Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 18 April 2011 19:29

I must be missing something here. My understanding of the game isn't what it should if I am going by all the reaction to the Emmanuel Eboue penalty.

I am known for having red and white specs attached to my head and I acknowledge that I cannot take them off even if I try but I like to think that I can hold my hands up and say 'god, that was stupid' if I feel we have made a bad error.

When I saw the incident at the time I thought it was not a foul, I felt he went down easily and I expected Andre Marriner to point towards Szczesny's goal and blow his whistle. With the eight minutes of stoppage time long gone surely Lucas was desperately looking for one last chance to gain his team a point. To my utter astonishment the referee pointed to the spot.

The replay on Sky Sports proved my red tinted initial gut feelings to be correct. It was not a foul.

Eboue did not run into Lucas. Lucas was NOT directly in front of Eboue. At the time I, like I am sure hundreds of thousands of Gooners wanted Eboue to get to the ball first and clear away the danger. Our defence was in a panic and the players wanted rid of the ball as far away and as quickly as possible. Lucas stopped running for the ball and stepped into Eboue's path and within a split second he fell to the floor thus tripping Eboue over in the process.

I repeat Eboue did not run into Lucas, Lucas stepped into Eboue.

It was clever from the Brazilian, it was a piece of gamesmanship which should have earned him a yellow card but instead it forced a referee who had already played an extra THREE minutes of injury time, into giving a levelling penalty. Take absolutely nothing away from Dirk Kuyt, his penalty was superb and gave our keeper no chance.

I do not understand why the referee decided he needed to play on for so long but I do understand why he gave the penalty. He was conned and thought as many do, that Eboue just ran into the back of Lucas and pushed him over.

I feel massively sorry for Emmanuel Eboue. He had a fantastic game and was certainly one of our better performers on the day. He was one of the players who added that drive and direct running that many of the more popular players missed from their performance throughout the game.

Cesc Fabregas had been fouled in the box deep into stoppage time but had a poor game throughout the 90+ minutes. Van Persie's penalty was fantastic under intense pressure. I expected his celebration to be the post match picture. Arms outstretched, roaring in jubilation. Lucas and Marriner had very different ideas.

Don't assume that I am deflecting all the blame onto the referee, not at all. We should have kept our cool after Van Persie's penalty and used our possession game to keep the ball away from Liverpool. We had the ball shortly after Liverpool kicked off and we have not learnt our lesson from past collapses but even that wasn't the most disappointing thing for me.

Once again we looked short of ideas at the Emirates. Van Persie is all of a sudden the only player who knows how to score goals. Samir Nasri's goals have dried up, Cesc hasn't been scoring all season and Theo's diagonal runs have also come to a halt.

We are playing football in front of the opposition and are not getting in behind.

Earlier in the season we were moving the ball quickly and our interchanging football was fluid and very difficult to stop. At the end of the season our football looks slow and predictable.

Robin Van Persie cannot carry the team on his own, he is playing alongside many, many talented players who are completely out of form. Players are no longer taking responsibility in the attacking third and we are easy to shut out right now.

Our engine is not purring and when it doesn't purr it is very difficult to move.

One recent complaint that I can agree with is our late substitutions and the positions they take up. We have got into the habit of bringing Bendtner on late in games and then playing him wide right and then use our full backs to cross balls into Van Persie usually on his own in the middle. If we are going to do that then surely having Bendtner attacking the crosses would be more beneficial.

We do not bloody need Gary Cahill who conceded 5 to Stoke City. We do not bloody need a new goalkeeper to displace a 21 year old keeper who is one of the brightest prospects in Europe. We need a 'super super' talent who can unlock defences on his own or/and a goalscorer who can tuck away a half chance instead of passing on the responsibility to someone else.

I am not one of those who think that we try and score the perfect goal. I believe that Arsene wants his players to keep the ball until a good chance comes available. I totally understand that. There is nothing worse than two players standing unmarked in the penalty area for a glory seeker to smash the ball over the bar from 35 yards out at an angle.

However our players are not even getting into goalscoring positions anymore. No players are dribbling aggressively into the box. How many players are making runs off the ball to get away from their man and scream for the final ball?

This is the reason why I believe we have dropped too many points in recent weeks. If we were doing what we are supposed to be good at in the final third then those too familiar bad endings wouldn't happen. We have the second best defensive record in the league.

To Alan Hansen, Jamie Redknapp, James Richardson, Mark Lawrenson et al who bang on about our defensive failings, we are strong defensively. Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Szczesny, Fabianski having all been largely fantastic for the most part. Clichy since December has found his form again.

We are built as an attacking force and it is that which has let us down. We are not making the most out of our possession and that for me is the reason why we will not win the league this season.

Those blaming Emmanuel Eboue who was visibly upset after putting in a good performance should look at the replay and watch the actions of Lucas.

Lucas dive - Click link for Arsenalist video

It is important that the team find a spark again and quickly. We want to stay in second at least. Beating Tottenham at White Hart Lane would be a great start.

Szczsney (7)
Eboue (7.5)
Koscielny (7)
Djoruou (7)
Clichy (7)
Diaby (7)
Wilshere (6)
Cesc (5.5)
Walcott (6)
Van Persie (6.5)
Nasri (6)

Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions

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Comments (35)

• 18-Apr-2011 20:21 | | Jack Straw  - Finally!
  

  The best match review I've read today. I fear our fans have been beaten into submission by the press, desperately latching onto the laziest of arguments.
  
  Eboue should have been a little more cautious at that point in the game, but it was never a penalty. I'm astonished by how many journalists and even Arsenal blogs are acting as if it was a clear cut foul. Imagine if that had been United playing at Old Trafford - no official would have given that penalty in a million years.
  
  I think you nailed our flaw perfectly - when we get to the final third all of our movement comes to a grinding halt. If Theo is played in early on a counterattack he can get in behind, but otherwise he just dances down the right before playing an aimless cross. Nasri and Fabregas were trying to play the same role yesterday - both wanted to hold the ball and make the killer pass but neither was willing to make a run off of the ball. Wilshere and Diaby both occasionally try to dribble into the box, but hardly ever make hard runs into the box without the ball. Even RVP, despite not having a lot of support, seemed content to anchor himself at the top of the box, just waiting for other players to run off of him.
  
  It became far too predictable and easy for Liverpool to defend, and it's the same problem we've had at home for the past two months. Approach the attacking third, set up the 5-man "Umbrella" around the opposition box, leaving RVP to be marked by both CB's, pass around the outside for 1-2 minutes, then attempt an audacious chip, flick or cross to a solitary target.
  
  It is THE primary difference between us and Barcelona. As they approach that area of the pitch their players are making aggressive runs all over the field. Messi is usually working from the right towards the center. Villa drifts towards the left before returning to the box. Iniesta and Pedro run hard into dangerous areas, providing targets for Xavi and Messi, or at least dragging defenders out of position. It doesn't always come off, but it always puts the defense under pressure. We too rarely do.
  
  We need the fans and players to regroup by Wednesday. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, I still have no faith in the Utd team and believe that they will drop enough points that we still have a chance.

• 18-Apr-2011 20:29 | | Tottenham Hotspurs - Pride Of  - Arsene,give it up!
  

  Hahahahahahahahaha. Arsenal fans will be crying into their beers once we complete our hat-trick over them on Wednesday. We've outclased you in our previous two meaningful meetings and we'll do so once again.It would also be marvellous if we could get Arsene the sack by claiming our righful place above Basil Fawlty's spent force.
  
  Prediction:
  
  Tottenham Hotspurs 4-0 Arsenal
  
  Last Few Games prediction:
  
  Tottenham:
  
  Arsenal (h) W 2-1
  West Brom (h) W 2-1
  Chelsea (a) W 1-0
  Blackpool (h) W 5-0
  Man City (a) W 1-0
  Liverpool (a) W 2-0
  Birmingham (h) W 2-1
  
  Arsenal:
  
  Tottenham (a) L 1-2
  Bolton (a) D 2-2
  Man Utd (h) L 1-4
  Stoke (a) L1-2
  Aston Villa (h) L 2-3
  Fulham (a) D 0-0

• 18-Apr-2011 20:30 | | Tom
  

  Mean,
  
  Hit the nail on the head once again.
  
  Eboue is a convenient outlet for the bile spewing from the hordes on blogosphere but the penalty was both unfortunate and very soft.
  
  The problem, as you correctly identify, is that Wenger is trying to construct an attack minded side but without the attack. Our territorial dominance is rarely translated into goals due to a lack of variety, quality and efficiency in the final 3rd. This can only be remedied over the summer and will probably require significant funds.
  
  However, we have what we have for the time being so its pointless, though admittedly difficult, to get too worked up about it.
  
  As an aside point - I was very much on the fence re Wenger a couple of weeks ago but I'm now firmly behind him. The amount of hysteria in both the media and the spoilt attitude of a number of Arsenal fans is becoming ridiculous and has changed my mind. I admire him tremendously and while this side requires strengthening, I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater.
  
  I thought that Wenger's impassioned media appearance the other week was brilliant and it won me round. Unfortunately his words about '2nd place not being a disaster' were twisted into 'I'm happy with 2nd place' and now every Tom, Sam and Kenny are twisting the knife.
  
  Whatever, we simply must win against Spurs.

• 18-Apr-2011 20:30 | | arsenal
  

  Boy, I know I still love eboue.... No matter what.... But now I really hate lucas.. With a passion!

• 18-Apr-2011 20:34 | | dkgooner
  

  What - no comments? Late post ML? Or has everyone committed suicide?
  Agree whole-heartedly with your excellent summary. It was pleasing to see Diaby have such a good first-half, even if he did start dithering a bit again in the second.
  But it's the lack of responsibility taking that is so disappointing. Everyone goes on about Walcott's pace and he had the ideal opportunity to use it against a rooky full-back when Jack Robinson ("before I could say ....") came on, but he rarely tested him. I'm afraid that's a regular complaint I have about Walcott - especially when we're playing the struggling teams. Similarly, 'Pool's other rooky full back picked up an early yellow card and we should have been pressurising him constantly, but it didn't happen. Sometimes there seems to be a lack of basic intelligence out there.
  And no goals in open play against a makeshift defence tells its own story and is the real reason for the loss of another 2 points. Djourou and Szczesny came back like they'd never been away and we were bossing the midfield. But as you say ML, too much responsibility is being put on Robin. We are constantly compared with Barcelona but what Barca do is that all their midfielders constantly make runs into space in the box and ours aren't doing that enough - I think Eboué made more attacking incursions than any of the midfielders. Anyone else getting the sense that Cesc has already left us mentally?
  We needed a minor miracle before this game - we need an earthquake now to shake United off that top spot.

• 18-Apr-2011 20:35 | | dkgooner
  

  Ha ha - while I was writing my epistle, a load of others got in first

• 18-Apr-2011 20:40 | | dkgooner
  

  And Jack Straw has been reading my mind!
  Great post Jack.

• 18-Apr-2011 20:48 | | Gooner'79
  

  Mean Lean = common sense swimming in a sea of anti-Arsenal mainstream media

• 18-Apr-2011 20:48 | | gogol
  

  I watched it several times and you are wrong. It is clearly Eboue who looks at the ball and when Lucas is in front of him he pushes him with his arm. I agree Lucas stopped running but there was a contact and you can't say it wasn't a foul.
  
  Sorry. It hurts me too but that's the truth. Eboue, Almunia and Clichy has cost us more points than the collective mistakes of the rest of the squad. Simply, they have to go.

• 18-Apr-2011 20:54 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Couldn't agree more ML. I don't blame Eboue as such but his eagerness did give Lucas the opportunity and had he not rushed then nothing would have come of it.
  
  Having said that the game was lost in the preceding 100 minutes - just like the season was lost 3 or 4 games ago. Put simply we had nothing. We look sluggish and lacking of ideas. We are woefully off form and a shadow of the force we seemed to be at the turn of the year.
  
  Same players different team. It's hard to explain really.

• 18-Apr-2011 21:00 | | MeanLean
  

  Agree with all you say.
  
  "It became far too predictable and easy for Liverpool to defend, and it's the same problem we've had at home for the past two months. Approach the attacking third, set up the 5-man "Umbrella" around the opposition box, leaving RVP to be marked by both CB's, pass around the outside for 1-2 minutes, then attempt an audacious chip, flick or cross to a solitary target. "
  
  Absolutely spot on

• 18-Apr-2011 21:58 | | robin  - ebooh
  

  Eboue is not smart enough, not good enough and he´s a diving clown.....he´ll probably get 60000 a week next season.
  And Arsenal will not win anything because our manager is a whining fool who can´t teach defending AND will never listen to another person.

• 18-Apr-2011 22:01 | | MeanLean
  

  Response to CH Gooner from the previous Post:
  
  CHG, I really believe that you do not understand his direction and his aim and that is a big part of the reason why you are so annoyed with him.
  
  "His ego is more important than AFC"
  
  That is so far away from reality. An ego driven manager would not have stayed around when we were moving to a new ground. An ego driven manager would have stuck two fingers up at the board when they told him to make major cut backs on the playing staff. An ego driven manager would have kicked Arsenal into touch and joined Real Madrid for as much money as he would have liked along with as much money to spend on players as he wished.
  
  Arsene Wenger's management style from what I have read and heard is different from many managers. It has plenty of pro's and con's and we have seen that over the years.
  
  Arsene Wenger develops and improves people as well as players, he gets them to work on their strengths and play with a freedom. So many players express how Arsene Wenger is the best coach in the world at improving and developing their game.
  
  As far as I know Wenger wants his individuals to mature and develop on their own, to learn from their mistakes and perhaps that is why he has more success with more mature players.
  
  So the reason for regular mistakes is down to youth, is about the team still growing and maturing.
  
  He has a group of players who are on an upwards curve, he knows more than anyone that players improve. They have done that and are doing that. We are still improving, we are still getting better. How you can say that Koscielny is a terrible waste of money is beyond me.
  
  Koscielny is ten times the player that Cahill is. Let us not forget that it is his first year in the Premier League and he has developed a fantastic partnership with Djourou.
  
  I agree that we need more players who will wear their hearts on their sleeves. Wilshere is a perfect example of that and Wenger has developed many English players who are pushing their way into the squad.
  
  "Buy Shay Given"
  
  Why??? What on earth can Given give us that Szczesny cannot? That just seems like media crap to me.
  
  This is why I think it is madness to think of sacking Arsene Wenger. We have probably the youngest average aged squad in the league, if not the youngest then at least close to that.
  
  We are currently SECOND in the league. Second! It could be third it may even end up fourth who knows but given all that is right with this squad and naturally having so much scope for natural progression do you not think changing things would be a bad idea?
  
  Wenger is obviously trying to build a dynasty for the club, trying to bring in the most talented teenagers in the world with the hope that a group of them come into the first team for many years to come.
  
  Wenger does spend money, if does so every year but those signings get ignored. How good have Sagna, Vermaelen, Nasri and Koscielny.. (well to most Gooners) been? He will do so again, he will move on the ones he feels have no future at the club and he will supplement the squad with good players, that along with the natural growth of progression of the squad puts us in a position far better than teams like Harry Redknapp's Tottenham who have spent far far more money.
  
  Doesn't that prove anything to you?

• 18-Apr-2011 23:20 | | richie  - Music ML
  

  Great post ML! Not only that but it really needed saying! But with most of us you are preaching to the converted. I left the stadium distraught but by the time I'd got to through highbury fields amazingly I was in better spirits. Why? Well almost to a man everyone one was saying it wasn't Eboue's fault he was too eger. Yes I say contact was made that shouldn't have been, watching the rerun Dixon said on Motd he should've left daylight between them. True! But all the Gooners I walked with were saying what a great game he'd had until then. And he really had! Some of our own might say he's not good enough to wear an Arsenal shirt, but I think thats really unfair. I think he had a great game and two seconds of naivete made him all those (lazy) pundits culprit. Likewise I know you'll know that I've said before its just jumping on the bandwagon to say we need either a Cahill or a Given.
  A 20-30 goal a year line leading striker would come before either of the above I suggest. I still don't consider this opportunity missed season a failer. All the archair managers think second is easy and 15 consecutive top fours is even easier. Until you realise only two teams have done it.

• 18-Apr-2011 23:24 | | Chris  - Support
  

  Come on chaps, support your/our team!!! Yes, some players have F*** things up royally, but lets at least show support for our club. A few level headed mature players will change everything. The ref’s have cost us points as well this season. Lastly, looking at all the teams below us and the money they have spent and how well they are doing, it is clear to see how well we have done and that it is not as gloomy as some make it out to be.
  
  And anyone who thinks that was a penalty is blind. The liverspread player ran from the left of eboue in front of him and then hit the breaks and fell over. WTF!!

• 18-Apr-2011 23:31 | | richie
  

  As for our old friend CHG he won't answer your well made points, I know I've tried. CHG deals in generalities. Its hard to pin him down apart from his old chestnut we need a British spine. Everyone knows our current team aren't the type to get stuck in like a Scholes, and when Vieria points that out, CHG holds that up like its news and a vindication of his views. History I'm sure will vindicate Arsene Wenger and the direction he's taking us in.

• 19-Apr-2011 00:00 | | gunny  - agree
  

  spot on

• 19-Apr-2011 00:13 | | MK
  

  Thank Goodness, someone with some sense. I can understand the biased media wanting to spew some more abuse at Arsenal (to 'prove' their earlier disparaging articles correct), but that was a terrible and obvious dive by Lucas, even the commentator straight out and said that he "conned the ref", but I can't understand our own fans abusing Eboue for basically running in a straight line towards the ball and having someone cut across him and throw themselves to the ground.
  
  They should be ashamed to call themselves Arsenal fans.
  
  If an Arsenal player had dived in such a blatant way (think Pires, Eduardo) then we would be hearing about it for months if not years, yet this is called a stupid foul by Eboue???

• 19-Apr-2011 01:35 | | richie
  

  No way was it stupid by Eboue (who apart from that had a great game) it was just naive because at that moment any contact with any Pool player would've produced similar results, a tumble in an attempt to win a pen. Yet it highlights the bias against Arsenal that none of the pundits or Journo's have thus far accused Lucas of diving. Or typically in Arsene's case laid the blame at his door. Dalglesh hasn't been accused of encouraging his players to dive has he? Au contraire the blame has been squarely been laid at Eboue's feet even though we all know Lucas cleverly conned the Ref. I can't criticise Eboue in anyway apart from calling him enthusiastically naive.
  
  Getting these often shambolic fans (who sometimes post on here and other blogs) to support our own fully is (like asking water to run uphil) against the laws of nature.

• 19-Apr-2011 03:58 | | Man United Killa
  

  I wonder how muc Wenger is paying you Richie.In your view Wenger makes no mistakes.this is shameful

• 19-Apr-2011 04:09 | | Man United Killa  - Sad sad comment
  

  I read a comment that someone wrote about Cesc.He mentioned that the lad's spirit had left the club and his body would soon follow.He didnt blame Cesc for that.All he wants to be is a winner.All Wenger had to do was to put 5 guys behind him who knew how to defend and 1 or 2 in front of him who knew how to score and he would have done the rest ! as it is he is totally fed up with ''Le Project'' ..these words hit me like a train...but it's all true.Cesc would have been fantastic..but NO..Wenger is ruining him!!If Wenger has no more ideas he must go!

• 19-Apr-2011 04:25 | | Man United Killa  - Fact!
  

  I'm sorry for Eboue.People are ignoring the fact that Arsenal had to rely on a penalty in the 98th minute to get a goal despite dominating the match, and instead solely blaming it on one man. Eboue has shown over the years that he is a good reliable player who tries hard, exactly what we need. Every team needs cover for players, and Eboue does that for Sagna. I doubt many teams in the Premiership had a second right back as good as him.Blame Wenger..Hopefully he leaves this summer if he refuses to sign quality.I have been watching this team since the early 70s-long enough to know the direction in which this club should be heading granted our history.Wenger may have done as much as he can.If so,time to walk.

• 19-Apr-2011 09:00 | | CHGooner
  

  Richie, I was very specific about why I want wenger out.
  
  Dealing with the main points of ML's response:
  
  i) Ego - Couldn't disagree more with your analysis ML. Going to Real Madrid would be a disaster for him (and something he laughably issued as some sort of threat against any kind of interference in his decisions) as he couldn't rule the roost and tell the Board which CEO was acceptable to him (!!) for example or keep telling fans that it will all come good next year and then repeating the statement when he had failed - again. At Arsenal he is answerable to no-one, he has exploited the vacuum that existed up until last week perfectly. He wants control over everything. Fine - if you deliver. Not so fine if you don't because then who can you blame? oh I know, refs, pitches, squad inexperience (whose fault is that??) injuries, other teams tactics etc etc.
  
  ii) Shay Given - When we have had to play Almunia in games and when we had to bring a keeper discarded 3 years ago out of retirement then your analysis seems bizarre. Shay Given has been one of the world's top keepers for years, he is available and would join. He wouldn't even cost much.
  
  iii) Koscielny 10 x better than Cahill??? Dear oh dear oh dear, have you been watching the same player? He makes a crucial mistake in nearly every game. If the ref hadn't been so generous to us he could have cost us the points at Blackpool just last week. I agree that compared to the calamitous Squid he looks reasonable, but a top centre half? No way.
  
  iv) 2nd/3rd/4th yes taht isn't bad, BUT Wenger has created a team that doesn't have any bottle. That is the rub of the problem. That is why they can never turn those 'nearly's' into actual's. To me that isn't really what I aspire to for our club. Rebuilding phases, failure, poor performances. all part of being an AFC fan, no problem. Consistently bottling it iover an extended period and accepting that as ok. No, not good enough. Time for a change.

• 19-Apr-2011 11:38 | | Calvin  - Another season
  

  Guys, guys,guys........WE ARE THE GOONERS!!
  
  All of us have our views.
  
  Let's give it another season and we see how it goes.
  
  All of us wants what's best for the club.
  
  ONE MORE YEAR, GUYS.
  
  CHEERS!!

• 19-Apr-2011 12:26 | | richie
  

  No Muk Wenger makes loads of mistakes and I often call him out on this blog for them but in general I still like the direction he's taking us in.
  Not only that but I can't name someone I'd rather have as Manager can you? I wish Arsene would sling me a backhander for supporting him. I've actually been a fan since his Monaco days, but I support the Arse 1st 2nd & 3rd and as long as I see Arsene doing the same I'm behind him.

• 19-Apr-2011 13:29 | | richie
  

  Arsene never threatened to go to Madrid, they asked if he was interested and he told them he had a contract with the Arse and wouldn't break it. I agree Madrid would be wrong for Arsene Wenger because he's always developed players, not bought them off the shelf. Only Barca in La Liga have had the patience to develope and build a squad, coupled with an occasional purchase of a special player. Madrid demand instant success with big buys to match. They should've been bankrupt years ago but the Spanish government stepped in and bailed them out. Claiming it would be a snub to Spain if Real Madrid were allowed to fail.
  
  Given ahead of our Polish contingent? With 3 keepers out, who amongst the top 4 has a fourth choice keeper worth naming? We had a keeper problem (past tense) now we have 2 good young keepers. How can anyone now say our defense ain't good enough? If & when Taggarts boys win, our defense will probably have conceded less. You can't have your cake and eat it, either they are "no good" in which case they will concede more than the winners. Or they are good enough and its at the other end that we ain't performing.
  
  Ego?
  When exactly was your analysis done on Arsene? Freud. Your arguments sound exactly like the anti Wenger Boys on 5 live (been listening?) who've never liked the idea of an upstart Frenchman invading "their" league and rocking the boat. They've never meet him either yet without ever meeting him they say he's arrogant, a control freak and yes he has a big ego. They've all been saying this for years. And now you've jumped on their bandwaggon. They slated him with all the same crap during the invincibles season when he "dared to say" we could finish the season unbeaten.
  
  I wouldn't swap Kosh for Cahill either. In his first season I think he's been great, yes he's made mistakes, but in terms of potential between him and Cahill there's no choice. Even though I want Bartley back from loan and in the squad asap (A mistake I think Arsene made and I said it at the time) I thought we'd need cover and we did.
  
  I don't think Arsene is perfect but I can't name anyone I'd rather put in his place.

• 19-Apr-2011 16:41 | | CHGooner
  

  Richie,
  
  Are you Arsene's love-child?
  
  Don't need to have other people make my opinions for me Richie, I have my own mind. I haven't joined any 'bandwagon' either. I lost belief in your hero many years ago. I don't need to be Freud to see that Gazza has mental problems, that Gordon Ramsey has some 'anger management issues' or that M Wenger (not unlike many successful people) has a massive ego. I actually don't have a problem with that per se but i DO have a problem with that when it gets in the way of him doing his job in the best interests of AFC.
  
  As for Real Madrid, let's move on, for a host of reasons he wouldn't last 5 minutes there and you and I both know it.
  
  Is he the right man for ARSENAL should be our only concern. emphatically NO from me, YES without a doubt from you. I think there are more swinging towards the 'no' camp than towards the 'yes' camp for the first time ever, If in doubt Richie read any of the following (and the comments bits) onlineGooner, Le-Grove, Arseblog, Arsenaltruth or ANR. this is the mopst pro-Wenger site by miles and even here there are more and more dissenting voices. Doesn't necessarily make us right, but it should give you a little pause for thought, shouldn't it?

• 19-Apr-2011 20:44 | | richie
  

  Ah My own personal Essex spelling check
  I like this blog - I like the Gunning hawk - I like Desi gunner. I've read the others years ago and I sometimes skim through them, but in truth I found them (years ago) to be full of no-nothing haters, even when we were doing well, those blogs were predominantly negative. Now I just find them idiotic the views are bigoted and full of bile. I can't read them and they seem to be full of Manx & Tiny tots in disguise. Just MPV.

• 19-Apr-2011 20:51 | | richie
  

  Arsene would've needed to be bizzy @ 10 but like most Gooners I think, I wouldn't have minded being related to the greatest manager my clubs ever known. Does that sum it up for you. Just to ballance things out I would've hated being related to George the Judus. Like most Gooners.

• 19-Apr-2011 20:55 | | richie
  

  No manager has ever worked in the best interests of my beloved club like Arsene. I'd love to live to see the day when someone else will but in all truth I can't see it happening as I believe History will prove.

• 20-Apr-2011 00:51 | | richie
  

  You say you don't need others to make your opinions for you and yet you express the same opions that 5 live's Adrian Durham has been expressing for a good while. Its OK for him to make anti Arsenal anti Arsene comments he ain't a Gooner so who cares? But I find it strange when a Gooner says the same Shit as an Arsenal-Arsene hating Liverpool loving pundit (Even though he claims to support Peterborough).

• 20-Apr-2011 09:14 | | CHGooner
  

  Just because you share an opinion with someone (don't listen to Adrian Durham so don't even know what his opinion's are) doesn't mean that they make your opinion. My opinions on certain matters are shaped by people much better informed than me on certain subjects. When it comes to Arsenal, whilst I listen to outside opinions certainly and when I believe they have merit, I take them on board, i certainly don't give them as much credence. This is because i am a fan and therefore my emotional investment in the club, knowledge of the club and passion for the club mean that I feel as well qualified as most to comment based ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
  
  Seems like Cesc has lost belief as well....

• 20-Apr-2011 10:04 | | richie
  

  Read the whole Don Ballon article not just selective comments. It gives a proper perspective to what was actually said.

• 20-Apr-2011 10:43 | | Eagleye
  

  In my opinion i hate to say it but i think Szezney is to blame for the last minute shena****ns.
  
  He received the ball from Kuyts ambitious shot and decided to punt it straight up field. Anywhere else would have been fine but going down the middle of the park allowed them to put us under pressure like they did.
  
  I dont blame Eboue as it wasnt a challenge and he was tricked into commiting the foul by running into the player. Andre Mariner was always going to give the penalty to even it up.

• 20-Apr-2011 10:56 | | richie
  

  You share the opinions of an Arsenal hating pundit who never misses the chance to have a dig at the Arse, our coach, our capitain and our footballing style, and yet your a fan? Doesn't that paradox strike you as strange? I have no problem with others not sharing my views but as a Gooner I can't share the views of anyone that puts down my club at any opportunity. Thats why I like loads of other Gooners know that there's been an Anti-Arsenal anti- Arsene streak running through pundits and commentators at the beeb and elsewhere for ages.
  
  Because during the 49 run they weren't happy at the lack of home grown in our ranks, (plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose) things clearly haven't changed amongst them, nor others that share that view. And I still maintain that one of our own broke the idea expressed over and over back then that only the Brits have the fight it takes to win the prem, Patrick.
  
  Now I don't mind our own saying we need better players. (Who doesn't want better players for their team?) I don't mind people like Cesc arguing with Arsene about the buying or developing argument after all our other great captain PV did just that. We all have that discussion constantly. I've stated my position plenty of times I prefer development with occasional buys and its there for others to shoot down with better arguments.

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