Morning all.
It’s no great surprise to see Arsenal and Arsene Wenger hitting the headlines after what was a shambles of a transfer window together with a pathetic performance performance at Anfield last weekend where we leaked goals easier than a bullet ridden bucket leaks water. It’s pretty clear that there’s little to get excited about for this season. Yet again and so soon after we did the same against Leicester, although at least on that day there were a few excuses. At Anfield a bizarre, no, ridiculous team selection hardly helped our cause. I don’t think I’ll ever understand why Wenger did what he did that day. Mind you, there’s a lot of decisions he makes these days which simply don’t make sense.
Certainly two of those was not cashing in on the players whose contracts run out next summer and replacing them properly. Still, he’s got to live with that decision and perhaps pay the consequences.
But now we’re left wondering what kind of performance both Ozil and Sanchez will put in each week as they run down their contract, Wilshere too as I believe he’s in a similar situation. With the latter though, he has a lot to prove, certainly his fitness and I reckon if he can stay fit, he might just give the midfield a bit of bite to it. Ozil, well I expect little different to what I’ve seen since he’s joined, great to watch at times, others, well he might as well have stayed at home. In a different team with work horses surrounding him he’d be in his element but he doesn’t have that at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger doesn’t appear to demand such things from the players. Perhaps if the mighty bust up rumours are true, that might change and we’ll see a very different attitude from the players when Bournemouth arrive at The Emirates next weekend. I won’t hold my breath though, I love life too much.
Wenger has been quick to defend the deadline day activities or rather the lack of them by suggesting Alexis wasn’t really close to joining Pep and Lemar wanted to stay in France as it was all a bit late to move. Really? Who’d have seen that coming eh? But then who’d really want to join Arsenal anyway these days? Straight after the great performance at Wembley against the league champions yes, I reckon they would especially as the change was promised and we were ready for a proper challenge. But then, and as before, the summer creeped by, the hope any fan might have had, disappeared quicker than Walcott can sprint up the right wing. Without the ball at his feet I hasten to add.
I don’t know what’s really happened since the Anfield showing, other than Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving but considering most of our players disappeared soon after to go and play for their respective countries I’d imagine there wasn’t a great deal of time for anything much. An inquest after the match yes, but there’s been reports of those many times before yet seldom has much changed afterwards. We might go on a little run of good results/performances but it doesn’t usually take long for the players to drift back into their old ways until another full time fallout takes place.
That’s where our club is now though imo. It drifts along instead to pushing forward. Wenger waits for a problem to arise before reacting and even then, his reaction is not always good or right. Certainly not from the outside looking in. He’s been so long in once place, he’s stagnated, as have many of the players around him. Those who arrive looking sharp, fresh and at it, soon become just another victim of the lethargy that runs through much of the club.
But as has been said by many of us, that would change in a flash with a new manager. A breath of fresh air in training, new ideas and training methods. Excitement wondering what the new man will bring to the table and Steve Bould might even get to work on our defending. There are many things which would instantly change if Wenger were to leave, certainly the mindset of the players. I’d bet my house on that.
Yes, the new man might cock it all up but I doubt it would be through the lack of trying and if it did go wrong, at least we know he’d not be in control of his own destination because he’d have Ivan, or perhaps a director of football to answer to. Unlike Wenger who appears to only have himself to answer to….
Then again, it might just go right and our club rises from the fall again…
Finally, the club have announced the squads for the season. There’s a few in there that might make you chuckle. Or cry…..
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-premier-league-squad-revealed-11095233
Morning All.
Morning Rico
We’ve gotta see how the Ozil, Lacazette, Alexis combo works, those three could save Wenger’s arse?
When Ozil plays for Germany, he has a manager who knows what he’s doing tactically and a team of players who are the best in the world, so he’s gonna look good.
When he plays for Arsenal, well, you know the rest…..
Morning Kev and all.
Very true, however….
Morning Rico. I was wondering how Wenger would spin our recent triumphs in the transfer window and guessed he would resort to bending the facts to suit his own agenda. He didn’t disappoint me.
Once you take the fan’s support for granted you are finished. Most of them can smell bullshit from a mile off and at the moment, the stench is overpowering.
Morning Adam.
That’s the thing with him though isn’t it, he’s so predictable in everything he does…
Rico. He probably believes it. 🙂
Good Afternoon! I don’t know why but for the life of me I think Ox moving is great news! Whenever he played the team was horribly unbalanced with Wenger trying to shoe him in wherever he could. Him & Walcott have interesting issues…Ox seems a proper footballer with no end product & Walcott is a terrible footballer with..is it 100 goals to his name now? With Ox gone we can probably finally see Sead in that wingback left role…I just had to fist pump when Gabriel left…i can feel he tried but it just was not a match made in heaven with arsenal. Xhaka needs a proper partner…dare I dream that wilshere can do a job there? I have this sneaking feeling based on the squad list…Wenger is going to rely on alot of kids…about time Niles gets a run in the team…what about bielik?Dragomir? Zelalem?Seems like people forgot about them…probably a risk but those are transitional central midfield options with an eye for a pass…guessing we are going to see some interesting team selections in the Europa league soon or knowing Wenger in the epl…Bournemouth match we should see something new lineup wise
🙂 Adam. Sad but true..
Whamio, as often is the case, it’s about how joins rather than who leaves imo. We seem to have one or two coming through but throwing them in is a risky business as Holding is proving. Poor bloke started so well, yet now he’s seems to lack so much confidence..
Morning rico, Adam. There is an air of living in lala land around Wenger atm. Who does he really think believes him? Yes Lemar did want to stay in France, even though three or four French players tried to convince him to come the other night. Personally, I think he only has eyes for Klopp and wanted to join L,pool. As for Sanchez, I think Citeh are as much to blame over that fiasco. If they had made an offer earlier, and Sanchez had submitted a transfer request, it could have worked out ok. But this is Arsenal we are talking about, and very little goes to plan.
Prof did reach the target he set, getting rid of about twenty players and holding on to Sanchez and Ozil. It’s just that his target didn’t tally with the fans targets, of buying some needed top players in defence. Didn’t Bould have the nerve to tell him that?
Heyho, another game tomorrow. I wonder what sort of team he will put out? He’d best brace himself because the fans can smell blood. I hope they demand both him and Kroenke out.
Morning Meerkat, we don’t play until next weekend, international football is going on this week.
Had he gone for Lemar in July, I reckon he’d have signed for us. Leaving it until so late and after the whole word knows how desperate we were was to blame imo, 100%
Just another terrible window from Wenger but then as so many of us keep saying, it matters not really who we buy because Wenger will only ruin them..
Morning everyone- Arsenal fans in Namibia are ashamed of watching their beloved team Arsenal FC. Every team in the EPL prays they are given Arsenal because it has became the most easiest team to play against.
Hi Meerkat. I think we host Bournemouth next week. Clash of the mid-table teams? 🙂
Rico. I reckon the atmosphere at the Emirates could be hostile but there will be many who are just passing through London that won’t understand or care at what’s going on.
Apologies rico. Senile decay I’m afraid, lol. And I watched the internationals last night too!
No gooners playing for England anymore. The club must be so proud!
Yeah, I think getting £40m for a guy who hardly ever scores is great business.
Not that I think that selling him was some kind of cunning plan by Wenger, his hand was forced, he didn’t really want to make a decision, same with Alexis and Ozil and, well you can go on ad infinitum.
Moving to a back three wasn’t some carefully crafted plan, it was borne out of desperation and because he’s tactically inept defensively.
He got lucky in the FACup and Kroenke as usual took the safe and easy option of giving him a two year deal. We all know this of course but it’s quite astonishing how badly our club is currently being run, at all levels.
No club, it seems, can drift and not realise it’s potential quite like Arsenal…
Mind you, let’s not forget that the current darlings of the media, Tottnum and Liddlepool, have over the last 10 years won exactly the League Cup once, that’s it, one minor trophy each, that’s the shift in the balance of power mish!
I reckon so too Adam and I doubt it’ll get better unless Wenger has a personality transplant…. 😉
I know the feeling Meerkat… lol
Believe it or not, it is similar at Barca, relying on them being just a tourist attraction. My friends that live in Catalonia, went there to watch them play RM the other week, and said there is no real atmosphere coz it’s all tourists (them included, lol). Still their little grandson got to see Messi and Ronaldo, but that’s what it was all about really, for most people there.
Liverpool and Totts look like they are moving forward though Kev, whereas we are the exact opposite. Both clubs have young and exciting managers, we don’t so it’s easy to see why they are the new media darlings…
Neither have won anything for a long while, and apart from the FA Cup, which doesn’t seem to be high on Wenger’s agenda, or many Arsenal fans, ends up being his saviour.
My garden needs attending to. Catch up later..
At east Danny boy scored for England last night… 😉
Morning all,
Meerkat, when I was at Stamford Bridge, the locals I spoke to said the same thing-most of the crowd were tourists.
We can’t believe Arsenal is the only club that catering for the day trippers, because we aren’t-far from it.
Unfortunately, Arsenal do cater for the tourists to bring in the dollars, but don’t seem to invest the cash back where it’s needed, what attracted the tourists in the first place, and that’s the squad.
Blame the club for that, not the tourists.
Oops I did it again! Danny of course does play for Ingerland! How could I forget him? And he scored ( never for us though unfortunately).
The spuds have a few in the team too, as do poo now they have Ox, and the manc sides.
I suppose Wheelchair was lucky, in that we need a few British players in the goon squad, and no one wanted him. Same for Theo. The club will still keep paying them to live in the lap of luxury, for doing very little in return, just because of that rule.
Meerkat. I have heard that about the Nou Camp too.
Well yeah, both Liddlepool and Tottnum have got into the CL, so you could say that they are moving forward, and we are going backwards, but we’re winning trophies and they are not.
Do they get criticised for their lack of success?
Remember how we were constantly reminded of how many seasons we’d gone without a trophy, you don’t see Tottnum or Liddlepool being reminded that it’s 54 years and 17 years respectively since either won the League…
I’m still flabbergasted at to what Wenger was doing as the TW was closing….unreal behaviour!
Oh I like to remind them Kev…the Micky Mousers lucked the CL though, the slags!
I laughed when the spuds came 3rd in a 2 horse race the other season..
Hiya Scott, you’ve hit the nail on the head there. Top top clubs will attract tourists, such as RM and Barca in Spain, and our rich clubs here in the UK. To maintain that status though, Arsenal will have their work cut out. No one wants to go and watch them lose. They have to remain a top European team to attract the dollars, the Yen, the Rouple and the Euro.
Stan will get hot under the syrup when that starts to dry up. He has no emotional or physical attachment to the club, but he is fond of the dosh.
Our transfer business this window has been mixed.
It started brilliantly with Kolasinac and Lacazette before stumbling to an embarrassing deadline day shambles.
Selling Szczesny, AOC, Gibbs and Gabriel is fine with me, making a profit is fine with me, failing to sign a def/mid is not fine, it’s poor management, so no excuses there.
Tottnum signed; Sanchez, Llorente, Aurier (walking red card), Gazzaniga (?), Foyth.
I Wouldnt swap any of them for our business.
They sold a few no marks and made a profit of £5.7m
Liddlepool signed; Solanke, Salah, Keita, Robertson, AOC.
I wouldn’t swap again for their business.
They also sold some no marks and spent £41.5m more than they brought in.
Hiya Lee, mate I’m as pissed off as you, but I get sick at how we are targeted by the media.
Look at Chelsea, it’s a fcuking war zone over there, Conte is going bonkers.
But they’re the champions.
Kev that Sanchez is a good CB what I’ve seen of him and I rate Aurier reminds me of Ralph a bit…
Yeah the media have a hard on for Arsenal that’s for sure…. not a lot in the media about Costa going awol in Brazil is there?
Gooners do give the media plenty of ammo.
Or Courtinho either Lee, have they questioned his commitment to Liddlepool?
But Alexis, well fcuk me, he’s gonna sulk all season ain’t he, mish….
Airier is a big Gooner, he wanted to join us but, well, who fcuking knows what goes on in our transfer dept?
More like Fred Karnos Army…
Kev you plan on going over the Ems?
Didn’t Liverpool win CL in 2005 and an FA cup the year after on pens?
My Liverpool supporting friends never miss a chance to rub that in my face.
That cnut Durham was spout off the other night, I came close to calling in…
My son offered me the Bournemouth game over a week ago Lee, but I’m not really in the mood for Arsenal atm mate…
I quite fancy the UEFA Cup games, I might do a few of them and maybe the League Cup, I’m a bit weird like that… ?
Bradster, they won the FACup in 1964 as well, yawn….
Or was it 1965 ?
Elneny
Xhaka
Coquelin
Ramsey
Wilshire
(Santiago)
That’s our midfielders…that’s worrying imo!
Lee, do you reckon that you’ll go, you know, just for the craic
Kev where do you think we’ll finish in the league?
Lee, you forgot Willock ?
6th, maybe 5th.
Probably win a cup Lee…
Rinse and repeat…
Yeah I’ll go to one of the European games with you if fancy it?
6th for me too…
Willocok too but you get what I’m saying don’t you?
Hypothetical questions. If Lemar comes in…where does he play? Why holding over chambers if both are fit?
We should nick the Monaco scout, thought we had our finger on the pulse in France!
Brudder. We did. Wenger turned down M’Bappe only a year ago for about £7.5 million if reports are to be believed.
Then again we did have Sanogo. 🙂
We need to play Holding and Chambers together at under 23 level , let them bond and form a partnership. With Kos being permanently injured , Mertesacker going cown the proverbial hill , Mustaphi wanting an Italian Job we need to be doing something fast.
down the proverbial hill ,
I’m sure Wenger’s already working on it Potter! ?
The only thing Wenger should be working on is, clearing his desk and taking his puffer jacket to the charity shop!
Will we beat Bournemouth and Boscombe? I’m not over confident, if only because of Wenger’s bizarre team selections. And, his seeming inability to motivate more than half of his team members. When a manager loses the dressing room and loses the plot he should know there is only one place he should be……the retirement home for broken coaches!
I wish.
Afternoon all. Nice day here.
That’ll be great Lee, give us a text/bell/email and we can arrange something, I’ll look forward to that.
Yes Lee, I understand totally mate, our midfield isn’t physical enough, tbh Lemar was a nice idea but why didn’t Wenger spend £92m on a top def/mid, a top c/b and still have change?
His priorities are all wrong, he didn’t fix what needs fixing, he fiddles about with the line-up and then blames the players, or the fans or the political situation in Burma…
Holding, BFG, Chambers in the UEFACup.
Nelson, Ntekiah plus a few fringe players, Wilshere, Walcott, the UEFA Cup looks interesting, no pressure, just the kind of games to go and enjoy.
Boscombe are hard core Wavy, they’ve not won yet, we’re in crisis, at least Mr Adam won’t be there with his Wenger Out banner…
I get what your saying about the media, I really do. I suspect once Wenger goes, they’ll be back onside… It’s him they pick on imo..
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com
4 goalkeepers in the 25
Yes Rico, it’s strange really as he’s always been accommodating to them.
He has Kev, looking back, perhaps he wishes he hadn’t been because they can’t wait to kick at every given opportunity. Stick to talking about the match ahead in his press conference and decline to speak about anything else.
Kev, you follow the younger players, where is Bielik in his career?
Seems odd we need a DM and he is one. Good enough to make the step up?
Yep, that’s right, although the does talk to French channels and BEiN, giving them regular interviews, maybe that pisses off the press corps etc.
Tbh he hasn’t got anything to say that I haven’t heard before.
Bielik got injured Rico, he was set for a loan move to Norwich, but he’ll stay with us until January. He might get a game in the cups?
He’s a def/mid who Wenger plays as a centre-back.
Waste of a player imo…
Tbh Rico, I’m so pissed off with the senior players, that I’ll focus on the youngsters this season.
We might have a couple of gems coming through who our next manager can polish up.
Watching Lacazette and Sead will be good as well, until Arsene knocks the fight out of them.
Wenger is too nice as far as the media are concerned he is also his own worst enemy! Commenting on other club’s business etc he should focus on Arsenal and wtf is going on there!!!
Ah, I didn’t realise. Shame for him. So very unlike Wenger to do that with him eh Kev…. pff.!
Afternoon all. Cazorla left out, isn’t he maybe back early next year? Or is list up until the next window?
I hope Wenger uses them in Europa Kev but I doubt he will. I reckon he go for Europa..
I think it’s up until the new year Andrew..
Deyan Iliev the surprise for me, but making up numbers I guess. After our annual injury crisis I’m sure we will find it hard to put out a competitive team again in the League Cup. Which I reckon is our only chance of success until we rid ourselves of someone.
I had to google him… 😉
Afternoon Rico and the House.
After a heavy thunderstorm last night the Sun is shining and the lawn is starting to dry out,
Item on twitter,
Chamberlain left Arsenal because they hadn’t won the League in 13 years,
He joined Liverpool who haven’t won it in 27 years and took a pay cut to do so.
What a plonker
Really enjoyed your last two posts Rico up there with your best.
Every player Prof signs fails to develop, I can’t think of one that he has brought on tbh. He seems to have ruined several older players who were top notch before he got them. And the promising youngsters have all disappointed – OXO, Theo, Gibbs, Chambers, Ramsey, Jenkinson and our favourite, wheelchair, lol.
Chelsea spent £170m on four quality players we spent £46m on Alexandre Lacazette and got Sead Kolasinac free. Everton, one of our competitors for sixth or seventh place, brought in seven players for £140m, plus The Roon for free! Citeh had £200m worth of new signings and Manure £140m. We don’t stand a cat’s.
Poo had a net spend of +£30m (plus Naby Keita) to our -£18m, they sit second in the table with 7 points and a GD of 4 to our sixteenth place, 3 points and -4 GD. They are in the CL, we are in the EL.
They have a dynamic 50-year-old manager who is on the way up we have Prof.
Twenty-one players out, two in! was that the *catalyst for change* we were told about?
Rico, Kev and Potter have made some very good points this this morning about the U 23 side of the club.
I may be alone in this but I honestly think the start of a change as far as the academy is concerned is beginning.
Now I don’t know who is responsible for appointing our BFG as the academy head (from next year), but whoever it is I think has made the right choice.
During the last few weeks Merts has given a number of interviews and haven seen some of the extracts from them I have no doubt he has already started working with the youngsters who are training with the first team
Rico there are extracts from the last 2 on the main website, and I am sure after you have read them you will see where I am coming from.
Afternoon Rick. Thanks.
What a plum Ox is. There’s as much chance of Pool winning as us… Slim to none…
I’ve read the stuff from Merts Rick. He seems to be the right choice. His focus isn’t just on those who might make it, but those who don’t too. I think he’ll handle the younger players very well as he appears to have his head switched on. I truly hope he and the academy succeeds and there’s certainly a good crop in there…
Just hope Wenger doesn’t get his hands on them. For too long anyway….
Now what happened to Takuma Asano we spent 5 million on?
Isn’t he on loan again?
Now what happened to Takuma Asano we spent 5 million on?
Ask the man that signs players that cant get a work permit.
Wellbeck scored yesterday for England.
We need win more 45 points for be next season again in The League. I’m not joking. It’s true. I’m very concern about the environment arround the team, the fans, the staff, the coach. Another defeat and maybe the caos.
Kos was injury yesterday. He has acuumulate many injuries. Like I’ve posted before, he only be fit for playing, maybe half of the games of the season and he is not young. So, sold Gabriel or not rpelced him was a mistake. My opinion.
Asano on load to Stuggart. Signed players without work permit is in minimum, strange.
Does anyone know the 25 players registered to play the Europa League?
It may be important to know who is “discarded”
In my opinion, it is of betting on strength in this competition. It is the way to try to win something in Europe and if we win, to enter directly in the Champions.
Would that be the same man who signed someone who had a broken bone in his back Potter?
Elneny, Maitland-Niles (calm down Adam) and Bielik can all fill in at c/b JM, it’s all part of the master plan…
Rick, I think that BFG is a very wise choice for the Academy.
Because of his limitations he’s had to think about his game a lot more than many other players where it just comes more naturally, therefore that’ll make him a more thoughtful coach who’ll be able to help the kids develop their skills.
Who knows, he might make a future Arsenal manager…
Then you lot can all moan at him again…. ?
Good call Kev, maybe that’s the path for Per… I bet he’d be quicker with his thoughts than he is on his feet… 😉
Catch up tomorrow guys- nighty..
Evening all and thanks Rico……………………………….How can it be a shambles of a TW ?……………………..we made £30M !……………………..and god knows how much wages we have saved with 24 players either sold , released or on loan……….can anyone calculate that ?………………… must at least pay for Wengers salary !
That squad released, I see no Nketiah or Nelson………….is it EPL only, so can they play in Europa and League Cup ?
Last night I switched on to see the last bit of England/Malta and was pissing my pants and the wife asks what`s so funny…..I said, Welbeck has just missed a sitter and couldn`t hit your arse with a bango……as the letter O ends from the word bango he scores from a lot harder chance !…….made me cry ! hahaha
Seriously though, how much in wages have we saved from the 24 ?………………………….have we still got Jack Bauer ?
Le Coq, he’s just a glorified accountant…………..hats off to Niall Quinn.
Rambo is having a blinder for Wales, I could watch his flicks all nite.
Kev, your 7.11 is a cracker lol
Meets has copped nothing but criticism from fans over the years with us.
When Sean had his little day out with the players, Merts was THE one who just took over the training session, getting as hands on as a coach could and looked an absolute natural at getting his message across to the kids.
Meerkat, I dare say plenty of players have progresses since joining us.
Santi was in career best form before injury.
Kozzer.
Henry did ok lol
I could go on, but while it’s fair to say plenty haven’t, plenty have as well.
LC that’s Danny for ya lol
He’s got everything except one trait every striker needs-composure in front of goal.
Heaven knows why prof sat his two new players on the bench, only to play others in their positions, who couldn’t even play there! However, even he must have realised the error of his ways re that.
I’ve been trying to find some positives, rather than moaning, as is my want, LOL.
So; Personally, I would drop Xhaka and Ozil for the next game. Rely on Sanchez behaving like a pro, and on Lacazette and Giroud to play well. I’d also put two of the youngsters in the squad.
I never thought i’d say this but, I’d put Jack back in (he may feel he has a point to prove against Bournemouth). I’d even make him Captain and see if he rose to the occasion. Another who may want to show he’s not finished, is Theo, and he does score goals.
TBF, Prof did say from the beginning that he didn’t want to sell Sanchez, and certainly not to an EPL rival.
Citeh may have only wanted him so as to weaken us (we did beat them last season), so I’m glad he didn’t go to them. I hope that when he does go, it is abroad. But really, no-one else came in with a bid for him, only Citeh, then very late on, again perhaps hoping to stitch us up.
The money the two Manc clubs have spent, Chelsea too, means that only winning the league will be good enough. Well, only one of them can win it, so there are going to be some squeeky bums come next May.
Conte might not even last that long.
No-one expects much of us this season, but we might just be in with a shout, if the team play like they can at times.
Prof may have lost some of their respect, but the players should still have their pride to play for.
There, I feel more positive already, lol. I can go to sleep now!!;-))
Great post, Meerkat.
We may as well give Jack a go as (a) we have him and (b) we know there’s a proper fighter in there, and we can use that!!!!
Morning all………………….Ozil`s 700 word message………….
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/4378879/mesut-ozil-twitter-rant-arsenal-legends/
Morning all..
Just wring about that Lc… lol
Although I didn’t read it in The Sun…. ??
Morning Rico. The whole Ozil ‘thing’ must surely result in either him walking away or Wenger finding a tactical set-up that suits him.
I dont either, Rico………read The Sun……………I just look at it ! 🙂
Yeah amazing how we buy possibly the best #10 in the world and Wenger plays him on the wing !…………………………..I bet that`s in the new post as well ! ……………………………I`ll stop now and wait for post ! 😆
Morning Adam. The latter I’d have thought because the chance of the other happening is zilch…
What Lc, even after page 3 was removed…?
What`s page 3 ?…………………. 😀
New post up now.
As with Jack, Arsene has never found the best way to utilise the guy, yet fans relentlessly criticise him-I don’t get that.
Ozil is what he is, and he’s a player you have to accomodate because what you see is what you get.
Arsene hasn’t done it.
It used correctly, we could have Mesut for another 4-5 years but If not, there’s no point keeping him.
Morning all.