Everton away match thread.

[Mistical92]

A draw is a good result, Everton are a better side than last season IMO. Also we'll have good momentum going into Wednesday because of the fightback. No complaints from me.

[MAGooner]

If Wenger cant see what we can its going to be another sleepwalk to 4th place but as we all know that is his number 1 priority

We need a commanding DM and a world class striker.When i hear Gooners praising the average Giroud and the unproven Campbell i wonder really what is the ambition of some of our fans is.Are you really happy with those two?

Today we got out of jail again but the performance stank Wilshere had another stinker

I must agree with that.

[Humoresque]

The thing is Wenker will now claim - How we showed passion, determination and how we kept on going - BUT why the feck didn't we play like we did in the last 15 minutes - from the very start...Yet again this is a repeat of so many games from previous seasons.

Naismith is a diving Nonce btw. uber CAAAANT!

you forgot 'spirit in the squad'

there's only one Arsene Wenger

(but a lot of excuses from his mouth)

[milesgooner]

I thought the draw was a fair result. Observations are that Giroud played exactly the role he is perfect for - impact sub. He is not a shit player but he is a no.2 striker. Also noticed that alexis kept gesturing for his team mates to help him close down their defenders when they had the ball. Wonder how long it will take him to realise we ain't Barcelona, and he gets fed up with it!

[Dan_85]

If Wenger cant see what we can its going to be another sleepwalk to 4th place but as we all know that is his number 1 priority

We need a commanding DM and a world class striker.When i hear Gooners praising the average Giroud and the unproven Campbell i wonder really what is the ambition of some of our fans is.Are you really happy with those two?

Today we got out of jail again but the performance stank Wilshere had another stinker

Whilst I agree, I don't even think it's about the personnel anymore. I'm convinced Wenger could sign the entire Barca, Real Madrid & Bayern first XI's yet still find a way to turn Messi, Ronaldo and co into a bunch of lifeless, one dimensional zombies.

How many different players have we tried and signed over the last 7 or so years and nothing ever really changes, it's the same old shit. The one constant is Wenger...

[QuartzGooner]

If you are two goals down with ten minutes to go and you get a draw then it's a point gained but it doesn't disguise the fact that we didn't look good enough for long periods. It's annoying to see the same routines and same build-up play year after year but I suppose I'm used to it now.

This is a key point.
As much as anyone else I want to see a left back, centre back, defensive midfielder and striker join in the week week.
But if we play this congested short pass game for 80 minutes every week then we could clone an outfield team of 8 Vieira's, a Bergkamp and an Henry and still struggle.

The 1998 and 2002-2004 teams were so good because they had variety, short passing happened but so did other styles; fast counter attack, fast attack, crosses for headers, diagonal balls through centre backs and even route one at times.

Also, if we are going to play Alexis Sanchez up front on his own then we must try to get the best out of him; fast low diagonal passes from the wide men, balls over the top for him to run onto and incisive through balls from Ozil.

But we had little team shape, pace, width or invention for most of the game so very little happened.

Edit: Dan_85 posted almost same time as you and we made the same point!

[WE8SPURS]

I can't help feeling if the managers were to swap dugouts with the players they would have at their disposal Arsenal would be taking all three points today. It's bordering on criminal that Wenger can make a group of quality players look so poor with his tactics. I except that a point away to Everton is no mean feet but I'm growing so painfully tired of watching this shit! Learn from your mistakes Arsene, LEARN FROM YOUR FUCKING MISTAKES

[Brady's left peg]

I said it on here the other day... Wilshere and Ramsey struggle when they play in the same team, they want to play in the same areas of the pitch. It came as no surprise to me when we looked a better team when Jack was subbed off. My fear now is that our stubborn manager will persevere with him just to try and prove everyone wrong.

[Humoresque]

After getting raped down the wings at Goodison last year I was interested to see what AW's masterplan would be this year.

Play an unfit, uninterested and out of position Ozil on the left, covering our second-string LB against Lukaku and nobody out wide against Mirallas. Genius.

Also, it was clear how Everton were going to try and make chances while AW's instructions appear to have been "pass it a million times and wait for something to happen". After all, possession wins matches doesn't it?

Jack has done nothing in any match this season and I'm starting to despair of Ozil.

Finally, something I raised many times last season, our movement off the ball, particularly in the area, is woeful. A passing team needs players to pass to.

Still a point at Everton is always a good one.

I don't understand how people have said over the last 4-5 years that Arsenal play "beautiful" football. To me it's like there's an invisible force-field around the 18 yard box and they all start to pass it square and back.

just really boring, it's no Barcawhores. They slow things down all the time nowadays.

Jack Wilshere - all the bad temper and attitude of Wayne Rooney and 1/9th of the talent. Getting sick of it.

Campbell didn't look real great but it was his first run out.

Giroud missed so many chances in Turkey, comes on , and in the first 5minutes had a marvelous chance on a volley - tough enough conversion but a top class striker would've at a minimum put it on frame. He's not bad overall but the end product for a supposed team like Arsenal, a top ten richest team in the world, is still not good enough.

didn't you know, Possession is yet another Virtual Trophy, along with...

4th place
most days leading Premiership

[clockender1]

our first shot on target was in the 68th minute.

and less walcott, that was our best midfield and strikeforce.

[Humoresque]

I said it on here the other day... Wilshere and Ramsey struggle when they play in the same team, they want to play in the same areas of the pitch. It came as no surprise to me when we looked a better team when Jack was subbed off. My fear now is that our stubborn manager will persevere with him just to try and prove everyone wrong.

he wouldn't do that, just like he wouldn't ...

play a midfielder as a defensive midfielder because defense was his weakness

give the armband to a past his sell-by-date player because he knows everybody wants us to strengthen in that position as a big to all who haven't spent 30 years in football like him



btw, when is the 'youth project' over with anyway?

[silus]

If Wenger cant see what we can its going to be another sleepwalk to 4th place but as we all know that is his number 1 priority

We need a commanding DM and a world class striker.When i hear Gooners praising the average Giroud and the unproven Campbell i wonder really what is the ambition of some of our fans is.Are you really happy with those two?

Today we got out of jail again but the performance stank Wilshere had another stinker

Not slagging off Giroud and Campbell has nothing to do with fans ambition. You can support the players who are playing and still want a new striker...Giroud is a decent enough player but not really suited to the system we play imo, but I would be happy with him on the bench to change things if it isn't going well (like today)...I've been impressed with Campbell most times I've seen him and think he should be given opportunities over the next couple of seasons to improve and to prove himself.

We can all see where the team needs strengthening and most of us know who should be held responsible if the problems aren't addressed....getting on Giroud and especially Campbells back achieves nothing and helps no one.

[milesgooner]

Maybe someone should actually question the players rather than AW. Oxlade Chamberlain had 5 shots on goal in the first half and scuffed every one of them!

[Brady's left peg]

our first shot on target was in the 68th minute.

and less walcott, that was our best midfield and strikeforce.

He only played Ozil for 90 mins to try and get in a bit of match practice before Besiktas, because with Ramsey suspended he'll be playing for definite.

[Brady's left peg]

Maybe someone should actually question the players rather than AW. Oxlade Chamberlain had 5 shots on goal in the first half and scuffed every one of them!

Who takes training again?.... oh yeah I remember AW! But lets blame everyone but.