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29 Feb 2016 22:40:31
I know they say hope is the first step towards failure. But if we can breakout of this slump Wednesday at home and beat Spurs we will be right there. We have the talent but do we have the leaders. So far that is a no but there is still time.
01 Mar 2016 01:52:29
Yes and we could be top of the league by sunday evening.
01 Mar 2016 11:44:20
That's a big 'if' Darren.
29 Feb 2016 21:59:13
Got to say I agree 100% with paul merson on wenger and arsenal. I know thst will surprise a lot of you.
01 Mar 2016 02:32:18
even though i have stuck up for wenger a lot i have to agree to steve
but as we all know (including arsene himself) as long as top is secured he's job is all but safe.
01 Mar 2016 07:22:05
Yes :-)
01 Mar 2016 12:49:51
Is that it red. Brain freeze. Lol.
01 Mar 2016 12:45:37
which bit do you mean steve?
I am pro Wenger i must a admit, however i agree that if we don't win this season and leicester or tottenham do then he should go due to his decision making in the transfer window.
I do not agree with what merson said about there being 1000 managers being able to get top 4 with this arsenal team, I still believe that wenger is one of the best managers in the prem ( aside from his blind loyalty to some players)
David Moyles, Jose, LVG, rodgers, Hodgson, are all managers of big clubs who have failed to do the job that merson seems to dis credit Wengers great consistency. yes he seems to have stopped moving us forward but i do not believe we have gone backwards ( this season aside if we fall behind Leicester and more importantly Tottenham.
Just my thoughts on the situation, but i do however strongly believe we will win the league this season, so hopefully we will all be praising Wenger, and the the debate will be should e go out on that high i guess?
01 Mar 2016 13:15:41
G b I yhink in merson translation that means there are a lot of managers that can keep the present arsenal in fourth, that's not an achievement and I agree.
01 Mar 2016 15:09:14
It achieves CL money next season Steve so for Arsenal its job done yet again and all for only a 15 million investment in Cech and Elneny to Arsenal football club that is success.
01 Mar 2016 16:51:27
Gunner be real. It's a big call. We can win it I just feel we will continue to buckle.
Meanwhile higuain got his 25th league goal last night.
29 Feb 2016 19:09:12
Red dog, Ever since I have been on here iv always said Wenger won't win us another title.
He may do it this season but I do feel deep down he may regret not breaking the bank a little.
Come may I could be saying you were correct. What was I thinking. Wenger is god. Our teams amazing. Red dog thank you.
Time will tell I guess. I do enjoy the banter though.
29 Feb 2016 20:10:55
Well said derby. You are obviously a mad sorry fanatical football fan and I get where you are coming from. And I don't mean Derby.
{Ed025's Note - ahh derby...where men are men..and sheep are nervous..
29 Feb 2016 21:21:00
Derby I get where you're coming from but you have it in your head that I'm some kind of blinkered Wenger can you no wrong fantasist.
You couldn't be further from the truth. I support Arsenal mate and just struggle getting off with slagging every man and his dog off.
There were 11 players on the pitch yesterday who after performances against the likes of City, Bayern and to a degree Barcelona need to have a bloody good look in the mirror and ask themselves WTF was that utter crap we just turned out.
They have to shoulder a lot of the blame, they were on the pitch, they know what it takes but to walk out and play like it was some kind of gimme is/ was unacceptable.
Things were not made easy by failings in the summer, Sir Chips tells the world Wenger has given them a list, ed02 tells us Carvalho, Fekir and Benzema are on that list. One doesn't want to come, one signs a new contract the other gets injured.
We can all think Lacazette, Krychowiak, Higuian etc but none of it happened, it's muted money in the bank is for a reason other than transfers, ed01 stated that Kroenke used the club to borrow against for his new ranch.
I read that Usmanov is happy with the money in the bank and will need to see a lot more in it to make his move if in fact he even intends to or that Kroenke would give up the golden goose. Usmanov also asked the board to pay shareholders dividends which he takes from all the other companies he owns. A request they declined.
So whilst we have apathy or interest only in money at the very top will a change of manager change what follows below.
Add to that we now appear to have reached the point when we don't have a single player worth a toss and they should all be sold pretty much lock stock and barrel.
So what next mate?
29 Feb 2016 21:44:38
Red dog you are going to end up with rsi if you aren't careful.
29 Feb 2016 22:27:29
You're right Steve, from now on its a simple yes or no from me, or is it in or out. ;-)
29 Feb 2016 22:14:49
Let's see how usmanovs mate does at Everton. And I respect the Ed's opinion but if you read the everton page fans were saying about the buyout. The eds said no it's not true. If the americans have pulled out it will take months.
I know your thoughts on usmanov but if you read the letter he sent out it reads very different. I don't no why your scared of him taking over? Would he want us to challenge for top top honours. Without a doubt
If Wenger has given that list and none are signed Surely he would say something? Truth is he believes we have enough and our strikers are world class
One day we will look back on the nightmare hug and laugh.
01 Mar 2016 07:21:38
Derby,
I'm not afraid of Usmanov in the least mate, we need a change at the very very top first and foremost but with the money in football now why is Usmanov not making a move and equally why would Kroenke sell for the same reason.
I loathe Kroenke, he has zero interest in football or winning anything, he says or does nothing to inspire any confidence to the contrary. People can slate Manchester City until the cows come home or Chelsea for that matter but they have owners that love football, not saying other owners don't but these two are putting money next to their passion. Stan looks about as passionate as a dead bloody donkey!
We all no we should have spent money in the summer, we are expecting miracles from three strikers who cost less than Aguero combined.
Mate I'm almost at the point of laughing now. :-)
01 Mar 2016 12:54:17
Red dog, I agree with your post.
29 Feb 2016 18:17:34
Wenger in wenger out, theo in theo out, giroud in giroud out, ramsay in ramsay out, gab in gab out, squad is great squad isn't, we need 2 players we need a full team. One thing we all agree on we were pants yesterday and that isn't going to change overnight, we've been drifting there since we hit numero. uno. For me yesterday showed in spades we have no balls.
29 Feb 2016 19:33:09
Steve, that sounds like the hokey cokey. You put your left leg in, your left leg out, in, out, in, out you shake it all about.
29 Feb 2016 19:41:21
Arsenal just crumble when there is pressure and expectation on us to win big games. Yes we eventually lost to Barcelona but it was fine margins and with a bit of luck could have easily got a result against the best club side in the world.
Fast forward just a few days and we get done by a very average Utd side with rookie striker and makeshift back 4 that we should have been terrorising. The reason for me is that there is lack of leadership and instructions and drive from Wenger from the sideline who executes zero tactics and does not have real game plan and also a lack of leadership and direction on the pitch.
There are too many hiders in our side when the going gets tough not enough players taking responsibility. Walcott should be in prime now and should have been relishing running at a slow Michael Carrick and Danny Blind. Sanchez, Walcott and welbs. should have been running such a back 4 ragged really. Varelea had a yellow card early in the game so Sanchez just should have been at him all the time then but did not.
It like they are all waiting for somebody else to take in initiative and size the moment This is often why we over pass, like I don’t want to take the responsibility to try and score.
Wenger has to take full blame for selling all the strong characters and leaders we used to have and replacing them with skilful but mentality weak players with no balls.
29 Feb 2016 20:12:30
NS we all do the hokey cokey on here, bet you boys are looking forward to the weekend.
29 Feb 2016 20:13:57
Cant agree more ryan. Top post. Saved my fingers.
29 Feb 2016 21:09:28
Not at all Steve, don't you remember when we played Chelsea earlier in the season? Everyone was beating them then they put in their best performance of the season.
We have a big game Wednesday 1st to get through. Won't be easy at all.
The weekend will be a lottery on who takes their chances.
29 Feb 2016 18:09:06
We better beat Swansea on Wednesday, we better put a hell of a performance on against Tottneham on Saturday and come away with something. Nothing less than 4/ 6 from our next two games and realistically we are out of that title race. Our performance yesterday was wholly unacceptable, we should not forget it but we need to concentrate on making sure that gap between us and the top two is closed.
29 Feb 2016 18:19:04
Lucas my friend please don't hold your breath, yesterday was not a fluke.
29 Feb 2016 18:25:33
Swansea will not be easy to beat at all and have an excellent record at the Emerirates as for Spurs? Well they are a very good side with a very good work ethic and aren't afraid to roll their sleeves up and dig deep to get a result, I think that combination will prove way to much for us next Saturday.
Hopefully I'm wrong but I just can't see this Arsenal side beating or even holding the current Spurs team.
29 Feb 2016 18:53:20
Steve I'm just praying certain players pull their fingers out and start performing at a level they should be at this football club.
29 Feb 2016 20:16:01
Lucas great idea, let's all start praying on here every night this week and we can also get our voodoo dolls out and stick pins in the spurs players. About our best option at the moment.
29 Feb 2016 21:20:52
Very true; Spurs have some we lacked for the most part against Man Utd, a desire to win and succeed and spur each other on.
29 Feb 2016 16:20:33
It's time to sell Theo Walcott.
29 Feb 2016 16:29:25
Couldn't agree more.
29 Feb 2016 16:36:21
Yes that will sort all the problems out.
{Ed025's Note - you do make me smile steve.. :)
29 Feb 2016 16:55:16
Arsenal will never be all it can be with Theo and Theo will never be all he can be with Arsenal, both player and Club need a fresh start.
We need to break up the cosy club mentality and players like Theo need to break free from it.
{Ed025's Note - i have never been a big theo fan G62 as you probably know, but even though he was awful yesterday he was not alone yet seems to be the scapegoat for all the boo boys, rambo has also been poor this season and sanchez since his injury a non-entity. to be honest all of them were a disgrace yesterday mate so to single someone out seems a bit unfair to me..
29 Feb 2016 17:00:54
The great thing is ed I think most on here make me smile ( believe it or not ) . No need to answer that.
{Ed025's Note - i dont think i will steve..to protect the innocent.. :)
29 Feb 2016 17:29:31
I totally agree Ed Theo wasn't alone yesterday far from it and he's also not alone in being far to comfortable in his own! underchiements at Arsenal, Ramsey Gibbs and quite a few others have not come close realising their potential but all look pretty happy to be going through the motions each season to me.
Mesut Ozil got the hump and stormed off when we were humiliated by city a couple of seasons back and had to apologise to the fans for not paying them lip service for letting them down, personally I'd rather a few more were to angry with themselves and were way to embarrassed to face the fans maybe that way the same thing wouldn't have been repeated at Liverpool and Chelsea a few months later.
Theo is far from alone Ed that's the real problem mate.
01 Mar 2016 13:15:08
I have to agree. And its not just based on his performance at the weekend. I just don't think our style suits him. He would be the worst blackjack player in the world as based on his positional play for us, he would stick when he should have twisted and vice versa. Watching him against Hull, time and time again when he had space down the right flank he kept coming short towards the ball and added nothing to the game, except allowing Hull to tuck their LB which made it easier for them to defend. He was criticized in the past for not having a footballing brain. I think that's a bit harsh, but ultimately I think his game would suit a team that only requires him to play one key role, which would always be for the ball in behind. So for example if West Brom sold Beharino and needed a good replacement, I would say Walcott would be perfect. I also think we could get a decent bit of cash for him (£10/ 15m? ) , which with an added cash boost could be used to sign a player more used to playing as a dedicated right winger/ midfielder, such as a Mahrez or Gotze etc.
29 Feb 2016 14:15:17
i must admit i have always been one who defends wenger and the team but there is no way anyone could find a valid reason to stick up for them after that performance yesterday.
this is the best chance in years to win the league and yet again we bottle it. there is no motivation at arsenal whatsoever because wenger knows as long as he gets top 4 his job is all but safe and i'd say around 80% of out players know they have got it easy, getting top 4 and getting over 100k a week.
and let's be honest what top manager in the world would want to come and manage us with a board that's only happy about profit anf doesn't care about actually winning things? the only hope we have is that one day usmanov makes kroenke an offer he can't refuse and he decides to sell but can't see it happening.
29 Feb 2016 14:09:13
on a lighter note let's have a little fun. Before yesterdays game i sat down with some other fans in the pub and we said take your top 10 strikers Wenger has used and pick the goal that stands out the most.
10 -RVP - Charlton Away ( had to put him in )
9 - Podolski - Montpellier at home on the volley, what technique and power
8 - Suker - home to Sunderland 2000
7 - Eduardo - Side Volley V Burnely in the FA Cup
6 - Wiltord - Old trafford - say no more
5 - Kanu - Hattick goal v Chelsea
4 - Anelka - Blackburn away 97-98 in the snow
3 - Bergkamp - Away at Newcastle need i say more
2 - Wright - Home to Everton lobbed Southall about 1994?
1 - Henry - Spurs at home ran from his own half.
29 Feb 2016 12:53:22
When pundits n fans wer asking wenger a while back why haven't you brought a striker. he replied we have, we brought Alexis Sanchez.
So if this is the case then why isn't he getting played upfront in a slightly free role?
He's far to predictable on the left, forever coming in on his right foot and every man, dog n dolphin can see that's all he's going to do.
So why not try him as our CF against Swansea, got to be better than Theo n giroud surely.
29 Feb 2016 16:20:24
Danny down the middle Joel on the right neither is always brilliant but both give everything in every game and right now I'd take 11 of those type players on the pitch each game.
29 Feb 2016 16:45:05
I hear ya G62, that's all you can ask for out of a player. Someone that's going to put there body on the line to win the game and give you 100% no excuses.
I can't believe knowone had the balls to stand up n be counted yesterday. There must be one or two leaders in there somewhere surely, that's not scared to tell there mate to sort themselves out.
29 Feb 2016 10:44:22
The day after the day before and the dust has settled.
So, can anybody come up with any positives?
I normally throw in a 'chin up' post the next day, but at present, I really can't think of any positives.
Maybe, if we beat Swansea, West ham get a good result against Spurs and West Bromwich nick a draw from Leicester, than possibly.
But, as usual, we are looking at other teams to help us out because we are incapable, or not good enough, to tend to our own state of affairs.
Positives anybody?
29 Feb 2016 11:06:35
Ozil proving some doubters wrong a little I suppose. Put Monreal through with a delicious 'over the top' instep ball that should of been buried. Assisted Welbeck for the opener, and got on the scoresheet himself. The team were dreadful, Ozil for me still showed his class.
29 Feb 2016 12:24:32
Yes dags the pitch was like a carpet.
{Ed025's Note - pity about the pile that was on that carpet steve.. :)
29 Feb 2016 12:35:59
Love it ed.
29 Feb 2016 12:46:55
I'm like you dags I can't think of one thing positive to say about yesterday.
Lefty is right to a degree, ozil tried but didn't try hard enough, he needs to learn to shoot aswel as assist though.
I just want someone to have a shot rather than trying to walk it in constantly, as soon as we get in the box then they have a go but why has knowone got the bottle to have a crack from 30 yards or even just outside the box.
Oooh I thought of one. elneny likes to get stuck in ;)
29 Feb 2016 10:28:33
Like everyone, I lost my s*it yesterday. I felt dumbfounded that we lost, with all respect, to a weakened terrible United side. It puts this current team in perspective when realising that During the three home games before Barcelona, we attempted 70 shots and scored just two goals! I love this team. I think it has the potential to be incredible, just with the same old cliches "1-2 class players away". If we get that clinical finisher to put away the chances we create, the pressure would come off Sanchez, Ozil's assist stats would be insane, and the whole team would be uplifted. i'm firmly believe that this is our biggest concern. Our GK is sorted, defence is fine, midfield coming on nicely, just get that striker in! Games like yesterday, and even against Barcelona would be handled so much better if we scored form the chances created!
29 Feb 2016 10:46:38
Good post.
29 Feb 2016 12:28:33
Surely lefty you realised yesterday we aren't only 2 players away. Even if before you did.
29 Feb 2016 13:12:24
What's fine about the defence!
{Ed001's Note - Cech has a nice helmet and Per is outstandingly tall. Erm. Yeah that could be it.}
29 Feb 2016 13:29:21
Yesterday, bellarin was poor, is he fast, then he should show it. Gab was all over the shop, kos was everywhere except where he should have been and monreal looked out of his depth again. First of all they need to play as a unit and then we can decide if they are all right or not. Personally the defence cech apart does not convince me at all as a stand alone defence.
29 Feb 2016 15:48:50
Steve, for me its not necessarily being 1 or 2 (or more) players away, its how many leaders maybe as little as 1 Tony Adams (or oddly Roy Keane) - would fill this talented bunch with the heart they need. Not even getting that from the boss which is really off-putting!
29 Feb 2016 10:08:20
In the last couple of seasons we've been absolutely thrashed by Chelsea Liverpool city Southampton in a manner seldom experienced by a top 4 side plus we've been embarrassed by Monaco Olypiakos and Zagreb in games that really mattered in the champions league (not ones where we were already qualified) .
Losing to utd yesterday was bad but we also lost to them last season at home when they had a back 4 that was made up of 1 defender and 3 MF players due to injuries.
Is this Arsenal side really that poor? Not in terms of footballing ability their not, so why does one club crumble and under achieve so badly so often?
For me it's the lack of real expectancy and accountability that goes from top to bottom of Arsenal football club from the board to manager to players to fans, there is a subconscious comfort zone and top 4 mentality and complete lack of accountability and responsibility with all making and accepting excuses the other.
This is not an Arsene out coment but mourinho was 100% right about when he said there's only 1_ manager who doesn't need to achieve to keep his job that thread of not needing to achieve runs through the club from Arsene to players like Jack and Theo who get pay rises and Rosicky and Artetta new contracts on the merits of the stadium being full and money coming in not due to on field achievements.
If we don't change the way people are rewarded and change our expectancy levels as a club from bottom to top we are going to sleep wallk into enjoying the Europa league a very long time before we ever experience another league title that's for sure.
It really is time to snap each other out of this groundhog acceptance.
29 Feb 2016 10:22:36
Nice post G.
29 Feb 2016 10:30:08
change is near i feel. but usmanov needs to buy stan out to push on to.
29 Feb 2016 10:38:27
That Sir, is a top post and so damn accurate.
29 Feb 2016 13:47:34
Gunner you have cut copied and posted that same post for the last 11 years lol.
29 Feb 2016 19:11:43
Top post!
You have just summed up my Arsenal thoughts. I sat thinking to myself yesterday with the injuries with have and all the shit average players we have to put up with at United, if i could pick one of the top 4 to play who would it be?
Arsenal all day long. Since the likes of Adams, Bould, Winterburn, Keown, Vierra and Petit there has been no real fight in your team and if teams who are technically inferior to you just get stuck in and have a go they can get results. Yesterday proved this and despite the fact Wenger has done well for you in the past it can't be ignored that he has failed to repeat that success in recent years. Difficult to criticize him and say let's sack him but in a year where no top side has emerged in the prem you still look miles off winning it.
Obviously we are even further away from winning it but that's another story!
29 Feb 2016 08:43:23
That was not what was required yesterday. We used to play a brand of football neutrals loved. Fast flowing, passing moving but at speed. We have lost that, its so slow and pedestrian. There is no passion, no fight? This needs to return and fast.
Aaron Ramsey - love the guy, has all the attributes to be our Frank Lampard but doesn't seem to want to do the simple thing. 8 touches when 2 will do.
Theo Walcott - he is getting a battering today and justifiably so, his performance yesterday was horrible. ( he was not alone ) . Just don't know how this guy fits into our system, is he a striker? is he a winger, for me he is a striker but needs to play in a 442.
Sorry to pick on these two but the burden is fallng on every one else to take the slack and we can't carry players every week.
We need to be stronger in midfield, we were bullied yesterday, had no imposing force in the centre, no outlet out wide as passing the ball to sanchez everytime isn't working and he can't carry the team when he is playing badly.
Lets hope to god this season highlights what us fans have been saying for years.
We need a new spine. DCM and Striker plus a first class winger.
Sorry for the rant.
bring on the swans then the spuds.
29 Feb 2016 09:42:13
Will be interesting to see how this group of players react in these games. Anything less than total commitment they can go as far as I'm concerned. Fed up with excuses, they lead privileged lives and I expect more hunger and desire from them. If they can't show fight when when it is a possibility to win the league then they are not deserving of playing football, let alone play for a team that pays big money in wages.
29 Feb 2016 10:12:06
Absolutely. If winning the prem isn't enough of a drive to get you up for a game (especially against Man U) then you can jog on. You don't need to pay big money to have a good/ great team (look at Leicester) I want players that feel privileged to play for Arsenal fc and give 100% no matter what. Yesterday not one player turned up which has pi**ed me off the most. No one wanted it.
We are still in with a shout of the league but it's a bloody long shot now.
29 Feb 2016 08:43:39
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Monaco Looking To Buy Piece Of Reading, Jimmy Greaves Will Never Walk Again And More News
29 Feb 2016 06:38:39
Sometimes I wake up the next day and think did we actually lose that game in that way? .
Forget a weakened Manchester United team but we should be beating their full strength side even Manchester United supporters I know say that!
So what's going on with Arsenal? .
I think Sanchez is having a very messy season. Lately some of his passing has been awful. Not that I would want him to leave or anything I still feel he is one of the top players in the Premier League. But I have to think to myself that he may be just too good for this present squad we have. Ramsey is a one season wonder to be honest very unnoticeable on the pitch, too many mistakes and can't shoot to save his life. I think Walcott has had long enough to prove himself and really hasn't stepped up to the plate. Giroud, well I feel for him really, probably doesn't know where he stands but to be quite frank where is the world class striker in the Arsenal squad and why haven't we had one since the days of Thierry Henry. Danny Welbeck! is always a game away from the treatment room to be fair and doesn't set the world alight. Mert well there is a piece of work! captain of supposedly one of the best teams in the World and can't run to save his life. Yes we need a complete overhaul I haven't a clue where and how it's going to be done. It's the same old story every year and us Arsenal fans put up with it season after season. Is it down to Wenger? well if it is who is going to be good enough to replace him and what will they do if the board ties their hands together over funds like they have been doing for all these years anyway.
If we were JAMMY enough to win the premier league some bright spark in the board room would probably suggest we don't need to buy as we had the right balance. You could see that happening. Just to end this I would like to say as an Arsenal supporter I love watching Leicester City play they are passionate, quick, work for each other, have players that I would love to see In the Arsenal squad. They are everything we were years ago. Everybody use to enjoy watching Arsenal now I believe it's Leicester City and they deserve to win the Premier League. How hard that was for me to say this but in my opinion it's true. Sorry guys.
29 Feb 2016 07:39:29
Hard to disagree with any of that.
I would also throw Spurs into that mix. They play a very fast tempo and are very well organised.
Hate to say it, but they have been better than us all season.
29 Feb 2016 09:03:18
I'm with you too Dagenham mate.
29 Feb 2016 07:10:14
Yes winning the league would not be the best for us long term. Spurs win the league the shake up happens I feel. Win it and it's yes I was right etc etc and he won't improve us next year.
29 Feb 2016 04:27:39
Wenger doesn't play but he picks the players . He buys them, developes them, decides to play or bench them. Evaluates if they're good enough to win.
He is responsible
It's time for him to go
What's the alternative? We get the record for most forth place finishes in the prem?
29 Feb 2016 06:55:07
Yeah I understand what your saying but also some of our players are so inconsistent, it must be like opening 11 Kinder eggs in the dressing room and chucking whoever comes out on the pitch, and you never know what your going to get with a Kinder egg do you.
29 Feb 2016 03:53:28
Has anyone else heard that Alex iwobi is jay jay ococha's nephew. What a revelation! (Sarcasm intended)
{Ed001's Note - I can't believe that, I mean it is not like they mention it 30 times a game before he even gets on the pitch or anything......}
29 Feb 2016 06:41:40
Who is Jay Jay Ococha?
Is he Iwobis uncle?
29 Feb 2016 02:44:29
What can be said? If Wenger had any compassion towards Arsenal AFC he would resign, at least at the end of the season. This "I always see out my contract" is self serving bull. He is acting more and more like a leader who believs no-one else could do the job - think Mugabe or Stalin. Power has gone to his head and he has lost the plot. "Arsenal are not serial chokers" he says yet under him that almost defines what Arsenal are.
Most of the team seem too happy to play without wanting to win. Remember the WBA loss - like yesterday we were just sleep walking to defeat.
Finally, our away strip is crap. Looks like the players have been sweating in the shirts for a year or more and never washing them.