Arsenal in crisis

[ArmchairDiehard]

Arsene Wenger has done a fantastic job at Arsenal over the years, but his stubbornness is one of the main reasons why they haven't pushed on since moving to the new stadium. I still think they'll finish in the top four, but that won't keep cutting the mustard for the Arsenal fans.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

I remember an Arsenal fan saying Ozil is one of the most creative player even when he is not in form.

i've heard he's a dab hand at oragami

 

[JimJams]

Maybe so Niall, but can he make a groundhog dog?

 

[Super_horns]

Does always seem to be a step or two forward then a major step backwards!

 

[Whitechapel]

I remember an Arsenal fan saying Ozil is one of the most creative player even when he is not in form.

Last night, nobody was in form, nobody was out of form. It was a mess. Form doesn't come into it.

 

[thespus]

Shit result, not a crisis. We can still advance, but we were never winning the competition to begin with. The FA Cup match at Old Traffod is much more significant.

It's funny how people call Wenger stubborn and attack his character, but can only offer cliche rhetoric for why Arsenal would be so much better off without him. Could things be better? sure. But we've seen what has happened to Manchester United. Wenger's influence in our consistent ability to finish in the top 4—particularly when we weren't spending much cash—is constantly overlooked. Moyes failed to do so. LVG could very well miss out. Brendan Rodgers didn't get his side past the group stage and his side is behind Wenger's in the league. Us missing out on top 4 this season would be much more detrimental than (potentially) being knocked out in the first knockout stage. In short, I'd rather be in the position we are now than Manchester United or Liverpool. We won't be getting rid of Wenger until his contract runs out and I have zero qualms with that unless we fall out of the top four. I'd rather ride a steady ship to our managerial transition than hire and fire someone when he misses out on the top 4.

Methinks there are more people who like to jump on Wenger because they don't like his personality.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

Shit result, not a crisis. We can still advance, but we were never winning the competition to begin with. The FA Cup match at Old Traffod is much more significant.

It's funny how people call Wenger stubborn and attack his character, but can only offer cliche rhetoric for why Arsenal would be so much better off without him. Could things be better? sure. But we've seen what has happened to Manchester United. Wenger's influence in our consistent ability to finish in the top 4—particularly when we weren't spending much cash—is constantly overlooked. Moyes failed to do so. LVG could very well miss out. Brendan Rodgers didn't get his side past the group stage and his side is behind Wenger's in the league. Us missing out on top 4 this season would be much more detrimental than (potentially) being knocked out in the first knockout stage. In short, I'd rather be in the position we are now than Manchester United or Liverpool. We won't be getting rid of Wenger until his contract runs out and I have zero qualms with that unless we fall out of the top four. I'd rather ride a steady ship to our managerial transition than hire and fire someone when he misses out on the top 4.

Methinks there are more people who like to jump on Wenger because they don't like his personality.

the whole philosophy of change is definitely not without it's risk. the example of manchester united is a good example, where replacing their manager hasn't worked and they have dropped out of the champions league.

but in order to get to that final top level where Arsenal are challenging for the league title on the last day of the season & getting into the last 4 of the champions league, it's my opinion that a change of management would need to be made.

I personally don't like Wenger as he is now, but as a manager he probably brought the biggest change of football philosophy and professionalism into the english game in the 90's so I respect him for that.

 

[thespus]

I do think we can compete for the title under Wenger in coming seasons. I sincerely doubt we can overhaul to compete for the CL in the next three seasons, but I can live with that if it means avoiding unnecessary risks.

Last night was a shit result, but this is an absurd knee-jerk (Arsenal fans across the internet being the most culpuable). The first goal was a freak deflection. Giroud had a poor match as did Mertesacker. If those two perform along their average levels, we very well could have won that game. I'm as disappointed in the result as any Arsenal fan, but Wenger wasn't the culprit last night. He picked the right team (I wish Arteta had been fit, we could have done with a better passer from deep allowing Santi to be more ambitious) and two of his most experienced players had their worst matches in some time. None of the squad performed the level we all know they can.

 

[Whitechapel]

I'm so done with Brock. Signature preferences here I come...

 

[Whitechapel]

i've heard he's a dab hand at oragami

And like origami, he folds under pressure.


Had to get that movie reference in there, will never have the opportunity again.

 

[smat]

I think I'm still just about giving him the benefit of the doubt re getting us to the "top level" but really, just about.

I've always accepted the Emirates clipped our wings in the transfer market (particularly keenly felt during with Chelsea and City's emergence as super spenders) but the current commercial deals and FFP mean the landscape has changed. This season we were on far more equal footing to those teams, with a £35m forward and a £42.5m playmaker, and a strong squad to build from. Injuries destroyed the league campaign early in the season, but what was the excuse for having to recall Coquelin from Charlton rather than sign a proper defensive midfielder (a proper one, not Arteta or the clapped out Flamini)? Why did we wait until late January to sign a third capable central defender (ESPECIALLY when it was known that Koscielny was carrying an injury... Lunacy!)?

The resources are there and have been there since last summer. Even since the summer before that. We need to be proactive when there are problems with the squad, not just think "probly be alright".

Even taking into account the team we have at the moment (which really isn't bad... Koscielny, Sanchez, Ozil, Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck, , Ramsey and Cazorla are all really, really good players) we're still having total debacles like last night, the 3-3 with Anderlecht, clinging on at 2-1 at home to QPR and Leicester, a recurring collective shitting of pristine white shorts. We were the post's width away from throwing away a 2-0 lead in the 94th minute at Palace. City and Chelsea wouldn't blow out their cheeks and go "blimey, they really pushed us hard there! Anyway a win's a win, moving on". They'd know they'd got away with it and tighten up next time. That's the frustrating thing, really. The same mistakes being repeated, over and over and over, never learned from. That win at City increasingly feels like a total freak, or at best a false dawn.

I don't think Wenger should go but my faith that he can make last year's FA Cup more than a blip is dwindling.

 

[Whitechapel]

Good post.

I think Arsene has managed to improve the players we have in most positions except for the spine of the team. Get that sorted and I can see a far better squad...

Szcz
Arteta
Giroud
​

Significant upgrades on those 3 alone would make a world of difference.

 

[smat]

PS thespus think you're giving us too much credit calling the first goal a freak deflection. No pressure on the ball, we gave Kondogbia as much room as he wanted to get a shot away. When away goals are so damaging, it was an unforgivable defensive performance.

Hindsight and all that but when the teamsheets come out saying Cazorla, Özil, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud we all drool, but in reality it's horribly unbalanced. Cazorla next to Coquelin in the middle isn't enough, we should sacrifice one of the attacking players for someone with more of a tactical and defensive appetite. Maybe Rosicky would do for now but we have to get a proper miserly bastard in the summer.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

I'm so done with Brock. Signature preferences here I come...

i'll find a new one. to be fair i'm sick of seeing him too.

 

[thespus]

You're right. We certainly should have closed down better, but I don't think Kondogbia scores there apart from the deflection. He's a brilliant player, but hardly an offensive dynamo. (If we can't land Schneiderlin, I'd love for us to be in for him in the summer.) I just think the mood this morning is a ridiculous knee-jerk to last night. Monaco aren't schmucks and, in reality, errors by Giroud and Mertesacker probably prevented us from winning another game where we didn't play our best. I see what you're saying about a lack of balance, but without Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta, and Flamini (even poor old Abou), it's hard to select a better midfield two than Cazorla and Coquelin. Perhaps Rosicky, but Cazorla has been in better form.

I do agree re: missing out on CB cover in the Summer and adressing the DM issue. Those are transfer window faults, but every manager has their own transfer failings. Rodgers and LVG hardly set the world alight this summer. Mourinho did well and that's why Chelsea are going to win the title. Pellegrini hasn't been overly impressive and City certainly have obvious holes despite such a deep squad. They're a bit shit in the middle without Yaya. I don't think Wenger is going recapture our gusto, but I do think we can continue to improve around the squad we have in place.

Alexis, Özil, Koscielny, Cazorla, Ramsey, and Oxlade-Chamberlain are all players we can build a top team around. Giroud had a stinker last night, but he's not my biggest concern. He's been brilliant since returning from injury apart from last night. Welbeck, Walcott, and Rosicky are all outstanding depth players for title-winning sides to have because they offer a great flexibility. Welbeck's physicality, work-rate, and link-up play , Walcott's pace, and Rosicky is a class attacking midfielder willing to work his arse off despite his age. I'm pleased with our full-back situation assuming Debuchy doesn't break his leg or clavicle every few months. Bellerin looks promising. I'd like us to try and upgrade Mertesacker and Coquelin from last night's starting XI. Wilshere is a big question mark for me and I'd love if we could manage to convince Jose to let us have Petr Cech in the summer, even if it requires overpayment.

 

[smat]

thespus Agree with most of that. Defo about Giroud, think he's a really good striker nowadays. Just had a horrendous game last night.

Rodgers, Van Gaal and Pellegrini's summers are neither here nor there to me though, you don't tend to win trophies by fucking up the least. I want to see us be decisive and proactive and solve our problems, otherwise it's a race for fourth again, and trying really hard to get into a competition you can't win, while sitting on the huge pile of cash it generates, doesn't feel like value for those enormous ticket prices*.





*that I don't pay

 

[AtaturkOzgutson]

Hervé Renard is the man to replace Wenger.

Ah yes, one of the prongs responsible for us falling into the Conference and nearly going out of business. One of many top, top chaps.

 

[thespus]

I think the underlying variable is whether it's Wenger or the board (Kroenke is an uber-conservative) to blame for the disparity between product and bank balance.

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

Ah yes, one of the prongs responsible for us falling into the Conference and nearly going out of business. One of many top, top chaps.

Nobody's perfect.

 

[Avatar]

The players were shit, that team is good enough to get a result but they just weren't switched on. To be honest, I don't blame Wenger, the players need to respond.

 

[Mustard]

I remember an Arsenal fan saying Ozil is one of the most creative player even when he is not in form.

That was me and that's because he is. Even last season when he was not at his best he was something like 5th in assists despite missing over 10 games, and of course people loved to criticise him. His creativity is absolutely not up for question, even if his overall influence on the game at times is.

 

[Avatar]

People slag off Ozil but he wasn't nearly our worst player. He set up plenty of chances, we should have scored.

 

[thespus]

People slag off Ozil but he wasn't nearly our worst player. He set up plenty of chances, we should have scored.

Played an excellent first-time pass through to release Bellerin early on, too, but the Spaniard's touch let him down. Özil misplaced some passes, and didn't have his best match, but no one around him did either. Welbeck and Alexis stayed too narrow congesting the space in front of him.

 

[smat]

Personally I thought he was dreadful. Worse than Giroud in a way. At least Giroud's mistakes put the ball out of play, rather than setting Monaco on a counter attack.

 

[thespus]

I suppose, and I remain very confident in Giroud, it is just irritating to look back at the match and know we could easily have scored 3-4 goals on those chances for Giroud (free header, open net, etc.) and the Welbeck rebound which hit the prone Theo Walcott and skied over the net. Our attackers poor performance was the result of being too narrow, allowing ourselves to get frustrated at their compact back-line, which led to forced/risky passes which Özil, Alexis, and Santi had no luck with. When Alexis comes deep and inside (phrasing) before the opponents box, Özil should drift out wide to stretch the play. Instead the "3" behind Giroud almost created a small diamond before the penalty area. It is no coincidence we looked a little better in our attempts to force the play once Walcott and AOC came on. Walcott stays outside and perfectly times the diagonal behind. AOC can create havoc from the center because he is very direct and will take players on, leaving difficult positioning choices for covering defenders.

I am concerned at the slow pace of our build-up play—I think it is really evident with Coquelin, since it forces Ramsey/Cazorla/Wilshere to play deeper since Coquelin can't be relied upon for his distribution. If we are to replace Mertesacker in the summer (I'd like to keep him around if we do upgrade, but I think he merits starting football elsewhere at this stage), I'd like to see a player ala Bonucci or Hummels who at times seem like they're playing a Pirlo role from the back four.

 

[Stevencc]

I just saw that Ty form the Arsenal Fan TV YouTube videos strolling down Seven Sisters road. I honestly thought he wore all of that Arsenal store merchandise for the sake of the videos but there he was, swaggering up the road in a full length, Wenger-Style Arsenal branded coat, an Arsenal branded hat and a pair of white Arsenal branded head phones. I didn't clock the Arsenal branded water bottle but maybe he wasn't thirsty.

 

[Ryan C]

I just saw that Ty form the Arsenal Fan TV YouTube videos strolling down Seven Sisters road. I honestly thought he wore all of that Arsenal store merchandise for the sake of the videos but there he was, swaggering up the road in a full length, Wenger-Style Arsenal branded coat, an Arsenal branded hat and a pair of white Arsenal branded head phones. I didn't clock the Arsenal branded water bottle but maybe he wasn't thirsty.

He's a good example of why us Arsenal fans are generalised and hated by other football fans. I don't doubt his passion but he's extremely naive and deluded.

 

[thespus]

People slag off Ozil but he wasn't nearly our worst player. He set up plenty of chances, we should have scored.

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but here's a fun statistic re: the lazy German: he's covered more distance than any Arsenal player has since returning to the side. Combine this with him having the 3rd best assists/min ratio in Premier League history, and maybe he isn't as much of a Veron/Carroll as some would like to believe. He isn't setting the world alight, but he's one of the best players in this league and remains Arsenal's most talented player despite the arrival of Alexis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ing-to-the-side-so-why-is-he-called-lazy.html

 

[Avatar]

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but here's a fun statistic re: the lazy German: he's covered more distance than any Arsenal player has since returning to the side. Combine this with him having the 3rd best assists/min ratio in Premier League history, and maybe he isn't as much of a Veron/Carroll as some would like to believe. He isn't setting the world alight, but he's one of the best players in this league and remains Arsenal's most talented player despite the arrival of Alexis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ing-to-the-side-so-why-is-he-called-lazy.html

YES. That bit of skill was amazing, also his turn to set up this chance to get the ball to bellerin... unreal. He was very unlucky, he should have had a pen, and hit the post.

the thing about Sanchez is that he gives the ball away a lot, partially because he takes big risks and is an attacking player, but Ozil is so good about controlling the tempo of a game. Him, Rosicky and Santi on the pitch together are the reason we love watching football.

 

[allouso]

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but here's a fun statistic re: the lazy German: he's covered more distance than any Arsenal player has since returning to the side. Combine this with him having the 3rd best assists/min ratio in Premier League history, and maybe he isn't as much of a Veron/Carroll as some would like to believe. He isn't setting the world alight, but he's one of the best players in this league and remains Arsenal's most talented player despite the arrival of Alexis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ing-to-the-side-so-why-is-he-called-lazy.html

I love Ozil. Always have. I don't think he has shown his best at Arsenal and he hasn't become as good as i expected him to be when he first burst onto to the scene but he's still a fine player.

The English don't appreciate talent, that's the real issue here (A)