Arsenal Post Match

[OttawaSaint]

West ham showing the solidity to get a point. Thanks Chelsea.

 

 

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It’s just one slap in the face after another. No doubt we’ll face the backlash next week.

[PeteCampbell]

Pretty depressed but the biggest positive for me today is the performance of Long.

 

Hoedt, JWP and Tadic were negatives for me, but a bit over picking on individual players because so many of them have not been up to standard.

[Dalek2003]

It’s just one slap in the face after another. No doubt we’ll face the backlash next week.

 

Yes, it is hard to take. Even harder is the fact that our position could have easily been avoided and those that run the club need to face up to it, because they are largely to blame.

[Micky]

It's looking bleak. This is where complacency, dithering, indecision and arrogance leads.

Still, might as well keep trying, you never know. There are some very poor teams just above Saints.

You're right of course, if only somebody had warned us before it got to this.

 

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[Cabrone]

I think it's around 8/9 points needed which feels like a chasm.

 

The board pulled the rip cord criminally late. With another 6-10 games I think Sparky could have pulled it off. How is it that pretty much every fan could see what the board couldn't??

 

Come season's end heads meed to roll. The biggest self inflicted screw up I've seen in my time watching this club.

[Greenridge]

it was a cross that would not be easy to take, you make out as though it came across the box in front of him. Cedrics job isn't just the odd decent cross, he had put at least one about 10 ft over the attackers.

 

It was a lofted cross with no pace two yards out so, yes, it was easy for McCarthy. And one misplaced cross by Cedric (that admittedly missed the only player in the box but actually landed near the penalty spot!) is your argument despite many good crosses including the two goals. Ok Nick

[Saint Billy]

Thought we played much much better today. Hughes obviously managed to get them fighting at least. If, and it's a very big if, we can maintain that sort of spirit at least we wont go down without a fight.

 

Im getting very frustrated with play breaking down nearly every time the ball goes to Tadic, he always seems to want an extra touch and loses possesion.

 

I thought Jacks sending off was ludicrous, he basically shoved in retaliation for having his shirt ripped off, might be worth an appeal.

 

Much better but sadly probably too late.

[Topcat]

To stay up we need to beat Chelsea and get at least 2 other wins.

 

We showed today that we had the spirit that might achieve that. It is the hope that will hurt.

[OldNick]

It was a lofted cross with no pace two yards out so, yes, it was easy for McCarthy. And one misplaced cross by Cedric (that admittedly missed the only player in the box but actually landed near the penalty spot!) is your argument despite many good crosses including the two goals. Ok Nick

you are wrong in both counts. The frigging cross went into touch for a throw, the penalty spot would have needed to be 30ft in the air, and watch the cross again, it was not an easy catch for the keeper .OK Greenidge:lol:

[badgerx16]

To stay up we need to beat Chelsea and get at least 2 other wins.

 

Bournemouth & Swansea ?

[Greenridge]

:lol:you are wrong in both counts. The frigging cross went into touch for a throw, the penalty spot would have needed to be 30ft in the air, and watch the cross again, it was not an easy catch for the keeper .OK Greenidge:lol:

 

So you’ve still only managed to find one miscued cross versus the many other decent ones including the two directly resulting in goals. And you don’t think the keeper could have claimed the cross. Keep posting Nick. Every time you do it gets a little more funny each time. Brilliant observations I can see why you don’t go to games.

[Batman]

If we had 10 games to go from here, I think we would just do it.

 

That is why les and ralphy have to leave the club and we go under different a stewardship

Edited 8 April, 2018 by Batman

[OldNick]

So you’ve still only managed to find one miscued cross versus the many other decent ones including the two directly resulting in goals. And you don’t think the keeper could have claimed the cross. Keep posting Nick. Every time you do it gets a little more funny each time. Brilliant observations

In theory a keeper can come out for every cross, I think you are the only poster on here claiming that McCarthy was in the wrong on this. The ball was crossed from about 15 yards out, not from the byline. it seems you will do anything to keep any blame from Cedric. He is an average full back for us, who today made a couple of good crosses, but he also made some awful ones. He has been poor with his crossing all season BTW. Please inform of his other decent crosses , as you mention he did many decent ones. I recall the really horrendous one, but there must have been another as you said one landed on the penalty spot after missing our forward.

[Mr X]

If we had 10 games to go from here, I think we would just do it.

 

That is why les and ralphy have to leave the club and we go under different stewardship’s

That's what needs to happen..... However never going to happen in a zillion years we are stuck with them!

 

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[shurlock]

If we had 10 games to go from here, I think we would just do it.

 

That is why les and ralphy have to leave the club and we go under different a stewardship

 

Les is a known ditherer and bottler.

[JRM]

Losing Stephens for three games is a blessing, not a disaster.

 

And Whilshere wasn't sent off because you don't get sent off for pulling a shirt in midfield. Obviously.

 

Pulling a shirt? If that happened on a street he’d be done for attempted rape , he was ripping his top off hardly a gentle shirt pull

[shurlock]

Good performance and deserved a point, let down by sloppy defending. Not a huge fan of his but thought JWP did v.well, especially in the 2nd half. Tadic also didn't have as bad a game as people make out. Tadic and Long have decent chemistry - one of the few partnerships where the sum is larger than the parts.

 

Support was decent and clearly responded to the effort of the team except for the c**t who insisted on calling Bertrand a lazy black c**t.

 

If only we'd made the managerial change earlier...

[OldNick]

Good performance and deserved a point, let down by sloppy defending. Not a huge fan of his but thought JWP did v.well, especially in the 2nd half. Tadic also didn't have as bad a game as people make out. Tadic and Long have decent chemistry - one of the few partnerships where the sum is larger than the parts.

 

Support was decent except for the c**t who insisted on calling Bertrand a lazy black c**t.

I hope he was thrown out. Although I thought Ryan didn't seem to have his normal desire

[Dalek2003]

Les is a known ditherer and bottler.

 

He has dithered and bottled it in the major transfer windows. Why people put up with it for so long I don't know.

[Lord Duckhunter]

To stay up we need to beat Chelsea and get at least 2 other wins.

 

We showed today that we had the spirit that might achieve that. It is the hope that will hurt.

 

 

So if we lose to Chelsea but beat Swansea, Leicester & Boscombe we'll go down , despite getting the same number of points you're saying we need to stay up. Do you get an extra point for beating Chelsea?

 

 

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[Viking Saint]

Yes. He did it alright under Koeman. I'd be more confident in a back 5 the same as today but with Bertrand moved inside as part of a 3 and Mcqueen in at LB and no Stephens at all.

 

This ^^^

[Charlie Wayman]

The outcome was inevitable but at least it was not 4-0. Still as leaky as a sieve so two goals will never be enough to win matches. Whatever the positives may be nothing has changed and we are slipping away into the night.

[Dark Munster]

kind of agree. as long as we dont lose Yoshida/Hoedt in the mean time.

Fortunately we have Romanian international Gardos as a back up if one of them gets injured/suspended.

 

Oh.

[ericb]

Good performance and deserved a point, let down by sloppy defending. Not a huge fan of his but thought JWP did v.well, especially in the 2nd half. Tadic also didn't have as bad a game as people make out. Tadic and Long have decent chemistry - one of the few partnerships where the sum is larger than the parts.

 

Support was decent and clearly responded to the effort of the team except for the c**t who insisted on calling Bertrand a lazy black c**t.

 

If only we'd made the managerial change earlier...

 

Apparently he slapped some a row in front too, funny that he went quiet when a few of the older lads told him what they thought.

[striker]

Hughes pushed all the right buttons today. We need 10 pts to stay up, maybe less the way some of these teams are playing. I'm hopeful.

[DT]

Lot of optimism about the plucky loss today. So Saints. We lost well.

 

 

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[Eric The Red]

Just watched the highlight on MoTD2 and it confirms what I thought at the time. Cedric was fouled for the winning goal. Wilshere pushes him over giving Welbeck the free header. LOL at the analysts who said they watched it over and over but still didn't seem to spot the push. Of course it would have helped even more if Stephens hadn't left Cedric 2 on 1 at the back post

[simo]

Apparently he slapped some a row in front too, funny that he went quiet when a few of the older lads told him what they thought.

 

I keep hearing about people getting slapped in the row in front at away games but nothing seems to get done about it ! Did anything come of the so called incident at West ham ?

[Kingsbridge Saint]

That performance looked good enough to get points out of Leicester, B'mouth, Everton and Swansea.

We ain't down yet.

 

Agree with this. Also - Wilkshire is an odious little piece of work.

[Vancouver Saint]

I saw hunger today. When the lads crossed the white line they gave 100%. Lets take each game as it comes. Ultimately the table doesn't lie.

 

Yes, you're right - and every team can point to an injustice or two at some point in the season - but that handball goal in extra time against us for Watford still rankles...that was two points for a blatant refereeing error. Those two points would have us out of the relegation zone and a point away from Huddersfield with a game in hand...

[JRM]

It was a much better performance, and as has been said many times as long as the players are giving their all that’s all we can ask. Improvement on dismal displays at Newcastle and West Ham but we’ve lost the ability to defend and with Chelsea x 2 and Leicester coming up I think that is going to cost us against teams who are capable of attacking with pace.

 

I thought Shane Long was excellent, gave everything, worth keeping for the Championship I think.

 

Hope Wilshere’s injury troubles return and that shlt has a lengthy spell on the sidelines again, don’t blame Stephens for his reaction.

[alpine_saint]

That performance looked good enough to get points out of Leicester, B'mouth, Everton and Swansea.

We ain't down yet.

 

Absolutely no more margin for error or off-days.

 

Sparky will need to get his team selections and tactics spot-on. No more passengers in the game, the whole 11 giving 110%.

 

Still, we shouldnt have got ourselves into this position. Reed has to go.

[Shroppie]

Thought Hughes put us in position to win

Our defending is just not to PL standards, no team could win consistently with our CB's

Like Long and Austin upfront

Seems like Gabbi and that other striker (I forgot his name already) are done here

Thought PEH played well, as did Tadic (a lot on the match thread would disagree there), but would have like to have seen Boufal.

For me JWP and Davis were pretty invisible

 

Oh yeah, and Stephens sucks. League One player in my book

Sadly your post loses all credibility when you say Davis was invisible. That is, in fact, true but only because he wasn't in the team or on the bench.

 

JWP had an excellent game.

 

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[Shroppie]

Ha ha well that explains that. I had a brain fart, not my first one. Meant Romeu.

Romeu played well. Lots of fight, good linking with Ward-Prowse and showed the keenness to win the second ball that's been missing.

 

And at least you've managed to pick the name of someone who was actually on the pitch.

 

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[Shroppie]

it really isn’t

Maybe not a total disaster, but the defensive line-up we had would probably have been a good shout against Chelsea, and that option has gone.

 

Although I'd consider Bertrand as the third CB bringing McQueen in.

 

Wonder if it's worth appealing the red? Probably not as it was deemed violent conduct and retaliation, but it was pretty mild given what he was being subjected to. And it really angers me that it happened because Marriner didn't spot or stop the shirt pulling, which was very poor. It wasn't a quick pull - more a concerted effort over several seconds to rip the shirt off his back.

 

I think I'd have been annoyed.

 

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[Shroppie]

So Stephens is the new scapegoat.... Got to be one I suppose, it's the forum mob way...

Yes. Ridiculous really as overall he wasn't bad. He did misjudge the cross for their third but made some important clearances.

 

And I don't really blame him for the red. He would have needed the patience of a Saint to ignore the attempted disrobement by Wilshere.

 

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[John Boy Saint]

Not sure what some folks are looking at or for, reading some of the comments on here. As usual a few seem to base their match analysis on the last time they wiped the floor with their 4 year old playing them at FIFA whatever year it is on PlayStation.

 

Having been at the game, and after watching the past few games there was an obvious nervousness about Saints, but despite Arsenal’s huffing and puffing early on Mark Hughes first objective was achieved - not to concede early.

Shane Longs goal just seemed to relax the players and you could see a bit of fight that has been missing certainly v Newcastle and W Ham suddenly show itself. You can point the finger of blame at whoever you want to with regard to conceding the Arsenal goals, but at the end of the day they have technically capable and slippery players who create opportunities and openings and unlike in the last 2 league games where the oppos pretty much went through us pretty softly none of Arsenal’s goals were a piece of cake for them. Someone earlier in the thread had Yoshida swinging from the gallows for the deflection for their second, these things happen - and when you are down where we are they smart just a little bit more. His leg an inch higher and it’s a stunning reaction block.

 

Across the pitch we had a lot more fight, Romeu seemed back, and now he has passed the amnesty date is free of the 10 card suspension that he has been on the cusp of should be a bit more combative in the middle. JWP had a good game too, busying himself about the pitch and whilst many slate the dead ball specialist tag, after watching the Stoke game where it looked like no one else in the team had taken a corner in their lives, he does deliver a corner into the box with a bit of menace, unlike Tadic and his regular pass from the corner to the oppos keeper. Hmmmmm Tadic if anyone could be accused of being a passenger in our team it’s him, he bottles out of too many skirmishes on the pitch through fear of possibly getting hurt.

 

Referee was, as usual, bloody awful. He should have been binned off the Premier league list when he got Gibson(?) and Oxo mixed up with Oxos goalkeeper impression. Mustafi can cuddle Long from behind no foul, breathe on an Arsenal player foul. How does the Lino not see Chambers pulling longs shirt? Seems that shirt pulling to impede a player is “just one of those things that happen” As for the sending off, whilst Jack in 3-4 years time might have the presence of mind not to react, Mariner could have stopped it reaching the point of conflict with and earlier whistle. And just like Shane Long is tarred by reputation by officials it’s about time they wise up to Glass Jack and his laying on the pitch routine he has been conning them with for years.

 

Still the games are running out, but whilst it might be too little too late it was good to see a bit of fight and forward thinking endeavour from the team.

[austsaint]

Sadly your post loses all credibility when you say Davis was invisible. That is, in fact, true but only because he wasn't in the team or on the bench.

 

JWP had an excellent game.

 

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He didn't have an excellent game. His corners and two free kicks were average. We will probably go down with people still perpetuating the Ward-Prowse myth.

[S-Clarke]

He didn't have an excellent game. His corners and two free kicks were average. We will probably go down with people still perpetuating the Ward-Prowse myth.

 

Nah, JWP had a decent game. The midfield was a little more controlled than it has been in recent weeks. Lemina has played the role of headless chicken over the last couple of games, so it was nice to see a bit of solidity and shape to the central area.

[alpine_saint]

Not sure what some folks are looking at or for, reading some of the comments on here. As usual a few seem to base their match analysis on the last time they wiped the floor with their 4 year old playing them at FIFA whatever year it is on PlayStation.

 

Having been at the game, and after watching the past few games there was an obvious nervousness about Saints, but despite Arsenal’s huffing and puffing early on Mark Hughes first objective was achieved - not to concede early.

Shane Longs goal just seemed to relax the players and you could see a bit of fight that has been missing certainly v Newcastle and W Ham suddenly show itself. You can point the finger of blame at whoever you want to with regard to conceding the Arsenal goals, but at the end of the day they have technically capable and slippery players who create opportunities and openings and unlike in the last 2 league games where the oppos pretty much went through us pretty softly none of Arsenal’s goals were a piece of cake for them. Someone earlier in the thread had Yoshida swinging from the gallows for the deflection for their second, these things happen - and when you are down where we are they smart just a little bit more. His leg an inch higher and it’s a stunning reaction block.

 

Across the pitch we had a lot more fight, Romeu seemed back, and now he has passed the amnesty date is free of the 10 card suspension that he has been on the cusp of should be a bit more combative in the middle. JWP had a good game too, busying himself about the pitch and whilst many slate the dead ball specialist tag, after watching the Stoke game where it looked like no one else in the team had taken a corner in their lives, he does deliver a corner into the box with a bit of menace, unlike Tadic and his regular pass from the corner to the oppos keeper. Hmmmmm Tadic if anyone could be accused of being a passenger in our team it’s him, he bottles out of too many skirmishes on the pitch through fear of possibly getting hurt.

 

Referee was, as usual, bloody awful. He should have been binned off the Premier league list when he got Gibson(?) and Oxo mixed up with Oxos goalkeeper impression. Mustafi can cuddle Long from behind no foul, breathe on an Arsenal player foul. How does the Lino not see Chambers pulling longs shirt? Seems that shirt pulling to impede a player is “just one of those things that happen” As for the sending off, whilst Jack in 3-4 years time might have the presence of mind not to react, Mariner could have stopped it reaching the point of conflict with and earlier whistle. And just like Shane Long is tarred by reputation by officials it’s about time they wise up to Glass Jack and his laying on the pitch routine he has been conning them with for years.

 

Still the games are running out, but whilst it might be too little too late it was good to see a bit of fight and forward thinking endeavour from the team.

 

Which is why I am struggling with Sparky's reluctance to play Sims.

[saintwbu]

We are so much better with JWP, he keeps everything moving all game. The opening goal vs West Ham and Newcastle came from Lemina on his own on the edge of the box panicking into doing something stupid. JWP is always an option for everybody, even if only to take it and give to the next person, just recycling play all the time. He has to play every game until the end of the season, he brings more out of Cedric going forwards too (he’s still ****).

[SKD]

Nah, JWP had a decent game. The midfield was a little more controlled than it has been in recent weeks. Lemina has played the role of headless chicken over the last couple of games, so it was nice to see a bit of solidity and shape to the central area.

 

He was at fault for the first goal - after Cedric was caught up field (an awful ball by Yoshida btw) JWP just failed to track Welbeck then didn't have the pace to catch him.

 

If JWP is going to play on the right, which IMO brings the best out of Cedric, he needs to sit in when Cedric overlaps.

 

Personally I don't think he had a great game, didn't offer us a great deal

[Super_Uwe]

Better performance yesterday. Put in a shift and certainly a big improvement on the past two league games. Nobody realistically expected anything much from yesterday so hopefully it will build confidence.

 

But we're running out of games fast. I think it will take a massive effort to get to 35 points to be perfectly honest. We are conceding goals at an alarming rate at the moment and it's ruined our goal difference.

 

We have really got to win the Bournemouth game at home and hope we can nick a win out of Leicester, Everton or Swansea away (preferably the latter). Anything else will be a bonus IMO.

[Special K]

Two goal assists for Cedric - and two pretty abject pieces of defending costing us goals from Cedric. Cedric giveth and Cedric taketh away.

 

Moderately spirited effort by the team. Too little too late, obviously, and we're still weak defensively and uninspired going forward, but hey: small mercies and all that.

 

I wonder if Bertrand is planning on going an entire season without once breaking into a sprint...

 

 

 

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For me the problem that arises is that why are the 6 foot plus CB's allowing the tiny right back to deal with crosses against tall strikers. Whenever there is a cross from the left, one of the CB's needs to be alert to it.

Hopefully we will learn that for the Chelsea game. If Giroud plays all he needs to do is get back post onto a right sided cross and he'll profit.

Cedric is good getting forward and is fine defending against runners, but not (obviously) in the air. The rest of the defence need to make up for that and yesterday all three CB's were pretty woeful.

[Graffito]

For me the problem that arises is that why are the 6 foot plus CB's allowing the tiny right back to deal with crosses against tall strikers. Whenever there is a cross from the left, one of the CB's needs to be alert to it.

Hopefully we will learn that for the Chelsea game. If Giroud plays all he needs to do is get back post onto a right sided cross and he'll profit.

Cedric is good getting forward and is fine defending against runners, but not (obviously) in the air. The rest of the defence need to make up for that and yesterday all three CB's were pretty woeful.

 

Hadn’t we taken one of the three centre backs off (Yoshida) just before they scored their third?

[S-Clarke]

For me the problem that arises is that why are the 6 foot plus CB's allowing the tiny right back to deal with crosses against tall strikers. Whenever there is a cross from the left, one of the CB's needs to be alert to it.

Hopefully we will learn that for the Chelsea game. If Giroud plays all he needs to do is get back post onto a right sided cross and he'll profit.

Cedric is good getting forward and is fine defending against runners, but not (obviously) in the air. The rest of the defence need to make up for that and yesterday all three CB's were pretty woeful.

 

This is why Cedric has been shown up massivley this season. He had the likes of Fonte and VVD helping him out in previous seasons, but defensivley he is pretty naff on his own. Gets too tight, not strong enough, not tall enough. Not great traits for a defender.

 

When he's got someone as passive and reactionairy as Stephens next to him, he's got a problem.

[OldNick]

Hadn’t we taken one of the three centre backs off (Yoshida) just before they scored their third?

yes, to bring Austin on

[OldNick]

This is why Cedric has been shown up massivley this season. He had the likes of Fonte and VVD helping him out in previous seasons, but defensivley he is pretty naff on his own. Gets too tight, not strong enough, not tall enough. Not great traits for a defender.

 

When he's got someone as passive and reactionairy as Stephens next to him, he's got a problem.

don't have a go at Cedric or Greenidge will be on your case lol. I expect he smashed his tv up when Motd 2 pointed out his poor decisions

[S-Clarke]

don't have a go at Cedric or Greenidge will be on your case lol. I expect he smashed his tv up when Motd 2 pointed out his poor decisions

 

Never really been a big fan to be honest. But the sad thing is that he's the very least of our problems!

[Shroppie]

He didn't have an excellent game. His corners and two free kicks were average. We will probably go down with people still perpetuating the Ward-Prowse myth.

Really? There's much more to his game than set pieces. He linked play well, closed down and had a good shot saved.

 

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