We can forget about this crap for now.
And a free week next week.
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We can forget about this crap for now.
And a free week next week.
We could still lose out on a top 8 place if we get battered in both games and all the teams on 12 points or more win both {other than BM who just need a win or a win and a draw.} Though LFC and AM have GDs of +3 compared to our +16.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Also we want to be top seeds, I reckon, so winning the group would be a touch.
I haven't checked the fixtures but wouldn't be surprised if some of those teams are playing each other. And the goal difference thing is just ridiculous. It's done, and where you finish in the top 8 means nothing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Also, we finish at home to Slavia Prague. Our second or third string would be capable of scraping a point off them if absolutely essential.....
Time to wheel out the crap for the Inter game. If I was Arteta I wouldn't even go myself. Send the coaching staff and the kids.
But I want us to win in the San Siro again. We used to spend a lot of time in St Martin in the French West Indies. One of our French mates - Alban, a PSG fan - had a Manc gf, Corina. They came over to Blighty and I took Alban to AFC-Inter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
They went 2-0 up, Titi missed a pen and they scored a third all before HT. When I came out, Alban said to me "That's great cos I'm a MU fan." I thought that's bang out of order. If it mate takes you to a game, your duty bound to support their team. Especially when we both flown out 3 years before to watch the France-Italy Euro 200 final with them.
Two months after the Inter game, we were back in St Martin and I found this tiny Internet caf? to listen to radio commentary of the second half of the return fixture. I had my headphones on and when the fourth and fifth went in I was jumping up screaming yes, getting disapproving looks from the lady who ran it and the two schoolboys there.
So I want us to win again. As it will bring back the memories. I think we were the only team then who would ever lost their first three games in the group stages and then went on to qualify. Would be lovely to finish this league stage with a 100% record.
Right. Arteta and Heinze might even fancy a game, not to mention the set piece coach and the kit man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Liverpool are the only side on 12 points not in top 8. It would need a 13 goal swing and the 7 teams below us to not **** up either, it's a done deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
How good did Gabi Jesus look when he came on?! Oh my.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
So refreshing to have him back and it looked like he's never been away. He should be able to play through the middle until Havertz is back (maybe after Everton).
Think we all need to be honest that Gyokeres' style is a really poor fit for Arsenal and it's not likely to work.
I think we need to give Gyokeres time to settle in and get fully fit. Then we will have a fair assessment of just how **** he is :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Jesus looked like is old self- a very good footballer and a **** finisher.
Gyokeres is fully fit now. Jesus has been out for a year and looked significantly better. I'm willing to nail my colours to the mast and say Gyokeres will never suit us / score any volume of goals for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Thankfully his wages aren't huge and he wasn't too expensive. Sold in the summer imho.
I suspect you are right. But as someone who didn't want him in the first place I am going to give him longer to prove me wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
As you know; I also saw that he was clearly a poor fit and nothing has changed my mind. Hope I'm wrong but unless he starts to do things he's never done in his career; I'm not sure how that will work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Alvarez in the summer would be glorious.
It would of course help if certain midfield players actually watched his runs. I feel sorry for him, his movement last night was excellent but no one actually ever seems to see his runs. Our horseshoe play seems too ingrained to change.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
I think that is the key point. Rich above says he feared that he wouldn't be a good fit for us. And he isnt.Quote:
Originally Posted by PSRB
But we all assumed that was precisely why we wanted him, that we hoped that he and Eze (who also isn't a good fit) would be a big part of changing the way we play and would add new dimensions to our creativity.
As you say, we aren't seeing this. We are basically playing the same way and expecting them to adjust.
Last night was a good example. Even when we get behind a team's press our first ball is always wide. We never look to play through the centre. I cant think of a single instance last night where we did.
Gyokeres is left with very little to do, and none of it plays to his strengths. I think that is another reason why he needs more time.
Gyokeres is still injured, R. One of his fingers is broken.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
A real trooper, imo.
We are certainly less predictable now :-\Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
:hehe: I reckon someone in Saudi will take him in the summer with a bit of luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
Hmmm it was all of 6 weeks ago that Gyokeres had two of his best performances for us and scored 3 goals in 4 games. He has spent the majority of the intervening time injured.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
But because he isn't lighting the place up in his first two games back we should sell him, 13 games into his career with Arsenal.
Some of you should have a word with yourselves. I find myself wondering what those people who criticise Gyokeres this early thought of Pires and Henry after their first 13 games with the club.
I'm betting not much. We've seen more than enough from Viktor to know that he deserves a lot more time. And teammates who know better how to use him.
It was his first start coming back from injury. The 2-3 games before he got injured, he was looking exactly what we needed. He was making space for all our creative players cos he was double marked and knew how to draw them away. He was scoring goals. And he was starting to get involved in the build up, dropping deep and linking with B.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
DB10, Titi and Kai all took half a season.
And I also think that Vik, Kai, Jeez and also MnM will give us different options against different teams and with different players and formations.
It's not that, Wes. Even in the purple patch you mention he was still showing the concerning traits that he had before joining Arsenal.Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
I've never seen such a big player be so weak on the ball. I can forgive the complete absence of technical ability if he was using his physical characterisics to his advantage but he's incapable.
He is quite fast but in the PL he's not as fast as the defenders he's up against. So when he does get space (which is what he needs but is very rarely afforded to Arsenal) he loses the ball. He ruins our buildup play by constantly losing the ball (or rather it sort of bounces off him at peculiar angles).
I don't think his teammates have any confidence in him at all (and they see him far more than we do) and I really cannot blame them.
Agreed. I remember a Gooner cover with a cartoon of Titi saying "Why does ze manager keep talking about banjos and the arse of a cow?"Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Just watched the 3 goals again. For the first, two defenders are with Vik to Noni's left, for the 2nd two defenders are watching Vik leaving Noni free at the back post and for the 3rd, Vik takes one defender opening up space for Gabby.
Maybe start complaining when we haven't just won our 6th game on the trot in the CL, toping the table with just one world class goal conceded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
When are you munching in Gay Paree, btw?
So he stands there and attracts defenders?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
60 million is an awful lot of money to pay for a scarecrow.
I think we will see a change now the captain is back. If there are runs being made he will spot them.
Not if the scarecrow has 2 defenders on him and he knows how to drag them out of the way so that B, Noni, Leo, Gabby, Odin and Easy can keep banging them in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Even last night when the consensus is he didn't have a great game, he took two, two and one defender away from the action for the three goals.
That is a good value scarecrow.