Arsenal

[Daley]

Our home crowd seems to be full of tossers - booed off at half time again. Chumps.

I've said before that I don't agree with booing, but my goodness that first half was amazingly bad. Plus it was fucking freezing.

I've come to the conclusion that there is no money and Wenger has agreed to be the fall guy. That is the only way I can explain what is going on at Arsenal at the moment. We are getting worse every year and we only seem to spend whatever money is brought in by player sales. Yet Wenger keeps pumping out the excuses and declaring we can win things. What a sad situation. What other manager of a supposed big club would put up with such a lack of funds?

How long will this last? What if we don't qualify for the Champions League?

[Dude Ranch]

They might not be pretty to watch but Bp;ton do what they have to do if they opened up and played football against you they'd be ripped apart.

God forbid that teams actually try to entertain . It's minus five and we're in the middle of the credit crunch. Fuck Bolton and their anti football. We've moved on since the 90s.

Nice to see us win without playing well, that's always been the key. With our injuries I'm relatively happy just going from game to game cos with Walcott, Eduardo, Gallas and Cesc back, possibly Rosicky ( ) plus a couple of signings we might be able to claim that 4th place. Good on Villa, but I can see them dropping off at some point.

[pace]

God forbid that teams actually try to entertain . It's minus five and we're in the middle of the credit crunch. Fuck Bolton and their anti football. We've moved on since the 90s.

Nice to see us win without playing well, that's always been the key. With our injuries I'm relatively happy just going from game to game cos with Walcott, Eduardo, Gallas and Cesc back, possibly Rosicky ( ) plus a couple of signings we might be able to claim that 4th place. Good on Villa, but I can see them dropping off at some point.

i'm not condoning the way teams like Bolton play (i used to love watching Arsenal in my eyes a team has never played better football over the years and thats without being a fan of them) i'm just saying what teams like Bolton do no matter how ugly it is keeps them in the Premiership.

[Dude Ranch]

i'm not condoning the way teams like Bolton play (i used to love watching Arsenal in my eyes a team has never played better football over the years and thats without being a fan of them) i'm just saying what teams like Bolton do no matter how ugly it is keeps them in the Premiership.

Well, more fool anyone for paying to go and watch them then. Except when you pay £1000 at Arsenal for a season ticket and you get 60% of teams playing that way it's not quite the same joke, I think you'll agree.

Anyway, in all fairness they had massive injury problems I hear.

[Ravern]

I think they only managed to have four subs on the bench, so indeed.

[pace]

Well, more fool anyone for paying to go and watch them then. Except when you pay £1000 at Arsenal for a season ticket and you get 60% of teams playing that way it's not quite the same joke, I think you'll agree.

Anyway, in all fairness they had massive injury problems I hear.

TBH i agree but theres nothing you can do as frustrating as it may be when your paying that sort of money. i'm sure the stats yesterday were something daft like Arsenal had 70 odd % off the ball Arsenal teams of a few years ago would have still killed a team off who play that deep and negatively.

I think they only managed to have four subs on the bench, so indeed.

Yeah think it was saying on MOTD they could ony even manage to put 4 subs on the bench.

[Lucky]

I went on Saturday for the first time in quite a while, and after seeing us close up we're worse than I thought. I know Bolton came to spoil the game and try and nick a point but some of the perfomances were really shit.

Diaby was absolutely terrible, gave the ball away so often it was unbelievable.

Eboue played better than Diaby by doing nothing, didn't do much wrong but he offered nothing.

Denilson did ok, but I still think he's not quite good enough. He tried and he did play alright, but he's nothing more than a decent squad player.

Adebayor did nothing, apart from miss a good chance.

Once Bolton decided to attack, after we scored, we looked a bit shaky at the back.

Vela was superb when he came on, and Nasri looked good when moved to the middle.

We are clueless without Cesc.

We need a keeper, plus one, maybe two centre backs, a central midfielder and a wide man. Maybe even a striker.

I hope the Arshavin deal happens. If it does we should play him and Vela left and right with Nasri and Denilson in the middle. Even better, Nasri and a new signing in the middle.

[Lucas]

Watching a live match not the same as watching MOTD highlights shocker!

[Dude Ranch]

Vela was superb when he came on, and Nasri looked good when moved to the middle.

This is the key until Cesc comes back, Wenger must go with this IMO.

[Lucky]

This is the key until Cesc comes back, Wenger must go with this IMO.

Absolutely.

Denilson and especially Diaby look clueless when they get the ball in the middle. Nasri should definitely be playing in the middle until Cesc comes back, and Vela should be given a run in the team. He should be playing ahead of Eboue. Ramsey should also be given a chance ahead of Diaby.

[Daley]

Vela simply has to start. Eboue is useless, he just does nothing. Nasri plays much better in the middle. Diaby is not taking has chance, and is probably more suited to the middle anyway. Amazingly Diaby is fit at the moment so while others are injured he has a real chance to play well and put himself in Wenger's thoughts. But he just isn't doing it. He gives the ball away so much it is unreal. It's the kind of play that costs you in big games.

[Dude Ranch]

IMO Denilson looks like he wants it, Diaby doesn't. Diaby could be the answer, he has it all. But, as you say, he always looks like he'll cost you something. I've been saying for ages though that we need a coach, something more than Wenger's magic touch. These lads are so young and still have loads to learn but who's teaching them? I fear that they'll develop bad habits they won't be able to break. It's all well and good playing with your heart but we've all seen that when it comes to tactics and decision making we haven't got a clue.

[Daley]

Denilson runs his nuts off, no doubt and would be decent with a hard defensive midfielder. But with Diaby he looks lost.

One thing I will add, Bender did more and looked more up for it in 15 minutes than Emmanuel "i'm just like Henry honest" Adebayor did in the whole time he was on the pitch.

[Dude Ranch]

One thing I will add, Bender did more and looked more up for it in 15 minutes than Emmanuel "i'm just like Henry honest" Adebayor did in the whole time he was on the pitch.

Really? Fucking hell. It's pretty grim if Bendtner's making someone look bad! Part of Abebayor's game has been his workrate.

[Daley]

Really? Fucking hell. It's pretty grim if Bendtner's making someone look bad! Part of Abebayor's game has been his workrate.

Really. He wasn't moving, jumping for headers, chasing anyone down. His only memorable contribution was taking too long to control Nasri's peach of a pass and having his resulting shot blocked.

[Dude Ranch]

Really. He wasn't moving, jumping for headers, chasing anyone down. His only memorable contribution was taking too long to control Nasri's peach of a pass and having his resulting shot blocked.

I saw that on the highlights, he didn't look very sharp in that instance. Bendtner really needs to put his money where his mouth is, then. I read this morning that Wenger doesn't like his boots and I can't blame him. If he ditches them and knuckles down he might have a chance. I think him and Eduardo might possibly be a partnership cos Bendtner certainly is that battering ram/target man type player we often need and Eduardo is one of the best finishers I've ever seen.

[Arc'Tan'Gent]

Why do people keep saying we need a new keeper? What has Almunia done wrong to warrant his dismissal?

[Daley]

Why do people keep saying we need a new keeper? What has Almunia done wrong to warrant his dismissal?

He is just not quite good enough. It's a funny one. There are other positions that need strengthening much more urgently but put it this way, he is not good enough to play in a title winning team. He is just lucky we do not have a title winning team so he doesn't stand out.

He is a good shot stopper and not bad at coming for crosses, and he keeps needless punches to a minimum. But his decision making and comannding his area and coming off his line is where he really lets himself down. Too may times he comes off his line when he should stay and vice versa. The Liverpool goal for example this season. It was just a simple punt and the defence didn't exactly cover themselves in glory but the ball bounced twice before Keane hit it and he was in the area when he did score. Why didn't he come? He was rooted to his line. The other day he came when he shouldn't have and punched Toure in the head. He is covered by our other problems. But I like Manuel and we are a long way from needing a goalie as a priority.

My list is centre midfield, then a centre back (or two) then a goalie. Then a wide man then a striker. Then I want to win the lottery. The last one is probably the most likely.

[Dude Ranch]

The way I see it.. I like him. He's not bad and rarely drops a real bollock. However, how often do you come away from a game thinking he's won us the three points? Like, a couple of save that made the difference? Never. I think top teams have keepers that are worth nine points a season minimum, we haven't got that.

However, given that money is tight he's nowhere near my 'replacement urgently needed' list.

[Petrousgyre]

I've seen Arteta metioned a few times. I'd much rather him than Arshavin. He's a fantastic footballer, hugely underrated and I'm amazed Everton have managed to hang on to him for so long. He'd fit into Arsenals style of play perfectly too. Arteta must be about the best player never to receive an international call up, testament to how strong Spain are in midfield.

[Daley]

I've seen Arteta metioned a few times. I'd much rather him than Arshavin. He's a fantastic footballer, hugely underrated and I'm amazed Everton have managed to hang on to him for so long. He'd fit into Arsenals style of play perfectly too. Arteta must be about the best player never to receive an international call up, testament to how strong Spain are in midfield.

I'd love to see Arteta at Arsenal. He would be great. But not who we need really. We need a hard midfielder who tackles all day. Not sure who but I don't see Arteta as this man.

[Petrousgyre]

No, he's not a DMF of course. Wish we'd signed Alonso this summer, he'd have been perfect. Imagine Alonso playing behind Arteta and Cesc. Spanishtacular.

Edit: Tortilly Espagnabalous?

I'll stop now.

[hobo]

Here we go!

"Wenger - Injured quartet are 'new signings'"

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/w...e-new-signings-

[toythatkills]

But just when are we going to sign Rosicky?

[mop]

Around the same time we sign Yaya.

[Lucky]

But just when are we going to sign Rosicky?

He'd never pass a medical.

[toythatkills]

We do medicals?

[phresh]

I heard it was Dr Mario that did them.

[Daley]

[Shoes]

"Hi everybody! Instead of chewing gum, chew bacon."