The Official Arsenal - 12 x FA Cup Winners - Thread [Vol 3]

The Official Arsenal - 12 x FA Cup Winners - Thread [Vol 3]

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greengreenwood7

704 posts

190 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
yep if we'd had a quality striker we might have scored anotrher goal or two - but equally there wasn't a whole heap of incisive play on our part, bu incisive i mean shifting the ball swiftly and in the direction of the opponents goal. There was a heck of a lot of intricate stuff which didnt come off or fizzled out and also a lot of side/side/backwards....along with some woeful passing which put others under pressure.
A Team with a bit more quality than Leics had to offer would likely have scored 3 themselves, we didnt look solid, not just in the back 4, but more importantly infront of the defence.

the net gain from the transfers so far is really Alexis - the others have come in like for like/replacements. So we'll see what tomm holds, but sadly i suspect that for about the 10th+ year running we'll enter the season proper still 2-3 players short. And although the season can't be judged on teh first 3 games, based on what they've shown so far - without reinforcements - quality ones, not also rans, i rather think they might struggle to get 5th!

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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I think part of the timing thing is qualifying for the Champions League....my guess is all of the Champions League money is allocated to the squad.

One interesting thing...Kronke was at the game today. Leicester away is not your plum fixture for your billionaire businessman and majority shareholder to fly 4,000 miles to watch. A mate of mine knows/has met Tom Fox a few times (he who has just left to be CEO of Villa)...he said Kronke is much more hands on than the likes of Gazidis would ever admit and every major decision goes through him.

Edited by Cheib on Sunday 31st August 21:29

antspants

2,401 posts

174 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
greengreenwood7 said:
yep if we'd had a quality striker we might have scored anotrher goal or two - but equally there wasn't a whole heap of incisive play on our part, bu incisive i mean shifting the ball swiftly and in the direction of the opponents goal. There was a heck of a lot of intricate stuff which didnt come off or fizzled out and also a lot of side/side/backwards....along with some woeful passing which put others under pressure.
A Team with a bit more quality than Leics had to offer would likely have scored 3 themselves, we didnt look solid, not just in the back 4, but more importantly infront of the defence.
As a loyal Leicester fan, but somebody who has always admired Arsenal from afar, I was (happily) disappointed with Arsenal today.

Ozil went missing for most of the match, obviously not his kind of game. Flamini was awful. Mertasacker should have enough experience and guile not to get turned inside out by the likes of Ulloa.

And although Sanogo was crap, Giroud wouldn't have made the difference today.

At times in the 2nd half, just outside the 18 yard area, you looked like the Arsenal of old, lots of intricate passing looking for the perfect goal but with no actual penetration.

Honestly most Leicester supporters, who at the start of the game would have taken anything but an absolute rout, walked out of that stadium feeling slightly disappointed we didn't nick it at the end.

This isn't me trolling I assure you, I wish you well for the season, but you'll need to improve significantly and/or add players to challenge for the Premiership this year.



greengreenwood7

704 posts

190 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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@antspants - totally agree with you!

Its easy to give armchair critique, but there are times when i just 'don't get it'. We looked woeful, were woeful and yet he gave the fresh legs - what 15 mins of normal time?

Chuck328

1,580 posts

166 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
antspants said:
As a loyal Leicester fan, but somebody who has always admired Arsenal from afar, I was (happily) disappointed with Arsenal today.

Ozil went missing for most of the match, obviously not his kind of game. Flamini was awful. Mertasacker should have enough experience and guile not to get turned inside out by the likes of Ulloa.

And although Sanogo was crap, Giroud wouldn't have made the difference today.

At times in the 2nd half, just outside the 18 yard area, you looked like the Arsenal of old, lots of intricate passing looking for the perfect goal but with no actual penetration.

Honestly most Leicester supporters, who at the start of the game would have taken anything but an absolute rout, walked out of that stadium feeling slightly disappointed we didn't nick it at the end.

This isn't me trolling I assure you, I wish you well for the season, but you'll need to improve significantly and/or add players to challenge for the Premiership this year.

Also agree with all of that.

I don't understand Wenger anymore. This concept of packing the midfield to try tap dance the ball into the net works with some teams but over the last few years too many have come to recognise this and can deal with it. Was it not it 2012 or 13 that Chelsea beat us home and away? Both games, completely out muscled in midfield.

Bit of an Ozil rant here, frustrating. As sublime as he can be, all too often he's just not in the game. Feeding Ronaldo is one thing. Feeding SaNOGO (looked like he had lead weights around his ankles) et al is another. It's not working.

This team will not and can not compete with the best. I see another season with the odd spark of utter brilliance tempered with being massively unravelled by more capable teams.

4th at best. Yet again.

(I hope I eat my words)


Alfahorn

7,758 posts

207 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Chuck328 said:
Also agree with all of that.

I don't understand Wenger anymore. This concept of packing the midfield to try tap dance the ball into the net works with some teams but over the last few years too many have come to recognise this and can deal with it. Was it not it 2012 or 13 that Chelsea beat us home and away? Both games, completely out muscled in midfield.

Bit of an Ozil rant here, frustrating. As sublime as he can be, all too often he's just not in the game. Feeding Ronaldo is one thing. Feeding SaNOGO (looked like he had lead weights around his ankles) et al is another. It's not working.

This team will not and can not compete with the best. I see another season with the odd spark of utter brilliance tempered with being massively unravelled by more capable teams.

4th at best. Yet again.

(I hope I eat my words)
I've had reservations about Wenger for years and I've made it known. I continue to be concerned, he doesn't say anything which gives me any confidence that he recognises the concerns of the fans, the issues the team has or how to address those issues.

Wengers disciples have told us he's the right man and things will be different when he has money to spend. Earlier on in the summer it looked like they would be proved right, however he's now reverted to type.

Today we should be going all out to buy Falcao, he would be perfect for us. However, I suspect the window will close tonight at 11pm and nothing will have changed.

As for Sanogo if I had my way he'd be out of the door today. I'd happily rip up his contract.

Glassman

22,501 posts

214 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Last year it was Higuain, and this year it's Falcao. In between there's been a few mentions of Remy, as well as the usual combination fabricated rumours. Why are we getting worked up over the media hyping up of players? This is just playing into the circus of agents and clubs looking to inflate the fees of their assets etc., and we know Wenger doesn't do his business in this way.

There are a load of players out there, some heard of, and many more not. Are we accepting that the scouting system isn't finding the stars of tomorrow yesterday, or is it more a case of buying ready made players for over the top fees?

I agree about Sonogo, but IMO, it's more about our style of play and attitude.



Edited by Glassman on Monday 1st September 09:23

MrMagoo

3,208 posts

161 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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3 games played and already 4 points off the top. Don't see us challenging for anything relying on the front men we have. Disappointing, the same story of being a couple of players short of challnging for honours, I don't expect anything to change in the last few hours. No doubt Walcott will come back and be like a new signing.

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Alfahorn said:
As for Sanogo if I had my way he'd be out of the door today. I'd happily rip up his contract.
Totally agree. I suspect the reason he's being picked for away games is that Wenger knows if Sanogo plays at home the crowd will be on his back. Wenger's often said it got to the stage with Ramsey that he couldn't pick him for a home game because of the crowd.

Falcao would be incredible but I just can't see it.

Doesn't fking matter who we have up front with only two senior CB's in the squad. Chambers looks quality but in the last two games when teams turned the ball over and have broken against us he's dived in for the ball and got skinned. There are plenty of decent CB's plying their trade in the PL who would bite our hand off to be a squad player at The Emirates.


Trophybloo

1,207 posts

186 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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I see Wenger's comments in interview yesterday are that fans shouldn't expect a quick fix! Damn it , 3 summer transfer windows without replacing RvP is not exactly rapid!
Giroud (when fit) and Podolski are not what we need as 1st choice strikes in order to compete at the top. Anyone watch Chelsea at the weekend and feel envious about the Cesc / Costa combo.

Glassman

22,501 posts

214 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Trophybloo said:
Anyone watch Chelsea at the weekend and feel envious about the Cesc / Costa combo.
They do look strong with that combo working so well.

I also don't think the interest in Remy was all about replacing Torres.

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Trophybloo said:
Giroud (when fit) and Podolski are not what we need as 1st choice strikes in order to compete at the top.
Poldi's great if the ball falls to his feet and pretty much all he has to do is put his foot through it....not many better. There was a moment against Leicester when he came on and someone played a great through ball....a striker with a little bit of acceleration would have been in on goal.

Glassman

22,501 posts

214 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Cheib said:
There was a moment against Leicester when he came on and someone played a great through ball....a striker with a little bit of acceleration would have been in on goal.
Is that fair on someone who has been overlooked as much by Wenger as well as Löw?

JayBM

450 posts

194 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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According to the BBC, ManU have taken Falcao on loan (subject to medical and personal terms).

Although I didn't really expect Wenger to pull that one out of the bag, I'm surprised he's gone to MU. No doubt we'll be linked with a move for Welbeck, cast offs for Wenger again.

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Glassman said:
Cheib said:
There was a moment against Leicester when he came on and someone played a great through ball....a striker with a little bit of acceleration would have been in on goal.
Is that fair on someone who has been overlooked as much by Wenger as well as Löw?
I don't think it's anything to do with his current lack of playing time if I am honest.

Meanwhile Wenger is off to Rome this morning...refereeing a charity game tonight apparently.

http://www.matchforpeace.org/players


Glassman

22,501 posts

214 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
I'd feel happier if we secured a ball winning midfielder.

MrMagoo

3,208 posts

161 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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laugh of course he is, why wouldn't he be heading to Rome to referee a charity match on the last day of the transfer window instead of sorting out the gaping holes in our squad.

We're not getting anyone are we frown

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
MrMagoo said:
laugh of course he is, why wouldn't he be heading to Rome to referee a charity match on the last day of the transfer window instead of sorting out the gaping holes in our squad.

We're not getting anyone are we frown
It means that either

a) Any deals are already pretty much agreed

or

b) We're fked

MrMagoo

3,208 posts

161 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
We're fked then.

Oh well, at least we can dine on the FA Cup success for a good few years.

Alfahorn

7,758 posts

207 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Cheib said:
Meanwhile Wenger is off to Rome this morning...refereeing a charity game tonight apparently.

http://www.matchforpeace.org/players
If that's the case he can fook off as well!

His only focus today should be finding new recruits for the squad.
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