As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Don't agree with the author of this thread, but on another point, I must say that I was thinking that it was rather unwise for Wenger to come out earlier in the week claiming that our progress in the cups this season had justified his decisions in the summer. The time to have said that would have been at the end of the season IF we finished it with a trophy, as well as at least fourth place.
Now we are only a Champions League defeat away from the critics being able to turn around and say "No Arsene, you were wrong and we were right when we said the squad wasn't strong enough."
Although I retain some hope, I can't say I'm overly filled with confidence that the boss come May, will be able to say:"Told you so!!" In which case this season would be classed a failure, and to many on here a preventable one at that. The question is, will Arsene (finally?) learn from it?
you ask the question will Wenger learn? the answer is a definate NO.
His biggest fault is his stubborness and even though todays defeat was soley down to him.He will carry on the same way he has for the last 4 trophyless season"s.The truth is he is under no pressure from the board so will carry on fucking it up like he did today
And here are Wenger's comments, hot off the press.... (Arsenal.com)
'We didn't have our usual fluency today'
On the goals that were conceded...
"The disappointment of the day is that we gave two cheap goals away, and in a game of that level it has a bad outcome, especially with seven minutes to go. It was a big blow. The two teams looked jaded physically, maybe us a bit more than them.
"We missed a few opportunities on crosses in the second half, and were unlucky in the last minute. They had one or two chances, but it looked like it would go to extra time, until we gave a goal away that you should not at this level."
On the pitch...
"I believe for Chelsea as well it was tough. It is not a pitch you should have in a stadium that cost this amount of money. It is laughable, the quality of the pitch is a disaster."
On rotating his squad...
"Alex Song has played many games and I believe when you do that you need rest. I am not sure he would have stopped the ball in the air on the second goal, but it is difficult. We know they are dangerous on set-pieces and we are a bit short. Plus they have some tall boys who make it physical in midfield and we needed a player like Diaby to be capable to fight against them.
"As well I wanted to rotate it a bit because Nasri was sick last week and he looked a bit tired. We played with three strikers – Theo, Robin and Adebayor – and I couldn’t play with four when they had three in midfield.
"I believe we are team with eight games in 24 days and you cannot imagine to play every game with exactly the same players."
On making late substitutions...
"You must consider you could go to extra time and we had one or two players who were short – Silvestre and Gibbs at half-time – so if you make the change earlier you could have played with 10 men."
On Didier Drogba...
"He is a winner, and he scores in big games. I feel we made it a little easier for me, but he never stops he is always focussed, and you look at the amount of goals he scores in big games, you can only say he is a great player. He dives sometimes a little bit too much but he is a winner."
On Fabianski's performance...
"It will damage his confidence because he will feel a little bit guilty, but you cannot blame any individual. You want the whole team to focus and respond quickly against Liverpool; we have them, Middlesbrough and the Champions League Semi-Final. We have to respond very quickly.
"I believe that he is still a great goalkeeper, although perhaps not his best of games today."
On the midfield battle...
"I feel in midfield it was more physical today and we didn't have our usual fluency, because they made it physical and the pitch slowed it down. Cesc tried very hard but overall it was a scrappy game."
On Van Persie's substitution...
"Yes it was a groin problem. I don’t know if he will be out for Tuesday because I haven’t spoken to the medical team."
On Walcott's performance...
"Theo was always a threat today and he always gave you hope he could give you something special. He is developing very well as a player. Now he gets in front of full-backs and gets goal, which is a very good sign as he is still very young."
On moving forward..."We have a bigger target now in front of us, which is the Champions League, and of course the Championship we want to come back as close as possible, stay fourth. We have big targets."
Last edited by g88ner on Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Isn't it great that Arsenal.com asked so many questions, yet not even a word is mentioned about leaving out Arshavin or the crazy idea of playing RvP, isolated, on the left wing.
"Alex Song has played many games and I believe when you do that you need rest. I am not sure he would have stopped the ball in the air on the second goal
"I believe we are team with eight games in 24 days and you cannot imagine to play every game with exactly the same players."
surely in an fa cup semi final you should play your strongest team to ensure you get to a major final.
On Fabianski's performance...
"It will damage his confidence because he will feel a little bit guilty, but you cannot blame any individual.
is that right...he must take blame for both goals, especially the 2nd.
"I believe that he is still a great goalkeeper"
you must be crazy
On Van Persie's substitution...
"Yes it was a groin problem. I don’t know if he will be out for Tuesday because I haven’t spoken to the medical team."
goonersid wrote:Once again Wenger has bottled it at the crucial moment, tonights team selection was bewildering in the extreme. Watch out for a repeat performance in the clge.
I honestly thought my criticisms of wenger had been misplaced, but he is a fool and an arrogant fool who doesn't learn from his mistakes.
He really should jusy fuck off!
I will never post anything on this site again that gives this man one ounce of credibility, he is a washed up old man living off past glories which will never be repeated.
be honest though, you probably thought Song was crap until about a week ago and now you want Wenger out because he didn't pick him...
his team selection was strange and he got it wrong. But it didn't cost us the game, the defence did. Eboue was at fault for the first and Silvestre and Fabianski for the second.
The comments from some people are absolutely shameful (yet again). It's one game. Nobody is happy that we've not gone through, but we still have an even bigger prize to play for.
It was obvious to me that we'd lose a game at some point. Of course you don't want your team to come up with the worst performance in months in a big semi-final, but such is life. It's not like Chelsea played us off the pitch, even though we were poor. They were just as poor as we were. I had a feeling that this game would be the one that breaks the run. And yet, Chelsea never looked like scoring unless there were fuck ups on our side. Unfortunately there was.
We have to get on with it and bounce back. Playing the blame game doesn't help anyone.
Agree totally the reason why we lost was defencive mistakes and the referee. That was a clear penality on fabregas and in the first half when walcott went 1 on 1 he was onside.
n7gooner wrote:Agree totally the reason why we lost was defencive mistakes and the referee. That was a clear penality on fabregas and in the first half when walcott went 1 on 1 he was onside.
What about the Silvestre handball which wasnt given.We can have no complaints with the referee the better team won
n7gooner wrote:Agree totally the reason why we lost was defencive mistakes and the referee. That was a clear penality on fabregas and in the first half when walcott went 1 on 1 he was onside.
What about the Silvestre handball which wasnt given.We can have no complaints with the referee the better team won
I have seen the replay the reason why his hand hits the ball is because Dogba jumped and silvestre had his hand on his shoulder. Also the ref gave every little decision their way and never to us.
I am just totally gutted...almost want to walk back to Bhm
Why Diaby? He was injured and not played for few games
Why not Arshavin? He should be fresh for this game
Why Denilson? He is shit shit shit!!! Lost possession all the time!!
Why not Song? He is brilliant recently!!
The question is, will Arsene (finally?) learn from it? 
