Daily Bits and Bobs

This is when Arsene Wenger is at his best….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Another three points are desperately needed this afternoon against a Sunderland side fighting for Premier League survival. Back in December, we beat them at The Emirates 3-1, a scoreline which didn’t really reflect the performance. We’d been through a tough November, one in which injuries hit us and results took a dive so any win was welcome back then and with the three points, we went into second place. The Premier League title looked a real possibility back then as it did for a while but we all know what followed…

The home match was so typical of this Arsenal side, but that day, Ollie, Campbell and Ramsey managed to find the back of the net and Petr Cech was in fine form.

Sunderland threaten early in the game when Borini beat the offside trap, raced down on the Arsenal goal but his shot was bread and butter for the big man in goal. Ramsey shot from distance by wide and then Watmore and Borini spurned chances.

Arsenal grew into the game and when Ozil supplied an inch-perfect pass into the feet of Campbell, the Costa Rican finished smartly passed Pantilimon. 1-0 up but then right on half-time, Ollie hashed a defensive clearance and 1-1 it was….

Sunderland nearly took the lead through Fletcher and only a super save by Cech saw the ball turned around the post. From the following corner Cech made another fine save preventing Fletcher from finding the back of the net.

Ramsey set up Ollie and the Frenchman made amends for his earlier gaff by making it 2-1.

Arsenal stepped it up a bit. Walcott came off of the bench to curl a shot wide, Ollie saw one blocked and then up the other end, Watmore fluffed his lines in front of goal, as did Patrick van Aanholt who fired high just before 90 mins and with five extra minutes signalled, Ramsey was guilty of missing a great chance to make the result safe but he put that right just a minute or so later by making it 3-1..

Funny enough, Arsenal played Sunderland again just a couple of months later, this time in the FA Cup and again the scoreline was 3-1 and again, Campbell, Giroud and Ramsey scored the goals in a match where both managers made a few changes.

Today will be a tough one, I’m pretty sure of that as Sunderland are in front of their own fans, all of whom will be right behind the home team as they scrap for Premier League survival and Big Sam’s defence have not conceded a goal in their last two fixtures.

But if Arsene Wenger wants to secure Champions League football next season, then maximum points today is a must. We don’t often lose to Sunderland but that means very little as who knows what frame of mind this team will turn up in but with so much at stake, the likelihood is that the manager will have them up for this one….

He so often does when a Champions League place is under threat…..

rico

172 thoughts on “This is when Arsene Wenger is at his best….”

  1. Kel says:

    Nice post rico. ..

    Definitely a tough physical battle today no doubt. We owe the Geordies a favour for holding city to a draw.

    Hopefully 2-1 to the good guys. 🙂

  2. malaga gooner says:

    good post Rico, you just keep them coming. well done

    it baffles me how wenger can motivate the team for CL qualification, but cant for a title push.

    the last time we won the league we had george graham players in the squad, they had fight and power

    says it all

  3. Marinello says:

    Good post Rico.
    3 points are a must today. Both teams need the victory, so let’s see who turns up. It will be physical, and Alardyce will set his stall out to frustrate and catch Arsenal on the break. Wenger needs to have got his players ready to go from the off. No silly mistakes, and defend as a team when Sunderland have the ball. All very simple, let’s see….
    Would like to see Watford get to the final, their coach plays to their strengths and as a team have done well this season. Still cannot believe that it’s not us their today. Well I can, looking back on some of the inconsistent performances this season.
    I fancy a 1-3 victory today for us.

  6. dublingunner says:

    Morning, Id love to still care what way our last few games go but I just don,t.
    In reality nobody cares about 2nd,3rd,4th,5th.
    still good to see the Time For Change movement organising a protest for an upcoming Match, Announcement to be made soon, most probably the Norwich game.

    He needs to know the fans are hurt and will not tolerate another season like the it.
    12 years to the day Monday, that we won the league at WHL,seems like a life time ago, has to stop,

    boring i know, but there you go.

  8. Marinello says:

    If only Danny Welbeck could score more goals. He certainly puts in a shift and gives 100%, but more goals are required.

  13. Iceman says:

    Sky Sports have just shown our away game at Sunderland in 2006. They were done for and we were ‘trying’ to win the league. Fast forward 10 years and not much has changed, apart from the fact that our players are not as good.

  14. dublingunner says:

    Do we,Rico? The board do.
    I can do without for a season. nothing will change on the board until things change on the pitch..
    We’re so used to not having a change that we can’t accept change no matter how badly we need it.

  17. rico says:

    Thanks Andrew. I reckon we’ll see a few signings in the summer which would make a change, but as far as the football goes, more of the same maybe if AW stays….

  19. Micko says:

    How do Malaga, I need something to cling onto, I used to get by on my good looks but they withered away a long time ago.
    C’mon Arsenal.

  33. Micko says:

    We look great till we reach their penalty box, highest possession stats in the league, just need to kill teams off, if only we could score like we pass !

  42. Bob John says:

    Its about time this handball nonsence was cleared up. In my opinion played football all my life if the player can do nothing to stop the ball hitting his hand then its not a penalty

  83. Lee says:

    Hopefully another nail in Wenger’s coffin….fucking inept and clueless, just like dear old Arsene!!!

    I blame Micko!!

  84. Adam says:

    Terribly disappointing. Too many poor performances. Where is the future under Wenger – unless it’s more of the same?

  85. andrewh1313 says:

    Yep, assuming we lose at City (playing like this I can’t see anything else, we are in big fdanger of fourth. How on earth did it get to this considering we were two points behind Leicester? We needed a shake up, exciting signing in Jan to liven whole club and fans up, signs were there, but knowitall knew better.

  86. tsgh says:

    Our pensioners can even do better than these over-paid bunch…

    It doesnt help when AW sulks off after the game like a spoilt brat. lol

  87. Kel says:

    2 wins and a draw in the last 3 games should give us 4th… but can this team get a point at city I doubt it. . Can they even beat Norwich and villa ffs..

    3 more games to navigate and hopefully the last 3 of wenger.

    I’m off to the bar, have a good day guys. ..

    Come on Leicester.

  89. Micko says:

    Kel, think we’ll have enough, don’t we always manage to some-how fall over the line, only it’s not like we need to give Utd any encouragement.

    Lee, it not me, it’s the others lol.

  91. goonster says:

    I guess kroenke was on the sidelines today fiddling with his ass while we played out a boring 0.0 scoreline. I guess he played that twat Ramsey too. I bet he even kept welbeck on the bench in favor of giroud. Kroenke is the main problem at arsenal yet he’s thousands of miles away. Lol akb logic.

  92. goonster says:

    Howdy micko am loving the end of the season. Makes me smile each time folks go on about kroenke being the reason for our down turn. Oh well atleast leceister is 1 up. Good times 😀

  94. malaga gooner says:

    HA, im nor surprised, we coudln’t even beat a bottom 3 side with our 150 million wage bill a year.

    wenger should not be allowed to manage the club next season.

    its criminal

  101. malaga gooner says:

    all that maters now is that the scum dont win the league

    thats all this season is worth to me

    i hate wenger with a passion and he has brought all this on himself

  102. potter says:

    It’s both Goonie, Kroenke sets the agenda and Wenger does just enough. Watching Leicester we have better players but they have more motivation.

  103. goonster says:

    Maam he won’t sack wenger. He’s comfortable with the senile old twat but that’s not an excuse. Play for player I don’t think that spuds team is better than what we have. Bar Harry kane we best them in almost every department. Now the question arises why are we in 3rd battling to keep our top 4 charade going while they are in a whiff away from wining the league!!! Is that kroenke’s fault???

  104. malaga gooner says:

    potter kroenke has sanctioned over 150 million a year in wages, so who’s at fault for giving players like walcott 140k a week

  108. goonster says:

    Am sorry Potter but the leceister team winning this league is miles behind in quality to what we have in that Arsenal team. Yet with drinkwater and a villa cast away in Albrighton Ranieri ll win the league. How’s that kroenke’s problem? Does kroenke pick the team? Is he on the dugout? Is he the one who plays the tippy tippy crab like football we are accustomed to lately?? In 2 years kroenke gave us ozil and Sanchez. Brought in cech yet we are no wear near wining the league. Can we all just stop this? It’s becoming embarrassing. Kroenke this kroenke that. God in heaven. It’s cringe worthy.

  110. potter says:

    That’s another question. I remember Winterburn saying that Wenger agreed to deal and that Dein sorted the deal. If it works the same now it questions Gazidis ‘ input.

  113. tsgh says:

    This team has passed it sell by date.

    Most teams have a 3 year self-life. A complete overhaul is needed….
    Hi Goonie, I see Vitesse lost to psv

    And bvb smashed Vfb Stut…

  116. malaga gooner says:

    when wenger goes we will see the club challenging for titles.

    we will see money being spent

    it will be a better arsenal

  117. rico says:

    I strongly suspect Aw has a lot to do with the wages Mg, I’m not denying that but Kroenke would surely agree with him…

    Same as when it comes to spending, Wenger would surely have to have spending money approved and transfers sanctioned..l

  119. tsgh says:

    ‘Depressed’ Goonie,
    The odds were against us winning the league but the fact that Aw chose to be reliant on grade c midfielders players just irks me big time…

  120. goonster says:

    Ts that’s actually not the problems. Even if we had gundogan xhaka and koke in the middle we ll still come short. It’s not the players ts. Lord God in heaven it’s wenger. I ll be waiting for his excuses next season. Hey atleast we ll have xhaka then won’t we?? I wait for it 😀

  121. malaga gooner says:

    rico i just dont get it

    no 1 can tell me we only had money to sign cech in the summer.

    rico i dont see how it benefits kroenke to have 200 million in the arsenal bank. the share value has nothing to do with the bank balance, he knows usmanov is willing to buy if he wants to sell

  126. goonster says:

    My only consolation is leceister winning the league. I don’t think I ll want to continue living in a world where the spuds are bpl champs. We won’t hear the end of it ts.

  127. rico says:

    I know that part of it Mg and there’s no defending Wenger at all for me. Not his transfer business nor his team selection, his tactics, subs, the list goes on. But Kroenke is the one man who could change things, but he doesn’t…. That’s why he deserves criticism too…

  128. goonster says:

    Hey Adam 😀 I miss you big guy 😀 man whenever I watch the game on TV I look out for you. Lol how’s Mrs A adam??

  129. tsgh says:

    Agreed Goonie.

    AW cant surely look himself in the mirror. For the tinkerman to win the legue ahead of him is a big big joke on him…..

  130. Adam says:

    Hi Stan. She is well thank you. Hope you guys are too. The season is drawing to a messy, drab and rather boring end for Arsenal.

  131. goonster says:

    We re doing well Adam. Thanks for asking. I just can’t wait to see the end of wenger. I ll take a middle table finish if it ll mean the end of him. He’s washed up adam, finished and found out. I fear for us next season. With pep Conte poch klopp and maureen in the same division. Oh my wait for the blood bath. God help us all.

  135. goonster says:

    Leceister playing like champions. My God. To think this is a team that was almost relegated last season.

  137. goonster says:

    Adam we all can dream mate. It won’t happen. Those old etonians on the board won’t allow it. Plus why would kroenke sell his shares??? Not gonna happen Adam.

  141. goonster says:

    Lol we ll sooner see kev play in the NBA with LeBron James before arsenal ll sell to a middle east consortium. Lol not gonna happen.

  142. Adam says:

    When the price is right, businessmen sell. And you’d only need to buy Kroenke’s holding. The old Etonians are toothless in this respect.

  144. Bob John says:

    Sadly its all about attitude. I said the same about Ramsey and Giroud smiling when thry cock up weeks ago. As a team we actually look like we couldn’t care less. Even when we get bad decisions we just accept it meekly. Wenger dan preach about how much he cares till the cows come home. If he does it certainly doesn’t filter down to the players

  146. goonster says:

    Leceister put 4 pass Swansea and we couldn’t even beat them at the library. Very funny. Kroenke out lol.

  152. scottfromoz says:

    Never thought I’d say this, but I’m done.
    Too many smart arses on here now, and some of you are actually revelling in the fact we are going so poorly.
    How some of you look yourselves in the mirror and believe you’re true fans is beyond me.
    Cheap shots run rampant now, and a few want to make everything personal and it’s shame because you’re dragging this group down to the level of other, shitty groups.
    Thanks for ruining it, and I hope the lack of success continues, so you can keep smiling.
    I wonder how many of you actually even realise you’re doing it.
    Not malice, right?
    Not personal?
    Bullshit.

  153. Lee says:

    Wenger on Friday:“Between Thursday and Sunday and Wednesday and Saturday morning is exactly the same…It’s no problem. In fact… points on average [after three days] are better than after four or five days.

    ”Wenger today:“I think our first half was very good…The second half is always more difficult when you play Sunday-Thursday-Sunday.’

  154. George says:

    Good morning all, disappointing draw but if it wasn’t for Cech we would have lost that game. True there were a few players not really up for it and i have to say i agree with Wenger that fatigue crept in at the end. We have too many players not performing at the moment. Ramsey , Giroud etc…We should have enough to finish above Utd and its 50/50 in terms of finishing above City. Depends what Arsenal turns up. We should scrape unconvincingly past Norwich., lose to City and edge a poor villa side.That might be enough.

    Coincidentally, Wenger has seen this poor run happen at a time he took players in form out of the team to appease the moaners out of form. He dropped Coquelin and Campbell to accomodate Ramsey and Walcott. He plays Giroud instead of Welbeck and kept the bfg out to accomodate Gabriel who was poor. Makes his decision making all the more startling.

    I will be a gooner till i die, and live in hope the spuds crash and i can celebrate us being on top of them again.

  155. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    A bit of confused thinking there from Arsene Brudder.
    Hi George. I make you right.
    As each game passes in a somnambulistic blur of under-achievement and disappointment it seems to me that the players aren’t really up for it. Wenger has lost them, but Arsenal pay well. How do you explain Ramsey’s pathetic contribution or Giroud’s continued time at the club (to name but two sore points)? Look through the team and you will find question marks just about everywhere. It seems pretty obvious to me that something radical has to change. From our poor fitness levels, to our shape, application, attitudes, tactics etc. Bizarre team selection and baffling substitutions. You name it and I say it ain’t good enough.
    How can the man that built the castle dismantle it? He can’t. How can the man who eschews tactics become a tactician at 67 years of age?
    Where is the anticipation and the forward planning? Where is the realism, given our shocking record on injuries?
    Will the man who asks to be judged in May actually respond in any comprehensible way once that judgement is in?
    The really, really crap thing is that I do believe he might be prepared to put himself and the supporters through it all again next season but this time with some new players.
    At this moment I cannot think of many things more negative for Arsenal than that scenario.

  156. Lee says:

    Brudder.

    Shoe horning Ramsey into the team seemed a bizarre decision, also playing Giroud with 1 goal in his last 14 matches……

    Sad times to be a Gooner right now, I just hope Leicester don’t get pipped by that shower of shite down the road!!

  157. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Didn’t watch or listen to the game yesterday, but saw brief highlights on MotD so I gotta disagree with Habib George. ?

    Thought that Arsenal created more than enough chances to win, but our finishing is truely awful.
    In the end Cech had to make a couple of really top saves to salvage a point for us, but we should have had the game won long before that…

    We need City to draw again and then for us not to lose at the Etihad as well…
    Confident that we’ll take six points for Norwich and Villa…

    Amazingly we can finish third but the period between January and this May, this year, has to be the worst run of results that Wenger has returned in this period in his 20 years at the club…

  159. rico says:

    Morning Lee, George, Adam, Kev and all…

    And thanks for your kind words Scott! I think you should look back at some of your own comments, they to have been very personal at times. Especially towards Micko…

  161. rico says:

    Sacrificing Coquelin for Ramsey was odd to say the least but to bring Jack on when we needed a goal was even more bizarre. But no doubt it’s all done so he can prove he’s fit for the Euros….

  163. Adam says:

    Rico. On last night’s final point that I only just saw re the possibility of a buy-out. No real evidence but it just came from reading about a possible Liverpool deal and I realised that Arsenal are ripe too. Also a chat with a Gooner from the city who likes to indulge in this sort of thing and a TV piece about the future ownership of PL clubs.
    But the more I look at the club, its location in London and its infrastructure I think, why not?

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