What I meant by that statement is that you constantly defend players who have put in a large number of mediocre performances, therefore by definition you are content with mediocrity.
Dont blame the short corner for Sagna's header. It was a lazy half arsed attempt to head an easy ball to a player 5 yards away. As i said, the 'counter' was also helped by Benayoun having a conversation with the bench instead of covering and tracking his man! Please don't make it sound like one of those things - just a counter. It wasn't. It was piss poor play by us.
Sorry mate, but I don't think this is accurate. I defend Ramsey, because whilst he's had a difficult season, he's put in a massive effort this season and has done the job he's been asked to do. I don't think he's a mediocre player, I think he's a decent player having a tough season. I don't like the way that he's constantly slated, even when he's done nothing wrong, so I stick up for him and support him. In the wider sense, I'm not content with mediocrity at all. I think there are several areas for improvement at Arsenal and I hope that they are addressed in the summer. What I do think is important though, is whilst identifying areas for future improvement, that it's important for fans to get behind the manager and players during the season and give them your support.
Sagna has two weaknesses in his game. One, he is quite easily beaten by 1,2s, leaving the runner to find space behind, and two, his crossing is abysmal. He has actually crossed it much much better in the last 8 weeks to be fair, but last night he was piss poor at it again. Hope he gets back to putting some good crosses in, because if he can improve his weaknesses he would be a great player.
I'm not saying it 'was one of those things' We were totally responsible for our leaving ourselves open for the counter. Walcott's corner did put Sagna under pressure though, although he dealt with it poorly. I think we missed Arteta badly for both goals, as I think he would have tracked back and prevented the first goal. The second was a brilliant piece of skill from Moses to create the chance, but we could have prevented it. Ultimately though, after a bright start (we were pressing for a goal early on) we got hit by a classic sucker punch goal on the counter.
Sorry Piskie but Ramsey hasn't done the job he's been asked to do. He's been very very poor. In terms of effort, I would tend to agree, he covers a lot of ground, but then so could any number of players. Running around a lot should not warrant a place in a top 4 PL club. Anyone who says that Ramsey has been anything other than poor this season is just making excuses to avoid being critical - which is fine by the way, but not to be taken seriously.
I am very worried about Arteta now - look like he is out for the season. Without him our midfield just doesn't compete at the same level. Take RVP out of our side and I think Arteta has been our most influencial player this season.
I disagree that he's been 'very very poor'. Like I said, he's had a difficult season, but when you consider that he's been asked to cover the absence of Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere and Diaby - and played almost every game this season, I think he deserves a bit more credit than he's given. I agree that he can be frustrating to watch at times, but I think he's done more right that he's done wrong. Anyway - I think the Ramsey debate has been done to death. We differ on our views about him. That's fine with me
I disagree that he's been 'very very poor'. Like I said, he's had a difficult season, but when you consider that he's been asked to cover the absence of Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere and Diaby - and played almost every game this season, I think he deserves a bit more credit than he's given. I agree that he can be frustrating to watch at times, but I think he's done more right that he's done wrong. Anyway - I think the Ramsey debate has been done to death. We differ on our views about him. That's fine with me
I agree with that Jayram. Arteta has had a massive influence on our midfield this season - and has changed the way in which we play from last season. I think he's going to be a huge miss. Wenger will probably play Ramsey in there for the last few games. I hope he gets the support of our fans, because he is going to need it.
Ramsey just needs to keep it simple. Get it and pass it quickly. Like Arteta, when there is space, get forward and have a dig at goal. What he needs to stop doing is getting the ball, trying to hold it, turn into trouble and be forced to pass it back anyway - or worse lose it as he has done more than any other player in our squad this year. He needs to just link play and give the ball to players in better form. Keep it very very simple and just retain possession. A few games of that and he might start getting some confidence - focus first on cutting out errors, then later on trying to do more. As it is he is trying to do too much and he's not executing. That's the advice I sincerely believe he needs to be given.
Jayram, getting done by one - twos is no shame, I mean its impossible to stop. My view on Ramsey is he can do a role but his role for Arsenal currently is a pain in the butt because we don't have creativity and Ramsey is not good defensively - so we are stuck; he doesn't create and he can't defend, he's like Denilson with worse passing. Before his injury I saw a different Ramsey to the Ramsey I see now, that Ramsey could beat players. Lets hope he can find that level again otherwise I don't see a place for him at Arsenal at all, as it is right now he offers us very little. Frimpong and Coquelin are far further up the line for benefit to Arsenal, then we have the young German from Dortmund and multitude of others waiting in the wings.
Ha, thought I'd read to the end to see if anyone countered this! Was going to say the same. A well played one-two is nigh-on impossible to stop by yourself, not to mention nice to watch. Agreed about his crossing mind, truly pants at times. As to Moses, I'm torn on him. I see him as a bit of a Walcott character. Certainly not in style but he's either hot or cold and his end product, like Theo's, needs work. Both have a lot of potential. *edited due to spazzy typing insinuating I'd torn Victor Moses - Oooh er!
He always ends up having to pass back or to a player that is not in a good spot to do anything. Credit to Arteta though, he's always been there when we needed to get out of tight spots. He gets a foul out of it at the very least.
