Arsenal

[Rev]

It was me. I said:

It was. You did.

You were right.

[SeanR]

Wait, what!?!

2 points? Dropped?

Venger, you CUNT!

[Petrousgyre]

But both of those comments are totally wrong. Villa didn't play a long ball game at all, and Drogba is massively involved in games even when he doesn't score.

Oh, come now. Villa absolutely play a long ball game for the most part. Their strikers are either gigantic (Heskey, Carew) or unbelievably quick (Agbonlahor) and they play to those strengths - there's nothing wrong with that either. Aside from that he commented on how well they closed them down, which they did.

His Drogba comments are even more self evidently true. Drogba doesn't run around like a crazy man, nor should he - his movements are calculated and efficient - aside from score two goals against us he didn't do much else.

I think it's called damning with faint praise, and it's pretty transparent.

You're following the medias predetermined narrative here, I can't believe you can read those comments in full and claim Wenger was full of faint praise - particularly in the case of Drogba "It’s a great goal, the first one, but it’s a goal of a striker in complete confidence" - is hardly damning.

[David Kenny]

Oh, come now. Villa absolutely play a long ball game for the most part. Their strikers are either gigantic (Heskey, Carew) or unbelievably quick (Agbonlahor) and they play to those strengths - there's nothing wrong with that either. Aside from that he commented on how well they closed them down, which they did.

His Drogba comments are even more self evidently true. Drogba doesn't run around like a crazy man, nor should he - his movements are calculated and efficient - aside from score two goals against us he didn't do much else.

You're following the medias predetermined narrative here, I can't believe you can read those comments in full and claim Wenger was full of faint praise - particularly in the case of Drogba "It’s a great goal, the first one, but it’s a goal of a striker in complete confidence" - is hardly damning.

I don't agree that Drogba doesn't run around, his workrate is incredible. He runs the channels, holds the ball up, pulls defenders around. I would say he's not actually playing that well at the moment, but when he's on form his game is a wonder to behold. Wenger's is saying what you're saying; apart from score goals what else does he do? The answer is, loads.

I just don't see the long ball thing with Villa, they have pacy players sure and knocking it over the top is always an option, but that's not the long ball game. They play some pretty good stuff from what I've seen of them this season, and they played some decent stuff in the game against Arsenal.

I think as others have said these things are just Wenger's way of deflecting attention from his teams difficulties, and I don't blame him for that.

[TonyPlay]

This weekend is the first time I will actually be able to attend an Arsenal v Man United and I think we are going to be in real trouble.

Rooney is on form, Sol is barely fit yet and we have no striker (3 goal wonder Bendtner is hardly the solution to our current problems is he?). Still excited to be going but I now have a lot of concerns I didnt feel two weeks ago

[Lucky]

I wonder if Vermalean will be risked against Utd who'll probably just play Rooney up front, or save him for Drogba and the in form Anelka.

[LyonJacques]

"You would be surprised by the number of balls he touched today."

[Petrousgyre]

I don't agree that Drogba doesn't run around, his workrate is incredible. He runs the channels, holds the ball up, pulls defenders around. I would say he's not actually playing that well at the moment, but when he's on form his game is a wonder to behold. Wenger's is saying what you're saying; apart from score goals what else does he do? The answer is, loads.

Neither myself or AW are saying that though, read what he actually said. Of course Drogba does lots, and he is a wonderful striker - no question, but what he does he does efficiently. He doesn't run around like a headless chicken. Only in England could describing a striker as efficient be seen as disparaging.

I just don't see the long ball thing with Villa, they have pacy players sure and knocking it over the top is always an option, but that's not the long ball game. They play some pretty good stuff from what I've seen of them this season, and they played some decent stuff in the game against Arsenal.

Villa play their game well, but it is pretty one dimensional. They do play plenty of long balls into Heskey and Carew, I've watched a fair bit of them this season and that is very much their game plan. That's not to say they don't have options wide with Young and Downing but without Barry this season they don't really have anyone who can pick a killer pass out of central midfield. Again, none of this is meant disparagingly - they, like all teams, have to play to their strengths.

I think as others have said these things are just Wenger's way of deflecting attention from his teams difficulties, and I don't blame him for that.

All managers do this to some extent, I realise I'm in a minority here but I don't think Wenger does this that much - In the face of a 3-0 home defeat he was germane and frank about his sides shortcomings whilst complimenting his opposition. Had that been Ferguson he'd have been going apeshit about a lack of injury time or some perceived refereeing deficiency or another. The press in this country have decided that Wenger is to be spiky and aloof when he losses and what he says is irrelevant. As I said, read the international presses reaction to his comments versus Englands press:

International

England

And the subsequent Ryan Nelson story:

International

England

Where, oddly, the Telegraph claim "The Frenchman's view was readily disputed on Tuesday by Ryan Nelsen" - despite him actually saying. "I agree with Arsene Wenger."

[Rev]

(3 goal wonder Bendtner is hardly the solution to our current problems is he?)

[Lucky]

If we aren't gonna buy anyone, doesn't look like we will, why don't we go for a couple of loan deals until the end of the season?

Flamini?

Huntelaar?

Kenwyn Jones even?

[Dude Ranch]

"He insisted: "He has an opinion on everything.

"There is not a subject in this world at this minute, political, religious, anything, that he does not have an opinion on.

"I really don't mind, I just don't want it shoved down my throat. I'm not the only one to disagree with him.

"He does say things for effect. You can get carried away with your own importance, you really can. Sometimes he does."

O'Neill's being a bit of a cunt about this, isn't he? Getting personal is really cheap. He already did it with the Young/Clichy thing.

[Art Vandelay]

O'Neill is such a gay baby. Looks like he's preparing for another bottle job.

[BlinkyBear]

Nikcatlas Bendtner.

Edit: Just seen we've had that. Tits.

[Shoes]

I want some fucking belief today, guys.

[Shoes]

I came up with a new chant, sung to the tune of Adam and Joe's Bobby NeNiro song:

His name is Abou

Ooohh

Abou Diaby

Aaahhh

He's a lovely person

And a very good player

The last line may need to be altered depending on his performance.

[Mars]

Brilliant

[BlinkyBear]

I want some fucking belief today, guys.

Have that.

[Shoes]

o/\o

[Mars]

Stand up, if you love Arsenal!

\o/

[Dude Ranch]

Anyone fancy a guess at the time of the first crunching foul on Cesc? I'll go for seven minutes, Fletcher, no yellow card.

[BlinkyBear]

Stand up, if you love Arsenal!

\o/

\o/

(Whilst watching old Arse/ManYoo games on YouTube)

Anyone fancy a guess at the time of the first crunching foul on Cesc? I'll go for seven minutes, Fletcher, no yellow card.

I'd love to get some odds on Fletcher giving away 10 fouls but no card, the feckless cunt.

[BlinkyBear]

Have this.

[BlinkyBear]

Team apparently:

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky.

Subs: Fabianski, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue, Traore, Bendtner.

So I LOVE the idea of that front 4.

[toythatkills]

Would have liked to see Bendtner start but mainly Cambellol

[BlinkyBear]

Would have liked to see Bendtner start but mainly Cambellol

BIG SOL, WE'VE GOT OURSELVES BIG SOL, GOT OURSELVES BIG SOL etc.

(I wanted to see him play )

[BlinkyBear]

I am BUZZING right now. Wish I was there.

BRING IT ON.

[BlinkyBear]

2 things:

No suprise the goals have come from the 2 major weak links in this team (Almunia and Denilson).

And we've had 7 chances (?) and score none. See what happens if you don't have a striker on the pitch Wenger? Spend some fucking money.

[Shoes]

I'm never going to believe in anything ever again.

[Liamness]

For the second goal, there was just acres of space to run into. Quick pass to Nani and he's off, it always looked like a goal. Who else would set themselves up so vulnerable to the counter playing United?

[BlinkyBear]

For the second goal, there was just acres of space to run into. Quick pass to Nani and he's off, it always looked like a goal. Who else would set themselves up so vulnerable to the counter playing United?

We had 5 red shirts behind the ball; the space should have been covered and Rooney would have been, were it not for the fact that Denilson didn't pick him up or even notice he was there until he'd run into the box.