Written by TL Gooner on Sunday, 08 May 2011 10:30

Stupid. Silly. Dumb. Naive. Just some of the words that some up this Arsenal team yesterday. Let's sum up the situation: Arsenal had a slim chance of the title still and a decent chance of finishing second. The title was very unlikely yes, but there was a slim chance if they won today. So how the hell can they be so casual and careless in the game when they're in a situation where they need to win all their games? Does Djourou actually give a monkeys? He's played like a complete idiot today. Don't get me wrong, I generally rate him and have sung his praises a few times this season; he's a good defender. But probably just not good enough to win the league. For the first goal, he was asleep. He didn't follow Jones and Jones didn't even have to power above him to head it home, he just easily strolled in and bundled it in with his stomach. Easy. Peesy. Lemon Squeezy. Embarrassing.

When you go into a game at Stoke, you know what they're all about. How they're going to attack, how they're going to defend, you know how they're going to go about trying to stop you. So why did Wenger pick the same old 4-5-1 formation with minimal height in the team? Why play tippy tappy football and prove the critics almost right. This sort of situation is where the stereotypes about Arsenal come from. They're a much better team than they showed today. We passed the ball around Stoke's area, they flood it with red shirts and force us out wide. So predictable. And deep down, you know that the move is going to come to nothing.

All week in training they should be practising how to attack and defend against Stoke. Practise crossing and heading, practice attacking and defending long throws and corners. Play one of Bendtner or Chamakh from the start and actually go four four fucking two. There's no point in Ramsey playing today. He was excellent last week, scored the winner but today's a completely different game. Make the tough decision and leave him out and play a different formation, instead of being so bloody predictable. It frustrates me because it's embarrassing. Same old, same old all the time. Which moves me neatly onto the other end of the pitch...

Our defending against Stoke is even more of a joke than attacking. Arsenal were comfortable throughout the first half, Stoke put no pressure on us and yet we concede a silly freekick and the marking is a complete disgrace. I'd love to know what they've been doing in training this week, because they should have been practicing defending set pieces, particularly seen as that's our main weakness anyway. But especially when we're playing a team who's main strength is set pieces. They should get Arshavin and Walcott out wide on the training pitch. They can hoof ball into the box while Bendtner, Chamakh and van Persie attack the ball and Djourou, Koscielny, Song, Szczesny etc defend it. Get the attackers to mess them about and they can practice dealing with it. It doesn't take a brilliant coach to work out you should be doing this going into a game at Stoke.

Also, they were the makers of their own problems, as they often are. Giving the ball away casually and stupidly for the second goal and inviting the shot on. Silly, time and time again. Season after season it's the same old things. Stoke literally did nothing in the first half up to the goals to cause Arsenal problems and yet they still manage to go in at half time 2-0 down. What the fudge?

We're a better team than Man Utd, in my opinion, but I can't see that happening to them. It's just embarrassing how naive we still are and how silly mistakes and old weaknesses just don't stop and aren't sorted out. What will they work on in training over the next few weeks and in pre season, defending set pieces? I hope so, but it wouldn't surprise if they hardly do.

Then just as Arsenal start playing well once they've made the subs and put Stoke under considerable pressure, they score. 2-1. Ten minutes plus stoppage time left. Plenty of time to put pressure on and create a couple or so chances. But no, lets go staright back on the defensive and clear the ball like an old woman and go 3-1 down staright away. Awful from Djourou again and awful from the other defenders who simply didn't react. They had a great opportunity to get something out of the game and have a good 10-15 minutes of piling the pressure on Stoke with four strikers on the pitch and two creative midfielders. I think we'd probably have scored again if we hadn't gone 3-1 down. But it doesn't matter because we stupidly did. Same old Arsenal, stupid at times.

This is probably the defeat of the season which means least, in the league. But it still winds me right up and I thought we'd sorted this out at Arsenal. Silly mistakes and set piece disasters, but no, it continues and it probably will next season. It's probably our worst performance of the season away from home and what worries me worst is the naivety in which we lost today. It was just too predictable and too easy. Yet last season we went to Stoke and played our hearts out. there was grit, determination, desire, quality. As there was at Blackburn this season when we faced a similar threat. And at Birmingham and Wolves. But today we didn't. So frustrating.

But let's stay behind the team and support them. Come on Arsenal.

Mean Lean's Response

Thank you TL Gooner, I feel your frustration. I have had plenty of faith in this squad and it takes a lot for me to get down about our team but our showing yesterday left me baffled and somewhat flat.

You ask the question as to how the players can be so casual when they need to win all their games. It has been the story for a little while now I would say. The players turn up when the feel like it and they take the day off when they don't.

That has been a criticism of mine for a while now. Regardless of who we play, whether that be home or away, big team or a so called lesser side shouldn't the foundations of every Arsenal performance be based on hard work and commitment?

I do not understand why this has not been rectified. We really shouldn't be lacking fight or determination against Stoke City of all teams. Especially after what has happened in the last season.

My one disagreement with you was our game plan. It was pretty much the same team that put in a superb performance against Manchester United a week earlier and looked in total control. We had variety in our game and looked dangerous. I am sure if we started the likes of Bendtner, Chamakh and co then looked disjoined then we would blame Arsene for not keeping the same eleven.

The way we play is amazingly frustrating. Frustrating in the sense that the 'Theo Van Nasrigas' combination brought us amazing results, goals and top quality defending after Christmas. It was this same very formation that brought us wins over Chelsea (h), Barcelona (h), Manchester United (h) and Manchester City (a). Yet it is the same formation that has looked so blunt in games like Blackburn (h), Sunderland (h), Newcastle (h) etc etc

As for practicing set pieces I am dumbstruck. We were having this conversation at the end of last season. We were supposed to work on these areas last summer along with our proneness to getting caught on the counter attack. The switch from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 has meant that we have improved on the latter but the balls in the air remain an issue.

Your point about how we dealt with Stoke last season and how we dealt with Blackburn this gives me hope. It gives me hope that we are capable of doing what is necessary to win the league but there is no point in beating Man U one season then losing the next and then gifting set pieces on a plate one game and then being dominant the next.

Wenger has to lessen these flaws and get the team to reproduce the positives more consistently. Plenty of work has to be done in the summer.

Before I go I would like to point you in the direction of

http://www.realsocialdad.blogspot.com

Where I will be contributing to a live blog at 8pm BST.

Thank you,

Mean Lean.

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Comments (39)

• 09-May-2011 16:22 | | Man United Killa
  

  Wenger Out!

• 09-May-2011 16:42 | | Danish Gooner  - Stoke game.
  

  Wenger couldnt manage a turd in a toilet,

• 09-May-2011 17:10 | | s j litttle  - BORING EVERYWAY
  

  Its now boring as we,ve heard it all for a year or more and the only one who has,nt is Mr Wenger who runs Arsenal F C.
  Its boring to watch as you can forecast most games as:
  Twenty minutes of possession when TWO goals are missed, plenty of opportunities to have a go have not been taken, getting near the danger zone will be forgone with side passing and backpassing and more until the disease spreads.
  Whereas sporadic attacks used to get one excited because there was the possibility of a goal now we get
  continued attack with no purpose and we simply know nothing will come of it.
  The after h.t. it becomes obvious no one has warned the players that at half time opposition managers will have told their players "well done, you,ve held them this long, now go out and give them a going over as we know they always come out after h.t half asleep and unprepared for a renewed assauklt. Whats more they have no Captain or leadership to steady or rally them"
  We will witness them lose control and nothing will have been done or will be done until TWENTY MINUTES to go. Most knowledgable fans will have in mind who should have been taken off at h.t but no it has to be 20 mins to go before the tactical changes are attempted. But will be tactical - you must be joking.
  The changes will have nothing to do with the course of events, they will be simply an admittance that the original selection of forwards was apparentily wrong!
  Just take the Stoke match. Would not it be obvious that Walcott and Arshaven had nothing to offer against Stoke?
  How is it that that old principle "keep ones forwards away from defending" is totally ignored by Arsene.
  What is Nasri doing standing under the crossbar the other week and Van Persie this week.. Are our useless full backs not professional enough to do the job?
  Why have we 25 yes TWENTY FIVE players earning
  millions of pounds and yet would not get near Alex Fergusons 4th team!
  Alex gets a Mexican and plays him. I presume because quite logically he would,nt have wasted timne getting him if he thought he could,nt play him.
  But Wenger gets a Mexican and is afraid to give him a start. Yet from his few moments that we did see him it looked like he had more idea how to score a goal than any of the other lot.
  If Wenger is afraid to chance his new signings why does he get them.
  All Champions have to and have had match winning wingmen.
  Limpar,Overmans,Rosewall,Parlour,Henry,Pires,Wiltord,Ljungberg come to mind.. What have we got now Walcott,Arshaven,Rosicky etc, none of them have the gumpion and ability of taking on the opposition .
  Arshaven did until the Premier league twigged how to block him. Walcott has speed and nothing else perhaps this could work better used like Defoe. Van Persie has not enough strength for striker and less room to use his skill, should nbe played where he has more room.
  All these things are obvious to any regular football fan yet we get the same old story every week.
  Stupid clumsy tackles be Song and Diaby. Stupid defensive fouls by Arshaven,Clichy and so on
  Clichy really fouled up against Man Utd but got away with it.
  Wenger only sees dainty passing choirboys as his dream Barcelona clones. But Barcelona don,t carry choirboys!

• 09-May-2011 17:14 | | Merkan
  

  And replace him with who? ignorant TWAT

• 09-May-2011 17:20 | | Man United Killer  - Decency
  

  The least you could do is to be decent in your replies...sigh!

• 09-May-2011 17:25 | | redboy  - LEFT BEHIND
  

  ONCE UPON A TIME WENGER WAS ON A PAR WITH FERGUSON WHAT AS HAPPEN TO YOU MR WENGER YOU REALEY HAVE LOST THE WAY TO WIN.ARE YOU NOT A LITTLE BIT PISSED OFF HE MAKES YOU LOOK SO BAD .AND IF YOUR NOT WILLING TO CHANGE PLEASE FUCK OFF

• 09-May-2011 19:03 | | Reg  - Groundhog season
  

  We SHOULD have been practicing defending set pieces in training all last week but we all know they were playing who can keep the ball the longest without shooting and of course no tackling is allowed in training.Its all too predictable at our club now.Every season just turns into the previous one.And the AKB brigade come out with their "It will be so different next season" statement.

• 09-May-2011 19:31 | | TL Gooner
  

  Wenger out? How foolish is that? How would that improve things?

• 09-May-2011 19:32 | | Rob  - Dumbass
  

  When it comes to tactical nuance, Wenger is up there with the worst of them. He reminds me of a mule, try to repeat the same mistake often enough you might get it right once in a while. How else can you explain his team selections? Any manager worth his salt would have replaced Djourou at half-time during the Bolton match and not played him again til his head was right. The injury excuse does not hold water any longer. He is inept and his wimps would never be regulars in any premiership team. He is a joke that believes you can win any game by passing the ball around. He went the whole season unbeaten when he had power, speed and defensive craft in his side and what does he do with that template? He throws it out the window thinking all the oponents will just stand aside and watch his whelps weave their craft around them and then moan when they are brutally put in their place.

• 09-May-2011 19:38 | | TL Gooner  - Team slection and commitment
  

  Mean Lean,
  
  I hear you on the line-up. Perhaps that was a bit OTT of me. After all before the game I was wanting them to play the team they did so that's a bit hypocritical!
  
  Thanks for the response. It's wierd with the commitment issue as sometimes we look commited as anyone but others like yesterday we don't look as bothered. Wilshere, Song, Sagna and van Persie played with it- the others should take a leaf out of their books. I wonder if we lack commitment more when Fabregas doesn't play as we're missing our captain? Maybe but that shouldn't be the case. Boy, I miss Vermaelen. He is very commited.

• 09-May-2011 21:34 | | richie
  

  Yeah Muk but people who say someone out, should answer Merkan's perfectly reasonable question. That way we'd have something to discuss.

• 09-May-2011 21:43 | | richie  - Changes we really need
  

  Redboy once apon a time I'm sure your eye's were better. I'm pretty sure your eye's aren't so bad that you can't read without capitals? So how 's about you change the cap-lock. That way everybody else won't be asking you to please F-off.

• 09-May-2011 21:55 | | richie  - Don't cop out saying it's the boards job
  

  Replaced with who Muk?
  Give us a clue where your coming from? Are you a Moron'ho fan?
  Is it old 'Arry you want? Dalglesh? Or are you looking for someone completly new? A new trier? Give a young unknown a chance? I hope you've got someone in mind so we can all discuss them, because I'm not a fan of anyone who wants someone out but ain't got the guts to put forward a name.

• 09-May-2011 22:15 | | richie
  

  TLG just a suggestion; Check-out our defensive system please before you criticise an individual player. The problem with our defence "imho" comes from the zonal system. Each player has his "zone" to cover, but what happen's when an opponent crosses zones who picks him up as he moves through one persons zone onto anothers? For me thats why we are having problems with the old style teams the likes of Bolton, Stoke and New Castle. Zonal works fine in Europe against teams that play football, but against teams in the (million miles an hour) prem who are physical its not a system that works well, again imho.

• 09-May-2011 22:44 | | JIMMYCHUNGA  - richie a board apologist
  

  What do you mean have the guts to put a name forward? What the f**k has that got to do with anything? It's not his job to pick a replacement, the board earn enough money to do that themselves why dont you ask them?
  
  "because I'm not a fan of anyone who wants someone out but ain't got the guts to put forward a name" Get over yourself you sanctamonious fool.

• 09-May-2011 22:45 | | JIMMYCHUNGA
  

  And your a cunt.

• 09-May-2011 22:46 | | JIMMYCHUNGA
  

  My last post was directed at Merkan that mug who called Danish Gooner a Twat for having the temerity to state an opinion on a blog.

• 10-May-2011 02:44 | | Man United Killa  - Jimmmychunga!!!
  

  hahahaha.funny response..But seriously,I wonder what they mean when they say "replace with who".It looks like NO ONE IN THE WORLD can manage Arsenal apart from Wenger...How silly!

• 10-May-2011 02:47 | | Man United Killa  - How would that improve things.
  

  Well for starters,just like you,Wenger has run out of ideas.We need a breathe of fresh air.New ideas.Its funny that so many things wrong with our club pop into my mind at the same time and I dont have the time to write them all...but for starters he can stop playing players out of position.

• 10-May-2011 02:50 | | Man United Killa  - you are funny mehn!
  

  Mourinho???hahaha..richie,you really must think I am shallow.you are a funny man.I might not want Wenger at our beloved club anymore but I am not naive enough to expect us to spend stupidly.In any case,you are obviously on Wengers payroll.If you really think no one IN THE WHOLE WORLD has the capability to manage Arsenal then I really feel sorry for you.I guess by your analysis,if Wenger resigned today,Arsenal Football club would cease to exist.haha..classic..What Rubbish!

• 10-May-2011 02:52 | | Man United Killa  - refer to previous...
  

  Refer to my previous comment.I dont have time for questions littered with insults--though once in a while I do... .By that I mean Merkan's.

• 10-May-2011 02:56 | | Man United Killa
  

  Rob..haha..you mean down there with the worst of them?Wenger is a joker.Tactically inept.How the heck do you expect to do the same thing in the exact same way and get different results.ridiculous.

• 10-May-2011 02:59 | | Man United Killa  - Tell that to Wenger
  

  Assuming what you are saying is true,If after donkey years of management Wenger does not see this,what does that make Wenger? go figure!Time for Wenger to walk.

• 10-May-2011 08:50 | | Kenny
  

  This season we will finish with less points than last season.And this season the standard of Man Utd and Chelsea has dropped.Progress my Arse

• 10-May-2011 09:57 | | richie  - I wish I was on Wengers payroll
  

  No Muk I stood on the north bank supporting my team in the 60's so I know what it takes to be a Gooner. I knew long before Arsene Arrived. Long before GG arrived too! I know there will be a replacement and the club will go on after Wenger, obviously.
  
  My question is if you say "Wenger out" who do you want in? Because if you don't have an opinion on his replacement I think you should its a 2 way street. I think anyone who makes that call has to name a replacement.
  
  Why do I say have the guts to name a replacement? Well when we had safe-hands Seaman in goal if you said get a better keeper in you had to name who you were talking about. So we could all give our thoughts on it. I want to know who you think will do a better job? Thats all. Its not an unreasonable question.

• 10-May-2011 10:12 | | richie  - Those who wnt it both ways
  

  There's nothing sanctamonious or foolish about asking if you have an opinion? Anyone who makes a "Wenger out" statement should have an opinion on the man they think will do a better job. Its a cop out to say the board makes enough money let them decide. If they make enough money then why not let them make the decision? Why give your opinion?
  
  Why is it O.K for you to give your opinion telling the board to out Wenger and then wash your hands on making the next choice? The board rightly gets payed by themselves they invest they choose their salaries. You don't get payed to say Wenger out but you say it. You don't get paid to name the replacement either but as we've got your opinion on part one have the guts to name part two so the rest of us can comment on your choice.

• 10-May-2011 10:18 | | richie
  

  Merkan might have an unfortunate turn of phrase, nevertheless his point is valid. He asks a reasonable question of Danish Gooner imho.

• 10-May-2011 10:33 | | richie  - Danish Gooners toilet training.
  

  Really Danish Gooner? Are you very young? Less than 6 years old? Then as a very recent Gooner you obviously need to visit the arsenal.com history section. There you can read all about Arsene Wengers toilet training excercises. Hopefully their with Arsene's management help you'll learn to control you excesses brought on by watch Stoke.

• 10-May-2011 11:14 | | richie
  

  Don't assume Muk watch any re-run of us defending a set piece. As far as I know there is either man marking or zonal. If there's another way will anyone of there please educate me. Its not that it don't work Muk ours is the 3rd best defence in the league. Go figure that when we've been playing our 4th choice CD and a rookie for large parts of the season. But imho it needs tweaking to make it the best defence 1st.
  Especially against teams that do what we used to do in the GG era.

• 10-May-2011 14:33 | | Man United Killer
  

  Richie,there are so many managers who can do a better job.The only reason that I dont find the need to mention a name is that,if you claim to know football,you would know that Wenger is not indesposable and that,if he were to resign today,AFC would not cease to exist.Wenger was not the most popular manager when he joined.Arsenal made him who he is.So for you to act like withouth him,there is no Arsenal gives me no motivation at all to mention any names.I have mentioned names on this site before but I am not about to do that now.
  you speak of supporting Arsenal in the 60's and been around a lon time.Well so have I.I have been around since the days of BW.I have been there,done that.That is why it hurts so bad.This is a club that is destined for greatness.As it stands,Wenger is turning this club into a laughing stock and a youth project by the day.If he is not prepared to supplement youth with world class quality game changers,he must walk.He did not make Arsenal.Arsenal made him.to hell with Wenger.

• 11-May-2011 10:21 | | richie
  

  Muk I wasn't wrong you are copping out you won't mention anyone who you think can do a better job because you don't want to invite criticism of your choice. Not boottling it by any chance are you?
  
  No one (certainly not me) has ever said Arsenal would cease to exist if Arsene goes, but that goes without saying! You are just bringing up a red herring. If thats your only argument its embarrassing!
  
  Just like its embarrassing for you to wrongly state that Arsenal made Arsene Wenger. (Without the qualification in England). That very few in England had heard of him isn't really surprising, after all (we were very inward looking before AW) this is the country that collectively thinks it has the best footballers in the World, and will win either the World Cup or European Cup and surprise surprise never does. And worse never wakes up to the fact that most of our home grown are at best only average.
  
  In 1995 before there was any talk of Arsene for Arsenal George Weah won European footballer of the year (The first player of African ancestry to win it). Arriving on stage he asked that Arsene Wenger who was in the audience to join him on stage. He explained to those gathered that he owed the award and his developement in football to his time at Monaco with AW (without who he said he'd still have been playing in Liberia) where with no money spent they won the cup and the league and got to the CL QF's, playing great attacking football.
  
  You want Arsene gone name anyone out of the many you claim could do a better job who you think would do a better job, so we can agree or disagree. Why bottle it?

• 11-May-2011 12:36 | | Man United Killer  - Richie
  

  You really are a funny man.You got me splitting my sides with your weak arguements.Talking about Weah asking Wenger to come on stage with him.Who cares?Living on past glories as usual.Guess what?Life is dynamic and so is sports.Things have changed,so must Wenger.If we keep playing this tippy tappy with our rubbish studded team we will struggle to make 5th.
  Do you really think our rivals wont strengthen this summer?With the increasing difficulty of the EPL any fool will know that you need to strenghten your squad is you dont want to be relegated to the rank of an also-ran.People like you giving Wenger blind support encourages him to carry on with his project which is clearly not going to win us so much as a plastic.The Joker is trying to win the EPL with these players,with this tippy tappy and you think the best you could do is to watch your club turn into a laughing stock.
  You may be an Arsene fan but I am an Arsenal fan.
  Finally I find it funny that you think I am copping out on mentioning names?REALLY?Have you ever seen me cop out on this site?haha..Its funny you say that cos its just not in my nature.Anyhow.I still stand by my word...Wenger out...unless he is ready to put men on the pitch..not a bunch of ladies.

• 12-May-2011 09:08 | | richie
  

  Amazing Muk you said all that but you still can't name one manager who you believe can do a better job than Wenger. We are all still waiting
  to see if you cop out again or not.

• 12-May-2011 09:30 | | richie
  

  No one was talking about passed glories or living in the past. I was illustrating that just because the British tabloid press asked "Arsene who"? When he arrived. And just because you didn't know of Mr Wenger before, and you mistakenly said Arsenal made Arsene. I attempted to show you that European footballers knew all about him and his history of player developement. Which was why so many jumped at the chance to work with him at Arsenal.

• 12-May-2011 13:22 | | Man United Killer  - get your facts right
  

  Its funny you mention that I didnt know Wenger from before,because I believe you and I spoke about this a while back.If you cant get your facts right you could at leat try to remember past convos and not misquote your interlocutors.Say all you want but Wenger was not what he is today.If you want to argue that a chance to manage a team of Arsenals caliber has not done wonders for the mans reputation,then you seriously dont know football.Yes.Weah called him up on his big day blah blah blah.Wenger has run out of ideas.He is running the club down and our star players are obviously not happy.Surely,you dont know more about what is going on in the club than the players who actually play for the club.Oh!then again you are Wengers right hand man so it does not matter.
  Wenger has done well for the club,but all good things come to an end.Its his time to change or walk.period.

• 12-May-2011 23:32 | | richie
  

  Yet again Muk you've said plenty but no mention of a single name? Can you name any one person out of the many you claim to know who you think can do a better job than AW as our manager?

• 13-May-2011 14:14 | | Man United Killer  - No need
  

  I wont mention a single name Richie because you wont admit that there is someone out there who can do better than Wenger.So what is the point.To you,Wenger is God!you truly are hilarious.

• 15-May-2011 10:20 | | richie
  

  No Muk Wenger ain't God "Arsenals equivellent to the Pope" I might accept, but not God. I have no problem admiting I don't know anyone who I think can do the job better than Arsene at the moment.
  
  The only difference between you and me is the moment I know the name of a manager that I believe can do a better job I'll post it and stand and wait for the criticism to come my way. I won't dance around, I won't sit on the fence. Until the day comes that I claim to know who can improve on Wenger I'll be 100% behind our manager.

• 15-May-2011 15:26 | | Man United Killer
  

  Arsenal's equivalent to pope my foot.Tell that to Villa.They have already to out the ball twice into our net under 10minutes.What a bunch of losers!

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