Quote Originally Posted by RomfordPele View Post
It is possible to criticise both wenger AND the players, y'know. It's kinda the manager who picks them, who trains them, who talks tactics with them, who gees them up before the game, isn't it?. And it's wenger who is the common denominator for the last 8 years of failure. I don't understand why you're so quick to defend him.

Yes, there is a kernel of quality in this squad, but I just don't see it realising its potential with wenger in a frontline managerial role. He clearly needs some help, and that means letting go and delegating a bit, as he did when dein was around.
It's the common denominator. Wenger is on the end of these beatings far too often and I can't accuse the players of not giving a fuck this season. It can't be that. We've rooted out all the players that wouldn't give us a 100%. All the players had a mare. The defence have been the difference for us this season until today and I can't really point fingers there and say we need to change personnel there. Ox and Cazorla were terrible and sloppy but you'd be a fool to say they should be off.

I think we got it tactically wrong. Ox isn't ready for midfield responsibility, Arteta doesn't have the legs to cover when we experiment like that and we played a suicidal backline.

It has to be nerves because the players all knew what was riding on this game and I they chocked. It's not as if we haven't seen other Wenger teams fall apart. Something went wrong (again) behind the scenes and we weren't ready for Chelsea.