Arsenal

[Gotters]

everything I expect in a half from us vs Chelsea, the home game earlier in season was an aberration

[The Fox]

Reckon we're getting a manufactured Alexis tantrum to deflect from the fact he's been absolute dogshit?

[Gotters]

I knew you have it in for Coquelin, but Ozil and Alexis been utterly dire today, Coquelin was horribly exposed in midfield and Ox has not passed his audition well for a centre mid spot

 

How many of those floaty useless outswing corners has Ozil hoiked behind the back post today

[The Fox]

Ozil has been shit but nowhere near the worst performer. Ox has been the only decent player really, and he's not exactly been great.

 

It's just bollocks from the manager though really isn't it. This is why I've hardly bothered watching us in months. Same old shit.

[Gotters]

Agreeing with everything Neville is saying - we're just not coached properly now, its amateurish.

 

Not sure how you think Ox has been decent, game passed him by totally in my eyes.

[Jonathan_Kerr]

Ox was the only player who improved his reputation IMO. He won a lot of balls, made tackles, did some good passes and tracked back a lot. Was quite physical too.

 

Was surprised how poor Alexis was but I think Chelsea did well to squeeze him out of the game. Özil did his disappearing act. Hard to remember the last time he showed up in a big game.

 

Just so many loose passes...

 

See you all next season, for the merry-go-round of hope. 

 

 

[The Fox]

I'll lose interest completely if Wenger signs a new deal. It's already been wavering big time this season.

[Larsen B]

We're so badly organised from a boardroom perspective that I think we'll be stuffed if Wenger goes. Of course, if he stays, we won't win either league.

[The Fox]

The board will always offer him deals because he's a safe pair of hands. Consistency is hard and I don't know if there's another manager out there who could have got top 4 every year like he's done. Financially he's a good bet for them.

 

Problem is fans aren't really arsed about consistency. Chelsea have been fairly inconsistent under Abramovich but look at all the stuff they've won. That's what fans are interested in. Arsene is never going to win the league or CL now, he's just too far behind in certain areas and never seems to learn from his mistakes.

 

The only way this will change is if he decides it's better for him to go, and declines a contract. I don't think that will happen with his alleged new two year deal though, I think he'll sign it and Alexis will leave (but Özil will be more likely to stay as a lot of more modern coaches wouldn't let him play such a free role).

[SeanR]

plenty of tickets still available for Hull, lunchtime kickoff saturday, and as a cat c game I got two half-way line in the west stand, for £38.50 each*.

 

£38.50

 

to probably watch a no-score-draw with hull...

 

(* tickets start at £28.50 lower centre)

[Gotters]

I've got the bad vibes about Hull too, they're getting coached and drilled now and we often struggle to break down that sort of thing easily.

 

Would be nice to just see a reaction, come out at them at 100mph and the players to look like they are hurt by the last 2 games, instead we'll come out and pass it sideways 30yd out for half an hour.

[Gotters]

...... to the Emirates

 

high levels of gloves expected on the pitch today and that always makes me nervous

[SeanR]

And the lump is asking if the game will be called off on account of the snow...

[Gotters]

Bellerin back is such good news - Gabriel just doesn't offer the same width and attacking threat, whole right side opens up with Bellerin playing, which we will need against a doubtless compact defence

[Jonathan_Kerr]

Will be interesting to see how Bellerin plays.  That he would have recovered and be sharp so soon is a bit surprisingly. I'm half expecting him to still be super-quick, but I wonder how fast his decision making will be or if he makes many uncharacteristic errors.

Not feeling super-positive about this game. Did someone mention it was snowing?

And I agree about Gabriel. I don't mind him as a back-up centre back, but I don't think I've ever seen someone so apprehensive about attacking with the ball.
 

[SeanR]

pretty good seats!

[SeanR]

Could have been three already, but that'll do for starters...

 

[SeanR]

this game...

[Jonathan_Kerr]

Credit to Hull, I thought they actually played quite well. They were unlucky with the first goal and created pressure on us by only being one goal away for most of the match. 

 

Where would we be without Alexis Sanchez? His passing can be a bit sloppy at times, but feel privileged to watch him play for us.

I'm also really pleased with Oxlade-Chamberlain who is playing really well (a couple of awry long balls aside). I just love how direct he is. I get frustrated with all our sideways passing (allowing teams to get back in position), but he gets the ball and charges forward opening up opportunities to other players. He made a great long run in the second half that was stymied because Alexis moved into an awkward position. I think he seems to defend better in the middle too - he's quite a muscular lad, and seems to be coming into his "man-strength" that guys get in their mid-20's. Going forward I'd love to see a Ox-Xhaka combination. Coq/Jack/Rambo need to step up IMO.

Not the best performance, but pretty much an Edge 6 which seems to be typical of us these days. 

[Gotters]

That was utter garbage - Ozil is just a ghost at present and not worthy of a spot in the team on current form. Sanchez is getting by on sheer willpower and effort.

 

Kos looked very easily rattled too today amd Walcott also totally anonymous

 

in a meh/10 all round kind of day only Ox showed any class, but even then his motm performance barey merited a 6/10.

 

Credit to Hull they did get numbers behind the ball but always looked to break and make something, seen far worse teams this year against us

[Silent Runner]

Clats to referee every game pls. 

[The Fox]

A lot of chatter about Ozil possibly being dropped for Bayern. I have to say that, if he still hasn't signed a new deal, I'd be surprised if Wenger did something like that (even though purely on form you'd have to say it's deserved). I would expect him to start out wide in a 4-3-3 though; I don't think you can justify giving him a free role in such a big game when he's putting in these sort of performances.

 

Gibbs presumably played against Hull to give him a game before Bayern, since Monreal would struggle more with Robben I think.

[SeanR]

1 minute ago, The Fox said:

A lot of chatter about Ozil possibly being dropped for Bayern. I have to say that, if he still hasn't signed a new deal, I'd be surprised if Wenger did something like that (even though purely on form you'd have to say it's deserved). I would expect him to start out wide in a 4-3-3 though; I don't think you can justify giving him a free role when he's putting in these sort of performances.

 

woah woah woah! I think "performances" is a bit strong...

[The Fox]

Well he's clearly low on confidence and he's been playing in front of a dogshit midfield all season which obviously doesn't help. But the fact is he hasn't been playing well for a while now (that said, Alexis has been even worse in every recent game - including Hull where he was absolutely dreadful again but got a free pass because he fluked two shit goals).

 

I would go with Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Xhaka; Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck

 

But we all know Coquelin will start.

 

 

[Jonathan_Kerr]

Saw an interesting stat online (somewhere, no link) of the number of games Arsenal lose vs win when Coquelin is playing.

 

For me, he's a squad player now. He wouldnt make any of the other top four (six) teams starting lineup.

 

 

[g wings]

32 minutes ago, Jonathan_Kerr said:

Saw an interesting stat online (somewhere, no link) of the number of games Arsenal lose vs win when Coquelin is playing.

 

For me, he's a squad player now. He wouldnt make any of the other top four (six) teams starting lineup.

 

 

 

What did the stat imply?

[Jonathan_Kerr]

D'oh! Forgot to say that it implied that we lose more games with Coquelin vs the bigger teams than without.

 

Although maybe it's more related to lack of Santi. I'd love to see Ox amd Xhaka start v Bayern although it could be a bit risky.

 

 

[The Fox]

Coquelin would do well for Liverpool I think, he'd suit their style. He just doesn't suit ours and only ever looks passable with Cazorla in the side. Him and Ramsey are both too limited in the type of player they need alongside them in a CM pair.

 

We just gave him a new contract though so yay. And we gave Cazorla another year even though he still has to wear a protective boot and isn't going to play again this season. And Mertesacker even though we already have Koscielny/Mustafi/Gabriel/Holding/Chambers on the books. 

 

Wenger's blind loyalty to crocks and wasters will never die.

[The Fox]

9 hours ago, g wings said:

 

What did the stat imply?

 

I saw one a couple of weeks ago (not sure if it still applies) saying that, if goals only counted when Coquelin was not on the pitch, Arsenal would be unbeaten in all competitions.

 

Anyways it's not his fault, he is what he is: a technically decent but tactically brainless ball winner. The manager is the one who's seemingly blind to his flaws and never, ever drops him.

[Jonathan_Kerr]

I like him but if we're going to improve, it's the first position I'd upgrade in. I like our attack (Alexis, Iwobi, Lucas, Özil, Welbeck, not so much Theo) and i like our defence (Kos, Mustafi, Bellerin but we need upgrade at LB) but the middle of our team doesnt operate at the same level.

 

Agree, Wenger likes to stick with his players too long.