Arsene Wenger says Arsenal lost too many one-on-one duels with Watford as the visitors secured a 2-1 win at the Emirates that leaves the Gunners title hopes in tatters.
Younes Kaboul’s deflected free-kick gave the Hornets the lead after 10 minutes and Troy Deeney doubled the advantage three minutes later.
Arsenal, who so often this season have come from behind to snatch points, rallied in the second half, however, Iwobi’s cushioned finish just before the hour mark proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, a clearly irked Wenger questioned his side’s character:
“It was obvious we lost duels and were not sharp enough. It looked more mentally that we were not ready for the challenges.
“We were unlucky for the first goal which was deflected after a soft free-kick. It took us a while to get into the game, it was all us in the second half and unlucky not to get something from the game.
“You look at the facts and we were beaten in the duels. When you play at home in our position, that is not normal. Everybody in the Premier League is strong physically and 90% is not enough.”
Wenger, who watched the game from the stands as a result of his touchline ban, also suggested his side lacked patience in the final third, despite knowing the best way to break down their opponents was by using the flanks.
“We knew the solution was going wide but we were not patient enough and wanted to give too many long balls. We did not pass the ball quickly enough and we have to stick to our game, then we are always dangerous.
“Where does it leave the league? We lost today and we want to respond in the next game. You can only have a chance if you win your games. I knew exactly what we were preparing for but we have to learn from tonight.”
Feel like I’ve been kicked in the jewels.
“BEATEN IN THE DUELS”
Or, more accurately, beaten in the vaginas.
Feel like I’ve been kicked in the jewels*
*again.. And again.. And again.. And again
9 points off when we lost back to back against Everton and Man City. The ‘kind’ run of fixtures we had after those games was where we were meant to claw back some of that deficit before playing Chelsea. We now go into the Chelsea game 9 points off still. Nothing has changed, same predictable outcome and I’m sad to say that I have no hope whatsoever for the weekend or the remainder of the season…..
Totally agree. Surely it’s the manager’s job to ensure we’re ready both mentally and physically. We never seem to learn. It’s hard being a supporter when all we get are mealy mouthed excuses after every loss.
I understand your view and feelings right now.. but this is the arsenal, lets enjoy the ride until the end, we might not win a lot of trophies but its always fun watching the arsenal 🙂
Ramsey – gives away an unnecessary free kick for their first goal, can’t control the ball from a dodgy throw in which leads to their second, then goes off injured after 15 minutes.
That makes me feel better
Much better…
It’s sickening reading some Arsenal fans praying that it’s a serious injury. Since his return from injury, Ramsey’s performances were steadily improving and it would have been completely unfair to start a player who played well in his last game but has pretty much under performed in almost every game he has played this season. Arsenal fans when Ox plays well: He should start the next game!!!!! Arsenal fans when Ramsey plays well and Ox plays shit: Ox should be sold this summer, he just hasn’t realised his potential Arsenal fans when El Neny plays shit: He’s mediocre and not… Read more »
but they clearly are not Arsenal fans are they?
Ramsey has not had one performance even in the same league as Ox’s against Southampton
Oh fuck off already. Sure Ramsey should be supported but we’re more than in our place to point out shit when it stinks.
Exactly. In fact the only excuse for playing like he did would be that he was already carrying that knock.
People celebrating Ramsey being injured should be ashamed of themselves. I’m as frustrated by him as the next person but to be happy he’s injured??? Fuck that!!!
Sorry Arsene, not good enough. Buck stops with you.
Amidst all the hysteria we’ve forgotten that we now literally have no midfield.
Beaten in the warm up, more like. Wenger got this so wrong tactically….. Giroud? Who’s crossing to him? Ozil and Sanchez played as wingers in the first half….! Sanchez was watching the game rather than being in the thick of it. Iwobi was great on the flank for the second half, really dangerous…so he takes Coq off and puts him back in the middle where he was shite again. Ramsey….oh lord….what a disaster of a player. Gabriel!!!! What the fuck was that headless chicken bollox? Perez, Bellerin, Walcott should have started this game….how can you drop a guy who’s just… Read more »
Most disappointed with Sanchez. When we first bought him, a friend of mine who’s a Barca supporter had told me Sanchez gives away the ball way too much. Today it was all about that. Very disappointing when u have clear options to pass to pass to.
Joke criticising Sanchez. The only one that gives 100% every game. Yes he over plays at times but thats because he sees so much of the ball. We’d be screwed without him. Try firing your criticism at our other “superstar”!
He as every right to criticise Sanchez, just as much as anyone else.
For me, he has again shown tonight his decision making in the final third leaves something to be desired, as does his final ball, all bought on by the fact he tries to do too much himself. He’s at his best when he’s decisive in his final ball and aware when to give the ball or run at a defender with it.
Above said, you learn all the time as footballer so I’m confident he’ll better himself in the areas I mentioned above.
No one is above criticism. No one deserves a pass after that performance. Alexis was bad. On a side note, I personally want players dribbling outside our own area to be fined their week’s pay.
Well that’s Ramsey heading for the dole queue then.
The headline “we were beaten in the duals” just tells me they wanted it more …..It’s high time we bought a few players that want it more and get that mentality back.
It’s a piss poor comment from the manager.
We have dropped too many points.
Again.
A new manager please.
AW just got schooled with his team selection. Anyone can see that against an older, slower side like Watford, you put out a pacy team — Sanchez up front, Walcott/Perez and Iwobi with Ozil, and definitely Bellerin and Gibbs as the fullbacks. And just fly at them constantly. There was no reason to start Giroud and particularly Gabriel.
I was stumped by the selection too – but maybe Bellerin isn’t 100% yet and Wenger wanted Giroud for his heading ability at both ends. I would have loved to see Ox and Perez retained, too. Also tactically the way they played in the first half was like Pep had Man City set in that second half… Hope Wenger DID get a better tactical view and has learnt how to get these players play a high press. Sanchez, Ozil, Mustafi, Monreal were like amateurs today.
Ramsey played 18mins….can anyone else fuck a game up in record time like that?
Poor starting 11. We needed either Bellerin or Walcott as an outlet on the right. At least Wenger changed it at half-time for once (would he have done that if he had been pitch side, or is he now finally seeing what the rest of us see?) Too little too late though. Crushing result.
Walcott needs to play with Giroud, not instead of him!
What an absolute joke. Youve got 8 or 9 players who thumped southhampton, yet dont get the nod.
What more does lucas perez have to do to get a start? Walcott should have buried a couple tonight.
This loss is hard to take. No chance of a title push when every time we have the chance to make up ground we blow it.
To be fair, regardless of whether Lucas started or not, he wouldn’t have seen much of the ball in the first half. We couldn’t build a single attack as evidenced by both shot, possession and passing stats.
One more time, our overpaid pampered bratz started the game believing they only have to turn up to win. The rain and cold was just too much for these millionaires..
🙂
How typically arsenal
It’s hope that kills you
Plus a manager who can’t motivate and organise a team to start a game
+1 greg nailed it.
Whatever your feelings are about arsene wenger the players let him down tonight
Totally agree, but he’s been signing, training, motivating and managing different groups of players since 2004. He’s the only constant. And every year we have 4 or 5 performances like we had tonight interspersed with some brilliant displays. We will never win a major trophy under the current status quo.
To a certain extent, I think Wenger is too indulgent of his players. It’s been one of his strengths but patience and loyalty wear thin (from players and fans) and he needs to acknowledge that blind faith in your players doesn’t guarantee 3 points on a rainy evening against a hard, disciplined side.
Yeah sure, the players have been letting him down for 13 years now.
Just a thought, but maybe the players constantly ‘letting him down’ is a sign that they no longer believe in him?…
We thought we could just show up and win. Always the mentality when we have good positions in the league
So true and so utterly inexcusable.
No we weren’t beaten in the duels, we were beaten in the dressing cos time and time again you, Wenger, fail to motivate this team and bollock ghem when they dont perform. Please please just fucking fuck off!
Sadly, this all has a very familiar feel to it..
“We knew the solution was going wide but we were not patient enough and wanted to give too many long balls.” This irks me a bit. Wenger should know playing with Giroud leads to us using long balls more. It’s not his fault, but don’t set up your team to be tempted to use a certain method then bemoan when they do. Does anybody ask why Wenger stopped using Sanchez up front? A formation that brought out the best in Ozil (scoring wise), Theo and Iwobi? Not blaming Giroud at all for any of this. Just wondering why he’s so… Read more »
Sometimes a winger can have an off day and lose all of his duels. Only Arsenal can lose all of their duels.
Learn exactly what?
What planet are you on mate? Same shit this season time and time again, Bournemouth same shit just to give you an example! You are not setting your players right, it’s not about just turning up and strolling around! One of the best right backs in the league on the bench and you play your number 5! Come on stop deluding yourself because it aint funny no more!
No passion. No commitment. No
Pride. That was the first half. 2nd half not much better. Hang their heads in shame.
Arsene needs to leave this club. I just can see downward motion with him. He talks talks talks, but gives nothing. He can just go and enjoy his retirement.
Other than squad depth, I have a hard time seeing and meaningful contribution from Ramsey this season. Granted, injuries make everything difficult. But slow distribution, bad distribution, typically absent defensive efforts. I know he can be really good, and even great. He just hasn’t been this season. Selling him after the Euros was the best bet. Unpopular view, I know. But consider the midfield congestion (you know, ignoring Xhaka, Cazorla, Wilshire and now Elneny all missing). Look at what the kids did to Southampton!
Could you tell me the last really good or great game he had??
….sadly, not for Arsenal, no.
It’s simple. Nothing less than a win against Chelsea. We lose or tie, then the fight is to stay in the top four. We win, there is still a chance. Perhaps Ox and Coquelin midfield against Chelsea. Don’t think there is much else choice. Also would like to see us eliminate Bayern. At least that could ease the pain in the BPL somewhat. I’m hurting after today, especially with some of the other results, but I can’t give up hope.
It’s only football. Hang in there, mate.
This was agolden opportunity to close the gap and Wenger has failed not tonite but repeatedly . The excuses are over.I have said regardless of how Arsenal finished,he shd go asa. 20 years at a top club with failure to win the epl is unacceptable.He would have been fired at any big club years ago. He has only himself to blame.His one dimensional style is perfect for hit and run/score teams like Chelsea/Everton Mc/MU and other teams.His short passing agme slows down the attack. All they have to do is let the gunners pass all day trying to weave a… Read more »
Once again we have been undone by our own Mentality.
We were piss poor again for the first 45 mins and paid the heaviest of prices tonight.
Forget the fact that Chelsea drew which still leaves us a slim chance, we simply are not good enough to win the title again, and tonight is yet again complete evidence of that.
The squad of players is good enough but their mentality and the team selection comes from above.
As much as I love him we will never win the lge again under Arsene Wenger.
We were undone by conceding two ridiculous goals early on, then taking a half to get started. Blame who you want, it’s difficult for me to care. I thought the refereeing was poor, we were poor and Watford wanted it. We can blame it on the players and say sometimes people make mistakes, but look who’s above us. I don’t see Chelsea making them. We have to do them on their own ground this Saturday. Failure to do so is the penultimate nail in the coffin, I.e. next to impossible to come back from. Hope the players are up for… Read more »
That is always the case that we never show to want it.
Stupid fouls lead to stupid goals.. Why oh why do we keep giving away cheap free kicks..
Words cannot express how disgusting that was. Every player to a man should be embarrassed and ashamed. And should gladly donate their match fees to charity.
Is there any way we can brainwash these hopeless louts to think they are 2-0 down at the start of every game? I’ve had enough and I don’t want to hear anymore platitudes or bollocks from their mouths.
Even beating the Chavs won’t make up for this and other inexplicable clusterf**ks this season. We’re not winning it regardless.
If wenger does really want Arsenal to cut down the gap to Chelsea….he should gamble in the front 3 line up…..maybe start Welbeck or Walcott upfront and Alexis and Lucas on either of the flanks….it’s the front three positions where we have plenty of options but not the midfield….so ideal thing would be to stick with Coq and Ox. And plz Bellerin as rb for the next game….bcoz to be honest Gabriel is decent as CB , not as RB. COYG. Gut says there’s an upset written all over at Stamford on Saturday.
I am a Wenger apologist, desperate for the man to win one more Prem and stick 2 fingers up to the haters. But last night, starting with Giroud up against what we all knew was going to be a big physical back 4 was obviously not going to work. Playing Gabriel behind Iwobi never works, because Iwobi becomes isolated without a supporting full back and last night was swamped often 3 on 1. Coq and Ramsey in the middle? It slows us down, makes us easier to press against, dampens our attacking threat. Our front players don’t get the quick… Read more »
Wenger never runs out of explanations. Thank God that he did not attribute the bad result to his ban from the bench. I completely agree with Harry Redknappe that says ” Wenger’s 4 match ban will not affect Arsenal as Wenger is not know to effect games whilst seating on the bench” I hope and pray he leaves after this season. We are tired of seeing the same outcome every year. Serious teams that want to win PL do not capitulate like we have been doing for years. The same outcome every year. This issue is not personal. Nothing against… Read more »
The performance was awful, and the team starts slowly much too often.that is down to the manager to fix. He has said before that after a bad performance from the team his first job is not to make it worse.that is always behind his interview comments posted match. So he is not going to say what he really feels to the TV cameras but I am pretty sure he will say it in the dressing room.saying we lost the duals is about as harsh as I have heard him ‘criticise’ the team in public. And I’m OK with that. You… Read more »
Right its too late to resolve issues in the transfer market so Wenger needs to play players according to performance not how much they cost!!! Against the chav scum its gotta be: Chec, bellerin, holding, mustafi or Kos, Gibbs, ox, Niles, ozil, iwobi, welbeck and Perez