(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 1)

+1 on Rosicky coming in, need his drive in midfield. 

Worried about the follow on effect to the game this weekend against Liverpool, but 3 points tomorrow will help that.

MUST.win.

teams named

                   Szczesny

Sagna-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Gibbs

              Arteta-Wilshere

          Rosicky-Ozil-Cazorla

                    Giroud

Wilshere may line up wide left with rosicky in central midfield too, will be interesting to see. 

                De Gea

    Rafael-Smalling-Vidic-Evra

Valencia-Carrick-Cleverley-Mata

       Rooney-van Persie

Just guessing with the formation of ManU's lineup, don't know what they do and couldn't care less.

Lets go lads.

Pumped. Need to make sure RvP has a terrible day at the emirates.

well that went to the script :)

Oh well, fourth again.

ahh sharke. but at least we didnt lose points.

disappointed is an understatement

whilst united will almost definitly lose to crystal palace next week and has a defence reminiscent of a sieve  they hold us out again

From watching the Arsenal written commentary it sounds like today was a great example of how badly we needed a goal scoring striker after Giroud missed a few crucial chances...

Whoever saw the game can you explain Arteta's meltdown at the start?

Interesting that Podolski has been frozen out eh, when we need someone to drive the ball forward and get shots on target he can't even get off the bench. I don't think he should be a game starter, but believe he can be a game changer. Shame we didn't take our chance to get over that Manchester United bug Arsenal suffers from.

drawing with mid table sides like united at home is so dissapointing

2 points dropped, that's 5 this week, yikes

scary to see how close the chasing pack is behind the top 3 as well, Liverpool getting a last min winner this morn and Spurs stringing wins together

Could go very well or very poor from here, I'm nervous as hell, we certainly aren't playing with the confidence of the first half of the season

Arteta started off terribly, ball played into him and he took too long when RVP nicked it off him. RVP through one on one and should have scored.

Wenger makes one sub with 15 to go, doesn't give him long to settle in. Doesn't even have a proper go by bringing on an extra forward. And he get annoyed because he can't find a striker in the last 5 hours of the transfer window.

If this continues to spiral downwards, big questions have to be asked of Wenger

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Interesting that Podolski has been frozen out eh, when we need someone to drive the ball forward and get shots on target he can't even get off the bench. I don't think he should be a game starter, but believe he can be a game changer. Shame we didn't take our chance to get over that Manchester United bug Arsenal suffers from.

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couldnt agree more, i'm a huge poli fan and would just about allways pick him ahead of ox really. losing theo and rambo has been huge, very annoying that we didnt get anyone in jan that could have made an impact

Liver this weekend in Fa cup and then Bayern in champs league, season could be looking very different this time next week

on a postive note i think Gibbs was very good today and Szczczczczy has been top class all year.

Liverpool at the Emirates will be a different scenario. We've got a point to prove, and hopefully we'll rotate the squad a wee bit to deal with the pressing of the 3 strikers. I'd like to see Ox in the midfield again, his pace could be incredibly useful for covering our back 4, and hopefully Gibbs/Sagna are less likely to stream forward with as much abandon as usual.

Ox or Gnabry could be handy on the wing - I'm really getting tired with the lack of runs behind the defence we have without Theo. I mean, picking out those passes is where Ozil excels, it makes Giroud look alot better too, when someone is running off his shoulder and that forward movement has been clearly lacking. Too much sideways.

I do believe Liverpool and the Emirates will be a different scenario, but to be frank, I believed today against a dire Manchester United team would also be a different scenario.

^ this

no-where near as much movement in as there was a few games ago, players are tiring, but lots to come - need to rotate a bit now

Man, just saw the highlights. I've been pro Giroud all season, but today is an excellent example where his finishing just isn't world class. We need someone who can get on the end of the very dangerous crosses being swung in. Especially that one towards the end.

No need for doom and gloom. I reckon 90% of us would have taken the current standings the week before the season kicked off. 

12 games left, 12 wins and Arsenal have got it.

It's not so bad after all. And today's draw and other results mean the Chq Book Champs are no show of 4th. So I consider that some consolation. 

No Ribery on Thu morning either. 

Beat Liverpool in the Cup plus either MCFC or Chelsea are gone as well. 

I think the run in for this season is going to be arguably the best ever, the relegation fight is special in and of itself. 

Go the Gunners etc

Probably the only interesting point that Michael Owen made in the commentary was around how Giroud's lack of pace did not stretch the opposition, therefore not creating the space between the lines that players like Ozil and Carzola can exploit.  With even player pushing the opposition deeper, it opens so much more up for those 2.

Agree completely. I don't know what happens in the dressing rooms, but I would imagine someone would be given then  job of running off the shoulders of the defence for Girouds flicks and Ozorla's through balls.

ESPN still has teams TBC for the FA Cup, I'm hoping we're covered.

Cazorla out for Cup game

Bring in Lukas Podolski

We've got to be looking ahead to Bayern Munich on Wednesday though, so I imagine we'll see something like:

                Fabianski

Jenkinson Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal

             Flamini Oxlaide-Chamberlain

Gnabry        Rosicky           Podolski

             Bendtner/Sanogo

My money is on Gibbs starting this one, really do hope for freshning up the squads sake that Szcesney, Sagna, Wilshere, Arteta, Ozil and Giroud are rested

Give Bendtner a cheeky start and run around for 60-70 mins, what's the worst that can happen? lol

strongest side possible for the Liverpool game please

Jose in FA Cup Failure

If I remember correctly Wenger is quoted as saying he will rest some players?

I'm not categorically saying we can't beat Bayern over 2 legs , but surely the go is knock over Liverpool now. 

It's not just about winning the FA Cup, the fact is we have poor results against the "Top English Teams" this season. Best send a marker out before we go too the Bridge and host MCFC.

I'm basing my thoughts on Wenger's comments about rotation.

However I agree with you all wholeheartedly that this is the competition to focus on, above and beyond Bayern. Especially given it's a two legged tie and we can play out a bore draw in the first game if we need to.

Also just saw an add promoting Puma and Fabregas. If they're willing to help get Ballotelli at the Emirates maybe they might do the same with Cesc? #dreaming!