Happy New Year to you all, may 2012 be a safe and healthy one and thank you again to everyone who takes time out of their day to make Highbury House what it is today…..
On to Oliver’s match review:
Such is Arsenal’s lot these days. We win one match and we lose another player in the process. Yesterday saw us grab an absolutely critical three points, while losing another key defender in the process.
TV lasted 53 minutes before limping off with what is described as a calf strain, making it three players who have featured at left back for this season out with injury. Arsene indicated that TV will miss both the league trip to Fulham and the FA Cup tie versus Leeds, if not longer.
Coq came on in his place, and is probably next in line to fill the position for the time being. As weak as we are on the flanks, TV’s calf problem weakens the entire defence, as we have looked much more solid since he returned from injury and this reduces our options in the middle.
We are looking at Mert and Kos as the partnership, with Squil probably on the bench now. We’ll see how serious TV’s calf is over the next few days but we are fast running out of players on the defensive end. I don’t expect Arsene to dip into the transfer/loan market for a left-back – for one, I don’t think there are that many options and recent experience has shown us that he usually prefers to persist with what he has.
Only time will tell how costly that may prove, if he chooses not to bring anyone else in…
With all that said, it wasn’t all bad on this last day of 2011. Liverpool’s Friday evening win over Newcastle moved them a point ahead of us, so we kicked off in sixth place. Blackburn’s win at Old Trafford reminded us – once again – there are few free rides in the league.
Our last meeting with QPR may have ended in a rout (6-0 at Loftus Road in a January 2001 FA Cup tie), but Rangers have more than held their own with us in previous league encounters. In eight previous Premiership encounters, our only win came on Boxing Day 1995, a 3-0 victory. Rangers doubled us with twin 3-1 scores in the 94-5 season, including their 3-1 win at Highbury seventeen years ago today…You know, the match where John Jensen scored…They were relegated the following season, and both sides are far, far different than they were all those early Premiership years ago…
The match’s other sub-plot focused on our Captain. There was speculation during the week that Arsene would rest Robin for this fixture; the manager all-but-confirmed Robin would start today.
At Villa Park, he equaled our once (and now future) striker Thierry Henry’s club record of 34 Premiership goals in a calendar year, and needed two to equal Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 36 (set in 1995). Setting the record would be a great personal milestone, but sentiment is pretty much unanimous that three points was the primary goal.
We lined up Szczesny, TV, Mert, Kos, JD, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Theo, Robin and Arsh. Al, Coq, Rosicky, OC, Benny, Gerv and Chamakh made up the bench. A rare start for Arsh, at Gerv’s expense, while Theo recovered from his Boxing Day illness to resume his spot in the starting eleven.
We started this one slowly. We got our passing and probing routine going, but were not at all direct and Rangers took the first shot of the game, former Arsenal youth Boothroyd drawing a save from Szczesny in the ninth minute. Wright-Phillips then forced Szczesny to block after Taarabt’s pass put him in. Nine minutes later, Taarabt flattened Arsh with a flailing arm, but referee Atkinson incredibly gave nothing…
We started to threaten a bit from there, and Robin had three good chances to open the scoring, first heading narrowly wide, then chipping Cerny, but clearing the bar in the process. His third chance saw him volley over the bar. Then Theo shot wide after a scramble in the Rangers box.
Just over 10 minutes from the interval, former Spud Young blocked Kos’ shot with his arm, but Atkinson gave nothing – that is the second time in as many matches that we had a good shout for a handball penalty not given. To make matters worse, we had a shot for another handball a few minutes later, albeit not as clear as the prior incident.
As the half wound down, we continued the pressure, with Barton heading Ramsey’s volley off the line, and Cerny saving from Arteta. But the goal wouldn’t yet come and we headed into the break level.
We didn’t make any changes at the restart, but TV lasted less than nine minutes with his calf problem, so Coq came on to replace him. A Mackie goal was already ruled out for offside when Traore put a great cross in, but Faurlin couldn’t connect cleanly and Szczesny saved.
Ten minutes in, Theo was guilty of a bad, bad miss – I doubt he will want to see the replays. Ramsey won the ball and put him through with an excellent pass. Theo drew Cerny, and as the Rangers keeper dove to his left, Theo shot embarrassingly wide of the right hand post, with much of the goal gaping!
Fortunately, Robin was on hand to make the breakthrough, as he has done for the entire half-season we’ve completed. Right on the hour, Arsh’s fine pass found Robin, who finished with his left foot! That goal, his 35th league strike of 2011, may not have equaled Shearer’s 1995 tally, but it took us up two places in the table, into fourth, ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea (who had been pegged back to 1-1 by Villa, and would ultimately lose 1-3).
Arsh quickly tried to double the lead, but Young blocked his shot – legally, this time…
With 25 minutes remaining, Szczesny had to save Taarabt’s low shot after the latter worked an opening for himself. Arsene then made a second change, replacing Arsh (who had the assist and subsequent chance, but didn’t do much else) with Rosicky. Theo was poor all afternoon, and I was a little surprised it was not him withdrawn. That happened ten minutes later, with Gerv coming on in his place. Just before that sub, Ramsey grazed Cerny’s bar with a powerful strike.
Rangers continued to press, but Gerv should have put the game away within two minutes of his introduction. Robin did the hard work, making time and space to cross for Gerv, who put the ball wide when he really should have scored…
Robin then had one more very late chance to equal Shearer’s mark, but he couldn’t find the target. We saw the remainder of regulation and stoppage time out to end the calendar year on a bright note. While still way behind (nine points, with City playing at the Stadium of Light tomorrow) the Manchester sides, we moved ahead of both Chelsea and Liverpool, and picked up two points on the Spuddies, who conceded a late equalizer at Swansea.
While fourth is certainly not the be-all, end-all, finishing the first half of the season in the position is an accomplishment, when you consider how far down the table we were as recently as September…
Much of what we can – or cannot – accomplish from here will depend on who we have available, who returns, and if we can add anyone in this next month. Thierry will return for a two month loan, but that is offset by the departures of Gerv and Chamakh for the African Cup of Nations.
Frim will also leave the club for the remainder of the season, hopefully getting some much needed experience and match minutes at Wolves. If TV can return quickly, followed by Jack and our full-backs, perhaps we can start another good run – one where our beginning point is fourth place.
There’s little time to worry about that, as we are back in action tomorrow night.
For now, it’s one match at a time and hopefully one win at a time.
Here’s to 2012 and some silverware to grace the Emirates trophy cabinet!
Written by Oliver
Good Morning all, another masterpiece Oliver, thank you…
Who has a hangover then???
Morning and a happy new year.
Watched the game again.
yes it was a penalty that wasn’t given.
kos was by miles the best outfield player.
I heard mention that Walcott lacks confidence,well he wasabsolutely pants yesterday yet again and maybe it would be in everyones interest for him to move on to a club which he may be better suited to.
Arshavin plays the same cameo role every game, you get one good move which yesterday resulted in Robin’s goal.
4 goals in 4 home games just isn’t good enough especially as goal difference may well count this season.
I accept the players are jaded but that applies to all teams.
The lack of goals from Arshavin,ramsey,gervinho and walcott causes alarm.it’s not that we don’t create chances we just can’t put them away.
Corners, thousands of them yet nearly always the high ball is cleared or overshot.
message to song, cut out the back flicks.
The positive from bottom 4 to top 4 in a few months is a great achievement but we are more and more relient on RVP and that is a big worry.
Fulham next, will be a hard game and it will be interesting to see if RVP is rested, i doubt it.
Morning kelsey – HNY to you too…
I think RvP will be rested and we could see the return of TH12 or even Chamakh/Park play….
Not what i’d do though, he can rest after tomorrow for two weeks as we face Leeds next weekend..
I thought Theo would have a field day against Traore yesterday but no such luck and his miss was a shocker, maybe he should have stayed out for another game.. AA, well th sooner he goes the better imho…
Many papers report we are to make a bid for Podolski, hope this has some truth in it…..
And thankfully Wenger has said he will be looking to bring in cover at the back….
Happy new year guys and gals. 🙂
I really hope wenger plays a full team against Fulham. The cottager’s are playing well and must not be underestimated. RVP must start !
Happy New Year to you too smudge, totally agree re Fulham…
Happy New year to you all
Genuine worries in here, its all clear we need a goal scorer to help Robin because Theo and the rest have been poor
Happy New year to you all
Genuine worries in here, its all clear we need a goal scorer to help Robin because Theo and the rest have been poor
HNY to you too Erick…. Podolski 🙂
Any day of the week Rico anybody with experince and a fierce left foot…….Theo was poor Rico and AA nothing new
Just watching again Erick, Theo was really off, maybe Henry being in the crowd out him off 😉
strong rumours about podolski, keep the fingers crossed eh?
I think Theo Walcott has a bug, it’s called the Torres bug 😆
He he that bug is hard to brush off Rico, Henry would have scored a goal of the season with that chance.
Podolski would be great , we need goals and am sure he can get them
I know Erick, bet he can’t wait to play again for us….
Popping off for a bit, back later….
Good morning
The team changes when Gervinho plays. I think RVP must play. Probably Rosicky on.AA off and Gervinho on. Miquel or coquelin left back. Maybe Miquel and Coquelin replace Song. or Arteta. He is tired. Wait and see. We are over RVP dependence.
We miss 19 matches. Half a league. For reach one of the three first positions, we need at least now, more 40 points. Maybe not enought
Apparently, or should I say allegedly AW is after Huntelaar for 15 mil
Happy new year to you all
Rico
Theo wants 85K a week. For what?
Happy New Year, everyone! 🙂 Another top write, oliver. It’s a shame we’d be losing TV for a few weeks. We are certainly looking lean at the back again. 🙁 And with the ACON, we’d be without a couple more. AW has no reason not to strengthen in this window. As you pointed out, this weekend’s results show that there are few free rides in the league.
What world does Theo Walcott live on?! For one, we shouldn’t be giving him a new contract, its time for him to move on to a club like WBA, more his level than Arsenal, and if we do for some unknown reason offer him a new deal, it should be a pay cut that we’re talking about.
So TV is out … again… 3 weeks.. anyone actually believe that? And Wenger is talking about a loan deal. a loan deal???! Since when have we been a club that loans players in? Just buy quality! Where is the problem with buying players??!
Hey Alan, Huntelaar for 15 million?? Is this 2007 again?! ;). Not worth 15m, but still I would like to see him join… at this point I would like to see anyone join..
Afternoon Gooners.
Afternoon Rico.
Morning Oliver, great post buddy.
Kelsey 9.17.
Yes, all the players are jaded, but i think it’s always easier to ‘park the bus’ even when fatigued…
Some very strange results yesterday and when taking into account what happened at Old Toilet and Fulham Broadway, possibly a 1-0 win against a detirmined QPR, isn’t to be sniffed at.
hello everyone! When will Henry be revealed? And when will he be able to play his first match for us?
AlanMP, me ol’ cobber, that was one hell of a firework display you had last night down there.
£85k per week is a lot of dough, i agree, but that’s par for the course these days.
Is he worth it?
Probably not as it stands, but i’d sign him.
Imagine if he has a 6 months like Nasri had a year ago, those wages would rocket.
“John Terry is a target for China’s top two clubs, who will offer him an escape route from the unsavoury row overshadowing his season.” football 365..
Subtle joke maybe??!
JM, how did the samba party go? :P:
Hey kev, but he won’t have 6 months like Nasri did, Nasri is a quality player.. walcott, not so much!
Agag, i sure admire your stamina.
Rocking & rolling all night & up with the lark.
I’d like a glass of what your on… 🙂
GG..? 😉
HNY Paul.
Yeah, i know what you mean.
Tbh i don’t see a lot of difference in the pair.
Look at Nasri at Shittie. 1 good game in 6.
Just like Theo.
I feel he isn’t getting the consistant games at city, and we all know he never played in his correct position at Arsenal, the awful thing is we could sure use him in our midfield at the moment, need to replace the creativeness that Fabregas took with him!
Tell ya what Alan, a couple of years ago i would have loved Huntelaar, but i don’t think he’s set the world alight since.
But wait…….. That’s a classic Wenger signing…. 😉
hi ESP * Allezkev
I can’t see 85K a week in Theo, although, in fairness, it is stated AW plays him permanently out of position
15m Huntelaar. He might go OK
I stayed well away from that fireworks thing. You can’t move there
I would like to see Delap as a gunner giving long throws to 6’7 Merts
Paul, i would take Nasri the footballer, but not Nasri the man.
I don’t like him, he looks down his nose at supporters.
I felt that even before he left.
Give me Ramsey any day, i’m sure you’d agree….. 😀
I don’t reckon AW will sign him
Delap in an Arsenal shirt launching it to BFG……
That i would enjoy. 😉
ha! I think we all know where I stand with Mr. Ramsey! I agree with you about Nasri, better footballer than he is a man.
So i say we bring in Gourcuff 😉
Happy New Year to all you Gooners!!
My head is still banging…..
First ruby of the new year lined up for tonight AK!! 😉
I’d sell Walcott and buy a player that doesn’t act like a rabbit caught in headlamps when in front of goal…. He was shit yesterday!
Paul, i’m with ya on that one….. And you never know what may occur on Jan 31st.
I don’t expect Arsenal to do any early business, Wenger will let the petrodollar clubs do their biz….
He knows we cannot compete, and there are plenty of alternatives out there. Shittie & Chavs can’t buy everyone. As much as they try.
Hiya Lee. You still mangled? 😉
Had a nice ruby last night…..
Walcott will always be a bit of an enigma. When he has a good game we’re all raving about him and wondering why he doesn’t do it more often.
I gotta admit, that i’ve never really seen him as a striker, yesterday’s miss kinda convinced me even more. But by the same token, i don’t think we play to his strengths either.
Paul, my wish list is;
Vertonghen: versatile defender/midfielder.
Podolski: goalscorer
Reus: goalscoring midfielder.
It won’t happen, it never does.
I’d be happy with that kev!
But I feel it will be more like
Loan: Henry
Loan: Some z list defender from a second rate european side..
I can’t help but agree with the mulleted waddle, TW hasn’t got a footballing brain!
The bloke next to screamed out after his miss yesterday “you should stick to athletics”
Happy new year guys..still stoned so I ll be heading back home now thank you.
HNY Stanley
Unfortunately Paul, you are probably closer to the truth than any of us.
We can only but hope……
Nothing new then Stan………. :P:
Happy New Year everyone, hope its a great year for you all where ever you may be and hope you get everything that you wish for.
In the case of Arsenal a few players in the next week would be great but think we all know it’s not gonna happen.
I’m thirsty where’s the GG……
Afternoon guys and gals….
Re Theo, i’d give him another contract, he’ll get there 😉
And re the 85k a week, if we can afford to pay a 34 year old 70k a week while on a two month loan, then no wonder Theo thinks he deserves what he’s asking….
He’s had a couple of bad games, apart form one or two, who has really shone in the last few games??
He’s no worse than most imho…..
Happy New Year, rico!! Had a fab time last night, I hope! 🙂
Your unfailing defense of Theo does make me smile. 😀 He could not have been happy with his miss. He was free on goal!! (rubbing it in, rubbing it in)
I don’t care for Warnock’s comments about Robin. How very ungracious.
Hi agag, 😛 re Theo but i just think he will come good… one day 😉
In bed by 10pm – bloody cold hasn’t shifted yet 🙁
I saw Bendtner miss the best chance of the Sunderland-Citeh match. Typical. 🙂 Well, Aguero just missed too. Haha. And Nasri’s been substituted. Boo hoo.
That’s awful. 🙁 I hope you’ve been keeping warm. And eating your fruits and veggies. 😉
Nope, AK. 😛 Just coffee. 😉
Sore head Agag……… 😉
Nasri subbed already, they haven’t been playing long have they? 🙂
Its really mild here, 12o during the day, think thats why so many bugs are around, all our families have it, well that will teach them for persisting that we visit over Christmas, did wanr them all 😉 😉
It’s monsoon down here. 😎
Nasri off……. let him rot. 👿
Did you look like this in the mirror this morning agag…
I had two pints last night………… TWO….. 😯
Afternoon AK, goody two shoes eh 😉
AK, one too many beers for you last night? 😛 One too many “stones” for goonster I see. Hah. Too much port and pasteis de nata for JM (does not sound like a good combination). WATH just has too much GG all the time, I’m sure.
rico, just 15 mins. to go. Nasri was subbed on the hour mark. 😀 He made way for Silva. I hope Sunderland holds out for a draw. That’s “mild”? 😯 I hope they fam’s better soon. You should get them to eat their veggies.
Woops, i thought they ko’d at 4pm uk – i hope nikki gets the winner, will put his value up 😉
When you consider the awfull start to the season, and the fact that Arsenal conceded 12 goals in only two matches vs ManUre and Blackburn, it’s interesting to see where we are now, halfway thru the season.
Chavs have conceded only 2 less.
Scum only 6 less
ManUre only 11 less
Scousers also 11 less.
Scum have scored the same
Chavs only 2 more
Scousers scored 11 less!
So another goalscoer or two and bingo…….!
Rico, i’m still recovering from my birthday, boy was i hammered.
Agag, your right, i struggled with the second one….. 🙁
Come on you Rokerites….
sunderland 1-0 !
clear off-side !
Wooooot!! 😀
2012 could turn out to be a very good year methinks…. 🙂
agag, pasteis de nata not with wine!
Port wine is too sweet and it’s an aperitiv drink:-)
Get in there Sunderland!!
When was your birthday? Belated happy birthday, (S)AK, doctor, historian, muscleman, megashopper, knight. 😛
Stunning goal!
Invincibles, my foot!
When was your birthday AK, you didn’t share that one 🙁
Sounds good to me, JM. 😛
Hello, Lee. Happy New Year!! AFC are the big winners of the weekend! I was laughing when i saw the mancs turn on the long ball style in the last minutes! Hahaha.
A couple of weeks ago Agag…..
And i’m still younger than Wath….. :P:
What a great New Year…..
I might have a beer… 🙂
I was in London Rico, sorry, busy working and chatting to my mate Gary.. 😉
11th December to be exact.
Same birthdate as my last big favourite Winterburn. 🙂
Get in there sunderland……yeaah. Am sober now folks. Evening good people.
HNY agag!
You think there’s any truth in the poldoski spiel?
Also old gin & tonic’s paper reckon AW gonna offer TH Pat Rice’s job…..Apparently!
Yeah Lee, they also said that Wenger was willing to sell Theo last summer, but had to change their minds when Cesc and Nasri left….
Wonder if the ‘Arsenal source’ was PHW.
The Star probably pay him off with a carton of Gordon’s, the silly old tosser…
Calm down Stan… 🙂
Hi lee no way we ll sign a striker especially podolski. We ll instead be getting a midfielder gourcuff to be precise. Wenger sees walcott gervinho AOC arshavin park and chamakh as robin’s deputies. The signing of henry puts a stop to all this podolski nonsense. Wenger ll rather sign a mid fielder than a striker. End of.(you may applaud now)
If we get offered a decent amount I’d out TW, he’s been with us for moons and never really delivered! Imho
Yeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Next weekend it’s the Madchester FACup tie.
Lets hope it’s a really dirty game and finishes as a draw.
I shall put that in my diary AK 🙂 hope it was a good one….
Hi Lee, but I have to defend him, he went to my school 😉 😉
HNY KT!
Hi Kt, how you bearing up??
Rico, i don’t remember.
So it must have been great… :P:
😆 AK, good…..
Spanish press: Chelsea, MU and Arsenal interesting in Isaac Cuenca (Barcelona)
I just think he’s not up to the task Rico! HNY Rico, how rude of me….
Im great rico.a win tomorrow and we’re 6 points off top!credit to AW and the team for that effort to bring us from 18th to 4th in 3 months.
Lady luck certainly seems to be wearing an Arsenal jersey of late.long may be it so.
HNY Lee!
Lee, I wouldn’t mind getting Podolski. But I really want Hazard.
If goonster says we’re getting Gourcuff, then that means we’re NOT. 😀
AK, it does sound like you had a good time. 🙂
Hi, KT. I hope you’re okay(ish) now. 🙁 Happy New Year!!
rico, Theo does score some stunning goals. Now, if only he would do it with some regularity. 😉
Good evening guys and chicks of the Gunners’ faith.
Offside???? does anyone think we give a rat’s arse about it being offside. What we care is that Shitty are now only 9 points ahead of us midway in the league. I am feeling like 1989 all over again.
Had a good day today. I am still sober but still stunned by the Sunderland result.
Happy New Year to you too Lee, I truly hope it’s a good one for you all…..
I uderstand about Theo, I just think there is something there to come out in him….
Good to hear that Kt …
Evening JM and DG …
We’ve been waiting along time though…..
agag, i think Theo will again 😉
* a long*
evining Rico. did you have a gd day??? we sure did. Sunderland made it much better.
I agree Lee, but… 😉
Agag you ll see….
hello everyone. does anybody know when Henry will sign? And when he will be available for us?
🙂
I did thanks DG, family over for lunch and it all turned out just mighty fine 🙂
great result – just wish Nikki had got the goal ….
Okay(ish) agag?am great.HNY to you agag.am very very surprised by how close off the PL summit we are.with the right signings who knows???
Hi ADK, its done i think, he could feature tomorrow… but Leeds is more likely
Gourcuff won’t happen, even AW said he doesnt want to halt Diaby’s progress….what a joke!
Now how about TH12 on the bench tomorrow?
Then coming on for a 10 min cameo at the end, and scoring the winner.
Been reading too many Wath of the Wanderers comics methinks.. 🙂
We need a creative AM asap.ramsey just ain’t cutting it at the moment.
I’d rather he came on scored the winner against the pile of crap up the road!! 😆
thanks rico! I sure as hell hope he will feature. He could be a boost! 🙂
HNY AK/Rico/JM/Wath the sailor/ADK.
Goetze please!
Is Gourcuff injured then Lee, and there is onle one medical table 😉
Lee you’ve just brought up memories of how he dribbled past half the spuds team to score and then he slid in front of them.he has never lost to them and i don’t think he’d allow it.
Good to have you back KT.
And HNY to you mate.
I did read that JJ is trying to poach you for ACLF.
You stay here mate. This is the friendly blog….
The deal has already been done. So it is just AW’s choice when and if he comes on. maybe tomorrow, maybe vs Leeds. the most important thing is that he contributes to the side. even if he does not score but helps scare the shit out of the opposition then that is enough. The most important thing is the team. Not an individual.
Anyway, I prefer AW to buy Podolski, Reus and Vertonghen and fart off Arshavin, Chamack, Denilson, Bendtner and Vela. you might say Rosicky??? I would say no because he is good to have around the side. Benayoun I would keep since he gives a lot to the team although I would not play him and Rosicky in the same team. But I would keep them both.
Why would i leave AK?HH is the home of blogging and all matters Arsenal.
Cue AK with the YouTube clip…… 😉
Reus, Remy, M’vila and JV please 🙂
Lee.. 😆
Glad to hear it KT… 😉
Kt, wish we had a few more that didn’t allow losing to that lot!
Hiya AK. Pa sent you happy new year again. I have been here a few minutes after he phoned you. Had a couple of swear words because he phoned you before I was here but c’e la vie. We enjoyed the shitty game today.
Like you I would like Podolski, Reus and Vertonghen. Would like to add Cahill but that would be a bit too much.
As AK said, KT, this is a friendly blog. Butnot only that but we also like leg pulling a bit (especially me and Goonie). He is a bit weird isn’t he??? Daydreaming about girls all the time.
Righto….off to home now. Be back in an hour or so. in the meantime I hope you all had a good turn of the year and a good day. See you later folks………!!!!
Cahill…… In a flash but looks like he’s off to the chavs, you never know though, he may just be failing to agree terms on purpose??
ready to join us for free in the summer…. 🙂
By the way if you don’t mind me asking AK,where did you hear that?
AA’s pass to rvp’s goal was just perfect.not many players in our team could’ve executed that one.
Hi KT, Happy New Year to you fella hope it’s a good one….!
Vertonghen, M’Vila and a proper striker would do me but it ain’t happening we have that gazeeedis prick at the helm…..!
Gazidis is a smooth talking suit ain’t he wath?a couple of smart buys with the unpredictability of the PL who knows?
Happy new Year to you WATH and Good Evening 🙂
gazidis needs to pack his backs and take Stan with him….
KT, i was reading ACLF and JJ was talking to the others on there and telling them about your knowledge of European and particularily the Bundesliga.
Football, that is….
Naughty JJ ….. 😉
He’s a slimy bullshitter KT, a very good spin Dr wangles his way out of many things with his smooth mouth but its obvious he a twat…! Agreed Rico him and stan can both piss off far as I’m concerned.
when Sagna is comming back?
And diaby?
Now we have all those players injuries more chamack, gervinho and Fripong out.
let’s thinking in win tomorrow.
For Lee….. 😉
Another for Lee….. 🙂
Wath – why they evr employed him i will never know DD may not be evryones fav, but i’d have him back in favor of that twit any day!
Last one for Lee… :P:
Rico, wasn’t it you, that told me that the club interview the ceo of Vodaphone for the job.
And he is a Gooner.
But they gave it to Gazides. A nobody from the US of A [ nothing personal Oliver ]
JM – Sagna, the end of Jan…
Diaby – the end of May 😉
Apparently is was wenger who didnt like the vodaphone CEO….. That’s what I heard…..!
Gazidis a South African Yank, pure businessman nothing at all to do with being a football man……. earning a bloody fortune and doing what exactly..?
Yep, he was one of the candidates AK, I read it somewhere that he applied for the job and he is def a Gooner…..
I’ll see if i can find out who he is,,
Here’s one for you Wath.
I think you’ll enjoy it, er sort of…
I doubt we’ll get Reus/m’vila/götze/podolski which is sad indeed.if we only made a considerable effort the aforementioned players would jump at the chance of playing for us.
With a little ambition and intent this league is still pretty wide open. We need to some some “balls’ in the transfer window and who knows what would happen but then again we’ll be shopping in lidls instead of Harrods..!
Thanx for that AK 😉
WATH – if we don’t show balls in the next four weeks, others will and we’ll be lucky to be in the Europa league next season…. We could have coped if all our full backs were fit and if we added a goal scorer – but now we are stuffed!
The problem, as i see it, is that Wenger will stick with certain players for too long.
And by the time he finally accepts that they’re actually not up to it, the value of those players has decreased to such a level, that they’re almost valueless.
And then we have a scenario where we find that we can’t sell off the likes of Bendtner and Denilson.
So we all say, we should sell this player and that player, but some club has to want to buy them!
And if nobody wants to pay a fee AND their inflated wages, then we’re stuck with them, unless we virtually give them a free!!!
Then there’s the big pay rises for RVP, Song & Walcott to be found.
That will come out of Wengers budget.
So whilst i look at the likes of Vertonghen, Podolski and Reus, and thinking we can surely afford the £40 odd million in transfer fees.
In reality the club cannot afford it.
Unless Kroenke gives the green light and financially backs these moves.
But he won’t….
So it won’t happen
End of Rant…. 😉
Meanwhile we have suffer that Greek/South Africa/American slaphead Ivan, trying to tell us, that all the other clubs want to copy Arsenal’s self-sustaining model……
Yeah?… Really! You don’t say…..!!!
IG, the Fcukwit….
Spot bloody on AK…..
Which takes us back to the wages issue – we pay the young players too much, we play the ‘unproved’ players too much – then because they are used to such a good wage, but they are average, other clubs laugh at their demands…..
Why isn’t a club like WBA, Fulham, Bolton etc etc looking at buying Niki B or Denilson???
We all know the answer don’t we, they have been bloomin spoilt!
I really think we need to recruit a specialist for Gervinho.we need to work on his finishing.maybe its just psychological but if we can sort it out we’ll have a beast of a player in our hands.
Self sustaining is fine AK – but those tossers don’t even spend what we do have, that isn’t self sustaining, that’s self destruction!!
AK i believe we do have the cash its just that we pennypinch too much.we also fear taking risks which is a shame.
That’s right Rico.
Mind you Bendtner, in his own world, is too good for the likes of WBA, Fulham & Bolton.
But yes, they are spoilt……
KT. Could be just a case of confidence mate.
Next season he could be sensational.
I don’t we need to worry about Gervinho – it’s his first season… Next season he’ll be a totally different player…
If we were to sign podolski/Reus/new forward i think it would be the beginning of the end for theo.
KT, it’s institutional mate.
Arsenal’s whole history, with a few notable exception’s, has been one where they have pennypinched.
It happened before Chapman, and after the Second World War,
and even during the initially successfull periods under Mee and Graham, the club refused to really compete.
Only when Dein took over the transfers, in my time, have i seen an Arsenal that would aggressively compete in the transfer market.
When he went, our transfer ambition went with him….
I’m off guys and gals – catch you all tomorrow…
have a good evening all… nighty night….
We all know we pay average players far to much which has the snowball effect that we don’t pay our best players what they are actually worth. Spot on Ak and it’s been happening for far to long, get rid of the deadwood and the players who contribute nothing and bring in 2/3 quality players and we’re sorted to give anyone a run for their money.
I would sign for Podolski/Reus in and Walcott out KT.
Either way its a shame since some risks are well worth taking.we shouldn’t completely rely on bargains and youths for such a rich club.
See ya Rico…..
TH12 unveiled tomorrow maybe? 😉 😉 😉
Sleep well boss.
Theo really needs to shut it.yesterday he completely bottled it.i remember him missing a similar chance against Bolton earlier this season.for a player that spouts off to the media about playing as a striker he seems to have lost his composure in front of goal.
Wath, it took the worst start to season since, what was it, 1954 i think, for those idiots to bring in some experienced players who could benefit the team immediately.
Gazides and his croanies were under immense pressure, and still fcuked up some deals.
Now they are off the hook.
Kt, Theo is a total enigma.
When he is flying, he has to be one of the most exciting players in the EPL.
When he’s off form, he is appalling
Its amusing that despite our worst ever start in recent time to a PL season and the spuds best we are 3 points behind them.
You off the soap box AK?
I wouldn’t pay walcott £85k a week I’d sell him…
Diaby, squil,waiter,pink boots and AA I’d wipe my mouth and just out them, get em off the payroll and reward those that have deserved/earnt it….
Buy vertonghen, Goetze and remi/ poldoski…….simples!
As for song if he keeps stalling on signing out him and buy M’Vila!
Wath, i know it’s a bit of a football supporters ‘mantra’ about ‘All we need is a couple of players/ a striker/ a centre-half’ etc etc.
But in Arsenal’s case THAT is all we need.
How long was everyone telling Wenger that we needed a big centre-half for the EPL.
Did he listen???
Funny how things have changed since BFG rolled up!
I’m with Lee on all those signings and sales….. 😉
Song was yet again lazy and slow yesterday, for a midfielder he gets the wrong side time n time again, he does my head in…!
AK it just goes to show you how influential the experienced players have been to our season.if we had the likes of per/arteta/gerv last year we would’ve won the league and maybe another cup or two,maybe even KOed barca.i hope we can really build on that this window since cash is no longer an issue.
Lee, i did some You-Tubing, just for you… :P:
But yeah, it sounds simple, and maybe selling them is complex, but that’s what Ivan the Useless gets paid to do.
Maybe it is as simple as taking a reduced fee and getting rid of the salery?
Thanks mate, re the YouTube clips! btw HNY WATH!!!
Wath, i’m not a fan of Song. He’s ok, but to me just ok.
Give me M’Vila any day.
KT, we’ve gotta hope that the experience from the Summer Window has sunk in….
But i’m not confident mate.
Nowadays we are rarely troubled by aerial balls due to the BFG.even kos is flourishing since per is such a calming influence.he has seen it all due to all the World cup KOs/Euros he has played in.Arteta is using his experience to calm the team down when we are ahead and as a result we rarely concede a lead nowadays.both players bought for just £20mil!!!
KT, it also shows the value of signing players around the 24/28 age bracket.
They’re not gonna be looking for their next move.
Joining Arsenal is as good as it gets for them, and they’ll give us everything.
That’s right KT, £20m, and not on stupid wages either.
Now you aren’t telling me that there isn’t another couple of players out there, like them, who can be as effective, immediately.
HNY to you as well Lee, hope it’s a good one mate..!
Spot on AK, we said we were a centre half away from being “there” a few yrs back then we lose a few players and the goalposts change. We need the deadwood gone and his fixation with sticking with players clearly not good enough also needs to change and sorry but Diaby need to be offed as well.
Am in full agreement on Song AK, he improved for sure but for me he’s OK and ok is a back up player in my eyes, we need a top top defensive midfielder and if he aint signing a contract then get shot of him ASAP
A couple of players KT, who could come off of the bench, instead of Arshavin and Chamakh, and who could make a difference…
Spot on AK and W.A.T.H.
Song and Walcott could be sold and none might be signed as a replacement. Frimpong and Coquelin to take his place.
Huntelaar has been mentioned today. But I cannot see Huntelaar and Podolski being signed. If either or both were signed I would be a very open mouthed fan.
Wouldn’t bother me at all if he wanted to go in the summer Wath.
Coquelin will be a better player than him in a year or so.
Frimpong will come back a better player after a regular game at Wolves.
BDW…..we have OX for Theo
Hi DG.
Where’s Lee gone….? You Tube….. 🙂
Hardly a brace of game changers AK…….but AA was, he’s so off the boil
And yes Wath, didn’t Wenger come out with that gem about not moving for Gourcuff because it would destroy Diaby…!
Really Arsene, really?
You couldn’t make it up.
Thing is DG Ox is better than AA and yet still doesn’t get a run off the bench, why pay 15million for someone and not play him when players are getting games and just not cutting it. Agree re Coq AK, the boy has something about him for me, like his tenacity and engine and he will def get better and he is also versatile, Frim will learn at wolves also a good move I think.
Lee, he did put a great pass thru for the goal, RVP didn’t have to change his run, it was perfect.
And like Theo, he is another enigma.
What i like is the BFG barely gets mentioned in match reports.that speaks volumes of him.his positioning is excellent and intelligence top notch.he will normally deal with any danger before it even starts becoming one.the commentator will say it was a stray pass by the opposition but per will get little credit for reading the play and stopping it.i like per and he is vital at the moment.him barely getting mentioned despite being 6″6 shows just how well he is playing.
Hi AK.
What do you make of the Huntelaar to AFC and Theo proposal of 80K per week???
That Diaby comment from AW is up there with his classic from last season about being the best squad he’s ever had……!
I have to say I think AA is a brilliant footballer, i think he is now so pissed off at Arsenal as we have ruined him…. I can’t forgive his attitude but I can sympathise with him being pissed off at having to play in a position totally not suited to his game.
Wath, i think we’ll see Oxlade-Chamberlain start at Fulham.
Just gotta hunch.
We might even see Chamakh start [ sorry guys ], with RVP coming on in the 2nd half.
BDW, I wanted to ask you this question. Make of it what you will………..Is there SUN in DER mother LAND? Ask Ji.
I think le coq will become what flamini could’ve been.i remember seeing him in our preseason game against Barnet and i instantly knew he has it.
DG, in the words of Lee, i think that train [ Huntelaar ] has gone, or left the station, or whatever it was, but it sounded good… er 😕
A lot of money for Theo. Not sure that his contract will be sorted early somehow.
The difference between Song and Coquelin is that The latter is a footballer. Song is a player.
Merts is getting better and better KT, he is also talking a lot more to the other players and starting to take responsibility, he gets caught for speed sometimes but we know that was always going to be a problem but he’s also making allowances for that as well and Koz next to him has been immense this season.
We will have a huge problem when Jacks fit cos 433 ain’t gonna work when he’s fit we must surely go back to 442 – 4411
KT, you sumed up BFG very well my friend.
I’ve liked him from the off.
Especially when the anti-Arsenal, anti-German arm of the media began to criticise him….
I watch him very carefully, and as you say he snuffs out danger with the minimum of fuss.
It goes unnoticed by the idiots commentating.
There is no way back for AA.he is such a brilliant player but there is no way he’ll get back to his best.
Not exactly W.A.T.H. When Jack is fit we will go to 4-2-3-1. I cannot see AW playing 4-4-1-1 and accomodating Gervinho, RVP and Walcott. One of them has to go. And it might be that Ramsey will play on the right with Jack, Arteta and Song in the middle and RVP up top with Gervinho on the left.
DG, good comment re Song n Coq…… SOng makes such basic schoolboy mistakes you wonder where his brain is sometimes then I relasie he don’t really have a brain…. He does the odd very good thing then lets himself down time and again with petulant silly fouls always on the wrong side or he’s dived in and sold himself or he’s flat footed, silly things you get taught as a 6yr old…!
KT, yep that Barnet pre season game Coq just looked like he had something about him, he’s matured slowly but maybe thats also a good thing.
Wath, it makes you wonder what AW is looking for in some of these players.
If he needs a wide midfielder, then why not fcuking go and get a wide midfielder instead of a No.10, and then sticking him on the wing???
DG. 😆
Funny you should say that KT, i was saying to my son earlier today, how similar Coq is to Flamini.
Both right-footed midfielders.
Both playing left-back. [ Don’t think we need to loan a L/B with Coq ]
Making a formation yet again DG that tries to paper over the cracks…! If we had a proper defensive midfielder we could play 442 easily, I’d actually give it a go with Jack and Arteta in the middle of the park, both get stuck in both creative and Jack gives the team tempo….. Depending on the opposition you play Gerv on the left and Theo/Ox on the right or to be a little more solid yep the option is then to play Aaron or Rosicky or Yossi on the right or left, TH12 behind RVP anyone….????
AK, how many f’kin years have we been saying square holes and round pegs when it comes to wenger and players and playing them out of position….!
Tedious….!
Kos is all action and that will always get plaudits.per on the other hand snuffs up anything that seems like trouble.it goes unnoticed but he is playing very well.he doesn’t need to perform a slide tackle if he snuffs out trouble before it develops.i also read Maldini made an average of 1 tackle every 2 games but he barely got beaten.Red nose relied on stats which told him Stam was making fewer tackles as he aged.he was sold as a qesult but he went on to have a very successfull career in Italy.the stats did not show how well he read the game to snuff out trouble early on.
TH12 is intelligent enough to play that role Wath, but i suspect that he might be on the left.
KT, Wath, DG, Lee [ if your still there ] i’ve really enjoyed it tonight.
But i’m offski now, so i’ll see all you Gooners on here tomorrow.
Night guys
Thats where I think he won’t have the engine to lay on the wings AK, As wenger said he’s still very quick but not repeatedly so its in short bursts he cant do it over n over hence I reckon he may play him behind RVP free role use his brain and bring others into the game and create and get on the end of things as well. Prob a mile off there and he’ll play him left back next week 😉
Cheers AK, take it easy fella, man of your age needs 12 hours beauty sleep 😀
Wath 😆
Bye
W.A.T.H. Arteta and Jack cannot play together in centremidfield in a 4-4-2 mate. Although they are strong and know how to be creative they cannot last the whole 90 minutes in the middle. As a result the team will suffer from the 70th minute onwards of every game. And if Theo and Gervinho are manning the flanks then they will have to make twice the effort and this is impossible to ask from the two players. In a one off game maybe. But over a season neither have the endurance required.
See ya AK. 359 days left till Christmas. 😆 😆
Sorry DG had connection probs….. I disagree with you on the engine, Jack can more than hold his own for 90 mins and over a season now and Arteta has the brain to know what to do he is very simple and wastes very little, it would be a pairing i’d try just to see how they got on, with Gerv n Theo they would get very little help defensively but thats why I said depending on the opposition you’d play only one of them maybe…. It’s a combination that has a bit of everything for me but also not for a 38 game season and you mix n match accordingly. All hyperthetical anyway cos no way will wenger do it lol
exactly W.A.T.H. AW will defo not do it. And its an engine which lacks height and strength. Maybe in a European game yes but in an EPL game I think it would be impossible.
Keane wasn’t tall nor Flamini, Jack has heart and strength and we all know how good the boy is technically, the two of them have enough footballing nous to make it work, I just think it would be worth a go but not a chance will wenger do it 😉
Oh well, back to us buying M’Vila then…….
Am off for the night DG take it easy mate, you as well KT and Lee if your about, chat soon….!
See you mate. offski also for me. Have a good year …..you and your family.
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