I guess we are still basking in the glory of a Wembley win, but it could have been so different.
Time for a reality check. We often complain about how a referee steals the game from us, that bad decisions have resulted in lost points, but Sunday we were blessed. Had the linesman made a correct call on a cross going out of play, we would have legitimately been one down, Had the referee seen Ox’s ankle tap to bring down Aguero in the penalty area, it most probably would be two. City were all over us in the first half and anyone saying we were playing RopeaDope needs his/her bumps felt. Added to their legitimate goal, we could have been 3-0 down.
But we weren’t 😃 😀
I said pre-game that we play better in the sun and so it proved, let us hope for the same the next time we go to Wembley.
Ramsey has been quoted as saying “we have underperformed and now have 7 Cup Finals” left in the season. Ox says that the players have “let the club and the fans down”. Seems a bit obvious. I know that football players have a mean IQ of below 50 but surely they know they have to give 100% in every game they play? It is an attitude I cannot understand. If I had an Aladdin’s lamp, my second wish would be to play for Arsenal First team – these lads have won life’s lottery.
Bellerin & the Back 3. He doesn’t fit in. Hector must know this, what will he and AW do? Ox has been excellent in his wingback role, Holding, Gabriel and Monreal have also flourished (apart from losing Downing at ‘Boro). Why change a winning formula?
written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thank you Erik again again
But come off it. Ref’s cannot go around willy nilly giving the benefit of enormous doubt to the attacking side. I mean look at it, the wretched ball is so far more out than in. Piffle to the detail I say.
Thanks Raddy.
In relation to the players’ change of attitude …
I heard a podcast recently with Ian Wright reminiscing about the early days. If he played a bad pass or made a poor decision, TA and SB would lay into him mercilessly in the dressing room …. and the same applied to the other players.
Arsene came along and put a stop to all this. The dressing room had to become a place of calm. This may be one of the reasons he doesn’t place much importance on the role of captain.
All negativity had to stop, only positives were allowed.
The recent quotes from The Ox and Ramsey suggest that the players have finally become frustrated by the lack of accountability for poor performances on the pitch and they have said things that Arsene never would.
I see this as player power of a positive kind. If the manager isn’t going to say anything then I will.
Theo’s pathetic admission that “after 10 minutes we knew they were more up for it than us” is an example of the wrong mindset … I hope he has been dropped for just that … and for his lack of fight when we don’t have possession.
I wouldn’t mind seeing The Ox as captain next season because he at least has shown the leadership and determination that so many of our players have lacked this season. I would also add Monreal to that as he has also shown how much he wants it.
Cheers, BR.
If you look closely at the close-up below, the crossbar isn’t lined up with the goal line i.e the camera isn’t in line. If it was moved over just a touch to put them lined up correctly, the ball would be out of play. Simples
Oh, and anyone thinking that Aguero trying it on and kicking his own heel is worth a penalty needs their bumps feeling. 🙂
Morning
Thank you Raddy for the post, I’m sure its true that we play better in the sun 😉
I agree with you that Bellerin can’t play as part of a back three but reckon he’d be perfect as a winger especially with Theo (instead of Ozil) in front of him. Those two were fabulous at the start of the season dovetailing each other, they had a great understanding. Ozil is the one that loses out in the three at the back formation, he’s much better operating centrally.
What’s the answer?
Bumps felt.
Good to see pro-AFC bias ruling the roost on AA 😀
That’s why they use a 3D image for the goal line technology.
Short-sighted Bernard, the Sky cameraman, doesn’t realise he hasn’t lined up with the crossbar, and we’re supposed to believe it’s gospel that the ball didn’t go out. Poppycock and balderdash.
Besides, where did being even-handed ever get us? I’ll tell you where……. feckin Brexit, Trump and Tories who laugh at poor people who vote for them.
Firstly, the disallowed goal and the ball floating out were the same incident, so only 2 0.
Secondly Aguero clearly tripped over his own feet, so only 1 0.
Thirdly, it is clear that camera is not in line with the line, so if it shows the ball virtually over the line from where it was, then it must have been completely over the line in reality, so 0 0.
I do not think that these players can keep up the same intensity game after game.
These are not the standard common or garden cloggers that can seem to do that for the teams lower down the league. Some of these players are highly skilled artists, who must be allowed to show their artistry and skill
For this game, it was perfect. Against other teams it will not.
The skill of the coach and the players is to mix and match, when the circumstances require it. Horses for courses.
I also doubt if that is the role that Ox wants to play., although it allowed him to attack his opposite number relentlessly and very successfully.
The next opponent will double up on him, and he may then become ineffectual and despondent and can start to make mistakes.
Cheers Raddy, I am with Pythagorchas regarding the angles 🙂
I need to see the Aguero one again but I felt Sanchez actually had a much more obvious penalty shout when he was grabbed and man handled in the box (not a euphemism).
As such I actually feel things balanced out more than we are led to believe. You have obviously been listening too much to the anti-Arsenal pundits Raddy 🙂
I watched the highlights last night to get fresh perspective and overall I think we were actually better than I initially thought. For all the Man City possession and shots taken I feel we matched them with the real chances and the real dangerous moments.
For their 2 woodwork moments we had Holdings header shave the crossbar and Danny miss a sitter of a header. Also I feel we became the stronger team as the game went on so all in all I am very pleased and felt we were worthy winners at the end.
any news on Perez
Hoping Perez gets a run in new system,
pythagorchas 😀
Fred. No news which is strange.
JJ. Diisallowed goal, Penalty (if scored) Aquero goal = 3.
Sanchez keeps up his intensity, so does Ramsey. Why not the others? Sanchez is brilliant because he allies artistry to a huge workload and should be the inspiration for the rest of the team
Yes very strange indeed
Rarely I want Chelsea to win twice in a week, but
C’mon you Blues
Why BR
Because Fred, I don’t think Erik (or BR as you call him) likes Totnum very much
I’m with Erik. If Chelsea could win twice before we play the NLD, we could put the final nail in their title ambitions, and a draw would probably be enough.
Oh no, just looked at Sky page to check fixtures and caught this headline: Arsene Wenger says Arsenal won’t sell Olivier Giroud
Steady on Arsene, you were getting me right back on side, so don’t say things like that
Actually Erik, you’re going to be cheering the blues on again on sunday as they play two hours before we do
Could have the spuds on their knees before ko
I was thinking the opposite if Chelsea lose they would start concentrate more on the league than FA giving us a better chance of winning it.
Offence:19
Defence: 7
Technique: 18
Power: 14
Speed: 19
Stamina: 16
Overall: 93
Skill: The Wonder Ace
Team-style: (Assist-type) The Advent
Giant-killer: Speed
Defence: 13%
Midfield: 29%
Forward: 58%
Offence: 8
Defence: 19
Technique: 13
Power: 19
Speed: 11
Stamina: 13
Overall: 83
Skill: Mr. Cool Head
Team-style: (Assist-type) For the Team
Big Match Player: Power
Defence: 100%
Midfield: 0%
Forward: 0%
Offence: 18
Defence: 8
Technique: 19
Power: 14
Speed: 16
Stamina: 17
Overall: 92
Skill: The Offence Transformer
Team-style: (Attack-type) Chance Make-up
Big Match Player: Technique
Defence: 8%
Midfield: 35%
Forward: 57%
Morning All,
Love the speedy kitten, almost a slider 😀
Is that a lemur (6.44) with a bottle opener foot?
JM. Where do you find these cards?
Offence: 14
Defence: 14
Technique: 18
Power: 15
Speed: 14
Stamina: 15
Overall: 90
Skill: The Play Constructor
Team-style: (Attack-type) Game Make-up
Defence: 30%
Midfield: 59%
Forward: 11%
What do the cards mean?
The lemur is in standard Petr Cech pose when Aguero is bearing down on goal.
In yoga it is called “The Invitation” pose
@Big Raddy,
The cards (I believe are for a football/soccer console board game in Japan’s gaming arcades) are printed yearly and distributed/sold via the collaboration between Panini and Sega Japan.
I got the pictures from a Japanese online website that sells the cards.
There were some legendary players cards as well (Pele, Maradona, B.Charlton, Cruijff, Beckenbauer, Eusébio, di Stéfano, and even Ricardo Zamora and Giuseppe Meazza from the earlier era). Arsenal are represented by Seaman, Adams, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Bergkamp and Henry for the legend series (so far).
@chas,
Players biography/ statistics, player’s data captured from real live matches (hence the heat map thing on the reverse side). Possibly comes with in-build technology (e.g. sensor chips) inside the cards for the football console board scanning/gaming.
Bottle opener foot 🙂
If Ant is reading, then he will now be in deep thought on the back of that comment
None the wiser, JM.
They still look like Top Trumps to me.
I thought Cech is scarred to go aggressively on the 1v1 confrontations (when facing Aguero in this case), where previously in the PL matches he got sent off/carded and the team conceded penalties.
7:15
She knows exactly who will be copy saving that image and it is not easternly orientated yogi bears
One of the camping lads has these……
What kind of flip flops do you go for, Micky?
Offence: 10
Defence: 16
Technique: 12
Power: 16
Speed: 14
Stamina: 14
Overall: 82
Skill: Niggling Tackles
Team-style: (Defence-type) Personal Defence Emphasis
BR specials
Defence: 62%
Midfield: 38%
Forward: 0%
I have identical ones Honestly 🙂
?
ha ha ha
Erik is confused between the indian hermit wise man look and the roman centurion
see life of brian for fashion tips
Offence: 10
Defence: 18
Technique: 13
Power: 17
Speed: 15
Stamina: 16
Overall: 89
Skill: Grass-cutting Long Passes
Team-style: (Attack-type) Long Pass Emphasis
Defence: 61%
Midfield: 38%
Forward: 1%
Offence: 14
Defence: 12
Technique: 15
Power: 14
Speed: 16
Stamina: 15
Overall: 86
Skill: Pinpoint Crosses
Team-style: (Attack-type) Cross Emphasis
Defence: 32%
Midfield: 42%
Forward: 26%
Offence: 15
Defence: 8
Technique: 15
Power: 15
Speed: 17
Stamina: 15
Overall: 85
Skill: Offensive Chain Moves
Team-style: (Attack-type) Combination Play
Super-Sub: Speed
Defence: 16%
Midfield: 33%
Forward: 51%
Suwweal on here this morning
JM. So the percentages are where they play during the game?
Offence: 16
Defence: 12
Technique: 16
Power: 15
Speed: 15
Stamina: 16
Overall: 90
Skill: Defensive Heartbeat
Team-style: (Defence-type) Delay Defence
Defence: 27%
Midfield: 39%
Forward: 34%
I am a Birkenstock boy but this year moving to Fitflops. Eddie is of course, a Crocs girl
@Big Raddy 7.41
It looks that way (On average, where the player was during matches).
The team plays a high-line, when our defenders spend 1/3 of their time in midfield areas.
Ozil and The Ox played more like wingers/inside forwards; while Monreal was more a left wingback/midfielder; Ramsey hovered frequently between midfield and attack (like an attacking midfielder/2nd striker) while also covered some ground in our defensive third (overall – he has been all over the pitch) .
Offence: 18
Defence: 6
Technique: 15
Power: 19
Speed: 14
Stamina: 15
Overall: 87
Skill: Turning Line Breaker
Team-style: (Attack-type) Line Break
Defence: 9%
Midfield: 29%
Forward: 62%
JM. I thought they were just made up like Top Trumps. This makes them much more interesting
Offence: 9
Defence: 18
Technique: 13
Power: 17
Speed: 15
Stamina: 16
Overall: 88
Skill: Full-bodied, Spirited Pressing
Team-style: (Defence-type) Hard Press Defence
Defence: 57%
Midfield: 39%
Forward: 4%
Offence: 11
Defence: 15
Technique: 14
Power: 16
Speed: 15
Stamina: 17
Overall: 88
Skill: Undaunted Interception
Team-style: (Defence-type) Interception Emphasis
Defence: 25%
Midfield: 52%
Forward: 23%
😀 😀
There is a New Post
Offence: 16
Defence: 10
Technique: 18
Power: 13
Speed: 16
Stamina: 16
Overall: 89
Skill: Deadly Vision and Link Attacks
Team-style: (Attack-type) One Touch Pass Emphasis
Defence: 18%
Midfield: 51%
Forward: 31%
Offence: 16
Defence: 6
Technique: 16
Power: 16
Speed: 17
Stamina: 13
Overall: 84
Skill: Firm Ball Control
Team-style: (Attack-type) Key Player Emphasis
Defence: 21%
Midfield: 33%
Forward: 46%
Offence: 17
Defence: 6
Technique: 15
Power: 13
Speed: 19
Stamina: 15
Overall: 85
Skill: Unstoppable Genius Finishes
Team-style: (Assist-type) The Advent
Super-Sub: Speed
Defence: 9%
Midfield: 24%
Forward: 67%
How we looking