Arsenal Banter Archive March 24 2014

 

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24 Mar 2014 23:16:49
Lets think positive things fellow Gooners.

We have made forward steps.

When was the last time, with 8 games to go, we were still in with a shout (ok a whisper) of winning the league?

Normally, this time of the year, we are 5th or 6th and chasing 4th spot. Barring a slip-up, we have almost cemented 4th spot with 8 games to go, unlike previous seasons, where we have pipped Spurs with pretty much the last kick of the season.

We are in Semi-Final of FA Cup, red hot favourites to win it. Can't remember last time we were in that position.

Yes, we have dropped our standards over the last 6 games or so and our bubble has somewhat burst but, the question is, have we made progress?

I think we have.

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In a word NO

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Cemented 4th well don't tell everton, if we lose to sheik city after thrashing Swansea and they win their games in hand, they will be 2 points behind with us visiting them soon. Cement mmmm. Favorites for the fa cup, we were favourites to beat Birmingham, Bradford and Blackburn, I know they start with a B and that makes a difference, but. Fourth, let's hope we don't finish fourth and man u do a chelski when they were poor in the league (6th) and fluke the champs league. And let's remember if fergie had stayed another season we would be fifth. I don't think we have improved and winning the fa cup would be great but all it would do would get a great big monkey off our backs, but it would not mean the team has improved.

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Yes we have made progress but the next 4 or 5 games are crucial. We are in a better postion all round this year. We have to remain positive though. If the players have the attitude of some of the Part Time Arsenal Fans on here then we may as well pack up now. COYG

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If Manchester United win the CL it makes no difference to how many places we get next year. It will be Manchester United and the top 4. The rules were changed when spurs were so wonderfully denied a place.

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I'm not really convinced we have made progress. Yes 4th looks more likely than it has in previous seasons but it's our continued lack of competitiveness against the top sides that to me equals more of a backward step. Only taking a point and failing to score against an awful man Utd. Conceding 17 in 3 games on top of 17 in the remaining league games as you said in a previous post. Being all mightily leapfrogged by Liverpool.
The one season we should have taken advantage of other clubs changes to managers/inconsistency and we messed up.
Obviously I'm happy with the cup run. A tough route to the semis but it's not won yet. It would be just typical to fall at the final hurdle.

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In think come game 38 all will be revealed DG to be honest.
If we finish top 3 yes we have made progress if it's 4th we haven't really close the gap.
We can all argue 3rd ain't good enough or Its a better 4th than last year but the fact remains given our pre Christmas form we should be top 3 come May.
Injuries yes Aaron's absence has been crucial and sometimes they are the margins between success and failure but we should have coped better even without spending in January

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24 Mar 2014 23:08:51
This season we have played 30 games.

We have conceded 17 goals in 3 games (Man City, Livpool and Chelsea)

But, have also conceded 17 goals in total in the other 27 games played.

Answers on a postcard please because i'm confused.

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Mad Mad Mad

Just amazing

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We believe we can go outplay the big teams like we do against the so called smaller teams. We can't. We just get picked off on the counter-attack.

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24 Mar 2014 22:33:01
The season is over 38 games and I believe in the old saying that the final table never Lie's.
To have not gone backwards this season we have to finish top 3, because utd have dropped out of the equation and another 4tb place will mean Liverpool have leap frogged us over this season.

8 games to go and still an awful lot to play for 3rd place is still our minimum acceptable requirement with or without the fa cup, and we can do it we just have to dig very very deep.

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Well said G62

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24 Mar 2014 22:05:37
ssn1

Footballers Footballing Show all about FFP

Watch watch

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24 Mar 2014 21:36:28
How many people here wouldn't mind seeing Sczchezny dropped out the starting line up tomorrow?

Don't get me wrong he's made huge improvements this season and he's right up there for the most number of clean sheets this season.

But he needs to put his head down and play to the best of his abilities without being too mouthy or cocky, if he needs another reminder, he only has to remember what spending time on the bench felt like last season. Some of the goals conceded at City, Lpool and at Chelsea he should have prevented. I also think the over zealous 'selfie' celebrations at White Hart Lane now makes him look like a prat. Don't get me wrong it's always nice to win at WHL and get one (or three) over them but even the performance there signalled cause for concern for the Chelsea match & we celebrated there like we won another title there or something.

Sczcz and among a few others in the squad have a habit of talking too much before games and make sorry ass excuses and promises after games and quite frankly its abit tiring now.

Why is Sagna the only one in the squad attempting to cross balls into the box, even then his crossing success rate are as poor as Giroud's finishing.

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Me and my best mate who is a gooner (i dnt hold it against him) have had a long running debate to which keeper WS or De Gea, for me there is no argument, David wins hands down, curious to see your guys opinion thou.

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Seen reports that it's likely to happen. Don't see the point. Fabianski is a good gk but he will leave in the summer so what's the point of putting him in. Plus I don't see what sczeszny has done wrong. Not his fault the defence was poor

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I would agree with that Rocky he shouldn't be a scapegoat, as Lehman was at game 50 of the invincibles

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Chris, I would happily have DDG as our number 2 behind WS, lol.

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CTR maybe david does win but 11 for 11 you win one mate :) I had to say it as no one else was speaking up lol

hope the baby and mother are doing well and you've caught up with your sleep

off to consume my body weight in alcohol as arsene don't make it easy

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Sczesny has kept 13 clean sheets to DDG 11.

he has faced 6 penalty kicks to DDG 3,

He has faced 355 shots and allowed 34 goals. 17 against 3 teams.

DDG has faced 359 and allowed 34 goals.

The best goal keeper this season has been Asmir Begovic. no one comes close to him.

7 Clean sheets playing for stoke, 363 shots faced, 30 goals allowed.

Schzesny has 93 saved to DDG 87 but Begovic at 84 is my value pick. there is a reason Real Madrid want him.

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So I take it u wouldn't swap WS for DDG then Laker?

I agree Begovic is a brilliant goal keeper.

But I wasnt asking that I was asking who u as arsenal fans rate as the best from DDG and WS.

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24 Mar 2014 21:29:17
Great news for arsenal to see OX and Gibbs both avoid suspension, but yet again the FA make themselves look like complete fools, oxlade deserved suspension and now could well see more players trying stuff like that. Congrats FA.

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Bit confused, why does AOC deserve a suspension?

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Sorry Akie
I think they called it right this time, draw a line under the whole thing aswe've been punished enough.
As for the ref and linesman they need to fully dealt with

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Because he blatantly hand balls the shot from Hazard banbury, he thought it was going in and makes a save buffon would be proud of! The ox deserves a 1 game ban imo.

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It is punishable with a yellow card, not an instant ban, are you saying rules should be changed per game. come off it

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I think you'll find that the deliberate hand ball is only valid when its a goal scoring opportunity ie its on target

hence why its over turned

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24 Mar 2014 19:41:15
LAKERVILLE

2 very good posts mate, not much to add to that .

I thought I would have calmed down by now but not a cat in hells chance, caught up with my mate who went to the game £56 for that tripe were his words and he was telling me quite a few AFC fans left at HT, something I have never done but each to their own. He said the players were just caught totally cold and his words " looked as though they weren't interested"

I am still very puzzled as to why we have conceded 17 goals in 3 away games, things have to change, hopefully AW will have the answer, if not, then HE HAS TO GO

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Im not one to make excuses, the loss is not on my mind, its the way the season has gone when the chips are on the table and you need to make a call.

1) how could wenger put the seasons hope on giroud?

2) how come every year its the same injury situation ( yes he's looking into it, but should have done that 3-4 years back)

3) accountability, every professional is accountable in his profession, Wenger nor the board nor the players have been held accountable, and I have no idea why they get salary increments for doing nothing.

I could go on and name 12 odd points, but the fact is, to win we need to think only of winning. Look at Madrid or Barcelona, constantly evolving, or Bayern, and add chelsea, City and PSG to that list.

Its time for us fans to stop making excuses for the manager, we support the club.

Its time wenger thought about the club and realised his short falls.

Its time the players stepped up or got shipped out, all talk and no play.

I see more articles about what Sczesny or Walcott have to say, rather than david silva or eden hazard. time to stop yapping and keep to your job.

anyway i'm aware this seems a bit too negative, i'm not trying to be negative, i'm trying to be a realist. I stated awhile back that every gooner will dream of winning the champions league soon, and with the manager at the helm, I don't see us winning that title, especially how we conduct our transfer business.

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1.players seemingly not being motivated

2.wrong tactics becoming more frequent

3.training/medical staff don't seem to know what they are doing

3.omg was AW really going to sign kalou?

4.time waits for no man, regrettably I think arsene, s time is coming to an end, AFC needs a shake up with fresh blood and fresh idea, s

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24 Mar 2014 18:17:44
Good afternoon Ed,

Idea for voting poll: Who would you like to see as Arsenal manager after Wenger leaves?

I know there are many options. But main ones that spring to mind are Jurgen Klopp, Roberto Martinez, Micheal Laudrup, Louis Van Gaal, Diego Simome and Dennis Berkamp.

Personally I think it has to be Klopp. Built a amazing Dortmund side that won a double, 2 bundesligas and reachee a CL final. He built that team from nothing. Cleaely has great eye for signings (Lewandowski, Reus, Hummels, Augbumeyang. ) and might leave after seeing Dortmund lose their best player to Bayern, again. I also believe as a coach and tactitian he is much better than Wenger.

Thanks in advance Ed.

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{Ed001's Note - http://www.arsenalrumours.co.uk/poll60.html

24 Mar 2014 17:24:50
Bit bored of this to be honest, all the doom mongering and taking stuff personally, so here's some food for thought; Bellerin looks like that Nasri.

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Cheeky ed! There was an expletive used between 'that' and 'nasri'

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{Ed001's Note - I think everyone knew what it was without it being needed to be honest.}

24 Mar 2014 17:36:23
Right then. Diabolical result and performance, but we all know so time to move on to Swansea, I'm not getting into this wenger out situation. I'm here to talk about summer targets, giroud is not good enough. Decent back up striker nothing more. Arteta techniqually brillaint lacks place, can't afford that in our league, players run away from him with ease. Winger is a must, somone with real pace and trickery. What we miss massively, so.

Benzena - no brainer. Should be available aswell.
Draxler or greizzman, either, both are exactly what I described above.
And a big powerful presence in midfield to replace arteta, in the mold of toure or matic. Someone who will boss the midfield.

Wenger clearly had this vision 5 6 years ago football was changing into small technical players, not in the PL, and we're not all blessed as barca. Needs to change his ideas and realise big powerful players play a huge role in a teams core. Look back to the invincibles and 97/98. Vieria petit Gilberto, nearest thing we have is flamini.

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24 Mar 2014 19:03:09
Couldnt agree with you more mate. Giroud would make a good back up and plan B. Not good enough in big games or over course of season. I've been saying for ages Arteta is past it. We have no Khedira, Toure or Busquets type enforcer. Flamini gets the job done well, but he's 30/31 and a red card waiting to happen.

I say Wenger should just go for it and blow £70m-£80m on these two positions. Get Benzema/Costa (£40m) and Bender/Pogba (£30m/£40m). That being said i'd be mildly satisfied with budget players such as Schniderlin/Gonalons and Hernandez/Remy. Although that won't win us titles. But they are steps in the right direction.

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Excellent npost valley, Giroud has looked effective coming off the bench but as the main striker sadly he isn't up to it. His effort is unquestionably but the talent doesn't match the effort

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You are quiet right Valley, AW thought we could do a Barca and win the league with a load of players 5ft 0ins, it clearly ain't working

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Di Maria or Ozil. wats the point with all theses attackin' mids who are played out of position, when all they wanna do is play through the middle. i'm sayin finish 5th. pooper. again

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24 Mar 2014 16:49:01
Hi guys, haven't posted for ages and I'm not sure if anyone remembers me but here comes a couple thoughts.

First of all Giroud has got a lot of stick, as well as Ozil. I doubt this would have been the case if Walcott was fit. For me Giroud is very similar to Mandzukic. And Mandzukic is doing well with Bayern because he has pacy wingers around him. We're lacking so much pace up front the opposition is able to press a lot higher and then we're in trouble. And Ozil can't play his through balls because there's no one making the runs (and now he's injured as well).

Walcott was constantly making runs behind the defense and we had midfielders like Ramsey and Wilshere making runs from the midfield as well. Now they're all out and it shows. I think Giroud is still a quality player but what can he do? he's not a carrier like Suarez but he's fantastic at playing other players through. But the problem is there's no one to play through.

I hope we'll be able to limp over the line with a top 4 position and the fa cup. Considering my expectations at the start of the season, that's fine for me. But what I've seen is we have a fantastic team but it's still far from complete.

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Good to see you back Iceman. Are you off on leave? :-)
Flybo

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I feel the need, the need for Speed! Someone get us some wing men! See what I did there? ;)

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24 Mar 2014 16:38:33
can I just say how proud I am of the arsenal fans on here and that I've spoken to,

every bloke and his dog are going spare over this red card thign with gibbs. rightly so in my mind.

but us 'victims' of it the arsenal faithful, haven't once mentioned it, we know we were destroyed against chelsea and accept it, and also know that the mistake changed very little.

basically i'm saying well done, it happened to us but we've moved on straight away!

swansea to beat to get back to form COYG!

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Similar thing happened to me when I played for the Hollywood all stars. I went in two footed, but the ref sent off another player. Brad was gutted, and the ref was getting slaugtered by the players.
I on the other hand thought the ref had a great game.
Flybo

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24 Mar 2014 14:42:51
Kos out for tomorrow - replaced by Bellerin

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24 Mar 2014 14:40:58
To be fair to the team none of the other top four teams have had their 4 best players out at any point this season bar us! Rambo, Ozil, Walcott and Wilshere. The one stabilizing influence in midfield that is Flamini is left on the bench for our biggest game of the season and an absolute joke of a defensive mid performance ensues. And why oh why does Wenger refuse to play Podolski as a striker best shot and best finisher on the team, a fan favorite and played and linked with Ozil for years on the German national side. People say 'oh but Girouds hold up play' since when did we become Stoke? Punt it up to Giroud and hope? That is not the Arsenal we know and love.

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Sorry Baz136,
I don't agree. All teams have been without players. At this level it's a squad game. Liverpool have missed Suarez, Sturridge, Stevie, Lucas, Allen, Enrique, Johnson, Agger and Sakho for at least 5 games each. It's how the 11/14 on matchday react and perform in their absence. If the squad players are not capable of performing to the required level, it's not the other teams in the top 4's fault, as you say. They can and have coped with missing players on matchdays. I just think that's a poor excuse tbh.

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Sorry simon I think you missed the point you've missed players yes but not all at the same time yours have the good grace to wait for someone to return before getting crocked, ours are having a rave I reckon in the treatment room lol

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Well he does raise a good point. And I think we have missed lucas, allen, enrique, johnson, agger all at once. Maybe sturridge with that, maybe suarez. Suarez for 8 games in which we went 1 draw and 1 loss was the most important part.

I hope you guys don't implode as I really dislike spurs. Any team with that goal difference is going to be a poor English representation in Europe. It's still anyone's (top 4) title! Good luck to you guys!

(Liverpool fan)

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24 Mar 2014 16:27:32
We had about 6 on the spin games without
Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Sakho and Lucas mate.
That's our best back 5 there.

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I haven't missed the point at all gooner74, at one stage we had, a back 4 of flanagan, toure, sakho, cissocko, lucas was also injured at the same time. We can make comparisons til the cows come home. Everybody has key injuries to key players both individually and collectively. Baz made the point that you were the only team in the top 4 to miss their best players through injury which is factually wrong. I countered his argument with facts. I could also have added Coutinho to my list but I think I made my point. Its a squad game, therefore injuries cannot be used as the excuse comparing to other teams. It's how the squad reacts to these injuries that matters.
You cannot continually hide behind injuries for bad results, sometimes it is simply more than that.

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Not hiding behind injuries, look at the physio room we have that league table won easy

seriously you missed suarez but you weren't missing sturridge

end of the day its injuries to a very light squad, I agree it squad game but when you have your first choice defense out for games like last season with us and now this season its the entire midfield

so let's agree to disagree re injuries

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Simonpw -we don't know each other so this will sound rude - not meant to be in that way, a bit tongue in cheek, but you are talking utter rubbish.
We are talking about liverpool having no Gerrard, Sterling, Suarez and say, Coutinho all out together for the last month. As for your defense they are a disaster, no doubt.

That all said, if we don't win it, I hope Liverpool do. I like your club and fans. Stop talking kangaroo.

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The point i'm making btw is its not the amount of injuries the bad luck with the injuries ie 5 first choice midfielders out and 4 first choice defenders out last season is the point

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24 Mar 2014 12:50:53
I love Wenger, but I'm now thinking he's yesterday's man. Poor tactics, poor selection, and a bizarre recent history in the transfer market. It's had to know where to begin after the weekend, but a fairly good place is the keeper.

He was awful, and has been prone to about 3 mistakes a game all season. Not his fault however that his ability doesn't equal his passion. Wenger knew we needed a keeper and still didn't act.

Tactics: Sagna and gibbs are great at going forward and I don't think they can't defend, it's just they are poorly instructed from the off. Our foundations of success were built on a solid defence and all top teams have a solid line. Why oh why does Wenger instruct his full backs to bomb on from the first whistle? Especially against the big teams? We have repeatedly been caught out early this season and why not try and hold a deep flat line and probe with patience? Is it just me? I can't see the logic in blind faith in a plan A?

Others in question:
Arteta - not good enough
Carzola - A homer if ever there was one. Too like Ozil. It's one or t'other for me in almost all games, not both.
Flamini - Is it just me or were we at our best when he was starting games this season? What does he need to do to get into the side? Hide and give the ball away like the undroppable Santi?
Podolski - Nothing like the boy we signed. I think he's a striker.
Giroud - Good player. Nothing more
Ox - Doesn't seem to know his position at times. Plays like a kid. Possibly 2 years away on loan would have benefited?

Injuries have been our biggest problem, that's obvious, but it's always the way with Arsenal. Wenger's been great for us, but not recently he hasn't. By the way, when you need and publically court Suarez or Higuain, what makes you think Ozil's the answer? Not wanting to get on his back, it's just a question the board may feel justified in asking the boss.

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Wenger is not purely to blame, the entire organisation, along with the players.

Why should the manager alone take the blame for the Loss?

Did Arteta even show a heart beat? santi cazorla what was he trying? Giroud just keeps fluffing the lines.

For all the talk they just can't show it when it matters.

Im happy that we can beat the teams we are supposed to, i'd even accept this defeat if we beat stoke away and united at home, which we didnt. mainly as those were pressure games.

Ozil is not to blame, the manager bought him when we had that position covered.

will he buy another no 10 in the summer? when we need a striker?

Giroud can't be no1 next season, and if he is, the fans are going to be frustrated.

CDM is a position we have needed for over 5 years but again reliance on injury plagued players has cost us time and time again.

let me say this. I don't care for mourinho the man, what people think of him. I don't care for Pep guardiola or Klopp or Pellegrini, or even martinez, or Rodgers, but having watched all those teams play just as much as I have watched Arsenal, the tactics and timing of substitutions is vital.

its not about hurting the player its about winning the game.

Mourinho dropped mata, uses luiz as a CDM, bought matic, dropped Ashley Cole and basically built a balanced team in under a year.

he has made schurrle world class, Hazard is worth 70 million and even reinvented Terry and Lampard not to forget Eto.

Im sorry there are no excuses, the manager has failed to match the competition.

Pellegrini has been given a star studded team, yet he drops, nasri, silva, and even played large parts of the season without Kompany or Aguero, and while he got outplayed by mourinho, his tactics have been spot on, besides maybe against wigan lately.

Roberto Martinez is breaking david moyes records every day, and if he had a deeper squad he would be where we are.

Rodgers like him or hate him, he knows how to utilize space, constantly scots opposing teams and does not mind rotating his frontline to the opposition.

now you take moyes, who is out of ideas, or Wenger who also is at the same junction, and I believe fergie called time as he too could not keep up this tactical shift. He won the league called it quits and left.

the new generation of managers need to adapt their thinking to every aspect. Football is now like basketball, fast paced and instant end to end. players don't have time to think or react, and positional awareness and defensive responsibilities without the ball are crucial.

Sagna thought he was a winger, cazorla though he could dribble past two players, we had no pace or width, and with most of our players identical in their approach, pass and move, man marking each individual basically ended that.

no player needed to be doubled, they had to break and run at the defense and arteta was offering no respite for the defense. you don't need to be a genius to know this, and a change in 10 mins might not have won us the game, but given us some positivity going into the next game. 6-0. absolute atrocity. no fight. bunch of chokers.

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I understand what your saying bout the game vs Chelsea Laker and I agree. The players were just not up for it.
But regarding the so called big games other then the 3 away, we haven't done too bad;
Dortmund A
Bayern A
Chelsea H
Lpool H
Manu H
Lpool H (cup)
Tottenham H and H and A
Napoli H
All these games we didn't lose, regardless of performance in some of those matches. Particularly against lpool and Chelsea at home which were of a huge contrast to the away games: for which other then players playing like utter *, is hard to explain.
Even bayern at home we were the better team till the pen miss.
Like I have been saying all season, it has taken a long time for us to get to where we are now.
We finally made a huge signing, stopped selling star players, tiring key players down to extended contracts. Debts seem to be fully covered for now and new sponsorship deals have come into force.
I'm more then willing to give wenger 1 more year, I really think he knows where we are short simply by the targets we went for last summer. And if he doesn't sign a new deal then any new manager has to be an experienced one at the top level.
Not Martinez who may be doing great at Everton, is at the moment unproven at the top. Even moyes did well for Everton look at him now.
Someone like klopp, guardiola(unlikely), Lowe, van gaal, conte. All these would be more ideal.

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Look, I have been saying another year for 5 years now. will wenger buy the players we need?

we needed draxler in january but we baulked at the price, we are not in a position to negotiate our season, which we did.

I understand we could not get suarez but he should have bought higuain.

Liverpool will go into next season, buy a striker, and if suarez has to be sold he will be sold for the price they want, if not they have strengthen their team.

we will go into next season with giroud, sanogo, and wenger will look for a striker, be quoted 40-50 mill, will baulk at the price, play transfer poker with other clubs who are playing monopoly and not poker, and in the end come away with another midfielder.

If we have to pay over the odds we must, we are not in a position to argue over 2-3 or even 10 million. Had we raised that offer for Suarez by 10 million liverpool would have sold.

how much is he worth this year?

The risk for us is not taking the risk. i'm happy with the ozil signing, atleast we have something going forward, but if he is not going to buy a world class striker, what is the point of Ozil?

might as well sell him to barcelona who would take him in a heart beat, and try and broker some deal for players they have that could balance our squad.

its just an example.

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Yes and it all comes down to what ifs really.
This idea of saying we have been saying 1 more year is soley based on presumptions that we have had money to spend during those years.
Take the cash in reserves out of the question as no one has a clear idea of what that money is for. If we really had the money to spend then we wouldn't of had to sell any of our key players to buy. The fact it was stated that we had to make 25mil in transfer profit jus to keep in track with the loan backs this up.
Just last week there was an interview with David dien, who said; at the time of the plans for the new stadium they new there would be a huge implication on the success of the club in the near future, but had to take the risk as the club had outgrown Highbury. They had 30/40k plus fans in waiting line to get tickets. Arsene improved the brand of arsenal so much that the financially Highbury couldn't cope.
Right now it's very tough for us gooners, because we have become accustomed to being fans of a huge club with huge aspirations, with huge success. Which in recent years has not been so. Until last summer I saw no sign of a plentiful transfer budget.
Yes we could have bid higher for Suarez, but how can we say it would have been accepted at all? From what the owner says, they didn't look like selling at all.
Higuain I'm unsure about, personally I don't think he was worth what he went for, but it may be the prices going around for strikers like him.
All in all I agree we have been waiting year on year for something to change, but situations then were different to what they are now. Simply because financially we are much much more secure now thanks to the new sponsorship deals. I don't think it's wenger alone who refused to spend, but based upon David diens comments it was a structure of the board as well.
I am sure this summer will be different whether it be with or without wenger.
As long as it's beneficial to the clubs success.

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24 Mar 2014 11:30:10
Its looking more likely that Wenger won't sign a new contract, he wants to end on a high and thinks the FA Cup would be a fitting curtain call, Odds have slashed on Remy Garde taking over, little known frenchman with an iffy playing career.sound familiar? Also old team mates Henry, Adams & Bergkamp to join coaching staff, people with AFC in their hearts, can only be a good thing

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24 Mar 2014 11:21:58
Just booked my tickets for semi final! WE MUST win this cup Saturday was embarrassing but if don't win this it will be much worse! I hope Wenger gets the cup and moves upstairs we need new ideas and new medical team and a Plan B!

We need a performance tomorrow night and again on Saturday, time for this so called stars to earn there money my patience is wearing thin with them now just want them to play like they can!

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24 Mar 2014 10:34:12
So now that we know we will end up top 4, and the FA cup the only thing to play for, what will be the outcome for the manager?

My personal opinion is, if he does not win the FA cup its time he took his options of PSG and barcelona, and let us move on and try and bring in a new face.

The issues I have is that not only do I consider the manager inept at the moment, the board and the players seem dissapointing.

Arteta is past it, podolski is not going to do anything in big games, Sagna should leave, not because he is not a brilliant player, but we need to reinvent that RB position.

our striker is woeful and rosicky and cazorla are at best subs.

Ox, gnabry, ramsey, wilshere, walcott would make the starting 11.

now its left to see if wenger does leave Arsenal if he comes back to poach some of the players.

the displays against the better teams have proven to me we are punching above our weight and we lack balance.

Time we made our thoughts clear. i'd rather he walk away then resign in shame the following year.

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There has been an Everton sighting in our rear view mirror, let's hope its a mirage!

Also, for more that the usual reasons will be tipping one on our behalf once MU is out of the champions league.

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24 Mar 2014 10:07:47
Tough result to take I must say that I agree with most people who say we need to freshen things up in the summer 3-4 really good signings would be great.Also think we need a plan b when we are playing the bigger teams away from home highline just doesn't work if we played flamani and kallstrom( or another holding midfielder) both as sitting midfielders and made us hard to break down it would be a start.

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24 Mar 2014 09:42:00
Assuming Wenger departs at the end of the season, who would you realistically want to replace him? My own choice would be De Boer & Bergkamp.

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If Mr Law and Mr Egg and Chips were shaking hands with Klopp I'd be quite excited.
Flybo

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I would take either of the de boer/ Bergkamp or Klopp options. I'm edging more towards the Dutch combo as they both know club tradition. Through their times at Ajax, both of them and their times at barca and arsenal. Obviously Bergkamp knows the club as well as anybody. 2 former world class players ( a defender and a striker ) and both of an age where they are familiar with modern football and philosophies. I think it's also a combination that can bring the deviding fans back together.

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24 Mar 2014 11:51:56
It's ze German manager as I reported a while back

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So not klopp then eh malaga.

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24 Mar 2014 16:00:17
Hey laker hope your well

My bbq is telling me low is the man at the moment

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Hahah. well let's see how the summer goes malaga.

unfortunately we have no power and the powers that be at the emirates frustrate me more and more.

they say nothing, they account for nothing and the whole philosophy of the club right now seems to be, i'm too posh to care about you peasants.

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I like Lowe but the down side would be the time between the end of the World Cup and the start of preseason. He wouldn't have any prep time and no time to acquire new players.

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24 Mar 2014 09:30:16
Time for Wenger to leave. His refusal to sign his contract shows arrogance and quite frankly with the resources at his disposal 4th place is the least expected and the odd domestic cup win. We need a manager who is more astute tactically and who would put together a balanced squad, work out why so many injuries occur, etc.
This season we have been a centre back and a forward short. Next season, we will probably need 2 keepers, 2 right backs, 2 centre backs, ideally a better left back than Monreal and 2 strikers, if as reported Giroud leaves. I believe we also need to replace Arteta & Flamini who lack size & pace. Neither would get into the squads of Chelsea or Man City.

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It is left to see how the team finish the season.

if we can win out remaining games and make it a tight finish and win the FA cup, perhaps wenger stays on another year, but if we keep failing like we have against the better teams, and do not win the FA cup, its likely wenger will not sign on.

The fans have turned against him and the media have targeted him too often. The players seem to take the challenge lightly and there are questions as to his tactics in big games.

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24 Mar 2014 09:08:01
You guys are all full of rubbish. Ozil will bounce back next season, just like Ramsey, Just like Per. This is his first season, some players need one season to actually get use to the style and of EPL. I think he has had a good season if you see the stats. The things he is meant to do he is doing. I think the schedule fixtures of EPL have effected him mentally. In Germany, Spain and Italy there is always a break for almost 20-25 days during the Christmas. obviously he is not used to this as this is his first season. What AFC lack is a striker like Henry, A winger like Robert and an imposing powerhouse in midfield. Big teams or even sometimes not so big teams also have big powerhouse in the midfield. We need some one like yaya toure or matic who can score goals and can break up plays as well. Flamini is doing a great job, but he can't do this every game. Arteta is awesome player with great passing ability but the age factor comes in especially when u play in EPL. In UCL he can play an important role as the teams play differently in Europe. Stop this heavy crtisim of Ozil. He has had a good season. I say good not excellent as he is capable of being excellent which I am confident will be come next season. It must be hurting so much as AW did not wanted this heavy defeat in his 1000th game. 1-0 loss is acceptable but 6-0 it does hurt. But I know why he has cancelled the press conference, as he does not want to remember about the match as players also want to forget it . AW will prove everyone wrong if he stays I am sure he will buy 3 top players and give that rat ass hypocrite Jose dick mourinihohio a tight spanking on his arse. Also team selection was not right by wenger. I can understand he wanted to attack and win the game, but Flamini should have been there, along side Arteta, rosisiky, ox, carzola and use Gnabry as a striker. I think he is strong enough to hold the ball and has pace to get behind the defence. Sometimes you need to do something different. Giroud I think is mentally not in the game since the episode at the Hotel. Also would have TV as left back in this game instead of gibbs. he gives the physicallity as well and also can help in attack.

we will be win the league next season.

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{Ed002's Note - Your argument rather falls apart as there is no winter break in Spain and only one weekend off in Italy. Real Madrid played 9 games in January. You will need another excuse.}

Its easier to look in the mirror and spot the flaws rather than look at someone else and spot their flaws. does not solve your flaws just masks them.

give credit where its due, we were outplayed. it was our doing.

but 3 big defeats this season against big teams suggest, that his selections or tactics are too stale, that others have caught on.

Did you see how barca kept the ball and how real countered? that's how we should keep the ball if other teams are to counter.

not keep the ball for the sake of it. make nothing of it and then give it away cheaply and conceed.

Im done making excuses. Wenger needs to answer the critics. he had the money, the option to spend, the option to improve the team. I have made my thoughts clear. to contend consistently we need to have the manager and players feel pressure, not relaxed and comfortable.

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It's always next year, next we do this next year we do that next year hope wenger isn't there

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24 Mar 2014 00:18:59
Convince arsene to stay and sign sanchez and benzema in the summer (as both will probably be availble if madrid and barca heavily invest in their squads as they claim)

give AW one last chance at a swansong.

benzema, sanchez walcott ozil ramsey and flamini would be quite a decent set up i'd say.

flamini would need to be replaced at somepoint though due to age.

but please for the love of everything let this happen.

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Wenger is a tactical dinasaur. His methods don't work anymore.

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How anyone wants Wenger to stay after these last few seasons well and truley baffles me.

As for Alexis Sanchez - he's going nowhere, certainly not for us.

Benzema will only be available if Madrid get Suarez : you know, the bloke we should have bought and whom Brendan rogers said would sell for £8m more than Ozil

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{Ed002's Note - Suarez is third choice for Madrid at best. But Benzema will be available.}

Tactics work with a world class striker. we don't have one. so we are relying on what I consider a slightly improved andy caroll version.

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