Wenger – We lacked a bit of spark but it was a positive start
Arsene Wenger was not too upset with taking a point from the opening game of the season at Anfield, especially as Arsenal were missing a lot of important players. He did feel that the Gunners should have made the extra man count in the second half, but couldn’t turn the possession into an equalising goal.
“It was a game where we had a lot of possession.” he said. “In the first half we controlled the game and our keeper didn’t have a lot to do. In fairness they defended well, we had the ball in their half a lot but didn’t find any openings.
“I thought in the second half we could do that better but they had a strong start and it was very difficult at 1-0 down against 10 men who played very deep. They intelligently took the fluency out of the game. We just kept going and throwing more and more people forward and in the end we got a deserved equaliser.
“I couldn’t see us losing a game like that without being deeply hurt because we had a lot of possession. I agree that we lacked a bit of spark in the final third but overall they have shown the right attitude.”
“We were quite solid as a team, our passing is still decent and we need a bit more penetration in the final third to take advantage of our possession. That is a bit normal because many players are just coming back from the World Cup and some from injuries. It is a positive that the spirit is there and the attitude was good.”
He was also put on the spot and asked about the rumours that Mark Schwarzer could be arriving at the Emirates after being left out of Fulham’s squad on Saturday, but, although he didn’t deny it, he gave his usual evasive answer. “At the moment it is better for me not to talk about that because it doesn’t help the keepers who play for us, so it is better that we focus on the goalkeepers we have. I believe Almunia had a good game today.” he said.
There may be a few fans that disagree with that statement, but a point an Anfield is not such a terrible start to the season……..
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Being an ardent Arsenal supporter, I must admit that yesterday we were poor. We have seen enough of possession for years now, what about the end-result? Did we even manage to test Reina for once before his howler ( Thank God !!! ). We have seen enough of Almunia… It’s time we talk straight & real …. would a top-flight goal-keeper look so nervous althrough, the goal conceded was not easy to save, but that’s why he is not a top-keeper, a good keeper would have positioned himself better & wouldn’t have let the ball go in from his near post. AW, please, please buy a good GK & FAST … the Central Defense with no back-ups is another worry. We need at least 2 more CD players to ensure we sustain our pace. Diaby & Arshavin looked jaded but hope they would fare better… It;s once again time to hope & this time we hope that AW sees reality before his unbridled optimism … we have good squad, a bit of tweaking would make us invincible…
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Here starts the excuses again:
“That is a bit normal because many players are just coming back from the World Cup and some from injuries.”
I am sick of this guy!! Just coming back from the world cup? France was out a long time ago! Fab was sitting on the bench most of the time! Liverpool’s Kuyt was playing right from the start at Anfield even though he was playing a lot at the world cup!! The only person who played a lot at the world cup in our team was RVP, who still managed to make an appearance.
If AW had used the summer more wisely to strengthen and add depth, there would be no need for these ridiculous excuses as quality players could cover in times of “coming back from the world cup” and “injuries”.
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I love Arsenal FC. I really enjoyed the game yesterday. When Wilshere, Koscielny, Chamakh are playing their debuts in the EPL, and performing to that level. Wilshere maybe had a harder game, but you could see his quality. Walcott was great off the bend. ROSICKY WAS AMAZING! RVP changed how we played as well.
We got a point away from home at ANFIELD against a Liverpool side with a new found belief and attitude under Roy. All this without key players FAB, RVP, SONG…
I am so happy with Arsenal. UP GUNNERS!!!!!!!!
Im getting my “Gunners” tattoo across my clavicle this week. YAY!!!!
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fab got sent out to mexico on wed mite be reason he didn’t feature but we dominated midfield 2nd half when walcott, wiltshire and especially rosicky. certainly had enough chances to win game AND once again almunia is beaten at his near post without moving his feet. ALWAYS leaves too much space between himself and post no chance us getting given, man city will sit him in stand b4 selling him to a rival but we need someone fast
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man come on anybody who says it waas good game must have had there eyes closed without frabregras it was not creative on the midfield can blame wilshere hes to young , but yeah cesc didnt play at worldcup so thts stupid excuse and the worry again is every season when arsenal comes to the last box there is no decisiion how many times i sscreamed shooooooot the damn ball you can get corners chances just passing back then loose the ball go back all the way it was quite easy to defend even when they were down with 10 so and i think wenger should have statrted with roskicy and walcott come on walcott showed some lifelyness the was quite slow and boring untul he came in so wenger no excuse and play your best team and who is happy with a point nobody even against chelsea so and is about the way we got that point own goal so thts not good either so we must improve and buy at least central defend cause koscielny almost broke his legga we all know tht prem is hardest in the world so wenger dont wait and buy you dammit french soup
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It is not a bad start indeed, considering that we were playing away and Liverpool for that matter. I give the men a pat on the back. However, let me mention that early bird catches worm, everybody yesterday saw that we had problems with two players who almost made us to lose the game. These are none other than Almunia and Diaby. Almunia was a bit shaky when defending the set pieces; almost twice he miscalculated his movements. But anyway I think he will improve when another strong keeper like Mark Schwarzer or Shay Given comes in, because there will be good competition. Otherwise Almunia is better than Fabiansic or Manone. Now, Wenger should seriously look into a defending Midfielder issue. Diaby is a seasonal player, he lacks consistence, and it doesn’t help for a team like our Arsenal which is seriously gunning for the championship this season. The guy played as if he had no commitment or he didn’t know that we wanted goals not his dribbles. This game of Liverpool has shown that whenever Fabregas and Song are out, we can’t win the game. My opinion is, we should trade in Diaby with Filipe Melo at Juventus. If it means we should add some cash, please Professor do it Sir. We need another good defending midfielder
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“lacked a bit of spark in the final third”
Man is that an understatement. I feel myself turning against Wenger. It’s what you do in the final third that counts. Doesn’t Wenger realize that? Liverpool was shite. We had to gift them a chance in the box and unlucky for us they had a player who could finish that chance.
I personally don’t see why the love affair with Chamakh. He’s great in the air and can be particularly useful when in a set piece situation, but he lacks skill in every other part of his game. Average speed, average passing, average runs, average shooting, average control. I hear people say “we’ve never had a focal point”, but this guy is not a focal point calibre player. I don’t remember one instance from yesterday’s game where we cleared a ball and Chamakh ended up on the end of it and held it. Maybe that’s why we tried to pass it out of the back when Wilshere gave up the goal. The defenders were so sick of clearing the ball out and Chamakh not holding it, that they decided to pass it out.
So yes, he created the goal, doing what he does best, attacking the ball in the air and getting to it first, but that’s not enough to be lone striker at Arsenal.
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yeah not a bad way but not the best way to start the season off. It didn’t look like they played with heart the whole match which is what you have to do in this league.
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Neither team deserved to win that.
So a draw is the right result.
It’s early days yet, so hopefully we will pick up over the next week.
I’m sure the injury scare to Koscielny has urged Arsene to act now !
I hope…..
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@ scientifik dont worry about the injury scare !!! hes banned for 2 games anyway coz he was sent off…. we were very lucky to get a point but wenger clearly isnt going to change sh!t…
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AW wit his excuses again. Nothing apart 4m Wilshere n Rosicky is positive out of this game. Passing and dominating possession yes this is Arsenal, NO goals it is NOT Arsenal! Anyone who can pass for being a goalkeeper would ve covered his near post period. Almunia didnt, so he is not one, therefore we can’t even get into debate about his goodness!
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If he means Almunia had a good game because of him saving that Gerrard FK then Arsene REALLY has low expectations for his keepers
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nice start!aftr arrival f fab,persie n song it vl b strong team
cnt wait 4 nxt game…………i knw v vl win by nice margin!n wil slap HARD on faces like KAMP!
WHT U SAY gunners?
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Gunnersfan is spot on, if kuyt was playing, why wasn’t fab or van from the start, Wenger has lost his marbles, he’s had his time now get rid
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