Routine stuff in the end, took us a long time to do anything of note. On we go.
And come on Crystal Pulis.
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Routine stuff in the end, took us a long time to do anything of note. On we go.
And come on Crystal Pulis.
My goodness, it's good to have Ramsey back. So much more movement.
Enjoyed that. Really comfortable in the end.
Carroll is properly shit.
Thought the players put in a shift tonight and well done for coming back. Big problem for this team is reproducing this tempo against the big teams away from home. Oh, and Ramsey made a massive difference - but this was one of Cazorla's best games for us for a while.
Good effort after a draining game at Wembley. Happy for Pod! Just so annoying that we have to rely on Everton dropping points. They are still favourites in my opinion!Quote:
Originally Posted by IBK
I think I'd call it evens now. 3 home games against poorer teams and Norwich away. We should win all 4 and would be surprised if we don't finish 4th if we do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chippy
Best 2nd half I've seen from us in a long time, really enjoyable to watch for a change.
Defence were good, thought Verms in particular did well out of position. Arteta and Poldi good. Giroud terrible first half but good second. MOM Santi though, he was quality throughout. But to be fair, they all put in a shift.
Never thought I'd want Pubis to do us a favour.
As usual they put us through the wringer, but much better performance than we've seen for a while......Poldi. He is class, Imagine having him and RVP on the same team......goals galore. Giroud went from diabolical to unbelievable....Nice feeling this.
Apparently this was the first game we won since Ozil got injured.
Been that long ? Wow
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlSrEy0CcAAELrZ.jpg
Hull is away thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by IBK
Good win, much needed.
Started pretty shit as usual but once we got going it was pretty comfortable. Some nice goals scored as well.
Ramsey is world class.
Such a shame that between Wenger and the rest of the incompetent medical team we could not get the guy back to fitness sooner.
[QUOTE=gunnerrrrr;388301]Ramsey is world class.
Such a shame that between Wenger and the rest of the incompetent medical team we could not get the guy back to fitness sooner.[/QUOTE
:gp:
Yep! We must get rid of Harold Shipman!
Any gifs of the goals?
Pretty uninspired first half performance, but pretty solid start to the second half confidence grew and grew, west ham looked less and less likely to get back into the game as the match went off and eventually we killed the game off.
Three excellent goals this evening as well in terms of great finishing from the strikers, after a nervy first half the defence looked a lot more composed and in control. Ramsey had a very effective cameo performance, looked our most inventive player in midfield.
My eldest coming along was yet again a lucky charm, her favourite player is Santi btw "because he can play football properly" is the reason she gives. Back to the need to let one in before we go direct and open up the taps :sulk: we little bit suffrered lack of Gibbs (is he dedead agin?), Pod fitness seems to be improving, he was desperate for his hattrick.
Second half was much better as was Giroud, guess his pro-plus kicked in :shrug:
Anyway West Ham for breaking out the "are you totnumb in disguise" at 1 up <_< to our fans repeating it at 1-1, 2-1 & 3-1 :fingers: I fucking hate West Ham :pal:
http://arsenalist.com/Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeebus
Loads there for the game
Giroud's goal was incredible. Couldn't believe it when I saw it....especially after his first half chance which was horrific!
Fortunately Santi's team mates were on his wavelength today otherwise a few would have been slaughtering him for being crap and not trying and needing to be sold....
Good to see Kos back in the centre of defence and Podolski really did put a shift in. Lovely taken goals and nothing new in that regard.
Much needed win. 4 more to go.
Podolski. :bow:
Among the very best finishers in the world without a doubt.
Bif. :bow:
Was diabolical for the most part, yet pulled a goal from out the top drawer.
Cathorla. :bow:
His best game in a while. Weaved a bit like magic throughout game and was rightly awarded MotM.
Rambo. :bow:
Oh how he was missed. A few exquisite touches in that cameo, one leading to an assist.
The Arsenal. :bow:
Up The Gunners! :scarf:
:tiphat:Quote:
Originally Posted by Munchies
I thought we played quite well last night, especially towards the end of the first half and for large parts of the second half. Much needed win and confidence boost for our fight for 4th place, good news on the returning players too, Ramsey did well last night and Ozil is apparently back on Sunday. The squad is starting to look good again, let's hope we can keep everybody fit now!
A very poor first half but we took it to them for the 2nd. Some sublime goals. Giroud can play like a lump of shit but my my that goal was a thing of beauty. Silky touch whilst slightly off balance and bang. Through the keepers legs! Top goal. Also noticed a brief moment where we dribbled on the ball for a few seconds on the edge of the box, dished off the pass and then charged into the box. It led to nothing but that's the sort of aggression I want to see from him around the box. He'd be difficult to stop if he moved with that sort of speed all the time. The static play and trying flicks around the corner needs to be to we down.
Pod's first goal and finish was excellent and that third goal was great team play. Wenger is missing a trick by not playing him as a striker or 2nd striker. Both goals came from the same position in the box and he executed perfectly. Good to see he got his full 90 minutes too. Still not a winger by a long shot and we need to adjust his playing position because his finishing is lethal.
1st half was typical of what we have been serving up lately. Giroud playing like a non-league striker doesn't help but nobody runs beyond him - we look so flat in an attacking sense. 2nd half possibly the best football we've played for a few months. You can see what the energy & runs of Rambo does for us, we finally had someone running past their backline,off the ball. With Rambo & Ozil now available we need to use Ox in a wider Theo type role. We don't need him in the middle of the pitch, he loses possession to much in tight areas - get him out wide running at defenders. If we do this we can win all 4 games left & lift the cup.
As far as I see it we won a game we should expect to win against a side with nothing to play for.
Decent goals, Podolski clearly should be playing as he'll score goals and is our best striker no question, I pretty much expect us to win every game until the end of the season (we should based on our fixtures).
I watched the post match interview by Wenger and watched him on the touchline and 4th place means so much to him, he celebrates it like he was winning the CL or PL, he's also clearly very proud of his team, his attitude gives me the impression he's happy with his squad and that he doesn't feel it needs much in the summer.
It only takes Wenger 2-3 results to perk up and believe his team are the best thing since sliced bread, he seems to be at that stage again now and come the end of the season if we win the games we're expected to win I fully expect him to talk about our end of season unbeaten mini run and the spirit and togetherness of his team.
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
What are you saying it wasn't and that West Ham do have something to play for?Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
We're at home against a smaller club, West Ham are safe from relegation, please tell me which part of my statement isn't true?
It's obviously true but it's textbook Zim.
We had a tough game on Saturday which went to extra time. It was a chance to go back above Everton and put a bit of pressure on.
If we'd lost or drawn it would have been all "we bottled it" or similar.
We win so it's all dismissive.
Yes, it's a game we should have won but we did and by all accounts played well in the 2nd half. But hey, any chance to have another dig at Wenger. You were WUMming throughout the match thread, you're doing the same here.
I'm not that impressed with a result I expected us to get tbh, had we not won it yes I'd have been annoyed as I fully expected us to win this, it's the same old same old fight for 4th place which we'll invariably get, but 4th place really means little to me so it doesn't get any brownie points.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Frankly I'm pretty tired and underwhelmed by anything Wenger's team does these days, I know how this is going to go, we'll get a few results and he'll preach in the summer about how well we've done, it's all very predictable....the truth is since December we've largely been average thus a few good results at the end of the season won't change much for me.
Oh and Giroud may have scored a goal, but it really doesn't make up for the fact he's a very average player and nowhere near the 1st team, I hope he leaves in the summer, he won't of course because Wenger loves him for some odd reason, Podolski isn't perfect but at least he's a goal threat.
We won the match its true but then again we should. We have won all 6 of our previous matches against the Hammers so winning was expected and also much needed, but given the current circumstances, where we are in a life or death battle with Everton for 4th. It was a good performance. We need to step up and win all our remaining games. Its not a dig at Wenger to lament the position we find ourselves in, simply a sad indictment of our policies that has brought us here.
I think the last thing any true fan would want is another season like this
Or the fact that he knows it was a must win game and it's the first game he was won outright in almost a month.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
The Pod's finishing is the best we have (Theo too) and i like his no nononsense finishing, keep it up. Giroud's goal was excellent but he owe dus one for that shocking piece of showboating in the first half.
Santi was good, Arteta was okay (he usually is against bottom 10 sides) and Ramsey gave us some spark that we have missed since he got injured.
Understand your feelings & frustrations because I have them aswell but the difference for me is that we have been playing such shit football for a while now & I don't expect to win these games. If we play crap football in the last 4 games & fail to make top 4 then its "hat's off" to Everton, they've played better football then us recently & have a manager who makes a mockery of the idiots who think that longevity is a must when it comes to success as a manager. They would simply deserve it - the league table doesn't lie. However, for the 1st time in a long time I was pleased with our 2nd half performance & with Rambo & Ozil back I hope we can continue playing at a faster pace & with players making forward runs. If we do & use Ox in a Theo type role we could finish the season strongly. Then because of our 1st half of the season, we would deserve our place in the top 4. If Wenger decides to play Flamini & Arteta together again in his pathetic negative style then we won't win these games & will deservedly finish out of the top 4. He completely ruined our momentum earlier in the season by trying to play defensively & because he never learns his lesson it wouldn't surprise me if he does it again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
He's done the same thing in previous seasons so not it's not just that I don't think, it was more a general point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie
So you wouldn't see the FA Cup as any progress or a step in the right direction?Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
I will love us winning the FA Cup, but seeing how our league season has gone is deja vu for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
I wouldn't have a problem with things if I could see it changing next season, I just don't believe it will, Wenger is a manager who has too much belief in something that hasn't really worked and doesn't seem to have the flexibility in his approach to change and that's where the big issue is.
It's pretty clear we need to make certain changes in the summer, a change in style of play to something more pacey and a few key signings, but does anyone actually believe Wenger will do what we need, I really don't.
I can't watch another collapse, I expect it but that doesn't mean I want it to happen and yet it happens time and time again, I don't think he's able to setup his teams to last the distance in the big competitions, there's something they're missing he just doesn't seem able to give them.
Just like the media that keep repeating the 'trophy draught' headlines, I think you misunderstand why Arsenal fans are frustrated with the manager and club. It's not just about silverware.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
No, it's not just about silverware but that is a part of it as it's linked to the idea that we bottle it on the big occasion and can't finish the job.
If we win the FA Cup then it will show we can finish the job which could be a springboard to further progress.
I don't think it's that simple, look at how it's gone in the league, another collapse, now tell me things have changed?Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Wenger isn't going to do what we need, he's still obsessed with the min Barcelona idea even if we don't implement it too well these days and he's poor at identifying the right players for the team in the transfer market, I don't see how anything is going to change when the manager continues to be so blinkered when it comes to his team.
What's changed is we're on the verge of our first major trophy in 9 years. Finish the job there and it will surely give us more confidence as a squad and club.
The title was never on my radar this year and while I am disappointed at how badly we've fallen away I don't think many of us had serious thoughts we could win it this year. We clearly need more up front.
I dunno about you guys but ever since that CC final defeat to Birmingham, i've made up my mind that we'll never win another trophy/title under Wenger and even tough we're up ahgainst Hull city, part me doesnt believe we'll win it. It feels like its fate.