Morning all.
That is of course, in my mere humble opinion.
I know many football fans, if they read this article will strenuously disagree, citing both Manchester clubs and possibly Chelsea to be far better options. After all, they have either a better manager, more money to pay players, better players to play alongside or of course a rich owner who will assure them that their club is the place to be, where all top players want to be too.
But I say poppycock!
Take Robin van Persie for example, we signed him, we made him who/what he is today and on the back of one great season for us, he suddenly became one of the worlds best strikers.
Fair enough, he deserved that, some of the goals he scored for us were outstanding in that one season and he took that form with him to Manchester. For the first half of his new season he was on fire. Now though, he’s hit a dip in form and he’s not getting the goals he once was. Is he getting the right service I ask or carrying an injury?
His club has gone from ‘winning the treble’ to all but securing the PL title but they haven’t been ‘that good’ have they despite sitting comfortable at the top of the table, in fact it’s just another season where decisions have often gone their way and the rest of the sides have been decidedly average.
Manchester City, well they have top players all over the pitch, they have money only Arsenal could dream of, but here they are, battling away for second spot and if things go their way, they might get the FA Cup but they might not either. So are they really such a good proposition? A club that’s spent such vast sums should really be competing for top spot but why aren’t they..? Greedy players who care more about their pay packet than results? is that a by product of the Sugar Daddy owner throwing hundreds of millions into a football club
Chelsea, like City, they have an owner who demands success, who is willing to spend billions to get it, but this season, they too are battling for a Champions League spot, a Europa trophy and the FA Cup. But swapping managers so often is hardly tempting is it?
Of course they are all doing, or have done better than us, that’s why we sit in 5th place, hoping that luck yet again goes our way during the run-in and we sneak into the top four but we don’t have the players they have do we and we certainly don’t ooze class all over the pitch do we?
In places yes, but we don’t have the depth in our squad that those three clubs have either and we certainly don’t have a player who can take his chances in front of goal like they all have. In fact those clubs have more than one….
We do however create chances, many many chances even lacking that little bit of class we all crave about, against Reading alone we created something like 25 chances, It was only Reading but how often have we done it to many other teams and only won 1-0 or worse still, drawn when their one shot at goal goes in..! Many of Saturdays chances were clear cut and had we been able to bury just 50% of them, we would have been finished with a score well into double figures.
We are not clinical enough, we lack a killer instinct in front of goal and have done for years.
Any world class striker would walk into this current Arsenal squad, he would be one of the first on the team-sheet, he’d be clinical and take his chances, he’d be a 30+ goal a season striker in our team and with a player like him, we’d start winning things. We need a striker who wants to really prove himself to want to join a club for pride and passion and to show he not just there for his bank balance.
We have players who create chances, with even more quality we just need the right player to take them.
If that man means breaking the AFC Bank, then we really need to do it….
If you were that top class striker, would you prefer to fight others for a place, or walk into a club knowing you are going to be that main man, that hero, that goal scorer, or would you rather go to a club like City earn a fortune yet be sat on the bench some weeks watching someone else play your role?
We could very well be a club on the up IF Kroenke finally gives Wenger some money and tells him to spend it. Most of our team are young, they will grow and mature together.
All it will take in the summer is 4/5 additions, including a top class stopper and a top class striker. In fact, make that just three players, a top keeper, a holding/defensive midfielder and a world class striker could possibly be enough, especially if Bould continues to work with the defence and a couple of the reserves are given a well deserved chance…..
That’s it for another day, have a good one….
Morning Rico. You make a good number of points. A top striker would have scored at least 4 goals on Saturday and perhaps more. We have no striker who, when he gets the ball 25 yards from goal, looks remotely dangerous. For a club of the stature of Arsenal that is shameful. Very rarely does an Arsenal striker turn a half chance into a goal any more.
Morning Adam and all…
I’m desperate to see us sign a ‘proper goal scorer’ Adam.
To think that we as a club try to get wingers to play central, strikers to play as wingers, and yet none of them are clinical enough.
I’d go and break the bank on this one, it would be worth it…
“or worse still, drawn when their one shot at goal goes in..!”
Yeah that happens when you have Sh*tchesney in goal.
In fact, extend that. The most important players on the pitch are the spine, and to be honest, we have haven’t had a ‘proper’ spine in years.
Rectify that and this squad could be really really good….
Welcome Francis, sadly you are spot on….
We’ve got Gervinho, why would we need a world class striker??
Moaning all….
Morning All,
As you say Rico the spine is weak until that’s addressed we will continue to fight for that trophy for 4th spot am afraid.
I’d rather your two left feet on the wing Lee…………..
You wouldn’t WATH, I’m as pacey as Giroud right now….. 😉
Jovetic would be a good start imho…
Good morning all,
Sadly we have what we have and unless Park, Chamakh and Arshavin are offloaded, we won’t be getting another striker. Podolski can do a job, but he isnt getting the time on the pitch? Anyone know why?
We will get a cheap goalie in and a french unknown 19yr old.
Don’t expect miracles , as we will probably get 4th place, and sell 2 or 3 for £10m+ my hunch being TV5 & Sagna.
Gervinho, full of endeavour but a poor mans Kanu
We’ve got Gervinho, that’s exactly why we need a class striker Lee 😉
I’d rather Lee’s old crocked body, as it is today, on the wing Wath 😉
Falcao 😉
AA is out of contract George, we are giving away Park and Chamakh will be gone, I’m sure of that. If AW hoped he’d get confidence at West Ham then he got that wrong.
He doesn’t even get a game does he?
Chezza needs a long holiday with his pops. I still think he’s better than flappers, and doorman Mannone, but not as good as he thinks he is and at best a no2
Chamakh sometimes doesn’t make the bench at fat Sam’s Rico…
AA will retire i think, Park will disappear into oblivion, probably hook up with bischoff.
Chamakh with the wella gel head will fool someone back home in France to take a punt where he will occasionally score the odd header
Show’s how crap some of these players really are when they go out on loan to very average teams and can’t even get a game…! Nuff said..!
Morning all
I think we already have a goal scorer, Podolski, not Ramsey! However, trainer Wenger won’t play him in the middle, feeding of Giroud!s droppings!
Just a thought. World class finishers are few and far between, and they don’t come cheap. So you can all think on. We won’t be getting any player of world class playing at our ground, except for the opposition!
Even if we could find someone who is good enough and Wenger bought him, where would he play? Answer, on the wing, the left wing of course.
So why waste the cash when you can distribute the bonus money to the Board.
With david villas clinical goal scoring ability and high conversion rate can u imagine how many he would score of arsenals created chances! age considered, he would be a great addition even if only for two seasons.
Morning all.
Stories brewing over the net re: Nasri …… And the centre-back that a few wanted here in Samba …..
…Samba apologising for his £100K per week balls-up yesterday deleted around 3 or 4 of his tweets in the last hour …. He was F-ing and Blinding at QPR fans ….
Has anyone got a “take” on the Nasri story? Lee, Adam, Rico?
I don’t buy Lee’s half marathon story at all.
I reckon was injured as he went through his 50 Shades repertoire myself. 🙂
Morning all,
Well well well Rico that Carva last night certainly put the spring in your step this morning, good rousing Post.
If i was a top striker and was looking for a move where would i go, would i look to a club like Arsenal who have won bugger all and who look as if they are all adrift or would i look at teams that are challenging for trophies every year. would i look at the Arsenal pay structure and think that the money is not that important its the challenge that i look for. Or would i look at the top clubs who are winning trophies and earning high wages whether i play or sit on the bench, Well Rico you really have caught me out, i seem to be looking north i’m afraid.
George, Fabianski has only conceded 0ne in three, he’s the ‘in-form’ keeper at the moment 😉
Says it all really but if he carries on the way he is doing, he’ll certainly keep Ches out…
Hi SYG. Sammy The Snout was never going to put it in for us during his last contracted season. He lost what little form he had months before the end of the season and was, by all accounts, looking elsewhere for a big wage packet. As is so often the case at Arsenal, he had looked to the club and Wenger as a stepping stone. He proved, when at our club, that he was inconsistent and when we needed him, toward the end of the season, he was absent in his head, negotiating for a bigger trough to rub his greedy snout in. As I said earlier, I don’t rate Kroenke at all, but which of us would not have cashed in for that sort of money, on a plonker like him. The real crime was not replacing him properly.
Incisive article. U hit d point.may b de re afraid f cmin 2 arsenal 2 bcome a goal hero. Hu knws.
The 50 Shades escapades are a mere pipe dream at the moment Adam…..I can assure you of that! Putting socks on was only available this morning in the L household!
Exactly Wath, and so many of our players do just that….
Syg, I think Nasri it stirring the pot. His head was turned by City’s money and that’s the reason we got such a good price for a player going into his last year of his contract.
He’d hardly set the world alight with us, half a season he was good, then after that he was poor, tapped up at Christmas I think…
City don’t want him either now it seems, one good performance always followed by many rubbish ones…
Keith, that’s all we can do, imagine. 35 + a season for us I reckon he’d get…
SYG, Samba looked like a £100 p/w player against Fulham not a 100k one..
Taxdodger must have been fuming!… I thought Taarabt looked good for them (did we get the wrong Moroccan?)
Nasri will no doubt be on the move again in the summer, what a plank
morning all
Rico, he is the “in form keeper” but has he really made any saves? Our defence and midfield have just worked harder I think. We are even pressing other teams of late, something we didnt do for a a couple of months
I agree with what your saying about the striker I was only just saying the same on sunday, and I’m sure that if RVP were here then he would get 40+ goals this season easy.
More than opening the cheque the first thing we need to do is get rid of the waste of space players we have sitting around I can think of 10-11 players off the top of my head and think if we say on average get 2M for each player thats 20M to add to the transfer funds but more importantly if we say on average each player is on 50k a week thats 1/2M a week we saved on wages which means we can buy 5-6 top players and stick them on say 100K a week and have money to spare and that is our biggest problem.
I feel we need a top keeper, and top centre half, a solid DM, and another creative player in the middle, and a top class striker I think in the middle we need to Wanyama and as a creative player we need Grotze for me he is amazing and with him Crozla and wilshire we would be unplayable teams like Reading would get drummed about 8 Nil and if we have a solid backline behind them we will push on all fronts and will be a matter of time before we win something.
Lee. 🙂
Calamine Lotion mate.
I didn’t have any Sp 😉
Footballing reasons alone, surely we are a better option, you’d be king pin, up north you’d be up against so many others.
But yes, you’d be rich….
Trophies are key for all the top end players Rico. With that in mind, if the player has the options i think we might be struggling as sp indicated
The one “total” striker we did have was Eduardo prior to the “foot amputation”. Is ratio of goals to “proper” games was immense at that point …. such a shame …
Zagreb 130 (82)
Inter Zaprešić (loan) 15 (10)
Arsenal 67 (22)
Croatia U21 12(8)
Croatia 54(27)
Half the games for Arsenal were as substitute and after the injury… Just when he was on fire, he got injured..
Donetsk 69 (20).
I’m sure he made a few in Germany, and against Swansea George…
Monreal let Reading in…
Strange lad Nasri – heads off to city, now a premier league champion, something he’d never achieve at Arsenal on wages we would get nowhere near and he’s still sulking, amazing and like he would know Kroneke forced the sale over Wenger head, yeah right like anyone is going to believe that
The fact is though that we cant do that now. With Gervinho looking more and more settled it allows Podolski to return to the position we bought him in for- CF and Walcott only signed his extension on the basis of getting CF time not to mention Chuba Akpom doing so well at the nextGen tournament- That kid looks like the Jack Wilshere of strikers. To bring in a new striker wouldn’t work. Maybe Jovetic of Rues because they also operate from the wing allowing Walc his CF time. Otherwise I cant see it.
DM- with Ramsey filling in ala Flamini style and with Coq waiting in the wings I can only see us investing in either some old boots or something closer to hom…
My view would be to convert Vermaelen to DM. In his first season he conceded lots of goals but he also scored lots of goals which made us not notice his errors as much. Now that the goals have dried up however his flaws are there for all to see. Ball watching, out of position, goes forward too much and slow to get back. He needs a shake up and I think DM could be it for him. Otherwise I think he could go from being Captain to squad player
As for Goalies- Wenger is far too trusting in his current crop to ever really replace them. Otherwise we’d have got shot of Almunia years before. The same with Fabianski. However despite every fan the world over calling for Fab to go, since his return 1 conceded in 3. He’s been very worthy of his spot and wouldn’t we have been left with egg on our faces if we’d sold him only to then be scouting him again.
1 year left on a contract on which he only really gave 6 months ….
Unlike Van Persie it was good business to sell him, however I totally agree that he should have been adequately replaced….. with Mata or Hazard both who we were looking at ….
RVP was loved here Rico 30 goals was magic, but the bum left and scored many for that mad Scotchmans side and now he’s loathed your only as good as your last goal and in RVP case its been a while. Earn it while you can Robin as your getting on. You wont be a legend at Arsenal because you never had the heart.
Oz , would have Nasri back? Or Song? traitors…
There are decent ways of leaving for new pastures and still retaining the respect of your former club.
Even Eboue left a gent, Sylvain Wiltord, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira.
The above could all come back and sit amongst the crowd.
Nasri can’t , he was heckled with Shisha Chamakh earlier this season
A great shame Syg, proper poacher, striker who thankfully, is doing well again…
good post sp1
You know that after Gervinho’s renaissance he’ll be like a “new signing!”
Oz, but a striker, added to a few other key players in the door and we’d be getting those trophies…
We have the basis of a great team, just 4/5 would turn us into that great team.
Not cheap hopefuls though 🙁
agree George, no place for either of them
We should play the players in their positions, shift gthe deadwood , promote 2 /3 kids to fringe 1st teamers (Gnabry Eisfeld and Yennaris) , bring back Joel campbell, sell our 2 underperformiong stars and buy an expensive proven Centre forward who can push LP and OG.
Klingon will over ever be a 4th choice striker.
Walcott is a AMR , and he is off form. WE should play the Ox there till Theo pulls his finger out.
Dylan. Imho that is making do.
Two goals in two games doesn’t make me change my mind on Gerv, if he looked like changing his ways, he’d have had four at least against Reading…
We need a proper DM too, Coq and Ramsey don’t do it for me, but again just my view.
Sp, he left because age isn’t on his side, nor his fitness. he couldn’t hang around and wait for SK/AW to show some balls in the transfer market..
We saw it all before with Cesc..
We should build around those players, not sell them and replace them with cheap imports…
Lee – for some other club I hope….
agree Rico – some of the posts of how good Ramsey was against Reading (other sites) did my head in TBH and Gervinho well… we’ve seen it all before, one bad game and thats him done for another 6 months haha
Rico – i raise my glass to your last post – SPOT ON!
People speak of replacing gk and defensive players, most of the problem stems from lack of defensive drills and training, and as Henry himself conceded a lack of the manager’s studying the oppositions threat and preparing to nulify it, most notabley barca 06 cl final. Tactically wenger has let us down. To think we’ve only conceded 2 goals more than the premier league leaders, but have scored 11 goals less! Its a top class goal scorer we need most and let bould get on with his job in defense.
Young Bob at 10:48 am
Gervinho looking more and more settled …..?
He’s played 10 mins at Swansea and 75 mins against the premier leagues worst side …. He’s nimble and quick but he is as thick as two short planks, hence his decision making. Eur.15M to Galatasary is an amazing deal. Perhaps he’s currently playing for the 10%. A very frustrating player.
Chuba Akpom looking like the Jack Wilshere of strikers?
I’ll take your word for it, but I doubt it. Only seen him once so I cannot really comment, but I’ll hazard a guess that he’ll be as good as Benik Afobe or Sanchez Watt… Gnabry and Eisfield may make the step up …
Coquelin waiting in the wings
He needs shipping out. A footstamping bitch with no pace. Watched him a few times, never impressed. He played in both games against Bradford and Blackburn … our enforcer lol
Vermaelen to DM
He was captain of Ajax and Belgium and was the Premier Leagues best Centre-Back in his first season. You just don’t become a bad player – I think it’s partly to do with a coaching issue, his head and the players around him.
Fabianski
Szcsny needed dropping. Someone said on here – one of the regular posters, that Fabianski was technically the best goalkeeper we’ve got, which was a valid point. I think its a “Head” thing… clean sheets versus Munich and Swansea away isn’t a bad start….
Ramsey
He’s a central midfielder not a winger. He’s okay but no better than Henri Lansbury who was shipped out.
Well spoken brother. I have never heard or read any piece more true. I am sure there are passionate players out there. Soon he will arrive at our darling Arsenal. Soon our pride of place will return. The balance lies in what you just said. One world class holding midfielder, goal keeper and a Falcao and we are going to be unstoppable. I am full of expectations. I just can’t wait.
Morning all,
Good post Rico.
I totally agree on a striker. He must be quick, strong on the ball and superb technique and finishing. My take on Podolski is that he can’t hold the ball up, not quick enough to run onto balls or behind defences and does not have the striker instinct when it comes to positioning.
With regards to a DM, I’d prefer a box to box mid similar to Song’s role last season less the enormous ego and a bouquet of passing. I agree with most posts I’ve seen that DM’s is a dying breed dated to the days of Keane and Robson. Now days it’s a holding mid with skills of Pirlo who’s supported by a super fit and strong box to box mid.
Keeper wise, anyone who has proven himself will do. Surely they want to step up to Arsenal rather than their lowly team. If Schez is to be world class then he would still rise to the top and bang on the door for a chance.
George, your 10.29 does raise a good point…Fabianski has barely been under pressure due to our entire 11 defending and pressuring the man with the ball.
Should this not also mean we should give a little leniency to Szczesny though, as for the last who knows how long he and the back 4 have been left totally exposed due to a distinct Lack of defensive pressure up the pitch?
I do agree with you, but i have said all along our back 4 and keeper get crucified when some of our guys give nothing to stop the opposition flooding forward in numbers.
Morning all.
Rico…..a damn fine post, and the positive tones of the first few lines had me skipping down the page to see if Ginge or Kev wrote it 🙂
Great post.
Great points.
Tevez Anyone???
good post syg – no arguments here mate
There’s a bush somewhere…
@SYG 11:08 Spot on
worry for me now is what happens to all the transfer hope if we get top 4? I can already sense the Wenger press releases “we had many issues to deal with but i have full faith my team is good enough, we have surprised many with our quality. If we get a chance at a super super player, we will buy him but it is not easy to get these type of players”
If you wanna play in Midfield for Arsenal, you have to work flat out 100% 100mph. We can’t accomodate fairies and slouchies..Tall and Short, and must have an eye for a pass. This is what Ive liked seeing Rosicky back in the 1st 11.
When we go to sign someone Scott …. It’s an integration “Thing”….
Barton’s style would have fitted, but his personality and who he is, wouldn’t…….
Tevez? Suarez…. Great players who I’d love us to have… but while we have the players we HAVE, these type of players would not integrate into Wengers system… They are too “spikey” and “opinionated” ….
Oz, same here, let’s see what they are like against Everton, Manure and a couple of tricky away fixtures too…
This is half the problem imho, AW looks at the good games to judge players, instead of looking through a season. and this season, too many of ours have been very average…
Rico you build a castle around a solid mound, you build with blocks of solid stone and you cement the stones together by a craftsman you continue building with the same kind of stone till the castles finished that is called a fortified castle. you build a moat around the outside to keep intruders out and you are very careful of who you let in. We have the mound which is the Emirates and we have a couple of blocks trouble is we have run out of blocks and the craftsmen to build them. Hopefully a quarry opens soon and our apprentices are ready to come out of their time.:)
Morning all,
A very good post Rico… but AW is a clueless manager so how can the team be creating more chances than most teams that finish above us 😉 😀
SYG at 11:08 am, Jeez you are really on fire 😀
Keith, isn’t that pretty much what the post says? A striker, leave Bould to do what he does best and add a couple more top players, ones who will finally replace Gilberto and Mad Jens…
Thanks Brad/Scott…
I use the DM/HM loosely 😉
Don’t be so cheeky Scott 😉
”This is half the problem imho, AW looks at the good games to judge players, instead of looking through a season. and this season, too many of ours have been very average…” are you referring to SC19 not turning up during big fixtures ? 😉
StevieP@11:19 I only mentioned something like that to one of the lads at the gym (Arsenal lad too) who has just ragged in college …..
Building a career is like building a house – it is your choice of whether you wanting building out of straw, sticks or bricks ….
And you are totally right Steve. Our team is the same.
We had some fantastically designed interiors with great winding staircases and a state of the art roof …. but our foundations were made out of plastercine …
yes exactly, I agree! goal keepers and defenders getting a lot of flak on some posts, when its the collective system and wengers tactical naivity thats hurt us most.
Hiya Ginge…
we all want the same “end product”……. Arsenal = World domination.
… along with Man Utd to be relegated; Abramovich to have all his assets seized and jailed; and the University of Oxford to find that cars and cental heating can be run totally free on “air”, and all you would need is a £3 converter set from Halfords or Wickes …
Oz 🙂
Ts – he is clueless, you are spot on, otherwise he’d have a player who was good enough to bury those chances!!
11.19 Sp 😉
Fair call SYG, but i reckon Tevez himself knows he is on his last chance.
He likes being the man, and would be our focal point.
Just dreaming though.
Ginge, Santi is not a big lad, so is it possible he falls away when our entire midfield is being dominated physically?
Agreed about Rosicky, he is the only player who likesto, and can zip the ball around, like the midfield of old. Our Arsenal! It would be a travesty to let him go, as it is, it’s atravesty that he is not startinf every game for us now. Or is it Wenger’s canny end of season plan. Bring back a fit TR07 for the last 10games as he can make a real difference? Eg last year, when he returned and was our best player, nearly, but he did have ahuge impact on the results at the end of last season imo.
As for Ramsey v Lansbury I should say that they are pretty similar as players, similar position, similar skills, similar abilities and similar potential. So why choose one in front pf the other? I reckon it was tatoos and attitude. Wenger chose the nice polite welsh boy rather than the Arsenal supporting body art boy!
Hope that doesn’t offend too many of Lansbury’s fans, but there had to bea reason to sell.
Ozgunner, we shoud all be familiar with the wenger spin by now, the same lines for varies situations and times of the season, anyone with a good long term memory knows the script, for it hasnt changed since 06!
Keith,
It is all down to hard work mate.
It is an individual thing….pride in their own effort.
Once again, it is why i will always stick by a guy like Ramsey.
Our entire group are showing it of late, and it is not something that comes from the training pitch, imo.
Some of these guys have a had a good hard look at themselves and realised they are just not putting in a shift.
For whatever reason, it has happened, and it is working.
Steven Fletcher anyone when Sunderland go down?
Pogrebyniak?
Just a thought
Finishers no frills
I don’t know of any Gooner who was pleased Henri was sold.
Selling Lansbury was a mistake
Henri Lansbury is reading through the comments section as we speak, George…
Ts – not just him, we have far too many to mention..
Keith – I have to agree, players need to step up that’s for sure, but our defensive unit problems should have been ironed out a long time ago, in fact around 3/4 seasons ago…
Wavy. I watched Rosicky live on Saturday and he has lost a lot of his pace and he doesn’t zip the ball around any more. That acceleration that took him past players is no longer there as far as I can see. A squad player at best for me. What changed on Saturday was that OC ran forward with pace and committed their defenders. They couldn’t handle it, had to double up on him and conceded a penalty because of it. In the first half our build-up was too slow and square.
If this is Gervinho’s renaissance by scoring a sitter and missing 4 more, the Gawd ‘elp us.
I still hope he comes back, Henri Lansbury would work a lot harder than a number of players we have do – and he’s a true Gooner.
I could slap Wenger for a number of reasons, selling Henri is right up at the top of my list…..
Keith, most of us are 😉
ST spin time will soon be in full flow…..
Agree Adam.
Gervinho is not the player he was in France, and is not our answer.
Ox is back in form and should be played more often.
He scares the hell out of defenders as he is nearly as quick as Theo, but with more options to beat his man.
Tommy does give us speed, but speed in moving the ball on.
He doesn’t dwell on it, and our overall play steps up a notch when he is on.
Can we get a younger version of him 🙂
SYG, Lansbury is a class act, he scored again for Forest. Its only a matter of time before we end up with an egg on our face. I understand there is a buy back clause… how much?
Alot of youth players read these forums…I wouldnt be surprised.
Adam @11:46 you have a point about TR07, but his lack of legs is still better than the non running legs of some of our other midfielders. Agree the Ox was very on song and maybe a wake up call to Theo sign da ting
Wavy – I’d prefer Lansbury. Just my choice though.
George, we are better than that, we should be aiming higher than those kind of players…
This is the coming season when things have to change. We must start looking up. Wenger must buy proper players this time. He’s tried the alternatives and look where it has got us. Fourth biggest club in the world- Steven Fletcher? Come on!
George. For me Rosicky is yesterday’s Arsenal. Lansbury might love the club but I strongly doubt he is what we need. The quality of the squad needs lifting and that will hopefully inspire others to lift their game too. The whole club needs a rocket. If Wenger is going to stroll through next season talking cobblers and buying more Gervinho’s and Chamakh’s, then what is the point? We are at a real crossroads here. Our club has been slipping slowly away for years now. It simply cannot be allowed to continue.
Rico & Adam , I know we should be aiming for better players than those 2 lumps but we have a very tight board who just wont spend.
Scott from oz, steve bould is the reason ie the system, after the first bayern munich game(mauling) wenger let the defensive coaching staff take control of the defensive training, thats why the collective unit is stronger and more effecient, the sum of the parts greater, ie the system, which makes the individuals look better. That reason that evades you is the collective defensive system that bould implimented in the last few games.(when allowed to do his job).
RICO I would like to point out that we had rvp last season and scored less goals than previous seasons. Now without a main goal scorer we are second in league in terms of goals scored to united. Our forward line has contributed has contributed 36 premier league goals with cazorla being top scorer in terms of premier league goals scored. In all competitions those five players have sorted 54 goals between them with Walcott be top scorer followed by giroud podzol ski then Carzola and then gervinho. Ye we need 4/5 players a dm a top keeper and a striker possibly a cb and rb I would add another dm in just to be surer. But we want the team to score again and I would possibly buy two strikers loic remy and a jovetivic . I would start with giroud and jovetic up front and left then bring remy on as a sub swap jovetic with podolski. Why remy well simply he has shown he can cut it in this league by scoring with a team that has struggled to get goals and would be a steal at his prIce
George. The equation is very simple. Don’t spend properly=achieve nothing=lose your best players=lose the core of your fan base.
Wenger’s poor recent transfer record and/or the board have bought us here. Now, there is no alternative. It’s sink or swim.
Keith, that is just your opinion mate.
Nobody has ever stated Bould had no input before that, quite the contrary.
Doesn’t mean we have to accept it though George, the board should be meeting fans standards, not the fans meeting theirs…
Or at least try and meet half way….
Well said Rico.
The board appear to believe the club exists to serve their purposes.
Interesting Richard – thought if throwing the Remi name in there myself once or twice i see him more as backup to a real deal striker and buy that i don’t mean the Giroud’s of this world – wonder why the Pod hasn’t been given more time there as well?
Richard, yes I know but had we kept our top scorer last season, we may very well have double the goals we have right now.
Just look at all the chances we create, the ones Giroud, Gervinho, Cazorla, Walcott etc etc miss, time and time again.
Add to our top scorer, not sell him………
Fergie didn’t sign RvP and sell Rooney did he….
Good post Adam you wise man you – simple but so true
last line of your post Rico really tells a story in itself
Fergie didn’t sign RvP and sell Rooney did he…. Says it all
We’ve seen the standards that the board are prepared to accept haven’t we? We must not let a few recent victories blind us to the bigger picture. At the moment it seems to me that the fans are driving the club upwards, or trying to. Will Wenger and the board take up the challenge. Success in football is not a matter of opinion. The truth lies in the trophy room.
Scott from oz Actually they have, it was leaked from backroom staff to bbc journalist, bould only coached defence for the first few games of the season, everyone talked of how good we were defensively and bould got all the praise, after which for whatever reason wenger stopped boulds defensive coaching, after the bayern mauling he handed the reigns back to bould, hence the last three games. I know the differnce between my opinion and fact!
Thanks Oz. Rico still thinks I am a toad though.
SYG. Well said. Is that what they call good old Yorkshire common sense?
Rico, Van Persie missed plenty last season as well.
Yes, he scored a heap, but even when we were spanked by Utd, we should have had 4 by half time.
Actually, HE should have had 4.
A great striker who had a great season and is brilliant at getting into scoring positions, but he misses plenty.
Another good one Adam – i fail to see how this season has been anything but a washout – look at the cups, look at the table, where does all this positivity come from? Wenger and his team have failed big time regardless of whether Spurs choke or not surely this can’t be held up as being good enough?
Also scott as for the board, they own arsenal and can do what they want really,thay have the power, unless every single arsenal fan boycotts games, will that ever happen?
Ok Keith, i guess if it is reported in the media is just MUST be fact lol.
It isn’t still April 1st, is it 🙂
How are you mate?
Keith. I would take those leaks with a pinch of salt. People take what they want from the press to suit their own position. Individual agendas. We all have them.
Someone was on here recently caning the football press and then quoted a newspaper article to support a point he was making.
I believe the evidence of my own eyes and at the moment they tell me that Vermaelen is a defensive liability.
I will stop going to games immediately Keith 🙂
The board are responsible for everything at the club, including who manages them.
They are responsible, they are to blame.
Keith = we live in hope of glory days gone by so in a word NO
What has happened to our Verminator?
He really has been woeful.
Captains curse again?
Can’t really argue with that logic Scotty me old bean, you are right of course – so many knobs all on one board amazing 🙂
How’s the lilypad this afternoon Adam?
Nice one Adam….
Interesting “take” on the Nasri story …….
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/28280?
How is WA, Oz??
Our run of hot weather is about to end.
Low 20’s tomorrow….love it.
Ridip, ridip, ridip.
And Wenger Scott, he doesn’t wriggle out of it….
yeah nice here too Scott – warm days cool nights, great time of the year mate
had the board had balls Rico. Wengers little games would have been nipped in the bud and he would have had people to answer to instead of nodding dogs – hasn’t been a doubt in my mind he lost it years ago but a decent ambitious board might have stopped his relaxed slumber?
Oz. Are you near Perth?
Adam I agree on vermaelen, whats happened,he deseves to be dropped,
Rico, they are responsible for EVERYTHING at the club.
This includes being responsible for Wenger and his actions.
Oz gunner. he makes them profit, thats all they care about.
Keith. He has been. 🙂
Adam – 12 minutes from city centre (by car) bud yeah
Your right Keith cue my three Musketeers line used extensively this season again
12 minutes by Sydney is about 100 yards 🙂
You are in a great part of the country Oz.
A toad 😉
My mate is there about 6 times a year. Says it is expensive but people keep starting their conversations with a rather abrupt ” Look mate!” It drives him nuts. 🙂
Adam, I do know that,thats why i said it
yeah bit remote at times Scott but nice easy paced living – i was in Sydney of business recently and had a headache every night i was there haha Quick living city that one – I love Melbourne though
Rico. Don’t start on me. 🙂
Keith. I know.
Adam – he’s right about it being expensive now – average house here not that long ago was 2 times salary now its 6 times plus. Sydney was the dearest but i hear Perth is now a serious rival – shame. haha dunno about the ‘look mate’ stuff, not one of my lines
… Only good things to come out of Austroilia is the British Airways flight into Heathrow, Kylie Minogue and Rolf Harris….. lol
…. I bought a tidy Ausroilian film on dvd the other month …. “Dirty Deeds”
I like Melbourne as well…..sports capital of Australia.
Great food, great atmosphere.
Sydney sucks.
I grew up there…hated it then, hate it now.
90 minutes is just far enough away, but i’d prefer to be further.
SYG. Look mate. that’s a bit harsh. Kylie looks very odd these days though. 🙂
wow 4/5 good games and we got Bale being compared to Ronaldo amazing stuff
It is all down to the strength of the Oz dollar though.
My brother in law just got back from England and said it is as cheap as chips for us now.
He got around 65 pence per dollar, where some years back it was 38.
Massive difference.
SYG, the smart poms were those who stole a loaf of bread a few centuries back to get here 🙂
“Our” Kylie speaks more like one of you lot now lol
never been a kylie fan actually
Scott – young lad heading over there at years end to study finance at one of the Universities – rental seems very reasonable?
Nor I.
Cute in hot pants, but that is where her true talent lies, or should i say sits?
Oz. He offered to take me with him next time as a business perk. Long way though. But the HK stopover appealed as I could buy some cheap valves there. Not the plumbing types I know you must be thinking of. 🙂
Sydney you mean??
Nice One Ozzie and Scott …. lol
The wife has family in Elermore Vale near Newcastle……. that’s why we don’t go !!!
Aussies, Kiwi’s that couldn’t swim….
Drove through there today SYG…..pretty quiet part of the world.
Apparently New Zealand is a much more sophisticated place altogether Lee.
Now now Lee.
There are more Kiwis here in Oz than in bloody Auckland now.
Choice bro.
You should come Adam – the last gooner that visited me got on the plane with us not talking because i dared say Wenger was past it – man.. that was 4 years ago now hahah
most of them have sux kuds as will
Why not Adam…
Look mates, gotta pop off now and run the hound… 🙂
Catch up a bit later…..
Oz. you never know. Once the offer is upgraded to Business Class I might just do that. Should I let you know if I decide to take up the offer?
later Rico
I am off as well.
Night guys.
Adam – of course you should let me know what the hell kind of question is that? Do you think i spent all weekend tiling hall ways, laundry and toilet area for nothing!
night Scott, sleep well mate
Oz. it’s a deal. Thanks for that. 🙂
Only pulling your leg Scott… looks like a date Adam!
you can even use the double bed with the double decker London Bus above the bed…. don’t ask 🙂
Oz. With an offer like that….
I do see the similarities to Ronaldo at the same age. I actually think Bale is more prolific but then again he’s give a free role and more chances than Ronaldo did.
just five me notice Adam as we got people staying often so the longer the heads up the better mate
‘give’ me notice – sorry
Of course Oz. A chance to see how the rich live. I have Lee as my UK reference point. 🙂
I just read that according to the Brazilian newspaper Denilson will be coming back in the summer. Perfect timing to be Diaby’s replacement. Wenger must be ecstatic. Just need Bentner and Chamakh and the whole loser squad will be back.
Bradster, Denilson is cming back to collect his belongings before moving back permanently. Bendtner willbe given a pre-season and for sale , but we wont get any takers unless its a loan jobber for Cardiff next season.
Diaby we will never see play again, and he will be written off.
Chamakh will be sent back to Bordeaux.
no question Wenger needs to lift his game and get rid of these expensive mistakes
BUT that’s like him admitting I fucked up….there lies the problem, methinks!
All those who are no longer fit for purpose or are past their sell by date – settle their contracts and pay them off. Just get rid of them they’re nothing more nor less than a series of expensive distractions. An experiment that failed. Youth project now ended.
Move on.
Does anyone know how it works for Myacchi. Will he still be on a special talent Visa next season or is there another type and is it possible to have both Myacchi and Campbell next season?
are we sure either of them offer anything?
Oz, they’re both fast runners but we have one of those already on 100k 😉
His visa was a special talent visa which doesn’t change thats his visa and is valid as permanent not a temp visa so he fine. Campbell should qualify as he’s played 75% of the National teams matches over the last 2 years.
WATH, is this Campbell any good??
He looks good Lee but he has a huge problem. He likes to shoot from outside the area and Wenger doesn’t like that as we know. He soon cures players of that foul tendency.
God forbid the long range shot….why do that when you can pass it 42000 times then on to Gervinho, who skies it? I see the rapist hasn’t scored for 12 games…..
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, great post…
David Villa works for me…
Give him a 3 year deal.
Give Sagna a 3 year deal.
Keep Vermaelen…
ManUre are doing ok with old players.
I remember Adams, Keown, Winterburn, Dixon, Bould, Bergkamp, Seaman, all playing into their mid/late 30’s, with no trouble…
Giggs, Scholes, Freidal, Lampard, they all seem to be doing ok!
Afternoon Wath, Lee, Adam…
Anyway, according to the Mirror, Wenger is blowing £70m on Gotze, Lewandoski & Bender…
Load of bollocks
Kev, are you suggesting that it’s the annual ST renewal spiel?? Shame on you! How are you my friend?
Looking forward to the next H.H.C.C lunch!
afternoon AK,
Mirror is chatting usual kak.. None of those players on our radar. Lewandowksi is on MAnure’s radar, we missed the mario goetze boat already and Lars Bender is staying put
@lee 2.50 lol, sad but true
I am good Lee, thanks…
Did you have a good holiday mate?
I notice that you are a Tweeter now… 😀
I still can’t quite work the bloody thing out tbh….
Hiya George…
ST spiel?
Moi?
Perish the thought mate… 😉
April 11th Lee…
Afternoon appointment I believe.
Adam is in charge of the arrangements..
Really looking forward to it….
Cracking belated honeymoon,I’ll tell the Maldives stories over a ruby mate!
The interesting one that has gone quiet is the Nani rumour. Red nose still not happy with him
You’ll enjoy the grub Lee, it’s a pucker restaurant…
Look forward to an evening of interesting stories mate…
George, tbh, I never imagined that Sir ScotCnut would ever sanction the transfer of a decent player to Arsenal…
Btw, I’m sure that I saw Silvestre training with the currant ManUre squad, on TV, the other day.
Is he on their coaching staff?
Surely he isn’t training as a prospective player????
Did somebody say Maldives??? I like!!
Hello, all!! Catching up on the comments. Back in a bit.
Hello all….
🙂
Nothing quite like doing the washing, getting it out on the line early to blow in the wind, and then in dry and then ironed 🙂
A really, really good write, rico. I’d be lying if I were to say that we don’t miss van Pursie’s goals, or that we have adequately replaced him. I should thin, if we hadn’t let him go, signed Poldi and Giroud, and brought in a proper DM, we really would be challenging for more than fourth spot.
But that is the AFC board for you, always cutting corners. 🙁 🙁
I don’t mind doing the laundry, rico. But I always wish clothes were “self-ironing”. 😛 😛
Hi Kev & thanks re the post
Boo agag
Maldives has human rights issues I believe. We have been advised to boycott the place until they sort it all out. Boss man likes flogging innocent women who get raped and then the powers that be accuse the woman of behaving inappropriately, flogging her and releasing the rapist with a caution. Doesn’t sound to pleasant a regime.
Thanks agag and agree re the self-ironing 😉
You’re no fun, Wavy! I’m all booked to go. 🙁 🙁 😉 Same problem in a lot of Moslem countries, plus India.
rico, while we are at it, self sweeping floors, self-brushing toilet bowls, self-washing plates and pots and pans
See link for for information
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/maldives_ci_3/?bglwtbb&v=23571
If you are interested, of course.
Yeah AGAG I was there a couple of weeks ago….
I have seen that Wavy. 🙁
I’m sure you had a great time, honeymooning, Lee. 🙂
I’ll stick to a week in Southend On Sea I think. The Pier Hotel looks nice and it’s only 40 minutes down the road. Public floggings are limited to once a week.
Agag and Rico. I have found that the ironing just seems to get done. Magic really. 🙂
Watching Rvp warming up monday,giving it billy big bollo#’s
along the touch line,just like he did against west ham,
did you think O no not again.
Was’nt it nice to see him walking off after the chelsea game,
with his tail between his legs.
He looked just like a little boy lost.(Dreaming of a Double).
Hope he did’nt choke on his easter egg.
I am all for all of those agag 😉
Where is that, Adam? 🙂 Oh, and about ironing, show-off!! 😛
Fred, you are far too charitable. I was hoping he’d choke on it. 😉
Southend-on-sea is an exclusive resort, more commonly known as “The Essex Riviera”…..
Love to see the manc’s choke again agag.
Lee is right Agag. Rich people parade along the promenade of an evening in Southend in the chicest of designer wear while eating cockles, whelks and candy floss. 🙂
It rivals anything Monte Carlo has to offer.
Not been the same resort since they pulled down the Kursal! Saw the Supremes in concert there, years ago.(Southend, I mean).
Wavy. Was that in Westcliffe Cliffs Pavillion?
Is the Kursal gone?
It might have been, to be fair I can’t really remember, it looked like a cinema/theatre inside. So if the building fits then that’s where it was.
Why did you go too?
Mmmmm – I wonder how Adam.!!
Hey rico, great article and you make great points that apply to any good player joining man city or chelsea. IMO I think if you are serious about joining the world’s elite Man City is the place where your dreams will die. No serious players should consider joining man city until they are well-established amongst the world’s elite (and even then it’s probably a bad decision). The list of players spoilt by man city in the last few years is bordering on ridiculous.
In regards to the striker issue, I hold a different opinion to the vast majority of arsenal fans when I say we shouldn’t sign a new striker. When Giroud and Podolski signed last summer, we were told not to expect miracles as they are foreign players that may well take a year or two before they start banging them in.The next season or even two are crucial junctions for these players to see if they are truly up to standard. I don’t think we need a striker but understandably, most fans have grown wearily impatient of having to wait for potential to be fulfilled, so if I was Wenger and was intent to sign a player for immediate effect I would look in the Premiership. While players like Jovetic undoubtedly have the qualities to prosper in the PL, there remains the question of how long they will take to get going – as such a player like Benteke – with proven premier league quality – represents a far better proposition.
fred, i watched most of that game – that old badger (who was it that named him that?? Wavy or Bradster?)
He was very average, in fact I thought he was Gervinho in disguise when he missed a simple headed chance….
Wavy. No, but I went to a classical concert there a couple of years ago. The Pavillion is a fair sized concert hall on the cliffs just along in Westcliffe.
Last Summer we did an early morning drive down to Leigh-On-Sea and it was like Dickens time with the tide out etc. Just like Great Expectations. We ate some fresh seafood from a stall but then it filled up so I was home just after lunch.
Dunno Rico. I throw stuff in a wicker basket and a couple of days later it is clean and folded in my wardrobe. Sometimes it is better not to ask how things happen. 🙂
Just accept them.
I’ve not been ther for years. Last time was to see a friend who lived in Westcliff, still does. Went for a beer and ate cockles outside at a pub overlooking the sun tinted, glorious mud! Marvellous. The cockles were nice though. Ought to and look at the place again, it’s been so long.
Didn’t we lend Southend one or two of our players. i bet they’ve had a whale of a time!!
Thanks Rohan..
Benteke is good but he misses a few chances too, but i’d say he’s better than Gervinho…. But if we want a PL striker, Michu is the one I’d go for….
😆 Adam, that happens here too, it’s just me that takes the clothes on that journey back to the wardrobe….
I kne you would, rico. 😛
Sounds like a special place, Adam. 😉
Rohan, Torres fits your requirement. 🙂
😉 agag, makes our life much easier eh …..
Good incisive post rico,
Why do I have this feeling that if only Van pursering had stayed we would have won the league or possibly pushing for the title this season. Manure would in no way be running away with the title now. It took a while for Giroud/Poldi to settle into the team as we had no choice but to throw them in. As a result of their lack of experience in the EPL we threw away points here and there
Like rico said we have a basis for a strong team next season. What we need is add 3/4 experienced players in the appropriate positions we are currently lacking especially the striker role. Wenger said yesterday that Gerv is not a clinical finisher and in the other game against swansea that we lack taking our chances in the final third. Hopefully he is looking to bring in a predator that should be churning the chances we are creating.
We made hardwork of the sunderland game when in the first half we could have being 5 -0 up and had a couple in the 2nd half. If we had a striker of Van pursering mode on saturday, we would have being in double figures v reading.
Self-shining shoes, self-bathing dogs, self -kitty-litter emptying cats, self-cooking food… 😛 We could go on, eh, rico?
Hi emma, thanks and exactly. Build around the best….
We’ll never know but….
😉 agag, we could…
Talking of which, now I need to get dinner. Back shortly….
Well that didn’t take too long 😉
Self-ironing clothes,sheets etc….
Hmmm.
Wasn’t that called Nylon??? 😉
AW looked at Van Nisterooy and bought the striking striker Wiltord instead a year earliuere because he was cheaper. that was withg DD in charge of transfers… just imagine how a strike force of DB10, TH14,NK25 and VN would have looked for Arsenal in the early noughties…
Another prove we are cheap skates and fergie follows our trail…
good evening btw
Jason Cundy got slaughtered today on talkshite for saying CL is more important than the FA…. the funny thing was it was mostly the non EPL club supporters who seemed crossed.
Wavy re your 11.36.
I would say the difference between the two is Wenger paid a lot of money for Ramsey and Lansbury was a freebie so to speak.
Nylon Kev, that was very slippy 😉
Jason Cundy. A man separated from reality by one letter.
Taking into consideration that whatever Benitez does, between now and the end of the season, that he is still gonna leave.
Whilst also considering his personal CV.
And, the fact that he’ll possibly be replaced by his ‘mate’ Mourinho.
You have to wonder at his priorities???
Champions League football for Chelsea & Jose next season?!
Or an FA/UEFA Cup Double success for himself..?!!!
Kev. That’s an interesting proposition for the interim manager.
My 2nd wife absolutely insisted on nylon sheets but I preferred goatskin. 🙂
agag – I knew someone would say that – The Torres situation is an an anomaly though – 2 years ago Torres would have fit all our descriptions as the striker we needed as he was banging them in left,right and centre.
Rico – Michu has been very impressive and would fit the role well if I assume you want a fox in the box, poacher player rather than the complete forward. In that case other options would perhaps suggest Chicarito, or even Steven Fletcher (admittedly not in the world class range, but has a fantastic chance conversion).
Rico, so you too shared in the wonders of Nylon? 😛
I did Kev – only when I experienced cotton did I realise how nasty it was..
Bit like Izal really :oops 😳
Was that last one a bit TMI 😉 😉
It might be if I knew what Izal is. 🙂
FA/UEFA Cup Double success for himself
A step up from newspaper Adam 😉
I thought it was a moisturiser Rico. 🙂
I’m off for the day now folks so I’ll bid you all a goodnight…
Have a good one, ’til tomorrow…
Nighty all…..
😆 Adam….
Your 7:30 Adam, has really tickled me!
Are the PSG fans chanting stand up if you hate Middlesex Hotspurs? 😆
Morning all
nice read, i agree with the author
while i was reading it, one name sprung to mind – lewondoski anyone ? he shouldn’t cost us a fortune , would be certainly less than the cost of cavani/falco.
am even inclined to say better than jovetic (yep, i don’t really rate serie A strikers as such), look at balotelli, went from the premiership and has done a decent job in italy.
i suspect most if not all of our next signings may come from germany bar isco (if it happens).
Exactly Ginge, that’s what I thought.
If Benitez has a big cup-tie coming up, will he rotate and rest key players for that cup-tie and play weaker teams in the EPL games either side of the said cup-tie???
Lets hope so eh?
April 7th Sunderland (h)
April 11th Rubin Kazan (a)
April 14th Man City (Wembley)
April 17th Fulham (a)
April 21st Liverpool (a)
April 25th UEFA Cup s/f
April 28th Swansea (h)
May 2nd. UEFA Cup s/f
May 4th. Man Ure (a)
That’s quite an intense run of games for our Friends from the Bridge…
Possibility of a few dropped points methinks…
We still have to win ours Kev, even if they do drop points… 😉
Morning all…
Good morning,
Kev- April 14th Man City (Wembley) you really do not want Judas Vpursios to win the double in his first season… lol. me too and a whole host of gooners 😀
Who is Judas Ts?
Van Purse strings but he can only win the PL, I thought….
Moprning Rico, btw.
Morning Lee, that’s what threw me, Rvp and his lot got Ba’ttered 😉
Morning All
Any news on jack yet,
from what I heard he spent most of the time in the gym,
and a week-end off last week.
He was’nt limping,so was it a rest he was given or spoof injury.
Not seen anything fred, not re Jack or Walcott although the latter has expressed his desire for a trophy next season….
Funny hearing walnut givin it the verbals,
up unto he signed the new contract,
we could’nt get word out of him.
trophy? what is that? 🙂
He’s usually got some old claptrap to spout, if he wants a trophy, then bet he pull his socks up…
Or leave 😉 😉
Gary Linekar has the handles Oz, one each side of his head 😉
When I look at walnut..
Winner is not what I see
I see sprinter…not good footballer!
Or Formula 1 driver….
Fred don’t suggest that Jack’s injury was tactical in public . Remember :- These walls have ears.
After what jacks been through,
I hope we don’t go over the top,
with the cotton-wool
At least he has something then 😉
He’ll come good again, and then he’ll be like a new signing 🙂
New Post up….
Massive news.
Yanited AND Liverpool are coming to Australia in the summer.
Arsenal…..where are you??
I couldn’t give a shit if had seats in a private box for nothing, i still could not watch these two.
Morning all.
Oz, it has been teeming down all bloody day here.
Ps….i just saw next seasons line up of shirts…well, supposedly so.
If it is right, they are absolutely awesome.
I will TRY to post the link, but do not hold your breath 🙂