Humiliated Again – Gunners Capitulate In Second Half
Feb 15th, 2017 by 'holic
The announcement of the starting eleven meant Bayern, and most Arsenal supporters, were still facing the possibility of a 4-3-3 formation as well as the normal 4-2-3-1. As the match kicked off it looked very much a case of the latter, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right flank and Alex Iwobi on the left.
Bayern’s starting line-up looked to be proof of the absurdity of the claims that they are not what they were. Neuer, Lahm, Hummels, Martinez, Alaba, Alonso, Vidal, Robben, Thiago, Costa, Lewandowski. Powerful.
The opening phases were interesting with Arsenal pressing high and Bayern springing direct and pacy counter attacks. Bayern were first to settle into their plan of controlled possession and forced the Gunners onto the back foot. Vidal produced the first effort on target after less than ten minutes but David Ospina saved comfortably.
In under twelve minutes we were behind. Francis Coquelin, the only person in the stadium who didn’t know you have to keep Robben away from his left foot, allowed him to do exactly that, astonishingly going the wrong way to allow the Dutch winger the opportunity to drive the ball into the top far corner. It was a fabulous strike. Three minutes later he tried his luck again but Ospina dived to grab the ball.
Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal
Skhodran Mustafi took a chunk of Thiago from behind and picked up an early yellow card for the visitors. The early pressing was left by the wayside as the Arsenal retreated into something of a back ten leaving Alexis looking a forlorn and frustrated lone raider. On our left flank Kieran Gibbs and Iwobi were being schooled by Robben and Lahm. The recalled Granit Xhaka was forced to be a third covering defender on that flank.
Coquelin sent Alexis scurrying away midway through the half but Martinez very easily dispossessed the solo attacker. When he made a second break a couple of minutes later he drew a foul from Hummels on the edge of the box. Hummels was shown the yellow card for the challenge. A chance for us to strike? Ozil’s free-kick was spilled by Neuer but ricocheted away to safety.
Temporarily lifted, we took up the pressing game again and were rewarded with a penalty kick when Lewandowski brought down the fast-reacting Koscielny in the box from a corner. Alexis’ spot-kick was poor, Neuer saved, but the Chilean produced a wonderful finish on the turn at the second attempt. Astonishingly, we were level.
Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal
The goalscorer was booked minutes later when Martinez threw himself spectacularly to ground under minimal, if any, contact. Bayern screamed at the referee when Bellerin’s arm, in a natural position, was hit from point blank range. From the resulting corner Lewandowski headed over the crossbar.
At the other end Xhaka ventured forward for a well-struck left foot volley that Neuer managed to hold onto. This was far from the passive Arsenal in the wake of the opening goal, but Bayern attempted to hit back with another high header by Lewandowski from Alaba’s cross. Hummels too missed the target with a header from a set piece conceded by Xhaka.
The last chance of the half fell to Mesut Ozil from a tight angle on the left hand side and Neuer was equal to it. A very good first-half was drawing to a close and the Arsenal could be well pleased with their response to going behind.
We started the second-half on the front foot but suffered a real blow when skipper Koscielny hobbled off with a hamstring problem to be replaced by Gabriel. The substitute’s first challenge was a vital one on Lewandowski. However the latter climbed all over Mustafi to power home a header from Lahm’s cross and Bayern were again ahead with over half an hour still to play.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Arsenal
A couple of minutes later the Arsenal defence was peeled open once more when Lewandowski back-heeled into the path of the untracked Thiago who slid the ball inside the far post. Memories of last season’s 5-1 mauling here were being resurrected.
Bayern Munich 3-1 Arsenal
Xhaka received a yellow card for a bad challenge on Alonso, who needed no encouragement to lie down at every opportunity. Gibbs survived another call for a penalty when he appeared to move his arm towards the ball to deny Robben. From the corner that followed Ospina produced a wonderful save to deny Martinez. The reprieve was temporary. Thiago’s deflected strike put us in all kinds of bother. The loss of the skipper had left us so badly exposed at the back.
Bayern Munich 4-1 Arsenal
Arsene decided the answer was to send on Theo Walcott for the unfortunate Iwobi, out of his depth on the night. Hopefully he will learn much from the experience. Arsenal’s defenders long balls upfield were coming straight back with no Olivier Giroud to hold the ball up. Walcott’s introduction ahead of the target man was mystifying. Ospina produced another fine save as Bayern powered through and around us at will.
Mustafi and Lewandowski came together, not for the first time, and the Arsenal man was less than impressed with the striker’s apparent inner ear infection. With fourteen minutes to go we finally introduced Giroud and hauled off Coquelin. Lewandowski appeared to catch Ospina as the latter made a brave save at his feet and Gabriel was quick to seek retribution. It was good to see a reaction. Gabriel and Lewandowski met shoulder to shoulder in the next attack and the latter again plunged unnecessarily and theatrically.
Lahm, outstanding on the night enjoyed the freedom of the right flank once more but from his cross Robben thankfully fired his right footer high and wide. Before he was substituted Costa brought yet another wonderful save from Ospina throwing himself full length at his far post. Lahm’s late booking for bringing down Oxlade-Chamberlain will rule him out of the second leg, but he had already ensured his team a comfortable cushion to travel with.
Walcott earned us a corner with six minutes to go but we were unable to convert it into a much needed second away goal. Lewandowski was withdrawn and managed to make it all the way to the line without falling over again. In truth he was being very professional and using up time that Arsenal badly needed to make better use of. Robben, bettered only by Lahm on the night was also taken off to a rapturous standing ovation.
Newly introduced Muller gave the scoreline a horribly familiar ring when he danced inside Oxlade-Chamberlain to slide home the fifth.
Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal
Arsenal’s second-half capitulation was so worrying. If we can’t lift ourselves in a Champions League knock-out tie then when can we? This tie may just have been the final crack at the Champions League for Arsene, and the result may confirm that. Perhaps it’s time to take a step back and consider that when things have calmed down.
243 Responses to “Humiliated Again – Gunners Capitulate In Second Half”
Bang.
Hemlock please.
Got the 100 and now first in???
It’s not been a bad night for everyone then???
?
Rangers and Celtic keep clamoring for entry into the Premier League. Maybe we should take one of their places in the Scottish League so we would have the hope of winning a title?
What a meek, wretched performance from a team that doesn’t look like it believes it can win big matches. Ironically, I don’t think Bayern actually had to play that well to win. I think a decent side will knock Bayern out in this competition.
I imagine that will be the final nail in the coffin of any chance we had of Alexis staying. He’ll be looking at his mate Vidal playing for a proper side and thinking he wants a piece of the action at a more dynamic, winning club.
Ozil has another anonymous game in a big match. His defending for the first goal was pathetic, and I think he’s the icing on the cake for a good, dominant team (a la Real Madrid or Germany) but we need infinitely more from him as our marquee signing and supposed midfield dynamo. If he wants to move on this summer and/or we can get a good price for him, I wouldn’t baulk. It’s probably the best position for Ramsey to play and we can look to add more dynamism in that role anyway. Let’s not allow Alexis and Ozil to hold us to ransom – no one’s bigger than the club and they haven’t been good enough collectively anyway.
Really ought to be Wenger’s final season too. He looks like he’s run out of ideas and the ability to motivate the team. We’ve argued here in the past about player acquisition, but relatively speaking the problem isn’t the make up of the squad, but they way they are prepared, managed, disciplined and motivated. Wenger should now focus all his efforts on trying to secure one last piece of silverware (the FA Cup) and getting one final top 4 finish, but it’s time to move on irrespective.
Ozil had nothing to do with the first goal. Iwobi and Coquelin somehow combined to give Robben all the space he needed.
It feels like the lads have stopped playing for Arsene. That’s really sad. It seems Ian Wright knew what he was talking about after all. I would be very surprised to see Arsene in charge next season.
Give me the strongest thing you have, please, and leave the bottle.
Gregoire. I don’t see how anybody can argue with any of what you said. We need new personnel, new management and new perspective.
Gregoire, I take that back, seeing as Cynic has already argued with some of it at #6. Oh well.
Sad thing is we are going end up with everyone leaving soon, no hungry horse Wellbeck? Another Iwobi outfit not much of an attacking purpose!
We have made it to half time with decent result I’m lost for words!
Night all
The loss of Kos may be the real loss of the night. The scoreline shows what he means to that defence.
The problem now is that, Sutton aside, we don’t play our next game until the first week of March, being Liverpool away.
Our best hope is to win the FA Cup, finish in top 4, and at least Arsene bows out on a relative high.
Disagree, Cynic. Of course, many were at fault for Robben’s goal but don’t overlook Ozil’s part. He’s barely a metre away from Robben throughout the move and doesn’t sense any danger or show any desire to get a tackle or block in on the shot.
First goal was all Coquelin. The rest, Mustafi. He really isn’t very good.
I reacted a bit during the match and rereading it I don’t think anything I said was unfair. Holic’s excellent report sums up the game very well. I don’t think any of us believe that Arsene should prolong his stay now. In games against really good sides we are not just beaten we are utterly outclassed.
I’d like to call it a day there. I don’t want to reflect on the club at the moment because it’s depressing . I keep thinking of Stan clicking on th the cash reserves and offering Arsene another two years. Don’t rule it out. I just have too much respect for Wenger to think he’d accept it.
Surely that is curtain down. We have no new ideas and are overrun by teams. We lost Kos and turned into a pub team! All he had to do was go last season, but no, he carries on clueless and out of touch with modern tactics. He has ruined his legacy because the board have allowed him too much leverage.
The match was predictable. Ozil was a passenger, Alexis ran until he dropped, Coq was idealess and Xhaka naive. Ox at least acquitted himself. We are a laughing stock and easy prey for any team with guts. Bring in Simeone. He doesn’t stand for idle fools.
Out of the competition before the second leg even kicks off. Season over. Goodnight.
A balanced and measured report H. The performance and result that sadly won’t surprise many of us. The fact is is that it’s the same old problems.
For years now we have survived trying to treat a gaping wound with a sticking plaster. You can look at that Bayern side and think about the Arsenal team of 10 years or so ago. As every year has passed we have slowly got worse. The mega optimists told us that we had turned the corner as we were not now a selling club. The fact was that at this stage, all of the jewels had left.
It’s sad because I look at games like tonight and they don’t really bother me anymore. It’s sadly so predictable. We all cling to the hope of a miracle but the truth is, very few expect one to happen.
It’s sad to see the way it is turning out. I have always been a massive Wenger fan and it saddens me the way we have deteriorated over the years. He will get all sorts of abuse now and for what he has achieved, he deserves better. But the fact is that the squad is not brimming with quality. Don’t judge it on premier league standards. The premier league is as weak quality wise as it has been for years.
Despite all of that, as long as the business and Stan is happy???? Sadly, that is what it has become.
Oh well. Sutton must be shitting themselves???
Beer time boys and girls. Keep smiling.
I hate to say this but Rio has just made a good point. What is the mandate given to Arsene by Stan and his boys. If it’s just too 4 and make money then he’s more than doing his job.
I just feel sad for everyone who loves AFC. My heart sank with the loss of Kos and I don’t really want to say much except that I feel for all those fans who made the trip.
I’ve drunk too much wine and am off to bed, nighty night.
Keown has been fighting Wenger’s corner even as recently as this weekend, but even he sounds like he’s had enough now.
@13 Barack… Why do you still care about the top four? I don’t give a rats ass about making the top four. Try and win the FA cup and call it a day Mr Wenger.. thanks for all the memories. He can take Ozil and Ramsey with him. Get the Sevilla coach, maybe we can keep Alexis.
Okay Arsene goes end of this season. But what about these players? No manager can get a bunch of bottlers like these to play any good. Mustafi, Ozil, Iwobi, Coquelin all had a woeful game tonight. Coq,Iwobi and Ozil are some Arsene’s favourites to be picked in the starting eleven but after their third bottling in 4 games,they need to be benched. It is time to give the likes of Elneny, Welbeck, Lucas – a run in the side.
This team was playing so very well till December. The moment they lost confidence, they seem to forget how to play. They just don’t know how to ride off a 10 minute spell where you give nothing away and just settle down and start playing your way back into the game. Low confidence can do that but these players have played so many champions league games – it’s inexcusable. And Koscielny is a cut above the rest in this team -even Alexis who was a bit of a drama queen gesturing to players in the first half when they were doing the sensible thing keeping good shape. And there must be something wrong with Welbeck’s fitness because in a game of such magnitude – I would have preferred to start him rather than a 19 year old kid no matter how promising he is.
It gets harder and harder to take a positive from any bad result.
Tonights gem is that we probably only have to endure one more European match with AW in charge.
How sad.
How fucking sad.
Measured report Guvna. The game I saw. And the result I feared.
It certainly looked like the end of an era.
It’s very sad that Arsene couldn’t go out on a high but though I hope he will manage to lift the FA Cup again in May, the way we have been playing this season, we are going to need all the luck that got us the ‘Lucky Arsenal’ moniker in the 1930’s. The positive is that it will be far easier for his successor in his first season than to follow a triumphant exit.
It’s time we got a hard bastard in who will make the players shape up or ship out. I foresee a significant turnover not restricted to our dynamic duo. Hopefully we can get a coach who can bring some quality players in to fill the gaps.
SAG@23
Top 4 is absolutely important for whoever is coming in for next season. It will help keep the guys we need to keep and attract marquee players. I dare say top four is more important for Wenger’s legacy than another FA Cup trophy. After all, he is the winningest coach in the darned competition.
I’m right there with you bath.
Announce it so we all get behind him and the team.
Make the replacement known so the players can get behind the new man or fuck off.
Get a Director of Football so the next poor sod doesn’t have a job that is too big for him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIhXiK3i5gA
.
?
Agree with bath @26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT3G3juIzj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-QQI6lb_Hg
Time to rant. Where to now?
Does the team have any access to analytical data? If they do, can they please tell us how many goals have been scored from the wing side that Iwobi is playing on? What is so great about the kid, that he is a starter by default? Slow as heck.
Sell Ozil now. He is a passenger on the team. When was the last time he contributed something meaningful, both offensive and defensive? I would not play him, given his contribution. Someone please check he contributed defensively on Robbin’s goal.
Why have soo many players on the team if they never get a chance to prove themselves on the field?
For those who were lucky to watch Michael Jordan play, can you imagine him playing with these passenger players?
Are reporters not allowed to ask pointed questions during the manager’s press conference? If they are allowed, I would ask the Manager why should he continue to manage this team? Why do you keep playing Ozil & Iwobi? Did he see the tactical changes that Burnley & Bournemouth made over the weekend in their respective games?
We were outclassed all over the pitch and I disagree with G@5 – I think that Bayern are still a powerful force and could easily win this competition this year. Their fluidity and movement were impressive.
Given that we knew we would need a defensive performance I too was surprised that Iwobi was preferred over Welbeck and although he was often left without support I couldn’t fathom Gibbs continually standing so far off Robben. Our left flank was, as someone said, an open highway for Bayern.
Ozil seems to have lost all confidence and once again was ineffective. Alexis should not be allowed to take penalties – how many has he missed this season, 3 or more? Ospina saved us even greater embarrassment.
Oh, by the way, Robben likes to cut in onto his left foot and doesn’t like a couple of crunching tackles early on – but everybody knows that don’t they?
UTA.
Good stuff cba. We sure could have done with Stonewall Jackson shielding our back four tonight.
Bath, do you see anyone, Arsene or someone new bring able to turn this round quickly because I really don’t. We have been having these problems for years. Years ago it was minor tinkering. Now it is major surgery. We are a mess.
I hate to single players out but Le Coq’s stats tonight make incredible reading. He made 6 passes and 0 tackles in 77 minutes? That shows you the gulf in class. In fact, Ospina made more passes than Le Coq.
H, your last paragraph @28 is spot on, but I go back to the mandate set by the board. I think it’s more than the time that someone like Stan or Ivan stand up and be honest with the fans.
made mouth o meself here chez me baff
major sorries in morning
.
just so fuckin aggravated
Steve, I don’t see this being a quick fix like the Chavs.
I think we need major changes hence we need a new coach who can bring some players in with him. We should be able to offer him a budget because we will get cash for the players who want to leave and the ones he wants to leave. But I foresee several seasons of instability with so much churn.
My biggest concern is that it will be Stan and Ivan making the decision and I have no trust in the former being able to live with the idea of the kind of hard bastard that the team needs. Hard bastards of quality are hard up the way as well as down the way in the organisation.
Plead culpable gobbycide, cba.
but
yer advice about me mate
meant him go get answers
on his terms
he’s doing grand
and
trev
yeah my neck isn’t owl like
but still streets ahead
of what it was
.
and
eff off the pair o ye
i am not drunk
and
if one o you kind gentlemen
will pass me down my Jameson
i will bid you good day
This was sooooo painful. I am crushed…I feel awful. Arsene will not extend his contract, that is now almost 100% certain. Let’s hope a new manager will be able to do a better job. I just can’t understand what has AW done to our “stars” to deserve such “repayment”.
He must feel like a father who gives all trust and love to his son and the kid repays him by becoming a criminal.
Back spasms are a proper cunt. 🙁
Bath. Couldn’t agree more.
cynic
did ye put
two 70s Arsenal legends
into a wiggly abouty wordy website
to arrive at 42
i hope ye did
if not
yes
yes they fuckin are
A top manager like Allegri or Simeone can improve players and put them in systems that they trust and understand . I wanted another Arsene but they don’t exist any more. I agree that we need a hard bastard with a very modern approach to football. Ancelotti coached Wenger off the pitch tonight and I think Bayern showed they are a very good side. Our bitterness is masking our appreciation of the fact that we were schooled all over the pitch.
I have an important business meeting to go to on 7 March in the evening. I was going to alter it but I won’t now and I will put my ticket in Ticket Exchange and recoup a little of the money I spend every season. If Wenger doesn’t go I will find it hard to pay £1500 to watch that again next season . I desperately hope he can have a day in the sun at Wembley in May as his last moment with Arsenal and this gutless lot play their hearts out for him. But at this moment I’m finding it hard to see past Sutton. Freezing night, plastic pitch, them up for it. Football, bloody hell
i didn’t, cba. I did my back in answering the fucking phone, of all things.
Solid gooner@27- I see where you are coming from, am just tired of this damn top four and keep getting bounced out in the second round of the competition. I just felt it wont hurt not been there for once.
a phone ?
a phone is it !
.
posh boy
yeah diamond communication
for golden pocketed fucks
.
i had a stash o yoghurt cartons
i ran the string empire
til you cunts minced in
see vinny
tell im i sent ye
.
pussy
Love you lot. Feeling the collective whatever it is tonight. Fuck, I want us to win big ears before I pop my clogs.
In God’s name Arsene, go!
big man
a hard time indeed
a hard time
Never thought I’d see the day Holic.
Blimey.
god bless ye f o r here
i don’t believe in god
but
i believe in here
.
respect ‘hol for attracting/assembling
level headed red and white
am on the homemade goo goo gargle
am i facing the wrong way
As much as Arsene’s time might be coming to an end, I do think that there are others at the club with some serious questions to answer. I would prefer to see Stanley and Ivan fuck off first, and to close the door behind them.
I’d put CBA in charge. What could possibly go wrong??
If you can keep him off the moonshine that is.
yer not too old/big de go over my knee sunshine
?
fuckin fiasco steve
fuckin heartbreakin
yeah
heartbreakin
As I said earlier CBA, I’ve got to the stage where I don’t actually feel that bothered anymore. That’s how sad its got for me.
My ticket for the home leg was given up about 3 weeks ago. I have other plans that night and chose that as the better option back then. The same will happen to my season ticket. Mine won’t be renewed.
Unless you take over that is ???
?
i was not very nice to people here in my house
tin lid on the biscuits steve
no less sorrowful
Fuck, I want us to win big ears before I pop my clogs.
I’d settle for Noddy at this point.
i dunno
Song for the evening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6A3dap6MI
fuck
i’d rather eat me dung soaked feet
than listen to that
delicate little flower
pretend hard man’s
noisy nonsense
.
*expectorates*
And I leave you with this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SJ6AV31MxA
Controversial 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFJLbMVgS-E
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl5V26oXHUI
Not quite tin lids.
aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
fuckin plastic cunnnnttttssss
red top journo written tripe
aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
steve T
dead to me !
cynic
dead to me !
c b a
dead de mee
So many on here think we have a chance of winning the FA Cup this year but based on our recent displays against Chelsea and Bayern I don’t think we have a chance at all. Can’t see this sorry bunch beating City, Manure or Chelsea for the cup.
For the first time I think even the pro Wenger fans want him gone this summer. Time for someone else to take over as Manager of Arsenal FC, can’t watch this shambles of a team anymore. I can take our team losing if it shows some grit and fight but this team has too many for whom these qualities are totally alien.
ksn
“sorry bunch”
show a bitta respect
show a bitta respect
i’m not a blind eejit
i see however
that ye are a breeze of bullshit
so
i’m gonna shut me window
we are the fuckin ARSENAL
you are a fuckin ARSEHOLE
d’ye know what’s good for change
hysteria
When Roy fucking Keane declines to have a go at Arsenal then you know the shit’s hit the fan.
When did we get here?
“betrayal”
get a grip
live a life
fuckin keano
spanner ALMIGHTY
?
“worst bouncer ever”
.
i did shit however
in my previous existence
put up with
not
now
i just target people
as they piss up the alamo
yeah
my newsy sensy clearly are lumpy
.
no joiny innys ?
nope
100
Yaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh
Whooooooooooooooooo
.
(me)
never
ever
in
the
grand
scheme
of
things
make
it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4YiXWPBpo
Please zap 80 de 100 ‘holic
you know i was completely hacked
It’s time for all true Gooners to circle the wagons and back Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. It’s also our Arsenal. Besides this is most likely the end of the road for the great man. He deserves so much better. Never have I seen him look so hopeless, spiritless and down in the mouth as he did after the presser.
The present squad have absolutely betrayed his trust and exposed his weaknesses greatly. We all know Wenger has never been a great tactician, his strength was finding great talents that could express themselves. This bunch are talented but have expressed themselves in very surprising ways.
I say we back the team till the end of the season and pray that the decision makers have the balls to, well you know, make decisions. And the right ones too. A top 4 finish with a good run in the cup will make any kind of transition easier
early riser esso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS322fanTb8
whaddya think
cows love it
????????
moooooooooooooooooooooo
top man
Arsene has to shoulder most of the blame but the players have done themselves no favours at all.
We need to get shot of about a third of this squad and frankly, Ozil AND Sanchez can do one for all I care at this point. Tired of hearing how Sanchez sweats blood and carries the team single handedly when it’s clear to see he is one of the major issues we have, fucking selfish arse. Fuck em both. This is the Arsenal! We’ve had bigger and better by far and will not be held to ransom by a bunch of mercenaries who really don’t give a fuck.
Rant over!
CBS, you’re the life of the party. Keep it up
cba
Well done
## MULTI POSTER ALERT ##
cunt in me house
Sorta kind a knows his stuff
proper smarty
newspapers aren’t what they used to be
mickey can spot a fuckin mouse
well
this mick can
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X07yZ16i64A
sorry hol
for using mick to refer to paddys
one o these fuckin days i’ll learn
*skulks away*
yeah !
the number of the sixth of the beast !!__
When the team was doing well in the initial part of the season – the team seemed to be playing for each other. Right now they’re just a bunch of individuals. The contract situations of Sanchez and Ozil have certainly not helped matters.
Also this whole business of saying ‘Arsene has never been a tactician… ‘ to make it seem as if he has been just hacking it for so many years is really irksome. In terms of setting up the team yesterday and how we played in the first half, there was nothing wrong tactically. Yes we can debate about the personnel like Welbeck for Iwobi and Elneny for Le Coq but even with them players, the blueprint would have been the same in a crucial away game against a very strong team. But no manager in the world can get a bunch of bottlers to win no matter how good a tactician he is.
Also Ivan Gazidis must be having his tail between his legs now. He had famously said circa 2013 that we would be able to compete with the likes of Bayern Munich in the transfer market vis a vis squad strength in the near future. Well there was a gulf between the two teams. Most palpably an aging Robben who is literally a one trick pony showed that you don’t need more than that if you you’re really committed to the teams cause and master that one trick really really well…
And I am glad to see those who were giving Sanchez a free pass earlier – almost claiming that he is better than and above the rest of the team are having a turn around now. Yes he is a marquee player for us. And so is Ozil. And marquee players lift the team up – especially youngsters and make them perform above their level. Sanchez and Ozil mostly start berating others when the chips start to go down… As if others in the team have to serve them to perform. They can fuck off wherever they want to or else prove in the rest of the season that are indeed the world class players they believe themselves to be and lift the team from a lean phase.
etc an what not !
paddys to the left.. . ..
paddys all around me
“big shout out to the not Irish Irish”
.
grow up ya millionteen generationed “O FUCKIN SHAUGHNESSY”
.
(the spelling on that ?)
brackets up above
to signify Americanisms
(
yeah
and
)
to b e sure
I am Irish by accident of handsome-ness
and yes
before ye ask
it is a burden !
and a chore
every beautiful brunette minute !
holy fuck ‘hol
at least hire people
de boot me in the knockers
when slumber sits on yer head
.
i could say anything here
I COULD WRITE HORIZONTALLY IN BIG BIG LETTERS
H O R I Z O N T A L L Y
BIG MAN
have i got to FIVE really annoying things yet ?
nope
them
typical english
feckin ignore ye
?
[or s***t ye]
you decide !
*serpentines*
PING
PINNGG
*takes smartarse comment to the ankle*
*crawls roadside*
*depairs*
was Dee Dee ever born ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abkaISAB-dk
yes
and Phil and
t h e Mighty Martin Rushent said
so
Johnny Joey Dee Dee
good times
You are one too CBA.
remind me ksn
should i pretend to hate you
pretend to love you
or stand on yer throat
i get forgetful
it’s ‘holic’s bar and i am forever grateful
he doesn’t launch me
good people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CynLdVRN8ZM
A morning after. Feeling equally miserable. Will support Arsenal forever but I am became afraid of us. How can I help you, Arsenal?
*I became
and i apologise
if grown ass gooners
haven’t the balls
to say what they mean
CBA still up???
Now that’s chairman material right there.
i made a show of meself yesterday
but
this is the nature of football
it’s just more digitized and spat out now
for latter day sheepskin coat wearin experts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94h2L9oBOHM
Sheepskin coats? What would the cows say???
Waiting for the media fall out will be fun today.
howdy steve
?
i’m off til September
.
I will try and resist being a cunt here
i will be a big resistor
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uIpfsMdf0LQ
or
a capacitor
the sexiest woman alive
not unlike a portion of bananarama
when i lived in yer heathen country
i had occasion to walk behind
Ms Hynde t’BBC
and can i say
her ar…… …. ..
.
answers on a postcard
to
yeah etc an so on
With you totally CBA. A wonderful sight indeed.
never saw leather trousers
so pleased to be worn
jeez
shut up
i have to get up for work in 6months
i should put me head down
The football gods are cruel. AW was given the supreme gift of finding and developing talent. But then they created owners rich enough to just go out and buy it.
It does feel the curtain is coming down on AW’s long career. I hope we have the class to see him off the stage with dignity and appreciation, not a hail of brickbats. Who is appointed as his successor will be a significant marker of the club’s ambition.
howdy ned
i am an arsene man
always have been
and
as you say
though i don t know how just now
he deserves” a state funeral”
if i had my druthers
Slice between 153
.
last sentence
he does
*throws scraps down to the common people*
I know a good caterer
*lied*
sorry ‘hol
fulla shite here
and
bouncing is easy
you appear to be lax
in that department
i was a good bouncer
round the back
on the toke
bollocks
complete lie
twas round the side
Deluded. Deluded into thinking and saying the second goal was our corner when Ozil back heeled it out. Deluded into thinking and saying the last 25 minutes, because we didn’t respond (ie attack) were a nightmare but, what, the 9 minutes and 3 goals were ok ? Deluded enough to give Gibbs, GIBBS ! the feckin’ armband. Generally a bench player, for almost 45 mins in the Champions League ! The 2014 Cup final win gave Wenger the platform to go and spend 200 mill and we have a serious problem now since he’s bought pretty bad, bar his two stars who are miserable. He never wanted to spend and he was always going to make a pig’s ear of it. An Economist/Scout who misread the market and FFP..badly. I still say he loved not having to buy during the stadium years so he could try a completely different approach to both his own first 10 years and also the modus operandi of the oligarch/oil baron clubs. That was his mission. It was all about him, alas. On the spending, we could have got Wanyama and Williams for less than 20 mill, but we got Mustafi and Xhaka for 70 mill. Would have been the same or probably better. I had missed Mustafi doing a “Flamini” with a team-mate last night for the third goal with his (Mustafi’s) back to play as the ball is played into Thiago Alcantara ? Worth another look. It’s unreal. But at least Mustafi has some fight in him I suppose. But the real issue now is for the new guy. How does he shift the British core with the contracts they’re on ? Why did we commit so early to guys like Cazorla and Mert ? Why would Walcott and Coq leave with the contacts they have ? How do places in the squad free up for the new man ? Why do you think even Jenkinson wouldn’t move on. Cash. We all want a clearout but it aint that easy. Wenger has always overpaid mediocrity, yet always undervalued and underpaid true class. He doesn’t really want characters like RVP or Alexis, it explains the whole captaincy mess. It’s a disaster and Wenger needs to help by declaring his departure now. His remaining will not help the end of the season. The club needs time to manage this. If he does the decent thing, the atmosphere could lift, the dynamic could change and we’d actually have a better run-in in my opinion. Yes, sure , then we can get behind him, be dignified and see him off, if that’s your preference. Personally, I think he’s thrashed his legacy. To finish with the best humour I’ve heard in the last 12 hours ; Wenger always wanted to play like Barcelona, well last night he did.
yes
that is all truthy etc and such
PARA . FUCKIN . GRAPHS
i could draw graphs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkOpgr1ElXg
Good job AW sent out a team to counter Bayern’s attacking style or it could have been worse.
I blame Theo. How much longer does he need to score a hat trick? I guess he and Ollie G are nailed on starters for the second leg now. We might even see Danny. But only now it’s all over.
A depressing load of shite to come back to after three days away. Ox and Iwobi winging it in the CL? Piss poor the pair of them. And not alone, sadly.
I refuse to name Mesut yet again.
Now, where’s the alcohol?
Went to bed last night in a shite mood (and with a deserved flea in the ear from my wife because I launched the TV remote across the room in anger when Bayern netted their fourth goal…I am 46 years old fgs!)
However reading the comments section on here has brightened me up – proper fans with proper well measured criticisms – unlike the knee jerk rubbish that I will be avoiding elsewhere on the ‘net today. Never met any of you but this place can be a real bastion of online sanity.
As for football matters TTG’s post @ #45 neatly sums up how I feel right now.
COYG.
Someone asked about dear old Oskar in a previous drinks. As bathgoonert reported in my absence he’s watching over us all now, though sadly having little influence on football matches. Rather like me.
The new pooch is Mad Max, half toy poodle half capuchine monkey and a proper Theo speed machine in the dog park where chasing balls is concerned.
cba sums it all up for me, NDR…
Apols CBA, we can’t all match your mastery of perfect punctuation and the Queen’s English (ooohh that may have hurt, that bit).
Wanna step outside ?
Look I’m p*ssed off, enough to consider giving up my extremely expensive € 40 Ryanair return ticket and flogging off my match ticket for 2nd leg. But nah , I’ll go, the Ems is still a beautiful place on CL night. We will rise again but I now understand the Guv’nors trepidation about the transition. I didn’t see it at first in my quest for blood but I can see now.
But we will cleanse and renew – in time. COYG.
sc
step anywhere you want !
you’ll be on yer own
but keep on
Caps lock not working no ? Come on CBA, even Theo’s been facing up recently !! We’ll leave it there so, as our late, great Irish TV sports presenter used to say. Cheers.
a brilliant football forum
was never an ideal place
for interaction with
i’m guessing a squaddie
.
having said that
i had green funny accented
heavily armed dealings
with some of your species
not the brains
they were born with
or
CBA for manager- it will develop irresistible momentum. I look forward to post match interviews!
And he will sort out Roy Keane!
Bring it on!
not
Keane
sorry
he’s a nice fella
he is
.
a cherub perhaps
a delicate flower
*moooooooooooooooooooooo*
free state twat
fuck i’m fickle
Ornstein has been briefed to let people know that a ‘ mutual’ decision will be made at the end of the season. That sounds like he will be leaned on in the very cosy Arsenal way to spend more time tending his roses- if I’m decoding correctly.
That is the right way to do it but we need to line up a successor because there will be serious competition for the best men. Allegri looks the right sort to me- a winner, a strong tactician and observers of Italian football suggest he is better even than Conte.
London is more interesting than Turin although I’ve never been to Turin. But it’s more interesting than almost anywhere so it’s a decent bet!
Now let’s get behind the club we love.
CBA – Pistol Steve Jones has some interesting things to say about Chrissie Hynde in his autobiography which I have just finished reading…
getting behind the Arsenal is not de rigueur thunder T
where have you been ?
Arsene Wenger: Decision on Arsenal manager’s future at end of season
Why is that even a story? It was always going to be this way.
In other sporting news, it appears some pretty young tennis player has gone on a date with a pretty young man who had a bet with her on Twitter over the Superbowl. You can bet your life that if he’d been 20 stone, face like a cold pizza, wearing Coke bottle glasses, she’d have told him to fuck off.
I know this. I asked her first 😉
Whilst last night’s showing was depressingly predicable, always remember that it could be much, much, worse – you could support the Spuds.
Henry Winter is an idiot
It could have been a tennis score without David Ospina.
Tennis score? What, like, 6-1, which is the only tennis score possible if we have scored a goal?
So by that logic, Ospina made a one goal difference.
Think before you try to be clever, Henry. I know you read this site to get stuff for your columns 😉
A sorry morning to one and all.
It doesn’t matter what I think – the evidence of the place that the Arsenal Football Company is in right now, was all out on the pitch, and the treatment room, last night.
I’ve watched the Arsenal for many years when we had no chance of winning titles but everyone was happy because we never failed to fight.
There are players in our squad who are taking home money that the majority of our supporters can’t comprehend and they just can’t be bothered. Can’t even be bothered to walk across the pitch to thank those same supporters for travelling abroad to cheer them on.
Everyone is having a go at Arsene Wenger. Yes, it is time for a change. I believe the game has tactically left him behind. I also believe he is not by nature nasty enough to scare some of these piss takers into trying any harder.
It is not a player’s fault if he doesn’t have the talent. It is absolutely the player’s fault if he does not give 100% every single time he pulls on a shirt or training top.
There are some young players who are still trying to fight but they are being sadly let down by the most experienced – those who are there to lead them (Koscielny excepted).
Whatever you think of Arsene Wenger, however outdated, however inept, however stubborn, however whatever, he cares. He cares and hurts like we do. All empires grow to the point where they become ungovernable – and then they collapse. However much he cares and hurts, the empire he grew has collapsed. It needs a clean out and a new start.
I hope he doesn’t finish up being abused by the people he has probably sacrificed a more glorious career to remain loyal to.
SOLID GOONER has two very good, succinct oosts @102 and @104.
Let’s hope the few remaining fighters we have can in some way save the rest of the season from total disaster.
The summer requires huge change but will we get it ?
Ozil is the biggest piss taker of all but, as Alan Smith just said on Sky, he shouldn’t be in the team and the manager is doing him no favours by picking him at the moment. The phrase “hung out to dry” was used, which is a bit much because it’s still up to Ozil to get himself involved and not just wander about like he can’t be arsed.
What I find most dispiriting this morning though is the number of people willing to use the “think the grass is greener, who can replace him?” line, or defend him on the basis of what he has won, but meaningful success was over ten years ago. Back to back FA Cups when most teams, even the lower league ones, play scratch teams most of the time, is a pretty hollow return. Nice to have but all the same…
Him being Arsene Wenger, not Ozil lol…
In a spirit of camaraderie, I am going to drink continuously until things improve.
And then celebrate. 😎
Clattenberg is off to Saudi Arabia.
Sobering ‘holic. Cheers!
Cynic @190,
For those “think the grass is greener, who can replace him?” Fictionalists, refer them to the Chavs! Yes, they’re utterly, morally vile cunts, but they’re ruthless, and they know what they’ve always wanted from their Head-Coaches and Man-Managers. Almost 5 Premier League titles (Conté’s about to add the 5th in his first season at the Bus Stop), back to back CL and Europa League victories, a few FA Cups and a few League Cups there in the mix too; and all have taken place with several different tacticians and Man-Managers since the last time that we won a major trophy under Arsene.
What exactly is now the target being set by the Board for our wonderful Club’s playing staff? And I’ll add another thing into the mix; our homegrown British players that came to Arsenal as youngsters, in order to better themselves and become hopefully World-Class under Arsene Wenger, have arguably not improved at all, and have actually gotten worse relative their peers some might say, under Arsene. Very sad indeed. It’s now like watching the Captain rearranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic.
AFCOF!
If Wenger is leaving he needs to tell the board now, or they should do what a real football club does and make the decision for him.
Barcelona are highly likely to get rid of Enrique after their failures this season, so any coach worth having is going to have his head turned by that job.
Get talking to Allegri or whoever we might want right now. Get them signed up ASAP and get that contract extension off the table.
Clattenburg off to Saudi Arabia you must be joking. Either that or he is going in order to enforce the ban on unethical ?♂️ haircuts. Maybe before he leaves he can see to it that Chelsea are docked a few points for said offence.
Wenger doesn’t have that bad a haircut, mind.
@Trev, summed up wonderfully well sir.
On the commentary we had in India, one asked the other- “do you think Arsenal are embarrassed by this?; the other said, I think they are”. It summed us all up in the middle of the night or should I say 3 am in the morning in Bangalore. We were embarrassing.
We can call out names and in fact the whole team for this shocker but isn’t there a lot more than that. The whole system has crashed. The manager seems clueless, players ignorant to what is happening around and the management nowhere to be seen. This is the Arsenal for fucking sake, not a beachside team.
Gabriel, Coquelin, Mustafi, Gibbs should not play another game for us. Ozil can take a hike and can have Ramsey by his side. Theo can go to any mid table team in the league and for the rest, you have one last chance.
Alexis??? oh has he stopped waving his hands and gesturing as if he is only doing it all? if he has, then he can leave to. No, not because of talent but because of this stupid I do it all and rest do nothing selfish attitude.
Finally to the elephant in the room. It is over boss, you are the most admired person I have in this world apart from family but it is over. Your legacy has been battered and before it is broken, leave.
We need an overhaul. We need a defensive manager please for it is sick to see how we crumble under pressure. We need leaders on and off the pitch and we need taskmasters. Sounds familiar? Simeone/Allegri or whoever it is, get them this summer and sound them out now. We cannot become a joke in the footballing world please.
Hey Chris, Mad Max must be a holy terror. Furniture beware. 😉
In all honesty, it seems Wright’s utterances the other day were contrived. I think Wenger himself gave Wrighty the go ahead to say what he did in a bid to gauge the general public reaction.
Wenger is absolutely an Arsenal man and will do everything to ensure he leaves the club in tip top shape.
To that regard, he probably has told the folk at the helm of affairs where he stands and contrary to all his talk of not being responsible for the nomination/appointment of his successor, you can be sure his input has been sought and is probably being worked on as we speak.
I agree wholeheartedly with Trev’s summation @189 and most others on here. Whatever happens, especially for those of us who have supported Arsenal for decades, this club will be in better shape than it was pre ’96.
Bango!!!
Double ton, what an honor.
Trev and Vinay summed it up.
Vinay @198 & all our other “player bashers”,
This current squad is more than adequate to challenge in all competitions. Change the “Head-Tactician” and the “Head Man-Manager”, and they’ll fulfil their potential.
I’ll wager £10,000 and my favourite Cravat with anyone that’s got the cojones to back up their continued players’ bashing! ? ?
AFCOF!
Anyone that thinks a combo of Arrigo Sachi and Johann Cruyff can do wonders with this squad is sadly mistaken.
There are deficiencies in certain areas of this iteration.
Cech is regressing and only Chezzer comes close to being good enough apart from him.
Take out Koscielny and you have only a hugely talented but inexperienced Holding as one worthy of replacing him.
Xhaka will come good but all the others in that midfield will struggle to get into Everton’s first XI.
Upfront, we are well stocked but still need a mobile goal getter who doesn’t throw tantrums.
We have a good squad, but have at least two in the prem and five or six in Europe that are clearly better.
Make no mistake, whoever comes in has a huge job on his hands with the playing staff.
DanC,
I don’t like the player “bashing” but not all criticism is necessarily “bashing”.
If the players responded to any criticism as bashing, that would generate exactly the “i’m not playing any more then!” response that maybe we are seeing.
How many Head Tacticians and Man Managers do you imagine it would take to get one fullback, and one person to help him, to stop Arjen Robben turning inside from the right wing to unleash a left foot shot, two minutes after he had already done exactly that same thing. And scored !
Our tactics do seem designed to beat us first and foremost at times but any player at this level should have the gumption to do that.
Four players stood to Eden Hazard’s left and watched him score Chelsea’s second goal with his right foot. Who knew Hazard likes to get on his right foot ?
And it didn’t need a warning from Ancelotti that Robben likes a poke with his left.
I don’t think he will you know. All this squad needs is a couple of additions and some tactical awareness on and off the pitch.
I think we need a better central midfielder and a proper striker, along with the new manager. Perhaps a centre back as well, as Mustafi is not top class.
It is not unreasonable to think that a top class manager could, not will but could, do for us what Conte has done for Chelsea.
All it takes is the bottle to change it.
Please note that my post @200 is solely my opinion.
A top class manager who isn’t intimidated by Arsene Wenger’s achievements may get these fellows to do better. Doing better with this group as it is can’t be further than the quarters or semis of the Champions League and a top four finish.
There are glaring deficiencies in this squad.
Back up for Bellerin, a new Left Back, Goalkeeper, Centre Back, Defensive Midfielder and Striker.
A mobile goal getter who doesn’t throw tantrums, competition for Cech who is declining (Ospina isn’t as good anyway), someone to complement Xhaka who I believe has what it takes to come good, a replacement for Koscielny while Holding develops without undue pressure, replacement for whoever the hell is meant to be at the 3 position and a back up for Bellerin.
There is work to be done, believe that.
Trev
Brilliant post , clearly from the heart of a true supporter, aching like we all are.
Vinay
I think you might be right about Wrighty.
I’d love a new tactically adept manager but could he work with a board and owner like we have. I suspect Kroenke would keep Wenger on until he’s 99 if he continues to keep the heat off him and primes the cash pump.
Sack The Manger … Jezuuuuuus Christ on a bonquette, is nuffink sacred no more?!? Be kind to one anuvvahhh in these diff. times boy, girl and Topman Snowy etc. Goonahs. UTAhhhmen!
I can bet as well that even if we replace Arsene with any manager in this world, this squad will not win the league or the champions league now or the near future. We have what we call “nice” footballers. They should be playing in the sunday league or a charity game than the premier or the champions league. One big example, every time someone runs at our defense, we have them falling back than going forward to tackle or body check to stop the run. How on earth can you turn your back every time, as if they will get hurt if they come in contact with the opposite player!!!!! This has nothing to do with the manager, it has to come from the players.
How many of us are dreading the sutton game? imagine the chaos if the untoward happens!!! Arsenal the football club is been hammered and it is a collective failure, not just of one man, albeit a very important one.
If we lost to Sutton, there’d be no chance whatsoever of him staying on and he should be gone within 24 hours. If that happened and he didn’t resign immediately, he’d have no pride.
There’s no way we are losing to Sutton though. To even think it is possible is ridiculous.
Trev,
You’re clearly still of the assumption that modern day, contemporary footballers still have that much hailed loyalty and “desire” still?! They simply do not and they only play for who they feel that they want to and/or respect as a “big winner” “still”. Can that be felt by any of the current and contemporary squad with Arsene Wenger? I have had my doubts for quite some time.
Moreover, they’re all very fickle and lack the same levels of accountability as found within other careers and professions (that’s why one of them can go to prison and then immediately come out and find a football club ready and willing to pay them thousands of Squids again per week for their services). It’s an entertainment industry mate, and if one is in demand, they’ll always have suitors no matter how unscrupulous or “rubbish for us” they may be. That’s the reality I’m afraid. QED!
I repeat; please take my bet if you practically believe that this squad would still underperform under another “Head-Tactician and Head Man-Manager”. I very confidently feel that they would not! Whether some of us like it or not, multiple-player power will always now defeat Manager power; including with our own Arsene Wenger!
Salut! ?
AFCOF!
Dapper Dan,
Agree that player power will always defeat Manager power as we saw Chelsea players bring the mighty Maurinho to his knees but the same players are now playing really well under their new Manager Conte and are favourite to take the title this season. A new manager can work and it makes sense to change if the old manager has failed. We have time till the end of the season to see if the recent string of bad performances were an aberration or not and decide on a new manager at the end of the season, but it looks more and more like Wenge’s time is up.
On clearing out the squad, these are the contract expiry dates:
Expiring June 2017
Cazorla, Sanogo
June 2018
Mertesacker, Ozil, Sanchez, Gibbs, Ramsey, Jenkinson, Oxlade-Chamberlain
June 2019
Cech, Debuchy, Walcott, Monreal, Welbeck, Ospina, Giroud, Gabriel
June 2020
Perez, Koscielny, Elneny, Iwobi, Holding
June 2021
Coquelin, Mustafi, Xhaka
June 2023
Bellerin
Thanks for the match report ´holic. I’m sorry to see so many fellow gooners depressed by last night’s match.
At least now none of us , the management, or the players can be under any illusion that we need to improve significantly in our effort if we are to finish with anything to show for this season.
Let’s hope that this is used by Wenger as a catalyst to put one or two players on the bench until they start upping their level..
ksn,
There has been one “lowest common denominator” for the past decade, and I’m truly sad to have to say that.
Another FA Cup and another CL spot will add nicely to the already guaranteed statue and Ashburton Grove Stand-name-in-honour. That’s the least that he deserves to depart on now.
UTA!
AFCOF!
The Guvnor at #49.
Wow.
Hate to keep banging on about this, but Hiddink was critical to Chelsea’s self-repair. He put the pieces back together after Mourinho and handed Conte a fully functioning team. No knock on what Conte has done with it, but he didn’t have first to spend a season clearing up Jose’s mess.
Back to our private grief: The bookmakers have Massimiliano Allegri and Eddie Howe as joint favourites at 5/1 to replace AW, followed by Thomas Tuchel at 8/1 and Patrick Vieira and Rafael Benitez at 12/1.
Allegri and Tuchel would be my pick from that quintet. I’d also like to see Jorge Sampaoli at Seville in the frame. He has the passion and intensity, and tactical flair. But he looks as if he might go to Barca if/when Enrique goes at the end of the season.
By the way, some top drinks above from the usual suspects.
I’ve just been watching some of Sky Sports News. Firstly, the points made by Charlie Nicholas about David Deins departure I think are absolutely spot on. Secondly, the age and football knowledge of those who will make a decision on Arsene’s successor is extremely worrying. Finally, there is nothing that winds me up more than listening to those under 30’s who when interviewed do nothing but slaughter the manager, and want him gone within the hour. Disrespectful wankers. These twats have never known anything different. This might well be near the end but these twats need to remember who they support and show a bit more respect.
Really does piss me off. They have been so spoilt over the years.
Arsene deserves every honor, statue outside the stadium & what not and our respect in recognition of his outstanding achievements with the club, providing beautiful football on a weekly basis and many winning moments over the last twenty years. The biggest of them was our reaching the champions league final in 2006. Not winning that final is my biggest regret of his reign. No one will begrudge him a great send off. All said and done, he has always loved and cared deeply about the club and for that he has my respect.
Spurs lose 1-0 at Gent.
Sampaoli all the way for me. If Barca has dibs then Allegro would have to do. Otherwise, keep Wenger and clear half the squad.
UTA
’17- Cazorla, Sanogo – No renewal
’18- Jenkinson, Gibbs, Rambo, Sanchez, Ozil – Sell
’19- Gabriel, Ospina, Debuchy, Monreal – Sell
’21- Coquelin and Mustafi- Free
Tongue firmly in place, no where near the cheeks.
UTA
Re: The names mentioned by NBN @219. Keeping in mind all the talk about the need for a Hiddinkesque interim type to carry on for a while as the ghost of Wenger diminishes, I’m thinking we could do worse than Benitez.
Credit where credit is due. Thanks NBN for 215
On a positive note, we were better than Barca this week. If they score 4 goals in their home fixture against PSG they will have to play overtime, whereas if we score 4 goals in our home fixture against BM we move on to the quarter finals.
Steve T – speaking of under-30 twats, I was sitting next to a young guy at the pub during the match and he spent 90 minutes going off on Wenger and how he had supported the club since he was born, blah, blah, blah. Then he turned to his mate and said, “Fortunately we only have to win 3-0 at home since away goals are worth more.” Idiot.
You’re welcome, Solid.
Fair point @226, bt8b.
The neighbours beaten by the mighty Ghent? And Ghent were resting five first teamers. Pochettino been sacked yet? Kane and Ali sold?
I don’t know if the Guvna has been filtering out any detritus but I suspect not. May I congratulate the bar on a supportive and very constructive analysis of a very bad night and the decline of a truly great manager, one of the best ever seen in this country.
When Arsene leaves and his last game will be the home game against Everton in May I believe there will be huge sadness and immense gratitude.
Steve T is right about the under 30s who abuse a man who has given a huge part of himself to our club. Clive was right a few weeks ago about the gap that David Dein left when he departed. You only realise how important people are until they are not there . That also applies to Santi Cazorla. His injury last year stymied our challenge and exactly the same happened this season.
But to return to Dein I wish he was on the board at the moment because he knows how to pick a manager. He found Wenger and got him to the club and he would know the best candidates now. I hope Gazidis has been networking around Europe . I like the names coming forward here. Sampaoli might be Kroenke’s type because he wouldn’t spend as much but Allegri is my favourite and I would think Simeone if he came would change that lot of pussies into hard bastards. Benitez and Henry is a fiction but a creative and interesting one .
NBN. I noticed Sp*rs play in a league with Genk and Gent. Does that mean Sp*rs are Gunk?
Hard bastards who buzz and kick and scream. A half dozen of those and people should wake up sufficiently.
Allegri could bring a couple of hardnut Italian defenders with him from Juve, Bonucci and Chiellini. They may be 30 and 33, but worth their weight in experience.
It’s getting very trendy to say our players are ‘too nice’ – a bandwagon started by certain critics we otherwise despise I suggest. I don’t remember it being said when we win. Were we too nice when we thrashed the Chavs?
I think the problem is more in the motivation than anywhere. Perhaps AW has lost the confidence of more than Mesut and Alexis who seem to me to have decided the team will never be improved sufficiently to make it worth playing for it any more. Perhaps they don’t believe that anyone who might have joined because of AW will want to join now given the uncertainty over how long he’ll be in charge if they do sign. Perhaps both have plans already laid for next season. And perhaps they’re not alone.
It behoves Arsene to state plainly what he’ll do in the summer, so that the players know exactly where they stand, and if he’s going I am sure they’ll want to give him the send-off he deserves. It’s the uncertainty that’s killing us.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4232510/Arsene-Wenger-ready-walk-away-Arsenal.html
215 is indeed a great bit of work. I look at it and still think the big clearout is bit of a non-starter. Other super reads that are the stuff that brings one back here. Only 5 or 6 players are really marketable at the type of price we (and Stan) would accept and/or represent situations where a moving player could hope for similar wages. Most are on amazing deals for their current performance levels (and age in some cases) with this club. Sure we also know Wenger has really struggled with moving players on in the last 5 years, the interest wasn’t there. Deboosh, Podolski, Jenks, Bendtner, etc.
(paragraph for u there CBA). Alexis, Ozil, Ox (poosibly), Giroud, Kos and Bellerin are the ones we could sell at good prices though with Bellerin’s 2023 contract, price would be huge for a buyer. Ozil has burnt his breaches with suitors, Kos seems happy (age a factor there). Giroud would be very well-bid I think as a typical Prem centre forward with a great scoring record. New man is going to have to work with what he has. Therefore, a few points on that ; 1/ The earlier Wenger announces his departure, the better our small chances of keeping Alexis. 2/ We’ll need a a guy who’s a strong technical coach and good man manager, not necessarily a massive name. Eddie Howe is a marvellous story and could do a good job I believe. He knows the Prem and he’s come up the hard way. 3/ But lest we be too gloomy, our squad has plenty of quality (perhaps some credit to Wenger’s scouting there). It’s the system that has failed, not them. Let’s be clear, we all watch the games. We all know. We CANNOT defend for peanuts and we haven’t since 2005 when we famously parked the bus for our FA Cup final (minus Henry) v’s Man U. Our full backs are consistently too high. We cannot get the right guys for central midfield. Probably why Mustafi is so unnerved and shouts at Bellerin during the third goal. Probably why Ox can’t find Gibbs with a pass for the 5th. It’s why Coqelin runs around like the proverbial headless trying to press in the opposition half when let’s face it, we’d all like to see him deeper most of the time. It’s why we chased the game like crazy on wednesday night ; straight after half time, straight after going 2-1 down. Lunacy. The Barcelona style but with less control, Wenger ball, smaller mobile players, call it what you may, it’s an ex-parrot, dead….it’s had it’s day and unfortunately it never delivered for AFC. I don’t understand all the intricacies of this pressing game we hear so much about these days but the stuff above we can all see with our own eyes and all it will take is a new coach as an agent of change and a fresh approach to finally, finally surprise and occupy the opposition for a change. Not an easy transition for sure. It would have been easier before we spent the 200 mill as I have said but as ‘orrible ‘Arry Redknapp has pointed out, the new guy isn’t trying to match a big trophy haul in recent years, far from it. Ungrateful ? Maybe a bit but just the obvious conclusion on an amazing legacy now tarnished. COYG.
Is there any truth to the rumours making the rounds that there was an almighty ruckus AFTER the capitulation in Munich on Wednesday? I hear Bouldie flung a bottle(of water) hard at a wall while many of the lads engaged in a free for all.
Such a pity if true, it should have happened long before.
it seems he’s come out swinging, not ready to pack it in obviously – http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsene-wenger-on-arsenal-future-no-matter-what-happens-i-will-manage-next-season-here-or-somewhere-a3469076.html
Even if I go, Arsenal will not win every single game in the future
No, but they might actually compete in them all instead of folding like a pack of cards every time it matters.
We’re never going to be rid of this guy. If he’s here next season he will be here until he dies. It will be a never ending cycle of “Let’s give him another year”
Jesus.
What are the odds that the boss may go to barca if he leaves here? Imagine if we are drawn against them again in the ucl in the knockout stages next season!!!
We should have identified his successor, sounded him out, drawn the plans for the summer and go about working towards it. Arsene Wenger will leave. He should get a statue outside the emirates for his work here. Arsenal need to move on as well and they need to start on it from now, get talking to Allegri or whomsoever it is now and no it should not be Eddie Howe or Benitez please. If someone says Viera, then they have no clue of the magnitude of manging this club.
Why would Barcelona want him?
Ten years ago, maybe, they might have wanted him but this is a club that wins stuff and he doesn’t. Why would any of the really top clubs want someone who gets his arse handed to him every year in the one competition they all obsess about winning, and who is shown up time and again as tactically unaware?
If he leaves, and I don’t think he will be going anywhere, he will go back to Japan or maybe give China a go I reckon. He’s not a manager a top club would want IMO, he is a busted flush.
Cynic @239,
Deep obsession and real love makes one continue to say and do the seemingly crazy to everyone else! One just cannot “let it go”! Moreover, the neurological manifestations of being crazy and being deeply in love, are pretty much the same; i.e. a loss of the rational capacity for higher executive thought and functioning. Consequently, the decision for Arsene to step down will invariably not be left down to him. He simply cannot do it because he’s “too much crazy in love”. ?
Sorry to anyone who feels let down by my change of heart. >>>>>>>>