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.
Watching the game last night with my wife and she couldn't understand why I was moaning about Wenger's constant harassment of the fourth official. I just felt it looked awful for the manager of Arsenal FC to stand complaining to an official rather than concentrate on his side's shortcomings. This is a constant theme of Arsenal games in recent years . The problem with it is that the manager is seeking the excuses before the press conference starts. He reminds me of King Kenny at the Victims..never his fault. It's unseemly and should be beneath our club.
On the game at 2-0 we looked as comfortable as possible, hadn't played fantastic but were doing the job required. Then Caz tried to be too clever lost the ball and the rest was inevitable. Mannone was our best performer, didn't think any other player was outstanding. I like Giroud's attitude, again not world class but he doesn't hide. I thought Alan Smith was very unfair on him..(remember your own Arsenal start Smudger? )
Would have settled for a draw at the start but when you are two up it has to be a disappointment. Still in our own hands to reach the knockouts so the money men will be pleased.
kiwomya wrote:Wenger takes a lot of the blame but you can't get away from the fact that these players aren't all pulling their weight. A few of the players ahve come back from injury etc but at one point or another you have to look at the actual team and point the finger.
How many different players have we had over the last 4-5 years though? And yet regardless of how many come and go these exact same problems keep popping back up to say hello like Robert De Niro in Cape Fear. Or a huge protein shit. At one point or another you've got to look at the common denominator and point the finger.
Also, slightly off topic but what in god's name did Glenda Hoddle do in his previous lifetime to be reincarnated as such a horrific *word censored*?
kiwomya wrote:Wenger takes a lot of the blame but you can't get away from the fact that these players aren't all pulling their weight. A few of the players ahve come back from injury etc but at one point or another you have to look at the actual team and point the finger.
How many different players have we had over the last 4-5 years though? And yet regardless of how many come and go these exact same problems keep popping back up to say hello like Robert De Niro in Cape Fear. Or a huge protein shit. At one point or another you've got to look at the common denominator and point the finger.
Also, slightly off topic but what in god's name did Glenda Hoddle do in his previous lifetime to be reincarnated as such a horrific *word censored*?
Excellent Film reference. Not sure if De Niro's ever been mentioned in the same paragraph as "Huge Protein Shit" before though!!! (making of Raging Bull?)
Ok, so not the greatest of performances but the result is still good in terms of overall qualification from the group (I believe this is the only way the cheque book will get opened in January)
Positives (Crikey)
I thought Sagna looked like he was getting back to form
Jack is another game in and starting to look livelier
Giroud, Pod and Walcott - surely this is the front three we need to be playing with (and considering we play this quite narrowly, I would have thought this would be enough to convince Theo to stay)
Mannone played well enough (not that I think he is good enough to be in an Arsenal shirt but...)
Negatives
TV not good enough at LB either - We have to sort this position out in Jan. Gibbs is just going to be consistently. injured, we can't rely on him for more than 10-15 games per season.
Horrible feeling captaincy isn't suiting TV, Arteta looks like the captain on the field at the moment (does this suggest a split in the squad?)
Defensive organisation looked chaotic - can't say I am convinced by this static zonal marking thing at all
Distribution from defence to midfield - Bloody awful, we just kept inviting pressure back on ourselves
Cazorla - Looks knackered - As a different idea to others, would leave Jack and Arteta alone and giving Arshavin/Eisfeld a go in Santi's position for a game or two be another option?
Seriously though it is just doesnt get any better the morning after does it ? Re the captaincy issue, I do think that it was very noticable how it was arteta that took the lead role in calming podolski down last night when he was having the argument with the referee. I dont have a personal issue with tv being captain as such but if it is a cause in his slide in performances then it should be taken from his as much for his own sake as the team's - some people dont like the responsibility of being captain and prefer to lead by example instead and there is no shame in that but being an actual captain nowdays carries a lot more responsibility than that.
Re wenger's constant harressment of the officials I do agree that it is now way beyond the point of embarassing - in days gone by he would have been pulled up for it but nowadays the club doesnt behave with the same level of class it used to The club has no direction and a club that stands for nothing has no standards to meet (except of course £££). I remember years ago after the battle of old shatford ( ) GG had to call a meeting of his players where they were told about how their behaviour reflected on the club - we all knew at the time that it was a sham speech but at least it showed that the men above GG had been emphasing to the manager about standards where as the c**ts running our club for the last 10 years (yes that includes the deceased) have no interest in the image of the club
If being a great guy is a crime, then guilty as charged your honour
By the way...all done!
Jesus Christ, how quick was that?!! Dunno about arse of a crow, mate, more like arseofawoolymammothafterbeingdoublepenetrationbuggeredbyayettiandabluewhale.
Its Up 4 Grabs Now wrote:
Jesus Christ, how quick was that?!! Dunno about arse of a crow, mate, more like arseofawoolymammothafterbeingdoublepenetrationbuggeredbyayettiandabluewhale.