Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 Match Thread: FT!

starting line up was picked specifically to keep posession be tight at back and low risk. this type of performance will help us get our defensive stablity back

what annoys me is that if chelsea had played like this everyone would be creaming over maureens tactical genius.
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I doubt it. If he did it against a top side, like he did against us, then yes he would be lauded as a tactical genius for getting his tactics spot on in a big game.

The difference is Chelsea have generally been blowing teams away and even if they aren't, they are more often than not winning all their games, whereas we are playing dour football and have not been winning.

True. But just look at the chances that Santi missed today! So it balances out. And I don't remember Sunderland threatening at all aprt from a nutter charge from Chesney.
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How many games Santi has started continuously and played full game (also Welbeck, Sanchez)?
Why not play Rosicky, Poldi, Campbell more?
Week after week we just see the same set of players playing...

You have to remember Arteta, Ramsey and Theo coming back from serious injuries. They are going to take time to fully settle in and get back to game pace.

We are not title material. But as it looks now only Chelsea look good, mostly thanks to Cesc.

We should finish second when everyone is up to game pace.

comment by ronniec - In Bully We Trust (U15003)
posted 2 minutes ago
True. But just look at the chances that Santi missed today! So it balances out. And I don't remember Sunderland threatening at all aprt from a nutter charge from Chesney.
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How many games Santi has started continuously and played full game (also Welbeck, Sanchez)?
Why not play Rosicky, Poldi, Campbell more?
Week after week we just see the same set of players playing...
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Because I suspect they are on their way out.

Because I suspect they are on their way out.
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Let's see whom the old man will buy

We play Burnley next. Without being disrespectful, Campbell, Bellerin, Rosicky and Podolski should be looking at starts.

comment by ronniec - In Bully We Trust (U15003)
posted 7 seconds ago
Because I suspect they are on their way out.
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Let's see whom the old man will buy
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He has already said he wants a DM and CB. So we sort of know.

Names are anyone's guess. Nov is usually the time talks begin.

Did he say he wanted a DM? He always said we had so many numbers in midfield.

comment by Wengerite (U6219)
posted 1 minute ago
Did he say he wanted a DM? He always said we had so many numbers in midfield.
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Yes he has. He suggested we needed a holding player but one that can also play CB if needed. And I think this 4-1-4-1 was with that in mind.

Though I am glad he went back to 4-2-3-1 today.