Arsenal

[Rev]

Sky reported that his pass completion this season is top five or six in Europe. He is a good player, we missed him Sunday.

We'd have won with him in on Sunday. Benayoun did fairly well (and I've been pretty impressed with him for the type of signing he was - he does infintely better when he comes on than comedy meerkat) but it doesn't hold together very well without someone staying deeper. The centre of the pitch is basically cut into slices with Arteta on - Defence, then Song, then Arteta, then Ramsey, then RVP. It works fairly well, but when Arteta isn't there and Ramsey plays the same way he does the same as Benayoun does, so they sort of got in each other's way.

Down to Ramsey not being clever enough really.

[Steve007]

Sky reported that his pass completion this season is top five or six in Europe. He is a good player, we missed him Sunday.

He only usually passes it sideways or backwards, so this stat doesn't mean a great deal. I'm prepared to give him more time, but I've not been that impressed so far. Still, he's 100x better than Arshavin though

[BlinkyBear]

He only usually passes it sideways or backwards, so this stat doesn't mean a great deal.

Out of context, no, but it does mean he doesn't give the ball away. For all that Swansea were brilliant with the ball, the only reason they had it on most occasions is because we gave it to them.

[Petrousgyre]

The centre of the pitch is basically cut into slices with Arteta on - Defence, then Song, then Arteta, then Ramsey, then RVP.

The deep lying midfield playmaker - something we've not had for a while. Think back to the team over the last five or so years, where our midfield consisted of players like Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky, Nasri, Arshavin and so forth, all like to play centrally and in an advanced position - the only attacking midfielders we've had that haven't conformed to that since, well Viera really, are Denilson (rubbish) and Diaby (permanently broken). For me Arteta's really highlighted what we've missed in recent years. I wish we'd signed him sooner, or, even better had managed to pick up Alonso a few years ago, we came close apparently.

[Art Vandelay]

I think the moral of the team was boosted when we bought a bunch of players but that buzz seems to have totally vanished now. We're back to the kind of callow, characterless rubbish we've been putting up with for ages again and I think these loses have just given a more accurate reflection of this season's overall record. There's probably a lot to be said for buying an exciting forward player to give the team a lift, but I think Henry coming back kind of signals that's not in the plans at the moment.

I'm really hoping we do well in Europe or else this will be another unremarkable season where we can point out that a few young guys came through and that's about it. Getting a bit bored of them.

[Steve007]

I'm really hoping we do well in Europe or else this will be another unremarkable season where we can point out that a few young guys came through and that's about it. Getting a bit bored of them.

We never do well in Europe, well not since 1994 anyway. And us being losing finalists in 2006 is nothing to be pleased about. We lost. Even if we do get past Milan in the next round, how far can a dodgy Arsenal side go in Europe? Dodgy teams do not win trophies. The squad doesn't have the depth & quality to challenge for anything. It's going to take significant investment & a major overhaul to be in with a shout of some trophies.

I realise everything I have said above is about as negative as it can be, but I'm not going to lie & bullshit myself and pretend we have a chance of doing something, because we don't. If we get mauled on Sunday then will that prompt the club to splash some money like it did last time? I haven't a clue.

I'm just getting really frustrated. I actually enjoy listening to the nonsense on talkSPORT as all the angry Gooners phoning in all say the same as what I do. So I can at least be assured that I'm alone with my views.

[Steve007]

But wouldn't it be typical Arsenal if we do win on Sunday? That just angers me even more as we go and beat a Man United or Chelsea but get shat on by Swansea & Fulham

[Rocafella]

Mental strength.

[The Fox]

I actually enjoy listening to the nonsense on talkSPORT as all the angry Gooners phoning in all say the same as what I do. So I can at least be assured that I'm alone with my views.

I heard some old coot on there last week, who must surely have been a Durham troll ringer, saying he'd been going to the Arsenal since 1853, and Arsene Wenger is the worst manager the club has ever had.

[Steve007]

I heard some old coot on there last week, who must surely have been a Durham troll ringer, saying he'd been going to the Arsenal since 1853, and Arsene Wenger is the worst manager the club has ever had.

He's the best manager we've had. Just a shame about the last 6 years...

[Rev]

I like Santos.

[Daley]

I like Santos.

Oh man. How can you post that and not the earlier one.

Sagna's wife puts this pic up.

Santos responds:

https://twitter.com/#!/Andre_Santos27/status/159280356388900867

"@ludivinesagna: Shoot from last time http://yfrog.com/mm60pfsj" verry nice!!

He's like a Brazilian Borat.

[Lucas]

Mental strength.

Playing with the handbrake on.

[Arc'Tan'Gent]

I thought he meant Ludivine Sagnier, that fucking hot actress who was in Swimming Pool.

Mind you, his wife is no pig now is she?

[toythatkills]

Wenger does deserve a lot of credit for getting the ship back on course after that horror start, but the squad is still patently not good enough in certain areas.

I don't really know who you're comparing us to. Man City is the only team in the country that could field a second 11 that are arguably as strong as their first 11, and there's a reason for that.

Take all the full backs, the best centre-back and the best midfielders out of any other team in the Premiership and they'd arguably struggle more than Arsenal, or at least as much. Only Man City have the money to have a squad like they do, everyone else has to make do with a first 11 and then another bunch of players that, if they come in one or two at a time, can do a job. Arsenal never seem to have injuries one or two at a time, though.

Having strength in depth isn't supposed to mean you can win the Premier League with your Carling Cup team. No amount of Steve's bitching about how the club is run is going to change the fact that we can't afford to have Man City's squad. Despite how it looks sometimes, the fact is that our squad is good enough. It's up to the coaching staff to get them playing like it.

[The Fox]

Yes mate, you're right. When I said the squad wasn't good enough in certain areas, I definitely meant we need to spend £600m on players so we can have some £30m bloke on the bench. That's exactly what I said.

Jesus Christ.

[toythatkills]

Yes mate, you're right. When I said the squad wasn't good enough in certain areas, I definitely meant we need to spend £600m on players so we can have some £30m bloke on the bench.

I know you didn't mean that, specifically, but that's what people seem to expect when they talk about strength in depth.

I don't look at Arsenal's squad and think "that team is totally incapable of beating Man City," I look at it and think that if they actually turned up, they would compete easily. The squad is good enough, it's just not playing like it's good enough.

[Art Vandelay]

I think Arseblog's summation of our squad this morning was quite good. All it would take is for some of the players who add literally nothing to be replaced by some who might. I think Wenger knows that people like Rosicky and Chamakh aren't really up to it as he doesn't trust them in either big games or for any extended period in the first team. The problem however is that I'm pretty sure we don't have any money to buy anyone that's any good.

[Art Vandelay]

I know you didn't mean that, specifically, but that's what people seem to expect when they talk about strength in depth.

I don't look at Arsenal's squad and think "that team is totally incapable of beating Man City," I look at it and think that if they actually turned up, they would compete easily. The squad is good enough, it's just not playing like it's good enough.

But it's not good enough to mount a serious title challenge or compete properly in all the cups. Anyone can beat anyone on their day, you've only got to look at this season for some examples of that, but when you've got some seriously underwhelming people to bring in when everyone is knackered then sooner or later you'll start dropping points. Which we're doing. A lot.

[The Fox]

If you think a set of forwards comprising RVP, Arshavin, Walcott, Gervinho, Chamakh, Park Chu-Young and Oxlade-Chamberlain is good enough to win the title then I don't know what to say to you.

Our defence is decent when everyone's fit (lol), and, on paper at least, we're certainly better than Man Utd in the middle of the park. But that forward line is fucking rank.

I'm not saying you don't have a point about the team not playing as well as it should, btw.

[toythatkills]

But it's not good enough to mount a serious title challenge or compete properly in all the cups. Anyone can beat anyone on their day, you've only got to look at this season for some examples of that, but when you've got some seriously underwhelming people to bring in when everyone is knackered then sooner or later you'll start dropping points. Which we're doing. A lot.

Yeah, but if you look at players like-for-like, I don't think our squad's any weaker than most others in the league.

The problem is that when United bring in squad players they play. When we bring in squad players they fuck about, bored. It's not the quality of the players that's the problem, it's the attitude of the players. It's not the strength of the squad, it's the attitude of it. But that's been the problem for fucking years so what can you do? Bringing new players in doesn't see to help because it's as if entering the Emirates causes total apathy in any player that joins and they just end up drifting like everyone else.

We need Eboue.

[g wings]

Paying seven million for someone who is free in the summer isn't that bad at all..you guys did something similar with a far more extortionate fee. You do need players and its not a bad price for some pretty decent cover - tempted to say we could've used him too.

I don't think the fee is the biggest issue. Wage demands seem to be the sticking point more often that not.

[Daley]

Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin is a cut-price £6million January target for Lazio.

The Italian giants are ready to move in and present the Gunners with a dilemma over whether they should cut their losses and sell Arshavin, who has 18 months left on his contract.

I'd take the chance to get him off the wage bill. Obviously on the assumption (lol) that we replace him.

The wages we pay at Arsenal are a real problem. Talk last week that Valencia wanted Squilaci but were scared off by his wages. Dread to think what he's on. Also is the reason why Almunia is still hanging around.

[Lucas]

And why we couldn't offload super nic and denilson.

[Steve007]

Someone wants to give us money for Arshavin?

SELL SELL SELL!!!!!!!!

[Cosmic_Guru]

I can't remember a time other than possibly in the dark days of George Graham's final season, whent there was so much totally dead wood in the squad. We have

Almunia

Mannone

Squillaci

Rosicky

Chamakh

Arshavin

Park

who contribute next to nothing and take up valuable squad places. Then there are all the players on loan this season who will return in the summer and are unlikely to find clubs falling over themselves to buy them. Then there is Diaby, a special case but who may never play again for all we know. Real stagnation and no easy way out with a board squeemish to take financial losses on the chin.

[Daley]

Arsenal don't fear Euro miss

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood insists it would not be a disaster if Arsenal missed out on qualifying for the Champions League this season.

Defeat at Swansea on Sunday has left the north Londoners fifth in the Premier League and four points adrift of nearest rivals Chelsea.

They host champions Manchester United on Sunday knowing they cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to stay in contention for a European spot.

Defeat at the Emirates could see them drop into seventh place if other results do not go their way.

The Gunners have qualified for the Champions League in all of Arsene Wenger's full seasons in charge.

But after showing uneven form this season, Hill-Wood is preparing for the eventuality of Arsenal not booking a spot in Europe's top club competition.

"We are hanging on in there, no more," he told the Daily Star of the club's current position.

"From a financial point of view, not qualifying for the Champions League is quite a blow.

"We have been planning for not qualifying every year, so it's not a disaster, but it would be nice if we could."

I don't know what's more bizarre. The fact that Arsenal still let PHW speak or the fact that when he does it he always speaks to The Daily Star.

[Art Vandelay]

I think a lot of the problems stem from the fact we have two very stubborn billionaire owners who are currently locked in an impasse and for the foreseeable future are unwilling to invest any money until the situation resolves itself. Wenger's no idiot, he'd spend the money if it was there. To be honest everything I've seen of our financial state means it's going to be like this for a while. As it stands paying off the ground is a pretty big shackle to drag around.

[Steve007]

Not sure how he thinks it's not a disaster. The club will lose at least £15-20m, it limits what players you can buy as the top players only want Champions League clubs, it pisses the fans off as we like Champions League football, it pisses the players off they they want to play at the highest level and it means we'll be playing stupid fixtures on a Thursday which causes nothing but disruption to weekend fixtures.

There are no positives to not finishing in the top 4. Not finishing in the top 4 is a disaster.

[Steve007]

And I presume we'll get a reduction on our season tickets for next year? There's no way I want the UEFA Pub Cup on the season ticket. That sort of rubbish should be optional. If it was the old UEFA Cup I wouldn't mind, but it's been devalued so much over the last 10 years it's become irrelevant.