Up the Arse! Goons Thread

[windyhill]

Would be really interesting / terrifying to look over the last few seasons, and pinpoint the one match from each season that best demonstrates a full and proper Arsenal choke.

Birmingham was right up there, but this last night was almost at that level.

Both Southampton games.

 

[NTRabbit]

Yeah belted it at the keeper twice. He could be a decent lower premier league striker. But at the moment I wouldn't say he is the quality we are looking for.

He's not what we need regardless - last night was a clear demonstration that we desperately need to upgrade our wings, central midfield, and find a better partner for Koscielny. Welbeck scored centrally from the only chance he was given, Giroud was on a hiding to nothing when we conceded a minute after he went on and the midfield gave up, Ozil was at least trying to create, our fullbacks were good both ways, and Cech made some good but ultimately futile stops.

Dunno what's wrong with Alexis, but he needs to turn it around fast, before he turns into the next Arshavin. Joelito needs to start every game ahead of Walcott for the rest of the season, but with Wilshere, Cazorla and Rossicky injured and Elneny a long way off the pace, I don't see how we can chuck Ramsey as well.

 

[PendlePie]

Arseblog had a brutal assessment of it all:

Arsenal went to Old Trafford yesterday seeking a win to cement their title credentials – instead they came away with exactly what they deserved, nothing, and cemented their reputation as chokers. Let’s not beat around the bush here, yesterday’s defeat against an injury ravaged United side, playing a kid up front in only his second senior game, was a bottle job of epic proportions.

21 minutes of normal time to go, and there were 5 minutes of added time. That’s 26 minutes of football...26 minutes to get a goal, or the goals, that might save your season and your title challenge. In those 26 minutes we had 2 attempts on goal, only one of them was on target, and that was feeble Koscielny header that any of us could have saved. 26 minutes of Premier League football, from a team supposedly trying to win the title, and that’s all we could come up with against two midfielders at centre-half, and a kid at left-back who came on for the injured bloke. That’s very bad.

While I understood the decision to start Walcott, can we step back a bit and look at the bigger picture. The issue isn’t the selection of Walcott, but that Walcott is the player we have to select. A footballer whose bland, featureless mediocrity is exactly why we can’t win titles. Don’t win? Doesn’t matter. There’s a clean-cut image and a £140,000 wage packet to take home at the end of the week.

That’s not on Walcott though. He is what he is and we’ve known what he is for a long time now. A player who just once in 10 years at this club has hit double figures in goals, and who has had a handful of decent games up front when the manager had little choice but to use to him. A manager who is more and more, it seems, making it up as he goes along.

It then raises the question as to what happens if we don’t win this title. What should happen, I think, is that Arsenal Football Club look at this underachievement this season and make a decision that this inability to challenge – especially now that the financial shackles are off – is repetitive and chronic, and find a new man to take charge.

The rest here http://arseblog.com/2016/02/man-utd-3-2-arsenal-chokers-gonna-choke/. One of the most rational and knowledgable Arsenal supporters is as fed up as the rest of us.

 

[Latro]

I dont think Arsenal choked. They just played at the level they normally do. This is not a good team and would not be top 4 without Ozil. How far back do you have to go for the attack to not be a one man show.

 

[RickSanchez]

We're just not that good.
We are so lucky that Ozil is playing at a team that doesn't deserve him and that the likes of City, Chelsea and United are failing.
Look, I love this club and I'm happy I support a team that's consistently in the top 4 when you got other sides that are struggling to survive. I believe we all keep that in our minds when we criticise this club, it's just the fact we're so capable of so much more that infuriates us.
Wenger is just a glorified scout and I don't believe in any tactical maneuvers he makes (if any) and just makes some random starting XI choices or subs.
We're all super appreciative of him, and anyone who isn't is just a muppet. It's just the fact it looks like the game has gone by him because he won't buy when it's necessary. We know we can't attract the likes of Messi but there are always realistic targets and he's too proud to make the offer for them.
He'd rather play donkeys like Ramsey and Walcott, who have played 1 decent season max and are just too lazy or not good enough.
We need someone that realises this is a different era, you gotta buy players when you have the money, you need to make changes and stop your stubborn ways that aren't working.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Wenger will never change his stubborn ways and we have to accept that.

 

[PendlePie]

Simeone would be a nice appointment.

The sort of manager who would've dragged Walcott in the 20th, slapped the shit out of him and never played him again.

 

[elhadjihenry]

Too many passengers in this team, said it well on the Arsecast Extra that when Elneny came on he was actually trying to make things happen and it actually looked strange compared to what the rest of the team had been doing for 70 minutes.

Think we need to get rid of some of these talented players who have no heart and fill the spaces around our star players with those who actually give a shit and give 100%. Less Walcotts, more Nacho Monreals. It's a shame Rosicky's career is over because he is a player we could really use right now, Wilshere as well. This is the difference between us, Leicester and Tottenham right now, we may have the best squad but their players give everything they have and the results follow.

 

[windyhill]

2-0 v Swans. Don't go all man of the match on us Fabianski.

 

[Cruyff14]

It's such a mess in here reading things. Actually makes me sad.

Our players don't give a shit half the time, and that is down to the manager. Welbeck tries his heart out - something that Ferguson would have ingrained in him. Something that more of our players needs as mentioned above.

We need players that are willing to fight when things get tough. People might slate Wilshere but he has heart and passion - which we need much more of.

None of these vanilla footballers like Walcott. It's a shame he is going to keep playing.

 

[PendlePie]

Paul Merson on Wenger:

If you're sitting there telling those fans -- loyal Arsenal fans -- that they don't need any new players at the start of the season and then you don't win the league in front of Leicester or Tottenham then I don't see how you can justify it.

If Leicester or Tottenham win the title then I just don't see how he can keep his job.

Fair call that.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Wenger should be gone at seasons end but we all know that he will see out his contract and if he finishes top 4 next year, he will likely get a 3 year extension lol

 

[kreglze]

Yeah I would think that is fair. I still don't think City are out of it either, I could see them coming over the top of everyone if results go their way.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Yeah I would think that is fair. I still don't think City are out of it either, I could see them coming over the top of everyone if results go their way.

I don't think City will win it with their Champions League commitments also, they probably have to win 10 of last 12 to have a chance so thats minimal margin for error.

 

[Benno_900]

Paul Merson on Wenger:


Fair call that.

Well every other big club finishing behind those two minnows will end up with a change in manager.

 

[PendlePie]

Well every other big club finishing behind those two minnows will end up with a change in manager.

Lol. It's not as cut and dried as that, so don't make it out to be.

 

[Benno_900]

Lol. It's not as cut and dried as that, so don't make it out to be.

WE ARE GOING TO FINISH BEHIND TOTTENHAM!

Let that sink in for a moment.

 

[PendlePie]

WE ARE GOING TO FINISH BEHIND TOTTENHAM!

Let that sink in for a moment.

Believe me, the grieving process is well and truly underway

 

[elhadjihenry]

WE ARE GOING TO FINISH BEHIND TOTTENHAM!

Let that sink in for a moment.

Almost worse than not winning the title. 20 years

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Well every other big club finishing behind those two minnows will end up with a change in manager.

Well Chelsea, City, Liverpool already have lol.

 

[Shoei]

Arseblog made the point, reiterating what we already know, that Wenger won't be moved on. Silent Stan doesn't care as long as his investment stays profitable. Wenger will see out his final year.

Chelsea have yet to decide if Huddink will stay (wouldn't surprise me if he does given his relationship with Roman).

Potentially at the end of next season we could be picking from - Simone, Conte, De Boer, Rafa Benitez, Unai Emery or even Mourinho (should United turn their nose up at him)

So the question is - In the summer does the board give Wenger the go-ahead to spend whatever he wants, knowing that it will be his last year and whatever players are left will be inherited by the new manager OR do we ride it out with this squad, hope to sneak into the top 4 and allow the new manager to build the squad as he wants?.

What we do know is that Rosicky, Arteta, Ospina, Debuchy, Sanogo and Flamini will be gone. Joel Campbell will probably be gone too (If Iwobi was coming off the bench instead of me at this point in the season i'd want out). Walcott, Ramsey and Ox should realistically be on the chopping block too but i doubt it will happen under Wenger. I'd say those 3 have one final season to prove they have something to offer the club as a new manager wouldn't tolerate their shit performances. Wilshere is 50/50 to stay or go under a new manager, he has the talent but 150 games in 8 years isn't a good enough return.

The only players i can see a new manager wanting to keep are Cech, Kos, Bellerin, Coq, Ozil, Cazorla, Sanchez, Giroud, Monreal. The sad thing is that realistically Monreal, Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez and Bellerin could all decide to move on if we have another season like this next season.

 

[kreglze]

Foxes draw with West Brom. Leaves the door slightly open for us a win and we are within 3 of them. Big 2 games coming up.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Great result for Tottenham.

 

[windyhill]

I'm forever blowing bubbles

 

[glenferry23]

Giroud must be reinstated tomorrow morning. Hopefully Welbeck starts on the right ahead of Walcott.

Sanchez and/or Ramsey should also make way, but they're essentially untouchable.

It could be argued Campbell has had a better season than Sanchez.