Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Lacklustre Arsenal draw a blank

Arsenal were uninspiring at best, cocky at worst, against Marseille in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates tonight.

It was disappointing to see the players unable to build on the fantastic win at Chelsea. Overall, the team lacked urgency, Walcott reverted to type, and Park was invisible.

Szczesny nearly cost us a stupid goal after trying to beat a striker in the box with a trick – after being very lucky to avoid a red card at Stamford Bridge, someone needs to have a word with the cocky Pole about calming down a bit and being more sensible with his decisions. Like Jens Lehmann, he is a match-winner, but he also has that ability to lose his head at times.

Right at the end of our last attack, Carl Jenkinson got into a decent position to whip a final cross into the box, but chose to pass it back instead. As a result, the referee saw it fit to blow the final whistle. It’s little things like this that really get to me about this Arsenal team.

Why were the players not up for it? Did Wenger resting van Persie send the message that this game isn’t AS important as the West Brom game this weekend? It shouldn’t. The Dutchman has a terrible record with injuries and you can understand the boss wanting to be careful with him, and he should be able to rely on Walcott and Gervinho after both were so impressive at the weekend.

Having said all this, looking at the bigger picture things are certainly not that bad. We still lead the group, but will need a better display at home to Borussia Dortmund next time round. We don’t want to be going to Olympiakos with qualification still uncertain, and of course we don’t want to end up facing Barca or Real in the first knockout round and kissing goodbye to another Champions League campaign early.

Hopefully we will see an improvement this weekend.The win at Chelsea won’t be as fondly remembered if it is followed by results that more or less confirm it was something of a fluke. I don’t believe it was a fluke, but the team need to prove it.

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Mark Brus

I'm 23-years-old and currently living in Bristol, studying to be a journalist. I've been hooked on Arsenal since I was about 10, and as much as I sometimes wish I could stop, I can't give them up. Favourite player of all time would have to be Patrick Vieira for the sheer passion with which he played the game.

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  • The Verminator

    Mark….you’re too hard on the team and individual players. They were tired from that stressful and very demanding win against Cheatski and with 5 new faces in the side, it wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say they were starting fresh.
    Szcesny is a cocky son of a gun but if that’s what it takes to produce the type of goalkeeping he is capable of, then more power to him. Park has only played twice with the full AFC in big matches so give him time. Mertesacker and Vermaelen made a great partnership as CB’s and Arteta was very effective again. Ramsey is slowly coming back to the form he had a year ago and Gervinho is always a threat.
    I hope we see Ryo and AOC on the weekend, as they’ll add another facet to our game. Jenkinson is coming into his own and Kos is a fabulous defender.
    AA is never a steady player, he is more a roller-coaster type. OM were very similar to AFC and play a similar wide, counter-attacking style so they deserved the point. All in all a safe, predictable game.

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    • Gwhatley1206

      Arsenal and clean sheets are comfy companions. T’s cover of mere might be as much Tommy getting his game back and playing safe plus nice to see clear roles. Summation of game we were flat. Fair enough. Bigs get your point about speedy attack being a danger and agree. I think we could find fault with dani alves if he were our left back but going forward s looks more effective than clichy imo.
      workmanlike performance

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      • capedcrusaderbigsy

        another right “wing” back I think is over rated is danni alves, awful user of the ball..

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  • capedcrusaderbigsy

    I thought you were outstanding and demonstrated that you don’t rely on RVP at all.

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  • Philbet

    Funny how quick he milk turns sour, I know one moderate result and we should sack the manager,players,board and all the tea lady’s as well.
    Grow up will  you.

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  • Anonymous

    Mark Brus,

    A disgraceful piece of writing, as I’ve said before, stick to your music.

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  • capedcrusaderbigsy

    I thought Arsenal were ok, they were guilty on several occasions of tippy tappy overplay yet again around the opposition area, Ramsey on one occasion needed hanging for shooting when Theo was in acres and unmarked and he rifled it into someones heel, and generally the play was a bit too slow in the final third when it could have been neater, crisper and more direct, but Jenkinson done ok, Mertsacker I don’t trust and neither does Vermaelen watching him last night, he frequently comes away from a central role to cover behind him and finds himself at times defending full back areas which is slightly worrying for a centre half, someone somewhere is not doing their job, but Vermaelen made some lovely last ditch interceptions and nicked the ball off toe lovely too many times, but it still begs the question why he is having to do that ? ..all in all a job well done considering it was about tightening up and rectifying a few defensive errors, although a better team would clearly pull Mertsacker about more and leave TV over loaded and I agree with Charlie Nicholas the game was there for the taking and he should have put Van Persie on earlier, he got away with it against Stoke but not last night…he will sort it out but clearly RVP is needed everytime and that must cause concern for a manager wanting to save him risking injury..

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    • Berg10

       Most of the problems, though not big enough to overly concern us were down to fatigue from the supreme effort against the chavs, RvP was rested before he dropped apparently well what about the others then, obviously too many changes would have been detrimental.

      To say Tommy doesn’t trust the Sack is based on speculation, his excellent aerial defending proved why he’s there and they defend as a unit, if anything Santos’s raids caused the most defensive problems with Song being drawn out of the centre on numerous occasions leaving a central void which Gullitt couldn’t understand, Duh!!

      AW admitted it wasa gamble that didn’t pay off but the risk of possible long term injury forced his hand, maybe Walcott should have started centrally with AOC out wide but he placed faith in a striker who is taking considerable time to get up to speed.

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      • capedcrusaderbigsy

        it’s not speculation when you watch him berg10 he covers everything on the floor to mertsacker, you don’t need to speculate what your eyes are showing you, remember I may have a slight angle here on most considering the level I played at mate, it is blatantly bloody obvious he is allowing for his lack of pace at every opportunity , don’t get me wrong it is good defensive play by TV but against 2 quick forwards it will cause problems..Wenger just needs to get a defensive solution to santos going forward, song should drop in and let santos go..

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        • Berg10

          Bigsy, at the end of the day it worked, they obviously complimented each other sufficiently though often shakily to defy Marseille who are obviously a very attack enabled group of players.

          Song does drop in but his position doesn’t seem to get covered, that was an obvious factor in this game but could be that the one(s) responsible were suffering fatigue. 

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      • Anonymous

        Berg10, Bigsy hasn’t a clue. Ignore what level he has played. Sheringham, sherwood and Ferdinand all played at the highest level and they know fu&k all either. We drew, clean sheet, top of our group and very much in the biggest club competition in world football.

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        • capedcrusaderbigsy

          I think that comment sums up someone who is a very silly bitter individual right now, this is all about club badges with you and an ignorance to even accept that other people have a view, what a stupid comment to make, like anyone knows how much Sherwood and Ferdinand know and as for Sheringham I doubt anyone cares, where is he anyway ?..Ps..yes you are in the biggest club competition in the world until you play Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Man United, Man City, Real Madrid, or Barcelona and then get stuffed anyway, so as I have said before regarding my own team all a bit pointless really and that is why I aint fussed unlike others about the champ league, it is a waste of resources and puts a strain on the personnel, .unless you are in the above group of elite teams you are chasing pound notes..and your board don’t spend any money so why would you care about beating Olympiakos in a group table you see no rewards for it anyway..bellend !

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          • Anonymous

            Unfortunately you missed the point. It wasn’t about the 3 spurs numptys. It was that just because someone played at a high level, they are supposed to know more than someone who hasn’t. So don’t say you should know because of the ‘level’ you played at. Mourinho played at no level at all and he seems to know his stuff.

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            again numpties..is that not a clear and concise demonstration of being disrespectful and showing bent biased views, how can any man who achieved what sheringham achieved be a numpty ? I don’t like him as it happens but he is hardly a numpty….slag me off all you like I just want honest football chat and avoiding you and berg10 looks the way forward..wont bother replying to anything either of you write again now..

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          • Anonymous

            If you don’t like it being about club badges then don’t come on this site. This is an Arsenal site and I will talk about them and what they do. Is that hard to comprehend?

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            I just thought people had a degree of honesty on here clearly not.

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          • Berg10

            Deloitte (as of 20/April 2011) shows us as 3rd richest club, now you can huff and puff anyway you like finger pointing that so what if you’re rich you don’t spend it but we CAN if needed more than can be said for the little clubs outside top 10.

            1Manchester United England1,86414282Real Madrid Spain1,451105373Arsenal England1,19213364Bayern Munich Germany1,04863965Barcelona Spain975-24886Milan Italy83852897Chelsea England65823138Juventus Italy628-42519Liverpool England552-3327610Internazionale Italy441727511Tottenham Hotspur England41211179

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          • Berg10

            The chart didn’t display the same as the pre-posting window

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            of no interest to me what so ever, couldn’t give a toss who has what, do you think Barca fans give a stuff right now that they sit 5th behind the team they beat to the title each year, the team they humiliated in the champ league final and I am sure Mancini is losing sleep over spurs having a better financial standing than Man City…the day a gooner wants to brag about money rather than titles is the day I know you are on your knees and gasping for your last breath football wise..

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          • Berg10

            At least we’ve been to the final.
            More money and more titles than you

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            rather contradicts the majority moaning about citehs wealth though doesn’t it, you cannot have your cake and eat it, you cannot moan about Nasri doing the off for cash and then want to be part of it can you surely ?

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          • Berg10

            Firstly our wealth is generated through success of former glory via some of the players you mention on a later thread so be careful as to avoid  contradicting yourself, citeh have been bought off the shelf or would you say MANCini went there for the historical aspect?

            Don’t try mincing my words by associating them with that piece of shit, all that he stands for is bad for the game which sadly is going that way anyway.

            Wealth is necessary for operational costs unless your funded by a sugar daddy or corporate whores.

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            Well don’t moan about the season ticket prices then any of you..they are clearly saving all of your money and making you a super financial institution, glad you recognise the operating costs to a better degree than everyone else on here, Arsenal are number 3 because your fans hard cash is spent at 140% the rate of anyone elses in the country..not arguing with you Berg10 just stating the business facts, Arsenal have sponsorship deals and the like but without the nigh on 70,000 fans pouring in they are nothing as a business, now we have all witnessed the lack of fans in the emirates this season even the first home game in the league it was deserted in areas, that is precisely why they are charging £5 for the carling cup..White Hart Lane has had the same too in pointless games like last night, How can the fans take a game seriously when 11 first team players are rested,ok last night was away but shamrock rovers I wouldnt watch that if it was in my garden, the same applies to you guys too in lesser cups, but the impact on lighting, policing etc is far greater and potentially damaging on a 68.000-70.0000 seater than at the lane…pat yourselves on the back you are right in the middle of making Arsenal one of the wealthiest in the land, what are they giving you in return for it  ? F*** All !

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  • Anonymous

    Terrible summary of the match. Very negative and typical of some fans who just want to moan. A clean sheet, central defence looked solid with TV and PM. We had chances but didn’t put them away. Clean sheet, top of the group. Get some perspective will you.

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    • capedcrusaderbigsy

      yeah good side where are they 17th in the french league behind champagne rovers ..nice one !

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      • Berg10

        9th, 1 point behind St Etienne.

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        • capedcrusaderbigsy

          i was being sarcastic

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          • Anonymous

            So unlike you Bigsy. Then again, your jokes are better than your player assessment and punditry.

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            thought you were not commenting anymore..and berg10 is clearly in this with you so fuck the pair of you.

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          • Berg10

            Hey matey, if we’re getting into a slanging match bring it on pal, you aint heard nothing yet. I’m not inclined to be in cahouts with anybody, the fact is this IS an Arsenal site and I’ve never suggested you’re not welcome, on the contrary I’ve probably leaned towards you on occasions when I could have just shut up but felt you were balanced with your argument. I clearly don’t understand your over reaction above, maybe I’ve missed something, either way, up to you.

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          • capedcrusaderbigsy

            yeah well maybe it appears those balanced opinions are not accepted by some on here now, real shame you get childish morons just being awkward so sorry Berg10 but within reason mate where I see a like to blatant nonsense I tarred you with it..you have stood by me at times but see a person just being a twat now that seems to be using you as an allied friend in it all.

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          • Berg10

            I know lol

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  • Berg10

    A clean sheet against stiff opposition too.

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  • Berg10
    • capedcrusaderbigsy

      Dont get your point you are the 3rd wealthiest ? yet win fuck all how is that good ? are you saying you are now going to have £ emblems all over your Honours list inside the programme instead of titles and trophies won ? I think it is disgusting that we sit 11th on that list and have achieved absolutely sod all in half a century….that is all people care about now , money !

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      • Berg10

        It makes the world go around and achieves success, look at citeh

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