I don't know how good Sheffield United are, but that is a shocking result for Rangers. They put a strong side out as well. Staying in the PL is obviously their main priority, but this still a very poor result.
I think I read on the BBC Live text that they've only won 2 FA Cup games in 10 years. That's mad if true. Yeah, their line up surprised me but you often see teams tail off at the end of the Christmas run of games, the players can see a midweek without any games coming up and slow down before the finish line. They're far from the only PL side struggling today, rotation or not they're almost all struggling.
I wonder if the results yesterday didn't help either. It was a bit like an early round of the Copa del Rey the way Swansea and West Brom swept to victory. It certainly made me overconfident, I had City and Southampton to win by 3 or more Hopefully Arsenal can continue the indifferent performances from the big teams, can't see it with those line ups though. Bruce doesn't fancy another FA Cup run this year apparently.
You beat me to it. I was just about to post about him and his coat. He should invest in some Velcro !!
It's not even the same one. They made a big deal about switching from Nike to Puma and he still can't deal with it. Who has that much trouble with zips?
Crap commentary and a lot of pretty boring football too. Thought Arsenal were nervey in the second half, they retreated into their shell and let Hull's B team pass it about and waited to hit them with balls in behind their defence. For all their fans used to give it about playing football the "right" way, they don't anymore. Hull were really terrible though, a few decent performances at the back but generally clueless. Coquelin's a very lucky boy, put in 2 really poor challenges today, he should have been celebrating when the ref gave a freekick and only booked him as if it goes unpunished he'd find himself on the end of a 3 game ban by tomorrow morning.
What the **** was Bullard wearing by the way? Could've at least bothered to do a couple of buttons up on his shirt.
Does anyone know (or have an easy way of checking) the last time Arsenal had as few as 33 points from 20 games? By my reckoning they're on track for their worst finish in 20 years and while I wouldn't rule out a late surge I would be interested if they've come from this far behind before
I read somewhere recently that it's their worst start to the season since 1994/95, when they finished 12th. Rather bizarrely, they only had a point or two more in their next worst start and yet they won the league.
They won't win the league, but they will surely pick up over the next few months. If they get Walcott and Ozil playing well (no certainty) and buy Khedeira and a centre half, they'll get 3rd I reckon.
I think their form and points will be determined by their January business. When I look at their squad, only Sanchez really stands out for me. Walcott is an effective player if he can get going after returning from injury but the rest are just what I'd consider good/ ok players. Ozil has done nothing for what his price tag should command, Cazorla is good on his day, Arteta is aging, Wilshere overrated, Welbeck is a hard worker but that's it, Giroud is ok, keeper is average at best, CB's used to be really good but don't seem as solid as before. I'm not surprised they are where they are in the table right now. I know 6th isn't terrible at this stage but Arsenal really should be a team that's in the top 4 comfortably all season long while pushing those title sides. If Sanchez got an injury I genuinely believe they'd be ****ed and slide down the table, their over reliance on him is becoming like how we were with Bale. In my opinion, from an outsider's point of view, they could do with a new GK, CB, DM, CM and a ST, Gibbs seems quite injury prone and Monreal is basic at best so maybe a new LB too. Here's hoping Wenger buys a RB and a winger .
All good points! Without Sanchez they'd really struggle. Thought Ozil was top notch when he arrived, but went off the boil (probably by being played on the wing). On form and in the right position he is a great player (sadly). And your last wish has some history, how Wenger didn't relace Vermaelen is beyond me, the whole world knew they needed a Centre half and an upgrade on Arteta and Flamini. The longer Wenger doesn't see it, the better!
