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Not on the two recent performances.
Just how hot and cold can a team blow? Knock United out of the FA Cup with a tremendous performance, then draw 1-1 with Ajax. Hammer Man City 5-1 with a footballing masterclass, and draw 0-0 with Ajax.
Sometimes, it just seems to me that a number of the Arsenal just can't be bothered. Fair enough, Ajax defended well in both games, with 11 men behind the ball most of the time. But they were never without their chances. And in both games, Arsenal seemed lethargic.
I don't know about the rest of you Gooners who watched the game, but I felt in both games that we could have won easily, *IF* we had bothered to put a bit of effort into it. But instead, we've played at a walking pace for most of the game, and consequently had many passes cut out.
All credit to Ajax, who were hassling and hurrying us - but we know that the team deals with that comfortably every week in the Premiership. The difference is that in the Prem, we play at a far higher pace, and that suits our game. The same attempts at cutting out our passes are made, but don't work because we're too quick. Slow it down, and things start going wrong.
It was a hard game for us, but it really shouldn't have been. We invited pressure constantly, with miss-placed passes all over the place (whether there was pressure from Ajax or not), and by not attacking the loose balls. Every time, Arsenal players were guilty of waiting for the ball to come to them, rather than going and getting it - and every time, an Ajax player just stepped in and took it. That is both frustrating and unacceptable.
It's not as if we can use a hard game last Saturday as an excuse - we had that won after 19 minutes, and strolled the rest of it. This was just a dire performance. I don't know if Wenger tells them to play at that snails pace as a tactical switch, or if it's still some psychological hangover from previous CL campaigns, but it really needs to stop. We're used to playing a certain way, so go out and play that way - the minute your opponents make you change your tactics, they're halfway to winning the battle.
Arsenal played tonight like they were scared of conceding a goal, and I have to say that on the over-all performance, so was I - because I don't think we'd have gotten back into it.
Vieira and Cole were about the only two players worthy of wearing the shirt tonight. Keown uncharacteristically gave the ball away at practically every turn; Campbell was okay; Lauren was often guilty of ball-watching; Gilberto was almost non-existent; Pires tried but had no support; Wiltord started brightly but faded; Bergkamp and Henry had little or no service to feed off because of the dire midfield, and were therefore rendered irrelevant; and the subs didn't really have long enough to make any mark on the game.
At least Roma beat Valencia, so that keeps the group open - but for once I'd like to get through without needing to rely on the results of others. Now we absolutely must beat Roma at Highbury, and hope that Ajax can beat Valencia.
How different it might have been if they'd all got stuck in like we know they can. Once again, we've made a rod for our own back, and will have no-one to blame but ourselves if we fail to get through this group.
Just how hot and cold can a team blow? Knock United out of the FA Cup with a tremendous performance, then draw 1-1 with Ajax. Hammer Man City 5-1 with a footballing masterclass, and draw 0-0 with Ajax.
Sometimes, it just seems to me that a number of the Arsenal just can't be bothered. Fair enough, Ajax defended well in both games, with 11 men behind the ball most of the time. But they were never without their chances. And in both games, Arsenal seemed lethargic.
I don't know about the rest of you Gooners who watched the game, but I felt in both games that we could have won easily, *IF* we had bothered to put a bit of effort into it. But instead, we've played at a walking pace for most of the game, and consequently had many passes cut out.
All credit to Ajax, who were hassling and hurrying us - but we know that the team deals with that comfortably every week in the Premiership. The difference is that in the Prem, we play at a far higher pace, and that suits our game. The same attempts at cutting out our passes are made, but don't work because we're too quick. Slow it down, and things start going wrong.
It was a hard game for us, but it really shouldn't have been. We invited pressure constantly, with miss-placed passes all over the place (whether there was pressure from Ajax or not), and by not attacking the loose balls. Every time, Arsenal players were guilty of waiting for the ball to come to them, rather than going and getting it - and every time, an Ajax player just stepped in and took it. That is both frustrating and unacceptable.
It's not as if we can use a hard game last Saturday as an excuse - we had that won after 19 minutes, and strolled the rest of it. This was just a dire performance. I don't know if Wenger tells them to play at that snails pace as a tactical switch, or if it's still some psychological hangover from previous CL campaigns, but it really needs to stop. We're used to playing a certain way, so go out and play that way - the minute your opponents make you change your tactics, they're halfway to winning the battle.
Arsenal played tonight like they were scared of conceding a goal, and I have to say that on the over-all performance, so was I - because I don't think we'd have gotten back into it.
Vieira and Cole were about the only two players worthy of wearing the shirt tonight. Keown uncharacteristically gave the ball away at practically every turn; Campbell was okay; Lauren was often guilty of ball-watching; Gilberto was almost non-existent; Pires tried but had no support; Wiltord started brightly but faded; Bergkamp and Henry had little or no service to feed off because of the dire midfield, and were therefore rendered irrelevant; and the subs didn't really have long enough to make any mark on the game.
At least Roma beat Valencia, so that keeps the group open - but for once I'd like to get through without needing to rely on the results of others. Now we absolutely must beat Roma at Highbury, and hope that Ajax can beat Valencia.
How different it might have been if they'd all got stuck in like we know they can. Once again, we've made a rod for our own back, and will have no-one to blame but ourselves if we fail to get through this group.
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You only need a draw away to Valencia to garuantee safety, I think. You shouldn't have much trouble getting another draw :)
As for last night's game, Arsenal were certainly patchy. Bergkamp and Wiltord were dire beyond words, and although Viera and Henry were on excellent form (as ever), few of the chances fell to them.
Dodgy defending though. Roma could easily have put away a winner late in the second half, and the first goal was a disiaster. Cygan looked decidedly uncomfortable to me, too. Good thing you have Keown's 'experience' to edge things in your favour!
As for last night's game, Arsenal were certainly patchy. Bergkamp and Wiltord were dire beyond words, and although Viera and Henry were on excellent form (as ever), few of the chances fell to them.
Dodgy defending though. Roma could easily have put away a winner late in the second half, and the first goal was a disiaster. Cygan looked decidedly uncomfortable to me, too. Good thing you have Keown's 'experience' to edge things in your favour!
Another distinctly dodgy performance, particularly 2nd half. A few flashes of the 'real' Arsenal, but not enough - and one piece of schoolboy defending.
When Totti was dismissed, I thought... "Oh s**t" - and although there was really no question of him walking, I was actually hoping that the ref was going to be lenient and just give him a yellow - Arsenal seem to hate playing against 10 men!
I really don't know what it is with them - we know they have the talent and ability to beat these European teams, but so rarely do we show it in European competition.
Oh well, we're somehow STILL in with a shout - we will probably need a very good performance away to Valencia. But then, Roma did beat them there. Finger's crossed, I suppose. *IF* we make it to the knock-out stages, maybe that will wake us up a bit. Actually, I hope it wakes us up a LOT!
When Totti was dismissed, I thought... "Oh s**t" - and although there was really no question of him walking, I was actually hoping that the ref was going to be lenient and just give him a yellow - Arsenal seem to hate playing against 10 men!
I really don't know what it is with them - we know they have the talent and ability to beat these European teams, but so rarely do we show it in European competition.
Oh well, we're somehow STILL in with a shout - we will probably need a very good performance away to Valencia. But then, Roma did beat them there. Finger's crossed, I suppose. *IF* we make it to the knock-out stages, maybe that will wake us up a bit. Actually, I hope it wakes us up a LOT!
I found it thouroughly frustrating to watch such a poor performance from Arsenal. I suppose I am so used to watching a flawless display from the Gunners, that to see this match was very disappointing, as was our last meeting with Ajax. It was one of the very few games in the last 2 seasons that we haven't managed to score, *sighs*, so long as we make it through this phase then we are still on track for the treb. But we always make it difficult for ourselves in the champions league, we play sublime, then let ourselves down with a few 'cack' performances which leaves us quite desperate and needing help from other teams, which isn't the way to do it.
We had better make it through or I will curl up and be hugely disappointed and p!ssed off, at the least.
When is fred returning? I'm sure he was due back very soon. Is fred dead? or ready to return? (was referring to Freddy Ljungberg).
We had better make it through or I will curl up and be hugely disappointed and p!ssed off, at the least.
When is fred returning? I'm sure he was due back very soon. Is fred dead? or ready to return? (was referring to Freddy Ljungberg).
I presume he meant the League, Champ League and Worthless cup (even though i don't really count that as anything)
LOL!!
jimbo_052002 wrote:
> arsenal have no chance in winning the league because man u is going to
> get the triple again
Considering that Arsenal knocked them out of the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago, that WOULD be mighty impressive!
> arsenal have no chance in winning the league because man u is going to
> get the triple again
Considering that Arsenal knocked them out of the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago, that WOULD be mighty impressive!
arsenal have no chance in winning the league because man u is going to get the triple again
Or change his name to Tottenham's colours i'm sure he'd like that :D
I agree...
Change wookie's to pink :-)
Change wookie's to pink :-)
Damn the irritating colour clash that comes with notables having aconversation.
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