And so it begins… Cavani replaces Benzema. Lazio striker linked…

Morning all.

How many times have we been here before?

A hefty loss, followed by Arsenal players declaring that things must and will improve. Vice Captain Per Mertesacker has started the ball rolling this season after Sunday’s latest horror show:

‘That was the first game of the season. [It’s] a bad start but sometimes you need a bad start to come back and realise that you have to give more than just what we did’.

There’s more from Per HERE if you are interested…

Sorry but I don’t subscribe to that theory one bit, this group of players are mainly seasoned internationals, some of whom have won the world cup, others have won trophies and medals with previous clubs and let’s not forget, all have played their part in winning the FA Cup for the past two years. (Petr Cech excluded)

If they all need a loss to make them realise they have to give more in a game, then they are in the wrong job! There’s been plenty of talk about how strong this squad is as a group and how focussed they are ahead of the new season. The manager has even said he thinks the squad can win the league, well there’s no chance of that happening unless things change. Drastically!

These boys need to wake up and smell the gravy! Someone needs to take control on the pitch and considering he wears the armband these days, that’s Per’s job but it’s clear he can’t even organise his defence, let alone tell Oxlade-Chamberlain to hoof the ball out of danger. Perhaps Steve Bould needs to have another word with some of the players and reiterate how dangers it can be when faffing around with the ball just outside the penalty area, although one would like to think they’d all know that…..

It’s the same up the other end, why take a shot when another touch or pass can be had and do you think one of our players would have done what Zarate did? No, me neither, I’m sure another pass could be made…..

Going back to ‘taking control’ on the pitch, we don’t have someone like that do we and we haven’t in years. George Graham alluded to that very point yesterday.

I didn’t see anyone get a grip of the game. Arsenal have some brilliant players, but Mesut Ozil was very quiet – you never really saw him – and Santi Cazorla was on the left wing in the first half and he doesn’t like playing there.

You’re looking for your big names, your big players, to perform, and they didn’t do that yesterday.

Not every game will be a walk in the park and if Arsenal are serious about wanting win the league, then everybody needs to step it up big time, especially the manager who needs to stop tweaking with the players positions. When a midfield combination of Cazorla and Coquelin has been working quite well, why on earth change it? Especially on the opening day of the season….

We’ll see on Sunday whether anything has been learned or not but I’m not holding my breath…..

Transfer gossip and stuff:

The Telegraph report that Edison Cavani will be our surprise striker signing, replacing Benzema in the ‘Arsenal to sign a striker’ headlines..

The same paper suggests Real Madrid’s Denis Cheryshev is desperate to leave Spain and could end up being an Arsenal player.

Arsenal are battling it out with rivals Liverpool over Lazio striker Keita Balde Diao – according to reports from Corriere dello Sport.

Finally, Emilio Martinez who has joined Wolves on loan.

That’s Tuesday done, at least we aren’t bottom of the league now….

259 thoughts on “And so it begins… Cavani replaces Benzema. Lazio striker linked…

  1. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Once again the planning and squad changes ‘appear’, from the outside at least, to be haphazard and based on last minute brinkmanship. Cavani now?

  2. Hudsonttr says:

    Sunday can’t come quick enough for me. This week is a right off and my mood is poor. All the optimism gone on the opening weekend. They can’t fuck it up at Palace can they?

  3. rico says:

    Morning Adam and all…

    Certainly appears that way Adam, if there are plans for additions, I really don’t get why so late in the transfer window..

    The Santi change on Sunday was most odd, especially as we’ve had a good pre-season, one which you would have expected other things were tried if they were on AW’s mind…

    Cavini is an odd one if true, he’s even older than Benzema… 😉

  4. Brian Price says:

    Hi Rico
    Still in shock. A team can put up with one player having a bad game, but when its everyone except The Ox were in trouble. The only ray of sunshine is that my local pub is closed for two weeks, hopefully we’ll play better before it re-opens and I have to face the Chav-followers again 🙂

    Brian

  5. potter says:

    I didn’t bother with the Per quotes as they are probably a cut and paste of the ones trotted out last season.

  6. rico says:

    Hi Brian, yes, still in shock, although in some ways, the performance was so familiar…

    Exactly Potter, same old empty promises….

  7. bumba11 says:

    Gutted at the result, fortunately I was out and didn’t end up watching it at the pub with a load of Chav and Utd fans.

    I do not hold hope of a away win (or certainly not an easy one) at palace either. All hope washed away in 90 mins!

    Transfers seem bizarre, we got Cech in early and it made sense, get them in, get them training and meeting the players and staff. Why so late every year to sign anyone else?

    Pah, i’m just annoyed with it all. Still, a good result at Palace and ill cheer up.

  8. tsgh says:

    Good read as usual Rico, unfortunately Per’s comments has a hint of deja vu to it…

    Ditto your above post Adam.

    There appears to be no strategy to our recruitment policy (at least from the outside).

    A few seasons ago when I got to hear one or 2 rumours about our transfer dealings it appeared our priority target was always the ones we ‘spoke’ to latter in the transfer window because we allowed the clubs of the players we were interested in signing dictating to us when they would like to talk to us.

    We never went in with offers clubs can’t turn down…

  9. rogerbij says:

    Thanks Rico, I dont believe any of the rumours, though I still read them every day. What is that about!? Im happy enough to read Cavani is on the hook, good player and powerful. Made for the PL, and I believe is better than Benzi.

    But dont worry, I doubt we’ll get either because clubs that dont have to sell wont sell (nothing to do with Wenger/lack of ambition/wateva). Happy tuesday everyone 🙂

  10. tsgh says:

    Before Saturdays’ game I had us taking 4 points out of our first 2 games. Now I will be happy with 1 point out out of a possible 6.

    CP’s midfield of Cabaye, Jedinak, Lee choung (spelling),Mc Arthur, Ledley, Sakho seem like a formidable force.

  11. Lee says:

    Tedious isn’t it? I guess when one player moves the domino effect will ensue….. I’m sure some condescending wanker(s) will see it differently! But hey ho….

  12. Gunnerbgood says:

    Patience my Gooners it’s too soon to start worrying, however I agree we need to complete signings earlier in the window. Look at what Chelsea and Mrs City did in the last summer transfer, they ended the season 1+2.
    Gunnerbgood.

  13. potter says:

    Yes everything is fine in the rosegarden until it isn’t . Then a little recrimination and off to market just as it closes to pick up the near sell by date bargains.

  14. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Have you all settled down?? Calmed a bit? Or are you still a bag of angry nerves.

    Detach a bit and see it objectively.

    And for the first time we should have enjoyed being at the bottom of the league because that makes us the strongest team of the league…..we were holding the others above our shoulders.

    Good post boss. I enjoyed reading it much more than I enjoyed trying to read the game itself on Sunday.

    Just a couple of cents worth of my opinion on the game.

    I am sorry but those who blame Cech for both goals are barking up the wrong tree. Yes even if they are ex pros and pundits…. I beg to differ.

    As Kev pointed out yesterday….Cech would have been damned if he stayed on his line and damned if he came out. A bit like the jacket…..take it off and feel cold, put it on and feel hot.

    Who do I blame???? Coquelin, Per, Kos and AW.

    First of all….why wasn’t Kouyate closely marked? Why was Payet allowed to put it in no man’s land…..where its anyone’s ball? Why was Zarate allowed to switch the ball to his best foot, look up, take aim, pull the trigger, swing his foot and kick the ball? Should I blame Cech for the ineficiences of those in front of him?? Compare Cech to Almunia as someone did??

    But why should people keep on talking out of their arse??

    Secondly, why did AW play Cazorla on the left and put Aaron in the B2B role when clearly Coquelin plays better with Cazorla than when he does with Aaron?? Why the hell did AW break up something promising and something which works well?? If it means Aaron plays 2nd fiddle to Cazorla and Ozil so be it.

    We have the squad where nearly every position has two players. Play everyone in his position Arsene and dont fiddle around. Like you do with the zipper.

  15. tsgh says:

    Dev- good questions but as you know Le Coq and ramsey have not played together in the pivot competitively before last weekend.

    From recent results, it appears SC19 and Le coq form the better pivot. The showings of ramsey and Le coq pivot imho justifies what I have been saying since April. Le Coq looks good if he has more intelligent players (Sc19/TR07) next to him to cover his back side and his lack of composure, tactical awareness and overall quality to play in that role.

    Before the ’emergence’ of Le coq, the pivot that worked well for 2 years and got accolades from even conte and pep was Arteta and Ramsey.

    Ramsey offered the legs Arteta lacked whilst Arteta sniffed the danger with his brains.

    to me there is no difference between flamini and Coquelin. As we found out at the beginning of last season, a pivote of Ramsey/JW with Flamini offered disaster especially with Ozil and Sc19 all in the same line-up.

  16. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Even on the 2nd goal, Cech was positioned perfectly. What if Zarate shot for the far corner?? had Cech been positioned nearer to the 1st post he would have had difficulty reaching a shot at the far corner. And clearly from the body language he was showing that he expected Zarate to aim for the 2nd post.

    Its the job of the DM or B2B to challenge and displace the striker from shooting at goal if the CBs are between the shooter and goal. The DM/B2B should tackle the player who is to shoot while the CBs just clean up or win the ball cleanly and start up an attack.

    Per and Kos where ball watching. Where were the Pivote?

  17. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I know Lady. but if you go galivanting around NN blogs you will see people blaming Cech.

    one person is to blame……and that is the person who writes the team sheet and organizes tactics.

  18. frednerk says:

    The Coq is far superior to Flamini over his last 20 games
    and Flamini’s games in general.
    And Ramsey hasn’t a Scooby Do how to ]play
    centre/mid.
    Ramsey wants a free roll..ask Chris Coleman.

  19. frednerk says:

    The balance of the team was all wrong
    look at the players faces.
    Cech has to be blamed for them
    two goals,charging out 2 yards late
    and going the wrong way for the
    second,yer the defending was wrong.
    But his between the sticks.

  20. eduardo says:

    there was little wrong with the tactics Arsenal used, it was the poor implementation of the tactics that was the problem, ox tearing by their defense only to put in a woeful pass or cross, Debuchy doing his best impression of Sagna when it comes to crossing, Santi having a bad touch as he was about to have a clear shot on goal, Giroud skying over from 8 yards, Ramsey shooting when Debuchy in on the over lap with two free in the middle of the area, players putting easy passes out of play, was down to bad implementation of not only tactics but of the skills of the game, just as cech and others making errors on both goals, like Ox giving away the ball, players losing the man they were meant to be marking, no one closing down the striker, is not down to tactics but to individual performance

  21. rogerbij says:

    Try to relax everyone. One game doesnt make a trend.
    Yes it was bad, and I was sad, but deeper analysis can only start after a few games. Up to now pre-season went well, so give it a chance and try not to worry.

  22. scottfromoz says:

    Devil, I thought Nacho was the one watching the goal scorer for the first one.
    Cech…….keepers should never come out if they can’t make it but again, the runner should’ve been picked up anyway.
    I don’t blame Cech for the second.
    Late to see it and slightly off balance.
    Surely we will sign a striker, else why would we let Akpom go?
    Why?
    Who the hell knows lol.
    Ps….everyone having a crack at Coquelin for his loose passes ought to watch again and count how many Nacho sent across the sidelines.
    No, I’m not on a Nacho rant as I’ve always rated him, but it seems he isn’t the fall guy he used to be anymore.

  23. emma says:

    Excellent post rico,
    10;52 – Hell Raising – couldn’t agree with you more
    Why fix it when it’s not broken
    2nd goal was the Ox’s fault. He needs to cut it out from his game. He shouldn’t be losing the ball in dangerous positions and this has caused us conceding goals(few of those matches i can rememeber are vs monaco, everton friendly and now west ham). Czech’s view was obscured by koscielny and as a result nothing he could do. He rather saw the ball too late

  24. scottfromoz says:

    Another thing I noticed during the game…….
    Two or three times I was yelling at players who took the shot when someone else was wide open.
    I later said to my mate we are usually having a go a players for NOT taking the shot, for NOT taking responsibility, so we Gooners are all guilty of having a go no matter what they do 🙂 🙂

  25. eduardo says:

    Scott what has Akpom going out on loan got to do with it, he has come on as sub 3 times for AFC, he has never been a real part of the first team squad. I don’t think him staying or going will have any bearing on who is or isn’t signed.

  26. emma says:

    Scott – in terms of loose passes I though ramsey was worse and selfish. There was a chance we had when he could have picked out Debuchy but went solo taking a shot

  27. emma says:

    The amazing thing about that match was seeing Ox at the RB. I bet if there were to be more changes arsene would have had Giroud in goal and probably mertesacker as a center forward

  28. eduardo says:

    Scott you are spot on about how the are damned if the do and damned if the don’t, fans shout Shoooooooooooooooot but if they do and don’t score they moan why didn’t you pass it you clown. We the fans have the benefit of hindsight.

    And on a similar point, you state OX should not be put in the position of having to defend as our right sided wide man, but so many fans want him in the team, despite of his lack of end product, compared to Walcott, cos OX tracks back. Again we want it every which way.

  29. eduardo says:

    Scott, no Akpom has not left a place in the squad, as he is U21. we have the same scope to bring in players with our without him here.

  30. scottfromoz says:

    Eduardo, Ox was at RB…craziness.
    On Akpom I stand corrected.
    Emma, I wasn’t having a go at Ox for being there, Wenger was in the crosshairs for that one lol

  31. eduardo says:

    Scott if Akpom had still been with us on Sunday he would not have made the subs, and with Welbeck back in training he would be even further away from game time. If he had stayed and we had a fully fit squad he would not even start in the COC. I expect Iwobi to get very little game time with us this season if we don’t have an injury crisis in the forwards, same with Rene-Adelaide, a dead euro tie, some minutes in COC if we get a nice easy draw, same in FA Cup, all depending on the draw and injury situation.

  32. tsgh says:

    Are we really likely to win the title? If its based on squad quality and consistency then I doubt we will…

    my reasons are:
    1. we do not have the squad to compete on 2 fronts at the same time for a sustainable period. Once UCL kick in we will drop points against our competitors.

    Our squad is like the current British forces- we can possibly win a war on one frontier.

    2. We scored 12 or so less goals than city who also finished 4 points above us. There is no AFCON and so they wouldn’t lose Bonny and Toure.
    3.We still need 2 tactical player. Pjanic and Ander will be a nice start or even Camacho or silva,

    4. Ox and Theo have averaged 40 goals per season between team. We will need luck for them to give us 60+ games this season.

    5. the teams who finish between 6th and 11th have all strengthened big time.

    6. finally for the conspirators, City played MNF. And no team whp play their first game on a Saturday at 3’o’clock wins the league. 🙁

  33. rico says:

    Is that right Eduardo…..

    Thanks emma, good to see you back again…

    To be honest, I don’t think any one player should be singled out from Sunday, all of them were awful. The chances of that happening should be quite slim….

  34. scottfromoz says:

    Emma, read my 11.54.
    That was one of the occasions I was talking about.
    That doesn’t change what I said about us having a go when they don’t shoot though.

  35. tsgh says:

    Scott but Ox want to play CDM.

    Song was slated for gallivanting forward against AC Milan because an ill Ox was told to sit in front of back 4 a few years back.

  36. eduardo says:

    emma, Debuchy would not have been in 1v1 on the keeper, but he would have had a very easy pass to two unmarked team mates in the middle of the area. It was a clear case of Ramsey taking the wrong decision, but we do complain that our players won’t shoot and that this passing and passing and passing costs us games. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, even Ramsey acknowledged at the time to his team mates that he done the wrong thing.

  37. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, I’ll have a crack at anyone I think deserves it, but I won’t have a go at a player just because everyone else is….
    Giroud is this weeks target, along with Cech.
    Shit, idiots everywhere saying Ospina should’ve started a few weeks after pissing their pants we signed Cech?
    Those two goals were Girouds fault according to some.
    I’ve learned…FINALLY……to ignore them lol

  38. tsgh says:

    Fred- if Ramsey can’t play CM and is not a winger and was slated in RvP’s last season for playing the no.10 role poorly then where should Ramsey play in your view?

    Ramsey is a CM i.e box to box midfielder. imho…

    The issue is Aw has failed to replace Reyes or Bobby Pires on the lhs.

    The likes of AA23 and Sc19 have been asked to do what they can’t do they are not physically able to do in this league.

    AS17 does a very good job of it on the lhs but if he is to score the goals we need for us to become competitive then we can’t expect him to defend and score the goals simultaneously.

  39. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, Song was slated because he NEVER worked hard enough to get back after gallivanting forward.
    Laziest player I’ve seen in recent years and that includes Arshavin.

  40. eduardo says:

    scott there was method to the madness of putting Ox at right back, Wenger wanted more attacker on the pitch as we were 2-0 down, so he went with Alexis, Walcott and Giroud as the front 3 and tried to have ox there to help overload, it was a case of do that or bring on Chambers at right back, which would likely not have aided our attack. 2 down you sometimes have to try the unusual, don’t we all complain that Wenger is too rigid and too fond of doing like for like subs.

  41. tsgh says:

    Agreed Emma but when has Aw not had a key player injured though?

    from Edu through to Van bronchoist to Pires to TR07 to Cesc to JW to Ramsey to theo…

    Every season over the last 12 seasons we have had injuries…

  42. scottfromoz says:

    Eduardo, bringing more attack minded players on is fine, but Ox was out of gas, so putting him back there let us exposed.
    You’re right though…..hindsight is a wonderful thing.

  43. Dublingunner says:

    Afternoon, Cavani over Benzema, “yes please”,
    Good read, rico, also your comment at 10.41 spot on.
    Not enough real ambition in the transfer window, ye sure we,ve brought in 2 outfield marquee signings in the last 2 seasons, but no one can tell me that the Board would not of sanctioned further deals for players of equal stature, I thought that was the whole point of getting us financially healthy again, was to spend money to bring in world class talent.
    He ,s continual speak,”If we find a special,special talent, gets annoying after a while.

  44. emma says:

    Scott – You re right.
    Everyone was poor on that day. Glad it even happened in the first match. Need to re-focus and go on a long winning spree

  45. eduardo says:

    Ramsey is the only midfielder we have who makes runs ahead of the strikers, who makes runs without the ball into the area, all the rest of our midfielders are happier to play outside and around the penalty area, even the Ox normally only goes in the area if he dribbles in, apart from that he does his shooting from outside the area, Wilshere the same, Ozil and Cazorla too. What was odd about Sunday was that Ramsey did not make his usual runs into the area, he too done his shooting from outside the area, and also was not in the area when the likes of Giroud and ox put in crosses,

    as stated by others, none of our players had a really good game, in fact we could put holes in everyone of the players performances, they were all that bad. I really can’t recall a game where all 11 plus subs were so poor and I am at a loss to explain why it happened. It was like they were all ill.

  46. joaquim Moreira says:

    Now we need a new goalkeeper…
    Every year is the same: we never have the properly squad at the begginning of the season. When the market close on the 31th august we look above and the others teams have more 6-8 points then us. At the end, this gap, will be the justification for our frustation but we never remembre we had lost the fist game and the bad scores of the first games of the PL.
    Those who didn’t win the fist game with class and atitude, quickly lost the respect of the others teams.

  47. emma says:

    Ginge. You’re right but looking at the improvement the medical team made in the 2nd half of the season if we can have that through this season I am pretty sure we will be smiling at the end of the season.
    The chavs won the league last season not because they were too fantastic but their injury record was at a minimum. Imagine missing hazard(Ramsey), costa(Giroud), terry(koscielny) and fabregas(ozil) for 3/4months

  48. Dublingunner says:

    Judging by the comments I,ve heard about the game, what we needed was a player to grab the team by the scruff, I think someone made the point, too many flair players but no leaders when things aren,t going our way. That’s why I so badly wanted us to do the vidal deal. We simply havn,t got players like him. Big chance was had this summer to get him, and again Wenger dithered.

  49. frednerk says:

    You may not agree ts.
    I rate Ramsey..But in this team when asked to defend
    or hit the other end 9/10 times he will sprint forward
    I feel wengers wrong to play him alongside Coq,
    some games we might get away with it,and long term
    prehaps,but what I see is a Ramsey trying to score
    1st defend 2nd.

  50. eduardo says:

    Dublin as Pellergrini pointed out last night, its all well and good having the money, but when the quality players you want are not for sale its not easy to get players in, it seems we want Benzema, but if Real Madrid don’t want to sell there is nothing we can do about it, the media told us all summer long that Man City want to sign Wilshere, well why have they not signed him, could it be we don’t want to sell. Mourinho stated weeks ago he wants to sign John Stones, why has the deal not been done, money is not a problem for CFC, there are not a whole glut of quality strikers out there, let alone available, jeez when Benteke costs £32M it is a sign of the lack of quality available.
    firstly AFC having money now means we don’t lose our better players, and we can pay the big wages they demand. It then allows us to go for quality players, but wanting to sign them or even trying to sign them is not simple.

  51. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    You do have to laugh at the lazy journalism on offer. Why would the dippers be our rivals for a striker when they already have Benteke, Ings, Firmino, Origi, Sturridge? And is Balotelli still there?

  52. scottfromoz says:

    Eduardo, Ramsey still does plenty, even when not at his peak.
    I’d just like to see him cut some of the fancy stuff, and do what he does best.
    The fancy stuff is there when required, but I think he brings it out too often, and his game suffers for it.
    Quick passing, make the run, receive, shoot……that’s when he is utterly brilliant.
    The work rate is always there.
    Emma, I could only find Ox for an hour and Kozzer who played really well……Ozil was decent but he’s not a match winner, he need guys making runs ahead of him.
    That’s not Girouds game.
    Ozil will, IMO, always look better with a Theo or even Welbeck in front of him, along with Sanchez.

  53. emma says:

    frednerk – couldn’t agree more. That’s enough to upset the balance of the team. Problem is he doesnt pick his moment when to push forward and that’s why the team is more stable/balance when cazorla plays in the CM role alongside Coq

  54. eduardo says:

    yeah its correct, Cazorla’s heat map for the game had him as our left sided player, Ramsey was in the middle with coq, and yes Willian created the most chances for CFC from wide left, he gave Bellerin a tough time. The one clear scoring chance they had was from Willian cross from their left to Rameris who fluffed the header.

  55. Dublingunner says:

    Of course I do agree,Eduardo, the top players are hard to get, but if the selling team is not playing ball or the buying team don,t want to pay, whats asked, surely you have to have a back up plan. Benzema is not the only top C,F around, players and fantastic players at that, have become available, but Wenger is just so blinkered in his own philosophy, that it mars our transfer windows, waiting till the last minute on deadline day is too risky and a huge gamble ,to which we as arsenal fans know only too well.

  56. rico says:

    Well my eyes saw William going through our midfield with ease, and any which side or middle he chose.

    I know Santi played on the left by the way…

  57. eduardo says:

    fred I don’t agree with your assessment of Ramsey at all, there seems to be this idea that WHU ran through our midfield last Sunday, which is false, WHU barely had a chance, in fact the first goal was their very first effort on target, they did not cause us any real amount of trouble defending wise, we handed them both goals, I don’t think anyone disagrees with that. so I’m really not sure where the notion that they powered through our two CM’s, its just not true. Some seem to think cos Coquelin did not win a tackle on Sunday shows otherwise, but the fact that he made two tackles sort of shows that stats can be misleading. I think Santi lost more tackles than that.

    and as I’ve already stated the problem with Ramsey last sunday was that he did not do his normal lung bursting runs to support the attack, he just was not getting in beside and beyond Giroud, like the rest of the team he was very flat, seems lacking in energy.

  58. scottfromoz says:

    Eduardo, a lack of movement off the ball is always evident when we play poorly.
    That’s why when we are looking static, Rosicky should be brought on, IMO.
    He’s always on the move.

  59. eduardo says:

    Dublin who do you rate as top CF, as I really don’t think there are many at all, outside of what is at the very biggest of clubs,
    also would say that just cos a player is good does not mean he should be a target for AFC, the player as well as being good has to suit the role he would get in our team, and that is where Wenger has to make the call, you would call it blinkered but I say its the natural way, its what all the best managers do, you don’t buy a guy who is not better than what you have, just cos he is good, you don’t buy a guy who is the best sweeper in the game if you don’t play with a sweeper, you don’t buy the best fox in the box if you need a target man, etc etc etc.

    By the way Arsenal sign very few players on the last day of transfer windows. For example we made 6 signings last summer, only Welbeck was on last day of the window, Gabriel was bought in January and that was middle of the month, in his 20 years here Wenger has made very few first team signings on the last day of the window, and even those that he has, by and large most were in the pipeline for weeks if not months. A lot of the time it takes the player to kick up and force the move, or for the selling club to get in who they want.

  60. tsgh says:

    Fingers crossed Emma re. the medical team.

    injuries are inevitable though…; even old fergie had injuries to his squad but the difference is he never played his best player 4 days after he returned from holiday.

  61. eduardo says:

    ts I doubt there are many players who train as much on their Holidays as Alexis does, he admits he never takes a break from training, its little different than bringing a player back in after missing a week or two with a minor injury, if Bellerin is out for a couple of weeks, will anyone complain that he gets back in the team when declared fit. Alexis is fit, by all accounts flying fit, so I really don’t see the problem with him getting 20 minutes.

  62. rico says:

    Dublin, Charlie Austin and Berahino (spelling) spring to mind, either would strengthen our attacking force imo…

    I know neither a the big names people hope for but big names don’t always mean success, Balotelli to name just one has proved that…. 😉

  63. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All…

    You know what, we can all muse over minutiae of Sundays game, until the cows come home.
    Basically too many of our players under performed and that’s why we lost.

    West Ham were efficient and took the few chances that they had. Credit to them…

    Maybe our players undercooked?
    Maybe they tried too hard and it just all went tits up.
    Maybe Wenger picked the wrong team, the wrong system, the wrong breakfast, I don’t really fcuking know…

    What really matters now is not the poxy transfer window it’s how our current players respond, because we seriously need to beat Crystal Palace.

  64. Dublingunner says:

    Last summers T.W was an exception imo, we all know wenger likes to play the waiting game and leave it late as possible. It,s not only the strikers position i mean, but Isco, morata obviously Cavani even dare i say it Kane, chicarito all would improve our squad, imo, but other positions too, over the past couple of seasons could of been strenghtened. jeez it took im years to bring in W.C goalkeeper.

  65. Shanice says:

    In sure the second goal scored before all the subs were made so saying ox shouldn’t be put at rb is being clueless . ox need to sit on the bench arsenal need welbeck back asap I love what he does for the team on the wing

  66. Dublingunner says:

    I think Lavezzi could do a job for us, too.
    Could the Cavani rumour be down to the fact that,reports are saying benzema could still be brought into the Madrid, de gea fiasco as part exchange, If that means Wenger looking at Cavani as a back up, im happy, are PSG willing to lose him, though. Cavani has been unhappy at being played out wide, but with di maria expected to take that position, could a deal be possible, unlikely, but heres hoping.

  67. Hell Raising Devil says:

    you are right Kev. Blaming Cech (as some have done for both goals) is surely clutching at floating straws instead of learning to swim.

    Too many errors by everyone concerned.

    and tbh…….why not having a kick up the arse when it matters in the first game. now the players have 37 to put that right.

  68. tsgh says:

    Eduardo, agreed about AS17’s fitness but in my view playing AS17 when we are losing sends the wrong message.
    It is obvious AS17 wants to play every game but it is up to AW to say no imho…

  69. tsgh says:

    Dg- All summer, the rumours has been that Benzema was part of de Gea deal.

    Apparently Yanited did not want Benzema as part of deal as they were led to believe Ramos wanted to join them.

    this summer the only likely bid/enquiry we had was for Turan and pogba.

    Apparently Bulut (spelling) and Turan had agreed to join Barca even before the La liga season had ended.

    Chelsea wanted to swap Cuadrado with him…

  70. George says:

    If we don’t have the muscle we need the speed….playing a team of 11 Mertesackers ie west ham , we needed speed. Not handsomely paid talented midgets who didn’t fancy a scrap and thought they would just walk it in.

    For me there was no hunger or effort and that was very disappointing. I think Dublingooner re-iterates something i said yesterday. We needed a leader , someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck , yet our inspirational players are out injured.

    As for strikers, we have too many ok strikers at the club already but no world class options. Benzema and Cavani wont come , Lewandowski and Draxler etc..is us fans dreaming!

    Funny thing is Afobe and Akpom will score 20+ in the championship. Afobe was ours and Akpom still is but I fear he won’t get a look in….

    Yet we gave Sanogo a fair chance…make you think..

  71. tsgh says:

    their*

    Dg- Lavezzi will be a decent addition for us. tenacious as well.

    Shanice- which silky winger do you have in mind.. don’t say Reus btw. 😉

  72. tsgh says:

    lol… George.

    Afobe and Akpom are not Franco-African… 😉

    Aneke and even frimpong could have still added a bit of muscle to our midfield but none were given the same number of chances…

  73. George says:

    Ginge…square pegs for round holes springs to mind. Our manager has let player power influence him. Ramsey and Ozil probably threw strops, like Walcott has, and to accommodate them he jigged his selection to make them happy, thus upsetting the balance of the team. Cazorla on the left?? Giroud crossing into Ozil? Seriously ?

    The reason we looked good pre season is because Wenger and Bouldy picked the team and if it worked they did whats best for the team and game , not caring if players didn’t like their positions or were benched.

  74. rogerbij says:

    George, respect but please: “Akpom will score 20+ in the championship”.
    Before last weekend Akpom had made 27 senior appearances, and scored not a single competitive goal. Now he has 1. Leave the kid to develop, because he isnt our saviour.

    Watched Sanogo for Ajax last week. He also has a long way to go. Hope they both do well on their loans, and enjoy their footballing education.

  75. George says:

    Kev, Rocky hasnt been on here for a while….

    Ginge.. Aneke is making a decent career out there in Belgium,but the standards there are at best championship level. As for Frimpong, he is in the news for non footballing reasons. Very brave(or stupid) for a young black player to make a go of it in Russia. He was better off in Western Europe. I think Wenger lost patience with his non footballing activities.

    On the subject of players who were Arsenal through and through, I hear Lansbury is off to Burnley for 4m. He was decent and I still rate him.

  76. allezkev says:

    Coach, my only thought before Sundays game, re: team/tactics, was that I would have started with Walcott…

    I really have no idea if that would have made any difference, but it may have stopped West Ham pushing up and pressing all the space in midfield, when it was 0-0….

    Bringing him on when we are losing, doesn’t really do if for me…

    But what do I fcuking know?

  77. George says:

    @ Roger Hull City are tipped to come up, meaning they will be there or thereabouts and given Akpom’s pre season, he will be on course to get to 20. Yes, he’s not our saviour but at 2-0 down with 30 to go if he was on that bench on Sunday, he may well have got the nod. I am not convinced Welbeck has enough goals in him…i would love to be proved wrong , as the message to the mancs would be satisfying.

  78. George says:

    @ Kev loool..yeah i know that feeling..i have been quiet since moving to Dubai …workiing foir a change!!

  79. tsgh says:

    Lol George. I hear what you are saying but in truth Frimpong never caused AW any issues at all. Frimps issue was that he acted as a fan instead of a player for Arsenal. When he was ‘baited’ on twitter by sperds fans because eof his low intelligence he fell for it.. at least 1’s we are aware off.

    Jw has caused AW more problems than Frimpong did.

    If you remember, before Flamini signed, I mentioned on here that Poldi and frimpong’s days were numbered at the club.
    AW did not like their energy in the dressing room in terms of being jovial.

    My reason for bringing up Aneke and frimpong is that Coquelin went on loan 3 times and flopped; he also got the same number of injuries but he was given enough chances.

  80. Dublingunner says:

    George, it was your comment from yesterday, i must,ve picked up on.
    tsgh, they were some statements from stoichkov, suggesting Van gaal ruined Barca
    and now his ruining United, lets hope he,s right, eh.
    You have to wonder why Wenger sold Podolski and loaned out Sanogo and Akpom, if he wasn,t sure about getting Benzema, his supposedly, only striker target.

  81. allezkev says:

    DG, maybe Wenger thinks that Giroud, Alexis, Walcott and Welbeck is enough?

    If he doesn’t sign anyone in this window, I guess we’ll soon find out if he is right or not.

  82. George says:

    hahaha @ Lee …..

    Dublin , I reckon Stoichkovs right…LVG will ruin United……

    Kev i sincerely hope I am wrong about Welbeck , Giroud gets 15 Walcott adds 10 and Sanchez wades in with 15+…Unless Joel Campbell will be kept (Can’t see that one tbh)

    @ Ginge, you really think AW gives more chances to African French players? He has his favourites, and persists i guess

  83. arsenal11730 says:

    I do not want to upset anyone but Palace at Selhurst is a tricky away fixture. They have recruited well and Pardew is a canny manager. I believe the best we will get is a point from score draw. The mid table teams have strengthened well and the PL is tougher than ever. That is why AW must be aggressive in the home fixtures and try to nick away points on the counter. I did not see City yesterday but if Yaya is on song they maybe favourites.
    Cheers

  84. rico says:

    2.26 Lee, would that be Stan?

    Evening all…

    Ts, Aneke still irks….

    George, I reckon Akpom will do an Afobe, give him the service and he’ll score imo… We’ll see at the end of the season, or perhaps by Christmas….

  85. George says:

    I knew you’d agree on Akpom Rico lol…. He will batle it out with Afobe for Championship golden boot..

  86. rico says:

    🙂 George, I like him. If he gets game time, he’ll get goals imo…

    Wouldn’t it be ironic if he and Afobe do battle it out for the golden boot……

  87. eduardo says:

    quote Dublin

    “Last summers T.W was an exception imo, we all know wenger likes to play the waiting game and leave it late as possible”

    totally disagree, and the facts actually do not support your view, over his time at Arsenal the vast majority of Wenger’s signings have been made well before deadline day, we have had more deadline days without signing a single player than deadline days where we signed anyone.

    just cos some deals have been done late in the window does not mean that has been by design or is how Wenger likes it, in fact Wenger always says he would much prefer to have all signings done before pre-season training begins and also that he would rather the transfer window was shut before the league season starts, many managers have echoed that view.

  88. eduardo says:

    is it true that Chelsea have sacked or demoted the club medic who went on to the pitch on Saturday to treat Hazard, who was faking an injury. If it is true then it only confirms the view that Chelsea are a disgusting club with an even more disgusting manager.

  89. eduardo says:

    you know all those chances Wenger gave Sanogo, actually only included 2 BPL starts and 8 starts in total, with him coming on as sub 11 times.

  90. rico says:

    5.34 Eduardo, not since we moved to the Emirates. Or not since David Dein left the club has AW made early summer signings……

    Last summer was different because he no choice to replace those who walked for free…

    But when has he truly strengthened the squad by way of numbers?

  91. eduardo says:

    Rico it will be great if Akpom goes on a scoring run for Hull that helps his chances of making here at Arsenal, he has great potential, but as someone already pointed out, that Hull goal was his first senior goal, after 27 games, so lets not get too carried away yet.

  92. Drake says:

    It is true chelsea are a classless club they just keep on going down,eduardo maybe wenger should hire her to help us i enjoy wacthing her running to the field

  93. rico says:

    I’m not getting carried away Eduardo, not at all. Just think he has great potential and will reap rewards from his loan spell….

  94. eduardo says:

    rico 5.45, that is not actually true,
    05/06 Rosicky and Hleb both signed early in the summer, and the 3 bought in the Jan all done by middle of the month, Diaby, Adebayor and Walcott. We also took Song on loan 3 weeks before window closed, and we signed him the next summer in the June.
    06/07 as stated Song signed in June, we bought Eduardo on July 3rd, Fabianski was bought in May, yes we done a deadline deal for Gallas in the part swap for Cole.
    07/08 we signed Nasri, Ramsey and Sagna. Diarra was a deadline day signing.
    08/09 latest summer deal was Silvestre on august 20th, we did do the Arshavin deal on deadline day in Jan.
    9/10 Vermaelen was signed early.
    10/11 Chamakh and Koscielny deals done early, Squillaci was a late deal.
    11/12 Jenkinson, Oxlade-Chamberlain and gervinho deals all done early, Mertedacker, Arteta, Santos and Park all done at the end of the window.
    12/13 Podolski, Cazorla and Giroud all done early and in the Jan window Monreal done in the middle of the month.
    13/14 Sanogo signed early, Flamini signed late after training with the club for a few weeks and Ozil done on deadline day.
    14/15 Welbeck was a deadline day signing, Debuchy, Ospina, Alexis and Chambers had all been signed early enough. And in the Jan window Gabriel signed late after getting a work permit.

    as for your other point, yes its a fault of Wenger’s that he has always kept the squad numbers on the lower end, even before the BPL introduced the 25 man squads.

  95. eduardo says:

    rico I agree that Akpom has great potential, and that if all goes well this loan deal could be the making of him, but some seem to be suggesting that we should not have sent him on loan this season, I really don’t understand this view.

  96. rico says:

    Let me rephrase that Eduardo as you are clearly being pedantic. When, since we moved to The Emirates, has Arsene Wenger gone into a new season with a squad which is capable of winning the league?

  97. rico says:

    And I mean, after the first few years when we all knew money was tight. Although he still wasted it by signing and paying a few dreadful players…. Imo

  98. rico says:

    If Wenger doesn’t sign an attacking player, then I don’t understand why he’s gone on loan either…

    But then I don’t understand a lot of things the manager does and if this season goes badly, then may he reap what he sows…..

  99. rico says:

    Evening Adam, no idea, what do you think?

    I wonder if anyone at the club is guiding AW towards the chequebook… Boring isn’t it. I know Kev is right about now the players need to respond and that’s the most important thing, but the manager addressing the squads needs in the next couple of weeks is equally important for the long term….

  100. eduardo says:

    I would say since the move to the Emirates we went into the season with a squad good enough to win the title at lest four times, that we did not win the title is no different than the seasons under Wenger at Highbury that we did not win it, many contributing factors.

    I was not being pedantic, I was correcting the notion being put forward by several on here that we don’t sign players early, that wenger likes to leave deals to deadline day, despite not only the facts showing different, but also that AW has stated over and over he would rather have all deals done before season starts, he also says he would rather window closed before season starts – be that close the window earlier or start the season later.

  101. Adam says:

    It’s all speculation, but I always believe that he wants to go with what he has until he takes a couple of big losses like on Sunday and then the options are less and he has to pay more as it becomes a sellers market. To me the whole thing smacks of that tightrope between loyalty and the harsh reality that results bring. He’s been doing it for so long now that I doubt he will ever change. It’s quite obviously wrong to draw too many conclusions from Sunday’s nightmare but the decision not to bring someone like Shneiderlin or Vidal in is looking curious as will be the reliance on The Quiff. These are just names but you get what I mean I think.
    Essentially it’s as you were for me. What has changed? He still has time though. 🙂
    We’ve been here before though haven’t we?

  102. eduardo says:

    rico i agree mistakes were made with some of the signings and I think the club totally misread the effect the Webster clause would have and to a certain the degree the Bosman rule and that the way Cole left the club led them to over react on new contracts. They were too keen to sign players up to big pay increases based as much on their potential as on what the had actually done.

  103. rico says:

    Totally get what you mean Adam, I really do. I wonder if the real panic will set in after we have played Palace and Liverpool…..

  104. allezkev says:

    Interesting discussion re; signings and if it’s a club policy to leave it till the 11th hour…

    I’m not sure tbh, but I do recall Arsenal getting humiliated 8-2 at Old Bog…

    And the rather ad hoc way that the club reacted on deadline day when we brought in 3 or was it 4 players..,,

    I don’t know about anybody out there, but if that was planned, then it was a fcuking embarrisment…

  105. Adam says:

    Rico. This IS the season to shake off the dust of under-achievement. If we don’t seriously challenge with the base of the team we have and the financial clout the club currently enjoys then…the era may come to an end.

  106. eduardo says:

    yes to a point, there is no doubt in my mind that he made mistakes that cost us, just as the leg breaking tackles cost us,
    before the move to the Emirates we should have won at least one more league title under Wenger, maybe two, and done better in Europe.

    I also believe that but for the introduction of the oil money AFC would have won a few trophies in the 9 year barren spell. so many things contributed to our barren spell, (oil clubs, disloyal players, restricted funds, property market downturn, injuries, bias officials, players not fulfilling their potential, and of course managerial mistakes was a contributing factor.)

  107. frednerk says:

    Lets be honest….would we have won if Benzima was playing for us sunday.
    No….We were unprepared again.
    I backed us 0-2 we all thought walk-over…didn’t we.
    Wish I could show you the abuse on my phone
    from the cockney boys.

  108. allezkev says:

    Fred, The Cockney Boys will be knackered come Easter…

    They’ll come down with the Christmas lights as per usual…

  109. eduardo says:

    allezkev how was completing deals worked on for weeks and months an embarrassment, Arteta and Mertesacker both confirmed, as did their former managers, that AFC had been trying to get those deals done for ages. In Arteta’s case it actually took for him to beg everton to let him go.

    we also knew prior to the utd game that park and santos were joining, neil warnock had revealed on the thursday that qpr had a deal for traore but had to wait for santos to complete his move to afc. also the french club park was set to join revealed on the friday that we had agreed a deal for him. but some people prefer to say we only made the signings cos we lost 8-2. wenger had even spoke to sky before the game and had said park and santos deals were well progressed

  110. eduardo says:

    on the Santos deal, well that was a real piss take by Wenger as far as I’m concerned, Santos was a good left back, if somewhat out of shape most of the time, but the info I got was that a couple of times that summer Gazidis had asked if AW wanted to sign a left back and was told no, that Gibbs and Traore would battle it out for the left back spot. But a week before the window closed QPR bid for him and Wenger agreed to sell, and only at that time did he ask for Santos, and Ivan had a deal agreed within two days. Now unless Traore totally fucked up his chance in pre-season(which maybe he did) I can see no reason for the change in stance.

  111. rico says:

    Totally agree Kev, all the arrows point to panic mode….

    Adam, and wouldn’t it be a sad way for the era to end…..

  112. eduardo says:

    well at this time 3 weeks the window will be closed, so I suppose not long left to deal with the silly season.

  113. rico says:

    Eduardo – why is it you don’t believe what bendtner told the media about him being the greatest striker, yet you choose to believe what other players/media report about our 8-2 signings?

  114. eduardo says:

    rico I have a source within the club who sometimes gives me info, down the years he has told me about lots of transfers, up and coming youths, and some of the rows that happen. I trust his info completely.

  115. eduardo says:

    reports that Yann M’Vila was sent off in his first game for Sunderland after head-butting a player from Norwich U21

  116. tsgh says:

    Eduardo, imho I think you are spinning the Per and Arteta situation a bit too favourable in Aw’s corner.

    Without sounding like another itk, AW never officially placed a bid for Arteta and Per until after the loss to Yanited.

    That summer our official bids were for Mvilla and cahill. We only inquired about Arteta when frimpong was suspended after the Liverpool game. The following week Le Coq made his debut in the 8-2 loss.

    As we know the Cahill bid went sour and was drawn out in the press. M’villa turned us down apparently because Aw after having a bid accepted by rennes changed his mind asking rennes to consider a trial loan because AW was concerned with Mvilla’s temperament.

    In Per’s situation AW and Bremen had a very good relation with Thomas Schaaf from the Birschoff deal and the year before having lost out on Ozil to RM.

    From what i know, Bremen were in financial difficulty and so AW went in with a bid that was accepted knowing well that Per was very keen to join Arsenal.

    You might wonder how I am certaina bout this but that is another story… lol

  117. eduardo says:

    ts that does not sit with the info I got, nor with what both players have stated, and what the WB boss said or what David Moyes has said about the moves.

  118. tsgh says:

    Bt. A bit too one side. the gulf is too much.

    fair enough eduardo. I guess public forum is not the place to lay topics like this to bare.

    Just as a test, ‘google’ when Cahill’s £6m bid went in.Unless you are saying Aw placed a bid for both Cahill and Per simultaneously.

    you are probably referring to the comment Thomas Schaaf , not sure he said a bid came in earlier.

  119. tsgh says:

    Moyes-”Moyes admits he was powerless to keep Arteta after the Spaniard indicated his desire to move to Arsenal for the chance to play in the Champions League.

    “Mikel indicated to me that he wished to join Arsenal if a bid came in,” Moyes told the club’s official website.

    “I am very disappointed to lose him but the prospect of Champions League football was something I wasn’t able to offer him.”

    Skysports I sept 2011.

    Drake- I wante a bit of competition.

  120. tsgh says:

    wanted*

    Bt- do you remember me saying Rakitic turned us down 4 years ago to join seville?

    today in the dailymail, rakitic is quoted as saying a private jet was set by an English club to pick him up just a few hours before he signed for seville.

    It was January 27 and so there were still four days left of the transfer market. Another team called me and were prepared to lay-on a private plane for me to go and sign for them. I said to my brother: “No, I’ve given my word to the Sevilla president; I’m going to sign the contract tomorrow…

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3193367/Ivan-Rakitic-met-future-wife-served-coffee-night-Sevilla-Barcelona-star-looks-seal-European-Super-Cup-against-Raquel-s-home-team.html#ixzz3iXSglpSN
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

  121. Drake says:

    Eduardo can james dominate the midfield?for me we need someone who can play dm and cm at the same time,plus he need to be mobile.

  122. rico says:

    Ts, I don’t want to sound like an itk, but didn’t we try and get Cahill in the January before he went to Chelsea. A really low offer which was deemed an insult to the player and club…?

  123. rico says:

    In one Bt, it finally stopped raining so a good time. Makes great manure, Adam could do with it for his posh lawn. Might even make it grow…. Lol

  124. Drake says:

    Ts,Jedinak is too old now,as for james can he dominate?but i like him since he knows how to pass and he is a free kick specialist…

  125. Joaquim Moreira says:

    rico, because we have only two GKs.
    Chelsea and M.city are much more strongers then the others.
    Arsenl, Um and Liverpool are in other level behind them. This is the reality.
    If we drop points in next two games, we can forget the title.
    Barcelona 4 Sevilha 4….

  126. Micko says:

    There’s still plenty of time in this window to make a couple of derisory offers just to wind everyone up !

    Bet it cleared your sinuses rico.

    4-4 now, cracking game.

  127. tsgh says:

    Rico, if you recall Gartside said we made a £6m bid whilst Aw said it was more than that circa £8m.

    It interestingly, the was the bid Bremen accepted from us for Per a year after a £10m bid was rejected…

  128. Micko says:

    He could still have a big say yet tsgh, looking forward to the next half hour.

    Nite rico, hello Nash, looks like SYG is running scared of ya !

  129. Micko says:

    Pedro puts Barca 5-4 up at 10 past 1 in the morning in Tbilisi, shouldn’t they be in their bunks !

    Still, a nice way to sign off from Barca………..!

  130. allezkev says:

    Great result for Hull…

    Hayden and Akpom will now hopefully get more opportunities to gain experience in the League Cup…

    Eduardo, you may well believe that Arsenals transfer business, post that 8-2 disgrace, was carefully planned.
    And that is your right to do so…

    I personally do not believe that, I believe it was a panicky reaction to a shambolic performance at Old Bog…

    You may or may not have inside information, we can only take your word for that…

    But I do have a couple of mates who ‘do’ have a bit of inside information, and they never discuss what they know online…
    And I never discuss what they tell me…

    But if you are right about Ward-Prowse, and we sign him, then I for one, will be very happy, and I will make a point of reminding people, of what you said about him…

    Night All…

  131. Drake says:

    Ts,this one is for you that polish guy wants to come to arsenal bid was made and manc have signed de bryna so they won the barclay for me.on benzema it looks like he will be a deadline signing,he has been told he will be a squad player,euro16 at france i think he will push for a move

  132. Wavy says:

    Ward Prowse is a quality player. He reminds me a little of JW but not quite so injury prone…..yet! Yeh he would be a good addition. Would he help us win the EPL this year? I doubt it, but he’s a star of the future.

  133. Lee says:

    Seen all this about the Chav physio? Embarrassing to say the least! Maybe that cheating cnut Hazard shouldn’t feign injury?!?!

  134. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico, lee and all..

    what is all this about the lady doctor at Chelsea getting the sack?

    Rico- still Aranguiz deal has not gone through properly.

    Drake- AW has been after Krychowiak for 3 seasons now and he still has to send a scout to watch him against Barca? lol

    We had a bid accepted for him before he joined Seville, AW apparently changed his mind because his passing accuracy was average… 🙂

  135. tsgh says:

    Chelsea fans are beginning to turn against Jose bit by bit.. 🙂

    Carneiro was hurt by that and Chelsea fans rushed to send her messages of support. On Monday she posted on Facebook: ‘I would like to thank the general public for their overwhelming support. Really very much appreciated.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3193920/Chelsea-doctor-Eva-Carneiro-set-AXED-bench-Jose-Mourinho-hit-naive-medical-team-Swansea-draw.html#ixzz3iaQuubJC
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

  136. frednerk says:

    Mark Arber, a journeyman defender whose father Bob is an Arsenal scout, boasted on social media that he was ITK (in the know) about Arsenal transfer activity and tweeted
    Remember that

    ..If do know any scouts at the big clubs..
    Are you sure they would give you info on players lined up
    for arsene to sign?

  137. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. If Chelsea had been leading 1-0 that miniature moron would have been sending the medics on after encouraging Hazzard to fall over.

  138. rico says:

    Morning Ts, just read the story – what a joke that club are, especially the manager…

    I saw that re Aranguiz, not surprised…

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