Match Reaction vs Everton

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

It's a curious feeling. I genuinely thought that with 8 minutes to go we had won the game. I certainly celebrated Ozil's goal as if that was the case. When things did not transpire that way I couldn't help questioning the fact that it didn't.

That was the problem. We lost concentration because in our minds we thought we had won. When we go a goal up we usually win so the players switched off. We worked so hard to get that goal and when we finally got it, the players relaxed. In essence, they should have concentrated 200%. It's a shame but hopefully they learn from it.

[BOBN]

Another thing, masterclass from Martinez. Thats the next Arsenal manager right there.

[Letters]

That was the problem. We lost concentration because in our minds we thought we had won. When we go a goal up we usually win so the players switched off. We worked so hard to get that goal and when we finally got it, the players relaxed. In essence, they should have concentrated 200%. It's a shame but hopefully they learn from it.

I don't really see it that way. We didn't get caught on the break or concede to a silly defensive or 'keeping error.
It was just a really good goal, it happens.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Gibbs could have stopped that.

[Letters]

I didn't think that at the time but even if I have another look and agree, it wasn't a lapse in concentration, it was an individual mistake if it was one at all.

[Power n Glory]

Eh? He was stopping Arsenal Football Club from prospering. Directly responsible. Weve been brilliant ( little bit slutty use of the word 'brilliant') from the very day he was dropped.

The real question is, why DONT you hate him?

But its not just his fault. Wenger making him captain was the moment I took down my "Wenger Knows" poster. No matter what happens I can no longee trust this man implicitly.

Vermaelen was terrible and just dived in for tackles without thinking about the positioning of his teammates or opposition. It was a good call for him to be dropped and I’m glad Bould is now on board to help with these sort of calls. Kos and Merts had a good partnership running earlier on last season but Wenger made the mistake of dropping Merts as soon as Verm was fit to play. He’s made the same sort of mistakes with CB pairings before and it used to get on my nerves. There was one season where Senderos was having a good run in the team and he’d instantly get dropped for Kolo once he was back from the ACON. Once Kolo was back in, the CB just looked soft and disorganised again. It’s not over for Verm. I think he may have the capacity to learn how to play in a system but I put that down to Bould’s influence.

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't really see it that way. We didn't get caught on the break or concede to a silly defensive or 'keeping error.
It was just a really good goal, it happens.

Hard to say it was a good goal, seeing as it was offside by a big margin. But it was a good piece of individual skill by Delmonte, or whatever his name is. Surprised nobody is making more of Webb's appalling performance. Everton had a lot of control because Webb let them kick us every time we tried to respond and play our game. Barry should have been sent off about 8 times.

[Niall_Quinn]

Has he really? Hes been alright like but you guys cant keep saying people like Ozil and Wilshere are this, that and the third and then be suprised that a striker gets a few goals.

And it is a few goals. Bar those two gifts against Southampton, his late goal against Palace is his only league goal since September 14. So he scored in the first 4 games and thats his lot since.

And Ozil saved his bum by finishing after he made an utter cock-up of that chance. Bendtner would have fancied that chance.

Girouds run his race for the season. Hes done. A new striker couldnt come quickly enough.

Agreed the goal tally could be higher, he's stuck on the same number as RvP and Rooney right now. But he's been immense in his overall game, from the corner of our own box where he defends excellently, his link up play which is tidy and often decisive, and some crucial goals on top. I didn't rate this guy either, initially, but he's come on very well in his second season and deserves some credit for his hard work. He's not Suarez, nobody would argue that, but names like Llorente keep getting thrown about and I really don't see how he would give us any more than Giroud. Chances are he'd give us a couple more goals but a lot less in other areas of the pitch. I'm happy with Giroud as the main striker, of course I;d like to see a decent backup brought in in January. Hard call though, finding a quality player who will be a squad player and is not cup tied already.

[BOBN]

Agreed the goal tally could be higher, he's stuck on the same number as RvP and Rooney right now. But he's been immense in his overall game, from the corner of our own box where he defends excellently, his link up play which is tidy and often decisive, and some crucial goals on top. I didn't rate this guy either, initially, but he's come on very well in his second season and deserves some credit for his hard work. He's not Suarez, nobody would argue that, but names like Llorente keep getting thrown about and I really don't see how he would give us any more than Giroud. Chances are he'd give us a couple more goals but a lot less in other areas of the pitch. I'm happy with Giroud as the main striker, of course I;d like to see a decent backup brought in in January. Hard call though, finding a quality player who will be a squad player and is not cup tied already.

I agree he deserves a degree of credit and that Llorente is not better than him.

My issue is we need to transition from "we need to buy back up" to "we need to get the best striker we can get regardless of whether they mesh well with Giroud". Giroud has not done enough to be the undisputed number 1 striker at the club, and even if he was its dangerous thinking because we did that with RVP and got lumbered with the pretty mediocre and not cheap Podolski soley because "he can play on the left and then fill in when RVP is out".

Lets just get the best bastard our money can buy and let the two scrap it out.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I have to say, I pretty much agree with all of that.

Giroud opined on the possible transfer of the bitey rodenty one in the summer by words to the affect of, 'let him come'. He himself is up to the challenge.