Matches these days do come with a sense of inevitability... The team looked like they were having fun in the first half hour, now they can't string a pass together. It's crazy how much a bunch of grown men rely on confidence, whenever we concede we are just bereft of it. Song has also given the ball away SO many times, including twice where he over-hit simple passes by so much that they went out of play for a goal-kick. Jenkinson has looked shaky at the back but he has put some nice crosses in. Koscielny and Mertesacker have actually been very strong and stood their ground, it's on the wings that we've been exposed. Oh and Theo hasn't done anything of note ATALL. Possibly because the Sunderland defence are sitting so deep but Gervinho is still having an influence on the game, so Theo can't always use that excuse.
Sense of inevitability about the goal, was just wondering whether Larsson would go top left or top right hand corner. I am being serious, I actually knew he was going to score; I don't know how.
1. Rosicky is now far and away our most creative midfielder.A year ago he was struggling to get on our bench - that's how far we've come. (and thats from a squad that finished 4th) 2. Song has now obvioulsy been told to its fine for him to get forward. He offers very little up the pitch and makes us far far more fragile when he does this. (WHERE THE **** IS THE COACHING?) 3. Arteta - Decent at everything but great at nothing. Does'nt get a great amount of assists or goals, not particularly quick and not much of a tackler. He's good but is he good enough for Arsenal? - Hell No. This Summer we missed out on Mario Goetze, Yoann Gourcuff, Alverez, Juan Mata and Yann M'Villa because we were too ****ing cheap. Im sick of this. Im sick of this tippy tappy, tactically ignorant style of play. I'm sick of the weak underbelly and complete lack of fight in the squad.
VP Could have had a perfect hat trick, then you implode again .... Your defence is horrific, i hope you win this game but the arse has fallen out of your side yet again...
For once I don't think it's been our defence that has caused the problems. Why is everyone saying this? The equaliser was a class act, you see many of those fly over into the stands. If we had scored a second, we'd be alot happier right now. Our attack and poor finishing puts the rest of the team under pressure!
the first half hour we were like a different team. Fast paced. longer , incisive passing... Then we slipped into Arsenal mode. There is more passing BACK than forward. Its like whenever an opponent stands his ground we dont know what to do. Whatever happened to TAKING ON A MAN and beating him ?? It seems like we are not capable of tackling, just passing , and if someone stands in the way , just pass back. Totally devoid of tactics AGAIN Mr wenger . How many times have i said that in the past 12 months. If Sunderland can take our confidence after 30 mins , i cant wait till we play Man City good grief.
It has nothing to do with the result. The team is soo soft and tactically inept its just horribly frustrating.
No he's not. He is the perfect replacement for Cesc. That's what most of us were saying when we signed him and at least I'm not fickle enough to change my mind just because he's taking some time to settle into a team that is more technically gifted and less direct than Everton. and as for complaining about the defence, I agree with Bobby Pires. It was a quality free kick and if it was Utd or City or Chelsea conceding it you would see no complaints about the defence. As usual we haven't taken full advantage of our dominance. Might I add that this match seem sspookily simialr to Liverpool's home draw with Sunderland. Arteta will be a quality player for us in due course. Mark my words We will finish above the spuds and qualify for the CL
Dont be ridiculous. Fabregas is truely World Class. A fit Fabregas would get us around 10 goals and 20 assists every Season - Arteta wont get anywhere near that.(in fact according to Opta Fabregas is the most effective passer of the ball in Europe) Arteta was a last ditch panic signing after Wenger failed to land his real targets. Like I said he's a decent player but not great. No way near Fabregas's quality though.
Goetze - his club said he wasnt for sale. In case you didn't know, nobody bought him. Gourcuff - already a thread where a lot of people think his best days are gone. Mata - It doesn't matter (see I avoided the pun) what other clubs offer, the sad truth is Chelsea or City can offer more. It may even be a tactical purchase as they don't always need the player, but they can do it and we can't.
