PL: Arsenal vs Burnley | December 22nd | KO: 12:30 GMT | Sky Sports

[yorch44]

I have to admit that I hate you si much some of you for the reason of having and agenda vs Mesut, our best creative player... the only one who plays firstly with the brain and technique...

But some of you based on one stupid idea of football, think Özil needs to tackle a to the point of risking and injurying himself so he is a good player.

He is not freaking strong nor recoverer but that is not his job. He is to create and and support attacks.

If he is going to lose a tackle against one brute taller and stronger... of course he is not going to tackle, he is not an idiot and put his safety at first... I would do the same... use the brain and not the muscles I don’t have.

 

[TromsoGooner]

Watching Sam Dyche's press conference. He is going totally overboard. He makes it sound like the game was stolen from him. And then he has the audacity to complain about diving when the push in the back of that Burnley player was no where near enough to make him fall over. He threw himself in a clear dive, but that is probably what Old Sam refers to as "gamesmanship" so therefore it is fine.

I will not miss him when he is down in the Championship where he belongs!

There was one dive from Gouendouzi. Someone should have a word with him about it to be fair. Like you say however Vokes did the same when looking for a penalty so they`re as guilty as we were

 

[CaseUteinberger]

use the brain and not the muscles I don’t have.

Spoken like a true athlete!

On a side note: Have you ever heard Özil in an interview? He might be technically gifted, but he sure isn't a rocket scientist.

 

[pacstud]

OK, what about that rash challenge just outside the box to give Sp**s the Dier goal.

I’ll reserve judgement for a few more games then

Not saying the man's perfect

But not in Mustafi's category as far as rashness. His OVERALL level of control seems to be high.

 

[GunnerBP]

Was Mavro in the training pictures?

He wasn't but there we pictures of him and Emile Smith-Rowe training apart from the squad.

 

[James Bond]

I don't think its performance based for Özil. The media have had an agenda against him from day one and that kind of thinking has sadly filtered down to fans. I think how pundits and the papers talk about players affects a fan's perception of him.

Look at Pogba, he's United's best player by a street but you wouldn't know it based on how he gets lambasted to hell and back by the media and now even United fans want him sold. So that they can do what? Play Herrera and Fellaini in midfield instead of the World Cup Winner?

Özil has to play twice as well to get half the praise that one of our average players get. There isn't a big team in the country that he hasn't scored or assisted against yet even Arsenal fans, the people who actually watch these games, trot out the "He doesn't perform in big games line." Its like Özil has to score a hat trick at Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford, Anfield, WHL and the Etihad all in the same season before he gets any credit for his big game performances.

 

[squallman]

Watching Sam Dyche's press conference. He is going totally overboard. He makes it sound like the game was stolen from him. And then he has the audacity to complain about diving when the push in the back of that Burnley player was no where near enough to make him fall over. He threw himself in a clear dive, but that is probably what Old Sam refers to as "gamesmanship" so therefore it is fine.

I will not miss him when he is down in the Championship where he belongs!

Typical reaction to Arsenal. Other clubs are free to dive, cheat, dish out some utterly nasty tackles and its all "part of the game", " You got to let him know you're there", "He was entitled to go down and "Welcome to the premier league."

An Arsenal player does any of that stuff now and there's a national enquiry like Eduardo against Celtic, never has a penalty decision been so intently analyzed.

What's funny is, everyone always complains that Arsenal have no nous, no leadership, no game management or anyone to do the dirty stuff. When we finally do all that stuff, we get lambasted left, right and centre.

"Same old Arsenal, always cheating."

 

[James Bond]

A lot of big results for us today with City and Chelsea losing and hopefully Everton does us a favor tomorrow aswell.

Hopefully the new run of good results starts now. Our inability to comfortably see out the game today was worrying as after they scored for a long while we couldn't string 2 passes together and we had a load of midfielders out there.

 

[Lakersgooner24]

Hate these early kickoffs, usually a dull atmosphere amidst some sluggish play.

Kola was a beast today and easily my MOTM. Every time he charged forward, we looked dangerous, as he wreaked havoc with his overlapping runs and great final ball, plus he made sure the Burnley players felt his presence. Auba with two crucial goals as well, but his lack of hold up play hurt us towards the latter stages of the match (we didn't buy him for that though, but it's something he should improve a bit on). Özil was on the periphery as well, but his quality led to two of our goals and that's what he's paid for.

Thought AMN and Doozy were very poor. Didn't really contribute anything at all, and had some sloppy moments in possession, Guendouzi in particular, who misplaced pass after pass (aside from the release to Kola on Auba's 2nd goal which was well picked out). Granit was also subpar with some careless wayward passing, and some more suspect defending (tbf not in his ideal position).

Made a bit of a meal out of it, but still a key three points in a game we easily could have dropped points in. Performances aren't important this time of year, grinding out results are, as we saw what could happen in some of the other fixtures today.

 

[tap-in]

A lot of big results for us today with City and Chelsea losing and hopefully Everton does us a favor tomorrow aswell.

Hopefully the new run of good results starts now. Our inability to comfortably see out the game today was worrying as after they scored for a long while we couldn't string 2 passes together and we had a load of midfielders out there.

Yeah, at 2-1 is was far too nervy considering we were playing a struggling club. Özil looked a bit rusty, hopefully by Pool he's match fit, we need him in the team and he showed that today without being great.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

@Mrs Bergkamp turns out you were right, surprised at how threathening Burnley are looking. Going to be a nervy end

I recorded it and went Christmas shopping. I've watched the match now and it played out just as I thought tbh. I'm just pleased that we were relatively clinical today.

 

[Makingtrax]

Not saying the man's perfect

But not in Mustafi's category as far as rashness. His OVERALL level of control seems to be high.

I’ll try to keep an open mind when I watch him bro. Always respect the views of fellow posters who know their stuff.

 

[Mitch]

Alex Scott is the best footy pundit going at present.

 

[rich 1990]

Not going to weigh in too much on the Özil thing but what I would say is Eden Hazard is at least as lazy, if not worse, and gets no criticism at all for it.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Anfield away is a different animal. They’ll press you off the field.

From what I've seen of Liverpool this season they've wound back the manic pressing. They're a bit more calculated in their play.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I thought 4-3-3 and 4-3-1-2 were Emery's favourite formations?

 

[celestis]

From what I've seen of Liverpool this season they've wound back the manic pressing. They're a bit more calculated in their play.

They came pretty hard against United .

 

[Manberg]

I have to admit that I hate you si much some of you for the reason of having and agenda vs Mesut, our best creative player... the only one who plays firstly with the brain and technique...

But some of you based on one stupid idea of football, think Özil needs to tackle a to the point of risking and injurying himself so he is a good player.

He is not freaking strong nor recoverer but that is not his job. He is to create and and support attacks.

If he is going to lose a tackle against one brute taller and stronger... of course he is not going to tackle, he is not an idiot and put his safety at first... I would do the same... use the brain and not the muscles I don’t have.

Defending is the responsibility of everyone in the team.
I don't think Özil is consistent enough to justify the wages he's on.

 

[celestis]

Spoken like a true athlete!

On a side note: Have you ever heard Özil in an interview? He might be technically gifted, but he sure isn't a rocket scientist.

Are you ?

 

[Song Billong]

I get ****in sick of some critical people on this forum, happy Xmas

Makes for painful reading. There are just far too many bitter immature clowns.