(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 2)

I actually think we have played pretty awful football overall. There have been some good moments, but they've usually been offset immediately by horrible ones. We have no identity. No real obvious style. We're haphazard and ad-hoc in the way we play and it shows. Leicester have an identifable style. Spurs too. We do not.

Considering the fact that this is easily the best squad of players we've had since the Cesc/RvP/Nasri era (and even then we were carrying guys like Denilson), it's really disappointing.

Best squad and the best chance to win the title. And whilst we were busy looking and laughing at how rubbish our "title rivals" were early in the season, Leicester have shown everyone just how to win a title - and certainly not by buying it.

We can be better. We must be better. And I sincerely hope we will be better. Soon.

My main concern is that nothing's changing. No, that doesn't mean AW should go - but it does mean either he, or the structure around him has to change, and I'm yet to see any indication that change will happen - for at least another season. Hell, I'm half expecting him to announce another contract extension because he's doing so well financially for Sam Kuntke and the board/shareholders. I wouldn't be surprised. Sadly.

The board are the biggest culprits in this. Kroenke couldn't give a fudge about winning trophies. As long as we keep bringing in CL money he's happy.

Arsene Wenger Press Conference Rap

Here we go again... https://www.football365.com/news/wenger-hard-to-strengthen-this-arsenal-squad

Same ol' bs

It is very early to say that [Arsenal are out of the title race]," Wenger told Sky Sports.

what fudgeing planet is this guy on??!?

I never thought I'd say this but Cech looked worse than Ospina today. I'm big on making sure your in form keeper stays between the sticks.

Must be talking about next season.

Probably won't finish above Spurs now.

Their form plus Vardy's suspension makes them favourites now. On current form we'll probably drop out of the top 4.

We'll struggle to finish fourth the way we're going.

Yep United will be licking their lips

Post from the Arsenal NZ Facebook page in case you don't follow it:

The way I feel about the club at the moment I'm not sure I still want to spend the money on an overseas trip for a couple of friendlies though when the time comes no doubt I won't want to miss out. And my other half already has her heart set on a trip to Sydney where she's never been.

You and I both AJC... it feels like the last thing at the moment - but who am I kidding... I wouldn't miss it for quids - COYG!!!

I see tickets have gone to general sale for the West Brom game for the first time for a league game since the stadium move. Apparently there's still only 40,000 tickets sold. We know Wenger and the board couldn't care in the slightest about boos or abuse or banners etc, as long as there are 60,000 in and they've got everyone's money. You'd think they would notice thousands of empty seats for a league game.

what a gutting season, not sure what to say really.....copy and paste from the last 5-7years - the FA cups wins. Lets all hope like hell that spurs dont win it

I've spent the past month trying to be a voice of positivity, much to the grain of a few in here at times.

But I'm really struggling to keep finding the positives in the Crystal Palace result.

At the end of the day our team just isn't playing well enough. We have a hugely capable group of players on the field, they're just not hitting their potential. And not just the potential we've been waiting for Theo to hit since his arrival from SOTON, but the potential within their current capabilities based on past achievements.

Is it the managers fault? Is it the lack of leadership (captain and vice on the bench)? Is it bad chemistry? It's most likely all of them, the sum of the parts bringing us to our knees.

You do also have to remember football is a game with so much room for variation, because it's ultimately a game executed by people. People that have equal potential to score a 40 yard screamer, and tap it into their own net. A referee that has the ability to perfectly call a penalty call from 20 yards out, and incorrectly call a dive from 5 yards out. 

I guess what I'm getting at is I wonder if our expectations in football are too black and white. We expect and demand perfection, driven by our desire to be the best. I truly wonder if this is born out of the rise of football gaming, where we set the game to an achievable level, buy all the players, and get the results.

At the end of the day, I hope that Wenger, his coaching staff, and the club management are undertaking a complete review of the strategic direction of the club - on and off the field - to make sure that we're heading in the right direction.

The funds are there, but I think we're finally getting caught out in our strategy.

TL;DR - brumbys being philosophical in his sadness

With the games both teams have left and Vardy suspended, I can't see Spurs not winning it from here. They've looked the best team for a while.

My Spurs supporting parents still remain cautious after that "mind the gap" every week season. This morning I received only the second comment they have made about the title race all season and it was pretty much the same as the first: "the end of the season is very exciting." Have just ignored it again.

But my Dad is suffering from severe Parkinsons and is in constant pain at present. All he can really do is lie in bed or sit in a chair and watch TV. On good days he can manage a 10 minute walk outside. This season is really the only thing that has given him anything to look forward too and any joy. So as much as I don’t want them to win it part of me feels like my Dad deserves it and I don’t think I could feel any resentment towards his joy at the moment. Guess some things are above team rivalries.

soo apparently, Palace benched Benzema for the game against us...

https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/crystal-palace...

Lowest ever Emirates attendance expected.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premie...

People not turning up is probably the only thing that might lead to any change. Though because the season tickets are sold anyway and they have the money I can't imagine the board being too bothered. They'll probably just spin it as being because the fixture is on a Thursday. Will likely have to get used to Thursday night football if we don't win this one.

Man as much as I'm not happy with performance there's no way I'd be missing a game if the tickets were there.

Will be interesting to see what the boss does to get things going again. Start of the year our best 11 was Giroud, Sanchez, Ozil, Ramsey, Coquellin, Cazorla, Monreal, Bellerin, Per, Kosc, and Cech.

Based on form Welbeck isn't converting enough chances, while I think Iwobi's been justifying his spot ahead of Rambo on the right. Cazorla's still injured, but Elneny is doing well to fill the void. Per back in for Gabriel please, Gabriels still a bit dicey for me.

Hmmm, If I had a season ticket there is no way I wouldn't go unless there was some actual reason why I couldn't make it like work or whatever. But for this game I think I'd struggle to spend money on it if I didn't already have a ticket. No amount of boos or abuse or banners are going to make any difference. But fans staying away from the games has to be noticed. They can still report the attendance as including season tickets sold etc not the actual number of people there, but if there's thousands less people there then that has to impact on the matchday revenue through the sale of food, drink, programmes and mechandise etc.

The performances of late show the team has clearly given up playing for Wenger and the board don't appear to care so I guess the match-going fans feel they have to do something.

i dont want to ruin/make peoples days worse, but check this horrible image i was just sent. have you ever seen something so digusting

You'd think with those stats they'd be 10 points clear at the top. Go Leicester! 

Would make me feel better if they were 1st in everything and still somehow managed to not win the thing.

Definitely a lot of empty seats, looks bad on TV.

iwobi is going to be quality and he's pretty exciting to watch, but tonight he has lacked that final pass/shoot/position. once he gets that then wow he will be unstoppable.

So, how did we look with Per, Giroud, and Ramsey back in the mixer?

So, how did we look with Per, Giroud, and Ramsey back in the mixer?

giroud offered little, rambo ran hard without being overly effective, per lost his man once at a corner which then hit the cross bar but other than that was pretty solid. 

Campbell came on and gave another good cameo, hes got to be above wally in the pecking order for wide positions now

For some reason Wenger is stubborn in not playing Campbell, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Campbell should be on the right instead of Iwobi.

Campbell's got an excellent shot and an incredibly high work rate up and down the park, he's like having another Alexis.

Iwobi is going to be class for sure, but here and now if I were Campbell I'd be getting my agent to get me out of Emirates in the off season.

It was definitely emptier than normal but, like you say, damned if I am going to miss a game. 

Sure, we aren't going to win anything this season but I still get a buzz from watching the Arsenal regardless. 

For the first time since 2013 that every Arsenal first team player has trained!

that has to be a terrible omen...