Arsenal - pre match thread.

[Pam]

If I was Trixie or Dixie I would call Kelechi Iheanacho to one side and ask him to pick the team for Sunday - i.e. players who want to play for the shirt.
Kelechi can be the first name on the sheet , plus Hart and then 9 others who might also be 2 or 3 EDS players.
A must win game.
I see Merson (ex Arse) is 'stoking the fires' saying the City performance against Madrid was the worst performance by an English side in Europe.
Jeez - can I disagree with him ?.

I kind of know what he means, tbh.

 

[Omnia Vincit Riot]

I am bloody delighted this is Manuel's last home game. The last two seasons have been depressing to say the least. The man won a title with Mancini's team and then proceeded to take us backward at a rate of knots. Even the rags have been beating us. Less of the holistic in future, please.

GOODBYE.

100% agree. Especially about having less of the holistic. Let's just have a winning mentality instead of all that shite.

 

[malg]

At leas they'd collectively cost less than one of Mangala's legs.

For some reason, he appears to have had most stick due to the fee. It's a bit unfair in a way, as every single one of our defenders has suffered under this managers tenure, as would have most defenders I feel.

I genuinely believe we'll see more from everyone next season. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[bluetev]

Jesus.....what a humourless lot

Must be all that rain and battleship grey skies that make you so sour

Ah well, c'est la vie.....

Allez Les Rouges !!!!!

We are pretty good at joking at ourselves in fact.
Just a bit disinclined to take "humour" from those who can dish it out but can't take it.

Incidentally, when you are back at your stadium remind your fellow supporters there are other ways to support your team than simply booing players who have left them to win titles, such as actually singing or cheering your own team occasionally.

 

[mat]

This game will be one of the extremes. Either end to end goal fest or a bore draw. They'll be no in between

 

[Gladstonian Liberal]

We are pretty good at joking at ourselves in fact.
Just a bit disinclined to take "humour" from those who can dish it out but can't take it.

Incidentally, when you are back at your stadium remind your fellow supporters there are other ways to support your team than simply booing players who have left them to win titles, such as actually singing or cheering your own team occasionally.

As an Arsenal fan of many, many years, believe me I have got used to being the butt of others jokes.

And I'm more than happy at good natured banter. No harm in that. One of my mates is a City fan who lives near Manchester and been a season ticket holder for over 20 years. He's a good lad and his jokes about his and my team are funnier than anything I can come up with.

Personally, I don't have a problem with City. In the title race of recent years, I'd much prefer you lot to win it than your neighbours or Chelsea.

As for my fellow fans, like you I cannot be held accountable for the behaviour of all.

Only certain ex players have been reviled by Arsenal fans after moving on, largely because they displayed a lack of class in leaving.

I hope and expect you to finish above Utd.

 

[Steve68]

For some reason, he appears to have had most stick due to the fee. It's a bit unfair in a way, as every single one of our defenders has suffered under this managers tenure, as would have most defenders I feel.

I genuinely believe we'll see more from everyone next season. I'm looking forward to it.

He's not singled out. Other players like Bony get much worse stick. Sorry but he simply does not look like a £40 mill defender. He looks like one worth the 10 mill or so we will let him go for in the summer. It's no use people playing the 'if only' game regarding skills and qualities he lacks. He is what he is.

Sure, our tactics don't help but that's not the reason him and Otty look out of place in this kind of league. I hope both come good but strongly doubt Mangala will get the chance. If we are bringing in two centre backs as some suggest, as well as having Deneyar then two will have to go.

My suspicion, from months of mood music, is its already decided it will be Kompany and Mangala.

 

[Pam]

As an Arsenal fan of many, many years, believe me I have got used to being the butt of others jokes.

And I'm more than happy at good natured banter. No harm in that. One of my mates is a City fan who lives near Manchester and been a season ticket holder for over 20 years. He's a good lad and his jokes about his and my team are funnier than anything I can come up with.

Personally, I don't have a problem with City. In the title race of recent years, I'd much prefer you lot to win it than your neighbours or Chelsea.

As for my fellow fans, like you I cannot be held accountable for the behaviour of all.

Only certain ex players have been reviled by Arsenal fans after moving on, largely because they displayed a lack of class in leaving.

I hope and expect you to finish above Utd.

Whatever happens, your team and ours need to be reflecting on how it got to the point where Leicester beat us both to the bunch with what seemed like considerable ease.

 

[Big Yaya Wilko 12]

Worst for me was 12-13 Christ it was dire.

At least we finished comfortably in the Top 4, mate.

 

[Gladstonian Liberal]

Whatever happens, your team and ours need to be reflecting on how it got to the point where Leicester beat us both to the bunch with what seemed like considerable ease.

I think Ranieri out thought everyone with his tactics.

In a time when possession is the holy grail, Ranieri recognised that scoring goals is more important.

So he suckered everyone into piling forward and then hits them at speed on the counter.

It'll be interesting to see if that style is influential next season. I think it will be.

The danger is you'll get both teams defending deep, not committing and ending up with Italian style catenaccio circa 1968