Arsenal - (A) - Post Match

[Leyton388]

Again Martin Atkinson is an incompetent idiot and truly one awful Ref.

[BigChief]

Not sure Atkinson was completely to blame as all refs would stop the game until the yellow card was brandished - once the free kick is given. Obviously, if the game kept flowing then the yellow could be given later but the flow had stopped with the foul on Suarez.

My initial reaction was that he got it right on the basis that over 80% of refs would have done the same.

As for the game, I was ready for a loss against them a long time ago. Its the other 'smaller' games we need to pick up maximum points. Two Hull games and Fulham mainly. I'll take those 9 points over these 3 thanks.

Arsenal on the other hand by concentrating on this match have picked up 3 pretty meaningless points (at this point in the season) but at a cost of realistic silverware (Carling Cup) and being knocked out of the Champions League group stages. Arsenal fans won't be feeling jubilant in a few days time.

[danperkins]

Credit? To whom? The team who got beaten by Arsenal?

Or maybe give credit to you?

It's not as if you're going against the grain, Perky. In that case, I don't think I qualify as being an apologist.

Credit to Arsenal who dominated us... as i said... i am far from being the only one who has said this.

And Nigey you are a bit apologist lets be honest

[little dave hedgehog]

Credit to Arsenal who dominated us... as i said... i am far from being the only one who has said this.

And Nigey you are a bit apologist lets be honest

perhaps he's giving you points for being the most predictable one saying it

[G]

It wasn't an certain goal anyway. The arsenal goalie could have easily gathered the cross from sturridge, he didn't cos he knew the ref had stopped play.

[Exiled_red]

I'm not even that angry about it...we got completely outclassed by a better side.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Our midfield is a huge worry but their's consisted of Ozil, Arteta, Rosicky, Ramsey but while they had so much quality we seemed to have abandoned the whole pressing game which is what is needed against a team like Arsenal.

Arteta, Rosicky and Ramsey aren't the most physical or the biggest around, but they ran rings around our midfield with their dynamism and creative energy. They were always on the move, seeking passes and making cute triangles.

I wonder if we could emulate their style of midfield play with players currently in our own ranks?

Allen, Alberto and Henderson maybe? Or Allen, Alberto and Suso.

[G]

Brendan said the arsenal midfield had "5 wonderful technicians" in it whereas we had 3 in ours. So why set us up like that Brendan?

[Sarb]

Again Martin Atkinson is an incompetent idiot and truly one awful Ref.

Think someone said he was reffing in 3rd division the previous week so it was a perfectly logical choice to give him this game !!!

[Sarb]

Brendan said the arsenal midfield had "5 wonderful technicians" in it whereas we had 3 in ours. So why set us up like that Brendan?

Dont think we have 5 wonderful technicians to put in the middle. Their midfield attacks with pace and that was going to be the main issue

Think we didnt press them high up enough. That is why we did so poorly. No reason for that as we didnt have a midweek game. Guess just desperately searching for consistency

[G]

Dont think we have 5 wonderful technicians to put in the middle. Their midfield attacks with pace and that was going to be the main issue

Think we didnt press them high up enough. That is why we did so poorly. No reason for that as we didnt have a midweek game. Guess just desperately searching for consistency

Ww could have packed the midfield with 5 men ourselves but Rodgers approach is usually to let the opposition worry about us rather than try and stifle them. Perhaps a bit naive in such a game but its hindsight that tells us that. As he said we were lacking from the wingbacks who are part of our midfield and they didn't give us enough. Maybe once it was confirmed Johnson would miss out we should have had a rethink. Before the game I was happy for us to play our own way however it was obvious we would need to be pressing them all over the pitch and we didn't.

[Sarb]

Ww could have packed the midfield with 5 men ourselves but Rodgers approach is usually to let the opposition worry about us rather than try and stifle them. Perhaps a bit naive in such a game but its hindsight that tells us that. As he said we were lacking from the wingbacks who are part of our midfield and they didn't give us enough. Maybe once it was confirmed Johnson would miss out we should have had a rethink. Before the game I was happy for us to play our own way however it was obvious we would need to be pressing them all over the pitch and we didn't.

Yeah I agree with that. He's got his way of wanting to play and he believes in that regardless of who the opposition is. You have to admire it on one hand, but I guess when you don't have top quality players throughout the team, say like Barcelona do, then it comes across as naive.

I thought Cissokho was very poor. The first goal came from him being lazy tracking back. Was concerned how easily they got through the 3 CB's. I thought Toure was shocking to be honest. He was all over the place.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

I think if our first-choice fullbacks, Johnson and Enrique, were available, we'd have given them a better fight, since both are more attacking minded and suit the the 3-4-1-2 better.

[Sarb]

I think if our first-choice fullbacks, Johnson and Enrique, were available, we'd have given them a better fight, since both are more attacking minded and suit the the 3-4-1-2 better.

[Bender]

I think if our first-choice fullbacks, Johnson and Enrique, were available, we'd have given them a better fight, since both are more attacking minded and suit the the 3-4-1-2 better.

Both should be available for the next game v Fulham....Enrique has taken a lot of stick on this site,goes to show he is a player we need in our team