Chelsea responded well in that second half and City won yet again at home, so no dropped points for either of our main rivals for the title. The back to back games against these two are going to be huge and could define our season.
I know it's only 13 games in but I don't really see things changing unless some big changes are made in the winter transfer window.
I keep expecting United to kick on and go on a winning run and get back in the title race, but it's just not happening for them, probably cause old Red nose is no longer charge. Also RVP is having an injury hit season and he alongside Rooney make up for their dreadful midfield.
Man Utd have been extremely inconsistent. We've seen them in the past finish strongly in the 2nd half of the season but under Moyes, I just can't see it happening. Way too much deadwèight in the team. But if Man Utd get a midfielder of Fabregas' quality and if RVP stays fit, they will definitely be in the top 4. Unites scored today through 2 stupid errors and Spurs profligacy in front of goal flattered Utd. As for us, we NEED a CF back up, without question. It's stupid to rely on Giroud. If he gets injured at any point before the winter transfer window we are screwed. It's imperative we get a good result against Chelsea and City. These games could truly shape our season. Mentally, if we can get a win or draw against them, it will give Arsenal the impetus to carry on into 2014. We simply cannot afford to slip up against them.
I actually worry more about the Chelsea game than the City one which might sound odd. Our away performances this season apart from at OT, have been brilliant and the way we have set up has been perfect. This year, we have already won away to Munich and Dortmund, so that should give us plenty of confidence when we play away. At home against Chelsea though could be tricky, as I see us potentially getting caught between going for the game and trying to be solid and getting numbers behind the ball, also we have never beaten a side managed by Jose Mourinho.
Jose always has an answer for whatever we try and throw at him, so there's no way we're beating Chelsea, Citeh are invincible at home, so there's no way we're winning that either. We have to keep plugging away, beating everyone else, and hope that they slip up, City's away form should hinder them a bit, but i don't see how Chelsea can be stopped. They're gelling now, and they're getting referees decision's too, so that's a pretty fearsome combination. We'll probably come 3rd this season (barring a collapse) which is a step in the right direction, hopefully next season we push on, make the signings we need, and we can become a force again. Hopefully Ozil is just the first of many big names, not a 1 off. As for 4th, it could be anyone of Liverpool, Newcastle, Everton, Spurs, United, Southampton.
Arsene's record against Maureen is terrible. Again I would be happy with a draw against Chelsea. For whatever reason, Arsene just can't get it right against him.
If we're going to beat Chelsea, we have to try something bold, something Mourinho wouldn't expect from Wenger, like playing 3 at the back, or a 4-4-2. Every man and his dog knows that we play some variation of a 4-3-3, we need to switch it up for one game only. Chances are we'll lose anyway, so why not take a risk against them?
Wenger's owed a win over Mo, plus we've lost our last 3 vs Chelsea so we're owed a win. The good thing about the Chelsea game is that we will get more than a week's rest by the time we play them, so we should be freshened up and ready to go. But until we play City and Chelsea, we have Hull and Everton, win both those games, and we put ourselves in a very good position for those 2, and we could afford to lose 1 of them, obviously you never want to lose, but similar to the United game, it was a takeable loss. I think we will lose to City, 1) their home form is too good, 2) we will be fatigued I think, we're basically going to playing non stop until the City game with no rest, and before the City game we have 2 big games VS Everton and Napoli, so I think our players will be quite tired when it comes to the City game.
People will criticise me but Wenger in recent years has never been that audacious tactically. Say what you want about Maureen but he will try out different formations if necessary. I can't say the same for Wenger. When the chips are down do we have a plan B? Case in point, Man Utd this season.
Yeah the irony , as his bunch of ballerinas choke and splutter along a point per week . Midchester United , down in the doldrums just a couple more one pointers boys , and you will be screwed.
Chelsea will pack the midfield against us, wouldn't be surprised if they play with 3 DM's, because they'll know we love to play through the middle, so they'll try and protect the CB's as much as possible. If they pack the midfield, we have to play with width, something that doesn't come naturally to us. Personally, i'd put 10 men behind the ball, use Theo as a CF, and play on the counter, if we do that, we have a chance.
I hate that phrase in football. If Arsenal are to beat us they'll have to earn it, a win isn't going to come to them. It might be easier for you guys to focus having played City the week before whereas we will most likely have to jump from the worst team in the league (Palace) to the best team in the league (Arsenal). Walcott usually gives us a hard time, key will be counter attacking us out wide. The last two times Arsenal beat us they tore us to shreds. I'm gutted I'll be missing it, easily the standout game over the Christmas period.
Joel Campbell scored again this weekend, the guy's having a great season so far, is it worth recalling him as backup for Giroud? I assume we're not signing a striker in January, and someone (i think it was SJW) made a good point about Poldi being constantly "3 weeks away from returning", so we do need some backup.
I think the key to winning (from an Arsenal perspective), is to frustrate Chelsea and not make defensive errors as we did at the Emirates a few weeks ago. If we try to play open football we will be easily beaten I think. A counter-attacking strategy would seem to me, to be the way to go. Just my opinion though.
Agree. With proper width this Chelsea team can be got at. Couldn't say the same for previous Chelsea sides.
We're getting there even if we are not gelling quite yet. We would happily settle for a draw against a superior side. And only hope for that because we tend to perform well in pressure games. I don't understand why Arsenal 606ers have such a phobia of 'big games' but simultaneously go on about how their record in them is so good (not you Hans).
