Главный тренер "Арсенала" Арсен Венгер после поражения от "Тоттенхэма" признался, что "остался обеспокоен" осечкой своей команды, в очередной раз проигравшей дома и не сумевшей возглавить турнирную таблицу Премьер-Лиги. В качестве объяснений неудачи наставник назвал совокупность ряда факторов.
К перерву дерби северного Лондона "канониры" вели со счетом 2:0 после голов Самира Насри и Маруана Шамаха. Подопечные Венгера имели еще ряд моментов, чтобы развить свое преимущество, но их не использовали. А во втором тайме "шпоры" воспрянули духом и забили 3 гола - 2:3.

"Арсенал" упустил победу, которая бы позволила ему выйти в лидеры Премьер-Лиги. Это уже третье домашнее поражение "канониров" в сезоне, и Арсен Венгер очень этим обеспокоен. Тренер посетовал на отсутствие концентрации, удачи и на допущенные элементарные ошибки.

"Три домашних поражения - это слишком много. В первых двух из них мы выглядели неважно, так что сказать, что мы их не заслужили, нельзя. Сегодня же у нас была игра. Что меня беспокоит, так это упущенная возможность выйти в лидеры. Когда ты должен сделать подобное, нужно это делать. Мы не смогли, и меня это беспокоит".

"У нас были все шансы победить, но мы не смогли. Нужно принять это. Скорее дело в настрое, нежели в футболе. Сегодня мы были в том положении, когда обязаны были побеждать. Сложно проглотить такой результат. Если взглянуть на статистику, то очень сложно найти причины поражения. У нас случилась потеря концентрации, мы допустили элементарные ошибки, плюс сказалось невезение".

"Чтобы анализировать подобные результаты, иногда не хватает слов. Это просто загадка, как можно проиграть подобный матч. Если посчитать чистые голевые моменты "Тоттенхэма", то понять, как мы умудрились пропустить 3 гола, невозможно. Но мы проиграли и должны винить только себя", - цитирует Венгера Sky Sports.

This is an interim post from me Geoff, nothing to do with Pedro.

I have just come back from the game, I am sober and pissed off. I have just watched Harry, a bent back hand taking mug from Pompey clean our clocks, I am angry and embarrassed, he is quite obviously better than you Arsene, why? Well because he beat you after you having a 2 goal lead at our place and he hasn’t even got your budget, no where near it.

Most of where I sit has been taken away to make room for Arsenal to make more money, and I have to queue for 10 minutes to get a drink, if that’s not bad enough I have to read everywhere on the walls how great you are, have you no shame? I could take that if you gave a rats arse for the fans, but you don’t do you, all you care about is you, and of course that brass in France.

I watched the line up, Song and Denilson our 2 worst players in the same team, are you taking the piss? I pay over £5k a year to watch you diss my team, I have argued your case for years and now I have had enough.

Whilst you’ve been sowing your own dirty little seeds in Paris, I’ve been writing a blog and defending you and your reticence to spend on proper and decent players, today was bollocks.

Time for you to sod off and give me my club back. And take your arse kissing management team with you.

You are a bastard disgrace.

I’ve had enough, to lose to West brom and Newcastle is bad enough, but to lose to the spuds, is bollocks and I won’t ever forgive you for what happened today.

No doubt Pedro will disagree, but he’s not here and I am.

Come back George Graham, at least you knew how not to lose and if you did, how bad you felt and how bad your team was and how sorry you were.

That’s it. Good night all and on behalf of my club I apologise, my week is down the shitter, unlike Wenger’s who will still gets paid shed loads, shame on you Arsene, shame on you .

Despite suffering yet another home defeat, Arsenal are still only two points from the top of the table but questions will be asked after the Gunners failed to defend a two goal lead.

Speaking after the game in his post-match press conference, manager Arsene Wenger believes his players failed to maintain the focus for the full 90 minutes but how the overall performance of his side was a quality one, as statistics show.

Wenger believes basic errors, bad luck and the wrong decision of referee Phil Dowd to give the away side a set-piece which was not a foul all contributed to the defeat with the Frenchman saying for a second time how he still cannot believe how his players lost a game in which they were in control.

Asked about problems between midfielder Samir Nasri and former captain William Gallas, Wenger preferred not to comment, simply saying how it is impossible for everyone to get along.

The Gunners are now third in the table on 26 points after 14 games with Chelsea and Manchester United – the only unbeaten side in this campaign – leading on 28 points. Arsenal face Aston Villa next week, away from home with Chelsea in action at the St. James Park and Manchester United at home against Blackburn.

On his side’s defeat, Wenger said:

We could not maintain the focus nor the urgency for 90 minutes because some players dropped. I believe as well that overall we delivered a performance expected in a game like that quality wise and if you look at the stats and the numbers it’s very difficult to understand how we lost this game.

A drop of concentration, some basic errors, some bad luck as well because the penalty spot I think was no foul for them at the start. And on top of that, not only did we get the foul but we get the penalty where we are guilty of. But overall you are a bit speechless. To re-analyze the game, it’s a mystery how we can lose a game like that.

[We were in control] in the second as well. It was a free kick for us – goal for them. You know? We were caught on counterattack at 2-0 up. And after we were punished on the second goal. If you look at the clear-cut chances that Tottenham had today, it’s easy to see how we conceded three goals. It’s one of those games where we dominated them more than any other one but we lost it and we can only look at ourselves.

Ideally you would prefer that everybody in the world always loves everybody, but it doesn’t always happen.

Last week I received quite a few emails and comments asking where Adam Kemp was now that Arsenal had rallied to within two points of the League leaders Chelsea, well today the Gunners are STILL two points behind Chelsea, and Mr Kemp has decided to give us his view this week.

This is a Guest Post and does not reflect the views of Just Arsenal, but in the interests of free speech i am happy to give Adam the chance to express his view…….

We deserved to win, but is that enough?

Many of you have long stood by the notion that I am a fan who doesn’t appreciate the beloved Arsenal and write negative drivel. Well today Arsenal have epitomised everything I have ever stated and more about their lack of ability to win matches that they dominate. The bragging rights today belong to Arsenal’s shadow club tonight after a pathetic tactical display from Wenger. I was specifically waiting for today’s match praying I would be eating humble pie, writing an article about Arsenal called “Are we going to do it now?” The answer based on today’s performance is simply NO.

I was jumping for joy as many of you were in the first half at a masterclass of typical Arsenal play. Slick passing oozing with sheer flair were making Spurs look like true spuds; rooted to the ground stuck watching! This is the biggest game for true Arsenal fans as this is the match on the fixture list we care about the most.

Nasri was immense as ever showing his promise of developing into one of the finest midfielders on the planet. I look at this squad I say how are we not dominating this league. Chelsea were poor against Sunderland and Birmingham; yet again we fail to take top spot. Those 3 home defeats to West Brom, Newcastle and Spurs are a kick in the teeth to any Arsenal fan.

If Arsenal put displays like this on at home again they should refund all season ticket holders for their lack of ability to win matches that they should. In the second half it was typical Arsene Wenger and typical Arsenal. 2 – 0 and comfortable then the tempo drops, inviting pressure from the opposition which they get luck on and capitalise. Wenger should have never taken Samir Nasri off which was a massive mistake. Chamakh was awful and woeful in that second half along with Denilson and Song. The defence was poor and overall is a miserable day for true Arsenal fans.

I hope all of you finally can agree that changes need to happen in either the squad, manager, backroom staff and coaching, if we are to finally win that silverware that we as fans have been more than patient in waiting for. I firmly stand by the notion that Wenger must move upstairs and we need a better tactical manager in with a completely new backroom team. Today is a dark day for all of us and I hope Wenger apologises to fans for that disgraceful showing!

Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal can no longer be ‘roughed up’.

The Gunners have shown a robust character that may have been missing in recent years where teams felt they could negate the footballing style adopted by Wenger with a muscular approach. Arsenal were sometimes classed as a ‘soft touch’ but that is certainly not the case now as they have shown with a string of solid displays on the road.

Aesthetically pleasing football is something we have come to expect from Wenger’s side but an admission from Everton captain Phil Neville that his team could not impose their physical game on the Gunners is not something you hear every day.

“I take that as a compliment because before people felt they could do that [be physical],” said Wenger. “I feel it’s part of maturing, becoming a man.

“Unfortunately it goes down with the worst Fair Play record and we have to change that but it shows we are more committed.

“If you look at our away record and where we have played until now you have to accept that we have made an improvement on that front.

“People still have doubts about that but our numbers results away from home have been good.”

After two very good away results I wrote the following:However let’s not  get carried away unless Arsenal can produce this form at home as well as away, it will have all been a waste of time, this team has to prove it can be consistent.Against Newcastle I felt I had seen the worst ninety minutes played by an Arsenal eleven in a very long time, against Spurs Arsenal fans sat through the worst 45 minutes in 17 years. A team that had been 2-0 up conceded three goals and showed no meaningful fight back in return.

Arsenal fans left the stadium stunned as Spurs fans celebrated, and filled in order forms for the match DVD. A DVD all Arsenal players should be made to watch again and again.

Fan’s Immediate Reaction

A friend also at the match messaged me immediately after the game, and although knee jerk reactions are not always a fair reflection of what has happened the text still sums up my feelings and analysis 24 hours later. I quote:

“Where do you start, players that couldn’t care less after 30 minutes they stopped playing.  At one point in the first half they had a break on goal with all the Spurs defence in the Arsenal half and instead of getting the third they show boated and let the chance go.

Why do they think at 2-0 they no longer need to play? This is happening time and time again and you know it won’t change.

This is a disgrace to all the players in the past that put 100% into every game. I am stunned, but more so because I thought this game would mean something but obviously it doesn’t mean a damn thing.”

Show boat sinks

However I think that the message does more than sum up feelings, it’s a correct analysis of how this team reacts to being 2-0 up. It identifies that the killer instinct didn’t stop at 45 minutes, it stopped at 30 minutes. This team thinks it can ease off once its two nil up.

Yet the minute it concedes a goal and it goes to 2-1 it is like a rabbit in the headlights, those at the back cry forward and those at the front cry back. They don’t know what to do.

Mental strength don’t make me laugh

This team doesn’t know what mental strength is, even if you could store it in one gallon tins and hit them in the face with the can they still wouldn’t recognise it. This team is not afraid when there is nothing to be afraid off.

Can’t win matches that matter.

This team can’t win a game that counts, games with nothing riding on them they are your men. I have mentioned this before and I stand by it, give them a game that will put them top they choke, give them a semi final, or a final,  they will choke. Ask yourself this -how many times over last 5 years has this squad had a chance to go top and they blew it? Put it the other way around how many times did they go top? This squad is congenitally feeble.

Win the league you're having a larf

A team that is on course to concede 38 goals, a team that has lost three games at home to teams not even in the top four, and struggled to beat West Ham at home will not win the league.

Yes Chelsea are having a bad patch, but that is something a team that intends to win the league must take advantage of, not use as a consolation. The minute you start watching other teams’ results you are not in control of your destiny. Whilst our players treat us to their bird brain treaties on how we can win the league, unbeaten Manchester United get on with it, walking the walk, whilst our squad talks and talks.

Defending as a team

This team has conceded 9 goals at home. Manchester United have conceded five and Chelsea three. Wenger has still failed to sort out defending, but I don’t think it is just about individuals, although Clichy’s errors are becoming a cliché. The team does not defend as a team, it loses shape, and doesn’t always track back, of whom Deckchair Denilson I think of the first.

Fabregas has taken up volley ball, he has got away with it on other occasions, this time his luck ran out.

Substitutions

When the subs came on we looked even worse, RvP tried but made no impact, true his one assist was wasted, but that’s life in football. Walcott also made no impact, preferring to shoot at Gomes or across the goal, when a gentle chip or cross would have done. Wenger took off players, who were playing reasonably well, for players who lack match fitness. Sure you need to gamble, but Arshavin was twice as effective as any player who came on as sub. Taking off Denilson first would have made more sense.

Conclusion not out of blue

One of Arsenal Times regular posters, saw this coming, foolishly I had thought they would be up for this one, I ignored my own analysis and went with the heart. After all Spurs are rubbish away, even losing at the Hammers.

This was the worst result against Spurs at home in 17 years, and this wasn’t a great Spurs team. It also means we have lost back to back against them in the league.The first 30 minutes had illustrated how poor Spurs are, but it was a lack of determination, and then a lack of penetration at 2-2 that sealed Arsenal’s fate. Nor did this result come out of the blue; it was a continuation of what has been two months of very poor home form. A team that cannot win at home, and even worse has lost three games at home before the end of November will not win the title.

Of course nothing is certain in life, apart from death, taxes, and the return of a Labour MP in Jarrow, and Wenger could turn things around. But to do that he will need to coach his players to defend as a team, to become more ruthless, and to care about the club. What are the chances of that happening? I leave you to decide.

Arsenal 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur

1 – 0 Nasri (9)
2 – 0 Chamakh (27)
2 – 1 Bale (50)
2 – 2 van der Vaart (68 pen)
2 – 3 Kaboul (86)

A home defeat to Tottenham is never a pleaseant occurrence; one where an abject second half performance was inexplicably at odds with the impressive nature of the previous forty five minutes is sickening. It is one  which has seen some sections of the support stoop so low with personal abuse that they have not scraped the bottom of the barrel, they ploughed through and continued unabated to the bowels of the earth.

Where the defeat cuts deepest into the soul that it was entirely avoidable. The strongest of foundations had been built for victory, dominating the first half to render the visitors entirely impotent. The second saw talented players capitulate through their own mistakes, architects of their own downfall leaving the manager furious and bewildered in equal measure.

The defeat rests ultimately on his shoulders for that is where the buck stops but each member of the squad must look at themselves this morning and ask if they have the mental strength to cross the rubicon, to breach the citadel walls of title winners, leaving the land of potential behind them.

Despite this, the team still remains two points from the summit. Chelsea’s defeat at Birmingham means that they rule the roost by that margin from Arsenal, goal difference from a distinctly ordinary Manchester United side. Arsenal cannot continue to rely on the largesse of their rivals; at some point they must stand up and make the victories achieved on their travels count for exactly that rather than making up for their home travails.

It was all so needless. Spurs had been swept aside in the opening half. Half chances had been traded before Fabregas lofted a pass over the top of the visitors’ defence; Samir Nasri chased it down but Gomes came to make the ball his and failed, hesitating instead of being brave to collect. The Frenchman nicked the ball past him and from the tightest of angles, dribbled the ball over the line with enough power to tantalise the chasing defence but sufficient to tease the pursuers into the net as well.

Pressure mounted on the Tottenham goal, most notably when Fabregas wriggled free and shot past the far post. The lead was doubled as Tottenham pressed on their left, Sagna cleared the cross to Fabregas who swept the ball wide to Arshavin, the Russian’s cross glanced into the net by Chamakh’s boot. Two-nil, complete control assumed. The Moroccan spurned two opportunities before the interval but nothing that had been seen gave any indication of the mania to follow.

Within five minutes, Tottenham had their foothold as Bale sprinted onto Defoe’s flick, beating Fabianski with a shot across the goalkeeper. Even so, fifteen minutes of stability would have taken some of the sting from the moment. It never happened.

Modric should have equalised before Song was deemed to have fouled him with half of the second period played. The freekick was curled at the wall by van der Vaart, Fabregas lifted his own and Chamakh’s arm to block the ball at above head height. A penalty was awarded; van der Vaart converted. This picture (thanks to Ole for the link) highlights the folly clearly. Had the ball struck either, play would have stopped if the power was deemed that sufficient. Absolute lunacy, the softest and most foolish of penalties to concede.

Arsenal came back to life from the crevice of despair. Fabregas was offside as he played the ball back to Squillaci, the defender still buried the chance. The Spaniard would also go close with a volley moments later before Gomes turned his effort away with fifteen minutes left. The most culpable of misses though fell once more to Laurent Koscielny. Having incomprehensibly headed over the bar in the opening minutes at Stamford Bridge, he missed a glorious chance to deflate the visitors, heading over from close range.

It was the first of two costly late interventions. With six minutes remaining, he felled Bale. The resultant free kick found Kaboul poorly marked, his flicked header gave Tottenham their first victory at The Emirates, only their second at Arsenal in the Premier League.

For Wenger, it is a tough week ahead.  He is being criticised for the mental failings of the players in this match. There was enough experience on the pitch for those in red and white to have closed out the match. Indeed, having shown that calmness at Everton with a two-goal advantage sealed inside 48 minutes, the capitulation is staggering. They have this knowledge yet no-one stood sufficiently tall to bring the group to heel. That was a failing of all, not just the captain. Yet Fabregas should have done that but did not.

Hindsight is a wonderful gift but Wenger made an error in playing Koscielny. The defence did not need changing. Djourou had played well in the previous two games, his understanding with Squillaci had handled the Wolves and Everton frontlines well. Denilson for Wilshere was understandable, the Brazilian having played at Goodison Park impressively as a second half substitute.

It is however not a time for individual finger-pointing. The burden of the defeat rests squarely on the shoulders of all. Damaging as it was, fatal it was not. However the slovenliness of recent home form has to be removed. Winning at home is how title winning sides build their success. Defeats such as those already suffered have been costly in that a potential seven point lead at the top had they all been won, has not materialised.

Two tough away games ahead this week; the players have to respond meaningfully, winning both with good performances. Two victories in Braga and at Villa Park bring December into view, a month for driving forward. At this particular moment in time, that is by no means certain.

North London derbies are strange affairs.

I spent the week comfortably anticipating putting the cock-shirt wearing upstarts in their place and yet, as I walked to the ground on Saturday morning, a feeling of expectation had been replaced by one of anxiety.

Let's be honest, T*tt*nh*m are a far better outfit now than they have been for some time, and that isn't a nice thing to have to contemplate.

One look at their twitchy-faced idiot of a manager or the way the owners are trying to squat in Stratford as a fall back if their stadium plans fall flat says all you need to know about the lack of class at the club.

And for 45 minutes it was easy. Too easy.

There were cheers for Samir Nasri when he refused to shake William Gallas's hand and jeers for our former captain whenever he touched the ball (neither of which should be the Arsenal way, but there you go), but when Nasri and then Chamakh scored, you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was all over.

But I couldn't help thinking at half time that we may rue the missed chance Marouane Chamakh had when he failed to shoot from a decent opportunity.

Memories of two years ago when we let a comfortable lead slip in that 4-4 draw are still too raw and fresh to provide the comfort any rational fan might expect.

When RedKrapp brought on Jermaine Defoe, the entire balance of the game shifted.

Suddenly, our centrebacks had two strikers to worry about and the deep-lying runs from Rafael van der Vaart, without the cover Alex Song should provide to stop the Dutchman from pulling the strings.

The first reason we lost is that Arsene Wenger did not seem to react at all to the chance in T*tt*nh*m personnel. We were instantly on the back foot.

Perhaps that was the time to bring on Theo and play him right up against Gareth Bale to stifle their width.

Whatever. We left it too late to make changes and as soon as the first had gone in, I'm afraid, the mood around me confirmed that there was likely to be only one winner and it wasn't us.

Which brings me on to the second reason.

We all know what being an Arsenal fan is about; the frustration, the anguish, the sense of anger when new quality signings don't come and the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory all too often.

But that's when the fans need to get behind the team. I had people behind me arguing with each other, almost causing a punch-up. Guys, we're on the same side and the moment we start arguing amongst ourselves, the opposition have an advantage we don't need to give them.

Every time I tried to start chanting, no one around me made a noise. When the team needed to be urged on, we let them down.

People started to leave, people tutted and moaned and the players could tell.

No wonder we have such an abysmal home record of three defeats already this season. The players must feel uptight when the Club Level-ers and the fairweathers who turn up when it's warm or a glamour game start getting on their backs with no understanding of what the word 'supporter' actually means.

We pay ridiculously high prices for our tickets and we have a right to expect a decent level of quality but criticising the team during the game does us no favours.

Of course, and this is the third reason, the players have to take some responsibility as well.

Wenger can claim that we played well in places and some of the stats suggest we had the majority of possession, but as he said on ATV afterwards, we didn't maintain the concentration needed in a game of that intensity.

Only Wenger knows why the improving and impressive Johann Djourou was dropped but Laurent Koscielny looks like a player struggling to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

But I am not blaming him solely - the entire team lacked heart and desire. As I have said so many times, where are the leaders in this team to stir the side up and maintain calm when the going gets tough?

As Graham McNorthbank said to me after the game, we also don't have any superstars in the side anymore.

Yes, Cesc is world class, RvP when fit and Andrey Arshavin can be devastating in small doses but the consistency required of players to win tight games against our top rivals just doesn't seem to be there anymore.

With the Ch*vs losing again, we are still in this title race.

But Wenger, the players and the fans all need to take a hard look at themselves.

We only turn Emirates into a fortress if we work together and give every last bead of sweat and energy to helping each other in the pursuit of glory.

If you come to think of it, supporting the “Arse” is one of the toughest things to do. Here’s what you need :

PATIENCE : After all how else can you watch the Gunners and not tear your hair off in frustration. How else can one wait for the injuries to be done with…

AN ACCEPTANCE OF IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOUR : This certainly is a primary qualification, otherwise how else would you support a team who can and have the resources to buy world-class players and still for some reason as unexplainable as Songs hair colour will not do so .

EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED : A team winning 2 up at home and still managing to lose. Losing to teams which have just been promoted AT HOME.

BELIEVING : Its our managers motto. Believing in something yet at the end coming nowhere near it .

ENTERTAINING MENTALITY : Our mentality is to entertain. Winning and losing is a part of the game.

LOSING  IN THE SAME FASHION : Year after year expect to lose  in the same way against teams like United and Chelsea and still think ‘ No our philosophy is right, “ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK” ‘

There, I think that’ll do.

You got all of these ??

Right then, your ready to be a Gooner .

Welcome to this weekends Loanees Watch – Young Guns’ analysis, reports and updates on the progress of the young starlets currently plying their trade away from the Emirates Stadium. You can read all the latest reports below.

Vito Mannone claimed a second consecutive clean-sheet as Hull City’s good form continued with a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town. Mannone was forced into making two early saves, one notably from Jason Scotland, but was otherwise untroubled.

Kyle Bartley completed another 90 minutes at centre half as Sheffield United beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at home. Bartley showed impressive composure and leadership in a game which saw two penalties and two red cards.

Sanchez Watt played 85 minutes for Leeds United Reserves in a 6-3 win over Hull City in midweek, but was not part of the squad that drew 1-1 with Norwich City. Watt is expected to be involved next week after recovering from injury.

Benik Afobe came off the bench to play the final 15 minutes of Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 defeat to Exeter City. Afobe, who was rested due to worries from manager Lee Clark about burn out, replaced Jordan Rhodes but didn’t have any real chances to score.

Cédric Evina played the full 90 minutes in midfield for Oldham Athletic as they beat Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0. Evina impressed in his role, and almost played in a part in the opener, with Dagenham defender Will Antwi almost turning the Frenchman’s cross into his own net.

Thomas Cruise played 79 minutes at left back for Carlisle United as they lost 2-1 to Walsall. Cruise, who was initially awarded the opening goal before it was given to striker Mike Grella, came off late on as United looked for an equaliser.

Gavin Hoyte wrapped up another 90 minutes at right back as Lincoln City beat Hereford United 3-1.

Luke Freeman was not part of the Yeovil Town squad that lost 3-2 to Charlton Athletic.

Mark Randall missed Rotherham’s 1-0 win over Crewe due to a shoulder injury.

Francis Coquelin came off the bench to play the final 24 minutes as Lorient lost 2-0 to Sochaux. Coquelin’s introduction helped protect the defence in the closing stages, but the damage was already done.

Armand Traoré was an unused substitute for Juventus was they beat Genoa 2-0.

Nacer Barazite was left out of the Vitesse Arnhem squad that beat Heracles 2-0. New coach Albert Ferrer says Barazite must earn his place in the Vitesse squad for next weeks fixture.

Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes on the left of a front three as FC Cartagena beat Real Betis 2-1. Botelho turned in another solid shift, but in a new position. The Brazilian came close to equalising after Betis took the lead, having his shot turned off the post.

Samuel Galindo came off the bench to play the final three minutes of UD Salamanca’s 4-2 win over Las Palmas. Galindo, who was given a brand new Audi A1 by Salamanca’s sponsors Audi, is expected to feature much more in the second half of the season.

Just before we kick off proceedings, I thought I’d mention yesterday evenings post as it received a lot of vitriol, mainly from the kids on our @arsenal_legrove twitter feed. Firstly, I found it interesting so many sad b*stards were talking about us on a Saturday night, get a life people (Especially those of you who took time out to abuse the players). Secondly, we don’t write this blog for awards, advertising revenue or to be the world’s biggest crowd pleaser. If you don’t like us, don’t click the link and don’t follow us.

It really is as simple as that.

We’re only interested in writing for people who can handle a multitude of opinions regardless of whether they agree… thank the lord there are plenty of them out there!

On with the game…

I’m gutted. What can I say?

I feel like someone has driven past me in a  mini cooper and smacked me in the face with a wet kipper.
How did that happen again?

How can a team so lauded in the media capitulate in such a limp fashion in pretty much one of the biggest games of the season? Not only that, how can a team that has European Cup ambitions be so tactically inept that we concede 3 goals in one half?

The team that lined up wasn’t really that surprising. I expected Denilson to start and I expected Koscielny to as well. On the balance of things the Frenchman didn’t deserve his place ahead of JD but selection on merit hasn’t exactly been a strength of Arsene over the past few years.

The game got off to a flyer, we knocked the ball around with pace and intent. It didn’t take long for us to break the deadlock, Samir Nasri was slotted through by a weighted Fabregas pass, he took round/through the keeper with a heavy touch, running away from the goal he somehow manage to squeeze it past Ekkotu and Gomes. A staggering finish and the whole ground erupted!

We continued to press Spurs, Sagna kept God quiet out wide and Van Der Vaart was having no luck anywhere on the pitch. Willy G was booed on every touch. Not really sure why, our ex-captain’s first appearance didn’t evoke enough emotion for me to jeer.

Our second goal came when Cesc set Arshavin off down the wing, he beat Hutton with a ball into the box where Chamakh was on hand to slot home. A super finish he clearly didn’t expect to make!

We were bossing the game, Denilson was having a stormer and things were looking rosier than… errr? A bunch of roses.

Geoff and I were in good spirits in the bar. He thought he’d proved his point about Spurs being weak, I disagreed. They beat Inter Milan who are no mugs. I tweeted that we had to tighten up because Spurs had goals in them.

Within 5 minutes of the restart, Ekkoto launched a long ball up the pitch, Defoe beat Clichy in the air and nodded into the path of the chosen one, there was mass confusion as no one had tracked his run leaving the master of the universe free to slot past Fabianski.

Oh no I thought. Here we go again.

We were stunned. No one in a red and white shirt took control of the game and Spurs started to probe. Song conceded a freekick about 20 yards out. RVDV hit it high and Cesc decided to raise his hand across Chamakh to handle the ball. Inexplicable. Ridiculous. Costly.

RVDV banged the penalty home with no problem.

At this point I was hoping we’d kick it up a gear and for a while we did. A Robin freekick found its way into the box, it was headed back across goal by an offside Cesc so Squillaci nodding it in was inconsequential.

The Spaniard then went close again with a super shot that Gomes did well to tip round the post.

Koscielny nodded over from 3 yards which was gut wrenching. This wasn’t going to be our day…

Then it happened. Kozzer made yet another over the top challenge in an area outside the box that feels like we’ve conceded a penalty. The ball was delivered in, Kaboul glanced the ball across goal… we were 3-2 down. How did he manage to get in between 2 of our players and our most experienced centre back? Shocking…

So much for taking the lead being the main problem for us in the big games.

We huffed and puffed for the remainder… not even 5 minutes of injury time could save us. There wasn’t a chorus of booing down my end.

Just an eerie, deflated silence.

My worst moment in the Emirates? Without a doubt.

A feeling you wouldn’t have picked up on behind a twitter feed.

So what went wrong?

It’s difficult to pin point. The first half we really dominated Spurs, they didn’t come out to play. Most of the fans knew they would do though. When you are a world-class coach and you are playing a team as dangerous as our North London rivals, I’d expect us to shut up shop and play out the game. We did nothing of the sort, we went out with complacency and we threw a three goal lead.

If our players are so good, why can’t we just play keep ball for a half? Why can’t Alex Song sit in front of the defence for 45 minutes? Why can’t a team of so called intelligent players talk to each other and work out a plan of action?

We’ve got more technical ability than an office full of architects. What we don’t have is a team of full of born winners. For all the aggression we’ve shown this year, we seem to constantly find ourselves unprepared to dig deep when things aren’t going our way. If you’re not a born winner, you need to be moulded into a winner. Does Arsene instill that die for the cause/win mentality into our players?

We’re unprepared full stop. When you have the best squad of players in a generation, they barely need managing. This crop aren’t that generation. They need coaching, they need instructions and they need to be told what to do when they’re 2-0 up. They don’t get that at Arsenal. The attention to detail just isn’t there. Wenger is still stuck in 1998 when he was one of only 2 managers with gifted players.

He needs to rethink how he plans and delivers his match day message because currently, whatever his methods are, they aren’t being digested. Playing the ‘Arsene way’ has been hit and miss this year. If it’s only working 50% of the time, we need a plan for the other 50%.

Our Captain…

I don’t want to go on about it, but I said in the summer keeping a player who doesn’t want to be with us could be problematic. He’s played with a moody swagger all season, he seems to make reckless challenges on purpose and yesterday he hand balled it in ridiculous circumstances. I know he’s also a bit of a miserable sod around the training camp as well.

Does that rub off on the other players? Is he a leader in the same way Tommy V would be or Patrick Vieira was? Or is he the latest in a long list of players given the armband as an emotional bind?

Cesc said this after playing in a Spain side that loss 4-0 to Portugal in the week.

“Now we need to apologise to the fans and continue forward.”

Will he apologise to the Arsenal fans in the same way? I highly doubt it… I’m not feeling the love from Cesc this season and bar a few tidy passes, I didn’t think his game was up to much.

The Keeper…

Sorry, but he’s flapping again. He flew out for a meek diving punch then he flapped at a cross just before the goal. When your biggest weakness is something many clubs specialise in, I struggle to see how you can be a long term fixture.

The Coach…

I want to steer clear of Arsenal.com for as long as possible, but reading a headline of ‘We don’t know what went wrong’ is ridiculous. Why don’t you know what went wrong, it’s your damn job!

His ability to motivate these players and manage the tactics of the team have once again come under the spot light. Can Arsene ever manage a winning team for us again? Does he honestly believe this is the best squad of players he’s ever had? If he does are people not a little worried about what he’s looking at?

Ground Hog day becomes ever more predictable as the years go on…

The league…

For all the upset caused by yesterday, we’re still in with a shout… miraculously.

I don’t think losing to Spurs is the worry for people, it’s the manner in which we lost. I can accept they’re a good side. What disgusts me is conceding 3 goals in a half at home. That’s really not on.

I personally don’t think we’ll win the league this year, however, I’m not giving up the ghost, I’m not calling for Wenger’s head just yet. He’s got my backing until May when there will be judgement from me.

Wenger and his team have a lot of work to do. Performances like today are verging on unforgivable and for a club with the ambitions of Arsenal, they are totally unacceptable.

Results went our way yesterday, we’ve got to capitalise on that next week against a good Aston Villa side.

Any suggestions as to what went wrong yesterday are welcome, I’ll e-mail them over to Arsene tomorrow.

See you in the comments.

Рады приветствовать всех в еженедельной колонке нашего сайта, посвященной игрокам лондонского "Арсенала", выступающих на правах аренды в других клубах.


Вито Манноне
"Халл Сити" 1:0 "Ипсвич Таун"

Вито Манноне сохранил свои ворота "сухими" второй матч подряд, что позволило одержать победу  "тиграм" в непростом матче против "Ипсвич Таун", закончившись 1:0. Манноне был вынужден вступить в игру на ранней стадии, совершив два великолепных сейва, один из которых особенно запомнился после удара Джейсона Скотланда, но Вито был надёжен.


Кайл Бартли
"Шеффилд Юнайтед" 3:2 "Кристал Пэлас"

Кайл Бартли отыграл в центре полузащиты за "Шеффилд Юнайтед" все 90 минут матча, который завершился победой "клинков", со счётом 3:2. Бартли показал впечатляющие хладнокровие и лидерство в игре, зрители которой увидели два пенальти и две красные карточки.


Санчес Уотт
"Норвич Сити" 1:1 "Лидс Юнайтед"

Санчес Уотт наконец-то залечил свою травму и  отыграл 85 минут за резерв "Лидс Юнайтед" в победном матче против резервистов "Халл Сити", где зрители вдоволь насладились забитыми мячами, их было аж 9, а общий итог 6:3. Но Уотт не принял участия в матче основной команды против "Норвич Сити", который завершился 1:1. Как ожидается, Санчес будет включён в первую команду на следующей неделе после полного восстановления.


Беник Афоб
"Хаддерсфилд Таун" 0:1 "Эксетер Сити"

Беник Афоб начал свой матч на скамейке запасных, и вышел на поле в заключительные 15 минут, где его команда потерпела поражение у себя дома от "Эксетер Сити" со счётом 0:1. Афоб, которому главный тренера Ли Кларк дал отдохнуть, появившись на поле не имел реальных шансов забить.


Седрик Эвина
"Дагенхэм энд Рэдбридж" 0:1 "Олдхэм Атлетик"

Седрик Евина отыграл за "Олдхэм" все 90 минут в центре поля, а команда одержала верх над "Дагенхэм энд Рэдбридж" 1:0. Эвина выглядел хорошо и мог отличиться, но в последний момент не хватило точности.


Томас Круз
"Уолсолл" 2:1 "Карлайл Юнайтед"

Томас Круз сыграл за "Карлайл Юнайтед" 79 минут на позиции левого защитника, в проигранном матче "Уолсоллу", 2:1. Круз мог первым отличиться в матче, прежде чем это сделал его одноклубник Майк Грелла на 26 минуте, но забитый гол не помог уйти от поражения.


Гэвин Хойт
"Линкольн Сити" 3:1 "Херефорд Юнайтед"

Гэвин Хойт продолжает радовать своей постоянной игровой практикой,  снова отыграв все 90 минут на позиции правого защитника, а его команда  "Линкольн Сити" одержала верх над "Херефордом", 3:1.


Люк Фримен
"Чарльтон Aтлетик" 3:2 "Йовил Таун"

Люк Фримен не принимал участие в игре "Йовил Таун", который проиграл со счётом 3:2 "Чарльтону".


Марк Рэндалл
"Крю" 0:1 "Ротерхэм Юнайтед"

Марк Рэндалл пропустил победный матч "Ротерхэма", который завершился 0:1, из-за травмы плеча.


Франсис Кокелан
"Сошо" 2:0 "Лорьян"

Франсис Кокелан начал матч на скамейке запасных, и сыграл заключительные 24 минуты, а "Лорьян" в гостях проиграл 2:0 "Сошо". После выхода на поле Кокелана, защита "Лорьяна" больше не позволила отличиться противнику, но исход матча был уже предрешён.


Арман Траоре
"Дженоа" 0:2 "Ювентус"

Арман Траоре на поле не появился, а "Ювентус" без проблем одержал верх над "Дженоа", 2:0.


Насер Баразит
"Витесс Арнхем" 2:0 "Хераклес"

Насер Баразит не появился на поле за "Витесс", который одержал верх над "Хераклесом", 2:0. Новый тренер "Витесса" Альберт Феррер говорит, что Баразит должен заработать своё место в команде, если хочет выступать за клуб в следующих турах.


Педро Ботельо
"Картахена" 2:1 "Реал Бетис"

Педро Ботельо отыграл весь матч на позиции крайнего защитника, а его команда одержала верх над "Бетисом", 2:1. Проигрывая по ходу матча, бразилец мог первым сравнять счёт, но его удар пришёлся в штангу.


Самуэль Галиндо
"Саламанка" 4:2 "Лас Пальмас"

Самуэль Галиндо начал матч на скамейке запасных, и появился на поле всего за три минуты до конца матча, где "Саламанка" добилась уверенной победы над "Лас Пальмасом", 4:2.

Главный тренер лондонского "Арсенала" Арсен Венгер после неутешительного матча против "Тоттенхэма" (2:3) в послематчевом интервью высказал свои догадки по поводу досадного поражения.

Об игре команды в матче против "шпор"...

"Мы не смогли сохранить ни сосредоточенность, ни настойчивость на протяжении всех 90 минут, потому что некоторые футболисты выпали из игры. Я также полагаю, что в целом мы продемонстрировали ожидаемый для такой игры качественный футбол. Если вы взглянете на статистику и цифры, то сложно понять, как мы проиграли этот матч".

"Падение концентрации, несколько элементарных ошибок, некоторое невезение, потому что во время свободного удара, который привёл к пенальти, фола не было. И главное - мы не только совершили фол, но и мы привезли одиннадцатиметровый, в котором виноваты только сами. Сложно сказать что-либо ещё. Постаравшись проанализировать игру, могу сказать, что это настоящая загадка, как мы могли проиграть такой матч".

О назначенном пенальти в ворота "Арсенала"...

"Я не знаю, я не видел это хорошо".

О полном контроле "канонирами" игры в первой половине встречи...

"Мы полностью осознали ситуацию со вторым таймом. Для нас это был всего лишь свободный удар, для них - победный гол. "Шпоры" нас поймали на контратаке и забили, когда счет был 2:0. А потом и пенальти. В общем мы пропустили три гола, при этом доминируя на поле. Эта одна из игр, где винить остается только себя".

О словах Харри Рэднэппа, что "Тоттенхэм" может выиграть титул...

"На данный момент существует десять команд, которые теоретически могут взять первенство. "Тоттенхэм" - один из этих клубов".
           
О том, согласен ли он, что в "Арсенале" случился разлад в полузащите...

"Нет, я не так не думаю. Мы изначала сосредоточились на игре. Если бы мы так не начали игру, я бы был согласен с этим. Я чувствовал, те игроки, которые играли в прошлом и позапрошлом туре немного устали и это сказывалось на развитии игры. Поэтому наши футболисты с трудом передвигались во второй половине". 

О том, что он был бы рад, если бы Самир Насри пожал руку Вильяму Галласу...

"Было бы идеально, если бы все в мире друг друга любили, но это не всегда происходит".

О расслабленности после получения преимущества...

"Трудно сказать, сказалось ли усталость или снижение концентрации. Всегда трудно принять поражение, когда по ходу встречи ведешь со счетом 2:0. У нас были шансы забить еще, Косьелни, Шамах, еще два-три удара. "Шпоры" были лучше в контратаках, что несомненно отразилось в результате".

О том, что игроки "Арсенала" не спешили изменить счет после двух голов "шпор"...

"Возможно. Я чувствовал, что игра наших соперников стала более открытой, и у нас было больше места для созидания, но было видно, что Шамах во второй половине совершенно устал. Он сыграл 70-80 минут в матче своей сборной, после перерывов для игр сборных вообще все игроки ослабевают. Но все же у нас были шансы, чтобы убить интригу во встрече".

О том, являются ли три домашних поражения слишком большим количеством на этой стадии сезона...

"Да, согласен. Три домашних поражения - слишком много. В первых двух матчах мы не показали ровным счётом ничего и можем только сказать, что получили то, что заслужили. Вчера мы показали футбол. Однако меня волнует тот факт, что когда у нас есть шанс возглавить турнирную таблицу, то нам не удаётся. Это беспокоит, потому что является частью нашей работы".

О том, был ли у "Арсенала" шанс выиграть матч после пропущенного пенальти...

"Да, конечно. Я убеждён, что шанс был. По ходу чемпионата есть возможности, которые хочешь реализовать, и сегодня у нас имелся прекрасный шанс, однако мы провалились. Должны принять это. Проблема больше заключается в психологии, нежели самом футболе. Если бы "Тоттенхэм" доминировал и создавал шансы, тем самым, выиграв матч, то вы бы могли сказать "окей, сегодня мы уступили лучшей команде". Вчера мы постоянно находились в позиции, когда могли выиграть встречу, но не сложилось. Сложно смириться с поражением".

"В футболе существует одно понятие - невезение. Могли бы вы представить, что получите пенальти со свободного удара, с которого соперникам не удалось забить? Тяжело. Вы не можете предсказать всего, но для меня причиной поражения является смесь усталости во втором тайме, а также недостатка концентрации".

Легенда "канониров" Рэй Парлор ставит под вопрос качество нынешнего "Арсенала", считая, что подопечные Венгера не знают как вести игру.

Напомним, что экс-"канонир" играл под руководством Арсена Венгера в течении восьми лет, выиграв за это время три титула Премьер Лиги и трижды Кубок Англии. Но начиная с его ухода в 2004 году, у лондонского клуба с завоеванием титула дела идут плохо.

Последний матч "Арсенала" в чемпионате против "Тоттенхэма", в случае поражения "Челси", давал клубу шанс возглавить турнирную таблицу. Но вместо этого, "канониры" умудрились проиграть со счётом 2:3, ведя игру с преимуществом в два мяча, что стало первым домашним поражением от "шпор" впервые за 17 лет.

"Я большой поклонник Венгера. Я играл под его руководством в течении восьми лет, и я знаю, что он сделал для клуба", - сказал Парлор в интервью talkSPORT.

"Но когда я играл под руководством Арсена Венгера, команде удавалось выигрывать матчи, контролируя игру до конца. Во многом благодаря этому, мы и могли выиграть чемпионат".

"Есть ли сейчас у Венгера игроки способные сделать это, а может "Арсенал" должен иногда играть больше от обороны, я не знаю".