I like it that Xhaka has been sending through balls for Aubameyang to run onto. We should be looking to do this more often.

Useless for 90 min, then that pass for Aubameyang. Still, not good enough for the day, 3/10.

That 3rd goal so vital. At 2-1 I’m not sure I fancied us. Of course we can score over there but Emery mustn’t over think it, we must go to score.
Last night we had
Decent gk
Shambles in defence
Slow, lack of mobility in midfield
Strikers who can bail us out

Seems like most of our season

I liked our second goal last night mainly because we don’t score those types of goals but we should be able to get more. Good quality early ball in to the box and a striker who has better movement than the defender. Height or strength doesn’t come in to it when you have an early ball and good movement.

The best exponents of this are Liverpool, full backs slinging in cross after cross and Mané mostly getting between defenders to finish. Would love to see us do more of this. Our play tends to cut back inside from wide positions or try to get to the byline for the cut back cross

I hope somehow Chelsea will lose the semi as unlikely as it seems right now. I don't think we can beat them in the final if we meet.
Mathematically we are out of the top 4. If we end up 5th, the Europa final will mean for us than it will for Chelsea will already have qualified. Its a European trophy so obviously they will be up for it as well as it being a rival. We will have more on the line though. I just don't trust ourselves to step up. Imagine the indignity of Chelsea denying us CL twice over? Unless I misunderstand how it works. If Chelsea gets 4th and win the Europa, then who goes?

I realise they got an away goal but had I been offered a 3-1 win before the game I'd have taken it. We're more than capable of scoring out there. A two goal margin from the home leg; I'm happy enough with that. A dodgy start at the back with Valencia missing a really good chance then scoring. But after that I thought we did okay defensively.

I think it’s on okay result but I just never trust the dynamic of European ties where you give away an away goal.

If we can lose 3 nil at Leicester we can lose 2 nil in Valencia

I was watching Koscielny quite carefully last night. He seemed really uncomfortable. He seemed OK for challenges, indeed I thought he played really well, but as soon as the ball was cleared, he was feeling his calf and ankle, limping, stretching and visibly wincing. I think he may indeed be *%^@**. That’s sad.

I was also watching Mesut Özil quite carefully. He strolled through the evening, making little or no effort to track back or get involved. Another phoned-in performance - the latest of many. No wonder he has no desire to leave next season. Split nail? Bad back? Runny poo? Not in the squad? Not picked? Who cares! He enjoys the easiest of lives. £50,000 per day for that? He is a bluffer. For £20m per season, I expect to see some semblance of an effort and some attempt to influence the game. When he joined us, he definitely had something about him - a bit of an aura backed up by skill, invention and silky movement. But that's all long gone. With no disrespect to those who still see something in him that I just don't, I wish he'd just *%^@ off. As soon as, please.

Very sad to see another of our better players' careers coming to an apparent early end. Despite his not being as good as he was, we'll miss Kos nearly as much as we missed Santi imo.

The Özil thing. He is thoroughly selfish, vain and arrogant. I agree he should *%^@ right off.

Problem is, we have no-one else like him who can play a through ball.

I was trying to explain (for about the hundredth time) to my Dad about the away goals rule. He used to know it, but at the grand old age of 94, he struggles to remember things.

But we both agreed that whilst conceding an away goal wasn't good, we're more than capable of scoring one or more over there. So that 3rd goal was a vital one, obviously.

And, amidst all the doom and gloom, is it worth reminding ourselves that we are 3:1 up in a European semi final? Or have we become a little bit like Chelsea or Man Utd fans, who are arrogant enough expect to win all the time?

Yes, a 3-1 first-leg win shouldn't be sniffed at. Usually to win in Valencia is a very big ask of most teams, but to get a draw is not unrealistic - in La Liga this season I think Valencia have drawn many times at home. Fingers crossed.

Agree, 3rd goal was massive, gives us a great chance to get to the final but still anticipate a few problems in Spain next week. At times Valencia looked very good on the ball.

If we play two up front, they actually make goals for each other. If we only play one, we rely on our mf to create the chances and in terms of creativity, our mf is currently as poor as I've seen for many years.

Based on track record, I will be surprised if he plays two up front for the second leg. As such, I think we're vulnerable.

Only problem with 2 up front is that because we have 3 centre backs it means the opposition will have most of the control of the midfield battle. Your sacrificing control of the game for greater threat

Yes Özil is such a lazy *%^@**

The other week at home he got the ball and charged forward driving in between 2 players which was good but it occurred to me how little he does that these days. Half his touches these days are simply recycling possession to other players, he doesn’t even want to run.

It’s like he’s got this huge contract now and is taunting the club by saying “pay me off” and his comments this week about honouring his contract could be interpreted that way. I genuinely think we could be stuck with him for some time.

Did anyone notice Steve Bould when goal 3 went in. All the coaching staff jumped up celebrating but he just sat there ashen faced.
Wtf

Mmm, I actually thought Özil had a good game last night and worked pretty hard.

Had I been offered a 3-1 win before the game, I'd have taken it even though their away goal means the tie isn't over. After a dodgy start at the back, once they'd got their goal I felt we looked pretty secure for the big majority of the game.

I've said it before, but unfortunately because of a mix between age and injury Koscielny needs replacing. He's 34 next season and while various central defenders have gone on beyond that age, the likes of John Terry didn't have Koscielny's long-term injury record. Sadly I suspect he's f*cked.

Yeah, I didn't think he was particularly bad last night.

The third goal was clearly massive. 2-1 with this team is very iffy, so the third changed the whole complexion of the second game. It should have been more truth be told, we missed some decent chances. But 3-1 is very satisfying all things considered.

Just read that there is an allegation some of the Valencia fans were making Nazi salutes. Disgusting if true. In this day and age are people still doing that BS at football matches (yet alone anywhere)?

Not so.

They are two points ahead of us with two game to go, including Leicester away. Watford at home is hardly a banker either. And goal difference is close enough to turn over.

They were and making monkey noises. There’s a video on the internet.

The statement from Valencia is incredible saying they will punish the culprits but see if they were provoked into it!


It’s incredible its 2019 and we’re still talking about utterly disgusting and abhorrent racism taking place.

Özil - 2 assists all season.

Blinding.

Sadly, I think Kos is finished even as a backup. I expect him to retire at the end of the season. He had a dreadful injury last year and he is quite obviously playing through the pain. Fine player but I don't think his body can cope with top level football anymore.

Normally, I'd see Sunday as a home win banker but I really don't know ever since that Palace match. Mathematically its out of our hands. I don't expect Chelsea to falter. Fingers crossed. I'm not excited about the rest of the league matches and marginally interested in the title race. If circumstances force a title game, that would be interesting, save that. I'm hoping City wins. I won't be able to stand the probable over the top celebration if Liverpool wins. The one title that I completely appreciated the celebration was Leicester. Now we are back to the top 3 from the previous season winning the title which has happened every season except one since '92. An eerily consistent thing that seems to defy a certain amount of logic.

You keep banging on about ungrateful bed wetting fans ........ It's a forum and when a team of Arsenal's stature has lost to Everton , Palace , Wolves , Brighton , Leicester in dismal fashion and struggled against a ten man Watford outfit what is everybody supposed to do ......?
All sing " tra la la diddle de dee dee everything is rosy in the garden " and give him another few years to sort out the post Wenger mess .

My biggest beef with Unai is he hasn't canned this goddamn worthless mind numbing tippy tappy and no matter which players inherited he should be able to accomplish that .

but you said " what the masses want to hear " the masses don't want to hear Mustafi is a very good player ; they want to hear he has been sold to Ulan Bator F . C .


What nearly ended my tenure on this planet ....... ? could have been the introduction of sheep sheight I to my water fertiliser barrel , eating unwashed cherry tomatoes , nastertium capers ...... who knows . Wife was very supportive .

Emery strikes me as a bit of a mealy mouth ; " I'm proud of my team " when they've been smashed and offered no resistance isn't the line I'd take .
Reminiscent of Arsene's last few years ....... now I'm not saying we have to go full blown Mourihno ; tearing players to bits at the after match press conference if they've made mistakes but I'd like a little more Sam Allardyce type realism .
I'd like us to buy a big mouthy hard arse English , Irish or Scot's midfielder ....an Alan Ball , Roy Keane , Graeme Souness type to both anchor the midfielder and deliver a rocket to Iwobi , Mkhitaryan , Özil , Kolasinac , Bellerin , Xhaka when they spray overhit passes , goal attempts that land on the stadium roof etc .

Tippy tappy is gone, dead, kaput

What team have you been watching this year kiwi

I am not sure it has. Too often we see the keeper play to our back who plays to Guendouzi who has no one to play to and then back to the backs and no one ever really making space in front and it just goes round and round 40-50 metres away from where we need to score. When things are a bit tough the players try not to put themselves in a position where they have to get the ball.

There are simply not enough players who can make a really cutting pass forward. I thought we looked better the other night when Guendouzi pushed forward a bit. He has a lot to learn but I have faith in him and he can make a telling pass. Given how much Xhaka cost and the fact he puts together a good game about 1/4 and Özil whenever, Kolansic or M-N very rarely I have to say we may need to pin our midfield future in him.

yeah poor choice of words when my blood pressure was up after another dismal performance. Do these type of players exist or has the PC brigade won and no one is allowed to criticise. By the way when we conceded the other night Lacca was shown on the tv here tapping the side of his head and telling other players to concentrate.

I was really happy with our win but jeez we gave up some really easy chances which they failed to take advantage of.

It has

If we get into a promising position around the opposing box now the ball is played in for an attempt on goal. Last season and the one before we had the ludicrous situation of the ball be cut back and staggering over passing before the chance goes away because nobody wanted to take responsibility. The tippy tappy has definitely gone we are far more direct

We are missing some creative midfield talent definitely but the scenario of Monreal being too scared to cross it when our centre forward is running into the box has evaporated with Arsene

There is definitely a need for the line breaking central mid. It’s been mentioned a few times but that Cazorla type player, collect it, turn, accelerate or turn past the press and drive us forward 20 yards and make 4 or so of their players be ahead of the ball.

He’s only 5ft 10. I’d love to see a really tall dominant CB

Rumour has it that Turkish hard man Tot Ali Uzelez is on his way to The Emirates as a Kos replacement.

Very good Hoy. There might be some friction with our happy go lucky Greek fella though.

An alternative version of it has emerged though. All this playing triangles with the keeper. I actually wouldn't be surprised if some manager soon decides to try route one football with a big target man and zippy second forward. Then again, there are so few English managers out there, maybe not.

That’s absolutely part and parcel of playing out from the back. Every team does it these days including city. All about retention of the ball.

If you have watched over the last few weeks though you’ll notice we have done less of it. Particularly againest Napoli where Leno was hitting longer passes.

The tippy tappy was the Wengery over passing in the final 3rd when nobody wanted to take responsibility to shoot, cross or play a through ball. The most absurd brand of football I’ve seen

This is a brilliant walk down memory lane

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/eu ... tory.shtml

I'm not sure it's just the last few weeks. I think we've been getting the ball forward quicker pretty well all season. To be honest I think some are exaggerating the extent to which we indulge in tippy tappiness these days.

Under Wenger it was awful. It took multiple passes to get the ball up to the half way line from the keeper, and once it had the ball often came back to our own half. The two most boring Arsenal teams I've seen were those of Graham his last years, and those of Wenger again in his last years. Completely different styles of play, but both deadly boring.

When I said last few weeks I really just meant Lenos goal kicks rather than being more direct which you are absolutely correct on we have been doing all year.

I think we played more boring football in Wengers last 2 years than at any point under George. The contrast between Wenger and Emery’s style is significant.

Last season in a game I remember Monreal breaking forward with Aubameyang running into the box being pursued by a defender but rather than toss it into the penalty area he cut it back, the opposition got defenders back and after a bout of over passing it was back with our defenders.

Now look at our 2nd goal on Thursday, Xhaka simply tosses a speculative ball into the area and Lacazette gets a head to it. Totally direct, I’m not sure we would have done that last year.

Absolute penalty & probably red card & once again the ref misses a Spurs player basically hack someone down . They should be made to explain.