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They aren't a great side, they have been poor this season and yet are what 2 points behind us when we've had a good season thus far, they're only going to improve in reality. They were away from home at the end of the day so a draw is a better result for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by the ollie and the ivy
We've got another run like this in March April and I think we'll drop points left right and centre again tbh, haven't seen anything to make me think otherwise.
I feel deflated after that. Been a familiar feeling this past month.
Before this season we were perennial top 4 material. I'm sorry but I see no fundamental change in this team, or the manager's tactics. We have improved defensively, no doubt. But now Ramsey's hot streak has ended and Giroud's looking fairly ordinary again, we struggle to make goalscoring opportunities. We hold an almost suicidally high line - giving inevitable opportunities to the opposition - yet at times look so easy to defend against.
We've spent #42m on one player, yet as we have posted all the usual results/performances against the top teams over the past month, we have looked desperately short of a match winner.
We need a real step change if we are to win things, not gradual improvement, because I see all of the traditional top teams in this league being noteably stronger during the second half of this season, yet alone next season. I'm afraid we are not seeing a step change - and all those who questioned our credentials despite our good start are being proved right.
Tonight was never going to be a goal-fest, we made few chances against a well organised Chelsea side.Quote:
Originally Posted by Penguin
Giroud had a good chance and put it wide. Someone like RvP, Aguero or Suarez is scoring that and that's the difference in games like that. I like Giroud but he's not at the level of a player who can lead the line in a title winning side.
I'm pretty fed up about tonight's result. If you'd given me joint top at Christmas at the start of the season I'd have bitten your arm off but from where we were a few games ago it seems disappointing. We have to win the next few games now to stay in the race.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
Sorry for being pedantic.
If we are joint top, then Liverpool were joint champions.
in the current match fixing climate, i need a lot of convincing that he isn't a corrupt cuntQuote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Sometimes Giroud is way too deep. When he gets the ball, he can't create his own chances. Someone pacey would turn and run at defenders, hence create his own chances. That's what I meant.Quote:
Originally Posted by the ollie and the ivy
I can go along with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
for the last 8 years we've all moaned about fighting for fourth every year, we get to one season where we sign a genuine world class player, get to christmas level on points with first place and still people moan? do you not enjoy football at all?
To look at the positive side tho, we have just had a horrible December. In other years that have meant that we have had to fight back from 7-8th spot, if we "fight back" this year it could mean that we end up as champions.
Ozil hasn't shown up for the big games and it's really disappointing.Quote:
Originally Posted by IBK
Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
why is it that chelsea will improve in your mind but we won't? thats just stupid logic. what happens if we pull off another ozil?
Whilst I agree with a lot of that did you think before the season started that we'd be level on points with the league leaders at Christmas? I bloody didn't. We won't win the league. Tonight confirmed that for me. I'm disappointed because although I never thought we would win it, it's still a kick in the pants when it's confirmed. But I have seen improvement this season, the important thing is we have to build on that, otherwise it'll be Groundhog Day again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Xmas Is Boss
People need to stop bashing Özil, he's doing exactly the same thing as he did in Real Madrid, only difference is that our players doesnt score on the easy chances he gives them.
Horrendous conditions tbf.
Thought we could have moved the ball quicker at times, and it's pointless having walcott if we're never going to play the quick ball in behind.
Far too predictable.
Thought Chelsea were shit too mind.
I thought we were pretty brutal TBH and this team looks nowhere near good enough or any closer to beating any of its rivals, as in Chelsea, Man City etc.
We lacked imagination, got a lot of the basics wrong and pretty much just huffed and puffed our way to a draw. Our passing was off, at times lacked discipline and in general just looked the least likely of the sides to win.
What concerns me more than anything is this team seems to have gone back to the Arsenal of last season prior to our decent run, I don't know if it's because we are playing decent opposotion but we just look so toothless.
Upfront isn't our only issue either, we are beginning to see problems in Central Midfield again. Moreover Ozil who is suppose to be our star man has been absolutely woeful in the games against City and Chelsea, weak, immobile and afraid to make decisions.
Forget the title, we have a huge battle on our hands to finish top 4 IMHO, it's getting that tight.
Wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters To Santa
If we sign a top top striker in the ilk of Costa, we can win the league.
It's not good enough and he's not going to get a free pass. The midfield were pretty poor and he contributed to the poor play.Quote:
Originally Posted by JonasTC
Brilliant post.Quote:
Originally Posted by JonasTC
It's not about bashing him, it's about expecting more from a 40million pound player, that's what he cost Jonas.Quote:
Originally Posted by JonasTC
Look...I like Ozil as a player, once he settles into the team/league I think he'll be great but I haven't liked his performances in the big games this season. I'm not expecting him to juggle the ball from the halfway line and walk it in but I expect him to contribute more. I don't like the way he pulls out of challenges either.
One of you Giroud lovers needs to come in here and tell me if youre sticking with this "superb season" madness.
Now we arent top we can stop pretending this is the best Arsenal side since 05. An argument could be made that this is closer to the worst than the best. Ok its solid but I see no stars. No world class talent. All other Wenger sides have had that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BOBN
:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:
Diego Costa has the best conversion rate in European football (39%). Suarez on 30%.
Costa haters :haha:
Stop it. Nevermind all his comically bad mishaps in the match. That penalty moment where he played that sloppy square ball to Walcott was the moment that confirmed hes not the one. A top player doesnt pass there, he takes responsibility. A top top player bends it into the top corner.Quote:
Originally Posted by JonasTC
please continue. this is top comedy posting :haha:
Liverpool will lose to City.
They'll at max draw to Chelsea.
We can easily beat West Ham and Newcastle.
We go into the new year top.
Gloom gone.
Relax, we got dis'.
Even Neville said he should have had a go and you want your top players taking more responsibility.Quote:
Originally Posted by BOBN
Yeah, I think we're still in this race. Just need to performer better than this over the coming days and when we have our next run of big games.Quote:
Originally Posted by She Wore A Red Ribbon
I've realised it's not Mesut Arshavin we have, it's Mesut Hleb.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Agreed, I fail to see why people are starting to crack just because we are no longer on top (just on GD I must add). I fancy our chances of getting another 6 points from the next 2 matches with Liverpool likely to drop some (ideally a draw from both).Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
We seem to be pretty good at beating the "non-contenders", which is what we should be doing if we are to be in there for the Title.
Chelsea came to play for a draw and did it well although we should have had a penalty. Chelsea are poor though they have worse striker problems than we do.
Giroud missed another couple good chances. He suits the system but is not a goal scorer.
We are joint top with Liverpool which would have been good odds at start of season. They have Chelsea and city coming up so we need to make most of it but Newcastle are a good side so point there not bad result. We have to beat west ham they are struggling and don't score.
Mourinho is a douche nozzle.
Nah, it's all about momentum. The silly points dropped at home vs Everton started the ball rolling, downhill. And that's how momentum works, in both directions. Beat Everton, finish top of the CL group, I guarantee we'd have given city a tougher test. Even a draw there and we would have faced the chavs brimming with confidence rather than being so nervous of a loss we might as well have worn turtle shells rather than a kit. 2 from 9 and a throwaway CL performance and we are second in the PL, second in the CL when we were top in both and had it all in our own hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by the ollie and the ivy
First to second is not a positive direction whichever way you sell it - many said we were top based on an easy schedule. I wouldn't say they have been proved right because we have been on the end of some shocking refereeing recently, but it certainly has given plenty of ammo to our doubters and rivals.
The dropped points at Everton made what happened next almost inevitable. We have bitter experience of what happens when we throw away games like that. Same with putting out weak sides in minor cup competitions, a loss is a loss. You can't gain confidence from a loss.
We had to make the games against city and the boring chavs LESS important, instead we made them vital. 7 minutes more concentration vs Everton and we'd be top today, by a bigger marging that 2 points I think because I believe we'd have done better in subsequent games.
You can't fuck with momentum and confidence, once ot's going in the wrong direction it's hard to turn around. Time for Wenger to earn his money now.
Ozil anonymous? Eh?Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
He's been competent at worst. He hasn't done a Ronaldo or Messi, true enough. If that's what you mean by being anonymous then give him some time to settle in a new country and a new league.
This midfield continues to frustrate, we keep saying we need a striker, but whats the point of a striker, if no one is creating anything for them.
And can Rosicky stop fucking making so many shit passes, he can be such an annoying player, gets in great position, only to fuck it up, with one of his usual shit passes.
That's right, joint top nothing. We're second. We were first and now we're second. But with Dean today I guess a 0-0 was a bit of a miracle result, just shows how horribly negative the chavs were. Also, Suarez can't keep up that strike rate and as soon as he stops pool start plummeting. They are a one man team, like we were with the Dutch Iscariot. Doesn't work. Fails in the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
They were all doing it tonight, not just Rosicky. At least he moves the ball forward, that's such a bonus. Forward is where the opposition goal is.Quote:
Originally Posted by hobson's choice
They've been doing it all season, our midfield really haven't played that well in an attacking sense.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
It's nice that he moves the ball forward, but whats the point, if he ends giving the ball away, like he always does. Trying to force a pass, that's not there, or just making a shit pass. His end product is very poor.
I would seriously love to know just what the fuck wenger was doing tonight.
Why were no subs made?? It's fucking unfathomable.
If he's have made some changes, Carzola and pods, we might have had a chance of winning the game.
I just cannot understand it :shrug:
Even when the SS guy questioned him about it he had to think a short time for some shit explanation 'errrrr, ummmm, well eerrrrr' Really arsene?!?
I know we've gotta play on Thursday but FFS. Giving pods 10 mins or so wouldn't have fucking hurt.