Sounded like our away fans were singing "Oh Santi Cazorla" just then. If so, that would be stinging sarcasm to our current midfield?
Ozil with an unusually clinical finish. 2-1 to us. You could argue, against the run of play. But I'll take it!
FT. OK, 3 points is 3 points. And it'll keep us technically in the hunt for Europe. But the way we won these 3 points is just NOT very inspiring. Oh well, onward. p.s. I barely watched the match (working on taxes) but it seemed that Ox had a really good game. Seems like he's earned his spot in our current XI.
It's pretty sad that my reaction to that win was meh...it was Middlesbrough with Guzan in goal. That was a gimme win if there ever was one and still we looked poor. Meh.
xG map for Middlesbrough - Arsenal. The Gunners escape with a win, but man they were not good. pic.twitter.com/EC3U1RjAr6— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) April 17, 2017
Indeed. I thought it was more recently than that. But the 4-2-3-1 has been king for so long, this was a radical departure. Not sure he'll be comfortable doing this against a truly offensive side, e.g. at WHL in a few weeks.
A little pop psychology- Arsene was pretty smug and jovial in the post match interview on the pitch. Not apologetic at all for the clubs recent form. His body language says he's very comfortable where he's at. He seemed totally disconnected to any of the criticism leveled at him of late. I'd bet a million dollars he's staying.....
While I agree with your remote psychoanalysis and we all know he WANTS to stay, I still hold out hope that no decision will be made final until we see how our season ends up. If we crash & burn in our remaining games (lose in the FACup, miss out on UCL, and perhap miss out on EL) then the public fan revolt could get ugly. It's already gotta be very embarrassing for him to hear what our away supporters are singing lately and to hear opposing fans sing sarcastically that they want him to stay (happened again today). I still hold out a little hope that he's not too aloof and authoritarian to stay in power amidst that level of fan discontent. OTOH if we sneak into Top4, that will no doubt be his and Kroenke's proof that renewing his contract is a smart business decision.
One thing I noticed at the end was how incredibly happy Sanchez was. He didn't mind being pulled off the field before full time. Then at the whistle he ran out with the biggest smile on his face that I've practically ever seen. It was as if he just scored a Hattrick and we moved into first place. Don't get me wrong, it's really nice to see that. But it seemed odd, incongruous. We sit 6th, having just beaten the second worst team in the league... and just barely.
Why wasn't Welbeck playing? He is ideal as a CF in such a Formation. Ozil typical quiet game then a goal. Ox was illustrious today. Downing's crossing was quite good. Shame he couldn't develop further than being a Charlie Adams.
Weak sauce. Like the recovery against a terrible Hammers, 3 pts vs one of the worst teams in the league means nothing - Arsenal had been beating those teams anyway.
did the planets align? has the dead risen? did he actually CHANGE formation?? average formation, three at the back alone didn't stop our bad defending, but we got the job done. He will stay now, just to say he CAN change. When why the ******** didn't you change years ago? Don't change now and think the fans are stupid to sap it up.
call me a cynic, but then he only changed since he wants to prove he's up to it. He's DESPERATE to stay...he really thinks he "built" out club, and we're his little pet/baby.