aimaad22

Pards has had a specific game plan against the big sides this season and more often than not it has worked. Im with those saying the tactics were spot on. We restricted a very potent team to long range shooting, they got a goal out of nowhere basically. Being in good form doesnt mean you can suddenly start thinking about ripping teams like Arsenal and Man City apart. Got to know your limits. Also got to take into account some of our players are tired, that much was obvious yesterday.

Valid point

Problem is who could possibly take him off our hands? Some tier 2 club in France hopefully?

Great picture!

No doubt but there's only so far you can push a player. Rather we rest him a bit than him picking up an injury.

Worth noting Arsenal had to move Cazorla to the centre in the first half to try and get some joy because our right back was having absolutely none of it Im aware Arsenal move about players as the game goes on but this was not one of those routine manoeuvres.

Aye thats what I was leading to. Over to you Joe!

Oh well at least I had Scezncy and Mertesacker in my fantasy team

In addition to looking a bit clueless in the final third. I love the guy but he does need a rest. Gouffran too, his overall contribution to the game his dwindled. Not unexpected considering the amount of games recently.

Is it just me or has Remy looked very uncomfortable in the centre in the last two games? You often see Debuchy and Sissoko in a crossing position but then pull it back because there's no one in the centre with Remy floating near the left flank.

Im not saying he shouldn't be criticised, it WAS a bad decision. But its stupid when people say thats the reason he's not in the first team. I mean, at least he was doing something up front, causing trouble. None of the others were able to do that throughout the game. I'd rather a player create 10 chances and make bad decisions in 5 of them as opposed to not create anything at all. In a game where we offered absolutely nothing going forward, slagging of someone who was despite his failings was at least offering a threat is just silly imo.

Arsenal treated us as they would say Chelsea or Man City in an away game. Screw the media, we've earned the respect of some good teams. Good to see we're showing some consistency as well, in performances, staying competitive even when not playing well. In the past we'd just implode. Mind there's still half a season to go!

Thought Debuchy was our best player again.

It was a silly decision from Ben Arfa but the way people suddenly jump on his back here is ridiculous. Sissoko and Gouffran were hopeless going forward the whole game, as was Remy. We didnt create a single proper chance until Arsenal suddenly decided to sit back. I shudder to think what would be said here if Ben Arfa had given away the stupid freekick that Tiote did. Anyway, I thought a draw would have been the fair result. Soft goal to conceded and the players will be gutted with that. I was surprised at how little Arsenal created, although neither did we apart from that little spell at the end of the first half. Both teams looked a bit tired. Disappointed but cant fault the players on lack of effort.

Fucking stupid Tiote. We're comfortable and a completely unnecessary free kick conceded.

Remy in the centre not working out so far.

Mutch!

The choice was always going to between Ben Arfa, Shola and Anita.

There are tablets etc for that

Agreed. I do worry about Santon though, way too easy to go past for my liking. Hope Gouffran is really up for this one, defensively.

Thats not the way things are done here any longer, that much should be clear by now. Dzeko will probably end up at Dortmund or Juventus etc.

I think invariably its the ones trying something different that end up taking the flak. Sissoko can go a whole half without connecting two passes, and Gouffran sometimes disappears completely. Yet somehow they are 'team players'. All the running about seemingly reassures people. I suppose thats two different ways of looking at football though. Some managers feel more comfortable with 11 workhorses in their team, understandable. I've always been inclined towards having a significant threat of your own to keep the opposition occupied.

And that negates any of the points I made, how? Massive assumption to draw the correlation between the two. Fits in well with your Debuchy theory though. My neighbour's freaking dog has been making a lot less of a racket since Ben Arfa was dropped. And the rupee has picked up considerably against the dollar. Keep the bastard out.

And the way you go on about him its as if none of the others ever misplace a pass or make a bad decision, or go on a poor run of form. Flair players have their frustrating moments. That ability to turn the game on its head in a moment is what makes them valuable though. Its also keeps opponents wary, and the threat can often prove to be a more effective safeguard than simply putting people behind the ball.

Typed about 10 responses to that and ended up erasing them each time because I dont know where to start and end. In short, I think thats the sort of mindset responsible for the England team lagging miles behind some of their European rivals.