Daily Bits and Bobs

Antoine Griezmann, Herbert Chapman & Huddersfield….

Posted on by rico

Morning all,

From the official site:

It was with great sadness that the club learned of the recent death of Dermot Drummy, aged 56.

Islington-boy Dermot joined Arsenal as a youth team player in 1976. A talented central midfielder, he played alongside the likes of Paul Davis, Paul Vaessen and Brian McDermott in the youth and reserve teams, making over 100 appearances for the Gunners – he also made five league appearances during a loan spell at Blackpool. He left Highbury for Hendon Town in 1980.

Nearly 20 years later, a chance encounter with Liam Brady in 1999 saw Dermot back at the club as an academy coach and over the next eight years he proved himself instrumental in the development of many players who went on to enjoy first team careers with the Gunners and elsewhere.

The thoughts of everyone at Arsenal Football Club are with Dermot’s family and friends at this very difficult time.

56 years old is no age, it’s a cruel cruel world!

But life for us goes on, football goes on and Arsenal go on.

Antoine Griezmann has confirmed what some of us already knew. A few years ago he was told Arsenal wanted to sign him. In his head he was moving and no other club would have been considered by the French striker as he wanted Arsenal and only Arsenal. He waited, waited and waited but no offer came. No deal was done and for that reason, he’ll never sign for us.

I doubt he’s the only player who has been drawn in by our interest only to end up staying put or moving elsewhere. Didn’t something similar happen back in the summer with Thomas Lemar? All through the transfer window he was coming to Arsenal but when the club finally got round to making an offer it was all too late. Arsene Wenger wanted him, of that I’m convinced but instead of getting him early in the summer, he/the club dithered and lost out. Perhaps that’s why things are changing behind the scenes.

Onto tonight and for the first time in a number of seasons now, The Emirates has been a secure place for us as far as results go. Six fixtures and six victories which is good. The opening fixture against Leicester was an exciting one for the neutral with goals galore but last weekends performance, as well as the result, was the best by a country mile.

BBC’s Steve Wilson:

“Herbert Chapman may have passed away almost 74 years ago, but his memory is rightly cherished. Chapman won one FA Cup and two league titles with Huddersfield. At Highbury he exactly matched that trophy haul before his untimely death at the age of 55.

“This first league meeting since 1972 warrants a trip down memory lane.

“For example, Chapman’s Huddersfield once thrashed Arsenal 4-0, 3-1, 6-1, 4-0 and 5-0 in successive meetings. Cliff Bastin, Arsenal’s record goalscorer until the Ian Wright era, was a Chapman signing: and it was Chapman who embraced, perfected – and some say invented – the W-M tactical formation which became a blueprint for its time.

“Chapman was also responsible for one of the FA Cup’s great traditions. In 1930, when his Arsenal team faced his old club Huddersfield in the Cup final, the two sides walked from the tunnel side-by-side for the first time in tribute to the great man. They have done so ever since.”

Tonight’s opposition have a dreadful away record. In fact before our win over Burnley at the weekend, we too have been pretty poor on our travels. The worst for us was at Anfield and again at Stoke. Huddersfield though are yet to win away from home.

I think David Wagner’s team will approach the game in a similar way to Burnley. They’ll defend with their lives but they won’t be afraid to attack us should the opportunity arise. Huddersfield did well to contain Man City for as long as they did at the weekend so perhaps this match might be more difficult than we think but as said yesterday, they don’t score many goals, certainly not on the road.

Mesut Ozil is back in the squad having recovered from man flu and apart for Theo Walcott being absent, the rest bar Santi are available. Man Utd are our next opponents so Arsene Wenger might be tempted to rest a few key players. I wouldn’t though as sportsmen and women are best when their playing regularly and footballers are no different. Fair enough if there are signs of fatigue etc but otherwise, play the best we have. Worry about Utd on Saturday, not today..

Let’s see another solid performance and another three points please Arsene…

rico

71 thoughts on “Antoine Griezmann, Herbert Chapman & Huddersfield….”

  1. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    Rico, re previous post

    Arsene needs to give a date as to when he is off. No doubt that date is better @ seasons end. But he has to plan for his departure. Otherwise no proper change of plan can take place.

  2. Wavy says:

    Not a good start to today’s comments.
    From BBC sport web site, just now:

    Posted at 10:38
    Arsenal’s Cazorla undergoes more surgery

    Arsenal
    Terrible news for Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, who says he has had to have more surgery on a tendon injury. The 32-year-old Spain midfielder has not played since October 2016 when he suffered an ankle injury.

    However, it has been a horror story for him since as he had a further six operations, a wound did not heal, became infected and he contracted gangrene.

    Doctors told him he should be “satisfied” just to walk again following one of the operations. His previous operation was a reconstruction of the Achilles tendon on 29 May, with doctors grafting skin from his left arm to his right ankle.

    Report
    The tweet translates loosely as: “Some discomfort in the tendon that had dragged the last few days, I have had to undergo surgery.

    “It is delaying the date of return to the playing fields, I maintain the illusion and motivation to enjoy my great passion, soccer.

  5. Le Coq Monster says:

    Thank`s El Rico.

    Wavy, I cant ever see Santi playing competitive again, such a miss and shame !.

    Chapman`s first team versus his reserves tonight !………………………………..should be a tight affair with us slightly edging it 7-0 !………………………………………………….The Spuds could only dream of winning as many titles as Huddersfield and as many as Chapman won would be deemed impossible for them ……….

    😀

    Chapman will be looking down with pride and I have to say………………… he is probably the nicest northern bastard ever and I bet his racing pigeons flew in a WM formation !

    🙂

  6. Le Coq Monster says:

    So bright and sunny down here today that the normal sun glasses are no good, I`m wearing Arc Welding Glasses !

  8. allezkev says:

    Poor Santi, what a nightmare time for him, mentally it must be like torture.
    I’d like to see the club retain him in some position, maybe coaching, but I suspect that he’ll eventually return to Spain.

  10. Wavy says:

    As far as Santi’s playing career is concerned I think we can safely say it’s all over now! And a great shame that is, for sure.
    I’m sure you’re right regarding his final destination, possibly as soon as next summer. It will be Spain. I mean who’d want to stay here in the cold, the damp and the persistent rain?

    I’m sure we’ll all be really sad to see him go. He was an excellent footballer and for a while the heartbeat of the team.
    Wherever he ends up I hope he has a happy and fulfilled ‘new’ career.

  11. potter says:

    His playing days are probably over , but in some ways he should look forward to planning a new career perhaps in coaching , the risk of a Shawcross / McNair type player taking his Achillies out and him never walking again is too great.

    Sad !

  13. Andrew Halling says:

    Afternoon all, thanks for post rico. Poor Santi, miss his smile 🙂 He’s one of the good guys.

    Maybe time to start with Giroud and Wilshire with 3 games in 7 days. If they are not champing at the bit, they ought to be. Be a good subs bench, and can always make the changes if needed.

  14. Le Coq Monster says:

    So it`s either Spain or Cornwall for Santi then !………………………………………..must be Cornwall though as there`s more Santis here than anywhere !…………………………….Santi Ives………………Santi Enodoc…………………Santi Colomb……………………….Santi Merryn………….Santi Just……………….etc etc etc

  17. Kk says:

    Good evening rico and all.
    RIP Dermott Drummy
    And get well soon Santi. .l think his playing days are sadly over with all those complications .
    I wonder if wenger is going to start the hapless Giroud tonight.
    I expect a very tight game .
    Last night Matic was injured and got replaced. .hopefully he won’t make it to the Emirates ..

  22. Le Coq Monster says:

    Holy Trinity starting !………………………………………………………..a very close 9-0 then with Wenger Out chants at the end for struggling against a northern bastard working mens club team ………………………………

  25. Kk says:

    Arsenal in complete control. .possession wise!
    Lacazette is having really good game. .his goal was a proper striker goal after quick passing and a flick assist from Ramsey
    His movement across the defence and his holding play were magnificent, shame no one could pass or cross him a decent ball..
    wingbacks wasted good chances to find him and he became really frustrated and he let them know. .
    Sanchez not at the races at all…

    Ozil playing on the right hasn’t got into his game yet!

    Huddersfield had couple of chances but Czech was not really tested at all.
    Overall we could have at least tested their keeper more with a bit of compsure and quality passing.

  30. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    Meghan Markle, is she any relation to the Angela?

    2nd goal that takes the pressure off dropping 2 points some what 🙂

  45. Le Coq Monster says:

    Spuds down to 7th……………………behind Burnley !…………………………..I`m trying to keep a straight face but I have to give in to the ineviatable !…………….

    😆

  48. ScottfromOz says:

    Morning all.
    Seems Rambo set a few up and Giroud banged some in.
    Love it 🙂 🙂
    What’s people’s thoughts on Ozils
    Recent run of form?

  50. ScottfromOz says:

    Potter, I hate to admit it, but I reckon you’re right.
    It’s a shame because we are all seeing what a top class footballer the guy is.

  51. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all.

    Irreplacable, Scott and so is Alexis.
    If there is anyone out there who we are going to be able to afford to replace them, then someone let me know as I cant see anyone at our price………………………we are really going to be in shit street next summer, maybe even in January if as Wenger says, something extaordinary happens !.

    The only thing that will please me if they go is if Tottnumb lose their best players to compensate me !……………………….Kane , Alli and Eriksen joining us would take away the pain ! hahaha

  52. Le Coq Monster says:

    Question ?………………………….the way Santi is heading, is`nt it about time Wenger stopped waiting and hoping Santi will recover ala Diaby, Rosicky etc and find a replacement in January ?

  53. Le Coq Monster says:

    Twelve EPL home wins on the trot, will Saturday be lucky or unlucky 13 ?………………………………..no Lacazette !……….. his running into pockets of space and intelligence will be missed.

  55. Le Coq Monster says:

    Maybe Scott………………………………..another question ???…………………………..seeing as the side that started last night could well be described as our best current starting XI, if fit, who would Santi replace ?

  57. Obi says:

    Good Morning All…. LC @ 10:31, knowing Wenger he will sit Bellerin or Koslasnic, put his boy Ramsey on one of the wing so Santi can play next to Xhaka.

  58. Kk says:

    Afternoon
    It was entertaining game and the scoreline really flattered arsenal.
    Huddersfield gave up after we scored the 2nd and it was training exercise for arsenal players. .
    Lacazette really impressed with his movement and clinical finishing.
    He also showed great strength in holding play and didn’t fall like a girl.
    Yes Giroud scored two after missing a sitter. his second should have been Kola’s, but it didn’t matter at the end .
    He is still far from our 1st or 2nd choice striker.
    Ramsey was Man of the match. .all his flicks and through passes worked for a change!
    Sanchez looked tired and was not at his best, yet he was on the score sheet

    Manure will be different animal, hopefully we stay tight at the back and see what mood our forwards be in.

  60. allezkev says:

    Wenger has pretty much, in his time at Arsenal, treated Lacazette with kid gloves, taking him off in almost every game and leaving him out of others where he would have been a definite asset, much to everyone’s disapproval. And now after playing him in two games in a week our record signing has gone and broken down!
    So has it been that Wenger was right to have had concerns over Lacazette’s physical capabilities and how he can adapt to the rigours of the Premier League?
    Have we spent £56m on a guy who can only manage one game a week?

  61. Kk says:

    Terrible news about lacazette, Whatever the situation with him, we certainly can’t afford to rely on Giroud or welbeck to take us to the promise land ..that’s top 4

  62. Kk says:

    Interestingly, we had 7 left footed players when the subs came on, with a full house left footed midfield in Wilshere, xhaka and ozil ..
    Kola, Nacho, Giroud, and of course petr cech were the others. .
    Talking about balance hey!
    Arsene is certainly a socialist lefty ?

  66. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    Evening rico, tropical rains here in Launceston. Hows the outpouring towards The Arse after 3 wins & Maureen up next?

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading