Stoke vs Arsenal

patrickc

Xavi6 wrote: »

Thoroughly undeserved

it's football thats how it works, alot of the time..

That_Guy

patrickc wrote: »

it's football thats how it works, alot of the time..

Yeah but it was never a free kick.

Raskolnikov

I think this game shows just how reliant Arsenal are on Fabregas.

patrickc

That_Guy wrote: »

Yeah but it was never a free kick.

agreed, but theres many unjust decisions against Arsenal this season, i can think of 2 if not 3 penos we should have had in the last 2 months. Karma I call it

That_Guy

Half time. Stoke the much better team. Have restricted Arsenal from playing for most of that half.

Arsenal were lucky to equalise from that "free kick".

Surely that RB of Arsenal's should be off at half time. He hasn't settled at all.

I've been very impressed with Campbell in that first half. Clearing well.
Silvestre on the other hand has been shocking. He got away with what should have been a penalty.

That_Guy

patrickc wrote: »

agreed, but theres many unjust decisions against Arsenal this season, i can think of 2 if not 3 penos we should have had in the last 2 months. Karma I call it

A bit like ourselves then.

Pepe LeFrits

Raskolnikov wrote: »

I think this game shows just how reliant Arsenal are on Fabregas.

He's playing?

Pretty fortunate equaliser but Stoke haven't exactly done a great deal either, bar plonking endless balls onto Campbell's head. Neither goalkeeper made a save in the entire half.

OPENROAD

Raskolnikov wrote: »

I think this game shows just how reliant Arsenal are on Fabregas.

Wouldn't say that, Arsenal have a very much under strength team out today, so far so good imo.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

God watching Stoke play is such a soul destroying experience. Still fair play they have been the better team. Very happy to have gotten the goal before half time.

I think Coquelin improved a bit as the half went on, though you could tell at the start he was seriously struggling. In fairness he is an 18 year old playing out of position in only something like his 3rd appearance for the senior team. Campbell has done well so far imo, much better than Silvestre anyway.

Raskolnikov

Oh come on, he drew the foul for the free kick and had the vision to set Denilson up for the goal.

leninbenjamin

Well, interesting enough game, albeit without much in terms of the quality of the football.

Stoke are unlucky to be behind, that's for sure. They've looked much better on the ball and created a hell of a lot more chances, although almost all of these have been from Delap's and they haven't made much of them apart from the goal. They've been decent at passing the ball around to, and with their usual pressing they are making Arsenal work very hard for their share of the ball. They've been roughing Arsenal up a lot though, some very strong challenges going through the likes of Thomas and Eastmond. I think the ref has wised up a bit to this though as the half went on.

Arsenal's passing on the other hand looked really awful at times, and Thomas isn't up to much at this level imo. He likes to draw defenders onto him but it's backfiring the whole time, as for Coquelin, well he's been at odds of the rest of the team. Says a lot that the best player for them has been Campbell (who looks solid enough, positioning has been good although he's clearly lacking pace).

Both goals were a wee bit fortunate. Fuller got a head where Fabianski should really have been claiming. Commentators blaming the fullback, but I don't agree I think he risked taking out his keeper if he tried to check Fuller's run. Fabianski to solely to blame imo.

As for Arsenal's goal, I think it was a free kick myself. I know there's the argument it wasn't deliberate, but his hands were extended out from his body to make himself big. I think it's your own fault if you can't pull them in at times. Wouldn't have gone in without the deflections either. Good to see the bit of luck going Arsenal's way for once.

That_Guy

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Oh come on, he drew the foul for the free kick and had the vision to set Denilson up for the goal.

What foul? It was never a free kick.

OPENROAD

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Oh come on, he drew the foul for the free kick and had the vision to set Denilson up for the goal.

Cesc is a huge player for Arsenal, just like rooney and gerrard are for utd and liverpool, but we can cope without him if we have to, we have players who can come in.

That_Guy

OPENROAD wrote: »

Cesc is a huge player for Arsenal, just like rooney and gerrard are for utd and liverpool, but we can cope without him if we have to, we have players who can come in.

Well given the form that Fabregas is in, he is their playmaker and pulls the strings in midfield. There are quality players that Arsenal have in their squad but I don't think any of them have the presence that Fabregas has.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

That_Guy wrote: »

What foul? It was never a free kick.

He did handle the ball though, there's no questioning that. It's just how the ref interprets it

kenon

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Oh come on, he drew the foul for the free kick and had the vision to set Denilson up for the goal.

There was very little "vision" involved in rolling a ball 10-12 yards to a team-mate.

Johner

Ugh Come on Stoke!

kenon

Arsenal aren't blessed in the goalkeeping department with Almunia and Fabianski.

OPENROAD

That_Guy wrote: »

Well given the form that Fabregas is in, he is their playmaker and pulls the strings in midfield. There are quality players that Arsenal have in their squad but I don't think any of them have the presence that Fabregas has.

The suggestion made is that we are dependent on Cesc i.e. in a way we are a one man team, I disagree

That_Guy

Fcuking hell. I think Fabianski will be Arsenal's undoing at the back. He either doesn't come for those long throws or he does and completely misjudges the height and misses the ball completely.

That_Guy

OPENROAD wrote: »

The suggestion made is that we are dependent on Cesc i.e. in a wat we are a one man team, I disagree

I don't think ye are reliant on him. He's a quality player but Arsenal's success isn't down to just him. He picks out some great passes and finds a lot of space but definitely not a one man team by any means.

Goals have come from all areas for Arsenal this season. Defence, midfield and up front.

I think Vermalean (sp?) has been the key, well one of many key's to Arsenal's success this season. Scoring goals and is a rock at the back.

Fabregas has always been a superb player but the team is working better this season than in the last couple of seasons imo.

eagle eye

OPENROAD wrote: »

The suggestion made is that we are dependent on Cesc i.e. in a wat we are a one man team, I disagree

Fabregas makes that whole team tick, I know they have won without him recently but if you had a run of 8 games without him I think they would be found out, confidence will keep you going for a while but then it becomes a struggle.

Raskolnikov

Silvestre dodgy again.

That_Guy

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Silvestre dodgy again.

Same old same old.

That_Guy

Could've been an own goal. Good defending in the end.

Raskolnikov

Would like to see Tuncay on.

OPENROAD

eagle eye wrote: »

Fabregas makes that whole team tick, I know they have won without him recently but if you had a run of 8 games without him I think they would be found out, confidence will keep you going for a while but then it becomes a struggle.

Possibly as I said he is a key player, for example take Rooney out of the present utd team for 8 games and they would be found out.

That_Guy

Dodgy keeping from Fabianski there.

greendom

On comes the cavalry

That_Guy

3 Arsenal subs.

everdead.ie

Whoever scores next will win I'd say stoke have been excellent so far

Raskolnikov

Very attacking from Wenger.

Headshot

wenger takes the woolly hat off arshavin :pac:

cson

Christ Fabianski is ****.

Raskolnikov

Silvestre just saved Arsenal there!

OPENROAD

Well played by Silvestre came back well

greendom

Brilliant defending from Silvestre there. Brave too

That_Guy

Looked like he landed on his left arm/shoulder.

amacachi

Completely genuine attempt from Delap to win the ball there. :rolleyes:

Raskolnikov

He'll be fine.

everdead.ie

Good move by stoke silvestre wouldn't want to go off injured minutes after a triple substituion

That_Guy

He looks ok now. Stoke still playing very very well. If that first time ball had gotten to Fuller instead of Delap it could be a very different story but that's a moot point.

Great defending though by Silvestre though.

Raskolnikov

Stoke trying to play football now. They'd better stop.

That_Guy

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Stoke trying to play football now. They'd better stop.

This made me laugh.

everdead.ie

Ethrington has been brilliant running up the left

OPENROAD

**** it

That_Guy

Brilliant goal. Brilliant play from Sidibe.

~Rebel~

Great running, great ball over and a simple finish. Well done Stoke!

Raskolnikov

Fuller just owned Campbell there.

dobsdave

Nice goal, good cup tie.