I wonder how much of this poor form is down to Mustafi's absence. It's amazing how much difference a good defender can make to how an entire team plays. Not just through lack of individual errors, but by allowing the entire team to play further up the pitch and giving the midfield more confidence to attack.
I don't think it's a coincidence that they've lost the two (very winnable) games that he's missed.
He's been solid, distributes well, and his leadership qualities are the opposite of Gabriel. As I said before, Holding needs to replace him, because whilst he may be 20, you don't see him booting it to row Z as soon as he gets the ball. It isn't just that, of course, the entire performance of the team has been poor, with only Sanchez, Bellerin and Koscielny showing up for most of the season.
Well I think I said a week ago these 2 games will go a big way to defining our season & they failed miserably. I didn't see the 2nd half today but it sounds like it's identical to the Everton game, early lead, play ok, should have been ruthless when on top, concede an equaliser & look totally abject 2nd half.
They deserve al the criticism they are going to get I my opinion. All the players talk about winning the league, but in my opinion there's a select few who really want to put in the hard work & effort to win it, the rest would like to win it, but only if it gets placed into their lap.
Agreed. As I said pre-game, aren't going to get a better time to beat City. Turned up for 45 minutes in both those games, I don't know what he says at half time but the team flatlined in the second half. I think it goes back to the players feeling too safe, too loved regardless of their performance, and the manager isn't making their life harsh enough when they are shit for them to pull the finger out.
Except today Arsenal were never on top -- apart from scoring early, they were totally dominated and outclassed by Man City.
Just wrong, first half went as many fans had hoped, indeed how the fixture went last year where we won 2-1. Defended well, broke quickly, and as a team did what they needed to do, stay compact. In the second half this level dropped massively.
Why is it funny? Every year it's the same old, same old. Maybe some of their fans would like to win the title, to win the European Cup. To do more than be at the top table every year, without being the best.
Wenger has done some wonderful things for that club, and perhaps getting someone else in means they finish 6th and aren't in the Champions League. But given that they aren't going to win it with Wenger in charge, what difference does it make? They might be worse without him, but they aren't going to be better with him, so why shouldn't fans want a change?
My own personal view, is that finishing top 4 every season, without ever kicking on and having a proper challenge of the title, is getting rather old. I'm concerned Wenger does not have it in his locker to galvanize the team to kick on, band together and grind out the results you need. Recent history has shown, season after season, in big games, there is something missing. I believe he's going to get a new contract in the New Year, however, so am not holding out much hope for Simeone to come in on huge money and bollock anyone who doesn't put the effort in (and sell them to WBA as penance).
Monreal is patently not good enough for Arsenal if they want to win the league. Lets them down too often. It's a shame for them because imo Cech, Bellerin and Koscielny definitely are (Mustafi yet to be seen).
Monreal's had quite a dip in form this season, especially as he was playing for the NT ahead of Alba not too long back. He's lost a yard of pace, personally I'd like to see Gibbs getting a run of games, can't be any worse.
How much is he after again? 300k a week? Christ Almighty.
150k really, as he doesn't come out of the tunnel for the second half.
