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Thoughts on CC match....

Premier League Arsenal
by ToomuchCesc (U13165540) 02 December 2008
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....while it is still fresh.

As Wenger said, you can't expect much when you miss 6 clear cut chances. I swear the lines on his face got even deeper tonight from the pain of this result. I think he was convinced he could win the CC this year with this squad. Whatever you think of him, there aren't many managers out there that would take so much risk and personal punishment for the sake of his team-building principles. Most would have thrown in the towel by now and reached for the chequebook...but I digress.

Burnley played very very well tonight in terms of organisation and efficiency. They looked really well-prepared for this match. Well done and best of luck in the rest of the competition!
But, oh my, how this could have been different if Bendtner had cashed in a couple of early opportunities. Oh well. Let's not dwell on the result because it is over.

For Arsene, this competition is all about learning things about his youngsters. So what did we learn?

First off, if you can't be up for a QFinal match in a cup competition, then you don't deserve to be anywhere near a top level team. There is no "he had an off-night" excuse that is acceptable. Players with true hunger should have seen this tie as a golden opportunity to get to the Semis. No disrespect to Burnley, but every Arsenal player should have smelled blood!

Notable learning for me was the following:

Bendtner is not half the player he thinks he is (or I thought he was). I would have loved to have seen some of his chances at the feet of Jay Simpson tonight. Nick did himself some significant damage in the eyes of Wenger tonight. Time to dispense with the pink boots and work your #@&* off in training young Nick. You've let down your team tonight.

I continue to be impressed by Jay Simpson. Even in a brief cameo, you could see glimpses of toughness and determination to go with pace and skill. I was disappointed that he did not start and feel that he should be given some 1st team chances, as a sub, ahead of Bendtner.

Randall is done and dusted, I think. No effort and looked disinterested. Goodbye...please make way for someone else more useful.

Most of the others are talented but raw (Gibbs for example) and all need to spend more time in the weight training room....they were often pushed off the ball way too easily.

On a side note, I was shocked by the performance of Silvestre. He showed so little leadership among such a young group. Hard to believe that he played for ManU!

What do the rest of you think?

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comment by Hoddles_religious_views (U12123712)

posted Dec 3, 2008

comment by Mark



You were having a go at at Goons for being arrogant, fair enough they are, but why don't you tell them your arrogant prediction for Tottenham, v Liverpool on November the 1st then.

0-4 wasn't it?

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comment by mark the angry (Hicks and gilett out) (U13681254)

posted Dec 3, 2008

Hoddles_religious_views (U12123712)

um for the last time that was realistic I thought you were rubbish and had no defense and arsenal had a poor defense so I thought we would win. we outclassed you so I was not too disappointed.


One said we are going unbeaten and Liverpool will lose more them 5 times which made me laugh he is not here today surprise surprise

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comment by Hoddles_religious_views (U12123712)

posted Dec 3, 2008

Mark The Mad (U13681254)


The goons do that all the time, lots of tumbleweed the day after the 4-4 where they were supposedly going to get revenge for the 5-1 drubbing at the lane.


They are so arrogant it makes me sick.

Anyway im off Mark, catch you in a bit

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comment by U11148453

posted Dec 3, 2008

Good Lord! So muhc over Carling cup!

C'mon people, its the cup that I m almost sure rafa instructs his team to go and lose so they won't have to bother with it.
Man United takes it half seriously. Cheslea may be the only big team that tries to win it.

When MAn U won this cup few years ago, some writers laughed how mighty has fallen.

Arsena has found very usefull way of dealing with this wonderfull cup (see spuds! I didn't call it worthless or Micky mouse cup).

For those who are questioning Arsena;'s future, WE DON"T EXPECT EVERYONE OF our carling cup players to become PL starters.
Vela, Wilshire, Ramsy and perhaps few others will come good, and will be augmented by some good purcahses. Unlike Chelsea Pool and Lately Man U, we are not going to BUY players for each position.

Lastly, now that kids are out of it, they will be loaned out to get even more play time.
They already have some experence playing against good championship and decent PL sides.

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comment by mark the angry (Hicks and gilett out) (U13681254)

posted Dec 3, 2008

Hoddles_religious_views (U12123712)

see ya man thought you be watching the match not all are arrogant but a fair few are.

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comment by pataby (U13700037)

posted Dec 3, 2008

I think, is about time for Wenger to take a critical assessment of his boys. I don't see why Nic Bendner should be part of the whole Arsenal set up. Silvestre also being the worst player for me in the Arsenal set up must be replaced with a better signing. I don't see the need for wenger to put blame on his players, because he is the cause of his own wounds.It is time for him to spend on experienced quality players that have the ability to compete for glory and stop spending non experienced players and cheap players with no character to compete.

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comment by Colchester_ManUnited (U13240910)

posted Dec 3, 2008

Arsenal have no excuse, Burnley were better on the night and deserved victory

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comment by U13725787

posted Dec 3, 2008

OHA! COL U 4 WIN ARSENAL IS A BETTER TEAM THEN ANY OF THE TEAMS. THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE WAY BETTER

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comment by KOPower (U13219039)

posted Dec 3, 2008

All credit to Burnley, they beat a strong Chelsea team at the bridge, then repeated the feat at home to Arsenal reserves. They are a strong physical side and will take some beating this year in the CC. If Rovers beat Utd tonight how about a Rover v Burnley final!
http://www.competitiveurge.com/greatest_goal_ever

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comment by end2endgame (U12981753)

posted Dec 3, 2008

gunpaul - er...work it out. Fielding a weak team, virtually no 1st teamers, mostly teenagers...think I've exhausted the list. Arsenal don't have a major injury crisis. Yes, two strikers are out but at least they've got other decent strikers who are fit unlike Everton. Even Chelsea have more influential players missing right now. If Wenger really wanted this cup he'd have fielded the strongest possible side from the players he had available, and I simply don't believe he did this but since I'm not an Arsenal fan I really don't care.

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