Southampton (H) | LC QF | Wed 30 Nov 19:45

[Clash]

That was fucking hard work.
Poses serious concerns about the depth of our squad.

If Wenger clearly demonstrates tonight was down in his list of priorities, then the players and fans will follow with such an attitude.

Can't we ask Ramsey to wear a Welsh shirt under his Arsenal top?? He got his Number 10 position and played shite.

Saying all that, and I'm arguing against myself here, beat West Ham on Saturday (which we will), then tonight will be largely forgotten about.
I don't care what anyone says, Saturday's game is more important than this evening.
We need to get some momentum going in the league in the build up to xmas.

I agree with you about the attitude. I think it is our attitude as a club has been the main hindrance in the last few years ... far more so than the almost risible lack of resources excuse that gets rolled out.

But to claim Saturday's game is more important than this evenings is sad to see ... why can't both games be important?

Fans prioritising games is a far better example of whats wrong with the modern fan base than the one you gave in the Wenger thread.

The resigned acceptance of this disgraceful trend (that all clubs are guilty of) where managers pick weakened teams really needs to stop. Leeds took 6,000 to Anfield last night ... and then started the game without their top scorer.

The game is awash with money yet clubs still prioritise games that are worth more to them financially. It is disgusting.

[GoonerMuzz]

I can understand prioritising games towards the end of the season, where cup finals or winning the league is concerned but not with barely a third of the season gone and the majority of our ultrafit 'world' class players getting paid an absolute fortune still being relatively fresh, that's just a ridiculous attitude and shows how far we've fallen as a club in terms of competitiveness

Oh and it just shows how much respect Soton's manager had for us that he was willing to swap 8 players and still come at us in the game, the same guy who tutored AW on how football should be played tonight used to be one of his minions, kind of ironic

[scotgooner]

Arsenal have won 2 out of the last 45 cups available since 2005.

wow , that is painful reading.

[Swifty]

This competition is solely about giving squad players a run for as many games as possible - nothing more nothing less. Only disappointing thing to me is that the first team wouldn't have seen anything to feel like they were under pressure from the reserves.

[Gunner Rob]

Arsenal have won 2 out of the last 45 cups available since 2005.

wow , that is painful reading.

This is the period in which we became "a modern super club"

[Ray C]

Don't forget this was a 'reserve' side that included 3 of our 4 big money signings, El Erner, X & Lucozade. Didn't help much did it ?.

[Allgunsblazin]

There is something fundamentally flawed, how can a competition allow clubs not to field their strongest side...
Based on yesterday's lineups it was always going to be a Soton win...
This is very similar to the reserves playing in the 70's and our club have the fucking neck to charge not only members but kids too for a lineup of odds and sods and yet market the game as if the 1st team will turn up and Childcatcher Wenger, because he resembles him with every passing day, fields an unbalanced team that any tightrope walker would tell him to fuck off!...
Sorry but I have high standards and I DO think our club are CHEATING supporters and above all kids piggy banks...
And as for call me Ivan, he is a cheating arsehole too...

I am not calling for all of the first team to play, but the nucleus of the first team should be present not only for supporters but for the other players, we all need support...
But this vindictive horrible acidic cheating money grabbing son of a whore, chucks em in, they get beat, and the confidence of these stand ins is then shot!

Well done Wenger

[SPUDMASHER]

It's very simple.......

This was the quarter final of a cup competition where the winners get a place in Europe next season. Its an absolute fucking disgrace that we showed such contempt toward this fixture. A sporting club has a moral obligation to try and do its best in every competition that it enters. Whilst I have no expectation of winning anything I firmly believe that you have to try.

If I were the league I would punish clubs that field heavily weakened sides by excluding them from the competition for two years. I would also pass a rule that says any team that does not start at least 7 first team regulars will be required to forefeit the gate money for the fixture. As much as Arsenal treat this with contempt they would still buck at the loss of revenue. They're all about the money as we know and that is where to hit them.

[SteveO 35]

I could rationalise tonight, if I thought that it would help us in our title challenge in the new year, but we all know that we won't be challenging. It's laughable to think we pissed away a real chance of a trophy, so we can concentrate on the VT. This used to be a club that winning was everything, now we have a loser manager with a group of players who don't seem to give a fuck. It honestly makes me question what's the point in supporting a club, with such a pathetic mind set.

And that's the issue. Mocking it and calling it the Worthless Cup or the Mickey Mouse Cup or whatever is fine when you're perennial PL and CL winners, or even contenders. When you haven't won the league for approaching 13 years, have never won the Champions League and spent most of the past decade celebrating 4th place and a last 16 exit, then I'm not sure you can be so selective and snooty about competitions you choose to throw away. When we won this competition in '87, it was coming off the back of a similar lack of success - no league title for 16 years, 1 FA Cup win and a few failed finals, and some qualifying for the UEFA / Cup Winners Cup but not being able to win either.

GG recognised that cup competitions meant something to fans and still ensured that we were competitive in them right up until he departed. I hated the team we became in the last 2 years of his reign - the most boring football I've witnessed in our history - but even that team of limited talents could still get themselves up for a cup game. I'd love to know what he'd have made of our half-arsed wimps rolling over to Southampton lite last night

[augie]

It's very simple.......

This was the quarter final of a cup competition where the winners get a place in Europe next season. Its an absolute fucking disgrace that we showed such contempt toward this fixture. A sporting club has a moral obligation to try and do its best in every competition that it enters. Whilst I have no expectation of winning anything I firmly believe that you have to try.

If I were the league I would punish clubs that field heavily weakened sides by excluding them from the competition for two years. I would also pass a rule that says any team that does not start at least 7 first team regulars will be required to forefeit the gate money for the fixture. As much as Arsenal treat this with contempt they would still buck at the loss of revenue. They're all about the money as we know and that is where to hit them.

This is the part that gets on my tits - the senile French pr*ck came out and slated the defence and complained about a lack of energy in their approach ............. I'm sorry but what does dropping 10 players tell the squad about your approach and attitude to the game ? Those overpaid prima donnas believe that le cock doesn't give a shit about this competition, and then they wont give a shit either - the players in every club take their cue from the manager and those above them. It is beyond embarrassing that the likes of Swansea (last season) and Southampton can come to our place, drop half their first choice team, and still go home with a win under their belts

I have to be honest and say that up to a few seasons ago I would be very much in favour of using this competition to blood the likes of cesc and wally - back then we were competing for the top prizes and it was important that we get some experience for the likes of cesc to get them in a position where they were ready to compete in our first team. Nowadays we have shit reserves (the first team aren't wonderful either so what can we expect I suppose ) and are not anywhere near the top level required to win the league or champs league, so we should not be treating this cup with such distain

[Gunner Rob]

what really annoys me is that next Tuesday he will play a side against Basle which last night would have been good enough to beat that Southampton side last night.

I hate the CL more with each passing year.
yes I and 60,000 others were conned last night by attending, but at least I have learnt my lesson and won't attend any more CL games ( a competition that actually when you think about it we prioritise EVEN LESS than the league cup) which is a far bigger rip off for attending fans.
At least we got to the league cup quarter finals. Will we ever reach the CL quarter finals again? Unlikely...

[DB10GOONER]

Unbeaten since the opening w/e.
Through to the KO stage of the CL.
Three points of top of the table.
Through to the QF of the League Cup.

Everyone rushes to their keyboard to moan and bitch
Not one hint of positivity.

Welcome to the modern fan base

To be blunt, you represent the modern fan base more than anyone on here, blindly supporting your Lord and God Wenger even though he will make the same mistakes this season that he has made EVERY SINGLE YEAR more or less for a decade now. So maybe drop the cunty superfan snide remarks aimed at people that have mostly spent a lot more time money and effort supporting Arsenal than you have. Here's how this season will pan out;

Unbeaten since the opening w/e - Too many poor draws, and the losses will come. Again.
Through to the KO stage of the CL - will be knocked out by first half decent team we meet. Again.
Three points of top of the table - will be 10 to 20 points off the winners in May. Again.
Through to the QF of the League Cup - will be knocked out in QF or SF. Again.

I will take €100 of anyone's money on that. Why? Because that is more or less what happens EVERY SEASON.

And we should be "positive" about that?

One down...

[Allgunsblazin]

It's very simple.......

This was the quarter final of a cup competition where the winners get a place in Europe next season. Its an absolute fucking disgrace that we showed such contempt toward this fixture. A sporting club has a moral obligation to try and do its best in every competition that it enters. Whilst I have no expectation of winning anything I firmly believe that you have to try.

If I were the league I would punish clubs that field heavily weakened sides by excluding them from the competition for two years. I would also pass a rule that says any team that does not start at least 7 first team regulars will be required to forefeit the gate money for the fixture. As much as Arsenal treat this with contempt they would still buck at the loss of revenue. They're all about the money as we know and that is where to hit them.

This is the part that gets on my tits - the senile French pr*ck came out and slated the defence and complained about a lack of energy in their approach ............. I'm sorry but what does dropping 10 players tell the squad about your approach and attitude to the game ? Those overpaid prima donnas believe that le cock doesn't give a shit about this competition, and then they wont give a shit either - the players in every club take their cue from the manager and those above them. It is beyond embarrassing that the likes of Swansea (last season) and Southampton can come to our place, drop half their first choice team, and still go home with a win under their belts

I have to be honest and say that up to a few seasons ago I would be very much in favour of using this competition to blood the likes of cesc and wally - back then we were competing for the top prizes and it was important that we get some experience for the likes of cesc to get them in a position where they were ready to compete in our first team. Nowadays we have shit reserves (the first team aren't wonderful either so what can we expect I suppose ) and are not anywhere near the top level required to win the league or champs league, so we should not be treating this cup with such distain

Apologies if I have gone OTT on the highlighted bit, but this is Wenger playing charades, smoke and mirrors as if he gives a toss about the League Cup...
Now I know why other managers want to hit him!
Arrogant to a fault...

[flash gunner]

Unbeaten since the opening w/e.
Through to the KO stage of the CL.
Three points of top of the table.
Through to the QF of the League Cup.

Everyone rushes to their keyboard to moan and bitch
Not one hint of positivity.

Welcome to the modern fan base

To be blunt, you represent the modern fan base more than anyone on here, blindly supporting your Lord and God Wenger even though he will make the same mistakes this season that he has made EVERY SINGLE YEAR more or less for a decade now. So maybe drop the cunty superfan snide remarks aimed at people that have mostly spent a lot more time money and effort supporting Arsenal than you have. Here's how this season will pan out;

Unbeaten since the opening w/e - Too many poor draws, and the losses will come. Again.
Through to the KO stage of the CL - will be knocked out by first half decent team we meet. Again.
Three points of top of the table - will be 10 to 20 points off the winners in May. Again.
Through to the QF of the League Cup - will be knocked out in QF or SF. Again.

I will take €100 of anyone's money on that. Why? Because that is more or less what happens EVERY SEASON.

And we should be "positive" about that?

One down...

Wonder if he's still laughing

[northbank123]

what really annoys me is that next Tuesday he will play a side against Basle which last night would have been good enough to beat that Southampton side last night.

Absolutely, even though it is a complete irrelevance because PSG will cruise past the Bulgarian part-timers at home.

The League Cup isn't the top of our priority list but we have also hardly been awash with trophies in recent times and unfortunately this is one of only two we can realistically win.