Given Alexis' injury, I would have to think Wenger sticks with the Aston Villa starters. Maybe Rosicky for Theo or Ozil, but that's about it.
Arsenal 2014-2015: Ugh. Your banter stinks.
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Well, that sucked. But we've only got one tough away fixture left all spring (Old Trafford) and I still feel pretty good about Top 4.
We lost the game in midfield. Ramsey and Santi were both pretty bad today. Our transition play from defense to offense was awful and you cant play conservatively and on the break unless you're good in transition.
We lost the game in midfield. Ramsey and Santi were both pretty bad today. Our transition play from defense to offense was awful and you cant play conservatively and on the break unless you're good in transition.
I don't have any problem with the tactics. The midfield lost the game. Monreal was stout and Mertescielny were very good outside of Kane's header, but you cannot give up that many turnovers and hope to win.
The inability to hold onto the ball when possession was obtained was the big difference between this game and the City game. Arsenal was able to get the ball and get in some counter attacks and alleviate some of the pressure that City was putting on. With Spurs, it was pretty much constant. The midfield was bad, but I don't think Giroud was particularly good either. Usually, he's a stake in the ground to help reclaim the pitch. Just a very disappointing performance overall.
Regardless, I still think the team can chug along.
Regardless, I still think the team can chug along.
The players on the pitch were fine, I'd have liked to see Walcott and Rosicky on a bit earlier but they were pretty useless when they did come on.
If this was baseball, you'd say you have to tip your cap to Harry Fucking Kane. It got a bit messy in the goalmouth and he pounced. Tottenham played a bit deeper than Villa last week and that didn't help, but there's not much to complain about that's worth complaining about.
If this was baseball, you'd say you have to tip your cap to Harry Fucking Kane. It got a bit messy in the goalmouth and he pounced. Tottenham played a bit deeper than Villa last week and that didn't help, but there's not much to complain about that's worth complaining about.
This is pretty much how I felt. Hate to lose to them but at least it was Kane. Extremely likable kid. Wish him nothing but success in his career...especially after he inevitably leaves for Real this summer.Spacemans Bong said:
They were? I thought Rambo, Cazorla, and Welbeck were very poor. A lot of unforced errors and turnovers of possession. We lost the match cuz they got worked in the midfield and those guys poor play had a lot to do with it IMOSpacemans Bong said:
Lineup for Leicester has a front three of Sanchez-Theo-Ozil (who I expect to switch around constantly) and then Rozza coming in for Ramsey in midfield.
I'm pretty interested to see how well this front line works. It could be magic or they could really suffer from the lack of a traditional central striker.
I'm pretty interested to see how well this front line works. It could be magic or they could really suffer from the lack of a traditional central striker.
Ozil so far has:
1. Great through ball for Walcott who should have scored
2. Great through ball for Cazorla who was offside
3. Dribble and shot that forced a great save
4. Assist to Koscielny on the corner kick.
He doesn't do much defensively but I might be wrong about Ozil not doing well playing on the wing in a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1.
1. Great through ball for Walcott who should have scored
2. Great through ball for Cazorla who was offside
3. Dribble and shot that forced a great save
4. Assist to Koscielny on the corner kick.
He doesn't do much defensively but I might be wrong about Ozil not doing well playing on the wing in a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1.
Sanchez hurt in a challenge but 5min later is still wincing, walking gingerly. Pleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokay
Edit: 5min later still, Sanchez is grimacing, stretching out his left knee. Get him off the pitch.
Edit: 5min later still, Sanchez is grimacing, stretching out his left knee. Get him off the pitch.
Yeah, he's still walking around the pitch. I can't tell whether he's hurt or playing possum.blueguitar322 said:
Woohoo. Walcott scores off a rebound from an Ozil strike. Its rare to see Ozil really hit a ball like that from 25 yards but it was a good strike and a clinical first time finish from theo.
Edit: Should have had a third. Theo had Ozil in acres of space if he releases that ball earlier.
Edit: Should have had a third. Theo had Ozil in acres of space if he releases that ball earlier.
2-0 now. Sub on Welbeck, get Sanchez off.
P.S. It looks like Ozil has found his shooting boots. Wicked shot created the opportunity for Walcott.
P.S. It looks like Ozil has found his shooting boots. Wicked shot created the opportunity for Walcott.
Sanchez still on at the start of the second half. Hopefully thr physios took a good long look at his knee and everything checked out.
Leicester should have just scored their second. Not impressed with Koscielny today, he's allowed several great scoring chances.
No kidding it was terrible. For several reasons.
(1) Alexis might be hurt. He didn't look like himself in the 20min he played of the second half.
(2) Ramsey is hurt. He's key to our midfield.
(3) Arsenal did not defend well at all; as I mentioned above, Koscielny had several defensive mistakes and the defense as a whole felt half a step behind.
(4) The ref was allowing Leicester to kick and push any Arsenal player at will.
Theo contributed nothing outside converting 1 of the 2 great chances he had. Ozil didn't create nearly as much in the second half. Rosicky was anonymous. Blah.
If Alexis is okay and Ramsey's injury isn't as bad as feared, I'll be okay with the end result. But boy it wasn't pretty.
(1) Alexis might be hurt. He didn't look like himself in the 20min he played of the second half.
(2) Ramsey is hurt. He's key to our midfield.
(3) Arsenal did not defend well at all; as I mentioned above, Koscielny had several defensive mistakes and the defense as a whole felt half a step behind.
(4) The ref was allowing Leicester to kick and push any Arsenal player at will.
Theo contributed nothing outside converting 1 of the 2 great chances he had. Ozil didn't create nearly as much in the second half. Rosicky was anonymous. Blah.
If Alexis is okay and Ramsey's injury isn't as bad as feared, I'll be okay with the end result. But boy it wasn't pretty.
What about Coquelin? I only caught the last 20 minutes, but he didn't seem the authoritative DM presence he had been before he signed his new contract.
Coquelin had a few key interceptions/tackles. I wouldn't say he had a dominant performance, but it felt like he didn't have much help in the second half, either.
Wenger confirmed in the post-match interview that Ramsey hurt his hamstring again and that it doesnt look good: "I don’t know how bad it is yet. Just visually, it didn’t look good. When a guy stops straight away and sits down, that’s not good news." I'd expect him to be out 4-6 weeks.
Coincidentally, Wilshere is almost ready to return. Looks like Jack will get another chance.
Coincidentally, Wilshere is almost ready to return. Looks like Jack will get another chance.
Wilshere is better going forward then Ramsey is, but his positional sense and defensive ability is far worse. Ramsey is a big loss. Even off-form Ramsey typically puts in a good defensive shift. Arteta is maybe the only player in the squad who brings the same thing to the table without handicapping the offense.
blueguitar322 said:
Um. He is?
Based on what?
Wilshere's lifetime record is 12 goals and 24 assists in 161 appearances
Ramsey's is 33 goals and 30 assists in 215 appearances.
Both count league, UCL, UCL qualifying, league cup and FA cup stats and nothing else.
So again I ask... who's better going forward? Cuz it ain't Jack Wilshere.
My impression has always been that, outside of the three months last season when Ramsey was other-worldly, Jack was the one for sporadic moments of offensive brilliance at the cost of defensive positioning. Honestly it's a subjective opinion and I might very well be wrong. Those statistics certainly make it look like I am.
Regardless, I'm on record a few pages back as saying that I don't think Wilshere will amount to very much, and that Wenger does too much to bend over backwards to include him in the lineup. Wilshere's strength is the same as Ozil's, Cazorla's, and Rosicky's - he's a playmaker. But he doesn't produce like Ozil or Cazorla, and defensively he's abysmal. He records fewer tackles and interceptions per 90 than Ozil, for goodness' sake.
Wilshere and Ramsey aren't similar players, but once Wilshere is healthy, Wenger's record suggests that he'll be getting all of Ramsey's minutes, leaving us with three playmakers who provide little in the way of defensive contribution (Ozil, Wilshere and Cazorla, though it might not quite be fair to Santi to be lumped in with those two) all in front of a defensive midfield who has started fewer than 10 games for the team. I'm not worried about the offense. We'll score goals, particularly with Alexis and Ozil. But all of the defensive lessons learned at City will be distant memories.
Regardless, I'm on record a few pages back as saying that I don't think Wilshere will amount to very much, and that Wenger does too much to bend over backwards to include him in the lineup. Wilshere's strength is the same as Ozil's, Cazorla's, and Rosicky's - he's a playmaker. But he doesn't produce like Ozil or Cazorla, and defensively he's abysmal. He records fewer tackles and interceptions per 90 than Ozil, for goodness' sake.
Wilshere and Ramsey aren't similar players, but once Wilshere is healthy, Wenger's record suggests that he'll be getting all of Ramsey's minutes, leaving us with three playmakers who provide little in the way of defensive contribution (Ozil, Wilshere and Cazorla, though it might not quite be fair to Santi to be lumped in with those two) all in front of a defensive midfield who has started fewer than 10 games for the team. I'm not worried about the offense. We'll score goals, particularly with Alexis and Ozil. But all of the defensive lessons learned at City will be distant memories.
Telegraph: Ramsey out for four weeks
Translated into Arsenal-ese, I expect Ramsey to be back at the beginning of April. If that's the case, he'll miss EPL ties @Crystal Palace, Everton, @QPR, West Ham, and @Newcastle but could be back for Liverpool on April 4. That's really the only upside - the team doesn't play any top-7 teams, though Everton, West Ham and Newcastle are no pushovers. He will likely miss both CL ties against Monaco, though.
The article also says that Sanchez is fine, and Wilshere might be back on Sunday vs Boro.
Translated into Arsenal-ese, I expect Ramsey to be back at the beginning of April. If that's the case, he'll miss EPL ties @Crystal Palace, Everton, @QPR, West Ham, and @Newcastle but could be back for Liverpool on April 4. That's really the only upside - the team doesn't play any top-7 teams, though Everton, West Ham and Newcastle are no pushovers. He will likely miss both CL ties against Monaco, though.
The article also says that Sanchez is fine, and Wilshere might be back on Sunday vs Boro.
When you say Wilshere will get "all of Ramsey's minutes," that's the minutes that Ramsey would be playing if healthy, right? Not over Ramsey?
Yeah, I don't think there's anyone on the team who can replace what Ramsey can bring to both sides of the ball.
Wenger said today that Ramsey only has a grade 1 strain and will be out two weeks. We'll see if that holds but I certainly wouldn't expect him out until April.
This may turn out fine. Wilshere had a pretty good run of form in the fall - some good performances for Arsenal and a run of like three straight games as the best player on the pitch for England in a more reserved role - and it could be a good way to integrate him back into the team. When we start playing midweek again, we'll need squad rotation at the b-2-b midfield spots. It should be pretty obvious at this point that Ramsey needs to be treated carefully and can't just be automatically slotted into the lineup twice a week.
This may turn out fine. Wilshere had a pretty good run of form in the fall - some good performances for Arsenal and a run of like three straight games as the best player on the pitch for England in a more reserved role - and it could be a good way to integrate him back into the team. When we start playing midweek again, we'll need squad rotation at the b-2-b midfield spots. It should be pretty obvious at this point that Ramsey needs to be treated carefully and can't just be automatically slotted into the lineup twice a week.
That's great news. It seems like Sanchez, Ramsey and Koscielny are this year's key core players. Other positions around them can shift and rotate, but when those three are in, the team usually plays very well.
That was fun. Never looked in trouble. Cazorla and Ozil looked masterful. Giroud with great finishing. Cant ask for much more.
And now we wait for Mondays draw
And now we wait for Mondays draw
Only caught the last 30 minutes but everybody seems to say we were dominant throughout, which is a nice rebound after a couple lackluster matches, even against a Championship side.
Obviously it would be nice to have another home game against weaker opposition but I'll be content with any draw except going to Anfield or Old Trafford.
Arsenal
Bradford
Villa
Liverpool
West Brom
Blackburn
Reading
United or Preston
Obviously it would be nice to have another home game against weaker opposition but I'll be content with any draw except going to Anfield or Old Trafford.
Arsenal
Bradford
Villa
Liverpool
West Brom
Blackburn
Reading
United or Preston
Like we don't all know Liverpool and Arsenal will be drawn together while the Mancs get a home game against Bradford City.
Well, that's not going to help with having fewer people call him an "alien."
The one draw I don't want is Bradford away. The pitch for the Sunderland game yesterday looked horrid and I don't want to put our players at risk. Inevitably, I see a match up against United or Liverpool coming at some point, but would prefer it to be in the semis or final. I'd like a home draw for the quarters to continue the month and a half residence in London.
And I haven't even talked about yesterday's performance. Albeit, I don't think Middlesborough took it to us like they did against City (haven't seen the match, correct me if I'm wrong). I also think Arsenal didn't really let them get their feet into the game. Stand out players were definitely Mesut and Santi. They were untouchable in possession and worked every nook and cranny and angle of the pitch. Giroud's finishes were clinical for once and I've got to give him credit for that since I rag on him for all of the chances he wastes. Some goals were probably left on the table, but I'm overall pleased with the performance against a hot lower league side that had everything to prove.
The one draw I don't want is Bradford away. The pitch for the Sunderland game yesterday looked horrid and I don't want to put our players at risk. Inevitably, I see a match up against United or Liverpool coming at some point, but would prefer it to be in the semis or final. I'd like a home draw for the quarters to continue the month and a half residence in London.
And I haven't even talked about yesterday's performance. Albeit, I don't think Middlesborough took it to us like they did against City (haven't seen the match, correct me if I'm wrong). I also think Arsenal didn't really let them get their feet into the game. Stand out players were definitely Mesut and Santi. They were untouchable in possession and worked every nook and cranny and angle of the pitch. Giroud's finishes were clinical for once and I've got to give him credit for that since I rag on him for all of the chances he wastes. Some goals were probably left on the table, but I'm overall pleased with the performance against a hot lower league side that had everything to prove.
Away to Preston NE or (probably) Man Utd. Yuck...although I guess it's not impossible that PNE might win tonight, given that Man City lost to Middlesbrough last time.
Arsenal have had quite a favorable run in the cup the last couple of years. All of the draws last year were at home. This year, the away draw was against Brighton, which was relatively easy. Last round was at home. A draw like this was bound to happen. Just not looking forward to the challenge of going to PNE.
But let's be honest, when we drew the winner of City/Wigan last year, what percentage expected Wigan to advance? Not many if any.
The trip to Old Trafford will break up the near two month stretch of fixtures where Arsenal would not have to leave the capital. The last away match outside of London was against Brighton in the FA Cup January 25th. It will still be a friendly stretch, albeit that trip will stand out on the fixture list alongside the Monaco games. Despite a couple of lackluster performances (like the one against Spurs), I still feel like the team is starting to find its stride.
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