The Point That Satisfied Nobody, Bar Manchester United
May 8th, 2016 by 'holic
News that Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil were ruled out of the team at Manchester City by injury took some of the gloss off Southampton’s victory at the other end of Seven Sisters Road. City started on the front foot and the Gunners were pinned into their own half. In the eighth minute Fernandinho head a ball down to Aguero and the prolific striker found the bottom corner through Mohamed Elneny’s legs.
Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Two minutes later former Gunner Clichy mistimed a header back which grazed the wrong side of the post. From the resulting corner Olivier Giroud ended his goal drought with a towering header from the centre of the six yard line. The Frenchman’s first goal since January will hopefully restore his confidence.
Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal
Five minutes on and Aguero found himself with a right foot volley from close range but the recalled Gabriel managed to deflect it over the bar. As the clock ticked round to twenty minutes Danny Welbeck injured his knee making a challenge and limped down the tunnel. It looks very much as though his season is ending as it started. What a shame for him, and us.
Jack Wilshere came on to continue his comeback from a broken leg. City came close to restoring their advantage but Petr Cech came out of his box to deny Aguero with a desperate clearance under pressure. Navas was giving Nacho Monreal a tough time but first Aaron Ramsey and then Laurent Koscielny denied him any effective cross. From both left and right flanks de Bruyne fired low and hard into the welcoming arms of Cech.
Arsenal managed a rare break shortly before half-time but a deflected cross from Alexis was comfortably claimed by Hart. The arrival of Wilshere had caused Alex Iwobi to move out to the right flank with Alexis switching to the left, and in fairness neither looked particularly happy in their new roles.
Fernandinho was put clear in the fourth minute of the second-half but thankfully he was driven wide and fired over the top. At the other end Hart punched a lofted free-kick clear as Alexis and Giroud were clearly being pulled back. Nothing was seen by Anthony Taylor of Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester.
City went ahead when Hector Bellerin failed to deal with a bouncing ball and de Bruyne was allowed a free run at goal by the back-tracking Gabriel. The Belgian’s shot went through the Brazilian’s legs and just inside the post.
Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
As the hour mark approached Iwobi was withdrawn and Theo Walcott was introduced. Arsenal threatened at last and Giroud was denied a spectacular looking volley by an equally spectacular Otamendi clearance. It was a rare moment of hope in an otherwise lacklustre Gunners performance to this point. That was about to change.
Walcott was allowed a clear run behind Clichy but his cross was dealt with by Otamendi, and then Giroud put him through for a one on one against Hart Theo hurried his chip high and wide of the mark.
When Alexis picked up a ball from Monreal just inside his own half there appeared to be little danger. The Chilean’s direct run drew five defenders like moths to a flame and they were all taken out of the equation by a wonderful one-two with the excellent Giroud. Alexis sent Hart the wrong way as his finish too found the bottom corner.
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal
City narrowly missed going back in front when de Bruyne teed up Aguero for a left foot volley that thankfully flashed just wide of the far post. With a quarter of an hour remaining Francis Coquelin was sent on for the tiring Elneny. It was a suggestion that Arsene Wenger was happy with the point, a result that would mean we need Newcastle to beat the neighbours next week for us to claim second place.
City, vulnerable to being overtaken by their neighbours, went for broke sending on Toure and Bony. It was Arsenal, breaking the siege, who came close to snatching a dramatic winner but Koscielny mistimed his run and headed against the bar from an offside position. Hearts were in mouths at the other end as Bony volleyed Sagna’s cross against the bar too.
In the three added minutes Otamendi was booked for a bad challenge on Alexis as the Chilean threatened to sprint free, and Fernandinho saw the same card for a foul on Giroud. When he repeated the act in the last added minute the referee from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, saw fit to take no further action.
The point apiece satisfied neither club. We will seal third place by beating relegated Aston Villa next Sunday, but will Newcastle be capable of giving us an even better present? City’s situation is desperate. If Manchester United win their last two matches Pep Guardiola will be taking over a club in the Europa League and not dining at the top table of European competition.
Haway the Toon!
131 Responses to “The Point That Satisfied Nobody, Bar Manchester United”
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What was the home town of that official again, ‘holic? Thought there might be some rule against letting home town referees officiate in important games, to be honest. 😉
On another front, my arithmetical faculties may be few but if they are correct then it seems that today a draw was just as good as a win because in both cases if we win next week and Spurs lose we get second place, while any other set of results keeps them above us.
2nd…..
4th
Still a trophy.
Arsene was probably right to go for a draw… much to my disappointment, as a loss here would really put undue pressure on us.
Still… barcodes need to put in a proper shift.
Pep without CL… what a welcome that would be!
Money is on hammers though..they’re going for a place in europe as well..!
…..and so much for City fans… stadium half empty already while Pellegrini is getting his send off.
Pellegrini has been a very good manager for City after the defensive style of Mancini. He has behaved in a very dignified manner after Pep was announced and even otherwise right through his tenure at City. One would think that the fans would stay back to send off such a manager well. But well what would you expect from entitled twats…
And for all those who doubt Wenger: ponder for a moment at the utter basket case that is man city, despite billions of investment and the worlds “best coaches”, they still remain a complete fucking laughing stock?. No surprise really. Get your A4 paper out now and start bitching like spoilt children about Wenger who’s had to do it all organically, and delivered, year in, year out. And to those who claim he is egotistical remember this: he stayed when every world class player we had fucked off. He turned down all the top jobs, earned less money, just so he could sit here and take shit from the disgruntled! This year yielded poor results no doubt but we are far better off than many others and every now and again it worthwhile to realise that!
top post, Joe. and holic.
I thought Taylor was from the greater Manchester area?
oh.
win the last ever of the villans’ prem games, and it doesn’t matter what anyone does. unless the scum want to give us the gift of laughter again, as well…
S***s have a much better goal difference than us.They are two points ahead so a point next week unless we win 14-0 will see us in third. But a point for us will guarantee third with our goal difference unless United have a positive goal difference of 13-0 this week . Third on the same points as The Totts would be remarkable given the seasons that both clubs have had but if Newcastke need something from that game the Totts may bottle it.
Today was a good effort. A far from perfect performance but credit to Walcott and especially Giroud who did really well today.
It is amazing how fragile our lads seem to be . That was a pretty innocuous challenge but I bet ( sadly) that Danny is out of the Euros and hopefully it won’t set off complications on that knee. Opinion please Trev.
I thought we were solid at the back today but didn’t keep their front men off us.
We looked dangerous when we managed to attack today but did the right thing in shutting up shop. That was an important point.
Hear, hear Joe. Well said!
He did well with his changes today too. The rhetoric from the negative sites is that finishing second wouldn’t be wanted by real Arsenal fans because it would be disguising our faults.
But if we overtook the Totts after their best ever season it must say something remarkable about Wenger. It is very picky fans who moan after you’ve finished second especially after the season Leicester had. We were the only ones who mastered them
Arsene’s strategy of bringing on Coq and ensuring a point today was spot on as a victory against Aston Villa on the last day would ensure we finish third. Losing today would have kept City’s chances of finishing second alive. Now AW can start work on getting in new players right away instead of waiting till end of August when we know if we have qualified for CL proper.
Getting second is not exactly in our hands. First we need Sunderland to not win at home to Everton which would keep Newcastle’s chances alive till the last day when they host Spurs. Hopefully, they beat Spurs and we beat Villa to ensure we finish second.
The league is alive till the last day which is what sets it apart from other major European leagues.
@Ksn
Do not think City would have gotten second even if they had won because the spuds have a much better goal difference…
Glad we had not lost this match..tactics spot on as you said. Here’s to hoping that Alexis and Ozil sign extended contracts..need to build this team and not lose our better players..!
Arteta already on his way out.. wonder if Flamini and Tomas will go too.. would be very interesting to see who we get or promote.
😀
La Liga, whilst it may boast the best team, as a league is a joke.
Only six(6) teams have a positive goal difference and of that only 3 have a goal difference more than 12!
It’s like a massive season of preparation for the CL for those 3 teams… no wonder they fare well in that competition!
😀
Take it easy Joe @ 7 ! We blew it remember ! We’re the only top 4 (ok that elite group is under threat) who haven’t won Prem in last 12 years. That’s yer year in year out mate. Citeh had injuries and a CL semi too, imagine the excuses that would have given Wenger. Yea, we’re finishing season ok with pressure off and others dropping points but please keep things in perspective. Here’s hoping we both finish second and stay real about what’s required next year. COYG. PS We have organically spent 150 mill in last couple of years. Your idea of organic is not my idea of orgasmic.
Joe@7, I am with you with some of your points. I just don’t buy the whole idea of him staying with Arsenal and rejecting other more higher paying jobs because of his love for Arsenal. Its a two edged sword, if he had left for other top jobs, I doubt he will be given these many opportunity to win titles. Definitely not Real madrid/Bayern/ Barca. Season is over, lets see where we go from here. Happy we didn’t lose today.
SAG
It emerged recently that a condition of the bank loan was that Wenger stayed. He has rebuffed many advances to stay with a club that he knew would not be able to compete.
Additionally the reality is that if Arsenal sacked Wenger he would be a potential candidate for Barca, Real or PSG if he decided to go. People write him off as finished but few finished managers have that sort of opportunity open to them .
It only “emerged” because he claimed that was the case. He could claim he was Luke Skywalker’s real father if he likes, I wouldn’t necessarily believe that either.
It’s a bit of a claim Cynic. Like or loathe Wenger I don’t believe he is a liar . I suspect in years to come when people find out what really has gone on at this club we will be amazed at his loyalty.
Still going into the last game with a chance of second isn’t the shabbiest performance . To me the modern fan was typified by the turnout at the lap of honour at the Etihad. That club used to have incredibly loyal fans with a very good sense of humour but now the club is full of plastics who assume their team will breeze the league each season.
We’ve seen exactly the same thing at Arsenal, the success has spawned people who aren’t fans and some of whom hope Arsenal lose if it means Wenger leaves. Just read Le Grove if you want to float in a cesspit of anti- Wenger rhetoric. That site shouldn’t be read it should be fumigated.
I’m deeply frustrated we didn’t win this season but who could have topped Leicester ? At least we were the only side who pegged them back in the League.
We will probably never know the full truth of his reign, probably never know how close he came to leaving or anything like that but it doesn’t really matter. We had the best of him no matter what. 🙂
I just saw the Etihad thing on The Mirror website. It’s a very sad way for Pellegrini to go out and I hope Arsene Wenger is spared that kind of farewell, when he finally goes. The place should be rammed full.
In other news I’ve just seen the nonsense about us “plotting a £30m swoop for Sturridge”.
Do you remember when The Mirror was a half decent newspaper?
An interesting game today. Nice to see a bit of fight even if we were lacking in quality at times. 2 shots on target and only 39% possession tell you that we were not dominant. Still, a decent point and I’m sure if it had been on offer before the game then most would have taken it.
Nice to see Ollie G back on the score sheet again. Alexis also put in a decent shift. I also thought that Nacho had another very good game. Surely our most consistent player this season.
The funniest thing is that we now have the chance of overtaking the comedy spuds. I’m looking forward to work tomorrow. Not that long ago the comedy boys were full of how it was their year and how they were going to win the league. They should still be favourites to finish second but will be shitting their pants until Sunday. For us, let’s at least try and finish on a high. I reckon we should aim for double figures against the Villa before heading to the Tollie for free sausage and chips.
Joe. I admire your loyalty but I think you are incredibly simplistic in your approach.
I am a massive Wenger fan. Always have been and always will be. But your comments at 7 are a tad niaive. Man City a basket case of a club? Really. Not that long ago they were playing in the third tier. AW hung around when all the world class talent left? Who sanctioned their departure Joe? Don’t tell me you are going that we had to sell players because that is utter garbage. AW turned down all the top jobs? Really Joe? There have been lots of rumours but I don’t remember any concrete offers. He is the highest paid manager in the league. Please don’t forget that.
I also don’t buy the tale that we only got a loan on the proviso that he stayed. Now, I’m sure that AW staying may well have helped the business deal. May have got I more favourable rates or put us in a good bargaining position. But are financial institutions really going to base a decision on whether to lend us money or not based on them having a say in who the manager is? Again, I just don’t believe that.
I will repeat what I have said above, AW has been fantastic for this club. I’m not anti Wenger in the slightest. But your comments at 7 I just feel are a tad misguided.
Cheers, Holic.
A referee Taylor made for Manchester ? Surely not !
TTG, an opinion on Danny ?
I thought from the instant replays that he had probably tweaked his medial ligaments as the knee dipped inwards due to the contact.
AW said, post match, that indications were a lateral meniscus – which makes me wrong by about 180 degrees and an i ch or so into the joint.
We’ll see tomorrow I guess. In any case it will mean several weeks at best.
So, don’t tell Matt but that fully fit squad, after two or three days, is shorn of Mertesacker, Özil and Welbeck.
I had actually summoned up quite a bit of enthusiasm for this afternoon’s game, after the very lacklustre fare served up against Norwich. For me, there were at least two odd selections and we saw a stuttering performance punctuated by a bit of attacking intent only each time we went behind.
By the thirty minute mark, the anticipation had turned, again, to angry nervousness as every basic of the game seemed to have deserted us.
Then, off went Danny with a clearly serious knee problem.
In truth, I am sick and tired of this season. I can’t wait for it, and the accompanying torture, to end and give my head a rest.
The odd thing is that we could still be runners-up. How the hell has that happened ?
It is time for major change. We will all disagree on exactly what is required but too many factors in too many performances this season, have proven to me that all is far from well.
Joe,
I seldom disagree with you, sir, but tonight I do.
I will elaborate tomorrow when I’ve had a good chance to reconsider.
Come on Toon ! Help us celebrate St. Totteringhams ! ???
Sturridge ?
Are our physios that short of work ? ???
TTG
I am not saying he wont get an opportunity if he leaves Arsenal, of course he will. Sometimes coaches actually do better in a new environment. All I am saying it that those clubs wont have that much patience for him to win titles.
Somewhat subdued top stuff, Holic, but top stuff nevertheless. “The point apiece satisfied neither club”. I think we went into that one thinking that a draw would be golden (given that a win against Villa next week is as nailed-on as they come).
@7 I tip my hat to you, Joe.
Are we back?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYpQyJ_bTiw
Things that seem blazingly self-evident to me:
* Wenger helped the club through an incredibly rocky period, with limited finances. We might have been in real bother with a less able coach.
* He turned down approaches from big European sides. Of course he did.
* That he had to sell at least some players for financial reasons.
* That he has never sat on a “£200m war chest” and refused to spend it.
* That he’s had a bloody awful season, following a summer where he could and should have spent more.
None of the above means it’s not legit to say you want him gone, or to criticise. Don’t understand the imperative to attack every single suggestion that he might have done anything positive since 2005. It’s precisely as daft as suggesting he hasn’t made any mistakes in that time.
Joe – I don’t agree with every word, but I completely agree with the gist. At the absolute worst, he’s a very good manager who’s fallen just short of the pinnacle in recent years, not evil or inept, and certainly deserving of a bit of respect. Quite possible to respectfully hope he leaves now – plenty in here manage just that.
Oh, and anyone who hopes we don’t finish second next weekend (over Spurs… Fecking Spurs, lads!)…. well, you know the rest. Mind boggling.
Thought we were ropey today, but can’t knock that result.
COYG
Steve@20, I can confirm that I am feeling rather nervous about next week !! I shall be at St James Park, sitting amongst the Geordies. Should be quite an afternoon, if anyone can blow it Spurs can.
Hi Dave. I think your weekend may sink or swim on what happens with the Sunderland Everton game midweek. Some of your boys looked as if they were already on their holidays. I’m not sure how many will be that committed if Newcastle really have something left to play for.
If by next Sunday the Geordies are already down then I don’t see you having too many problems. You’re brave going behind enemy lines though. Especially considering how much they love Ashley.
Fair post-match ‘holic and looks like Arsene just went for a “must not lose.”
Cit$h probably feel quite hard done by with all that they created.
Scgooner & Steve T above wrt Joe @7; well said!
I wouldn’t mind borrowing those infinitely rose-tinted spectacles of Joe’s next time I attend a funeral.
Cynic @17,
“He could claim he was Luke Skywalker’s real father if he likes, I wouldn’t necessarily believe that either.” Heh 😀
The goals we conceded highlight the defensive frailties we continue to have. Elneny who otherwise was very good, completely misjudged the flight of the ball allowing aguero the time to spin and take a shot but why was kos not going towards the ball to prevent him from taking a shot? He did that after a few minutes but if he had earlier, the goal may not have happened. The second goal bellerin did not want to put in a tackle but cech was equally to be blamed for allowing yet another goal near post. My worry is why are we so careful? why do we not put in a tackle where needed.
The second goal from us was a moment which makes you sigh. A perfect Arsenal goal and therein lies the problem. When it comes off we are awesome, when it does not, we have no alternate. Will wenger change? i cannot see that happening anytime soon.
Danny injured was sad but Jack looked the part. He will go to euros and again as much as england want him to play, Arsenal does not.
Here is to a grand end to the season. May spurs lose, we trash villa and finish second and take 2 months to cry over what could have been and in between also search for some players who have the balls to go into a football game. We have very nice polite players but it is a tough game, is football.
Imagine what the atmosphere will be like at Newcastle if they are already down.
I have to say, I’d like the Barcodes to stay up; sorry Dave but that’s life mate!
I’d like to finally see what another real big-club manager in his prime like Benitez, after the Late Sir Bobby Robson, would do with the Geordies in the Premier League next season if given a full season.
I’ve just had an email from the club about a legends game in September (presumably it’s an international break) as follows
Arsenal Football Club is to host a Legends’ match with all net proceeds being donated to The Arsenal Foundation.
The match will see the ‘Arsenal Legends’ face ‘Milan Glorie’ in a 90-minute exhibition featuring heroes from both great clubs.
In what promises to be a truly memorable match, a host of heroes from both clubs have already confirmed their intention to play** in what will be a star-studded afternoon of football. Planning to feature in the match are heroes including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Filippo Inzaghi and Cafu.
Ticket prices start from £20 and £10 for concessions.
Gold Members will be amongst the first to be able to purchase tickets for this match and Gold Members can purchase their own seat(s) from 10am on Monday 9th May 2016 which will be held until 8am on Monday 16th May 2016*.
I feel the same. In an ideal world Sunderland and Palace would have filled the other two relegation slots, but the world is not ideal so hopefully we will have to make do with Allardyce going.
I can’t see it though.
Everton have been having such a long holiday they’re all packed and ready to come home. Reckon they will get murdered on Wednesday.
Cheers for flagging, Countryman. Might have to head down to that one – good chance to look upon our once great beauty and weep ; )
Are they knocking down the prison block flats and restoring our former ground to its past glory? 🙂
Steve@29 yes we looked to be on the beach already yesterday, almost like they feel the jobs done now they’ve made champions league. Have they no idea what it would mean to us long suffering fools to finish top in North London??!! I do think the Toon will be down by Sunday, will that help us, god knows
Joe,
I’m glad i waited to read your post again before replying.
I totally agree with your sentiments on Wenger. For years I would almost well up with pride that my club had had the class to find and appoint such a wonderful bloke as our manager.
His achievements need no repetition here.
I have, however, reached the point, when I look at our recent performances, where I think change has become necessary. There seems to be a sense of resignation in the post match interviews as the same lines are trotted out repeatedly.
There is a stubbornness in some of the selections and substitutions which makes us so predictable and our opponents now know exactly how to handle us. We seem incapable of changing what we do, regardless of the opponents we are facing, or the match situation we find ourselves in.
That may be down to a lack of options in the squad, which is in turn down to some poor recent transfer windows. We don’t know whether that is all the fault of Arsene Wenger or our owner who himself admits that he does not have ambitions to win things.
It would have been hard to imagine, back in the days of The Invincibles, that the fans would ever reach the point where they wanted Arsene Wenger to leave. It is even harder for me to accept even now that I agree.
I want nothing to do with poster or banner protests, and told the guy so last weekend, who was handing them out in the street.
Arsene Wenger deserves the absolute respect of every Arsenal supporter, and should be allowed to leave with dignity and the huge thanks of all of us.
I will also admit that a part of me still wants him to stay, so long as he thoroughly revitalises the squad during the summer and sorts out the attitudes of some players who are badly letting him down at the moment.
Something has to change now though.
@Dave
As a result of having a Geordie father in law I’ve spent more time at SJP than I’d have liked over the last ten years or so. I can confirm that if they’re still in with a shout the place will be a cauldron on Sunday, but if they’re already down the locals will be far more focused on working out who’s to blame and smacking police horses. Should be a cakewalk.
I’d wish you luck, but I’d be lying…. ; )
Good, balanced post, Trev.
Fine report, Guvna. We were indeed “Lacklustre Gunners”.
How we came away with a point after such sloppy defending, I just don’t know. Thanks to the good stuff from OG and Alexis, two of several who have been extremely lacklustre over recent weeks, we salvaged something from that game.
Much as I would like to continue our run of finishes above the Marshdwellers, it’s much more important to finish third and that point virtually assures us of that unless we put in an even worse performance against the team that was relegated before Easter. Here’s hoping that the Magpies can pull off a real surprise and give the neighbours a bloody nose.
The prospect of a 13-0 triumph for the Arsenal followed by a few jars and sausage (are those wee things really sausages?) and chips at the Tollie would indeed be a great way to end this frustrating season, Steve.
Good stuff above from Joe and N7.
The final scenes from the Etihad Stadium yesterday demonstrates that only Arsenal ‘fans’ haven’t lost their souls. Where have all the good blokes who followed Shitteh down to the third tier and back again? Less than 5% stayed in that stadium yesterday to thank the team and a departing gentleman who won them three trophies in three seasons and took them to within 1 goal of a CL final. So we don’t have a monopoly on self-entitled ungrateful wretches. Indeed if the demonstration at last week’s game v Norwich was a yardstick we have a far higher proportion of real fans.
COYG
Oops, italics fail! Sorry H.
Top stuff @39, Trev.
Afternoon all,
My two pence on yesterday is that it was far from a vintage performance and the first ten or so minutes up until we scored were quite dreadful. Nice though to see us grind out a valuable point. We should get third now, and for me that would be an ok result after the last few months. I don’t really care about finishing above the totts, if we do it will be funny but nothing more than that.
And to go back to my post about Tottenham the other day, it is worth noting that for all the praise they have been given and the criticism towards us, over the last ten games we have actually won one more point than they have and find us with a chance (albeit small) of overtaking them on the last day. Now, that is of course not meant to be taken as “well all is alright then” because we have deserved most of the criticism but it does illustrate how differently we can view teams based on expectations. It also blows a rather big hole in the claim that Tottenham have finished the season strongly, beause in those ten games they have W4 D4 L2, i.e. only 16 points from 30. That is not what I would call finishing strongly, which of course also goes for our 17 from 30.
Oh well, back to work…
Spot on Lars. Funny how the two teams are cheek by jowl in the table at the end of their “best season in 53 years” according to their media cheerleaders and our “worst season in 20 years”according to some of our fans. Just underlines how people interpret events to suit their prejudices.
Oh, and did you see this?
“We are clear about where we need to improve and how, but that doesn’t mean we need to add players,” Pochettino said. “It means different things. The same players we already have need to move on and improve in different situations”
Or, in English: “I have been told I will not be given any significant money to spend unless I sell someone first”. That stadium build is going to have an impact on their spending power.
Honest Daniel Levy has been proclaiming that the new stadium will have no impact on their buying power. Schoorlee schum mischtake?
Cheers ‘holic, another well balanced summary of the match.
The performance of the team was poor but some moments of brilliance got us the point needed to (almost) ensure we end with third place and an outside chance of pipping the LWC to second. The substitutions made were correct with this requirement in mind.
Lars, to those raised in North London, finishing above the marsh dwellers is always important. To those of us long in the tooth, when they won the double in 1961, they were insufferable morons for the rest of the 60s and it took us winning the Inter-City Fairs cup and our own double that followed in 1971 to re-assert our superiority. Of course this end of season finishing third was more essential than the bragging rights. That’s assuming we make good progress in the transfer market that this buys us rather than having to wait for the qualifying round result and 31st August trolley dash. With the huge cash available to all the premier league clubs, it will be a sellers market – let’s hope our transfer team is up to speed!
Trev @ 39 – spot on.
Trev @39,
Good drink that!
Trev@39: elegantly put. As I so often seem to do, have to agree with you.
Trev, like the team we have heard all of the different things he has to say. Hardly surprising after nearly twenty astonishing years. The genius has reinvented the racing car that is Arsenal Football Club. Now is the time we recruited a modern driver to get us to the finishing line first.
All the Gold members I know are very excited about the legends game. Reckon that could be one of the fastest selling tickets of next season (you can’t beat nostalgia). Bought my seats already – suggest you guys jump in when you can. Titi, GOD, Bobby, Freddie, singing the old songs the whole game – and no stress.
Can’t wait. And all for charity.
Lars and Bath
It had better impact on their spending power. Building our stadium certainly impacted on ours!
Given a little bit of distance from yesterday’s result it was the sort of performance champions give – managing points in tough games against good teams when not playing very well. We were far from perfect but much better than we have been in a few games.
We’ve reversed our form of recent years. Now we find ourselves beaten only once by Man U in the top five but losing to lower teams. We’ve got rid of the ‘ Flat track bully ‘ tag and now can’t beat some of the knock off teams.
Even this week’s Economist made the point that we were utterly consistent but what I’ve just described is nothing like consistent!
In defence of the much-maligned Ollie G, our goals against Citeh were the result of the two things he does supremely well, head the football and lay it off.
We still need a 20-25 goals a season striker, though.
Thanks fot the kind words, fellas, and back at you all.
Sad times, and the last thing we need is petulant idiots fighting proper Gooners in the stands.
Trev ??
@Lars/Bathgooner: No sure Pocchetino is to be taken on face value for this, probably just managing expectations but certainly they’ll have to pay for their bowl.
My thoughts precisely Trev (#39). I would hate him to call time after a really poor year, as the current one could easily have been but for others having surprisingly worse. Better for his legacy to go near the top than on a real downer.
never been much of a motor-sport man meself ‘H, but your handling of a particularly tricky chicane come conundrummy Arsenal thingumee, is downright deft @52. (To go on about how you’ve neatly put your foot down at precisely the right moment, and got us round the bend and through to the other side of the obstacle/argument/debate lark nimbly, would mean over-egging the analogy; as would my offering to take my – ahem – helmet off to you. So i shall do neither.)
Trev knows – as per – an’ all.
UTA!
Trev @39,
In the past month, I’ve been searching for some form of perspective that would solve how I feel about the current state of the team.
This is in the face of seeing how fans are fighting/ reacting either in the stadium/ online/ or even upclose in the local Gooner pub. Opinions are hugely divided, fingers pointing everywhere. Blame thrown on anyone unfortunate enough to play badly on that day. Frustrations levels are probably the worst I’ve ever seen.
Disappointment, as a word, barely suffices. I was so proud over the Christmas period, when I was at my parent’s home in Florida, watching the Southampton game. Confident to share a great game with my step father, only for it to crash horrendously. Then as we all know, as the months creep by agonisingly, it just gets worse and worse. The nadir that we are so good at bouncing back from, just didn’t end.
I respect Wenger a lot. I can never defend him enough. But yes, as you’ve put forward so succinctly, change is needed. Does it mean a new manager? Maybe or maybe not. Do we need new players/ tactics/ ideas? I bet the Professor knows that more than anyone else.
Will effective change happen? I certainly hope so. There’s no doubt there would be good and bad times during a supporter’s lifetime, but I suppose the biggest issue is; right now, we are so close to being on top again, that it bloody hurts when we just can’t seem to get our shit together to cross the line. And a few seasons of the same compounded faltering (in the league) just builds up.
It’s not fair to Wenger, to an extent, to lump these seasons up together as a beating rod.
It’s also sure as hell not fair* to a lot of Gooners who hope for so much more, but to be smacked in the face by seemingly, the same old problems.
New season coming, new hope that something good will happen. Unfortunately, it’s the same hope that might crush us. Heh.
*I couldn’t find a better word. Apologies for sounding like an entitled fan/ child.
After all these discussions here over the years, particularly with Steve T, I’ve come to term with the fact that football is now essentially a commercial product and top football clubs are just mere global brands with little connection to their history or their fans, if any.
As a consequence change is happening in the fan base, it’s only logical. It’s been happening everywhere a club is successful. After our second FA cup in a row I noticed how natural it seemed to my son and after listening to his conversations with his friends, their concept of support doesn’t go much beyond a status contest, be it through trophies or how much was spent on a player.
This season I’ve been following the club of my childhood more closely with my kid, all they can dream of is the occasional cup in a decade if they’re lucky. They’re still connected locally, the owners and sponsors are from there and their support is either locals or former locals. Interestingly enough my kid is into it, partly because supporting an unknown team is cool I suspect but also I think that for him like for me there’s more enjoyment watching games without any real expectations just for the pleasure of it. It also helps connecting with our family far away and with the only one other ex-local I know around here.
And truth be told, aside from this fine establishment I find discussions with other Arsenal fans painful more often than not. The last time I went out to watch an Arsenal game was 3 years ago, in Seattle of all places. Bunch of people took a lengthy lunch break for a CL game and most of the game was spent shouting how this or that player was shit, how we were pants, how the manager was worthless and we should be much better than that. After we shipped a goal some prats were proudly requesting acknowledgement for being right. Never again.
For years I thought mistakenly it was a glory hunter/entitlement thing. Now I realize it’s all down to the unabated commercialization and the global appeal. Most of the fans of the top clubs have never seen anything but success, hence it has become the norm and in turn expectations are not only sky-high but ever growing, constantly sowing the seeds of disillusion. Win nothing, it’s ‘we haven’t won anything for N years’, win the FA cup it’s ‘we haven’t won the title for N years’, win the title it will be ‘we never won the CL’, win it and it’ll be we never won the ‘treble’ etc.
So yes change is needed. Given Kroenke’s declarations, Gazidis being Gazidis and the league on the path to become fiercely competitive the change that’s coming is much more likely to take us down rather than up. And in my book that’s exactly what is needed to reset expectations to a sane level past the initial shock, allowing us to enjoy football again. It has worked wonders for Liverpool and it would for us too. Worst case Gazidis pulls a rabbit out of his hat and I’m all for being happily surprised to be wrong. In both cases at least there won’t be any more disappointment at finishing 3rd, the worst that can happen really 😉
Er Matt, we could still finish 5th actually. It would take being beaten by Villa and both Mancs winning their remaining games, which is unlikely. But ‘unlikely’ sums up the season very well so far. We have our fate in our own hands, so it really only depends which Arsenal turns up at the weekend.
…all fingers well crossed!
Key to having a happier time… lower expectations!
😀
When Arsene leaves fully expect a slump of sorts for some time(see ManU) but would be pleasantly surprised if we do better!
Leicester best thing to happen to league.. hope more clubs can ‘surprise’, need more uncertainty..rather than the same old top 4. With the amount of money rolling around and with no shortage of billionaire backers (Everton being the latest..), change is coming sooner rather than later!
Trev,
Thanks for your response.
I think Wenger will make some big changes this summer. Apart from securing the signatures of both Ozil & Alexis and the contractual expiration of some of the elder squad players, he will have learned some home truths about some of squad this season which has arguably been his worst to date ( and yet, incredibly, we still might finish 2nd ).
As for a change in the manager itself – that is not going to happen I feel. The reason I say so is if it was going to happen I think we would have approached Pep as I feel he is the optimum replacement. There would have been an approach made and there would have been some smoke surfacing about it. Furthermore, as I mentioned previously, I think his decision to stay is likely to have had a serious effect on his marriage. Ozil has also made it clear that he has come to this club to work with Wenger – I imagine he will seek assurances before or if, he signs a contractual extension. So I feel Wenger will be with us for another few years yet.
Finally – it wasn’t too long ago that Wenger found himself under similar pressure when he hadn’t won a trophy in 8 years and there was clamour for him to step down. His response to that was back-to-back FA Cups. Wenger is a superb manager and a wonderful human being who has given everything to this club. I am hugely grateful for all he has done and he will always have my unstinting loyalty and support.
Steve,
Greetings from a quaint Italian fishing village on the amalfi coast where the waters lap up to the shoreline in suitable temperatures for milky white paddies like me at this time of year. So I’m accentuating the positive. But feel free to call me “niaive” all you want mate, if it makes you feel better 🙂 Ciao
25 years without a title hasn’t made the Liverpool fans I know any happier or content with what is served up to them every week, it has simply made every glimmer of hope that they might be getting somewhere brighter, but when it turns out to false hope, yet again, they can’t wait for the next manager to come along so they can have another honeymoon period.
For them it’s all about hope that isn’t realised and living in the past.
This club is already far down the road of living in the past and the last thing it needs is to fall away.
Falling down the league has done nothing for Liverpool and it hasn’t lessened their expectations at all. The Liverpool fans I know (at least most of them) are a bit like Spurs fans now, and a bit like us in some ways. They almost take more joy in the failure of what they see as their rivals (Manchester United) as they do in winning games themselves.
Spurs have been fixated on us for years, we’re (our fan base anyway) obsessing over St Totteringham’s Day and we do it every year to some degree, whether it’s a sense of satisfied relief if it happens early or the frenzied need for it to happen in a year like this.
When your only real joy and sense of achievement from a season is finishing above your rivals expectations are already as low as they can get.
Expectations won’t get lower the further we fall, the need to get back past glories will only intensify.
@Chris: 5th is less likely than 3rd or even 2nd.
@BB: totally agree, the change happening in the league could permeate to the club, although if anything this season confirms Arsenal’s consistency under Wenger.
Now it being the last year on his contract it may as well incite him to more audacity.
@Cynic: It’s not the impression I got from reading their boards but then they had “King Kenny” and now Klopp (as in they can’t dream of a better manager) to teach them patience. And certainly United’s woes have also helped put things in perspective.
Now in contrast Spurs have always been divided and with the incessant turnover, at each other’s throat, more entitled than Liverpool fans and fixated on being in the top 4. At least in their boards we’re an afterthought.
“When your only real joy and sense of achievement from a season is finishing above your rivals expectations are already as low as they can get.”
The majority of fans in this country support teams that have no chance whatsoever. There’s enjoyment watching your team in itself, something that’s overlooked by many fans of the top clubs.
“Expectations won’t get lower the further we fall”
I point you towards the first paragraph of your post, hope becomes the driver but expectations adjust over time.
66 @Joe
Good post!
I too feel that Arsene will be here (at least till the end of his present contract) and may even extend his stay (oh no! to many around…!), as there is no inkling (as far as i know) that the board wants him to go.
But like it or not to compete for even a top 4 position from next season onwards, some (big?)changes will have to happen. Let’s hope Arsene can do it. The alternative is even more discontent and infighting… and that will not be good for the fans, the board and the club.
Heh !
I think I sense in the bar a little bit of Leicester – and Lester. ?
Re: Chris @63. I just checked the table, and you are correct in saying we could finish in 5th, but not if we can manage to scrape a point at home against Aston Villa. Time to park the bus? 😉
Since we’re doing worst case scenarios, let’s also ensure we don’t overlook the best case here:
*We win our final game
*Spurs lose at Newcastle
*Massive points deduction for Leicester announced at half time, due to illicit betting activities, use of horse steroids and excessive over-romantic punditry
*Arsenal crowned champions in front of a half empty Emirates – many have already gone outside to demonstrate against the club
*Completely localized meteor strike obliterates Stamford Bridge
*Jose Mourinho slips in his garden and accidentally castrates himself with a pair of shears
*Arsene claims the unlikely title win as a vindication for last Summer’s transfer strategy. Pledges another window of inactivity and rest
COYG!
You may well scoff at the above, but in this season of seasons, can we really, truly rule anything out? I think not.
…. and Moaninho working for Indonesia?
Hahah!
N7 @ 72 very good. The bookies generously giving odds of 2-1 on all the events happening. If I had to choose just one of the events though it’s a really really close call between Moanhino bring castrated and us winning the league 😉
Very good indeed N7.
Or my favourite is how people think we’re so bad while the spuds are so good when the difference between the sides next week may well come down to goal difference!
I fully respect the job pottechino has done at spuds but do people really think that players of the calibre of mesut Ozil would come to this club and play for Pottechino because of his philosophy or style of play? He doesn’t have the gravitas, experience, track record or the multitude of languages needed to fill Wengers boots. He has a long long way to go yet and given how disastrously Manu handled Fegies replacement – the transition from Wenger must be handled delicately with care and precision.
I see that the Spuds manager was complaining about a lack of professionalism from Fabregas and Hazard for saying that they’d prefer Leicester to win the title.
The most players from one team booked in a PL game, one player banned for 6 matches for trying to blind another player and the manager running onto the pitch to get involved in some handbags and starting an all in melee instead.
Wenger gets sent to the stands at OT for kicking a water bottle on the sidelines yet the Spuds man can enter the pitch to get involved in some argy-bargy and gets what?
Apparently the right to lecture others on what constitutes professionalism. Bollocks to him.
UTA.
N7
Could they be rusty shears please?
I’ve just finished the Dave Seager book on Geordie Armstrong that we paid tribute tohere some time ago . It spawned an article because Geordie , who was a massive favourite of mine, seemed to represent those old fashioned virtues that genuinely differentiated Arsenal from other clubs; the reason I made them my team.
Poor old Theo gets a bashing on here when he is a thoroughly decent young man but in what universe does Theo have forty England caps when Geordie never won one.
Yes it was a different world then but really? And not just Theo- Mark Barham, Stewart Doening and Andy Sinton have been capped when Geordie was not.
That’s a roundabout way of pointing out that the game is so different now from the game that many of us on here grew up to love. So different that there is huge unrest and disappointment at a season where we could finish second to a team that we did the double over!
And I completely understand it. Trev and Holic have articulated it beautifully and with a real sense of respect for Wenger that he deserves.
The anger is something I have no truck with. It’s an OTT reaction but something does need to change. It won’t be Wenger and doesn’t necessarily need to be but the owner of the club needs to empathise with the huge groundswell of frustration felt by many people.
Today’s headlines about lack of ambition fuelling unrest at the club, most specifically for Ozil and Sanchez , conveniently arrive in the midst of transfer negotiations but that Kroenke article haunts me as an indication of his remoteness from the aspirations of the fanbase.
A Wenger enthused by a Dein or an adviser that he trusts would still be a great asset to this club but only if he is allowed and encouraged to go for success. This owner is not right for our club
Sorry I meant contract negotiations not transfer. I’m not privy to plans that Ozil and Sanchez have to leave!
Looks like Danny will miss months again. Such hard luck to a hard worker who Arsenal need to keep as part of the team. But it’s looking as if, like JW, you can’t rely on him long term.
Upton Park goes the way of Highbury. Sad day for football fans of a certain age.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAsyGA5-a-g
But we didn’t smash up the Wigan coach !
There is a lot of romantic tosh advanced about West Ham isn’t there. Sullivan appears to be reverting to type as a porn baron tonight. It’s United’s fault for arriving late. They brought it on themselves
A bit of perspective in this sea of romantic tosh:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/farewell-west-hams-upton-park-7933303
Not only did they bring it on themselves, the coach “won’t be damaged”
Points deduction to kick off next year with and half the new ground closed until Christmas? 🙂
I had a bet on Jamie Redknapp’s Skybet thing of a West Ham goal inside ten minutes and ten+ match corners at 12/1. With about 40 seconds to go, they scored.
Now let’s be having some corners… at least ten please.
Cynic
You’re forever drinking bubbles? ! ?
Reserves look like getting promotion. 3-1 up with three minutes to go v Villa
Not since that time I slipped under the bathwater milliseconds after blowing off, TTG.
You cart horse Carroll. How did that fool score a hat-trick against us?
@Cynic: good for you. Now let’s have United win it since we’d be better off now that West Ham blew it against the Swans.
– CL spot + FA cup means Van Gall likely to stay
– Citeh out of CL would hamper Guardiola’s buying spree
I don’t think it would hamper Guardiola, they’d chuck money at it and players would want to play for him because he wins shit, and they will get paid like kings. Which helps.
Noosa @77. – well said. Ridiculous but not surprising.
Need a flurry of corners here 🙁
Bt8,
No sense of sadness here that Upton Park is going.
Always was a horrible, violent, smelly, miserable place to go. Good riddance.
Went there once for a cup match. George Graham scored. By some mistake we – two mates and myself – had finished up on their North Bank. I instinctively jumped and cheered when the goal went in before immediately checking myself and pretending not to care.
Too late. I was grabbed and punched into the middle of next week by an absolute giant of a man.
I was 14.
4th cup trophy secured
Even Citeh have a finite budget and there are restrictions on the wage bill.
It’s moot now, Manure need a miracle to clinch a CL spot.
Oh God, kids on the pitch.
We need this bloke at times like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txufWP6nGdc
punts it up the pitch, directly on to the toes of…
Not enough corners.
Bastids.
TTG and Trev
Expressed myself badly there. Was really trying to say I am sad to see another of the old stadiums go, not Upton Park in particular. Never have been to Upton Park so take both your words I didn’t miss much.
They let themselves down tonight . But I much prefer them to the Totts
“I was grabbed and punched into the middle of next week by an absolute giant of a man.”
Really? How rude!
Hummels has gone to Bayern … bugga.
Sign Reus before he does the same please AW.
Is Pochettino going to Manure next year?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3583456/Manchester-United-director-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Tottenham-manager-Mauricio-Pochettino-meet-lunch-Mayfair.html
If it happens what are the chances of Mourinho taking over at Spurs.
Bayern have purchased yet another top player from their only title rival in the league. What a despicable club… Am glad they didn’t make it to the Champions League final.
#106, that’s why claims by Wenger himself that he was offered the job at Bayern Munich seem slightly far fetched. As soon as this season is ending Bayern have already purchased Hummels and Portugese whiz kid Renato Sanches for next season under Ancelotti. It’s that diligence and ability to get deals over the line very quickly that have been crucial to Bayern’s rise to “superclub” over the past decade.
Wenger and his dithering around in the transfer market, top clubs wouldn’t put up with that anymore.
I do agree though the German League is now way more lopsided than the Spanish League.
Last Summer Bayern didn’t make their first signings until mid July. We’d already done our whole business for the Summer by that stage. The year before, Bayern made most of their signings in August, as did we.
I don’t offer this information to suggest that Wenger is super-fast, or to defend our shocking performance in the market in Summer 2015.
I simply mention it to point out that taking two transfers, assuming them as evidence that Bayern always do their business early and then extrapolating backwards that – on that basis – the club would never hire Wenger involves a leap in logic that would make Bob Beamon proud.
I’ve no idea if Bayern have ever tried to hire Wenger. If he’s publicly said they did then I would guess it’s probably true – it would be quite an embarrassing thing to lie about, given that any number of people at Bayern could probably refute it.
I also don’t think it really matters. It seems quite clear to me that other European clubs would have tried to hire Wenger at various stages. Like it or not, he remains well respected in the game. It doesn’t change the fact that we’ve made a series of massive balls ups this season, or vindicate everything he’s ever done.
It should also be added that Bayern have been trying to sign Hummels for a few years. It’s not like they found out about him last week and went “ah look, zat iz a fantaztic player, we must immediately buy, jah?” and then it was a done deal.
And besides, this fixation with “getting deals done early” is utter bollocks. I’d rather sign quality late than dross early. Of course it’s better to sign then before the preseason starts but if we sign top quality I’ll be happy as long as it’s done before the end of the transfer window but for some it seems it has to be done early or not at all. I’ve actually once heard someone say that Özil doesn’t really count as a signing as it was done so late. And yes, he was 100% serious.
Finally, the myth that Arsene always signs players late is just that: a myth. He is no better or worse than any other club in that aspect.
Hopefully the banner boys take a break this weekend. We have a couple of players that would be saying their goodbyes and I don’t thinking waving banners this weekend will create a decent environment for their sending off. Rosciky/Flamini/ Arteta have all been great servants to this club. Their point have been made and hopefully taken. We definitely need a different approach to our signings this summer, no playing around just get deals done and move on.
Welbeck out for nine months…
🙁
If that’s an Arsenal nine months, we might be talking two years.
Gutted for him but it forces the manager’s hand regarding a proper striker.
Hopefully.
That’s terrible news for the player first & foremost – wish him well and all the strength both physically & mentally for the months ahead.
Cynic, I would like to think that a top striker was already in our plans before this happened but who that will be, God knows, but hopefully he’s letting Arsene know as well 😉
Feel sorry for Welbeck. That must be the fourth of fifth time he has been poleaxed by a knee injury. Hope he mends well.
Such a sad news about Danny. Wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.
Hoping to see TR7 getting some time on the pitch this weekend. And maybe end his memorable –if sadly so injury ravaged — career with us with a typical Rosicky goal, brisk interchanges down the middle with Ozil and Giroud and then a pile-driver from the edge of the box. One of the classiest of players we have had in Emirates, on and off the pitch.
To be honest I hope he gets nowhere near the team or the squad. We have a game to win, it’s not a time for sentiment.
Bad news on Danny. Deserved to be lucky after his last injury. I sincerely hope he has a remarkably setback-free recovery and shocks his rehab team by his recovery rate. Best wishes to a good man.
Looked an innocuous challenge until you saw Welbeck’s knee bend in slow motion. Very disappointed for him and for us. He makes us a much better team. Dare we hope it will prompt an investment in a mobile striker?
The German press seem certain that we are about to sign Xhaka. With Wilshere being offered a new contract that doesn’t seem good news for Ramsey. Will the Walcott deal to Wet Spam be pulled? Lots of lovely transfer speculation to enjoy in the summer….Not??????
Time for goodbyes to a lot and i for one will stand up for rozza and mikel. Both excellent servants to the club and one with enormous talent sadly hampered by injuries and the other just a model professional who gave his best in every game. We may say Santi start and i think Ozil wont which would mean he will not break the assist record,Sad!!!!.
Talking of rumours, Xhaka seems a certainty which makes me sceptical. Anytime it is a done deal are deals which were never done. Again if there is any truth in that, does that mean end of Ramsey/Santi??? Not sure who but that is one tough decision to make.
Westham unruly crowd and all that will not diminish a grand end to their stadium and season. Leicester and Spurs will get the accolades but the hammers have been great this season and could lead a good set of players wanting to play for them. Theo and maybe even Ibra are potential names touted.
Really bad news for Welbeck, hopefully his knees will be fixed for good after this. Have to say his attitude (“I will be back stronger!”) is exemplary!
As for a striker, Lukaku just said “I have always been a fan of Arsenal”
Here’s the full interview: http://thesetpieces.com/features/jordan-lukaku-interview-relationship-romelu-hopes-euro-2016/
Premier-league proven, 20+ goals/season, about to turn 23… I am not aware of a striker we could buy that would be a better fit.
Just kidding, it’s his younger brother Jordan 😉
Now there’s our summer CB!
Cynic @ 116: I think you will be surprised if he starts or plays by the quality of his performance. Will be better than a visibly exhausted Rambo or Jack who is coming back after a year long absence.
I hope he is at least in the squad.
well, with a joel mistake on a freekick and a peach of a volley from kone, sunderland is up 2-0 at the half.
pray for everton to get 3, or newcastle will be going down and have nothing to play for v scum this weekend.
Sunderland 2-0 Everton at half time looks sure of staying up. If the result stands at full time, Newcastle and Norwich will be relegated and will have nothing to play for on Sunday. Will need at least a point against Villa to ensure at least third place.
Real Madrid chose Benitez over Allardyce but if you’re the owner of a relagation-facing club the choice is pretty obvious…
Cynic- if we can’t beat Aston villa with a cameo by rosicky then I don’t know what to say about our team.
Interesting chart looking at the current worth of clubs
http://cdn.allarsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/Most-valuable-clubs.jpg
When you look at it imagine Kroenke reading this. He will be delighted to have an asset appreciating in value without any inward investment. He has not had to find any development at all. Wenger out as far as he is concerned? Not a chance
So we need to depend on two flaky teams on Sunday- the relegated Geordies and the Totts. I definitely see the Totts losing!
Fookin’ A Everton. What a shit show they are.
Roberto Martinez. One of the recently vaunted new young managers.
He’s a total fraud.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sunderland fans are almost as happy as Leicester fans, Allardyce is the real deal 😉
Finishing second is still on the cards. Last game at home for Newcastle in the league with 50000 geordies on their back, if that doesn’t fire them up then nothing will. In the same vein we better not be complacent against Villa and take the game for granted like we’ve done too many times this season…