Well at least we can finally abandon all hope of winning the league. The pessimists did it months ago and now surely even the most optimistic of Gooners (like me) can also be released from that concern. Instead we can focus on something more befitting the players we currently have at Arsenal FC, like battling to pip Villa to fourth, which I still think we are more than capable of doing but which would be a real achievement for this team.
We should have been dead and buried by half-time. Villa came out with a big game and it looked like they were going to annihilate us in the first 20 minutes. They hit the post twice, clocked up almost 80% of the possession and, to be honest, looked like the top four team.
Instead, we hit the front after the much maligned Denilson carved open the surprisingly pliant Villa defence to slot past Friedel. One tackle, an intelligent touch and a calm finish was all it took. Moments later the never maligned Bacary Sagna executed a quite wonderful acrobatic overhead goal-line clearance which was effectively like scoring a goal. I certainly celebrated like he had done just that, and why not? Sagna had a tremendous match – another goal saving tackle in the second half on Young was really outstanding – and should be rightly proud of his efforts today.
The always maligned Alex Song limped off before the interval and was replaced by the too-young-and-British-to-be maligned Aaron Ramsey, who had good moments amongst the misplaced passes and loss of possession (though I do mean that sincerely, he is far far too young to be maligned and I shall not be the one to do so).
The first 10 minutes of the second half were probably the brightest of our season. Superb play from the oft maligned Abou Diaby in midfield freed the loudly-and-unremittingly maligned Emmanuel Eboue for a run at their defence, and his cleverly timed through ball was perfect for the about-to-be-hugged-enthusiastically-by-joyous-Gooners-for-once-rather-than maligned Abou Diaby, who chipped Friedel with typical Diabian nonchalance. Does he care about anything? Probably not.
There followed a superb passage of play, reminiscent of the Arsenal we used to see when we were any good. The sometimes maligned Van Persie was unlucky to strike the post before scuffing the rebound with his Toblerone leg, but I think deep down we have all been watching this Arsenal team too closely not to have known in our bones that having been presented with such an unlikely two goal lead and a dominant position, we would somehow contrive to piss away all that had been fought for and fortuitously gained up to that point.
We just love nothing more than the meek surrender of hard won two goal leads. Tottenham. Now Villa. This team has had something on it’s mind ever since McFadden’s penalty in that game in February. The demons went mad at Anfield, then again at Old Trafford and they’re not going to go away any time soon.
And so it proved. A rash challenge from the justly-maligned-’cos-he’s-a-stroppy-idiot Gallas when Agbonlahor was surely much too wide to pose an imminent threat to Almunia’s net saw Barry score from the spot with typical ruthlessness.
After that it was simply a matter of time and countless unnecessary concessions of possession in vital areas before we conceded the equaliser. The 4 minutes of injury time was simply farcical, but Knight scored in the second of those, forcing my analysis this morning that “he’s no use on the ground” firmly down my throat.
The result leaves me feeling physically sick. The equaliser was a gut-wrenchingly rubbish moment, but at least we knew it was coming, though I’m not sure that that makes it any better – in fact it might make it even worse.
Leave your thoughts, your shouts and exasperations below. At least the next game, against Tony Adams’ fragile looking Portmsouth, is on Sunday, though I don’t know how much I’m really looking forward to it.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
From the moment I saw that Villa had made it 2-1, I was only counting the minutes until it became 2-2. The only reason our mental soft underbelly was not exposed when we were down to 10 men against Liverpool is that they played with no ambition. A more attacking side would have hammered us that day.
Our season is now down to a potentially long drawn out battle with Villa for 4th place, and I wish for once that Arsene would cut the “we’re still in the title race” crap and face the fact that this team is just not good enough. They do not have enough desire, enough heart, enough talent, or enough experience. Sure, they once had potential, but they have not realised it, and it doesn’t look like they ever will.
Granted, finishing outside the top four would not be a disaster, but it would be a huge step backwards for our club. Wenger has given us a glorious reign filled with punishingly high standards, so he shouldn’t complain now that he’s being judged by his failure to live up to them.
I say we need to add some experience to this team, some older and wiser heads who can help us hang on to 4th place even if by the skin of our teeth, and then there needs to be a clearing out in the summer. Wenger needs to make those hard decisions he’s paid to make. I’m not suggesting I can do his job, all I’m suggesting is that HE start doing it.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
mate I don’t really know why you’ree feeling sick. This isn’t new, and will carry on happening, so long as people like Gallas, Toure, Djourou and Silvestre continue to be part of the defence.
It’s a lot more than the defence too, Villa wanted it way more than us first half, this Arsenal team still, somewhat unbelievably believe they can jus turn up and win games in the premiership.
We probably will beat pompey cause every1’s interested in leaving them, which will give fans hope again, only to get smashed the following game. I’m so, so worried that we genuinly won’t finish in the top four this season.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Law, I think you’re spot on with everything you say, except for saying we need experience, we have toure, gallas, silvestre, adebayor, and almost everyone except for the likes of ramsey, song denilson are vastly experienced and have been playing for Arsenal for a number of years in the premiership. It’s about attitude, I dont give a crap how old they are – they gotto have desire to play for the shirt. Diaby, Sagna show they have heart, even eboue, but goodness me a lot don’t.
We need players who will run at defences from kick off, and chase like a pack of hungry bulldogs throughout the whole game, not when we’re down to 10 men, and not just when the 2nd half kicks off or when there’s 10 mins left on the clock in a football match.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Sixty years a supporter and I have to say, yet again ,Wenger has let down the Gunners supporters with his stubborness, philosophies and over the top youth policy. My view. Fix or leave Arsene.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
aaagh! completely deflated!! As the second goal flew passed almunia, I was wondering, as was the sky commentator, why why why where there just three of our defenders agains aston villa’s 4 players?!!!!! That second goal was a direct cause of lack of leadership and covering midfielder!!!!! Someone (denilson, ramsey or diaby) should have been tracking back to deny knight…watch it again!!! goodness me!!
December 26th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Agree with your analysis. Clichy, a wonderful winger going forward but one of the worst defenders in the league (not a natural defender, so not entirely his fault) was justly left on the bench. (For the blindered Clichy apologists, and the idiot commentators who continue to proclaim him one of the best fullbacks in the league, in the last two months, he has: scored an own goal; surrendered a penalty which resulted in a goal; been guilty of a witless giveaway that led to a goal; and been caught in possession too many other times to mention.)
Too many players on this pitch were not Arsenal quality. Song, Silvestre and Almunia are rubbish. Toure looks over the hill. Gallas continues to seem uninterested and needs to be shipped out (the penalty he surrendered against an Agbonlahor who did not have a goal-scoring angle was amateurish). I am a fan of the temperamental RVP but he needs a strike partner — he cannot plough a lonely furrow with any effectiveness.
I have been an Arsenal fan for a long time, and a Wenger supporter, but the game seems to have passed him by. If we do not buy when the winter transfer window opens and miss out on a Champions League spot, he must go.
Here’s what we need:
A real, top-class keeper. (Almunia is a good enough shotstopper, but possesses zero positional sense, and is a disaster during set pieces, his panic and failure to organize the defense exposed time and again. And has any keeper in the Premiership been beaten by more long-range attempts?)
A defensive midfielder who will get stuck in. I want a destroyer like Viera, I will settle for a workhouse like Flamini, but this must be done.
One, possibly two, central defenders. (One, if Arsene sees the light and converts the pacy Clichy into a midefield-winger.) Man U have the two best in the world. I would settle for one who is even close to Vidic or Ferdinand. Djourou may blossom, but right now he is too inexperienced to do the job. Again, Silvestre is slow and useless. And even if you rate Toure or Gallas, they have shown that their partnership does not work.
Another forward. We have Adebayor and RVP. Who knows if/when Eduardo will be back, and what shape he will be in? When either RVP or Adebayor are out, we struggle to score and seem short of offensive options.
Another offense-minded midfielder. Fabregas is out, likely for the rest of his already subpar season. (Though the midfield he is surrounded with does not play to his strengths.) Rosicky will never suit up for Arsenal again. Walcott has a fragile shoulder, and will still be out for a spell. Eboue is a joke. Diaby/Song don’t score. Vela may one day prove a good attacking midfielder or even forward, but right now he is green.
That is FIVE players, Arsene. A minimum of four if no keepers are available. Put your pride aside, admit the youth experience has come a cropper (the game has changed since the Invincibles; every top team buys experienced talent on a regular basis).
This team is not yours, Arsene. It is ours. The fans’. And we deserve better. You have the money. Spend it. Or move on.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
SELL GALLAS FOR GOODNESS SAKE.
how many games must he throw away?
we need wingers. fast ones. crossing ones. the lack of speed in this years’ arsenal is highly disturbing. go to spain, find some players. every single spanish side has at least one good winger, thus speed
we need a DM. and i mean an imposing figure. not someone who puts a few tackles in every now and then.
December 26th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Where was Nicky Bendtner in that game? We had at least 3-4 counter attacks and then in the middle of the park we had to stop because there was no one in the middle to pass to. RVP is a great player but not one to lead the line. Bendtner could have easily profited with the absence of Laursen. We went forward and then backtracked because there was literally no one to pass the ball to in the box. Why was Clichy not on in the first place to cover Agbonlahor? Gallas was outmuscled and outpaced the first time around by Gabby, why did Wenger think the same wouldn’t happen? We had 5 defenders on the park and yet Zat Knight goes unmarked in the 92nd minute. How many more defenders do we need to cover 4 men? Song looked lost the entire time he was on and Wenger replaced him under some false premise of injury because he saw that Song had no idea what he was doing. We should played 4-4-2 instead of this 4-5-1 and pressured their defense. Wenger needs to spend every penny he has available to find players who will play into injury time because the game lasts longer than 90 minutes, but most of the current players don’t seem to know that. UEFA Cup awaits in the wings if this is how Arsenal wants to play football.
December 26th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
We should have been 4 down in the first half.
Same crap, different toilet… I’m not sure if these guys will ever learn from the mistakes they make but, at this rate we had better be ready for another 5 years of more without silverwear. This squad is not gonna win JACK SHIT!!
I’,ve been an Arsenal fan all my life but I can’t remember taking a dislike to so many of the squad as I do right now.
Everywhere I look I see a lack of quality that Arsenal needs.
Arsene Wenger will never admit that his policy in the youth system is back firing or that he needs to spend big on quality. Let’s face it, SONG, NASRI, GALAS, SILVESTRE, DIABY, BENTNER, or even DENILSON are not good enough and they form the largest part of the squad.
THIS TEAM IS F.U.B.A.R!!!!
December 26th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
By ‘pessimists’ you must mean ‘forward thinkers’, and by ‘optimists’ surely you mean ‘thick’. There are no players in the AFC squad injured or otherwise that could have changed the outcome today. Villa were the superior side. Get sick on your own time, if you can’t see what’s happening to AFC today you never will.
December 26th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
For all of u that believe Arsene knows. i think u should have ur heads examined now. My loyalty as arsenal fan is to the club n not to Wenger. If he (Wenger) is not performing he should leave or thrown out.
To be frank, how many players in our first eleven will make Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool or even Villa’s first team. Probably two or three. U better retrace ur steps Wenger or leave our Arsenal. God bless Gunners
December 26th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Very true about Ramsey. I’m not going to criticise the guy, but I think today proves that he’s a long way behind Song and Denilson in terms of big match decision making. He will be a far better player than both, though, in time.
The manner we conceded the second was frustrating, seeing Denilson standing pointlessly 2 yards behind Knight as he scored. Denilson had a good game, I thought, but he’s always there! Just behind his man. Its basic, basic stuff.
But lets be honest. Villa deserved the draw.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Strangely the team semed to look better for the absence of Fabregas and Adebayor.
For the first time in what seems like an eternity there was some penetrating movement, not this skillful speeding of the ball up the side by Sagna, only for his last-gasp cross to be beautifully delivered into the box, for nothing. Not this lame passing of the ball laterally at the edge of the box, for nothing.
The team is sucky and Wenger is deluded but Diaby was the positive to take away from the match. How nice it was to see him chip that ball over Friedl and not like pathetically roll it across the grass into his oven arms (or crotch, in this case) in the fashion we have become so used to with this team. If he can steadily improve upon those minutes in the 2nd half, if he can deliver whole matches like that, there is hope for him if not for the team. In any event he looked the beacon of hope for any success in beating Villa to #4.
Other than that Sagna looked to me like the only truly world-class player on the side. He is a god of tackling, positioning, blocking, clearing and saving the day. Everybody knows that, I know, but whatev.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
WC, I agree about Song’s sub off looking phoney. I mean, that was his usual waddle, right? Couldn’t have really been a limp.
PS Fantastic conversation here, great work by Up For Grabs and all you commenters! Some kinda group therapy.
December 26th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Guys..
What da hell is wrong with all of you??
Let me list our injuries and suspensions:
Fabregas, Rosicky, Walcott, Eduardo, Adebayor, Djourou
This are all key players that would have gone straight into our first eleven. If you take away Barry, Agbonlahor, Young, Sidwell from Aston villa we would have rumped them. You guys forget that no other side in the league have more injury problems then us. Did you guys expect us to go to Villa park and have a laugh. I think our hole team played well. For one Silvestre was far better then Clichy has been all year, Diaby played well and so did Ramsey when he came on. We are lucky to come away with a draw and we should be happy with a point. Wait untill Aston villa gets a few injuries and they will lose 2-3 games in a row.
January is not here yet, so lets wait and see what happens, Wenger will bring in players so calm the hell down. Why are you guys screaming for reinforcements when we cannot even buy yet.
Wenger if anyone knows that he took a gamble in not bringin in a defensive mid and he is fully aware of it, but what do you want him to say? Yeah song or denilson is not good enough so i will buy in january, these players is all he has for now so he has to lift their spirits and believe in them. It is not his fault that Bendtner cannot score, but what should he do buy a striker for 2 months that will be on the bench when Eduardo returns? If he was available he wouldnt get a game and we all know that!
You are all whining like little babies, what da hell?
Support your squad, wenger will buy!!!
you guys expect all our players to perform like the invincilbles?
Henry saved us 20times a season and players like this does not grow on trees that is something we all have to understand. I am frustrated to but let’s wait untill the transfer window comes along and lets see in may what happens. whining like little school girls does not help the cause.
a centre defender and a defensive mid will be coming in!!
So let’s get behind the team dammit, i am sick and tired of reading supports blogs where everyone is always complaining after every single game. We boo our own players, what da hell is going on??
get your priorities straight!!
Long live the gunners and lets get in there! e new year is coming nand new faces will show up!
gunner for life!
-Timmy
December 26th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Timmy the gunner, we are reffering to lack of strength in depth that this side has!!!!
We are also reffering to the fact that these players are not WORLD CLASS!!!
We are reffering to the fact that it’s been 5 years without a trophy and may well be another 5!!!!
That’s what’s wrong with us idiot!!!
December 27th, 2008 at 12:46 am
In my opinion the cause of this massive failure lies squarely on Arsenal’s board and Arsene’s shoulders and here is why.
I know by personal experience that managing a top flight football team is not an easy task. There are a million things to do everyday. Now managers have an army of people to help them with most of these tasks. However, the two things a manager can never delegate are the establishment of team rules/philosophies and the decision of what product you put on the pitch.
Now, when I reed all the previous comments what I see is supporters saying that either the product or the hiring philosophy are all wrong and I agree. That is why I place blame completely on Arsene shoulders. But wait, I would also like to point out that it is not only the hiring principles but the entire player approach that has gone wrong.
Currently, Arsene will not offer more than a one year extensions to any player greater than 30 years of age. Players know this and when they get close to this age their agents start to look for something better. Many of Arsenal’s greats have left the club way to early because of this rule. Some of these players could have been given a two year contract and could have been great role models for the young kids. Some could have been great backup players too.
Moreover, Arsene has repeatedly stated that he only wants players who are committed to Arsenal and at the smallest hint of desertion he puts up very little fight. Players like Flamani and Diarra a good examples. These players complained privately and publically that they did not play enough. Arsene’s let them go because of his perceived attitude that it is a privilege to play at Arsenal and if your not happy you should leave. This is the wrong philosophy to have when you are at a club that can not compete financially for top talent. You need to realize that these are young kids being pulled and pushed by agents, family members, and money. Oh and before I forget, someone asked why Brentner wasn’t playing. Well, Bretner has been quoted as saying that he is unhappy so I predict that Arsene will off load him in January mainly because of this rule.
So now we get to Arsenal’s Board. The business of football is not so much about profits but more about personal egos. That is why it lends itself to billionaire owners. After our early successes, Arsenal’s value went up like a rocket. The Board took these newly found riches and decided to build a new stadium. Everyone at the club was in agreement that this was the right thing to do (and so do I). Everyone also agreed that it was only possible because of the success of the team on the pitch.
However, when Mr Abramovich decided to enter the sport he changed the rules. Player prices went up. Most of the owners at that time knew they could not follow so they sold to the highest bidder. Mr Dein saw this and proposed that the board invite investors to bring in capital. His idea was rejected and he quit. The board did not replace Mr Dien which exposed Arsene to football matters that most managers are not exposed to…the money side of football.
What Mr Dein realized which the Board forgot was that the most important asset in a club is the product you put on the pitch. Without a quality product, a club will not be able to compete and generate revenue. The board has forgotten this principle and by not hiring Mr Dien’s replacement has infected Arsene’s (a graduate of economics) to forget this too.
So what is the solution? Simple, a new Board
December 27th, 2008 at 12:50 am
It has been 3 years without a trophy and we have never been great in size ? being big and strong does not guarantee a trophy. When was the last time Liverpool won the league? When was the last time Villa won anything? I am not saying that we are not right to be frustrated but wholly christ why do we have to keep complaining? lets wait untill the window opens and see what happens? We should be talking about which players we really need?
Which players would you like see to join us? realistic targets? And whom of these players are really better then what we currently have on the injury table?
Believe it or not we are still alive in the league and Champions league despite all the injuries and problems.
I would love to see a new centre half join us and a solid centre half come in in january, and they will.
But lets beat pompey on sunday and hope for some new players.
Which manager would u like to have if not wenger?
December 27th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Timmy, I know that you sit there and think that most of us are being pessimistic and unsupportive but the truth is that we are just being realistic.
The truth is that we don’t have the quality and experience to compete. We think we do because we see players like Cesc and VP on our side but it takes more than a couple of good players to win.
When Rooney gets injured they bring in Tevez. When Drogba get injured they bring in Anelka. When Macherano gets injured they bring in Alonso. We don’t have this depth and experience on the bench. We don’t have the experience that a Tevez, Drogba, and Alonso brings even on the field.
Experience players bring a sense of confidence to a team. Their experiences have taught them not to get caught up in the moment. They are calm with the ball. This allows them to slow down the game in their head and choose the right pass. If you want to see a good example of this watch players like Riquelme, Viera, and Lampard. Watch how calm and confident they are with the ball.
Now, go back and watch the first half of the Villa game and pay attention to the passing of players like Song, Diaby, Eboue and even Denilson. What you will see is an example of players who are trying to force and rush the pass. This is because of their inexperience, the fact that they are pumped up with adrenaline and they are caught up in the moment.
These players are not the solution and they need several more good years to learn how to calm down. It is virtually impossible to find an entire young team whose mental strength is second nature like Cesc and Wilshare.
The only way you will get an entire team is if you buy half of it and create the other half.
December 27th, 2008 at 8:09 am
first of all, its rily frustrating 2 see us draw again but im not too suprise of that result, see how we play, how suck our midfield whether on attack or defending..yes arsene should take all the blame for too trusting young players, young players doesnt have the consistency and moral strength n we have almost 7-8 young players in our first eleven..n not all will perform in every match except their morale boost up by facing big teams, thats why we can win on manure and chelski and draw with liverfool.but dont too rush in sacking the manager, he knows his mistake n will improve..but what do u expect him to say in the paper??”im sorry coz i do the mistake for too depending on young squad”..like that?? or “i’ll buy a lot bcoz this team is not good enough”..hey come on, he is a professor, n he knows..everybody do the mistake n so does arsene!! but im sure he will fix it..surely.. to jimmy, i respect your faith, yes we r without 5-6 key players n villa will be beaten 5-0 if they r in our place rite now, but that is the difference between big teams n mid table teams, big teams can cope with the injuries while mid table team cannot, thats y they cannot perform in all long season ..so arsenal now is more towards mid table team look like..?? i can say yes, n arsene know dis for sure..he is not too stupid guys..come on..at the moment, just support arsenal as a team do need supporters more than anything if they r not on form, im from malaysia, n i just can support from far …thats all, im sorry for my broken english and always pray, the silver lining appear soon for the gunner..
December 27th, 2008 at 8:43 am
AW already said in pre season “we still need one more body rite there”(midfield)..but, he cant find the suit guy or maybe have somethng wrong with the deal..hey, this prove that arsene have an eagle eye, he already realize that in early preseason but some of u guys still dun know in which department we should reinforced at that time,n suggest we buy a cd, a dm, a striker,a winger,amc, sell ade blabla.. n now u guys try to be a hero by teaching arsene??
December 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Aston Villa’s best back four :
Young,Cuellar,Laursen,Bouma.
So only one of their best back four playing (Young) & he’s out of position.
Not to mention Carew who is the key to their attack at home – he brings the best out of Young/Agbonlahor.
In other words Timmy you’re talking out of your arse. They were just as affected by injuries as we were.
Accept it; we’ll be lucky to finish 4th. And anyone who knows anything about football has known that for months. It doesn’t mean they’re not committed fans.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
PD..
You must be joking??
The difference between Cuellar and Reo-coker as far as a fotballer is not as important as the difference in talent between cesc and song. Rosicky on his day is up there with the best in europe.
Walcott is a HUGE loss for us offensively, he is one of the best youngsters in the game today. Bouma?? are you freaking kidding me? Carew is a better version of Bendtner, are you gonna compare him to Adebayor?
I’ll say it again, if Villa are without Gabby and Young they wouldn’t even beat Bolton!
I to saw the game yesterday and i was shocked by our performance, the first half was pure shit, but at the end of the day we managed to get a point, and yes we were lucky.
Wenger is a stubborn man i am not saying anything to deny that, what i am trying to imply is that we have to get behind our team.
Look at the game against Liverpool when we were down to 10men, it was the fans at emirates that helped the team to get that point.
Wenger will buy in January, but he is very proudful man who will not accept that he has messed up.. you all as arsenal fans should know this by now, he has been our coach for 10+ years!
Don’t you think i miss the days when Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp and Henry had won each game for us after 20min??
If wenger does not buy in january i will go to the training ground and sleep outside untill Wenger get’s fired!!
However on a good note, Americans love to splash cash and flex their muscles.. I think that the new yankee on board will want to show us what he is capable off, and prove to the fans that he can ge the job done. With other words, we will get fresh faces in january. Im even hoping for a big name signing!!
come on you gooooooners and enjoy the game tomorrow…
-Timmy
December 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Hi Gooners
well i was exspecting a defeat to villa but we got a draw, for us at the moment its not to bad but we ahould of had 3 points.the point i would like to make is why is wenger getting involved with the media and creating tension all the time .he is looking a worried frustrating man .this is the man who has stuck with the defensive muppets year after year and has failed to do anything about it.He needs to stop defending the team ,we look desperate our attacking play is shocking we had a good spell in the 2nd half then we botteld it gallas must go in january he is a massive liability to our team , I thought denilson had a good game yesterday and is improving slowly , nasri had a shocker he needs to tough it out a bit more he will get better , But the most bizare comment from wenger yesterday was after the interveiw from John motson was -Arsene are you looking to by in the transfer window Arsene reply was -NO! , Now we have lost song not sure about djrou and gales injury , what is wenger doing to our club he also says it will not be a disaster in we fail to qualify for the champions leauge , what a damaging insult to our club , yes we want that 4th spot and we will fight for that 4th spot thats what he should be saying we will fail to attract players cesc will be off and so will others – I beleive wenger wil step down at the end of this season he has taken us as far as he can , I hope i am wrong we need a new direction quickly
December 28th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Anyone have a strong opinion on Yaya Toure? I know many players are linked to the club, but he makes sense. I have been impressed by Veloso in the matches I have seen him play. I might be in the minority currently, but believe in Arsene and will continue to support his ideas.
I do wish he would just come out and say: ‘we would be happy to finish in the top four — this is the realistic goal for the league considering our injuries and below average start to the season.’
I am trying to see the positives of the season and think we can handle Roma in what should be a great matchup of attacking football.
I will start to pout if we are eliminated from the CL.