Not What We Wanted Going Into Another Break
Oct 4th, 2008 by 'holic
With no game for a fortnight the last thing we needed at Sunderland was a poor performance. In the cold hard light of day the Sunday papers will be commenting on a one-all draw.
It was such a confusing and strange afternoon to try and assess. We tuned in to the streams to be greeted with the news that Alex Song had replaced Samir Nasri. In the words of someone in another place, ‘That was unexpected, to me’.
This was not rotation. Nasri did not need a rest having played a whole one match in a row! Even more puzzling was the withdrawal of van Persie to the left hand side of a five man midfield. I looked up the fixture list again. This was Sunderland we were playing, wasn’t it?
The contest developed with both sides showing a criminal disregard for possession. Arsenal had one of those days where the creative spark seemed a million miles away, and Sunderland, desperate to keep ten bodies behind the ball, surprisingly had the better chances in the first-half. In rare raids Whitehead and Cisse were denied by good work from Kolo Toure and Manuel Almunia.
Thankfully the second period opened with Arsenal in more determined mood, and only an astonishingly poor decision by the assistant referee denied them the opening goal, when the previously quiet van Persie converted a cross from Theo Walcott. A flag indicating that the ball was out of play before the cross cut the celebrations short. Television suggested it was a bad call.
The need for a valid strike led to the introduction of Nicklas Bendtner, and somewhat surprisingly Walcott, rather than van Persie, made way. Theo had not enjoyed a good afternoon, but didn’t hide and kept going. He was unlucky, I think.
Nasri finally arrived in place of Denilson for the final fifteen minutes, but it was Sunderland who scored out of nothing and threatened to steal the points. Substitute Leadbitter produced a wonder strike and it looked as though a second consecutive defeat was on the cards.
Salvation arose in the unlikely form of a flying Cesc Fabregas header from a van Persie corner deep into injury time. Any relief was tempered though by the inescapable fact that a point was not what was required, or expected, from the Stadium of Light.
But for an errant flag the ‘holic pound would have been multiplied for the first time this season, and yet there remains the nagging feeling that, once again, we have looked short of where we need to be if any sort of title challenge is to be launched.
One thing is now abundantly clear. If we are to achieve anything in the domestic competition this season we will have to get positive results against the other members of the ‘big four’. Talk about making life difficult.
Understandably there is some scepticism in the air, and we have a fortnight before we can start to do anything about that.
57 Responses to “Not What We Wanted Going Into Another Break”
-Our brains just stopped working at the final third !
-Couldnt understand Nasri’s non start & Walcott substitution when he was looking the most threatning !
-I saw Denilson only ONCE today ! i thought we were playing with 10 men !
-Ball handling from our strikers at crucial positions – pathetic !
-Dont blame our defence.. gone are the days of Arsenal being a back 4 side..we have built an identity to attack…therefore the result should be more goals than the opposition rather than clean sheats – which if occurs is just a bonus
– Our best period of the match – just after half time – upto the 55th minute …but guess who killed our good moves…no i’m not wrong…i’v got the match taped…& i watched it again…its Fabregas out of all people !
– Arsene doesnt realise that Flamini leaving hasnt just created a hole in that DCM position it has affected Fabregas more than anybody else !
id like 20 vodka and red bulls please to drown my sorrows.
I love these optimistic fans. IF we beat the top four. What’ll it be next, “If a meteor blows up all the other teams, then we may win by default?” Was clear Wenger fucked it up at the start by simply not buying anyone. Oh well. Sigh.
is it me?i didn’t see much off the ball running into the D?Players like Nasri and walcott did all the running?. Fabregas and Adebayor,the spine of our team, have been looking quite tired of late.
You hit the nail right on Arsene’s head ‘holic. I couldn’t believe that we played such a formation against Sunderland, when we didn’t against Bolton and Blackburn, two teams that have given us problems in the past.
I think the two dropped points here go down more to Arsene’s team selection than anything else. Nasri for Denilson (or Song) and a balanced 4-4-2 would’ve been so much better. *Sigh*. As I write this ManU are 2-0 up at Blackburn.
We must find a way to be consistent and I’m not talking about being consistently inconsistent.
we do not seem to have a spear.In the middle of the park that can make a lung bursting run through the centre;but never fear this is our bad patch:).i hope!
dunjon…… shut the fuck up
we will have bad patches throughout the season.
i think wenger should have shuffled his pack more after the hull defeat. yes we beat porto, but they were a shambles. the hull defeat clearly hadn’t been forgotten and the same players basically took to the field today and did another poor job.
vela and bendtner have done enough to play ahead of rvp and adebayor after last week’s horror show, and yet both have had cameo’s from the bench in the two games since.
i am frustrated.
can i also have 6 bottles of merlot please.
lol
wenger,am sure,knows he should have played 2 strikers
Doesn’t help when you have a perfectly good goal disallowed though does it!
I really pity wenger a lot ‘cos this is just the begining his trying to cover up for the DMF that we do not have thereby revoking the formation to 4-5-1.Men i think wenger should be threatened a lil bit otherwise we will win no damn trophy this season here we say bye-bye to the trophy.my week is going to be very horrible.
If this “bad patch” continues I’m afraid it’ll be 2006 all over again fighting up until the final match to get 4th place; the difference being Aston Villa hot on our heels instead of Tottenscum….. I hate the fact that we have two weeks too go before the next match, thats a-long long way to go with a result like this; I love the Arse but it’s becoming hard to believe this is “Our” year…..
theo, you’re contribution says it all… let more intelligent bloggers speak. the team’s not looking good and it’s fans like you who can’t see straight that want to keep it that way. This squad is not convincing it’s most important audience – the opposition.
Interesting reading, a Sunderland fan here. I was actually at the match. And regularly at away games. You lads should try it.
I’ve not seen the replays, I was at the other end of the ground; everyone so far says they “suggest” the ball was in play – we’ll see.
If so, hard lines, that is bad luck – but it must have been the only decision that went against you; why wasn’t Bendtner sent off late on? His petulant shove on Chimbonda has to be violent conduct (as limp as it was) – and therefore a red.
anyway – my real point is – you are a joy to watch – even here, where we are were grafting and spoiling, (and I defend our right to do so; you can’t expect anyone to just lie down for you – and haughty condescension in response to it, from Wenger, Fabregas and Bendtner just makes you look like silly spoiled kids.)..
Even here – you still played with poise; grace and panache.
If Sunderland had a team like that – you wouldn’t get a ticket home or away for love of money. You couldn’t sell all your tickets at Sunderland. You should be ashamed of your selves. Even here, Goonerholic? You’re so addicted you had to watch it on a stream. Jesus.
Anyway – good luck for the season, my 6 happy years on Rotherfield Street, off Essex Road left a lot of good feeling for a marvellous club; but you’ll never have the passion or real support of Sunderland.
I’ve no prob with 4-5-1, but RVP never looks at home out wide. If it had to be 4-5-1 then Nasri had to start. Personally I would have 4-4-2’ed it.
Come on, fellas. I was surprised too that Nasri didn’t start. i think he deserved to. But this was Sunderland lead by the man who walked out on his country in the World Cup because his ego was too big. They shouldn’t have caused us a problem and it’s lame to try and lay the result at the door of Nasri instead of Song. On paper, the eleven starters should have been MUCH more than enough.
Inspiration and creativity on the field, not on the selection sheet was the problem. On occasions like this (their frequency is increasing) Arsenal fall into the rut of a slow, slow build up. Having reached the opposition’s box, the ball goes across, back, across again, then one of three things happens:
– one of the full backs thumps it aimlessly into a packed box
– we try a 1% success forward flick or back heal (Ade, Eboue)
– we pass back down the field to Almunia and start all over again
Today, there was no width on the left. Theo tried on the right but was very poor. Our build up was slow, hence the three steps above.
I think AW probably had this marked down as an away win. A good opportunity to try out 1) Cesc in a forward role 2) Denilson for Cesc 3) Song providing defensive mid-field cover. Apart from Cesc’s goal, it didn’t come off. All three morphed into a similar role. Cesc’s contribution was diminished (he looks tired to me).
Why was it like this and not the flare play we’ve seen pretty much every time we’ve won this season? It must be partly attitude and commitment. We’ve got to want it more.
Today, changes at half time could have moved our wheels out of the rut. Nasri for Theo was a half time must. BUT he should have gone out to the left wing, not inside right position. Adebayor off for Bendtner was the other call that was needed. If Vela’s going to come on, he needs more than a cameo last few minutes.
I’m not bemoaning Flamini, Hleb, Gilberto’s departure. Remember the post-Birmingham draws last year? They were justlike today. We’ve got a great squad. Just got to get them playing their best every week. Easy as that!
I also have no problem with 451. I also think it’s ridiculous to suggest Bendtner should have been sent off. More dangerous things happen in the EPL that people are not sent off for. But I also think we need to play Bendtner and Vela more. They are more creative than the Adebayors and Denilsons. But I’m not as pessimistic as the other fans seem to be. Arsenal have a great squad but it needs to find its identity still. What’s Wenger supposed to do exactly that he hasn’t done already?
Dave, I’ve followed Arsenal all over Europe, and yes to Sunderland. Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain the rows and rows of empty seats available only to those wonderful and passionate real supporters today? Then come back and explain why I should be expected to leave my sick partner, and spend a weeks wages on a twelve hour round trip to a place your passionate Mackems can’t be arsed to go to!
dave mck, the gulf in class doesn’t end with our players, our fans don’t stoop to gloating on another clubs’ blogs. Your team played wel enough and I like your ‘spoiled kids’ remark as I have to agree but you should show the opposition as much respect as your own team who only came to defend, squirted off a lucky shot and sank back even further only to concede.
Wenger has lost the plot in tacticle battles
Abe cant hold the ball up hit a barn door from 5 yards
Why is vela only given such a short time give him at least half an hour
If Denilson is ment to be our defensive Midfeilder then why play Song aswell why didNasri not start?
I am puzzled Arsen
Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrink!
Dave i think the first thing you should do is to mind ur own club and if u have concernin mine, reserve it to ur own self.
For our team,we really have to know y this inconsistency keeps hittin us.we do some matches as if we can never lose any then fall so low to teams that wycombe can beat.for sunderland,neva xpected them to attack cos they know they would lose and any team u know u can lose to, u grab a point which is what they almost did(tho they almost won).
I do not hav probs wit fab/den partnership but my real concerns is wit our strike force n defence.for the past 2 seasons,we have been gambling wit ade n im so much positive that if this trial was done wit bendtner,we wud hav had a beta striker.van has neva been der so we shud just pray his injury waits out til edu returns.gallas is a hollow pipe so a better cb shud be bought. Til then,we shud jus watch and pray we make it into the first 4 and try again next season.
I have not seen today’s game yet, only listened to the match on 5 live. However, the impression given is an opinion that I have had for some time now. For all our skill and fantastic football I still believe we lack true leaders. At places like this on a cold windy day we really miss the likes of Adams, Keown, Vieira etc etc…The list could go on and on. I just don’t see anyone grabbing players like they would have and motivating them in the same way. I know we had a goal chalked off that should not have been. But from what I heard that just seems to paper over the cracks. If we really have title aspirations then sides like Sunderland need to de dispatched. As do the likes of both both Hull and Fulham. Let’s all be honest. When the fixture list was published we were all expecting us to be flying high and unbeaten at this stage???????? Please tell me if I am wrong?
For all the talent we have we still lack experience. I was not Falmini’s biggest fan but we miss a player like him. The fact that we are now into October and still do not know what our best midfield is I find worrying. Arsene had said pre-season that Diaby was the likely starter. I struggle to remember the time when he was not injured.
I love the fact that we produce such great talent from youngsters. Something I am very proud of. I just wish that there was a just the odd occasion when we would recognise that the odd signing as an addition rather than a replacement for someone, would not go a miss.
We now lose the majority of the squad for International week. Lets just hope that they all return fit and well. Then some arses need to be kicked and sleeves rolled up. The talent is undeniable. We now need to discover how much fire is in those bellies…….
I have a feeling adebayor should be rested….i LIKE adebayor,but his ball control is not good enough.. he doesnt run enough as he used to because he knows his place is safe…But i would love to see bendtiner and vela start…Vela can use his magic to give us the goals we need.we looked flat today…I don’t know what it is, but we are lacking something…may it is cesc, who has not played to his standards,i guess cesc is restricted,because he does not have a good partner….
I saw adebayor today when fab scored he(ade) did not celebrate….when we needed a second goal he handled the ball, friends get me right i am not slating adebayor but i have a feeling he thinks he can’t be rested,hence not doing enough as he used to …
vela and bentiner should start
how much would Viera cost really ?
i mean just buy him for the sake of leadership…
there has to be some link between wenger & the players – by a middle aged senior pro…
it isnt happening now…NO-BODY is taking it into their own hands to push the team through when its not working…Gallas seems to think only about himself – about his efforts…no matter what people say about terry…the guy spends more time pushing others than himself…
toure is too soft…
fabregas well…
might as well get silvestre in..to use his french seniority
2 frustrated weeks. Bendter in may be vela. But ade does not deserve a start. Denilson should head to d bench. Fab played similar role @ kyiv and it did not work why try it again. wenger lacks guts. I bet nest match nasri only change we see. No AKBS.
I honestly didn’t come to gloat. Gloat? It was only a draw; at home!! Nowt to gloat about. And I only stumbled across your site – when searching for Sunderland news.
Having seen the Bendtner episode again, I agree – not a sending off. daft though. Your young gifted players need to realise they can’t get away with petulance all the time – (just most of it, it seems!)
re the empty seats – MOTD the day made it look worse than it was – it was lashing down! ah the Riviera of the north!! But, yes, again the ground wasn’t full. But its 72 years since we saw a Top flight winning team. 72 years. And there were still more than 40k there, and we sell out away from home. All the time. I’m not knocking any individual – honest – for the lad with the sick partner – of course you should stay with her (I guess it’s a her!) – this is only football – life is more important – I’m just surprised you don’t sell out every week everywhere – you are a model of what a football club should be – real grace and flair. I’d give my left nut to have your young players. (Not to bothered about Song though!)
And even you bloggers have been pretty kind to a wandering soul.
Kind regards and good luck.
Having now watched the game on Sky I am even more disappointed. We just seemed to lack any sharpness. I have no complaints with the way Sunderland played. We have no devine right to expect teams to play open football against us. Lets be honest, it should really be no shock. And I would hazzard a guess that they will not be the last team to use that tactic this season.
I thought we looked far sharper and a lot more threatening when Bendtner came on. I also think we played far too narrow. Why play 4 at the back when they play 1 up front??? Take off a full back and put Nasri on. Move RVP up front. Play 3 across the back, Song holding and play with some width. Try and spread the play? Just an idea.
Dave. I have no idea how many Arsenal fans made the trip. What I do know is that we sold out our allocation of tickets 2 weeks ago. In fact I can not remember the last Premier League game where we did not sell our allocation.
Dave Mck – I agree with you about a large number of us not realising how good with have it; although maybe losing a left nut might be a bot extreme!!!
I’m so p1ssed of with supporters who think we have a right to win every game and even criticise when we win 4 – 0 in Europe. I love the football we play and I personally would rather watch that every week than sacrifice the spectical for trophies.
At the SoL I was so frustrated at Sunderland’s lack of ambition. They parked a number 12 in front of the goal and then got a flukey goal on the break. Another goal of the season contender – that’s two in a week – why does that always happen to us. Another crap refereeing decision – are we the unluckiest club in Europe or what.
Anyway – how typical of Keano to once again frustrate Arsenal and then fluke a winner. Talk about luck of the Irish!!!
Still, whilst I hated SAFC’s tactics, (YOU WERE AT HOME FOR F’s SUCK) I can see why they did it and fair play to them. At least they fought and closed down within the rules and through hard work etc, rather than just trying to kick us off the park, like teams from the west side of ooop north.
I back AW 100% and I’d trust him with my wife and mortgage. Gooner for Ever
I was hoping Bendtner would start for Ade. Why is it that in the context of the rotation policy Ade is never rested?
I completely agree with the other comments re Nasri and Walcott’s inclusion (or lack of) in the match. The team looked very one dimensional.
Denilson’s inclusion is causing problems at the moment – not only in attack but also defence. Defending is a collective responsibility and at the moment players seem a little lost as to what their role is.
I thought Song looked quite positive though. Given a few more games he could make a real impact. The next home match should feature Cesc and Song in the midfield along with Nasri and Walcott.
Positives:
– Cesc worked his ass off all day, he scored and showed immendous pride in scoring a goal. He’s getting back to his best.
– Walcott is still looking a danger from the right,
– Our defending was for the most part solid
– Almunia is looking like a rock in goals
– While we had a lot of possession, we weren’t sharp we still got a point
Negatives:
– Adebayor’s work rate is a shadown of last years. His first touch is appaling and he never tackles or chases defenders.
– RvP – inconsistent but still had an allright game (bit harsh to call him a negative
– Song was largely commanding in DM, but shouldnt be afraid to tackle.
– Denilson still tries to play too much like Fabregas.
– The tactics
– The referees are still making comical errors. It seems to me that when it comes to the ball being close to the line, if in doubt, the linesman calls it out. Now unless that linesman was 100% certain that ball was out, which surely he wasnt, then how can he call it out.
I will say it again..adebayor should be rested still..His first touch is appalling.He can’t control the ball, he doesn’t run as he used to,i think its because he knows that he can;t be dropped..Iam disapointed in him…….
I still belive bentiner and vela should be given chance, because their partinership is the best at the moment.Thats my opinion….
Guys, I think everyone is overreacting. There is no way Ade should be dropped for Bendtner. He was excellent against Bolton away, scores a hattrick against Blackburn… too good to drop. It is far better going through the winter still in the pack than charging ahead and running out of steam in February… Utd aren’t worried and look at their start to the season. We have good players to come back and fit players who can play much better and will… Toure, Fabregas, Nasri, Sagna – top class players who will be better in February than they are now. We just need to stay in the pack…
Not the result I had hoped for after touching my feet upon Englsh soil for the firdt time after my two week 3060 mile tour de france. Most disappointing.
I was not surprised that Nasri was left out yesterday. It was always going to be a tough game up there. I don’t blame Arsene for opting to play 451 either. What I would say though, is that as the game unfolded it became clear that Sunderland would be delighted with 0-0. Why not then switch to 442, pushing RVP further forward?
I don’t agree that Bendtner should start in place of Ade, but once it becomes clear that Ade’s not at his best, I think Bendtner should be a direct replacement for him, rather than sacrificing Walcott.
The main problem though, is that just like the Hull game, we let the tempo drop. When we play with a bit more urgency, defenders get mentally tired and make mistakes. Sunderland defended comfortably for most of the game because we weren’t sharp enough to keep posing problems.
For instance, last season Reading parked the bus at home. Their defence and midfield worked their tabs off keeping us out, but every time they cleared the ball, we relentlessly brought it straight back to them. When we do that, it’s only a matter of time before we breakthrough.
Oh, and can we have video replays ffs! I don’t believe the lino could have had a clear view, and as such he surely can’t call it out.
Just a mineral water for me please ‘holic… ermmm… *looks for Eau list*
Welcome back mollusc. You were missed. I have a feeling a shortage of water is something that will not affect us today!
Dave, thanks for arguing your points succinctly and without (too much!) malice. Visiting supporters like you will always be welcome here. Just to let you know the only away game we don’t normally sell out is Blackburn, and that is because, as I’m sure you’ll be aware, they give us a quarter of the tickets because they can’t sell them! I’ll take your point about the rain because on second viewing the empty seats at BOTH ends appeared to be at the front. I know a good number of our lads would have gone to stand at the back.
Hope it goes well for you fella.
I haven’t posted on here lately because I thought my views weren’t sufficiently ‘in tune’ with the site, but I have to agree with most of what has been said about yesterday.
I can’t understand why Nasri didn’t play (I haven’t heard that he was injured). He didn’t ned to be rested with the internationals coming up.
Playing RVP out wide didn’t work. For me, the biggest mistake was not making changes earlier – the old lack of a plan ‘B’.
Bringing on Vela with only 15 mins to go and taking off Theo confused me. Theo wasn’t having his best game and the heavy conditions hampered his style, but he still looked as though he could be dangerous.
Ade was ineffective and looked lost. He didn’t get into the box when the wingers/full backs were charging forward.
I can’t ever remember AW subbing Ade – yesterday I certainly would have. I just wish he would make substitutions earlier and the team would play with the determination they showed in the last 5 minutes to put us in front (by more thanm one goal) and avoid dropping points to this level of opposition.
Never be put off just because we don’t all agree on things Rasputin. Healthy and respectful debate is always welcome. I am one of the glass-half-full bloggers, but clearly not all is right. I just get the hump with people who over-react. Good to see you back.
Cheers ‘holic. I cannot believe how miserable it is here (weather wise!). Hope all is well with you and Mrs ‘holic.
Agree with KK, we just need to stay in the pack and hope Wenger can correct some things in January. The most disappointing aspect of our current form has to be the midfield not the forwards or defense. Some seasons ago our midfield was a juggernaut masked as a thing of beauty. Delicate and delightful one-two’s and combinations everywhere, seemingly without effort we could stretch opponents to the breaking point with possesion on the flanks and we could close down our opponents’ counter attacks before they hit midfield. Now, the fluency and creativity appears lacking and intermittent and our oppenents are relatively unencumbered as they surge dangerously deep and offered unmarked shooting opportunities. Many of our players are still in the ‘potential’ stage and it needs to be acknowledged by those who can do something about it.
Even the best strikers can’t score every game but a little more effort from ours wouldn’t hurt. When the strikers can’t get it done we should have the players who can unleash from outside with effect, Nasri has a decent shot but do we really have effective midfield shooting ability? We still lack sufficient wide play which relies on a competent midfield and leads to our ‘dribble it in’ or ‘perfect goal’ syndrome. Our defense is just ok, but a stronger midfield also wouldn’t leave them as exposed.
goonerholic – fair do’s, I stand corrected, maybe it was just the weather, sold out seats empty cos folk were stood at the back, your lads did all seeme to be standing. and the wind will have been whipping rain in on teh front few rows. I’m relieved, cos (and this was why I wrote), I’d despair of football if arsenal couldn’t sell out at sunderland.
best of luck for the season.
Dave Mck, we did sell all our tickets, there were certainly no spares around me in access 722. Plenty in the home end though, nice to hear the Keane chants responded to with a firm Vieira chant from the Arsenal fans. Sunderland fans are generally more down to earth and well humoured than their Geordie cousins, on this evidence Dave Mck would be more at home in black and white.
we were piss poor. midfield was crap and again wengerhole fucked up with his formation
he has go fast, or watch the arse win nothing again
if only the board had balls to say, you are here to win games and trophies, not plays with th elittle boys
fucking useless frog…….
Danny on the other hand would not be out of place at White Hart Lane………
Danny, you are a prize tw*t. Our board has got the balls to be patient, and resist knee-jerk reactions at every little setback.
Unfortunately, Arsene was unable to sign a DM in the summer. He is known to have bid for Alonso, Inler and Mbia, maybe others we don’t know about. It didn’t happen. That’s life.
Occasionally, he gets the formation/game plan wrong – not often though.
I guess you’re pretty young Danny, as you seem to want success right now. I want success too, but if I can’t have it now, it’ll be all the sweeter when it does come. I’ve been a gooner for a long time. Pre-Wenger, we were often unsuccessful, generally dull and boring, sometimes dull, boring and unsuccessful. All the while, the mob up the road were admired for the quality of their footy.
Arsene Wenger has absolutely transformed this club, and made it into something special, something to be proud of.
Give him a break, or f*ck off and support the scum at the Bridge.
Danny, shall we try that again, in a way that would encourage people who share your displeasure not to cringe.
‘we were piss poor’ would have been better expressed as ‘We didn’t play very well’
‘I was surprised at the formation and personnel’ would have been preferable to an absurd personal attack on the man who has won more trophies than any other Arsenal manager.
And that third part of your contribution to the debate belongs in the gutter, a place with which I am sure you are entirely familiar…
If we are going to go to places like Sunderland and not play with two up front and not start with Nasri we deserve what we get. The Leadbitter strike was entirely predictable given our propensity to lose the ball in the wrong places, and we will be vulnerable to that all season. The goal that wasn`t was just one of those things, and it shouldn`t have made a difference to the result. Whatever happened to the “we are the Arsenal and we play the game our way, you try and stop us” attitude.
I am going to close my eyes as i say this…!! the truth is we miss the creativity of Helb and the fighting spirit of flamin.I guess that has affected cesc……big time.Thats why we need to use nasri as much as possible because he creates and also scores…as we wait for rosicky to come back….we need adebayor and the rest have to get into the box as our wingers cross….thts wat pires and the vieras used to do..
J rock, I think you’re on to something, but hleb proved a bit slight for the epl by his own admission and we just mismanaged flam. It’s troubling about cesc though, he seemed to hang his head a bit here and there as if he knows something’s not quite right , which is absolutely the last thing we need as he already has much on his shoulders. It’s been said so many times and i’m flattened to have to say it again but an inspirational signing wouldn’t help only the fans. Looking forward to eduardo’s return and hoping this bischoff guy can impress. And yes, clearly we dont’ provide the crosses we used to as another means to break down defense minded schemes, unfortunatley with our height it usually ends up as just another way to lose the ball. If wenger complains about a congested midfield good teams can always find space usually nearer the touchlines. Bewildering.
i want sod gone
great reading again … i like bergkamp’s the man’s positivity, and many of his points infact. we need that positivity… come on this is not the be and end of it all !!! plus when we beat everton in 2 weeks we will all be happy again
plus liverpool have to play chelsea in about 3 weeks … so let’s not get too carried away …. we are only 7 games in
and i totally agree with J-Rock about nasri ….
i’m gonna say it nasri can become a 15 goal a season pires …. and yes his width was sorely missed … i believe i holic’s pre-match message he referred to the delight of possibly seeing nasri and walcott down the flanks …. alas it didn’t happen this week …. but it will happen …. wenger probably didn’t want nasri getting kicked all over the park just back from injury …. and he is still a bit defensively naive and has only started a few prem league games so far …. i expect him to start normally… give this team time it’s real A1 eleven was awesome against porto … and there is no doubt
i agree that the cesc denilson partnership hasn’t quite kicked into gear … i think of course the main reason for this is that they are too similar … denilson seems to be getting forward into the roles that cesc occupied last season and fabregas’ game has slightly faltered as he has had to be a slightly more defensive midfielder
hence maybe arsene’s reason to try him further up on saturday … it worked for spain … and we know cesc has the ability
i agree though that decision seemed to not get the best out of RVP, i personally feel that robin is the best striker we have got and he needs to play as a striker … whether ade should be dropped ?? i don’t know …. my initial reaction is …. “he can’t be” he is the type of player who can make something happen, and though bendtner and vela have looked impressive from the bench i still feel they are just that – bench players. They Will get better …. but give them a bit of time
the worrying element to me is the fact that even though we get 30 a match we seem to be unable to do anything with / or against corners (i know cesc corner this week … but cmon how often does that happen) still … i cringe everytime we give one away… and it is embarrasing how little we create from our own opportunities
it’s hard to take a lot from the weekend …. but a point away up north where we usually tend to slip up … it’s not all bad but must do better
great reading once again all!!
danny the dick!!! a man that i am sure led many a premier league team to multiple title wins!!! CUNT!!!
was very dissappointed in the performace. I am a big Song fan , but saturday was not his best. too easy in surrendering possession.
Damn international break!!! BLEHHHHHH!!!!!!!
that Vela kid is really something, huh?
Azza, cheers geezer. email removed. You don’t want to get as many spam mails as I get, trust me 😉
Goonerholic, do you truly want another tropless season or you are one of the “Arsene knows ” people
we are going backwards and i cannot bear it anymore.