Arsenal Banter Archive February 12 2014

12 Feb 2014 23:28:16
Right. That was not a team that looked like it could win the league tonight. Giroud is good. But not upto the standard to win us big games. Needs 6 chances every game. Then poles his tongue out as if oh well I tried. Not good enough. Only thing ule be seein next year is the Bench. Ed, please tell me there is that world class striker out there that wenger wants?

12 Feb 2014 23:22:36
Note to Wenger,

Read the FA rule book. Since 1967 you are allowed to use 3 substitutes per game, not just 1.

I only have one thing to say about your post Dags. NICE ONE!

It baffles me why we didn't put in Podolski on the wing. Both Santi and Rosicky were tired and even Giroud could have used a sub.

DG that can't be right each side only had 1 sub back in the 70's :)

12 Feb 2014 23:00:35
Think we dominated the game tonight but were just too nervous at times, understandable.a lot of people slating Giroud but I think he's tried very hard, the goals will come for him again.In my opinion our weak link tonite was Jack Wilshire, he lost a lot of possession in midfield, just didn't seem comfortable collecting the ball from the back four and turning defense into attack, but he, s quality and his game will return soon enough.I feel he is better further up the pitch than alternating with Arteta to come collect and go.Hurry up Rambo and get fit again, if we had his energy tonite we would have won the game.
Looks like there will be some changes in the team for the FA Cup game this weekend. Saving those subs.!
Any of the top four clubs at the moment can win the title so stay positive fellow gunners.Lets win our next two games against Sunderland and stoke and see where the league table puts us.

That's the spirit!

Would like Giroud and Ozil to score to give them confidence plus we can't rest for the FA Cup as big chance of silverware

Wilshire did not have his best of games and did give it away a few times but he still tries to make things happen and always looks for a forward pass or goes on aforward run. Did not happen for him tonight but I still think he is an importnat player for us.

Areata for me is the real weak link he is just too slow on the ball needs too many touches and he very nearly cost us a goal tonight early on. as the DM type you can't afford to be dweling on the ball like he does. Flamini much better in that position for me.

Giroud needs a partner I my book soemone realivly close to him so he has that more constant link for a easy pass off. Not a main leading striker no but as a 2nd striker he is good at what he does.

12 Feb 2014 22:31:12
Quote from Wenger>>>

"Podolski is one of the best goalscorers I have ever seen. He is very natural and has a very good left foot".

And you don't play him, why?

I'm picking up some negativity there dagenham. All we need is gunner 62 to turn and this site will be one big black hole.
Very good question though.
Flybo

Sorry Flybo mate,

I know me and G62 are normally the positive ones but tonight was god damn awful.

But hey, on the positive side, we can always win our usual trophy, the 4th place cup, lol.

12 Feb 2014 22:28:05
And the debate keeps going on>>>

Giroud?

Now, I have praised this guy time and time and time again.

I love some of the things he does. He leads the line and holds up the ball but I'm getting so pi55ed off with him.

How many chances does he need to find the back of the net? He had 6 good chances, especially the 4th minute header and the 76th minute tap-in.

Am I being harsh? No, because if you play with just 1 man upfront, than that 1 man has to be a goal machine. Sorry, Giroud is more like a washing machine.

Would we be better off with Suarez? yes, we will be about 8 or 9 points clear at the top at this stage.

Aguero? Yes, same as above.

People say he leads the line well and he suits our style of play. Yeah, I get that but so did Thierry.
He lead the line brilliantly and brought in players like Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Pires but the main difference is he also scored 25/30 goals per season.

Like I said, I love Giroud but when you play with 1 up top, you need a lethal goalscorer.

And if he sticks his tongue out one more time I'm going to shove it up his ar5e.

12 Feb 2014 22:54:06
It had to be said DG,

There was a reason Arsene bid £40 million for Saurez and it wasn't to play him second fiddle to Giroud.

We will be waiting until next season to make a serious challenge.

Arsene unfortunately missed the boat on the players we need to move to the next level.

Agree Jen

For me we missed width today. cazorla and rosicky kept coming in. to make giroud effective he needs to be in the box.

walcott would have put a few crosses in, not a RB sagna as your top crosser.

podolski would have made it too narrow. but I am still puzzled as to why he did not play.

i understand we needed pace with ox, but we should have replaced giroud with poldi too.

look, we are 1 point from the top, 3 points from liverpool, and them coming back into the race only adds more pressure to city and chelsea when they play them.

its not over by a long shot. we just need to pick ourselves up and do one better on sat.

12 Feb 2014 22:13:07
2 tough games out of the way and still a point off the top, that will do. Flamini
will be back, Rambo soon after the Sunderland game . still in there

That will do? You honestly think a trophy is on the cards playing like that?

I suppose that is one positive way to look at it, But Utd were there for the taking tonight and yet again Wenger shows his lack of tactical awareness of the opposistion. We were crying out for pace and yes Walcott is out but why were Gnarby and Podolski not used, why was Ox benched.

I would have personally benched Arteta have whilshire deep and keep Ox in the side alongside Cazorla. Drop Oxil for the sake of some pace in Gnarby, he looks bushed anyway. and use Podolski wide left or even rest Giroud and start Podolski in middle. Freshen it up a bit

If we are really going to take the next step and get the hounours we need to start beating the big teams especially at Home.

12 Feb 2014 22:06:54
It's not often you see me write a negative post about Arsenal but jeez, that was shocking.

I thought we were trying to win the league?

This Manchester United team, compared to previous teams, apart from their frontline, are absolutely terrible and if we can't beat them, at home, than I'm sorry, we deserve nothing at the end of the season.

Just as well, because that is all we will be winning, nothing.
The manager and players have been banging on about how much they are looking forward to these big games. Really? Well, any chance we can win one of them?

Why have Manchester United been Champions so many times over the past 15 years? Simple, they win the big games, they don't bottle it like we do every time.

Chelsea drew, Man City didn't play, so this was our chance to get back on top of the table, put the pressure on the team's around us and make a statement.

What statement did we make?

So God damn pi55ed off with the way we are playing at the moment and the results. Have been a Gooner for over 40 years but this team just flatter to deceive. Too many under performers and too reliant on Ramsey and Walcott.

I don't think its lack of bottle so much, Just Wenger lack of tactical nous that cost us in big games. Againt the big team you need tactics that expose any weakness in the oppostion.

Utd's defnce ATM are scared of pace and we did not utilse any players with real pace. Yes Walcott is out but why was Gnarby not utilised, why was Ox benched.

Giroud looks out on his feet and we have a fit and fuelled Podolski ready to use and he never really gets used. I am suprised Podolksi has not got really pissed off with this.

Wenger just thinks I must have as many techncial good passers as possibly on the pitch, but a side needs balance it's no good having all these good passers if knowone is making the runs. Walcott and Ramsey do offer those runs so are a big miss no doubt but Wenger does not help the situation.

Utd were there for the taking tonight, I am actually more annoyed in tonights performance than the Liverpool game because that you can just right off as just a bad day at the office with coceeded those early goals we were caught cold.

Good analysis Ryan, totally agree.

12 Feb 2014 21:55:49
Same tactics and formation from wenger. Same time of substitution. It isn't working. What a surprise. Hopefully his last season

12 Feb 2014 21:55:29
We could and should have won the game. Wenger cost us:

1. Giroud looks rubbishty. I am sorry but I don't know how holding up the ball is an attribute. Strikers should score goals. He doesn't do that. He has no pace and no skill and when he does get chances, he messes it up

2. Use the f***ng substitutes. For Pete's sake. Podolski should have gotten a run

3. TR7 was playing really well. Why take him out?

4. We are the only top 4 team without a clinical striker. I am sorry but I think no defenders are afraid of Giroud

12 Feb 2014 21:54:04
what is this block we have against united? our record against them is shocking. it was understandable a few years ago but with their current form the fact we cannot even get a goal in 2 games is so poor.

we just look limp right now. we are still up there but if we keep playing with this impotence we won't get anything from this season.

but hey, chin up eh

12 Feb 2014 21:50:57
i hate clattenberg.


no real reason but I just think he gets tonnes of calls wrong and is happy about it.

also the only referee to wear 80's style cheek blusher make up.

now onto our team.

anyone else think we played tonight like a fifa player who'd just learn how to 1-2 the ball?

redonkulous if you ask me. there was a breif spell in the second half 72-82ish mins where we were having a couple of cracks on goal, and my spirit lifted. but other than that it looks like we are playing arsenal f.c vs 'charity team x' no need to try here boys.
as much as i'd like to say 'yeh well utd are like that atm, a charity team har har har. ' they deserve more respect than that.

Scezh did well

Gibbs proved to everyone why this page is raving about his performances, looked like a winger when he needed to and a wing back when he needed to.

midfield, arteta needs to start playing with sanogo, and before you question my sanity, I mean in our reserve team, Arteta is a great player, for a top 4 side. For a Championship winning side he isn't good enough.

ozil in todays game vs ozil in the liverpool one. WOW is he the same player?
against the scousers he did some fairly nice runs and touches and stuff but that was it, tracked back once or twice. Tonight he was brilliant, got nothing to show for it, but deffinately one of our best 6 players.

ox didn't really feature tonight, but seems to be keeping up with positioning well, rosicky was a bit frustrated and spooned some nice balls.

and finally olly, well olly was beaten the sheet out of by vidic tonight, like some of the blatent heavy handed tackles agasint him were plain to see, thuggish league 2 defending works. if you get away with it and here we are again back round to my first point.



Mark Battenburgs refereeing is as good as his make up artist.


p.s if you look like a players long lost brother you shouldn't be allowed to officiate their games! is he lolo's relative?!

GoonerInk, that post cracked me up, lol

12 Feb 2014 21:48:18
someone needs to sit wenger down and exploan to him playing the same tactics every game of every season has gotten tired! we need a change of tactics!

12 Feb 2014 21:46:58
Don't know about you guys but our inability to beat the big teams is really starting to annoy me.

Wilshere and Arteta made their best effort to lose the ball and slow the game down whenever possible.

Giroud, despite his height, still couldn't direct a header anywhere near the goal.

Ozil, again, failed to stamp his class on the game.

Cazorla was decent and you felt that, if we were to score, it would be him to do it.

Defensively pretty sound - Szczesny was solid.

Over the last two years, we have taken 4 out of a possible 30 points against City, Chelsea and United.

We will never win the title with a stat like that. Simple as.

Arteta I am not fussed with to be honest like you say he slows the play down to much and takes too many touches when he is the starting fulcrum of our attacks really like Gerrard would be for Liverpool.

Certinaly not a starter for me.

I know wilshire did give the ball away a few times tonight but he does try and make things happen and is prepared to run at players.

Pace iand penatration was what we lacked too many ball players not enough runners to get in behind which has been common theme for some time really.

12 Feb 2014 21:46:09
Verdict.
Tactics - WRONG.
needed pace against this ageing team. Waste of time playing 4 no.10s

Back 5
Pretty much faultless.

Arteta.
Alright, nothing special.

Wilshere.
Poor. Gave ball away way too much, not for the first time. Over ran it endlessly. That being said his team mates didn't help him out and never really got themselves in any decent positions.

Rosicky.
Hit and miss, pretty ineffective.

Cazorla.
Played better after 70mins. Up to that, meh.

Ozil.
Best player but had no one to ying his yang. Players need to move about for him to find them. Whenever he got the ball everyone aroung him stood still, it was a waste of time.

Giroud.
Terrible. He had the opportunities to score and didn't.
Just like against Chelsea, 4 points dropped against our direct rivals as a direct consequence of him being total turd. It's not his fault, the manager should have bought a decent centre forward but didn't.

12 Feb 2014 21:44:20
Pathetic

Absolutely pathetic

Big match. We don't score

Giroud, 4 chances missed. 4

1 sub used

I hope City and Chelsea make us pay, do we even want to win? timid, afraid and lazy

Shezza, incredible. Defensive duo, hats off.

And to the Ozil haters, just who the hell is he supposed to pass it to when Giroud does more standing up and posting up that a forward does in basketball?

We should have destroyed them. Instead they had the better chances, all 3 off of mistakes

Arteta is too slow. Giroud is awful. How many more open headers he misses horribly wide are we to look at that stupid face he makes. "Oh I should have scored" No rubbish you loser, and we should be running away w the league

Instead we look like a neutered bull, fighting the last thing on our mind

Arsene, you've got Gnabry and Poldi, so you play the slowest team possible against a defense badly lacking in pace.

Kudos on a pathetic coaching job today. Thanks for showing up.

Team of losers who settle for draws, what ambition!

We are satisfied drawing to a mid level team, is essentially what happened today. Great stuff!

Top post USG

In a nutshell, top post.

12 Feb 2014 21:43:30
Well 0-0 and on balance the fair result really close chance for RVP good save for Schenzy and Kos header cleared off line was the closest to a goal.

pressured in the end without creating a real good clea chance.

The lack of pace was what killed us . Giroud worked his socks off yet again but is out on feet. I don't undertsand why Wenger does not utilise Podolski and Gnarby more really.

12 Feb 2014 21:40:01
Going to have to learn to beat the big teams if we want big prizes. Going to need a new striker or two as well. No pace what so ever in that team and that is truly worrying.

Also, what were we doing at the end there? 92 mins, free kick, chance to put it in the box and we pi$$ about with it as per usual and lose the ball and United keep the ball till the game ends.

There's time for passing football and there's time to go long into the box.

12 Feb 2014 21:38:38
Wenger nd his tactics annoy me utd were there for the taking nd no poldi brought on. I just can't understand it at all.

12 Feb 2014 21:35:27
Even when united are crap we still can't beat them.
Flybo

Doesn't help when we make no tactical effort to win. Why no subs apart from ox was beyond me. Has Wenger old this bottle?

12 Feb 2014 22:11:18
Every man and his dog beats them and we get 2pts out of a possible 6. Pathetic.

12 Feb 2014 22:49:47
I know I'm thick but jeez, 1pt.

12 Feb 2014 21:04:23
Rather have gnabry and myiachi on the bench than sanogo

12 Feb 2014 20:40:27
gotta say Giroud is getting the better of vidic but damn he's be proper pony infront of goal, wide wide high and wide, don't know how many opportunities he's going to need

don't get me wrong I love the guy but its like he's trying to hard or got serious nerves

And yet again more missed opportunities, wenger get your cheque book out we need options upfront, and a world class striker to beat the supposed top 4 teams

12 Feb 2014 19:30:34
Rosicky starts so optimism is xd 1000% and I'm now very confident.

2 0 it is and TOP OF THE LEAGUE, AGAIN :-)

12 Feb 2014 19:03:22
No pace in the starting lineup. Kinda makes Ozil redundant. Not sure where the goals will come from tonight, unless Cazorla hits one from range.

12 Feb 2014 18:09:20
Well as GOLDBOY returns I shall be leaving at the weekend for a trip to the country. I'm fortunate because I'm going to a place with a lovely sea view. Which is a surprise because it's 20 miles in land.

It's such a shame seeing things that people love so much sinking before your eyes, but they believe in the manager and given him a six year contract so they may as well just get on with it.

It's always the was with us. We struggle against united, and if we were able to beat them tonight we still can't say we've beaten a top 4 team.

So Phillip Schofields back in town tonight. He's scored three in three against us. So not only is he disloyal, he's also greedy. Horrible individual!
The little boy inside told him to move to united. Now there are murmurings that the little boy has grown up in to a teenager, and may want to come back.
It was bound to happen. Your wants and wishes change as you get older. When I was a little boy I wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. 20 years on I find myself doing 12 hour shifts slogging my guts out on minimum wage as a Power Ranger. Mum says I should grow up, but I just tell her to shut up and get me my Sugar Puffs.

Three points please Arsenal. See you on the other side
COME ON YOU GOONERS
Flybo

Lol Flybo you crazy boy you

12 Feb 2014 16:46:35
Strong ref needed tonight - I expect them to pick a strong central mid pair, if not 3, with instructions to "get amongst us" - aka give us a kicking. Ref needs to stamp this out early.

Get a win here and that's 2 of our tough games out of the way. Still everton & spurs away, as well as chelsea and Man city, but if we are top again tonight then that's a huge lift.

12 Feb 2014 16:08:07
We need to take it to them they will sit back as always and try and hit us on the break. We need to be disciplined but hungry. I want to see the side that played against Napoli in the first match first touch passing, beautiful movement, and winning the ball back within seconds of losing it. We are the better team and we need to show it. I predict a 3-1 win.

12 Feb 2014 13:27:11
Hope you beat that lot tonight properly kill them off. Good luck gunners not that you need it with the Scottish smeagle still there!

Thank you Lfcste

Lfcste your right we don't need luck tonight, but can we hang up to it, just incase.
Cheers mate

12 Feb 2014 10:48:29
This is part of the post I made on 9.2.14.

'Since we went top after the home loss to villa no other team has held the top spot for more than 1 week. and are then replaced by us'.
Chelsea tripped over Mourinhos big mouth

Yes there is pressure on us to beat Manchester United tonight. and I believe the team will do it. I think it also helps that none of the so called experts give us a chance to win the league. the real pressure is on Chelsea and Man City and I can see them slipping up against more of the smaller teams. we have addressed that problem this season. but we must find the mental strength to believe that we can beat the bigger teams

Absolutely right Highbury Old Timer. It's amazing how top teams are slipping up. But it's easy to forget that this does happen. 3 years ago Utd won with 80 points, before that Chelsea with 86. Even with the slip-ups, all 3 top clubs still have decent chances of breaching 85 points. But probably only one will get that far - and we still have a decent chance of being that team.

I like Wenger's insistence on just focusing on ourselves and looking to do our best every game. Obviously it's hard to tell where that came into Saturday's performance, but it is the attitude we'll need to be in it until the end.

After today our PL run eases up a bit. If we can win and get the confidence to do the job against Sunderland, Stoke and Swansea, we'll go into the next death run (Spurs, Chelsea, City) with as good a chance as anyone.

Yes after that next tough fixture patch you mention Oleg we've got it easy its only Everton away :-)
But in all seriousness lads very good posts.
Even allowing for not beating utd spurs ciy Chelski or Everton, we can get close to the 80 point mark avoiding banana skin games.
But chuck in a couple of wins and draws from the big matches and we won't be far off the 85 you mentioned

12 Feb 2014 10:40:25
So, here we go, another big match, the fates have thrown the dice again, a win and we go back top, what a strange season.

Media dislike of AFC.

It would appear no-one outside of the club ( media primarily ) likes Arsenal, BT sport for instance, they have Michael Owen commentating, good impartial, objective commentary then. no!
Match of the Day
hmmm, well, plenty to say there, most of it libellous, so, I won't say anything, but the faithful out there know what I mean.
Printed ephemera
Choose any of the red tops, and that other out-house rag the DM, subjective hatred most of the time, I just don't get it, the latter seeming to ignore the fact we have been top for 130 odd days, they have run with stories about the other top 4 team for that majority for that time, and our newsworthy stories have appeared mid page. is it just me?

My thoughts about tonight, recent history ( the last 9 years) would seem to favour and indicate we're screwed!
We going to bottle it. again.
However, Man United are not the same unit under Mr Moyes, RVP (B'std) throwing his dummy out of the cott again, Shrek will raise his game, Mata is a danger, the rest. not Man u quality under Moyes, let's be honest.

The bounce back factor.
I feel, I believe, I hope, we will rebound from the drubbing L'pool gave us, i'd like to see a huddle before the game, a bit of solidarity, an outward display to the fans.

Form AFC
We score so far this season on average, 1.8 goals when at home
Conceding 0.5, on average
Form MU
They score 1.9 goals away on average
Conceding 1.6 goals away on average.

Considering the above ( for what its worth) a narrow win to us, that noted, the same could have been said pre the L'pool game,
2-1

COYG

12 Feb 2014 06:58:13
With City & Chelsea dropping points against Norwich & WBA, the effect of the defeat against Liverpool won't be as dire as first thought, particularly if we can beat United tonight and go back top. I believe the run in will take a toll on City, as they are still in four competitions. Whilst Chelsea are in 3 competitions and are most likely of the top three to progress in the Champions League. The FA Cup match where City play Chelsea, will also take its toll on the teams. As for Arsenal, in reality we are unlikely to progress past Bayern in the CL, which could be a blessing in disguise. The FA Cup is a difficult one, as elimination would reduce the matches we need to play, keeping the squad fresher for the run in. However, I have a funny feeling we will beat Liverpool on Sunday, which would be a huge boost for our confidence. So let's get behind the team tonight and drive them on to success, we need to play our part and make the emirates an intimidating stadium to visit.

Agree Robbie,

This will definatley show us if we have got what it takes to go all the way this season.It is now in our hands(maybe feet) again.

I am hoping our midfield turn up tonight, if they do we will over run their average quality midfield, I believe they have not got the all round pace that destroyed us against Liverpool

12 Feb 2014 02:54:36
I'm not being funny here but did you see wenger when interviewed about van persie? Smiling not ruling anything out. Why not rule it out as he knows how much hate the fans have for him?
But no, he's smirking as if he thinks he's can bring him back. I would not be surprised if wenger tried, he does what he wants and doesn't care what anyone thinks in the process, maybe this is wengers plan all along for the summer. Him as our answer to our world class striker the one who he sold 2 years earlier! Nothing suprises me anymore.
Who knows what goes on in that French mind! Anyway that **** will score against us tomorrow just hope we can win and back bounce top, Sorry for the long post I just can't stand the Dutchman.

I think Arsene is playing a little mind game with the horrible dutch bloke thing.
He and others are not happy so Wenger doesn't want to put a dampener on that it