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.
I Hate Hleb wrote:Yeah, probably Rossie. Although I do find myself feeling relief rather than outright joy when we win, and get frustrated more often than not when watching this latest reincarnation of Wenger's Arsenal than at almost any point of my Arsenal supporting life - even back when we had a shit side.
At least then I could accept more easily our lack of ability and with it trophies. Whereas with this lot I feel that, with a bit of organisation, direction and common sense decision making, we're so close to being the real deal that our lack of displaying these disciplines seems to hurt and frustrate me even more. Especially as it happens so often and has been going on for so long.
[quote="PHP"]We were a lot better in the second half.
Wilshere seems to be improving every game. I said on the weekend that he needs a goal to cap all his hard work and drive him even further foward. Let's hope this spells the begining of the end for Denilson and/or Diaby!
PHP wrote:We were a lot better in the second half.
Wilshere seems to be improving every game. I said on the weekend that he needs a goal to cap all his hard work and drive him even further foward. Let's hope this spells the begining of the end for Denilson and/or Diaby!
Too fucking right.The end of these two cannot come quick enough
City do play thursday which is why our game is sunday. But then that means nothing - look at how we lost to spurs after they took the fa cup semi to extra time.
I agree we seem to take a while to step into gear at the moment Hlebby but i think you've got a touch of the sids. Nasri and Song looked good, Clichy hungrier than usual albeit more offensively and Cesc looked rusty but was still directing everything.
Had a tear in my eye when Eddy got the standing ovation. What a lovely man and a sad premature end to his arsenal career.
One last thing - for the love of Stephen Morrow, Eboue, stop precariously lifting up our fragile goalscorers.
he seems to be firmly above denilson in the pecking order now thank fuck.. although when cesc is properly back we'll see if arsene trusts alongside him or goes for the "more experience" of the brazllian
I Hate Hleb wrote:Great result but without meaning to sound churlish, that was the most underwhelming 5 goal performances I've ever seen from us.
The first 15-20 minutes was as bad as the WBA game and it appeared to me as if we never got out of first gear all night. The passing was too slow and hap-hazard for the majority of the match and even though we scored 5, in reality there was barely any more chances. Clinical? Yes, but nowhere near as fluent at creating openings as we normally are.
Although it's easy to say that the team took it easy because of the lack of quality from the opposition, I worry that our slow starts is starting to become a habit and better sides will make us pay. Especially when we defend as poorly as we do.
Now I'm really happy for him that Eduardo got his goal but I have to ask: how can a defence that's put under so little pressure still appear uncomfortable in almost all aspects of their play?
Djourou looked and played like someone new to the position; Squillachi has a tendency to head the ball up rather than out and his pace is seriously lacking; Clichy was his usual self - giving unnecessary free-kicks away either because of misguided attempts at stealing the ball, or for pushing the forward in the back when there was no need to; and likewise, Eboue does what he always does - goes wandering forward and across the field, vacates his defensive position, barely makes a concerted attempt to get back and though he threatens to, adds almost nothing in the final third.
Song hasn't learnt to keep his game simple and seems to think he's better than he really is; Fab and Nasri - despite their goals - were quieter and less dominant than usual and again it was Jack that ran the midfield for us. As for Arshavin - instead of saying to himself: " I'm going to go on, grab myself a goal, and put my disappointing form behind me" might as well not have bothered coming on, such was his interest in the game.
Like I said at the beginning, it might sound churlish, even harsh, to criticise the team after a 5-1 win but the fact remains that we will face much tougher sides than this and we need to learn from our mistakes if we're going to stand any chance of pulling off an unlikely Premiership Title or CL win. I'm afraid to say that at the moment I don't see those lessons being learnt and fear we'll get beat by most good sides playing like that.
Having got that frustration out of my system, my tin hat is well and truly on in anticipation of the rose-tinters onslaught.
Listen here! Wenger knows best and the team grafted 5-1 victory, you should be more grateful........................
Wilshere was very good once again, if he carries on like this I will not be so worried when Cesc leaves.
Our defence as IHH says, head up rather than away. That needs to be worked on in training.
We played quite deep first half, and credit must go to their number 22 the Armenian Mkhitaryan, who covered ground and made nice forward runs.
One we pushed up in the second half it forced Shakhtar onto the back foot.
Cesc looked very bit like a man who was having first game back after injury, his passing was sloppy and his timing off.
Theo looked brighter than expected after injury, interesting to see him play central even only if as sub, shows we do have beginnings of a "Plan B" in the locker.
QuartzGooner wrote:Wilshere was very good once again, if he carries on like this I will not be so worried when Cesc leaves.
Our defence as IHH says, head up rather than away. That needs to be worked on in training.
We played quite deep first half, and credit must go to their number 22 the Armenian Mkhitaryan, who covered ground and made nice forward runs.
One we pushed up in the second half it forced Shakhtar onto the back foot.
Cesc looked very bit like a man who was having first game back after injury, his passing was sloppy and his timing off.
Theo looked brighter than expected after injury, interesting to see him play central even only if as sub, shows we do have beginnings of a "Plan B" in the locker.
Yea Wilshere is looking top notch, and i suppose that is the irony of the project of building a team, the reality is the team never gets built. When one brick is added it's the catalyst for another one or two to get removed to complete someone elses build...It's sad to think that the better Jack looks the more nailed on it will be that Cesc will be allowed to leave at the end of the season..
Saying that if Jack continues looking the part as he is it won't be long before he will be on his bike aswell..
Good performace overall, but Jack really needs to calm down in the challenge, i really hope he doesnt turn into a paul scholes type. He's not dirty like scholes but too reckless. Apart from that he is what we've all been waiting for from the youth system, the best since cesc.
Chamack attack had his best performance so far for me tonight, looked really strong and comfortable on the ball. Made some nice runs too.
Cesc, as always a class above great to see him back, but i just worry every time he goes down....which was a bit too much tonight, stay on your feet lad!!!!
.....a win on the weekend will be a great boost for this squad.
Our results so far in the European Cup show how weak the group stages are Lets face it even sp*rs are likely to get through How long till UEFA get rid of this stupid part of the competition?
flash gunner wrote:Our results so far in the European Cup show how weak the group stages are Lets face it even sp*rs are likely to get through How long till UEFA get rid of this stupid part of the competition?
Agreed. They never will, but I'd love to get rid of this whole CL bollocks and go back to a knock out European Cup with ONLY the champions of each country in it. As I say it'll never happen what with the money involved nowdays...
I Hate Hleb wrote:Great result but without meaning to sound churlish, that was the most underwhelming 5 goal performances I've ever seen from us.
The first 15-20 minutes was as bad as the WBA game and it appeared to me as if we never got out of first gear all night. The passing was too slow and hap-hazard for the majority of the match and even though we scored 5, in reality there was barely any more chances. Clinical? Yes, but nowhere near as fluent at creating openings as we normally are.
Although it's easy to say that the team took it easy because of the lack of quality from the opposition, I worry that our slow starts is starting to become a habit and better sides will make us pay. Especially when we defend as poorly as we do.
Now I'm really happy for him that Eduardo got his goal but I have to ask: how can a defence that's put under so little pressure still appear uncomfortable in almost all aspects of their play?
Djourou looked and played like someone new to the position; Squillachi has a tendency to head the ball up rather than out and his pace is seriously lacking; Clichy was his usual self - giving unnecessary free-kicks away either because of misguided attempts at stealing the ball, or for pushing the forward in the back when there was no need to; and likewise, Eboue does what he always does - goes wandering forward and across the field, vacates his defensive position, barely makes a concerted attempt to get back and though he threatens to, adds almost nothing in the final third.
Song hasn't learnt to keep his game simple and seems to think he's better than he really is; Fab and Nasri - despite their goals - were quieter and less dominant than usual and again it was Jack that ran the midfield for us. As for Arshavin - instead of saying to himself: " I'm going to go on, grab myself a goal, and put my disappointing form behind me" might as well not have bothered coming on, such was his interest in the game.
Like I said at the beginning, it might sound churlish, even harsh, to criticise the team after a 5-1 win but the fact remains that we will face much tougher sides than this and we need to learn from our mistakes if we're going to stand any chance of pulling off an unlikely Premiership Title or CL win. I'm afraid to say that at the moment I don't see those lessons being learnt and fear we'll get beat by most good sides playing like that.
Having got that frustration out of my system, my tin hat is well and truly on in anticipation of the rose-tinters onslaught.
couldnt help thinking this stood behind him last night. did it about 4-5 times and it went straight up in the air and to a shakhtar player.
QuartzGooner wrote:Wilshere was very good once again, if he carries on like this I will not be so worried when Cesc leaves.
Our defence as IHH says, head up rather than away. That needs to be worked on in training.
We played quite deep first half, and credit must go to their number 22 the Armenian Mkhitaryan, who covered ground and made nice forward runs.
One we pushed up in the second half it forced Shakhtar onto the back foot.
Cesc looked very bit like a man who was having first game back after injury, his passing was sloppy and his timing off.
Theo looked brighter than expected after injury, interesting to see him play central even only if as sub, shows we do have beginnings of a "Plan B" in the locker.
Agreed, plus cesc nasri wilshere with song behind them and without RVP we will use chamakh on his own. leaves diaby, arshavin, rosicky, ramsey fighting for one spot. not to mention walcott who should start playing as a striker. denilson needs to go. he is so far behind the pecking order he just drains the club of money. with so much qaulity and qauntity for these positions we really should be careful with cesc. we dont rely on him as much as we used to and in the past we have used him to much which resulted in long term injuries towards the back end of both the last 2 seasons.
Especially as it happens so often and has been going on for so long.
