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19 Jan 2015 23:43:30
Go on y**tube and type in 'Martinez reaction to Mirallas penalty miss'.
Its voiced over, so you have to lip read.
Cracked me up (sorry Ed025).
{Ed025's Note - if you could lip read me dags...i would be banned for life!.
Type in Martinez brilliant reaction, that's hilarious! And he's right too
20 Jan 2015 00:02:51
I can imagine Ed :-)
19 Jan 2015 22:29:19
Throw Kristian Bielik in against Brighton?
He could be our rock.
I don't think he will suffer from pier pressure.
We might SEA the good SIDE of him.
OK, that's enough now.
Yeah, would be nice to see what he can offer, get some first team minutes under his belt. Would be good for him I think.
And +1 for the puns.
He may also learn from his piers.
You could B RIGHT ON that dags.
19 Jan 2015 22:19:05
Ed025,
Bet you are not a happy bunny.
I watched the game.
Couldn't believe Mirallas hogged the ball for the penalty.
Apart from against Man U, has Baines ever missed?
Crazy decision.
And Kone for Besic?
Amazing.
{Ed025's Note - tell me about it dags...im as sick as a sea going parrot mate..
19 Jan 2015 23:52:32
Wenger has had some bad press over the years Ed, but RM really seems to have lost the Toffee dressing room.
Can't believe Everton of last year compared to this.
{Ed025's Note - the thing is dags...im now an arsenal supporter who sometimes edits the everton page.. :)
20 Jan 2015 00:04:29
You know what they say Ed,
Once you go Arse, you never go back :-)
Martinez said that 'Everton needs to show ambition to keep mirallas', well somewhere along that line. Mirallas was feeling important, a bit cocky, took the penalty off baines, and missed it.
Haha!
19 Jan 2015 22:02:06
Arsene got things right his tactics were spot on and he deserves credit for it, a banner at Brighton just saying simply " WELL DONE AT CITY ARSENE, TACTICALLY BRILLIANT"" might be appreciated and who knows he might even get a taste for such things :-)
When he's wrong we moan and rightly so and when he gets it right we should congratulate just as loud
19 Jan 2015 20:43:35
By the way, to say that "City were awful" is very disrespectful to us and to the result we got away from home. They had the lion's share of possession and had some very good runs going forward. So rather than they being "cr@ppy", I think it was our defence that was brilliant
That was our most professional performance since? Well I can't remember when.
City were as good as we allowed them to be, some may be hoping it was just a bad day at the office for city but also secretly fearing this is a much more balanced mature Arsenal in the making,
19 Jan 2015 22:21:23
It never bothers me when the press never give us the credit we deserve.
If we keep flying under the radar and keep picking up points, I will be as happy as that Larry bloke.
20 Jan 2015 07:52:59
I don't think Man City could ever have "a bad day at the office" with their strike force, by the end of the game they had Aguero Dzeko and Jovetic, that's near enough £90mil in strikers, let alone the players behind them, they should be winning far more than they do lol
19 Jan 2015 20:39:50
I think the reason why we had good defensive shape yesterday was of course a team effort, but the emergence of Coquelin as the midfield enforcer we have been crying out for makes a huge difference. The defence is more assured when there is some steel in front of them and a good keeper behind them. No disrespect but it must be tough being an Arsenal defender when you have Flamini in front of you and Sczezney behind you. I know Ospina has not really been tested, but maybe just his reputation as a shot-stopper makes our defenders feel more comfortable. We have a vey good centreback pairing. when Kos and Mert are together, they operate so well together. Me and my mates were worried that Aguero would run pages around Mert, but when faced with the challenge, he did brilliantly. There is the dribble that he made on Aguero yesterday that just underlined how much our defence kept his number.
The coq has been brilliant, and contrary to popular saying, one man can make a difference. I hope he keeps up this fine run of form and eventually owns that position for a long time to come.
Last but no means least, every cloud has its silver lining:
Injury to Arteta has led to the revelation of the coq
Injury to Gibbs has given chance to Monreal and he has taken it with both hands (last 2 games)
Injury to Debuchy has given a chance to Bellerini and he is shaping up nicely in the fire that is the EPL
Lastly Sczezney's smoking incident has created room for Ospina. I admit, he hasn't been tested that much, but then again, he already has 2 clean sheets and the fans love him
19 Jan 2015 22:22:11
Good post Rue,
Totally agree mate.
Coq will make some mistakes over the rest of the season and so will ospina. Hopefully we will give both of them a chance and not call for their heads at the first sign of trouble.
I feel like we finally have enough numbers in midfield, if not the quality in depth. But it seems even wenger has realised we need a defender. I'm. Optimistic something will happen
19 Jan 2015 19:08:23
I've just been reading the top ten debt riddled clubs in the world and was shocked to see us at number 2 nearly 350m in debt I always thought we are in the black
19 Jan 2015 20:28:25
Jelfy,
Check the date mate.
First it is 350 dollars, second its out of date and third it doesn't reflect the true picture. Most business have debt, its not about debt, its about your assets. Arsenal are also the fouth richest club, with large cash reserves and when its all added up, we are a very very solvent club.
19 Jan 2015 19:07:16
You all know I'm a Wenger boy (just).
Now I know one swallow doesn't make a summer, and he has found wanting on many occasions, but as a Wenger boy, I can't see too many of you boys singing the praises of Arsene.
It was a fantastic team performance, but Wenger picked the team and the tactics.
So, come on, praise where praise is due.
Stand by to be busy for the next few hours Ed's, there should be a lot of pro Wenger posts coming through very soon.
I must admit, Wenger surprised me yesterday, he didn't fumble with his coat zipper as much as I expected.
You see Dags, I do have positive things to say about Wenger once in a while :D
Dags it didn't take one game or one month or one year, for me to believe, his time is nigh. It was lots of things over a period of 3 to 4 years and many repeated problems. So it won't take one game for sure to think, Yes I was wrong to doubt the guy. Great result and performance, but we have been here before and I will take a lot more persuading before, my mental scars from the last few seasons are healed. We are still 5th, we are not going to win the league or come runner up and we still have many unresolved problems, created by him. I don't feel there is any better to come from this present set up, I think he has peaked. But I will still cheer the team on and hope for better, I honestly don't see the guille and single minded determination tomput it right. I don't have the faith he can improve us. Sorry.
Yesterday he did what many have been asking even begging him to do for a very long time especially against the big boys and even more especially away from home and if that's a sign of things to come then where's the problem?
Stubbornly sticking to a system that continually failed against a growing number of team's was driving many of us insane .
I wanted change with or without Arsene if its to be with then we're all happy aren't we?
19 Jan 2015 22:15:04
C'mon boys,
You know you love him :-)
Gunner away to spurs, away to chelski, away to munc u, win all three of them and even I might teeter.
^^ we are not away to chelsea its at home. And are you seriously considering spurs as a challenge.
I am sure spurs and chelsea we will win, manu we can nick it because of their shambolic defense.
19 Jan 2015 18:38:40
So let's just throw this one out there.
If Arteta was fit, he would of played, so would Jack.
Injuries forced the Coq selection which has tuned out to be a blessing in some ways. He can tackle, adds that bit of steel and makes us a more balanced unit. ( as indeed any DMF will do)
My point is that people are talking of Wenger being tactically on the ball yesterday, stopping City play.
I think the Wenger just got lucky with the way it has turned out with Coq and, without the injuries would have done nothing different that same old spineless midfield.
I guess it's better to be lucky than good sometimes.
19 Jan 2015 19:06:42
Hope you don't mind if I lob it back at ya, with a very large Howitzer. ;-)
Hmmm have to disagree. I agree we needed a dm and coquelin has been fantastic.
But it wasn't just the fact we stuck a more elusive dm in the team, it was the shape of the whole team. Being much more compact, not giving up any spaces for silva to work in, and everyone working extremely hard to get back in to position.
PlusWenger signed him, Wenger knew he had potential, Wenger recalled him from his loan and yes being forced to stick him in the team has worked wonders but I'm just saying that one solid player did not change Arsenal from pretty poor, to unplayable in a game or two.
19 Jan 2015 19:11:23
To be fair, all managers need a bit of luck.
Coquelin wasn't sold, Wenger saw he could/should be a good player, so he loaned him out to Charlton for some important game time.
Agreed, injury to Arteta meant the return of Le Coq, but I think that was all part of the master plan.
Not sure if the same could be said about Sanogo though.
Truth is we'll never know and who cares!
The first ever televised 147 break in snooker made by Cliff Thorburn started with a fluke 1st red he then went red black all the way before clearing the colours.
Point is it ain't about getting a bit of luck because everyone gets that sometimes its about maximising it
{Ed025's Note - very philosophical of you there G62..
Sussex you had to dig deep into your bag of negativity to try and dredge something up after a performance like that FFS - enjoy the moment.
Coquelin/Arteta might just work for a bit, good combination of athleticism and experience Wenger will have more options now going forward. Let's get a CB though, hope this Paulista is good.
19 Jan 2015 20:30:20
Damn you G62,
I wish I thought of that one :-)
My spanial ate my prozac
One happy cocker then!
19 Jan 2015 22:23:27
Lol Sussex.
I like that :-)
19 Jan 2015 14:38:50
See we are being linked with Gabriel Paulista, hope it's not an omen but the only footage I found was him scoring an OG against Barca
Manu have offered 26mil for otamendi. Turned down. Big offer that tbh. We need to get or choice right in terms of defender
19 Jan 2015 13:25:13
As someone who wants Wenger to stay that was a performance that will live long in the memory and I'm hoping for all the right reasons. Namely that it is not a one off.
It sticks in my head and I think it was Lee Dixon, although it could have been any of that back four, who said they had the ability to organise themselves.
This team now has a clear picture of what can be achieved with that kind of performance, they need to store it and use it as and when. It was great to hear Santi say in answer to the first question put to him basically that it was one game and we need to take it into the next and the next.
What can I say about Santi Cazorla, when he went on that run from out of our defence ending with a block/tackle with Zabeletta I actually shouted, "Santi you phucking hero" I don't think the neighbours heard me.
Coquelin, I cannot tell you how impressed I've been with him, there was a moment, bearing in mind he had lots of moments, I think around 70 minutes when our attack broke down and they were about to counter and he rushed into the City half and for a second I thought "NO!" but it was perfect, he went straight to the opposing player, held him up without making a rash tackle and allowed the rest to get back. A beautiful thing. Also how good is he aerially, has he lost a headed challenge yet? Clears it superbly too.
Taking into account City missed Toure and Nasri from their first team and we had Walcott and Ozil on the bench with Debuchy and Gibbs not playing from our first choice back four, it was a top performance.
Whoever said Monreal was the worst ever Arsenal defender needs to eat a little bit of humble pie.
Credit to the team, credit to Wenger, keep their feet firmly on the ground, take a breath, realise what the have done but take each game at a time.
I have always had faith in some seriously outstanding quality in this team and yesterday showed us that we really are not that far off. At 23 Coquelin has the potential to have a great future at Arsenal. That will have given him a huge boost in confidence and there should be no reason that he is not playing for the rest of the season, he reminds me of Gnabry that he is also a bit of a tank with a great engine.
Cazorla has played ten straight games and has earned a rest, let's see if Mr Ozil can get close to that kind of performance, the FA Cup now gives him a chance but he must have to earn a starting place in the league. I would also like to see Ospina and Bellerin keep their places, even in the cup game, hopefully that constant rerun of Szczesny sipping from his drink bottle will be a reminder of his need to improve. Sanchez needs to accept at best a place on the bench in the cup game with hopefully Welbeck deputising.
When you think Ramsey, Walcott and Giroud have between them scored nowhere near the amount of goals they did last season then truly things can only get better.
Finally Mr Wenger, go get the defensive reinforcements we need, don't sit on your laurels. It was one game and there are a lot left and we have to make sure it counts for the remainder of the season.
Absolutely agree with everything you said mate.
Top post!
Watching Coquelin is a real pleasure for arsenal fans. He represents everything we have missed in recent years, heart, desire, passion, aggression. Reminds me of a young Flamini. It's so good to finally see a player willing to sit in front of the defence, who's job is simply to break up play and protect the back four. And he has done it superbly. Really proud of the boy, he looked like another youngster who didn't exceed any expectation. Now please give him a contract.
Sanchez will be doing shuttle runs down the touch line until he comes on. he does need a rest no doubt he will ant to play tho
Top post Red Dog
Derby, Ant to play? What about Dec you can't separate those two
Haha want lol. he's like an ant though strong for his size and will do anything to protect his mates.
19 Jan 2015 18:12:17
Totally agree Red.
I posted yesterday, the thing that impressed me the most with Coquelin was his discipline.
He patrolled in front of the back 4, going from side to side, protecting left back, right back and the 2 Centre Halves.
He didn't venture forward much but just stayed no more than 10 yards from the defence.
The fact that a top team like City, in front of their own fans, were reduced to snap shots and half chances, was down to a very good team effort, and indeed good tactics by Wenger, but Coquelin deserves a special mention.
19 Jan 2015 18:31:38
Guys,
Coquelin is 24 on 13th May, let's hope Wenger gives him an early birthday present of a new contract as his is up in June and we do not want him disappearing on a free.
19 Jan 2015 11:12:32
Find all the Ozil/Carzola talk strange this morning. Ozil is still better in the 10 role than arguably anyone in Europe.
However, when you go away from home against the big boys, Chelsea, City, United, I wouldn't play Ozil. I don't get why that's a big deal. 'But we paid 42m' so what, he will win us a ton of points against lower teams away/home & be vital for us when we play the big boys at home & they sit back & put 10 men behind the ball. Players like Ozil are vital for those games because he finds space & can make the killer final ball.
There's nothing wrong with dropping players when you play specific teams. Cesc plays CM for Chelsea, when they play big teams though what do they do? They push Cesc into 10 role, drop Oscar, play Ramires next to Matic.
I'd also drop Walcott for those kind of games, they require extremely good defensive discipline that Ozil/Walcott don't have. Why does that matter though? Just rest them for those games, of course when you're losing 1-0 & you need to push up, you can bring them & they're great subs to have.
Anyway, what a result!
We need a squad to rotate and rest players. I would bring Ozil in against Brighton, to give the superb Santi a well earned rest.
19 Jan 2015 11:37:39
The issue is that Wenger tries to play Ozil and Cazorla together and one of them ends up on the wing. Neither of them want to be there and it shows in their performance. I agree that Ozil, on his day, can be the best number 10 in the world but at the moment Santi is doing better centrally and I would be keen to stick with that!
Its pretty simple mate. Cazorla in top form is simply unplayable. Unbelievable little player who I think is a little underappreciated by the fans. Ozil at the moment is nowhere near displacing Cazorla in the team. Awesome technique, dribbling and running all over the place, contributing in defence, creativity in abundance, he has pretty much everything. I don't know what Ozil is thinking at the moment, but he has a lot of work to do to reclaim his staring place.
End of the day we didn't need ozil. it unbalanced our team.
sanchez is better in number 10 than ozil in the premier league.
ozil being the best number10 in the world is a little OTT
19 Jan 2015 14:02:45
It's far from over the top Derby, Ozil simply needs to play in his best position and Sanchez is better running riot up front.
There is little doubt Ozil has to put some graft in but he is uber talented.
Cazorla owns the shirt, Ozil has to earn it back.
Ye but what i'm saying red dog is. a num10 for 42mill wasnt needed.
ok we went for higuain who would of smahsed it here. but we needed other players with that 42mill and not ozil.
wenger thought it would be fine ozil or cazorla on LW but it doesn't work.
say we brought higuain in and welbeck wasnt signed and ozil. so we had that cash for a DM now would we be a better team? for me yes
19 Jan 2015 17:04:42
At the time the Ozil signing was a fantastic boost for the team and the start of that season was immense. He was rightly lauded as the best 10 in the world. He hasn't lost that ability
He just needs to prove that for us and right now as I posted before it has to be one or the other in the team as Welbeck and Sanchez between them mean we don't need to ever see Cazorla or Ozil wide left.
Either one next to a coming back to form Ramsey and Coquelin is the immediate future of our midfield three. Cazorla currently has dibs on the shirt.
I would also have loved Higuian here as our goals for are still falling short.
We all want that DM and another next to Coquelin would be awesome.
When you pay 42mikk he should be starting and not letting us drop him. he's been at a top club real where he was often moved to the right side. The prem however doesn't let him play on the wing. Real have the ball always bar against barca. Premiership is a different ball game
One I feel doesn't suit him. All i'm saying
Is someone offered 42mill now would you take it. that's probably the best way to judge this debate. i'd snap there hands off and reinvest elsewhere
19 Jan 2015 17:57:22
Totally agree Derby, he started like a house on fire, has to back to that or if the premier league is too much for him then move him on.
Simple mate.
19 Jan 2015 18:35:04
To be honest Derby if Southampton offered 10 million plus Spyder I'd bite there arm off.
I just don't believe the Premier League is right for him.
{Ed025's Note - nor do i JPSA..
Jpsa sypder would be epic. Warrior
19 Jan 2015 19:18:38
Cazorla and Ozil are both class players. But at the end of the day Ozil is 4/5 years younger and is a better player. Cazorla was our best player 2 seasons ago, and he seems to have rediscovered that form.
Back then I remember he either played CAM or LM. He was equally effective in both positions. But now I feel he is only effective at CAM and a deeper CM role. Recently he's been playing in a system where both midfielders infront of Coquelain have equal attacking freedom. Him and Ramsey/Rosicky have been taking turns to bomb forward or sit back a bit and control play from there.
I think we can play both in the system. With Ozil as a "number 10" behind the striker and between the wingers. And Cazorla as a deeper playmaker, with Coquelain or whoever as DM. We could get away with playing this vs the lesser teams at home.
The fact is with Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Rosicky, Ox, Campbell, Walcott, Sanchez, Coq, Arteta, Flamini and Diaby, we have 13 players to occupy 5 positions and another 3 on the bench. Two or Three need to go. i'd get rid of Flamini, Diaby and Rosicky (with regret). And ofcourse bring in a DM.
Ozil has a lot to prove, hopefully we can utilze him whilst keeping Santi in the team.
19 Jan 2015 20:32:30
Very good post Detroit.
Ozil num 10 and cazorla behind for me would not work. cazorla needs to be highest of the 3 midfielders he's too weak to play cm next to a dm
19 Jan 2015 10:02:57
I had his wonderful dream last night that we controlled a game against the Champions, Man City, and bet them with relative ease.
Also in my dream, Cazorla danced around the pitch riding challenges left, right and centre, Ramsay finally decided to be a proper midfielder and help out the back four, and Monreal stayed in his half. Also Mertesaker made 1 great tackle!
The weird part is that Aguero was only 6 inches tall and was kept in Koscielnys pocket?! Weird huh?
What a dream.
Oh.
Wait a minute! :-)
cammy out. wenger out!
xx
My dream involved kelly brook, and she wasnt at the etihad.
19 Jan 2015 09:18:16
Is having a strong bench with Theo, Ozil, Wilshere, Gibbs and Welbeck all potentially struggling to get into the team a bad thing?
We have really good squad depth in some places - another CB and some sort of replacement for Flamini would be lovely though!
19 Jan 2015 08:01:23
Coquelin is 24
19 Jan 2015 09:15:31
And your point is?
It is a bit of a shock considering how much playtime he has had but he has been around for a long long time. Looks like he has matured into a reliable player. let's hope he can continue this form throughout the season!
He's 23 .
23 and a half, the problem is that we have some great youngsters but we push to sign ready made players so they don't get their chance.
He has taken his chance now due to injurys and I hope he continues, however I think he is out of contract in the summer so we need to get him signed up or he will leave for free like flamini did.
19 Jan 2015 17:59:44
Lol "we push to sign the ready made players" lmfao, really do u? sanogo? Kos? Welbz? Ox? Yes these are all ready made players 337, granted Wenger panicked and signed Sanchez and ozil but the rest have been potentially decent at best.
The reason he has not had a go much is because he is average, good game yesterday yes, let's see him do it over 12 months before u start proclaiming to birth of a new star.
Cr you got that totally wrong mate, "we push" not me, the AW out fans, that's what they want, I for one am a big fan of giving our youngsters a chance and understand that signing players stifles this.
Calm down a bit I only just gave you permission to come back on our page.
19 Jan 2015 21:37:02
Wenger panicked and bought Sanchez and Ozil did he Chris? Wow, long may his "panic" buys continue I say! Speaking of which, how's that panic buy Falcao going for your lot?
19 Jan 2015 06:55:45
I am really please to finally see Coquelin fullfilling his potential. I recall during his early days at the club, thinking he is going o make it. It just shows that in the PL, there are players that don't mature until they are around 23 years of age. It' s a tough league.
His breakthrough will save the club a fortune and if we purchase one top quality defensive midfield player we can replace Famini & Arteta, who have been found wanting.
Bellerin has broken through and the aquisition of one centre back in the current window is all that is necessary defensively.