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

That's a good point. How has Vieira gone so far in the MLS? I've not been keeping up.

You know despite the basically perpetual doom and gloom now, there's something exciting about seeing our teamsheet with Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan on it. 

What was Wenger saying to Guardiola there. Seemed a bit odd. 

Oh yea and just to perpetuate that doom and gloom further.

Milan may not be the team they once were, but they are unbeaten since Dec 24, on their best run of form in a long long time.

Go figure. 

Random comment but they've obviously made the lines blueish due to the possibility of snow?

You'd also think they'd get some bright orange balls.

... just as I say this the commentator mentions it.

Also counter attack City = 4 fouls. The only reason Pep's system works.

I wouldn't say the only reason, but it is a huge part of their game that is really sh*tty. Spurs too. 

heard some commentator talking about how this the other day, apparently they don't use the orange balls anymore, they just use a winter ball, which is what they are playing with today

holy f*ck man

this is very bad

it's like bayern etc all over again

worst bit is that we've missed a number of very presentable chances

player confidence is totally shot

If only...;-)

f*ck this season. the nix and arsenal... both f*cked. 

Sorry for being such a COD at Wembley, can we still be friends?

ffs

That penalty was weak.

What a terrible mess that was. We should've scored a few goals. Confidence is clearly shot.

Did Wenger not make any subs??? Seems odd. 

Not sure why I bothered to put myself that. Really is no hope. At least another season of this then however long they extend Wenger again. Can't imagine the board cared about how empty it was as long as the tickets were sold. They have the weather and being a work night as excuses. I'm certain they'd prefer noone to be there anyway so the amount of abuse is less.

It was probably his way of writing the game off and saving the bench for the next game. That said your best options Nketiah and Elneny you really have a lot of options.

Not sure why we have dropped Elneny from the midfield when he's the one who could be breaking down the attacks of teams like City.

From gunnerblog:

"If you asked me to imagine the saddest possible expression of Arsene's demise, I probably would have said a half-empty stadium bearing witness to his lifeless team being battered by a side playing the kind of football he was once renowned for."

Shambles.

Made it to 2-0 then gave up this morning - I don't even recognise us out there anymore.

free fall?

I did really enjoy Aubas goal though. Its not heard much, but that was a smart play by Xhaka

Got to work this morn, and a friend emailed me asking what's the deal with Arsenal. My response;

"For the first time, ever I think, I chose not to watch the game. I was so tired and had to get to work early, I just couldn't do it. I woke up and watched a highlights package online.

Perhaps that alone signifies how low we've sunk... the enthusiasm is just not there for the fans right now.

This morning confirmed that we mathematically cannot match our points total from last season, I actually think we'll be lucky to break 60 points at this point, even though our remaining draw is pretty kind.

We'll not finish higher than 6th, could even drop below others if it continues. The decline in the last 2 seasons has been very stark. On top of that, Milan have actually been in very good form, they haven't lost since Dec 24. I actually believe we'll get knocked out of the Europa League in the next round.

Wenger has to be done. It's sad, but he has to go.

The thing is that our squad is very good. Re-sign Ramsey and Wilshere, bring in a new Manager, and we'll be brimming with optimism again. It won't take an overhaul, just the big change in Manager after all these years.

I think the Arsenal fans will have patience too. If he has a tough first year I don't think we'd Moyes him, we'd give him more time. The latest rumours are that we want Low. It does fit with the germanising we seem to be doing. Mertesacker takes over the academy next year after he retires at the end of this season. Mslintat is our new head scout (ex Dortmund). Lehmann is an assistant coach. It seems to be the way we're going and I'm fine with that, these guys have been involved with the German national football system which has been very successful.

But this has to happen now. I cannot see how they can let Wenger go on next season without a full blown revolt. I really hope they announce it soon, so we can stop whinging for the rest of the season and see Wenger off with some respect." 

Would Jogi's paucity of success in club football give you any doubts?

Yes. Definitely. But if that is the plan that we've devised then lets go ahead with it and not dilly dally. Announce that it's happening after the world cup, see Wenger off with some respect, and work with Low a bit between now and then to try and smooth out the path for him to come in as seamlessly as possible. 

Performances are getting more and more abject. How much worse can it get? I doubt many of us thought we would ever see the day when we got battered and played off the park by Brighton. Another new one for Wenger's collection. 

Understand why you didn't bother Paul. I was close to doing the same but in the end didn't feel right not putting myself through it. Have made the decision to dump Sky when my free Sky Sport deal runs out after the World Cup but if Wenger is still in charge then I don't think I'll bother with Bein next season either.

Being a Nix fan + Arsenal fan is leading me into alcoholism.

Was glad I accidentally saw the result prior to watching this mroning.

These are dark days lads. Dark days. 

At least we're all together on most things now. Not much arguing going on, just mourning and lamenting. 

#strongertogether hahahahaha

Reflecting on it, the difference between us and United now is that Wenger leaving will do so without going out on a high like Fergy did. When Moyes came in he apparently removed a bunch of the back room staff. Clearly that didn't help the transition and is likely a key aspect in his failing. However given the state we're in I can see people like Bould staying on. Unless it's revealed that Bould has been in opposition to Wengers approach he's got to be done too. Jens might also be a scape goat too.

The Black Caps aren't much use at the moment either...

So WTF do you do for Milan?

Welbeck has to start up front. Is Mhiki cup tied like Auba or OK? Do you bring in Mertesacker to shake things up at the back and go with a back 3? Ospina will likely come in, not necessarily a bad thing. Surely Iwobi drops out of starting contention for awhile, I'd rather see other youngsters like Nelson, AMN, Nketiah given a shot. 

              Opsina

       Mustafi Per Kosc

Bellerin Elneny Ramsey Kolasnic

     JW10             Ozil

              Welbeck  

Consigned to 6th (or lower), all eggs in the Europa Basket, we're going Mourinho style now. 

Gotta be full strength. Auba cup-tied and Lacazette injured means Welbeck starts up top. 

I assume Monreal is still unavailable?

Mkhitaryan is available, it's just his jersey which is cup-tied (funny but true). 

Honestly not sure which way the team might be set up. I'd probably go;

                   Ospina

   Chambers-Koscielny-Mustafi

Bellerin-Xhaka-Ramsey-Kolasinac

                Ozil-Wilshere

                  Welbeck

Difficult to know whether we'll go out on away goals due to some typically dumb mistake or just get battered and humiliated over both legs. Either way it's difficult to find the energy to bother about it.

It's interesting that Chambers seems to have overtaken Holding this season. Perhaps it's his versatility to play RB when needed.

If you come in as the new manager what do you do to this squad?

Priority for me would be a new #1 GK, sell either of Ospina/Cech. New CM in the Kante type mould. New RB who can push Hector for a starting spot. New CB who can come in and boss it, sell Koscielny. Possibly another LB. Don't re-sign Cazorla, do re-sign JW10 and AR8. 

It all depends on what system they want to play etc, but my thoughts would be that no major overhaul would be required here.

I would be looking at the following in order of priority;

1 - World Class Goalkeeper

2 - CB to come in and play with Mert gone and Koscielny fading

3 - Back-up or Challenger to Bellerin

4 - A wide forward with pace

I think we're ok at LB with Monreal and Kolasinac, although Kolasinac needs some serious attention on his defensive positioning. 

I'm happy with central midfield provided we re-sign Ramsey and Wilshere. If one or both go, then we need someone. 

I'm ok with no.10 options, and our strikers. 

Welbeck, is a handy squad member in the event of an injury crisis, as he can back up wide forward roles as well as being no.3 striker behind Auba and Laca. 

We are an absolute cluster at the moment.

We have several holes in the squad but as long as AW is steering the ship we will remain rudderless. I've been (and am) a huge fan of AW and what he's done for our club, but it's gone too far - he (and the board by their inaction) are tarnishing his legacy and deepening our hole the longer he continues.

It's sad.

Is it that time? AW has been in charge for 20 years and maybe just maybe the playing group needs a new voice and some new ideas to freshen things up. Are we just a little too predicatble at the moment?

It's that time. 

I'm still hopeful we can beat Milan on Friday, but not very confident at all.

Milan have come on leaps and bounds since Gattuso took charge. They'll also be extremely tough to break down at the San Siro.

We have a mixed bag of memories at the San Siro. Got absolutely dicked by Milan in 2012, but famously beat them there in 08. Also can never forget our 5-1 win over their black and blue cousins in 03, Henry at his brilliant best.

No matter how sharke we have been of late (and we truly have been a mess), i always look forward to ties like this, and i really hope we can put some sort of performance in that makes us smile a bit.

Applause