Arsenal Banter Archive August 24 2015

24 Aug 2015 23:41:17
Here's my take on that match.

Cech had a cracking game, saved our skin more than once.

Gabriel was brilliant, a little shaky in the first half, which was to be expected, but came into his own in the second, put himself about, a real no nonsense performance.

Coquelin demonstrated some real leadership qualities today, saving us a couple times and making some inch perfect tackles.

Özil was great too (I'm I'm open minded, but any disagreements here and it's pistols at dawn ladies and gents) he got into some good position, carried the ball well and made space for the team.
Here's the thing with Mesut, the suit maketh the man.
And Giroud's more Matalan than Armani, he'll do for the work social but you're not going to wear him to a wedding, get me?

Now the not so cheery.

Chambers was a liability today, as ed said earlier to my post, deer caught in headlights springs to mind.
I know he's young, but he can't hold his own at the top yet.
He'll do well, but for now, needs to be treated carefully.
I really feel an old CB who wouldn't want to play every game, would be ideal.
Like Silvestre or Squillacci, just, you know, good.

Giroud is infuriating.
He takes up awful positions around the box, he's ineffective on the ground and he's just all round wasteful.
I know you have to cut the guy some slack, but 1 goal in 10 league games simply isn't good enough for a club who apparently want to challenge for the title.

Cazorla got crowded out a bit today, not his fault, be he needs more protection from other players, give him the short option if he really needs it, Coquelin tries to, but the lad can barely pass water at times, he seems to try (and fail) one ambitious long ball every game.

Sanchez doesn't look sharp.
It's ok him putting the effort in, but he looks tired.
We rushed him back and that's when players get injured.


Ramsey.
Why oh why are we still starting him out wide?
It's mystifying.
I try to understand Wenger's reasoning but there just is none here!
Liverpool crowded the mid today, we were screaming for some real width.

Oxlade-Chamberlain came on and in 5 minutes had one good shot, should of had an assist for Giroud and beat a couple players on the dribble.
That's more than most of the lads did in 90!
How can Ramsey, who's completely ineffective out wide, still start?
You have to be cruel for the benefit of the team and drop Ramsey.

As it stands, Cazorla and Coquelin are untouchable in that centre mid pair.
And Özil is the nailed on number 10 starter.

Walcott or Ox starting today and the game's a different story.


If anything, surely this has to show that we do need to strengthen.
If you're sticking with a forward who's completely out of the game, for 70 minutes, then something's wrong.
We don't have the depth for a plan b.

I still think we'll do good business this window, just need to be smart about it.

25 Aug 2015 00:23:13
Ramsey Is not justifying his place at present and is hopelessly ineffective out wide for sure. Ozil has not actually played that bad, but I think for that extra zip and penetration I would play ox as the AM and drop Ramsey and Ozil. This is not going to happen obviously with Wenger though. Or to be brave perhaps give Sanchez a breather for a bit play Ozil as The AM and Ox out wide. Ox is making things happen whenever he comes on and is worthy of place at present

What is clear more than anything is that we need another central Striker Giroud has no competition for his place and is getting complacent in my book. I would prefer Cavani over Benzama as he is more in you face and direct and great in the air but either would a upgrade over Giroud. Sanchez not been in great from but he has not had a decent rest for ages now burned out in my book.

24 Aug 2015 23:21:04
If cech keeps playing like that he will get us loads of points what a game he had also Gabriel was brilliant him on kos at the back will be a great unit

24 Aug 2015 23:41:14
Gab and Coq were great tonight while Cech was outstanding

24 Aug 2015 22:45:47
Disappointing result and performance, although Liverpool played well in first half, Courtinho running the show.

Never easy starting a game with your 2 centre halves out, and it showed.

But, I'm more concerned with our forward players.

Its been said before, Cazorla, Ramsey and Ozil can't play together.

For me, our only mid who should be automatic choice is Coquelin, because he is our enforcer.

We than build around him, with probably Cazorla playing alongside him. They compliment each other.

Sanchez, based on class and workrate, gets left wing.

Right wing should be Theo or Ox.

That is a proper balance midfield quartet.

Sanchez has workrate and goals and will run all day.
Cazorla will pick passes all day long, is 2 footed and has an eye for goal.
Coq will just sweep up, cover back 4, break up play and win the ball and pass it on.
Theo and Ox are natural wingers. They have pace, power and an eye for goal.

Now the problem.
We have 1 spot left and 2 players, Ozil and Rambo.

who do you play in the attacking midfield role?

Wenger needs to get tough. you can't play Ozil and Rambo at the same time.

24 Aug 2015 23:16:27
Dags this is team I would of played

Coquelin Ramsey
Carzola

Ox. Giroud😂. Sanchez

24 Aug 2015 23:23:21
Id go ozil as he creates more chances

24 Aug 2015 23:28:13
Ill be tempted to go le coq, caz and rambo. Ramsey hasn't been brilliant this season but he is a goal threat.

With ramsey we can always go to a 3 in midfield when needed too. I do like ozil and i think he does try hard to make things happend but without a pacey CF all he can do is pass it to feet and then we look predictable.

Top player he will have some great games but i don't think he suits our team. We need someone who is going to get closer to giroud and even run beyond him if we don't get a top CF. Just isn't his natraul game and we have Caz to dictate from deep.

I want him to stay but at the moment we need a better balance defensively and offensively and think wenger needs to sacrafice him.

24 Aug 2015 23:35:37
The simple reason that Ramsey plays out wide is that Ox and Walcott aren't good enough. Ox is very creative and is a really useful player against poor teams but he gives the ball away far too often to be played in a big game. Walcott on the other hand offers nothing when he doesn't have space and you're not going to get space at home against a decent defence. I also don't agree that out of Ozil, Ramsey and Cazorla, it's Cazorla who should be safe. He was very poor today. Passing was all over the place and his delivery from set pieces was simply woeful. I know it's only one game, but I really don't think our problem today was Ozil and Ramsey. They played reasonably well and you've got to remember, Ramsey scored a totally legitimate goal, which is more than anyone else did.

24 Aug 2015 23:46:25
Good post, Missing our two regular CB starters always meant we would struggle tonight defensively as Gabriel has not had much match time yet and ideally needs some of experienced partner to bring him along to get to speed unfortunately he had chambers alongside who is not getting much game time either and is still in-experienced. They both need to play more in the cup games to get that match sharpness’s we will need to utilise at other points in the season you can't expect Kos ad mert to stay injury free.


Ozil and Ramsey in the team together just does not work, it makes us unbalanced and lop-sided, neither can play out wide as effective as they can in the centre so something has to give. Our front 3 should be Walcott, Sanchez and Giroud to increase pace up top and if you use Ozil he must be used centrally or not atall. I don’t think Ramsey has played that well so far this season so either use Ozil or Ox in that central AM position Coq and Cazorla see to work well together so I don’t think you really drop them at the moment. So Ramsey or Ozil have to give way, But Wenger just will not do it.

25 Aug 2015 00:10:41
Sacrifice Ozil? I think I am dreaming. We need to upgrade striker so we get the best out of him, rather than stick with our goat Giroud who fluffs chance after chance

25 Aug 2015 01:09:38
Ramsey gets played wide because quite a lot of our wingers positionally aren't that great and aren't exactly keen on tracking back. Bellerin is the width that side on the overlap. However, with a naive defence and a Liverpool side who turned up looking to counter, Ramsey on the right makes a lot more sense than just a random selection. Holding possession is key.

For me william carvalho, probably in January, is most likely and makes most sense, when his collarbone is back in one piece to offer midfield technical ability whilst being able to walk through yaya toure.

Aaaand,

A forward who fits the benzema mould -I.e link play and score.

my ten pence worth :)

24 Aug 2015 22:41:02
Is it me or does Arsene have problem with Petr Cech? He seems very reluctant to praise him or even talk up how good a signing he is.
Maybe I'm putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with?
Cech certainly comes across as very humble so I don't see an attitude problem.

24 Aug 2015 22:51:46
Its all in your head.

24 Aug 2015 22:53:38
Remember when the pundicts praised Steve bould. He has a problem he is a dictator. Great servant but that man is never lifting the prem title with us Again :(

24 Aug 2015 23:02:57
Your most probably right Rocky mate, it must just be me but he seems to play Cech down a bit.

24 Aug 2015 23:40:03
On AFC.com

on Petr Cech…
During that period, yes he was outstanding.


Let's not read too much into the post match interview - AW wanted to stress about the regular goal being ruled out and our chances

24 Aug 2015 22:12:54
Lfc fan back, I asked last week where the game game would be won and lost. You all where very confident of a win "walk over you" was said alot..

The fact your keeper got momsays it all, lucky as he got you the points. Could of been 3-0 half time, your cb's needs upgraded.Before the game I would of taken a draw bit now am annoyed we didn't get all 3 as deserved...

Best of luck until we meet again.

24 Aug 2015 22:26:13
Bren I thought you did well the whole 58'minutes your keeper didn't waste. You were well worth a point mate but looked like a 1970s Italian side at times, not a great rep that mate.

24 Aug 2015 22:26:28
Looks like you're forgetting an offside goal that shouldn't have been disallowed mate.

24 Aug 2015 22:32:32
Liverpool were good in first half and Courtinho is a brilliant player.

Apart from that?

24 Aug 2015 22:34:43
Yeah disallowed goal, also seen someone on here say u hit the post when?

We hit the post twice, your keeper safes you from two yards from ben long range from our number ten twice..

Good game but think people will learn that Liverpool has gotten anew backroom staff and a defensive coach. A coach I believe has made us hard to beat .

{Ed025's Note - sanchez hit the post bren..you were probably sitting there wondering why you paid that much for firmino and missed it mate..

24 Aug 2015 22:34:57
And mignolet didn't make a string of saves in the 2nd half?

24 Aug 2015 22:48:48
Lol Ed,

BigBren, It was probably a fair result.

24 Aug 2015 23:12:46
Think if you count it all we just, just edged it but happy with result .Think would of been a different game if you your cbs, chambers was very very bad. On firmino, think he was good tab out of steam around 50 mins but Good. Can't see eitherv lfc or arsenal taken the epl... But we can give it a hard run with some luck ( arsenal need a striker)

24 Aug 2015 23:59:35
I think we payed that much ed because he was what was best avaliable to us without champions league and we didn't want to risk losing out on him.

Will be a good player but defiantly not a right winger, did a good job but him behind benteke will be better.

Great game.

I still can't believe the club who love Southampton players and the club who are only challenged by Newcastle for French players, didn't go and get Morgan Sch. Both are crying out for him but oh well.

good luck for the rest of the season, so glad the Emirates is out of the way it's probably the only place I truly fear us going.

24 Aug 2015 22:03:24
so much for the drubbing you guys were going to give us tonight? lol

on a serious note a very exciting fane there tonight.

24 Aug 2015 22:13:00
lol *fane* meant game.

24 Aug 2015 22:13:47
who predicted that then?

Mugs if they did

24 Aug 2015 22:30:02
been on here a few times over last week, like to get fans perspective on game before we play them and general perspective was gunners going to steam roll us. Was a good game & think arsenal are only 1 or 2 players from winning the league, maybe not even that think you guys will b there or there abouts.

24 Aug 2015 22:01:35
Giroud was awful Walcott didn't do much Ramsey was wasted out wide coquelin had a good game I think there's to much passing edge of the box which is predictable and easy to defend against we should look at how city are attacking this season with penetration and purpose thought wenger should of started chamberlain and played Ramsey central but it looks like it will be the same midfield each week

24 Aug 2015 22:00:35
We have to take the positives from the game and that is no goals against and 1 point.

Cavani is a must. We need an alternative striker to Giroud and it's not Walcott.

24 Aug 2015 22:17:24
Agreed

24 Aug 2015 21:57:13
Just Get rid of WENGER, I'm sick and tired of his f@@ excuses... 1350 season ticket, go watch that.... Really....

25 Aug 2015 02:25:32
Tbf that was one heck of a cracking nil-nil match. You got your money's worth plus some.

24 Aug 2015 21:55:33
well i never saw 0-0 coming

I am so thankful of a point but AW must see we are short of players surely.

PC is already showing what a damn good signing he was .

24 Aug 2015 21:07:01
Chambers is a liability , why not debuchy? Le coq playing on the edge again hopefully he comes of for the ox after bout 60 mins and Walcott for Ramsey ( goal wrongly disallowed) but seriously he is playing right wing and he is shooting from left side? That's 1/2 our prob no one stays in position! But if we win and Ramsey scores assisted by chambers I retract this post

{Ed025's Note - you have to look at the forwards as well rick, they lose the ball too much and too often..

24 Aug 2015 21:31:02
Some of Le Coqs long ranch passion tonight has been excellent

24 Aug 2015 21:35:13
I know and in fairness the defence has been okay so far second half but they ve had noting to do! Good game all the same!

24 Aug 2015 21:49:15
Looks like a draw but Gabriel has been great tonight

{Ed025's Note - le coq and cech for me stephen, and coutinho for liverpool..

24 Aug 2015 23:34:43
Yer both of them were stand out but still think Gabriel played well

24 Aug 2015 20:52:27
This is rough, besides the goal which was a ridiculous offside call. Man we are struggling at the back. I think Chambers is playing for Liverpool. Hope we get it sorted out.

24 Aug 2015 21:02:49
Cech and Le Coq have been immense

{Ed025's Note - pity about the other 9 mate..

24 Aug 2015 21:14:30
It's always same. We come out strong. Liverpool are getting every decision this year. And when we get wronged are arse talks out. PL pick I don't think so

24 Aug 2015 20:48:04
Send chambers on loan he's been a liability wengers tactics are so average Liverpool have a young rb we should of tested him with ox against him instead of Ramsey

{Ed025's Note - i agree..

24 Aug 2015 20:47:04
I take back everything I said about Cech.

World class.

{Ed025's Note - and well you should..

24 Aug 2015 21:17:37
Just didn't think it would take him 3 games to settle :-)

24 Aug 2015 20:38:15
Such Poor passing and Chambers is struggling against Benteke, Bellerin n Coquelin have saved him plenty of times already..

24 Aug 2015 20:35:26
Man utd came to the Emirates last season with a much more heavily patched up defence than ours tonight and got 3pts.
Its a squad game over a season so no excuses accepted just a result very much needed regardless.

24 Aug 2015 20:17:40
Pitch looks like a carpet.

{Ed025's Note - and look at the pile playing on it!.. :)

24 Aug 2015 20:29:04
I'm cringing at this

{Ed025's Note - its poor mate..

24 Aug 2015 20:46:03
Bit harsh on Liverpool Ed?

{Ed025's Note - your making them look good dags..

24 Aug 2015 19:24:32
Well, that's that than.

Charlie Austin anybody?

{Ed025's Note - in a word....NO..

24 Aug 2015 19:42:24
I think we are right Dags

Signings are finished wih

24 Aug 2015 20:00:39
Sitting on fence heh Ed? :-)

Agree Bambam..I'm not too disappointed, but still think we are one player away from finished article.

24 Aug 2015 20:02:27
I think the door just opened a little wider mate now that saga is over

24 Aug 2015 19:17:59
Any idea where KOS and Mert are???

Dont be surprised if this is a goal feast 5-5 lol

Noy going to be a comfortable watch I feel

{Ed025's Note - i agree mate..

24 Aug 2015 19:45:17
Where's kos . When I saw the team sheet scrol out I was rubbing my hands at gab then reality hit me when I saw chambers. Fingers crossed

24 Aug 2015 19:49:16
No one seen mert since g62 invited him around for bom bay duck.

24 Aug 2015 18:42:28
Hey eds,if arsene misses out on benz,does it mean that we are going to enter the league with petr our only signing?or will he pursue other targets

{Ed025's Note - he is always looking to improve the squad josh, but they have to be the right player mate, he wont buy just for the sake of it..

24 Aug 2015 19:42:41
Utter garbage ed sorry
Santos? Squillaci? Myachi? Park?

Who exactly were they an improvement on??

Anyone?? No thought not

The guy is as tight as a ducks axxx!!

Dinosaur!!

4th again at best!!

{Ed025's Note - every manager signs the odd duffer mac, but for every santos or myachi there has always been a henry, sanchez or pires...you guys do have short memories mate..

24 Aug 2015 17:54:59
In the grand scheme of things all that really matters tonight is 3pts and at the end of the season 1 0 scrappy win will be as valuable as a rerun of the FA cup final performance against Vila but it would be nice if the lads could really put in a great performance tonight and get us all gloating over the players we actually have rather than the ones we don't have.

24 Aug 2015 18:31:30
Everyone wants to downplay expectations for us partner... I think we are better than that, let's thump them for payback lingering from Anfield and S Gerrards comments to Suarez that we are a tiny team not worth joining. let's do it just because we do what we want to do and we are a much better team.

24 Aug 2015 17:23:07
So, Benzema just posted a pretty definitive 'I'm staying' tweet.

I never really rated him anyway, always liked Charlie Austin.

24 Aug 2015 18:40:36
Me Victor Anichebe... 😂 💨

24 Aug 2015 18:47:57
That makes at least three of us...

24 Aug 2015 18:57:58
Ben zema Ben Gunn Ben Ten all much of a muchness really, because we got Olly G

{Ed025's Note - dont forget ben-dover G62..

24 Aug 2015 19:54:22
On him Ed, what an Andy Warhol :-)

24 Aug 2015 12:30:16
Liverpool fan in peace...

What's you guys prediction for tonight?

I'll go for a reds win (apparently)

1-0, Benteke

Cheers...

24 Aug 2015 13:18:53
Hi Taks,

2-1 for us, Alexis (2) and Coutinho.

24 Aug 2015 13:26:18
Hi TR,

3-1 Arsenal mate.

24 Aug 2015 13:38:09
I'm not going to make a prediction Taks because Steve will be beastly to me if it goes wrong :-( all I will say is I will seriously cry if your right mate as although it's only game 3 it would pose some very serious questions about us if you were.

24 Aug 2015 14:37:36
Gunner i'm going to be brave and say there is no way i can see liverpool winning tonight 3-1.

24 Aug 2015 14:58:28
my head says a draw later but i can see us losing

what ever gunner says il back the other outcome :)

24 Aug 2015 15:10:18
That's a result in its self Steve :-) I think!

24 Aug 2015 16:02:07
If what you said wasn't so true I'd be offended by that Derby :-)
Hence my non prediction mate.

24 Aug 2015 16:38:05
Listen chaps, I'm a realist. And I'd like to think I can offer an unbiased prediction despite my love of Arsenal. But I really can't see us getting any less than 8.

24 Aug 2015 17:15:15
I think we will come alive tonight. 3/0

24 Aug 2015 17:17:20
Ubi tonight you come become a legend in the world of predictions , I doubt it but you could :-)

24 Aug 2015 17:31:30
Sorry I meant can't see us losing. Our record at home versus then is good. Alexis to score as well I hope.

If hendo is out massive plus for us. I hope we dent there top4 hopes tonight

24 Aug 2015 17:44:52
I say 2 1 arsenal

24 Aug 2015 17:52:53
If we score 8 Ubistonk, we won't sign anyone for the next 5 seasons haha

24 Aug 2015 09:53:34
As much as I want to believe the Benzema rumours, I'm just as inclined to doubt them as anyone who's ever followed the rumour mill for all of about a week. That said, I'm beginning to get concerned by the lack of activity at one end because the squad is beginning to look really rather thin.
Arsenal have signed one player and now let 18 go this summer, of whom 12 are out on loan. Zelalem is the only one who might get recalled in January but the rest are all gone for a year. Could well be one more player, assuming Campbell leaves too. We've always done a good job of bringing through some decent youth, and no doubt many of these players will benefit from loan spells and a handful probably aren't in the club's future plans (like Silva), but we must be wary of the injury curse striking while our options are so limited.
Bring in another CF and CDM and I'll be a lot less concerned, as unfortunately, revelations like Bellerin don't happen every season.

24 Aug 2015 11:51:30
We'll strengthen.
Arsene may be stubborn but he's not stupid.

I'd happily bet on at least 1 player coming in, 2 or 3 if the deal is right.

We're Arsenal, we don't do things the easy way, expect it to go on till the last second.

Cuadrado moving to Juve, that's my prediction for the beginning of the merry-go-round!

24 Aug 2015 07:01:03
Massive match tonight. After the awful result against West Ham, we desperately need a win.
I would like to see us use Theo's pace on the right.
My selection:
Cech
Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Coquelin Cazorla
Walcott Ozil Sanchez
Giroud
I am not a fan of Monreal, he lacks pace at the top level and I fail to understand the fans love in for him. I would have to start Cazorla and Ozil ahead of Ramsey and Oxlade, but they are good optiond for 2nd half substitutions.
I expect Wenger to start Monreal and Ramsey, in place of Gibbs & Walcott.

24 Aug 2015 07:48:02
Agree with Ramsey/Wallcot as i feel we miss any real threat on the wing with Ramsey.
However i disagree with Gibbs for Monreal, we seem a more cohesive unit defensively with Nacho as he picks his runs a bit more conservatively and he is s defender first and foremost

24 Aug 2015 07:57:42
Anything less than a win would be a miserable result Robbie, Liverpool come to us unbeaten and 100% pionts and will be expecting to keep at least one of those going.
All eyes on us tonight with every pundit and journalist looking to dis our title contending credentials so a test we have to pass with flying colours.

24 Aug 2015 08:09:21
I agree with not playing Ramsey on the right, but I'd like Ox there over Theo right now.
He seems sharper at the moment.

I'm kinda suprised by the Monreal criticism though!
He's easily our best left back.
He may not be the quickest, but he's much more defensively solid that Gibbs, he overlaps well but his strength lies in his defensive capability.
We've got Sanchez on the left who lives to run at defenders, we can't afford to have our left back half way up the pitch all the time.

Sanchez and Monreal compliment each other perfectly.
AoC and Bellerin work better too, purely because Alex works harder than Theo tracking back, as Bellerin does love to bomb on.

24 Aug 2015 11:25:43
Cech
Moneal Kos Gabriel Bellarin
Le Coq
Cazorla Ox
Ozil
Sanchez Giroud

Yes, a little adventurous but I think we have what it takes to beat pool playing more offensively and catching them on the break.