Arsenal went in to the first leg of the Champions League play-off against the Turkish side Besiktas knowing that they would be in for a tough and vitally important game. With Slaven Bilic leading the Turks to an excellent victory over the Dutch club Feyenoord in the last round and with the Gunners squad missing a few key players, we could not afford to switch off.
And that was evident from the very start, literally, with Demba Ba hitting the cross bar from the kick-off. The former Newcastle and Chelsea striker was definitely up for it, although young Calum Chambers handled him well for most of the first half, right until a slip allowed Ba a great chance which he screwed wide just before the break.
They were lively and put Arsenal under real pressure, but we carried our own threat, with Wilshere and Sanchez looking especially lively, while Ramsey produced a fantastic pass for Giroud. Our big front man was still looking rusty after the summer though and it was all square at half time.
And it did not get any easier, with a bruising second half that Arsenal will be glad to get out of. We could easily have lost the game, although Oxlade-Chamberlain nearly won it with a great bit of trickery and fierce shot, which the Besiktas keeper brilliantly tipped onto the post.
We just have to win at the Emirates, but losing Aaron Ramsey to two yellow cards has made that a lot harder. Still, you would expect us to be much better next Wednesday and we have got to be favourites. It could have been so much worse, gooners.
Did you escape again?
We should give up on any of the current world class forwards since they’re too expensive and locked up. We should go for the next generation like Dortmund have done with Immobile.
Wenger always sticks with players and lets them run out their contracts, he also likes lots of little midfielders like clones of one another. He will buy a CB but i highly doubt he will buy a ST/DM/LW.
Giroud isnt a bad striker, its just that he should not be 1st choice.
he will make a good 3rd choice
on return leg:
i’d put sanchez up top and have ox and campbell on the wings: that’d make for a fast trio.
and cazorla or roziscky at cam to feed the trio.
i really hope wenger gets a striker: another season w giroud up top makes me sick.
dream on…Sanchez will still play on the winger and Giroud will still play as a striker
thats your fav stubborn wenger for u
Cazola is not LW .. put him in the middle .. no need for Wilshere ..
and no need to talk about Giroud
poor performance against Besiktas. I understand we were missing some key players, and fitness is not where it should be, but the overall performance was not encouraging. They have got to have a better performance on the weekend and next Wednesday. very disappointed.
What will it take for Wenger to play Joel Campbell?
1. Sanogo and Giroud were absolutely horrible on Saturday and yesterday, respectively.
2. Santi is ineffective on the left wing.
3. Both Santi and Wilshere have been poor the last two games.
4. We lacked pace both games (something Wenger acknowledged after Saturday’s game).
5. Scoring opportunities have been few and far between.
6. The squad needed rotating and we didn’t get it.
And yet Campbell sits on the bench unused?
The only thing that was worse than Giroud yesterday was the pitch.
We need another striker Giroud 2nd choice simple!
Honest
With due respect for d players coach n we fans today is not our day, everytn was against us, the only player without error today is our keeper. Follow by chamber, wilsher also tried. Pls sanches not playing arsenal game more of individual game, Ramsey has been poor.
Cazorla has been poor
Sanchez looks lost, he seems to have forgotten how
pass, cross or dribble..,
Giroud poor, and he carries all d blame from we fans. Poor game ! It comes atimes, that doesn’t mean d players r bad.