Arsenal Banter Archive April 08 2015

08 Apr 2015 22:10:55
OK, I will hold my hands up.

It was me who started the Mexican wave.

09 Apr 2015 01:23:19
Needs to be a strongly disagree button on here

09 Apr 2015 17:07:18
Loool. Love it Dags

Does that mean you're Mexican?

09 Apr 2015 17:24:27
Yes Rue, and so is my twin brother.

So, you get 2 for the price of Juan.

09 Apr 2015 19:55:45
Desperately need that extra button

09 Apr 2015 21:16:04
Saint,

You love it mate :-)

10 Apr 2015 10:41:00
( reads dags jokes, flips table, breaks window and jumps from 10th floor)

08 Apr 2015 20:58:18
So the Burnley game, does Sanchez get a day off, will a front 3 of Welbeck, Giroud and Walcott be enough.

Ramsey for me should continue to play himself back into fitness and form.

The Ox's return date has been moved from 11th April until the 26th and Kos has no return date.

After another 72 minutes with the U21's could we see Diaby on the bench with Wilshere and Gnabry.

08 Apr 2015 21:21:29
No regrets, its play our strongest available 11 for me Red.
If we drop points at our strongest so be it but to look back and think what if would be terrible,guess I just want to ride this wave until change is forced on us by injuries or suspension

08 Apr 2015 22:08:15
I would start Alexis on bench, bring him on if we need him.

Welbeck on left, Theo on the right, Olly up top, with Ozil playing behind.

Win win situation.

08 Apr 2015 22:10:18
Gnabry. Hope so. Love the guy

08 Apr 2015 22:42:41
Never like this idea of starting best players on the bench.

WE only have a max of 9 games left.


Sanchez has just found the net again - was he smiling??? he won't be if he's sat in the cold. If he scores 3 then goes off after 60 so be it.

08 Apr 2015 22:54:40
I remember us playing utd in a semi (2004 I think) and starting with Henry on the bench my argument at the time was get the game won ASAP then get him off, anyway we went behind and by the time Thierry came on we were chasing the game and they'd dug in deep to hold their lead.

09 Apr 2015 07:45:34
Agree, with the amount of games left and what's on offer then best team every time, if the games look safe then rest players as we did against Liverpool with substitutions.

Still enough points on offer for anything to happen and no games now are going to be easy.

Like you say exiled, Sanchez will be buzzing after his goal and him and Giroud are having a bit of friendly rivalry over who scores most this season.

08 Apr 2015 10:05:33
Dags,

In reference to a reply from you yesterday about us being right about Wenger well obviously we were, lol. Seriously I'm sure like me you don't look at it like that, we all just wanted to see change, we all wanted Wenger to change, we along with many others just looked at it differently to those that still want him out. We could all see what was needed as I would find it difficult to believe Wenger didn't.

So for what ever reason, the change happened and the vast majority of those who want Wenger out said he had to much control, he ruled everything and if that's the case then a big part of this change has to be down to him. I also think despite g62 not being so happy with Mertesacker I believe he has had a big hand in that change too. He has said a lot of things lately that give me that feeling, he is an intelligent articulate guy and honest about himself and others around him.

The most important thing though is the obvious change, I know and you know it's only a start but like I said the other day you have to start somewhere and pretty much since the return of Coquelin this is what has happened:

Chelsea first 16 games, 39pts, goals scored 36, goals against 13 and lauded as the potential new Invincibles.

Arsenal last 16 games, 39pts, goals scored 38, goals against 14.

So thank you Mr Coquelin however you happened to end up in the first team, however the team ethos changed and most importantly that it remains that way.

We have already lost games in that run but got straight back on track so the signs are good and I think it is United that need to be concerned about the return of a real Arsenal and certainly not vice versa as Chris would try and have us believe. ;-)

Oh and big credit to Giroud, 10 in 10. I think we can finally get Banbury down off that high horse. Lol.

08 Apr 2015 10:56:46
Another very good post Red, as someone who was very pro Arsene out I am delighted by his change of heart and new found willingness to do things a little differently, the truth is I think 99% of us wanted Arsene to see out his contract but the thing that devided us was whether we thought Arsene capable of change and I had certainly lost all hope of him ever doing that so wanted him to go.
Happily for everyone he has proved me wrong and we are reaping the rewards of his new found steel and things are looking better than at any stage in the last 7 or 8 years.
Me and Mertesacker :-) what can I say yes I am still angry with him for ducking out of the way of the ball against both Stoke and Liverpool simply because I don't understand why he did it either time an acceptance and apology like Giroud made after the Monaco game would have gone a lot further than any sweeping under the carpet pretending it didn't happen for me personally although I do accept in in a minority of 1 :-) who's still upset by it now.
That apart though I do think he wants the best for the club but I really believe he is holding others back simply because of his pace and how others have to adapt thier game to compensate for it.
But you'll be delighted to know I don't hold him responsible for his pace and I accept he would be quicker if he could which given the circumstances I think is quite big of me :-)

08 Apr 2015 12:04:10
Ha ha, I know what you mean with Mertesacker g62 and there is little to excuse what he did and I agree with you on that. He is a capable defender but I think the new season will see Gabriel and Koscielny forming a great partnership.

I just think in the dressing room and on the training ground he has been a plus mate.

08 Apr 2015 12:21:15
I have really hi hopes for Gabriel Red to me he looks more like Kos than even Kos does at times.

08 Apr 2015 13:19:25
Good post dog and one I can't deny and ain't really. The tangent that my replys went off on was off the point. But I fail again to see how anything can really be proved till next season?

U can harp on about new times, a change in tactics or whatever but the fact remains this is the same every year.

Next season will show if this is again another false dawn or maybe the start of something different.

08 Apr 2015 14:41:06
Top two this season will speak volumes of how far we've come and how much or little we still need to do.
We invented the forth place trophy but were looking to offload it this time round, you got any room for it Chris :-)
Mind you if you accept it you must also accept what comes with it which includes traveling past Dover to a land of many different nations, Will explain more later should you chose to accept this mission

08 Apr 2015 15:40:12
Chris,

It's about a million miles from the same every year mate, we have quality all over the park and the single most important thing, a DM worthy of the name.

This is not some sparkling run of attractive football followed by a dip or vice versa.

This is a genuine change all be it small in the way we play, this is something to take forward not just one of the age old false dawns.

I appreciate as a United fan it is not something you would necessarily realise as most outside the club and some in it still look at Arsenal as the perennial 4th place trophy winners.

We have not completed the season, we have not finished 2nd nor won the FA Cup but the single most important thing is the change, there is no reason to believe we will return to the Arsenal of old, the players and Wenger have brought into it for want of a better phrase and the 8-2, 5-1, 6-3 and any other score you can think of are for me now stuck in the past.

I go into games thinking the other team are going to have to up their game big time to beat us.

At the end of the day winning titles and the Champions League define how good you are and we are so heading in the right direction mate.

08 Apr 2015 17:06:41
I do think we Need to carm down a little. We are acting like we are the only ones going to improve this summer. We look good but let's not go to ott

08 Apr 2015 17:30:56
Leave of dog, u have always had the quality to do well but u have lacked the mentality to do so. Like I said it's easy to play when no one expects u to pull up trees but again like Monaco when the pressure and expectation was on u failed again. I don't see no change still (yet).

U all harping about coq like he's this worldclass talent that has took u to the next level, he's not imo. he's decent and on Saturday had a good game, although I also see a bit of Song in him to. He can be exposed and Liverpool did at times to.

Im sure I have seen u are exactly the same this season as u were last points wise to. That's doesn't tell me u have improved at all it tells me others have not.

Is second an achievement on years past? Yes! I don't deny that and have not once done so. I pointed out to G62 that's not competing for anything other than being 2nd best, and its sad to think some see that as competing tbh.

Derby has it spot on, u lot do this every year, u get to far ahead of yourselves and end up frustrated and all start calling Wenger out when it goes wrong.


All I'm saying while some gooners were happy to keep coming 4th and saw that as success and while others wanted more (and rightly so) now these same gooners that were happy with 4th are now seemingly happy with being in the convo for 2nd/3rd!

Maybe it's just a United thing but we don't like settling for 2nd best we strive to be the best.

I bet we win another title before u (and that's not a fishing trip) I genuinely think we will win the epl again before u, whenever that is.

08 Apr 2015 17:41:14
Derby,

Mate this is not the United page we are not proclaiming Janujaz as the new Ronaldo, we are not saying Jones is the new Duncan Edwards, we are not saying Wilson is the next big striker, we are not saying we are best equipped to conquer Europe next season or that Rafael is world class. This is the Arsenal page mate.

We are simply saying there is a noticeable sea change in our style and the quality of player now in our squad.

Titles, trophies, Cups or whatever else is what makes the difference, we are simply heading in the right direction and you'd have to be blind not to see it is different to all the bow locks that's gone on before.

No one has said we are the new kings of everything, this page is way more grounded than that.

Yes we may have a few with a shopping list the length of the M25 but that's about as over the top as we get mate.;-)

{Ed025's Note - fair rant that red dog..

08 Apr 2015 18:05:44
Diarby your right mate some others will improve too, I truly expect utd to have their fans singing ole ole as they complete a breath taking two pass move that leads to throw in deep into the opposition half, improvement indeed on this seasons performances

08 Apr 2015 18:57:09
U can see in fairness where he got confused dog mate, u do talk about us a lot :)

{Ed025's Note - i think its more laughing at you chris.. :)

08 Apr 2015 19:04:01
I do support arsenal but I am a football fan and I hope have less tinted glasses than the rest. I have mates who support all clubs.

Be interesting next season but I do think we need to pop a few ballons and float back to ground level

08 Apr 2015 19:08:43
Why not Derby? We are two players IMO away from a tittle winning squad, we have depth but for the first time In a very long time, we have very little deadwood. Each capable of holding there own. Wenger seems to have his mojo back. It's all on the up for us. As for our opponents yes they will add more and I'm guessing all but one will add numerous players which as we have witnessed by the little boys down the lane doesn't guarantee success. Victory Grows Through Harmony.

{Ed025's Note - good post that 101..

08 Apr 2015 19:38:00
Derby mate the only poster with their feet off the ground is you mate, an unobtainable wish list to die for. :-)

Nobody is talking about anything other than what we may achieve this year and with additions, as we can strengthen to you know mate, what we will be in a position to challenge, note the word challenge for, next year.

Coquelin has made a difference but pretty much everyone wants the addition of another, no one has said world class, he hasn't been called up to the French team he is simply doing the job of a DM.

Great shout though Chris I bet you that you don't.

I

08 Apr 2015 20:07:26
utd and city will spend big in the summer but I've not noticed a shop were you can pop along and buy a team spirit and togetherness that is built not bought, what we have lacked like grit fight and a resilient determination is now only beginning to blossom and added to our unquestionably ability is a formidable force that is in the early stages of something very special and over the next few years we will enjoy and many others will envy.

{Ed002's Note - You are sounding a bit of a flake g62.}

08 Apr 2015 20:47:11
You'd be crying again like last United fans were last year if you didn't make 4th ctr. People in glass houses etc.

08 Apr 2015 20:39:14
:-) fair comment Ed but I actually believe what we have developed over time and what has come together by accident will prove to be wort more than just money can bring

09 Apr 2015 16:45:45
That's ok ed, I'll let them have there time for now. Honestly I think it's sweet these little clubs have there time in the spot light.

I will as always have the last laugh.

I give it till October till we have the annual arsenal crisis with the fans. Then after months of poor results Wenger will turn it around for them to finish in the top 4 and we will be here again in dogs bubble being told how this time it's different.

{Ed025's Note - im making a note of that chris, and we will see if it comes to pass mate..

08 Apr 2015 09:39:52
Seen a post on the BBC website by Robbie Savage, yes I know I know, but he gave his list for potential player of the year.

Diego Costa, Philippe Coutinho, David De Gea, Eden Hazard, Harry Kane and Alexis Sanchez.

Now its good to see Sanchez up there, he definitely deserves it as do the rest apart from maybe Costa for me. He's scored goals yes but when I think of him he doesn't really stick out for me for his overall performances.

One player who I would add instead would be our very own Santi Cazorla, don't know if anyone agrees with me on this but I feel like he more than deserves it.

At times this season he's left me in complete awe of his ability and skill. The way he's controlled so many of our games and really become one of our most consistent performer and our most reliable to the point where I've gone from hoping he will get us out of trouble again to expecting him to, and time after time he's delivered.

His peak moment was against Man City probably and was one of the best midfield performances I've seen from an arsenal player for a long time. His partership with Coquelin has been crucial and gives us so much more dimension. It's one of the best midfield pairings I've seen by an Arsenal team for a long time.

His ability to get out of tight spaces and transition from defence to attack in tight areas is phenomenal. He controls game doing this, but one thing that has impressed me has been his defensive organisation, work rate and ability, for such a talented technician this is wonderful to see. He's become the ultimate midfielder this season.

So who else agrees with me on Cazorla deserves to be mentioned. Or who would your player of the year be.

08 Apr 2015 11:16:48
Totally agree he was unbelievably brilliant against city I had no idea he had that in him as good a performance as I've seen from anyone this season, but I think the problem with our players being put forward Sanchez apart if they have either been out injured or their forms hasn't been over the season like Cazorla who pre December was at best average but since then has been excellent.
If the awards were on 2015 form only I'd be upset if we didn't have 4 or 5 nominated players

08 Apr 2015 12:21:01
Coutihno should be no where near the list IMO. He has had one good month that has been severely over hyped by Liverpool fans (as usual). I can think of at quite a few players who have been a lot more consistent e.g Cazorla (Im a United fan)

{Ed001's Note - Coutinho has had more than one good month, but I do agree he has been inconsistent. Cazorla has improved, but he also hasn't been consistently good, he started off poorly and has grown as the season has gone on. Your perception is flawed due to clear bias. Both have gone through poor patches but you will not see that because you don't want to. Cazorla would get my vote over Coutinho, most definitely, but he has not been any more consistent, he has just reached a higher level in his game.

I would probably vote for Sanchez, if it was me, just because I love him as a player and have been bigging him up for years, before he even moved to Italy. Again another player who had a dip, but when he is at his best he is on a whole different level from anyone else in the Prem, only Hazard is close. Hazard could be the same level, but he is hampered by the way Mourinho utilises him and the team around him.}

08 Apr 2015 12:36:05
I agree that Cazorla has been inconsistent too but I still think he has been more consistent and he has also reached a higher performance level than Tihno.

My vote would be for Sanchez DDG or Kane, becasue these players have the most individual worth this season to their respective teams.

08 Apr 2015 12:45:50
Simply because it is player of the year I would as Muire said go for Sanchez, Kane or De Gea.

Cazorla has been immense though.

08 Apr 2015 12:54:04
Personally I would vote for De Gea simply because his contribution has been most influential over the season.
Withot Sanchez we wouldn't be 2nd we'd be hoping to retain our 4th place trophy.
Without Hazard chavs wouldn't be so far ahead that's for sure.
But De Gea has kept a pretty awful , horrible, ugly, below average, uneasy on the eye, rather distasteful embarrassment of a football team in the hunt for a champions league place almost single handedly, I say almost single handedly because he has two hands and a few Tom Daley impressionists who have helped out on quite a few occasions.

08 Apr 2015 13:55:34
No bait for me thanks g62

08 Apr 2015 14:11:48
:-)fair play Muie mate I was hoping to land a nice stilke backed cambralite, apologies if I spread my bait a little to widely and fair play for not taking it mate.

08 Apr 2015 17:53:23
Got to get up earlier than that my friend. I bought this game to the page I'd never let the students become the masters :)

09 Apr 2015 09:03:41
De Gea
Hazard
Sanchez