Chelsea v Arsenal: the review part 2 – the teams.

Posted on by Tony Attwood
By Bulldog Drummond 
 
One question that pops up with Chelsea matches is whether Arsenal did the right thing in buying in Cech.
.
Of course these things are always hard to measure, but Oulala.com have come up with a graphic that shows a comparison between Cech and Courtois, and it seems that (as you probably guessed) we got a fairly good deal out of the transfer.

Cech seems to be the winner in each area of the game.  Not by much, but he does come out better.

In terms of the news it is hard to get the exact details of what is going on, but there are stories around that David Luiz is struggling with a knee injury picked up earlier in the season but Antonio Conte cannot risk taking him out of the team.   Presumably everyone knows this, but of course the gentlemen that these players are, the opposition are not targeting the Chelsea man.

The other change that might be made by them involves Pedro who started the game against Liverpool on their version of the beach, but could start this game instead of Willian.

Obviously for us Aaron Ramsey won’t be playing and with Granit Xhaka still suspended, Santi Cazorla a long way from recovery, Elneny still with Egypt, but reportedly injured then it has to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Coquelin in the defensive midfield.

Danny Welbeck will return to the squad I am sure, and might even start, with the option of taking him off on the hour.  I expected to see more of Theo in the game against Watford and he too is quite likely to start.

Giroud didn’t look the part for the first half of the Watford game – although by and large nor did most of our players but still I would expect him to drop to the beach, but we still have too many attackers, and despite being one of the better players against Watford I might fancy him to drop out of the starting XI.

But it is impossible to say exactly what will happen from this distance, and if you are putting any money on anything, I would start by betting that my starting XI below is wrong but probably the simplest thing to say is  that the starting lineup for the forwards and attacking midfield will include four out of Welbeck, Theo, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud, Iwobi.

So onto the match facts.

Chelsea have won their last eight home games, and we all know runs have to come to an end some time.

Arsenal used to have a record about not being behind at various stages of the match, but that was blown.  So now everyone is quoting the fact that Chelsea have been winning at both half time and full time in 6 of their last 8 home matches.   And it is time for that to be blown away as well.

In the last seven matches Chelsea have played at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal they have scored at least two goals.

Chelsea have not conceded in six of their last eight home games.

Chelsea have not conceded in five of their last seven matches against Arsenal.

Chelsea have won six of their last seven home games against Arsenal.

Which explains why all pundits have got Chelsea to win 2-0.  Just as the role of the miserable fan is to predict that the last disaster will continue forever, so the role of the pundit is to say that whatever happened last time will happen again next time.   It clearly doesn’t always happen, because if it did, then nothing would ever change.

Of course we all know luck when we see it, and apart for the luck of no injuries, Chelsea this week had the luck of extending their lead at the top of the league while only drawing.

Thus it is time for the runs to end, and time for luck to change.  Here’s the team to do it.

Cech

Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal

Coquelin  The Ox

Walcott Ozil Alexis

Welbeck

On the beach

Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Iwobi, Giroud, Lucas, Maitland-Niles.

my nerves!

Woolwich Arsenal: 1893-1915: The Club That Changed Football by [Attwood, Tony, Kelly, Andy, Andrews, Mark]

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178 Replies to “Chelsea v Arsenal: the review part 2 – the teams.”

  3. Team selection is good 🙂

    Coq needs to pace any tackles he does, preferable having to do none by just blocking any developing attack. We do not want a red card, what with the ref, don’t want to make it easy for him.

    We know that the team knows it has to be up for the game and ready for anything. Chel$ now have a good coach who can surprise you.

    Anyway, feeling is that we should win really, don’t want a draw, but i suppose i would take it.

  4. Hazard was also reported as a doubt yesterday but I guess he will play to get their proverbial penalty by falling over Koscielny’s foot. With Atkinson in charge, that will be a stone-wall penalty for Chelsea.

    I also expect Ozil to do pretty much nothing today because a) he will be kicked by Matic and Kante without any protection from the refs and b) Ozil has never created or scored a goal at Stamford Bridge for us. He is not our lucky charm in big away games – since his arrival we have beaten Spuds (2013-14) and City (2014-15) away in the league and Ozil didn’t play in either of those games.

    Oxlade-Chamberlain has played very few games in the middle of the pitch for us and one of those was in that 6:0 defeat when he was the worst player on the pitch. Then again, he didn’t have Coquelin next to him in that game.

    Welbeck, Walcott and Alexis might be the trident that will rip Chelsea a new one. A lot of pace, aggression and ability to score among them.

    Theo has a special feeling for Chelsea as he was instrumental in our last three league victories over them and scored in each one of them. He is also the last Arsenal player to score at Stamford Bridge as he got us a consolation goal in 2:1 defeat in 2012-13. Atkinson was in charge and Chelsea got their opener after Ramires fouled Coquelin.

    Which leads me to my conclusion: Atkinson will be too much for us today, even if Duego Costa fails to deliver a goal. That being said, our form is similar to our form from this period of the season last year so I expect us to lose 3:1. Some will blame the ref, second group will blame the manager, third group will blame the players, Michael Owen will say something stupid and so will Paul Merson… Same ol’, same ol’.

    Anyway, when the game starts, this prediction will be put into a bin and I will hope for the change of luck in this fixture.

    COYG!

  5. Oh, yes – it’s a match between two managers who have won one of the 5 top leagues in Europe without a single defeat. (Insert your “No, Steve Bould hasn’t won the league without a defeat” joke if you must.)

  6. Both Arsenal and Chelsea will want to win this game to improved on their standings in the table. But Arsenal should be desperate to win this particular game to recover their recently lost ground in the table. I believe the team that plays the better game and scores the winning goal or goals will win this game but only if the match officials who will officiate the game will allow which of the two team that plays the better game and scored the winning goal or goals to stand without any undue interference with the outcome of the game by intentionally swaying the result of game to favour one of the two teams. I hope all the four Pgmol officials who will officiate in this game will forbid anything that will be tantamount to tempering with what should have been the correct result of this game by them.

    The big question I’ve asked myself is, can and will the Gunners play the superior better game and score the winning goal or goals in their today’s game against the Blues, knowing fully well within their minds what this will translate to for them and us in the table? Of course I believe the Gunners know this. And they should be able to discharge this singular responsibility today by totally focusing and be unrivalledly determined to overcome whatever the Blues have on offer in all aspects of the game against them. More so as they have the capacity in themselves as Gunners to do this job successfully today.

    Le Prof’s starts and the bench can impact a positive outcome in the game for us today at the Bridge in this afternoon kickoff game he succeeded in making the correct starts and bench that can and will play the superior game and score the winning goal or goals against Chelsea.

    My advice starts and bench again for this game are as below:

    Ospina Bellerin Mustafi Gibbs
    Maitland-Niles Chamberlain
    Walcott Ozil Welbeck
    Sanchez.

    Bench:
    Czech Paulista Holding Monreal Coquelin Iwobi Giroud.
    I’ve decided to start all our pacy Gunners for this game to play the game at sustainable high tempo to the final whistle. And for his howler in our last Watford game at the Ems and for his inability to save penalties, I’ve dropped Cech to the bench for Ospina who is going for a crucial CL game next week to start this game to enabled him to sharpen up his form ahead of the Bayern Munich game and also am expecting him to perform better against Chelsea today than Cech is likely to performed. Giroud could come on at a stage in the game to impact on it for us even if we are winning the game to further win it. I hope Le Prof will agree with me.

  7. Both Arsenal and Chelsea will want to win this game to improved on their standings in the table. But Arsenal should be desperate to win this particular game to recover their recently lost ground in the table. I believe the team that plays the better game and scores the winning goal or goals will win this game but only if the match officials who will officiate the game will allow which of the two team that plays the better game and scored the winning goal or goals to stand without any undue interference with the outcome of the game by intentionally swaying the result of game to favour one of the two teams. I hope all the four Pgmol officials who will officiate in this game will forbid anything that will be tantamount to tempering with what should have been the correct result of this game by them.

    The big question I’ve asked myself is, can and will the Gunners play the superior better game and score the winning goal or goals in their today’s game against the Blues, knowing fully well within their minds what this will translate to for them and us in the table? Of course I believe the Gunners know this. And they should be able to discharge this singular responsibility today by totally focusing and be unrivalledly determined to overcome whatever the Blues have on offer in all aspects of the game against them. More so as they have the capacity in themselves as Gunners to do this job successfully today.

    Le Prof’s starts and his bench can impact a positive outcome in this game for us today at the Bridge in this afternoon kickoff game if he succeeded in making the correct starts and bench for the game that can and will play the superior game and score the winning goal or goals against Chelsea.

    My advice starts and bench again for this game are as belows: bellows

    Ospina Bellerin Mustafi Gibbs
    Maitland-Niles Chamberlain
    Walcott Ozil Welbeck
    Sanchez.

    Bench:
    Czech Paulista Holding Monreal Coquelin Iwobi Giroud.
    I’ve decided to start all our pacy Gunners for this game to play the game at sustainable high tempo to the final whistle. And for his howler in our last Watford game at the Ems and for his inability to save penalties, I’ve dropped Cech to the bench for Ospina who is going for a crucial CL game next week to start this game to enabled him to sharpen up his form ahead of the Bayern Munich game and also am expecting him to perform better against Chelsea today than Cech is likely to performed. Giroud could come on at a stage in the game to impact on it for us even if we are winning the game to further win it. I hope Le Prof will agree with me.

  11. Whatever they have to say they won’t be humiliating themselves on someone else’s football blog praising rubbish footballers like Andross Townsend (Jnr)

    Not a good look!

  14. The Completely Useless Nonsensical Twat who can’t tell his Townsend from his bell-end is making an even bigger arse of himself than the arse of himself that he usually makes.
    UTA

  17. Atkinson on his select work. Chooses to give the foul against Arsenal from 30 yds but does not see Alexis fouled from 10yds.

  20. Alonso with a leading elbow into Bellerin before heading for goal. Atkinson or his assistant see nothing.

  24. I hope someone elbows Atkinson in the face during the game also. That is ridiculous that was not a foul by Alonso on Bellerin

  25. alternative facts

    Danny Mills
    Fantastic cross into the box, pinpoint perfect for Diego Costa.
    His header is straight off the cross bar but I tell you what, Alonso bullies Bellerin out of the way, it’s a fantastic header. He’s more determined, it’s real top quality play from Alonso.

    But as a defender, Bellerin has to be stronger in his own six-yard box.

    !!!!

  27. alternative reality

    Danny Mills
    There is contact, but both players are coming for the ball.
    I don’t think it’s a foul. Some people will say foul, some will say not. I’m pretty sure Alan Shearer wouldn’t say it was a foul ,especially if it was him who scored the goal!

  29. The commentators about hectors injury: it wasn’t a foul, a player is entitled to protect himself when he goes up for a ball. Yeah, by elbowing someone in the @$#$$!$$$#$@@!!$$$@@ face! This is insane. The PGMO AND the media have it all cooked up, oh well, at least I have a shot at the title in my FIFA 17 career mode..

  31. Commentator saying that the elbow was a consequence of wanting the ball more!.

    Handball by Hazard before contact from Mustafi but blindness is selective.

  32. If the commentators and media won’t even consider that it ‘might’ have been a foul then what hope do we have that we will ever have an even playing field.

    Text book dangerous play, leading with his elbow, hit the defender before he headed the ball.

    “Alonso’s challenge would be a foul anywhere else on the pitch, but when it’s a goal then it’s a great challenge? Inconsistent.
    Ross, obviously an Arsenal fan.”

    Then the BBC add this to the only post they allow stating the obvious in a pathetic attempt to take away from his point.. “obviously an Arsenal fan”..

  33. The glee in which this booth of 3 are describing the game, using phrases like “men against boys” and a team with no shape is downright sickening. I hate the media right now

  34. Atkinson giving the odd foul against his Chelsea love but no cards till Valentines day. Then he will expect Cahill to ………….

  35. We can take them if we stop panicking a little.
    Will be a different second half, trust me! 🙂

  38. Henry said fair foul ob Bellerin hahaha says it all, same shit different day evens out about as good as my arse. We win this it will be epic 11 against 14

  40. What are you talking you about you dip shots? He scored fair and square. Man up you lousy tuckers. Otherwise hope they score five past us to get this guy out of the club

  41. Gabriel making the classic error of not following through on Courtois with his elbow there with that headed chance.

    needs to improve his heading technique!

  42. The hand of G*D
    Or
    Riley’s elbows.

    Think the dude who won the WC had the right idea as opposed to the chap whose efforts have led to such great results against the likes of Iceland and Costa Rica.

  44. A supposed “fan” there wishing for our team to loose (and by 5 goals, no less) and therefore ending our title bid. How you could possible consider yourself an arsenal supported when you think in such a disgracefully negative way. How about you just fuck off, yeah? Go “support” a different team, if you genuinely wish that the current one you “support” actually looses games.

  45. Aki – go screw yourself in a bucket. It was a red card foul & would have been if Chelsea were defending.

  52. Their goal was a fair goal.Both players had their eyes on the ball when challenging and although the elbow of the chelsea player hit bellerin there was no intent.It is inevitable that there is going to be contact when 2 players come together like that and challenge anyone on here bleating about deliberate contact to try and jump without using their arms for leverage.Its near on impossible.Some on here have no understanding of the game of football and have never played the game.Stop showing yourselves up with constantly criticising the referees.No wonder this site isnt taken seriously..

  53. foul is a foul Mac leading with your elbow is a foul then we get penalsed for just touching a chelsea player hence their second goal

  54. Costa repeated fouling but suddenly its a counting matter. He didn’t count for Mustafi!!

  55. Same official that missed the elbow on Bellerin just stopped an arsenal attack after a Chelsea player clashed heads with his own player.

    I guess that is how it all evens out in the end.

    Good thing these Expert Groaners come here in order to expose that they are not watching above what happens on the football pitch.

  56. Menace what’s your opinion on the second goal? Shall we blame the mole in the ground for that?

    Useless bunch of clowns. Sutton fc will be licking their ?

    Bayern can play their reserves an win

  58. Mac if the same were done by a defender it would be a pen & a red card. So don’t talk about not playing the game.

  60. We as a team can’t cope with pressure. You only need to look at the Warford game. We can’t bully a result, they can’t even a string two passes at the mo. We the fans didn’t expect a fair game how can the team today!

  63. Aki 2nd goal was fair but Mustafi got booked after Hazard handled the ball & Atkinson chose not to see it.

  68. Va Cong

    Teams adjust according to the game, we went in expecting an open game, with a ref who will fuck us over, you know this!

  71. Gabriel making the classic error of brushing hazards ear with his arm, no chance of Atkinson missing that one!

    Clear and present bias. Right there. Unfolding upon the pitch.
    It takes effort to ignore the football whilst watching the football.

    Fortunately the Experts will be telling us it all evens out in he he end.

  72. What do these ex pros who are pundits know about the game of football??Theyve only played the game for 20 years mostly at the top level.Id much rather take the word of half a dozen untold posters whove never kicked a ball in their life and watch the games from their dodgy streams abroad..Lol

  76. dan its called frustration we are pissed off imagine playing on the field constantly getting kicked

  77. Mac how many O levels between the panel? They play the game. They don’t know the Laws. So you’d rather have one of those dumb ass twats as your teacher.

  81. Ah well, we are showing no signs of improving so another 3 points lost, another season the same.

    Cech is still on Chel$ payroll feh true, thats two goals now! 🙁

    Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

  82. Va

    I’ve witnessed this for too long mate, once the pressure is off we’ll look like world beaters.

  83. shit hppns

    at least atcinson can relax now
    everybody will forget about his ‘little’ gift

  84. Yeah Menace its just so many (+50) matches you can take by trying to be better than the ref morale has hit a low poor players

  86. AL we will never win the league everytime we get close we get fucked so hard by the ref we can barely walk again

  90. I think this is the end of AW at Arsenal. The players are physically weak. Got out muscled every where.

  93. Dan look what happened with chelsea last year they can’t handle pressure? its bullshit arsenal also get worse in the season but some how totenscum nad liverpoo are still in the title push with the same points there is way more pressure on arsenal and constantly under the microsocpe KLopps dealing with loss well

  95. As usual we never learn. Totally naive and tactically inept. If smacking your head against a wall doesn’t work just keep doing it. God knows how many times times Chelski have spanked us over the last 10 years?!!!

  96. There’s no excuse for the pathetic performance today, even though Giroud scores.
    Lack of leadership out there today, and Danny should have started. We did not close down enough and was not focused, giving the ball away, we cannot have expected to win that.

  98. One little shit takes a poster ‘enough is enough’ to Chelsea & thinks he is a supporter. The media will have a field day with that one twat.

  99. Seriously are we still blaming the ref and not the lack of motivation and tactics in the team?

  100. Va

    Our consistency in the top four is no doubt, but title challenge, that is another story. Scumpool and spuds have spent more than us in the last 10yrs. Chelsea still did the double over us last year, everyone else beat them!

  101. Para bellerin injury and they dodgy goal pretty much beginning of the end fouls by chelsea not given on counter easy work akitson otherwise we would have got a red card so chelsea win easier it was plain to see

  102. dan you did watch us get screwed last year and your point being? 4-5 games like that we are out of the title rice

  103. Aki – I see the PGMOL all season half of it at the Ems & I know how corrupt they are & how stupid you are. If you support your kids like that they will end up on drugs.

    If you walk down the road & every 3 or 4 steps someone beats you what do you think will happen after 500 yards? This is what Arsenal have to cope with every game in the EPL.

  104. 5th gooner we were doing ok then shit goal lost the plot and down hill after ref was still shit not calling fouls when there were fouls

  105. This side needs to invest this summer. Not enough midfield quality, not enough quality at fullback (Bellerin aside), and not enough variety in skillsets. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of folks blaming the referee, but Arsenal just sucked today.

  106. Va Cong don’t explain to the blind that God has gifted with sight & little intelligence. I hope Wenger stays for another 3 years as he is incomparable.

  107. Va

    Yes we got screwed last year as we got screwed today, but this happens every season, so why expect a fair game each time!

  108. Menace
    Clearly Aki was impressed with Gary Neville’s coaching on display in Valencia and against Iceland LOL! He wrote it, not me!

  109. We do not need players. We need honest officiating. The FA stink with their corrupt appointment of PGMOL a secret group of cheating bastards.

  110. Va, I’m an AW supporter through and through, but I fear the abuse towards him will grow and it doesn’t matter how thick skin he is, it will eat inside him. I hope he won’t go but I fear he will.

  112. Mac posts

    ‘What do these ex pros who are pundits know about the game of football??”

    Enought to get invited onto TV, make a living out of it, and don’t put themselves on the line by becoming a manager.

    There are hundreds of ex-pros who have played football and you don’t see them on TV. You ever ask yourself why you don’t see them?

    On your argument, one ex-pro should be as good as the next ex-pro.

  113. G.Neville on Sky blathering his usual ‘Arsenal don’t do this, Arsenal don’t do that, how can they win the league with this player and that player and whatever…’ conveniently forgetting we comfortably beat this same Chelsea team earlier this season. They got their win back today. Congratulations. Considering us and Spurs were closest it follows that us and Spurs were the only realistic chance of stopping Chelsea, therefore it’s over to the Spuds to see what they can do, since the overblown and overhyped Manchester machine has been as rubbish at mounting a serious challenge as the Scousers.

  114. Va

    Winger has been and is great for us, because of him I support Arsenal, because of him we’ve become this world brand recognised anywhere, because of him we have this Stadium, because of him we have had and still gave these world class players, I wish we can have him for the next 10yrs, so credit where credit is due, but in recent times we just don’t take the big games seriously! Very naive on too many occasions.

  115. From The Mirror:

    ‘Marcos Alonso’s opening goal should have been disallowed as he led with his arm, elbowed Hector Bellerin first and then scored.

    But on first glance from the press box, it looked fine. Only on the TV replay in the press box at half time could you get a better view.

    That’s why we need video technology to help referees.’

  116. Flares

    I give credit to Neville highlighting the moron with the banner, however his coaching credentials is nothing short of remarkable as Valencia still haven’t recovered from his know how!

  117. gouresh – did you see the performance of Iwobi? He was Man of the Match not Hazard. Chec made 2 errors both 2nd & 3rd goals.

    The club is a commercial entity that funds a football team. It does not have sugar daddies pumping in ill gotten gains. The shareholders own the shares & indirectly the club. The club is managed by Wenger on the footballing side & by Gazidis on the commercial side. It is a well run profit making enterprise. It is not Fantasy League.

  118. Finsbury when did I even mention Gary negille?

    My point is simple and stop hiding behind the ref ffs you just look like idiots.

    There was no motivation, no fight and the same old rubbish we’ve seen from the Watford game
    And this boils down to the management. He needs to leave, he’s been a great servant to the club but the time had now come to part ways, unfortunately he won’t leave till his contract is up but hopefully now he can see he’s not the man for this job.

    Sutton and Bayern will confirm this.

  119. You’re right menace only way is how to show refs are incompetent? its all full circle peple making money wont want to be exposed

  120. If you think anyone can win despite the PGMOL selected representative in the middle then you do not understand the power of corrupt game management. You do not need to have kicked a ball to make money out of todays game. The agents, officials & the FA have become wealthy without basic education.

    There are several aspects of the game that are ignored by the glory hunting fans. Those generally get pulled to the Chelseas, & Uniteds because of the glamour.

  121. Menace the only brain dead one on here is you..Post anywhere else apart from here and you will be found out for what you are..clueless and would be laughed off any message board. .You really show yourself up as someone who hasnt got a clue about football.

  123. The lads played far better today then they did against Watford. If they allow the first goal to stand, as they have done, then somebody in the game of football will eventually have a life crippling injury. A reckless challenge.

    The lads played with purpose, played without fear, but there was little movement and consequently the passing lacked pace, guile, and accuracy.

    If the FA Cup throws a third game between these then we’ll get a fairer idea of the actual difference in quality between these two teams.

  124. Watched this with a Millwall supporting neighbour who hates Arsenal & Chelsea equally. His opinion was that we are soft, stand no chance of winning anything this season and Atkinson was even handed (although poor). Have to agree with him on at least one of those to be honest.

  125. Mac I know nothing. You are the smartest thing since the ball was filled with air. In fact you are probably the air that fills the ball.

  126. I just hope Walter is enjoying the studio and Tony is happily dancing. Poor old Fabregas looked embarrassed putting the final nail in. Big players not showing up again but hard to imagine them getting 250 thou a week at the EMs but where else can they go. Good, but not good enough.

  128. One little shit takes a poster ‘enough is enough’ to Chelsea & thinks he is a supporter. The media will have a field day with that one twat.
    Hes not a proper supporter like you menace..Watching from a dodgy stream in india.

  130. We get beaten but it as usual on Untold to blame the referee,how do you people reason and come to conclusion it’s the refs fault we get beaten by a way better team.last 4 losses,its always the refs fault. Wheat are you guys smoking?…we were simple not good enough today..look at hazards goal?…a masterpiece. Was it the refs fault, was it the refs fault that cech passed to fabregas. It’s pathetic you are sore losers..i support arsenal and I feel hurt whenever we loose but i’ll never ever believe it’s the refs fault whenever we lose as its very pathetic.lets be truthful, they played better..hazard,moses,pedro and kante were bossing our players…we were simply outplayed..

  131. Ego

    Even though I agree with some Of The points, this ref was a wanker as usual and we always have him at the dirty bridge!

  132. @ menace…not trolling but have we ever lost and you didn’t feel we lost because the ref is biased?..everytime we lose you are always moaning,every single time!!!

  133. Dan
    I respect your opinion but I just feel we were well beaten by a better team. They are the best team in the PL presently, we can’t help it..when we won at the Emirates it was sweet,now we lose and we just have to accept it the way it is.

  134. That first goal should never have stood.

    The game was made into a different game because Bellerin had to go off and the goal was allowed to stand.

    The decision to allow that goal was the referee’s.

  135. @ ego
    I agree but here you dont see aresenal fans most likely Arsene lawyers/solicitors.
    And i will tell you …..no one can much them…lol

    Mr Wenger his days are over.Simple….His recruits let him down badly.
    To stick with the likes of Wally Ramsey—for a decade it tells you his sell by date had expired probably seven years ago.

  136. Chelski in recent times have been not much more than a pack of thugs & showed today that under the benevolent gaze of a disgrace in black reverted to type.

    I am not surprised at the result.

    England will not develop a decent national team while the clowns in black – for whatever reason – support thuggery.

  137. Ego

    U are right we were beaten by the better team, then the ref should need sprinkle his magic dust, then again we do press the self destruct button on these types of games!

    Yes Wingers days may be over, don’t be too surprised if our days end there too.

  138. Too many morons whom follow the MSM calling for Wenger to go, who can currently steer our team, and is available!

  140. Wenger to go and get Gary Neville, he knows what his talking about, just listen too him, how about that while sky pundits including Henry, he can’t do no wrong!

  141. Alex posts

    ”I agree but here you dont see aresenal fans most likely Arsene lawyers/solicitors.”

    Old union rep here, and if any of my members had taken an elbow in their neck I’d have called the cops in to get the offender done for assault.

    You can get away with it in the EPL – why?

  142. Hull smelling blood……and the Spuds reject will love it……

    No we are going to win that one comfortabily and everyone will come with MENTAL STRENGTH …thing

  144. Something far worse than blaming the refs when we lose is being happy Arsenal lost as a supposed Arsenal fan, you all know who you are… go do something else if your life is so miserable that this is what makes you happy.

    A goal down and an injured player is a big disadvantage in a game against a top team, it may not have cost us the game but it certainly didn’t help. Personally I think not taking our chances was the main problem, had Gabriel finished that free header then perhaps we could have got something from the game as we might not have left ourselves so open in defence.

  145. @Zedsaunt

    Ball comes to Air Bellerin defends properly destabilise Costa ….ball hit post and PeterCheck is slow to get up .Alonso was there sniffing for any opportunities……and our IDIOT BRAINLESS FEO was watching him and decided not to do anything .Alonso runs unchecked and poor Bellerin with his eye on the ball jumps in the air and the collusion occured with already jumping at high speed Alonso.ALonso scores and Bellerin is floored …may recover quick.

    EAsily preventable situation had we had just a normal player with just little brain would have marked Alonso and that will be that.

    Unfortunately we have Wenger pets .Like Ramsey–Feo who are un-droppable and we suffer the consequences.

    We do not lost the game in that incident.
    1-0 is not the end of the day for any 11 proper player in the field .
    So blaming refs ….excuses will not win us trophys.

  146. Dan
    Who would want to manage arsenal??Who would want to work in the capital??Who would want to work at one of the top clubs in europe??who would want to manage at a ground like the emirates??Who would want to work for 8 million a year???Who would want to manage a club where they have 2 billionaire owners and one of the largest cash reserves in football?

    Im sure we could entice some of the top managers in world football.Thats if we decide to show some ambition.

  147. Lots of cheating as usual from the officials at least the glory hunters from legrove and the Online Gooner will be happy.

  149. Mac

    Who can nature our youth, who can unearth gems, who can play football with our expected style, who can bring new ideas and gel them to our potential. Talking about money is easy, but steering a club of our size, isn’t, we are not an administration laden Chelsea or a begging bowl City!

  150. Alex

    He wasn’t there sniffing. He went in at speed, off the ground, without control of his body, Bellerin eyes on the ball automatically at risk.

    Sniffing isn’t leaping in the air at speed. Sniffing is what it says it is – nose on the ground picking up the scent.

  151. Please list all the saviours of Arsenal we should have had instead of Mr Wenger.

    List them here for next week on the bus when strangers give the 101 reasons Mr Wenger is useless and years past his sell by date.

    Pep….Klopp…..Redknapp….Martinez…..Low…

  152. Mac

    If I’m mistaken then the big spender from Manchester, which is utd, finished ahead of us in the last 3 seasons. If Winger’s sell by date is over due i’d hate to think about Mourinho’s!

  153. Alonso …..Sniffing of any opportunities

    Wally …..not bothered

    This is the starting point for me ……..Alonso he should not be allowed to run at first
    This is what you missing.

    Alonso was sniffing … saw the ball and went on speed and the Wenger pet (Feo) has no idea of what is going to happen.He does not have football brain.

    Had Alonso been at the receiving end you would not come here and say what you saying.

  154. Walter and Tony will need to get on here and steady ship. They are missing like Wenger – this is when everyone is needed. Maybe no one has the stomach.

  155. Could’ve had Conte in the summer 🙂 Klopp the year before. Both play blistering football, are fresh tactically and take no crap.

  157. Alex

    ‘This is the starting point for me ……..Alonso he should not be allowed to run at first’

    Sorry I am not quite sure how Theo could have prevented Alonso from running toward the ball from the position he was in.
    Tell us how Theo could have stopped him from making the run.

  158. Klopp the saviour, I knew this week was gonna be Shit for us, the hinter coming from the Watford game.

    A scumpool fan even said see in 6th come Monday, karma is a Bitch!

    My choice would be neither scumpool or the manc’s finish in the top four, be good riddance to bad rubbish!

  160. Walter

    Me thinks it will be the defining weekend for the Chavz.

    The super scumpool just failed, and I think the pressure is off for all the rest of us.

  161. @MickHazel
    I will try to find a link and post here ,,,,but the sky people did highlited the footage

  163. Regarding the Alonso assault on Bellerin where some say you have to protect your self with your elbows, Bellerin jumped and his arms are pointing down when Alonsos’ arm hits him across the throat. Dangerous play and a red card! Without question

  164. I thought Arsene set this team up brilliantly today, moving Ozil wide to put Iwobi in the middle to help neutralize the midfield disadvantage. Ozil is worthless out wide, but I really felt like the adjustment gave Arsenal a chance in a game that they really didn’t have much of one.

    I know Ozil was looking terrible, but I have no idea what prompted the decision to swap him with Iwobi instead of simply replacing him with Welbeck, Perez, or Sanchez (with Giroud brought on). As soon as Mesut moved back to the #10 role, the makeshift midfield behind him got destroyed.

    First goal shouldn’t have stood, though I wasn’t sure it was a foul until I saw a few different angles, but any chance this side had to get a result went away the second they went back to the damn 4-2-3-1. The club just didn’t have the players today to use it against a good side without getting demolished.

  165. On aggregate we beat Chelsea, 4-3, so we get the “we beat the champions trophy”, for the second year in a row, got to be happy with that.

  166. just back from our supporters club Newyears reception and rushed to write an article that will go on line right now.

  167. Iwobi and Monreal need to have a few special defensive training together, that combo is the weak link. The opponents know it’s the weak link hence why they keep attacking that side, and with success as well. I think either Welbeck or Lucas should replace Iwobi in the starting lineup in big matches and sub him on later.

  169. @Dan, my knowledge is crap and it’s an opinion of my observation. But do you see where most of the opponent’s attack come from? I wish I could talk to AW that would be a dream but impossible so only alternative to express my opinion is on this great forum.

  170. Walter
    Klopp is in his first season with liverpool not his 21st .His squad isnt a patch on ours.His team has already outplayed us once this season and deep down you know that he has the credentials to be a top top manager ,thats if he isnt one already.Hes young ,dynamnic,tactically astute and a big character ,and as already shown at dortmund has everything it takes to get to the top.That is something i cannot say sadly anymore about Arsene Wenger.

  171. ego – win or lose the referees are shit. I have always watched the referees as the players play the game that is managed by the referees. The referees in England have bee absolute shit for over 15 years. They were shit when we were playing in Highbury. Wiley, Riley & Bennet were absolute bollocks when is came to officiating. If you or the idiot Mac had any experience of the professional game you would know what I am talking about. Only Untold Arsenal covers the subject of officiating with stats. Only this site has a view I recognise as being correct & on the right lines. I have watched Arsenal from the North Bank for over 30 years & been a season ticket holder at the ems from the undefeated season.

    I pay for Star TV & watch on live TV in winter as I can afford to spend winter in a warm climate. The problem with many English Sunday players is that they think the big lad is the best because he can bully every other player. That is not football. It is typical bully boy game in the park. Any skill is kicked and that is why England end up being shit in the International arena. The media pundits are of a similar ilk. They are bully boys & destroy the skill out of the game.

  172. Sorry for being absent ( 6 hr tour in Berlin great fun ) firstly stop dissing Menace .
    Menace is Untolds Les Dawson we would be lost ( laughter wise ) without him .
    We lost to the best side in the league today with a depleted side probably the most likely outcome .
    So not the end of the world hell we’ve been living it for the last 14 yrs so what’s new .

    Anyway I’ve secured my ticket for Sutton so everything is super looking good cool ( hope we don’t fuck that one up ). X

  173. Thick and thin Gooners turn up so where are .
    Mandy Dodd , Nicky , Andy Crawshaw , Walter ,Kampala ,OMG and Uncle Tom Cobley and all .
    We win and lose together best learn that one .

  174. It was truly a disappointing game , especially after losing Bellerin to a red-cardable offence. Not enough for even a yellow ? It was an elbow to head first, to take out the player then only the head to ball ! Anywhere else on the pitch it would have been called a foul . Video reviews stat please !

    We were poor in handling the 2nd goal. It was almost a gift as the third was.We must learn to be more pragmatic in handling the tilted pitch.

    As for the so called bleeding smart arsed ‘hurting Arsenal fans’ on here …..the less said the better !

    And oh , not all on here are lawyers and solicitors – some of us are doctors and self made millionaires too ! Just saying it , to keep it real of course !

  175. Quotable medical quote :

    ” Obesity is not because it runs in the family .It is because no one runs in the family !”

    Or works ; or thinks healthy ; or from probably standing too long in the dole queue !
    And in the pub after that ! Where the great thinkers of our age hangout !

    In America , ‘runs’ also means diarrhea (or diarrhoea ) – which can be taken to mean that you are constipated or really full of it ! So when you do have ‘the runs ‘ , you tend to feel lighter and more clear headed as though a great weight has been removed !

    Insanity runs in families is because no one in the family is sane in nuff !

  176. Sorry Walter, didn’t realise it was instant success that was wanted here. Are you saying Klopp is a bad manager? Or just not good enough for Arsenal. I think he is a very stabilising, great tactically and has a lot to prove. I would have thouhht that sort of man was perfect. Still I suppose if you just want the finished article hand delivered to the Ems then you should wait for Jose to ruin Utd and move on again.

  177. Shoot – you are the pride of Untold. Without you nothing would happen. Best brain ever to have been considered for the game. Find yourself a partner or is that your problem? shoot is a dream (erectile dysfunction)

  178. @Mac

    Sadly, Klopp has already shown a lot of signs of a manager who stubbornly believe he is the smartest one even if the facts don’t support his belief.

    Firstly, he has a blind spot for goalkeepers. He had kept Roman Weidenfeller, the German Almunia, for years even if the goalkeeper is dubbed “Weidenfehler” (“Fehler” means “a flaw” in German) for his ability to give a humorous moment for the opponents’ fans. He has kept Mignolet at Liverpool and added a goalkeeper of a similar quality without actually improving that position. An example of a poor estimation.

    Secondly, Liverpool had been warned in their very first match against under-strength Arsenal team (without Mesut, Koscielny, Mustafi, Giroud…and with unfit Bellerin, Ramsey and Cazorla) that they have a poor left full-back in Moreno. Klopp decided to put a make-shift left full-back there which worked but only on a short term as demands of that position exceed what James Milner, a versatile midfielder, can offer. Also, Moreno wasn’t their weakest link since the beginning of this season but way, way before (remember Bellerin’s goal in 4:1 thrashing?). An example of a poor estimation.

    Thirdly, Klopp hasn’t found a Plan B. If any of their impressive front four is out due to injury or international duty, the magic of their attack disappears and they become ineffective. He had known since August that his attacking options would be limited, especially when Mane leaves them for Senegal, but decided against signing new attackers. An example of a poor planning.

    Fourthly, Klopp hasn’t found a way to play when the opponents leave possession to his team. That was his major flaw at Borussia Dortmund as well.

    Fifthly, Klopp hasn’t found out what to do with Sturridge, their best central forward (in theory, that is). An example of a poor management of their top striker. Sturridge didn’t forget how to play or how to score goals but for some reason, it looks like he did.

    Finally, Klopp’s Liverpool have had quite a few problems with injuries. The same thing happened at Borussia Dortmund.

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