Match Reaction - Arsenal vs Sunderland

[Power n Glory]

Well no, that doesn't make any sense. He bought and developed players and got them playing together in a team which was, at its peak, just about the best PL team I've ever seen. That peak is long since over of course but the players have to take some responsibility for their failings. Are you saying that players need special motivation in order to win a cup final? That they shouldn't just want to win anyway because it's a cup final?

It's not about motivation, it's about having them mentally prepared and feeling confident. They chocked and it's down to inexperienced players that can't cope and a manager that can’t prepare the team properly to deal with such occasions. As seen on Sunday, players like RVP can’t keep pulling off wonder goals to win games for us. That is why players like Cesc and Nasri leave. I shouldn’t have to explain the problems we have. I’m not into the arguing just for the sake of it. You know why the players feel disillusioned.

[Niall_Quinn]

TV has just signed a new deal, surely he'll play for us again some time in the future. RvP says he's committed (or maybe he means he should be committed for deciding to stay), but he's here now and banging in the goals. Arshavin says he's staying, we have new signings that won't be going anywhere soon. There's enough stability to build a team now. I'm not sure how effective that team will be in the long run but we need to give them a chance. What's the alternative? Criticise them win, lose or draw? We know things aren't right at the club, we know how many mistakes have been made, we know there's a struggle ahead. If they fuck up again then let's say they have fucked up again and be angry about that. But why say Wenger out in October when we know that's not going to happen? Wouldn't it be better to focus on what's possible, like RvP continuing to play well, or maybe Ox breaking into the team and making an impact, or Rosicky finding form, or Arshavin starting to play? I don't mean bury your head in the sand, I mean we have a season ahead and if the team is putting a shift in then let's acknowledge that and give them some support. Next summer we can talk about who goes but what does this talk achieve now?

[milla]

TV has just signed a new deal, surely he'll play for us again some time in the future. RvP says he's committed (or maybe he means he should be committed for deciding to stay), but he's here now and banging in the goals. Arshavin says he's staying, we have new signings that won't be going anywhere soon. There's enough stability to build a team now. I'm not sure how effective that team will be in the long run but we need to give them a chance. What's the alternative? Criticise them win, lose or draw? We know things aren't right at the club, we know how many mistakes have been made, we know there's a struggle ahead. If they fuck up again then let's say they have fucked up again and be angry about that. But why say Wenger out in October when we know that's not going to happen? Wouldn't it be better to focus on what's possible, like RvP continuing to play well, or maybe Ox breaking into the team and making an impact, or Rosicky finding form, or Arshavin starting to play? I don't mean bury your head in the sand, I mean we have a season ahead and if the team is putting a shift in then let's acknowledge that and give them some support. Next summer we can talk about who goes but what does this talk achieve now?

Arshavin is on his final year of his contract, he already said he will not renew it and prefer to go back to St Petersburg. Next summer will be worse than this year. Arshavin and Rosicky are nearly certain to leave on free transfer and if we add RVP (the board wouldnt want him to leave on free too), that will take over 60% of our creativity and goal threat.

[Flavs]

If we can get rid of Walcott i will see this season as a success

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Letters and co...please tell me you see something wrong with this post? It's ok for Man U fans to throw a fit but we should make do? I don't think you understand why fans are upset with Wenger and the club if you think it's all about trophies. It's as bad as PHW's comments some months back. The resent towards the club and Wenger has nothing to do with the lack of silverware.

I was talking about people moaning about us not winning things for 6 seasons and thinking we have a right to win trophies. what right did we have to even beat B'ham in the cc final people go on like we should have won it easy.

This comment is ridiculous to be fair:
City do pay a lot of money and there's no doubt that that attracts players, however they also sign lots of top players and clearly are better placed to win trophies than we are. We haven't won a thing in 6 years and if we're honest we look unlikely to in the near future...City on the other hand look serious contenders for the title.

He seems to have such a big problem with other clubs, it's true these clubs have invested huge amounts perhaps wrongly, but it's happened deal with it and concentrate on what you can do to challenge them...at the end of the day they can't buy all the good players around, he's got such a defeatist attitude when it comes to competing with these teams which doesn't help our chances of winning.

Not really people do go to city for the money even fergie and arry said the same thing a while back are they rediculas or making excuses too.

On the he has a problem with other clubs, nonsese all managers do, arry as said the same things loads of times so di rafa when he was at pool.

I agree yo uhave to deal with it or go home at the end of the day, but its not easy when the player you want and maybe have talked you has a wad of cash waved infront of him and goes somewhere else.

We can't afford wages city can and its stupid to think we can but are just stingy

[Marc Overmars]

City get these players because of the money without a doubt, but to the players there is a justification because they are more likely to win trophies. Nasri said as much when he joined.

As unlikely as it is, it would be sweet as fuck if we had a better season than them

[Özim]

Not really people do go to city for the money even fergie and arry said the same thing a while back are they rediculas or making excuses too.

On the he has a problem with other clubs, nonsese all managers do, arry as said the same things loads of times so di rafa when he was at pool.

I agree yo uhave to deal with it or go home at the end of the day, but its not easy when the player you want and maybe have talked you has a wad of cash waved infront of him and goes somewhere else.

We can't afford wages city can and its stupid to think we can but are just stingy

To be fair he makes a comment about how many trophies we've won and how many they've won and that based on that if not for the money people would sign for us.

That's not true though, because at this point in time you've got a much greater chance of trophies at City. We've won nothing in 6 years and look unlikely to in the near future, City now have top players and are real challengers for silverware and thus have a much better chance than us.

Let's look at it another way, what do City offer:
1) Ambition
2) Playing alongside top players
3) High chance of medals
4) Big money

We can't compete with them in all 4 of the above, it's not just money....if we could then our history would be much more relevant, right now though players see us as also ran's, who don't invest much in the team and sell their best players and that's hardly going to convince players to come, neither is getting battered 8-2.

[Niall_Quinn]

Arshavin is on his final year of his contract, he already said he will not renew it and prefer to go back to St Petersburg. Next summer will be worse than this year. Arshavin and Rosicky are nearly certain to leave on free transfer and if we add RVP (the board wouldnt want him to leave on free too), that will take over 60% of our creativity and goal threat.

All of this could be true. So the choice is, spend the next six months beating yourself up about it or get engaged with the season now, see what happens and then make your feelings loud and clear in the summer. I read Arshavin was staying, guess it depends on what rag says what.

I thought the performance against Sunderland was ok. Just ok, but that's a step up. There were some good individual performances too. It seems strange this match has prompted another round of Wenger out. If this is what we're going to do when we win, can you imagine how shitty it's all going to be if we lose a few? We've got to make sure we don't end up hating Arsenal more than the spuds hate us - can't see the mileage if that happens.

[server too busy!]

I don't understand why everyone is surprised about Man City getting all these players. You throw enough money around and continue season after season and eventually you will get success. How can people expect us to win the league when Man City have an infinite pot of cash and will keep spending until they start winning.

The only way to stop that is to make sure wage caps are introduced and financial fair play is introduced. Outside of that there is not much Wenger or the board can do unless they follow suit...as much as we'd love that I'd rather not become another City/Chelsea and struggle when these rules come in.

[Letters]

We can't compete with them in all 4 of the above

Although the other 3 come from the money, they had none of them before the money came along.
So it does all come down to the money ultimately.