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

emergingstar · 23-02-2016 10:17PM

cson wrote: »

He was visibly raging at someone on the sideline after they scored - Mertesacker I'd imagine. Hopefully it'll convince him we need to improve upon Mertesacker as he's probably the only weak link in that back 5 as things stand.

Mert fully at fault for both goals

But I think he was raging at Monreal for playing them onside, that's what comms said anyway

23-02-2016 10:18PM

gosplan wrote: »

This. We have no clinical finishers.

I'm not saying it HAS to be Giroud because his style of CF play is largely about being others into the game and those type of players rarely get more than 1 in 2.

But if he's working to bring others into the game, they can't be finishing like Ox or simply not scoring like Sanchez and Ramsey.

We need a proper RW really badly.

A 1-in-2 is a striker. We don't have room for another striker if Giroud is on.

bad2dabone · 23-02-2016 10:19PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Does a forfeit count as 3-0? Should do it for the second leg.

Agreed

cson · 23-02-2016 10:20PM

emergingstar wrote: »

Mert fully at fault for both goals

But I think he was raging at Monreal for playing them onside, that's what comms said anyway

We were goosed as soon as Suarez got the ball away.

Monreal actually did the right thing; tried to close off the square ball to Messi, just happens that Neymar is so good he executed successfully anyways. Could maybe have flown in try and rush him/win the ball.

Mertesacker being out of position/not having anyone dropped deep in case we lost it was the main factor.

emergingstar · 23-02-2016 10:23PM

cson wrote: »

We were goosed as soon as Suarez got the ball away.

Monreal actually did the right thing; tried to close off the square ball to Messi, just happens that Neymar is so good he executed successfully anyways. Could maybe have flown in try and rush him/win the ball.

Mertesacker being out of position/not having anyone dropped deep in case we lost it was the main factor.

Mert didn't drop or press just stood there

I think the comms said Monreal played him on from Suarez's ball could be wrong though

If Mert press's Suarez he can't find that ball, watch it again he goes two steps and stops dead

farna_boy · 23-02-2016 10:25PM

FixitFelix wrote: »

You where thought as a defender to let the striker have a pop at goal??
Your coach should have been sacked.

Yes so you don't leave an open goal for other forwards to tap the ball in like just what happened tonight to Arsenal. If Monreal had stopped in the center and marked that zone it would have made it at least non-trivial for Messi.

cson · 23-02-2016 10:26PM

Hopefully Chamberlain isn't out for too long, was having a decent game until his injury - I still believe it'll click for him at some stage.

Welbeck is looking beastly as well, I'd actually start him on Sunday.

cson · 23-02-2016 10:27PM

farna_boy wrote: »

Yes so you don't leave an open goal for other forwards to tap the ball in like just what happened tonight to Arsenal. If Monreal had stopped in the center and marked that zone it would have made it at least non-trivial for Messi.

I thought the same; that he just didn't close off the square ball. He tried to; its just Neymar was too good.

Iused2likebusts · 23-02-2016 10:33PM

Sanchez is playing very wide anytime I've seen him lately. He is a player I love to watch but it seems to me like he is been restricted in his positioning lately. If I recall he was fairly devestating in a more central role last year.

23-02-2016 10:35PM

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Sanchez is playing very wide anytime I've seen him lately. He is a player I love to watch but it seems to me like he is been restricted in his positioning lately. If I recall he was fairly devestating in a more central role last year.

I wouldn't mind seeing him played on the right, just because his play on the left has become way too predictable.

23-02-2016 10:42PM

cson wrote: »

Hopefully Chamberlain isn't out for too long, was having a decent game until his injury - I still believe it'll click for him at some stage.

Welbeck is looking beastly as well, I'd actually start him on Sunday.

Came in here to say that, thought Welbeck looked very good, his touch was better than it has previously been.

Arghus · 23-02-2016 10:44PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Mert was more culpable for that peno tbh. Although i agree his Arsenal days are numbered

I agree, Mertesacker's attempt to clear the ball was the route cause of the problem, but a player with a even a touch more mobility or finesse than Flamini may have been able to miraculously get a toe on the ball. All poor Matthieu could do was hack at thin air and follow through on Messi-shin. He's a game and honest competitor but, aside from a few games immediately after his return to Arsenal and some goals against Spurs, he's been an utterly clapped out card and foul generating machine. To see him run out tonight was like watching a plumber try his hand at ballet. Everytime he's on the field I expect something stupid to happen. He tends to get lucky. Tonight he did not. Arsenal were beaten tonight because of Barca brilliance, but I do hate to see Flamini in the side.

Somebody is probably going to pay for that penalty. It had the feel of one of those moments where Arsene's patience with someone will just finally go. It must be some sort of overreaction against his extreme protectiveness towards his players: someone makes a catastrophic individual mistake and then that's it: They're cast out: think Senderos V Liverpool, Szczesny V Southampton, or even Lehmann after Blackburn away in 07. I think Mert might feel the fire this time, and, I have to say that I feel for him, terrible clearance that it was he did defend pretty valiantly throughout a near non-stop onslought tonight.

Hyzepher · 23-02-2016 11:11PM

Analysis of this game is simple

The team that had players capable of scoring won the game. Even enough game, they scored, we couldn't.

tayto lover · 23-02-2016 11:17PM

Hyzepher wrote: »

Analysis of this game is simple

The team that had players capable of scoring won the game. Even enough game, they scored, we couldn't.

We had 33.4% of the ball, they had almost twice that.
Both sides created chances, they took theirs, we didn't.
They will go through, we won't.

They know how to win these games, we don't.

Gringo180 · 23-02-2016 11:23PM

Soups123 wrote: »

We badly need a goal scorer

I said that towards the end of the Jan transfer window and was laughed at :pac:

Giroud is a good striker but isnt the type we need to lead the line for us. I was impressed with Welbeck when he came on, he done more in 10 mins tonight than Walcott and Ox has done in the last few months.

We missed Santi tonight. Himself and Ozil the only 2 players in our whole squad who can retain possession and very rarely give it away. Ramsey ran his heart out god bless him but he doesnt half give the ball away a lot. Ozil too good for this Arsenal side and wouldnt be surprised to see a top European club come in for him in the summer.

Big changes need to happen in the summer, 4 or 5 top players in our starting 11 are carrying too many average players.

Gutted over tonights result but I was expecting it.

tayto lover · 23-02-2016 11:26PM

Gringo180 wrote: »

I said that towards the end of the Jan transfer window and was laughed at :pac:

Giroud is a good striker but isnt the type we need to lead the line for us. I was impressed with Welbeck when he came on, he done more in 10 mins tonight than Walcott and Ox has done in the last few months.

We missed Santi tonight. Himself and Ozil the only 2 players in our whole squad who can retain possession and very rarely give it away. Ramsey ran his heart out god bless him but he doesnt half give the ball away a lot. Ozil too good for this Arsenal side and wouldnt be surprised to see a top European club come in for him in the summer.

Big changes need to happen in the summer, 4 or 5 top players in our starting 11 are carrying too many average players.

Gutted over tonights result but I was expecting it.

Ah now. How long are you following the club? Wenger doesn't do 4 or 5 newbies at a time.

keano_afc · 23-02-2016 11:27PM

Gringo180 wrote: »

I said that towards the end of the Jan transfer window and was laughed at :pac:

Giroud is a good striker but isnt the type we need to lead the line for us. I was impressed with Welbeck when he came on, he done more in 10 mins tonight than Walcott and Ox has done in the last few months.

We missed Santi tonight. Himself and Ozil the only 2 players in our whole squad who can retain possession and very rarely give it away. Ramsey ran his heart out god bless him but he doesnt half give the ball away a lot. Ozil too good for this Arsenal side and wouldnt be surprised to see a top European club come in for him in the summer.

Big changes need to happen in the summer, 4 or 5 top players in our starting 11 are carrying too many average players.

Gutted over tonights result but I was expecting it.

In fairness, this has been the case for a long time. It won't happen this summer because it never happens.

Gringo180 · 23-02-2016 11:32PM

cson wrote: »

Hopefully Chamberlain isn't out for too long, was having a decent game until his injury - I still believe it'll click for him at some stage.

Welbeck is looking beastly as well, I'd actually start him on Sunday.

If having a decent game is just carelessly running down the wing then yeah he was great. Although I think he would of made a better 200m sprinter.

Agree on Welbeck. He looked very sharp and hungry when he came on. A stark contrast to Walcott who you would of thought was having a kick about in his local park.

Gringo180 · 23-02-2016 11:34PM

tayto lover wrote: »

Ah now. How long are you following the club? Wenger doesn't do 4 or 5 newbies at a time.

Sadly I know this. "Insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Mr Blobby · 23-02-2016 11:44PM

Honestly i'm kinda not bothered about the result. I saw enough good things in our play to make me hopeful of a better league performance.

Bellerin should also be getting a mention. He had Neymar in his pocket for most of the game.

Hyzepher · 23-02-2016 11:44PM

tayto lover wrote: »

We had 33.4% of the ball, they had almost twice that.
Both sides created chances, they took theirs, we didn't.
They will go through, we won't.

They know how to win these games, we don't.

Totally agree - that's the point I was making.

Gringo180 · 23-02-2016 11:49PM

Mr Blobby wrote: »

Honestly i'm kinda not bothered about the result. I saw enough good things in our play to make me hopeful of a better league performance.

Bellerin should also be getting a mention. He had Neymar in his pocket for most of the game.

Cant understand how any fan cant be bothered about the result?? Whats the point in even qualifying for the Champs Lge then? Biggest club competition on the planet that we have yet to win and your not bothered about the result. Im ****ing disgusted, especially after having so many chances.

Sorry but I just dont understand that logic.

gandalf · 23-02-2016 11:53PM

Mr Blobby wrote: »

Honestly i'm kinda not bothered about the result. I saw enough good things in our play to make me hopeful of a better league performance.

I'd be like you, I'm bitterly disappointed but we did better than I was expecting. The one really galling thing is we created some good chances which were squandered. Ramsey, Sanchez and the Ox are all playing well below the levels we know they are capable of.

Bellerin should also be getting a mention. He had Neymar in his pocket for most of the game.

I thought he did a great defensive job tonight. Normally he catches the eye with his offernsive game but tonight he put a good stint in.

Nacho was good as well but the one aspect of his game that annoyed me tonight was his inability to put a quick cross into the box. He had to check and see if there was a dink or clever pass instead of taking the chance and lamping an early cross into the danger area.

Mr Blobby · 23-02-2016 11:54PM

Gringo180 wrote: »

Cant understand how any fan cant be bothered about the result?? Whats the point in even qualifying for the Champs Lge then? Biggest club competition on the planet that we have yet to win and your not bothered about the result. Im ****ing disgusted, especially after having so many chances.

Sorry but I just dont understand that logic.

I expected we'd lose and we did.
We played ok but just weren't good enough.

I get more worked up for competitions we might actually win.

domrush · 23-02-2016 11:59PM

Gringo180 wrote: »

Cant understand how any fan cant be bothered about the result?? Whats the point in even qualifying for the Champs Lge then? Biggest club competition on the planet that we have yet to win and your not bothered about the result. Im ****ing disgusted, especially after having so many chances.

Sorry but I just dont understand that logic.

They're the best team in the world, most pundits thought we were going to be turned over or at best hope for a draw.

Instead we played some very good counter attacking football and had a very tight and coordinated defensive effort for the first 70 mins of the game. It was a good performance marred by a few silly mistakes. They're the current world champions and arguably one of the greatest teams of all time. 2-0 doesn't reflect the game itself, 1-0 would have been more fair to both sides.

We played the exact game that beat Bayern last year, just had a few bad misses and a couple of defensive errors. We had Barca in our pocket for the first half IMO

Gringo180 · 24-02-2016 12:01AM

Mr Blobby wrote: »

I expected we'd lose and we did.
We played ok but just weren't good enough.

I get more worked up for competitions we might actually win.

Were Arsenal not Spurs. No reason why we cant be as good as Barcelona. The infastruscure is there for us to be one of the best sides in world football but sadly we seem to have a transfer policy that wont allow us to reach that goal.

But to say tonights result doesnt bother you is just madness.

Gringo180 · 24-02-2016 12:03AM

domrush wrote: »

They're the best team in the world, most pundits thought we were going to be turned over or at best hope for a draw.

Instead we played some very good counter attacking football and had a very tight and coordinated defensive effort for the first 70 mins of the game. It was a good performance marred by a few silly mistakes. They're the current world champions and arguably one of the greatest teams of all time. 2-0 doesn't reflect the game itself, 1-0 would have been more fair to both sides.

We played the exact game that beat Bayern last year, just had a few bad misses and a couple of defensive errors. We had Barca in our pocket for the first half IMO

Lets be honest this was hardly Barcelona's finest performance. In fact it was a pretty poor performance from them I thought. So tonights result was even more sickening.

24-02-2016 12:08AM

Mr Blobby wrote: »

Honestly i'm kinda not bothered about the result. I saw enough good things in our play to make me hopeful of a better league performance.

Bellerin should also be getting a mention. He had Neymar in his pocket for most of the game.

worth also remembering that in the last 12 months Barca have stuffed

Real
Bayern
Manchester City

We went toe to toe with them for long periods tonight. Bit more fluidity and creativity and who knows.

24-02-2016 12:09AM

Gringo180 wrote: »

Lets be honest this was hardly Barcelona's finest performance. In fact it was a pretty poor performance from them I thought. So tonights result was even more sickening.

Your being harsh on us because we did get alot of bodies back for the first half and that is very very hard to open up as we well know ourselves.

farna_boy · 24-02-2016 12:11AM

I think my biggest realisation came last week watching the other CL games recently. We are missing creative players in two key positions: Right Wing and Centrally. Normally we have Cazorla in the center and that's fine, but right now we have no player to replace him who can provide a fraction of the spark he does.

The other position is RW. Our best player who can play on the RW (at their best) is Walcott. Looking at other wingers across top teams left in the CL, I don't think Walcott is comparable to any of the top wingers and doesn't offer the same as any of them, especially right now and therefore we don't have any comparable players on the RW as our competition/rivals (and I am a fan of Campbell).

For me, those two positions should be a priority: backup or an improvement on Cazorla and a world class right winger.

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

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