I don’t know about you lot reading this but I was left disappointed by Arsenal finishing as runners-up behind Dortmund in our Champions League group last night. Not because we have to face one the big boys of Europe, but because we never showed up at the Stadio San Paolo. The lack of desire shown by the players and especially Arsene Wenger’s negative mentality going into the game was not enjoyable to watch.
Knowing that only a loss of a three goal margin would’ve knocked us out of the competition, why did Wenger not go for more than a draw, which he was clearly playing for by the way his team was casually stroking it about and not getting at Napoli, and make Europe stand up and take notice. Had they have put more of an effort in last night I’m certain we could’ve topped the group and had more of a chance of progressing further than we can do now.
A lot of fans were just pleased to make it through, and of course I am as well. But why do we have to make it difficult for ourselves? Why did we not go out there and put on a show for the travelling fans? Why didn’t we play for a win?
I can only recall us having one shot on goal last night and that simply isn’t good enough for a team like Arsenal even if we were virtually through prior to kick-off.
I’m glad we qualified but was upset at the manner we went about the game. At the end of the day we lost to a side we could’ve beat and now go into the Man City game on Saturday having not picked up a win in our last two games.
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agree, we basically failed what we wanted to do: we sacrificed a draw w everton with goals of top in CL. second, what make feel sad is wenger tactic, if he want a draw, he could rest ozil, or giroud, unless try to score when our player played comfortably, they didn’t want to make their own chance instead of longing the news from Dort game.
I agree wholeheartedly with you. I can’t believe Arsene went so negative. If you listen to Koz’s post-match interview on the AFC website, he highlights this issue clearly. I was very disappointed in the performance. Not so much the 2nd half where I thought we did exactly what was required but at around the 0 min mark when it seemed unlikely that Napoli could score 3 goals, I was awaiting Theo’s introduction-unfortunately they score and Arteta got sent off so maybe that plan went out the window. We just sat abck and soaked it up and really you can’t do that without being willing to keep the opponents on their toes every now and again.
Hopefully this will be a learning experience-get a goal and defend that instead. In all fairness though, Napoli are a counter attacking side and a few times when we did attack, they found space in behind when our moves broke down-it was an odd game but teh way it ended, wlthough we qualified, left a sour taste in my mouth-and hopefully the manager’s and the players also.
the best way to defend is to attack. I am not a coach, but the set up using two defensive modfielders (artete and flamini) together shows a defensive approach from starting of the game. We should have gotten atleast a draw because we are better than that. We have to make statement against city this saturday to prove we are true title contenders. One point is not accepted by me. All three point should come to emirate. Walcot should start.
When you grow up to 10 years old you will see things different
Well said Will. Had we gone on the attack and conceded stupid goals like we did at home to Dortmund, everybody would be slagging Wenger off for being so naive. When the result doesn’t go your way, it is easy to say we should have had a different strategy but most of the media, including the usually anti-Arsenal Times, reckoned we were excellent until the last 20 minutes. That’s the issue that needs to be addressed – how did we let it slip when so close to the finishing line?
U fools… u can pretend all u want, but u dont know football… never bring championship manager mentality into the reality world… our team is either already tired or avoiding burn out mentality… cant change the team completely cause to prevent another 8-2… n the fact that u think the team should be positive, pressuring n winning is a great insult to napoli as a club, its players, their manager, their hardcore fans n its great history… show some respect, be content wif wat already at hands n improve in every coming match… u have been warned…
You’re telling me that had we of rested a few players we would of got smashed by Napoli? give over! Wenger should have rested some key players for the game. When was the last time you remember Arsenal conceding three goals?
Every one is entitled to their own opinion but I don’t see any reason why Wenger didn’t have some balls that night and tell his team to go out there and enjoy themselves.
Like I said happy we’re through but the performance was a joke and not needed prior to the City game tomorrow