Match Reaction Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal

[Power n Glory]

Glad we won - but it was an incredibly dull, lifeless performance.

I'm worried that the win will somehow provide validation to Wenger that he has the central MF pairing right.

He hasn't. And if he sticks with it, Leicester will stick it to us next week.

I think it will. It's a strange one because he said something about finishing being linked to the quality of the chances created. Today, we created a lot less clear cut chances but finished them off. No idea what he'll do for the next game but today was dull.

[alexander]

I think it will. It's a strange one because he said something about finishing being linked to the quality of the chances created. Today, we created a lot less clear cut chances but finished them off. No idea what he'll do for the next game but today was dull.

Nobody wants dull, (I dont for sure, Ive been spoilt by Henry/pires/berkamp etc!!) but chelsea `dulled` it to the title from december on last season, and I would take that!

[Niall_Quinn]

Talking about us? We are right in there, won today, still a long way to go. We are in the FA Cup, still in CL. Really, it could be so much worse. Its early Feb, we were never going to win the league by now anyway. Its not perfect, but who is? Nobody.

But this is exactly what many are talking about. Wenger has this ability to persuade people his bog standard average bullshit is acceptable. It could be worse. It might get better, judge him at the end of the season, it's not over yet, if we can win there and there. Okay, but what about the squad and tactics and substitutions and ambition on the pitch and our general level of performance. I mean we were absolutely awful today. Was that an Arsenal team? I really fucking hope not. And that has been the level of our performance for most of this season. Yes, we are "in" the CL, technically. But you know it's only that. We have zero chance of doing anything in that competition. He couldn't even win it with Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Vieira at his disposal. Come on, snap out of it!

[Letters]

I too can agree with some of NQs frustrations, really I do. But it could be a whole heap worse, and in many previous seasons has been.

I agree with him that Leicester shouldn't be kicking our arses but...well, they're kicking everyone's arses so that reflects badly on everyone.
I've no idea what they're playing at this season, if there do win it then it will be the best thing to happen in football for a very long time.

[Power n Glory]

I too can agree with some of NQs frustrations, really I do. But it could be a whole heap worse, and in many previous seasons has been.

I think this season will go down as one of the most frustrating because we are out of excuses. We have the new TV deal money along with our new sponsorship money so can afford to spend big in the transfer window. City have practically sabotaged their own season with this Pep fiasco. Man Utd and Chelsea are nothing to worry about. But the biscuit is seeing Leicester take advantage of our rivals instability whilst we can't and we're the most stable team out of all of our rivals.

[alexander]

But this is exactly what many are talking about. Wenger has this ability to persuade people his bog standard average bullshit is acceptable. It could be worse. It might get better, judge him at the end of the season, it's not over yet, if we can win there and there. Okay, but what about the squad and tactics and substitutions and ambition on the pitch and our general level of performance. I mean we were absolutely awful today. Was that an Arsenal team? I really fucking hope not. And that has been the level of our performance for most of this season. Yes, we are "in" the CL, technically. But you know it's only that. We have zero chance of doing anything in that competition. He couldn't even win it with Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Vieira at his disposal. Come on, snap out of it!

But this `bog standard average bullshit` has us second in league, in FA Cup and CL! You quote me as "in" the CL, and we are! we might lose, but we might win, its 50/50. You cant judge on something that hasnt happened yet.

[Power n Glory]

Nobody wants dull, (I dont for sure, Ive been spoilt by Henry/pires/berkamp etc!!) but chelsea `dulled` it to the title from december on last season, and I would take that!

I'm not saying I wouldn't either. It's just I don't get what Wenger is seeing with his team selection. If he thought we didn't create really great chances in our last game, there is no way he can say we created better quality chances in this one. So saying that, surely he makes a change to the midfield pairing or maybe the striker up top? We have some serious games coming up and I can't see him tinkering so late on but he really should. I think we're in serious trouble if we play this team again.

[Niall_Quinn]

Nobody wants dull, (I dont for sure, Ive been spoilt by Henry/pires/berkamp etc!!) but chelsea `dulled` it to the title from december on last season, and I would take that!

That's the fundamental difference then. I despised the chavs for what they did last season. It was the antithesis of everything I believe sporting endeavour to be about.

[Niall_Quinn]

But this `bog standard average bullshit` has us second in league, in FA Cup and CL! You quote me as "in" the CL, and we are! we might lose, but we might win, its 50/50. You cant judge on something that hasnt happened yet.

We've already lost to Barca. It just hasn't happened yet, but trust me on this, And if it wasn't them it would be take your pick. We haven't been in that competition for years, not in a meaningful way. Manager has been shown up so many times now, is it really that difficult to predict what happens? JHC even Di Matteo could figure out the basics - the basics being let the players manage the team. I wish Wenger would do that.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I think it was NQ in the match thread that said wenger was destroying Alexis confidence by taking him off at 70 mins. Like Coq, he has had a long injury lay-off and Wenger knows these two players are crucial to the rest of our season and title challenge. yes, we are still in with a shot, whatever NQ and others still bang on about, we are joint 2nd, and a win next week makes it wide open again.
He cannot risk these players more than he has too. I fully expect Coq to be starting next weekend. If he does them in before we play Vardy and his high flying rabble and spurs, there will be a massive uproar.

We are not joint 2nd. That is spin. We're third.

That midfield partnership is a prime reason why and there is no way he should be persisting with this regardless of the situation.