Another away day, another away defeat. The Gunners have yet to pick up a single point on the road in 2018, and despite taking the lead through Alexandre Lacazette, Newcastle scored twice to take the three points.
Read the report and see highlights here.
Here’s how the players rated today.
FML
Darn, I thought you’d give the players ratings based on different types of eggs today.
If he did, Mustafi should have been a gone-off, spoiled one that you leave somewhere and forget about until something causes it to crack and you spend half a day scouring the kitchen to find out what that disgusting smell is, and how many scented candles you’ll need to buy to get rid of it.
Genuinely lost patience with the bloke now. He really needs to be dropped and work on not making the same mistakes over and over, but Wenger never sees things that way.
I’m with you all the way mate
The thing with Mustafi is, though he’s by far really bad at it, it’s becoming obvious a huge factor is he’s the type of CB Wenger seemingly likes to get. – relatively small (5’11-6’0) – Ultra aggressive and comes out of position to attack the ball a lot – Requires a lot of high risk actions – Seemingly bought for their skills on the ball rather than actual off-ball defensive skills. Over the decade or so, of that “type”, only Kos has worked out. All the others; Verm, Gab, even that knob Gallas and now Mustafi, have all failed on… Read more »
Liverpool spent 75m for a defender explains the difference between theirs and our season.
Spot on
Mustafi is class. He’s the current scapegoat. He’s 25, great with the ball, and has a world cup medal. We’re lucky to have him.
There is a good player in there somewhere but he is just too inconsistent.
He’s either a 9/10 or a 2/10. There is no middle.
His hyper aggressive style gets us into and out of trouble so often. It’s like that quote Homer says about alcohol “the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems”.
He needs to stop going to sleep and letting their strikers run across him. That’s two goals in the EPL, two games in a row from the same run. Wake up.
What are u smoking over there
He played right back for ?? and was surrounded by far better defensive talent than he is here. He isn’t good enough as a center back
Kleberson also won the World Cup.
I still think maybe under a new manager with a proper system, Mustafi could come good. So I’d keep him. But yeah currently he needs to be dropped.
We definitely need to get another CB in the summer anyway. Considering Mert is retiring and Koscielny has to manage his body carefully .
No system cures such loss of concentration!
Maybe a system will make it easier to concentrate, to know what is expected, and even be fit to the player’s best qualities? Maybe a system will be motivating in itself?
Iwobi certainly try’s to make things happen. If only they happened, even occasionally
I think me. Bloggs is again too generous in terms of Mustafi, that guy plays like is drunk and high at the same time… He should go.
Something’s wrong with the system. We need a new manager with a clear idea of what he is doing. We are better than almost all of the other teams attacking wise, we’ve got Lacazette, Mikhitaryan, Ozil, Aubameyang, Ramsey that’s as deadly as any other in the league dare I say in Europe. Problem is definitely not them they’re proven world class players. Our defence is partly because of our own shitieness but I doubt Holding, Bellerin would stagnate with other managers showing a lot of promise at the beginning. Something is broken and he can’t fix it. We have that… Read more »
I go into every game now thinking we need to score a minimum of 3 to win. That’s a tough path to success
Unless you have a Mo Salah in your team.
Well said. Fans frustrate me as much as Wenger does. Fans never look at the overall picture and have got very short memory
If we put up 3 losses and afterwards 2 wins, because the wins comes after…. they would be singing “there is only one Arsene Wenger”. Easily forgetting that win 2 loose 3 does not befit a club of Arsenal’s status
Speaking of short memory. Does 20 years in the champions league and 3 cups in 4 years count for nothing? If we win the Europa that’ll be 4 in 5 and still we want Wenger out?
If the extent of Arsenal’s ambitions are domestic cup runs (where you play exclusively lower league or low PL sides) until the semis or 2nd tier European competitions (which by the way we aren’t even guaranteed to qualify for next year given how bad our PL record is) then yes Wenger is doing a terrific job. However at any other “top” club we wouldn’t even be having this conversation given how pathetic the league form has been over the past year (since last Jan really). Wenger has done great things at Arsenal but let’s be real at this point –… Read more »
I really don’t want us to play Atletico Madrid. I want that match to not happen. I don’t want to see Arsenal humiliated.
Oh man, watching Mustafi is like watching a suspense thriller with so many twists and turns. You just never know what’s going to come up next!
I watched A Quiet Place last night.
Great movie, but the mute girl in the movie felt like watching Mustafi.
But you do know what will happen. No suspense. There’ll be one stupid avoidable error every game.
Without Mkhitaryan and Özil, they just looked bereft of creativity. Sure Iwobi tried, but he’s never going to be that type of player. I hope we get Mkhi back for the EL Semis…
Now that Maitland-Niles is fit again, there is just no justification for playing Chambers at RB.
There is no justification in playing chambers.
The sight of Aubemeyang taking throw-ins and tracking their fullback back to his own corner flag completely fucked me off today. Absolutely insane management – and who knew AMN was fit, why didn’t he start? Mustafi would be better off in defensive midfield at this rate. That’s at least three times he’s been caught sleeping in the 6-yard box in the last month alone.
Square pegs round holes all over the pitch. We are just not helping ourselves with this madness type of team selection. Absolutely had enough of the same shit every pissing year. Auba on the wing says it all. One of europe’s top strikers. We will have the same thing next year because Mustafi has been bought by wenger and hes to arrogant to admit it just isnt working for him. Burnley look like they will catch us now on our form, Burnley FFS
Wouldn’t be surprised if it was a power-play from Wenger and two fingers up to Ivan Gazidis. “So you and Sven bought Aubemeyang.. well I’ll play him where I want”
Maybe a 7th-place finish will finally move the powers-that-be to do the right thing.
Probably AMN not fit enough to start. I didn’t think Xhaka looked fit enough to play 90′ either, tbh.
The substitutions were good ones, AMN for Chambers particularly (except I’d rather have seen AMN come on for Mustafi and Chambers move inside to play in his place). I just thought it was a shame they didn’t come earlier.
You could definitely see the effects of a late return from an exhausting trip to Russia affecting those who played both matches, like Lacazette, Monreal and Chambers, even Elneny. I don’t think Mustafi had even woken up.
Yeah I agree about Aubameyang. I thought he actually did very well on the wing, and linked up well with Lacazette.
But he’d do even better in his natural position, what with being one of the best centre forwards in the world and all!
It was certainly infuriating! And Laca, despite scoring did a Giroud in showing a sorry face for long times in the game – maybe that’s what French strikers do, when they don’t get service. Wenger really has done for this a few season’s now – play people out of position and expect them to work wonders. He needs to understand that he isn’t just training youngsters anymore, when you buy superstars at 29 and then play them out of position you are bound to be disappointed. I’d rather have Laca play at no.10 with Welbz and Iwobi on either side,… Read more »
Arsenal burned my eggs today.
How did we get mugged of 35mil for Mustafi? Fuckin hell
And yet he made the goal with an exceptional 50 yard pass..
It’s no surprise he is not learning and the same mistakes keep happening. I think he has the talent, but is simply not being coached or even punished in any way after these repetitive errors.. he will be rewarded with another start in the next game.
I have watched their first goal over and over. Mustafi was blameless. Well-placed, goalside of the attacker, right next to him. Not sure what Tony Adams or Rio Ferdinand or anyone else could have done different. Can we never credit our opponents with a great goal? The second goal was shambolic for sure but almost entirely Monreal’s fault–completely out of position, leaving the entire left (defender’s left) half of the last third empty. Then he misplayed the header that he should have been 20 yards away from into a fine pass to a Newcastle player. Second match in a row… Read more »
Yeah, I too thought 2nd goal was Monreal’s fault. He played the header and then stood ball watching, leaving the scorer to run into a dangerous position.
Is Kola fit? Why are we running these guys into ground? I’d have wanted Monreal to rest than play this game.
Monreal shares some of the blame for his poor header. But it was Mustafi that made the imital mistake, by heading the ball back across toward the penalty spot Can’t blame someone for failing to clear up someones else mess.
I think you are wrong. It wasn’t just the poor header by Monreal–he is the left fullback and the entire left side of the pitch was empty. He was at least twenty yards away from where he should have been.
that’s what Liverpool payed for Salah…
I still think Mustafi has potential but he needs to be played with a proper Kompany/young Huth type anchor/big man.
Being beaten at the near post isn’t necessarily a mistake more than being beaten anywhere else. The most effective way of positioning yourself is to make it so there isn’t 1 obvious route to goal but several possible ones. If a keeper never gets scored on at their near post, then they’re almost certainly easy to beat at the far post. That said, their first goal should have been a save – softly struck and at a nice height. Assuming we buy a new keeper this summer (which isn’t a given), what do we do with Cech? We know he… Read more »
Fulham
I hope you got a chance to look at that goal again; I don’t think it was at all savable unless the keeper had positioned himself so near-post that he was inviting trouble–as you rightly point out.
True but given the type of run the newcastle attacker made to meet the cross, he was only ever going to be able to hit his shot to the near-post, something that Cech may have been able to anticipate? It would have taken an incredible amount of skill/luck to pull off a strike (deft flick) towards the far corner of the net from that position.
It wasn’t Musrafi’s positioning on the first goal that was the issue. It was that he didn’t even try to follow the run (because he didn’t see it).
Good positioning is pointless if you stand still in the position watching the ball!
Shkodran “Mistakefi”
Shockin Mistaki
Mustafi reminds me of the dark days of Johan Djourou, Phillipe Senderos and Sebastien Squillaci. Please someone take him away! It’s sickening!
Senderos played in a defense that went to champs league final, along with flamini at left back.
Per definitely deserved more games this season. Mustafi has made too many errors. Per is underrated. His calmness and experience is desperately needed.
I think Mustafi’s worse than Djourou.
It’s really getting to the point of wanting The Arsenal to lose games until Mr Wenger leaves or gets fired
It breaks my heart
Thierry’s beard was truly hypnotic in the studio after. Luther Vandross or Barry White would have been proud with the sparkly curls in that, I couldn’t take my eyes off it!
On the plus said Wilshere was best he’s been in weeks.
This is the problem with going into transfer windows without clear plans of action. Everything seems to be off the cuff. Lacazette was never the first choice, the club had to be pushed to sign him. Never the less you got him, now you sort out the problem areas, mainly at DM and a proper central midfielder, what did we do? Buy Aubameyang, good signing, great striker but we have Lacazette, so now we have to play one of europe’s best strikers in the wings. Player for player we are better than Newcastle. but when you have a manager like… Read more »
As I said elsewhere, lose more ground to Burnley and finish in 7th, and Wenger will probably be gone.
Mustafi’s mistakes remind me of the struggles other defenders have had their first year at Arsenal. Monreal, Koscielny, Vermaelen, even the BFG had bewildering mental lapses their first year, then became rock solid defenders. I think Mustafi has Hope for the future, but he should be done for this year.
Cech on the other hand gets worse and worse and worse. I understand why no one trusts Ospina. These remaining league games should be used to see if Macey can go when it matters.
Nah
Ospina is better than Cech at the moment.
Anyone know how Emi Martinez is getting on?
Still not playing, another loan that seems to be a complete waste of a year.
Maybe he’s not playing because he’s not that good?
Look, let’s be honest, the team is concentrating on the Europa and it showed today. First of all the lineup, then the team lethargy on the pitch. You could almost feel the lack of enthusiasm by the team. My wife are I are flying into London to see the Burnley game and I’m just hoping we don’t see all subs by then, especially since the second leg against Athetico will be played on the 3rd. I think win or lose against Athetico, there won’t be much enthusiasm for the game against Burnley either. The good thing is my wife and… Read more »
Remember at the beginning of last season AW was trying to sell Mustafi but couldn’t get any decent offers.
He has his moments but makes too many mistakes and doesn’t give Chambers or Holding any confidence which is important for young players.
Why not just play 4-4-2
Or 5-3-2
Other teams in Europe do.
To get l and a . Up front .
We got to champ league final play basically 4-4-2 mixed with 4-4-1-1
I am really amazed at many of these comments. I have no idea what Henry or other pundits said in England; on the US feed, Lee Dixon correctly (and very passionately) blamed Monreal’s incredible positioning for the deciding goal.
Time and again we get out thought, out fought and out tactic-ed. Arsene Wenger is supposed to be one of the best managers in the world yet time after time anyone with some kind of plan beats us. He’s paid so well to counteract these plans that managers like Benitez, Howe, Hughes, Silva, Hughton, Potter, Carbajal and whoever fucking Forest’s Manager is, have, and he gets found out every time by these ‘lesser’ managers? Surely that tells you all you need to know. He’s not good enough anymore. Worst part about it all is deep, deep down, I don’t think… Read more »
A bit of perspective lads … Man U lost At Home to the bottom club ….. a loss away to Newcastle 3 days after returning from Moscow with 4 first choice players not in the team is part of football … what matters now is the next game and the Europa league …. This is football …. sometimes results go against you …..
John.we are the only team in the four divisions of English football not to have an away point in 2018. That’s perspective. We are 1 loss away from having Burnley overtake us in the league.
We have the same problems year in year out and always told let’s judge them in may or let’s support the team let’s not upset our precious players at the stadium.
This club is going backwards with no sign of anything to address the problems that have existed for years. That’s perspective John
That really is Bull John! Sometimes implies that results go for us too but – not a point away this year, closer to relegation than the title, more games not won than won, highest number of goals given away from errors, defeats by Forest, Swansea, Bournemouth, Watford, Ostersund, Spuds. A goal away from going out to CSKA and Ostersund, the lowest number of goals scored on reaching League Cup final and the worst performance in that final on record.
I would agree with you if this were the first (or second or even third) time this happened. My feeling is that their first goal was brilliant, their second caused by horrible defending by us–and that we should have been able to score two more to win. My other thought is that Ozil is indispensable (unless it is Ramsey).
I think he’s gone in the summer, the results are just too appallingly bad now. Thirty points off the top and out of touch of the champions league places. Even if he wins the Europa I think he’s done. You’re right, we can’t waste the next season, we’ve spent a lot of money on players who are at their peak right now.
Iwobi and Holding were both decent. Put Auba back up front please.
Who cares about player ratings? It’s the manager who’s the problem.
I’ve got a problem. I would love us to win the Europa League: it would get us back into the Champions’ League, which is where we belong, and, most of all, it’s a trophy, and winning trophies is what football is all about.
The problem is that winning the EL would almost certainly mean at least one more year of this annoying has-been – and possibly even a new contract. I just couldn’t take that.
What’s best for the club?
What’s best for the club is winning Europa, recruiting well with the promise of CL, and having an off-season to sort out all the mid season change. We won’t ever be as good as we should be, or as good as our talent level, with Wenger but positioning for post-Wenger is critical. I think with the front office moves there is little chance of a new contract, though we may have one more year to suffer through.
If he stays I hope they give him some ultimatums about his defensive assistants.
Winning Europa.
Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal
I only paid 1/2 attention to this game…just like the players. I would rate my performance at 5/10. I would have done better if I hadn’t spilled coffee on myself yelling for the match to pick up its tempo. You know it’s a blah performance when Xhaka, Iwobi, and Mo are providing the match highlights.
Although man, Aubameyang skinned that outside back real bad (and oh so good) a few times, I hope they can find the shards of his ankles.
I am no fan of Mustafi but the 2nd goal was down to Monreal
Is there an argument that Koscielny was as bad as Mustafi is now when he started his Arsenal career? I personally think he has the attention span of an 8 year-old. However, I still want to know if there’s any chance he’d be a good defender under a different manager?
Keep telling me Mustafi is playing shite and isn’t just shite.
If you’re lost,
You can look,
But you won’t find Mustafi…
TIME AFTER TIME.
I love the Miles Davis version of that song.
Cech will be wai-ting!
Finally something to complain about again. All the wins in the last weeks must have been torture for some fans. Especially the ones who said they don’t care about the league anymore because all that matters is Europe are the first to complain that we haven’t played our best eleven. The match report posts had 5-10 comments on fb when we’ve won. As soon as we lose there are hundreds of them. Pathetic shit!
It criminal we rejected circa £20 million from Leicester for Chambers last summer.
Awful footballer; won’t look out of place in Wigan.
We were fantastic and showed great mental strenght today….in arsene we trust….coyg…we’ll win the europa n wenger will extend his contract till 2048…..happy st arseningham day to us.???
Mustafi is worse than Squillaci
We should play Holding and Chambers at centre back for the remaining premier league games.
Depending on Koz’s health, I could live with a back 4 of Bellerin, Chambers, Holding, Monreal for a lot of games next year. Chambers does fine as a CB, but doesn’t have the pace to handle FB.
Unicorn’s ringpiece?
Arseblog bonus rating comment 10/10!
Unfortunately (or perhaps luckily) missed the game live, as at work. Had it recorded on the DVR, but couldn’t resist a quick peek at the final score. Initially saw (misread): ” 2 – 1″ & thought, well that’s ok…whoa…wait…NEWCASTLE 2-1 ARSENAL? Oh FFS!
Couldn’t agree more with the: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang -” …. but playing one of Europe’s most potent penalty box strikers out on the wing is just stupid”. .but yet very Arsene & Arsenal at the sane time too…
When he plays five strikers on the field, you know that he has ran out of clues if there were sny clues left in him.
It was 4 strikers and he did this more than a decade ago with Henry, Bergkamp, Wiltord and Kanu when we needed a goal. If he doesn’t change anything regarding the system everybody is saying he’s too conservative and if he throws on all his attacking potential people say he’s desperate and running out of ideas. If we can’t complain about something our life is just miserable, eh?
That’s all the comment section is anymore……
I would get rid of Mustafi and gladly take Alexis back
As Arsenal turned to focus on winning Europa League.
irritating every time I see lacazette challenging for the ball. no height, no strength, cant pick a pass, easily dispossessed.
which fool decided to spend 50 mill quid on buying him needs to be locked up.
Also scored an excellent goal. Not the person I would blame for the mess we are in.
”He can be happy with his contribution on the day” yeah, that fluffed chance was a great contribution. Had he scored, we would’ve probably embarrassed Newcastle. Good thing he missed. -_-
My biggest fear is that we will win the Europa League (which I hope we do of course) and that will be enough to save Wenger’s job regardless of how poor our league form continues to be. Yes, we are playing a reduce roster in league play, but still to not have a point in five away matches this year and to be so far out of the top four to me means there is no way to justify not making a change.