match reaction v chelsea

[Ollie the Optimist]

cunts

[Injury Time]

:haha:

[cheesy bites]

1000 games done.

Thanks for everything, enjoy retirement Arsene.

[Marc Overmars]

Specialists in failure strike again.

Worst title challengers ever.

[Ollie the Optimist]

the three away games against the top 3 have the following scores
6-3
5-1
6-0

no words

[ARightTouch]

Standard

[cheesy bites]

Everton will catch us for 4th.

[JonasTC]

What a bunch of jokes running around on that field, way to celebrate your managers 1000th game.

[selassie]

I don't even know what to say.

Today was an utter disaster, an abomination.

[Burley Gooner]

Terrible performance from the 5th minute onwards following Giroud's chance, which he should've buried. Tactically poor too.

[Munchies]

Bottling cunts

[Niall_Quinn]

Really unlucky in that. Ref was paid obviously - what a joke. If Bif could only have converted that chance the win was there.

[adzzzbatch]

:haha: big game Arsenal

[fakeyank]

1000 games too many Arsene... leave with whatever legacy you have left (specialist in failure). Please do not fucking sign a new deal.

[Injury Time]

:haha: big gay Arsenal :handbags:
:gp:

[Maestro]

ollie has been kidnapped, we need to have a whip round for the ransom payment

[ARightTouch]

Really unlucky in that. Ref was paid obviously - what a joke. If Bif could only have converted that chance the win was there.

Tbh, this result was nothing to do with luck, nothing to do with the ref and you think Bif scoring would have stopped Chelsea scoring 3 or 4? - No

[Niall_Quinn]

ollie has been kidnapped, we need to have a whip round for the ransom payment

Representatives of The Mindless Optimism Clique have appeared on Al Jazeera demanding a bottle (any bottle) as ransom.

[Niall_Quinn]

Tbh, this result was nothing to do with luck, nothing to do with the ref and you think Bif scoring would have stopped Chelsea scoring 3 or 4? - No

You maybe aren't taking that post in the spirit it was intended.

[Munchies]

Giroud, Podolski, Arteta all need to leave.

[Xhaka Can’t]

You maybe aren't taking that post in the spirit it was intended.

What team spirit are you on about? They hung Wenger out to dry.

[Maestro]

Representatives of The Mindless Optimism Clique have appeared on Al Jazeera demanding a bottle (any bottle) as ransom.

http://www.waitrosedirect.com/wcsstore/SharedStoreFront/Custom/images/LN_887628_BP_a_4.jpg

[Alpha]

Three words can describe better today's game : Disappointing , heartbroken and gutted .
Only blind and emotional people can blame Wenger for this one . What could he have done ? Was he on the pitch ? The players are to blame for letting everyone connected to the team down .

[ARightTouch]

You maybe aren't taking that post in the spirit it was intended.

Oh :lol: I reckon you were serious about the Giroud bit though :sarcy:

[Maestro]

What team spirit are you on about? They hung Wenger out to dry.

the spirit in a bottle, posted above.

we're going to free ollie, inshala

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox? He was the second worst player on the pitch today. Rosicky? He was woeful. Couldn't string a pass. Cazorla? Dire. Gibbs? A disaster zone. Kos and Merts, collapsed under the pressure. Ches? Lame.

Podolski and Arteta? No worse than the rest.

Bif, not really a striker. More of a lawn manicure kit.

[Xhaka Can’t]

the spirit in a bottle, posted above.

we're going to free ollie, inshala

What bottle?

We lost that years ago.

[cheesy bites]

What bottle?

We lost that years ago.

http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/forum/image.php?u=9&dateline=1395477277
"Perfect."

[RomfordPele]

Told us nothing we didn't already know really: three or four first teamers out there who aren't good enough, a manager who is well past his sell by date, and a board who are too complacent or self-interested to retire the old man upstairs.

So fourth place again and the usual ritual humiliations at the hands of our "title rivals" (pfft!). Rinse and repeat for 14/15.

(Let's just hope we don't balls up the fa cup, which we are more than capable of doing on today's showing.)

[Niall_Quinn]

Yep, Wenger out. The players who spent the whole day passing to chavs - in.

we had a big clear out lest year - same required this year. There's a core of good players here but still too much dross filling in the gaps. Hatchet, chequebook, harder attitudes and Diaby shipped to a hospital rather than living at our expense. Medical team's CVs properly checked and anyone who isn't qualified - out!

[I am invisible]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3649150/hitler-takes-off-glasses-o.gif

[Munchies]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BjVwZ-OCUAAOr1w.jpg
:lol:


By the time it was 3-0, I was laughing :haha:

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Told you we'd win

[fakeyank]

Offer Wenger a 'till death' contract extension. 10 million quid next year followed with a 100% pay rise every following year seems like a good deal tbh.

All our humiliating losses are the players fault. They determined their positions on the field, the tactics and also got themselves hired at Arsenal.

[RomfordPele]

Yep, Wenger out. The players who spent the whole day passing to chavs - in.

we had a big clear out lest year - same required this year. There's a core of good players here but still too much dross filling in the gaps. Hatchet, chequebook, harder attitudes and Diaby shipped to a hospital rather than living at our expense. Medical team's CVs properly checked and anyone who isn't qualified - out!

It is possible to criticise both wenger AND the players, y'know. It's kinda the manager who picks them, who trains them, who talks tactics with them, who gees them up before the game, isn't it?. And it's wenger who is the common denominator for the last 8 years of failure. I don't understand why you're so quick to defend him.

Yes, there is a kernel of quality in this squad, but I just don't see it realising its potential with wenger in a frontline managerial role. He clearly needs some help, and that means letting go and delegating a bit, as he did when dein was around.

[JonasTC]

Wish people would bash the players alot more for wearing the arsenal shirt and do shit like that, instead of just saying 'Wenger Out'.

Our players gave away 6 goals today, that was not a tactical problem. Fucking embarrassment.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Told you we'd win

Any word on tonight's lottery numbers?

[Munchies]

Podolski is on £7m a year, and does fuck all.

AHA!

[fakeyank]

Any word on tonight's lottery numbers?

63 51 60 82

[gunnerrrrr]

Wish people would bash the players alot more for wearing the arsenal shirt and do shit like that, instead of just saying 'Wenger Out'.

Our players gave away 6 goals today, that was not a tactical problem. Fucking embarrassment.

Mate you can blame the players of course, but it is the manager who prepares them and sends them out.

Why was our midfield so unbalanced....why were Sagna and Gibbs playing like wingbacks without someone dropping deep to act as the fifth defender?

You only have to look at Utd this season to see how important the manager is....they went from champions to fighting for 5/6....i dont like Ferguson much but applaud his ability to motivate his team and have them battling.

We have had a raft of different players in the bigger games, and look at the results....there is only one common denominator and that is Wenger.

[Power n Glory]

It is possible to criticise both wenger AND the players, y'know. It's kinda the manager who picks them, who trains them, who talks tactics with them, who gees them up before the game, isn't it?. And it's wenger who is the common denominator for the last 8 years of failure. I don't understand why you're so quick to defend him.

Yes, there is a kernel of quality in this squad, but I just don't see it realising its potential with wenger in a frontline managerial role. He clearly needs some help, and that means letting go and delegating a bit, as he did when dein was around.

It's the common denominator. Wenger is on the end of these beatings far too often and I can't accuse the players of not giving a fuck this season. It can't be that. We've rooted out all the players that wouldn't give us a 100%. All the players had a mare. The defence have been the difference for us this season until today and I can't really point fingers there and say we need to change personnel there. Ox and Cazorla were terrible and sloppy but you'd be a fool to say they should be off.

I think we got it tactically wrong. Ox isn't ready for midfield responsibility, Arteta doesn't have the legs to cover when we experiment like that and we played a suicidal backline.

It has to be nerves because the players all knew what was riding on this game and I they chocked. It's not as if we haven't seen other Wenger teams fall apart. Something went wrong (again) behind the scenes and we weren't ready for Chelsea.

[Master Splinter]

100% dive.

[Munchies]

Wenger not attending press conference, but told BBC: "This defeat is my fault, I take full responsibility for it."

:pal:

[JonasTC]

Mate you can blame the players of course, but it is the manager who prepares them and sends them out.

Why was our midfield so unbalanced....why were Sagna and Gibbs playing like wingbacks without someone dropping deep to act as the fifth defender?

You only have to look at Utd this season to see how important the manager is....they went from champions to fighting for 5/6....i dont like Ferguson much but applaud his ability to motivate his team and have them battling.

We have had a raft of different players in the bigger games, and look at the results....there is only one common denominator and that is Wenger.

I still believe today, the players deserve to be bashed... It was 5-6 personal mistakes that lead to goals. Alot of people on here agree that if we had a proper striker we would be proper contenders this season, so it cant be Wengers tactics we can bash, then its down his ability in the transfer windows and i agree we can give him shit for that, but today i think we should blame the players for playing like a bunch of brainless chickens, not worthy of wearing our shirt.

[adzzzbatch]

Wenger not attending press conference, but told BBC: "This defeat is my fault, I take full responsibility for it."

:pal:

Maybe he's busy writing his letter of resignation?

[fakeyank]

Maybe he's busy writing his letter of resignation?

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/7e/7e6beaa392d403320b236f1c6d6e8c1915add6da4b4f920cb0 792afb85954575.jpg

[Munchies]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11aTtbg2i90

[Özim]

It is possible to criticise both wenger AND the players, y'know. It's kinda the manager who picks them, who trains them, who talks tactics with them, who gees them up before the game, isn't it?. And it's wenger who is the common denominator for the last 8 years of failure. I don't understand why you're so quick to defend him.

Yes, there is a kernel of quality in this squad, but I just don't see it realising its potential with wenger in a frontline managerial role. He clearly needs some help, and that means letting go and delegating a bit, as he did when dein was around.

The players have to take some blame, however ultimately it's Wengers responsibility, he's the one that brough them in/developed them and motivates them, if they can't do the job properly then he's the only one who can take the blame for getting it wrong by buying them or picking them.

He's the guy that prepares them, he's the guy that picks the team, he's the guy that motivates them, he's the guy that sets up the tactics, the whole club is about Wenger and therefore these regular beatings by top clubs and our inability to ever beat them has to be down to him.

Time and time again we fail to deliver in big games, I've seen smaller clubs beat some of these big boys and yet we seem unable to ever produce one winning performance against them, that to me says there's something wrong.

This season we're supposedly better than last and yet we've been humbled 3 times by the top clubs, conceding 5 once and 6 twice, yes you occasionally see freak results but 3 times in one season is a disgrace, we use to get a beating like this once ever 10 years now we get several a season!

[Letters]

I'm not sure there's any point drawing any conclusions from today's shambles.
If we finish top 4 (we will) and win the FA Cup (we'd bloody better do) then it'll have been a good season.
The title was never plausible this season.

The thumpings away against the other sides in the top 4 is a concern though.

[Maestro]

To all the Wenger Outerites, don't pop a blood vessel and no need to worry yourselves.

Wenger will leave of his own accord at the end of this season, so relax!

[selassie]

I dunno. I think there are deep rooted issues at the club in terms of tactical organisation and how we prepare ourselves for the big games. Look, getting destroyed once by our rivals I will accept but getting routinely beaten like this? It's totally unacceptable. Why is this happening to us? What is it down to? Why does it keep on happening? It's an absolute disgrace IMHO.

In some ways I just couldn't believe what I was watching today, 3-0 down after 20 minutes? Defence all at sea, Midfield nowhere. It was horrific. I switched it off, couldn't take anymore of it, it literally was like watching a repeat of Liverpool.

This season so far has been so difficult to judge...I really am at a loss with this team.

[Maestro]

I dunno. I think there are deep rooted issues at the club in terms of tactical organisation and how we prepare ourselves for the big games. Look, getting destroyed once by our rivals I will accept but getting routinely beaten like this? It's totally unacceptable. Why is this happening to us? What is it down to? Why does it keep on happening? It's an absolute disgrace IMHO.

In some ways I just couldn't believe what I was watching today, 3-0 down after 20 minutes? Defence all at sea, Midfield nowhere. It was horrific. I switched it off, couldn't take anymore of it, it literally was like watching a repeat of Liverpool.

This season so far has been so difficult to judge...I really am at a loss with this team.

entirely agree, and after today i truly believe even Wenger is at a loss as well. He will leave, I am as certain as I can be. He's not just been beaten but humiliated by his peers and failed to counteract or come up with an answer. i think he knows the game is up.

[Globalgunner]

I hope he leaves because with him still here. Nothing, repeat nothing will change. The comfort of 4th place. Yes he will still keep delivering it, but more of chance than design. IF liverpool were this good last season we wouldnt have made it. If Ferguson had not resigned, we would not have made it. If the Spuds were not irremediably crap. We need the Wengerites to stop deluding themselves, standing still while others are moving forward is retrogressing. The reason we fail is mostly down to character in my opinion. Wenger has none of the right sort and he imbibes his players with his meekness. Which other team regularly takes batterings like this and shrugs it off. Only Wenger, because he knows no chairman is going to call him up the same evening and chew his ear off. This shit trickles downward, the players take it like water off ducks back. 4th place and job done. The ones that get tired, move on to better things. No point repeating the same stuff, we were here last season and so it will stay the same, The man Wenger prefers to stay wrong rather than change course and admit he was ever wrong.

[Munchies]

I'm not sure there's any point drawing any conclusions from today's shambles.
If we finish top 4 (we will) and win the FA Cup (we'd bloody better do) then it'll have been a good season.
The title was never plausible this season.

The thumpings away against the other sides in the top 4 is a concern though.

It would've been plausible had he not fucked up in the summer and jan transfer windows.

Next season will be even more difficult. I don't want Wenger to oversee another transfer window for us.

[Gubby Allen]

Dreadful day for Manchester United. Whatever glimmer of hope they had of winning the C.L has now gone after today. There's no way we're doing bare minimum by finishing 3rd, so 4th it is and **** all for Moyes this season.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I'm not sure there's any point drawing any conclusions from today's shambles.
If we finish top 4 (we will) and win the FA Cup (we'd bloody better do) then it'll have been a good season.
The title was never plausible this season.

The thumpings away against the other sides in the top 4 is a concern though.
If this was a one off, I'd agree with you.

I think there are plenty of conclusions to be drawn from this.

We have nothing up front when it comes to dealing with teams we consider rivals.

Because we offer no threat, quality teams can forget about defence, take risks and have a go at us. They will punish our mistakes while knowing that their mistakes will almost likely go unpunished.

Our midfield is overrun by teams ranging from - good to top quality.

We have a glass jaw whenever we play our rivals. We simply do not have the quality and/or mentality when it comes to an important game against our rivals and we seem to do nothing in terms of preparation to deal with this reality.

Against our three rivals we have been humiliated, with results that will be thrown in our faces for years - and we have no answer to that. All in the space of four months or so.

And worst of all - we have now got to the point where these types of performances and results are no longer unexpected.

Nothing has been learned from the result at Man City, nothing has been learned at Liverpool and as a consequence, we no have the worst result of the bunch today.

What's next?

[Power n Glory]

Wenger has taken this one hard. It's got to mess with his pride to lose like that to Mourinho. I don't think this has anything to do with desire from the players or manager. It's just about ability and we got the combination all wrong today. Team selection, defensive set up, approach....it just wasn't right and we suffered. But there is no way you can say Wenger and the players didn't care about this occasion. No way. It's his 1000th game, he said it was a massive game for us because of the title and I'm sure the players wanted to win this one.

[Letters]

@Gary
I don't think any of that, while accurate, was unknown before today's game.
We are where we are, we all know we need more up front and I don't believe for one second Wenger doesn't know it too.

[selassie]

entirely agree, and after today i truly believe even Wenger is at a loss as well. He will leave, I am as certain as I can be. He's not just been beaten but humiliated by his peers and failed to counteract or come up with an answer. i think he knows the game is up.

Unless Wenger makes major changes in both the way we set up ourselves for these games and the transfer market then I see no reason why he should be here next season.

Like you said Wenger has really been exposed this season in the big games, more so than ever before.

[selassie]

It would've been plausible had he not fucked up in the summer and jan transfer windows.

Next season will be even more difficult. I don't want Wenger to oversee another transfer window for us.

Yep totally agree. I have stated my concerns already about this upcoming Window, I personally believe unless we bring in a Director Of Football type or someone of that ilk, this window will be mismanaged like all the previous windows.

[saintnickle]

Wish people would bash the players alot more for wearing the arsenal shirt and do shit like that, instead of just saying 'Wenger Out'.

Our players gave away 6 goals today, that was not a tactical problem. Fucking embarrassment.

Who is ultimately responsible though??Or is responsible at every other club in the land apart from arsenal?

[JonasTC]

Who is ultimately responsible though??Or is responsible at every other club in the land apart from arsenal?

Must be the one who appointed Wenger then? Or the board who appointed Dein? Im not sure

[Globalgunner]

Must be the one who appointed Wenger then? Or the board who appointed Dein? Im not sure

The correct answer is anyone but Wenger

[fakeyank]

The correct answer is anyone but Wenger

:gp:

Poor bugger only gets paid 7 million quid a year to manage a football team. What do you expect a football manager to do- Set tactics, motivate players, play the best players in their best positions, get cover for weak positions in the team? You must be joking... A football managers job is to look worried and say how many % away we are from domination, how we are in the waiting period etc. Until he gets a pay raise of 100 billion dollars, we cannot point a twinkie at the manager.

Arsene Wenger :bow:

[Xhaka Can’t]

:gp:

Poor bugger only gets paid 7 million quid a year to manage a football team. What do you expect a football manager to do- Set tactics, motivate players, play the best players in their best positions, get cover for weak positions in the team? You must be joking... A football managers job is to look worried and say how many % away we are from domination, how we are in the waiting period etc. Until he gets a pay raise of 100 billion dollars, we cannot point a twinkie at the manager.

Arsene Wenger :bow:

You need to relax.

[fakeyank]

You need to relax.

Why though? As a fan on a MB, I think I'm entitled to feel frustrated about a sorry dismal showing by my team. I'm ranting and I think I have a god damn good reason to be..

[Xhaka Can’t]

Why though? As a fan on a MB, I think I'm entitled to feel frustrated about a sorry dismal showing by my team. I'm ranting and I think I have a god damn good reason to be..

Well for starters, he's paid in pounds and the dollar is in the toilet.

[cheesy bites]

Dreadful day for Manchester United. Whatever glimmer of hope they had of winning the C.L has now gone after today. There's no way we're doing bare minimum by finishing 3rd, so 4th it is and **** all for Moyes this season.

...what?

[Xhaka Can’t]

...what?

He means that because Wenger always qualifies for the CL, United aren't winning the CL because we are finishing 4th for sure.

[Niall_Quinn]

Leaving aside all the laughable knee jerking we didn't see after the spuds game...

What actually went wrong today?

Wenger thought the outfield players could provide a threat and the midfield could play a balanced rather than defensive game. He was wrong. We are desperately weak up top and the midfielders let us down terribly with their sloppy play and lack of composure. Ox and Cazorla were particularly poor. It's forgiveable with Ox, a lot of pressure has been heaped on him but he's still learning. Except young players to have great days and awful days, it's normal. It's not forgiveable with Cazorla, he's supposed to be one of our top performers but increasingly he goes missing on the big days. He's lucky Ozil has been around to take the heat off him. So Wenger guilty of having faith in his players, his players guilty of bottling it and pissing on that faith - again.

Wenger thought we could play a high line/ mobile defence against an ageing and average chav front line. He was wrong and he sort of got unlucky too. Eto'o and Schurle are poor and average respectively but from time to time they can have a good game or good moments, Eto'o because it remains in his DNA and Schurle because statistics work like that. Today BOTH hit the jackpot. Even so, the defensive tactics were down to Wenger so he got that wrong. And he didn't change it until it was way too late and even the he brought the woeful Flamini one - more on him later. We still don't have an Adams figure, Adams would have said fuck this and changed things on the pitch. That needs to be Merts next year and he needs to be given the captaincy. No room for sentimentality, it's ridiculous our club captain spends his time on the bench rather than on the pitch. Kos is a brilliant follower, he's not a leader. He will follow the game plan all day long even when it's clearly not working.

Sagna and Gibbs just let the club down. Nothing much more to be said on them except the fact Sagna wants £100k a week is laughable. He had a chance to prove he was worth that today and failed as completely as it is possible to fail. Young blood needed in that position next year and don't spare the chequebook. A powerful, marauding full back is out there somewhere, we need to find him.

Our tactic of giving up huge amounts of space on the flanks has to stop immediately. We've been doing it for years and it has never, ever worked. We've been relying on pace to plug those holes, particularly from Gibbs and Kos. This is why Monreal, an okay defender in a more compact unit, gets so badly exposed in certain matches. This is why Robben had such a big influence (besides his horrible cheating) over the two legs for Bayern.

Arteta takes huge flak from fans. But he's supposed to be the central holding player who distributes to more mobile options. Fact is, we aren't mobile, there are no options. So Arteta's role is often reduced to retaining possession and because there are no options that possession goes sideways or backwards. He could try hollywood balls but that brings us to:

Giroud. Showed promised, had it all there for the taking. Blew it and now he has to pay the price. His character flaws have hurt us badly. He has to go in the summer. He's already proved he can play in this league, but he's also proved he can't handle the big time. No excuses can be made for him.

Rosicky 33 and given a new contract. Not a bad move in terms of retaining his experience but we need a young and dynamic understudy and eventual replacement. I assume that's Draxler.

Flamini - clueless. He wears his heart on his sleeve but has nothing in his boots. Always in the wrong place at the wrong time. You bring him on to keep things tight and he drifts forward. When you need discipline he's being booked or sent off. Football is not about charging around the place bellowing - that's useful if you are actually leading, but he's leading nothing. Have you noticed, nobody pays a blind bit of attention to his pitch theatrics. It's all noise. Proper defensive midfielder required, again don't spare the chequebook.

So Wenger must take some of the blame, but some of the players are twice as guilty. Not only was this a big game but it was a chance to repay the manager for some of that faith. Look what they did. It's appalling. Bottom line - they can't be trusted.

People have a go at Wilshere, but he wouldn't have laid down today like some of them did. Wilshere, Ramsey, and finally Walcott. Big misses. Ozil too once he gets the first season under his belt and the stupid arseholes who want red button miracles off his back. Sky TV fans - as bad a s any media hack.

Ches. Forgiven. He had a really bad day but it's a rarity. Some will now say get rid of him, I already saw some say they want Fabianski. Probably the same lot who slaughtered Fabs when he was getting settled.

Podolski. Wasting his talent. Either he has no clue what his role is supposed to be or he's taking a free ride. A player with his abilities should be making an impact. He's anonymous.

Everything was wrong today, not helped by that ludicrous ref. The scoreline will exaggerate the misery of it all. Nobody likes the fact that horrible cunt Mourinho (who showed himself up much more than we did today) can walk away and trumpet his hollow victory and the media will play along.

I just hope over the next few days our fans recover a bit of dignity - not just in terms of recovering from a bad defeat against a major rival, but also personal dignity that might prevent them posting fucking 1000 games videos one minute and then being a fucking media, spud, maureen style hater the next.

So we lost big against the big moneybags teams and the team that wouldn't release the striker we put up the money for and would have transformed our season. Shit happens. Deal with it and get over yourselves. Still in the cup and up until today with a few games to go we were in the hunt. Finances coming around and a demonstration we are prepared to spend big money on big players. A bit of context required please, some proportion. Rattles and dummies flying through the air is just as embarrassing as being beaten 6-0.

[IBK]

I am not a great fan of the argument that 'no other top club would put up with a lack of silverware' because there has been a lot more going on at our club for the past decade than simply winning trophies. But it is appropriate make the comparison in the light of today's result/performance. Because this humiliation - coming after the thrashings away from home at Anfield and middle Eastlands would be enough to see many managers of top club's walk. Even the hapless Moyes has not been on the receiving end of this many absolute whippings this season.

People often, and quite rightly warn against reacting to a shock result. But today for me was a watershed. This team is no longer inexperienced, and the players were supposed to have developed the resilience to perform when needed. I think we have to accept that our manager no longer has what it takes to prevail against the best in the business. Time to move on now, I'm afraid.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

1000 games too many Arsene... leave with whatever legacy you have left (specialist in failure). Please do not fucking sign a new deal.

A THOUSAND games too many......wtf are you talking about?

[Niall_Quinn]

Andre Marriner said he was wrong to send Kieran Gibbs off as it was a case of mistaken identity - replays confirmed what most observers saw at full speed as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the Arsenal man who handled the ball. However, with the ball seemingly going wide I do not think either player should have been dismissed as there was no denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Even Poll agrees. Red card was incorrect. Why do we have refs who don't know the rules? How can that benefit the game in any way? It was still going to be a bad day for us either way, but this massive incompetence has certainly contributed heavily to the final score. These terrible types of decisions are not rare and they never, ever even themselves out.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Man, I am still in a shit mood.

[JonasTC]

Even Poll agrees. Red card was incorrect. Why do we have refs who don't know the rules? How can that benefit the game in any way? It was still going to be a bad day for us either way, but this massive incompetence has certainly contributed heavily to the final score. These terrible types of decisions are not rare and they never, ever even themselves out.

That linesman was super blind, not paying attention to the game at all, it was him who called it. Gave a super clear goalkick were Torres kicked it out as a corner later in the game, called offside on a Chelsea player, were he could had been alone through, even tho' there wasnt.

I really wish these kinds of horrific actions would get them fired. Its crazy to think about how many big impact decisions they have got wrong during this season so far... In all our losses this season, except for the Liverpool game, we saw some really big (wrong) decisions go against us, not saying we wouldnt have lost, but we never got a fair chance to prove them wrong.

[Slacker]

I agree refs in this country have been shite for years and the Mancs have benefited from that a few times and this season Citeh seem to have had that mantle passed to them. Sadly unless a 4th official with TV access ala rugby can step in and overrule that, things won't change. AW is obviously not as scary for the ref fraternity as SAF, Mour and the Citeh mafia.

As it's nowt I can worry about, the one thing that scares the shit out of me is who's getting the goals at Swansea on Tuesday? Looks like Rambo won't be back still, obviously no Ozil, Walcott, Ox and Jack. Poldi and Bif have been pretty much firing blanks for a few weeks now and Sanogo really is the new Heskey and the jury's out on Gnabry. Is Bendy fit?

When Rambo comes back he'll take a while to gel and that might be too late. Another injury to one of our midfielders - Arteta, Flamster, Ox, Rosicky, Santi and we're looking there for the taking. Plus if Kos is now out for a few weeks we are struggling already. Would love to be a bit more optimistic but after today the black is descending.

Anyone know why Maureen was on the bench today after being sent off at Villa???

[JonasTC]

Apperently he got sent off without getting send off, some smart rule the FA uses when they dont want to punish their friends... :d

[fakeyank]

A THOUSAND games too many......wtf are you talking about?

My bad.. that was an exaggeration. 500 games too many.

:tiphat:

[Slacker]

Apperently he got sent off without getting send off, some smart rule the FA uses when they dont want to punish their friends... :d

I thought there were sanctions against refs who didn't make it abundantly clear what your punishment was and why. Astonishing.

[LDG]

Luckily, I was otheriwse engaged. Sounded like a shitfest, I don't want to watch.

Sorry, but if you get humiliated once or twice, you have to accept it. But it happens regularly now. And I don't believe it's the quality of player.

Wenger just wrote his resignation for me. And that, I do not say lightly.

[Bumble]

Apperently he got sent off without getting send off, some smart rule the FA uses when they dont want to punish their friends... :d

I thought he appealled against the punishment and suppose while that is being heard he can't take the punishment.

I don't see the point of criticising the ref though. We were already down 2-0. The ox obviously thought it was going in and so did the ref and it was a penalty and that would have been 3-0. So we actually did better with ten than eleven as they took 75 mins to score the next three instead of just 15 minutes for the first three.

[AFC Leveller]

Copy and paste from the liverpool game. Rodgers and Mourinhop obvioisly did their homework and worked on our weaknesses and thats what real managers do. rob the ball of Arteta or cazorla, play in in the same behind the out of position FB and score. Im no coach or tactician but it was obvious to me where Chelsea would attack us and who they targeted and it worked to perfection.

What a fucking disgrace these players are, they have no bottle, no heart no leader no fucking shame.

Wenger needs to go, its clear as day the man has taken this club as far as he can. and please spare us the bullshit about him being "the most succesfull manager in the club;s history" because thats a given if you he's been here for 18 fucking years! if he left in 2004 with his record then, people would have had a point about him being the best but right now he's a fucking failure and needs to pack his bags.

fuck off.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I actually see things differently re the players on the pitch.

At the end of the day they follow and do what the manger tells them to do. Yes there are always moments of individual brilliance which deviate from the plan but ultimately they don't step out of line too often.

When wenger tells them how he wants them to play and what he wants them to do, that is exactly what the team do. There isn't anyone in the team who will go against the orders of their boss over 90 mins.

Yes sometimes they don't put the effort in or look like they are trying and that is down to the players themselves, but when they are failing tactically and it looks like they can't be arsed - well that is down to the manager.

It's no good one player shouting at the team and telling them to do other things if they are all worried about not playing the way the manager has told them to.

I think the mentality is more like that of an army squad and their commander. It's the same for every team, the players do what they are told pretty much until the final whistle whether they think it's wrong or not.

[Maestro]

just woke up and no ....it wasn't a nightmare i was having, shit is real. blanked all other football news, only to find shitty and pool fired 5's & 6's. fuckin' gets better!

oh well on to arsenalfantv for a pick me up, got a whole sunday and monday to go before recovery mode

[Özim]

If an English club wins the CL and we come 4th do we miss out?

[Globalgunner]

Managers tactics do not tell, you if it is fine to hold your position when your colleague has just been robbed of the ball. Unless indeed we do have a hopeless case of a manager. Time and time again the same crap happens, the ball is lost often in midfield or due to crap play from Giroud. and the immediate reaction is panic stations. Its as if in training it has never been simulated, what to do in these situations. This has been our lot since a long time but more obviously when Vieira and then Gilberto left. the midfield that lost the ball will hold station and pass the predicament over to an overmatched defence. This is a symptom since 2007 and has not been addressed. I see the problem as more symptomatic of the manager. if several squads of varying players exhibit the same deficiencies.over many years....then it obviously isnt the players

[Marc Overmars]

Luckily, I was otheriwse engaged. Sounded like a shitfest, I don't want to watch.

Sorry, but if you get humiliated once or twice, you have to accept it. But it happens regularly now. And I don't believe it's the quality of player.

Wenger just wrote his resignation for me. And that, I do not say lightly.

Yep, it's just not acceptable on any level.

Title challengers don't get mauled by their rivals. Simple.

[JonasTC]

Tell that to Utd who got mauled on OT :d

[Marc Overmars]

Don't give a fuck about United.

[JonasTC]

It was a comment to your "title challengers dont get mauled"... But i guess it only counts for Arsenal, so we can say "Wenger Out".

[Marc Overmars]

Different team, different circumstance. Pedantic.

[Xhaka Can’t]

If an English club wins the CL and we come 4th do we miss out?

Only if it is United that win the Cup.

[Özim]

Only if it is United that win the Cup.

Ok that's good news I guess, as I'd say it's unlikely they will!

[GP]

http://i.imgur.com/wArAtLd.jpg

[Power n Glory]

Managers tactics do not tell, you if it is fine to hold your position when your colleague has just been robbed of the ball. Unless indeed we do have a hopeless case of a manager. Time and time again the same crap happens, the ball is lost often in midfield or due to crap play from Giroud. and the immediate reaction is panic stations. Its as if in training it has never been simulated, what to do in these situations. This has been our lot since a long time but more obviously when Vieira and then Gilberto left. the midfield that lost the ball will hold station and pass the predicament over to an overmatched defence. This is a symptom since 2007 and has not been addressed. I see the problem as more symptomatic of the manager. if several squads of varying players exhibit the same deficiencies.over many years....then it obviously isnt the players

We've stopped pressing to win the ball back and the deep defensive line and organised structure we saw at the start of the season is slowly fading. The pressing certainly has and I think Wenger may have somehow linked the intense pressing to our fatigue and injury problem. It's just a hunch but I have a feeling he's linked the two and feels to it burns too much energy so he's changed tactics.

[Niall_Quinn]

We've stopped pressing to win the ball back and the deep defensive line and organised structure we saw at the start of the season is slowly fading. The pressing certainly has and I think Wenger may have somehow linked the intense pressing to our fatigue and injury problem. It's just a hunch but I have a feeling he's linked the two and feels to it burns too much energy so he's changed tactics.

Same thoughts here. We joke about the computer making subs and telling us how far each player can run before they give up, but I do sense some horrible sort of sports psychology and statistical regime at work here.

[1_nilto the arsenal]

Conceding 17 goals against our title rivals doesnt bode well. If a miracle did happen and we won this title, we will go down for being one of the weakest sides to have won the eague, and will always be remebered for our 3 thrashings against our main rivals. Just a thought but I wouldnt want to win the league after those 3 maulings. Best to stay 4th for this season as Liverpol, Chesea and Man City deserve this championship with thier attcking style and free scoring total football, something we serioulsy lack.

[Özim]

I still think we lack real leadership in this team, it's all very good being great when we're playing well, but the leaders are needed when things are going wrong, they're needed to steady the ship and organiser, we've got noone basically, when we go a couple goals down we capitulate.

If we had an Adams type player or two I'm pretty sure this wouldn't happen.

[Ernesto]

This is reminiscent of 2000-01. We finished second, but lost at the homes of the other teams in the top 4. Not only that, we we embarrassed at two of them (lost 6-1 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at Anfield but fortunately only 1-0 at Elland Road!)

We had leaders in that team. Any of the back 5 could've made captain, as well as Vieira (à captain in the making). Hence, i really don't think it's a question of having leaders on the pitch. Yes, it would be nice to have à player who understands how their role would evolve in a game (Wilshere used to do that before his injury). It would be nice, for example, for Cazorla to head the ball once in a while, in spite of what the manager's told him.

It really is down to the manager. As far as the abhorrent Chelsea go, he ought to have focussed on their strengths and weaknesses and how to exploit said weaknesses. Instead, there appears to be an arrogant "do what you do best" style team-talk given ahead of every game. It would have worked with the Invincibles. Not with this lot. Not by a long shot.

[AFC Leveller]

Can anyone tell me what the fuck does the manager see in Arteta? the guy is our weak link and all the top teams target him when we have the ball. Slow, letharig, no confidence, no energy, no strength nothing. He is one of the worst players in this team and doesnt protect the back 4 or break up oppo's play.

Unbelievable that he is vice captain.

[AFC Leveller]

This is reminiscent of 2000-01. We finished second, but lost at the homes of the other teams in the top 4. Not only that, we we embarrassed at two of them (lost 6-1 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at Anfield but fortunately only 1-0 at Elland Road!)

We had leaders in that team. Any of the back 5 could've made captain, as well as Vieira (à captain in the making). Hence, i really don't think it's a question of having leaders on the pitch. Yes, it would be nice to have à player who understands how their role would evolve in a game (Wilshere used to do that before his injury). It would be nice, for example, for Cazorla to head the ball once in a while, in spite of what the manager's told him.

It really is down to the manager. As far as the abhorrent Chelsea go, he ought to have focussed on their strengths and weaknesses and how to exploit said weaknesses. Instead, there appears to be an arrogant "do what you do best" style team-talk given ahead of every game. It would have worked with the Invincibles. Not with this lot. Not by a long shot.



Agree with your last paragraph mate.

Chelsea did their homework and exploited our weakness to the max, we on the other hand had (as usual) no plan, no tactics, nothing. The players just passs it to whoever is free. The most frsutrating thing was that we didnt seem to learn from the Liverpool game at all and made the same mistakes as we did as Anfield. Do these players and manager not look at videos of past games and see where they went wrong? Chelsea yesterday were set up to stop us in the middile of the park and hit us on the counter where the Fbs leave space and that was exactly what Liverpool did.

Wenger is to blame for me, he doesnt do his bit to motivate or plan for the big games and thats why we're so shit in them.

[Globalgunner]

Can anyone tell me what the fuck does the manager see in Arteta? the guy is our weak link and all the top teams target him when we have the ball. Slow, letharig, no confidence, no energy, no strength nothing. He is one of the worst players in this team and doesnt protect the back 4 or break up oppo's play.

Unbelievable that he is vice captain.
Wenger likes him and thats all that matters. He probably thinks he owes him seeing as he was a starter at Everton before he came here, so he must play. We have seen it before, with other shit players. Wenger will keep playing them until the fans start getting on the players back, only then will he get rid. Oh and he will then blame the fans for killing the said players confidence. Arteta was never a DM. It is a disgrace for anyone with clear eyesight and a sound mind, to play him there.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can anyone tell me what the fuck does the manager see in Arteta? the guy is our weak link and all the top teams target him when we have the ball. Slow, letharig, no confidence, no energy, no strength nothing. He is one of the worst players in this team and doesnt protect the back 4 or break up oppo's play.

Unbelievable that he is vice captain.

He anything but our weak link. He's the fittest player in the team, the best passer and the most consistent player we have. This bullshit going around about him being bullied out of it by the chavs is complete crap. He was overrun, different thing. Overrun because he was having a bad game and his mates were having a mare too. He's not spectacular and he can be frustrating, mostly because his team mates have stopped giving him options. With a player like this the 50 unglamorous passes and the resulting ball retention goes unnoticed, but when he makes an error it sticks out, often because an error in that part of the field is dangerous. Look at players who don't get such a hard time though, Cazorla, Rosicky, Podolski - they kill us when they don't have a good game. Arteta will still put in a shift and still keep most of his shit together even when we are being murdered.

The criticism of this guy has been incredibly unfair.

[Globalgunner]

He anything but our weak link. He's the fittest player in the team, the best passer and the most consistent player we have. This bullshit going around about him being bullied out of it by the chavs is complete crap. He was overrun, different thing. Overrun because he was having a bad game and his mates were having a mare too. He's not spectacular and he can be frustrating, mostly because his team mates have stopped giving him options. With a player like this the 50 unglamorous passes and the resulting ball retention goes unnoticed, but when he makes an error it sticks out, often because an error in that part of the field is dangerous. Look at players who don't get such a hard time though, Cazorla, Rosicky, Podolski - they kill us when they don't have a good game. Arteta will still put in a shift and still keep most of his shit together even when we are being murdered.

The criticism of this guy has been incredibly unfair.

Eyesight needs checking, methinks

[Niall_Quinn]

Eyesight fine, knees fine. Good to go.

[GP]

He's a far better option than Flamini.

[Niall_Quinn]

But Flamini shouts and waves his arms around, Arteta doesn't do that. Arteta is crap at shouting and waving his arms around.

[Munchies]

@MiguelDelaney (ESPN Journalist)

No Arsenal press conference tomorrow now, either.
https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/447743416806682625

:shrug:

[Power n Glory]

Hiding makes it worse.

[Globalgunner]

He's a far better option than Flamini.

I dont think even Arsene would sign NQ

[Niall_Quinn]

Hiding makes it worse.

Perhaps he has some urgent things to attend to. I hope so anyway. Talking to the media is the ultimate waste of time and I;d hate to see him sating his time after a hiding like that.

[Munchies]

Hiding makes it worse.

it is fairly significant, he did conferences for the 8-2/6-3/5-1 .


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-GNilTWBDM

Same shit :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

I dont think even Arsene would sign NQ

I don't think he'd sign me either. Which proves Arteta is shite.

[Globalgunner]

Hiding makes it worse.

Getting repeatedly smacked about the face by a known egoist like Mourinho is never pleasant, even for a man who routinely takes failure on the chin

[Niall_Quinn]

it is fairly significant, he did conferences for the 8-2/6-3/5-1 .


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-GNilTWBDM

Same shit :lol:

Exactly. Same shit. Does he need to turn up before the headlines can be written? It's a simple process, suck Maureen's cock and ask Wenger if he will resign. Not much being said about how small Maureen was yesterday though. A bitter little prick even in victory. Was a funny moment on Sunday Supplement this morning where one of the journos revealed the silly little twat called an off the record conference to ask them all why they favoured Wenger. How tiny can you get? How insecure?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Can anyone tell me what the fuck does the manager see in Arteta? the guy is our weak link and all the top teams target him when we have the ball. Slow, letharig, no confidence, no energy, no strength nothing. He is one of the worst players in this team and doesnt protect the back 4 or break up oppo's play.

Unbelievable that he is vice captain.

Spot on.

Absolutely mediocre. Passes the ball 5 yards but because he has this professional, obedient look about him, people seem to love him. Almost on par with Denilson in terms of being useless.

The first thing we should do this summer is replace this snail.

[Globalgunner]

I don't think he'd sign me either. Which proves Arteta is shite.

Your problem is you pick your favourites and defend them regardless. If you would rationalise you would see most people berate Arteta because he is not physically capable of playing DM. He has always been an AM. Wenger knows this but cant put him ahead of his other AM options because frankly he is far worse than them. A rational man would pick his games to play Arteta at AM, just as we play Rosicky.
Arsenes problem is picking him repeatedly for a role he is clearly unfit for.

Besides were you not on Walcotts case for more than 2 seasons, whether he played good or bad. Your major grouse was that he was picking 100kpw

[Niall_Quinn]

No, I was not on Walcott's case whether he played good or bad. When he played well I said so. When he was dire or went missing I said so. Also said Arteta played badly yesterday, because he did. But this silly business about him being a shit player, I'm not into that. He's not one of my favourites that I defend good or bad, I don't have any favourites I'll defend good or bad. Just hate seeing fans going to extremes regarding certain players and accusing them of stuff that just isn't happening. Agree with you when you say Arteta is not a natural DM. Already said in another thread, proper DM needed in the summer, no more fucking around with that. But Arteta has done a professional job there in the absence of a dedicated player, he's not shit by any stretch. He's done better than anyone else we've asked to fill the role. Of all the players to be singled out Arteta is one of the least suitable candidates.

[Munchies]

Chuba Akpom has been recalled from his loan and will stay at Arsenal as the third choice striker.

Giroud :wave:
Bendtner :wave:

Akpom upfront . :bow:

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Most striking thing about yesterday's game was how it seemed to replicate the dippers game.

Same press our midfielders and as soon as they cheaply cede possession, rush at us down that left flank whilst our LFB is nowhere to be seen on the pitch.

Wtf must our full back be so far ahead of the ball so early in our attack? We had barely crossed the halfway mark, so why must he be so badly out of position?

[Letters]

Hiding makes it worse.

Not really.

[Munchies]

He nearly cried at the end :console:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJzTlk4XZiw

Spot on.

[Power n Glory]

Your problem is you pick your favourites and defend them regardless. If you would rationalise you would see most people berate Arteta because he is not physically capable of playing DM. He has always been an AM. Wenger knows this but cant put him ahead of his other AM options because frankly he is far worse than them. A rational man would pick his games to play Arteta at AM, just as we play Rosicky.
Arsenes problem is picking him repeatedly for a role he is clearly unfit for.

Besides were you not on Walcotts case for more than 2 seasons, whether he played good or bad. Your major grouse was that he was picking 100kpw

True. Arteta doesn't have the legs or tools to play as the DM. He panics and makes rash passes when pressed quickly and never attempts to lose his marker if being tightly marked which can put other players under pressure if the opposition is pressing high. He's not a calming influence or able to dictate the tempo of the game.

When it comes to counter attacks, he doesn't have the legs to get back and you could see he struggled to get close to any player when Chelsea were on the break. He has limitations and Wenger picks him over Flamini because he's better technically. Flamini lacks the passing range but makes up for it with his mobility. If pressed and he losses the ball, he's going to at least win the ball back or draw a foul. I also like how he instructs the players how to defend positionally and who to cover. We need that communication so gaps aren't too wide.

Starting Arteta wasn't a disaster. I think we could have made up for his weaknesses if we had played Rosicky in the middle alongside him. Rosicky is mobile and can dictate the tempo of the game make the calm passes and play on the half turn with ease. Starting Ox and Cazorla in the middle was a mistake. When dropping deep, both players took risks that cost us. We need central midfield players that can keep it simple. I miss the simplicity of Cesc's game. Heck, only if Diaby could stay fit because he seemed to have learned when to drive forward, when to play it simple and he had the perfect build for that role. It's the same for Ramsey. I can't believe we crocked him for this vital stage of the season.

[Power n Glory]

Not really.

It's cowardly.

[Niall_Quinn]

Arteta doesn't have the legs? Sorry but that's just bullshit, instantly dispelled by the match stats game after game after game. Criticise by all means but don't make shit up. I also don't get why Arteta is being slated for being a "shit" DM (playing out of position doesn't automatically make you shit) and also gets slated for not being a playmaker and effective on the counter. WTF? What is he, a DM or a something else? Might as well slate him for not getting enough goals or not making enough saves, he doesn't play in those positions either but what the hell. Watch Flamini more closely next time you see him doing that shouty/ arm wavy stuff you like. Nobody listens - he's achieving nothing by it. Also we probably didn't injure Ramsey on purpose. If we did then I agree it would be unbelievable.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's cowardly.

Well we know Wenger is a cunt and a coward and a specialist in failure. An old fool who knows nothing. Clueless. And this is just what some of our so-called fans think. At least the media gets paid to spout this shit. The plastics do it for free. But rest assured, the media will spout minus the misquotes Wenger has opted not to give them. Lack of quotes or even facts won't hold them back so our plastics needn't worry, there will be plenty of Wenger bashing available for hearty consumption over the coming days.

[Letters]

It's cowardly.

Nah.

They'll write a load of old nonsense whatever he says or doesn't say.
It's not exactly 'brave' to face a load of stupid questions nor cowardly not to.

[Power n Glory]

Nah.

They'll write a load of old nonsense whatever he says or doesn't say.
It's not exactly 'brave' to face a load of stupid questions nor cowardly not to.

In all his years, he's come out to face his critics. The fact that he hasn't this time suggests to me that he's been deeply wounded by the result.

[Power n Glory]

Arteta doesn't have the legs? Sorry but that's just bullshit, instantly dispelled by the match stats game after game after game. Criticise by all means but don't make shit up. I also don't get why Arteta is being slated for being a "shit" DM (playing out of position doesn't automatically make you shit) and also gets slated for not being a playmaker and effective on the counter. WTF? What is he, a DM or a something else? Might as well slate him for not getting enough goals or not making enough saves, he doesn't play in those positions either but what the hell. Watch Flamini more closely next time you see him doing that shouty/ arm wavy stuff you like. Nobody listens - he's achieving nothing by it. Also we probably didn't injure Ramsey on purpose. If we did then I agree it would be unbelievable.

Rewatch the goals and how he struggles to stay with his runners. I think the 4th goal was the clearest example. It's not made up and your delusional if you think he's a quick player.

[Letters]

In all his years, he's come out to face his critics. The fact that he hasn't this time suggests to me that he's been deeply wounded by the result.

He probably has, and he should be.
Dein said they go out for dinner after home games unless they've lost because he's no company then.
I get the impression that some on here don't think he cares but of course he does.

Whatever he says at any press conference will get twisted and turned into bullshit headlines, I'd rather he get on with picking us up and preparing for the next game.

[Power n Glory]

He probably has, and he should be.
Dein said they go out for dinner after home games unless they've lost because he's no company then.
I get the impression that some on here don't think he cares but of course he does.

Whatever he says at any press conference will get twisted and turned into bullshit headlines, I'd rather he get on with picking us up and preparing for the next game.

The papers will do what they do but with another no show, I'm actually wondering if Wenger has had a breakdown, meltdown, walked out on the job....we just don't know and it's not good. The usual bullshit headlines could be spun into something ridiculous.

[Niall_Quinn]

Rewatch the goals and how he struggles to stay with his runners. I think the 4th goal was the clearest example. It's not made up and your delusional if you think he's a quick player.

You said he doesn't have legs - in the terminology of the game that means he can't stand the pace and can't cover the ground. It has nothing to do with being quick - you just changed the whole angle of the criticism by bringing pace into it. He's not the quickest, neither is he the slowest on the team. But in terms of having legs, he's the best in the squad.

[Power n Glory]

You said he doesn't have legs - in the terminology of the game that means he can't stand the pace and can't cover the ground. It has nothing to do with being quick - you just changed the whole angle of the criticism by bringing pace into it. He's not the quickest, neither is he the slowest on the team. But in terms of having legs, he's the best in the squad.

:doh: Sort yourself out. That's not even worth the effort.

[Globalgunner]

You said he doesn't have legs - in the terminology of the game that means he can't stand the pace and can't cover the ground. It has nothing to do with being quick - you just changed the whole angle of the criticism by bringing pace into it. He's not the quickest, neither is he the slowest on the team. But in terms of having legs, he's the best in the squad.

Bloody Hell do you hear yourself. Being quick and pace afre not the same thing? Now YOU are just making up stuff. He doesnt have legs means he cant keep up a high tempo for a long time in a game. Not able to repeatedly chase runners, Not able to make up ground. Yours really is a sad case of 1 upmanship. You simply cant lose an argument. Stop trying to browbeat people into submission and watch the bloody game. Arteta cant chase after anybody. Not without holding on for dear life. He is 32 going on 33 and he was never quick. T Rosicky on the other hand is the same age but has more pace.

He may be technically better than Flamini but not at the things a DM needs to do which is intercept passes, chase attackers and hold off other midfielders.

Next thing you'll be telling us that Usain Bolt is fast but hes not quick

[Power n Glory]

Bloody Hell do you hear yourself. Being quick and pace afre not the same thing? Now YOU are just making up stuff. He doesnt have legs means he cant keep up a high tempo for a long time in a game. Not able to repeatedly chase runners, Not able to make up ground. Yours really is a sad case of 1 upmanship. You simply cant lose an argument. Stop trying to browbeat people into submission and watch the bloody game. Arteta cant chase after anybody. Not without holding on for dear life. He is 32 going on 33 and he was never quick. T Rosicky on the other hand is the same age but has more pace.

He may be technically better than Flamini but not at the things a DM needs to do which is intercept passes, chase attackers and hold off other midfielders.

Next thing you'll be telling us that Usain Bolt is fast but hes not quick

Thank you!

[Niall_Quinn]

:doh: Sort yourself out. That's not even worth the effort.

Simple response when you don't have anything else. Having the legs is about endurance, not speed. We both know and maybe you were originally referring to speed or quickness but that's not what you said. You said he didn't have legs which is obviously not the case. He routinely covers the most ground of any squad member and usually any opponent. So he does have legs, good ones. And he's also our most efficient and accurate passer of the ball. The idea he's a shit player is self evidently ludicrous and anyone who tries to push that argument is equally ludicrous.

[Letters]

The papers will do what they do but with another no show, I'm actually wondering if Wenger has had a breakdown, meltdown, walked out on the job....we just don't know and it's not good. The usual bullshit headlines could be spun into something ridiculous.

I imagine Wenger's read this place, realised Zim and fakeyank would do a much better job than him and done the honourabke thing and made way for them.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bloody Hell do you hear yourself. Being quick and pace afre not the same thing? Now YOU are just making up stuff. He doesnt have legs means he cant keep up a high tempo for a long time in a game. Not able to repeatedly chase runners, Not able to make up ground. Yours really is a sad case of 1 upmanship. You simply cant lose an argument. Stop trying to browbeat people into submission and watch the bloody game. Arteta cant chase after anybody. Not without holding on for dear life. He is 32 going on 33 and he was never quick. T Rosicky on the other hand is the same age but has more pace.

He may be technically better than Flamini but not at the things a DM needs to do which is intercept passes, chase attackers and hold off other midfielders.

Next thing you'll be telling us that Usain Bolt is fast but hes not quick

And you're a wanker riding on the coattails of PnG, pissed because some posters here won't throw their rattles and it has started to make you look like an arse. Oneupmanship? You mean in the race to call your own manager everything under the sun? I wouldn't dream of trying to compete with you in that particular competition, you win. But funnily enough, yes, "...have legs means he cant keep up a high tempo for a long time in a game. Not able to repeatedly chase runners, Not able to make up ground." That's what I said, PnG is talking about him not being quick. Entirely different things and without being able to figure it for yourself you're agreeing with me on the definitions. Obviously not in terms of how they are applied to Arteta because to say he can't keep up with the tempo of the game or repeatedly chase runners in pure bollocks. Now whether he catches the runners he's chasing - different matter entirely. Bottom line - learn to read.

[Niall_Quinn]

I imagine Wenger's read this place, realised Zim and fakeyank would do a much better job than him and done the honourabke thing and made way for them.

Zim and Yank are at the tail end of the queue this time, plenty of others ahead of them with their claws out (after all that purring last week). It says something when Zim starts to appear balanced.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Another tennis score defeat. Good work lads.

[Niall_Quinn]

Another tennis score defeat. Good work lads.

Should have known what was going to happen when you scarpered off to a wedding. You could have warned us so we could have gone shopping with the missus rather than watch that shit. Some of us had offers for Waitrose, Morrisons, Poundstretcher - all spurned.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Should have known what was going to happen when you scarpered off to a wedding. You could have warned us so we could have gone shopping with the missus rather than watch that shit. Some of us had offers for Waitrose, Morrisons, Poundstretcher - all spurned.

I went to Londis. Very good too.

Rors kept me updated on the game but thankfully the wedding had concluded by then so I was not shouting oh fuck off when any objections had been asked.

[Newguy]

One thing i noticed in the game was...and it was crucial.

It was that Arteta just didnt have the legs:run:

In all seriousness, I cannot, but more significantly will not support Arteta's involvement in the starting line up againt top 5 opposition. I dont think it can be denied that he needs replacing, he's too old, He never was a DM in the first place, so his limitations in this position are the managers doing.

Overall, Wenger is known for forcing square pegs into round holes, this has not changed. We have Ox playing in midfield centrally. Ok, this is acceptable against the lower teams but against the likes of chelsea and their manager it's just not tactically smart and Wenger knows it.

We need to win the FA Cup, Im just worried that the team will bottle that too.

Wenger said before the game that it was the most important game of the season.....we're 2 nil down after 8 minutes.

WTF does he say to these players???

[Globalgunner]

And you're a wanker riding on the coattails of PnG, pissed because some posters here won't throw their rattles and it has started to make you look like an arse. Oneupmanship? You mean in the race to call your own manager everything under the sun? I wouldn't dream of trying to compete with you in that particular competition, you win. But funnily enough, yes, "...have legs means he cant keep up a high tempo for a long time in a game. Not able to repeatedly chase runners, Not able to make up ground." That's what I said, PnG is talking about him not being quick. Entirely different things and without being able to figure it for yourself you're agreeing with me on the definitions. Obviously not in terms of how they are applied to Arteta because to say he can't keep up with the tempo of the game or repeatedly chase runners in pure bollocks. Now whether he catches the runners he's chasing - different matter entirely. Bottom line - learn to read.

Youre a legend in your own head. I quote you
"
You said he doesn't have legs - in the terminology of the game that means he can't stand the pace and can't cover the ground. It has nothing to do with being quick."
A tortoise can cover a marathon distance....eventually. Doesnt mean he has legs in the conventional sports context......You are a case..........Sad, just sad.

[Niall_Quinn]

One thing i noticed in the game was...and it was crucial.

It was that Arteta just didnt have the legs:run:

In all seriousness, I cannot, but more significantly will not support Arteta's involvement in the starting line up againt top 5 opposition. I dont think it can be denied that he needs replacing, he's too old, He never was a DM in the first place, so his limitations in this position are the managers doing.

Overall, Wenger is known for forcing square pegs into round holes, this has not changed. We have Ox playing in midfield centrally. Ok, this is acceptable against the lower teams but against the likes of chelsea and their manager it's just not tactically smart and Wenger knows it.

We need to win the FA Cup, Im just worried that the team will bottle that too.

Wenger said before the game that it was the most important game of the season.....we're 2 nil down after 8 minutes.

WTF does he say to these players???

He could start by calling them gutless fucks - I would. Even if the manager fucks up the tactics, even if he told them to give the ball away, even if he told them to flop on the ground and whine like a bitch, even if he told them drop their heads the minute things started going against them - let's assume he told them all that as some are effectively claiming - you'd think the players would have enough personal pride to fight. They didn't. They didn't keep their heads, they let their heads drop, they embarrassed the club. But they are sure getting an easy ride the day after. It might be right to say the manager must take the flak, fair enough and that's certainly what's happening. But under all the huff and puff, the real worry is these players don't seem to have a set of balls. Do we think there's some magic manager out there who will help them grow a pair? Somebody who has more pride in them than they have in themselves?

[Niall_Quinn]

Youre a legend in your own head. I quote you
"
You said he doesn't have legs - in the terminology of the game that means he can't stand the pace and can't cover the ground. It has nothing to do with being quick."
A tortoise can cover a marathon distance....eventually. Doesnt mean he has legs in the conventional sports context......You are a case..........Sad, just sad.

Brave - posting without waiting to see what PnG has to say. Kudos.

Yes, a tortoise can cover lots of ground over many years. How much ground can he cover in 90 minutes though? Not much. And so why does Arteta emerge from those 90 minutes often having covered more ground and done more running than anyone else on the pitch? I'll give you a clue. He's not a tortoise. Or if that's too cryptic - Arteta has legs. Big fucking legs that churn away for the full 90 minutes, he does it better than anyone else in the squad which is why it's ludicrous some are criticising him for his best attribute and even more ludicrous you are just towed along when you haven't a clue what anyone is talking about.

[Marc Overmars]

He could start by calling them gutless fucks - I would. Even if the manager fucks up the tactics, even if he told them to give the ball away, even if he told them to flop on the ground and whine like a bitch, even if he told them drop their heads the minute things started going against them - let's assume he told them all that as some are effectively claiming - you'd think the players would have enough personal pride to fight. They didn't. They didn't keep their heads, they let their heads drop, they embarrassed the club. But they are sure getting an easy ride the day after. It might be right to say the manager must take the flak, fair enough and that's certainly what's happening. But under all the huff and puff, the real worry is these players don't seem to have a set of balls. Do we think there's some magic manager out there who will help them grow a pair? Somebody who has more pride in them than they have in themselves?

I agree the players are certainly not blameless and deserve every bit of criticism they get. The issue however is that this is not the first set of Arsenal players who have been labelled gutless, lacking balls etc. The only constant throughout that is Wenger hence the stick coming his way, some of which is harsh but ultimately is not baseless.

[Özim]

It might be right to say the manager must take the flak, fair enough and that's certainly what's happening. But under all the huff and puff, the real worry is these players don't seem to have a set of balls. Do we think there's some magic manager out there who will help them grow a pair? Somebody who has more pride in them than they have in themselves?

It's all down to motivation, hunger and desire, although some players have that, others need to get that from the manager and some manager's can instill this in them, Wenger isn't one of those, his successes relied on players who had a natural hunger to win and were leaders on the pitch.

When the players don't put in a shift it's down to the manager, they clearly lack the desire or don't believe.

[Özim]

I agree the players are certainly not blameless and deserve every bit of criticism they get. The issue however is that this is not the first set of Arsenal players who have been labelled gutless, lacking balls etc. The only constant throughout that is Wenger hence the stick coming his way, some of which is harsh but ultimately is not baseless.

Totally agree, we've seen this time and time again, either he's buying and bringing the wrong players in or he's just not able to inspire them and bring out that fighting spirit and never say die attitude, either way he's to blame in some form.

These powderpuff efforts in big games that matter are nothing new, it's been happening for years now with different groups of players, clearly there's a lack of hunger or belief somewhere, some of the smaller teams seem to have greater belief in their ability to beat the top sides than we do.

[Power n Glory]

One thing i noticed in the game was...and it was crucial.

It was that Arteta just didnt have the legs:run:

In all seriousness, I cannot, but more significantly will not support Arteta's involvement in the starting line up againt top 5 opposition. I dont think it can be denied that he needs replacing, he's too old, He never was a DM in the first place, so his limitations in this position are the managers doing.

Overall, Wenger is known for forcing square pegs into round holes, this has not changed. We have Ox playing in midfield centrally. Ok, this is acceptable against the lower teams but against the likes of chelsea and their manager it's just not tactically smart and Wenger knows it.

We need to win the FA Cup, Im just worried that the team will bottle that too.

Wenger said before the game that it was the most important game of the season.....we're 2 nil down after 8 minutes.

WTF does he say to these players???

:gp:

He's a limited player and it doesn't help when we put the wrong combo of players in the midfield.

No idea what Wenger says in the build up to the games but he needs to really sort their heads out for the coming games. They can't afford to dwell on this defeat but they also need to really learn from it. No lip service like what we heard last time from the Liverpool beating.

[Newguy]

He could start by calling them gutless fucks - I would. Even if the manager fucks up the tactics, even if he told them to give the ball away, even if he told them to flop on the ground and whine like a bitch, even if he told them drop their heads the minute things started going against them - let's assume he told them all that as some are effectively claiming - you'd think the players would have enough personal pride to fight. They didn't. They didn't keep their heads, they let their heads drop, they embarrassed the club. But they are sure getting an easy ride the day after. It might be right to say the manager must take the flak, fair enough and that's certainly what's happening. But under all the huff and puff, the real worry is these players don't seem to have a set of balls. Do we think there's some magic manager out there who will help them grow a pair? Somebody who has more pride in them than they have in themselves?

So you're saying Wenger has assembled a squad of gutless, castrated losers??

I like Wenger and would like him to bring this club back to where we were in his first full season as manager, but I dont know if he can do that in this modern era. I hope ozil is a different player next season as he acclimatizes to the league, but I am worried that Wenger just isnt that "motivatior" type manager that players need these days.

Red Nose would get his players winning the damn league for crying out loud, the same team battling for a europa spot right now under Moyes....Maureen has his players running through brick walls for him, you can see that they will push through the pan barrier for him.

What do the players at our club do for Arsene on his 1000th game?? they fuck him over thats what. I know what it says about the players, but I bet Wenger is beginning to wonder what this performance yesterday said about himself and his true influence on the teams he has put together.

I really dont know where he goes from here, especially if they blow the FA Cup.

[Marc Overmars]

If we balls up the FA Cup it would be the nadir, you'd have to say then he's finished. I'm desperate to win it not only for my own gratification but for his sake as well, the man needs and deserves it.

I just can't stomach such feeble efforts against our rivals anymore, lesser teams than us put up better fights. I would have said give him another season if we bag the cup but even that's not going to convince me he can achieve greater things anymore.

[Newguy]

If we balls up the FA Cup it would be the nadir, you'd have to say then he's finished. I'm desperate to win it not only for my own gratification but for his sake as well, the man needs and deserves it.

I just can't stomach such feeble efforts against our rivals anymore, lesser teams than us put up better fights. I would have said give him another season if we bag the cup but even that's not going to convince me he can achieve greater things anymore.

True, he may have to just win the FA Cup and leave on a high note.

I actually feel sorry for him tbh. There was a lot of stuff in the media celebrating what he had done in the early years etc and against Chelsea I think he even expected a possible win...8 minutes after kick off must have been hard for him to stomach.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Well we know Wenger is a cunt and a coward and a specialist in failure. An old fool who knows nothing. Clueless. And this is just what some of our so-called fans think. At least the media gets paid to spout this shit. The plastics do it for free. But rest assured, the media will spout minus the misquotes Wenger has opted not to give them. Lack of quotes or even facts won't hold them back so our plastics needn't worry, there will be plenty of Wenger bashing available for hearty consumption over the coming days.

Spot on.

Some of our so-called fans can do one.

[Xhaka Can’t]

The papers will do what they do but with another no show, I'm actually wondering if Wenger has had a breakdown, meltdown, walked out on the job....we just don't know and it's not good. The usual bullshit headlines could be spun into something ridiculous.

They could be?

Tomorrow could also be Monday.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I've finally come out of hiding. All in all a shit day.

Worst of all was seeing that smug prat Mourinho laud it up at Wenger's expense. It really must have felt horrendous for Wenger.


Most striking thing about yesterday's game was how it seemed to replicate the dippers game.

Same press our midfielders and as soon as they cheaply cede possession, rush at us down that left flank whilst our LFB is nowhere to be seen on the pitch.

Wtf must our full back be so far ahead of the ball so early in our attack? We had barely crossed the halfway mark, so why must he be so badly out of position?

This is exactly! Did we not learn anything from the Liverpool debacle? Suicidial high line against a team pressing with feroucious intensity from the kick off?

This whole season we've played with a lackadisical attitude, especially when starting games and it's resulted in the drubbings we've seen. Tactically we were schooled and the worrying thing is that I had an inkling it may happen before the game. You could single out players (Arteta and Giroud especially) but that's unfair as collectively we were dire. Not even relegation fodder get drubbed as bad as we've done this season. It's humiliating and embarassing.

Given Wenger's and the team's reactions since then, by all accounts they'll be a response against Swansea but it's once again far too little too late. We'll hopefully win the FA cup but I'm starting to lose my faith as well - it just doesn't seem that we learn from our past mistakes nor do we ever take a proactive approach when dealing with certain teams and styles of play.

[Munchies]

This 'ITK' saying Wenger told the team he's resigning at the end

https://twitter.com/arsenalaction

'Arsene was apparently close to tears and told the players "play for me until the end of this season"'
:haha:


What a load of shit

[IBK]

Copy and paste from the liverpool game. Rodgers and Mourinhop obvioisly did their homework and worked on our weaknesses and thats what real managers do. rob the ball of Arteta or cazorla, play in in the same behind the out of position FB and score. Im no coach or tactician but it was obvious to me where Chelsea would attack us and who they targeted and it worked to perfection.

What a fucking disgrace these players are, they have no bottle, no heart no leader no fucking shame.

Wenger needs to go, its clear as day the man has taken this club as far as he can. and please spare us the bullshit about him being "the most succesfull manager in the club;s history" because thats a given if you he's been here for 18 fucking years! if he left in 2004 with his record then, people would have had a point about him being the best but right now he's a fucking failure and needs to pack his bags.

fuck off.

Turned into a bit of a rant, but spot on with the first part!

[Niall_Quinn]

There is going to be a pack of hyenas trailing Wenger for at least the next few days and the whole club is going to be under huge pressure. All of it because there's a cheap story that can be spun that will sell bog roll to the undiscerning masses. As fans we can happily jump right in and swim in that shit and help the pack of animals bump their ill-gotten bonuses or...

We can punch every despicable so-called journalist and Twitter twat in the bollocks and shit and piss in their face. And support our club. Did you see the fans walking past the moaning gits on Arsenal "Fan" TV? 49, 49, Undefeated! Good lads. Shame there wasn't any media scum around they could have booted.

I'm supporting my club and my manager and even the players that let us all down so badly because in the end this is our bloody lot so who are we going to support otherwise? Plenty of arseholes out there waiting to rip us to shreds, no need to go joining them is there? The next few days will be like one of those gangs of yoofs you sometimes see vandalising a bus shelter or phone booth for no reason. They smash the shit out of it and laugh because, well, they find it funny because they one step less evolved than the monkeys in the trees. You know the jaw dropped vacant cunts I'm on about? That's the media minus the thin coat of unwarranted respectability your typical Wapping twat has sprayed on. Official media mate, so tell me, how big is his cock? Did you see her tits? Leave it mate, official media, the people need to know!

Fucking enemies along with anyone who lines up with them.

[Niall_Quinn]

And Bully - you fucking twat. Get a fucking haircut. Might keep your trap shut for 5 minutes, although I pity the poor fucking barber.

[Power n Glory]

They could be?

Tomorrow could also be Monday.

You guys aren't stupid and know what I mean. The longer he leaves it the worse the speculation gets. It should be business as usual.

[IBK]

There is going to be a pack of hyenas trailing Wenger for at least the next few days and the whole club is going to be under huge pressure. All of it because there's a cheap story that can be spun that will sell bog roll to the undiscerning masses. As fans we can happily jump right in and swim in that shit and help the pack of animals bump their ill-gotten bonuses or...

We can punch every despicable so-called journalist and Twitter twat in the bollocks and shit and piss in their face. And support our club. Did you see the fans walking past the moaning gits on Arsenal "Fan" TV? 49, 49, Undefeated! Good lads. Shame there wasn't any media scum around they could have booted.

I'm supporting my club and my manager and even the players that let us all down so badly because in the end this is our bloody lot so who are we going to support otherwise? Plenty of arseholes out there waiting to rip us to shreds, no need to go joining them is there? The next few days will be like one of those gangs of yoofs you sometimes see vandalising a bus shelter or phone booth for no reason. They smash the shit out of it and laugh because, well, they find it funny because they one step less evolved than the monkeys in the trees. You know the jaw dropped vacant cunts I'm on about? That's the media minus the thin coat of unwarranted respectability your typical Wapping twat has sprayed on. Official media mate, so tell me, how big is his cock? Did you see her tits? Leave it mate, official media, the people need to know!

Fucking enemies along with anyone who lines up with them.

No. All of it because even though every fucker in the media has been sceptical of us this season, many fans still believed. And journo's and pundits alike like nothing more than being proved right!

[Xhaka Can’t]

You guys aren't stupid and know what I mean. The longer he leaves it the worse the speculation gets. It should be business as usual.

Thats the nicest thing you ever said about me.

[Maestro]

just need to get through Monday, tell the haters at work to fuck off and blank the media. we'll be right as rain by midweek.

COYG, we go again come the weekend. it is what it is.

[Niall_Quinn]

The Portuguese's brisk departure down the tunnel with normal time still ticking down was apparently born of a desire to telephone his wife with news of the result. When a victory resonates this momentously, such urgency seems more justified.

Latest media apology for maureen's foul behaviour on Saturday. Remember that time Wenger didn't shake hands with Pardew? How many days did that one roll on for? But when a classless cunt like maureen does it then it's understandable. Justified even. Classless doesn't adequately describe this maggot. There must be a better word for it.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

After Wenger's "Nobody's fault but mine" post match interview I was cautiously optimistic that he was acknowledging how he'd got it so completely wrong tactically. But now he's saying he's puzzled by how bad his players were etc.
You set yourself up for a fall Arsene, Steve Bould told you this why won't you listen to him?

[LDG]

No. All of it because even though every fucker in the media has been sceptical of us this season, many fans still believed. And journo's and pundits alike like nothing more than being proved right!

Journos, pundits and internet warriors :good:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Really looking forward to work.

[AFC Leveller]

After Wenger's "Nobody's fault but mine" post match interview I was cautiously optimistic that he was acknowledging how he'd got it so completely wrong tactically. But now he's saying he's puzzled by how bad his players were etc.
You set yourself up for a fall Arsene, Steve Bould told you this why won't you listen to him?

Agreed.

Never gonna learn from his mistakes ergo wont move us forward.

Now that we've been humiliated time and again by the big teams, its clear that we havent made any real progress from last season. 4th, out of the CL at the first KO stages and bullied off the park (in a major way this season) by the big boys.

[Munchies]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isHSgd0RYvY&feature=youtu.be

Well done, bunch of cunts losing 6-0. Must've been embarassing that, especially from the plastics.

[Dein-machine]

The early season form following the arrival of Ozil put us in a false position, a long run of games against mediocre teams saw us top the league aided by some poor early form from the Mancs, Chavs & Scousers. Then we played Man u, Chavs, Everton & Man city and decided to go into "shit ourselves" mode - too many on here couldn't see it. If we are going to continue to let this obnoxious, arrogant old fool manage our team nothing will change.
Massive clearout needed in the summer starting with Wenger. If any other manager, in any other form of employment, continued to lose out on big contracts to rival companies because of his pricing,negotiations, not investing in quality staff etc - they would have been sacked ages ago. His dealings in the transfer market are unbelievable, only the wankers on the board, too scared to stand up to him, can be the only ones not shaking their heads - we simply cannot afford for him to be in charge during the next window otherwise 2015 will be no different.
Get rid of Gibbs or Monreal ( whichever one stays is LB cover ) Vermaelan, Jenkinson, Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, Giroud, Bendtner, Podolski, Sonogo (we haven't got time to teach him how to shoot or control a ball), Sagna (leaving anyway).
The only players we should look to start with next year are Sir Ches, Kos, Rambo, Ozil, Ox & Walcott. Players like Cazorla & Wheelchair need to prove themselves from the bench. Merts CB cover
This leaves us needing to find 2 quality full backs & centre back. Defensive midfielder. Powerhouse midfielder ( Ya-Ya like ), 2 quality strikers with pace & technique ( Suarez/Sturridge like ).

This would be the ideal time for a new manager to come in & have a say in these players, putting his own stamp on things from the start.

[Niall_Quinn]

In other words get some arab criminals in and spend hundreds of millions of quid?

[Letters]

Early season form? After 29 games we were 4 points off the top with a game in hand. And we're in the FA Cup semi-final.
We clearly don't need a massive clear out.

[Dein-machine]

In other words get some arab criminals in and spend hundreds of millions of quid?

No - the rubbish can be sold to bring in £50mill + the £100 mill we are told we have to spend. We can't buy £50 mill+ like others do on one player, especially as we need quite a few but we need to buy quality £20-30 mill players instead of Flamini, Sonogo & Khalstrom.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger's full comments to put what he said in context for those who have already read the selective hit pieces designed to mislead:


‘You could blame and blame but it does not help,’ said Wenger as he strode to the team bus on Saturday.
‘What is important is we show we have the capacity to respond. The most disappointing thing is we were never in the game. After 20 minutes, it was game over and it became a long, dramatic, dreadful afternoon.
‘It is puzzling. We were shocked and knocked down basically without feeling we ever had a chance. This team is healthy and willing but we have to think about the way it happened because it is not the first time.’

He's saying pretty much what we have all said. He even gets slaughtered when he agrees with us. This demonstrates it's just a wild and unfocused hate campaign against the guy (by some at least) rather than a constructive criticism.

[Dein-machine]

Early season form? After 29 games we were 4 points off the top with a game in hand. And we're in the FA Cup semi-final.
We clearly don't need a massive clear out.

If we are to compete at the top which hopefully you would like us to, please advise which current top teams in Europe would start games with Gibbs or Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Podolski, Giroud, Rosicky, Sonogo in their line-up or which top teams would purchase any of these. At times this year, all of these have started for us & will continue to do so under Wenger.
Unless players are happy to be squad players, we need a BIG clearout.

[Dein-machine]

Wenger's full comments to put what he said in context for those who have already read the selective hit pieces designed to mislead:



He's saying pretty much what we have all said. He even gets slaughtered when he agrees with us. This demonstrates it's just a wild and unfocused hate campaign against the guy (by some at least) rather than a constructive criticism.

NQ - what do you expect him to say? If you saying we should applaud his honesty why doesn't he say - " Sorry, I shit myself everytime I play a top team as I know I am tactically inept compared to their more modern managers & because I won't buy quality players when I so obviously needed to do so in certain positions this team doesn't have the ability to compete" - Then I'd applaud him, otherwise he gets what he deserves. If I was paid £7mill a year & delivered the same inept performances against my main competitors year in,year out - I'd expect the same. Difference being, i would have been sacked years ago.

[Letters]

If we are to compete at the top which hopefully you would like us to, please advise which current top teams in Europe would start games with Gibbs or Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Podolski, Giroud, Rosicky, Sonogo in their line-up or which top teams would purchase any of these. At times this year, all of these have started for us & will continue to do so under Wenger.
Unless players are happy to be squad players, we need a BIG clearout.
You're kinda changing the subject. You started by saying it was only our early season form which saw us in a false position. That's simply not true. After 29 games we were 4 points off the top with a game in hand. We were in the title race until Saturday. Some of the players you mentioned aren't first team regulars anyway and as for the rest...well, certainly we need more up front, we all know that, but our squad can't be that bad or we wouldn't have stayed up there for so long.

[Niall_Quinn]

NQ - what do you expect him to say? If you saying we should applaud his honesty why doesn't he say - " Sorry, I shit myself everytime I play a top team as I know I am tactically inept compared to their more modern managers & because I won't buy quality players when I so obviously needed to do so in certain positions this team doesn't have the ability to compete" - Then I'd applaud him, otherwise he gets what he deserves. If I was paid £7mill a year & delivered the same inept performances against my main competitors year in,year out - I'd expect the same. Difference being, i would have been sacked years ago.

No, I posted it to counter the idea that ALL he said was he was puzzled.

Also, there is an amazing correlation between these "modern" managers and the billions they have spent or inherited, don't you think? Are there no modern managers below us in the table? And if there are, is it correct to claim complete incompetence in all aspects of football? because if you are completely incompetent then how do you end up with a team placed above most of these modern greats after 30 games? It makes no sense. Perhaps there is a middle ground buried beneath the media guff. Problems yes, offset against respectable achievement.

[Globalgunner]

Sometimes you just have to accept that there really is no hope. Too far gone for rationalising with some.

[Niall_Quinn]

With the irony being that finally there is genuine hope.

[Dein-machine]

You're kinda changing the subject. You started by saying it was only our early season form which saw us in a false position. That's simply not true. After 29 games we were 4 points off the top with a game in hand. We were in the title race until Saturday. Some of the players you mentioned aren't first team regulars anyway and as for the rest...well, certainly we need more up front, we all know that, but our squad can't be that bad or we wouldn't have stayed up there for so long.

No subject change - I said "early season" - You said "after 29 games" - hardly early season. My point was that, as per usual, once we had shit ourselves against the better teams we should have seen the writing on the wall for this year, some of us did.

No subject change - BIG clearout needed - if we are to compete with the big boys. If you want to scrap for 4th/5th/6th every year & hopefully nick a cup now & again, then I agree with you. It really depends on what you expect from the promises you were made by our board.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Arteta was a fucking embarrassment.

Looking back at the highlights of the first half, it's laughable how the transexual pouting bastard tries to run back to catch their players at the pace of a snail.

What a bang average player. How he's starting for a top 4 team is beyond me.

[I am invisible]

No, I posted it to counter the idea that ALL he said was he was puzzled.

Also, there is an amazing correlation between these "modern" managers and the billions they have spent or inherited, don't you think? Are there no modern managers below us in the table? And if there are, is it correct to claim complete incompetence in all aspects of football? because if you are completely incompetent then how do you end up with a team placed above most of these modern greats after 30 games? It makes no sense. Perhaps there is a middle ground buried beneath the media guff. Problems yes, offset against respectable achievement.
Totally agree.

If we're going to have this conversation, then I think it's important to make the distinction between manager and head coach: Wenger, for me, is a manager (and maybe one of the last genuine managers left in the game at a top club), and the reason he's paid so much is because his list of responsibilities for the past two decades has extended a lot further than simply handling first team matters (also, when you've been at a single employer that long, the yearly incremental pay increases tend to add up); guys like Jose Mourinho are head coaches - very good at what he does, yes, but he has no other responsibilities beyond putting the first team together and getting them ready for matches (incidentally, Jose, this is why you are judged solely on the success you achieve on the pitch and Arsene Wenger is not - because that's the only criteria by which anyone can judge you).

Personally speaking, I don't think Arsene Wenger has anything to apologize for - the Jose Mourinhos of this world may well point to the recent trophiless years, but winning trophies isn't quite as unique and special as the special one would like everyone to think. Sure, it's what the fans want to see, but you'll find hundreds of other coaches and managers who have won trophies in their time (Wenger included). What Wenger has achieved from a management POV though, during his time at the club, is almost unique, and I'm really struggling to think of anyone else who could have done the same job? To have emerged from nearly a decade of being financially hamstrung, whilst your rivals have been more powerful (and more numerous) than ever, with one of the best new stadiums in the world, state of the art training facilities, hundreds of millions of pounds of new sponsorship money coming in, the largest cash reserves of any club in the world, and a team that has managed to consistently stay in the CL spots and is only really behind clubs that are being bankrolled by reckless billionaires, is quite frankly remarkable. Sure, this has all come at a cost - as a head coach, it looks like Arsene has fallen behind the times a bit, and the first team certainly hasn't been as successful as it could have been if we'd been fully focussed on it - but make no mistake; we've needed a top manager to steer us through this period far more than we've needed top coach to chuck money around and win the odd cup.

Now that doesn't mean that question marks about Wenger's future, and where we go from here aren't completely valid: whilst I think the man's achievements as a manager are extraordinary, I've also said that I think he's slipped a little bit behind the times on the coaching front, and the massive irony here is that, through his work, we now have a modern day super-club, where most things take care of themselves, and where it's perfectly reasonable to ask whether we actually still need a manager who runs everything any more, or whether we'd now be better off with a specialist head coach, with more up-to-date methods and fresh ideas, who's only responsibility is the success of the first team? If that's the case then I don't think Arsene should feel any shame about stepping down - even if we bottle the FA Cup, he can hold his head high, knowing that he's been the most successful manager in our history, has given us the best teams and the best footballing moments we've ever had (and may ever have) as Arsenal fans, and has left us this remarkable legacy, where all future Arsenal coaches / managers will have nothing very much to worry about.

What I think is utterly out of order and completely unnecessary, though, is the ridicule and abuse that Wenger is constantly subjected to - no, we haven't won anything for a few years, and , yes, we've slipped behind our main rivals, but look at the league table and how we're doing in other competitions: we're still better than 99% of the clubs out there across the world, even if we keep falling short, and we probably have more potential than anyone else right now. Show the man the respect he deserves, because a large part of our remarkable potential is down to his vision and careful management...

[Globalgunner]

No subject change - I said "early season" - You said "after 29 games" - hardly early season. My point was that, as per usual, once we had shit ourselves against the better teams we should have seen the writing on the wall for this year, some of us did.

No subject change - BIG clearout needed - if we are to compete with the big boys. If you want to scrap for 4th/5th/6th every year & hopefully nick a cup now & again, then I agree with you. It really depends on what you expect from the promises you were made by our board.
Why do you think a big clear out of players will make a change. The new players coming in will soon be indoctrinated into the same lethargic, crass performances that we have seen for 7 years. If you have cancer in your brain. A leg transplant is not going to help.
Get to the root of the problem if you really wish to make a change

[Dein-machine]

Why do you think a big clear out of players will make a change. The new players coming in will soon be indoctrinated into the same lethargic, crass performances that we have seen for 7 years. If you have cancer in your brain. A leg transplant is not going to help.
Get to the root of the problem if you really wish to make a change

If you took the time to read my post you will see it starts with Wenger out

[Globalgunner]

If you took the time to read my post you will see it starts with Wenger out

Suitably contrite me. I saw the cut and paste job and thought it was the whole post. If Wenger cannot fathom the problems, then he is not the man to fix them. Here's hoping

[Power n Glory]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/24/andre-marriner-not-dropped-arsenal-red-card-error

Disgrace!

[Niall_Quinn]

Martínez believes introducing live video replays for decisions during matches would be going too far. He said: "I think we would be going a little bit too far. I think goal-line technology was a really important breakthrough but from that point on I think we need to allow referees to do their job."

I saw a comment after the game that sums things up, in a capital city where there's 1 camera to spy on every 5 people, it's somewhat amazing football pitches are a camera free zone.

Also it's a little unfair on Marriner because he didn't even see the handball. He got a message from some incompetent moron on the sidelines that caused him to drop such a clanger. Whoever that retard was has managed to escape scrutiny and has left the ref to carry the can. What a coward, what a piece of shit.

[Gooner23]

Totally agree.

If we're going to have this conversation, then I think it's important to make the distinction between manager and head coach: Wenger, for me, is a manager (and maybe one of the last genuine managers left in the game at a top club), and the reason he's paid so much is because his list of responsibilities for the past two decades has extended a lot further than simply handling first team matters (also, when you've been at a single employer that long, the yearly incremental pay increases tend to add up); guys like Jose Mourinho are head coaches - very good at what he does, yes, but he has no other responsibilities beyond putting the first team together and getting them ready for matches (incidentally, Jose, this is why you are judged solely on the success you achieve on the pitch and Arsene Wenger is not - because that's the only criteria by which anyone can judge you).

Personally speaking, I don't think Arsene Wenger has anything to apologize for - the Jose Mourinhos of this world may well point to the recent trophiless years, but winning trophies isn't quite as unique and special as the special one would like everyone to think. Sure, it's what the fans want to see, but you'll find hundreds of other coaches and managers who have won trophies in their time (Wenger included). What Wenger has achieved from a management POV though, during his time at the club, is almost unique, and I'm really struggling to think of anyone else who could have done the same job? To have emerged from nearly a decade of being financially hamstrung, whilst your rivals have been more powerful (and more numerous) than ever, with one of the best new stadiums in the world, state of the art training facilities, hundreds of millions of pounds of new sponsorship money coming in, the largest cash reserves of any club in the world, and a team that has managed to consistently stay in the CL spots and is only really behind clubs that are being bankrolled by reckless billionaires, is quite frankly remarkable. Sure, this has all come at a cost - as a head coach, it looks like Arsene has fallen behind the times a bit, and the first team certainly hasn't been as successful as it could have been if we'd been fully focussed on it - but make no mistake; we've needed a top manager to steer us through this period far more than we've needed top coach to chuck money around and win the odd cup.

Now that doesn't mean that question marks about Wenger's future, and where we go from here aren't completely valid: whilst I think the man's achievements as a manager are extraordinary, I've also said that I think he's slipped a little bit behind the times on the coaching front, and the massive irony here is that, through his work, we now have a modern day super-club, where most things take care of themselves, and where it's perfectly reasonable to ask whether we actually still need a manager who runs everything any more, or whether we'd now be better off with a specialist head coach, with more up-to-date methods and fresh ideas, who's only responsibility is the success of the first team? If that's the case then I don't think Arsene should feel any shame about stepping down - even if we bottle the FA Cup, he can hold his head high, knowing that he's been the most successful manager in our history, has given us the best teams and the best footballing moments we've ever had (and may ever have) as Arsenal fans, and has left us this remarkable legacy, where all future Arsenal coaches / managers will have nothing very much to worry about.

What I think is utterly out of order and completely unnecessary, though, is the ridicule and abuse that Wenger is constantly subjected to - no, we haven't won anything for a few years, and , yes, we've slipped behind our main rivals, but look at the league table and how we're doing in other competitions: we're still better than 99% of the clubs out there across the world, even if we keep falling short, and we probably have more potential than anyone else right now. Show the man the respect he deserves, because a large part of our remarkable potential is down to his vision and careful management...

:gp:

Wenger has his flaws, and I believe it is time for him to call it a day at the end of the season.

But he deserves better than some of the vitriole spouted by so called Arsenal fans.

[Power n Glory]

We've been successful with our appeal. Ox won't serve a ban neither will Gibbs. They got something right!

[Xhaka Can’t]

That was a top top post by I am Invisible.

As for the appeal, while Mariner got the decision wrong, everything he has done since that point has been handled as well as it could have and he should be commended for that.

[Niall_Quinn]

They just want it to go away as fast as possible so they can get back to their incompetence and corruption.

[IBK]

Journos, pundits and internet warriors :good:

I thought they were beneath mention? :unsure:

[Niall_Quinn]

I thought they were beneath mention? :unsure:

Sometimes they get stuck on your shoe and you can't help notice them.

[IBK]

Totally agree.

If we're going to have this conversation, then I think it's important to make the distinction between manager and head coach: Wenger, for me, is a manager (and maybe one of the last genuine managers left in the game at a top club), and the reason he's paid so much is because his list of responsibilities for the past two decades has extended a lot further than simply handling first team matters (also, when you've been at a single employer that long, the yearly incremental pay increases tend to add up); guys like Jose Mourinho are head coaches - very good at what he does, yes, but he has no other responsibilities beyond putting the first team together and getting them ready for matches (incidentally, Jose, this is why you are judged solely on the success you achieve on the pitch and Arsene Wenger is not - because that's the only criteria by which anyone can judge you).

Personally speaking, I don't think Arsene Wenger has anything to apologize for - the Jose Mourinhos of this world may well point to the recent trophiless years, but winning trophies isn't quite as unique and special as the special one would like everyone to think. Sure, it's what the fans want to see, but you'll find hundreds of other coaches and managers who have won trophies in their time (Wenger included). What Wenger has achieved from a management POV though, during his time at the club, is almost unique, and I'm really struggling to think of anyone else who could have done the same job? To have emerged from nearly a decade of being financially hamstrung, whilst your rivals have been more powerful (and more numerous) than ever, with one of the best new stadiums in the world, state of the art training facilities, hundreds of millions of pounds of new sponsorship money coming in, the largest cash reserves of any club in the world, and a team that has managed to consistently stay in the CL spots and is only really behind clubs that are being bankrolled by reckless billionaires, is quite frankly remarkable. Sure, this has all come at a cost - as a head coach, it looks like Arsene has fallen behind the times a bit, and the first team certainly hasn't been as successful as it could have been if we'd been fully focussed on it - but make no mistake; we've needed a top manager to steer us through this period far more than we've needed top coach to chuck money around and win the odd cup.

Now that doesn't mean that question marks about Wenger's future, and where we go from here aren't completely valid: whilst I think the man's achievements as a manager are extraordinary, I've also said that I think he's slipped a little bit behind the times on the coaching front, and the massive irony here is that, through his work, we now have a modern day super-club, where most things take care of themselves, and where it's perfectly reasonable to ask whether we actually still need a manager who runs everything any more, or whether we'd now be better off with a specialist head coach, with more up-to-date methods and fresh ideas, who's only responsibility is the success of the first team? If that's the case then I don't think Arsene should feel any shame about stepping down - even if we bottle the FA Cup, he can hold his head high, knowing that he's been the most successful manager in our history, has given us the best teams and the best footballing moments we've ever had (and may ever have) as Arsenal fans, and has left us this remarkable legacy, where all future Arsenal coaches / managers will have nothing very much to worry about.

What I think is utterly out of order and completely unnecessary, though, is the ridicule and abuse that Wenger is constantly subjected to - no, we haven't won anything for a few years, and , yes, we've slipped behind our main rivals, but look at the league table and how we're doing in other competitions: we're still better than 99% of the clubs out there across the world, even if we keep falling short, and we probably have more potential than anyone else right now. Show the man the respect he deserves, because a large part of our remarkable potential is down to his vision and careful management...

:gp:

But you've missed the main reason for the Wenger reaction. It's the realisation that, for all that Wenger has brought the club - he has been left behind as a football coach.

[Letters]

We've been successful with our appeal. Ox won't serve a ban neither will Gibbs. They got something right!

Kinda although the FA have been hoisted on the petard of their own stupid rules. If the ref thought it was a red then it should be transferred to Ox but their rules don't allow that. It's debatable whether it was a red card so arguably they have got it right but for the wrong reasons.

[Power n Glory]

Kinda although the FA have been hoisted on the petard of their own stupid rules. If the ref thought it was a red then it should be transferred to Ox but their rules don't allow that. It's debatable whether it was a red card so arguably they have got it right but for the wrong reasons.

They transferred over the red to Ox but also ruled that the ref got it wrong because the ball wasn't going in the back of the net. Ox gets a yellow so I think they've got it right.

[Ollie the Optimist]

While glad ox isn't banned, it's a bit of a joke that he isn't. He made a diving save in the box ffs. That's a clear red

[Power n Glory]

While glad ox isn't banned, it's a bit of a joke that he isn't. He made a diving save in the box ffs. That's a clear red

I think the are you get a red for a clear goal scoring opportunity and that wasn't the case so it was a yellow.

[Power n Glory]

:gp:

But you've missed the main reason for the Wenger reaction. It's the realisation that, for all that Wenger has brought the club - he has been left behind as a football coach.

Most of what's said on here is in the heat of the moment and when he finally steps down he'll get his due credit as a manager.

This is like watching your favorite boxer grow old and take one shot too many. An Ali vs Holmes moment. Wenger had his peak and those years won't come back. There has to be a change and shift in approach somewhere. Even if Wenger doesn't step down, the backroom staff need refreshing. He may still have something to offer but he'll have to hand over responsibility to other staff members. Tactics and research, training methods, scouting, player negotiations....we need to look into these areas.

[Letters]

They transferred over the red to Ox but also ruled that the ref got it wrong because the ball wasn't going in the back of the net. Ox gets a yellow so I think they've got it right.

Did they? Blimey, they actually did something that makes some sense for a change. Well done them.

[IBK]

Most of what's said on here is in the heat of the moment and when he finally steps down he'll get his due credit as a manager.

This is like watching your favorite boxer grow old and take one shot too many. An Ali vs Holmes moment. Wenger had his peak and those years won't come back. There has to be a change and shift in approach somewhere. Even if Wenger doesn't step down, the backroom staff need refreshing. He may still have something to offer but he'll have to hand over responsibility to other staff members. Tactics and research, training methods, scouting, player negotiations....we need to look into these areas.

This.

[Niall_Quinn]

Did they? Blimey, they actually did something that makes some sense for a change. Well done them.

No, fuck them. Fuck them when they get it wrong. Fuck them when they get it right. Just fuck them, the incompetent, corrupt cunts.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bitch Has Birthday, Just Hours After Defeat! Anonymous Ozil Caught Smiling.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2588346/Mesut-Ozil-Arsenal-team-mates-night-just-hours-6-0-Chelsea-defeat.html

[Ollie the Optimist]

Bitch Has Birthday, Just Hours After Defeat! Anonymous Ozil Caught Smiling.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2588346/Mesut-Ozil-Arsenal-team-mates-night-just-hours-6-0-Chelsea-defeat.html

at least ozil and bendtner were injured and played no part in the game but sagna being out at a party after losing 6-0? hardly great that, its a bit like podolski's tweet today "you win some you lose some". not great to see

[Niall_Quinn]

Look - can we just focus on Ozil please?

[Munchies]

Look - can we just focus on Ozil please?

Anonymous on the pitch as usual ffs :coffee:

[Letters]

Bitch Has Birthday, Just Hours After Defeat! Anonymous Ozil Caught Smiling.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2588346/Mesut-Ozil-Arsenal-team-mates-night-just-hours-6-0-Chelsea-defeat.html

They weren't at home crying? The BASTARDS!


Oh, and Wenger out, obviously.