Liverpool vs Arsenal Sat 8th Feb 12.45 BTSport aka Bloodzeed

Even though it's definitely terrible some of the hysteria is a tad unwarranted now. In reality, it doesn't matter if we lose 1 - 0 or 9 - 0; City have the goal difference table sewn up already. Worst case scenario is that we lose three points but that still leaves us in the mix.


Obviously that's unless this does lead onto further collapse but honestly, mentally this squad seems a lot better than previous teams we've had under Wenger so it's too early to call that.

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Originally Posted by Maestro

some people are blind to this fact. they are decent and have never held any fear of going up against the top sides, except us ..we've had their number for a while but i think that may be coming to an end now.

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They have two decent strikers, you can comfort yourself by saying how good Liverpool are but take Suarez and Sturridge out and this side would be mid table only. Our starting line up was a joke....Monreal is awful and two of their goals have come from him being dispossessed, why is Ox playing central midfield that's the kind of nonsense you can get away with against Palace.
Koscielny and Mertesacker were nowhere when defending set pieces, we gave the ball away in midfield under the minimal of pressure and we have not tested that abjectly poor defence even once.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

This has nothing to do with Merts and Kos, it's to do with allowing yards of space on the flanks and providing no support from the middle. Two centre backs can't defend on their own against 3 pacey front men, that much is obvious.

MOTM so far - the away lads. We're going to win 5-4. LOL.

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Please, it has everything to do with them they have been shocking, so have the rest....these two don't get off scott free though they have been awful, I though Mertesacker was the new Adams? If so he should organise his defence, not sit and watch them run around aimlessly.

Yeah, Monreal over Gibbs is something Wenger deserves to be slaughtered for. Nothing wrong with Monreal when he's not up against pace, but we see the results when he is.

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Originally Posted by milla

We have the same of players, in fact we have more runners but we never use them. Everything has to be pedestrian, just the the way Wenger wants it. :coffee:

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I agree, it's our style of play that's wrong, Ozil looks totally ineffective with the way we play.

Gibbs and Rosicky not playing was a bit daft. Supress our fastest players against a team with fast players. Having said that, it does let the players already playing off the hook by talking about 'who should have played' I guess.

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Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico

Even though it's definitely terrible some of the hysteria is a tad unwarranted now. In reality, it doesn't matter if we lose 1 - 0 or 9 - 0; City have the goal difference table sewn up already. Worst case scenario is that we lose three points but that still leaves us in the mix.


Obviously that's unless this does lead onto further collapse but honestly, mentally this squad seems a lot better than previous teams we've had under Wenger so it's too early to call that.

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Based on recent history, we can say that the title race is over for us. Recall anytime in recent history when we were in the reckoning for the title come Jan/Feb... we are headless chickens. So no, the reaction isnt unwarranted. And to think of the teams we will be playing soon, you can be rest assured, we will make a big fuck up of getting 4th place. Probably have the 4th place trophy guaranteed only on the last day of the season!

Second half starting. Less of the same lads. Restore some pride please.

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Originally Posted by Özim

Please, it has everything to do with them they have been shocking, so have the rest....these two don't get off scott free though they have been awful, I though Mertesacker was the new Adams? If so he should organise his defence, not sit and watch them run around aimlessly.

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Yes, this is like manna from heaven for you, but as I stated 2 CBs against 3 pacey front men is a no contest. Put any pair in there and the lack of cover will leave them just as badly exposed.

OH FUCK OWEN IS BACK.

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Originally Posted by Özim

I don't think it's knee jerk, I think it was clear we weren't good enough despite all the upbeat comments, you can't play like we have and expect to be winning things, just isn't going to happen.

We've been totally devoid of ideas up front for a while now and to be honest the midfield has also been very stale of late, what's the solution, sign a 31 year old injured crock apparently.

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I agree with Zimm (for once)

It's definitely not knee jerk. Some of us said all through January and shortly after the window closed that we needed to strengthen. I've even said it to work colleagues in December, "it depends what business we do in January" was always my answer.

We didn't have enough at the start of the season and we still don't now. The evidence has been there all the time and it's games like this that expose our shortcomings.