Match Reaction vs Chelsea (FA Cup, neutral)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-03/13/16/enhanced/webdr11/enhanced-buzz-17209-1426277431-12.jpg

Change that fucking banner!

[GP]

AMAZING!

That was fucking immense!

Wenger's best FA Cup win.

[Dicks and chicks]

Wenger Love him or hate him. Nah I fucking hate him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wenger - 7.
Chelsea - 7.

:lol:

[selassie]

We were immense today, we should have scored 4 maybe even 5. Proud of the lads today, superb!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stevie Me shitting on our season. :lol:

[hobson's choice]

:dancingman::bow::dance::scarf:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

AMAZING!

That was fucking immense!

Wenger's best FA Cup win.

Great game, great win. Whatever happens with AW we know we do have players of quality who are also able to show great character.

[Niall_Quinn]

Terry in a full Arsenal kit was a bit disgusting tbf

[Niall_Quinn]

I agree with Wenger. Shut the fuck up. Let him enjoy the day you cunty BBC twats.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Papers over the cracks. :haha:

Do they ever say that about any other trophy winning team?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:trophy: time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Big Man tears?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:bow:

[GP]

I am in such a good mood :d

[AFC Leveller]

Wenger leaving now would be great for him and his legacy.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wrighty :haha:

Bloke is buzzing.

Exact opposite of the twat Lineker. Ends the show on "Wenger out", what a twat.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Have BT on as BBC have ended their coverage for some reason.

[GP]

We just won a trophy at Spurs' home ground

edit: again

[Globalgunner]

At least we gave Jeremy Corbyn something else to smile about. I wonder which club Teresa May supports?. Leeds or Doncaster Rovers I guess

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://i64.tinypic.com/2yuarye.png

:lol:

[fari]

Wenger - 7.
Chelsea - 7.

:lol:



lololol

[fari]

Wenger leaving now would be great for him and his legacy.


i agree

[LDG]

We won the cup! We won the cup! Ee Aye Adio, we won the cup!

[Letters]

I agree with Wenger.
OK, I'm quoting the shit out of that.

[Master Splinter]

Alexis :bow:.

Ramsey :bow:.

BFG :bow:.

Monreal :bow:.

Holding :bow:.

Xhaka :bow:.

Wenger :bow:.


Chelsea :haha:.

Big Man :haha:.

Moses :haha:.

[LDG]

Zim :haha:

[Letters]

I am in such a good mood :d

The fact that some Arsenal 'fans' look like this right now is also amusing me :dance:

https://media.giphy.com/media/xfEivBXMui91e/giphy.gif

[Letters]

Zim :haha:

Looking forward to his analysis of the performance, particularly from the BFG.

[GP]

Mertesacker was FANTASTIC!

Can you believe we've won every single game he's played this season? What a talisman.

[KSE Comedy Club]

So proud of the team today, they played like champions.

I just wish they were there for the rest of the season.

WE WON though!!!!!! Fucking yesssssss!!!!!!

[Master Splinter]

Wenger's FA Cup record :bow:.

Arsenal at Wembley :bow:.

Alexis at Wembley :bow:.

Holding's Arsenal record so far :bow:.

Arsenal with a back 5 :bow:.


N_Q's reverse Bif jinx :bow:.

[Letters]

Can you believe we've won every single game he's played this season?
:lol: He really was, after his lengthy injury we had no right to expect that level of performance. Thought him and Monreal were outstanding.

[Master Splinter]

Mertesacker was FANTASTIC!

Can you believe we've won every single game he's played this season? What a talisman.

The next time he starts a match, we'll still get brain-dead, anti-thinking nonsense about him being slow, big and slow. Never mind him being so composed and a calming influence on those around him, I've barely seen him misplace a pass in all the time he's been here.

[Letters]

He IS a bit slow but he makes up for it with his positional sense. Was brilliant today. Real captain's performance, it's been ages since we've had one of them.

[Master Splinter]

:lol: He really was, after his lengthy injury we had no right to expect that level of performance. Thought him and Monreal were outstanding.

Yeah, Monreal too.

Probably been the most consistent and reliable player for the past two seasons. But he's not fashionable and didn't cost £35m so he rarely gets the credit he deserves.

[Power n Glory]

Love Merts. Very underrated.

Ramsey and Giroud! Credit to Giroud for the role he's played in coming off the bench this season. He made that goal.

Good to see us come out on top! We fought for that one.

[Marc Overmars]

Can't believe we did it. :cloud9:

After the season we've had, to pull that out the bag deserves every bit of credit.

Well fucking done lads.

[LDG]

What a fucking mad day! Didn't think we had a hope.

So pleased for the old goat. Still love him....if only he could get kind of performance out of them every week.

[Letters]

Quite enjoying trolling Spurs fans.
Fish in a barrel tonight :lol:

[GP]

Needless to say we had the last laugh.

[GP]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DA250o-XYAEq5I4.jpg

[GP]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DA2zsucWsAAqZ4j.jpg

:lol:

[LDG]

No cupth for Hawwy Kane

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Quite enjoying trolling Spurs fans.
Fish in a barrel tonight :lol:

Glory Glory saying despite no success this is the season they arrived. :cloud9:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DA250o-XYAEq5I4.jpg

Fuck.
All.
Cup.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Get the fuck in! Record breakers! Wenger looked annoyed after our first goal though...lol!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Get the fuck in! Record breakers! Wenger looked annoyed after our first goal though...lol!

Probably thought it had been disallowed

[Power n Glory]

We should have wrapped that game up in the first half. We had the best chances. Welbeck really pissed me off today. Useless. Was happy to see Giroud come on. What a cameo.

Holding, Monreal and Captain Merts were great. Sanchez had a good first half and so did Ozil but it looks like Sanchez picked up an injury from the second half.

[Letters]

Glory Glory saying despite no success this is the season they arrived. :cloud9:

I can see why they're upset.
Over 20 years since they've had bragging rights over us, they finally thought they had this year and then we go and win a trophy while they didn't even win the Norwich Hospital Charity Cup this year. Not even shared :lol:

[GP]

I can see why they're upset.
Over 20 years since they've had bragging rights over us, they finally thought they had this year and then we go and win a trophy while they didn't even win the Norwich Hospital Charity Cup this year. Not even shared :lol:

One that I spoke to today isn't annoyed that we won, he's annoyed that they won't get to play in the Charity Shield.

Sure thing, buddy :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I'm going to be the cunt who does player ratings.

Ospina 6 - Made a couple of very good saves, but out of position for the equalising goal where he was beaten at his near post and sometimes you think why the fuck can you just not hold onto the ball

Bellerin 7 - Final decision making let him down at times but he was a constant menace going forward with his pace and gave very little away at the back.

Holding 8 - Shown he has deserved his place in the side, very strong and committed as well as very tidy on the ball

Mertesacker 9 - You wouldn't think that the guy has played practically no football all season, great interceptions, solid in the air, dealt extremely well with the threat of Diego Costa.

Monreal 9 - Probably his best game in an Arsenal shirt

Xhaka 8 - Did the simple things right, good distribution and put himself about

Ramsey 8 - Good relationship with Xhaka in midfield, one of the few midfield combinations this season that has worked. Ghosted into the box and took his goal well.

Oxlade Chamberlain 7 - Good pace and passing, once again troubles defences with his crossing

Ozil 8 - The only thing missing was a goal, his link up play and range of passing was superb and the one thing that people criticise him for was on display today....industry.

Sanchez 9 - I'm going to say it, it was a handball...you can say ball to hand but his arms are in an unnatural position but goal stood so who gives a fuck. His running on and off the ball scare the shit out of defences. Must be kept probably won't be

Welbeck 8 - Yeah his finesse in front of goal is borderline diabolical, but his hold up play and his running was superb.


Subs

Giroud 7 - Held up the ball well and wonderful assist for winning goal

Coquelin 7 - Didn't deserve a booking and was good at helping us waste seconds in injury time

Elneny - not on long enough to warrant a score.

[LDG]

One that I spoke to today isn't annoyed that we won, he's annoyed that they won't get to play in the Charity Shield.

Sure thing, buddy :lol:

It must really grate that they get upstaged every year.

:haha:

[Letters]

We should have wrapped that game up in the first half. We had the best chances. Welbeck really pissed me off today. Useless. Was happy to see Giroud come on. What a cameo.

Holding, Monreal and Captain Merts were great. Sanchez had a good first half and so did Ozil but it looks like Sanchez picked up an injury from the second half.
I thought Welbeck did well today. Not clinical but that's not news. He worked hard today and generally thought he played well.

[Coney]

Great match. Thought we'd scored too early worried that they would wake up and take us to the cleaners. Our guys gave a great performance.

And Costa is a nasty cheating c**t, Why can't he get the cards he deserves?

[AFC Leveller]

Really loved the ref sending moses off, what a cheating cunt that chav is.

[AFC Leveller]

Merts this season: 127 minutes = 1 trophy

Spud entire squad: 47880 minutes = 0 trophies

[Master Splinter]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2016/09/26/Capture_5-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWe Z_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.PNG

[Master Splinter]

http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/wenger5.jpg

[Master Splinter]

http://soccernation.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Wenger-laughing.jpg

[Niall_Quinn]

http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/wenger5.jpg

:haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Really loved the ref sending moses off, what a cheating cunt that chav is.

You realise, that's what should have happened to Rooney when he cheated to end our winning streak. Ref's change history. Today the ref decided to apply the rules, in that instance at least. It makes a huge difference to the outcome. Commentators were calling for technology after the Alexis goal. Oh yes please! We'd have 12-15 points more per season.

[Marc Overmars]

Glory Glory saying despite no success this is the season they arrived. :cloud9:

The 'putting the pressure on' cup is quite prestigious apparently.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can't recall anyone here celebrating second place last season. Best of the losers. Who cares?

[Marc Overmars]

No one because qualifying for the CL has meant fuck all to us for years. Spurs will soon find that out when they struggle at Wembley again.

Winning trophies though; history. That's what it's all about. I'll give a damn about the CL again when I feel we're good enough to compete in it.

[Ernesto]

Guys, does Ramsey having scored the winning goal in two separate FA Cup finals hold some sort of record? Has anyone ever done that before?

I know Ljungberg has scored in 2 in a row, which equalled the record of some Spurs player from the 60s, but I'm not sure if said Spurs player scored the winning goal...

[Letters]

http://newsthump.com/2017/05/27/arsenal-legend-john-terry-proudly-hoists-fa-cup/

:haha:

[Xhaka Can’t]

We just won a trophy at Spurs' home ground

edit: again

:trophy:

[Xhaka Can’t]

It must really grate that they get upstaged every year.

:haha:

We've been saying it for years about our own team. Sport is not about coming second, third or fourth.

It's about winning trophies.

No amount of Champions League qualification made me feel like I did yesterday.

The boys did us proud. I'm still buzzing.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Costa is a nasty cheating c**t, Why can't he get the cards he deserves?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170528/6b8a53e3adbe6e910a548e30cba38707.jpg

[Letters]

Only fair to acknowledge the referee. So often we feel we're hard done by but although he gave us a couple of cheap yellow cards overall he got the big decisions right.
The first goal should arguably have been chalked off for handball but it all happened in a split second - he got the offside part of the decision right.
The penalty incident, it would have been easy for him to give the penalty but he got that all spot on. Nice to see the rules actually being applied properly.

:dance:

[GP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnPaOi6F4wc

It's a shame we don't make Cup Final songs any more.

[Letters]

It's a shame we don't make Cup Final songs any more.
No it isn't! :lol:

[Power n Glory]

I thought Welbeck did well today. Not clinical but that's not news. He worked hard today and generally thought he played well.

He's a good athlete. I hear that sentiment a lot. He's not a good footballer. Besides missing chances, I just watched some of his runs and was left baffled by his decision making. Going near post instead of back post, late to make a run, there was one moment on a break Alexis lost his cool with Danny for making the wrong run. He doesn't understand how to play as a striker and in seconds of being on the pitch, Bif made the right run and delivered the perfect pass. I can't stand Giroud, but he at least knows the basics.

[GP]

Sanchez 1-0 - https://my.mixtape.moe/dmzwsz.mp4
Analysis (sort of) - https://streamable.com/pqak4

Moses red card - https://streamable.com/dg3nd

Costa 1-1 - https://my.mixtape.moe/jljape.mp4

Ramsey 2-1 - https://my.mixtape.moe/ojfmxr.mp4

[GP]

https://i.imgur.com/hKnUBjT.gif

[Letters]

He's a good athlete. I hear that sentiment a lot. He's not a good footballer. Besides missing chances, I just watched some of his runs and was left baffled by his decision making. Going near post instead of back post, late to make a run, there was one moment on a break Alexis lost his cool with Danny for making the wrong run. He doesn't understand how to play as a striker and in seconds of being on the pitch, Bif made the right run and delivered the perfect pass. I can't stand Giroud, but he at least knows the basics.

I just thought Welbeck was holding the ball up really well yesterday. I don't understand the antipathy for Giroud. His goals/minutes ratio is better than anyone bar Kane this season. He gets far too much stick for not being an Aguero which is unfair, he does a job and is a valuable squad member. He won't win you a title but he's good enough to be part of a squad that can, IMO.

[Marc Overmars]

Giroud has lived up to his billing as a great plan B this season, which is the role many of us thought he was good enough to stick around for. Starting every game is a different story but he's a way better striker than Welbeck, who seems to have a complete lack of anticipation.

[Gooner23]

Giroud is probably one of the best back up strikers in the league. I think the criticism is more about when he gets a run in the starting XI and the goals invariably dry up. Plus we tend to play our best footy with a more mobile player up top.

Some real stand out performances yesterday, the back 3 lead by Merts and Nacho were superb. Xhaka had probably his best game for us in midfield, and to be fair Ramsey was immense. I'm not a big fan of Ramsey but yesterday he was excellent.

Also Alexis :cloud9:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Who was it the other day absolutely slaughtering the idea of Monreal playing as a CB....

[KSE Comedy Club]

Anyone got a team pic with the 'winners' banner behind them?
I can't find one online anywhere

[GP]

Anyone got a team pic with the 'winners' banner behind them?
I can't find one online anywhere

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/27/20/40DD7BB900000578-4547786-image-a-2_1495912463365.jpg

[Power n Glory]

Who was it the other day absolutely slaughtering the idea of Monreal playing as a CB....

Monreal doesn't get enough credit. A very solid player and he has heart. Works hard for everything and one of the more vocal players too. A lot of his qualities go unnoticed.

Rob Holding! He has had a very good season. Reminds me of when Senderos first arrived in the team to win the FA Cup. A really good start for the kid.

[Globalgunner]

Monreal doesn't get enough credit. A very solid player and he has heart. Works hard for everything and one of the more vocal players too. A lot of his qualities go unnoticed.

Rob Holding! He has had a very good season. Reminds me of when Senderos first arrived in the team to win the FA Cup. A really good start for the kid.

Please do not use the name Senderos to compare any defender we buy. Bad Karma

I still believe the reason why our defenders regress is bad training. Holding still has what came with him from Bolton.....it takes time to ruin them.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I prefer Monreal at centre back to left back where he's far too slow and gets absolutely rinsed for pace

I remember games where he and Mertesacker were playing at centre back two - three years ago and he was actually the better between the two of them.

[Cripps]

You've got to take your hat off to him, I can't stand the guy but how has he managed to win the FA cup in an absolutely abysmal season? :lol:

3 trophies in 4 years is a big big achievement no matter how much you hate the guy. You enter 4 competitions every year and we've managed to win 1. No wonder the board and other fans think we're idiots.

I still can't believe we actually beat Chelsea, yes CHELSEA, in a cup final :blink: :haha:

Made me smile seeing him walk around the pitch smiling and clapping the fans. This is the perfect time for him to move on; leave on a high, having broken a record. Also makes me think- we're underachieving so much in general, imagine if we got in a top, modern manager... we'd actually be frightening. We're winning cups despite having a bad season, imagine what we'd do with an Allegri.

But anyway I just want to enjoy this moment.

We beat chelsea :blink: :bow: :dance:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Thanks GP :good:

[GP]

https://i.redd.it/jkjpaonfx80z.jpg

[Özim]

Great great win yesterday, it's what everyone has been calling for, a performance where we showed real hunger, desire, pressured Chelsea and gave them no time on the ball, this is the kind of performance we've all wanted to see for years to be honest, so fair play to the team, can't praise them highly enough for that and for once we managed to upset the odds.

Didn't expect to win the cup against Chelsea so I'm amazed we did it, it seems we can turn up and produce performances like this once in a while.

As a standalone game in isolation to win the cup this was fantastic, just really need to produce performance like this in the CL and league against the big teams.

[mastermind84]

Ozil and Xhaka ran that match yesterday. Two dominant performances but Per was my MOTM.

[mastermind84]

We should have wrapped that game up in the first half. We had the best chances. Welbeck really pissed me off today. Useless. Was happy to see Giroud come on. What a cameo.

Holding, Monreal and Captain Merts were great. Sanchez had a good first half and so did Ozil but it looks like Sanchez picked up an injury from the second half.
Welbeck can't score goals but calling his performance useless is a very useless statement.

[Power n Glory]

Please do not use the name Senderos to compare any defender we buy. Bad Karma

I still believe the reason why our defenders regress is bad training. Holding still has what came with him from Bolton.....it takes time to ruin them.

Most of our young defenders get off to a good start. Chambers had was one of them, but it then turns sour. I think Holding will be different.

[Power n Glory]

Welbeck can't score goals but calling his performance useless is a very useless statement.

A striker that can't score goals.... Yes we've been crying out for one of those all season :doh: If we hadn't have scored straight away and ended losing the final, nobody on here would be praising Welbeck.

[Letters]

A striker that can't score goals.... Yes we've been crying out for one of those all season :doh: If we hadn't have scored straight away and ended losing the final, nobody on here would be praising Welbeck.

Tbh I'd have been disappointed but I think I would have still been proud of the performance from all of them.
The only negative was the lack of clinical finishing and Welbeck is part of the problem there but he played well as did all of them.

[Power n Glory]

Tbh I'd have been disappointed but I think I would have still been proud of the performance from all of them.
The only negative was the lack of clinical finishing and Welbeck is part of the problem there but he played well as did all of them.

Welbeck will always try hard. That's never been a criticism but he has to work on his technique and finishing. Besides that, he also needs to work on the runs he makes. There was one moment where he should have ran towards the backpost but he instead started to run towards Sanchez and Sanchez lost his shit with him, pointing towards the back post because that was the run to make. There were a few moments like that. He doesn't fully understand how to play as striker. He's really raw.

Welbeck reminds me of Sanogo. Has the work rate, a good athlete but lacks technique and has dodgy finishing. We can't really depend on a striker like that.

[Letters]

I think he's better than Sanogo! But no, we can't depend on him in that neither him are Giroud will win you a title, but IMO they both add something to the squad and are good backups.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Someone made a joke the other day on a podcast hat you just want to lock Welbeck on a 5 aside pitch with Ian Wright. Honestly.....I think he should make his training 50% finishing. That's not even a joke.

At the start of the season....(might even have been preseason) I asked the question on this forum whether we should seriously consider playing 343 through the season.....I can't be bothered to dig it out, but it was a non starter to most on here people were saying we didn't have the players for it. Anyway do people think now we've seen it that we should move forward with it...ie next season and base transfer targets with that system in mind?

I don't think the system change has simply been placebo and I'm personally not of the school of thought that it's all down to the players and the system is an irrelevance.

[GP]

Someone made a joke the other day on a podcast hat you just want to lock Welbeck on a 5 aside pitch with Ian Wright. Honestly.....I think he should make his training 50% finishing. That's not even a joke.

At the start of the season....(might even have been preseason) I asked the question on this forum whether we should seriously consider playing 433 through the season.....I can't be bothered to dig it out, but it was a non starter to most on here people were saying we didn't have the players for it. Anyway do people think now we've seen it that we should move forward with it...ie next season and base transfer targets with that system in mind?

I don't think the system change has simply been placebo and I'm personally not of the school of thought that it's all down to the players and the system is an irrelevance.

No, I don't think we should be going to 433.

We've got to stick with the 3 at the back.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

HAHAHA! Doh!

I mean 3 at the back of course!

[Power n Glory]

Someone made a joke the other day on a podcast hat you just want to lock Welbeck on a 5 aside pitch with Ian Wright. Honestly.....I think he should make his training 50% finishing. That's not even a joke.

At the start of the season....(might even have been preseason) I asked the question on this forum whether we should seriously consider playing 343 through the season.....I can't be bothered to dig it out, but it was a non starter to most on here people were saying we didn't have the players for it. Anyway do people think now we've seen it that we should move forward with it...ie next season and base transfer targets with that system in mind?

I don't think the system change has simply been placebo and I'm personally not of the school of thought that it's all down to the players and the system is an irrelevance.

I never would have thought Wenger would make a move to 3 at the back. It's definitely something we should continue with and I'd also like to see him alter the formation by playing 2 up front instead of one. My main gripe with Giroud up front is his lack of mobility. Combine his physical presence with a smaller player like Sanchez or Walcott and we get the best of both worlds. The three of them have scored a load of goals this season and we have a system that can accommodate a partnership. Also, we'd be able to play Ozil as a 10. The closer he plays to Sanchez, the better.

But even without the alterations, we should stick with this formation. Would prefer Sanchez up front and maybe get Iwobi back playing but in the wide attack position Sanchez would play. I think the kid deserves a second chance. He's not a winger and didn't suit playing there.

[Coney]

I never would have thought Wenger would make a move to 3 at the back. It's definitely something we should continue with and I'd also like to see him alter the formation by playing 2 up front instead of one. My main gripe with Giroud up front is his lack of mobility. Combine his physical presence with a smaller player like Sanchez or Walcott and we get the best of both worlds. The three of them have scored a load of goals this season and we have a system that can accommodate a partnership. Also, we'd be able to play Ozil as a 10. The closer he plays to Sanchez, the better.

But even without the alterations, we should stick with this formation. Would prefer Sanchez up front and maybe get Iwobi back playing but in the wide attack position Sanchez would play. I think the kid deserves a second chance. He's not a winger and didn't suit playing there.

I've always favoured 2 up front for defensive reasons. Sounds bizarre at first but consider this. If you have one up front when the rest are defending, the one up front can be man marked meaning the other side can have more attacking. If you have 2 up front with the potential for interplay, then the other team need to consider having 3 in defence, 2 being a bit risk, thus reducing their attacking potential. Given the way having a back 3 seems to have worked really well, a 3-5-2 gets my vote.

[Coney]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/27/20/40DD7BB900000578-4547786-image-a-2_1495912463365.jpg

That can't be right - someone must have photoshopped John Terry out of the picture?

[Niall_Quinn]

That can't be right - someone must have photoshopped John Terry out of the picture?

He came on separately for a guard of honour 26 minutes into the celebrations.

[Marc Overmars]

We should definitely continue on with the formation next season, it's helped confidence return and most importantly produced some good results. I would like to see if it can stand the test of a whole season.

Wenger made the right move but it's frustrating that it (again) took us reaching a nadir for something to change. He probably could have made any number of changes to the system and it would have yielded something positive because we were absolutely shocking this season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Honestly don't think we can read anything of significance into this new defensive set up. We've been up against teams that have gone on holiday and we've used it in a cup final which is a one off game where form goes out the window.

What we actually need is for Wenger to duck out of coaching so we can bring in proper coaches instead of his cronies. We need a defence that can do the business during the season, not just at the tail end of it. We probably won't get that, so what I'm saying is we'll need to wait for the first third of next season to play out until we can determine if there's genuinely something new happening defensively. We've seen the current pattern too many times already.

[mastermind84]

A striker that can't score goals.... Yes we've been crying out for one of those all season :doh: If we hadn't have scored straight away and ended losing the final, nobody on here would be praising Welbeck.

I guess, but the game is more than about goals. Its the process.

I dont want Welbeck starting for this club in a major match again, but his speed and industry forced CHelsea to fall back.

[Gooner23]

I agree, he stretched Chelsea with his running which allowed more space for Ozil and Alexis. I'm not saying we can't do better than Welbeck, but he definitely played a bit part in the win on Saturday.

Giroud is a better footballer technically but I'd still opt for Welbeck over him to start matches.

[Power n Glory]

I guess, but the game is more than about goals. Its the process.

I dont want Welbeck starting for this club in a major match again, but his speed and industry forced CHelsea to fall back.

A mobile striker helps open up space for others. We need that and you see the difference it has on the way play develops. I’ve said that before and why I’d prefer Alexis or Theo up front to someone like Giroud. But we also need a sharp finisher and someone with better technique. No point in playing with a blunt instrument up front. It solves one problem but creates another. It’s like reverting back to the days of playing with Chamakh, Bendy or Sanogo up front. They’d be a handful for defenders when on their game but they wouldn’t take their chances and it was costly. It’s a process but you want a process that produces an end result.

Welbeck has work to do this summer. Maybe it’s just rust. But since coming back into the first team, he’s started 8 games up front as striker and has only scored 1 goal. Even before his injury, he’d have similar runs in the squad up front but people still have more faith him playing as striker over someone like Walcott or Sanchez.

[mastermind84]

A mobile striker helps open up space for others. We need that and you see the difference it has on the way play develops. I’ve said that before and why I’d prefer Alexis or Theo up front to someone like Giroud. But we also need a sharp finisher and someone with better technique. No point in playing with a blunt instrument up front. It solves one problem but creates another. It’s like reverting back to the days of playing with Chamakh, Bendy or Sanogo up front. They’d be a handful for defenders when on their game but they wouldn’t take their chances and it was costly. It’s a process but you want a process that produces an end result.

Welbeck has work to do this summer. Maybe it’s just rust. But since coming back into the first team, he’s started 8 games up front as striker and has only scored 1 goal. Even before his injury, he’d have similar runs in the squad up front but people still have more faith him playing as striker over someone like Walcott or Sanchez.
Its not rust

Welbeck isn't a goal scorer and never will be. He has a use though. He can play a flank and help the fullback out with his defense while having the speed to force defenses to sit deeper.

He did that on Saturday. I just strongly disagree with calling his performance useless on Saturday. But saying he has use is not the same as "Welbeck should be our starting number 9 next summer." He isn't good enough for that role over the course of a season.