Match Reaction - Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

[Power n Glory]

I think we'll challenge for the title. I'm not going to overreact after one game, that's the media's job.

By all accounts (on here at least) Chelsea were pretty rubbish and could have lost, they got lucky with a deflected goal. Utd were rubbish too and only won because of an own goal. We were actually pretty decent, we had 'one of those days' in front of goal (and, of course, their 'keeper was excellent - how often does that happen against us?) and West Ham only had 2 shots on target all day and scored both (again, how often does that happen against us?)

We can't afford too many days like that but playing like we did yesterday we're not going to lose many games. We're one game in, let's see where we are by Christmas. We have to properly challenge this year, we're good enough to.

It doesn't really matter about other teams and their performance. We're waiting on City's results but they're all ahead of us on point. This is an example where we need to match their results 'stride for stride' or go one better. When we're actually in the title race and everything is even. There is no point in going on a 10 game winning streak around February when we're way behind on points. It's very early but you saw the mountain we had to climb last season and you yourself say it's what cost us dearly. Will we learn from that this season is the question.

We weren't decent. We really weren't. You can't trump such results up to luck when they happen so often. Pay attention to the team selection for starters. It wasn't balanced and Wenger decided to disrupt a very good partnership between Cazorla and Coquelin, a huge reason why we had a good run last season, and it results in both players having very off games. Cazorla wasn't able to control the middle of the park with his passing and Coquelin was having to spread the ball around instead which is why we saw some off passes from him.

Instead we play Ramsey next to Coquelin and not only did Ramsey do a poor job as CM he smothered Ozil as well. I don't know why Wenger felt the need to tinker with the team like that but it shows he still doesn't know what works and why a particular group of players work. He could have rectified things with his subs, hook Ramsey off, bring on Theo, move Cazorla back to the centre with Coquelin but no! He destroys the balance of play again and then again by taking of Debuchy for Alexis.

You're right. We can't afford many games like that but I think we will see many more if Wenger doesn't come to a quick realisation about the balance needed to win the league. When teams lock up shop he still has no answer for it so even if we hadn't have lost the game with those Cech blunders, it could have easily been a draw based on what we saw from the first half. The attacking line up he sent out he's seen plenty of times and should know by now that too many ball to feet passers won't unlock an organised defence.

[LDG]

Our issue yesterday wasn't Giroud, though he clearly isn't Aguero / Suarez etc.

The issue was midfield, even if we did gift two goals.

They were all square, and all funnelled central. No width, no movement. The amount of times Cazorla received a pass, and Arteta'd it to Coq, who passed it back square again. Ramsey was shocking. AOC wasn't told to fuck off out wide, and we had nothing on the left apart from a poor Monreal.

Giroud had nothing really. No service, and had to keep dropping deep to get the ball.

Our shape was shite, and as we were so square, it's no wonder a 16 year old (credit to the lad) was able to boss us. With the quality we have, we should be passing triangles round the fella.

Of course we'll do better in other matches, but the main worry, is that there is STILL no instruction from the side lines when it's clear as day how unbalanced we were. It's shocking how a seasoned manager like Wenger still can't lead the team. All he needed to do was give a few instructions to the team, show them where they're going wrong.....it's basic shit. That's why we won't win the league under Wenger.

[Power n Glory]

Giroud has his flaws but this type of thing is where I'll cut him some slack, he's obviously a striker who thrives off service but when there's no width he ends up dropping deep to join in, when he should really be pushing on waiting for the ball.

We'll instantly improve when Alexis is sharp but Theo should also be starting to maximise how direct we can play. Trouble is WUMger has a fetish for grouping together the tippy tappy brigade.

If you have the highlights look at Giroud's movement at the moment where Ox goes on that mazy run taking on half of the West Ham team on his own. Giroud decides to make a near post run instead of back post and not really attempting to lose the defender marking the front post. Why make that run? He's always looking for ball to feet crosses and makes no use of his height.

[selassie]

I wish someone would point out to him that we went almost a decade without a trophy and our recent success boils down to 'outside solutions' and buying better players. This is something he just doesn't get. He's had several cracks at this and he just has to accept he has to buy players to win things. We can see he's not the sharpest guy when it comes to tactics. We go two goals down and his solution is to throw on all our attacking players and that completely disrupt the balance of the team even further. He needs to buy a better striker and decide on his best 11 asap. After our last winning streak it shouldn't be that hard to work out!

Yep, I think Wenger will dig his heels in even more now that the cries for strengthening the squad are getting louder. Everybody knows what we need but Wenger won't be told. He's more interested in finding internal solutions than going into the market to buy the missing pieces of the jigsaw. I don't even think we need much, we are only 1 at a push 2 players away from being favourites for the title IMO, obviously those signings would need to be "Sanchez" level type buys.

I do think we can put in a title challenge with the squad as is but everything has to fall in place, I.E. no injuries and everybody playing at a high level, already things are starting to fall apart with the injuries mounting, Bellerin out yesterday with a muscular injury, Jack out for a while to add to the list of the other serial crocks. I imagine we are going to pick up some more muscular injuries as the season progresses so I don't really think it's realistic of us to sustain a credible title challenge.

[Power n Glory]

Our issue yesterday wasn't Giroud, though he clearly isn't Aguero / Suarez etc.

The issue was midfield, even if we did gift two goals.

They were all square, and all funnelled central. No width, no movement. The amount of times Cazorla received a pass, and Arteta'd it to Coq, who passed it back square again. Ramsey was shocking. AOC wasn't told to fuck off out wide, and we had nothing on the left apart from a poor Monreal.

Giroud had nothing really. No service, and had to keep dropping deep to get the ball.

Our shape was shite, and as we were so square, it's no wonder a 16 year old (credit to the lad) was able to boss us. With the quality we have, we should be passing triangles round the fella.

Of course we'll do better in other matches, but the main worry, is that there is STILL no instruction from the side lines when it's clear as day how unbalanced we were. It's shocking how a seasoned manager like Wenger still can't lead the team. All he needed to do was give a few instructions to the team, show them where they're going wrong.....it's basic shit. That's why we won't win the league under Wenger.

Giroud is part of the problem because he stifles the midfield even further with his movement. Players have nothing to work. Even with the chances he gets he doesn't score. He had a more clear moment that was waved off side early in the first half. A close call and another lines men may not have given it but Giroud still couldn't finish the chance even if luck was on our side.

We were poor in all areas to be fair but we're supposed to be a team with goals in us according to Wenger. He needs to have a rethink. With a congested midfield like that, you can't have a player like Giroud up front because he exasperated the problem.

[Power n Glory]

Yep, I think Wenger will dig his heels in even more now that the cries for strengthening the squad are getting louder. Everybody knows what we need but Wenger won't be told. He's more interested in finding internal solutions than going into the market to buy the missing pieces of the jigsaw. I don't even think we need much, we are only 1 at a push 2 players away from being favourites for the title IMO, obviously those signings would need to be "Sanchez" level type buys.

I do think we can put in a title challenge with the squad as is but everything has to fall in place, I.E. no injuries and everybody playing at a high level, already things are starting to fall apart with the injuries mounting, Bellerin out yesterday with a muscular injury, Jack out for a while to add to the list of the other serial crocks. I imagine we are going to pick up some more muscular injuries as the season progresses so I don't really think it's realistic of us to sustain a credible title challenge.

Injuries are problem but let's hope they bless us again by taking out problematic players and leaving Wenger with fewer options to screw up.

[AFC Leveller]

Our issue yesterday wasn't Giroud, though he clearly isn't Aguero / Suarez etc.

The issue was midfield, even if we did gift two goals.

They were all square, and all funnelled central. No width, no movement. The amount of times Cazorla received a pass, and Arteta'd it to Coq, who passed it back square again. Ramsey was shocking. AOC wasn't told to fuck off out wide, and we had nothing on the left apart from a poor Monreal.

Giroud had nothing really. No service, and had to keep dropping deep to get the ball.

Our shape was shite, and as we were so square, it's no wonder a 16 year old (credit to the lad) was able to boss us. With the quality we have, we should be passing triangles round the fella.

Of course we'll do better in other matches, but the main worry, is that there is STILL no instruction from the side lines when it's clear as day how unbalanced we were. It's shocking how a seasoned manager like Wenger still can't lead the team. All he needed to do was give a few instructions to the team, show them where they're going wrong.....it's basic shit. That's why we won't win the league under Wenger.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

The thing is, this result is a disaster but it doesn't rule us out of the title, but it will if we fail to learn from it

The bollocks that simply the players played badly or we were unlucky or West Ham had more game time under their belt is the kind of nonsense that means we won't learn.

Wenger seems to be more interested in fitting his best players into the team rather than putting out a side that is cohesive.

Cazorla cannot be played on the wings, it doesn't work he will just drift into the centre. Ramsey playing with Coquelin doesn't work, he doesn't work hard and track back.

Monreal is too slow to be our first choice left back

Giroud is not good enough, but look at the goals he does score, how many times does he score from a wide player getting in behind the defence....a lot.

[Niall_Quinn]

The thing is, this result is a disaster but it doesn't rule us out of the title, but it will if we fail to learn from it

The bollocks that simply the players played badly or we were unlucky or West Ham had more game time under their belt is the kind of nonsense that means we won't learn.

Wenger seems to be more interested in fitting his best players into the team rather than putting out a side that is cohesive.

Cazorla cannot be played on the wings, it doesn't work he will just drift into the centre. Ramsey playing with Coquelin doesn't work, he doesn't work hard and track back.

Monreal is too slow to be our first choice left back

Giroud is not good enough, but look at the goals he does score, how many times does he score from a wide player getting in behind the defence....a lot.

But Monreal is one of our most improved defenders and in defensive terms deserves to be the starter. The trouble comes when we ask him to do the job a wide player should be doing, or when he's left brutally exposed when the wide player has fucked off to the middle and isn't tracking back. Anyway, there's no point our fullbacks getting forward because we don't have strikers who can be bothered getting in the box for the 1 out of 10 crosses that might find a target.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I was talking more about playing the ball on the deck in behind the defence and pinging it across the box, 50% of the time it will be cleared, but another 50% of time either a striker or our midfield will get on the end.