Match Reaction vs Wigan Athletic (neutral).

[Power n Glory]

We're running out of options up front. Giroud doesn't ever look like he's going to score because he's so static and never moves. He just wants to play in front of the defenders.

Sanogo created a few chances for himself and I liked that. Was unlucky with the header because he did everything right but it was saved by Carson. Had a ball player over the top and if his first touch was better, he'd have been in better position to score. But he managed to recover and got a shot off and was unlucky not to slip it under the out rushing keepers legs. Had that volley moment with his back to goal. A wild shot but shower agility to actually make the turn and connect with the ball. Helped create out goal with good control in the box and nice lay off for the Ox to swing in a brilliant crops to Merts. Forced a save from Carson when he had his back to goal and his first touch spun the defender and then he smacked it forcing a corner. A good effort. Stabled at the goal with that low cross but that was a poor effort and just missed getting a touch on the ball from one other cross.

Honestly, I think the criticism is way to harsh. At least we had a striker playing and a target. Giroud hasn't made himself available like that for weeks now. We were feeding off scraps yesterday and I think the midfield were poor. Ox was by far our best player and looked like he knew what time it was. Gibbs was decent too. Podolski shouldn't be playing for us. I likeable character but a terrible player. I saw people booing the decision when Wenger took him off, but it was the right choice. He doesn't make runs into the box, doesn't play progressive Passover that lead to anything, he's charging the byline whipping in crosses....it was between him and Cazorla for the subs.

Cazorla was awful as well. Poor passing and gave the ball away a lot, deliver on corners and free kick were all pretty bad. A disappointing performance. Arteta was poor too. Jittery, weak and slow. Going through the motions with his passing as usual. Ramsey made himself available but tins his first start in ages. I wasn't expecting much and cut him some slack. Good to see him back.

Overall, it was pretty bad and the players need to have a word with themselves after that one. I felt sorry for Wenger in that game. It would have been cruel to see us lose and I hope we win this cup. I think he should still go at the end of the season but let it be on a high note at least. The players owe him that.

[Alpha]

This is a cup game . Reading some comments you'd think some people had never watched such a game . Having watched a game like Liverpool and Westham in a FA final , Wigan and Manchester City in Final and quarter Final , I know it is not as easy as many think . The good thing is they reached the final . The confidence is currently very low so you can not expect a top performance from them . As for Sanogo , you need to give him a run of games before making a fair judgment.

[selassie]

This is a cup game . Reading some comments you'd think some people had never watched such a game . Having watched a game like Liverpool and Westhampnett in a FA final , Wigan and Manchester City in Final and quarter Final , I know it is not as easy as many think . The good thing is they reached the final . The confidence is currently very low so you can not expect a top performance from them . As for Sanogo , you need to give him a run of games before making a fair judgment.

I think the biggest concern is that we have been serving up that kind of performance pretty much since January. The facts are we created barely next to nothing against a Championship side, honestly...we never really looked like scoring.

Sure we were the better side and deserved to go through and I am delighted we have reached the final. We really do need to step up our performances though, I am sure we have another gear left in us. If we don't improve then we won't finish top 4.

Some of the problems with the team can only be fixed in the summer in the transfer market but there are other issues that need to be dealt with now.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I think some mention has to go to Oxo as well.

He was a bit off but he tried to go forward and attack at every opportunity.

Sanogo deffo has the pace, he just needs to sharpen up his ball control/shooting skills.


Keane and pretty much all of itv can fuck off.

Made me laugh at the end that Adrian cunting chiles asked that Wigan player if he thought Wigan played well and he said 'yeh they did us proud, I mean arsenal have nicked a goal from a set piece, other than that we would've been ok'

What?!? So your penalty counts as an attacking goal from open play then does it? Fuck off!

[Bumble]

I would be very surprised to see Podolski and Giroud still at Arsenal next season. I would love us to sign Lukaku or that type of striker and perhaps play Walcott along side with Ozil just behind. Ramsey and Ox in the middle with a new more mobile Defensive midfielder screening in front of the back four.

[Bumble]

I think some mention has to go to Oxo as well.

He was a bit off but he tried to go forward and attack at every opportunity.

Sanogo deffo has the pace, he just needs to sharpen up his ball control/shooting skills.


Keane and pretty much all of itv can fuck off.

Made me laugh at the end that Adrian cunting chiles asked that Wigan player if he thought Wigan played well and he said 'yeh they did is proud, I mean arsenal have nicked a goal from a set piece, other than that we would've been ok'

What?!? So your penalty counts as an attack goal from open play then does it? Fuck off!

Ummmm lets not forget that this is Wigan though, they did do well. We have a budget probably 10 times theres and 20 positions above them in the league. They held us to a draw pretty comfortably and we could only beat them by penalties.

[I am invisible]

Diego Costa or someone on his level.
Remy
That Bundesliga guy from Switzerland

Get rid of Bendtner and Giroud, send Sanogo on loan.

I'd keep Giroud if we change our formation to 2 up top, but I doubt Wenger will.

That's more or less what I'd like to see - a total overhaul of the forward line this summer. Keep Walcott, and I'm not too fussed about Sanogo, if we want to carry on working on him as a project in the background (maybe farm him out on loan?), but I can't say I'm that fussed about Giroud, Podolski or Bendtner (to varying degrees) - they can all be bettered.

As you say, we need a quality main CF (Costa would be ideal because of his no-pissing-around release clause), but there's bargains to be had elsewhere for further additions? That Drmic looks a steal at €2-8m, and it looks like Remy is available for something similar. That other Belgian lad, Michy, who we keep letting linked with, is leading the scoring charts in his league - I don't think he'd cost much? Any of those guys would add more pace, power and dynamism to the attack, and would probably cost less than the players going out (well... maybe not Bendtner)? And I'm sure there's others too. It really should all be doable without a great deal of effort or expense.

What I like about options like Costa, Drmic and Remy (and Walcott, and maybe even Campbell, if we bring him back) is that they're all forwards who have played both wide and through the middle at one time or another, so I reckon some combination of them would make for something quite fluid and unpredictable (and a long way from what we have now)?

[Power n Glory]

They're in the semi's on merit and have beaten City in the comp twice. The pressure was all on us and it was a penalty that got them the goal.

We hit the post a couple of times with attempts from Sagna and Ox. Sanogo set up Gibbs with that header that forced a great save from Carson....they weren't the better team. But we need to up our game in a major way.

[Bumble]

has anyone actually seen this drmic guy play regularly though? or just because we are linked with him everyone thinks he is special. as don't recall anyone mentioning him before we were linked with him. Remy would be a good one, used to the league now after a couple of seasons with pace and directness. Lukaku would be good but got no chance with that.... Chelsea aren't us when it comes to selling a good striker to a rival.

[Bumble]

They're in the semi's on merit and have beaten City in the comp twice. The pressure was all on us and it was a penalty that got them the goal.

We hit the post a couple of times with attempts from Sagna and Ox. Sanogo set up Gibbs with that header that forced a great save from Carson....they weren't the better team. But we need to up our game in a major way.

they were there on merit but they weren't the better team because they aren't a better team and they knew it and played accordingly. They scored from a penalty but it all counts. I wouldn't get worked up by what the commentators say or Wigan players as they should be proud of the performance. They drew against a vastly superior side. Like when we draw with Bayern.