Match Reaction Arsenal 1-1 Sheff Utd

[Niall_Quinn]

There is something intrinsically wrong with this team. They are so wired into repetitive passing. There was an incident where one of our players ran into the box, received a pass and unbelievably passed it right back. Why run into the box to receive a pass if not to take a shot. That's why we spend a whole 90 mins and take only 2 or 3 shots all game. I despair for this team. They simply dont want to win badly enough.

More than anything, there is no way you can expect great things of a team that has so many dumb players like Ozil, Xhaka, AMN, Mustafi. They are certified mediocrity. No getting around that.

The most bizarre moment (and one of the weirdest things I've seen on a football pitch) was when AMN had the ball wide right just past the half way and with Pepe maybe 10-15 yards ahead of him on the sideline. AMN gets the ball. Pepe then RUNS BACK towards his own goal, beyond AMN and then makes himself available for the BACKWARDS pass from AMN. I couldn't believe my eyes. They were actually putting in extra effort to be as negative as possible.

Oh, and then Pepe immediately gave the ball away and stranded AMN, IIRC. Or maybe that was one of the other countless times he misplaced the simplest of passes. Not just him. But all of them. Arsenal, pass masters to past it.

I have a feeling this might be round 2 of Arteta's requirements. You get the basics down (shape, press, hustle for the 90), next we're going to try to do something with the ball. And I think that's where it may be a bit too much for some of these players. Work AND think.

[Özim]

If the players are passing backwards and not making the most of opportunities, then it's down to the manager, if you don't tell your players not to pass back when in attacking positions but instead to think positively the won't. Arteta ball though looks like Wengerball and that included a lot of that kind of passing sideways and backwards rather than going for it when well positioned, so not too surprised.

[Globalgunner]

We are just terrible. In the opposition box we are timid indecisive. In our own box we have improved marginally. Under Emery or Freddie. we would have lost that. Team going no where.

[Niall_Quinn]

MOTM Saka though. Excellent from an 18 yr old. Very composed. Very competent. Wasted in this shit show. Martinelli was busy but he makes things complicated for himself. Got the goal because he got into the danger zone - which Laca and Pepe seemed allergic to.

Pepe must be watching Gervinho videos in training. His main strength is nobody can guess what he'll do next, including himself.

All the signs of a coherent team performance from a few games ago - gone. Back to normal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

More draws.

Seems highly unlikely we'll end up with more wins than draws this season.

Stamford Bridge next.

[Marc Overmars]

On the plus side, doesn’t look like we’ll be qualifying for the EL through the league at least. Can’t be bothered with that shit next season.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

On the plus side, doesn’t look like we’ll be qualifying for the EL through the league at least. Can’t be bothered with that shit next season.

7th is likely to be opened up for the Europa League. So yeah probably right.

[Niall_Quinn]

7th is likely to be opened up for the Europa League. So yeah probably right.

Nobody is safe then?

[Niall_Quinn]

We haven't hit 30 points after 23 games. That's pure mid-table dross. Wenger's legacy. For a decade this writing has been on the wall and Wenger, the board, nobody did a fucking thing. The staff has changed. The players have changed. But that cancerous culture is still the beating heart.

[Marc Overmars]

New manager bounce.

More like a hop at best.