It won’t be an easy morning for those looking for a positive take on the performance yesterday. We had seventy percent of the ball, someone mentioned in the pub. That is not much good unless you do something with it though. For the second week running we surrendered two oh-so-valuable points to a London club.
I’ll own up to contributing to the lack of atmosphere yesterday. I enjoyed a lovely lunch and a couple of pints with some lovely people. The sun was shining, I sat back in my seat and basked in the warm glow. I and fifty thousand (maybe) others including the strangely muted Palace following waited to be entertained rather than roar our encouragement. Maybe that transmitted to the pitch, or maybe the team had had a plate of pasta too and they were content to tippy tappy their way through a fragile Palace side.
We cheered good and loud when Alexis was on hand to head Danny Welbeck’s delightful chip beyond Hennessey to give us the lead. It was no more than the Chilean deserved. He has refound his mojo on the right side although his tendency to only want to play with Mesut Ozil still sees him failing to make difficult passes when simpler options are available.
With Palace encouraged to escape the shackles that had held them back in the first-half we should have been able to make more of the space and opportunities that presented themselves. Ozil now has help from Alex Iwobi in the creative stakes but still we lack a finisher, a sniffer of half-chances. As the minutes ticked away Gabriel allowed the anonymous Adebayor to make good ground down the left flank unchallenged, Bolasie was allowed to shoot unfettered from the edge of the box, and the recalled Petr Cech allowed the tame effort to squirm past his grasp at the near post.
We had Arsenaled it up. Again. Such was the lack of surprise that the opposing factions in the stands couldn’t be bothered to argue with each other. There was an air of resignation as those drained of any emotion other than sadness trudged out into the evening sun. The soulless concrete bowl that was meant to enable us to challenge the best in Europe now reeks of stale complacency. You can sense it on days like Sunday.
It’s true that the competition has changed since that vision was sold to us. First the millions that poured into Chelsea and Manchester City. More worrying though is the silly television money that is streaming into the smaller clubs. There are more buyers for the small pool of available talent that we so desperately need at the Grove. We have shown little sign in the last year of being willing to pay the resulting inflated prices that maybe necessary to strengthen.
I think a sense of hopelessness is starting to take a hold. That the club needs to address the situation is a feeling that is growing apace. That the will isn’t there is also evident. The greatest manager this club has ever had is in danger of leaving on a sour note, which is beyond sad. I pray in the final year of his current contract he finds the missing ingredients, injects the team he built with a new hunger and desire that is so lacking. He deserves that, but who sees it happening?
Sorry to add to that air of gloom.
140 Responses to “Sorry”
I got you, Babe…
No need for apologies, Holic – that’s absolutely bang on, as ever.
First?
Good and fair write up as always.
Its all so sadly predictable!
A sombre but realistic report Holic.
I generally believe that the best thing for everyone would be for Arsene to resign at the end of the season. There really is no reason for him to stay. Are we really going to attract players who know that the Manager will likely leave in a year?
If Arsene looks realistically, he must realise that he is done as a top manager, he is no longer able to motivate and instruct players.
The malaise doesn’t stop with Arsene though. The club is sorely lacking in leadership in the boardroom with an absentee owner.
Commercial deals see to be the priority & signed effectively, unfortunately everyone has forgotten that the 11 on the pitch matter as well.
I was at the game yesterday and the fans (who were there) were uninterested and disgruntled. Unfortunately it’s a stale marriage at the moment that needs some urgent changes to keep it alive for some.
I really do not think another season of Arsene will help.
A good review landlord. Pretty much sums up my own feelings. Some brief thoughts:
1) My section of the North Bank lower was pretty much full with all the regulars but it was obvious that large swathes of the Family enclosure, Clock End and upper tier were empty.
2) Our play was boring, until Iwobi got on the ball. I thought he had a fine game, adding pace and directness and was staggered that we took him off. Nobody wants to shoot ….
3) The most enthusiastic chant of the afternoon was aimed at Greedybayor. “Even Tottenham think you’re shit!”
4) We are so missing Jack Wilshere in this team ….
5) Cech for me every day. I don’t think Ospina would have dealt with the high balls into the area earlier on that Cech dealt with very well. I’ll forgive him his error, we should have been 4 up by then.
6) To pick up on the previous drinks, I, for one, could not give a monkeys if we miss out on Champions League. Anything to break this sense of Groundhog day.
7) I’m off to Sunderland next Sunday. A 400 mile round trip. let’s hope it’s a bit better (no, a lot better) than my last away game (Old Trafford).
I agree Wenger is Arsenals greatest ever manager by a country mile. I could listen to him for ever and I will miss him. However, I’m afraid I can’t agree that Wenger deserves anything. When a player isn’t performing we don’t say he deserves to play for Arsenal. No one is bigger than the club. If it is true that we have to go backwards after WEnger in order to go forwards then today I feel that I’d like to start that process as soon as possible.
AW would be the greatest manager the club has ever had, ‘holic, if only his first ten years were counted. The problem is Wenger Pt 2, the last ten years. Viewed as a separate tenure the incumbent manager could arguably be labelled the worst we’ve ever had.
Another grounded-in-reality “Groundhog” summary ‘h! No need for apologies if you’re telling the truth the way you saw it!
“Apathy” is also a good word to add to “complacency”, with both very much now in danger of costing Arsene Wenger and Stan Kroenke their much coveted “CL regulars” marketing label. That’s goin ta hit ’em both hard where it actually really hurts – their arrogant pride. Even the new television money next season won’t get rid of that damaged pride especially with Arsene.
Cynic from the previous drinks,
Never underestimate the power of the fans of any club once they start showing their discontent at home. That’s now started with real consistency and regularity at the Grove. How the players react on the pitch to this will be the key parameter to look at and not the way that Arsene Wenger or Kroenke and the Board react. After all, the players are the ones who are on the pitch being watched match-in match-out. Fans can, and probably will, still buy their season tickets for next season but they won’t all attend match days out of protest. That’s also a powerful statement of discontent.
The worst we’ve ever had? With consistent top four finishes and two FA Cup victories. Really?
The greatest manager this club has ever had is in danger of leaving on a sour note
He did that when he snuffed it in the 30s.
I’ll put Billy Wright, Terry Neill and Bruce Rioch into the worst manager ever category …..
The soulless concrete bowl …
You couldn’t write a truer description. If that isn’t the kick up the arse for those more interested in profits and those who serve to see this happens I don’t know what is.
It’s taken me a long time to get there, but I’m afraid it’s time for a change.
Bruce Rioch did a decent job. Signed Bergkamp, signed Platt, got us into Europe after the shambles of the last Graham season both on and off the pitch.
So he fell out with Wright, but he was right about him both on and off the pitch.
Terry Neill did ok as well and if Brady and Stapleton hadn’t walked away, who knows what might have been possible with that team?
Spot on, Holic.
It’s over. Not even much anger around me yesterday when they scored. Just complete resignation.
Nailed it Guvna.
Complacent, under motivated and risk averse.
We are stuck with the Merkin hermit and his business obsessions but an injection of insecurity, desire and fear from coach to striker would sharpen up this club.
For the first time ever I don’t care if we miss out on the top 4. I don’t care if we as a result find there are some more self-entitled players who don’t want to sign for us. I want us to sign hungry, ambitious and talented footballers with a determination to win at all costs and take Arsenal to the heights that Mr Wenger aspired to when he and and the Board decided to move us to the soulless concrete bowl.
I must admit I do not get the Kroenke hate, the complacency and settling for fourth mindset was well in place before he arrived. It’s just deflecting the anger away from the real cause of all the problems IMO.
Think Herbert Chapman might have something to say on the greatest ever manager, In fact if it was not for his death he could have well built a far bigger dynasty, This made me laugh tho seems as apt today as in 1925 – Hope Stan don’t read this blog 🙂
“Arsenal Football Club is open to receive applications for the position of TEAM MANAGER. He must be experienced and possess the highest qualifications for the post, both as to ability and personal character. Gentlemen whose sole ability to build up a good side depends on the payment of heavy and exhorbitant transfer fees need not apply.”
“The soulless concrete bowl that was meant to enable us to challenge the best in Europe now reeks of stale complacency.”
I’m not sure a more accurate sentence has ever been written about The Grove and where we are as a club.
The sad thing is that our current situation has been 5 years plus, in the making. This is not something that has happened overnight. It is ironic that the lethagy that resulted in their goal all came from a run that started 20 meters inside his own half by Adebarndoor. We were spot on to get shot of him when we did. The failure to replace him was just another episode that has got us to where we are now.
One of the other major problems we now face is the ever increasing transfer fees. Again, something that several of us predicted some years back. Who would have thought that with all the money coming into the game that prices would rise??? For those wonderful business heads in charge of this club had not seen that coming then they want shooting. It’s basic economics.
As a season ticket holder I’m likely to make a total of 4 games for the calendar year of 2016. Constant changes to fixtures have caused me no ends of grief. I dread to think how many will bother for Thursday. Like many I have had the friends and family offer e mail offering me the chance to buy 6 more tickets if I so desire????
I’m not really sure where we go from here. This is not just one problem. This is a series of several problems that will take both time and effort to put right.
Champions League? Like many, I’m not that bothered. Yes it’s great to see the likes of Bayern and Barca. But it’s all so predicable and I’m really not that fussed about making my way to The Grove to watch 2nd rate efforts against the likes of Olympiakos or Zagreb.
Everyone now should be thinking about jumping on the Leicester bandwagon. Because if they blow it then what is already a horrible situation will suddenly become ten times worse.
Great report H. I hope the company before and after was more enthralling that the main event?
Some excellent posts by many over the last 24 hours. Drinks on the bar for everyone.
Stale is another adjective that I would apply to our demeanour in many of our last few games.
An interesting observation on Demento was his regular change of assistant manger/coach so that there was a freshening up of training and the messages the players received. That has been very different at our place.
Honest stuff H. Much appreciated.
But if you wouldn’t mind leaving the unnecessary apologies to cba… ?
Very appropriate Holic – thanks.
On the game – Gabriel should have tackled or fouled Barnddoor 30 yards back up the field, even at the expense of a yellow, horrible defending. Bellerin was awful, Kos no better. To me, Ozil looked completely disinterested – too little imposing himself and too many shoulder shrugs when squandering possession. His body language is a case study in crap that must affect the younger players.
I’m not a Ramsey fan but at least he looked to get forward – a huge contrast to our tippy tappy square backwards no intensity first half.
Elneny also earned his wage. Iwobi was ok but, as before, runs out of steam – he needs to build his fitness. Giroud was awful. Alexis was good.
On Stan, I hear all the criticism but he doesn’t buy the players or pick the team. Has he stated that we cannot spend the available cash? All I’ve heard is Arsene say that he could not buy the right players to improve the squad significantly last Summer and starting to make the same noise again now. I love Arsene and what he has done for this club but it is time for a change – another year will add tarnish, not lustre.
Finally, when I was growing up standing on the North Bank I would have killed for the chance to buy a season ticket but they were not available and the waiting lists were impossible – much as now. For those season ticket holders so disillusioned with the Arse now that they either don’t attend for whatever reason or agonise over whether to renew, I suggest that you don’t renew and give some others the chance to enjoy what you obviously no longer do. There are still plenty that would kill for what you have but no longer value.
UTA. Always.
On the Leicester game, Vardy picked up a second yellow for throwing himself into the defender to win a penalty, much as he did successfully with Monreal against us. This time he got pinged and picked up a red. Good. Fucking cheat.
Now that we’re no absolutely no chance, if we ever were lately, I want Leicester to win it but there is definitely a cynical side to them that seems at odds with the kindly pr persona of Ranieri. Something we could do with a it of – see Gabriel above.
Still, anything but the Spuds – please!
UTA.
It’s clearly all Stan’s fault. He’s revved the income stream up to 350 million per year and we still can’t beat Palace.
Stan out! Boo Hoo.
To me, Ozil looked completely disinterested – too little imposing himself and too many shoulder shrugs when squandering possession
That’s how he plays every single game though. He is too laid back, we play far too pedestrian a pace with him around. He’s a stroller and we need someone with a bit of drive about him.
To put it another way, if he can’t look as though he can lift himself for a game, how can he lift players around him?
We need somebody who makes ordinary players better. A Bergkamp type.
Noosa. Don’t believe all you read about the season ticket waiting list. There is someone that had a borrowed ticket that used to sit in front of me. He was told it was a 10 year wait. He had his own in less than 2 years.
Great piece by Holic as ever a measured and literate response to the situation and some great responses by the usual suspects . Steve T makes some super points.
I’d like to respond to Noosa in his drink. Absolutely understand where you are coming from but the reasons that Arsenal fans of many years standing feel like we do is a combination of factors . That article featuring Kroenke’s views that he does not own Arsenal to win trophies was a straw that came very close to breaking the camel’s back for me. While we have someone with that attitude in charge I feel that the piss is being seriously taken and that is why the atmosphere is so poisonous at the present time. I was intrigued by the atmosphere in the concourse during the Leicester game and the loud cheers which greeted West Ham’s second goal. The bloke next to me nudged me as if we were back in it but our ship sailed during the Swansea game . The worst thing of all is a summer which will be so eagerly anticipated by many fans we know will be anti- climactic and deeply frustrating.
Let us pray for delivery from the toupeed one
“He doesn’t own Arsenal to win trophies”…….he pays 40 odd players, a manager and several coaches 300 million a year to do that. Silly old codger.
Stan out. Boo Hoo.
Get a real FAN in as owner. Mike Ashley, his stinking attitude and his beer gut is my preference, but I’d take Delia Smith and her drunken New Year howl too (apparently she gives a FREE recipe with every season ticket purchased).
AND, we should tempt Van Gaal away from ManU. There’s a man who knows how to spend, not like Wenger. He’s spent a cool 300 million since he arrived and it looks like it’s going to pay off with an FA Cup win this season (unless Everton beat them in the semi and then, great man that he is, he’ll show Arsene how it’s done, flog his failures for half their cost and go out and spend another 200 million on new ones).
Stan out!! Wenger out!! Everybody else out who doesn’t think like me!! Boo Hoo.
WBG
Don’t know how often you pay your hard- earned to pitch up at the Grove. It’s much easier to feel the pain if you part with £4K a year and sit amongst the seething masses. You might have some empathy with the overwhelming feeling here which when all is said and done is the most even- handed blog community in Arsenal land.
The support for a team, strongly evidenced on here is not dependent on results but it is pretty much conditional on feeling that those who run the club care as much about its welfare and success as you do. Sadly that’s not the case at the moment . Most feel screwed and in a rather frustrating time warp.
I’m a huge admirer of Wenger but he has nor covered himself n glory this year having been put in his place over 33 games by Ranieri who operates on a fraction of his budget. Just saying
‘Holic, in the previous round of drinks, asked you what one word would suffice for that performance if it turned out to be dire. I had a thought about it during the overnight, and came up with “sterile”, as that applies to the stadium atmosphere (not a one off) and to the display on the pitch, which, this season at least, has clearly been the norm.
But we can’t quibble with “sorry”. Alas, and worryingly going forward, “soulless” may be more appropriate.
Do you go to games WGB? Do you watch the effort? (I almost said action) Do you believe it can be improved?
Or do you pontificate from your sofa?
I see TTG beat me to the observation that you sound like you don’t really have a level of disappointment with current events that comes with a certain level of commitment.
WGB sounds like he might sit in club level.
?
Heh Steve. I think those who pay for their own seats there (and I realise it is a minority) will be hurting with the rest of us mugs.
We want Simeone, Simeone, Simeone. I don’t want to hear ” his teams play anti-football”. What we have been witnessing for a while with this team is what I call anti-football/boring/ predictable. We seriously need a new set of ideas/passion/set goals and bring a culture of accountability. That was something Mr. Wenger had in his first ten years. If am him, I would be tired too, 20 years in the same job? ( great pay I guess). Thanks for the memories boss man, but its time to go.
Something’s gotta give!!!! From my couch in sun kissed Joburg with the dog at my feet trying to console daddy’s pain, I felt Steve’s sense of apathy and “Ihatetosayitoldyouso” when Palace got their equaliser. One almost hopes that we miss out on Champions League in order to expedite some change at Arsenal. Then again the agony of further lost points and humiliation can easily be compounded by management deciding to do nothing even if United slips by. Yes, that will after all be even more unbearable than seeing us scrape through into Top 4 for the 264th time.
A big part of me really want AW to end his Arsenal days in glory, however I honestly can’t see it happening anymore. This year was custom made for a graceful exit, yet countless spells of the spineless, ill disciplined headless chicken favour of football that has become our trademark, brought us down in flames well before we could begin to believe.
What we need is to outspend the big boys in the transfer window and find “Mr. Right” in the dugout in one clinical and supremely well orchestrated move. The chances of both happening and succeeding are slim, however I will gladly trade in the current hopelessness with a experimental season spiced up with a sustained and gradually increasing sense of HOPE.
I am currently red with envy of Liverpool and Klopp. They are 8th in the log, trailing us by 8 point. BUT they have fire in their bellies and hopes of European silverware to reignite glory days in their first season under new management – but more importantly they can afford to DREAM of big things next season.
“I don’t want to wait anymore” by The Tubes is my soundtrack of choice these days. Look it up.
PS:
What annoyed me most about yesterdays game was that Gabriel did not hack down Adebayor and took a yellow for the team. No, we are too nice and polished for that, aren’t we? Then again the subsequent free kick would probably have found Lieutenant Dann unmarked at the far post….
Great points Jozi Gooner although I know many disgruntled Liverpool fans. Klopp has had little if any effect on their league position and their European trophy might bring a CL place, if they win it but is not a very prestigious trophy in its own right. They have a stadium to build, American owners focused on the bottom line although much better than Hicks and Gillett and who are willing to reinvest money in the transfer market.
Our agony ( yes WGB it hurts that much ) is that we are theoretically in a fabulous position. We have the stadium, the fan base and a decent side and deep financial reserves. We don’t know how much Wenger is an obstinate old skinflint or a deeply honourable man protecting the reputation of his board by pretending to eschew spending as a solution but when this is compounded by the cost of following the team it drives us potty.
I don’t so much envy anybody else as yearn for us to reach our potential not cloak ourselves in the apathy so well described by Holic and Steve T.
Cheers ‘holic. That must have been hard writing that and remain balanced.
Yet another turgid display with a predictable outcome. Just how many top displays have the players given this season – 3 maybe. Apathy, which has emanated from the top, has worked its way right through the organisation to finally the supporters (sorry customers).
No doubt Stan’s approach doesn’t help but the man who runs the football side (and more ) totally in charge must accept responsibility for the failure to push on with really nothing to hold him back. Arsene’s total commitment to the club is a given but it appears he can no longer see the wood for the trees. His back up staff are stale – Steve Bould seems as an in-effective no 2 as his predecessor (Pat Rice), both great Arsenal men in their own right. First team Coach Brimo Primorac – same position for 19 years, what does he bring to the table?
Fresh ideas and motivation seem pre-requisite and change appears the only way forward, the current set up seem incapable of moving the club forward. Arsene has been a great servant with tremendous success in his early tenure. I hope he will leave at the end of this season head held high. If he insists on fulfilling the final year of his contract, so be it, dismissal is not an option in my book. An extension beyond though should not be an option.
Our highly paid players should also show pride and finish the season with good performances, they owe it to the manager who has cared for them throughout and for the supporters who pay top money to watch them.
Just listened to the Arsecast Extra. I don’t suppose James from Gunnerblog would be able to drop a few words in the ear of a certain massive wanker, but massively great player who wears the 7 shirt for Real Madrid about how great it would be to play out the last meaningful years of his career at Arsenal?
Maybe even the hipster crisps would be a draw, who knows…
The sense of resignation is obvious. When it was one nil no one would have believed we will hold on; everyone was wanting the second goal not for the certainty but more so because everyone knew we will concede. The inevitable happened and it was stupid enough from gabriel to allow ade to run at him but even more so was the freedom for bolasie to shoot and then see it go past Cech. Cech himself a part of the blame to allow the goal.
Even after they scored did we even look like scoring, no. Therein lies the problem. We do not have leaders, Wenger or the players do not know what to do when we concede. We do not try anything else apart from the same route of trying to pass through the wall of defenders.
Arsene is done and so are a lot of players in this team. I do not agree to the Ozil comments though, i thought he was good, if we convert the chances he creates, we should have been walking away with the league. Sanchez, Iwobi and Coquelin were the others who could look up whereas the rest have no place to hide.
We do not have a clue on what to do in terms of change. Change the manager? change the squad? change the board? will anything like that happen? will it be dramatic or realistic? I do not know but all i can say is the pain is so much that i am numb. The disintegration is alarming and appalling.
Wait, 4th itself now looks tough with away games to sunderland and city but then home games are no bankers either. May the season end now please, it is tiring.
Well our best chance of a trophy next season has now gone. Arsenal.com announce there will be no Emirates Cup this summer due to the shortened pre-season following the European Cup and a new pitch being laid! The already announced overseas tour games are not affected.
Banner men no doubt disappointed;-)
I hope the new pitch is a bit less of a leg fuckerupper than the current one.
Top post, Guv’nor. As Trev said @16, spot on. As always, I might add.
Chippy@19: Chapman turned out to be a big spender, albeit not a reckless one, so don’t believe everything you read in the ads.
Our next manager will probably be Dragan Stojkovic Pixie.
Wenger and Stojkovic are friends from back in Japan and every time Dragan is in London they are together.
Don’t know if it will be the right move. It’s just my hunch.
Not good news from Mordor. I have an awful feeling about this season
I’ll be honest, anyone can feel free to disagree of course.
Spuds play by far the best football in this year’s PL and probably deserve the title more then Leicester who play like Mourinho’s cheating Chelsea.
We can only hope that Stoke can find a way to stop them, but it would be tough, as the Spuds look like don’t have a weak link in the side at TR moment.
Spurs are going to win the league.
The cunts.
0-2. And just miss an open goal for 0-3. Lurky, you’re spot on, and yes it hurts to say it
Another open goal opportunity, and it’s 0-3 for Kane. So easy….
May have to abstain from watching for the rest of this season.
Agreed, Lurky. I’m glad you said it first. Spurs are the best team in the league and they thoroughly deserve the trophy which they are likely to be lifting next month.
Sad times.
Its prayer time for anyone associated with ARSENAL FOOTBAL CLUB. From little babies to grannies and grandpas, Uncles to Aunties, cousins, friends. Leicester has to win this league. Cant stand Spurs winning the damn thing.
Dele Alli will get all the plaudits tonight and he is indeed a special player (en example of a good scouting), but for me the real driving force behind this Spuds team is Eriksen.
Off to wash my mouth.
There’s an irony in the way this season is turning out, you know.
Spurs slaughtering Stoke at Mordor home grounds. Quite a contrast to the usual Arsenal displays there. “Are you watching, Arsenal?” is the chant.
Front bottoms, both of these teams.
Lurky
You are correct, this is the best side Spurs have had for over fifty years. It is young and capable of improving significantly. But they have a stadium to build. Will they lose their manager , have to sell their best players as we did and lose momentum? Or will their shareholders protect them from the financial shock- or is there so much more money about it just won’t hurt as much? I ask because they are heading in a different direction to us and I can’t see our board caring enough to want to compete with them or Chelsea, Citeh, Liverpool and United next season. Profits before trophies will always be Kroenke’s way
They are everything we used to be and we are them.
Harry Kane should be in a trilby and a raincoat, smoking a pipe and investigating a murder in a 1950s British B movie, the lispy 1950s looking cock.
@Lurky: Spurs definitively deserve to win the league but they won’t. Leicester only need 8 points from 4 games to grab the title and out of those 4 games, only Manchester United have something to play for while players from the other teams only want to get t the Euros without injuries. They’ll get their 2 wins and 2 draws, not a shadow of a doubt.
Cynic at 58 🙁
Matt, it’s Leicester, and Vardy will now miss half of their remaining fixtures.
The team that is top after 38 games will be the best this season. Prepare yourselves for the eventuality people.
Let’s hope you are right Matt. This Leicester side doesn’t fill me with confidence at all, mainly because Mahrez is shadow of the player he used to be month ago.
Ttg, I think Spuds will go trough the new stadium process without all the fuss we had, their players are young but they already have a great team play,
They have more money available then we had.
And their manager is in his prime, full with fresh ideas about modern football, while our was on his way to a decline (from today’s perspective) when we started the stadium.
The signs are not good, and I am not sure what the fuck are we going to do all summer if they really win the league.
They would be unbearable!
Evening all. Haven’t come around in a very long time, but was looking for some company in misery. Lurky, haven’t met you but I fear your insight… Beyond the results, it hurts that-as arseblog has been pointing out- we don’t seem to have any style left about us at the moment. And I don’t think it’s for lack of quality players either (though we certainly needed an injection the past few windows that has barely trickled in). Hate to see the greatness that is Arsene outro like this…
Thanks for keeping up the fine establishment, ‘Holic. Pint of the Black… if you will.
Lurky
It’s incredible isn’t it?
Spurs have more money available to build a stadium than we had –a team with 60,000 gates who have been in the Champions League for twenty years running . They were bankrupt twenty years ago.
We went through that stadium building for what….? When we decided to build it we had the best English league team in history.
No manager enjoys talking about his own victories as much as Sam Allardyce. In the aftermath of a big win – and there can have been few bigger than this – he gushes with the self-satisfied vainglory of a man savouring his own farts.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/04/17/sam-allardyce-revels-in-sunderlands-crucial-victory/
I do feel sorry for you guys that live in England or better yet in London. I can imagine how it will be like if those scums actually win the league, its looking more likely that they just might. Holic, am sorry but your clock might be getting ready to come down.
Some gracious words on here this evening about spurs. As a long suffering fan of the LWC’s I’m not allowing myself to believe we will catch Leicester, I think they will win it and if they do fair play to them. Next season, if Levy supports the manager with a couple of signings, who knows ??
I think you should complain about The Mirror using your Twitter feed as part of a “social meeja ‘story'”, H.
What was it Mike Walters said the other week about lazy bastards?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/tottenham-cut-gap-leaders-leicester-7784238#rlabs=3%20rt$sitewide%20p$8
Dave, I think it is happening. ?
The one about the abuse Wenger had? I have to admit that at the final whistle when he was doing the handshake, I did think he’d heard something in the crowd and he did look a bit taken aback. I thought it was just a reaction to the booing though.
It can’t go on like this, can it. He surely has to see how bad we are and how divisive a figure he has become. Surely?
What AW needs is a long holiday in the Caribbean with a new Russian trophy wife. Has to be better than sitting in the freezing rain taking abuse every week. Even self abuse would be better than that.
All of a sudden everybody here is anti-Wenger.
Very funny actually, considering…
WENGER IN!!!
I would take one last £8,000,000, but I am a cunt.
Paying a manager with his record of epic failure for the last 12 years that sum of money is perhaps the biggest madness of the lot.
“I can’t find the right players”
We’re paying you £8m a year mate.
“I can’t find the right players at the right money”
WE
ARE
PAYING
YOU
EIGHT
MILLION
POUNDS
A
YEAR
Fucking hell, give me a tenth of that and I won’t find the right players either.
“We can’t afford to buy player X because he wants £7m a year”.
Hello? Is that Planet Wakethefuckup? We’d like to book a one way ticket for a M. Wenger please.
@Lurky @ Holic: Leicester finishing above Spurs is likely enough that it’s not worth losing sleep over it.
On the other hand I really want us to finish third. Although it’s in our hands that’s far from done with two games against desperate teams fighting to avoid relegation and of course just now finding a bit of form, West Brom who will fancy their chance kicking us all game long and Citeh which should be the decider. Hopefully Madrid will tank them after prolongations in the hottest day on record…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/04/18/arsenal-players-baffled-by-arsene-wengers-bizarre-decisions-and/
An interesting read.
@Steve: actually that’s what Ranieri is famous for doing at Leicester. We’ll see soon enough if it’s worth it.
I read the Telegraph article @76. Comedy gold.
Mert saying that everybody needs to put their bodies on the line yet he was the one who covered his nuts and turned away from the ball as it flew past him for one of the FA cup goals against Watford.
Arteta and Rosicky calling a meeting? Well I suppose they have to do something given their injury to games played ratio this year. I love them both but really?
And anonymous players criticising bizarre decisions? The Telegraph was once a proper paper – now seems more like the Mirror without the pictures.
Cynic – have you been moonlighting as a ghost writer at the Telegraph?
UTA.
I wish. Getting paid for making up stuff about Arsenal would be a dream job.
You may find this article interesting: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/football/article4734800.ece
Basically Ozil and Sanchez allegedly “need convincing that other areas of the squad will be strengthened and that they will be able to compete for the biggest trophies”
And there’s going to be3 a big turnover (at least for Arsenal):
Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini are all out of contract and expected to leave
Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson are expected to seek moves elsewhere due a lack of first-team football
Per Mertesacker will not be offered a new deal despite having just 12 months left on his contract
Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have yet to be offered new deals despite entering the final two years of their existing deals in the summer
I would keep Jenkinson if he recovers from the knee injury, keep Mertesacker unless we’re buying two new centre backs and would certainly sell Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Debuchy is gone, Gibbs should stay if he has years left because you can’t sell decent players if you want to compete (I’d sell Wilshere because of his injury record and off-field stuff and OX because he’s not made any progress and I don’t see him as first or even second choice for any position – therefore it’s futile to keep him around. For him and us)
We have individuals going nowhere in their careers at a club going nowhere with a manager well on the way down.
Is there any positive stuff?
We had 16 chances against Palace and scored one. Eight of those chances were created by Mesut Ozil.
Is it any wonder that he might have the hump???
I don’t recall that many proper chances though, I’d like to see a breakdown of those to see what they’re counting as a chance. If he passes the ball to someone who has a crack from 30 yards and it dribbles to the keeper, for example, that’s not creating a chance.
It was on Sky Sports yesterday Cynic although the BBC on line show us as having 21 attempts.
Still only scored once though. The story of this and several previous seasons.
Re: Ozil, a couple of things:
http://statspack.squawka.com/
Halfway down the page – chance creation table for the season.
Mesut Özil 130
Christian Eriksen 104
Dimitri Payet 97
Willian 74
Kevin De Bruyne 71
Re: chance creation, it’s more than a pass that results in a shot from 30 yards, but obviously potentially less than laying on a tap in. One of the examples I saw from the Palace game was a ball he played to Welbeck that would have put the striker clean through if he could have got the ball out from under his feet.
Regardless, Ozil is ahead of the pack to a crazy extent, and it’s the same measure for everyone.
Pardew re: Ozil in the post-match interview:
“Mesut Özil was having one of those halves in the first half. Everybody else is in second gear, and he’s on another orbit.”
I know you have your doubts, Cynic, and that stats aren’t everything (by a long chalk) but statistically he’s a very effective player.
We either have the worst forwards in the history of football or it’s lies damned lies etc etc
Cynic, I will go with worst forwards. How many of those chances do you think King Henry would have scored. Our forwards are not that great, and everyone and their mama can see that except Mr. Wenger.
It depends what you mean by chances. Until I’ve seen a breakdown of all these golden chances he’s made, the number is pretty irrelevant. I mean, he gets credited for an assist for a two yard pass to someone who whacks it in from 30 yards, which to me is a joke (no matter who makes the pass, not just because it is him)
These chances need some context. How many were missed sitters, how many were chances to shoot inside the box, how many were simple old corners and free kicks (crosses for headers that go high and wide under pressure for example)
A corner that someone heads at goal shouldn’t be a chance, if you want to try to prove someone is a creative player. Corners are lotteries.
It’s a pity the Guardian dropped their pitch map tool, it would be invaluable for things like this.
N7. It’s those stats that really really piss me off. Can you just imagine how many we would score if we still had players like Wrighty, TH14 or RVP still in their prime? If we had bought that one striker? The one striker that we have failed to find ever since RVP left? The difference could well have been massive.
How on earth did we not manage to get that done? It’s beyond me. It’s just so obvious.
On non-Arsenal related topic, if you are a Totti fan like me you may want to catch his cameo appearances in which is likely to be his last season in the Roma shirt. This is his 23rd season for Roma, and with injury, age piling up and already marginalized under Spalletti’s second term he is still capable of the genuinely sublime … Roma were trailing 2-3 away at Atalanta and Totti entering on 75+ minutes scored a classy equalizer and then created couple of golden chances for Dzeko to squander.
He has won only one scudetto with Roma, and no European club honors…he could have joined any team of his choice at his pomp to fill in that trophy cabinet and add a few more zeroes to the bank balance.
One of my favorite footballers from the last couple of decades. Italians get a lot of stick for playing heavily tactical football but both at club and international level Totti and Pirlo have treated us to vision, elegance and skill as well as anyone in the recent years.
Steve T
‘ We were looking for top,top qualidee and it wasn’t available’
( That’s not available anywhere in the world for a price we would be willing to pay)
No we don’t believe it either!
@Steve
Agreed. I’ve no idea what will happen this summer, but a proven goal scoring centre forward would be at the absolute top of my shopping list. Sometimes the best form of defence is taking your fecking chances in the first place.
Which top striker you’d like us to get is available this summer? By available I mean not in a CL club, so no Griezman, Aubameyang and the likes. Kane will be available for Real but that does not count 😉
Lukaku is the only one I can think of. Anyone else?
Every player is available if you pay the money.
Pure BS
Matt
Buyable strikers for us would probably include:
Higuain, Cavani, Jonas of Benfica who tops the charts in Portugal, Jannsen who scored against England at Wembley. He plays for Alkmaar and tops the Dutch goal scoring charts, Aduriz of Bilbao ( might be a bit old) , Rubén Castro of Betis, Benzema ( court case?), Morata, Lukaku, Gomez of Besiktas , Batshuayi of Marseille, Chicarito, Ighalo, Vardy!!, Slimani of Sporting Lisbon( 26 goals) . I also think Callum Wilson will get a lot of goals next season.
I did this a few months ago and people told me Giroud was better than Kane!!
Ozil threads a pass through to all those strikers above waiting in the box…….who gets the ton???
Matt. I will be honest and say that I’ve given up hope of signing a top striker. We have had ample opportunity if we wanted to pay the money. But we chose not to for some reason. I would take Lukaku but my guess is that he has far bigger ambitions.
If we are not going to get that type of player then you almost have to ask what the point is in spending fortunes on someone like Ozil? You don’t by the most expensive gun in the shop and then buy a box of blanks.
All very very frustrating.
TTG @ 98 People were indeed correct, Giroud is much better than Kane at scoring …..with attractive ladies 😉
Proves you do not know what you are talking about if you think that’s BS.
Done.
Well in Steve T for the ton.
Agree with you, N7 and many others a striker is no 1 priority.
Lukaku has looked a bit disinterested of late ( would fit in well with us then ) but he may be the best chance we have on an upgrade. Everton now have a millionaire on board pledging money plus the big increase in tv money this year may mean they won’t be willing to sell (like Stones last summer). Whether they would listen to a mega bid from us who knows but would such an event happen anyway with our conservative management.
AW has spent big with Ozil & Sanchez but maybe would consider the asking price “poor value”. In today’s market for a 22 yr old striker with good track record in the PL and with further room for improvement a valuation of £60 million could be the asking price. When you consider Sterling went for close to £50 million, probably won’t be far out.
No doubt without a top striker on board, Ozil may feel his future is better somewhere else, and that would a major blow both to the team and morale of all the supporters.
This summer will prove to be a seminal period in the club’s history.
I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to strikers who are doing well. The success of Mahrez and Elneny illustrates the quality of North African players and this guy Slimani who plays for Sporting would be available relatively cheaply as Kante and Mahrez were. I’d hope our super go fast computer analysis of players might identify some gems.
Otherwise as Steve T says we will break Mesut’s heart
My guess is that we will end up with Morata
Every Player, Manager, Club has their price it’s the way it’s always been and will always be – Not sure why we cannot buy a player from a champions league club ? Athletico have previous for selling top forwards with or without champions league football, In fact I’d try and buy their scouts as they have an amazing record when it comes to forwards 😉
And don’t forget we can compete for any player outside the top 10 in world football and also rival the likes of Bayern and Barca – Gazidis words not mine – Talking of which has he been seen or heard from since the shit hit the fan 🙂
@TTG: very interesting list. Still I think these ones can’t happen, can’t imagine us buying a player over 27 (if that) for top money:
– Benzema: won’t leave Madrid now with Zidane in charge and doing well.
– Vardy: too old, won’t leave Leicester.
– Cavani, Jonas, Ruben, Aduriz, Gomez : too old, Higuain, Chicharito and Slimani probably too.
Which leaves us with these realistic targets:
– Batshuayi is an interesting punt. Just signed until 2020 with Marseille though.
– Ighalo: another interesting suggestion. Not sure what to make of him, he didn’t score in 10+ game before Watford eliminated us in the FA cup.
– Morata: Wenger is an admirer, now why would he leave Juve? Personally I’m not impressed.
– Callum Wilson: he had an impressive start of the season, and since he did his cruciate would fit right in with us.
I’ll add Lacazette, another one with ‘can he get to the next level?’ over his head.
Nothing to add to Ulympian’s take on Lukaku. Still from far the best move we could do imho.
@Chippy: Barca, Real and Bayern get first dibs, everyone else gets the leftovers. More money power, more prestige. We got the rejects only because those clubs wanted to sell.
Then TV money is flowing in England and Spain. As Uplympian pointed out Everton refused to sell Stones for 40M, they don’t need to.
As you said Atletico previously sold players for money. Spanish TV rights have been renegotiated so they are flush. Won’t happen again.
I did not word it right but I think Gazidis is correct on that one. We can’t get the best players from top clubs or clubs at our level. Or if you prefer, it’s extremely unlikely.
@Steve: Wenger follows his plan. Plan was one or two top qualidee buy every season, so far its been one. Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Cech. Can’t say who it will be this summer, it’s a matter of opportunity anyway.
I know not everyone agrees, but it’s Lukaku for me.
He has 18 goals and 6 assists in the league. Kane has 24 goals and 1 assist, and has played two games more. Lukaku is also playing for a mid table outfit. Think he’s still the country’s top scorer in all comps.
I don’t think he’s the finished product, and he seems a bit in and out, but he’s big, quick, knows where the goal is and he’s only 22 years old, so there’s resale value (if we’re going to play that game). I think if you put him in front of Mesut Ozil he will bang goals for fun, particularly against the smaller sides. I also don’t think there are a ton of great strikers out there, and we might get a relatively clear path to sign him, assuming we’re actually in the champs league.
He’d be the sort of statement signing that would gee everyone up, including the players. Been too long since we’ve had a centre forward who actually scares people.
Please not Morata. He scores about 12 goals a season, even playing for really strong sides.
COYG
Holic, occasional drinker here, thanks for your continued commentary. Lets hope we can have a upwards blip to finish the season. It would be like us to finish with a few wins when all feels gloom and doom.
Searching for a silver lining I think even our owner must realize that the status quo will risk us dropping out of the top 4 next year so we will need to make a serious investment in some new blood.
Re strikers to think about, I have liked the look of Ighalo at Watford.
Final note on this season , I would like Leicester to finish the job now and give some heart to the rest of the league .
I even wouldn’t mind that much seeing Spurs win the league – at least I feel its better than one of the previous recent winners dominating again – and as our natural rivals what better incentive would their be for us to improve next season?
Matt
Fair assessment of the options which almost bring us back to Wenger’s take last August. My take on the striker possibilities:
Batshuayi good chance at a realistic price as Marseilles currently struggling at lower end of Ligue 1 and have just sacked their manager Michels. Also known as a selling club.
Ighalo looking like 1/2 season wonder – has done little since Christmas (apart from scoring against us in the cup) and was poor in the league game that followed.
Morata – no upgrade on what we have. Read he has scored 8 for Juve this season and Real Madrid have first option on buy back.
Callum Wilson – need to see him up & running for a period but did look a good prospect before season ending injury.
Lacazette – good in fits & starts. Suspect Lyon would sell for a good price.
There must be others that could come into the frame but we are not the only bulb looking
Just had a premonition Andros Townsrnd will score the winner against the LWCs on the last day of the season in the last minute denying them the league title – And thus the one of our own chant comes back to bite them in the bollocks – If Carlsberg done last games of the season 😉
Whoops….but we are not the only club with funds looking to upgrade striker position. It’s gonna be a tough negotiation market out there and is our “team” up to speed?
Well that’s for the summer, priority is to concentrate on now and chase down third spot – second is looking beyond us with current form. Trying not to contemplate 4th or 5th.
Chippy that would indeed be sweet but also the 2 pts we denied them at the swamp might be even more a defining moment. 😉
Looks like Benitez is finally starting to get the best out of his players… Third is definitively the priority for now. Who we can get and when we can get them depends on it. Come on Magpies!
Also Benteke will likely be available this summer.
Well done Newcastle! Quite a few Geordies will be hoarse tomorrow 😉
Now 3rd is all in our hands. We better not take any game for granted, Sunderland and Norwich will battle like lions…
Sergio Aguero. 100 Prem league goals in 147 games.
If only…….
Re: Chippy @112: he’s one of our own 😀
For those who still consider it a privilege to spend thousands every year to attend The Grove, please check out Dot Con. There are thousands of tickets available for the West Brom game. You can buy tickets for every block in the upper tier and all but 5 in the lower tier.
Take advantage whilst you can. I’m sure they will be snapped up very soon.
Not sure why we cannot buy a player from a champions league club ?
Lack of balls.
Our supposedly non-spending club (150 million in last few years quite a lot if you ask me) has been aiming to buy a decent RVP replacement for years but keeps f*cking it up. Why would we suddenly rise to the task without a new Manager calling the shots and looking at the summer frenzy before us ? RVP is doubly relevant here because all he said about our club has been proved 100% correct. Ozil and Sanchez are megastars who have delivered for sure, but let’s be honest they were actually rump consolation prizes left over from failed central striker searches and business done elsewhere at the top table. But the real point about the two lads is they’re surely having exactly the same thoughts as RVP did (and even Cesc perhaps, tho I’ll never forgive him for his Barca DNA rubbish). Our striker wish lists are the proverbial cart before the horse. Plus I come back to an earlier point that clearing out is almost as important as investing, which again needs the new broom of a new man. These megastars want the crap OUT as much as they want decent team-mates IN ! Tho of course they’ll only say publicly it’s about new blood. There’s no doubt a buoyant market will help us sell players too, that’s the good news, but I have a horrible feeling it may just be exits of Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, Ospina (cos Szczesny’s coming home, yippee), Jenks and maybe one of Ox or Theo. By our standards, that’s quite an exodus of senior players. It would be seismic for AW. We can’t even hope to get rid of Gnabry on his 5 year contract and I don’t know how long Sanogo is locked in for. Top of my wishlist ? Something new, something fresh, some energy, something different, I don’t care what…just fu*king anything. Careful what u wish for my arse. Let’s see what happens at 75th minute v’s West Brom, sounds interesting but here’s also hoping we’re 3-0 up…messed up or what ? Sighs (again). COYG.
Fans still worrying if we make top 4 or not. Who cares? what has making top 4 done for us for the past 12 yrs but putting more money into the mouths of greedy bastards. Please don’t bring that whole argument of” great players want to play in the CL bullshit” How many of those players have we been buying? bar ozil and Sanchez. How much did Dortmund buy Aubaymenyag for again? Realistic targets? I will go for both Reus and Him. With some clearing out, we should be able to afford both their transfer fees and salaries. How much does Walcot/Ox/Ramsey/Giroud all make again? yep it can be done if we are really serious about getting shit done.
Wenger still reckons the title is not over.
What a complete twat.
Morata/Chicharito/benzema are the forwards i would look at. All attainable targets though what i really wish for is a brute of a striker with the finesse of an angel. Sorry those are wild fantasies and not it is not lukaku. One close will be lewandowski but we missed that bus long time back. What we need is men on the pitch than boys. Everywhere i see we get bullied. I can do tactics against this Arsenal team. Bully them, dont allow them time and dont worry about plan B for they have none.
Other strikers mentioned will not leave and even if they do, Arsenal are not an attractive proposition anymore, neither money wise nor achievement wise. Kills me to type that but thats the fact. Go ask Aguero or a Lewandowski will they leave city or bayern to come to us, answer flat no.
City drew yesterday and they are trying their level best to give us some solace of a third place. Can we please step up and atleast do that.
I agree with Arsene – the title is not yet over.
It will be either Leicester or Spuds.
UTA.
Many really good comments above.
As has been highlighted above, one of the real downsides to our stagnation is that we become a less attractive proposition each year. The only way we will win the transfer battles is to offer more in terms of a fee and wages. Let’s be honest, neither are areas that we have excelled in in recent years????
It’s all even more bewildering when you think how important the whole business model is to Stan and the gang. If the product on offer is diminishing then surely it becomes tougher to sell when you are talking about sponsorship and commercial deals? Perhaps that’s why we generate more income than any other club in the world on match days, but massively lag behind the others on the commercial front?
If Arsene stays I really don’t envisage massive wholesale changes. No doubt we will sign a 12 year old wonderkid from Borneo or the like, but I’m not expecting much else. I would love to be surprised but I just don’t see it. AW went on record a season or two ago and championed his home grown back bone. I would be surprised if many of those left the club.
Whatever happens it’s all a little too late for me. Many of the issues we have are far from new issues and really should have been addressed years ago. Our failure to do so means we are playing catchup.
Did someone above mention that as a club we need to maximise our potential? I used to use a phrase very similar to that but it upset too many who, dare I say it, had their heads in the sand for a lot of the time? I won’t mention it just yet. There are some delicate souls among us who are easily offended???
?
Wenger – ‘We’ll give the absolute maximum’
Well it wasn’t good enough until now why should it be any better going forward?
As for striker debate, am I the only one that think Ibra for two or three seasons would be ideal? He is very intelligent, can set up, put them away and hold up play. Yes, he is approaching fall but just look at the way Fergie applied RvP in the short term. What Ibra also has is LEADERSHIP. Which leads me to a burning question? Who is the pack leader in the current Arsenal side? Look at the teams around us and tell ne that we have that standout, gritty leader on the current side.
Did someone above mention that as a club we need to maximise our potential?
Maybe we already have, both on the field and in terms of commercial deals off it.
Speaking of which, I wish someone would stop our lot appearing in various ad campaigns on YouTube or whatever and just got their minds fully on the football. The latest bloody online advert for airbump head tennis is the last straw.
Ibrahimovic for two seasons would be ideal. However, if the papers are to be believed he apparently wants 500k a week. I can’t see us even remotely touching that if its true. To be honest, if it is true then I’m quite happy for us to give it a miss.
Great post @126, Steve. It’s actually £600k per wee that he wants. Saw it in April 1 and thought it was an April Fool as did one of the Times hacks but apparently it isn’t. Not for us by any stretch of the imagination. He’s also too old, looking too leggy against decent CL opposition and a horrible personality. Not happening.
Like N7, I would take Lukaku. Give Everton £45m and offer one or two forwards from our squad barring Ozil, Alexis and Iwobi.
£600k per wee doesn’t sound like a piss-poor deal to me, i-Bath. 🙂
Lukaku is never worth £45m. He’s no better than Giroud either in my humble.
Bath…so we offer Everton £45 million cash for Lukaku or £50 million if they take Theo & Sanogo as well 😉
I admire Wenger’s faith in his players to a certain extent, but when you consider that he refused to sign Bale from Southampton because we had Gibbs… well, it’s difficult to swallow as Arsene would say.
@Uplympian: I would keep Theo and give them Giroud instead. For all his flaws Theo is more versatile.
Ollie G has scored 53 goals from 118 appearances. Theo has 55 from 231 appearances.
Not too sure we can afford to lose Giroud at the moment.
‘Stroo, Theo is versatile – reckon he’s able to lose control of the ball just about anywhere on the pitch .
I would let Benteke or Ibra anywhere near our club if only:
a) all our strikers are out injured and Kieran Gibbs is the only option up front
b) all strikers in the world are dead or dying
c) Wenger decides to give Theo new 20 years, 500k a week deal, with special condition to play him as a striker every game up until he retires at 50 years of age or so
d) Wenger makes Lord Bendtner a special summer target, along with his Samurai hearcut, his pink underwear and pinkier boots
Lurky, I doubt if the Lord Bendtner would come back. May have to entice him with a taxi of his choice to rodger – this may go beyond Arsene’s valuation. 😉