Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
This game should have been all about Olivier Giroud.
I said before the game I fancied the Frenchman to score – I should have put some money on it. He scored two fantastic headers, taking his tally to six goals from his last seven starts. It’s worth remembering that this performance came against the titanic Brede Hangeland. Giroud competed with the Norwegian tirelessly and this ought to have been the day that he announced himself to the Premier League with a brace in a vital Arsenal win. Of course, as it was, the defence had other ideas and Giroud is relegated from the headlines.
Some will say he spurned a final chance to make it his day by not volunteering to take the stoppage-time penalty. It was interesting to note his body language – as soon as the kick was awarded, he started doing a ‘calm down’ gesture with his hands. Perhaps he sensed the game was far from won. Having missed his last kick, perhaps he also felt the added pressure of a possible hatrick meant he wasn’t best placed to take it. After all, he’d looked far more lethal in the air than with his feet, and he couldn’t exactly head a penalty. Anyhow, Mikel Arteta seemed pretty keen, taking the ball of Santi Cazorla – the only man to initially volunteer.
Was this Mikel Arteta’s first bad game for Arsenal?
After the Spaniard conceded the penalty, I pondered whether that was the first major mistake he’d made in an Arsenal shirt. He was obviously keen to amend matters with the spot-kick, but unfortunately didn’t manage it. When you look at Arteta’s performances since signing for the club, it’s hard to hold him too responsible. This wasn’t his best game, but you can never question his commitment.
The missed penalty is a red herring.
Like Jack Wilshere’s sending off last week, or indeed Santi Cazorla’s goal, the penalty miss should not detract from the true story of the game: that Arsenal squandered a 2-0 lead for the second time in five days. Scoring three goals at home should be enough to win any game – especially one in which you’ve led by two clear goals. As it was, we allowed Fulham time to play, and they duly punished us.
Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz were excellent.
Clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, and indeed Arsenal should be asking themselves how this pair managed to end up at Fulham. I don’t mean any disrespect to the Cottagers, but both plainly have the talent to be playing at a much higher level.
Our midfield were a mess.
Forgive me, but I don’t understand why a holding midfielder, Francis Coquelin, frequently found himself in a more advanced position than the more creative Mikel Arteta. Also, I am conscious this may be heresy, but I’m not sure about the validity of keeping Santi Cazorla in the central three. He drops in to wide areas to look for space, which means that the two left behind occasionally look a little isolated. In the unlikely instance that everyone is fit and available, I’d like to see Arteta, Diaby and Wilshere in the middle with Cazorla drifting in from one of the wide positions.
The ‘Steve Bould effect’ myth has been destroyed.
After Arsenal kept a clean sheet in the first three games of the season, I said this:
“I’d like to go on record and say I think our defensive excellence has been somewhat overstated in the early part of this season. Just as us conceding ten in the first three games of last season was anomalous, the three clean sheets could be a similar statistical oddity. It will take a longer run of consistency before I declare that Steve Bould has replaced the current back four with clones of our well-drilled mid-90s heroes.”
I wish I had been wrong. After today’s game, Arsenal no longer hold the statistic title of meanest defence in the league, and it’s easy to see why.
The “Steve Bould has fixed everything” narrative was a myth created by people who wanted to use it as stick to beat Arsene Wenger with. And as for the ‘zonal marking’ on the corner from which Berbatov scored, I have to confess I simply can’t see the logic in leaving opposition players to make untracked, unmarked runs and attack the ball.
With Spurs at City tomorrow, this weekend ought to have been a time to put us in a powerful position ahead of next week’s North London derby. Instead, that game is looking very crunchy indeed.
The discrepancy between reality and rhetoric with Arsenal is staggering. Gazidis describes us as the most ambitious team in the world, whilst facilitating annual decline.
Last season was all about salvaging a summer of absolute incompetence and somehow qualify for the CL. The fans didn’t see that as a trophy. It was a means to end. CL football (and finances) should have meant us rectifying the shambles of 2011 and strengthened the squad for this season. Instead, the manager and the board shamefully weakened the team for 2nd year in a row.
It’s difficult to care about CL qualification this time when we a) have no chance whatsoever of winning it and b) fail to utilise our presence in the tournament to improve the team through new acquisitions. We just get to the 2nd round and go out. Like clockwork. Perhaps going out in the group stage and fighting for the Europa League would be more interesting this season.
That might sound unambitious, but it’s significantly more ambitious than the actions of our board and manager in the past couple of years. Wenger might be inspired by talk of finishing 4th. Fans are inspired by what finishing 4th should bring to the club. When CL football merely brings an even weaker squad, fans will inevitably question why they should care about an event which just makes already very rich men, potentially even richer.
You see Paddy they are putting all of their eggs into one basket by relying on financial fair play. Thats not ambition, thats a total lack of it. I am tired of seeing, hearing and reading anything by that seeping puss bag Ivan Gazidis regarding Arsenal being the most ambitious club in the world. He is a spin doctor and nothing more. We know there was money, we know that the money we had has now vanished into Kroenke’s other sporting interests and we know that Arsenal are declining more rapidly than ever. Wenger, Gazidis and Kroenke are the disease and we, the fans are the cure…
Great point Paddy! In fact maybe by missing out on the top 4 the club will be forced into acting. There is so much wrong top to bottom! A huge squad that lacks even quality or passion needs reducing. The coaches and manager need a shake up and ambition needs to be restored. By accepting 4th each year it becomes sterile I seriously think winning even the Capital Cup might be a better aim and create a group of young players who believe in each other and win together Jenkinson Wilshere Coq Sches Ox Eisfield maybe even Walcott
I fear this season will get messy and a lose to the Spuds send the blogsphere into anarchy but with no result / respobse from club
Like the man says, this game was supposed to be all about Giroud. Well done to him, he really showed what a brilliant player he is going 2b for Arsenal. (Negativity is poison of the soul)
Like the man says, this game was supposed to be all about Giroud. Well done to him, he really showed what a brilliant player he is going 2b for Arsenal. (Negativity is the poison of the soul)
So GS, no doubt there was another 20 minute spell in there today to remind you to keep positive about this shower.
After keeping clean sheets against bus parking Stoke and Sunderland, I was amazed at the level of praise that the team got, as though the whole leaking goals thing had been rectified. The only thing those two games proved to me that was that we were still unable to break down teams who were simply happy to play for a point.
It’s quite clear now, in games where mediocre/shit teams attack us, the game can go either way in an 8 goal thriller.
More and more of the Arsenal fanbase are now realising that changes are required.Unfortunately they are unlikely to be seen-any time in the near future.The Board will continue to stand by a Manager living off past glories-someone who has completely run out of ideas;is incapable of adapting a flexible strategy geared to fit opponents;cannot see the short-comings of his players;has a transfer policy which is unsuited to today’s Premier League;pays many of his players sums of money that they do not deserve (whether far too high and occasionally far too low-Monsieur Wenger undoubtedly decides the worth of every player!);and holds far too much power within the Club.A new broom needs to sweep clean!Obviously,this is unlikely to happen unless Usamov manages to usurp the criminally absent Kroenke.Of course, the Board might feel suitably threatened if results and performances continue to underwhelm during the remainder of the Season.We wait to see ,just, how the future unfolds.Unfortunately,many of us have a good idea!!
I like Arsenal.
Guys I love Arsenal and i will till I die. But before I die of a broken heart and stress, let me just say this. Before Arsene Wenger there was Arsenal. Before Kroenke, Gazidiz, Hillwood, there was Arsenal. This team is legendary and it is us the supporters and some fantastic managers and players that made it legendary. I have decided that i will not watch another game as long as the board, Wenger and the AKB’s Are f&^king up our club. Yes you heard right, all those Arsene Knows Best brigadiers. Just tell us what does he know. Does he know how to motivate his players? Does he know how to select the best team for the job? Does he know how to get his players fit since they cannot keep a decent pace for 90 minutes? Does how know how to outsmart the opposition manager? Please AKB’s tell us for the past seven years what is it that Wenger knows? Arsene Wenger had a three year plan what happened to that? AKB’s come on here week after week defending Wenger. OH it is not Wenger’s fault it is the players fault. Tell us who manages those players? Who should make sure he has the right players for the JOB? The same AKB’s come here lambasting Wenger for his stubbornness and suggesting wich formations to use wich players to select, wich we all know by now will only happen in LALA LAND. Yes AKB’s you are just as much to blame as The board because you support Wenger with the same ideology as the board. The same ideology that was concocted by the board and given to Wenger to turn you into mindless zombies!
Hypnotized by ARSENE KNOWS BEST. IN ARSENE WE TRUST. I am sure the man doesn’t even trust himself. He must be asking himself after every draw how did i get away with that point? I am tired But i am not dead.I am said for ARSENAL FC MY BELOVED TEAM. but at the same time I am glad that more and more AKB’s are waking up don’t think we havent being following your comments!!!!
The AKB’s have no argument. It used to be that if Wenger left all our top players would leave. Well maybe if we had an ambitious manager, our top players (if we have any of note left) would be willing to stick around.
Their argument now is who would you replace Wenger with? What kind of pathetic defence is that for Wenger?
Wenger’s job is to get the team to perform on the pitch. What organisation in the world would allow one of its department’s to regress every year for 7 years and then reward the manager with bonuses.
And this is why Wenger is on board with the the owners, simply happy to go along with making profits.
Can you imagine Fergie ever sacrificing trophies for profits? Not a chance. He would walk.
And before cockhunter starts bleating that Fergie has sold United down the river, Fergie still puts out a team that challenges for trophies. And the difference between United and Arsenal, is that if their fans for one minute think he’s sold out to the Glazer’s, they’ll have him out in a second. But while Fergie still has the nous to challenge, their fans will stick with him.
There’ll never been none of this 7 years with no trophy, but in 2 years we’ll be ok shit with their fans. 3 years max with no trophies and they’ll have him out.
I’m beginning to think we deserve all we get with our spineless fans.
I’m no AKB before you start, but basically you have decided not to watch Arsenal anymore. So basically you only want to watch us when we win?
I sense a glory hunter.
I cant beleive you reason this way. If any Arsenal fan says he does not want to watch any other Arsenal match, it is basically because he does not want to die of heartache which is a very high probability, If at this time you cant seem to see what is happening, you are most to be pitied
More Wenger gobbly gook ,if he rates berbotov why the hell did he not try to buy him from man unt?
Meanwhile, cockhunter is roaming United blogs explaining how their club is in decline, and how clever Arsenal were getting £24m for RVP. Keep up the good work hunter…
Quite right bill look at wengers recent dealings GERVINEO WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN VICTOR MOSES. GEROUD when ITCOULD HAVE BEEN BERBOTOV come on the man has lost the plot
I would never imagine seeing the words “Giroud” and “Excellence” in the same sentence. Really, the only way Arsenal will move feet if through falling attendance rates – Arsenal are just not a very good club at all. Wenger is washed up, impotent and most of all useless.
That’s it.Leading by 2 goals and drawing.How many points have been dropped from this type of scenario? I believe the gunners are the only team who have thrown away leads in this manner all the time.The ref presented Wenger with a gift which he declined when the Spaniard’s kick was saved.
The defence is still a major problem. I believe the German is not the answer and he was bought in haste.
I am no coach but Wenger will be naive to believe it can fight for 4th spot. Drastic measures need to be taken be it tactics,new players,etc.
I said it last season n I’ll say it again now, the best thing that could happen this season is not qualifying from Champs League! Once that happens, no big deals, no more cash cow for Kronke n Gazidis, it’ll be time to start all over again! I’ll always love Wenger for what he’s done, but there comes a time when we have to admit its time to change! AKB’s and the in Arsene we trust crew, time to stand with all the other gooners n realise all we want is what’s best for AFC not civil war! I will always eat sleep breathe n live Arsenal but for gods sake stop wearing the blinkers everyone this is obviously not working, and when it doesn’t work something needs to change! Ridiculous though it may sound but Arteta missing the penalty is a good thing nothing for the management and board to hide behind!
groundhog day
Earth to cockhunter your father arsene needs fluffing.
Where you find another manager who couple t beat fulham or Norwich at home, and just scrape past qpr with a mere 140mill budget??? You will miss him when he is gone 🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍
It’s clear that the board will never sack Arsene. Certainly citing loyalty, albeit to the profits.
It’s about when he will quit. Unfortunately or otherwise, he will see out his contract.
BTW GS, I think the player to replace Carzola for him to have some rest is Arsharvin. Is it plain coincidence that the fight back on previous games he has played has that number included? He will play much better in the middle, we know that. Ox & Walcott at the sides, Pol and Giroud rotating in front.
Villa gave manure a game at OT. We didn’t. We are mid table dross.
SAF maks decisive substitution at half time to win game. Wenger throws his bottle and complains to fourth official.
that virus is so strong there are still those who think wenger is absolved of blame …that’s a crock of shit WENGER is 99.9% of the problem and it will get ugly and he will have to take massive disrespect and he won’t understand it when it happens either you can just see him standing ther after we loose to the spuds (god forbid) he will stand there and say “it is not a life threatening situation it is a football game , it does not matter that it is tottenham or any other team as we want to win who ever we play but today we were not sharp , we did not have our passing game but the spirit we showed in the game was fantastic” come on fella’s there is no quick jab that will rid you of this virus , it is going to take brutal action from the fans
I can see theo saving us from defeat against spuds and being sold in jan. it’s like water torture
HOW DARE YOU BLAST WENGER?
He is the best thing that has ever happened to Arsenal.
Yesterday, he told us how the team had fantastic spiwit.
Yes I know we lost a 2 goal lead – but we had Spiwit! Did Spurs show spiwit today? No! that’s why they lost. If they had Arsenal Spiwit – they would have come back and rescued a point.
What’s wrong with you guys?
We’ve won 7 trophies in 7 years and you still complain.
What trophies?
The 4th place trophies of course!
Now suck my cock….
To much noise on firing the Manager…
Remember during the AGM meeting AV said “If you are absolutely devastated when finishing 3rd then I won’t be around when you finish 15th” talk.
He basically said we finished 3rd b.c. of his work and when he is gone we will be finishing 15th.
What amuses me is not b.c. is assurance that we are nobody with out him, but he is confident on the board incompetency to do the job and get us over the finishing line (he said that to the owner’s face and everybody applaud at the end). It is also amazing that in this day and age a company employe grabs the mike and says to his comrades and his boss who is sitting next to him “if it is not for me you lots will go down the gutter, you freaken losers and sh*ts”
If any person make that speech in a company meeting that will be his last public speech ever, really.
My point on the last game is no different than any of u here. I was just looking ahead to facts and finishing 15th.
Thankfully arsene has identified we need a striker and a keeper and apparently in another four years he might decide we need a defender or two
I can’t work out who talks the more shit, Wenger or cockhunter. According to Wenger, we are still in the title race?
I suppose as long we keep showing more of our trademark mental strength that we saw on Saturday and keep throwing these 2 goal leads away, we’re going to push United and City to the wire.
Wherefore art thou cockhunter?
Please grace us with more of your shit. Take a ten minute break from taking the piss on United blogs whose club is in decline, and enlighten us how awesome Wenger is.
Remind us of how fantastic we looked against Coventry. There is a great danger that fans will forget this awesome display in the wake of our worst start in 30 years.
Come on, give us a laugh. Please preach the gospel according to Wenger.
drunken cunt is currently using the plastic HARD ha ha them two fools will appear together but only after we draw with braford 3-3
Can someone please explain to me why Wenger did not try to buy Berbatov?
Because Berbatov is smart and went for the better option, Fulham. And AW has been sleeping through the last 14 transfer windows.
I think it would have meant us going the same way as Portsmouth as I understand. Stadium debt and an annual write off of £7m on Wenger’s salary tying funds up and all that kind of stuff.
Besides, we have Chamack and Gervinho. How many top quality forwards do you think our budget can stretch to?
If it’s bad now what will happen after we sell Walcott in January??
Will sanity and silverware EVER return??
don’t be silly now the plan is to sell walcott for 12 million to city or chelsea and by zaha for 9 million and 3 million for dezeko in the wonderful land of wenger where you pay the value wenger thinks the player is worth and not the market value meaning we will get some unknown who is currently taking the french second division by storm
and we will be told we are looking for super super quality and only that level of quality that will add something to our team ala chamack lol…………….lol
We should buy balo. Wenger loves spoiled brats. And he has talent
doubt city would sell him to us for 7 million
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