Match Reaction vs Ludogorets (away).

Perhaps, i have no doubt of the individual talent of the side but many of them have all the character and personality of a Victoria sponge

The idea that they are prisoners of Wenger's regimented system is overstated to say the least, they play the tippy tappy passing football because it is their natural recourse.....so there would be in my mind no noticeable improvement even if Wenger was sent on Sabbatical to Capri with Sonia Tatar.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

Our defending has really been careless this season

Some of the goals we've conceded are just embarassing

Our attacking fluidity has I admit improved, but this only appears to happen in spells and often we are doing pass, pass, pass, sideways pass, backwards pass

Even our own players get sick of it, into the second half Koscielny just drove forward with the ball and that run created our first shot on goal for about ten minutes.

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Yeah we were a mess at the back last night, Ospina looked very shakey, as did all of the back four, our full backs especially, closely followed by Mustafi who I thought was awful.

Obviously our 2 first choice full backs and Cech were missing but we need to sort it out at the back as I agree it's not the first time we've given away really poor goals.

I think with the return of Theo, Santi and Iwobi our offensive play will improve, we clearly look a much better side with Sanchez upfront flanked by Theo and Iwobi.

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Originally Posted by Gooner23

To be fair I don't think having Ramsey and Sanchez on the wings helps much either, both like to come inside and congest the middle. There is a really nice balance with Walcott and Iwobi on the flanks.

Giroud still has an important role to play, he is a good alternative to Sanchez and a proven goalscorer. I really don't know where I stand on Ramsey though, I don't think he merits all of the criticism he gets but I also cant see an obvious position for him. Perhaps to be used as a back up for Ozil in his new more attacking role, making runs in behind the striker (Sanchez or Giroud). Yet Wenger often seems to want to crowbar him into the starting line up, even if to the detriment of the balance of the side.

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Ramsey works better on the wing, he worked out perfectly well there for most of 2015. An extra man that can get forward, put in a cross (as we saw last night), come inside as an extra man in midfield, make runs beyond and off Giroud and protect the right side when Bellerin the right back pushes forward. None of the roles in the front four are rigid, they all interchange. Even Giroud was coming out to the wings to pick up the ball, and of course was the one that got back to win it in our own half, onto Elneny who chipped it over to Ozil for the winner. Our defence was a key problem last night, that is where the mistakes came from - two shots, two goals. It's been a problem all season and last night the opposition made the most of it.

He works better when not played at all, yes he put in a good cross last night. But Ox put in a good cross on saturday he was in all other aspects utter dross and Ramsey was even worse.

Yes of course.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

Again I hate to have to underline this again, this is a Bulgarian team. Our main striker could be Corky from Life Goes on (not Wayne Rooney who looks like Corky from life goes on) and we should still find a way to win.

Their defence was more porous than a Chinese girls face.

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Ludograts aren't a joke though especially at their place.

Real Madrid scraped through with a 2 - 1 win last year and Pool required a dodgy last minute pelanty to win there. PSG also went one down before coming back.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

He works better when not played at all, yes he put in a good cross last night. But Ox put in a good cross on saturday he was in all other aspects utter dross and Ramsey was even worse.

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This is my only worry this season, Wenger will keep sticking him in the lineup, regardless of his play.

I hate to pile so much on one player, but Ramsey needs to leave this club.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

Wenger tried to play it safe last night. We were all wondering if he'd rest players or go full strength, because those were the two logical options. Of course this is Wenger so he outfoxed us again by pulling a turd from his bag of shit that nobody had considered. Don't rest the key men (which I agree with), instead fuck with their positions, rip the pace out of the team, and install a lamppost up top. Then tippety tap it all night long and wait for a breakthrough against a team he underestimated as usual. A piece of Ozil magic makes it look like it worked, if you only focus on the scoreline. 9 times out 10 that last goal is never going to happen like that. Brilliant goal, brilliant individual skill, but that's what Wenger left us relying on in order to stay in front of PSG.

If he wanted to rest Iwobi then why put him on the plane at all? The guy rested by flying to Bulgaria and back. Fucking stupid. Either rest him or don't.

Now we all have to wait to see if the managerial maestro we are blessed with finds a way to work Giroud into his plans for Sunday. A little bit of panic and a run to safety is what we need for our first real test in weeks. Play it safe. Rely on the defence he plainly doesn't bother working with to keep it tight and see if we can nick a 1-0. That should work.

Wenger IS the handbrake. Whenever we start to get some momentum he does something incredibly stupid. He should stay at home for November and let the lads get on with it. Huge month that will properly test our title credentials and I believe we have the players that can meet the test. But the manager. Damn. He's a hell of a hurdle to have to keep jumping over.

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That's exactly how I saw it. Just could not believe he would shunt Sanchez back out wide to accommodate Giroud, .....after how Sanchez up top has completely transformed our attacking potency, unbelievably dumb ass move. If Sanchez is on the pitch he should be up top as the striker, unless Giroud has come on as a sub in a game we either winning comfortably or chasing desperately.

Could the slacking dicktaking, sorry dictating, mods please unlock the spuds match thread, thank you.

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Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico

Ludograts aren't a joke though especially at their place.

Real Madrid scraped through with a 2 - 1 win last year and Pool required a dodgy last minute pelanty to win there. PSG also went one down before coming back.

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Liverpool only actually drew there, but this was a Liverpool side that finished below Basel in the table