The Usual ‘Let’s Hope We Do It In Munich’ Post
Feb 14th, 2017 by 'holic
It’s February, so we are playing either Bayern Munich or Barcelona, right? Let me just check the fixture list, ah, It’s Bayern again. But we’re away in the first leg, so that means we have done pretty well in the group stage this season. Had we not pinched the top spot we would have been hosting Barca tonight, but instead PSG have that little test to face. Advantage the Arsenal, yes?
Arsene Wenger has already confirmed that David Ospina will be in goal in the Allianz Arena. The Champions League and cup tie goalkeeper has a real opportunity to stake a claim to more regular action in a huge match. The news is not so good for Lucas who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. I hope his luck turns for the better soon.
Ahead of Ospina the boss has to decide between Nacho Monreal or Kieran Gibbs for what could be one of the key positions of the match. If both were showing consistently good form I would plump for Nacho, but I will understand if Arsene opts to start the latter for the second match running. Hector Bellerin, Shkodran Mustafi, and Laurent Koscielny are surely given starters?
As is Mesut Ozil, despite the Chinese whispers of his impending benching. A fascinating choice awaits for the pair behind him in midfield, assuming Arsene sticks with his 4-2-3-1. The switch to 4-3-3 worked at Southampton and in the opening phase at Stamford Bridge, but it was ditched after Chelsea took the lead and Arsene is unlikely to put his complete trust in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be the middle man in that formation in a match of this magnitude.
That’s not to say the Ox won’t start on Wednesday night. In fact he is highly likely to, such has been his form in recent weeks. At last we have the luxury of options to partner him with Granit Xhaka back to challenge Mohamed Elneny after his suspension. Xhaka and the Ox could form a powerful base from which to spring attacks, but can Granit resist his inclination to the impetuous? Elneny may keep his place, just.
Mesut is not the only Gunner under a bit of a cloud at the moment and for that reason I would be sorely tempted to start Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi either side of Alexis rather than start with Theo Walcott. I hope Theo is just suffering a bit of ‘new Dad tiredness’ and will be back to the form he showed in the first half of the season soon. He really needs to show he is still driven to contribute more to this side. In reality I suspect the boss will persist with him. Good luck to him if so.
What of Bayern, I hear you ask. Now whilst I am watching a lot more European football in recent weeks none of it has been from the Bundesliga, so I am reliant upon the opinions of others. I have read in many places that they are not the Bayern of recent seasons, but when I look at the League table I see they have lost just one match and are seven points clear at the top of the table. They have scored 45 goals in 20 league matches. That’s deterioration? Blimey.
Champions League then, perhaps more relevant? A defeat to Atletico in Madrid, just the 1-0. A 3-2 loss in Rostov is eye-catching. It’s why they finished second in group B as they avenged their defeat by Atletico on match day six. So basically one embarrassing reverse all season. They still look the hardest of nuts to crack to this observer.
The ‘holic pound
Last season we beat them 2-0 at home in one of the best performances we have produced in recent seasons. It counted for nought as they monstered us in the return, but there is a blueprint for how to contain, frustrate, and punish them. I’m not expecting us to repeat that margin of victory, but if we are to succeed then a return to our European heritage, and one-nil to the Arsenal has some appeal at a staggering 22/1 with Paddy Power. If a topical anytime goalscorer punt is of interest then Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi look a little skinny at bests of 9/2 and 12/1 respectively. I’ll pass at those prices, thank you.
A fair few friends are enjoying the hospitality in Munich as I type. The Arsenal allocation, as ever, is sold out. I hope they get a performance from a team that is certainly due a good one. At home I may grab some Bavarian beer for a stereotypical night in front of the screen with my full leder… no, I’ll spare you that image. It’s made me feel a bit queasy, if I’m honest!
Have a (hopefully) great one, ‘holics.
140 Responses to “The Usual ‘Let’s Hope We Do It In Munich’ Post”
Drink!
Naturally, the Arsenal’s group counterpart group qualifier, PSG, are up 2-0 on Barca at the interval in Paris. And interestingly, Barca has never advanced when they are down by two goals in a Champions League tie.
Not only winning, but doing the job in style, Bayonne Jean. Verrati is running the show.
Follow the leder, as they say.
How did we finish above PSG?
😀
..and Cavani missing his usual dozen chances too.
Messi looks like he’s accepted a Pep offer!
Not sure Pep should or would make him an offer, BB. Messi may be past it based on that first half.
Excellent preview H. Wise words as always.
I’m never sure with this Cup goalie thing. I have no doubts about Ospina, I just want a settled number 1
Not sure about the rest although I would like to see Xhaka return. I just hope in his time of he had managed to attend some lessons on decision making. He does look a player who can develop into a top player. Personally, I would like so he him play in a more advanced role.
No idea about the result. I guessing I won’t be the only nervous Gooner on the night?
Now 3-0 in Gay Paree. So much for finishing first in the group. Barca really do look past it.
Even Cavani gets in the act. 4-0.
4-0… even Cavani scores.
@bt8 Messi’s just having an off day… well.. their whole team is!
😀
Glad we missed out on that Draxler chappie. Looks very average. Dodged a bullet there.
Cavani’s movement is as good as anyone’s. 25 goals from 30 games would suggest that he is not too bad in front of goal.
?
Not too bad in the French league maybe.. Giroud would have got 30 if he were playing for PSG! Wouldn’t touch Cavani with a 10 foot pole!
😀
The one year we should have finished 2nd and played barca we go and face bayern. Pffttt.
If the Team that is playing low on confidence,turns up in the same mood in Munich,it could well be an embarrassment.
Bayern are still a top top club,with quality all over the park,unlike us.
Unless we get our act together,the return leg will be played for pride only.
Only the wildly optimistic,or blatantly one eyed among our Gooner Bretheren,would expect anything but a defeat given the paucity of our game at the moment.
I will be happy just to keep the score down,and leave with some dignity.
A draw would astonish me,a win would leave me speechless.
A pass mark would be a gutsy performance and an honorable defeat.
The FA Cup is our only chance of a Trophy,but looking at the PL clubs that will probably line up in the last 8 after the w/end,even that could well be beyond us.
I do wonder whether the current malaise among the playing group is down to the uncertainty of the Manager and his decision whether to stay or go,is having an impact.
A flogging in Munich will only increase the speculation.
Cheers H!
Been 4-0 PSG for a while now. 5 + stoppage time to go. Barca look out. Destroyed one might say.
Good preview, ‘Holic. Ozil is due a goal so the 23/1 available on him getting the first one looks irresistible. (This is why I am not a betting man…)
Nice preview Guvna.
1-0 to the Arsenal has a nice ring to it.
I sincerely hope it happens but I share Clive’s pessimism. We need to find our grit.
Words not heard on BT Sport tonight
“PSG burying Barca – let’s not forget that they finished second behind The Arsenal in the group stage!”
Maybe this will be the round of upsets. Maybe PSG were better than we gave them credit for .Maybe predictions are impossible in an unpredictable season. I can only liken this to when we got that crazy result against Real in 2006. We were much lower in the table and playing much worse then.
I think we will do incredibly well to come away with a draw there. They mashed us in Munich last time but in the two games before we drew and won in Munich. I hope and pray we can get a 1-1 draw which would give us a real chance in the return.
The learned old sweeper makes lots of valid points, as always. But the point about the uncertainty of the managers future is an excellent one. I can’t believe that the current situation has a positive effect on the squad.
Tomorrow night will tell us if we do have leaders in the team? It could be an interesting night.
We’ve lost three times in Munich, drawn once and won once. So there is nothing there to suggest it will be an easy game. I do hope, though, that the Sweeper is left astonished and even more so speechless. On its day this team can beat anyone. Who knows whether this week Wednesday will be its day, though?
Thanks for the preview, Holic,
and for not making us imagine you in full leder ….. Oh bugger !
A score draw would be magnificent. Anything around 4-4 would be handy – and jolly good fun !
It would shut old Whingy Waterman up too ?
Even if I do agree with him ….. ?
🙂
Thanks for the scene-setting and
best of luck with the Holic pound.
Pretty much agree with the team,
maybe I’d just go with Xhaka / Ox
in the middle given Xhaka’s
bundesliga experience.
Curious to see how AW approaches
the game – if it’s Le Coq / Xhaka or
Le Coq / Elneny with OG up front
then we’ll know it’s backs to the
wall with OG as an out ball.
Wouldn’t do that myself as i don’t
think we’re very good at it, but what
do I know.
Of course, if we can nick a goal and
a draw or win it would be a big
boost, so i’ll be hopeful but
anxious at 4.45 with a coffee,no
sugar and a twist of trepidation 🙂
Thanks bathgooner @76 in previous drinks for the insight. Now I know better.
Hope a proper El entierro was well attended or by those who needed to.
And back to the game preview.
While am sad with Lucas’ injury, I hope it doesn’t stay too long. I honestly would have loved to see him up against the lot from Munich.
I wish Wenger could go for a 3-4-3, Keep Walcott, Ozil, Giroud and Elneny among others on the bench and play this team
Welbeck—-Alexis—-Iwobi
Monreal–Xhaka–Ox–Bellerin
Kos—Holding—Mustafi
Ospina
If we remain level or winning at 60-65 minutes, I’ll pull out Iwobi for Ozil (let him play from the left and occasionally interchange with Ox when attacking). But if we’re trailing, Take out Iwobi, play Ox in the No 10 role with Welbeck and Alexis pair up front and Bring in Elneny to pair with Xhaka at the base of midfield. That would mean a formation tweak of 3-4-1-2.
We need to press their wide men high up and let Kos & Mustafi be alert to mop up while giving Ospina an extra man in the person of Holding to protect him.
Inasmuch as am concerned, there is nothing to fear about this Bayern team. If we relax then we invite calamity.
For those interested here is a graphic detail https://goo.gl/554wqi
Gosh that 3-4-3 looks super actually but not our man’s style is it. PSG last night won every 50/50 ball. Tippy-tappy, tikka taka, winky- wanky, whatever….RIP, officially. Seems to be all about power as well as pressing these days. We certainly need Xhaka onboard to compete physically tonight, no question. He must drop Walcott and Coquelin. The latter is being consistently outclassed at the top level, time and time again, no wonder he was farmed out to Charlton for god’s sake. He’s honest but probably a bottom half Prem player, at best. Novel suggestion ; play your two recent central midfield acquisitions together, we’d hardly have bought two of the same would we ? I don’t recall Elneny ever letting us down. Accommodate in form Ox elsewhere (ie, for Theo) for this one. If we line out with Xhaka, Elneny, Iwobi, Ox and Alexis we actually have some power and presence there and just about enough pace. Ox needs to be nurtured in a new position, not thrown in again tonight when we don’t need to risk it (although I do indeed recall him doing a great job there v’s Milan). COYG, Up the Arse, Alexis and Ozil will be up for this one. I also think Mert’s recent comments to media pointing out the bleedin’ obvious are good timing for this match and hopefully have had an impact around the club…not that I approve, in any way, of non playing club captains. But he is a likeable, sensible chap. In essence he said it’s been defensive shite-ness that’s floored us yet again and by implication not “le handbrake”, “le refs”, slow starts or anything else. Can’t wait to come over for 2 nd leg, I really think we can be right in it still, but the selection has to be on the money. Personally I’d go for Nacho at LB, just a bit smarter for a big night, though I’d think Ox might be good on his side for some pace and assistance. Enjoy the match Gooners. Huge kudos and safe passage to those travelling. This is our season right here. Did I say COYG already ?
Interesting, with all the talk about parking the bus, that nobody has discussed driving the bus through the opposition net. Which may be exactly what Bayern Munich plan to do tonight.
At least the PGMOL haven’t clamped down on this. Yet.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38978373
Not normally a commentator on hairstyles but I can’t see anything wrong with it. Attractive, even.
PSG and we may not have many things in common but can we borrow that blueprint and try it today, what they did yesterday. We need 2 things for that; a team that wants to do that and a manager who needs to change. I see neither so, never mind.
Please play Xhaka. He will not be fazed and is used to playing against the german champs far often than a lot are. Knowing Arsene, it will be ox and coq in the midfield and for me it is suicidal. As suicidal as playing Iwobi instead of Welbeck. Again i wont be surprised at all that it is the same team as the hull game with ospina instead of cech and maybe monreal ahead of Gibbs.
Talking of ospina, a lot wanted cech to be dropped in the league yet want him in the ucl because he has experience there. If Ospina has a blinder, the same set of fans will want him replacing Cech in the league and if in case he has a howler, they will say oh we said so to play cech. You can never please that lot. Ospina it is and will be.
Arsenal can beat bayern by pace and only by that. Play Alexis and Danny wide, giroud upfront for we need someone to hold the play up to release the pressure and have Xhaka and Elneny in the middle. I dont think so any of this will happen but what are prayers for?? COYG and for once play as if there is no tomorrow, win we will be heralded, lose, it was expected.
Doing the expected.
The rise of the house of York? Maybe not that significant but 4 of the top 9 clubs in the championship table are Yorkish.
Interesting to read all the different views above on what we should do in Munich tonight, what we are most likely to do, who should play, who probably will play and even what sort of formation would best suit the personnel we have available.
The answer, of course, is that not one of us has the foggiest idea and therein, for me, lies the problem. It is a problem, I’m sad to say, that rests squarely on the shoulders of the manager.
The season began well enough with Alexis Sanchez playing centrally up front. In his interview with Thierry Henry, Arsene Wenger said that he wanted to try the Chilean in that role because he saw many similarities between our man and Luis Suarez who he clearly tried unsuccessfully to sign a couple of summers before. With pace and movement up front we looked a changed side. Theo was performing well and Olivier Giroud was coming off the bench and scoring in almost every performance – a positive that was to turn strangely into a negative and has done much to disrupt our season.
“Giroud has to start if he’s scoring goals at this rate”, was a popular clamour that, for once, the manager seemed to fall for. With Ramsey slowing down the midfield and Giroud completely changing the pattern of our forward play, our performances became predictable, pedestrian and painful to watch.
In midfield the old perennial problems returned with constant changes of personnel necessitated by injury and indiscipline , both in terms of suspensions and failure to hold position and do the job required. Those failures in midfield led to the centre of our defence being exposed by unprotected space both in front of them and to both sides by fullbacks who push up too far against the best teams and wingers who fail to help them defend.
As if injuries don’t disrupt our team enough, we even have this rather bizarre situation between the goalposts of changing keepers for our Champions League matches and the FA Cup, so that our No 2 keeper is playing against the best European opposition and in the competition where we realistically have our best chance of winning something.
We continue to sit on a mountain of cash but eschew the opportunity of signing any players in the latest transfer window because we have “a very big squad”. A very big squad that results in our 3rd/4th choice centre back playing at right back because we have no cover – in a system where fullbacks are expected to sprint up and down the touchline to join attacks – no clear choice of No 1 keeper, and good looking players like Lucas Perez and Elneny who struggle to get on the pitch.
Recent selections and substitutions have left me a bit bemused. We have players who could rotate into the team who never seem to, while players lacking any sort of form struggle to get out of the side once they have been included.
All of this, plus extreme tiredness, snow, temperatures of -1°C, a shit train service and some dire recent performances led me to waste my very expensive ticket last Saturday and watch the game at home on TV. That is the fourth home game I have missed since The Emirates opened in 2006. That is how fed up I am with the stasis that seems to be gripping our club.
I am no Johnny-Come-Lately spoilt by the huge success of the early Wenger years. I have no problem with not winning trophies every year, as long as we are in a fair competition – which everyone knows we are not, with oil sheiks and Russian billionaires – and we are doing our utmost to compete, which we are not – with holes in our squad and £200+ million in the bank.
I hope the players get mentally tuned for tonight, put in a big performance and then complete the job in the second leg. I would love to see every single one of them succeed and the manager be rewarded with the success his loyalty deserves.
I’m sorry about the timing of this post but I have had absolutely no time to get involved in recent weeks. It is not my intention to annoy people before a massive game but neither did I want to join a torrent of abuse tomorrow should we lose tonight.
Trev, @33
“…on what we should do in Munich tonight,…”
Play Wengerball. And consequently win.
On what we’ll do? We won’t play Wengerball. Not at its finest and most fluid at least. We come on the back of two defeats and a not-very-convincing win against a bottom three team.
I still think we can come out of this with the three points. But we need something to give us heart at the beginning, a spark, an early goal that result from one of those mesmerising multi-pass attacks that we’re so capable of, perhaps.
I’d like to see a front three of Ox-Alexis-Walcott.
Come on!
Got a feeling this is going to be a crazy one with allota goals…
So you betting types should all lump on a 0-0 right now.
(And yes I have lost my raisins…)
Teams just gone up on the BBC website btw :
Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Xhaka, Coquelin, Iwobi, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez.
I was hoping he’d have the balls to leave Ozil out, but there was no way he was going to.
He could just be going 4-3-3 with that.
Ospina
Bellerin Mustafi Kos Gibbs
Coq Ox Xhaka
Iwobi Alexis Ozil
?
Either that or the Ox is back on the wing in a 4-2-3-1.
In which case why not Welbeck instead?
Hoping Ox will be more defensive I guess.
Iwobi worries me in that side, once a player is away from him, he has no pace to get back. Against Hull he had a yard on a guy early in the first half, was out run within ten yards and gave up the chase completely.
Probably score ten now 😉
Defend defend defend
COYG !!!
The whole world knows about Robben’s ability to score with that shot but obviously our defenders don’t and give him all the space on his left foot to shoot and score.
COYG, fight.
Miserable defending on the goal by the midfielders and Robben again is allowed to cut inside with no pressure to shoot.
Get a grip on that flank.
Robbin wants to go left, duh
Never ever invite that guy to cut in on his left foot.
Not the flank, but the prominent defensive midfielder which happens to be Coquelin
I don’t know but Wenger never learns. A team setup to fail.
We need a purposeful response now or it could be a very long night indeed. Keep the faith
That left flank is just like a high way for Bayern. Gibbs and Iwobi got no business in this team tonight.
Need an outlet; Welbeck?
When are we allowed the ball??? Do we get to play with it in the second half??
Bingo bitches
Not the best pen to be honest
Is there anyone apart from Giroud who can take a PK?
We scored ffs let’s get behind them
Awesome tactics. Take a shit pen. Then an air shot to fool everyone and the bury it.
Straight off the training ground.
?
It was inevitable he’d miss the pen, but fair play for not giving up on it. Come on lads!
Nice attempt Xhaka
Xhaka boom! Too bad right at Neuer, who doesn’t look that solid this evening.
Much more compact in the last 10-15 mins. Better play all round.
Pressing much higher up the pitch- that’s the ticket
Ozil! For fucks sake
Well, that could have been worse. May catch them on the counter next half given they are pushing forward.
Take Coq & Iwobi out, bring on Welbeck & Elneny. Let’s have a go at them. Keep us the high press.
what steve T said
?
Steve T @57. – ??
Not too shabby apart from the first 15 mins. We seemed a bit confused by Ribbon cutting in to the middle. When you think for how long he has done that against us you start to wonder. I still believe Coquelin should be tracking him when he tries his only trick.
Sad.
Robben, Ribbon, you get the drift
what trev said
?
if we keep this up this loop trev
we’ll generate some wailing Arsenal feedback
.
jeez
wailing Arsenal feedback ?
HERE ?
.
never heard that before
nope
no sirreeeee
Welbeck up the middle , move Sanchez out wide. Iwobi off. Press them high up the pitch and make them knock it long….and DONT let Robben come inside!!!!
Robben will always drift to his left even the Vatican knows that. Gibbs, its not rocket science
So far, so good. Got to try and keep
it a bit better, and no red cards.
Big 45 minutes to come from us I
hope. COYGs.
cba knows ?
We gave them too much respect in the first 15 minutes – it was almost as if we were scared to challenge for the ball. They are a really pedestrian version of the team they were under Pep Guardiola.
We should press it further up the pitch and just play the long ball down the channels for Alexis to attack since they’re playing quite a high line. And Javi Martinez is a cunt.
Oh Kos
Kos is a big loss. He has had a very good first half.
Double up on Gibbs – no help whatsoever
First 10 minutes again, defend!
All the room in the world with one flick.
3-2 would be a good result from here. Come on.
LOL, isn’t it over now?
Double up on Gibbs – no help whatsoever …..
Oh, i already said that. It’s just like we do the same thing over and over again …….
Nope. A second goal and no more conceded would be an excellent result. Two away goals would be like gold as long as we don’t let any more in.
Poor stuff on that side from Iwobi all game IMO
Is Mustafi over hyped? I still insist Holding is the most natural defender we have while Kos is the most experienced.
Xhaka cannot tackle; why even try?
FA Cup, anyone?
Surely the art of defending is made easier if you don’t stand 5 yards away from your opponent?????
Fallen apart since Kos went off. I guess that answers the leaders question???
We can’t defend and we have no leaders in this team. Where is Ozil again?
That’s that fucked. Mustafi had a chance to hoof that clear and didn’t.
Over at ski resort in Poland cant get a decent wifi signal but it looks bad?
Well that’s it for another year
4-1 down and he’s bringing Theo on. lol
Blimey. You know we are really in the poo when we make tactical changes before the 70th minute???
?
Done well for 45 minutes then lose all shape and purpose, Never seen a side implode so many times, Now it’s a fucking caning 🙁
ATG: keep skiing; all downhill in Munchen.
Le Coq not good enough at this level.
Bang…..
Ave it….
You can’t concede three goals in 10 mins against anyone. Very poor defensive organization.
Thank fuck for Ospina or it would be a bumming.
BJ
My first time so looking forward to tomorrow I think I did better then that lot!
First goal – weak defending from Coq
Second goal – Ozil somehow backheels it out for a goal kick and they break, more weak defending from Iwobi who gives Gibbs no help
Third goal – Gabriel comes out but left floundering by a back heel, the rest are totally square and exposed
Fourth goal – Mustafi can clear it, doesn’t, deflected.
Really poor defensively on all the goals.
Capitulation by the comments from all of you lovely people just spoken to my step dad and if he says you are not missing much then we must be shit!
What were you guys expecting? Come on guys, I wasn’t expecting anything from this bunch.. Not surprised one bit. Same old shit year in year out.
Where is Perez and Wellbeck? BTW?
We were completely out of it for about half an hour first half, ATG, then got a bit of a foothold but we’ve had nothing in attack.
Ozil has been abject yet again but we’ve not functioned at all going forward.
Perez is injured
I don’t blame this players anymore. Wenger is Obviously the problem of Arsenal. I have to agree with some people. He has lost it when it come to modern football.
FFS what is Welback & Elneny doing on the Bench? I’m a fan of Ozil but he has no business in this very game.
I guess no advantage in playing first leg away. You get your away goal and then concede 3 goals. Twats…
Oh dear shambles yet again it never gets better does it?
Just watch Ozil’s body language out there. It’s unbelievably negative
He lost a ball in the first half and just stood there with his hands on his hips. Made no attempt at all to get it back.
Another great save from Ospina, who should be in our first team for league games IMO
Please fo not resign Ozil. He is a waste.
2nd best though we were in the first half,we still had the away goal and were level at half time.
Which was far better than i expected.
Losing Kos early 2nd half fucked the defensive balance completely.
If there’s any term that gets my goat, it’s ‘Groundhog Day’s. Bit it seems that for is, the more things change the more they stay the same.
Ospina has saved us total embarrassment. God bless you sir.
And just there boys and girls is the big difference. A nice little one two. Theo at pace gets behind their defence and has sod all to look for in the box.
No hunger and no desire. Some were slaughtering Cavani last night??? What I would give for a player with his movement.
Goodbye Arsene.
So one sees that the famous half-time team talk has had its usual impact?! ?
Will need to take some time off the internet
121- unfortunately true
Another 5 – 1 which could have been more if not for the excellent Ospina. Oh well.
UTA.
AFCOF.
Reading the commentry on LiveScore Mustifi with a clearance, Gabriel with a clearence, Theo with a clearence and now they scored the fifth?
This club is only going downhill and it has been for years!
I honestly believe Arsene over welcomed his stay modern football is certainly not mojo!
No red cards or dodgy refs to blame this time. We are tactically clueless and just generally shit I’m afraid. Changes needed.
The second half has been a disaster. We’ve got it all to do to survive at Sutton. Kos being injured didn’t help but frankly apart from the last fifteen minutes of the first half we’ve been pathetic .
Twitter etc will crucify Wenger tonight but I’m afraid he deserves it. I can’t see us winning the title under him but as for the Champions League – there is no chance. I wonder if Kroenke knows what the Champions League is? Oh yes that competition that gives you lots of money.
Were these players ever supposed to be closed to good enough?
We’ve got it all to do to survive at Sutton
Nah, we’ll have some hungry kids in the team instead of the pea hearted strollers on about a quarter of a million a week (and greedy for more). We’ll be ok in that one.
/false bravado
If we can’t string two passes together what hope do we have?
‘Holic, good luck writing up this one.
? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Re: Cynic @103. It was a bumming anyway.
That was painful to watch. A horrible showing from the lads. Sadly, it seems to be the norm.
It’s obvious the lads are not playing for Arsene anymore and I never thought I’d ever say that. Just hope Sutton doesn’t hand us our Stars over the weekend. Another shoe in we don’t need.
Sad!!
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
If only this was remotely surprising.
This has to change.
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.
Jesus, when I asked for a big 2nd
half I didn’t mean from them.
Same old, sad but we were well
and truly caned.
Not really sure where we go from
here, but for now regroup for the
weekend. Then, a couple of weeks
off to think about the rest of the
season. I think we should talk up
the importance of CL qualification
but in reality use the remaining
games to have a look at some of
the kids, try out some different
approaches and not actually worry
too much about where we finish.
Come May, it’ll be time for a
bigger change as I don’t think any
of us want another season of
predictable failure. It’s a damn
shame but at the moment we’re
just good on paper.