Wenger: We couldn't find our penetration

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
21 Feb	3:00 PM	P	Sunderland (H)	0	0	Draw

Manager Arsène Wenger says that his team were not penetrating enough against a determined Sunderland side, who came to the Emirates to play for a draw.

The Frenchman also acknowledged that his young side seemed incapable of taking their chances, having seen four clear cut chances gone to waste.

Wenger said: "The team gives everything and wants to do well, I think the attitude is very, very good in the final third. At the moment we aren't as efficient as I believe we can be for different reasons.

"Sometimes because our game is not vertical enough and sometimes we aren't relaxed enough in our finishing.

"Our passing sometimes isn't incisive enough. That's why the strikers aren't alerted quickly enough.

"We missed our chances. I believe they tried to frustrate us and they managed in the end to do it. They never came out, especially in the second half.

"I feel we had early chances and late chances and as long as we were not scoring a goal we became a bit more nervous and tried to force the situation a bit too much.

"Overall it is also very difficult when teams come here with one colossus up front and 10 who defend like made for every ball. We need to learn to cope with that and be efficient."

User Comments

jocole

Posted on 24 Feb, 2009 at 03:36 AM - Reply

AW. Please do something and not giving excuses. Song is clearly not playing 100% and just jogg around against Sunderland but you only substituted him when 10 minutes left. Arsenal will loss more talented players like Fabregas and Van Persie if AW still not reform the team. Get rid off Adebayor, Toure and Song. Arsenal need player like Gallas, Nasri, Van Persie and Febregas whom played 110% and not like Song that only jogg around. Back up or bye bye.

Cro gooner

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 10:30 PM - Reply

This year is a lost year, also in terms of the development of our youth team players. they would have been much better of with atleast 2 more class players in midfield(still leaving them more opps to play since we lost 3 * midf. last summer), meaning playing for the first team isn't due to lack of competition as it is know. Song and eboue are playing cause we don't have better players available, simple as that.

Wenger seems to honestäy have believed they + diaby and denilson where ready to not only replace, but to deliver PL champions worth of performances.

realistic? in the absolut best of scenarios yes. but how can you go all in on such a mediocer hand Mr Wenger?

Dannyboy CM

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 07:58 PM - Reply

I cant believe so many people that know nothing about football write on here!!! Wenger said what he said because its the truth, not excuses. We broke sunderland down and made several chances and the players missed not wenger. If it wasn't for the great man where would we be?

The answer is not to buy david villa like I keep hearing, We are not Chelsea, we do not just throw money around. All we need is a fit team, we have been so unlucky with injuries its unreal. But just look at our attacking players, rosicky,walcott,arsharvin,nasri,diaby,fabreags,vela,van persie,adebayor,eduardo. This is amazing, Cmon people, please keep the faith!!! But I will say this I do however agree that although these players may be useful sometimes, bendtner and eboue have proved that they are not good enough for Arsenal.

Aim

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 06:01 PM - Reply

1. Song and Bendtner were again useless.

2. We badly miss Fabregas n Eduardo.

3. Denilson is not good enough.

4. Stop crossing.(keep the ball on the ground)

5. Gear up the pace.

6. Please sell Adebayor (loan out Bendtner n Song).

7. Arsenal r 2 predictable.

8. Get a new chairman. (English please...)

IWWT

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 03:32 PM - Reply

Give the Wenger a bit of slack guys... FFS... We arent losing, and he has had the worst luck out of all the top teams regarding injuries...and his philosiphy that we have loved so much in the past, is not to throw money at the problem, as that would make us Chelsea.

Soon the Cesc - Diaby partnership will finally come good.. and we will soon be back to winning ways with what we have... The only thing I agree with is your Eboue comments.. yes he is Tripe!!!

But cut the man some slack, and have some patience.. Surely he deservers it...

Even the mighty Ferguson, had a couple of seasons rebuilding beofre he bought Man U back big..

JUAN LUIS SANCHEZ(PERU)

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 01:19 PM - Reply

MR WENGER

YOU JUST REALIZE THAT THE TEAMS COME TO EMIRATES FOR A DRAW IN THIS PART OF THE SEASON A LOT OF TEAMS ARE GOING TO DO THIS.
PLEASE DONT PUT ANYMORE BENDTNER IF YOU PLAY WITH BENDTNER YOU ARE PLAYING WITH 10 MEN IN THE PITCH.
AS I TOLD YOU SINCE A LOT OF TIME THIS WILL BE THE WORST SEASON OF ARSENAL EVER.
IDONT KNOW WATH IS GOING WITH THE MEDICAL STAFF I THINK IS VERY EASY GET A MEDICAL PERMISSION FOR NOT PLAY. ARSENAL IS RIGHT NOW PAYING AND PAYING FOR A PLAYER WHO DONT DO NOTHING REMEMBE HENRY THE LASTS YEARS FULL BENCH BUT RIGHT NOW IN BARCELONA IS PLAYING AND PLAYIN.WHY

Gunner

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 11:54 AM - Reply

Fabregas still injured and not playing.Therefore we lack of creativity in the centre. Denilson only plays better when fabregas is around him. Song, not good enough to be arsenal player.Plus arsenal lack of leadership quality. I cant see anyone leading the team so far...

David

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 11:15 AM - Reply

I have been already looking forward to the next season after that 2:2 draw with Villa. As for Wenger, since so many die-hard fans are so into your managerial style, some of us will just have to make do with you! But please, you must at least listen to opinions and do something when you are running out of ideas as an EPL manager. We may not need a Silva, we need David Villa instead to boost our striking force, especially before Vela is matured. We also need to get Flamini back as he is the best DM to play with Cesc, and by doing so Cesc may chose to stay this summer. We need to buy a tall, strong, ruthless CB from Eastern Europe maybe. Finally, Wenger,please get yourself a decent fitness coach to keep everybody as healthy as possible. You could find the funds by selling Adebayor, Toure, Song,and Almunia, Eboue and Bendtner are good subs though.

gunz

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 10:12 AM - Reply

Arsene stop putting bendtner in the starting line-up. He shows no urgency in his game, always one step behind.

Get rid of ade, he loves himself too much. No Ade, you are noway near class as Henry.

STOP being so obvious. Always playing down the middle. In the good days we were playing evey inch of the pitch at Highbury.

maya

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 10:09 AM - Reply

There are too much useless pass backpass and sidepass. Song and Denilson can't play together in the centre. I rather see Denilson playing in winger position rather than in centre.

jojez

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 06:39 AM - Reply

im tied of watching arsenal play with any agency if this is the best we can do then uefa cup here we come. the little hope i had is gone

mash

Posted on 23 Feb, 2009 at 06:38 AM - Reply

mr.wengar there is somethin rotten with the team...u should change ur style of play since most teams have a cure 4 our type of play.

delboy

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 07:08 PM - Reply

After watching the 'tripe' yesterday there is one thing for sure, Wenger has run out of ideas. The midfield is lacking quality and pace. Song is useless and can't pass forward. Wenger saw it unfolding for the third game runnign and could'nt do anything about it. What does that tell you!!!

aliyu

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 06:08 PM - Reply

Does Wenger have an excuse for every failure?There is no excuse whatsaoever for yesterday's draw!

GunnerSG

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 04:25 PM - Reply

How will a team penetrate if the Central Midfield is non-existant and void of creativity.

David

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 11:20 AM - Reply

After so many big-name signings, I think it's Wenger's fault not to jell them and get result. Our line-up was not bad yesterday, and it's clear that even the players don't want to perform, and maybe they'd like to see Wenger leave. That's the only reasonable explaination to the consecutive league 0:0 results. Plus, Wenger seems to be clueless after so many years seeing our young guns can't break up lowly defensive teams. If Wenger really wanted to buy David Silva with 20m at the least, I will teach him how to fund the fees. Get rid of Adebayor (say 15m), Toure (10m), Song (7m), and Almunia (8m), and Wenger will have 40m to buy two David's (Villa and Silva).

Habu Balteh

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 10:50 AM - Reply

Not until the day Wenger will come into terms with reality that Premier League is not Dutch League where kindergarten win league,he'll continue to grope for the winning formular that he knows very well is beyond having only the good attitude without the right & matured experience.Vela's dual late misses were apparent point to note....

HHH

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 08:51 AM - Reply

After seeing all the games yesterday, I felt that arsenal was the dullest team of the top 5 in EPL RIGHT NOW. Even though Aston Villa lost, I still think they played better than us. At this rate, it would even be lucky we can qualify for the UEFA Cup next season.

Sunny

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 06:16 AM - Reply

As usual, Wenger stating the glaringly obvious. Our passing is not incisive, our finishing was not good enough, we were nervous blah blah. For once, I would like to hear him say what he plans to do about all this? And Wenger, as important as it is to have the right attitude, it means very little if you don't have quality to break down sides like Sunderland. This is not the first game at the Emirates where the opponents have parked the bus in front of goal, and this is certainly not the first game when we have had trouble breaking such teams down. We have had this problem for a few seasons now, yet, we come out with the same excuses game after game.

wenzhi

Posted on 22 Feb, 2009 at 04:51 AM - Reply

tell wenger to sell adebayor off to buy david villa or silva and get rid of eboue n bendtner n start playing vela n wilshere ASAP!

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