Morning all.
Finally, it’s official. Hector Bellerin has committed his long-term future to Arsenal, well, on paper anyway. £100,000 a week plus bonuses he’ll now earn which isn’t bad for a 21 year old is it? His agent said ages ago a deal was close but one can never trust agents, certainly not all of them. So it’s one down but a few more to go yet..
While we all worry over whether or not Alexis and Mesut will sign a new contract, Santi Cazorla will become a free agent in the summer of 2017 if Arsenal don’t offer him a new deal. With him being out injured, one would have thought it was the ideal time to sort out his contract situation, that’s if there’s an offer on the table of course which I for one, sure hope is the case. Does it really matter that he’s over 30 years old these days? I don’t think so because when he’s fit, he’s crucial to our midfield and he’s still got it, unlike other 30+ year olds who were released back in the summer.
Away from the contract stuff, Jamie Carragher has jumped on the ‘Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at right back’ thoughts and he reckons the Ox could follow the example of Valencia at Man Utd, another right winger turned right-back:
I think maybe going forward that could be a position he could look for. Look at how [Antonio] Valencia has done it for Manchester United.
He is a similar type of player. He’s powerful and you think he has the energy to get up and down.
I’m still not convinced this would be a good move. Can anyone really see the Ox covering the kind of ground Bellerin does during a game, or making crucial and perfectly timed tackles in the penalty area as the Spaniard has done in the past? I just can’t. Yes he’s got plenty of energy and he can fire a cross into the box, but defenders should be good at defending and I don’t see the Englishman as being really good at that. How many times has he been caught in possession, allowing the opposition to break?
Ok, it worked on Saturday but it doesn’t mean it’ll always work. The Ox gets enough stick for his performances, start messing around with his position now and fans will be right on his back if it goes wrong, just like they are with Aaron Ramsey who’s also playing out of position. And funny enough, he’s being played where Oxlade-Chamberlain likes to….
Finally, there’s a few reports floating around which suggest Arsene Wenger is going to give Alexis some time off over the Christmas period so he can recharge his batteries which is a nice idea. However, in other news, Chile are set to be participating in The China Cup which takes place in January 2017!
Surely Arsene won’t allow him to take part, even if Chile want him to…..
Clear and bright here Rico. 🙂
Nice post.
It’s finally stopped raining here Adam, not for long though I’m sure…. Thanks re the post..
What do you make of Ox at right back?
Morning All
Long time reader first time poster.
Will have reached my last straw with Alexis and Chile if they want to call him up for this and he agrees to go. Absolutely ridiculous event and scheduling. Should it happen the time will come to sadly cut our ties with him in the Summer. Cant see him going purely on the basis that he loses huge bargaining power in the current contract negotiations should he play in this “tournament”. Other clubs will also question whether he is worth over 250k a week when he agrees to play in friendly tournaments in the middle of the season on the other side of the world.
How much did the Chinese have to pay off the corrupt leaches at FIFA to get this in the diary?
Ok going forward. As for defending? Who knows. Theoretically it seems worth a try though. You?
Welcome Mark.
I too think it’s a ridiculous tournament and there’s no way Arsene should let him go. It’s bad enough with the ACON’s being played at a silly time in the season, let alone another tournament…
Adam, not for me really. Yes as you say, great going forward, but he’s hardly known for his strong defending…
Still raining here, although not so torrentially. The forecast is optimistic. Looking forward to a period of dry!
Would the Ox displace Bellerin? Not very likely unless the galloping Hector puts in a long term sick note.
The Santi’s contract situation has been very quiet, too quiet for comfort. Didn’t Wenger suggest that Cazorla would do one more year here before returning to Spain? That’ll be next summer then? So, perhaps there will be no renewal at all.
I suspect JW is being groomed to replace our little genius and that’s why he’s away gaining game time in the old folks favourite retirement county, Dorset/Hampshire! Some wicked night spots….24 hour tea dances and an awful lot of legalised drug taking!
Time will tell……..?
You’re probably right about Jack Wavy, but as soon as he gets back to Arsenal, the opposition will target him again and injuries will no doubt return…
Morning
That midfield seems enough in numbers but not variety .I do not see anyone like for like Santi replacement in there.
People rate Ramsey but to me i do not like anything about him.Yes he can run all day other than that is nothing.
Technicality 3/10
Pace 3/10
Pass accuracy 2/100
His Concentration matches his dispossesion.
I laugh when some say can replace Santi.
He had one good season same ala Vardy .Basically Wenger pet.
Cheeers
Think that’s a bit harsh Alex, wait until he gets a good run in his proper position…
Morning All
Morning Rico, it sure was windy on the A13 last night, now it’s quite pleasant.
I just wanna know what Eddie Howe is doing differently and has he had a word in Jacks ear about his style of play and how he can avoid injury?
Every game Jack completes is great for him, great for Arsenal, but it does pose some uncomfortable questions about Wengers preparations and how he uses Jack?
Is it just luck?
Do opponents approach Bournemouth differently to how they approach Arsenal. That is, are Arsenal players roughed up more deliberately and are referees failing in their job by allowing this to happen?
I know we’ve speculated on these subjects before, but with every game Jack completes it does possibly reveal the truth…
Morning Kev. Jack said a few weeks ago that Howe has changed the way he trains and plays…
With him not being seen as such a threat, well, Bournemouth, he’s not targeted imo.
A fresh approach Rico, that’s what Ferguson always did, he freshened up his coaching staff, Wenger doesn’t change anything it seems, just has the odd ‘old boy’ helping out…
So Howe has looked at things and changed them, not exactly revolutionary is it…
Didn’t Guardiola recently say, albeit on the back of a Man City win, that Bournemouth are the best team, technically, that’s he’s faced since coming to England…
Exactly Kev, always thought the same. As much as Fergie was good, his assistants were key to his success.. And of course the fact that he listened to them…
I think he did re Pep..
I normally make my pasta in the blender, but today I’ve made it by hand. Now I know why Italian women have strong arms… 😉
Do you now have the arms of a barmaid in a real ale pub Rico? ?
Not quite Kev.. 🙂
Rico….i dont mind if is sold on january TBH. So many dreams lol
As per assistant manager …..that was a good call.
Does anybody know how this Bould thing is ?
Yes man type ?
What is his contribution …hmmmm weird figure me think.
That department is crucial and is less spoken by fans.
Hi All:
To be frank Bellerin is a good defender but he’s not a good tackler. A tackler is PV, Makelele, Gilberto, Wayama, Lauren, Terry, Showcross etc….. Ox can be a good defender because it will be a different mindset than being a winger. He will not be required to carry the ball as much hence less giveaways and less area to cover. If Ashley Young can play at that position why not Ox? Ox has the strength and the body type.
Btw, can we please stop this Ramsey is being played out of position stuff. Even as a winger, the majority of the time he still ends up as the #10. Is not where he starts but where he ends up. The same with Wales. This is the reason why Ozil disappears in some games, imho, Ozil is not a traditional #10 because most of the time he’s out of the 10 hole. The guy never stays central for more than 10 seconds but hugs the wings, AR with his runs is always in the middle and Ozil hugging the wings don’t come back to cover AR, hence the holes. And even more frank AR played against one quality opponent at Euros, BEL. Slovakia, England and Russia were crap so please lets stop using the Euros. We have a larger sample which is his play at ARSENAL. Sorry for being long.
Airier refused entry into UK. Ostensibly because he was found guilty of elbowing a policeman a couple of months ago.
Is this an example of Brexit “securing our borders”?
Strange, very, very strange.
Or might it be because he is black and not French.
Strange and confrontational action by the British authorities. There will be repercussions and they won’t be pretty.
Still, you reap what you sow.
It may even work in the Arsenal’s favour, in that he’s a cracking footballer.
‘Kin iPad ………Aurier not Airier
Serge Aurier
Aurier was given a suspended prison sentence in September and has consequently been stopped from entering the UK
Paris St-Germain full-back Serge Aurier has been stopped from entering the United Kingdom by authorities before Wednesday’s Champions League match at Arsenal.
The Ivorian, 23, was given a two-month suspended prison sentence in September for assaulting a police officer.
PSG say UK authorities granted Aurier a visa in October but revoked it on 16 November, citing his conviction.
The French champions said the timing of the ruling showed “a lack of respect”.
Aurier is appealing his conviction, leading PSG to believe he is entitled to be presumed innocent.
“Paris Saint-Germain strongly regrets that the presumption of innocence has not influenced Britain’s decision,” said the French champions in a statement.
“On several occasions, Uefa has also transmitted its total support of Paris Saint-Germain to the British authorities regarding this case, in order to preserve the integrity of its competitions.”
PSG added that they “deplore” the timing of the final decision.
Aurier was applying for a Tier 2 Sportsperson visa, which allows an individual to stay in a country for up to three years and typically takes three weeks to process.
The defender, who has played 40 times for PSG since making his loan deal from Toulouse permanent last year, is accused of elbowing a police officer outside a Paris nightclub in May.
In addition to his suspended sentence, he was fined €600 (£521).
His side go into Wednesday’s meeting at Emirates Stadium second in Group A, level on 10 points with leaders Arsenal with both clubs assured of a place in the knockout stages.
From the BBC…
This decision might work against us by motivating PSG..?
I’m glad he’ll be missing, if of course he is by the time the game starts. There’s still time for a little brown envelope to be passed to the right person… lol
Afternoon guys….
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
For years I`ve had the revolutionary idea of all FB`s should be wingers who can tackle, thus giving a team 4 wingers………………it`s probably why I`m known as a visionary……the Pep Guardiola of Cornwall !
Ox needs to kick a ball all day and all week long just using his left foot and against the wall outside Wenger`s office…..it`s a left back winger we need !.
Great news that Aurier has been refused entry into the United Kingdom of Arsenal……………..that`s why I want Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister, he would go even further as a gooner and ban any CL opponents first team players…….actually even ban EPL players like Costa who would be quarentined for suspected rabies !.
Seriously, I would have given my left arm to have been in the dressing room for the below link……….I say left arm because I would have needed my right arm for the ultimate arousal ! hahaha
https://twitter.com/HotspurRelated/status/800831161907953664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Afternoon LC.. I’m a big fan of right footed players playing on the left when it comes to forward players. They can cut in with the ball on their right foot, just as Bobby used to… ?
True Rico !…………………..that`s it !…………Monreal and Gibbs are dropped and Ox is left back winger………………….just need a decent left front winger now………………….is Bobby fit ? 🙂
🙂 LC, sadly not, but his son might be…..
BTW, why should it be AW that tells Alexis he shouldn’t be playing in China, especially if he’s given a rest? Alexis should show some responsibility/ professionalism and realize that is not the right thing to do.
Aurier out for that, is an extra motivation for PSG
Obi, of course it should be Arsene, the player too but ultimately it’s down to the manager. Every other does it and so should we…
Darn, cska drew with Bayern, Totts can go through still…
Go Monaco… 🙂
Night guys…
Morning all, what a gr8 way to help your day along, spurs out 🙂
Spurs-you just have to love them lol
Although this is hard for me to say, I hope the Spuds win their last CL game as I`m sure it guarentees them Europa League and they need to be in that league to give them fixture congestion, possible injury fatigue and also so that they play on Spursdays………………….also with no other concerns if not in it like Chavs and Bindippers they could be dangerous in the EPL !……………..so come on Spuds…..try and win at Wembley for once !………………….now I have got my thinking with the head thoughts out of the way………………………… lets laugh at them !
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahahhahhahahaha
gnarley, that’s the great thing about the scum, no matter how bad things are they will always brighten up up your day, long live the Yiddo’s !
The easiest of the groups to qualify from………………….playing their home games at Wembley……………………what could go wrong ?
Serious question !……………………………………….will the scum play Spursday nights at Wembley or is back to the shit hole for EL ?
Fair do`s to the deluded bastards if they can fill Wembley up on a Spursday night !
Morning all, haha lately Spuds excite me more than my beloved Arsenal. They are destined for Spursday anyway no surprises there.
Le Coq I don’t think Spursday matches are worth the wembley stadium, shit hole it is. hahaha!
Cazorla situation should be resolved too. It would be mad to think Jack can play his role for an entire season. Santi needs to be there to play a fair share of the games and imo I don’t see like he’s slowed down. Maybe recovery period but on the pitch, he still has the wits.
Marshall, how about Ox?
Play him next to Coquelin who’s absolutely defensive minded.
Ox would at the very least get us mobile each time he received the ball.
Suddenly he’s a RB, so why not deep in midfield 🙂
Ox could do as well. There was a time even Ox himself was into playing in the midfield. He’s got to learn not to be caught in possession. He suffers concentration lapses, but he’s young he can learn that and definitely would drive the ball forward quicker than the options we have.
Morning Scott, Marshall and all..
Hiya Rico,
Marshall, I’d have kept Rosicky on a pay for play basis, if possible for this exact reason.
He was never one to go sideways.
Mornin Rico,
Scott, spot on on Rosicky, he never shied away from taking on his markers. Played with flair and always went forwards with a spring in his step. He’d have stayed and kept fit with enough rotation he’d have been a great impact player.
I think Elneny plays it too safe, he’d be encouraged to loose his man and spray a killer pass forward, I thought that’s why we bought Xhaka. His long balls to our wide players quickly turns defence into attack. Lately he hasn’t been doing that.
Elneny is a good,link up man, but no playmaker.
He’s good at his job.
Xhaka….well, I’m hoping he’s not having his aggression coached out of him like Gabriel has.
It was a massive reason we bought them, I’d have thought.
Sometimes, the long ball is exactly what’s needed, but no, we too often go back this short passing, possession based game which often fails against sides parking the bus.
Get Olly up front and get the ball on his head.
Re Xhaka, when did he last start a match? One red card then dumped.
Seems strange, Rico…
The League is physical, yet we bench our physical players?
Morning all.
Off for a sports massage ( and if anyone has had one you know it`s torture ! ) on my achilles tendon and if Santi has the same problem then they can last a while !…………………………………if around 10:10 am you hear screams coming from the south west……. it`s me !………………..not to be confused from the one`s still coming from the Haringey direction !
https://twitter.com/JOE_co_uk/status/801181149896839168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Scott you haven’t mentioned Ramsey for that position 🙂
Rico, it has only been two games since Xhaka suspension ended. Am sure wenger wants to ‘reward’ Elneny and show that you can’t just walk in the team. We really need a playmaker, Sanchez spent most of the game in the centre half at the old toilet.
Really is odd Scott.
But I don’t think he started the CL match either Marshall…. I guess I’d just rather see him on the pitch in the big matches when we know it’s going to be tough…
Marshall, he proved he’s not disciplined enough mate.
I asked.
I got.
He didn’t deliver 🙂
I’ve had a few Lc, loved it… 🙂
Good to see most Gooners are sensible like me ! 🙂
https://twitter.com/KeenosAFC/status/801041844582760448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
3 points against Bournemouth for me too. Really want Arsenal to win the PL and then AW hangs up his boots…
I didn`t have you down as a masochist, Rico !……………………… 😆
That`s a thought………………….do you reckon that anyone who wants Arsene to stay on is a masochist ? 😆
Right !……………..lets prepare myself for the pain that`s to come…………deep breath`s…… a few Omm`s and start sobbing !
I’m not but the pain I was in was worse than the massage, if that makes sense Lc…
Rico, Xhaka did start in the Champions league against Ludogorets and scored our first goal-from Ozil’s assist I think. And I think he’ll start today.
Very honest Scott. He’d be playing in Ozil’s role, in cups…if I was the manager. In our current system he brings instability.
I’d like to see Gibbs start today. Rest Sanchez and have Ox and Theo on the flanks. PSG have Di Maria in the wings and that will require fast players to close him down. Monreal and Ramsey aren’t the fastest guys out there.
It’s a shame about Ramsey but Ozil is Ozil……the best player in the League, for mine.
Morning Rico and all. Is it a big game tonight?
It was the second one I think Marshall, not that it matters now 😉
Morning Adam, not for me. I’d just like to see a good performance, certainly better than of late. With a win at the end of it though… 😉
He is when he wants to be Scott…
I tend to agree Rico.
🙂 Adam..
New post up now.