• Pissed off

  A bit biased with your review Dev. Right to say Vela was your man for the day; Song was mine though. And saying we have been shot in attack than in mf is a bit being over excited by the day, that’s understandable.

• Fabrez

  Song was my man of the match for sure. He broke up play and added to our offensive play. The offensive side is something he has developed very well recently. His ball distribution has imoroved tremendously, both in the air and along the ground. And he’s always been a defensive player so his defensive play is getting better & better. As i mentioned before, i liked Arshavin’s defensive game as he tackled very well, and offensive play continues to improve…his thru ball were top-class. Eduardo was very good as was Vela. Vela was all over the pitch, contributing very well all-round and like Eduardo scored a great goal. Eboue looked sharp, good goal for him. Our defensive & Fabianski were solid. Theo looked fresh and ready for action. As is the usual story with us, we could have scored more but the game made my day without a doubt.

• Pissed off

  Fabrez, Arshavin is just in a class of his own. Just unfortunate the team doesn’t make the most of it. That been said, his Corners are a bit terrible. He really should work on it.

• Fabrez

  lol…yeah…those corners were way too easy for the keeper every time!

• jeffvip

  < ![CDATA[Pissed off,Fabrez
  Arshavin seems he needs really extra power when he is try to hit the ball from the corner, maybe this is his style? just like beckham looks like he is gonna fall when crossing too :P Still, he seems lack of confidence when taking corner and Vela is much much better at the opposing site of the goal post.

  I saw some comment on whether we need a DM for next season. A high reputation DM is certainly great things for us but now I really like Song and what he is capable of us. I prefer Song over Denilson simply because of his physical presence. He makes player from Burnley looks so small. And we must not forget we too have Diaby which is equally great against Burnley. There is only 1 place for 3 players thus i really doubt AW will make a purchase for DM this summer.]]>

• AJ

  < ![CDATA[I was at the match and it was GREAT, I think we put in a top performance and we could of one but atleast another one or two, but there was one or two periods where we were chasing the ball, until Song stepped in usually and I have been a strong voice saying we need to invest in a DM, but I've also been impressed with Song throughout the season, I think he's been one of the few consistant players, but I'm still not sure whether Wenger should invest in a new DM or a CM who can tackle and pass because even though Song played some great balls, he had quite a few woeful passes. As for Arshavin, I liked him from the start and each time I see him play he grows as a player in my books, I agree the team don't utilise him as much as they could and it's a shame, I think he was unlucky in the couple of times he had space to open up, one the ball got trapped beneath his foot and then bobbled out behind him and the other one on one when I thought he would go on and score, however he played well and think how good he'll be once properly settle and use to the english game.

  However Dev, I think you should of noted the performance put in by Gibbs at leftback, I think only once or twice Burnley got the better of him, but most of the game he had Eagles shackled and put in a number of good tackles, as well as joining in the attack and he had a great run late in the game, it's a shame him and most of our team still haven't learnt to pull the trigger, I mean he was in the box, with space to shoot and passed it out, I think walcott did the same later on. But yeah, Gibbs was great and for those who complain about us not playing english players, there's the two fingers right back up at them. Overall it was a good game though.]]>

• Pissed off

  AJ are you sure you are not mistaken Arshavin to Walcot, Cos one can easily make such mistakes. I never saw Arshavin played into a one on one situation except Theo.

• Pete

  < ![CDATA[A lovely, lovely win over giant killers Burnley :D Thats two North London clubs that have knocked them out of cup comps this season.

  Great to see that quality collectively shine throughout the team. We did have to weather a storm here and there, but overall it was such a pleasing win. The goals were suberb, every single one of them. Well done to the lads!

  It's good that we can still say that there's still a lot to do and play for in this competition. The next game against Hull is very important for us. It'll be the first premiership team we've faced off in an FA Cup round, and we'll need to be totally focused on them before we even begin mentioning going to Wembly. But our lads definately have it in them, thats for sure.

  Come on Arsenal :D]]>

• Gooner Get Ya

  < ![CDATA[Excellent finishing from both Vela and Eduardo. It was a good game against a lesser team...lets not get too excited. We are getting to the sharp edge of the competition with Hull and then possiblely Chelsea to beat before we meet either Man U or Everton in the final....not easy.

  When is poor old Sagna going to get a rest...he must be knackered....have we got another RB?]]>

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  < ![CDATA[
  

  It was a good game against a lesser team…lets not get too excited.

  It was an impeccable performance against a team who came to defend and hit us on the break – teams like Sunderland. Not only did we limit their threat by dominating their midfield, we scored 3 brilliant incisive goals.

  Burnley are only a Championship team, but they are a team with form, who play nice football and have had great runs in both domestic cups. They played better football than both Stoke and WBA.

  Arsenal did well to break down the opposition and it was so nice to see Eddy score – Walcott also looked incredibly hungry. Brilliant to see them back – Arsenal look dangerous again!]]>

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  Also – Walcott came on as a forward. Anyone else thing Adebayor’s days are numbered? Van Persie, Bendtner, Walcott, Edaurdo, Walcott, Vela – and then Adebayor as attacking options. I just can’t see him sticking around to sit on the bench, he’s too arrogant.

• Ernie

  Kieran; Wenger is too dozy to realise that, you just wait and see when adaflop comes back, wenger will play him over any of the others.

• Dan

  < ![CDATA[The word to describe Eduardo's return is Epic. The difference he brings to the team is probably as great as Cesc's in my opinion. He usually does what he does quite subtly, but was actually showboating a lot. The flicks aren't what his game is about, but its great to see he already has the confidence to be throwing them out there.

  I hope he can carry this early form into the premiership, because he will win us games, Fact.

  Oh and props to Gibbs as AJ said, i was really happy with his performance, much improved again.]]>

• Fabrez

  < ![CDATA[Well Gooner Get Ya... we don't have another RB unless u count Eboue who used to play there. We sold Justin Hoyte... Gavin Hoyte is on loan so we are a bit short in that position. That very thought crossed my mind yesterday actually. He plays so much. I think he will be like Clichy last season in terms of playing the most games of the season for us. But to his credit, he has played consistently well so far. Doesn't look too tired.

  And Ade is definitely down in the pecking order. All our other forwards have looked so much more threatening than him. He's still big headed thanks to last season & those Barca/Milan summer links so he might just go if he doesn't get his own way...]]>

• Steve

  < ![CDATA[Great return by Eduardo. 3 goals in 2 games, both of which he came off as a sub at around 60/70 mins. Unbeleivable for a player who has been out for a year!

  You can see how he averaged a goal a game in Croatia, any weakness shown be a defence an he is ruthlessly efficient.]]>

• CON-MAN

  < ![CDATA[agree with u all, i think sagna will get a rest eventually for FA CUP games i'd put eboue at right back, put walcott right mid, arshavin left mid and then that way he can get a small rest and eboue who isnt a starter anywhere can get a run out

  just hope we dont get anymore injuries from now til the end of the season, talk abt Utd having excess forwards look at us! eduardo, VP, adebayor, vela, walcott, arshavin, nasri, bendtner!]]>

• zohaib

  < ![CDATA[*falls off chair, stares in amazement* :

  Kieran: "...Anyone else thing Adebayor’s days are numbered? Van Persie, Bendtner, Walcott, Edaurdo, Walcott, Vela - and then Adebayor as attacking options..."

  We have TWO Walcotts ?!?!!?

  Dan - I really don't think Eduardo was showboating at all. The flicks that he gave were precise through balls to his teammates and they were anything but pointless. Showboating is when you do something that's pointless. Like Ronaldo and his infinite stepovers. He runs at players does his stepovers pointlessly and then passes it to someone else. I think you may want to review your definition of 'showboating'.]]>

• zohaib

  < ![CDATA[Kieran - I don't think Burnley played a defensive game at all. They didn't defend and wait for the counter. They played very well in the first half. Closing us down very quickly. Even Wenger said that they made it very hard for us by doing that and not giving us time. After the first 20 minutes we started to edge above them in terms of posession but by no means were they happily sitting back and absorbing. They were trying to win the ball back at every opportunity.
  It wasn't until they were 2 - 0 down in the second half did they start to sit back and defend and then counter.

  They played some good stuff going forward and we managed to keep their efforts out, just about. Fabianski made some strange decisions at times and Gallas and Djourou weren't as solid as I would have liked, or as solid as a title-winning team should be.

  Going forward, we were pretty good. Our third goal was ruled out incorrectly and that was Arsenal through and through. What a fantastic move. The sublime pass by Arshavin and the movement of Walcott who passed it to VanPersie who cut inside and put it in the back of the net.
  All our goals were brilliant. Not only were we creating but we were actually finishing the moves off in style as well. Hell, Eboue got a goal. ( And he could've had more. )That is enough proof that the finishing was working for us LOL. Eduardo missed the header off of the fantastic pass by Sagna. It could've and should've been 5 - 0 or more.]]>

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  < ![CDATA[It depends on your definition of defensive I guess, but only having one player in the oppositions half and closing the opposition down is generally regarded as fairly defensive. They actually only had two shots on target as well so whilst they did push forward a bit (especially after we opened the scoring) they weren't exactly throwing bodies forward.

  After the first 20 minutes we started to edge above them in terms of posession but by no means were they happily sitting back and absorbing. They were trying to win the ball back at every opportunity.

  Yeah I think you’ve either misunderstood me or willfully ingored what I meant. I never said they sat back off of us – I meant they very rarely had more than two bodies forward and played 4-5-1. That’s hardly attacking!! Their ‘striker’ touched the ball all of 5 times.

  They were definately looking to hit us on the break and nearly managed it a few times. Or defense looked edgy!]]>

• zohaib

  That’s because we were so good at keeping the ball, as we usually are, that they, like most other teams, found it difficult to win and keep posession of the ball, for the majority of the time. When they did win it back and managed to keep it for a while, they did manage to penetrate our midfield and did reach our third of the pitch. That’s not ‘hardly attacking’ at all.

• Berth

  Kieren and Zohaib, you both talk so much about tactics as if though you are in the football business. Has anyone got anything to say about Arsenal/Roma; Inter/man u.

• zohaib

  < ![CDATA[My friend pointed out to me that Wenger will play a 4 - 5 - 1 away in Rome. At first I didn't agree but maybe he's got a point. Does anyone here think we'll play a 4 - 5 - 1 ? If so, who plays as the starting 11 ?

  I personally think it may be a 4 - 4 - 2 with Diaby and Denilson in the center and Walcott and Nasri out wide. With Eduardo and VanPersie up front.

  It could be a 4 - 5 - 1 with Eboue and Nasri out wide and a midfield three of Song, Denilson and Diaby, and VanPersie up front on his own, as he got quite a rest last week, playing only 30 minutes in 2 matches.]]>

• zohaib

  And I have a feeling Inter will beat ManU

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  < ![CDATA[
  

  Kieren and Zohaib, you both talk so much about tactics as if though you are in the football business.
  I play for a semi professional team ]]>

• Dan

  < ![CDATA[Zohaib - I think you need to review your definition of showboating. "Showboating is when you do something that is pointless." So when i pointlessly tap my finger on my desk i am showboating?

  In football, showboating is linked with flashy tricks - pointless or not. Thats why Soccer AM had/have a section in their show, called the showboat, where a compilation of generally effective flashy tricks are made. Things like Ronaldinho scoring a bicycle kick - i wouldn't call that pointless myself.

  Either way, you knew what i meant, so take your head out your own ass and stop trying to moderate peoples comments. lol. *That comment is in jest*]]>

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  < ![CDATA[:D

  Edaurdo could have headed it, or put his foot through it - he even had time to bring it down and place it. To hit it with the outside of what looks like his heel is audacious - amazing skill sure - but flashy and showboating for definate!

  Oxford dictionary definition of showboat:

  One who seeks attention by ostentatious behavior; a showoff.
  

  I’d say that covers it, he sure got a shitload of attention for it!]]>

• Pissed off

  4- 5- 1 with VP doesnt seem good to me, but that seems the only good choice for now

• willsscott

  < ![CDATA[4-5-1 away in Rome doesn't seem to bad, I think Wenger will be wanting to play sensible, counter-attacking football, especially as they will have to come on to us an we know that we can break quickly.

  A midfield of Eboue-Song-Diaby-Denilson-Nasri looks possible, with RvP upfront, or possibly Bendtner with RvP playing behind him, drifting onto the left from time to time to allow either Diaby or Nasri to get forward, then its the choice between Song and Denilson.

  Anyone know when the draw for the next round is?]]>

• Pissed off

  that would be next week Friday, Willsscott.

• Pete

  Roma away wont be easy, they are decent side, but I think that having the away game as the second leg has worked out alright for us, as it coincides with the return of a few more attacking players. We might not have managed to score if we played the 1st leg away with the team we had then. Theo and Eduardo look fresh, and having rested Nasri, Denilson, Bendtner and RvP only doing 30mins could just be enough. With the advantage that away goals have, I don’t see us failing to score at least one goal. They’ve already failed to capitalise on that advantage when they were at the Emirates, so even though its far from won yet, by the looks of things we should have enough in the squad to get to the next round.

• zohaib

  < ![CDATA[Dan little man - Did I hit a nerve ? Did I bruise your ego ? You're so easy. You really have quite a bit of useless time to engage in stupid arguments with people you don't even know. That really sums you up. Immature and childish. Probably depressed as well. I pity you. I really do.

  Showboating is when you do something that is pointless (OBVIUOSLY TALKING ABOUT FOOTBALL YOU JACKASS). Who's putting words in who's mouth, hypocrite.

  I don't give a shit about what Soccer AM's definition of anything is. And I didn't say Ronaldinho scoring a bicycle kick is pointless. Stop moderating peoples' comments you arrogant, pea-brained prick.

  Eduardo was doing anything but showboating. The goal he got was great skill, but nowhere near showboating. In fact, most people thought he miss-kicked it. Either way, he had the intention of attempting a shot at goal, so it can't be showboating. Showboating is only when you do something that is unneccessary and done to frustrate opponents. Sometimes it is flashy, sometime's its not. For example, some time ago when Manutd were winning against us and there were a few minutes to go till the end of the match, Ronaldo took the ball to the corner flag and started doing pointless stepovers, that led to nothing but time-wasting. That is classic showboating.

  You said : "...He usually does what he does quite subtly, but was actually showboating a lot. The flicks aren’t what his game is about, ..."

  And now you're actually defending yourself. Shameful. So every time someone does a flick it's showboating ?! Absolute garbage logic. Eduardo's game is all about quick thinking and he's got quick feet. You can do nothing but expect that he'll do something intelligent with his feet, and do it super-quick. That's exactly the kind of player he is. Don't believe me ? Look at what Wenger said after the game. Isnt' that also why Eduardo's leg was broken ? Because that prick Taylor thought he could get there before Eduardo and obviously Eduardo was too quick (for his own good, then). And the tackle was idiotic as well since it was a straight leg challenge. In my opinion it was the equivalent of a jab. And when done with the feet, with studs showing, is lethal at the kind of pace the game of football is played at.

  Anyway, you're confusing intelligence and skill with showboating. Like I said before, Eduardo did one backheel when he passed it into the path of VanPersie, and it was a great pass, because VanPersie could've been one-on-one and possibly got a goal. It was anything but pointless and hence definitely not showboating.]]>

• zohaib

  < ![CDATA[Kieran - why don't you do yourself a favor and go to your beloved dictionary, and while you're at it, look up the definition of 'twat'.

  Eduardo didn't have the kind of time you seem to think he did. The whole point was that he intelligently outplayed the offside trap and took a shot on goal as quick as possible to dodge the defender and goalkeeper, and give them as little time to react. If he did take a touch, the defender would've got back in position and so would the goalkeeper and the chance would've gone. Countless times we're calling for the players to take a shot on goal, when they take too many touches and pass it about too many times, when the better option is just to take a shot. Here is a guy who's done exactly what we wanted him to do and now we're suggesting he should've taken another touch if he wanted himself not to be called a showboater. Disgusting logic. Absolutely pathetic.]]>

• Debs

  < ![CDATA[Right. As to the CL matches 2moro, I'm thinking Chelsea should have too much for Juve, but the Man U Inter match is a bit hard to call. My heart wants Inter, but logic says Man U, but hopefully Mourinho will do one over Fergie once more.

  As to our game on weds, I agree with Wilscott that Roma couldn't take advantage of us when we had a weakened team, so hopefully the guys coming back will be the difference. But Roma are pretty decent at home though. I think they beat Chelsea 3-1 during the group stages earlier on, so a win for us is definitely not a done deal. The guys back from injury, Walcott and Eduardo, will be looking to impress some more, especially Walcott, to show they're definitely over their injuries. It should be a cracking game, and the away goals rule may just work in our favour. But we've got to take more of the chances we create, not like the home leg. But with Eduardo in spectacular form and VP well rested, coupled with Walcott and Vela probably in the squad, don't think it'd be that much of a worry. Fingers crossed as usual, though!]]>

• CON-MAN

  i cant believe were arguing abt ”showboating” it doesnt matter, eduardo scored a cracker, blatantly not offside (owen coyle said he kept watching the replay as he thought it was) we played well and i think even a 4-5-1 v inter isnt bad, personally id see bendtner as the loan striker with VP on left mid, u cant leave VP up there by himself, that way if roma do score, we can quickly shift to 4-4-2 or what not

• Debs

  good point con-man, as to switching to 4-4-2 in case we concede an early goal. But for some reason, I feel as if we can keep a clean sheet on weds, but having that formation as back-up wouldn’t hurt…

• Steve

  < ![CDATA[Damn zohaib, you need to calm down boy.

  Don't think the shot was show boating, just a left footed player finding a very clever way to use his preferred foot and pulling it off in style.

  There were 1 or 2 little flicks and back heals from eduardo once we were dominating that didn't quite come off, but nothing more audacious than the simply back heel from song for the 3rd.

  451 would be tempting and wenger is happy to use it, especially away from home in Europe. I just worry that it means dropping a striker or playing rvp out of position. Personal preference would be 442 knowing that the away goal would practically seal it, but I trust Wenger to play it right.]]>

• zohaib

  Steve – and you don’t feel Dan should calm down ?! He was the one who started getting hot-headed for no reason. Why must you people always see me as the one who needs to calm down. Why the hell can’t you see the root cause and try to correct it rather than someone who’s reacting as a result of it ?!

• Pissed off

  < ![CDATA[Zohaib; I have always been on your side but you have got to be calm. It doesn't pay to be this harsh; we are meant to be a family in this forum and not being hateful in such an uncalm way.

  I understand your frustration towards the team sometimes, so do most of us. We are all in this together and shouldn't be tough at any slight provocation.

  I still like your football knowledge and will always do. But please try to be calm and reasonable.]]>

• AJ

  Guys chill, we’re all here for the same reason, we love arsenal, we have differences of opinion, thats expected, just remember the game for what it was, a great one.

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  < ![CDATA[
  

  Kieran – why don’t you do yourself a favor and go to your beloved dictionary, and while you’re at it, look up the definition of ‘twat’.

  Zohaib little man – Did I hit a nerve ? Did I bruise your ego ? You’re so easy. You really have quite a bit of useless time to engage in stupid arguments with people you don’t even know. That really sums you up. Immature and childish. Probably depressed as well. I pity you. I really do.

  I can’t believe I got called a twat for quoting a dictionary! ]]>

• Gooner Get Ya

  Fight, fight ,fight. LOL you guys crack me up. I liked AW’s translation of a “beach goal”…lets just leave it there.

• Dan

  < ![CDATA[That was pretty random. Made me laugh quite a bit, Zohaib. Not sure where you got the idea i was being hot headed.

  If you were offended by my last comment, i guess you don't understand the phrase "in jest". If you can find time between foaming at the mouth and biting your keyboard, look it up :)

  Kieran, quoting the dictionary is fine, as long as it isn't proving him wrong!]]>

• zohaib

  < ![CDATA[Finally !

  Someone saw the humor in it.]]>

• http://kierandelaney.net/blog kierandelaney.net/blog

  < ![CDATA[Ah phew, I thought you were being serious this past year and were just generally a cock to anyone who disagreed with you! I didn't realise it was all a wind up!

  Very good.]]>

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