Match Reaction - man u v ARSENAL!!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't really remember anyone pining for Barkley.

He's not even as good as Wilshere.

This board doesn't rate Wilshere much so that isn't saying much.....but perhaps that was the point you were making?

[Power n Glory]

When quite a number on here were pining for Barkley on here early in the season I opined on the fact that the Ox is equally if not more talented.

That said....

I think we tend to overstate the Ox's powers on occasion despite his obvious abilities. He struggles for the same consistency people hammer Theo for and his end product varies far more greatly than Theo's does..... He has also shown that he cannot always be trusted.....at least not in midfield.

Before he went on his second mazy run, the latter of which resulted in us scoring he was having a very bad game, as was Welbeck. Credit to the two of them, they have the ability to work their way through it.

I get the argument that most see the Ox as more talented than Theo technically and I am certainly in agreement but he absolutely has to arrive first before we can become so nonchalant about various players leaving imo.

What Wenger has failed to appreciate at times of late is the difference in how oppositions set up and play when Theo is on the pitch. It leaves them really exposed to the high press tactic we seem to be increasingly facing these days too. Sometimes a way to relieve the defensive necessities is to bring on an attack minded solution. Particularly one with very unique and difficult to manage skill set to the opposition.

Agree with that.

[AFC Leveller]

The Ox is a huge talent, he has Pace and Power. He is a little bit injury prone right now and needs a run in the side to really push on.

The only time i have seen him struggle was against Saints where he looked like he didnt fancy going up against pacey FBs (Clyne and Bertrand) and didnt take them on or even attempt to. still young enough though and can be a big player for us.

[selassie]

Not to rail on Gibbs after that fantastic win, but he would most likely not have scored the Nacho goal. Gibbs is the better athlete but Monreal is the better footballer. Giroud would not have reached the ball on the 2nd goal either. Sometimes Wenger does get it right. Kudos!!!

Monreal has outperformed Gibbs by a mile this season. He's been one of our best player this season IMO.

[selassie]

Ox out for 4 weeks. Hamstring injury. FFS! What is it with this coaching staff? He's only been back fit for 5 minutes!

Only at Arsenal would we employ a Conditioning Specialist and see the number of injuries rise, you just couldn't make it up....

The amount of muscular injuries we have had this season is not even funny...it's bordering on disturbing.

[Niall_Quinn]

Our victory on Monday has certainly thrown the media off our scent. It's a string of disasters at Utd now They are barely mentioning us, even the Ozil hit pieces have dried up.

[Dein-machine]

Although Theo isn't as bad as you make out he's not been quite the superstar we all hoped he'd be.
Ox is the player Theo should have been, IMO.

I'm more concerned that OX turns out to be the player that Theo is. They have a similar story as coming from Saints hailed as the next best thing. Ox obviously has time on his side but it worries me that Wenger likes him a a CM. Its all to tight for him in there & it doesn't give him the chance to use his real strength which is pace. The other worrying similarity is that there final ball is woefull, look at what OX did in the 1st half at O.T, no pressure, he can cross for a Welbeck tap in or have a low shot into the corner but instead comes up with a nothing dinked cross shot that goes over the bar. Look at Theo this year & he's one on one's with the keeper, he's been hopeless. We can't use the excuse of coming back from injury, a non-league striker would be finishing better than that. Another similarity is the constant injuries, OX is a more physical specimen that Theo so you would hope he wouldn't be as affected but again he's out for 4 weeks.
I really hope I'm wrong as I like OX & if he gets the confidence we're now seeing from the likes of Santi, being played regularly in his correct position, then I think he could become world class.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

When quite a number on here were pining for Barkley on here early in the season I opined on the fact that the Ox is equally if not more talented.

That said....

I think we tend to overstate the Ox's powers on occasion despite his obvious abilities. He struggles for the same consistency people hammer Theo for and his end product varies far more greatly than Theo's does..... He has also shown that he cannot always be trusted.....at least not in midfield.

Before he went on his second mazy run, the latter of which resulted in us scoring he was having a very bad game, as was Welbeck. Credit to the two of them, they have the ability to work their way through it.

I get the argument that most see the Ox as more talented than Theo technically and I am certainly in agreement but he absolutely has to arrive first before we can become so nonchalant about various players leaving imo.

What Wenger has failed to appreciate at times of late is the difference in how oppositions set up and play when Theo is on the pitch. It leaves them really exposed to the high press tactic we seem to be increasingly facing these days too. Sometimes a way to relieve the defensive necessities is to bring on an attack minded solution. Particularly one with very unique and difficult to manage skill set to the opposition.

Yeah I'd go for that. It should depend on the game and the qualities of the opponent right now. Teams that sit back may require Ox whereas teams that may try to press high, Theo is your man.

Mind you, if the Ox adds more end product to his game, namely more goals and has the Gareth Bale explosion season we all know he's capable of, I think he'll soon become one of the first names on the sheet and comfortably the better player.

Only at Arsenal would we employ a Conditioning Specialist and see the number of injuries rise, you just couldn't make it up....

The amount of muscular injuries we have had this season is not even funny...it's bordering on disturbing.

Was listening to the Arsecast Extra yesterday and apparently we are actively recruiting a "soft tissue" specialist so the club is aware of the problem and is trying to rectify it.

Too early to judge on Shad but thus far there hasn't been a remarkable decrease on the injury front; it's been just as bad. Though a lot of that is do to Wenger himself and him running players into the ground.

Our victory on Monday has certainly thrown the media off our scent. It's a string of disasters at Utd now They are barely mentioning us, even the Ozil hit pieces have dried up.

The media can't even dare to say Ozil is nicking a living now when you have clowns like Mata, Falcao and Di Maria all earning higher wages despite doing nothing. Looks like LVG is finally being exposed for the fraud he is.

[Power n Glory]

Although Theo isn't as bad as you make out he's not been quite the superstar we all hoped he'd be.
Ox is the player Theo should have been, IMO.

Wait...what? Ox is now the player Theo should have been? Do you know how crazy that sounds? Please explain.

[Niall_Quinn]

Many Utd fans seem to have settled on the idea they gifted us the win. I guess it hurts like hell and they are trying to find a way to soothe the pain. They ignore the fact a series of defensive errors led to their goal, we had a penalty denied and De Gea kept the score respectable. Vitally important we go there in the league and beat them again. They'll have nothing to cling to if we can stuff them twice and essentially they'll have swapped places with us as the big club going nowhere fast. If Liverpool and the gypos can beat them too, fuck that would be so sweet.