A Numbing Night
Feb 26th, 2015 by 'holic
The last sixteen of the Champions League, generally regarded to have got a favourable draw, Arsenal contrived to fall to the counter-attacking game that Arsene Wenger himself had predicted beforehand.
Monaco offered no surprises. Indeed they were under-strength, missing as they were the likes of Toulalan, Bakayoko, and Raggi. Kurzawa and Ferreira Carrasco only started on the bench, resting niggles.
There were two changes for us, with Hector Bellerin and Kieran Gibbs taking the full-back positions. The former would have been a popular choice given that in his recent appearances he has looked more confident and assured than Calum Chambers.
However the selection of Gibbs over Nacho Monreal came as something of a surprise. Martial and Dirar provided the wide counter-attacking threat predicted and gave both Arsenal full-backs a torrid time.
Careless in possession and distribution the Gunners surrendered an opening goal, and the initiative, at a crucial time as the opening half drifted to a close. Predictably it was a rapid break and we were too easily undone.
Monaco, their tactical plan reinforced, started the second-half happy to invite us on, and on we most certainly went. On another evening Olivier Giroud would have gobbled up at least one of the handful of opportunities as the ball followed him around. Had he done so things would look very different today. He didn’t. We ploughed on, lambs to the slaughter as it turned out.
The nature of the second goal on the break, to Berbatov of all people, exemplified the Gunners naïveté. The goal came not just as a result of a lack of protection for the defence, but more an absence of any sort of defence as we pushed for an equaliser.
There was, Arsenal being Arsenal, a sting in the tail. Even after the Ox had given us the lifeline of halving the deficit in the last minute we still managed to leave ourselves wide open to be hit on the break a third time.
We don’t know if the manager sent his team out unprepared for the Monaco tactics he had predicted, or whether they collectively failed to do their jobs. Not one of the fourteen players would have walked off the pitch happy with their contribution.
We can hope that, despite the evidence of our own eyes last night, this team can go to Monaco and win by three clear goals (or 2-4 or higher by two). I hope for the sake of those paying a small fortune to follow the side out there that we have a damn good go at it, whilst simultaneously retaining some form of defensive shape and discipline. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.
More immediately though we have to bounce back from this performance and grab three important points against Everton on Sunday. It’s a fair bet the out of sorts visitors will arrive with exactly the sort of game plan that unhinged us last night and will therefore be ideal preparation for the second leg.
It will be interesting to see what we do differently on Sunday.
62 Responses to “A Numbing Night”
All well said, ‘Holic. For some irrational reason, I have a gut feeling that we will turn it around in Monaco. Our name is on the trophy this year…
…and a trophy for Castle Ned, too.
It all started so well, had the rabbit in our sights.. : http://i.imgur.com/pEhKEDW.gifv
Nevertheless.. am sure we shall be fully present for the 2nd leg. Let’s hope we can have some redemption then.
🙂
..and well in NBN!
Cheers H. You are truly the man.
Me too NBN. It just seems so us to go through after a first leg like THAT. By which I mean bone-shakingly awful. How did we let that last one in?
The Doc, TTG and N7 nailed it in the last drinks. As did many others, though not all. PMI’s last word was great!
Fine summary, H.
Still shocked here.
I do hope there’s a reaction on Sunday.
And I too have this deep-seated thought that this team is capable of winning in Monaco but there is another thought saying – yep, a brave, brave effort but ultimately falling just short. 🙁
This is a Monaco side that had scored four goals in its group, but managed to almost match that in one game against us. That’s how bad the performance was last night.
Regarding Bellerin, there’s one thing he needs to stop doing and that’s trying to play left back as well as right back. He gets sucked in too much, and not only does he get sucked in, he gets sucked all the way across the pitch sometimes. Not good.
I am still struggling to take that result in- I did not see it coming.
I am not as upset as expected though. I have always been an Arsenal fan rather than a Football fan. But Arsenal exist in the world of football. And that world is going downhill at an alarming rate. It espouses values that in any other walk of life I would find repugnant. And it gets worse, seemingly even on a monthly basis, let alone yearly.
And to paraphrase an elegant post from TTG- there are now many Arsenal fans (correct usage?) whose company I am far from proud to be in.
I have no kids. But when I do I will teach them that football is a game for playing, not for watching. I can’t pass on the sort of emotional connection I have for something that is so overwhelmingly negative. I dread to think of the state of the game by the time I do have to explain it to any offspring of mine.
I will always love Arsenal. But I am finding more and more room for other things in my heart. It is not the all-consuming love it once was. And the knowledge that it never will be again leaves me far sadder than any losses we may suffer.
All things come to an end. I’m Arsenal till I die…
Hey Holic,
Spot on post mortem, from you. Get the impression your teeth were clenched very tightly, whilst writing it. 😉 BUT, you’ve left me dangling with your last thought. Other then starting Monreal, what could AW, done differently? This question is put forth with all due respect! 🙂
And anyone else ? Le Boss, give me specifics on tactical mistakes, please!
There is no better antidote to one of the worst nights in our recent history than coming into this bar.Some great posts over the last hours especially Dr.F N7 and some very worthy words from GSD.
I have just heard Bob Wilson on the radio. He got to sleep at three as he agonised over the events of the game. It occurred to me Ospina and others went to sleep several hours before.
I think,I said most of what I wanted to say last night but in talking to other Gooners this morning I found general agreement that we needed real width and tried to play through a strong and well organised central bloc. There is also a view that we need to try to get Petr Cech in the summer or another physically more imposing keeper than Ospina. Bob Wilson hinted at this too this afternoon.
We need to go to Monaco and give it a real go. An early goal changes everything. It’s a very unlikely shot but we need to try to take it.
One lad I saw today for the first time in several years counselled fans against jettisoning Wenger and turning us into Tottenham with twelve managers in eighteen years. When Wenger goes we have to find someone with the ability to fill enormous shoes not a flavour of the month character whose team have had a decent first half of the season.
Wenger can be infuriatingly stubborn but let no one doubt how much he cares. And as for the handshake was it Yogi Berra who said ‘ Show me a good loser …..and I’ll show you a loser.
The day after such a game is always a terrible one. Still can’t get over the horrors of last night’s match.
The whole point of having competition for places is that when a player under-performs, he can be replaced. Mesut Ozil must not start the Everton game. Neither should Per, although Gabriel has only just arrived and that might prevent Le Boss from throwing Gabriel straight into the firing line against the likes of Lukaku & Mirallas.
After yesterday’s game, several were of the opinion that Theo should start the return leg against Monaco since he is one of our natural goal scorers. In that game Monaco will defend deep with two banks of five. Theo never performs well against such set-ups. I think it should be a front three of Sanchez, Giroud & OX. We will need pace & dribbling to make inroads at Monaco and both Sanchez and Ox are ideal at that, providing penetration from both flanks. If we do get a couple of goals by about the hour or 70mins mark, then theo might be the ideal candidate to come on as a sub.
The bigger problem though at the moment is the midfield and that is where the game was lost yesterday. Santi playing in the Ramsey role (runner – boxtobox) is not working as he is more attracted to the ball and doesn’t make runs inside the box like Ramsey. When our forwards are tightly marked, it is the disruption created by Ramsey’s timely forays into the box that unsettles defenses. Ramsey through those runs, either finds himself in space or attracts defenders, creating space for others to shoot or play a quick 1-2. Until Ramsey gets fit, we should let Mozart play the runner role and get Cazorla back to the no.10 position where he has excelled this season. Sanchez on the left and Welbeck on the right ahead of them is ideal against capable teams like Everton. After Welbeck, Ox is the next in the pecking order for the left attackers berth and theo last. I have nothing against theo but he needs a player like Sagna along with him to succeed. At the moment neither Bellerin,nor Chambers have any kind of understanding with him and that is the reason Theo goes completely missing for large periods of time. Also he hasn’t played much since his injury so he isn’t in the best form anyway. Another problem with Theo is also that he doesn’t really want to make a tackle anywhere on the pitch. When he sees Mozart sliding into tackles at his age, Theo should just learn to fearlessly commit to tackles. The injury can be inhibiting him a little bit, but even before the injury, I don’t remember Theo tackling too much. So at the moment in terms of overall contribution to the team, Theo is behind Welbeck & Ox by some distance.
Sorting the balance in the midfield and wide attacking positions would go a long way in improving the performances.
It is tough for me to type here because there is too much anger as well as angst and hence i do not want to let the emotions over flow.
Simple, players should be ashamed after such a performance, no 2 ways about it. Each and everyone of them and as such the boss to because i found it excruciating to see him wince yet not being able to do anything. Did he bring this upon himself??? I am not sure for i cannot believe that we can stoop down to such levels. I am tired and as someone said here, i am an Arsenal fan than a football fan and nothing truly affects me as much as this club does. God tell me it was just a nightmare, please.
It is a setback, we have overcome setbacks before, we shall get over it!
Start by doing so over the weekend..
😀
An interesting take on yesterday’s debacle:
http://footbalternative.com/2015/02/26/you-can-learn-everything-you-need-to-know-about-football-from-one-match/
So what of the second half of this tie? Will the Arsenal advance? Not at all likely. Can the Arsenal advance? Of course, but how, and what can make that come to pass?
First, the locale: Monaco is far from an intimidating atmosphere, and yes, the locals will be excited and the place will be a sellout, but grab an early goal, and the Monagasque crevettes sandwich-eating supporters may resemble an Emirates nerves-inducing crowd.
Second: what does Monaco’s manager do to set up his team? Does he replace the pacey substitutes who showed well as wingers with the more experienced front liners who missed the first leg? Does he borrow le Boss’s handbrake and try to simply sit on their lead, and thus never get out of first gear?
Lastly, just play loose for the full 90 minutes and extra time if need be. And start HFB with Alexis and Theo out wide. I may be the only one who felt that, despite having an absolute stinker, OG should have stayed on the pitch and Welbeck should have come off for Theo. How often have you seen your main striker miss chance after chance for two thirds of a match and then come good? And Welbeck was not exactly in tune either.
So, Wenger at halftime huddle, should have revised our formation to accommodate more width as going down the middle brought us no joy. Thank you Ttg and Desi, as I’m still a student of the beautiful game. xx
Still believe he should have brought on our subs earlier.
But what else could AW have done to impact this game (realistically, not in the future stuff, ie new goalie).
Inside the stadium you could really feel the incredulity of the crowd in front of what we were witnessing. The 3rd Monaco goal in particular was just incredible… I still quite can’t believe it (and neither could the Monaco fans I’m sure). I think whether we get a result in Monaco or not will depend on how we manage Utd away in the cup and the games leading up to the return leg (is it West Ham at home right before?).
Couldn’t see from our vantage point how the first (flukey) goal was scored, but it seemed soft from Ospina, and it definitely felt like a shift in the complexion of the match. Had we put any of our shots at least on target, it would have rattled them, as the first few minutes clearly suggested.
Overall, as controversial as it may be to say it, I don’t think tactically there was any major issue with how we approached the game: we had quite a few decent scoring opportunities, and the few times we worked their keeper we could (should) have scored. Giroud just wasn’t at the races and it looked like it affected the entire team, since we couldn’t convert our chances, and couldn’t make the ball stick to the target man. The team just lost their shape trying to desperately push for an equalizer initially at 1-0, as well as after Ox’s goal.
It’s a game of fine margins, but also of big swings – let’s hope we have both in the return leg.
Posts 9, 10, 11 all excellent.
desi makes the point that Theo does look worse than he used to because Bellerin is not as self-sufficient as Sagna. Have we moved the goalposts on Theo? Or has he long benefitted from an easy ride?
Nice one, Holic. I can’t wait to get down to Monaco for the upset. Nice there in March, especially when the red wine and red Arsenal are flowing. Keep your pecker up 🙂
Bayonne @ 14: I agree with you about Giroud and had expressed so in the last round of drinks. He had an absolute shocker last night, nothing he tried work and even the simplest of lay-offs were misplaced. All that said he is our striker in form, and he was getting himself into good positions, and we really have no good replacement for the central striker against a congested defense (neither Theo or Welbeck are, though both would love to be, and both would fare well against high defensive lines), so I think we were better off leaving Giroud on and take out Welbeck for Theo. As you said even on their worst days a striker does sometimes get you a goal or two after missing 10 chances.
To answer abb’s question Arsene was too reactive and late in introducing subs. We should have taken out Ozil much earlier, put TR7 in the box-to-box — I had hoped after the Palace match that TR7 should start this one as we were not very good at controlling the tempo away at Palace — role and move Santi up as no.10. We should have probably done that around 50 or 60 minutes mark when it was becoming clear that Ozil is not in the match.
And this remains my biggest criticism of Arsene: the unwillingness to rotate. We all get the reasons, the collective playing style can flourish only by playing collectively etc. But not to change any of the midfield or front three three days after a very tiring and less-than-controlled performance on a potato field where there are options on the bench is taking that theory a little too much seriously at the expense of the basic need for freshening up.
PL is not necessarily the best league in the world in terms of quality of football, but it is unquestionably the toughest and most contested. Not only there are easy matches there are no easy minutes any more. It is not an accident that PL teams are becoming less and less successful in PL in terms of progressing through rounds.
We need to be able to use our squad depth intelligently if we are to sustain domestic and European challenges consistently.
@19 … I meant “Not only there are no easy matches…”
Also, “PL teams are becoming less and less successful in Europe in terms of progressing through rounds.” …
GSD @ 17: Theo has definitely benefitted from Sagna’s nearly super-human athleticism and dedication to the cause.
Shocking performance!
Some very good posts from the usual suspects. However, I’m flabbergasted about this handshake nonsense that some people brought up after such a performance.
I saw Arsene walk towards the Monaco bench, as if he was attempting to find the Monaco manager to shake hands, however, the manager was busy celebrating with his team. Arsene rightly looked around for a couple seconds before heading down the tunnel. What was he supposed to do? Run the length of the pitch to search for the Monaco manager when his team just produced one of the worst performances in years? Utterly ridiculous.
Without doubt, there are more important things to point out after such a disappointing and frustrating performance, rather than this stupid handshake nonsense. On to the next match Gooners.
But what else could AW have done to impact this game (realistically, not in the future stuff, ie new goalie).
I would have started with Monreal and Theo and would definitely have had Theo on at half time, as the game was squeezed and had no width or tempo.
For God’s sake Impec.
The idea that a 50 yard dash to chase a manager who, rather than shake hands at the conclusion of the match, had gone straight to celebrate a famous victory with his team, would have been an innapropriate move from Arsene really messes with the point people are trying to make. Bloody killjoy.
Wagner out. Never liked opera anyway…
I have no issue with the Monaco manager not shaking hands but dashing at his players at the end by the way. Just a heat of the moment thing. No disrespect meant by anyone. Which is why no-one actually involved in the incident has made an issue of it. Or, I believe, even mentioned it.
Gomez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And great post mate – under great pressure.
And great work last night @TTG. Suspect you did n’t enjoy it in the slightest but you did the right thing. Be honoured to back you up one day.
Brucie’s been subbed. Think Tarbie’s coming on. Or maybe Bob Hope.
And 2 – 0 The Mighty Violets!
Pool cracking too..!
Heh @ GSD! Killjoy indeed mate.
Spuds out.. Pool next?!
😀
Pool out!
🙂
‘holic you are spot on in your word choice of numbing because that is exactly the way the game felt, starting at about the 10 minute mark but taking deeper effect after they scored the first goal. It was as if a numbing drug had been applied and nobody could do anything about it. We are so much better than we showed it is absolutely infuriating.
Wenger is the problem. He still thinks his way will win but unfortunately it has been not that way not only in this match but many big games.He has to share100% of the blame and not blame the players.
He has been given unlimited time but has failed and I believe only the cup win saved him.His style of attack ,attack and all day passing is a heaven sent for teams playing counter attacking.
If he fails to deliver a cl berth,he has to go. Compared to other top managers ,he has been lucky to survive. Tactically he has been outsmarted but still believes in his own hype.
Incredible restraint, Holic, and an excellent report.
For once, I can’t share the optimism of those who think we will turn this around in the second leg.
Why ? I quote your last sentence –
“It will be interesting to see what we do differently on Sunday.”
That is, I’m afraid, a triumph of hope over experience. From memory, since Gilberto Silva left we have done something different once. That was away against Man City a few weeks ago. Other than that we are a recurring defensive nightmare.
This is supposed to be a ‘professional’ football club. That implies that players are employed and paid – fantastically well these days – to do a job. Let’s just say it would be interesting, on that basis, to read the job description of an Arsenal defender.
Having conceded a second goal last night with our defence in total disarray, we then contrived to repeat the trick on the other side of the pitch with one minute to go. One minute – having just given ourselves the slenderest chance of rescuing the tie where all hope had reasonably gone.
The saddest thing ? I doubt there was a single Arsenal fan who was surprised.
You ask what was wrong with the starting XI and AW’s tactics, abb, well here are my thoughts.
The game was made for the go-ahead style of players such as TR7, Theo and Ox, and definitely the ideal time to introduce Gabriel for the FBG tortoise. And I’ll also have had Nacho for the Gibbon, a better defender to balance Gabriel’s introduction.
As it was Welbeck and Özil would have been my first replacements, subbed by Theo and TR7, and I would have played two up front from then with Theo partnering OG. And while I wouldn’t have been surprised to see OG replaced at half-time I would have kept him on till the end. He’s the kind of player who can always get you a goal cos at least he’s always in the right position to get a strike – unlike some I will mention. I wasn’t surprised to see him replaced by Theo, but utterly astonished to see Theo pushed out to the wing were he rarely got a touch while Danny went to CF where his hopeless positioning rarely got him a touch either.
Like the ESPN commentators I was listening to I couldn’t understand why Theo didn’t start or why Danny actually finished. Or what exactly Per has to do to get sacked.
Hate to say it bit AW has lost a little of his magic to my mind. I hope he knows when it’s the right time to go. I would never want to see him pushed.
Someone suggested he was rushing off down the tunnel to tear a strip off his team, but in an article I read today Mikael Silvestre claims he’s way to soft with them and they are often left less than certain what he expects (words to the effect). I’d love to be a fly on the wall.
Öskar
Yes it’s possible to turn it around in Monaco. It’s also very unlikely. I’ll bet Paddy Power’s odds against a three-goal difference being as generous in three weeks time as our defence was yesterday.
Öskar
Some very good stuff in these, and the last drinks, from Ttg, Dr Faustus,
GSD, desi.
Personally, I would have started last night with Tomas Rosicky. The Monaco defence was recognised to be very solid. Tomas’ pace and directness would have unsettled them far more than the twisty-turny game to which we resorted after the first ten minutes where, incidentally, we threatened to tear Monaco apart.
Monreal will have been disappointed, as was I, that he didn’t get the nod over Gibbs. Against a side who are known to counter attack down the wings, and especially when their star man Carrasco came on, Gibbs was caught the wrong side of the ball, yet again, as the winger romped
away to score the clincher unhindered.
What were we saying about never learning anything ?
A bit unfair to single out an individual on a night where no-one could feel satisfied but he was very poor. I also wonder what we are getting out of Danny Welbeck other than a lot of running around. Yes, he chases and tackles back but offensively he is a puzzle. He rarely seems to find the target with shots, doesn’t seem to be a real winger but does seem to hold the ball while running into trouble.
If he is going to drift inside, Rosicky would be a much better option.
Abb
The key message at half time is that we are one quarter through the tie. We don’t have to get the goal back immediately but need to build pressure.We do that by winning and retaining the ball and stretching the opposition. Pulling them out of shape. If they choose not to pressure us out wide we have time to put quality balls into Giroud and Welbeck and Sanchez when play is on the other flank and we also get second balls where there is an incomplete clearance, a rebound or blocked effort. However if we commit eight men forward and try to break through a heavily defended block rough the centre we are likely to lose the ball and find three or four men breaking against a defence trying to regain its shape because too many people have pushed forward.
In a European game you need to attack in bursts and preferably when you are not vulnerable to the counter- attack. We are naively Gung- ho and when they get the ball our defenders are out of position behind or not in touch at all with their attacking players. Cue the second and third goals. One pass opens us up. At the other end we can play ten passes and make no progress. We transitioned wildly and Monaco transitioned smoothly and kept their shape all game .
Wenger’s message had to be build pressure steadily, keep your shape and look for space out wide where you can play quality final balls. I guess there must have been loud music in our dressing room and nobody heard!
I posted here a couple of weeks ago that this team desperately lacks a leader – someone who imposes themselves on the team, drives them, encourages them, bullies them and, when necessary, bollocks them.
I mentioned McLintock, Adams and Vieira as examples of on-field leadership. If any of those three had been on the park last night then I doubt the third Monaco goal would have happened. Having got back to 1-2 at effectively half-time in the tie, those guys would have made sure that what we have we hold and not allowed ourselves to lose shape and over commit for the last two minutes.
Amy Lawrence alludes to the same issue in her Guardian article today saying “the charred old chestnut about leadership is there for all to see.” Irrespective of their skill sets, Terry and Kompany are other examples of leaders – there are many more.
But we don’t have one. That’s why Bellerin is allowed to get sucked inside time and again. That’s why Gibbs is more often in the opposition half than defending our own. That’s why Theo, when he plays, is allowed to drift into dereliction of his defensive duties. That’s why nobody is seen geeing up Giroud when he needs the encouragement. And so on.
I’m not allocating blame to those players for our defeat – both individually and collectively we were woeful against Monaco – but am just pointing out that a real on-field leader would not allow those traits to persist throughout a game, time and again.
Whoever we buy in the Summer, above all we need a leader. IMO.
UTA.
Oskar — Impec1 @ 23 has well clarified that whole non-issue about handshake and what-not. Arsene was not rushing down the tunnel to make himself heard after that performance, nor was he being discourteous to his opponent manager.
Silvestre came to us from a set-up where the manager’s treatment of performance he didn’t approve went to the extreme of throwing things at the player, and generally abusive behavior that made him lost the respect of the players, earning only their fear. He sure would have found Arsene’s more nuanced approach to man management less effective. I would rather take all the invincible’s words over him, and that of Klinsman, Petit, Weah, Thuran etc.
However, about the team selection and the substitution I fully agree with you. He made a few glaring mistakes yesterday. All managers do, we got all the more punished for it because the players on the field lost their nerves and their concentration.
I know it will be an unpopular statement, but Santi alluded to the psychological problem in a recent interview where he stated how everyone around the club’s set-up was so tense and apprehensive before the FA Cup final instead of being cautiously and quietly confident. We had almost managed to throw away that final too as we did the League Cup a few years back. I am sure Arsene should get some blame for that but there is a lack of true confidence and maturity in difficult situations that goes beyond the manager alone and runs through the club’s make-up. Even in our best years under Arsene we had made a mess of finals or key cup matches too many times — none of our heroes could stop us crashing out of FA Cup and more importantly CL with our best team ever in 03-04, we made defensive errors, GK blunders and missed simple chances in the only CL final we appeared — and I think deep inside the set-up of our great Club there is a lack of true self-affirmation that we belong to the very best with your Real or Barca or Bayern. And we are a little afraid of making mistakes.
As a club we are yet to make that next step that Liverpool or ManU had done at their halcyon days. I sincerely hope we do that in the next couple of years.
TTG @ 41: Excellent explanation for the ideal approach. As Noosa @42 mentioned to implement that you need a few leaders on the field who would be cool-headed enough to see what is going wrong and communicate that to everyone and ensure the shape. We actually do that well sometimes — ManCity away where everyone was pumped up and letting each other know, or the Dortmund match where the strategy was executed flawlessly — but not as often as we need to.
After we had conceded the first goal the players simply lost their head. Someone generally as cool as Kos — that said, he has done similar mistakes in CL games before, including against Bayern last year — played with a palpable panic in his decision making. When Giroud had missed his umpteenth chance and was venting his frustration on the hard ground someone needed to talk to him but everyone was simply rigid with fear that this is a game they might lose.
I probably am biased because I am a big fan of his, but I would play TR7 in matches like this as long as he is in the club and is as fit as a 30 year old. The no-nonsense simplicity of his approach and directness of his style always helps to settle nerves. Our players are a bundle of nerves sometimes: look at BFG’s face after he conceded the first goal. He was already fearing the worst. That cannot happen.
Trev @ 40: Spot on about TR7. Once Jack and Rambo are both back in full fitness I am afraid we will see even less of him this season … I think some of the qualities he brings in are still irreplaceable in our set-up. Ox will eventually become a player of his type but he is still very inconsistent in possession, and when Rambo is in his very best form he helps us keep the drive and tempo by the relentlessness of his running but against defenses that stay deep and funnel our attacks through a narrow channel and as a result we become ponderous and tentative (and desperate) the clarity of TR7’s game suits us best.
Thank you Dr F, but what Impec has ‘well clarified’ doesn’t accord with what I saw at the time, and what I have now watched again to check. Wenger certainly starts in Jardim’s direction, which is of course the same direction as the tunnel. As he nears the tunnel Wenger looks across at Jardim who looks back towards him. NO, Jardim HAS NOT LEFT THE TOUCHLINE at this point as some here claim, but it’s clear he isn’t going to head for the tunnel immediately either. In the circumstances I wouldn’t expect Wenger to go across to him, but I would expect some form of acknowledgement to Jardim But there is nothing, and without breaking stride Wenger simply continues into the tunnel.
Of itself it was no big deal, just surprising and disappointing as I said originally. But please don’t jump all over me when someone else’s memory is faulty or simply invents stuff to defend him.
Nor did I say Wenger was “rushing down the tunnel to make himself heard after that performance”. I was quoting the jist of what someone else had suggested, and which the Silvestre comments made sound very unlikely. Although I’ve always assumed Wenger has his own way of making a point when he needs to.
Öskar
As for “the charred old chestnut about leadership is there for all to see” and the Atychiphobia, Topophobia or even Panophobia that comes over them whenever we have a big match, these have been problems since the Invincibles left such an act to follow. If we could just get back to winning I’m sure these things would solve themselves.
Or is that tautological?
Öskar
With Poo out of Europe and the Spuds out of Europe and also the FA Cup, both have their midweeks free. And after we thrash Manure and Poo trip over Blackburn at the end of next week, all of them will have only the Prem to concentrate on.
That’s enough to give anyone Phobophobia. 😉
Öskar
I absolutely agree about the leadership issue. The BFG has got leadership qualities as he showed at Wembley against Wigan last year but he so often struggles with his own game in big matches. The thing about leaders is that they set examples, they dominate and lift the team by their performance and level of effort. McLintock was a magnificent captain as was TA and they were fist pumpers. Vieira was less demonstrative but he had a team with several other captains or leaders like Campbell , Keown and even Mad Jens!
Henry was far too self absorbed as a skipper but Fsbregas was very promising. I don’t want to start up the Ozil/ Fabregas debate but in leadership terms Cesc would win every time….but when he started behaving like a prima Donna trying to facilitate a move to Barca he lost the respect of the manager and other players.
The best attitude in the team belongs to Sanchez but it is not ideal to have a forward player as skipper . Wenger rotates the armband rather a lot and doesn’t seem to me to look for the qualities we are identifying here. I think it can work in a really gifted side but not one with the problems this team has.
Dr F is right in that Rosicky is a great warrior and always lifts the side when he comes on. He is or certainly was the Czech skipper but he can’t play every game at his age.
It’s a conundrum for Wenger. I think my choice at the moment might be Santi but it is a deficit I would like to see Wenger address but one I suspect he doesn’t fully acknowledge.
On the subject of not learning anything, how many times has Mertesacker talked about how poor we were, or how naive, or how unprofessional in a post-match interview this season?
It can’t just be the players.
The players were given a lot of credit after Man City for the way they set their stall out, including an admission by the manager that they’d influenced the way we approachd that game. So what’s changed?
If that approach works, who decides not to bother implementing similar tactics for oter big games? Is it the manager who decided once is enough?
Is Arsene Wenger …. June Whitfield?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Bi2cYEU5s
I know I have not posted for some time now but have been keeping a watching brief on all posts and the subsequent drinks. I had hoped to make a contribution to the drinks a while ago but other commitments have meant that it has sadly fallen on the too difficult pile. I had hoped to contribute after a far happier occasion but unfortunately that is not the case.
Wednesday night was a first for me. I have been a season ticket holder at The Grove since it opened and Wednesday was the first time that I have left the game before the final whistle. I just did not want to be there when the final whistle went and the predictable chorus of boos filled the ground.
Wednesday night was as others have alluded to above, not a surprise to anyone. Our season so far can be best summed up as constantly inconsistent. The game started brightly with everyone in attendance full of optimism and cheer. The warning signs were more than apparent before the first goal went in. For those who require any further evidence that we lack two quality central midfield players who can play with composure and discipline need to look no further. How we allow any opposition player so much time and space 30 yards from goal will remain a mystery to me. Our defence is left brutally exposed on a regular basis. We encourage our full backs to bomb forward and to be out width, but against decent sides we are regularly left vulnerable to a quick counter.
The atmosphere changed massively after the second went in. The tourist with his ticket exchange ticket in a seat in front of me had to be reminded of his manners as be proceeded to boo mercilessly as Ollie G’s number was raised by the 4th official. I know by his standards he had had a real shocker but personally I would have left him on as we have mo real credible alternative. Still, if you start the season with only one main striker I guess you know the potential consequences. Yes we have goals in other parts of the team but I would suggest that we have only one out and out striker.
As I trudged back to Highbury and Islington after the match there seemed to be a resigned acceptance from almost everyone else making the same journey. As many have stated, it was not something that has left anyone surprised. Despite such an abject performance there was little anger. Just the realisation of what had happened as it had unfolded in front of our eyes.
For me I have always believed that you reap what you sow. I have felt we have been short for sometime now. Starting the season with just two recognised centre halves was just plain ridiculous. We massively miss quality in the holding roll. I have read from nay on hear who have championed Le Coq but for me he is not the answer. He has put in some decent performances but for me he is just not good enough. He only started this year as an Arsenal player because there were no takers for him in the summer. He was at Charlton on loan and would probably still be there if Jack and Mickey A had stayed fit. He is whole hearted and committed but for me is not the answer.
The question of leadership has always been close to me. We have lacked a real leader for some years now. I had hoped that the BFG would have provided more of that but as Wednesday demonstrated, at times we are like the rabbit in the headlights. We need someone on the pitch that can grab hold of the game and those on the field and do what is required.
Like Trev I am far from optimistic about the return leg. The first goal will be vital. If we can score early then who knows? As for Sunday? Let’s see which Arsenal actually turns up. It is not a game that I would want to call at this time.
The Premier League is nowhere near that standard of a few years ago and so a top 4 finish should be well within reach. There is a lot of football still to play. We have got most of the squad back fit and we can’t keep blaming referees. Hopefully Sunday will see us bounce back with a decent performance and a good 3 points.
A quality write up H, as all your posts this season have been. Hopefully I will catch up with you and some other regulars in the Tollie in the very near future.
Hey Steve – great post and some brilliant points.
Its really great to see you back here!
Hope you make more regular contributions of old.
Lots of good discussion in the bar overnight and no better or more welcome posts than that of Steve T. Good to see you back mate. Every point a nugget. Couldn’t agree more. There are key ingredients missing from this team not least an on-field leader.
However I do retain a deep-seated shred of optimism that this team might turn it around in Monaco.
Surely we can make at least as many chances and surely OG can’t miss as many sitters?
4-2 to the Arsenal (of course we won’t keep a clean sheet). You heard it here first!
Great to see you back Steve. 😉
Steve T back On deck: “be our best” was one of the best posts on here in 2014. Great first post in 2015
Arsene should have shaken hands with the winning coach even if he had to walk 50 metres.
Making excuses or even suggesting he shouldnt bother, is absolute sporting nonsense and an excuse for a coach who is simply losin his mojo in a big way……
Yes he still has some decent moments, but that is all they are becoming…. Moments…. Not winning streaks.
Shaking hands with a winning coach in an event like champions league level sport , is simply what top level sports professionals do who firstly respect themselves and secondly respect other top sporting moments and efforts when fairly and squarely beaten.
The oppsing coach was the less experienced coach with an injury ravaged team who pulled off a top sporting effort…
Making the effort to congratulate the winning coach on this type of occasion is the classy thing to do and shows you are not in denial and you have the ability to learn from your mistakes….
Pissed off or not AW should have done the right thing and it is a big deal.
I enjoyed your contributions on the Wonderland podcast, Holic. And I commend your spare and measured match report. We hope for the three clear goals while, surely, we must also suspect a brave and romantic effort leading to a 0-2 scoreline! At the whistle, it was painful. But you are right to characterize the night as numbing. It is certainly how I am feeling post-Monaco.
The cup match away at OT looms even larger now–I think many were relishing the chance to put right recent injustices and lift the hoodoo they seem to have over us. After Wednesday night, many more are probably feeling the fearful anticipation start to gnaw a bit. But realistically it is now the most meaningful game ahead this season, I feel. But hopefully the team can shake it off and come back against Everton to cleanse the mind and rebuild some confidence.
Like Steve, I was surprised by Giroud’s substitution since he was in the right positions and might have a better chance to score than Welbeck, despite the off night finishing.
Also, I think what Coquelin has demonstrated principally is the importance of the role and position he occupies. I’d be delighted to retain him in the squad but hope that the new contract he has signed doesn’t impede AFC from looking seriously for a central midfielder with the attributes to improve us there.
Holics, haven’t finished the drinks yet.
BUT, In all my time here, this is HANDS DOWN, the most awesome, helpful examination of any game we’ve played and lost.
THANK YOU! xx
Steve T is back! YES ♥
So happy, but will refocus and tackle these well thought out drinks. 😉
Steve T is back,
Steve T is back,
Hello ! Hello !
😉
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I was elsewhere in London on Weds night so missed the debacle first hand. The look on the faces of the lads I ran into on my way back from Blackfriars told me everything I needed to know.
I am baffled that we repeat the same basic errors time and time again.Safety first doesn’t occur to this side, too much adrenaline. Just look at the Ox from the moment his shot hit the back of the net.I admire his spirit but in the circumstances self discipline was what was needed.
The lack of a leader on the pitch to calm things down when we get carried away and to gee players up when they are not pulling their weight is a big problem. There is no one of that stature in the Club at the moment which makes Arsene’s input from the touchline all the more important, he is far too passive. Arsene this lot are incapable of thinking for themselves once left to their own devises on the pitch. They each need a “Job Card” pinned to their shirts to remind them of their roles and responsibilities! ( in jest, but you know what I am saying).
I go on Sunday not having the faintest idea what will ensue. Let’s hope for the best, the fans need a positive response to Wed’s shocker. With QPR on Wed and that Cup Tie looming we need to get back to winning ways otherwise what was a promising scenario for the remainder of the season, will be heading once more into the buffers.
The news on Jack is not great ,we could have done with his energy against Everton but it does sound as though Rambo might be available next week, good news.
COYRs