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

[Perceptor]

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

I don't either, but unlike the last couple of years, it's a 3-team race. If Chelsea and United drop points like they have this season, who knows?

I'm still pessimistic only because we haven't been playing well, but time will tell.

[rsnomar05]

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

What a difference having a striker up top makes.

It allows Arshavin to create chances on the wing, and there is someone to target on the crosses.

Why Bendtner didn't start against Chelsea is beyond me.

Eboue also played quite well. He's looked much better this year when healthy.

I'm glad Nasri isn't seriously injured. Another injury is just what we need.

[Laffer]

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

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/vie...enal?printer=1

Maybe he can create his own trophy for finishing third.

Six points back, nothing but winnable games, keeping in mind someone has to drop points in the Chelsea @ Man U game. I thought it was reactive and premature to count Arsenal out after the Chelski game, but that is the nature of european media, and soccer fans in general.

If we had a different scenario- tie Chelsea+ tie Liverpool the last two weeks, w/ chelsea winning today instead of dropping all 3 at Everton, Arsenal would be further behind in the title race, yet I don't think nearly as much pessimism would be floating around this thread. Sure, getting pounded by the top two teams in the race was demoralizing, but the team handled it well (as evidenced by the victory today) and I don't see why they couldn't regain the form seen earlier in the season, and make a run at it.

[Perceptor]

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

Laffer, you a Stamps fan? I was looking at your avatar.

Anyway, I agree that it was nice we got our win, but at the end of the day, we still need our defense to play better as well as getting healthy. Some of our young starlets such as Walcott and Vela need to start playing up to their potential.

[Krebstar]

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

I'm telling myself just to be happy on a glorious day like today. I had an amazing feeling, as before the day I told my friend, also an Arsenal fan, that Chelsea would lose and United had a chance of drawing. Then, we had to pick up three, and we did.

We're only six points back. Six points. We can do this. I believe it was Wenger who said last year, we must keep hope/faith alive.

I am for tonight, until tomorrow once I stop drinking and reality hits. Meh, hopefully 3rd is at least ours now.

[Qb]

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

Came across this today during my surfing, but I couldn't watch the video since it's on Facebook:

Arsenal fans stick club badge on Jermaine Jenas' Range Rover


EDIT: And apparently Landon Donovan broke Ashley Cole's ankle yesterday and he'll be out 3 months. Saw it on Yahoo Sports, but didn't see it at Fox Soccer (I strongly dislike their new site design). Off to Sky Sports to cross-check... yup, lead story.

[Perceptor]

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

Losing Cole hurts. I dislike him, but he was having a great season until his injury and yes, this hurts England too as no one is sure whether Bridge will even play.

[Krebstar]

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

While I by no means want to see players injured, I'm glad to see Chelsea lose such a player, because in a way it finally levels the playing field, a bit. They've been incredibly lucky with injuries this season, so it's nice to see we're not the only ones who can get hit hard.

[rsnomar05]

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

Message to Arsene Venger: Buy a freaking keeper over the summer.

From: Every Arsenal fan in the world.

[ZM Punk]

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

Our goalkeepers FTL.

Words can't describe how bad Fabianski was in goal. so I won't bother trying.

[Perceptor]

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

Message to Arsene Venger: Buy a freaking keeper over the summer.

From: Every Arsenal fan in the world.

A freaking GOOD keeper at that.

[fugazi]

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

Our goalkeepers FTL.

Words can't describe how bad Fabianski was in goal. so I won't bother trying.

True, but the ref's decision on the free kick left a little to be desired on the "professional" end...

[Qb]

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

I don't even know what to say. I can see criticizing the ref for allowing the quick FK while looking utterly confused as to what was happening and slightly obstructing Campbell (not that it made a difference). But it doesn't matter, as to the best of my knowledge, what the ref did was within the rules of the game -- he just looked as stupid as everyone else. I guess you can make a case that Hanssen should've held the ball and maintained order based on what usually happens on indirect FKs in the penalty area, but he didn't.

Bottomline is Fabianski made two incredible blunders (three if you count giving the ball to ref so quickly) and any defenders in the area were caught with their pants down. Over/under on how many games Fabianski starts for Arsenal from this point on?

[Krebstar]

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

Apparently, because I haven't seen a replay since watching the match, but I guess the ref needed to at least raise his hand or such to acknowledge and let Porto take the kick, but they did before he did so. Still, such technicalities shouldn't need to be discussed in the end.

Fabianski was dreadful, and our attack was pedestrian for most of the game. I cringe when Bendtner gets it at his feet. It seems that over 50% of the time, possession is lost with him, in or around the box.

Also, is anyone else absolutely sick of seeing Fabregas get the hell kicked out of him each game? It's obviously a tactic other teams have imposed, and it really bothers me to see just how long blatant fouls go on and on before a card is shown. A foul in the process of going for the ball, fine. However, it seems he suffers more "professional fouls" than most.

Oh well. If we can't advance at the Emirates, then we don't deserve to at all.

[ZM Punk]

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

True, but the ref's decision on the free kick left a little to be desired on the "professional" end...

The only thing that the ref did that bothered me on that call was that he actually blocked Sol off from stepping infront of the fk taker. Can't really blame the ref as Fabianski should have kicked that ball away if he thought there was the slightest of touches by Sol. That's 100% on Fabianski. Along with the pedestrian cross that he knocked into his own net.

Apparently, because I haven't seen a replay since watching the match, but I guess the ref needed to at least raise his hand or such to acknowledge and let Porto take the kick, but they did before he did so. Still, such technicalities shouldn't need to be discussed in the end.

Fabianski was dreadful, and our attack was pedestrian for most of the game. I cringe when Bendtner gets it at his feet. It seems that over 50% of the time, possession is lost with him, in or around the box.

Also, is anyone else absolutely sick of seeing Fabregas get the hell kicked out of him each game? It's obviously a tactic other teams have imposed, and it really bothers me to see just how long blatant fouls go on and on before a card is shown. A foul in the process of going for the ball, fine. However, it seems he suffers more "professional fouls" than most.

Oh well. If we can't advance at the Emirates, then we don't deserve to at all.

Our guys are going to have to start taking up for Cesc a little more. These teams know that they can just keep kicking Cesc because we aren't going to retaliate. If I were Cesc, I would be just as pissed off at his teammates as I would be the other team.