re: Arsenal 2014/15 Season Long Thread

I assume that is Piers Morgan?

I remember Piers Morgan virtually denouncing his fandom, claiming Spurs were the new king in North London two years ago, after Arsenal lost to them late in the season. Arsenal then went unbeaten the remaining way and topped Spurs for the last Champs League spot. Morgan is an idiot; a reactional, border-line fair weather fan, quick to jump off the ship when things get rocky.

What's funny is if Wilshere scores and Arsenal win, he doesn't write the column. Morgan complains of poor tactics but tactics weren't the issue in my mind; it was the poor finishing. United were held to nearly nothing on offense for the entire game and most of the time that results in a win.

Wenger has been stubborn and perplexing in the transfer market, amongst other things, but he's not controlling what Wilshere does with the ball in that moment. A coach shoulders the blame eventually but an objective person knows Wenger didn't miss that shot.

I don't think Arsenal is far away, especially given the injury plague. But it's no secret Arsenal have been below the standard Wenger set himself, so I suppose that's what's been eating everyone and creating a sense of failure.

quote:

---

The only tactical issue was pushing WAY too much for an equalizer.

---

Agreed.

Most knew it was trouble once the own goal occurred, figuring United would sit in and look for the counter. Wenger knew it too, but wanted to get something from the game and took the risk (I assume).

Sucks.

I would have to qualify how "well" we played--and have been playing.

The masses on the Arsenal facebook page excused yesterday to De Gea having a "monster" game.

I disagree. He didn't have a monster game. Other than Alexis, we suck at finishing.

I'm about to unlike the Arnseal fb page. No real solid news or analysis, just useless rah-rah propaganda and click bait.

This is not unique to Arsenal, most professional sports teams' pages follow suit. I unliked the St. Louis Rams' page for the same reason.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a little more substance on their page.

As I said, I'm okay with reading Arsenal transfer speculation directly from the London papers, but I'm tired of post after post of who we are "linked" to, when most all of it is bullshite.

Piers is a count but I don't disagree with him.

If we're going to buy an Arteta replacement, I'd love Schneiderlin. The more I watch him this year the more I like him. I'm assuming he wouldn't be available until summer.

quote:

---

I'm assuming he wouldn't be available until summer.

---

Anyone from a "lesser" club is available for the right price, even in January. That is, if Arsene(al) is willing to pay the "right" price to get the player we need.

Let's face it, as good a start to the season as they've had, it's most likely that Southampton will not finish in the Top 4 by the end of the season and will not qualify for the Champions League. Schneiderlin is not cup tied this season, so he can play straightaway in the Champions League knockout stages, as well as next year when Arsenal inevitably finish 4th again.

Could be just enough to turn the player's head and have him want to advance his career. Doubt Arsenal go in for him though ...

Arsenal played really well. If Wilshere finishes that chance, we absolutely carve that 3-5-2 up when they have to press up.

We will go on a run, we always do and it won't take much of one to get back to the top 3.

quote:

---

anyone else on board with wilshere being on the bench moving forward? He's played pretty bad all year

---

Ramsey has been worse, as much as it hurts me to say. Jack has been better for club and country.

Ramsey and Wilshere have played really poorly in my opinion. Each tries to do too much. Ramsey is hitting 2012 lows, and instead of doing what he did to get back to that place, he's played like a count.

People forget but there was a stretch of games in early 2013 where Ramsey and Wilshere played extremely well together. Which meant they didn't go forward as often, they were restrained in their movement and positioning, and they did what central midfielders should do.

Look at this game. LINK

I can dig up my posts about this game but it was a 4-2-3-1 with Podolski and Walcott wide, with Giroud up top and Cazorla in the hole. Ramsey and Wilshere were behind them, and in that game I think Ramsey had something like 105 to 110 passes. The problem I'm having with Ramsey and Wilshere is that they both have started believing the hype, and have started to play for themselves rather than for the team. Wilshere not laying the ball off for Sanchez six yards in front of goal epitomizes the selfishness that characterizes both of their play this season. Ramsey's movement from deep and Wilshere's ability to dribble from deep should not be the things their games are based upon. They should be supplemental to what they are supposed to do each game, which is to support the front four, create opportunities for passes over the top, move the ball from sideline to sideline, overload certain areas of midfield to create mismatches, and defend the back four. What annoys me is that sometimes Ramsey will just play as a fricking striker. I mean what the frick is he doing? And Jack continues to dribble into walls like a fricking retard. Is he a functional retard? Because he's played like one this season. I'd rather have three players like Arteta in midfield, because at least Mikel understands that he has to work as a unit with his partners. frick even Flamini, who has played like horsecock this season, understands that, and in terms of positioning offers so much more than any of our midfielders. The fact that he sucks on the ball, can't pass, can't dribble, can't really tackle anymore means he should be our last option, but good god almighty all I wanted to do was yell at my TV because of what Wilshere and Ramsey have been doing since the start of the god damn season.

We can even look last year, at Ramsey's goal against Galatasaray or Fenerbache at home, when the ball was moved to the left, where Wilshere played an incisive pass to Gibbs who played a little ball into Ramsey who finished well. That goal came because Ramsey was acting like a fricking midfielder, instead of a count.

Though Ramsey and Wilshere are talented, I'd rather take players who are willing to play for the team than players who are obsessed with their own self-image. Both Ramsey and Wilshere have let the hype get to their heads, and both don't realize how much they are hurting the team. We don't need either to score goals or create them. We need them to play like central fricking midfielders. Thank god both have played like balls this season (despite what people have told you, Wilshere has played awful, like legit awful if you actually sit down and watch the tapes) so maybe that will teach them some fricking humility.

They should learn from Ozil and Sanchez, world class players who have actually achieved something. Sanchez works like a maniac off the ball, and does what he does for a specific purpose. Ozil might seem lazy, but the fact of the matter is that his movement gives his teammates opportunities they would not have without him.

This team would be immensely better if we dropped Wilshere and Ramsey for a while, but other than Rosicky, we don't have anyone who can replace them. But frick watching them pisses me the frick off. Hollywood passes and dribbles, idiotic decisions time and again. It's been the whole season, but the Man U game just highlighted how poorly they've played.

quote:

---

Laurent Koscielny is in the squad for tomorrow night’s game with Borussia Dortmund.

---

quote:

---

The good news is tempered by some bad, however, as Wojciech Szczesny misses out after a dead leg against Manchester United forced him off. He’ll be replaced by Emi Martinez with youngster Ryan Huddart likely to make the bench again.

Danny Welbeck is available having sat out training today, although Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are not available.

Wenger said of the midfielder, “Wilshere will be out for a while. He has to see a specialist next week to see for how long he will be out.”

---