Match Reaction vs Man City (away).

[IBK]

Disappointing performance no doubt about it.

1st Goal - absolute comical error from the immaculate Koscielny - can't stop that.

After that most of the other goals and almost every other chance came from us being ripped apart on that left flank and you have to give Wilshere some stick for adding to that.

Our players were understandable tired. How can they not be after a high energy game on Wednesday night, coming back on Thursday 4am and playing on Saturday morning.

Having said that, we were desperately unlucky with numerous offsides against us, a penalty not given and a disallowed goal.

Our players are looking knackered. We need a top striker in January. Wenger needs to freshen things up.

We can beat almost every other side in this league apart from City and Chelsea.

We've lost today - but its 3 points and we will still be ahead by 2 points even if all other results don't go our way. Wenger needs to remind the players of that.

And the fans need to create one heck of an atmosphere against Chelsea. Win that now and the confidence will be back again in this team.

City are great but we were desperately unlucky.

The most important question now is - hindsight is a great thing. But did we sacrifice midfield security today too much? Wilshere was desperately poor. There's no doubt Walcott should have started as he gives us another striking option and an outlet but should Rosicky have started instead of Wilshere?

Anyway the PL is a marathon and with a weak squad, I suppose we need to give a rest to some players.

Chelsea game crucial now. More for confidence and belief.

I'll go with that to a point. But when all the analysis; all the arguments and regrets are put aside. We are not strong enough. Yet. I will still hope that we can build on an obvious improvement this season. But there has been no fundamental change at AFC for the time being.

[Özim]

Chelsea will beat us IMO, that's 3 poorish results on the trot now so confidence will be low and the players all look tired already (didn't see today's game but they've looked tired for a couple matches now).

I never felt we'd get anything against City and thought at best we'd get a point against Chelsea so I felt the Everton game was key, sadly we dropped points in that one.

The lack of a quality striker has become apparent recently, whilst Giroud works hard and makes some nice touches he's just not ruthless in front of goal and against the better teams it will show.


Winning big games aren't the be all and end all but what they do give you is momentum and belief.