Underdogs Have Their Day At Wembley As Well We Know
Feb 24th, 2018 by 'holic
The EFL Cup has provided mixed emotions for supporters of my generation. We have played in seven finals and won just two of them to date. It may be the lowest in our list of priorities these days, but it is a trophy and one many would love to see us win again.
My first in the flesh was our second, a day when huge underdogs Swindon Town beat us 3-1 after extra time on a quagmire of a pitch. That was 49 years ago. This year, if the popular press are to be believed, it is us going in as the massive underdogs against champions elect Manchester City. The bookies agree quoting City at 8/13 and us at 9/2.
Less than a year ago we overcame City with a resolute display in the FA Cup semi-final. The switch to a back three gave us a degree of defensive solidity that few expected. We need another performance like that against a team now clearly the best in the country by some distance. As we should know, having lost to Swindon, Luton, and Birmingham in previous Finals, underdogs often do have their day at Wembley. Ask City, reminded only last Monday of their FA Cup Final defeat by Wigan.
It will be a boost to welcome back Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang following his Europa League ineligibility. Fresh and raring to go our ability to give him the service he can thrive on may hold the key to an unexpected third EFL Cup for the Gunners. With Henrikh Mkhitaryan out cup-tied much of the creative spotlight will fall on Mesut Ozil.
So, how do we line up ahead of the cup tie goalkeeper, David Ospina? I would follow the example of last years formation and start our best back three of Laurent Koscielny, Skhodran Mustafi, and Nacho Monreal. Hector Bellerin on one flank and toss a coin between Sead Kolasinac or Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the other. Perhaps the more experienced player may get the nod this time?
In midfield it may be time to re-unite Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka behind Ozil and Jack Wilshere. They have to provide the ammunition for Aubamayang to make his name in English football. That side is about as good as we can put out at the moment and they must be prepared to work extremely hard for each other both in attacking and defensive situations.
City will be missing the injured Sterling and the suspended Delph, but may welcome back the dangerous Gabriel Jesus. Kevin De Bruyne, enjoying an excellent season, is but one of the many dangers to us. Leroy Sane, David and Bernardo Silva, and the prolific Sergio Kun Aguero would test any team.
We have had our best moments at home this season but a cold early evening at Wembley could see us land an eleventh trophy under Arsene Wenger, and a clean sweep of domestic trophies under the Frenchman’s management. The discussions about his future can be put on hold this weekend. It’s time to get behind a team who will need our full and most vocal support inside the stadium.
The ‘holic pound
Regardless of who we pick and what system to play you have to expect City to score a goal or two, especially as they will be stinging after their unlikely defeat at Wigan in the FA Cup on Monday. Therefore I am backing us to outscore them, which means the pound is split between 2-1 at 17/1, and 3-2 at a massive 40/1. Which brings us back to Aubamayang. Big money players deliver in big games, and it is time to show he is just that.
My confidence level is fluctuating by the minute to be honest, but in the last three FA Cup Finals Bath, Bergkamp the Man, and I, have enjoyed a pre-Wembley meal at the same restaurant. We have drunk the same excellent red wine before staggering up the slope at the end of Wembley Way to watch our team win the trophy. You don’t fix what isn’t broken so we will once again take our seats in that same wonderful eatery before the long march to triumph.
For those of you watching at home I hope we are able to sing the team to a triumph to make your day as well as ours.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
145 Responses to “Underdogs Have Their Day At Wembley As Well We Know”
I will put a farthing on it.
Glass o’ red for you marstro and enjoy the day and the company.
no way we can beat em if they score two
i wanna hear Abba singing
oooooooooooooospina!
I do hope we beat them, it’s always nicer to win as underdogs, your preferred team containing 12 players should even things up also, maybe even give us the edge ?? coyg.
I love your blog but your team selection needs looking at, you named 10 outfield players without Aubamayeng – definitely gives us the edge, 12 players!
OspinO
Hector, Musti, Kos, Nacho
Rambo, Xhakaboom
Ozil, Jack, Danny
O’Bomberbang
Yes, Danny. He’s a hopeless CF but I still rate him as a hard-working, energetic winger with enough speed to worry any defence.
Fine preview Guvna. I do hope we can indeed smuggle 12 men onto the field but I suspect one of Iwobi or Jack will start on the bench, probably the latter given the manner in which each finished the game on Thursday – though it’s clearly a close run thing both on form and fitness.
It would be delightful if BamBam announces his arrival with a display that puts the lauded opposition strikers in the shade.
I’m looking forward to the preservation of a fine tradition of haut cuisine, fine wine, great company and an Arsenal captain raising silverware at the end of the game.
Here’s to the underdogs!
COYRs
Thanks Gav, so convinced am I he is going with a flat back four I forgot about the 5-2-2-1 thing. Hilarious. ?
god bless u Holic how do u keep it up?ur a ledgend.
Definitely not that G. Thats a misuse of the term. ??
I dumped Iwobi, but I’m guessing he will start in place of Sead and we will go 4-5-1. That is more risky maybe?
I’ll see all of your tradition and raise you a Fife Gooners classic top that is unbeaten at Wembley. Put your money on The Arsenal, folks.
Calcutta, Carabao……..the Cups just keep coming. Gregor Townsend’s magic and he and Arsene Wenger wear similarly stylish magic hats. One hopes that the Blue Mooners will provide sterner opposition than these crappies in white managed in Edinburgh today. The whisky in the trophy has a rather silvery taste when it’s too easily won 🙂 (Only joking, Steve).
Enjoy, Holics, wherever and whenever you’re watching.
Evening H
Good luck tomorrow,hope you Bath and BTM have a great day out,and the team does us proud regardless of the result.
I am convinced the boss will play a back 4 which picks itself,
and given our dearth of options up front, i wouldn’t put it past him to play a midfield 3 of Granit/Elneny and Rambo { if he passes a fitness test, } to give us more stability across an area that has been our Achilles heel all season.
I do maintain we are a better attacking side with Rambo in it,with his ability to make those late runs into the box.
Mesut to run things in front of them,and Auba at the pointy end,leaving one spot available which will probably be Iwobi or Welbeck,given Arsene’s preference for overloading the left side of the pitch in attack.
Whatever team is chosen,they have to have the belief that when they walk out on to the pitch, they can beat City on the day.
We don’t have the technical qualities of their squad,so sheer bloody mindedness and 120% effort are going to be needed in spades.
As long as our Supporters see the team is giving everything they’ve got over the course of the match,they will accept the result whatever it may be.
What Clive said @13.
Ospina
Bellerin Mustafi Kos Nacho AMN
Xhaka Wilshere
Ramsey Ozil
Auba
Looks like 11 to me and the best eleven we could put out. I was expecting us to go with a back four but you’ve persuaded me otherwise.
I also have a Wembley ritual using the Sports Bar at Marylebone and thence onto the train . It’s worked for us for some time.
I’m not confident tomorrow but who knows what to expect with us? Certainly we have a chance . I hope we can feel proud tomorrow night of a fine performance . We need some pride restored. Maybe as Holic says Auba will write his name into history.
Here is a trip down memory lane: Last time we played Man City in the League Cup (5th round, November 2011) our team was Fabianski, Koscielny, Miquel, Squillaci, Djourou, Benayoun, Coquelin, Frimpong, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Park. We lost 1-0 at home to an Agüero goal.
Where are they now?
Swansea, Arsenal, Malaga, Retired (last club Bastia), Antalyaspor, Maccabi Petah Tikva, Valencia, Ermis Aradippou, Liverpool, Free agent (last club Cardiff), Seoul FC.
Sweet mother 16 & 17 just hit me how blind hearted iv been for years.
“…they will accept the result whatever it may be…”
NO
we will not
Thanks for the preview Guvnor.
Some mixed memories in there.
I’d go with 3 at the back too,
but I don’t think we will. I guess
it will be 4-5-1.
We must stop De Bruyne and
Silva from running the game,
cancel them out and wait for
the chance to put Aubamayeng
in amongst their iffy defenders.
Lot of pressure on him as he’s
our only real goal scoring threat.
Apart from Nacho of course.
My guess at the team is
Osp
Hector, Kos, Mus, Nacho
Xhaka, Elneny, Aaron,
Iwobi, Ozil, Auba
1-0 to The Arsenal ?
I forgot to mention Bravo is
just as iffy as Osp so set-pieces
are a real opportunity for Kos,
Mus and Nacho.
Aguero still at Man City unfortunately…
22 a response to 17 (Ned’s)
Shame I can’t join you today. Would have been very nice.
Sadly, My ticket is elsewhere today. As it now transpires, it didn’t have to be after all. Will hopefully manage to catch the second half.
As Clive said, we need passion, pride and a performance. Is Per available? He seems to enjoy being wheeled out for Wembley finals?
Enjoy people.
Have I missed a memo?
Is Saed deemed to be on the scrap heap already? If we play a back 3 then he should be the left wingback in my opinion.
And despite co mention I’d play Cwch rather than the other dodgy keeper we have. It’s in midfield where our paucity really shows itself. God knows how the club have allowed the manager to neglect another important area. I do hope Aaron is fit. Well need every player to run themselves ragged and even try doing stuff that’s unfamiliar like tracking back and god forbid defending. I’ve absolutely zero confidence in this team under this manager but they have turned up very occasionally this term so I’ll cling to that very faint hope. 2-1 to the Gunners.
Cech
Hector Mustafi Koscielny Nacho SK
Elneny Aaron Xhaka
Ozil Auba
Go win this, Gunners!
Co mention? Convention
Nice preview H.
Im looking forwards to the match. It could go any way. I like the idea of us outscoring them.
I hope everyone has a good day, whatever you’re doing for the game.
UTA!
Too true, Clive@13. No embarrassment, please!
A few pints of Sixpenny Gold will be required in the meantime.
Well at least that all be one less diving twat to worry about if the team news for city is accurate.
Then again the refs aren’t exactly backwards in wanting to give the opposition penalties against us.
It would be a sweet irony if we won the game via a spot kick.
Have a great lunch and an even better match, fellas, Holic, Bath, BtM ??
wished far more in hope than expectation unfortunately.
I’ve long since given up predicting, or even understanding, AW’s team selections but if we still have any fit square pegs available for selection, could we please put them in square holes.
Actually telling players what their job is and absolutely demanding that they do it, would also be a nice thing of which to see some evidence.
For our own band of merry – nay, sloshed – men, Delia and all the other Gooners supporting the team in the stadium today, one request…..
Turn up.
Sorry if that is not as positive as it might be, but the club we all love has done my head in for the last two seasons.
Come on Arsenal. We’ve done it before …….
Clive @13,
“120% effort in spades” …….
How much is that exactly ? ?
DelliAlley diving in the box you say?
That’s so unlike him. He isn’t that kind of player.
Trev
I agree with you. The last 2 seasons have been the most frustrating under Arsene. And I’ve come to the conclusion that he needs to move on. However I’d love him to do so having won 2 more pots.
Dexter ??
By the way – unconfirmed news that we have a Cup Final special kit for today’s final.
Here’s a leaked link – you might want to say that slowly …..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mauve+with+pink+spots+jumper+photo&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=isnv&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&fir=SRcvjXC7I700nM%253A%252CW2_ZtsPOCDlILM%252C_%253BzqxVAXCIhOZuwM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253BlRyaJ1FZAEdfJM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253B6AWIKtH3mdQpDM%253A%252CCNOJwby-juuyRM%252C_%253BJ1Pr4vZ9_kjFhM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253BteO7s9FsvwVhOM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253BMJ4KxWsPajo6bM%253A%252CX3lGtTTHF5U7nM%252C_%253Bxf26NMjf4YZXkM%253A%252CC24WJcFvArXfkM%252C_%253B5kWcEKphjixfGM%253A%252CrYDtwCCR85aSRM%252C_%253BPTktoBi6ZGVtRM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253B26V0yOrwKRhthM%253A%252CdxM0synegp3p4M%252C_%253BUphLH46_E8mF8M%253A%252CW2_ZtsPOCDlILM%252C_%253BbYP4SHdlYX2C0M%253A%252CdxM0synegp3p4M%252C_%253BMAgae8XgGkH00M%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253BejvLYvcgGRleYM%253A%252CVyZdtImOzXZPaM%252C_%253BOk2dCDMx9wdicM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_%253BKuitD7ZunHas_M%253A%252CdxM0synegp3p4M%252C_%253BWcvn_xUzuXsTfM%253A%252CksNqHGShMBitZM%252C_&usg=__xFVmzDIGS49zI6Q4emrHJfLH2gQ%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKydG0l8HZAhXEZVAKHSm0C9gQ7AkITA&biw=768&bih=960#imgrc=k3HMNEoN_1zrFM:
Don’t laugh !
With this team, Trev, if we didn’t laugh, we’d cry.
?
Kit could be worse. Dundalk’s new away strip looks as if it has been borrowed from a couple of cyclists:
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/2018/dundalk_fc_2018_cx_sport_away_kit.jpg
Pitch looks as if it could use a mow, too.
Dexter @ 34 ✔️
Ned….that Dundalk kit, it’s bananas ?.
We’re at the stage where all we hope is the team put in a performance, a winning result an absolute bonus. Let us ??.
Great preview holic and hopefully the pre-cup final routine you, bath and BTM follow will bring us the required luck.
It surely is Aubameyang’s chance to win over the Arsenal fanbase early on in his Arsenal career. I would agree with the assessment that a back three has somehow made us look more solid at the back than a back four. Also agree with most of the drinks that Ramsey is indeed a key player for our midfield and he has a great record in cup finals at Wembley. If we turn up and give it our all – the city defense is for the taking. I also see Welbeck playing an important part with his pressing and energy. We will need that kind of a performance if we are to beat this City team.
Unfortunately the game is not being televised in India. If anyone has any good stream links I would request them to share.
Here’s hoping that the team turns up and gives yet another memorable cup final at Wembley. COYG
And talking about streams – haven’t seen our Czech gooner Eandy in a long while amongst the drinks. I remember he used to religiously post stream links. Here’s hoping he’s doing well.
http://cricfree.sc/watch/live/manchester-city-vs-arsenal-efl-cup-final-live-streaming
Thanks BB for the stream link. I have just discovered that the game is being televised in India on Vh1!! Strange but am glad anyway…
Let’s hope it will be an enjoyable game desi..
😀
Come On………..!
Fuck me, what an appalling corner. Out for a throw-in!
Nacho Alli
Mustafi defending like a clown. He runs into Aguero then stops and cries for a foul. Twat.
Goal down. Was it a foul, off side?
Dog shit defending yet again
Monreal off, terrible luck.
I like Mustafi but that was beyond embarrassing. Ospina was fairly useless as well.
Come on you Gunners!!
To me it looked offside
You cannot be offside direct from a goal kick.
Damn you Cynic ?
Ah were going for the Wigan approach. Get a City player red carded.
Fuck off Gary Neville!
Half time entertainment… picking next season’s team and manager.
Ancelotti (Head coach)
Marc Overmars (Director of football)
Per Mert (defensive coach) 🙂
Butland
New CB Koscielny New CB
Bellerin New Wingback
New DM
Lemar Ozil Mhkitarian
Aubameyang
I think my knowledge of other players is pretty poor!
Holding could be a decent CB so I’d send him out on loan. I’d love for Chambers to come good and with better coaching he may well.
Iwobi Xhaka and Ospina can leave. I’d keep Mustafi and Cech as back ups.
Oh well…
We have played well and Man City have not been anywhere near as dominant as they can be. Aubameyang lacks a bit of sharpness but the long ball to him is always on. I won’t mind if he was subbed with Welbeck at 70 minutes if we are still trailing 1-0. A sharp Welbeck has the beating of Kompany and then it’s all about if he can beat Bravo.
All to play for…
Dexter, Chambers will never make it to the top flight. He lacks pace but keeps going forward and is caught out of position so often it is not funny. He has the habit of pulling someone back and getting booked. It happened in this match too. He is decent but not a top defender and doesn’t suit our present style of playing.
Desig’ner, I would bring on Welbeck but Aubameyang on, maybe sacrifice a defender.
Chambers used to be a RB… He can’t be that sluggish surely?
We suck, plain as that
Over
Why are we cannot doing any basic thing right like a simple passing…it’s up for the grab, even at 1-0..:disappointed
Nobody gives a fuck. We were never in this game at all.
Never in doubt
That’s it..it’s over.
And now, it’s me who cannot write a basic sentence right hahahahhaa fuck me…
Welbz is in, wait for his hat trick…of the shin, shoulder etc
Utter shambles.
So basically PEA is as bad as Laca, no service no end product.
Shambolic attitudes all through the game.
Ozil, Ramsey, Xakha, Mustafi, Koscielny nowhere near good enough. The rest haven’t been exactly stellar but your centre is where everything is supposed to happen.
Created nothing. Ozil is the biggest spoofer in football.
No passion whatsoever…very sloppy…very disappointing to watch…
..and who are we playing next ?
😀
Most of the players are crap but the tactics is worse
Ramsey with a performance that should earn him a pay cut, but no doubt we’ll give him a huge rise.
Iwobi coming on to add terrible hair to our midfield, but nothing else.
Xhaka so poor he can’t even bother to get booked.
The players aren’t crap though.
That’s the point. We need to ask why they aren’t doing it on the pitch. Even crap players can show willing effort and commitment.
Why aren’t they?
I’ll give you a clue…
It’s the effin manager and “coaching” staff…
..and they’re bringing Jesus on now!
Dex, just 1.5 yrs more to go, patience, f…ing patience
Anybody with a stat on Ospina’s touches? I bet more than half of outfield players ?
I’ll be amazed if Wenger is still manager in the summer.
Walker/Xhaka tackle if reversed would have seen red
@ Gunner_KS, 1.5yrs? Shit. He needs to walk today or be fired. How bad can we get with Bould for the remainder of the season? He needs to quit or be fired right away.
I’ll look fwd to AW’s post match, you know the usual mix of ref, spirit, next game, pitch, global warming, brexit …. (Gunner_ks goes and uses a razor and everything is better)
Oh I do hope Ivan has Carlo’s number on speed dial…
What a pitiful and abject end this is turning out for the once great man.
His players clearly can’t or won’t play for him.
Dexter, I will rather have Alegri. I don’t want a one year stop gap fix. We need to be bold and get someone that will be there at least 3-4 yrs. I wish he can walk away today. Let Steve Bould finish the season and we go from there. He can’t do any worse than this shit show we are witnessing right now.
Why can’t Carlo do 3 years? He’s PL experienced too.
There’s absolutely no evidence to suggest Allegri would leave Juve either. Why would he want to? Conte is more viable as he’ll probably get the chop at the end of the season!
While It’s apparent that AW has run his race, there are at least two fellows who should exit left with him this summer.
Mustafi has to be the worst player to ever wear the red and white. Kolasinac isn’t much better. The rest would have to be appraised by the incoming manager.
I just felt he might want a new challenge. Juventus has won the league and other cups for the past 6 yrs. I am fine with Carlos, I just prefer Allegri.
You can blame the manager all you like for the complacency on the pitch, but the fact of the matter is that any player worth anything will at least try, regardless of the momentum sponge doing the “coaching”.
There’s no fire in this lot at all and you don’t coach that desire out. You can’t coach it in either.
If I blame the manager for anything it’s for buying losers without any mentality to win, rewarding failure and breeding an air of complacency.
But when you have a club willing to put up with not competing for over a decade, with the same manager doing a mediocre job year in year out, it’s an ingrained thing.
Yes, Wenger is doing an awful job but he is doing it at a rotten club.
Well I hope the club considers all kinds of candidates. But Carlos is available and apparently lives in London.
Chelsea players played shite for weeks until they got their manager sacked. New guy came in and suddenly they were all 100% committed world beaters.
Funny that…
Where do we go from here? The total lack of desire displayed by the team today has somewhat diminished my love of the game.
Sad indeed.
I just don’t think the players want to play for the manager. Something isn’t right. In fact it’s well pongy!
Gutted by the loss.
Thought we put up a good fight in the first half. The first 20 minutes of the second half we were not good enough and City killed us off like any good team would do. Don’t want to go into commenting on individuals in this state of mind. Eventually the gap between the teams showed and the team definitely has to restore some pride in the league game on Thursday. Hopefully the crowd will back them to the hilt.
I’m just coming back from Wembley and have back drunk. Sadly I agree with most of it and clearly Wenger needs to leave but today there was no support or anticipation before or during the game. Seats were empty all around me.
The current regime and primarily Wenger have sucked the spirit out of the club .
It’s sad and talking to others on the way home there is little hope of change. Arsenal are currently a club on the way down. It’s very painful to type that but it’s true
As with the NLD defeat the most damning critique is my apathy. A cup final defeat used to floor me. Now it’s just pffffffffft…..
Thursday will tell us if the players have any fight and if they’re playing for the manager. Pride along should see a response.
SG@91: If you think Mustafi is the worst player to have worn the colours, take a look at @16 for starters, and then ask some of the old lags in the bar abut the 1960s.
Sad to say, TTG@99, is right.
At least the food, the wine and the company were exceptionally good. the final?…..pffffft.
Mustafi is a decent CB as Gabriel was/is.
Selling Coquelin and keeping Xhaka has not helped him or the other defenders IMO.
We haven’t had a decent holding midfielder since Gilberto and the defence has not been consistently solid as a result. Flamini did a decent job for a bit. The fact he made such a difference when he came back second time spoke volumes.
That our manager has allowed that to happen as well as persisting with dodgy keepers for years and second rate defenders is shameful.
I’ve not seen any of the game. I caught the second half on the radio in the car. I don’t think anyone will be surprised by the result or the performance. From what I heard we should be slightly grateful that Citeh decided to stop at 3.
The decline of this great club has been going on for years. It’s nothing new. The whole club needs a shake up from top to bottom. Hopefully we have made a start with the back room staff but the whole attitude and ethos needs to change. We have missed the boat large I’m afraid.
The squad is sub standard with far too many average players. With the odd exception, our transfer policy in recent years has been a joke. A total shambles.
We just need to get the season over with and start the official rebuilding process.
Hear hear Ned. Even in recent memory we had Ivor’s Stepanovs. I also recall Pat Howard, Terry Mancini and we all recall Pascal Cygan….and he was an Invincible!
But Mustafi is incredibly erratic verging from very good to awful. He was the latter today
If you play CB in a defence without discipline or organisation you are on a hiding to nothing. Add the absence of a screening midfield and you have chaos. When you face an equal number or greater numbers of attackers running unhindered straight at you and your CB partner(s), you cannot avoid losing goals if those attackers have an ounce of talent. If I was a young talented CB, Arsenal is the very last club I would join. It’s a graveyard for CBs and has been since Gilberto left.
Ned
I may be a bit guilty of hyperbole there. I can’t say categorically that he is the worst but he sure ranks very, very high.
Mustafi does my head in more than anyone in the recent past. He’s just not fit for purpose.
For me, he is just not an Arsenal player and can’t be trusted.
Your submission@16 is an example of the kind of crap we’ve had to up with.
The thing about those guys listed is we were operating on a shoe string budget at that time and not much was expected of a ragtag collection of supposed players.
Mustafi and most of the present crop of underachievers were bought for good money and it seems they’re not much better than that shower@16.
Arsenal a club on the way down. A painful and vexatious but undeniable truth.
There’s a very good reason for that Solid. They’re not anywhere near good enough. Never have been and never will be. Over priced panic buys for the most.
Steve T
How do we go about shifting expensive dross? What next?
The most painful part for me is the numbness that engulfed me as the final whistle went. I can’t stand feeling apathetic about something I care about so much.
#112
Exactly what I tried to describe @ post #100
(Starting a new job tomorrow so luckily my mind is also elsewhere…)
Good luck NDR!
Nowt to say about anything
else just now.
Well put Garsguns. Very brave.
Come to a game and we’ll discuss it over a pint. First round on me.
But hey, if you’re scared by someone else’s opinion then I fully understand.
Let me know when you fancy it and I’ll even sort the ticket out for you if you need one?
Solid. I don’t know without taking a big hit on them.
And H. Please, whatever you do, don’t ban Garsguns or delete the above. Leave it up there. Free speech and all that.
Seen the gameand had few at me local!
What can we observe?
We can observe that we have got finally found out, there was no luck in that win what so ever!
The BEST team won and congrats to Man City! They were instructed to make our lives painful and they did just that and it could have been more!
It’s the set up! The good old Arsenal tactic, the players the way they get the free ride and will continue to do so until there is a change in management.
I don’t think Wenger has lost the dressing room. Those players will not put in a decent shift because they know they will get paid and everything on top is a bonus!
We didn’t really pose a threat and we are indeed in need of a drastic revamp….
Here was I hopin!
We are certainly going down the hill, the worst thing is no one knows how deep the wound will be for now anyway! The longer Wenger stays the longer the pain will remain. I honestly feel sorry for the guy because if he really thinks his players played well then he needs to step down even more.
I can understand you cant win them all bit the fact this lot didn’t even try today…end off!
And now for the bad news … everyone’s (except mine and Cynic’s) favourite greatest chance creator in all of Europe (except when they’re really needed) has signed a new contract for the next three and a half seasons, and for only a measly £350,000 a week. So plenty more blank days like today to be looked forward to by our starving strikers.
Do the decent thing, Arsene…
Cannot argue with any of Neville’s commentary on this
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/29326/11267931/gary-neville-calls-out-spineless-arsenal-during-carabao-cup-final-commentary
But just last year he was saying Wenger should stay in the job because there was nobody better. Well, Gary, all the stuff you say you have not liked for a long time stems from the man in charge.
And apparently, despite admitting that all the uncertainty over his future affected the team last year, the old fool is playing his “I don’t know if I’ll be here next season” game again now.
The board should make his mind up for him and sack him.
Today.
now everybody knows what T stands for
right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOvbDS5lv4
Did someone say Wilshere was man of the match?
Groundhog day again.
I’m no Wenger fan but I’ll just remind the bar that this rag tag assembly of players somehow managed to get to the cup final?
No one should be surprised by today. The result was a fair reflection of the difference between the two teams. Well done to Man City.
Well done to Stan as well…. you’ve achieved what you want, a reasonable investment that returns a profit. Still no need to change things from that point of view.
Well! Well! Well! Not all surprising that now was it?! ?
And we’ll probably be seeing it all once again on Thursday night, when an anticipated toxic atmosphere shall prevail at the Grove one again at the business-end of the season. ?
Think I’ll be giving that one a miss with my boy, who was in tears at Wembley throughout most of the second half. ?
As usual, one sees and reads some of the same mis-leading narratives materialising post another capitulation; and from some of the “same old, same old” within our passionate Gooner-verse! Trying to defend the now utterly intractable and openly indefensible, to excuse a now clearly “has-been”?! Quite incredible, and sad too! Their loyalty to that mere mortal human-being, is admirable. ?
Now, scientifically and pragmatically speaking (and you can employ whatever expert or lay-person’s Research Methods that you wish, in order to try to support or break down this hypothesis), only one man is wholly left to blame for what’s happening now! And that guy is the one who will pretty much now be leaving our Football Club in due course (and no matter what happens from here on in) with a far less of a glorious farewell, than he DID deserve for all that’s he’s done for us. It’s sad but hey, that’s modern life and contemporary Association Football; with all of the obscene money that’s now circulating within it (and that you DO take quite alot of it out yourself too Arsene, lest we have to be reminded of that?!).
Yes, the money has become crazy stupid since when you took over in 1996, and we were in not too dissimilar decline, but it DOES NOT excuse you any more, Matey! As a matter of fact, it only goes to highlight just how narcissistic and deluded you’ve become over the years, as your hiding places have become less and less to run to, season after season. Moreover, come May, you won’t have any of them left! Let me take a shot and tell you why!
English Professional Football, has made alot of money for you and for those that have been upstairs above you for over two decades. We as the extorted fans accepted that somewhat, even though you weren’t “getting the big things over the line” when it mattered, because we used to watch something that was “entertaining” once or twice a week that you were dishing up. That “fun” happened more often than not; but now, whilst that label of “the most expensive football team in the world to watch” remains firmly under your umbrella (and it continues to line your very own pockets aswell as that of Kroenke’s, without it seemingly looking like it’s going to be overturned and no Champions League cash for at least another upcoming season to drink champers over), Kroenke had better open up his arrogant and greedy eyes, and do something about it for his very own investment’s sake. You as his still retained Head Coach and Man Manager, are about to cost him, and Arsenal, dearly where it matters most – i.e. on the balance sheet which I’m sure he intends to keep on milking year-upon-year! ? ?
Sadly for all of those that have been rolling about in it for the past decade under the moniker of Arsenal Football Club, there’s no such thing as a free-lunch in this world any more; and our Club is no different to all of those other things in life that you’ve got over there in the good old US of A. The difference however with us here is this; we’ll all still be here even after you and your now failed Chief Operating Officer, have long fucked-off from making decisions that concern our glorious Club! ?
Now, tell your COO, Arsene, to get ready to “fuck off” in the Summer, if you really don’t want it to all go tits-up, and to turn its self back onto you and your boy Josh aswell! A now arguably majority of real Gooners, aren’t going to be taken-advantage-of-as-mugs anymore, Cowboy! ?
AFCOF! NAWF!
The only thing to add to your @128, Dapper Dan, is that the world looks different if you are the owner of a business than if you are its customer.
Ned @129,
Kroenke, like Abramovich has now seemingly begun to do, will soon see that owning a football club to make money, isn’t all that it’s cracked-up to be. Especially if he keeps on charging the very top dollar yet keeps on dishing-out dross to his “customers”!
“The customer is always right!” is s/he not? That’s Business 101, I’m quite reliably told?! ?
What worries me is that I went to Wembley and my team made me feel ashamed. Citeh are a very good side but our performance in the second half was laughable…and that first goal. Remember back to the Morata chances in the recent league game and the Forest Cup ties and see the absolute devastation that a simple punt up the middle causes to our defence whether it be a three or two man combination in the Centre .
Our support was abysmal , the fans anaesthetised by the creeping apathy and sickness at the club.
There is no one quick fix but obviously a new manager is the start but we need a new , progressive regime . Yesterday will have shown the new men how far we have slipped behind .
Applause for Dapper’s heartfelt post!!
That performance was reminiscent of the type of lack lustre couldn’t be bothered approach the Chav players engage in every time they want rid of their manager.
He blames Mustafi. He blames Aubameyang (probably because the signing was nothing to do with him). He blames the ref. He blames VAR. He blames luck. He sulks with “I don’t know” when asked will he continue (to create precisely the same uncertainty as last season all over again). This is now Wenger’s legacy. 1996-2006 is no longer a legacy, it’s a distant memory. Yes Stan is implicated for not moving him on but where is the manager’s pride and decency ? How many more elite player careers and promising young players are we going to let him destroy ?
I was just coming to post something and got trumped somewhat by Scgooner’s drink.
Martin Keown has spoken to The Mail and says two things I will take issue with.
First his assertion that “Wenger will be embarrassed” by the defeat. I don’t think so at all. His demeanour in the post match interview reeked of complacenc, smiling and almost shrugging his shoulders at the inevitability of losing, and the secure in the knowledge that nothing will lose him his job. Embarrassed? I don’t think he’s capable of that, his arrogance and obvious untouchability won’t allow it.
The second thing “alarm bells will be ringing at Arsenal”. No they won’t. At least not alarm bells anyone will take any notice of, they’ve been ignoring them for ten years, so why should another defeat this bad matter? They have the money rolling in no matter what, they’re comfortable and complacent with that. Results? Nobody cares any more.
Garsguns, you’re not banned, but I cannot have vitriolic personal abuse on here. We were all frustrated yesterday and you can make your point without resorting to that sort of language. Thank you.
You forgot to add “you c**t” after the word language, H 😉
I thought Steve T reacted very well to what was a pretty vicious attack on someone who bleeds red and white but is frustrated in the extreme by the current situation at the club.
I’ve recently been considering stopping posting on here because I’m saying the same thing and drawing the same conclusions every time but without constructively critical posts , boards like this become Untold Arsenal and that plays into Stan Kroenke’s hands. I certainly love this as a forum because I sense the love for the club. Football fans are never completely happy , or not for long anyway ( I knew United fans who wanted Ferguson sacked for years before he left) but we enjoy our successes, our past history and the banter involved in interacting around the club.
We have to be able to differ without rancour . Frankly Stan Kroenke isn’t going to kill my love for my club. Nor is Arsene Wenger . It’s just so sad it’s come to this.
Well said TTG and well responded Steve T.
The truth hurts (us all).
If we have not picked up at least 4 points in the next 2 games or if we have similar performances again against city and or Brighton then surely even our complacent board will be forced to act.
I think Gazidis will do the deed…
I think that alarm bells ringing cannot be ignored for much longer. The club do have a reputation to maintain even if it’s not obvious.
The real truth is that there has been gradual decline these past few seasons with no sign that the current manager & coaching staff have the ability to arrest this. It’s a sad moment but change is now due. In view of his history with the club this should be held back until the end of the season, then its ? for Mr Wenger ( and much of the coaching staff ). A fresh approach is sorely needed.
Agree with every word TTG but I would think anyone still coming here regularly will have noticed the swing to constructive criticism by nearly everyone. There may well be more in my piece tonight. I am looking for how to word it given that nearly every blog and newspaper I have seen today are pretty much of one mind.
I’m also inclined to review the Garsguns decision should an apology not be forthcoming.
Absolutely understand Holic. It’s important to keep a sensible perspective. I just keep getting fed up bemoaning some of the terrible mistakes we are making . It takes a toll on all of us.
I wish Jack Wilshere had kept quiet and not made himself look like a fool today.
Whatever you think about the refereeing, and I happen to think he is wrong on every moan he has, his team mates simply didn’t show up. Again.
To look anywhere else for reasons why we lost is pathetic. It’s down to the manager but mostly down to the attitude of the players. Nobody came out of that with any credit yesterday, but … but… it’s the ref’s fault.
Pathetic.
There will be happier posts, I’m sure. Just not tonight. >>>>>>>>>>