2014/15 English Premier League

**Treva ★** · December 06, 2014, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Ferdiad

Good weekend for United so far,

Well, the big teams have lost.

**Ishoss** · December 08, 2014, 06:41 AM

We were second last year. We are a big team. We drew.

**Ferdiad** · December 08, 2014, 08:21 AM

Nah you're a bottom half team.

**Ybbon** · December 08, 2014, 04:48 PM

Anyone agree with Lineker that Arsenal fans booing Wenger is disrespectful? That we have won 1 trophy in 9 years and are expected to accept every season that things will be good when we know the fundamental weaknesses have not been addressed. We should still be respectful for what was done 10 years ago? Getting in the Champions League every year is good for money but it is not good enough as an aim for the season.

**Petrucci** · December 08, 2014, 05:18 PM

Stop playing mindless Soton! It's been almost 20 days time to wreck someone up! (hopefully not Chelsea)

**Ferdiad** · December 08, 2014, 06:52 PM

ooooh robin van persie~~

**chilon** · December 08, 2014, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Petrucci

Apart from that assist, Fabregas hasn't been seen on that match. Looks like Ferdiad is right , Matic is our key player. When he isn't there Fabregas had to deal with more defensive duties ,cover more space and thus he can't contribute much in attack.

Matic is clearly your most important player. He stabilizes and balances your team which is essential in a Mourinho side. I think you shouldn't count your trophies too soon as Cesc has a pattern of falling off in the second half of the season and Costa might get injured again.

Also, somehow Newcastle seems to have your number. They won the last 3 at St James against you yes?

**Murfmurf** · December 09, 2014, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by Ishoss

We were second last year. We are a big team. We drew.

Big teams don't need to tell everyone they're a big team

Liverpool are historically a big team, but then so are West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

Originally Posted by Ybbon

Anyone agree with Lineker that Arsenal fans booing Wenger is disrespectful? That we have won 1 trophy in 9 years and are expected to accept every season that things will be good when we know the fundamental weaknesses have not been addressed. We should still be respectful for what was done 10 years ago? Getting in the Champions League every year is good for money but it is not good enough as an aim for the season.

Problem with Wenger's criticism is that whilst, for Arsenal fans, it seems justified, for the mortals amongst us who support "lower" clubs it comes across a bit complacent. I'd love to have a manager who got us in the top 4 every year, has won the league unbeaten and a cup in living memory, and basically isn't Pardew. I think it's really down to the owners to dish out the money and bring in some big players.

Originally Posted by chilon

Also, somehow Newcastle seems to have your number. They won the last 3 at St James against you yes?

Yeah, we're their bogey team and we like it.

**Halie Satanus** · December 09, 2014, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by Ybbon

Anyone agree with Lineker that Arsenal fans booing Wenger is disrespectful? That we have won 1 trophy in 9 years and are expected to accept every season that things will be good when we know the fundamental weaknesses have not been addressed. We should still be respectful for what was done 10 years ago? Getting in the Champions League every year is good for money but it is not good enough as an aim for the season.

Fans aren't booing him because of a bad result, it's because the deficiency has been so glaringly obvious for such a long time. If we were failing because we were being beaten by better teams it would be disrespectful, but being beaten by the likes of Stoke because we're woefully short of quality defenders, that's a different matter. I'd even accept that kind of defeat if it was a one off, but it isn't. The defending against Stoke was the worst I've seen from an Wenger side in a long time. The first goal was almost comically bad. Can you imagine Crouch winning three headers in 20 seconds before poking the ball in from 3 yards if Vieira was playing for us? More likely he'd have been on his backside checking he still had all his teeth.

Liniker doesn't take into account is Arsenal have the highest ticket prices in the PL, have had for a long time, and while the money is starting to be invested back into the team with the likes of Ozil and Sanchez it's like putting Ferrari badges on a Morris Minor.

Our next five league games are, Newcastle, Liverpool, QPR, West Ham, Southampton. I don't see us winning any of those largely because all of those teams will be physically stronger (bar Liverpool who's attack will be running Mertersacker/Moreal ragged).

**chilon** · December 10, 2014, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Halie Satanus

Our next five league games are, Newcastle, Liverpool, QPR, West Ham, Southampton. I don't see us winning any of those largely because all of those teams will be physically stronger (bar Liverpool who's attack will be running Mertersacker/Moreal ragged).

This is a little extreme pessimism. Liverpool hasn't run any defense ragged and they just crashed out of the CL against Basle at Anfield. They are in complete disarray and their offense couldn't string 2 passes together until the last minute. Barring set piece delivery, Gerrard is well past it. If you take out Gerrard's set piece ability which is still superb, he is a worse open field player than Arteta atm. We should be absolutely tonking Liverpool.

Southamptom we already just beat them once, no reason we can't do it again. West Ham is a London derby that the teams has to get up for. TBH the only game of those five we should be worried about is Newcastle who are in the form of their lives.

That said, Wenger's tactics (or lack thereof) mean we could lose all 5 of those games. I just don't see us losing to Liverpool though. Barring that one game last year, we generally have Liverpool's number.

**Halie Satanus** · December 10, 2014, 07:36 PM

You don't think Liverpool will raise their game against us. I imagine after Utd and Everton we are the team Scousers most ~~despise~~ like to beat.. 1989 ect ect.....

**Murfmurf** · December 11, 2014, 04:05 AM

I wouldn't worry too much about us, we never win at your place. Last time I think was 1-0 a few years ago, big Andy Carroll getting the goal.

I wouldn't write off West Ham so easily. Very hard to beat at the moment.

**Petrucci** · December 13, 2014, 10:58 AM

Beautiful. I haven't enjoyed watching Chelsea playing so outstanding for a lot of time. Everyone on their places, coordinated actions, good ideas in one word art. I would praise Hazard, he is magician with ball and Ivanovic, his best party this session. Some moves he made in attack were a sight for sore eyes.

**snuggans** · December 13, 2014, 11:17 AM

two horse race am i right guys? the oil clubs are dominating

**Halie Satanus** · December 13, 2014, 12:21 PM

Long way to go, but yeh...

Edit: Obviously my ability to predict Arsenal games is as good as it's ever been.

Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle.

The lads were brilliant today though the Toon really didn't show up bar a 10 minute spell in the second half. Really loving the Giroud/Sanchez/Welbeck attack with Ox/Cazorla supplying them. When it works it looks as dynamic a front line as I've seen in a long time, Debuchy had a fairly quiet game at CB but looked comfortable and Belarin had probably his best game for us. Flamini seems to have had some training in the art of staying in front of the back four and was even making sure Gibbs and Belerin were staying to cover when the other went forward, simple stuff pro players should know but have been lacking for us this season.

Title's back on...

**Ferdiad** · December 13, 2014, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Petrucci

Beautiful. I haven't enjoyed watching Chelsea playing so outstanding for a lot of time. Everyone on their places, coordinated actions, good ideas in one word art. I would praise Hazard, he is magician with ball and Ivanovic, his best party this session. Some moves he made in attack were a sight for sore eyes.

I watched the match and I can categorically state Chelsea were

. You struggled against Hull when they had 11 men

**Petrucci** · December 13, 2014, 03:35 PM

What are you talking about, they didn't have any good chance for 90 mins.. We battled with them in mid field but nothing serious from our side to threatn Cech who was probably our weakest performer that game. We played calm and good, masterpiece of skill and tactic.

**Treva ★** · December 13, 2014, 04:06 PM

Which doesn't necessarily translate into showy football. I myself would rather have both.

**Ferdiad** · December 13, 2014, 04:07 PM

Hull were

but Chelsea were poor. Those can both happen you know....

**Kawee** · December 14, 2014, 12:32 AM

Can't believe there was ever a debate on whether Welbeck is the better striker for Arsenal than Giroud, especially after the former was given a run of games.