Newcastle game

[swimmer1]

Song was good for me last night near enough get in any team in the world and all we do is moan about him .

Back to Walcott 2 assists battered both there full-backs pass to little mozart he should have scored ran with pace with direction for once linked with Sagna well and people say he was just ok I'm not his biggest fan but he deserves a bit more credit for last nights performance

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

Again Song was appalling. This is our first choice DM. In a league where the DM role is crucial. And yet he was constantly caught square-on up at the halfway line. And gave away clumsy stupid fouls. And misspassed almost every ball. And got caught in posession again and again. Woeful, just woeful. But hey - he has passed two killer balls to RVP this season so he's a midfield genius according to some!

I'm not sure Song's even really tasked with being a DM as such anymore mate. Seems like him & Arteta are sort of meant to dovetail a bit, with Arteta if anyone playing the deeper role. Whether that's by design or Arteta just recognises a need to hold when Song drifts out with the tide is maybe another story.

Thought Song was his usual self last night. A few really good moments, a few more woeful ones & a lot of flitting back and forth between good, bad and average. He's far from useless & at times he genuinely looks like a good player but that's why I'd be delighted if we sold him this summer - as long as we upgraded obviously. It would be a real sign of intent that not only are we ready to ship out some of the dross but we're also not settling for just "decent" any more. We still need someone with some real drive & dynamism in the middle of the park imo. Even on a good day Song's natural demeanour is just too languid to provide that.

As for Suuper, Super Tom… I don't know who his new dealer is but holy christ. MOTM by a mile again last night. Just makes you wonder what could have been if he could have been arsed before now.

On a scale of 1-to-Baptista though, how f*cking sh*te is Headuardo???

[OneBardGooner]

According to that Tosser Pardew he thought they deserved at least a point...what a spunkbubblewankstain....

Chesney is capable of being a great keeper but his decision making AND his distribution need working on - Apparently Arsenal have offered Crazy jens a role as Goalkeeping Coach ..he should sort him out - Jens attitude with Chesneys bulk and courage....SORRRTED!

[I Hate Hleb]

Agree with DB10 in his general criticisms of Song's all round play. He has improved some aspects of his game but he is still just not good or disciplined enough to be above average at any of them.

I've always questioned his tackling abilities, defensive positioning and general reading of the game, but the thing that worries me is that since he's admittedly brilliant assists earlier, in the past few games it seems as if Song is now trying to do the 'show-biz pass' much too often when there are better and more straight-forward options available. I'd love to see the stats on 'attempted passes completed in the opposition's final third' as by instinct I'm positive they'd be very low. Indeed, last night I remember bemoaning that Song didn't make one accurate pass beyond 5yards going forward in the first half.

As for doing his defensive duties, his statuesque positioning and movement was often exposed throughout the second half and here I agree with IU4GN in his assessment of Alexs' role (and the fact that Arteta has taken it upon himself to cover for him when the Cameroonian goes wandering) that selling him for an upgrade would be the best thing that could happen to the team if it really wants to progress forward.

[swimmer1]

I have no problem with Song and Arteta inter-changing in the midfield .

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

I have no problem with Song and Arteta inter-changing in the midfield .

Of the options currently available yeah I think it's probably the best solution. But if Song is going to be predominantly the "spare man" in the midfield 3 then we need to see more from him, both creatively and in terms of providing a bit of box-to-box drive, in order to justify his place in the team beyond this season. I'm not sure he can provide either on a consistent enough basis tbh & he's already proven not up the mark as an out & out DM. Not going out of my way to dig him out but as I say, I think we're at a stage where Wenger needs to rediscover that ruthless streak if we're really going to progress.

[kite]

I think Song is ok but he's no DM and that's the problem. He can play some decent passes but I think a defensive player should be able to provide a bit more than assists.

[donaldo]

Chesney is capable of being a great keeper but his decision making AND his distribution need working on - Apparently Arsenal have offered Crazy jens a role as Goalkeeping Coach ..he should sort him out - Jens attitude with Chesneys bulk and courage....SORRRTED!

How old is Szczesny? 21.How good were Seaman and Jens at 21?.Szczesny has been like a breath of fresh air after the two clowns before him Almunia and Flappy.At last we have a real keeper between the sticks.Szczesny is still learning and will be a great keeper.Szczesny is the least of our worries its the back up thats scary.We need an experienced number 2 behind Szczesny not a clown

[Rugby Gooner]

Another great result! The team is now showing some Backbone,and what my old P.E. Teacher called,"Intestinal Fortitude."Long may it continue!!!

[arsenalmorris]

When in London last night about 9:50pm i heard a loud bang, i alerted the police only to be told it was Tottenham blowing up a 12 point lead

[storrmin571]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... Tiote.html

Arsenal have opened an internal investigation into an alleged incident of racist abuse from a supporter during their 2-1 win over Newcastle on Monday night.

Television footage captured a fan hurling what are thought to be racist remarks at a Newcastle player, claimed to be midfielder Cheick Tiote.
The north London club will seek to ban the spectator and hand him into the police, if he is proved to be guilty of the slur.
The Arsenal hierarchy were yesterday attempting to identify the accused supporter. The Gunners could yet find themselves in hot water after Monday night’s last-gasp win.

FA disciplinary chiefs were deciding whether to investigate the incident between Robin van Persie and Tim Krul and both clubs could be faced with failing to control their players.
Meanwhile, Theo Walcott, so often used as a winger for Arsenal, believes he can cut it as a central striker.

‘In the future I would like to play up front with Robin van Persie, that would be fantastic,’ Walcott said. ‘I’m still only 22 — 23 on Friday — so there is still a lot to come from me.’