Arsenal Banter Archive January 28 2014

28 Jan 2014 23:40:02
Disappointed to say the least. I felt this was our worst performance of the season.

Thoughts (mostly negative):

- We simply weren't up for the fight

- Arteta has no business being on the field if no one is injured. He can't can't stop a counter and can't beat defend 1v1s if the opposing player is faster than him. The second goal was his fault as he didn't track him well enough.

- Podolski should have come on way sooner and substituted Santi. Podolski is physical and has pace. This was the game for him. This game wasn't a passing game since they pressured very well and we weren't ready mentally.

- Per and Kos played very well today. Very good solidity. Szcz did the job well but was a little wild for my liking. The goals were his fault.

- Monreal dangerous on the attacking side today but defensively average.

- We need to pressure AS A TEAM! There were too many times where Giroud or Ozil would pressure their backline for a length of time but no one else would come support. If I was on the pitch (or even at the game), I would be enthusiastically leading this pressure.

- Flamini. No reason to do that man. I do his ability to throw himself into a tough tackle like that. We need more of that mentality

Hopefully Wenger realizes we need another center mid and stiker. Center mid is now vital considering Flamini is out for 3 games, Ramsey is out for 3 weeks, Wilshere is occasionally "rested, " and Arteta lacks quality at the moment. A relatively young, tough talking, tall center mid would be ideal.

This game wer'nt a passin game because that person wearin the armband was meant to be the link from defence to attack. he did nothin. missed the first 5 minutes nd didn't even know who was our front 3 behind giroud, because he couldn't get the ball out. he don't even know his job. Arteta's a joke. not god enuff. end of.

He's not good enough (at moment). I wouldn't say a "joke" though only because he does exhibit leadership qualities. Otherwise, I totally agree with you.

28 Jan 2014 23:11:56
did we cry for getting a draw when we were on the invincibles run?

no.

Enough said

Please don't compare the two

My point is, we may have dropped two points but we didn't lose out completely, ill take a point if it limps us across the line, we can't feel bad for these results until after the last game of the season when you can look back and say if we'd won this or that.

im not so imbecilic as that

28 Jan 2014 22:50:08
No gibbs, no walcott, no Poldolski, no chamberlain in the starting line up meant almost a complete lack of pace. Practically suicidal against a team like the Saints IMO. Hope the lads put in a real performance against Palace on saturday to redeem themselves and to probe to the fans they want this as much as us! COYG

I don't because we have Palace on Sunday :)

Lol Banbury, better for them too turn up early on Saturday than late again perhaps? ;-)

28 Jan 2014 22:45:08
I was worried when I saw arteta and flamini paired in the middle, it just don't work. we were too flat and there was no penetration. Today we missed the fluidity of jack. we had the wrong eleven out and paid the price.
Fair play to the saints they ran themselves ragged closing down arsenal and were first to all the loose balls.
It isn't the end of the world, but it was two points dropped
Wenger got it wrong and we need to snap out of it quick time or we could be sucker punched again by palace.

Szecs. could have done better with the first but made a few vital stops later
Sagna.kept busy by shaw, but overall was solid
Kosci. was solid
Merti.wasn't given time to pass out from the back, but overall done well
Monreal.prefer Gibbs nacho wasn't with it today
Arteta.IMO is the weakest link in the most important position, I have said before he isn't a defensive mid, hasn't the pace to chase back
Flamini.let the pressure get to him with two footed tackle, will be missed for three games, better when he is sole defensive mid
Cazorla.on and off, took goal well but that's about it
Ozil.played well, chased back, even got in a tackle, got assist but others around him didn't do their part
Gnabry. has potential but isn't the answer yet, we are missing the threat of theo
Giroud.scored, but that was it, not one of his best games

Subs.
Gibbs. should have started, too late to make impact
Ox. should have started In front of gnabry, couldn't get into game because of saints pressure
Podolski. came on too late, should have come on with Gibbs and gone for broke

Two days left in the transfer window, how about a defensive mid and striker arsene?

Chin up lads, maybe spurs and the hammers might save the day tomorrow!

COYG
Hulk Hogunner

Correct, Arteta and Flamini just doesn't work

28 Jan 2014 22:27:56
Okay so we need to buy a defensive midfielder similar to Flamini or we can forget beating Palace Liverpool and United! Fed up with Arteta in the deep he doesn't take it by the scruff of the kneck like Flamini does, hugely important week for us!

Mdog

28 Jan 2014 22:14:09
I hate to say it but just like Vermaelen and Koscielny are not as solid as Mertesacker and Koscielny, I think Arteta and Flamini are not as strong together.

A point away at the saints is a decent result. Not great but we dust ourselves down and look forward to putting four past Palace on Saturday.

It's as good a game as any for Flamini to sit out with a one match ban.

28 Jan 2014 22:08:00
Starting Arteta and Flam versus this team at their place was insanity

No wonder we couldn't get possession, they were quicker than us in the middle of the park

We took this game for granted and deserved to lose

Hope this wakes us up. We have been squeaking by for weeks now. Time to step it up

28 Jan 2014 21:59:39
Stupid reckless challenge that was a straight red and bloody stupid

Deserved to be sent off and hopefully fined by the club

Could really have done some damage jumping in like that and now misses the next 3 games. person

Love the language filter on here, haha priceless

28 Jan 2014 21:52:42
Well that didn't make for pleasant viewing, the moment I saw both Flamini and Arteta together on the team sheet I worried, they simply do not work well together. I don't know what has happened to him but apart from the odd game Arteta has really fallen off the pace. Nobody seemed like they wanted to win tonight not the players, nor Wenger, after grabbing two goals in his last game would of liked to have seen podolski on earlier before the sending off ideally. Let's keep our heads up now this next month will make or break us, don't want to see a repeat of the effect the 2-2 draw with Birmingham had on us back in 2008. Hopefully if the right player becomes available, we can add to the squad over the next few days, and get another lift much like the signing of Ozil provided and push on.

28 Jan 2014 21:42:40
That's our title dreams gone for another. Ten years

Yeah that's just what we need a little
positivity.
There is a long way to go yet and while we have a lot of difficult games ahead of us, so does everyone else.
Keep the faith Gooners and let's hope the cheque book comes out in the next few days.

Bit of an over reaction that mate, good nights sleep and look at it again tomorrow would be a good idea

We are still top of the league jelfy, 1 point gained is better than 3 points lost.

That 1 point just might win us the league come may.

Not relly think about if we don't sign at least 3 players that's it att mid winger and a striker season over in my eyes maybe the fa cup who knows if he doesn't spend after this loss which it is if we want to wing the title then we defo won't win it but with 3 days left can he pull off 3 ozil signings I think noy

Jelfy,

No offence but you sound like a petulant brat.

Take the disappointment and move on. Stop throwing your toys out the pram.

We're still top by 2pts, 3pts from City. It's not like we're scrapping for fourth as usual!

29 Jan 2014 12:13:49
Greenly, if a spurs beat city then it's in but if city win it's 3rs for us

28 Jan 2014 21:10:41
Got to be either or when it comes to Flam and Arteta they are both to negative! This works perfectly when counterbalanced with a creative player I would have gone with Rosicky in the Rambo role!?

28 Jan 2014 20:40:03
Hard to see us getting anything out of this game, we're useless and should be two down.

Game over:( absolutely gutted:( another year, so much emotional energy gone:( ewwwwwwwww:( need some kind of miracle now I guess. coyg andi

28 Jan 2014 20:36:43
Flamini and arteta in and no podolski, enough said

28 Jan 2014 20:10:13
Flamini and Arteta in midfield just doesn't work.

28 Jan 2014 19:06:07
Starting lineup doesn't fill me with confidence.
Arteta/Flamini in the middle has not worked at all this season. Ramsey must not be 100% but even still we know soton will press us, we need our best ball players who can move it quick and get the ball out of our half. We've got 2 players who rarely venture past halfway and just pass sideways.
Also I feel Podolski should be starting on the left.

He had a great understanding with Ozil on Friday and he's without doubt our best finisher.

Hope I'm proved wrong but don't have a good feeling about this one now.

I'm lost on poldolski too? He must have put a Whoopi cushion under Arsene's seat or something equally bad.
If we play 4 2 3 1 I can see some point to the selection.
For me Poldolski would be in above Carzola! But then again if have left him out the last game and he scored two so let's hope Arsene proves us wrong again tonight with his selection, he usually doe me

AG, I too am not a big fan of Arteta and Flamini but I think Wengers hand was forced a bit. Rambo was due to be in the squad and possibly start. Personally I would have the passing and pace of the Ox in the middle. Especially after his decent game on Friday.

We should line up, with the players we currently have fit, of:
Flamini, Cazorla
Gnabry, Ozil, Podolski

Totally agree. ozil not in the game, Carolann wasted out wide, I don't care if he used to play outside he is better in the middle. Be happy with a draw at this stage

28 Jan 2014 15:48:10
Hey Gents and Jenny,

I'm looking for a stream for today's match, any suggestions?

Thanks, COYG

Try wiziwig,
Usually pretty good.

There's a stream in Colindale called The Silkstream. It's pretty fast flowing and very refreshing especially after heavy rain. Not sure you will be able to see any of the match from any part of it though (unless you can see a tv through a window of a house backing onto it that has one of these legally questionable feeds from Europe or Nigeria etc.)

Download sopcast and open Wiziwig, great streams, great quality especially the russian ones.

28 Jan 2014 12:10:18
It struck me as strange when Fabio Capello got a great new deal from England - before he had delivered the goods. We've had a good start to the season but we shouldn't let all this excitement go to our heads. The job is far from done and it remains a very real possibility that we might end up scrapping it out for 4th place again. Don't get me wrong - I'm not being negative, I've been as proud and ecstatic as anyone to see us at the top of the table, but can see a mountain to climb ahead with many slippery slopes.
I sincerely hope AW brings in some reinforcements, specifically up front - we all know that failure to do that would be madness - maybe the kind that comes from being an autonomous leader. We have a great chance to capitalise on our position THIS season, don't let's blow it by missing the boat. This transfer window is beginning to look familiar. If there's business to be done surely leaving it to the last minute like this can only be a risky strategy. The signing of Ozil might have papered over a few cracks. We got him at the last minute and it doesn't bare thinking about how close we came to missing out - or where we'd be without him. But the need for another striker was clear even then.
The mood here this season has been slightly giddy, myself included - AW's beautiful game with added steel and a new determination are huge cause for optimism - but the run of fixtures ahead would stretch a squad the size of $hitty's.
Hope I don't get blasted for these words of caution, but even if the signings are made, leaving it so late is making my bum incredibly squeeky.
COYG!

Mornin' mate,

I don't think any Arsenal fans are that arrogant to be counting their eggs before they hatch at this point in the season tbh, especially how the last 5 five years have gone.

But as you say, everyone is in good spirits because the club is heading in a great direction and we are competing without a sugar daddy or being bank rolled by a billionaire owner.

I would just say that Wenger clearly knows what he's doing, he is not without fault by any means, but I would not swap him for any manager in the world past or present. He is Arsenal through and through and will do what he thinks is best for the team.

Keep the faith bruv!
Peace,
Trinidad-Gooner

In complete agreement, very happy with where we are, but do we risk everything on Giroud remaining injury free and Super Nick banging them in when he plays? Or with money in the bank do we do the prudent thing and strengthen the strike force? How will fans feel if we come up short on silverware due specifically to not strengthening that position - imagine coming 3rd or 4th because we end up with no fit striker? That would be entirely down to Wenger and there would be no hiding from the facts.

Realisticgooner

You said " I hope I don't get blasted for these words of caution".

Far from it mate, great post in my opinion and you echo the thoughts of most Gooners.

Good post.

Totally agree we need another striker but to be fair signing the right player doesn't look easy! There are a shortage off top quality strikers and in this window players are not always going to want to move now and risk not making the world cup I think that there will be a lot of clubs trying to sign forwards in the summer and more chance of getting the right deal done then

28 Jan 2014 10:46:07
Been reading about the transfer news, and while I agree with Ed002, that the Draxler situation may come to a fold in the summer, I can't help but hope it is in this transfer window.

So let's have a look at our midfield.

Rosicky, Cazorla, Arteta, Flamini - the old guard as I would like to call them

Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil - the main guard (key players)

Gnabry, Walcott, Ox, (possibly draxler) - the wingers

we can see that from the old guard, Rosicky and Cazorla can be supplemented by the likes of wilshere, gnabry, Ox.

while from the holding position, Arteta and Flamini will need cover, Ramsey and wilshere can cover these position, but not together as they are too attack minded together.

So effectively we need a CDM, and with our style of play a Cabaye type player would have been ideal.

So with the summer approachin, and the likes of Toni Kroos possibly on the market, I don't see why we should not go in for a player of his calibre.

If draxler is going to be a CF, ST, then its only hopefull to have a player like kroos (hes geman too) to solidy that position, and give Arteta and Flamini a rotational partner.

28 Jan 2014 04:08:06
i see someone beat me to the punch with the new kit, and looks like puma are going with the design Thierry was wearing in the leaked pic.

Go click on the Arsenal Sightings page lads to have a butchers at it!

28 Jan 2014 11:10:24
I think, if weger doesn't sighn this window then we ill slip, and chelsea will win it of which I don't admire.

28 Jan 2014 02:23:26
Hi, someone can clear this up for me probably.
Is TR7 injured beyond the broken nose he got given by Agboghghhgfhjkjhglahor?

He was is the squad for Fulham after the Villa game but not in for Contry or tomorrow it seems?

Cheers. L-Gun

Not as far as I know Leegun, I think he is available for selection.

The nose of TR7 is very delicate and needs much care. It's rumoured that his waste tissues have a street value in excess of 3 figures each. Vintage ones from the 2008/09 season can fetch ten times that!