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Arsenal vs Blackburn Rovers, 0-0: Full time analysis and player ratings

Written by Chris on April 2, 2011 – 23:15

Arsenal Interactive - Player RatingsEmirates Stadium

The Game

Is the title race over for Arsenal? No. Seven points from the top which could be four if we win our game in hand and only one if we beat Manchester United next month means that the title race is not over but yet again we drop points in a game we were supposed to win.

What was really frustrating on the day was to see that we failed to score when all our best players were on the pitch and this clearly demonstrates how foolish all the arguments about not winning anything because of injuries were last season. The problem is not missing key players, it’s in the players’ head and after two, three, four seasons with the same problems, one has to wonder when things will finally change at Arsenal Football Club.

Arsene was asked why today’s performance was poor in the post-match press conference. But was it really poor? I don’t think so, we enjoyed possession, passed the ball well,created some chances but as it is almost always the case when we fail to find the back of the net with Plan A, there is no Plan B to save our day. Sad.

We needed to be more creative, we desperately needed to improvise in the second half yet the players showed little or no urgency at all, especially in the last fifteen minutes of the game.

We go one month without wins. Leyton Orient’s 5-0 win in the F.A. Cup was our last win, after that, a run of draws and defeats that include disappointing results against Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and today.

If we fail to win the Premier League our manager will have to answer questions at the end of the season, hopefully not by saying that “No one expected us to be in the top four”. Because if this is really the best squad our manager ever had and if – as he said on Friday – attitude-wide this group has been fantastic, well then I’m afraid the reason why we’re not delivering is because we’re simply not good enough.

We cannot hide behind statements such as “we had many important games one after each other and it was very difficult to deal with that because we lost many players”. Unless I’m wrong these are professional footballers who should be trained to face “important games one after each other” especially since it was clear from day one that March was going to be a key month for us.

To conclude, Andrey Arshavin was heavily criticised by his compatriots following his poor performance against Armenia with the Russian National side. As a result he assisted Roman Pavlyuchenko in the next game and was one of the best players for us this afternoon. And that’s because for some, desperate times should call for desperate measures. Maybe it’s time to do the same here at Arsenal.

As always, whether you agree with my ratings or not, submit your own at Arsenal Interactive and make sure to share them on Twitter and Facebook.

Match Video Highlights

Match video highlights are available in the Videos section of our website. If not there yet, rest assured they will be up in a matter of hours.

Player Ratings

Almunia: 2 – As it was the case against West Brom he had very little to do. But, he was first a disaster when asked to block an easy shot from Olson and then he came out to punch the ball in the 44th minute only to punch the back of a Blackburn player who could have easily gone down acting for a penalty.

Koscielny: 6,5 – Foolish set-piece to give away in the 22nd minute but made a number of very good blocks as the game progressed including a superb header to clear the danger on minute 44.

Squillaci: 6,5 – Not much wrong from the other centre-back who was however beaten for pace in a couple of occasions.

Clichy: 7 – Fantastic game from Gael who did well when surging forward and was very, very good in the defensive department.

Sagna: 5,5 – Poor defensively as he struggled to deal with David Hoilett on the right and delivered a number of poor crosses. Needs to bounce back Bacary as he was not at his best against West Brom as well.

Wilshere: 6 – Often caught on the back foot and missed a glorious goal opportunity in the 28th minute of the game.

Arshavin: 8 – As said in the introduction, Andrey was one of our best players today. Full of energy, very creative on the left and the way he defended in the 39th minute stopping Blackburn for a corner was just what we always want to see from him.

Song: 6 – Struggled in midfield especially after picking up a knee injury in the second half. Looked slow, not 100% fit and missed a couple of easy passes.

Nasri: 6,5 – Scary blow to the head but luckily continued as he was very lively and involved in almost all our moves. Phenomenal run in the 53rd minute but then looked tired as he gave way for Nicklas in the 78th minute.

Walcott: 6,5 – Top class first half from Theo who in the first ten minutes of the game first won a corner then delivered a great cross and finally forced a save from the Blackburn goalkeeper. Unfortunately he was very anonymous in the second half but it’s great to have his pace back.

van Persie: 6 – If my notes are correct, Robin had only one shot on target today, in the 64th minute of the game. Went close with a header in the last part of the game but he was clearly uncomfortable as a lonely striker.

(Subs)
Fabregas, Bendtner, Chamakh: 6 – Not much from the substitutes. Cesc was very poor, no wonder Arsene said “he still has some concern” after the game. The other two tried but not enough.

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  • montreal gooner says:
    April 2, 2011 at 23:41

    too many players arsene bought from garage sales ; bendtner no good , denilson no good , rosicky no good , sq18 no good , almunia no good .

    Reply to this comment »
  • Nice, Clean, on topic says:
    April 2, 2011 at 23:59

    I thought his point was that the players have to get on with it, regardless. They can’t use the boos as an excuse. They have to do their jobs and then the fans will come back around. I wish I was there – I’d love to boo this group of players, and Wenger, too. Not that I think they are shit, but they don’t have the nuts to win anything. I’d love to send them a message that they have lost our good will by feeling sorry for themselves. They just don’t get it. Talent and consistency alone is really not enough. This group haven’t done anything out of the ordinary in months apart from beating Barca, which counted for very little. They have to play with more emotion, more passion. And Wenger needs to shake things up in terms of tactics and personnel, not massively, but we need more all around footballers out there with ideas of their own about how to win a f-in’ football match.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Northbanksy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 1:48

      I was there today & what I witnessed was an Arsenal team made up of returnees from injury lacking match sharpness & the rest, returnees from international duty, looking knackered both mentally & physically. Blackburn had clearly come to play for a draw & defended well. We always struggle against this tactic…even when we’re at our best.
      I do think we often lack a Plan B, but even if one existed i don’t think it would have made any difference today when the team clearly struggled with the Plan A.
      I share criticisms of some players & some managerial decisions, but I don’t think todays game was one to disect on those grounds.

      Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 3, 2011 at 2:03

        I was there too NB and we always struggle in the games after an international. We had 14 players away marry that with those returning from injury and the word “disjointed” springs to mind. With the exception of Shava all our players lacked shapness most looked half a meter short. We all know we play one dimentionally without a B plan which is a problem, but I’m 100% behind you if the players today had plans ABC&D even the A plan was beyond them.

        Reply to this comment »
      • Cupsui says:
        April 3, 2011 at 16:16

        saying all that, the team did deserve the boo’s because there was no urgency and certain players looked like they couldn’t give a stuff!

        BUT the crowd deserves some boo’s too! I swear Arsenal have the worst home fans in the world. 60000 seat stadium packed to the rafters and you could have heard a pin drop esp in the 1st half…that was embarassing! It took until the 75th minute before any sort of sustained noise came up but then that too even faded before the end.

        the travelling fans away at WBA made much more noise and got the team fired up to comeback and draw!! Maybe the players would fire up more at home games if they actually knew they were playing at home!

        Also chris i agree arshavin was amazing in the 1st half but he also disappeared in the 2nd which was really disappointing because he was the source of ALL creativity in the first…

        And i think both the CB deserve at least 7 that was a good performance from them and the worked well together for a change, that at least is promising moving forward!

        Reply to this comment »
        • Chris says:
          April 3, 2011 at 16:25

          Yes.

          I watched Napoli – Lazio this afternoon and from it I learned:

          1. What it means to have every single supporter supporting the team you at home

          2. What it means to fight from the first to the last minute

          Arsene should instruct his players to watch this game to understand what fighting spirit, fighting for the title and love for the jersey means.

          Reply to this comment »
          • Cupsui says:
            April 3, 2011 at 16:52

            seriously if there ever was time for an out and out blasting after the game…that was it…i would have been livid if i was coaching and any team of mine jog around like that and i would have pointed the finger too!

            Reply to this comment »
    • Jayanta says:
      April 3, 2011 at 2:34

      Not everyone can play for Top teams. There are too many players in unworthy of Arsenal shirt.

      Reply to this comment »
  • Danish Gooner says:
    April 2, 2011 at 23:29

    But when are these players ever fit and ready,they must be made of glass ???

    Reply to this comment »
    • Chris says:
      April 2, 2011 at 23:42

      The point I was trying to make is that today all our players were fit, well almost, yet we failed to deliver.

      Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 3, 2011 at 2:06

        They may have been technically passed as fit, but they weren’t match fit and sharp! Shava excepted.

        Reply to this comment »
        • faizan says:
          April 3, 2011 at 11:01

          DO U THINK ITS THE TIME THAT WENGER SHOULD LEAVE …AFTER THIS SEASON ….CAUZIF HE LEAVES RIGHT NOW WE WILL BE IN A DISASTER…AND ALSO WHO CAN BE OUR NEXT MANAGER CHRIS

          Reply to this comment »
          • Chris says:
            April 3, 2011 at 11:12

            If it was for me I would have replaced Arsene last season and that’s because two seasons ago, at the end of the season, I gave him one last chance to finally change and help us deliver. Deliver, not necessary winning trophies. He didn’t change, we ended last season just as the one before and that was it for me.

            “For me”, just in case someone thinks I’m talking on behalf of others.

            Having said that, your second statement cancels the first. If he resigns or is sacked – which will never happen – we will end up facing a huge crisis and that’s because I can give you a list of at least eight “top” players who will immediately leave in that takes place. And that is because 50% of our team is at Arsenal because of the manager and not because of their love for the Club.

            Am I grateful for what he did in the past? I am and always will be but first of all I live in the present looking at the future and secondly, I support Arsenal FC not Arsene Wenger.

            Reply to this comment »
            • faizan says:
              April 3, 2011 at 13:42

              :) true …. u nailed it man… but can u tell me any future manager ….. i know wenger will not be sacked but just incase

              Reply to this comment »
              • richie says:
                April 3, 2011 at 20:57

                Faizan Forget it! None of the Arsene out lot will name a successor either because in footballing terms they can’t (i.e. their knowledge is limmited) or because if they do they’ll either show their true colours (by naming someone like Sir Alex or someone else we’ll never get) or they’ll leave themselves open for criticism with their choice. Everytime an Arsene out puts his head above the trenches I ask if Arsene goes who do we replace him with? The idiotic reply’s have been Tagart Mourinho and lately Guardiola. All can be dismissed out of hand.

                Reply to this comment »
                • Chris says:
                  April 3, 2011 at 21:05

                  Mourinho? Guardiola?

                  Sorry, but the names don’t stop there. Frank Rijkaard, Louis van Gaal are just a couple more names to add to the list. And if you follow the Serie A you will understand that there are some top managers who know how to teach football. Did you know who Massimiliano Allegri was before he joined AC MIlan? Well last season I was impressed with what he achieved with Cagliari, the great football they displayed and knew he would soon manage a top team.

                  Reply to this comment »
                  • richie says:
                    April 3, 2011 at 21:33

                    Do you mean the LVG who’s spent a fortune and been given the boot at Bayern?
                    Or the Rijkaard who like LVG ain’t managed to take Galatasary back to the top?

                    Reply to this comment »
                    • Chris says:
                      April 3, 2011 at 21:41

                      The “LVG” who revolutionized football as we know it.

                      And the Frank Rijkaard who deserved to win Euro 2000 with Holland with some breathtaking football.

                  • richie says:
                    April 3, 2011 at 21:56

                    As for Allegri can you really see us buying him out from AC? Especially as his stats as a manager ain’t nothing to write home about. He’s won less than half his games as a manager and lost over a third. Compared to Arsene who’s won over half at a higher level and lost only 25% – I saw Cagliari play and I agree for an Italian team they were an attacking side, but I can’t remember them winning anything, did they?

                    Reply to this comment »
                    • Chris says:
                      April 3, 2011 at 22:02

                      It is also true he only started his managerial career in 2003. And then, Cagliari’s objective last season was far from winning something, it was to stay in the Serie A.

                    • richie says:
                      April 3, 2011 at 22:28

                      Sorry Chris with Rijkaard your comparing apples with oranges as the coach of the Dutch team in 2000 can you remember all the players he had available? He should’ve won it! I think I could’ve won it with that team.

                      LvG didn’t revolutionize football as we know it. Talk to Ajax fans and they’ll tell you he took over the Ajax team. Talk to Barca fans and likewise they’ll tell you that he wasn’t up to the task of replacing Croyff who along with Neeskins actually revolutionized football as we know it. It was the two above along with Michels the Ajax coach that did it.The first to really replace Croyff is Guardiola as he came directly from him.

                      By the way all of the above took the lead from the Germany all out attacking team of that time Borussia Monchengladbach the same team that inspired Arsene him being Croyff and Neeskins age.

                    • Chris says:
                      April 4, 2011 at 0:06

                      That’s harsh, Richie.

                      I mean OK, Rijkaard had the players, but I mean, so what?

                      The discussion here is about who can replace Arsene. Using your same argument, I could ask you what manager wouldn’t have finished in the top four, wouldn’t have qualified for the CL group, wouldn’t have beaten Leeds in the FA Cup and reached the Carling Cup Final with the likes of Nasri, Fabregas, Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin, Sagna and Song in the team?

                      I mean the argument you are making can be used to show that Arsene is achieving what any other manager would achieve with these players, no?

                  • tommy says:
                    April 4, 2011 at 10:14

                    Deschamps is out of contract at Marseilles. He’s done well every place he’s been. And he’s French

                    Reply to this comment »
                    • richie says:
                      April 4, 2011 at 15:05

                      No Chris thats not fair Rijkaard as a national team coach didn’t have to buy or develope players. He just had a fantastic group of players to choose from. (Ready made all technically gifted and most battle hardened from winning the Champs league with the top clubs of Europe). He didn’t just have a head start, it was a gift.

                      Arsene’s not only had to buy and develope great players on a budget, he’s also had to design and build us our first proper training facility with the money he made from buying and selling players. Next up he did the same with the Emirates. It was all financed when the “Arse” fell out of the financial market. So yet again he was called on to juggle the finances. All that at the same time as boardroom battling when your (mate?and) main man’s trying to stage a “coup de etat”.

                      Its not true either that Arsene’s only brought in a group of mercenary’s! Most all of those who played at Highbury
                      ended up with an affinity for the club that came from the inter action that they got from the crowd. Henry,Vieria, Pires, Freddy and Bergie hadn’t expirenced crowds singing their names like they did, neither have they since leaving. The crowd at the Emirates isn’t Highbury! I think the reason is the block ticket sales to the corporate groups has taken us away from our roots.(I know those sales were neccessary to pay for the stadium) I’m from Highbury 1st, Next I’m an Islington Boy, a North Londoner and next up I’m English, in that order.

                      I’ve got loads of mates who would be at every home game, but respect is due because they’ve got Family’s and kids to support, before (they can think of themselves and) they give support to their club. The prices being what they are, and many are ordinary tradesmen, they earn only average wages. £1000’s to spare they ain’t got.

            • tommy says:
              April 3, 2011 at 19:17

              Well said. The best case scenario would be for Wenger to move upstaits into a recruiting job and remain with the club but hand over the manager job to someone like Deschamps and allow him decision making power on transfers. I think this would be a successful blend. Will it happen? I doubt it

              Reply to this comment »
            • gerry dee says:
              April 3, 2011 at 19:41

              most players don’t come for the club. so you should just understand that it’s basically never that way unless you’re barcelona, manchester united, real madrid, chelsea, or “shock” arsenal!

              Reply to this comment »
              • Chris says:
                April 3, 2011 at 19:43

                Yes, many don’t come for the club but many then learn to appreciate and love the club. Like all the players who join Napoli, just to give the same example I gave before.

                Reply to this comment »
              • gerry dee says:
                April 3, 2011 at 19:47

                by the way, nothing wrong with supporting arsenal, but i’d like to support all aspects of the club as best i can and i look on the bright side, that means admiring my favourite players, and manager.

                there’s no point in throwing in the towel. my main point, we could still have a very respectable season. i don’t think any other manager gives arsenal the edge we have. and we do have an edge. we’re in second place, are beating chelsea, and if we can take down manchester united, the fans will start to believe again.

                who knows? the last time we won (i think) samir pointed the way with a 2-1. they were stronger and we were weaker, i think we’ll beat them. optimism please!

                Reply to this comment »
            • richie says:
              April 3, 2011 at 21:21

              You would’ve replaced Arsene 2 years ago with who Chris? I too support the Arse 1st 2nd & 3rd No one comes before the club but until Arsene stops acting in Arsenals interest I’m fully behind him! I criticize Arsene’s substitutions, I criticize his choice of players, I’ve not been keen on some of his buys, but I can’t ever criticize the direction he’s taken us in.

              Youth developement, Stadium developement, training ground developement, and the type of football we play have all moved in the right direction. I’m an old Gooner who remembers our club not winning anything for for years, then came 3 in the early 70’s next 7years with nothing one FA Cup and another 7years with nothing. This is not the situation we are in now. we can all see improvements, but we just haven’t managed to get over the line.

              Its one thing to be grateful for what Arsene’s done, its something else to disagree with the direction he’s taking us in.

              Reply to this comment »
              • Chris says:
                April 3, 2011 at 21:25

                I don’t know with who, Richie.

                You are asking me a question I have no answer for. I can answer it from a football lover point of view but I am not an expert who made a proper research on who can actually replace our manager.

                As I always said, Arsene was maybe the only man capable of driving us out of the stadium migration turmoil in one piece but the problem is that even after we were back in a healthy financial situation, he kept his 100% youth policy which I’m sorry, does not work.

                Reply to this comment »
                • richie says:
                  April 4, 2011 at 0:17

                  Chris when you say the youth policy doesn’t work compared to what? Shall we compare it to Barca where even their manager comes out of the youth developement policy. Barca buy players, but under Guadiola they’ve mainly returned to playing 80% out of their academy. Arsene’s policy isn’t a lot different, buy only exceptional talent and bring most up through the ranks from the academy. I think in the main its the correct policy, but it takes time.
                  I’ll never forget that Croyff put in a youth developement system at Barca, when Bobby Robson took over he found it stuffed with talent but he took the club in another direction and although he won 2 cups that year Barca outed him, and it took them a while to return to Croyff’s system. Thats why they took on LvG in an attempt to return to Croyff’s youth developement (which was modeled on Ajax) and his all out attacking style of play.

                  Reply to this comment »
                  • Chris says:
                    April 4, 2011 at 0:43

                    A “100% youth policy” does not work.

                    You need to adopt the policy alongside experience. As someone else mentioned, our manager only offers a one-year extension to over 30, not sure how correct this is.

                    Reply to this comment »
                    • richie says:
                      April 4, 2011 at 4:09

                      We haven’t got a policy of only playing 100% youth. We do buy but we don’t buy over price English players. Of 7defenders only 2 are youth developement Gibbs & Djourou (and even he came to us from Etoile but young)

                      Players bought

                      Sagna = Auxerre
                      Clichy = Cannes
                      Vermaelin = Ajax
                      Koscielny = Lorient
                      Squillaci = Sevilla

                      Diaby = Auxerre
                      Rosicky = Dortmund
                      Song = Bastia
                      Shava = Zenit St.PetersB
                      Nasri = Marseille
                      Cesc = Barca
                      Ramsey = Cardif
                      Eboue = Baveren
                      Denilson = San Paulo

                      All of the above we bought even if bought young
                      only 2 are from our academy JW & Frimpong although
                      Cesc Nas Song and Denilson all came under 18

                      RvP = Feyenoord
                      Theo = Southamton
                      Bendtner = Copenhagen
                      Chamakh = Bordeaux

                      None of the above came through the ranks although both Theo and Bendtner came very young.

                  • richie says:
                    April 4, 2011 at 1:10

                    I should’ve said it takes time to put the right players in place because only Cesc had the benefit of playing against the invincibles in training. He was training with that great team everyday. If only our current crop had, had that benefit. If only for one season in training I believe they’d all be further along in their developement. We already have a crop of talented youngsters in place to take over from our current crop, but time is against us, because none of our current crop has won anything apart from? Yes you know Cesc the 04 FA Cup.
                    Now to drag this lot over the line for the first time and win something is gonna be the most difficult job ever.

                    Reply to this comment »
                    • Pong says:
                      April 4, 2011 at 10:12

                      It was simple. If Wenger just bought a quality GK before this season, we would have been a few points ahead of MU.

                • Kay-Bloggo says:
                  April 5, 2011 at 11:17

                  Lets not just proclaim the “Arsene Out” tirrades…Lets try to justify it with a probable candidate to replace Wenger….For me, Rijkaard and Guus Hiddink would be rational candidates…

                  Reply to this comment »
              • tropicalgun says:
                April 4, 2011 at 8:17

                thanks for putting things in perspective Richie, your loyalty and support for the club, the players and the manager who have given us good things and am still giving us good things, in spite of all the difficulties and pressures, is admirable. It teaches a new gooner like me to have patience and loyalty. frankly speaking all those who are blaming wenger for the draw ought to be ashamed of themselves. i saw the match on tv and even then i could feel that lack of support and judemental atmosphere created by the so-called fans. i felt the boys fought bravely and never gave up trying to look for the goal. In fact it got better and better to the end with the 3 prong attack and fab orchestrating. we just lack a killer finish and yesterday the killer finish was not suplied by the fans. newcastle was 4 down against us at hm, but did their fans give up on them? No, and helped them level in an incredible show of support that pulverized out boys on their turf. even the commentator was saying: this is when the fans need to life the team, instead of waiting for the team to give them the lift. How true. If a neutral commentator could feel that, shame on us! Arsenal has got the best team in the world with the worst fans. But if all fans were like you last nite, we would have blasted blackburn away! Thanks for the history n general knowledge!

                Reply to this comment »
                • tropicalgun says:
                  April 4, 2011 at 8:21

                  sorry it should be “this is when the supporters should lift the team”, not “life” the team

                  Reply to this comment »
                • richie says:
                  April 4, 2011 at 15:17

                  Our home support isn’t good anymore. The crowd doesn’t have the loyalty it once did. The old guard from Highbury were Gooners win lose or draw, and we had to be great supporters because when you have followed a team that hasn’t won anything for a decade (The whole of the swinging 60’s) it certainly gives you a perspective. I’m still behind Arsene because of the direction he’s taking us in. Make no mistake though I’m Arsenal. I’m only Arsene because I can see he’s Arsenal too.

                  Reply to this comment »
                  • Fonz678 says:
                    April 5, 2011 at 0:42

                    Hey Richie, really appreciate your points through the long experience you’ve had seeing/following the team.

                    There’s few teams in the world that have a distinct culture like Arsenal. While theres been a huge change throughout a lot of clubs from globalisation leading to takeovers, clubs just purchasing players left right and center, Arsenal imo has been a true footballing club and also a fair organistaion from a business point of view. And for achieving this, as you pointed out, Arsene needs to be credited majorly.

                    But the boys need to step up their game and deliver on a consistent basis and finally cross the finish line and win something.

                    Reply to this comment »
      • exiledai says:
        April 3, 2011 at 11:23

        Agreed Chris, depsite the arguments about international duty and match fitness. Our strength was in attack today and we couldn’t score against the team that has conceded the most goals in the EPL. We will take max of 7 points from the remaining games and will finish 3rd/4th. Man U had players on international duty but the difference is that their squad has stand in players capable of maintaining their title challenge viz. Berbatov, Smalling, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson, Gibson who would all normally start on the bench. AW must realise that our squad will NEVER be capable of winning the EPL given that this season will have been our best chance for some time. Next year Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool will be stronger and Arsenal will be static. AW should come clean and advise the fans that his strategy is aimed at a top four finish. He should revert to second string teams for the Carling and FA Cup and go out early to concentrate on the EPL and CL. What use was the CC and FAC runs this season if you dont win? Only serves to make the team knackered.
        Must sell Fabregas who contributes little now and buy some leaders in the Schweinsteiger/Ribery/Alonso mould. Until the team has a quality and strong backbone, 3rd or 4th is the best that we will achieve.
        Even the MOTD pundits can’t see it – Hansen and Shearer claiming that the title race is not over – of course it is. It finished at West Brom or before. It was laughable to hear the pundits state that if Arsenal win all of their remaining games they are champions; they will win one…away to Blackpool.

        Reply to this comment »
    • Hunter says:
      April 2, 2011 at 23:43

      Sagna was a perfect example of what should happen when a player takes a knock. You could see he was playing through pain after that awful challenge very early in the game but he sucked it up and got on with the game. Unfortunately the rest of our team doesn’t have the stones to play on through pain for the good of the team. He might not have had his best game but at least he didn’t quit just because he got a knock. More than i can say for Cesc, RVP, Theo, etc.

      Reply to this comment »
      • mamad0u says:
        April 2, 2011 at 23:51

        Sagna is now 29 and may never win anything during his time at Arsenal. I feel really sorry for him.

        Reply to this comment »
        • Hunter says:
          April 2, 2011 at 23:58

          Actually he is 28 but you are right, he won’t win anything while he is here. If I were him I would do what Thierry did and move for my last 3 or 4 years so I could win a major trophy somewhere before hanging up the boots.

          Reply to this comment »
          • Cupsui says:
            April 3, 2011 at 16:22

            true loyalty and commitment! that the spirit…and people wonder why players move around so much….

            Reply to this comment »
            • Hunter says:
              April 3, 2011 at 18:06

              After 5 years of your manager not improving the team in places where it’s obviously weak I have no problem with a player moving on. It’s not like he just got to us last season. He has a been a solid performer and our most committed player since he has been with us and he has won nothing. Winners want to win things, not hear excuses which is exactly what I would expect from him. I wouldn’t begrudge someone moving on to win a trophy after years of hearing the same things and being surrounded by players who shouldn’t be on the same pitch, let alone in the same team.

              Reply to this comment »
        • Northbanksy says:
          April 3, 2011 at 1:52

          If Sagna spent a bit more time on the training ground to improve the delivery of his crosses & tried looking up before he crossed aimless balls into the box, I’d feel a bit more sympathy for him.

          Reply to this comment »
          • richie says:
            April 3, 2011 at 2:18

            Another one I’d second! I like Sagna and he can cross a ball, but he rarely aims his crosses, how can he (Its like the golden shot – blindfolded archery) when he doesn’t look up to see where his team mates are? No player is ever too old to learn, so why can’t Bacary at least try to aim for his team mates. He might not make it but at least if he aimed he might find out it works.

            Reply to this comment »
            • Hunter says:
              April 3, 2011 at 3:43

              To be honest he should just stop crossing the ball period since it seems no one is ever breaking their neck to get into the box to get on the other end of it.

              Reply to this comment »
  • mamad0u says:
    April 2, 2011 at 23:49

    One should make an analysis of the recurring feb/march crumble. It has become so predictable…

    Reply to this comment »
  • Willy young says:
    April 2, 2011 at 23:51

    Title race is over the desperate struggle for 4th is on

    Win at the Lane with these lightweights? Really

    We need a massive change no more 433 some mentally strong winners a plan B or C not sideways passing

    Why can’t our full backs cross accurately?

    Why can’t our midfielders shoot accurately

    Embarrassing predictable rubbish end is season cant come soon enough

    Ps we will beat Blackpool some will start to dream again dont it will only destroy your mind

    Reply to this comment »
    • Alex says:
      April 3, 2011 at 1:15

      Actually the questions should be:
      Why can’t our full backs cross at all?
      See how many of attempted cross were blocked?

      Why can’t any of our players shoot accurately?
      I always wonder who is our shooting coach?

      We don’t need new strikers, we have Chamakh, Bendtner, and RVP, I beleive they are actually good enough.

      We do need cover for Song though, or when we want to close down midfield with 2 defensive midfield playing together.

      We don’t need CBs. Djourou, Vermaelen and Koscielny are good or getting better.

      We don’t need new goalie, fabiansky and especialy Cesny are good enough. But we definitely need to get rid of Almunia.

      ULTIMATELY, WE NEED LEADERS. SOMEONE WHO IS A WINNER, WHO CAN SHOW THIS HALF MEN HOW TO DO IT. FOR FUDGE SAKE!

      Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 3, 2011 at 2:30

        I like that! Saturdays game as with so many others from an Arsenal point of view was crying out for a dictator! All we have needed for a quite a while is a leader who’ll give the orders, because as everyone can see too many cooks spoil the broth.

        Reply to this comment »
        • Hunter says:
          April 3, 2011 at 3:46

          I totally disagree on half of this. This players you listed are NOT good enough.

          You are however correct that we need leaders but as long as Arsene keeps throwing good players out just because they turn 30 we will never have good leadership on the pitch again.

          Reply to this comment »
          • richie says:
            April 4, 2011 at 4:19

            Who did Arsene through out that at 30 would’ve been a good leader?

            Reply to this comment »
      • Cupsui says:
        April 3, 2011 at 16:32

        agreed 100%…the players at arsenal ARE good enough….but yes a leader is needed! TV would drastically help in that department…I said last week that cesc should and probably will go and we should replace him internally with rambo and nasri…

        NOW i revise that statement…we should get BASTIAN SCHWINSTIGER…he is the answer…nasri and jack and rambo are all creative enough and will get even better BUT schwinny is needed…he is a born leader, never stops running and is so dam committed, in the world cup he was amazing and that is what is needed…get him in…make either he and TV captain…

        And cover is needed for DM that is why Jan Ventonghen should come in…he would be the perfect foil for song, and also the perfect CB backup. I would play TV on the left and sell clichy cause if he doesn’t want to be there then fine! Denilson has to go…diaby is on about the thinnest ice possible…rosicky’s time has come and bendy should go cause he isn’t in it for the cause its just about him…the rest ARE DEFINITELY GOOD ENOUGH, but leaders are needed to rally the troops when the team is up against it…sadly we don’t have that with cesc cause he doesn’t want to be there!

        Bring in a winger/striker and thats all that is required…there is talk around of Gameiro and Falcao…i think either of them would fit the mould perfectly…goal poachers with pace, adding variety to the attacking line of chamakh and RvP…

        Reply to this comment »
  • Don says:
    April 2, 2011 at 23:55

    It is over.This team cannot put 8 wins in a row together.This season the most wins in a row in the league is 3.
    If you cannot beat Sunderland West Brom and Blackburn you have no chance
    The lack of leadership on and off the pitch is killing our club
    All Wenger wants is a top 4 finish season in season out.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Hunter says:
      April 3, 2011 at 0:00

      Don’t you know that’s how Arsene defines success?

      Reply to this comment »
      • mamad0u says:
        April 3, 2011 at 0:06

        Living up to his words : top 4 finish better than league cup. Nobody seem to enjoy it that much though.

        Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 4, 2011 at 4:28

        Come on guys get real…….It is success if you measure it against the Tiny Tots who’ve spent bundles and only qualified once. Its success if its measured against the other 16 who don’t qualify. Its only not success if measured against Manu’er and Chelski.

        Reply to this comment »
    • faizan says:
      April 3, 2011 at 13:45

      yea and every time he says …that at the begenning of the season no one even predicted us in the top four …..

      Reply to this comment »
  • Alpha T says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:05

    Good analysis of the game and I’m so glad Denilson or Diaby didn’t play otherwise it would have all been their fault again, I digress! Simple fact is this team isn’t good enough. The only thing consistent about them is their ability to let us down.
    We have been pretty pathetic this season but could miraculously finish 2nd!
    I said after the Carling cup fiasco, seasons over, this team needs a psychiatrist.

    Wenger needs to really reinforce in the summer.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Gunner90 says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:15

    I think the whole team was set up badly from the start by Wenger. Why was Fabregas not playing from the start – what game was he being saved for that was more important than this one!! Arshavin and Walcott were chosen against a team that was physical and full of giants and ,as expected achieved very little. RVP kept coming back into the midfield to collect the ball because of no service from the wings and, as usual, Cliche and Sagna made awful crosses which were incepted by the Blackburn defence with ease and never found an Arsenal player ( do they ever practice crosses on the training ground?). Nastri got an elbow to the side of his head which was a clear red card offence but got nothing from the useless referee. He was obviously groogy afterwards but for some reason was not substituted. At half time,I thought Wenger must change things around but showed the usual reluctance to do so until about 20 minutes from full time when it was too late. Bendnter showed more penetration in the short time he played and gave the Blackburn defence more trouble than Arshavin/Walcott had achieved together. Wenger seems to have lost it as far as I am concerned – no tacticul awareness and sustituting players at the wrong time. Also no change of plan in the playing style when required so all the opposing teams now know how to stop us scoring. I think there will be no major changes in the squad ( we all know the players that are totally not good enough), trophies or playing style until Wenger leaves – the board will never sack him! Another thing which irritates me – why are the attendance figures announced during the last 10/15 minutes of a match and not until the end of the match!!!

    Reply to this comment »
    • Chris says:
      April 3, 2011 at 0:21

      I’m not sure what game you watched my friend if you believe Andrey and Theo achieved very little. They were a constant thread on the wings.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Ak says:
        April 3, 2011 at 18:04

        Ive seen people say that on other blogs.They clearly watched a different match than we did.

        Reply to this comment »
    • Ryan says:
      April 3, 2011 at 1:20

      Also not sure what game you watched as Fabregas was obviously not ready to start as he was not good. And Nasri didn’t get an elbow it was head to head, incidental. I understand your rage man, its very frustrating but I’m glad we didn’t have you runnign our team. I think it was actually a mistake to take Walcott off, he was always dangerous and could have popped up with something. I thought we needed to take off Song and go 4-4-2, he was already limping before the subs.

      I thought the commentator made a good point about the crowd waiting for the team to lift them rather than us lifting the team. If you’re at the game let’s get behind the squad!

      Up the Arsenal!

      Reply to this comment »
      • mano'gunner says:
        April 3, 2011 at 3:04

        This is actually more important than many think it is. There is a reason why they say the fans are the 12th player.
        Just imagine hearing the home crowd continuously sing and cheer for you eventhough you’re struggling to find that one goal. It’d do wonders for your confidence and probably give you that extra oomph to get that goal

        Reply to this comment »
        • Cupsui says:
          April 3, 2011 at 16:40

          finally someone else talking about how quiet the crowd was…seriously whats the point of plaing at home if there is now home crowd advantage…i would agree with the boo’s if the crowd earned the right to boo by cheering during the game cause the players simply didn’t put in enough…but neither did the home fans!

          Reply to this comment »
      • jasongms says:
        April 3, 2011 at 7:45

        agree about the comment regarding the crowd .. Is that what you call support ? i’ve seen more life from a shot duck …

        Also agree regarding song .What is the point playing with a defensive Md ,when its F’ing obvious that the opposition want to sit deep ? and the formation change to 442 should of been used from the start .

        Reply to this comment »
  • faea says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:21

    arsenal will win this premire league
    i think this

    Reply to this comment »
  • Goonster says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:27

    Well I think that makes 21 pts dropped now against teams that we should have had no trouble beating. Mathematically speaking AFC is still in the hunt, but let’s be real about things. Like you said, Chris, we don’t have a plan B for games. I’m rather certain there is also no plan B for our season. What really saddens me is that suffering is becoming synonymous with being an Arsenal fan. And speaking of Arsenal fans, why was there no energy at the Emirates Stadium today? The fans have given up as well I think.

    Reply to this comment »
  • tommy says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:45

    I really hate to say it but this was entirely predictable. A few weeks ago I predicted that we would lose or draw games until the title was out of reach. Then we MIGHT win a few after the table has been settled. At this point however, I actually hope we lose every single game from here until the end. I think this would be the only thing that will convince the board and Wenger that this plan is not good enough. If we win a few meaningless games at the end you know Wenger will trot out the “No one expected us to be in the top four” garbage and call the season a success. It is truly very sad and depressing to see this collapse season after season. There are players -RVP, Nasri, Cesc at 100%, Song, and a few others– who have a winning mentality and can get it done even late season when they are tired–see Nasri’s perfect cross for Mexes goal for France vs Luxembourg last Friday for example, but then they come back to Arsenal and are surrounded by too many mediocre players. This collapse every season has now become a pattern, and it is what Arsenal are famous for, and it will require major changes to break out of it. Hopefully Wenger can admit that he needs to adapt and spend a little or we will see this for years to come. This part of the season is when you see how truly good a team is. Man U, as much as I hate them, find ways to win down two goals, down a man, whatever. We can only beat lower division teams. It is truly sad. Now the fans are turning on the team too. But can we really blame them? It’s not all about winning. It’s about being strong, and for fans being proud of the team win or lose. Look at how WBrom fought like dogs today vs Liverpool. There’s none of that with Arsenal and the fault lies with Wenger and the mediocre players in the team

    Reply to this comment »
    • Northbanksy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 2:03

      Tommy…I agree with much of what you say but Man U were very lucky today to have Vidic still on the pitch at half time & their 3rd (& crucial goal) came from a very soft penalty. If I were a West Ham fan I’d be less than happy with the refereeing decisions. I don’t think they’d have won it with 10 on the pitch.

      Reply to this comment »
      • adam says:
        April 3, 2011 at 2:45

        ofcourse and manchester uniteds constant success over the past what 15 to 20 years has mostly been down to luck and referee decisions?, theyre successful CONSISTIENTLY unlike arsenal for a number of reasons, winning mentality, desire to win, never give up, tons of self belief. experience. leadership on the pitch most notibly from players such as vidic giggs, ferdinand even rooney knows how to lift the players around him. not to mention that manchester united have a plan A B C and D, meaning they can adapt the way they set up their formations and make changes to personal and tactis from game to game. arsenal cannot do this, they have ONE way of playing and if that doesn’t work, well thats just tough. man u also have a very stable defence when fit and more notibly a world class goalkeeper. the one life line that arsenal still have is that man u have two other major distractions in the F.A cup against their rivals and in the Champions league. having said all this the two teams arsenal always finish behind in man u and chelsea have been poor by their own standards this season. yet arsenal look like they STILL cannot win the leauge, absolutely shocking.

        Reply to this comment »
        • jason says:
          April 3, 2011 at 4:45

          well said.

          Reply to this comment »
        • ash says:
          April 3, 2011 at 12:36

          I watched the Man United game on TV with a friend who supports United and even at 2-0 down he was supremely confident that just like against Blackpool, they would come from behind and win. They have players on the bench like Hernandez and Berbatov that can come on and change a game. They also have a desire to win that is lacking in the Arsenal team.

          The second leg against Barcelona was a defining moment for me because for the last 15 minutes of this game, although down to ten men, the players had given up, they weren’t chasing the ball or closing down the opposition, even though 1 goal won have sent us through.

          If you look at the players Wenger has to bring on and change a game it’s laughable. If I were a Blackburn player and I was shattered, down to 10 men and saw the likes of Bendtner and Chamakh coming on it wouldn’t intimidate me, it would make me think ‘well the games all but won now’. If I saw Berbatov and Hernandez coming on I would think ‘Oh Crap!’.

          We need a stronger strength in depth in our attack and change our formation- RVP is not a lone striker and works best in the Bergkamp role in behind. We need a player like Villa to play with him. Why we didn’t go in for Suarez I don’t know because he and RVP would be unbelievable. At the moment we do have a plan B- like yesterday it involves us switching from playing the ball through the middle to bringing on Bendtner and Chamakh and throwing loads of crosses in and against a physical well-organised defence it is never going to work. if we had a better subs bench we could have won that game with the psychological effect alone of bringing on world class players with 15 minutes to go.

          Reply to this comment »
  • Frankie boy says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:51

    We were shitt had no hunger, no determination, and chris clichy was average you have been very generous, walcott and arshavin were r best players and jack, was tired, I think he needs to calm down about playing every game possible, we were doing well till blackburn turned the game in to a street brawl, lol we have no steel…….

    I still love arsenal just wish we would play 442 against the teams that put every one behind the ball……..

    Reply to this comment »
  • bergkampfan10 says:
    April 3, 2011 at 0:54

    Arsenal play really well away with a 4-3-3 formation, but for home matches i honestly think Arsene needs to employ a 4-4-2 formation (reverting to 4-2-4 when more attacking) they really need to break down those teams that park the bus at the emirates…..

    that is, song (or wilshere) paired with fabregas in central midfield, arshavin/nasri and walcott wide on each wing, rvp and either chamakh or bendtner in forward positions. alternatively id consider arshavin in a more central role behind rvp to spark more creativity (in a 4-4-1-1) formation.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Gooner says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:09

    I think that what Arsene said after the game was good. He needs to shake up this team. No more positives from every game. Give em a kick. Or just sack him? Who would the board replace him with? I do want Arsenal to win and yes these permormances will not do, however getting rid of our manager, I think, wont help. Just get rid of some crap players. Buy a big CB and a proved winger. I dont know who the winger should be but Juve’s Chelini is a great CB and a leader. And baines from everton to replace clichy when he leaves.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Northbanksy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 2:07

      Definitely Baines in & by todays peformance it looks like we should have bought Samba in January.

      Reply to this comment »
  • inja says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:21

    The other day, i was reading an article about how we didn’t sign Petr Cech because we thought he wasn’t “good enough”.
    Who the hell though Almunia/Fabianksi is good enough to play for arsenal but not Petr Cech??? I mean seriously, WTF is wrong with our scouts?

    Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 4:41

      Re-Cech…. I saw him play for his country long before he arrived at Chelski and I know it sounds strange now but he didn’t look good enough for the prem. When he arrived at Stamford Bridge I thought it must be a Kryptonite free zone because he was a totally different player. Chelski must’ve had him on a diet of what Ben Johnson was on because he arrive with everything.

      Reply to this comment »
  • OzzGoonah says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:37

    Is it Wenger in
    Or Wenger out
    I would like to know what the majority vote is with the fans
    Chris what I would also like to know is what happens if the majority of fans take it to the board that they want Wenger out, how much influence do the fans have in the boards decisionSurely there must be pressure mounting on the board too, especially if ticket sales start declining. Maybe booing isn’t enough. Maybe a significantly noticeable decline in stadium attendances can have some serious impact in the fans being heard. When was the last time fans of this club ever encountered a situation like thisI’ve never seen so much unease at the club. Most of the fans haven’t had to worry about this before. What makes us anymore different to any other club not happy with their manager? Nothing we just stay tightlipped because we want to believe that Arsene is right. But right now he isn’t. He is only defending HIS policy. The players are part of HIS policy and it sounds like the fans don’t really bear any significance in what HE feels and HE believes. So why shouldn’t it be the other way around. If I was in London I would be starting to make some noise Gooners. Id be starting to voice my opinion out side of these blogs Gooners. Cmon Gooners it looks like this marriage is starting to fall apart. How much longer do the fans want to be lied to

    Reply to this comment »
    • faizan says:
      April 3, 2011 at 13:47

      out

      Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 16:29

      Most hard core fans I believe are still behind Arsene. The Emirates support is fickle now because the corporate ticket sales have brought in a type not seen at Highbury in years passed. They might be football fans but they certainly aren’t automatically Arsenal fans.
      I’m not trying to talk down to anybody because anyone who pays 1k plus for a season ticket has the right to say whatever they feel. I’m just making the point that I’m not certain the corporate clients are in it for the long haul. In case anyone’s under the wrong impression there is still a 20k plus waiting list for season tickets.

      Reply to this comment »
  • George says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:45

    We may kiss the EPL goodbye !!!!!!!!!

    Reply to this comment »
    • faizan says:
      April 3, 2011 at 13:48

      i dont think we will be able to kiss it even :D

      Reply to this comment »
  • richie says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:49

    The job of management is not to run a democracy if the crowd calls for a sub should the manager put one on then or ignore them? If the crowd screems for something or not should any manager listen? Maybe the crowd should vote for the changes it wants?

    Reply to this comment »
  • paul says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:50

    this is a honest question do you think arsene ever looks on these sort of blog websites to get the fans opinions? – if not i really wish he would ive said so many times if wenger had just bought a few world class players over the past few years instead of just scraping through with unknown transfer bargains i think we would have had the edge or looked i little more convincing. HERES A FUNNY STORY SENSE OF HUMOUR REQUIRED – i turned to my friend the other day who is a spurs fan and i was saying how good it would be if the buffon rumours were true we could build a new defence with a world class goaly who is a big name and sometimes i do think thats important, (THINK IT GIVES THE PLAYERS AROUND A BETTER SENSE OF STABILITY) and lets be honest surely wenger can snap him up if hes on a free what a deal that would be! BUT my yid mate turns around to me and quotes ” no dont be silly he’ll snap up some belgian division 3 keeper for 200,000 and i couldnt help but laugh as much as it hurt inside im really starting to think were becoming a laughing stock. BUT im always optimistic as most gooners are out there. still have that gooner hope gut feeling that we can do it! slim chance but its not over till its over! anyway win it or not we seriosly need to make some world class additions to this side.

    buffon
    central def – theres a hatfull out there (leader tony adams vidic esk would be nice
    mascherano
    hazard
    left back – think clichy is gona be on his way out do like the guy but if we want to sure up the the defence maybe get some who is a bit more defensive minded also who could put a decent cross in every now and again!!

    ps CHRIS would love a reply let me know what you think

    Reply to this comment »
    • Adithya Venkatesan says:
      April 3, 2011 at 21:37

      i agree with your choices but it will be hard to get all those players. mascherano just left england for spain and wouldnt move again for a few years at least. buffon would not be happy as a 3rd keeper with szczesny and fabianski as 1 and 2. hazard warrants a heavier price now that real are in it for him too. i would say sell off almunia, rosicky, bendtner, denilson and squillaci(maybe keep him as 5th defensive option). bring in HULK from porto. hes is exactly what we need, a big fast striker with a good technique and not afraid to shoot. VERTONGHEN would be a welcome addition in defense and cover for song. djorou,verm,kos and vertonghen is solid enough. MIYAICHI needs to somehow get a work visa. he has explosive pace, great ball control and could be a great 70min sub for now. with an experienced vela and promising frimpong back, we will have a complete squad.

      Reply to this comment »
  • serge says:
    April 3, 2011 at 1:52

    rating of 2 for vanpersie (also the number of shots he had, but sadly not the number of balls he has!)
    GET IN THE GAME DUDE
    you are meant to be our leader with fabregas still struggling with injuries, yet i have never seen a forward ‘at the top of his form’ play so crap

    look at rooney 2-0 down, he just turns the game, amazing and vanpersie is in better form and has more confidence, apparently. maybe the london circus turned him down…

    we need strength in our team, sell vanpersie buy lukaku
    losing: experience, clowning
    gaining: speed, strength, determination, skill, power, height, and he looks scary

    season over

    alumina were you dropped on your head at birth?

    Reply to this comment »
  • sir alex true red devil says:
    April 3, 2011 at 2:09

    i am an arsenal fan, in addis ababa, one pound in our country is 24birres, i spend only 0.12 england cents to watch an arsenal game on tv, very cheap. I am amazed the loyality arsenal ticket holders show to AW, the spend 5000 pounds a year to support the team yet its the most furstrating team among the so called elite european clubs…………my point is unless this rich and loyal fans do something about this manager and borard i don’t see any changes for next season………u pay 5000pounds per year….and u don’t have a say in the transfer policy of the clube………thats buillshite…….its arsenal ticket holders that are cozing the problem………they support a team with a failed policy for years.

    Reply to this comment »
  • adam says:
    April 3, 2011 at 2:24

    i love reading through comments made on here of yet more excuses as to why arsenal dropped more points they shouldnt be dropping, this weeks excuse seems to be the players are tired from international duty. correct me if i’m wrong but aren’t these professional footballers? being paid ridicolous amounts of money? arent manchester united still in 3 comps didnt they send most of their team off on international duty, didnt they also win 4-2 after going 2 goals down? yet arsenal coldn’t break down 10 men blackburn, simply put it has nothing to do with being tired and an international break. but everything to do with this team not wanting to win enough, yes they want to win but do they want to win ENOUGH. answer is clearly no. they do not have the winning mentaility that manchester united have. thats why they will not win the leauge.

    Reply to this comment »
  • RodGoonerInTtown says:
    April 3, 2011 at 2:33

    its over :(

    Reply to this comment »
  • dy says:
    April 3, 2011 at 2:46

    Arsenal can’t do a proper offence and get a goal when the pace is so ponderous and slow, if you argue that the opponents ‘park the bus’ , then I’m sorry to say the team just doesn’t have the skill to wreck the bus. Short passes only works when players involved are in sync but still need to be quick and responsive. It’s much easier said than done, unfortunately.
    To break down a parked bus, you don’t need a whole team of players. 3 or 4 would do better than than 7 or 8 because it’d be too crowded inside and around the box, it just gets into each other’s way and too often confused your attention. That’s the situation I believe Arsenal found itself in during a numbers of occasion. But hell, what do I know, just wish them luck in the remaining 8 games.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Wellington says:
    April 3, 2011 at 3:15

    Now that the red faced is seven points ahead,I dont think Wenger can catch him even if the gunners have three games in hand. The reason is obvious.Every season for the last five or six seasons the gunners always seem to self destruct. The seeds for the latest setback were laid when the gunners lost to Spurs after leading 2-0,the draw with newacstle squandering a four goal advantage,etc.
    The red faced aint going to self destruct ,maybe one or two seasons. But five six seasons running means the manager/gunners have not learnt the lessons. Wenger better start preparing for next season. A new beginning is a must.Tactics must be revised and quality and experienced players and not some unknown kid with wc potential. acquired.
    If the gunners can win the title,it will be a miracle.We know miracles sometimes do happen but I will be pleasantly surprised if it does.
    Get ready for next season.The way the gunners are perpetually running into cul de sac is
    pathetic. Mind you,BR could have won.I know the gunners have brilliant kids like the Japanese teenager and Wellington.These guys would take at least a season to adjust to the rigours of the epl. By then MU/Chelsea could have anothe title or cl or FA cup.
    To be honest I am going to cancel my subscription for Sky sports at the end of the season.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Jayanta says:
    April 3, 2011 at 3:21

    To AKB brigade : There’s no doubt about your loyalty to club like non AKB brigade. But understand that by extending your wholesome support to AW, you are hurting Arsenal club.

    Mr. Rasputin Wenger has put his personal interest above clubs interest.

    Do you believe him when he said that ‘this is his best Arsenal team’, either he has lost balance of his mind or he was lying. No one lies without a reason, here for the interest Arsenal, its a very dangerous when your manager either lost his mind or a lier.

    We are calling for quality players, if he would have spent 100 million for last 3 years we could have been surely much much better, don’t fall prey to the argument that Arsenal had no money, its not true.

    Manu pays 65 million pound penalty to Glazers charity every year, over a period of 5 years Manu probabaly has paid more than what Arsenal has paid for Emirates stadium. The issue is, the debt was on a long term payment schedule, why such a haste to clear the debt. There could be few reason behind this.
    a) Rasputin Wenger puting his interest ahead of clubs.
    b) The sinister design of board ( influenced by Yankee member ), to clear the debt in haste and hand over a debt free club to Yankee member of the board. This gentleman earns his living out of sports, if he gets control of club then he may force Arsenal to pay penalty in his charity.

    Rasputin Wenger, in my book, I condemn you to water board treatment till Arsenal trophy room is brimming with trophies and my pain is gone.

    Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 16:47

      Wenger maybe Rasputin but you have got to be an Ostritch bury your head all you want by all means but try to put things in perspective. Arsene bought and sold players to build Arsenal a world class training facility. Arsene bought and sold player to service the debt for the Emirates stadium when the “Arse” fell out of the world financial market and now we are coming out of debt having built a stadium. Taggart isn’t interested in these things Manu’er could end up bankrupt at anytime, if Taggart doesn’t keep winning or selling players like Ronaldo. The Glasers aren’t even football fans if they see a way to turn a profit it’ll be bye bye Taggart bye bye Manu’er and it could well be goodnight nurse from old trafford for good.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Jayanta says:
        April 5, 2011 at 17:07

        Who told you that Arsenal was in dire state with debt, a moran like can be convinced by the spin doctors in club which is a perfect smoke screen for all the short coming. I expect you have basic common sense and can do basic math too. MANU debt has nothing to do with football activity, the penalty incurred didnot result from football activity. Despite that they delivers. As you mentioned Ronaldo, are you convinced that Arsenal will be able to hold on to Fabrigas. Are you sure MANU fate will not be repeated if Yankee gets control of Arsenal, probably a ostrich like you can be sure of that but not me.

        Arsenal generates 2nd highest revenue in Uk without winning anything but they cannot take the burden of long term scheduled debt. Didn’t extra capacity in Emirates gives you cushion of debt. The common sense suggest to carry the debt for full period, so that you enjoy the benifit of inflation ( hope you are not hearing the word for first time ). Arsenal account was so stretched that they are cleaning up debt in rocket speed? Nothing happens without reason, there probably a conspiracy is being hatched. For your information Spuds carry a debt of around 250 million pound and revenue earns little over half of Arsenal.

        You Rasputin’s boot lickers grow up for Arsenal not for any failed cult figure.

        I will follow up this blog, do bring up some intelligent argument next time for the sake of Arsenal.

        Reply to this comment »
        • richie says:
          April 7, 2011 at 3:06

          Its hardly worth the effort because it seems your English ain’t up to the task but I’ll try once more. There are no spin doctors working the facts. We didn’t have the revenue from Highbury to pay the players wages, not like the Manu’er could with its bigger stadium. Now with the Emirates we no longer run at a loss when paying players wages. Next everybody who knows anything about the Arsenal knows Arsene sold Anelka to fund building our London Colney training facility.

          Any Arsenal insider will tell you that at the end of the invincible season Arsene had to out almost all of the team to cut the wage bill, which was high because of all the great players we had and how long they’d been with us.We left Highbury in May 06 and the 700 homes were built on the site, most were sold on plan but When the “Arse” fell out of the London property market and none of the highbury flats sold because of the reccession. Our stadium debt could’ve sunk us – The Judus David Dein at that time tried to stage a coup de etat by bringing in large investers, we could easily have ended up like Manu’er (Owned buy the Glaser family type) but this was resisted especially by Wenger. None of the money from the sale of players was reinvested in buying players. It fattend the clubs bank accounts so we were able to renegociate our stadium building loans.

          Only now are we generating a large turnover check the figures we weren’t in previous years. The generation of substantial income came about from a total restructuring of the club taken by Mr Wenger.

          Reply to this comment »
  • Aussie Jack says:
    April 3, 2011 at 3:50

    Why will Arsenal end up with nothing? Because they don`t deserve anything.

    Say anything against them and you`re a traitor ,be critical and you`re being negative ,well at the risk of being called a “negative traitor” I`m saying “have a clean out” and, like my garden shed, chuck out the shit don`t keep it because it might come in handy.

    I`m probably wrong but I get the feeling Wenger has run out of time so his job is held togther by internal politics not by managerial performance. He must buy or begone and he must buy the right stuff not `potential`.
    I`ve followed the Gunners since a boy just after the war and I`m entitled to have my say. And I`m not a traitor.

    Reply to this comment »
    • tommy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 5:42

      I’m not a traitor either and I agree 100%. At this point, seeing that Wenger called this group “:his best team ever” if they continue the freefall and barely hang onto fourth place then he must be forced by someone, the board, the fans, the better players, to eat his words, because his best team is clearly not good enough. I pray he moves upstairs and takes change of player development or some such and lets someone like Deschamps manage the team. He has lost the plot

      Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 16:57

      Listen I’m an Arsene fan and I’m still critical. You ain’t a traitor because you want to see your team win. A traitor is one of our own who for some warped reason wants us to lose because they’ve developed a hatred of our manager. I was an Arsenal supporter long before Wenger and if I live that long I’ll be an Arsenal supporter long after Arsene’s gone. Thats a constant. I still support Arsene because I like the direction he’s taken us in.

      Reply to this comment »
  • Bayonne Jean says:
    April 3, 2011 at 4:00

    Some comments:

    1) Did anyone detect an idea out there on the pitch? If so, let us know, ’cause I didn’t see any.
    2) Am I the only one who finds the Arsenal attack to be boring? Right now, I’d rather watch almost any other Premiership side on offense than the Arsenal. Almost fell asleep at several points with the predictable, ponderous passing. The problem the offense has is not that there’s no Plan B, it’s that there’s no Plan A.
    3) Has the Premiership simply caught up with and passed by “the Arsenal way”?
    4) Jack Wilshire — it is OK and in fact laudable to direct a shot at the net.
    5) How is it possible that the infrequent Arsenal shots always seem to find the keeper or a defender, and never seem to be directed at an open portion of the net?
    6) Enough knocking of the attack in isolation. Part of the problem may be that the players are so anxious over having to compensate for the disaster waiting to happen in goal that they just are too tight to function.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Frankie boy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 11:57

      Now thats the best comment I have read on here in ages, when we attack its like watching paint dry, why wont these players shoot, henry use to love a dig, pires use to love a dig, but these players all seem anxious to shoot, wenger likes to think we play like barca, lol, our closing down is laughable and out ability to hit an acurate shot to an unprotected part of thre net is non existantant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 17:05

      Like you I find our attack at the moment is blunt! We have all the possession but no penitration. Its all foreplay and no cut and thrust. Its like watching the invincibles in “Slow Mo” and yes other teams “not surprisingly” know how to play against us.

      Reply to this comment »
  • Gjoe says:
    April 3, 2011 at 4:04

    We must be the worst fans in the EPL! If we finish second and want to sack our manager then surely the 18 teams doing worse than us must want to sack their manager too- oh hang on a second No some fans actually get behind the team. Now I will admit having been frustrated watching the last 2 draws but that doesnt mean I will call for Wengers head. Do you know how happy any club in the world would be to have Wenger he is an amazing manager and sacking him wont magically win us the title! Now I know chances are getting slimmer and slimmer for winning the title this year but as fans we should be getting behind the team instead of decreasing their chances with the attitude of a spoilt child as if the club owes you a premier league title. Enjoy the football (some of the best in the world), support the club and hope that united F*** up!

    Reply to this comment »
    • OzzGoonah says:
      April 3, 2011 at 5:01

      So what your basically saying is that for us to win a title we need other teams to f up. The whole point is to set the bar regardless of what other teams are doing. Yes there has been some brilliant football, but I think everybody is starting to feel that our football at the moment isn’t so brilliant. Blackburn always looked more dangerous on the counter than us. We have lost our counter attack brilliance.

      Reply to this comment »
    • Jayanta says:
      April 3, 2011 at 6:16

      Arsenal is a team who won ten league titles before the arrival of your favourite manager. Arsenal generates 2nd highest highest revenue in epl without winning anything.

      Arsenal ranked one of top five richest football club in the world and one of the top ten richest club in the world. Bring those analogies to other 18 clubs, then we will stop criticising.

      We have winning mentalitry not defeatist mentality like yours. We want Arsenal to be on top, no one expects permanent capture of top slot but no one will accept continuous loosing plot.

      Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 4, 2011 at 17:19

        7 of the 10 were won before 1953 the only reason you can quote our current finacial stuation is one man AW!!!! You are right bring those stats to any of the other 17 clubs except ours Manu’er or Chelski and the fans would be happy.

        Reply to this comment »
    • Frankie boy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 12:06

      Relying on other teams to mess up, and our brilliant footbal is a bore, we dont deserve to win nothing. I would rather watch arsenal sit deeper and hit the likes of blackburn on the break, pass it for ages put the ball under there nose then take it away again, get them in to the arsenal half then hit them, not all this, we will look like we are gonna attack, but when we get to their 18 yard box we will stop and pass side ways. so the opposition can get back and pack the goal mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Speed the game up arsene you know it makes sence this aint italy were you gotta bore the opposition and crowd to death, wenger go and manage AC milan, they would love you, I have personally had enough of this predictable play.

      still love the gunners though

      Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 17:09

      Well said! A whole lot of our supporters are now amongst the most fickle I’ve ever seen at our club in more than 50 years

      Reply to this comment »
  • Bouba says:
    April 3, 2011 at 4:05

    It is getting worse by the weeks…!!!
    I don’t even know what to say anymore….
    AW has lost everything and I think that he should take a step back and let someone else take control…
    This team has no leader, no heart and the all play is now boring and more and more ineffective…

    Personally, I would advise players like Nasri, Fabregas, Van Persie, etc (basically the ones approaching their 30’s) to leave the club and get in a team capable of winning anything in the next 2 years… Our “manager” lives in his own planet and it is totally disastrous …

    I want to congratulate Man U for the display today as they showed us how it should be done… they showed us how CHAMPION are supposed to behave, play and overcome…

    We are not good enough to win a trophy, we just do not have that cutting edge, the killing instinct and the schema tactic is always the same (wrong) and never changes whatever the situation…

    Arsenal is good for business (shareholders are loving it) and to develop as a young player…

    Reply to this comment »
    • Natalieeee says:
      April 5, 2011 at 14:43

      Are you even a gunner? because nearly everything you have wrote is quite sad. the only thing i agree with is the fact we have no leader. And may i just say … you have just told our best players the leave the club? Nasri and Fabregas are both 23/24 ..nowhere near 30. And RVP has already stated he is staying at Arsenal. So shut up an grow some balls and start supporting your team.

      Reply to this comment »
  • Bouba says:
    April 3, 2011 at 4:14

    Please, could someone name one manager in the premiership ( or even inside the top leagues in the world ) who would allow Alumnia to stand in their last line of defence?

    I can answer that for you, none… Only Arsene Wenger sees or saw something in that clown… We are supposed to be a top club and we have the worse goal keeper in the league… Go figure !!!!

    Reply to this comment »
  • jason says:
    April 3, 2011 at 4:28

    Our title race is finished no way we can win all our remaining games thats the reality.

    Reply to this comment »
  • OzzGoonah says:
    April 3, 2011 at 5:06

    I honestly believe that fans should consider aborting their attendance at the next home game. If it can drop 50% then that will send a message. Then hopefully the players will feel what desire and passion feels like when it’s non existent. Empty!

    Reply to this comment »
    • Frankie boy says:
      April 3, 2011 at 12:16

      lol the crowd is non existant any how, dont think the players would even notice, our fans make actual noise and build no atmosphere. which is a sad fact, but true……………

      Reply to this comment »
  • barry the gooner says:
    April 3, 2011 at 5:45

    wenger got dismissed at monaco for being unable to motivate the players.Think about todays offering we came out like the result did not matter,challenging for the league you wouldn’t have thought so.Why play with one up front it’s lowly Blackburn why not play 2 strikers and put them really on the back foot.Walcott hasn’t got the intelligence or skill to last for 90 mins he should only be used as an impact sub as their defenders tire.todays substitutions were great take off 2 wide players and replace them with 2 more coupled with an overall reluctance to shoot and a total lack of spirit drive etc 0 – 0 title hopes not good booing from the crowd surely the directors should have something to say???

    Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 17:21

      Bazzer mate Wenger got sacked at Monaco because he couldn’t motivate the players?
      Your source please?

      Reply to this comment »
  • ditch says:
    April 3, 2011 at 6:09

    Ditch the next game and c how the players react. I’m tired of the excuses, unfortunately, I think wenger has to be sacked

    Reply to this comment »
  • tommy says:
    April 3, 2011 at 6:41

    David Dein was clearly the reason Arsenal ever won anything. Since then we have gotten softer and softer

    Reply to this comment »
    • chigwell gooner says:
      April 3, 2011 at 15:46

      i spoke to david dein at the west ham \Arsenal game,i explained that we are now leaderless,he gave me a wry smile,i held onto that smile with absolute hope,please return david,we are in a wilderness!!!!

      Reply to this comment »
      • tommy says:
        April 3, 2011 at 19:29

        Something like that would give me some hope for next season. He knew how to build a team

        Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 4, 2011 at 17:46

        David Dein tried to organise a coup de etat behind everyone’s back like Graham he’s now a Judus. He is part of the reason we’ve ended up where we are because he blew the set up. Half our scouts were poached because of him and most of our transfer targets were given away, as soon as he got slung out. Dein’s a Dog!

        Reply to this comment »
  • Keep faith says:
    April 3, 2011 at 8:22

    guys simply we can win the title we shown we have the potentioal by beating Chelsea and barcalona this year we have done better than utd altogether. if we just get these players fit with the right mentality and arousal then we will win the title they have shown that it is possible for them to win there next 4 games which could put us 1st or very close to 1st so its football and these players know how to do it trust me

    also Arsene is fantastic he knows what he is doing do not under estimate him

    Reply to this comment »
    • Cupsui says:
      April 3, 2011 at 16:46

      i’ve still got faith…but i worry how arsene is going to rouse these players into going up the required two or three gears…because right now it looks like two-three players (clichy, cesc bendtner) at least are thinking of futures away from the arsenal

      Reply to this comment »
  • Disappointed says:
    April 3, 2011 at 8:52

    They have already conceded the title to MU in their heads … no other way to explain their performance … To be honest , I don’t think Arsene has any clue on how to bring the players up after that horrific month of march … the completeness of the playing 11 is gone since the arrival of almunia behind the net always wondering what he ll do next… I don’t think Alex is stupid enough to let a lead like this slip out of his hands … I am sure Arsenal will pull up their socks in the next match (according to me win it), but they will not be consistent enough to GO ALL THE WAY …

    Arsenal do have great players but leadership NONE, they don’t have anyone to lift their spirits on the field in a match like this … I think Arsene is missing the plot on this one … They are desperately in need of someone like Patrick Viera if u know what i mean … all we can do is pray that MU lose points and we win all the remaining match .

    Reply to this comment »
  • another dislliusioned gooner says:
    April 3, 2011 at 9:13

    AW should realise that this Barca-like game-play is not going to yield trophies in England. We hammer Porto and Shakhtar by 5 goals, but lose at home to NewcastleUtd/West Brom, this explains a lot… Another point i want to make is that the supporters were right to boo the players at the end of the match. We can forgive the lack of talent but never the lack of spirit and commitment. Moreover, as Bergkamp pointed out a few days ago, we so desperately need English players and the fighting spirit they bring in the team.

    Oh and btw, it really hurts to see a mediocre manure side sitting 7 points clear at the top.

    Reply to this comment »
  • kelsey says:
    April 3, 2011 at 11:23

    the key for me was the injury to Nasri especially and then Sagna.
    I thought up to that point we could have bagged a couple with a bit of luck, and Theo was outstanding, yet not for the first time drifted out of the game.Those opening 10+ minutes there was fluidity and pace,but then we ran out of ideas.cross after cross,yet no one in the box.
    The diaby and denilson distractors have no arguement on this performance.
    To me RVP is not fully fit and as I have maintained all season cesc has his mind elsewhere.
    I feel sorry for almunia, he shouldn’t be playing,he is shot,but we have no ther choice.
    The winning mentality is just not there,and that is what puts us apart from United.player for player (on their day)we are just as good but more and more teams now know how to play against us and obviously there must be a loss of confidence amongst the players after these past three weeks.
    As already mentioned, we have lost our pace,maybe too many games have caught up with us,unfortunately at a critical part of the seaso.
    I would argue that being critical sometimes makes one a real supporter,as deep down we all regard Arsenal as part of our family.
    When you have players like samba in defence surely we should have started with either chamakh or bendtner to assist RVP, not bring them on when we are chasing the game for a result against ten men,which in some ways made it harder for us as Blackburn just defended even more in numbers.
    I can’t comment on the crowd as i wasn’t there,but to boo the players off the pitch,helps no one.
    maybe our expectations were too high for if you look at the points we have dropped at home this season,not many would have envisaged that.
    The trouble is that i don’t know the answer and each game in the run in will be massive as we are so unpredictable,as we have been all season.

    The wenger out brigade will grow,but to no avail.he has a job for as long as he wants.no pressure from the board,which in itself is unique.
    Apart from jack, there is not one player anymore that i would believe would be loyal to the club and give 100% every game,that’s what money has done to the game and fans are more distant than ever to the players.

    Reply to this comment »
  • kelsey says:
    April 3, 2011 at 11:34

    just to add when i say that some players don’t give 100% i just feel that if more money came along from another club they would be off.not like 5 years ago when a good player would commit himself to our club,but chelsea and city have raised the bar and will do even further this summer.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Haris says:
    April 3, 2011 at 11:56

    Today we played without a striker. What the hell was RVP doing , when Walcott was attacking on the edge of the box RVp was behind him?!?! AND THERE WAS NOBODY IN THE BOX , our tactics are shit and this is my last comment for the season. I feel I`m saying the same every 2 weeks.

    GET RID OF AW AND BRING VAN GAAL.

    Reply to this comment »
  • soushio says:
    April 3, 2011 at 12:50

    I’m not big on the booing, but to be honest, they deserved such a reception. For a while I actually thought that this (the booing) could be the defining moment, the wake-up call they players needed so badly, but then I thought, “Nah, they’ve had plenty of wake-up calls, and did it work?”

    Rather than inculpate Wenger of having an over-sized ego, I’d prefer to think that he’s just not keeping up with the times. There was a time when players would feel in debt to clubs for nuturing them, like Thierry Henry, and Wenger is probably convinced that being (overly) protective or less critical towards his players is the key to garnering player loyalty and the hunger and aggression, the winning mentality, that I feel most of the current squad lack. I feel this philosophy, however, is in a way spoiling some of the mediocre players who are undeserving of their over-large wages. And guess who’s paying most of their wages?

    We need a clearance in the summer, full-stop. And honestly, there was a time I’d get excited whenever Wenger signed a relatively unknown youngster. He saw potential, he got us Vieira, Cesc, Robin…And we’ve got promising young players like Jack, Aaron and others on loan (18 was it? Seems a little farcical to me though). But if Wenger opts to get us another promising player who will take seasons to mature, develop, and adapt to the English game, I will lose it.

    Reply to this comment »
  • chigwell gooner says:
    April 3, 2011 at 15:42

    i pay 9k per year in club level as there are no possibility of getting a seat in the main stand,i have 3 seats and wish i hadn,t just sent the next seasons renewal back,arsene listen to the fans not your bank manager,we are being taken for a ride!!

    Reply to this comment »
  • Gus says:
    April 3, 2011 at 16:33

    I love arsenal through thick and thin. Win Lose or draw, my support will never falter. If I have to wait fifty years to see them win the league the so be it I won’t stop loving arsenal. I am an eternal opptimist you club is not a burden. Remember This pain you feel now is what makes winning special. When we do win don’t you want to say you had faith.

    Reply to this comment »
  • kryslergooner says:
    April 3, 2011 at 18:56

    is there anyone around here who still thinks that we gonna win the premier league title?? i personally crossed out this option, not after yesterday’s game but after the FA CUP match vs man utd :(

    too bad gunners.. maybe next year

    Reply to this comment »
  • buffalogunner says:
    April 3, 2011 at 19:40

    arshavin an 8?!? yeah he was probably our most dangerous player but how many times did he try some fancy flick and give the ball away and then just sulk. i usually agree with your rankings but not this time.

    Reply to this comment »
  • ronny says:
    April 3, 2011 at 21:12

    chris i got 1 question….
    In a work scenario,which boss would stand an employee who doesnt perform for years??as far as am concerned,if i dont do what i’m expected at work over a period of time,i lose my job,so what makes it different at arsenal???
    Fergason(s.p) benched berbatov after a few performances,which i have to say weren’t so terrible but he wasn’t scoring goals….

    Reply to this comment »
    • Chris says:
      April 3, 2011 at 21:21

      That is an example many of us use.

      No-one knows the answer.

      Reply to this comment »
    • montreal gooner says:
      April 4, 2011 at 2:05

      there is no answer to this question . any other manager replacing aw will resort to buying players and eventually load the club with debts and not sure bringing any trophee . the EPL is getting tougher and tougher , buying top players will not bring chelsea or liverpool trophee , already tores said : don’t ask him more , he is at chelsea to play for a salary. period .
      fans want coach to be excellent and at the same time loyal to the club , many coaches are just loyal to themselves . this is fake , except ferguson , daglish , aw and a fews , most other managers just work for themselves , the best example is benitez and murinho .
      the more you look at , the more it is an impossible equation , the most resonnable is still to support aw and the players and pressure aw to relent and let the bendtner , denilson…go

      Reply to this comment »
    • montreal gooner says:
      April 4, 2011 at 4:51

      ronny , your example is not right , the boss at work can replace you and me with many others , we are not of something exeptional .
      in north america , football , soccer , hockey , basketball have no relegation and there is a salary cap in place , it is a sustainable business , a spot in MLS can be bought if the price is met .
      in europe and in the hyper competitive EPL, the set up is unsustainable , relagation is the death sentence , clubs fight first in order to avoid relegation , winning silverware is something after . In the fight against death sentence , debt is acceptable , and sometimes debt lead to bankcrupcy.
      fans have unrealistic demand : WIN at any cost while owners try to limit financial disaster while keeping a brave face , who want to loose money meaninglessly year after year ? , only IDIOT does , there is this idiot russian and there are more than a few sheilks with oil money to the sky . owners under intense pressure change coach after coach to get result and more than often , this lead to disaster.
      in this damn world , there is a few managers of the level of ferguson , aw , there are not a dozen of them . changing aw with an another coach like benitez , is not a solution at all .
      therefore the only solution is to get behind aw and the team and have constructive cricitism for changes

      Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 4, 2011 at 17:30

        Well said mon pote from votre tre belle ville!

        Reply to this comment »
  • zaragooner says:
    April 4, 2011 at 5:31

    From fighting the title race, we’re left to fighting the spot in the league. With Shitty huge win last night and also an improvement performance from Chelshit, mathematically we will finish at 4. You can call me negative fan, or whatever name is appropriate but this is a real story. We need to face the fact, we can’t even beat Blackburn with our best man, then what is left to fight for? Something is not right about the team at the moment. I don’t know what to say anymore..heart broken..

    Reply to this comment »
  • Gus says:
    April 4, 2011 at 8:34

    Arsene wenger is not your employee. You support a football club.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Daniel says:
    April 4, 2011 at 9:54

    Arsene Wenger should run a football club not a football team.

    Reply to this comment »
  • zizi says:
    April 4, 2011 at 13:37

    Tommy’s earlier comments are broadly correct. I am told AW gave an interview to L’Equipe – French sports paper that he will not be making any major signings in the summer and intends to promote Frimpong and Miquel.I am certainly for them joining the squad with Lansbury and Vela recalled. However, we need to make at least 4 major acqusitions

    We need a wholesale clear out of dead wood. Almunia, Denilson, Diaby(sadly, I do not think he will ever perform consistently well since his terrible injury in the Sunderland game a few seasons back), Rosicky, Bedntner (who talks a good game but rarely performs- at most he is an impact sub), Fabianski, Clichy who has consisently disappointed in most games since Cole left and who just cannot cross a ball or defend sufficiently well and prone to make errors in major games, Gibbs who will never be a defender (unless he is used more as an old fashioned left half in the Gareth Bale mould) and Squillacci.

    Ideally, I would move AW upstairs. He has run out of ideas, motivation and tactics and cannot inspire the first team. Yes he will be very difficult to replace and one cannot forget how he has transformed the club in the first 6 years of his reign. He was fortunate to have David Dein behind him and to inherit one of the best defences of all time ( I must confess I was a great Graham fan) and to inherit Berkamp, arguably the finest player we have ever had.

    Will all this happen? I doubt it. The Board is too split and AW has too much power. Our CEO appears to do nothing of relevance. I would try and bring Dein back. He loves the Club in ways many fans cannot begin to appreciate. There are young managers out there with talent e.g the one at Porto or Paul Lambert of Norwich.

    We definitely need less foreign players and more UK or Irish ones. Do our scouts ever look in the lower leagues?

    Will we win the title? Mathematically we have a chance. Relistically very little chance and even if we did win, it would rank as our worst ever title win and not one to be proud of. There have been too many awful league performances and I find it difficult to think of even one great one (the win over Chelsea was good but they were somewhat weak then). Maybe it would be the catalyst for future success. The performances of Jack have for me the only plus in the season. Nasri promised much but mainly failed to deliver in the 2nd half.

    Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 16:16

      A quick point of order no one thinks Bergkamp joined Arsenal to play under Bruce Rioch, Dennis has hinted very strongly that he knew Arsenal had a tempory manager in place because the manger Arsenal wanted was contractually bound for a year. Likewise no one is under any illusions that the great DB would have wanted to play the type of football played by Graham. When he joined us from inter he was like many of the players subsequently signed by Wenger disillusioned with Italian football which at that time was defend for 80mins attack for 10mins.

      Reply to this comment »
  • Bogdan says:
    April 4, 2011 at 15:04

    I’m very dissapointed of the fans from emirates…They didn’t support the team and give them a lift….You could feel the tension floating….i really can’t understand why everyone is looking like a movie out there instead of shouting like they did with barca…Maybe that could have made a difference in such hard moments..

    Reply to this comment »
    • spy says:
      April 4, 2011 at 16:18

      To tell the truth the atmosphere at the Emirates has been muted for a time now,
      saying that the teams lack of confidence transmits to the fans,
      We are crying out for some real leadership on the park(Scott Parker anyone?)
      Almunia in goal does little for the fans blood pressure when we are being attacked and lack of excitement the other end at the moment will hardly get the fans going.

      Reply to this comment »
      • richie says:
        April 4, 2011 at 17:37

        I’d of loved to have had Scotty Parker in our side for this run in, its not the team that should lift the crowd its us at the Emirates that should lift the team, but a lot of the mob at the Emirates these days aren’t die hard Arsenal supporters, they’ve got their seats because of who they work for, the corporate F’ers!

        Reply to this comment »
  • zizi says:
    April 4, 2011 at 18:04

    Richie, both your comments are valid. The problem of true fans is one all clubs experience. That said, since the move to the Emirates, the atmsphere has been relatively muted. could it be partly the design of the stadium? For the Barca game, the club cleverly gave out free flags and of course the opposition itself generated fervour on the part of Arsenal fans.

    I saw my first game at Highbury in the mid 50s as a little nipper and have wonderful memories of tremendous games over the years with the stadium rocking. I have rarely felt anything approaching that at the Emirates.

    As much as anything, this team lacks passion. Any desire they have is rarely channelled into their play and the fans know this. The fans have always stuck with and supported passionate triers like Ray Parlour and David Rocastle not to mention Martin Keown.

    6 years ago, AW decided to try and play like Barca and the expirement has not worked. Its time for change but I fear much of the same next season and after that until AW goes.

    One thing I hate are the AW excuses the latest being the scheduling in favour of Man U games. Sure the schedulers anticipated Man U would go 2-0 down at W Ham and score 4 in the 2nd half so demoralising our team of professionals who average the meagre sum of £60-80k p/w! Give me a break. AW must think we are all stupid.
    Worse, RVP said the team could not have done more! I presume he meant Blackburn!

    Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 4, 2011 at 22:54

      Yeah but no but Zizi
      I’ll start first with schedualing its increadible how often Manu’er has an easy game after a Champs league game. Next when they play early Sat it so often comes after a Tuesday game. Likewise when they play Sunday they never seem to have a Tuesday fixture. Its amazing its as if Taggart always gets a squeeze. A bit like refs his last defender will concede a pen but somehow won’t see red. Its like the joke that did the rounds; Due to the ecconomic crissis ManU has announced that they are letting 15 members of their backroom staff go. The 10 linesmen and 5 Refs are said to be devastated. Now thats a joke but its not exactly fictional. Its like its factional, built on truth.

      They get more dicisions in their favour than seems probable, more than seems possible, more than seems credible. But hey don’t these things even themselves out over a season? Thats what the pundits say. Well in many clubs seasons they do but in Manu’ers they don’t.
      That was the rant that Benitez had a few years back when he had all the figures to back it up, and those figures are out there to be found. Its just that the pundits like the now infamous Andy Grey said Rafa was all sour grapes and a bad loser, he wasn’t but,,,,, he wasn’t allowed to show the facts, too many vested interests.

      Six years ago Barca wasn’t playing like Barca so thats a mute arguement. How could Arsene decide to play like a team that wasn’t playing like it does now? Barca started playing like the Barca of old only two years ago when Guardiola took the Croyff revolution back to where Croyff had started it from the Barca Academy. The revolution that took place in Arsene started with Cesc, (so indirectly with Barca) until then Arsene favoured big muscular athletic types like Vieria, Petit, Henry, Pires and yes Bergkamp. And that was the trend across Europe. Then with Cesc we all saw bigger wasn’t neccesarily better.

      Lastly No! Z The stadium has great sound! It was built into it. At Bergys testimonial coming from Highbury I was amazed at the sound and how it rang around the place. Unfortunately that was the last time more or less the whole of the old highbury crowd got in. Since then its rare that the Emirates is in full voice the way Highbury used to be.

      Reply to this comment »
      • zizi says:
        April 5, 2011 at 11:46

        After winning the cup in 2005, AW changed tack in the type of players he had used before, as you said, the big muscular athletic ones(surely not Pires) and bought and brought in the smaller less muscular ones like Hleb copying Barca who were then up and running with Xavi and Iniesta. When Messi came along, AW continued even more strongly with this type of player. A terrible mistake in my opinion.

        As to scheduling etc, yes United try to throw their weight around in all aspects of the game but I do not believe the scheduling makes the slightest difference to the results. At the end of the day, it is down to the mindset and performance of the players and the way the team is managed. Sadly in the last few years, we have been badly led and managed and I cannot see that changing any time soon. Managers need to be feared to a degree by their players. Fergie, Shankly, Paisley, Mourinho, Busby and Jock Stein all were not only respected but also feared by their players. AW presents a much too cosy image on the one hand and a degree of arrogance on the other that says I know best in every situation. He does not and will not accept his limitations or that he can be wrong. The Board kowtow too him.

        Reply to this comment »
        • richie says:
          April 6, 2011 at 12:48

          The game has changed Managers of the ilk you discribe couldn’t get away with the bully boy tactic’s of old. Even Taggart has had to change his style of management.
          Mourinho’s teams play for him because he’s one of them not because he intimidates them, almost all of the old Chelski boys are still mates with him. When he was there they did everything together he was one of the boys, they played for him because of that, not despite it. Bobby P by the way might not have looked it but is over six foot.

          The player’s at Arsenal play for Arsene because they want to. Most of them come to the club because they want to work with our coach, I’m sure he doesn’t want them to fear him. Fear as an instrument doesn’t get the best out of players. Especially not the players of now, with all the power they hold, they can afford to play for whoever offeres the most money. So if they stay at a club and give the club their best years, when they could leave and get more money elsewhere, it’s because they like it at that club, not because they arrive at work scared of the coach.

          I think your very wrong to say Arsene copied Barca, the trend in Europe for big athletic players moved because of the emergence of the smaller more technically gifted types. Barca’s teams have never been giants, football in Spain is played on the floor. Arial football isn’t big on mailand Europe. High balls pumped over the top therefore is not a tactic that needs defending against much.
          Yes Xavi & Iniesta were around in 05 along with Deco & Ronaldino, Motta & Gabri only Van Bommel in their mid was over six foot. In 05 their forwards weren’t big either Guily wasn’t any bigger than Messi and was Eto only slightly taller. Back then Barca didn’t have any speed in either ranks either, the game wasn’t played at pace.

          If you recall before that Barca were busy buying our players, so if anything they were attempting to recreate what Arsene had done for us. They took Van Brokenhurst, Overmars and Petit. If memory serves Gio van B was still playing for them in 05. Since Croyff’s revolution at Barca they had always passed and attacked quickly but it wasn’t until 08 and the return of Guardiola that the fast paced “Ticky Taka Passing Style” with the forward pressing emerged. Until then our fast paced attacking was like that of the old B’Munchenglaadbach from who the Ajax of Croyff had borrowed so much. What goes around comes around.

          Reply to this comment »
  • Innocky says:
    April 5, 2011 at 4:10

    An advice to the Arsenal supporters who buy years tickets.Do not buy any more until Arsene Wenger brings some reasonable changes to the club like bringing some quality players.As long as we pump in money to the club we are taken for granted. Now it is time to act. Boycott the matches, we can all watch on T.V until meaningful change is done.

    Reply to this comment »
    • richie says:
      April 5, 2011 at 4:37

      Dream on its laughable! No one who owns a season ticket will boycott a match and anyone who can buy a ticket will. Why? Well, we can all complain, and do. But only a twisted few could imagine that if half a dozen didn’t go that would change something. Even if 5K didn’t go which would be the most difficult thing ever to get real Gooners to do, then even that wouldn’t make anyone sit up and listen. Only the corporate clients would boycott games out of dissatisfaction because they don’t pay for their tickets. People on deaths door turn up for games hoping for a great Arsenal display that’ll send them home with a higher fever than they arrived with. Half the crack for Gooners is complaining! Thats why these days our support is crap! Manuer have been crap all season. And all season long the Manx monkeys have been right behind their team. The fans we’ve got at the Emirates these days aren’t deserving of the great football they get to see.

      Reply to this comment »
  • I.P. Ferreira says:
    April 5, 2011 at 12:26

    I have read all the comments on thegunninghawk.com this morning, 5 April 2011, and I would like to share with all, some comments made by Dr. Terry Paine, ex Southampton and England (1966 team) on our local Monday Night Football programme of 4 April 2011 in South Africa.
    When asked whether, in his opinion, Arsenal will be able to win some silverware under the present day Arsene Wenger his comments were the following;

    It is doubtful, however, Arsene will have to sit down somewhere alone with himself and be brutally honest with himself and ask the following questions;
    Is it truly possible for me to continue to pursue our present style of football and to take this present crop of players any further than where they are now?

    (In Terry Paine’s opinion the answer is no. Dr. Paine is of the opinion that Arsene will have to change to a more unpredictable style of football, requiring more than one or two game plans which should be interchangeable and then buy a good number of different players. That is, different to the types of players to those he has accumulated for Arsenal thusfar.The style of football which Arsene wishes his team to play, whilst admirable, can only work in the EPL with a team of players all endowed with above average skill and not with the present crop of players.)

    Interesting thoughts from a TRUE great!!

    Reply to this comment »
    • paris86 says:
      April 5, 2011 at 19:23

      well, it seems wenger prefers to win 1 trophy ”in style” from 6 attempts (years) than win 5 with chelsea’s/city’s policy from 6 attempts (years)
      now think about it…what will u be prod of more, the unbeatable season 2003-04 with 6 years drought with it or chelsea’s bought trophies?

      Reply to this comment »
  • paris86 says:
    April 5, 2011 at 19:14

    WTF? it seems that u really hate almunia, he deserves a 5 or 6 not 2!
    his mistakes were rare and they weren’t costly!

    Reply to this comment »
    • Chris says:
      April 5, 2011 at 19:26

      He had two things to do. Make an easy save from Olson’s shot and punch the ball in the air.

      He failed at both, we almost conceded a goal for the first mistake, a penalty for the second. I’ve just been told Italian TV spent five minutes making fun of his mistakes and us for having him in goal.

      6 eh?

      Reply to this comment »
  • Gunner says:
    April 9, 2011 at 11:26

    This team has done tremendous.They have beaten Barcalona thebest in the world and with 11 men were better team on aggregate. They are second in league with numerous players out and with harsh fixtures . We had the tough final the old trafford game and Barcalona so we have done excellent. Imagine this squad in two years they will be invincible. Even after all this rubbish talk we are technically.1 pt behind they have game extra and they chance at old trafford to take 3 points.this team is fantastic

    Reply to this comment »
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