This game was so utterly predictable. The unpredictable part of it was that young Oxlade-Chamberlain started and was arguably our best player, also that Nico Yennaris came on at half time for the hapless Djourou, this also swung the game in our direction. These two good managerial decisions were then more than negated when the Ox was take off and replaced by our lazy fat Russian.
Manu deserved the win. They exploited our weakness at right back as the 1st half wore on, this told just before the end of the half through Valencia's goal. We came out aggressively in the 2nd half, the Ox was the spark, the momentum shifted, and eventually a goal, a precious equaliser came, the Ox feeding RVP who finished supremely.
The momentum was with us, 1-1 with twenty to go. Theo had been poor, again, ineffective and unproductive as he has been so regularly of late, one really has to wonder why he deserves any kind of new contract given his recent attitude and output. Bizarrely and stupidly Arsene then took our best player off, in fact a double substitution was about to happen just before the equaliser. It was terrible enough to take the Ox off, but to see the lazy fat Russian Arshavin come on in his place was just gruesome, a truly awful decision from Arsene. Tellingly RVP did not look happy with it.
The crowd were fuming and quite rightly, why was Walcott not taken off instead? and why take our biggest threat off the field? Our forward momentum was then sapped, then to emphasise the woeful nature of the decision Manu scored a second and Arshavin's slack defending was again at the heart of it. This was no great Manu side either, it was as poor a defensive back five as I have seen representing their club against us.
Our squad is too weak, we need defensive reinforcements so so badly, not only this but Arsene is making some terrible tactical decisions which are killing our season, quite literally. Arsene's decision to withdraw our pace at Fulham was also a poor one, Gervinho and Walcott went off in the 2nd half, our attacking pace was gone, we sunk deeper and the pressure ended up telling.
Arshavin is one of many players who are not good enough for our football club, I want to see his sort cleared out, I have had enough of lazy players like him who clearly do not care anymore. Make no mistake, things are pretty bad, we have lost 8 league games already this season, over a third of our fixtures. Those in power at Arsenal Football Club need to take responsibility for this mess and they need to go about sorting out our squad.
The worst thing in all this is that it has been obvious to any honest Arsenal fan that we have drifted off the pace set by the likes of Manu in the last few years, we are no longer at the races, we have been outplayed too often and this never used to happen when we genuinely competed for the title. I am in pain, there is no longer any room for excuses.
66 comments:
RIP AFC!
First time I have posted on this blog, great website by the way. I listened to the game on the radio and I'm very disappointed. I never expected us to win but again wenger seems to get his tactics wrong again. He seems to be getting most things wrong these days and seems far too loyal to players who have lost form ie walcott and Arshavin. I feel this is the beginning of the end for the once great man
Yes the Ox was the best player for us and a agree WHY Arshavin on even RvP was shocked, up until that point we did look like we could win it but the rest is history now.
wenger won it for them...
The blame starts and ends with Wenger who lost the plot years ago. I believe we need a fresh start under new management. Wenger cannot cut it any more..
for the sake of arsenal wenger needs to go he is turning us into a mid table team
Arshavin is the new 'Denílson'
ooh my god, how wenge take off ox, and put arshavin, crazy!!!!!!!!!
Fans need to start boycotting games. Once there are no fans there things will change but until that the board will not get rid of Wenger.
How appalling for our chairman to come out and say champions league football doesn't matter. That's great ambition!!! Serious problems at arsenal are I agree RIP AFC unless things change quickly!
Wenger is Murdering his Arsenal!...his own baby...:(
I really can't understand wenger's consistent insistence on bringing arshavin on to change games. And the decision to take AOC off was ridiculous. The team lacked creativity. The strikers lacked supply (Walcott was responsible for a few utterly poor final passes in the 1st half). I mean, this result better knock some sense into some particularly wayward heads. Where's the glory? Where are the Gunners?
Wenger has been making baffling managerial decisions for a long time now but today he's outdone himself. God only knows what goes on in his head. It seems he had decided before the game that he would take the Ox off and put Arshavin on with 20 mins left so that's what he did, regardless of what is actually happening on the pitch. His substitutions are shockingly bad, it's as if he isn't watching the match.
Finally people are starting to see what an arrogant bollox that fucker of a manager is.
To think I use to love the guy. Ox off was utter insanity.
If AFC don't act soon this will get worse and it will take years to undo the deep rooted problems Arsene has instilled. Time for an ambitious manager to come in and see this side for what it is. Wenger still stands by the 16 year old Djourou he thought might have talent.
The ox was superb but wenger made the biggest tactical mistake by taking off the ox,lets see who's to blame now?
Really good post, apart from one or two players the squad doesn't have the quality that it use to. I just can't see things getting any better. I don't know if its the fault of the manager or the board. Money needs to be invested, but I dont think we've got it to spend. Worrying times ahead I think.
I have supported Wenger many times in the past but today i was shocked with the Ox going off and Arshavin on and i would think the more this happens the more likely RvP will be OFF.
Mr Wenger u cannot do this in other jurisdictions and go free. If u care to know gunners all over the world our hearts are bleeding profusely.Arsenal mgt pls act immediately. Mr Wenger has played his part, its time for total change. Go AND TAKE ARSHAVIN,DJOROU ALONG. Enough is enough.England gunners be bring on some radicalism it will work.
Wenger has been to loyal to players that has passed it. They are causing him to dent his own reputation.
to be ho,now we nest,i am begining to hate you mr wenger,,lets start with the line,it is no secret that 100 % of our supporters,want,walcott,djourou,arshavn,ramsey,out of arsenal( and on todays showing,rosiscky,now we deserved to loose,especialy in the first half,just toyed with our haplessteam,but to make matters worse,when we started to take the upper hand,in the second half,our ass hole of a manager came up with arshavin substitution,and in place of who? yes our best player,and fucked us up.Mr wenger do yourself a favour and ARSENAL a bigger one and fuck of to france,and take with you the above mentioned players+almunia,squillaci,and the rubbish you have purchased lately
England gunners pls act,do not forget if u don not patronise the club the promise will never come.
Arsene Wenger is a conman he tells us he will buy players, we buy our season tickets then he does nothing, no midfield, defense rubbish,surely it is time for him to leave!
@wayne : Surely, not all recent purchases were rubbish! But, that still means Wenger's gotta boot..
Walcock crap, djouorou (out of position) shit, arshavin useless as usual, diaby always injured, rosicky just not good enough, mertasacker is soo fooking slow, song has one world class pass per game (the rest of his passing are lacking), Ramsey needs time which we don't have.
It is very sad watching us play, we used to be a great team... I don't want wenger sacked but I seriously believe it might help.
A great manager, the greatest we have seen at arsenal is ruining the club we all love...
Lost for words
Greg goon
Anyone who thinks Arshavin was to blame for United's second goal, needs to watch the television on mute, as you are clearly far to easily influenced by the anti-arshavin propaganda machine. There were five or six other Arsenal players in the box who didn't look like making a tackle or marking loose players. Arshavin actually tracked his man all the way and stopped him scoring. The substitution was appalling - fact - but only because of who came off...should have been Walcott, Ramsey or Song.
Arshavin should sue Gary Neville for that slanderous rant he had after the game.
Going for Wenger's scalp won't change anything. He def made a mistake with the OX but the financial situation of the club and the sustainable model in place won't change, whether it's AW or someone else. In Wenger We Trust!
3 things I have concluded and I believe strongly in my heart that one or a combination or all are true.
1. Wenger is Secret Gambler (He should be investigated)
2. Wenger is Insane (He should be made to undergo a series of mental test)
3. Either Wenger or Wenger and the board are involved in Match Fixing (They should be investigated)
Enough said!
wenger + arshavin = sucks
3 things I have concluded and I believe strongly in my heart that one or a combination or all are true.
1. Wenger is a Secret Gambler (He should be investigated)
2. Wenger is Insane (He should be made to undergo a series of mental test)
3. Either Wenger or Wenger and the board are involved in Match Fixing (They should be investigated)
Enough said!
you arsenal fellas are delusional....united so dominated this match, the only thing close was the score and that had everything to do with bad finishing...Yes, Arsenal had chances but had both teams taken their chances, the score is United 7-3
The Ox is a real talent and yes he did one or two very positive things in the game but let's not get carried away. Yes, live in hope but he's far from the finished article.
quite amazing substitution! never got the reason of subbing OX...wenger is facing middle age crisis, not thinking well. i think benayoun was a better choice than arshavin to boost our attack by subbing walcot instead of OX. STUPID mistakes have cost us 9 good points.
what a ridiculous post....this game should have been put to bed much earlier such was Uniteds dominance and chances. Lose Wenger and Arsenal become a third rate club...Be careful for what you ask for !!!!!
WENGER IS WAY PAST HIS SELL BY DATE, THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY'S MAN!!
good luck Arsenal..position 6 may be.
can imaging RVP go and who else agree to come for club not for champion league..suicide
Whoever are those fools are defending Arshavin - oh
sorry Mrs Arshavin.
iam an irish gooner who used to go over to the emirates twice a year,but made a decision last year not to waste my money going to watch bargain basement players turning out boring dross,and i,m not the only one.WHY should i spend money on arsenal when they won,t invest in the team,wengers deciisions 2day were unbelieveable, has 2 go.
Really hoped Wenger could turn things around despite thinking 4 years ago he was losing the plot, but all evidence from the past year suggests he has no clue anymore.
He has just defended taking Oxlade-Chamberlain off for Arshavin by the fact Arshavin is Russia's captain and AOC is 18yrs old...what does that have to do with anything? Arshavin has been shit for over 18 months and AOC has looked a threat everytime he's played and was MOTM up until being taken off.
The squad needs rebuilding (Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone, Squillaci, Djourou, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin and Chamakh all need to go and replacements brought in, including 3 genuine top class players) and Wenger's not the man to do it. Forced to stick with him until the end of the season but then we need to bring in a Manager with half a clue.
Shame it's come to this, but he should have stepped down in the Summer when we should have rebuilt the whole squad rather than half-ass it, when 2 of our best 3 players wanted out.
yet the akb's will keep fiddling away their "wanker knows best" tune
Was a disgusting, vitriolic board.
Some time ago Arsene said Arsenal could still fight for the title. I had my doubts. I said the gunners had to take at least 8 to ten point from the Wolves,Swansae,Fulhama and MU games.Sadly a single point from 12 makes dismal reading.
Wenger has lost his way .To be honest,if he doesn't go he should be fired for dragging Arsenal to the level of amidtable team.
Enough is enough.If he stays he will do damage which
will take years to rectify.
Give the same players to Martin O'neil and he will win the PL and add champions league to your laurels. Wenger good manager? Yes, but good coach NO! NO! NO!. I am heart broken, speechless and at this point I will accept G. Graham than see that man Wenger on the side line.
wenger has lost the plot. why bring on Arshavin a player who is totally off form does not tract back cannot defend. ect and take off a player who was doing so well and left on walcott. the fans know better than he does.... he has to go. All the good he has been is in the past. what has he won in the last 6 years or looked like winning, Could not even beat Birmingham in the league Cup. No wonder Nasri. left. In the times newpaper Nasri said that Arsenal were to get back to him on the contract negotiations in FEB 11 but did not until June 11 and he decided it was too late and he wanted to leave.
Wenger does not want to spend the sort of money he should do on players, and then just buys cheap players who work out to be a waste of money.
Is the American just trying to milk the money out of Arsenal the 5th richest football club in the world?
Manchester United won and left the field with eight english players.
Arseenal left with one and he should not have been on the field.
It is no good just buying players, it has not worked since 2005. We need a few english players with some backbone.
Our style of play also needs a tweak. We need to be more direct in the box - when you see the three pieces of white - hit it.
It is obvious we will not win the championship for a few years, so please Mr W if you are going to stay give the youngsters a go. They always seem to do well against premiership opposition in the Carling Cup.
To say some of the younger players are not ready then continually play Arshavin is at the least contradictory.
Buying players is not the answer, the culture of the club must change at the end of the season. Arsene had a chance to leave with dignity at the end of last season he decided to stay. Football is a remorseless business where weaknesses are ruthlessly exploited. At our club we have a control-freak surrounded by impotent individuals. Its gonna get uglier.
for all the great thinga arsene has done for us it is is time for him to go. he seems to think it is acceptable for us to challenge for 4th and as long as we are still in with a shout for that spot we dont need to reinforce. what about challenging for the title agin? does he really think our current squad are capable of that??
Lost your fuc..king mind mate
We should have signed dempsey and hangeland from fulham 2 years ago,samba and cahill last january and gone in for a 15-20 mil striker and a left footed winger.arteta has been a good buy and the ox will be a starter soon.without arteta in the team song is the only midfielder who will defend and teams find us far too easy to exploit our flanks.wenger has got his formation,squad selection and scouting all wrong.
you've been a crap manager for the last 6 years just f off will ya. if you really love this club please just leave.
There is certainly a core on the squad that are world class but this squad lacks the competition needed to ensure consistent attacking football. Wenger says there are no players available in January who can impact the squad - Complete rubbish. Dempsey, Kalou, Ba, Zamora, Maxwell and list goes on and on. Fact - Walcott, Arshavin and Rosisky lack the effort required to succeed in the EPL and Wenger allows these frauds to wear an Arsenal jersey - insulting to all Arsenal fans.
Starting to look like a replay of last year. Mid-table is where Wenger's philosophy is in today's game. Big money is at stake if they don't end up top four. If so, the manger needs to go. AFC forever.
All managers including Wenger and red faced/nosed have a shelf life. The moment you stop winning games and trophies you will have to be off.
In Wenger's case he should have been axed four years ago.Maybe he is waiting for the axe so that he can COLLECT THE SEVERANCE PAY.
I am afraid the longer he stays,he will cause untold damage to Arsenal FC.
Wenger should have gone years ago, as he has engineered this decline by his assurances to the board that, if we moved out of Highbury into a bright new stadium he would be able to build a side around Fabregas out of mainly promising youth and cheap buys..... this has been the crux of our continued fall and lack of class!
Be sure that it is a fall in class as 5 years ago it was assurances that we would maintain our challange for trophies, by 3 years ago that ambition had dropped to "it doesn't matter as long as we mainatain our position in the top 4" .... now if we are honest we really do not look a side any better than the likes of Liverpool,Newcastle,etc., we are not a side worthy of being in the top 4!! We have fallen that far and are battling for who finishes in 5th,6th or 7th!
I hate to say it but the decision to move from Highbury was a complete and utter shambles both financially and in football terms, When I go to the Emerates it still does not have the heart and soul that intimidated opponents and lifted our players
I dont blame Arshavin. he cant defend, this is something we all know - including Arsene.
Its Wenger's fault that Arsha was is a position to lose us the game
Heartbroken. I pay a fortune to watch Arsenal games and am beginning to wonder whether it's worth it anymore. Wenger needs to get rid of Arshavin, Chamakh, Djourou, Ramsey, Squillachi and buy proven quality players if he wants to save Arsenal's season. He doesn't want to spend money but i hope this games has helped change his mind. He doesn't have any choice anymore. Still, let's not lose faith. I wish the team all the best!
in arsene we RUST!!!!
he been slowly killing arsenal for the past few years. i wouldnt say its all down to arsene, i think the board dont help him either. lets be honest if they came out and said we didnt have money people would understand why we dont buy, but when were making loads of profit and not spending a penny its just as much there fault as the manager.
we have got so much deadwood in the team and its about time we got rid of the likes of arshavin, djurou, vela, denilson, bedntner, squillaci, theo, chamakh, even mertesacker, almunia maybe more.....
the fact of the matter is that arsenal now need an ambitious manager and on the other hand we need an ambitious board. gone are the days where arsenal are title challengers, and its disheartening when at the start of the season the club is happy about finishing 4th.
this needs to change and change soon!!!!
Also my first post on here, It's a good site and the posts usually reflect whats happening at our club well. I really cant stand whats happening with us at the minute, I watched the game with a Man U fan (a friend) and as soon as I saw Arshavin replacing the Ox I turned and said thats it we've lost, how is it that EVERYONE including RVP saw that the sub was the wrong thing to do at the wrong time apart from Wenger? I'm not going to call for his sacking as thats just stupid, we need a good manager right now and Wenger is actually a good manager, he's just making stupid mistakes at present as our squad is to thin on the ground and we have injuries, just bloody get the cheque book out and buy Vertoghen (cover right across the back), M'Villa or similar, Hazard or similar and Rues or similiar before it's too late, if it isnt already that is!
Hands up everyone with an FA Coaching badge and an intimate knowledge of the players and tactics. It was embarrassing being at the Emirates yesterday. I was disappointed with the decision but booing was a disgrace. I am giving up the season ticket I first got in 1968. Not because of Wenger, the Board, Arshavin or anyone else. THE FANS ARE SHIT. It's them that are driving "real supporters" crazy. "Supporters", there's a clue in the word you idiots.
Yesterday really proved Wenger isn't up there with the best tactician's...He gets his tactics wrong more times then right.Great man manager for sure but with avergae players e.g Walcott Rosicky Ramsey Mertasker Djourou that's not going to help anything. I think this should be his last season for the reason's I actually don't trust him Money if it is given, I thin he needs a new challanage and Arsenal need a new fresh start. Give the man a statue that he deserves and keep fond memories of his early years!! Nobody can dispute this. this is life,things change!!
It's difficult to choose the worst player on the pitch, and to contend with Arsenal fans who are blind to the glaring deficiencies.
1. Walcott: speed alone gained him a reputation beyond his abilities, and it's clear now, and has been for some time, that he should be in the Championship, or at best an impact sub when legs are tired. NO moves, loses the ball constantly, poor crosses (a slight improvement, but this is not enough at this level, and to challenge for a top four), and poor shooting (he blew his chance yesterday, delivered horrid crosses, lost the ball, and did nothing positive).
2. Ramsay: he is not up to this level of play. He is WAY too slow. Watch the game again. Old man Giggs consistently ran past him like their ages were the reverse. Ramsay has good ball control and dribbling skills, but he CONSTANTLY gives the ball away cheaply, and keepaway is the name of the game here. Barcelona's best defense is their possession, and that is one critical difference: Ramsay constantly gives the ball away cheaply. He cannot run with the ball, because he's too slow; he can't shoot; and his passes are woeful. Wilshere is excellent; Ramsay is not up to it. He is not so young as to be a work in progress either: he will never have the speed and skills required.
3. Djourou: in fairness, he's a central defender out of depth on the wings, but he was woeful.
4. Arshavin: It is astounding that Wenger continues his arrogant, willful blindness! This man is horrible. Horrible. He is worse than poor, he's a liability.
Honorable mentions to players past it or not good enough go to Mertesaker (slower than my dead grandmother, good positioning notwithstanding, and made to look like a child running after men), and Rosicky, who actually had a decent game bringing the ball out of the defence, but who is far past it, and who cannot shoot or score for YEARS now. Really, competing in the Champions League with these players, against the very best teams?!
On the positive side, Ox was brilliant, and he proved those of us clamoring for him all year to be right. Vermaelen is just amazing, and if you consider that this was his first game back, all the more so. Yes, he was partly at fault in the goal, but he saved our buts over and over, and Wenger's failure to buttress the left side is what led to the easy cross. Van Persie missed a sitter, yes, but still delivered.
We need Demba Ba, we need to play two up front (Van Persie was without support all game long; it doesn't work!), and we need a creative midfielder (Arteta is not only past his prime, but he links up with the backs to move the ball forward, and is thus not far enough forward to open up the defence with passes). Song is increasingly shirking his defensive duties because he is at present our most creative passer of defence-splitting passes. He's a holding middie, so what does that tell you?
Clear out the dead wood now, and OPEN YOUR PURSE you cheap, arrogant, stubborn, blind git!!!!!
Great coach, horrible tactician, and for years now, completely blind to the glaring deficiencies of the team!!!!
I have been anti wenger for years now, as I have never bought his constant lies and lack of tactics. This season has just been a castrophy aucustrated by one man. We were told that wenger's position was almost in our hands, Gazidas said when he falls out of favour with the fans the board would have to ACT! Also did wenger not say last year judge me at the end of the season, and I thought The end of last year was horendous with cesc nasri and wiltshire in the squad.
24 hours on, I feel that the main issue is possibly being overlooked, but it should not be forgotten that AW is responsible for the way the team on the day is set up, the tactics they use, essentially the way they play.
Yet this 4-3-3 system is used by AW as a one-size-fits all, with no recognition it seems of the players that are available. It is patently obvious to any armchair fan that neither Djourou or Vermaelen are full-backs, so for those of us that are defensively minded, you simply have to install some disclipline into the wingers to help out. Djourou had a stinking 45 mins, but he had virtually zero help from Walcott. AOC did better, for sure, but I did not get the impression that AW had spent Friday on the training pitch with those two working out tactics.
Similarly in midfield, with Arteta and Wilshere unavailable, we are lightweight in the middle. Song is not able to do it all by homself. So did either Aw ensure that either Rosicky or Ramsey took more than their usual share of defensive duty? No, of course not.
Instead, its the usual "be patient, play your natural game, and we will win etc etc". Same old thing that never works.
I personally think that AW has never been held properly accountable for the Charge of the Light Brigage performance at Old Trafford, that resulted in the embarrassing 8-2 debacle.
Armand Traore is by no means a good player. Which I think Warnock recognised at QPR, who quickly bollocked the hell out of him and made sure that he would never cross the half-way line. Now thats not to say that Traore is now a good defender. But he did a good job against the ever-so-predictable Walcott after Xmas. I have no idea what AW told Traore before he took the pitch at Old Trafford. Probably nothing.
It pains me to say it, but AW's goose is cooked. Its time to say thanks and good bye.
while not actually wanting to disagree with the general, justified and terminal frustration at AW, I would remind everyone that our dissident captain missed a 6 yard sitter and 3 other first class chances were squandered by RVP, TW and AR.....the result would have been very different if the 3 at the front had done the job for which they are handsomely paid.
so to continue...even with 10, yes ten, of our first squad players unavailable and a dangerous formation, great chances were created but squandered We were punished by impressive competence in the box..on the day result went with competence in the box. Man poo defence screwed up big time twice and we failed to exploit the opportunity twice. Arshavin was not alone.......
and to finish....Einstein's definition of stupidity was someone who kept doing the same thing over and over again while expecting the outcome to be different. So AW Einstein thinks that you are stupid...and who am I to disagree with Einstein.....
Ox was by far the best player which tells you something about the state of our team. How can we go from a team of invincibles with Henry, Vieira, Petit, Pires, Ljunberg, Bergkamp et al to this? Shocking!
Arshavin is one of the many players who are not good enough for our football club, I see your class cleaned, I had enough loose players like him, of course I do not care.
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