I feel like I type this every match but how often does the opposition clear a corner and it drops to one of their players rather than us and they start a counter attack? To me it seems that our players just follow the ball irrespective of whether they have a realistic chance of winning it, there is zero anticipation of there the second ball will land and no one is ever in any sort of decent position on the edge of the box to restart the attack.

It is such a simple thing.

The sad thing is that I think our best 11 minus Özil and Sanchez play exactly like this and struggle to create any sort of chance or shot at goal. So uninspiring.

I actually enjoy watching these cup teams more than the first team.
Nelson has done well, remember he's only 17. Jack has had some good moments and Debuchy has played well also considering how long he's been out.
Giroud has been poor and Walcott useless.

Another back pass when the offensive play is on. Frustrating .......

The Serbian defender just clouted Coq in the face. Deserved red.

Red Star down to 10 men. 10 minutes of normal time, plus added time, which should be at least 4. Not sure it was a second yellow, Coq went down hurt and probably helped the ref bring out the second yellow.

So, what are we going to do in these 14 or so minutes. Big chance to win it, I'd take off one of the CB and get on Akpom to play off Giroud.

Oh Giroud, for such a big guy you have such a delicate touch at times. Lovely overhead kick for 1-0

Deserved that. Giroouuuuuddd

Good goal from Giroud, assisted by Walcott. This is down to the good play of Wilshere.

Watching that again and it is by absolute miles the classiest piece of all round play in the game.
Wilshere turns and gets away from 3 players, plays it wide to walcott back in to wilshere who flicks it first time through to walcott again who gets up and nods it back to Giroud who swivels and volleys it over his shoulder in to the top corner

You just know tha Theo - Hi Guys - had his eyes closed for that header.

Jack over Özil for me. Maybe not always but now, obvious.

FT 0-1. One moment or real quality won it.

Wilshere clear MOTM again for me.

Agree 100%. It's just Wenger who feels he needs to keep Özil productive. Ironically, he is not productive on the field.

And that moment was possible with a one man advantage. Worrying times for Arsenal. We can't penetrate with pace. We are too slow in our build-ups. The players have been coached to allow back-passes as part of an offensive move. And, as a consequence, we do too much of that. They are allowed to play safe football.

Worth noting Sheaf made his first team debut tonight. I don't follow the youth teams as much as some on here but I read the match reports and other people's thoughts and Sheaf always seems highly thought of.

Whatever our problems at the moment, getting 9 from 9 in Europa with 2 of those away in eastern europe - all with make shift teams to rest the first team is decent going. Everton are playing a lot more first team players tonight so we have to take advantage on Sunday, either with a fast start or a fast finish when their legs tire - or preferably both!

Amen to that.

After that display from Jack he has to get more playing time in the first team, his turn from those 3 players leading to the goal, and his give and go was brilliant. Pleasantly surprised by Debuchy as well.

Imo the reason we don't push forward and prefer to pass the ball side to side is that our players have stopped making themselves available for passes.

Watched Liverpool on Saturday and in the first half they were fantastic at moving the ball forward as are Man City,
Watch them next time they play and see what I mean before you write this off as cant.

Agree with this, the off the ball movement is non existent. Lacazette is making classic centre forward runs and never getting the ball, he must be wondering what style of football we play and what he's meant to do?

Far too many touches in possession as well. I watched the first half of City v Napoli and virtually everything was 2 touch, the players defended together and moved left, right and forward together.

Football has moved past the death by a 1000 passes Barcelona style of 08-12 era, football is more about transitions now - ironically something we were the best in the land at back in 2001-04 era. Think of the times Vieira won the ball and with a single pass we were at the back four or even behind the back 4.

I'd like to see us go back to a back 4 (because lets be honest the back 3 hasn't really stopped goals or chances) and get the extra body in central midfield to get better control of games.

Any win is a great result. When I saw the team sheet it suggested a couple things to me. It tells me that Wenger really doesn't respect this cup. The XI could easily have been his typical League Cup side.
The good part of that is I am very, very happy for the young players to be playing on this stage. It's a European competition and for those young men to play in a far away pitch in a European competition has got to mean the whole world to them. Also, the experience as well must be memorable for them.
So, while I am a little dismayed to see what I think is a lack of respect for the competition and possibly the only way we will be in the CL, I am happy to see these young players get their chance.
Giroud, once again shows why he deserves a place in this side. Maybe not as a starter but certainly a place. Great match for Wilshire, and for his confidence that not only can he still play the highest level that there is a place for him with The Arsenal.

Socrates, have you watched this wonderful documentary?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TcFksZ9UW0

like a sub, then. Muppet.

Everton up. Usually a tough away match for us. I recall Rooney's wonder goal. I was gobsmacked. Remember it clearly. The bar I used to go to in LA is owned by a Liverpool fan and his Everton son in law. The son in law was giddy. That strike started Rooney's career and I knew at some point after a few more months and the world cup selection, Man Utd would come calling. It was a matter of when not if.
Anyway, we rested enough starters that we should be fresh for the match. Not expecting much. Right now I'll take a draw but as always hoping for a win.

Really?

Since 2000 we Won8 Drew 4 Lost 6
Scored 28 Conceded 20

or if you prefer since 2007

Won 5 Drew 3 Lost2
Scored 20 Conceded 12

Yep a tough game............................

https://www.evertonresults.com/arsenalhome.htm

Proof you talk crap..........................

btw fyi the last time they beat us at home was 1996 you dumb fecker

AG you've referenced your once "local" many times on here in LA.

I fancy us 3-0. We have absolutely no excuses given almost the whole team had a weeks rest and will need to 'bounce back'.

Yeah?
I am using the Brit term 'local' which I heard on here. I went there pretty much every week. The owners and regulars knew me. Before matches were on TV in America regularly, I (and other football fans) went there to watch matches live on satellite.
Good times. Good memories. All supporters in the same place so you got to know rival supporters on a personal basis. Felt weird at times. lol.

...I was back in LA last fall for a couple weeks and I visited it. Most of them were pensioners. I learned some people passed away, other things, etc. from the owner. It was nice being back for a visit. Many, many good and bad memories there football wise. 2002 and 2005 FA cups. Packed to the rafters, the RVN melee, the Rooney wonder goal for Everton and the Rooney dive to end the streak. The CL final versus Barca. It was far more diversified now. Used to be mostly Brits, and on rugby days, South Africans, Aussies, although they had a rugby bar in another part of LA, called the Springbok (South African owned I presume with that name). When I visited, other countries represented, a fight broke out actually, a bit of 'hand bags' I think you guy call it.

Wouldn't have happened back when I was a regular. You knew everyone and there was a line no one crossed, no matter what because we all had to share the bar and see the person the next weekend. I was eventually able to pick up the various accents. Liverpool, Geordie (still can't understand a word they say), Manchester, east vs west London, Brum, Scottish, etc.

The many stories over beer by the older guys of matches, life in the UK, etc, was priceless.

Gaz, got to agree with you but we always seem to balls up games I feel confident about. Giping this is the exception.

They really are in turmoil so would Lovett see a Lacazette hattrick or a Sanchez one even all assists from Jack or Özil.

Next games Norwich in cyp and Swansea at home. All doable I hope.

they felt weird did they - not surprised with you about - bullsh**ter extraordinaire

Expecting the Manchester sides to win and even though Chelsea have had their issues, I'm also expecting them to have an easier time with Watford that we did. It would be nice if they dropped points.
I am not sure if any Gooner expects us to be top 4 this season. I'm a bit surprised Chelsea seems to have dropped in form as much as they did since last season but I won't complain.
The question league-wise for us is will we be lower than 5th?

5th or 6th is basically academic, not much difference. Psychologically its bad if a team other than Liverpool, the Manchester sides and the two London sides finish above us.

Watford's Richarlson misses a sitter that would put them up 2-1 and a minute later, he lays it off for another player (maybe from lack of confidence) and they score. Hope the scoreline remains obviously. Chelsea have fell off considerably since last season. Not sure if its Costa going away or what, but happily they are not doing well it seems.

I leave and come back to find Chelsea won.

ffs do not look for the Man U score................

City smashing Burnley 3 nil

City score not a shocker but the Man Utd result put a smile on my face. Time for me to go into my annual, silly, irrational fear of another club going undefeated. I won't have peace of mind till City loses.

We're good enough to win against anyside in the league save City perhaps or at the very least get a draw. Its the mentality of the Wenger sides. We have had a few different sides since '04 and they all lacked mental toughness. I'm sure its what Sanchez. He saw weakness and a side that had talent (or he wouldn't have come) but lacked a fighting spirit that is sustainable.

The key today will be how we start. Too often, especially away from home, our game plan seems to be to try to control the game and take the early sting out of it and he crowd - this often means we don’t match the intensity of the opposition.

The crowd today will be looking for anything to grab on to and cheer, and we usually give it to them by crumbling under a high press, allowing the opposition to harass and bully us and fly in to tackles. Sometimes you have to match them in the fight first and then use your quality to finish them. Wenger just doesn’t seem to get that, he has blind faith in his way even after years of proof to the contrary.

The team we put out today should have had a weeks rest compared to Everton having many of their team playing midweek. My fear is that Everton still come out flying and we can’t match it. Every time we concede we seem to have every drop of confidence drained out of us and replaced with fear and panic.

Xhaka doesn't deserve his place in the team. He should be rested and given one to one about his attitude.