A question that has come up in my mind a few times over the years:

What on earth happened in our 2005/6 CL run?.

Didn't we get 11 clean sheets in a row?, what was different there or was it just a fluke?, I think we had Flamini at LB as Cole had just left and Senderos was playing regularly (!), even Eboue may have been involved (!!).

It just seems odd that we were so defensively organised in that competition, I just looked up our league performance which was not especially impressive, our defensive record was okay but not spectacular.

It just seems at odds with Wenger's teams post invincibles where we've typically been defensively frail, am I missing something or maybe it was just a fluke..

Jack has been ruined by injuries but was a good player but I think people won't be aware how much we'll miss ox. He can play in a variety of positions and provides energy in the midfield area. I don't think it's a good move letting him go

Wasn't Martin Keown involved in coaching the defence that year?

Martin keown was briefly involved in coaching the defence and still don't forget we had Sol too. After that season Wenger ditched keown because he was reportedly being to vocal and hands on with the players.

Cole left the pre season after the final as he was injured with pires and the rest is history.

If Bould isn't involved in coaching the squad defensively or training then I can't imagine what his day to day job is. He's basically a version of Gunnersaurus without the green costume and happy movements.

Have you ever watched him and wenger on the bench. There's hardly any dialogue between the 2 what so ever during the game. They literally sit there looking like they are watching the movie Schindlers List instead of their own team.

He can't like Wenger

It's most peculiar, Arsenal are an absolute dictatorship it's just bizarre

End to end match as of this writing, City up 2-1, could end up a draw....crossed fingers.

On another note, why haven't we seen more of Perez? These Wenger purchases where he buys them they show some promise and are hidden in the attic like an unwanted stepchild is bewildering.

Let's get real chaps, Ox has had a good run and is playing some good football.

Unfortunately he has no end product and at times still looks headless. Another great squad player but not the answer to our prayers.

Would like to keep him but if a good offer comes in it might be worth considering.

According to @lequipe Wenger will sign a 1-year contract extension & will be given huge amounts of funds to improve the squad.

It's never ending

Ox was exciting when we signed him but for me he was just one of those players who was promising for his age but hasn't made the progress you would expect from 18/19 to 23 years old. He is still hugely inconsistent, switches off frequently, doesn't have a great touch and frankly doesn't score enough - this season's 6 goals is his best ever. He has games or parts of games where he starts buzzing and takes players on but there isn't enough end product. If he was at another club, I doubt we would be too excited about signing him.

After a settling in period I think Wenger would make Reus go downhill as a player. Any difference will be marginal once Wenger has destroyed (too strong a word but I'll use it anyway) him. Players come, players go. But Arsenal's problems stay the same. What else can it be if it isn't Wenger?

Look, I accept there will be a difference if we had Messi rather than a modern day version of Jimmy Carter. But my point is that under Wenger, the difference will not be anything like as significant as it would be, or should be, under a manager who isn't a past it has-been. I therefore don't think who we buy and sell is as critical as some probably hope it is.

Great game in the Bundesliga: Leipzig 4 - 5 Bayern.

So true, Wenger is playing Reus in a different position every week if we had him.

Wenger will be hoping that when his regime comes to its inevitable end, things don't go quite so badly as it did for the odious Romanian dictator.. although he might be advised to leave sooner rather than later.

What the hell is wenger playing at ???
Ramsey and xhaka are beginning to strike up an understanding. Why disrupt that????
Against neanderthal brutes like shawcross you need pace and movement.
So he brings giroud back in at expense of welbeck.
Bloody stupid.

Yes I firmly believe he would make Reus go downhill. Ask bubblechris if Sanchez is having his best season, as I think his opinion will show it's debatable.

How many players have made the strides under Wenger we'd have hoped for? Was Koscielny the last unarguable one, because although I don't share bubblechris' opinion of him, I'm not convinced it is Sanchez? If it was Koscielny, he joined seven years ago.

You obviously love the past it has-been.

Wenger must rotate the squad. We have had a match every three days since the 7th. We have another match on the 16th. Playing the same XI will kill the FA Cup final possibly.

So can our team of under achieving overpaid spoilt children rack up another win? I'm glad Pulis isn't the Stoke manager anymore, we've got more chance against this version. Still expecting it to get a bit spicy though, and I'm already worried about a Xhaka red card.
Anyway, come on Arsenal.
And Wenger out.

Within the last week we have had two very tough matches. Home to Man Utd and away to Soton. This will mark a 3rd consecutive tough match. Combined with it being at the end of the season where legs are tired and fatigue is a factor. Team sheets are a tricky thing at this time. I am hoping there is enough team spirit and belief to see us through.

Stop asking stupid questions and look at the stats not Bernards opinion.

Since Xmas he is no longer the same play and playing him has 24/7 has wrecked the rest of the forward line.

Or it could end in a year's time?

From the exciting player we had when he first joined, maybe. I'm sure bubblechris would say he has. As I've said I don't share the opinions bubblechris has of him. But I suggest that from the player who burst onto the 'Arsenal scene' when he initially arrived, I probably would have to accept it's arguable - especially in the second half of this season.

Traitor!

We can safely say he has been 'advised'.

DD I think your wrong. He had to rotate or risk more breakdowns before the FA Cup final. It's a tall team possibly one of the tallest teams AW has ever played.If Monreal and Bellerin can use the wings we could have a good maybe even a great result.

I like the traditional yellow away kits but I must say the blue ones are nice. Sharp looking.

Then what's the point in offering him a year. An 8 million golden handshake

He should be fired, escorted from the premises and never allowed to return

Fool, 12 before Xmas 8 since and more important only 3 assists this year and not a single assist since Jan 31st?

You are selling the entire team

Just saw a plane flying over the stadium with a 'Wenger - Out means out!' banner.

No he's keeping Sanogo

Goodness, so boring game

Giroud!!!

Unsurprisingly Giroud has done nothing. Why he was picked for this type of game is beyond me.

Giroud does it again!
A good pass from both Le Coq amnd Bellerin.

His goal notwithstanding.

My stream is so behind, he still hasn't!!

Indeed. The players aren't as good, but most depart better than they arrived.

So frustrating that when we play Giroud when we are in good position to cross in the air we almost always cut back and try to keep the ball on the floor, often we then end up either losing the ball or back on the halfway line, I don't especially rate Giroud but ffs at least play to his strength, luckily Stoke are terrible today so we'll probably win inspite of this.