Arsenal 0 Villa 2: Bendtner gets blame Van Persie deserves. Report and ratings.
Playa Ratings
1 - Almunia, 7
3 - Sagna, 7
22 - Clichy, 6.5
10 - Gallas, 6.5
18 - Silvestre, 6
2 - Diaby, 6.5
4 - Cesc, 5
15 - Denilson, 6.5
8 - Nasri, 5
14 - Walcott, 7
26 - Bendtner, 5
5 - Toure [Sub], 6
12 - Vela [Sub], 6
25 - Adebayor [Sub], 6
That’s defeats suffered by Aston Villa in recent weeks that I’m talking about by the way.
Which rather begs the question as to why they looked so much better than us yesterday.
The short answer is that Villa treated this game like we treated United last week and we treated Villa like they were just anybody.
It’s arrogance frankly. Sloppy, misplaced arrogance.
We made them look a million dollars. And why? Because we did nothing to exploit their weaknesses.
That would have involved realising that while they are big, strong and dominant in the air, they are a lot less comfortable on the ball when harried than we are.
By my recollection, on the very few occasions we did properly pressure their defence, their clearances would be hurried and to nowhere. Even at half-time, I felt if we could crank up the pressure, there was every opportunity to win the game.
It was not to be.
Team wise the manager (and many of the fans) probably forgot we won against United in spite of having Bendtner up front on his own, not because of it.
Repeated against Villa, the strategy failed. Should Adebayor have started? He didn’t look fit to me. Should Vela have started? Maybe, but you can kind of understand Arsene not wanting to pair his fourth and fifth choice strikers.
In the event, Bendtner was woeful. About as poor as his treatment from sections of the crowd frankly.
I readily accept his less than enthusiastic running style does him few favours. But groaning with barely concealed delight every time a 20 year-old striker playing on his own up front makes a mistake is ridiculous frankly.
It said everything that Adebayor had his name sung with more gusto than for months simply as a means for people to get at Bendtner. Pathetic.
If you want the true villain, look no further than Robin Van Persie. Paid more than Bendtner and far more experienced it is only his absurd self-indulgence at Stoke that brought about this scenario. And what have we heard from RVP since? A word of contrition? An apology? A donation to charity?
Nope. Absolutely nada, zilch. As someone who has paid a lot of money to pay his wages this season, that really, really grates.
Sorry, I was wrong. There is an £80,000 a week new contract.
Diaby did do some useful midfield work in the first half, but really we needed an extra body further up the field. Theo enjoyed some success, while Nasri was fairly woeful.
Denilson is doing his best, while Cesc looks utterly lost. Once in the first half he turned to the fans and told them to get off his back after he had gone backwards rather than forwards.
He had something of a point. But equally, the difference between the Cesc who glances behind him before collecting the ball and then slips in the most subtle of passes onto a team-mates stronger foot and the Cesc of yesterday who didn’t look up and just knocked the pass back vaguely in Denilson’s direction could not have been more marked.
A year ago this weekend we won at Reading and Hleb had Flamini, Rosicky and Hleb all beside him.
At the back, Gallas actually played well apart from the second goal (which is admittedly a fairly big apart). But the 15 goals conceded in 13 games ain’t nearly the stuff of Champions.
When the goals came, it did seem as if we had weathered the worst of Villa, without really creating anything ourselves.
The galling thing about conceding a goal from the right-back position with our right-back genuinely injured was that in the first half Mike Riley had stopped play the quarter second a Villa player who went down even touched his head in one of our few dangerous moments.
The player, to whom I attach no blame, was straight on his feet and looked baffled as to why play had even stopped. Riley then arranged a drop ball miles away on the half-way line, when play had been ours on the edge of the Villa box.
A word on Riley: if this economic downturn claims one more job, there can be no more deserving a man. The man has been an underperforming tit for years.
A second followed. I called it a foul from my vantage point 80 yards away, but what can you do.
To conclude: formation not great, but attitude the biggest worry.
ps: to those who say the United result means nothing now, I disagree. It made for a very enjoyable seven days.
16 November 2008 at 1:24 pm
i just cant understand what has that idiot RVPussie has done to deserve a new contract!!!! It’s just beyond me…
16 November 2008 at 1:29 pm
Sorry have I missed something here - can you explain why are you calling Robin an idiot?
16 November 2008 at 1:31 pm
to say we are a struggling team is a bit wide of the mark. we are a good side that just need consistancy and proved yesterday we can play and beat you fair and square, and yourselves need a bit of english injection because your jonny foreigners aint up for a battle unless its against a top 4 side or champions league. i do though agree that the ref was a total pillock and is along with rob styles the worst two about and do surely deserve to lose their jobs
16 November 2008 at 1:33 pm
Well written, ‘playa. Missed the game due to work, but it seems work was more fun than this anyway, so.
16 November 2008 at 1:36 pm
Great article, spot on with most things and yes the midfield compared to last season is so weak. I wish we’d change the line up completely, I honestly can’t wait until Eduardo is back fit.
Am I the only one that thinks Diaby should be playing DM? (Song/Toure as backups for that position).
I’d actually play if every1 fit:
Sagna - Djourou - Song - Gallas
Wallcott - cesc - diaby - rosicky
Ade - Eduardo
And IF Wenger is brave enough, maybe cesc should be rested for a couple of games, he isn’t performing to anything like he was last season, play ramsey in that position, you gotta give these players a chance to shine especially at times like this.
16 November 2008 at 1:42 pm
“A year ago this weekend we won at Reading and Hleb had Flamini, Rosicky and Hleb all beside him.”
Heh. Nice piece and the ‘brainfart’ above made me smile. Couldn’t agree more with your points by the way.
16 November 2008 at 1:43 pm
I think the point that Goodplaya is making, very well, is that some fans are very keen to make scapegoats of certain players, while they are happy to ignore the under par or stupid performances of others.
Denilson has been better than Cesc for the past few weeks, but he’s been criticised far more than Cesc.
Bendtner had an awful game, true, however you can guarantee people would not have got on RVP’s back if he had played like this.
There were many problems demonstrated yesterday that contributed to our demise:
-not motivated enough
-poor in central defence
-cesc below par
-bendtner below par
-4-5-1 was not correct tactically against a counter attacking villa side
However as Goodplaya says the lack of fight is the biggest concern, one can’t also help but feel that some idiot supporters relish abusing our own players and that’s sad.
16 November 2008 at 1:46 pm
So disappointing! Glichy needs to go…..his PERSISTANT lapses in concentration/defensive errors have cost us dearly..remember Birmingham? And that wasnt the first time.
16 November 2008 at 1:55 pm
clichy needs to go!!!!! fair point the lad has made a few mistakes in recent games but he is the most consistant commited player we have on the field, always running for the full 90 and doin his best to inspire some kind of fight in the spinless team mates he has around him,
The fact we are unable to score goals without RVP or ade in the team speaks volumes for our lack or striking options, not for the first time this season or last i’ll say this(and get stick) but Bendtner is rubbish, pure danish rubbish, he has the finnese and movement of a wardrobe and for some unknow reason arogance in abundance, he’s shit, he’s always been shit, the only time he stood out was at Birmingham and he is a championship player at best, sell him loan him whatever, preferable stand him up next to a wall and shoot him, play vela more, he will be world class, then when eddies fit we have 4 decent options.
we still need new CB and CDM in jan if we are to win anything this year, wenger needs to get the chequebook out, swallow some pride and spend some money, he owes it to the fans
16 November 2008 at 1:57 pm
Al who would you replace clichy with then? I love clichy and he attacking style, but defensively he’s quite often found out, I thought he looked vulnerable against utd last week too. I’d like to see Gallas in that position, don’t think Gibbs is ready just yet anyway!
16 November 2008 at 2:05 pm
Well i was going to sat CASHLEY COLE but i thought you all kill me! Clichy is not the only one who is committed out there and committed or not he just makes too many mistakes! FOOTBALL IS FOR THE FULL 90 MINUTES; NOT 90min - 15 SECONDS!!!
16 November 2008 at 2:05 pm
I shocked that people seem to be getting on the backs of world class players.
Clichy is without doubt one of the best left backs in the world and to claim he need to be sold due to a few recent mistakes is short sighted at best and utterly disrespectful at worst.Try counting his mistakes since he broke into the first team then find a better left back in world football…… you won’t find many if any.
As for RVP, he does have a tendency to over react and act with a degree of immaturity but he is another player Arsenal need, Bendtner on the other hand is like a lost sheep in traffic, he lacks passing ability and has no clue about what is the best option to score for the team.Vela is already a far better player.Vela seems to love playing the Arsenal way and has an understanding of the game well beyond his years.
Things don’t look good right now but in Arsene i trust, i do think we need a couple of world class players but hey i don’t manage Arsenal ( probably a very good thing lol )
16 November 2008 at 2:07 pm
And after seeing the reserves destroy Wigan and do it with such purpose maybe they should be facing our next opponents in the league!
16 November 2008 at 2:17 pm
It’s time to recalibrate our expectations for the season.
Fact: we’re not winning the league. It was always going to be difficult to win the league. To be completely honest, it was a long shot from day 1. Now we have confirmed that it’s not going to happen.
Fact: we’re still alive in 3 competitions. The potential to win a trophy is still there. This season we should dedicate more resources to the FA Cup than we have in recent years. If Portsmouth can win it, we can win it.
Fact: we’re in a dogfight for a CL place. I think in the end we will finish comfortably in the CL places, but that has become a priority.
It will be a lot less frustrating to be a supporter if we change our views for this season. We’re not going to be able to keep up with Chelsea and Man U in the league. It sucks, but that’s the way it is for now. Maybe for a while. Again it sucks. But we’ll all be a lot happier if we swallow that pill and focus on the things that are still in play.
16 November 2008 at 2:17 pm
as a Villa fan i was worried about facing arsenal yesterday feeling we were gonna get battered after our recent performances and you terrifvic defeat of man utd. for me arsenal only seem up for it if its a top 4 or champs league game for me i think you need a bit of a injection of british players your foreigners dont seem to wanna play the so called unattractive fixtures. whereas a british p[layer will roll up his sleeves most off the time and get stuck in.
16 November 2008 at 2:20 pm
and by the way still waiting for the guy who posted this explain the struggling tag he gave us in the opening of this subject. two years ago i would have agreed but we are closing the gap all the time and that tag is not appropiate anymore
16 November 2008 at 2:25 pm
CLICHY IS WITHOUT DOUBT THE BEST LEFT BACK IN THE WORLD AND HAD RONALDO IN HIS POCKET ALL GAME UNTIL HE SWAPT SIDES ONLY FOR SAGNA TO DO THE SAME. IF WE HAD A DM ALONGSIDE CESC OTHER THAN DENILSON WE WOULD HAVE STILL LOST YESTERDAY. BENDTNER IS NOT SHIT JUST INCONSISTANT DUE TO LACK OF FIRST TEAM ACTION. JUST LOOK AT WALCOTT. HE WAS PRETTY GOD AWFULL FOR AGES BUT IS NOW COMING GOOD (STILL THINK HE NEEDS TO LEARN SOMETHING OTHER THAN TAKE IT TO THE BYLINE). I THINK WE STARTED WITH TOO NEGATIVE A LINE UP YESTERDAY (EFFECTIVELY 4-5-1 WITH DIABY IN SUPPORT UP FRONT) AND THAT WAS AT HOME! PERHAPS VELA COULD HAVE STARTED WITH NIC AS THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT UP FRONT WHICH MADE FOR A VERY EASY GAME FOR VILLA. SOMETHING WAS LACKING YESTERDAY BUT AS ALWAYS I DONT BELIEVE IT WAS A PROBLEM WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BY DIFFERENT PERSONNEL. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE PLAYERS ARE WORLD CLASS BUT THEY NEED TIME TO DEVELOP CONSISTENCY AND APPARANTLY THE MAJORITY OF FANS AREN’T WILLING TO WAIT. IT WILL ALSO BE NICE TO GET EDUARDO BACK AND THAT MAN WHO USED TO PLAY FOR US ROSICKY. UP THE ARSENAL!
16 November 2008 at 2:30 pm
RvP is the most talented player arsenal has (maybe ramsey and wilshere is as talented). you’ll see next game when he is back. He is better than bendtner by lightyears!
16 November 2008 at 2:51 pm
When Holland played Romania in the Euros this summer, Johan Cruyff was commenting for Dutch television. When Orlando Engelaar - who had otherwise been quite excellent against Italy and France - was taken off, Cruyff said that Engelaar wasn’t to blame for his poor performance. Engelaar was playing well because the players around him - Gio Sneijder etc.. weren’t following the tactical setup.
Bendtner has had the same problem the last two games. He has never been a target man or equipped to lead the line alone (yet, he’s still only 20). His best asset is his ability to make the right pass in a high tempo game where doesnt have time to think - remember the Bolton earlier this season 1 goal, 1 assist and one key pass. He is also a confidence player, who at the moment is very short on confidence, and way to much is expected of him.
Bendtners game relies on the movement of the whole team. Bendtner was woeful yesterday, but he was more than letdown by the commitment of his teammates - Fabregas one of the main culprits.
Spot on, Goodplaya. and hopefully Adebayor will partner Bendtner next week.
16 November 2008 at 3:04 pm
to the villa fan: i was not referring to your lot as strugglers. I meant the teams you had lost to. Did not make myself clear but have ammended it now.
16 November 2008 at 3:22 pm
It is clear that there are basically 3 things wrong with this Arsena side IMHO. We are missing the industry of a Flamini, the guile and bite of a Keown and the leadership and never-say-die determination of an Adams.
The next generation that were on display in mid-week are quite breathtaking and will all get their chance in time, but Le Boss needs to get the chequebook out in January to bring in some experience and to address these three areas or the danger is that the current crop of players could end up as the greated bunch of under-achievers ever!
16 November 2008 at 3:56 pm
thanx for clearing that up
16 November 2008 at 4:12 pm
Spot on with your ratings Goodplaya. I felt that Vela had done enough to get a start yesterday. Bentner has not made a consistent contribution all season and I doubt that he ever will. Carlos Vela will make a positive contribution but he needs to start as he is in form and we NEED players on the pitch who are on form. Ramsey should have featured too. Arsene seems to be treading water with his selections at the moment. Eduardo will make a difference but it will not be for quite a while yet as it will take him a number of games to get his sharpness back. Look how long it has taken RVP after his absence. I don’t see us winning anything this season but hope I am wrong. I do however think that one or two experienced signings in the appropriate positions will give us an awesome squad and hopefully we can hit the ground running next term. We just need to make sure we grab a Champions League spot so we can go on and win it !!!!
16 November 2008 at 5:19 pm
Fab is definitely off form, for sure. He looks lost. I think he needs to be given a long holiday. Anyway, he’ll miss the next game for sure.
16 November 2008 at 6:45 pm
Agreed completely Goodplaya with your comments regarding the treatment of Bendtner. I was in South Upper and when Bendtner was hauled off, barely a single soul stood up to applaud him. Yet the second Vela stepped onto the pitch, the entire stand rose with rapturous applause. What an absolute disgrace.
And when Bendtner leaves in a few years, the same fans who showed no appreciation whatsoever yesterday will be the ones bemoaning his lack of loyalty. Pot. Kettle. Black.
The simple fact is that two-thirds of the Emirates fanbase are spoilt. It’s become a mini-Comedy Store; when it’s going pear-shaped the fans don’t support the players but instead are trying to make “funny” quips to gain a few laughs from those around them. Yesterday after the penalty save, some bozo started chanting Almunia’s name before throwing in “…nobody likes him”. Hardy-fucking-har.
My mate normally sits in Club Level but after yesterday he said he prefers it there. It may be quiet, but at least it ain’t hostile.
16 November 2008 at 7:18 pm
It’s not that I disagree with your point about van persie. What he did was gutless and really disappointing. And the treatment dished out to bendtner was rather appalling. But he was himself very poor the entire match. I just don’t think he understands what it takes to lead the line on his own. That’s not his fault necessarily. And he surely has the size and skills to get much better. It just goes back again to the imbalance of the squad once more. I honestly don’t think we need new center backs. And denilson has played well in truth. But our midfield simply can’t be counted on to dominate matches. To me, nasri has replaced rosicky but we haven’t replaced alex hleb, who everyone likes to sh1t on but who was combative, reliable in possession, and defended well. I like Walcott but he simply can’t control matches. Really no one in our midfield can, particularly with cesc out of form
16 November 2008 at 7:46 pm
Gaz Southport you are a total retard - Clichy is oneof if not our best player consistently - fuck off and support spurs you twat
16 November 2008 at 7:49 pm
Many apologies missed Al and Sam out of my previous comments - Gaz now you have some friends!
16 November 2008 at 8:35 pm
Squid boy…well said mate, instead of supporting and encouraging our boys, we much prefer to get on their backs.
16 November 2008 at 10:35 pm
Van Persie wasnt in the game so I dont think he should be blamed. I blame Wenger for introducing average after average player to the side. I franky dont know what he sees in Bendtner. He might do it in the long term but right now he doesnt look Arsenal standard and he looks completely out of sync with the team. Its hard for the crowd to appreciate esp with his complete lack of fight and workrate
I dont remember the last time Wenger signed someone for the first team and not for the Carling Cup team. Replacing the finished article with young players means more and more extension to our forever going “transition period”. The way that this Villa team matched us is rather worrying, seeing how much they have improved whilst we moved backwards doesnt bode too well for the future.
Wenger has to address our problems in January. Diaby & Denilson dont have the skill or combative spirit of Hleb and Flamini.
I hope we go for De Rossi & Schweinsteiger in January. We need to move players on, keep everyone on his toes and for once buy some worldclass players for the FIRST team
16 November 2008 at 11:20 pm
It is exactly the reason why RVP wasn’t in the game which is why he deserves blame…
As for Clichy, it was not even an error. Very good ball into the box and a player right on his back. Happens to every defender.
16 November 2008 at 11:24 pm
warholio or just hole as i prefer it,
are you unable to read english??, the exclamation marks at the end of my “get clichy out” were mainly in amazement to that very comment,
if you read the rest of what i said, you would realise i’m one of clichy’s biggest fans, i think he is the best left back in the world, has determination and ability beyond his years, and is a far better player than the greedy cu*t he replaced, good to see you have no actual comments of your own and can only chime in with insulting others on their views.
you really are a small minded degenerate, with the mental age of a 10 year old
16 November 2008 at 11:32 pm
Arsenal, like all football clubs, need a scapegoat or two. Not really sure what qualifies as a scapegoat, but in the past we’ve had the likes of Bendtner, Eboue, Senderos, Gallas, Adebayor, Almunia, Walcott, etc.. But you’re right, the likes of van Persie and Fabregas do seem to do no wrong in an Arsenal shirt no matter what they do or don’t do.
17 November 2008 at 12:47 am
i dont care what any of you lot say.arsenal were playing just as they were playing against man u.arsenal are no where as good as they were last season.arsenal are out of the title race.all of you should and support a team with a real title challenge like liverpool.you reply if you disagree.reply now.
17 November 2008 at 12:49 am
arsenal are gooners.please go and support liverpool your making the right choice.
17 November 2008 at 2:33 am
I think you’ve made this point before, but this span of two results is actually an improvement on last year: we drew at home against both Utd and Villa, for 2 pts. This year those two fixtures produced 3 pts.
That said, yesterday was just shambolic. Very depressing.
But I’m not sure we should necessarily be rending our garments in woe and bemoaning the cruel fates. There’s a lot of football yet to be played
17 November 2008 at 3:40 am
We the gooners are so worrying about the Arsenal`s performents that had lost about 30% between that there are also the draws.
Why the team could win the strongs teams and could lose from simply teams. I think it`s the Wenger`s mistakes to put the wrong target on the games.
for the players which are not sharp enough to score the goal also is the team`s problems, if they are not good at variousely soot goal when they are facing the team who have good preparing for Arsenal`s weakness points to defend for win then the result are the Arsenal lost to Fulam,Hull city ,Stoke and Villa.
Why Arsene Wenger dosn`t got the better plans for each team for the detail that should consist of how to defend and to strike.
17 November 2008 at 3:46 am
To give Brentner 5 is a joke. The number of times he touched the ball during the game could be counted on one hand. He desrves a ZERO, nothing more.
Fabergas was poor, BUt what do one expect. He is totally exhuasted. To expect him to defend, fight for every ball, attack, dictate play and do all the work, will only shorten his career. He needs a fighter and worker to assist him. WHO? Not Denilson, Song nor Diaby. These guys just love to play and flow with the game. Perhaps, Toure or even Ramsey or Dunne will do a better job of supporting him.
Clichy needs a rest too. Silvestre can play there.
17 November 2008 at 5:03 am
just a bad day at the office, theres enough talent and determination to go pass this, arsene might want give the youngsters at premier league level just to give some of the guys a rest.
17 November 2008 at 9:27 am
relax guys!
told you so last week Arsenal will not win this match… draw was what i’ve in mind but i’m not surprised this team lose again
as an arsenla fan, i’ve learned to live with the fact that this season we would be lucky to finish fourth and qualify for the champions league… but again i’ll be the last one to suprise if arsenal finish fifth or lower
aston villa play more like an arsenal team than the real arsenal team themselves… so aston villa is more deserving to be in the 4th spot this season than arsenal
we are simply not good enough this season… admit the fact, learn from the mistake and grow wiser out of it… pretending like we are good enough, nothing is wrong or just plain unlucky is a sign of weakness
i’ve total respect and faith on arsene but his shortsightedness this season is not acceptable, leaving our midfield with a big hole and gap… we are in dire need of a defensive midfielder who must be better than flamini
i’ve heard too many times “flamini and hleb is replacable”, it’s almost a cliche… but who is the replacement for flamini this season? nasri is still not as good as hleb, so i would laugh out loud on the suggestion nasri is the french answer to zizou
but take heart, this season we will not be trophyless… our young guns will win the league cup
so guys, save your heartaches by admitting the fact we are simply not good enough this season, losing is part of the arsenal game this season and expect more to come
17 November 2008 at 10:29 am
please mr,arsene wenger bendtner is not an arsenal player let him go enought is enought 4 us
17 November 2008 at 12:18 pm
I can only sat - How the hell have you given such high marks for so many players.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
What we have is a bucnh of very good players, but what we also have is a manager who can not seem to motivate them any longer and fails to see the buiggest hole of all - NO LEADER!
Why the hell we are not playing either Ramsey of Toure in the middle instead of Denislon I dont know, and why not let Cesc have a little rest and play Wilsher or one of the many other good youngsters we have for a couple of games.
Why was Vela and Adabeyor on the bench, we all know Bendtnar is not good enough to be on his own up front.
I will say it again… Wenger no longer Knows! He has made some stupid tactical and team choices lately.
17 November 2008 at 12:41 pm
Excellent blog! Sums up all the different situations perfectly. Totally agree about Riley and the treatment of Bendtner!
And I cannot believe Van Persie is being given a new deal. For what? What has he ever done over a season to justify what he’s on now - let alone having his wages doubled? He’s 25 years old and he still hasn’t grown up yet. This petulant little prick and his mercenary strike partner are now earning 80k a week each … while us fans (who are paying some of the highest ticket prices in the world) are the ones Wenger criticises publicly for not doing our bit.
This is just not right! Just who is working for who here?
17 November 2008 at 12:56 pm
GoonerMan, you are so right. Arsenal are turning into an overpaid bunch of primadona’s. How the hell do those two justify that sort of wage. Neither have done it for more than 1 season, and this year they have failed. This team (the 1st team, as they are called), have the worst attitude, the most un Arsenal attitude, the biggest bunch of self righteous bunch of twats I have had the misfortune to support.
Bring back Adams, Kewon, Berghamp, and even Henry…. At least they wanted to try, work hard and wear that Arsenal shirt for the fans!
GIVE US OUR ARSENAL BACK
17 November 2008 at 1:03 pm
I find it amazing you continue to overlook Clichy’s continual errors, which were it not for an inch against Utd, would now read a slip leading to a draw and two own goals in 4 games. But, hey, continue to have a go at your non-favourite players, much easier.
17 November 2008 at 1:26 pm
Err… no. Spurs was an error (albeit one that in normal circumstances would have been soon forgotten). But against United and Villa he was dealing with massively tough balls to defend. You can argue that against United it was great judgment that saw him put it past the post (I’m not claiming that, but you could).
17 November 2008 at 5:22 pm
yup, arsene should blame himself and the players…
he should say, “it’s shameful for the players to play like schoolboys, running like headless chickens and disappoint the fans who are paying hard-earned money to watch them playing.”
he then continue, “it’s my fault for not spotting the urgency of a defensive midfield to replace the departure of flamini and giberto… nasri not as good as hleb and walcott is no henry… it’s my fault for not doing the job right.”
do not put the blame any single player though… not even one single player in the aston villa game is good enough… they are all poor kids wanting big salary
now you know why herny wanna leave this team? good players want to win trophies, not playing with a bunch of kids who is not good enough except in the eyes of the manager
if arsene do not buy good defensive midfielder this coming January, i can forsee Fabregas and Adebayor leaving.
if that happened, don’t blame the player… patient has its limit.. enough is enough
all these negative comments do not meant we are no longer in love with arsenal… the opposite is true… we want to see meaningful improvements and positive changes… talk is cheap.. especially those coming from arsene himself… it amazed me to see he is still in the state of denial… like some of you guys here
the best way to approach each game arsenal playing this season is considered a win as a bonus, a draw is better than lost, a lost as synonym with arsenal this season… this way you won’t get hurt easily and go bunkered everytime this kids doing the clown stuff
and pray hard they are good enough to be in the 4th… because they would be lucky to finish in the top 6 to be honest
17 November 2008 at 5:34 pm
Bottom line? Arsenal are 1 point nearer to the top of the table than we are to the relegation zone. (9 points adrift of Ashley Cole’s Chelsea and 10 points above Tottenham). Reality check: at the current time we stand a very marginally better chance of finishing top than we do 20th.
17 November 2008 at 5:42 pm
all of you are just talking bullshit.its not the players who are tired.its nobodys fault.it simply is arsenal are now a very shit team.even the reserves is better than the first team.i will say it now and i will say it again arsenal are goooooooooooooooooooners
17 November 2008 at 5:45 pm
i completely agree.assnal are bullshit.they shouldnt even be called gunners they should be really called gooners
17 November 2008 at 5:46 pm
or asssnore
17 November 2008 at 5:54 pm
man city will completely mash ass snore to pieces.robinho7 ass snore nil.
17 November 2008 at 5:54 pm
you know iam soo right
17 November 2008 at 8:44 pm
It disgusts me to see how spoiled so called “Gunners fans” have this idea in there heads that Arsenal can compete with the mega bucks of the “big 3″ week in week out. Inconsistency happens when there is ZERO COMPETITION anywhere in the starting 11. We need 3 to 4 new players challenging for a 1st team spot every week because these guys are way to comfortable & luthargic out there. There is no DRIVE which is pretty sad to say. If you are a professional, you shouldn’t need a letter from the gaffer to give encouragement . It is so sad to see Wenger put way to much trust in this lot. They have disappointed him…
17 November 2008 at 9:05 pm
I think I’ve heard it all now. First, the Hleb defenders talked about his assists. Then when it was pointed out that he didn’t actually have many, it was his contribution to our possession - as someone described it - inventing the ‘pre-assist’ to justify him. Now we’re rewriting history & talking about him being ‘ combative, reliable in possession, and defended well.’
God almighty this is insanity. Hleb contributed nothing defensively,absolutely nothing. And combative ? Combative ? Alex Hleb ???? I cannot remember him ever making a tackle. You may as well call Henry slow, Parlour lazy or Bergkamp clumsy.
Hleb’s absence is making no difference to our current situation. Don’t forget he was part of the team that finished in excess of 20 points behind 2 seasons in a row.
Flamini’s absence is what’s killing us.
17 November 2008 at 9:14 pm
dpk you are just plain stupid.flamini did not do much for arsenal.what arsenal need is a striker who can finish and has excellent work rate unlike adebayor or van persie.they are just to lazy.
17 November 2008 at 9:15 pm
somebody like robbie keane kuyt or torres.
17 November 2008 at 9:19 pm
once does three have a one on one there is a 9 out of ten they will score.but adebayor and van persie will miss 20 opportunities before scoring a goal.
17 November 2008 at 9:22 pm
Andy,does your Mum now you’re on the computer unsupervised ?
17 November 2008 at 9:28 pm
dpk you are mentally retarded.i am 17 years old
17 November 2008 at 9:31 pm
Sarcasm’s obviously something you haven’t grasped yet.Give it a rest,if you’ve got nothing to say don’t say anything.
17 November 2008 at 9:37 pm
fight talk.i bet you are as weak as a kitten.you dumb arsenal supporter.
17 November 2008 at 9:53 pm
Your all shit supporters whoever gets on players backs. Id like you to do better; support the club or simply fuck off.
E.I.E.
17 November 2008 at 9:55 pm
who the fuck are you
17 November 2008 at 9:58 pm
wood gooner you are another idiot who cant keep his mouth shut.sometimes you have to know the quality of the players or their not worth supporting.
18 November 2008 at 1:05 am
is this arsenal website kids only or something?
arsepod. speaks for itself really
18 November 2008 at 3:58 am
I’m a big fan of Arsenal since Wenger took over more than 10 years ago. He not only changed Arsenal but the English game in general. However, he needs to do a reality check because everybody knows how Arsenal plays nowadays and well-prepared. It hurts me to say this, but Arsenal really do not have any spine, contrary to whatever Wenger said. It hurts me to see Denilson trying his best to imitate Flamini when everybody knows that he hates tackling (for god’s sake, he’s Brazilian). It hurts me to see Bendtner loses the ball everytime Arsenal attacks. For the love of God, is Wenger so blind that he cannot see that Vela is better than Bendtner in terms of technique. Since when we have to rely on a giant as a focal point of our attack ? It hurts me to see Almunia regarded as a complete goalkeeper by Wenger. It hurts me to see my beloved Arsenal down-spiralling to oblivion by the same man who brought them to many successes.
18 November 2008 at 11:40 am
How can you blame RVP. Arsenal are a top flight football team with a squad of 25+ players, If a player comes into the starting 11 he should be capable of filling the gap of the player who is not there. Question - Why does Theo always get high marks in the players ratings - He is clumsy, has poor control, passing very poor and cannot beat players with the ball - He is the lukiest player in the premiership - but of course he is english!
Please, Please, Please play Johan Djhorou in midfield next to Fabregas - This is a defender who is quick, tackles and rarely gives the ball away. Could be as good as Viera!!!
18 November 2008 at 12:33 pm
I’m pretty staggered by how many people, Baz the latest poster, can’t understand the perfectly logical conclusion Goodplaya has made. I’ll spell it out to them so hopefully they might understand.
“ROBIN IS COMPLETELY TO BLAME BECAUSE HIS STUPIDITY AND PETULANCE IN GETTING SENT OFF AGAINST STOKE MEANT HE COULD NOT PLAY IN THIS, A VERY IMPORTANT MATCH. ROBIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS MATCH WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND THAT IN ITSELF DESERVES MUCH CRITICISM. IT IS MORE TO BLAME FOR LOSING THAN POOR OLD BENDTNER TRYING HIS BEST AND HAVING A BAD GAME. RVP DESERVES HARSH CRITICISM FOR HIS INSOLENCE AND LACK OF RESPECT FOR HIS CLUB AND TEAM-MATES”
Understood? Capisce? Robin should have been playing against United, against Villa and in the next match against Citeh, all vital for our hopes of the title (and now, let’s face it, a top 4 spot).
He owes us big time, at least I back him to deliver. But for now, very disappointed in the boy. Very sad situation.
18 November 2008 at 2:17 pm
Thank you White Ox. My point exactly.
18 November 2008 at 3:13 pm
First, thanks to Goodplaya for the blog. Always interesting. The same can’t be said for many of the comments here. For a team who aspire to play - and still can play - beautiful football, we’ve got a surprising number of bottom feeders (in a fish sense) who claim to be Arsenal supporters. Why don’t you take yourselves up the road? That’s the team you deserve and which deserves you.
Come on. We are the Arsenal. Anyone out there who stood on the North Bank throughout the mid 1970s and early-mid 1980s? After Wenger, as fans, we’ve been spoiled. It’s been a blast. And it still is. Last season was wonderful, until the Birmingham game. This season we’ve had Fenerbahce away, Mancs at home, and the two Carling Cup games, which (for you ‘big time’ fans) were pure joy to be at. OK it looks like this season in the long haul we are going to suffer, but we should still believe there’s going to be some beautiful moments. We’re not going to win the Premiership (and come on, who among us, looking at our squad at the start of the season, really thought we would?) but we could still go some in the cups. If we sort a few problems out.
First, we have players in our squad who are just not Arsenal. Gallas, Silvester, this season’s Adebayor. I don’t think these guys should be wearing the shirt. For me, Cesc and Clichy are pure Arsenal. Don’t drive them away. Support them through a bad patch because these guys are Arsenal through and through.
Second, our team is unbalanced, crucially, in the middle of the field. Say what you will about Hleb, but him and Cesc and the Flamster played superbly together. We need to find that balance again. And if Wenger isn’t prepared to put Ramsey and Wilshere into that mix, then he’s just got to go out and buy someone, the missing piece to pull it together. Denilson is trying and he’s not a bad player, but at the moment the partnership with Cesc isn’t working, it isn’t winning us games. Which Cesc, Flam and Diddle did.
This was not meant to be a transition season, but our defence lost us the title last season, and we didn’t strengthen it. Our midfield is much weaker. So sad as it is to say, this season we just have to see it through and enjoy the beautiful moments. If Wenger can find a way to play Ramsey, Vela and Wilshere in this team, I really think sometime soon we can take off into (ahem) a new dimension. Because those boys can play. Vela in particular - what a player. Some surgery, some new blood, and we’ll be back. Come on, Arsene. Do it.
18 November 2008 at 5:14 pm
i honestly dont believe that vela is better than bendtner,bendtner can hold the ball better than vela and is a better finisher.as far as im concerned lzad is talking shit
18 November 2008 at 5:19 pm
the only reason arsenal did not score is because the midfielders were poor and did not give bendtner any opportunities.
18 November 2008 at 9:42 pm
White Ox,Goodplaya,totally agree on Rvp. Was an idiot. Worst of all is that he was really beginning to fire too. (he was awesome against the Scum) You are forgetting one thing though I think. Carling Cup game counted in his ban so he should be back for City game ????
MexicanWave, get your point about balance but Cesc & Nasri have shown already they can blend well. (and with countless more end product from Nasri than we got from Hleb)
Flamini or a replacement would provide the balance; I just dont believe Hleb leaving is any loss whatsoever.
19 November 2008 at 12:40 am
Well spotted DPK, if he plays against City let’s hope he starts repaying what he owes to the Arsenal Football Club. I don’t doubt the quality of the player as he’s a world beater when he’s on song. A couple of goals from “Rembrandt” would really lift spirits around here at the moment. Failing that I’d love to see Nick bang one in to silence a few doubters for a while. It’s a long season, the kids are going well, there are still three cups to play for and (say it quietly) if we get over this obsession of “the title” and actually worry about the opposition that’s in front of us every week we may be able to string a few wins together. One can but dream.
19 November 2008 at 5:49 pm
again with the flamini talk.when will it end.what arsenal are really missing is rosicky
19 November 2008 at 5:52 pm
and da silva.he is way better than vela or bendtner
19 November 2008 at 5:54 pm
if arsenal have a chance of winning the premier league they simply need to buy a experienced player.
19 November 2008 at 7:14 pm
i completely agree with white ox.van persie is definitely to blame.
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