***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[Brahvocado]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

At least you guys can't draw Bayern in R16 again right?

Yep, Barca it is then.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

At least you guys can't draw Bayern in R16 again right?

Yep, Barca it is then.

I'll take back-toback thrashings from Braca if it means we don't have to play on Thursday nights.

[Brahvocado]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Wouldn't you rather win a trophy at this point? The Europa League gets a bad rap from English clubs and it's pretty unjustified.

You guys would instantly be favorites to win it. Would you really rather get knocked out in the R16 every year than make a deep Europa League run? Depth has always been a bit of an issue for you guys, but not nearly to the extent that it would impact your league form the way it does for most Europa League teams.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Wouldn't you rather win a trophy at this point? The Europa League gets a bad rap from English clubs and it's pretty unjustified.

You guys would instantly be favorites to win it. Would you really rather get knocked out in the R16 every year than make a deep Europa League run? Depth has always been a bit of an issue for you guys, but not nearly to the extent that it would impact your league form the way it does for most Europa League teams.

With the history of injuries in our squad, I don't want to see us playing on less rest any more than we have to. Until we figure out how to not be so damn fragile, I just don't want to see it risked. I'd rather have us focus on the league, where we still do have a chance at winning.

Also, it's not like we haven't won a trophy in back-to-back years now. I feel like people keep forgetting the drought ended.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

The Europa League is a solid trophy, but in terms of the squad, it doesn't really offer much. We're already competing for the title and in a CL spot, so there's one reason the incentive isn't there.

Also, most fans, if not all, want the team to win the league more than the Europa and as Kreb has mentioned, we have won back to back FA Cups. Our token trophy drought is already over.

I'd like to see us advance to the KO phase of the CL, but I'm realistic that this isn't the year for us in that comp. My main hope was the league and given how wide open the title race is, that's going to be Wenger's priority as well

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Just a heads up. Sundays match will be on Premier League Extra Time in the States.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

shutting off this 1-1 draw.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Wenger on injuries:

"We lost Sanchez, I don't know how long for, it's a big blow. Cazorla finished on one leg. We will have to assess Koscielny."

That sounds absolutely awful.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Wenger on injuries:



That sounds absolutely awful.

Ughhh. I hope Sanchez's loss isn't for a long period of time as well as Kosc. While losing Cazorla also sucks, Ramsey can likely play again centrally and if he can return to his 13-14 form, we'll be fine.

Knowing our injury track record, Wenger should have strengthened a lot more than he did. Flamini and Arteta are too slow and we were one Coquelin injury from a balance problem in our midfield. Until January, we will have to rely on Flamini to be our DM unless Chambers pulls a Dier and can fill in well. Then again, he may need to play at CB if Kosc is out for a lengthy period of time.

But losing Sanchez hurts. His situation reminds me of Ozil last year - too much football, inconsistency in form, and then likely a major injury. I hope Ox can finally show his potential or that Campbell continues his strong form, but his loss has really hurt our title chances. Hoping it's not too serious, but man I'm disappointed.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

What really bothers me is that Wenger knew Alexis had a hamstring problem, but he said in the pre-match presser that he was going to take a risk and play Alexis anyways. You don't play with fire with one of our best players, especially given the injuries we already have. Had Wenger rested Alexis so the hamstring could heal, we would have been without him for one game, maybe two. Which is a lot preferable to what we now face with him missing extended time.

Edit: It turns out Wenger's quotes about risking Alexis didn't matter, as before the match the medical staff gave Alexis a clean bill of health. http://news.arseblog.com/2015/11/wen...y-and-cazorla/

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Clean bill or not, I still think it was a poor decision. I know Sanchez said he was good to go but if anyone on the squad needed a rest it was him. No use crying now except to hope that he's back soon.

Speaking of injuries what's the latest on Walcott?

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Speaking of injuries what's the latest on Walcott?

Just reported today that he's back in full training and could be set to return to the squad on Saturday.

So, some good news.

[Brahvocado]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

The Europa League is a solid trophy, but in terms of the squad, it doesn't really offer much. We're already competing for the title and in a CL spot, so there's one reason the incentive isn't there.

Also, most fans, if not all, want the team to win the league more than the Europa and as Kreb has mentioned, we have won back to back FA Cups. Our token trophy drought is already over.

I'd like to see us advance to the KO phase of the CL, but I'm realistic that this isn't the year for us in that comp. My main hope was the league and given how wide open the title race is, that's going to be Wenger's priority as well

Europa League is still a much bigger trophy than the FA cup. Also, if you guys field 12 year olds and tank out of the Europa league, it's certainly not doing the coefficient any favors.

Plus, I'm not entirely sure how wide open the title race really is. I think it appears more wide open than it really is.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Europa League is still a much bigger trophy than the FA cup. Also, if you guys field 12 year olds and tank out of the Europa league, it's certainly not doing the coefficient any favors.

Plus, I'm not entirely sure how wide open the title race really is. I think it appears more wide open than it really is.

Yes it is, but in terms of priority, a title is much bigger and while City has the edge right now, we're not out of it. It depends what happens and while I expect the injuries and inconsistency to knock us out of the race, I'm still hoping for the best.

Based purely on what's happened this is what I make out:

City: Should be dominant, but put up some poor performances.

Leicester City: Great story, but I expect them to come down to reality in the 2nd half of the season

United: Well, they don't concede a lot right?

Arsenal: No Alexis hurts, but no one else is running away, are still in the race

Spurs: LOL

Liverpool: Klopp's still a couple of transfer windows away, but they're not a serious threat

Chelsea: Biggest wild card....I know how far out they are, but they're a huge run of good form away from going top 4. Yes they need to string wins together, but if there's one team that can, it's them

So yes, it's a wide open race ATM. Will it stay that way? Who knows. City should win, but they have to prove it on the pitch and as long as they drop points and everyone stays in it, it's a wide open race as far as I'm concerned

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

The issue I see with the Europa league is that Arsene wouldn't just trot out a bunch of teenagers—he'd try his best to win the damn thing, but that would most likely hurt our league form.

If we're in it, we'll try and win it, but if we don't and we finish 4th in the league...that would suck.

I'll still gladly take a better shot at the league and being knocked out again in the round of 16.