The FA Cup Final: The Arsenal v A.Villa

[BFG4]

if he plays the team that played v WBA we will by about 3-0

but of course he won't because he is a stubborn
so we will see Chesney in goal, Giroud and Ramsey restored and the pace and form of Walcott and Wilshire left on the bench.
so instead of racing into an early lead we will go tippy tappy before either getting a late winner or in extra time

to be honest if he plays Chesney I really will think Wenger is no longer all there mentally (but I guess most of us think that anyway)

I thought playing Fabianski in last season's final made some sense, as he had put in some decent performances in earlier rounds, but there is no logical sense to play Szczesney in the final. The man is an absolute liability and could cost us the final. Its funny that in a season when Szczesney was caught smoking, and his dad came out slagging off the rest of the team, how could Wenger even dream of starting Szczesney, but I find little sense in most things Wenger does these days.

[g88ner]

I thought playing Fabianski in last season's final made some sense, as he had put in some decent performances in earlier rounds, but there is no logical sense to play Szczesney in the final. The man is an absolute liability and could cost us the final. Its funny that in a season when Szczesney was caught smoking, and his dad came out slagging off the rest of the team, how could Wenger even dream of starting Szczesney, but I find little sense in most things Wenger does these days.

Wenger will play Szczesny because he was sub in last years final (despite being our number 1) and he's already committed to this ludicrous cup goalkeeper nonsense.

The undeniable truth is that it's not a decision driven by football and what's best for helping Arsenal win a trophy, but a more wishy washy desire to keep people happy and keeping his word.

It's that lack of ruthlessness and focus on winning trophies that sums Wenger up. He's not driven by trophies and is more interested in people development and I'm not sure that's what a club of our standing needs anymore if we're going to kick on.

[rodders999]

I'm not really fussed by the whole Ospina/Scesz thing as both are sh1te and it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other as to who starts. Both are equally capable of making a few decent saves but just as likely to throw one in to their own net so we're starting the game with a dud keeper no matter what happens.

Playing Ramesy out right and starting the hopelessly out of form Ozil and Cazorla..........now that worries me.

[nut flush gooner]

Still not too concerned about the game. People should chill imo. Whatever will be will be!

[arseofacrow]

Still feels like yesterday, I watched it round a mates house. Just like that scene in fever pitch I was swearing my bonce off about how we got soo fucking close but as usual fucked it up. Then Thomas scored cue delerium and a short drive down to highbury.

There must have been at least 10000 fans outside the east stand for much of the night!

[nut flush gooner]

Still feels like yesterday, I watched it round a mates house. Just like that scene in fever pitch I was swearing my bonce off about how we got soo fucking close but as usual fucked it up. Then Thomas scored cue delerium and a short drive down to highbury.

There must have been at least 10000 fans outside the east stand for much of the night!

Are you some sort of stalker? Bit spooky how you always pop up.

[rodders999]

Still feels like yesterday, I watched it round a mates house. Just like that scene in fever pitch I was swearing my bonce off about how we got soo fuking close but as usual fuked it up. Then Thomas scored cue delerium and a short drive down to highbury.

There must have been at least 10000 fans outside the east stand for much of the night!

Thread fail

[g88ner]

Still not too concerned about the game. People should chill imo. Whatever will be will be!

In fairness, it's an Arsenal forum - and the FA Cup final thread no less.

People are going to discuss the game in here and as it's a huge event and as there's nothing else going on in Arsenal land, it's going to get discussed in more depth than normal.

Like it or not, the few talking points around the game are team selection (Theo's hat trick, Ramsey on the right and playing your reserve goalkeeper in cup finals nonsense) and whether we'll turn up or go down the route of our last 6 recent Wembley appearances (Reading, Hull, Wigan, Chelsea (x2) and Birmingham) and make very hard work of it.

I am chilled out (most people are) but it's a huge game worth getting nervous and excited about. I always have butterflies as huge games approach (especially finals!) so asking people to chill out and accept that what will be will be is pissing in the wind.

[Ikechukwu1]

I thought playing Fabianski in last season's final made some sense, as he had put in some decent performances in earlier rounds, but there is no logical sense to play Szczesney in the final. The man is an absolute liability and could cost us the final. Its funny that in a season when Szczesney was caught smoking, and his dad came out slagging off the rest of the team, how could Wenger even dream of starting Szczesney, but I find little sense in most things Wenger does these days.

Wenger will play Szczesny because he was sub in last years final (despite being our number 1) and he's already committed to this ludicrous cup goalkeeper nonsense.

The undeniable truth is that it's not a decision driven by football and what's best for helping Arsenal win a trophy, but a more wishy washy desire to keep people happy and keeping his word.

It's that lack of ruthlessness and focus on winning trophies that sums Wenger up. He's not driven by trophies and is more interested in people development and I'm not sure that's what a club of our standing needs anymore if we're going to kick on.

Absolutely 100% bang on. First thing you've said I ever agreed with
The reason Wenger will never ever be up there with the elite managers (Ancelotti, Jose, Fergie, Pep, Sacchi, Heynkes etc) is because he absolutely lacks the ruthlessness needed to do what's best for the team. That Chesney could even be considered for the final after that semi "performance" is a farce. Mind you, then again, did you see Ospina v WBA?
Not very far off the bad old days of having to choose between Almunia and Flappy! AW knows nothing about keepers and lucked out with Jens.

I see Chelsea are desperately trying to convince Cech to join PSG. Shoring ruthlessness unlike us, gift-wrap Ash Cole to the Chavs, want Nasri Citeh? Here you go. RVP could have been sold to PSG and they'd have paid, but oh no, why not strengthen a domestic rival!

[nut flush gooner]

Still not too concerned about the game. People should chill imo. Whatever will be will be!

In fairness, it's an Arsenal forum - and the FA Cup final thread no less.

People are going to discuss the game in here and as it's a huge event and as there's nothing else going on in Arsenal land, it's going to get discussed in more depth than normal.

Like it or not, the few talking points around the game are team selection (Theo's hat trick, Ramsey on the right and playing your reserve goalkeeper in cup finals nonsense) and whether we'll turn up or go down the route of our last 6 recent Wembley appearances (Reading, Hull, Wigan, Chelsea (x2) and Birmingham) and make very hard work of it.

I am chilled out (most people are) but it's a huge game worth getting nervous and excited about. I always have butterflies as huge games approach (especially finals!) so asking people to chill out and accept that what will be will be is pissing in the wind.

Pissing in the wind is not good in my opinion.

[g88ner]

Still not too concerned about the game. People should chill imo. Whatever will be will be!

In fairness, it's an Arsenal forum - and the FA Cup final thread no less.

People are going to discuss the game in here and as it's a huge event and as there's nothing else going on in Arsenal land, it's going to get discussed in more depth than normal.

Like it or not, the few talking points around the game are team selection (Theo's hat trick, Ramsey on the right and playing your reserve goalkeeper in cup finals nonsense) and whether we'll turn up or go down the route of our last 6 recent Wembley appearances (Reading, Hull, Wigan, Chelsea (x2) and Birmingham) and make very hard work of it.

I am chilled out (most people are) but it's a huge game worth getting nervous and excited about. I always have butterflies as huge games approach (especially finals!) so asking people to chill out and accept that what will be will be is pissing in the wind.

Pissing in the wind is not good in my opinion.

Depends if you're on fire.

[g88ner]

I thought playing Fabianski in last season's final made some sense, as he had put in some decent performances in earlier rounds, but there is no logical sense to play Szczesney in the final. The man is an absolute liability and could cost us the final. Its funny that in a season when Szczesney was caught smoking, and his dad came out slagging off the rest of the team, how could Wenger even dream of starting Szczesney, but I find little sense in most things Wenger does these days.

Wenger will play Szczesny because he was sub in last years final (despite being our number 1) and he's already committed to this ludicrous cup goalkeeper nonsense.

The undeniable truth is that it's not a decision driven by football and what's best for helping Arsenal win a trophy, but a more wishy washy desire to keep people happy and keeping his word.

It's that lack of ruthlessness and focus on winning trophies that sums Wenger up. He's not driven by trophies and is more interested in people development and I'm not sure that's what a club of our standing needs anymore if we're going to kick on.

Absolutely 100% bang on. First thing you've said I ever agreed with

We'll call that progress then

[BFG4]

I thought playing Fabianski in last season's final made some sense, as he had put in some decent performances in earlier rounds, but there is no logical sense to play Szczesney in the final. The man is an absolute liability and could cost us the final. Its funny that in a season when Szczesney was caught smoking, and his dad came out slagging off the rest of the team, how could Wenger even dream of starting Szczesney, but I find little sense in most things Wenger does these days.

Wenger will play Szczesny because he was sub in last years final (despite being our number 1) and he's already committed to this ludicrous cup goalkeeper nonsense.

The undeniable truth is that it's not a decision driven by football and what's best for helping Arsenal win a trophy, but a more wishy washy desire to keep people happy and keeping his word.

It's that lack of ruthlessness and focus on winning trophies that sums Wenger up. He's not driven by trophies and is more interested in people development and I'm not sure that's what a club of our standing needs anymore if we're going to kick on.

I agree 100%, but the decision to start Szczesney is still strange because of how Szczesney has acted this season. When he was caught smoking and his dad had a pop at some of Szcz team mates, it showed a disrespect towards Wenger, and knowing how arrogant Wenger is, it seems strange he wouldn't have decided that Szczesney was surplus to requirements. Maybe it shows how weak Wenger is, and it probably explains why he has allowed some of our top players to join rival clubs.

[augie]

Have to say that I'm not going into meltdown over the probability of Chesney being picked ahead of ospina - yes his arrogance winds me up something shocking, and yes he was absolute dogshite before he was dropped, but he still has potential to be a top keeper imo and will be desperate to prove that he should be number 1

[g88ner]

Have to say that I'm not going into meltdown over the probability of Chesney being picked ahead of ospina - yes his arrogance winds me up something shocking, and yes he was absolute dogshite before he was dropped, but he still has potential to be a top keeper imo and will be desperate to prove that he should be number 1

Agreed. To be honest, I'm not against playing Chesney for footballing reasons - it's the principle of fielding a player the manager doesn't consider a first teamer for a cup final because of some bizarre cup goalkeeper rule.

If I was Cech, and considering moving to Arsenal, I'd think twice if I was going to be benched for cup finals. These are the moments in a players career that you work hard for and remember long after you've retired.