Everton v Arsenal. 23rd Aug at 17.30.

[Muggins]

We just need to take it on the chin.

When they equalised, I was absolutely gutted. Like felt sick gutted. There's positives to be taken though. Many expect Arsenal to be in the top 4 at the end of the season, and today we showed that we're just as good as them.

Agreed mate.

 

[Petit]

Worst thing is at 75 minutes I was 100% sure we had it. Arsenal looked beat, everything seemed to go in our favour.

 

[Petit]

We just need to take it on the chin.

When they equalised, I was absolutely gutted. Like felt sick gutted. There's positives to be taken though. Many expect Arsenal to be in the top 4 at the end of the season, and today we showed that we're just as good as them.

Footballing wise, player quality we´re absolutely as good as them. Problem is that Arsenal are a lot better at scraping wins together. That´s the real difference. They know how to close the deal.

 

[bol-uk]

3 goals in last 10 mins conceded now, just has to be sorted out, simple.

We are not fit after a badly planned pre-season. Poor on bobbys part tbh.

 

[Steve Wigan]

Footballing wise, player quality we´re absolutely as good as them. Problem is that Arsenal are a lot better at scraping wins together. That´s the real difference. They know how to close the deal.

I don't think Arsenal are any better than us at 'closing the deal' We have a reputation for going to the end, normally. Whats happened this season is that for some reason(The World Cup probably) we were under prepared. When we get up to speed and stamina in the next week or so we will be very difficult to beat and we will be in the mix at the end of the season. Some of the football we played early on was just too much for a good side like Arsenal, with a tactically aware manager like Wenger. Both the Arsenal goals resulted from our tiredness, nothing more. Lukaku showed he has more to his game than some people think, some of his play for the team was excellent, and he's not fully fit (ankle in ice immediately he went off), and Naismith should be one of the first names on the sheet every week. In my opinion he is currently the best Scottish player in the game.Coleman was not 100% fit and was limping quite early on, as well.
To those saying Lukaku should not have been subbed, if he had continued with a bad ankle, we might now be missing him for quite a few upcoming games. Bobby made the right decision.

 

[ElPorto]

First half we battered them, second half we tried to defend the lead (and failed).

We're devastated with a draw and their fans are over the moon - says it all.

 

[Steve Wigan]

Real men inhale. Real men also store their Cubans inside Monica Lewinsky.

Now..they've not done that one yet on Scandal.........

 

[Del]

What about the fitness though lads

 

[sussex blue]

The defending for both goals was abysmal. The worst thing was, that you always felt that if we conceded one, they'd get another, and so it proved.

Criminal that we've thrown away 4 points through posh defending and not being fit enough.

 

[rascal]

Distin and Jags are the two most experienced defenders in the league. No way should we have conceded the four goals we've conceded so far this season , all due to defensive howlers.

 

[davek]

We got a lot of bodies behind the ball yesterday. I think that probably contributed to the tiredness felt toward the end. It wasn't the same confident type of performance we gave in the first game against Arsenal last season at their ground when we were prepared to play in their half and retain possession there letting them run around after us. In the end we flagged as a team defensively and they were able to get in around the back a few times and that bypassed the protection Jagielka and Distin had enjoyed all day.

 

[canveyblue]

1 why bring on Ossie surely mcgeady was the like for like replacement
2 last 15-20 gave them way to much space especially down the wings
3 better football but wigan style defending
4 cannot do that against the chavs next week, they look fit and hungry , we need to be at our very best
5 ANGRY

 

[sageyefc]

Another positive was how good the 433 looked in the first half, baines looks more like his old self this season too

 

[maccavennie]

Another positive was how good the 433 looked in the first half, baines looks more like his old self this season too

Baines was superb wasnt he mate, right back to the level we need him to be at. We need a win and i have got a feeling it will come next Saturday against Chelsea. That will be the game where our sharpness is where it needs to be, Rom will open up his account and Chelseas perfect start will come to an end. The lads have done great for 75 minutes both games so far, its the fitness that has cost us so i am expecting to see a full 90 minute performance next week.

 

[snipellis11]

It feels like a massive disappointment to draw that game because we played very well for most of that game and were in complete control for 80 minutes, we really shouldn't be letting a 2 goal lead slip with 7 minutes left and it's something we need to look at, we should be on 6 points now and looking merry at the top of the table but we are not, we are stuck on 2 points with chelsea coming to town next week, but we have to keep getting behind the lads, look at last seasons start, we are playing good football and the results will start to go in our favor sooner rather than later. COYB!!!!