Arsenal Banter Archive December 23 2017

23 Dec 2017 22:57:19
Happy Christmas gunners, have a good one.

23 Dec 2017 23:36:46
And to you and your family mate.

23 Dec 2017 23:49:54
Merry Christmas to you too Leahy, have a goodun. 😁.

24 Dec 2017 00:11:11
Happy xmas.

24 Dec 2017 09:00:26
Steve,
It's Merry Christmas, not Happy Christmas.
Happy is for New Year.
So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
You're welcome 😁😁.

23 Dec 2017 20:21:01
It's the raver coming through in his famous Subaru in full festive mood after watching Harry who level Alan shearers' record and fire spurs above Arsenal, I'm now in the Subaru with good old shakin Stevens on the sound system with coke is falling all around me the ravers drinking having fun, merry Christmas boys beep.

23 Dec 2017 20:32:07
Merry xmas raver.

23 Dec 2017 21:18:09
Merry Christmas Raver.

Although it doesn't have to be Christmas for you to be merry 😁.

23 Dec 2017 23:50:38
Happy Christmas Raver, have fun mate. 👍🏼.

23 Dec 2017 16:53:15
I still reckon City must be lucky.

I mean, you can't keep winning every game 4-0 without a bit of luck.

23 Dec 2017 18:06:39
They are some outfit DG. They are steam rolling every team in site and making the rest of us look mediocre.

23 Dec 2017 18:24:19
Considering prior to Pep they were looked at as an ageing over the hill squad where as Mourinho was going to build something big at United with all the dosh he wanted and a decent squad they’ve gone in different directions even though 1 and 2 in the league.

Pep has in 12 months off loaded, or no longer uses 11 of their old guard such as Clichey, Kolarov, Sagna, Toure, Nolito, Jesus, Fernando, Cabellero, Zaballeta, Hart and to a degree Mangala swapping them for big upgrades or just improving youngsters such as Stones and Sterling.

Hence their current lucky position. We are the real unlucky ones! 😂😉.

23 Dec 2017 18:29:36
Dont worry Dags their luck won't last too long.

23 Dec 2017 19:25:01
My take on citeh is they have an hungry manager, who is current, has a style of football that with the right type of players is very hard to play against. He proved himself at Barcelona (although some on here say he was lucky) he didn't prove himself at munich because "they always win the league anyway" and at the moment in the premier league he is out witting an over egotistical maureen, an moody sulking conte and an over the hill wenger. The rest are not big enough or good enough. But i don't think they will go all season unbeaten. They are just better than the rest that have taken their eye off the ball.

23 Dec 2017 21:18:59
Hopefully Steve.

Absolutely spot on Stoner.

23 Dec 2017 16:22:11
Lads I'm going to try to keep this one toned down as it's christmas time and we should all be jolly.

That being said, the first half against you guys may have been the worst team we've faced all season. I'm seeing praise on here for Jack Wilshere and you all must have been watching a completely different game than me. He worked hard and improved in the second half but surely you all must demand better at Arsenal. It's easy to improve when you were that BAD to begin with. Since when is "working hard" good enough to be in the team. We should expect ALL of the players to do that. Our midfield is a decent midfield but they ran you lot over, especially the first half. The only player worth the shirt, and I can't believe I'm saying this, was Ozil. It is a miracle and a testament to our own shortcomings that you all got a point. (And in some regards we barely did. I'm still trying to figure that one out) . Karius and Ward HAVE to be better than Mignolet. If not at least they have youth for an excuse.

I'm sure this has been said but Wenger is a joker. This is all from the outside looking in but his post game comments about entertainment just proves he's lost it. The neutrals want goals. Who gives a about the neutrals? The fans, both yours and ours, want to see competent defending, and good football.

I guess when it comes down to it. Both of our clubs have to be the most frustrating teams on the planet to watch. Difference is I think we are a backline and a keeper from challenging for everything. There seems to be a lot more uncertainty around you guys, and it's a shame. I could be wrong and you all may finish strong. I still would much rather be in our position than you lots, and for the past 6-8 years that wasn't really the case.

23 Dec 2017 17:05:22
I will say the same to you as i say to all the deluded spurs fans. Come back with your opinion on your team when you actually win a trophy and go through with something. Keeping your front four will be a problem. So back to square one.

23 Dec 2017 17:11:08
TJ,
You talk like you are a lot better than us.

We both have a dodgy keeper, a very dodgy back 4, no real defensive cover, your midfield and attack are definitely better than ours (collectively) , but you are only slightly in front of us, and have about as much chance of winning the league as we do (Zero) .

In fact, with a quartet of Coutinho, Mane, Salah and Firmino, you should be pushing City more, and you should have a lot more points in the bag than us.

I think Liverpool, this season, are more underachieving than Arsenal.

23 Dec 2017 18:32:06
I agree with that Dags. I don’t mean to sound pleased with my team. I’m far from it. I’m a Klopp fan but he hasn't done enough with the resources available. If anything our clubs are too similar. But I fail to see reasons to be optimistic if Jack is your future.

To Steve. I’m not trying to be disrespectful. Even when we were challenging with Suarez and co, I still feared playing arsenal. Now I look forward to it. And I know clubs feel the same about liverpool. Both our clubs have done too much pampering of these whiny wantaway superstars.

We have been poor at times this season. But never so poor, especially at Anfield, that we booed our boys off. Something is wrong at your club. I don’t know what it is but I hope for your sake it turns around. You’re going to find it hard to attract top names just like we have at this rate.

23 Dec 2017 18:04:28
A bit harsh on Cech, Daggers.

23 Dec 2017 18:46:18
I don't think either side would have troubled Leicester 2015/ 16 Dags let alone City 2017/ 18.
Both sides look like colanders Liverpool just look more shiny and new where we look tired and dulled after so many rinsings.

23 Dec 2017 19:06:45
Tj, you say you are in a better positions than us. I fail to see what that means. Your club isn't as big as it was, you are as far away from winning the league as us. We are more likely to be able to attract bigger names than you ( financially ) and you have really only 4 really good players in your present squad. Granted, your mamager is young and current but he has his hands tied as far as getting in players good enough to take you forward. To do that you will have to sell one or two of your top players, which defeats the object really.

23 Dec 2017 19:10:40
Tj we are actually only a good manager away from improving. You are a keeper, a defence and a wad of money.

23 Dec 2017 19:30:28
Steve you can’t be serious. Just a manager and you think you’re on the up?

23 Dec 2017 19:33:00
Don't undestand that last post Steve?
Surely your not saying our players are good enough and it's only Arsene that isn't?
Liverpool have far more likely to find a keeper and 4 defenders than we are to
1 part company with Arsene
2 find the right replacement
3 find the right players
4 pay what it takes to get them to join us.

Niether side looks even close to being good enough to me but Liverpool look to have less hurdles in their way even if the hurdles they do have look huge.

23 Dec 2017 20:10:19
Irish,
Cech was quality at Chelsea.
Not so at Arsenal mate.

Too many times, when the other team score, I think "You should have saved that".

23 Dec 2017 20:17:25
Gunner, it is quite obvious even with these players, a manager with a bit of ability would improve us no end. Its not a secret we are under coached tactically. i'm not saying we would be title winners but we would even with this squad be better. The poster said liverpool were in a better state than us, my point is, that is utter rubbish. Their manager is getting as much as he can out of it, ours is most definitely not.

23 Dec 2017 20:50:27
But Dags, he's worth 15 points a season. Lol where would we be without those 15 points he's earning us.
I don't think hes"The" problem, i think the set up and the lack of midfield protection just leaves us exposed. Our center backs get exposed and our left and right backs are positionally naive in their play.

23 Dec 2017 20:53:06
If won the world lottery of £10 billion Steve and wanted to buy a club that could possibly win next seasons title and the chioce was between Liverpool and Arsenal, I'd chose Liverpool everytiime simply because they have the manager and the attacking force already in place, it would take some doing but although but not impossible to do in one summer.
At Arsenal the job would only begin at thanking Arsene for his brilliant service and part with him on the best terms possible, then trying to get the very best replacement possible, then getting the players the new manager doesn't want new clubs while trying to bring in the players he does want and then hoping he could make them all gel in a world cup summer ready for next season? Impossible.
Neither club looks anywhere near close but Liverpool are potentially closer at this time.

23 Dec 2017 21:16:08
Gunner i'm afraid i can't agree that liverpool are in a better place to progress than us, potentially. They don't have our revenue, they don't have the stadium ( yet that they have to fund to build ) they are as poor at the back as us. They don't pay the wages for top improvers. They will struggle to keep their best players in the summer. They are at least 10 years behind us in a football club. The fact we are not utilising our tpols that are in place is a massive problem. The fact liverpool haven't got them tools in place to go forward is even more massive. You would waste your 10 billion on liverpool. They are just an annoyance as far as title challengers are concerned. They are miles away. Like i say when they win a trophy then that could spark a resurgence. Even we are still winning trophies all be it cup comps, they arent.

23 Dec 2017 21:19:32
I think we are talking far too much about liverpools hypethetical title ambitions on here anyway. Lol.

23 Dec 2017 22:17:23
Steve 😁😁.

23 Dec 2017 23:45:16
I'm going to guess when I read this conversation back in the morning, when I'm sober, it's going to sound even worse then it sounds now, when I'm not.

24 Dec 2017 13:47:43
I agree steve, if we had a manager that was regularly getting performances out of this team like against Spurs, Chelsea and other times when they’ve shown themselves more than capable then we would be far better off than Liverpool for whom Klopp is maxing out what he us.

We are literally shackled with ineptitude in both tactics and motivation.

23 Dec 2017 13:30:07
When i watch us, i find it hard to believe we are a professional outfit, when we defend. For years now i have thought our defending was poor and school boy but last night just showed how poor we are. The whole of the defence and xhaka just stare at the ball and not one of our players track or look at players stood or running into space. Not one of our players are sniffing out danger, they fixate on the ball and are just lazy. Their body shape when defending is a joke. We defend like rabbits in head lights. Its a total embarrassment. Either wenger has lost this team or they have lost his ideas. Something has to give. We are a laughing stock.

23 Dec 2017 14:05:46
Steve,
There's no defence for our defence mate.

23 Dec 2017 14:51:07
You know I can’t actually remember when we supposedly started to have money to spend and the new “post stadium dawn arrived” but since whenever it was we’ve bought Ozil, Sanchez, Cech, Mustafi, Lacazette, Kolasinac, Perez, Gabriel, Elneny and maybe Debuchy.

I would think Its safe to say, that despite those players coming in, we have managed to move further away from winning big trophies than at any time in the last 10yrs.

As a fan I’m finding it hard to remember when I was this disillusioned and truly as uninterested as I am now. It really is a struggle to watch our games when there are so many other things I could spend my time doing and life, family and friends are so much more important than this club and those that can’t be arsed to improve it.

How we swing from games like Chelsea and Spurs to games like Liverpool x 2 and United is incredulous.

The same pundits continue to say the same thing about us. It is embarrassing to be honest.

{Ed025's Note - its hard going to win things these days stoner, even the so called lesser clubs are spending big money on players so the playing field is leveller than ever so its not that easy to stand out, im sure arsenal will continue to be a massive club and challenging for the top honours, yes its a bit of a lull lately but if anyone can do it its the arsenal mate..

23 Dec 2017 16:19:41
Since 2006 Wenger's formation and defensive coaching beggars belief.
Against Liverpool, would anyone have objected to; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny and Kolasinac? Instead Wenger plays a LB Monreal at CB and a right footed midfield player at LB. The wide players in Wengers dreadful 4-2-3-1 formation fail to cover their fullbacks. We need to revert to the successful 4-4-2, with the back four mentioned above. The 4 across the middle could be; Welbeck, Wilshere Xhaka and Sanchez, with Ozil in the no.10 role and Lacazette up top.

23 Dec 2017 16:19:41
Since 2006 Wenger's formation and defensive coaching beggars belief.
Against Liverpool, would anyone have objected to; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny and Kolasinac? Instead Wenger plays a LB Monreal at CB and a right footed midfield player at LB. The wide players in Wengers dreadful 4-2-3-1 formation fail to cover their fullbacks. We need to revert to the successful 4-4-2, with the back four mentioned above. The 4 across the middle could be; Welbeck, Wilshere Xhaka and Sanchez, with Ozil in the no.10 role and Lacazette up top.

23 Dec 2017 10:35:32
A crazy game yesterday where our defensive vulnerabilities were shown. A new CB and CDM is an absolute must as it is far too easy for teams to cut through us. Additionally, our passing out from the back and through midfield was extremely poor. Alexis and Granit in particular continually gave the ball away. That being said, I was very impressed by Jack who worked hard all game and was excellent in and out of possession. A special mention to Mesut as well who took his goal very nicely and has certainly stepped up in the last few weeks. I really do hope he stays.

23 Dec 2017 08:32:35
As soon as I saw the team I knew we were in trouble. The defence had to be: Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny and Kolasinac. Instead we had a left back playing at CB and a right footed central midfield player playing at Left Back. Wenger also played Iwobi and Ozil in the same team, which is a mistake. Wenger has reverted to his unsuccessful 4-2-3-1 formation, which needs 2 DM's and 2. Wide attacking midfiled players that can cover their full backs, none of which we have.
You only have to look at the amount of goals and how they have been conceded against the 4 teams above us, to see Wenger's errors.
What astounds me is that Wenger got it so right in terms of formation (a fluid 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1) up to 2006 and players, yet has got it so wrong ever since. In January we must bring in a couple of tall, athletic DM's and at least one tall CB.

23 Dec 2017 08:59:46
Since there has been no George Graham players or players who played alongside George Graham players there hasn't been one single tittle challenge from Arsenal.
No George influence nothing outstanding from Arsene.
The question is was Arsene ever as good as we all thought he once was?

Or
Was he just the right man in the right place at the right time with his knowledge of the emerging French football revolution and the ultra solid base being enough to cover up his own weaknesses?
Was Arsene Wenger always just a decent manager made to look brilliant by the circumstances being right?

10 years ago I'd have laughed at anyone questioning Arsenes brilliance from 96 to 2004 but the longer he has had to do it all without those two distinct advantages he inherited the more his in abilities as a manager have been exposed and the more I question how could he go from being so outstandingly brilliant to being so out of touch and unable to see the obvious that everyone else talks about every season but Arsene still hasn't grasped.

{Ed025's Note - to be fair G62 he has been a great manager, lost the plot over the past few years granted but its hard to question his ability when arsenal were a top top team for so long mate..

23 Dec 2017 09:38:23
The invincibles was the last defence we had of any note. since then it's been square pegs in round holes, I think he like Klopp has forgotten how to build a defence. And still his biggest weakness is his loyalty to players he thought he could improve. Ramsay Wilshire Theo Sczezny Welbeck etc. all would have bee shown the door at a bigger club and replaced by quality. We just don't have enough quality and that includes with the manager.

23 Dec 2017 09:43:11
Sorry gunner but i strongly disagree with that. Arsene was a great manager and I'm sure he is still very well highly regarded in the game. We need a change but i do get embarrassed the way some go about it. He has done wonders for the club. And as for no title challenge that is misleading. We went a whole season unbeaten. All we had from that era was keown who hardly played and parlour who was a sub. I think it's wrong to question his ability when he did that. It's time for a fresh start but for me let not just disregard all he has accomplished.

23 Dec 2017 10:56:56
Fair comment 16 mate i totally understand your view, it's just that the first 7 years had a George influence and the last 14 haven't and we've not challenged without it.
Arsene brought us football and success we have never known before and most likely never will again but without George's foundation could Arsene have done it anyway?
The last 14 years suggest not and that's my point, Arsene was 100% the right man back in 96 and without him joining us the invincibles would never have been possible but equally Arsenal were 100% the right club for Arsene at exactly the right time to cash in on what was already in place and build on it in spectacular style.
The question is without George would we still be asking Arsene who?
Because a 100% Arsenes Arsenal for the last 14 seasons has proved incapable of fighting for a title even once, coincidence?
It's just a question but I think it's wortb thinking about and looking at the facts before deciding it's wrong.

23 Dec 2017 14:14:00
The truth is whatever wenger achieved in his first great years, he has been totally out of his depth at the top table since.

23 Dec 2017 09:40:13
Fair comment Ed025 mate but the first 7 years he looked nothing short of brilliant but the last 14 he has slowly but surely declined and declined so much I do question now if he was ever realy that brilliant or just a decent manager who everything fell just right for.
30% brilliant 70% below par? If it was a player we would say he simply found his level.
I'm not saying I'm right about it Ed mate but it does seem the longer Arsene goes without any George influence the more he looks incapable of mixing with the best teams and managers.

{Ed025's Note - i think you are being a little bit unfair G62, the last few years have been hard but for the most part he has been excellent in my book, i still think it would be right for him to leave but i think the legacy he will leave is right up there with the best mate..

23 Dec 2017 15:13:05
Fair play mate, I'm just not sure how Arsene will be remembered after he leaves anymore.
The man who went on to long is my guess.
2014 after beating Hull would have been best in my opinion, but that I appreciate is just my view.