Arsenal (a) match thread

[Marina]

We've not been that bad. Or at least, they haven't been much better.

[JohnDoe]

Coutinho should come on from the 1st minute of the 2nd half. It might be too late if we wait another 10-15 minutes.

[Daniel 7]

That wasn't awful, but it wasn't great. Ozil has been anonymous, but then again, Suarez hasn't been allowed to get in the game much.

I was worried about Flanagan before kick off, but he's been alright. I'm far more worried about Cissokho on the other side.

Mignolet's kicking has been terrible, I'm nervous every time the ball is laid back to him.

[JohnDoe]

We aren't pressing them and letting those players have all the ball in our half is a recipe for disaster. We need to get in their faces.

Even getting Coutinho on won't make a difference if they have all the ball.

The reason they have the ball is that we can't keep the ball or do anything with it other than launching it to our strikers and hope they score 2 on 6.

[Corndog]

Cissokho's lack of pace has been caught out, isn't fast enough to get up and down that flank, need 4 at the back imo

[dom9]

I honestly don't get the negativity in this thread. We're losing, but Arsenal have not been better. We could have scored goals. Chances missed, referee incompetent.

The game is winnable if we can produce a second half performance. The latter is all too rare so let's see.

[Marina]

This is why it's never a good idea to go into a game, especially one against the team in top spot, expecting to win!

[Dirk07]

I disagree.

It has been extremely even, before and after the goal. And we've squeezed their best player out of the game.

I agree with you also, we are up against arsenal at their place, hardly ever does a team go there and match their time on the ball

I think the midfield are doing ok, we could do with a little more from our wide players to give the midfield more options and push Arsenal back

[Daniel 7]

Henderson & Gerrard have been dominated in CM. Lucas hasn't been great and Cissoko & Flano have been pretty dire and are way out of their depth. Thought Skrtel,Toure & Sahko have been excellent. Mignolet looks so nervy too.

Arsenal have looked a class apart. Giroud,Ramsey & Carzola have ran the show.

Agree with that, but not that Flanagan has been dire. He's done as much as can be expected of someone who isn't top 4 class and who has barely got any league football experience.

Cissokho though, yep. Not good at all. He's still early here though.

[el matador]

This 3 at the back business is complete tosh. Flanagan has done ok but cissoko is ****ing farcical. The wingbacks have to offer some threat but cissoko is more threatening to our players than he is to theirs.

Theyve been done by dortmund and city so lets go and push them hard. Instead we just fanny about and the pace of our passing is slow, too slow.

[danperkins]

The reason they have the ball is that we can't keep the ball or do anything with it other than launching it to our strikers and hope they score 2 on 6.

[Fosterbloke]

They have a much better shape. We get it up front and we have hardly any options and we seem to be dawdling on the ball and getting dispossessed.

We should be 1-1 if it wasn't such a **** reffing decision.

[cream]

Our passing game is crap, really crap.

[danperkins]

Agree with that, but not that Flanagan has been dire. He's done as much as can be expected of someone who isn't top 4 class and who has barely got any league football experience.

Cissokho though, yep. Not good at all. He's still early here though.

I mean dire in that role. He is so uncomfortable going forward. Flano IMO is an out and out defender.

Cissoko well..... he has looked shocking

[JohnDoe]

Our passing game is crap, really crap.

It's been crap since Coutinho got injured.