We NEVER lose with Arsenal America in attendence… its just not done.
So I fully expect to see a victory over BOTH Newcastle tomorrow, and a win against Hamburgers in the CL. GET IT DONE ArsenalAmericans!
Newcastle.
What can you say. This team is in the relegation zone, and frankly, I don’t see why they should be… its not the talent level. They aren’t a top 5 team, but they should be playing a lot better than they are.
7 GOALS for… in 12 matches. Pathetic.
They’ve had some injuries… and Shearer is gone… but Duff and Parker are pretty good players, and Ameobi leads their team with 3 goals.
On our end… GILBERTO is out… he is home in Brazil due to family illness, and BAPTISTA is available. We’ll probably play Flamini, knowing Arsene!
I expect us to roll over them. We really shouldn’t have a problem with them. We should KILL them. I guess that means… watch out for the banana peel!!
3-0 Arsenal.
and I hope everyone from Arsenal America is treated to fabulous time out in good ole’London…
52 Responses to “Arsenal v Newcastle”
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November 17th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
I can’t for-see any problems winning this one, we’re talking Newcastle. If they didn’t have bad-luck they’d have no luck at all…. they shouldn’t have let Graeme Souness go…. ;}~
November 18th, 2006 at 7:21 am
Arsenal has never lost when ArsenalAmerican takes an official roadtrip.
Should that streak fall, we will have to post the name of all the roadtrippers and heap scorn on them.
If you want to meet up with the crew, they are at the Tavern on Blackstock road before and after the game.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:02 am
It’s the first time I’ve seen Baptista play from the start at Arsenal and he just looks too big and too damn slow. His feet look slow, his thinking is slow, he’s running slow and getting knocked off the ball. We need to take him out and put Aliadiere on.
We’re missing Henry’s cutting edge up front and Rosicky driving forward. After an hour we can put Henry on for good little thirty minutes if we’re still down.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Stupidly enough… Aliadiare is not on the bench.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:25 am
The games not live here in India… but its a weird lineup with Fabregas , Flamini and Baptista all starting… we’re missing Rosicky already… true stag… why isnt Aliadeire on the bench??? … I dont think we’re gonna win…. seriously… though I would gladly eat my words if we did…. who is going to come on… RVP injured as well… how damn serious is it??? … we need to get a goal … fast… so we can press for the second…
Scott Parker from the looks is having a cracker of a game…. I just hope someone does something.. Given usually saves everything against Arsenal…. so I’m not feeling optimistic at all….
November 18th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Well it looks like another frustrating 1-1 draw. Second time three games we’ve needed a great free kick to pick up just a point. Ref might as well blow the whistle now.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:46 am
Titi’s in the mood it looks like… u never know .. we might still sneak it… and BTW Rooney’s scored again and ManU are 2-1 up at Bramball lane…
November 18th, 2006 at 11:54 am
no chance.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
Inconsistent.
Thats our mantra.
Can NOT get it done against the teams we should easily dispatch.
Perhaps Mr.Wenger should not have taken Newcastle lightly, and started our ONLY real scorer on the bench.
Perhaps if we led at half, he could have taken Henry off.
Sorry, but RVP and Adebayor are not good enough or anywhere near consistent enough to win games without Henry in the team… not on a regular basis. We don’t beat the teams we should… we’re not good enough this season.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Hey Stag,
You didn’t go on the road trip?
November 18th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
please stag, i pray to you….suspend writing match previews -especially in matches where it seems we will stroll. please. this is not an attack or to try to insult you or anything.
u have written previews for the everton, westham and newcastle games and predicted 3-0, 5-0 and 3-0 respectively. unfortunately this didnt occur.
to be honest when i saw your preview moments before the match, i started praying.
u apparently arent good luck with the previews.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Didn’t see the game so can’t comment accurately. But this 1-1 home draw seems to be a curse and that too against teams who should be getting beaten easily. 4th 1-1 draw, 8 dropped points. If we had the old system of 2 points for a win, then things might not have been as bad..but the margin of error to win the title in the last 2 years has been 1 or 2 defeats per season and a handful of draws…
November 18th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
aliadere cannot cut it in the championship, he has no history of success or good luck EVER in his entire career. he is the MOST pointless player in our team - just a bit more pointless than alexandre song and almunia.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
“I expect us to roll over them. We really shouldn’t have a problem with them. We should KILL them.”
if you honestly thought this, then why are you surprised wenger took newcastle lightly. if YOU were the manager and had a VITAL mid-week champions league match plus an AWAY game against BOLTON would you not rest henry against newcastle???
infact disregard all this. results go better when you are pessimistic. when u start becoming optimistic and predicting good results then i get seriously worried.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
This just proves my point from the other day with us buying Darren Bent. With Bent on the roster you can afford to rest Henry if you need to and still have a legitimate, proven goal-scoring threat on the pitch. We really need to win these kinds of games. If you’re going to be a big team then you need a big roster with a few more game winners.
I don’t understand why Aliadiere wasn’t included. I’m not on the Stag bandwagon but this game simply screamed for his qualities. We’ve got to use the squad and Wenger blew it today. If he could have come on for Adebayor at the same time Walcott did, who knows? I just felt that this was a game he needed to play. We’ve got to beat relegation teams at home.
Well, let’s re-focus for Hamburg. We’ve simply got to win that game. I hope van Persie isn’t too bad off. Stag called it; banana peel.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Think our season is almost over. Best we can hope for is top-four finish. Think we will get knocked out of the champions league group stage. We will not beat Hamburg now after that shambles.
Why do we always start the games like pussies then as soon as the other team scores we start going for it? People like Fabregas need to start shooting practice and cease with their pathetic girly attempts straight at the keeper.
What a surprise that Walcot came on and did f-all.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
well, so back to our usual emirates scoreline. 1-1. i HATE it.
but am not suprised or even exceedingly saddened - like previous performances. we played very WELL - as usual. but now, i am getting my mind around the fact that we are probably not going near the title this year - barring some miracle.
ability wise, we are EQUALS of man u and chelsea. infact technique wise we are probably the best in the country - but technique doesnt win leagues, just plain old consistency, which we frustatingly dont have. sad really. ah, well, we are still the BEST OF THE REST. at least thats some consolation prize.
now from the game itself.
- RvP looked sharp and lively. Hleb too.
- Cesc can NOT shoot straight and on target!
- Baptista is FAAAAAT. why do brazilians get fat and slow so quickly, my god. first ronaldo, then adriano, now baptista. the only difference is that baptista hasnt achieved anything yet. its only the first game, and i dont want to judge him, but my god, does he look out of shape for a footballer. i think he will be USELESS for us till at least the new year.
- finally i have come to the fixed opinion that adebayor has NO reason to be at arsenal. he is tall and hardworking, but i know millions of people who are also tall and hardworking. in my view he is even more useless than crouch.
if he is ONE- on - ONE with a goalkeeper (or with an open goal) 90 % of the time he wont score. his heading is POOR.
like i said before all he has is height (which he doesnt really use) and hardwork. he and flamini are the same. they are not arsenal class players.
unfortunately the only other striker we have on the reserves is another even more USELESS and utter UNLUCKY player called aliadere.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
about baptista:
this is his first start and i am not judging him at all. BUT … apart from brawn, what exactly does he bring to arsenal. i know a lot of people here are big time fans but still it must be asked.
first of all, he is NOT and has never been a good passer of the ball. ability to pass the ball is an arsenal necessity.
secondly, he is NOT and has never been a good tackler.
thirdly, he has an HEAVY touch.
so for a moment forget about his form and his being as OVERWEIGHT as a COW.
forget about that for a moment.
WHAT EXACTLY IS HE BRINGING US?
yes, when he is fit, he will provide “strength” and he can act as a good second striker and has a good shot. OK, good. but these days we play 4-5-1 so we dont need a “strong” CM that much anymore.
and if that is all he provides, i say i prefer we bring back our brainless left footed reyes. at least he did the business in europe and was our assists champion for 2 seasons.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
am sorry, i dont understand u exactly. RvP and adebayor started. henry and walcott were on the bench. so you and stagg are asking for aliadere to join them on the bench to make 3 strikers on the bench? really???
u know there are only five substitutes allowed right? and one of them is a goalie.
November 18th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
now, lets not get too carried away with negativity - we played well AS USUAL. we were just unlucky again - AS USUAL. and inconsistent - AS USUAL. but nothing to get to sad about. Man U and chelsea are contesting the crown. we are the BEST OF THE REST. and if we cement 3rd place and go for the CL, FA and league cups it will be a good season and an AWESOME prep for next - when we really go for the top crown.
now, that said, i think this summer wenger should GET RID of the UN-NECESSARY players.
OUT:
1) Baptista. in away games and against tough opposition we will play 4-5-1… so his “brawn” is not really critical to us. and considering he is not even a technical player nor a good player i am absolutely not enthusiastic. maybe he will prove me wrong, but i seriously doubt it.
2) Ljunberg
3) Almunia
4) Aliadere
5) Flamini
6) Adebayor
IN:
1) Ribery: takes ljunbergs spot and rotates with hleb or rosicky or cesc.
2) Reyes: back in place of baptista. he stays on the bench as backup for rosicky. he does good job on european nights.
3) Taiwo: rotates with clichy.
4) Bendtner: replaces adebayor. he is as tall as adebayor and can actually score. he becomes our second or third choice striker.
5) Random good keeper: replaces almunia
so next summer if we have this squad we will really be in business.
GK: lehmann (random good keeper)
RB: eboue, gilbert
LB: clichy, taiwo
CB: toure, gallas, senderos, djorou
DM: gilberto, denilson
AM: cesc, diaby
LM: rosicky, reyes
RM: ribery, hleb
ST: henry, RvP, bendtner, walcott
now this is what squad coupled with the massive EXPERIENCE they would have gained this season will give us a massive chance for the top crown next season.
i remain as optimistic as i can be…..why, im even still hoping and praying for this season!
November 18th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
Why are you slagging off Baptista after 1 and a half games? It’s absurd. I am not his biggest fan but he was fantastic in Spain as a striker before Real Madrid, but when he’s played out of position, as he was at Madrid, he doesn’t seem as effective. We need a decent striker to play with Henry and Baptista could be the answer, but playing 4-5-1 every week, and shoving him in midfield is not going to get the best out of him, or several other players, including Van Persie.
I didn’t watch the game but it sounds as though Arsenal was a bit unlucky again, mixed with some sort of psychological problem that will disappear when we start to win regularly at home.
Conceding goals will also be a problem when you have youth like Eboue and Clichy at the back, they are still learning the game. Some clean sheets would be nice that’s for sure.
I won’t be complaining about anything much this season, Arsenal are pulling out the weeds this year, we just need to make top 4 and do well in the cups and I’ll be reasonably happy. If this sort of performance keeps cropping up next year then I won’t be so happy and I don’t think a lot of other so far patient Arsenal fans will be either.
November 18th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Yes, I like Darren Bent a lot..I was calling for him since the start of last season when I watched him play a few times…This guy could be a leading scorer if given the number of chances that arsenal creates…He is great in the air and has great speed.
November 18th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
and yet Wenger keeps him… which tells you he believes he has talent.
So now YOU know more than Arsene… hmmmm…
and
Aliadiare has not been given a start or a run of games to show what he can do… yet we trot out RVP and Adebayor … and they are good one week, suck two weeks, good one week…
Don’t tell me someone can’t play at this level, when they haven’t been given a chance to play. Its not a fair commentary. He HAS success in Reserves and in the Carling Cup, so obviously… the kid can play. He is 23… and just needs an opportunity.
November 18th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Fred…
the fact is we SHOULD roll over these teams…
thats what I believe… thats what I see… thats what I say.
That is WITH THIERRY HENRY ON THE PITCH… because without him, we are mid-table…
The fact is, you have to WIN the games… and play your best team.
I didn’t see United resting Rooney Ronaldo or Saha today when they played Sheffield United. They WON.
November 18th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
OK Fred.
Here’s the deal…
previous years, we had a GREAT preview writer… KYGUNNER.
He can’t do it any more…
so for many many games… we were commenting about the matches in the last post put up on the site… which is RIDICULOUS, because some of them had nothing to do with the days match.
The ONLY reason I do a preview, is so that we ALL will be able to have a location on the site to type or commentary.
FEEL FREE TO DO A PREVIEW OF ANY MATCH YOU WISH.
I don’t care WHO posts a preview or review… I just want a place to discuss the days match.
So… I expect a PREVIEW from YOU… Tomorrow or Monday… for our CL match on Tuesday…
otherwise… expect me to write one for EVERY MATCH I have the chance to… it needs to be done, so we can comment… nobody else is doing it.
OK? Fair Enough??
November 18th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
well, wenger KEP cygan and a pile of other UTTERLY USELESS players like stepanovs , etc as well.
wenger is always LOYAL to players who dont give him trouble and are willing to sit on the bench.
so dont give the silly argument about wenger keeping him.
aliadere went to scotland - he FAILED.
he went to west ham - he FAILED.
he went to the championship - he FAILED (and bendtner, gilberto and lupoli are on fire there).
ok, he is doing well in the reserves, but bendtner and lupoli broke records there too.
he has NO history of success ANYWHERE and he is BAD LUCK.
November 18th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
u see. this is where u lose me.
saha didnt play 90 minutes for france in midweek did he??
saha didnt have a long season last year and a hectic summer did he??
henry played 90 minutes and ran like hell against liverpool.
henry played 90 minutes for france in midweek.
he NEEDED a rest. and this was the time to rest him. we have a VITAL CL game on tuesday and bolton next weekend.
without henry we are top four team. with him, there is the possibility of us winning the league.
i still remember us beating Man U WITHOUT henry. and if u honestly think we are midtable without henry THEN maybe i overestimated your basic intelligence.
November 18th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
I think you've got it about right, Danny. It was a very frustrating game because, overall, Arsenal played pretty well. For the most part the passing was quite good (although there were some atrociously sloppy give-aways in the latter parts of the game) and they carved out some good chances. Given had a blinder. I don't blame Wenger for the team sheet - I think it made about as much sense as any other and I can understand why he would want to rest Henry ahead of Tuesday's match.
The two defenders back for the Newcastle goal were, in fact, Eboue and Clichy. Gallas and Toure were both forward for the free kick.
In the first half, van Persie looked the most likely to score and made a couple of decent passes too. Overall a good game for him. Baptista started slow but made a couple of excellent offensive tackles in the second half. I think he'll be capable of bringing something to the team once he's more match fit and has had a chance to gel.
I think we really missed Gilberto today - I have a feeling he'd've snuffed out Martins before the flick on to Dyer for the goal. And I think Cesc definitely needs a rest.
Overall, it was a good performance but intensely irritating once again.
November 18th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
well, he looked a good player as a second striker, true.
but i am just stating that even at his peak he is NOT a good passer, he is not a good tackler and he has an heavy touch…..EVEN at his best in spain.
that is why i am not overly enthusiastic about him.
November 18th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Well, I got the rotation I asked for so I can't complain. Looking at the schedule this was a good game to do it - struggling northern team on the road, so expect a physical game and to face ten in the box. Adebayor and Baptista are generally good for those types of games. I'm a bit frustrated we coughed up a soft goal, and that we only started playing after that. At least it came in the first half.
Baptista didn't look so good but it's his first game back, and it's not like he played a lot of EPL games before he was injured. It will take some time to see what he can do. If Henry is on the bench, I don't think anyone can complain about Aliadiere not being there. van Persie was doing alright until he got injured, but maybe Ali will get his chance now.
At this point our team is immature in that we really need to score first to win, and changes in the lineup really disrupt our play. Despite that, we completely outplayed Newcastle, we camped in their half for long stretches, and except for a moment's hesitation to tackle, we would have kept a clean sheet (as expected.) What other chances did Newcastle have? So that is why it is frustrating we didn't win, and why we fans now spout the coulda shoulda wouldas. Enough knee jerking already. Adebayor, and Baptista, and Walcott will all come good, our defense will cut out lapses in concentration, Cesc will learn to keep his shots down and away from the keeper. I won't say Henry will fix the flaws in his game; I'll be glad to keep him anyway. It is only November and we have a lot of games to go still. I know it is not likely that the leading teams will implode. But as a fan I'm here for the ride and rollercoasters are more fun than cruises.
November 18th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
ok. no offense.
am just dissappointed with the score.
November 18th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Since when has a striker been a good tackler? Just because he’s built like a brick shithouse doesn’t mean he’s going to play like one - he didn’t at Real Madrid and he won’t at Arsenal. If Wenger wants to keep playing him out of position then blame Wenger not Baptista.
I don’t know how you can make a good judgement about his passing in one a half games or at Real Madrid where he was also played out of position and irregularly. You can’t at watched him much at Seville either, because they’re hardly ever shown on TV. He needs time to get used to the speed of the English game and the players around him, not everyone is Rosicky.
November 18th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Fabregas is starting to annoy me I must say. He is a brilliant player in europe and against teams who attack arsenal, but when teams sit back he seems to play very ragged and his decision-making and lack of shooting ability leaves alot to be the desired.
Too many times he passes to the overlappers when there are more central options available. He should be using the overlappers as decoys then playing central as the proceeding cross is usually a pile of crap which ping-pongs to safety.
He is still very good in the league but it’s clear there is something missing in our team. A lack of athletic ability in midfield looking a glaring weakness for a start.
November 18th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
well, guess what i live on the continent and i watch a LOT of spanish football. 3 games per weekend PLUS highlights of ALL the matches every weekend….and i have been doing so for over 10 years now.
so yeah, i have watched and seen baptista play several times. and i repeat, he is not a good passer of the ball nor a good controller of the ball.
IF he can still become a usefull player for us despite these deficiencies (maybe he can bang in a lot of ugly or longrange goals) then i will be happy. but i am not very optimistic about it.
i am not judging him on his form for arsenal because he still hasnt done much yet.
November 18th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
If you truly believe we are a TOP FOUR team without Henry, you are on some serious hallucinigenics…
Seriously.
Without Henry, we don’t have a scorer that can put in 10 goals.
Gallas play midweek for 90?
Did he start on the bench?
November 18th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
I understand.
I am somewhat superstitious.
So post a preview… I only do it to give us a place to comment.
November 18th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
???
You can’t say bad things about the Boy Wonder on this site!!!
Its not allowed.
November 18th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Try and remember he’s 19 and playing central midfield in the most physical league in Europe. Then try and imagine how good Arsenal would be if he disappeared tomorrow, and it wouldn’t take much to imagine that every club in Europe would probably want to buy him. Was Vieira at 19 as good as they Vieira at 26? You ungrateful, impatient berks.
November 18th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
I am scrutinising his game but would place the blame with Wenger rather than the player himself. Just pointing out the deficiencies in his game. Arsenal can’t afford to excuse players because of circumstance.
In games like this Fabregas has done f-all all season. We need another option there and save Fabregas for europe and the teams that come on to us. Maybe play Gilberto and Baptista against Bolton.
But no, it won’t happen. Once again, like Henry, we have another player who is undroppable and only signed the contract because he was given guarantees the future would be built around him. We can’t have players who are above rotation.
Next saturday Fabregas will be waste of space, especially with Bolton’s long ball tactics. Better to bring Fabregas on when they run of steam. Then his cleverness will be better served. All your gonna get from him next week is a scuffed shot from 12 yards before Bolton score against the run of play.
November 19th, 2006 at 2:20 am
Okay so we drew again with a stunning free kick…. our game in hand is almost nullified now even if Chelsea draw ManU … or either of them lose… just to put things into perspective I think The Grove is jinxed or something … why is it always 1-1 or 3-0 … ???
Seriously though.. theres nothing I cna add here that hasnt already been said… all I want to say though is … Please stop having short term memories all the time… sure Cesc has not been performing at that level .. he’s only 19 still … the fact that he hass already played 100 games does not mean he is expected to play 90 minutes every game and not put in a single misplaced pass….Teams are slowly figuring out how Cesc plays… and studying his passes and giving him less space.. so its time he gets back to the drawing board and studies where he’s going wrong…
I agree Cesc against Bolton will be tough.. but I’ll back him to get out of this “slump” .. I agree with Titi onthe bench though I’d have liked Aliadiere to be there… unless AW has decided he’s out of here….big players always get out of slumps…
The slagging of Julio Baptista is uncalled for…infact its downright ridiculous… he’s played 1 game… 1 damn game… 1 game and people say he’s fat … so lets give him a bit of time….okay…and try and see why AW was willing to pay 24 million for him…??? …. why dont we sell Henry??? …. what has he done this season.. sure he’s scored 6 goals… but he’s been largely peripheral… why are we patient with him??…lets sell RVP Stag…lets sell Adebayor… hell lets sell the whole team.. and buy Veron and Ibrahimovic and some “big” names … then we’ll go unbeaten…. one week Cesc is brilliant one week he is the pits… have some sense will you???
I’m still seeing a lot of progress in this team….Where are the “replace Viera” chants now… where are they?? .. where are the “we cant beat the big teams” chants now….. we’ve grown as a team and if you remember we gotr bashed at St James last year and couldnt come back from 1-0 anywhere .. Blackburn , bolton , newcastle… we couldnt come from behind…anywhere… the fact that we are drawing games and not losing them is an achievement in itself… albeit not the perfect result…
Last time we couldnt beat big teams … we were getting bashed physically everywhere… and couldnt come back.. we have addressed all these problems this season…. we have a problem against the lesser teams… and we havent got used to the Grove … and cannot seem to record a win against midtable teams… neither of these problems is worth losing sleep about…I believe…
It’ll be tough to win the league from here…still believe we have a chance though… but we’ll still finish up there …. and by next season.. when we’re used to the Grove…. we’ll start killing teamss off there as well.. and can score any tim in the first minute or the 95th minute when we’re at 1-1….
I believe in this team no end… which is brilliant but frustrating at times.. but if some1’s smart I beleive they will learn from each game….and channelise their energies in the right direction at getting better… Cesc is smart… he will earn… he will be better as will the team… Go gunners!!!
November 19th, 2006 at 2:26 am
In my last line I meant …
)… he will be better as will the team… Go gunners!!!”
“Cesc is smart… he will learn(not earn
November 19th, 2006 at 7:23 am
Fabregas won’t develop into the best midfielder in the world stuck on the bench and coming on in the last 20 minutes of games. He has probably been our best player this season, along with Rosicky, so I don’t know where this criticism comes from, probably your total frustration.
Try and relax, Arsenal are not going to win the league, they never were going to this year, the players need more time to get used to the new stadium and grow together as a team. You’re expecting too much too soon. I know the home results haven’t been great, there’s 10% missing somewhere. Man Utd had a lot of games like this last season - lots of bad draws when for some reason they just couldn’t score - just like Arsenal, remember? This year they have virtually the same squad but they have got that extra 10% from somewhere to win the games. They have also been through a period of change, just like Arsenal.
It will come right eventually, taking Fabregas out of the team would be counter-productive, unless he’s tired.
November 19th, 2006 at 7:37 am
Fabregas is a great little player, after all I have been bleating on about him for the last few years, and maybe he does need to keep playing in these sort of games to get more accustomed to playing against crude opponents, but we will suffer for it this season because he is still not effective against these teams. Suppose your right though, it will be better in the long run.
It’s just frustrating because we probably can go very close this year but little things aren’t right. You make a good comparison with United but there is still no guarantee that things are gonna change for the better this time next year. Fabregas seems to be going backwards with his final product.
The thing I see with Fabregas is a great linking player who is absolutely shocking when it comes to the final ball most of the time. In games against Bolton, where is strengths are rendered irrelevant by the dirty tactics, I would rather a less gifted player but one you could just hit the ball cleanly from 10 yards and take chance.
If we don’t change it up next week we will lose again and we could then struggle with the teams that suit us due to lack of confidence. Fabregas is also a red card waiting to happen.
November 19th, 2006 at 7:41 am
And yes, I’m still frustrated!
November 19th, 2006 at 7:46 am
By the way, Baptista ain’t even fat. He’s actually quite slim even though he is potentially a fat guy waiting to come out.
When I first saw Baptista I saw class, and I think he will come good. He gets it.
November 19th, 2006 at 8:18 am
sometimes u just astound me with your stupid remarks.
vieira and henry in tow might be your gods, but they arent for the rest of humanity. sorry.
if your remove ALL the goals, that henry has scored this season, we will only be TWO points back from our present total. and that is still TOP FOUR.
as for gallas. defenders ALWAYS play FAR more games than strikers. toure has been playing NON-STOP for club and country for over THREE seasons now. do you think A STRIKER can do that???? answer!
and when people here were critizing Henry?s form, how come you were giving us the excuse that he was tired??? answer?
think of a sensible argument to make! for once!
November 19th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Fred,?
November 19th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Danny, I agree with you….see my post above.
November 19th, 2006 at 1:12 pm
I didn’t see the game. After the Liverpool game, I said that it will be an up and down season and so it is proving to be. It must seem like Groundhog Day at the Emirates.
I am beginning to feel that our problem is more psychological than anything else. When the opposition scores first, our players lack the mental strength to get back. In games we have come back, it has been Gilberto (Villa), Henry (Boro & Newcastle) and RvP (Charlton and Everton) who scored with assists coming from Walcott (Villa), Eboue (Boro & Charlton) and Hleb (Charlton). It means that the likes of Cesc, Ade and Rosicky haven’t quite stepped up when needed.
Of course, the game at OT was an exception but unfortunately it boosted us only for the short term. In the previous two seasons, Arsenal have shown deficiencies in mental strength in the first half only to come back strongly in the second half. Hoping for the same this season, maybe even earlier.
November 19th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Nuts, way too early to be talking about next year’s transfers. Wenger needs to see which kids do well. Can Traore step up and back-up Clichy etc. The only thing on the horizon that we can safely say we need is a goalkeeper with the potential to succeed Lehmann.
November 19th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
You’re applying some sort of weird logic here. How can you accuse Cesc, Ade & Rosicky of “not stepping up when needed”. First Fabregas & Rosicky have been by far Arsenal’s best two players this season, and Ade seemed to step up when needed against Old Trafford. Slightly crucial 3 points that.
And another thing, what about the times Rosicky or Fabregas might have set up chances for other people who subsequently missed? You can’t just go by who scored what and who set them up - except perhaps over a period of say 30 games. As an example, Henry might score from a Hleb pass, but might miss 5 sitters from 5 Fabregas passes - so according to your bizarre logic Hleb is stepping up and Fabregas isn’t. How can it be Fabregas fault?
November 20th, 2006 at 12:40 am
I am sorry. I did not mean it that way. I was just trying to give some examples. I still feel that it has become a mental block.
As for Ade, one swallow does not make a summer. Strikers need to score goals. Unless you are Dennis Bergkamp.