Morning all.
According to reports, Barcelona are ready to get revenge for all the young players we have nabbed from them at a young age. Fabregas, Merida and more recently, Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin to name just a few.
Well, they’ve sent scouts to the United States where our youngster Emile Smith-Rowe was playing for England’s Under 16’s at the Nike International Tournament.
Allegedly, he’s highly rated by the Arsenal Academy and certainly wouldn’t want his head to be turned by the Spanish giants. Smith-Rowe will be 16 years old in July and I’d imagine the club will be keen to tie him down to a long-term deal asap. We can’t have Barca nicking our players, and certainly not those who are tipped for great things.
In other news, Ollie is set for another spell on the bench once Alexis is back and this story, written in the Mirror by Mike Walters, makes me laugh. A big headline made out of a comment from Arsene Wenger:
If you go on the counter-attack, of course he is not the kind of player that you want or select first. That is why, when we played against Bayern Munich, I chose Walcott because you know you are going to play more in your own half and you have to break out quickly.
Different opponents mean different tactics so it’s inevitable that Ollie won’t necessarily start every game as when the intention is to play fast attacking football as we did against Utd at home, Ollie isn’t the kind of player Arsenal need up front. No, that player is always going to Walcott if he’s fit. Alexis, Walcott and now Campbell are probably our best front three out of the options available. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should be considered too, as surely it’s only a matter of time before his game returns to it’s best but Campbell gives us that little bit more when tracking back.
Alexis could be back next weekend to face a City side who are likely to be without Kompany but Aguero should be back which is a darn shame. I was kind of hoping he and a few other key players of theirs would be ruled out but hey, better to beat a strong City side than a depleted one as we all know how the media will spin such a headline…
Before then though it’s Aston Villa tomorrow lunch-time and I suspect Ollie will start that one, after all, how could he not after his mid-week heroics……
Have a great day guys, let’s hope a few teams around us drop points….
Sanchez will be back next week he’ll start training monday
Morning Rico, All…
Good post…
I believe one of the reasons for our past good run in the league was Wenger being able to completely change our approach by changing just our top striker.
With Walcott, you’re screwed for pace, especially if Sanchez is there to compliment.
With Giroud, you have a war in your hands to battle a rock-solid forward, who gives as much as he gets in the shoving business, sometimes even more. You’d constantly be on your toes during set-pieces for his head is bullet.
Just two players …change one and Arsenal’s tactics changes very significantly…
It’s a huge boost, only if Theo will stay reasonably fit for Wenger to resume reaping…
Even at that the return of Welbeck adds to the threat…with Welbeck and Sanchez either side of Walcott in away grounds in Europe, no side will breath easy. Bayern could perfect their act in Munich because of the unfortunate absences of Theo and Bellerin.
first….
And wanyamma is likely to be a gunner January. . From u hear talks from pires. its.suspicious . Now wenger ..
Morning all.
Barca can get stuffed 🙂
Well against city who plays??
Rico, by the sounds of things this morning, a good time was had by SWMBO a Christmas function interrupted proceeding, i doubt i’ii see much life till at least noon…..So i went and played footie…lol
The story about Smith-Rowe reminded me about an eleven year old over here who is heading to Real Madrid for a trial in April….How did we are another EPL not pick up on him?
“or another”
Smith-rowe lol barca awaits lol
Morning again all..
Spot on Scott…
Good to hear Bt, lunchtime?? Must have been a cracking night/morning…
Tai, hopefully Theo has had his injury for this season and stays fit. All other injured should be back in the new year, when in the new year though remains to be seen with Jack, Danny and Tomas…
Coq and Santi are done for the season imo…
Might be after lunch….if i’m lucky…..lol
Just in time to cook… 😉
I’m duty chef today, it’s Paella time…..
Nom nom….
Morning/Afternoon All
Thanks Tai….
Cheers BT, many happy returns to Mrs BT.
Hi Rico, still enjoying the afterglow of Olympiakos…
Tbh, I dong give a fig who we get in the next round, maybe it’s gonna be our year in the CL..?
Nobody, including us, give the team a chance, so no pressure, just go out and give it go whilst saving most of your energy for the EPL…
You know, we’ve gotta face Barcelona one day – and beat them…
We got past a great Real Madrid in 2006 thanks to a Jen Lehmann masterclass at Highbury…
This time we’ll have Petr Cech, the top top class goalkeeper we lacked in all/ most of our previous encounters with UEFAlona…
So who knows?
dong??? ?
Hi Kev.
I’m not fussed either who we get next round, although Zenit would be nice… 😉
Morning, Wanyama to Arsenal rumours and managers speakings of the player, surely definitely means there,s not a cat in hells chance he,ll be joining us in Janurary, AW doesn,t work that way, once a player gets linked, “with the exception of a very rare few, it,s like the kiss of death,
you heard it here ,Wanyama will not be joining Arsenal.
Great post Rico…
If Arsenal make any January signings – and I’m still not sure we will… It’ll be a player we’ve never heard of, or forgotten about, like a Sissoko or M’Villa type…
Might be Arsene will take someone on loan?
Welcome Kev…
Believe me, I’m convinced we’ll have a good run in the UCL this season…
And I’m convinced Arsenal has the best chance of winning the EPL this season…not by signing in January but by maximising the potentials in the team.
Funny enough, the reason I like Wenger is his stubbornness…that unshakable ability to not yield to pressure, doing things only when he is absolutely convinced it’s right and never pressured to do it. Only problem is…when a lot of people suggest things to him, he turns back even if he had already made up his mind to do that.
Wenger will want to win the EPL his own way – with a great team unit rather than with world class starts. If he’s made up his mind he’d manage Flamini and Arteta till Coquelin returns…then forget your Wayamas…that’s how it’ll pan out.
Just hope he has someone planned Dublin…
Out next round in the CL, I’d put a tenner on that… 🙂
Ok Rico, I’ll bet you £10 we get through the next round and into the Quarter-Finals…. ☺️
Don’t Rico…unless you’ve planned to get rid of the tenner all along.
We underrate our team, very unduly.
Suddenly Joel Campbell is no longer just a cover…he’s grown in stature and can start or be an impact sub…that’s the advantage of injuries!
If Ozil can stay fit till Wilshere returns…and never gets any injury worse than hamstrings, then you should never underrate this team.
You’re on Kev… 🙂
We’ll prob draw Barca, Real or At Madrid etc, not a hope in heck of us beating any of those imo..
If we do, I’ll quite happily part with my tenner Tai…
Delafou (spelling) is a great little player… £4.5 million Everton paid…
rico, Zenit, in theory is the best for us, because Russian League stop now. Until the new season, the teams and managers can change but most important and this happens every year, the performances of Russian teams before Christmas and after Christmas are completely different.
BM, Chelsea and M city couldn’t be.
RM and Barça very strong for us.
For me Wolfsburg very dangerous because is German and Germans teams are always must more fit in January then all the others in Europe. PSG very difficult but not impossible. A Madrid too.
the cross was fantastic…
Let’s hope for Zenit then Jm.. Having seen Wolfsburg beat Utd, they could be tricky for us, especially with our injuries. And who’s to say we won’t get a few more by the time February comes around…
Amazed Norwich have made it 1-1, Everton should have had this game won by now…
Offski now, catch up later…
Good points JM…
Latest on the injury front:
Sanchez and Arteta still due back 26th Dec.
Wilshere was due back on 26th, now his return has been put back 13 days to 8th January…
Rosicky, due back on 2nd Jan has seen that put back to 24th January.
Welbeck likewise, his return of 12th Jan is now back to 6th February.
Coquelin still February 2016
Cazorla still March 2016
Rico, that’s a bet….
Afternoon, true Kev, Wenger saying Wilshere has no chance of a return in December sounds ominous, apart from Sanchez and Arteta there,s a good chance we won,t see the others till mid to end of Janurary, possibly Feb, by then others will have no doubt picked up injuries, it just doesn,t end.
On the Champions league, i think apart from the obvious 3, we should fear no one.
In a short resume: The season is finish for Cazorla and Coquelin in Arsenal; they will appear for be in their own national teams in June;
For Rosicky and Welbeck the season never start and hope they will be in time for we reach something or everything
We will see Wilshere…
and God help us
DG, I get my info from Physioroom.com…
Not sure where they source their info, but they seem reliable and lack the hype you get on those click bait sites….
Yes, it looks like Jack won’t be back until January and as it’s going Coquelin could be back before Welbeck who could find himself out for a calendar year as his injury nightmare drags on…
Chuba Akpom scores for Hull…
Rick, is Jon Toral injured as he isn’t in the Birmingham squad at Middlesborough?
Cyber shake done Kev…. 😉
Injury time 92nd minute goal for shitty. Big reflection!
What a shame….
Swansea had a good goal disallowed and Hart made some important stops…
Lucky City I would say…
Nothing that Arsenal should be afraid of, but if you offered me a draw from Monday week, I think I’d take it as I think that City will drop points in other games and I’d rather they take the attention away from us…
Just been glancing at NewsNow..
Is it just me or is the Daily Cannon an absolute pile of crap, full of recycled rumours and income generating adverts…
A chance to go top tomorrow,
should we hoping for a chelsea win monday night, Doesn,t sound right.
Looking forward to see who the Republic play and others.
Certainly is Kev a great big pile of Sh**e…..!!
Kev, most just recycle old rubbish these days.. Except HH of course… 😉
I’d rather Leicester win, they’ll slip up at some stage…. Hopefully. We mustn’t though, Villa need to be taken very seriously, new manager and all that. Grealish is back too and will be out to prove a point….
I’m off guys, a Saturday night without the iPad… 🙂
Catch up tomorrow….
A Chelski draw, can’t have those cnuts getting three points….
Looking forward to the match tomorrow for many reasons, still think it will be 3pts, keep our shape and take our chances, job done.
It won’t be easy, but should be achievable ….. That’s that jinxed…..
Night Rico, big final tonight…Thank goodness…
Enjoy you’re evening…
Hard group micko
Belgium, Italy, Sweden
Oh well, we will have a piss up…
As tough as it gets, our luck definitely hasn,t changed from 4 years ago.
Irish media trying trying to talk up our chances, its bollox, unlikely we,ll get out of that group,
Piss up it is ,MG.
Hi DG,
Im looking forward to it
If we can start of with a win, who knows where it will end up
Come on now lads, Germany, Poland and the Ukraine…
2 pot one teams, you might say, makes it very difficult for us,
as you say our first game v Sweden now seems like a must win game, to have any chance.
Few tough groups in there, but France and Portugal must be happy,
Lets hope the draw is kinder Monday.
True BT, N Ireland or Wales didn,t fare much better
You,d have to say England will be reasonably happy.
oh well,
True DG, pretty much like their qualification group, but i’m sure both teams will give their all….
Ushited beat again…..LOL
I hope the mancs don’t sack LVG
Just love him and that Portuguese gimp
Long may they reign
Wow Man utd beaten again. What a day for LVG, still laughing.
While arse kicked by promoted club and his strikers are impotent,
in another place, Hernandez scored hattrick for Leverkusen, and Wilson scored for Brighton.
Talked about dinosaur management, now we”ve really seen how Martial’s worth huh? 35m?
LMAO.
With no game is easy, Oezil still have to play for Villa. COYG.
Shoot, Man City’s last save grasped at last dying seconds scored to win really makes me sick.
Indeed this season PL, is the weakest as long as I remember.
How can anyone here convince AW to buy the DM and maybe ST for our extra ammo eh?
We’re just don’t have the killer instinct to grab the trophy, it’s wide open FFS.
Who’d have thought UTD would be in this situation with such a well credentialed manager.
Goes to show, a change guarantee nothing.
So happy to see them playing crap football that’s boring their fans and after spending a fortune.
Think i read somewhere Van gaal has spent in his tenure just 70 million short of what A,Ferguson spent in his whole reign.
And their still shit, that alone is a sackable offence,
DG, and isn’t it just lovely viewing lol
sure is, absolutely nothing special about United, City ,Chelsea etc, this season,
You,d have to think only Arsenal can prevent arsenal from winning the league this season.
Yes DG yes. Arsenal are and will be their own worst enemies! It’s almost like a self-destruct mechanism, like AW wants to give all the competition a chance of winning and when we don’t he can point out that his players were tired, or they were unlucky, or in November we had too many injuries etc etc any excuse will do!
But it’s all up for grabs. It makes life, the future and everything very interesting!
Dublin G,
More to only Arsene that can prevent our Arsenal from winning this weak season.
Whom you’re kidding?
Come on Arsene, please buy, but not that another average like Kokorin.
Kok and Coq, hhmmmm…..seems bizarre.
Lets hope were up for it tomorrow, Wavy. It should be motivation enough for the players to see how the league is unfolding week by week.It surely would be the gamble of all gambles if we don,t strenghten in Jan,
He has to know this could be his last, best chance to win the title.
Night.
Good old Bournmouth …
Night All
Morning all….
It’s kick off soon… 🙂
Morning Rico and the house
We should be top today
Morning Mg..
Morring everyone.
Big game today.
To go top would be tremendous, seeing as though our managers crap and we are short on quality and quantity 🙂 🙂
Oh come on, it had to be said lol.
Naturally, and I’m serious here, with a few more players, we’d already be top but ho hum…..
Hi Scott.
Three points are a must but top in May means more… 😉
Exactly, and that’s why January is so crucial, but three points today helps.
Come on lads……..
Now we are in the CL, I have high hopes he’s get someone in Jan, maybe even two… 🙂
That would be nice of him 🙂
Wouldn’t it just…
New post up now…