22 Feb 2014 22:54:21
not long back in from the game, dang road works and I got lost stupid sat nav lol,
my only concern today we're the injuries or what I believe were injuries
Monreal - subbed would love to know why I must have been blinded by the sun as I didn't see what happened there - any one know?
Wilshere - towards the end I thought was a massive risk he looked to be struggling I hope its not that dang ankle looked more upper thigh but again I didn't hear a reason
Kos - i'm hoping he ain't injured, I missed it again
to be fair was enjoying my lads reaction to much to be on the ball, we looked good and really comfortable I know its not exactly top top top opposition but its still a reasonably good team, just glad we not met them in the cup's they might actually look to repeat wigan given the way results are going for them
but overall i'm happy as the result went a long way to padding the self belief and was another result to stick up the fingers to the negative press
just hope the injuries were ok
oh and seeing part of the god partnership finally get a statue meant so much, legend and total king of the number 10's
mesut I missed but i'm hoping a breather a chill session for a couple of games will do him the world of good
COYFG
why fly when you can walk on water
Henry and Bergkamp total legends wrighty too :)
Arsenal Banter Archive February 22 2014
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22 Feb 2014 21:56:48
Looking at the run in, Chelsea have to be favourites when you look at their fixtures, us and City have some very very tough matches, we have Spurs, Chelsea and City all in a row I think we need 7 points to give us a decent last few weeks at the title.
Yes buy your saying it as if they will just walk over those teams. Same for city.
The reason why arsenal are close to the top is because other then Manu, we have consistently beaten all the teams below us, where as both city and Chelsea have been struggling against them.
It is going to be very close come the end of the season, my prediction is based on the games vs city and Chelsea, if we can avoid defeats in both those games then I think we'll win the league.
Overall I no longer think there is a favourite this season, because out of the top 3 none of them are more consistent then the other, this is proven by the amount of times the team in first has changed.
I believe in the end there will only be about 3points between the top 3.
And for anyone who might think, what about Liverpool? Attacking wise they are just as good as the top 3, but defensively they are awful. And for every small winning run they go on, they tend to go a couple of games without winning.
I think the absolute thrashing we got at Anfield might just prove to be a good thing that stands us in good stead for the city Chelski games.
The cup game that followed we saw a more gutsy determined performance that we haven't seen since the dortmound away game and again against Bayern we did our selfs proud before and after the sending off.
Yesterday against with all respect a poor Sunderland we played our game and looked good.
Mix the two and who knows what we can achieve and Chelski and city should hold no fears for us
22 Feb 2014 21:52:10
Rosicky needs a new deal, unless he has already signed one?
It's been said a lot of this page, one of the most underrated players the premier league has ever seen. An Arsenal legend in my eyes and hopefully many others.
Massive respect for him.
Rosicky is quality if Ozil isn't careful Tommy will keep him out
I'd be starting him on current form, Özil is warrenting his place in the team on his price tag at the moment, I think today's performance wouldn't have been as good if he was playing over Rosicky.
22 Feb 2014 21:01:55
Big shout out to Goldboy,
He predicted today's result will be 4-1.
Ed001 will be sending you a hamper very soon mate.
{Ed001's Note - yes, an empty one he can fill with the money he has won betting on the correct score ;o)
Yeah well done GOLDBOY that's an excellent prediction mate
Well there you go Dags. I was even going to say Giroud 2 goals but wasnt sure he was going to play and Kos getting 1. I only said Sanogo because I'd been a bit hard on him LOL I honestly thought Giroud would have been rested today. But there you go. What do
I know? .
Lol Ed001,
Gold's the correct score is good enough mate, lol
Haha:) ED 001:) that was priceless:) sure you aren't Scottish?:P:P:P empty hamper. to fill with the money!:):)awesome, loved it:)
COYG andi:)
{Ed001's Note - if I was Scottish I wouldn't have a sense of humour! Just ask Ed007.}
22 Feb 2014 19:48:56
great performance, evryone says we will win nothing, they may be right but so proud of our football missed it at times last year, my arsenal are playing velvet football yet again smooth and beautiful to watch it don, t get much better.
ty.1
Everyone says we can't win the league and like you say they maybe right but we'll be closer than for a very long time, plus every body can be wrong sometimes
22 Feb 2014 19:17:32
Tough two weeks ends on an excellent note, well done lads a brilliant response enjoy your small breather this week, very well deserved.
On Ozil? Personally I think a mental break will do him no harm and we should bring him back for the fa cup QF and CL game.
Two weeks to put all into perspective, rediscover his serlf belief and come back and start a fresh in two really big games, fresh legs fresh outlook and a new beginning
Absolutely mate,
Well deserved break for our heroes
22 Feb 2014 19:08:47
I don't think he would have made much difference against bayern. He played against man u, chelski, man city, liverpool, levercussen etc and looked off pace against the big boys. Against the lesser sides he's ok. The problem is he's limited in his ability. I'll ask again how many top teams would have him on the bench let alone on the field.
So play a youngster fro the French 3rd division, please don't tell me he is better than Giroud, Giroud could have played against BM and then rested today
22 Feb 2014 18:10:34
Makes you really question Wenger
WHY DIDN'T YOU PLAY GIROUD AGAINST MUNICH.
If it was just because he has had off field issues then Wenger was wrong not to play him, he clearly has no issues mentally
True. Wenger basically said in his post-match interview that Giroud had needed a rest. Sanogo did well in my opinion and Giroud does look much fresher now. But I can't help but question why we haven't brought in another striker to solve this issue? If Giroud was rotated regularly he wouldn't have been too tired for perhaps our biggest game of the season.
Poor Giroud you have got to feel sorry for him. Up to his elbows in glamour models, thousands a week, it's no wonder when he gets found out by the other half he goes of the boil a bit. Tut tut. Never mind mate we've all been there think yourself lucky you've got a few quid guarantee the old woman will hang about mate. It's when your skint they have it on their toes. LOL
Wenger was completely justified in dropping Giroud in my eyes, he was toilet against Liverpool and Utd and needed, firstly to be shown what his priorities should be and secondly a rest.
Didn't see anyone criticising Wenger for leaving him out and playing Sanogo against Liverpool in the FA cup? A game we won.
Podolski should have started up front against Bayern, I just can't see what Wengers problem is with him
I rate Giroud for what he can do for the team, but he needed to be benched. Don't care if it was fatigue or lack of focus, he will be better in the run in for missing the BM game.
22 Feb 2014 17:45:54
Good result, a shame we couldn't keep a clean sheet, but a wins a win and everyone seemed up to it.
Expect the media to go on the offensive about Mesut tomorrow, probably stating that he had such a bad game that they felt like didn't see him for 90 minutes.
(Yes, it's a bad joke, humour me)
Peace.
22 Feb 2014 17:11:11
Giroud deserves some credit today. Both were goals you'd expect a striker to score, but his movement and reading of the game were great for both. He is 5th top scorer in the league now - ahead of much-praised Lukaku, Negredo and Remy. For me that proves he has the consistency to offer a lot over a season.
His only problem this season is that he's been overplayed. He looked tired from early December onwards and now looks a lot fresher after 2 games out. A very good striker and real asset to our club. We just need another one at least as good as him.
Well done giroud today we need you scoring. His problem is not being over played, other players in the league play as much and are fine. His problem is pace and movement against quality defenders. If we have ambition of winning something we need a better all round striker. Still this season we only have giroud and sanogo let's hope the boy can give us the extra needed against better teams.
Look at the top scorers in the league - only Toure has played as many games as Giroud. Obviously Giroud is not at the level of Aguero or Suarez, but he has played almost every PL game and has not only scored more but has a better goals p/game ratio than the strikers I mentioned in the original post.
We need a pacier option against bigger teams as well as a proper stand-in for when Giroud has an off day (which he certainly does have). But you judge a striker on an entire season's performance - statistically Giroud is one of the best in the league so far. We are still 1 point off the summit and he's a big part of that.
We all want giroud to step up and do the biz but his goals to shot ratio is 1 to 7 shots ally that to a lack pf pace and that's his problem. I said I before and it wasn't meant as a bad comment but he is the worst striker we've had since kev cambell. I would have any of the strikers since then to now. But please I hope he proves me wrong.
So you'd be happy with Christopher Wreh, Maroune Chamakh Nicklas Bendtner and Francis Jeffers?
Cant remember players mentioned being regular first choice. I am talking wright wiltord anelka henry rvp.
22 Feb 2014 17:04:41
Well done boys. Nice come back after the Bayern game!
Good prediction of 4-1. Maybe u can grow into our own Paul the octopus :)
22 Feb 2014 16:47:28
4-1 only the second time in the league we have scored 4, a tad disappointed as you can't help feeling the likes of City would have gone on to score 5 or 6
They might. or they might lose 1-0 like they did against Sunderland in November!
In all seriousness I was also hoping we'd grab a few more at the end, but Sunderland are a decent side and we did well to win so resolutely.
That was away, we were at home today, and Sunderland aren't a decent side they are 3 pts off the bottom, we have only scored 4 twice, scored 3 a couple of times and the rest are 2-0's, we should have kept a clean sheet and scored a couple more .Imo
You've just killed your first point banbury. bottom of the league, so every goal to them is like a point won. it's tight at the bottom pal. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOONERs
Banbury my point is that the difference between winning and drawing/losing is bigger than the difference between winning comfortably and thrashing a team. We won 3-1 at the Stadium of Light and 4-1 at the Emirates. City could win 10-0 at the Etihad but we'd still have more points out of 2 games than City got. For me, that's the difference this season - our consistency excites me a lot more than battering teams would.
1. Sunderland is better away from home than at home under Poyet;
2. Not sure how you can be critical of a 4-1 win (comfortable without ever getting out of second gear);
3. We just need to churn out wins against the bottom teams who are desperate to stay up (if we are up 3 in the first half that is ideal if we play anyone else at the bottom I would gladly take that);
4. Get behind the team man, you must be one of the most critical posters on here (not even reactionary just finding fault pre and post game win and loss, it makes me wonder if we should have someone on standby at your door); and
5. let's just hope the team pulls up their socks a lot of tough games in March and not a lot of space separating 1-5, if Arsenal can get into the second week of April still within touching distance of 1st we could be in for a great finale.
JAMES R
Yes I am, I strive for perfection, are you telling me Schezzer wasn't at fault for the goal, I was a defender in a very very good standard of football and hated to concede, it was a sloppy goal to give .
JACK
How can I have killed my first point? It is all about having good habits, if you get sloppy against these teams you will get punished against much better opposition.
Been going to Arsenal since '73 no one wants Arsenal to win more than me but when I see faults my god I am going to mention them.
Enjoy the win you miserable sod!
22 Feb 2014 14:59:00
Ozil not in squad - sing his name out loud and let him hear your support. That can only help him feel welcome and loved.
22 Feb 2014 14:44:03
Good luck today gents. Hoping you guys ball play them off the park. But lose 4-3 to two own-goals and a Borini brace ;-)
22 Feb 2014 14:05:43
Ozil OUT of the Sunderland game with a bruise on his thigh.
Bless the little poppet!
22 Feb 2014 13:45:24
cant make the game today but PLEASE my fellow gooners do not boo the team. it doesn't help and it gives the opposition a lift when they see fans booing their own team.
if ozil is picked today give him the biggest cheer give him the confidence to prove the doubters wrong. he needs a free role and pace upfront to show his true worth. the fans need to be the 12th man today and don't get on the teams back. just remember what happened to ramsey and theo they were booed relentlessly by fickle fans and came back stronger and are now one of the main stays in the team. he needs time to adapt and we will see him shine.
everyone and his dog are waiting for arsenal to crumble the last thing the team needs is the arsenal faithful giving the doom mongers a helping hand.
onwards and upwards, come on you gunners smash sunderland give them a 4 or 5 nil beating.
hulk hogunner
22 Feb 2014 11:07:57
Liverpool supporter here.
Just a bit of perspective on the Bayern game now that the dust has settled. Football is a game of fine margins. Arsenal had a great chance to take the lead and then you had to play for a substantial period with 10 men. For me you matched Bayern in so many ways. The second goal might now be a bridge too far but on the performance level you were right up there with the so called big boys.
Jusr on another matter does the Rooney £300,000 per week smack of desperation by United. It does to me. Rooney is not the force that he was and he is now at a stage were he could just as easily fall away rather than improve. Will United now re-sign RVP on £350,000 per week and Giggs on £250,000 per week and claim to have the most expensive forward line in world football and thus be the biggest club in the world? They will frighten to death all those playing Thursday night football next season.
Hey Tommy,
I think they have looked at the same situation we were in with Suarez in the Summer. They would see him as their most valuable asset. They might think keeping him would galvanise the squad and hope that like Suarez his performances on the pitch would justify the outlay. Whether or not it does only time will tell.
The cost to replace him would be significant I guess regardless of what his true worth would be re sale value. Much like ourselves had we lost Suarez.
Much will depend on the impact he will have on the pitch, who is attracted to the club but more importantly I think is how Moyes develops the team around him. If he continues to waste the existing talent at his disposal and doesn't change his playing philosophy, I don't think it will matter who he signs.
It's a really big summer ahead for Utd and next season will give everyone a better idea of his strategy going forward. In the short term it gives the fans hope and himself time to win some of the doubters over. Like I said time will really be the only way anyone will know one way or the other.
If there's one thing you, city and I can all do together its laugh at the biggest bunch of C words around still tickles me looking at their squad
Hi Tommy (and Simonpw)
Thank's mate, it's nice to get compliment's from other supporters and you are right, football can be decided by the finest of margins.
For me, Rooney is not worth that kind of money, but I guess he is there main man so they have to make a statement.
Feel sorry for Januzaj, who has to struggle on a mere £30,000 per week, poor thing. But, this will surely cause major unrest at Old Trafford amongst the lesser paid "stars".
Good luck for Swansea game and hope you come away with a creditable draw, lol.
22 Feb 2014 10:50:32
Arsenal v Bayern Rare Footage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SuLgOmMPT4
22 Feb 2014 10:10:02
Rumour has it then Ozil will be on the bench. That's the buzz around the ground.
22 Feb 2014 07:50:53
Eds help me out here. Can you tell me why Manchester United will be paying Rooney £300 grand a week and are going to arrange personal sponsorship deals for him. It must be that they are desperate to keep their players and probably the income that Rooney generates through merchandise. I really cannot see why Rooney is worth that money due to his footballing talent. Everytime I've seen him in an International or a Champions League game he is mediocre to say the least, ok in the premier league, but on the World stage he vanishes into obscurity. How can he possibly be the highest paid player in the EPL. Secondly, do you think this will hike players wages and transfer fees now that this has happened. As an example players like Aguero, Suarez etc surely their agents will be looking at this and be seeing pound signs. Nobody can say that Rooney warrants this type of salary on his football talent.
I never take contract extensions seriously, wether it is £300,000 or not, who knows for sure.
But one thing is certain, if Chelsea, City or one of the big european teams want him, they are going to have to spend big.
22 Feb 2014 07:38:09
I'm reading this morning that Wenger may rest Ozil today basically for him to get over his penalty miss the other night. Pardon! I hope I'm not going off my head and unless he is injured what the f**k is that about. I thought it was all about getting back up brushing yourself off and getting stuck in again. What is going on I'm lost with it all now sorry guys If this is right I need a break.!
I'm not sure if he will play or not today but when a boxer is punch drunk its no good keep making him fight.
In all walks of life people lose their confidence and taking a step back to take ten forward can sometimes be the right thing to do.
A there's a big difference from being dropped to being rested.
I agree it would make no sense at all and then play him away at stoke and get roughed up?
Though Wenger might think Rosicky is more than capable. which he is
I'm with Golds on this one.
Fall off the horse, get back on.
You can't build confidence sitting on the bench.
If it's because he's knackered, fair enough, if not, start him from the beginning.
He has looked knackered played 90 mins nearly every game this season.
22 Feb 2014 00:50:11
opinions guys.
who is more likely to succeed from prior knowledge of playing together and training together.
a keeper or a striker?
a couple of prime examples being;
Neuer vs ozil, before the pen they said they had played together as children and through you teams
arsenal vs Manone, obviously had played here together for many seasons and not saying whos playing upfront, sanogo is the only one not to have trained with mannone
so yeah what i'm saying is who has the advantage in your eyes?(and i'm not saying advantage = 100% success rate)
in my opinion its the keeper, its their job to read the game and scrutinize individuals movements. if they KNOW a player that makes their job easier by a long shot.
Strikers have to put the ball past a keeper, wether by trickery or by finesse or power, or a combination,
a striker will know the weakness' of a keeper, but at top level weakness and inept-ability are two different animals.
Guess I was wrong :P
21 Feb 2014 23:36:03
Evening Gent's and Jenny,
Prediction for tomorrow?
I 'm going to be ultra positive, just like my mate G62 and go for 3-0 (Giroud, Wilshere and Ozil)
Well we definitely will win this one without a doubt I think the boys will play as if they have fire up their backsides today so I go for 4-1. I even put Sanogo down to score 2 if he plays then Kos and Cazorla. This league and the FA Cup is what we should be concentrating on from here on in.
3 1 and back in the hunt. Sunderland players will have 1 eye on league cup for next week. With flamini back we have that edge imo. COYG UTA
I've been saying it for days and I'm sticking to it. 2-0 Giroud and Poldoski.
A point would be a boost for Sunderland's relegation fight and a confidence booster for their up coming final, so it won't be easy t break them down, a hard fought 2 0 win for me