Morning all.
Unless you happen to be a Man Utd fan, most football fans would be glad to see the back of Mourinho, and not only from the Premier League but football in general. Actually, I wouldn’t bet against a few Utd fans wishing him gone either. He’s an embarrassment to the game, to the players he coaches and the rival managers he comes up against. His outbursts are too many to mention but apart from the day he tried to gouge Tito Vilanova’s eye out, his real battle has been with Arsene Wenger.
Poor old Arsene hasn’t beaten Mourinho in the domestic game. There’s been an odd draw here and there but other than in the Community Shield, the arrogant one has usually come out on top. He doesn’t care how his team gets a result either and there’s little doubt that he’ll send his players out today to get a victory at any cost. And yes, if that involves cheating, I’m sure he will. We’ve seen it with Costa when Mourinho was his manager and if Fellani starts, I wouldn’t bet against him being given the task to stop us at all costs. But if he’s not fit enough, never fear, someone else will step in….
‘I think Mr Wenger is given great respect and I don’t think I am’ – Mourinho.
Mourinho is jealous of Arsene Wenger, he has to be as why else would he need to mention our lack of PL success and how Arsene keeps his job regardless. He’s a bitter and twisted old man who really should concentrate on his own team and players and leave our club and manager alone. In fact he could learn a lot from the Frenchman, certainly when it comes to how he conducts himself as a manager. Yes he might once have been a tactically (boring) smart manager but he sure doesn’t know how to treat his players does he?
Anyway, he’s been at it again ahead of the lunchtime clash, but it’s no great surprise, it’s what he does….
Arsene Wenger needs to ensure he doesn’t fall into the same trap as he has done for a few seasons now. Don’t let Mourinho’s words get to him and make sure the players are up and ready to perform from the moment the whistle blows. Every player needs to know their job and do their job. They have to be motivated from the off and give 100% from start to finish.
We have the players, we can when it suits, play great football but that doesn’t always mean entertaining and open football is the way to go. Disciplined and pragmatic football is perhaps required today but when the chances come, take them. Saying that, if we come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders, then that style of play could be equally as effective but be solid as a defensive unit and don’t give the likes of Rooney, Rashford or Mata a chance to hurt us.
Otherwise it’ll be Mourinho gloating and goading Arsene Wenger and Arsenal yet again.
I imagine Wenger sees Mourinho as something vile and smelly that one might accidentally step in on a dark night.
You just have to hope that you don’t unwittingly drag it into the house.
Morning all!
Nice post. Mourhino has got little man syndrome, and you’re right he could learn from wenger.
Although wenger could learn from him also the win at all costs tbh I’m ok with that attitude he used Costa as a tactical weapon, We were just to naive to deal with it…
Tbh I expect nothing other than a defeat today we just don’t turn up at OT. Probably why a few friends of mine (utd supporters) love going to this fixture, Home Banker.
I live in hope though…
Thanks for mentioning “you earn respect”. He has won EPL title thrice and Champions League twice. So he has earned the respect. I tell you, English Media is terrible – a bunch of jobless guys loading the internet with gibberish
Morning All
Once again we face a weak team of manc’s
we beat the chavs who were disorganised
other than that..I’m not sure if we have
improved going by our results.
Arsene must get that little monkey of our
backs for me to any confidence in him
and his lack of nous.
Why is it over the years Arsene just never
gets the Flu/….and has a match off.
I would love to see Bouldy walking around
that effing little square and that little midget
looking up at Steve with his gob shut.
Morning again all.
I actually think we might nick this one….
Adam, I suspect the feeling is mutual… lol
As would I Fred re Bouldy.
Good post Rico. Looking forward to this game. Last season they were there to be taken, but we royally mucked up. If the team go out like they did against Chelsea, we just might come away with a 2-1 win…. Might is the key word.
Thanks Kel and Marinello.
Must say I’m a bit nervous….
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Team to play Man Utd: Cech, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Ozil, Ramsey, Sanchez
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Giroud
MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
Team to play Arsenal: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Carrick, Pogba, Mata, Herrera, Martial, Rashford
Subs: Romero, Blind, Schneiderlin, Lingard, Young, Memphis, Rooney
If you want to feel unwell don’t look at our record in PL games at Old Trafford. or Wenger’s record against Mourinho,which has been well documented.
Last year the United team was worse than this present one but like us they have key players missing today,so tactics and who starts could be the defining factor.
Again many of our players have tweeted how thay are up for this so let’s not talk the talk but walk the walk.
I can’t remember a time when Mourinho was under so much pressure, so that may help or hinder him, and our record this season shows we have only lost once.The result whichever way it goes will not determine anything at this stage of the season but as I said a few days ago my heart says we will win my head says otherwise.
Surprised to see Ramsey start this one.
And no Xhaka… Still, I love Elneny so I’m happy… 🙂
Kelsey, you just know Mourinho will relish this challenge today, he hates Wenger…
Here we go…..AW playing his favorite again. If Iwobi is not strarting then start Giroud and play Alexis on the wing. Ramsey should not start. The team is unbalanced.
Leaving Iwobi out is sensible imo, I guess Ramsey will give more to the side than Chamberlain…
Ramsey tracking back to help on the left side……..oh boy.
Not being funny but neither does Iwobi or Chamberlain…
Iwobi has been pony recently.
Overplayed imo
I wish the players would leave all the high fives and hugs until after the match….
Me too Rico.
You wouldn’t have seen Adams or Vieira at it Adam, sets the tone doesn’t it…
It certainly does.
Same old, no card for the deliberate foul on Walcott then Alexis gets booked…
Got lucky there….
Just knew we would get a booking first foul after they were let off. Nothing changes. Afternoon all. Bit too open.
Quite like the always fans song choices… 🙂
That’s a red! Gutless Marriner!
Great save from Cech…
We are a one man strike force.Is Walcott on maternity leave ? ,Ramsey is hardly in the game.Both teams look vulnerable but Cech definitely kept us in the game so far.
First thought was penalty so hard done on lack of bookings but unusual for that not to be a pen at OT. Not much in the arm but slight push, you would expect your player to go down.
Morning all.
Ramsey needs a head slap and be told to GET BACK TO BASICS.
Average first half and changes required.
Valencia gave Monreal a forearm smash before he fell over…
Good day all.
We’ve been quite unimpressive.
Utd’s defence are pony but we are yet to test them. Poor.
Agree re Ramsey Scott…
Ramsey brings nothing to the team out on the wing. Change it arsene
Yep,Walcott is labouring. Just waiting for tem to score.Would help if we had just one just.
I thought he’d do well today but how wrong was I… Bet he doesn’t get subbed though..
Arsene just waiting for them to score before he changes it or what?!! Ffs
Same old reactive management
Seems so! So lacking in initiative isn’t he…
Fucking rubbish.
This is why he can’t beat moreen. Fucking clueless. We’ve been battered this half and he sits and does nothing
Lol… Home Banker….can’t complain they’re the better team…
Rooney has made the difference
Fuckin wenger waits until we go down to make a change lol that goal was coming 20 mins ago…..
We are sh!t. Monreal is past it and nobody wants to play.
Change made 10 minutes too late.
Arsene fell asleep at the wheel there, big time!!! N
Our passing has been dreadful today…
One team has been given a plan by their manager at half time and are excecuting it. The other team has no plan.
Why is Ramsey still on the pitch??!!
Another pathetic performance another big game, failure from wengers team… league title my bollocks…. 3rd-5th…
You know the answer Lewis.
Feeble. Not a shot this half!!
Wicked!!
Now don’t bloody concede!
OK, we just had a first one haha. Brilliant header.
OMG… we had a shot…
Are we gonna get lucky?!!
That’ll piss Mourinho off. Love it!
Borefest of a game… glad we got a point but that was such a shit performance.
A bit lucky and a disappointing performance. But a good point.
Last season we would’ve lost to both the Scum and the Mancs, so to me that’s 2 points gained not 4 lost and we’re still in the mix…
As I said from the beginning, team selection was poor. Ramsey should’ve been on the pitch. Alexis is not a striker we all know that but with movement and interplay he can play the position, but Imho not for the entire game. A game like 2day, he is better at the wing and Giroud as CF. AW should watch how Chile uses Sanchez along Vargas. With proper team selection and tactics its 3 points for ARS. It is really crazy…. that AW does not do game to game selection and management.
Afternoon rico and fellow gooners ,
Good result and shit performance and very lucky I guess.
I want to blame Ramsy but to me it’s wenger who insists to play him regardless ..today on the left wing where he offered nothing and lost the ball countless times.
And again Ozil went missing and spent the whole game sulking .compare his performance to Mata!
The team balance was obviously wrong from the first 15 minutes, we could all see it except wenger and his assistants .
I am just relieved we didn’t loose this one for the obvious reasons.
We set up for a draw and got it so I guess that’s a positive.
Time for giroud to be back in the starting line up me thinks
Thought Jenkinson played much better than Monreal, didn’t let us down. Interesting to hear Debuchy played for U23s and has been injured all season. Why Wenger never mention him when asked about the injured? Knew he was still collecting a sizable wage.
Ramsey is better central and we all know it.
Still, as I said during the game, until he gets back to basics, he’s not much chop central or wide.
I will add that, as is often the case, he’s a soft target for fans because I can’t say a single player in the midfield or forwards played well.
How often did Sanchez and Ozil turn it over?
Though poor old Ozil often gets undue pressure because no player was making a run.
We always play poorly when we lack movement off the ball, and that was the story.
I thought our backs did bloody well, considering the constant pressure they were under, and can’t be blamed for the goal.
That was down to a lack of players relaxing back and how the hell was Mata allowed space 4-5 times around the 18 yard box?
He’s their most dangerous player by a mile, imo, yet was given free reign.
Anyway, it’s definitely a point gained, but unless we beat them at home, it will be wasted.
Great to see Giroud so what he does best, and what a cross from Ox.
Wenger got the subs spot on, but too late!!!!
Gibbs must start when the opposition has a pacey right winger.
Nacho is getting caught out for speed a bit too often.
Andrew, I agree on Jenks- he was very good.
Afternoon all.
Had we beat `Boro and Spuds I would have taken a draw today, but because we dropped points against them I`m disapponted that it will be a case of catch up somewhere by not winning games we should win !………………..saying that, if we had lost I would have said I`d settle for a point !. hahaha
Football`s simple………………..dont lose against the top teams ( you know who I mean ) and beat all the others and you win the league, that is why the draw against `Boro was unacceptable………………..and the one against Spuds……………………and the one against Leicester………………………………I only like wins ! hahaha
Bournemouth next in league and I just hope we are not having a problem of beating teams that start with a “B” at the Ems………………………..Bindippers, Borro, Bastards next door !
November is always our worst month…….we are not losing as many points as normal.
Ok, I’m looking for positives 🙂
Theo said that Mata was his man to pick up and is disappointed at his lapse !………………………time to bring back torture I thinks………..proper stuff, none of that making him watch the fat Spud Adele stuffing her face at Greggs the Bakers, maybe a photo of Ralph Coates with a Brycreem comb over on his bedside cabinet !.
The only positive I can find from the game is that when you play shit at a club as big as Manshafter and score an equaliser in the 89th min it has a two way effect of really demoralizing the opposition when they thought it was won and giving a fantastic lift to us when we thought all was lost !…………….had we scored first and conceded late it would have been vice versa, so much better for us to leave it late !…………..seems I`m good at this psycho analyst stuff !, right who wants an appointment then ? hahaha
I could watch Ollie’s header all afternoon… 😉
Credit to Walcott for his comment on Mata, I bet he doesn’t leave his man next game…
Hi kk…
Thumping header, Rico !…………………it`s what Olly brings to the table that nobody else at Arsenal offers !…………………….fantastic cross by Ox which just hanged in the air waiting for Olly to arrive !.
Agree the Lc, and as you say, super cross from our new right back Oxlade-Chamberlain ?
Not as daft as it seems Rico !………………………..there are no actual born full backs in the world, they are all converted wingers !………Bellerin was a winger, Valencia a winger, Gibbs a winger and so on……………..I would play Walcott a RB if he could tackle and knew how to play offside ! hahaha
Scott @ 3:08, AR is an easy target because of his constant attempts of “Hollywood” passes. Your point is well taken about his best role, but contrary to what has been said here, even playing for Wales he’s not central but plays the free role and most of his best moves starts from the wing. But if you are right, then given AW inability to rotate adequately then maybe paying Ozil 250k p.w is not prudent or maybe AR should be sold, since playing them both together is not the answer.
Haha, Le Coq, I’m imagining Arsenal starting with Ox and Walcott as full backs!!!
But Ox can’t tackle for toffee either LC… lol
In my revolutionary idea, we play 4 wingers who are just as comfortable as FB`s…or 4 FB`s who comfortable as wingers !………………….I`ll call them wing backs, cant believe no one has thought of this before………………………Monreal has to go in my vision ! 🙂
Not sure what’s happened to Nacho this season, his form has dipped. Either that or he’s simply not getting the kind of help he did when Alexis was ahead of him…
Three draws on the trot and there are certainly question marks. Arsenal needs to earn that contract now. Any resurgence will begin through him. Without Santi a fit Jack would be nice.
Trouble is Rico…………he hasn`t got one of my revolusionary wing backs in front of him ! 🙂
He`s OK when we are playing our possession game well, but he definately doesn`t like being up against a fast winger !………..basically he lacks proper speed !
Good point Adam………with Santi`s injury and although we have an abundance in the middle……………would Jack have been the better option now he is fit ?………………………I would answer myself, but I`m only a revolusionary when it comes to FB`s ! 🙂
You can comment all day but we were shite as a team and by luck whilst United where taking the piss out of us even though it was only 1-0 a man in the crowd gave Wenger a piece of paper asking him to sub Jenks (who was playing well) with the out of form Ox. Wenger thought why not and just like magic,Ox gets his irst really good cross in and Girould leaps like a salmon ad equalisers.
This team is no better than last year so forth place trophy once again and i bet Giroud is pissed off he didn’t start.
Hi LC. So few midfielders can carry the ball into dangerous areas. That sort of stuff leaves defenders uncomfortable and can make things happen where you can really hurt opponents. We look way too square for me at the moment.
He does Lc, comes with age… lol
Jack is fit, and playing well apparently- just not for us…. 😉
Yes we were shit, Kelsey, but just think how pissed off Mourinho is now feeling……….. that he couldn`t beat a shit Arsenal team performance ! 🙂
Rico. So I hear. 🙂
Oh all the raving about Walcott after two or three good ames.I knew it he never changes.Totally useless today contributed nothing as so often these past ten years.
love my lub bu we are so very predictable and surely it must be seen that Wenger can’t motivate the team especially in big games. 3 draws and 1 win in the last 4 game is not title winning form
Shit is good aint it ?………….great for growing !………….Mourinho is feeling shit and from a shit performance………… Arsene`s Butternut Squash has grown considerably bigger than Mourinho`s !. 🙂
🙂 Adam.
Kelsey, I think it’s harsh to criticise Theo after today’s performance as apart from a few, they were all off their game…
Dippers dropped two points…
But Rico, he never ever maintains a good and effective run of games.Ithink man for man we have a better team than last season but are playing worse.
How long to we have to put up being nearly at the top.Injuries are a jink, November is a jink and Wenger needs to go even if it means a few seasons out of the top 4.I don’t expect others to agree with me but yea after year “we are the nearly team”.drives me mad.
But what has he really done wrong this season Kelsey? Years gone by yes, but he’s doing ok for me…
Spuds1 down
Good!
Catch up tomorrow guys- nighty…
Exactly what I thought before the game
we have moved side ways again,
Arsene sit’s and bites his fingers
0-0 This is good he thinks…
We have Walnut running around
like a 2y old in the park.
Ramsey playing wide thinking he is fast
He looked like he was running in a bowl
of treacle.
Poor Sanchez run his Alberts off.
We go 1 down…fingers out of mouth…Help
Not sure if we even had a shot.
Arsenal take only 3 points from the last 3 games…
And yet that same self useless Arsenal are only 2 points behind the current leaders.
It’ll be 3 points if Chelsea win their game in hand.
One-Man team Tottenham have not lost a game yet this season, are apparently having a great season and yet are still behind a hopeless Arsenal… ?
Anyway, I’ve seen many an Arsenal team in recent years play fancy flowery football, have the lions share of possession and then lose.
In fact it’s happened numerous times vs Mourinhos Chelsea.
Who could ever forget all our great football undone by a couple of long balls for Drogba to put away…
To win the the League which I want
our form is crap Kev…… Fact
Fred, I know we ain’t great mate, but it’s a long long season and if we can get to January and still be in the mix, then anything can happen…
Nobody is running away with it, that’s mainly because, imo, even the so called weaker teams are a lot stronger than last season…
Never mind about the last 3 games, the next 3, at home, could be seminal for our season…
It could all blow up in our faces…
Then again we could win our CL group, be in the S/F of the League Cup and still be in contention for the EPL…
How’s it going anyway Fred..?
Obi at 4.06, Did I not say he was making mistakes?
I failed to see criticism of other players who also made mistakes, so he is an easy target.
Kelsey, I’m with you.
We shouldn’t bother commenting all day.
Let’s try it and see how exciting this site is 🙂 🙂
If you can’t see the difference on Theo, you aren’t even trying, mate.
He was very average in this game, but the difference is, he was trying.
Previously, he’d have been average and bludging.
The difference is there for all to see.
We played like a bag of shit, picked up a late goal and a point.
Funny, but if we fans were being honest, we’d agree these are the types of results we must have.
It goes without saying that other results have been poor, along with this performance, but ffs, why is it so hard to give credit where it’s due?
How many expected a loss???
Oh, and it’s November.
Don’t forget that.
Our biggest problem was the midfield.
No imagination.
Too slow carrying the ball forward.
Sideways passing.
Basically, no Santi.
It’s why I’d have been happy to see us keep Rosicky, because he was still a player who’d receive the ball, and have us moving forward.
Obi, on the Ozil v Ramsey issue, mate, as much as I love Rambo, there is only one Ozil.
Nice to have back up though, so I say we keep them both.
Yes, he plays a free role for Wales, but is still based centrally where for us, he’s not.
It’s not an excuse for his lack of discipline, and that’s why I criticised him.
Take a point at the mancs sure any day.
Just want to see more passion,
Hope I’m wrong 100% wrong
but that I see.
Kev are you an essex boy know then ..Mate.
Scott i hope you take my words without personal prejudice. .
The whole football blogsphere has been quiet lately.. especially Arsenals..
Blaming the fans being negative is the reason why it’s quiet is just cheap. .may be the reason is bloggers jumping on throat of anybody who dare to have a different view. .have you thought about that!?
Most arsenal fans are frustrated to infinity. .
it’s been same ole same.. all we need is that bit of quality and proactiviy to win the title..it’s been like that for years
it’s hard to be optimistic when you see wenger mismanage the team year after year with his lack of urgency, bizarre team selection and tactics.
He is what he is ..done great for the club and we all hope he could do it again. .however!!
Good draw today and we move on..
Yes Fred, on the A132, north of the A127…
Good draw? Really. Manager with no tactics, or any idea of when to substitute, unbalanced team etc, etc. Gutless players afraid to touch the ball, no aggression and players running around just to run around….all the out field players were poor, no one showed any quality. It was a pathetic performance with 9 seconds of luck. I really don’t see Sanchez staying his body language and gestures tells it all today.
Hi Obi,
The reason blogs are quiet are because too many people choose to say exactly the same thing 10 times a day, in my opinion.
Over the several years I’ve been on here, I’ve copped my share due to choosing to remain positive.
Yes, I’ve also given my share on those who choose to remain negative.
My comments today were hardly naively positive though, were they?
I reckon if you go back over them, you’d post something different.
Having said that, tell me how many games we’ve lost this season, and then explain why so many choose to take the doom and gloom path.
Yes, it is a choice.
Just to make it clear-I blame Wenger for this result, as his subs were made too late, as is often the case.
Ten minutes into the second half, we were being over run and needed something to change..
The Utd goal was almost inevitable.
Morning Scott and all..
What has happened to Ramsey… Was his one good season just a fluke…?
Morning all
The more I reflect on the result the more I think we did well from a shit performance !………….It was a bit like my love life !……….my wife has been doing the mannequin challenge in bed for years now, Arsenal did it for 89 mins and unlike me got something out of it !.
Wasn’t a fluke, Rico.
He was played the right way but also given the right instructions.
There was no fluke in constant brilliance, and at the time, he was up there with the best in Europe.
Wenger said it later-he told Aaron to keep things simple and it worked.
Why not go back to basics?!
Morning, Rico and all.
I’m happy with the point after that performance Lc..
Just a query as I dont know, but how many times has Ramsey played in his preferred position like he does for Wales ?
I`m more pissed off with the Spud result and if we want to moan about players why did we release the Gooner Kane ?……..the bastard !.
This will make you feel a little bit better ! 🙂
https://twitter.com/WengerTactic/status/800001696755843072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
LC, when he was carving it up for us, he wasn’t stuck on the wing, that’s for sure 🙂
I hope his form returns real soon Scott….
Good old Rio.. Giggs was sulking too… lol
Morning Rico and all. Ramsey is still on his way back from an injury so he will need time. Yesterday was a good point, considering the low quality of our game and this poor form has been with us for quite a while now.
Overall though it’s hard not to think that the team is rather plodding along at the moment.
Morning Adam.
I loved the fact that is was so late in the game and that equaliser would have really cheesed off Mourinho. The football though was seriously lacking some spark…
New post up now…