Morning all.
Not many pundits, journalists etc, seem to find it easy to dish out praise to Arsenal, a topic raised here many times before, so when it comes along, milk it.
Martin Keown:
“You’re watching that team tonight, and you’re seeing the future out there,” Martinelli – his goal. The passion, the spirit. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
“Martinelli that is some performance tonight, [Buyako] Saka, and even [Granit] Xhaka when he goes to central defence, that’s as good as I’ve seen him play.”
“They showed real character. For most of that game they were down to 10 men.”
Rio Ferdinand:
“I think Arteta shouted and called for a shift in mentality. We’ve spoke about it before, they’ve been renowned for having a group of people with fragile mentalities.
This could be a turning point, the way they’ve come back in terms of going a goal down, down to 10 men, being in disarray for a while, gaining composure, and chewing out a result like this.
The way they done it, that demands character, that demands spirit, that demands a mentality, and then added to that quality in vital moments. They’ve showed that in abundance today.”
I know it sounds like we’re going over the top here about the performance against Chelsea because after all, a club like Arsenal should have a group of players who are prepared to roll up their sleeves in any game when it’s required but it’s taken the arrival of Mikel Arteta to prove that’s exactly what the squad is capable of doing. The only player who doesn’t seem prepared or able to put his body on the line when it’s required is in my opinion Mesut Ozil, which is no doubt why he was hauled off. Sorry, the one to make way for Guendouzi.
As far as going over the top goes, it’s understandable because not often do we see a performance anywhere near as determined as the one we witnessed on Tuesday with eleven players on the pitch, let alone ten.
Anfield 2001 was pretty good. Paul Durkin had sent off Giovanni van Bronckhorst for an alleged dive quite early in the game but despite being down to ten, we won 2-1. We had a much better squad back then though. At home last year was another. Down to ten and trailing 2-1 we fought back to beat Aston Villa 3-2. 2003 at Old Trafford when Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘cheated’ to get Patrick Vieira sent off was incredible looking back. I loved it as the emotions ran quite high at the final whistle having secured a point.
Apparently, during Arsene Wenger’s 22 year reign, a red card was shown to one of our players on 100 occasions. The highest number dished out to Arsenal in a single season was 12 in 2001-02 – Yes, we won the double that year! I’m sure Riley would love the same amount given to us every season but of course, not if it meant winning the double again. I think it’s safe to say we’re miles away from that happening again.
But whilst Riley and his puppets seem to treat our players differently to those of the clubs he favours, we’ll carry on quietly. Whilst the media, many pundits and certain journalists continue to see little Arsenal positivity to write or talk about, we’ll quietly keep improving. I hope, and as they gush over Klopp, Pep, Wilder, Dyche and any other chap who doesn’t coach Arsenal, Mikel Arteta can go about his business with pretty much nothing to lose because they’ll criticise him and the players regardless.
What matters more to the club is the support it has from its fans and right now I’d say that support is right behind everything he is trying to do. They’ll be a section of fans who don’t think he’s the right coach but that’s inevitable but it’ll be what happens on the pitch which matters most and perhaps when May comes around we’ll look back at Tuesday and see it as being our turning point. I certainly hope so.
One or two good performances doesn’t mean everything at Arsenal is rosy, far from it but at least the process of dragging the club out of the mire it’s been in for so long, has begun. At least it looks that way right now.
Lastly there’s a transfer rumour.
This one comes from Instagram when yesterday a post/comment left on there said ‘Arsenal wants to carry out a transaction to buy Matviyenko by February 1st.’ Accompanying the post was a caption which read: ‘Do you want this transfer to be done this winter?’ Who left this comment I don’t know but apparently, we’ll, according to the Metro, Matviyenko ticked the ‘like’ option.
Also doing the rounds on NN is this ‘quote’ from Matviyenko’s agent, Yuriy Danchenko:
‘Recently, my colleagues and I have been constantly in contact with representatives of the Arsenal, and have had meetings,’ Danchenko told Ukrainian media. ‘The Gunners’ hierarchy have already contacted [Shakhtar], and we hope that these negotiations will succeed.’
Man City have also been linked to him which in itself is interesting bearing in mind Mikel Arteta would have been at City when potential signings were discussed.
For those like me who know little to nothing about him, he’s a 23 year old Ukrainian defender who plays for Shkahtar Donetsk and can play anywhere across the back line. Handy.
TransferMarket have him valued at just £4.5 million which if he’s good, would be an absolute bargain. However, the fact that he’s out of contract in the summer of 2021 could mean this is just a case of his agent starting something in order to get his player a new and much improved contract.
He looks good on YouTube. I know, so did Santos.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpa8t-ww3Vk
What about the question posed on Instagram then, would you like to see Arsenal get this deal done?
Answers on a postcard, or better still, in the comments…
Posted this on the last thread just as this went up .
https://www.arsenaltrust.org/feed/afc-finances/2019/-SimonHillfinancialanalysis
Interesting article that might go some way to explaining our position on transfers . I am only a retired wiper blade salesman and a lot of this goes over my head but it does suggest that we are living beyond our means
Just read that article, interesting.
Basically we are financially stuffed unless Kroenke pays off the £200m debt at a cost of an extra £50 million penalty fee.
A top four finish would be a big boost.
Makes all the free departures look even more silly now. Irresponsible to say the least.
Hi Rico and Potter just read potters article about our financial state I don’t fully understand it but from what i can gather it makes you wonder why Arsene Wenger paid KSE millions for KSE advice also does all this FFP include our under 23 and women teams.
Geoff it relates to the whole club’s expenses against income .
Media bias against Arsenal is terrible, nothing new of course, I remember back in the 70s, listening to football on radio 2, my dad commenting on the northern bias of Denis Law, I didn’t really understand then, but it makes perfect sense now.
I have to agree about Ozil, he does try but he’s on a different level physically to the other players. I know he has plenty of fans, but everything seems so slow.
It’s not like he hasn’t had some good games, but they are usually at the Emirates.
Away from home it’s like we’re a man down before we start.
This player from Shakhtar looks promising.
I hope Wolves beat Liverpool tonight, maybe Arsenal will have to be the first to beat them in May!
Afternoon all
It makes old mother Wenger’s claim that missing out on CL football will not be missed by the club, going forward……..well, it has! And will continue for many years to come. Afraid to say that we shall have to rely on ‘creating’ our own players from Hale End, and then selling them for massive amounts. When Real or Barca come calling for Martinelli and are offering mega bucks, the Arsenal will have to roll over, have their tummies tickled and take the Spanish dabloons! The only choice the club will have is, no choice!
LC would assert that it’s all the Kronkes’ fault for not financing some of our debt with their enormous chest of US gelt. The upshot of which is obvious for all to see. We are not the team we should be, week after week after week.
Unless we’re very lucky this situation is going to continue for the foreseeable future. However, if Arteta is the true Saviour then we just may the ultimate footballing miracle occur on the grass of the Emirates!
Here’s hoping
Were people being unfair on Wenger when saying it was he who wouldn’t spend?
FFP was a factor, as it appears to be now.
These kids could provide us with some joy this next decade or so, and if the talent keeps coming, we could have a dynasty.
After Billy Wright came George Graham and a few years waiting for things to come good.Its a similar situation we have to wait for things to pan out and hopefully they will to the same extent.
Reports saying we’re in talks to sign Thomas Lemar – he is some sort of latter Day Kalou.
Also being reported the asking price for Matviyenko will be £30m
Transfermarket are well out with their valuation of Matviyenko then…
I don’t think Lemar is what we need right now but then we do lack creativity and goals.
Morning all
Morning all.
Lemar should be a superstar by now-he has everything but has gone off the boil.
Maybe we could help him find his best but that best is bloody good.
What money are they talking?
The only deal I’ve read about is a swap one for Lacazette Scott.
A group of disaffected Arsenal supporters are setting an AFC Wimbledon style Arsenal spin off called Dial Square FC, they plan to start off next season in the 9th tier of English football, like AFC Wimbledon. They’ll ground share initially but the plan is to eventually find a ground in or close to Woolwich. Considering the price of land in the Greater London area I say, good luck with that!
They’ll be playing in a red current shirt with white shorts, so all you can do i guess is wish them well and who knows, one day we might have Dial Square playing in the Football League?
Try again…
https://www.givemesport.com/1540830-disgruntled-arsenal-fans-form-breakaway-club-named-dial-square-fc-to-protest-kroenkes-ownership
Who’s going to play for Dial Square I wonder. Ozil? Lol
Hi Kev and Rico maybe Dial square can get Alisher Usmanov to own them can you imagine them knocking arsenal out of the FA Cup Usmanov will be in his glory to stick it up Kroenke
I reckon Kroenke will sell when he hears this news.
Or maybe put in a bis to take them to Los Angeles
What the Dial Square crew say is true. Kroenke has torn the soul out of Arsenal.
The old guard were ridiculed, the families that turned the club into one of the most respected in the World were lampooned and driven out. Now we have a money obsessed owner with no feel for the history, or principals on which Arsenal Football Club were founded.
I wish Dial Square F C all the best for the future.
Do I sense a whiff of irony Adam. Lol
Hi Geoff.
The stadium move has far from helped imo. I think Wenger said something similar a few weeks ago. I loved Highbury, the atmosphere was so much better.
Only the merest whiff Rico. All new stadiums I have visited, especially Wembley, are far too corporate and soulless I say. In comparison the Emirates is not too bad. Get a winning team that are clearly going places and it will improve for sure but you have to factor the change in the supporters too. It’s not just the surroundings.
The fan support seems to be improving as the team improves Adam. Perhaps fans will keep their phones in their pockets given time.
Chicken or the egg, Adam?
Did fans change due to their surroundings or vice versa?
I’ve no idea lol
Morning guys.
Rico, do you think Laca is aiming to get out?
Seems to be a lot of Arsenal linked transfer noise this week, with every half decent Brazilian player going being connected to Ashburton Grove.
Dial Square will probably out bid us anyway…
New post up now
No idea Scott..
Pablo Mari (Flamengo) , central back, very close.