I gotta say, Arsenal fans are fucking incredible at picking and choosing which players to criticise and blame. Always just go for the easy target.

So Ox was subbed because he was starting to fatigue and was apparently suffering from cramp. But of course that won't stop people from bitching and moaning like 10 year olds.

If anyone had known that the reception wouldn't have been half as bad. If Ox isn't tired then it's a stupid move to take him off. I had no idea he was tired and was going off at the tele but now I understand. The booing was definitely over the top though.

We knew it was tough with building a new stadium. We trusted you to bring on the youth. We know it's a copmpetitive league and we don't have a oil rich benefactor... we know all this... but you've had several seasons to get it right and you've not backed it up. Time to deliver.

If by May we:
have not won FA Cup or Champions League, and especially if we miss out on the top 4 then I'm afraid it's time to go. You can only trade off your past currency for so long.

As much as I resent Arsenal and the fact that Ox even plays for you that was a stupid substitution. Last year he played 90 minutes and had to run a lot more than he did today.

So either he's not match fit (which reflects poorly on training staff) or he has been poorly managed since his move. Given how much of him i've seen it really did surprise me to see him subbed at all, he didn't look out on his feet at all.

Only explanation I can think of is that perhaps Arsenal have a run of games coming?

He's hardly played any significant game time recently, and did put in a real shift so it's no real surprise that he may have been struggling a little bit.

The booing was pathetic on 2 levels. 1) Booing the sub deprived Ox of the standing ovation he deserved, instead he went off to boos, and 2) No matter who the player is, booing a player onto the pitch is digusting.

Have to say it was also nice to see us score a counter-attacking goal like we used to always do. Was such a good goal to, every bit of it was perfect, from Ksocielny's fucking brilliant tackle, to Ramsey's perfect ball to Ox, to Ox's unbelievable touch and then pass to RvP's excellent finish.

Even I admit, that goal was class. One of the best goals I have seen live was a counter at the Emirates but we put it away lol.

:lol: Also gotta love Koscielny's runs forward, absolute tank.

Sick all week, suffered from fatigue? Looked alrite to me, but still; why was Arshavin brought on?

I think Arsene's covering his back a bit there, he knows the fans are pissed off with decision. Don't point the blame at a single gooner, you've got to ask questions sometimes and questions had to be asked after that substitution. Insanity.

You're right, questions did have to be asked. But not by a whole stadium booing at 1-1 when we are still right back in the game. That's the time to support your team, not boo a substituion and deprive a young player of the standing ovation he deserved. After that point the players were gone, and it's no surprise to see them dejected after the fans react like that.

Also would've been interesting to see peoples reactions had it been Chamberlain in Arshavain's position and giving away that 2nd goal. My guess is there wouldn't be anywhere near half the abuse as there was. Vermaelen's also very lucky, simply because it was Arshavin he gets off scot free, when he was just as much to blame as Shava.

Its a bit disappointing to target 1 player. Why not target RVP for a glaring miss at 0-1? Also What about Djourou who was skinned by Nani every 30 seconds? Ramsay missed a few and also gave the ball away too often. I don't think there is 1 fall guy for this.

Arshavin could be the best player on the pitch but would still get ripped into. He literally cannot do anything right.

As for Djourou, the thing that Ox substitution did is make everyone completely forget about how good a substitution it was taking Djourou off and bringing Yennaris on, but of course you won't find many saying how right Arsene was there.

I felt sick when the ball dropped to him in front of goal.

Likewise, I don't think i've seen him miss a shot like that this season. He did make up for it with a cracker though.

Because Arshavin has been shit for ages and Chamberlain has been very impressive even before United. We were all very happy at him being named ahead of Arshavin.

It's a shame that he's deprived of an ovation, but I think the players felt the same as the fans; hence RVP's reaction. It's a reaction to rubbish decision. We all want the best for the club and frankly the substitution was a big kick in the teeth to everyone involved at the club. It's very noble to say 'this is when we should back the side', but it simply doesn't work like that.

Wenger isn't invincible.

That really sucks for Arshavin. He's not a bad player and he's certainly not the only Arsenal player out of form. Its like the fans have picked a target and now everything is his fault.

Djourou was awful to be fair. I thought it was some kid learning his trade as I didn't see the line-ups pre-match. He constantly allowed Nani to get around him and get the ball into the box. Needs to pick his game up. When is Sagna back, haven't seen him since he went off at WHL?

You're right, Arshavin has been shit for ages. So the solution to that is to boo him on to the field. I'm sorry but it's pathetic, especially from a bunch of fans who were basically non-existent in the first half.

No matter what you think of the substitution, it is no reason to boo like that. Say what you like about the team before the game or afterwards, but for that 90 mins you support the team no matter what, and unfortunately our home fans seem to have this sense of entitlement and it is sickening. They sit there fucking silent then boo and wonder why the players aren't trying. I wouldn't be trying if I was booed for being a fucking sub.

It's a pathetic attitude really, and our home fans could really learn a thing or two about supporting the team from the lads that go to every away game, travel hundreds of miles, watch us play like shit but do not stop supporting the team.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 23/1/2012 02:46:09 PM

Sagna should bhe back by the end of the month or around then. The sooner we get him and Jack back the better off we will be.

Not as good as Daggers :P

I didn't see it as them booing Arshavin but more booing Arsene.

Na they started booing again when the announcer called his name out. The initial booing was for Wenger when it was announced that Ox was coming off, but the 2nd lot of booing was definitely for Arshavin.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 23/1/2012 04:45:46 PM

I was disgusted at that. We booed eboue , we know are showing the same treatment to shava. Yes he has been woeful but never boo your own player. We were still in the game at that point. The boos got to the boys and they played with their heads down after that .

Tbf to the fans at the game,I do think they have a right to vent their frustration at that substitution. I mean Ox was clearly our biggest threat going foward and really didn't look as if he was struggling/labouring at all. I mean rvp's reaction said it all,and he was playing with him so surely he would of noticed if he was actually struggling,and if he was struggling I doubt he would of reacted like that. So if you take the fitness side out of it and take it on face value which is what most of the fans there did,you look and the performance of both Theo and Ox, who in their right mind would be happy with the decision to take Ox off and not Theo.
Obviously AW has said it was because of fitness but no one else in the stadium knew/could see that so hence the frustration.

TBH i didn't notice the second booing when shavas name got read out,but if that was the case I think that's disgusting.

I just don't think it's right to be booing while Ox was going off. Especially when that is when he should've been getting the standing ovation he earned. The booing doesn't help anybody, and certainly doesn't help the side. I mean it's 1-1 at Home to United, what makes you think it does any good to boo. It's just beyond me really.

Yeh I know what your saying. And while it may ound like I'm contradicting myself, I agree with you. I don't think boo's do anyone any good, in any situation, ever. Having said that, i understand why people were doing it.

The boo did make 99% of the noise but I am just watching the match now and once he actually came off the pitch he got a big applause, then the boos started again :lol:

Yeah got some applause when they announced his name as he was coming off, then the boos started again once they announced Arshavin's name.

Just having a look at our next couple of fixtures and Blackburn at home in 2 weeks will be massive, and really is a must win.

We play Blackburn in the early game on the Saturday. Then on the Sunday you have Chelsea v United and on the Tuesday morning Liverpool v Sp*rs.