Let’s cut to the chase from the start …. I actively dislike Blackburn. Never liked their kit, hated Simon Garner, Dalglish, Mark Hughes, Fat Sam, the SAS, Haj Diouf, Kean, the Chicken men, and their ground is as awful as the town.
Last time we played Blackburn at the Emirates we beat them 7-1 and they were lucky to get the 1. An insipid display from a doomed team.
More of the same today …. please
Can we expect the same today? Who knows? Much depends on the mindset of The Arsenal because we have handed out some real hidings at THOF this season. I would love today to be another thrashing but somehow doubt it will happen.
And what of Blackburn? Sitting mid-table in the Championship, carrying huge debts and reliant upon loan players (Bentley, DJ Campbell & Kazim Richards etc) they are a club in trouble. I was surprised when looking at B’burn’s squad to see the name of Nuno Gomes. 36 y.o and given a 2 year contract in summer . Gomes was once a £20m player but that was before Ox was born! Why sign him and give him what must be a big pension fund? Who knows?
It’s not all mis-management at Blackburn, they have also had their share of bad luck. For example, they signed Leon Best from Newcastle for £3m in summer – a good player who had recently recovered from a cruciate ligament tear, one month into this season and he got another one!
One very good signing has been Jordan Rhodes. Our CB’s can expect a good physical battle this afternoon.
David Bentley. Will he start today? I doubt it, but Bentley is sure to get pitch time, and I expect him to get the reception he so fully deserves for his celebration following the fluke at THOF a few years back. To us this is a chap who has thrown away his career, a man who was born with immense talent but allowed his ego to derail him – to Mr Bentley and his family, he is a multi-millionaire who lives a lifestyle few can imagine. Such is modern football.
With the Bayern game looming AW is sure to rest much of the team. This is my guess ……
Runners & Riders
The above team has all the necessary firepower to win this afternoon, though I accept it is light in midfield with Ramsey being asked to play the DM role. It also highlights the lack of a centre forward to replace OG.
Today’s English Explorer: As we are playing a Championship side today we have a second division explorer. – top man nonetheless. Cecil Rowling (1870 – 1915). Young Cecil was one of England’s most accomplished mountaineers and was among the first to explore and survey Tibet, in the process identifying Everest as the highest mountain. He went on to discover the source of the Brahmaputra river, and later to survey the jungles of Papua New Guinea.
Don’t mess with me, Laddy ….
The First World War intervened and Rawling became a highly regarded soldier. Fighting at Ypres and the Somme he rose to Brigadier General, winning the DSO and the CMG. Leading his troops at Passchendaele, Rawling was killed by a German shell.
Blackburn will pack the midfield and likely parrk ‘t buss. As this is our last realistic chance of silverware we should get this tie settled early but somehow I feel Arsenal are in for a battle this afternoon.
To those fortunate to attend stay positive.
COYRRG
Written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
I must admit to feeling a bit sorry for Blackburn fans, when people criticise Kroenke and our board for selling out it is difficult not to turn and look at the Venkys and their stewardship of one of England’s traditional clubs.
That said they liked Sam Allardyce so my sympathy softens and then their treatment of Kean epitomised the entitled generation of football fans.
As for us today, Wenger has a difficult job ahead, finding the balance of team to avoid serious injuries ahead of Munich but also strong enough to win the game today.
If it were me I would start Meade (assuming not out on loan) at left back and preserve Nacho for more important battles ahead. I would also consider whether we need to risk both Koz and BFG and maybe bring in Miquel.
Would also consider finding a place for Eisfield and Gnabry if not on the pitch then definitely on the bench.
How fuckin arrogant are all arsenal fans? There is a world outside London you know? You know nothing about the town or the club. No other small town club can match our history,
T
Hi
Nice post Br can I ask what does COYRRG mean at the end of the post.
JAMES,no other small town can match your history is Blackburn small as I have never been there.
I disagree James take a look at Swansea City
Two nil to the Arsenal today
Much love
Treatment of kean? Do some proper research before you come out with such garbage, please. Google Steve kean lies perhaps.
James,
You’ve read 1 Arsenal fans opinion and then labelled all Arsenal fans arrogant! Who’s arrogant now!?
I am pretty ambiguous when it comes Blackburn, so a nice 3-0 would be fine by me. I expect Giroud to be rested aswell as a CB as we are a little thin in those 2 areas at the moment. Miguel to come in maybe, and Rosicky to play wide with Gerv up top?
I would just like an early goal to take any pressure off so we can enjoy the match. Some still haven’t fully recovered from the heart attack inducing Sunderland game! And people wonder why Wengers aged in recent years.
Great read Raddy,
Mr Lofthouse, I don’t live a million miles from Ewood Park, so I understand your frustrations. Blackburn is a more industrial, spit and sawdust kind of place in comparison with the likes of London, so you are going to get unfavourable comparisons. Perhaps it would be sensible to be less sensitive about it.
Steve Kean was an odious human being, I couldn’t stand the guy, so his sacking was met with much celebration from me and half a million Blackburn fans I am sure. The only problem is that Venkys don’t know how to run a club – but in Michael Appleton they have a manager that defends first and attacks on the counter. Fortunes are changing for Blackburn, but a successful playoff run is unlikely this time I think.
Big game for Arsenal today. We need a win – no second legs please Arsenal.
WG
James. I accept your right to have an opinion, please return the courtesy.
Garbage? Where did I write about Kean’s treatment? I just stated that I didn’t like him. Most B’burn fans agreed.
History? So have Huddersfield So what?
Hi Big Raddy
Sorry, in a rush…
…COQUELIN ?
I agree with SLIME as regards GIROUD… simply can’t risk him with midweek in mind.
Sorry BR for haste… gotta go!
Kelsey was writing a post on priorities i.e. FAC or CL.
Do we rest the whole team today hoping for a result vs Bayern? Is the CL a realistic target? We all know how hard beating a BM team who are flying at the moment will be.
As such, for today, I would suggest a first choice defence, a middling midfield and a proper attack. So, IMO Og starts.
Randy,
I have to say I sympathize with Lofty Lofthouse, because you said; ” (The) last time we played Blackburn at the Emirates we beat them 7-1 and they were lucky to get the 1.”, when anyone who saw that game knows the reality was; “(The) last time we played Blackburn at the Emirates we beat them 7-1 and we were lucky to get the 7.”
Fair’s fair!! 🙂
Actually, that was a reasonably gentle Posy, altho’ you promised a feisty approach to your Blackbum review, because you were feeling Antsy this morning.
Who is Antsy – and does your Mrs know?? 🙂
We are missing a few players TV IS DOUBTFULL as is LK also DOUBTFULL,CJ IS BANNED .Jack is also a doubt
If we are short I can play left back .
According to SSN
or both Raddy.
Vermaelen is fit. One game at a time and I suggest not too much experimenting with the side just for the sake of change as opposed to rotation.
RA. Good Morning to you…..
Whilst I applaud our even-handedness a 7-1 beating has little to do with good fortune. I know we scored in a flurry but it was an absolute hiding.
Antsy ….. don’t tell Mrs Raddy 😀
BR
what does COYRRG stand for ill guess
come on you red red gunners?
Come on You Rip Roaring Gunners
It was always screamed out from the North Bank by a crazy lady…..
Great stuff Raddy, many thanks.
I have no feelings or knowledge of Blackburn; I have ever known only 1 B’burn fan and he was a very decent human being. I remember them giving us hard time in the past, but since the chicken empire took over they became unheard of. Sad for the fans.
Good man Cecil Rowling, but my hot favourite is still Captain Ross
re. the lady in the north bank… NOT crazy, just a die hard with soul 🙂
Thanks for the pm Raddy. An early 15min goal for entree, 2 goals in 2 minutes for chicken lunch and a goal from an unusual suspect for desert. Thats my order for today! 4-0 to the great guys with a side serve of nachos. 🙂
Id like to see a bit of Ice Icefeld baby today.
COYRRG
ps. we all have a crazy lady inside of us, come the 90min
What ‘big debts’ are those then Raddy? According to Venkys we dont have any debts. Mind you, I dont believe a word they say so you might be right…
PPP,
I think most of us have a crazy lady living with us!!! 🙂
BR,
I see where your coming from when you say we should pick the team based on priority. However, we are still very much in the CL even though many give us little chance. Maybe Giroud on the bench would be the ideal compromise, just in case?
Nice one BR 🙂
I went to Blackburn once. The front page lead story on the local paper (Lancs Evening Telegraph) was about black puddings (“Euro Threat to Black Pudding”). I went home.
Here’s to a not-too-stressful win…
Did you try the black pudding while you were there Rocky? I wish I could buy some of that delectable accompaniment to bacon eggs here in Norfolk. The last good one I managed to get was from a small butchers in the Yorkshire Dales.
A town that can put the future of Black Pudding on the front page of their local paper stands high in my estimation and deserves to have better owners of their football club than an Indian chicken processing company.
Rocky – you should not believe everything you read; I am sure the story was hugely exaggerated – you should have stayed
Haha Norfolk
I didn’t try it that day, but I am a big fan of black pudding with a fry-up.
Evonne
Poles like black pudding don’t they? I used to eat it in a nice Polish restaurant in Kensington, called Wodka.
Evonne,
The seriousness of the future of Black Pudding cannot be exaggerated. The Evil Empire, that masquerades as the EU, cannot be allowed to get it’s filthy mitts on it.
All this talk of Black Pudding has reminded me that it is lunchtime, I’m off to “enjoy” some healthy oily fish and salad. Yuck!
Norfolk,
Salad for lunch on a match day?
Don’t know about anyone else, but I’m asking questions 🙂
Right, where’s Raddy?
Right, Raddy,
Thank you for the usual. You really do some research don’t you? Knowing who they bought in the summer and whatnot. Brilliant explorer, not the Tibet bit as that’s easy (just avoid angry Buddhists), but anyone who steps inside the jungles of Papua New Guinea deserves very big medals indeed.
The thought of Diaby starting excites and terrifies me in equal measure. Loiterer or not 🙂
Szczesny, Coquelin, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Diaby, Rosicky, Arteta, Gervinho, Chamberlain, Giroud #afc #
You have got to be must ignorant, arrogant, clueless horrible cockney I have heard, like many others have always hated arsenal for the amount of johnny foreigners there completely over-rated players and disgusting ticket prices. But with this ridiculous piece i hope you carry one pathetically failing year in year out, What a wanker you are,
What a lovely, balanced example of civilized writing and manners your comment is Rovers T I D — Not!!
If I remember correctly Blackburn via Jack Walker hold the distinction of the first irrelevant team to buy the PL title.
Great write up Raddy. I think we will need to mix it up a bit with the players and keep some out of the firing line, while still having some experience out there.
You take a chance when you take out too many experienced players, but I would still take this chance and take a couple more out replacing Sagna with maybe Yennaris and the BFG with Miquel to play to the left of Kos. I would hope that having the more experienced Kos and Nacho either side of him would allow Miquel to play well between them, and the same for Yennaris having Kos to his left.
On Tuesday, if we are to have any chance, I feel we need to have a back 4 line up of Sagna, BFG, Kos, TV and we cannot risk any injury, so I would reduce the risk to Kos only. If we switch it to the classic 4-3-3 but more in a 4-2-3-1 line up we can have Diaby and Ramsey providing a better screen to a less experienced defence and hope that the attacking trio of the Ox, Rosicky and Gervinho playing behind Giroud do the job. I would also play the Ox from the left and Gervinho from the right.
We can have some extra experience on the bench and call upon it if necessary.
Rovers 😀 :-D.
All our southern prejudices rolled into one comment.
Illiterate, foul mouthed and magnificently stupid. Chapeau.
Cheers dandan,
Coquelin at RB.
Like the team.
Come on you rip roaring REDS (I’ll explain later Sheep) 🙂
Raddy,
You’ve done a magnificent job of whipping me up into a winning frenzy ROLF
Gerv to score a hat trick!
You heard it here first 🙂
Can I whip you too, Micky? Why should Randy Dandy get all the fun?
Rocky – you are a typical arrogant Gunner, there is more to Poland than Vodka…..for example beer 🙂
Where is Oz when you need him?? Where are we watching the game?
Oh do behave RA
It is actually really embarrassing that Arsenal still think there a top side in England now, when was the last time you a trophy? how many points behind united are you? can’t wait to see Bayern absolutely destroy you in the champions league, get used to the europa league and thursday nights.
What happens on a Thursday night Rover?
Really strong squad fielded today, let’s give them an absolute whopping today.
Rovers if I’m not mistaken Blackburn has never won at the emirates before, if I were you I’d be more concerned about the game today.
Apologies for my late arrival – Raddy I hope the team can recreate the fighting tone of your post in their play today 😕
Can someone paste a link to site I can watch the game on please?
Wizigig. Nutstv
You playing in the europa league next season that what happens on thursdays
rasp
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=190237&part=sports
RTID
We get told that every year… Funnily enough it never seems to happen.
And if we ended up in the Europa well, yes, we would consider it a failure.
But the Europa League is beyond your wildest dreams if you’re a Rovers fan.
Difficult playing against Team with no attacking intent.
Micky
Corrnation street is on Thursday mate rover must be on about that
Sheep,
Absolutely no idea what either a Coronation Streets or a Europas are.
Ah ha,
Is a Coronation Streets anything to do with Coronation Chicken, and hence the Blackburn connection?
Lol no
It’s a soap opera set in Manchester it’s rubbish but Mrs sheep is a big fan she lover Kevin
Micky, are you saying Rovers is a chicken? How confusing —– for him!!
Ah Sheep, just the beast I was looking for.
Re: COME ON YOU RIP ROARING REDS.
You, my humble four legged friend, have been led astray.
Ask anyone who stood on the North Bank in the 80’s, as far as I know from this site that’ll be Rocky, LB, 26 and myself (all the others were doing better and in the seats)
COYRRR comes from a bloke (not a Lady!?) who stood on the NB. He had a cap with RR (Rip Roar) on the back, and it was Rip Roaring REDS, not Gunners.
RA,
A chicken called Rover, that goes Woof 🙂
No Micky.
There was a woman who used to stand in the NB in the 70’s who used to shout it during quiet times.
She still goes to games and is a Goonerholic
Micky
Is it a cock-a-spaniel ? 😀
Our crossing has been dreadful. Not a single chance for OG to attack the ball
Chees Micky for clearing the point up.
I got a tin of rover biscuits left over from Christmas any one fancy one
MUCH LOVE
Coyrrr
Talk about dumb luck
I guess no one expected that.
We need to appease some gods.
genuinely think we’ve watched a match like this about a million times in the last 5 years. Let’s hope the ‘cavalry’ can salvage it
In a season of embarassing results this could be the worst.
B’burn have had one shot on target but even so we have been ccompletely toothless..
Bet we see the return of Spectrum
FFS I cant believe this
See you on Monday folks.
Has to be the worst performance ever at the Emirates.
Well played Blackburn. They deserved the win.
How different it would’ve been if Gervinho had finished that 1 on 1 or Rosicky’s shot had been an inch lower
To be fair BR, arsene should take a lot of flak. he picked the team, tactics etc.
As I said, how many times have we seen matches where we knock the ball about aimlessly, have the lions share of possession (with which we do nothing) and then concede a crap goal. Too many times and I’m fed up with it.
If the players weren’t motivated (which some people have cited as reasons in the past), that’s a management issue. In this match I’ve seen a lot of issues with our play that have been annoying me for years.
FIrstly, our crossing. It’s been terrible all season and I’ve seen no improvement. What do they do at Colney?
Secondly when we do cross, we never have players in the six yard box, and never more than two in the box. Again whats the point in coming down the flanks if in the middle we don’t have numbers attacking the box.
Am just so livid right now. Glad I didn’t go today
Fking embarrassing. So pissed right now.
joke, i want to die
why did Wenger not play WWC from the start??? It was SUCH an important game!! I am fuming
2 games away from a trophy and we blew it.
That basically is our season over!
The final nail in the coffin on Tuesday night?
Very poor our season is over in February
Time for a beer I think,🍺
Didn’t understand why Rosicky’s came off instead of Diaby, Rosicky was running the show in midfield and Diaby just looked lethargic in the second half.
One comment before I go…
This was AW’s fault.
Making three MF changes at once meant we were all over the place for that attack.
So when Szcz made a hash of things (again), there was no midfield helping to defend and to pick up the rebounds (or at least put in a challenge).
That said, Rovers were ridiculously lucky and I can’t agree with BR. It was FAR from our worst performance at the Ems. We had numerous chances on goal, should have scored at least three or four; their ‘keeper had the usual blinder and Rovers had one chance in the game which they fluked into the net.
It may be among the worst results, but certainly not among the worst performances – let’s keep some perspective. Disappointing and disappointingly familiar, but we have been much, much worse.
Champions League it is then!
Wenger to blame yet again correct rocky,
Time for a change , ask yoursellf
I agree with you regarding AW being at fault. It was ridiculous not to phase the subs in earlier over a 15 minute period.
For the rest you may well have a point, but you are bravely trying to rationalize the game and Arsenal’s malaise.
All the chances were just that, with the wrong players to take advantage of them.
The wrong players? Well this finishes as it started — that is AW;s fault too.
GiE – don’t do it to George, Gunner’s life is very hard
Agree with Rocky. OPIG palmed the ball away straight down the middle to the oncoming player.(again) still freak goals count.
I thought Diaby was growing into the game when he was subbed and Rosicky was unlucky and looked disappointed to be taken off.
As a team we are to easy to read and therefore the blame lays with Wenger.
Giroud might as well not have played and as for Gervinho one kinda knew how he would play.
It wasn’t by any means our worst performance just too predictable.
Hi all,
having not been around the board for quite a while, I figure I’d weigh in with a couple of comments. Disappointing result, of course. Lots of good players on the pitch for Arsenal, but they seem to lack that key bit of understanding to make something happen in the final third.
A few days back, Anam Hassan, who sometimes posts a ‘tactics column’ on Arseblog, wrote about crossing from the wing. His conclusion: it is basically a waste of time and the ball, and we’d be better off without it. Only one or two percent of crosses actually lead to goals. Of course that depends on one’s definition, but the point is: it makes a lot more sense to work the ball inside, even from the wing. Could someone send that memo to Alex OC? Of all the players out there, he is the one who most frustrates me. Gervinho, of course, missed the shot when through on goal we all thought he would miss. (Take a breath! take your time. Put it in the back of the net!). But Oxlade Chamberlin seems to be playing all by himself out there, doing very little to combine with teammates and actually produce something dangerous. The commentators love it when he gets the better of his man and puts in yet another cross, but the way I saw it, he could do that for the next month and not create a goal.
Bradfored,Blackburn and now Bayern.
Unacceptable performance – we need a match report ….. The word ‘pants’ is not banned 😦
At the risk of sounding defeatist, I guess that’s it for another season, no need to look for the key to the trophy cabinet, it can stay locked for another year. I just can’t see us winning the Champions League and 2nd, 3rd or 4th place is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a trophy.
Hindsight I know but why didn’t we put the first team out from the beginning? Get the game won and only then rest the big names.
Wenger has a job on his hands, lifting the team for the Bayern game, good luck to him!
The long line of corporates ready to sign us on new sponsorship deals is disappearing.
I saw this season as our final hurdle in terms of transition and coming of age…….
Choke!
Hairy, Diaby was not substituted!
I have given myself 25 minutes to cool down so this is not a knee jerk.
I am sick that we played the same tippy tappy, cross field passing game, with players doing their now ‘normal’ statuesque impressions of red and white cones.
Anyone who is not gutted by that game, its result and the impact it has had on the rest of our season does not have the red hot blood of a committed fan racing thru’ his/her veins.
Knee jerk be damned!
Haha GET IN THERE!!!!!!!!! quarter finals await the Mighty Blues, Chins up gooners there’s always next year lol, another trophy less season and Wenger and Bould both scratching there heads wondering why cant we win a trophy haha
I’m confused as I haven’t seen the game ….. more relatives visiting….worst still one is a Chav, but to be fair when he started saying to George about 9 years without a trophy I asked what the first thirty odd years supporting them was like. He said it was a fair point.
Anyway back to the game, I was watching on BBC web text thing and saw the stats 55%+ possession, 18 shots 7 on target to their 3 and 1 plus untold corners to there 2 or something, flicked over here to realise they had scored, and then people saying performance was bad.
I’m struggling to correlate the stats to a bad performance for everyone but the strikers?
Classy as ever, Rover! Woof!
I didn’t want to heap on the pressure this morning, but strewth its a big seven days ahead, and they just got a whole lot bigger.
Losing the next two, and Spuds in particular, is a very nasty thought.
GiE,
Forget the stats, its the result I’m afraid.
honestly, I’ll ask it again, do they actually practice crossing?
Could probably count with my fingers and toes the number of decent ones put in this season.
AW, has again insulted the FA cup (a trophy deserving of far more respect than he gives it) and reaps the rewards.
We may still get to Wemberley though! Champo league final here we come! She wore a yellow ribbon… (which incidentally was on tv today). Surely that was a sign from the big guy upstairs that we are meant to get to Wembley this season?!
I didn’t see the game as I’ve been really busy. The result is an utter fucking disgrace though. I’m sick of it
I fully expect every AA’er and all Gunners everywhere to take up Religion tomorrow and head to a church, pile of stones or whatever.
GIE,
If you have ever watched paint dry, that was about the speed and urgency we put into a truly lethargic display.
Stats are fine and pretty much sum up the physical aspects of the game, played against a team determined to defend, and who can blame them, what it does not show is the ‘quality’ of the performance.
As a result of missing our chances, [especially Gervinho) and also Rosicky who was unlucky with his shot off the bar, all meant that we were always going to be hostages to fortune.
One poor clearing header from Le Coq allowed Pederson to get in a good shot, which was weakly pushed out by Chezzer to Kasim Richards (a gooner), who mis-hit his shot for the goal.
Sorry red arse that is nonsense, a tale of two keepers and the bounce of the ball.
wow-sick and tired of being treated like a mug! Its about time the club fix up and start making good of their fiduciary relationship to us the fans.Things can’t go on like this, THEY JUST CAN’T!
KRONKE OUT, and if Wenger is not prepared to relinquish his unfettered powers he can go to!!
Can’t deal with the apologists either.
We have seen this play out too many times. I cannot think of another ‘big’ club’ who keep losing in the same manner we have over the past few years since we’ve adopted tippy-tappy.
What was our gameplan? Why didn’t we change it up?
Weekend is ruined. My stupidly optimistic post about the champo league above…there is more chance that that a pig will be flying as I make angelina Jolie’s intimate acquaintance than us progressing.
Disappointed you think I talk nonsense, DD.
I, on the other hand, am happy you can rationalise a dreadful performance so easily.
Probably best to leave it that we disagree.
VP,
If Wenger has got “unfettered powers” what will change if Kroenke leaves? Just asking!
Everton one down to Oldham
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on BBC Radio 5 live: “I couldn’t see how we could lose the game because we had a lot of the ball and they had one shot on goal but they defended well and it’s the kind of game you can lose if you make a mistake at the back like we did.
“We have just lost a game today and we don’t need to think too much about the eight season [drought], the players who played today didn’t play eight seasons ago and we must focus on the next game.”
On the booing at the end of the game, Wenger added: “What do you expect, people to applaud when you lose a game like that? It’s absolutely normal.”
Re Kelsey at 6,18pm
How many times have we heard Wenger use excuse after excuse that was unacceptable today yes Wenger goes on about the same rubbish for the past 4 season .
Pathetic Mr Wenger
I watched the 2nd half of the game at a sports bar in Frankfurt Air port while awaiting my flight to NY: i must say that this loss is is un- excusable! B team bolloxs, we had more than enough experienced team members to see off a very poor Blackburn, how many full Internationals did we have on display? No excuse. The team were not motivated, lacked pace, leadership, idea and basically had no clue. Today it really hurt to be a Gooner. I have always backed Wenger but now I think it is time for him to go as he simply cannot take us to the next level. The man has been a true legend at Arsenal and I will always be grateful for what he has achieved with our great club. I am not slamming Wenger, if anything the entire team should hang their heads in shame but I truly believe Wenger has done all he can and now his time is up.
Feb 16 th bad day for us 25 years ago today we lost the leauge cup final to Luton Town .
Joke.
Not seen the game, and I won’t be watching it either.
Wenger isn’t to blame for rotating, he’s to blame for creating an environment where players are not motivated or challenged.
Piss poor to the point where it’s almost amusing. Laugh or cry?
I think the most damning indictment of the performance is that the best period from the XI who started was when they saw the 3 subs ready.
Am sorry, but does anyone else remember what happened to Arsenal managers who oversaw such humiliating defeats (let alone twice in one season). Will always back the boys on the pitch, but as I’ve said in previous posts (just to prove to those on here who brand a reaction like this knee-jerk as they have no other defence) it’s time for Arsene to go. Am honestly starting to dislike him now as well as thinking he’s incompetent, and I never thought that would happen.
Whilst I have stated that Wenger is to blame for lack of motivation, I must also say that he has once again been let down by seasoned professionals. Wenger puts huge amounts of faith in players that some of us would not give the time of day, yet time and again these players do not give him anything back.
They should also hang their heads in shame. Disgusting.
Norfolk Gooner
Given the governance structure of the club,Kroenke is the only one at the club that can limit Wenger’s powers. His silence is an unequivocal acceptance for Wenger to continue to exercise unfettered power. Its in his economic interests to let keep things the way they are, particularly as Wenger is extremely subservient to the notion of delivering shareholder wealth. Any owner who half cares about the footballing side of things would not allow an individual at operating level to participate in board agenda as this would lead to self review and weight against good standard setting. This is why most owners would not be happy with the level of power that Arsene inhibits and so, the arrival of a new owner, would more likely than not, lead to a more healthier distribution of powers (which should ALWAYS be the case with any top performing organisation/football club).
Whether Wenger would be prepared to lessen his ‘director powers’ , and just concentrate on managing the team is another question in itself. My guess is that he would be reluctant to give up playing part time director and probably walk. Power is not an easy thing to give away.
Just to add to my earlier post. I am not anti Wenger, I have always backed him and admired what he has achieved. However, I truly believe it goes beyond Wenger. The whole club is not right at the moment from the top down.What Wenger has achieved with the budget he has is a miracle but lets stop there. Why is it that he does not get the backing he deserves from the board and club owner? What exactly has Kroenke done for the club? The answer is nothing! I am proud we have not gone down the road of Chelsea and Man City but there is a certain limit of expectation that we should expect from the owner. Granted it is not so much about football anymore but about business and financial profit but to maximize that, as an owner of a football club, you have to give the manager the tools he needs to achieve those financial goals and the tools are money for the manager to invest in top class players and to be in a position to compete. Sadly until that philosophy changes we can only hope for a place in the top four because as much as it hurts to say, that is what our expectations are at the moment. This is not a knee jerk reaction but the club has not been right for quiet sometime.
Hello AAers….just when I thought we couldn’t stoop any lower we go and pull it out the bag. It’s really sad what we’ve become – it’s like watching your favourite old grandad slipping into senility, riddled with Parkinson’s. The kindest thing would be to see him slip away with dignity and remember the happy times…and spend the bloody inheritance that he’s had stashed under the mattress for the last 15 years!
This is the day when I’ve given up all hope that we will be completive again…at least for the next 5 years. This squad needs to be deconstructed and rebuilt all over again. Spuds better make sure they make the most of what’s happened to us…hopefully it won’t take us as long to get back to the top as it has taken them.
Janman,
Wenger himself said, If I want a player I can get him. He said no one was really good enough to improve our squad this January. The board have said he has money to spend. Some people say they believe Arsene over the board. Obviously the ownership of the club is not ideal, I have no love for the board, but I’m not so sure I believe Arsene any more. Same bull, same soundbites. SwissRamble’s research seems to suggest we have plenty of money to spend if we want.
Fact of the matter is, i think the club needs a new manager to come in and rejuvenate the club. Secondly, I think having a new man, who everyone can unite behind would be great. Everytime I go to the Grove, there are more and more arguments over Wenger. In my experience, in general it’s the older ones who want him to go. Proper fights are breaking out as well. It’s not good.
I havn’t seen it and dont want to but surely this must signal the end of Wengers reign. He is slowly turning this great club into a laughing stock. I’ve been a gooner since 72 and will be for life but i’m getting very very bored of the same old shit year in year out with no sign that the man has it in him any more. Many of our players are better than those at Utd yet they will win the league again because they have a worldclass manager and we end up with nowt because we have someone who used to be a good manager. Unfortunately Robin and Cesc both saw this and even though they say lovely things about the man they know that he is never likely to bring success to the club again.
WENGER OUT !!! There I’ve said it.
Merse,
I do not see a contradiction between what AW said; “If I want a player I can get him”, and also saying no one [who was available] was really good enough to improve our squad this January.
I have put the missing words in brackets.
I do not know what did, or did not, happen on the player purchasing front last month, but from what was said at the time, I think Arsenal did try to get a player or two, but if the clubs won’t sell their best players, (understandably) then it stands to reason that Arsenal cannot buy them, and what is available are the rubbish players we do not want.
We are all disappointed by the poor performance this afternoon, and I understand and agree with a lot of what you, and others, have said — but your comment about the January transfer window is just speculation, and just muddies the water.
Sorry. 🙂
sorry RA, my point was that if Wenger says he can get any player he wants, then it clearly counters the point that he’s working on a shoestring budget. Fact of the matter is Arsenal can afford to pay him £7m a year. More than Fergie and Mourinho. Detest them both but it cannot be argued, they have a better track records when it comes to winning trophies
Merse,
I should not have said; “We are all disappointed by the poor performance this afternoon”, what I should have said is, “most of us are disappointed by the poor performance”, as I was chastised for talking nonsense by someone who clearly does not agree about either ‘the disappointment’ or the the poor performance’ or both.
It would be wrong not to correct myself.
barumgooner. I do not agree Wenger is turning the club into a laughing stock. The players have to be held accountable and take responsibility for their performances. However, as I said earlier I now believe Wenger has taken us as far as he can and it is time for change. I am a successful businessman but success is based on keeping up with the times and being prepared to modernize, re think and update when ever necessary and most important, staying in touch with your competition and being prepared to take actions to stay one step in front of them. Unfortunately that modus appears to be lacking within AFC. Who is responsible for this thinking, Wenger, the board, Kroenke? I think the entire club requires a huge shake up!
OK, Merse, I understand.
It is a bitter feeling for many of us at the moment!
There is always next season, I suppose!
The structure of the club and the future planning is brilliant, what needs work now is how we utilise that foundation to bring success in the present.
The transfer targets and spend has definately changed, and I expect to see that continue in the summer. I believe we will end up with a much stronger squad next season, but if the tactics aren’t improved, then i fear we may still end up losing these sorts of matches.
I agree that the players have to accept a big chunk of the blame/responsibility for poor results but a manager gets paid a massive sum to make the best of what he has. I may be in the minority but I dont think we need wholesale changes at the club and in fact I genuinely believe this is the best squad of players since we left Highbury. I firmly believe that with the exception of Rooney and RVP we have a better squad than Utd but Ferguson gets every ounce out of each player and gets them to do the role he requires, We have Arsene. Arsenal FC and Arsene Wenger have imo got used to the idea that 4th is good enough and are happy to believe that we aren’t good enough to challenge the best but to be the best of the rest is ok. Not for me i’m afraid.
sorry Janman, to me today has made the club a laughing stock, and is why I am still absolutely apoplectic with anger. We’ve been knocked out of both cup competitions by teams in lower divisions. It is humiliating.
Slime.
If the structure of the club and future planning were brilliant then I am afraid we would not be in the position that we are now in! Don’t misunderstand me, many of the clubs concepts are on track but I fear that the higher level of leadership is not adequate to make the final decisions, the difficult decisions that need to be made in order to take the club to the next level. It is just not the case to look at what is in front of you but more of a case to be looking at what is about to overtake you and pass you by. That is the fear that I have right now.
Merseforever. No need to say sorry, Today is a very sad day to be a Gooner.
I said in the first comment of the day that I would have played Meade and Miquel today, I guess that shows the level of importance I put on the FA Cup.
This desperation to win a trophy thing is becoming ridiculous, would winning the FA Cup really make anyone change their mind now about the state of the club? Would winning the Capital One Cup?
Was the side today strong enough (on paper) to beat Blackburn? I have not seen the game but my guess is that we and Wenger would have thought so.
Is it a humiliating result? Yes, as humiliating as Spuds getting knocked out by Leeds and Dippers by Oldham in the last round. Will it be forgotten of we progress against Bayern (as improbable as that seems).
Remember Wengers list PL, CL, 4th, FA Cup, CO Cup.
Right now targets 2 and 3 are more important than the FA Cup, he had in my opinion no choice but to rotate.
GIE,
fact of the matter is if we’re on a decline, then gooners would appreciate a day out at Wembley and the romance of a final. I hate the way that everyone disregards the cup now. Look at this way. Chelskum have won it 4 times in the last 6 years.
Ten years from now, will you remember finishing fourth, or the Gooners streaming down Wembley way celebrating another cup win. Some of my favourite Arsenal moments have been in the cup, and football is about creating memories, not balance sheets. Let’s say we somehow beat Bayern at home. If we subsequently get knocked out, why would it matter. I would rather have won the FA cup. If the FA cup doesn’t matter then that’s more than half of Wenger’s trophy credentials wiper out…
GIE: It is not about winning trophies. I for sure have not said that. The team picked today was more than capable of winning the game. The issue is players attitude, motivation and what is happening on the field of play. Call it what you want but all is not right at the club. 2nd or 3rd place does not even come into question right now. Sorting out the leadership of this great club and taking the responsibility for running this great club is what needs to be sorted out!
I think there are so many things to consider and we all have differing opinions but the fact is that whichever team we put up they cannot maintain a consistency over a decent period of time, especially this season so one has to ask why.
personally I think it is irrelevant what Wenger earns if the club chose to pay him a reported 7 million a year but one expects progress,the players to be motivated and to get out of the blocks at full throttle and this just isn’t happening time and time again.
On paper we had a better chance of winning the FA Cup than the CL this year.
Individually we have good players and there are some who appear to play better for their respective countries than they do for us and I wonder why.
Wenger often plays a player out of their natural position to suit his system,and let’s face it,he only has one, and we have become a predictable side to play against and results prove that. Sure we get days when everything clicks and we score 5 or more goals but I have said it a thousand times all the best teams are built upon having a solid defence and a back four and defensive midfield that understand each other.
This season i have seen more wayward passing than for a long time and our crossing is generally poor or we don’t get numbers in the box, or we do late in a game when chasing an equaliser or perhaps a winner.
I don’t want to be reminded every five minutes from now until the end of the season that it is 8 years since we last won a domestic trophy,but it will be repeated over and over again and which ever way you look at it Wenger must take ultimate responsibility.
We are an unusual club to put it mildly and Wenger has a job for as long as he wants it regardless where we finish this season,but I feel for the man and can hear by his post match interviews that he is a broken man but is blind to the fact.
All good things come to an end and I would love to have been a fly on the wall whilst he talked to the players for 45 minutes after the game.
I have said for 2 seasons that not all is well at the club and i bet certain players will have had no uncertain words to others after today and most probably a few other times this season, which in turn will not leave us with players in harmony with one another.
I really don’t know what to expect game to game anymore. we could easily beat Bayern then lose to Villa,who knows.
GIE: I meant to say targets 2 and 3 don’t come into question right now and not 2nd or 3rd place, sorry.
Kelsey. Very well put.
Merse, my all time being there memory is the FA Cup, Andy Linnighan, but I also understand football has moved on.
Not one of Chelsea’s FA Cup winning managers kept his job, longer than 1 season post winning. The only reason Ancellotti kept his job was he won the league in the same season, and RDM well we all know why he kept his job.
The BoD will demand CL football over the FA Cup, lets face it if they were not happy with that he could have been sacked any time over the last two or three seasons and a fair percentage of Gooners would not have cared a jot. They haven’t so one can only conclude they are happy, so we the fans have to take it, as we the fans have no say in football anymore.
If we don’t qualify for CL Arsene will be sacked (or leave by mutual consent)…..and then we will know what’s important to the Board, and what has been important to the Board.
We don’t disagree then GIE! We both agree that we’d like to win the cup, but the club no longer really regard it as important. My thinking is, we’re on the decline. We might as well try and pick up a few cups while we can. Am very jealous you were there at the final! I was at the semi vs spurs. Sweet revenge for 91 and Gazza.
Evening all
I was at the game and I don’t think for one minute that the members of the team that took to the field didn’t want to win that game.
We had a huge amount of possession in both halves but sadly most of those players really didn’t know enough about each other to click.
We carved them open time and time again and should have smashed them. It’s very sad.
Gervihno has no idea how to make the best of his abilities …… why?
Giroud was again unlucky not to score today but the ball comes to him so often that surely it’s not beyond expectation for another team mate to be nearby to pick up a loose ball ……….. Blackburn defended very well and smothered him out of the game.
Rosicky was unlucky to hit the crossbar and not score.
The corners were atrocious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can a team that expects to be top four be so rubbish as taking corners??????
Why change the whole of the mid-field for players that are rusty?
Did Arsene really think that Gervihno was coming back from the ACN a different player? The biggest problem with Gerv is that no-one knows what he’s going to do and so team-mates have no idea where they should be.
I said as long ago as April/May 2011 that although I wish with all my heart that it wasn’t so, Arsene really doesn’t know how to fix it and most of our players aren’t intelligent enough to work it out for themselves.
GiE – do you think that Arsene will be sacked if we don’t reach the CL???
I do Peaches.
Ooooh GiE, I’m not sure I agree but I reckon he should resign if we don’t so I suppose it’s the same outcome.
They won’t sack him he’s got a ear left on contract
Id sack him tomorrow .
Mate text me tonight wats the difference between arsenal and a tea bag
He said a tea bag stays in the cup longer .
I turned my bb off
Peaches is correct, changing the entire midfield 5 for players who were not match fit was expecting too much. Diaby kept slipping over he was so out of touch.
Personally I dont think AW will ever be sacked. Unfortunately I think he will see out his contract and then probably be given some sort of executive (interfering) position. Hopefully Arsene, being the honest and respectable man that he is will fall on his sword. He has been a great servant to the club and deserves respect for his achievements. I do hope he doesnt let his pride get in the way of the reality that he is not earning his salary and being the great economist that he is realises that he is actually a liability to both Arsenal plc and The Arsenal fc.
I know we have no given right to win any games but that team should have been able to win today.
We still need a volunteer to write a post for tomorrow, it doesn’t have to be a match report – not much point in a match report really – but just a few comments that can be a starting point for discussions tomorrow.
I think the worrying thing is how frequent these inept performances are becoming. We can all accept a dominant defeat away at Bradford, or a poor second string performance at home to Blackburn, but when they are in the same season and are just one of a long line of awful performances then questions need to be asked. It’s one step forward and two steps back at the moment which is SO FRUSTRATING!!!
I actually believe there are some really promising signs in the first team squad. Players like Giroud, Podolski, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ox, Vermaelen, Monreal and Gibbs fill me with hope, but once again it seems our squad players are not getting the job done. Hopefully it is just rust, but I think we may need to replace 3 players with better quality in the summer. Maybe then we might be close to something good.
It’s a long season!
What a shit day. Mancs will probably do the double.
It seems Martin Keown agrees with Peaches
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21488496
Very interesting read.
“And the goalkeeper Jake Kean was on another planet. “
Morning all,
I now feel a whole lot better as it has twigged that the Spurs game is not for two weeks. We have time to re-group.
Raddy,
A woman on the North Bank in the 70’s? I stand very corrected.
Peaches,
Stick up Slime’s comment at11.33, and as you went,can you remember the last time te Booing was that bad?
Oh sod it.
Peaches,
I’ll pen a few words, but thoughts, not a match report.
Morning
i can’t add anymore to what i have already said last night.Slime,Janman and peaches seem to agree with me.
I say bring back Pat Rice!
Do you think he could play right back on tuesday,GIE
Peaches. Written a longish comment which can be used for the post.
In the usual place.
Oh Bum.
Micky I have already written something. Never mind—- I will trash it
Seriously I don’t see why people are getting that upset, those that say the squad is not good enough seem most outraged by the result, but why would you expect anything more when your assessment of the squad is that it is in the main mid table mediocrity.
I agree with Rasp about rotation and it has been a bug bear of mine with Arsene for some time, he hardly rotates for PL games then sticks in 5 changes in the cup and expects the team to gel. I have said for a couple of seasons I would like to see more rotation between PL outings so that when you do end up like yesterday with a midfield 4 players away from the first XI the getting to know you aspect is reduced.
But I can also see given our start to the season and the prospect of not qualifying for CL that Wenger feels he can not rotate the PL team.
😀 Kelsey, only if we put Wilson in the sticks and McClintock at centre half
as an ex keeper you have to agree that szsney is no way the finished article as yet .
GiE – it was so bad because it seems that we will now endure ‘8 years of no trophy’ for at least a year.
I am sure that football shortens my life. I am forever waiting and projecting to the next game, next season, next transfer window…I find it difficult to enjoy the moment 😦
“Arsene Wenger trusts every single member of his squad, but his players did not get into the speed of the game quickly enough – that mentality where you have to switch on and make it happen. The game just drifted past and they thought ‘we will get a goal eventually’ but they missed chance after chance. (Martin Keown)
Hairy – spot on, no urgency or fighting spirit, or determination shown by Blackburn. Other than that, we played ok.
Peaches/Raddy/Administrator,
Have written a few words, but cannot access either of my email accounts. Could post it here at 9:30, and you could copy paste.
Will keep trying.
Problem solved
Morning all
The editor in chief is at her keyboard ……. whose post am i using?
kelsey – you definitely could have kept your powder dry after the game and we could have used your thoughts for a post today.
Thanks micky
Who were u an x keeper for Kelsey the hair bear bunch?
Sheep i was addressing GIE
Who did u play in goal for ,Kelsey that’s all I asked
Peaches. Use Micky’s & I will put mine up as a comment.
Peaches,
Use Daddy’s and I’ll bin mine 🙂
May I make a polite suggestion.
Whoever is the first Administrator on the scene, and a post is ready, push “go” as early as possible.
I think the site loses momemntum after 8:30’ish.
I’m off out into the sunshine.
Sheep – kelsey wasn’t a keeper himself but his namesake was a keeper for Arsenal 😉
I’m going to use Raddy’s ……………
New Post …………….