EPL: Arsenal v West Ham - 9/8/15, 13:30 - SS1

[TriniGunner]

Good point. We have had a number of keepers with happy feet who create problems on routine saves.

Cech just gives us a solidity at the back we haven't had since Seaman.

Ospina gets no love...He's a fantastic goalkeeper.

 

[bingobob]

I don't. Europa League is inferior to the UCL no matter how you spin it.

It's inferior by design. For years the UEFA cup was prestigious as was the cup winners before it.

 

[Kroket]

Ospina is a good goalkeeper but he has a few flaws that let him down. More than happy to have him around as a backup/cup keeper though.

 

[Dokaka]

Hope Weat Ham go down, wankers shouldn't take the EL spot if they don't want to win points for England in Europe, and ultimately for themselves.

Italy are breathing in the neck for that 4th CL spot, but we have **** clubs like Spuds and West Spam not taking Europe seriously. Unacceptable.

Ah yes, blame us. Not the absolutely woeful performances of Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd in recent years, nope. It's all on us and Tottenham.

Also, we didn't "take" anything. We were forced to play in the EL due to fair play rules.

 

[Trilly]

Hope Weat Ham go down, wankers shouldn't take the EL spot if they don't want to win points for England in Europe, and ultimately for themselves.

Italy are breathing in the neck for that 4th CL spot, but we have **** clubs like Spuds and West Spam not taking Europe seriously. Unacceptable.

Not sure if true but I heard an English team has to make the quarters this year or we'll lose our 4th CL spot.

I'll be reluctantly supporting all English teams in Europe this year.

 

[Clrnc]

Why are you worrying about United's 4th placed UCL spot?

Bad move by Bilic, this is too early in the season to do such a thing and put pressure on yourself.

Since when did small clubs (no offence Dokaka ) like West Ham start to think Europe is not important to them?

 

[USArsenal]

well, they have no realistic shot to win it, and it is not exactly a financial windfall to progress (unless you make it to the finals) so why waste resources in that competition when its going to bring you nothing and potentially cost you plenty

staying in the Prem is much more lucrative

 

[Clrnc]

If you go into every competition thinking you have no realistic shot of winning it and starts to prioritise before the season even started, you would wonder what kind of football club are you running?

 

[Hegemony]

Have to agree with @Dokaka, we can't blame the failures of EPL teams in Europe on West Ham, end of the day no English team got past the last 16 this previous season; Man City have been constantly underwhelming, we've been underwhelming and so on. Plus West Ham have a much different criteria for success than us; good season for them is a Top 10 finish and a cup run.
Why should they have the added burden of 'saving' the EPL's 4th CL's spot when they've constantly got to worry about relegation and the financial difficulties that would bring?

 

[USArsenal]

If you go into every competition thinking you have no realistic shot of winning it and starts to prioritise before the season even started, you would wonder what kind of football club are you running?

well, thats Bilic for ya.. he made that decision

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

The Europa League represented a fantastic opportunity for West Ham to build their brand and make extra pennies in the process. I can't even remember the last time West Ham were in Europe, shame it was seen as a hindrance.

Regardless, I expect us to defeat West Ham.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Such a small mentality club West Ham is. Hopefully this season will be disaster for them.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

West Ham should be fined for points in the league for their actions in Europe. This is not acceptable for FA and the teams who play for England in Europe.

 

[Dennis_Bergkamp_10]

West Ham should be fined for points in the league for their actions in Europe. This is not acceptable for FA and the teams who play for England in Europe.

Then Liverpool should get fined as well for their crap performance against the likes of Basel etc

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Then Liverpool should get fined as well for their crap performance against the likes of Basel etc

Maybe, did they field weakening team against Basel?

 

[SuperGoon]

West Ham should be fined for points in the league for their actions in Europe. This is not acceptable for FA and the teams who play for England in Europe.

lol.

If the FA cared about english teams performance in europe they wouldn't be starting the season so early. Docking points for playing a weakned team doesn't merit punishment. They still showed up, they just didn't take it seriously. The FA is half to blame.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

lol.

If the FA cared about english teams performance in europe they wouldn't be starting the season so early. Docking points for playing a weakned team doesn't merit punishment. They still showed up, they just didn't take it seriously. The FA is half to blame.

FA share no blame at this.

 

[Godwin1]

The critisism of West Ham here is nonsensical. Thier priority is staying in the league, not buring their players out all over europe in a competition that they aren't likely to win, doesn't pay well and isn't that prestigous.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Of course you are not likely to win it if you give up in first two games. So should we give up on Champions league?

What is West Ham goals anyway? top 10? How about in future? Champions league? Why do they believe experience in Europe is not important for their future goals?

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

No wonder we are doing badly in Europe. No mentality to do well there. Why bother, it is Barca, RM, Bayern competition anyway.