Match reaction - LGBT

3 points :dance:

Clean sheet :dance:

I thought cech had a good game today.. commanded his box well and took control of situations.

Monreal :bow:

Sanchez :bow

Ramsey was useless

Mustafi was pretty useless

Walcott getting jeered when he came on :haha:

A word on lacazette.. he's quite frustrating at times isn't he. Seems to have that ozil lackadaisical approach which is the last thing I wanna see on the pitch tbh. Sometimes his link up play is really good then he goes through spells in the game where it's crap and the ball constantly bounces off him. He does miss a fair few. Certainly isn't in that costa aguero bracket yet but hopefully that improves as the season progresses :shrug:

Wenger :bow:

Wenger :bow:.

Monreal :bow:.

Iwobit :bow:.

Hughton :haha:.


Lacashite is fine. He should have scored one today, but he's not a lazy fuck like Ozil. He was constantly harrying their keeper and defenders. His link-up play is 50/50 at the moment but then Alexis' is even worse. Once he settles into the team more and we start creating more chances as a team and maybe he doesn't get hauled off by WUMger on 60 minutes, I think he'll start racking up the +1s.

Also the ref and the linesmen were woeful. As ever.

Job done albeit I think we really needed a battering to raise our spirits. Had the opportunities to do so as well.

Ramsey had a shocker and really needs proper coaching - I know he's disliked by many on here but I think he'd be beastly for us if he stuck to what he excels at.

Actually though Mustafi looked good in the sweeper role, mopping up anything that got past the others. Needed to do better against Murray though he's a beast in the air.


I think I've made my views on Ozil clear already but like Jack he shouldn't get back into the team unless they pledge their commitment to the team in the form of signing a new contract - I'm sick of us building around or rewarding uncommitted players ... let them live by their decisions. Alexis is the only exception because of how fucking good he is.

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Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal who scored their opening goal, speaking to BT: "I was lucky to score today. We knew it would be a difficult game. They defended with a lot of players. I was lucky to be there and get my second goal for Arsenal.

"After Liverpool we talked because we can't play as we did. We lost 4-0 and the team was really poor. From there the team reacted we are playing more compact, we defend with all players and have a clean sheet.

"We have top players up front. They will score goals if we defend and can help with a clean sheet it is much better."

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Looks like there was another player meeting after the Liverpool debacle.

Monreal though :bow:

Now he's a player I'd love for us to keep forever, if anything like the BFG because of he's an adult and because of his professionalism.

Routine stuff. We miss some quality in midfield.

I wouldn't mind Ramsey getting involved on the end of attacks if the didn't ruin them every single time.

Most important thing first - Wenger out.

After that, very easy game today. Brighton aren't sufficient quality to be in this league. They gave us heaps of time and that meant our passing game worked. Scored a couple, should have been many more. No real stand-out performances bar a second half spell from Alexis where he looked different class. Ramsey woeful. He overplays everything, always picking complexity when simplicity will do. Xhaka woeful too, the amount of simple mistakes he makes is crazy. We have real problems with the midfield. Defence looked disorganised on the few occasions when Brighton managed to get up our end and we were fortunate not to concede at least 1.

An easy game but an average performance when you consider we'll face much tougher challenges. Enough to get the points and a few good passages of play, particularly at the start of the game and in the second half up to the point where that bizarre cunt Wenger decided to wreck things.

Don't think we learned much we didn't already know.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

Most important thing first - Wenger out.

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:lol:

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Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico

Ramsey had a shocker and really needs proper coaching - I know he's disliked by many on here but I think he'd be beastly for us if he stuck to what he excels at.

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He could be a good midfielder if he stuck to his task but his only interest is in getting up the pitch and scoring goals. Wenger has indulged him for too long and its probably too late for him to change his mentality at this stage.

It's not just a matter of coaching him. You could get someone to coach Ozil on defending and covering for his team mates but he still wouldn't do it because he doesn't fancy that side of the game and thinks he's too good for it. It's the same with Ramsey.

Routine stuff, a mixed performance, thought we could and should have scored a few more. The back to back away games against Watford & Everton after the International break will tell us a bit more about where this team is, I'm still far from convinced we are anything better than a 6th place team at best and I kind of expect us to drop points in both of these upcoming away games.

Super win, I really feel we’re on the cusp of something special.

So beat those fruity fun boys today.

Not exactly a classic performance but don't suppose it had to be

I think we probably will finish top 4 but so what if we're not actually challenging for the league.

Good to get the win though.

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Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

I think we probably will finish top 4 but so what if we're not actually challenging for the league.

Good to get the win though.

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The two Manc teams will finish above us as will the Spuds. Pool are just as woeful as us and Everton are shite.......Its possible but I wouldnt bet on it. Klopp knows he will be sacked if he fails to make top 4. Wenger already has his excuses so doesnt care.

Man City and Man U are way too good for us, Spurs are looking pretty good too at the moment so those 3 will definitely finish above us. After that Chelsea for me despite an mediocre start will have too much for us and will most likely get the other top 4 spot, they're suffering a bit of a title win hangover at the moment.

Liverpool blow hot and cold but as a team they're a better team than us on their day as they showed when they blew us away at Anfield, consistency is their only issue.

IMO top 4 is very unlikely for us, we've not really strenghtened much since last season, a season that was pretty poor and so far are looking very unconvincing, yes we're getting the odd win but it's pretty average stuff really, the usual stuff we've seen in recent years, a big defeat and a mini run of games where we pick up points, albeit unconvincingly to reduce the pressure on the manager, in the end though we get blown away by some other team and the cycle starts again.

We beat Brighton 2-0, but a really all of our results so far haven't been anything to get excited about, no real champagne football, no real convincing performances, we're now hailing a draw with Chelsea as some sort of glorious performance, personally, I find a draw underwhelming.

Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs.....forget Liverpool. That's the top 4 teams we have to focus on.

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Originally Posted by Delusions of Grandeur

Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs.....forget Liverpool. That's the top 4 teams we have to focus on.

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Liverpool have as much chance as us of stringing together a run of results that bring them into contention, not for a title but to grab the last CL spot. Liverpool are our closest rivals this season. It's between us and them for a probable 5th. We've just put together a run of results against a stream of pubbers, ranging from relegation candidates in the PL to minnows in the Europa. It's the classic false dawn being lapped up by fans on AFTV who are suddenly calling this a 7/10 season so far.

The one notable result is the 0-0 win against the chavs. Boy oh boy, plenty of people are patting the team on the back for avoiding annihilation. This is taken as a sign of progress, a 0-0. Of course the gypos went and took all 3 points.

But in reality we're where we always are. A hapless manager who is nowhere near figuring his starting eleven. A shambolic midfield and a defence that swings from almost competent to all at sea. There's nothing I have seen to suggest we are on the way back up. We'll see what happens when we face the next credible challenge. Another 0-0 won't cut it. Somewhere along the line we're going to have to take points from our supposed rivals if we want to take their place in the top 4. Can anyone really see it happening? We're the team that comes bottom of the top 6 round robin now the spuds have found their way out of our shadow.

There's nothing happening at this club, it continues to be in stagnating limbo while we wait for the idiot to relinquish his grip. Klopp is struggling but he's at least sane and will find a way to patch up his crappy defence. Wenger will never, ever, ever find a way to patch up ours. On the contrary, he's likely to make it worse at every turn. If we ever do get settled he'll tinker and ruin it, maybe start playing Jack as a CB - don't put anything beyond possibility with this guy. So 6th is where I see it unless Klopp mortally embarrasses himself by failing to do better than Wenger.

Man City I think were near the bottom if not dead last, Liverpool came top of that round robin. I wish Statto.com was still around. We beat Chelsea and Man Utd at home last season.

Beating the pub teams consistently is generally how you make Top 4 (by that I mean 4th) so not beating Burnley and Swansea at home, plus for added measure losing at home to Chelsea doesn't strike me as a ringing endorsement.

I think if we do finish Top 4, it will have a lot to do with barely playing the first XI (which clearly is obvious) in the Europa League whereas all the others have Champions League to contend with.

For me I don't see our squad at least not in a worse state then last season.

If we cant beat any of the top 5 teams either home or away, which is entirely possible for us, then realistically top 4 is improbable, if not impossible. If I were Bill Kenwright now. I would sack Koeman 2mrw and look to get Enrique in asap. Hes the only top manager currently unavailable. Ancellotti will probably feel the Toffees are beneath him.

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Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...

Man City I think were near the bottom if not dead last, Liverpool came top of that round robin. I wish Statto.com was still around. We beat Chelsea and Man Utd at home last season.

Beating the pub teams consistently is generally how you make Top 4 (by that I mean 4th) so not beating Burnley and Swansea at home, plus for added measure losing at home to Chelsea doesn't strike me as a ringing endorsement.

I think if we do finish Top 4, it will have a lot to do with barely playing the first XI (which clearly is obvious) in the Europa League whereas all the others have Champions League to contend with.

For me I don't see our squad at least not in a worse state then last season.

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It doesn't matter. The historical record is there to see. In 2015/16 we did well in that top 6 mini-league. And then compensated by losing to a string of pubbers. Other times we have come bottom of the mini-league but picked up points against the pubbers. But we NEVER do both. Surely by now you have seen that Wenger can always find a way to fuck things up. He's infallible in that respect. Which is why having a better squad won't matter either. Look at the way the idiot is managing Lacazette at the moment. What a fucking tool the bloke is.

There remains the possibility the players will step up DESPITE the arsehole in charge. But so far, no signs of that happening except in the chav match which I continue to believe was one of those instances (like matches against the Manchester teams a couple of seasons back) where Wenger was somehow sidelined. You notice we have gone back to his fucked up antics since we performed professionally against the chavs.

I'm sure we'll reach the promise land of 4th again this season. It will be hailed as progress, the Emirates ultras will crow about how he's proven us all wrong and deserves another 2 years.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

It doesn't matter. The historical record is there to see. In 2015/16 we did well in that top 6 mini-league. And then compensated by losing to a string of pubbers. Other times we have come bottom of the mini-league but picked up points against the pubbers. But we NEVER do both. Surely by now you have seen that Wenger can always find a way to fuck things up. He's infallible in that respect. Which is why having a better squad won't matter either. Look at the way the idiot is managing Lacazette at the moment. What a fucking tool the bloke is.

There remains the possibility the players will step up DESPITE the arsehole in charge. But so far, no signs of that happening except in the chav match which I continue to believe was one of those instances (like matches against the Manchester teams a couple of seasons back) where Wenger was somehow sidelined. You notice we have gone back to his fucked up antics since we performed professionally against the chavs.

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Ramsey has reverted back to type since the Chelsea game. Compare the amount of touches in around the box compared to how he played against Chelsea. Back to the gung-ho runs forward. It's like they all have the memory of fish. We'll get caught out soon or later and repeat exactly what was said when thrashed to Liverpool.

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Originally Posted by Globalgunner

If we cant beat any of the top 5 teams either home or away, which is entirely possible for us, then realistically top 4 is improbable, if not impossible. If I were Bill Kenwright now. I would sack Koeman 2mrw and look to get Enrique in asap. Hes the only top manager currently unavailable. Ancellotti will probably feel the Toffees are beneath him.

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Yep, totally agree with this. A point against our rivals isn't enough, we will need to beat at least two of them to stand any chance of finishing top 4 IMO.

The top 4 at the moment are extremely consistent against the lesser teams and are blowing them away so I can't really see any of them dropping many points in those games, it's going to be the battle of the top 6 games that decides who finishes where.

We also need to sort out our away form which is now bordering on embarrassing, if we can't pick up solid wins away then top 4 is nothing but a pipe dream.

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Originally Posted by Delusions of Grandeur

Ramsey has reverted back to type since the Chelsea game. Compare the amount of touches in around the box compared to how he played against Chelsea. Back to the gung-ho runs forward. It's like they all have the memory of fish. We'll get caught out soon or later and repeat exactly what was said when thrashed to Liverpool.

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Yep I have noticed. I think we'll get caught out in one of our upcoming away games unless we sort it out now. We are not a good enough team to be able to go gung ho in away games in the Prem.

It's not that we need to get fourth in order for us to make incremental progress to the title - I think most folks now accept that that old goat doesn't have it in him to ever win the league title again in this modern football climate.

It's more that it's absolutely imperative for us to get CL football to protect our reputation, status & prestige for when Wenger does finally leave - to attract the best manager available (Allegiri, Jardim, Serri etc) and to help attract & retain the elite players needed to win a league campaign.

Not that they weren't necessarily going to leave anyway, but losing CL football was likely the final nail in the coffin for Alexis & Ozil staying. We aren't a marketing club like United or aren't state funded like Chelsea or Citeh so we can't simply plaster over non-CL football by throwing endless money as they've all done in the past. So we absolutely have to get back into the tournament ..... either by getting top four or winning the Europa cup .... as one year outside the CL can quickly turn into five and soon you become Liverpool. And instead of hunting for the likes of Ozil & Alexis we're instead getting in pub level filth.

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Originally Posted by Delusions of Grandeur

Ramsey has reverted back to type since the Chelsea game. Compare the amount of touches in around the box compared to how he played against Chelsea. Back to the gung-ho runs forward. It's like they all have the memory of fish. We'll get caught out soon or later and repeat exactly what was said when thrashed to Liverpool.

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Yeah this. It's absolutely ridiculous and I'm a mega Ramsey fan.

MoTM against Chelsea and also dominated them (Kante & Matic) in the Cup Final last season yet decides to his best Messi impression in the last two game, instead of continuing to put in those boss performances. Not to shift the blame (as he should know better and I think some of is his ego) but I suspect Wenger has given him licence to do what he wants in these type of games ....... it's going to cost us soon and tbh we were extremely lucky against WBA.

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Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico

Yeah this. It's absolutely ridiculous and I'm a mega Ramsey fan.

MoTM against Chelsea and also dominated them (Kante & Matic) in the Cup Final last season yet decides to his best Messi impression in the last two game, instead of continuing to put in those boss performances. Not to shift the blame (as he should know better and I think some of is his ego) but I suspect Wenger has given him licence to do what he wants in these type of games ....... it's going to cost us soon and tbh we were extremely lucky against WBA.

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I suspect it's Wenger's instructions because we saw Elneny do the same thing when given a starting role and he's more reserved on attack when in midfield.

But saying that, I highly doubt Ramsey is reluctant to bomb forward all the time. The problem with Wenger is that he'll sometimes allow players to indulge in their worse impulses and not correct them.

Neither the manager or the owner are capable of lifting the clubfrom the mediocrity we now are. In the case of the owner I suspect there is no desire either