I normally write the match review directly after the game, but tonight I thought I’d give it a couple of hours. I thought maybe I’d feel a bit more passionately about the loss. Well, it didn’t happen… I just feel deflated.
How can I get angry?
If the dog keeps shagging the cushion, you can only berate it so many times before you have to accept the fact that the dog is always going to shag that cushion.
I wouldn't rest your hand on that...
It’s the same with this current team. There will be moments when you think they’ve finally got it sussed, then bang, out of the blue… we’re metaphorically shagging that bastard cushion again.
‘Beating the Scousers was fantastic but we must not get too ahead of ourselves… premature gloatation is a dangerous thing. I must say I am more worried about the impending games against Hull and Burnley. If Arsenal couldn’t motivate themselves for the first half at Anfield, how are they going to feel about playing away at Burnley or Hull?’
I felt bad writing that, even worse requoting myself like some sort of prophetic wizard but I had to put it down because it happens so often. All of the ridiculous gloating that comes the way of Le Grove after a solitary win annoys me, not because these people are retarded enough to think winning upsets us, but because at the back of my mind, I know it’s going to come back and bite them in the arse sooner rather than later.
Burnley deserve all the praise in the world for how they performed tonight. Mick McCarthy should look at what they did and feel ashamed of the team he put out against United. They caused us plenty of issues without the use of bully boy tactics. They hit the wings, they walked through the middle of us, they took pot shots and they fully deserved their point.
Arsenal need a team of fighters, not a select few players who want to turn up in the glamour games in the safety of the Grove. It’s debatable who those fighters are, but I’ve got a list in my mind who I’d want on my side when the chips are down… Song, Vermaelen, Gallas, Cesc and Arshavin are probably the only players who’d make it onto the list from last night. I know Arshavin might be a contreversial choice, but he’s a hard worker and I think one of the reasons he looks as if he goes missing is because he returns very deep to get the ball when things aren’t looking good.
We started off quite brightly, creating some fine chances, most of which came through the good work of Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin. We got our reward when Cesc lost the ball on the edge of the box, fought back to win it with Diaby, jumped on the loose ball, bundled into the box and slid it home.
Almunia pulled off a couple of crucial saves and commanded his box uncharacteristically well.
Burnley were are threat though and weren’t going to go down without a fight. Arshavin hit the post after some superb interplay with Cesc.
Not long after Vermaelen allowed them an opportunity to equalise when he rashly challenged in the box, the ref pointed to the spot, Alexander smashed home emphatically.
Arsenal came out for the second half like they’d been asked to repeat the first half against Liverpool. Cesc went off with a thigh injury and Rambo struggled to replicate the creativity of the Spaniard. Arsenal were a team bereft of ideas. The team had 50% fight in them. Gallas was bombing forward, Vermaelen too, Song was trying his hardest to force an opening but outside those boys, not much else was happening. Too many players are clueless. None of them have a plan b when threading the ball through the eye of a needle proves ineffective. Is it possible that the most intricate football in the Premiership has become predictable… one dimensional if you will?
Burnley were doing there best down the other end, striking the post and creating other chances. The most worrying moment of the second half was a cross that looked bread and butter for Almunia, he mistimed it and let it slip under him… Burnley put the ball in the net, luckily the lino flagged dubiously for offside.
Shocking, shocking goalkeeping. No excuses. That was one of the worst goalkeeping errors I’ve seen an Arsenal keeper make. If he isn’t dropped for the Hull game, consider him undroppable.
The game whimpered out. Arsenal had undone all the good from the Liverpool game. We slipped back in the title race once again.
So how do I conclude this?
Well, I think it’s safe to say we’re not out of the title race mathematically. We’re firmly in it. However, for me, tonight was a demonstration as to why I doubt we’ll win the league. In your heart of hearts, after watching that performance and numerous others this season, can you honestly see us challenging in May? Our problem is we lack fight. It’s the same old same old. If you don’t buy players with that hunger needed to win Championships, you’ll never win Championships.
Listening to the coach talk about the team being jaded made me laugh. We’ve got the youngest team in the universe, yet they can’t muster the stamina to beat Burnley.
So what is it? Is it the youth policy? When you pay kids huge sums at a young age, is it all a little too easy? Is it Arsene overlooking personality type when scouting players these days? Or is it just the wrong mix of players?
That’s not for me to decide. However, I’d say if we want to kick on we’re going to need to do something about the culture of this team because it certainly doesn’t smell like a winning recipe.
Ratings:
Almunia: Started brightly, then faded horribly. Letting the ball slip under you so easily is appalling. How can a professional keeper sleep at night after displaying such a lack of concentration. He must be dropped, time is up, he has to be replaced by Fabianski. 4
Silvestre: I thought he had a nightmare. I’d be pretty miffed as a Burnley fan that the ref didn’t give a penalty for his blatant handball in the box. Still, when every left back in the club has been cursed, your selection is forced. 5
Vermaelen: Clumsy challenge to concede the penalty, but overall, a great performance from a player who looks like he has a deep love for the club already. Give me 11 Verminators and I’ll be a happy man. 8
Gallas: A battling performance from a player who seems to feed off the passion his centre back partner shows. Again, for all his faults, he genuinely cares about winning. 7
Sagna: Unconvincing for me. He’s been very inconsistent this season, especially going forward. Not a great night for the Frenchman. 6
Fabregas: An inspired start to the game considering he went into the game with an injury complaint. He limped off early in the second half and apparently it’s serious. A very big worry for us. Wenger’s master plan is without direction if the Spaniard isn’t there. 7
Song: I thought he has a good game. He’s never going to tear open a defence, but at least he wears his heart on his sleeve and is prepared to fight it out. 6.5
Diaby: I thought he did ok for the first 40 minutes. The rest of the match was classic Diaby. No real direction, no real threat and very limited impact. He just doesn’t cut it at the moment. 5
Nasri: A player we all expected big things from, but so far, he’s in the same boat as Theo. He’s just not doing it for me. Although he has far more natural ability than the Englishman, he doesn’t seem to have much grit about him. He drifts in and out of game which is a waste, because skill like that should be forced on these types of situation. 6
Walcott: Did anyone see a short stocky player who looks a bit like Lewis Hamilton on the pitch tonight? I know I didn’t. Virtually zero input bar that look of shock on his face everytime he fired a shot 40 yards over the bar, or he misplaced a pass. A Very poor return from a player we were hoping was going to light up next years World Cup. 5
Arshavin: Had a very promising first half, but struggled to come to terms with the second half. There was no creativity from anyone else and he looked a little lost if I’m honest. 6.5
no, we’re not, don’t let their size deceive you – out of these only Song & RvP make good use of it…
Song was brushed aside by Bikey yesterday like he was anorexic…
We’ll thrash Hull at the weekend, I just hope Vela starts, and both he, Eduardo, and Theo get goals, they really need them
a i would not bet silvest going he is very good for young players and can do job for 1-2 games if clichy ,gibbs,troae, or if gallas or vern gets injured when it comes to risicky he an experienced class player he not out for long willback in few weeks and can do very good job off the bench he has got the one thing this team is lacking experience
SUGA Song has bullied every team we’ve played this season, and I didn’t see that, Song was our best player imo against Burnley. Diaby battles well too, and Bendtner is incredibly strong. If Traore takes over at left back too we’ll have a pretty powerful side as a whole….
Rosicky will be back sooner than a few weeks leon, he’s back in training this week, though might not be fit for villa
next week even
fingers crossed, A…
*prays to football gods*
like I wrote earlier, we got beaten in the league by them last season and we managed a win in the cup thanks to a dubious goal…
frankly, wrath of a wounded animal is our only hope, as they will be well up for it…
and with midfield consisting Song, Diaby & Denilson?
leon,
waste of space, waste of money – we are not a fucking charity…
A,
I’m not sure this weekend’s game is good to give out of form strikers a chance. On the other hand, we do not have other options (apart from unfit Arshavin). Why do you think Vela did not come on the pitch yesterday? Not a sign of big trust to him from the manager.
I don’t think we’ll thrash them tbh,
We are struggling for goals.
This season Chelsea apart we’ve thrashed every team we’ve played at home SUGA, that isn’t going to change home against Hull, and there’s no way that’s what the midfield will be. It’ll be two of those three, plus most likely Ramsey, or possibly Nasri dropping back there, with Theo and Eduardo either side of Arshavin.
A,
————-Fabianski—————
—-Usual suspects in the back 4—–
—————Song——————
——–Denilson—–Diaby———–
—Theo——–Dudu——-Vela——-
yeah, that will teach them
Wouldn’t go that far choy, we’re struggling away from home, but at home we played Stoke, and scored 2 goals, the least so far at home, but well and truly spanked them and should’ve scored more.
I felt bad writing that, even worse requoting myself like some sort of prophetic wizard but I had to put it down because it happens so often. All of the ridiculous gloating that comes the way of Le Grove after a solitary win annoys me, not because these people are retarded enough to think winning upsets us, but because at the back of my mind, I know it’s going to come back and bite them in the arse sooner rather than later.
————————————————
yes i have that problem too !
too many people like ‘A’ bigging up the team ,
belittling others accurate opinions on the way thru for good measure , well you just have to fuckin say i told you so every now and then to keep the delusionals Honest !
there are several problems preventing me feel happy with the team , and the obvious one is project youth / quality ..
mentality and commitment ,consistency preformance wise , most of the players on the pitch only give a fuck about themselves recently , the attitude is obvious .
on the odd occasion they can work passionately as a team together , things happen ..
but not often enough nowadays ,
if i was honest i haven’t really been happy with the way wengers ran the squad since the flamini / hleb walk out …
we were 2nd that season ! and the last time we played good enough to warrant a bit of hype about ourselves ..
A,
we have played a bunch of fucking nobodies, and much nearer the full squad…
this is gonna be tough, really…
Not a chance in hell of that being the midfield three SUGA. I hope Fabianski does start though, and I’d like Eboue to start rather than Silvestre to give us a bit more going forward.
who is going to play in midfield then?
I think we need to focus on keeping a clean sheet first, no use scoring if we keep conceding!
I’d call Hull no tougher than any team we’ve played at home this season SUGA!!
In fact Hull have the worse away record in the league, a massive 2 points so far this season, scored 5, the second least in the league, and conceded 21, the 4th most in the league! Hull are in fact more nobodies than anyone else we’re played at home this season!
We’ll absolutely destroy them, wait and see
SUGA3 I said, as usual, two of Song, Diaby, and Denilson, then a creative midfielder replacing Cesc, most likely Ramsey, though possibly Nasri.
suga lets just agree to disgree,a it is clear we need bretna right evon is finishing could be better there no way that john terry could have bullied he is trouble maker,iwould start edwardo in next game he needs a run oiut get sharpness back ge a very good box to box striker i know they need point man but they have one yet so its wate of time moaning about it
yes, but we are down to bare bones, A…
we cannot overwork AA, he could really do with some rest, should start on the bench and be introduced only if absolutely necessary…
we are supposed to do well without him, right? that is why he was left out in the FA Cup semi as far as I remember…
Burnley the new club rumored to be after Wilshere.
I really hope he goes there, to be honest
leon,
Eduardo should be dumped to reserves to get his confidence back, I don’t want him to be pressed too much and fuck up where it counts…
A, Burnley only have 1 ot away, no?
point*
Down to the bare bones?! After the defence our team will consist of
2 of Diaby, Denilson, Song,
1 of Ramsey, Nasri
3 of Theo, Arshavin, Eduardo, Vela, Nasri
I wouldn’t say we’re down to the bare bones at all, except at left back, which is obviously a bit of a fucker, but going forward we’re absolutely fine, and will even have good options on the bench.
Song, Diaby & Nasri for me then…
Song & Denilson form a toxic relationship, which stifles any creativity – should never be played together…
Oops Pat, didn’t see them, apologies, the second worst team in the league!
SUGA3 this home game to hull is a great opportunity for him to get his confidence back, same with theo and vela
A,
2 of Diaby, Denilson, Song – OK
1 of Ramsey, Nasri – Nasri for me, Ramsey as a sub
3 of Theo (fuck no), Arshavin (bench), Eduardo (out of form), Vela (out of form), Nasri (already deeper)
Yeah I’d go with that SUGA, though i’m not fussed either way, Song and Denilson would work well against Hull too. Though maybe a good time for Ramsey to play the Cesc role, Nasri wide left with Theo and Eduardo, keep Arshavin on the bench
no suga i would play in the first half of next game he just needs time
In fact my team would be
Fabianski
Sagna Gallas Vermy Eboue
Ramsey Song Diaby
Theo Eduardo Nasri
Subs: Almunia, Silvestre, JET, Denilson, Wilshere, Vela, Arshavin
Ethangunner,
I do not have any problem with the “project youth”. The fact that other teams are replicating it says that there is no other feasable way to properly run the club (and certainly not a club with a new stadion’s debt). But the mental weakness and absence of any progress here just drives me mad.
Nasri is wasted in the front three – too isolated on the ‘wing’ (could do better as a classic winger in 4-4-2), should play deeper in 4-3-3, as he has quite a blast from distance on him…
————-Fabianski————–
–Bac—-Willy——-TV—–Ebowie–
—————Song—————–
——–Diaby———Nasri———
–FUCK ALL OPTIONS IN THE FRONT 3—
leon,
ressies all the way – that at least would happen in any normal club…
Not at home SUGA3, he can drift in and score goals, as he did with his brace when he’d just returned from injury.
If Nasri is back there though then there are still one of Theo, Eduardo, Vela, Arshavin on the bench, so plenty of options. Even if they aren’t on form they’re all top players and international players.
Whatever team we’ll play we’ll win, so it’s a good opportunity to get Ramsey playing in the Cesc role and developing into a decent understudy.
A,
many options up front? The last minutes at Burnley Gallas was playing a forward himself not trusting anyone to score! We have Eduardo, Vela and Theo, but all are, well, below par.
Yeah they aren’t at their best SV, but most teams would still kill for them! We’ve got loads of injuries, yet we have five possible options to fill the front three, six if you include Eboue.
Hull is a great opportunity for those three to get some confidence too
SV, CBs from every team in the world go up towards the end to salvage a point of 3.
That has nothing to do with him not trusting anyone
if we cant beat hull after last years humiliation then surely this project will have all been for nothing,ffs,our girls could beat hull.
OK fellas, I’m off for a bit, I’m off to PL for Xmas in the morning and need to pack – back soon
A,
a good point to give out of form strikers some playing time would be when we are 2:0 up, otherwise to risky (ask Wenger).
SV Hull at home is a great opportunity to get players their confidence back. Our league cup team would beat them at the emirates
Pat,
you are making a good point. However, going up and playing the target man in the box is different. Who was supposed to play in the box at the time? Gallas’s striker instincts are stronger than of our attacking players! (may be because he was starting as a striker).
what like last season a
Who is CHelsea playing this weekend?
We have a great opportunity to catch up to united, since they play Fulham away without Rio, Vidic, Brown, and Evans. A few others as well.
If Fulham play like they did against us, I can’t see United winning.
SV, Song then drops into CB OR the fastest defender stays back as the last defender. CLichy, Traore, even EBoue have done that for us countless times.
Gallas did the same for Chelsea. Scored a screamer against the SPuds to win or draw a game.
Last season Hull had the 8th best away record in the league, and we failed to win in 8 of our 19 home games.
This season Hull havn’t won a single game away from home, have the second worst away record in the league, and apart from Chelsea we’ve thrashed every team who’s come to the Emirates.
pretty different situations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUn7QageCHY&feature=related
Pat Chelsea are away at West Ham, far from an easy game.
Pat,
a good link. I also remember his late equaliser against Manu at home in 2007, but it was rather a midfielder late run. My point is that he was closer to scoring positions and scoring itself than our strikers!
Sometimes at the end of games that’s true SV, because he’s the extra man, so can get free as their defenders are busy marking our forwards
He’s good in the air for his height and he has a lot of passion.
I really hope Almunia gets kicked out for good. A lot of our players gave him looks of hatred against Burnley!
A, West Ham away without Carlton Cole will be a walk in the park for them. I hope that Diamanti fellow starts. He’s talented
chelsea always turn them over sunday will be no different
If you look at the points we’ve dropped, most of them were our own undoing.
Chelsea and Sunderland are the only 2 games where the other team deserved to win, although I’d argue we deserved a draw against Sunderland.
West Ham, Burnley, United, City(to a lesser extent) could have all been prevented.
We struggled against Burnley in the FA Cup last season at the Emirates.
No different to what BBK? Chelsea’s game at home against Everton, or away against Wigan? How about Villa or City away?
Pat part of football is finishing, so unless it’s a refereeing mistake then imo if you lose you deserve to lose, if you win you deserve to win, regardless of possession etc
Pat we won easily against Burnley at the Emirates…. We were always comfortable
I meant Hull CIty haha
We didn’t even play Burnley in the FAC, did we? I thought it was Barnsley
Yeah we beat Burnley 3-0 Pat, Vela and Eduardo both scored class goals if I remember correctly! Can’t remember who got the third though?
Hull last season were flying high at the top of the table, we were struggling to break teams down at home.
This season Hull havn’t won an away game, and only drawn 2, and apart from Chelsea we’ve thrashed every team who’s come to the Emirates
chelsea’s record against west ham,that’s what
stu
i think all top clubs should do a PROJECT YOUTH .
but the difference is , DONT rely on it !
not at this level …
Last year they won 1-0 and West Ham missed a penalty….
Eduardo does not work upfront in a 4-3-3.
And Eduardo and Vela are embarrassing themselves out there.
What does Wilshere have to do to get a game?
Eduardo should work very well out wide in a 4-3-3 imo, gives him freedom to time his runs and get into goalscoring positions escaping defenders’ attentions, though I’m not sure whether 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 would suit him better. I don’t like him centrally in 4-3-3 though.
Wilshere since he came back from injury has been playing with even less confidence than Eduardo and Vela, he was terrible in the reserves, League Cup, and Champs league, much worse they have been, and if it wasn’t for Merida’s suspension I doubt he’d even be on the bench. A loan will be good for him though, help him get his spark back.
What does Wilshere have to do to get a game?
david
i do have theory ..
because ive said the same thing ! many times !
whos he got to fuck to get a game !?
wenger doesnt want him being included in the WC squad obviously ..
he’d be another theo !
can only think wenger is keeping him under rap’s until after the world cups over ..
Or it could be because he’s started two games in the last two and a half weeks and been very poor, and was very poor in the reserve game he played as well….
Yes we’re suffering because we dont have too many options in the point.
A 4-4-2 would suit us better. The positives being that Cesc and Arshavin have a great understanding with each other and it is necessary to play them off one another. Can we afford to Rest Arshavin at this point?
Ofcoarse not.
Which makes the Semi finals of the FA cup appear all the more inexplicably stupid.
As much as I like Nasri he’s not very adventurous going forward with the ball.
Who should we loan Wilshere to second half of the season? I wouldn’t mind him going to a Burnley, though it might be better for him to go to a Championship side at the top end of the table, a team that dominates and attacks more so that he has more of the ball. In a team at the bottom of the Prem he’ll have games in which he barely touches the ball, and might not be picked because the manager is adopting a negative approach.
Also wonder what’ll happen with Lansbury with Watford going into administration, guessing if he’s sent back we’ll find a different club for him, though he was doing well at Watford and things seemed to suit him there.
I dunno David, i’d say Nasri is at home, but for some reason he really isn’t away from home, and does very little offensively.
I disagree about the 4-4-2 though, in the current system we’re much more solid through the middle and the extra man there means we can’t get bullied, and it gives the wide men more freedom to attack too. Things just aren’t clicking at the moment, but I wouldn’t blame the formation, I reckon we’d be worse in 4-4-2.
Cheers Ethan,
A,
Its not like we’ve had Wilshere for only 2 weeks.
So much for the 4-3-3 and trying to win the ball upfront further up the pitch.
What a load of tosh.
Im tired of the Wenger Tosh.
If we played with any desire to win the ball back i bet we win all our games.
No room for Lansbury in the team im afraid.
Wilshere would do fine in Burnley.
They didnt exactly park the bus the whole game
Yeah David, but you play players on form! If a player hasn’t even broken into the team, AND is very off form, you aren’t going to throw him into the first team!
David imo we are winning the ball higher up the pitch still, we just aren’t doing enough with it when we have. We’re still winning it back and we’re still much more solid through the middle, which is why we’re having the majority of possession, and no teams have been able to dominate us through the middle this season, however poorly we’re playing
One thing is quite clear.
We need to spend. Not necessarily big..but spend and we do need about 3 players.
Yeah David I agree, no room for Lansbury in our first team, wonder if he could move to a Burnley or equivalent in the prem rather than another Championship side? This is all assuming he gets sent back, which would seem likely, a very easy way for the administrators to cut costs, unless of course they aren’t paying much in term of wage contribution, so it would be a good way for them to save money and flog their own players!
Yeah Burnley could be a good shout, they do try and play football, though they still don’t have that much possession in games.
Fulham dominated us well and proper in the middle of the park A.
We were reverting to long ball tactics and it worked.
Surprisingly.
And i dont think the problem has been possession. As we have seen last season we have always had possession.
But The story of Arsenal…is we have all the possession…the other team does all the scoring.
3 players where David? I’d say we just need a sub centre back, and someone else who can play the central role up front, that with Fabianski in goal and we’re sorted imo!
Fulham didn’t dominate us in the middle of the park at all David! People seem to think being dominated is not creating, it really isn’t! Last season we were dominated in midfield, and teams constantly broke through the middle and had their midfield running straight at the defence. This season not one team has done that, teams have scored through getting the ball out wide, and stopping us creating. That isn’t us being dominated though, it’s not being good enough going forward.
Fabianski doesnt fancy himself as a goal keeper.
He gets beat to often at his near and far posts and he cant stay on his line to save his life…he comes for everything! And some things u just have to let the defenders deal with!
Id say we need a GK, CF, and DM.
Wouldnt mind a LW too.
LW?! Arshavin when we have someone central, Vela, Eduardo, Rosicky, Nasri?!
Why do you think we need a DM? imo Song has been one of our best players this season, and the second best DM in the league behind Essien
Oh how quickly we forget A,
Fulham dominated us well and proper in the midfield,
We are ALWAYS hard done by the likes of Danny Murphy and we were on the back foot from constant pressure/losing the ball…etc…etc..
We struggled to create…but they did bully us in the middle of the park!
I really rate Fabianski, his speed off his line is amazing, he’ll stop a hell of a lot of one on ones and break aways because of it, and don’t see how he gets beaten at either post easily.
I want him in goal now, imo he’s already a top quality keeper, shocked he’s not already between the sticks.
I wouldn’t say that David, compared to last season, where they walked through the middle of us. This season we weren’t bullied at all imo, they just pressed us very quickly and we couldn’t get a string of passes together, but they never looked like they were going to take control of the midfield, or put any passes together themselves.
Yea Arshavin doesnt fancy himself to be playing on the left wing A.
Id play Arshavin off of the Striker we have with Cesc right behind him.
Vela, Rosicky, Nasri, Eduardo on the left = Not going to break any teams down
Fabianski didnt do so well on 1-1′s when we conceeded in the CL.
Imo…he’s no better at shot stopping than ALmunia.
Infact I submit to you he rarely has a clean sheet in goal.
In this system Arshavin’s best position is wide left, and it’s where we’ll see him when we have a central striker. I’m also very happy with any of Vela, Rosicky, and Eduardo on the left in terms of breaking teams down, all of them are top quality and all offer something different to each other! All three have shown their abilities to break teams down too! I’m not sure who we’d ever get who’s better than them?? Nasri is good out there too but just has to learn to take responsibility and try and make things happen more.
David imo he was very very unlucky, he came out incredibly quickly and was unlucky not to save it, it went through the tiniest gap between his legs. Also imo he’s an amazing shot stopper, capable of wonder stops which almunia isn’t! Almunia was in there to be Mr reliable, Fabianski is someone who is capable of amazing saves, in the Given mould, but much more commanding on crosses
Its clear we need a DM….someone with alot of pace and someone who has a bite of a challenge.
Dont get me wrong i do like Song. But Im not sure how he will be when he comes back from the ACN.
Look at what happnd to Toure’s form…
One has to be prepared for such things.
Van P injury?
I say we should get a winger that can play on either wings…
A CF…and a GK…an real old bastard till the likes of Szscheny is ready.
Re: the Ribery story, if we bought him I’d panic so much that I would chin my missus.
And Fabianski kept 8 clean sheets last season in his 16 games, so half of his appearances were clean sheets….
What Ribery story AA23?? I’d be so happy if we bought him! Won’t happen though, I couldn’t see him and Arshavin playing in the same team
Well we disagree on Fabianski A,
Because in order to make an amazing saves you have to do it when called upon…and fabianski doesnt do it consistently enough?…Sound familiar?
We need ready made in goal instead of gambling with talent.
As i said for all the talent he has he rarely ever keeps a clean sheet or makes an amazing save for all his talent.
I mean i cant count how many goals he’s let in and then people tell me there was no keeper in the world that couldve saved that.
Then how does a keeper make amazing saves then?
Just my opinion.
Arshavin plays on the right off the striker in Russia.
If we bought Ribery. It would make us lethal..but we would still need a big CF imo.
David that’s not true about clean sheets at all – he had 8 clean sheets last season from his 16 games, one clean sheet in every two games is very very good….
David we don’t play with a system where that position exists, we play a 4-3-3 where Arshavin’s best position is left mid. Ribery is also a left mid. They’re a bit similar in terms of their styles of play too imo.
Still, Ribery is an amazing player, and very underrated, so I’d be delighted with it, though couldn’t see it happening. He’s about the only winger I could see who would improve us, only a top top player would improve on the options we’ve got out wide, and that would cost a fair bit.
Actually Fabianski played 21 times last season.
And kept a clean sheet 10 times.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1236618/Chelsea-target-Franck-Ribery-puts-Arsenal-red-alert-Bayern-Munich-exit-plea.html
I don’t believe we need a big CF, but we need a bigger CF than Arshavin. We just need someone around the 6′ mark who can do a bit more with his back to goal, link up the play, as well as run in behind
Oh and keeping a clean sheet once in every 2 games is a terrible record A! Specially for a top club!
Ribery has 18 months left on his contract and he said he’d leave Bayern if they don’t strengthen.
Bayern can’t compete with “Real madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Inter”
Funny he doesn’t mention CHelsea or United!
You including international games David? Or sub appearances?
He started 16 games, came on as sub twice
Chelsea have the most clean sheets so far, at 9.
Take into account that a club who plays like we do will concede more than Chelsea and United.
United’s defense is really poor, considering they have a solid structure where only Evra bombs forward, while we have Verm, Gallas, Clichy, and Sagna who all go up!!
Birmingham has 7 clean sheets!!
Huh David, seriously?!
This season Cech has played 16 games, 8 clean sheets, and that’s with Chelsea’s amazing defensive record at home….
And Almunia has 2 clean sheets in 11 this season, last season i’d put a bet on that he didn’t have one clean sheet in two!
The bigger the better. I certainly am not saying that u need to be tall in order to score goals…but im pretty sure it does help on set pieces.
And with the way arsenal have started playing when we are bereft of ideas with Sagna crosses it might be our get out of Jail card.
Arshavin can only do so much.
A,
Memory serves me correctly you dont rate Cech at all so thats a bit of a funny analogy to give.
Clean sheets are one thing..making saves are another.
And Lukaz rarely makes a fantastic save when called upon.
This season Freidel has 6 in 17, Given 4 in 16
Last season Freidel 14 in 46, Given 11 in 47
In fact I’d best that apart from VDS, and maybe Cech and Reina noone else was close to one clean sheet in two. To say that it’s terrible shows a ridiculous ignorance and desperation to ignore the facts because you’ve already made up your conclusion!!
David it wasn’t an analogy, and I was using Cech because I was assuming with Chelsea conceding no goals at all at home he would have the best ratio between games and clean sheets, and his ration is the same whilst being the best in the league….
Ignorance?
Are you trying to make an argument using last season stats and convince me that New Castle is a top side?
Funny how you mentioned all the keepers in the top four and failed tried to use new Castle and Villa’s incredible melt down from last season as an argument.
Really Ignorance?
I agree regarding set pieces, and a plan B with Sagna, though Bendtner will be that when fit.
Imo it isn’t set pieces or a plan B we’re missing, it’s a centre forward who’s just average height, and can hold the ball up with his back to goal, and win flick one, but also strong and technically gifted enough to link the play up, and come deep, as well as getting in behind, so needs to have a bit of pace.
There’s no way we could function if we actually bought a big man imo, it has to be an all round player or it’ll cripple the whole team
Szczesny will be world class
“keeping a clean sheet once in every 2 games is a terrible record A!”
David, that is simply a completely incorrect statement, which would indicate ignorance.
To one clean sheet in two terrible, when the keeper with the best ratio in the league this season has one in two, is ignorant, isn’t it?
Either ignorant because you didn’t know whether it was good or bad, or lying, I made the assumption that it was ignorant because that’s better than lying imo!
Either that or you don’t understand the meaning of the word “terrible.” Having what would’ve been the fourth best ratio in the league last season could never be described as terrible…. Or the best equal in the league this season….
Anyways it’s past my bedtime, night David, and anyone else still about
Its not so ignorant seeing that there have been record amounts of goals scored this season..as compared to last season.
You left out the “especially for a top side part”
Arsenal are a top side. And we deserve better than a keeper with a goal every other game ratio.
Ultimately a keeper would be judged by the number of clean sheets he keeps and i will still submit to you that Fabianski rarely makes a great save and never knows when to stay on his lines….wasnt that fucker in midfield in the CL at one point?
nite A, Pat…anyone else out there.
Guess i shld be off as well.
Diaby mouthing off about how we need to beat Hull.
Duh, Really?
why dont you keep your dopey mouth shut you mug.
“Diaby who will be filling in for Fabregas…”
oh Jesus.
This squad is “just not good enough”
If we win championship with this squad it will be a major surprise. I would even have 11 Arshavins (yes as the goalie and the defenders as well) than 11 Diabys or god forsake 11 Walcotts or 11 Denilsons.
Height and build doesnt come into picture when Arshavin plays, and it doesnt come into picture even when Diaby plays.
2 players of note in Jan and we could still be in for the title.
No additions = no trophies.
It’s as simple as that.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manchester-City-stars-in-dressing-room-bust-up-after-defeat-to-Tottenham-article260519.html
no “proven” additions = no trophies ..
second that.
Yes.
I reckon a decent GK and CF should do it.
Really David?
Rarely makes a great save? I think this wouldn’t go amiss in a Seaman compilation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiC7LqcizW8
Citeh fans complaining about Ade drifting wide and not holding the line hah!
“Shoots like a donkey”
“Toure is getting worse with each game”
hahah, nice doing business with you Hughes!
As a matter of fact, he did make it to one just alongside Seaman. No. 5 and 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT-DLxN8VLE
Lol Pat, now to convince them that Sendy is the next TA. Although he’s a gooner an I’d rather he goes somewhere else.
Senderos is def off in Jan…
To Bayern most probably…
http://desigunner.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/an-arsenal-overhaul-or-sustained-faith-–-take-your-pick/
new post ??
Georgisan – I reckon Geoffers has got snowed in – at least a foot of snow in most parts of the London area/Home Counties.
Sabeel must be tearing his hair out in anticipation.
This must be killing Sabeel and taig, good job Pedro
Oh and morning…
NEW POST!
Ol’ Finn Gunn loves posting an AKB article over here doesn’t he?
Yaaawwwwwn
Yeah, I’ve done it all of 2 or 3 times. Sorry if it wasn’t up to Le Grove’s usual ‘boom boom’ standards.
Just trying to get you lot to see that everything isn’t black or white. Or in your case, black. Supporting the most frustrating team in the world is hard enough anyway.
And I still think that we should all get out more.
Have a good one.