Yet again we have the story of our season. Arsenal had the lions share of possession against Atletico, and we had countless chances to get into scoring positions, but ended up with just 7 shots on goal and only ONE of them was on target. I suppose it makes a chance from our usual stats that show we have 20 plus shots and still don’t score!
The other half of our season’s story is the defensive errors that are gifted to our opponents. Last night Diego Costa, who always scores against us, finds himself through on the centre of the goal with only Bellerin within ten yards of him! Do we have a central defence? But if we go back to the first leg where we did nothing but attack, attack and still only scored once, and then the usual defensive bloomer which gifted the Spaniards a draw and an away goal.
Even Wenger must be totally sick of saying the same thing after so many games this season, but this was the case again last night. “We missed something in the final third because we had plenty of opportunities.” Wenger said yet agan. “If you look at the number of chances we created over the two games, the least you can say is that we can be very frustrated. In the first game, the tie should be over and in the second game, in the first half, we had plenty of opportunities but we always missed something in the final ball.”
But he did have a complaint about the ref as well of course, as he thinks we should have been playing against ten men again, but he did enjoy watching a team that could actually defend. “They are a team who defends well. I believe as well we were a bit unlucky a few times because I think Gabi is happy to stay on the pitch, they broke up a few counter attacks voluntarily and it took the referee a while to give a yellow to Gabi and they were in situations where we could have been very dangerous., But overall they are a clever side who defends very well. Godin tonight saved five or six balls on crosses in amazing positions, great defenders.”
So despite the fact that we can’t score, and we can’t defend, how did he feel about getting knocked out? “I’m like the team, very sad and very disappointed.” Le Prof said, yet again. “Overall I’m even very frustrated as well. When you go out of a competition and give the performances we did over 180 minutes, it’s very difficult to take. Now for the club, they’ve got some time to think a out what to do for next season. I think there are some good ingredients in our team and they will bounce back. These players have quality and with the right additions in the summer, they have the ingredients to compete next year.”
The right additions? I think we have heard this before! Or am I imagining things?
Darren N
The new manager would hopefully make drastic changes to our squad, as long as he is ruthless
Seeing how Atletico Madrid played against us and how Simeone reacted, I feel he is the type of manager that Arsenal really need for the next season. I can imagine Simeone kick the shit out of the weak and the unmotivated players
His team’s playing style is not the one that I like to watch, but the new manager has to give our lazy players some hard lessons
I wish we had any manager except for Simeone and his vileness.
What good is winning if it’s ugly in every single way?
That’s what Chelsea was compared to Arsenal.
With Simeone, Arsenal will only have plastic fans who care nothing about football and all it entails.
Completely agree about Simeone, it’s anti football, agreed it’s effective but wow you wouldn’t want to watch it every week.
He isn’t nor ever has been in the running. Too volatile, he spits in your face when he’s having a go. The football is really poor to watch. Seaman reckons it’s allot like the old Arsenal but I think we were even more boring to watch, we used to go long much too often. I think we had better defenders too, because even just the back four of ours was able to keep chances to a minimum when Arsene arrived.
Is there anything we can do?? ?
Boycott all spending on AFC until they match your own ambitions for AFC.
Save the money and once they match your ambition, spend the money and have a good time ^.^
Might be next year, could be 10 years time… at least each year that goes by you know the celebration will be that much better when it happens XD
Yes. The fans that are able to attend games and buy season tickets should not buy season tickets until Arsenal make significant manager & player signings. Make them spend their money before they get yours. You work a lot harder for your money. Every year there are a million rumors about all the great players coming to the team over the summer, season tickets are sold, and then Wenger comes out and says how either a) there weren’t great players available or b) they were too expensive.
I hope to God that we get a great new manager who knows what he’s doing and commands respect from this current crop of mediocre players (except PEA, Laca, mhikitaryan)
I meant if we can’t score or defend… what can we do???
We can create, create chances, create problems, create an excuse, create a bad atmosphere, create our own downfall.
I think Wenger has an element of truth, we do not need wholesale changes, what we need is a coach who can teach our def how to defend… along with making that final ball (decision making?)
We attacked nicely but the final ball was just off nearly every time, it killed our attack against such a well drilled def team. Our strikers wasn’t given a second to do anything close to their box.
The other area to work on IMO is playing out from the back, we can do it but at times our CM and AM was so far forward that our def had to pass between them, rest of team needs to get back and make options available for the player with the ball, harder for opposition to press the whole team than just a few players and we make it easier for the opposition in this regard.
A top CB to lead the def and I do not think they would have got either of their goals.
A top GK and we have watched how Oblack saved AM a few goals in the 1st leg.
A top DM so we don’t have to watch Xhaka do comedy slides or get cards for dragging players.
We all know this and because Wenger said wholesale change isn’t needed, is that what is going to change your minds? Or are you going to trust in your own thoughts and take the bold choice of agreeing with Wenger, a few top players and a top manager then we will compete for the top.
We need half of the team gone after the season is over some players don’t have what it takes to play for Arsenal and that’s need to change since Wenger is leaving other wise could all be the same talk from him
For starters, we have had years of not defending well enough, and the main problem has always been the lack of organization og the midfield and the attacking players, when the opponents have the ball. Wenger has never managed to organize this important part in modern football, so year after year our defenders, no matter how talented in the beginning, have been turned into looking like useless donkeys.
But the actual is, that they have to deal with too much pressure, and in the end all have caved in.
We almost haven’t had one defender for 10 years, which we would rank among our best players. This is no coincidence. It is an AW problem and hopefully this will be the first part of our recovery with a new manager.
People thinking we have money to change half of our squad after Wenger left are delusional. We will have no more than 50M and it is only enough for a decent CB or DM. Worse time ahead!
Why do we only have 50m? Oh that’s right because it’s what you’ve been told, however the bank balance tells a different story
The bank balance isn’t a player slush fund, it’s used for the running of the club, salaries for all staff etc, unfortunately. Also, despite what a lot of people think, we are still paying for the Emirates Stadium.
stubill pls look at the end of year accounts, out goings and incom there is around pre tax 120+ million more incom then outgoing so where do you get your info and yes we are still paying for the Emirates but its peanuts a year
gobbling up what the media tells you. Where is Luis Enrique then? That was supposed to be done by now. Journo’s know nothing about AW’s replacement and even less about our budget.
And you known HOW
Wenger’s mess means it will take at least 2 maybe 3 summer transfer windows to turn us into a top team. We can’t get it all done this summer. It would take a lot of money unless the new manager is very shrewd and can get top players on the cheap (ie final year of contract or sale clause in contracts)
Wish we could get Allegri and him bringing some players with him ?
Realistically I only see a few players as starters Aubameyang/Lacazette, Ozil (because of his Salary)/Mkhitaryan and Monreal/Kolsanic.
For starters We need:
1. 1 Top GK
2. 2 Top CB
3. 1 Top Right Back (ive lost belief in Bellerin)
4. 2 central midfielders
(Defensive and box2box)
Xhaka, Eleny, Wilshere and Ramsey = Squad players.
5. 1-2 Top attacking midfielder or wingers
This will take at least 2 seasons to accomplish
The manager will need to decide
1. Stay with 3 at the back or go back to 4
2. Use attacking wingers
3. Use both Lacazette and Aubameyang together or individually
4. Get rid of Ozil or bench him and get a new CAM.
Personally, I hope we go back to 4 at the back (unless we get 3 Top CB), sell Ozil and get a new CAM and get one or 2 top wingers.
Wenger has made a right mess of things
This is def a rebuilding situation
Bright side = Wenger is Out so there is hope or light at the end of the tunnel
Lord only knows where we will be this time next year, but one thing is for sure….the regime will have changed, and that HAS to be a good thing.
I’m open minded and optimistic and frankly bloody happy that Wenger is gone, even though it’s 5-6 years late!!
Onwards and upwards!! 😀 😀
I thought Wiltshere had a good game last night, no wonders he looked gutted when he was withdrawn. The one that should have come off was Ramsey, running around like a headless chicken again, but Wenger take off his beloved Ramsey. Anyway, he’s gone now and I for one couldn’t be happier. I’ll now renew my season ticket.
Also I’d like to add, get rid of the two goalkeepers, replace Bellerin, with all that cuddling his Spanish mates before the kick off, more worried about his appearance, the useless Mustaffi, Kos is unfortunately finished, and buy no 1 priority, a holding midfielder, and that’s just for starters.
Yes Ramsey was poor…. I thought most of them were
I thought Wilshere was awful He never actually achieves anything. Hardly ever scores or gets an assist. No surging pace and dribbling skills as he did when much younger. All that is way in the past. He still looks good up to the penalty area but NEVER actually does anything. No cutting edge incisive through balls, no one two wall passes. Nothing ever comes off. Always knocked over, often hurt, no physical power, despite having courage. He is finished KENNY. I AM AMAZED AT YOUR OPINION. IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF ALL THE FACTS. I want him out the club, even though I still admire his guts, which by themself, are almost useless.
i have a soft spot for wilshire because he still shows flashes of real quality and did last night .. and agree with kenny that ramsey was utterly sh*** last night as he usually is against quality defences and should have gone sooner to make way for miki … the question is could a manager get jack back to where he was ? am not sure but if anyone could imo its enrique remolding him in the xhavi position which is where he should be … but that is all for the future once we have a new guy on board.. but a happier one than a year ago with wenger gone
Wilshere will never be even half as talented as Xavi. Guys going to be 27 next year too and has spent the majority of his career in a sickbed. At least you admit your bias towards Wilshere, as it clearly clouds your judgement. Saying Ramsey is bad when he’s won us several trophies and is our top goal scoring midfielder while Jack just makes runs and trips over himself. Nobody saying Ramsey is world class but he’s very clearly superior to Wilshere. Jack may have had more potential but he never came close to fulfilling it.
rkw, Surely it is not whether or not Wilshere is better than RAMSEY. Surely what matters is whether or not Wilshere is good enough. You say “he still shows flashes of real quality” but that is hardly a ringing endorsement I would seriously suggest. Isn’t is what you actually ACHIEVE on the pitch that matters? I say it IS and on that rating scale he is at the bottom end. RAMSEY DOES SCORE AND ASSISTS TOO. WILSHERE PRACTICALLY NEVER DOES EITHER. Based on their productivity for the team, Ramsey is miles ahead of Wilshere! I TOO STILL ADMIRE JACKOS COURAGE BUT COURAGE ALONE WINS NO PRIZES, EVEN THOUGH HE IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW AT ARSENAL WITH GUTS.
ramsey has never showed qualities that wilshire had as a young player … he can look decent against average players like himself including goals and ocassional assists… wilshire showed he could cut it at the very top … not enough i know and injuries are only part of that story attitude is an issue but wenger failed him as a manager whereas ramsey was given every opportunity … could the right manager get the best out of wilshire i am not sure just that there is no best to get out of ramsey whoever the manager … all about risk and return at the end of the day
If Wenger can make Ramsey a proficient CM player am sure another manager can get goals for him too. For me the question is not JW v AR, it’s …is Ramsey going to be a bench option or will he get many starts under the new manager. If Cazorla was fit and if we sign the way we need to sign, the answer is an easy one. But as for this Jack or Aaron, for a long time there is an easy winner of that one. His fans need to forget that early promise everyone in England was going on about, he never lived up to it in the slightest. Whereas Ramsey is a capable player and can add to a squads overall quality.
Ramsey doesnt get taken off because he actually has goal scoring ability. Wilshere has nothing noticeable at all. His stats are that of an average midtable player and he was bang average yesterday too. Ramsey was bad too but Jack has done nothing for the majority of his Arsenal career. Needs to go fast.
DEFINITELY TRUE. So sad because he is one of our own and a true Gooner. But you have to show results and he does NOT do so. END OF STORY.
Ramsey’s record of 36 goals from 231 games in ten years for a supposed attacking midfielder is nothing to shout about and as far as assists go, I can’t think of any.
These stats sound untrue to me and my common sense. You claim he has scored only 3.6 goals per season on average. I will now have to check your figures but will be totally surprised if they are true. Either way, they are a great deal better than the unproductive Wilsheres stats. People are still hankering after the 17 year old Wilshere. That player is dead , for ever now . Killed by constant injuries and his pace has long since gone.
Go to Aaron Ramsey Wikipedia Jon, beauty of the internet.
Hopefully, like the gentleman you are Jon, I’ll now get an apology for claiming my facts are untrue. Joking Jon, don’t bother me but stats are correct, 36 goals for Arsenal, 13 for Wales
Kenny , In all comps it it is 58 in 325, including two FA CUP Winning Goals. And decent this season too. Better by far than Wilshere and though you have your opinion on him and I have mine, these stats are reasonable for ten years with many injury breaks. He is the only midfielder who we ever expect to score regularly and for me he is a keep, but Jack is a sell (assuming he signs a nother contract and is therefore worth anything to a buyer.) I just don’ t get the love for Wilshere based on what he achieves(or rather doesn’t ). Gutsy bloke , yes, but that is all.
Jon , like you my only likeness for Jack is his love for Arsenal. I agree with you that he’s not fulfilled his potential however I just thought last night we looked good when Jack was in possession. As for Aaron, Iv’e never been his greatest fan. Under six goals a year over 10 years is still not good enough return for an attacking midfielder especially when we get nothing defensively from him. Also playing him in that central midfield role and forcing one of the best no 10’s in the world out to the wing is criminal
I was talking league games and goals. I wasn’t counting goals in cup finals, goals against the likes of Sutton Utd etc or games for Wales.
Lets not forget he spent 1 year injured and it took Arsene another year to play him. And he has been much more prolific the last 5 years. And the stats include games he came in as a sub. So stats can be deceiving.
Kenny that’s not a lot of goals for a striker after all those games. I agree with you about Ramsey tho, just surprised at low goal tally.
Ramsey may be called “midfielder” but he’s only interested in opponents 18 yd box and scoring, more like a striker. Where’s the possession like Santi? He constantly flicks not hold, wingers slowed getting forward, not to mention all the times opponents go through our midfield like a hot knife through butter.
He’s forever caught out and scrambling to recover.
Either play him as a 10 or sell him on. Frankly I’d be happy to see the back of him finally.
You’re probably right Durand, he plays in the 10 role for Wales and has scored 13 goals in 52 games. A much better ratio, however as Liam points out, it means pushing Ozil out wide where he’s not effective. Something for the new manager to work on.
Ozil needs to go and I think he will he got a new contract just to keep his value up I will take even half what we spent on him and serve the wage
Jack links up the game better but is bad when it comes to score goals. Ramsey cant link up the game at all but rather good in front of the goal. Both need to see the bench.
jack does link up better but goes nowhere fast. It’s not all down to him but whenever he links up with Ozil or a wide player they just run into a brick wall and lose the ball. Wilshere can create some nice looking plays but they usually lead to nothing. Ramsey is not as skilled on the ball but is far more productive, something I would easily take over a few nice passes on the eye.
Of course if Arsenal want to be a force both cant be starting cause they’ve both gotten enough chances. Ramsey has done rather well when it comes to big games though. At least domestically. European-wise, they all buckle, but they are also set up to fail as well so there’s a lot of blame to go around there.
Some stats for you all to ponder:
games goals year
Ramsey 231 36 10
Pires 189 62 6
lundberg 216 46 9
Fabregas 212 35 8
Ball 177 45 5
Brady 235 43 7
And when you consider that Ramsey is suppose to be the most attacking on the list apart from probably Robert Pires then not that good.
Ha Ha Kenny-What happened to the “Don’t bother me with stats”
I’ve finally got into 21st century anyway I thought you were still in Madrid and nobody would notice.
Came back a day earlier Kenny as family round for most of Bank Holiday Weekend.Which only leaves me with the match on Sunday to endure.Ive already decided that as soon as the final whistle goes I will leave the Stadium.I have no intention of staying to applaud or offer recognition to a Manager I detest and hold responsible for our deline.I don’t believe I will be the only one.
Enjoy the sunshine.
You won’t be the only one Phil, I’ll be with you.
Unfortunately the regime hasn’t changed, the yank at the top of the tree still controls the club and the funds and that remains a problem.
Good point
Too much doom and gloom for my liking. We have just got rid of the parasite Wenger who is completely to blame for 99.9% of our problems. Firstly he cannot organise a defence he makes good defenders bad its that simple. He sets the midfield up so gun ho that it simply cannot react to a turn over in play and we get caught out by the simplest of counter attacks. He plays Wilshere and Ramsey to the detriment of the team by shifting Ozil out wide. Ozil is an amazing number 10 but pretty much useless in any other position and the worse thing is this is common knowledge to everyone bar Wenger. He favours Monreal to Kola who needs this season to adjust so hes ready for next season Monreal is 32. We have been out of the race for top 4 for months why not start Kola to get the experience as we all know most defenders take a season to settle. He got rid of Coq to play Xhaka as a Dm. Xhaka is not a dm hopefully the new manager will realise this and play Xhaka next to a strong quick dm so we can see the real Xhaka not the one playing a role that just highlights he lack of pace. We need 5 players minimum however they dont all need to be world class just solid hard working players willing to fight for the shirt.
1) Leno – 17.5 million buy out clause
2)Jonathan Tar or the cheaper option Jamaal Lascelles or both.
3) Ndidi or Dacoure or once again both
4) Marhez or Zaha
5) Sidibe or Periera
Leno
Sidibe Mustafi Tar Kola
Ndidi
Xhaka
Mki Ozil Zaha
Abameyang
Bench. Cech Chambers Monreal AMN Ramsey Nelson Lacazette
Get rid of Wilshere Koscielny Welbeck Ospina Bellerin
Loan out Iwobi and Holding.
Sole focus top 4. That is the core squad use reserves for Europa and all other cup competitions. Once qualified for the champions league we can start adding to the core 18 players mentioned above.
Excellent post Liam.
Good stuffs Liam and I’m my dreams we should try to get Nabil Fekir he will be an upgrade to Ozil
All comes down to who the new manager is and what his budget is. Firing Wenger was step one.
Can we exchange Bellerin for Kimmich?
I ‘D EXCHANGE Bellerin for a ten pounds shopping voucher! AND THINK I HAD THE BEST OF THE DEAL.
We have the striker we could only dream about. What we need to do next is getting some quality midfield players. Wenger was in the wrong in not getting Fabregas back. He would have solved many problems at Arsenal.
Arsenal lacks also players who can run with the ball without losing it. So i would go for a proper baller. Hleb was fantastic back then and Rosicky.
So i would go with a new Gk a winger and a dm. That Greek guy to me is good enough and should stay and learn his trait here.
ks, did you know that Cesc is letting his contract run down at Chelsea, got a feeling he’s pining for a return to the club he loves.
While it is easy to pin the blame for the performance on the players it all comes down to the manager at the end of the day and it is Wenger who is responsible.Ive just got back and heard him say this team is still capable of winning the Premier League next season.If it wasn’t for the fact he has already been sacked that ridiculous comment alone is enough for him to be dismissed.WENGERS PLAYERS in WENGERS TEAM coached(sic)by WENGER to WENGERS TACTICS.Not just last evening but the WHOLE SEASON.
The final three games are pointless in regards to next season.Lets just get them over with and get him out the door.
I trust the Club to get the right Manager in who needs to address far too many problems for us to be confident of being anywhere other than the SIXTH place Wenger has left us in.We are a million miles away from being a threat to the teams above us.We see it.Everyone sees it.Simeone knew our weaknesses and we played directly into their hands last night.It won’t be too much different on Sunday against Burnley.They will be tight and organised and will have been working on formations and tactics all week.They will know that whatever 11 players we put out on the pitch we only ever play a certain way.Wengers Way.
Thank god the seasons nearly over and we can at least be excited that change is coming.I still believe the majority of our players are good enough and that with investment with new signings in the required ares we can be competitive to a point next season.The first light at the end of this long dark tunnel is that WENGER will not be here producing the same performances and spitting out the same rhetoric we’ve had to put up with in this last decade of decline.
Ramsey’s record of 36 goals from 231 games in ten years for a supposed attacking midfielder is nothing to shout about and as far as assists go, I can’t think of any.
What can one expect when xhaka, mustafi and kos are playing in one of the season defining match. Ozil wide out and Wilshire in the middle and Ramsey running around like a lunatic.I supported Arsene, but admit he got this one entirely wrong and deserves the result.hope these dudes don’t play on Sunday. Out of arsenal forever chek, ospina, bellerin, mustafi, kos, xhaka, wilshire, welbeck, iwobi. Retain PEA, lacazete, mikhi, Ramsey, chambers, movo,promote youngsters for the league cup, and let Sven find cheaper and effective replacements for the above dudes. And finally end that side / back passing football, it’s really boring and disgusting to watch
You’re probably right Durand, he plays in the 10 role for Wales and has scored 13 goals in 52 games. A much better ratio, however as Liam points out, it means pushing Ozil out wide where he’s not effective. Something for the new manager to work on.
I just feel we are getting the combination of our midfield three wrong..Jack should play along with Xhaka or Ainsley and Ramsey should play forward of the three . And regarding the manager I don’t want Simeone as even though we might get results, he won’t play the football which made me love Arsenal.
In my view a major issue with Arsenal’s attack under Wenger has been this desire to “walk the ball into the net”. In recent seasons we have seen players with decent shooting ability, such as Podolski, Xhaka and Elneny actively discouraged by Wenger from shooting on goal. This takes one option for concern to defenders out of the equation and loses opportunities for deflections and rebounds for forwards and midfielders such as Lacazette and Ramsey to score from.