Just back,thanks to no trains from WGC so Selhurst Park revisited. I agree with Gravy:I'm baffled how we failed to score. From our seats,right behind our first half chances I thought; Pereyra should have put his foot through his chance as it was too high for the side of his foot, If Doucoure shoots either side of Cech he scores. Chas was unfortunate with his header,a good save from Cech. We could have conceivably been 3-2 up at half time but we know that West Brom had chances last week and failed to convert. Others have mentioned Prodl and we both said 'stupid foul' which lead to their first. Holebas is constantly losing his position chasing lost causes and for a man with such a good left foot,his free kick and corner taking is dreadful. I thought Chas looked brighter today than for some weeks but he must rid himself of his 'Zaha it is': goes down far too often. Having said that he does get clobbered more often than not. The Emirates from The Arse side of the if not fence,then comfy seats,is an odd one. Most of our fellow Platinum Seat Fluffy Bunny Wunny Name on the Seat spectators seemed to arrive late for each half and leave early,spending their time in the plush bars that each section has. Most people were of the self same mettle as us,passing through in this opulent and sanitised world. Tourists indeed. My final thought is how anxious the home fans were whenever a pass was misplaced,tutting and groaning to a man. It is easy to see how the atmosphere could turn nasty, given all the disquiet.
I'm surprised people still don't understand the way the club deals with contracts to cover their backs. It's really not difficult to understand.
Cover their backs for high value players, but really do they need to do for in the case of Holebas, Prodl, Capoue or Zeegelaar? No club would really be interested in players like these for good money.
Seems someone has upset ITKJim today. 2 post game contributions, both of which barely mention the game but rather throwing shade at other forum members. If you think GD is Deeney’s biggest fan, I’d say you are selective in what you read. Maybe he just doesn’t feel the need to criticise at every turn? I think he just highlights the people who do and you are mistaking that as a defence of Deeney every week. He’s called him fat, average and unfit as much as anyone else. The irony in you calling someone else a ‘brainbox’ doesn't go unnoticed either.
I just think Gino/his people back themselves to be able to sell these players on. And that can only happen if they're well in contract. Plus it buys goodwill with agents and other power brokers I suppose. Risky though.
If you don't take your chances you get punished and lose games. Pereyra should have buried, what was as good as an open goal. If we go in at 1-1 it changes the whole of the 2nd half. And of course the penalty. Deeney is usually as reliable as they come from 12yrds, but you just had the feeling that today of all days he was going to miss Score them and we get something out of the game. Apart from that the defence was static and woeful
Were all the Chinese fans in the front row at Man U in the front row at @rse today? An Alex Oxlade Chamberlain pilgrimage.
A couple of misplaced passes from Willock & the aggressive rattling of jewellery from the posh seats could be quite intimidating.
Fair point. That version would require plainsong, the dreaded north face of the Eiger for the lads on the terrace. But I have seen fuller grounds on stadium tour afternoon.
Not much to say that hasn't already been said. It's no good having cojones if you don't have ball skills and are not going to win the balls punted up through the air. Arsenal started playing some slick passing football - but, we let them do it. We gave them too much space and respect. As for our chances: Maybe we just don't have the players who can take chances ... been said before, but we need a more clinical striker. But, Arsenal also missed some. As others have also said, some poor defending today - positioning, passing, tracking back, static responses to assumptions about offsides. Who'd have though that when Mariappa returned he would be so important. What an odd crowd. Silent for ages. Massive roar. Then silent again.
Had tickets in club Arsenal thanks to a mate. Others have said their piece-for the 4 of us sitting there, the fact that Petr Cech got man of the match as we heard it from the tannoy at the end says it all. We could have lost by more, yet 3-0 flattered them and we deserved more-9 corners (sadly most poor) and same number of shots (11) but only 4 on target-all saved -tells the story Is that 7 defeats and 1 draw in last 8 away-something has got to change surely -be it luck or better finishing. We all knew that after the Perayra air shot and then the penalty miss that we were going home with no points
Even some Arsenal supporting friends said the biggest cheer was for Deeney's miss and a few anti Spurs songs. Said to the bloke next to me some will be a bit gutted they are winning! And yes they do have a lot of flags/banners from supporters across the world... Probably a bit different from the support you get at West Ham for example!
Hi buddy, thanks for watching. I shall call this chapter, 'The loneliness of the shoutbox non-contributor'.
He's just a little upset because his mum has told him he needs to get a job and can't spend all day on football forums anymore. #prayforkieren
It was an even game, we missed an open goal and a penalty, plus two other gilt-edged chances. It was just one of those days. Arsenal have very good movement - with no injuries pr*dl wouldn't be starting that game, where mobility is far more important than strength. But, it is what it is. Obviously they are going to find gaps that West brom and Everton can't - plus their home form is nothing like their away form. We gave 100%, but arsenal put their chances in the net more often than not and we didn't. Ott negativity here I think, on another day it is an entirely different result. Richarlison really, really has to be dropped for his own sake as much as the team. Despite it being his best game for a while, he was still crap and looks like he wants to murder everyone. I think he had better make peace with the idea of playing for us next season now, and maybe take a week off and go back to Brazil or something.
Today’s defeat doesn’t necessarily mean our season will fizzle out. We still have Palace, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Burnley to play. Yes some of those teams will be fighting for their lives and present tough opposition, but there’s no reason to think we can’t get a few more wins and comfortably pass the 40 point mark. We know we’re still shaky in defence and not ruthless enough in front of goal. Today will have confirmed that once again to the powers that be. At least Troy scored the penalty that really counted against Arsenal.
If you get chance watch this interview from AFTV: It confirms why Arsenal fans are probably the least respected amongst football fans.
I was surprised how open the game was from ko. Would have thought Gracia would keep it tight until Okaka’s entrance on the hour mark. Made it a better spectacle but played to Arsenal’s advantage. They’re at their best when it’s like a sanitised training session, all movement & one touch. If we stick another deck on the SEJ & W*n*er completes his contract, we could be drawing bigger crowds than the Goners.
ATV is a program by the intellectually disabled for the intellectually disabled They would make a great 'undateables' episode u get me
Wasn't that bad, would've won with Deulefeuo tbh. Season over anyway, time to rebuild for next year. Can start by getting Craig Dawson and Kieran Gibbs in from West Brom.
I'm also not satisfied on 36 points but think the arsenal and Liverpool fixtures are well placed, the worst we can end up after next week is 12th with a decent gap to bottom three After Liverpool Bournemouth Burnley Huddersfield Palace Get 4 -6 points from those four and I'm happy
Strange match really, I thought we were well on top for long spells and always thought we might get something from the match, so much so that I stayed till the end. Convinced we'd pull something out the bag. But at the same time I thought they'd score every time they attacked. Odd game. If pereyra scores his open goal or Deeney scores the pen we'd have gone on to win, the atmosphere was dreadful and a goal would have shattered them. But it wasn't to be. I felt sorry for Deeney really. It was the absolute perfect storm for him. He had a stinker, his team got thrashed 3-0 and he fluffed a pen. You couldn't make it up. Never has a lesson been more harshly learned.
Got back a little while ago but had to run some errands. Not going to add much to what has been said as most of you summed it up really well. I’m not surprised we lost that, but on the balance of play 3-0 seemed a bit harsh on another day we could of won or drawn. Our away form is bitterly disappointing since we battered Newcastle and I do hope Gracia can take a look and what went on today and talk about the mistakes that have crept in. Deeney’s miss was on the cards as soon as he stepped up, I just knew he would miss, which is sad because I wanted him to give Arsenal the double middle... It’s just one of those days again for us. Defence still needs looking into and nust be strengthened in the Summer. I looked at the table after the game and thought thank god most of those below lost yesterday as this result could of had a much worse knock on effect. Peyera open goal miss, Richie’s running and chasing down blond alleys and a static back line. A typical Watford away day. Can’t see us getting anything at Anfield next week anyway. One small concern is we are still not safe and lose to Liverpool and a few teams below win... But as many have rightly said, we have on paper easier fixtures after Anfield and a good points return from them should hopefully put what is going to be undoubtedly back to back heavy defeats back of our minds. Thank you to the fans who made the short journey today, we gave it a go. At least it’s out the way now. Can’t wait to get to our next home game now. But we may all be surprised at Anfield. You never know.
Had a good look at post Liverpool fixtures for us and teams below , still looks good going into Bournemouth I'd only worry if got anything less than three points out of the four games after Liverpool