Arsenal v Man U

[Arginald Valleywater]

A very poor game from a neutral point of view. Arsenal still trying to walk the ball into the net from 1 yard out.

[Essex Lad]

Arginald Valleywater wrote:

> A very poor game from a neutral point of view. Arsenal still
> trying to walk the ball into the net from 1 yard out.

Yes that really pisses me off.

[Sam Slater]

Since when have you been neutral when it comes to Man Utd?

I think this is the first time in ages you've even referred to them in a different way other than 'manure', as is your usual childish way.

But as to the game.........Man Utd came to the Emirates with two wingers and two academy kids in defense. They were there for the taking and it was Arsenal's best chance to put one over on a team that has dominated them for a decade. They didn't take it.

Great game by Rooney. Played in midfield, on the wings and up through the middle, getting a goal and should have had an assist if Di Maria hadn't messed up. Captain's performance. That goal means he's scored more goals against Arsenal than any other player and overtakes Thierry Henry in the EPL goalscoring charts. Fitting it came vs Arsenal.

And how the ref didn't send off Wilshire butting Fellaini I'll never know. He was looking right at it.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Aha the usual tinted glasses view of a Man Utd fan. Rooney was average at best. Your best player this season is DeGea. Without him you would be about 17th. Arsenal are looking like a team in decline. The money spent is showing no difference. No other club or other sporting team would put up wiht Wenger's failings. He must be related to some of the board or have one hell of a masonic handshake. How Arsenal can charge the happy side of ?1100 for a season ticket for so little success is criminal.

[Sam Slater]

Shows how much you know about football. I wouldn't say Arsenal look like a team in decline at all. In fact, I think they've improved. They pressed well and dominated Man Utd (albeit, a weakened Man Utd). Arsenal's problem is their naive defending, not because they're in decline. They controlled the match.

It is maybe Arsene Wenger's job to ask his players why they put 9 players up the field for a corner and left Monreal one-on-one with a tricky, pacy player like Di Maria. This is about tactics, not quality.

As for Rooney.....played in a 3 man midfield vs 5 Arsenal midfielders most of the game and run himself into the ground. And, after 85 mins of chasing the ball around in midfield he goes on a 80 yard sprint, outpacing all the Arsenal players, controls the ball and lifts it over the oncoming keeper with his weaker foot. He couldn't really have done much better in the circumstances of that game.

I cannot fathom how you have the view that is rose-tinted for Man Utd. I gave Man Utd no credit at all......just said Rooney put in a captain's performance. And given he made the difference in an awful display, I don't think my view far-fetched.

[Essex Lad]

Arsenal should have been 5-0 up in the first half hour. The forwards seem to want to dribble the ball into the net rather than smashing it. Aiming at the goalie not the goal probably doesn't help either.

It used to be said that United's skill was playing badly and still forcing a win. Arsenal's is playing well and losing.

By the way "something awful has just happened in it's name" should be "something awful has just happened in its name".

[Sam Slater]

[quote]Arsenal should have been 5-0 up in the first half hour.[/quote]

I'm not sure about that. A free Welbeck header and that Wilshire one-one-one are the only really big chances you could reasonably argue 'should' have been goals.

But what's your point on this?

[quote]The forwards seem to want to dribble the ball into the net rather than smashing it.[/quote]

It has been the Arsenal way for years now.

[quote]It used to be said that United's skill was playing badly and still forcing a win. Arsenal's is playing well and losing.[/quote]

Which backs up my argument with Arg. He thinks Arsenal are on the decline, I think it's naive tactics.

[quote]By the way "something awful has just happened in it's name" should be "something awful has just happened in its name".[/quote]

Good spot. I'll change it. We all do silly things........me, using unneeded apostrophes......., you believing the juice from crushed grapes can turn into the blood of a Jew who died 2000 years ago............what are we like, eh?

[Arginald Valleywater]

In current form neither will be playing Champions League next season and that will spook both boards to act...

[Sam Slater]

I don't know. Man Utd are 4th and had 40 injuries so far this season. And they're above the rivals for that spot with Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs not playing that well either. Southampton could drop off later in the season too as players get tired and they don't have the big squad other teams have.

Wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal slowly climbed back up and grabbed that 4th spot before the end. One thing Wenger has done is consistently get a CL place.

[guilert60]

I have Van Persie in my fantasy football team.

After watching the highlights on Match of the day I felt disappointed that Van
Persie was not playing.

It was only when they mentioned him in the summing up that I realised he
WAS playing. They said he only touched the ball 12 times.

He seemed to be playing wide on the right, with Rooney playing deep, and it
looked like Man U had nobody playing up front (the false number 9 tactic).

This gave the Arsenal central defenders nobody to mark, thus confusing them.

Arsenal seemed to have most of the game (almost all of the first half) but still
lost, so brilliant tactics from Van Gaal, particularly with a makeshift defence.

On another day Arsenal could have won 3-0 or more, but football is like that.