OT - Man U guts Arsenal, 8-2
What a bloodbath. For those who watched it on FSC, the match really was almost lopsided as the shocking score.
With their influx of youth (Young, Jones, Walbeck) joining what was already the class of the Premier League, this might be the best English side since The Invincibles.
As for my Gunners, umm ... good match to show how truly pathetic the depth is before the transfer deadline. Looks like Cahill from Bolton, M'Vila from Rennes and an Arteta-for-Bendtner swap with Everton could all be on the horizon. They'd need to make every one of those moves to satisfy supporters after this abomination.
August 28th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
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August 28th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^
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August 28th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^
August 28th, 2011 at 9:23 PM ^
You can't say that because you don't even know what their roster will look like four days from now. After the Fabregas and Nasri sales, they have the largest transfer kitty out there at the moment. The question is will they make deals and if so, for whom?
To say it was against Arsenal's second-team is almost generous. At least three of their starters had no business on an EPL pitch, Arshavin looks awful now, Rosicky was playing out of position, etc. Just a mess. Not to mention that five of the seven names on the Arsenal bench were unrecognizable to anyone but the most ardent followers of the club.
August 29th, 2011 at 6:27 AM ^
The 19 other teams in the EPL could pool their money together and still get outbid by city.
August 28th, 2011 at 8:55 PM ^
August 28th, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
Arteta isn't the stud he was 2-3 years ago.
If Arteta played for almost any other country he'd have been a national team star at the WC final last summer.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
I'd say he's much better than a still green Aaron Ramsey.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^
Edin Dzeko scored 4 to led Man City to a 5-1 win over Tottenham, who only lost to Man U 3-0. It's a three horse race this year, Chelsea, Man U, and Man City. Honestly I think Chelsea might finish third with the way Man City has added pieces to their offense. Nasri and Aguero have added third and fourth dimensions to their attacking. Chelsea's offense is on cue with Juan Mata coming in and boosting the midfield. Man U fortified their team with 2 young guns in Phil Jones and Ashley Young. Welbeck and Smalling have progressed for United as well. The biggest determinent of a champion this year will be whose backline can withstand the attacking styles of the (please excuse me for this) the Big 3.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:03 PM ^
How is this just now making the board after 9 hours? Also this was the day of blood with Tottenham getting demolished by City. Manchester<London
August 28th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^
August 28th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
impressed with Man City beating Spurs at White Heart Lane. Dzeko is really coming into his own there and partnered with Kun Aguero, they can't be stopped. Arsenal seems like a side in complete free fall. Didn't make any positive splashes in the transfer market and sold two of their stars, one of them to a Champions league competitor. The EPL season is going to be interesting with the battle for number one occuring in Manchester. Of course, it is still very early in the season.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
that at this time a year ago, Chelsea looked unbeatable.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
i want to see us get hazard, and hopefully cahill. we need to do something and hopefully wenger and the board are willing to spend some cash after this embarrassment
August 29th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
Hazard would be a shock at this point. Lille seems determined to hold on to him at least another year and cash him in for real big money. Their demands appear to be unrealistic.
I think Cahill will happen. Coyle's bashing of Arsenal's bids in the media is a strategy. He knows Gary is headed to the Emirates; he just wants to make sure it's for the most he can squeeze out of Wenger.
They have to make the moves not just for PR, but today's match showed just how unprepared (and perhaps untalented) these youth players are. If the Champions League qualifying streak ends, it will be a big setback to the club and they can see now it will surely happen without upgrades in several areas.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:51 AM ^
watching Arsenal the past few weeks, watching who walked out the door, etc etc-- If you were Gary Cahill, would YOU want that move?
Also, in my opinion, Cahill is the wrong kind of player for them...he is Vermaelen light. They need an imposing player back there; Cahill is long and very good going forward, but if I were Wenger, I'd be looking to Germany asap. They also need a true Viera type and two more midfield playmakers with experience. I see them well outside the top 4 this season to be honest.
August 29th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
Yes, if I was Gary Cahill I would rather play in the Champions League and at one of the most high-profile clubs in Europe than at Bolton. Maybe that's just me.
That squad on the pitch yesterday didn't come close to resembling what Arsenal should or could be this season. Between the transfer crisis, the suspensions and the insane injury list, it was basically RVP, Walcott and a juniors lineup. With 3-4 solid signings by Wednesday and better luck staying fit, they could easily have a top four placing this season.
Samba was my first choice, but Cahill would still be an upgrade over Koscielny or Djourou.
August 28th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
After today’s historically disastrous result, it may seem like it could be a long season of struggling just to reach the top half of the table for the Gunners, and 2012-13 Champions League may seem like a hopeless cause for Wenger’s Wounded Warriors.
But would it be fair to consider that missing from the Gunners today were Vermaelen, Sagna, Squillaci and Gibbs on defense, Wilshere, Song and Frimmpong in midfield and Gervinho up top? Then there are the players on loan,Vela and Denilson, and the guy who got away this week and then rubbed salt in the wound by a great debut earlier in the day for Man City, Nasri.
How would you expect this Michigan football team to fare against Notre Dame under the lights if Mike Martin, Craig Roh, Kenny Demens and Troy Woolfolk were missing on defense and Taylor Lewan, Mike Shaw, David Molk and Roy Roundtree were missing on offense and Denard Robinson announced after the Western Michigan game that he's transferring to (YT) Miami?
After three weeks of this Major League Baseball season, Boston Red Sox fans might have expected a sub-.500 season and no hope for what looked like one of the worst teams in baseball. Four months later, only one team, the Phillies, currently has a better record in MLB than the Red Sox.
Not saying that Arsenal will regroup as the Red Sox have, but there’s a long season ahead in Barclays Premier League.
August 29th, 2011 at 4:27 AM ^
-6 goal differential from one game will linger for quite a while.
August 28th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Prefer watching Barca
August 29th, 2011 at 4:25 AM ^
Do you also happen to be a Yankees, cowboys, and lakers fan?
August 28th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
The one benefit of being an Arsenal fan on this side of the pond is that when they lose I don't have to worry about seeing "ARSENAL HUMILIATED" everywhere I turn on the web. And now this. Thank you for taking away the one benefit of being an Arsenal fan.
IMO, all the talk of Wenger's job status and "which players will they sign?" misses the point. In hindsight, it's becoming increasingly clear that the real brains behind the Arsenal operation was David Dein, not Arsene Wenger. They've been steadily (and now not-so-steadily) declining ever since he left the club.
August 28th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
How about Ashley Young? Hes really coming into his own, that second goal was a beauty and he made it look effortless. Didnt see his second.
August 28th, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
Noted Arsenal Fan Richard Blais was rambling about it on Twitter. Sad game, sad effort
:(
August 29th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^
WHO CARES!
/ 109,901 chant.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^
I care.
Other posters care.
If you don't care, fair play to you, but why troll an OT thread for those who do?
To each his own, SirJack.
August 29th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
I hate when people say that if you like watching Barca, then you all of a sudden must like watching the Yankees, Red Sox or Lakers. For starters, I like watching the best soccer around. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man u, Man C simply play the most entertaining brand of soccer. I watch all of these teams and enjoy watching them. I hate baseball, so I don't like any team, it's a boring, time consuming sport. I can't stand the Lakers either. Barcelona has a bunch of very likeable guys too, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas. These guys are not egotistical jerks, like most our our athletes over here. Ronaldo is a conceited jerk, but he is real good also.
Also, the EPL is the best league, but I watch La Liga and Champios League also. It's all entertaining stuff. Besides College Football, the EPL is the only sport I really give a damn about. I like the NFL, college hoops, and playoff NBA hoops, but they are not must watch TV like CFL and Euro soccer.
August 30th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
I dont like watching Barca just because they are good (im not a barca fan, but I love watching them play), I like watching Barca play because the soccer they play is just so beautiful and freeflowing and aesthetically pleasing. It just doesnt compare to other sports well at all, especially baseball, because it has little to no teamwork.