Arsenal vs Middlesbrough (16/17)

Yea that pretty much summed it up.

I actually don't think it would have mattered if Cazorla or xhaka started. We would have done the exact same thing anyways.

This was classic Arsenal which we have been seeing since the days of Gilberto in midfield to denilson in midfield to fabregas in midfield to Coquelin. We are never escaping this. Even during the title winning seasons we had matches where we played like this. But Henry used to rescue us obviously lol.


Anyways we are still in a good position in the league. EFL will help us recollect some of the mana. Wouldn't really advice anyone to be overly frustrate with this result. Expect few more of these along the way.

Sanchez and Koscielny both should have scored though.

#WelcomeGiroud

Ramsey is back though so we should be fine.

I was actually really mad after the final whistle went It's just so frustrating not seeing us make the progress we should be making on our game. All the attention will be on the attack but a team going for a title shouldn't be down 8 shots to 3 in the first of a home game, especially not to a team with no win in five.

I thought it was telling that Adama Traore started this game despite being a sub most of the season so far. Karanka clearly realised Monreal was weak against pacey wingers. This trend is only going to continue unless Monreal really improves or we get someone better.

Monreal's legs are gone. Can't see them coming back. Gibbs will probably be a regular by jan.


I was fuming at Walcott during the last 10 minutes. His touches were awful. And Ozil n Sanchez were too busy passing to each other at halfway line and then Ozil passed it to Coquelin who pinged it to walcott where we saw more of his fame touches.

Imagine if Walcott was onside where he missed that sitter

Long season ahead though. Would be raging if this was in April

This was a carbon copy of the Burnley game minus the lucky winner this time. It's worrying how we struggle against this sort of set up. Obviously it doesn't help when the entire attack has a day off. It Would have been nice to have a Giroud or Ramsey off the bench for these sort of games. Players who can offer something different to whats being done on the pitch.

I think today was the reason Elneny isn't playing more btw. He's a decent passer but he doesn't break lines often enough when the opportunity arises. He tends to go with the safer option. He looks like a more dynamic Denilson.

That's why he was subbed off for Ox instead of Coquelin. First thing Ox did when he came on was play a great forward pass through Boro's midfield and it lead to a chance. Later on he drove forward with the ball and it lead to an offside goal. Cazorla was certainly missed.

Yea agreed. This is why I mentioned pre-match that Oxlade ideally should start because ElNeny is the ultimate definition of a safe player. Not a bad player at all, but he is someone you would bring to defend a lead or someone you would start next to Ramsey or Cazorla rather than Coquelin.

Unlike few on the internet, i thought Coquelin was quite decent and wasn't the problem today. Maybe Arsene was concerned Oxlade might not defend properly but I would have started him.

Wenger "doesn't know" when Cazorla will be back. Fantastic.

XhakaCoq is coming.

Trying really hard to look for Spurs' title chances.

Elneny was always a decent bench option, BTW. Never expected much from him.

He's not a player to change games but he does a solid enough job for fixtures such as these. Not at all a creative player, though, even if he can pass.

So far we have 20/27 points which is actually amazing after 9 games for someone like us lol. Obviously it's mostly due to kind fixtures but a strong run was required after the opening game.

Sushi Master wrote:Elneny was always a decent bench option, BTW. Never expected much from him.

He's not a player to change games but he does a solid enough job for fixtures such as these. Not at all a creative player, though, even if he can pass.

I feel like there is more to come from him, there are instances where he plays some nice passes and other times he is too safe with it. I don't know if it's a lack of confidence but as a player who considers himself as a box to box midfielder he should be more dynamic.

EL Patron wrote:

Sushi Master wrote:Elneny was always a decent bench option, BTW. Never expected much from him.

He's not a player to change games but he does a solid enough job for fixtures such as these. Not at all a creative player, though, even if he can pass.

I feel like there is more to come from him, there are instances where he plays some nice passes and other times he is too safe with it. I don't know if it's a lack of confidence but as a player who considers himself as a box to box midfielder he should be more dynamic.

I agree, but in order for him to do that he needs confidence, and frankly he hasn't been given enough chances, IMO. Wenger's Coq love kind of shuns him out to rotation or Cup matches.

Nevermind Xhaka is better in pretty much every aspect (except temperament).

Top of the league

Theo seems to cop it from Sanchez a lot. Sanchez scuffed the best chance of the match (for us) from a Walcott threaded ball.

I was actually happy to see Boro start to get into the match as once they became more ambitious going forward it opened up the game. All we had to do was absorb a bit of pressure then hit them on the break.. but we were too slow to capitalise.

Sanchez tries to do too much when he gets frustrated. Agree that Xhaka or Santi would have benefited us for this one. I'd add Giroud to that list.