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20 Jan 2013 23:55:08
How can Wenger see this team and look at himself in the mirror? I don't give a moneys ass how big our stadium is...id rather have highbury back and have a team of fighters that can actually put an ounce of fear into another team.
Wenger please leave...im willing to take a risk on another manager...you've had enough time
Scooby Dooby K
If we had highbury still, we'd have even less revenue to spend on players.
20 Jan 2013 23:35:34
Not that anyone really cares but Chuks Aneke returns from loan today which for me is fantastic news. I hope he doesn't go on loan for the rest of this season because as the transfer window enters the final stages it's looking less and less likely we will sign anyone. Which is why Aneke must stay.
For those of you who don't really know who he is I'll tell you. He is a 19 year old, box-to-box midfielder that just spent half the season out on loan at Crewe where he racked up 5 goals and 4 assists in 22 games which isn't bad at all. He has been compared to Diaby and Yaya Toure because of him being a powerhouse midfielder. Standing at 6"3 he is obviously very physically imposing which, apart from Diaby, we lack in our midfield. He can control the midfield and change a game in an instant.
He boasts a great long shot, fantastic range of passing and the vision to go with it, considerable amounts of strength, tidy footwork, can chip in with a few goals and is solid when it comes to defending. Basically he has everything Diaby has but an injury free version and a slightly bigger version too. However I believe he can be a better player than Diaby.
Been at the club since he was 9 and has progressed, along with Afobe, through the youth ranks both at club level and international. Afobe has gone a stage further and is in the U21 team while Aneke lingers in between the U19 and the U21 squad. At around the age of 14, 15 or 16 he rejected a move to Barcelona which not only shows his commitment but how talented he is. By the way he represented England at international level so there's a chance he can become a part of the British core as long as he doesn't switch his allegiance to Nigeria.
Some of you may have seen him on the Malaysia tour which if you did you would know all about him. He has impressed out on loan at Crewe, according to their manager. He also attracted a lot of attention in his days as a reserve player. Last season he bagged 6 goals in 10 games at that level.
He has a lot of potential and I for one would like to see him show off his potential in the first team. Maybe against Brighton or even sooner...
Thanks for reading if you did read it all and I hope you now know a little more about him.
Ethan.
Thanks for the post Etan - I wasn't aware of the above - apart from very bare stats...... If you are right then yes he should be given a go-
yorky gooner
But we all know he won't be.......eisfield, gnabry, dench, miquel the list goes on of players who are ready to take the step up but wenger won't risk it?
20 Jan 2013 23:16:01
Was it just me or did mata seem to love arsenal in his post match interview? Another one that got away...
It was nice to see him show so much respect. It's actually a relief when other players say stuff like that - I mean people say it all the time 'we are glad we won today because QPR is a big club' but you feel that is false sincerity when QPR are crap. So it can often be meaningless, but I got the feeling with Mata he genuinely feels we're a top top side even now and I think to an extent we proved we can be, we nailed them in the second half, just wasn't enough.
Gutted we didn't go all out to sign him. I wonder if we really regret those 2 or 3 million that we refused to pay at the time...
Metal Gooner
21 Jan 2013 08:15:43
Pointless post - it's done, get over it.
19 jan 2013 18:27:10
hi eds and fans if you could pick 3 possible signings .who would they b.?i thing wenger needs a bit of help .1 robert huth, knows d art of defending, not as slow as metersacker and can jump 2 win d ball in d air.good at set pieces.knows d premership. 2 mascharone one of d best holding mid.can tackle and sit in front of back four only makin bench and has 2 do as a makeshift centre half at barca.3.michu.find of d season tall, quick.doesnt panic in front of goal one on one.realistic targets that would improve d team and not break d bank.not d dream signings like canavi, villa and d rest...wat you think? sligo gooner {Ed027's Note - Ashley Williams, Victor Wanayama, Hatem Ben Arfa
The three you've listed would make for a decent window.
Hackney Gooner
Fellaini, Gotze, Hummels.
Wouldnt happen in a million years but yea...that would put us over the top
Baines, Hummels, Benzema, if 4 then add Kediera?
AndyS
Messi ronaldo iniesta
17 Jan 2013 16:36:08
hi ed
what about roberto solgado ? any arsenal interest as valencia president was in London couple of days back . Valencia needs money.and they are looking to sell couple of players . Ed what is the market value of worth ? {Ed027's Note - i don't know of any intrest in him, the market value is very high on young players, if a club wants a player from their nation prices rise stupidly, market value dose'nt mean much to be honest, agents are playing bigger roles
20 Jan 2013 22:55:10
edd ? mate have arsenal put in for mbiwa and if not do you expect them to do so
20 Jan 2013 22:37:36
Gary hooper will be going nowhere this January! He will want a crack at Juventus before he leaves in the summer. I think he would be a great asset to Arsenal however.
3 words: not good enough
20 Jan 2013 22:25:14
'Play for the name on the front of the shirt and they'll remember the name on the back'- Tony Adams
I want a list of names from our current team that this quote applies to. I'll start, Jack Wilshere... {Ed035's Note - the ox
The ox my arse
Arteta
Emmanuel Frimpong
Sussex Gooner
That is quite beautiful
Jaz
Jenkinson
Carl jenks
-Homesick-
Wilshere, Chamberlain... keep going. By the way I'm not making a statement I do genuinely want a list but I want to have a general opinion rather than just my own
100% - Wilshere, Jenkinson, Giroud
90-100% - Podolski, The Ox, Ramsey, Arteta, Santi
30-90% depending on the day lol - Coquelin, Diaby, Rosicky, Szczesny, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Walcott, Gibbs, Sagna,
Lets' say 30%-0% - Gervinho, Arshavin, Chamakh, Squillaci, Santos.
Gervinho tries hard, he's just really really bad.
AG
20 Jan 2013 22:16:03
I feel as if I'm in a nightmare, watching our former striker, goal scorer...captain, scoring week in week out and clinically putting away chances whilst I have to put up with the ever abysmal performances of giroud. I don't think I've ever had so much disbelief in a team... and a manager. It's not going to get better, it's going to get much worse. We're all being fooled each season. Lets have a look at the previous transfer window, not only did we have the heart of the team ripped out, but we also failed to achieve the target of a CDM so that Song could go forward... Oh wait we sold him to Barcelona for money that's gone straight into gazidiz's pocket. Now, we're in the January transfer window and are in dire need of a goalscorer... Which we already had, but Wenger being Wenger obviously won't buy anyone. Don't you all see, every season we are weakening and somehow many goners are being tricked into believing that we are still a top team.
CheetahChaz97
I feel your pain brother
Jaz
20 Jan 2013 22:09:36
Eds, do you think Gourcuff could make an impact on this squad?
I know he's had a terrible injury record but do you think he could fulfill his potential under Wenger? {Ed035's Note - I can't see it myself, cazorla and JW10 are far superior players in my eyes.. I just don't think he will add anything to the team.
20 Jan 2013 22:07:39
If Arsene doesn't want to splash the cash on DM, why not recall Frimpong. his style of play similar to mike essien and is just what Arsenal need at the moment. As for Giroud, he just needs this season to bed in. Suarez was similar for Liverpool in that his conversion of chances was relatively poor but now he has had a season under his belt he is prolific.
He was on the bench!!
Frimpong was recalled at the start of the month, he played in Arsenal's U21 game against Norwich in which he got sent off. But I agree that he deserves a chance.
Ethan.
Frimpong is crap and his main aim in life seems to be becoming a celebrity rather than becoming a good/great footballer. I frankly think he's an embarasment to the club.
AG
Thats a bit harsh frimpong is the type of player we need at the club
watford gooner
20 Jan 2013 22:04:01
why won't wenger show some faith in our young players look where we were ragged today, sagna looked tired why not put jenkinson in? why the hell was cazorla playing on the wing look how much better we were in the second half when he went through the middle? and can someone please enlighten me to the current situation of the OX and podolski they seem to have gone missing........bringing on arshavin over those two is a sin!!! WTF Wenger.
Baz136. {Ed035's Note - podolski and the ox were both suffering from illness today, hence the reason arsharvin got a run out
Given Sagna's last few performances and how Jenkinson played at the start of the season i'm surprised we haven't seen Jenko, but then I was surprised Sagna walked back into the position as easily as he did.
1404
Still would have preferred gnabry over arshavin!
Baz136.
Gnabry is also injured
Gnabry plays on the right
Ok ANYBODY but arshavin!!!!!
Baz136.
20 Jan 2013 21:30:46
It beggars belief that we have players such as Gnabry and Eisfeld and yet we still had a severe lack of attacking options available on the bench. Even if they are'nt ready just yet it could'nt be any worse that what we already had on the bench and would give them that big game feel to add to their experience too. Missed opportunity today. Not usually one to criticise wenger but today he really missed a trick.
Bradders
20 Jan 2013 21:18:20
The money is there to be spent, everyone knows, Gazidis has come out and said there is significant funds available to AW.... So why is it he is leaving any possible deals till the last days of the transfer window so he can save a couple of quid!!! seriously the squad is in dire need of a boost, we can not string a performance together for a full 90 minutes at the moment. Sign the damn players already, at least give us a chance at Wenger's trophy.. sorry 4th place.
All this PR bullsh1t about signing world class players.. players with exceptional talent is all well and good but show your ambition for the club and make the signings, stop this I won't go above x amount for the sake of a couple of million, its there so spend the money, give us fans something to shout about!!
N. Wales Gunner
20 Jan 2013 21:08:42
It is strange to me as to why we can be so up and down in performance in single game. This tells me it is less about the quality of the players and more about mentality, tactical knowhow and organisation.
For me the team has quality at an individual level but do not really have tactical gamelan on how they should play out the game and do not organise themselves in a way that makes them an effective team unit. We only play one way and today we payed the price for being too open from the start. Today in the first 20 Mins. we needed to stay tight keep the fullbacks back during the opening part of the game when Chelsea had the wind in their sails. Yes we played with urgency and tempo in 2nd half but that only because we had no other choice when it was all too late.
There is a lack of communication and leadership/organisation on the pitch and indeed from Wenger on the sideline. Where are leaders that are shouting at players to get in their positions and to organise at set pieces. The team as a whole is just far too casual and seem to coast through large parts of the game. Wenger aswell needs to be more vocal to his players from the sideline rather than just moaning at the officials.
Yes we may have been arguably on the wrong end of some dodgy decisions of late but we make a rod for our back by the way we seem to start games like its a training exercise always on the back foot. You can't go 2-0 and with such a casual start and expect to get back into the game against good teams.
Yes we need signings, but for me we need signings that will generally organise and gee up the team. Diaby I am afraid is no Veira replacement, he just takes too many risks with the ball and too ill-disciplined defensively same a Coquelin, too young and raw for that position especially in the big games. Diaby is a better attacking midfielder where his direct runs can cause havoc and Coquelin is much better as a full/wing back.
I would like us to sign 2 natural strong physical leaders in the central/DM midfield position and the CB position. An experienced RB as for some reason Sagna has lost his way since his injury. Can Giroud get enough goals for us that is another question. Yes he works hard and is not afraid of the physical challenge but for me not clinical enough. For me another striker is required also.
Wenger like the team does not seem to have a real gameplan either and has been shown to be tactically inept in the big games when out-smarting your opponent is more important. Wenger just sends them just to play football and hope for the best, he keeps talking about soft woolly qualities like spirit and character which mean nothing as they are bare minimum attributes I would expect.
What he should be saying is that I got in wrong in midfield today in the first half and that we were 2nd to every loose ball and did not get control of that which meant our forwards were isolated. Yes things may have changed in 2nd half and our midfield got on top but I ask myself how much was actually down to Wenger?. His woolly comments all the time suggest to me he has not got much clue about the tactics and dynamics of the game. He is a good coach and can get the best out of players at an individual level but as a manger during the game he is poor.
Is it time for Wenger to go?. Yes I think so every dog has its day and Wenger does not seem to have the answers anymore and lives in hope rather than expectation.
Fantastic post mate, you should have signed off..Ashton
It pains me to say, but I agree with the majority of your post.
20 Jan 2013 21:05:41
Im amazed at some of the post following todays game, I must have watched a different match.........you would think we got smashed 5-0 by a mid table side and we created nothing and had no shots at goal.
Yes we could have been up for it a bit more in the first half but we played a good side today, you never going to have it all your own way against the top sides in EPL.
1404
No league win in 2013, what games are you actually watching?
I won't say watch the first half again, because you won't get that 45 minutes back, but it was so poor. No closing down, Sagna was all over the place plus he couldn't cross for toffee. No interchanging. Diaby was poor, Walcott couldn't keep onside, and cazorla wasn't in the game at all. The amount of space chelsea had to play with in the middle of the park was silly. Their passing didn't even have to be quick because of the lack of chasing down. You could see Wilshere waving his arms telling the players to close'em down. Mate it was so poor. Then another team comes out in the second half, and we're like "Where the f##k were you." Why does it need a first half to go by before we turn it on.
It's been a season full of inconsistancy, and with every game that goes by we're getting more and more frustrated. I respect that you may disagree, but please watch the first half again. It was inept.
Flybo
The only reason we didn't get smashed was due to the fact Chelsea didn't take there opportunities in the first half, there are two Arsenal's one with the ball and one without the ball we are so poor at closing down its shocking the first signing Arsenal need to make is a world class coach ie someone like Clarke or Ray Wilkins.
Jaygun1
20 Jan 2013 20:35:54
After chelsea game wenger said on signing players ' we will see what we can do we won't be signing anybody tonight or tomorrow morning ' what the **** does that mean we are going to sign someone tomorrow afternoon just hope he's got someone big up his sleeve else we are in trouble THURSDAY NIGHT
I really believe wenger has no intention of strenghening the squad in january. So don't be surprised when there is no activity next thursday, the same old lines have already started to flow, "there is no- one available of quality in January" etc
20 Jan 2013 20:22:03
Fellow gooners, this is my first post. But after today's result I for one am gutted. I'd be interested to get your feedback on this so called zone marking. Since we started this crap we've been on a big big slide to nowhere. Bring in Tony Adams.
Butty
It helps if uv got players who what to win the ball if the ball comes your area in the box an you want to win it you will we have no Adams bould keown Campbell anymore they was winners in every aspect of the game
About a month ago tony adams was commenting on an arsenal game for so foreign channel he was asked the question about zoned marking and he said it was the best way ! he said when Arsene first joined they used zoned marking very effectively and it worked well ! asked why it was not working at the moment tony adams replied the current arsenal defence weren't us ( adams kewon Dixon winter burn ) he said simply we were better defenders than what arsenal have now which is why the zonal marking doesn't appear to work !!
R.D
Zonal marking can work but you still need one defender that is good in the air attacking the ball at every corner and close free kick. Man marking is also fine if done well but the reason Zonal is considered is that sometimes man-markers can be blocked off by another player in running with the player they are trying to mark. With Zonal you get your best header of the ball attacking every ball and the other main defenders in the most dangerous zones ready to clear if comes their way.
Weather man-marking or Zonal you just need to attack the ball and clear your lines really and not hesitate. A dominate keeper is also very important at set pieces. The defenders need to know that anything within say 6 yards of the goal line is the keepers to take, The boundaries need to be clearly set on where the keepers zone is.
I think with us it is less about zonal or man marking more about leadership and organisation at set peices.
I hope you meant bring Tony Adams as defensive coach not manager. He sucks as a manager.
Zonal marking works if the players in the positions to head the ball are willing to put there head on anything, wherever that ball is going in your zone, you put you "kin nut on it! Unfortunately, our current crop of defenders are not communicating, and not commanding there zones, therefore, losing headers and conceding goals.
I'm sure over the course of a season, it would be a interesting comarision to see goals conceded from
teams who play man on man and zonal (properly, not like us atm)
Dubz
20 Jan 2013 20:18:09
Not a good day but we have enough games to play to get 4th. Afew home games on the spin to keep ourselves well up there. We don't need to spend big money to finish 4th. Our injuries have held us back but were still on for 4th. Uncle Arsene won't let us down.
20 Jan 2013 20:16:21
why won't we qualify for cl if we beat west ham we are only four points behind spurs, ok we will have work to do it but there is still time have faith
Bryan
We're 7points behind surely? With a game in hand.
We're 7points behind surely? With a game in hand.
did you read the post
20 Jan 2013 20:10:33
so we are willing to give walcott what he want's to stay but not RVP?! madness
Something to do with RVP don't want to stay maybe?
Or the fact that he already almost reach aggrement with City in April?
Btw, walcott want 100k but RVP want atleast double that. I don't think he's worth it. Injury prone *****
I don't understand why people keep saying this. He did not want to stay just watch the interview he gave to sky today.
RVP would have wanted a lot more than walcott...
I believe if we'd offered RVP the same deal as utd he would have still left.
Bergkamp's apprentice {Ed035's Note - of course he would
20 Jan 2013 20:06:46
this is one of the only times i'm not feeling confident of top 4, spurs looking really strong only van the man denied them 3 points....
As I've said before maybe we need this europa league football for the message to hit home about investment, because not many players will leave because of just signing contracts and we'd be forced to sell fringe players on a lot of money
MAYBE 1 STEP BACK FOR 2 FORWARD..
Yorkshire Gooner Joe :D
I reserve judgement on Spurs really they have been in this strong position position before now and wilted once the pressure of the chasing pack was put on. 7 points ahead but we have a game in hand and better goal difference still. It is pity they got a point today as a loss would have meant 6 points with game in hand and still to play them, but still.
We still have 16 Games to play that is a total of 48 points still to play for. Yes we will not win all of them but neither will Spurs. It will be close and whoever can go on consistent run of wins will do it.
Is it not Dempsey denied man united 3 points?
I know what you're saying but sorry Joe you are way off - europa league football will not be the kick up the ass that arsenal need to start spending, it will be a bigger disaster than we can imagine.
The squad is pretty much being halved this summer (8-15 first team squad members will depart), these will be replaced by good/high quality players if we get top 4, but they will be replaced by youngsters and cheap risks if we do not.
Without Champions League footie, we will be no different to how we have been in recent years when we were paying off the stadium, we will be looking to get at least 25m nett profit on players transfers each year (this summer TV5, Shez & Sagna) without adequate replacements.
Wenger is at the club for the foreseeable future, either as Manager or CE, and whilst he and the board are in charge we won't spend big.
topgunner
20 Jan 2013 19:48:14
"you either die a hero or live to become the villain".
Kind of suits to wenger.
indiana jones gooner
20 Jan 2013 19:42:41
Hi Eds, great site keep up the good work!
I have a question regarding the sale of RVP to Man U: do you know if Arsenal agreed to any performance based bonuses in the RVP sale? Eg if man united won the title they pay us x?If so any idea on a fig?
Thanks
Mark SAGUNNER
Who cares mate are you a manc
20 Jan 2013 19:35:22
Wenger won't sign anyone big. Talk of cavani. Gotze. The reason we don't spend is because they don't want. Why would you have all these millions and not use them to make the team better. Why do they want to settle for 4th best. We need players of real class. Winners, fighters. 30 million we don't do it more like 70. I'd like to see subotic. Capoue. Gotze/erikkson zaha and cavani but we'll end up with the likes of bramble. agbonglahor and carlton cole haha
20 Jan 2013 19:33:04
Hi eds, loving the site first time posting
Just a quick one
Is it me but if we would of invested in our squad 3seasons ago surely not only would we of kept our best players but also actually won something and had a team challenging and had world class players wanting to join us for the team we are rather than just for the wages?! We are meant to have money to spend now we have paid off the stadium but my question is who would want to come to a club that may not qualify for champions league football? Any great player if they come now would be cup tied, and the manager may not be here next year? Surely if we broke the bank 3seasons ago we wouldn't of been in the situation we are in now and could of had the player we kept missing out on through wages?
Cheers T
It's not as simple as you think. Who would pay the stadium?
20 Jan 2013 19:28:06
A Vote of NO CONFIDENCE should be posted to the club.
What would it cost you 30 something pence, imagine if they got thousands of these.
Ike.
I'm sure they're aware after the agm but hasn't yet made a difference
20 Jan 2013 19:22:38
Please, someone give me some insight into why we only turn up for the second half of games?
We went to Stamford bridge where their tension with home fans is tangible, we beat them 5-3 last time and having outplayed them but lost already this season. So we had a point to prove, had a great chance to prove it and had all the momentum with us.
We knew what to expect - that Chelsea would come at us hammer and tongs right from the start to make a counter-point - we were at THEIR place, we do things on THEIR terms etc etc and we knew they weren't going to be pushed around.
So we should have performed with similar vigour. So how is it we turn in a display that makes us look like a bottom 3 team, who haven't had a win in weeks, who have just sold their last good player last week, have sacked a manager and hired one the players don't want, etc etc. ? I mean this has been season-long has it not?
Arsenal simply failing to turn up. Shadows of former selves. Our cup teams showing the first teamers up for the half-cuts they are. I mean the first half was embarrassing. I have no desire to talk about the second half for a few reasons - 1) it wasn't enough to win, 2) it wasn't enough to draw, but significantly 3)that sort of performance is the MINIMUM I and other fans expect from my team every single time they play. Yet for some reason it seems to be a privilege to see us have a half of football like that.
So who is responsible?! It is clear on so many occasions this season that the half time talk has done the trick - why do the players even need it? How many times have people on here said that results wouldn't hurt if we felt the team tried. Look at Spurs - every single game they give it everything. Paid off today didn't it? Superb. Everton, Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton, Swansea, Chelsea, City, these teams and more play like if there's even one second left there is a chance to win, but more importantly they play as if a loss is simply unacceptable. At City and United a bad display, not even a loss, leads to an inquest and someone being dropped.
I remember when people said City could buy all the talent in the world and they'd never get anywhere because you can't buy team spirit. Well at Arsenal FC that may be true, doesn't matter what we pay who, they lads simply do not turn up until we're losing/it's too late/ we've played a terrible half that should never have happened.
I do blame Wenger for a lot of stuff and I do think it's justified...and even today I would say he shouldn't have started Bac especially after Jenko's City performance almost single-handedly earned him a call up. We knew what kind of performance we'd get from Sagna and we got it. The other thing is Mertesacker, he shouldn't have played, should have been Koscielny. But everything else was basically bang on, so why were we so crap? Santi - totally absent first half. Diaby was shocking.
Yet the one lad who worked his nuts off, looked comfortable, was composed, clever on the ball, put himself about and defended like mad was the one player who can't get games - Coquelin.
It is just remarkable.
We beat them with Rob. we don't have him anymore and as a result of that, we lose games we didn't lose last year. we we're a 1 man team but now we don't have 1 to do it for us
As others have pointed out, we only look half decent in the second half because the game is already won for the opposition and they take thier foot off the gas.
happened at city, happened today.
(happened vs ac milan last year in the 2nd leg)
AG
20 Jan 2013 19:16:50
think its the end of an area.....time for arsene 2 turn off the lights on way out.followed arsenal 27 yrs.thou d good times and bad. but the last 2 games we havenot started playin until we are 2 nil down.never have seen arsenal team play wit no heart.only jack, tommy and mayb theo.sagna was awful again looked like he didn't want 2 play.time 2 start wit gooner carl.arsene buys hav been poor recently metersacker 6ft4 and can't head or jump.gervinho headless chicken.shootin is like a pass back.giroud is a tryer.but is a back up forward.we need top quality signin.bring in 3 player give d team and fans a lift.not dis waffle that a player is comin bac from injury and will be like a new signin.get your finger out arsen or piss off.sick of ure lies and every transfer window sligo goooner
What area?
The penalty area?
Every area!!
How can you spell things so wrong?
20 Jan 2013 18:57:16
I think a new keeper is needed, sczney played very average today, mata's goal could have been saved, just makes me think would keepers like julio ceasar, lloris have saved it
Ruddy would be my choice
Bergkamp's apprentice
20 Jan 2013 18:54:59
BBC gossip page is claiming PSG are going to offer Wenger 30 mil to be there manager next season... I hope to god this is not true
Goonerb
Even the offer is 120 mil he won't go, he is loyal !!
BGGOONER
What?! Are you mental? That would be incredible! 30m for a manager! !
Imagine if he performed miserably there too. They'd have a contract to the value of 30m they'd have to honour in order to bring someone else in.
Yeah, because Wenger has performed miserably at Arsenal...either people have very short memories, or very recent birthdays.
Dicky
Yeah, because Wenger has performed miserably at Arsenal...either people have very short memories, or very recent birthdays.
Dicky
20 Jan 2013 18:34:31
Tony Adams interview with the Independent yesterday. Hit the nail right on the head. (abridged version)
"I went to see Arsène [Wenger] a couple of times, " Adams says. "He put Steve [Bould] and Neil Banfield up there; fine, that's his decision, he is the boss. I said to the board, 'Do you want me to advise or talk to you?' I have got a statue outside! And they have not responded. I'm kind of cool with it. I know how this game works. It is bonkers. I feel like I'm doing an 11-year apprenticeship [as a manager]. It's OK, it's finding my part in it. I have stopped looking, full stop. I live my life a day at a time anyway and whatever comes up I do. Be careful what you pray for. I have got a great job."
"I thought they should have retained him. With 18 months on his deal to go you say to Robin, 'There's a five-year contract, bang, I'm going to build a team around you'. Robin would have snapped their hands off. It would have doubled his wages at that time. He questioned their ambition and kept questioning them and they kept selling.
"In 1991, Bryan Robson came up to me at an England get-together and said, '£90,000-a-year to join United'. I said, 'I'm a London lad, I'm happy'. I turned down a pay rise of 15 grand, which was an absolute fortune in those days. In 1996 Alex Ferguson came knocking again.
"In 1996, I had just sobered up. I had a meeting with David Dein and Ken Friar and said, 'What are we doing [at Arsenal]?' They said, 'We're going for it. Danny Fiszman has invested £50m.' We bought David Platt, Dennis Bergkamp; then Arsène came in, then the French guys and I got the best contract of my career. It went from £300,000 up to £1m and I thought, 'Oh my god, I'll stay! We're going to try to win the league.'
"It is not a small wage bill [at Arsenal], it's £143m. I think they can restructure it and give the big boys a lot more and not put so many of the middle order ones on 50 grand a week. They could have put four or five on the top money. If they had done, I would have been positive that Robin would still be an Arsenal player.
"I like Arsenal's standards. No person is bigger than the club. I agree with that 100 per cent. But that's not the issue. Even going back to Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell - these players left too early. So too Gaël Clichy, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, even Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit. I think you could have got two or three years out of them. Instead [with the exception of Campbell] they chose to take the money. Which was fine, I understand balancing books.
"But Robin is not a football nor a financial decision. He will get the money back for you. If you drop out of the Champions League, you aren't going to get the £25m. Give that to Robin. And the manager is paying himself a few quid. That is what irritates the fans as well. Ivan [Gazidis, chief executive] is on a lot of money, Arsène is on a lot of money. The fans come to watch the players and think 'Hold on a minute, give him your money!'
"I can see both ways. I understand the core values of Arsenal. I just think there is a way of doing it where you can keep your better players and challenge for the league."
"I don't agree with the way he rotates his central defenders, " Adams says. "It's an area of the pitch [where] you need familiarity. This is the argument I would have with him. His full-backs are too offensive. It's OK if you have someone in central midfield who can play centre-half. They got destroyed by AC Milan [4-0 away from home in the Champions League first knockout round] by balls into the channels. If you've got a Patrick [Vieira] or Manu [Petit] to drop in and play central defence it's different.
"This game is about players and they [Arsenal] haven't got the players. I would have loved Vincent Kompany. I think he is exceptional. He was the best defender in the league last year and before that Rio Ferdinand and [Nemanja] Vidic have been great. I am a big fan of Jonny Evans.
"I will say, year in, year out, the team with the best defence wins the league. You have to be resilient and last year Manchester City with Vincent - he was the best. They have had a few problems early in the season but Pablo Zabaleta has had a good season. Gaël Clichy has improved. All of a sudden they are getting better.
"Hopefully Arsène is giving Steve [Bould] access [to the defence] because Steve knows how to do it. He played with me under George Graham. I don't see why, given time and access, Steve can't make a significant improvement. I do worry about how Arsène rotates them.
"If I was playing alongside Steve one week and then Martin Keown, I could cope but it's different. Per Mertesacker is a zonal defender and Koscielny is a man-to-man marker. They do different things. In front, Mikel Arteta is trying to the best of his ability, but in his mind he is not defensive."
What will the legacy be for Wenger if his time in charge of Arsenal ends without further success? "Arsène will do what Arsène wants to do, " Adams says. "I played with him for six years, I have met him a few times. The more I get to know him the less I know him. I haven't got a clue how that man thinks, or how he works. He is a difficult man to fathom."
Adams is sympathetic to the challenges Arsenal face in the new order of English football, but he foresees problems. "The board see profits and it's got to the stage where the fans see no trophies. There is a balance; it is difficult, don't get me wrong. But they have to try to do it. The board, the owner and Arsène's job is to structure it in a way where you keep your best players, they are on good salaries and you are going for trophies. Because they are a million miles away at the moment."
Says enough that he offered his services on the coaching staff and they turned him down the tossers.
We've all known it's been the board since Dein left but what he says about Arsene really makes you think, about his personality and stuff..... I won't say anything i'll leave you guys to decide.
Sorry for the long post but thought it would be good to post this up here for the people who haven't read it. He really hits home with what he says.
Enjoy
JG
Adams hasn't set the world alight as a manager. Think there's a lot going on behind the scenes at our club, that most will never know about. It's as if the vultures are circling. I'm as frustrated as the next Gooner, but think our Russian and American have question to answer.
Tony Adams was a great player and he is one of my idols !! But he is catastrophe in managing a club, so I would take Arsene's words and actions infront of Tony's....
BGGOONER
It was a good read. The difference between a "Danny Fizman" and a "stan kroenke"
1 invests. The other wants to gain.
Paul - Rochester
I'm not an Arsenal fan, but the idea of Adams offering advice to a man like Wenger is hysterical. Great player though he was, he suffers with a serious ailment for a manager - he's just not very intelligent, and worse is totally oblivious to fact.
Po
Tony Adams is one of the greatest arsenal players of all time. he has a statue. if he feels he has something he can give to arsenal, he should be heard, not ignored.
Have to agree with the repliers great player but useless manager and also a bit strange as a bloke with some previous comments regarding Arsenal.
Bergkamp's apprentice
Yes he's a total salad as a manager but that aside most of what he says makes a damnsight more sense then Wenger's last few post match interviews!
JG
20 Jan 2013 18:30:51
Its just starting to feel like its not arsenal FC but Wenger FC....
DG
20 Jan 2013 18:25:36
The other negative was clearly our poor defensive display in first half where was allowed CFC to have a free run at our defenders who, especially Sagna, were often out of position.
Don't think midfield helped them enough though
SY4
20 Jan 2013 18:23:58
Anyone who shares the same opinion as arsene wenger that we where somehow cheated out of it and both Chelsea's goals were not legit are in denial. Yes you can pick faults in both goals but that is not a valid excuse for going two goals down for the second week running. The fact is that we can't defend and that we're left vulnerable because our midfield is too lightweight. We where picked apart for the whole of the first half and extremely lucky to go in only being two goals down, which was the exact same as last week against Manchester City. It takes a halftime team talk to avoid too much embarrassment and for us to come out fired up for the second half, the only problem is: it was a half too late. Now more than ever is there the need to buy as we can't defend and we no longer have a player that possesses great quality that will dig us out of situations like the one that we faced after 16 minutes today. We need as Sol Campbell said today a team of leaders and currently there are only jack wilshere, Thomas vermalen, and possibly Woijech Szscesny. And we need to act fast otherwise we will have massivproblems
20 Jan 2013 18:22:48
The trouble with us at the moment is the lack of depth in the squad.
The players who get picked know if they play un play sh*t they are going to get picked again next week.
I'm sorry but mr wenger has to stop thinking players like diaby are going 2 step up un be the players he thinks they can be (he's no viera!) un get the money the fans pump into the club un sign us sum class not kids!
20 Jan 2013 18:22:29
Positives-
Created plenty of chances which is an improvement on recent games
Good young players coming through.
Strong second half
Negatives
Bench was poor and gave us limited attacking options. Really missed Ox and Pod to change game in closing moments
Can't remember the last time we played a decent 90 mins in a game
Gave away cheap goals and cheap chances
Need someone clinical up front. TW may be that man but of late his conversion rate is poor and Giroud is a great link man but not clinical on the ground. Saying that and I know I will get a lot of disagrees but TH14 was not clinical in front of goal. He was a god and scored loads but think about big games and his conversion rates. We need to play 2 up front and have a quick dangerous guy up front.
Slow out of the blocks again. Remember Wenger's best teams would try to kill the opposition off in the first twenty minutes, then toy and exhaust them before scoring a late flurry off goals. We have to stop these slow starts.
We need to add some quality to the side to save the immediate future as I believe we have a good young crop coming through but they need leaders and role models to help them develop
Anyway - on wards and upwards, lets get a result on Wdnesday and a huge game Saturday.
SY4
20 Jan 2013 18:13:01
Really getting sick of everyones crying. Chelsea are a good team. It's not like we put in a spineless performance against Wigan or Sunderland. I was gutted as we outplayed them in 2nd half, after Walcott scored I really thought we would pull it of. However today's game only highlighted where we need reinforcements. A RB, CB, CDM and ST are a must. We have overrated players like Mertersacker, Sagna, Diaby, Giroud...unfortunately these players simply are not good enough.
We need to start buying a better class of players. Build on what we have. To stay at a top level over next 2 windows we need Rami (Valencia CB) De Rossi (Roma DM) Llorente (Ath. Bilbao ST). Probably reading this think thatll never happen...I know it's sad isn't it. We can only dream of buying players if this qualit. Podolski and Carzorla were a step in the right direction but then we went and sold Song and RVP. Even if we sign Diame I will be enraged...players of his quality are simply not good enough. Mbwia and Adrian will be only realistic transfer to get remotely excited about.
Also tactically we are poor.
1. Zonal marking is poor
2. High line is not working
3. Real lack of movement from forwards
4. No cover from wingers for fullbacks
Need to switch to a 4-4-1-1
Szezsncy
Jeninkson - Rami - Vermaelen - Gibbs
Chamberlain - De Rossi - Wilshere - Podolski
Carzorla
Llorente
Subs: Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Arteta, Diaby, Walcott, Giroud.
That would challenge for titles and have depth to compete for all competitions.
Detroit Gooner
No way we will get either De Rossi or LLorente, De Rossi is on huge and I mean huge wages, I think I read he earns the largest salary in the Serie A this season, turned down manchester city as well. and Llorente has pretty much agreed to sign for Juventus so that also is not happening. Do agree we need a proper striker and defensive midfielder though
You say in your first sentence stop the crying. Followed by the rest of your post which does just that.
I for one am openly crying and think the exact same thing as you do.
Flybo
20 Jan 2013 18:10:38
Why do people keep saying Ba is injury prone? He had one unfortunate season in his last 5 and still played 18 games!
07/08 - 30 games
08/09 - 35
09/10 - 18
10/11 - 33
11/12 - 36
12/13 - 27 so far.
'Injury prone' is not the term to describe Ba. Wenger made a massive mistake not signing him from West Ham let alone Newcastle it was clear way back then that he was miles better than our players! That's why Newcastle, a team who were aiming for Europe, signed him from WH ffs.
It should never have been a case of Giroud OR Ba it should have been Giroud AND Ba AND Podolski just for one/2 positions AND a winger and we all know it!
He has metal in the knees, Ba is ticking bomb...
20 Jan 2013 18:10:29
Ok enough is enough!
Anyone on this site that thinks that Coq is good enough really needs to take.a look at themselves! Ok the first was a foul but where did he think he was going in over running the ball? The second, Diaby gave it away but ramieres had enough time to get up off the floor and run past Coq, who only had eyes for the ball.
This guy is not good enough, fact. When Ramsey comes on and makes a valuable difference you have to worry!
Sagna looks past it, when is jenko going to get his chance again?
Santi looks like a fish out of water playing out wide
We were only beaten today by two bad decisions but the fact is we used to be good enough to get past bad decisions and still win? I am still pissed that we don't get the same calls as teams we play against. Last week Hart pushed pod on a corner and no foul this week ramieres fouls Coq, smacks jack in the face and gets away with it?
To top it off Arsene tells us that we are not even close to signing anyone!
WTF!
We all new we had tough games yet we make no signings I am more pissed off than ever before! If we were ahead in the league I could understand but we are so far behind. 1 point this year is the worst in the league!
What can we do to sort this shower out? Nothing we are all getting strung along to line the pockets of people who don't give a monkey's, I hate them all he board, Stan and now even Wenger!
I never thought I would say this but I hope Utd win the league. I hate them but at least they have got to where they are off their own backs no billionaire owners taking them from nothing to something. Yes I may be jealous but I do not think I am alone!
Maybe it will all work out and we will be unstoppable but for now this hurts!
Gooner forever
Adam P
Coquelin was one out of about two players that can say they actually had a decent first half. In the second half he was the reason behind our good performance. He's energetic and will never stop running, he pressured Chelsea therefore encouraging others to do so. He was driving force in the midfield. Yes he hasn't had a great season but yesterday and in the Swansea game he was good. He is a very talented individual, not physically there but Arteta isn't exactly strong either.
I will add that I'm not comparing Coquelin and Arteta before I get the abuse
20 Jan 2013 18:09:55
Got to say been disappointed with Arsenal this season but especially today. We didn't really get started till the second half and when we were two goals down. What also blatantly obvious to me anyways, is the squad is lacking quality and strength in depth, and is miles away from being able to mount a serious title challenge.
Giroud is a good player yes, he plays his heart out for the club and always puts in a decent shift, but he isn't top quality, and I am really starting to get frustrated with him for not taking his chances and this isn't just today it happened at City, Swansea and in countless other games. I'm hoping that now Walcott's contact has been sorted out, upon his return from illness we can see Podolski given a run through the middle. He played there expertly last season for Cologne and can be deadly, and I feel that he will convert a lot more chances from there than Giroud would. However if Wenger is going to persist with him on the left wing we need another striker and not an Adrian Lopez winger/forward type we have too many of those, but an out and out forward, a Lewandowski or dare I say though I don't expect it Cavani.
We also need more wingers, I would love someone like Griezmann or Ben Arfa to be signed but someone who is a real winger and happy to play there would keep me happy, we are crying out for one.
We also need, a defensive midfielder I feel like a stuck record saying this but, Diaby is to injury prone, Coquelin is good yes, but he is young and not really that physically imposing. Wanyama, Diame, Sissoko etc. We all have a preference but just somebody please.
We also need a right back Jenkinson never should of been dropped as Sagna has been awful this season, but we need some one to come in and aid Jenkinson so we have cover, I think we missed out not signing either Debuchy or Mbiwa(Who could also cover the centre of defence as well). The same for left back I would like to see cover brought in for Gibbs as Santos is just pathetic.
I think we also need to address the huge space that gets left on the flanks when our lb and rb push forward if we have a real defensive midfielder than they could cover that.
And finally I think we need cover/competition for Szczesny, as what we currently have is poor. While he is a world class keeper in the making he can sometimes be a bit naive and cocky in the way he plays. I think proper cover and competition could help his game. I would take Steklenburg who is unhappy at Roma but would love Mandanda who is on fire at Marsielle.
My final issues are that we need to not stick to 4-3-3 so rigidly but adapt and change to games and different teams, and please change from zonal to man marking it may have worked in the past but with the players we currently have it doesn't. We also need to get rid of many of the players who aren't playing firstly as they are costing the club money with their huge wages but also so they can get some game time, rather than rot at the club. Hoping the Walcott contact deal, will see the end of our "social" pay structure as well, for a more competitive one.
It's sad to see how far away we are from competing with teams like United and City. I doubt what I said will happen, and I may be talking rubbish but I just wanted to share my thoughts. Here's hoping we do some business before the end of january, and hear nothing more about finances, FFP, how close we were to signing somebody or that there was nothing out there better than what we had or that represented value for money.
Will
20 Jan 2013 18:06:36
Ed, facing real depressing times here, what's going to change. Will one super player change everything? isn't it all but certain that Arsene has lost it? He can't even motivate the current players to play to their potential. There are a lot of good young exciting managers out there.
On a positive note, Jack W - what a player! I hope he wins everything there is to win as an individual.
Ash {Ed001's Note - it takes more than one player to make a long term difference, but it could give the team a lift for the rest of the season. Just enough to get back into the top four, then invest in more quality during the summer, while getting rid of some of the highly paid fringe players.}
True that Ed001, but we (and RVP, Nasri et al) have been asking for that for atleast the last 3 seasons.
The sad thing is that we are all convinced that 4th place is a trophy now.
Ash {Ed001's Note - I hate that! Drives me mad that clubs seem to aim for a top 4 place. It is ruining the game, in my opinion.}
20 Jan 2013 18:01:35
Why would Goetz or Hummels want to even come to such a lackluster squad? I love Arsenal with all my heart, but be realistic....we are being passed over by players like Lewis Holtby, there is not a chance that Goetz, Hummels, Subotic, Higuain, etc would waste their time at Arsenal. We have a major problem at the club and it's our manager! Until something changes.....expect mediocrity.
North Carolina Gooner.
What do you mean passed by Holtby... We never offered him the chance to play for us... If he was soo good, not only Tottensh*ts would be interested in him...
Holtby publicly stated he was not interested in Arsenal even if they offered.
20 Jan 2013 17:38:10
I have had it with wenger and his mob..new blood needed now but who?
moyles ? mybe he's what is required at this time
Why do we want moyles he is a dj you plank - its moyes
Would that be Chris Moyles, once of radio 1's breakfast show fame?
Pete '63
Landrup, Martinez, AVB..
20 Jan 2013 17:38:10
I have had it with wenger and his mob..new blood needed now but who?
moyles ? mybe he's what is required at this time
20 Jan 2013 17:35:10
Hello Ed and fellow Gooners.What can you say once again we have to be two goals down before we start to play and get in the game.Frankly the squad is not good enough, the bench is certainly not, even though I always feel with Arshavin that he will
surprise us, but perhaps that's wishful thinking by me.
AW must see that we need 3 new players at least, right back unless you give Jenko his chance, a dm and striker, but I have to say I cannot see any new players coming in and therefore in my opinion AW must take full responseability for this.
AW keeps saying its hard to find the quality to improve the squad, shame he didn't keep to that when he brought some of the players in the last 3years.
He must realise that champions league qualification is looking more and more less likely, unless we win it
which I just can't see, no matter how much positive thinking and drinking I do.
What I would like most off all is for AW to spend big and show us fans its not all about the balance sheet, give Jack, Ox, TV, Santi, Keiran and Poldi a chance to play along side quality, but alas I think we all know its not going to happen.
Thanks for the site Ed
The Heybridge Gooner
PS for the thousandth time give Eisfeld a chance AW
20 Jan 2013 17:29:57
Really dissappointed with the result, the tactics and the players.
What really gets to me was that our "big hard men", Coquellin & Giroud, just aren't naturally dominant or combative, they both needed physio treatment for minor knocks on a few occasions, and Diaby is so fragile he just doesn't want to get involved in the physical battle. Wilshere shows all three of them up and he's half their size!
Our most "established" defenders, Sagna & Merti, can't play well together, their positioning is not tight and cohesive in the way you'd expect from two seasoned pros, which gets one of them isolated far too often. TV5 and Gibbs are much better on the left side, especially in joining in attacking play, but their defending is still too passive, they're running backwards too often instead of being aggressive in the tackle.
Ramires ran the game, FFS Ramires, there's nothing to him, he's built like mo farah! A Viera or a Gilberto would've easily knocked him off the ball every time he tried carrying it forward.
Missed Arteta without a doubt, and really annoyed that Rosicky still can't get himself fit, he can bring some class and composure to the party when we have injuries, but he has to turn up first!
redgoon
Excellent post, totally agree with you, we get bullied and pushed around too easily, WE NEED MICAH RICHARDS TYPE PLAYER DEVON GUNNER
20 Jan 2013 19:38:26
Good points, totally agree.
Coquelin has never been regarded as a 'big, hard man'. Mainly because he's not a big player. He's 5"10. But he is, however, combative. He gets stuck in all the time and is never afraid to go in for a challenge. But apart from that everything else is correct.
20 Jan 2013 17:22:41
thing is players like rvp, rooney, aguero, tevez even ba make things happen...even tho he is a decent squad player in my opinion giroud will never make things happen he may get on the end of things from time to time but is no where near being a first choice arsenal striker...im so upset coz with a better striker today that could have been a win...i count 3 or 4 situations he had and he barely tested the keeper...giroud 12 mil ba 7 mill just makes me sick ba has everything giroud has but with a lot more pace desire and far more clinical
kcider
20 Jan 2013 17:16:38
20 Jan 2013 14:03:36
ED considering how Arsenal are performing it wouldn't be too much to assume Wilshere would want to leave next season.
How much do you think he'll cost ?
MUMBAI_BOY {Ed002's Note - I really have no interest in discussing money MB but you are right that he might be part of a number of changes that could soon happen at Arsenal.}
----
Scrolling through the pages for a glance at other teams transfer targets and saw this on the United page..
If we loose Jack we are officially done as a football club aspiring to be anything more than 10th..
G95
Pointless argument he just signed a 5 and half year contract, he joined the club at 9 years old, also he loves the club and ain't going nowhere!
20 Jan 2013 17:09:32
we lose to another one of the top teams, while watching the game was I the only one wondering what if wenger and the board had showed some guts and paid the price for hazard, mata and ba the team weould I think be top of the league instead of struggling in 6th, maybe wenger relises this now and is trying to bring in some top class players, that said I don't think all is lost if we can play with the same tempo in the second half for the rest of the season we may scrape 4th.
ty.1
20 Jan 2013 17:09:30
And another loss for the lads who once again proved that we are just not good enough, wilshere, walcott and vermalean are the only quality players in that team and cazorla as long as he isn't having an off day, and for starters we need to get rid of the bad apples in the team like sagna and arshavin. The saddest thing about it all though is that he still won't bring anyone decent in maybe a couple of youth players but that's about it because he just can't accept that his way doesn't work anymore. we expect high standards because he made the team who had those high standards and they have slowly been slipping for years now and its pathetic, I love arsenal, always have and always will but clearly something needs to change.
20 Jan 2013 17:05:04
i would love to blame Wenger (more than I already do) but what confuses me a bit is the way the team plays.
yes, Wenger's to blame for the setup, the strategy, the implementation, the confidence of the players and overall morale...BUT how the f*$% does the team actually playing out there play so differently in two halves? it's not like Arsene waves a magic wand and they come out all willing and able. this isn't the Space Jam movie and we definitely don't have a Michael Jordan in our team.
so if Wenger is useless with all his tactics and motivation, what explains the change in play in these games where a bunch of guys play one half and Arsenal play the other? i'm going to lose my mind over this, i'm sure.
psychocyst.
If shouting at them at half time made us play better, then we need to shout at them before kick off. Or buy better players.
Flybo
We dominated in the 2nd because chelsea didn't have to. The same as against citeh.
20 Jan 2013 17:03:42
"quality, belief, spirit... quality, belief, spirit... quality, belief, spirit"
yeah keep telling yourself that, Arsene.
AG
It's got to the point where I can't bear Arsene talking. We know what he's going to say. The same thing he's been saying for years. Same old same old.
Flybo
20 Jan 2013 18:32:49
And let the panic buys begin.
Jaz
20 Jan 2013 17:02:42
Seems to me we have 11 players on the field but not a team! They are not gee'd up when they come out no one works for the other guy. No talking or more important screamin at the balls up when made. It ain't players its the lack of skilled motivating management. I know what your saying on 50+K a week you shouldn't need it. You do you need the management pushing telling you what you do wrong & what you do right. This ain't happening. I would love Bouldy to have control for 3 games just to see if there is a difference. We aren't going to be top 4 this year!
Sagalout
20 Jan 2013 16:57:37
Get the banners and bin bags out!
The ONLY people equipped to change our fortunes are the fans!
StEvE
20 Jan 2013 16:52:39
Unfortunately the loss was no surprise. Arsenal simply don't have the mental strength, physicality or class to win big games anymore. Sad times.
Deepthrow
20 Jan 2013 16:48:53
EVERY BLOODY WEEK deja vu...groundhog day
after the swansea game I really had my hopes up against a shaky chelskea...we had fought hard against swansea winning every ball but we started this game asleep....before you knew what had happened we were 2 nil down.
the ref got it wrong with the first it was a foul on coquelin and the second was a dive, but that does not take away from the fact we were pants in the first half and showed no fight and basically laid down and let chelsea tickle our bellies.chelsea were for the taking but we like always give teams too much respect - we should go out there and have a killer instinct and finish games, but p*ss about tippy tappy football.
it would have helped if wenger could have gave his half time team talk before the match, the players do not have to be 2 nil down before they show that fight.
wenger has took us all for a ride these past weeks on the jan transfer window, coquelin and diaby were not good enough today in the first half they were outmuscled by ramires and lampard (diaby is 6ft plus and ramires must be 6 or 7 inches smaller but looked the more dominant in the first half)..is it me or does every other team seem faster and stronger when fighting for the ball. we seriously need a defensive mid and a central defender to stabilise the team. why wenger didn't go for mbiwa I don't know but please don't let a capoue or likewise go to another premiership club and watch them blossom and 3 months down the line wish we had bought them wenger
the second half was better but too late as usual...i feel sorry for the likes of wilshere gibbs verms giroud who put in 100% fight but are let down by players who don't want to play and show fight till they are losing.
WAKE UP AND SEE YOU ARE SLOWLY DESTROYING THIS CLUB, WE ARE NOT FAR OFF FROM HAVING A COMPETITIVE TEAM..GO OUT AND BUY WHAT IS REQUIRED NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS!
WENGER FOR ONCE MAKE THE FANS HAPPY AND NOT THOSE PR*CKS ON THE BOARD WHO ONLY WANT TO FILL THEIR POCKETS.
GS
Le cocq was one of our best players today....specsavers mate
I think you need to goto specsavers or school for that matter and learn to read the post before making ignorant statements
I am saying our centre mid was run ragged first half....thats first half not the whole match
Coquelin and diaby were found wanting
GS
You ask for grit determination and passion, that's exactly what cocq gave before he got injured, more than 9 other players gave!
20 Jan 2013 16:47:06
If this was the first game we lost all season, people would still be moaning and trying to find answers!
But for me, its not just today 's result, but how we've played all season- I am not convinced by this team at all.
This is a pretty simple imho- too many very good/good players have left, for too many decent/average players coming in- not rocket science guys!
I honestlly think top 4 will be tough this season and I am very sorry to say but (regardless of todays result) that lot down the road may finsih higher than us in the league for the first time years.
Lack of investment in quaility players has seen our club go backwards... for how much longer do we have to put up with this ?? My patience has gone.
Change needs to happen now, we need a manager to take us forward NOT stagnate or go backwards.
LG
20 Jan 2013 16:44:58
We could and should have taken 3 points from today's game. Their first goal should not have existed since Ramires bought Coquelin down but play was allowed to continue and Ramires looked to have dived to win the penalty. We dominated in the second half but just couldn't find the back of the net. Good old Theo getting a goal back but Giroud could have done much better, had he scored his easy chances we would have had 3 or 4 goals.
Even more heartbreaking to see the traitor score again, even though it was against the spuds. Not sure who I'd least like to win in that game
20 Jan 2013 16:43:29
Im I the only one that's wants to scream and pull my hair out everytime RVP scores for Man U! Just imagine if he had stayed with us! We always seem to be 1 or 2 players short of a title winning team.
After the result today I can't see us finishing top 4 without buying at least 1 quality player, sad but true.
Mark SAGUNNER
20 Jan 2013 17:40:45
I used to support Arsenal!
I support Manchester Utd now
I think we are a defender, midfielder and a striker short of a title winning team maybe even a keeper.
Not just medioca players either. Basically were about 50 million off the mark at the mo.
Time to spend wenger!
Purchase
20 Jan 2013 17:59:36
Never mind what players we need etc.
Who ever is giving the team talk at half time should give it before kick off !
We might then come out fighting from the start.
Disappointed we are better than Chelski we didn't fight hard enough.
Chris
1-2 players from the title? I say 1-2 players from 4th 6-8 class players from the title. did you see our bench today?we a closer points wise to the qpr than united with 15 games to go. this season is the worst I have ever seen by an arsenal team.
Cheers for being a fairweather supporter, now piss off you plastic manc
You never supported arsenal in the first place then joke
When Arsenal will start winning things WE do NOT want you back
20 Jan 2013 16:37:47
Have to say, well done for a better second half at the bridge, but we were dire in the first half. Spending all the money on Theo was a great deal in the end, but AW really needs to take a strong look at himself and what he is doing at Arsenal. We need to strengthen the squad, and even if that is just to bring on better subs. Arshavin I ask you, when Chelski brought on Ba, and City yesterday bring on Ageuro, it tells you we need better reserves, to help close games down and maybe change a game in the last quarter. but this is just not the case at the moment. We seem to be a club that does not want to do business rather than a big club that we are that has the money to spend on good business, that AW is proven to be a master at. Hopefully we will get something this week to keep us in top four contention for another year.
20 Jan 2013 16:36:04
I don't think that Atkinson was against us intentionally, but it was very poor reffering today. For the first goal he had to stop the game, that was clear foul. And for the second it was never a penalty, but that was a "beatifull" fly from Ramires... Gary Nevill said the same thing and even Redknapp junior said so and he is former spurs player and close cousin to Lampard... I think we should send formal complain to the FA. Second big game in a row with dubios decisions from the officials...
Diaby was not the same player this match, he made many mistakes
Wilshere tryed again to be N1 on the pitch but he was isolated from the game very good by lampard and ramires
the biggest flop in this game was sagna. Once he was our most consistent player, always on the top of his game but no more and he is not that old to see decreasing in his abilities...
arshavin does not deserve to wear the jersey, he is so uninterested in the game and has no flame on the pitch
giroud played very well but he has to score more goals, he had one, two or more clear oppurtunities, the first was must score...
cazorla's performance in the first half was very bad too, but in the second he was close to perfect
The others played very well I think.
BGGOONER
20 Jan 2013 16:33:45
i've been away lately because of my military service started but I saw the match today. it left a pretty bad taste in my mouth because I think chelsea won it very easily and on our day we would have battered them.
i've always been a fan of coquelin and today I think he did really well. the question is, could he play as well week in week out? do we need a dm if the answer is yes?
sagna seems to have lost some of his pace and it shows badly. I fear his time is over. one of my all time favorite arsenal players but jenkinson will soon overtake him.
thomas vermaelen my man of the match by miles.
we should try to hijack the mbiwa deal now. we can guarantee him a starting spot on the midfield and also occasional games as a centerback. and we surely can offer him more money than newcastle plus there's still a chance we'll be in the cl so let's pull this off!
iceman
Coq was at fault for missing rameriez in build up to penalty!
20 Jan 2013 16:33:26
Didn't think I'd be celebrating an rvp goal again
20 Jan 2013 16:30:34
Game of 2 half's again, why does it take us to go 2-0 down to start playing and too change anything system tactics. Wenger needs to take good long hard look at himself and explain why the team is so up and down in their performance.
Anyway team marks:-
Schenzy 6:- Could not too much about the penalty as Remeries did the old dangle the leg towards him routine to win it, clever work. So-So
Sagna 4:- Terrible, Caught down field on 1st goal and never made enough effort to get back. Positionally all over the place and crossing when he did get the chance was awful. Needs to buck his ideas up. Not been the same since injury.
Mertasaker:- 6:- A High line does not suit him as we all know as not the quickest but did O.K not helped by Sagna being all over the place.
TV:- 7:- Decent made some key tackles and blocks and controlled Torres well apart from that one break he had on the counter.
Gibbs:- 6:- Did O.K defensivly but next to zero contribution until late on attack wise. He missed Podolski today as seems to have developed a good understanding with him.
Coquelin 5:- Not ready as midfielder in the big games yet for me. He made too many risky runs and was caught in possetion on first goal. You could argue that is was foul but he should not have been taking that risk. Struggled then with a injury and had to be taken off.
Diaby 5:- In his defense he does lack game time after coming back from injury but a bit like Coquelin sloppy in possetion and often takes too many risks in possetion of the ball. He is better further forward with his driving runs. Too sloppy and ill-disiplined to at this time be relied on in Defensive midfield position.
Wilshire 6:- Struggled to get on ball and overworked in 1st half not helped by his midfield partners. More influence in 2nd half but overall quiet for his standards.
Cazorla 6:- Isolated in first half did not get on ball because of lack on control from midfield. Sharper in 2nd half and drifted more inside so harder for Chelsea to pick him up in 2nd half.
Walcott 7:- Like Cazorla quiet in 1st half due to being dominated in midfield. Much better 2nd half drifted more inside a provided a threat in behind which pushed Chelsea back line further back.
Giroud 7:- Worked hard as always isolated in 1st half as with others, Linked well with midfield and Walcott in 2nd half once on top. He needs a partner up top without doubt.
Subs:- Ramsey 6:- Not much going forward but safer in possetion than Diaby with the ball.
Arsahvin 6:- Not much infulence really after been given a opportunity. Did not do alot.
I thought Coq had a great game up until the injury, think him and Jack look great together and work well
1404
Cany believe yu gave giroud a 7
20 Jan 2013 16:28:47
It's only a matter of time before bigman Giroud starts
scoring goals, his running off the ball is simply amazing. We are defo missing Arteta in the middle of the field however, I feel he is not the man to take our team forward same as Diaby, Arshavin. Coq looks the real deal he's got all the right skills to become a really good cdm.
I feel we need a bit more bite in the midfield some one of the likes of Wanama, MBwia.Striker wise I like Giroud but if you said to me 'You could have Giroud or Cav' I'd take Cav 100%
I would like to have a much better centre back. We should have put in a bid for Shawcross before he signed a new deal on the otherhand, I feel we need someone like Subotic or Hummels, ready made world class players.
I also think MBwia would make a really good cdm partnership with Victor Wanama in the middle of the field and they would be as solid as a rock for us and help us defend in tricky situations.
20 Jan 2013 16:21:57
Arshavin was a disgrace to the shirt today... no effort.. he basically walked throughout the time he was on.
How can anyone disagree with this?
Maybe its because he has not played in 4 months
20 Jan 2013 16:18:30
Very telling interview with R.V.P before the game today. Would advise you watch it. Wish I could disagree with him, but anyone with fully working eyes and ears can not as he was spot on. Sad but true.
OH HOW THE ONCE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN.
Flybo
20 Jan 2013 16:13:23
wow liverpool on the same points as us.
this is very sad
asta la vista wenger, go to PSG
I have been saying all season Liverpool have been playing great football and they will climb the table. Now look. That 'mid-table' club will be above us in a month or so. Especially if we don't beat them in a week.
20 Jan 2013 16:12:19
It is easy to look like a decent team (2nd half) when the opposition is two goals up and has no need to attack. Our defence is simply horrible. Wenger needs to go bye bye as he is clear not going to buy buy.
Chess
20 Jan 2013 16:11:09
We don't deserve wins playing like l that and we don't deserve to finish in the top 4 If we base our season on only really playing in the second half. I don't care how well we played in the second half the first half was horrendous and even though there was a foul in the build up chelsea deserved a two goal lead at the break.
As far as I see it we only have two maybe by three players who can play at their best consistently (Jack, Walcott and the ox to an extent). Giroud isn't good enough and the rest of the players just aren't up to it.
We need at least three signings if we're going to have any chance of top four and the fa cup. A solid defender, a dominant defensive mid and either a proven goal scorer or a consistent winger so we can play Walcott in the middle more often. And the way we do business I don't see us getting more than two at the very best. I know the gaffer had been apparently lining up summer signings but if we're going to get champions league football we don't need signings in July we need them now! And unless we experience a drastic change in our financial structure we won't be able to build a competitive squad without the revenue generated from just qualifying for the champions league. Wenger really needs to pull his finger out now.
Absolutely gutted we had such a good chance to get 3 points from that and we blew it and now we're three in the league without a win.
Sorry for the long post.
JG
Ok maybe it wasn't that long, I was in the pub typing it on my phone after a few extra consolation pints......
JG
20 Jan 2013 16:09:54
wenger time to go only champs league will save him
fa cup will only give him another year
i see wengee leavn summer 2014
20 Jan 2013 16:04:38
I repeat what I posted yesterday. We have now lost twice to Chelski, once to Man Utd and CIteh. We simply are not good enough. Champions league is a long way off. It's a false economy not to spend. Failure on the pitch means fewer season tickets sold, less merchandise sold at the game and in the Far East where kids want to be associated with winning teams and ultimately no champions league war chest and thus no top players wanting to come.
The board of directors need to consider the cost of not bolstering the team. The core is not strong enough. We have deficiencies throughout the team. In the first half, we were embarrassed. In the second half, we took control but it was the same old toothless Arsenal. No penetration and no idea in front of goal.
They need a proper holding midfielder, a central defender, a goalkeeper and probably two strikers. The bench is not strong enough and two players in the window is not enough to make the sea change we need. The best we can hope for is fourth and we are miles off that when we still have to go to The Spud and Man U.
I really wonder whether tactically Wenger has it still. We have been far too slow in the transfer market and we should have done more in the summer. We knew what we needed then and nothing has changed for the better. We are lightweight and until we breed or buy some winners, it will continue and we will have a brave second half but ultimately lose all of the big games that we used to win when we won our titles.
If the board and Monsieur Wenger cannot see that, it is sadly time to go.
20 Jan 2013 17:01:49
Mate it's Chelsea, not 'Chelski'. That is called respect for a team that's beaten you twice this season. Before you begin, Chelsea are also struggling... Look at their bench, only Marin and you have one Fernndo Torres starting. They played without a proper holding midfielder, and Lampard is past it. Oscar has been restricted to wing play where he has little impact. We're just not good enough.
I was going to send in an almost identical post! Totally agree.
Metal Gooner
If you don't respect or like chelski, then call em what ever you like. I do
Flybo
20 Jan 2013 16:01:31
Well we have lost to a top team again great in the second half again why do we start so slow before we can stamp are mark on the game we are 2-0 down last year we could get away with it because we had rvp but giroud is not the answer we have had awesome strikers over the year wright, bergkamp, henry, rvp, giroud not even close good second striker but not class would he get in Liverpool no chelsea no man united no man see no swansea no spurs no Everton no wenger knows we need a striker so don't be surprised if a massive offer for a top strike comes in this week cavarni, lewendoski higuien because if not its Thursday night cannel 5
Higuein 25 million
Diame 3.5 million
Come on arsene get that wedge out of your pocket
While I agree Giroud would not get in the Utd, and city attacks. I think it is unfair and wrong to say he would not get in the Swansea and Spurs attacks. Infact I would rather Giroud than Torres at the moment.
For me Giroud is never going to win a game out of nothing like RVP can but he is good team player and given the chances we will score goals. He just needs good service from crosses and deadballs and players closer to him to link with. Our crossing and deadball deliveries are often very poor and this need some serious improvement.
He needs a partner up front without doubt and and once Walcott got
more alongside him he was much more effective and a little unlucky not to score with a few chances just not falling right for him.
20 Jan 2013 20:12:59
He is good but we are arsenal not Newcastle or west ham like the names iv mentioned Henry rvp ect an michu an ba are better at putting the ball away that's that's what I want from a striker to do
20 Jan 2013 15:58:49
Why can't our players get a cross past the first defender. I watch this week on week, year after year. It's so frustrating.
20 Jan 2013 18:31:42
A player called walcott can't cross to save his life and every week wenger lets him do it, drives us gooners made ..let me have 5 mins in the changing room!
20 Jan 2013 15:58:17
I think bar Cech, Mata and Hazard, we're better than Chelsea almost everywhere. Just can't understand why we lost.
Mata seems to have picked up frm Drogba, scoring against us always. #BadOmen!
Mata played well in the first half but had an awful second. Ramires won us that game. I still think you will finish above spurs.
Jordan
20 Jan 2013 16:43:28
Your heart is ruling your head here. Chelsea are quite a bit better than Arsenal - should have won by 2.
Two bad decisions by the ref...foul the first and second was a dive....We need to be more compact at the start of the game...too gun ho.....both this and utd away give them both a gift in the first 10 minutes....full backs in position and not halfway up the field with two central mids sitting in front of back four.......shame because second half we were the best team by a mile....didnt deserve to lose and our number 22 had a fine game again.....well done francis......km
20 Jan 2013 19:02:01
chelsea are quite a bit better than arsenal,, If we played good as we did in the second half we would have beat u,,, and don't forget your 2 goals was a dive in the pen box and you fouled are player and the ref let play go in ...ive just come back from your stadium and I've got to admit you have got the worse set of fans I've ever seen, and where, were them lot when you were crap ?? money don't buy happiness how many managers in 15 seasons have you had ? you lost count
20 Jan 2013 15:57:29
How can Arsene say that the team doesn't need any new players! Need 3 top players to have any chance of challenging the top 4! Anyone have any rumours of possible transfers?
20 Jan 2013 15:56:08
2nd half performance means absolutely f*** all when we've already thrown the game away.
AG
How did we throw the game away? two bad ref decisions cost us, ok we weren't good enough in the first half buts its much better than its been ........sometimes it happens
1404
Spot on mate damage was already done.Sagna was truly rubbish today.
Stop blaming the refs for our lack of quality! We are a sub par squad!
North Carolina Gooner
It's happening to often mate. We used to come out of the blocks firing, this is not the Arsenal I wanna see everyweek some of the players need a rocket up there arse, and realize who & what there playing for, not how much there playing for.
Disgrace of a performance, don't wanna hear, "we showed good charachter" or "I felt we are a little bit short today"
Enough bull, take control of the dressing room, tell the ones who aren't pulling there weight, give them a few home truths. Stop massaging there egos!
Wound up or what
Dubz
Ye it was a foul but sagna caught out of position then jogs back instead of sprinting.he got caught for 2nd goal aswell he has been so poor this season.we played rubbish first half and second half we created 1 clear cut chance which walcott scored, 1 thing i'm scratching my head about is where was the ox and podolski?i didn't catch team sheets but could of sworn I seen ox on bench...
20 Jan 2013 15:49:10
How many times are Arsenal going to get the tactics wrong in the big games!!
Wenger is inept, tactically. There is no organisation in defence and the full backs are too gung ho!
Sagna was a joke in the first half, and people claim he is the best right back in the league, his positioning is disgraceful!
You may say we played better in the second half but we were already two goals down!
This team needs to grow up fast, Giroud needs to get up to the pace of the premier league and start scoring goals, no wonder we were so desperate to keep theo.
Very very unhappy gooner, this is not the Arsenal I love, we are not Everton or Spurs and should not put up with this second rate attitude the club is feeding us.
Time for changes!!
its not footy manager mate these are real people, he spotted what went wrong and motivated the team for the 2nd half i'm not saying that's acceptable i'm saying show some aesthetic appreciation please
Yorkshire Gooner Joe :D
What mate asthetic appreciation? for what? a terrible unorganised first half?
person!!
You think its football manager because I said Gung ho!!
Narrow neck!!
20 Jan 2013 15:44:12
imo and I've thought this for a while wenger has gone as far as he can we need som1 else to take over (dont know who) look at wenger he can't even do his own coat up never mind save our season we need atleast 5 sigings hummels gotze mvilla winger and a world class striker other wise we are out of the cl spot for a while
20 Jan 2013 15:39:59
First time post......
anyone else think the squad needs a massive overhaul. players like giroud, diaby, coqullen, ramsey, arshavin, are not even worthy of wearing an arsenal shirt!
squad is so lightweight bench today v chelsea wouldn't of been acceptable for a blackpool fc bench.
get m'villa his attitude might be poor but he can tackle and will add some steal to midfield. people are mentioning cavani and higuain we can only dream of them sort of players. szcesnsy is too big for his boots and needs a good keeper to challange him.
if we don't buck our ideas up we will lose tv5 santi and jack
in arsene we still trust ( just about )
get your hand in your pocket wenger!!
You must have a very bad understanding of the game......or you are a spud??
1404
20 Jan 2013 15:37:33
Keep posting rumours yet you never post them on here yet the same ones come up from different people. Nice one
It's a massive conspiracy, I tell you. they're probably segregating the community based on our IP addresses. "they just hate me 'cause i'm 194.134.21.54."
psychocyst.
20 Jan 2013 15:36:15
I thought giroud was quality today and won't take long for him to start producing some goals
Wolvo gooner
I agree, but only partly. he can be quite effective with his possession and physicality, but only with time. you have to question though, if we can afford him that time when we're running outta games to make it into the top 4.
psychocyst.
He was perfect, BUT... Just that miss at the start of the match make this match for him very bad. He is perfect in the air, he moves on the pitch very clever in the all 90min, he makes assists but he just don score. And we need goals now. We have 3th best defence in the EPL City and Chelsea can't score us without help from the officials, but we need goals...
Giroud is at best a Championship player. It pains me to say so. Or perhaps a team from the lower half of the Prem. But NOT Arsenal class. Nor is that Big F'ing German or (sadly) Sagna. He has truly "gone". Despite things going against us today (Ref. ignoring blatant Chelsea fouls and dive for penalty) our second half play was much better. However we still lost because of a poor display in the first half. Why does this team take so long to wake up ? Where is the Captains spirit from TV ? Blank ! This season will be a struggle and 5th 6th or 7th is beckoning. Believe me. With a defence this bad we don't deserve
top four. Wenger....it's your call.
Eleven days left.
20 Jan 2013 16:47:12
He'll only be 'quality' when does what he was brought here to do - score goals. The effort and nearly's reminds me of Torres.
He was awful. He doesn't fit in the squad. We need a mobile striker not just a big Bendtner type.
Giroud trys hard but he is not good enougth for arsenal football club.we need a proper finisher
20 Jan 2013 15:34:22
2-1 good fight back in 2nd half after being totally dominated in 1st half in midfield. I just can't work it out sometimes in how the 2 half's of football can be totally different.
Walcott moved in more centrally which pushed the Chelsea back line further back and Cazorla got more involved in 2nd half giving us more possention in there half. Why does it take us until we were 2-0 down to start playing?.
A few points:- Couquelin not ready for the big games as midfeilder. Sagna was making costly positional mistakes and his crossing is just awful, his mind just does look on teh job. We missed the Podolski and Gibbs combo on the left side aswell.
The 2nd half still gives us hope of getting back into that top 4 just need Utd to beat the Spuds now.
You probably thought that at the end of the City game last week as well. We'll be lucky to finish top 6 at this rate. Any more first half displays like these past two (or 3 if you include Swansea) and we'll be dead in the water. Bare in mind we still play Utd, Liverpool and the Spuds.
20 Jan 2013 15:33:29
Let's be serious now. Why would players like gotze, hummels, higuain be interested in a move to arsenal now? No guarentee of champions league football and no chance of wages above 100k with our current management and board! Would be a great change for the club if they did come in but right now it's all just fantasy
20 Jan 2013 15:31:54
Sanga - Sorry not good enough
Ramsey - Sorry not good enough
Diaby- Sorry not fit or good enough
Arshavin - Sorry not good enough
Shezney - Sorry to unreliable in making a positive decision
Why am I sorry? Because I can see this, all Arsenal fans keep saying and see it week in and week out.
MR WENGER WHY CAN'T YOU.....?
All we want is to be able to compete!
MerchyBoy
Wenger see nothing
it is time a fresh set of eyes come in to arsenal. give the job to vickers/bould
20 Jan 2013 16:48:29
You can add Merts, Kos, Gibbs, and giroud to your list too.
20 Jan 2013 15:31:07
We should've brought on Santos, that's why we didn't win.
SERIOUS LACK OF QUALITY IN DEPTH.
We are 2-3 quality signings away from having a great, competitive team.
Chelsea sign quality, they win the game.
Arsenal sign second rate quality, we finish second best.
Theres the difference.
Nick.
We're more than 2-3 players away from a great team mate..
G95
20 Jan 2013 15:30:53
Can someone please remind sanga how to play football, can't defend, has no positional sense, can't cross and has no ability to beat a player.
Today just demonstrated how much we need a natural goalscoring forward, some of giroud's decision making was shocking.
We also need a ball winning midfielder, diaby is good but that's not his natural game and it shows.
Today also highlighted how much we miss arteta, such an important player for us.
We all better get ready for "Thursday night's channel 5" to quote ashley Cole.
20 Jan 2013 15:23:37
Why the hell can't we play like that in the first half ffs
20 Jan 2013 15:30:51
Came in a bit late so I didn't catch the first half. The second was great though. We played great football. Coq was great, walcott was great and most players looked good. Arshavin looked lost sadly and Ramsey wasn't great. We need strenght in dept so we do need a few players. Great to have Diaby back though:) I am not that dissapointed. We lost flying. We need a better striker than Giroud though. Well played Arsenal. My enthusiasm probably has to do with that I missed the first half. Go Arsenal!
The Swede
You would have seen things very differently had you seen the first half. The second half had more to do with Chelsea not playing. I'm tired of having to take heart from spirited second half displays. It doesn't mask the fact that this team is woefully lacking in many areas and that when key players get injured we struggle. We have fallen too far behind our rivals as a club from the top to the bottom. Unfortunately spirited second half displays don't cut it.
If you had made the first half your post would have had a very different time to it. Just not good enough.
Paul
No points again.....
Why the Ramsey knock again? If you had seen the first half and Cazorlas performance, Ramsey was imence
Everyone jumps on the bash ramsey bandwagon - but he wasnt that bad atleast he didn't hide - he was always looking for the ball.
if anything cazorla was pants again, wenger is blind to stars, cazorla should have been taken off for arshavin and diaby should have stayed on.
GS
20 Jan 2013 15:30:38
We have to fix the no showing in the first half it's becoming a theme and it's annoying that we're are so regularly showing up as Jekyll and hide
Absolutely gutted today feel robbed with their 2 goals but they owned us first half
I was again left thinking they must be different players in the second half
Wenger please wave this rumoured wand you have we need it more than ever
Coyg
Goonertillidie
20 Jan 2013 15:30:12
Don't care we were the better team in the second half. To go to chelski and only play for 45 minutes is a disgrace. We will not get top 4. We need some steel in the middle of the park. Sick and tired of saying the same thing. Wenger will wait to get that sort of player a bit cheaper, meanwhile we drop more points. Useless.
IN WENGER WE RUST
Flybo
You used to be upbeat fella, i'm going the same way, think we need to win the next 3 or 4 straight in the league to get back up there, west ham (h) liverpool (h) stoke(h) and sunderland (a) west ham we should squeeze past liverpool look good at the minute very tough game IMO and stoke never give anything away and martin o neill has galvanized his troops.
On todays game first half disgrace what has happened to sagna... tbf coqulein was good has a spark bit of skill aswell felt him going of stopped our momentum... cazorla and walcott are both very good...when they want to be can drift in and out... Gibbs was excellent again tbf some great tackles and good forward play should ahve got down the left more... where was the ox today ? could have brought him on over arshavin...
Bringing arshavin on highights the lack of squad depth, felt a ox or roosicky or even pod could have been effective today, but need more options
Chin up Flybo.
Yorkshire gooner Joe :D
Couldn't agree more. Never thought I'd feel like this but year in year out we get worse. We are on the decline. I feel for the young British lads who've signed their contracts. They are part of the worst arsenal team for maybe 30years. McClintock, Storey, Brady, Sansom, Adams, Vieira would never have accepted such a lack of heart and inconsistent performance week in week out. This can't go on.
20 Jan 2013 15:26:22
Fair play, Ramsey looks like a completely new player
Does when he plays in the middle as we all know he's not a winger,
20 Jan 2013 15:24:38
lets be honest Wenger will blame the ref and I will agree there was a free in the build up and it was no penalty but we were lucky to be only 2 down. we will never win anything until we get a world class center forward
Limerick Gunner
Let him blame the ref and let him talk about spirit and toughness. It'll only further emphasise the fact that he is so out of touch now. Devastating really when you think about what a truly amazing manager and ambassador for the club he USED to be.
20 Jan 2013 15:23:35
haha another useless display wenger
get lost, you can't motivate a team
20 Jan 2013 15:22:54
wenger gad a choice
giroud or BA
what the heck wenger
Lol, and if ba injured you blame wenger for buying injury prone player.
20 Jan 2013 15:18:55
can anyone explain why asharvin is even on the bench, let alone on the pitch
Injuries and illness and a manager who refuses to strengthen the squad.
20 Jan 2013 15:15:52
Walcot has really showed why he is worth the new contract. By far our best player. Glad he has stuck with us and hope wenger can now raise the basic e
Wage in order to attract some bigger players.
Which game did you watch? He scored a good goal, but that was an incredible ball player through by Cazorla.
Rest of the game it was same old Theo. I disagree with you that he was our best player, Tommy V had a good game as did Jack.
Paul
20 Jan 2013 15:12:30
Is it just me or does anyone else think Jack would like to punch Cashleys teeth down his throat?
Stoner
Another reason to love him. Flybo
He will have to join a long queue
GS
20 Jan 2013 14:56:13
Jekyll and Hyde FC....
Seriously...AFC reminds me of my Mrs(s) lol
Metal Gooner
20 Jan 2013 14:45:49
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
CAZORLA IN THE GAME - GOAL!!
COYG!!!!!
An ecstatic Metal Gooner!!
20 Jan 2013 14:44:29
Haven't seen the match today, but the result does NOT surprise me. The 2 players who are running the show are Mata and Hazard, and just remind me, didn't AW want these? Stop deluding yourselves, it matters not who he wants, he will NOT pay the rate so no-one of any note will want to come here. We are a mid-table team now and he will not alter the play to address things. A major clear-out is essential and this includes AW, he has lost the plot, his insistance of financial security is ok but the team is sliding down and down through his stubbornness to pay the rate for the players HE SAYS WE NEED!! The CL is our last for a long time, so enjoy it whilst you can.
20 Jan 2013 14:32:35
A french 2nd division player, Gilbert Imbula, certainly MUST be the answer monsieur Wenger...
Don't expect any better signing. I doubt there are many quality players who would join us right now.
Come on Jack. Show some pride and kick them all over the pitch. We can still turn it around.
Stefan
20 Jan 2013 14:32:16
Wenger tells us there is no question about this squads spirit.
Either he is lying to everyone again or he is in constant denial, either way this man needs to go.
No motivation
No leadership
No tactics
No system
No idea, just excuses.
His inability to strenghten this squad early enough to influence big games in January shows nothing is changing at this club.
Awful.
Ike.
20 Jan 2013 14:32:13
so poor against chelsea we lack quality nearly in all areas why is wenger not buying so that the players can fit in early en also help in saving the season?
20 Jan 2013 14:42:56
First time posting.
What can I say....Its been a very poor first half today!
But its not hard to see, we are lacking a player in all parts of the field.
Sanga has been really poor and has for many a game now. (So now needs replacing).
It doesn't take a person to see that we need more in a DM role, i'm sure Coquelin will be a great player in years to come, Diaby is a good player, but he is made of biscuit and brakes like he has been in a cup of tea to long... there for a good replacmentcover needed.
As for todays starting line up and bench.... it plan to see that we are short on strikers... well out an out strikers.
Im glad Walcott has sign a new deal, but lets face it, he isn't a striker.
Please AW.... take the blinkers off and see we need signings in this window.
Nice one Ed for great site!!
Northants gooner.
Theo has had more success than Giroud in front of goal. I can not be beleive our squad size yet lack of quality
nubster
20 Jan 2013 14:39:36
2nd half looks a lot better I would have brang on Jenko, he's fast and got really good cross.
If Ba comes it will be all over..
I like Mert but he's just to slow and he can't cover postions eg lb, rb when they run 4ward.
We should bring in a2cdm: Wanama, Diamme will shot out our team!
20 Jan 2013 14:39:35
games a bit of a shocker I know, we haven't turned up for it and we will lose the match and have a good moan about it as usual.
on the plus side, Wenger will use his 3 favourite words at least a dozen times in the post match interview - character, strength (mental) and unlucky.
I'd love to see a montage of his press comments because they are almost as farcical as his coat.
no striker on bench, no winger on bench (I don't count Santos or arshavin as wingers, and definitely not Ramsey) so I fail to see how we can be more attacking.
An unfit diaby over a fit Ramsey? tells you all you need to know about Ramsey doesn't it.
Daniel
Arsene Wenger a man who used to be great, but isn't any more. Hides behind excuses and contradicts himself over and over again. Worst of all though he's become soft and lost his edge. Continually fails to get a 90 minute performance out of his team and can't motivate them (I mean how many awful first half performances is that where we've been out of the game before halftime). And not just this season but every season now. And what exactly are the rest of coaching staff doing or like its rumoured is Arsene doing everything. Either way I don't care. Arsene either get your edge back and make us great again or step down. Either way stop ruining my club. PS make sure you take that muppet Kroenke with you.
20 Jan 2013 14:39:06
What on earth is going on at our once great club. I use the term 'once' because we certainly aren't any more. What enthusiasm I may have had at the start of the day (and there wasn't a lot given the constant decline of Arsenal since 2005), is practically gone.
Appalling first half performance again where our inability to compete on any level has been painfully exposed again. No spirit and no fight (JW10 aside).
And where are these supposed big name signings Arsene? Oh that's right it's a smoke screen. I don't care about big name's. Kaka is a big name, Schneider is a big name and I wouldn't want them any where near our club.
All I ask for is a squad of solid players who know how to do their job, who are ruthless and who understand what it means to be part of THE ARSENAL and to compete.
Whatever happened to THE ARSENAL. Our club. Things been done the right way. We lack identity, character and ambition. It starts at the top with Silent Stan and goes all the way down through (most sadly of all) AW who appears to be losing his fight.
Today is a lost cause it seems but there is sill time for us to turn things around this season starting with strengthening the team and bringing some hope back to us all.
I've been a gooner for over 30 years but never have I felt more disillusioned. Come on you gunners.
Alsager Gooner.
20 Jan 2013 14:37:56
I've had enough of this gutless crap now. We have no spine, no proper backbone and it appears, less and less idea how to play as a team. It's slow and predictable. Players get caught in possession time and time again. I would say most of the time in a 50/50 tackle the ball will wriggle away to the other players feet.
Teams know exactly how we are going to play as we don't have any other way. Sagna can't cross past the first defender, ever! We are so damn weak in midfield and defence it's a joke.
Why are we not signing players to strengthen? It's not like we have to start a fresh every transfer window scouting all over again. We must know who we want, go and get them!
I honestly don't mind losing games if we can at least match the other teams we are competing against and it's a good fight. At the moment we can't even match teams in lower leagues. I've long supported wenger and his ways until recent times.
Had enough now. I want our next signing to be another manager, fresh ideas, methods and inspiration. We stink of failure and decline at the moment.
Winchy gooner.
20 Jan 2013 14:36:32
This is more like it! Fans giving it what they can, Arsenal putting some football together....:)
Metal Gooner
Just shows there are some real persons on the site when you disagree a post like this.
20 Jan 2013 14:34:33
What gets me mad is we are more than halfway through the transfer window, and nobody has signed, I would of thought the earlier you do business the better, ie for price and for bedding them in, (if half decent should just get straight to it)so it tells me wenger has no plans to spend because it will damage his pride of thinking he's the canny one buying cheap and young!
Wolvo gooner
20 Jan 2013 14:33:34
Why does it take bad results for Mr. Wenger to not only strengthen, but add some much needed depth to our squad. Just looking at the bench now in the Chelsea game, we have no-one who'd have the capabilities of changing a game. Giroud looks average at best, however he would be a good person to come off the bench in games where he could add a little extra with his height. Wenger NEEDS to sign at least a defender or someone who's got the 'bully and ball winning' capabilities of playing just in front of the back four, then he also needs to sign a star striker. Cavani would be a dream, but it's not going to happen, he's cup-tied in the CL, and why would he want to go to a club that may not compete in the CL next season? I also do not feel Adrian Lopez is the answer to our problems either. We can always be optimistic and hopeful of these big signings, but let's face it, big players are usually playing for the financial benefits and winning silverware. However, In Arsene we trust, I'm sure he'll do something special this transfer window.
20 Jan 2013 14:30:30
For any fans tricking themselves into a major signing, well there won't be.
I know now more than ever is the time we nee to spend and spend big, bring in a real left winger who can cross a striker that strikes fear into defenders, a defensive mid who can actually tackle (coqulin) a right back who is anyone, because Sagna is just awful, a centre back with presence because despite his 6'8" mert is about as physical as bambi, then a keeper who knows how to catch and save.
But none of this will happen. Wenger always bangs on about how we will only buy players that will improve our squad well there are hundreds of players who can do that but instead he signs players who are as weak and terrible as the rest. I feel sorry for wilshere and giroud today, giroud has had terrible service but still been one of our better players this half, wilshere is basically telling coqulin and diaby what their jobs are! Tackle & pressure!
Whatever happens in the rest of this game, even I we miraculously comeback, this half has shown just how frail and weak some of our players are.
Need a real overhaulHorses mouth.
20 Jan 2013 14:30:30
here comes wenger PSG
take him please
20 Jan 2013 14:30:26
Well with any luck Bould is going spastic at the guys right now (half time) and I hope we see something different this half.
If I were managing the team the first thing I would do is take off Sagna, and tell him he's lost his place for the foreseeable future. He's been a fecking liability for months now, he's a disgrace. No balls, no drive, no quality when he's in possession. I could mark him out of a game ffs he is the most predictable RB going. Best in the league? My arse. Maybe 3 years ago.
I'd take Mertesacker off, should have been Koscielny all day long starting this game, ridiculous decision. We were right to play him last game against Chelsea, was a shame we lost to 2 set pieces but he had a superb game regardless of Torres's goal.
I'd actually take Diaby off and put Ramsey on, we need someone who will make an effort, Diaby's been crap.
Lastly, I'd tell Santi to pull his finger out of his arse, stop sucking his thumb and get into the game. He's been pathetic today.
Everyone needs to step up.
Only 3 lads playing with any balls at all - Szczesny, Couquelin and Jack. Vermaelen's been ok.
Half time rant over! COYG step up and make us proud!
Metal Gooner
20 Jan 2013 14:28:46
"You want Diaby to have career he deserves".
NO WE DON'T! Not at Arsenal FC.
Our crosses are as poor as always. Sagna has to go asap. Theo taking corners and free kicks = lol
Stefan
20 Jan 2013 14:28:31
wenger out. simple. he is a muppet
20 Jan 2013 14:28:13
We look rubbish, being out played everywhere!
Burtonwood Gooner
20 Jan 2013 14:27:02
Carl jenks END OF STORY!
-Homesick-
20 Jan 2013 14:26:35
Got a feeling that if Van Persie or even Podolski had been on the end of the pass that Giroud got, that would've been a goal.
Ramires slipped, coquelin got fouled, we are getting dominated.
NOTHING is working for us atm.
Gotze would be good right now, as would Messi.
Nick.
We don't need new players, we already have a team of exceptional quality - just ask arsene...
20 Jan 2013 14:26:34
Is it just me or every time we clear or pass outta defence....the ball lands in opposition hands. Every time! Yet when chelsea clear its 4 on 3? It happens time and time again! Do our players not know where each other are? They are clueless! Surely they are trained to clear out of defence to a team mate?!?
Ive always been pro Wenger....but i'm losing patience. we CANNOT beats teams above us. We CANNOT sign world class players! Something needs to change. We have very talented players but not a team!
Am fuming! Not a happy Cammy today!
Cammy out!....wenger out too???
Xxx
20 Jan 2013 14:26:01
I love Wenger for the what he has done for the club in the past and create free flowing football that we love to play. But its not working for Wenger anymore. He's simply trying to play it analog in a digital world now and I fear we might not finish 4th and worse become like liverpool. He has to break the bank or step aside for another manager that will. Sooner the better.
COYG - RED ASSASSIN
20 Jan 2013 14:24:03
1st half.
Tatically inept.
Can't cross.
Theo's favorite sexual position is the offside one.
Defencively all over the place,
But the worst of all, and I mean the worst, NO FIGHT
PATHETIC.
Flybo
20 Jan 2013 14:19:59
Bang Average!!
Without Jack Wilshere and Theo to an extent, we look absolutely toothless.
We lack width and a ball winner in midfield. We better be looking at hijacking to Mbiwa deal because it seems too easy to play the ball behind Mertesacker and Sagna
Lwi
20 Jan 2013 14:19:43
My 12 year old son shows more passion on a football pitch
20 Jan 2013 14:17:54
Can someone please pass on a message to a man by the name of Arsene Wenger, please bye a bunch of players worth watching and supporting.
Thank you,
CheetahChaz97
20 Jan 2013 14:17:26
We need a left winger or we will rot
Wilmslow gooner
20 Jan 2013 14:16:18
Chelsea totally dominate in midfield. Like mentioned before this 4-3-3 just does not work against the better sides with physically stronger midfields. We need to go 4-4-2 or
4-1-3-2 get Walcott up alongside Giroud to push Chelsea back 4 further back so that midfield can then start finding space and we can start to get more posestion.
Been far too sloppy in possetion and Sagna crossing has been awful. Giroud has been isolated.
20 Jan 2013 14:12:32
Sagna what's going on!! He been a worst player all season
20 Jan 2013 14:12:28
I've said too many times of how Sagna is and nobody listens, here is a prime example f his crappiness
Wilmslow Gooner
I couldn't agree more, has been terrible ever since coming back from injury, not aware of anything going on around him, half wanted challenges and ball distribution is awful . Jenkins was playing amazing before bacary came back.... why can the fans see this an not aw
jc7
20 Jan 2013 14:10:03
It's just not good enough !
Is Kanu on the bench.......i hope so.
1404
20 Jan 2013 14:25:15
Ok Sagna is having a mare to put it mildly, and ok Diarby not great but has anyone seen Cazorla this half? Love him or hate him, Ramsey would be a better option at the moment and I don't hate him, Midfield needs to step upon some further order, Jack getting more and more frustrated and no wonder, love him
The only one who is playing for Arsenal today is Coquelin. I'm embarrassed to be an Arsenal fan after this first half
20 Jan 2013 14:09:37
See that's what I'm tired of - 35 mins in. We break, Sagna's got the ball, he stops, passes back in field, he eventually gets it back, has about 4 people to aim at with a cross and hits it at a Chelsea player, they break, it goes to the half way line and Coquelin thankfully holds up Hazard there....and you're thinking Sagna will come charging back to get back and help....still not in the screen...
Chelsea carry it over the half way line really slowly and about 10s later he STILL isn't on his way back, then they carry it into our half and you see him just jogging back really slowly, their man had the whole of that flank to play with and Sagna's jogging back. This is what I mean when I say I am sick of our players playing with no passion. If you lose possession you get your arse in gear and get back to cover. You don't jog back and just watch Ramirez wander into the box ffs.
Completely agree jenks is 10x better sagna makes me so angry I just wanna punch him in the face & tell him to get a grip. Diaby has been poor also! At 1 point giroud was at left back, I mean come on so bad! Joke!
Second half has to be better, I pray
-Homesick-
20 Jan 2013 14:26:33
Totally agree its like they are beaten before they get on the pitch recently were they out partying last night ?
Dunno about 1 or 2 players More like 8 or 9
Don't think was a penalty total con and the foul for the first
But will it be a Hyde type performance now after we've seen Jekyll in the first half
Goonertillidie
20 Jan 2013 14:27:03
Trying to win the game in the first 10 minutes again......Segna getting caught up field.....FFS wenger.....Two banks of four and keep thing tight....a chance walcott will hit them on the break....Then we pick things up until a chance or two presents itself.....It was a foul anyway......We are not doing enough when we don't have the ball.....got to get in their face a bit more.....They are the team that haven't won at home for about four games....
Sagna has been knocking the ball sideways or back for a while, was at the Wolves game last season away and sat front row, Theo was getting the ball knocking it back to Sagna then turning and setting off to the 40 yds of space, Little chip over the top Theo's away does it happen Does it f""k, Sanga knocks it back in the middle, at least twice Theo said ffs
20 Jan 2013 14:09:33
Arsene Wenger bid to get Jesus and God. Gazidis pointed out not even them can provide the miracle that us needed!
Cant believe we are officially as poor as Liverpool!?
Cammy out
xxx
As poor as Liverpool?! They are far better than us at the moment! And they've got even better with Sturridge! Who as so many people on here were quick to say, 'isn't good enough' - just like Ba and Moses!
He's been outstanding since he's had game time, he's always had the talent, it just didn't work at Chelsea. He'd have been like a Walcott with real talent and a football brain, yet another shocking miss from Wenger.
Ah well, Liverpool are now on the same points as us but we have a game in hand after today....I can see them finishing above us.
Metal Gooner
20 Jan 2013 14:09:28
Carl Jenkinson sits quietly on the bench thinking WTF!
Stoner
It must take a toll on his confidence knowing that the poor Sagna is unconditionally preferred.
Give the kid a chance he at least has passion and won't be caught jogging back to cover...
20 Jan 2013 14:08:44
What a bunch of gutless cowards.
May aswell have the u18s playing ffs how can you not be motivated for this game?
And Wengers a disgrace, were being humiliated yet he does nothing - no change in formation, no change in ideas just sits there like a bloody person
AG
20 Jan 2013 14:06:57
bad news this is who would want to join afc looking at this shambles
dave
20 Jan 2013 14:04:49
What type of power diaby add exactly...
Give it up Wenger - yea it's sad, but he is no where the level of the opposition, Ramirez dominating the midfield.
No surprise that we are 6th with the lowest tally under Wenger.
Average team.
20 Jan 2013 14:04:35
Sagna needs to come of half time. Absolutely shocking !
20 Jan 2013 14:03:45
Olivier Giroud
No thanks!
Shut up he has had nothing to work with. If Theo could take corners and Sagna cross a ball maybe we'd be doing alright. t's no coincidence Sagna has sod all goals and assists in his Arsenal career- coz he's shyte in attack.
I will defend Giroud to the hilt when he's getting no service.
20 Jan 2013 13:57:48
Wtf has happened to Sagna? Nowhere to be seen for first goal or penalty and his delivery from crosses has been woeful
Going through the motions won't be an arsenal player next season
Surely this gutless first 25 mins will show wenger and the board that if we don't strengthen we can forget champs league next season
Wengers sidekick
20 Jan 2013 13:56:38
Well this is depressing. 2-0 after 15 mins...we're all over the place.
Now let's see this character, come on guys, let's get back at them, if Southampton can pull back a 2 goal deficit then so can we!
Metal Gooner
20 Jan 2013 13:55:53
roy of the rovers will sign!
wenger out!!
20 Jan 2013 13:54:42
Unreal performance again slow 2nd to everything no grit diaby been a liability today I'm fearing the worst right now but sure we'll wake up in the second half
Goonertillidie
20 Jan 2013 13:54:26
Diaby is defo not the answer, we look second best all over the park, I think wengers needs to dust of that chequebook.
The cheque is not the only answer, AW will NOT adapt the play to suit what is happening on the field, we've all said it so many times, he has NO PLAN B.
20 Jan 2013 13:52:38
I'm afraid if wenger says any more bull in the interview after the game he is deluded, we are miles apart in ambition with Chelsea and quality, we haven't got a clue, 2 transfers we didn't get
1. Juan mata
2.eden hazard
3--- absolutely the difference
Sick of watching us struggle
Wolvo gooner
Chelsea are very strong in midfield with both skill creativity and flair in Mata and Hazard but also power and strength with Lampard and Rameires, they have god combinations. Arsenal should have gone 5 in midfield to combat that and used Walcott up top for his pace to push the Chelsea back 4 further back. The chelsea back 4 can play a high line are hence pushing Giroud away from goal.
20 Jan 2013 13:52:04
now can every 1 see daiby is crap 1st goals a foul but play the whislte we need to sign but who would want to join this I know I wouldntjelfy
20 Jan 2013 13:51:34
Sagna not fit to wear arsenal shirt no passion no grit just xxxx off you clearly don't want to be arsenal player
Bergkamp wonderland
20 Jan 2013 13:49:41
Diaby is such a f***** liability, why people think he is viera is just shear desperation.
Ike.
20 Jan 2013 13:48:52
Sagna boobs again.
Our players look like they need 2 cans of red bull and a few pro plus. Dawdling on the ball, for about the 100th time this season
AG
20 Jan 2013 13:48:35
What has happened to Sagna??! He's gone to one of the leagues best RB's to a massive liability!
Herts Gooner
20 Jan 2013 13:31:40
Fancy 2-1 to us today, Giroud and Caz.
AG
20 Jan 2013 13:02:33
Feeling confident that the gaffer hasn't changed the team from Wednesday, 2 defensive mids, Jack in the middle, should be a cracker. Still now we have have no one to bring off the bench to influence the game, there is Ramsey if he's up to it but no Podolski or The Ox because of illness, typical Arsenal luck. Not going to get all doom and gloom though, I'll be in the pub with a pint cheering on the Arsenal with all the other Gooners in my local. But first time for a sandwich!
COME ON THE ARSENAL!!
JG
20 Jan 2013 12:57:25
Unchanged side!
LET'S DO THIS ARSENAL!!!!
I am crossing everything I can...and am streaming the game on my phone for the first time ever haha.
COYG!
Metal Gooner
20 Jan 2013 12:53:27
My guts are churning. COME ON YOU GOONERS! See you on the other side ladies and gents. LET'S HAVE IT
Flybo
20 Jan 2013 12:38:56
Podolski and Ox ruled out with illness - crap!
JG
20 Jan 2013 12:36:24
Sounds like all you guys had a great night last night, but don't take whatever it was you took coz your tripping! Mario gotze won't be a arsenal player ever. Get used to it. It sucks! Coz he's amazing I would love him to be a gooner.
-Homesick-
20 Jan 2013 12:03:16
Apparently the team is unchanged from the game against Swansea. Podolski been ill this week so he misses out on being in starting line up.
20 Jan 2013 12:02:46
Chelsea to win by 2 goals and a good chance to rest key players for the top games.
20 Jan 2013 10:49:54
Does anyone think Arsene will make an offer for Mbiwa now he knows the going price? Goetze won't be joing the Gunners as he important player for Dortmund! Anyone have anymore players possibly arriving?
Wenger will be active this January,
M'Biwa - he has now seen what the going price and will at last match it
Capoue/Diame - one of these will come in to supplement Diaby
Gotze - the 30million bid that was mentioned was Gotze, he wants to come to Arsenal
and then a couple of young players most likeley - Knockheart from Leicester City who will be loaned back and then someone like Thauvin
20 Jan 2013 09:58:13
Hi all, I know we're all unhappy at our situation. But at every game lets get right behind our team and give our opponents hell when they visit our stadium. our frustration should not be shown to the players as this will damage confidence and an unconfident player can be very ordinary in comparison.
Channer