Per Mertesacker says it’s vital that Arsenal put the defeat to Swansea behind them and get back to winning ways in order to avoid a Champions League qualifier at the beginning of next season.
With a summer break potentially only two months long, the rest period for players is shorter than usual, and with some involved in summer tournaments like the Copa America, the Gold Cup, and the European U21 Championships, Arsenal would prefer not to have such a competitive game so early in the new campaign.
Speaking after the Swansea game, the BFG said, “It is very important to avoid the Champions League playoff because, when you look at the schedule, the break will not be that much.
“I think, even for non-international players, it is pretty weird. And we have a couple of Under-21 players, a couple of Copa America, I think… so it will again be a tight schedule.
“We’ll try to really avoid that.”
It remains in their own hands, but with a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, it could become even tighter without the right result there.
Mertesacker also highlighted the importance of the first goal, something Arsenal have been adept at in recent weeks, when discussing the defeat to Swansea on Monday evening.
“That was a good reminder how important it is to get the opener when you have the opportunities,” he said.
“When you don’t do that in the Premier League, you are battling for fourth place, not second. How simple is that?”
It’s that simple!
if you guys watched the CL last night there were two obvious pionts we’d better finally take note, first of as you saw sometimes its not about making chances as much as its about taking them, bayern played, bayern had the lion share of clear chances, but barca were the one taking their small share for good, thats what “world class strikers” are about, thats why our former one’s begging boss to find a new one. and of course we saw a “world class goalkeeper” can obviously save the day for you, those saves wont come from an almunia or… Read more »
Criticize Szczesny all you want about his mistakes and whatnot but his problem has never been saving ‘unsavable’ shots. He absolutely can make the saves of a Neuer/Ter Stegen/De Gea.
We bow down and worship at your superior knowledge.
They”ve done pretty well all things considered. I choose to look at the defeat as slight complacency mixed with an absolutely off day at the office.
The lads have proven that we can beat Utd. They just need maximum focus, they have the required talent.
I sincerely believe that we have improved this season whatever happens in the remaining games. Next season will surprise a lot of people.
Upwards and onwards.
COYG
Considering that the highest amount of voters on BBC text commentary voted they thought Arsenal will win the title next year, I hope we don’t surprise a lot of people!
No shit Sherlock
The game’s afoot Watson. I left a note for the milkman “three points on Sunday please”
Coyg
Focus on what we have done well. We cannot recruit until the summer. But……. Leave Walcott at home. At the risk of repeating myself, and to paraphrase a line from Dinnerladies: I don’t know why he is rushing around, he will be bloody useless when he gets there.
Walcott, a substitute is responsible for the defeat ? He scored 3 goals right after his return from injury not playing well then very rare game time. What else do you expect from somebody who had broken cruciate ligaments ? Why don’t you blame those who get 90 minutes every game like Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud ? They are supposed to have proper shooting accuracy, timing etc…
Podolski better than Walcott all day long
As simple as Fellaini throwing his elbows in people’s faces
Just don’t lose at Old trafford. We will stand a good chance
I pray the boss does not continue playing Ramsey out wide, it effectively means we have no width on right side for about 80 mins of the game as he continuously comes inside. For me it’s a straight choice, drop either santi or Ramsey to the bench, they are competing for one place. I would drop Ramsey. When santi goes off boil Ramsey gets his chance. Jack can compete with ozil.
I think we could solve the width problem and have Ramsey playing on the right by pushing Bellerin higher up the pitch, so he can provide that ‘constant’ width a winger usually would, giving Ramsey license to come inside and join the rotation. It’s what Dani Alves does quite a lot for Messi, and I know they’re a different calibre of player but it can still be an effective tactic. When Ramsey has the freedom to come inside it means we have four players rotating – Özil, Santi, Ramsey and Alexis. So Bellerin still has support down the right, but… Read more »
Also when I say advanced I mean as in ‘making runs in behind the back four’ advanced. I want Bellerin to be a weapon.
The difficulty is when teams come to the emerates and defend. Against Liverpool it worked fine because they came and went 3 at the back and we were all over em. The last two home games Chelsea and Swansea we have failed to score. We need width, I don’t recall bellerin providing to much because the other night Swansea had pace so he couldn’t take the risk their goal came from his side too. Your theory collapsed when you brought barca and messi in to the debate.
When teams are defending is when we have more license to use this tactic. What I’m saying is that Wenger should encourage Bellerin to stay high up the pitch inside areas when we have the ball, to focus on being an outlet and to make dangerous forward runs like Sanchez or Walcott would. Yes, it’s unorthodox, but it’s positive and it would mean we could keep our awesome rotating foursome AND have width. I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t have faith in our midfielders to track back. Coquelin lives to break up counter attacks, and all of our five… Read more »
We see the game differently sir. We did not have a shot on target in the first half against Swansea and only had one shot on target in the whole game against Chelsea. Against teams who set out to defend we failed dismally with Ramsey out wide of a front 3. Please back up your theory using said games as evidence, it would be interesting to hear. I think they may be only games this season at home we have not scored and Ramsey played wide
So you want Bellerin up and the like of Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck defending in the meantime just like these strikers can’t do what you are trying to achieve with Bellerin ?
jack has the kind of drive that helps break through teams that just sit back. Otherwise we have a lot of sideways passing in the final third and no penetration. But against Man U I’d leave him out of the starting 11
Simples
We need 4 points out of the three games. I’m quite positive that we can manage that.
This defeat will serve as a warning for the squad against complacency and will make them more alert and careful against united.
I still have hopes of finishing second as city has to face Swansea and Southampton but for that we would have to be perfect.
COYG!!
I was expecting a bit of complacency after we achieved the sacred fourth place. Wenger needs to transform this team into a very stingy team not willing to give anything to nobody at any time. They cannot win all games, this is impossible but the game that ensures you third, you must play it with determination to win.
On a positive note it’s good we play manure next.
Best them and we guarantee they play the CL preliminary qualifiers and not us.
I hate to break some folks hearts, pour cold water on their loins, shatter their illusion, but Ramsey was never as bad as his form suggested a couple of years ago and I don’t think he is as great as his form last year suggested, for sure he has huge potential but as sure as night follows day he is not a wide player. Please wake up and smell the coffee, lavazza I suggest.
We must finish 2nd !
How is that a thumbs down ? Show yourself !
Finishing 3rd, round of 16 in CL, and winning the FA Cup is absolute minimum progress compared to last year where we finished 4th, round of 16 in CL, and won the cup. It’s always the minimum with this team. For once can’t we go above expectations? If you can’t even get 2nd, while in the driving seat, what are the chances of getting 1st?
Being suddenly back in LvG’s rat-race after one loss shows just how amazing that winning run was (and needed to be), not how we are suddenly the worst team on the planet. Ever.
Finishing second or third is the same thing really. Fourth is a disaster. The real problem is that we always lose the game that matters. Beating Swansea at home would have sealed Ch. League qualification. Last year it was the games against the big teams. Next year it might be something else. We need to make sure we have a squad capable of being consistent. No point in scratching our heads to see if we’ve made marginal progress year on year.
If finishing fourth is a disaster, what would you call finishing fifth?
Apocalypse?
Nevermind what I would call 5th. Imagine what the Wenger Out lot would do.
Liverpool.
Lets just give Manure a thorough pasting! Then we can all just relax before the last game of the season for a change!!
The German Professor. I have an awful lot of time for that man Per.