Arsenal Banter Archive March 17 2015

17 Mar 2015 23:06:17
Let's take a step back, will we. All this Giroud criticism is honestly unwarranted. He played a hell of a game today. No he's not the best striker in the world. But since he's come to Arsenal, he's more often than not converted for us.

Ozil played a good match as well today. He created chances, was a stud off free kicks and really showed a lot of composure. He's never going to be a Coquelin, or a Flamini, or even a Ramsey on the defensive side of things, but he played a good, solid, offensive game - something he hasn't really been able to do a whole lot this year. If this is his form for the rest of the season, we'll be better off for it.

The fact is, we were done after the first leg. All the optimism entering the second leg was just that - optimism. You can't expect Arsenal to come out and take back three from the best defensive side in the Champions League. Yes, Monaco had an easy group draw, and yes they we're big underdogs despite winning their group. But they were disciplined, and Arsenal weren't that first leg. And that burned us. Badly.

But the point is, we played hard. We played smart. Defensively, we weren't threatened. Offensively we pressed. Our final ball was off, and it wasn't from one player in particular. If anything, Sanchez didn't make the difference he needed to. But it was near impossible for a player like Sanchez to play his game with 10 players behind the ball on Monaco's side of the pitch. Similarly, once we scored that second goal, Walcott was deemed useless. What we needed was another big presence (dare I say it - a Sanogo) off the bench. And we didn't have it. And therefore, we couldn't break the aggregate deadlock.

We played a good game. But a sloppy first leg killed us, as we assumed it would. No one is at fault this time around. Let's hang our hats that this won't kill any momentum in the league, or the FA cup going forward.

Hold your heads up high and stand behind the team, Gooners. We played well. But not well enough to warrant, quite frankly, a miracle.

Cheers,
Canadian Gooner

{Ed025's Note - good post that mate..

17 Mar 2015 23:17:04
Very good post.

After a poor early season, we are playing well, scoring goals, not conceding, looking good for top 4 and in semi's of FA Cup.

Nice to see a good positive post.

18 Mar 2015 01:58:17
You had me at Sanogo, really! Everything else I agree with.

17 Mar 2015 22:29:28
I'm reading a lot of Ozil bashing on here tonite. Just to remind you that his great pass to Monreal got the second goal moving.

Let's blame Ozil for the same old rubbish that Arsenal and Arsene churn out year after year, since before Ozil was here.

Shocking in the first leg and then when we are two up we play the same old way. Anyone want to have a go at Mert or Kos who didn't get anywhere near winning a header in their box, not once! sometimes they didn't even jump!? When you need passion there are a lot on the pitch who didn't really go the extra yard.
Gibbs came on and gave the ball to Monaco more than Arsenal.

There is plenty wrong with the team, and the manager, but everyone seems to forget it when we win a few in a row.

Glorious failure? I just call it failure. Repetitively.

{Ed025's Note - big faux pas at home TG, lets hope they learn from it mate..

17 Mar 2015 23:10:12
Yes Ozil is good.

But, World Class?

Nah, not for me.

Messi, Ronaldo and Arjen Robben are WC.

Ozil? Not in same class.

17 Mar 2015 23:50:26
Agreed, he's a luxury I don't think we can afford at the moment

18 Mar 2015 00:00:00
And ill chip in and say he's not even in the same class as caz, who should on performance still be our no10.

18 Mar 2015 06:28:18
Santi was a passenger yesterday. Not playing the blame game, but just laying the facts bare

{Ed025's Note - we all see different things in players rue, i thought he was decent myself mate..

18 Mar 2015 08:18:38
cazorla is not a centre mid. we all know this. but he had a good game.

18 Mar 2015 10:00:18
I thought caz had a cracking game. He was up against a big laddie and 9/10 Santi dazzled him. Sanchez I would say was rather wasteful as was welbeck.

17 Mar 2015 22:17:34
Yep read the first few posts and that's the lot from me on here. I like constructive criticism and like gunnerblog and the banter on Arsenal sites but apart from the lively Dags and a bit of off topic banter, it's just too black dog on here.

Poor ed must be reading this wondering what the problem is - Champions League, FA Cup semis, on the a run of 9 in 10 unbeaten, but still the doom mongers just can't stop going on and on. And probably won't do until we win the league.

We played well enough tonight against a team that doesn't leak goals, it was an impossible task but we gave it a shot.

Look up glorious but honourable defeat, if I can watch bottom league teams sing for their club when they are getting thumped week in week out, there is no reason we can't appreciate the effort even if we come up short.

{Ed025's Note - we all have a moan now and then baggins, theres no harm in it mate, better on a forum like this than at the ground, where i believe the support and encouragement should be unwavering..

17 Mar 2015 22:28:00
Yeah maybe your right Ed. It would just be nice to be surprised once:) Anyway, let hope we do better in the league and FA cup and get another shot. It is frustrating again but I still believe in this team. I've been a fan for 30 years and you just get to understand no one stays top forever. Not us, not Utd, not Liverpool. In Europe it's even tougher - but as I say, I think this team is better than any of the team since the invincibles. Maybe an extra (English) CB and a DM who knows where we can go

{Ed025's Note - i believe you will strengthen big time in the summer baggins, your time is coming mate mark my words..

17 Mar 2015 22:31:42
The first half of the season we had some awful results and some performances that were so bad they made the results look good and its very difficult to remember many good games from us.
Since the turn of the year we've had two very poor performances spurs and Monaco but the good has far outweighed the bad and we've beaten both utd and city away.
Things may not be perfect yet but there so much better now than in 2014.

{Ed025's Note - i like that bit of positivity G62..well done mate..

17 Mar 2015 22:32:30
Top post Ozil.

Especially the 'Dags' bit lol.

Totally agree with you though.

Keep the faith everybody.

Ozilbaggins is correct.

17 Mar 2015 22:33:00
I agree with ya ozil, the game was over before it begun but we gave it a good try and it was definitely not a bad game of football from us, despite the result. Away goal gets us again but so be it, time to focus on the fa cup and chasing down the chavs!

17 Mar 2015 22:34:29
Ozilbaggins I agree totally when were knocked out by Barcelona or bayern but Monaco I'm sorry man they are shocking. And the thing that does it for me is we lost this at the emirates.

Going off topic I watched the game on tv3 it's a channel in ireland where I'm from (little fact about me ) but it was a surreal experience cause I watched the game tonight in total silence. When I say surreal I mean pure crap but when there Is around a 3 sec delay it's like seeing in the future and being let down twice hearing about a bad pass ozil done then having to watch it.

sorry about that rant ed it's just when I went on it during the game herself told me to do an ozil in big games and dissapear but she worded it differently.

17 Mar 2015 22:44:35
Didn't u also advocate getting right behind Bobby ed25 and predict much better times ahead after a poor start? How is that going lol.

Don't listen to him Baggins arsenal are now on a downwood spiral to the doldrums :)

In all seriousness,
Your going forward mate and it takes time. I think for the first time in about 6-7 years Wenger has a plan that will work rather than an idea on how it should work.

U do need to sort out those types of performances against the like of Monaco u do seem to have more than most though.

{Ed025's Note - we all expect more than is realsitic at times chris, me included, its the passion that grips you mate and the will for your team to succeed....its all good though fella.. :)

17 Mar 2015 23:00:06
I was very negative pre Christmas because there were things ( DM and CB in particular) that stood our like a glove on a mans nose that needed to be done that weren't in the summer and we were going backwards IMO and that hurt.
Gabriel was brought in and our missing DM emerged in Le Coq so again IMO wrongs were righted and I'm happy with that.
I have never demanded we should win the CL or PL only that we genuinely compete for both and I'm now happy we are moving forwards again and towards that day.

17 Mar 2015 23:04:49
Chris,
Advocate?

Why are you talking about the Sunderland manager on an Arsenal site?

Jeez, some people, lol.

18 Mar 2015 08:20:40
dags stop being a dick. lol

17 Mar 2015 22:04:26
Ah well just a typical arsenal cl exit. i'm just numb, second again, oh well, we will do better next time and then the next time and the next time. Champions in failing.

{Ed025's Note - i expected nothing less from you steve.. :)

17 Mar 2015 22:12:07
Steve,

Is that you in your avatar or Jack Dee?

Love ya really mate.

{Ed025's Note - it should be victor meldrew..

17 Mar 2015 22:20:41
Ed 25 i'm not saying anything that isn't obvious. Every man and his dog can see we are not the force we shoild be and every big game we are giving ourselves mountains to climb. The problem is we don't play hull every big game. We can't keep saying ah well we tried but just not quite good enough. We aren't a small team with no chance or expectation, we are perenial nearly men and its got to change, otherwise it becomes a habit, problem is it is a habit.

{Ed025's Note - its a fair point steve, im sure they dont do it on purpose mate, its just one of them things steve..

17 Mar 2015 22:35:20
Steve,

We are only about 2 players away from being able to challenge the big boys, to the finish.

Wenger will sort that out in the Summer.

17 Mar 2015 23:12:19
Dags you know I see it different to that. Whos our no1 goalie, left back, central pairing, even no10 and giroud bless him, is a tryer and a good player, but he's never going to win with us in the big time. And yoi know my reservations with the man at the helm. Stop fishing.

17 Mar 2015 23:46:11
Steve, Montreal has been class lately, defending and attacking, giroud has scored 8 in 9 games now but offers a massive presence as well, Ospina looks a capable keeper, I think you're being harsh on those three, we are 2 or three players away from being up there, and one point off second without any additions

18 Mar 2015 03:03:39
337 ill put my kneck on the line and say, the players you have mentioned are just good honest players who will never be good enough to take this club forward. Some of them are in form at present, don't get form mixed up with ability. I won't disrespect anyone, but these players are basically good pros, not class footballers.

18 Mar 2015 03:05:56
Steve.r,

I understand the frustration. I like you and everyone else on this site (except maybe a few of the eds who to be fair support other teams) want Arsenal to win every competition they enter, but your negativity is unwarranted.

If you had a job and your board of directors said, "okay, Steve now we will give you the fourth most amount of money to spend on personnel, you will lose one or two of your best employees every year (most likely to your direct domestic rivals), we will only let you spend on wining and dining to entice new people to join us what you earn from law suits from employees breaching their non-compete clauses by going to said direct rivals, and two of your direct rivals have unlimited resources and are not attempting to turn a profit in the near or midterm;" would you say that you deserved to be fired for maintaining a position in 3rd or 4th in your business in your country and in the top 16 in Europe every single year?

Probably not, right?

BUT that is what the WENGER OUT brigade thinks. I get it we are football fans. We live in the moment. We do not want to be logical; we want trophies and glory not consistency and stability.

Wenger has his flaws, you and other posters have dealt with them at length, however, how many top class managers would have taken on the task he did? Yes, he was well paid to manage us, but he could have earned a considerable amount of money elsewhere and been able to spend whatever he wanted, but he stuck with us and delivered year in year out what he was expected to deliver with the money at his disposal. With a few overachievements like making the cl finals and going close to a league title.

For the last two years we have had money, but you cannot just undo the lack of investment over 8 years and off-load the players who were good enough for fourth but not for first and re-invest to get top drawer players. You have to build a strong squad. If you review our squad, I think you will see that it is the strongest we have had in years.

Lets get behind this team, I am sure if someone asked at the beginning of the season if 2nd and retaining the fa cup would represent progress most fans would have said yes. We can still do that.

In the summer we need to add another dm, a cb, a gk, a striker and potentially a lb. We bring in quality in two or three of those positions and without a world cup to interfere with preparations we should challenge both domestically and in Europe.

18 Mar 2015 06:59:11
Good post James.

18 Mar 2015 07:39:37
Top post James, as usual :-)

18 Mar 2015 08:25:44
thing is boys. we sign two players in the summer. chelsea, city, bayern, real, barca etc all do the same or buy 3 or 4. we have been two players away for the last 10 years lol

james for 8million a year i do feel for wenger for the job he's had to do lol. no he has done a good job but i can't see him winning the champions league with us

17 Mar 2015 21:58:39
Any AKB lauding tonight as yet another so-near-yet-so far performnce... I guarantee whoever monaco draw smash them out of the tournament with ease. The team that just dumped us are fxxxing terrible.

17 Mar 2015 21:56:23
Not overly upset about tonight. We got what we deserved. Still Wenger and his decisions, or lack thereof at times does my bloody loaf in!

Taking Welbeck off - probably or biggest attacking threat - was an absolute joke!

Especially considering that:
a) Sanchez was pretty awful tonight
b) Ozil was poor until the last 20 minutes or so.

Welbeck deserved to be on the pitch for the 90, and I would have had Ozil and Sanchez off for Rambo and Theo at half time! Drives me mental that either Wegner can't see that, or just doesn't have the stones to make the decision early on. Shame about those two though, if they'd have turned up, they could have been the difference tonight.

Tactics are still wrong as well. It was still a great effort but we are still far too narrow at times and play far too much of this eye of the needle stuff on the edge of the box which 9/10 times ends up with us giving the ball away.

Like I said though, not overly upset, we were the architects of our own downfall in the first leg and got two thirds up an Everest we shoudln't have had to climb.

Credit to the lads that did turn up, and credit to Monaco.

Wenger is still a mug.

{Ed025's Note - you cant have a go at sanchez CIG,,,at leat he gave 100% mate..

17 Mar 2015 22:20:47
Yeah that's true mate. And he does every game, still got to love the guy. Tonight was just a different story for him though. Can't think of a match in which he constantly ran into players and gave the ball away. Just a case of him trying to do too much instead of trying to do the simple thing.

I'm not really having a go at him, just saying that he was way below his best tonight.

17 Mar 2015 21:55:03
Ramsey.
Beard/moustache.
No no no, get rid.

17 Mar 2015 22:09:56
I blame Wenger, he needs to put a stop to stuff like this, I bet Rambo didn't even have a no shaving chit!

17 Mar 2015 21:49:40
On the bright side it was a clean sheet and keeps an impressive run going

Did anyone really expect us to win 3-0?

I didn't

17 Mar 2015 22:02:58
No I didn't either. Historically when ever we lose the first leg we always end up 1 goal short.

17 Mar 2015 22:07:33
Nah, no chance.

First leg apart, our defence has been solid for about 15/16 games.

I think the players should take the positives and push on for the rest of the season.

We are 7 or 8 games away from a decent season (top 4 and FA Cup).

17 Mar 2015 21:46:21
dont worry lads you might win it one day. you have only been trying for 20 years. what a joke you lot are in europe lol

{Ed025's Note - you really are a piece of work raver...if the arsenal are a joke what does that make spurs?..

17 Mar 2015 21:56:54
One thing is for sure your lot wont, have you ever been in the CL

Muppet

{Ed025's Note - thats not very nice BG...i like the muppets.. :)

17 Mar 2015 21:58:05
Raver,

Serious?

How you doing in Europa League mate?

17 Mar 2015 22:05:46
My mate has just called to ask if I want any tickets to watch a couple of comedy acts this weekend.

I asked, “Who's appearing?”

He said, “spurs and Leicester.”

{Ed025's Note - love it MgM...although a bit harsh on leicester mate..

17 Mar 2015 22:06:22
Respected club in England thou mate unlike that dross that showed up at my clubs ground on Sunday lol.

Hehe, have spurs managed to get kane out of smallings pocket yet?

{Ed025's Note - he never eve ran chris...hes now called...walking kane.. :)

17 Mar 2015 22:24:41
Have you lot even seen the round of 16 in a European competition?

Sit down mate.

17 Mar 2015 22:30:31
If he bangs in another 30 goals next season he will probably be known as a 'citizen' Kane ed.

{Ed025's Note - hes a good player to be fair chris..but wasted in a team like spurs mate..

17 Mar 2015 22:47:21
Yes he is mate.
As is Eriksson who I think has come on leaps and bounds over the last 12 months, I think he is mustard.

{Ed025's Note - he should have gone to everton chris, he could be playing with coleman..hes mustard as well,, :)

17 Mar 2015 21:43:03
1404

Understand that about Giroud and his 1st leg performance

How good was our defending at home that night.

Stupidity in trying to draw level at home and conceding a 3rd has cost us.

17 Mar 2015 21:54:48
Giroud is not the reason why u are out. He's a very good striker and for the money paid I don't quite no what people expect of him, consistently 20 goals a season, numerous assists, great hold up play. If u want a better one try bidding more than £40m+£1

{Ed025's Note - yeah chris...they should pay £60m for a real madrid player who does not want to be at the club.. :)

17 Mar 2015 22:01:55
Bit different there ed, ADM was what we needed and as of yet it is not working. Ironic that our best performance comes when he's not in the team though.

But u know that lol.

Up to your other team now mate to fly the flag for England mate.

{Ed025's Note - we will chris..cheers mate..

18 Mar 2015 00:00:11
I never said we did defend well did I?

And it's part of the reason we are out, he's paid to put the ball in the back of the net isn't he?

17 Mar 2015 21:40:14
Ah well as expected good game from us tonight but to be honest can't believe we have been knocked out by this Monaco team they are good defensively but that's it they are a shocking team to be knocked out by very disappointed gooner.

{Ed025's Note - fair comment dave..

17 Mar 2015 21:51:15
So true, Dave. The first leg costed us. And we are not that great in the crossing game as well. Our last 10 mins in this game was effectively wasted by crossing. We should have played through middle.

17 Mar 2015 20:21:31
Oh look

That crap Centre Forward Giroud has scored

AGAIN :)

17 Mar 2015 20:57:25
Yea but Banbury come on man he needed two bites at it ;)

17 Mar 2015 20:57:45
Thank God, you've finally come around to admitting he's crap, next you'll want Wenger given another 5 year contract.

How quickly things change. ;-)

17 Mar 2015 21:10:55
Sell him and get Remy :-)

17 Mar 2015 21:38:10
Tbf if Giroud had turned up in the first leg we wouldn't have been in this position tonight

We get the gift of 5 mins extra time and play with no urgency or directness, beggars belief.

{Ed025's Note - a bit unfair there 1404, they gave it a right go tonight mate..

17 Mar 2015 19:00:52
If we can get a goal in the first 30 mins its game on. If not then i'm not so sure its doable. We have no pressure and that suits us, score the third goal in last few minutes and we will cope better than if we do manage to provide a miracle early, we don't want to be hanging on for much longer than 5 minutes. Dream on.

17 Mar 2015 18:40:20
Keep an eye on kurzawa later. Very good player. Big fa . Add him to the DG list.

17 Mar 2015 19:18:00
Derby,

When you go food shopping do you have to use 2 trolleys?

I bet your local supermarket loves you lol.

17 Mar 2015 20:40:43
Very good player derby

17 Mar 2015 17:15:40
Just heard on Twitter (not the most reliable source I admit) that Le Coq has signed a new deal to 2019? Great news if he has!

On tonight, I honestly think it'll be 4-0 to us or at least 3, I really hope we don't get 3 within 60mins then sit and defend, I'd much rather us go get 4-5 or get the 3rd like 2 mins from time lol

Either way I think if we get an early goal then we will go through, the longer we leave it to score a goal the more chance we have of conceding. COYG!! :)

17 Mar 2015 18:12:04
Essex,

Where do you get your optimism from?

I'm not feeling it mate.

I pray, in a few hours time you will post back and say, "See Dags, told you".

17 Mar 2015 18:18:44
Coquelin and Akpom signed up a few weeks back mate. Good news. :-)

17 Mar 2015 18:37:28
Dags has lost that loving feeling - I am feeling a 2-0 or 3-1 heart wrenching disappointment myself. Still will take the FA Cup and second though...

17 Mar 2015 20:17:46
Will take that as well rooster.

17 Mar 2015 20:40:44
I'm the eternal optimist dags, the game isn't over until the final whistle blows!

17 Mar 2015 12:14:58
Tough task tonight, but not too sure if I agree with you boys saying we have to go 'Gung-ho".

Sure, we have a mountain to climb.

OK, we are basically 'out', but we still have to approach the game with a modicum of restraint.

They will have a game plan, basically the one they used at Emirates.
They know we will play for an early goal, and attack from the start but, if we go too crazy, they will pick us off early and kill the tie after 10 minutes.

Its a toughie, but they scored 3 at ours, we can do the same at theirs.

Its a 90 minute game, we need 3 goals, but we don't need 3 goals in first 10 minutes.

I'm hoping for the best, but expect the worst.

Gung-ho?
Nope, slow and steady will suffice but as long as we take our chances, unlike the first leg.

Arsene, time for you to earn your crust mate.

17 Mar 2015 13:58:18
to have any hope in this tie we need 2 goals by halftime.

i would go with sitting back and letting them come at us, they will expect us to attack from the get go, but they would setup for that.

if we sit back for 5 mins, let them think ok, let's play ball then we can play them into our hands with counters. 2 goals in first half and all out madness in the final 20 if we have not achieved the 3rd goal, defense is priority.

17 Mar 2015 15:03:17
Normally I have a multitude of concerns when we get close to a big game but not today, nothing expected of us in reality so they don't need to go gung ho.

There is no thought process of this is an easy win like they took into the first leg, we are more than capable of beating them so it's just sit back for us fans, relax and see what happens hoping that we get through without injury too.

Fantastic if we get through and not the normal disappointment if we don't. Don't get me wrong, it would be great to get into the next round but we have our hands full.

We have big games right through to seasons end, could do with the Ox, Jack and Debuchy back soonest for the run in.

17 Mar 2015 09:31:25
Nicklas Bendtner is now officially a lord after buying one square foot of Lord's land in Dencoe. That entitles him to the official title of Lord!

Long live Lord Bendtner

17 Mar 2015 12:01:35
He's still a dick :-)

{Ed001's Note - rather than a Coq?}

17 Mar 2015 12:08:03
blasphemy dags!

17 Mar 2015 12:25:29
That's the one Ed, lol.

Let's hope he keeps them up or we will have 40,000 Sunderland supporters with banners saying 'Get Dick out'.

Very true Saint :-)

17 Mar 2015 07:09:56
Liverpool keeping the pressure on. Can't see them losing to manu. Then manu have Chelsea and city. Tough run in

17 Mar 2015 08:13:38
Swansea certainly didn't lie down and die last night and Brendan Rogers is talking of taking 2nd.

There are so many possibilities and United have a difficult April but they continue to win, they're still not playing great football, a 3 nil win against the Spuds muted as their best game of the season with only 11 shots on goal and the 3 on target went in. But a win is a win and that's what counts in the run in.

Injury and suspension have actually done them a favour with the woeful RVP being out and Di Maria missing the game. I'm loving that Falcoa is making the Giant Poodle look like a worldie!

City are the big enigma, what they are up I've no idea, I also appreciate that Chelsea should still stroll it but they have played pretty much their first team all season and that has to catch up some time although no more Europe or FA Cup for them.

With the extra games over everyone else Wenger is going to have to pick and chose the right games to rotate. Nothing is gauranteed.

17 Mar 2015 08:22:11
injuries have helped them your right. for me rooney is a forward. rvp and falcao get in his way. purely because he can do a job elsewhere. mata is there best num10 also. i still think di maria has a place. rvp will demand a start when fit and his link with van gaal and the national team doesn't help them.

it does seem as if chelsea are limping. the gap may just be a bit too big.

on falcao again he isn't that player he was but in our team i think he'd of done very very well. if his price drops to 10-15mill id take a punt. if he stil wants 250k a week though do one. do you think hel stay there for the cash red dog or move on?

17 Mar 2015 13:12:42
Rumour has it he didn't want to go to United and he is not proving value for money so my guess is they'll say thanks but no thanks, unless of course he smashes it between now and end of season.

The price will have to be reviewed too, but Walcott is being given time to get back from a bad injury, maybe that's all Falcao needs but when your expected to hit the ground running on massive wages that gets forgotten.

17 Mar 2015 13:25:34
faLcao is 29 though and some say he's actually 3 years older. much harder to come back from/. he was never rapid but he could shift that seems gone now

di maria wanted to go to psg but ffp stopped it. the fee made real say yes and he's on a nice wage, he regrets the move without doubt. his wife is heading back home

17 Mar 2015 15:49:00
Yeah didn't she say something about Manchester looking like the back of a fridge. Lol