Defenceless Gunners Pay The Penalty
Aug 19th, 2017 by 'holic
Somewhat surprisingly Skhodran Mustafi was the only central defender recalled to the back three for the trip to Stoke, and he replaced the only central defender who played against Leicester. Left-backs Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac were retained. The only other change was in midfield where Aaron Ramsey was preferred to Mohamed Elneny.
Mark Hughes gave a debut to new signing Jese, an expensive capture by PSG from Real Madrid two summers back. It was the Spaniard who had the first big chance in only the third minute. Petr Cech spread himself at the near post to deny him.
Ten minutes in Danny Welbeck screamed for a penalty when Pieters clearly handled a header back across the goal. Andre Marriner was blindsided and not helped out by his assistant referee. At the other end Welbeck made the clearing header from the first set piece of the match.
An intricate Arsenal counter attack ended with Hector Bellerin driving the ball across goal but the hosts were able to hoof it clear. We came much closer when Alexandre Lacazette sent Aaron Ramsey clear. The Welshman was charged to the floor by Diouf as he got his shot away and Butland saved comfortably. For the second time the Arsenal players were asking for a spot-kick.
In the nineteenth minute Welbeck fired straight at Butland following a superb Ramsey chip, and then we were denied a third appeal for a penalty when Diouf clearly sent the adventurous Bellerin to ground by clipping his standing leg as he bore down on goal.
On a rapid counter attack Jese pulled clear and cut the ball back only for another new boy, Cameroon’s Choupo-Moting, to undercut his effort straight at Cech. The opening quarter of the match had been a very open affair, and a bit too quick for Shaqiri who had to be substituted by Berahino when his hamstring gave way.
Not for the first time the busy Butland had to be quick to clear when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain threatened to put Ramsey in again. At the other end we didn’t deal well with a long throw (at Stoke, eh?) and Shawcross headed over the bar. The Gunners response was a Mesut Ozil pass to Bellerin on the edge of the box but he sliced his drive high and wide.
As a downpour turned the conditions less than pleasant Oxlade-Chamberlain galloped clear and cut in from the right flank only to shoot wide of the far post. Perhaps a cross into the path of Lacazette might have yielded more? Another promising attack came to nought when Monreal put the ball out of play, much to Arsene Wenger’s fury, to allow Diouf to be treated for a mystery injury.
The last action before the break saw Butland make yet another quick clearance to deny Ramsey an opportunity, and win a mystifying free-kick in the process.Whisper it softly, but both sides had contributed to an entertaining opening half. Quite how it was still goal-less was something of a mystery. The Gunners in particular would be disappointed not to have converted their attacking superiority into a numerical advantage.
Arsenal paid the penalty for not gaining that advantage in under two minutes of the second-half. Xhaka misplaced a pass which sparked a counter-attack. Berahino played in Jese who slid the ball wide of Cech as the makeshift back three again fell apart. We badly need Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker back.
Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal
A fourth call for a penalty when Zouma was adjudged to have accidentally handled as Lacazette closed in. Butland again saved his side when claiming a Welbeck-bound cross from Oxlade-Chamberlain. The keeper was less impressive when parrying a Bellerin effort as Stoke came under pressure once more. Ozil’s glorious chip gave Welback a great opportunity in front of goal but he shouldered the ball onto the top of the net.
Mustafi storming forward became un unlikely creator of a chance for Ramsey but he snatched at the effort and Butland saved comfortably. He was busier a minute later when Berahino’s header was touched over by an alert Cech, and we sleeping at the back again when Choupo-Moting slammed an attempt into the side netting at the near post.
Stoke’s determination to hang on meant they dropped deeper and deeper inviting pressure for Arsenal who had dropped their pace of play. On 66 minutes Olivier Giroud was predictably sent on for Sead Kolasinac and he immediately created a chance for Welbeck, only for the Gunners man to be crowded out.
Two strikes from Ozil followed, the first of which was blocked by Fletcher and the second was wide of the far post. Stoke’s goalscorer departed to a standing ovation to be replaced by the Egyptian winger, Sobhi.
Lacazette thought he had smashed in the equaliser with 18 minutes remaining but the linesman saw what the BT commentary described as Ramseys right foot in an offside position. The BBC live text didn’t think it was that much. “There’s just a pair of laces in that. But it’s the right call.”
The Gunners made their final changes, sending Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi for Lacazette and Welbeck. The siege of the home goal continued but the massed ranks of the Stoke defence were proving difficult to breach. We were running out of ideas, it seemed.
A succession of balls aimed at Giroud were anticipated by Stoke’s growing rearguard. Diouf was close to conceding another penalty with a lunatic lunge at Bellerin, and when Giroud finally got on the end of a cross he thumped his header wide of the target.
The hosts may have killed the second-half as a spectacle but we should be used to that and have the answers. It would be unfair to give a snap judgement on what the defeat means for the Arsenal. Next week we should have a back three made up of experienced central defenders, but they won’t solve the problems we had with creativity this evening.
139 Responses to “Defenceless Gunners Pay The Penalty”
A gentle reminder that we’re not very good.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Fair report GH, need a response next
week. Come back Kos and Alexis.
Three at the back is shit.
Where have I seen this movie before?
Martin Keown’s admiration for Ozil knows no … beginning.
Deserved coating for the distinctly average “playmaker”
Hugely disappointing it’s so hard to be upbeat after losing there. We are nowhere near a title challenge with this group. Let’s do ourselves a favour and not blame the ref or linesman. We could have got lucky but the decisions that went against us were marginal . None were clearcut.
The big lesson is don’t go behind at a place like the Britannia
Very disappointed with Mustafi and Bellerin today.
Ozil is getting pelted on BT. There were a lot worse than him but he is a luxury in a game like that
Deadwood season 4
That was lightening quick, Guv’nor.
We needed a break that never came. Once you go behind to a team like Stoke getting in front again is a big ask. The goal we gave away was soft. It was always going to be uphill from there.When we did find some creativity, we couldn’t find a cutting edge. These are the sorts of games you have to find a way of winning if you are going to win titles.
Butland looks an excellent goalkeeper. More like an England No 1 than Hart.
The first half was an enjoyable watch but as soon as we went behind we were struggling to find a way through a 10 man defensive wall.
The chances came and went, enough to win several games. We were just not clinical with our finishing. The keeper at times lead a charmed life but he kept a clean sheet and we left the ground totally frustrated.
Last week we used our pace on the flanks to get behind the Leicester defence when we were searching for the equaliser. Today we went back to our old habits of trying to pass our way through the middle with Stoke having everyone behind the ball. There was no way through and we ran out of ideas and moved the ball far too slowly to make any impact.
Another frustrating day out for Gooner Malcolm and the band of away Gooners who did their best to rally the troops. On the day we were just not good enough.
Arsene please play a trio of recognised centre backs at Anfield if you intend to persevere with this formation.
COYR
A consistently quick and rapid-fire post-match summary as ever Goonerholic! More reliable than the “Arsenal will always score goals with this team” mantra! ?
So! It looks like it’s going to be the same old shit once again but just a different season! ?
Once again, let’s all play “spot the lowest common denominator at the club” for another season?! And it’s not Feo! Can the lowest common denominator really go any lower with regards to our defensive organisation under his charge? Where is Callum Chambers? So what if Holding made a mistake in the last match which you eventually won! Play him alongside the more experienced Mustafi in the Centre with him on the right and the experienced Monreal on the left who’s used to playing the Orcs style. You could have brought on Kalasnic later if need be. So many straws that you’re clutching at Le Prof with regards to your defensive coaching strategy, and it really does look patched-up and desperate all of the time!
Oh well – only 36 more games to go! At least the trip to Mordor is out of the way so early on! Oh and by way; Ox will definitely not sign a new contract if Alexis does not sign either. Neither will Ozil sign. That’ll be arguably allowing at least £150 million pounds worth of current asset value to be flushed down the swanny come next summer, and all for what? For Arsene Wenger Coach and Man-Manage a team to challenge for the league title as was articulated by the Board following his two year extension? Defence ALWAYS wins titles, and our beloved Club just doesn’t have one, still, and never will it again under you Arsene when it really matters most. You should have gone in the summer after the record setting FA Cup win, and that’s because it’s going to be alot harder this year around for you to do much with the way you coach and manage. You bought us up short last year towards where the big bucks and glory is; and sadly, it’s going to be alot worse this year! Rant over!
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Would love anyone here to explain how either Welbz or Theo are better options than Perez. Waiting.
Hey Trev! If you still don’t know “What’s a Fornals?”, guess who’d be pacing our mid when either Xhaka or Santi aren’t playing. Too bad that ship’s sunk.
Today’s loss is 100% on Arsene. How do you sub the Beast, the Conductor and Laca, and stick with left-footedless Bello at lwb?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsQ_H_1PNS8
Wenger’s interview was as close as I’ve seen him to blaming players .He was critical of the centre backs and he had every right to be . But two of the three are left backs and Mustafi is , to my mind, a very average player .
There is an argument for playing four at the back to solidify our midfield which is really vulnerable as we saw today. If we do that we need a much stronger midfield presence than we have available.
Our best 4-2-3-1 hope is
Cech
Bellerin Mertesacker Kos Kolasinac
New signing Xhaka
Ox ( Nelson ) Ramsey Sanchez
Lacazette
Our best 3-4-1-2 is
Cech
Mustafi Mert Kos
Ox. New signing Xhaka Kolasinac
Ramsey
Sanchez Lacazette
My conclusions are that Mustafi, Ozil , Walcott and Welbeck add very little consistently, although Ozil has the capacity to transform games . Bellerin is woefully out of form and played on the left ??? . I would also love us to have acquired Butland , Van Dijk and Lemar or Draxler but that’s Fantasy Football and I just hope we can at least get a Wanyama type strong central midfielder.
In recent seasons we usually have an early meltdown, usually the first game, and recover . Let’s hope the same happens now but if I’m honest we are not going to be title contenders.
You saw the same match as me Delia.
cba 🙂
Could only catch the second half and I have to say that based on that half – I am not too disappointed with the performance but definitely with the result. Our goal should have stood and the game would have completely changed after that. But some refereeing decisions will go your way and some won’t – so can’t really comment on that.
In the next game with a fit Koscielny, I would love to see a back three of Koscielny, Mustafi and Monreal. Kolasinac and Bellerin should be the two wingbacks because that would be their most natural positions and that means benching the Ox. Welbeck gets benched too if Sanchez is fit enough to start.
Although I am a big fan of Xhaka, it seems that he has realized now that he is a sure shot starter at the base of our midfield and a bit of complacency has crept into his game. His mistake cost us the game today. We must buy a central midfielder before this window ends and bring in someone capable of challenging Xhaka’s place in the side, not someone as a squad player who fills in whenever there’s an injury/suspension or slightly lesser opposition.
As for those giving out definitive judgments just after two games, I would request them to wait for at least a dozen games before they form a concrete opinion. Two games is just a very small sample size.
Fine report H.
That was a deeply, deeply disappointing defensive performance, several episodes of poor finishing and a bit of bad luck with the opposition keeper’s good form. The officials’ decisions, whilst irritating and arguably decisive, have to be regarded as marginal given our inability to win an eminently winnable game.
I’m ever so glad I didn’t put money on us winning the Premiership.
I did. An each way at 10/1
/mug punter
i have never placed a bet in my life
Would love anyone here to explain how either Welbz or Theo are better options than Perez. Waiting.
Theo Walcott has over 100 goals for Arsenal, scored 19 last year and would have had a few more if the manager’s bottom lip hadn’t been sticking out post Palace.
This is not to knock on Perez, who has never had a fair crack here and has wasted his time coming, merely pointing out for all those who just love to whip Theo that he’s not exactly dog shit, when actually used.
Welbeck makes a good hat stand.
Of course not, cba, gentlemen have wagers.
“Bets” are for plebs.
bar
colon don’t fail me now
guinness hour walk home from
bar
indubitably cynic 21
indubitably
15
what the fuck are you smiling at ?
once more an i fuckin swear !!
yer not too old to go over my knee ‘hol
.
the impertinence
a fulsome apology ?
.
i am fuckin enormous
regularly grumpy
a good run up and Ooooooohaaaaaaahhhhh
Irish Sea pffft
obviously i’ll bring Tayto multipacks
as gifts
.
marauding i only half do anymore
*STARES*
Went to a funeral yesterday. When we got there, I’m thinking, “I don’t see our extended family all that often, but I don’t recognise any of this lot at all”.
One of the flower bearer types walked over from the meat wagon and goes, “I’m terribly sorry but..”
We were queued up for the wrong funeral, having been given the wrong time.
🙂
funerals are the only time i am in a church
increasingly so
like many here i’m sure
doesn’t get easier
Never been to a church funeral yet and mine won’t be in one either.
i have the added burden
of devastating good looks
and consequently
the conflicting emotions
those black veiled widows have
.
fiasco is the *handsome* word i would use
Everybody notices the 8 goals scored by Manchester United but the most impressive thing, and the thing that will probably win them the title is the 0 goals conceded and the stability of the back four of Valencia, Jones, Blind and Bailly, each one who has played 180 minutes. Not much question for Mourinho about what back four to pick for the next match is there? One word for our defensive situation: unsettled.
if i am still alive , cynic
can i come to your funeral ?
i think someone should be there
to go meh
it’s what he woulda wanted
I can’t avoid being put over knees now cba. Aged and infirm. 🙂
There was a time however…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE5VB_EY7dY
Steve Bould?
“BY THE POWER OF DIXONKEOWNADAMSWINTERBURN”
.
.
.
cba – You can only come if you promise to MOOO loudly when they are playing out the other mourner to the tune of The Winker’s Song.
Bloody hate Stoke. Really Do. But would concede they deserved the win today. They had a game plan and it worked. Ours did not and as ever there was no Plan B. Also Ozil was shocking all game…awful.
The coolest bass player in history and it looks like Kevin Godley on the drums has let himself go in recent years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CDUDEKu6bo
Appreciated, Cynic. Theo is, well, Theo. 100 goals over 10yrs means he ‘contributes’ to the cause. Not faulting his effort, but he almost always plays better when he starts in his post-teen era. My beef isn’t with him; it’s with AW.
Holding made some errors lately; shouldn’t you play him to get them out? What bettef game than away against a rugby team?!?
And what did Elneny not do to be benched. This is a form game, innit?
Oh, and way to ruin Titi’s 40th..
If Man City really are prepared to give us £70m for Sanchez, sell him.
And give Ozil £10m of it to piss off a year early. If nobody wants him, even after we pay him off, let him go and lay on a beach. He’d be great doing that.
And on that optimistic note… *moos at cba*
Spot on with Theo, Ochi, he’s better when he starts … when there’s room for a player with his speed and positioning nous to get behind the opposition. Sadly AW believes it’s better to hold him back till the last 10-15 minutes when the bus has been parked and there’s no room to move.
How many misses by Danny today? I lost count. Wtf does AW see in him that has OG languishing on the bench game after game??? Not that impressed by Lacaz either, he’ll need to up his game to make an impression in the Prem. And the sooner Rambo gets Ozil’s job the better. Depressing lack of penetration all round.
But what do you expect when your top three strikers (65 goals between them in 2016-17) don’t start?
You don’t like the idea of Kola and Xhaka together in midfield, Trev? I know the former was bought as a fullback, but he’s shown enough to me already to suggest he is the answer to the steel we need in midfield. Captain material too, perhaps?
Interesting to me is why Schalke let his contract run down to see him leave on a free. There’s a lesson there AW.
KolaGran mid? Big bodies, yes. Mobility though, not sure. And both are left-footed, meaning a second or two lost playing forward, and a learning adjustment defending. This reminds me of Vermaelen suggestions to partner Mikel/Song.
Both Porto and Zizou are too smart to sell Danilo or Kovacic. AW needs an internal solution.
Some key insights into the game, including Ozil’s performance.
http://news.arseblog.com/2017/08/stoke-1-0-arsenal-by-the-numb-ing-ennui-of-another-season-of-this/
91/98 passes, 0 turnover , 4 key passes.
The tame attempt by Bellerin and the off-the-shoulder “header” by Danny should both have been put away.
But, of course, it is again all Ozil’s fault!
Stats, eh, Dr F, aren’t they wonderful! Never mind the number of passes Ozil makes sideways or backwards to players under no pressure to receive them. Of course his numbers are high, he takes fewer risks than others. ‘key’ passes notwithstanding.
But as you can read above I don’t blame him primarily, I blame AW for leaving his goal-scorers out of the game. What is the point of proven goal scorers of you prefer to play proven goal missers?
I could ask when did Ozil last assist a goal for us? Or score one?
@48
In reply to your conclusion.
Of course!
When it’s not AW it must be
Ozil.
Personally, I thought all the
forwards were culpable as we
made enough chances to win.
Ozil included, and Theo and
Danny etc etc.
In a nutshell, we still play pretty triangles around a parked bus, and don’t find a way through.
No lessons learnt.
I think it’s a fair shout to blame the coach for this recurring failure.
Always easier with hindsight of course, but this was a game set up for 4-4-2 IMO. Ox to play Sanchez’s role (on the left), and play Nacho and Hector on the correct sides!
I also thought Ozil was poor.
Probably easier to just sum it up with: “It’s Stoke away”. Say no more.
Onwards and upwards. COYG
Chris@50: Assist against Everton in the final league game of last season (May 21) and goal two games previously against Stoke (May 13)
MtS@53, we switched to four at the back after the first substitution (Giroud) and had morphed into 4-1-2-3 by the end.
@NBN
Didn’t quite make the 1-2-7 by
the end 🙂
I suppose it’s no laughing matter
but I agree with MtS at the end –
move on.
Win at Anfield and all is forgiven.
Baggies flying under the radar at the moment but they have maximum points and minimum goals conceded.
Spurs lose again at Wembley?
Preferred result from Wembley today. It hurts to wish either of those showers well on any account, but still rather enjoyed how it ended.
Arsene Wenger needs to grow a pair. He should be more ruthless than he is right now. Playing players out of position is not a good look even if it is to ensure they remain at the club. As far as I’m concerned, he can sell either Ox or Bellerin or rotate them. It’s obvious that forcing Ox into the team is the major reason we lost that game. Play natural central defenders centrally, play a left wing back at left wing back and play Bellerin at right wing back. That may mean Ox leaving the club but that’s how the cookie crumbles.
Even without further recruits we should have enough to challenge for the Champions League places. The gaffer just needs to coach these lads properly.
UTA
SG, Wenger will never grow a pair. He loves playing players out of position and recently he has taken that to new heights by playing Ox and Bellerin on the left flank where neither looks comfortable and as a result our passing and movement look jerky. He also does not believe in defensive solidity and allows Ramsey to bomb forward and do as he pleases. Ramsey takes up a forward’s position instead of providing defensive solidity. Elneny Xhaka pairing looks more solid and I feel Ramsey should come in as a substitute when we are chasing games.
This year will be another terrible year and we will struggle against WBA, Crystal Palace, Watford, Burnley, teams which are better than Stoke and play the same way as Stoke. Manchester teams and Everton have improved tremendously and we will struggle to get in the top six.
I also don’t understand selling Gabriel or Perez who are better than average. I would have allowed Mustafi, who has never convinced me, to leave.
Wenger was known for getting in great players on the cheap in his early years but he has been overtaken in this by other clubs. Cannot understand why he did not try to get Matuidi or Jesé, great players who were available at very reasonable fees. We will pay for Wenger’s follies when Sanchez, Ozil and Ox leave on a free (£ 130m) next year and things will become worse if we don’t qualify for Europe. I hope we are able to sell these three this year even if we are not able to replace them immediately, if they don’t sign new contracts. At least we will have that money to spend next year.
Looks like another tough season.
Boy that hurt yesterday.
I am trying to be more upbeat today and I hear from my mate who follows the junior teams that we are very likely to sign the Man City winger/ striker Sancho who is a star of the England U/19 side but can’t get near the Citeh side because they can’t wait for him to develop. He finds Sterling, Sane and others in the way at the Etihad and is huge mates with Nelso and Willock and our other young emerging tyros. This may not seem that exciting but he is considered to be even better than Nelson and a star of the future .
I could accept a slow transfer window if we are able to build a really exciting team from quality young players and I hope this is the least that will result from our foray into the Europa. Interestingly Nelson and Sancho could both be replacements for Sanchez. I do hope we can get that midfielder in. It does look as though Chambers may be staying with us.
I keep going back to Adams’ book and it sounds like a total hatchet job on Wenger when it is nothing of the sort, in fact he’s barely mentioned and so far (I’m about 80% of the way through) only with total respect… but apart from the tales about him doing almost anything to avoid confrontations, there’s the little gem about Lassana Diarra.
Diarra was sold because, according to Adams who was at Portsmouth at the time (who bought him from us), he didn’t run far enough in games for Wenger’s liking. He never made the magic figure of 1000 metres in a game, and that’s why we binned him. Because he wouldn’t run.
If you believe the guy who was part of the management team that bought him.
Bizarre reason to sell a player, but if that kind of thing is a factor in a sale or a team selection it might explain a few decisions over the years.
Cynic
I read his book and agree that he is very balanced in his assessment of Wenger. I’m afraid the publicists have had their way and realised that lurid headlines were the way to get people to read the book.
I found the book hard going because Tony’s life is a continual struggle to stay sober and that comes through and things like his fear of flying emerge but it is clear he would crawl over broken glass to work again at Arsenal.
Certainly he would instil in the young players what it means to play for our club. Looking at yesterday a lot of the first team could do with that reminder.
The other side to that ” little gem ” Cynic,
Is from Diarra himself,who when he arrived at the Arse,expected to walk into the first team.
Instead of which he found himself on the bench early doors,got impatient and spat the dummy big time.
I remember a quote from somewhere at the time,that he said,
” i didn’t come here to sit on the bench”,and was gone within 6 months.
If anyone,let alone your good self,thinks that Wenger would get rid of a player for not running 1,000 metres in a game is quite frankly laughable.
Ksn@60
Agree with you on Mustafi. Had never impressed me either.
Really believe that this season will be better than the last but the gaffer has to figure out how he wants to play and determine who his main protagonists are. With a distinct identity and hard work we will surprise quite a few this season.
Like I mentioned earlier, AW has to rekindle that ruthless streak he once had and get rid of some people if he can’t give them game time without jeopardizing the team.
TTG@61
Sancho seems to be the bees knees and it would be nice to get top talent like that through the door.
Rebuilding will take some time and maybe holding on to the two major contract rebels for the remainder of their contract could just be the right way to go. Win something and get back into the Champions League and we will get top talent in.
As regards Diarra, he really was a little shit who thought too highly of himself.
Excellent review of the game H
I must admit to being bemused at our starting line up,and deeply disappointed at the loss of 3 pts against a distinctly average Stoke side.
Given our next 2 away games are at Pool and the Bridge, grounds where we haven’t got good records, this was a must win for me,and on the clear chances we created,it should have been.
Quite how Welbeck managed to shoulder the ball over the bar from 6 yards out with a free ” header ” is beyond me.
In fact he had the 3 best chances of the game,and managed to fluff them all,when with a bit more composure he could have had a hat trick.
Sod’s law would of course dictate that we make one silly error straight after half time and it cost us what ultimately proved to be the winner.
I am afraid Hector is a ghost of the player he was in his first season,and playing him out of position on the left was quite frankly baffling,and would have done nothing for his confidence.
It appears Arsene is trying to keep the Ox happy at the expense of others,but by so doing he disrupted the defensive side of things.
Utd and City have been absolutely ruthless in clearing the deadwood and have rebuilt significantly,we have added a striker and a free transfer so far, to the same squad that was so erratic last season,the last 10 days of the transfer window are going to decide whether we are serious about challenging for the title,or whether we are going to be just a Cups team yet again.
Whilst I understand the stats when we play three at the back I must say that I’m not a massive fan of the system. Especially if you don’t have the players. For me we stumbled across the formation, almost in desperation last season. If you are going to play three at the back then surely you should be looking to play 3 centre halves? The fact that we started with two full backs in the three does not bode well for me.
Others have made reference above about players playing out of position and I couldn’t agree more. It’s something we have done for many years. Again, it seems that we have problems with shape and balance. The lates playing out of position just don’t look comfortable. There is no leadership and it all looks a little confused.
I love Welbeck’s whole attitude. I love his effort, work rate, enthusiasm etc. But he is not the answer up front and he is not a goal scorer. It’s like having a pilot but one that can’t actually land the plane.
There is clearly an air of uncertainty at the club. The futures of several must be a concern and must also be unsettling for the whole squad? Our two “superstars” have not signed contracts. Are we really going to let them walk away for nothing in 9 months? The club that pleaded poverty, financial fair play and a wonderful business model are really going to let £150 million worth of assets just slope off? Really? With 10 days left in the window it all looks a bit messy and just so typically Arsenal. The opening soirées yet again filled everyone with hope. Yet 10 days from the window shutting and we are close to panic mode again. If Alexis isn’t goin to sign a new contract then surely he has to go, and go soon? How do we replace him with 10 days to go? I have no idea.
Stanley? Ivan? Over to you.
If anyone,let alone your good self,thinks that Wenger would get rid of a player for not running 1,000 metres in a game is quite frankly laughable.
OK so I will not take the word of the guy who was involved in buying him, who was told the reason we were selling him was because he wouldn’t run (bearing in mind Wenger runs his entire training regime on stats – by many many accounts over the years) and I’ll listen instead to you, who knows everything.
Thanks for putting me right.
Cynic
I refer you to an article in the Guardian on May 23rd 2008,
” Diarra panicked ” with Arsene clearly giving the reasons why he left Arsenal.
Absolutely nothing to do with his mileage on the pitch.
Thanks Ned #54, that’s the last time I rely on Whoscored … https://www.whoscored.com/Players/13756/Show/Mesut-%C3%96zil
It’s like having a pilot but one that can’t actually land the plane – Steve T #68
Love it. Describes Danny to a T. 😀
Nice bit of Twitter … https://twitter.com/policingstoke/status/899145408785600512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ffootball%2F2017%2F08%2F20%2Fstoke-police-troll-missing-person-mesut-ozil-following-arsenal%2F
Ozil and Mustafi both play for the German national side, hardly a shabby outfit unfamiliar with winning things. So what happens to them when they play for us that makes so many people doubt their ability?
I have never doubted Ozil’s ability, Ned, just his dedication to the weekly grind of league football. In particular his tendency to lose interest when he loses the ball and slack off when things aren’t going his or Arsenal’s way. Just not the team player he is when playing international matches.
Mustafi really hasn’t bedded in at Arsenal yet, and for that I blame the club’s shambolic defence strategies and whatever coaching he’s been getting (if any). I think there’s a decent footballer there who would benefit from having his role explained to him. Assuming our defence coaches have any idea themselves.
How can we ever take Wenger seriously again when he moans about the money sloshing around the game and transfer market if he passes up £ 100 mill for Alexis and Ox with contracts all but expired ? Unless it’s just complete manure and silly games ahead of two departures in coming weeks, an effort to make it look like he tried really hard so the cosmetics are different to the RVP departure. Although giving Ox the right wing back slot and switching Hector to left did certainly look like a last ditch attempt to keep him. How can he ever, ever justify missing out on, for example, a player changing hands for £ 40 mill because he would only go to £ 35 mill. How can you not pony up £ 5 mill when you don’t care about £ 100 mill ? It’s unfathomable. And how come we suddenly have way too many players ? Did we not last year with almost exactly the same number ? Surely you need a way bigger squad for Europey League as well as League and FA Cup demands ? In short, what is going on ? COYG.
Next time Adams writes a book, I’ll get him to fact check with you rather than rely on his own version of events.
Wenger is hardly going to say that Diarra was lazy and that’s why he never picked him, and why he was sold.
Thanks Holic,
A bit late but holiday preparations have intervened.
” In particular his tendency to lose interest when he loses the ball and slack off when things aren’t going his or Arsenal’s way. “. Chris @74.
I read that and thought, “well i never, good old Chris has seen the light and come clean about Theo.”
Turns out it was Özil after all though. Yes, Ozil did have a very poor game against Stoke but generally, even when not at his masterful best, Mesut runs and runs – contrary to popular opinion – and works very hard. He is not a crunching tackle type of player – no,who knew – but works constantly at creating space and keeping the side ticking over. He is often back in our own penalty area before making a 70 yard run to join up a counter attack – something you can only see in the stadium and not on TV pictures which follow the ball.
Ozil, to be fair, has not generally set the side alight like it seemed he might on his arrival. It’s only my opinion, but I think that has a lot to do with what Scgooner said @75, insofar as Ozil’s role has been clouded by Ramsey.
Ramsey had a good game on Saturday but what is he ? A central midfielder, a No 10, a striker ?
He has no positional discipline at all. Maybe, he is told to roam all over the pitch, but roam he does, often crowding the space of others – including Ozil, who found himself out on the right wing for much of Saturday’s first half.
Ramsey also shows a complete disregard for any sort of defensive duty – he is often our furthest forward player while nominally a central midfielder.
This is similar to the Ox situation. Trying to force Ramsey and Ozil into the same side is the problem. Maybe a bit of rotation would help – both to improve Ramsey’s injury record and Ozil’s freshness. It’s not like we’re going to be short of games to play.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some square pegs to hammer into some round holes …….
A lot of the above comments highlight exactly what is wrong with us as a club. We have no idea what our best formation is abd no idea who should play. We do not know our strongest side. Mustafi and Ozil are regular starters for Germany? Just look at who plays around them?
We don’t know our best shape and can’t work out whobto play and where. Hector left wing back? AOC right wing back? Nacho centre back? No central midfield and about 8 potential candidates for the mythical number 10 slot. None of this is new of course. AW has spent years buying number 10’s and trying to play them elsewhere. Tommy R and Arshavin are just two examples.
We lack quality and lack leaders. The players that we have. Are they really all that good? I’ve asked this question many times. In my opinion we have a lot of mediocrity on vast salaries. Is it any wonder that they are happy to stay and “fight for a place?” I would suggest not.
The team needs a big restructure. Start with the spine and then do exactly the opposite to Trev. Try and get round pegs for round holes rather than lumping everyone with a wooden mallet in the hope that one day, they will fit in.
Given a choice between a bitter player who by his own admission spent a lot of time pissed as a parrot,and our in my opinion,esteemed manager,i know who i would believe.
Jenks (keeps his full salary I assume) and Bramall joining ‘Arry on loan.
1. He isn’t at all bitter, as you’d know if you had read the book. If you have read it, none of it sank in obviously.
2. As you also should know, what with you being the fountain of all knowledge, at the time of these events Adams had been sober for something like 12 years, so his past (a past that was glorious, pissed or not) is irrelevant with this story. I know you cannot accept Wenger EVER making a mistake or being less than perfection but please….
Still never mind.
More meaningful bickering.
@bt8
is that a request?
😉
Arsenal have created 38 chances in 2 games and Mesut Ozil had 10 of them, if this aint good then i really dont know what else is. Mesut Ozil is a genius, problem is he is expected to be super human, win games single handed, make no mistakes, defend and track back like a DM, sweat like a pig and fist pump towards fans, oh please for heaven sake each player has his own way of putting in their efforts. If his efforts are doubted, then why is he the one always asking for the ball whereas the better ” effort” players thrown their hands around yet are nowhere to be seen. How come he comes deep to receive the ball and is not afraid to try something whereas the likes of Ramsey and Ox dont even try anything but showboat.
Fine, keeping aside Ozil, Arsene should be blamed for the team selection. Who selects 2 left sided players as your CB, keeping in mind this was Mustafi’s first game. The whole defense was poor and Bellerin was poorer. Yes our right wing sucked and hector and Ox were piss poor. Of course they wont get blamed because everyone’s scapegoat, oh yes you Mesut you.
We wont beat liverpool, ramsey and xhaka in midfield is a disaster for ramsey just roams around the pitch and plays those hollywood passes leaving Granit poorly exposed. People suggesting ramsey can play No 10 and replace Mesut maybe seeing a different game than i am for i havent seen him doing anything worthwhile even with possession and play centrally.
35 million is it for Ox?? please sell him now, he is least interested in playing, so why do we beg players who dont want to? Alexis is the only one we should for we dont have a like for like replacement this late but Ox??? let him go now.
Arsenal cannot win the league and i am not saying this after one loss, i am saying because we do not have the defense/mindset to win. Laca, Giroud,Kola, ozil,Alexis and Kos are the only players who seem to have the will to win, rest are going through motions. lastly, Arsene your english core is a total abject failure.
I am guarded about what I can say from personal involvement but a close friend and my financial adviser also advised Diarra at Chelsea and after he moved to us. His first meeting after the move took place in the players lounge after a 7-0 thrashing of Slavia Prague in the CL. Theo got his first hat- trick for us I believe .
Diarra was ‘ represented’ by three different agents who spent most of the time arguing with each other. Apparently it was chaos. Diarra was apparently quite indifferent to a superb Arsenal performance , possibly because Wenger had dropped him completely. Apparently, the week before Diarra had had a serious go at Wenger on a private plane that Arsenal had arranged to take those two plus Sagna and one other player ( who may have been Diaby) back from Paris . Diarra’s grouse was that Wenger was not starting him and he was very outspoken in his criticism by his own admission. He felt he had been hoodwinked in leaving Chelsea ( where he didn’t play) and expected to play in midfield ahead of several of the starters then. Our midfield from memory was a combination of Fabregas , Hleb and Flamini , Rosicky or Diaby and we were riding very close to the top of the league. It was the season in which Eduardo and Adebayor combined very well until Birmingham.
My friend who is a Chelsea supporter was amazed at the opulence of the facilities, the politeness of Cesc, the immaturity of Adebayor and felt it unlikely that Diarra would stay much longer. He went in the next transfer window to Portsmouth and thence to Real Madrid . I thought from what I saw of him that he was a very good and versatile player but cannot confirm or deny the story that Cynic accurately recounts from the Adams book. I suspect from the number of moves he had ( and continues to have) that he was a difficult and impatient young man.
Jenko,Bramall,Bennacer ( sale) , Toral and Akpom ( sale) are leaving today – and it’s only 5.30! Hopefully we can move Perez and Gibbs on quickly. I suspect things may move quicker on the transfer front now but it’s Arsenal so who really knows?
Exactly TTG, this is Arsenal we’re talking about, couldn’t negotiate our way out of a brown paper bag. I’m now officially losing it over our transfer dealings as I’ve just read Galatasaray feel they can offer just 4 mill for Gibbs and actually be in the running for him. Kyle Walker goes for 50 mill and a guy the same age with a similar club and international track record may go for what, 10-20% of that ? We just keep holding on to these players about 12 months too long…..so many of them just collapse in value whether it’s due to injury, form, confidence or perhaps just plain bad coaching. I see Holding is the latest protégé to be told publicly by the manager that he’s lost confidence. Finally regarding Gibbs, DON’T ask me why we haven’t already sold him to Watford or West Brom. To add insult to injury, we’re a forced seller now according to Wenger himself so, great idea, hang on for the last 10 days. I really do try to make my spectacles a bit more rose tinted and try and see good in what our club is up to but, nah, any way I try to look at these bunglings it just looks like gross incompetence. Perez ? I’d love to hear the real story there, very strange. If Welbeck, Sanogo or Bendtner had produced stats and cameo performances like that lad did, they would have been offered 5 year contracts on the spot.
It seemed an odd buy at the time and an even stranger sale, TTG.
We have had so many odd buys over the years though. Players who never play, despite costing a fortune, and are rapidly sold or players who arrive, sod off on loan for four or five years and leave for nothing.
Something looks a bit fishy in our transfer dealings IMO, the weirdest and most pointless of which was the Amaury Bischoff fiasco.
Vinay is correct re Ozil. Slated for his performance vs Stoke, yet I’m pretty sure he had the most passes, highest completion, most touches, most chances created etc. It speaks a lot about our other “creative” players who are not sharing the burden, and the unrealistic expectation that Ozil can produce a Xavi-esque performance week in week out.
Like a lot of things in life, you’ll only realise it’s true value once it’s no longer there
Amaury Bischoff – wasn’t that with a PI ? – was a very injured, consequently very cheap player who was “a bit of a gamble”. A gamble that sadly did not come off. I doubt too many Holic pounds would have been laid in his direction but ‘we’ do love an injured player, don’t we ?
Yaya Sanogo was another injured potential bargain, if he could achieve and maintain fitness, after nearly two years of problems. Unfortunately, fit or not, he made Igors Stepanovs look like Neymar and Messi rolled into one.
It’s not only injured youngsters with possible potential that we hire though. We’ve even taken an ageing Kim Kallstrōm on loan when he had a broken back.
Mind you, we’ll never know the final fee for Gibbs. Funnily enough it will be “fee undisclosed”. Anybody care to bet against ? Not suggesting fishiness either just a fiasco like the eejits on “The Apprentice” trying to sell inedible £5 bags of home-made toffee in a shopping mall with 5 minutes left, at 3 for £1, before time-up and one of them gets fired the next day by that despicable Spud, Sugars. Ahh, accountability, imagine that. COYG.
Barack @89,
He gets a lot of stick from the British press and ex-pros because he’s not an “in their faces” crunch tackler.
He runs non-stop through matches though and is constantly available to receive the ball. For a player who spends so much time with the ball at his feet, he is very clever at avoiding injury from those same “in their faces” types.
Seldom injured, he has a rare ability to time his moving of the ball and avoid the lunging tackle aimed at him.
I hope Jenkinson and Bramall get more playing time that our other loanees this weekend. Martinez, Bola and Mavididi got two minutes between them, which doesn’t seem much by way of getting games under their belt. The only one to get 90 mins was Asano, who we can’t get a UK work permit for.
Breitbart News, Steve Bannon’s right wing US news site, ran a picture of Lukas Podolski, late of this parish, to accompany a story headlined ‘Spanish Police Crack Gang Moving Migrants on Jet-Skis’
which brought this apology:
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story included an image of Lukas Podolski on a jet ski. This image appeared as an illustration of a person on a jet ski. Breitbart London wishes to apologise to Mr. Podolski. There is no evidence Mr. Podolski is either a migrant gang member, nor being human trafficked. We wish Mr. Podolski well in his recently announced international retirement.
Somehow, it could only happen to Poldi.
Rooney gives Everton the lead at Ethiad. Everton look grittier than ever and we will have a tough time against them. Except for Man Utd no other team has looked convincing over the two games played this season. No comfort in that as we have looked worse than five or six of the top teams.
Arsenal lead Man Citeh-3-1 tonight but Wilshere has seen red.
Nelson has scored another super goal and Nketiah has apparently looked excellent. Jack won’t miss any senior games as a result .
Not a good night for Citeh. Maybe they need to spend some ?
4-3 to Arsenal now.
Nelson has scored a second but we can’t defend. 10 a side
Final score 4-3
Can’t wait for the U Ropey League to start!
TTG
Have just seen footage of Jack’s red card.
Awful late tackle from City player could have done some serious damage.
Jack has pushed City player in the chest,whereupon said player fell down holding his face as if poleaxed.
A fan then shoots footage of Jack and City player who also saw red, in tunnel as they leave the pitch,and Jack trying to attack the City guy,have to be separated by Stewards.
He was clearly very very angry.
Cracking game though. !!
Also just seen Nelson’s 2nd goal and our fourth against City,another very very classy finish.
For a 17 yr old his poise and calmness is very impressive.
Jack’s a Rambler !
Evening Trev
It was a very bad tackle,side on to Jack’s standing leg.
Could have done some serious damage,and given his injuries,his reaction wasn’t a great surprise.
I had to laugh though at the hysterical headline in the Tele,
“Jack’s career in serious doubt after red card in under 23 game, ”
Given the number of red cards our players have incurred over the years,i would have thought it was the exact opposite.
clive, it was a terrible tackle, and that was after three others the ref did nothing about. jack *did* go for a second citeh player after the first push, too.
all four goals were tasty, the pick for me was nketieh’s from jack’s throughball (#3 iirc). i agree with you, clive, nelson looked amazing for just being 17. one for the very near future, indeed.
defense was suspect, and while holding i think has huge potential, he doesn’t look comfortable in a back 3, at either level. bielick looked good in the middle, though; he was really given a harsh penalty, though i think if it had been at our end i’d’ve been pissed if it wasn’t given.
jack looked ok, excepting a couple of outstanding passes, and he was tough. kept getting knocked over, and tackled from behind, and he was clearly getting pissed prior to the red card challenge. ref should have offered him more protection.
da silva, maitland-niles, nketieh, and nelson…best of the bunch. citeh’s little no. 7 moved pretty well, and scored a nice goal.
we looked a little stunned and very disorganized after jack’s sending off (reasonably, i guess). i am very happy nelson got the 4th, it would have been disappointing to draw 3-3 with them a second year running.
Osaka @83. 😉
Good news for Nasri. He has been offloaded to the Turkish Superlig club in Antalya where he will be able to spend countless hours lounging by the sunny Med. Bad news for Nasri. Players are only offloaded to Antalyaspor when their careers are headed rapidly down the tubes.
Aren’t we an angry lot today, lol. Every poster seems to have a different view about what’s right and wrong (mostly wrong) about the season so far. I don’t know who to agree with! I’ll just add that stats rarely tell the whole story, and I’d rather rely on what I see in games … which side has the ball bouncing their way, which players appear to have the greatest influence, who keeps making mistakes, who consistently runs out of ideas after a dazzling bit of dashing down the wing, the soft-option merchants who rarely risk a pass unless the passee is in open space, the reffing compared to the instant replays, etc etc. The stats, unless you analyse everything they record, item by item, they’re just so much ink on paper to me.
Imo we were lucky to win our first game and unlucky to lose the second. And in both games guilty of missing too many chances to score. End of.
As for Gibbs vs Walker, the latter saw red today. Haha.
Not disappointed at all in Jack’s reaction. The Citeh number 8 should get slaughtered for acting like that. What a knob.
In other news it’s been officially confirmed that Since 2009, the New England Patriots have won more games at Wembley Stadium than Tottenham Hotspur !!!
Just saying.
Scruzgooner
I have just seen all 4 Arse goals,and each one was very well taken with great build up play.
City were outclassed,and 2 late goals against 10 men flattered them.
I agree there is some serious young talent in our ranks.
The key as is so often the case,is making the transition to the first team squad.
But Arsene has never been shy in promoting young ones.
I expect them to feature prominently in the midweek cup comp and the Europa League group stages.
Also saw the highlights of the City v Everton game,Walker’s second yellow was laughable,as was Schneiderlin’s.
Both assisted by theatrical reactions from Calvert Lewis and Aguerro.
Getting opposition players booked or sent off with play acting is still a major stain on the game.
clive, i couldn’t agree more, 4 for 4. i’d love to see maitland-niles, nketieh, nelson, bielik, and wilshere feature in you ropey league play. and the whatever league cup. some of their interplay today was top drawer.
the dive is one thing, the cynical kick into the back of the legs is another. i wasn’t surprised to see jack react…
So many comments that it was
difficult to pick one out and
disagree with it vehemently.
Instead I’ll agree with Steve T
that the Man City player was a
knob (annoyingly he seems to
be called Matt, little fucker is
diminishing my brand value,
wonder if I can sue.
Good luck to Cohen, Jenks and
Ismael on their moves. And to
Chuba and Toral too if they go.
Haha to the chinless waster –
no hard feelings Samir.
Play the kids in the League Cup (The Capybara Cup?) by all means, scruz, in fact if the League had any nous they’d restrict the wretched thing to U21s or Olympic rules to create more interest in it. But we need to win the Europey to restore some credibility, not to mention it’s probably our best chance of qualifying for the CL next season.
Winning the Europa League is our “best chance”? Is it really? Surely the CL drop-out teams will have the best chance of winning it, and not AFC under this current Head Coach and Man-Managing Guru of European competition, Mr. Arsene Wenger?! ?
Chris,
The You Ropey League as
redemption?
Surely not. Play the kids and
have done with it.
By clearing out, or trying to clear out, senior fringe players he’s telling you he’s going to play kids in EL, at least up to Christmas. Wah-hay, shock horror, Wenger does something most of us agree is logical. Rest assured though that if we’re 7th in the Prem, he’ll get a horn for it and play the big guns, if we have any left.
Clive
Absolutely agree about the tackle. This is a boy fighting for his career who has been kicked before with disastrous consequences. I won’t condemn him too harshly.It seems clear that Nelson ( and Nketiah) is special and if we acquired Sancho too we have some real quality coming through.
I think the You Ropey League might be well worth watching
PSG going for Mbappe.. how is that even possible..?!
Hope Ox signs his new deal.
Hope Dele Ali leaves.
Hope Coutinho forces his move.
😀
No, Chris – our best chance of qualifying for the CL is by EXITING the Europa League as early as possible.
Re: Chris @112. Jest you not. My brother-in-law’s favorite animal is the capybara and if he were informed of your words would take considerable offence.
Them’s duelin’ words
Capybara’s at dawn?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41014149
..someone’s bitter.. ! 😀 😀 😀
Afternoon all….
How confident is everyone feeling about Liverpool on Sunday?
I don’t feel confident one bit I saw both games and it was scary times, Stoke game proved nothing has changed and Wenger will keep on making same old.
I’m sorry if this has echoed around at such early stage of the season but the CB situation is looking rather worrying. Team selection and positioning was awful and subs let’s not go there. Kolasinac was in the 2016/17 Bundesliga team of the season and Wenger plays him out of position. I’m not sure if I’m the only one but it seems to me like he is killing players off (Perez is a good example of that). He then takes Xhaka off and brings on Walcott to provide crosses into the box?
Not sure whats he’s been taking or talking to but it doesn’t look good one bit.
Upwards and onwards!
Is the objective of this period to strengthen the Kroenke balance sheet by reducing cost or improving the team? I think we should be told.
To clarify this comment, the ostensible purpose of selling players is to raise cash . This is supposedly to enable us to compete in the transfer market even though we may be more selective than our rivals . But if we find the market too tough and don’t add to the team we may end up,in a stronger net position financially than we were before having no net spend in the main window. We buy two players and get rid of maybe ten. Apart from the suggestion that we have let the squad become bloated and unmanageable it suggests we are either pulling the wool over the eyes of supporters by putting money into Kroenke’s pocket or we find the market too rich for our blood. If that is the case do we not need a different approach. Or is it all just too difficult….?
@ 109, Clive, both of these cards were absolute jokes. Video ref would have annulled both within 15 seconds. Perhaps in another decade BPL will catch up with rugby on this aspect of the game?
Nah, that might spoil the excitement if we had strictly correct refereeing decisions and accurate, honest outcomes.
And yes, some excellent stuff from the Under-23’s last night. Hopefully we’ll see Nelson, Nketiah and Niles getting some first team game time this season.
Kim Källström is back playing for the Stockholm club, Djurgårdens,
Where he played in the 2002-03 season. For all who wanted to know.
Evening BTM
re Video refs, unfortunately they would have confirmed Lacazette goal ruled out by the letter of the law because his toe was offside,although the linesman couldn’t possibly have seen that.
So the question remains,what did he flag for. ??
Have watched the goals from last nights under 23 game again,and along with his goal against Derby last week,the highest compliment i can pay young Reiss Nelson is that TH14 would have been proud to have scored those 3 goals.
Cesc and Hector were in the first 11 at a very young age,so no reason why this young sharpshooter won’t be given his chance this season.
His link up play is none too shabby either.
…except AW prefers not to play strikers who can actually score, Clive.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2728673-inside-the-brilliant-guarded-and-possibly-unsatisfied-mind-of-alexis-sanchez?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=world-football
I hope Liverpool have a tough game
tonight. In my heart I want them to
lose but my head tells me it’s
better for them to be tied up in
CL games for a while.
Still, either way works for me.
It’s nice to know Kallstrom is
still playing. Don’t know why
but he seemed a good guy.
Kallström’s a guy who’d break his back for ya.
Without even being asked – what
a guy
Shrek appears to have retired from
international football. A month ago
he said part of moving to Everton
was to try to get back into the
England squad. Shocking deceit,
perhaps the bit about his Everton
jammies was a lie too.
Anyway, doesn’t matter as England
seem to have retired from
international football some years ago.
Looks like we are still defenceless, and still paying the penalty. 🙁
If you think this summers bad wait till next year when we have to try and replace a 3rd of our best 11 and that’s to stand Still. – It’s a complete clusterfuck from the top down, Never known the club this un organised, the centreback situation is a microcosm of the whole club, How can one Manager have so many centrehalfs that he signed that he does not trust its frankly bizarre, And by far our best one has to be nursed through the season due to his Achilles- Cannot believe they are silly enough not to strengthen further before the window slams shut, If they don’t the atmosphere will be off the scale toxic,
As stated after Stoke – Mane running between the lines at the weekend absolutely terrifies me, That’s not to mention Firminho in the hole !
Carabao cup draw at 4. 15 am in China
next step, league cup final in Beijing
then FA cup final also in Beijing
then……
Liverpool absolutely destroying Hoffenhiem, 3-0 in less than 25 minutes. Sunday is going to be a really tough outing with Mane and Salah running amok.
Gnabry is another Welbeck, twice missed scoring off really easy chances.
Cheer up all. 🙂 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>