Arsenal Banter Archive November 04 2015

04 Nov 2015 23:06:37
Why do we need to win by 2 against olympiakos? If they lose to Bayern and we beat Zagreb what is the tiebreaker if we win in Greece 3-2.

05 Nov 2015 00:00:00
Results against zagreb, olypiacos av 6 points from them.

05 Nov 2015 00:14:49
They beat us 3-2 at Emirates, so if we beat them 3-2 in Greece, its a tie.
For it not to go to a 'tiebreak' you need to win by 2 clear goals.

I think :-)

05 Nov 2015 02:24:03
Sorry not thinking straight if results are equal ie 3-2 then its goal difference.

05 Nov 2015 03:02:06
What is the tiebreaker goal difference?

05 Nov 2015 06:30:33
Hi Darren if it comes down to a tie breaker Arsene and the Olympiacos manager both have to wear one of those clip on ties and stand on the semi circle on the edge of the box their team was defending at the final whistle.
Players then take it in turns to try and dislodge each managers tie and first team to break the tie goes through, Sep Blatter came up with the idea shorty before he bought our Tie Rack a way of distancing himself and Fifa from the golden goal of the 90s.
Hope that clears things up for yiu and it all makes a little more sense now mate.

05 Nov 2015 09:29:40
G62,
You forgot they have to wear Spongebob slippers.
If you are going to post, at least add all the facts :-)

04 Nov 2015 22:36:18
Tonight was the ultimate test of our strength in depth and it won't be tested to that degree again this season, an understable loss.
Sunday is test they can not fail and be called adequate cover for premier league champions, I think Sunday is a very fair test of our depth of strength.

04 Nov 2015 22:56:57
Id play ospina after cech letting in 5. Lol

04 Nov 2015 22:57:09
It is G62, Barcelona or real could have been pumped there tonight that's how it goes . It's ok saying how we would have faired against them in a game that counts but when it mattered to us we beat them 2-0 after been emebarrsed at home and today maybe it mattered to them more that's football the best team win today and the best team arguably lost in the first team and the best team could have lost tonight with a different rub of the green. No post mortem required . Spurs at home let's do it.

05 Nov 2015 00:16:04
Steve,
I would play Ozil instead of Cech.
Top reflex the way he punched ball into Bayern net.

05 Nov 2015 00:23:32
Oh blimey o riley Grow, so you are comparing our starting XI tonight with that of Real Madrid and Barcelona . those two Spanish outfits would not have got beat 5-1 in Munich

God I do wonder about the logic on here

Sometimes as Arsenal fans you have to take the rose tinted glasses off. occasionally. please

Very early prediction for Sunday if the same team that started tonight starts the NLD

Home win updated prediction to come later when we have word from the medics.

05 Nov 2015 00:35:32
I think tonight proved one thing.
We have adequate cover in midfield, we have adequate cover in attack (almost), but take Kos out of back 4, and to a slightly lesser degree Bellerin, and we struggle.

It's like taking Dags off this page, it just won't be the same.

Can I get an Amen?

05 Nov 2015 08:04:08
How that comparing our starting 11 to Barcelona or madrids? You need to look more carefully . I said that both Spanish teams could have been beat there, and they could Bayern could easily put any team through that they have in the past and similarly both Spanish teams could beat anyone by that score as well! Not comparing our 11 with their 11. If you want a row go and have one with your partner and stop making assumptions.

05 Nov 2015 09:02:39
Dags your happy with the cover we have? Madness. You should never be happy with a squad. Always evolve.

04 Nov 2015 21:59:51
Grow

I was always going to sleep well as I wasnt in a world of fantasy like some .

STEVE I disagree mate out first 11 is good enough we proved that at home to Munich or have you forgotten that? We lost those games because we thought we just needed to turn up.

I still think Wenger had an eye on Sunday and was protecting Kos.

04 Nov 2015 22:18:11
Banbury our team isn't good enough to challenge for the champions league.

04 Nov 2015 22:19:18
Babury i'm not going to get into a debate what we did or did not prove. But what we did against bayern at home was, we can do it in individual games as we have before against them, but not at a consistent level. In this competition we can beat teams but then we lose heavily in the other leg or returrn, milan, monaco, bayern, dortmund etc. It as if we can't take it to the next level. Which is what I believe anyway.

04 Nov 2015 22:27:51
And i'm afraid I disagree our first eleven are good, not great. Cech has improved us but its debateable by how much. Only this season we will find out. What ever you or I think.

04 Nov 2015 22:38:55
Yeah but it's boring Banbury . We got beat and deservedly so but it could have been different same as the 2-0 could have been different with our strongest 11 at home. Just the copying and pasting of a post is the first thing you think of after a humbling defeat is sad. Like the old saying "with friends Like these who needs enemy's" it was on the cards so what it happened . I told you so is the last thing I want to hear and if you feel any level of vindication then I'm happy for you. Go to work and tell your friends how you saw the future avoid the banter and ridicule by admitting we were shit and making the Spurs or united fan that's giving you grief a cup of tea. I'm devastated as always so if you can find away to deal with the pain by already accepting it when the draw was made months ago then good for you!

04 Nov 2015 21:52:16
You compare line ups tonight. Only one player makes that Bayern team. Even pep at the end put an arm around him. Alexis Sanchez.

Robben on for a minute. Bags. Haters will hate.

04 Nov 2015 22:22:05
I really don't get this haters will hate thing, Robben is a great player which makes it all the more difficult to understand why he is also a cheating douche bag.

That's why people hate the tool, nothing to do with his football ability mate.

05 Nov 2015 00:31:14
Haha i'm only messing but he is a top top player. Would I have him at arsenal? Yes any day of the week.

Haters gona hate is for the younger generation :)

04 Nov 2015 21:50:37
Just seen call me positives post about kdb. For me only Sanchez is better in our attacking line up. So yes he would play. Is he better than ramsey. Of course.

Please tell me your ty from arsenal fan tv.

04 Nov 2015 21:41:16
As I said after losing to Sheffield Wednesday, we would get nothing tonight, so it proved, move on to the NLD.

I just didn't want anymore injuries and we pick up two in 24 hours!

On a positive Giroud just keeps scoring doesn't he.

Tonight was no surprise to me and it shouldn't have been to anyone else on here.

04 Nov 2015 20:37:50
Can't really figure out tonight's tactics if they were to let Bayern make us look like school kids and win the second half then we'll done job done lads, but like I said earlier the biggest result we need is Zagreb to win as then tonight doesn't matter and player will be back in 2 weeks time!

04 Nov 2015 21:11:15
Your right Rick and that's the way to look at it mate. Win one and loose one against Munich is better than two draws. All a not lost mate.

04 Nov 2015 20:37:00
I was watching a good comedy on uk gold but just put the Bayern Munich game on it's so much funnier I haven't stop laughing for 45mins. You lot are completely out of you depth.

{Ed025's Note - I was wondering when you would turn up raver..

04 Nov 2015 20:47:03
Raver,

Arsenal reserves aren't doing that bad, let's see how we get on at the weekend against your first team.

04 Nov 2015 20:56:20
Raver tonight you are right, but that's about how far you lot are behind us.

04 Nov 2015 21:57:05
Reserve team lol. Get a grip. No Robben, Vidal, Ribery and Gotze starting. You have a couple out who are all crap. Tottenham will destroy you on Sunday. Get your excuses in you bunch of whingers. Bayern made you look pathetic, almost as pathetic as begging Zagreb to beat Olympiakos, talk about desperate, absolute cringe.

{Ed025's Note - we shall see my friend..

04 Nov 2015 20:34:21
Some of us saw this, but the last thing we want is embarrassing.

04 Nov 2015 20:28:38
The thing that really gets my goat is it's hard enough watching this and not only are we been outplayed we are not getting any decisions what so ever right or wrong but to cap it off you have to listen to that sharp stick Hargreaves in orgasm about Munich just doesn't shut up about them it's annoying considering it's mainly Arsenal fans are watching on and on and on he goes.

It's a bit like discovering your wife has cheated and then having to listen to her go on about how great the sex was. Shut up.

04 Nov 2015 20:48:25
I agree, Hargreaves should not commentate on any of his old clubs.

04 Nov 2015 21:14:59
Can you imagine wrighty mate. It's horrible and I feel the pain and it's the reason I have turned the game off, not cause we are loosing but the fact when it was 1,2,3-0 I had to listen to him purr and purr F off its hard enough. And hearing his German tinted accent is making me want to scratch my eyes out.

04 Nov 2015 20:17:45
Mesuts our best player tonight but he's booked, 2 0 down and looking like its going to be a lot more, get Ozil off we can't lose him for the Zargreb game through suspension.

04 Nov 2015 20:05:13
On well, if Cech gets injured, at least we can stick Ozil in goal.

04 Nov 2015 19:31:48
4-0 to Bayern I'm afraid.

04 Nov 2015 19:55:48
3 to go.

04 Nov 2015 20:17:17
Now 2

Just no injuries for me, I have no doubt with our strongest starting XI we can match anyone. with the injuries we have forget Dags, its realism i'm afraid.

04 Nov 2015 20:21:26
2 more.

04 Nov 2015 19:10:20
Koscielny injured as well?
Jeez.

04 Nov 2015 19:24:20
They've used the dreaded word too, SLIGHT, but he is on the bench along with Rene-Adelaide.

Would love to see that young guy get on and do something good. :-)

04 Nov 2015 19:33:32
Right then Red

Tell me this what happens if Gabs or Per gets injured in the first 5 minutes? . Kos comes on, if that's the case why isn't he started, if there is any doubt he doesn't even make the squad and you play Chambers.

04 Nov 2015 19:38:44
He looks promising Red.
Raw talent, holds no fear.

04 Nov 2015 19:43:19
Ha ha the bench looks a bit thin too. Ah well i'm at work so I can always delete if it doesn't go our way.

04 Nov 2015 16:59:03
Hate to be a pessimist, but for years now for varying reasons November is with one exception, a really bad month and we struggle. Injuries have some bearing. But is it the amount of international games around sept oct or is it because our squad is always stretched due to the same players not being available. While on paper our squad is strong, on the field available squad players is debilitating. We can't year after year rely on these players, I do think its time to be ruthless, my problem is we never are.

04 Nov 2015 17:43:31
The P word is the problem Steve the players who always spend a chunk of the season on the treatment table all have potential in abundance but because of injuries never quite live up to it, then there's the old chestnut of not signing players who will block their progression should they ever become injury free.
I understand why no one wants our young injury prone players replaced but serous cover and competition is needed for them, if their that good they'll out shine the likes of Spyder and retain their place .

04 Nov 2015 17:59:57
It's not like you've suddenly changed your tune Steve, and that is not a knock at you because the regularity in which we have capitulated for one reason or another over the last 9 or 10 years make it of little wonder.

Whilst we do have the best squad for a long time with genuine worldies within it we are again hampered by our normal failing, injuries.

The difference I see, whilst stretching the squad to the limit and beyond, is the new outlook of the team and how they now cope in big games.

People talk of Arsenal never having a better chance to win the league, which for me is total hogwash, if we were to achieve it, it would be a massive achievement, having spent bugger all and coping with these injuries will make it that.

Whilst it's far to early to know if we'll stay the course, the signs are better than they've ever been.

Let's get passed Bayern and Spurs with some positive results and I'll take a draw and then 3 points with no new injuries and see who we can get off the treatment table after the international break.

Because like you say the really tough months, including this one are ahead of us.

On your last point there genuinely can be no place for the likes of Rosicky, Arteta and Flamini next season, whether that is through the likes of Adelaide and Bielek or purchases from outside, this squad will definitely be stronger again next year.

04 Nov 2015 18:11:34
Steve,
I respect your right to air your views and opinions, but
(a) "Hate to be a pessimist" is not the way to start your posts (tee hee! ) and
(b) Explain what you mean please by "I do think it's time to be ruthless, my problem is we never are". What exactly are we supposed to be ruthless about? Injuries? Employing international class players? Accepting that November exists? Allowing international matches at all?

04 Nov 2015 18:24:50
G62,
I posted similar to that earlier, unfortunately it went into 'teams' post so it won't get read, but you are correct.

04 Nov 2015 18:38:45
Max i mean ruthless in taking the plunge and selling the usual suspects, it no good having great players on the treatment table every year and not on the field. That does not mean arteta rosicky etc, it means anyone who is not available on a regular basis due to injury, anyone. If Messi was at this club and he played 6 games a season because he was injured the rest, sell him, he's no good on the table.

04 Nov 2015 20:33:25
Steve is right on many counts. November is a bad month for us over the years. We need to buck the trend this year and looking at the fixtures, I think we'll be okay.

There's no denying that we do have injury-prone players. Every year it's the same players. Having 2 or 3 in a large squad you can account for, but when you consistently have 7 or 8 'unlucky' players is too much burden for the other players in the squad. So I'm with Steve, we need to review our squad as this continues to hurt us.

On the plus side, in Arsene's early years, he always played his best 11 week in, week out. As a result, we were knackered from March - the business end of the season. But he has evolved and tries to use the squad more. So addressing out perennial injuries would be top of my list if I were manager.

04 Nov 2015 12:27:29
What a difference a few days make, after OX and Walcott were declared unfit I posted that we will get nothing tonight

I claimed I was a realist, yet got called a joke and a defeatist .

Oh look others are saying we will get nothing now

Funny old game eh ED.

04 Nov 2015 12:52:54
I posted similar a week ago, agree mate, can't see us getting anything tonight.
Defeatist? Nope, practical.

04 Nov 2015 13:09:33
I've just posted below that Bayern, albeit away from home, were held by Frankfurt who are 11th in the Bundesliga.

We are far from an 11th placed team in the Bundesliga and still bar Bellerin have pretty much our best defensive unit. Personally I'd like Gabriel in for Mertesacker to cover for the loss of Bellerins speed but otherwise we are good to go.

Obviously most are going to doubt we'll get bugger all but we have a chance to get a positive result so don't worry about it.

It will not signal Armageddon if we lose, Bayern are a top top team.

P. s I don't mind anyone being practically defeatist. ;-)

04 Nov 2015 13:19:46
if robben plays watch him closely the guy is constant danger.

04 Nov 2015 13:23:28
Dog,
What worries me most is our tendency to hit the 'self destruct button' in Europe.
Sometimes, we only lose because we beat ourself, as opposed to the other team beating us.

04 Nov 2015 14:28:43
Dags,

That was from stupidly underestimating the opposition and assuming it would be two easy wins.

There is no underestimating Bayern Munich, it's sticking to a game plan which we've shown we can do whilst not forgetting we have Sanchez and Ozil for them to worry about.

No one goes there and gets an easy ride but personally I can't wait for the game, win, lose or draw.

I'm thinking we'll get something from it. :-)

04 Nov 2015 14:59:58
I agree Dog,
Case in point being 3-0 up against Anderlecht and drawing 3-3.
You are correct though, we tend not to underestimate teams like Bayern, hence our good track record against them recently.

Wish I was as confident as you though, but I'm a 'glass is half empty' kinda guy.

04 Nov 2015 08:05:46
Back to the usual injury nightmnare at this time of year. You can, to a certain extent, forgive the impact injuries, but the muscular ones are less forgiveable. We now have Ramsey, Walcott, Ox and Bellerin out to muscular injuries, as well as 5 other players out. I cannot imagine the state of our squad after difficult matces away to Bayern, followed by the North London derby. It's a shame we didn't sign a couple more players in the window to bolster the squad and the run up to the new year is when we always tend to suffer.

04 Nov 2015 08:22:51
We will sign some new players and cheaply

Wellbeck and Wilshire.

04 Nov 2015 08:34:22
In reality we are 3 short of our best 11 if you put Theo ahead of Olly, Bayern came to us 2 weeks ago with players missing and city are joint top with us despite having a few first chioces out, we should know better than anyone that chances are you're going to have to deal with injuries to your preferred 11 over a season and that's why squad strength is so important over a 10 month season.
Some say we have plenty of strength in depth others disagree well tonight and Sunday will be indicators of to whos correct, a draw tonight and win Sunday with 3 first chioces out would be impressive to say the least.

{Ed025's Note - I can't see you getting anything out of tonight G62, but let's hope I'm wrong..

04 Nov 2015 09:08:50
Its going to be difficult Ed no question but getting a result in Munich when Bayern need to win was always going to be a big ask injuries or no injuries, it will be interesting to see how well we cope and if we are actually stronger than some of us have suggested, I'd be plaesed with a draw at full strength so I'd be totally buzzing with an outstanding point tonight, odds are well against it but hopefully we will be surprised again.

04 Nov 2015 10:14:27
Sadly with the injury list we have I can't see us getting any points tonight . To play a team like Bayern we need our best team . On a side note, any truth in the rumours that Robben will be parachuting into the stadium before kick-off as part of his warm up?!

04 Nov 2015 08:00:56
Petr Chech has to have the game of his life I feel if we are to get a draw.

04 Nov 2015 12:54:00
And Kos and Per/Gabs mate.