North London Derby

[FrenchGun]

Incredible how we are totally uncapable of controlling a game... From the second we scored we just saw that it wouldn't stay like this. After the first goal we should've stamped our rythm on the game, but we let them accelerate, we let them have the ball and act!!!

It comes to the point for me where I don't even blame the players anymore. When you watch how erratic we are in our positioning... The pen is one example of our positionning. A ball to the ground travels from the defender to the left winger, in our box, and no-one even close to intercept it???!!!
Even when you watch us when we don't have the ball. Whether it's RVP, Walcott, Nasri, or Fab, (Arsh and NB52 later on), the front line goes to put pressure on the opposite back 4, but the rest of the team sits all the way back in it's half! We absoluteltly don't play like a block, and I'd go even further to say that for parts of the second half everyone was just running like a headless chicken.

I've never seen this before. I've never seen a whole team so lost on a football pitch, I've never seen players so unaware, so naive, so amateur...
The players just don't know what to do!!! There's no automatisms, no control, no supervision, no guts...

There's no doubt this lot has talent. The more time passes by, the more our managerial mediocrity shows up.

[Peeman]

Am I being silly but the challenge from Bale on Chesney - is that not a free kick ? If Bale had've got first touch and Ches bundled into him it is a pen. So am I clutching at straws looking for a freekick for Ches. The throw led to the goal

[Deise Gooner]

Am I being silly but the challenge from Bale on Chesney - is that not a free kick ? If Bale had've got first touch and Ches bundled into him it is a pen. So am I clutching at straws looking for a freekick for Ches. The throw led to the goal

Yeah stick to the strawberries

[worthing gooner]

The mental strength shout is so tired from a bloke thats losing it. We did slow down dramatically in the second but the turning point was fatboys strike. 2-3 at halftime gave them a boost. Oh how they celebrated in their usual cup final
And then the usual pondlife procession outside! A point wasnt enough for either of us but .....Enjoy the Europa vermin

[augie]

Aside from everything else, Wenger does not look well. He's so thin his clothes are hanging off him, markedly so by the week, he looks unkempt, old, tired. Surely his physical deteroiation is a symbol that he knows he's fighting a losing battle. For the sake of your own health, Arsene, change shit up!

Probably shagged out of it by that tart in paris

[TeeCee]

I think things have gone so far now that money is not the answer either. Throwing 30m into two or three new players wouldn't, imo, make us a title winning team. There are too many other underlying issues that will prevent us from winning a trophy.

[USMartin]

I think things have gone so far now that money is not the answer either. Throwing 30m into two or three new players wouldn't, imo, make us a title winning team. There are too many other underlying issues that will prevent us from winning a trophy.

You kill me Mr. Kroenke

well I guess we're really fucked then because if buying some better plauyers ain't the answer get ready for mid-table a half-full stadium and the threat o0f bankruptcy. Holy Cow I hope the people for whom 6K a share wasn't enough are satisfied then.

[MK Gould]

I don't think we're too far away, but same old, same old. Inability to close out a game when we are well in control. Thought we played well though and showed a bit of spirit. Too many passes going astray in our half.

I actually thought that Bale was fortunate not to be booked for charging into Chesney.....

And I think the media are muppets that this result was a disaster for us and a point gained for Spuds. The papers, Sky etc are desparate for the premier league race to the wire whereas I think most gooners are realistic enough to know that we actually lost our chance some weeks back. Spuds however are still 2 points adrift in 5th place, and a win for them last night would have not only pulled them level with City but still given them a glimmer of hope of overtaking us. St Totteringham's day is a step closer......

Felt sorry for Wenger last night, because he obviously does still believe (maybe the only one left?)..... He looks a candidate for a nervous breakdown or a heart attack or both. Needs to chill a bit and maybe try to enjoy it more than it looks like he is enjoying it..... Just once, I'd like to see him shake the opposing Managers hand and share a joke. Maybe even share a joke with the 4th official.... If he carries on like he is then I'm afraid we won't have to worry about sacking him or him moving upstairs !

[USMartin]

On the other hand as I say on the Sky Podcast they were saying we may need8-9 new players now. As I have said I think 5-6 (Top defensive central midfielder, top or higher quality central defender, New starting or starting quality backup keeper, as well as a proven central/defender slash central midfielder, two-footed quality full back who can play on the left or right, a Wiltord type who can play out wide or through the middle.

Even there we are looking at 80 million probably, certainly 50 million minimum with sales. But that is where the refusal to let more be spent the lasst five years has really hurt us because now we need to spend that mucvh more to correct the decline that lack of spending has brought about.

[Barriecuda]

Just to touch on an earlier point, Arsene has not looked well at all lately. They showed him opening a water bottle against Liverpool and he looked like his hands were shaking quite badly.

I hope he's alright. We all are passionate about our team but I really don't think anyone would wish him ill.

If he is in poor health, stress-induced or otherwise, I hope he takes a break or maybe retires. Purely for his own good. He's a great football enthusiast and philosopher on the game - qualities which probably outweigh his tactical adeptness.

[marcengels]

Part of it with Wenger is, I think, that he has put much faith in the set of players he has had over the last 5 years, he has given them the surroundings, the experience, everything they would need to succeed...and they have let him down, time and again.

I think he is over-stressed because he takes on so much within the club, and feels it more than perhaps a hands-off manager.

He should also watch his cholesterol level...as his rant about second being the new first looks like it might leave him with a huge amount of egg on his face.

[MK Gould]

On the other hand as I say on the Sky Podcast they were saying we may need8-9 new players now. As I have said I think 5-6 (Top defensive central midfielder, top or higher quality central defender, New starting or starting quality backup keeper, as well as a proven central/defender slash central midfielder, two-footed quality full back who can play on the left or right, a Wiltord type who can play out wide or through the middle.

Even there we are looking at 80 million probably, certainly 50 million minimum with sales. But that is where the refusal to let more be spent the lasst five years has really hurt us because now we need to spend that mucvh more to correct the decline that lack of spending has brought about.

Where we have gone wrong is allowing virtually the whole of the great invincible team to mature then leave, retire etc at the same time. Growth should be organic, replacing 1-2 key positions each season. Not starting afresh as we did. The fact that we have continued to qualify for the CL in that time is astonishing. The fact that the club allowed it to happen though is a disgrace.

But now? I would agree that we need 5-6 new players (some financed by a clear out of dead wood). I think we are probably short in only 2 key positions (albeit that might cost us £40-£60m) and maybe need to strengthen the squad with 2 or 3 older heads as back up (dependent on who goes in the summer). That's probably a better position than most. I'm actually looking forward to next season with more optimism than has been the case since we moved to the Grove. I think it's a joke when people say we need 8-9 new players.....

[Gunnersaurus]

I think we could get away with three, a reliable centre back that can cope with Ariel balls all day as last night we were shocking at this, a left back as Clichy is an accident waiting to happen in every game and a proper spirited tackling midfielder as Song is an ignorant *word censored* who gives away too many fouls which allows teams to exploit our weak areas.

Other then that we have a goal scorer in Walcott if Wenger will open his eyes and stop being so stubborn.

Wenger is looking stressed, he knows Project Youth has failed and is too stubborn to admit defeat.

[rigsby]

I think Wenger is just upset with the team. You can blame him all you want, but he couldn't have forseen Sagna being completley missing for that penalty.

On the game. We were the better side, they did their usual long ball tactics and got one freak goal again. I could only see them scoring from a set play/PK.

And RVP WAS ONSIDE!

[Boomer]

I think Wenger is just upset with the team. You can blame him all you want, but he couldn't have forseen Sagna being completley missing for that penalty.

On the game. We were the better side, they did their usual long ball tactics and got one freak goal again. I could only see them scoring from a set play/PK.

And RVP WAS ONSIDE!

Better side in the 1st half. We went missing in the 2nd.
As for the feak goal?! Take your glasses off for a second and admit that was a great strike.