Arsenal 2017-18: Au Revoir, Arsene
- Thread starter mikeford
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Giroud has scored some wonderful goals for Arsenal, hasn't he? That finish against Red Star Belgrade was peachy.
Lacazette, Ozil and Alexis finally all on the pitch together. Result: a goal for each and five overall. Also makes Ramsey look a hell of a lot better when he's at best the 4th option up top.
Or maybe this is all just Everton.
Or maybe this is all just Everton.
Ozil created 8 chances today. That is what can happen when he plays with Alexis and Lacazette. They need to play together as much as possible.
Wilshere is playing better than Xhaka right now, they need to start Wilshere in his place for a while until Jack gets hurt again. Meanwhile Xhaka can work on his issues on the sidelines.
Wilshere is playing better than Xhaka right now, they need to start Wilshere in his place for a while until Jack gets hurt again. Meanwhile Xhaka can work on his issues on the sidelines.
Apropos of nothing, I commentated on the Real Murcia-Barcelona match in the Copa del Rey last night, and Thomas Vermaelen played for Barca. He was getting beaten for pace by several of the third-tier Murcia forwards, and I have to say...getting €19 million for Vermaelen four summers ago was a great piece of transfer business by Arsene Wenger. (That was only Vermaelen's 22nd first-team match for Barcelona, by the way.)
I can't believe that was 4 summers ago. Seemed like he was here much more recently than that. Also shocked that he's a year younger than Koscielny. It really has been a pleasant surprise how long Koscielny has been able to keep form as an upper tier defender. Not world class by any means, but I generally feel much better when he's in the line up than when he's not.
I realize you're praising him, but I think that even under-rates Koscielny. If there are two prototypes for a central defender - the tall strong Sergio Ramos / Pique types who can clear headers, and the short quick types who can catch up and recover when someone beats their offside trap - then I'd have to say Koscielny is absolutely world class. He's a hothead, sure, but he has some of the most fluid reactions and instincts in Europe back there, and just incredible speed. Wasn't there a UCL game - against Bayern? - last year, where he made like a 60-yard run at Usain Bolt-like speeds to come back and ended up getting the goal-saving block? I've just seen a long list of incredible plays by him. He's not in-his-prime Vincent Kompany but he's everything you could ask for, even at a superclub.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/26/arsenal-fans-agm-unanswered-questions
What a farce this club is.
What a farce this club is.
Verm was really never the same after his Achilles injury
That guy was a god for like 1 year with us
That guy was a god for like 1 year with us
Arsenal is rumored to make its best transfer ever:
Sven Mislintat, 44, Dortmund. Has a contract until 2021. Interesting to see how much he´ll cost, if he comes over.
kicker has the rumors and english media as well.
He already was rumored to join Stuttgart, then Bayern this summer, before Tuchel had to leave because of a bad relationship with Mislintat. Now if it´s London calling and even more money included (or bigger trouble in Dortmund?), I don´t know what´s happening.
Sven Mislintat, 44, Dortmund. Has a contract until 2021. Interesting to see how much he´ll cost, if he comes over.
kicker has the rumors and english media as well.
He already was rumored to join Stuttgart, then Bayern this summer, before Tuchel had to leave because of a bad relationship with Mislintat. Now if it´s London calling and even more money included (or bigger trouble in Dortmund?), I don´t know what´s happening.
Great game out of Mustafi, who has been up and down a bit in his performance since joining the team. That back three were at their best, and the midfield didn't look leaky the way they have in bad performances. You didn't see the midfield scrambling much or being stretched. A really solid performance all around.
And suck it, Sp*rs!
And suck it, Sp*rs!
That’s the second time ozil, Sanchez and lacazette have played together.. hopefully Wenger was watching and plays them together a lot more often. Mustafi and Koscielny also played great and I think Ramsey didn’t play as far forward as he normally does.
I think this was either their top lineup or very close to it. I’ve been really frustrated that wenger fails to play them together.. I’m sure there have been reasons but I’m not always sure they’ve been good enough.
Ramsey definitely wasn't making his usual strafing runs into the box, now that you mention it. That certainly could have helped solidify the midfield. The top pick for each position was out there, and I don't know if that has happened yet this season. And they all played within themselves and didn't over-commit to attacking the ball or the net. It was great to watch.
Having played as a center forward Ramsey annoys the crap out of me typically. He’s often either taking away space from where Sanchez wants to be or he’s playing in the passing lane or he’s making passes that are too casual.. when he makes late attacking runs when needed he’s great.. and also usually mindful of his defensive duties.
The times where he’s the furthest player up the pitch he doesn’t get back as effectively on d and his teammates aren’t sure if they should go back and cover or stay up. Ramsey today played the exact type of game he should imo.. well timed runs, typically staying well behind the 18 leaving off for pass backs and leaving space for the forwards to play into.
Edit: I’m not sure why this lineup didn’t play man city (other than injuries?), but even Ozil said how much he enjoyed playing with both Sanchez and Lacazette.
What’s amazing is that this is how Ramsey plays in a Wales shirt, and he’s top notch in he role. Maybe Wenger finally took in a Wales match...
Yes, pretty much unanimously from everything I've read too. Blatant two handed shove in the back during a cross in. Incredibly stupid as it was unlikely to be a goal anyway.
https://imgtc.com/w/WQ7fpVo
No way he was going to get to that ball. Bad call.You only get a call with 3 hands not 2. Still haven't seen good replay.
I do think it's a penalty.
I also think that happens on most corner kicks without a second glance, so there is a consistency issue to contend with.
I also think that happens on most corner kicks without a second glance, so there is a consistency issue to contend with.
Arsenal have added a new transfer maestro, Raul Sanllehi, who previously played the same role for Barcelona. He is not a Director of Football, more like the new Dick Law but with a somewhat expanded portfolio. Together with the addition of the guy from BvB as chief scout, the club has done a good job recruiting some top level off field talent. Props to Gazidis.
Now for the little problem of Arsene Wenger...
Now for the little problem of Arsene Wenger...
Sounds like this is how they're addressing the Wenger issue - Gazidis has decided he can't come straight for the king, but by chipping away at his power on the periphery, either you make him more likely to abdicate or you make his leadership of the club less all-encompassing.
1996-2006 Wenger might never come back, but by having a serious chief scout and somebody who can negotiate deals and maybe even tell him no, something we haven't had since David Dein, there's some hope on the horizon that Wenger can go back to basics rather than being the all-knowing avatar.
Agreed. It also better positions the club for the post-Wenger transition, whenever that might come.
Lacazette is gonna miss this match on Saturday which absolutely fuckin blows because we've actually looked fearsome with him, Ozil and Alexis all on at the same time.
Lacazette starting. Either he had a miraculous recovery or Wenger played some mind games with Mourinho.
Looks like Atleti, BvB, and Napoli are all going to drop into the Europa League knockouts. That will spice things up.
Arsenal are infuriating at this point to watch. They pass the ball in front of the next 5 more times than they should. Also, what does Jack Wilshere have to do to get in over Xhaka?
Jack did play 90 minutes on Thursday, right? I would expect him to get some action in the league later this month as the holiday fixtures pile up.
Thursday's don't count because Wenger clearly doesn't give a flying fuck about Europa.
Speaking of Europa, we've drawn some team from Sweden that didn't exist when Wenger took over Arsenal.
I wasn't saying, "Jack played on Thursday - that counts." I was saying, "Jack played on Thursday, and he probably shouldn't play two games in four days at this stage; keep him wrapped in cotton wool until he gets the feel for proper Premiership action again."
Gotcha. Yeah, lord knows playing him in back to back games is pushing a red line for him since he's a cripple.
Back to reality: proper shit performance again in the league. Xhaka and Koscielny need to go away. Dreadful performances. Sanchez too.
Wilshere might have been the best guy in an Arsenal shirt today.
Wilshere might have been the best guy in an Arsenal shirt today.
Lots of rumors to the effect that Arsenal may buy Hirving Lozano from PSV this winter to replace Alexis, who will leave over the winter for PSG or over the summer for City. Other rumors are heating up that we may resign Ozil, one assumes because no other big club will match his salary demands. We'll see what transpires but that would be one of the better outcomes possible to a situation that we basically completely fucked up.
In other news, we're into the League Cup semis against Chelsea. We play them three times in January.
In other news, we're into the League Cup semis against Chelsea. We play them three times in January.
Wenger f’ed up. He’s handled this situation about as poorly as any manager could IMO. Negotiating through the press never works well.
Good win today at Selhurt, never an easy place to secure the points.
Every time I've definitively given up any hope for Jack Wilshere, motherfucker gets healthy for a small stretch and puts together a run of games like the last few weeks. So tantalizing but its pretty much a given that he'll be on the injury table again before long.
Every time I've definitively given up any hope for Jack Wilshere, motherfucker gets healthy for a small stretch and puts together a run of games like the last few weeks. So tantalizing but its pretty much a given that he'll be on the injury table again before long.
SELL SELL SELLLLLLLLLLL
He's out of contract after the season. Get 10m for him and run for the hills.
Was a pretty fun game to watch. Seems commentary gets a bit ridiculous to find a penalty for Hazard (NBC Announcers). If Jack Wilshere getting tripped up on one end while leaving his leg in and definitely getting contact..then I also think you can see past Hazard getting a PK here. The guy is constantly looking to go down in the box.
Arsenal was very lucky that Morata had a very off day.
