CL round of 16 14 Feb 2017

No but I was actually more interested in the fact we are completely unable to ever upset the odds or it seems get past the last 16, if a team like Leicester can do it despite having had a dreadful season, we really should be able to. The fact we never do suggests something just isn't right either in terms of tactics, mentality or personnel.

Even in the days when we had less talented sides we could stil beat better teams in cup competitions, nowadays it seems to be a gimme that come the knockout stages we have no chance, football isn't usually that predictable.

I don't really understand why we never do, is it our defence or do we just not have the right players with the right mentality?

They've had a dreadful season although have been strangely good in the CL and they've just changed manager which seems to have invigorated them (shame on the players, frankly, Ranieiri won the league with them last year and they've really let him down since). This year in particular we were unlucky with the draw although we shouldn't have got thumped like that. Leicester aren't going to win it.
There's clearly a mentality issue at Arsenal but that's not really news either. I personally think a strong captain would make a difference, Wenger's best sides have had that and he's never been a great motivator.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

Depends what you mean by vindicated. If it's players who take the money and then only bother to turn up when the environment is to their liking, then yes, these guys have been vindicated. We have a few similar in our squad.

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Totally seperate issue. Saying sacking Ranieri looks like the right decision doesn't absolve the players who attitude is absolutely vile

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Originally Posted by Letters

They've had a dreadful season although have been strangely good in the CL and they've just changed manager which seems to have invigorated them (shame on the players, frankly, Ranieiri won the league with them last year and they've really let him down since). This year in particular we were unlucky with the draw although we shouldn't have got thumped like that. Leicester aren't going to win it.
There's clearly a mentality issue at Arsenal but that's not really news either. I personally think a strong captain would make a difference, Wenger's best sides have had that and he's never been a great motivator.

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They also had a ridiculously easy group stage, yes they did well to beat Porto at home. But Copenhagen and Clubbe Brugge are the equivalent of league one sides.

Yeah but Sevilla are no mugs that was a pretty good result. Considering it was their first effort they've done pretty well. I'm pretty sure Sevilla would have knocked us out.

The Leicester freak show goes on.

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Originally Posted by Letters

They've had a dreadful season although have been strangely good in the CL and they've just changed manager which seems to have invigorated them (shame on the players, frankly, Ranieiri won the league with them last year and they've really let him down since). This year in particular we were unlucky with the draw although we shouldn't have got thumped like that. Leicester aren't going to win it.
There's clearly a mentality issue at Arsenal but that's not really news either. I personally think a strong captain would make a difference, Wenger's best sides have had that and he's never been a great motivator.

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There has been an upturn since the manager left yes, maybe we were unlucky with the draw but let's be fair even when we've had good draws we've blown it and many times we've come 2nd in the group which usually means tougher teams.

As for the captain, some leadership would definitely help, the problem seems to be that Wenger doesn't really value the captaincy (or leadership, he's said as much) and never signs players who are leaders.

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Originally Posted by Özim

Yeah but Sevilla are no mugs that was a pretty good result. Considering it was their first effort they've done pretty well. I'm pretty sure Sevilla would have knocked us out.

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Who knows? probably given that Monaco knocked us out....the last 16 thing appears to be a mental thing rather than who we are up against

But yeah i'm not knocking Leicester for the Sevilla tie, i'm just saying that they qualified for the last 16 off the back of an easy group.

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Originally Posted by Özim

As for the captain, some leadership would definitely help, the problem seems to be that Wenger doesn't really value the captaincy (or leadership, he's said as much) and never signs players who are leaders.

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I'm a bit baffled about our lack of leadership to be honest. I'm sure at one point we had several players who were captains of their national sides, we've got players who have won major trophies - World Cups even. And yet...

...we're shit and we know we are