Morning all.
Twenty five years ago today, Michael Thomas was the hero of the night…
Holding out for a Hero…..
Off we went to Anfield needing not just a win if we were to win the league, but a win by two clear goals and having just won the FA Cup, Liverpool were high in confidence. We’d been 15 points ahead of Liverpool as 1989 began but as Liverpool gained momentum, winning 21 of their 24 games, we had won just 10 of our previous 20 games, four of which were defeats.
No wonder our chances were being written off by all….
Arsenal lined up in a 5-4-1 formation: John Lukic; Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, David O’Leary, Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn; David Rocastle, Kevin Richardson, Michael Thomas, Paul Merson; Alan Smith.
Liverpool went 4-4-2: Bruce Grobbelaar; Steve Nicol, Alan Hansen, Gary Ablett, Steve Staunton; Ray Houghton, Ronnie Whelan, Steve McMahon, John Barnes; Ian Rush, John Aldridge.
The home team won the toss and the game kicked off…..
We took the lead early in the second half when Smudger got the slightest of touches on a Winterburn free-kick. The Liverpool players protested the goal but it stood…….
One more, we needed just one more and we couldn’t afford to concede…. The clock was ticking by, far too fast for all Arsenal fans liking and with minutes left, that very special moment unfolded.
I won’t describe it, here it is:
What a moment, what a fantastic moment and Islington came alive and Feverpitch was born…..
George Graham and the Arsenal players achieved something very very special that night and against all odds the league trophy was ours. Over the years since that great day, footballing pundits and writers have often talked about how ‘this season is the most exciting yet’ but in all honesty, they’ll never be as an exciting ending to a season as 1989 because the only two clubs who could win the big trophy, went head to head on the final day of the season.
1989 will remain the best finish to a season for years to come, unless of course the FA ‘arrange’ the fixtures in a very different way to what they do these days…
Ahead of Chelsea….
The striker rumours rumble on.
Harry Redknapp is ready to sell Loic Remy for £8 million according to reports this morning, meanwhile, Karim Benzema is on the market for £40 million and Wilfried Bony is valued by Swansea at £25 million.
Bony – 16 goals in 34 league matches.
Remy – 14 goals in 26 league matches.
Benzema – 17 goals in 35 league matches.
There’s not a lot between them them really other than price but two wouldn’t need to adapt to the cold and wet days playing up north.
However, if Arsene Wenger wants to sign a striker with a better goal scoring ratio and a big price tag then surely Jackson Martinez is the man?
He’s scored 20 goals in 30 league appearances for Porto and he’s used to playing in the Champions League….
Me, I’d try and sign Remy and Bony which would give us depth, pace and strength up front…..
What’s your choice, just in case Arsene Wenger is reading…. lol
That’s your lot for today, enjoy the Bank Holiday here in England, even though it’s raining.
The front page of Italian paper Corriere dello Sport on Monday pits Juventus and Arsenal in a head-to-head battle for Real Sociedad star Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann, 23, is highly sought after after scoring 20 goals and grabbing 5 assists for Sociedad last season, while the price tag for the French forward is thought to be around 25 million euros.
Corriere dello Sport talk up the possibility of Griezmann moving to Turin, claiming that Juventus sporting director Lorenzo Juarros and Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay have been discussing the deal and “developing contacts”.
CDS also report Juventus must “not underestimate the competition of Arsenal, who have already offered 24 million euros” for the forward.
“1 Minute ” I will read the post and be back.
Shouldn’t take you that long Potter, although the video clip might… lol
Morning Rico. An early post this morning. I am not sure we even need a striker with Giroud and Sanogo.
Think you need a 1 of the above section. Personally I would take Remy and bring Akpom through and spend really big at DM and defence.
It’s the Steve Mcmahon reference for those that don’t know.
Morning Adam. You surprise me…….
I just tried to add that one Potter just for you but it wouldn’t work… Sorry..
Morning all.
What a finish!!
Never to be forgotten.
As for strikers….of that lot, I’d take Bony.
Devil, foundations….that’s what I forgot 🙂
Dodgy control before the goal though Scott. 😉
Just in case Michael Thomas is reading… lol
morning Rico…..25years ago and its still fresh in my memory like it was yesterday oh to be a gunner that day…..I like benzema but I don’t think we have room for luxury players in our squad again…the guy is obviously more talented than the two but I think we need characters as much as talent so I would pick bony
Potter you are right. A top class DM will do and a striker who knows where the back of the net is ice Remy
Morning snaparse. I’m not a fan of Benzema either. Not convinced anything should be read into re AW’s latest comments about him either….
Welcome Douglas..
I too back the ‘top class DM/HM’ is an absolute must….
Really Rico? I realised last night that I have been setting my sites way too high.
Bony for me.
He is a much better prospect than the others in my opinion. And stronger as well. And more importantly……..he scores in the big games and does not shy away or disappear
I knew you’d come round Adam… 😉
I meant finish to the game, Rico, but we will run with yours hahahahahahaha.
Adam, better use spellcheck else our wordsmith will nail you 🙂
Damn I’ve waited nearly 4 years for that 🙂
And he scored against us Devil. Something Dennis Bergkamp wrote in his book, if our defence is considered the best and a striker can beat them, then he’s good.
Trouble is, too many have scored against us in certain matches this season…
Morning all,
I remember that Rico. Thomas joined Liverpool the next season, he must’ve been popular there.
I personally like Sanchez as he can offer some competition to Walcott in his position too.
I see Campbell wants to play for Arsenal so that sorts out the left side of the attack and if Vela reports have truth then add him too.
Benzema is going to be totally over priced. If I had to choose, I’d go with Remy as Bony will be gone for 2 months during the crunch time for African Cup of Nations.
For those of you who watch plenty of football, which League in Europe would be the toughest on a striker?
My limited knowledge would tell me England or Italy……
Oops, I thought you meant the goal Scott.. lol
Was a superb ending and being right at the end made it such sweet a victory…
And that’s why Hanson is so bitter and twisted….
Hi Bradster, couldn’t believe he went to be honest….
Good point re ACON, I always forget that…
Griezmann or Vela is the next question and if the story at the top of the comments is true, it’s looking like it could be Griezmann…
Griezmann is a stranger to me, but everyone is giving him the thumbs up.
we need dmf cb rb cf khedia good jung arriea banzema bony remy all choice is winger job and grizzman draxller dema is all good viter wamyarma is good dmf next deyarmi
Same here Scott, all I know about him is what I’ve read….
Sorry MKK, I’m struggling to work that one out….
Rico, can’t you read English 🙂
Bony, perhaps, but I’m not much enamoured by any of them. I’d have a good look at Campbell, pre- season. He may be a capable recruit/deputy for Le Quiff! And at what cost? The Wenger way is the only way! Cheap is win, win!
I remember ’89. I remember a Giving the game up with 2 minutes to go. I remember heading to the pub before the final whistle (it was Friday night after all!) I remember a lot of cheering and back slapping. I remember a lot of very happy folk who hated Liverpool! I don’t remember anything else!!
Happy days!
Happy Bank Holiday Monday everybody.
I can Scott, but only just… 😉
Wavy, you are Colin Firth in disguise aren’t you… 😆
I still think Campbell will be sold or even loaned in the PL…
Not just Hanson Rico , Ray Houghton can’t say Arsenal on the radio without spluttering and according to Arseblog John Aldridge has never spoken to David O Leary since.
Have to say Arseblog has a good video of the night today.
I have a feeling Thomas is still living in or around Liverpool. He never came home!
Bad losers then Potter. What did they expect, for Arsenal to roll over for them just because of what happened…
Thanks re Arseblog, will take a peep…
Great piece Potter, I have a tear in my eye…
How cool was MT at the end with his back pass to Lukic….
Brad, just had a thought, didn’t MT join Liverpool a couple of seasons after 89?
MT joined the dippers in 1991 chappies and lasses.
Sagna, 31, is currently with the France squad at their training centre in Clairefontaine as they prepare for the World Cup, and he arrived in his native country amid reports he already had agreed to move to Premier League winners City when his Arsenal contract expires next month.
“I have not signed with anybody, agreed with no one,” the full-back insisted. “All the English media are sending me to Manchester City, but I don’t have any agreement with them or with anyone else. I have never set foot there. Several European and English clubs have contacted me. Certain talks have gone further than others, and Manchester City are among them.
“But today, I’m still an Arsenal player. It would be good to have everything sorted out before the World Cup, on which I am now completely focussed.”
After confirming he would extend his contract with the Gunners, manager Arsene Wenger admitted he hoped Sagna would follow suit. However, the former Auxerre defender, who made 35 Premier League appearances last season, said it was unlikely he would prolong his stay in north London into an eighth campaign.
“Today, there’s a 90 percent chance I will leave and 10 percent that I will stay. I have been asking myself that question for a long time, and it’s the time for a new challenge. Arsenal is an extraordinary club that has given me the chance to grow, both in sporting and human terms. It’s a family club, I feel good here. I’ve had some very good years here.”
Though he might have hoped to have had more silverware to show for his efforts at the Emirates, Sagna does have an FA Cup winner’s medal from what looks likely to be his last game for the club after helping end Arsenal’s well-publicised trophy drought with victory over Hull City at Wembley.
“It’s incredible to finish by winning the Cup. The club so deserved a trophy. It’s an opportunity to thank Arsene Wenger, the staff, all the people at the club and, of course, all the fans for the support they have given me over my seasons and above all my two serious injuries. Whatever happens, Arsenal will stay forever in my heart.”
That’s what I thought Devil…. First goal he scored for them against our neighbours….
Aldridge, Houghton, Hansen, Lawrensen, their attitude of entitlement, makes the memory of that evening, so so sweet…
Liverpool = BS….
So pleased they messed up this season…
Morning All
Morning Rico
Morning Kev, you and me both. I think we feel the same about that club….
Sagna. What’s the expression? Ah yes, follow the money! Well who can blame him? Wenger’s egalitarian attitude to money is laudable, for the most part,, but it has some drawbacks that in our money greedy society can never satisfy all. Sagna’s reported £65000 pw is not on a par with TW14’s £90000 pw. Who is the more consistent player? Who deserves a pay rise? Who got one? Not Sagna! Which ever club he goes to I hope he milks them and then retires to a peaceful and successful life wherever and without a care in the world as he’ll have a shed load of gold!!
There was no poll option for ‘all of the above’ 😉
Scoser fans popped up everywhere here overnight, then disappeared even quicker.
I loved their capitulation.
Wavy, do you think he’s short of a quid now?
Poor Bacary….how did he get by on 65k a week lol
Put like that Wavy, you have a point, but how does his salary compare to the rest of the defenders?
If he goes then so be it, as long as our right back situation gets sorted out.
🙂 Roger…
One hit wonders Scott… 😉
And thanks goodness for that, Rico lol
Aldridge has no class whatsoever. If he hadn’t been a footballer then he would have been a petty thief/benefit cheat…
Lawrensen is a clown…
Hansen is a fat, bloated parody of the player he once was…
Houghton is a bitter and twisted plastic paddy…
And who could forget McManaman, another tosser of biblical proportions…
Indeed Scott… lol
A replacement for Sagna is essential but, Fagin Wenger won’t spend a penny until the heir apparent has a ‘no show’ just before transfer deadline day, then well have a supermarket sweep and pick up some old has been or an unexpected gem for a kings ransom!
If he buys, he will leave it late, as always, after the damage has been done!
Woe is me!
John Barnes is ok though Kev. 😉
Scott. Your 9.46. There are no spelling mistakes. Sites is the word and not sights. Excuse my irony but I really have no idea what people are talking about these days. It makes zero sense to me. But I guess we have to go through it every close season as some weird kind of self-flagellation. We dismiss the papers as meaningless propaganda until we see something in them that interests us and then we use that as the basis for a point or argument. :). Surely one needs to watch a player many times before forming an opinion as to whether or not he could be good for Arsenal.
Well if what Sagna says is true, he’ll be gone before the WC kicks off so no excuse.
Unless he is to put 100% faith in Jenks…
I’ve only watched Remy and Bony Adam… 🙂
I’m assuming here that Sagna is leaving because he does not feel valued, well not enough anyway. However, I felt a while ago that all was not well between the French chef and his trusty right back and fellow countryman. Something ‘happened’ between them more than a year ago that soured their relationship. I’ve no idea what occurred bit something did? Whatever it was it served to help Sagna’s decision not to re sign and hence all the so called ‘negotiations’ on going and balls being in one court or another! Until we reach today’s ‘signing off’ statement.
Is the truth out there and will we ever know? Not until Arsene’s much awaited for autobiography is published, so about another 10 years then, shortly after his retirement as manager of AFC approx 2024!
Happy St Thomas’s Day everyone…….!
I have seen Remy only a handful of times Rico and watched Bony score against us at the Emirates late last season. But I must have watched most of the televised Real Madrid games this season and for seasons before that, plus I saw Athletico games from the beginning of last season so followed Costa before all the hype and expectation built up around him. I understand that pure ability is only part of the equation though. If Wenger does stay, as most expect, I believe the general trend for Arsenal sites and their contributors will continue to mirror his ambition.
Hopefully not that long , I want to know before I kick off this mortal coil.
That’s half the problem, we don’t know the truth and we never will I suspect. He says he’s been thinking about leaving for a while, I tend to think he just wants a last big pay day….
And the same to you Wath…..
I’m not sure it’s a case of sites mirroring AW’s ambition Adam, just not everyone see’s Costa, or other players for that matter, the way you do…
But differing of opinion is what makes the world go around….
Adam, to be honest, I actually thought you were using that form intentionally, but still had to take my chance after so long lol.
You are right, of course….plenty of players are named, and suddenly we must have them.
I said to some mates a few days back thatplenty of Gooners over here would not have known a thing about Draxler at Xmas time, yet late January, we needed him.
Rico. Not everyone has seen Costa at all.
I have to admit I have only seen him play a few times and he did little for me Adam…. But I know it’s wrong to judge a player on so few games….
When I mentioned mirroring Wenger I actually meant that I see many comments that assume we are the paupers that Wenger has always painted us as being and that somehow we cannot share the top table of the other European clubs. Therefore we suggest players that we think we could afford and not the players that will make the difference in the games where we struggle.
I’ve seen bugger all of Costa, so leave that one alone.
Saw him in the stands on the weekend 🙂
What I’ve seen of Bony, I like.
Big, strong and quick…….he is proven already in the League.
Intent Scott, intent mate…
The signing of Draxler may not have won us the league, but the psychological benefits would have been huge, just as they were with Ozil…
If Arsenal really wanna compete with the likes of Bayern, Real, Barca and all the artificially financed clubs, then we’ve gotta start thinking and acting like a big club…
We’ve done pretty much fcuk all in Europe…
I never go into a season ever thinking that we have a chance of winning the CL…
Why is that?
And after some 17/18 consecutive seasons in the competition…
That’s because of the small-time mentality that still riddles out club…
Kev, I’ve actually seen Draxler, and I’d have loved us to get him.
Just saying people tend to jump on the bandwagon at times.
Kev, I’m with you on CL…..we are never a threat.
I am pretty sure there are very few players we couldn’t afford, Messi, Ronaldo and Bale are the only three I can think of….
We’ve had our successes in Europe!
We won the Inter Cities Fairs Cup.
we won the Cup Winners Cup.
Greedy you lot. We always get European football until Feb March, every year. Is that not good enough?
4th place Trophy every year and for years Miser Wenger is always happy, especially when he’s judged in May!
We even got to a CL final and were champions elect for 60 minutes! Until we were cheated out of it! I wonder how much Barca paid the Ref that day?
Just what more do you want?
New and exciting signings? Bah, humbug!
Good day all,
It is looking likely remy but would have preferred alexis sanchez if available
https://twitter.com/lee_ryder/status/470890283279073280
Hi emma….
A friend of mine rates Sanchez very highly too emma…
hi rico,
He is just what we need as a CF(can also operate as a winger). Quick, tricky with a low centre of gravity like suarez/aguero and turns up in the big matches like tsgh would like it.
My issue with remy is his injury records are not encouraging 🙁
Now if Arsenal really wanna show intent, if they really wanna act like a big club, instead of just mouthing off about it, a la Lord Harris…
Then buy Di Maria, buy Khadeira, buy Benzema and bring back C***…
Sorry Wath/Rico… 😉
Good read.Sad to see sagna go but oh well…
Alexis would be a dream…he would be so good under the right manager.
emma i said it here a while back that sanchez could be a suarez type of player for us if we could get him.
ktr – He is just what we need.
Sanchez… quick and direct….! still young as well… top player..!
What about Di Maria, Sanchez and Khedira..
But no Cesc Kev 😉
Thanks Kt..
Emma, how many matches did Remy miss last season, do you know?
Philipp Lahm is confident that Mesut Ozil will be
“devastating” for Arsenal next season – if the club
can sign the right striker this summer.
Ozil lifted his first silverware as a Gunners player
on Saturday when his side beat Hull City in the
FA Cup final at Wembley but his debut season in
English football was marked by widespread
criticism.
Following some below-par displays over
Christmas and into the New Year, the £42 million
signing was accused of lacking fight in some
quarters but Bayern Munich utility man Lahm
says that the playmaker’s talent is obvious and
just needs to be exploited.
“Anybody who has played with Mesut will tell you
how intelligent he is as a player,” Lahm
told Goal . “His vision is probably the best I have
ever seen and that is why it is so important to
have the right striker ahead of him.
“He is a dream for strikers and you saw that with
[Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Karim] Benzema when he
was at Madrid. If Arsenal can find the right striker
who is fast and makes intelligent runs – then
Mesut will be devastating next season.”
Rico,
If we bought those 3… not only would Stan cream his whole wardrobe I think half on here would not bee seen again… fatal heart attacks would be responsible for the demise of at least 4 of us…!
Sagna expects Arsenal exit
Bacary Sagna is keen to make a decision on his future before the World Cup but insists he has not agreed a deal with Manchester City.
Sagna will become a free agent next month after failing to agree an extension to his current deal at Arsenal.
The Frenchman has repeatedly been linked with a move to Manchester City with some reports suggesting a deal has already been agreed.
While the 31-year-old insists that is not the case, he has all but confirmed that his time with Arsenal is coming to a close.
“I have not signed with anybody, agreed with no-one,” Sagna told Le Parisien.
“All the English media are sending me to Manchester City, but I don’t have any agreement with them or with anyone else. I have never set foot there. Several European and English clubs have contacted me. Certain talks have gone further than others and Manchester City are among them.
“But today, I’m still an Arsenal player. It would be good to have everything sorted out before the World Cup, on which I am now completely focused.”
Arsene Wenger had hoped to convince the Frenchman to sign a new deal, but Sagna believes it is time for a new challenge.
“Today, there’s a 90% chance I will leave and 10% that I will stay. I have been asking myself that question for a long time, and it’s the time for a new challenge,” Sagna said.
“Arsenal is an extraordinary club that has given me the chance to grow, both in sporting and human terms. It’s a family club, I feel good here. I’ve had some very good years here.”
Alexis Sanchez , Cesc and Dani Alves all to leave Barca apparently.
Forward , midfield &right back , all in one swoop.
I still say Ox can be that type of striker for us.
rico – remy was involved in 26 matches.
GM all, we need world class players which Benzema is. Adding Remy for 8 mil is a better option than Vela, so its the Benz and the Remy for me.
potter 🙂 🙂
scott – Ox still have a lot to learn as a midfielder and not as a striker
Kev. Your 12.17 hits the proverbial on the head. If the Arsenal sites were ever to be thought of as a barometer to fan’s general feelings then perhaps it might be assumed that we really are a second string club with a great history. Not second rate I add. Our club has simply enormous potential and a tremendous infrastructure but our expectations, because of Wenger, are low. You are right to point out that in Europe we do very little. We look upon it purely as a revenue stream and have neither the players nor the ambition to win it. Simeone, although evidently a pratt of the highest order, has done something remarkable with his team this year through application, a team ethic and sheer bloodymindedness that shows that you don’t always need to spend fortunes on marquee players to succeed. But what you do need is a proper squad with more than one striker and a manager who challenges his players on a dally basis to rise above expectations.
Emma, he has it in him…all the qualities, I reckon.
Actually Rico, of the three Real Madrid players I named, the one we’re least likely to get is Di Maria, sadly..,
Sanchez is good…
I think that Greizmann will go to Italy…
The possible signing of Remy leaves me totally underwhelmed…
Gdna – I don’t fancy a Benzema for one bit. 🙁
scott – No doubt he has the quality but it might take another 2 yrs to get there
Kev. And yet. If we were having this discussion last year nobody would want DiMaria because he had a very average season.
funny you say that scott because i’ve actually thought about it with the ox.its clear wenger wants a suarez type of forward up front for us.in the current market i can only think of reus and sanchez.reus isn’t moving which leaves us with alexis.Juve also want him but we are richer than them so we can beat them financially.
I’d still be here Wath 😉
Hear Hear Adam…
I am personally sick and tired of all the big talk and big promises…
We are, what, in the top five or six clubs in Europe.
And the only one probably to have never won the CL…
You can bet that the expectations of the Scousers, after doing bugger all for ages, will be to try and win the CL… It’s in their heritage…
Our heritage is just scraping out of the Group Stage…
Then going out in the first knock-out game.
Pathetic..,,
ak – I doubt they can. With the possibility of suarez leaving for madrid/barca I doubt we will see them in the top 4 next season not to mention winning the CL
Thanks emma..
Hi Gdna..
Kev, I wonder if Real would sell any of their players to us, not after all the stick they got for selling Ozil.
Many a headline picking up on the Greizmann story. Funny that 😉
I thought people on here last summer wanted Di Maria?
Also for us to continue with cazorla on the left we need a better LB than Gibbs.Marcelo’s performance in the CL final is exactly the dominating type of fullback you need to allow the AM to drift in.
Otherwise Ox has to start out wide.
I bet that every single pundit in Spain at the start of last season anticipated the top two as being RM and Barcelona. For AM to achieve 3rd place would have been regarded as a huge success for Simeone, especially after selling Falcao. The only person who wasn’t having that was Simeone himself. His application and ability to manage games minute by minute with a low-cost squad and a mediocre wage bill and to beat the 2 giants of Spanish football should be enormously encouraging.
Potter, re your 3 man Barca swoop, do they still owe us for Cesc and Song?
I bet Arsene Wenger has already asked him how he achieved such a feat Adam… 😉
@Emma
We need a world class CF, I’m 90% sure AW targets are Cavani, Benzema or Costa if the price is right. He tried to sign all those players before but was outbid by other clubs. There is no way AW is gonna pay 25 mil for a average Bony, he has his flaws but he ain’t crazy.
I was desperate for di maria adam last year.i preferred him to ozil.i wanted him to play as our no.10 as carlo does with him.
This transfer window is a tricky 1, we all want early signings but i think its best to wait and see who is available before making any moves, because Sanchez and Pedro might b available so Greizman is a no go.
Am also tired of us only making up the numbers in the CL.its embarassing to qualify for almost two decades and never winning it…only 1 final.its a joke.we must do better.I’d give anything to see us win that trophy.
I don’t think we can afford to wait Gdna, otherwise we’ll just be left to sweep up.
I’m sure if players are up for sale, agents will be letting clubs know already..
what’s happen with Arsenal Ladies?
They are collapsing Jm, but at least their manager is walking away after this weekends FA Cup final…
Good Afternoon Rico and All.
I enjoyed reading the post Rico and I’d have bet it was written by Kev who always take us back with some good history lesson.
Remy Bony and Ben. I’d take Bony and Ben. And sell off the OG12. And look for a proper DM and BS replacement. Any thing else would be secondary. This would show some Intent.
Are we ready and willing to stick our necks out and get our players before the WC or wait? It would be a Feel Good Factor if we can get all the players for the various positions before the WC but, what happen if they came back injured?
Afternoon Ng, thanks re the post…..
Even a striker and DM before the WC would lift the spirits I think Ng, or a striker and winger….
Just don’t we don’t witness an end of summer rush again because all that will do is show that nothing has changed and all the talk coming from the board has been nothing but spin again…
Re Barca :- I don’t know Rico , if the Cesc buy back exists then it suggests that the fees for both were to be paid on an extended credit basis . This seems to be the norm on transfers payments being stretched over the period of the contract . It therefor is possible that money is still owed. Barca need to wipe out debt so I would not be surprised if a deal was struck and with a cut price Vela being available I am sure our board would see it as a bit of a coup.
Brenda Rogers has signed a new contract with the Dippers…
Wonder when our manager will sign his…. If he is of course….
Thanks Potter..
So we could be looking at two returns, very unlike AW to do that unless players are on loan or free…
If Cesc does return, I see that as being a purchase by AW to get fans back on his side……..
Talking of Carlos Vela, he’s been voted player of the season for his club….
Remy and Bony 55%…. I smell a rat rico.!
“Its up for grabs now”…..what a night to remember, 4000 travelling gooners going mental at Anfield, the stuff of dreams.
Kevin Richardson was a very under-rated player for us I always thought.
🙂 Micko, no rats in this house….
Stuff of dreams indeed…..
rico, his word is his bond as we keep being reminded.
Can’t see Vela coming back to England, he likes a bit of the sun on his back too much, who can blame him, he’s in a good place right now.
Arsenal Ladies are suffering from the same disease as the men’s team! They have lost their best player to clubs with intent and oodles of cash to spend, both here and in the USA. Even
Ost. Their previous manager, Laura Harvey to a wealthy US franchise!
Sound familiar? The most successful woman’s team in the history of their game and we ( the Arsenal Ladies) can’t or probably won’t compete financially!
It does sound familiar, doesn’t it?
C’est la vie!
Should read, ‘even lost’ .
But as Potter said a while ago Micko, he keeps saying he’s not said as manager….
I wouldn’t return if I was Vela either…. Mind you, if his comments are true, seems he’s not against the idea….
Vela player of the season , probably why Sociedad are pushing us towards Griezmann, plus of course he is French , so that’s that then. We get a deal factoring in the Vela buy back clause and they keep the better player. Perfect sense.
Not too familiar Wavy, Wenger turned down Monaco… 😉
Or as Adam suggested, we get Griezmann and they get to sell Vela for a lot more than we’d pay…..
Wasn’t Gerv player of the season at Lille when we bought him? That finished well then didn’t it? Player of the season, my arse!
I liked Vela though, I thought he was a ‘player’ but he never had enough playing time, on the hallowed turf, to show his talent, although, so I m told, he did display his talents during his nights off! (Allegedly).
Emma, with respect, I didn’t say that Liverpool would, could or wouldn’t win the CL…
But their fans will go into the competition with an expectation of winning it, an expectation that we could only dream of and an expectation that we’ve never had…
Our record in Europe is shit, plain and simple…
Tottenham have more of a tradition of European success than we have, and they’re hardly ever in it…
Wenger will never win the Champions Lge because he is too idealistic…
I bet you that ManCity win the CL before Arsenal win it…
many of us at that age put our talents on display. He is older and wiser now. Perhaps.
I liked Vela to, not enough playing time for club was perhaps down to too much playing time for his country….
He’s bulked up to, looks a totally different guy to the one who left us a few years ago…
And indeed playing in the country and I don’t mean football!
Yeah Wavy, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, that was a night indeed…
I wasn’t there, but a couple of my cousins were on the pitch at the final whistle…
AW had 7m reasons to stay, with the promise of 8m, whereas Laura Harvey only had 70 or 80000 reasons to stay she was offered a small fortune to move to the US, nothing like millions but plenty more than she could ever have hoped to earn here, even at oil slick citeh!
No I wasn’t at the final either, shame but well, you know.
Did go to a couple of the qualifying ties, one particularly sort of sticks in my mind. A game against a Norwegian side, name forgotten, score too probably, I know it was at least 9-0 and I remember feeling really embarrassed for the skando side. It’s the only time I wanted the Ref to blow up early in order to save the opposition from further embarrassment and humiliation!
They really were that bad!
Wavy,I’m sure she left for the new challenge 😉
Yeh, right!!
Last nuisance call of this afternoon, stuff to do…..! But you might be interested in the link I’ve just found on the Telegraph site about the team of 1989
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10856208/Arsenals-1988-89-league-champions-where-are-they-now.html
I lied……I was right about Mickey Thomas not coming home. I can only assume he is doing missionary work on the Wirral in his spare time!
Just been through the where are they now….
I wasn’t there, but a couple of my cousins were on the pitch at the final whistle…
Didn’t see them Kev , but it was very crowded . We would get fined and a ban for that now.
Wavy, don’t forget MT went to Benfica after Livpoo..!
I know Martin Hayes was flogging second hand motors on Highbury Corner a few years back !
He worked in the Ford garage Micko, spot on mate…!
Back briefly. WATH I had forgotten all about that move. Fancy going back to dipper pool though. Of all the places in all the world………….complete freedom of destination and you choose to become a scally?? Words fail me! I’d have stopped in Lisbon rather than the Wirral!
Sorry, just a personal prejudice.
Maybe he just never sold up Wavy….! Think Benfica was only a few years. Have mates on the Wirral parts of it are very nice…! Again all personal choice eh..!
Cascais was decent place Wavy, Lisbon for me was yuk…! Then again that was 91/92…!
I’ve never been! It just has a je na sais quoir! Anywhere down the coast, one of the famous coastal golf courses nearby. Idyllic?
I ‘Ve been to the Wirral though, and you are right it is not a bad place to be. Plenty worse in our small kingdom. So he probably is doing meaningful missionary work on the wee peninsular. As indeed am I in the rural East Midlands where I now live!!
MT doing missionary work… Could involve keeping the local publicans busy I reckon..!
Paris Saint-Germain are in pole position to sign Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann after reportedly meeting his £26 million buy-out clause.
Griezmann has been a target for Arsenal this summer with the Gunners keen on signing the France international, however, PSG have moved in on Griezmann and are now in pole position to beat the Gunners to his signature.
The 23-year-old is expected to leave the Spanish side, where he came through the youth academy, this summer, although Griezmann has admitted that he does nor have a preference as to where he goes.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb.com, PSG have met Griezmann’s €32 million (£26 million) buy-out clause in his Real Sociedad contract and are set to hold talks with the winger and hope to conclude a deal to bring him to the Parc des Prince before the start of the World Cup.
Arsenal are believed to have lodged a bid for the winger that has fallen £8 million short of Griezmann’s buy-clause.
The Frenchman has particularly impressed this season, scoring 16 goals in 35 La Liga appearances for Real Sociedad and appeared in all eight of the Txuri-urdin’s Champions League games this season, including qualifiers.
If we go in for Vela he’s ours for 3.5million….!
Seems more likely if that above is true Wath..
I thought PSG were in trouble under FFP?
Fabianski to Swansea is doing the rounds….
Seems PSG couldn’t give a 4X….!
Sure does, either than plan a fire sale, or face another knuckle rapping….
I’m off to watch some old rubbish on television.
Catch up tomorrow….
Night Wath and all…..
Night Rico….. enjoy the goggle box…!
Real Madrid will need to sell this summer, to balance their books under FFP, if they are to sign Luis Suarez for a transfer/salery package approaching £100m…
They could part-ex a player or two with Liverpool to lessen the strain…?
So nevermind De Maria or Benzema coming to Arsenal, they could well move to Anfield instead?!!!
It will be very interesting to compare the transfer business of both Liverpool and Arsenal this summer?
Both clubs are at a comparable level imo, the major difference is the ambition shown by both clubs’ managers/Boards, especially comparing both clubs’ ambition and approach to the Champions League…
In my opinion Kev Lfc are a million miles behind us financially… they spend what they don’t have thats the difference…!
PSG and FFP just ask Laurent Platini , Michel’s son.
Exactly Potter…. FFP is never ever gonna work and we all said it years ago… they won’t ban teams and all fining mega rich owners will do is make them laugh…!
Blatant disregard it’s called..!
Evening all.
Even I have come to the conclusion that FFB is a load of crop, so I hope those at Arsenal aren’t still waiting for it to kick in.
Crap, even.
You know the people at Arsenal Scott, their hopes are pinned to it…. lol
Wilfried Umbongo is the answer forget any of that shower of shit in your poll….as for Costa, he’s shit!
Add Kalou and Barry then we’ll be ready to rumble…..
Morning all….
What a kn*b…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2640190/Spurs-fan-Britains-dangerous-prisoner-Charles-Bronson-61-smears-butter-taking-TWELVE-officers-Arsenal-win-FA-Cup.html
Morning Lee, good stag?
Yeah was good but very powerful… I was chilling outside a “café” near the canals when Stephen Hawking went by in his electric wheelchair!! Freaked me out big time!
Serious?? Mind you, I can understand why he’d live there…. lol
Kev, you can stop worrying, Suarez has booked his daughter into a local school and he’s staying at Anfield…. 🙂
Morning guys.
Morning Scott..
New post up now….