Match reaction vs Pool

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

There are just so many problems I don't know where to begin. For me it all goes back to an ineffectual summer transfer window.

We have been top of the league for most of the season, and Wenger has to be credited for that. However, I think much of that is due to the great work we did in the second half of last season. Our back 5 have been solid for ages. We've scored enough to win lots of games, but our attack has hardly clicked all season despite our strong league position. Our success for me is not due to Ozil. He's provided a morale boost for sure, but for me it's a continuation of last years work.

Giroud, Poldi, Cazorla, and Walcott have such a natural balance to them. Giroud likes to provide. Cazorla is a creative both footed magician who thrives off knock downs from Giroud and being a creative center for the team. Poldi and Theo are both runners who primarily look to score first. There are 3 scorers all buzzing around Giroud, whilst synergistically getting the most out of each other.

Ozil completely changes the whole dynamic of the team. Ozil wants to create, and as does Giroud. With those two in the team, Cazorla moves out wide where he is less effective for me, and it also removes the natural balance provided by Poldi and Walcott. The end result is a disjointed attack who have barely looked threatening recently.

Wilshere gives us the same problem that Fabregas gave us. He could easily go on to become one of the best deep lying midfielders in the league, but at what cost? Wilshere and Arteta were outpowered and got stomped all over all day today. Henderson and Gerrard were bigger, stronger and quicker. They outfought our midfield and totally dominated our "technical" players. When we come across a fired up team, we just never look like we can stand up. We are clueless. We make people like Phil Jones in midfield look like Yaya Toure. If all our midfield can do is pass, they get bullied, rattled, and lose their passing game. Then we have nothing. We've all seen it for far too long. Normally isn't quite as bad because at least Ramsey has a bit about him, but without him we were totally dominated.

For me today would not have changed if we had Higuain, Walcott or Draxler. It may however have changed if we'd signed Luiz Gustavo. Mourinho teams are always so solid. Why? He picks between Matic, Mikel, Ramires, Luiz and Lampard. What do they have in common? Aggressive, big, strong, or even in Lampard's case, extremely disciplined.

Hazard today scored a hattrick with Matic and Lampard behind him. Ozil today was barely in the game with Wilshere and Arteta being shat on behind him.

To get the best out of Ozil will require a lot of changes. At Madrid he had Khedira and Alonso behind him. I wish we could get someone like Kondogbia/Pogba to partner with Ramsey, but the Bender brothers are more feasible targets. After we form that solid base, then we can think about getting runners and a dynamic goalscorer involved. Our need for a CM has never been as apparent as today for me.

It'll be very interesting to hear all your views. Before today I genuinely believed we were 1 striker away from a complete squad. I've come to the realization that for us to win the big games, we'll need a midfield who isn't so consistently blown away in big games. People who stand up and fight. People who metaphorically and physically are able to stop a wave of attacks. Even if we had all our options available, I wouldn't trust Arteta or Flamini to adequately pair with Ramsey, and certainly not Wilshere.

Said from day one Arteta was a load of shite and he truly is. Against big teams he turns into a slow snail. Instead of standing up and relishing the moment, he retreats into his shell. That is purely down to the fact he has not got the quality to mix it with the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Toure, Fernandinho etc. But because he has this professional, obedient look to him, certain fans seem to love him and think he's the dogs bollocks.

Get rid of him and put someone like Bender in his place and you'll see an instant improvement in the team.

First thing we should do is sign someone to take his place in the summer. Bring in a Matic and you'll see us go up another level.

[Munchies]

For all of the comments that say, look at what we're up against , I think we have to say that our team could have very easily walked to the title this season had Wenger strengthened properly in the summer. A top CDM was our priority, and so was a striker. Luis Gustavo/Lars Bender were linked to us all summer, and we even made a bid for Bender but didn't follow through on it .

As you've said, I doubt Wenger will even address the CDM issue. We missed Flamini for 5 years, and the man who he brought back to finally replace him was Flamini . Flamini is a decent squad player and Arteta isn't even a CDM to begin with.

[Maestro]

Agree with you both GG & SWAYR, but there is one man to blame for this and it's not Arteta

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

For all of the comments that say, look at what we're up against , I think we have to say that our team could have very easily walked to the title this season had Wenger strengthened properly in the summer. A top CDM was our priority, and so was a striker. Luis Gustavo/Lars Bender were linked to us all summer, and we even made a bid for Bender but didn't follow through on it .

Good point Munchie.

If we got in a striker and another midfielder (either DM or winger, just someone to give us an added boost in midfield in games like this) it would have helped a lot.

Even making the signings in January would have been fine. But we didn't. Begs the question: why?

[Munchies]

Good point Munchie.

If we got in a striker and another midfielder (either DM or winger, just someone to give us an added boost in midfield in games like this) it would have helped a lot.

Even making the signings in January would have been fine. But we didn't. Begs the question: why?

We also had around £40m sitting in the bank, and this figure is only going to rise further once the puma money comes in.

We'll probably sign Draxler in the summer for £37m or so, but he's not what we need. I'd rather spend £20m on a top CDM and not get Draxler.

Ozil was a panic buy. Not bad as he is a world class player, but he hasn't performed to his best ability so far, and has resulted in Santi, our best player last season, being pushed out wide.

It's getting tiresome that we've been crying out for a big CDM for all these years really. Don't think it's ever going to change anytime soon.

[Darknight02]

A lot of great points made on this thread and in particular by Singh regarding our lack of a decent center midfielder.

I agree that we need a physical players in the center of the park. But players of that ilk that have all the qualities we required are rare. Lars and Sven Bender are very strong but don't have a dominating presence in the middle in my opinion. Paul Pogba or Luis Gustavo on the other hand certainly do.

I think the problem today was that we conceded such an easy goal right in the first minute and we lost our heads after that. This team's core strength is not conceding. We have the quality to score a goal or two. But in my honest opinion, long gone are the days where we had the attack to rip apart and score 3 or 4 goals. To do that, we need fast and pacey wide players who can make runs all day long and a dominant goalscorer that just stays in the box.

This means that we absolutely must not concede 'easy' goals.

I think Ozil is not as much of a problem as people are making out. For me he is a guy who is adapting a new team, a new league and a new position. He had a total free role in Real Madrid and he had three absolutely dominant pacey men in front of him in Ronaldo, Di Maria and either Higuain or Benzema. He was like a catalyst and he knew they'd be making box runs and runs behind the defence for him to play. Both Alonso and Khedira behind him were disciplined and central players.

Now he has to dovetail with Cazorla who like him is a playmaker and comes into the center of the midfield. They are both playing in similar positions and therefore get in each others way as both want to keep the ball and both want to create.

Wenger has a real conundrum in his hands to try and get the best out of both. I don't know how he's going to do it. Because the strongest team we can put out in my honest opinion is only with one of them. I think we absolutely need two pacey wide men and Giroud in the middle to stretch other teams. That leaves 3 in the middle of the park. And the options are slim pickings from then on in.

On current form, I'd put Cazorla in there. But if we had Ramsey and Arteta in the middle, I'd put Ozil given what he's capable of.

Also, I think Rosicky is a player that this team misses so much.

ALL of our best performances this season were ones where Rosicky played. Liverpool, Tottenham, Borussia.

He brings so much pace, drive and intelligence to the team. Sadly his age means he can't play many games and I'm sure Wenger is saving him for the big CL games and Man U on wednesday.

However, all things considered, I think was a day where the whole team really just were not up for it from the start and just couldn't be bothered. That is shocking but shit happens.

It is not a coincidence that we are top of the league. Say what you want about big games but if we were to win the league without winning against the top three I don't give a shit.

Man U have done so for years where they lost or drew all the big games (bar us of course!) and won the league. No one cared about it.

When every dog and pundit out there is lining up to dismiss us - notice Phil McNulty's post on the BBC and I'm sure you'll read all about it in all the papers tomorrow - I think that's enough negativity from everyone around and no one cares or believes in this side and everyone is wanting us to fail.

So yest its frustrating and yes all of us have grievances with our summer transfer dealings and we are all pissed at the performance.

But there's nothing we can do about it. Moaning at the team of course is not going to get us far. And if we turn on them on Wednesday it'll probably shred away the last amount of confidence they have. Lets just get behind that team and give them the energy they need in this final push as we are so close.

I remember 2004 I was at Highbury and our season was on a knife edge against Liverpool. Of course back then the relief in the entire stadium when Titi scored was immense. I think no matter how great that team was, the entire team collectively were mentally shot. And we had a legend who dug us out.

This team is going to be mentally shot but I do honestly believe that we have a chance as we are just one point behind. Lets get this result out of the system and fcuking put one over those detestable mancs.

PS - I genuinely hope news of a bust up between AW and SB are wrong or exaggerated as that is not what we need at this point. I'm certain that SB would himself realize that and probably wait at least till the end of season if tensions are flying as it would probably destabilize this team even more.

[Zak]

Unfortunately Walcott is the only player who runs in behind the defence and has the composure to finish off most chances. I can't see us beating any of the top teams with this current team. Not buying a winger/striker has cost us again. Wenger needs to go at the end of the season.

[Munchies]

Oh My !

Gareth Barry ?

'Per Mertesacker was reportedly involved in a bust-up with a team-mate while training before of Arsenal's loss to Liverpool.' [The Sun]

Probably just BS to sell papers, but hope its not the case.

[Munchies]

Twitter saying it was with Sanogo

[Xhaka Can’t]

Where the hell were Ollie and Steve French, his official bag carriers.

With respect. You're an idiot.