Big match.

Bg match tonight - and may it be the first of many. As long as there's a "big" attached to it it means we're still in contention.
We've got a mixed squad, we'll be playing at 30°C against an Italian outfit that can play a bit (as we saw at The Grove) so it's about us getting out there and showing some grit. A nice early goal for us and some steady holding play from Song and Frimpong will do for me - come on Arsenal!

Huge game. I think Arsenal will progress tonight and buy Wenger some breathing space. For now.

2-1 Udinese I think.

1-0 Udinese. Followed by the best stadium announcer ever.

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:2-1 Udinese I think.

And for your next trick?

Fantastic penalty save.

Great performance from The Arsenal tonight.
Feck me, even Rosicky got stuck in.
That's gonna boost the confidence of these players.
We've got a mountain to climb against Man U, with injuries and suspensions, we'll be really depleted. So I'm not expecting much out of that one but we've seen tonight that with a couple or three additions, this squad can be really good.
Fabregas is a great loss but Nasri did as much to contribute to our poor end of season as anybody, so I don't see him as irreplacable at all.
If we make the right signings we can pick up from our poor start in the PL as the season progresses.
Come on you Gunners!!!!!

Absolutely! There was spirit in that performance last night - long may it continue.
The match at Old Trafford is a massive task - three missing from last night's team (Gervinho, Song, Frimpong) and Wilshere still not ready (could this be another Vermaelen situation - each week or so we're expecting a return to full fitness and each time a break-down - I truly hope not) - I can't quite see what team we can put out with any real hope of getting a result BUT it's football, a bit of grit - pride in the shirt - let's hope Arsene can pull something out of his magic hat for Sunday!

Losing Sagna and Vermaelen before the match left me wondering WTF we were going to do. "Not a lot" turned out to be the answer - ManU swept us aside in an impressively professional manner. The match wasn't bad (unless you were a Gooner), something like 40 shots at goal in total but we were never in with a chance TBH - outplayed and outclassed all over the pitch. OK, we were 7 or 8 players short but that's no excuse for conceding 8 goals. Redeeming features? Can't think of any TBH - felt sorry for the youngsters thrown in the deep end. Aside from getting the injured and/or banned players back I suppose we just live in hope that Arsene gets his three new players in, whoever they are!
Oh yes, I remember us losing 7-2 at Leicester in the '60's - keeper off injured, Joe Baker in goal (before the days of substitutes) so I'm not devasted by this result - two of my sons are though!

Think there is going to be a lot of your fans wanting blood now....

Long before today's game I did not hold out any hope of a result, given suspensions and injuries.
When Vermaelen and Sagna were out, we were fielding a team so weak, I would not have fancied us getting a result against any other PL side.
There's a grave danger that a spanking like this can do long term damage to young players, particularly a young goalkeeper.
Alex Manninger was a very promising young keeper who had 5 smacked past him when we fielded a much weakened side against Chelsea. He had his confidence destroyed and was never the same again. I hope this does not damage Szczeny too much.
We're all aware of the reasons why we're so weak and we have until Wednesday to get things sorted. If we don't, the whole management set up will come under fire. Rightly so!!!!!!
I was listening to Alfredo di Stefano talking about teams like Real Madrid and how they stay at the top for so many years.
He said it's like a candle you have to keep feeding the flame.
Well The Arsenal have failed to feed the flame consistently over the past few years and now our flame is barely flickering.
Get it sorted chaps!!!!!!!

FrenchSpur wrote:Think there is going to be a lot of your fans wanting blood now....

If that's the case 'arry must be close to hanging in the butchers shop, what excuse has he got?

jak wrote:

FrenchSpur wrote:Think there is going to be a lot of your fans wanting blood now....

If that's the case 'arry must be close to hanging in the butchers shop, what excuse has he got?

As I believe I have said elsewhere.... none at all.... we should do a lot better

jak wrote:

FrenchSpur wrote:Think there is going to be a lot of your fans wanting blood now....

If that's the case 'arry must be close to hanging in the butchers shop, what excuse has he got?

I think he's doing a brilliant job.

JAK, with your defense being brutally exposed today do you think Wenger will finally splash out on a couple of defenders, like Cahill or Jagielka, or do you think he's happy with the squad he'll have once injuries and suspensions are gone?

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:

jak wrote:

FrenchSpur wrote:Think there is going to be a lot of your fans wanting blood now....

If that's the case 'arry must be close to hanging in the butchers shop, what excuse has he got?

I think he's doing a brilliant job.

JAK, with your defense being brutally exposed today do you think Wenger will finally splash out on a couple of defenders, like Cahill or Jagielka, or do you think he's happy with the squad he'll have once injuries and suspensions are gone?

If he thinks what he's got is sufficient, I think the men from the funny farm will be calling.
I think if there are not, at least, two MAJOR signings by Wednesday there will be big big problems at The Arsenal.

jak wrote:

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:

jak wrote:

FrenchSpur wrote:Think there is going to be a lot of your fans wanting blood now....

If that's the case 'arry must be close to hanging in the butchers shop, what excuse has he got?

I think he's doing a brilliant job.

JAK, with your defense being brutally exposed today do you think Wenger will finally splash out on a couple of defenders, like Cahill or Jagielka, or do you think he's happy with the squad he'll have once injuries and suspensions are gone?

If he thinks what he's got is sufficient, I think the men from the funny farm will be calling.
I think if there are not, at least, two MAJOR signings by Wednesday there will be big big problems at The Arsenal.

The problem is, I think he genuinely believes the squad is good enough despite losing your two best players. He's being stubborn with the fans, media, and himself. It's sad to see one of the country's great clubs in a really sorry state of affairs.

Aresnal need a CB LB CM AM/ST..

No chance in hell Wenger will sign 4 players by Wed!

Well they've just signed another striker tonight.

There are big problems already i dont think it matters if you sign 2 players. Your 6 points off 4th place and when you look at the current top4 you cant see them dropping points. Would be a disaster if you didnt qualify for the champions league.

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:Well they've just signed another striker tonight.

I'd already accounted for him.. But then looking at his goal scoring record in France over last few seasons I wouldn't call him a striker

Internazionale_Villa wrote:There are big problems already i dont think it matters if you sign 2 players. Your 6 points off 4th place and when you look at the current top4 you cant see them dropping points. Would be a disaster if you didnt qualify for the champions league.

We have qualified for the Champions League.
How can you write off a teams chances after three games, that's ridiculous!!!
We beat Man U at home and Liverpool away and those points are back. That's the situation as it stands.
What happens between now and Wednesday is vital. We'll see.

jpr60 wrote:Losing Sagna and Vermaelen before the match left me wondering WTF we were going to do. "Not a lot" turned out to be the answer - ManU swept us aside in an impressively professional manner. The match wasn't bad (unless you were a Gooner), something like 40 shots at goal in total but we were never in with a chance TBH - outplayed and outclassed all over the pitch. OK, we were 7 or 8 players short but that's no excuse for conceding 8 goals. Redeeming features? Can't think of any TBH - felt sorry for the youngsters thrown in the deep end. Aside from getting the injured and/or banned players back I suppose we just live in hope that Arsene gets his three new players in, whoever they are!
Oh yes, I remember us losing 7-2 at Leicester in the '60's - keeper off injured, Joe Baker in goal (before the days of substitutes) so I'm not devasted by this result - two of my sons are though!

Bloody hell jak,
I think you forgot about the Loughborough game you attended in 1896.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/08/wengers_greatest_humiliation.html

Ringo wrote:

jpr60 wrote:Losing Sagna and Vermaelen before the match left me wondering WTF we were going to do. "Not a lot" turned out to be the answer - ManU swept us aside in an impressively professional manner. The match wasn't bad (unless you were a Gooner), something like 40 shots at goal in total but we were never in with a chance TBH - outplayed and outclassed all over the pitch. OK, we were 7 or 8 players short but that's no excuse for conceding 8 goals. Redeeming features? Can't think of any TBH - felt sorry for the youngsters thrown in the deep end. Aside from getting the injured and/or banned players back I suppose we just live in hope that Arsene gets his three new players in, whoever they are!
Oh yes, I remember us losing 7-2 at Leicester in the '60's - keeper off injured, Joe Baker in goal (before the days of substitutes) so I'm not devasted by this result - two of my sons are though!

Bloody hell jak,
I think you forgot about the Loughborough game you attended in 1896.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/08/wengers_greatest_humiliation.html

That jak you're talking to is jpr. Get a grip man.

Old age memory loss.

Last season we went to OT and capitulated at 7-1.our manager was on his way 3 weeks later,wont happen with the Arse though.