...entirely down to Arsene Wenger.
He blew it in the team selection and AGAIN playing players out of position.
I hold Arsene in so much regard, I feel personally let down having stood up for him many a times whilst hoping he will turn things around. Now i'm not so sure anymore. It is really depressing this morning.
How on earth can even the most optimistic of managers expect to have defensive stability with a trio of Arteta, Wilshere and Cazorla playing in midfield? As much as possible, Ramsey pushed into MF as well, but even that didn't help. It's clear to all but the Arsenal technical crew, that as much as these lads are decent footballers, with more than average talents, they are NOT, and I doubt will ever be defensively good enough. It was criminal going into a match of such magnitude and against such formidable opponents, with a midfield setup such as this. Arteta as defensive cover? if it wasn't so criminal, one could laugh.
The unfortunate fall out of Arsene's midfield arrangement yesterday meant Wilshere had to play from deep, partnering Arteta in a 4-2-3-1 formation. That annoyed me to no end, because we lost the Englishman's cut and thrust. Just twice in the game Wilshere had the opportunity to drive at Bayern's defenders and you could see glimpses of what we missed by not playing him in the advanced number 10 position, that Cazorla occupied. Against Swansea in the FA cup, we played the best football we had in a while playing Wilshere advanced. With all the players fit, i don't know what Arsene was thinking.
Another wrong decision was playing Theo upfront. Well, Theo's only one productive moment in the game was when he crossed (yes Arsene, from out wide), for Giroud to nearly stab home. What is the wisdom of playing Theo against a solid defensive pairing that had not conceded a goal in 2013? An accomplished centre-half should, amongst other attributes, be able to hold the ball up in play for his team mates when attacking. Bayern's third goal came from such a play when Mandzucic (spelling) brilliantly held the ball before making a square pass to Robben, who then passed to the excellent Lahm.
One could go on and on highlighting Monsieur Wenger's mistakes. Like making a change only in the 70 mins of a match we needed to win and were trailing 2-1? Arsene?
If any one thinks hindsight is 20-20 and all that, have a look at this,
http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/190525
Very soon we'll start reading about player ratings and all that, but imo all the players gave their best, you could see the determination at the start of the game, its just that, they like us fans, were let down by the selection and tactical ineptitude, on the day, of an otherwise good manager.
Why yesterday's loss was
posted on 20/2/13
Did Walcott even have a shot yesterday, whether on target or not? Can't remember any.
posted on 20/2/13
completely agree. It's very difficult to stand up for a manager who repeadtedly appears to make the same mistakes.
Sure in the past you could always have said that 'he knows what he's doing', 'he sees these players every day in training, who are we to question him?' but now I'm starting to question that, as his 'gambles' never really pay off. Playing players out of position is one thing, but not having a competent defensive midfielder in the entire squad is another.
He also sticks with players who have shown time and time again they are not fit to wear the shirt. Gervinho, in my opinion should never line up for us again, Bendtner should have long been sold before we eventually sent him out on load. We are still only one injury away from Squillaci and Diaby is an absolute mess who is still meerely at the club to collect his paycheque it seems.
I know people harass and blame the board, but for me the buck stops with the manager. He picks the team, he fails to motivate the players against the likes of Blackburn or even league two Bradford. It's awful, and as we don't know any better we've got to assume our squad being so weak is the fault of the manager, until we know for sure it is down to the board.
posted on 20/2/13
Well judging by the performance yesterday, I believe Coq would have done better in the defensive role than Arteta.
That is not to say I'm slating the Spaniard, but defending is not his game.
posted on 20/2/13
Hello Cazorla's soft feet, you said I'd look silly if Arsenal won yesterday.
It would seem you now wear the silly hat
posted on 20/2/13
Doovde,
I said you'd look silly if Arsenal won with the line-up i suggested. It was the line-up you ridiculed.
Now you are even sillier because Arsenal played with a different line-up and you just want to be petty.
posted on 20/2/13
I don't look silly at all. So you're saying that if Arsene fielded the squad you chose, you would have won?
OK then
posted on 20/2/13
I dunno what game you were watching. Ramsey and Arteta were deep. Wilshere was further forward and Cazorla was on the wing.
posted on 20/2/13
Dog, this bloke doesn't really have a clue. He thinks he's better than Wenger
posted on 20/2/13
Dog,
No please have rewatch of the game, Wilshere played from deep and for most parts was beside Arteta.
posted on 20/2/13
Walcott's pace against the slow van Buyten - that was the idea behind Wenger's decision to play Walcott up front. And this was what most posters had suggested before the game.
It didn't work, but I don't think Walcott would have been more effective on the wing because Bayern is one of the few clubs who have a left fullback who is just as fast as Walcott.