Daniel1980

Yeah, really didn't like that. I don't support booing, but why the hell they were actually cheering for another team's player?

I don't feel we had a MOTM. I would have voted for Andre, but he's to blame for City's goal. I would have voted for Hazard for the assist, except he was largely anonymous for most of the game. Frank.... If only Costa scored from Cesc's pass. Speaking of Cesc, he had a great game defensively, better than most of our midfielders. So much for him being a liability defensively. But it hurt his creativity too. Why the hell Jose put on Drogba is beyond me. Disappointed, but 1-1 is a pretty good result, all things considered.

Think many will be pretty happy about it unless we're winning and concede closer to the end of the match. That always makes a draw feel worse.

Yeah, same here, but it was probably the right decision not to play him. He would have probably been too nervous. I think he'll get some playing time next week.

MVG was never going to start over Muntari against Juve. He'll play in small games at first.

Agreed, that's why we shouldn't be using our win against City as a proof of Willian's effectiveness against them as #10. That said, I do think he'll play -- on the wing, with Ramires next to Matic, though I won't be surprised to see the lineup you're expecting.

It'll be great if Eden plays against City as well as he played in the previous 2 games(especially Swansea). Inconsistency is his biggest issue and the only thing keeping him from becoming a great.

Willian's extra energy didn't help us at all in the FA cup when we lost to City 2:0. He played #10 then, and played very poorly, creating nothing and doing very little defensive work. Just give it a rest, mate. If we can't accommodate our most creative player(who has a pretty decent workrate), then something is very wrong with our team.

LOL. Aston Villa conceded 1 goal in 4 games and now conceded 3 goals in 3 minutes.

At least Bonera won't play. That should improve Milan's defense a lot.

IMO, they're bitter mostly because of the stark contrast between Cesc and Ozil: Cesc created more chances in the PL than any player so far, got 6 assists, and acts like he actually gives a shit about his new team, looking committed. I would be bitter too, tbh.

Obviously Juventus are much stronger and will probably win this, but still pumped up for this game. Go, Pippo! Don't remember the last time San Siro was sold out. MVG and Torres probably on the bench for this one.

Oscar vs Willian. Really hard to choose. Both of them offer similar things and both somewhat lack the end product. Their passing in the final third isn't exactly the best, but we have Fabregas and Hazard for that. I think Oscar is better at pressing and in the air, but Willian is faster and will probably defend the wing better. Hmm, this is a really hard choice. And I can't completely disregard the possibility that Ramires will be on the wing with Mikel taking the place next to Matic in the pivot and Fabregas taking #10's. And there's also Schurrle, though I think Jose is unlikely to start him.

The problem is, it's not just the last match. I honestly don't remember the last time he put on a true world-class performance. Can't say I'm surprised that he's struggling, though. Last season all of our defenders largely benefited from the defensive system we played and it made them look much better than they really are. That's why I wanted us to sign a fast top CB who's great individually and who isn't afraid to challenge a player. Cahill isn't that. When JT retires, I can't imagine Cahill leading our defence.

lol He didn't kiss the badge, but Arsenal fans took it as the worst kind of offence anyway. I've seen some gooner call him a slut for "fondling" Chelsea's shirt and having the nerve to look happy. I wonder what would have happened if he actually kissed the badge(don't think it'll happen anytime soon, though).

I'm not sure why Jose replaced Ramires with Oscar. Yes, Ramires was nothing special and presented very little threat in attack, but it was a strange substitution. Jose should have brought in Costa and Remy earlier instead.

My mistake, you're right.

We didn't win there last season, though. We lost 0:2. A win would be fantastic, of course, but our record against City isn't that great lately, so I'd be okay with a draw. Edit: you're right, we won. I got it mixed up with our loss in the FA Cup.

My biggest disappointment of the summer. He would have been perfect for us.

The team that we put on the pitch against Schalke looked really good in attack bar Drogba. Dorgba and Cahill out, Costa and Azpi in, and we're good to go. IMO, we shouldn't try to park the bus against City. With our defence looking suspect, attacking and trying to outscore City might be a better approach.

I don't buy it. His decision to start Drogba and keep him for as long as he did wasn't rational. Jose is a great manager and it was a silly mistake, so I believe his emotions did get the better of him. We don't know his true relationship with Essien, Lamps, Cole and Cech. He might have been less attached to them than to Drogba.

When we signed Drogba, I was afraid of precisely this happening: that Jose would let his emotions affect him and play Drogba when he shouldn't. If it was anyone but Drogba, Jose wouldn't have done it. Playing a 36-year-old striker well past his prime in a CL game when we have 2 better strikers doesn't make any sense. Disappointed with Jose, but maybe he needed this lesson. It's a good thing it happened so early in the season.

Haha Arsenal fans got so pissed off at that.

When we conceded the goal, he wasn't dispossessed in our half. It was close to the attacking third. If you're criticizing him for being fouled and pushed off the ball in the attacking third, then it's pretty strange, considering it happens to players all the time. One can criticize him for his pressing, but the conceded goal wasn't a big mistake from him, IMO. Our defenders had plenty of time and opportunity to stop the counter attack and should have stopped it. If he had lost the ball close to our third, then yes, the conceded goal would have really been his fault.

If a few months ago someone told me I'd end up defending Fabregas, I'd think they're crazy. But the stick he's been getting lately is really unbelievable. It's like people never watched him play before for Arsenal and forgot what kind of player he is. Or maybe the problem is it's exactly why it's easy to single him out for his poor defensive contribution--because he's an ex-Arsenal player.