Arsenal Banter Archive January 13 2013

13 Jan 2013 21:51:23
Having taken a couple of hours after the match and genuinely thought how the team is progressing and the overall situation at the club here is what i believe. Kos was defo sending off and i applaud Mike Dean for doing it i am constantly saying this should be case more at corners when its basically like an american football line of scrimmage and no is punished, its wrong pushing and shoving and holding is against the rules so punish it regardless of it being in the box. Kompany's sending off was a joke, it was a great tackle and he should be commended for not taking Wilshere out.

The team needs organising it needs to be built from a solid basis, and our defence isn't. It isn't a shock the best defence wins the league Man city last season there defence was immense they won the league. Either Steve Bould has forgotten all he knows or he isn't being allowed to work with the players. Do we need re-inforcements in defence YES! Vermaelen is all over the place he is devoid of confidence in himself and his playing partners, Per Mer is a good player, but cannot handle the pace of the PL, sorry to say but you need to be fast and strong and he just isnt. Kos is suffering from lack of games and confidence he is panicking and its killing his game. Sagna looks like a player who knows he's going, Gibbs is such an enigma one game great the next all over the place. In my mind bring in M'bwia and a player called Christian Ansaldi an argentinian playing in Russia. Let Bould work withthe players constantly from now till the end of the season and drop this zonal nonense.

Formation we are far to narrow, we need genuine wide men. We are crying out for Left sided attacking player. We need a strong reliable power house in midfield, personally i think Coq could be it but he needs guidance and time, for me a cheeky attempt for Flamini on loan till end of season wouldnt be stupid. Our central midfield is over crowded and players need to be sacrificed. I believe its time to loose the likes of Rosicky, Diaby, and possibly Ramsey and Frimpong. Arteta can cover Wilshere and Caz, we also have Eisfield coming through and Gnabry so lets get them out and bring in like i say a strong defence minded player for this and possibly next season. Let them build the foundation so our creative players can break teams down knowing there isnt the pressure to defend as much as the team is solid behind you.

Strikers for me are a joke at Arsenal, we have Podolski who should be through the middle he is quick and nimble takes players on and calm finisher and world class could be our Suarez, Giroud is always going to get you at 15 goals a season as a back up or for more direct play when struggling to break teams down. And then NO ONE! Why are we bending over for Walcott? He is injury prone and hasnt lived to the hype sorry but were clutching at him as he is being made to look good by the other dross at the club. Bendtner a JOKE, Chamakh a JOKE, Park a JOKE. We need at least one striker of true world class ability.

Wages are a joke at Arsenal they truly are, we have a massive wage bill yet can't afford to pay top players top wages because we pay Mediocre players a fortune. Who ever does our contracts needs shooting who the hell sanctioned Squillaci on £50000 a week? We could afford to pay the top players more if we stopped paying the rubbish what there clearly not worth, it would also help us get rid of them as they would leave. Instead they stay as were paying them twice what there worth.

The supposed cream of youth talent we have where is it? Ryo can't get a game at Wigan, Wellington remember him? NO and neither does anyone else even though he was the next kaka, Joel Campbell is hardly setting the world alight. What i also don't understand is why these players are shipped out abroad away from Wenger who is apparently the master of youth development. Why not keep them at the club use them in the Under 21 and next Gen and oversee their development at Arsenal. Send them on short term loans in this country a month here 3 months there. So you can work with players and properly assess them and mould them.

Ticket and pricing at the club is obscene and i for one applaud the Man City fans for returning the tickets, its hardly value for money, times are hard and were paying the top prices to see frankly a team so below our expectations its laughable. The board seem on a path of self destruction in my mind they honestly think were just going to keep paying and putting up with it. Well i say NO, why should we? They know what needs to be done and frankly do nothing. Has anyone even heard from a board member in the last 12 months on the clubs plans and future? Even Ivan must be getting sick of spewing the same BS. He genuinely has to be banging his head against a wall he is trying to bring in commercial revenue and the team is going so far backwards at an alarming rate sponsors must be getting close to negotiating smaller deals not bigger ones. Silent Stan needs to decide if he is IN or OUT? Put a chairman in place with a board who are going to demand and work for on field results and trophies therefore ensuring off field success or leave the club as his investment as far i can see will only go down if the current club operations continue.

On this season lets be honest if we qualify for Europe i'll be happy. We are in such a mess its needs to be worked on over months on the training ground and new playing styles and systems put in place. Is Wenger the man for the job? Well my heart says yes he produced football of a standard no other team has got close to, the invincibles were awesome. His early teams played with pace and power and just steam rollerred other teams. My head says no he isn't, he has become stagnant and so caught up in the none footballing side that he isnt doing what he does best and that's working with the players. If a new board came in with new leadership and someone took all off field responsibilities off Wenger like David Dein used to i would happily give Wenger a chance turn it around. I just see the current contract problems and know they wouldnt of happened if Dein was still at the club and the irony is he was sacked for bringing in the man who now owns the club. Against the the board who now benefit from it. LUDICRIS

So in short and sorry for the large post i am dismayed and as any fan i have my own ideas on how to fix it. Will it happen i doubt it, though one thing is for sure i believe it is all coming to head and come June our club will be asked and be asking itself some very important questions.

Holmesy {Ed007's Note - Take a bow Holmesy, a well thought out post there.}

Top post Holmesy, enjoyed reading that, you raised some great points. Will

Holmesy, top post, I enjoyed reading that, but it made me sad because everything you said was true, especially about the young players getting loaned out.

Excellent post Holmesy: I especially agree about the point of "developing young players". We do and have had a few, but then again which club hasn't? It feels like we proportionately have fewer come through but are constantly "promised" the next messiah, such as Nacer Barazite, JET, Wellington as you mentioned, Pedro Botelho, and probably a hundred more that if I had the time I could research and list. If AW is such a "great developer", I agree that it is tsrange to sed away your future to arms length at other clubs.
Max Farnham

Nice post. Personally I would like to give Frimpong a chance before shipping him out and I do think Walcott playing off Giroud or Podolski in a 4-4-2 would help him out. I agree he cannot play upfront on his own against top sides. The rest you are absolutely right about. I do find it a shame that we will have to fail to make the CL and finish 30+ points behind the Premiership winners for us to make a change at management/board level. We the club cannot see what everyone else can see is beyond me, but this neverending loyalty to averaghness needs to stop, ideally now but definately no latter than the summer.
Chess

13 Jan 2013 21:32:20
Good second half performance, nothing we could really do, 10 men against a team like man city we are always going to struggle. I liked the diaby wilshire cazorla partnership.

Still think even with giroud and walcott, we need a world class striker.

Yes, because their not

13 Jan 2013 21:27:23
The players I want and the players we need
Aubemayang from st ettiene (kids the next Henry)
Sissokho from Toulouse a real driving force in midfield that diaby usually gives us when he is fit
Marrone from Italy (I do not believe that Miguel is or will never be good enough for us)
Promote jenkinson to first choice
Walcott "sign da ting"

Also I want to see more of eisfeild and gnabry these German lads are real talents that need to start being given oppurtunities as subs

Jack

13 Jan 2013 21:03:13
Ive always defended Wenger in the past....but no more.....the guy is too powerful at the club and worse still, far too stubborn.Our defence is pulled all over the place and lacks organisation.....The lack of quality in the squad allows complacency.....if you don't play well for 3 or 4 games you will still be picked for the next......Equally, there is no quality on the bench to change a game......The system 4-3-3 is flawed if the two wide players are not capable of getting quality balls in to the front man.......This system is not suitable for Podolski who is used to playing to the left of the main striker.....that requires a man out wide to his left...winger or wide midfielder....For the German national team he plays to the left of Gomes......Arteta has had a fine season, but he is not a natural defensive midfielder....Gibbs is so one footed that players show him on the inside and he panics because he won't use his right foot.....We need a left sided player who can have the opposing full back on the back foot.....a defensive midfielder who plays infront of the defence, and gives them propper protection....There are around 6 players the are mentioned on this site every day.....A real top quality forward....Negredo of Sevilla is the pefect player for us......You don't make this spanish squad if your adverage.....his team mate Rakitic is no mug in midfield.Sevilla are in a lot of debt and Wenger can't use any of his many excuses regarding availability or price.....If a team can be up for it playing the spuds but not away against Southampton then Questions must be asked regarding the ability of Wenger regarding motivation.The board or the owner will never sack him because the money still comes rolling in.....This is now 8 years without silverware......because they have no passion for the club...the American watches 3- 5 games a year....The board hides behind wenger saying he has money to spend, which he has......Wenger has excuse after excuse regarding city and chelsea spending money that's not generated by the club......Well mate, Van persie and Fabregas never left our club to go to either of those clubs.....Then he has the cheek to say if we didn't have the hight ticket prices we woudnt be able to compete with the top clubs....we aint you stubborn man.....km

13 Jan 2013 20:49:34
If you looked at our substitutes bench today there we no game changers/winners apart from Giroud (which can be debated). We need to bring in a few faces that will straight away change the game when they come on and get us vital goals. Also players like Gervinho and Arshavin are sub par.

We also need a good look at the defence. A solid defence provides a good base to work from. We need a new DM that has physical presence, can play good balls that keep the team ticking and can shield the back four. Especially so when our wing backs go up the flank leaving the two CB's exposed. We don't have that physical presence apart from Diaby and he's more of a box to box midfielder and is also injury prone.

Sagna also needs to be dropped as his form of late hasn't been consistent enough and shows signs of ageing/previous injury. Jenkinson was in form before Sagna's return and should of kept his place. Gibbs has been consistent, however if he gets injured santos isn't sufficient to cover. Koscielny (minus the red card) I highly regard, and had a good season last season, and needs a run in the team to find form, however Mertesacker is hard to displace as he is very consistent.

New RB and LB needed.

Centrally in midfield we are well stocked with Cazorla, Wilshere, Arteta, Diaby, Rosicky and Ramsey, however rotation should between these four to prevent fatigue and provide freshness. This will provide us energy which we seem to lack atm. Two of these 6 should be on the pitch at the same time partnered with a new DM who can rotate with Arteta.

Up front we need another striker in my opinion. Walcott may have his good games but he isn't consistent enough to warrant a starting spot or a 100k contract. We need a top striker, or play to Giroud's strengths more. In wingers we have a lack of quality, Podolski is naturally a striker so therefore we only really have Oxlade Chamberlain and Walcott of decent enough quality! Gervinho is sub par, Ramsey naturally a CM and individuals like Arshavin seem non existent!

We have also let quality over the past few years slip through our net due to our ridiculous wage policy! I can't fathom how individuals such as Arshavin and co get paid to not play or provide quality! If we restructured it we could afford to pay £100k plus wages by not over paying mediocre players! As it seems to me we do!

In summary of my opinion a new striker is required, wingbacks, a DM with presence we've been so lacking in years and a winger of a decent quality!We also need to improve the squad so we have game changers who we can bring on, however this won't occur in January.

Za Muse

13 Jan 2013 20:31:21
Something has to change fast in this club if we want a Top 4 spot.

13 Jan 2013 20:18:39
wenger & his board of muppets out, had enough of all this joking around on & off the pitch. we need quality players not cheap kids, buy now wenger or bye bye

13 Jan 2013 20:10:41
Would like to congratulate silent stan and all directors of ARSENAL F.C for finally destroying our once mighty club, you rip us off with ticket prices, you allow our best players to run down contracts and leave to go to our rivals. You won't pay the going rate for top players which leaves us fighting the lesser teams in the league for average players.
We are ARSENAL we should be signing the best players in the world and competing for the title not 4th, 5th, 6th where ever we finish this season im still unsure. Stan you have no right in football or our ARSENAL if you wanted to make money you should have brought tesco's or pizza hut not our club. You have had your time now move on before it's to late we need change and you cannot do that you have no interest in the club just the dollars you can make from it until you have dragged it down so much you can chuck it away.
Anyway rant over


Very fed up gooner

13 Jan 2013 20:02:35
We will never know what we would be saying if it remained 11 v 11 but personally the red card gave us an excuse today and i think it covered up some of the cracks that are obvious with the Arsenal right now. The best Arsenal teams were formed from a solid base.

Our keeper is good but makes too many errors over the course of a season and therefore not a championship winning keeper.

Would Verm, Kos or Mert get in the top 3 teams? No

Gibbs is an average player who Wenger is trying to improve, so again not good enough. As for Sagna, can you blame him as he knows what we all know. This team isn't good enough.

Our midfield has 2 quality players, Jack and Santi. The rest are just squad players but not first team players.

Walcott and GIroud need to play together as neither is good enough on their own.

The successful Arsenal teams have always been solid with a few flair players to change the game.

Please go back to basics and get 2 banks of four (players who will put a shift in like jack today) and make us hard to beat.

Right now we are the joke of the prem. (City were singing your sh!t and you know you are)

Probably get slated by all the regular's on here but at least I'm telling the truth, unlike Malaga!! (Sorry Malaga but needed some banter after a miserable post)

Bookie

13 Jan 2013 19:56:59
Folks can anyone explain why Kos is sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity while that person Dean played advantage (and Tevez missed the header) . Kompanys tackle was not a red card either as contrary to popular belief ( and most commentators either don't know or choose to ignore the fact that the rule book does not say anything about two footed tackles. )It talks about careless or dangerous tackles.
Kompany was in complete control of his body, he won the ball cleanly and his foot did not hit Jack. if you watch motd tonight you will see he makes contact with Jack with his thigh.
The problem with the English game is that too many people are reffing who have never played the game. Refereeing should be for ex players only ( and those that have played at a decent level) and not for policemen, schoolteachers and the like.
They are wrecking football.
Paul Belfast
Ps if you play advantage you cannot send a player off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Great idea lets get Henry to ref our games and Adams we can win the league

watford gooner

13 Jan 2013 19:48:43
Very disappointed with the result today ref ruined it as a game
But the second half was a lot better we need a striker really bad demba ba should have snapped him up on Jan 1st not sure who we are going to buy in Jan in arsen we trust not so sure anymore

13 Jan 2013 19:38:21
I'm baffled. There has been all sorts posted since the end of the game. Blinkered opinions mainly.my thoughts. Firstly koscielny. No doubt about this decision. It's a law that rarely gets punished but when it's as blatant as this then there is no arguing. Rugby tackle is the minimum way to describe this. My opinion on koscielny isn't based on this 1 game. He is distinctly average. Passion 100% determination 100% ability as a premier league defender 50 % at best. He had 1 good season in a very poor league and average team before we signed him. And we paid 8 MILLION FORR HIM!
Theo is getting hammered. Ok he didn't have a great game but the knock on effect from the sending off is massive. Take out AOC and its like cutting you writing hand off.
There's shouts for more attacking options needed in the transfer window. I believe we need to look at the other end of the pitch. Every championship winning team whether it be Arsenal, Man Utd, Man city, or Chelsea were based on a solid defence. Our starting line up, midfield 3 and front 3 you would be hard pushed to pick much better. Defence we are appalling. Szczesny all be it a good pen save is over rated in my opinion. No completion means no pressure on him resulting in inconsistency. Again similar to koscielny, lots of determination and passion but end product??
Vermaelen is great but with the uncertainty of the quality and ability of the man standing next to him holds him back. He could be our Vidic but until we get a consistent Adams/Keown/Campbell type next to him we won't see his true ability. Controversial but I would take Ashley Cole back at the blink of an eye. Again it comes down to consistency. Gibbs hasn't shown this and he's been give plenty of time. Sagna, well it's another contract scenario which we know will end up in him leaving. Is jenkinson ready. No. Simple.
Sort the defence and we have a chance to compete. Will it happen. No.
Am I the only fan who thinks our squad is full of average players?


Paul - Rochester

No, you are not alone! for wenger to describe the squad this week as 'quite complete' is an absolute insult.

we have calling for him to sort the defence out for 7 years and he still has not and i doubt he ever will.

Good post - not sure Cole is the answer to our defensive problems though.

Interesting - I've been posting about the p155 poor defense for some time now - and getting slated: 'Jenks is a revelation, Gibbs is class, Kos is a rock, Merts has 8 sqillion caps for Germany' etc, etc. In reality, the lack of security at the back impacts significantly on the way we set up and play. Keep Verm and buy some defenders who can DEFEND.

I'd like to know how koscielny has taken Merts place in the starting 11 when kos has boobed every time I've seen him this year and Mert has been our best defender by miles. Not saying the sending off wad foreseeable, of course it wasn't, but we should be playing our best 11 against city, if kos wasn't on the pitch then he wouldn't have got sent off, and it was a sending off.
AG

13 Jan 2013 20:42:44
I don't think our team is full of average players, some yes but I think if like you say our defence was rock solid some who are playing well under their ability would thrive.

We have quality in attack but you have previously mentioned Howedes the German captain, plus M'biwa and others that would allow us to be so much better. If only.

Stoner

"Am I the only fan who thinks our squad is full of average players?"
No Paul you are definitely not alone.
You would think with our huge wage bill tho, that wouldn't be the case.
I agree bout Shezza as well, he should be apprenticing not starting, Wenger hasn't a clue or care when it comes to goalkeeping.(Almunia FFS)
Disagree bout Cashley tho, F-him!
Ezdee
Please don't sign da ting Theo!

I would say we have a few very good players(Not world class maybe but very good) mixed with a few average or just young inexperienced players. Players like Cazorla, Wilshire, Podolski and TV5 would be in first team contention at the other top sides.

Our main problem is in our overbalance towards too many small technical attack minded midfielders and not enough strong physical athletes with more defensive disipline in midfield. Wenger likes to follow the Barcalona formula but in the EPL this is just not practical or best suited to the league and opposition we face week in week out.

I feel a couple of strong midfielders of this type will make a massive difference to this side. Also Wenger must surely see that 4-3-3 is making our midfielders overworked when it is not their natural game. You need to free the likes of Cazorla and Wilshire from having too much defensive responsibility in order to let them do what they do best, I.E finding time, a space between the lines to cause mayhem to the opposition.

Carzorla was doing this early season but because he has been overworked he is just too fatigued to do this now and his performance has suffered as a result.

We need go more compact in a
4-1-3-2/4-2-3-1 and rotate the attacking midfielders more so that they always stay fresh and at 100%. Arsenal are not like Utd or Chelsea that can coast through games at
70-80% and still nick a win Arsenal need all their players at 100% sharpness each game to be a really effective unit.

When we are really at it we can still be a force and can still beat anyone when we are like that, but we just have not got platform with which to do this at the moment with any sort of consistency. Yes we need a few players but we also need a change of tactics and mindset from Wenger. Will he do this though for me he is just too stubborn to change his ways.

13 Jan 2013 19:29:10
guys stop wasting your time (like i am wasting my own) and write about new signings cause there will not be any:
def not a striker (so no Remy, or Lopez) - there is Walcott, Giroud, Gervinho-yuppiee, Podolski can at front as well so that's 4 - no need for the 5th one
no winger (forget Zaha)- OX, Podolski, Walcott can play there (and should stay), Arshavin-yuppie, Gervinho-yuppiee, sometimes even Ramsey,
no midfielder - (so forget Biglia or Mvilla) there is Rosicky, now Diaby is back for a week, Arteta, Couqelin, Jack the magician, Cazorla!,
no lb or rb -even if santos no good TV or Miguel will fill on rb Jenkinson, Yanaris or Couqelin
if any signing then CD - still doubtfull -
and defo no GK we have 5 no need for 6 one
pity - unfortunately i am so afraid 6th place this year below Everton and that team i can't even write their name but whose manager is AVB

I am afraid you could be right and Walcott signing a new deal is the best we can hope for really.

It is clear as priority 1 we need more physicality and more defensive disipiline in midfield which will come from buying a top quality strong/athletic DM (Wanyama would be cool). I would be even tempted to get 2 in M'Villa aswell perhaps.

Diaby is not a natural DM and with his injury record you just can't rely on him anyway. Arteta tries his best but again not his natural position.
The 4-3-3 again is just making our midfield overworked and we often get overrun. Carzorla just looks fatigued to me. with a new DM We need to
go 4-1-3-2. The extra man in midfield will make a huge difference and give more of a platform for our more creative players like Cazorla and Wilshire freedom to operate without having to be overworked on the defensive side of things. We can then rotate the creative players more to keep them 100% fresh each game. We are not creative enough because we are not defensivly balanced enough.

Problem is mate if we finish 4th he will regard it as an achievement......the next year it will be the same as last season and the season before.....ive always defended Wenger, but i won't anymore....he has lost it.

13 Jan 2013 19:15:31
Players who cared today
SheZ 8
Sagna 4
Verm7
BFg 8
Gibbs 5
Pod 6
Caz7
Diaby 4
Wilshire 9
Ox !!unlucky
Walcott 3 never worth 90 a week crap

Szez was bloody awful today especially in the first half. Gibbs, Sagna and Diaby were just as crap.

I think diaby played a hell of a lot better than 4, 6 at the very least and sagna was left very exposed after ox came off, cazorla was trying to play through the middle while still covering the flank! we were unlucky should have defiantly been a penalty but the ref killed the game by sending kos off :/

13 Jan 2013 19:00:28
Firstly i am as gutted about the result as every other arsenal fan, but i for one thought in the 2nd half there were massive improvements we were playing a championship inning team that had a numerical advantage, everyone is going on like this result is the end of the world it isn't .
before this game i for one had already realised we are out of the title race so we are now going for 4th people like j.redknapp keep saying spurs are better than us well i don t agree i think we will finish above them and get fourth, i also think we could do something in the f.a.cup, that for me would be a success for a squad clearly in transition.

i hate to loose as much as anyone but there is nearly 1/2 a season to go and alot can happen in that time, and this game also highlighted that we need to improve which could just push wenger into the the transfer market and buy the def.
mid we need and a proper goal scoring striker.

ty.1

Out of the title race!
Blimey that's optimism for you.

We won't even be playing Thursday nights in the Kebab cup let alone Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the C/league mate.

13 Jan 2013 18:52:21
Hello Ed sorry i accidentally sent text in without finishing it.Basically crap defending, Walcotts non existent work rate, Podolski being played out wide and substituted again, Diaby obviously not match fit.but the main reason in my honest opinion is, not enough quality on the bench to change the game for us.
Arshavin must at least be worth a place on the bench, as according to AW nobody is being sold
unless we sign someone, and according to AW we are not even close to signing anyone.Eisfeld is my opinion worth at least a place on the bench more tempo to his game than Ramsey.
Theo embracing all the Manx in the tunnel before game brought back images of Cesc in the Champions
league 2nd leg with the Barca players, do you all remember when he gave them that little present of a back pass just before halftime.
Sorry i am getting sidetracked and being sarcastic.
Basically what i am trying to say is AW go out and find, then buy the quality players that a lot of clubs of our stature seem to find.
Having said all that i will be there Weds getting behind the lads, hopefully Brighton here we come.
Thanks for the site Ed
The Heybridge Gooner

13 Jan 2013 18:39:36
I will get well over 20 disagrees for this but oh well..

STOP BLAMING THE TEAM!

Firstly it was one individual who let the team down, Kos. Considering they played most the game out-number they did well. Not easy with every decision going against you. Ramsey, Wilshere, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Sagna, Szeszcny all gave it 110%. Those are the kind of players i want at Arsenal.

We didn't lie down and die after 2-0. No they pushed and were unlucky not to score. Remeber we were'nt against any old Wigan or Reading. Man City are a bloody good team. They played well and were well disciplined. Its a shame that we lost a man so early, wasnt a Red but was a pen.

Stop with all the crap blaming the team its just futile. With 11 men all the way through and with that fighting attitude we would have won that game. YES, this team is the worst in past 7 years, YES we need better players. But today was certainly not a bad performance, im gutted for them.

Detroit Gooner

Why don't you stop blaming the ref. Every decision didn't go against us. Flybo

Ifs ands and buts .... wake up. When is the last time we won a big game?

Your deluded mate - no one is knocking their commitment today, most fans are saying we need to shore up our defensive side of the game - it is wengers tactics and stubborness that is weakening the team.
we don't need to blame refs - sometimes they help (like cazorla pen) - sometimes they don't (like today) swings and roundabouts...get over it and take off those rose tinted glasses and realise this club doesnt deserve to be also rans but challenging for the premiership..we have to purchase quality

GS

I think the words well disciplined stand out. Something we are not aware of!
GG

13 Jan 2013 18:37:19
Interesting fact here, we have never won a game when mike dean has reffed us! Says it all!

GoonerRed

From 17 games with Mike Dean

Won 1
Drawn 7
Lost 9

Someone needs to take a serious look at this!

Bet he would not haven given a pen let alone a sending off at Old Trafford.
GG

We have won one.

out of 17.

13 Jan 2013 18:28:36
Yet again, Walcott was be grade, striker needs to be bought but I know for sure that we're not gonna get anyone... Sad sad times, and its not gonna get any easier. We'll get beaten comfortably by Chelsea next week, even though we were down 10 men we were at times shocking today.

13 Jan 2013 18:24:41
watched it on a fox stream. the ex aston villa boss [John Gregory] was so bias towards man city. but I have to say the arsenal fans at the ground made some noise. I loved it. had to crank up the speakers. well done to all who went. you have my respect.

13 Jan 2013 18:20:55
players in asap like jamie redknap said bunch of be list players we need a list players no 1 wants to pay top doller to watch be list players

13 Jan 2013 18:13:16
Theo went missing again today, however he wasn't helped by the fact we had 10 men. Walcott can't play striker every game; he's too inconsistent

HP

13 Jan 2013 18:07:40
f**K you Man City - the best team lost today! We looked good and promising and without our early red card probably would have won this game! City looked flat!

Can not wait untill FFP comes into play! Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Swansea and Spurs deserve more than these cheque book driven Manchester clubs and Chelsea! its ridiculous!

come on true football! i'd prefer to loose to Spurs than these! dissapointed in today but thought we looked the better team by far!

Come on Arsene reinforce this Jan and see us challenge like we should be! we should be title winners every year with our class!

COYG!

EMG {Ed035's Note - what game did you watch may I ask?? Even the most die hard arsenal fan surely has to admit that we are in trouble??

You are delusional.


North Carolina Gooner

My man, Arsenal would have lost if we had 12 men out there. City were in top gear and honestly should have scored more (especially in the first half)

We were totally lethargic and had no desire at all.

I agree with you mate. and ed, he never said that we weren't in trouble. he just said that we looked good today and we just need to make some quality signing

Yorkshire Gooner {Ed035's Note - you can hardly say arsenal were the best team today!!

"Can not wait untill FFP comes into play!"
Dream on mate and wait, ain't gonna happen. FFP is BS.

Liverpool have spent a lot of money on crap they won't benefit

watford gooner

13 Jan 2013 17:12:54
What an absolute joke if a first half that was! Granted it was ruined prematurely by that muppet Mike Dean! Could argue it was a penalty but was never a red if all the refs treated holding like that v the entire Stoke City back four and stand ins would be serving suspensions all season long! Horrendous decision.

Other than that we really have dug our own gave here. I'm getting really hacked off with the way we defend! We're so soft in the back we never press high for the ball and just let teams pass it into our box and cause trouble for ourselves. That's what caused both goals so far. 10 men or 11 we shouldn't be conceding goals like that. Too soft and to lazy. And diaby just isn't good enough but now he's back the boss will to stubborn to replace him.

Wenger needs to go! As much as the board have played their pay in raping our club for financial gain, wenger is too much of a yes man and would never speak out against the board. And the he's too stubborn to change the way we play ie changing formation, zonal marking, is killing us even more.

If I were a plastic fan I'd be past caring.

A very feed up JG.

Praying for a miracle

Agree with everything but the Diaby remark.

Fair play to him he's back after 3 months and has had to come in and pick up a lot of slack after the (horrendous) sending off.

I'm not saying he's has a good game, but I think if he stays fit his performances will improve.

Not sure if I am embarrassed more by our performance or the fact all you so called experts are blaming mike dean, sending off 100 percent.

If you really want to help our team be constructive and critical sure but be honest guys, we are not spurs supporters let them be in denial .

Any of you blaming the ref are the blinkered arsenal supporters I am ashamed to say are my own.

Shaneyd

"wenger is too much of a yes man and would never speak out against the board."
You are wrong. All others but wenger are a yes men.

Shayned, if you thik that is a red card you actually need to read the rule book> Cannot send a player off for denying a goal scoring opportunity if you allow Tevez to play advantage
Paul Belfast

13 Jan 2013 17:06:58
Something has to change, feeling sick right now!

Burtonwood Gooner

13 Jan 2013 17:05:44
worst Arsenal team i've ever seen, we need changes big time.

Before all you Wenger lovers come on and say it was not a sending off... well it was!

Who is training these defenders?

Rubbish

13 Jan 2013 17:02:58
STOP CRITICIZING THE PLAYERS GET BEHIND YOUR TEAM!

Get behind some players on 50 to 90 grand a week who don't seem to give a s### about Arsenal

Grow a PAIR

The poor players getting 40k and upwards a week to play football then not turning up to actually play on the weekend!

What about the fan being charged out the ar5e to watch this lot!

13 Jan 2013 17:00:42
People need to stop bleating about us selling RVP to a opposition team, we are not opposition to Man utd and haven't been for some time, that's why VP went there in the first place.
We won nothing with him and would not of bought players had he stayed, so what difference would it if made to us.
Man utd have ambition on the pitch we do not, end off.
Ike. {Ed035's Note - I hate to admit but you hit the nail on the head Ike..

13 Jan 2013 18:03:21
man city beat a 9 man team, wally did sweet fa. jack wilshare. I love the kid. puts he's head in where it hurts. an arsenal team with 10 jacks on the park. I'll be happy

13 Jan 2013 18:00:27
Bad day for us but trying to find the positives.
Ok, three good things from today:
•team showed great spirit (should be a given I know)
•wilshere was class throughout
And the best one for me:
•Ramsey was class when he came on! Made some great passes, lovely touches and ran nonstop! Lets hope he can keep it up!
O and diaby didn't get injured

13 Jan 2013 17:54:32
Really impressed with Ramsey today, thought he was one of the only players to play well today, along with Wilshere

Ramsey had one good pads in half an hour

13 Jan 2013 17:42:58
the next seven games define our season in the next 2 weeks haha cheakiii next we are dead and burried now out of everything... wait for bayern to put us of total misery

Did you mean next seven seasons defines our future. I don't expect us to win every game. or win the PL every season. to the board to have an intrest in winning. I think all they care care about is profit. I'm glad I'm not a season ticket holder.

13 Jan 2013 17:30:53
We are useless, spineless, leaderless, clueless overpaid rabble.

13 Jan 2013 17:25:42
Why the **** didn't Wenger take off Diaby after Kos' red?! It's good to see him back, but after so long out there's NO WAY he's playing 90'. So why take out Ox, who can last the whole match, and is probably even better suited to play CM than the wing?

If you know anything about football you wouldnt be asking!

13 Jan 2013 17:17:33
If Wenger don't improve our league status and buy major players that will get us our 3rd place back, sack
him and get Pep him, sod city..I also think if Pep joins
Villa will join aswell plus he will bring in quality players and maybe better staff..

13 Jan 2013 16:54:24
I'm sitting in a box with my son and some friends....this pain has cost me the best part of £3.5k ....please invest my money in players who can deliver

U will be lucky if wenger has anything to do with it

Great thanks man! arsenal now have a total transfer budget of......£3.5k

No. Now we have around 2k to spend in transfer market and 1, 5k for wages.

13 Jan 2013 16:48:36
diaby is not fit

Far from it but he wasnt totally out of place.

Still not a great performance tho, way too many misplaced passes, but couldn't handle that extra workload

13 Jan 2013 16:46:29
hahah we are that good

what the heck was kochlney doing
what are we sleeping at the free kick.

Wowow wenger will be judged at the end of the season. But better be judged

13 Jan 2013 16:42:33
Theo you are one lazy little f**ker work rate so poor
no footballing brain just pace
Jaygun1

And we are trying to pay him 100k a week. nice way to waste more money

Theo is not worth 100k maybe 50 pounds... if we are pinning all our hope on theo... AFC are in trouble

What if we sold Walcott what would happen? I'm thinking something similar to Nasri, Van Persie etc. 'We're a selling club', 'Why do we always sell our best players?'. That's what fans like you would be saying. We have to up his salary if he wants to stay, yes 100K is too much but we have to do it. He's part of the British core.

When did I mention selling Walcott and please don't put Theo and Rvp in the same sentence its embarrasssing.Walcott is a impact player who all of a sudden seems to think he is Messi always standing over set plays I watch football from a coaching aspect as well and Theo really does have along way to go.
Please read the text first I never stated selling him

Jaygun1

13 Jan 2013 16:32:40
Muppet Dean runied the game. Never a red as not a clear goal scoring chance ball was bouncing away for a goal kick or to the keeper arms. You could argue that it was a penalty but very soft, look how many times defenders hold down forwards at corners and nothing is given to compare?.

Clear red, this isn't wrestling

It was never a red card yes it was a penalty but dzeko was never going to get a clear chance on goal it was a yellow and kompanys was the same the ref ruined the game today he was always dtopping the game and really card happy
Aah

I find it really unfair how the ref can give a red AND a PK. I feel it should be one or the other. If it's a red, maybe an indirect kick where the foul was

Sorry I disagree, it was a stupid challenge and Mike Dean was correct to give a penalty. As the last man he was right to give the red card.

Nubster

Take the blinkers off please definite sending off. He has been poor for past few weeks as have the other central defenders. Bringing diaby back when not fit big mistake, no defensive cover and his loose passing. I am sure wenger has the answer though bring Ramsey now...big sigh..


Shaneyd

If you don't think that was a clear goal scoring opportunity then nothing is a clear goalscoring opportunity. Take off your red tinted glasses!

Jordan

There is no consistency that is the problem, going by the rule book you could say the decision was correct, although I argue that the keeper would have got the bouncing ball before Dezco. A penalty yes but not a 100% clear scoring chance if the foul was not made.

However how many times do you see holding down, pulling and grappling at corners and free kicks both by defenders and forwards and no fouls are given it the same thing. If your stopping an attacker jumping is that not denying a goal scoring chance and vice versa if a forward climbs on the back of a defenders is that not foul preventing the defender jumping.

Strange that how when you get a sending off in the first 10 mins at arsenal it ain't fair and it ruined the game.
It was a sending off. It ruined the game.
Adebayor was also a sending off, it ruined the game too.
You can't have it both ways.
Are you arsene whinger!!

Hypocrite.
I bet you was laughing when adebayor got sent off. Both where sending offs.
Just because it was an arsenal player doesn't make it unfair.

Kos ruined the game, Dean just enforced it.

1404

I don't think any were sending offs to be honest if you look at the 1st 1 he was falling over so that could be why he grabbed on to dzeko and the 2nd 1 he got the f***ing ball for god sake yes he flew into to the tackle but that's football its suppose to be a contact sport yet they are trying to make it like netball if you don't like the contact or your scared to get hurt don't watch or play it any more ffs
Ali

13 Jan 2013 15:48:34
Man Utd fan here! Just wanted to say Good Luck to The Arsenal !! Hopefully you can at least get a point.... Hopefully with no Yaya, Diaby can dominate the midfield.

13 Jan 2013 15:29:38
Rosicky doesnt even make the bench! We have 3 defenders there but?

Unless rosicky has injured himself, the only reason for not playing is he is leaving this window.

Marty

Marty, even when TR7 has been on the bench on the rare occasion this season, he has not been subbed on. It is believed that it is the familiar story that he is not training well or fully in case of a breakdown again. He has been named as a sub to put him in the shop window but with 18 months left on his big 75k p/w contract, it will be difficult to find a buyer now and in the summer.

13 Jan 2013 15:22:37
Is arteta injured? Because he's not even on the bench for todays match...

Calf injury

13 Jan 2013 14:39:23
Biglia AWOL from club... Is he on his way to the Gooners? And do we want someone so unprofessional ?

13 Jan 2013 14:11:04
Looks like Arteta is out with injury. Wonder if Coq will get a start or Diaby will be thrown straight back in.

Either way, coq will play because if diaby starts, he will be off injured by half time lol

Marty

I would prefer Ramsey in that position, and for those of you who will no doubt disagree, Ramsey is a better CM than throwing lecoq in against city

13 Jan 2013 13:50:02
Every time I see Van Persie score for United it hurts my heart,
Makes it worse that my family are all United fans :(
Wilmslow Gooner

13 Jan 2013 12:55:33
Big game for Theo today if he's picked up front. Needs to show he can do a job for us in that position against quality opposition.
See you on the otherside ladies and gents.
COME ON YOU GOONERS!
Flybo

13 Jan 2013 12:16:57
Matt Targett Southamptons under 18 left back being looked at by wenger, as he missed out on Shaw since his signing of a new contract.

Bradders

13 Jan 2013 11:42:31
I believe the first thing Arsene Wenger needs to sort out is our tactics. Changing from a 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 would help. Now to new players, we need 3 players to succed, A DM, A clinical world class striker and a back up goalkeeper.

NigeriaGunner

13 Jan 2013 10:30:13
I struggle to understand wenger He states we will only buy exceptional players but they will all be 20 mil upwards with 100.000+ wages a week so we know we won't be buying them, he only buys cheap players either young and getting better or bargain basement out of favour players from elsewhere!! we do have a team of fantastic players now allready agreed but he needs to motivate these players get them making moves of the ball and not holding there heads waving there arms around when moves break down.I genuinly think jack has been the onlt true player you beleive is a gooner in the team at present! maybe a marquee signing would be a good lift too! NOT diaby returning from injury but another class player

A decimal point is important, I think we can go up a bit from £100 per week!

13 Jan 2013 08:20:13
How about this 40m revamp arsenal bak line sketterberg or what ever his name is michae Richards hummles vermarlen and a new left back

13 Jan 2013 01:34:28
Fellaini is a great player, I agree

But people keep shouting prices between 25-30 mil

If we are going to spend that much money, I'd rather go the extra few mil and go for players like Gotze or Eriksen.
Maybe 25-30 mil could cover the cost of someone like Sneijder.

So I guess my point is, while I would like Fellaini to join, I wouldn't take him for more than 20-22 mil max.

Nick.

Think your over valuing Eriksen for what he has done so far...which isnt much. Wouldnt be worth more then 20million atm. Fellani would have a much bigger impact and has epl experience. Eriksen is a CAM...so do you bench cazorla or move him out of position?

Doesn't he have a £22m release clause?

Paul

25-30m for Snejder... That made me laugh...

I reckon Fellaini offers a lot more to us than Gotze (we already have small skillful players), Eriksen (plays in a weak league) and Sneijder (aging/attitude).

Get Fellaini for his release figure of 22m, cheaper fee and wages than the other 3 mentioned.

Agree these are the types of players we should be persuing.

Could get Fabregas back for that money

You act like it's your money.

A player is worth whatever another team is willing to pay, Fellaini is thriving in his role at Everton because he is their Star man and is Free to go wherever he likes. The rest of their team will play around him, put him in our team and he will be no better than what we have already.

Arteta was their star man before and he was always outstanding, don't get me wrong he is still a good player but he has others around him who are as good so has to work a bit harder now.

12 Jan 2013 23:09:43
I think Wenger needs to make a bid for Sessegnon. Been very impressed with him.

12 Jan 2013 23:19:38
i am a lifelong arsenal fan from denmark. you guys enlighten me: why are we always talking about buying attackers and never defenders? we are a massive offensive team and score a lot of goals even in time of crisis. we have a overload of offensive highskilled wingers and attackers. it seems to to me that our problem is we let too many goals in, and our opponents don't fear us, as the seem confident they can always get one in?
regards
captain haddock

Whelkome captain haddock and thank cod someone eels has noticed the full scale of the problem and aren't just spouting rubbish for the halibut or for the hake of things! They keep carping on about buying attacking players but like you said we keep netting in goals ! Most are talking aload of scallops to be honest it's time we started singing a different tuna, ok so Wenger maybe a-bait shellfish with the spending and likes to save a few squid but I don't believe it's time to send him on his pike, that would be skate-ing on thin ice.
We need to start looking at things from a different angler and I think our defence is a bigger problem, so there is something for you to think through and mullet over and please don't be koi in your responses, feel free to put me in my plaice so no floundering !

Afc through and through for batter or worse

1404, Over and trout !

These season is the exact opposite... Our defence is one of the best in league ! Only City and Chelsea are infront of us and just with 3 goals. We need only proper DM, who can protect the defence and besides that we need creative players. In some game Santi gets lost and we can not create enough chances and right now we have now strikers, who can make their own chances

13 Jan 2013 08:26:28
I posted last week, get our defence sorted with the likes of Howedes, M'biwa, Micah Richards and we have plenty of attacking options, saying that I really would like to swap Geronimo for Isco or similar.

Stoner

Nice one 1404. That took some work! I'm impressed with your extensive sea life knowledge. A welk-ome change to the normal posts we see on here. You're a Dab hand at this and didn't seem to flounder at all, unlike our beloved Arsenal.
I feel like a mere prawn compared to you...You've clearly got a lot of sole...
Brill-iant
Chi Gooner

1404, very good, almost as good as my chess post the other week!

Thanks guys, in breeming from eel to eel with your praise.

1404