*Official* English Football Season 2016-17

[Cabinet96]

This is what happens when you play Tiago Silva.

Still making the FIFA World XI next January though.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

There's only like 3 good centrebacks on the planet tbh.

 

[Burgey]

Somehow ended up in Barrow on a supporters bus last night. Not a great result but did get to witness the great Andy Cook knock in a half volley from 30 yards.

Quality Going to a game was a definite highlight when I was over there (except for Corrin being there ofc).

GIMH sent me a pic of Aphrodite's yesterday and my head began aching again at the memory of it. Funny night.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Ah ffs PSG

 

[duffer]

Haha that was awesome but the ref was totally in the bag. Di Maria got maimed from behind in the box and he gave a goal kick.

Happens all the time for Barca. I hate them so much.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Suarez was already on a yellow for diving too

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Man that second penalty was an atrocious call. Suarez just fell over.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Considering that Arsene blamed the referee for Arsenal's brave exit I'm not sure how he would have coped with that.

 

[duffer]

So the Ox wants to leave this summer too? He's been a bright spot these past few weeks.

I don't know what will happen, but I think this summer is going to be one of the least boring from an Arsenal perspective.

 

[sledger]

So the Ox wants to leave this summer too? He's been a bright spot these past few weeks.

I don't know what will happen, but I think this summer is going to be one of the least boring from an Arsenal perspective.

Not overly fussed to be honest. He's a player who blows hot and cold, but hasn't really done anything to demonstrate he'd be a huge loss to the squad were he to go. I'd probably rather he stayed, as I quite like him, but eh, Arsenal's short-term and long-term future will not be drastically altered if he bails. Hardly irreplaceable.

 

[duffer]

Injuries haven't helped, but I genuinely think he's very talented and still young enough to become a very good player.

The drama I was talking about though, is if Wenger goes, what happens next?

I know what will happen if he stays though and that will be something as well.

 

[sledger]

I think at this stage it would be a hope rather than expectation that he would become good. He has certainly been held back by injuries, but in between he has had plenty of runs in the side and despite looking good on some occasions has just gone missing on plenty of the others.

I still wouldn't write him off just yet, but I think we're now at the point where people couldn't be blamed for not wanting to put all their eggs in the Ox basket, if you see what I mean. He might leave and go on to become a great player, but I don't think, as things stand, he's done enough to justify Arsenal going to any great lengths to try and keep him.

 

[duffer]

Statement from the Chairman

Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick says:
“We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate. We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.
"Arsène has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way.”

Read more at Comment from the Arsenal chairman | News Archive | News | Arsenal.com

 

[Uppercut]

I think at this stage it would be a hope rather than expectation that he would become good. He has certainly been held back by injuries, but in between he has had plenty of runs in the side and despite looking good on some occasions has just gone missing on plenty of the others.

I still wouldn't write him off just yet, but I think we're now at the point where people couldn't be blamed for not wanting to put all their eggs in the Ox basket, if you see what I mean. He might leave and go on to become a great player, but I don't think, as things stand, he's done enough to justify Arsenal going to any great lengths to try and keep him.

I think you probably want to hold on to him if you're going to be losing Ozil, Sanchez and Wenger. He's a better prospect than it feels like. He played a lot at a very young age when he was just short of the level required, and now everyone's a bit bored of him. But if a 23 year-old who nobody had heard of until this year was playing as well as he is right now, the fans would be desperate to keep him.

 

[Cabinet96]

He's been basically useless on the wing for at least two years, but has genuinely been excellent playing in midfield over the last month. Makes it a slightly odd situation.

 

[Cabinet96]

How good was that Ter Stegen play before the 6th goal last night btw. Best bit of the comeback.

 

[sledger]

I think you probably want to hold on to him if you're going to be losing Ozil, Sanchez and Wenger. He's a better prospect than it feels like. He played a lot at a very young age when he was just short of the level required, and now everyone's a bit bored of him. But if a 23 year-old who nobody had heard of until this year was playing as well as he is right now, the fans would be desperate to keep him.

I'm probably being overly harsh, but I do honestly believe that Arsenal could probably lose half the players in their squad (not all at once mind you) and it wouldn't make a huge difference. I guess this is evidenced by the way in which the squad has gone through I guess 4-5 different recognisable permutations over the last 14 years or so and the level of success (or lack thereof) has been more or less constant throughout.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah that's a fair point. Have to think Wenger leaving would be the end of that though.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Yeah that's a fair point. Have to think Wenger leaving would be the end of that though.

Why? How much of a positive effect is Arsene actually having these days? Do you think the players that would remain would suddenly be less talented because a different manager was there? I don't really feel like the way they play under Arsene is getting them extra points or better results.

 

[OverratedSanity]

How good was that Ter Stegen play before the 6th goal last night btw. Best bit of the comeback.

Yeah. And apparently, no PSG player completed more passes the whole game than Ter Stegen

I always thought Neymar was a bit overrated tbh, but the way he took the game by the throat was unbelievable.