By Boris Mellor
November 25 2012

There is no point in reporting this bore no score draw, involving the poorest Aston Villa side in many a year, and once proud Arsenal. Even when Villa were a better team than this, and even had a few stars, the Gunners managed to do better than this woeful performance with only six shots on target. The two full backs did not provide a memorable cross between them.

Positives?

None in attack, none in midfield, but the defence kept a clean sheet. However this is Villa we are talking about not Juventus.

 Who knows who knows who is doing what?

Wenger’s substitutions, made far too late as is usually the case, puzzled the away fans, some of whom chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing”

When questioned about the substitution, Wenger said: "You can discuss every substitution. You think what you want. I do my job and I let people judge it. I do that every day and I do my best every day. I know why I do it.

"What is the thinking behind the substitution? I will not explain every decision I make, you judge the game for the papers and I sit here and explain to you our game. You are all great managers! I read the newspapers every day and I can tell you that you are always great managers!''

Wenger rejected the suggestion that his reluctance to explain his substitution will cause a rift with Gunners supporters. He said: "Why should I create a rift? I have given you the answer.''

Of course it might be the case Wenger does know what he is doing, but it is not clear to many Arsenal fans as to why he is doing it, and Wenger is not about to tell them. So not to upset him any further fans should chant “we don’t know what you’re doing”.

The answer? Weakness of Squad

 I didn’t like the look of the lineup from the start, I never feel easy when Ramsey starts, the balance doesn’t feel good. Ramsey, Ox,  Giroud and Podolski just don’t cut it for me. Yes Wenger can plead Walcott was injured, and when Walcott isn’t available Giroud is never as good, nor can he pass. I don’t mean knockdowns or goalmouth scrambles. I mean proper full blooded passes. He is a good old fashioned centre-forward, and I do mean he is good at that.

Also Podolski suffers when Wally is missing, as he is expected to deliver more from the wing, which he also finds hard to do. So it can be argued that it’s not Wenger’s fault due to the injury of Theo, but that won’t wash, because Wenger benched Walcott for much of the season when he was fit.

The team also missed Wilshere, who Wenger rested, very sensible, but who replaces him? Diaby is the answer, but he is injured you reply. Not Wenger’s fault? Well it certainly isn’t Wenger’s fault that he is injured, but it is his fault that he let Song go and didn’t buy any cover. Anyone who decides to depend on Diaby for a full season is the kind of person who uses Liquorice shoe laces in mountain climbing boots on attempting Everest.

The substitutions

I felt these were made too far late in the game, Arshavin was a sensible idea, but then taking off Podolski and later Giroud, with only Gervinho and Coquelin as replacements didn’t make that much sense. Well no doubt they were tired, so that bit makes sense, but the replacements were substandard which didn’t  make sense.

Arsenal now have 1 point out of 3 games away, and two of those teams were in the bottom three just before Arsenal’s arrival.  If your team is in the doldrums then a visit from the Gunners must be a welcome relief.

Wenger we don't know what you're doing -squad threadbare?

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 25/11/2012 10:50

Arsenal Times
25/11/2012 10:50

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:28:21:51:04 by eduardo.

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Merlion96
27/11/2012 16:00

C'mon, Arsene Wenger had a valid excuse:
"My players are physically fatigued after playing a mid-week CL Cup tie.."

And of course, he forgot to whinge on the horrible pitch condition which is not billaird-table perfect and than horrid British weather which always seemed to derail his title aspiration during those wintry months.

You are barking up the wrong tree as this is his finest Arsenal team that can play his finest Tiki Taka Crab Football on a billiard-table perfect pitch on a sunny afternoon...albeit during August/September and April/May months only without a Horrednous Injury List and those returnees from Colney Medical Centre like "new signings".

Adn of course, Arsene Wenger is not a liar and did kept his promise to win a "piece of silverware within 2 years" as he had been winning the "Top-4 Trophy" every season since 1997/98 season.

See, you lots of Islington denizens are so so ungrateful to Le Professeur for transforming your beloved neighbourhood "mommy & poppy" football club into an American global multi-national corporation..and paying the top-performing employers the lowest possible salaries that is way way below market values...

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Padre Pio
27/11/2012 19:44

Of course Merl I just wondered why he puts players on bench that are not fit to play

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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Merlion96
28/11/2012 14:59

Well, it is like those w.hores on display in the window at Amsterdam or Hamburg...

Wenger is putting them on the bench to attract johns managers to buy or loan 'em..

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Padre Pio
28/11/2012 20:32

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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