Match reaction vs Swansea

[Master Splinter]

That was an impressive, efficient away performance at a tough place, regardless of how much Arsenal and Wenger have ruined your life.

Cazorla was superb. It was probably his hardest-working performance of the season.

Jenkinson (apart from one sloppy pass) was fantastic again. He makes a real difference on the right. If only he had someone competent to link up with on that side.

Defence was composed for the second away game in a row. Swansea's only real chance came from the Jenkinson pass and their other one was offside.

Vermaelen, Sagna and Szczesny back for the next game then.

Monreal .

Gervinho .

[Syn]

Cazorla was superb. It was probably his hardest-working performance of the season.

It's disgusting that he feels the need to close down the goalie every time. What the fuck are Giroud and Walcott doing?

Agree with your assessment but Monreal was the clear weak link in defence again. He scampers but he's not as quick as even Jenkinson. Jenkinson can't read the game well but he's got Kolo-esque recovery powers. In fact, Kolo had a very similar style. Everything else about Monreal is fine but he is prone to getting beaten easily.

Would definitely have Sagna back in the team over Jenkinson as soon as he's fit though.

Vermaelen? Not so much. Szczesny? Wouldn't mind if he's in or out.

When Fabianski makes one little mistake, it's game over. When he's good he's solid and is far more likely to make exceptional saves than Szczesny. But when he's bad, he just loses the plot and forgets how to catch anything. Szczesny made a stupid mistake against Villa but Cazorla rescued us a win. That doesn't happen if Fabianski makes one because it's followed by another 3 in the same game. Still, credit where it's due and you should play players on form so Fabianski should stay until he has a mental breakdown.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

We definitely won't beat Reading next week....fact!

[Master Splinter]

We definitely won't beat Reading next week....fact!

We don't play them until the week after, so yes.

But if they have a new manager, it will definitely be for us.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

We don't play them until the week after, so yes.

But if they have a new manager, it will definitely be for us.

Sorry just being pedantic because some of the posters had put about us playing them next week.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Ijust went through the match thread as my way of 'watching' the match. Back to back 2 nil away wins - we are getting all we can ask for from the defence - hopefully, Giroud and Theo can get it together - but not so much that it is somehow deemed that we don't really need a striker - because we really really do.

Liking the way the results in general have gone today - hopefully the whole week-end shapes up to be a good one.

[Master Splinter]

Agree with your assessment but Monreal was the clear weak link in defence again.

Definitely. Probably harsh to single out Mini-Merchant on a glorious day for him though. I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt until his first full season.

Gibbs is almost a guaranteed 7 or 8/10 performer when he plays now, so you'd expect him to be first choice. But Wenger spent money on Monreal and he's older, so WengBOT might intervene.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think Szczesny is a really good keeper, the problem is he's had no competition which has made him arrogant and complacent. I think he gets far too much stick though when you compare his errors to the ones a keeper like Joe Hart makes.
Fabianski had very little to do in both of our games, he made a good stop from Arjen Robben on Wednesday but it was Jenkinson getting himself in the way that made Robben take the shot early and his ball distribution from goal kicks is atrocious.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I think Szczesny is a really good keeper, the problem is he's had no competition which has made him arrogant and complacent. I think he gets far too much stick though when you compare his errors to the ones a keeper like Joe Hart makes.
Fabianski had very little to do in both of our games, he made a good stop from Arjen Robben on Wednesday but it was Jenkinson getting himself in the way that made Robben take the shot early and his ball distribution from goal kicks is atrocious.

Not sure complacency is the main factor, though it could be one. He's had a weakness with shots from distance for a while that people were probably more willing to overlook because he is far better on crosses than those in the team before.

Fabianski is a decent goalkeeper and capable of some excellent saves. Generally I think quicker and more agile than Szczesny. The doubts will linger about set-pieces because of his previous experiences. Realistically it's a case of people being happy now but wanting Szczesny back when he next fumbles a cross, rinse and repeat. Though obviously I hope he doesn't. I think LF's contract expires at the end of the season too.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Not sure complacency is the main factor, though it could be one. He's had a weakness with shots from distance for a while that people were probably more willing to overlook because he is far better on crosses than those in the team before.

Fabianski is a decent goalkeeper and capable of some excellent saves. Generally I think quicker and more agile than Szczesny. The doubts will linger about set-pieces because of his previous experiences. Realistically it's a case of people being happy now but wanting Szczesny back when he next fumbles a cross, rinse and repeat. Though obviously I hope he doesn't. I think LF's contract expires at the end of the season too.

I disagree i think Szczesny is a better shot stopper, i think fumbling crosses is more of an inherent weakness in a keeper's overall game where as Szczesny is more than capable of making saves from distance or close range and i think his errors do not bear out any poor reflection on his agility.
Fabianski had nothing to do today, no crosses to deal with no saves to make and even against Bayern they were mainly kept to punts from distance that normally blazed well wide or well over.
For me we need to buy a thirty something keeper to keep Szczesny grounded as everything i hear is that he has become extremely arrogant because he thinks he can walk into the team.