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

hate to think what Bayern is going to do to us, we need to beat bayern in atleast one of the games to be have any hope. i havnt seen the game or highlights but seems very poor to let 3 in. everytime i think we are starting to play well this happens

I hope Stan has Jurgen's number. And is dialling it.

At least we get to avoid the pain of getting humiliated at home in the first leg of the first knockout round then win 2-0 away and go out on away goals again. Anyone fancy a Europa League away trip to Kuban Krasdonar in February before playing United away on the Sunday?

Absolute joke result this morning. When i saw the result at work this morning i actually felt physically sick. We're gonna need a big turnaround in fortunes to make it through the groups this time. Really disappointing given it is actually one of the easier draws we have had in recent years.

Hope we come back strong against United this weekend.

Sadly these results in Europe are no surprise anymore.

Piers Morgan will be having a fielday on Twitter

I've always worked on the rule that you need 10 points to get through the group stage so three wins and a draw from our last four games and two of those are against Bayern. Not looking good. Since when did we not play our best eleven. It's not the Capital One Cup!!!!

It's not world is over glasses, but defeats to teams we should be beating in Europe no longer surprise me when they happen every season. But let's not go around in that circle again. Going to need a big response this weekend against United.

Koscielny out for the weekend.

Bugger. Per v Martial.

Kosc still our best defender.

Here's a silver lining from The Secret Footballer... (for those of us who need one lol). 

so this is Wenger's last season. 

Who is coming in and whoever it is I hope they are signed in Jan/Feb

Fair call?

It's not Wenger's last season. 

Wenger may have huge flaws; but we are guaranteed to have a very rocky 2-3 years at least when we change manager. Not looking forward to it!

I think it is. I'm ok with another season but now is he time to secure the new boss.

I genuinely think we will be ok and that the right appointment could be a major shot in the arm given the strength of our First XI

It was time at least 3 or 4 years ago, but he won't be leaving the club until he decides he's ready and that probably won't be until he's carried out in a box. I also strongly disagree that we're guaranteed to have a rocky 2-3 years with someone new. There may be a transition period while the new man changes the setup, brings in the players he wants, gets rid of the dross etc but he should be afforded the time to do that. As long as it's not a Moyes like season. I also don't believe Wenger is the only manager in the world who could get this squad into the top 4. 

I can't think of another club who's entire structure is so based around the philosophy of one man. Even Fergie didn't have as much control.

Anyway, in my opinion Wenger has earned the right to leave when he feels like it. It would seem pretty Man City/Chelsea-ish of us to just boot him out considering what he's achieved. I don't think any other manager would've kept us going in those lean years where we had 0 year money.

de Boer came into a struggling club with a huge history and fanbase, and turned it around, quickly restoring them to former glory with 4 consecutive titles.

Sounds like a good cv for what you're looking for!

Good call. And bring Bergkamp with him.

Yeah, de Boer was a past admirer of Arsenal/Arsene so wouldn't be surprised. Don't think Klopp is the answer personally. 

The guy I want to come in is Jorge  Sampaoli

I realise this won't happen and next to no one will agree with me.

But I would love to see a Bielsa school of play in the EPL

The fact that one man has so much control is a major flaw in our club. 

De Boer or Simeone, maybe Koeman. I'd love to see Simeone just to bring back a bit of passion to the shirt.

Really up for the game tonight, glad to have Coquelin fit but offset with Koscielny out. United at home, we win and we go second equal. 

wow the de boer comment i made was actually intended for the liverpool thread

lol

well that was quite satisfactory ;)

God that was good. Fantastic evening at the Emirates.

Well I can confirm we're second. And I can also confirm the Utd fans let themselves down, barely said a fudgeing thing all game. 

Fudge yea. That first 25mins we were unplayable! And other than a few moments in the 2nd half, they didn't look interested in our goal. Only downer for me was that our finishing after the third goal, was poor. Giroud, rambo and ozil were guilty of butchering easy chances. But not going to dwell on that now. Fuucckking yea!!!

I'll take that.

Slightly disappointed as I picked as 4-1. Oh well. :p

Cech's brilliance cost me my 3-1 pick!

Chant of the day: "you're just a shark Danny Welbeck" to Martial looool. 

Pics or it didn't happen. Unfortunately Tim & I couldn't connect with Will's brother but tribute was paid.

That was pretty special. That first 20 minutes would have to be one of my all time top Arsenal memories. Similar start to usual against them in recent years. We usually dominate the first 20 minutes and don't take advantage then they score with their first shot and that's that. This time the chances went in. Lovely goals and brilliant from Sanchez. Darmian will be having nightmares. It was something similar to what I expect it would be like if I was up against Sanchez.

When he screamed the third in I went berserk and probably woke the neighbours. Screamed something like "Fudge you Ferguson Keane and Scholes. Stick that up you Neville you scum. How you gonna analyse that?" Don't know where it came from but it must have been waiting years to come out!

Having caught my breath a few thoughts from the game:

1) If United are still looking for Martial after the match he'll still be in Paulistas pocket.

2) Per & Paulista is a combination that can work

3) Cech needs to start in any match that isn't a cup game for the kids

4) Sanchez's finishing is back

5) Coquelin was immense, his tenacity won the ball back that set up the play for the first goal, a recurring theme

6) Young should have been sent off & Fellaini deserved a yellow for his antics

7) Bellerin gets better & better each game, I'm sure he out jumped the belgian waffle at one point

8) I am 3/3 for live Arsenal games, Newcastle, Sp*rs, and United all the opponents