A point at the Etihad today as goals from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez helped us to a 2-2 draw. The game was marred by an injury to Danny Welbeck with fears that he might miss the European Championships this summer.
Here’s how the players rated.
I’m an Elneny fan but think that’s a generous rating. Would have played Le Coq, I thought Ramsey had a good game too
Sorry, but playing Coquelin instead of Elneny would not have helped. Coquelin was really not good today. His rating of 5/5,5 is far too generous.
I wanted two elnenies in there today. Where is this coming from?
If you recall he was acquired just this January with no time to adapt (Check Ozil), so typically the jury is still out but all this makes the retrogressive Ramsey look abit silly.
Maybe I’m wrong, I just thought Elneny was poor on both goals that we conceded & I think Coq stops both those attacks. I also thought Ramsey made a number of good last ditch tackles and in the second half his movement up the field was good. Made a nice run to drag Otamendi away for the 2nd goal and made a fantastic pass to Walcott later in the game.
1) Elneny is overrated by some people because they want so desperately to think he is an upgrade in midfield. He is a decent player but he was not physically strong enough at times for a full DM role and he was easily passed on many occasions. Yet he largely escapes criticism from some quarters. Had it been Flamini in front of Aguero during the first goal doing similar, they would sing a different tune. 2) GIroud like Flamini and Per are way more useful than some would like to imagine them to be. Giroud is the sort of player… Read more »
I stopped reading when you started praising giroud…
You can add yourself to the list of people who think giroud should be anywhere near our first team. So far it includes you, wenger and giroud’s mum
Walcott absolutely changed the game when he came on. 5 is harsh.
Just wanna say I do want an upgrade on HFB this summer, but still nice to see him get one in the net again – and to rate him higher that 5 this week!!
Cmon the toon next week, send the spuds down to 3rd
I think the Man City PA playing Hey Jude may have helped Giroud Out… He played VERY well today.
A very well-taken goal, admittedly taking advantage of atrocious marking by the Citeh defence, and a really sweet assist for the second goal, shows why Olivier Giroud still has a place in Le Prof’s starting line-up. He wasn’t at his best, by any means, nor was Alexis, but those two won the point we needed to stay ahead of the light blue also-rans. BTW I love the thought that after leading the table for most of the of the first 4 months of the season, Citeh could find themselves with Pep Guardiola at the helm and no ECL football to… Read more »
Giroud was fantastic today – it proves that he can step up to the plate. Let’s hope that he can carry this into the next season.
whenever we play Ramsey in the middle, our creativity decreases and the midfield struggles .
How cannot Wenger observe that Ramsey as a CM is not good for us, he just does’t suit us.
Well said sir. He is rank average player. But then some like the fella at the top think he played well. He made a few good tackles but other than that was his usual awful self. Please offload him. He reminds me more of Denilson every week
Bellerin has had much better games than today, he really struggled at times. And I feel Le Coq’s confidence has dropped a little after he lost his place to Ramsey (sort of like your wife leaving you for David Brent), at least he wasn’t as safe in his handling and distribution today as he usually is.
Overall a good point and 3rd place is almost secure now (although oddly enough we can finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th). Now we just have to go and have a good summer in the transfer market.
Am I the only Arsenal fan who thinks Ramsey has been a real weakness for us?
Really sloppy passing from him recently and almost every run he has, he does a 180, comes back and undoes all the work.
Would really like to see an Elneny-Wilshere partnership, although I doubt it will happen as Cazorla will hopefully be back to full fitness soon.
I also completely agree with Blogs’ comment about Gabriel. Always seems like he is about to lose the game for us. I would genuinely consider Chambers for CB role against Villa.
If you are looking for the physically weakest midfield duo then yes wilshere and elneny would do. Thought Ramsey was pretty good today, good defensive work and some good work forward, although some longer passes missed the target. Think Elneny and Coquelin were too defensive together so Ramsey has to play. The question is if wenger should bring in competition for him in the summer or a good deep lying playmaker to play with, which is what he needs imho
I can’t believe my ears and all this Ramsey bashing. He is a complete midfielder who does everything well, he’s not just there to be a creative force (though he’s more than capable of as his though ball to Walcott perfectly shows). He has one good half of a season where he scores a bunch of goals and since then our expectations of him have been to do exactly that which is just completely unrealistic. He’s a box-to-box, goals are a added plus to his game but not an absolute necessity, especially considering that we essentially play with six attack… Read more »
You clearly know fuck all about football if you think he is the complete midfielder.
I’m sorry giddyforzelalem but since when has Ramsey been good at everything? People aren’t bashing him because he needs to score goals, they get on his case because he makes it a point to have goals be his main priority over positional awareness/discipline. Ramsey does not do everything well and if we’re being completely honest, the only thing he tends to do well is make late runs into the box. That’s about it!His overall distribution is not great. He makes the occasional beauty but generally simple passes tend to go astray. Not only do they go astray but if they… Read more »
I want to give this comment a million thumbs up, as it perfectly captures the problem with Ramsey. The only thing I would maybe add is that there perhaps is a grain of truth to the guy calling Ramsey a “complete midfielder,” since I think in actual ABILITY, he’s got all the tools to be close to complete in the box-to-box/midfield general role, but sadly he doesn’t use them most of the time. He’s not got outright pace, but then very few central midfielders do and they don’t really need it. Otherwise, he can (emphasis on the can) do everything… Read more »
Stopped reading at “Coquelin is a more complete midfielder than ramsey”.
Ramsey isn’t a complete midfielder by any means but he is a natural box-to-box midfielder and does that well, was also realy good on the right wing in the first part of the season.
Follow another sport.
Ramsey is awful. Would not start for Southampton or Westham.
I really don’t see much difference between Ramsey and Elneny. Both functional players, massive engines, nothing flashy… unsure why the need to be so harsh towards Ramsey? Really happy to see the more direct ball-carrying option of Wilshire back in the side… the major thing we’ve missed, and what Ramsey / Elneny / Coq don’t possess (Carzola can do it with his passes). Rosicky also has this skill. Making do with decent midfield grafters has cost us this season. I think Wenger was hoping the Ox would cover what we missed from Wilshire / Rosicky / Carzola, but we all… Read more »
He’s like my child.
He makes mistakes, makes me mad. Sometimes he makes the opposite to the obvious. He does something good and then bad. But at the end of the day, im so glad he’s mine.
Don’t go anywhere. You belong at Arsenal.
Was the Wallcott rating sarchasm by any chance lol?
I’ve never been a Giroud fan– even at his best he never has the sheer opportunistic hunger for goals a striker should– but I’d like us to keep him this summer even though we desperately need a new signing. Both as a Plan B option off the bench as well as a rotational/back up option in the squad, he does add value, and I think having a new signing come in and having the pressure of being Arsenal’s main man taken off might bring out the best in him.
I love Giroud but it’s pretty obvious that he doesn’t have the stamina for an entire season… he put everything into the first half… then the legs went… should have had a good 3 week rest, then we may of seen a different Giroud for the 2nd half of season. Here’s an idea: Premier League introduce a mid-winter break! Novel concept, I realize.
I’ve recently lost my job and the network I used to buy game streams from raised their prices pretty much at the same time, so I had to cancel my subscription. This is all quite sad, but has meant that I’ve watched more or less every one of Arsenals spring game on shitty illegal streams where you can barely make out who’s who on the pitch, and the general abysmal state of the team has sort of been harder for me to spot than for the people who are watching in the stadium or on TV. It’s not much, but… Read more »
I am not encouraging illegal streaming but I heard from a friend that sopcast has HD stream.
I can’t agree that the second goal was Cech’s fault. Gabriel covered the first post but he got the ball between his legs. It is no way goalkeeper can protect all four angles at once. He thought Gabriel would have block the shot and he should have done that. I think the both shots were unsave-able.
Still don’t know why Ramsey is starting but it is clearly our best midfield duo is Coq and Elneny/Santi. I like Elneny’s composure. That you never see from Ramsey.
I think Cech has now let in more shots from outside the area than any other keeper: seems to be his weakness since joining us. One or two of those saved would see us on St Totteringham’s Day already.
Are you seriously putting the blame on Cech for us being so rubbish to be behind Spurs?
People are so quick to forget the number of great games and great saves Cech made for us. Ridiculous.
Thank you. Someone talking sense.
Thank you Stillmatic. Someone talking sense
How many times is Cech going to be beaten at his near post from outside the box? Conceding those types of goals is a killer. His positional and organisational play is great but really concerned about his shot stopping from distance. Next year he is only going to be a year older and a split second slower.
I did feel he could have done a bit better on the second goal, though I think there was also a chance for Elneny to take a booking and just take DeBrynue…SP??
Anyhow a good result overall, and an opportunity tonight to do what we do best and make sure Cech wins the MOTD save of the season vote.
Ugly game. Beautiful result.
An extra point to Ramsey just for that dummy run that created the space for Alexis’s goal.
Good to see a positive performance from Giroud. I’d like to keep him around but we really need someone better as first choice. That could be Welbeck if he could get over his injuries but that’s a big if at the moment. If we were top of the league I would be finding Walcott hilarious at the moment but we’re not so it’s all rather depressing that he’s getting game time in the form he’s in and being paid £100K a week for it. He really needs to start again somewhere else. He seems to have gone stale but I’m… Read more »
Not our best performance by a long way but was good to see Wilshere back. He looked dangerous whenever he got the ball in the opposition half #ThatTurn
Welbecks injury is akin to Walcotts when we were Winning 2-0 versus those cunts. Someone will still tell you it was ‘unavoidable’.
Sod that, use your head, do not stick your leg infront of a bartering ram that is Sagna.
That said I’m gutted for him if he does end up missing the Euros.
Bartering ram. It’s a new type of ram, selling cheap wool and goat milk.
It just doesn’t work that way though. You don’t get to choose each and every time how you’re going to position yourself or when to avoid putting your leg out. Sometimes you just instinctively do it. This looked like one of those.
Theo hurdling Kaboul was not.
We played well in 2 10 min spells just after they scored for me which tells you all you need to know about the team this season.
But a point against a desperate City away from home shouldn’t be scoffed at really.
Would like to finish above Spurs of course but at the same time do think it might wake the board up if we don’t.
Plus, leg them obsess over us with their small club mentality, chances are they will balls it up next weekend anyway.
Petr Cech is the worse signing Wenger has made for ages, I would much rather see Ospina or even Szczesny in goal.
Football emotions are complex. We didn’t play particularly well, but showed good character and battling qualities nonetheless. This pleases, but equally confuses me. Do I want my team to play beautifully, but ultimately fail? Obviously not. Do I want my team to win, but win ugly? Tempting, but equally no. I’m sure everyone would say “but surely we can strike a balance and do both”. I’m not convinced, at least not unless we manage to grow a money tree or strike oil in Islington. And even if we did, look at the seasons of today’s opposition, or of Chelski, or… Read more »
I would say, give Gabriel sometime to settle down in the English football. My gut feeling says, he will come good for sure. Next season be it.
Okay so on a scale of 1 to Alexis how sexy was that goal?
As soon as the pass was made it was no chance Hart…!
10 + 10 for the flick master 😀
I just wanna put it out there. Arsene looked really chilled out today, and so did the players. probably the environment i dont know. But they played well considering our poor form so far. Nice Win Gunners!! gunner for life.
we didn’t win
Our biggest problem is that there is no muscularity in the team. Other than Giroud and to some extent Sanchez no one offered any physical strength. With Welbeck injured early the running power reduced. So we couldn’t hurt City with counters. Ramsey and Kos sleep walking made things even more difficult. Good point though given our performance. Now the greatest Totts team in decades needs to lose the final game helping us to finish second. C’mon Newcastle..
Our season has been frustrating certainly, but I’d still rather that than to watch the petulant (sometimes brilliant, more often disinterested) brats of the boom / bust clubs. Near unlimited wealth at their disposal, but both Chelski and rods opposition are constantly and painfully having to reinvent themselves. It’s a grubby and unpleasant process which is both disrespectful to proper football men (Pelligrini is a class act) and shows little regard for the traditions of the game.
A win would have been nice but City are desperate, two United wins (1-0 both times) and they are out of the CL.
I think we’d always be happy to take a point from city away. Despite this being such an underwhelming season we go into the final match day with the chance of finishing second and above each of our usual rivals. All a bit ironic really. What has been most frustrating since August is that we’ve never gotten out of 2nd gear or looked like putting anyone to the sword. A missed opportunity no doubt. One thing to remember though in times like these, things are never really as bad as they say nor are they ever as good either.
We’ve beaten Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. We’ve mercilessly trashed ManU, Liverpool and Milan. On many afternoons, we’ve seen these players create the most thrilling, beautiful football we’ve ever experienced in our lives. When we’re horny we sometimes prefer to look at youtube compilations of our best plays than to actually have sex… We know we have the players to win everything, and that’s where the sour feeling comes. Season, after season. We KNOW what this team can accomplish, and that’s why we live in constant dismay. I’ve been in favor of Wenger for all these trophyless years, and… Read more »
Cech is diving like a grandpa. His fame cannot always play for him. But no problem, Wenger payed 11mil and the fans prefer to see the famous one play than the actually better one.
Typical example of why you keep players like Sanchez on even if they do f*ck all.
Did well to draw in my opinion, finishing this season strong is important for morale of nothing more. Cech has become worrisome with being beaten my long distance shots at the near post. I still think he’s head and shoulders above Ospina and Wojech. Ramsey had a stinker, Wilshire looked bright. Can anyone firmly state the best position(s) for our British core?? I honestly think they are too “versatile” for their own good.
Glad Welcott didn’t get into score sheet. ..
Wiered but true.
you are a disgrace. perfect descriprion of entitled arsenal fan. you’re the kind that make me hate the newly joined gloryhunting fanbase.
I would take Flamini scoring a hat trick if it meant we won. If you support the team support the players…I doubt any City fans were like “I’m glad Toure didn’t score coz I hate him”
Really dude? Not sure you’ve cracked what it means to be a supporter. Plus I’m making the assumption you mean Walcott, sorry for being a pedantic twat by you actually deserve it.
More embarrassing behaviour by our supporters, it looked like it has handbags at 9 o’clock at the Etihad between some of our own fans today
Sorry guys…we just can’t keep him this summer.
Actually, more of a perfect description of a Sp*rs fan.
Alderweireld but true.
No one mentioned about Özil. I think we.missed him today
Why thumb me down??
Between Ramsey & Ozil being in the side. I will take OOOOOOOOOOzil anytime. Coquelin / Wilshere can do Ramsey job equally well or better. But no one in the side at this point can do Ozil job as well.
Reading these it seems like I’m the only person pissed off with today’s performance. City are an average side and were there for the taking today, but our feeble defending which I’ve seen for the last 10 years let us down.. Again. I don’t know how much difference It would make but I really want a no nonsense British style defender at the back (hopefully chambers one day), sick of our players turning there backs on opposition shots, it’s a bloody plastic lightweight football take one for the team ffs. We get bullied off the ball so easily and it… Read more »
Nacho was soggy today, making Jesus Navas look good. Jesus Navas! What the fuck was up with that?
Good to see Jack back though. Giroud was effective, Walcott actually did one or two things.
Both our goals were great. Especially like the Alexis one with a fantastic lay off from GIroud. But the GIroud goal was good too. Clichy played his part (bless him but he should have hit the target) but Giroud cunningly lost his marker to find that free header. This isn’t mentioned much by the press because it won’t suit their narrative about GIroud. The Frenchman has had a dry spell but he hasn’t started many games till recently too and only come on later. Hardly surprising his goals have been missing albeit of course he started hitting the dry patch… Read more »
Still missing Coquelin in the starting eleven. Not that Elneny or Ramsey were bad, but I felt like his relentlessness in defending could have been useful (the De Bruyne goal was an example of this). And it’s not that he causes total offensive stagnation; he can help create good counterattacks with his tackling and interceptions. I do feel like Wenger lost some trust in Coquelin in the Spurs debacle and he would have been on the bench sooner if Ramsey wasn’t injured. What will be interesting is to see how the midfield sets up in August if everyone is healthy… Read more »
I completely agree regarding missing Coquelin although I openly admit I like the player a lot. I think the big problem with him at the moment is he is one of Arsene’s whipping boys, whereas Ramsey (by no fault of his own) is one of the manager’s favorites. I am not a Wenger out supporter, but Arsene has faults and his desire to put a square peg in a round hole is indicative of what some would call his stubborn or arrogant gene. For me, the season took a terminal turn when Santi got injured and then shortly after, followed… Read more »
Other than the goal and the pass Giroud was still not anywhere close to his usual self. And if someone would make a video of Walcotts every touch today, you could see how awful he really is. Good stuff from Wilshere, but the way he protects the ball with his body, he will get injured sooner rather than later. He needs to learn from Elneny how to pass the ball quicker
Glad to see Blogs noted Nasrat’s spiffy post-game duds.
Ramsey and Sanchez are an individual player. They broke our momentum as a unit. That’s why we kept losing our possession of the ball. Even though once in a while they make it happen but mostly they fail. The whole team have to back track due to their inconsistency. Arsenal style of play does not need these kind of player.
Leave out Ramsey and Sanches ,they are both individual player not suited to arsenal style of play.
Good to see Jack get some more game time. Thought Campbell would have been more of a like for like substitute when Danny got injured but the boy must have really pissed Arsene off somehow. So strange to see him get next to no playing time since Alexis has come back. He works hard to track back, has some good offensive touch as well and seems to be a team oriented player. Thought Wenger liked giving youth a chance?
is Girioud now back to world class striker status?
How much I missed short boy called Jack?
As I see Gabriel,sth-will-go-wrong feeling feels my chest.
Ramsey-why simple pass when I can try some turns and lose ball than I can make last ditch tackle and increase my rating on Arseblog?
Walcott-1000 ways to lose the ball
We got great point,and none of our players played great(maybe not even well).