Napoli v Arsenal match reaction - let the bed wetting begin!

[Niall_Quinn]

The Everton result was a much bigger problem. We were never winning the CL anyway (or seriously competing if we're honest), that competition is a bit of fun while it lasts and money in the bank. So we're through to the next round where we'll probably get knocked out. But it's still mission accomplished in terms of what's achievable.

We should have beaten Everton though. That was a massive fuck-up and Wenger has to take the responsibility for the horrible, conservative tactics we saw in the first half. I can understand (though don't agree with) the negative approach against Napoli when we only had to avoid a 3 goal defeat to achieve something. But we can't be fucking around like that in the league where come the end of the season every point and maybe even every goal will have a crucial bearing. Look how close things have been for us in recent seasons. We can't afford to be throwing away games like that.

[Letters]

Is was a massive fuck up to fail to beat a side who have only lost once all season?
Only City have beaten them this year and that was at their place where they've been pummeling everyone.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Is was a massive fuck up to fail to beat a side who have only lost once all season?
Only City have beaten them this year and that was at their place where they've been pummeling everyone.

[Özim]

Is was a massive fuck up to fail to beat a side who have only lost once all season?
Only City have beaten them this year and that was at their place where they've been pummeling everyone.

Yeah and sadly we go there next, tired and seemingly not looking in as good form as we have been, bad timing for sure. We've done well this season, but it's a bit disappointing to be well ahead in the league and to be thinking that it's realistic that we're going to lose to Man City and Chelsea, we should fancy our chances against anyone being top of the league at this stage.

[Power n Glory]

Not when you were sitting reading ~half a dozen posters as they soiled their matresses in the match thread all night.

It's a live game when emotions are running high. Isn't that expected? Reactions are always exaggerated whether good or bad! It's been pretty measured in here and we should just be able to talk about the game and results without it going down this road.

Some say this is a nothing result and won't have an effect but at the same time point to the positive result in Munich as the moment when the squad started to click. Isn't it possible for the reverse to happen after yesterday and Everton? We don't know for certain but I wouldn't be so dismissive either. There are still question marks and I honestly think this is our shot and I thought that before the season kicked off. Too many teams have gone through major changes and that always plays a big part in how things pan out. We need to take this opportunity and I hope the players and manger dust off this mini shake.

[Niall_Quinn]

Is was a massive fuck up to fail to beat a side who have only lost once all season?
Only City have beaten them this year and that was at their place where they've been pummeling everyone.

Yes, without a doubt. We handed them the initiative by being negative from the outset - many confused this with Everton being excellent. They were decent enough to exploit the huge amount of time and space we gave them, but that's all. Then we managed to grab a lead, then we managed to throw it away - albeit following an astoundingly bad refereeing decision that failed to spot a glaring offside compounded by unacceptable defending from Gibbs. We expect referees to be sub-standard, but if you have ambitions to challenge for the title you must have more ambition and authority than we showed against Everton. I believe Wenger tried to get a result with a reduced effort and then did the same against Napoli, with the intention of avoiding injuries and fatigue in the upcoming games against the gypsies and the chavs. But a loss of momentum and form is its own injury. A conservative approach has seen us lose 5 points, lose top spot in our CL group and if we try it again on Saturday we'll lose 3 more points. You don't go through a series of big games trying to do the minimum and average things out, you go in all guns blazing and anything over a 50/50 break is good news. I can see us getting 1, maybe 2 points from the 4 games - it should have been at least 6, Everton was by far the easiest of the games. It was a huge fuck up not to get 3 of the points we need.

[Özim]

Got to agree, Everton was the one we should have been looking to get 3 points from, Man City away is very tricky and Chelsea we always struggle against. Our lead at the top can be eroded very quickly and a few poor results will do nothing for the players confidence or the squad's belief they can finally end our trophy drought. Let's not forget we've been here before at this time of the season, sitting there with a comfortable lead looking good, we ended up 3rd after a shocking run of results.

Momentum is everything in football, the minute you get a couple poor results doubts creep in.

[Syn]

@NQ: A draw at home against Everton wasn't a good result. But at the same time everyone is going to drop plenty of points. It's a competitive league and a lot of teams (Everton, Southampton, Newcastle and probably a few others), including ourselves, look stronger than last year.

If we want the title, it will be an 'ok' result only if we manage a better record against the title favourites (Chelsea and Man City). You can win the league by being flat track bullies, but that assumes you're beating Everton at home. Now we've put ourselves in the position where we absolutely need a win against either Man City or Chelsea. For the purposes of getting back the confidence we had just a few games ago, as well as keeping a few points ahead in the table.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

perhaps he has just shit in training then who knows? Theo is a good player but as Gary says, he has been poor since his new deal and we are 5 points clear despite him not playing. looking at the comment that AW said he would play him if we needed a goal says AW was lining up to be defensive and conservative. before the game, was the way i would have gone, afterwards it clearly was wrong decision.

however, Theo should have come on as a sub. i didn't get why he dint

Ollie it's WRONG. If you play defensive you need an outlet for the counter. We had no pace in our attack again because of the personnel employed. Theo is made for european away games, we can sit back then unleash him on the attack. Giroud was deep and isolated all night, with someone like Theo near him we could have got a goal. In the end the ball was constantly pumped to Giroud, who was near the half way line, and he'd be wrestled off the ball by their players because no-one was near him. Then they'd regain control of the game.

I was full of praise for Wenger at the start of the season but last night smacked of nutty professor again. That's twice (although I'd argue three times) in a row he's picked the wrong players. A squad is there to be used. At the moment he wants to employ the same players/tactics because he's found his favourite 5 and thinks we can rock up with them every game.

We know how stubborn he can be. It's worrying.

[Xhaka Can’t]

It's a live game when emotions are running high. Isn't that expected? Reactions are always exaggerated whether good or bad! It's been pretty measured in here and we should just be able to talk about the game and results without it going down this road.

Some say this is a nothing result and won't have an effect but at the same time point to the positive result in Munich as the moment when the squad started to click. Isn't it possible for the reverse to happen after yesterday and Everton? We don't know for certain but I wouldn't be so dismissive either. There are still question marks and I honestly think this is our shot and I thought that before the season kicked off. Too many teams have gone through major changes and that always plays a big part in how things pan out. We need to take this opportunity and I hope the players and manger dust off this mini shake.

And that was my reaction.

And I stand by it.