Attitude / "Mental Strength"

[northbank123]

So yet again after a limp-dicked performance Wenger is yet again crowing about our mental attributes and I am absolutely baffled as to where he gets this nonsense from.

Apparently we reacted well to the red card. How he can think this when within 5 minutes Monreal, Koscielny, Flamini and Gabriel were all left holding their dicks whilst Costa waltzed in unmarked to score? Most teams would prepare to knuckle down and at least try and make it difficult for the away team but we couldn't even concentrate for 5 fucking minutes.

This mental strength we supposedly have is non-existent. Where was it when we chucked away yet another late lead at Anfield against a piss-poor side? How often do we react woefully to going down to 10 men and just chuck in the towel? The last time we won a game that we were losing at half time was in 2011 - some fucking mental strength that. We could have played for 6 hours today and we wouldn't have got near scoring.

A lot of it comes down to the captaincy for me. Sad to see how much Wenger has devalued the captaincy to the extent that he believes it is a meaningless role. I get that sticking an armband on somebody doesn't make them a leader, and conversely somebody isn't prevented from showing leadership by virtue of not having the armband. A team needs more than one leader and let's be honest we aren't blessed with any obvious stand-out choices.

But just pick the best candidate and stick with them. Giving the armband to Walcott would have been embarrassing and unprofessional at U15 level. Could you imagine John Terry giving up the armband to Jon Obi Mikel for a massive game with huge implications just because Mikel has completed a middling decade at the club? Not a fucking chance, he might be a *word censored* but he is far too proud and dedicated to do something like that. Imagine asking Big Tone or Vieira to give up the armband to some jumped-up squad player for a massive game - they would have told Wenger and Walcott to fuck off unless they wanted a black eye trying to physically take it off them. There is no concept of leadership and not one person we can rely on to stick their hand up when the chips are down.

We are soft-centred and this was summed up today by how in awe we were of Fabregas - a player who has played all season like he's had his laces tied together. We stood off him so much that he ran the show from the first minute. Then Oxlade-Chamberlain - another social media hero whose career has not and will not live up to his image - comes on with 15 minutes left in a huge game we absolutely needed to rescue something from and the first thing he does is pat Fabregas and give him a stupid grin. The moron couldn't even wait 15 minutes for the final whistle to shake his hand and say hello - we are chucking away the title and all he can think of when he gets on the pitch is grinning at his mate on the other side.

[mcdowell42]

According to sky the BFG was wearing the armband as they lined up ,but just before the game started he gave it to Walcott

[StuartL]

Agree with your opinions Northbank123

I think Wenker mentions mental strength so often because it is plainly obvious this squad, like previous seasons, possesses so little.

He mentions it nearly every press conference hoping that somehow if he says it enough a little bit will seep into the team by osmosis or some such method.

I also think his media soundbites are for Kronke's benefit as he probably doesn't watch the matches but may get to catch the press - so if we were a little bit unlucky, or cheated by the referee or it was raining or we had illusionary dominance then Stan will be reassured that all is ok.

[mcdowell42]

Mental strength is a myth at arsenal.

[rodders999]

Only the other week the fraudulent French fuckwit was blaming our defeat at Liverpool 3 years ago for our dodgy start in this season's game. That's some feat of mental strength when defeats from seasons past can effect you years later. My advice would be that when that fucking charlatan opens his mouth do yourself a favour and turn the channel.

[mcdowell42]

Only the other week the fraudulent French fuckwit was blaming our defeat at Liverpool 3 years ago for our dodgy start in this season's game. That's some feat of mental strength when defeats from seasons past can effect you years later. My advice would be that when that fucking charlatan opens his mouth do yourself a favour and turn the channel.

That's exactly what I do rodders ,can't be listening to his bullshit.

[rodders999]

Only the other week the fraudulent French fuckwit was blaming our defeat at Liverpool 3 years ago for our dodgy start in this season's game. That's some feat of mental strength when defeats from seasons past can effect you years later. My advice would be that when that fucking charlatan opens his mouth do yourself a favour and turn the channel.

That's exactly what I do rodders ,can't be listening to his bullshit.

Win, lose or draw I haven't heard one of his after match interviews in about 4 years, best decision I ever made.

[Kvltman]

Conceding 5 mins after going down to ten doesn't show a lot of mental strength, less focus and discipline. A poor goal to concede with 11 men.

Heard it all before from this guy, it's just all so boring now.

[SteveO 35]

I've learnt now to not even listen to his post match comments. At best they are bland and wildly inaccurate, at worst they are derogatory and condescending to the interviewer.

These players should be forced to read up and watch some footage about Tony Adams - a man written of by this country in 1988 when the world's best striker Van Basten rinsed him and hounded as a donkey at every ground he played on. Never once did I see the guy go into hiding or shirk a challenge - in fact sometimes he was so desperate to make up for his mistakes he would almost over commit and end up sent off or with an own goal against him on occasion.....but more often than not he'd snuff out the oppo centre forward and put everything on the line to keep a clean sheet. There isn't a player we've had since PV4's departure to even come close. The list of captains we've had since then has been a fucking embarrassment - none more so than Gallas, closely followed by that snidey Chav c.unt who dicked us today and patted the crest on his pikey Chav shirt

Still with a manager who says "captaincy is overplayed" and values "rotational leadership" what fucking hope is there

[mcdowell42]

Don't forget the times he gave the armband to 1 of the worst GKs in our history.

[robbo10]

Only the other week the fraudulent French fuckwit was blaming our defeat at Liverpool 3 years ago for our dodgy start in this season's game. That's some feat of mental strength when defeats from seasons past can effect you years later. My advice would be that when that fucking charlatan opens his mouth do yourself a favour and turn the channel.

That's exactly what I do rodders ,can't be listening to his bullshit.

I turn over/off as soon as I see that useless c*nt on my TV,even if he said "my name is Arsene Wenger" I wouldn't believe him,the man is a myth,a fraud and a liar,he's a diplomat who tells bare faced lies,every defeat he comes out with the mental strength bollocks,its embarrassing,he's made me ashamed to be an Arsenal fan,for an alleged intelligent man how can he lie about the side having mental strength when they just crumble like a jaffa cake in hot tea,I don't even know how I feel about Arsenal anymore,I see no end in sight to this debacle for the fore-see-able future,and its so fucking frustrating.I'm at the point where I just want to stop watching for their results but it's MY club...well it used to be.....

[SteveO 35]

Don't forget the times he gave the armband to 1 of the worst GKs in our history.

You mean Red's favourite keeper !

You see....this is where we miss Red who would be on here claiming Walcott was world class and how the departures of Denilson and Djourou had led us to this decline

[Kvltman]

I've learnt now to not even listen to his post match comments. At best they are bland and wildly inaccurate, at worst they are derogatory and condescending to the interviewer.

These players should be forced to read up and watch some footage about Tony Adams - a man written of by this country in 1988 when the world's best striker Van Basten rinsed him and hounded as a donkey at every ground he played on. Never once did I see the guy go into hiding or shirk a challenge - in fact sometimes he was so desperate to make up for his mistakes he would almost over commit and end up sent off or with an own goal against him on occasion.....but more often than not he'd snuff out the oppo centre forward and put everything on the line to keep a clean sheet. There isn't a player we've had since PV4's departure to even come close. The list of captains we've had since then has been a fucking embarrassment - none more so than Gallas, closely followed by that snidey Chav c.unt who dicked us today and patted the crest on his pikey Chav shirt

Still with a manager who says "captaincy is overplayed" and values "rotational leadership" what fucking hope is there

Spot on. Almunia with the armband still gives me the shakes.

Another problem is there isn't really anyone in our current squad who jumps out at you as a captain material, a travesty when you look at how many candidates there were at once in squads past.

[SteveO 35]

I've learnt now to not even listen to his post match comments. At best they are bland and wildly inaccurate, at worst they are derogatory and condescending to the interviewer.

These players should be forced to read up and watch some footage about Tony Adams - a man written of by this country in 1988 when the world's best striker Van Basten rinsed him and hounded as a donkey at every ground he played on. Never once did I see the guy go into hiding or shirk a challenge - in fact sometimes he was so desperate to make up for his mistakes he would almost over commit and end up sent off or with an own goal against him on occasion.....but more often than not he'd snuff out the oppo centre forward and put everything on the line to keep a clean sheet. There isn't a player we've had since PV4's departure to even come close. The list of captains we've had since then has been a fucking embarrassment - none more so than Gallas, closely followed by that snidey Chav c.unt who dicked us today and patted the crest on his pikey Chav shirt

Still with a manager who says "captaincy is overplayed" and values "rotational leadership" what fucking hope is there

Spot on. Almunia with the armband still gives me the shakes.

Another problem is there isn't really anyone in our current squad who jumps out at you as a captain material, a travesty when you look at how many candidates there were at once in squads past.

Next season I would make Alexis captain - not in some fob to make him stay as was the case with *word censored* like Van Judas and that pikey Chav *word censored*.....simply because he has more heart than all of the rest put together, never gives up, is world class and a guaranteed starter when fit

[officepest]

General Percival had more resolve than most of our squad.

Completely spineless, almost to a man.