Arsenal Banter Archive February 26 2018

 

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26 Feb 2018 17:34:41
My wife's hoover broke and she's been nagging me to get her a new one. Luckily, I had an Arsenal sticker lying about, so I stuck it on the hoover and now it sucks again!

Believable2 Unbelievable5

26 Feb 2018 18:09:29
I sold my hoover last week.
I wasn't really using it and it was only gathering dust.

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27 Feb 2018 00:02:50
I’m a sucker for a good joke 😂.

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26 Feb 2018 17:30:52
I watched the final on a live stream.
But It made the Arsenal players really slow and lethargic and they kept giving the ball away a lot and they seemed to make a lot of mistakes.

Funny though, the City players seemed ok.

Think there might be something wrong with my internet connection?

Believable4 Unbelievable1

26 Feb 2018 18:36:08
I wish it had been a real stream, I could have drowned myself.

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26 Feb 2018 19:10:07
Stayloyal, dags is a helpful chap; he would have held you under.

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26 Feb 2018 19:23:02
You boys 🤣🤣🤣.

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26 Feb 2018 14:31:36
Liverpool fan in peace,

Watching from a far Arsenal is a club that needs change and needs it quick; I’ll be honest I don’t know to much about how the club is run so will start with Wenger.

Wenger has brought tremendous success to Arsenal over the years, consistently winning trophies and keeping you in the CL. However this is where the issues stem from, CL became a measurement for success and he and therefore the team became complacent. Wenger is no where near the manager he was even a few years ago and he has lost half the support. When this happens clubs normally sack the manager (Chelsea on numerous occasions and the relegation battlers do it yearly, West Brom likely to do it again too.

So Wenger has lost the majority of fans and there is no where to hide from it. The players know every time they go on to that pitch they will be under massive scrutiny and that is not comfortable to play in.
However it also gives the players an `out`, which leaves you with performances like yesterday. They know the buck will stop with Wenger (till he leaves) so they have it fairly comfortable.

His biggest fault is complacency and it has spread throughout his staff and players, they just don’t look up for it because it is all too comfortable under Wenger.

Then there is the team, it reminds me of where we were under Hodgson (and they were incredibly dark days) the difference being that the Arsenal squad has a couple of star players (Ozil, when he turns up but I will get on to that in a sec, Auba and Laca) but the rest would struggle to get in to most top half first 11’s (on current form, I think most of players are very short on confidence) . The squad needs a huge overhaul/ kick up the backside and that takes time.

Ozil needs his head shaking, he has bundles of ability but appears to have got his contract so has gone back to coasting. He has the potential to carry the team but just doesn’t seem to want it enough and I think it is that desire that has stopped other club being interested.

To summarise the club is in danger of becoming toxic, fans protesting against Wenger may be right or wrong but is time for him to move on (not up, he needs to remove or be removed from the club for it to progress) , someone needs to grab the players by the scruff of the neck and tell them that they either play for the shirt of find somewhere else to rob a living. But most of all the fans need someone to believe in that can bring the club back together and start re-building. Any more of what is going on at the club will just set you back further.

One side point try not to get on the players too much, they are being stifled by everything going on at the club. If a new manager was in place I think you would see a very different side to the majority of them.

Believable3 Unbelievable0

26 Feb 2018 15:43:14
What a top post and spot on assessment. Respect.

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27 Feb 2018 08:44:36
Was speaking to my father in law, he’s a liverpool fan and he said the position that we are in reminds him of the problems they had a few years back, it will take years for us to re build with someone new but it will be worth it! Great post WYred 👍🏼🔴⚪️🔴⚪️.

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26 Feb 2018 14:17:12
Yesterday properly highlighted that our transfer policy under Wenger is wrecked and our squad is just completely unbalanced.

Yesterday we had no threat going forward, Augbumeyang had nothing to work with and Ozil had no options or runners to pick out. Ozil, Ramsey, Mhki, Wilshere, Iwobi all players who want to come short and collect not make runs or stretch defences. We have no wingers or pacey wide players at our club who can stretch a defence or stay wide and put in a good delivery. Why did we sell Walcott should of played him more.

We have no natural CDMs, Xhaka and Elneney not up to it neither have the legs or workrate. They are awful at the job they are being asked to do. Having 90% pass success isn't good enough esp when all these are to the CBs or offloading to other CMs.

Our defence is ashambles. Monreal and Kolasinac good enough, Lb fine. Cbs - Kos not what he used to be. Mustafi hugely disappointed in 18 months not adapted or good enough. Chambers not good enough. Bellerin has no competition no matter how poor he plays he'll start next week. Kolasinac coming in has made Monreal perform better to keep place, Bellerin needs same competition.

Goalkeepers neither good enough Id keep Cech for his experience and dressing room pressence but we need a better first choice.

Its frustrating because we have sold players we should have kept. Szesency is better than what we got, Ox is excelling at Lpool, Gabriel was a better CB than Chambers, Coquelain poor form yes was still our only DM, Giroud and Walcott atleast one should of been kept to offer something different.

We have a decent squad something to build around. We desperately need a new manager to come in and sort out the defence and bring in 5/ 6 players to improve our depth and first XI.

We need a top new GK, a RB to push Bellerin, a top CB, proper specialist DM and a pacey LW.

I don't even know who we could sign who would actually want to join us? Would depend on the new manager.

Believable0 Unbelievable1

26 Feb 2018 10:24:37
Is anyone else fed up with the lack of fight in our team? Yesterday’s was just another example of how far ahead Man City are not only in organisation, but attitude and commitment, and is something no amount of money can buy. They are by far the best team in this country and it is easy to say they have bought trophies. The truth is, we have a major problem with a manager who does not inspire or is not able to instill a determined attitude in our squad. We also have an issue with players who are willing to just go through the motions of playing. No passion or willingness to give 100% every game and display a defeated attitude as soon as the going gets tough. When was the last time you watched our team kick-off with any great zest or energy? These issues are not solved by spending money, they are solved by man management and by players taking satisfaction at leaving the pitch knowing they gave their all for the team. This is just my take on things, other points have been made on here and a lot of posters have made very valid arguments regarding our team, I just wanted to add my opinion. Man City are a fantastic team at the moment and it is no shame losing to them this season.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

26 Feb 2018 10:48:18
If Pep was Arsenal manger and Arsene City manager with all the same players in each teams current squad would City and Arsene have won yesterday? Yes probably.
Would there be a 27 point gap between the two clubs absolutely not in my opinion.
Even if Arsene inherited the current City squad he would no longer be capable of organising and motivating them to such heights in this day and age because if he was capable then why are we so far behind not just city but the top 4?
This city team under Arsene might or might not be top of the table but the guy certainly wouldn't be walking it by several miles.
If Pep has our current squad would we be challenging? No way the players just aren't good enough, would we be top 4 with this squad? I don't think so either but would we 10 points behind top 4? I doubt it very much because any half decent motivator with half decent organisational skils couldn't fail to get improvement from even the current Arsenal squad.

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26 Feb 2018 11:14:35
@G62 - Would Guardiola have put together the squad Wenger has, no! Even with the current squad I have no doubt any of the managers of the 5 teams above us would put on a better display than yesterday. It was pitiful, as bad as it gets. Wenger has to go.

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26 Feb 2018 11:21:07
Arsenal as a Club are just to much in the comfort zone from top to bottom there is a lack of passion drive and determination to improve and challange for the league and get into the euro elite. Sure it is not easy against the riches of the likes of Man City but we are not exactly poor are we and it is not all about money either look art Leicester it's about team ethic and everyone at the club pulling in the right direction.

The board are just happy milking it for money and and turn put no pressure on Wenger to produce and Wenger in turn has lost his mojo and desire therefore to motivate his players. Too many players are then just in the comfort zone. We need an injection of fresh ideas and from top to bottom with a manger with a bit of fire in his belly.

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26 Feb 2018 12:12:17
Agree with everything said above. The level of mediocrity that is deeply embedded in our club is shocking. Most of our players are in their comfort zones. Anybody who recalls our recent game against Swansea? Who remembers where xhaka was during their equalizer? I have never seen a player with such level of concentration. What was shocking is that wenger never said anything about that. If it was sir alex he would have substituted him. That is just one of the many times our players just seem not to care.

We need change quickly.

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26 Feb 2018 12:19:36
RG I did state if both managers inherited each others current squads.
The point is about Arsenes inability to motivate and organise.
The fact he cannot buold a team from scratch is another debate altogether, I seriously question if he ever could?
No George or Bruce players not one single title challenge from a 100% Arsene Wenger team.
Don't get me wrong Arsene was a fantastic revolutionary brilliant manager back in the day and he brought us a style of football and success we could only dream of before he arrived but was he simply just exactly the right man at exactly the right club at exactly the right time.
He walked into a club with the best defence in the league and a squad full of fight passion organisation and with his knowledge of the emerging French football revolution added his own beautiful beautiful footballing philosophy that had us all wanting more of the same
Whether people like the question or not it's a fair one because on his own merits 100% what has Arsene Wenger won since that fantastic 2003/ 2004 season? FA cups and community Shields if you want to make it look slightly better.
Arsene without George foundations has been a cup team manager, well if you look at he facts it certainly suggests that's the case.
If someone had suggested this 10 seasons ago I'd have laughed at them but the more time passes and the less and less capable Arsene is shown to be to actually build a competitive side capable of fight passion and commitment as well as good football the more I question if every bit as much as we were lucky to get Arsene back in 97 was he every bit as lucky to join us at that exact moment in time?

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26 Feb 2018 13:40:03
62 - at least give him the invincibles as you are stretching it there

Did Jose ever win the league without Terry at Chelsea or foundations from his predecessor?

Your points are valid and it probably the right time to change - never said that before : (

Change in board, strategy, manager and squad.

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26 Feb 2018 14:30:02
SY I more than give Arsene the invincibles we had trophies galore before that fantastic season and without Arsene Wenger none of it would have happened.
The best manager we've ever had who gave us the greatest football we've ever played and the most success we've ever known.
All I am saying is the longer Arsene has gone on without being able to build a competitive side the more questions it's provoked as to why could he deliver so much so soon in his first 7 years but never get even close for the next 14 years.
There has to be a reason as to why what Arsene made look so effortlessly brilliant at the beginning has slowly but surely become totally beyond him in the last decade.
It's not about having ago at Arsene just trying to undestand what happend to all that early genius.

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26 Feb 2018 18:03:04
What I still can't get my head around is the debacle in the summer when he was given absolute control over his future and gave no decision for months, leaving everyone in limbo, until the only option was for him to sign, because it was too late to get anyone else anyway after just a couple weeks of no decision the board should of said you're clearly not 100% up for it, it should of been an instant yes! Let's do this! Back me big! I'm going to go out on top! Not just a meh! go on then let's carry on as we are.

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26 Feb 2018 09:59:10
Morning all

Have we a new manager yet?

Believable2 Unbelievable1

26 Feb 2018 11:32:26
Malaga, I hear RG61 is in the frame for the job.

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26 Feb 2018 13:51:13
Stop talking nonsense sharpie! I’ve heard he’s going to knock it back because he is too bust flying around the world in his private jet. He’s considering F1 possition with Mercedes before he even thinks about dipping his toe in the football world 😂.

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26 Feb 2018 06:54:36
Yesterday summed up the post 2006 Wenger era. Firstly, why on earth is Chambers still at the club, never mind selected for yesterday's cup final. He was brought to the club as a promising RB and then Wenger ruined him and moved him to play at CB. Wenger then sold Gabrieland brought Chambers back from relegated Middlesboro.
The first goal was schoolboy stuff. Wenger often plays too high a defensive line, which is exposed with teams getting in behind, as Aguero did yesterday. If we had played 2 CB's and both were behind Aguero, instead of in front, he would never have skipped in behind them. We still don't possess a single DM player and continue to have way too may creative/ offensive modfield players. We need a new keeper, a CB, a pair of DM's. This is the weakest Arsenal squad I have seen in recent seasons. Wenger must go.

Believable5 Unbelievable1

26 Feb 2018 08:11:08
Lack of Quality in vital positions, awful mentality, no passion effort pride, all these things have been highlighted time and time again over the last 8 to 10 seasons by more and more pundits, Arsenal and fans of other clubs too.
I don't see how yesterday was any worse than we've seen many many times before.
It's not as though Arsene got his new contract last May then suddenly changed his ways, I really don't undestand why yesterday was any different to any other one of what must be close to 100 very similar performances just like it over the last decade.
For those people who were happy for Arsene to get his new contract last May what has changed? Certainly not Arsene that's for sure he is simply doing now what he did yeas before his latest contract.
Almost all posts in the lead up to yesterday's game said we would either win 1 0 or get blown away in another lack luster display so I'm not quite sure why people weren't prepared for it.

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26 Feb 2018 08:31:00
And keep Iwobi and Welbeck and loan out Lucas Perez, who can play out wide and upfront and scored 9 goals in 16 games.

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26 Feb 2018 09:11:08
From the outside looking in, the only player who played well vs Ostersund was El Nenny, chambers was a shambles vs the swedish team so he rewarded failure with a start in the cup final and the only player who actually did well no chance. Yeah yeah, wenger does favorites and that is a huge problem. I see you stuck with Xhaka as long as wenger stays as well. He gave the ball away 12 times yesterday. Amazing player, for city.

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26 Feb 2018 09:21:13
It is worse than previous seasons G62, as we managed to win the FA Cup in 3 out of the last 4 seasons, masking Wenger's failure. Indeed, the season we didn't win anything Wenger came under huge pressure from the fans. This season I doubt we will anything and will finish last out of the top 6.
At the end of last season we had a stronger squad than this season. We have sold: Sanchez, Oxlade, Coquelin, Debuchy, Szczesny, Gabriel, Giroud and Walcott and only brought in Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Kolasinac and Lacazette.
Perez was a prime example of Wenger's nonsense. We signed him for £17m and allowed him to go on loan after one season. This is the weakest squad I can recall. Wenger dipped in form when Dein and Fiszman departed. I would like Wenger to go now and Ancelloti and Henry to come in.

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26 Feb 2018 09:32:20
We all knew the weaknesses before a ball was kicked this season and the odds were already pretty much against this team making top 4 in August.
There were huge question marks about so many of our players back then and since then Cech and Kos have joined the question mark club.
Not their fault simply age catching up with them but with two previously dependable players now struggling too it's difficult to name one Arsenal player that you can put your shirt on to produce a quality performance most games.
All players have poor games and poor patches but now Sanchez has gone who is left that we can rely on to set an example? I can't think of one player now who fits that role.
Almost if not all teams even those fighting relegation have one or two stand up and be counted players who 9/ 10 games can be relied on to put in a shift and show some fight but we don't have any.
Reliable week in week out quality is a problem for sure but mentality is a far bigger one and has been for years.
It's difficult to see how this is going to change in the near future with or without Arsene, the next manager whoever he is or whenever he arrives has a huge job on his hands and he will do very well to get us back in top 4 contention within 2 seasons.

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26 Feb 2018 09:44:35
Sorry RG but I don't see how it's any worse because of yesterday mate.
If we beat City all is well and if we lose all is wrong? Of course not.
27 points and counting behind the leaders and 10 points behind 4th after 3/ 4 of the season played?
We saw nothing new yesterday and the fa cup wins only fooled those who wanted to be fooled by them.
The mentality problem within the club has been plain for everyone who was prepared to ses it for a decade I just don't get how yesterday suddenly took the blinkers off for anyone.
3 league wins on the trot at any point between now and the end of the season and once again people will be declaring we've turned the corner and are only 2 or 3 players away, which of course isn't true any more than now than for years but people's feelings soon change once the dust settles and a glimpse of sunshine peaks through.

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26 Feb 2018 10:45:48
G62 - It was worse yesterday and has become steadily worse since the start of the season.
In the January window, we actually weakened the squad, when we sold, exchanged, released or loaned out Sanchez, Coquelin, Walcott, Giroud, Akpom, McGuane and Debuchy. Whilst only bringing in the young Greek defender, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang.
To play Chambers yesterday was beyond belief and with only a couple of players out, it clearly illustrated how weak our squad is now. The performance was dire, lacking shape, tactics, passion, etc.
I cannot see us beating AC Milan, nor improving on 6th place.
The atmosphere on Thursday will be horrendous.

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26 Feb 2018 11:41:12
RG you may have changed the way you feel which of course your very entitled to do but at Arsenal everything is today as it was Saturday morning apart from the fact city's name is on the cup now.
Nothing is different at Arsenal only a few people's feelings which may or may not change back again after a couple of good results.
The Arsene in camp is less vocal but every bit as passionate as the out camp and by this time next week both camps numbers will be as they were at 4.30pm yesterday.
Nothing has changed that won't soon change back for the foreseeable future.

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Review Of The Day 26th February 2018

26 Feb 2018 06:12:27
{Ed's Note - Tris Burke has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 26th February 2018

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