Going into this game, the focus was always going to be on Robin van Persie. Now, it is clear to see why he left.
Frankly, this was a lacklustre performance, against a massively superior team, and the result was generous to Arsenal. Ten man Arsenal, after Jack Wilshere received a second yellow card and was sent off in the second half, now lie nine points from the summit, which could be extended to 10, if Chelsea beat Swansea.
Things started poorly after Thomas Vermaelen failed to clear a poor cross from Rafael. The ball then dropped to RVP, on his weaker foot, who promptly finished low in the right hand corner. He didn’t celebrate. But again, frankly, who cares? Arsenal and the fans have to except that he’s gone, and clearly, based on today’s performance, onto bigger and better things.
United dominated the first-half whilst several Arsenal players were absent, notably Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey. The logic of playing a central midfield on the right wing is difficult to understand. Andre Santos was clearly a weak link in the Arsenal back-line and this was exposed several times by Antonio Valencia and Rafael.
The lead should have been doubled when, just before half-time, Santi Cazorla was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. However, Wayne Rooney failed to capitalise, allowing Arsenal to go into second-half only one down.
Arsenal did seem a little brighter in the second-half, with Olivier Giroud firing against the post from a tight angle. However, the killer punch came in the 67th minute when Patrice Evra headed in from close range beyond Vito Mannone, who only moments earlier had made an excellent save.
After this, the writing was on the wall, and things went from bad to worse when Wilshere was sent off for a second bookable offence. It was a cynical, clumsy tackle and, having already been warned by Mike Dean earlier, the referee had little option. Tom Cleverley, also having been on a yellow card and warned, was taken off by Alex Ferguson.
Arsene Wenger, perhaps through arrogance, or simply because there was no-one to replace him, made a poor choice in leaving Jack on the pitch.
Cazorla got a 93nd minute consolation goal, an excellent curling finish in the top corner. However, it was too little, too late for the boys in purple.
Overall, this was a toothless performance from The Gunners and serious questions now have to be asked about the future of the club.
Last season was a freak result. This season truly showed the ever widening gulf between the clubs.
Wenger recently said, judge us after ten games. This has been Arsenal’s worse start to a season under his management, even worse than last season.
Potentially, by Sunday afternoon, Arsenal could be lying in tenth position. As the fans chanted at the Reading game when we were 4-0 down – ‘we want our Arsenal back’.
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very poor performance, that being sad i feel the reason podolski is so poor is basically because of santos, he’s restricting going up the pitch too much cos he feels santos is a liability and also santos holds on to the ball for too long
THE whole team is poor FROM the board to managers right down to the players. Poor leadership produces poor results.
Practically everyone in every position at United cost more than their Arsenal counterpart. If Wenger doesn’t think that spending money is necessary to build a top team then he’s fooling himself and he thinks he’s fooling the fans too.
I don’t think Wenger thinks he can win without spending money. He does the best with the money he has.
Utter rubbish. Wenger has plenty of money to spend for nearly 3 years.
Simply not true. Not in relation to others. And if arsene does go for the type of players we need we get out bid. Would Chelsea let arsenal sign falco? No! I do not believe Arsene has the money to spend freely
Dude F%^K off stop talking CR%P> Wenger has told us time and time again that he has money to spend but won’t spend it. Typical AKB talking CR#P.
I disagree. We simply can’t compete with Chelsea or City. If all you want is arsenal to buy and win you are deluded to think arsene is the reason we don’t.
We can’t afford to keep top players, we have no chance of buying them. Chelsea make a 15m player worth 25m. 25m is out of our reach.
I wish it was different and I understand a change of manager would change things, however, we won’t be battling for titles again until something is done about spending on players by clubs like Chelsea. Simple as that
While we cannot compete outright like Chelsea and City for spending nobody is asking Wenger to dish out 50M on a player but he squabbles over a couple million quid. Remember when Mata was practically ready to come to Arsenal for 18M and Wenger wouldn’t budge on 15M – he’s now Chelsea’s best player so far.
It’s not just spending big but spending wisely. Everyone said we needed some defense and a proper central midfielder. We sold Song and Wenger told us we had Diaby – because you know his injury record has been so spectacular – he’s out for probably the rest of the year.
Santos and Ramsey are garbage but they get starts – how?
Wenger has too much faith in absolutely mediocre players but they get to play 90 minutes every week. Why bother improve when you can play like crap and know you’re the first name on the team sheet?
No fight. No belief. Lack of quality. Club ethos needs to change and I’m sick of repeating myself. We are a mid table team currently, the evidence was blindingly obvious today and while I continue to attend matches I now go with the feeling of anti climax from the off. I know we will not challenge for the major honours and have sadly come to terms with that harsh reality.
Arsenl gradually lukin lyk d pre wenger days,lost our fluidity,our passing game is becomin predictable,wenger has lost it clearly.ferguson know wat winnin means,and winnin means u get big endorsements,and comercial deals,wenger tinks winning means spending more money,d team is lackin confidence and quality,maybe its time 4 a new face at d helm,wenger has notin new to offer,his time is up
I think this is the worst Arsenal match l have watched. Wenger’s age is affecting,he does’nt know how to make changes any longer,he should just go home….
The team was poor because Wenger is poor. This delusional M#th#$r F%^K^R Doesn’t care he knowas he will around for a long time. Nothing will happen to him because he has become greater then Arsenal. Why because of delusional F$%king season ticket holders who along with Wenger is raping our beloved Arsenal down to the grave!!!
We are all mugs. Every year our expecations are high because we buy into Wengers deluded positivity. At the start of the season how many of you really believed that we were genuine title contenders, just because you were told so and how many of you built yourself up for the game thinking if we play well then just maybe. Only for that sinking feeling to hit you in the stomach after just three minutes today. We have been patient, we spend our money on this, we have been let down by all of AFC. We have backed Wenger so much over the last seven years but he cant keep making mugs of us.
Something fresh is needed. Stop keep asking players to fit into a sytem that is just not working!
Wenger is a very stubborn man with far too much trust from us fans. Miracles are needed to get the belief back in both players and fans. Overpaid players and board taking our money and not looking like they give a s***. We have been told lately that we need to wait two years and then we will compete with the top three. Not buying it are you? Stop making mugs out of us! Change the system Wenger or resign. Buy some decent players Kronke or fuck off!!
WC i take your point. But is it arsene that wont budge? Surely arsene just gives gazidis names and he has to sign them? With dean Wenger would have got the money for mata. But Chelsea were always waiting. They paid 24m in the end for mata. Way above the 18m.