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Arsenal Supporters Thread (Part 16)


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Old 19-12-2016, 11:59
NightHawk123
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The team aren't set up properly to manage different situations. Seems like we're well suited to play teams who play open football like West Ham, Basel and Ludogorets however when it comes to tight defences who defend with numbers behind the ball e.g. Southampton or better talented possession teams e.g Man City we are found wanting and not sure whether to to stick or twist in terms of being aggressive particularly off the ball.

I've said many times before it doesn't seem like enough work is done on the training ground to play a pressing game and work hard off the ball. Fitness also seems to be an issue as we are unable to play well consistently for 90 mins. Gone are the days when Arsenal are the fittest team in the league.

Tactically Wenger had no answers for City's possession and pressure. The team also sit back far too much when we take a lead and hand the impetus back to the opposition.

If Wenger is moaning about playing so many games maybe we should take a break out of Europe so the players can play with the required stamina to compete in the PL like Chelsea are doing so well this season.

I think Wenger had it in his mind at the beginning of the season he had to win the PL or go. He has had enough time to build a squad of players to compete and at the moment we are again fighting for 4th place.
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Old 19-12-2016, 12:41
Belligerence
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I made a similar point about AWs contract situation. Whatever the board want to do should have been done some time ago. If an offer has already been made it should have had a strict deadline attached to it. We have the transfer window about to open. I know we don't usually do much in January but nonetheless we now have a situation where we don't know who is in charge of any potential signings.

Is it AW who may be gone in a few months or the board? Do we spend money on players a new manager might not want? Who will want to sign anyway? Does Sanchez and Ozils contract talks depend to any extent on whether AW is staying?
I think there's a possibility of Sanchez and Ozil leaving and justifying their decision because Wenger hadn't renewed his contract. It's delicately hinged.

Agree NightHawk123, the team are predictably set up. It's in Wenger's making, when they realise they have a hard game on their hands, they down tools. Let them play and you salivate. Psychologically and mentally it's his worst team yet. The second half at City, they kept passing the ball out as if all was well.

Pochettino, Mourinho, Koeman have all got Wenger's number because he doesn't do anything different. Heck, any good manager will find a way to beat Arsenal.
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Old 19-12-2016, 13:14
Wouter
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Frustrating week, playing OK(ish) in part, going 1-0 up but no points to show for it. As NH and others have mentioned, it's seemingly easy to come up with a gameplan that works for tactically astute managers like Guardiola and Koeman.

While I agree that Ozil goes missing too much during these types of games, I do feel that a different manager may bring out a bit more fight and determination. He's one of the star performers, but he does need to show more against quality opponents. I love seeing him when he's playing well, so I can forgive him the occasional dip in performance. Sanchez has much more energy and workrate but also played some stinkers this year. I'd certainly break the bank to keep both.

The next 5 games should really result in 15 points, so we'll probably be in an OK position again when we play Chelsea on the 4th of Feb. They have a couple of tricky away ties against Spuds, Leicester and Liverpool in that period, and City/Pool have some tricky ties as well. All's not lost, but we do need to start getting more wins, especially against the 'Top 4' teams.
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Old 19-12-2016, 14:34
DavidT
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We're definitely predictable and don't seem able to change or adapt during a game.. Its frustrating because we see this happen so many times in recent years. I don't know what it is. Just seems so easy watching it on the telly to see what's coming.

Xhaka started the season well but seems to have fallen in to the same complacency trap as the others now.
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Old 19-12-2016, 15:48
Goodwin
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I certainly wouldn't break the bank for Ozil. Sanchez is more deserving but even him I am not entirely sure about. Like Henry said after the match yesterday, I would be expecting a hat-tricks every week from him. It creates it's own pressure, these mega buck wages.
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Old 19-12-2016, 21:59
Belligerence
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Thank **** Liverpool won. Koeman won't be so big-headed now over beating Arsenal.
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Old 19-12-2016, 23:01
grimtales1
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So 3 points and 2 goals behind 'Pool, thats do-able. Don't think we can catch Chelsea though.
Was either Everton or Liverpool's keeper injured for a long period (that was why there was about 10 minutes at the end).
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Old 19-12-2016, 23:03
Belligerence
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http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/a...year-contract/

Oh FFS, this can't be true!!
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Old 20-12-2016, 15:46
NightHawk123
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^^^ I refuse to read Myles Palmer's click bait articles. Stopped visiting his site ages ago.
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Old 20-12-2016, 19:00
rhynoGB
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I think If Arsenal had won the last two games something would have been announced. It will be held off until they go on another run I think.
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Old 20-12-2016, 21:11
satellite
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Why the surprise? He was never going to go anywhere. I've said before, he'll be carried out in a box.
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Old 20-12-2016, 23:35
Armi
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Great news, if true.
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Old 21-12-2016, 01:07
SpiderMan 83
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So why were Chelsea only 4th favorites at the start of the season, did you make a killing at 5-1 odds?
Like i said for me. Always thought the lack of euro footie made it easy for them. Guess the bookies saw Pep and Jose and Klopp and lamped chavs 4th favs.
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Old 21-12-2016, 01:14
SpiderMan 83
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Until it is on The Arsenal website and Ssn, than it is just speculation tbh. If it had not been announced now i doubt it would still be announced till the end of the season.
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Old 21-12-2016, 08:09
Wouter
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Until it is on The Arsenal website and Ssn, than it is just speculation tbh. If it had not been announced now i doubt it would still be announced till the end of the season.
It will probably be announced before the Chelsea game if we get a run going...
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Old 21-12-2016, 11:22
ustarion
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I genuinely can't see any progress for Arsenal while Wenger remains manager.
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Old 21-12-2016, 12:06
Wouter
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I genuinely can't see any progress for Arsenal while Wenger remains manager.
Indeed, just look at what Klopp's achieved with Pool. We have demonstrably better players, but we don't seem to be able to get results...
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Old 21-12-2016, 12:07
David_Flett1
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Not an Arsenal fan but my son is although of all the teams in the Premier League Arsenal are the team I want to win the league most and apart from Liverpool the one I want to watch most.

From a purely neutral perspective I look at three key areas where Arsenal fall down. Alarmingly fitness is high on the list and the same excuse is given out by Wenger that too many games lead to tired minds and body.

Last season when Carzola got injured it had a dramatic effect and it seems this season is going the same way and Ramsay (injured again) isn't the answer, he has had one brilliant season in about ten.

The squad is unbalanced, too many midfielders offering the same style. It would be far better to dispense with some and pay to dollar for one or two that offer quality and that would be rotated. Many complain that Ozil goes missing and doesn't contribute in the biggest games but he can be accomodated with a strong midfield prescence around him. Give him the space to do what he does best and create chances but have a strong midfielder to do the hard graft and support him. Look at the example of Kante with leicester last year and look at what he is doing this year with Chelsea. Hazard may have sulked last year as did many of the Chelsea squad but just look at the freedom Hazard has with Kante there. Instead Arsenal have Ramsay, Elneny, Coquelin, Chamberlain, Xhaka none of them anywhere near Kante. So why did Arsenal seeing what Kante did last season not just pay what it took to get him. It was Suarez all over again Arsenal should have put 50 million down on the table for Suarez and he would have signed. That year Arsenal would have won the league. What Arsenal have now is Sanchez doing a lot of the donkey work as well as being a striker, he will be knackered come February just as the Champions League begins and Arsenal have to face tougher fixtures in the league.

Ramsay, Elneny, Xhata, Coquelin, Chamberlain, Walcott are all good squad players but there are plenty of equivalents costing a lot less that can do the same job and the money should be invested in proven quality players like Kante and fill the place that Carzola leaves when injured.

Finally someone needs to seriously look at the training ground and the training, far too many muscle injuries especially hamstrings. It cannot be a coincidence. As an athlete and then taking my coaching badges one of the first things I was told is the ground is one of the most important factors. It has been highlighted many times that the Arsenal training ground is hard and less forgiving than other surfaces, surely something can be done. Fitness is a major problem just look at the intensity Liverpool played with in the second half against Everton. Yes Everton it could be said ran out of steam in the second half as Arsenal did against them the previous week but Everton played way beyond the intensity that would see them through 90 minutes especially a derby.
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Old 21-12-2016, 20:29
NightHawk123
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Good article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/...-save-arsenal/
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Old 21-12-2016, 22:21
Hayden
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Some decent points in there although 'The return of Ramsey can't come soon enough' suggests the writer is no Arsenal fan.
I certainly agree that Monreal is out of form and could do with a break.

I didn't realise Perez has actually scored 5 goals in 7 appearances for us this season. It's about time he was given more of a chance.
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Old 22-12-2016, 10:30
NightHawk123
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Wenger sticking with a single formation (4-2-3-1) is my biggest gripe. Also without Cazorla we are a poor possession team. Something needs to change rather than stick with what is obviously not working.

West Brom is the ideal game to give tired players a breather especially as fitness concerns is on the spotlight.
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Old 22-12-2016, 12:22
ihatemarmite
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Not an Arsenal fan but my son is although of all the teams in the Premier League Arsenal are the team I want to win the league most and apart from Liverpool the one I want to watch most.

From a purely neutral perspective I look at three key areas where Arsenal fall down. Alarmingly fitness is high on the list and the same excuse is given out by Wenger that too many games lead to tired minds and body.

Last season when Carzola got injured it had a dramatic effect and it seems this season is going the same way and Ramsay (injured again) isn't the answer, he has had one brilliant season in about ten.

The squad is unbalanced, too many midfielders offering the same style. It would be far better to dispense with some and pay to dollar for one or two that offer quality and that would be rotated. Many complain that Ozil goes missing and doesn't contribute in the biggest games but he can be accomodated with a strong midfield prescence around him. Give him the space to do what he does best and create chances but have a strong midfielder to do the hard graft and support him. Look at the example of Kante with leicester last year and look at what he is doing this year with Chelsea. Hazard may have sulked last year as did many of the Chelsea squad but just look at the freedom Hazard has with Kante there. Instead Arsenal have Ramsay, Elneny, Coquelin, Chamberlain, Xhaka none of them anywhere near Kante. So why did Arsenal seeing what Kante did last season not just pay what it took to get him. It was Suarez all over again Arsenal should have put 50 million down on the table for Suarez and he would have signed. That year Arsenal would have won the league. What Arsenal have now is Sanchez doing a lot of the donkey work as well as being a striker, he will be knackered come February just as the Champions League begins and Arsenal have to face tougher fixtures in the league.

Ramsay, Elneny, Xhata, Coquelin, Chamberlain, Walcott are all good squad players but there are plenty of equivalents costing a lot less that can do the same job and the money should be invested in proven quality players like Kante and fill the place that Carzola leaves when injured.

Finally someone needs to seriously look at the training ground and the training, far too many muscle injuries especially hamstrings. It cannot be a coincidence. As an athlete and then taking my coaching badges one of the first things I was told is the ground is one of the most important factors. It has been highlighted many times that the Arsenal training ground is hard and less forgiving than other surfaces, surely something can be done. Fitness is a major problem just look at the intensity Liverpool played with in the second half against Everton. Yes Everton it could be said ran out of steam in the second half as Arsenal did against them the previous week but Everton played way beyond the intensity that would see them through 90 minutes especially a derby.
can't argue with a lot of that. We do have a lot of similar, average players. A different coach might well get more out of some of them though. (Conte and Moses is astonishing)
Fitness is odd - either that Dutch guy is right and Arsene works them too hard in pre season so by Xmas they are out of gas, or else they just aren't fit enough. A lot is made of mental fragility but that can follow on lack of physical conditioning as well. Don't see much of a game plan ever though.

Merry Xmas everyone anyhow. When you're moaning about your turkey - I'm on mashed banana and scrambled egg Xmas. I have painful neuralgia in my jaw so I can't chew. Sucking chocolate is overrated btw
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Old 24-12-2016, 14:31
Tiron
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Merry Christmas fellow Gooners!
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Old 24-12-2016, 19:20
satellite
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You too Tiron. 🎄

Happy Christmas to all the long suffering Gooners on here.

May 2017 be the year he finally leaves
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Old 24-12-2016, 19:32
yellowlabbie
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Merry Christmas fellow Gooners!
Merry Christmas to you too Tiron and all you Arsenal fans.
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