Can Gunners Feast On After Eights?
Oct 24th, 2014 by 'holic
So we are looking for a turning point. Or did that arrive in the final two minutes in Brussels? Arsenal’s need for three points at Sunderland this weekend is more about establishing, or maintaining, some momentum. We had hoped that the win at Villa Park would be the springboard for a healthy run of confidence-boosting performances. It wasn’t. As Arsene conceded in his press conference we are consistent, but not yet efficient. That’s one way of putting it.
Sunderland have good reason to produce the sort of concerted defensive performance against which we have struggled so far this season. Last week’s eight goal drubbing at Southampton could affect them in a number of ways. With the attacking otions available to us we should really go for the jugular, but ruthless we have not been thus far. Have the manager and his coaching staff got the message right this week? A purple patch will materialise, and the sooner the better.
The team news is that Jack Wilshere is ruled out by suspension, and only Wojciech Szczesny will be back, although Theo Walcott should hopefully be available next week. The Polish ‘keeper will probably return behind an unchanged back four, Nacho Monreal’s experience likely to give him the edge over a recall for Hector Bellerin.
It is in midfield where the interesting selections lie. The engine room was the strength of the side when we clicked last season but it is fair, I think, to say they haven’t hit the ground running as yet this season. It would not be a surprise to see Mikel Arteta return in place of the shouting, pointing, and clapping leader that is Mathieu Flamini. Aaron Ramsey probably has a box to box role nailed on, Which means a choice between Santi Cazorla or Tomas Rosicky in as a ‘number ten’.
Alexis must be the first name on the teamsheet on one flank, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may get the other, although Lukas Podolski will be hoping his last-gasp winner against Anderlecht will see him in the frame to link up with Danny Welbeck.
Sunderland have their own injury problems, particularly at the back. Does that sound familiar. They don’t have the bodies to make wholesale changes to the side humbled last week, but we all know that under such circumstances a team can produce a reaction.
It is important that Arsenal start brightly and pressurise a Mackem side who will surely start nervously. Allowing them an early foothold would encourage those on the pitch and in the stands alike. The home support is key to restoring confidence to their heroes. Let’s keep them quiet and apply pressure from the off.
The ‘holic pound is guided by caution, made nervous by our two wins in eight league starts. Sunderland will attempt to defend in depth and strike on the counter. We have lacked creativity largely so far. A famous scoreline appeals. One nil to the Arsenal is also the bookies favourite, but 7/1 looks decent value to me.
To those making the long jouney to the north-east, have a good trip and here’s hoping the boys put on a performance for you and secure a second consecutive win. To the rest of you let’s hope that there are some decent streams around to enable us to follow the action from afar.
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Have a great weekend, ‘holics.
177 Responses to “Can Gunners Feast On After Eights?”
Whacks one in from outside the area
Thirst.
The Makems result last week was not the best thing to happen before we turn up there tomorrow.
Just win, Arsenal.
Goonerholic wins the chocolate pun of the week for this headline.
A fine preview, guv’nor. It’s becoming harder and harder to maintain any sort of optimism as the injuries mount up and the good run stubbornly refuses to start; I really appreciate the effort.
When I say I’ll take 3 points, however they come, that is exactly what I mean.
COYG
Heh @ the title! We’ll be minted if we can Makem seconds! Up the Arse! COYBG! Manure’ll beat the Chavs and it’ll just be 8 and the Invincibles mantle shall remain!
Hehe, thanks Esso 🙂
The Tony Adams Number – off to read the maestro.
OK -the RP & now the Ian Wright x 3 number
@THEgoonerholic
A pleasure mate. Really hope we can meet up soon. There’s a few of youse I miss lots, starting with your good self.
It will happen. That’s a fact.
Fine preview maestro.
I have a nervous feeling about this one based as much on our failure to click as on the likelihood as you observe, that the Makkems will play for damage limitation from the off – they will play as if they were the visitors with 2 rows of 4 and aim to catch us on the break.
An early goal, as you note, is essential to shiver their timbers and if achieved could see them crumble. However the longer it goes on the more frustrating it will be and we will need to show our determination to keep going right to the end.
I’ll bite your hand off now for 1-0 to the Arsenal.
I did rather like After Eights once upon a time. Hopefully tomorrow will revive that emotion.
Two Brandy Alexanders on the bar for Holic and Esso. 🙂
Very good preview but I’ve yet to read a bad Holic preview !
I keep applying last season’s standards to this season ‘s team and as my pessimistic post on Thursday indicated we are nowhere near that level . The one who worries me is Ramsey.he is playing like the very tentative lad of two seasons ago. This time last year he was the best player in the country and settled this match along with our new shiny signing Mesut Ozil. If he can reach anything like that level we will benefit enormously and it will lift the whole team. We should stuff them but much will depend on us starting fast and getting a grip on the game. Personally I hope Chambers moves into the centre and young Bellerin gets the chance to play right back. Montreal really is no CB( not his fault) and I hope Arteta will bring some stability in the holding role. It is a familiar ground for Welbeck who first emerged there and I hope he might settle this in our favour. I’m going for a 2-0 win without too much confidence.
Holic and Esso are delighted by the Brandy Alexanders, a welcome treat sir, thank you. 🙂
Nice one guv’.
The posts coming thick and fast this week, finally caught up on them all.
For the third time in a week I’ll be forced to go stream hunting to get my Arsenal fix, so glad that I pay for all those extra sports channels, damn you Murdoch.
Don’t know about the after eights but maybe we can hope for the eye candy of more than one Arsenal goal. Looking for positively oriented subplots since the main one has been a downer to this point, maybe tty is right about Welbeck shining on his return to an old happy hunting ground (where he never hunted groundhogs by the way). Bellerin should get the start if AW can get over his old conservative ways, and Arteta to bring his own ray of sunshine. Come on the big 3 points and positive outlook.
I agree Guv’. A nervy 1nil seems on the cards.
Just win baby. I think it’s time to resurrect a time-honored mantra…
BMBD
Two nil down , five two up. Break the piggy bank and wager every penny on a thrill a minute goal fest.
Stand on me, this squad is about to come good.
keep the faith.
Thanks, Holic.
A rare piece of neutral narrative – if not exactly brimming with confidence – in a pretty dire week.
Ttg,
Excellent post in the previous bar.
I remember Holic, particularly, offering a welcome to Kroenke with cautious optimism when he achieved his majority holding. Not really having any information on him and, therefore, no opinion, I was a little surprised at the caution as he seemed a far better option to me than Usmanov.
The way that every last pound has been squeezed out of us supporters, fans, customers – I have no idea what he thinks we are, other than loaded with never ending supplies of cash – has left me in little doubt.
My alter ego PHW was dead right: We don’t want his sort round here.
While our on field performance is just good enough to attract the improved commercial deals that keep the value of his shares moving ever upwards, he otherwise allows the club to slowly choke through inertia.
It must be fairly obvious that communication has broken down somewhere, or everywhere, between the manager, the scouting department, the medical team and the players.
When taken to task by the shareholders at an AGM – not just a press gang at the back door – the members of the board make no bones about refusing to offer any explanations about anything.
A ticket price rise, transfer policy, squad building, special payments for “excellent services” – all brushed under the Diamond Club’s luxury carpets.
Well, I have stood on the terraces at Highbury through season after season of not very special stuff at all, but it was fun. We were what we were – sometimes glorious, sometimes unlucky, sometimes awful and, finally, boring boring Arsenal – and we made a badge of honour out of it.
Now I don’t know what we are, other than a human cash machine for an absent owner to take remote withdrawals from whenever he feels so moved.
I don’t want us to become the latest financially doped member of the Premier League. Winning trophies when it is expected and facilitated through vast artificial wealth will very quickly lose it’s appeal. Anything less than first becomes a failure, while winning is demanded and taken for granted.
I am idealistic enough to want us to somehow discover another Dennis Bergkamp, surround him with another Henry, Pires, Vieira, Brady and a Tony Adams, and triumph through our own brand of innovation.
In truth, I too am on the brink of chucking it in.
Like Holic, I will go when I can, I will always love The Arsenal, and I will hurt through every game I miss.
But I will only be taken for a mug for so long.
We are in deep doodoo when you are talking like that Trev. I honestly believe the difference between us now and the mid 70s and mid 80s when we really were utter shite was that it was cheap, relatively, to watch, so we stuck with it and formed a circle.
We are so much better now than then, but paying a King’s ransom to watch a team that will not lift the title. For some that price is too much to bare.
It will change.
I hope so, Holic. Hope so.
Wow Trev, stirring stuff with some very valid points.
Interesting isn’t it. We’ve kept the faith for so long, for some of us (excluding me) this goes back years before Silent Stan with the dodgy soup strainer ever turned up. But through the years of just being 2-3 signings short of a title push, regularly now, the apparent contentment with status quo looks like it might finally have come unstuck. The summer signings came and I was delighted with Alexis but blind to the scandal that was unfolding in defence. No doubt yourself or another with a keener football brain than mine would have pointed it out.
There are some fairly strong indications that Stan likes Arsenal just as it is right now, reasonably competitive against most teams, occasionally great to watch and not forgetting the deal breaker, keeping him in caviar! Why would he bother insisting on pushing for the title? Way more expensive than keeping things as they are now.
Trev @18,
Excellent post Monsieur and I 110% concur with every single piece of that prose! To barely get change for £50 when you go to a home game with your boy takes the piss when you’re dished up drivel as of the latter years. Every now and then I let me boy onto YouTube to watch the early Arsene years and the Invincibles side so as to keep the faith that the mesmerising, blistering and mercurial football will return every week for him to watch but it’s getting more difficult to convince him these days that those big-trophy chasing times will return again! We’re not even expansive and entertaining to watch anymore like we were in the thrifty years characterised by the birth of “Arsene ticky-tacky” with our army of senior midgets and midget kids!
Is it all Kroenke’s fault of late? I guess we’ll never know whilst the on-field status quo and stagnation is tolerated by the majority of fans! We’ll just have to wait and see what things look like mid-January Transfer window time; when we’re reaching, yet again, “crunchy-time February”! Arsene’s apparently got 20 million to spend! Where have I heard that before…Up the Arse; and that’s where many of us feel we’re being screwed right now!
But we still go every week! We must enjoy it “up there”!
Billionaires have been known to lose touch with reality, especially with the real value of money. Stan probably thinks the cost of football at his Ems is reasonable compared to a night out at Crockfords or whatever his pleasure may be.
A couple of drinks ago you costed your dedication to Arsenal, Trev, and I was astonished. I hope you read my admiration for your support, because you really deserve better treatment (not to mention results) than you’re getting in return.
Öskar
Dr F … in answer to your Amy Lawrence question in the last round, the movie woman is an American Amy Lawrence who, I think it safe to assume, doesn’t think of her Arse in quite the same way as you or I or her Guardian namesake.
Jennifer Lawrence, on the other hand, now her arse would be well worth thinking about…
Öskar
We should be salivating at the thought of tackling a team who shipped 8 goals in their last game, but lip-licking in nervous anticipation would be more appropriate currently. How sad is that.
I really can’t see us losing or even drawing, but I really don’t know what to expect – especially with both Jack and that other guy missing from the 10 spot. The most likely replacement, Rambo, Santi and TR7 have shown very little lately so unless they suddenly find form it’s up to poor Alexis to carry us through again.
And ffs give Poldi a run in the middle, AW, with Danny and Ox either side and Alexis as playmaker behind. I doubt last week was the fault of Mannone, but I imagine seeing Poldi lining up against him this week would be a lot scarier than Danny.
Öskar
Shares sentiments Trev despite not having your longevity. It’s that sense of being taken for a mug by a venture capitalist that really rankles.
Anyhoo, go win Arsenal and cheer us all up.
Hello ‘holics,
Nice preview ‘H. I think this will be a difficult game especially after a midweek away tie which was quite physically challenging
A draw is written all over it but I really hope we find the reserves of energy to get an early goal and seal it.
Alexis particularly has worked his arse off in all the games so far, I worry for him a little bit
Anyway, as others have said. Just win please, Arsenal
Cheers
Anything less than 15-0 is a FAIL
Wenger out
🙂
Right, I am now about to do what it is all about:
Head off to the pub.
🙂
Yes, Oskar, I did thanks.
I am far from the only one.
Holic travels in from out West every weekend home game at least.
Lars travels from Sweden when possible, zico from Scotland.
Bath travels in from, er, bath.
And snowy ! Snowy is at every game, home, away and abroad.
Tabs, Esso, And Lester – where is AL ? – and many more.
Take our passion, and many many more like us, out of the ground and replace it with day trippers, tourists and others who want to “see what The Emirates is like” and enjoy your product Mr Kroenke.
Sorry, the above was a comment on their financial commitment only. Not whether they are likely to stop attending. But there must be a limit.
Everyone has a limit. Tim Stillman articulated it very well. My limit is very, very close. As clearly are your own and Holic’s.
For me the piss taking, money grabbing cynicism has to stop.
I’ve watched and supported enough poor football teams over the years for the lack of silverware not to matter but there is definitely a correlation between how much it costs and how prepared one is to put up with treated as helpless wallet fodder.
Pivotal game today I feel. Get a win by all means necessary, then make the most of a 7-day break while the Lge Cup takes centre-stage during the week, and then hit the ground running with those winnable matches prior to the next international break: Burnley, Anderlecht, Swansea….
Sunderland represent interesting opposition post-their 8-0 walloping. On the one hand, get into them early, score an early goal (or better still, two) – and then their fragile confidence and vulnerabilities will be exposed. However, they’re bound to come out all guns blazing – partly through determination to right the wrongs of last week, but also b/c lesser teams think the best way to play Arsenal at home is to ‘get stuck into them’ from the off. Expect Cattermole to by flying into Sanchez, Cazorla et al! Irrespective of all that, man-for-man we’re better than them, and I’d like to think if we’re properly motivated and on our game, we will win this.
Here’s the team I’d like to see today:
Sczcesny; Bellerin, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla; Sanchez, Welbeck, Ox.
I’d personally play Chambers at CB ahead of Monreal as Sunderland’s biggest threat today is likely to be through the air, though I think Wenger will stick with Nacho b/c he doesn’t like Per or Calum as left-sided CB. I’d also rest Flamini, Wilshere (suspended anyway) and Welbeck – though I see the logic in keeping Danny in, as he may be extra-motivated to put on a good show against a former club.
And re: the conversation about the corporatisation of Arsenal. I personally haven’t got to the Emirates much over the last handful of years – mainly due to personal reasons: geographically difficult, travelling, being a student, having a very limited expendable income etc. That said, ever since the latter days of Highbury and the early days of the Emirates, I objected to the club using my status as an officially-registered supporter – I had been on ticket waiting-lists at Highbury – to try and essentially get me on bad credit by flogging me a series of credit cards with woeful APRs (if ever there’s a metaphor for how the club is trying to fleece its fans) and then to be asked for money to remain on this waiting list (a clear case of the Emperor’s New Clothes – paying for ‘nothing’, or as a veiled threat against losing ticket opportunities in the future, or through some misbegotten rhetoric that I’m enabling the club to build financially for this ‘future’)…Nowadays, although Arsenal the footballing operation and Arsenal the business enterprise are inextricably linked, I try perhaps rather naively to make a distinction in my head between the two, hence why I rarely discuss anything other than players, tactics and football matters on this blog – the corporate manoeuvrings are too depressing!
Not expecting much from this today – the outcome has shambles written all over it already. Wenger’s love-child Arteta will probably get a recall alas. First goal today will be vital. Let’s hope Arsenal show what back good side they can be but I have no confidence in that being the case.
Just turned on the West Ham match and at half time the commentators are pointing out how Alex Song bossed the midfield against Manchester City, breaking up play like a bull in a china shop. I wonder which club could use a DM like that?
Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Sanchez, Welbeck
Walcott on bench!
David
Sadly Wenger’s love child is still waiting to make a comeback. He can’t displace the execrable Flamini. That’s a commentary or maybe we aren’t getting him fit enough to play.
Trev,
Without making this sound like a mutual admiration society your post was spot- on and as Holic said very sad. When the likes of several die- hard Gooners are considering not renewing their tickets it is a serious situation. Very serious and I think it is evident that many people feel the same. I sent Arsenal’s tweet of Wenger’s odd comment to a few Gooner friends. One was in Brussels on Wednesday and said before the match the prevailing feeling was that Wenger should leave. I think we are talking about regime change beyond Wenger. I will be moving from Kent to Norfolk in about two or three years to retire. I have already decided that I won’t keep my season tickets as it’s too much hassle to attend every game. So I have set a cut- off point but I may not renew at the end of this season if I feel taken advantage of. Critical though I often am of Wenger the reason would not be him it would be Kroenke and his supine Board.
The reason I go is that Arsenal has been a huge part of my life for almost 90% of my time on Earth. Part of it is the joy I’ve had, part the bond forged with my late father and all my many Gooner friends. I admit if we were playing brilliantly I would park my reservations with the Board and owner but the very poor fare this season exacerbates the feeling of having the piss taken massively. Around me I think most of the people are fanatics but several have had to drop out for financial reasons. You would have to be very well- remunerated not to feel the pain for an outlay of in my case about £4000 for thirty games. The most cynical moment was charging me £80 for the Bayern game for each of my two tickets. That was obscene and rankles with me still.
Anyway Ive seen today’s team, the gaping weaknesses at DM and CB are still there and no one has returned to the starting team from the injured list do its a fingers crossed job. I wonder if Kroenke cares as much as we do?
West Ham work rate was sublime, sadly the team selection is rather disjointing
8ball how was available
How=he
I don’t want to sound too negative before a kick off but with a team like this we will struggle, must be another stab in the dark tactics.
I hope I’m gonna eat some humble pies tonight. There is no attacking options there?
West ham just beat city. To me,what we are missing is the hunger , lackluster attitude, and everyone sleepwalking bar Alexis. Just show some kind of commitment that you care for the club you are playing for. The talent and skill is there, but that alone is not enough. Even if we get a DM/CB and this attitude don’t change it’s still going to be the same result weekly. This is hoping for a win today, don’t know how but just win.
£80 for Bayern, ttg ?
Lucky you – mine was £125.00 !
Anyway, match day experience now 😉
COME ON YOU RREEDDDSSSS !!! (well, yellows today, i guess)
And well said, bath.
Don’t love the CB or DM pairings, but the side at least looks a little more balanced.
Three points please, lads. Any which way will do.
COYG
Sorry David Arteta is back joined in midfield by Flamini. Can’t even read a team line- up properly!
Looking at our bench, bellerin is our only defensive option. Quite unbelievable and sad.
Well come on Arsenal!
This year’s West Ham team is going to be hard to beat. Song was the MOTM along with Sakho for me and to be honest I will swap both Arteta and Flamini for him at the moment.
COYG
Another molasses quick arsenal counter attack.
C mon boys!!
anyone found a working stream – please !
COME ON!
Wtf ref – that was an anlle breaker!!
Not even a yellow? Ridiculous.
Scrappy match..!
I see the ref is doing his bit already
Ref stiffin us again … what’s new?
Ox not fouled but Gibbo getting yellow ha ha
Refs are a fucking joke
Streams : http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
But hey what’s new?
http://cdn.livetv.sx/webplayer2.php?t=alieztv&c=29014&lang=en&eid=264301&lid=243881&ci=1&si=1
Russian commentary, but decent picture.
Come on guys start passing the ball
That man again.. ALEXIS SANCHEZ!
😀
Gggggggggoooooooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllll
As on Spanish tv ha ha
One man team!
Get in!
We looked no where near the ball one mistake and BOOM
Alexis is playing like he was still in Barca… gotta love it!
Chases every ball down and pressures defenders into making mistakes and coolly chips the keeper…. top TOP Class!
😀
Alexis.
Keep it coming!!
ATG Alexis showing that hard work pays off. Hope players will start helping him pressure defences!
Artery does need game time
He’s pretty good holding the ball too.. rest of the team still have not moved up a gear, although Santi looked good with that shot!
COME ON.. get some urgency into it!
About time.
Shooooooooooiot
WTF.. not every team’s Norwich.. give the ball to Alexis or Santi.. at least they’ll have a go! Quit tippy tappying!
Esso, thanks for the link. Up and down but good when it’s up!
Were lucky to be leading.
Prety poor id say – besides alexis. But thats the usual story line lately isnt it.
Put on Walcott.. keep Alexis in the middle!
We need to score another goal. I don’t see this team keeping a clean sheet.
Arsenal FC @Arsenal · 2m2 minutes ago
It’s full-time in our Under-21s’ game at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke City 0-3 Arsenal. Goals from Iwobe, Maitland-Niles and Gnabry #AFC
Only alexia and possession looking good
@Trev
Its way behind, I’m listening on ArsePlayer.
Alexia silly iPad
COME ON ARSSSSEEEEENNNNAAAAALLLLL
We needs some width come on Arsenel we need Theo Theo Theo
We need goals boys!!!
Cazorla take it easy
Ha ha ha this is a fucking joke
This ref is a total joke.
Artetas new nickname: karate kid.
It was accidental not a yellow in my eyes he turned and there he was
So, did anyone else then Alexis pressure Mannone yet? I don’t like seeing him running full speed everytime, someone else should atleast share a bit of his workload…
This is a bit of scrap now
Wow! What a take down from Alexis.. pity the pass didn’t get to Welbeck!
COme On!!!!!!!!!
We can’t get a hold of the ball keep it calm lads
Gibbo injured
Backwards.
Side ways.
Bad pass.
Other side breaks.
Repeat.
Bellerin on.
Annddd. One more defender down.
What the hell is going on??
Other subs?
Bellerin.
Like this one. He looks the real deal.
We need something in the middle or out wide
1 left back , 2 cb,1 rigth back left for us in our first team …imao ,getting drunk and praying it dont get worst
Subssssssss
Get Cazorla off.
Agreed atg.
Ox has been invisible. And bad. Get him off.
Whole team looks really poor.- save alexis and maybe well beck. Mid table stuff continues.
This bloke is so stubborn
Don’t like this. We need some fresh blood. Ox is gone, so is Cazorla.
Fuck sake Arsene react!!!!
Rosicky. Lets see him.
Woj with one of his antics that will cost us many points in the future….
Where is podolski?
Alexis seems to be the only one chasing.. he must be thinking what he’ got himself into.
COME ON!!!!!! Get it together!
Do we even make changes anymore?
Horror show
Ramsey on Arteta off.
Come On!
Cazorla?! Bellerin is the fastest player in our team, just play him deep and he’ll be theo v2…
Arsene is too stubborn to make changes
Rosicky On OX Off.
Finally
Cazorla’s worst game in our shirt.
Fuck me took him long enough
Stubborn is an understatement. How come podolski is not involved today?
Cazorla ffs
Why the fuck is Cazorla still on!!! For fucks sake
Alexis again
God bless you Alexi
One man team.
Thank you agent Manonne
That man again! NEVER STOPS PRESSING… Top TOP Class!
😀
Agent manone.
Molto grazie.
This team is sorry as fuck. Thank u Alexi. You deserve that, Wenger don’t know what you are doing, but this is horrible.
Apart from alexis – tbis was absolute crap from arsenal.
What the hell are they doing in training? Ridiculous.
Ahh, Alexis has been ‘dat guy’ for us in the month of October. Player of the Month hands down 🙂
If it wasn’t for their mistakes it could have been a dream different story
One dimensional, Arsene too stubborn to make changes God only know what is going through his head.
I though Mertesacker was back in his normal self today. Monreal wasn’t bad. The offensive was dire again though. What do Rosicky have to do to buzz around and set the tempo?
Arsene time to some honest taking in front of that mirror 😉
Scrappy, scrappy win, though I would not mind another 30 won in similar fashion this season.
Just for the record, another win without Wilshere in the starting line up. It is not a coincidence.
Thanks for your link too, BB.
Not sure that watching this team is good for the health at the moment.
Welbeck should have rested or subbed, Ox should have rested or subbed. Why is Wenger so stubborn, playing the same not in form players all the time. Why can’t we start with a podolski, Rosciky and Campbell for once. Wenger get your shit together.
Only three points off City who’ve spent Gazillions (although you can get in there for a fiver cheaper because the Milk Sheik doesn’t squeeze ‘us fans’). We’ll be right in come next May.
Btm
I do admire your optimistic approach but surely things can only get better I don’t want to be negative had too much that lately anyhow.
So let’s enjoy the this mistake ridden win!
SAG
This is why our players get injured he plays the to death
The only positive thing about that was the score. I’m afraid we really are dire at the moment. I have no understanding as to why Poldi and Campbell weren’t put on…
All feels a bit desperate and disjointed and AW actually looks out of his depth. Things need to change.
*Feasts on a couple of after eights taking a nervous look at the clock to see whether it is noon yet in my time zone.*
Should have brought on Theo to make them shit themselves a little more towards the end Rosicky for rather disappointing Cazorla.
Two bright points really defence was a tad better and Alexis world class!
Lads – if you can’t enjoy a win, even if just for a few hours, then – really – what’s the point in any of it?
Away fixture after a midweek champs league game. The result was all that mattered today. Burnley and Anderlecht are where we need to build some cohesion.
As BtM says: we’re three points off City. There’s lot to sort out, but we’re not too badly placed, especially given fixtures.
Oh, and Alexis – you absolute beauty.
COYG
Rather ordinary performance, but even then we could have scored a couple of more goals if Santi of all people hadn’t forgotten to hit the target. That was awful from him, the passing was okay though but still not close to his sharpest.
The lack of rotation/substitution remains bewildering especially for a team that averages one player injury per game. Couldn’t TR7 and/or Campbell and/or Poldi wouldn’t have been brought on earlier?
Defensively we of course look better with a 4-2-3-1 as it protects against the runs down the middle. The clean sheet was nice.
Other than the miraculous Alexis — a simple theory of football is that if you press the opposition and anticipate mistakes you will get your chances, and his relentless pressing should be a lesson to all other players — I though Per was solid, Nacho rather good in both positions and Bellerin when he came on looked, as he has been, ready for the PL. Chambers was decent.
So we would now probably lose Gibbo until the internationals. Hopefully not longer than that.
N7
Good lift comment I’m eating me humble pies even though they taste like paper 🙂
If you want to enjoy your weekend after that shit feast game we just saw, I say go watch El Classico going on. Now that’s a game you will enjoy. Great game to watch.
I always enjoy the weekend when Arsenal win.
Both Liverpool and City are still learning to alternate CL and PL. Last season too City started to really push on once the mid-week CL games were over.
Liverpool would be finding it hard this season.
SAG @ 151: That’s harsh man. We won an away game, let us enjoy it.
There are many things not working yet, but we are still kind of in the mix, and enjoying some great solo displays by Alexis, so all cannot be that bad. It was also a clean sheet today, our second of the season.
ATG @ 143
What’s there to be if not optimistic, Arthur? I go to all of our home games and the occasional away and, frankly, it’s been frustrating to sit and watch us play a full country mile below the level that we’re capable of. I happen to think that injuries, World Cup hangover and the challenge of integrating some (extremely talented) new players are all significant contributory factors.
What I find hard to take is the cacophony of predictable mewing and bleating along the same old lines of music:
1. Why do we have to pay so much to watch Arsenal play badly?
2. Wenger can’t manage a game, even to the extent of substitutions
3. Wenger is too old and lost the dressing room
that spills out like rat spew from fans who can’t even raise a smile after a 2-0 away win against a team so far unbeaten at home this season. Why bother watching?
No rotation with the team,unless someone is injured, suspended. And we wonder why all our players are injured. No freshness to the team, is he scared of making changes or what?
Doc Faustus, am not trying to be harsh, yes we won the game courtesy of Alexi again. And that’s what am scared of, he needs a breather and most likely won’t get it, meaning he probably will get tired or injured soon ( knock on wood). I will enjoy the three pts, but that’s all to enjoy. Maybe I feel that way because I just got through watching Henry’s documentary yesterday, and from that to this is really alarming how bad we have become.
Alexis – 40 million well spent.
Good points above. Enjoy the win. Room to improve.
Looking up.
SAG,
the quality of the football was not good, but –
Liverpool drew vs Hull today – sound familiar ?
Man City lost at West Ham.
Winning after Europe is NEVER easy. Did I enjoy it ? No.
Will I take it ? Certainly.
Berkamp’s the man@155, I think fans have the right to enjoy the three points, while still been able to complain about the quality on display. We are not the only team that sent players to the WC, so we can’t use that as an excuse. Southampton lost half their team and coach, but are playing way better than us. How many new players are we embedding to the team? 2,3,4. For a coach with all that experience, we should be done or close to being done with that process. Apart from injuries, which in our case is a norm, the is not even playing to 40% of their ability. So yes we won and I will enjoy it, especially since this is our 3rd win from nine games. Maybe we can’t complain today, because we won,but fans have every right to bitch about what we have seen all season from this team.
Trev, yes Mancity lost today, but we can’t keep comparing our result week in week out with them. How often do they lose or draw a game. All am saying is that we can enjoy the pts, while still been able to talk about the problems with the team.
What N7 said.
If you can’t be happy when we win, I don’t know why you bother, except perhaps to try to bore the rest of us into a coma with tedious repetitive whinging. It’s getting really old.
May I respectlessly suggest that the time for that kind of dreary bollocks is NOT when we’ve just won two somewhat important games in four days.
hear hear @ miss snowy @162
What BtM said at 155.
I’m still thinking a more thoughtful and respectful contribution, so I’ll leave it there for the moment. COYGs
BMBD
Snowy, @162, don’t know if your post was aimed at me, but i never once said in my posts that I wasn’t happy with the win, wanted to make that clear.
If we win the next three before the break, we will be almost guaranteed to qualify for the CL round of 16 — even if as the group runners-up — and most likely will find ourselves in the top four.
Given the injuries and the poor performances that would not be half bad and hopefully with players returning and cohesion slowly returning to our game we will go on a run over the winter.
Leeds have sacked their manager after 32 days in the job.
SaG @ 162 my comment is aimed at any joyless whinger who pipes up with yet further iterations of points made long ago about stuff we’ve gone over a thousand times before. Not only, it seems, every time we lose. But also when we win.
FWIW The Mackems on this train are singing their heads off with frankly hilarious songs about Cisse, Shearer, police horses, whatever. Because, win or lose, that’s kind of what footbal’s about.
Or at least it used to be.
Sanchez has settled extraordinarily well to a different style of football. His work rate is exceptional and he is a team player with individual flair. Having watched Barca today they could well have used him in El Clasico.
Good points made about the next few matches. We are almost certain to qualify if we beat Anderlecht and our upcoming matches are manageable. For me it’s important to get to the window so we can strengthen the squad defensively. In my gloom the other day I suggested we wait for the next Gibbs injury because it was inevitable but at least we have a good replacement in Monreal and Bellerin is highly promising. Hopefully Hayden is not seriously injured or we will be down to the last ice lolly. Young Coquelin who is a very decent alternative to Flamini in my view is also injured. Still it was three points gained , a clean sheet and Sanchez is likely to score whoever he plays against.
BTM@155
Don’t get me wrong I will always take a win in whatever fashion it turns up. I think Blogs summed it up well when speaking to Amy on Arsecast.
We are the Arsenal and us fans expect all players to turn up, you should have seen my little one concede a penalty today and his team lost 7:0 credit when it’s due the other team was better at everything. First to the ball, passing, vision, movement, positioning etc.
Like I have mentioned earlier too much negatives so it pleases me to see us win I certainly wasn’t having a pop.
It wasn’t pretty by all means but when we meet stronger teams one is to think we’re going to get ripped apart! Yet again I hope this is some old gibberish coming out of me because I care and we are no fools with what we can see and how the game plan panned out.
I’m happy three points is three points. Some Arsene decision making was a tad weird when clearly we needed fresh blood on the pitch. We are in a society where we do a lot of comparing and if you do that then perhaps we may in a little spot of bother me thinks. Alexis is carrying the whole team at the moment God forbid for him to get injured.
We may be…. Loosing words apologies
Yes we won the game on their mistakes but we should certainly build on this!!!
Now let’s enjoy the win!
Come on Arsena!
Two wins in a week ?
I’m not one to say I told you so……
LG. I recall you telling us so, or at least hinting it might happen. Well done to you and almost to Le holiq.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
BTM’s relentless optimism is to be admired for sure.
However, I cant share it myself.
I too have been watching Arsenal for a solid 50 plus years and have all the associated “credentials”. I pay my membership even though I now live in New Zealand and have zero chance of attending any games.
For me critisism is a normal by product of genuine fans. It is not a case of those who refuse to criticise (or do not feel the need) being “better” supporters than those who do feel the need to express thier feelings.
For what it’s worth (nothing!), I thought we were a shambles again today, and had it not been for the human tornado that is Sanchez,and excellent work from agent Mannone, we would be slipping down the league at an alarming rate. Sue,the three points are fantastic,but the performance once again fell short of what I believe most expect from an Arsene Wenger Arsenal team.
Well, I for one said that I was after 3 points. We got 3 points. I haven’t seen the match, I haven’t heard any commentary. I have knurd. Am I happy with the result? Yes.
COYG