Arsenal v Man Ure, Friday 25 Jan, 19.55 UK time, BBC1

[Mac76]

So how do people think this will go?

As we've all been saying, Bellerin is a real loss and clearly Moan U are on a good run, but at least we should be able to give them a game.

There's no way we're keeping a clean sheet IMO - we can't expect them to be as lame as Chelsea and they obviously have real goalscoring threats so Auba really does need his shooting boots on this time...

But anyway COYG and let's send 'em packing :scarf:

[Marc Overmars]

Expecting a fairly open game.

United are probably slight favourites on form but at home we should be more than capable of beating them if we play as well as we can.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

As the team I despise the most on earth I hope we smash these fuhkers. Piss on that honey moon period shite....and get through to the next round.

You can expect Emery to name a strong side as he always does.

[fakeyank]

I think we will win this.

[Letters]

I think we will win this.

I thought we would when the draw was made but we've been pretty crappy since. Good result last Saturday but, honestly, Chelsea were pretty poor.
We're at home though and we generally have a good home record so if I had to pick a winner I'd agree, it'll be us.
Come on you reds :scarf:

[GP]

3-0

Jenkinson hattrick

[dazthegooner]

Well would be nice to end the winning run they always seem to be the one's that end ours..

[SMatthews]

We aren’t going to win both games against the Manc teams, so if I had to pick one to lose it would be this. That said, I think we’ll win this and lose at City.

[Bumble]

goals aplenty us 3-2 unless de gea does a de gea and stops everything so we lose 2-0

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Gea hasn't travelled apparently.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Never seen us play United before so quite excited! Up the goonies!

[Marc Overmars]

They’re always fun games because United’s travelling support is always pretty strong. Makes for a good atmosphere.

[dazthegooner]

United's travelling support don't really have to travel that far it is in London...

[Mac76]

United's travelling support don't really have to travel that far it is in London...

Quite, the only problem they have is with our seats being smaller than the armchairs from which they normally watch 'their' team...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

They’re always fun games because United’s travelling support is always pretty strong. Makes for a good atmosphere.

Come now.... don't spoil it...

[fakeyank]

Cech

AMN Kos Sokratis Kola

Torreira Xhaka

Ozil

Ramsey* Laca Auba

*- I'd personally prefer Saka over Ramsey but I dont think Emery is going to play Saka

Subs: Saka, Willock, Mustafi, Jenkinson, Leno, Nketiah

[Marc Overmars]

I'd keep Ramsey involved, he was pretty good against Chelsea and we'll need to make it difficult for Pogba and Herrera by getting players around them quickly. Covering a lot of ground is always something you can rely on Ramsey for.

He hasn't really showed signs of zoning out despite his departure being the worst kept secret in football. Plus lets face it, we don't have many options right now so we shouldn't be cutting our nose off to spite our face.

[fakeyank]

Will there be extra time and pels if this is tied? Or does this go to a replay?

[Letters]

Replay I think.

I honestly think I'd rather lose than draw, we'd lose up there anyway and we could do without an extra game.

[Master Splinter]

Arsenal: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Papastathopoulos, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Torreira, Ramsey, Xhaka, Iwobi, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs: Elneny, Ozil, Lichtsteiner, Monreal, Leno, Mustafi, Guendouzi.

Man Utd: Romero, Young, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw, Ander Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Lukaku, Sanchez.
Subs: Jones, Mata, Rashford, Martial, Grant, Fred, Dalot.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Ramsey, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku. :popcorn:

BBC's programme is on in nine minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Neville the Younger, Wrighty and Shearer in the studio.

[SMatthews]

Lukaku is an odd shout. Would’ve thought Rashford would be perfect to tear us one on the counter.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mowbray and Jenas co-commentating.

Jenas will be soooo salty over last night.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Maitland-Niles gives a corner away for some reason.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ambitious cross from Kolasinac.

Good pass from Xhaka.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Smack it Laca!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba nearly gets it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gloves are off for Sanchez.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lingard knees Ramsey on the bonce.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech does well coming out on Pogba.

[Master Splinter]

AMN has given it away stupidly twice now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba in the pub.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis has twisted his ankle, well that's what he signalled anyway. :doh:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Oh fuck sake, another fucking injury

[Master Splinter]

Sokratis out for the season now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Iwobi with some brilliant pointless jinks.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Socrates is a bit distraught, Mustafi on.

[KSE Comedy Club]

The curse is still alive and well

[SMatthews]

For fuck sake. Lose another key defender and now we get this shit bag coming on.

[KSE Comedy Club]

For fuck sake. Lose another key defender and now we get this shit bag coming on.

Fucking cuntish isn’t it :good:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Iwobi goes for goal, why?

[SMatthews]

That should’ve been 1-0 to them

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku and Pogba somehow miss it!

[SMatthews]

Well defended by AMN

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Romero whacks it out of play. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Iwobi has been positive.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mustafi ruining everything at both ends of the pitch already.

[Master Splinter]

FFS.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Sanchez. :sick:

[SMatthews]

Alexis the cunt scores

[KSE Comedy Club]

Mustafi is back

[Gooner23]

What the fuck is Mustafi doing there

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2 Lingard.

Dear me.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Personally I don’t care if we go out tonight, we need to try and finish in the top 4 and/or win the europa league.

[SMatthews]

Mustafi on we fall to pieces 0-2

[Master Splinter]

This is classic Wenger v Fergie. All the play and caught out twice.

[SMatthews]

I can’t fucking stand Solskjaer

[KSE Comedy Club]

We are ruined.

That ginger cunt Mutafi needs to fucking go in the summer

[GP]

I can’t fucking stand Solskjaer

I hope Sol is waiting in the stands to smash his face in again.

[fakeyank]

So looks like we are going to lose

[Master Splinter]

It feels like Lingard has scored against us more than Drogba.

[SMatthews]

We are ruined.

That ginger cunt Mutafi needs to fucking go in the summer

I’d happily dump him now without a replacement

[SMatthews]

At least we get the loss out of the way before I go on Tuesday

[Globalgunner]

Men and boys again. Sheesh. Some things never change

[SMatthews]

Lost all the energy in our place since the injury

[GP]

It feels like Lingard has scored against us more than Drogba.

Lingard is properly shit but he always scores against us.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Shit corner routine.

[Gooner23]

For all our possession in their half we've done bugger all with it.

[Master Splinter]

Shit corner routine.

We're somehow worse at corners under Emery.

It's an achievement.

[Master Splinter]

AUBA!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AUBAMEYANG!!!!!

[SMatthews]

Auba!

[Master Splinter]

Lacazette with a stunning assist. :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

At least we get the loss out of the way before I go on Tuesday

I’m going Tuesday too :wave:

[GP]

Outstanding!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well and truly Welbz'd it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jenas has been really harsh on Man Utd throughout the match. :lol:

We don't want you JJ.

[SMatthews]

I’m going Tuesday too :hiya:

Just set fire to my tickets

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That mega amount of three added minutes.

[Globalgunner]

Even Auba couldnt miss that one

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette shot, easy enough for Romero.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Just set fire to my tickets

How rude :blink:

[GP]

Even Auba couldnt miss that one

Yeah, even one of the worlds best strikers couldn't miss that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Has Mowbray got Aubameyang and Koscielny mixed up?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sanchez. :haha:

Mustafi clears another one.

[SMatthews]

If we can score 6 in the second half we might just snatch this

[Master Splinter]

Remember when Spurs were filled with fat players like Mido, Ghaly and Hundredstone?

United paying tribute to that great side with fat fucks Lukaku, Sanchez and Shaw.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They have a weird definition of counter attacks if they think Man Utd's first was one.

[Master Splinter]

We just let Shaw run into the middle and sweep it into Lukaku unchallenged.

Terrible.

[SMatthews]

In depth analysis from the BBC. Not a single mention of an injury that changed the entire momentum of the game. Well done lads.

[Master Splinter]

Piss off De Gea Romero!

[SMatthews]

Almost! Exactly the start we need.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette shat on Pogba there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Get up Pogba.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hit it Laca!

[SMatthews]

Lukaku is such a clumsy cunt :lol:

[SMatthews]

Ramsey :lol: I won’t miss that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kos booked, necessary foul. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fewer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku stamps on Koscielny's ear.

[Master Splinter]

Mustafi will be our only fit defender by the end of this game.

[SMatthews]

Are you kidding me? Lukaku is so shit

[SMatthews]

Just got our defence together and it’s dismantled in the space of a game.

No need to back the manager Kroenke you fuck.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dr Xhaka educating AMN.

[Globalgunner]

Our players are so fragile. Some of them could get injured by a fly travelling at 30mph. Not for them a bandaged barnet and carry on.

in Kos defence, Lukaku must weigh at least 100kg

[Master Splinter]

Xhaka - Mustafi centreback pairing.

I believe in God now.

It's the only way to explain this level of fuckery.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kos off, Mesut on to fill in at CB. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Iwobi off for Mesut.

Kos off for Guendouzi.

[Master Splinter]

Our players are so fragile. Some of them could get injured by a fly travelling at 30mph. Not for them a bandaged barnet and carry on

I'm sure you'd get straight back up if a fat fuck like Lukaku stamped on your face.

Then you'd have a drink with Dennis Wise and Vinnie Jones.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think that bounced off Lukaku's foot for a goalkick.

[SMatthews]

We need the spirit of Sendros, Flamini, Toure and Eboue to come forth

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ramsey rubberlegs slices it wide. :faint:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Youngy booked.

Run at him!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lukaku and Sanchez hauled off, Rashford and Martial on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette finally hammers it, Romero saves.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka. :haha:

Twat.

[Master Splinter]

Xhaka you moron.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lingard booked. :lol:

[AFC Leveller]

We are so open on the counter sooner or later they will pick us off.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Our attack is sooooo predictable - every time

[SMatthews]

Apart from playing Alexis onside for their first goal, AMN has had a good match at RB

[Master Splinter]

It should be ten minutes of extra time at least considering Koscielny was down for eight minutes.

[SMatthews]

Maybe we could attack from the other flank? Bellerin going out makes us so one sided.

[SMatthews]

Goodnight

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a clanger from Cech.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Wow Ozil, just wow.

[AFC Leveller]

Knew it

[Master Splinter]

Laca, despite his good defensive work, has given it away cheaply so many times.

Shit from Cech there too.

Too much sloppiness and too many injuries.

[SMatthews]

Ozil really showing his worth since coming on. The creative genius we’ve been missing.

[Globalgunner]

We huff and puff and nothing. they go down the other side and its dam busters

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fight fight fight!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Utd once again show how an attack should be done

[SMatthews]

Emery really up against it with the injuries we have now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lingard off, Jones on to ruin it all.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We huff and puff and nothing. they go down the other side and its dam busters

That’s because we still haven’t learnt to add pace to the attack and shoot.
Still too much passing out wide and double passing in the box hoping for an opening while all the players get back to defend.

Seen it a million times

[KSE Comedy Club]

Ozil can fuck right off.

‘Star player’ :haha::haha::haha::haha:

[SMatthews]

That’s because we still haven’t learnt to add pace to the attack and shoot.
Still too much passing out wide and double passing in the box hoping for an opening while all the players get back to defend.

Seen it a million times

We have. Started both halves well, creating chances. Then two injuries killed the momentum and energy in our game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

10 added minutes. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Guendouzi booked.

[AFC Leveller]

We won’t score if we keep playing until Monday. They are defending well and opening us with two or three passes.

[SMatthews]

I heard some journalist call Ozil an impact player from the bench. Yeah.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We have. Started both halves well, creating chances. Then two injuries killed the momentum and energy in our game.

The injuries were in defence. The problem is our attack is slow and predictable and follows the same path everytime.

[Master Splinter]

I heard some journalist call Ozil an impact player from the bench. Yeah.

No impact is still a level of impact.

[AFC Leveller]

One thing I have noticed this season is that we can’t break teams down who defend deep and we seem to have no ideas whatsoever. Worrying Tbh.

[SMatthews]

The injuries were in defence, but our attack is slow and predictable and follows the same path everytime.

You’ve missed the point. We had momentum in the game. The long stoppages killed all of that, twice. Since both happened the game went flat.

Plus, with Bellerin out, it all goes down the left now.

[SMatthews]

One thing I have noticed this season is that we can’t break teams down who defend deep and we seem to have no ideas whatsoever. Worrying Tbh.

Yeah, but Ozil...

[Master Splinter]

Yeah, but Ozil...

No strikers for him to work with!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We lose to these shits at home so fucking often.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-3 FT. Bunch of clowns at the back.

[KSE Comedy Club]

You’ve missed the point. We had momentum in the game. The long stoppages killed all of that, twice. Since both happened the game went flat.

Not for Utd it didn’t.

There in lies the problem.
We should be able to pick the momentum back up from where we left off and carry on, but we haven’t.
We have had plenty of possession in utd’s half but every attack has been ‘pass to the left wing, pass in the box, pass out of the box, back in the box, overlap, pass, pass, fail’

No shots.

[KSE Comedy Club]

No strikers for him to work with!


He shit himself everytime he got the ball. Complete fucking waste of space.

[SMatthews]

Not for Utd it didn’t.

There in lies the problem.
We should be able to pick the momentum back up from where we left off and carry on, but we haven’t.
We have had plenty of possession in it’s half but every attack has been ‘pass to the left wing, pass in the box, pass out of the box, back in the box, overlap, pass, pass, fail’

No shots.

This isn’t FIFA. If doesn’t work like that. Both times momentum swung. That’s the root of the problem today. And the fact we have no attack on the right.

At least we have an owner willing to help us out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He shit himself everytime he got the ball. Complete fucking waste of space.

Absolute nonsense.

The criticism is fair but the absolute hatred of him it seems is just plain weird.

[SMatthews]

Absolute nonsense.

The criticism is fair but the absolute hatred of him it seems is just plain weird.

It’s frustration that he hardly ever turns up. All the Instagram posts about him working hard can’t hide that.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Absolute nonsense.

The criticism is fair but the absolute hatred of him it seems is just plain weird.

He offered nothing, didn’t create anything at all.

How is that nonsense??

[Master Splinter]

Spend some fucking money?

Emery has made some questionable decisions, but it seems like he's hampered by so many factors on and off the pitch at the moment.

Is Eboue still playing?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He offered nothing, didn’t create anything at all.

How is that nonsense??

Aside from drifting in to space on the left when he came on and the pass out to Kolasinac later on that we created something from.

It was hardly opening up at will in the first half anyway.

[SMatthews]

Good news it’s only City next weekend. With no defence.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We have Cardiff midweek which is going to be a sombre affair.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Aside from drifting in to space on the left when he came on and the pass out to Kolasinac later on that we created something from.

It was hardly opening up at will in the first half anyway.

Oh amazing. Worth every penny.

I don’t be hate him at all either.

I just hate the space he is taking up in the squad :good:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oh amazing. Worth every penny.

I don’t be hate him at all either.

I just hate the space he is taking up in the squad :good:

What space is he taking up in the squad? Everybody else is injured!

Why he's suddenly the target on this performance I really don't get.

[Master Splinter]

Cech, AMN and Mustafi are massive downgrades on Leno, Bellerin and Sokratis. That was maybe the biggest difference in the end.

Cech shouldn't play again this season unless it's against Lokomitiv Siberia in a second leg of a tie we're already winning 8-0.

[KSE Comedy Club]

What space is he taking up in the squad? Everybody else is injured!

Why he's suddenly the target on this performance I really don't get.

He’s not suddenly the target.

Loads of people have been saying how he should be playing to create changes and help us do better etc because of his quality and worth.

Well he played, and he was average at best. It was almost a waste of time bringing him off the bench.

As for the squad, how about some of the younger players like Smith Rowe, Nketiah, etc getting some games?

They certainly can’t do any worse!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He’s not suddenly the target.

Loads of people have been saying how he should be playing to create changes and help us do better etc because of his quality and worth.

Well he played, and he was average at best. It was almost a waste of time bringing him off the bench.

As for the squad, how about some of the younger players like Smith Rowe, Nketiah, etc getting some games?

They certainly can’t do any worse!

I said on this performance.

Smith Rowe is injured (QED) and Nketiah is a striker.

[Master Splinter]

Just remembered that Holding died when we played at Old Trafford.

These twats are wiping out all our centrebacks.

[Ralpheroo72]

Kroenke Out!

[Gooner23]

The injuries are getting ridiculous now, how often this season have we had to make early enforced substitutions in games. It's so disruptive.

Very one dimensional tonight, so much possession in their half but time and time again we slowed the play down and fucked up giving them the chance to counter.

[Marc Overmars]

Pathetic defending, particularly for the second goal. It’s like time stood still. I was sat behind Lee from AFTV and I honestly thought he was going to have a heart attack the amount he was ranting. :haha:

A horribly predictable game, have all of the play but get caught cold on the counter.

[AFC Leveller]

This game was very reminiscent of the old games against Man ure where they just defend deep and hit us in the counter.

We were so easy to defend against and so open through the middle, Pogba ran 50 yards right through the midfield without being challenged despite us having 3 CN midfielders on the pitch.

We are still inconsistant and error prone and Emery has his work cut out for him.

[Marc Overmars]

We can't hope to achieve anything being so easy to score against. It's ridiculous that even with 2 quality strikers up front we can't be sure of winning games because of how likely we are to be undermined by a flimsy backline.

The defending is worse than it ever was under Wenger.

[Özim]

Emery said he was happy with our work, seriously?

Again Emery has been shown up again, defending was horrendous, still he keeps playing AMN at full back despite the fact he just cannot play that position, he'd have been better offer playing Monreal there as at least he's full back. Xhaka there again despite basically being awful, he offers nothing to the team. Also Iwobi worked hard but he hs zero end product, I'm just not convinced he's good enough.

In the end this squad is very average and so we need some serious investment to bring in some quality, without that we'll get nowhere, clearly Man U are far superior to us, so 4th place is out of the question, EL is our only hope but even that is a tall order.

Emery has to take some blame as well though, for his poor decisions, you cannot be happy with the work after losing 3-1 at home, he needs to be a bit smarter IMO, recently he's been poor.

[Mac76]

I admit i didn't watch it but not sure i want to get too worked up by this

I think most teams will struggle against Moan Ure now, given they always had the players and now Solsjaer's let them play in a way that brings the best out of them

And we can't afford a cup run anyway with our thin squad and the PL and EL to contend with

The worst thing is losing Kos and Socratis, though i think Socratis might not be out for too long from what Emery said

[Özim]

I admit i didn't watch it but not sure i want to get too worked up by this

I think most teams will struggle against Moan Ure now, given they always had the players and now Solsjaer's let them play in a way that brings the best out of them

And we can't afford a cup run anyway with our thin squad and the PL and EL to contend with

The worst thing is losing Kos and Socratis, though i think Socratis might not be out for too long from what Emery said

I agree, but it's really emphasised the weakness of this squad.

We can forget about the PL to be honest, Man U will leapfrop us, no chance of top 4, we've just got to hope we get lucky in the EL realistically.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I was actually in a box for this game which was half full of plastic united fans..... like a lot of the ground I imagine. Possibly the most bittersweet experience of my life.

If I could have reached Lingaard throwing an oversized slice of cake I might have done.