Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2015/16 ( Mod Note linked in OP 29/12)

Gringo180 · 25-01-2016 08:50PM

batistuta9 wrote: »

sit back & counter, i presume. girouds not for that

only seen highlights on motd, but was surprised at the reaction of the crowd for taking giroud off

It was the wrong decision to be fair. Lost count the amount of times when we pulled the ball back across there 6 yard box only for nobody to be on the end of it. Giroud would of at least been on the end of one of those. I would of hooked off Walcott, stuck Ozil on the left and Campbell on the right, with Giroud up top.

tayto lover · 25-01-2016 08:50PM

batistuta9 wrote: »

sit back & counter

only seen highlights on motd, but was surprised at the reaction of the crowd for taking giroud off

I thought we planned to sit back and counter too but we rarely put in a challenge. Thought we would have been better attacking from the off like we did against United.

Thought the decision to take Giroud off was madness. Should have been Campbell or Walcott. Giroud was the only player who offered an out-ball when we were reduced to 10 too. He also posed a thread from corners or free-kicks and offered more in defence for their corners or free-kicks.
I thought it was a poor decision by Wenger.

farna_boy · 25-01-2016 08:53PM

I know Flamini and Mert are getting a lot of the blame but in reality I don't think it's as simple as that.

Tried watching replays of the sending off again and I think there were at least 4 players at least partially responsible. Mert for making the tackle, Kos for not pushing up with Mert, Flamini for giving Willian so much room and one other player who I can't make out in the video who dived in when Willian was going past them originally (I think it was Monreal or Ramsey).

For the goal, Flamini may get in the way in the buildup but neither Kos nor Gabriel picked up Costa before the cross came back in to him.

Walcott was non-existent and if he hadn't been caught offside I'm not sure I would have realised he was out there. In fairness once Chelsea were ahead all they had to do was sit back and Walcott is nullified so I'm not sure how much he could have done, though Giroud would have been a better choice out there.

The Mert thing just annoys me though. He has one major weakness that everyone knows about, but it is very easy to compensate for in terms of Arsenal.

Either
1) If we do decide to play a high line, all of the defense need to be switched on at all times and need to move out in a line.
2) If we can't stay in a line across the back, make sure that Kos (or someone else) stays behind Mert so he can make up ground if needs be and just doesn't run out too late to try to play offside.
3) Sit deep and don't play a high line

Had Kos just stayed deep yesterday instead of running out he could have just come across and helped. Instead he ran out leaving Mert as last man, who was ****ed no matter what he did.

Mr Blobby · 25-01-2016 08:54PM

Zelelem is playing for Rangers on BT Sport 1.
Looks tidy.

Mr Blobby · 25-01-2016 09:00PM

Mr Blobby wrote: »

Zelelem is playing for Rangers on BT Sport 1.
Looks tidy.

He's been subbed now :v

25-01-2016 09:02PM

The decision to take Giroud off made sense at the time, it just became a massive issue when we conceded 2 minutes later, thus negating Chelsea's need to attack and our threat of countering.

emergingstar · 25-01-2016 09:04PM

AdamD wrote: »

The decision to take Giroud off made sense at the time, it just became a massive issue when we conceded 2 minutes later, thus negating Chelsea's need to attack and our threat of countering.

So much sense in one post

wonga77 · 25-01-2016 09:06PM

I could understand the thinking behind leaving Walcott on for his pace, if only we knew he still had any. Its a long dam time since ive seen him make any of the long mazy runs he used to.

As it turned out we got the ball in the box several times but had nobody like Giroud to finish anything,(pity that our best chance fell to Flamini) likewise we got 6 corners and each one of them had nothing to aim at in the box

batistuta9 · 25-01-2016 09:10PM

Gringo180 wrote: »

It was the wrong decision to be fair. Lost count the amount of times when we pulled the ball back across there 6 yard box only for nobody to be on the end of it. Giroud would of at least been on the end of one of those. I would of hooked off Walcott, stuck Ozil on the left and Campbell on the right, with Giroud up top.

tayto lover wrote: »

I thought we planned to sit back and counter too but we rarely put in a challenge. Thought we would have been better attacking from the off like we did against United.

Thought the decision to take Giroud off was madness. Should have been Campbell or Walcott. Giroud was the only player who offered an out-ball when we were reduced to 10 too. He also posed a thread from corners or free-kicks and offered more in defence for their corners or free-kicks.
I thought it was a poor decision by Wenger.

i didn't think it was the craziest of decisions, more surprised by the crowd as i said. that's probably down to walcotts form though too.

i think the game seems to have played out differently than wenger expected.
ozil offers an out all the time, & with him walcott, campbell & ramsey plently of guys there able to counter quickly, giroud just slows it down that bit more.

wouldn't take campbell off anyway, he works like hell.

flamini's chance in the first half, first thought was what the fúck is he doing there :pac: seriously. then giroud would've scored that & i'm not his biggest fan
second half, didn't even seem as arsenal were a man down though.

tayto lover · 25-01-2016 09:10PM

AdamD wrote: »

The decision to take Giroud off made sense at the time, it just became a massive issue when we conceded 2 minutes later, thus negating Chelsea's need to attack and our threat of countering.

I disagree.
We were down to 10 and the most we could have hoped for was to defend a nil all and hope to hit them on the break with a lay-off by Giroud.
Giroud would offer far more in that situation than any of the others in hold-up play and also help in defence. None of the others would ever get a head to a ball. He was the man you would never take off in that situation.
The fact that we went a goal down shortly after just made the situation worse.
I would have taken off either Campbell or Walcott and run the other into the ground to be replaced by Sanchez when necessary.

Boskowski · 25-01-2016 09:29PM

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I couldn't bring myself to watch it again, but my thought at the time was why the f*ck was Willian allowed to do that?

Cos its easy to commit too early and then have your arse handed to you by a much younger, faster player than yourself? Didn't look too good but percentage play wise was probably the right thing to do. How often does Willian pull off that super timed perfect pass there? 2 times out of ten maybe?

Ol' Donie · 25-01-2016 09:35PM

Boskowski wrote: »

Cos its easy to commit too early and then have your arse handed to you by a much younger, faster player than yourself? Didn't look too good but percentage play wise was probably the right thing to do. How often does Willian pull off that super timed perfect pass there? 2 times out of ten maybe?

I didn't mean lunge in, i meant close him down and don't let him pick a pass. If you're too old to stand in a player's way, jesus, what are you doing near a football pitch?

Boskowski · 25-01-2016 09:41PM

It's just the way it is. If nobody ever made a mistake there'd be no goals scored in soccer. That doesn't make him useless and a must sell. People need to get a bit of perspective. There ain't 10 messis on the pitch all the time. Just because they get paid a lot doesn't make them superhuman. People make mistakes.

Ol' Donie · 25-01-2016 10:04PM

Boskowski wrote: »

It's just the way it is. If nobody ever made a mistake there'd be no goals scored in soccer. That doesn't make him useless and a must sell. People need to get a bit of perspective. There ain't 10 messis on the pitch all the time. Just because they get paid a lot doesn't make them superhuman. People make mistakes.

I think this is a great point more people need to remember more of the time.

(However, in this case, I think it was a bad mistake. It's annoying because Flamini is well able to do it, it's one of the simpler skills.)

25-01-2016 11:14PM

Gringo180 wrote: »

Another one of our over rated players. Excellent work rate and will run all day but he is far too wasteful with the ball. A poor mans Ray Parlour.

Great heart energy and endurance but wasteful and Wenger really needs to give him a clip round the ear with this flicking.

tayto lover · 25-01-2016 11:29PM

Boskowski wrote: »

It's just the way it is. If nobody ever made a mistake there'd be no goals scored in soccer. That doesn't make him useless and a must sell. People need to get a bit of perspective. There ain't 10 messis on the pitch all the time. Just because they get paid a lot doesn't make them superhuman. People make mistakes.

The team that makes the least number of mistakes usually wins.
Cech has saved us a lot this season after our defenders erred.
The secret is to recognise what is causing the mistakes and then fix it as good as possible.
I have complained about our defenders and our lack of good DM cover with Coquelin out. because we are allowing the opposition too many chances to score. Here's an interesting little snipped from Sky today -

"Injury to Francis Coquelin has forced Arsene Wenger to shift Aaron Ramsey's role and buy in Mohamed Elneny. However, without their holding midfielder, Arsenal continue to leave Cech exposed. They've allowed 78 shots on target so far this season. Spurs, by contrast, have allowed just 55. So far, Cech has been able to come up with the saves to earn crucial points - but Arsenal must offer him more protection."

KaiserGunner · 25-01-2016 11:32PM

Boskowski wrote: »

Cos its easy to commit too early and then have your arse handed to you by a much younger, faster player than yourself? Didn't look too good but percentage play wise was probably the right thing to do. How often does Willian pull off that super timed perfect pass there? 2 times out of ten maybe?

Yeah Flamini seems like a decent and intelligent guy, but he clearly isn't good enough for Arsenal anymore. This was the case in the summer, so I really don't know why cover for Coquelin wasn't bought in the summer.

Flamini was really poor for the first goal, has to close that down a lot quicker especially if we are playing a high line.

Also the Fabregas penalty shout, just look at Flaminis attempt to tackle a dribbling Fabregas (hardly the most athletic or quick players). It was a pathetic attempt of a tackle and this guy is supposed to be a DM for a title chasing team. Elneny needs a run now or Coquelin to come back badly.

Boskowski · 26-01-2016 07:53AM

I agree Flamini is not world class material. But he's not the first choice player there, he's only filling in. Not sure you'd get much better than him willing to be second fiddle?

ronjo · 26-01-2016 08:37AM

Where is this coming from that Coquelin might be fit this weekend?

I really doubt it will happen and I am sure he will play Elneny in that position anyway.
I expect something like this.

Ospina (if fit)
Bellerin Gabriel Mert Gibbs
Elneny Ox
Iwobi Rosicky Sanchez
Giroud

Maybe a risk starting Sanchez but he needs game time.

ronjo · 26-01-2016 08:38AM

Double post

KaiserGunner · 26-01-2016 09:04AM

ronjo wrote: »

Where is this coming from that Coquelin might be fit this weekend?

I really doubt it will happen and I am sure he will play Elneny in that position anyway.
I expect something like this.

Ospina (if fit)
Bellerin Gabriel Mert Gibbs
Elneny Ox
Iwobi Rosicky Sanchez
Giroud

Maybe a risk starting Sanchez but he needs game time.

Yeah I like that team, but I'd make two changes. I'd play Chambers at right back to give Bellerin a rest and I'd play Walcott up top and see what he can do. Id keep Giroud for the premier league and relegate Walcott to the bench in the following league game.

DarraghF197 · 26-01-2016 09:29AM

Boskowski wrote: »

I agree Flamini is not world class material. But he's not the first choice player there, he's only filling in. Not sure you'd get much better than him willing to be second fiddle?

I'm sure Elneny signed for Arsenal with the realisation that he would be second choice once Coquelin and Cazorla filled the midfield. All the top teams have first team quality squad players, it's what wins them the league. How many players do Man City have at CDM? Fernando, Fernandinho, Delph and Toure all can play there. Same goes with Chelsea, Matic; Mikel; Ramires (gone this window) and maybe more.

And about Ramsey: One thing that summed up the game for me was when Ramsey was desperate to pass the ball forward but nobody was making any movement. He then passed to Flamini sideways and he passed it straight back to the defence. Ramsey threw his hands in the air out of pure frustration.

No wonder they don't work well as a pair.

Hyzepher · 26-01-2016 09:31AM

Need to take the game against Burnley serious. They have the ability to cause an upset.

ronjo · 26-01-2016 10:01AM

KaiserGunner wrote: »

Yeah I like that team, but I'd make two changes. I'd play Chambers at right back to give Bellerin a rest and I'd play Walcott up top and see what he can do. Id keep Giroud for the premier league and relegate Walcott to the bench in the following league game.

Yes certainly Chambers should and I am sure will play. I had forgotten about him. Fair point also on Walcott, I can see that happening too.

omega man · 26-01-2016 10:36AM

AdamD wrote: »

The decision to take Giroud off made sense at the time, it just became a massive issue when we conceded 2 minutes later, thus negating Chelsea's need to attack and our threat of countering.

I disagree. I would have agreed if Walcott had come into the game in form. However he's been distinctly average of late, particularly since he signed a new deal.

I think Wenger made a bad decision in this case. It wasn't the sole reason we lost but in fairness if players got it wrong on the day then Wenger needs to take some blame too.

ronjo · 26-01-2016 11:15AM

omega man wrote: »

I disagree. I would have agreed if Walcott had come into the game in form. However he's been distinctly average of late, particularly since he signed a new deal.

I think Wenger made a bad decision in this case. It wasn't the sole reason we lost but in fairness if players got it wrong on the day then Wenger needs to take some blame too.

Wenger did say that Giroud was having a bit of trouble with his ankle though so if he hadnt take Walcott off and then Girould aggrevated the ankle we were rightly screwed.

I just find that some parts of the media see an Arsenal defeat and go "great, lets find a way to blame Wenger"
Obviously he isnt perfect but has there been any defeat this season that wasnt his fault supposedly except for Munich away?

Pepe LeFrits · 26-01-2016 01:47PM

batistuta9 wrote: »

sit back & counter, i presume. girouds not for that

only seen highlights on motd, but was surprised at the reaction of the crowd for taking giroud off

It was a major gamble on Wenger’s part and cost us the game.

You can see the basic logic of the decision but there were big flaws with it – 1, it is dependent on us being capable of sitting back and being solid and 2, should we concede first, it would leave us with basically no recourse.

It’s been clear recently that we’re incapable of sitting back and remaining compact. Flamini, unlike Coquelin, is basically only able to shield a small pocket of space directly in front of our CBs and the rest of the defensive zone across the defence is wide open at the moment. We saw it against Liverpool with the likes of Lallana and co having ludicrous amounts of time in space in areas out wide as well as in front of our full-backs, and it was obvious against Chelsea even before the sending off, Fabregas was repeatedly allowed to carry the ball in dangerous areas right in front of the defence. It was very optimistic to hope that we’d avoid conceding first.

And of course, once we did, we were left having to attack a side that is used to playing compact against us, and we had to do so without any natural focal point. So predictably we spend the game forced to try to score a perfect goal… did we even manage a shot on target?

jonneymendoza · 26-01-2016 03:06PM

So if wenger was to get the sack or retire.

here are the following managers i would not mind taking charge:

El Mister, Lucho, Sampaoli, Bielsa, Jemez

They all play some very attractive football and doable to obtain as they aint household names like pep.

thoughts?

jonneymendoza · 26-01-2016 03:06PM

So if wenger was to get the sack or retire.

here are the following managers i would not mind taking charge:

El Mister, Lucho, Sampaoli, Bielsa, Jemez

They all play some very attractive football and doable to obtain as they aint household names like pep.

thoughts?

greendom · 26-01-2016 03:36PM

i've only heard of Bielsa from that lot, so you might want to give a bit of a rundown on the candidates you've listed

Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2015/16 ( Mod Note linked in OP 29/12)

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