Match Reaction vs Pub Team Olympiakos (Home).

[Kano]

I think he is right about that really. We didn't lose because of our choice of keeper. Ospina has been reliable by all accounts and if the outfield players had done their jobs, we wouldn't have been 1-0 down or shipped another goal straight after scoring one. Ospina was comically responsible for the second and of course you would expect our first choice keeper to play in a 'must win game' but our second choice done well enough last season, he isn't exactly an early-days Fabianski, disaster waiting to happen. Look at Cech against West Ham, no-one expected that sort of fuck up from a world class keeper. The bigger story and problem of our CL is poor defensive, stale midfield and limp attack. Which of course are Wenger's responsibility and he should be hammered for that, instead of concentrating on a keeper responsible for one of the three goals.

[Niall_Quinn]

I think he is right about that really. We didn't lose because of our choice of keeper. Ospina has been reliable by all accounts and if the outfield players had done their jobs, we wouldn't have been 1-0 down or shipped another goal straight after scoring one. Ospina was comically responsible for the second and of course you would expect our first choice keeper to play in a 'must win game' but our second choice done well enough last season, he isn't exactly an early-days Fabianski, disaster waiting to happen. Look at Cech against West Ham, no-one expected that sort of fuck up from a world class keeper. The bigger story and problem of our CL is poor defensive, stale midfield and limp attack. Which of course are Wenger's responsibility and he should be hammered for that, instead of concentrating on a keeper responsible for one of the three goals.

I think he's 100% wrong, just as he was 100% wrong with his team selection. It's not about whether Cech would have saved it or not, it's about having strong and experienced characters on the pitch in the big games. That was a huge game, one we had to win. Wenger doesn't have a leg to stand on, he fucked up in the most basic way. I doubt any other team playing in Europe selected their second string keeper unless they had injury issues. Wenger just does stupid things these days and he gets the hump when asked to justify his decisions. He's the manager of a huge club that's constantly in the public eye. He should be asked about these decisions, it's entirely legitimate.

On the other hand, this "meltdown" he's having, don't they call the same thing "spectacular" when Maureen does it? For me, moaning about the job security of another manager is a much bigger meltdown.

[Kano]

I think he's 100% wrong, just as he was 100% wrong with his team selection. It's not about whether Cech would have saved it or not, it's about having strong and experienced characters on the pitch in the big games. That was a huge game, one we had to win. Wenger doesn't have a leg to stand on, he fucked up in the most basic way. I doubt any other team playing in Europe selected their second string keeper unless they had injury issues. Wenger just does stupid things these days and he gets the hump when asked to justify his decisions. He's the manager of a huge club that's constantly in the public eye. He should be asked about these decisions, it's entirely legitimate.

On the other hand, this "meltdown" he's having, don't they call the same thing "spectacular" when Maureen does it? For me, moaning about the job security of another manager is a much bigger meltdown.

The problem for me is it narrows the criticism down to a single decision, which is of course how the simpletons in the media work as they treat their audience as even bigger dickheads but it excludes the other ongoing issues in the team. We should be hearing questions about the defence, midfield, general team selection etc. Wishful thinking I know but I don't think the reason we lost was solely because of our keeper. Widening the questions put to Wenger would truly put him under the spotlight and hopefully make life more uncomfortable as there is nowhere to hide. The media find one niche and hammer it to death because it's far easier to build a narrative around one point and then flog it to a mass audience. But if Arsenal fans want to see him held accountable for his mismanagement, then the heat needs come from several angles. I know I'm in dreamland here regarding the media, but a fella can hope.

[Power n Glory]

The problem for me is it narrows the criticism down to a single decision, which is of course how the simpletons in the media work as they treat their audience as even bigger dickheads but it excludes the other ongoing issues in the team. We should be hearing questions about the defence, midfield, general team selection etc. Wishful thinking I know but I don't think the reason we lost was solely because of our keeper. Widening the questions put to Wenger would truly put him under the spotlight and hopefully make life more uncomfortable as there is nowhere to hide. The media find one niche and hammer it to death because it's far easier to build a narrative around one point and then flog it to a mass audience. But if Arsenal fans want to see him held accountable for his mismanagement, then the heat needs come from several angles. I know I'm in dreamland here regarding the media, but a fella can hope.

We agree on that. I think you've both raised good points there.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can't we just criticise the media anyway? Seems like the decent thing to do?

[Power n Glory]

Wenger is right about them being boring. That's for sure.

[IBK]

The problem for me is it narrows the criticism down to a single decision, which is of course how the simpletons in the media work as they treat their audience as even bigger dickheads but it excludes the other ongoing issues in the team. We should be hearing questions about the defence, midfield, general team selection etc. Wishful thinking I know but I don't think the reason we lost was solely because of our keeper. Widening the questions put to Wenger would truly put him under the spotlight and hopefully make life more uncomfortable as there is nowhere to hide. The media find one niche and hammer it to death because it's far easier to build a narrative around one point and then flog it to a mass audience. But if Arsenal fans want to see him held accountable for his mismanagement, then the heat needs come from several angles. I know I'm in dreamland here regarding the media, but a fella can hope.

Yep. The Ospina thing is a distraction. But I think that partly the reason why its been latched on to is that it exposes a lack of ruthlessness in the manager. Bottom line is that Cech is our best keper, but for reasons of his 'philosophy' he was not started in a crucial game.

[Power n Glory]

I think he's 100% wrong, just as he was 100% wrong with his team selection. It's not about whether Cech would have saved it or not, it's about having strong and experienced characters on the pitch in the big games. That was a huge game, one we had to win. Wenger doesn't have a leg to stand on, he fucked up in the most basic way. I doubt any other team playing in Europe selected their second string keeper unless they had injury issues. Wenger just does stupid things these days and he gets the hump when asked to justify his decisions. He's the manager of a huge club that's constantly in the public eye. He should be asked about these decisions, it's entirely legitimate.

On the other hand, this "meltdown" he's having, don't they call the same thing "spectacular" when Maureen does it? For me, moaning about the job security of another manager is a much bigger meltdown.

The press have been on Mourinho for his meltdowns. It started with the doctor fiasco and they’ve been on him for the Wenger jibes. I don’t see a double standard in that. But I think Wenger has played this one wrong. The press have played it wrong as well. It’s not all Ospina’s fault. That at least is true. The press then should have focussed on Wenger because he’s the true culprit. I though the Coquelin decision was just as barmy. Wrong time to start sniping at the press over his failures. Just hold your hands up, protect your player but keep cool. He’s an arrogant guy though. These are the sort of examples I point to when people suggest he’s challenged by the Board or his players. I don’t see how anyone can sway him. He just needs to be sacked.