Arsene Wenger had some words of praise for Petr Cech after the Arsenal keeper’s performance helped keep yesterday’s scoreline respectable.
The 34 year old made a string of saves during the game, and but for him it would almost certainly have been a more embarrassing defeat.
Speaking afterwards, the manager said, “”He had an outstanding performance.
“He was one of the players who turned up today and it shows that he still has it at the top level.”
I think it might be fairer to say he was about the only player to really turn up, and as to why that might be, the 67 year old believes confidence issues are playing a part.
“I think if you look at the chances created, Spurs deserved to win the game,” he continued.
“We didn’t create enough, we didn’t take our chances. There was plenty of room in the first half to do more than what we did with the balls we had. That is the regret of the game today.
“I think the players really wanted it and gave everything until the end. But we lack something at the moment that is a mixture of confidence, creativity, quality to finish what we start.
“I think recently the team is still not completely back to the confidence level that is needed.”
The players lack management.
Players lack the guy who wud kick their backsides sore red after that display.
Everyone at this club lacks that. From the carefree board to garanteed 8.5 millions a year Wenger and ‘I think Im welsh Pelle’ Ramsey. At other clubs fans would do these kickings while at Arsenal they too need some kicking. Another win vs Sunderland and theyll all be happy as Pharell.
I’d be so fckn confident on their money. There comes a time, someone once said, to decide whether to turn another page, or to close the book. That’s all I can say I’m so wound up with this lot I’ve just eaten my crayons
I wish I had a pram with some toys in it…grrrrrrrr.
This. I’m sick of hearing this nonsense about players lacking confidence. Yes it happens, but we’ve been hearing this for so long you’d think that this was a squad of kindergarten students, not responsible, mature adults.
Wenger outstanding, fans lack confidence.
Your comment lacks basic intelligence
Your intelligence cant comprehend sarcasm man?
Actually, yours does. Players play like shit, blame the manager. Someone disagrees with you, insult them. Nice work.
Yes blame the manager. Did you watch the match with your eyes closed? I certainly wish I did. They were fitter, stronger and far more organised, I mean even West Brom and Crystal Palace were more organised. So yes the manager is to blame.
Banging on about lacking creativity and attacking ability. Defensively we were cut to pieces, they could and bar poor finishing and Cech should have had six bloody goals.
Wenger been here like forever. Every single player is bought by his decision. Every player is kept loaned out or sold by only his permission. He has kept Ramsey while most fans wouldnt want so. He has bought Ozil in a season he could get Higuain for 5 millions less and still did that although we already had like a million tiny playmakers and no replacement for rvp. On another note almost all those who left us in Emirates years have played and achieved with other clubs. Even those that we critisize now have already won things with exclubs or… Read more »
That’s a criticism that can be levelled at the board too. Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have lost some stellar names over the years but they have gone out and tried to find like for like replacements. Have we done that? Look at the players we’ve let go. Are the ones we’ve brought in as good? Just start from the back how many years did it take to replace crazy Jens? Cole, Toure, Lauren, younger Flamini, Nasri, Gilberto, Reyes, Eduardo Fabregas, Song, Van Persie the list goes on…
athletico and dortmund changed their managers too…..ever thought about that
Yeah well one walked away and a few folk wouldn’t mind him here and Simeone has been at Atletico a while now. So well erm……
I’m certainly not wanting Wenger to stay by the way.
Ransey is a decent player but he’s a disaster under Wenger. The lad has real talent, and the sort of player we need, but AW clearly hasn’t managed to shape him into a really useful and reliable first team player.
Right, so it’s because the manager failed to organise the team. I wonder if he forgot. Funny that the team has been at or close to the top since he got here when he has these brain farts. Teams across sports have bad days and bad phases – and very often these things are confidence related. And this sluggishness is more to do with poor form and a lack of confidence than spurs being “stronger and fitter”. Everyone piling on this way and demanding that arsene be sacked probably isn’t going to help that. And while I’m making the arguments,… Read more »
If you are content with the shite that has been on offer over the last couple of seasons by the way, then I’m chuffed for you. If you are happy with the situation where the players that have left for the ‘money’ as we like to quote, never mind the success they have gained, then again I’m chuffed for you. From my point of view though time catches up with everyone. Teams like our enemy have been improving by the year while we have been deteriorating and that IS mainly down to our manager and his stubbornness. For the sake… Read more »
If the criticism was purely based on THIS season your comment would be valid unfortunately we have been here before every season for the past 12 years !! We’ve had regular pastings once or twice sometimes more every term weve seen what most would consider unassailable leads clawed back on many occasions including a 4-0 half time lead frittered away ? We have been found wanting almost every time we play any of the top sides at home or in Europe! Past seasons we have been extremely fortunate to finish in the top four and although 2 FA Cup wins… Read more »
Love your sarcasm
Finally. The one above you really thinks Wenger is outstanding btw ??
I started getting fed up with Wenger the football philosopher.
Right on cech, 100% deluded on everything else. At this stage he would be better off opining on Keynesian economics, because his views on his team are completely bonkers
“I think the players wanted it and gave everything to the end.”
This says it all for me. Nobody can watch that game and say we wanted anything, except Arsene.
If you watch the post match interviews of the Spurs players and Pochettino one of the first things they mention is how important it was to win the NLD. They knew what was at stake, wanted it and then went out and got it. No one from our side even mention how this was a NLD.
So what is Wenger supposed to say? This team gave up months ago and the players are bums? He has always covered for them (perhaps to a fault) but I don’t see how hanging them out to dry helps with the last few games and Cup final
What about the “Truth”…?
2 months ago we were level with Spurs…
Now they’re fighting for the title and we are fighting for an Europe League spot.
It’s great if he stands by his players but isn’t half-truth equals to lie?
Ferguson blasts players at time yet won things.
Well, they should bloody know that this kind of performance and attitude week in and week out, is not good enough at arsenal football club.
It looked like arsenal wanted to win, sure. But not as much as spurs wanted it. It showed that this game meant more for them
I disagree. This is the team that beat Man City last week with some ease. Would a team lacking in confidence do that? I suggest the issue lies elsewhere.
With “some ease” is a bit of an overstatement… ?
OK, fair enough but they still beat Citeh and I doubt a team lacking confidence would do that. At least they displayed no lack of confidence during that game.
Maybe the issue is the opposite? Too much confidence? Or too much do not give a fuck?
Whatever it is I doubt the lack of confidence theory.
To say we beat City at ease is a bit of a stretch, especially seeing as they lost Silva fairly early on. Also Spurs are better drilled and much more physical than City and it showed yesterday
Agreed and my exaggeration conceded but I will still maintain that the way we beat them shows there’s no lack of confidence. The problem lies somewhere else.
Well beating City isn’t much of an achievement this season is it? You speak as if we beat Bayern or something.
Maybe the something else is that City aren’t that good this season (like is they may not even make the top 4).
I speak of a team that has massively underperformed this season and whose problem I think isn’t “lack of confidence”.
And call it what you like, we played well against City. A team with no confidence wouldn’t put up a fight like we did in the FA semi-final.
So why then are we so dreadfully shit the following week? All I’m saying is I don’t think it’s lack of confidence. “Lack of confidence” is just more bullshit coming from a player commandeered to say something to the press.
The problems aren’t confidence based. It’s something else, probably deeper and unfortunately for us something much worse.
I feel we have general fitness issues. Looks like we are not the fittest lot around. Everyone is slightly off pace.
Id agree left foot,, if you look at the stats nearly most of the other teams are covering more distance at the end of the game and yet our players look fucked and ya think to ya self hold on minute
I’d say we’ve been dreadfully shit in most games this season bar about five. Confidence comes from being quite good in the first place, being properly coached,understanding tactics, winning games. There are only a few in this team who are any good and the manager has gone stale. Top this all off with a board who don’t care or understand and it’s obvious why we are so poor.
Kroenke out, Gazides out and Wenger out. And get rid of the dead wood playes .
Trouble is we set up wrong to be defensive and counter attack instead we were “sort of” defensive with a back 3 but too static going forward we either should have parked the bus with a fast and mobile forward upfront or reverted to the old style with a back 4 ! All this points to the man in charge just getting it totally wrong yet again !
Got lucky with a refereeing decision it seems against City. So we have now become the new Spurs – a cup team
Yeah that’s true, they had a goal wrongly disallowed too
Na it wasn’t the same team that beat city, WENGER THE KNOB made changes,, if he’d put the same team out that beat city we might of had a chance
While I agree with you I can’t get behind calling Wenger a knob. For all his failings and for all our desire to see him leave he deserves respect.
He had my respect,, but now he’s lost it, like someone else said fergi would of gone mental at our team, I’d give him more respect if he’d admit that himself and the team are just not good enough
Still doesn’t earn him insults.
Man City have hardly covered themselves in glory this season either the set up and organisation of pep has been criticised most of the season and they also lost Silva early doors against us. Also Pep is new to the premier league and will be given time and money to go forward. It was a great performance by us but put in perspective we’ve got carried away with it.
It’s been interesting watching Guardiola come into a league where the odds are less stacked in his favour. While I think he’s a good manager (even Ibrahimovic admits to that) he’s had the benefit of heading teams that are blessed with money and world class players making them vastly superior in their respective leagues. Entirely different matter in the PL where even a relegation side will rumble the number one on occasion. He might go on to do better in the future but this season I think he’s been finding out what the PL is really about.
Well, if after all these games the confidence is still not coming back up, it means something needs to be tweaked in management. The manager is no longer able to instill confidence in his team, which pretty much means, The manager has lost his dressing room. That usually means a change in management is needed.
100% agree with you there, I’ve been saying this for a while now, and yet I get thumbs down for saying it,,,, strange,,,,,
I don’t think we have any other choice. Irrespective of what happens in the cup final, it is time for new management, a review of our coaching staff, a footballing director perhaps, and how about some kind of sports psychologist – we lose too many games because of confidence!
Wenger has burdened too much responsibility and it is obviously taking its toll. So the club has to replace him or help him.
Give the man respect, give the team support, you can ask for improvements while being dignified. Queue a supporter group to actually help…
I’m not convinced Cech does still have it at the highest level despite today – yes he made some very good saves but his distribution was horrendous all game long despite having our target man on the pitch from the start
Not to mention he has been pretty dismal all season
I’ve just got round to watching the Rocky & Wrighty documentary at last. Wenger needs to sit the players down and make them watch this to remind them of what it means to play for The Arsenal. Anyone who pedals that line about how Arsene Wenger made Arsenal needs to watch it too.
Outstanding program, Rocky absolutely devastated at having to leave. So many players over the last few years couldn’t wait to get out of the door. That speaks volumes to.
Not the same footballing environment though is it?
Playing for a team back then was more about pride and sporting ambition. Now you have all the millions you can earn in your short playing career which is added to the equation. Every club has the same issue, not just Arsenal. We pay quite handsomely too!
But who is it that brings confidence to the team? Who’s tactics, motivation? I don’t buy that Spurs have better players than us personally. Swap Ox for Alli, Mustafi for Vertongen, Ramsey for Eriksen, and we’d see the difference proper coaching makes.
I am not convinced. I suspect these players would play better under Potchettino because they would have been drilled and disciplined I to their roles. I also think Wenger is being too tolerant of Özil and Alexis who were either played out of position or did not fulfil their roles.
That’s exactly what i’m saying though, there are a lot of players here that the pundits and fans don’t think are god enough but in reality they’d be much improved under a different manager. Doesn’t help that we are totally bereft of identity at the moment. We’re not really a possession side anymore, nor are we a high risk team that attacks constantly and presses high up the pitch, nor a team that sits back and tries to catch other teams on the break.
The team looks confused. The inconsistency of performances makes it obvious to me that we have tactical issues, as promising as the 343 is/was… Confidence may play a part, but you can’t compare the two performances against Spu*s and Citeh – we look like 2 different sides altogether. For me the formation has actually improved us defensively. We look less fragile. I just think tactically we lack the right attitude individually and as a team to press, push forward, collectively drop back all at the right moment. We invited the pressure against Spu*s and had no answer. Call it in-game… Read more »
It made us better defensively to an extent but Spurs capitalised on our inflexibility. They were unsettled when we pressed them early on but then exposed the space on the flanks by doubling up on our fullbacks on attack, knowing Sanchez and Ozil didn’t want to track back and our DMs and CBs wouldn’t move into the wide positions and shut stuff down. Meanwhile, when we were pressed we had no strategies apart from lump it long to Giroud. Our only outball was to one of the slowest players on the pitch!
Our so called manager prefer the likes of overated Ozil to Dembele, who is far more creative to me, and Ramsey probably made him not go for Alli at MK Dons, now we see the results, the manager is decaying on seat!
Get effing rid!……….only this idiot would have played Gabriel instead of the ex Bolton boy………name escapes me.
You’re missing the point though. Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, Walker etc, all struggling at Spurs before Poch came and now that he’s given them drive and a purpose, they’re suddenly world beaters. Would that happen at Arsenal? Do you think Dembele and Alli would perform at Arsenal the way they’ve performed at Spurs? Perspective is needed as well, this team was top in December. So why would we gut it?
Should have brought back Cesc when he was available
This Wenger guy is so deluded it is absolutely mental, for someone who constantly talks about spirit and mentality, we are one team more than any other that have absolutely zero of it. We need someone who will come in and give these players the monstrous kick up the arse they need and hammer it home to them that this is ARSENAL that they play for. I knew we would get beaten yesterday because as blogs says, the spuds are a team with individuals who know their jobs, we are a bunch of individuals who don’t know what to do… Read more »
So for half a season the “team lacks confidence”! Isn’t the manager’s job to get some confidence in one of the most expensive teams in the world??? So shy are we paying you 6+ million a year sir?
If they lack confidence, then they lack it in the manager and his lack of tactical preperation.
It’s very confusing Arsene. This is a squad with ‘great mental strength’, full of ‘real men’ and containing the best attacking options in your time at the club. (your words not mine) How can such an amazing squad lack confidence?
I’ve asked it before and I’ll ask it again. Didn’t we hire some well respected sports psychiratrist this year? Yeah guy you are so fired!
Should hire the legend of our club to instill the belief “we can fuckin compete with all teams in the world”
We have forgotten how to pass and keep the ball. Any fool can see that!
Sometimes he speaks as if he’s just a mere observer, looking in from the outside with no control to actually change anything. I think the last thing we had going for us was our exciting ‘beautiful’ football. Don’t see much of that these days. As negative as it is ATM, I genuinely think we have a great foundation to turn things around, respectfully, with a new manager with fresh ideas. We have a fantastic stadium, great location, history, massive fan base, and a decent squad that needs a few additions and a bucket load of confidence and coaching. Here’s hoping… Read more »
I’m gonna admit something here. For the first time in my life I didn’t watch the NLD. I saw the line up from Wenger and I knew what was coming. I didn’t distract myself and go for a walk or switch to a documentary channel. I just sat in my front room with the tv off and watched the match update feed on my mobile phone. I know it sounds bizarre and I’m a little bit embarrassed but I just couldn’t bare to see my Arsenal humiliated live at Shite Hart Lane. They’re more defensively solid than us, more clinical… Read more »
This is the saddest state I have seen this team since before AW became manager and I am so angry with how this great club is being ruined right now. And it’s not all his fault either because several of the players need to go, the board is rotten from top to bottom and Ivan *I keep my head in the clouds* Gazidis and the fucking Kroenkes are the worst things to ever happen to this club. So yes we do need a new manager with fresh ideas and yes a few of the players should be sold in the… Read more »
We lacked a little bit of the everything….
Compare and contrast the records of George Graham and Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager at White Hart Lane
Graham: Played 12 Won 7 Drew 2 Lost 3
Wenger: Played 25 Won 6 Drew 12 Lost 7
So what, they were different Spurs teams with different managers…
If we just solely look at our squad, I really do think we should be selling quite a few players this summer.
Ospina, Jenkinson,Gabriel,Gibbs, Ramsey,Coq,Wilshere,Giroud, Campbell.
So many average players in our squad.
The team doesn’t even reflect the style of play we are accustomed to for the last 10 years.So long ago were the great teams of Adams is and Vierias that we should even be looking at how much less entertaining this side is to the Cesc years!
We are shit and we know we are.
It’s not about mentality Wenger, it’s about the quality of the tactic and the players.
On paper our players should be slightly above them but in term of performances and tactics, they’re currently much better than us.
Well the chance of finishing top four are definitely over now. Big changes need to be made but we’re to start I think everyone of the players and staff need to go and start from scratch. If you don’t turn up to a derby and preform then for me you have no love for the club you are playing for and it is more or less about the money and not the fans. If we were to get beat but had shown up to the game I can understand but not to preform is shocking. I love u Arsenal but… Read more »
Perform
Wenger still talks as though he is talking to a bunch of kids or idiots. The whole team bar a few players clearly are not up for it and have lost confidence in him. It’s been like this for the past 10 years. We clearly need a fresh start.
We are really missing Cazorla. But that is definitely not the only reason we are so shite. We have players that just don’t have the quality or the consistency to beat the best. And when their confidence is (rightfully) so low they have basically no chance. On top of that, our team has so little cohesion at this stage. It was so horrible to see such a talented, strong, and cohesive sp*rs side take us apart so easily and make us look like a second rate team ?. Changing Wenger isn’t going to do much, I the board is the… Read more »
Join the discussionReally?
You mean Carzola would have helped the DF yesterday?
Would he have taught that dunce Gabriel how to tackle as well?
BTW how many League titles has Carzola helped us win so far?
Gabriel was superb v City at Wembley. It was a dive by Kane. Our defence was horribly exposed by our dodgy midfield v Spuds. We were outplayed by a 2nd-placed hungry outfit, hurts to say it but they had more desire and skill than us.
We might have been leg-weary after three tough games in a week? Simeone could be the boss man answer plus Griezmann (not happening), Peirre E (not happening), Lacazette (Maybe) and the brilliant Monaco lad.
Plus a midfield monster. Call me a dreamer
It will serve the players and manager right if we end up in the Europa league with all that travelling!
Ha bloody ha you lot!!
I feel slightly better now…
Cech was outstanding and still World-class…. sometimes team should have to be good communicate,well combination…we saw those players weren’t looks winning desire, specially only Sanchez,Ox,Xhaka and Cech are average performed all matches….rest of those seems lack of fighting desire, winning mentality… confusion each other combination…? Cech is right 5 matches left in hand to play..if get win all of matches even not enough to UCL …wait to see some point slip and help mathmatically those team are ahead than Gunners….#COYG. ever
Regarding Alexis, I am starting to get fairly annoyed that he refuses to pass and tries to do it himself (Not that I want him to leave!). But there were a few times that first half where Ramsey made some great late runs in the box, only to be ignored by Alexis.
Don’t worry he would have misplaced the pass anyway.
Looking at the squad of players we have there is only a couple I would keep. Sanchez,Ox and Holding apart from that the rest are not good enough players.
I can’t see Ox or Sanchez staying mind. The problem we will have now if there is no champions league football to offer then no one will join the club that are of a decent standard.
This has to be down to Wenger and the board as we had a very decent team years ago but never built on that or spent money on players.
Same old story, afterall the players are playing to his instructions .WTF
Anyone who still supports Wenger after this needs their head examined. His comments are so outta touch. I have NO confidence in him.
As long as one of the worst (From a a fan’s perspective, not investors’ or league officials’) owners in America and Europe controls the team, mediocrity will prevail. Kronke’s teams all make money and he can maintain that record by safe spending on players/coaches and keeping the corporate sponsors happy with the level of exposure they are currently receiving. Kronke will only sell his interest when he senses that the corporate sponsorship and big money season ticket / luxury box owners (also corporation driven) people are going to stop spending with Arsenal. Only way for that to happen IMHO is… Read more »
This is correct. A strong owner with ambition beyond his/her wallet would take more of an active hand in addressing long-standing shortcomings.
The only saving grace for me is that Arsene didn’t mention the frickin handbrake!
I’m now having nightmares about the thrashing we’re likely to get in the Cup Final when I’m certain that Chelsea will not squander the chances that the Scum did yesterday… My only hope is that our losing the Cup Final will result in Wenger tearing up the 2 year contract extension he’s signed and departing the club along with Gazidis & Kroenke and all the others that have bled us fans dry with their false promises of hope!
I wonder how he feels when the entire stadium sings ‘Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay’ at White Hart Lane. He’s a running joke. I’ll tell you what is most telling. I didn’t really feel anything by this – I’m completely nonplussed. Our identity used to be a team of winners. Not being hurt or surprised by this makes it perfectly clear that a good part of the legacy Arsene will leave at this club is an identity of perennial and oh-so-predictable failures. I don’t even care anymore. The difference between Spurs and Arsenal yesterday wasn’t anything intangible, philosophical… Read more »
I just don’t think Wenger does himself any favours. He is guilty of his own ideology. Firstly he is good at buying tools in the market but then doesn’t know how to use them to the best efficiency. Secondly he is a non interventionist and generally when he makes changes, it is often too late to influence the game and the team are by that stage lost and rudderless. No point berating the team for a lack of fight. At some point, even if you had the fight, a lack of direction will suck what’s left out of you. As… Read more »
As far as Spurs were concern, they were very good. They had intent to hit us everytime they came forward where we tended to over complicate our approach. Alexis I felt was really not playing with the rest of the team and losing the ball again too often. That said a bit of perspective need fill the gap in between the ears of the media and some Spurts fans. They are narrowing the gap but over last 22 seasons with Wenger in charge, they have won two league cups. We for all our failings as a club have won 3… Read more »
We have no time to waste feeling dejected about a missed St Totteringham’s day.
Its OK to skip a holiday once every two decades.
What’s important is we now refocus very quickly on United coming up.
Its out of our hands now catching up with the front teams but this could be a six pointer.
And we still have a challenging FA cup final at the end of it all so still plenty to play for.
I respect Wenger so much, so its painful to criticise him, but its more painful to lose and look so despondent on a regular basis. Arsenal, i don’t know who you are anymore?
Yesterday was awful. I’m hoping for a Real Madrid double swoop for Kane and Eriksen, then maybe we can jump in and buy some of Real’s “2nd team.” Sad that this is the reality of the modern day. Our Academy needs to improve to start producing more from within and we also need a few of these longshot teenagers to actually come good once in a while. I find myself focusing more on the long-term lately, probably because the near-term is so fucking bad. Hopefully we can just win on 27 May and start working towards it with a clean… Read more »
Deluded!!!
I don’t blame Wenger I blame the owners and management. The whole system is rigged against wining. Instead of Wenger talk about his future,he is busy talking about wage bill at spurs as if he is the one going to pay their wages. Shameless manager others leave with pride when they fail woefully.
The team lacks confidence in the manager’s abilities to manage them up properly.
We could bring in the best players around, all to absolutely no avail, as this manager has lost it, and lost it long ago. He has no tactical nouce, lies (“I will let you know my decision March or April”), cannot motivate and lost the dressing room a long time ago. The club is filled with ‘yes’ men – Gazidis, Bould, etc.), and nobody has the balls to tell him GO. Money is all that matters to the moustachioed absentee septic. We are a business and he gets a good dividend from it. End of story.
I’ve said this for many seasons now.
Wenger spending money in transfer market is not the problem.
If anything he has flattered to deceive because he is one of the best in the market.
BUT he is captive to his own ideology of non intervention and he doesn’t use his tools in hand to the best of efficacy.
I’m fed up of the apathy and general malaise around the club. Someone fucking get angry. Someone rally the troupes and make them remember who they’re playing for. These players seem to be forgetting that they are at a club most people would love to play for and would be proud to play for. This lot have no passion, no chutzpah. It’s pathetic. If they at least looked like they gave a fuck every week people would be much more behind them. I know they are all talented and that is what makes it all the more frustrating. Great skills… Read more »
Some simple facts
Not good enough,not strong enough,not fit enough and ive had enough
Cech was indeed very good and is no doubt a leader, but he’s not been up to scratch this season and that’s a massive worry moving forward.
& that’s your fault. The coach installs the confidence and your ability to do so has run out. Win the cup and leave with your head held high.