Newcastle United v Arsenal

[LooneyToony 41]

Disappointing result, I think it should have been a free kick as it was a foul on Anita before their free kick. Very disappointed with the players wussing out of some things, think Gouffran could have dived in but took a step back and Remy also moved backwards as when the ball flicked back it was in the area Remy should have been in. Ben Arfa was good when he come on but he needs to be told to fucking pass, shooting towards the near post was pure fucking stupidity and greed if he was going to shoot it had to be to the far post but he really should have been putting in a cross as the 6 yard box was packed. Debuchy was class again imo, Anita was disappointing, Remy was anonymous again, Cabaye started bright but then faded a little and sat too deep when we were pressing them.

 

yeah, 6 yard box was packed wiith THEIR players, not ours.

[ewerk 30167]

It wasn't just that Ben Arfa took the shot but he was trying to be clever at the near post. If he goes for the far corner there's a chance that it'll go in via a deflection or there'll be the chance of scoring from the rebound.

[Noelie 103]

Too bad Remy's head shot didn't have better direction!!

Sloppy goal robbed us of a point.

Opportunities to even the score in the last 10 minutes were plentiful but no cigar.

Fat lady was singing when they got that sloppy goal.

Didn't think we would win but had high hopes for a draw.

[Howay 12496]

yeah, 6 yard box was packed wiith THEIR players, not ours.

That's the point, put a ball in there and it can go off anyone, trying to smack the ball into where he did would have took a perfectly precise shot as well as Szczesny making a complete hash of it. He had to shoot across goal in that position, for what it's worth I like Ben Afra a lot and would start him but he deserves criticism for his bad choice the same as Gouffran and Remy deserve stick for bottling going for the ball.

[LooneyToony 41]

It wasn't just that Ben Arfa took the shot but he was trying to be clever at the near post. If he goes for the far corner there's a chance that it'll go in via a deflection or there'll be the chance of scoring from the rebound.

Eh, the way I see it is that we were unlucky. They were lucky to get a cheap foul deep on our side. We could have marked better on that one for sure. But all in all, we played well and matched Arsenal all the way.

Edited December 29, 2013 by LooneyToony

[Rayvin 5151]

I think the positive is that for the first time in a long time, we looked within touching distance of Arsenal in terms of overall quality. On another day we would have held them to a draw at least.

[OTF 7217]

Yeah. There's no reason why this result should take any wind out of our sails.

[BigWalrus 0]

Aye, we've beaten Man Utd, Spurs and Chelsea. We've drawn with Liverpool and we've been beaten well by Man City and narrowly by Arsenal. I'd have snapped your hands off for 10 points from those 6 games.

[aimaad22 4086]

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.

[Howay 12496]

Aye, we've beaten Man Utd, Spurs and Chelsea. We've drawn with Liverpool and we've been beaten well by Man City and narrowly by Arsenal. I'd have snapped your hands off for 10 points from those 6 games.

There were a lot of positives from this match in all imo, we matched Arsenal the whole match to be honest and were let down by a moment of poor marking. We have to be looking to get 3 points from West Brom as Man City will be a big ask.

[aimaad22 4086]

Thought Debuchy was our best player again.

[Rayvin 5151]

Thought Debuchy was our best player again.

 

Yeah I'd agree with that also. Strong both defensively and offensively, with a header off the line thrown in.

[aimaad22 4086]

There were a lot of positives from this match in all imo, we matched Arsenal the whole match to be honest and were let down by a moment of poor marking. We have to be looking to get 3 points from West Brom as Man City will be a big ask.

 

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!

Edited December 29, 2013 by aimaad22

[Ken 119]

Ben Arfa doesn't have the footballing intelligence to match his skill and pace - it has always been a problem with him. If he did have better awareness he'd already be playing for a club in the Champions League.

 

Thought we knocked the ball around ok in the first half without creating any real chances. Both teams looked jaded. Unlucky to concede that goal as well. We've had a real good run of late so there's not much to be complain about.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

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.

 

The chances Ben Arfa took were in the dying minutes when he had other options. Gouffran and Remy were so anonymous that they didn't even have such chances really.

 

I don't see why Ben Arfa is exempt from criticism. People get so wound up because they know how good he can be, but occasionally he isn't enough of a team player.

[Park Life 71]

Too happy to contain them. No real attacking ideas apart from Debuchy trying to steal the cheese when no one is looking...Sissoko and Goof not really at the races with regard to supporting Remy and the game ended with a whole load of hoofing. Remy not that clever with runs unless he's got a no.9 in front of him and can cut in from the left. Cabaye invisible.

 

 

Really frustrating display against Arsenal who looked fragile and nervous and were there for the taking (you could see how relieved Wenga was at the end).

 

 

You want to have a chance of winning a game like this you have to start your most creative player.

Edited December 29, 2013 by Park Life

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Ben Arfa doesn't have the footballing intelligence to match his skill and pace - it has always been a problem with him. If he did have better awareness he'd already be playing for a club in the Champions League.

 

Thought we knocked the ball around ok in the first half without creating any real chances. Both teams looked jaded. Unlucky to concede that goal as well. We've had a real good run of late so there's not much to be complain about.

 

Agree with all of this.

 

I think that's why the result irritates a little - both sides offered very little going forward. A draw would have been a fair result but if any side was to win it would have down to a bit of luck (Remy's block going in) or a rare moment of 'relaxed' defending (their goal). If Arsenal had peppered our goal with shot after shot it'd have been different. As is it they didn't make Krul do too much.

 

It's a great result for them - nowhere near their best but grinding out a result against a good side, and about as decent a loss as it can get for a losing side; one that shows we can compete with better sides, and even earn their respect (they parked the bus against us towards the end).

[Kid Dynamite 6966]

Cazorla, Giroud and Wilshere are the softest cunts I've seen at St James this season. Really fucking winds me up.

 

Shola isn't good enough to chuck on to save a game. When's the last time he scored us a winner as a sub?

[Park Life 71]

Cazorla, Giroud and Wilshere are the softest cunts I've seen at St James this season. Really fucking winds me up.

 

Shola isn't good enough to chuck on to save a game. When's the last time he scored us a winner as a sub?

Rosciky is such an irritating git.

[aimaad22 4086]

 

The chances Ben Arfa took were in the dying minutes when he had other options. Gouffran and Remy were so anonymous that they didn't even have such chances really.

 

I don't see why Ben Arfa is exempt from criticism. People get so wound up because they know how good he can be, but occasionally he isn't enough of a team player.

 

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.

Edited December 29, 2013 by aimaad22

[Brock Manson 0]

Ben Arfa who has played for Lyon and Marseille, both champions league clubs when he was there. But hey, he'll never be considered good enough to play for a CL club.

 

Of course he isn't exempt from criticism, but he always receives the worst of it because hey, it's easy to point the finger at the guy who tries the more risky decisions over someone who just isn't capable of producing much going forward (ie Shola when he came on).

 

Benny came on and tried hard, maybe a little too hard to change the game and his near post shot went into the side netting. No-one's pointing out Santon's two wasteful long rangers, which were far worse in terms of squandering possession and chances. We haven't had a player since Robert who has so divided supporter opinion.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

But we all know Shola isn't great.

[Kid Dynamite 6966]

I've got no issue with him shooting. It's not hitting the target that's the problem. You have to make the keeper make a save from 10 yards or closer

[Rayvin 5151]

Ben Arfa who has played for Lyon and Marseille, both champions league clubs when he was there. But hey, he'll never be considered good enough to play for a CL club.

 

Of course he isn't exempt from criticism, but he always receives the worst of it because hey, it's easy to point the finger at the guy who tries the more risky decisions over someone who just isn't capable of producing much going forward (ie Shola when he came on).

 

Benny came on and tried hard, maybe a little too hard to change the game and his near post shot went into the side netting. No-one's pointing out Santon's two wasteful long rangers, which were far worse in terms of squandering possession and chances. We haven't had a player since Robert who has so divided supporter opinion.

 

This for me. I accept the points the others are making too but it's not like we lost because of him. That time he shot near post instead of far; no other player on our team would even have gotten into that position (I recall him taking Flamini out through skill alone).

[hostile_statue 0]

Shola did a good job as target player tbf, won just about every ball hoofed towards him. Should have done better with that cross from the right obviously.