Match Preview

Three Deals This Week? Defensive Concerns Ahead Of Kick-Off….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Transfer Gossip, mainly from The Daily Star:

Polish media report that Legia Warsaw are demanding a formal meeting to iron out the details of Krystian Bielik’s proposed £2 million transfer to North London. Other reports suggest the player could be on his way to Hamburg as we squabble over a few pounds.
Other newspapers suggest that Arsene Wenger will finally make an offer for Winston Reid this week too….
Finally, Portuguese paper O Jogo report that representatives from Benfica are flying to England to discuss a loan move for Joel Campbell.

Arsene on the defence:

If you look at the evolution of English football, when I arrived here, the back four was English.

But they weren’t only English – they communicated because they had the same culture, the same way to see the game and they were educated together.

Communication is less in the back four than before. It doesn’t mean there aren’t any leaders. But they don’t always speak the same language or have the same way to respond to ­situations.

We also had another defence, which nobody spoke about: Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole. Maybe less physically fantastic, but a top back four.

Is it a regret that I haven’t managed to replicate that? Yes. But we are not that far away. We are getting there.

Getting there? You sure Arsene……

I think it’s fair to say he could have signed Gary Cahill if he really wanted an English centre back but we all know what happened there. But to be honest, listening to any our defenders during an interview, all seem to have mastered the English so I don’t really understand why there would be a language problem between them.

Perhaps Arsene Wenger needs to dig a little deeper into what’s going on with the defensive unit. Unit, yes, that means the midfield too, that seriously needs looking at because get that right and some of the pressure is taken away from the defence.

Stoke City, not a side I particularly like much, head to The Emirates today and no doubt they’ll be thinking we’ll be an easy pushover again. We were awful in the first half of this away fixture just a few weeks ago, absolutely awful.

Mesut Ozil returns to the squad after three months out. Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini and Olivier Giroud all return too. Danny Welbeck remains injured and we are yet to find out whether Arsene Wenger will stand by Wojciech Szczesny or make a bold move and drop him to the bench. He’s done it before but this Stoke side has height and only Szczesny and Martinez can match that.

Stoke’s new signing Philipp Wollscheid joins fit-again trio Victor Moses, Marc Muniesa and Bojan Krkic in the squad but Marc Wilson is a doubt with a knee problem. Mame Diouf is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Head-to-head

  • Stoke have lost on each of their last 12 league and cup trips to Arsenal, six of which have been in the Premier League.
  • The Potters are vying to win a third straight league game in this fixture for the first time since 1951.

Arsenal

  • Defeat at Southampton on New Year’s Day ended their four-match unbeaten Premier League run (W3, D1).
  • Arsenal have lost just one of their last 27 Premier League games at the Emirates (W18, D8) since the opening day of the 2013-14 season.
  • The Gunners have scored in every home league match so far, a feat only matched by Chelsea and Manchester United.
  • Thirty three points after 20 games is Arsenal’s lowest points tally in the league since 1994-95, when they finished 12th.
  • Mesut Ozil’s set-pieces were the source of all three Arsenal goals in their 3-1 win over Stoke at the Emirates last season. It was his home debut for the Gunners.

Well, let’s hope Mesut Ozil’s magic will strike again today, or that of Alexis and Giroud. I hope the return of Ramsey brings more stability to the midfield and whoever gets the nod to play in goal has a corker.

In fact I hope the entire squad when called upon have a corker because we are long overdue a really good performance and I think today we’ll need one to get all three points.

COYRRG’S!

rico

326 thoughts on “Three Deals This Week? Defensive Concerns Ahead Of Kick-Off….”

  1. scottfromoz says:

    Get one top class CB, put him with Kozzer, Gibbs and Debuchy, and yes, we have a back 4 to rival any.
    Keep in mind they’d also need a top DM as the other groups mentioned had.
    I’ve believed for a few years now that our back 4 cop undue criticism as they’re left exposed way too often.
    Yes, that’s Wengers fault, but let’s not get into that, let’s judge the defenders fairly when comparing them to a back 4 with Vieira or the like in front of team.
    Morning all.

  2. rico says:

    Good point Scott..

    Agree re a top class CB alongside Kos, and sure need a DM..

    The Telegraph reckon William Carvalho will be the man… 😉

  3. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning lovelies and uglies (work it out yourself who are the ugly ones 😛 )

    Why not two top CBs??? Why put him alongside Kos??? Why not put pressure on Kos as well??

    Why not have two players for every position instead of flogging the same players every time???

    Good Post Rico. But I believe we have signed a player not when I see him holding the shirt for photos but when he makes his debut. Clive Allen once held a Gunners shirt…..only never to play for us.

  4. snaparse says:

    good read rico i think its safe to say debuchy has been our best defender thus far…will be interesting to see who arsene gets to partner kos….can really say i like carvalho but i cant really say i have watched him enough either……morning scott

  6. scottfromoz says:

    Devil, we only play a back 4……you’re suggesting 5 at the back 🙂
    I’d love to see 2 come in but I’m saying with one we’d have a fantastic back 4 on the pitch.

  8. scottfromoz says:

    Morning Devil by the way, and hi Snap.
    Given the choice, I’d prefer a DM to a CB, but that’s if I had to choose on ever the other.
    Much prefer one of either though.

  10. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Scott…..no not 5. I meant that Kos should not be in the comfy zone. He must have competition as well. So we need a total of 4 quality CBs.

    Snaparse….Imo no he should not keep his place. Ospina should be given the chance. Martinez has been given a chance and he has grabbed it. Granted, he is still in nappies as a keeper and needs to learn more. However I feel that Ospina should be given the chance to play. In that way Ches will not rest easy knowing full well that two quality keepers are there to take his place.

    AW should not buy any other forward minded player this TW and next summer. We are well stocked in that department. However DM we need 2 players and we need 2 CBs more. Keep Arteta for rotation and Coquelin as a squad player, but bid au revoir to Flamini.

  11. Marinello says:

    Good points Scott And Rio. Defending is not only down to the back 4. In the old days one had Vierra and Petit putting in a shift. So a new CB and DM is a minimum requirement I believe in this transfer window.
    Shawcross has stirred up things with his pre match comments, about how much Stoke love beating Arsenal. Arsene should just pin that to the dressing room wall for his pre match chat….
    We need to see a performance today and Stoke’s record away to Arsenal is not that great.
    I would keep Szesny on the bench today. Mertersacker will just have to put more effort in at set pieces and support Ospina when needed. If we Stop the supply of the high balls into the box and get the ball into the last 3rd quicker, we can come away with the 3 points today.

  12. Wavy says:

    Morning. Bright and not so breezy here. A nice day for a game of football!
    Early ko today, I wonder if our team will all be awake at 1.30? Let’s hope so.
    Wenger’s diary wk beginning 11.1.15
    Things to do: buy a new CD look for a DM, only looking though, I prefer to do it my way.
    Re-read the Busby Way, a book of coaching tips for young managers. Chapter 4 How to out score your opponents. Chap 5 no need for defenders.
    Write my own coaching manual entitled, you can’t teach me anything, I’ve been at it for 30 years.
    This will be a follow up to, My life in football, the successful years!
    And to conclude my trilogy:
    How to increase your salary to £8m win nothing, but claim the others are all cheating! Sub titled The Rose Tinted Years!

    I’ll believe any signings when I see the new boy on the pitch, playing football…..for us
    ,
    Don’t hold your breath anybody.

  13. Wavy says:

    Oh I forgot to add to the Diary entries for this week:
    At training ground and before all matches, in future do a breath check on all players to see who has been smoking. And confiscate any packets of Dique Bleu. (Very partial to the French cigarette, even now!) but don’t let on!

  16. Marinello says:

    Very acidic Wavy, but spot on.
    Let’s hope today that the players picked put in a performance mixed with passion grit and skill….. Any news on Diaby or is he well and truly sick noted for ever…

  18. snaparse says:

    in other news psg did their arsenal impression and threw away a 2 goal lead to lose to bastia 4-2….so much for arab money

  19. snaparse says:

    i agree totally dev…wenger needs to make some players believe that they need to work hard for their place especially szcszcny………agree about flamini at this point he has nothing to offer to the team again imo

  20. Lewis says:

    Morning all. We can’t be worse than the last time we met stoke can we?
    I think I hate stoke about the same as the spuds, horrible team, horrible fans, just horrible really.

    Read this earlier, “33 points after 20 games is Arsenal’s lowest points tally in the league since 1994-95 when they finished 12th.”

    We continue to set records for all the wrong reasons, but no one is held accountable. I think I need to buy some rose tinted specs.

  26. Marinello says:

    Lewis: we have a Board who appear to have no hunger for success and just go along with things hoping to finish in the top 4.

  29. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Last I heard about Diaby was that he pulled the triceps of his right hand. He kept smoking in the loo and when he tried to flush them the damned cigarette stubs refused to go down to the drains and he kept pulling the chain down. He pulled a bit hard and felt his right hand triceps go.

    When AW asked him how he managed to get injured in the toilet Diaby mumbled something which was incomprehensible. AW is unsure whether Diaby got injured trying to flush or due to wa****g himself. 😉

  30. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Benfica wants Campbell again
    What do we need? win games!
    I’m witing for the kick off today
    Come on Arsenal!

  31. Lewis says:

    Crazy thing is marinello it wouldn’t take much hunger to kick us on IMO. Forcing the manager To sign players we obviously need before the season starts wouldn’t take Much hunger would it.

  32. Wavy says:

    Miko, ………bummer!!!

    We are happy to finish 4th, mmmmmm. 3rd would be a bonus! Anything better would be nirvana!
    Newcastle’s ambitions then, stay in the EPL, nothing else matters! Oh, apart from making a huge profit for the fat cat!
    So does that mean that we will never be Champions again?
    Does it mean that the vast majority of other EPL clubs will neither go down or win a cup except the occasional FA vase of Milk cup bucket?
    If that is so and only Shitteh and the Chavs plus the bankrupt manure can win the top prize. The league will collapse due to repetition. Repeating the same results year after year after year will just encourage a slide into inertia and disillusion and eventually disenchantment!
    It will lead to the ‘day the football died’!
    Well there’s an optimistic view for a match day!

  33. AndrewH says:

    Afternoon all, team:

    Arsenal XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud. Subs: Szczesny, Bellerin, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Campbell, Walcott

    Stuck mostly with the Hull team, better bench at last!

  34. AndrewH says:

    Actually 4 changes, but resists in throwing Ramsey and Ozil in. Be interesting to see how Ospina does, might be a few crosses!!

  38. Dublingunner says:

    Afternoon all, like your statistics bit in your main post Rico, should make it a regular on Match Day, or maybe you do, I just didn’t notice, as I like my statistics, 6 games without a clean sheet, Not good. I fear for Sanchez today as he will be targeted again and Stoke will feel if they can stop him, It stops our main threat, but that should bring goals from elsewhere. If we can just keep it tight at the back and not do anything” STUPID” We should be ok. ( Famous last words ) eh. Great to see Ozil back. CMON ARSENAL!!!!!!

  42. rico says:

    Just back in the nick of time..

    Bleeding keeper playing well, could be 3-0 up but for him….

    Dublin thanks, I usually include them, saves me thinking about what to write… Lol

  48. Wavy says:

    10 minutes in Debuchy off, broken arm? Needless challenge ball already gone Ref runs away shows no concern wtf?
    Stoke at their absolute best
    Good goal from Kos though.

  54. AndrewH says:

    Well if that’s not ungentlemanly conduct, what is. And a sub used already. Back to eight injured with Gibbs and Chambers now debuchy added.

  56. Dublingunner says:

    great start, lets keep that clean sheet, though, I believe the legends Henry and Pires are at todays game. we,re looking very sharp so far.

  68. agirlagunner says:

    Is Stoke never getting booked?? That shove on Debuchy was completely unnecessary. And he’ll be at the treatment table again for who knows how long?? God, I haaaaate Stoke.

  77. agirlagunner says:

    Boo, BT. No word yet. 🙁 I’ll email them again. I’ll keep on emailing them, until I’m given access. 😉

    Hiya, Dev. Howdy? Long time. 🙂 Completely agree re: ref. What a disgrace!!

  85. AndrewH says:

    So next time we in a tough match, let’s just push their players into hoardings. Players taken off on stretcher, that’s fine you we wont get booked.

  87. scottfromoz says:

    Andrew, it’s not so much what opponents get away with that pisses me off, it’s what our boys get carded for.
    Bloody shirt pulling is a yellow for us yet potential season enders are not even fouls for them.

  90. Dublingunner says:

    Stoke breaking our bones and getting away with it as usual, I still cant understand why Barcalona let this guy leave ?. Ive always said that Wenger has not even come close to replacing a player of Henry,s ilk, but in Sanchez he has come close. What a player.

  91. AndrewH says:

    The shame is that the anger is taking away from amn excellant performance. Shawcross will try and get Giroud to lose it. Should have four. And its Sanchez’s finest 45 minutes in an Arsenal shirt. Let’s hope they don’t crock him, they will try but he’s a fighter and tough.

  92. rico says:

    Just good Ts? I think this is dome of the best football we’ve seen in a while… Shame it’s being ruined by a knob with the whistle….

  96. AndrewH says:

    Exactly Scott. Sligjhtest shirt pull from Chambers is seen with clarity. But not one booking from that half. Absolute joke. Refs sometimes get an offside wrong, but how can you not be spoken to after injuring a player like that? Shawcross block on Giroud, foul anywhere else on pitch. And he’s winding G up every chance.

  99. scottfromoz says:

    Messi didn’t get along with Sanchez……bye bye.
    Also, they lost ten League last season so just had to buy a massive player in Suarez….to save some face.
    I’ve said it for a while Barca have no cash so had to sell Alexis and that other arsewipe to fund the purchase of the biter.

  101. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, I know we can’t blame the officials for our squad and tactics, but I’ll be damned if I sit back while others refuse to accept it as a factor.
    It happens weekly.
    We cop more fouls than most clubs yet play a bloody clean game.
    It defies all logic.

  106. Wavy says:

    Not that it will happen but no card means that the incident reviewed and subsequent action can be taken if deemed necessary!
    And I should add there is no way Tharp the ref saw it he was not even looking!!
    We’ll see.

    Good game though 2 excellent goals…….so far!

  117. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The worst thing the team will do is to take off their foot from the gas. They should hit them with 3 or 4 more. Relentless. Ruthless. Destructive.

    As a coach I had spanking teams and being spanked. However, certain teams deserve being destroyed.

  120. allezkev says:

    Come On You Gunners…

    Stick to those dirty, filthy, rugby cnuts…

    Three more Arsenal goals if you please…

  126. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Coquelin will stay there I think. He is growing in the role. Flamini will not get more chances with the way Le Coq is playing. And Arteta will find his time limited.

    Especially if AW buys another DM.

  132. tsgh says:

    Imo, even Denilson will look decent with La Mozart playing as the box to box player next to a DM…

    His positioning is below par for a 23/24 y.o midfielder.. He is being covered a lot by Sc19 and TR07 tactically…

  135. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, credit where’s it due……he’s going well, and most importantly, is defensive minded.
    Keep in mind he’s barely played at this level so is open to a lot of improvement.
    We still need another DM though, I know that.

  139. tsgh says:

    The top DM in Europe try to block the opposing centre forward who tries to rush his team mate (centre back) when they have the ball… Flamini and L Coq dont do that.
    Schnerderlein and Matic do that all the time against teams like ensuring that we can’t hurry the footballs from playing the ball from the back.

    Likewise a top number 10 should be rushing the opposing DM or CB’s when they have the ball; all top teams do that when we play against them that is why they all place a player next to Arteta or who ever is playing in DM…

  145. tsgh says:

    ha ha Agag…

    Scott- last week he was shite… he is doing verywell today but my view is that he is being covered tactically today.

    He can’t play this well with someone like JW playing next to him imo…

    The same way he played well against the Scums when Song and Ramsey played box to box with him…

  150. tsgh says:

    I agree Scott.. every player needs games but I was watching him last season and commenting almost every weekend on here on his performance whilst he was at Freisburg and he was shite.

    He is another decent option to have against mediocre teams imo..

    Le Coq was then played as a LW and RB; the position he has played whenever he has been on loan…

  155. agirlagunner says:

    No, rico. We need a bit of height. ANd weren’ tyou impressed by how how squared up to that thug Shawcross. It was really rather pointless, to be sure, but funnyish.

  159. allezkev says:

    Typical, great opportunity to really stuff these rugby wankers and we ease up…

    Should be burying this mob.

  160. rico says:

    Just teasing you Agag, I actually thought Ollie was going to lose it again…. AW should send on flamini now just to go and batter shawcross. it’d be worth a red!

  171. tsgh says:

    Scott, dont try to get me in trouble with the JW police.. 🙂
    imo Le Coq will always look promising because he is better on the ball than most defensive minded players; BUT we have to wonder why a player who has been at Arsenal for so long has struggled to even make it fully into the Les Bleus u-21 team at least when he qualified…

    Even when M’villa was suspended Le Coq did not get much loving…

    At Freisburg he was good and reckless as he has always been… but same as he was when he went on loan to Kosser’s old eam on laon the coach said he was not a DM…

  174. allezkev says:

    Rico, bollocks to conserving energy, with a due respect… 😉

    We should be humiliating these scumbags.

    7 days before we plays again, plenty of time to recover…

    Should have been 5-0 minimum…

    As BT said, no killer instinct…

    Chelsea 6-0
    Mancs 8-2

    That’s the way to do it, and they did it to us…

    Fcuking soft, that’s why were pants in the big games..,,

  175. Joe says:

    Hello everyone good performance and result to day let’s hope we keep it up having injured players back will help.
    Off to read the comment section to see how much love the was for the ref 🙂

  176. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, he was very disciplined today…..I’m just saying he has the capacity to do it, but needs to it every game now….no excuses.
    You know I love Jack I’ve always been with you…..we just don’t play as well when he’s on the pitch, and that’s a fact.

  177. rico says:

    Scott, solid yes, but me personally would prefer someone who is stronger on the ball and has more of an impact on the game. Too much was getting through in the last twenty mins…

    But, I do think he’s slightly better than Flamini…

    Pleased for Ospina, hope he keeps his place….

  179. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, we may be stuck with him though…just saying 🙂 🙂 🙂
    He’s more than Adequate, but I do agree we should get an even better one.
    I am going now…promise.

  180. rico says:

    Really impressed with Bellerin today, to come off the bench and perform like that was superb.. Did someone once say he couldn’t defend? Well today he made a good few crucial tackles in key areas Imo. Really good game..

    I recall saying after his first game that perhaps he is the reason Jenks went out on loan and not Chambers and out of the two, it’s Bellerin all day long for me….

    Leave Chambers to master breing a CB.

  182. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, he did well today. if he keeps his place against City, it will gave a better indication of where he is, imo,,,,

  184. snaparse says:

    good win and a very good performance rosicky really is good…….his football intelligence is what really sets him apart imo…..nice to see ozil almost forgot we had him lol

  185. Joe says:

    Barcelona sold us Sanchez they needed the cash for Suarez needed to make space for another foreign players also new shirt sales.
    See I told you Stephen Ireland would play at the emirate’s And he had stokes best chance.

  187. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Nice score. Finnaly, no goals on our goal ,nobody went be sent off and no yellow cards.
    TW was away for his normal performance. Bellerin and Monreal very good today.
    ahead of totts 🙂

  188. Dublingunner says:

    No complaint from me today on the performance, The question is, can we replicate it next week against, one of “the top teams”, mmmm.

  189. Joe says:

    Got to love Allen Smith Stoke are not as combative as they use to be.
    At this stage 1 Arsenal taken of with a dislocate shoulder and a 2nd needs staples in a cut over his eye.
    Don’t you just love the media

  192. Joaquim Moreira says:

    We sold Vermaelen to Barcelona too… and he still injury. If he stayed at Arsenal we have, Diaby and Vermaelen,a long time injury… at least.

  197. agirlagunner says:

    You got it, BT. 😳

    Hiya, Joe. 🙂 Haha, on Ireleand. 😉

    Kev, I wish we had scored more, but I shan’t complain about that performance. 😉 Should set us up nicely v. Citeh.

  201. allezkev says:

    Agag 🙂
    I’m just greedy.
    As BT said, when we get a team going, we should destroy them.
    But rarely do…
    Don’t think we’ll get anything at City.
    That’s another level Buddy…

  203. AndrewH says:

    It was hard to forecast today’s team and same for next week. At last we have a squad. And still seven injuries. Hope Gibbs Dubuchy back soon.

  207. Adam says:

    Afternoon Rico and Agag. Just back from the match. Perhaps the best we have played, for the duration of a whole match, this season. We were excellent today and the referee was truly and absolutely shocking but no surprise there. How can a man of that size keep up with the pace of today’s game?

  212. rico says:

    Afternoon Adam..

    Bt 🙂 missed the first half as sorting the feathered ones out. Might with now to see just how good Morgan is. We must sign him Imo….

  214. rico says:

    Adam, I thought we were really really good today against a tough and physical side. We outplayed them everywhere and even fatso couldn’t help them in the end, no matter how hard he tried in the first half…

    I wondered if someone had a word in his ear at halftime because he started to show a few cards, not enough though!

  216. rico says:

    Bt, as long as they are free range, no worries. It must be good to know you are eating something which has had a life and not something which has been pumped with water and all sorts of stuff and never seen daylight…..

  217. agirlagunner says:

    Good to hear, Adam. 🙂 🙂 I’m sure you and Mrs Adam enjoyed it. Loved how the home crowd kept on jeering Stoke. 🙂

    I shall try, ginge, it’s past my bedtime.. To watch Koke and Turan, not Creepy Man. 😀

  218. Adam says:

    Rico. That’s just what we thought too as the rotund little sod seemed to wake up to what was going on after the break. I was pleased for the team today as they battled as well as played some excellent football and they kept it up. They were still hunting the ball down, trying to win it and break, late in the game. A good atmosphere too for a change proving just why the team’s performance is so crucial.
    Stoke really are a ghastly team and Crouch was particularly lucky not to be sent off.

  222. rico says:

    Adam, it’s a great shame the Emirates faithful can’t raise their voice as they did today for every home game. The players feed off the fans as much as the fans feed off the players…

  227. rico says:

    Does anyone remember that when folk on here wanted Arsene to sign Forster, others said the SPL was crack 🙂

    He’s a pretty good keeper isn’t he…. Lol

  232. Adam says:

    Rico. You are right but I think it all starts with the team and they have dished up some real crap this year. But I will have a word with the crowd and see if we can step it up a bit. 🙂

  239. rico says:

    Adam, they have but if the fans are in full voice from the off, it might just lift the team.

    After all, it’s deemed to be Wengers fault and not the players, so why not be behind them?

  243. Adam says:

    As I said Rico. It’s a feedback loop and it’s the players that have been dishing up some woeful stuff. Everything on football forums is reactive.

  245. rico says:

    Adam, I get that quite clearly but the fans have the advantage imo, they should be in full swing before ko……

    And yes, forums are reactive, they can’t be anything other…..

  246. Adam says:

    Rico. If they knew they were going to see a proper focused performance then they might. Wenger lost the crowd ages ago. If he is going to get it back then he needs more performances like today. Belief is a great thing and it has been in short supply for a while.
    I can’t agree that forums ‘must’ be reactive. They are plenty of crystal ball gazers who love to predict. I would suggest they they are being predictive.

  247. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House.
    I think we were excellent today the downside the inury to Dabuchy. I wonder if the push will get a mention on MOD tonight.
    Rico I will hold my hands up I said Bellerin needed to improve his defending as this was letting him down. Infact in his last interveiw he did say that was an area he was hoping to improve. After todays performance it looks like that is just what he has done.

  249. rico says:

    Adam, that’s my point really, fans turn up expecting the worst and perhaps the players sense that.

    We always say that the club is bigger and better than any one manager, so why should it matter what fans think of Arsene Wenger before kick off?

    It’s the team, the players who need supporting so why not get right behind them from the off….

  252. Adam says:

    Rick. Bellerin has high potential I think and I agree that his defending is getting better. Looks like he might get a bit of a run after the unfortunate injury to Debuchy.

  253. rico says:

    Evening Rick, I wasn’t have a dig at you honest, nor anyone else. Just thought his tackling today left us with no doubt about any concerns that were once aired…

  255. Adam says:

    Rico. The whole home game experience had fallen into a pattern of stop, go, stop, stop, sideways, back, stop, go etc. the team scored early today and kept the wick turned up for the whole game. Coquelin deserves a mention for his mobility. He has made a difference.

  257. Adam says:

    Rico. That is not what I am saying at all. I said that, after the team score early, recently they go very conservative, very quickly and invite the opposition onto them. Today they produced a positive performance throughout the whole game. I even saw Merts make a forward pass. If the players look disinterested then how can you blame the fans for feeling the same?

  258. Bob John says:

    What a ungracious granny-shagging, spam head even after a transplant, ugly bastard Rooney is! Couldn’t even give Southampton an ounce of credit when they out thought and outplayed the Mancs at Old Toilet!

  262. rico says:

    Adam, We don’t often score that early…. 😉

    I get what you are saying, I just think the fans have a big part to play and perhaps they could do more for the team…

  267. Lee says:

    Tell you what make that fat, shredded wheat Barnet,Jeremy Kyle show , scouse fucktard captain of England!! Fucking mental, he can’t even string a sentence together!

  268. Joe says:

    They might the player might have to push for the move or I don’t think we would get him during this transfer window.

  269. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Night Adam…

    Lee, i’d say no, they’re going well and he is an important part of that, in the summer yes. If he keeps up his performances then it may take more.

  281. Joe says:

    It was friendly warning I’d stay way from asking for a recommendation for a wine you should drink with one as well.

  283. Joe says:

    Was I the only one you thought that we should had got a penalty for the king of the Orc’s ( Shawcross) push on Giroud.

  287. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, meant to ask many times before, is your chook activities for commercial reasons or personal/hobby?

  288. Joe says:

    I just happen to off the drink for Jan I starting to have lurid dreams about the stuff the will be a big blow out on the 1st feb live football and drink.

  298. rico says:

    I’m done guys, off to watch ‘you only live twice’… Again…

    They could do a revised film for Arsene… You only manage as long as you want to…..

    Night all…..

  299. rico says:

    This made me chuckle…..

    Robin van Persie was involved in a tetchy exchange with Phil Dowd over a drop-ball restart midway through the first half and responded by shoving the ball rather angrily into the referee’s midriff. Fortunately for the Dutchman, Dowd has a little extra padding in that department and no harm was done.

    🙂 🙂 🙂

    Gone now….

  305. potter says:

    MOTD2 whitewash again. Totally ignoring the incidents leading to Debuchy’s injury and Monreal getting elbowed by Crouch

  306. allezkev says:

    How did Walcott fluff that chance???

    And AOC should have buried that chance in the first half…

    We’re relying too much on Sanchez.
    The rest of the team need to sharpen up their act re: finishing, pretty damn quick.

    Seems as if our opponents stop Alexis, they stop Arsenal…

    I would say that Sanchez must be worth in excess of £50 million on his present form…

    Kroenke will soon cash in if Alexis has another good season in 2015-16…

  309. Lee says:

    Should of buried those fuckers 7-0!
    Giroud was poor.
    Crouch is a light bulb changing fucktard.
    Outofit or whatever his name is was out of order for the shove on Debuchy.

  315. scottfromoz says:

    Hi Rico,
    You know how plenty think we go all put in attack v top 4 opponents, and leave ourselves exposed?
    I reckon it could be the opposite.
    We don’t attack them often enough or fast enough to put the pressure on them.
    Also, forget all the hype suddenly on the kid, but Coquelin at least has the speed to get back when required, unlike our other two DM’s.
    Let’s take Citeh on!
    What have we got to lose?

  318. rico says:

    Hi Scott.

    You may have a point, I think we sit back early on whereas when e come out of the blocks quickly, it seems to work much better..

    Just hope everyone who played yesterday starts again and can put in the same kind of performance…

    We can beat City if they do…

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