Match Reaction Arsenal 1-1 Shadow Dwellers

[Niall_Quinn]

You talking about Sanchez or Campbell? Not the greatest games for either player. The front 3 aren't working well at the moment. They need to play closer together to get the link up going but doing that means we're too congested and won't create space. Play too wide and we get this sort of performance where all of them are isolated and not really playing well.

I thought Alexis did okay. When he got the ball he mainly kept it. And he usually found his target with his passing. But the game plan was so chaotic, or non-existent, it was hard for anyone to shine out there. Even so, I wanted more from him because he's a class act and these are the games you want to see an Alexis or Ozil change with one moment of brilliance. We need a manager who can grab the players and say this is what happens when Alexis is coming in from the wide position, or this is what happens when Ozil is central and ready to make the pass, etc. All those training ground moments that are drilled to perfection so they can be executed on match day. Then, and only then, you allow your big time players a little leeway. With Wenger though, it's up to the players to sort this out. It's up to the players to decide whether Wenger is actually Jesus or whether he was just sent by Jesus as a guide.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yeah we aren't where we are in the league this year because he's got lucky and fluked it. We are where we are because Wenger has got his tactics right.

Bullshit Ollie. How many times have we watched this game now? Are you going to say after 20 years the manager is not responsible? No, it's not a case of him being lucky. It's a case of him being negligent and sometimes incompetent. When you get to the top the little things matter. And Wenger has never properly taken care of business on the pitch. He's missing an Adams and Vieira and Bergkamp right now. The players who can do his job for him.

[Maestro]

With Wenger though, it's up to the players to sort this out. It's up to the players to decide whether Wenger is actually Jesus or whether he was just sent by Jesus as a guide.

to be fair to wenget, he said himself, only last week, that he sees himself as "a facilitator of what is great in man" ....so i think little bit more disciple than Jesus, he is

[LDG]

Bullshit Ollie. How many times have we watched this game now? Are you going to say after 20 years the manager is not responsible? No, it's not a case of him being lucky. It's a case of him being negligent and sometimes incompetent. When you get to the top the little things matter. And Wenger has never properly taken care of business on the pitch. He's missing an Adams and Vieira and Bergkamp right now. The players who can do his job for him.

He had done pretty well with tactics up until Sheffield Wednesday in the cup, and then Wenger did what Wenger does.

He showed no respect to the opposition and made horrendous fuck ups tactically. We lost. Lost two first team players, and stalled our momentum.

That game there is the reason for the poor performances against Bayern and today. Apparently we were a bit lethargic against Swansea too....

I think you're right that we shoudl be further ahead by now. But at the same time, we should give credit to AW for some good tactical changes of late. Bayern at home was a prime example.

[Niall_Quinn]

to be fair to wenget, he said himself, only last week, that he sees himself as "a facilitator of what is great in man" ....so i think little bit more disciple than Jesus, he is

Yes but he's just being modest.

[Niall_Quinn]

He had done pretty well with tactics up until Sheffield Wednesday in the cup, and then Wenger did what Wenger does.

He showed no respect to the opposition and made horrendous fuck ups tactically. We lost. Lost two first team players, and stalled our momentum.

That game there is the reason for the poor performances against Bayern and today. Apparently we were a bit lethargic against Swansea too....

I think you're right that we shoudl be further ahead by now. But at the same time, we should give credit to AW for some good tactical changes of late. Bayern at home was a prime example.

He got heaped in praise for the home game against Bayern. But it makes you wonder. When he fucks up so badly in other games, Zagreb, Olympiacos, can we really say suddenly he is a master tactician or do we conclude a broken watch tells the correct time twice a day?

[Gooner23]

We're joint top and in a position to challenge this year. At least wait until we actually fuck up before the hysterics.

Today was an ok point in the end given the way the game panned out. Players looked totally out of gas, not surprising really. Too many players out injured. And we still could of nicked it if Giroud wasn't such a fanny.

[selassie]

I knew they would give us a very difficult game today, I've watched them a few times this season and they have always looked very good. We were lucky today, they dominated the game for long periods and were stronger than us. It was a point gained IMO and there are still plenty of twists and turns left in the season so in the grand scheme of things it wasn't a bad result.

Im hoping Ramsey, OX & Bellerin return after the international break because the team desperately needs at least 2 of those 3 players back in the side.

[alexander]

Im happy with a point. We are clearly down to the bare bones of the squad, both teams are at the top of the form table in the last six games. Its a NLD and they are never easy games to win.
With the injuries we have, and how our first game went, to be here in near mid november, top of the table with man City who i believe were 6-7 points clear of us after a few games into the season I cant see why people are complaining. Bellerin, Ramsey, Theo, would probably have started today if fit, and if we had Ox, Welbz, Rosicky, Wilshere fit, they would all be on the bench.
I remember when we won the league in 1998 a pundit said at the start of the season that if you want to win the league, the most important thing to do is not loose, take a point at least.

Im not a Wenger apologist, and I thought that he should have left in the summer, but FFS give the guy a break. The way some talk on here you would think we were down the bottom with Chelsea! Credit where its due, he has changed it up, he is prepared to sit back and let others have the ball, when Theo was fit he was changing the striker for different opponents. For those saying they played on thursday and we played on wednesday, just look at the teams that were faced, ours was probably the finest team in Europe at this point in time.

For now we are right up there, looking pretty good and not being beaten. we were second best today, but they dug deep and got a point.

Now lets enjoy being top.

[Letters]

If we can't win these games then we aren't winning any title.

Yeah. Again, we've seen how good your previous predictions have been...