Morning all.
I didn’t see the game annoyingly and at the time of writing, I haven’t even seen the goals.
Anyway, we lost against a strong Southampton side and the only positive from that is we are out of one of the cups, leaving us to concentrate on the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
I get Arsene Wenger’s reasoning for playing fringe players, under 21 players and those coming back from injury but what I don’t understand is why Alexis Sanchez played for 90 minutes. Was he really rested against Aston Villa to play in the League Cup? Thank goodness he didn’t get injured.
In defence Wenger trusted Bellerin and Hayden and even Coquelin playing in an unfamiliar role, but why not play Chuba Akpom up front when he’s scoring goals for the under 21’s? And why wait until the 86 minute to bring him on when players before him couldn’t get that much needed equaliser?
Would have been amusing had we got the equaliser though as we’d have had to play 30 minutes of extra time without Bellerin at right-back!
Arsene Wenger said this about the defeat:
It’s disappointing because we had a good start and we made two unnecessary errors on the two goals – they were big ones. We lacked a bit of experience at the back. I agree with you but overall they did well. We gave a lot and it’s frustrating as we were not able to score in the second half.
When you look at the amount of possession we had you have to give credit to Southampton. They played well and were very organised. They abused the fouls in the middle of the park but they are a good side and they played well tonight.
Overall it’s frustrating because we gave a lot.
I’m disappointed to be honest as I’d love us to have won this cup but until we have a squad strong enough and deep enough to compete in all four competitions, this one will always be the one in which a second string of players together with youth will be fielded.
Perhaps a stronger side would have played had we not got a tasty NLD at The Emirates on Saturday. Perhaps a stronger side would have been fielded had the club been more active in the summer…..
Anyway, we are out and good luck to Southampton for the rest of the competition.
Finally, Happy Birthday to Anders Limpar who is 49 years old today…..
That’s it for today…..
As you said, you didn’t watch the game, so why the silly headline?
The young backline did well on the night – TR7 gave away the penalty with a daft reckless challenge, and then Clyne hit a screamer from distance. Not the youngsters’ fault at all.
Poldi I’m afraid was a rock, of the immobile variety, and JC tried but couldn’t give us end product on the attacks.
Was a poor game, Southampton and Arsenal were neither great or terrible. We had a lot of the ball but lacked penetration mainly down to Podolski’s poor movement (i’ll come on to him later) and Rosicky having an absolute stinker. We could have had 1-3 more goals but so could Southampton as they spurned a few decent chances.
The goals were basic, a penalty and a 30 yard screamer. Rosicky foolishly left a foot out in the area and no one closed down Clyne leaving Ospina to deal with a fairly straight bullet which he missed.
Opsina was ok throughout the night, the bloke is not left footed tho as he spooned a few of these clearances lol. Also for Clynes goal he should have done much better. Made some good saves and was on his toes for 1 in the first half after some neat play from southampton to deny at the feet of their striker.
Defence did do well considering the inexperience, the better player in defence was Coq who played left back. I dislike the guy but he was hungry and always got a foot in. I felt Hayden was solid, bit edgy in possession with saints attackers bearing down on him but thats normal. Bellerin frustrates me, he was full of attacking life in the emirates cup but looked very restricted last night, the space he could run into was screaming out at him but he was very negative in his attacking play. Chambers was Chambers….wasn’t his best or worst performance.
Midfield was a mixed bag, our 2 vets were shocking. Pod and Rosicky, i’ll put Rosicky’s down to lack of game time but he was energetic throughout chasing balls and trying to find space. Podolski on the other hand (crosses fingers for a Jan move away) is really shite, literally all the bloke has got is a left foot and i’ll praise him when he gets the goals but other than that he deserves nothing. No tracking back, no desire to come and seek the ball. I counted 3-5 balls in that if he had some springs in his boots he could have got there first and been dangerous, utterly bemused he stayed on 90 mins. Wilshere was solid and a driving force in midfield. Diaby looked good in the first half, calm, controlled, made it look easy but he predictably fell of the pace in the second being replaced after 60 mins. Joel tried to get involved but again, there seemed like a real negativity or “misunderstanding” with Bellerin, did a couple of nice interchanges and held the ball well in possession but lack penetration, he didn’t really take his chance.
Sanchez did what he does best, make a pest of himself chasing balls down working his socks off and got a great goal from a well taken free kick. His performances really show up someone like Podolski. I feel a bit for Sanchez as there are very few who seems to want it like he does.
Points
Barely no crosses
Came through middle too much
Too much build up not enough shots
Desire from players is horrendous, namely Podolski who’s not happy when he doesn’t get games but then puts nothing in when given a chance. (I know i’ve bashed him but he was truly shocking)
Confident after that game Coq can do a job in fullback position
Diaby if he can remain fit slots in effortlessly
Full backs need more to know when to attack the space in front of them
Hayden with guidance can definitely adapt to top level
Wilshere one of the fittest players on pitch
Overall not too disappointed, it’s a midweek game we don’t have to worry about scrambling to put together a mishmash of 1st team, fringes and u21s. Shame we’re out but we have bigger fish to fry and a thin back line to protect for the big boys.
Sorry for the big post, thought i’d give my view on players and the game
Nice post Rico
Morning all
My point is playing Alexis for 90 mins ahead of a NLD Savage, was that so difficult for you to understand??
It was stupid!
Agreed Rico, if Wenger wasn’t bothered about this game he should have withdrew Sanchez and given Akpom a run out. Still I have confidence Sanchez is one of our fittest players, he’ll recover for Spurs 😉
Jeez Nickie, i got dizzy reading that, funny i was thinking about you when watching the match, on 3 different streams….lol
Morning Nickie, you should have emailed me your comment, would have done for the post.. lol
Thank goodness you get my point, I’m not blaming the younger players at all, I was just surprised to see Alexis play 90 minutes. Agree re Akpom too, he could have got more playing time…
Perhaps if Savage had read my previous comments about the younger players, he wouldn’t have made such a bizarre allegation…
The team Wenger put out should have done better #simples
nice to know someone was thinking of me. The journey home isn’t any easier after a defeat!(my first) lol
Just seen the goals…
Why when we successfully cleared the cross did the players come out of defence and stop. One or even two should have been on Clyne like a bad rash, instead of standing still and watching…
I didn’t think about that Rico, had some extra time today as I booked the day off work hehe 🙂
Nickie, ditto the going home after a defeat, though i usually have time to drown my sorrows….
Maybe next time Nickie.. lol
Hi Bt..
I see Afobe scored two again last night…
Totts play tonight then, hope it’s a draw, extra time and penalties…. lol
Good post Nickie, er Rico lol
Watched this game and Nickie is spot on.
Podolski was disinterested, and it looked loike we were playing with 10 men.
Can’t fault the youngsters but i was baffled Podolski stayed on the pitch and Campbell came off. Akpom should have come on earlier.
Could not understand why we subbed Diaby at a point we had a corner . After he left our average height was 5ft 7, and what did we do , we went down the flanks and sent in crosses to nobody who could put a barnet on the end of them.
Shame , but the saints played well, even if they did time waste , which credit to the ref, booked them for it.
Sanchez wlshere and the ox when he came on were our best on the night. THe others were average and poldi was kak full stop.
Afobe will score 30 this season and be sold for a 1m to a club like derby or forest end of the year Rico
Morning Rico and all in the house….
still amazed at the complete lack of any depth in this defensive line which in itself isn’t strong enough against the gun teams as we’ve proven many times –
good post Rico – i don’t think anything Wenger does surprises me anymore
Morning all,
September and the quadruple is a distant dream, it’s the FA cup or nothing.
Supporting Arsenal under Arsene has become like a box of smarties, you never know what’s coming next.
Ridiculous we find ourselves in this position, the youngsters have always done us proud in the league cup, any half decent PL side would have beaten us last night, wasn’t exactly a surprise was it.
Oz, ditto mate, it’s not even a surprise he’s still there….
Micko, at least you have something to celebrate this year…
so Stan walks off with 3m for the family and this was interesting…
The hypocrisy is striking. Wenger lectures others on financial prudence yet does spend large sums on players and more importantly is taking home an absolute fortune at Arsenal. Again he will point to successive fourth place finishes and being financially prudent. But this is not the only thing that brings into question whether Arsenal’s financial model is a myth. Last week it came out that Arsenal’s wage bill is the third highest in the Premier League, just behind Manchester United and Manchester Cit at about £180 million per year. An astronomical figure which eclipses Chelsea’s wage bill. How can a club boast financial prudence with such a ridiculous wage bill? Well, of course in an era when they weren’t winning trophies they had to pay players well in order to keep them at the club. The club are pretty much self sufficient, because of match day revenues and the like, but they are still big spenders, even if we don’t always see it.
Bt, are you crossing the pond this weekend for the NLD ?
Micko, was on the cards but unfortunately things fcuked up, yourself?
🙂 George.. Nickie’s was better….
Hopefully a couple of games around christmas time for me Bt, I’m sure come what may you’ll be celebrating this weekend.
Thanks Oz, me neither….
Micko, if Anders Limpar (mother) had held out for a couple of more days, we could have celebrated together…lol
Morning Micko, and there was me thinking all four were on the cards this season with our fine squad…
Morning rico, Arsene’s miserly ways will bite him in the arse this time around ! Already started.
Bt, I met Anders in Sweden a good few years back now, he was running his own betting shop in Stockholm, a genuinely nice bloke and top player too.
Nice report, Nickie…
I didn’t watch the game…but your report sort of gave me all I missed. I see League Cup games as games for players prove themselves. My only regret is that we no longer have such games left this season…so Walcott has to come back with the McCoy.
From reports, Diaby is ready to go…Hayden can be that 4th CB, Coq can be useful as RB/LB, Ospina is good. Those are the positives I look out for in any COC game.
Yeah, I too wondered why Sanchez stayed all through 90 mins…probably Wenger didn’t want to be accused of giving the game away by taking off his major threat for an equaliser since Welbeck wasn’t on the bench.
Southampton is a great side and will stretch any team in EPL. Let’s get to winning ways against Spurs and not many will rue this first domestic loss.
Micko/Bt keep the HHCC posted with your movements we’d love to meet up!
Micko, toying with doing Anderlecht away, flights only 40e return from Dublin..
Lee, ditto mate, NLD was a real goer, till a ticket fiasco occurred….
Micko, something’s won’t ever change will they…
Excellent post Rico.
Tai, I think the plan for Theo is a couple of under 21 games before the first team…
Adam, I’ve just sampled some “isolator!”…………………….
Where is your gravatar Adam? Cheeky.. 😉
Brudder. I am, as ever, pleased for you but slightly in the dark? An SMS translation would open the curtains though.
My Gravatar! Where is my Gravatar?
It’s been stolen….
It’s here on the iPad.
But not on the computer.
How bizarre…
I just looked Adam, different log on details on ipad and computer
If I knew what either of them were Rico I might be in with a chance of gaining equality between them. I shall stick to the ipad then as I prefer the doggie myself.
Adam, your a bit of a square or is it a tootie fruttie ? You decide…
🙂 Adam.
BT. I look a bit like I felt last week when my friend was visiting.
I agree with Savage… 😐
I agree with David Icke…. 😐
That bad huh Adam… 😉
Me too Kev, me too…
I agree with Arsene 😉
For 8m i’d even agree with a syrup wearing Yank….
Interesting game for me yesterday evening, in as much as I wanted to see the youngsters in action in a senior game.
But very disappointed that Le Genius only gave, what amounted to 8/9 minutes for Akpom.
Somehow I doubt that Sanogo would have got so little playing time.
BT, you always talk so much sense… 🙂
Sanogo is Wenger’s love child…..Adam told me!
I agree with Lee. And Kev of course. 🙂
I the meantime, Afobe just keeps on scoring goals in the Championship….
Bet he wishes he was French….
Then again perhaps not…
Catch up later, got a four legged one who needs a walk…
Kev, Adam is my mentor…
French women are nice…
So I am told….
BT, Adam is the King of Wanstead…
Kev at least they keep the flies off your food….
Lee 😆
I’ve posted some comments yesterday about the players. What worries me is that the teams have realized the top they will cancel the “traditional” match Arsenal and quickly counterattack. It is relatively easy because I also guess what will be done and just group the players to cut the line of predictable pass, putting speed and catch the perfectly decompensated Arsenal and poorly placed in the field.
Southampton has a good team in all senses. So, it’s a team who can done what I describe before wit quality. We had more possesion but more tired, we run much more then the Saints but we could suffer more 2 or 3 goals.
What a lovely day in London it is. The Sun is out, the sky is blue, there’s not a cloud to spoil the view, but…..
Adam, any crickets about, buddy…
BT. Well done mate.
Adam, its been a while since i heard that…
Jimmy has just popped round….
Afternoon/Evening all….
Talk about covering the bases, Rico..
Brenda Rogers praising his players for the penalty shootout win 14-13,against Boro
He says..We practiced penaltys in training so it has paid off for us to-nite.
No mention of the keeper practice session then.
Dont know what you mean Bt.. 😉
Sorry, I popped off to write something for tomorrow…
Fred, poor old Brenda is struggling this season, maybe he should have stuck with Reading in the Championship….
One season wonder last time around perhaps….
Guess what 18:30 and the racking has arrived , ……………………………….BROKEN
Good old Yodel.
Hoorah potter….
I’m off for the day guys, catch you all tomorrow..
Night all and let’s hope the Toots have a rough night… 😉
Off to the pub now , quiz night to run.
BTW :- Afore I go ( Bells whisky logo ) . http://shewore.com/2014/09/24/what-is-stan-kroenkes-long-game/
Interesting read.
Yes, the Arsenal AGM should make interesting viewing…
The Press/Media will be interested, but how often do we read the likes of the Guardian investigating want Fenway Sports is taking out of Liverpool.
Or what the Glaziers are taking out of ManUre.
Does Randy Lerner take money out of Aston Villa, etc etc etc…
Come on Amy Lawrence and the rest of the Guardianistas.
I wanna know, and your the guys/gals that can tell me…
Or.
Are you just gonna focus on Arsenal, because you know ws’ll be hitting your website and earning you advertising revenue…?
God, I am becoming such a cynic….
Kev, it’ll make no difference, question wil be vetted and those that sneak through, will be sidestepped.
Did anybody see something in relation to the Dippers and FFP? Can’t remember where i read it,,lol
BT, yeah I know, Kroenke just refuses to answer those kinds of questions…
Tbh mate, our clubs have slipped through our fingers.
We’re just ticket fodder…
I know a lot of Gooners who never go to home games.
They spend their money and get their fix on the away games.
They resent putting anymore money into the pockets of Kroenke, Ursmanov and all the other present and recent past Directors who’ve just ‘rinsed’ us fans for every penny they can…
That’s me gone…
Night All
Night BT.
Night Kev, that’s pretty much why i decided not to go last season, always wanted to do an away game.. Anderlecht could be the answer, certainly looks a lot cheaper, though still would like to get over and have craic with HHCC…lol
Morning Rico and all. Anyone at home?
Morning Adam and all….
Morning Rico,Adam and all….
Morning Bt, a lovely sunny one it is too…
Not here, Rico..
Rico, if you don’t mind me asking, who is your broadband provider?
Not so good then Bt.. My broadband is with you… 😉
What makes you ask Bt?
Rico, you had me confused for a minute…lol…fibre optic or not?
Don’t think so, it’s not available in my area yet Bt..
Bt, Rico lives in the sticks…. steam powered not fibre optic out there!
Oi oi Lee, morning to you….
Wasn’t that long ago she was using a length of string and two empty baked bean cans……
Rico, i’m just researching the details, regarding the box i was telling you about on Tuesday evening. I will be going to see one in action next week, would’ve have been earlier but he and his mates are for the NLD…God help the spuds with those 4 lads about…lol
At least that was reliable Lee , Up here in Norfolk we are inventing the wheel next week
Lee, when the string kinked it was back to the carrier pigeon….
Good job I like Baked Beans Lee, that’s all I’ll say… lol
Bt, ah, makes sense now, will be interesting to hear the outcome. I hate missing the 3pm games and it’s not the same watching it on Sky many hours later when I know the result…
🙂 Potter, morning to you..
New post is up now…