The fact that his pass gave the ball away makes him more culpable than anything he did afterwards. But at the end of the day Koscielny had Torres marked, Vermaelen made a stupid decision to go and try and get the ball when all he had to do was cover the midfielder (either Hazard or Oscar, not sure which) supporting Torres.

Vermaelen was over exuberant all game, and his rashness cost us both free kicks and thus both goals.

Yeah it was his fault I agree was too casual today!

Are you mad? This goal should have been prevented easily. Schoolboy defense.

Strange, I thought Arteta was one of our better players today. He tried hard . Koscielny, Vermaelen were poor and there was clearly a lack of communication with Mannone. I want our number 1 back in goal.

I thought Arteta was one of our better players today
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Thought he was poor, gave the ball away a lot and struggles to win it back. His worse game for us by a distance, imo.

Arteta was dreaful today, anybody who thought he played well needs to watch the game again

At least people are talking some sense on this thread. The first few all just blamed Gervinho

I don't know why people keep calling for Gervinho's head. Yes, he's erratic at times, but goodness me, he took his chance well and got us back in the game. How I wished Giroud did the same as well!

Individually we were dreadful - too many times today our players spent far too long in possession with the ball and not do anything with it except either give it away or get tackled.

"Anyone else with the same opinion?"

Not if they have a brain, Arteta played pretty well.

It was Mannones fault, he has made 2 blunders in two games now, also had a chance of getting a hand on Torres' goal. He has been poor

It was Mannones fault,
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Koscielny was more at fault for the first, and also partially to blame for the second.
Vermaelen was at fault for both goals as well.

I blame Vermaelen's rash tackling for both goals. He was just as shocking as Koscielny.

"It was Mannones fault, he has made 2 blunders in two games now, also had a chance of getting a hand on Torres' goal. He has been poor"
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Not the first goal - but any top keeper would have kept out the 2nd goal - just a comedy of errors

I don't understand those blaming Mannone. I'm no fan of the guy but he did nothing wrong with the goal. The free kick was wickedly whipped in and only the defenders had a chance of stopping it.

I thought it was just me who thought the goalie was a total clown. Even Almunia would have stopped that

but any top
keeper would have kept out the
2nd goal
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Nonsense. Anyone would get unsighted with players running across your box attacking a free-kick.

Sheriff John Brown (U7482)
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Are we talking about the same goal?

Mannone could have easily stopped it but he presumed someone would get a touch on it so he stood his ground, no one touched it and it just went in. instead of covering one of the options he covered none, if there was a touch he wouldn't have saved it anyway.

no one touched it
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Koscielny did.

"Mannone could have easily stopped it but he presumed someone would get a touch on it so he stood his ground, no one touched it and it just went in. instead of covering one of the options he covered none, if there was a touch he wouldn't have saved it anyway."
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I agree "Arsene Wenger's wife" - Mannone was just hopeless on that goal

I don't understand those blaming Mannone. I'm no fan of the guy but he did nothing wrong with the goal. The free kick was wickedly whipped in and only the defenders had a chance of stopping it

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He did see it late but he never moved. It was whipped but not so fast he never had time to take one pace right and reach it. If he'd paid any attention to the ball's flight, he'd have been in the right place to get a hand to it. He didn't so wasn't.

Nonsense. Anyone would get unsighted with players running across your box attacking a free-kick.
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The players are his defenders concern. HE'S supposed to be watching the ball.

i blame vermaelen what was he thinking, you give away a professional foul well outside the box, and we were punished.

Oscar did a job on Arteta pressed brilliantly that's why he was poor, didn't allow him to dictate from deep.
As for the 2nd goal it was a beaut of a freekick, just inbetween the defender and goalkeeper. Keeper not at fault, defence must take the blame.

Cech would not have let that in - the truth is Mannone is a 2nd tier goalkeeper.