A needs must team selection with Mesut and Nacho ‘injured’.
First Half
A few good saves from Leno and one over the bar from Steptoe.
from Arsenal twitter
A difficult chance for Laca and a much easier one for Iwobi were our only decent chances.
The sending off was ridiculous. Sent off for two nothing challenges, the second a blatant case of Maddison attempting to get a fellow professional sent off. Rolling around clutching his shin when there was no contact on his shin whatsoever. A fine player but a cheat. He should be ashamed. Michael Oliver gave us nothing in that first half apart from a good shafting.
It seems even more of a waste of time watching football if your team is playing poorly, when the ref is allowed to ruin a game to such an extent. Pathetic.
Second Half
Our best ten minutes of the match followed halftime but a headed goal by Tielemans made it 1-0 soon after.
Leno made a series of decent saves as Arsenal’s ten men struggled in adversity.
All hope of a sneaked equaliser disappeared when Vardy bounced one in after it came back to him off the bar. Didn’t see the third as I’d started this.
Conclusion
Leicester were the better side but in the context of our poor away form, playing 10 men against 12 was an impossible task.
The turning point in the game was Oliver wanting to take centre stage. After that it was game over.
On a personal level, I wish Arsenal’s season was over right now. With a Europa semi-final coming up on Thursday, that is ridiculous way to feel. I just wish the crushing disappointment was over and done with. Then again, I’m sure I’ll feel different come Thursday evening. 🙂
Ratings
Leno – MOTM by a country mile … 9
Maitland-Niles – unlucky to be Oliver’s chosen target … 5
Sokratis – struggled with Steptoe’s pace, as Arsenal have consistently done in the past … 5
Mustafi – no glaring errors – brought in to give Kos a rest, I suppose, but Oliver put paid to that plan … 5
Kolasinac – not really a left back but didn’t disgrace himself … 5
Torreira – beaten black and blue with no protection – his early season partnership with Xhaka hasn’t really progressed … 5
Xhaka – often too slow to shift the ball and seems to think giving away stupid free kicks is part of his job … 5
Mkhitaryan – terrible in the first half – we needed someone to keep the ball and he didn’t – dispossessed far too easily always … 4
Iwobi – his left foot chance in the first half needed him to cut back on to his right as Schmeichel would have been left on the floor – not picking on him but he seems symptomatic of Arsenal’s away form – at home he’s great but away a bit of a luxury … 5
Aubameyang – neither him nor his strike partner hold the ball up, so it’s bound to keep coming back – his commitment was ok though … 5
Lacazette – difficult chance in the first half, the rest was just hard work … 5
Subs
Kos – three at the back made a difference – we could have done with him rested for Thursday though … 6
Eddie – nearly had a chance to equalise – I bet he’s looking forward to being brought on when we’re two or three up for a change … 5
Managers
Emery – a bit like King Canute at the moment – that flippin tide keeps coming in … 5
Brendon Wagner – his team played well albeit helped by the man playing for Leicester in the black shirt … 6
Referee
Oliver – a complete disgrace – Mike Riley will probably recommend him for a knighthood after that corrupt performance … -1
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
You can’t beat that Monday morning feeling after a loss hey 😫😫 I avoided MOTD2 like the plague last night – couldn’t sit through that again!
I totally agree about Leno, MOTM all day long.. is he thinking maybe I should have stayed at Beyer Leverkusen??? ☹
I think the only plus for me is, at least Ozil won’t be blamed for this defeat!!
Michael Oliver – what a complete tool, just like all the others! They love that bit of power & the way they strut round the pitch makes me sick!
I thought Mike Dean was by far the most incompetent, but after what we’ve witnessed this season, I’d say they’re all as bad as each other! No wonder they weren’t at the World Cup!
Gutted once again……..😢
Thanks Chas for producing a post that must be like waterboarding as a process!
GiE 1041
I want the Arsenal back and the football back, of :- players who have pride in their performances and in the Club and the colours they wear. Who take responsibility for their own actions on and off the field and dont look around to blame someone else. Who set good example to youngsters watching. Who do not fall to the ground if touched. Who do do not fly through the air, screaming in pain and clutching parts of the body not touched in order to fool blind referees and cheat their fellow “professionals”. Of ex-players who do not describe the above, and much more as ” part of the game”, “legitimate practice”, as ” taking one for the team”.
Of players who do not regard their salary and future contract as more important than the commitment they give to OUR Club. Who are not mercenaries, prepared to claim it was the Club they are moving to who they have supported all their lives. Who slag off their former Clubs in order to make their new team and supporters happy, or to keep their jobs in the media.
And finally, I want back a time when referees did not regard themselves as centre stage, but instead were happy to be inconspicuous in black and performed honestly.
Wanting something back suggests it once existed. Perhaps that’s my problem, but I certainly remember times when it was different, and IMO better.
Excellent comment, LBG 👍
LBG,
Do you have a time machine!? If not, I would suggest taking up another sport as all those things you mentioned seem to be here for good, unfortunately.
Morning All,
7.32. Super comment. Couldn’t agree more.
Would VAR be used with questionable yellow cards? Maddison should have been sent off for cheating which is far worse than a mis-timed challenge.
Diving and injury exaggeration is ruining my enjoyment of football which has led my increased interest in rugby and especially cricket
Morning All,
Chas I did not see the game, except ‘bits’ showing a couple of Leics goals on Sky News, but that was enough for me.
This will probably not sit too easily with you, but just reading your match summary I felt I had written that in absentia.
As far as the player ratings – there were no surprises for me – poor quality, slow players are still poor quality slow players however much we wish they were not.
I did not have to have seen the match to know you were spot on in your assessments.
As the froggies might say;
“plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”
I know you all speak French but for any infrequent visitors it is a pessimistic expression meaning; the more things change – the more they stay the same
For Arsenal over the last 12 years that could not be more apposite.
Giant Raddish,
I entirely agree with you regarding diving etc.
However VAR can only be used for these reasons (starting next season in the Premier League).
Goals VAR will be are used here to help the referee determine whether an infringement was made that should result in the goal not being awarded.
Penalties VAR will be used to ensure that the correct decision was made regarding the award or non-award of a penalty.
Red cards If necessary, to assist the referee, VAR will check to make sure the correct decision was made as to the awarding of a red card, or not.
Mistaken identity VAR can be used to clarify which players should be cautioned or sent off, or correct the referee in the event of mistaken identity.
Yellow cards? Not so much.
It is hard to understand why we are performing so badly at the moment, but it is of course much easier to apportion blame. This is the prerogative of the supporter and the free human being in a democratic world. A team of players that can beat MU, Chavs and Spuds at home and draw with Pool cannot just be a collection of cheque collectors imo. There is plenty of quality and commitment in this team but at the moment we are going through a dark period. What’s causing this? Probably a number of factors but it is certainly not a case of just not good enough players, or not motivated enough players.
I loved GIE’s comment last night re his lament about the way Arsenal has changed.
In addition, LBG, this morning @ 7:32, very eloquently said what I would have liked to say, about the attitude of the current players, the ex-players and the referees. Spot on.
I might have extended that to ask that the managerial changes we were promised would change Arsenal for the better had been successful.
Who looks after the transfer budget? Why is it so effed up?
Who looks after the player contracts? Why are they so effed up?
What is the Arsenal vision about competitions? Does it include the aspiration to win the PL and the CL?
Does it include sufficient budgeting to achieve the above aspiration – (if it exists)?
Who speaks for the club, without weasel words, and tells the fans, truthfully, what we want to know about the above? Not Kranke it seems – or anyone else as far as I can see.
The money-making side of Arsenal seems fine – good luck for the Owner – but whoever he has delegated the above policies, and aspirations, and communication with the fans, seems to be sitting around with his thumb up his ass.
TA.. it amazes me, like you say how we can put in those awesome performances at home & then crumble like a foxes biscuit on the road..
I honestly had high hopes, especially after we spanked the spuds and went above them! Now look at where we are.. this is a very dark period & god only knows when we’ll come out of it… this might just become a regular thing…
When I watch other teams, particularly City, it really does depress me.. how they’re full of fight, never give up & even if they haven’t played amazingly, they still grind out a result.. we were like that once……
I dont think we are in bad shape as a club tbh, and we’ve certainly turned a corner since the whole Wenger stay or go, key player contracts allowed to run down, shambolic team with no visible signs of effort, scenarios of the last 2 seasons. Sure, we’ve put in 3 poor performances recently, but is it really that bad? A big result on Thursday and we could be on the verge of a European trophy. The media is so quick these days to show everything as a catastrophe or a triumph, there is never any in between anymore and that has rubbed off on fans too. Pogba is a great example at Man Utd. So far in the couple of seasons he’s been there he’s been the biggest waste of money ever and the best midfielder in the world. Surely he can’t be both!? I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle in that he’s a player capable of greatness who doesn’t quite do it consistently enough. Sounds a bit like a German player we have…
Arsenal will improve in the next couple of seasons, but even then it probably won’t be to the levels of a Liverpool and City.
FGG. We have never seen teams of the excellence of MC & L’pool. They could hit 98 & 97 points.
The Invincibles 0f 03/4 got 90 points, 11 ahead of Chelsea with 79.
Add in the improvement of the teams in the rest of the PL and their level of achievement and consistency becomes even more clear.
RA. Thank you for that. It is a shame that anything which improves the judgement of the referee is not included in the rules.
Raddy,
I agree. And when major decisions are put up on a stadium screen, the refs will be more careful to think about what they are doing.
My concern – and I am a fan of technology – look at the City goal that put them back to the top of the table — another day pre-goal line tech and that might have been riled out.
I do not care a fig for the fortunes of other clubs, but I do think it is essential that we all get fair play.
If VAR was extended to reviewing ducking and diving I would be even happier.
Stand by VAR bitching tho. 😜
Sue, yes it can be depressing at times. I guess these teams are in a different phase than us. This is probably a transitional season and yet, as FGG pointed out just above, we could be crowned European Cup winners in just a few weeks. Losing to Everton, CP, Wolves and Leicester and then still win the UEFA Cup…. yes that how bizarre this season could be.
Hi, again, FGG,
I understand what you say about the bias of the media, and I agree that makes me cross too – not as cross as Sue, of course — but still cross, and not just my eyes. 😳
However, I do get quite cross because the media stir things up, and make some fans believe their own misgivings must be correct if the Sun or the Moon sports pages say so.
I make my own mind up, right or wrong, based on what I see, and I can change my opinion, and often do so, if a fellow Gooner puts across a good case – but not a subjective one.
You have on occasion made me re-think my view on something or other, as you tend to stick to more factual matters.
Sue,
There have been so many major changes at Arsenal recently, culminating in AW’s leaving for pastures new.
My own take on what was like to happen this season was based on the gut feeling we would flounder in mid-table while Unai got his feet under the table, and had the chance to recruit players that fit in with his requirements.
The fact that we are still trying to break into the top 4, and, as you say, have spanked the Spuds while doing so, (spanked? really? 😎 ) has far exceeded my expectations, and to see we are still in with a chance of qualifying for the CL because of possible success in the EL, as TA has said, is icing on the cake.
“Hope” is an emotional desire for something to be better than it is — and that’s fine — the problem is dependent on what we hope for, and when it does not happen the emotional crash can be bad.
Lowering of expectations is the better way — I feel quite chirpy about the situation — but the fact that I am ‘hoping’ we buy better players in the summer might come back to bite me. 😩
Afternoon RA… I’m over my little meltdown now 😄 let’s face it – nobody likes to lose (I’m very competitive 😁) and I also think FGG is a huge help (I thought I was optimistic, but he takes the biscuit, yes a foxes biscuit 😉)
No point dwelling over the Leicester game, it’s done & dusted now. .. moving onto Thursday..I’m actually looking forward to it 🙈😬😄 and if we win… oh the euphoria!! All will be forgiven!! Funny isn’t it, how one week you’re on cloud 9 & the next, you’re in the depths of despair (unless of course you’re a City/Liverpool fan)
Part 2 RA…. yes, like you, I was under the impression we wouldn’t be anywhere near the top 10, let alone 4!! Everyone would say to me – Emery will be another Van Gaal (minus the clipboard 😂) So what he’s achieved has been a pleasant surprise..
This summer will be an interesting one (apart from the huge football void in our lives 😫) Emery surely has identified who he wants to bring in (no more Lichtsteiner type players 🙏)I believe there are exciting times ahead… and yes – spanked 😁 (totally spanked!!)
Xhaka
” playing away is different to at home……..you have to win the duels…..you have to run more than the opposition”. No shit, batman!
And to win the duels and run more you need to be determined and do it!
I think your scores for some players were over-generous.
Iwobi and Mikhitarian were both well below par. 5s for them is far too much.
The midfield was invisible and incapable of finding their men with passes.
I also feel that Terreira was so badly mauled in the first few minutes, with impunity that that affected his game for the rest of the 90 minutes.
That we had only 30% possession and Leicester managed to make 3 times the number of passes shows how bad it was. It was their inability to pass the ball to colleagues that was the killer here.
Just looked at ref watch… bloody hell, what a weekend the officials had!! Kovacic was fortunate to not see red, Rojo should have seen red, City were denied a penalty & AMN was unfortunate to see red… no mention of the chest stamp on Torreira or Maddison being a cheat!! Sheesh!!
Good post chas. Spot on reference that K–b head Oliver.
Whats the point of spending out loads of money to go and watch your team get mugged off by a totally biased referee in Oliver.
Before i get slagged off for moaning, sour grapes and all, I admit we are pants at the moment, but no team should endure 90 minutes of blatant one sided decisions as that twat on Sunday. This is part of the reason I’m going over to Rugby Union, a much more evenly officiated game.
His wife refereed our women’s game against Brighton, she could show him how a game of football should be refereed.
If you watched the ManUre game after the Arsenal one, there was much worse going on than in our game.
As for that cheating Maddison, who has admitted doing the same in previous matches, he should be ashamed of himself for getting a fellow pro sent off, but still he knew Oliver was the ref so tried his luck with an incompetant man with a whistle.
Rant over.
No more watching live for me.
jjg,
Can I ask you some genuine questions? Yes – OK; 😁
Yesterday afternoon, you said that both the players and the manager were to blame for that farrago of a match – which is fair enough.
You then went on to say that — “thinking that all we need to do is buy more players is cloud cuckoo land. We have had 5 new players this season and are treading water.”.
So, here’s the thing.
Did you mean that the likelihood of us (the club) spending money and buying more players is cloud cuckoo land — or did you mean that the idea of buying better quality players is cloud cuckoo land, because that will not help improve matters?
Your conclusion was that we bought 5 new players last summer who did did not help the team, other than to help tread water?
So, you have blocked pretty much all avenues of escape — we are royally cooked!
If it helps, let’s look at who we bought./
Leno:– first season with us, but will get better.
Sok: — has formed a good partnership with Kozzer.
Lichsteiner: — too old, too injury prone.
Terrier: — started well, now being found out by otherclubs — perfect elbow height.
Dozy: — Also started well — now running short of energy — inexperience beginning to show.
You are correct in having doubts about some of these guys.
The key thing Is NOT the spend, spend, spend redaction you implied — no one on here has said that.
What was mooted – by me anyway – was for the club to buy better quality players at the market or ‘going rate’.
That is still my view — but I went on to say it is extremely unlikely Kranke would authorise the sort of budget needed.
That leaves deploying more of the wonderfully gifted youth/Under 23 players — they could surprise you.
Cheer up — we are not doomed — yet. 😁
Hi VCC,
Who can argue with that? No one.
If you are becoming more interested in Rugby, can I recommend my teams;
Rugby Union: Saracens. We have had a quiet season so far, but are still second to Exeter, but though to the playoffs,
Rugby League: Wigan. They are having a slightly useless season so far – although we won the League last season.
Cricket: Middlesex — Useless for the last two season.
So stick with the Saracens! 🤪
If I can get you, Terry and Le Coq to join me, it would be great fun! 😛👍
Sue,
We talk about the Arsenal lacking consistency, something I accept as fact, but not as an excuse, but you highlighted the dreadful inconsistency in the refs, and altho I did not see all the games yesterday I have seen enough over the seasons, and particularly this season to know you are absolutely stone bonkers.
Umm – sorry, Sue, I missed out the last word, on that sentence – “right” –it should read – “you are absolutely stone bonkers” — I was just distracted chatting to another old friend VCC, and …….. hold the ‘phone – its happened again – the computer must know something!! 😜 😂 🤩
So this is a season of missed chances in the EPL for a Top 4 finish. Make no mistake, Chelsea and Man Utd are having poor seasons and we are having a decent season so it is even more frustrating not to capitalize on their shortcomings…We had many chances this year to cement a Top 4 position and eveytime we faltered…
So as for next season, we need to clear the clutter and strengthen out squad:
– Cech leaving and Martinez can also be sold
– Jenkinson, Chambers, Mustafi, Monreal must leave and Mavropanos must be loaned out and Lichtne can also be released
– El Neny, Ozil must also go and Ramsey is unfortunately leaving
– Nketiah should be loaned out together with Smithe-Rowe and Asano should be sold
– Wellbeck should not be renewed
We hence need:
– A back-up GK
– A RB, CB, LB need to join us for the defensive line
– A DM and CM should join us
– 2 Wingers (including Reiss-Neilson coming back)
– 1 FW/Striker à la Giroud should join us
That is 13 players out and 9 players in…
Leno – Bellerin, RECRUIT, Holding, RECRUIT – RECRUIT, RECRUIT, Torreira – RECRUIT, Laca – Auba
RECRUIT – RECRUIT, Sokratis, Kos, Kola – AMN, Xhaka, Guendouzi – RN, Iwobi – RECRUIT
Exemple of High-energy players and high-impact player:
LB = Gaya from Valencia or Guerreiro from Dortmund
RB = Caliguri from Schalke
CB = Garay from Valencia
Winger = Pepe from Lille
Striker = Haller from Francfurt
Leno – Caliguri, GARAY,Holding, GAYA – NDOMBELE, GUEYE, Torreira – Laca, PEPE – Auba
I have to tell you RC, you have passed your interview and got the job.
I like the cut of your gib, and you think like me – out with the old and in with the new,
I like your suggested recruits, so off you go and act the agent and bring them in.
I am not at all sure that Auba and LaCaz work together – a bit samey – but a new CF might switch them on.
Not convinced you will get the money you will need from Krankee – but then I would like Mesut to stay really.
See what you can negotiate! 🥺
Ohh, and take Sue with you — she can be powerfully strong willed and will back you up very well.
RC78,
I love your Football Manager type reviews of the squad, but you don’t seriously believe that we will buy 9 players do you!? Part of me hopes you were being 100% serious! 😂
RA,
I agree that some people read the nonsense in the press and talk about it as fact. It was rife under Wenger but it does seem to have settled a little now that the manager has changed. Tbh I’m quite a boring blogger these days because I just tend to write what I see and try to avoid the emotion of it. I found that not speaking to my wife or kids for a full weekend because Arsenal had lost was a bit ridiculous and lowering my expectations has certainly helped. I don’t really write on here to get into conversations with people, I just like to put my thoughts down so I can clear them from my mind. It’s basically Arsenal and football therapy! 😂
RC,
There’s a rumour bobbing about here in the UK that AW might be negotiating to take a position with PSG, not to replace Tuchel but to be his boss.
Have you heard anything in La Belle France?
For the gamblers amongst us, William Hills are offering 10/1 for 2 all-English finals.
Liverpool to beat Barcelona
Spurs to beat Ajax
Chelsea to beat Frankfurt
Arsenal to beat Valencia
What do you reckon?
I know the feeling well, FGG, and I always liked to talk to the ‘old’ FGG, but then I like the ‘new’ FGG too, so mix ’em up a tad and that will give you the best of both worlds.
Of course, family is family, so you are right to give them a break too.
It’s hard being a flipping Gooner, innit? 😳
I do not gamble, FGG, but I would not be surprised if it was a Chavs v Arsenal final — and I can always blame you for my positive outlook if we go down with all hands. 😁
As for ‘Pool and the Spuds — I hope they both get beaten. Cannot help it — I do not really wish them ill, but it’s hard to overcome my footballing upbringing. 🤪
RA…coming from you – the King of bonkers!! 😄 long may it continue 😉
RA,
I couldn’t think of anything worse than a Liverpool v Spuds CL Final, so maybe it’s worth a fiver to soften the blow just in case it comes true. I’m sure a £55 return would buy me just enough Stella to drink myself into a coma long enough for Arsenal to return to the pinnacle of English football.
Just saw another article about us signing Ryan Fraser in the summer – I’d be very happy with that!!
First noticed him when he came on against Liverpool, turned the game on it’s head & they won 4-3! He’s had a brilliant season.. come on AFC, make it happen 😊
FGG.. I’m with you on that & if that final happens, I’m going to become a recluse for at least a year!
FGG,
🤪. 😁. 👍
Sue,
Me — myself — I — bonkers?
Surely not! You need to be able to type sdrawkcab and explain things clearly so you can understand while all around friends, bloggers and mice are bewildered.
I cannot type backwards, unless I stand on my head, with my toe in my ear, and I certainly do not have a clue what I am saying.
Me bonkers — never! 😳. 😩 😞
Who the heck is Ryan Fraser?
Sadly, one has to go — they are here for me with a straight jacket — and it is not straight nor a jacket.
Till the morn, people. 😁
RA.. have a nice evening in your padded room 😊😄
Denis Suarez may not play for Arsenal again after the on-loan midfielder announced he will miss the rest of the campaign.
The Barcelona star joined Arsenal in January on a loan deal until the end of the season, yet he has played just 67 minutes across four substitute appearances in the Premier League.
Suarez has not featured since the match against Manchester United on March 10 and he revealed on Monday that he has been carrying a groin injury since February.
Arsenal reportedly have an option to buy Suarez at the end of the season, but he has failed to impress and will not now get further opportunities this term.
In a message posted on his Twitter account, Suarez wrote: “I want you all to know that I will not be able to play again this season.
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Denis Suarez
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@DenisSuarez6
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“Some issues with my groin have made things tough since the game against BATE in the Europa League in February and now they have forced me to stop training altogether.
“After various medical consultations, the conclusion has been reached that I cannot keep on pushing it and I have started a period of treatment that cannot be done alongside competitive football.
“I am sorry that all of the effort and sacrifice made to come to Arsenal hasn’t come to fruition as hoped and you can’t even imagine how angry I am about it, but health comes first.
“I want to give my thanks again to such a big club for trusting in me, although things haven’t gone as we pictured they would.
“I am stepping aside but I am grateful for the messages of care and support that you all have sent to me every day. This will be where I take my strength from in order to return stronger than ever and even more determined.”
RA. Thank you for your comments, which I have seen this evening.
I am pleased that someone has read and taken note of what I said, even if, it seems, you may not completely agree with them.
I think to a certain extent that you do agree with my sentiments, even if not with all of what I say.
The point I was making is that simply the buying of more and more players will not solve the problems that we have.
The 5 new players referred to are all on the defensive side of the team. 4 are now regular players and yet our defence has not improved, on the contrary, it seems to have regressed.
If I feel that we have a good squad of players, but that for some reason they did not reach their full potential in the last AW years and, certainly, are not doing so now.
Buying more players, who are no improvement in what we have already is a waste of time and money and to think that we can find and bring in to the club players who would actually make a difference, with the funds that are available, is what I meant by cloud cuckoo land.
Sunday’s performance was an embarrassment to all fans who have been used to and have loved more than 20 years of attacking and entertaining football.
This was not a one-off, but the culmination of a steady deterioration in recent months.
In addition to letting in more goals and allowing more chances against us, are we not also making fewer chances?
2 shots on target in the last 2 games is a damning testimony that something is very wrong.
Is the answer to buy in 9 new players?
Is that what UE spent so much time and energy preparing his dossiers on the players for?
I do not believe that it is.
Our style of play has been compromised and I fear for the future.
We are being turned into an unentertaining, park the bus and counterattack team.
If that is what the fans want, then fine, but I wonder if that is really the case.
Even if we win the Europa Cup and/ or get top 4, that will simply be a mirage and totally misleading.
RA. I’m already converted to Saracens. Have been for several years now.
My Son and I have been to Watford a few times, but haven’t visited the Allianz yet.
Biggest defeat I’ve seen was away to Bath. We were 45-0 down at HT. Finished the game 66-21. Steve Borthwicks last game for Bath before he came over to Saracens.
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