Arsenal Banter Archive September 17 2014

 

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17 Sep 2014 23:37:21
I beg wenger to pay draxlers release clause. The guys a serious talent. Give us some hope for january.

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Not really the player we need though, we have enough forward/attacking players that is 1/2 the problem, Strong holding midfielder is the priority, surely. .

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Ye your right mate. what a player to have tho. i'd of taken him over welbeck he will turn into the next rvp I feel, or you replace ozil with him. he has pace, power, height the lot

also the fact he has a clause to hit means doing a deal before jan is easy. big lift him signing

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{Ed002's Note - Ignore any thought of a "clause".}

I wouldn't though eds look what bayern did with gotze

chelsea paid diego costa clause before the season was out too

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{Ed002's Note - They operate in the same country under the same legal system that controls contracts. Arsenal don't. I have explained this on a number of occasions before - you may want to find it and read up.}

True eds.

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17 Sep 2014 23:02:06
wow the level of negativity on here is crazy high.
has this been a below par start to the season?; other than winning the community shield, 100% yes. many players have been below par and we haven't made the key defensive midfield signing needed.
regardless of this I am not upset. it has only been a few games, and every team has stale patches like this. once the team finds its balance the performances will improve.
Ozil is getting a lot of criticism, and I guess rightly so, along with wenger, but surely there must be a reason why he is continually played in that position by both arsene and lowe, even though there are more natural players for that position.
but once again I don't mind it too much atm, because one thing I noticed when one of central players are out of form, wenger puts them out wide for period, he did it with ramsey and wilshere and RVP. so i'm sure he knows what he's doing. we should until at least 15 games in before considering where this season is going.

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15 games wow the season could be dead by then. The reason for all the negativity is with the problems that are on going and getting worse. We are going to be buried if it carries on like this. It's not what it might be in the future, its the uttet rubbish that's going on now.

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18 Sep 2014 07:59:42
Based on form, 15 games into the season we will be 20+ points behind Chelsea.

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Mate I admire optimism, I really do. We'll need it for this season. However for me this isn't just a stale patch. This is a continuation of the problems we have been facing year on year and now the financial restraints have been removed, I was hoping Arsene would have listened to the fans and made an effort to correct them. Simple answer was he didn't and now I am of the opinion that he is not fit for purpose to manage Arsenal Football Club (Regardless of what he has done in the past)

The 'In Arsene we Trust' brigade need to wakeup and smell the coffee, the man needs to go. We are spending money now on good players to no effect as this dinosaur has no idea how to utilize them in the modern game.

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Lets not get to excited, neither did city or Chelsea win thier openers either, with the latter playing at home.

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I said ages ago we will be further from top spot than we were last year! and we will! last season was a weird season. both pellegrini and jose are more settled with there teams.

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17 Sep 2014 22:19:22
I under stand why people are calling for Arsene's headd, of course I do.
But you may as well be asking for the club to sign Ranaldo Messi and Pogba in January as none of these things are remotely likely to happen.
I think we have to accept this is the situation and only if things get very very much worse is it going to change.
Just being honest not pessimistic I promise

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That's the frustration! How can we go from FA cup winners and beating City 3-0 in the shield to having no players in key positions and were on a downer in September?!

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The community shield Doc! to be fair that's not a very reliable gage.
If you look at the city players and manager laughing and joking with our players after the game it says how serious city took that game.

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Greeny winning the cup was not down to being a great team, plenty of average teams have won the cup. Man city were not remotely interested in playing in the charity cup. People are seeing that nothing has really changed to take us forward. In fact some are worried we are hoing back, its that poor.

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17 Sep 2014 22:02:04
From Arsene

Congratulations to Dortmund, they were the better team. We had a disappointing performance and the victory is normal. Still the paradox of the night is we had very good chances to score first that didn't go for us and went for them. We were caught on two counter-attacks on 45 and 48 minutes and that was very difficult. - " oh and 17, 22, 40, 52, 64, 77, 81, 88 but we appreciate Dortmund were feeling sorry for us"

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17 Sep 2014 22:17:39
I would have a guess and say, and this is just a wild(ish) guess, we have won maybe 3 of the last 25 meetings we have had against 'big teams' in Prem and CL.

Dortmund away, Bayern away and I truly can't remember the last time we beat a 'big team' in Prem, maybe the 2-0 at Emirates against Liverpool last season.

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17 Sep 2014 22:45:26
Before 'Pool were a "big team" again

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17 Sep 2014 21:57:40
A lot of depressing thoughts around at the moment. I have so much frustration with the current situation and just feel we've shot ourselves in the foot by selling Vermaelen and loaning out Jenks without getting at least one more defender in. We all said, "Wenger must have a CB lined up!" When Vermaelen was sold. Wrong!

We desperately need a DM and I can't quite believe that Khedira, Carvalho or even Schneiderlin aren't wearing an Arsenal shirt.

As for the striking position, Welbeck will do alright and score some goals but will he be an improvement or giroud? Only time will tell.

I'd drop Ozil and bring in the Ox. Get him running at the defence and scaring them!

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If you listen to what Arsene has said about Ozil you will realise he will not be dropping him anytime soon.

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17 Sep 2014 22:49:15
To be fair manolas was lined up and got knicked on us. still though, something shuold have come afterwards

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17 Sep 2014 21:53:25
Chelsea and M City both fail to win against German teams.

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17 Sep 2014 22:02:50
That makes 3 of us Bambam :-)

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Doesn't make our 2-0 battering (if there is such a thing!) look any better though.

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17 Sep 2014 22:51:04
Man City held out for 80 something minutes against a team that finished 20 something point ahead of the team that shamed us.

And City had proper chances

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^^ doesn't matter a loss is a loss, weather its in the 1st or 90 minute, We keep bragging about ozil looking disinterested did anyone see yaya toure play yest. Munich also had 22 shots. You can only brag abt this, but can't you see chelsea dint win at home as well. Sometimes it would be nice if could see the failures all across not just with wenger. Yes we had a bad day, move on.

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18 Sep 2014 18:01:05
It highlights a difference in abilities hood

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17 Sep 2014 21:33:46
I am not "Wenger out" inclined, especially 5 games into the season, winning the cup would've been an obvious time, that has now passed.

However, I think the best way to sum up the frustrations on here with the manager is the fact that our problems are self inflicted. We spent large sums of money over the last 18 months, yet didn't address obvious issues. Wenger himself conceded we were short at the back. Nothing was done. The money is there, quality was available, nothing was done. Same goes for the illusive DM. With both players and funds available, the only reason these positions weren't filled is because Wenger decided they weren't required, regardless of the excuses given.

Anyone with an understanding of football can see that 4-1-4-1 isn't working, firstly it requires a proper DM, which we don't have. Also, it puts both Ozil and Sanchez out of position. Ozils issues are obvious, but as good as Sanchez has been, he'd be so much better playing further forward, without needing to get into midfield so often. It's mind boggling that there seems to be no plan B, with our options available and the fact we played so well in a different formation last season.

Then we have the fact that our lineup is so predictable. We have proper depth (apart from defensively), yet this is not utilised. Why bother keeping either Poldi or Campbell in the window? They're wasted options.

Finally, zonal marking is very obviously not working. Yet, continues to be blindly implemented. Especially given our squads lack of height, zonal marking misuses the few tall defenders we have. It's very easy for opposing CBs to avoid Per or Kos, by simply avoiding their "zone".

All these issues are reasonably easy to remedy, but I think all of us are frustratingly resigned to the fact that Wenger will stubbornly hold course, regardless of the storm around him.

As with last season, this Villa game is a marker, we either blithely continue on the path of self destruction, or we don't. Over to you Mr Wenger.

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Great post mate

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Great post mate

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17 Sep 2014 21:28:24
First wenger out call I've made ever guys. I feel dirty.

It's the same thing year in year out;

Summer: Arsenal look good, title contenders.

1.Arsenal should have bought DMF.
2.Arsenal get key injury
3.Arsenal lose games due to lack of enthusiasm, urgency and defensive awareness
3.Finish second in champions league and draw one of the top teams
4.lose
5. Start winning again
6. Finish 4th

Granted the FA cup was a big difference but Wenger doesn't seem like changing his midfeild criteria for Arsenal, no strength, no defensive awareness, ah sod it, have a run forward, seems to be all he looks for.

Time to go Wenger, we will miss you, you were appointed when I was nigh on a year old, you're all I've known, but now it seems you're too stubborn and stuck in you're ways to change.

Candidates:
Klopp
Martinez
Garde
And my personal fav - Guardiola ;)

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Klopp or Martinez are the only ones for me. Remi Garde would be like David Moyes. Great friend of Wenger but for me, not good enough.

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17 Sep 2014 22:00:35
Good post Akie,

You make fair comments, but bit too early for 'Wenger out'.

Can't see Klopp leaving Dortmund, although it doesn't mean much, think he has signed a contract.

Guardiola leave Bayern to join us? Won't happen.

Martinez? Won't happen.

Remi Garde? Decent shout.

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The only two choices for me are Klopp and Martinez.

They both tick every single box needed to be Arsenal manager. They would both jump at the chance.

Thinks where we could be heading with them in charge!

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Welcome to the wenger out movement akie. Klopp I want. Martinez I don't want he's inherited a decent defence but his replacements will be terrible. Alcaraz anyone? Exactly.

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When Wenger was signing his new contract, the rumour was it would be for 2 years. I had an inkling at the time that Low ze german manager would stay on with them until after the Euros and then come into replace Arsene.

The fact he signed a three year deal and his stance on seeing out contracts, I'm not so sure now.

I would be happy if Low was his replacement though

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I forgot to mention Low!

He's one of the top ones on my list too

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17 Sep 2014 21:02:33
City hanging in but damn these German teams are relentless. Schalke holding their own with Chelsea is the Premier League slowly regressing?

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17 Sep 2014 20:06:07
We are one good manager away from being a top team again(by that I mean winning the prem, )not finishing in 4th spot and qualifying for champs league and thinking that's a trophy like AW, THE BOARD and some Arsenal fans that I know, because when I go to the home games and I read the programme, qualifying for the champs league season after season is not listed in our roll of honours.I was one of those Gooners who was not carried with our cup win last season, it only papered over the cracks, which are beginning to show quite early in the season.Last night to put it in simple terms was embarrassing.Ithink our squad is very good(one or two players short maybe)but are underperforming due to the inept
tactics of AW.I can see more drubbings on the horizon coming.When we signed Ozil I had to eat humble pie because I thought he would never sign that sort of player for that kind of money, but in just over a season he has destroyed the player who was rated in the top 5 midfield players in the world.Somebody earlier mentioned how Klopp was passionate about his team, the match and how it was going.AW sits on the bench and only gets up to moan and remonstrate with the 4th official blaming everything but himself.I know have said this befire but I am getting very close to the point where if it means not going to the games is the only way to vent my feelings than that's what I will do, even though I know its not the right thing to do.

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17 Sep 2014 21:09:31
Good post Heybridge

Some very valid points but keep the faith mate.

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A very good post Heybridge

DAGS

How many seasons can one keep the faith.

This is a FACT, if it was just the top 2 or maybe 3 that qualified for the CL I suspect we would have spent more money or even AW would have been given another position within the club.

We will never know until the PL have there allocation of places lowered of course

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17 Sep 2014 22:07:20
Agree Bambam,

Although we are playing bad, its only 4 games in.

We have to keep the faith and hope that very soon Wenger see's sense and starts earning his £8.5m yearly salary.

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17 Sep 2014 19:49:59
Some one replied to my post last night about players failing to acknowledge the away supporters

I've checked with my son and he's told me Jack, Ox and chambers came from the bench. A few like BFG Arteta and Kos and Sanchez applauded on the way off rather than make an effort.

All in all it's disappointing that they can't put a little effort in for the fans after letting them down so badly

I've also been thinking about our formation and how to make the most of what we have and it's blindingly simple. We have to change to a 4231

Ospina will play in the league cup so depending in how that goes I'd seriously toy with playing him v the spurs

Our back 4 has to be chambers, mert, kos and Gibbs. We've no other options lol

The 2 has to be jack and Rambo with very strict instructions to communicate and that one of them must sit in front of the back 4 if the other goes forward

Then we have the 3 and 1 to work in a diamond. Ozil plays at the base/in the hole/10 role whatever you want to call it. Ox to the right and Sanchez to the left. Those 2 have to be told to be willing to track back and help their full backs so when we don't have the ball we have a 4411

That leaves welbeck up top. The only defensive work he and ozil would need to do is to close down and make the opposition defenders move the ball quickly before they have time to plan the pass

Lol I knew that coaching badge would come in handy lmao

Just wish it was that simple lol

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17 Sep 2014 20:07:49
Good post Soops.

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And to think its that easy, yet wenger won't play Özil in the hole!

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Cheers dags

I just don't get why we are still playing a system designed around fabregas so long after he left

Times have changed and we need to build a system around the players we have instead of forcing them to play a system that quite simply does not suit them

Problem is we are now looking at 2nd place in the group so will have a tougher last 16 draw. Still on the bright side it might help reduce the season ticket price next year lol (I'm trying to find the silver lining lol)

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I like this sort of post because it shows genuine passion and support for the club, and you put accross good/bad footballing ideas, rather than just complain

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17 Sep 2014 19:45:27
Hello guys I was having a debate with my friend at work today and would genuinely appreciate ure opinions.

The Ox. I feel Wenger is really hampering his progress, I know he has had his injury problems but still he seems to really have tailed off the last 18 months or so, he has pace, power, great technique and always causes problems with his direct approach.
I understand u need to look after young players and try to prevent burn out but I just ain't seen him featuring much lately and its not like u have been blowing teams away in that time.

All your players drop short for the ball in midfield and without Walcott u dnt really have a player that will run in behind atm, I just feel he would really add something different atm.

Again this was a genuine debate and I thought I'd ask your opinions too.

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17 Sep 2014 20:01:52
Sorry I ment to put 12 months not 18.

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Ox should be playing Chris for Me there's no question about, frees mesut up MTO play in the hole while he and Sanchez provide the width and Aaron and Jack in the middle, might not be perfect but I'd be very happy with it to say the least for the next 10 games

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17 Sep 2014 20:16:51
Hi Chris,

Totally agree.

For me, Ox is our most direct player, gets the ball and has only one thought, gets forward to try to score.

Generally plays out wide or in the middle. Wherever he plays, he plays well.

Good strong player, has had his injuries last season but needs to play more.

I would have him first choice in the team, especially with the absence of Walcott.

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17 Sep 2014 20:29:32
He should be getting game time. Especially when Ozil is worse than a one legged man on the wing

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17 Sep 2014 18:54:39
KEEP CALM


AND



HATE TOTTENHAM

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17 Sep 2014 17:11:47
I am not really a Wenger out fella but I am really struggling to watch our beloved football team due to how bad we are tactically watching Arteta as a cdm is doing my nut in as for watching our team normally play 3 number 10s at the same time it's just becoming hard work.

Failure to address our problems on the pitch and in the transfer market should be enough to make the best signing we can.
Enter JURGEN KLOPP

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Sadly it ain't going to happen in the next 2 years and 34 PL games, we will never sack Arsene ( I actually agree with that too) and he will never quite a contract ( would be the scenario but won't happen).
I truly wish Arsene had gone too a hero's farewell last summer but sadly I think its not going to end well for him or us.
He has signed a contract to many IMO but I don't see a honorable way out for anyone, we are the Arsenal we don't do that sort of thing to people who have been loyal to us.

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17 Sep 2014 16:46:52
This is not a post about Wenger by the way it's just an observation about Jurgen Klopp.
Just look at him. He oozes confidence.
You only have to watch him on the touch line. He has got this magnetic presence. It is not surprising his players perform. I think the guy could have a squad of monkeys and still pull off a result. He has turned up yesterday with probably at least 4-5 of his top players missing and knew exactly what he was doing . That guy had win written all over him before the kick off. I said it earlier. Klopp was the man if the match.

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I noticed that and Wenger just sits there

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17 Sep 2014 17:14:06
Top top manager.

He oozes class and confidence, which his players mirror on the pitch.

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17 Sep 2014 17:50:45
Goldboy, I'll make you right on that, and bring him in as AW successor, not bashing, just time for change.
Limp, apathetic and embarrassing the fiasco with Podolskis shin pads broadcast on global tv surely is a sad indictment of what's going on, could you honestly imagine that taking place on the Man U bench when Fergie was at his peak

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17 Sep 2014 17:58:53
Dude of a bloke and an awesome manager.

No barry white talk either

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17 Sep 2014 18:55:57
Are you talking Turkish Delight Sheeny? Lol

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17 Sep 2014 20:32:33
AWF it's just a shin pad.

It's nonsnse to bang on about it.

I see a load of media outlets ripping into it. It's a waste of column inches

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17 Sep 2014 20:30:43
Tom Titt talk altogether Dags:P

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17 Sep 2014 22:10:58
Lol Sheeny

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17 Sep 2014 16:29:33
Before I start;

Ramble incoming!

Focus: Mesut Özil.

Now, first off, I'll get the others out the way so I can focus!

Our entire midfield (I'm classing Arteta, Wilshere and Ramsey as a trio to save time) was poor yesterday, to the point they may as well of not played.
Bellerin had an average debut and I think he was unfortunate to be forced into debuting in a big game against a big team in a stadium with insane atmosphere.
Sadly, to me (opinion only) Per hasn't been himself since returning from the World Cup.
Kos has been carrying him for a few games I feel.

Gibbs seemed relatively solid.
Welbeck seemed lively, I think he'll be a good player for us, once be finds his shooting boots.
Sanchez was pretty good too, his work rate and tracking back impress me so much.
Szczesny kept it from being 4/5 decent game.


To the main event!

Özil.

That's £42m of talent there, he's undeniably a top player and he's suffering right now.
Firstly, he's not a winger.
Madrid had a bit of success with him at RW, but they had a system that facilitated that.
He still played AMC mainly.

We do not have a system to support that.
Our fullbacks are too attacking, it will not work with a player who doesn't defend at RW/LW either.

There are 3 things I feel Özil is suffering from.

1: poor form.

2: lack of confidence.

3: attitude.

Firstly, he's just in bad form, he hasn't settled and hasn't found a rhythm (being played in 3 different positions doesn't help either I feel) this contributes to problem two directly.
He's feeling the strain, he knows he's not good enough right now and as much as he promises to work on it or improve, he's just not that cocky player we've seen in the past.
Look at Sanchez, debut game, we get step overs, the sublime chest balance and an assist.
He always looks like a warrior.
Mesut doesn't, he just doesn't have that mentality, which leads to point 3, he's not got the work rate to turn it around by will alone.
He'll try, but he's not going to change right away.
Everyone who's worked with him, says he's a 'special' player, that he's fragile.
I think the media and the fans do get to him, for Christs sake, a German paper gave him their "lowest possible' score for his game yesterday.
He wasn't great by any means, but lowest possible?
Come on.

And he may seem happy enough when he's on twitter or FB,
Chatting with fans and posting pictures, but it's easy to act happy when nobody can see you.

Mesut will improve.
Walcott and Sanchez will be a dream for him when both playing together.

But for him to become that player,

A: he NEEDS to be given a free role in the centre, with someone in the centre to do the dirty work.
This does mean dropping jack or Ramsey, but a trio of Özil, Ramsey/Jack and a DM like bender would be ideal.
Wilshere and Ramsey both push up from CM and that exposes our midfield.
Sadly, I don't think they work together.
We need to rotate them.

B: we need to get behind him, it's ok to be frustrated, but when people at games jeer or boo him, it's ridiculous, we as fans need to respond to that too, if he's being booed by some person, we need to sing his name louder,

Regardless of his poor form, we've got a world class midfielder in our team there and he's a victim of a bad system.

Playing him behind Welbeck, infront of Ramsey and a DM with Sanchez and Walcott out wide, would be a dream for him.
It's hardly Ronaldo, Benzema and Di Maria, but the principle is there, fast, direct wide players and a quick forward who makes good runs for him to aim for.

I really hope he doesn't leave the emirates as a flop, because in think if we build a team AROUND him, make him feel like a king, then he can be one of our all time greats.


Thanks for reading!

Peace.

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17 Sep 2014 16:56:08
Bloody fine post.

Again, like we all keep saying, we need a beast of a DM who will sit in front of back 4, patrol outside the box and kick the f****ing s*** out of anybody who so much as spits near our penalty area.

Somebody, who will break up the play and give it to the more gifted players in the team.

He has a name, his name is Schneiderlin, but unfortunately, our manager doesn't think its important to have one of these players in our team.

In the past, admittedly partly through necessity, he has sold Petit, Vieira, Silva, Edu, Song and Flamini.

He doesn't like holding Mids, just skilful mids.
Barca is the blueprint Wenger tries to copy, we don't have the players or the manager to play like them. give it up.

Until we get a decent DM we will continue to struggle, as proved thus far.

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17 Sep 2014 18:02:28
Agree with you on Mertesacker. I was going to mention it last night but I hadn't the energy for an argument :P

Certainly been coasting the last few games. Kos has been having to cover twice the ground

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17 Sep 2014 19:00:32
I agree on ozil. Anyone know why he's played out of position so often? Surely you pay a record fee for a player you put him where he can play. Plus wingers have to track back he doesn't have the pace to defend against most opponents wingers

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17 Sep 2014 16:00:51
Just wondering what's going on with Koscielny. I think in general he's an awesome defender and tends to get better as the season goes on. But his start this year has been appalling. Part of the reason why we're conceding so many goals in my opinion. Last season our defensive record against poor teams was unreal. Slightly worried that's not going to be the case this time.

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17 Sep 2014 18:04:00
I don't think so man. I think he's been covering for Mertesacker tbh

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17 Sep 2014 17:19:12
I think he has played pretty well.
Per seems to be suffering from a bit of a WC hangover, Gibbs has been injured, Monreal has had to deputise, Debuchy was a new recruit at right back, he is now injured and Bellerin has come in. Chambers has also come in for Per.

Kos, must be like "WTF".

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17 Sep 2014 15:25:25
For anyone who didn't know, your youth lads had a good win v Dortmund. It finished 2-0 and Kaylen Hinds scored both goals in the first half.

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17 Sep 2014 16:59:49
Thank you Simon.

Hinds is a very decent player, recently scored for England too.

Impressive stats.

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17 Sep 2014 14:46:03
Does Arsene still have the hunger to succeed? Does he still have the ability to read the game and be two steps ahead of our opposition? Does he still know what he's doing and how he's doing it? Your views gents and Jenny.

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17 Sep 2014 18:07:18
You can't ask those questions here rue X(

How dare you question the awethoritawww :P

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Nope.

He is WENGERSARAUS REX!

In the future football Archeologists will dig him up and wonder at the prowess of this formidable beast. They will marvel how he struck fear into other teams and his amazing vision for a diamond player among the rough.

Then just like the mystery of the dinosaurs they will try to puzzle out how evolution was able to strike this great predator down, letting a once great legacy dribble into dust.

In his fossilised hand they will find a scroll with three simple words written on it.

Diaby I tried.

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17 Sep 2014 17:33:14
Simple answer, no.

Our starting 11 is too predictable, which is understandable.

Our formation is always the same.
Our tactics are always the same.

You plan a game to win, but managers like Mourinho, Klopp, Guardiola, Benitez and Simeone, also plan the game not to lose.

Wenger has Plan A only.
The above managers have Plan A but also a built in plan B.

Mourinho, love him or hate him, is a master tactician, the best.

He knows more about the opposition than the oppositions manager.

He sets up his teams to win but also to stop the other team from winning.

He knows his danger men and what they can do, but also knows the oppositions danger men and sets up formation/tactics to stop them doing it.

Wenger only knows one way.
Mourinho knows Wenger only knows one way.

Mourinho knows Wenger's team rely heavily on using the ball, so Mourinho stops Wenger's players from getting the ball.

Result? A thrashing at the Bridge.

Love Wenger to bits but he can't step into the same ring as the above mentioned managers, if he does, its always a knockout.

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17 Sep 2014 13:59:24
Eds when's Diaby back I actually think we really need him

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17 Sep 2014 17:03:04
He is not down in 'physioroom' and I think he played 90 mins a week ago for reserves.

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17 Sep 2014 18:08:09
Would be a great additions to the team right now.

For about 20minutes :(

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If ever a time for a man to prove he's a gunner is now.

Abu, step up to the plate son, the floor is yours. Get off thy stretcher and walk!

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17 Sep 2014 18:31:17
Ulster,

He just did but injured himself getting off stretcher :-)

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17 Sep 2014 13:55:42
After a good sleep, and a few hours this morning to get over and contemplate last nights debacle I think we should all calm Dow. Hold on a sec no I'm still pissed as hell, how can every man and his dog, the one armed man, and even the one who flew over the cuckoos nest, understand that are problems are 90% tactical 10% personnel, and our management and technical team cannot, I said at the start of the season it did not matter a pot, who we signed, if we did not change our tactics according to who we are playing then we will get nothing this year! Seriously seriously p#%%sed off still!

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17 Sep 2014 13:27:16
Re Ozil.

If Wenger bought the six million dollar man, would he be worth $3.60c a year later?

Just a thought.

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17 Sep 2014 13:16:07
OK,

Its the morning after the night before, we have had time to reflect upon last nights performance and the posts on here.

It looks just as bad today as it did last night.

7 games into the season, 2 scrappy wins, 4 draws and a humiliating defeat.
8 scored, 8 conceded.

Not a single decent performance to date, maybe 2 x15 minute spells against City and 7 minutes at Goodison.

Can't see a win anytime soon.
We should be going to a Benteke less Villa and kicking ar5e, but I dare say we might scramble a point and Wenger will trot out the usual crap of only having 4 days rest since Dortmund and that Villas goal should not have stood because the grass was too green or the sun was 96,000 miles further south to what it normally is, thus making it impossible for Sczezny to see the ball.

I'm normally fairly upbeat but the performances thus far have been way way way below par.

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17 Sep 2014 13:58:24
Looks like you are having the same early season anxiety issues that us Liverpool fans are facing. I have faith in both squads to turn it on soon and make the top 4. Chelsea and City are guaranteed top 4, who else do you think is strong enough to knock us (Liverpool and Arsenal) out of there?

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17 Sep 2014 17:06:12
Hi Cotton,

I think Manchester United shouldn't be written off, not with their firepower.

I think your neighbours will always hover around top 4 spot mate.

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17 Sep 2014 18:12:16
Bad times when dags posts take the turn :(

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17 Sep 2014 18:20:53
Chin up DG mate. Utd will crumble, beating what I would consider to be the worst team in the prem (QPR) means very little. They may gel quickly as a team and start doing a Liverpool from last season but I just see them conceding too many as their defence is mid table, if not worse.

Our neighbours are a good team mate, but so are Arsenal and so are Liverpool. We will both make it, you have a knack at doing so.

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17 Sep 2014 18:52:21
Make you right Sheeny :-)

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17 Sep 2014 19:43:25
Cotton,

Hope you are right mate.

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17 Sep 2014 12:59:38
Reading some stats on last nights game and Ozil out of the 11 that started for Arsenal had the fewest touches of the ball and Sanchez who had a similar free wide role had double the amount, to me if our playmaker is not getting the ball or looking for the ball then it shows he is hiding. Even welbeck had 5 more touches and he was pretty much isolated up top.

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17 Sep 2014 17:35:38
That pretty much summed up our night mate.

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17 Sep 2014 11:46:23
Ozil out of position is obviously a hot topic. He's definitely wasted on the wing BUT! He should be able to put in a decent shift out of position. The bloke is a professional footballer, pretty sure he's had at least some training in how to tackle, dribble and mark someone when defending. For me, out of position is no excuse for the best woeful displays, it's like he's halfhearted on purpose, almost sulking because he's not getting the role he wants. Having said all this, it's ridiculous that this is even a discussion, one of the world's best #10s being played elsewhere. Also, didn't Wenger say he didn't need Cesc because he had Ozil. I didn't realise Fab was a winger?

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Outback I do agree, if we are talking about getting best out of him he needs to play the 10 role, but as you say, he knows he is playing badly so at least show some effort, when he gets the ball he looks lost and has no idea, no matter the position he plays he should still be able to offer something positive but sadly it will only worsen unless he is shifted infield.

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17 Sep 2014 12:51:51
Totally agree,

I wouldn't give a damn if he doesn't track back, defend, pick up his marker or help out the defence, as long as he is making a contribution going forward.

Sadly, I see nothing.

Harsh but true.

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If I played like that i'd of refused my wages. its clear the guy doesn't actually love football. I can't see him retiring and carrying on with it. hel retire into the sun set.

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17 Sep 2014 13:25:00
To be fair Derby, although I also slated him, he is being played out of portion and the only man who can do something about it is Wenger.

Alas, too stubborn to do anything about it.

He has turned a £42m superstar into a £42 waste of space.

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Im starting to get the impression that he doesn't want to be here.
thinking back in hindsight as well Ozil was a board buy. ok he is the quality that wenger was talking about, but think he was just bought to placate us at the time, considering we had lost out on players like higuain.its almost as if Wenger knew fabregas would have been available this season and wanted him but the board wouldn't wait. anyone else think like this?
dont get me wrong, I love ozil as a player, but he really needs to pull his socks up.im sure when theo returns there should be a marked improvement because there will be willing runners, but how long before the tackles start flying in on him when he becomes a marked man.i don't see him being a happy bunny when he's having lumps kicked out of him.

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He just won the world cup being played on the wing in some games.

we don't have orthodox wingers either

we have 3 attacking midfielders who move and switch like a 6 a side team.
this is i'm sure what sold ozil to come in the first place.

i haven't a problem with him not tracking back as much. we should have players looking to defend. my problem is he does nothing else.

his passing has been made to look mediocre next to rambo and alexis in recent weeks.

none of this affects his talent and skill. I just hope his mentality changes. a couple of wins, assist or two here and there and we will see ozil light up again i'm sure.

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I hear you dags. When played centrally iv not seen a world class player either. Ok I hear people say he needs pace on the wings to hit. But do u pay 42mil for a player you need to help out by playing the right people.

You look at sterling now he's 19 and fast and becoming a number 10. Maybe the slow number 10 is over. Mata is struggling too. Kagawa of course was moved on. Pace is key

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17 Sep 2014 10:42:31
until January we can't really make any personnel changes but we have to adapt and do with what we have until then.
yesterday was embarrassing for the arsenal team, apart from sanchez welbeck ox and jack I don't think there were many other players giving 100%. its cringe worthy when you see opponents accelerating through the middle and the arsenal lads jogging back and giving up the chase thinking what comments to write on twitter!, it happens too many times and will keep on happening unless we change our tactics and mindset.
flamini and arteta are not bad players but simply not good enough for a club like arsenal in the position they take as defensive mids. it is our perennial Achilles heel and we need to sort it out asap.

we should be challenging for honours galore after last season, but the style we play, IMO we have gone backwards. wengers stubbornness to stick square pegs in round holes is our undoing each and every season. wenger needs a word in his ear from somebody, to tell him that the present system of 4141, zonal marking and work-rate is not working. steve bould is his right hand man and has every right to question wenger in private, he can't be a yes man and sit back because it is detrimental to our club.
ozil is a frustrated figure, fair play to him he hasn't complained yet playing on the wing, but every man and his dog can see he isn't a winger and can't track back its not his game, but wenger will eventually if not careful turn him into arshavin - a star man who lost all confidence and gave nothing to the team stuck on the wing. ozil has stated he is one of the best number tens in the world - take note mr wenger - read between the lines in what he is trying to tell you! we have podolski Campbell welbeck ox and sanchez who can cover the left wing.
flamini and arteta as I have stated are not good enough, who else do we have? diaby hayden ox jack ramsey coquelin - are you seriously telling me none of these can do a better job. arteta and flamini may have experience, but how did that help us yesterday or on other occasions against big teams. they are too slow and lack the power to play that position. IMO the ox has pace and power, give him a shot with someone like ramsey/jack/diaby next to him.
defence is not a major issue, yes we have injuries but its down to our weak defensive midfield options leaving our defence exposed.
upfront is our strong point, sanchez and welbeck do so much work off the ball it must be so frustrating for them to see the rest not following their lead - hopefully with theo back soon things will change, but without an organised midfield they can't do nothing.

we need to go back to 4 2 3 1 system, but with 100% effort and work - rate, closing down the opposition and using our pace on attacks. there should be no room for sentiment and pick players on merit, not because they have the armband or are star players. play to our strengths and play players where they belong. below is our squad until January and the various positions they can take up in the 4 2 3 1 system.

gk - szecs/ospina
rb - debuchy/chambers/bellerin
lb - gibbs/monreal
c/h - merti/kosci/chambers/hayden
dm - diaby/hayden/coquelin/arteta/flamini
cm - ramsey/jack/santi/rosicky/ox/zelalem
acm - ozil/santi/jack/rosicky
wide -gnabry/theo/ox/sanchez/welbeck/podolski/Campbell
forward - giroud/welbeck/sanogo/sanchez/podolski/theo

concerned

hulk hogunner

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Wenger will not change things now. It would be an admition of defeat.

you can put up formations all yo want but the fact is Ozil is playing RM this season, and that is it.

Wenfer may drop him to the bench, but play him as a no10 he will not


Were stuck with this i'm afraid. Three more years

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With the players we have we have to go
5 3 2 at chavski and hope to contain them and maybe hit them on the break with Danny and Sanchez.
To turn up as ourself would be madness, we need to use what we have especially against the big boys and extra especially away from home

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17 Sep 2014 12:47:58
Do we even have 5 fit defenders? Honestly, we were top of the league for most of last season with 4-2-3-1, why oh why have we gone away from that?

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17 Sep 2014 10:32:10
welbecks chances last night. remy puts at least one of them away.

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Then we lose 1 2 and it still doesn't disguise the big problems.
Sorry but if it was only as simple as Danny's missed chances.

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Im not saying it is. we have people saying welbeck is a better signing them remy. not a chance we have a manager buying the wrong players.

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If Danny had put away that first chance (and he should have) the result might have been different.

In a big game it would be nice to go one up for a change, rather than one down and chasing it as we always do.

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Totally agree with Ulster. can see us going behind to someone like Chelsea then them picking us off while we scramble playing triangle football around their box.
i chatted to a friend about this during the man city game and when we went 2-1 up he said. that's it, game over, arsenal should just shut up shop. now there was still about 15 odd minutes but.
if it was Chelsea they would have been like a rabid dog with a rabbit in their mouth, you wouldn't have got it off them, us on the other hand.
i don't know why we have Bould.hes one of the most respected defenders we ever had, and i'm sure he can give out bollockings, but are his hands tied?

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17 Sep 2014 08:20:01
Last season I believed we could win the league without beating the top teams as we were playing well pre Christmas and not slipping up in games against the smaller clubs that we had in previous years.
Above the Chavski demolition for me it was the Swansea game at home on the Tuesday night that made me realise the game was up for us.
We are basicly the same team apart from adding Sanchez and Welbeck who are obviously very good additions but our real problems haven't been addressed during the summer and that's why I have refused to let myself get over exited again and hope for a massively improved season this time round.
I do fear going to the boot sale on October the 5th I think it could be the same if not worse than last season because Arsene has no answer to it, I don't have think he knows how to stop by the massive defeats any more .
Negative or realistic you decide

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Wenger never learns.


every result that's gone for us this season, and to alarge extent last season, was because of individual brilliance. a late run from rambo, a killer pass from ozil, a thunderbolt from cazorla, theo skinning 2 defenders.

Its never because of tactics because there are no tactics.

I hate mourinho but he has built an amazing team in a season. three signings, matic, fabregas and costa, are going to win them the league this year and the likes of mertesacker, arteta and ozil are going to be blown away when we play them

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Its true original I can't think of a game so far this season where the result flattered our opposition and we were better than the result suggested.
To be fair when have played well in 2014? The Bayern games? We looked decent in them but still went out, we struggled against Wigan and Hull when winning the cup and apart from the obvious embarrassing away days good performances are hard to remember since 2013 ended.
We have kidded our self's it was only injuries that stopped us last season but in truth they papered over the cracks that commentators highlighted and we got upset about.
We will make the top four of that I'm sure but that is still our limit nothing has changed for the better so far this season and its hard to think how it will.
I long to eat humble pie and apologize for these words as we go into 2015 in a unexpectedly good position I really do

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It would have taken 1 signing in the transfer window. A midfielder that sits in front of the back four. 1st job to distribute the ball away from defence. 2nd job to give a bit of security and discipline to the defence. That signing would have forced a change in dynamic to the way we play. A bit like Wengers early days. Kind of like Seaman/Adams passes to Vieira/Petit passes to Overmars/Pires passes to Anelka/Henry/Bergkamp = Goal. Then repeat. Quite a direct style of football.
Take that Vieira Petit link away and you get left with what we have now. Just a hell of a lot of passes with no ruthlessness up top.
Come January once again we won't sign what we need. Watch Manchester United sign Strootman in Januray. The exact style of player we could do with.
All we will get is a Party Political Broadcast style of explanation as to why we don't need to sign anyone or that no club wants to sell us their players.
I still won't make an overall judgement on how we will do this season till we have played 10-12 games in the league. But it's looking very much like previous seasons.

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The fact is we have some very good players.
alexis, ozil (if not stuck in right midfield), ramsey, walcott are all match winners

so these players will be the difference sgainst teams with poorer players.

but when it really matters - against elite opposition and elite coaches, we almost always come off second best because player-for-player I don't think dortmund are that much better than us - certainly not to the extent that last night showed.
but klopp has a gameplan, and he buys players thst play his systrm how he wants and it works. Same with rodgers, maureen, every top manager.

I remember a quote from fergie a season or 2 before he retired, basically he said at the start of the season he sawbthe 2 arsenal fixtures and he and his team considered it 4 points st least, because we were so predictable, and thrrefore easy to beat.

If you play deep with pace against us, you're almost guaranteed to win, because we overcommit and hardly ever open the opposition up when were in the opponents half anyway.

its a damning endictment but if anyone on here didn't see last nights result coming then you haven't been paying attention

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Not going to happen G62. Humble pie is off the menu.

The man is quite prepared to leave the club with a whimper. After all he did I hope to remember him fondly when he departs and not as the has been football antiquity manager of yester year he has turned into.

Stagnant Stagnant Arsenal

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The trouble is while where stuck in neutral playing with our fluffy dice Everton are still chugging forward, utd have deffinately got out of reverse are are looking to select first gear again and even spurs have spotted where first gear is and are having a meeting to decide whether to select it or go straight into 6th and hope they don't stall yet again, .
We'll get away with top four this time round but for how much longer I'm not sure

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17 Sep 2014 07:52:54
After watching the game last night I think it shows how tactically inept Wenger is and how he places to much trust in under performing players.

Look at Mourinho (hard to say this) and how intelligently he uses his squad, he has players for every type of game, he has players to scrape out a draw, players to snatch a 1-0 win, the players to tear teams apart and players to 'park the bus'. If we look at the chelsea v liverpool game last season, he adapted his team to hit liverpool on the counter and have strength in midfield to dominate the middle he adapts his tactics for every game,, every opposition. This is the sign of a class manager someone who is flexible and has an understanding of their opposition but look at Arsenal and the way Wenger operates and it shows everything wrong with his thinking.

For a start do we even scout the opposition build up a portfolio of where they are weak, how they are likely to line up and how we need to play to defeat the opposition. I really don't think we do and the big games last season and dortmund last night prove this, he never looks to stop there threatening players and never adopts a new game plan for the different teams we face.

Instead its the same team, same standard tactics and a formation that doesn't work for every game. We play one way 'The arsenal way' or atleast try to play it for every game and when against the big teams it just doesn't work. What team par the European elite (Barca, Real, Bayern) would go to Dortmund and set up to have the full backs surging forward constantly, a midfield pair of rambo and wilshere that struggle to tackle and at times struggle against the stronger players, aswell as to have a DM (Arteta) who doesn't protect his defence (look at their goals and the space the centre forward had, Arteta should have been sitting infront of his defence, protecting) and to have one of the best CAM (Ozil) play on the wing in position he cannot play because he isn't quick enough or strong enough or defensive minded. The answer is nobody would, we should have set up for the draw and possible hit on the counter, add some strength to the midfield and height (Diaby, Coquelin or even Hayden would be nice).

The third point is Wenger needs to begin listening to the fans, everyone knows ozil cannot play lw but he persists he is good enough, why is arteta captain, he isn't a leader and has no ability, why did he not strengthen the back four and midfield in the market despite it being so obvious and finally why does he neve rgive players like podolski and campbell a chance? Somehow I don't think we will find the answer to these questions!

And finally why does Steve Bould stay seated for the whole game, does he have super glue stuck to his arse and can't get up or is wenger oppressing him! Bould really needs to be given licence to come out into the technical area to command the team have a go at players who are not doing their job. And on this matter Wenger is shocking when we are behind all he does is moan when he should be encouraging.

In summary and my opinion the fault lies in Wenger and the man needs a revoultion in his thinking if we are to get anywhere. So to sign out I Will say the squad needs to adapt for diifferent games, different tactics need to be used and players and in terms of the ozil debate, play him where he will hurt teams, down the MIDDLE!

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Sadly for us for Arsene and for football in many ways Mourinho is everything Arsene isnt, tactically excellent astute in the market and has the balance right with cuddles and kicks when it comes to man management.
I dislike the bloke this time round as he is a nasty vindictive person (shame because first time round he was brilliant to listen to as well as being the best manager).
We will never sack Arsene and I have to say because of past achievements I wouldn't disagree with that, invincibles the stadium and the are financial security no one ever has or ever will do so much to a club as Arsene has us.
Last season should have been it and we could have given him the send off of all send offs but it wasn't to be, Arsene will be remembered as the man who stayed to long, he will lose his perfect record of champions league qualifications over the next three years city and Chelski won't sit still and let us catch up and utd are turning the ship around plus Everton under Bob will become a top four team.
Arsene is very much a yesterday day man, sadly

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17 Sep 2014 07:29:06
on last nights showing

We have not a living hope in finishing above Man u in the PL, Dags put that spurs shirt on now.

I like Welbeck and think eventually he will come good BUT, Manu would have scored at least 2 of the chances DW had, they have a better forward line than us, at least their defence is as bad as ours.I think

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17 Sep 2014 10:25:07
This is the problem we had with Welbeck at United. He needs to be more efficient with his finishing. He never really got a consistent chance up front with us and now he's got it with you I really hope once he scores one he will go on to score plenty. (Obviously I hope the opposition scores more but that's neither here nor there!)

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17 Sep 2014 12:56:04
Thanks Rosie, lol

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17 Sep 2014 07:24:45
Down to 3 fit defenders, Giroud & Debauchy out until December, which means January! Now Wilshere is injured. At what point does Wenger realise he has too few defenders. Two immobile ageing defensive midfield players. Ozil is not a wide player. That he needs to rotate his numerous midfield players. Surely it would have made sense to play Rosicky, Ox, Santi, Podolski, Campbell & Abu Diaby. Pssibly even Sanogo. Then we would have a fit team to play against Villa on Saturday.
I can't see our defenders lasting until the January window.
It' been a poor start to the season and we have Chelsea & the Toot coming up soon.

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Immobile defenders I like whatt you did there

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17 Sep 2014 00:04:47
Wenger

" we were unlucky because we conceded just before and just after half time"

what about the 8 they missed you plantpot!

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We were lucky to only concede two, in our players minds it must have felt like 10 going in.
Ozil has to play in the centre and if he still doesn't shine then, come January, offload him along with Arteta, Wilshire (one good game), Sanogo, Flamini, Podolski, Diaby and Wenger himself

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17 Sep 2014 00:01:46
I've perhaps criticised people for being too harsh too our team and players and called fans like Steve.r negative. However today I will admit I have no answer for it and they deserve all the criticism and negative comments. Was such a poor poor outing. 11 players disappointed me today. And guess what it was my birthday today. Ruined that one lol

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17 Sep 2014 00:16:51
Happy Birthday mate.

I would say hope you had a good one, but I know the answer :-)

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Happy birthday mate. I take no pleasure either. I say what I see, and so do you. Opinions differ but our desire is the same. I've always been a moaner, what ever, that's my make up. Your faith is stronger than mine, but that's life.

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Can someone please tell me what Arteta brings to the squad? Don't care if he's "tryin' hard". The guy needs to go. You know he's our captain aswell?! Watch the game from 60 mins. not once did I see him talkin to the players. F**k that rainbow laces ad, the other players should've encouraged him to say. "It's not my fault i'm Sh*t", or "It's not my fault i'm not fabregas". Terrible player.

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17 Sep 2014 12:45:36
I think arteta could add some strength to our squad as a back up player but not in the dm role. I know his is getting older but he is still wasted in that role. And I gutted how we play the only thing I guess was that surely was the hardest game on paper. Can't play that poorly again sorely

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17 Sep 2014 16:14:21
Lol that last sentence hardly made sense. That's what happens trying to type and work at the same time lol

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