Still think Arsene a genius ????

Yes, that was the point. The questioner probably asked, why didn't Arsene put on a defensive player rather than Arshavin (who doesn't defend) and settle for 1-1.

To which he probably replied that he will defend his values of going for it rather than settling for a draw.

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Judging by the context of the BBC article, probably not. There's been no furore over a defender not being put on instead of Arshavin. Nobody is thinking along those lines.

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And what if Arshavin had scored the winner? This is why I find it hilarious that some are spreading the notion that the crowd wouldn't have responded if Theo had been taken off. Ox was doing well and the crowd were reacting to Arshavin. Because Asrhavins body language and performances have been terrible. Just like our away fans were fed up with Ramsey against Spurs.

Arshavin made the mistake not Wenger. You can criticise Wenger for buying Arshavin but you cannot criticise Wenger for expecting Arshavin to do his job!

I am sorry to say many gooners over hype youngsters to make up for the lack of signings. People conveniently forget how badly Ox performed against Leeds in order to hammer Arsene. If Ox has 3 bad games in a row, I am sure some Spurs biased commentator will be suggesting that Oxlade lacks a football brain. And then when things aren't going well, many gooners will join the bandwagon. People on here were going after Jenkinson because he was introduced too early. Whereas some who use twitter for PR like Rasmey are now sacred cows.

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Could not disagree more with that. The Ox was a breath of fresh air playing for us against United. His industry, enthusiasm and quality stood in direct contrast with most qualities we've come to associate with most of this Arsenal team. i.e. a sluggish and non-commited approach to the game.

It was most definitely his being taken off that drew the ire of the crowd and not the arrival of Arshavin who for all his dreadful performances has not been booed when coming on. Walcott, unlike Ox, had put in yet another hapless performance making it the sixth or seventh game on the trot he's played so shockingly.

Jenkinson was targeted because he was a replacement for an experienced and established right-back in Eboue.

Ramsey has been offered a carte blanche by many supporters for the same reason Walcott has. His nationality. That said, Ramsey can offer something to us but it's too early to be depending on him.

It's quite clear from the United game alone that Ox posesses a footballing brain unlike Walcott.

And as for Arshavin, it's Wenger's job to motivate his team and subs before letting them enter the fray. If that's not being done, then you can expect a sauntering indifferent performance from him which is exactly what we've got nearly every time for the last two years.

Not the substitution itself, but Wenger's rather strange response. What do his footballing values have to do with a substitution?

If it were 1-1 in a game and you were throwing on a substitute presumably to either win, or see out a draw, wouldn't you make a practical substitution based on what's going on on the field rather than on what your values are, whatever they may be?

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I think he was responding more to the booing, and tbh the booing wasn't just about the sub, it was just the sum of all the frustrations about players/the last 6 years etc. So basically he's saying he can handle the boos but will stick to his beliefs.

I'm confused as most Arsenal supporters at the moment, I don't know how much the board is to blame after I read interesting points that are made about the past and DD's influence, current lack of finance or to really think Wenger has lost his magic. I'm going off track now, anyway maybe it's a combination of all, everytime I try to excuse Wenger he then goes and pulls another ridiculous coaching decision.

Judging by the context of the BBC article
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Mate, the quotes are sensationalised. The reason why they haven't actually written the question is because the response would have looked justified and it would be non-story.

The Ox was a breath of fresh air playing for us against United.
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Ox did look very good against United. But that doesn't mean the crowd won't turn on him if he performs poorly. This is because we are all very frustrated. There is massive dissatisfaction of selling Cesc without replacement. Which has meant the entire team has looked gutless.

Jenkinson was targeted because he was a replacement for an experienced and established right-back in Eboue.
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No. Eboue should have been sold years ago. Remember when he was booed? His idiotic defending against Liverpool cost us second place last year. He was a symbol, like Densilon, Bendtner etc of players earning millions giving nothing in return.

Jenkinson was targeted because he was not ready to be thrown into the deep end and cost us points. He steadily improved but the points we lost because of his mistakes are never coming back.

That said, Ramsey can offer something to us but it's too early to be depending on him.
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Ramsey is Welsh. He is not English. But he knows how to use the media. Walcott does not and his advisers don't do well for him.

It's quite clear from the United game alone that Ox posesses a footballing brain unlike Walcott.
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Laughable. So Theo didn't have a football brain when he scored a hat-trick against Croatia (where no away team had won ever)?

Oxlade has a football brain. Theo has a football brain. Waddle lacks a brain.

it's Wenger's job to motivate his team and subs before letting them enter the fray.
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Do you think a 30 year old who earns £85k a week needs motivation to play against Man Utd in front of millions of viewers around the world?

I think he was responding more to the booing, and tbh the booing wasn't just about the sub, it was just the sum of all the frustrations about players/the last 6 years etc. So basically he's saying he can handle the boos but will stick to his beliefs.

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Just rereading his quote and you have a point. He said he will fight for his values irrespective of one or two bad reactions and that was presumably in response to being asked about the reaction to the substitution.

So yeah, he's clearly just saying that he has strong footballing values and that he can take any adverse reaction to those.

Still not sure which of his values were on show when he decided to replace Ox with Arshavin and like I said before, why a value would enter into consideration in the heat of the moment of a potentially match-changing substitution.

I don't know how much the board is to blame after I read interesting points that are made about the past
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We stopped the manager negotiating deals in 1994.

Do you see arry' in court. George Graham was doing a similar
thing and so the policy changed.

Arsene does not negotiate deals. Arsene does not negotiate wage contracts. Thats why we hired a lawyer as CEO.

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I was saying it long before he ever did, so with respect, stop trying to imply that I'm incapable of thinking for myself.
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I am not implying that at all. I am sure you can think for yourself. However a lot of people cannot and are easily influenced.

It will take no time at all for the media to turn against Oxlade. He is not quite English enough for the Daily Mail (I hope you understand my implication).

I can name a list of players if you are failing to see the point I am trying to make with whats happened to Waclott. How about Ashley Cole? He was never good enough at Arsenal. According to Hansen et al he was terrible at defending and should be always behind Wayne Bridge in selection. So much so that many of board of directors couldn't see it and refused to gave him a wage rise of £5k over their initial offer which was less than a third offered by Chelsea.

But it needed the validation of a coach like Mourinho before Ashley could get over the stigma planted on him by the media.

It's not down to media influence, the press are only just starting to realise Koscielny is class, up until now pundits were saying he's a liability but most Arsenal fans know he's been immense this season. AOC just has multiple times the ability Theo has.

AOC just has multiple times the ability Theo has.
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But then again I have been saying since I actually saw him at Southampton that he has multiple times the ability Ramsey has! Thats his natural position. And I am not surprised that Arsene compares him to Rooney.

Theo is a striker. I will be happy if Arsene sells Theo AFTER he has been tried in that position and fails at it. Till then I will always give Theo the benefit of the doubt.