Arsenal Banter Archive December 26 2013

26 Dec 2013 22:24:55
As Banbury has said, I find some of the negativity after that win a bit ridiculous. There have been a couple of undesirable parts of our game shown in the past few fixtures, but I think some gooners have forgotten what it's like to mount a title challenge. Look at key title-winning performances by Man U and Chelsea over the last 5-10 years and you will see a catalogue of errors, dodgy play and lucky decisions. But you need that in your favour.

It wasn't a stellar performance today but we were too strong for West Ham. What's the big issue? We've played some beautiful football this season already, one more battling victory against the Toon and we'll be going in to 2014 top, halfway to 84 points.

There were also positive sides to the performance. Vermaelen, while not as slick as Koscielny, is about as good as it gets as a CB stand-in and a big reason why we only conceded 1 goal in 2 games. Same goes for Arteta, who had a couple of scrappy moments but kept Hazard out of the game on Monday and batttled again today. Giroud is knackered and needs competition better than Bendtner. He was slack today but still got a good assist. His goal/assist ratios this season are still strong, he has just had a poor scoring run and needs a rest. As I say, we need better competition than Bendtner, ie a new signing in January. Particularly as Poldi looks like he'll be played on the wing.

As for Walcott and Poldi, they are huge goal threats and top players. Theo keeps getting criticism and keeps scoring, Poldi is just class. If he stays fit he'll make a huge difference.

So basically chin up, guys. We were spectacular early in the season and are still winning even without the same level of class. Things look good for the future as long as we can keep it up.

Amongst all the negative posts on here that is a great post.
Well done Oleg. Respect.

As per usual a very good post Oleg

26 Dec 2013 21:49:06
Evening people,,

Happy with the result, no sorry, very happy with the result. Any away win is great, no matter who you are playing. If they are near the top, they are fighting for points to win the league or qualify for CL or Europa, and if they are near the bottom they want the points to avoid relegation, so any game, from now until the end of the season, will be tricky. Make no mistake, an away win at West Ham is a great result.

The performance was not very good IMO. Some people are having a go at Theo, just don't understand that one, he scored twice, what more do you want?

On the subject of Giroud. Tricky one. This guy is always going to divide opinions. We may as well start calling him Olly Marmite, because you either love him or hate him.

I think, in terms of what he brings to the team, the positives outweigh the negatives. He's great at leading the line and holding the ball up for our attacking midfielders but, when our Mids are not getting forward enough and not scoring, than we cannot rely on Olly to score the goals to win the game.

He missed 2 great chances against Chelsea and the same against West Ham today, luckily Theo and Podolski saved the day.

He's not an out and out goalscorer and I think you need one if you want to win things. That said, I would still start him against Newcastle because I believe he just needs a goal to regain some confidence and than maybe start scoring.

In my opinion, i'm not sure if I consider Ozil world class. Great player yes, world class, no.
Ronaldo, world class. Messi, world class. Ozil, great player.

World class players win you games on a regular basis, even if your team are not playing very well.
Messi has been doing it for years, as too Ronaldo, year after year after year on a regular basis.

Before you jump down my throat, i'm talking about Ozil as he is now. Of course, he needs time to settle, time to adjust to the speed/pace of the English game, he should be judged from next season and not this. That said, its a results business and when you pay £42million you expect an immediate payback on your dividend. That's not my rules, just the rules of football in general.

So, we are top of the league and i'm very very happy. Our performances over the last 6 games are erratic to say the least, but we are on the right road. Where that road takes us to come May is anybody's guess.

NO CHILDREN OR SMALL ANIMALS WERE HURT IN THE MAKING OF THIS POST.

Sorry, that was my post above lol
Dagenham Gunner

26 Dec 2013 19:37:33
I think this is the best arsenal team with podli back, switch arteta and flamini around, carzola through the middle who I thought was excellent today, in front you got giroud ozil wallcott and podolski.

This might leave us a little frail at the back, but I still think that's the way to go

Poldi Ozil Theo behind the striker all day

With the way Giroud plays and Ozil creates, we need wide players who can shoot and score

Eventually I want Jack and Rambo behind that as our engine

I don't know why everyone is so quick to push out Arteta, please recall he did not play in the Man City fiasco. Kept it clean v Chelsea etc He is the starter and Flamini is the superb back up that we have needed - full stop, if you don't believe me then believe the boss cause it looks like he sees it the same way!

Cheers

And Dortmund away he was fantastic

26 Dec 2013 19:21:18
podskiiiii:):) just like a new signing:)
hmmmm, AW future speak?:)
anyway, great result, we needed the win.
(thank goodness):):)
and. Flybo:) hehe nice post, I agree with the comment, go for it and blame the Christmas drink:):):):)
wow:) andi now daydreaming of his sexy lady cousin:):P :)
COYG andi:)

26 Dec 2013 17:52:15
G62,

Thanks for your support on Liverpool banter page, appreciate it.

PS, you have to admit it was quite funny, even the Liverpool lads shot him down in flames.

ThankS G62.

Your very welcome DG mate, the fact you have so many friends on all pages ready to speak up for you speaks volumes of the man u are.
You should be proud of you mate

Shucks G62, You trying to make DG blush? lol

26 Dec 2013 17:07:02
Top of the league with a far far inferior budget to CFC and MCFC - Wenger can't be as bad as some of you make out!

Great result today away from home

Now off to Newcastle to cement our lead

Lets get behind the team and the players

I know people questioned the lack of subs against CFC but I wouldn't have changed anything either as we looked like the only team to score

Great to see Pod back and great to see Theo on the scoresheet again - quality player and would much rather have him than play against him

Theo has scored a lot of important goals and contributed key assists over last few seasons. Can't work out why our fans sag him off - leave that for dicks like waddle and co.

There are times when he has just one player in the box to aim for, I remember Barca only being worried about one player. Give him a break. He works hard and contributes well to our team.

We are a team where the eleven players at up to a better team than they are individually which makes us hard to play against.

Can we improve - YES

Can we win the league - YES especially if we add two plates in Jan

Lets push them over the line as we all have a key part to play

Agree with the last three lines of your post. But you and I must be watching a different Theo.

Happy. Xmas to you and your family hope your dad is well

Thanks Malaga

He is well but better if Pat improves a bit more

How are you and how was Christmas

I sick as a dog, I'm never drinking blue label Smirnoff ever again, patsy is a fighter, the fighting Irish will get him over the Lin
e.

26 Dec 2013 16:58:19
Phew!
Flybo

26 Dec 2013 16:37:44
do u guys also feel that bentner is better than giroud after watching todays game.

Well I can't say he's better, but they are very similar type of players.

Giroud is better.

26 Dec 2013 16:09:15
Walcott's feet are too fast for his brain. Does he know that he has to make a quality pass? Does he know that he can't just run through players? Jesus.

And Arteta's clearance is one of the reasons why I don't rate him at defensive mid. He's not very athletic. Plus, why was he on the 6? He should have been marking the guy on the box who shot!

I don't think the goal was Szcz's fault. The man on the box should have scored it before the rebound.

Excellent 2nd half from Arsenal,, now
3-1 up, win the next two league games and it really will restore some confidence

Think Theo scored 2 goals against City and now 2 against hammers in last 3 games - not too bad?

No one's brain is as quick as his feet nor our the people who are meant to get into the box to make the wingers job easier rather than trying to hit one Arsenal head against 4 defenders plus a keeper

I thought Arteta was the man of the match today, and the only one that actually played in the first half.

26 Dec 2013 16:00:11
Disappointed in the scoreline. How have we not scored yet? We've had plenty of chances: Santi's, Giroud's, Theo's, Arteta's. If West Ham is going to sit back on their 18, I would like to see us take a long range shot or two.

By the way, whoever said Ozil is not "world class" is wrong. Just look at his skill to get away from two West Ham defenders then bolt behind their backline to play a perfect ball across the keeper to Giroud, who should have scored.

26 Dec 2013 14:34:01
No Flamini. Again? Arsene must be saving him for Newcastle, risky.
Rate Artetta highly but would have played Flamini myself

26 Dec 2013 12:04:50
A great display with an emphatic win would be ideal today but a 1 0 drab affair would do.

We simply have to get 3 pts today, its unbelievably tight at the top but one by one teams will drop away from the leading pack by the end of January and we can't afford to be one of them

Absolutely mate,

A win is a win as long as we get the 3 points.

Got a gut feeling Giroud is going to score 2 goals today, than again it might just be the turkey sandwich I just ate for lunch.

Well DG if he does its our duty to keep you in turkey sarnies throughout 2014 mate, you know how much you like them :-) it could be your breakfast dinner and tea for the year ahead mate

Lol you could be right G62

At the moment there is more chance of your turkey sandwich scoring a brace than Ollie! Still love his attitude and commitment though. Podolski staying fit will be the key to the goals we need to keep us at the top.

26 Dec 2013 05:31:41
i have a list of players that I think are likely options for arsenal in there january window which are:

1.Diago Costa
2.Jackson Martinez
3.Pedro
4.Benteke
5.Lavezzi
6.El Shaarawy

which one would you prefer? I would like Costa or Martinez

who do you think is most likely to be brought in

please answer

Costa or Pedro

Diego Costa, from what I have seen of him he's very very good and has an amazing scoring record.

Costa seems to be available 92 and although I know little about him everyone seems keen.

Costa and Pedro are my picks. I'm not a fan of Pedro on Barcelona, but if he moved to Arsenal, I would be.

I would guess Martinez seems most likely to be brought in as he's hinted at a move to us a few days ago.