Back To The Future For Le Boss
Feb 24th, 2015 by 'holic
“Monaco made 11 points at the group stage, scored four goals and conceded one, so that means they defend very well. That’s what they will certainly try to do tomorrow and they are also very good on the break, quick in transition, so that’s what we expect from them.”
Arsene giving an assessment of his former club which ties in very much with what Andrew Gibney said on the A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast I was privileged to contribute to last week.
That miserly defence is a concern but also the fact that they do like to counter with pace down both flanks. Crystal Palace were allowed far too many crosses on Saturday and one would hope that we have prepared to stop the supply at source more effectively on Wednesday night.
Perhaps surprisingly the two clubs have never met competitively before, although in August the visitors beat Arsenal in the Emirates Cup with a goal from the prolific (cough) Radamel Falcao before his loan move to Old Trafford.
Monaco have injury worries over left-back Layvin Kurzawa and winger Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco. The latter would be a big miss given their likely tactics. Midfielders Jeremy Toulalan and Tiemou Bakayoko, and defenders Ricardo Carvalho (yes, that Ricardo Carvalho!) and Andrea Raggi are out.
The Gunners will be missing Jack Wilshere but should welcome back Hector Bellerin, Tomas Rosicky, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Of the three probably only Bellerin has a chance of starting, otherwise we could be unchanged from the weekend.
The ‘holic pound is persuaded that we could have enough guile and speed of thought in midfield to get a reasonable enough win to defend in the second leg. Unfortunately the bookies agree so the odds are on the short side. I am having a piece of 2-0 to the Arsenal, a skinny 11/2 with Paddy Power, but understandably so.
A word to the wise. I will be at the match so traveling home late tomorrow, and I have a full day on Thursday so the review (rather than a conventional report) will appear at some time on Thursday evening.
Legends Attend The Invincibles Premiere
The ‘Invincibles’ side of 2003/04 is celebrated in a new Arsenal Media documentary released this week.
The film, which took almost two years to complete, includes contributions from Arsène Wenger, Thierry Henry, Jens Lehmann, Sol Campbell, Martin Keown and Ray Parlour.
It premiered at the Everyman Cinema in Hampstead on Monday evening, with members of the Invincibles squad in attendance along with a host of famous fans.
‘Invincibles’ will be aired for the first time on Sky Sports 1 & 5 after Wednesday’s Champions League match with Monaco, with an extended version of the film available on iTunes and DVD from March 30.
The documentary will also be aired in the United States on NBC, with the premiere at 12pm (Eastern Time) on Sunday, March 1 following the Arsenal v Everton match.
It will then be screened again the following day at 9pm, as well as on March 14 on 6am and at 4pm on March 22 (all Eastern Time).
Many thanks to Arsenal FC for the video and image shown here.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
235 Responses to “Back To The Future For Le Boss”
Ahoy!
Is that my First First Drink?!?!??!?
After all these years??
Ahoy there pirate. Good work 🙂
Pirates???? Are the Gasheads in town.
It’s a trophy. Bring it on.
Hello Goonerholic and DublinGooner, my first drink at the bar
Gaelic tinge to the drinks tonight I see. Top o’ the evening. 🙂
Goonerholic to bring luck (not sure if luck o’ the Irish) to Arsenal this Wednesday evening?
Evening, and welcome, Wexford.
Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Ta Failte Romahat, A Chara!
Nice preview Guv and have a safe trip back tomorrow. It takes dedication in this weather! Having said that I have a similarly full day on Thursday but hopefully not as long a journey home .
I think the failure to prevent crosses has been our regular undoing this year, nb Stoke, Tottenham and on Saturday where fortunately it did not cost us. It is preventable if wingers work back assiduously. I’m hopeful tomorrow but it will be a tight game and we will need our geniuses to perform. 1-0 might have to be it. I expect Theo to start and Santi to continue in a slightly deeper role. It is possible Kieran Gibbs may be back to provide slightly more penetration going forward. Enjoy the game Holics !
Welcome Wexford a Guinness on the bar for you.
If anyone intended to use Highbury and Islington tube tomorrow access is extremely restricted so best to avoid.
go raibh mile maith agat a chairde agus slainte
Nice one ‘holic, cheers.
No idea what tomorrow wil bring, as I know next to nothing about the French league. However Monaco quailified as group leaders and hardly conceeded doing so, so we’ll have our work cut out for us.
COYG’s.
Nice preview Guvna. Have a great trip and hopefully you will enjoy the win and your winnings. Watching from the couch myself tomorrow.
Come on you Gunners. Let’s break that glass ceiling.
Cheers H.
TTG from last drinks. I expect Chelsea to win stuff so it hurts less and I can console myself with the fact that they have bought success in a world where money talks. I cannot stand it when Spuds win anything. Ever. Just my feelings of course- and you are right that Sunday is awful however you cut it.
Don’t know what to expect tomorrow. I am glad Champs league is back though. 3 months nearly since our last game. You could’ve played a World Cup comfortably in that time…*
*I shall point out, due to the nature of the Internet and the ease of misinterpretation, that my cheek hurts my tongue is stuck so far in it…
Just a quick heads up that there’s a four page interview with Jon Sammels in the new Gooner, available this weekend.
Advert ends 😉
Monaco seem to have more out injured than we do. What’s going on?
2-1 if Danny starts. 3-0 if Theo starts. 😉
Öskar
Oskar,
We will not lose 3-0, whoever starts ! 😉
Nice one Guv !
See you tomorrow if you’re about pre-match.
12°C predicted for tomorrow’s high – phew, what a scorcher !
😉
Oskar. What score if Theo AND Danny start?
They won’t both start, 8ball, we’d be in danger of conceding.
I’ll give you any odds you like against them winning 3-0 Trev. By the way, I couldn’t help noticing Barca playing three up front and only one of them, Messi, doing any defensive work at all. My kind of system.
Öskar
Champions league.
My favourite football and favourite tournament.
Nothing comes close.
I would like to see us go all the way, once in my time.
With our best Team we should win this.
Our best team (IMHO) means no jack, no theo and no gibbs.
Nacho deserves his chance and is simply tougher then gibbs.
Gibbs will last 20 mins then he will be off down the tunnel for his usual spell after 1 match.
Santi/ Ozil and alexis are simply class and should be first names on the sheet.
Danny and Ox are simply better and more skilful players then theo.
COYR
Have you ever seen Theo playing when both physically fit and match fit, Aussie?
Here are some reminders … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZb1s_idKCE … Note how many times he finds the corner of the net with uncanny accuracy, and note particularly a goal near the end where he doesn’t go down screaming for a penalty, he just gets up and scores.
Now show me half as many Danny or Ox goals of anything like the same quality. And how many hat tricks has either had?
Öskar
No wait, I was forgetting … it’s not goal-scoring that counts it’s how well you defend, right? 🙁
Öskar
Oskar.
I’ll leave Ned to stat this one up but as far as I know Theo has been playing in the Champs League for us for years and got no hat tricks.
Welbz got one in his first few games. I don’t think this means a thing. But you did ask.
When Ox does start scoring they will come more and more regularly. Just like Theo- do you remember him at 21? Its all getting a bit revisionist- Giroud has more Arsenal goals than Theo.
And i see no need for dragging AOC into this ongoing Danny/Theo debate. At Barca they rate Messi. But they don’t spend their time comparing every other one of their own players unfavourably to him. Whenever you make the point that you like Theo (a not infrequent theme since Ozil has started pleasing your eye more and other posters have begun arguing that Feo needs to up his game) it always comes with a reference to how one or more of our other players aren’t as good. I appreciate they are vying for one spot and comparison is therefore useful. But if you, personally, value attacking worth more than defensive then Theo’s your man. Someone else may feel the need for Danny’s switched on approach to defending. Fine. Both valid opinions, or options for different games.
But do we need to go through it every time someone says anything about Theo? There is a phrase about sleeping dogs…
I’m not drinking actual booze today so dropped in here after hours for a cheeky virtual one.
I’m sloping off to bed now myself. But there’s one on the bar for all the antipodeans and the late-night lurkers…
I didn’t bring Ox into it, GSD, I merely responded to someone who reckoned Ox and Danny were ‘simply better and more skilful players’ than Theo. As evidenced by what I’d like to know? At his best (when fully fit and not returning after a year out with injury) Theo is far better than either. Certainly as a goal-scorer there is no comparison.
Oh, and he has 72 goals for Arsenal compared to 50 for OG.
Öskar
* ‘far better than either’ in my opinion of course.
Öskar
Szczesny
Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal
Coquelin
Cazorla Ozil
Walcott Giroud Sanchez
Bench: Ospina Chambers Gabriel Gibbs Flamini Rosicky Welbeck
Theo or Welbeck is neither here nor there for me, I just hope that Woj gets his place back tonight. Ospina is an OK keeper but Woj is better. Ospina had his chance but hasn’t taken it. Let Woj back in now and play him for the rest of the season.
And I will be massively disappointed if we don’t come away with a clean sheet and at least two goals scored tonight. Yes, they didn’t concede much in the group stage but they played in a group in which the teams scored 4, 7, 4 and 2 goals respectively. Compare that to, for example, our group where the teams scored 14, 15, 8 and 2. Also, they have injuries to a few players and they have Dimitar Berbatov up top, ffs. We really should be able to do enough to pretty much put this tie to bed tonight.
Oskar. Fair enough.
Got lied to by the interweb on Theo’s goals- that’s why I leave statting to the monks…
The point still stands though. Our ‘not clinical enough’ striker is 20 goals behind Theo ‘Mr Clinical’ in much less time. How?
Obviously Theo has improved his finishing loads, most of his goals coming in the second half of his career. The goals in the first half of his career are like an iceberg. You can only see some of it but you know the total is much bigger. Theo benefitted wonderfully from being given the chance to develop without being constantly compared to the club’s top strikers (how close has he ever got to Henry or RVP?).
I think Ox and Danny deserve the same. And that Danny , two years older at only 23 (a young man!), is still far from the finished article. Ox is a great talent- when he finds his shooting boots it will be like when Rambo did. Won’t be surprised if his midfield goals on dodgy days when the team is not firing drive us to a title a la Pires.
And there is plenty of room for all of them in the squad.
Great “old” footage of theo oskar.
Theo has to be able to control the ball before he can bang in goals and and become prolific and to also get ahead of danny and OX. if a football pitch had eight straight lanes and we’re all 100 metres long and you only had to dribble straight and had no defenders in any lanes, then yes , theo is your man.
I must say I enjoy your historical defence of theo as much as I enjoy Lars’s defence of Woj for the number one keeping spot.
Both entertaining and both based on some great historical form of their best days rather than current form And most days.
Sadly I won’t be at the Ems tonight having got myself double booked with long held tickets for opera at the Sam Wanamaker.
I will therefore be relying on Gooner Kevin to report on the game the minute the 23.30 departs Kings X for Peterborough, when he should be just north of Ely on his way home!
Sounds like a game where we must impose ourselves from the start and somehow get an early goal, otherwise it might be a very difficult evening with us trying to batter down a barn door.
I’m for the lovely Hector at RB and Theo may well start. Just hope we don’t make any mistakes at the back to allow them a lead. Am expecting a win and am with Holic at 2-0 to the Gunners.
Those of you going , sing a song for me.
COYRs
@ Aussie, you and me are probably having some telepathic understanding in our way of thinking. I second most things you say and i do not mean just on this discussion. I am also one who feels both Ox and Danny should start ahead of Theo and more so Ospina ahead of woj. Well we can talk about this on and on but for the sake of the rest, lets say this is our opinion.
Monaco are a tough nut to crack. With the DM’s they have, specially Moutinho, our midfield will need to play out of their skin to win this one.
I am sure the tactics will be to hit them early with pace and the blue print will be the Napoli game. If we do have that kind of a first half, 2-0 looks perfect.
Time for Alexis to score, i mean he is still my PFA player of the season and hence i need him to score, assist do whatever to win it.
Tense at the moment as i type but realistically we should have no reasons not to win this.
Cheers Vinay,
Agree with our best squad we should win this one.
I wonder how much we would agree on who will be the new world cup cricket champions.
At worst we would probably agree it wont be England.
Is it just me or does anyone else find it ridiculous that the narrative in the lead-up to City’s game against Farca was all about how City should adopt the underdog status? So if I’ve understood: the most expensively assembled team of all time should go into a game with the mentality of the weaker side. Weird.
Anyway, back to real football on this planet. Watching the videos of a fully fit Theo banging them in for fun, I’m tempted to plump for his inclusion, but is he firing on all cylinders this season? DW seems to be on better form and might work in a shock and awe kind of approach. Here’s hoping Alexis gets on the scoresheet and picks up an assist fire good measure!
*FOR good measure
Curse you, autocorrect.
@Aussie, no we will agree on that too just for this edition- it is Australia’s to lose. Kiwis, India and SA will make up the semis.
Isn’t RM the most expensively assembled team (at least of the remaining CL contenders)? Citeh are up there to be sure, but the amount of cash RM spent on wingers alone is obscene…and Spain wants austerity relief, bah humbug.
COYRs.
Monegasque sounds like something that ought to be in a zoo.
Last Friday I watched the Nice vs AS Monaco match on TV.An absolutely awful match with technical quality of british 3rd division match.Monaco did not create any good oppurtunities and won the match in the last 5 minutes thanks to the Nice left back playing a ball back across the 18 yard box where it was intercepted by a grateful Bernardo Silva before scoring.On the basis of this match I would expect the mighty reds to build up a handsome advantage(4-0) to go to Monaco with on the 17th March.
Famous last words, Wuif …
BMBD
Funnily enough LG,if I was to be wrong it wouldn`t be the first or last time.14H45 kick off for you ,I hope you`ve got the afternoon off work.
No rest for the wicked, I’m afraid.
Set the game to record…might be able to watch some streams if the office IT folks haven’t gotten too mindful of IP addresses.
No handbrake, please.
BMBD
Team in full: Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Alexis, Ozil, Welbeck, Giroud
Subs: Szczesny, Gabriel, Monreal, Chambers, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott
More attacking full backs changes
Holic between you and the holics here (some I had worried about!), why now I’m short of breath …
What a smashing line up we got at the bar! And our team selection, ain’t shabby either 😉
Not to finish reading. Welcome back everyone!
*Now to finish reading ….. 🙂
Too excited and happy, all at once! ♥
lonestar, take a late lunch 🙂
or you can try fox sports 1, if you’re a cable subscriber. you should be able to watch it online direct from fs1, not through a stream.
http://www.foxsports.com/foxsportsgo/
i’m an xfinity subscriber, so i get to watch, supposedly. it’ll be my first time trying this route.
wuif, is that lineup actual, or what you’d like? either way, gibbs and hector need to STOP THE CROSSES.
Looks like Theo’s face no longer fits. Time to go, Theo. Summer move to somewhere sunny and warm.
Liverpool, for example 😉
Cheers H!
Come on you fucking Arsenal!
Lets do this shit!
heh, esso 🙂
Only just read the squad. Feel a bit sorry for Nacho. Been my top boy so far this season.
Agree there, Esso. He’s been quality and easy to overlook with Sanchez so front and centre.
Seeing Henry between Souness and Redknapp sucks. Even his soft, accented bur cannot persuade me to unmute the TV.
Berbatov came across quite well in his interview. I was most surprised.
I hope wuif *waves hello* is right about this lot. Come on you reds!
Arseblog had a decent Monreal piece a couple of days back. I have no idea who I’d play as first choice left-back.
Although if we want history to repeat itself in as far as reaching the final goes then I guess it’s Flamini. Nah, can’t be!
More holic celebrities filing in 🙂
Eandy and Lurky, saving you a spot at the bar 😉
And I have Lars’s wallet, open bar!!! 😉
Delia, we shall be singing our ♥ out.
Aussie @ 20 Me too, Champs League numero uno! FA Cup second.
What Esso said @48.
It`s the team on .com
So should be official
I heard open bar.
abb, you’re funny. but, lars’ wallet, that’s no joke 🙂
mineral water for me, i have a 1 pm meeting and need to be sober.
COME ON YOU REDS!
it’s official, wuif. i should have checked first. thanks!
Come Onnnnnnnnnnnnn!
😀
Hey all, nervous as hell, come on boys!
..streams 😛 http://www.livefootballol.com/streaming/uefa-champions-league/25-02-2015-arsenal-monaco.html
Howdy, Abb. 🙂
See you all at halftime. COYRRR!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s 180 minutes but only 90 today so let’s go for it.
Me too Eandy. It seems like we have waited forever for this one.
Now let’s win it!
UTA!
me three. very nervous about this one. their defense is tough, but if we can get an early one…well, there’s no telling. hopefully berba will have one of his laissez-faire days…
Ohhhhhhh, luv you all!
C’mon on The Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rock and roll!
No idea what will happen tonight so I’m putting the Prehistoric Pound on 8ball for the Holic goal…
Come on you REDS!
oooh, danny. great turn, terrible finish.
Kos’s backheel. Dreamy.
We look good. Make it count.
It looks like we are up for it today, gooners and goonerettes.
we’re definitely putting pressure on their central defenders. that’s two hurried clearances so far, in less than 5 minutes.
Eandy – the king of streams.
Much obliged!
Promising start. Danny working the pitch!
Team selection excellent.
We look good early.
Santi Alreay dialled in
Neville can do one.
just thinking the same, gsd. turned it on to listen to the crowd, and heard him spouting bullshit.
third offside on berba. keep it up, boys.
Cheers, Scruz… partners got wise to the “late lunch” scheme 😉 Workload for the day probably isn’t conducive to watching live anyway…so I will rely on timely updates from the bar.
Come on, you rip-roaring…
BMBD
they heard from the bar owners, eh lonestar? 😀
fortunately for me, lunch can start a few minutes early, and runs just a few minutes late…though today’s meeting means i will watch the second half on the dvr at home tonight.
kozzer is a beast.
welbeck hurting, damn.
LoneStar, it’s a wide open game. But our passing is a wee bit off
the mark!
ooh, nearly from the corner.
freekick by santi from about 40 yards central. leads to a corner.
santi with magic feet!!
Tidy foray by Kos, shot weak.
ospina hasn’t touched the ball, and arsenal have been pressing around the box, and somehow arsenal aren’t doing well? jesus, gary and bill are tripe.
alexis very close
Alexis fires, just high! by inches 😉
not saying jesus is tripe. just gary and bill.
Alexis is fired up.. we need to up the tempo!
They’re as slow as Berbatov.. who keeps falling over…!
🙂
USe the wings… Arghhhh! So much space there!
COME ON!!!!!!!
Oh giroud
Great team move
Awesome bellerin pass
great ball from bellerin, giroud couldn’t use it.
that guy Kogdogbia is some player.
fuck.
in off mert. ugh.
How the fuck that one went in.
There we go..making it hard again for ourselves….
No one shadowing him 🙁
Totally preventable goal (shit)!
now let’s get four back.
one shot on target, one goal. and we’ve not had a shot on target. COME ON, GUNNERS!
Yellow for Le Coq. When it rains …
We are better than them, let’s prove it, lads!
and now it’s going to be monaco slowing the game down even further.
Utter shite.
I wonder why there’s no width and no tempo?
Oh yeah…
we didn’t play *badly* that half, their goal was a deflection, and there’s all to play for second half.
cynic, i agree. we should put ox on in the second half 🙂
I’d take a draw at this point.
I will settle for a 2-1 at this point, but a healthier 3-1 isn’t impossible provided we come up and do ourselves justice in the second half.
all to play for, their goal was unfortunate but we need hell a lot more urgency in the second half.
I’d settle for any farm animal at this point, scruz.
We can smash this lot for the next half.
Wenger is reading the riot act as I type. All to play for.
UTA
Not great.
Need to up the tempo and more width in the second half.
Monaco were very lucky
We have class on the pitch
Keep the faith
NOw we’re using the width of the field.. much better!
Not OG’s day!
Should have left it for alexis…
And.. that’s it.. tactical naivete… no cover!
It is so difficult to cop
Very hard to understand
OG has missed 3 from 3
Can’t do that at this level
Get the fucking subs on.
FUCKS SAKE GIROUD.
Monaco get another one.
AW outfoxed again.
I anyone really surprised?
Take Giroud off, please!
R u serious giroud
That was the worst of the 4
Pitiful
two shots, two goals..ffs oh well
Quite right @Abb.. not Giroud’s day.. and unfortunately means not ours as well.
Berbatov?
Heavens, me.
Oh Giroud my boy.
You better make it up with a hat-trick in the return, son.
Homer, not AW’s fault. We’re playing poorly!
Prescient .. and he’s off for Theo!
There’s still time to get this back on track. Come on boys, show your mettle.
OG really should have put at least two in ..free header and that one was a sitter..shame that his day off comes in this game :S
Where was the right back there? FFS
When your goalie has to come off his line, cause no one’s helping him out!
Eandy –
That can be Holics next heading
Two shots two goals !!!
Sadly again
If you have The Faith, you can get 16/1 on Arsenal with Skybet.
Dear God, it’s contagious! Now Welbeck misses 🙁
Oh boy… one of those days…. welbeck on theo..!
What kind of pass was that?
We must try to make the most of these remaining 25 minutes, whatever happens.
Memories of Munich 2013 are still fresh, and what could have been.
Come on you rip-roaring!
If Crystal Palace can score at the death, if the scum can find a way to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat…then certainly we should be able to get something from this match. Surely?
Monaco have a central defence like a steel trap
Monaco have two Big and strong DM’s
So what do we do
we continue to try and be cute and tricky through the middle
Just Makes no sense
One word on how we played, ‘sloppy’. Pains me to say it.
Whatever they try and tell you on 5 live, even at 2-0 down starting the second leg, just scoring one goal before half time will put the cat well among the pigeons and have Monaco worried.
That said I’m not too optimistic that we can win 3-0 away against quality opposition with a really good defence.
If we play like this in the 2nd leg.. no way are we going through..
Yes Goal AOC!
Yessssssssssss!
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
OXoxoxoxoxooxoxox!
Yeeeeeahhhh come on
Oh bollocks how utterly typical
Speechless
This Mertesacker fella…
Ah.. more naivete!
Well… that’s that then!
Awful. And our fans are booing, too 🙁
The Ox. Thank the maker!
TWO WORDS.
FUCKING WOEFUL.
thats it ..unnaceptable goal to concede, fuck me ..there really is no good draw for us in champions league.
Media lockdown starts. Except here. Not in the mood to put up with numbnuts on Twitter!
We should have take the Ox off the minute he scored the goal.
His play afterwards was atrocious, leading to 2 chances…and one of them on target for the 3:1.
The entire team went missing. What an incredibly naive performance from the back to our attack. No bright spots today.
we had evey chance
No serious injuries as an excuse
In form – our Best team on the park
Just not good enough sadly
Still can’t believe that Ozil and Mertesacker played full 90 minutes. I would prefer two trees next game please.
I truly thought we could go on with this CL campaign
Monaco were not even a better side
Just a smarter and more patient side with a better team strategy
Absolutely gutted by this result
Score line is embarrasing at home
Looking forward to the 2nd leg!
We’ll be up for it then.. we’re always at our best chasing the game… and it’s only half time!
😀
WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Conceding third goal in dying minutes.
Another Arsenal CL embarrassment. Concede 3 at home … Jaysus.
Mentally, Arsenal are jello. Pathetic.
Can’t believe we went all guns blazing after we scored with our entire defense in their half.
What did we expect? To just score a second goal within the last 2 Minutes?
Well now we can concentrate on that top four finish.
Waited 3 months for that. I think I’m just going to let this result sink in for a bit.
They were not great and if we click in the second leg anything could happen. But it is time to lick our wounds before thinking about that.
However, if we do go through, it will be classic Arsenal. Never easy. Usually a bloody struggle.
UTA
Groan! WTF happened there, I didn’t see it but was it as bad as when we played Dortmund in the group stages and played like a pub team?
When your pacey halfbacks are outpaced, or if one decides not to cover back (Gibbs on Berbatov), with a pace challenged Per, you’re in deep.
And I’d have taken off Welbeck for Thep. Sure OG was on a real stinker, but with number 9s you just never know when they can put one or two away no matter how awful they’ve been.
That Kondogbia is what you want in a DM.
I’m so disappointed it’s unacceptable. It’s a shame for arsenal a SHAME !!!! 1-3 at home. Supposed to have the experience, Monaco was supposed to be without experience, my ass !!! On the pitch Ozil, Sanchez, cazorla, giroud, welbeck theo in for this ????!!! Chamberlain give us the hope during only 1 min just before take it back himself. Thank you bro !! It is a shame for wenger and a shame for the players. I’m not used to criticize too much the team when they loose but here I saw player who let us down. As usual they will play a good game in the return but will be not enough, fuck off !!! Too late broken legs !!! I’m sorry I had to tell my frustration (does not even know if that word exists in English).
Not quite Bayonne. He does not play for Arsenal…
Did we learn anything new about our defending today ? Unfortunately not. All gung ho attack with no covering. Opposition makes one defense splitting pass that takes away half of our team.
Let’s focus on our realistic trophy again this season – 4th place. I am sure we can plan an open bus parade for 4th place – if we achieve ir
Such a poor performance all round. Do think it highlighted how we miss Szczesny as I do believe he is a keeper who can save you when you perform badly. Not convinced that Ospina is.
If only we had taken our chances… Despite playing so poorly tonight, we could easily have scored 3 or 4 goals. We will definitely create chances in the return leg but the defence can’t afford to be as shoddy as they were tonight. Too many players had an off day today – Ozil, per and even santi after the first 25 minutes. Don’t think they will have such stinkers again for a while…
We generally have a tendency of scoring two goals in a matter of minutes, almost like scoring in bunches of two. We will need a couple of those bunches in the return leg. Seems difficult but then when have we ever made is easy for ourselves…
Watching in Turkey with a young Galatasaray fan.
After 25 minutes: “You know what is wrong? Arsenal has no striker”.
After 30 minutes “Giroud needs to come off, his confidence has gone” After 94 minutes “That’s the worst goalkeeping I’ve seen”.
Out of the mouths of young Turks…….
There will be better nights. Monte Carlo in March is not unplesant even with a two goal deficit to overcome. I’m looking forward to it. But please, Arsene, play Sczez.
At 2-1 it should be ball up the jumper time and try to make amends in the second leg. I don’t know what was going on in that last two minutes.
We’d actually have been better off losing 2-0 than 3-1. Now need three goals, when a 2-0 away win would have been enough for ET and pens.
I’m just amazed that we never seem to learn anything. So naive.
The only good thing about that game was that everybody got their stinker out of the way in the same game.
Who’s this ShatOnFreud? He’s cetainly malodorous.
Where’s he been while we’ve climbed steadily to third in the League. What’s all this bollocks at the half-way stage in a CL game? Maybe he plays tiddlywinks? Probably a bitter Manure fan? Whatever.
Embarrassingly awful.
And Wenger has a lot to answer for … ie the wrong starting team (the match was tailor-made for TR7 and Theo, and Nacho should always start ahead of the Gibbon) and the wrong players replaced (two out of three anyway). Giroud couldn’t have done more to get replaced by half time (if not before) while Danny and Özilla couldn’t have done less and yet still be there at the end. I thought when Theo came on he would play through the middle where he is most effective, but no … useless Danny clogged up that space.
Otoh a lovely goal from Ox. If only he hadn’t followed up by giving the ball away for their third.
Love him or hate him (as we do) Berbastuff scored (of course) and showed us (once again) the value of a striker without a defensive bone in his body.
Tough ask in the second leg when, presumably, their missing stars are back. But one less comp to worry about won’t hurt our primary objectives, FA Cup and Prem top 4.
Not Wenger’s finest hour, and his judgement once again in question…
Öskar
You were right, Trev, we didn’t lose 3-0. 😉
Öskar
Oskar- The goal-line clearance from Theo to stop Danny scoring made me think of you. That is what happens when they play together!
Oh well, at least now we can focus on qualifying for next season’s Champions League, so that we can reach the last 16 again and be knocked out by BATE Borisov.
If Welbeck was a top striker he would have taken account of the mass of bodies on the floor and lifted the ball over them.
But I don’t blame him for not scoring there. There are players in this team who have nothing when it really matters.
correct, Cynic, a class striker would have simply dinked the ball into the massively open space above Theo.
Öskar
Arrggggh! Monaco wasn’t even that good, if it had been FCB, we’d probably would have been a hell of lot more focused. Or something!
Marcus, the Ox made a superb tackle in dangerous territory. He’s only just come back.
Really gutted to say this, but I agree about Per. He’s slowed down and it’s not his fault. Sacrificed playing for Germany, to concentrate on Arsenal.
Chris, Goalkeeper question. Well we did leave Ospina exposed for 2 of those goals. But like you and several others, not convinced he’s our #1.
Cynic, Lurky. Yes and Yes. 🙁
…and if Theo had got in the way then their keeper would have.
Öskar
It will be alright in the end but never let it be said this Arsenal team ever does anything the easy way.
In response to others … Per has looked like he’s running in treacle all season. OspinO had no chance with any of their goals, but nearly got the third. But actually I think Emily will eventually prove to be our best, IF he gets the chance to show it.
Gotta start our most penetrative XI in Monaco, and that means TR7, Theo, Nacho, Cal and Ox all starting.
Not that I expect AW to agree, he’s getting way too cautious in his old age.
Öskar
Wenger also showed a surprising lack of class by not shaking Jardim’s hand before heading for the tunnel. Disappointing.
Öskar
The result is self-inflicted. Monaco is just a replica of Stoke – Le Stoke. Their main qualities are discipline and defensive organisation but not to the degree that they are a world class. We made them look good. Our missed chances inflated their belief and resolve. I am sure we will not play this bad in return and they will not be so lucky again. In fact, I am sure we will be much better. 4:1 in Monaco!!!
Today’s game highlighted Gibbo’s technical limitations and against defenses that will stay deep and full backs well protected by central defense his tendency to drift inside and not have the technique to hold onto possession to delay the pass or play quick one-two around a crowded area causes problems for us in attack. Nacho is always a better bet when we need to be patient and penetrative around the opposition penalty box. But Gibbo at least didn’t lack the drive.
One of Ozil’s worst performances for us, he played without ease, tentative and unconvincing. Santi started well and trailed off…the amount of ball carrying from deep he does for us nowadays I suppose he cannot be expected to play two games in a week with that sharpness. Could have been rested today from the start for TR7 and brought on if things are not going well. Giroud had an awful night but in a game we were chasing he could have always pulled a goal or two in the later stages. Danny and Alexis, despite their work rate, were very impatient with their runs and too eager to play through the middle and ill-disciplined in possession.
There is still something wrong with the psychology of this team under pressure on the field when it seems like there is a collective meltdown. Everything was rushed and as a result lacking sharpness. As if the players started with a degree of complacency and when the things didn’t start to go their way instead of focusing they panicked. We were so poor defensively for the second and third goals it was unbelievable.
In addition, I think Per should give way to Gabriel in the return. Ospina had no chance in any of the goals they scored tonight. Scesz makes us nervous with his unconventional decisions. Agree that Nacho is in better form than Gibbo. In the second half, I would go with Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Kos, Coq, TR7, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud and Walcott.
Oskar @ 193 Stellar choices, but who would have thought Wenger’s pick would underperform en masse?
The only criticism I can level at him is the subs should’ve come on much sooner!
Schadenfreunde, don’t wait for aliens to bring you happiness. Be proactive…start supporting someone else.
Methinks he already does, Bosnian.
Tend to agree, Cynic.
Dr Faustus, Nice job! Agree with you except on Giroud. Clearly his Waterloo!
Bosnian Gooner, When Opina punches, bats the ball away (not tonite) it usually goes to our opponents. And that makes me very nervous!
Spot on Bosnian, that would be my selection too.
No place for Mertesacker and Ozil in the starting line up if we want to have some chance in the re-match. Playing high defensive line with a player that is slow as a tanker was an obviois suicide. Ozil can’t play against more physical and faster opponents, he looked like an amateur tonight.
Agree on Ospina too, not his fault for any of the three goals. He is not a title winning gk thats for sure but Woj is not one either.
Just back from the game and I haven’t back drunk
I can guess some of the reactions and watching it live with the occasional replays but at the same time being able to watch things they didn’t show on telly these are my impressions.
Monaco were much better than we expected and played particularly well on the break. The first goal was pivotal because it changed the shape of the game. We pushed on more and I think we all know we got too desperate too early.
Why do we concede so many goals on the break? Firstly our full backs are usually out of position and Mertesacker is extraordinarily slow. You can literally see a goal coming from the halfway line.
We did not have any game changers although Ox made a brief difference before losing the ball for their third. Ozil was extremely disappointing in almost every aspect of his play,Alexis looks slightly burnt out, the usually admirable Giroud had an absolute mare and Santi was against two superb midfielders. Both Kondogbia and Moutinho are top drawer.
Nobody played well. I thought Ospina could have done better with the third goal but then everybody could have done better. Theo made some great runs but you get exposed more on the right in modern football and as ever looked less secure after he came on. But I would attach no blame to him for that result. We created enough chances to draw or even win but they fell to Giroud on a night when he couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo.
But for me tonight was a night when I very nearly hit another Arsenal fan. As Ox’s shot hit the net I turned to see the bloke behind me who had been giving Giroud pelters all night, sitting slumped in his seat. When I asked him if he was a Monaco fan he claimed the goal made no difference. A few minutes later he was proved right and exultantly made me aware of it. I told him to fuck off and never come to the ground again.
I’ve commented before about the fair weather supporters who inhabit the ground nowadays. Tonight was intensely disappointing because I believed in this squad. I still believe Wenger is a great manager but is far from infallible tactically and I still believe we can beat Manure although we will be under huge pressure now and I still believe we can finish third.
But even if I didn’t I can’t abuse the team like I heard them abused tonight. A huge number of modern supporters are anything but people who support and I resent sharing my club with them. It gets harder to be in the ground with people like that idiot tonight. Football is changing and sadly a lot of Arsenal supporters are changing too.
ABB, yes I know…he even made some a la Scesz outings in the previous two matches. But I have lost tones of nerves with Woj and until Ospina starts making goals for opponents out of nothing I think we should stick with him. We do need a world-class GK…I think we will agree on that.
Hi Bosnian Gooner, Well, how about Martinez (for the future). He’s got the height, the moves …
Lurky, we need to finally sort out our GK issue…it is being prolonged for far too long. You cannot step up to the next level with average GKs…that is the fact. This is an area where Arsene needs to stop being philosophical and humanitarian…get the keeper we deserve to have. Period.
Thundertinygooners, I feel your frustrations. These battery-run fans are everywhere. I really don’t understand them…if they are about instant success, about mandatory spending, about changing coaches like socks, etc. Well there are all kinds of reals, barcas, citys, chelseas, etc. for them to enjoy. Why are they torturing themselves with sides like ours? I am also hurt after tonight but my hurt translates into defiance and pride. New generations express their disappointment in the manners that are shameful. You have seen it tonight…and I have to say that I have read it here many times.
Martinez is one for the future…no doubt. I have seen the same qualities in him that you listed. But our present needs worry me because the are largely still unanswered. I hope Ospina and/or Woj will prove us both wrong.
Where is this Schadenfreude randomly hitting the keyboard the last three months when we’ve been getting results?
So glad I never stood next to arseholes quite as pointless on the North Bank…and at least we could always move.
A sad night no doubt, we know we’re capable of much much better which is why it nags so loudly.
Spot on TTG.
I have no idea where these tedious ‘I’m Arsenal till we lose’ wankers have come from, but I really wish they would just fuck off because I am heartily sick of them.
A disappointing night all round really.
English 2015 UCL participants:
Liverpool: Finished 3rd in their group and failed to progress. Currently in the 2015 UEL trying to qualify for the R16 — which is far from a foregone conclusion.
PSG 1-1 Chelsea (current EPL leaders)
Man City 1-2 Barcleona
Arsenal 1-3 Monaco
The most overused chestnut of an assertion in world football: The English Premier League is the best league in the world.
The evidence of the past week suggests that this assertion needs to be revisited.
Case closed, your honour 😎
Your mention of the FBs being out of position, Ttg, reminded me of a moment when young Bellerin was outpaced by one of theirs. Having recently read that Bellerin was the quickest in the club having beaten Walcott’s 50m sprint time I wish I could remember who that Monégasque player was!
I thought Alexis was better today, but still showing signs of burnout after his monumental efforts this season. And as you can imagine I’m not the least bit surprised to ein Deutscher underperforming when it matters… 🙁
Öskar
And yet you’re still here tommy. What does that say about you?
As hard as it is to comprehend, let alone digest, it seems that our best 3 midfielders who are world class and also my favoured players in this squad, were outclassed, out hustled, out muscled, out disciplined and out pressed.
Monaco’s midfield were impressive indeed.
I also agree with Oskar’s earlier comments regarding Arsene Wengers total refusal to shake hands with the winning coach, is beneath him, an embarrassment and a disgrace for man of his experience.
shame on you Arsene – you lost fair and square.
deal with it like a sportsman, not a spoilt brat.
To all those contributors who suddenly appear out of the woodworks only when we lose, you are not being engaged in the debates you are so craving for simply because people don’t like misery spreading doom mongers. You are being sidestepped not because you are some kind of a top dog, but because you are dog doo doo. If you want to find ears for your learned and interesting voices I highly recommend standing on the street corner with a gong and collection bucket in your arms.
And regarding the most discourteous words aimed at the host of this bar: the gentleman maintains a consistent tone of voice and style day in day out and come hell or high water he is always posting a simple and graceful preview or summary that stages the set for myriad conversations. Just because he is not indulging in intellectual over-analyzing or know-it-all posturing — for which he can always rely on myself and others — or embarrassingly condescending tone (for which there are many other blogs) doesn’t mean that what he does is any less difficult or any less effort intensive. The consistently effortless simplicity of style is one of the hardest trick to pull in wiring regular blogs or columns.
And through his efforts he has built a community, virtual in essence but sometimes spanning beyond that. That is in stark contrast to you laughable creatures whom all communities have definitely shunned.
Reminiscing about the ’50s, tommy? Why would anyone do that? Most of the ’50s were average at best, a large part of a 17-year stretch without a trophy of any sort, arguably the poorest years in our history. Surely that’s more the kind of period YOU would enjoy reminiscing about, aye. 😉
Ignore him, ‘holic, as I’m sure you will anyway.
Öskar
Well said as usual Dr. F. And aussie. Cheers gents.
Alas…More CL humiliation tonight.
Nobody thought wed win it. Just have a solid go; Look like we belong. Building towards it. But this is complete and total failure. The tie isnt literally over. But in reality it is sooo over. Just depressing…Losing so pathetically. And Areenal looks pathetic now make no mistake.
There is only one place where the blame lies here and we all know where that is. And the refusal to shake hands is so poor. I didnt want to believe it. AW talks about the clubs values. Where are they boss? It cant only be when you feel like it, or just when winning. Indicative i think.
Complete. Utter. Let down.
Better turn it around quickly. Everton on Sunday. Get it together Arsenal! Come on you gunners!!!
Nice bit of fumigating there chief.
Sigh, back to real life then.
I have to believe and hope that we can give a good account of ourselves in the return but I’d be absolutely gobsmacked if we get through. What will probably happen is this:
We go into the game with nobody, least of all us, expecting us to get anything out of it whatsoever.
This leads us to play with freedom, it’s almost a lost cause so we relax about the result.
Meanwhile Monaco play with a degree of complacency as it’s nearly job done.
We get a goal, our belief starts to come back and they start waking up. Probably in the 50th minute or so.
We start to look dangerous and get another goal, suddenly we’re a goal away from causing a shock. It’s about the 85th minute.
We flood their half looking for the killer blow but they hang on to go through by the skin of their teeth.
Standard blueprint for an Arsenal last 16 tie (see Inter, Bayern for previous, identical examples of us remembering just too late how to pay well).
Great post TTG.
We were abject last night. On every level. The worst we’ve been in a very long time. No single point of failure – everyone from the manager to the players had a stinker.
Not going to point the finger at individuals in here, will simply say – sort it out, Arsenal.
COYG
Had to be done, Esso. Work is fun today. 🙁
Glad to see the genuine outrage at Wenger’s hissy fit and refusal to shake hands. What a pathetically bad example. Plus I understand regulars who don’t like hissy fits from us non-regulars. But let’s bury this idea that this guy is still a class, accomplished act after all these years. The tactics, if there are any, are wrong. The environment is wrong. The accountability is non-existent. The consequences will be zero. After 20 minutes he jumped out of his seat disgusted because of one back pass. We’re playing for 180 mins+ and he’s worried about his dreaded hand-brake and his fu*king tempo after only 20 mins ? Thinks he can sweep teams aside. Leaves Le Coq on his own to tidy up as guys like Mert and Gibbs go AWOL. Why buy Paulista FFS ? Mert is finished but does he ever have the balls to drop the captain ? To drop the player, as Joachim Loew did. No – even though, bizarrely, he doesn’t think the captaincy is in any way important (witness Verm on the bench permanently). Sick of it. So arrogant he doesn’t need tactics. Looks like the reports about the players writing the script and strategy for the Etihad 2-0 were 100% spot-on. Sure OG should have knocked one or two in but if it has to be 0-0, it has to be 0-0. Yes us guys don’t post when we win, but maybe that’s cos we know whats coming and don’t want to get all horned up. Same old same old. Every bloody time.
Gutted.
Great post Dr Faustus @210.
If you watched that performance last night and the major thing you came away annoyed about was the lack of handshake then I’m almost jealous of you. It was a loooooong way down the list of things that bothered me, I can tell you.
He praised Monaco in the post-match presser, I honestly couldn’t give a shit if he shakes hands with people.
We were utterly abysmal last night and the manager got his tactics all wrong.
We’re also third in the Premier League, in the later stages of the FA Cup and still just about in the Champs League. Every single realistic alternative candidate to Wenger that has been put forward in the last four years has promptly dive bombed, and the board are in no danger of sacking him.
So, yeah, @217 – I agree: it’s really tiresome having to read a hissy fit shouting for him to be sacked. Particularly from someone who wants him gone no matter what the results are like. And who wants us to believe that when we do put in a good performance it’s all down to the players.
I was furious after the final whistle, still am. But that doesn’t mean I’m up for listening to any old bollocks from people desperate to tell me how right they were about everything and how this result is a great vindication for them and their agenda.
COYG
And spot on Dr F @ 210.
219. It’s a game, it’s a sport, there’s young kids watching (maybe you don’t have sons and don’t coach like I do)…you shake hands after. It’s the same all over the world.
Déjà vu all over again.
@scgooner
I have kids (including a son). I play football every week – in fact, I’m about to head to a lunch time work game now. After every game, I shake hands. Not everyone does. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest when people don’t.
You have been telling us that Wenger should go for some time now. In fact, you only ever pop up to demand he leaves/give him no credit when things go well. The notion that his failure to shake hands is some sort of terrible affront which has shocked you, rather than just another stick to beat him with, is transparently untrue.
Should he have shaken hands? I would if I were him. But I don’t think it’s a terrible thing that he didn’t, and he showed full respect to Monaco elsewhere – I’ve not heard them complain about it, and they would appear to be the “injured” party.
As I said above, if after last night your main worry was a handshake then you can’t have watched the game very closely. It’s a sideshow at best.
Hi holics,haven’t back drunk yet so sorry if this has been said already..if ever a game showed that if you don’t take your chances you get punished last night was it.this tie is far from over if we get an early goal we can get back in it there’s no way we will play that shite in the second leg.still a lot to play for this season.chin up gunners.
Ffs who gives a balls about shaking hands I’m sure the gaffer wanted to get back in the dressing room and tear strips off the players as annoyed as we are could you imagine how furious he was.shake hands my eye ring necks I’d say is what he wanted!
N7, I don’t think things are going any different or “well”. Top 4 (maybe), last 16 CL, the odd cup every 10 years. Forgive me for not getting all excited when nothing ever changes. You accept the status quo and you feel the Manager should be allowed to behave in a sulking, insulting manner. It both annoys and embarasses me as a true fan every single time he does it, whether it’s the regular non-handshake or refusal to answer reasonable questions in interviews. You worship the bloke though, which is totally your perogative. Enjoy your game and don’t forget to shake hands, even if your opponent runs down the touchline to celebrate and actually show some passion and real enthusiasm for his team and the greatest game on earth. Don’t worry, I’ll disappear for another 3 months. He’ll still be here and so will you with your little sniper rifle waiting for me ! Btw, I think you mean I pop up when things don’t go well. Cheers and COYG.
We were woeful last night, Still gutted and will remain so all day.
But as an infrequent poster can I just commend all of you !
So much more sense spoken here then elsewhere in the media today. Dread to think what sort of balls people like Talk Sport are coming up with…
Oh here even the viewpoints I don’t agree with are put over in a polite and amusing manner, making this an oasis in a desert of media bullshit.
Positives from negatives and all that.
@scgooner
I know you have a little fit every time I mention that you have previously been in here telling us all you want Arsenal to lose a game and we should too, but it’s very hard to avoid doing so when you label yourself a “true fan”.
As for my “worship” of Wenger – wishful thinking, I’m afraid. If you read the two or three posts I’ve contributed since last night you’ll see I think he’s ultimately responsible for that defeat and had a total shocker on several levels.
Enjoy your three months away – you keep loftily promising these sabbaticals, but sure enough after each bad result back you come.
Maybe you can spend the time polishing up your victim complex and practicing your victory dance for when the team plays like shit.
Cheers.
I suppose every bar has a cranky old regular….part of the appeal.
And a cranky old irregular too, no doubt.
Sorry N7, enjoying this but officially I’m on sabbatical. Like what you did there though.
MISSING: Olivier Giroud’s shooting boots.
If found, please return to London Colney IMMEDIATELY.
Report: At some point between the end of the Palace game on the 21st Febuary and the start of the Monaco game yesterday evening, Olivier Giroud’s shooting boots disappeared.
It may be that the boots were simply mis-placed, though at this stage, we are conducting our enquiries as a criminal investigation, as we cannot rule out that the boots have been stolen.
We have a list of suspects.
Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck have both been questioned, and when it was put to them that they may have stolen the boots to gain more playing time and preferred position time, they both assured that they have the teams best interests at heart. They are no longer suspects.
The two remaining suspects are Lukas Podolski and John Terry.
Podolski’s alibi that he has been playing for Inter Milan does not entirely check out…
John Terry remains our top suspect, not because we have any evidence, but purely because the guy is a cnut.
We will keep you informed of any developments.
Heh @ PMI
Much needed humour. 🙂
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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.
🙂