Topic: Arsenal

[Schmidt]

Manchester United will probably be in for him.

Not sure, don't they tend to go for overpriced players that need to be prized away, to 'make a statement'? Signing a player Arsenal want rid of wouldn't suit them.

[ScottishGoon]

Just curious about what you Arsenal fans think are those. Without looking into history data, I know you don't do well at OT, what are they rest of the difficult places for Arsenal in the PL in general?

We've had a few heavy defeats at St Mary's as well thinking about it.

We need to avoid being defeated all the time at the rest of the 'top 6', our away record in these games is very poor. We do ok at home generally, but really struggle to pick anything up away from home, so that would be a good start.

[Brian Blessed]

Night and day between Arsenal and Manchester Untied when it came to replacing a really long term manager. It does make you wonder if Ferguson sabotaged them. But I hope not, and they really are that inept.

[ScottishGoon]

Night and day between Arsenal and Manchester Untied when it came to replacing a really long term manager. It does make you wonder if Ferguson sabotaged them. But I hope not, and they really are that inept.

It helped that we were at our lowest point when Wenger ieft. Utd were champions when Fergie left, but he sucked every ounce of energy out of that aging squad for his final hurrah, probably damaging them long term in doing so.

[Red Beret]

I must admit I do wonder what was going through Ferguson's head when he recommended Moyes for the job.  I mean, I'm glad he did - Mourhino going in at that point would have been perfect for them - but it honestly looked like the only requisite for the job at the time was to be Scottish and to hate Liverpool.

[Cu Chulainn]

I must admit I do wonder what was going through Ferguson's head when he recommended Moyes for the job.  I mean, I'm glad he did - Mourhino going in at that point would have been perfect for them - but it honestly looked like the only requisite for the job at the time was to be Scottish and to hate Liverpool.

I really doubt Ferguson sabotaged United, he loves the club. I just think he saw a lot of himself in Moyes: Glaswegian, tough character, overachieved with clubs with less resources. He probably had a blind spot for the reasons why Moyes was unsuitable for United, i.e. never having coached the attacking football United fans want or having had a lot of money to spend. Bad error of judgement.

As for Emery, credit to him, he's done a really good job at Arsenal. They're among the favourites for the Europa League, and if they can stay where they are in terms of points relative to the other teams in the league until the new year, then they're going to compete strongly for 4th place, which no one thought would happen.

[BrandoLFC]

The scoreline from yesterday flattered them to an extent, only Torreira's chance being a good one, and yet it looked convincing so now what they've done so far this season is based on that game?  We actually created more and played better but you wouldn't know it from the way the games were covered.  I know it's always what have you done for me lately and it's a bit farcical because the results have gone their way regardless of how they've played but I'm still pegging them for the Europa league until we see consistency.  Holding, Mustafi and Sokratis are bad, one or two games isn't going to change that.

[The North Bank]

The scoreline from yesterday flattered them to an extent, only Torreira's chance being a good one, and yet it looked convincing so now what they've done so far this season is based on that game?  We actually created more and played better but you wouldn't know it from the way the games were covered.  I know it's always what have you done for me lately and it's a bit farcical because the results have gone their way regardless of how they've played but I'm still pegging them for the Europa league until we see consistency.  Holding, Mustafi and Sokratis are bad, one or two games isn't going to change that.

We should have been 3-0 up before they got their first ,Auba and Iwobi missed sitters, while Son dived for their pen, I think the score line flattered spurs a lot.
Unbeaten in 19 now so we must be doing something right. I do agree about our 3 centre backs though, could do with an upgrade on all of them.

[BrandoLFC]

We should have been 3-0 up before they got their first ,Auba and Iwobi missed sitters, while Son dived for their pen, I think the score line flattered spurs a lot.
Unbeaten in 19 now so we must be doing something right. I do agree about our 3 centre backs though, could do with an upgrade on all of them.

You qualify those as sitters?  Especially anything involving Iwobi and scoring I would never think of "sitter" being included.

Yes, it is 19 in a row and the points are the points.  Up until the last two results you had been out shot and had a negative xG difference or close to it.  That wasn't going to be sustainable in the long run though I suppose "long run" is something open for debate as ManU just went a whole season before it caught up to them.  Now it's turned around the last 2 games.  As I noted if that's sustainable then sure something good is happening.  If not then you're just Auba returning to his historical conversion rate and your opponent actually scoring the goals they created away from not having a hope for top 4.

[The North Bank]

You qualify those as sitters?  Especially anything involving Iwobi and scoring I would never think of "sitter" being included.

Yes, it is 19 in a row and the points are the points.  Up until the last two results you had been out shot and had a negative xG difference or close to it.  That wasn't going to be sustainable in the long run though I suppose "long run" is something open for debate as ManU just went a whole season before it caught up to them.  Now it's turned around the last 2 games.  As I noted if that's sustainable then sure something good is happening.  If not then you're just Auba returning to his historical conversion rate and your opponent actually scoring the goals they created away from not having a hope for top 4.

Our performances are improving, the players are learning a new style of play and slowly growing as a team, it will take time, the amazing thing is that we are coming up against teams that are meant to be finished articles and out working them, we are so far ahead of schedule it’s taken every arsenal fan by surprise let alone the opposition. I don’t know what xg says but we were superb yesterday.

[Golyo]

Arsenal were losing 4 and drawing 10 of their matches at halftime in the PL. Stamina?

[rawcusk8]

Big test for Arse on Wednesday, will they do their usual and fold at that shit hole? Feels like Dracula is too wise to fall for any of that shite and will put up a solid performance. A draw would be ideal, don't want them too close to us and don't want them causing Jose to be sacked, that's our job on the 16th.

[The North Bank]

Arsenal were losing 4 and drawing 10 of their matches at halftime in the PL. Stamina?

If matches ended at half time we’d be 19th, only ahead of Cardiff. Emery’s tactical changes at half time have been inspiring. 2 half time subs on Sunday , Ramsey’s gets 2 assists and Lacazette a goal.

[PaulF]

There's got to be a psychological impact on fans and players when you 'know' you're going to win the second half.
Hope you smash the shit out of mouriniho's lot. Specialist in being a tosser that he is.

[ScottishGoon]

There's got to be a psychological impact on fans and players when you 'know' you're going to win the second half.
Hope you smash the shit out of mouriniho's lot. Specialist in being a tosser that he is.

Got to be honest with you, it would be nice on the nerves to win the first half as well. The ideal of course is that you dominate a game from start to finish, in terms of performance & scoreline. To get to December & never be leading at half time but still be 4th is a bit ridiculous.

[Golyo]

If matches ended at half time we’d be 19th, only ahead of Cardiff. Emery’s tactical changes at half time have been inspiring. 2 half time subs on Sunday , Ramsey’s gets 2 assists and Lacazette a goal.

Emery's starting lineups are uninspiring in other words.
I don't think you can keep this up until the end of the season.

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

Watching them play and attack is quite spectacular, if we want to get childish about it we play solid classics these days under the reformed ex rocker Klopp, Emery's Cobain. 

[ScottishGoon]

Felt a strange game last night. Looked like 2 teams that never believed they were going to win, all 4 goals were farcical in different ways.

Came away disappointed with only taking a point, with the way we surrendered the lead both times, & with our lack of belief & conviction at times, yet ordinarily taking 4 points from Spurs & Utd in the space of 3 days would be a very decent set of results.

A nice wee run now where 4 from our next 5 fixtures in all competitions are at the Emirates, with a chance of resting senior players against Qarabag at home, hopefully helps combat the legginess we seemed to see at times tonight.   

[Clayton Bigsby]

Felt like Arsenal bottled that a little. Why was leno so leaden footed for the equaliser? They were unlucky with first equaliser, Herrera is offside and Linos should not make mistakes like that. VAR cannot come soon enough

[The North Bank]

We had enough chances to win , they were hanging on in the end, but we didn’t play well, we looked tired from Sunday, only ghandouzi and lacazette who didn’t start Sunday looked sharp. Ghandouzi was excellent actually, can’t believe he’s just turned 19 last month. With Torreira at 22 we have a good future in midfield.
Need a defence though, United didn’t do enough to get 2 goals. I’m sure ruthless Emery has seen what the rest of us have. He got rid of wilshere, banished Ozil, getting rid of Ramsey, but he can’t do the same with the defence because he has no one else. I’m sure that changes in the next few windows.
Think we ll finish top 4 ahead of Chelsea, should leap frog them this weekend, we got Huddersfield they got city.

[ScottishGoon]

Think we ll finish top 4 ahead of Chelsea, should leap frog them this weekend, we got Huddersfield they got city.

Obviously our mini league consists currently of us, Chelsea & Spurs, so any time any of the other 2 drop points is good for us.

Hopefully with the fixtures coming up we cement ourselves in the top 4, would be nice to see Leicester or Everton take points of Spurs as well in the next couple of weeks.

[El Lobo]

Felt like Arsenal bottled that a little. Why was leno so leaden footed for the equaliser? They were unlucky with first equaliser, Herrera is offside and Linos should not make mistakes like that. VAR cannot come soon enough

Yeah a little but they've had unbelievable luck with officials this season, I'd be worried if I was an Arsenal fan and that starts evening itself out. Leicester, Everton and Bournemouth will breeze past.

[The North Bank]

Yeah a little but they've had unbelievable luck with officials this season, I'd be worried if I was an Arsenal fan and that starts evening itself out. Leicester, Everton and Bournemouth will breeze past.

Spurs scored from a Son dive. Palace from a Zaha dive, and united were offside. It’s not been one way the luck.

[Dim Glas]

Felt like Arsenal bottled that a little. Why was leno so leaden footed for the equaliser? They were unlucky with first equaliser, Herrera is offside and Linos should not make mistakes like that. VAR cannot come soon enough

they where lucky with their first goal, that De Gea decided to give then a nice early Christmas present.

Only saw the last few mins of the game, and about 10 mins of the first half, (and replays of the goals), it was sort of comically bad quality game of what little I saw of it. Lots of falling about, lots of fouls, comedy defending for goals, just looked like 2 frenetic PL teams with little discipline or nouse going at each other.

[Nessy76]

Not sure, don't they tend to go for overpriced players that need to be prized away, to 'make a statement'? Signing a player Arsenal want rid of wouldn't suit them.

Sanchez, Mata, Matic... they've gone for plenty of overpriced, clearly past their best former superstars lately. I'm sure Arsenal would oblige with pretending to be devastated and taking Rashford or someone in part ex.

[Nessy76]

Watching them play and attack is quite spectacular, if we want to get childish about it we play solid classics these days under the reformed ex rocker Klopp, Emery's Cobain. 

Eric Kloppton?

[Barefoot Doctor]

Quite interesting when you look at the table this time last year - 15 games in.

Arsenal are actually only three points better off, which was a surprise to me. Of the rest of the top six, we're the most improved with ten more points than at this point last season. Spurs are eight points better off (another surprise to me) while Chelsea are one point worse off, City are two points worse off and Man United are 12 points worse off 

[BrandoLFC]

Spurs scored from a Son dive. Palace from a Zaha dive, and united were offside. It’s not been one way the luck.

Really?

I'd also argue it has been one way luck when you look at the amount of games you won that you shouldn't have.  Wolves, Watford, Everton and West Ham games you lucked out on the result adjustments or no adjustments, the Wolves game especially you had no business even getting a point.  Then the Fulham game it was one good goal and then 4 basically bullshit ones.

Anyway, it is what it is.

[The North Bank]

Really?

I'd also argue it has been one way luck when you look at the amount of games you won that you shouldn't have.  Wolves, Watford, Everton and West Ham games you lucked out on the result adjustments or no adjustments, the Wolves game especially you had no business even getting a point.  Then the Fulham game it was one good goal and then 4 basically bullshit ones.

Anyway, it is what it is.

Yes zaha dived. As in was not touched and threw himself to the ground for a pen.
We are doing well, the fans are happy, the manager has been a star, and there’s more to come, from him and the team.

[FlashGordon]

Yes zaha dived. As in was not touched and threw himself to the ground for a pen.
We are doing well, the fans are happy, the manager has been a star, and there’s more to come, from him and the team.

You should beallowed feel a bit giddy, I know I did after we got Klopp.

[BrandoLFC]

Yes zaha dived. As in was not touched and threw himself to the ground for a pen.
We are doing well, the fans are happy, the manager has been a star, and there’s more to come, from him and the team.

So Xhaka just admitted to nothing then?

[The North Bank]

So Xhaka just admitted to nothing then?

Yeh it was a dive, watch it.

[BrandoLFC]

Yeh it was a dive, watch it.

I have.  It was a dive over Xhaka's leg that he stupidly stuck out and admitted rightly that he was at fault.  Same as Holding going in on Son.  Son did dive but WTF was Holding doing?  You have Arsenal tinted glasses which is fine but these aren't their forums so I could care less.

[Hazell]

I have.  It was a dive over Xhaka's leg that he stupidly stuck out and admitted rightly that he was at fault.  Same as Holding going in on Son.  Son did dive but WTF was Holding doing?  You have Arsenal tinted glasses which is fine but these aren't their forums so I could care less.

I thought Zaha dived but then Xhaka said it was a foul - which was odd (as players hardly ever admit that) but refreshing - so I don't know what to think. I don't think Son's was a penalty even though Holding went in. The only mistake Holding made was forgetting that Tottenham have a bunch of players who dive at every opportunity.

[BrandoLFC]

I thought Zaha dived but then Xhaka said it was a foul - which was odd (as players hardly ever admit that) but refreshing - so I don't know what to think. I don't think Son's was a penalty even though Holding went in. The only mistake Holding made was forgetting that Tottenham have a bunch of players who dive at every opportunity.

Holding didn't need to dive in like that though is my point.  If he stayed on his feet what was Son going to do?  He had a terrible angle on the keeper and no support yet if I remember correctly.

[Hazell]

Holding didn't need to dive in like that though is my point.  If he stayed on his feet what was Son going to do?  He had a terrible angle on the keeper and no support yet if I remember correctly.

I agree he didn't need to dive in but that's irrelevant anyway as it wasn't a penalty. I do think Arsenal have had a lot of decisions go their way this season but I that was one that went against them. Plus I loathe Tottenham.

[ScottishGoon]

Quite interesting when you look at the table this time last year - 15 games in.

Arsenal are actually only three points better off, which was a surprise to me. Of the rest of the top six, we're the most improved with ten more points than at this point last season. Spurs are eight points better off (another surprise to me) while Chelsea are one point worse off, City are two points worse off and Man United are 12 points worse off 

We actually weren't that bad last season for the first half or so, our home form was still pretty good, we collapsed totally away from home in the 2nd half of the season though.

Our point at Old Trafford has meant we have already beaten last seasons points total for away games. That's how bad our away form was.

[BrandoLFC]

I agree he didn't need to dive in but that's irrelevant anyway as it wasn't a penalty. I do think Arsenal have had a lot of decisions go their way this season but I that was one that went against them. Plus I loathe Tottenham.

In general I hate the thought that there needs to be contact for a foul/penalty.  If the player is going to dive in recklessly is the opposing player just supposed to stand there while his ankle or leg gets busted?  And even if they do there's no guarantee that the ref will call a penalty anyway as any LFC fan can well attest to at this point. 

The rule book actually states that contact isn't required if the challenge is reckless/careless as well.

[Buggy Eyes Alfredo]

"hippy crack"

pass the balloon!

[gazzalfc]

Meh. Not illegal or performance enhancing. As long as it wasn't before a game then what they do is their own business.

Of course it would be 'that' newspaper releasing video from a private CCTV feed of a non-criminal act.