More Fail

Wenger left Diaby on for 90min and her turned over the ball the most.

Walcott and Ox came on at 65min, likely 5min too late. We had 3min extra time.

Wenger took out Cazorla for FUCKING AARON RAMSEY. Did you see how shit he was at the Olympics? Ramsey does not have a left fucking foot! Pathetic. Final sub.

And, of course, Wenger started Gervinho who has no spatial awareness. Teammates? where are they? Ask the forehead Wenger's use of moneyball right there...

Arsenal dominated and come away with a point. Look no further than at his subs. And, for the record, Wenger never had the in-game managerial part of his career. He inheried the best back 4, and already had a natural spine. Wenger added players to his squad that did not need development ie his influence, coaching, etc. They were ready-made. This is not new.

2pts in 2 games. Winnable games vs shit opponents. Wenger knows...fuck all!

ArsenaLos

London Heat Slows Arsenal

Hey,

Just some quick thoughts about the match. I was all over the place, entire time. As the match went longer without a goal I became really anxious. Of course, then came time to sub and my anxiety skyrocketed. Said fuck a few times, yelled at specific players, and then I had to get a hold of myself and focus on the reason for my angst. Wenger.

Overall, there is a lot to look forward to with this squad. There may even be some late additions. Of course, Jack will be back at some point, and he's like a new signing. But I think we all know that. We have a good first XI and a bench to challenge for silver. My issue is not the players. It hasn't been the players. Hell, I even liked Eboue. At right back. His actual position. With that mentioned, we've had really top talent and marginally great talent. Wenger got a lot out of the players for the last decade, but I just personally feel that if he had deployed some in different ways, or tinkered with formations to fit the opposition, his youth plan may have worked. It is the man himself who shortchanged his own vision. I worry that now that he has this really great squad that he is going to blow it again. I think it is perfectly okay to disagree with him, and question his decisions. I don't have to be right. But some of the decisions he makes, or doesn't make, blows my mind. At this level. Sometimes I wonder if he overlooks some things because he just doesn't know, or because he's a pompous OG. I really don't know. Anyway, back to those quick thoughts...

I was okay with pretty much the whole match. Giroud missing a "sitter", whatever the fuck that means. A sitter? There is no such thing. You've seen the YouTube videos with dudes missing point blank. That shit happens. On Twitter people were jabbering about how Giroud would have scored the one Robin-the-hearts-of-Goooners missed versus Milan. His proverbial sitter. He missed, but oh, boy, what a miss! I yelled at that one.

And then the subs. My nemesis. The chess part of the match. You set your pieces and jockey for first 60min+ and then you get in it. I hated our subs today. I usually hate our subs. I hate them. Most of the time Wenger's sub make no sense. Mostly none at all.

Wenger took off Podolski. I thought he should have taken off Walcott. Theo was shit. His first touch was poor, and then his passes were off. He really hurt us. And he did so for 77min. If he had been off first, we would have had 27min to work with his replacement, Arshavin. 27min vs 13min. I think Arshavin could have gone hard for 27min and won us the game. He was influential today, but I think his little engine needs more time to rev up. So, that's one seemingly minor issue, but these build up.

And then Diaby came off for Ramsey. Enough said? no, really. I just can't help but think this sub was for precautionary reasons. And that chickenshit football pisses me off. You're either fit, or not. At this level you can either go for the 90 or you cannot. And, yes, he's been out of play for ages but, again, you can either go for 90 or not. And if he cannot do it, at that moment and you have to pull him out...then I'm not sure what to say. I think it's a detriment.

Ramsey came in and went to the right. He goes to the right because he doesn't have a left foot. I gave a good think about this today and unless he develops a left foot, and soon, I want him out and Coquelin in. Watching him just run around, working hard, without any apparent navigation is infuriating. Misplaced passes or loss of ball due to a failed sweet-move moment also drives me mad. And Wenger put him in. It was supposed to change the match?

And then Walcott came out last for Arshavin and I just didn't think he had enough time to get into the match. And that's a shame as I really do think 3pts was possible with the right tinkering. I really think Podolski should have gone 90. I haven't heard the inevitable excuse from Wenger yet, but I sure hope it  isn't that he isn't fit just yet or that it was too hot today. Dude has been out since Euros ended. Weeks and weeks and weeks ago. Olympics were 2 weeks. How much time does he think he needs to be fully fit? That's some bollocks right there.

I think keeping Podolski on, taking Walcott off and putting in Giroud would have given a two-striker look instead of a having Podolski hold up ball like a big center striker that he is not. Giroud could have done that FOR Podolski. Giroud could have settled crosses and passes right to Podolski to cue up and smack. You and I both know this is a good idea.

I am thinking Wenger may have made the right decision on taking off Diaby. I would have just given him more time on the pitch, for my reasons above. I think he could have worked something up with a Podolski-Giroud combination. Throw in an Arshavin a bit earlier and I think a goal, maybe two would have been possible.

This is my angst. But I'm still optimistic for the season, even with Wenger doing these types of things. I do know that he can pick the best XI most of the time. And even if I feel he is off on one or two selections the depth of the team this year gives me confidence that each player can individually recover.  With Song gone today we need a real holding midfielder. I think we will pay for M'Vila. I really don't know too much of Sahin but I do know that M'Vila has more meat to him and power of that nature will benefit us greatly in the Premiership. Power plus his ability to stay at home, roam, and protect penetration through the back four. He can do that well, and our Goals Against will improve and we will fight for silverware.

Time will tell. Free pass for Wenger till September 1st. I did have a bit of a mental episode about this today, and many tried to calm me down. But I've seen this pattern before, blogged about it, and it's not getting better. I know, first game. But I can't help but feel it is here to stay. I was greatly disappointed and that is worse than anger. So damaging.

I was hoping Wenger would change but I simply do not see how his decisions are helping the team. Anyone can make a decision, but the manager absolutely must be the 12th man and help the team. This 12th man can also hurt the team. And at this level the slightest ill-decision can cause such massive damage. Everyone has to be at their very best and on it always. These tactical judgments must be questioned.

ArsenaLos

And I think they will

A reboot of the blog, and maybe even a preview of the upcoming season. Or just a rant about how Robin went to the Devil.

I really thought Robin would re-sign before start of season. And especially after Arsenal signed Cazorla. If you watch this YouTube video you can see how well Santi sets up players. Look at Robin's goal tally from this last year, and then look at Santi's quality and Robin could have been looking at Messi numbers. But whatever, no use in dwelling in could-have-been.

The real shock is that Robin went to my personally most-hated, United. United in cuntiness. I loathe them. The original Fantasy Football Club. They think they're wonderful but the reality is that in their Prem dominance they were outspending every other Club in England by heaps and gobs and knobs, which is what they are. Knob-headed, Shrek-loving, simpletons. And Robin went to them.

Robin didn't go because of money, either. There's a Gooner faction that will go with this excuse. An excuse that an already highly paid, top class player would go for big money. Truth is he was always going to get a raise after that scoring run. Whether it was at Arsenal or Citi, or United goat-fuckers, but somewhere. And I don't really think it was about better players. Robin witnessed what money can buy with Citi basically buying the league and he knew United would spend to keep up with the rivals. And he knew Arsenal would lag..and then Arsenal bought his replacement(s); Robin then went all-in and forced a move. Or did he? He thinks he did but Wenger knew he was courting a move well in advance. If you didn't think so, then why did he buy two Central, left-footed strikers? Not a coincidence knowing that Podolski can also play in the hole or wing. Shit, Giroud could have just been a back-up to Robin if he had stayed. So, Wenger knew.

Robin left because he lost faith in Wenger. I know this personally. I wanted to sack the old goat, and still do..if the right manager came around. But is there one? Maybe a few, but really, losing Wenger would hurt more than any poor decision he can make. And his decisions aren't  afwul, they're just minorly off. Playing Johan at RB when he had Nico in the wakes. Just minorly poor, but with massive consequence. And Wenger has a history of them. Browse my previous blogs and you'll see evidence of nearly 2 years of just really bad, dementia-like management-related decisions. And I think Robin left, in his mind, after Wenger subbed out Ox after we had United on the run, at home. I know I did. I yelled at the TV like I have never done before. It made no sense, and it clearly made no sense to Robin, either.  So if Robin was questioning his decisions like I was then I really think that is what pushed him out the door. The inexplicably obvious tactical decisions and adjustments that he has failed to make over the years. It's really incredible how often Arsenal get caught out on counter-attacks and long shots, yet Wenger plays Song, who wanders and rarely stays in and protects the back four. Or how he played Ramsey over and over and over and watched him struggle while then sending Arshavin out on loan instead trying him in the hole, allowing him to create for that classic #10 spot. The spot now occupied by Cazorla. So, it's clear to me, as it was likely clear to Robin that Wenger was going to do his own thing, no matter what he thought or what others thought see: Pat Rice coaching career. And so Robin decided that he wasn't going down that road, and wasn't going to spend his last, top years dealing with this recent history of mind-boggling decisions. So he left.

I just didn't think Robin would go to a rival like that. And I didn't think Wenger would sell to them, either. But I am not at all surprised that we did sell to them in the end. 24 million for a 29-year-old with 1 good season out of 7. Good luck with that, Lady Alex. We know he's a gambler, but he probably needs to lay off the whiskey, too. Personally, I want him injured and out of play. I really have an issue with people who treat others like shit when they try to help you. Wenger stayed by Robin when he was crocked, washed up and in rumor circles of ending his career at Fulham. Not sure about that last bit, I think it was Accrington Stanley. But whatever, Robin feels that he can win at United. And that's his right. And Arsenal got some big money for an aged player. In today's times, this is like Anelka money.

So, enough about Robin. He's a simpleton. Simpletons like Cesc and Robin are a dime a dozen in football. Look at Rio abusing Piers Morgan. For what reason? this guy is like aged 5 and makes loads of money. Just a dumbshit. Like Terry, Shrek, Joey Barton, Ashley Cole, and all the other twats out there. Robin joins this nation of dumbshit. Robin could have been a fucking Legend at the Arsenal and will now finish his career as a never-was at United. Dude could have led the Arsenal to 1st trophy in Emirates and been part of the Arsenalization of the stadium. Shit, maybe even a statue! And then upon return, as an old decrepit man, the chorus from the stands would rain down upon him. But now he is just another number, a show pony for the masses at Old Trafford. He may end up winning some trophies, but I have a feeling the ending won't be quite like he has in mind. And it's up to the current Arsenal squad to show Robin he made the mistake of his life.

And I think they will.

ArsenaLos