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.
Babatunde wrote:Wenger has screwed Arsenal again.
Just like last season when Arsenal were a single RVP injury away from complete oblivion, this season it will take one injury to Podolski alone to expose the shocking neglect from Wenger in the attacking department.
Babatunde wrote:Arsenal won, that's good.
Giroud however dear Lord. I'm being proved right on him, his all round play was abysmal.
I called it on. Belhanda too,
yes you also said Podolski was unproven, and Montpelier were better than us on a smaller budget too...
...as i said, low self-esteem issues
If you can prove that I ever said anywhere, that Montpellier were better than Arsenal then I'll pay for your brain transplant myself
Oh shut up Red. Seriously mate, stop getting people to bite with your Mannone love. We get it, you like him, you don't have to bang on about it IN EVERY POST you make.
Arteta has been brilliant in the DM role so far this season. He's not a "hardman" a la Frimpong but he reads the game like a book and his positioning is top class. His passing, long and short, from deep also helps our attacking play greatly. Arteta is a massive player for us and even more so this season since he re-invented himself as a DM.
Agree 100%. His reading of the game and his positioning is top class. He anticipates and moves accordingly, whereas The Plank Song could only try and react to situations, could never anticipate them. One of the things I like most about Arteta's game is how economical he is. He does the simple thing and does them well. Of course they only look "simple" because he has read the play and put himself in a decent position to deal with it. Very seldom overelaborates or tries to be too clever on the ball, unlike The Plank Song.
We rode our luck last night and were scrappy for most of it but a good away win in the CL.
Chaps, nobody needs to convince me of Arteta's merits. I was frowned up for him being my first choice midfield signing about 3 years ago on here when I called him a complete midfielder. He has excelled ever since he joined. Look what happened as soon as he was out last season. But in the same way that top quality midfielders like he and Gerrard can do the DM role, they are restricted by that and are far more effective when they have a natural controller in there alongside them. I want Mikel Arteta box-to-box, like he was for Everton, and like last season. I want him smashing it in like he did at Wigan and against Man City at home. I don't want him held back by our lack of investment. Like Gerrard he can do that job, but like Gerrard was when Alonso was there he would be far more effective with a proper controller. Thats all I'm saying. And again - lets not tread on the same rake that Wenger does every year....what happens if he is suspended or worse still injured for a long period. There is not a natural for that role. Should have invested £15m in another holding player. He talks about a big midfield but it is not balanced
rigsby wrote:Oh shut up Red. Seriously mate, stop getting people to bite with your Mannone love. We get it, you like him, you don't have to bang on about it IN EVERY POST you make.
Lol - last season it was bring back Almunia, now its unswerving love for Mannone. Great stuff
If things go pear shaped later on in the season it'll be because we should have brought Denilson back, kept hold of Vela, played Arshavin more and dropped TV5 for 'excellent CB' Djourou
Red Member - WUMing his way to a ground near you soon
I didn't see much of the game last night cos the local team was playing here and I was managing them so couldn't be in two places at one time. Watched up until our 2nd goal before tiredness set in last night and we seemed to be doing alright up to that point but by all accounts performance wise it went tits up after that. I do go along with the theory that this competition only gets interesting after the group stages although citeeh's group is the exception there (and personally I would have rather seen citeeh win than that arrogant portugese c**t that manages madrid ). For us the win is all important but I have this fear that this season we will actually top the group but get the 2nd place team in madrids group so a tough draw probably lies ahead anyway
rigsby wrote:Oh shut up Red. Seriously mate, stop getting people to bite with your Mannone love. We get it, you like him, you don't have to bang on about it IN EVERY POST you make.
Lol - last season it was bring back Almunia, now its unswerving love for Mannone. Great stuff
If things go pear shaped later on in the season it'll be because we should have brought Denilson back, kept hold of Vela, played Arshavin more and dropped TV5 for 'excellent CB' Djourou
Red Member - WUMing his way to a ground near you soon
Red Member wrote:very good comments from Babatunde. As usual he will be laughed at because he is a bit blunt.
Here's an example of the baba redwumber alliance too SteveO
augie wrote:I didn't see much of the game last night cos the local team was playing here and I was managing them so couldn't be in two places at one time. Watched up until our 2nd goal before tiredness set in last night and we seemed to be doing alright up to that point but by all accounts performance wise it went tits up after that. I do go along with the theory that this competition only gets interesting after the group stages although citeeh's group is the exception there (and personally I would have rather seen citeeh win than that arrogant portugese c**t that manages madrid ). For us the win is all important but I have this fear that this season we will actually top the group but get the 2nd place team in madrids group so a tough draw probably lies ahead anyway
the 2nd place team will be Manchester City.
we can't draw them because they are english.
last night was a good result because it is helpful that Madrid top their group
augie wrote:I didn't see much of the game last night cos the local team was playing here and I was managing them so couldn't be in two places at one time. Watched up until our 2nd goal before tiredness set in last night and we seemed to be doing alright up to that point but by all accounts performance wise it went tits up after that. I do go along with the theory that this competition only gets interesting after the group stages although citeeh's group is the exception there (and personally I would have rather seen citeeh win than that arrogant portugese c**t that manages madrid ). For us the win is all important but I have this fear that this season we will actually top the group but get the 2nd place team in madrids group so a tough draw probably lies ahead anyway
the 2nd place team will be Manchester City.
we can't draw them because they are english.
last night was a good result because it is helpful that Madrid top their group
If that is the case then I'm sure UEFA will see to it that we'll get Juventus if they come second to Chelsea
augie wrote:I didn't see much of the game last night cos the local team was playing here and I was managing them so couldn't be in two places at one time. Watched up until our 2nd goal before tiredness set in last night and we seemed to be doing alright up to that point but by all accounts performance wise it went tits up after that. I do go along with the theory that this competition only gets interesting after the group stages although citeeh's group is the exception there (and personally I would have rather seen citeeh win than that arrogant portugese c**t that manages madrid ). For us the win is all important but I have this fear that this season we will actually top the group but get the 2nd place team in madrids group so a tough draw probably lies ahead anyway
the 2nd place team will be Manchester City.
we can't draw them because they are english.
last night was a good result because it is helpful that Madrid top their group
If that is the case then I'm sure UEFA will see to it that we'll get Juventus if they come second to Chelsea
Not really scared of any of the Italian teams to be honest. Will be tricky, but think we've got what it takes to take them on
I have to admit I was wrong about Podolski and Gilvinho is doing quite well but as stated by many posters in here Giroud looks like joining the long list of failures in the forward position.
Quality
Anelka
Henry
Wiltord
Van Persie
Fail
Adebayor
Bendtner
Park
Jeffers
Eduardo
Chamakh
Plus many others Pires and Llungburg were wingers so dont count.
Red Member wrote:we didn't like going to Italy last season I seem to remember
I didn't say I wanted to jump back in time and play last year's team though did I? I also don't want to play the Milan side of the 1990's either whilst we're at it.
Milan have had a fire sale as well. And if you remember the home leg went very well, so we ended up only narrowly beaten and they have a much weaker squad this season. The other Italian teams won't be easy, but I don't believe they will be a major threat either
). For us the win is all important but I have this fear that this season we will actually top the group but get the 2nd place team in madrids group so a tough draw probably lies ahead anyway 
