Well I guess we all knew we were going to see an open attacking game, but we didn’t expect Arsenal to get on the scoresheet first. The start of the game was very scrappy from both sides but suddenly Iwobi got in a great cross and Maitland-Niles had an easy task to put it into the net, and Liverpool were behind at home for the first time this season.
Arsenal fans must have been screaming but our ecstasy was very short-lived as Liverpool cranked up a gear and after a a series of crazy rebounds the ball trundled wide of Leno and Firmino made no mistake from a just a yard out. But there was nothing lucky about Firmino’s second just two minutes later as he left three Arsenal defenders sprawling on the floor as he danced around them and put a perfect shot into the bottom right corner. 2-1 behind after just 16 minutes and it was looking like all the punters predictions were going to come true.
15 minutes later the inevitable third arrived after Mane got the wrong side of Sokratis and was on hand to take the cross from Salah and smash it into the top of the net. Sokratis was at fault again when he let Salah beat him to the ball in the box, and crazily cut him down and Michael Oliver had no choice but to point to the spot. Salah took it himself and Leno dived past it and the game was all but over by half-time. 4-1 and no way back for the Gunners.
The second half started with Koscielny on for Mustafi (yet another defensive injury?), and Liverpool on the attack again. Luckily Sokratis got a challenge on Salah right this time and denied the Liverpool striker when he was clear, and Salah was in the box again just a minute later, but a poor touch from him allowed Leno to get the ball. Arsenal really just have to try and save face, but the game is all over regarding the points won.
Arsenal started showing a bit of promise and 8 minutes in Arsenal got a rare attack. Ramsey’s great shot that just went wide of the best was attempted by Aubameyang to connect but our top scorer was offside. At least Arsenal were getting out of their half a bit and Klopp started thinking about their game against Man City on Thursday and took Mane off for Henderson to make sure of a relaxed last half hour. And it mattered little as 5 minutes later Liverpool got another penalty after a clumsy challenge from Kolasinac. Firmino stepped up and got his first hat-trick for the Reds.
Now there are just over 20 minutes left and I think I have decided that I don’t want to write any more as I only seem to be reporting on Liverpool’s goals, but I will hang on a little as Arsenal have now brought on Lacazette for Aubameyang, but he is even going to get the ball?
Lacazette did get into the box and was tripped up, but as usual he was denied an obvious penalty. It would have been little consolation. Arsenal actually ended up with slightly more possession in the end, but with just two shots on target.
So Chelsea can open up a 5 point gap over us tomorrow, and Liverpool are going to go into 2019 with at least a 7 point lead if City win tomorrow. If they don’t lose to City on Thursday I think the title race is all but over. Please don’t let them be unbeaten all season….
A team is most vulnerable when they score as has been said by many.We lacked a plan after our goal and to me the players were somewhat shocked that we had scored.
For those saying “Aubameyang without Lacazette is useless” I wonder if you know how serious such a claim.To claim a player who is said to be world class by many can’t play well without Laca simply implies that him being good requires Laca to play with him.Put in another form Auba in Arsenal is mostly wprld class when he plays with Laca?Btw, isn’t this easy to say?Considering the fact that we have no world class winger so of course Auba who can play LW will be hyped by fans as being the best option there.I wonder what would’ve been said if we had two excellent wingers at LW and RW.Of course when we get bpth wings sorted put then I think people will realize Laca and Auba are supposed to be competing with each other.Thank goodness Iwobi and Niles weren’t substituted as they actually threatened the Liverpool backline especially Iwobi who had the beating of Alexander Arnold time and time again.A shame he’s an average player and just like Adama Traore can be good if only he good take better decisions.He just doesn’t use his talent well.By far the best player today though I believe he’s average.At least today the cheap insults towards him would stop.
Oh Kev come on don’t be sentimental, in this Arsenal team, Aubameyang alone up front without Lacazette is useless.. He might not struggle in another team but in this particular football team, he’s useless alone up front, he’s proved that in so many games.
Though I’m not taking away his credentials
That’s what I was saying.”In Arsenal Auba is useless without Laca”. I never implied you or those who share in that view are taking any away of his credentials but that statement is very serious to make.Infact if in this team he’s useless without Laca then there’s a problem and it shouldn’t be so.What if Laca was to go on a long term injury?Do we now then play the useless Auba upfront.If he’s average in a match he’s average.If he’s good he’s good.It has nothing to do with Laca as both are top strikers on their day.I wonder where people were when these two strikers were average in matches especially earlier in the season where serious sitters were missed.So why then didnt people guve an excuse when they were ineffective in that match?I wonder if it can also be said that “Laca is useless without Auba in Arsenal”?
Unai Emery Stupidity cost us again like it did in about 4 matches this season. Dont let us be sentimental its the guy’s stupidity that cost us simple.
Someone should please shoot Lichtenstein… he is worse than the apocalypse. So much for experience….experience my foot.
He’s useless without Laca because we also lack Wingers for stretching defenses and assisting Auba or Laca.
If we had natural wingers, it would be a different story.
Anyone else like myself miss a Santi or Wilshere type of player next to a DM? Xhaka is not an Arsenal Type of player, he left Torreira to cover too much. But Torreira couldn’t cope this time.
Sometimes Kev you maybe just need to simplify things because I start reading your post then you come over all high and mighty about how this and that works and you jyst lose me ,and what cheap insults are you referring to towards iwobi ?
You and me must have watched a difference game because for me AMN was by fAr the best player in that pitch ,grated iwobi wasn’t the worst but he definitely wasn’t our best
Lots of cheap insults are thrown at Iwobi just because he’s average.I’ve read such comments here several times.Iwobi was our best player in the 1st half and maybe not the best in the second but our best players were between AMN and Iwobi so it’s ok if you feel he was by far the best player.As I said Iwobi’s average and lacks end product but like Adama Traore can be a good player if he takes better decisions.Im just happy he won’t get insulted today.As for me you coming over all high and mighty about how this and that works and losing you I just try to share my opinion and not look down others.I keep it one hundred and say it like how I see it.
I didn’t mean for it to come out like that when I posted it so i apologise for that ,
No worries.Lets just chill after this humiliating loss.I for one see a bright future under Emery because his teams generally are very hard to beat,efficient too and put up good fights in matchesLittle by little he will turn us into that only if he’s given time.
Hey Kev, I’m still waiting on the thrashing you promised Arsenal would hand Liverpool!
Please spare us and don’t pretend to know more than anyone else. Every man and his dog saw this humiliation coming. Next time you analyse a forthcoming Arsenal fixture, try to be as unbiased as possible.
I never said Arsenal would thrash Liverpool.What I said was the match will be won by the better at tacking team which turned out to be true.Go back and read my comment well.I also said Arsenal will not be thrashed by Liverpool due to the fact that I thought we have been so lucky this seadon so I expected the goals at the max to be three in the case we would get beat.If you also saw the humiliation coming then your prediction was also biased.I hope you weren’t one of them that expected us to be thrashed at Emirates though?
get Lichsteiner out of the club, useless old mug started the rout
Kev, why do you think fans claim Auba is best on the left?
Do you honestly think the ones claiming this are misjudging him?
I am one of those who claim that in the EPL and for a team who looks to have most of the possession then having him as a CF makes very little sense unless he has players around him who can take the focus and allow Auba to arrive in the right space at the right time. 2CF concept.
Aubas best football, in my opinion, comes from his ability to read the game and get where he wants to be before his opponent. Of course he has a decent shot on him but we all know his shooting isn’t the best (still very good though!) but his ability to get where he is needed and make stuff happen with his runs is totally world class… I would argue he is the best in the world at knowing when to arrive and he just needs people to find him.
Having people to find him. Laca is the type of CF who will drop deep, link up the CM to attack and he will find players to aid in the attack, this includes Auba.
I will admit though that I feel in the minority when talking about the wide forwards, Auba for me is a perfect example of a left inside forward. Someone who will run past the CF and become the goal threat in swift movements. Can link up but he is the one who is running in from the left and exploiting and defending errors caused by Laca dropping deep. Not a winger that will look to stick to the byline and whip crosses in for a big CF.
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It shall be well?
Great job Unai Wenger! I can really feel the change.
Let’s give the guy time… Klopp is in his forth year….
Pores keep telling yourself that?? it’s his first season and he’s already breaking Wenger’s record… He needs time yes but he’s average at best with his decisions… Like one certain Arsene Wenger would use Cohesion… Emery’s excuses for his bad decisions are down to “Tactical reason”… I expect him to day that when questioned
There is a limit to which a manager can hide flaws of a team.
Unai Emery has improved Arsenal’s team but the team needs new defenders who can actually defend.
So why did he buy Lichtsteiner and Sokratis if they aren’t up to it?
It won’t matter which manager you have! It’s like giving a chef lots of recipes to cook but no kitchen and utensils!?
Reality time.. this team is so full of average hopefuls it’s plain to see the squad is in decline. Most of them are not good enough to make it into a top 4 team. Period. Why they thought that the summer buys are good enough to get us through the season is beyond me!!
This team needs tearing up from midfield to keeper. This has been going on for nearly 5 years. It’s like the ground hogs ground hog day, again!
Lots of change needed. Not just one or two and definately more than five!!!!
It is worring but this is not FIFA game that you can change a team in 4 months.
But I agree that Emery IS making mistakes:
You can not play a system like at PSG,
then although we dnt know whats wrong with Ozil, I must mention that Di Maria is playing great in PSG since Emery left.
You can not give a captain armband to a player who is brainless and very soon out of the club to Inter.
Laza had to start, or Emery is keeping him and Ozil for the matches we have a chance to win?
According to Sportrac, Liverpool’s wages are roughly GBP1 million more than Arsenal’s. Look at the two teams. There is no comparing the depth and quality of Liverpool’s squad with Arsenal’s. Recruitment has been awful under Wenger over the past few years. Add the lack of tactics and discipline, he had to go for the good of the club.
Emery and the management team will need time to mold the squad to his system. It will take a number of transfer windows.
Emery has a system but not the squad. There have been improvements to mentality and there seems to be a plan. It will take time to implement. Liverpool under Klopp are a great comparison.
Klopp’s inherited squad was
Mignolet, Ward, Bogdan
Clyne, Moreno, Enrique, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Lovren, Flanagan, Gomez (inj)
Milner, Henderson, Lucas, Allen, Can, Ibe, Coutinho, Lallana
Origi, Ings (inj), Firmino, Sturridge, Benteke
How many of those players are still crucial to Liverpool. 0 keepers, 2 defenders, 1 midfielder, and 1 forward.
The team conceded 48 goals in Rogers last season only 3 less than Hull who were relegated. And finished outside the top 4.
In Klopp’s first season, the squad was being rebuilt and Liverpool finished in 8th. With Klopp earning 48 points in 30 games and 60 for the full season.
In the second season after offloading 6 players and buying 6 players, Liverpool finished in fourth place with 78 points, 18 points ahead of Klopp’s first season.
Patience is needed. Wenger had to go for the good of the club as off the pitch recruitment was awful and on the pitch there were no tactics or discipline. The club has put in place a good structure with what seems like some of the best football executives in the world. Emery has a system he wants to play on the pitch, which will inevitably lead to better recruitment as he knows what he is looking for rather than using a scattergun approach.
Good. analysis, i think we have only 4 good players at the moment. The goalkeper leno , torrera, laca and auba.
One promising player gundouzi.
One player who is good only when the tam is good , ozil. The rest i am sorry to say are average.
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An insightful and wonderful post full of reality and giving the true reasons for our plight, which are mostly the awful so called defence Wenger left, bereft of coaching , cohesion, shape or any defensive nous whatever. Poor Emery is expected in a few months, WITHOUT ANY FUNDS SAVE A MERE PITTANCE, (which of a decade long necessity was spent largely on a proper DM for the first time since Gilberto) to turn these hopeless players into title challengers by some of the ludicrous expectations and overhype of rank bad defenders on here. It cannot be done nor should it be expected. If you buy and pick monkeys but pay them the wage of top nuclear physicists, they are still monkeys and have a monkeys intelligence. To expect differently is to be in a fantasy land of your own need and imagination. It has no bearing on lifes reality at all. We need to sweep away the entire outfield defence , bar Holding when fit and Mavropanos, who shows much promise. BEING ALWAYS A REALIST WITH NO SELF FOOLING, NO HYPE OF BAD PLAYERS OR RIDICULOUS EXPECTATIONS, I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR AGES. ONE DAY MORE WILL SEE THE TRUTH THAT IS PLAIN TO ALL BUT WHICH SO MANY JUST WILL NOT SEE, DESPITE IT BEING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES. I made a substantial sum of money today betting on A LIVERPOOL WIN THAT WAS AS NEAR CERTAIN AS ANY FOOTBALL MATCH CAN EVER BE, BETWEEN TWO TOP CLUBS BUT WITH ONLY ONE TOP TEAM PLAYING. I was able to do this because I am a realist and I see our many weaknesses and admit them, unlike so many who still continue to fool themselves. I EVEN GOT THE MARGIN OF DEFEAT CORRECT AS PREDICTED AND SAID 4-0 BUT THE BET WAS ON THE MATCH RESULT ONLY. TO CONCLUDE, WENGER LEFT EMERY A BUM STEER AND KROENKE CARES FAR MORE FOR HIS RANCH THAN ARSENAL. UNTIL WE FORCE KROENKE OUT WE WILL NEVER CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE AGAIN. REALITY, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CHOOSE TO SEE IT.
Jon agree with most, but why did he buy Lichtsteiner and Sokratis they weren’t hand me downs were they and I don’t think Sokratis is really bad, but is that where we should be shopping for Emery to take our club forward? It worries me that he obviously thinks or hopes so.
Well said, a thoughtful piece and one which is very true. Were the Liverpool supporters slagging off Klopp in his first season when they finished 8 th….no, because they realise he needed time to change the squad, as does Emery.
Lol… I ain’t disappointed, after I saw the back four,I told my friend down here we’ll concede up to 4 goals and boom!! The team made me proud, we conceded 5!! With poor defending and errors, Again the question I keep asking, WHY CANT AN U23 CB BE GIVEN THE CHANCE?? Lol…
Emery might be a good man manager, but he’s clearly bad at the tactical approach, we all let ourselves get fooled by the 22 unbeaten run, which we had so much Luck to help us..
Again why’s Lacazette even in this club? The man needs to move on, exit it because I don’t understand what Emery has against him.. Well there you go, Manchester Utd will be just 3 points behind us..
And oh, I’m still trying to see how Ozil would’ve stopped us from conceding 5 goals today by tracking back to defend. Lol….what a lovely game of football
Not everyone allowed himself to be fooled by the unbeaten run.I had friends that always use to sing Arsenal praises anytime they saw me and I kept telling them about how average we were and that they should’ve focused not only the result but how wwe also played. We were very lucky in the run and it wasn’t something I could boast of because deep down I felt we were lucky.
Luck = Emery = 22 games unbeaten.
Now luck is done. Players are hurt from Emery ball. Other teams figured out how to play against Emery ball.
could someone tell me what emery ball actually is … after 6 months plus in charge it is pretty clear to me this guy has no footballing philosophy … cant see him staying much beyond this season if he doesnt insist on big january invest and given the tax dodging yank making the decisions that seems unlikely
You’re right lets try the younger defenders.What is the point on playing the senior defenders who simply can’t defend and don’t seem to be able to learn .When George graham became manager he took a chance in getting rid of the old guard and took a chance on the younger players .We have to try this again.Lets face it we will finish 6th this year so let’s get a settled back 4 of younger players who are young and prepared to learn and next season we can start with a settled defence
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Could easily been 10-1 if looserpool didn’t put the handbrake.
They didn’t put the handbrake , they attacked till the last minute , you should learn more about football.
How on earth can you call them looserpool, are you 12 years old?
FAR YOUNGER THAN 12, IT SEEMS! GENERALLY BY AGE 12 YOU HAVE AT LEAST SOME SENSE.
I’m actually embarrassed to be an arsenal fan! That was an amateur display! I’m disgusted and seriously angry! I thought we put those cricket scores behind us but no we’re still a joke! I’m actually speechless don’t know what to say anymore.
In a game like this you play your best strikers (LACA and AUBA) to create a fear factor to the opposition defense.
AUBA cannot play alone !!!!
Emery, if you don t trust Laca, sell him then. I am pissed off!!!
We need 200 million just to sort out this defence.
no investor can risk 200million on amanager like Unai…he fears big players.period.ask Lacc.
Arsenal is still work in progress and we are actually ahead of schedule for the post Wenger era.
The officiating wasn’t all that impressive though, all in all, on to the next game.
Happy new year in advance gunners.
Just for a change (with the dodgy ref)
What does Lacazette have to do to win a penalty; be hit over the head with the cross bar? Some players seem to be favoured by referees; Lacazette is not. In matches this season he has been denied a number of penalty decisions when hacked, pushed and grappled (one that comes to mind he was in a virtual headlock and another an arm across the throat).
Yeah, we’ve been humiliated before, am a bit immune by now ???, anyway let’s give Emery 3 windows. Remember how long it took klopp to reach where looserpool are now and look how long United are suffering even after spending spending spending….. 3 more windows are the least Emery deserve
Humiliation…..
Never seen a club function without the Superstars Emery’s a lone soldier
Emery cannot bring the best out of the top players. Football is a one of talent in the extreme and so-so players. Emery plays everyone like they are so-so players. That is why he has a hard time with some players.
What can we expect with aaron arsenes snail ramsey as our frakking captain!
He and co. really had a great game at anfield tonight!
Torreira is to blame for 1st two goals, and we need to get rid of arsenes defence – xhaka out, mustafi out, and ramsey to inter asap please.
Niles and Iwobi are only one trying, Auba has no one to play with. Emery is playing with Iwobi, Ramsey and him like he played PSG with Cavani, Neymar and Mbappe! Wierd. For that Board has to spent at least 200 mil, and they wont do that even they have a nice example how Liverpool did it and look where they are now!
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The only good player on that pitch today was Iwobi…..
Defense needs a complete overhaul 2 centre-backs 1 right-back and 1 left-back. Without this we cannot further progress and compete with top sides we are miles behind liverpool and Man city and also behind tottenham and chelsea. Need a back four just like invincible’s back four or George Graham’s back four with aggression,organisation,leadership and more importantly very tough defenders. Need to do spending attack is fine just spend all on defense.
Gutted…. sigh….. absolutely gutted
Cheer up ?? there’s always next season. Looking forward to next season, oops I mean next match. ???
I don’t even know if I can bring myself to watch it….. the pain… the agony…. the tourettes sh*t sh*t sh*t
That’s what’s loving something is all about, in this case it’s arsenal. Have good days, bad days, okayish days et al. Come tuesday and I’d have forgotten we were humiliated if we win
Yes, Invisible those who are sensible don’t base the sense of self worth, success or failure in life on the performance of a football team.
It is just like life with its ups and downs; some times we have experienced the highs of Arsenal success and other times the lows of losses. Arsenal FC don’t pay supporters a monetary dividend when they win. It should be an interest only not the meaning of life!
Always remember Sue, never get your hopes up too much. It’s best to set the bar low down. That way, if things go well you can only feel better!!
Personally, over the last few weeks I’ve buried my bar in a coal mine in West Yorkshire..
..It’s helping!
I do try not to….. doesn’t always work out that way!
Haha that’s brilliant ?? time for me to do the same ?
Thinking about it GunneRay, I think I might put mine down with the titanic!!!!
Lol.. ahahaha. How low can it get for us Gunners?!
It can only get better, right Sue?
It can’t get any worse…. well ask me that again at 4.45 on Tuesday ?
Does the bar get claustrophobia?
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It’s Emery’s fault , #EmeryOut
Shut up!
Really?
Obviously a kid or simply brain dead?
What a deeply considered , well thought out and in detail expressed post. All five words of it! Your IQ is stunning! And if you require yet more fantasy, try reading HARRY POTTER! But at LEAST you can spell Emery . And at MOST too!
jon, the big question is, who else of the well credentialed managers in world football would be prepared to take on this Arsenal (compararltive to other top clubs) basket case?
Unai Emery has shown intestinal fortinude to take on Arsenal with scrooge Kroenke the absentee property developer owner. He has also suffered a considerable blow by injuries to key players and poor performances by others.
If Kroenke doesn’t support him in future transfer windows, I don’t see Emery staying around. He is young enough to move on and it would be obvious to the football world that he over achieved with the resources available. Who would Arsenal attract then?
What is Steve Bould doing to earn his money? He has to go at the end of the season.
The amount of money and most importantly time this team needs to rebuild. Rolling my eyes. Its going to be tough.
3 years at least and an owner who is actually concerned and cares about this club. So GG fellow Arsenal fans nothing to eat here.
Liverpool exposed every one of our weaknesses in one game.
Back 4– just as dreadful as previous years. Lichtsteiner waste of a free transfer.
Midfielders– 0 creativity, forced to play through the middle due to lack of wingers. Still get overran by opposition, can’t control midfield against big clubs.
Wingers– no wingers and we continue to pay the price. No speed, no threat scoring, can’t drive forward and alleviate pressure on midfielders.
Until Kronke is willing to spend and build a squad we will limp along for years.
Defense is shocking, completely unacceptable for a club of our stature.
We will see about Emery and his abilities. Defense needs immediate attention and a rebuild. Shameful “professionals” have such poor performances so often.
We were outclassed plain and simple. We’re miles away from title, and no more than a Euro league team. An absentee owner who isn’t in it for trophies, a manager who doesn’t consider defense as important, all while Kronke is milking the club off past glories.
#embarrassing. #rebuildnow.
Good well reasoned assessment, Durand?
I, too am disappointed in Lichtsteiner overall.
Why ozil did not play the game
Liverpool too powerful, too quick, too strong, too clever, too smart for Arsenal lack
of heart and skills a middle table team right now and a lot of suffering in the next coming months
arsenal problems got real bad when xhaka was signed has brought club backward as slow as a wet week,i give up till after the window good nite & good luck
I don’t understand why most of us are blaming the coach…
I think the players needs to improve and play for the badge. Even if laca was on the pitch, we would still get beaten coz our defence is like Blackpool defence. I believe in Emery and I can see what this man is trying to achieve with this club which is greatness and that is coming in 2 to 3 seasons.
who fix the team?
I blame him because he doesn’t care for his defence. How many more game is it going to take for him to realise that his defensive method doesn’t work especially in away games, we have conceded 30 goals already this season alone, once we are under attack 70% of the time it ends up in a goal, and every team seems to know how to work our defence into conceding. Am sorry I blame him. And to go against a Liverpool team that thrives in attacking other team? We could have done better by respecting what they are capable of doing but finding a way to counter that especially on the day and in their home.
30 goals already….. what an alarming amount…. things are looking very bleak imo
Yes Sue, he bought some of these defenders. Torreira is disappearing from his duties because he plays more forward, other teams knows Guendouzi likes to spread the ball so they are unto him immediately the ball touches his leg, he is fighting with the player who creates goal scoring chances because he doesn’t do defensive work, the team is not balanced. What is he going to say in his own defence now that his dependable milders got lost today. His defenders couldn’t defend talk less of his milders. Am sorry but he need to do something different.
Bloody hell…. this may not be a one off then!
The biggest disaappointment for me is the lack of coaching displayed by Steve Bould. I was of the misguided opinion that Steve Bould was retained to provide continuity from Arsene Wenger to Unai Emery. I thought once set loose from Wenger’s umbrella he would be able to work on the defense in a hard nosed manner. Was I wrong!
My thoughts exactly…..
this january window and also the summer transfer window is very crucial for arsenal, spending money on signing new back four with proper defenders who know how to stay organized and how to defend for whole 90 minutes. Emery must spend all on his defense and sell deadwoods and others who don’t suit his system and also try to sign a good midfielder that can help torreira in the midfield who plays lonely in midfied as xhaka is no where to be seen in the midfiield and not a quality player for arsenal should sell him and buy a yaya toure type tall, strong midfielder who can dominate and control the game in the midfield. And also a proper young pacu strong tricky winger who can add width and pace to this team on wings.
spending? Means nothing if they aren’t coached properly! we’d have turned Virgil into a pile of dross no doubt. If Emery is serious about defense he would have hired proper defense coaches instead of keeping Bould on
Yeah surely agree with you bro on this we need to release or sack whatever it is the remaining personnel of wenger and appoint new professional setup and give emery his own people of choice and i think we need a proper defensive assistant coach for emery so that a team can be more organized and in good shape while defending this is getting humiliating with the way we defend for 90 minutes when always opposition team is on attack it seems we will concede we are very very bad defensively need to replace with proper defenders.
But Unai decided that he wanted to keep Bould, so what’s that got to do with Arsene?
Just keep gonig back, keep blaming the past and keep believing Emery hasn’t made any mistakes.
The worst two players today, Lich and Soks, were signed by Emery,
Probably the best two players, Iwobi and AMN were signed by Wenger.
The best centre forward we have was on the subs bench until the 71st minute (remember the critisicm with that timing of subs?) and the defence was destroyed.
Now if you are going to say it’s to do with the injuries…let’s look at them:
Holding, Bellerin, Monreal, Mov, see any patterns?
All signed by Wenger and part of the “dross” defence he left us with.
Four games in a row Unai has made terrible decisions and for those of you who keep saying we win without Ozil, where did the creativity come from today?
Unai needs to wake up and start managing the team, the players and the coaching….the honeymoon is well and truly over after this debacle.
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Ken, please note my comment above re Bould.
Spot on..
The truth of the matter is if Wenger had signed lichtteiner some here would have sent dead threat on Wenger’s life.
How do you sub your leading striker in this crucial match.
A lot of questions that need to be answered
Let me point something out. You guys keep saying it’s Emery’s first season, I ain’t disputing that fact but how long does he have to keep making the same mistakes before he learns from it?
This is a team without wingers and for some crazy reasons unknown he’s forcing the team to play Like his team did at PSG!! Where TF will that get us?? What’s bad with playing to the full strength of our team and players? 4-4-2?! 4-3-1-2?? He’s trying so hard to to be so stubborn and keeps trying to force the team to play from the wings that’s why he’s always relying on Iwobi! Iwobi is the only player who had a nice game today but where does it still lead us? Because certain players can’t defend or track back they said, we shut em out, and thereby ridding the team another positive angle it should have…
Let’s all keep pretending we can play Emery’s tactics without proper wingers
Wenger had 14 years of failure. So even if you give him 2/10 of that it’s fine
Tifo Football: Tactics Explained | PSG & Unai Emery
After watching that and considering Laca situation it makes you wonder WTF is going on in Emerys head.
Gunnerup, 14 years of failure?
After watching emery’s team and tactics today, do you think we might be anywhere near 12 years of CL, top four and fa cup wins out of 14 years of failure?
You haven’t got a clue what failure is all about, just ask Leeds, Sunderland, Pompey, Villa supporters what it means.
How long will it take for fans like you to ask the question, even with Wenger’s bad signings, defence, coaching, so called favourites…how did he manage to do it with kronkie in charge?
I really want to get behind Unai, but could someone tell me what was going on during the humiliation that saw wenger leave the club?
Oooh my sue u were right humiliated ??? I need to calm down…… the boys made me cry for 45mins
Devastated….
Just laugh and forget it.
This team and manager are not worth the effort of being bothered or upset over.
And they probably got paid £80000 before tax for that.
THAT hurts…
You can be so inept and incompetent and get rewarded for it.
That to me is the worst thing about it.
A million miles behind Spurs.
That is the reality…
Okay, that’s Emery’s first humiliation, and a bad one at that! But if you’re going to get humiliated…do it away from home against one the most in form, and best teams in Europe right now.
I feel Emery got it wrong, and should have started Laca along with Auba, but I do feel sorry for him, because of the amount of injuries, especially in defence. In a funny way, it may have done us some good in regards to the January transfer window. If we had won, would the board really push hard next month? I would like that we have potential signings lined up, regardless of whatever the result was going to be, and I do think the new board, and Emery are proactive. Hopefully today’s result reaffirmed the need for fresh blood.
I feel for Laca
It must be bad.
To get paid £100k a week to sit on your arse.
I feel for him.
I really feel for him.
He’s paid to play, he wants to play! Jeez
Well said Sue; Lacazette as a committed professional footballer would have been distraught watching this perforformance.
?
Well, I will keep reminding you that Arsenal fc have only 4 players
Leno
Torreira
Lacazette
Auba
Those of you that are clamouring for MNL or what do you call his name? To start all the matches, I think you now see how good he is. After his goal what next? Just a garbage. He should look at his age mate in Liverpool shirt (Arnold)
Please when is Ramsey leaving? I have seen enough for 10 years. And the board should try and settle what ever issues between Emery and Lacazette, oh less I forget, it took Xhaka 1min to pass the ball while the whole Liverpool team will circulate the ball within 5seconds. What a team, what a joke Happy new year in advance
Your a clueless idiot.
Now I will explain why you are a clueless idiot.
MNL? Try thinking of his name, Ainsley Maitland-Niles. AMN. Any idiot could work out that acronym, afterall, it is an acronym. AFC is another acronym… You do know that stands for Arsenal Football Club?
AMN hasn’t been kept to CM which is his position, he has been played at LB, LWB, RB and RWB along with Right Inside forward against Liverpool. Five different roles this season alone. How is a player suppose to build any type of consistency if he never plays the position that he is best at? Even though he was playing in Theos old position, he got a few crosses in and he pressed well, it wasn’t his side that Liverpool pressed down, it was the side Iwobi was on. AMN is suffering like Ox did, little game time and when he does play then it is out of pos.
Clueless proved by not recognising the full picture.
An idiot proved by ignorance of acronym.
Yes I am bitter about the loss…
I thought abuse of others was not tolerated on here.
Disagree with his views by all means.
But don’t call him an idiot.
Jeez…..
Admin, please remove all posts that insult Ozil for being abusive.
If my post is abusive then please remove it along with every post insulting an arsenal player, including Adega for calling AMN garbage.
Clueless idiot and garbage in my opinion are about the same level.
For calling another fan an idiot on this site is not a good word, @ ADMIN, it is high time you started moderating comments before the site will turn out to be something else, let me tell you @ Midkemma, attitude is every thing, this is a public site, attitude do show up in our comments, get good attitude
Pick what I said apart instead, prove me wrong, prove that the clueless idiot isn’t a clueless idiot.
I have not been racist or sexist or discriminated against a disability. I have used freedom of speech with some bitterness which I fully admitted that I am bitter after the loss.
You telling me off for showing attitude is you also showing a behaviour which is somewhat arrogant, in other words, you was showing me attitude.
so I think you need to…
get good attitude
From my perspective being someone who reads most posts, I dont recall Midkemma being abusive to anyone.
He should be cut some slack, because he is obviously very upset and has a short fuse at the moment for inane and ignorant comments.
after failing at brighton DID anybody really expect we’d go and win at anfield – today i expected us to etch out a draw – nothing more. That said n done the league does not lie, 5th is our measure till someone comes up with the plan to energise this outfit. by that i mean finance resources although i’m not about to wait in anticipation.
Not a hope in hell waal2waal…. I didn’t even think we’d score, so that was a bonus! Nice one AMN (& nice one John Wick, you said he’d score ?)
…won’t be the first time or the last that iv been disappointed with my team – but its likely todays opposition are goin to win the league. It’s something we knew we were not about to achieve or come near given the way we started this campaign.
I’m sorry for today Sue, but i ain’t about to throw myself into the river THAMES for dropping points at anfield, something most other teams are also going to do.
Have a great New Year @Sue 🙂
Love the way you say ‘I ain’t about to throw myself into the river thames’ brilliant ?
Thank you waal2waal….. you too!
At least its a lot cleaner now and you have a chance of drowning rather than poisoning.
On a sombre note we have had over 30 drownings in Australia this summer. If you can’t swim stay out of the water. If you decide to swim in the surf, choose a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.
? just a pity I got the scoreline wrong Sue ah well just avoid Motd tonight ? on a positive note Liverpool’s unbeaten run will come to an end on Thursday ?
I’m going to avoid everything for the next few days ? do you know I honestly don’t know if it will… don’t get me wrong I’d love nothing more, but they just don’t look like losing, luck is going their way too…don’t think City have a very good record against them, plus City have been a bit dodgy lately.. god I feel nauseous ????
Back
To
Square
One
Strangely enough i am not too upset about this.
And I am not upset to see Emery fail.
Never wanted him at Arsenal…
Just out of interest – who did you want?
I wanted us to make a statement of intent Sue.
I wanted Allegri – whose future was undecided at Juve and who could have been lured to the club.
Instead we get the freebie cheap option with no substantial compensation payment.
Had Emery remained at PSG would we have gone for him?
I think not.
Arsenal are just cheap.
And they disguise is through the so called “self sustainability” monicker they band about so frequently.
Funny you don’t see many of these “self sustainable” clubs win anything.
Perhaps now we will see what a good job Wenger did for us…
I thought Liverpool were pretty self sustainable….
Are you kidding?
65 million for Allison?
75 million for VVD?
53 million for Keita
44 million for Salah
44 million for Fabinho
PLUS wages
OK they sold Coutinho
But that wouldn’t cover half of it.
And we sign Lichtsteiner and Sokratis.
And indication of ambition at Arsenal.
It is beyond disappointing.
We sign rubbish like that then try to convince others of our ambition. I don’t know what is worse – our decline or the fact that there are so many Arsenal fans who actually believe Arsenal have turned a corner.
Today’s result does not lie – it shows you EXACTLY where we are.
You can’t polish a turd
No you can’t
But you can apply basic coaching techniques and learn from your mistakes.
Arsenal are incapable of that.
He was a breath of fresh air at the start of the season..so what’s gone wrong?? Apart from our defence being absolutely shambolic!!!
I don’t know what is going Sue but I can tell you we will struggle to score goals when Xhaka, not alone, keeps making back pass. ImaginPEA had only 13 touches have played almost 80mins today. Emery really need to look at his methods because it is not working. Playing from the back caused us to concede 2 avoidable goals today and keeping possession at the back instead of safety first has made conceded 3 goals in 3 consecutive matchs
That’s shocking for PEA…. I am amazed that it took until the 71st minute for Laca to come on!
Well Unai needs to take a long, hard look at things….. because it isn’t working & please Sven unearth us a few miracles please!!!!
Arsenal FC: -281,08 Mill. €
Liverpool FC: -235,44 Mill. €
Last 5 years according to transfermarket.
Jardim is perfect for us.
It is not just about the coach. Although Unai was naive today. He should have started Auba and Lacazette together. And play a midfield 3 of Xhaka, Torrera and AMN. We need to sign 3 players in January. And we are good to go. They are Zaha, Fekir Nabir from Lyon and Gary Cahill from Chelsea. Two natural wingers with pace and end product. We will make Top Four with that. A statement of intent. Those 3 players will improve the squad tremendously. It is not rocket science. U have to spend. When you spend and with a good coach, u win trophies. It means we will have 3 wingers in Zaha, Nabir and Iwobi. And two Strikers in Auba and Lacazette. Cahill will help out in defence. He has the experience. Ozil and Mkhitaryan in the number 10 role. Priority is to get 2 quality wingers in January.
What this team need is proper coaching. How can a team conceded right after scoring over and over again. The way we play after we defended a corner kicks and free kicks are laughable. Leaving our box to the opposition after we defend a corner or freekicks.This teamLack of grit, organization,determination and urgency. How many stupid goals have we conceded this season simply because we are trying to keep possession instead of booting the ball out for safety. I didn’t bother to check who the play was because I was gutted for their first goal. Boot the ball out of the defense and stop inviting pressure from the opponent. The first goal and third goal are avoidable. And what is it with Arsenal and back pass. Xhaka is the culprit in this. He made more than 50 back passes today and all in front of our defense.
@Leon
So you’re already judging Emery on only half of his first season, with a tiny budget, an insane injury list, and basically Wenger’s squad? I would say that’s very unfair.
Where did you expect us to be right now anyway? Top? Challenging for the league? We’re in 5th, just off 4th spot, and not too far away from 2nd. Emery’s certainly meeting my expectations.
Then you have very low expectations.
Tiny budget?
Wenger’s squad?
You make it sound like we are Torquay United.
Wenger’s side might not be the best but it is a strong base from which to build on and Arsenal are ALWAYS listed in the top ten biggest clubs in the world so its not like we are scrimping and struggling
Like I said before Emery has failed to address the basic issues – why are the same basic errors in defending repeated multiple times every game? why are we not learning?
This is down to coaching.
Today’s result laid bare this incompetence.
Unless there is a complete turnaround and these issues are resolved I don’t see him lasting…
The reason Emery has left himself open to blame is because he didn’t put his best squad out there against the top team in the League, like Wenger before him, so instead of shifting the blame towards the players, if they failed to perform, he placed the blame squarely on himself for his selections…if he believed this group would keep the game close, instead of playing attacking football and potentially leaving themselves open to the counter, his experiment failed miserably
Actually he DID play his best AVAILABLE team.. except for Laca
No he didn’t…the fake injury to Ozil, much like the whole Sanchez debacle of last season in Liverpool, and Kos on the bench while Lich was teamed with Mustafi…he needed to put our BEST players on the pitch and if they weren’t good enough the fans and pundits would truly see that no manager could have gotten more out of this club in a game of this magnitude…instead he chose a Wengeresque lineup and simply closed his eyes and rolled the dice
You are probably right.
That WAS his best squad – which is a worry in itself
It is worrying though that by all accounts Emery is an astute and tactical manager who, according to past players would scrutinise previous games in great detail so as to identify weakness and address them, yet has failed to identify and address the very basic issues in our defence – issues that clowns like Merson, Shearer and Neville have been talking about every week for YEARS.
I just find it very difficult to understand the rave reviews and recommendations that Emery has received since he took over, especially when all I can see is a continued failure to address the very basics i.e defending.
Do Arsenal have the time for Emery to make his mark?
I don’t think so.
Even when Klopp was struggling they were qualifying for CL – he had that to build on.
Arsenal do not have that luxury.
And they don’t want a repeat of the toxic atmosphere of last season – that’s bad for business.
If we finish 5th or 6th he will be gone.
Its all about money after all…
Leon, please check your facts. Liverpool did not qualify for the Champions League in Klopp’s first season as they finished 8th. They finished 4th in his second season as manager.
With respect to Allegri, he may have been approached, but from what I recall asked for a markedly increased salary from what he was on at Juventus and wanted a massive transfer budget. It appeared obvious that he didn’t want the job.
He only speaks Italian and was not prepared to learn English, without major incentive. He has recently been touted as the next manager of Real Madrid and has publicly stated that he does not want to learn Spanish. If he won’t consider leaving Juventus for Real Madrid, why would he leave for Arsenal?
Jardim was sacked as manager of Monaco and isn’t exactly being over run with offers at the moment, but time will tell. His replacement Thierry Henri is not fairing any better, yet many on here wanted him to manage Arsenal.
If Emery leaves because of lack of support from Scrooge Kroenke, who is Arsenal likely to attract.
We have to support the manager and give him a chance; at the moment he should finish better than Klopp’s first season at Liverpool.
So no he didn’t, if he did then wouldn’t Laca have been part of it?
Last time we played Liverpool at home we started Ozil, Auba, Lacazette and Henrick the game finished 1-1 and we should have one
What a great coach Emery is
I have one thing more to say HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
And to you too! Here’s to better days ?
glad i didn’t watch it must thank the missus, humbling but expected 🙁
OT:
Anyone else see guendouzi openly remonstrating with leno over his own ill timed pass? No need. I think guendouzi will cause discord among teamates if he opts for that approach to team cohesion. leno doesn’t deserve that (imo). Fine player He is (guedouzi) but arsenal would do well to find him an attitude mentor.
Also…
Litch was in too deep (today) playing a side over and above his current levels. Kos is in to deep as well given he’s not long returned from injury to this arsenal side. Its true he’s past his best. Seems we got hit where we are known to be at our weakest in our game in defence and along the flanks where today we were toothless.
American assault on Arsenal FC…
Bring her down to her knees…
Make the other american owned north London club take over as the leading London club…
Americans are the smartest humans on the planet!!!
And the fattest.
And the richest too, as well as the most charitable. Look it up if you doubt me.
I tell you only empty stadium will solve this issue. What stops us from buying world class players? Who said we don’t have the money to compete with other teams? Thanks to fans who buy season ticket kronke will remain rich and do what’s he want. If he looses money from ticket sales he will be forced to wake up and spend money on quality transfers. It’s like supply and demand. Then also there is a saying “customers are always right “. That was what happened to Wenger sacking when the board saw the stadium was half full. They knew fans wanted him out. It was clear. Let’s Make this board members play to our tune. They need our money so they have to give us what they want.
Agreed. #KroenkeOut #EmptyStadium
Yours is the only post I have read on this topic which acknowleges the true problem we have. KROENKE AND HIS MEANNESS! FAN POWER CAN GET RID OF HIM BUT WE NEED THE WILL TO ACT , AS WE DID SO SUCCESSFULLY AGAINST WENGER. A near empty stadium for as long as it takes. Otherwise we are merely moaning , NOT actually doing anything about it. Talk is cheap; only action works!
I think you should boycott the home games, if you have season tickets. Let someone buy your tickets from you, if you have tickets. Give Emery time, talking of getting ready to sack him in the half way stage of his first season shows that you are impatient, remember ManUre sacked the first 3 managers after Fergy, where did that get them 300 million in player debt. Emery bought players to Arsenal to help educate young players and fill defensive roles. These players are a bit past their use by date. But imagine not having them to back up our injured squad. X amount of money for many players or same money for one quality player? Don’t ask for a replacement Manager, you might not get what you want, how many other teams have won as much as Arsenal? Liverpool, ManUre, we have won more than all the other teams put together. We are in a rebuilding stage, look how many teams have spent millions this season and are in the bottom half.
Lacazette is a way better Striker than Aubameyang
Torreira is fatigued and needs rest as an injury looms
For those that hate Iwobi, he was the brightest player today
Ozil would’ve have been useful today as Liverpool always keeps game open and doesn’t rough-tackle opponents
The team is weaker with Auba upfront, he offers little, he’s a a lil better than Walcott
What happens when manager doesn’t give tinkers damn about defending?
Play Mustafi, play Lichtsteiner as RB, LB, and CB. When he shows he is garbage, manager starts him again.
I blame Emery for this one. Defensive injuries to a piss-poor back line, and he goes to Anfield to trade punches with Liverpool and play their game. Oh, and all while leaving Laca to waste away on the bench.
Ramsey showing why he’s not needed. He had no key passes out of how many? 52?
Emery should give U-23 defenders a shot. Not like they can be worse than Lichtsteiner.
I’d rather see Chambers at RB or CB instead of Lichtsteiner. Shocked we loaned chambers for an aged and unproductive Lichtsteiner.
Unai’s fault increased from Southampton game up to livelypull game….how on earth he drop a creative player and needs to score?….if the defense is not good,then the attack should be sharp…..hence concede 4 and score 4…..what kind of thinking is that a replica of Wednesday’s fault is not corrected in bringing…inchscare as a defender?……how leaving Lacca on the bench is a benefit for arsenal?…..if the board is stingy why Wenger was determined to work and after leaving the club why is he shy to expose(if he really loved this club)?….From all these negatives,one positive thing is Unai should enforce the board to bring quality
What was wenger doing in the last 5 years at Arsenal? Is this the squad he thought would challenge the likes of the other Top 6 teams?
Smh
Please lay off Wenger. This has nothing to do with him. It is all Unai. If he was really a better Manager than Wenger, he would have kept the score line down rather than oversee a repeat of the same humiliating net score that Wenger experienced against Liverpool. He even added a few players, so in effect, this team should have been marginally better than last season’s squad but so far it even seems as though last season’s team is marginally better. At least under Wenger, they controlled games better and whenever they won, they did so convincingly. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy with AW’s exit but Unai needs to stop acting like Arsene 2.0 and rediscover the ruthlessness he instilled in Seville when they were winning the Europa League for fun.
The other day I was taken to task for criticising Lichtsteiner .Well what say you now?In some ways this is the reality check we deserve.It confirms that all our defenders who played today are totally inadequate for a team with ambitions to compete at the highest level.Until they are all replaced the efforts of midfielders and forwards will be worthless.Today’s result will i am sure galvanize Emery and his recruitment team to replace the dross we witnessed today.There is not one coach on the planet who could improve our defenders so ship them out asap.
I think we have to give every a break. The guy is trying to fit players to his way of play. Unfortunately our defence was suspect yet again today. Let’s be honest we had a decent run with hector, mustafi, sokratis and either (nacho or kolasinac) on the left. This guys have been in and out with injuries and we don’t have depth to cover for any of those players. Lichtsteiner looks all over the place and is what it is, a free player with more willingness than quality. In midfield xhaka and torreira where working wonders but they looked knackered and we don’t have suitable players so they can have a rest. At front I do rate lacazette but auba is the main man and you can’t accommodate laca, auba and iwobi together upfront. Laca definitely has to come on as a sub at the expense of who ever is playing wide, so he can occupied the number 9 positions while auba gets moved to the wing. The lack of wingers is another thing that is killing us. Iwobi tries and tries but is still too young to make that left front position his own. Hopefully he will improve in years to come because at the moment he reminds me of Aaron Lennon from the lily whites, to much trickery, pace but no end product which at the end of the day is what matters. You have to give credit to the kid he really tries. I understand people’s frustration but let’s get a perspective. If anyone told you at the beginning of the season, we would be in the position we are in the league at this time of the year, you would have taken it. Everybody new this project was gonna take time and I don’t mean one season or two. There is still a lot of football to play for. Get behind the team in the same way you were when we were winning matches. We just lost to the best team in the league by far, no shame on that.
Be better off with dick emery in charge!! Absoulute disgrace there is getting beat knowing your team gave everything but this team is weak with no leaders pathetic you wouldn’t want to go to war with any of this spineless players behind you be shot dead in less then a minute the club is finished in terms of challenging for prem league and doubt will get in champions league any time soon plenty more years of doom and gloom to come better get use to it!!
This is the gutless mauling I was on about earlier….
WTF is Emery thinking?
Nobody knows, I doubt the players do either, we’re all sat around bamboozled by his brilliant tactics…
I will say what a lot of people thought when Emery was appointed.
We got the boobie prize, but hey, it was better than the realistic alternatives.
I really do hope Emery can turn things around and bring the enjoyment back into watching it, last few games have been heart breaking.
What’s gone wrong Midkemma? I agree wholeheartedly it has been really tough to watch lately, jeez we’re better than that surely!!
I thought we would pick up a bit once Kos and Mustafi came back to fitness but today was a joke beyond jokes.
Although we scored a lot of goals early on in the season, I don’t think our football is one I would brag about, only good things I can say ATM are that I like the passion being shown most the time and the training appears to be working for some of our players.
Watching Arsenal play is painful now. I was sick of all the backpasses under Wenger but now it has gotten worse, I know sometimes we need to go back to make gaps appear but every time? I also think that hurts Lacas game, he can wriggle past players and he is a good creator, he can create something out of nothing but it isn’t according to plan…
I want to back Emery but the past few games is making it really hard, more so when I remind myself that Emery has been with us for half a season now so he should know his players better.
Lastly, I do get frustrated that AMN keeps getting shoved in any role apart from CM. This time he was in Theos old pos, he done better than I thought as he has been doing a lot of def roles recently but again it is not in CM. He had Pogba in his pocket so it isn’t like he can’t do the job… I like Guendouzi but it is feeling like he is a Emery favourite and AMN may need to leave to get regular time in CM… Urghh.
Anyway, Hope you have a good new years Sue ^.^
Fingers crossed things turn around in 2019 ^.^
Maybe we’re just doomed whoever’s in charge!
Thank you Midkemma! You too!
Lichtsteiner slow, Niles slower, frig it the whole defence are snails both in pace and thought. Their passing and composure is ……………….i am devastated over this .
i read most of these comments and some make sense but some are out there.
Here is my problem with Emery: As a coach you know your opponent and today he failed
to address the areas that Liverpool would be most dangerous at 1. the speed of their midfielders vs ours so pressing high was a suicidal plan to begin with example:Firminos second goal
2. Containing Salah and Mane was difficult to begin with so playing with 3 backs was another suicidal decision allowing the wide areas to be exploited example Salah penalty
No matter what personnel you select you need to have a plan to stifle/control Liverpool’s strength
He did none of the above.
Considering the fact he also is behaving like an egomaniac fearful of star players (Lacazette-Ozil)
which is proven he can’t manage I think his tenure here maybe shorter than what we expect.
BTW is there any one slower than XHaka at MF ? His speed of play and also physical ability is
mind boggling. Whoever paid 35 mil for this guy should be hung at the town square.