next revival in probably 5 to 10 years time. Sad itr was all there for the taking …………………………………………………………BUT !

  179. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Yes Kev and you are right again.

    But footballers are not made overnight. What we have now will not see us produce players right now. It will take time. we might not see its full effect for the next couple of years.

    Yes we have had a French coach for 20 years now. He was great for us. He laid down the blue print of the club’s 21’st century ethos and has given us strong foundations, both financially and structurally.

    And he will be revered for the next 100 years in the same way Chapman has been.

    But we need different ideas now. the club needs to move forward.

    A different mentality.

    And as you said……Wait until Pep Guardiola gets to Man City, that’s when you’ll see how far behind Arsenal now are

  181. Adam says:

    Kev. I don’t know really because Arsene hates big changes. But I see issues in many positions. Back up for Cech, at RB, CM where MA, TR and MF could go. Ox, Theo and all have big question marks. Help for Giroud. Pick a number really. But it’s the lack of regeneration over the recent years that concerns me.

  182. Adam says:

    Oops. I forgot Merts and whether Gabriel will cut it at the highest level. The list goes on but it all feels more serious after being exposed last night I suppose.

  184. tsgh says:

    Dev- you are on form today.

    I couldn’t agree more except I think kossser will walk into the team.

    Sanchez was sold to us for a reason, he could not get into their team…

    In my opinion, AW is making this team punch above its weight.

    We all agree we need a top quality striker but where are they? Benzema, Higuain are no better than what we have now as they can’t replace Ox or Theo on the LHS.

    Interesting how Pep could not get BM to maintain their 0-2 lead.

    Dev- As prerdicted Conte is coming to Chelsea next season.

    The EPL will have Pep, LVG/Special Un, Klopp, Conte all in the EPL next season.

    Rico- one man will say Le Coq is not quality. I might be swimming against the tide but no team in europe has a Le coq in its team. He is no better than Flamini was when he left us to join Milan…
    Players like that may us compete for the odd EPL but he is tactically clueless imho.. 😉
    He is no Makelele no matter how TH14 tries to make Le coq out to be the fireman.

  185. potter says:

    Seems that we are in agreement Adam , watching Rakatic last night running the midfield just showed the dominate midfielder that we have been missing all these years.

  186. allezkev says:

    If that’s true Adam, and unless Iwobi, Toral, Maitland-Niles, Hayden and Akpom suddenly morph into EPL players, which is unlikely as the last four are not even playing for their Championship clubs, then I’m not sure where that leaves us..?

    Whatever we achieve this season, next season could be painful, because I can’t see Ozil and Alexis hanging about, or Ramsey for that matter…

  188. Kel says:

    Wenger calling the players naive lol… refusing to use the transfer windows to your advantage and believing you have a good enough squad is naive you fucking idiot.

    First half we performed well, we stuck to the plan and imo should have scored maybe if we had have spent some of that 200m and brought Higuain, or Aubameyang or cavani, just maybe we would have a fighting chance.

    Barca and Bayern are the top two in europe atm imo. We showed a little bit of maturity against Bayern at home but that was short lived when they tanked us 5-1.

    I now expect for this tie to end around 6 or 7 -1 on agg.. I personally wouldn’t play a weakened team in the nou camp because we could be on the end of a 7-0 ffs…

  189. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Adam….unfortunately I have not. Saw only on TV which limits me a bit. But TV also shows me the mistakes others make as well….so in a way it evens itself.

    But please do not tell me that Flamini is superior to Elneny. Because he is not

  191. scottfromoz says:

    Devil, on your 8.55am……can you visit Sean’s school for me??
    Get all the muppet parents together who READILY ADMIT to having no background in the game yet constant ask why the kids, aged 10, aren’t learning strategy.
    Sean’s side played a team on the weekend they’d met two years ago….just after they started at the school.
    Back then, I think our lads won3-2.
    This time, 9-0 and they think the coaches have not got them headed the right way??
    Shit, it frustrates me.
    The school has some of Best qualified coaches in the country, including a gent who went though the Ajax academy, and these imbeciles have the ignorance and/or arrogance to think they know better, though as is the way of some people, those same parents can not wait to tell outsiders how good the school is lol.
    Kev, spending next year…Arsene……ya funny Bugger hahahahaha.
    He’s proving we can possibly win the PL on a budget if absolutely everything goes right, but he’s also shown us the club has no intentions of truly competing In Europe.

  193. tsgh says:

    Potter- a few years back when I was talking about Rakitic, loads on here said he was not strong enough…

    Rakitic may look like a stalker as AGAg will joke but brains will outwit reactional play all day imho…

  195. tsgh says:

    Potter- your 9:05am reads quite scary but could be very true…

    I use to love Ox until I saw him at Chelsea and I changed my mind.

    He showed no movement when Ozil was holding the ball. Ozil turn and turned expecting Ox to move and receive the ball but nothing…

  197. allezkev says:

    Tbh Scott, I gave up on Arsenal ever being a realistic force in Europe years ago…
    The competitiveness of the EPL, the lack of ambition from the club owner, the over-the-top frugalness of the manager, and probably a load of other reasons, tactics, naivety, blah blah blah…

    We got lucky in 2006…

    It ain’t gonna happen again…

  198. scottfromoz says:

    We can’t truly judge Elneny on his brief performances thus far.
    What we can ask is why isn’t he being used.
    We needed cover for Coquelin and someone who was instantly ready at this level.
    That’s the true question…..if he is the right guy, why isn’t he being used?

  201. tsgh says:

    Unfortunately, AW time has come to an end…

    He has run out of ‘rope’…; my expectation is he wins the EPL and then walk…

    My signings for next season, Pjanic to come in and replace MA08. Xhaka to come in and replace le coq.

    Borja Gonzalez to come in as our other striker…

    Drop Ox and bring Akpom and Toral

  202. Adam says:

    It’s fun to indulge in players musical chairs. Wenger himself has made something of a laughing stock of himself on many occasions by citing those who, if the wind had blown in a different direction, might have been Arsenal players. For me the whole thing rests on Arsene’s ethos on how to develop a team. Having Ozil and Sanchez, to name two, as roses amongst the thorns just hasn’t worked really and I would imagine that both (Ozil in particular) must be looking closely at what the future holds. Persevering with Walcott, the Flamini situation, the craziness of enforcing Rosicky’s contract for another year, the refusal to buy an outfield player last summer etc, etc. The list goes on and is exacerbated by the tedium of the repeated mistakes that have cost the team so dearly. A player can only play to the best of their ability.

  203. allezkev says:

    You are right Scott, it isn’t fair to take it out on Elneny…

    Tbh, we still have a lot to play for this season, we could conceivably win the Double…

    We should be optimistic about that prospect, I certainly should, but the worrying thing is that I am not.
    I cannot remember a season, when Arsenal were so close to winning the title, that I’ve felt so disengaged by it all, despite coming on here.

  204. scottfromoz says:

    Yet we are right in contention for the League.
    For all of Wengers apparent failings, what if he wins it???
    Forget Europe.
    I maintain its a farce, a lottery….Chelsea proved that when they won.
    Win the League.
    That should always be number one priority.
    What if Arsene wins it?
    He will say he was justified in having faith in his squad and how the hell could anyone argue the toss??
    If he doesn’t, he really should go, but what if……….
    200 million in the bank.
    And??
    Citeh have a few billion at their dispersal and where do they sit??

  205. tsgh says:

    No disrepect to Ozil or sanchez but they are with us because they are not quite the ‘elite of elite’…

    Fans rightly expect us to be on the same level as the BM, Juve and 2 spanish giants of this world but without adding Psg, old chelsea and even Man City we are quarter finalist at best.

    Change is needed and unfortunately it will take a while to rip whatever we saw going forward…

    We may languish outside top 4 and possibly finish below the dippers if we are unlucky but change is need…

    The perpertual transistion is doing AW and the fans no good.

  206. Kel says:

    20 yrs of champions league football and no progression lol

    Ts yesterday 12.06 I was at that game you fail to give credit to celtic m8 they played a blinder that night stuck to the plan and Messi wasn’t having that bad of a night when he scored 😉

  207. bradster says:

    Morning all,

    I thought we perform admirrably. We usually throw our shape away, can’t put 2 passes together and look like we have never played together before. We’re also usually too narrow and off the pace.
    But this whole season we’ve seen a better organised and resiliant Arsenal. I totally agree that Ox coming off and Walcott coming on screwed the organisation up because he’s a lazy arrogant player. Messi tracks and tackles so what is Walcott’s excuse.

    I agree that we need better wingers to finish off Giroud’s hard work. I think we are really missing Cazorla, our general in midfield. Ozil cannot drive the ball nor find a deep range pass so holds the ball until he is tackled.

    Welbeck looked threatening with his pace and skill and should start against United.

    On the penalty, it’s 100% the fault of our experienced, world cup winning defender and not fan’s enemy Flamini. Either Merts, a pro footballer, cannot trap a ball and it cannoned off his ankle or he’s too naieve to clear the ball out on the volley in a champions league tie and side foot passes in his box.

  208. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, the League is so even, we have as good a chance as any other club.
    We need some luck and we need Santi back.
    The little Bugger got under my guard.
    I knew how good he was, but I grossly underestimated how important he was.

  209. allezkev says:

    Ginge, for what it’s worth and despite so many possible departures in the summer, I’d sell both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott.

    I’ve no idea who I’d replace them with, but with Arsenals magnificent scouting network, I’m sure we could find somebodies

  212. George says:

    A clearout is definitely on the cards, but it will obviously be players who have offered nothing or never given the chance really.

    i expect Hayden Akpom Maitland Niles Gnabry Martinez Sanogo to be sold on. Arteta and Rosicky to move on, Gibbs to move on, Wilshere and walcott to be injured for most of the season. Flamini to leave again and Chez to be loaned out again. Ospina to be sold , Debuchy, Campbell as well, and us to sign no one of note, perhaps a 16 yr old Nigerian who will go on loan to Grimsby. Wenger will persist wish Ramsey Giroud et all…

    As long as we finish top 4 that is considered success. Next season the rivals will strengthen, but as long as we finish above the scum, it will do for now given our unambitious hierarchy.

  213. Kel says:

    The next 3 league games will tell the tail of the league challenge scott I pray we don’t blow up.

    I personally don’t think the CL it’s a lottery m8 I see it as the best of the best competing unfortunately we’re more europa league material ffs.. its embarrassing 20 yrs of consistant CL footy and Spurs look better than us.

    If we win the league then wenger was right his squad was good enough, but imo I think it’s because utd, Chelsea, city ain’t quite been at it this season.

  214. tsgh says:

    You are right Kel; my bad… 🙂

    Brad- with MA08 and TR07 spent it is imperative to get SC19 back asap…

    All hypothetical, but I believe that if we had him available yesterday we might have made at least 100 more pases meaning they wont have gotten the lion’s share of possesion and possibly not lost 2 nil…

  215. Adam says:

    TS. I agree that they are not right at the very top of the tree, but they are where we are and we have a manager who believes that Flamini, Ox and Theo deserve to be playing for Arsenal so perhaps the whole issue is purely one of perception.
    I did find it strange when Wenger said that it was difficult to get the team motivated to play Hull though. But, having watched that horrible game I think he must be right.

  216. scottfromoz says:

    Kel, I meant it should only be for League champions…I’ve always believed that.
    Let’s win the League before we worry about CL.
    Chelsea, Citeh and Utd have been average but why are we complaining about a lack of spending when those clubs all spent more than their share??
    It is proof positive that spending guarantees nothing.
    We laugh at them for wasting money, then whinge about Arsene not spending.
    All the while, Leicester are on top.
    So is spending the answer?
    Apparently not.

  217. tsgh says:

    Lol Adam… you are right.

    Unfortunately, from rumours certain players are exceptionally good in training and AW being who he is will always pick those lot. majority of those players then bottle it in games as their is no ‘stick’ waiting for them at half time or after the game…

    I have nothing against any of our players but most are grade B or c at best and should be either sold to make room for better or used as subs… Theo and Ox imho fall into those category..

    A few years back, i had this impression that Theo was a big game player; since his contract renewal I am afraid he has regressed…

  218. tsgh says:

    Scott- agree with your post above.

    But even we the AW apologist have to admit, the relationship and expectations of fans vs AW’s is becoming gulf apart…; I think the relationship is on a one way street to ending.

  219. Lee says:

    But when we spent money on Ozil and Sanchez we won two FA Cups, then Wenger stopped spending…. it’s fair to whinge at Wenger when he didn’t buy a single outfield player!

    Just because other teams have spent cash and failed who can say that would happen if we’d bought a couple of players?

  220. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, Theo catches us all out, on occasions.
    To this day, he shows us glimpses of the player he could’ve been, but never will be.
    A wasted talent and as Devil says, it has nothing to do with Wenger.
    He was ruined by his youth coaches.
    Wenger shouldn’t have to teach grown men how to play the game.
    All he should have to do is teach them to play together.

  222. bradster says:

    Am I right in saying if we, Chelsea and City drop out this round only the first 3 positions in the league get Champions league football next season because no English team made the Quarter finals?

  223. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Giroud behind Theo?????

    Better play Giroud behind Alexis then. Or Danny. But not Theo. Yesterday, when he came on we played with 10 from then onwards.

    yes we have a good squad for the EPL/FAcup……but not for Europe. If we had a squad as good as Bayern’s or Barca’s we would be around 15points ahead in the EPL.

  224. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, it will be fair to whinge if he fails to win the League.
    We are better placed than at this stage last year.
    Once again though, our debating this point is totally irrelevant, because the yank loves him.
    Piss Stan off.
    The entire club needs it.
    Ginge, yes, the fans more and more either detest Arsene, or are losing the faith they have.
    He must win the League or resign.
    For the benefit of his legacy, and the fans sanity.

  225. Adam says:

    TS. Agreed. Last season I watched Ox’s appearances with interest and he looked like he could be important this season. I can’t understand why but it seems he has peaked (at Arsenal anyway). Right now, today, he looks like a clueless kid with pace who seldom looks up but runs very fast. Yet he wants a double your money deal they say?
    In a way, nothing has changed. We are no wiser this morning about where we are than we were yesterday. We have known for ages that Wenger’s teams are flaky and that he does not operate a meritocracy where you are out if you don’t perform. The questions today are the same as they were after the opening day defeat by West Ham. My question is, how can the man who installed the team and backed his judgement with inactivity, tear it down and rebuild, at 67 years of age (or around that anyway). Wouldn’t it be like admitting that he got it wrong? We know he is a proud man and there’s nothing wrong with that. I just can’t see where he is taking the club any more. All I can see are questions.

  226. Kel says:

    I get that scott about the spending m8, I can’t explain why Utd Chelsea and City haven’t really performed although spending has worked for them before, imo you have to spend m8 you have to try if we fail so be it but ya gotta try.

    With Arsenal it’s always what if, if only. Liverpool and Spurs would give their right nut to be in Arsenals position of needing 2 or 3 players to challenge for everything.

  229. bradster says:

    On big spending, who did Chelsea buy besides Pedro? LVG for me is clueless, doesn’t buy defenders that he needs but plays his holding mid at CB, needs wingers but sells one of the best to buy an over hyped one trick pony. His best find and lucky was Martial at an extreme price for a teenager.
    City are only screwed up now because of their stupid owners announcing Pep’s appointment mid season and he in turn announcing the current crop will be out the door when he arrives. Great motiovation for current players and manager.

  230. scottfromoz says:

    Kel, I do agree we needed at the very least to buy a Adam at the start of the season.
    I mean, Elneny should have been well and truly settled by now.
    Wenger has his chance, imo.
    He has a few months to get the job done.
    One last chance.
    To be honest, win or lose…..I hope he departs at season end.
    He’s done enough.
    Given enough.

  231. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ditto Adam. All I can see are questions too.

    I do defend both AW and players, and hate seeing others slagging them off.

    But we have to call a spade a spade……and as you said….i can only see questions questions questions.

  237. tsgh says:

    Adam. unfortunately we are where we are. AW in my opinion has been very lucky this season in particular.

    In terms of points accumulated thus far, we are no better than we have been when compared to the last 7 seasons. The only difference being that we are 2nd/3rd instead of 5th due to chelsea, Yanited and liverpool not being the force they should be.
    As Jose was bound to suffer from his 3rd season syndrome, AW should have used that opportunity more aggressively and added to his squad.

    Does the club ever learn from its mistakes? Big No.
    With the club opting not to deal with certain agents the pool of player we can

    Those being paid to make signings are failing to realise that teams who do not need money dont sell after July.

    Last summer was a repeat of the summer we spent chasing Suarez.

    When Turan decided to join Barca instead of us, it seems it blew our whole transfer strategy out of the water…

    Also because of work permit, we opted not to go for Aranguiz but instead chased Xhaka.
    With Aranguiz getting injured in his first few weeks with Bayer 04 there was no way Voller was oing to sell to us when he does not need the money; plus Flamini not wanting to move either…

    So what will the club do next summer? If AW stays, i bet he will go back to Barca for Turan who is now not getting any games and wants out…

    Will AW publicly admit he was wrong? We know the answer.
    Next summer AW will be commentating at the Euros’ so we are in for a very long summer as well…

  238. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, it’s Ozil.
    Assists show creativity.
    He wins.
    Ginge, he is the elite of the elite……i’ll disagree all day with you there 🙂
    How effective would Iniesta be in England week in, week out??
    Pick any of the very best.
    It’s a different world.
    That’s why Santi is so impressive.
    It took him a while to find consistency, but when he did, WOW.

  241. tsgh says:

    kev- how much do you reckon we can get for both Theo and Ox?
    If they played for the spuds, they would get £50m minimum for both of them; our IG and Dick of this world will get £40m at best…

  242. Lee says:

    Someone said that’s the first really competitive game Barca have had for weeks, since playing Athletico apparently!

  245. Wavy says:

    Adam, Mahrez or Payet, imo.

    Elneny? Is he cup tied, as he played for Basel earlier in the competition? If he’s not and can see no good reason why he wasn’t amongst the squad last night.
    It’s may be a measure of how blinkered Wenger has become. He can no longer see the wood for the trees. After 32 years of picking teams he no longer has the ability to differentiate between class and journeyman!
    To call the players naive is almost criminal, on his part. He is shifting the blame from his own inability to make sound decisions and or substitutions etc. As has been said over and over on here today, he has not bought the right players, relied on his favourites and abrogated his responsibility for the failings og ‘his’ team!
    The man has become purrblind. Time to get some new real life specs and look in a shockingly crisp and revealing mirror. He’s 67 for ffs, time for the bus pass and comfy slippers. Football is a young man’s game and that seems to apply to managers too. Time to move on and enjoy his declining years.
    And I am a great Weger admirer, but you know, “for whom the bell tolls”

    Morning all. Another beautiful day spoiled totally by an embarrassing result, the night before.

  246. tsgh says:

    Scott- on assist which even as a stats man I never bring up Ozil is quite elite.

    But note even the Krauts do not want/rate Ozil as much any more because of his lack of consistency in the big games.

    If rumours are to be believed Erkut Sogut was shopping Ozil around to FC Munchen last summer but Rummeneigge (spelling) and pep turned the opportunity down…

  247. Adam says:

    Kel. My only plausible answer is that he held onto TR because he knew it meant (wrongly) that he wouldn’t have to spend any money on a replacement. His next transfer window will be a corker.

  248. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, he was German International player of the year so I guess some of them rate him.
    To be honest, I don’t care what the “experts” say, as I make my own call.
    The guy is a genius and simply too good for 98% of the players he’s played with.
    How many times does he look up, and you just know he’s picked his pass, only to see the potential recipient staring vacantly back at him?
    Ozil would internally be screaming “make a run” but no…..his Vision is as good as we have ever seen, or will ever see.
    Suarez in front of him would be the best pairing in history, or very close to it.

  251. Lewis says:

    The play leading to both goals just sums Arsenal and arsene up. We were matching them before the first goal but instead of keeping cool heads and being direct we revert to Wenger ball, fucking around with it endlessly and committing too many forward then get countered. How many times have we seen that?!!! The second goal was just a farce, Wenger keeping faith with average players who are costing us week in week out. Neither merts or Flamini should be anywhere near this first team squad! Same old shit different year I’m afraid.

  252. tsgh says:

    Scott- Totally agreed.
    you know I rate Ozil and consider him one of the greatest no.10. As football is a numbers game his goals ratio will be questioned especially for a number 10.
    His obvious quality does not address why lahm, Loew had to defend ozil in Brazil against public onslaught when he had muller in front of him?

    For Ozil to be carried in the big games his team needs scorers around him. If ozil was playing 10 years ago when almost every team had at least 3 top 15+ goals a season striker it may be different…

    Like you I try to make up my own mind up amongst the sway of information intended to brainwash us…
    Assist and the often brought up ‘chances created’ stats imho are info’ I always overlook and dont put much weight on.

    Since Ozil was creating chances for TR07 but carlito was still subbing Ozil and not starting him in big games it makes one wonder whether Ozil is playing in the wrong era.

  253. Kel says:

    I’ll not hold my breath adam lol so many in’s and outs needed this summer…..

    Ospina, debuchy, Arteta, flamini, Rosicky, and one of Campbell, Theo, or the Ox… imo.

    If only we had a few quid to spend Adam. Maybe spurs getting champions league and poch investing the money into his squad will wake Arsenal up fs.

  255. scottfromoz says:

    Good post, Ginge.
    I just love watching the guy play, regardless of what people say.
    If Wenger had bought that truly world class striker, we’d have seen Ozil at his best.
    As I said earlier though, if he’d bought a top class Wonger, Giroud would have blossomed.
    Spending guarantees nothing, but then again, NOT spending guarantees you won’t improve.

  257. Kel says:

    Adam I’ve decided next yr during lent I’m going of Arsenal rather than alcohol 😉

    Back to work for me guys enjoy your day.

  261. tsgh says:

    I meant Ozil creating chances for CR07 plus benzema at RM…

    Scott- Some German fans still think Muller won them the WC single handedly; they were calling for Per and ozil to be dropped. Poldi was already a ssub so he was not bashed as much…

    Scott- one thing that puzzles me though is that Ozil played behind Benzema and benzema scores the same number of goals as OG12…
    So is OG12 that bad as he is made out to be?

  265. tsgh says:

    what the german media(dominated by FC Bavaria fans) fail to grasp is that, yes Muller is german’s greatest player but he is a diving and cheating scumbag.

    When Schweinsteiger and Toni kroos were deserving of it, even BVB fans voted for them to win but Muller… he can f right off…

  266. Adam says:

    Brudder. I waved my plastic bag as enthusiastically as anyone and was carried away by the pre-match light show. In fact I am having it framed alongside a photograph of Theo Walcott right now.
    I imagine you kept yours?

  267. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, so you rate Muller Hahahahahahaha.
    Giroud is much better than plenty suggest……I don’t think he gets the correct type of service to flourish.
    One thing I do know is our players are nearly always under rated by Arsenal fans, and players at other clubs are often over rated.
    I’m off bud…later, everyone.

  268. rico says:

    Morning all.

    Glad I didn’t write a post. I actually thought we did quite well until the stupid gung ho attacking play which left the defence hopelessly exposed…

    🙂

  272. Hell Raising Devil says:

    they had no one telling them to hold. which is what should have been done. 0-0 would have suited us more than them as they would have had to win at their backyard. now all they have to do is not loose.

  273. allezkev says:

    Ginge, selling Walcott would be problematic because of his large salary, so I think we’d be lucky to get £10million for him….

    Oxlade-Chamberlain, being on a lower salary is a more saleable asset, I reckon £20 million for him, especially because of the English quota thingy…

    What do you think?

  274. potter says:

    It was the master plan of both sides to play the first hour then see if they could nick it at the finish . They were quite happy at nil nil knowing that we would push on for a winner.. We did and they sprung the trap.

  276. potter says:

    Maybe £ 50 million if you throw in Ramsey as well , but you could perm any number of players that could be sold and hardly notice that they have gone.

  277. rico says:

    I’d have though 0-0 would have been a good result and no need to push for a winner. In fact, had OC buried his chance, we’d have been defending a victory….

  285. rico says:

    I still say let a new manager get a chance with the players before offloading them….

    Win the PL, AW walks away and bobs your uncle….

  288. Wavy says:

    No we couldn’t Kev. The inscrutable Chinese would see through that one!

    If Wenger goes this summer I don’t think we should sell many of our players. Let the new man or woman see what they can make of Arsene’s legacy. You ever know the new coach may hit pay dirt with old stock!

  289. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Our performance yesterday was bad?
    I think we were played well.
    The reality is: Barcelona is much better then us. So the scored was almost normal. Maybe 0-1 will be just but could be 0-3 too.
    I posted before: we have 1% of chances for going to the quarter-finals. Two games is different then one game.
    Barcelona, Madrid, Bayern are at the moment, in other level. Our mistake, was be 2nd in our group stage. This was the repeatly mistake since a few years ago. Be second, we must be prepaired for draw the big and great teams in europe. And one thing is play with them in this stage in other, is playing with them in the quarter-finals or in the semi-finals.
    We must be concern in the cup and in the League. Those would be our goals.

  290. Nashua Gunner says:

    Good Afternoon to you all.

    None of us were expecting a win yesterday. But the way we performed during the first half gave us hope. What I noticed during the first part of the second half was their three-wise-men were getting frustrated because they could not scored even when the referee was helping them get away with their cheating. We were keeping things simple. We were utilising the resources we had on hand, and what played in my mind was, this was the same strategy we used on BM. ‘We are going to get them on the final third.’ But we were unwilling to wait because we were not discipline enough.

    Per lacking pace but he kept things organised and when he moved the ball forward he did it wisely. Le Coq does well when he keeps things simple, but with his long range passes are always disasters. Why Theo for Ox when we know Theo is or seldom good at defending? Even though Campbell is not world class he could have done better in tracing back. Remember, the first goal came from that section of the pitch when we loss possession, and Per timing was disastrous.

    Do the team or coaching staffers including the team ever watch a past game to see where we went wrong and individual performance what they are not doing right? Because it seems we are making the same mistakes as a team and the very individuals are making the same mistakes, and yet still getting game time after game time.

    Look at Alves, you would think he was a midfielder yesterday. The amount of time he had on the ball, even driving into the midfield.

  293. Nashua Gunner says:

    Rico. What we need yesterday was not few times… 🙂

    To be honest I wasn’t expecting a win, but the first ten minutes we should have been one goal up from AR16. Ox should have made it two. They raised our hopes up that we could beat them.

  296. allezkev says:

    Adam, those free plastic bags are well worth the entrance fee mate.
    I’ve got a couple at home and they come in really handy when I pop into Tescos…

  298. potter says:

    Ng, I saw Walcott tracking back a few times, I’m sure.

    I would not be disappointed if I never saw him play for us again. His attitude and lack of effort stinks.

  300. Nashua Gunner says:

    Potter. Most said we should sell Jack. The reason why I disagree, it’s because he plays with passion, unlike Theo. When we lost in games sometimes Jack crys. With Theo the efforts are missing. When he come on you hardly notice the effects.

  301. scottfromoz says:

    NG, but Jack never plays.
    It was the same as Diaby, who had a much bigger impact when playing than Jack ever did, but enough is enough.
    Sell the crocks and non performers.
    Some of these kids look pretty special.
    I’d rather see them playing and giving 100% than others who are always injured thrown back in as soon as fit, or others just cruise through games.
    Morning all.

  302. rico says:

    Scott. That will never happen under the current owner/board/manager imo

    Because that would mean Kroenke would have to dig deep into his pockets..

  308. Marshall says:

    I wonder what goes on in Aw’s head when he leaves Elneny and takes flamini with him. Per isca typical arsenal defender, cannot clear and Flamini was not even aware of how intense the game was. – but why do we have such average old smugs anyway?

    The summer will be a busy one- with the expected 4-5 outs and sell both Ox and theo giving a blank cheque to BvB for both PeA and Reus.

    Wenger should walk too come june.

  309. Lee says:

    So Theo needs ambition from the board to do his job properly?
    How about a bit of self pride and the fact he’s on £140k per week?
    Same sort of money Wenger is on too…..

    Alexis and Ozil purchases showed some ambition then we (Wenger)decides to “splash” £5m on an unknown Egyptian and that’s it…….

    Wenger is holding us back, another manager would strengthen the squad and jettison the socialistic wage structure we have in place!

  310. rico says:

    That’s not what I meant Lee if your comment is in reply to my one last evening. All I am trying to say is the level of performance put in by Walcott, and others, reflects what goes on above them. imo

    Morning all..

  311. Marshall says:

    Morning Rico. Morning all.

    Rico why would the players be thinking of the boardroom business? Maybe during the TW but on- season they’d know as professionals they are out there to play. Nothing else should be on their minds.

    There goes Barca showing how effin predictable we are. I pointed out Chelsea, Soton had already figured us out…so dif Hull. AW is bringing nothing new, he got to go with his deadwoods.

  312. rico says:

    Morning Marshall.

    Again, that’s not what I’m saying. Walcott doesn’t do enough, we all know that but neither in my opinion do Wenger or Kroenke to make Arsenal great.

    Walcott lacks ambition from within and for his club and so do those above him…

  314. rico says:

    Things get lost when written Lee… 😉

    I blame Kroenke too but you know that – if he wasn’t such a wet lettuce, he’d have replaced Wenger by now so for me, they are both to blame…

    I still say stick someone like Mourinho at Arsenal and we’d either see a different Walcott, or a gone Walcott and the same applies to a few others too…

    Not that I’d want Mourinho at Arsenal of course… lol

  315. Marshall says:

    I get you Rico.

    It’s a bad example being unmotivated and you’re paid exactly what you asked for. What’s worse is AW playing him instead of Joel who everyone knows he puts 100% everytime he’s out there.

  316. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and hunkies.

    Walcott needs motivation??? lol. Why should he?? He is on 140k a week for doing nothing. What motivation does he need??

    Imo AW should have dangled a carrot. you are on so and so salary. Depending on how many games you play and how many goals you score you will get a rise. Show me its difficult to drop you and score as many as you can. That is motivation.

    AW should make Cech captain now with Coquelin the vice captain. Arteta never plays. Per’s place is becoming shaky with Gabriel’s progress. So the above two are the alternative. Then again there is Cazorla…..who has been a good leader. But imo……I would prefer Coquelin.

  317. potter says:

    I think the blame is shared , but I think Wenger has to take the brunt because of his loyalty and not exposing his constraints. More transparency would have cleared the air but would have forced him into an untenabl situation.

  318. rico says:

    I agree though Marshall but in all walks of life you get lazy sods, the difference is, Wenger allows it, whereas others wouldn’t. We have a few lazy players who need a rocket up their backsides…

  319. Marshall says:

    On the issue of spending some justifie AW not spending by looking at our struggling competitors. It’s no guarantee we’d have had a similar fate.

    Look at our shitty neighbors up north. That is an expensively assembled team which took about 2 seasons to gel but finally they did. And are sitting above us albeit on goal difference.

  320. rico says:

    I disagree Devil. After ten years AW should know what he’s like just as we all do. AW accepts the way he is and gives him a new contract whereas he should have gone. Imo, Wenger remembers the few good times of Theo instead of the many bad times…

  322. scottfromoz says:

    NG, I’m not criticising Jacks ability to be a great player, as you all were with Aaron.
    I’m saying the guy is never, ever fit.
    He’s either injured, or he’s coming back from injury.
    Honestly, I’m stunned you can compare the two.
    Tell me this…..how many games has Aaron started in the last 3 years.
    And now……wait for it……how many has Jack started??
    There really is no comparison.
    Though as you’ve raised an argument that really wasn’t there, in the games Jack has started in that period, how does our win/loss ratio look compared to when he doesn’t play??
    Morning all.

  323. rico says:

    That’s how it is at most other clubs Potter but Arsenal seem to be quite different and that’s why I blame the owner and board equally as clearly they are happy with all AW is doing, otherwise he’d be gone.

  324. Lee says:

    It’s apparent Wenger doesn’t like confrontation, so he surrounds himself with these namby pamby, injury prone, over paid,sub-standard players and they all buy into his ethos…..

    All aboard the Wenger gravy train.

  325. scottfromoz says:

    I will never, ever understand how people blame the employee, and not the employer.
    It defies all logic.
    I mean, how many of you can change things at your place of work, regardless of what your boss thinks???
    There you have it!
    Stan can make the changes but doesn’t.
    Saying a new manager will rid the club of the wage structure?
    How can we say that?
    Are any of us sitting in on board meetings with Stan?
    STAN IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AT ARSENAL.
    Of that, there is simply no question.
    A new owner who gives a shit will demand Wenger win the League or be sacked.
    What does Stan do?!!
    Collects cash.
    What else????
    It all starts at the top, and anything suggesting otherwise is just ridiculous.
    Ask yourselves these questions.
    If Stan goes, would you be absolutely positive things would improve????
    If Arsene goes, would you be absolutely positive things would improve??
    Answer honestly and you’ll all agree that Stan simply must leave.
    It’s pretty bloody obvious!

  327. rico says:

    What’s with the Caps Scott, calm down old chap… lol

    Agree re Kroenke but Wenger still has his own job to do. He decides who plays, how they play and of course who stays/goes. Who other than Wenger would have even dreamt of getting Flamini back, let alone signing him again…?

  328. Lee says:

    I’ll never understand how you can blame the owner! It’s ridiculous!

    Wenger wants to do things his way and that’s the problem, there’s money there and Wenger doesn’t want to spend it….

    Give a new manager a chance with this squad and the kitty available then we’ll be in a better place….

  329. scottfromoz says:

    Stan or Arsene 🙂
    If Arsene is no good, then there is one person who can get rid of him.
    The same person who keeps extending his contract.
    The same person ho pays him a bloody good wage.
    Who is responsible??
    That same man.

  332. Lee says:

    Wenger will leave before Stan, then we will see…..surely the next manager won’t make as many poor footballing decisions as dear old Arsene has over the last 20yrs!

  333. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, if I abuse you every single day on here.
    If I swear.
    If I yell and scream at you on every post, who is responsible??
    Who is complicit?
    Admin.
    Why?
    Because they have the power to make change.
    Oh and how much is in this alleged kitty?
    I mean, we were told for years there as money to spend but Arsene wouldn’t spend it.
    Then, Gazidis tells us only a year or two back we can finally spend money because it’s there.
    People believe what they want to because it suits their argument.
    Having cash in the bank and giving the manager access to it are tow massively different things but again, whatever suits the argument.
    As I asked last night, what if we win the League?
    How many will cut the crap they’ve served up for years, based on what they think they know, and admit Wenger was spot on, and a genius?
    If he doesn’t win the Lwague, he must go imo, but where I’m different is I accept nothing will change unless Stan wants it to, and nothing will change at least until the season ends so why not just see what happens?
    I haven’t once defended his lack of signings because I still don’t get it, but so far, he’s proving me and everyone else wrong….as he often does.
    Season ends…..that will tell the story.

  335. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. Like Brudder Lee I can’t see that Stan is to blame. Is the wage bill too low? Has he imposed severe restrictions of Arsene as to who he can buy? Was he responsible for the shocking lack of transfer activity last summer? Did he make the daft call on TR? Is he insisting that Wenger persevere with Walcott?
    Surely he is just a big sports businessman, looking for profit, who saw that Arsenal were a good investment and has delegated the running of the club to those he thinks are capable.
    Our problems are that, as a team and a squad, we aren’t top quality. I simply don’t see how Kroenke had anything to do with the Hull debacle or the Barca loss. Ok, I see that if you draw a line from the owner to the manager you could say that he should demand more of Wenger. I get that. But day to day, it has to be down to Arsene’s decisions which are his alone. We know that because he often makes it quite clear.
    Wenger has built a good team, but it’s unfortunately not good enough. Shame is, it could have been.

  336. rico says:

    I think any new manager will demand a transfer kitty with his contract…

    But I have to agree, only when Wenger leaves will we see who has been at the root of the lack of spending…. And I actually think that will be soon….

  337. Lee says:

    The epitome for me was Flamini coming on for Coquelin in the Champion’s League game v Barcelona, no top manager would have him in their squad whilst £200m is sat in the bank!

    What about competing with all the top European teams after we move to the Emirates??

    Wenger is a fucking embarrassment…

  338. rico says:

    Morning Adam.

    ‘Surely he is just a big sports businessman, looking for profit, who saw that Arsenal were a good investment and has delegated the running of the club to those he thinks are capable’.

    There lies the problem for me. He’s delegated but who he believed to be capable, clearly aren’t so what has he done about it? Nothing…

  341. Lee says:

    Scott there’s £200m in the bank, who chose not to spend any of it?

    Who said if the board gave you £100m to buy a player what would you do? Give it straight back to them!!

    He is more of a problem than Stan.

  347. Marshall says:

    It is Wenger who refuses to add quality in the team saying there are no top top quality available… Ain’t he the one who counted on Welbeck concealing he just had a surgery. Stan may be complacent but wenger is the rot. It’s a shame the board let him do it- well he built them that piece of steel at the grove.

    Has AW wanted to change and asked the board to back him and they didn’t? If Wenger asked for funds wouldn’t the board give it to him? Everytime he always returns the kitty for the ‘future. Say all you want but wenger is the origin of the rot.

    Suarez bid was an indication of how we are not serious. If Wenger wanted him he’d have got him at all costs. It’s AW who stuck with Diaby. Gave TR, an AC milan reject called flamini contracts when they are done. Jack isn’t doing us good always injured. Papers over cracks. It’s all Wenger. He points the club to a certain direction. Too bad he’s pointing us downwards

  348. scottfromoz says:

    How many are we lumbered with?
    How many do Liverpool, Utd, Chelsea and Citeh have that are even worse?
    If our players are so shit, Arsene must be a genius to have us in contention.

  351. Lee says:

    Supporter of Arsenal for over 40yrs just fucking bored of Wenger making the same mistakes year after year and people still don’t think he’s the problem…..

    That’s the fucking joke.

  353. Lee says:

    Scott you don’t think we are lumbered with several sub-standard players?

    The PL is the worst in years and we are labouring, oh and Wenger is a genius too… lol

  354. Adam says:

    Is it the Glazers fault that LVG has done rather poorly? Did Chelsea fans call for Roman to leave when Mourinho went nuts? Do Spurs fans blame their Bahaman-based tax-exile sugar daddy owner for their chronic lack of success?
    Surely the truth is that we all have affection for Wenger because of what he has done for the club. We know him to be a decent man and we look around for someone to blame. Someone ‘else’ to blame.
    But Wenger is still doing great things, like persisting with bringing Bellerin to the club, signing Alexis and Ozil. But, he has made mistakes too for sure. Can he turn it round at 67 years of age?
    I have noticed that he has started to blame the team much more in press conferences where he always used to accept the blame.

  355. Kel says:

    Morning all.

    Stan is a twat we all agree on that and he’s happy with top 4 imo but in fairness to him from what I can see he does leave wenger alone to operate and run his own team within a budget.

    I’ve no idea what that budget is but I’d say a conservative 60m per season is available to spend.

    This is were wenger is to blame imo the man lacks ambition and just refuses to use the resources the club have available, I except Stan can change this at any minute but considering he knows fuck all about football he leaves it in the hands of the manager.

    Spending guarantees nothing some say and that’s fair enough, but refusing to spend while your rivals do is just fucking stupid imo I wonder what the sponsors think of it puma, Emirates etc. I would say they are slightly disappointed maybe this is were stans hand might be forced.

  356. Lee says:

    “It is Wenger who refuses to add quality in the team saying there are no top top quality available”

    This.

    You sure it’s not Stan? That seems to be the general consensus….

  357. Marshall says:

    AW has fed us too much mediocrity that some of us are content with. Look at the list of clubs that are earning top revenues. No single club on the top 8 is content with just being top 4. They don’t scrupper for £40m+1 bargains. They demand winning their respective titles every year. If we are in that bracket then why are we content with just contending and not winning?

  358. rico says:

    The difference is Roman sacked Mourinho, LvG is heading for the exit door too and the Dippers didn’t waste time getting rid or Rogers.

    What has Kroenke done to change us?

    Nothing but give Wenger another contract….

  359. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Lee…….

    “It is Wenger who refuses to add quality in the team saying there are no top top quality available”

    those are the same words that George Graham used to say in his latter years. “If I find players of better quality than I have here I will surely buy them” We all know what happened and why he bought certain players and not better ones. He gave us Jensen.

  360. Lee says:

    “If you have the money and you find the one player who can make you win and make the difference, no matter how expensive he is, you should do it. But there are not many players in the world who will make a real difference.” said Wenger.

    “My target is to make the players as rich as possible within the financial constraints of the club. My target is not to give them less money. I’m happy to make them rich.” said Wenger.

  361. Adam says:

    As a long-term fan who goes to every home game I was more disappointed with the way we played against Hull than Barca myself. The lack of spirit and desire visible on the pitch was truly shocking to me. Against Barca we were playing one of the greatest teams ever. We did ok but they are a great team and we got done on a couple of details. Against Hull the fringe players, like Chambers and Gibbs etc were appalling. Where was their sense of professional and personal pride? It wasn’t on the pitch.
    Then I hear Arsene say that it is more difficult to get players up for Hull than Barca. I found that a disturbing statement myself as their was an air of resignation about it.

  364. rico says:

    Adam, I know but my point is that Roman wouldn’t allow Mourinho to carry on for 6/7 years of being the same as he was, whereby Kroenke allows Wenger to do so…

    Like I’ve always said, I blame AW for all the stuff on the pitch, but all the time the owner is happy with his lot, we won’t see any change.

  366. Adam says:

    I think Roman was worried they were getting drawn into a relegation fight and heard feedback from the players that things were bad with the manager. Wenger, on the other hand, has never been in that situation and has been broadly successful, given the circumstances and from a purely business point of view. Also, the players seem to love him. I don’t see the two as comparable, especially as Roman has a long history of changing mangers. The culture at Arsenal is opposed to that. I would also imagine that, when IG and SK talk, they are aware of the difficulties that might follow when a big club changes manager. There are plenty of examples.

  368. Kel says:

    I’ll always have respect for wenger even though I’ve called him a few names at times. He was brilliant for Arsenal the way he transformed us was spectacular premier leagues, fa cups, doubles and a new stadium.

    He guided us through some the barron yrs keeping us in the top4 and tbh that was an amazing achievement.

    But now we have come out the other side of all that bigger, stronger and healthier and ready to a have a proper fucking go again all we needed was for him to push us along via the transfer market go get those players he could never afford etc. Use the money the club generate…

    But what’s he go and do….. ignores a whole transfer window and leaves Arsenal the only club to not sign an outfield player which just frustrated and irritated most of the fans.

    I wouldn’t care if he failed, disappointed yes but at least we could say we tried.

  369. rico says:

    But again, Roman saw the problems and acted. Maybe Kroenke doesn’t see a problem as we all do so he feels he has no reason to intervene. After all, CL money each year, an FA Cup for the last two – so better the devil he knows…

    Which is probably why I expect nothing different all the time Kroenke allows Wenger to continue…

    New post up now….

  370. tsgh says:

    Good morning all,

    Interesting debates as always.

    One point probably over looked is player wages.

    Loads of folks bring up the wages AW waste on ineffective players, however it has been proven time and time again by several research that has been conducted that club expenditure on players wage bill is a direct reflection on where they finish in their respective championship at least for the top 6 positions.

    Once in awhile a Montpellier or Leicester might break the trend but in the last 5 years across the 5 top european leagues comparing wages only Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolfsburg, BVB, Seville,OM, Montpellier, Roma have over acheived in their respective leagues.

    The reason Stan being financially savvy believes AW is one of teh best in te business and the top accountancy businesses all agree.

    So in the EPL we have the 4th highest wage bill behind chelsea, city and yanited. chelsea’s wage bill is £40m above ours and ours is about £40m above the chavs. tottenham have the 5th highest wage bill and finish 5th or 6th on average….

    So chelsea finish 7 to 13 points above us in the league and we finish 2 to 10points above the spuds on average…

    The moral of my point is on paper AW is over acheiving with this team; fans expectations is another story.

  371. allezkev says:

    Man Ure currently have 14 players injured.

    Newcastle have 12 out, Liverpool have 8 out…

    Arsenal have 4…

    I blame Fiszman and Hill-Wood and I always will…

    They got rid of Dein and it’s been ever thus, since…

    Dein would have got the Suarez deal done.

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