Match Reaction v Fenerbahce

[Cripps_orig]

Shocking first half.

Brilliant 2nd.


Ramsey stood up to be counted finally. Theo brilliant.


Bring on the group stages

[AKBapologist]

Fenerbahce were shocking to be fair. They may have a case for appeal... Unless that match was fixed too....

[Özim]

Good comfortable win, Ramsey and Cazorla were great.

Last 16 here we come!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal. :bow:

[Gooner23]

They all stepped it up 2nd half to be fair.

Ramsey was superb, but my motm Tomas Rosicky. What a player :bow:

[Joker]

Good performance, especially from Ramsey, Walcott and Cazorla.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ramsey and Theo GHELing up the interviews.

[Marc Overmars]

Defence were sound.

Ramsey and Cazorla were great. Lots of bluster from Wilshere but his party trick of trying to turn and run away from danger leaves a lot to be desired.

Theo good but Giroud was marked out of the game.

Good win and welcome relief, now sign some fucking players please.

[Letters]

Wenger :bow:

No new signings needed

:patrice:

[Özil's Panoramic View]

awesome victory. especially at a time when everyone affiliated with the Club was taking much flak.

group stages bound i reckon.

Rambo. :bow:

Santi. :bow:

Theo. :bow:

Arsenal :bow:

[Grebbo]

Well done fellas

:scarf:

This'll probably be the highlight of our season so enjoy it

[Globalgunner]

Not the result I expected, but I'll take it. Now buy some fucking players. Another key player out for at least 3 weeks.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Good performance, especially from Ramsey, Walcott and Cazorla.

I think Chesney was fantastic. When it mattered he was strong.

[PGFC]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s261x260/543408_197351103774214_1118800209_n.jpg

[GP]

I think Chesney was fantastic. When it mattered he was strong.

Brave, too. So brave.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Wenger :bow:

No new signings needed

:patrice:

Hopefully he and whoever that is on holiday have some confidence the group stage money is a given and spend a quarter of it on players.

[Master Splinter]

Ramsey :bow:.

Cazorla :bow:.

Rosicky :bow:.

Gibbs :bow:.

Feo :bow:.

Szczesny :bow:.

Arsenal :bow:.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I'm not gonna lie, I feared the worst in this tie.

Great second half.

[Joker]

I think Chesney was fantastic. When it mattered he was strong.

Yes he was good today tbf.

[Munchies]

Walcott played shit, but as usual, involved in the goals.

Giroud really is useless, having a world-class striker would do so much for our side. He just lumbers around.

[Cripps_orig]

Walcott played shit, but as usual, involved in the goals.

Giroud really is useless, having a world-class striker would do so much for our side. He just lumbers around.

Are you NQ in disguise?

Their left back will have nightmares about theo for the rest of his career.

He was great today.

[cheesy bites]

Walcott was great, and Rosicky and Ramsey played well too. Giroud layed the ball off well but he's just not the clinical finisher we need. Good performance overall.

[Harland]

Suarez can finally come home now.....

Or not

[LDG]

Which celebrity is going to die?

[Syn]

Ramsey from the last 6 months looks a completely different player to what he was. Seems to be fulfilling the potential that he showed pre-injury. Very smart little player with bags of energy.

[Marc Overmars]

Ramsey from the last 6 months looks a completely different player to what he was. Seems to be fulfilling the potential that he showed pre-injury. Very smart little player with bags of energy.

Recovered very well from when Wenger tried to bury him by sticking him on the right.

[Harland]

Ramsey from the last 6 months looks a completely different player to what he was. Seems to be fulfilling the potential that he showed pre-injury. Very smart little player with bags of energy.

Beastly performance indeed. Hope we still get a proper DM in though.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Geez, wins are bad for business.

[Niall_Quinn]

On the plus side, Ramsey and Cazorla played really well. Rosicky was good in the second half and Wilshere got 90 minutes and seemed to be settling down towards the end of the game. Defence wasn't really tested until late and it was encouraging to see Sagna pulling players around trying to get them organised. Less encouraging that whatever was said seemed to bounce off Mertesacker's head without going in. He was out of his depth again, this time against a nothing team. Hopefully Kos' isn't too badly bashed up. That was a deliberate kick on him, watch the replay and you'll see the player's foot is a yard from the ball. Chesney was strong today, the pressure seems to have brought the best out of him.

On the minus side. Walcott was pitifully bad as usual. For sure he can run fast, there's little doubt about that. But you'll get maybe one completed cross out of him in 90 minutes, maybe 10% of his passes retain possession. A little credit to him, after hogging and wasting everything he eventually decided to try passing to a team mate in a better position and it paid off. Will he learn? If we could get a decent player with the same pace into that position it would transform the team. Same with Giroud, he's awful and even when one of our misfits manages to get a cross in he'll be 10 yards off the play. When these two went off the passing game just clicked into life, a shame there was only 10 minutes left.

First half was dreadful to watch, things picked up in the second half and 0-3 was a fair result in the end. But this team will struggle badly against better opponents. It's good to be almost through to the competition proper but you wonder what the point will be if the squad is not strengthened significantly. At the very least a striker who isn't so easy to mark out of a game is the minimum requirement.

Hopefully Wenger doesn't use this result to try and vindicate his actions this summer but you can see him giving it a try. Merson and Nicholas were going on about it being a good performance but they'll be just as quick to say the opposite when this team goes up against a better opponents and Wenger's tactics are once again found wanting. So yes, a win, but a total overhaul still required if we are to get anything from the competition.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Brave, too. So brave.

:upset:

[Cripps_orig]

Another humiliation by theo on NQ

NQ :haha:

Genuine question here, have you ever been right about Theo? Ever?

Doubt it

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Rambo was good.....seems to play better in CL? time to put in same calibre in PL

[BlindFaith_8]

Ok so we won 0-3, credit were credit's due. This was the worst result that could have ever happened as this deluded idiot will now believe he has the best squad in the premiership and will challenge all questions for the press boys with his tail wagging and saying those immortal words, I told you so! Damn.

[GP]

:lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Ok so we won 0-3, credit were credit's due. This was the worst result that could have ever happened as this deluded idiot will now believe he has the best squad in the premiership and will challenge all questions for the press boys with his tail wagging and saying those immortal words, I told you so! Damn.

No, the fans won't be fooled this time. It used to be we never had to go through the qualifying round because we finished first or second. Then it used to be the qualifying rounds were a formality. Now we're are getting to the stage where we have to think about it. The trend is down and Wenger kicking off with nothing in reserve has tipped many over the edge. This win gets us through to the CL which remain important, not because those bastards can bank more money, but because nobody would want to come here if we'd been knocked out. It could be a few transfer targets have been waiting on this result before making a decision. I hope so anyway.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

If a terrible performance from Theo can result in two assists then more terrible performances from Theo pls this season. :coffee:

[GP]

Bit of a shame that people still resort to cheap shots and point scoring after a great away win.

[Niall_Quinn]

If a terrible performance from Theo can result in two assists then more terrible performances from Theo pls this season. :coffee:

It's guaranteed. You realise Theo's assists are entirely random and this is all that stands between him and the outright condemnation he'd get if his name was (say) Gervinho?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wenger did say post match that Koscielny's skull had been opened. :blink:

Think he should be alright though, despite it sounding quite horrific.

[GP]

Wenger did say post match that Koscielny's skull had been opened. :blink:

Think he should be alright though, despite it sounding quite horrific.

I hope that was lost in translation.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

It's guaranteed. You realise Theo's assists are entirely random and this is all that stands between him and the outright condemnation he'd get if his name was (say) Gervinho?

Come off it NQ, he's brutally effective which is exactly what we need considering we're known for tippy tappy bollocks that leads to nothing - the stats don't lie. Combined Goals & Assists for last season nearly on a par with Donkey Kong yet instead of receiving a 93 million pound bid from Real Madrid, he's still getting slated by some on here. Doesn't matter if he pops in a screamer from 40 yards or he taps it in from a sublime through ball from Santi, a goal is a goal to us.

Didn't have the best of games on Saturday but not many did. If we're going to do well this season he's going to be very important to us.

Had a decent game tonight, not his best but still contributed two assists. Think of how much more that could be once he gets going.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bit of a shame that people still resort to cheap shots and point scoring after a great away win.

Depends. For 8 years we've had great away wins scattered throughout the routine dross. If we want to improve then we look at everything, not just a single result. I think we may have forgotten just how far away we are from seeing good football (in fact it was great football but good will do) and experiencing a team that is genuinely competitive (in fact it was outright dominance, but competitive will do).

Our team is filled with mediocre players. That's the reality. All our good players are gone, sold for profit by crooks. Again, the reality.

Is it enough to have the odd decent away win? I don't think so. I think the balance has to tip back a little towards the fans before we slip back into loyal fan mode. It's give and take, right now we are taking it up the arse and they are giving nothing. That's rape. So can a rape victim be excited about a porn DVD a few days after the trauma? Maybe. Each will be different. I still have a pain in my arse from being fucked and I'm still sick of the crappy board and crappy manager and the crappy players they brought in to replace the decent players we used to have.

Now, this is undoubtedly all about Walcott. Why don't people watch him in the next game instead of listening to commentators? Just watch him. Great if he gets two assist, thank fuck for that because he kills us the rest of the time. But imagine if we could get a player who could get two assist AND play football. Do you see my point?

When Ramsey was shit I called him shit and when he improved I said he'd improved.
When Kos was shit I called him shit and when he improved I said he improved.
Theo is shit and if he improves I'll say so.
I said Chamakh was shit from day because it was so obvious. No arguments there surely.
Giroud is also shit. There is little chance he will ever be anything other than shit. Just watch him play.

Unless we are falling for the commentator hysteria where they are world class one match and shit the next (or English which means a free pass). In that case, okay, Theo is amazingly English, but Giroud is still shit.

What are we trying to do here, come 4th? Don't we criticise Wenger for wanting that? Well the players we have are the ones who will get us 4th. Therefore, they are shit. Arsenal can do a lot better than that, as we have seen. Why do we settle for anything less? Highest ticket prices - what do the fans get in return?

This isn't about blind loyalty any more.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I hope that was lost in translation.

I think he meant cracked. Although who knows for sure.

[Niall_Quinn]

I think he meant cracked. Although who knows for sure.

Well either way he's out isn't he? Of all positions he can't play CB with a fractured skull.

Ox, Arteta and now Kos? This is what Wenger left us wide open to. It was almost inevitable.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Kos is fine. Just had some stitches.

http://instagram.com/p/dSud1uOZ5g/#

[GP]

If it's a fractured skull he's done for the season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Come off it NQ, he's brutally effective which is exactly what we need considering we're known for tippy tappy bollocks that leads to nothing - the stats don't lie. Combined Goals & Assists for last season nearly on a par with Donkey Kong yet instead of receiving a 93 million pound bid from Real Madrid, he's still getting slated by some on here. Doesn't matter if he pops in a screamer from 40 yards or he taps it in from a sublime through ball from Santi, a goal is a goal to us.

Didn't have the best of games on Saturday but not many did. If we're going to do well this season he's going to be very important to us.

Had a decent game tonight, not his best but still contributed two assists. Think of how much more that could be once he gets going.

You know that 2% we always take the piss out of Wenger about? Well he's right. Just a bit more application from the likes of Walcott and not only does he get two assists (more by luck than design) but he also does other stuff like cross, retain possession, beat a defender, pass when it is advantageous to pass, shoot when the chance is on. Walcott doesn't deliver any of this but he should. And I agree, if he could he'd be devastating. So I'm frustrated because he really is 2% away, but that 2% is everything. The difference between a cross right onto the head of the guy we don't have in the box (Giroud is shit) and delivering it to the first defender. If he can make any progress in the fundamentals of the game I'll be his biggest fan. Right now though, he's shite. Watch him play for all the evidence you'll ever need. And all goals are not equal. If he wins the derby for us in a few days time then I'll be cheering from the roof. He won't though.

[Cripps_orig]

You know that 2% we always take the piss out of Wenger about? Well he's right. Just a bit more application from the likes of Walcott and not only does he get two assists (more by luck than design) but he also does other stuff like cross, retain possession, beat a defender, pass when it is advantageous to pass, shoot when the chance is on. Walcott doesn't deliver any of this but he should. And I agree, if he could he'd be devastating. So I'm frustrated because he really is 2% away, but that 2% is everything. The difference between a cross right onto the head of the guy we don't have in the box (Giroud is shit) and delivering it to the first defender. If he can make any progress in the fundamentals of the game I'll be his biggest fan. Right now though, he's shite. Watch him play for all the evidence you'll ever need. And all goals are not equal. If he wins the derby for us in a few days time then I'll be cheering from the roof. He won't though.

How was that luck? :doh:

You didn't even watch the game did you?

As for the derby....like he did couple of seasons ago in the first of the 5-2 wins?

NQ :haha:

I know him not scoring 47 goals a game means he's shit in your logic but in reality he's a good player and a very mportant ne for us. Goals and assists he provides.

Luck :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

How was that luck? :doh:

You didn't even watch the game did you?

As for the derby....like he did couple of seasons ago in the first of the 5-2 wins?

NQ :haha:

I know him not scoring 47 goals a game means he's shit in your logic but in reality he's a good player and a very mportant ne for us. Goals and assists he provides.

Luck :haha:

Nothing of substance there... big boys debate, you aren't in it, moving on.

[Cripps_orig]

No answer. Why am I not surprised?

:haha:

Luck :haha:

Nothing of substance? I brought up the spuds game where he has produced. Far bigger game than the one coming up as well.

Your arguments about theo are hilariously shit but amuses me. What's next?

[Niall_Quinn]

No answer. Why am I not surprised?

:haha:

Luck :haha:

Random would have been a better word. Or the concept of the broken clock which tells the time correctly twice a day. This is Theo, bang enough bones and you will play a symphony. But don't bank on an encore.

[Cripps_orig]

Random would have been a better word. Or the concept of the broken clock which tells the time correctly twice a day. This is Theo, bang enough bones and you will play a symphony. But don't bank on an encore.

Read the rest of the post

Or conveniently ignored cos it blows your arguments out of the water

Says it all

Luck :haha:

[GP]

Bit of a shame that people still resort to cheap shots and point scoring after a great away win.

:gp:

:yawn:

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

yippee

[The Emirates Gallactico]

You know that 2% we always take the piss out of Wenger about? Well he's right. Just a bit more application from the likes of Walcott and not only does he get two assists (more by luck than design) but he also does other stuff like cross, retain possession, beat a defender, pass when it is advantageous to pass, shoot when the chance is on. Walcott doesn't deliver any of this but he should. And I agree, if he could he'd be devastating. So I'm frustrated because he really is 2% away, but that 2% is everything. The difference between a cross right onto the head of the guy we don't have in the box (Giroud is shit) and delivering it to the first defender. If he can make any progress in the fundamentals of the game I'll be his biggest fan. Right now though, he's shite. Watch him play for all the evidence you'll ever need. And all goals are not equal. If he wins the derby for us in a few days time then I'll be cheering from the roof. He won't though.

I'm not going to disagree that there are areas of improvement in his game, he's not the finished project yet. But he's just turned 24 and still has plenty of years left in him to get better and refine his skills.

The problem is that from your post you seem to expect him to be the next Messi or Ronaldo which he's not ..... he's clearly not going to be 100% accurate in everything he does. Barely anyone is apart from those two; even Chimp boy does stupid things but because he's capable of scoring a 40 yard stunner once in a while it gets glossed over by the media and fans. He's an extremely effective player, not going to be a contender for the best player in the world but a very good player nonetheless and absolutely vital for us. To think otherwise is just being childish.

Give me Theo any day over someone like Hleb who is vastly technically superior but completely ineffective.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm not going to disagree that there are areas of improvement in his game, he's not the finished project yet. But he's just turned 24 and still has plenty of years left in him to get better and refine his skills.

The problem is that from your post you seem to expect him to be the next Messi or Ronaldo which he's not ..... he's clearly not going to be 100% accurate in everything he does. Barely anyone is apart from those two; even Chimp boy does stupid things but because he's capable of scoring a 40 yard stunner once in a while it gets glossed over by the media and fans. He's an extremely effective player, not going to be a contender for the best player in the world but a very good player nonetheless and absolutely vital for us. To think otherwise is just being childish.

Give me Theo any day over someone like Hleb who is vastly technically superior but completely ineffective.

This is why the Ox injury is a bit depressing. I'd anticipated he would walk past Theo this year, much better all around player. Theo hasn't lived up to his potential. Probably Wenger's fault in part with his fucked up coaching methods that favour long term injury over footballing skills. But this is also down to Walcott himself. He's 24 but he's been in the game for a long time. He should be able to do the simple stuff by now but he can't, that's an indictment of his own application. We've been waiting a long time for him to show signs of progression, some see it, some don't. The way he just aimlessly runs into defenders is awful. WTF is that about? And when he has time and measures a cross and it goes unerringly to the first defender. That shit has to stop. He's killing us just as much as helping us.

[Cripps_orig]

on the game...
I believe we played in a very, very heated atmosphere against a good team but we had a proactive attitude from the first minute on and that was certainly was very important tonight. We did not come in shaking but came in resolute and determined and with a desire to take the game to them and overall we were in control. This team has shown a lot of mental strength. I told you yesterday that you had forgotten that this team has lost only one game since March under very, very special circumstance. Of course the environment we faced was difficult but the only way to do it is to go out there and play football like you want to play.

on Koscielny's injury…
Laurent Kosielny's [injury] has opened very deeply the skull and we had to take him to hospital. I was not happy with the kick because I feel always that you can ease a bit off. Only the player in the end will know what he did. We are concerned because we had to send him to hospital to see if he has not broken a bone. We are waiting for him to come back now. We are waiting for information to find out if he can fly home with us. We faced a lot of challenges on Saturday and tonight again. That is part of the intensity of the game. Today, of course, there was so much at stake you can understand that. This special challenge, I don’t know really what to think about it. When I saw it, I was angry. But I don’t know if the player can explain to you exactly what he did.

on if he needs to bolster the midfield…
Quality-wise we don’t need anybody but number-wise we are short as I told you yesterday. We lost Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta and Diaby – three international midfielders. That is why we are short. We tried to bring one in but we are working on that. You have to understand there is still a long way to go. The transfer market starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and September 2. From August 21 until September 2 you have 12 days, so a lot will happen. It starts now.

on Ramsey…
He was great tonight. I think he is now a stature, a physical presence. All our midfielders were good tonight.

on why the window intensifies at the end of August…
It is like a poker game. People hold their cards as long as possible and see what is happening out there. In the end, they go for decisions. First everybody goes on holiday and nobody wants to do anything. Then in many clubs there are manager changes. They need to know the squad before they make a decision. Many, many things but it is always like that.

on Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury…
It could be a bit longer than what I said. There is no surgery – it will be between six and 12 weeks.

on if the Luis Suarez transfer is dead…
Yes. Absolutely no chance of that.

on the quality of the midfield…
Our technical quality was very important tonight. The fact that we can go away and keep possession of the ball – certainly that was verv, very important. And, as you underline, the quality of our midfield was vital tonight.


Starts now? Nobody wants to do anything? Arteta an international class midfielder?

He has lost it finally.

[Özim]

Starts now :lol:

Looks like nobody told 99% of the other clubs around Europe.

[Niall_Quinn]

The Waiting Period™ is officially over - now we move into the Wanting Period™

[Niall_Quinn]

The Waiting Period™ is officially over - now we move into the Wanting Period™

:gp:

[Niall_Quinn]

Can you imagine Wenger playing poker? Sat alone at his table, all the other players long since moved to games that are happening. "How many cards Arsene, FFS? Eventually you are going to have to tell me how many cards you want!"

[Niall_Quinn]

"Arsene - I keep telling you, minimum bid is 5p"

[Niall_Quinn]

"It's okay Arsene, everything is okay, just relax, you see - here's the maple syrup, it's here!"

[Özim]

Player 1: So Arsene what are you going to do?
Wenger: You have to understand there is still a long way to go.
Player 1: Yes so what Arsene, so what are you going to do?
Wenger: The game starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and the end of the game.
Player 1: Yes OK
Player 2: He's off on one again :rolleyes:
Player 1: Sorry can you just get on with the game Arsene please
Wenger: I am in a waiting period at the moment
Player 3: Is this guy for real?
Player 1: Come on Arsene stop f*cking about will you, we're trying to play a game here
Wenger: From now until the end of the match there's a long way to go, so a lot will happen. It starts now.
Player 4: FFS can someone chuck this muppet out, he's beginnning to really p*ss me off
Wenger: I understand people's concerns, people can be impatient, I only look for a super super hand
Player 3: Is this guy taking the p*ss cos I'm going to lose my rag here
Gazidis: He's got the money don't worry, he's in a position he's never been in before and is going to surprise you all, he's a major player
Player 4: Come on FFS
PHW: I don't like his sort
Player 5: I expect YOU Gazidis and YOU Wenger to f*ck off if you ruin this game!!! and that goes for the rest of you Wenger luvvies!

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Player 1: So Arsene what are you going to do?
Wenger: You have to understand there is still a long way to go.
Player 1: Yes so what Arsene, so what are you going to do?
Wenger: The game starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and the end of the game.
Player 1: Yes OK
Player 2: He's off on one again :rolleyes:
Player 1: Sorry can you just get on with the game Arsene please
Wenger: I am in a waiting period at the moment
Player 3: Is this guy for real?
Player 1: Come on Arsene stop f*cking about will you, we're trying to play a game here
Wenger: From now until the end of the match there's a long way to go, so a lot will happen. It starts now.
Player 4: FFS can someone chuck this muppet out, he's beginnning to really p*ss me off
Wenger: I understand people's concerns, people can be impatient, I only look for a super super hand
Player 3: Is this guy taking the p*ss cos I'm going to lose my rag here
Gazidis: He's got the money don't worry, he's in a position he's never been in before and is going to surprise you all, he's a major player
Player 4: Come on FFS
PHW: I don't like his sort
Player 5: I expect YOU Gazidis and YOU Wenger to f*ck off if you ruin this game!!! and that goes for the rest of you Wenger luvvies!

:haha: :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Also, I must tell you, perhaps I lost that hand, yes, but I should have won it. Do you think my 2 of clubs is not a good card? You want me to bring in aces, of course, but what about the 2 of clubs, do you throw it away? You will soon see a flush, 16 years swirling around the bowl.

[-Xs-]

on if he needs to bolster the midfield…
Quality-wise we don’t need anybody but number-wise we are short as I told you yesterday. We lost Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta and Diaby – three international midfielders. That is why we are short. We tried to bring one in but we are working on that. You have to understand there is still a long way to go. The transfer market starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and September 2. From August 21 until September 2 you have 12 days, so a lot will happen. It starts now.
...
on why the window intensifies at the end of August…
It is like a poker game. People hold their cards as long as possible and see what is happening out there. In the end, they go for decisions. First everybody goes on holiday and nobody wants to do anything. Then in many clubs there are manager changes. They need to know the squad before they make a decision. Many, many things but it is always like that.


To quote from Blackadder

"He's mad! He's mad! He's madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of this year's Mr Madman competition"

[KSE Comedy Club]

Wenger did say post match that Koscielny's skull had been opened. :blink:

Think he should be alright though, despite it sounding quite horrific.no, no, you misunderstood skull for wallet.

He was offering to help chip in to persuade wenger to buy someone

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's what penny pinching gets you, your skull opened up. :blink:

[Grebbo]

Does anybody know whether we're allowed to play any new signings in the second leg? Can we still add one new player to the squad for the second leg or can we add more or none at all?

[GP]

Does anybody know whether we're allowed to play any new signings in the second leg? Can we still add one new player to the squad for the second leg or can we add more or none at all?

I'd imagine it'll have to be the same squad in the 2nd leg. Which is fine.

[Marc Overmars]

I doubt we can add any players. The extra one we could have added needed to be before the first leg, I think.

[Letters]

Now, this is undoubtedly all about Walcott. Why don't people watch him in the next game instead of listening to commentators? Just watch him. Great if he gets two assist, thank fuck for that because he kills us the rest of the time. But imagine if we could get a player who could get two assist AND play football. Do you see my point?
Not really.

My dad's old enough to have seen Greaves play back in the day. I remember him telling me how one time he saw him and he did nothing all game, apart from score a hat-trick.
There are some things Theo is good at, some things he isn't. If he's running at a defender my money's on the defender to get a foot in. If he's through one on one then my money's on Theo, I reckon he's a pretty good finisher. If he's in a position to cross the ball it's more 50-50, he can deliver a good ball but not often enough. Thing is I'd say that last point is true of most players. I personally think it's ridiculous that professional footballers can't consistently deliver a good final ball but for whatever reason it seems to be the case.

2 assists in a game is a pretty good return. Football is all about goals, it's unfortunate that a defender can have a great game and then one mistake which leads to a goal and everyone focusses on that whereas an attacking player can have a stinker and then get a goal and he's a hero. End of the day Theo's goal and assist tallies are pretty impressive. That's good enough for me. Is there room for improvement? Of course, and he hasn't developed as quickly as we'd all have liked. But he's not as bad as you're making out.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Not really.

My dad's old enough to have seen Greaves play back in the day. I remember him telling me how one time he saw him and he did nothing all game, apart from score a hat-trick.
There are some things Theo is good at, some things he isn't. If he's running at a defender my money's on the defender to get a foot in. If he's through one on one then my money's on Theo, I reckon he's a pretty good finisher. If he's in a position to cross the ball it's more 50-50, he can deliver a good ball but not often enough. Thing is I'd say that last point is true of most players. I personally think it's ridiculous that professional footballers can't consistently deliver a good final ball but for whatever reason it seems to be the case.

2 assists in a game is a pretty good return. Football is all about goals, it's unfortunate that a defender can have a great game and then one mistake which leads to a goal and everyone focusses on that whereas an attacking player can have a stinker and then get a goal and he's a hero. End of the day Theo's goal and assist tallies are pretty impressive. That's good enough for me. Is there room for improvement? Of course, and he hasn't developed as quickly as we'd all have liked. But he's not as bad as you're making out.

Top post.

Nothing to disagree with here. I used to be a harsh critic of his, too. But seeing the returns we got from him last season, where he was our top scorer and high on the assists list as well, I realised it would be foolhardy to continue to bash him in the scathing manner I used to. Not that I'm pleased with every aspect of his game, as there is certainly room for improvement in key areas - areas which arguably should have been better developed by now - but he's still young, and really has had no one to learn from.

Over all, I think he's a good finisher, but maybe because he doesn't score 40 yard stunners for fun, he isn't rightly hailed as one of the most productive players in the Prem.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Joseph Barton ‏@Joey7Barton 21 Aug

Ramsey should be in Hodgson's next squad for me. Much improved this season...

:doh:

[BlindFaith_8]

:doh:

Maybe he can ask Chris Coleman for a free transfer to England FC :haha:

[Penguin]

I side towards NQ on Theo. He has far too many flaws in his game. He can't beat his man one-on-one (despite the blistering pace), his dribbling is average, his ball control is sub-par, his crossing is erratic and his decision making is poor. Every time I see him play he has me facepalming. I do recognise that he has developed an end product but his lack of footballing nous and ability worries me.

I don't think we should sell him but he shouldn't be in our starting line-up. He wouldn't be if he was at any of the 'top 3' clubs.

[Özim]

:doh:

:lol:

[Cripps_orig]

I side towards NQ on Theo. He has far too many flaws in his game. He can't beat his man one-on-one (despite the blistering pace), his dribbling is average, his ball control is sub-par, his crossing is erratic and his decision making is poor. Every time I see him play he has me facepalming. I do recognise that he has developed an end product but his lack of footballing nous and ability worries me.

I don't think we should sell him but he shouldn't be in our starting line-up. He wouldn't be if he was at any of the 'top 3' clubs.

:lol:

He'd walk in to man utds team

[Niall_Quinn]

:lol:

He'd walk in to man utds team

They'd have already bought him if that was true.

[Power n Glory]

Not really.

My dad's old enough to have seen Greaves play back in the day. I remember him telling me how one time he saw him and he did nothing all game, apart from score a hat-trick.
There are some things Theo is good at, some things he isn't. If he's running at a defender my money's on the defender to get a foot in. If he's through one on one then my money's on Theo, I reckon he's a pretty good finisher. If he's in a position to cross the ball it's more 50-50, he can deliver a good ball but not often enough. Thing is I'd say that last point is true of most players. I personally think it's ridiculous that professional footballers can't consistently deliver a good final ball but for whatever reason it seems to be the case.

2 assists in a game is a pretty good return. Football is all about goals, it's unfortunate that a defender can have a great game and then one mistake which leads to a goal and everyone focusses on that whereas an attacking player can have a stinker and then get a goal and he's a hero. End of the day Theo's goal and assist tallies are pretty impressive. That's good enough for me. Is there room for improvement? Of course, and he hasn't developed as quickly as we'd all have liked. But he's not as bad as you're making out.

Greaves was a striker. Theo gets judged as a winger and playing that wide right position, everyone expects him to dribble, cross, beat his man....that's just not in his locker. All strikers have those moments of inactivity but then pounce when the moment arrives.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's Wenger's fault again. He must be able to see Walcott's limitations but he keeps asking him to do the same things over and over. Walcott's primary attribute is his speed but the Wenger loads other requirements on top of that, stuff that Theo can't do. For me Walcott would be better playing behind the main striker (who would have to be a lot more mobile than Giroud) and we should be using Cazorla and Wilshere to play him into space behind the defence. If the defence counter by sitting back that's good for us anyway but we should also have a better player than Giroud to give us a plan B. Can't be denied Suarez would have been ideal, not that we ever had any intention of signing him.

[LDG]

In fairness to Theo (and I can't stand it when he runs down blind alleys), he is making very intellegent runs a lot of the time, but we're often too slow at getting the ball forward. We won't play two up, so he's doing what he's being asked to do, which is make that diagonal run off the full backs shoulder.

What he never does himself, if push the ball past the fullback, and beat him for pace. He opts to run into the fullback with the ball, or dribble the ball out of play....which is the source of most of my frustration with the bloke.

He's not technically gifted, but he can make runs, and take chances.

[Letters]

Greaves was a striker. Theo gets judged as a winger and playing that wide right position, everyone expects him to dribble, cross, beat his man....that's just not in his locker. All strikers have those moments of inactivity but then pounce when the moment arrives.
He's more of an attack minded player, judging him on goals and assists is a bit simplistic but a decent starting point. On the basis he's an effective player. He needs to improve in some of the areas you mention but he's not a complete waste of space.

[GP]

He plays on the right side of attack but he isn't a winger.

We haven't played with wingers since Overmars left.

[Power n Glory]

It's Wenger's fault again. He must be able to see Walcott's limitations but he keeps asking him to do the same things over and over. Walcott's primary attribute is his speed but the Wenger loads other requirements on top of that, stuff that Theo can't do. For me Walcott would be better playing behind the main striker (who would have to be a lot more mobile than Giroud) and we should be using Cazorla and Wilshere to play him into space behind the defence. If the defence counter by sitting back that's good for us anyway but we should also have a better player than Giroud to give us a plan B. Can't be denied Suarez would have been ideal, not that we ever had any intention of signing him.

This is something we agree on. If it wasn't for Walcott's pace he'd be just as anonymous as Podolski on the other side of the wing. Neither are awful players and have their strong and weak points but we're not playing to either players strengths and their weaknesses get exposed all the time. It was the same with Arshavin. We bought him in his late 20s and he didn't have the legs, stamina or defensive mind to cover the wingback and get up and down the pitch. It was an obvious weakness but he was a very creative player and able to score goals. Why not push him to play behind the striker and see if he's more efficient in that area? I just don't get Wenger. He can be flexible with some players and others he's so rigid. He pushed Gervinho to play as striker but it was the reverse. He was forced to play in a position where his weak area would be further exposed because he can't shoot and his decision making is awful.

[Power n Glory]

He's more of an attack minded player, judging him on goals and assists is a bit simplistic but a decent starting point. On the basis he's an effective player. He needs to improve in some of the areas you mention but he's not a complete waste of space.

If Theo were played as a striker, I think he'd be judged differently. He makes good runs, his first touch can often set him up to be in on goal as seen with the penalty decision. He plucked it out the air with no problem. He's a one two touch player. Play him in and all he needs is one or two touches to get his feet right to T up the shot. That's what he should be sharpening up on. He's not a waste of space at all but I don't see much progression for the kid playing on that wing because he'll always be judged as winger which is wrong or a playmaker like we've seen in past Arsenal teams. He's just not that sort of player.