It's lazy journalism that leaks into the public domain. The media keep reporting that AVB always plays a high line so people assume it happens all the time, even when it isn't. Edit: oops, was intending to include the quote where YV pointed out that we were actually playing deep and narrow.
I don't think you need to be worrying about Chelsea mate. Everton yes, but Chelsea will be way ahead.
All clubs except Cheslki as that would mean them finishing 5th or lower. It wouldn't mean much to Manure, Citeh or the Arsenal though
Probably because you both finished close to us last season, I'd guess. Chelsea losing is always funny though
Saw this gloat on the Gooner board:- Thank you, AVB and Ade. I hope you are both very proud of yourselves, for making the club and, by our association with it, us fans, look like complete muppets. On Wednesday, Arsenal play Montpellier at the Library, and I will be hoping they are suitably humiliated. And then, next Saturday, they are away to Villa. Let's hope Villa can revive their fortunes with a morale-boosting win, then they face Swansea and WBA in the following successive weekends. Last season, they had RVP to revive their season, after they lost to us; this season they have Walnut, who hasn't even committed to remaining at the club (because he thinks he's a striker). Whether or not that Clown AVB has it in him to dig us out of the hole that he's slowly but surely digging for us, I will be praying for an Arsenal collapse.
As you pointed out the importance of winning a game liken that cannot be underestimated, all of a sudden Wenger is smiling and the fans are happy. That's what winning a derby can do to a team. That said I do feel cracks have been papered over regarding Arsenals defence, they don't have the easiest run in up until Christmas. Everton away and I also think Swansea will go there and give them a good run for their money as will WBA
That's because they are good. I don't know where this belief in Spurs quarters comes from that Arsenal are a bad team.
Idiots on JA mainly and of course Redknapp (although i think he has alterior motives tbh). Although Jamie was at it too. I'd still say in the PL Arsenal are the best team we've faced this season. Kompany went on record saying the same on MOTD as well. Yesterday you lost away from home to a decent side whilst down to 10 men with an injury stricken squad. Whilst there is no excuse for the capitulation there's no shame in that. If I were HIAG losing at home to Wigan would annoy me more.
So, you reckon that Arsenal would still have run riot if (a) we had not gone down to 10 men, and (b) AVB hadn't used his usual suicide "defend" tactics for most of the match?
(A) Nope, I don't think they would have. 11 v 11 I think it would have been a much closer game but I still don't think Spurs would have won. Would most likely have been a draw IMO. (B) It's difficult to criticise him now (believe you me I'd be the first given the opportunity as YV well knows ). That red card stunned everybody, Spurs started brightly and Arsenal were rattled. AVB probably wanted the players to keep it tight and keep shape and just damage limitation until half time. The 3rd goal was crucial though, it was game over once that went in. At 2-1 Spurs may still have been able to salvage something from the game and Arsenal would not have been as confident. Blame AVB for the City and Wigan defeats by all means (IMO both were totally his fault) but blaming him for yesterday is harsh. Lloris started, Dempsey didn't, AVB played 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to Arsenal by playing attacking football. You got that, at least up until the red card.
I doubt United would agree that they're the toughest team they've faced. This isn't a great Arsenal team but it's not one I'd expect to have won against in such circumstances which is why, for me, it's not a capitulation. I felt like we should be able to make it to half time without being behind and to that extent I thought we were poor although they were fortunate with the second. After that we took the game to them trying to get back in the game working very hard and looking Arsenal's equals for periods. When they got the 4th it did deflate us a bit but Bale never stopped trying and gave us a bit of hope and we piled forward trying to get more goals as we had to do. I'd much rather we lost 5-2 trying to win the game than just tried to see out the game at 3-1, or even 2-1 for that matter.
I'm not saying that he is wholly to blame. Clearly, he could not have foreseen the red card, but then to permit the team to capitulate in the way it did, that is partially his fault in (a) not being able to motivate the players, (b) having no Plan B, let alone a Plan C (something I criticised him heavily for when he was Chav manager, and he still hasn't learnt his lesson), and (c) playing suicide tactics.
Liverpool probably would City are the Champions though and current leaders, they are the benchmark, Chelsea are Champions of Europe & FA Cup holders, Liverpool League Cup Holders. Who are United exactly? I thought 2nd half Spurs came out and gave it a go, but not 1st. All 3 of Arsenal's first goals came as a result of Spurs sitting back. The tactic was for Vertonghen and Huddlestone to hoof it long and clear their lines, leading to wave after wave of Arsenal attack so goals for them were not just possible, but inevitable. That's where HIAG's criticism is perhaps vindicated. Had Spurs played like they did 2nd half (after going a man down) I'd go as far as suggesting they could have got something out of the game. Fair enough.
