The ref's ineptitude cannot hide how poor we were. Wilshere, Ramsey, Sczeny and to a lesser extent Giroud were the only decent players out there. Carzola had a shocker, Walcott was non-existent... our defence? The less said the better. You have to be deluded if you think we're finishing top four this season. Unless we do some serious spending in the next few weeks, we will be where Liverpool are now very soon. Once you slip out of the top four, it's very difficult to get back into it, especially in today's football climate.
But where to strengthen ? We cant score goals against any half decent defence. ( you cant count newcastles ) Our defence is like watching the Keystone cops. Clearly Kos thinks hes playing for St Helens. Verm regularly gives away ridiculous free kicks for no reason . Ches can make a blinding save of a pen but then 5 minutes later palm the ball directly into the path of a striker 3 ft away . Giroud was 4 yards out and heads it over the bar. THESE things are not Mike Deans fault. They are OURS and only OURS .
I agree... He had a shoite game but I do think the red card for Koscielny was a red. He was last man and rugby tackled Dzeko to the ground! But overall he had a mare. I think the Kompany one is each to their own. Some can say it was extremely dangerous while others will say he got the ball. But as I said... I think you'll beat us at the Bridge and I'm not looking forward to it. Our away form is class but at home we aren't playing well...
As soon as I id Giroud was doing better than I expected and I was wrong to say he shouldnt come on he disappeared except for a couple of soft attempts.
Kos red right as was the pen, I don't think kompany was a red. Koscienly ruined the game for us not dein. The loss is squarely on his shoulders . Wilshere chez were really only good players for us. Ramsey as really acquitted himself or us over the last couple of weeks lets hope it isn't just a flash in the pan. Not confident about Chelsea next week ut oh well.
@A87 - It's clear i'm talking about todays performance rather than our overall position. Your replying to something i haven't said.
We should give Jack the armband. He showed he's willing to fight a lost cause. Verm hasn't been great since he got the armband.
I listened to most of the match on Radio Five Live. Martin Keown is usually pretty objective but he was slating the ref all the way through. I agree with others - had it been 11 v 11 then things may have worked out differently and I thought you acquitted yourselves pretty well. That said, in games like this Walcott and co really really have to make their presence felt and sadly that did not happen today.
I do not how much more evidence Wenger needs to see how weak our squad is. Arteta gets injured, and he has to play a half-fit Diaby who was terrible. How can he not see this?
Kos red was right as much as I hate to admit it. Kompany red was right because he had both feet off the ground and studs showing (although one foot was back on the ground with studs showing by the time he made contact) and Wilshere did well to get out of the way. What pisses me off is that he gives free kicks away against us too freely and it has to be blatant to give it for us. Its the inconsistency in his decisions. Like their free kick when they scored. he lets them take it quickly when our players are not ready, but a bit later we had one in a similar position Wilshere was going to take and he said we had to play to the whistle. He is biased and makes it hard for us to win - always. I am proud of the team though, only conceding two against money bags city with 10 men against 12 for so long and when Kompany got his red we looked the better side.
