SOCCER SPORT !

[Steppy]

Lucas also played well. Cant believe Rodgers is still looking to get rid of him.

Now Joe Allen, he can go anytime he wants !

[Steppy]

It does look like Rodgers has slightly matured and evolved in his methods. In the last few seasons he wouldve played one way (and be beaten), but he went into this game with a gameplan, and it worked, Arsenal struggled to break us down (but had the lions share of possession in the 2nd half)

[meijlinder]

Don't really see the issue with bringing on Rossiter instead of some of the newer signings, since there was noone else in his position. Also think Lucas was tiring and Arsenal was starting to dominate possession, so someone was needed in defensive midfield. I much prefer Rossiter to Allen.


A draw was probably the most fair result, Arsenal should've had their goal allowed in the first and Benteke should prob have had a penalty at the end being manhandled by Gabriel. Case could also be made for penalty for Giroud.


All in all a great soccer game, best this far in the season. Speed, chances both ways, some individual brilliance and great play by both keepers.

[Raza]

Lucas also played well. Cant believe Rodgers is still looking to get rid of him.

Now Joe Allen, he can go anytime he wants !

Lucas is as solid a defensive midfielder as you can find in the Prem. Is he dynamic as Matic or Schweinsteiger? No, of course not. But he'll cut out the pass and protect your back four.

Joe Allen should head over to Aston Villa to be their Delph replacement.

[Raza]

Don't really see the issue with bringing on Rossiter instead of some of the newer signings, since there was noone else in his position. Also think Lucas was tiring and Arsenal was starting to dominate possession, so someone was needed in defensive midfield. I much prefer Rossiter to Allen.


A draw was probably the most fair result, Arsenal should've had their goal allowed in the first and Benteke should prob have had a penalty at the end being manhandled by Gabriel. Case could also be made for penalty for Giroud.


All in all a great soccer game, best this far in the season. Speed, chances both ways, some individual brilliance and great play by both keepers.

My issue with bringing Rossiter in is that you're asking an 18 year old child to take his first team opportunity in the middle of a drawn match away, against a club that was playing with 70% possession (or more) and hoping that he doesn't do anything stupid (like make hasty challenges and get sent off) and doesn't get exposed for his lack of experience.

Rossiter didn't sit in front of the back four, he took up a more advanced position. Why not have Lallana come in and do that? Or why not start Lallana over Can and bring in Can, who is more defensive minded, for a tiring Lucas?

[meijlinder]

rossiter is more box to box than Lallana and of the ppl on the bench yesterday I feel he was best suited to replace Lucas. BR has had a habit of throwing the youngsters right in the ring and for most part it has been successful.

[tribe125]

Not a good night for Watford. Going out of the League Cup doesn't matter, but the team was mostly composed of fringe players who weren't expected to make the 25-man squad. Their valuations have just taken a nose-dive in front of twenty-odd scouts.

And Miguel Britos, who was making his debut after head-butting a Juventus player in his last game for Napoli, was sent off for elbowing a Preston player. Uh-oh.

Still, Man City up next.

[movet22]

That Monday night game was excellent to watch... if you had no rooting interest. I imagine Liverpool fans were bent that they couldn't take advantage of so many opportunities, especially when Calum Chambers decided he was going to play center forward for Liverpool for about 25 minutes. And as a gooner, I'm dying ever-so-slowly inside knowing that this is our strikeforce for the year. We spend the majority of the second 45 passing it around the edge of the box while Giroud just sat there, stagnant. And by the time Walcott came on, Liverpool was playing with 10 central defenders- of course he couldn't create space.

Thank god Cech finally showed up. And that Ramsey goal...

Four our of nine points has me feeling rather salty right about now. I guess the good news, if there is any to be derived, is that we haven't played anywhere near our best football yet.

[Raza]

That Monday night game was excellent to watch... if you had no rooting interest. I imagine Liverpool fans were bent that they couldn't take advantage of so many opportunities, especially when Calum Chambers decided he was going to play center forward for Liverpool for about 25 minutes. And as a gooner, I'm dying ever-so-slowly inside knowing that this is our strikeforce for the year. We spend the majority of the second 45 passing it around the edge of the box while Giroud just sat there, stagnant. And by the time Walcott came on, Liverpool was playing with 10 central defenders- of course he couldn't create space.

Thank god Cech finally showed up. And that Ramsey goal...

Four our of nine points has me feeling rather salty right about now. I guess the good news, if there is any to be derived, is that we haven't played anywhere near our best football yet.

It's a long season, brother. Early season impression are just that. No need to lose or gain hope until you're thinking about shopping for Christmas presents (so, like late October).

[93EXCivic]

That Monday night game was excellent to watch... if you had no rooting interest. I imagine Liverpool fans were bent that they couldn't take advantage of so many opportunities, especially when Calum Chambers decided he was going to play center forward for Liverpool for about 25 minutes. And as a gooner, I'm dying ever-so-slowly inside knowing that this is our strikeforce for the year. We spend the majority of the second 45 passing it around the edge of the box while Giroud just sat there, stagnant. And by the time Walcott came on, Liverpool was playing with 10 central defenders- of course he couldn't create space.

Thank god Cech finally showed up. And that Ramsey goal...

Four our of nine points has me feeling rather salty right about now. I guess the good news, if there is any to be derived, is that we haven't played anywhere near our best football yet.

I am hoping we can make your season a little worse on Sunday.

Not exactly betting on it but still hoping. Although if our defense plays as well as it did against Man U and Thauvin (he showed some skill at Man U) and Mitrovic start clicking anything can happen.

My favorite game I have ever seen was the 4-4 tie between Newcastle and Arsenal couple years back highlighted by this.