Could have done more for the third also.
I didn't see the first couple of games he played, but what I have seen doesn't make me feel the slightest bit confident. In the league or with any other teams, I've felt confident that Arsenal controlled Tottenham, this team is just too unbalanced.
EDIT: What did Fabianski even try to do there? Bad decision to come out. Arsenal have played terrible.
-AC
Originally posted by Df02
Don't think he was at fault for the first goal, coulda done more for the second.
Fabianski isnt exactly your first choice keeper, so you cant really complain.
He wasn't. Didn't play great, but it was mostly outfield errors. Especially Gilberto not tracking Lennon.
Shit loss, but to be fair Chelsea are always going to win this year's, so this was more of a pride game really.
If Spurs play like we did to day we can give Chelsea a run for their money, it wasnt a heavily weakened Arsenal side, there were definate omissions, but some very key players played a part.
Dont get me wrong, we didnt beat the 1st string, but it was more a 1b team than a 2 team.
Arsenal again didnt play well, Fabregas was pretty anonymous, but Spurs just did everything right, we hustled the ball and broke well... the early goal helped us because we could hit them on the break like Arsenal do to most teams.
It was only really three first teamers, until Fab had to come on. He played shit anyway. When Adebayor came on the game was over.
Good result for Spurs though, obviously.
You know what I hate?
Not one single time did Spurs have any less than 5 men in the box, so Arsenal never got a chance inside of the box with equal numbers.
That's fair enough, but, watch the game on Sunday. I absolutely guarantee that about 4-5 times, Man United will end up 2 on 2, or similar. I don't get how that always happens- it's got to be some weird psychological thing they have over teams.
Obviously Man United's first team is better than Arsenal's team tonight, but they can't magically clear the Spurs box. Or so you would think- because they will do it.
Genuinely annoys me.
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Utterly disgraceful play.Did I want Arsenal to win? Of course. Did they deserve to? No.
-AC
I know it was a B team, but damn losing to rivals like that is a soar one. I was at the Aberdeen vs Falkirk game (my awesome Dons won it 3-1 with both teams missing a penalty each), when after the game the rest of the results came through, 4-0 at the time I left the stadium.
I aint had the chance to watch Arsenal much this season, 2 games I think. But who are Arsenals strike force? I would hazard a guess at Adebayor is first pick, but Bentdner, Eduardo and Walcott both seem to be "bench boys". Is there something I am missing or do Arsenal prefer to have 1 upfront and someone like Hleb playing off him or summin?
ah well, Everton will need do pull of something crazy to get into the Final, I would very much like to see a Everton - Tottenham final.
Realisticly, Chelsea and Tottenham will be a big game, first league cup final back at the new wembley. Hope Tottenham win, bout time their supporters were given a trophy.
Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
It was only really three first teamers, until Fab had to come on. He played shit anyway. When Adebayor came on the game was over.Good result for Spurs though, obviously.
You know what I hate?
Not one single time did Spurs have any less than 5 men in the box, so Arsenal never got a chance inside of the box with equal numbers.
That's fair enough, but, watch the game on Sunday. I absolutely guarantee that about 4-5 times, Man United will end up 2 on 2, or similar. I don't get how that always happens- it's got to be some weird psychological thing they have over teams.
Obviously Man United's first team is better than Arsenal's team tonight, but they can't magically clear the Spurs box. Or so you would think- because they will do it.
Genuinely annoys me.
I really don't understand how you can moan about the tactics... Arsenal play a short passing game through the centre, best way to defend that is to defend deep and tight... we did that, we won the game, end of.
If you dont want teams crowding the areas in and around the box, change your style of play. Crossing to Bendtner and Adebayor would be lethal... I think Wenger should be using them more when it's obvious teams are setting up shop in and around their area waiting for the counter.
Why exactly would Spurs want Arsenal to get into their box with equal numbers?
Man Utd dont have a proper target man, so it does confuse me why teams dont crowd the area against them as well, who exactly would Giggs and Ronaldo be crossing to if you kept the defence narrow and let them have the wings? can guarantee Dawson and King would clean up crosses all day against Rooney and Tevez, as would most centrebacks.
Originally posted by Df02
I really don't understand how you can moan about the tactics... Arsenal play a short passing game through the centre, best way to defend that is to defend deep and tight... we did that, we won the game, end of.
If you dont want teams crowding the areas in and around the box, change your style of play. Crossing to Bendtner and Adebayor would be lethal... I think Wenger should be using them more when it's obvious teams are setting up shop in and around their area waiting for the counter.
Why exactly would Spurs want Arsenal to get into their box with equal numbers?
Exactly my point. I'm not moaning about the tactics. That's why I clearly said 'that's fair enough'. Our first team can mix up the play now, as they did against Everton, and Fulham. The team yesterday was less successful.
My annoyance was, as you then say:
Originally posted by Df02
Man Utd dont have a proper target man, so it does confuse me why teams dont crowd the area against them as well, who exactly would Giggs and Ronaldo be crossing to if you kept the defence narrow and let them have the wings? can guarantee Dawson and King would clean up crosses all day against Rooney and Tevez, as would most centrebacks.
The thing is, they won't, as we both know.
I just wonder why.
I'd like Man Utd to beat them easily in the cup, and then Spurs to learn from it and nick something in the league.
Spurs have an alright record against Man Utd in the cup, we're crap against them in the league though haha.
Im not sure why but people always try to play a high line with Utd, I think it's because Utd always like to play patient build up around the box and teams would rather they did that further up the pitch lol... I think sitting deep and crowding the box would work much better against them though.
Did you see the Utd v Reading match? wasnt that quite close? how did Reading play then?
Reading played in the 'let's have a go at them' style, despite having no ability to do so.
The last goal in that match was the sort of thing I mean- 3 attackers, no defence. Although to be fair Reading had thrown a lot forward.
I think if more teams adopted the style they do against Arsenal (see Bolton/West Ham defeating them) they wouldn't have had 50% of their success in recent years.
It took teams (and they still haven't properly learned) 15 years to learn how to play United.
Everyone knows how to play Arsenal, because Sky/pundits/papers remind them every five minutes to 'get in their faces', 'kick them' etc. Against Man Utd, you just sit back and admire, or if you win, it was lucky, not the culmination of a good strategy.
The annoying thing is, it sounds like paranoia. Look at the amount of teams, though, who play Arsenal like it was their last game on this Earth, and then roll over and let United penetrate them.
The Media has it's favourites... The top four are their favourites, but they have their favourites amongst them too.
Tottenham rank pretty low on their list lol.
I know what you mean though, teams give Man Utd too much respect... They arent that good, if you look past their first 11, they're piss-poor for a top 4 team.
Yeah, I mean, a lot of the media ejaculate all over Arsenal, but loads really dislike them too.
This time last year, Man Utd were cack, won nothing for 3 years, shit squad, Chelsea were about to overturn them any minute.
As soon as they won it, they're the greatest squad of all time, and no-one has ever come near them.
Fair enough, Arsenal got whooped yesterday but there was some fortune in it, and it was Spurs' biggest game of the season.
Man Utd's second string (with their two new Messiahs) went out at Old Trafford, to Coventry.
The media do persist with the idea that Man United's squad is the best around.
It's really not, though. Especially up front. Rooney, Tevez...Saha...........................Dong.
Their first 15 or so is really good, though.
Haha I had to think for a bit about whether you were listing Dong as a viable attacking premiership option, or just calling the first three 'Dong'.
Arsenal have the most complete squad in the premiership, they have 2 players at least for every position. But we'll see at the end of this season if their first 11 is better than Man Utd's I guess...
If Man Utd get injuries like West Ham or Spurs have, they're screwed... CB; who'd come in? Pique? too inexperienced and error prone. CM: Fletcher? Dong (lol). Striker; The actual player Dong....
I sometimes look at the Man Utd SQUAD and wonder how the hell they win things, Fletcher, O'Shea, Dong, Pique etc are not good enough for a top 4 team.
Left wing at Arsenal is a bit risky. Rosicky and Diaby, who isn't a left sided player. Eduardo can play there, but he's not great in midfield.
Traore is really promising, but he's not ready for Prem- but Gallas can play LB.
Other than that the squad depth is quite good.
I'd like to see another few top players though, with some of the younger guys on loan. A CB, a left winger, maybe another really strong CM.