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Jack Wilshere says that Arsenal need to believe in themselves more after their 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last night.
The England midfielder revealed the players were questioning their ability to cope with the efficiency of the German side, but believes they showed enough to take some heart from.
“We’re disappointed we lost by a bigger margin than we should have,” he said. “We started the second half really well – it’s a shame we couldn’t do that in the first half – and we had a chance to make it 2-2, but they went down the other end and made it 3-1 so it makes it difficult for us.
“We sort of questioned ourselves in the the first half: ‘Can we really live with it?’ But we showed when we step up and really play that we can so we’ve got to have a bit more self-belief. We play for Arsenal and we can’t be giving up.
“We need to go there in good spirits and you never know what can happen. It’s going to be difficult but we’re not out of it. We’ve got to believe.”
And former Bayern player Lukas Podolski knows Arsenal have an uphill task on their hands, but promised a fight.
“We must score three goals in Munich and this will be very difficult. I think we came out well for the second half; when we scored it was nearly 2-2 and would have been another match, but it finished 3-1.
“We put on good pressure in the second half but we must switch on from the beginning. It was no surprise because they have played a very good season in Germany and they are a good side.
“It’ll be very difficult but we have a chance when we go to Munich and we will fight.”
3,491 views
We always knew that we would have to play
exceptionally well to get a result.We didn’t and
we lost.Give it a go in Munich and if we fail then we at least will have tried .
We have to look at the Villa game now to save
something from the season
Yawn .. weren’t we here saying the same things with the same downgraded expectations last year .. and the year before last .. and the year before that ..
We as fans are really getting tired of this ‘not even thrilling’ theme ride with Arsene and the board ..
Let me tell you the future (by rehashing the Feb/March of the past few years):
1. Over the next few days, we talk big .. but everybody feels a bit down
2. Then some fans start going on about how much we should keep going
3. Then the game against the spudlings comes up, and everybody focuses on that as a make or break.
4. Then the season ticket renewels are due, then someone somewhere leaks to the press that there is a £4564138431687 million warchest that the board is FINALLY going to give to Wenger, and that Wenger FINALLY is going to spend most of it to compliment the team for the new season.
5. Then someone else leaks to the press, names of high end players (i can give their names today if you want).
6. Then Wenger smirks and smiles when he gets asked about his summer dealings and says that he is working on definitely bringing in a player or two but he can’t give names.
7. Then a few weeks into it when all the season tickets are in.
Wenger comes out and says he will only buy quality and that we have two special players in each position.
8. Then the summer slowly passes by, and nothing major happens ..
9. Then the season starts, and in Feb 2014 just like Feb 2013 and 2012 and 2011 and etc, we are out of all competitions with only a run to 4th place left.
10. Then we all write posts and articles about how much we need more grit and more players.
11. Then Arsene press on the tape and here we go again.
I’m not sure where you stole this from but the club will not be happy with you for waving official documents around.
I’d like to disagree with this but it’s hard to see which of these won’t happen and which won’t lead inevitably to the next. Out of interest, if we were to shatter our established 11 point plan and sign some decent players, do you think it would be enough? Our team is comfortably stronger on paper than many of teams we’ve lost to this season (leagues stronger in some cases). Even if personnel is the biggest problem, it isn’t the only one.
Kermit,i’m i permitted to save this official document of yours? It’s hilarious yet its true. P.s-kindly save the document,you’ll need to publish it again next year feb.
To AgentITK
To answer your question: ” if we were to shatter our established 11 point plan and sign some decent players, do you think it would be enough?”
The simply quick answer is No.
There is something seriously wrong at the club. Any could can go 8 years without winning a trophy. Any club could sell on their best players from time to time. Any fanbase could be patient or lose their trust in their manager.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
We have tried it all .. and nothing that the manager tried has worked.
Over the many variables of failure over 8 years, there has only been one constant. (the manager + the board).
As a fan, i stopped caring about guilt trips .. it’s time to try something NEW and by that i mean a completely different philosophy.
We can never as fans, force a change in ownership.
We can never as fans, force a change on the board level.
We as fans can only force a change in the manager’s role.
So unless you expect the aforementioned 11-step tape to replay itself until you simply get sick of watching football. Make a stand and stop buying into all this loyalty hype about a manager who has failed in his job (i don’t care if he himself founded Arsenal by his own hands).
Simple fact is, if you disagree. Then please go ahead and pour more of your children’s inheritance over your vanity trips down loyalty lane and renew your season ticket and get nothing in return.
if you agree, then vote with your feet and make a stand and ASK for CHANGE. This change has been tried with bringing players in/out over the past 8 years and didn’t work. It’s time to start seriously considering changing the ONE constant and see what happens.
Hope much worse can we actually get if you tried that ?
I think the biggest issue the club has to deal with now is that image of collecting money from people and not delivering back.
Not good for any brand. I don’t know how they want to sort that out but they really have to do something urgently.
I agree to an extent that there is a problem beyond the players themselves. Any real deficiency in the squad would manifest its self consistently and I can’t see one specific area that is constantly letting us down. Our top defender one season will become a liability the next, we have games without a shot on target and score a hatful the next. We control games but don’t dominate them. I would say that portion of blame fall at the managers feet.
Having said that, I think that the most important point, the one that keeps us where we are is this: How much worse can we actually get?
I think we can get a lot worse. We’re irritated because we haven’t won a trophy for 8 years and haven’t really challenged for major honours in the last five. 4th place isn’t a trophy and the last five years has seen some serious mismanagement but we have a long way to fall if we get this next step wrong.
If Wenger goes, I think it has to be after a lot of very careful planning. We need an exit strategy. If we knee-jerk and decide Wenger must leave at all costs I think we’ll quickly regret it. Chelsea are an example of reactive management with money, Liverpool are an example of it without. Both are struggling now and it’s clear which we’re closer to financially.
At the moment, I’d be happy to see the team play closer to their potential, I don’t criticise Ramsey much becuase he works hard (not saying that’s enough), I think one of a number of managers could come in and have an immediate affect on motivation and we might well see an upturn. After that, in the Summer, we need strengthening. I don’t know how many managers could go out and buy what we need with what money we have, probably a handful. After that, we need to maintain a high standard, develop a winning mentality, replace some of the older players, nurture some of the youth and in an ideal world continue playing as Arsenal should.
It’s not a case of “how much worse can it get”. If we fuck up this transition we will spend years trying to get back to where we are now.
AgentITK ..
Fair enough .. you simply are saying is the following:
1. we have been going backwards in the past 8 years ..
2. we need to identify a fix to start moving forward to get back to where we were.
3. However, if we fail to identify the correct fix (point 2) then we would keep going backwards – and we will spend years to get back where we are now.
So in summary, if we don’t fix anything we will keep going backwards – yet if we fail to identify the fix we will keep going backwards ..
Hence my initial statement .. we are already going backwards, how far backwards (worse) can we get to; it’s better to do something to fix 8 years of mismanagement than do nothing (out of fear of failure) and still end up regressing.
You can not compare us to Liverpool or to Chelsea .. they infact spend gazillions on transfers (whether it worked for them is not the point), because the solution that i spoke of to address the ONE constant in all the 8 years of failure (i.e. the manager) does not also say spend gazillions on transfers.
We simply need a NEW philosophy and way of thinking at the club. A new experiment because clearly the solution is not more players as per my initial post.
A change of manager and a new philosophy would certainly mean more spending. No one is going to replace Arsene if the pitch is “Please improve on what Wenger has done whilst breaking even”. Wenger bears an enormous proportion of the workload and replacing him is not just a case of finding a new coach to motivate the current set of players. Managers invariably want their own team and guaranteed funds to do it. There are also the cost implications if the new manager fails and we drop out of CL spots (not to say it won’t happen under Wenger but it hasn’t yet).
You’re right though, I’m basically saying that we’re struggling, we need a fix and we need to get it right. However, I disagree on the scale on which we could regress.
Either way, I think the earliest Wenger should leave is the season after next (end of his current contract?). He does too much and we won’t realise that until people are failing to fill the role once he’s gone. I think we need to initiate changes now, whilst he’s here to provide stability. It wouldn’t cost much, it wouldn’t cause too much disruption but it would mean someone wrestling some degree of control from Wenger.
This formation doesn’t work. Bring back the 4-4-2
Maybe they should try the diamond? If im correct Italy used it in the Euros and did quite well.
’4-4-2′ or ’4-3-3′ or ‘diamond’ or whatever you call it, could we please nick whatever that formation was that Bayern Munich used last night?
We dont have any player who can sit deep and defend in midfield so diamond is out the question.
To be honest we didn’t lose yesterday because of lack of Spirit or self belief.We just weren’t good enough.Plus the fact that we approached this game just like every other match with no game plan whatsoever. Played Theo upfront and pumped long balls..Who’s idea was that?
Wenger should ve replaced ramsey with rosicky straight after half time and subbing Podolski was a bad move, Walcott at centre was pathetic, should ve stock to the wings, it was a tactical horror show
The defeat had everything to do with Wenger
I think Ramsey was one of the (few) better players last night. Would have been better to put him in the Arteta role, sub Arteta and put Rosicky in. We seem to have an inability to make half time subs however.
Is it me, or has Arteta gone off the boil a lot recently?
Actually I think that’s Wenger’s greatest flaw right now as a manager, he starts with a game plan and sticks to it, come hell or high water. The 70 minute sub window is now so predictable you can see the opposing coach looking at his bloody watch if it’s late.
In recent games, I reckon Ramsey has looked at his best when lying deep and pushing the game up. I’d be looking to start Arteta and then sub for Ramsey if the game needs chasing. Fresh legs and a more attack minded deep-lying midfielder makes a heck of a difference. However that would require a sub policy that could change depending on how the game progressed, which takes me back to my first point.
@Usmanov, I disagree, Wenger should have taken out Arteta and moved Rambo into his role, and brought Rosicky in.
@Robxxx, its not just you, I totally agree that Arteta has dropped off recently, which is why @TeeCee, I’d actually have Ramsey start over Arteta these days.
It’s Gervinho’s
Wilshere you’re deluded if you think we going to win anything with BSB wenger around
Well, we believe in you Jack. Outstanding again last night, tried so hard to make things happen and drag us back into the game but it was an uphill task after 20 minutes gone.
I don’t see any point in really complaining about what happened to much, we got outclassed by a far greater team. Same old story with the errors for the goals, its tiring going it over and over again. As long as we turn up in Munich and give our all that’s all I ask.
Outstanding effort? Yes. Outstanding play? No fucking way.
He is the new great hope, everybody’s captain, fair enough. But when he plays average, he plays average.
But… Why aren’t we a better team than them..We have the stadium, we have the money we have an experienced manager. Why is anyone better than us?? We aren’t Everton with their limited budgets, we aren’t the Spuds with a suspicious character and no self belief, we aren’t Chelsea with their manager problems, we aren’t liverpool with their made up problems, why arent we better??
Go ahead and call me a troll but RVP added that extra class to the team. If we have RVP this year I think we would be challenging for the title. Giroud as the backup striker. Podolski and gibbs providing delivery from the left. Cazorla and Wilshere feeding him and because of his ability to draw defenders I strongly believe Wilshere and Cazorla would score more. Walcott on the right which he deserves.
Is it possible that RVP went coz he foresaw this inevitability. I quit my job last year coz i knew the company i was with were going down. They just couldn’t see it. they had this strange belief which was misplaced. And they were going down because they were so far from reality. Maybe RVP saw that. What we are seeing now. Hes a fucking cunt for deserting us when we made him what he is today. For not paying back his debt to Arsene in particular. We could have sold him and he would now be playing in China or someplace. Everyone would talk of his potential that never came through. Cunt!!
I ask you this, gentlemen. We have all seen images of Wilshere last night. He did everything he could. Hes an inspiration. A leader of men through his actions. But, how long before he cant take it anymore.
Why cant we buy Cavani for 50 mil. We have the money. We all know it. Why cant we? Forget that! Why cant we vary tactics a bit. Everyone kept saying Wenger put the wring team out and I agree. Put Rosicky on, dont take off podolski.. cant podolski play even one game for the full 90? why not? Play Giroud!
God knows whats going on!!
Let’s not kid ourselves, we wouldn’t be having Giroud and Podolski if RVP were to stay. So we would still be in the same position even if we had RVP, which makes you think something is very very wrong with our football club and i honestly dont know what it is.
1) We’ve been better many times than the clubs you mentioned.
2) Chelsea has some problems with managers, but also a boatload of cash. You can’t ignore that to make a point.
3) I’ve got the cash to upgrade my car to a nice luxury sedan, or pay the rent for a nice 5-bedroom penthouse. Doesn’t mean I should.
But apart from that, I would agree with a few points.
He looked like he’d been crying after the game….i love Jack, he’s not afraid to give it his all 100 per centof the time.And we need to do all and everything in our power to keep him.
Problem is, if we carry on how we are at the moment I think he’ll get itchy feet and want to leave for a bigger club, and can you blame him, we are an absolute mess at the moment.
I love Wenger, so much, but I genuinely think his time has past , we need a manager who will stop kidding himself and spend some money on some quality and give up on the duds duds we currently have. And if it turns out after all we have no money to spend and it was all hot air by Gazidis, then I at least want a manager who is going to come out and question the board and, above all, TELL US WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON.
Sorry Jack. I think you are wonderful player and all that but……. it’s a new owner / board of directors / Manager and set of players we need. Self belief helps but we’re too far down in the mire for that alone to rescue us.
We’re just not good enough. Why was Van Persie’s replacement left out if the team in favour or Ramsey. Not calling for Arsene’s head but the man brings it in himself with decisions like that
Ramsey was very good last night.
Honestly.. I was looking for Arteta to be subed off rather Ramsey…
Exactly what I was thinking! Is it just me that thinks a Wilshere-Rosicky-Ramsey combo could be a potentially awesome one!?
We won’t ever regain confidence as a squad under Wenger, which is very sad, I love Arsene, but he has lost his team after 2008 summer, and especially after the 2011 one. The players don’t trust him, don’t trust each other, don’t trust themselves, and it doesn’t come by easily. They know what we see from season to season, the lack of defensive discipline, the lack of ideas in the final third, the lack of urgency in midfield.
They want to do well, you just have to look from face to face it’s not rocket science that Szcz, Arteta, Vermaelen, Kos, Podolski, Walcott care (I want to say it’s not just Wilshere), the issue is a lot deeper. They are lost. Wenger cannot manage a team anymore, he is lost in the details while failing the big picture, he is too obsessed with his success of 10 years ago.
It’s time everyone realised inside the Club these players need a different face to give them belief through a different style of coaching, different style of man management and a whole new setup inside the team as well, where non-performing players are given less time (surely with our wage bill we could manage a bigger squad that could rotate more).
Sadly I agree. The game has changed, but he hasn’t. He was fresh and innovative when he arrived, but has not moved with the times. Media coverage and scouting networks make it impossible to pluck diamonds from the rough like he used to, tactics and styles of play have moved on, healthy diets and physical conditioning are now standard. Everything that set him apart is now commonplace, Wenger has not developped since he joined us and in that sense is a spent force.
Here’s the thing – the players we have love Wenger. If you think confidence is low now, just think what will happen if we sack Wenger mid-term. You would absolutely say goodbye to the chase for 4th.
To me, Wenger’s hands have been tied since the move to emirates. he’s done incredibly well with what he’s had access to and managed to keep the team where it is during these lean years. Yes, there are no trophies, but he’s kept us in CL – the only way to attract “top top talent.”
While the costs have been prohibitive for years, now that the sponsorship deals are renewed, and new money is coming in this summer, we are still in a position to actually purchase this talent.
I’m honestly torn. I fully appreciate everything Wenger has done over the years, but I don’t know if I want Wenger to be given the chance for one last year to try to rebuild what he had before the move? Does he remember how it is supposed to be done when you have resources at your disposal?
Put the FA Cup team in there for the 2nd leg. We have a much bigger game the following weekend.
3 goals+ in Munich without conceding against arguably maybe the 2nd best team on the planet.
There is no chance. Let’s go grab 4th place and re-evaluate in the summer.
This tie is done and dusted; no point wasting our resources on this when we are still very much in the hunt for a CL spot for next season.
I disagree. Even if it’s nearly impossible to progress, just out of sheer respect for the game, we should go out and play the second leg with everything we’ve got and show Bayern the game they will remember.
Perhaps, aside from Wilshere, everyone else should be ashamed of their desire to win. The way we throw away the first half is a disgrace.
There’s a clear lack of depth in this squad which must be addressed during the upcoming summer.
Why satisfy for the 4th? Why not aim for the 3rd? We’re only 5 points behind Chelsea at the moment. Granted, we lost both home and away to Chelsea this season, there are other games they may lose and other games we must win. If these lads have any pride, at least 3rd should be their aim, not 4th. (That applies to Wenger as well.)
Just to add, every league game from this point forward is critical. Not just our so-called “A-Team” but our B-Team must stay awake and be ready to perform at their highest level in any given match on any given day. I am talking about the likes of Rosicky, Ox, Diaby, Coquelin, Jenkinson, etc.
love all your positive-thinking focusing on nipping Spuds and/or Chelski for 3rd- or 4th-place in the EPL.
but take a step back and look at the forest… doesn’t it make you want to bawl your eyes out that in 2013, Gunner fans are SERIOUSLY debating about things such as ’3rd-place’ and ’4th-place’… and we’re still in the month of February?!
watching the usual pre-match video at the Emirates (highlights of the likes of Bergkamp, Wright, Henry, Adams, Keown) last night… I bloody got tears in my eyes even though me Mum used to slap me across the face any time I cried after I turned 10 years of age.
those tears weren’t due to pure ‘nostalgia’ and re-living of fond memories… it was due to sheer ‘sadness’ that the ‘Greatness’ built by the likes of Graham/Chapman/Wenger has been destroyed/mutilated/ruined from within by that asset-stripping, profit-seeking, netball-loving Kroenke and his crony Gazidis.
Amm very sorry jack,i like your commitment to the club,amm shoked because i know one day you will live,but b4 you live Wenger has to live.
Yo spaek gud engwish.
I hope you realize that this blog is followed by gooners all over the world and even in zones where English isn’t the official or dominant lingua franca. For the love of the badge let the dude express himself as best as he can…
Can I live??
What is wrong with playing two halves of Football? I suggest that every player gets paid half until they can perform for 90mins. It is almost not worth the fans showing up until the 2nd half to show them how it feels. Watching football is supposed to be fun, but the frustration level at the moment is almost unbearable.
“Watching football is supposed to be fun”
I was speaking to a Barnsley supporting friend recently. After the FA Cup draw his 10 year old son ran up to him and said “Dad, we’ve drawn City! I reckon we can make 1 or 2 million from that!”
Watching a professional football you support will have up and downs. Not all fun and games, after all.
Jack was the engine last night everything he did had heart and passion. He is a really amazing talent it such a shame that those around him did not feel the same until the 2nd half.
Keep your chin up Jack it is not going to be like this for ever I hope.
Discipline. Preferably in the first half.
No less, no more. Chances enough both ends of the field.
Like Blackburn needed only two shots, one goal made the difference, same should have been done with Girouds attempt. Which btw suggests Walcott is more effective as a winger. At he’s consistent there.
In defensive perspective, the second goal. Again discipline.
Fucking memories of Gibbs against WBA, last game, last season. Fuck.
I feel totally sick this morning, this isnt just about one game. We are THE ARSENAL and we should be better than what we are producing. Let’s be honest here we have papered over the cracks these past few seasons but its finally caught up with us. I am just dissapointed and frustrated that the club couldnt see what we can. The club obtain new sponsorship and yet we still don’t improve the squad. We have fallen from grace and this needs to be addressed immediately.
At 0-0, 1-0, 2-0 and 3-1 down in the home leg we had 9 men behind the ball. With 2 away goals and 1 goal lead Phillip Lahm tore down the outside to slide it across our 6 yard box. They wanted it more, they worked for it harder and at the end of the day they had much more quality than we did.
You need a manager with motivational skills. It’s all well and good to praise a teams mental strength and quality after poor performances, but it doesn’t fucking work.
The best teams around at the minute (I’m looking at Barca, Bayern, Un*ted with massive leads in there respective countries) have this ability to get 8 players in defense and 8 players in attack. It overwhelms the other team time and time again. We get 1 maybe 2 players in the box and defend with about 5 at the moment and it seems so easy to see why we concede for fun and struggle to score. It takes one shot for these teams to beat us because when they get a chance its a clear cut one.
I agree on Bayern and United – the amount of times Arsenal were outflanked last night was scary, with little defensive effort from the midfield.
Not sure how Barca fit this description though. Their defence is as shaky and open as Arsenal’s, the difference is that few teams dare to properly attack them because it would leave them exposed.
But Barce developed that fear to attack by dominating teams all over the pitch. They don’t have small number at the back through lack of effort, just because they commit so many forward. And i know they have Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc etc.. but they score a minimum of 3 in every game they play. Thats the benifit of what they do.
“This ability to get 8 players in defense and 8 players in attack”… certainly felt like that last night watching Bayern Munich! Hold on… weren’t Arsenal the FIRST ones to play this type of football?
Not only were Arsenal the first to do it. Wenger was the Manager who put it out there and is now ignoring it. Much like Rafa and the 4231 with Alonso and Mascherano with Gerrard sat infront. Won a CL with it and then seemed to decide it doesn’t work.
John – Mascherano wasn’t at Liverpool when they won the CL in 2005, they played a 4-4-2 and had some very average players in the side
Have to agree with this.
Sometimes it’s very frustrating to see the midfield take a very long time to close the space with the defensive line when the play transitions to us defending.
Us attacking is a wee bit better, as we can transition well enough sometimes and pour forward. But once the game stalls as the put men behind the ball, most of our lads tend to skirt the edges of box and there is seemingly to little movement.
We’re technically much more adept than most teams, but apart from keeping possession, this comes out too few times.
its jst mid february n we r fucked again..kicked out 4m all 4 competition..will play only for wengers favourite 4th placed trophy…
What a load of shit, again. To be fair that Bayern team is one of the best I’ve seen, quality from front to back. Whereas we have a defense which is at best, average (you cant argue with that because we make mistakes constantly), our midfield is quality but needs more support, and the lack of quality in attack is shocking for an Arsenal side. Henry/Bergkamp must be shaking their heads in shame at this lot. We have so many players who are either so shit they cant make the squad, or just completely lacking in confidence – Arshavin / Squillaci / Gervinho – we need an overhaul in the summer.
Wow, this is just painful. I hate the fact that our best player is so far beyond the rest of the squad that it´s getting ridiculous. This overall feeling that Jack is way too good for us really brings me down.
I remember a time when young Cesc made his rise to the top in team full of truly world class players, it was a time when you didn´t need to make excuses to keep your best young players.
I can understand the “fact” that the club minimized expenses in order to build the new stadium and pretty much giving up the title dreams for a few years, but I just wished they could be more honest with us. Watching your team sink lower each passing season only to have lies thrown in your face is fucking horrible.
Fuck it, bring on Villa!
I undastnd supporters frustrations,but i also do believe that bad times always come to an end.We can only get stronger from this point on and im 100% sure,we wil start winning things again.A few additions in the summer,mental and fighting spirit wil see us back to glory days once again.Lets jus show some support to the lads,so we cn get CL qualification,thats all i ask from you Arsenal Fans.Come on Arsenal!!
I think that we need more ‘winners’ in the squad, what i mean by this is players with that mentality and have won things in whatever league they are from. Clearly we buy to many players with ‘promise’ and dont know what its like to win a pot. This whole mental strength thing seems laughable as well whenever i hear it. Just because a team comes back from a goal down, and draws or wins a game doesnt mean that they have the mental fortitude required for a team like Arsenal. This is a normal reaction for anyone who plays football – they don’t want to lose and will try and win. It’s the players who really hurt and get properly aggravated when you lose that you want – just like Jack. It seems obvious to me that there is a massive mental problem at Arsenal. They seem to approach each game in a lackadaisical manner and its only when they realise they have to react (when a goal down), do they decide to perform. Who’s to blame for this i dont know, but its certainly something Arsene should clearly be aware of.
I’m not sure what pisses me off more: The way we rolled over last night, or Andy Townsend’s muggy voice jabbering the whole way through the game. Olivier Giroud’s attempt on goal – “If anything, I think he hit the ball too well” – Fuck off Townsend you utter cunt!
Adrian Chiles needs to be hit by a train. And, the train needs to be de-railed, killing the driver. Who is Andy Townsend.
I was desperate for Lee Dixon to shoot down all of this “Arsene Wenger has cracked” nonsense in the build up but the pundits (2 of them managers!) just sat there and nodded along. My own fault for watching ITV coverage and expecting something more informative thatn whoopie-cushion.
Also, Robben looks like the hill-billy child in the duelling banjos scene of Deliverance.
They are annoying. Remeber Townsend scored a winner at highbury in maybe 95 after being outplayed, hated him ever since, good player though…. Anyway they are annoying, but they are correct, and that is what hurts the most…
I’m not sure they are correct. If they’d mentioned the quality of the players, their attitude and application or how we’re too tactically inflexible, they might have been correct. Spending fifteen minutes talking about how calm and collected Wenger usually is (something I don’t remember them mentioning in the past) and how he’s totally lost it by comparison added nothing to the analysis. The edit of the conference where he barely raised his voice was cringe-worthy.
If only there were a correlation between ability as a player and pundit. Mind you, that would make Paul Merson and Ian Wright worth listening to.
I’m no fan but at one point he was shouting ‘Go on! Go on!’ as Wilshere made a run into the box.
That’s true and he did sound unhappy when Bayern scored their third. But it rings hollow. I don’t need to hear him supporting the team when we’re doing well if I know he’s going to go to town on us when we’re struggling.
This is my plan. Lets say there is 2 million arsenal fans on the planet, we all gether 10 pounds each and send it to untied so they can sign Wilshere from us. I mean it hurts to see him in agony…. An ambitiouse man in an unambitious team not to mention the board and manager, but mainly the board. We need to do a LFC. Get Stan out…….
you are retarded
Excellent plan. Now type up the proposal, print off the 2 million copies we’ll need, stick them up your arse and fuck off.
I`ll prefer mail. I don`t realy mean that i want Wilshere at united, I just feel sorry for him.
I’m sure Jack appreciates it. If you want him to be happier, try to think about Arsenal improving, rather than our rivals. If your missus is pissed off, you don’t make a profile for her on a dating website, you sort things out yourself.
Fuck me, do an LFC and buy Sturridge, Carroll and Downing?
Its depressing to see a young lad blaming himself for this shit. Its not your fault you’re surrounded by kack. Eventually he’s going to get tired of being sick and tired and he WILL fuck off, so let’s stop that before it happens. I love the man but Arsene Wenger does not have a leg to stand on anymore. I defended him throughout the fourth, fifth years, my support became more tentative in the 6th, but now he’s had eight years to buck his ideas up, he’s had the money and in his own words he’s made a calculated decision not to spend it. Please go before we lose this gem of a boy as well.
We were sat in the north bank as usual last night and about halfway through the second half the stewards had to come and remove a guy who was trying to fight other gooners. We weren’t close enough to hear or see exactly what happened, was wondering if anyone on here was there and knew what went on. I’ve never seen something like that at the emirates, and there was generally a really deflated atmosphere, not just because we lost to a good side but because the idea that this arsenal team could beat them was frankly stupid and everybody realised that we’re just not a European or even domestic powerhouse anymore. Of course when you’re beaten by a better side you can say at least we tried, but shouldn’t arsenal be up there as one of the best teams in Europe? I feel just as angry that we genuinely couldn’t be considered that anymore as I do when we lose to a shit team because of stupid mistakes, because it’s because of the way the club is being run. I keep thinking to myself oh there must be something Wenger knows that is stopping us buying world class players and making us sell off our best, and that we just need to make it to a certain point and the board will say, right now we can compete. But how likely is that?
It’s very frustrating.
There is clearly a big confidence problem.
Some rallying and support might help rather than the stale, bored, insipid support that so often is a feature of home games. There was an atmosphere yesterday, the players did try – some have it and others clearly dont. A collective decisision to be positive, to be ruthless and cast away the players who are not up to it or not interested and a general improvement in the attitude to supporting would help. That said, there must be issues high up in the club, money is available and nobody seems to know what to do with it or take a rsk and try to freshen up the squad.
But leadership and direction comes from the top. The freshening has to start there.
“Wilshere: we need more self-belief.”
No, Jack, we need more quality.
Probably the most depressing thing about what happened last night was that it wasn’t a surprise to anybody who knows anything about English football. Arsenal Football Club are now so far behind the real quality teams in Europe that it’s embarrassing. Arsene Wenger and the greedy, incompetent Board and senior management of the club have turned us into the average, mid-table Premier League side which was so easily outclassed yesterday by Bayern Munich. Trying to pretend that with a little more “self-belief” or “mental strength” or “effort” or “concentration” we can somehow bridge the massive gulf in quality is just plain stupid.
As our season is now effectively over, this is probably as good a time as an to take stock. So what’s wrong?
The main problem is, I’m afraid, Arsene Wenger. It’s now surely time for him to go. His horrible mismanagement over the last four years has reduced us from being a side which could challenge for the title to this very ordinary, underwhelming outfit. I have absolutely no confidence in his judgement. A new manager is a must for the next campaign. David Moyes or perhaps a gamble with Michael Laudrup should come in. And the new boss needs to be given at least three years to clear up the god-awful mess that Wenger has left behind.
The second thing that needs to be done is the Board and the owner must be prepared to provide financial support to the new boss. Serious cash must be made available to bring in the four or five quality players who we need to make us competitive again. Even if we finish outside the top four we must heavily invest. If we don’t then we are in real trouble.
We are in a bad place right now – but maybe this is finally the turning point.
Fatgooner, you really think last night will be the “turning point”?
Sadly, this “turning point” you speak of will only happen when we are a) out of Champions League football, b) mid-table in the EPL, and c) blessed with a beautiful 60,000-seat stadium that is, sadly, only half-full.
Only then will Gunner supporters see a “turning point” because that is when Mr. Asset-Stripper, Profit-Seeker Stan Kroenke will realize he risks suffering a LOSS on his ‘investment’ and Usamanov will kindly offer to buy Stan’s shares for the same price he paid for.
Usamanov is not Abromovich. Ownership under Usamanov should not mean we sign the likes of John Terry (ultimate cunt) or Fernando Torres (ultimate flop). Usamanov would simply let Arsene Wenger get on with his fucking job, without the immense pressure to turn a profit every year to pay down the debt immediately.
I think last night more than anything showed (again) how unbalanced this squad is. We essentially played 3 centre-backs, 1 right-back, 4 COM’s, a striker (out of position) and Walcott who showed one more time he is not a striket and was therefore also out of position. Bayern on the other side had a perfect balance. When we defended, half of our players just ran around without having a clue what they were doing. Seems like Wenger wants them to defend like Barca. But giving Arteta the Busquets role is like making a dog fly. Also, it’s not going to work with so many pplayers who just give a shit about defending. Just look at Santi, Poldi or Theo.
@ AgentITK
February 20, 2013 at 10:22 am
“I’m sure Jack appreciates it. If you want him to be happier, try to think about Arsenal improving, rather than our rivals. ”
You should try telling that to wenger/board. They will surley listen.. ohh wait how much was that Sir Alex? We are getting screw right left and centre…..
I’m not happy with how Wenger and/or the board have handled things over the last few years. Some of our recent problems have been of our own making and some are totally out of our control. Your half-baked nonsense about Jack and United is nothing but counter-productive. The most important things we can do as fans (fans of club effectively owned by one man who doesn’t particularly care what we think) is support the team and apply pressure when necessary to try to effect a change for the positive.
If you think better players will do the trick, call for more money to be spent. If you don’t think that’s enough, think about who could replace Wenger and give your opinion when appropriate.
This reactive bullshit of “Wenger out” and talk of Jack leaving adds nothing. You don’t like Wenger, fine. You think Jack deserves better, fine. Phrase it in terms that would improve Arsenal, it’ll be around long after Wenger and Wilshere and you.
I wrote it that way because when I say I am a retard, but while Wenger does it it is fine, it is not. I agree with you it is negative. As far as other amagers goes, wenger is getting older he has NO future in term of age. Also we can`t do much worse. I mean the bayern manager will be free this sumer? So to with Moyes? What about Laudrup, plays our football better than us already? How about Di matteo? There are many good managers around. There are things fans can do to change things, this club is nothing without us. I would like the board to leave long before wenger, and we can make that happen. Empty the stands. Protests. Liverpool got rid of Hicks and co. We can do the same and keep wenger, give him one last chance. Also it is easier to replace wenger noe that say 2006, there is almost no pressure now.
Heynckes is 67 years old.
@ AgentITK
Yes he is old too…
Heynckes is the Bayern manager you suggested we go for. It goes to show how much thought you’re putting into a decision as enormous as changing our manager. We’re stagnant at the moment, you could say we’re going backwards but we’re not facing relegation. It’s not do or die. Your “Do something! Now!” approach is nothing but a quick, easy and expensive way of completely fucking things up. Maybe Wenger should leave but throwing your toys out of the pram the day after we lose to Bayern Munich is and talk of emptying stands is not the way to do it.
You asked for names I gave you some. I would go for Moyes or Laudrup, both can build good teams on limited resources and are tactically solid I would say. But listen I am not mostley against Wenger I have a much bigger issue with the board. Wenger has been a very good manager for arsenal. But the current squad is very exspensive and many of our recent signings have been VERY poor. If that is Wengers fault I do not know. But Santos, Chamack, Squill, Arshavin, Gervinho, etc is exspensive signings who does nothing but earn high wages. Competition for players are harder now than in 97. Wenger has to adapt, he doesn`t. Empty stands would send a signal to the board that either invest our money or we woun`t pay your inflated wages, it has nothing to do with the players. You could also add Park, Denilson, Wright, Jeffers etc to the list of poor signings. Wenger has also made some very good signings, but they are far and few between these days. 10 mill signings are just not good enough to compete, if that is wengers fault or the board I do not know. Yes we are not in a relegation fight, but we are as far as points goes nearer the drop than the championship. So we can all see where we are heading. And if this decline continious we will be in a relegation fight in four years maybe. Does it realy matter if we are fighting relegation or not? Is that when you decide that this isn`t good enough anymore, or do we have to get relegated first? I don`t have all the answeres, but personally I would take Moyes before utd does.
I asked for the names of managers who fit the criteria, who could improve us. You seem to have picked several managers from nowhere. Di Matteo to replace Wenger? Are you mental?
Building a decent squad with little money is exactly where we are now. That’s a strange basis on which to reccomend a replacement. Look at Evertons recent history. FA Cup runners up in 2009 is as close as they’ve come to silverware in his tenure, Moyes is not the man to end our silverware drought.
I think we need a world class goalkeeper next season.
And a world class cb alongside vermaelen. He’s ok, at least.
Making of a Modern Mid-table Club.
Here’s what I don’t get. Lose to inferior teams and the line is we didn’t take them seriously. Then lose to a very good team and we hear there’s not enough belief within the squad. Well if there is no self belief then how do you take poorer teams for granted.