24 Jan 2016 23:05:18
Mertersacker lack of pace is costing us big time. kos is pace bails him out against the lesser sides, but not againsts the big teams. imagine meet against barca. flamini hasn't the legs anymore holding mid, my backside he was up the other. End getting. On to our best chances. Wenger we have spirit and togetherness my backside . passing the armband around like a hot potato. making a mockry of leading out our team. we have no leaders in arteta, mert, carzola, Walcott. its becoming a bit of a joke. positive Sanchez. wenger will drive these players out like the rest, who left and went on to win titles. narsi, rvp, clichy, sagna, Cole if he doesn't address mert and flamini positions. remember almunia in goals for so long. yet so near to our first title. i no I bang on about mert being our captain. but we badly need a new one. rant over.
Arsenal Banter Archive January 24 2016
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24 Jan 2016 22:05:09
Cannot understand the red card. No contact whatsoever and pundits on stating there was intent.
The intent rule was brought in to stop blatent fouls like pulling a player back or taking him out of the game.
Merts tackle was a genuine attempt to get the ball.
24 Jan 2016 22:28:00
Paul he was looking in the wrong direction when he made the challange worthy of a red on its own.
He ducks out of headers he turns his back on the ball and he doesn't look at the ball when tackling half heatedly plus he can't run, as a person I actually think he's probably a really nice bloke but as a centre half he's not exactly ideal.
Why Gabriel doesn't play I've no idea.
24 Jan 2016 22:49:10
What is the looking away bit all about, how strange.
24 Jan 2016 22:50:12
Paul, it was a red card, mert tackled with the wrong foot and was looking at the linesman while doing so, costa new what he was doing, but mertadonkey didn't.
24 Jan 2016 23:09:01
Mert looked at the linesman before the tackle and it doesn't matter if he was looking at his navel because his sight had nothing to do with anything.
It was an attempt to play the ball and there was no contact so it was not a red.
Costa dived and he should have been booked
Hope we appeal this and get another Costa caused red over turned and may be some refs will wise up to him
One thing I am disappointed in. The north bank had so many tourist in it was untrue. Until we give tickets to true supporters we will not get the right atmosphere. With the TVs money they should drop the red membership and the tx fees and ensure tickets only go to members.
All in all a disappointing day but if you'd offered me 3 points off the top after 23 games last August I have taken it. Mind you I would have thought you were mad if you said we'd be behind Leicester lol. But all credit to them and if we can't win it I would love to see them do it
Get the players back, run in is not easy but let's give it a go and see where we end up.
24 Jan 2016 23:19:13
Ducking at Stoke and Liverpool last season was strange too Banbury, these were not 120 mph shots but floated crosses where attacking teams were more than happy to get their heads on the ball.
I've never seen a player so obviously avoid heading a ball ever in over 40 years of watching football and then today with that very strange looking the wrong way for a tackle? I have no idea of
A why he does such strange things
B why people rate him as a player
As said as a person he seems extremely nice and I'm sure he really is wonderful in the dressing room and if he stays there for during the 90 mins of every game I'm happy for him to stay.
24 Jan 2016 23:24:48
Why look at the linesman?
Just make the tackle. If the linesman had his flag up, it would have been our free kick, even if Mert had taken Costa out with a bad tackle, it wouldn't have mattered because the linesman would have already had flag up.
24 Jan 2016 23:46:11
Spot on Dags, its almost as if since the world cup Mertesacker doesn't feel he has to prove himself anymore.
Before Brazil 2014 he was a decent centre back but since then he seems to think someone else can always do his job for him, just my observation of some very strange decisions by a man with so much experience but equally so many? Marks about why he does what he does so often.
With Mertesacker there really are more questions than answers.
25 Jan 2016 02:53:16
The fact is the guy is too slow and should never be starting infront of Gabriel, and please don't start telling me about how well he reads the game, what's the point of being able to read it if you're too slow to get to the place you've read the ball or opposition player will be?
25 Jan 2016 08:07:36
Personally i think that Mertz was looking for Kosch to see if he was on the cover to enable him to foul Costa and still stay on the pitch.
Its wrong to lay the blame solely at his feet too, it was the team as a whole who came out started the game so lackluster.
Just means we need to win at 4/ 5 away games not 3/ 4.
25 Jan 2016 19:16:55
Dags he looked at the linesman for the flag. Flag is up and no need to do anything so makes sense to check.
24 Jan 2016 20:21:50
Here is one to upset some
There is no way Arsenal can win the league fight for the F A Cup and CL, AW won't have a better chance than he has to win the title. Thankfully Barcelona will take care of one of AW's ambitions.
I say the same about M City and Spuds also who potentially have loads of games left. the team who are actually sitting pretty is LCFC.
24 Jan 2016 20:30:53
You won't upset me, your opinion banbury and that's ok mate. Not too sure about the Leicester one tho, with all respect.
24 Jan 2016 21:16:55
With respect to Leicesters title that is. I don't think they will go away yet but i don't see them winning it. When the heat is turned up i think them and spuds could find it tough, but hey what do we know.
24 Jan 2016 21:40:38
Incredible as it is Leicester are serious contenders along with us city and Spurs, we should kick on and win it simply because of the players we have compared to Leicester the experience we have compared to Spurs and the stability we have compared to city but given all those reasons it's incredible were playing catch up and are not way ahead of the pack, injuries I hear you say!
To many hangers on and a lack of quality outside our best 12 to 14 players to cope with inevitable injuries all get each year is my reply :-)
24 Jan 2016 21:43:56
Have been saying it all along.
Would love to keep giving FAC our best shot, its winable.
If we lose to Barca, big deal, nobody expects anything less, than concentrate on Prem League.
Defeatist? Nah, realistic.
24 Jan 2016 21:43:58
Spuds yes as they have potentially a lot of games
Leicester though are holding their own.
24 Jan 2016 19:58:19
Why by elenny and then play the old fella flamini in mid he made a couple of tackles and did a lot of pointing keep blowing chances.
24 Jan 2016 19:57:35
We are suffering with the jitters, but are still there Gents.
3 points off top, Sanchez back and Jack, Coq and Welbz should be back soon.
We have the FA Cup break, play the returning players and Elneny than just hope we give Southampton some payback.
Let's look at the positives, we are having a major hiccup and are still one win from going top.
Chin's up.
24 Jan 2016 20:13:09
Dags are your positves are not giving me good vibes, even you are starting to scrape the barrel now. lol " the positves now are we are having a hiccup" i need a drink.
24 Jan 2016 20:25:54
Choke!
24 Jan 2016 20:33:01
Jack who
Wishire do you mean, he won't make a blind bit of difference.
25 Jan 2016 00:21:34
Another positive is that Gabriel will get a game now! Thank the lord!
24 Jan 2016 19:43:50
Need Coq back - big miss in last few games as weak in central midfield.
24 Jan 2016 19:25:14
As promised lads and lasses, my thoughts on the game.
Overall a bizarre match- we looked excellent for the opening forty-five minutes and when we scored were comfortably on top- possibly with more clinical finishing we could have scored more times. Personally I felt the red was justified, Mert was last man and Costa was through one-on-one, letter of the law wise that is a clear goalscoring opportunity. We capitalised on that defensive disarray with our goal, Costa doing what Costa does in the six-yard box. Personally, felt Gabriel and Koscielny were at fault for it, neither seemed to have any clue where Costa was. Matic and Mikel in the first half managed to isolate Ozil a lot of the time and no Giroud as a presence up top for his longer passes plus Walcott's perenially offside position must have been frustrating.
In the opening 15 minutes of the second half, little happened and the game went flat. After bringing on Alexis, he seemed to give all the players a real lift, unsurprising given he is undeniably world class. From that point, you had a lot of possession around and in our box and held the ball quite well, but save a few goal mouth scrambles, I don't remember Courtois making a proper save. Felt Bellerin and AOC certainly added something offensively in terms of ability to drive forward, but felt Ramsey and Flamini were poor in terms of adding midfield support. Late on the game became more stretched, we pushed for the 2nd as you pushed for a leveller and I only remember spending about ten minutes ranting about how awful Loic Remy's runs were, but eventually we ground out the win. In all, Fabregas ran the game in my opinion, not only solid defensively with excellent tracking back and slide tackles, his passing was superb and always pin-point. Movement-wise, no one could get near him and he could freely dictate play (although to an extent I feel that was a failing of Flamini and Ramsey) , also think after all the jeering aimed at him he had a point to prove to your fans today. Finally should have had a penalty when blatantly shoved over by Koscielny, but Clattenburg probably would have then had to send him off for a second booking.
Curious to hear your thoughts on my assessment of the game. Also welcome to give your views on our site as well! Peace.
24 Jan 2016 19:53:12
CFC,
I just paid you boys a visit.
Personally, I think that's a fair, albeit slightly biased (understandable) post.
The sending off was the game changer, though it was deserved, so I don't think you will hear any complaints.
Thought Cesc ran the show, certainly in first half.
We were always chasing shadows, as you would expect with a man light, but a fair result.
Question CFC.
Do you only play well against us and crap against everybody else? Lol.
24 Jan 2016 20:10:04
Lol Dags, I think it depends on the lunar cycle in regards to performance levels! Certainly was a million miles away from the 1st half last week against Everton!
24 Jan 2016 20:14:44
Yes good but slightly biased post, good luck in your relegation battle.
24 Jan 2016 20:19:03
I don't think I can disagree with much of that, we gave Cesc far too much room. We were good in the 2nd half but when Chelsea decide to defend and sit back they are very hard to beat. don't rule them out of the CL
I think its a minor set back for us especially as who is about to return we are very nearly back to full strength .
I would also say, don't anyone rule Chelsea out of the top four just yet.
24 Jan 2016 20:27:38
They played well against us to, but we got a point. 😉.
24 Jan 2016 18:29:34
Again can't beat Chelsea only 8 points from 18 is not championship winners form and would took Theo off not giroud.
24 Jan 2016 18:37:51
The one and only positive from that game is Alexis looked very sharp when he came on. Gutted at the result, poor performance from too many players.
24 Jan 2016 18:49:17
Top of the league and the old wobbly leg syndrome kicks in.
24 Jan 2016 19:22:32
January 2014 after 23 games we had 53 points now we have 44 points after 23 games.
Now we have Sanchez and a fully operational Mesut Ozil so why are we not atleast matching our 2013/ 14 points return at this stage?
We should be walking this league given our main opponents not turning up for this season why aren't we?
I don't buy into the other teams have got better theory myself because Liverpool Everton Chelsea and city were all good sides back in 2013/ 14.
24 Jan 2016 19:25:37
Taking Giroud off for the sending off was a big mistake but I guess at the time Wenger as thinking more to play on the break so as to have more pace with both Walcott and Campbell. It backfired because Chelsea then 1-0 up straight afterwards and could afford to sit back more then.
Costa was up front on his on so for me Wenger should have just tucked the fullbacks I a bit more and made them stay back more as a 3 at the back left the 3 forwards on and taken off Ramsey or Flamini. Wenger is just flexible enough is approach sometimes.
At least Sanchez is back now and the loss has not cost us to much as still just 3 points behind.
24 Jan 2016 20:12:32
To be fair 62 Sanchez has missed 7 weeks, that's amazing. Santi and Le Coq have been out for ages also.
24 Jan 2016 21:12:45
Gunner are you trying to say we haven't improved this time round, go wash your mouth out with soap, that sort of talk could get someone the sack.
24 Jan 2016 18:25:17
2 points from 9, 6 points from last 18 away, are we in decline or are we taking the situation by the scruff of the neck. The big games that are coming up for jan and feb are starting to have an effect on us and wecare struggling. Wheres elneny, this guy is someone we should have signed who can come in and better the team, not sit on the bench, we might well have not signed him. We need an injection and 50 mil might beca good start, not waste 5mil on a bench warmer.
24 Jan 2016 18:38:41
Red Dog will back that signing Steve, I said we wouldn't sign anyone, and we haven't signed anyone, how is this guy going to change our fortunes, how will he sit on the bench, when all are back, and that will be soon .
24 Jan 2016 19:27:55
Elneny should certainly be starting ahead of Flamini for me. Will give us a bit more drive and energy.
24 Jan 2016 19:36:02
I feel sorry for Elneny because he is a £5 million punt from a much less competitive league but because he's our only outfield signing of the entire season people are pinning a lot of hopes on him and its highly likely he won't be able to match those hopes for a season or two if ever.
If we'd signed Mesut 42m and Sanchez 32m Welbeck and Chambers 16m each in the same window as Elneny for 5m no one would even be talking about him but would accept him for what he is a punt for the future.
24 Jan 2016 19:59:52
Ryan, there is a reason why he isn't starting ahead of flamini, if he was wanyama, carvalho or bender etc, he would have played two games now.
24 Jan 2016 18:21:31
So who's going to win this title if not us?
City are all over the place and have been all season waiting for the next manager.
Leicester maybe but I'd be surprised even though they still look good at the moment.
Spurs? They could but I don't think they will.
With no Chelsea utd or city to talk of we are still the team to beat this season, I'm not sure that's an awful lot to Bragg about but we will probably win the title by default this season.
Best of a very average bunch 2015/ 16 season isn't exactly what we all had in mind but its probably how its going to happen, we always seem to snatch disappointment from the jaws of glory some how.
{Ed023's Note - Everyone wants Leicester to win for the underdog tag but I wouldn't mind ye lot winning it because of Wenger}
24 Jan 2016 18:40:20
I actually think we will, players are all coming back at the right time. Today will be forgotten, but the whoever wins it will because no one is really that.
24 Jan 2016 18:42:48
If man city don't win the league, Pellegrini is gone, if spurs don't win the league they never will, if we don't win the league wenger will get a pay rise, if Leicester don't win the league no one will be surprised. Man city for me will see it out if aguero stays fit, in a poor league. Oh and Pellegrini may be sacked.
24 Jan 2016 19:32:20
Like above if Man City can keep Aguero fit they will win the league as he gives them that killer instinct that we don't have. He is 1 goal in 2 chances Giroud is like 1 in 4. We will likely finish 2nd Spurs 3rd and I hope Leicester finish in top 4 but would be surprised in Manchester United just creep in there.
24 Jan 2016 18:10:45
2 points from a possible 9 not the sign of a team going for the title. hopefully we can get over it mentally nd get back on track.
24 Jan 2016 18:29:21
Liking the stats. Hope the run continues 🤗.
24 Jan 2016 18:04:27
One good thing from today Gabriel starts the next match.
24 Jan 2016 18:44:37
Two good things so will sanchez, boy we need him.
24 Jan 2016 17:58:46
Ramsey not good enough, walcott not good enough, ox not good enough, flam the same. our squad is too weak and we have bottled it again.
24 Jan 2016 18:21:30
Ramsey are you having a laugh.
24 Jan 2016 18:29:39
Sell them all LOL.
24 Jan 2016 19:05:27
I agree Ramesy is over rated.
24 Jan 2016 21:25:50
This season I agree crybaby. Banbury what are you watching. Ramsey passed the ball straight out of play on several occasions. He has been awful for weeks.
24 Jan 2016 17:53:43
Bad result today. Expected you lot to batter them.
24 Jan 2016 17:59:09
Ns you are obviously a bad judge of form.
24 Jan 2016 18:09:13
NES,
We bottled it and as usual had a player sent off against them.
Bad day at office.
24 Jan 2016 18:10:21
Must be Steve as I thought we'd win 2-1 away too.
Sure you'll bounce back against Southampton.
24 Jan 2016 18:26:43
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
24 Jan 2016 18:32:30
Spurs are in with a good shout now and we lost to saints 4 0 so not looking good.
24 Jan 2016 17:26:59
The solidarity we show today will be the thing that makes the difference.
24 Jan 2016 17:50:28
You been reading Wengers hand book?
24 Jan 2016 17:51:23
You can show all the solidarity in the world but naivety and lack of discipline will always trump that.
24 Jan 2016 17:25:59
Guys please don't crtisize like idiots, the players r also fans like us and giving it their all, be with them instead of criticizing, we may or may not be top today just like in life. don't act like you've never been down in life. we'll come out on top, have faithhh. commmmonnn gunnneesssss.
24 Jan 2016 15:59:58
3-1 we need to go for it, yet stay disciplined. Come on you gunners!
24 Jan 2016
The real time live chat page is open for today's Arsenal match at the below link for you to talk to each other during the match
Arsenal Live Chat page
24 Jan 2016 14:54:32
Charlie boy,
I would happily break my glasses if you joined us, but alas :-)
PS, 2-1 today, Olly and Ozil.
24 Jan 2016 15:12:34
I'm going for a 3-2 win Dags .
24 Jan 2016 13:29:30
Huge 3 points needed today
Would you start alexis considering it'll be his first game back for a while? Or do you ease him in off the bench.
It's a hard call.
24 Jan 2016 14:57:15
i wouldn't play him today. let him play the first half against burnley and back to normality when we play southampton.
24 Jan 2016 14:57:26
Chuck him on bench and see how the game is panning out after 65 minutes.
24 Jan 2016 14:57:15
i wouldn't play him today. let him play the first half against burnley and back to normality when we play southampton.
24 Jan 2016 14:57:26
Chuck him on bench and see how the game is panning out after 65 minutes.
24 Jan 2016 15:38:25
Well he's made the bench so that's positive
Like you say see how the games going. What an impact sub though lol :)
Here's hoping for 3 points and an ozil masterclass
3-1 coyg.
24 Jan 2016 07:27:02
Eds, allow team posts to banter. nobody reads the team link.
{Ed001's Note - and your point is that, as no one is interested in them we should clog up the main banter page with them? In what way does that make sense?}
24 Jan 2016 08:15:24
My point being, it's not that no one is interested in them, but that no one seems to know it or no one goes over to that link, if team posts r posted in banter everyone will reply. just saying.
{Ed001's Note - except that we started a separate page for a reason, as no one was replying and they just ended up with one or two people dominating the page with nonsense formation posts that take up huge amounts of space. Do you think we just decided to put them there for no reason?}
24 Jan 2016 08:24:16
I never see the point of somebody posting the whole team and formation, we all pretty much know it anyway.
I can understand if somebody posts "Sanchez should be back today", but I never list the whole team.
Just my opinion.
{Ed001's Note - exactly dags, it is a select few that are interested in it, hence why it has its own page for them to play on.}
24 Jan 2016 08:57:58
Spot on Ed001.
{Ed001's Note - Ed004 will spend half a game just trying to figure out a formation while watching a match. He is going to be so excited watching Swansea play later, as Guidolin has an all new formation for him to salivate over and then spend weeks trying to figure out how his team could use it and which players they would need to buy to fit in to it. Bless him.}
24 Jan 2016 11:44:38
You have to admire the man's dedication 😊.
24 Jan 2016 06:33:55
I Think Spurs Being in very good form and looking like a really top side has rattled a few gooners. We are a little wobbly at the moment but i think today is the day we find our groove and bury the Chelsea ghost like we did United
Now on Jack Wilshere am speaking from the heart here not the head, He should never be sold. He is insanely talented and will prove to be an Arsenal and England Great, Ramsey was in the same boat not long ago give the lad some more time.
Delayed a little but Am 19 youngest one here i think,10 years a gooner.
24 Jan 2016 08:27:23
Positive,
He is insanely talented, but insanely injured.
He brings nothing to the team on a too regular basis.
I'm not saying sell him, but if we did, I wouldn't be too unhappy.
24 Jan 2016 09:10:10
Your very own Darren Anderton.
24 Jan 2016 10:23:40
The biggest problem with Jack is he's over 21 now so needs naming in the 25 man squad taking up to he place of someone who would be available more than a dozen games each season, now if you add to Jack Rosicky Arteta plus Theo and Ox all of who miss large parts of each and every season with injuries your asking a lot of your remaining 20 named players to cover their regular absence year after year.
I'm not suggesting we get everyone of Danny Theo Ox or even Jack but in order to be competitive we can't continue to carry a quater of our squad each and every season, the first thing we have to do is obviously free up the 25 man squad places taken up by Arteta and Rosicky Flamini etc that's a no brainer then maybe and just as obviously should have happen last summer if not the summer before that.
24 Jan 2016 10:25:01
Go and see how many games JW has played for us. his time is up I'm afrid.
24 Jan 2016 10:54:22
This is not Arsene out!
But all I'm saying is if a new manager came in last summer and was tasked with making us champions of England and Champions league top 4 within two years and his future depended on it our squad would look very different today.
Loyalty is fantastic quality to have on a personal level but on a professional level I'm not sure its possible to be extremely loyal and extremely successful, lovely as it would be if it was.
24 Jan 2016 11:06:17
I agree Gunner62,
Sack them all. 😜 LOL.
24 Jan 2016 12:02:18
Yeah imagine it Northeast!
If we'd replaced
Mertesacker with Alderweireld
Rosicky with Ali
We could have even given you Mertesacker and Rosicky to make up for the two signings you missed out on :-)
You know it makes sense mate.
24 Jan 2016 12:25:49
Jacks the new diaby and to give him more money as it stands is rediculous, the guy must earn it and he has to show the same loyalty as the club to earn it. he's been paid a hell of a lot of money for very little so far. As gunner says, if a new manager came in, he would make sure his squad was not only strong but reliable. Ther is loyalty and there is blind faith. People have to earn their pay rise surely. This isn't the banking sector, or maybe it is.
24 Jan 2016 12:45:07
If you stop and think of the 25 man squad rule it does put into perspective our injury myth, its not the injuries we pick up that's a bigger problem for us than anyone else its the head start we are guaranteed each season because of Jack Diarby Rosicky plus to a lesser degree but still regaulally missing Theo and Ox.
We do start each season making things difficult for our self's before the opposition gets the chance.
24 Jan 2016 14:06:26
Are you serious Steve? This isn't the banking sector no, the footballing world is much much worse.
When JW is back, you'll all be kissing his bum again.
24 Jan 2016 06:45:52
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Delap Eat Your Hearts Out, Newcastle Backed To Avoid Drop And Sanchez And Allegri Move Rumours Dismissed Plus More
24 Jan 2016 03:09:01
Was Benik Afobe worth selling? Ten times the player sanogo is.
24 Jan 2016 00:59:43
The achievement for me today isn't beating chelski, many teams below us have done that, its burying the ghost that has developed and gaining a bit of revenge on a club that has enjoyed rubbing our noses in it in more ways than one. Unless we develop a ruthless streak we can't expect to get back to former glories. I can't see past a draw, I hope the players can.
24 Jan 2016 09:11:05
3 - 1 Steve. r.
The Phoenix will arise today.