Arsenal Banter Archive January 19 2014

19 Jan 2014 22:59:21
Just want to comment on the diving situation regarding the fuss around Suarez this weekend.
It's obvious the best way to cut down on diving is for the FA to ban the players after a quick review of the match. This could and should be a ban of 3 games I think.
But what I really want to bring up is, why are soooo many players getting away with diving which decides games. Yet against Celtic in a champions league qualifier Eduardo dived which won a penalty and later was banned by the FA. Unless I'm mistaken. But if that did happen and I'm sure it did then why did he get banned when soo many others haven't?

Eduardo was rightly punished and at the time I remember thinking/hoping that it take it out of the game, unfortunately the F.A hasn't got the balls to punish players and teams for what, at the end of the day is cheating.
Diving and for me the worser offence of shirt pulling really needs to be dealt with heavily, video evidence can and needs to be used for both

Good post Waq
Firstly I don't think Saurez dived on Saturday.
But I do think any player found to be diving should receive a one match ban or a 3 match ban if its in the penalty area plus a player who feigns serious injury ( ie its tapped on the shin but holds his head rolling about like they have been shot) should receive an 8 match ban.
Trial by video after the game and if proved to bye obvious cheating bans apply

The next ban on suarez, is likely to go for half a season. the FA don't want to ruin the premier league.

star players get special consideration.

Guys like eduardo are the examples.

besides Everyones club to hate is Arsenal. its a privilege to be thought of

Seem to remember Eduardo getting a retrospective ban for a 'dive' which the press all demanded. I do also seem to remember that following Arsenal submitting the film from the AFC cameras the ban was rescinded as there was clealy proper contact high up the back of his leg! I do agree on the suggestion that we get rid of the diving thgough it gets right on my whatsits

19 Jan 2014 20:45:23
You have got to give it to Alex Ferguson he knew just when to hand over the reins. Coincidence? I personally don't think so. I believe he knew exactly what he was doing.

He's not silly. He's been squeezing extra out of players for the last few seasons. He knew when to leave on top as a title winner.

I just wonder, how will Arsenal cope when Wenger finally retires. Remember he is exactly like Fergie was. In charge top to bottom. The new manager will have a real job on their hands!

I agree he knew what he was doing, but why he hated Moyes so much to land it on him is a mystery

Agree Golds

This reason is why I rate wenger higher that ferguson, when the going got tough Wenger took rocks from the fans and always came up with the goods when it mattered all the '4th spot is like a trophy' will be worth it soon.

Wenger has made sure the club has a massive chance to be stable after his time has finish. Something fergie never planned doing, instead of nurturing talent like pogba, he decided to instead recall scholes to win one last title and now fans are crying for pogba to come back.

Hope it hurts united. Hope it hurts.

Wenger is not the man to leave us in bad shape, he has far too much self respect and love for the club to do that EVER
Now we are well and truly on the up and our future looking so good we are at our most vulnerable to losing him.
It would be so sad if he went now after so much stick he deserves the glory more than anyone but at the same time so predictable he would want to things right

19 Jan 2014 18:19:00
Fed up of so called pundits writing us off . C£ty are playing really well as we are and Chelsea. Looking at remaining fixtures C£ty have to play 5 of the top 7 away from home ( they are not as unbeatable away from the Etihad ) and their home game is Chelsea - not easy!

We have two home games and four away - but our away form is one of our strong points. Chelsea have three home and only two away.

There is massive cause for Optimism and it isn`t over yet . We will be in the mix - It isn`t City`s to lose!
Just my opinion
COYG

I know what you mean. I saw the build up to the Chelsea/Man Utd game and they were interviewing Glenn Hoddle.

He said, "Chelsea must win to keep up with Man city".

Really? What are we, bloody invisible?

We are top so surely its ours to lose? OK I do realise both Chelski and city are right in there and there are arguments for both their chances to finish above us but equally plenty to argue back, .
We have coped without Ramsey our MF goal scorer and top player, let's see what happens if Yaya and Hazard get injured

I'm honestly happy about it. If we do win the league they will have to eat their words and it puts no expectations on us. Happy to be the underdogs it can only work in our favour.

If we do drop out the race then all the naysayers will come out, "told you arsenal didn't have the bottle." And that will really p**s me off!

Dags. Wish I could be paid for stating the bloody obvious.These pundits make me laugh.

Golds I know what you mean mate.

Agree with akie - the lack of recognition is playing into our hands. MOTD2 last night ended with a montage of all of City's scorers this season. Everyone is talking about them. Can Pellegrini, a manager who has only ever won the Intertoto cup, keep his nerve under this sort of pressure? I think the pressure might lead them to bottle it, particularly when you look at how leaky their defence is. Will be interesting to see what Chelsea - who are possibly a bigger threat - do against them.

Meanwhile, we have been quietly getting on with the job, picking up 3 points wherever we can even if we aren't at our best. I think the lack of spotlight has helped with that.

19 Jan 2014 16:52:05
I'd really like Mertesacker to be made club and team captain officially to start next season.

The guy is immense, a leader and a rock with Koscielny at the back.

Vermaelen will probably leave the club this summer and I feel he deserves it most.

Vice captain for me would be Flamini. Another leader, a passionate shouter and organiser and someone who throws his body on the line.

The clamour for Jack to be captain IMO is premature. Just let the boy play and improve. Future captain maybe, for now, just a first team player.

Arteta for me is great but no longer a nailed on first team starter.

All thoughts welcome. Agree or disagree away!

I agree to all points, spot on

Greeny, good shout mate. Spot on.

Thanks jc7 and Dags! Not so much of a conversation starter as I thought then. This management malarkey is easy!

Would seem sensible to make official what is already a fact Mertascker is our much needed and loved leader on the pitch

19 Jan 2014 16:44:43
Hi gents. I just got married (for the 1st time) today :-)

{Ed002's Note - Good for you. Shouldn't you be doing the bridesmaid or you wife's sister and not be on this forum?}

Hey Rue, well done mate, hope you have many years of happiness.

Ed002, mate you crack me up lol

19 Jan 2014 18:16:21
Don't forget the mother in lnlaw

Yes mate I agree with the Eds if you are having a struggle let me know where you are and Ill step in for you mate as lolng as the bridesmaid isn't a moose. Congratulations though mate.

Congratulate Rue that's brilliant news mate, we will forgive not getting an our invite this time but we won't be so nice next time you get married if you leave us out again:-)
Have a great life together mate

Hi Rue, nice one! great news, all the best:) COYG andi:)

Congratulations mate. hopefully your marriage is as happy as mine. i've never seen or spoke to my wife in over 3 years ;-)

19 Jan 2014 14:37:21
Anyone know when Ramsey will be back? We'll need him for the upcoming big games.

My guess is he'l get some game time against Coventry and be on the bench for the Southampton game.

Ramsey, Sanogo, Arteta and Vermaelen should all be back by 28th January.

19 Jan 2014 12:31:37
Ive seen this more or less every game in the past month, don't know if anyone else has noticed. But we play our normal passing game at a slow/moderate pace and opposition teams find it fairly easy and comfortable to play and defend against. We fail to carve out enough goal scoring chances and when we do get a really good chance we usually fluff it. But then (usually in second half) we have a 10-15 min period where we play with real intensity and dramatically speed up our passing and moving. When we achieve that it becomes extremely difficult to defend against. We create more clear cut chances, force more saves and score.

Yesterday was a perfect example. First half we weren't great. Had only one good chance after 4 mins from Ozil and the rest were pot shots from Gnabry really. Sagna put in some decent crosses but only Giroud was there (this is where we miss Ramsey a lot imo). Our passing and movement was very slow. Then for about 10/15 minutes in the second half we were fantastic. Some great one-touch passing and a lot more players in pockets of space in and around the box. As a result Cazorla scored twice and Gnabry + Koscielny were unlucky not to score. Then the intensity died and that was that, defence saw out the game.

Ive seen this against Villa, West Ham and Cardiff also. Why can't we play with that high intensity, quick and fluent passing game for more than just one 10 minute period. After a period like that where we may be 2-0 or 2-1 up we should bring on players like Rosicky, Podolski and Ox/Gnabry to maintain that high tempo rather than Arteta and Monreal to see out the game. Ultimately this will only work against weaker opposition. When playing bigger teams itll be harder to score in our good periods and we will concede more. Leading to a draw or loss.

Come April may if there is only 1-2 points between us and City then goal difference will be key. You see them burying teams every week. Whereas we grind out 2-0 or 1-0 wins.

This highlights our need for a top class Striker who will bury the chances he gets. Giroud is a good player, but not good enough, simple.

19 Jan 2014 13:19:11
Forgot to sign in

Good post, I think we all a little lost as to why we don't up the tempo for sooner and more often in games.
But goals difference? Two things I would say on that
1 that boat has sailed as city are head and shoulders ahead
2 if we finish 2nd on goal difference only I wouldn't exactly be screaming for Arsenes head, I would see it as a massive achievement from 4th to joint top and a spring board for the future

I actually think we are doing this on purpose! we have only started doing this since start of December and as we know the fixtures in December January are frantic when most of Europe get a break, I think you will see the intensity pick up again in a couple of weeks, and most of our squad, through injury have had a rest over this period now, so I expect us to start kicking on after the fa cup and change our tactics a little!

Totally agree,

Dont know if anybody remembers, but I posted before the Etihad game that they frighten me because they play high-tempo for 90 mins.

Result? They stuffed us 6-3.

Thats the difference between Arsenal and Man City, we play in spasms but City play fast all the time, hence the goals.

That said, we are top of the table, lol.

Valid point rick

Playing at a high and intense tempo for 90 mins means you can lapse and a team can steal a goal, we saw that when we played them and tried to keep up(4 of their goals at least came from us making mistakes)

they will run out of fuel at some point, its just which competition it is.

i do agree however that this is tactical nous from wenger, we are maintaining possession for 45 mins with some chances either way, aand after we blits them fro a few goals and see out the game counter attacking.

what would be blissful if we had the option to start with a quick striker with an eye for goal to start the match, run them ragged and for giroud to come on and punish them late with more long balls and holding up play.

Still think the Etihad result was a bit of a freak- City had a walk over game before that one and we had Napoli away . and it was a day later so our players bodies would have been well down in comparison.

19 Jan 2014 11:51:49
Anyone who may sometimes disagree with Arsene's team selection from time to time should remember things could be much much worse!

If I was our manager I would have dropped Carzola for yesterdays game and started Poldolski.
See lucky you are people

True G62

19 Jan 2014 08:39:04
Hi, i'm a Newcastle fan, just wondering if you guys have heard any rumours about Cabaye and Stanton coming to Arsenal?

Yes mate they start next week in the Gunners shop printing the names on shirts minimum wage but good chances of promotion.LOL

Hi Jimmy
I think the Cabaye interest from us went when Ozil arrived mate, just my view though

Hi Jimmy,

Not sure about Santon but I would love Cabaye and Dubuchy at the Emirates.

19 Jan 2014 05:28:06
By the way Dags . Your the best mate.

Why Golds?

I was reponding to a post I made about a post you made about the Henry/Giroud sceario but my post never made it. Anyhow until the next post. LOL

Lol I see, hehe

18 Jan 2014 23:22:01
Another great result today, may not have been the best performance we've seen but where one aspect may have lagged one kept going e.g the defence. The fact that we've only conceded 1 goal in the last 9 games at home speaks very loudly, remember man city winning the league for the first time due to goal difference? Wasn't by much but it's because they let in the least amount of goals so that's always good news :) scezy having 10 clean sheets this season so far is fantastic, no goal keeper is near that. At least if we're not scoring loads then we're not conceding them either. On to giroud, I'm glad we have him, the comment below saying would barca, real, bayern etc have him that's kinda a stupid question, did you see Madrid or barca bidding for vanpersie when he was with us? No. There's plenty of strikers in the league that are scoring goals regularly that those teams wouldn't have but that's just my opinion.
Great to see santi getting back to his best, plus jacko as well, he's finding good form lately, can't wait to have Rambo back then it will be mouth watering :)
Got Southampton away which won't be easy but I'm confident, chelski and united tomorrow I'm hoping for a draw tbh puts a little distance then between us and chelski :) good things are coming guys and jenny (I do sincerely apologise if there any other woman on this page) lol :)
As I've said before, hold those scarfs up high and chant "arsenal FC, we're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen" :) COYG!