”The big question that needs to be asked is can this team transfer todays form into the minor games? It is ok motivating yourself for the big games, but if you can’t be assed against Stoke… what is the point?’
That quote was taken from the bottom of my Manchester United match report. Unlike some, I refused to get carried away with that result… I said to a Grover before that match that we’d win against the Old Trafford outfit and create a false horizon… then the cracks would appear at a later date. I must admit though, I didn’t expect us to run into trouble so soon after the last two results.
Today, without a doubt is the most disappointing result of the season. Aston Villa are a good team, I am not denying that but we are supposed to be one of the best in the country… plus, we’ve just come off the back of two decent results. The first team should have been brimming with confidence and eager to prove to the faithful that they are indeed, worthy of their places.
Sadly, there was no such determination.
I don’t think you can knock the coach. He picked the same team that beat the Champions, he made his subs fairly early in the game and we didn’t have a Champions league game in mid week. So what went wrong?
Well, for me… it all boils down to desire again. If there is no doubt about the quality and ability, it simply has to come down to attitude and desire.
I’ll list the main offenders:
Cesc: So at the start of the season we knew Cesc was playing badly and we blamed Euro 2008… then he continued to play poorly, so we blamed Denilson… Now Denilson is playing well, who the hell do we blame? He looks lost on the pitch and he doesn’t seem particularly interested in fighting for the club. As an Arsenal fan, I don’t give a rats arse what your name is… if you’re not playing well, you should be dropped in place of someone who will play well. Cesc is playing badly… and he needs to be dropped. Ramsey, regardless of his age would have put in a better performance today. British players are flawed in many ways, but there is always fight in them. I’m not seeing any fight from Cesc this season.
Nik B: I’ve been a staunch defender of the big Dane. Today I felt really let down by him… He was man marked by Davies, but he didn’t offer anything to the midfield in the game. He wasn’t looking for the ball and he didn’t challenge for anything… correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t remember him having a shot? I know the lone striker role is difficult to play at such a young age… but more often than not he had support… be it Diaby or Theo. If you are fighting for a place in the team with Adebayor… you try your bollocks off, Nik didn’t… and everyone in the stadium could see that.
Almunia: He made a great save from a penalty in the first half… but his flapping has started again. If Fabianski were selected you can bet your bottom dollar Clichy wouldn’t have turned that ball into the net… because he would have claimed it. I also think for the second goal, Gallas did everything correctly… and it was up to Almunia to keep the shot out at his near post. The shot was hardly ripped was it? A very average performance from a top 4 keeper.
Theo: Ok, so how long am I going to kid myself about Theo and his contribution? He was terrible today and for me… all this talk of a £60k a week contract is a bit premature. He is living off the back of his England performance because to be fair… he has never done that for Arsenal on a consistent basis. He was poor today… constantly running up blind alleys and making the wrong decisions. If he wants to play in the big leagues he has to start finding some consistency becuase at the moment, Arsenal aren’t getting enough from him. The one positive I will take from Theo today is that he never stop working hard for the team… unlike certain others. He is also playing out of position… but when you’ve been playing out of position for a year… you can’t really have any complaints. Thierry went from winger, to striker… back to winger. The best players adapt.
I thought there were some great performances out there today… I thought Denilson had a stormer. He was all over the park this afternoon… he tackled, he passed and he carried Cesc for large parts of the game. I thought he looked like a bit of a leader today, that of course is open to debate.
I thought the centre backs were top notch as well. Gallas and Silvestre really played well. Silvestre is your no nonsense type defender, his motto would be ‘if in doubt, boot it out’ and Gallas played in a more composed and thoughtful way. He looks calmer with Silvestre by his side.
Diaby looked pretty sparky in a crowded midfield. He is the most accomplished player on the ball in that Arsenal team… some of his on the ball skill is nothing short of outrageous. I’d be quite happy to see him pair up with Denilson in the middle of the park… with 2 inform strikers to feed, he could be a different beast.
Adebayor showed why he is Arsenal number one when he came on… his energy, power and aggression could have been utilised a bit better had he started the game. Eduardo will be fit soon… so hopefully we can find some more potency up front because from where I am sitting… we look pretty woeful at the moment.
On a more sour note… the fans started streaming out early doors tonight. The stadium was almost 3/4 empty by the time the final whistle was blown. I guess the fans think, if they can’t be fucked… why should I? There was a chorus of boos to top off a crap afternoon. I’m not a fan of that… but people are paying serious wedge to see a lot of average, ‘I don’t give a fuck’ type performances.
If you’re not happy as a fan… how else are you expected to express your displeasure? Oh… and before people start… don’t give me all this plastic fans bollocks. In Milan, if the fans are unsatisfied they turn the backs and hold a silent protest. In Spain, if Madrid or Barca fans are upset… they wave white hankeys. No one ever calls their fans plastic do they? They are just passionate about being anti-average.
Any boos yesterday shouldn’t have been directed at the coach (I don’t think they were)… they should have been directed to the players. Many of them were devoid of passion and heart yesterday… and I feel sorry for Wenger because he put his reputation on the line to back that crop of kids. Again… we know they can turn it on for the big games, but when it comes to digging out a performances against the not so glamourous teams… we are found wanting.
Booing isn’t an acceptable practice… but earning £30k a week in a recession and not giving your all for the shirt is also not acceptable. Fans are not stupid, they know effort when they see it… and they’ll always forgive a poor result if the players put there all in… I didn’t feel we saw that yesteday…. what did you think?
So… after a week of basking in the sunshine of a false horizon… we are back where we started, our title challenge is in tatters and our first team squad are not capable of giving 100%. Martin O’neil has a squad of just above average players… but he gets 110% out of them. If Wenger could work the same magic with his kids, we’d win the league. Motivating a bunch of young mercenaries must come with it’s own set of troubles though… they’ve been earning great dough since the age of 15 and they think they’ve made it.
How do you rectify that? Well… I’d kick their ego’s into touch… either by introducing a couple of the kids… or buying some serious talent in January. Nothing like a bit of competition for your place is there?
What to do, what to do….
Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section!
The players should only get paid when they win. Perhaps that would give them some motivation.
To get paid 30 to 80 grand for that lack of effort yesterday is a disgrace.
From the off it was clear that the Villa players were putting more effort in than us.
That’s twice we’ve lost after the kids have played superbly in the CC.
I would have preferred Tuesday’s team to have gone down fighting against Villa rather than seeing that shambles of a team performance yesterday.
Couldn’t bear to watch MOTD. Was the foul on Vela before the 2nd goal as clearcut as it looked live at the game? I was convinced we would equalise before that.
Anyone watching the Hull Vs City game
That Ireland is class.
Paulinho
I agree with your analysis of the lack of balance in our team. I think that too many players in the team have an air of complacency and arrogance about them, instead of the determination and fight that past Arsenal teams possessed. Arsene doesn’t have those figures at his disposal to ignite the team, even Henry would do a decent job at that. I think that the old Arsenal players should come back in some coaching form, because this team needs to understand what it is to win the league and have the constant desire to do so. The team that fought Manchester United to the death at times, even when Man U were incredible.
It’s obvious this team can play football when they actually decide to play, so its not that they cannot win. They just don’t have enough desire to win, and that isn’t acceptable.
TBH, The kids have the balance. They have all types of excellent players who will have great careers in their academy. It’s an incredible academy. But that balance has to wait unfortunately, while the obviously talented first team pisses about instead of putting in the effort
I think the main problem is that we are comparing our present squad with the side of 2004 and I am afraid there is no comparison.
We have had a tradition of good and TH14′s case great strikers for a number of years,and neither Bedntner or Adebayor fit the bill,they are both not clinical and not particularly skillful.Walcott has speed and little else and doesn’t seem to improve.
Both keepers are not on a par with Lehmann or seaman.No experience in defence except Gallas who doesn’t seem comfortable,whoever he is paired with.Silvestre is a crock otherwise united wouldn’t have sold him.
Sagna and vela are the 2 bright assets to the team,but wenger wont give Vela a run in the side.
Cesc is a great player who at 21 has just played 15 months non stop,he is only human,he needs a rest.
Clichy worries me,great in attacking,vunerable in defence.
diaby is the enigma for me,as he is an attacking midfielder,not to play on the wing or defence,but wenger doesn’t know where to play him.
Denilson,played o.k. yesterday but like so many others is yet to find consistency,if he ever will.
Toure is past his best and appears a lot heavier than a year ago.
Song is song,championship level at best.
Nasri needs time to settle to the pace of the PL as most new imports do.
Ramsey,wilshere and even randall(who gets stuck in) but needs to keep things simple,should be given some playing time.
RVP to me is still our best striker,but his behaviour at Stoke brought memories back of his petulance.We could have done with him yesterday.
So instead of morale being sky high after the win against united,the whole team came out as if it was a training session and were lethargic.Who does one blame for that.most probably the players who weren’t motivated and wenger for not motivating them.
Denilson is beginning to impress me again also. He has shown that he at least will fight, he was everywhere yesterday to no avail. He was actually looking like the player I thought he was going to become incredible when he first played nearly 2 years ago.
I think our strikeforce perhaps isn’t as good. Bendtner will be good, of that I am sure, but he obviously appears to not be ready enough, given his very bad form of late. I think we need to bolster it.
All I want is a proven goalscorer, not a superstar £30million pound player that probably will play shite when he comes to play for us lol. Someone like David Villa would be good, I like the look of him, even though he seems a bit lightweight, and VERY similar to Eduardo n Vela. We need a powerful goalscorer, like Drogba.
Kelsey … can’t add much to that agree with everything you just said.
SDF Villa should have come in the Summer, and I don’t think Valencia are in Europe so we should still be able to get him.
He has scored 11 in 13 already this season.
Nic Bendtner needs a loan period, he is not good enough at the moment to warrant his place. but then nor is Ade or RVP.
Stop Fucking around Arsene, get the Cheque book out in Jan and pay whatever it takes…..
Afternoon all, watched the math, just now. two fouls on our boys, and two goals from the counter, crap performance by us and the ref, the latter is usual for us..
I will try not to argue tonight
Villa’s been in excellent form, he would be an incredible addition to the team. I would still personally prefer a more powerful player who scores goals. This is generally pretty hard to come by. 2 years ago, I suggested Jo Alves, but he is at Man City now, and I don’t think he is rated as highly now as he was before.
Simon
What about Vagner Love? And does anyone know how is Senderos plaing at AC Mian?
Cesc is a naughty boy, getting booked to ensure he plays against the chavs!!
Unfortunately rico01 crap performances from us are also becoming usual for us as well.
Welcome Rico. Cesc is better off being suspended for the Viteh game tho.
Maciek, the last i heard Senderos was injured or something. I didnt want him to go, he could be solving our defensive problems to a certain extent now. He is defo a leader.
Paulinho,
the other tactics would be to lob the ball for bent to hold, but he was a joke all of yesterday afternoon and all stray balls were effectively dealt with by Villa defense and midfield.
Sion,
I bla,e AW. He is seeing the futility of his strategy. In this EPL, you need english spine and grit. The Villa guys were also quite young. AW has to admit his mistakes:
Keeping /Bent when he was useless, playing Alumina, and not dropping CEsc when he is off form.
Jos Moriho has stated that this man is not under any outside pressure. He is playing to 4th place and the board supports that. 4th place means loosing a suite of games both home and away and we as fans have not warmed up to that. I want AW and the board axed for not been sincere and lying to us fans
Vagner Love is a great player, and powerful, maybe not as clinical, but good choice of player!!!
I’m thinking of others, like Eren Derdiyok, who is still unproven at 20 and perhaps doesn’t have the best record, but he scored quite a few this season, and scored against barcelona.
The closest we have to a Powerful and Clinical Striker is Simpson & Benik Afobe
Stu- thanks.
About You question- if I was Wenger and was given 20 milion pounds I would sell Song, Almunia, Senderos( sorry Stu) and bought Cana and Zapata.
Sorry Stu ….. no offence …but if we are calling for the return of Senderos then it shows just how far we have fallen. His leadership was based on the principle that when he made his frequent mistakes he would shout at and encourage the other defenders to gloss over his awful defending. DEFINITELY NOT the answer.
Simon
What would You say about Walcott- Van Persie partnership. Or Jeremy Menez from Roma( he can play as a winger and striker?).
I dont rate Vagner Love at all. If he was that good then he wouldnt still be playing in Russia. As for Derdiyok, he is to young to pin all our attacking hopes on. Bendtner is arguably just as good if not better than him.
Pogrebnyak from Zenit looks great aswell.
Confidentgooner.
I disagree about Wenger. I think he truly believes this team can win the league. The only problem is, his faith isn’t being repayed by the players. He actually has genuine belief in them, because they have the ability to do it, but they are letting everybody down. Obviously, that can be down to Wenger’s motivational skills, but there is only so much he can do to motivate a team.
I think Wenger will have to get ruthless with this team, and very soon if they do not perform to their abilities.
I said Cesc should be dropped a long time ago and everyone bashed me. How funny it is that now you’re saying the same thing.
World class players perform even when their team doesn’t. I never blamed Denilson for Cesc’s performances. Actually, as you may know, I never rated Cesc as a world class player. He’s a great passer with good vision. Thats it. He offers little more
Matter of fact Ebue is better than Sagna in the Wing back. At least with Ebue you get penetration and good crosses. Sagna and Theo end up confusing each other. The key to winning mid table teams is a spine filled midfield, great defending and penetrating wing backs. All the matches we have lost to them we really haven’t measured in any of these.
Question is how many more defeats will we endure? We better get used to them now.
I realise that many of you hate Phil but in his defence he wasnt all that bad. He helped get us to the CLfinal, we won the FA cup with him starting all the games, during their partnership he formed a great understanding with Toure (who has never been the same since Gallas arrived) and last season during the acon Senderos grew with each game he played.
One of the reasons he made mistakes was that he never got more than a game here and there. He was being used as cover when someone else was out. Senderos is very much as confidence player and it must be shattering to be just thrown in once evey 10 or so matches and be expected to perform like you have been there the whole time.
Maciek:
I think Menez could be a good option, but perhaps not what we need, is his record good enough for him to be considered?
As for Walcott & RVP partnership, Walcott doesn’t appear to be ready for that much responsibility in that role, although he can be pretty accurate in one-on-ones, and I’m sure Van Persie could set-up a lot for him.
But that partnership is looking like it would end up drowning in the seas of inconsistency, so I wouldn’t bet on that one any time soon.
I could be wrong though lol.
SDF … I agree Wenger does have immense faith and belief in this team and it is the individuals in it that are proving spineless and letting him and all of us down. Yes he should now be ruthless and make major changes or rotate with the youngsters. We can’t do any worse.
And Maciek, i agree with your choices, Cana and Zapata are great players. Full of fight etc.
Sion,
Were the Villa players older than our boys?
I’m one of the people that defends Senderos, I think that most defenders aren’t as solid at his age, you get the freak ones, but some take a while.
Rio Ferdinand was the most incredible defender at his age, and he made lots of mistakes. Senderos has the ability, he was part of a defence that didn’t concede for 8 games in Europe, and he managed to keep Alexandre Pato quiet last season!
Senderos is mistake prone, but so are lots of young defenders, even the great Micah Richards.
I have been too pissed off till now to talk..
Afternoon all!!
My team against Man C would be..
Fabinaski
Eboue Djourou Gallas Clichy
Wilshere Fabregas Ramsey Nasri
RVP Vela
If we are losing or drawing with 30 mins to go. bring on Walcott for Wikshere and Ade for Vela.
This is a mixture of our best players and our in form players, it should be enough to freshen it up a bit..
And if we win keep a winning team, let the others fight for there places….
Good team Avenell, but Cesc is suspended and wouldnt play 2 lefties up front together. Other than that its what i’ld go for too.
Confidentgooner,
Villa’s team is probably that little bit older, with players like Barry & Sidwell, n Laursen at the back.
The average age of our midfield was 20 yesterday.
Denilson for Fab as he’s banned …
Stu it isn’t that we hate Senderos but it comes down to what you and SDF have pointed out he is a confidence player and because he makes so many mistakes that confidence goes in the blink of an eye within a match and he becomes a liability. He is too much of a gamble to bring back.
Avenell, we kept a winning team yesterday, look what happened lol.
Good team though, I think Wilshere should get a game. It should be noted that our Center backs have been pretty good in the last few games, I have no fault with them, other than Gallas went missing as a captain yesterday.
Mark:
thats why he’s at Milan, a place where he will be learning from top class Italian defenders. He will come back a stronger player for it (hopefully lol)
I think the problem is we have too many Plan A and plan B players playing together and they don’t mix..
Plan A players Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, Denilson, Fabregas, Nasri. (Technical players)
Plan B players Toure, Walcott, Adebayor, Bendtner.. (Direct players}
We need one or the other..
Which is why the reserves play so much better.
Bendtner is kinda between Plan A & Plan B.
The reserves could be our starting 11 one day lol
SDF ….hope you are right we need a really confident defender but the premiership is much faster and more physical than anything he will encounter at Milan and once back here his confidence will go again as he won’t be able to handle the hustle and bustle of the pace our teams play at. Still not the answer I’m afraid.
I think Bendtner tries to be plan A but fails..
Well Phil is a better answer than Song will ever be. I get the feeling that AW thinks e has the other Song.
Senderos & Djourou are the main defence from the Swiss team, at the 2006 World Cup, they never conceded a goal. They could both be the answer. You never know…..
Also, one point about the reserve team. This is a team that could easily finish mid-table, so they could easily fill in against these types of teams if the first team are being pussies
I think Bendtners more plan C. C— !!!
Evening all,
Senderos has great potential but doesn’t seem to be able to cut it at Arsenal and in particular the Premiership. The football in the Premiership is very fast compared to Italy and I feel that he will thrive in a league with a slower pace.
The move will help to freshen up his career which was in danger of stagnating. I really hope he does well at Milan and gets the games that he deserves.
I’ve always wanted Philippe to do well as he is a nice guy but I always had that nagging doubt at the back of my mind that a mistake was due at anytime. Perhaps a season of regular football at a top-class level will help his concentration and his career can push on.
I wonder whether he will return to Arsenal. My gut feeling says that his stay at the Rossoneri will become permanent in the future. I think he will enjoy it at Milan and will want to remain there.
Serie A will suit his game. A slower tempo brings the best out of Philippe and he can become one of the best defenders in Italy. I’ve always fancied his chances more in Italy than in England.
Of our current squad my XI is:
Fabianski
Sagna JD Phil Clichy
Nasri Cesc Diaby Rosicky
Bendtner Eduardo
Its a touch teram to pick because we dont know who cesc is best next to. I went for that front line because they had agreat partnership last season and Ade&RvP together are to unpredictable. RvP is a luxury player and in a few years most of our strikers will have easily surpassed ade in terms of ability.
Cesc would be best next to Diaby IMO, Diaby should be starting for the first team in the center with Cesc.
Even though Denilson has been excellent, Diaby is an incredible player IMO, and could be as good as Vieira.
Nice post……………………………….!! i’m too down to say anything else
And RVP & Adebayor are not clinical enough. They would be great in any squad, especially Van Persie, but not as central players, they don’t perform at their best enough.
Wrighty.
You could be right about Senderos, but I feel that he is young enough to be able to grow into the Premier League quickly, and be solid, and good in the air
i realy think wenger should start publicly cririzing the players now, and start shouting because they just dont seam to have the heart,he is being to soft
BTW, I’ve just had a look at Wengers post-match interview.
He looked really down. He was actually lost for words. That team has let him down big time. I don’t think Wenger should shoulder ALL the blame, he really did believe in this team.
Isn’t it weird you cannot play two left footers together , but nobody mentions it when two right footed players play together..
avenell, the best players are usually both footed anyway lol.
Thats probably the one thing about Jack Wilshere we haven’t assessed yet: His right foot.
Sion,
I’m not sure that Diaby and Cesc would work together in a 4-4-2. Both like to get forward, Cesc needs a player who will sit.
And I think the comparisons between Diaby and Vieira are way off the mark. Vieira is Vieira, he could do everything. The only similarity for me is their apperance!
Diaby can become a great player though. He missed a year through injury, that set him back a little, stopped him from progressing as much.
I don’t think we necessarily need a player who sits, I think it’s more of a case of someone who compliments another players style of play. Wenger has come out recently and said he think Cesc n Jack would be a great midfield combo. It doesn’t always have to be a player who sits.
And I think Diaby could be like Vieira, he is young enough to be able to adapt his game, even though he does like to go forward. He has the same physical attributes, he is incredibly strong, would be hard to get the ball off of him. We need that strength in the middle of the park IMO.
Sion,
We all know that Wenger should have strengthened the squad in the summer, that is his fault we didn’t.
BUT, he put a lot of faith in this squad and he is being let down by them. I think Wenger needs to take another direction. Sod a players future, Arsenal are his priority. He’s tried to put trust in them and they have failed him.
Time for the cheque book methinks!
I think the first team may need a slight overhaul. I’d keep the reserves though, they will be amazing.
We definitely need more strength in the middle Sion.
I’d love Diaby to be like Vieira but IMO it won’t happen. But lets be honest, the Vieira and Cesc combination didn’t really work before.
Nowadays Vieira sits more because he isn’t as mobile as he once was. He’d probably suit Cesc now, just protecting him. Whereas before he wanted to bomb on and dictate play.
I don’t think major changes are needed. A couple of players would do. One in the middle of the park (Alonso?, Toure?) for definate.
I always thought the defence needed more players but I’d rather Djourou be given a chance first.
I’m not sure about signing a player who just holds, but one such player could be very very useful. Doesn’t even have to be old, just a player who does a screenjob as I like to call it lol.
That would be useful to our game, but that player would have to be able to pass the ball really. Flamini wasn’t a player who used to sit really, but people used to say thats what he did, but he didn’t. Gilberto did.
And yes, I think that small changes could greatly improve the team, I think a winger and possibly a powerful AND clinical striker. Defence was ok when Djourou played. As for keepers, I think Fabianski will be world class, but long way to go for a keeper.
Just watched the hull v city game,hoping that hull wouldn’t win and thus be equal on points with us.That more or less sums up our season so far.
I think it’s the players in front of Cesc..
Bergkamp and Hleb were ideal players to play up to.
Who has Cesc got this year to play ball with?
Last year he had Rosicky, Eboue, Hleb and to an extent Flamini. all wanted to pass and play quick passing and good running off the ball..
RVP, Walcott and Ade are too direct and Denilson cannot get up and down as good as Flamini. So we just keep passing across there back 4.
That draws the Defence forwards then we get hit on the break!!
Looking for something to cheer you up?? Dont have a link but just google Remi Gaillard. Its basically put it where you want it but hes not a pro player. (i think)
Thats true Avenell, this team are not as fluent with the passing and are perhaps not on Cescs wavelength, with the exception of Van Persie.
What did you think of Ireland Kelsey, I just watched that as well and he impresses me more everytime I see him
the invincibles seem like a life team ago ,now unfortunatly we have become JUST A CUP TEAM able to get up for one big game then back to mediocrcey ,
i have been a great critic of the boss but yesterday he stuck by a winning team and they repaid his faith with THAT PILE OF SHIT,
THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED
and if cesc who i relly rate ids thinking of barca he should go and lets give ramsey a chance,
talking of which i hope his chance comes against city now cecs is suspended, but i fear it will be that useless twunt song.
We need to be like Spain in the Euros, 10 technical players who can pass and move and carve defences open.
The more direct players we have, means we are neither Spain or Hull.
Hi Pat,great game for the neutral but just one thing before i comment on Ireland.Once again the ref was a complete joke.the thrice taken freekick was laughable as the third time one of the city players came out of the wall with leg raised and he let that go.secondly in the second half,a city player was injured and the ref blew up instead of letting city have the advantage.the exact same thing happened to us yesterday from which villa scored their second as the ref let play go on.Where is the consistency in that.
Ireland breaks well and is quick,but i haven’t seen much of him and today both defences were at sea,not really a comment from me but one to watch.
Hi Kelsey
I enjoyed the Hull game. Good end to end stuff with plenty of defensive howlers. And as you say another dire ref.
I don’t want in anyway to excuse yesterdays performance. But Riley was shocking. It is amazing that more hasn’t been written about it.
Like you, I m undecided about Ireland.
Evening Raddy,i have to say having now watched our game again,nothing has changed my earlier comments,but i have to agree that Villa got the majority of decisions.
As I have said, we came across a Villa tam at the top of it’s power.
MON must have been delighted.
Even the injury to Carew went in his favour. Had Carew played, Villa would have had one less midfield player, and not been able to break so quickly.
But fairplay, we got beaten by a fine team performance.
wrighty i agree arsenal do need to bring in one more player but most be a fighter not aflair player that is what arsenal needs in central midfield,everyone keeps going on and on about gallas being a poor leader, but i think the rest of players need his mentality which losing is same as dieing he may not portray it in the wright way but there is no dought of complete loving of loosing and i dont think rest of players realy have that there mentality is its disappointing we lost but we played buetiful football,and thats no good to me. chelsea look so hungry to me, not only that but they have determination in every match no matter what we must win no matter what the cost and that is lacking in arsenal, i dont if the rest you arsenals agree with that but arsenal look to soft i need a bit english steel
Lorik Cana is a fighter. yeah……I know. Maybe I’m just Cana obsessed?
Leon, and Wrighty.
I think that we need to bring more than just one fighter. And I would also go for a tall player. For me we lack height. How many players are above 6ft? Not many.
Raddy… Villa were great, but we knew that they were capable of playing like that.
For me… if you want to be contenders, you have to raise your game. We didn’t seem capable of that yesterday.
That is upsetting…
When have we ever had a team of players so uninterested?
Time to bolster I think… Xavi and Eto’o would be beautiful, though unlikely.
I think having no one to look up to is a massive factor in our demise… Looking up to Cesc isn’t inspirational… it’s not going to get you out of bed in the morning is it?
Playing with Gattuso, Eto’o or Villa would be… you’d be in awe wouldn’t you?
Wenger needs to buy someone like that… or perhaps someone who needs to rekindle their career in a young team.
Ronaldinho would have been perfect… so would Gattuso.
Great players with something to prove.
Who is great with something to prove at the moment?
Maciek… we need proven players… not youtube players.
Pedro,
I wrote a post on my blog earlier that Arsene Wenger needs to put Arsenal first and stop worrying about the future of players. Arsenal should be his number one priority.
I totally agree that a proven signing is what Arsenal need. It would boost everyone, Gooners, the players and most importantly, it would boost our chances of winning a trophy,
I read it Wrighty, and it was a good post.
What do you do though… Ramsey will be ready soon… Denilson is coming into his own… Nasri is a few months away…
It’s a tough juggling act isn’t it?
You can’t buy Xavi and kill of Ramsey can you? I know competition is great… but a world class player like Xavi really would kill his career.
So what would you do…
Pedro!
I respect Your view. But I have known Cana long before the Youtube video which was posted here. And he he is a figter, a winner. And as for his red cards- he don’t have any. Name me a few fighters who can help us and can be affordable for us? And he is a captain of OM. They are respected team.
Gattuso.
Alonso.
Its a lose-lose situation for Wenger then.
He doesn’t splash out on expensive players, the players under him blossom, but if they dont reap results then the fans get on his back.
He DOES splash out on expensive players, the players under him leave, careers broken, Wenger is blamed for England crisis (again), he failed his principles, the players he splashes out on possibly dont deliver
There are pros and cons for everything
That swiss chap.
Johnson.
Pedro…..I would much prefer Guttuso, he would not get in the way of Ramsey’s progression, but would add that much needed steel in the midfield. Not so sure about Inler or Alonso. I also think we need a no-nonsense centre back, either that or a goal keeper who commands his box.
Pedro,
It is a difficult situation but as you say, who do the players look up to?
Say you play for Arsenal and Arsenal signed Alonso, it would give you a huge lift because he is a great player with a proven pedigree.
A player who is good enough will make it regardless of the players in front of him. Look at Cesc.
I think we need to sign players with a winners attitude.
My team will be
Fabianski
Eboue Gallas Djorou Clichy
Diaby Ramsey Nasri
Theo Ade vela
We need a team that can do wing play as well as defend the midfied area. We lack that now. The 4-3-3 allows us to do 4-5-1, when we score and need to take the counter attack route. With Dudu fit, we can go to a 4-4-2.
Reserves: Wilshire, Dennilson, Sylvestre, Toure, alumina, RVP
Wrighty… Cesc made it at the expense of Paddy.
Ade made it at the expense of Thierry…
Theo —> Hleb
Truth… we have our no nonsense defender in Silvestre. He is top notch… he deals with everything without all the fucking about.
I am with you on Gattuso… look back to my summer posts… he would been perfect. A legend, aggressive and British football schooled. He could do 2 years for us and have a Davids like affect on the team… pure winner… exactly what we need.
Fabianski
Eboue/Toure-Gallas-Djourou-Clichy
Nasri-Denilson-Ramsey-Vela
Diaby
Ade
else the CC team. They would have ripped hull into a billion shreds.
why is nobody blaming Gallas, and Alumina for 2nd goal? For the first goal, Gallas allowed a dangerous cross in, before the Clichy blunder
Because he wasn’t at fault… Almunia was for not claiming a ball whipped into his 6 yard box.
Gattuso would be great. But remember- Ramesey is not a DM, he is more attacked minded, and as for Denilson- he isn’t and answer. I like him but he is more a Fabregas-like midfielder. And isn’t Gattuso playing regulary for AC Milan at Flamini’s expense?
I am fed up; arsenal reminds me of an unreliable mistress.
Maciek… Ramsey started out as a full back… he is perfectly capable of playing a more defensive roll. He is energetic, aggressive and very similar to the flamster.
For me… he is Stevie G… the second coming.
We all know that Almunia is average and always be. When Lehman did make an error- he was benched. When Manuel makes mistakes he always plays another match. Please Arsene- give a chance our Polish keeper. Fabianski will be fab. Mark my words!
Goonerman, I respect that you have mistress.
No I don’t, I have my arsenal
two and half freaking hours sat on the Edgware Road for that rubbish!
We don’t need a whole load of new players – we need our players to actually show up and try.
Ok Pedro.
But what with Gattuso. Isn’t he a first team player for Milan. And didn’t he bench Flamini?
I thought the Flamster was playing?
I also thought Gattuso said he wanted to play in the Prem this summer.
Watching, Barca. Toure is really playing well, but TH14 is not the same man!
Ok Pedro, my mistake. Sorry.
Recre is parking the bus around their defence but the barca boys are responding. Wish we can play like this!
anybody here? see you guys in the morn!
Good Night everyone!
here’s a thought.. sell everyone and buy messi… what a player!!! good night!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1086383/Arsenal-0-Villa-2-Does-Arsene-know-whats-going-wrong-inconsistent-Gunners.html?ITO=1490
haha, this will cheer you guys up at Le Grove
News Of The World reckons Real Betis are after Alex Song in the january window. They say Wenger however may be reluctant to sell, because he thinks Song has a potential future at Arsenal.
Anyone still here?? I want someone to tell me what they think about my thinkings! I’ve decided what’s wrong with our team, we simply aren’t good enough. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the centre mids, or centre backs, it’s 100% down to the wingers and forwards!! Since Wenger arrived, and initiated his very unique attacking style of play, we’ve ALWAYS had games like the villa game, like the blackburn games etc etc, and it happens to all teams, barca have teams that figure them out and prevent them from playing their game. The only difference between us and past years, or us and barca, is the matchwinners. For teams like us, and Barcelona, the make or break in terms of winning titles are the games in which we aren’t allowed to play our game, as when we do we’ll beat anyone.
We’ve always had teams nullify us, but previously we had players who would produce bits of magic and when we weren’t able to play our game individuals would score or create goals out of nothing. We had Pires, Freddie, Henry, and Bergkamp, who all in a games like saturday would consistently produce things that would win it for us. Barca have Messi, Etoo, Henry, Iniesta, Hleb, who can all consistently turn things in their favour when they’re prevented from playing their style of play (though of course messi is leagues above anyone else, and better than all the rest of barca, and our players put together!). We on saturday had Nasri, Theo, Diaby, Bendtner, who all have the ability, but are all too young and raw to produce it reliably on a regular basis. The players in our squad who will turn a game like that are VP, Eduardo, Rosicky, and to a certain extent Ade, (though i wouldn’t call him a matchwinner he’d make a difference) and without them we’ll struggle massively when prevented from playing our football, or fatigued and sluggish.
I also don’t think Wenger planned things like this, I think Nasri, Theo, and Bendtner are being forced to come in a year or two early. We had the generation of Henry, Pires, Fred, Bergkamp, and the generation planned to take over from that was VP, Rosicky, Hleb. However that generation was basically a generation lost, with VP only really sharp again now, Rosicky hardly having played, and Hleb now having left. It means that having completely lost a generation we’re being forced to blood Nasri, and Theo before they’re really ready to be regular matchwinners, and that’s costing us bigtime.
I don’t see what we could possibly do though, there isn’t a single player who would be available that could make that difference. The future is very bright, we have the current players in Nasri, Theo, Bendtner who will all become those players, along with the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey at a later date. Rosicky and Eduardo should return in the new year, and VP will get better and better, but in the present we’re gonna be found short at times and there’s nothing we can do to rectify that, even if we spent in january there really isn’t anyone available who could fix that.
It doesn’t help the mangager pick the wrong team (again – like he did at Stoke)
Don’t keep telling us Vela is going to be world class – we can see that for ourselves!
Play him and play like we are at home in a premier league match – with 2 up front. Especially when the other forward is Bedtner – willing but limited.
Manager rating – Arsene Wenger – 3
ps I don’t think Cesc can be blamed either. Cesc, like Xavi, are not matchwinners in those types of matches (though obviously he came up trumps against Milan), but in general are the ones who make everything run smoothly and control the game when we’re playing our game. In the types of matches where teams create a system purely to nullify us, and succeed, they aren’t usually the ones who can make the difference. Cesc has been massively damaged this season by losing Hleb. Flamini was irrelevant, that isn’t the issue, its completely down to just how good hleb was, and the fact that Theo is a completely different type of player, whereas Hleb brought cesc into the game the whole time, theo is the opposite, incredibly direct. Nasri as well hasn’t yet adapted to do the job Hleb did, though he’s shown glimpses he could do he hasn’t got near to doing it regularly. It should come, as he learns the premiership game more, but he’s a fair way away yet. Even Cesc said in the program that he hopes Nasri gets involved more centrally so they can interlink. At the moment Cesc has no support, with Nasri and Theo being very direct and/or going missing alot of that match, and it takes a hell of a lot away from his game.
I agree Ricardo, that Vela needed to play alongside Bendtner, but Wenger said in the week the only thing that Vela still needs to adapt to is the physical side of the game, and I guess with how dirty Villa are he didn’t feel Vela was ready to deal with that. He also couldn’t have predicted Diaby would play as badly and do such a poor job supporting Bendtner as he did.
Pedro, I have been saying that for weeks about Ramsey. He is very much like Gerrard, and he is the ideal Flamster’s replacement.
I too have my to do list for Mr Wenger:
1. Bring Martin Keown and hand him full responsibility of defense including selections.
2. Sell Song and Bendtner , bring a proper CB(any cheap price any league… just freaking strong and tall), and a CDM (again any stand in type)
3. Play Ramsey in the middle, and try to form a partnership with Cesc. Play Wilshere as a sub to give him experience.
4. Tell RVP that his role is scoring goals without getting injured or suspended!!!!!!!!
5. When dudu is back play Ade, dudu, Vela, RVP if possible!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1086383/Arsenal-0-Villa-2-Does-Arsene-know-whats-going-wrong-inconsistent-Gunners.html?ITO=1490
nice photo of wenger…. im sure keyser would want it bronzed and sitting in front of the Emirates !
HAHA!
Ikon
I agree with your list from 1 to 5, & with respect to part point 2, a freakin strong & tall CB to partner JD20.
It must be very frustrating for the Ade haters this week, not being able to whinge about him for the loss
Hey I’m sick..I want the next game..Cesc is out!
Ramsay gets better every time he takes the field. As Geoff says about the British work ethic, I reckon he is going to be huge
plus, Jack Wiltshire; Keiran Gibbs; Jay Simpson; Theo Walcott, etc, etc. These future British stars might be a final lasting legacy that Arsene Wenger gives to The Club, that will take it onwards with strength & stability.
What if we had gone with this line up against Villa? What if, but it is worth reflecting on what might have been.
Fabianski
Ebuoe Djourou Gallas Clichy
Theo Dennilson Willshire Nasri
Simpson Ramsey
I think this team would have beaten even a determined Villa side. Jay would have fought for every ball, Ramsey behind him would have tried shooting , Wilshire would track back and block their Attack and as well give us some nice penetrating passes. The balance of the team would have been better, because the younger guys seem to be more motivated. Vela can then come in for Theo or nasri.
I bet it’s going to be like a bloody funeral at the training ground today.
Perhaps a rest for Cesc will do him good. The team might also benefit from not seeing him moping about in midfield. I think we’ll stuff Citeh because they don’t know how to park the team bus in front of the goal.
I still fancy Ebuoe to Sagna. Sagna has not been the Sagna of last season. I also think AW should rest Cesc, bring Ade as a 2nd half sub, and rest Bent. I want to see Djorou play more because he has pace and can head. He needs a run of games. He may consider DJ/Gallas, DJ/Sylvestre partnership. Any patnership should allow Diaby a central role in the team. /other good combos include:
Fab
Eboue Djoru Sylvestre Clichy
Toure
Nasri Diaby Vela
Ade (Simpson) Ramsey
Fab
Eboue Djoru Sylvestre Clichy
Toure/Dennilson
Nasri Ramsey Vela
Ade Dudu/Diaby
Playing Toure in the wings is wrong. If you want to play him, he is better as a DM imho. He has stamina, pace and can move the ball around. He has not provided crosses and i doubt if he is good at that. Playing him at Right mid is a lost opportunity to the team.
whys that george ?
didnt you see him play the last 30 minutes ??
when he came on it was still at about 0-0 all !
and had plenty of time to score ..
was fresher than any other pair of legs on the park
and still couldnt score !!
but whats the point in talking about it ?
this week everyone played as bad as he usually does
nil-nil all?
ok
so i fucked up
that was one of the worst performances by arsenal under wenger ive ever seen.
it seems to me we have players that couldnt give a flying f*** about this club.
all they want is there fat pay cheque,
we was Merde this weekend!
just made me chuckle
god knows we need something to laugh about
not even spurs losing does the trick any more
to be honest seb
the game was on so late i fell asleep just after the start of the 2nd half til about the 70th minute ..
BORING !
i woke up to the screams of an aston villa goal .. i think !
but what ever we were unsaveable ..
hey ade is currently better than bendnter , ive never denied that ..
but he is weak as our main striker !
and im sure if we had villa – hunntlaar and RVP in lieu we would be ’2nd’ not 4th heading on 5th
how do we change this?
wenger need’s to play whoever is up for the arsenal cause and all this about denilson had a good game.
the simple fact is he aint ready to play week in week out.
ahhhhhh what do we do,can we beat man city and chelski?
damn right now the carling cup looks like our best bet,this is gutting.
really? you think it’s the strikeforce at fault?
I think it’s far more widereaching than that – imo our problems go all the way back to the boardroom, when it comes to football as opposed to property development, there is a total lack of drive vision and ambition within the board, who are a bunch of fusty old men, which in turn allows Wenger to operate in total comfort and freedom within his top-secret youth laboratory, which in turn makes the players operate in this lackadaisical state of mind with no balls or determination, unless it’s a big game on Sky against one of the top four when all their pals in Togo/Paris/Barcelona will be watching down the pub/bar.
We need a root and branch reform basically. Someone vibrant calling the shots up top, pushing Wenger to buy, identifying targets, suggesting available players, pressing the players for results. Kenyon might be the world’s biggest baldest cunt, but at least he keeps the club moving upwards. We have been sat in the same position for four years now.
how can the player show so much desire againest the mancs and then be so lackluster the next?
NEW POST!