We did it back then, let's do it today – White Towel or Boxing Gloves??

Come 5pm UK time today we’ll know the answer. Will the players who turn out today find some grit and fight inside them and show they want to win the Premier League or will they turn up because they have too and throw the towel in from the off?

We’ll know soon enough and like every other Arsenal fan, I really hope it’s not the latter.

Remember 2003/04 – We had been knocked out of the FA Cup by the Mancs and then knocked out of the Champions League by the Chavs, all within days of each other. Everyone said we were done for, gone, finished and down on our knees!

Our league game that followed such disasters was a home fixture against Liverpool. We were yet to be beaten that season but at half time we trailed 2-1 and all looked gloomy.

Arsene Wenger worked some magic that day during half time, the team came out and showed what they were made of. Robert Pires soon bought the scores level, Henry scored a goal that most strikers can only ever dream of scoring and we won 4-2.

So when everyone thought we were finished, we shoved it right back at them didn’t we? We went the rest of the season unbeaten and won the Premier League.

Wenger has reflected on that day too:

I must say at half-time in the dressing room against Liverpool that day I felt that the team was really on their knees, they needed an ‘alert’ speech to get back and, on the day, Thierry Henry made a massive difference in the second half. Liverpool then accepted that we were superior but it was not an easy situation.

The team at the moment needs a mental toughness too and to support each other.

We are not in a disastrous situation. We are in a position where we have to be attracted by what we can achieve. We are not fighting against going down, we are fighting to win the title. So we do not want to feel sorry for ourselves; just go for it.

We may not have a Robert Pires or Thierry Henry today to change a game but we should be able to find one thing that side found when all seemed down, and out and that’s fighting spirit. To be fair, we shouldn’t need an Henry or Pires today either we are playing a side fighting for survival in this league. If this squad is as good as Wenger keeps telling us it is, we should win regardless as long as the focus is there! We keep saying it but it is about time the finge players stood up and earned a wage.

As Wenger says, we are fighting to win the league and to do that we must get three points today.

Play with pride and play with passion, that’s all we fans ask…… Oh, and win of course!!

Wenger worked some magic back in 2004, he needs to work it today too…..

Have a good day all…..

358 thoughts on “We did it back then, let's do it today – White Towel or Boxing Gloves??

  1. davegooner says:

    “Wenger worked some magic back in 2004, he needs to work it today too…..”

    Wenger didn’t do s**t!!! The leaders in the team lifted the players. Arsene Wenger is incapable of motivating this crop of mediocre players, which he assembled, to achieve anything significant. He must leave as my football club will not win a major trophy under his stewardship!!!

  2. K-TR7 says:

    Why is ‘arry bigging us up so much?we are crap and such praise in addition to wenger’s ‘mental strength’ crap isn’t helping.by 5pm it will be lights out in the PL.

  3. rico says:

    Hi dave, thats not quite how the players said it at the time if i recall right – they said he gave one heck of a h/t rant….

  4. rico says:

    we won’t be out of it Erick should we not win today but i think we will get the result to be fair, we owe them for earier in the season…

    KT – Arry is right, on paper we are in the strongest position in the league to push on and win, if we can get a result today and then get theo, cesc and song back after the break we have a good chance.

  5. Erick says:

    Dave lets save that for the end of the season,I respect your opinion and feel let down by Aw but lets stand by them until the last whistle

  6. K-TR7 says:

    No chance rico.i’ll not let my spirits get crushed by this team again.i hope am wrong but i don’t think i’ll even watch our game today.i may even miss the other 9 PL games.im only looking forward to the CL and maybe some la liga.

  7. K-TR7 says:

    AA was also dumbfounded as to why he didn’t start at the Camp nou and his substitution in the CC final.that must have been hard to take as he was playing very well.he has also said he is f*cked up mentally.i wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave.

  8. Osi says:

    Hi K-TR7. Can you check the veracity of this statement by Paolo Bandini of The Guardian :

    “This despite the fact that said fans have experienced falling returns on their emotional investment: Arsenal’s present tally of 57 points after 28 games this year represents a year-on-year decline of 1.7%.”

    I thought our points tally this season is better than this stage last season.

    Anyone knowing bout it?

  9. Steve Palmer says:

    Morning all,
    i was talking to a freind the other night, and he passed a comment about our injured player Vermaelen, he mentioned that he has played very few games this season, and has been paid about £30,000 a week, he said do yo know he’s had such a bad year that he can only afford to buy 8 £200,000 houses.
    makes you think dosn’t it. must be tough!

  10. Osi says:

    If we were on 57 points after 28 games, then how come we ended with only 75 points? That means we got only 18 points from the remaining ten games.

  11. JonJon says:

    we collapsed at the end of last year..
    we only won 2 games in the last 5
    or was it one??
    anyway it was relegation form..

    im not expecting anything..
    too many injuries..
    a wins a bonus

  12. rico says:

    Spot on Erick, no time for dropping points…

    KT, thats sad to hear that from an Arsenal fan, i expect little but will support them through thick and thin….

  13. rico says:

    morning Osi, we won’t miss Diaby I’m sure and Denilson plays better without him in the side, not that that is difficult really…

  14. rico says:

    Morning Steve, frightening isn’t it, wonder how many houses Rosicky could have bought during his injured time… 😉

  15. K-TR7 says:

    Jack is saying we’ll treat the final 10 games like cup finals…oh dear,please don’t!given our record in cup finals we won’t even finish in the top 4.

  16. rico says:

    Come on Guys, we are fielding a side with Sagna, Robin, Jack, Clichy, Nasri, Kos, AA and a few others in, this isn’t any old rubbish side just yet….

    And, Mad Jens has given them all a wake up call….

  17. K-TR7 says:

    Rico i have always tried to be optimistic but now the sitiuation has got to me.i can’t bear to watch us self-destruct again.its too damn painful.i really hope am wrong and wish the team the best of luck.

  18. Osi says:

    Diaby is a talented player but he’s also happen to be the laziest ambition-less person you’ll ever see, Or may something is wrong with him.

    I hope we don’t kolapse like last season K-TR7 coz we have VP this year.

  19. Will says:

    Morning guys.

    Well, we have Cesc, Song and Theo out but it’s not all bad news, we have Nik B back….Oh wait……

    Until there is someone at the club who has the ability to tell Wenger that many of his “babies” are simply not good enough, we will not win anything.

    As for the 2004 game. We had self motivated players who wanted to win things. Not financially motivated players who think being at Arsenal is the pinnacle of their career and £50k a week is their trophy.

  20. K-TR7 says:

    The same side that got beat by 7 defenders last week?talent isn’t an issue rico but the attitude is.a win will be a bonus today.

  21. Joaquim Moreira says:

    The talk in the dressing room is very simple: start now able to stay forever linked to the History of this Club and to your personal success. We are all reminded in the future for the 1st title that we bring to this stadium. We have 10 games to show what we are worth, we are superior to everything and give joy to all who support us and are fond of titles. Let’s do this!

  22. Osi says:

    Rico you right Denilson may play better another hardworking partner in midfield, but his form this year has been awful and contributed nothing to the team. Diaby also has a ‘nothing’ contribution, but I give him the benefit of the doubt coz he’s been out injured for most of the season, and as we know injuries can disrupt your form.

  23. K-TR7 says:

    JJ rvp was electric in those 20 minutes.if it wasn’t for Gomez he would’ve bagged a hattrick that day.

  24. Osi says:

    K-TR7 don’t be like these soundbits chasers, of course he was there, but he was back from a long layoff and as I remembered was rushed back to play against Spurs. But this year’s different; he’s in great form and well motivated. He’ll have also more mature players like Nasri, Theo, Fab who also missed the last few games of the last season. So we won’t collapse like we did last season.

  25. Osi says:

    Why are our fans getting excited about Lansbury;s getting back and making difference, where in reality he’s not as talented as Diaby, Ramsey and others. Making few games in the Championship is nothing like playing against a premier-league team parking the bus about 90 minutes. I don’t think that guy has anything especial, except his englishness, to make think he’ll make a difference for us.

  26. Will says:

    I like your style JM, you need to write Wenger’s speeches.

    Time to start Nasri/Jack and Rambo in the centre.

  27. JonJon says:

    lansburys got loads of talent
    not as much as diaby but he runs ands runs and runs
    his workrate puts the others to shame and he gets stuck in..as well as capable of making those late runs and scoring goals
    he pisses all over denilson and diaby
    next ray parlour mate

  28. Osi says:

    K-TR7 said:

    “Tick tock osi…time will tell.”

    I’m not sure if we win the thing but I don’t see us collapsing like we did last season. But I wasn’t talking about the collapse anyway when I said ‘soundbite’ I was just making the point that VP wasn’t wholly fit to make any real difference last season.

  29. Steve Palmer says:

    Funny how a team built on youth becomes dependent on a retired goalkeeper, is this the way forward.Dennis and Tony have shown interest

  30. K-TR7 says:

    I will get sick if the first trophy the Emirates will see is the PL after the mancs win it after beating us on our own patch again.

  31. Osi says:

    I think running and hardwork has also its own limitations. At this level you need both hardwork and loads of talent to make real difference. Then don’t forget his still young. I agree that anyone can ‘pisses’ all over the Denilson as you said, but Diaby is different and can really make a difference if he’s up to it. I think with other younger players like Wilsh,Rams getting into the first team he’ll realise that unless he performs to the highest level he’ll be dropped so that’ll serve him as a warning.

  32. Osi says:

    K–TR7 if we fail to beat United on own turf and that we loose the title because of that then surely this bunch of players should be sold in the Summer. I’d be really sick if that happens.

  33. Will says:

    Erick says:
    March 19, 2011 at 11:51 am
    All I want is to make the Mancs sweat for the title..is that much to ask for

    All I want is for our players to show some heart. I don’t care if we lose the next ten games as long as we fight and not just give up like they are doing now.

  34. K-TR7 says:

    Osi it doesn’t matter what happens in the Bolton game;we always fail to capitalise when the mancs slip up.

  35. Osi says:

    Com JonJon be optimistic, Bolton are a real touch team on high this season, whereas Brom is just really struggling at the moment and conceded a lot of goals. I think if Sir Jack and Monsieur Nasri perform well we’ll be touch much for them.

  36. JonJon says:

    lanbury talent+workrate
    diaby talent+no workrate+ always injured
    denilson no talent no workrate wish he was always injured…

    lansbury wins…
    you ever seen him play??
    hopefully you will next season

  37. Erick says:

    Will same here just fight until the end Arsenal. JJ and Osi Even if Diaby is talented than Lans I have seen enough of his talent and to be honest it taking us nowhere give Lans a chance

  38. JonJon says:

    osi they beat us 3-2 at home
    they were 2 nil up before half time
    im not optimistic at all mate ive seen this script too many times and the one thing ive learned from supporting arsenal over the last 30 years is never expect anything cos theyll let u down
    the miracles come when u dont expect them..
    anfield 89
    pl 12 points pulled back from utd 98
    invincibles 04
    fa cup 05

  39. Osi says:

    K-TR7 SAID:

    ” it doesn’t matter what happens in the Bolton game;we always fail to capitalise when the mancs slip up.”

    Totally agree. You know I always moan about media and TV pundits uttering their stereotypes against Arsenal, but that we saying that we usually ‘fail to capitalise’ is spot on. Is the pressure of 6 trophy-less season too much for these young players? Or we assembled the most ambitionless, mentally and physically weakest team in the premiership?

  40. Osi says:

    Talking about failing to capitalise is not about also about getting the points but to score more when you need to improve your goals average, even on that front our team failed miserably to capitalise. How many times I thought ‘we gonna score 5 or 6 goals or something’ after we scored early against a rubbish team and then suddenly our players seem uninterested and we end up like winning one nil.

  41. rico says:

    I am glad i’m not stood on a car park roof thinking…..

    I’d have jumped by now…

    Bolton to get a draw and us to win 🙂

  42. Osi says:

    Guys cheer up, we’re only playing Brom and we have too much fire-power to unlock their shaky defence. Squid et Kos also are better defenders than theirs and can cope with missfiring lads like that Nigerian guy I forget his name, ODe-somthing.

  43. Osi says:

    RICO that’s a realistic prediction. ManU defence is there to be taking. Brom are rubbish and I cannot imagine anything other than a big win. If we fail to win today then I say goodbye to our dream of EP title. Maybe that title is on our, fans, own ‘imagination’ and our players don’t see themselves like winning something.

  44. JonJon says:

    peter odemwhingy..
    hes quick..fast as lightening and with manny in goal you can misfire all game..it will still go in

  45. Osi says:

    JONJON I agree his all that you said but he doesn’t score. He’s a great candidate to ‘BEST GOAL MISSER’ title of PL, trust me.

  46. Steve Palmer says:

    Our season is over, its time to face facts, we are not good enough and thats it, we played the best team in the world and was humiliated, not one shot on goal, reduced to ten men, made no diference 40 mins with ten men but 50 with eleven and still no shots, we have struggled to win easy games, constantly field players we all know are not up for it, we have a history of weak fragile players and a manager that beleives he knows better than anybody else. we are grasping at straws to believe we can win the league, Man u have had the worst team they have had for years and already have beaten us twice, third one to come, Spurs getting further than us in CL. too many changes in important games resulting in a weaker team, we need major change and wont get it, we needed at least one signing at Christmas and never got it, and thats why were where we are,and the only way we will stand any chance in the league is by others misfortune enough said

  47. rico says:

    Thats how i see it going Osi 😉

    I don’t think we will crumble but no-one knows until 5pm but i’m not going to be all doom and gloom while we still have a chance of winning the league – we are asking for the players to pick themselves up, we fans should too imho….

    I bet the travelling arsenal fans get behind their team today…..

  48. Osi says:

    K-TR7 Ode will definitely cause some trouble but he’ll miss most of the goal scoring opportunities. Also I think with this sort of the team, with quick and skillful forwards, we’ll play deep and won’t rely on offside trap, that’ll make Squid better. We won’t need to hold a high line to pressurise them because we have our dangerous forward team to rely on. This a team that doesn’t know how to park the bus so it will be different.

  49. Osi says:

    I think, in faireness to them, our players realised the harsh outcome of their complacency against smaller team earlier in the season and they rectify that somehow this year so far. We could’ve won all our games against lesser sides had it not been for ridiculous and highly biased ref. decisions against Sunderland and Newcastle.

  50. K-TR7 says:

    With JD In the side we have conceded a goal every 337 minutes.squillaci on the other hand has conceded every 72 minutes.

  51. K-TR7 says:

    With JD and kos in defence we have conceded a goal every 405 minutes.with kos and squilli we have conceded every 83 minutes.

  52. Osi says:

    Stats tell something about the ‘truth’ but don’t tell the ‘truth’. While I concede that JD is lot better than Squid I have to consider other circumstances as well. For example JD performances coincided with good our keepers having great performances whereas in SquidTime they were having nightmarish performances. Similarly, the gelling of the defence is another issue. I can continue to argue these stats all night.

  53. Osi says:

    Anyway K-TR7 we need a good performance all around the pitch to win any match, and that hasn’t been the case for us this season. You can get away with playing a poor guy in defence if the others put in a good shift. But, what I don’t like is us put all blame on one single player, because of his known weaknesses, for loosing a game when in reality all of them played shit. All I’m saying is let’s be fair towards our own players and let’s not make excuses for anyone no matter how talented they are. I, for once, believe in the great ability of players like VP, Nas,Fab, but they were all very average in the last few games and I was especially appalled by the performance of Fab and Vp.

  54. Osi says:

    Man Utd v Bolton
    Live text and stats

    Content will update automatically

    Saturday, 19 March 2011

    Barclays Premier League
    Home Team Score Away Team Time
    Man Utd v Bolton 15:00

    MAN UTD
    BOLTON
    Possession

    * Man Utd 50%
    * Bolton 50%

    Attempts on target

    * Man Utd 0
    * Bolton 0

    Attempts off target

    * Man Utd 0
    * Bolton 0

    Corners

    * Man Utd 0
    * Bolton 0

    Fouls

    * Man Utd 0
    * Bolton 0

    Barclays Premier League
    Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 19 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT
    Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

    TEAM NEWS

    Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could be without 10 players, although Jonny Evans and Michael Owen are both fit and available.

    Paul Scholes starts a two-match ban after picking up 10 yellow cards.

    Man Utd miss a lot of players, they will struggle against Bolton me think.

    Suspended: Scholes (two matches) Doubtful: Park (hamstring)

    Injured/unavailable: Anderson, Hargreaves & Lindegaard (all knee), Ferdinand & Vidic (both calf), Fletcher (virus), O’Shea & Rafael (both hamstring)

  55. K-TR7 says:

    Osi i don’t mean to lay it to squillaci but he has cost us several times this season and thats why am pessimistic about him.lets hope that he plays better this time.

  56. Osi says:

    I wish Blackburn, Birmingham and Wolves be relegated so that Premier league be a place for football. I wish Stokes and Sunderland to follow them next season. I had enough of rugby loving bunch of clubs.

  57. Osi says:

    Spuds Fans live on and for the dream to catch up with Arsenal or at least to get as close as possible. So I care.I want them loosing today or draw and stay far behind us. Schadenfreude used to be a trait of Spuds Fans now infected with it as well. LOL.

  58. agirlagunner says:

    Boo! Hello, KT, Weeds, Osi!

    “Play with pride and play with passion, that’s all we fans ask…… Oh, and win of course!!” – nice, rico!

    Let’s do it, boys! Come on you, reds! Our season could yet be saved!

  59. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Will, if I was the coach last season we were figthing the title until the end. AW had make many mistakes again.
    Good start for spuds but they are get tired now :-))
    We must concern ourselves with what remains of the league. Of the five, we are the only team that is just a competition. And the month of April will be decisive. On the other hand, nobody said that the early elimination of the CL, will force us to play (if we have improved …), probably the early heats before we access the group stage

  60. allezkev says:

    Good Afternoon Gooners & Goonerettes. Dear oh dear the doom & gloom on here is terrible, mind you i can understand why.
    Forget Bolton, they’re useless against ManUre+Chavs. We have to focus on our boys today,they have to shake off all those negative vibes that are threatening to destroy what’s left of this season, and to that end i’m glad they’re away from that mausoleum of a stadium we play our home games in.

  61. allezkev says:

    Every game is gonna be a ‘white knuckle’ ride up to the end of the season, but the Mancs haven’t won it yet, & make no mistake, ‘Red Nose’ doesn’t think it’s ‘in the bag’ and it certainly isn’t.
    Wasn’t impressed with Arshavin’s defeatist comments, it’s about time ‘he’ stopped looking for excuses and got his finger out…

  62. agirlagunner says:

    Hey, Weedman. Howdy? Working now? I’m good. Nothing new. I was tempted to give up on our team altogether, but well, I have a chronic case of Arsenalitis…

    Bonjour, allezkev! AA is one of our most talented, to be sure… but I have never completely warmed to him. Moans too much, and won’t get his finger out of his… 😉

  63. allezkev says:

    OUT of his arshavin agag, yep, i know what ya mean….lol. He needs a Jens boot right up his…..posterior…

  64. agirlagunner says:

    Haha, AK. And maybe scram at him to track back!!!

    Sooo happy about Rambo. 🙂 I hope he has a good one!

  65. allezkev says:

    Agag’ i think you expect too much from meerkat… As long as he gets ‘it out’ at the business end, i’ll be happy. And yes, it’s fantastico to have Rambo back, as KT says, JW+AR, a glimpse of the future?

  66. Osi says:

    Allezkev, if we dont win this match i’d sell our squad players in the summer. it’s getting criminal.

  67. allezkev says:

    Rico, it’s just poor poor preparations, poor poor organiation and poor poor coaching. But are we suprised???? Not really.

  68. Osi says:

    when you see Arsenal going down one nil and players look uninterested and shocking tackles on our players getting unpunished it’s a loss for Arsenal.

  69. allezkev says:

    But Osi, it’s not just our squad players who are pathetic, it’s all of them, players, all the players AND coaching staff, none of them are up to standard.

  70. rico says:

    That’ll be that for 45 mins then….

    my stream is a bit naff so can’t really tell if we are giving it a go or not?

  71. Osi says:

    that’s it! we’re playing like nothing really. Arsene needs to make changes at half-time, I don’t think we have to continue like that. Denilson should be off and Chamack on.

  72. rico says:

    We are 1-0 down Will, sloppy defending on a corner allowed a simple head home for brom…

    Rambo had a golden chance but…..

  73. agirlagunner says:

    Not giving it a go, rico. Pass after pointless pass! No creditable attempt at goal except that one by RvP. Shame Rambo panicked, it would have atoned for earlier poor marking and would have been some way to announce his comeback.

  74. allezkev says:

    Amateurish at the back, overelaborate in midfield and punchless up front just about sums up this shower of over-paid ponces in Arsenal shirts, will the do Will?

  75. Joaquim Moreira says:

    so slowly…. what I need for be the next coach ?
    Change the way of playing !!!! 1-0 or 0-1 they play in the some way, whithout hapyness, whithout will, without wallen !

  76. allezkev says:

    My God a change before the 70th minute!!! Wenger must be worried. Well he should be, it’s his useless team

  77. Cpt John says:

    We will never win anything with those clowns in there!!! They are especially retarded!!!! Season over!!!! AGAIN!!!!!

  78. Will says:

    Seriously, I am done. When you have teams like Birmingham beating us in finals and west Brom doing doubles over us. It is time for the players or the manager to move on.

  79. rico says:

    Will, i’m not far off following you….

    Anyone starting to think the chavs are sneaking in to pip everyone in May….

  80. oliver says:

    i’ll do it rico…I cannot fathom how they can turn such a performance in with all that is at stake…

  81. allezkev says:

    To be honest, if this Arsenal team managed to win the EPL, then what does that say about the EPL??? This Arsenal team has to be the most spineless i’ve ever seen. No, IT IS the most spineless! How that stupid stubborn French twat can sit there watching this pile of absolute shite is beyond me.

  82. rico says:

    scrappy kev, robin scrapped to get a toe on a ball 6 yards out, i think it was carson he beat to it and it gently rolled over the line…

  83. rico says:

    All over 2-2…

    But for Almunia…..

    At least they showed some spirit in the end, why they could do that at 0-0 instead of 2-0, i’ll never know….

  84. agirlagunner says:

    Our players should all just go on break now. Get their pre-season rolling. We have, as we half-feared half expected completely, allowed a rubbish keeper and a rubbish defender to hand the Mancs the title.

  85. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Why we only shot outside area at the 92 min of the second half ? Until the end, more two shots outside area!!!!
    Mac won Bolton, 10-11, because Nani have space and try one, two, three, four times… we have chanches to do it and we not shot. With two/three center forwards is one of the best solution because we are in front of the goal and we can react quickly then the backs.

  86. Steve Palmer says:

    Well,from 2.0 to 2.2 and were still in with a chance, i can’t beleive it, Almunia has never disapointed he was always bad and he still is. Arshavens goal quality, and V. Pers goal agonisingly slow to cross the line, 3 center forwards and you couldnt make a good one if you rolled the three together, not a good day for the defence but what do you expect if you buy cheap, its not all over but we need help.

  87. Osi says:

    StevePalmer said:

    “Almunia has never disapointed he was always bad and he still is.” hahaah deadly right. Only Denilson can claim he’s as consistent as him.

  88. Steve Palmer says:

    Your right about Denilson Osi, if i never see him again it will be to soon. I miss Song, at least he goes forward, we had a bit of luck today, no not the result, Diaby with a groin strain must have done it pulling his boots on.

  89. kelsey says:

    Hello.

    Well Almunia will get all the plaudits yet again.that was school boy playground defending or lack of, and squallici cannot be blamed, but he is really a very very average player.

    5 goals conceded in 2 games to WBA.

    Does anyone else thik it won’t happen time and time again in the remaining 9 games.

    What really got to me was the lack of urgency from the start and why of why does nasri always start on the flanks.
    We are lucky that the other contenders have to play each other several times but honestly can’t see us finishing any higher than third at best.

    We have run out of keepers and defenders, and it should never have been like that.

    When did we last put 2 consecutive games together that made us proud and excite and above all lay our mark down as potential champions.

    i could go on, but maybe tomorrow.

  90. agirlagunner says:

    Steve, I’, out of patience with D&D. Just give them away. Let’s cut our losses.

    Hola, kelsey! Almunia must go. Squillaci is good only for cover. And even in such a case, he’s a disaster waiting to happen. Oh, and what happened to your penguin? 😉

  91. kelsey says:

    have you heard wenger’s post match interview, he talks about charater yet again.

    to be fair kos was bought for cover and has done reasonably well this year. no one new vermaelen would be out all season, but djourou has history.
    the keeper situation is embarrassing.
    we have one rule for over 30 year old players and let them go and then he brings in mad jens for cover at the age of 41.
    we are challenging for the premiership not a conference side.
    i have always backed wenger but i really think he is losing it fast and needs some help,someone stronger than pat rice.

    i shudder to think of the defence with kos and squll and almunia in goal for the remainder of the season.

  92. kelsey says:

    bring back david dein, it is more than a coincidence that since he left the squad has lost its experience in depth.

  93. K-TR7 says:

    Denilson’s days must surely be numbered.even Aw can see that.he is getting subbed off early nowadays.

  94. Steve Palmer says:

    I must be the worst Arsenal supporter, i keep looking for positives and want to say somthing good about our team but i may have to wait till next season, as they realy leave me lost for words. But to finish on a high Spurs only drew

  95. rico says:

    The International break has come at the right time for us for a change – get Song, Cesc and Theo back, maybe even Chensey will surprise us and then see what happens…

    Deep down I don’t think we will win the league but until the maths say we can’t, we are in with a slim chance….

  96. JonJon says:

    the only chance we have is if jesus grants us a miracle
    the mancs are going to drop points still but we wont make them up..

  97. JonJon says:

    what kind of title winning team goes through 3 number 1’s in a season and then still ends up with the worst keeper ever to don the shirt for the last 10 games??

  98. K-TR7 says:

    Squilli/kos VS davies/elmander,k.jones/fuller,DJ campbell/harewood and crouch/vdv…mathematically possible but that partnership won’t handle those forwards in those away games.at home we are yet to face caroll/suarez,shrek/chick/berba…

  99. allezkev says:

    KT, i thought you was being pessimistic, i now admit that you was being, realistic. Arsenal, with this team and a deluded manager, have no chance.
    I can’t recall who said we could finish 3rd, but whoever it was, i think you could well be 100% correct.
    Rico, what a diasterous display by the England rugby team, chokers just like Arsenal…

  100. rico says:

    Good on you Steve 🙂

    I’m not trying to say thet I’m happy with today, with the season or otherwise and I am sensible enough to know that we need a ruthless cull in the summer but nothing will change between now and the end of the season and we have what we have…..

    If Wenger can still sit there at the end of the season, having seen us go out of three competitions in a matter of a couple of weeks and still believe we have the right mix in our squad, then I will be stunned!

    In fact by that time, he could well have seen us blow our best chance at winning the league too, surely even he has to wake up… One day…

  101. allezkev says:

    The trouble is Rico, the more wenger is told he is wrong, the more stubborn he seems to behave, so i’m afraid i don’t think too much is going to change this summer, we won’t see the big signings we need, and it’s only two for God’s sake, but he won’t bring in the top players, he’ll just tinker and bullshit his way through the summer window. Hope i’m wrong, but i just can’t see it, with the tossers we have in the Boardroom.

  102. JonJon says:

    ktr
    i do still think that
    but west brom were the bottom of the barrel of the teams we have to play
    and with that gk we will not win 8 games and draw 1
    we needed to win that one

  103. rico says:

    i know kev, he is a stubborn old fool, trouble is, i don’t think any of us truly know what goes on in the boardroom – we all guess, but no-one really knows…..

  104. K-TR7 says:

    I said it earlier today that we won’t win and im sad it turned out that way.we may have to play the barca way by pushing teams to their own half as far as possible from Almunia.we’ll have to start killing teams that way and hope that the opposition forwards don’t have the chance to run at squilli with half the pitch to run into.

  105. Joaquim Moreira says:

    The opponents always play the same way because even if we play with some holders, the way we play is always the same. There are no secrets. play against Sunderland, WBA, Orient … even against players with different characteristics is always the same. Without putting a speed of 15 meters area, with no extremes, no shots on entering the area, progressing in short tables but no speed, just close the roads and the goal, defended well and go to the shock, despatching the ball to the means of the central that there be always a Squillaci that fails, do lack, cut corner, or make own goal. How many goals have already suffered in free, penalties and corners, set pieces or for absences caused by us?

  106. kelsey says:

    it was me who said

    We are lucky that the other contenders have to play each other several times but honestly can’t see us finishing any higher than third at best.

  107. K-TR7 says:

    Rico i know you have one of those big handbags.why don’t you go ask denilson for his autograph then stuff him and put him away somewhere else…am getting tired of seeing him.

  108. allezkev says:

    Just watched Wenger being interviewed on the BBC, and he was blaming, ‘the pitch’… ho hum.

  109. rico says:

    hi kelsey,

    its at its end now hopefully, two more days of meds and then fingers crossed… hits you for six though doesn’t it.

  110. rico says:

    Now that is what narks me about AW, why blame the pitch? Both sides played on it…

    I just wish sometimes he would be honest when we draw/lose…..

  111. OSI says:

    Anyone who thinks ‘we must win our 9 remaining games’ just forget about it. We’re not good enough to win anything when this team is playing like they’re walking. Not urgency, not fight not thinking just walking with the ball towards the opponent’s goal.

  112. OSI says:

    I am feeling hatred towards Almunia that I want to shoot him in the hands, but I think he’s gonna do that to himself.

  113. K-TR7 says:

    Osi i told you so earlier.talent isn’t the problem.look at AA as a prime example;when he actually started to play we scored twice.where was he for 80 odd minutes?

  114. allezkev says:

    Rico, Wenger would probably say he says what he does to deflect attention and criticism away from the team, but we can all see through it, and frankly at times it’s embarrising.

  115. OSI says:

    did you say that K-TR7 you are right. Talent matters but only for those who know how to use it and who persist and work hard. This team is lacking real fighters and lacking luck itself. Two better goalkeepers getting injured at this crucial time. Ridiculous.

  116. K-TR7 says:

    If we win the league denilson shouldn’t get the winners medal.the air hostesses/medal awarders should tell him to f*ck off.in the photoshoot he should stand behind szczesny.Almunia should take that photo as id rather the cameraman be in the photo than him.

  117. OSI says:

    BIG MISS and unlucky, but anyway don’t worry about that game coz he’s talented and will come good for us next season. I feel sorry for Denilson who was a consistent performer last season, but just dispeared this season.

  118. OSI says:

    Real Madrid bought all the good players in the world; Ozil, De Maria, and all the other ones they already had, that’s unbelievable squad.

  119. K-TR7 says:

    Osi özil only cost 15 mil.they bought him despite having kaka and canales.they bought di maria despite having similar players.both were improvements and as a result they are better.AW has to do that this summer.

  120. allezkev says:

    Who was the other German midfielder Real signed, wasn’t AFC linked to him before the World Cup?

  121. W.A.T.H says:

    Ah that silly game played with an egg AK…? I thought maybe it was the beer was flat in the pub or something…!

  122. OSI says:

    KTR7 IM NOT one of those who think that any good player would improve Arsenal. I think Ronaldo, Benzema, Kaka would improve Arsenal. Ozil is good but I don’t seem him improving this arsenal team. A good striker better than Bendy would definitely improve us. A goalie you would say but I think we haave 2 great goalies and it’s unlucky to have them injured at the same time.

  123. allezkev says:

    HAHA wath, yes, the Irish certainly made England look silly that’s for sure.
    Does Khadira get a game for Real? He certainly looked a good player in the summer.?

  124. K-TR7 says:

    Osi we need improvements at CB,CM,striker and winger/wing forward positions.özil is an AM so we don’t need him.i would kill to have di maria in our team.

  125. OSI says:

    To be honest anyone who likes to mix with rough guys of the premiership, who has determiination and winning sprit would have helped us in the middle of the park. We’re lacking Steel there, and up front we lack both skill and steel as well aas form.

  126. W.A.T.H says:

    KT, we would of had Di Maria if it wasnt for crappy work permits…!
    AK, i heard we got stuffed at the rugby, shame but was never gonna be easy other in paddyland they always good at home.

  127. K-TR7 says:

    AK Khedira always starts when fit.he has had a dip in form of late but he is a good player nonetheless.

  128. OSI says:

    yeah we need a defender but im not sure how we can get some real shit to be benched to befriend some shit like Sir Deni. that’s a demotivating factor. Anyone in the world won’t accept to befriend Deni. A Diaby like defender wouldn’t mind though.

  129. K-TR7 says:

    WATH i was saying that just the other day.denilson got a work permit but ronaldinho/cech/di maria missed out…such is life.

  130. JonJon says:

    next pl game is in 2 week
    if we get our lads back then only cb and gk are weak spots but fuck me someone give almunia a slap

  131. allezkev says:

    Yaya Toure, wasn’t he another failed work permit? Must be a lot of Scummers working in that particular Govnt office.

  132. W.A.T.H says:

    The work permit situation is a joke KT, look at the players that got and the ones that don’t it’s pathetic.

  133. OSI says:

    how unfair it is the work permit thinng, and clumsy as well; they gave Denilson one and rejected for Wellington.

    Anyone thinks MAD LEH is better than Almunia? me think so. some days ago I TALKED about how signing MAD LEH would bring the best out of Almunia as he showed his best when competing with him, but boy it just seems that he just pissed all over the place in fear of the MAD one.

  134. K-TR7 says:

    Id like to see us sign hazard/lavezzi as our wingers/wing forwards.we need more directness outwide when theo is absent.

  135. W.A.T.H says:

    Least if Jens fucks up we can blame him for being a bit old when the waiter fucks up its pure and simple its just because he’s shit….!

  136. allezkev says:

    Is that right Wath? I thought it was something to do with Arsenal having a full quota of non-EU players, but i’m nearly always wrong…
    KT how is Reyes playing?

  137. W.A.T.H says:

    We need more widthe when Theo isn’t absent as well KT, I like that fella at PSV…. the left winger Balázs Dzsudzsák….!

  138. allezkev says:

    Wath as KT said yesterday [and the day before] we need more pace through the middle, our build-up play is so slow and tedious, you almost nod off waiting for the ball to get up the opponants end…

  139. allezkev says:

    i suppose we’ve been spoiled a bit, what with Ian wright, Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry. Now we have Bendtner, bit of a come-down…

  140. K-TR7 says:

    Benzema has just scored with a khedira assist.its his 21st goal of the season despite playing 2nd fiddle to Higuain and being off-form almost the whole season.he has lost 6kgs since the season began.

  141. W.A.T.H says:

    Thats also cos we only play with RVP who’s a striker AK, the rest are atttacking midfielders….! We have no cutting edge…!

  142. JonJon says:

    hazard will cost 25mil at least
    if we sell rosicky and aa then we are almost there with that…
    add ryo as well hopefully and we have our direct wingers..
    benzema aint coming..
    so we need another option

  143. K-TR7 says:

    WATH the first time i saw Balaz Dz… Was a couple of years ago when PSV were playing Ajax.i was checking out Suarez who hit a brace that day but Balaz also stood out.he scored a piledriver with his left foot that day and since then i’ve always liked him.imagine attacking teams with him rvp and theo with cesc and nasri supporting…OMG!

  144. W.A.T.H says:

    He’s got a wicked left peg KT… He’s also very quick n very tricky, we have been linked with him before. Not a hope in hell will we pay more than 15mil for Hazard so 4get it we not getting him.
    So whats your thoughts on the 45million gossip for Cesc and we’d let him go…?

  145. allezkev says:

    I might be wrong [i often am] but i suspect that Wenger won’t go above £18million for any player. Maybe £20million, top wack for a special player, but without Dein behind him, i just can’t see it happening lads.

  146. K-TR7 says:

    WATH I don’t think barca will splash 45mil for a benchwarmer.jj even posted the other day that barca fans voted that cesc isn’t worth more than 20mil.even if 45mil is bid i doubt Aw would entertain it as letting cesc go would be a big blow to his project as his ego.cesc is the golden boy and without him we are shit.unless cesc really forces a move i can’t see it happening.i can only see Aw contemplating his departure when ramsey/jack are ready for the responsibility.

  147. W.A.T.H says:

    Lol now your having a laugh KT, we’re lucky if we get decent crosses from the full backs, especially the left back….. Apaprt from the waiter fuckin up for teh 2nd goal who lost the ball in their half by running straight into their player and loosing the ball? yep silly clichy…!

  148. W.A.T.H says:

    I think if we got offered 45mil I’d take their hand off….! Jack, Naz, Aaron, Song and AN Other for central midfield would be fine with me….! Plus Frimpong n Coquelin coming back hmmm I’d not cry if Cesc wanted to leave and especially for that kind of money.

  149. JonJon says:

    i want to be an arsenal player for a day
    id knock fuck out of almunia
    see if he makes any more clangers after that..
    and denilson can get some while im at it..
    id make the fucker run..

  150. K-TR7 says:

    WATH I also think playing with 3 forwards not AMs will aid our penetration up front.we also need more movement in the box when we attack.i hope Aw watches our game at the camp nou to see how barca’s off the ball movement left us dazzled at times.

  151. JonJon says:

    yeah wath i seen a vote the other day from barca fans

    75% said he wasnt worth over 25 and over 50 said they didnt want him at all…

    but fuck their fans if barca come back with a 50mil bid he can go..

  152. W.A.T.H says:

    When we went 4-4-2 today we were much more direct and much more dangerous, Chamakh looked like the August Chamakh when he came on….!

  153. allezkev says:

    You know KT, you may have hit on something there mate. It crossed my mind when Nick came on. Why not start a game with RVP MC & NB, at least we’d have some height at corners, both attack/defence, and none of our opponants would expect Wenger to be so radical.

  154. W.A.T.H says:

    I’m off chaps pub is calling, chat 2moro, no slitting wrists lata or anything like that rugby just isn’t worth it 😉

  155. K-TR7 says:

    i’ve been thinking about this for sometime.if cesc leaves we can play nasri as an AM behind rvp flanked by two quick wingforwards.cesc doesn’t have nasri’s ball control and in tight games under severe pressing he is easily dispossessed.he might not have cesc’s vision but giving him extra responsibility may help.give jack more responsibity as our chief playmaker from deep.it worked like a charm with Gourcuff and nasri for France against England.maybe it can work with nasri and jack.what do you think?

  156. JonJon says:

    our play goes too much through cesc sometimes
    its all cesc cesc cesc play the game through cesc and once hes out thats it

  157. K-TR7 says:

    JJ it may also allow nasri to interchange with rvp as a false nine spreading responsibility among the team.he can act like our quick forward with rvp spreading play to our WFs.what do you think jj?

  158. JonJon says:

    i think we need to use the wings more and not juts with the fb’s
    nasri can come infield and play behind rvp and cause destrcution right across the final third and not just down the middle all the time

  159. K-TR7 says:

    Nasri can play sort of like how özil does.floating around the final third popping up wherever the ball goes.it would be so difficult to mark him that way.let jack/ramsey orchestrate play from deep alongside song.sort of a 4-2-1-3 instead of 4-2-3-1.

  160. Merlin96 says:

    THAT @#$%%%% HYPOCRITICAL SNAKE-OIL SALESMAN…@#$%%

    WHY did he persist with a “LOne Striker’ where it does not worked against a physical side, where we need to attack and win the game..and not contained a team with our namby-pamby passing game with 30+ Crab FOotball around the box, 70% possession and first shot at goal occured after 15 minutes of Crab FOotball.

    REST OF PREMIERHSIP TEAMS reahced opponent box wihtin 5 passes and shoot at goal…and only Arsenal needs 20+ or 30+ passes before attempting to shoot at the goalie, over the bar or passed to a defender.

    You can clearly see the difference when CHamakh came in 2nd half. But then it is too late as we don’t have a “locker picker” when Hodgson slammed the door shut with desperate defending.

    Apparently that snake-oil salesman’s tactical acumen is so predictable like a one-speed one-gear in a gearbox such that every football managers will know how to field a team that can get a result against Arsenal.

    Expect more draws and losses with win a rarity.
    We will be lucky to retain 4th spot if we don’t start beatint the likes of Blackburn, Stoke City and Bolton, let alone Liverpool, ManU and S*CUMS.

    February Failure – checked.
    March Madness – checked.
    April Awfulness or April Accolade?
    May Melancholy or Merry May?

    The consolation si Theo, Cesc and SOng returning for next game.
    But ALmunia…@#$%%%%
    BRING ON MAD JENS!!!!

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