Morning all.
Look who’s back?
Three time Arsenal FA Cup winner and he’s been training with the boys ahead of Saturday’s final. I think he’s been back training with the first team on and off for a while now as I’ve often seen him in the photographs on the official site but who better to have around than this French genius who knows how too win. I hope the intention of Arsenal is to add Pires to the coaching staff full time, as long as he doesn’t give any advice on penalty taking….
I had forgotten that after leaving us and playing for Villarreal, he made 9 appearances for Aston Villa. Why he was allowed to leave Arsenal when he did still amazes me. Anyway, let’s hope he brings us a bit of good luck at the weekend.
After Theo Walcott blew West Brom away last weekend and as Kev mentioned yesterday, one of the big questions is before Saturday is will Big Ollie start or will he be one of the players to make a difference from the bench…
Well he’s been talking to the official website about how he feels:
I play football to make history, to make my family and friends proud.
I would like to win every trophy that I can so to win one more would be nice, and even more to become the only team with 12 wins. It’s the big trophy after the Premier League.
I know it’s massive for the fans and for us, so I will want to win it again. They are the 12th man and they really support us. They are fantastic and you can feel their support every minute, especially when you come back like last year. They were really pushing us to give our best. We have done it together.
Hopefully we will start the game strong. It’s one of our strengths this year – we are starting games well and we need to not let them take confidence. We need to play our game from the beginning of the game.
Not sure about making history but if he scores the winner on Saturday, I guess he would have helped Arsenal make history because as he says, we’d become the outright leaders in lifting the FA Cup.
However, the more important thing he says is how we need to start the game strong, certainly a lot lot better than we did last year. Give Villa a 2-0 lead and I’m not sure we’d fightback to win.
Thankfully, we seemed to have vastly improved our level of focus in defence since those early goals were conceded, well, apart from when we travelled to Stoke in the league this season. I think that’s the only time we simply weren’t focussed from the off.
But, we had a very different team on show to what we have seen of late.
No Ospina, Koscielny, Monreal, Walcott, Ozil or Coquelin.
Szczesny, Ajayi, Welbeck, Campbell, Welbeck, Podolski and Maitland-Niles were the substitutes that day….
I don’t think we have been caught out like that since, certainly not that early in a game. Yes, we lost at Southampton but half an hour had gone by before we conceded a goal and again, we didn’t have the likes of Ozil, Giroud, Monreal, Ospina or Bellerin in the side.
Right now we have a stronger squad and a deeper squad so hopefully a fully focussed side will turn out and we’ll see no sloppy start because if we don’t, Benteke and his mates will take advantage…..
But, as much as our squad is strong as we end the season, we still need a summer of change. It’s not just about buying star players to sell more tickets to the Emirates – the team needs to strengthen but also needs balance. Certain players need to go and in their place, better and in some cases, younger players need to come in.
Next season, we really have to be challenging for the Premier League trophy and with a stronger and deeper squad, perhaps those seats we see sitting empty so often will finally be filled and a full capacity Emirates Stadium will be a place to be feared.
Have a good one guys….
PS – If you want a good laugh, then CLICK HERE. Trust me, it’s worth it….
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
I enjoyed reading the post Rico. I feel that BP07 is being bought in now and then specifically on purpose. to help in the coaching. maybe that is his intention after all. to obtain the badges and become a manager.
He is a world cup winner…..so he does not need to have a managerial qualification to be a manager.
When does AW retire????
Watch this space.
Great post Rico…
Morning Coach
Ospina or Szcsesny?
Monreal or Gibbs?
1st again. Yippeeeeeeeeeeee
Yesteray I saw Reyes again. He got an assist as well.
Did any of you watch Krychowiak??? And Bacca???
Ginge mentioned Bacca a few weeks ago.
Both of them are beasts. What is stopping AW bidding for one or both???
Thanks Devil and Kev.
Have to shoot out today annoyingly, so I’ll catch up this afternoon….
Thanks for the video Lee…
See you later guys…
Morning Rico and all.
Andy King, formerly of Everton has passed away.
Morning Kev.
I feel that Ospina and Gibbs should play this weekend.
Seville want NAcho and are prepared to pay 8mill. Maybe that is why the Schlupp rumour.
Morning Mr Vape 🙂
Ospina and Monreal for me Habib…
And I wouldn’t sell Monreal either.
I think he’s been one of our best players this season.
Of course, if Nacho wants to return to Spain, then fair enough.
Likewise Santi, although I’d be gutted to lose them both… 🙁
Andy King, yeah he was a good player, I liked him…
Only 58 ffs…
Righto off to do a bit, lata
Morning all.
King, rip. He liked a bet, I believe. Spent most of his leisure time resting on Ladbrooks paying in window! Not so much at the paying out window!! Good bloke though and a very useful footballer.
Giroud or Theo? Or both??
AKB……….need I say more?
Good post Rico. Pires back, long term or short? AKB!! Well Saturday will settle his future, win and he stays, lose and he’s toast! AKB!!
I would be really disappointed if either Cazorla and or Monreal left this summer, Arsene has just, nearly amassed a depth of squad that may have sufficient strength to compete in ALL competitions, it would be foolish to break up the ‘unit’ so early in its development. No, I can’t see them leaving this year. Next, well maybe.
Morning Rico, Dev, Kev, All…
That video got me wet with laughter all over…hope they don’t get to watch it at White Hart Lane.
Our current most potent strike force, imo, is Sanchez, Giroud and a fit Walcott…I’d place a bet the trio will start this weekend.
It should be Ospina but Wenger hardly changes norms…we’d see Szczesny in goal…Bellerin, Per, Koscielny and Monreal to make back four…
Middle is real headache…though only Coquelin is a sure starter…amongst Ozil, Carzola, Ramsey and Wilshere, Wenger must choose just two…I’d settle for Carzola and Ramsey for starting berths but knowing Wenger he must start Ozil…so, who amongst Carzola, Ramsey and Wilshere starts?
Ramsey surely…but can Wenger bench Carzola? Big headache which will put Walcott’s starting berth in jeopardy!
Great post, Rico…
I would not sell Monreal either. I prefer to have him an Gibbs….both are reliable. And NAcho has been a big plus this season.
Dear oh Dear. I was cracking up watching that vid.
Seems as if the press continue harping about left backs…….According to reports in Germany, Arsenal are showing a keen interest in Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez this summer.
The 22-year-old has developed into one of the most highly-rated full-backs in Europe over the past couple of years and really caught the eye with some outstanding displays at last summers World Cup.
Can’t see Wenger breaking up rhythm by letting either Monreal or Carzola leave this summer…first team additions yes but not first team departures. Le Prof is an apostle of keeping tactical balance and Arsenal these days don’t need to sell!
Blatter is under pressure to resign from everyone but himself………..
Even UEFA is threatening to boycott FIFA elections if these are held.
http://www.france24.com/en/20150528-football-fifa-presdient-sepp-blatter-under-pressure-resign-after-arrests#./20150528-football-fifa-presdient-sepp-blatter-under-pressure-resign-after-arrests?&_suid=143280854355407986491471928255
I hope Cazorla does not go , however Carzola can ( would put smiley in here if I knew how )
Agreed Bacca looked good last night , but when you look back at the collapses against Anderlecht , Monaco and Stoke this year and the ones the previous season the need for a character that would not allow those slips of concentration is the most important thing for me . A Leader.
It’s easier and safer to write Santi…. 🙂
Morning all.
Morning, Afternoon and Evening all, that should cover things…!
Scott, check ya fone.
I reckon Wenger will make sure he plays the players he feels he can’t drop hence I think Aaron wasted out on the right so Santi Ozil and Coq in the midfield which I think gives us no width and we’re totally unbalanced but that’s who I think he’ll pick, I soooooo hope I am wrong.
Don’t think you will be Wath. We won’t see width until 70 minutes , I know it, you know it , The world knows it , Sherwood knows it. After 78 if we need to ,we will sacrifice the midfield removing Le Coq and give 12 minutes plus to save the world. If we are leading Gabriel comes on and we take off a forward and invite them on to us.
In the words of the prophet :- I soooooo hope I am wrong.
removing Le Coq and give “” Jack “” 12 minutes plus to save the world.
Potter, you are sooooooo right! I wish you weren’t but as a leopard never changes its spot Arsene never varies his substitutions. Clock work …..2…….3…….etc.
I know we should win but I have this niggling itch on the back of my head that’s preaching caution. I too hope I’m soooooo wrong.
Hola amigos
Potter, your 1:44 is so sadly spot on… yep the one nil up scenario and sacrifice the attacker allow them onto the front foot and bombard our box with long balls instead of keeping the pressure on at the other end…. Now where have we seen that before lol…!
If they under pressure from our forwards the last 10/15 mins they will get very few opportunities to hoof balls into the box and more chance of us grabbing a 2nd…! If only…..
Afternoon all. Why has it taken the intervention of the Americans to finally turn a light on the corruption endemic in Blatter’s organisation when we have all been aware of it for years? Why have the European football authorities turned a blind eye, or is the answer far too obvious?
It seems Blatter has still managed to escape the handcuffs though Adam….. He has been very very clever with delegating and apportioning who has done what and kept his fingers clean…!
I cannot believe Eufa are not complicit in this the more palms greased the more who fall so less chance of them spilling the beans. FIFA is a very well oiled Blatter machine and the corruption is extremely deep. I bet he gets away with it.
Wath. Too many snouts in the trough mate.
Like all small dictators, the closer the enemy gets the bolder the statements become! As Zurich is Zeppelinned the dangers are ignored! Glad the U.S. Have exposed the guilty, ha, ha, ha, he, he, he, my hands are clean you can’t catch me! Until of course he is, caught that is. Two things to emerge, the first that the Presidential election of 2011 was ‘rigged’ and second, the concealment of the Garcia report, which obviously contained much damnable and damaging testimony, that FIFA in their munificence have buried and probably destroyed.
Will he get caught? I’ll bet diamonds he gets off Scott free! There’s no justice, and that’s the problem with FIFA they have no morals, only money talks, not rectitude and honesty and openness, just greed and self-aggrandisement!
It all makes you want to despair of the human condition. Where are the good guys? Can someone please scream for the cavalry to rid us of this carbuncle.
We should be grateful that we are headed up by Honest Stan and his syrup minders. I think we are blessed! No dishonest dealings from straight man Stan, eh?
No stories about Vidal ‘Done Deal’ on NewsNow today, or Schneiderlin, or Benzema, or Higuain, or Hummels, or Uncle Tom Cobbley…
M’vila deal done…
Dev- Krychowiak is a proper beast…; maybe too rough for the EPL
Kev, Done deal Blatter to get splattered….
Agreed Adam, All those fat piggies stuffing their faces and wallets..!
Ts????
Evening all…
Have we signed anyone? 😉
According to Marca, Athletic Bilbao have made an €8million (£5.7million) for Nacho Monreal.
The left-back was linked with a move back to his homeland in January but has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s starting line-up over the second half of the season.
Monreal is expected to pip Kieran Gibbs to a starting berth in the FA Cup final on Saturday but it is claimed Arsene Wenger is willing to sell.
Gibbs is seen as the long-term option at the Emirates and will likely start next term as first-choice.
The Spaniard cost Arsenal £7million two years ago and has made over 80 appearances for the club.
Gibbs first choice right now? I don’t think so….
Another extract from The Mirror:
Arsenal will not win the league unless they spend big this summer, according to former Gunner Lee Dixon.
Arsene Wenger’s side haven’t won the Premier League since 2003/04 and fell short again this season, finishing 12 points adrift of Chelsea.
“I think there’s a couple of positions they still need to strengthen,” Dixon told Mirror Sport. “I don’t think you win the league with [Olivier] Giroud as your main striker on his own. He needs help.”
“I’m a big fan of his but he needs another signing alongside him. [Danny] Welbeck is a good player but they need a bit of help in that position.
“They also need another holding player to help [Francis] Coquelin [and] maybe a world class goalkeeper, most teams who win the league have got one.”
I think Dixon might be a genius.
Lol Tai
Ginge your old goat
What to make of the Monreal story?
The thought of Gibbs at left back worries me….
Nice read Rico and good evening to the house
Ts…is M’vila still playing?
Don’t believe Monreal is going anywhere, Rico. He didn’t leave last season when he was second choice behind Gibbs…why now he’s one of the best in EPL?
If nacho goes we have to sign a 1st choice lb
I sure hope he stays Tai, I really do…
Agree Mg
Thanks Snaparse….
I’m not a big fan of Gibbs either Rico but with good coaching he can improve
Wenger wouldn’t want to sell any regular…and there’s no sign Monreal would want to leave…Arsenal doesn’t need the money…
So…?
Quite like creswell)(spelling)
Adam, does he have to be a genius? Lol
Snap, a lot of coaching… Lol
Injuries derail players mercilessly. Gibbs derailed because of his injury woes.
Any season Walcott, Chamberlain, Wilshere, Gibbs ever finish without injuries, fans would appreciate how good they truly are.
Think Devil likes him Mg…
I like Gibbs but he’s too attacking and gets caught out far too often. Don’t think that’s an injury issue, it’s naive imo…
Rico. To come up with that particular statement, no. 🙂
A star of the future rico
Exactly Adam. 🙂
Cresswell or Gibbs Mg… Lol
Koi Sung Yueng is being linked to us tonight, bit of an odd one…
We haven’t had a decent lb since cashley
Night all
Harsh on Monreal Mg…
Good Evening Rico and the House
Chuba Akpom has scored a brilliant goal for England in the 3-3 draw with Morocco. Its been along time since he found the net.
Evening Rick. Was that today?
Night Mg.
Yes Rico it was shown live on bt sports They play their next game on Sat,
Loved this mornins post Rico the vidio really cheered me up.
Sir Bobby is spending a lot of time with the club now, what a great choach he would make
Thanks Rick, Lee sent me the video clip so thanks to him….
No Chuba in the cup squad then…
I’m off guys, catch up tomorrow…
Night all.
SHE WORE, SHE WORE!!!
Morning Bt and all…
Morning Rico, Bt…
Tai, I was joking yesterday re. M’vila.
Anyone had issues posing yesterday?
Morning Bt..
I don’t pose…. lol
issues in posing Ginge?????
Did you try and pose in the nude mate???? lol
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
I will put my neck on the block and put forward a name for the CF position……..Cristiano Ronaldo.
Granted…..AW will have to break the bank. but why not. Still 30 years and he will give us 3-4 years and AFC will have all the money back by the end of the first year.
Morning Rico and all. I am having problems posting.
posting* even
😀 you should be used to my typos by now…
Annoying as it even drives me…
New post up now..
Morning Adam & Devil