Arsenal favourites to land striker. (Not Benzema or Cavani!) Neville blasts Wenger & Cech outstanding…

Morning all.

Not a good one either is it?

To lose both Mertesacker and Koscielny prior to kick-off was a massive double blow. Chambers and Gabriel came in and yet again, Walcott was on the bench as was Oxlade-Chamberlain which I found quite odd. Pace – gone…..

The first half was awful for many reasons. Chambers looked lost and his passing was all over the place but when did he last start a competitive game off football? He wasn’t alone in the bad pass department either.

Gabriel, Cech and Coquelin were playing well and a good job really as one, sometimes all three along with the woodwork spared us from conceding a goal. Cech more than justified why he’s still a number one keeper.

Ramsey had a good goal ruled out for offside and moments like that can change a game. Had it been allowed, we may have seen a different game.

We were better in the second half, well, we had more of the ball and the mistakes lessened, but as soon as we get near the penalty box it’s same old same old, tippy tappy, passing to death, no shot on goal and then the move fades and dies…

Giroud went over under a challenge in the box, penalty or just a slip on the wet grass…? The same player was denied by Mignolet before heading off the pitch. Walcott came on in his place but all too little too late as the Liverpool defence had shut up shop. Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Coquelin and tried his best to make an impact but again, nothing..

0-0 it ended and a very poor night for Arsenal.

I don’t get Arsene Wenger at all. Ok, losing both defenders can’t be helped but up the end of the pitch, what is going on? Our quickest striker/winger and possibly our best finisher gets left on the bench again. Oxlade-Chamberlain who is direct, has pace and scares many defences, was also on the bench and without those two, or even one, our width has gone. What’s the point in playing a big tall striker but not feeding him with crosses?

Brendan Rogers must have loved seeing that line-up as would his players.

For a manager who boasts about playing football the right way, we are not playing that way at all imo. Yes we need a couple of players but even so, with the players we do have in the squad, that game last night should have been won with ease but all the time we play without width, pace and refuse to shoot, we never will do…..

And the worrying thing is, Arsene Wenger won’t change now will he……

Gary Neville who is now a well respected pundit, has really laid into our manager:

To me it’s arrogance. I think it’s arrogance. I really do. To think that you are not going to adapt your team, to change to impact on the other teams that you’re playing against and their strengths.

It is either naive, or arrogance. Because they keep losing this way. Belief? It is mis-held belief.

I’ve got great respect for Arsenal as a football club. Arsene Wenger’s job is absolutely amazing. But I just cannot get my head around why he would not sign players of power to assist these talented players that you’ve got to enable them to win the league.

It is the one big, if you like black mark, against Arsene Wenger in these last 10 years in terms of why he hasn’t identified an issue with these types of players (points to Coquelin and Cazorla) – because they cannot win the league with them. It can’t happen. I can’t think of a word to describe that bunch. I could but it wouldn’t be usable on television.

They are certainly not what you want to win you a league, the powerful characters, the strength you need running through your team whether it’s a Blackburn team or a Manchester City team with Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany.

Wenger hit back:

You find all kind of attributes for me since I’ve been here. I try just to do my job well for 20 years. I leave judgement to everybody else, the assessment of the quality of my work.

When you don’t win, you’re wrong and people find reasons. Are they good reasons? I have enough experience to know when it’s right and when it’s wrong.

Trouble is, things are wrong, very wrong and Arsene Wenger is doing bugger all about it…..

Gossip:

Gazeta.ru report that Aleksandr Kokorin of Dynamo Moscow is close to signing for Arsenal, with the deal expected to be finalised before the end of this month. He’s had talks with Utd and Tottenham apparently but we’ve jumped ahead in the queue. He has a buy-out clause apparently, just 19 million Euros…

That’s it for today….

255 thoughts on “Arsenal favourites to land striker. (Not Benzema or Cavani!) Neville blasts Wenger & Cech outstanding…

  1. rico says:

    Thanks Lewis..

    It’s disgraceful really isn’t it. We behave like a team in the Championship who are on the verge of financial collapse…

  2. Lewis says:

    Spot on with the width, giroud had nothing to feed off. Ramsey on the wing doesn’t work and unbalances the team. Square pegs in round holes.

    One of Ramsey, ozil or Santi need benched and theo or the ox put on the wing.

  3. tsgh says:

    Good read Rico.

    in my view hindsight is a wonderful thing especially for us fans.

    No one knows if Theo or Ox starting would have made any difference. In my opinion, starting theo and Ox who are both not the most tactical/intelligent players would have costed us. But then again I am not a coach… just an unpaid scout. 😛

    Dev- from previous page, I think you are right on some of the combos’ something I have said since Ozil joined us and I have gotten told off for merely putting across my view.

    I will have to disagree though that a combo of Coquelin, Wilshere and Ozil will work.

    In my view, as well as Coquelin was good at reacting to situation; it showed that we need someone who can read the game better.
    It was not that we were bad last night. In my view the players were Out-Thought on the pitch.
    The pundits will say we need a leader but when TR07 and Arteta are playing and we get out-thought, they communicate and change things themselves…

    I know Scott and all the Coq lovers will fume but imho, the combo of SC19 and Coq does not work;as I have always said our goals tally with that combo assuming we are to win 25 games, loss 4 and draw 9 all season will not win us the title… that will give us 85 points.

    When was last time we were able to accumulate 85 points?

  4. andrewh1313 says:

    Good post rico in trying circumstances. Re Chambers something was up in the summer when he couldn’t even get a start for a losing U21s team. If AW now buys a couple of decent players, IF, it still ranks poor management because we have started the season similar to last year, 3 games in and 5 points behind. And two have been at home. Dealings should have been sorted before Emirates Cup to bed in. I can just see a season ahead where I repeat to myself, boringly, why oh why, why not Sneid, why not xyz. We’ve really built on our cup successes haven’t we?

  5. Tai says:

    Nice post Rico…

    I bet you… no team in England will start Walcott from the bench… he’s a winger who can drift in occasionally to cause real damage… and believe me, if City had Chamberlain they wouldn’t have bought Sterling.

    But then Wenger usually see things his way.

  6. rico says:

    Agree – and as much as a sterling job Santi has done, we need a stronger player in there…

    It’s always been square pegs in round holes under AW over the last few years. We have a glut of midfielders who are all too similar. Jack of all trades yet master of none.

  7. rico says:

    Thanks Ts/Adam.

    Yes Adam, a lot of frustration and anger, and like you, I thought Coquelin was superb last night and Gabriel just got better and better as the game went on. He certainly spared Chambers blushes on more than one occasion, Cech too had a good game I thought.

    I wholeheartedly agree with Gary Neville comments about Wenger. I really do…

  8. scottfromoz says:

    Do we need Nevilles endorsement of what most Arsenal fans think?
    Who cares what he thinks, whether we agree or not?
    Does hm saying it suddenly make it legitimate?
    Bloody Manc.
    Ginge, I won’t get into the Coquelin debate…I see a real player who gives his all, and saved our arses on several occasions….as he often does…..you know what I think though 🙂
    Cech was phenomenal, and Gabriel was fantastic.
    Girouds slip was no slip at all.
    I’ve just seen the replay again and there was clear and intentional contact made to his back leg.
    It was a penalty.
    I know I’ve copped it from plenty for blaming officials, because we should take it out of their hands.
    Can anyone tell me how, exactly?
    An Onside goal and a stonewall penalty.
    Morning all.

  9. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico, a controversial post, but a good one.
    As good and refreshing as a green tea following a pesto infused penne…

    I think that Gary Neville may have touched a nerve…

  10. rico says:

    Thanks Andrew, as Lee says, rinse and repeat. It’s been like this for too many years now and I can’t see things changing under AW. A determined and ambitious manager would have made signings before now as you say and they could have had a good pre-season together..

    But no, let’s bank the money and remain rich….

  11. rico says:

    Thanks Tai. I agree – Theo would be a starter at any other PL club, especially this early in the season. He had a really good pre-season and then gets dumped on the bench. What good will that do him…..

  12. Brian Price says:

    Hi Rico, I agree with the square pegs theory, Arsene has always picked his team on a ‘pecking order’ basis. At the moment Ramsey is above the Ox and Theo so he gets the wide right spot, even though it doesn’t suit his game, he doesn’t stay there and the other two are among the best in the league in that position. We end up compressing play into the left two-thirds of the width making it easy for the defenders to flood us out and denying Bellerin the chance to combine with a winger the way Monreal and Alexis do. Arsene won’t change until someone gets injured.
    As for the defence, I’ll take playing rubbish and a clean sheet any day.

    Brian

  13. allezkev says:

    I think that there were quite a few players out there last night, who were reactive and struggle to read the game.

  14. Adam says:

    Rico. Cech was good and behind that defence probably did more work than in 6 games behind the Chelsea defence. 🙂
    It is immensely frustrating though to sit and watch.

  15. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    good read Rico.

    Kev was right. This team needed Vidal for the B2B role. Pogba suffered without him in Juve’s first game.

    Tai….I have always said that Gabi is not Per’s replacement. He is there to replace Kos.

    Lewis…..it has been obvious from last season that Aaron on the wings does not work and unbalances the team. Imo Jack, Aaron, Santi and Ozil must share the B2B and CAM positions between them. While OX, Theo, Welbeck and Sanchez share the wings. If Theo goes central then buy another winger. if Theo stays outside then buy a CF.

    We still need a top CF, a beast of a midfielder, and two squad players.

    Kokorin??? 6ft and his scoring rate is a total of 1 in 4. Not bad for an understudy to Ollie.

    We need better. a 1 goal in 2 games poacher. not someone who likes to drift out to the left or the right and is a good understudy.

  16. frednerk says:

    Chambers once again was thrown in the deep end,
    yes at least it was a home game..
    but the pace of a top game is not like
    pre/season or training game.
    His first half was a nightmare,
    but not the second half..was it.
    What I did like apart from the world
    class saves of Cech was how Cech took control
    the second half..
    he refused to give the shorty to chambers
    and let him settle in.
    We had width last night on left..Didn’t we
    We just never took the half chance..
    ………………………………Did we

  17. potter says:

    Wenger is french and the French are always about style . I have worked for a French company they tried to get us to sell pink screenwash pumps , as he gets older he wants to see things which are pleasant on the eye , he has lost the drive to lead his troops over the top , he needs to go.

  18. Gdna says:

    Good morning all, good post rico. I think for Arsenal to be truly competitive, the club needs to get rid of some of the players who are too similar and inconsistent. I know this will upset people but could the club benefit from a better CM than SC or Ramsey/JW? Could a player like Moussa Sissoko be bought in a replace 1 of those player. Mario Gotze is available could he replace 1 of OX/TW or DW? In my opinion yes because he is a player like Nasri wide playmaker/goalscorer, who also help to retain possession something that the manager is obsessed with. Could a player like MS be more beneficial to the team than MA, TR and MA? The club also needs to acquire another CF who can score goal, OG make space at the edge of the box and still looking to pass, he needs to play from the bench. For this team to move forward tough love got to be shown to the manager and some of the players. The amount of overpaid players at the club is laughable. Lastly Coq had a good game yesterday and was our best player which is not a good sign because his skill set is not at the required level as yet to be a DM for a team with aspiration to win the league. Fans think we are 2 players short but i think its more with also a new manager. imo

  19. rico says:

    Hi Brian, and managing that way is very wrong. Ramsey is not a winger, never has been and never will be and imo, shouldn’t be anywhere near the wings. Especially when there are two on the
    bench.

    Wenger’s trouble is he can’t see beyond his favourites. Thank goodness Jack is injured otherwise he’d be on the wings too…. 😉

  20. Lee says:

    “Do we need Neville’s endorsement of what most Arsenal fans think?” Do most Arsenal fans believe this though Scott? I think Neville talks a lot of sense and is a bloody good pundit.
    We’ve still got the red hat brigade blowing plumes of smoke up Arsene’s derriere!

  21. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, who cares what their fans OR Neville think?
    Aren’t they entitled to their opinion?
    More importantly, even if all fans wanted Wenger sacked, would it make any difference?
    I never said Neville wasn’t right, but cares if he is or he isn’t?
    Seriously, could you imagine Utd fans throwing about a criticism of their club from Henry?
    Where’s our pride?
    Results and Wenger have nothing to with that.
    Sorry, but I say again I’m extremely disappointed.

  22. Gdna says:

    With this current team, the selection of SC and Ramsey is a must. No other MF at the club can comfortable play with Coq (1st choice DM), so SC who is two footed and comfortable in possession have to play. Ramsey play right side to cover for MO and SC lack of running/defending. For a manager who has limited time in the game, its laughable the ish he does at times. Its too obvious, playing TW or Ox who can’t retain possession/defend we will be beaten easily.

  23. Adam says:

    The balance between stability and evolution is a difficult balancing act.
    When in doubt, start from the back. You’ll never win the big prizes with a flakey defence which must be why Pellegrinni has spent so much time recently with his. The difference in Mangala this season has been impressive but he now has Ottamendi looking over his shoulder too. But then he also has a strong CM duo in Yaya and the filthy Fernandinho in front of them. Plus two pacey wide men to stretch defences. The bloke has a plan.

  24. allezkev says:

    We are, only 3 games into this season.
    And we currently stand above Chelsea on goal difference with the same points.
    Chelsea probably, well no, they do, have more defensive issues than us….

    And yet nobody is suggesting that Chelsea’s season is finished…

    Chelsea will get better.

    And so will Arsenal.

    Whilst Man City will drop points.

  25. Lee says:

    The point is that it’s blatant to everyone what needs top be done at Arsenal …..well blatant to most apart from Wenger!
    If Henry was speaking sense and LvG was fucking up wholesale why wouldn’t their fans agree with him?

  26. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, I’d suggest Yanited fans would tell Henry where to go with his opinions.
    Chambers definitely needs playing time, and a loan is the obvious way to get it.

  27. Adam says:

    Again Rico, I agree about Chambers.
    This getting worrying. All this agreement stuff 🙂
    But, if he had gone out we would be looking at Monreal or Debuchy at CB. Unless he has that spot marked for Theo.

  28. joe says:

    Well officials have had a big impact on the results of games of Liverpool.
    It must be great to be a team where your results get a helping hand.
    Morning all, of course Wenger is arrogant that what makes him the manager he is whether you think it’s a good or bad one.
    But can he now go and buy a player that improves the team but I have no idea who that could be.

  29. Lee says:

    Agree Kev but all this spin from Wenger we need to start well….. hardly PL winning start is it?
    We haven’t won a competitive game at the Emirates for 5+ matches…..

    We’ve scored 1 goal this season…

    The season will unfold like many before, where’s the ambition, where’s the drive it’s Groundhog Arsenal all over!

    RINSE REPEAT RINSE!

  30. rico says:

    I’m the same Lee, and I bet Utd fans would agree with Henry. Look at all the crap Moyes had thrown at him from pundits who weren’t Utd players in their day. The Utd fans didn’t disagree back then…

    What saddens me is the fact that Neville is saying it because it’s true. Only one man can put a stop to that and he’s got his head in the sand…

  31. Lee says:

    Why leave it until the 11th hour to buy the necessary players? Doesn’t seem like a well thought out plan to me, almost seems knee-jerk.

  32. rico says:

    I think so Adam.. 😉

    As soon Chambers had that awful game at right-back it was clear he had a way to go. I really like him and I think he’ll be very good but sitting on the bench isn’t going to improve his game…

    Yes, you and I agreeing Adam is a concern… 😉

  33. scottfromoz says:

    Yanited fans wouldn’t be talking about what Henry said, they’d be screaming blue murder over two terrible decisions that cost them the game.
    And people say Wenger accepts things just rolling along?
    Maybe we fans have a defeatist attitude now.

  34. Adam says:

    Gdna. Chambers had a kind of baptism of fire when he first arrived due to the injuries last year but Wenger must have seen something in him. I would see a loan as part of his development really. Whether he can make it at the very top level I have no idea but I doubt last night would have helped, except perhaps in experience terms.
    It’s difficult to separate the emotion from clear thought where your team is concerned though.

  35. allezkev says:

    Rico, that’s a good call re: Chambers…

    But would Wenger have brought in another centre-back?
    If not, then yesterday it would have been Gabriel and Monreal at the back…

    Scott, maybe our slow start will encourage Wenger to get his chequebook out?

  36. Lee says:

    Scott, BUT Wenger keeps making the same mistakes, he papers over the cracks and we will fall short yet again…..difficult to feel super positive about the same bollocks rehashed every season!
    While there’s funds available to strengthen!

  37. bradster says:

    I think we needed to target Gomez. Get Ox and Bellarin putting pressure on him and whipping those balls in low for Giroud to flick in.

    We played with Arteta in the HM role without a DM. Why can’t Cazorla play there and get a strong box to box mid like Sissoko?

  38. allezkev says:

    Scott, only Man City and probably Leicester have had good starts to the season.

    Chelsea have been poor.
    ManUre poor, but lucky.
    Liverpool, just lucky.
    Spurs are rubbish, as usual.

    It’s been a strange season so far…
    35 games to go, many twists and turns…

  39. rico says:

    Scott, the goal being disallowed is a bitter pill to swallow and it angers me no end and it’s cost us 2 points, 2 big points but the picture for me is bigger. The performance was woeful the way we set up was unbalanced imo and that’s down to not having the round pegs for the round holes…

  40. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, it has to, surely.
    Lee, I’m not for one second defending Wenger here.
    I’m asking why is it all over Facebook and the net that Nevills said what the vast majority of Arsenal fans know already?
    Why is it relevant?
    I couldn’t give a shit what he says.
    I learn more every day on here than I do listening to these muppets.
    Yes, Neville is very astute at reading the game, but does that mean he knows what happening at our club?
    It’s just irrelevant, IMO.
    Yes, we must buy players.
    Why so late?
    I’ve no idea at all.
    Officials cost us a result though 🙂

  41. rico says:

    Good question Kev, but didn’t Wenger sign Chambers as a right-back? Maybe Gabriel would have been signed earlier or he’d have just made do as he did really…

    Would Monreal have made all the errors Chambers did in the first half? All if and buts I know but I do think our early errors gave Liverpool a lot of confidence.

    As did not having much speed up front imo…

  42. Lee says:

    Adam, I don’t know mate. It’s all fucking tedious though, isn’t it? We’ve been told that these transfers take months by some folk on here, so looks like Arsene is cutting it fine!

    Mario Gotze at last knockings to appease the fans maybe? Not for me, we need a proper striker and a DM way in front of signing the goat!

  43. allezkev says:

    Yes Coach that’s always key… 🙂

    Lee, I am a bit surprised, after such a good pre-season, why we’ve been so inconsistent since we beat Chelsea, it’s a mystery mate?

    The West Ham was a huge shock to the system of everyone, all of us, we expected 3-0 or 4-0, and it shook us up…

    Not sure if that’s out of our system yet…

    Personally I’d start Walcott at home, to stop teams pushing up and pressing the midfield.
    And Giroud in the away games…

    But then I haven’t got a CV which says I’ve won trophies in three different countries, so what the fcuk do I know?

    I think though, Lee, that Wenger will now definately do some business in the market.

  44. potter says:

    Even if he does now though Joe , it’s 3 games too late . He was suckered in. to believing that the cup win proved his squad was capable However the F.A Cup is only 6 games the season is much longer than that. You need capable back up and improvements to go forward. He became complacent.

  45. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I know what you’re saying about the bigger picture, and I agree.
    It does seem poor officials cost every season though…plenty of points.
    Not an excuse each year, but it is a factor.
    You know what my biggest concern is?
    Liverpool are shit, and we should be dominating them.
    Even the disallowed goal and penalty, potentially giving us a 2-0 win, doesn’t change the fact there actually wasn’t much between the two sides.

  46. allezkev says:

    Not sure Rico, Chambers was a right back at Southampton at the time we signed him, but maybe he played centre-back in their Academy and that’s when Arsenal probably spotted him….

    One things for sure, he isn’t a right-back now… 🙂

  47. Steve says:

    Santos, Park Chu-young, Chambers – there have been a few very ‘strange’ transfers of late. Has anyone asked George Graham for his opinion ?

    Last night we saw two teams competing for the 4th place trophy. Finishing 3rd last year brought on Arsene’s vertigo – he won’t be making that mistake again.

  48. scottfromoz says:

    Devil, cheers.
    We do wash over the fact we get shafted quite often by officials.
    Two lines of thought, here.
    One….we shouldn’t be in the position so often where bad calls cost us.
    Two….we don’t want to be seen as whingers.
    Both are entirely plausible.

  49. Adam says:

    Rico. That’s a difficult call. If the goal had been correctly given it was still early so predicting that it would have got us the 3 points is a stretch for me. I just read a report which said that there should have been a penalty for Coq on Coutinho too. Who knows. We slant everything in our favour and forget the goals we have scored which shouldn’t have stood and the penalties which should have gone against us. Blind support is an irritating trait but not many I spoke to at the game felt anything other than “Here we go again”. We probably agree though that all is not quite right at the club. Only one man can put that right though if another season of under achievement isn’t to follow.

  50. Danish Gooner says:

    The real elephant in the room is Wenger,he must go before we will win a championship again it is painstakingly obvious.No Cavani,no Benzema,no lewandowski will change that they will just make people even more frustrated with Arsenal and Wenger.

  51. Adam says:

    Scott. Few at the game whinge about decisions even though we knew within minutes that the offside call was wrong because the texts flooded into our phones. The Internet has become the perfect place for whinging. It was made for it.

  52. allezkev says:

    Goals change games Scott…

    Ramseys goals stands and Arsenal gain confidence, Liverpool get anxious…

    We go in at 2-0 and it’s virtually in the bag.

    We’ll go to Newcastle with the Press baying for blood…
    And probably win…

  53. andrewh1313 says:

    Bellerin was thrown in the deep end twice and without Chambers experience (at Soton). First time in CL he looked shaky, since then he’s looked the part. Seems to be a big difference between the two.
    When Walcott came on I was sure he should have been feeding Giroud with Ozil or Cazorla or Ramsey off. What is a matter with AW? Or like Henry said, we should try 4-4-2 again, cant be any worse. Teams have sussed us at home. One of the most predictable teams in the league?

  54. allezkev says:

    Adam, on the radio, they said it was a foul by Coquelin, but outside the box…

    Lee, if Coq got away with it at Palace, then that makes a change eh mate?

  55. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Steve….do you honestly think anyone gives a rat’s arse about what Graham says?? or his opinion on that matter???

    If I were to ask his opinion for underhand and underboard tactics then yes. I will be there like a shot.

    but with his record in the last few years at Highbury, when he used to say that there were no players who could improve his squad and the crap that we were being fed to watch I am sorry, he is a dinosaur with a pre historic mentality.

    Hold on….did GG use to say that there were no players available who would improve his squad??? Now where have we heard that recently???

  56. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, and a platform for us all to discuss the club, so it’s not all bad 🙂
    Lee, did he get away with a red?
    The yellow he did get wasn’t a yellow in any game ever played, so it levelled out.
    Kev, I am confident f the goals stands, we win easily.

  57. Lee says:

    Build a team that’s good defensively plus can score plenty of goals and the ref bias will be a thing of the past…..

  58. rico says:

    Adam – I said that based on the game ending 0-0 as it did, so that one goal would have been enough. None of us know what might have happened had that goal been allowed but I would lean towards us pushing on with Liverpool leaving gaps going for an equaliser…

    The tackle by Coquelin was re-run on SS and clearly showed Coquelin getting the ball so no penalty for them for me…

  59. Lee says:

    It’s all opinions Scott, I thought the Palace fans were massively on the ref’s back but he could easily of been sent off.

    Like you said earlier Giroud was fouled and should of been given a penalty, I didn’t see it that way at all, he slipped over imo.

  60. Adam says:

    I have no crystal ball Rico so cannot say what might have happened. As for the penalty I cannot even remember the incident so again I don’t know. Or care. I merely mentioned what was said in a newspaper report which was obviously written by someone who hadn’t seen the whole thing replayed on Sky.

  61. scottfromoz says:

    Not everyone, Adam.
    Most here have passion for the club, and even when we disagree, the passion is there, and respected, in general.
    It’s definitely the case on Facebook, though….damn, so many apwnd their entire lives on there telling us all about their lives!

  62. Drake says:

    Morning rico and all,now where do i start?towards end of last season we all remember swanseas and sunderlands,didnt we agree that we need a different option upfront?

  63. rico says:

    🙂 Adam.

    As I said in the same comment, decisions are as they are but the bigger picture is, we were crap and that’s not the fault of the referee…

  64. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, Giroud copped one……I’m not merely being my normal, positive self, but I’ll stand by that one.
    Coqeulins second foul was a shocker, and as things stood, he most definitely should’ve been sent off.
    Justice was done, though, and I wondered at the time if the ref realised his first call was a mistake so went soft.

  65. Lee says:

    If Giroud poked his tongue out less, didn’t worry about his coiffured locks and moved more he’d be more efficient in front of goal! 😉

  66. Adam says:

    Brudder. I did see him run last night though. 🙂
    Though he was poking his tongue out and caressing his coiffure at the same time. Multi-tasking in fact.

  67. scottfromoz says:

    Lol Adam….you on FB, now that would be something to see Hahahaha.
    Ya think it’s his tongue he tripped over, Lee?
    Hey, I said contact was made, I never said what did the deed.
    Maybe there was a page 3 girl behind goal.

  68. Drake says:

    What is the main aim of pre-season?get signings early and get them to gel with other players.example look at chelsea last season and mancity this season that why they are leading the table

  69. Lee says:

    Lewis, I don’t mind Lukaku but shouldn’t we be setting our sights higher and also the player should already of been integrated within the squad! Lacazette, Aubergine, Cavani were/are available…..
    So frustrating atm

  70. rico says:

    Hi Drake…

    Lewis, Charlie Austin would get goals in this side. At least he shoots…

    My tongue wasn’t in my cheek when I previously mentioned him Potter…

  71. tsgh says:

    Not sure when AW stopped using accumulated points after 38 games as a measure of his teams progress.

    I remember AW defending his team after Chelsea had won their first title under Jose’s first tutelage by saying ‘ the team (arsenal) had progressed because we got more points this season than the season we became invincible’.

    Maybe when UCL qualification became a priority he stopped referring to the points tally.

    On the other hand in 2007/2008 he reverted back to referring to the point difference between us and Yanited as a sign that if we had not been mentally ‘damaged’ following the gallas-gate/Eduardo injury following the BCFC game.

    I am still not convinced how AW can justify that even though we finished 12 points behind Chelsea last season with 75 points, the season before we finished on 79 points just 7 points behind higher points tally City we have progressed.

  72. Drake says:

    I believe signings wont solve the problems we have right now a player is likely to cost 50m when we could have signed morgan and vietto by that amount and our mananger still lacks tactics

  73. Kel says:

    Did someone say Groundhog Arsenal… lol
    I’m with Neville on this one arrogance and miss held belief, we need and have needed player with power and pace in DM to close down and plug those gapping holes in midfield and to compliment cazorla wilshere etc. But as we all know we have a manager who won’t address the glaring problems this team has. I’m sure if you scroll back through highbury house to August last yr or the yr before that etc….. We are all saying the same old shit it’s fucking tiresome tbh.

    Forget about the title or champions league with this current team there is no fucking chance unless 2 very good players arrive this wk it’ll be a 3rd and 4th playoff imo.

  74. Lewis says:

    Unfortunately Kel, those are my exact feelings. Plus like many others I don’t think the manager has it in him, the last two years have been his best opportunity to really kick on and go for the title but he seems scared. He can’t hide behind having no money anymore, with the budget we have there are players out there that can make us competitive. That being said they should have been bought months ago.

  75. Dublingunner says:

    Afternoon, Bradster I think you make a good point, in that we never really tested Gomez till the 81 st minute when Ox came on. we needed pace to attack that position.
    I do think it was a night when Cech showed just how important a signing he will be for us. Hopefully these are the points, he was brought in to save us. fantastic saves from Benteke and coutinho, It was Cech of old. Great to see.

    I do get nevilles frustration, all he was really saying was “Arsenal are the type of club you want to see do well but they frustrate by not fixing key issues”.

  76. Dublingunner says:

    Oh Rico, just a thought, If ye stop saying thanks, people might stop saying, “good Read” Lol.

  77. rico says:

    Kel, I think right from the get go we here on HH were writing about the same….

    Same old AW each summer, talks big, leaves us short on the pitch…

  78. rico says:

    Dublin, good point re Neville, he and all the pundits went onto ask why has AW gone away from signing players like Paddy for our midfield… Something I still don’t get either…

    🙂 Re ‘thanks’ – I’m not saying it any more… lol

  79. Kel says:

    Oh and great post Rico… yes Lewis strengthening the team should have been done weeks ago everyone knows we have 70/80m to spend if we want to so what are we waiting for ffs…

    As much as i believe in wenger and respect him Arsenal really do need a proactive manager rather than a reactivate manager.

  80. Dublingunner says:

    I think it was unfortunate that our two main centre backs pick up an illness and an injury right before our biggest game of the season so far.

  81. rico says:

    Agree Kel re AW, it’s been coming a while. This summer was our best chance yet to sign the final bits of our squad jigsaw but he’s failed yet again…

    Can’t believe I just read a match review of last night which absolutely slated Coquelin’s performance…

  82. tsgh says:

    Drake- did you catch the BVb vs Ingolstadt game? I was in Saturn Area on Sunday. Tuchel will be a wild card for me to replace AW.

    I had always been wanting to see Ingolstadt because of Adam Weishaupt… 😉

  83. Gdna says:

    The only available world class talent that seems available at the moment is Mario Gotze, he is not what we need but I hope the club gets him other than getting another average player like Austin. There was no plan in the first place but the worst thing the club could do now is add more deadwood. 60% of this squad is already squad players, please don’t add anymore.

  84. Dublingunner says:

    Kel, we,ll be definitely be 3rd or 4th, theres no doubt about that, but its just not enough anymore, he,s excuses have gone from “We dont have the money to compete with the Cash rich clubs”, to “the players aren,t available now”.

  85. Lee says:

    Gotze is a good player but not what we need right now! I’d imagine Wenger knows this, so he’ll sign him!

  86. Gdna says:

    Lee, I know he is not what we want but I think its better to add a player who will be more beneficial to the team in years to come than adding a garbage player like Charlie Austin. Secondly I just think if we get the best 22 players in the world, AW will still find a way not to win the PL, the game/coaching evolve and AW remains static. He is 65% of the problem for the team not challenging for the PL. I don’t know why fans get offended when he is being called out, people rather make friends by giving fake compliments than keeping it 100 and being honest.

  87. Drake says:

    Ts tuchel has more chance of being a manu mananger than arsenal.on bvb how about that great come back in europa?from 3-0 to winners,i said 2nd but i think they may take 1st spot

  88. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Honestly mates. calm down.

    Two years ago today, i can assure you that if you go back to the posts of two seasons ago, some of you were saying that we will never win another trophy under AW. yes I can assure you and will bet anything that many of you here said that statement.

    two years down the line and after two FACup wins the tune has changed. We will never win the league or CL until AW is in charge. Blimey….they are the two he has left and has not won yet.

    If I play 1-2-3-4-5-6 in the lotto there is only a small chance that I will win. but some people still play them.

    dont spit towards the sky mates….there is a fat chance that the spit will fall back on your face…..with some delicatessen from the gulls and pigeons as well.

    as Kev said…its still three games in the season with a week to go before the TW closes. some of you are already diaorrheating before eating a whole truck of dark chocolate and vegetables.

  89. frednerk says:

    Reading some of the comments regarding
    chambers and comparing him to this one
    and that one.
    Wheres all the glowing comments from
    last season gone.
    Talk about put the boot in..
    Yes wenger gambled again with
    a young player.
    Last year Chambers played to much
    to soon,filling in every where.
    After that we only see him sitting
    on his arse.
    What ever anyone say’s..
    He at least done better than our
    first choice centre/backs and came
    away with a clean sheet…Didn’t he.
    Thats what the stats will show..A. Ts

  90. joe says:

    Tsgh just got fed up with every thing to do with the club and the transfer window.
    nice to know i was missed 😉

  91. Gdna says:

    Fans backed themselves in corners that they belong to this and that group and getting offended when AW is called out. The fact of the matter is AW is not as good as most have him to be and continues to be a big stumbling block in the playing staff improving. What is the purpose of moving to a Emirates stadium?

  92. Dublingunner says:

    You do get quite disheartened year after year, same shit different season, no one is saying that we should start throwing 40m, 50m at every player we think could improve us, but certainly key areas should,ve been addressed before the season started, Rosicky, Flamini should,ve been let go for new players, also Campbell is wasted at Arsenal. there are glaringly obvious deficiencies in Wenger,s management that at times it,s just baffling that no one on the board can speak up against him, sometimes I do really feel that he has lost it, Playing players out of positions is what he does best nowadays

  93. tsgh says:

    Lol Fred… no more stats from me. 🙂

    Joe- I like your positive vibes.

    For me as much as I Love football it is just a little distraction for me…
    There are bigger problems on the horizon…;
    The 2030 Agenda; china imploding,,, another country getting IMF bailout…bankers doing the opposite of shemitah to the globe…; france apparently preparing a resolution to present to UN on Sept. 15. hmm

    Time to stop before I get Kev and Micko all excited about the conspiracy. 🙂

  94. Dublingunner says:

    Joe, theres times I feel the same way, sometimes a month,s sabbatical away from it all, does you good.

  95. tsgh says:

    Adam- if you have the chance take a gander at the abstract of The Perestroika Deception – a book published in 1995; particularly page 166. Thought you might be fascinated with the current take on China and stock market.

  96. Geziah says:

    Good day. Last night was very frustrating indeed and I understand the anger but goals change games and if the goal had stood and we went on to win the game then the comments on here would be very different. Any side in world football that loses their first choice center backs right before kick off or whenever is going to struggle.

    We managed to keep a clean sheet and had a correct goal ruled out so should have won the match.

    Yes some power in the midfield would help but we are a much more fluid team than that. My only problem is the square pegs which is Ramsey playing in the right wing position. Too many times the ball came from the left to the middle and had to go back to the left because the right was empty. This keeps the opposition defenders very compact and hard to break down. They need to be stretched for the tippy tappy on the edge of the box to works.

    Cech was immense as were Gabby and Le Coq. This powerful player in the middle we’re talking about does he need to be powerful to win tackles or to drive forward? If it’s to win tackles then Coq is doing that. If it’s to drive forward then that’s what Song was lambasted for. I guess he could drive forward but we would still need a Coq behind him. Just some food for thought

  97. Dublingunner says:

    Find it strange that west brom turned down a written transfer request from Berahino, I was always of the belief that a club can,t turn down, “a written transfer request”
    anyone know how that works?

  98. Hell Raising Devil says:

    for the under tall one….Hosay……

    Small man syndrome really does exist, US government scientists have found, after research showed men who feel the least masculine are at risk of committing violent acts.

    Although it is traditionally supposed that ‘macho’ men are the most prone to acts of aggression, in fact outsiders who feel that they do not fit gender stereotypes are equally as dangerous.

    Sometimes called the Napoleon complex, small man syndrome supposes that men who feel the least masculine seek power, war and conquest to make up for their physical shortcomings.

    Researchers at the federal Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, say men can suffer from ‘male discrepancy stress’ where they feel they are falling short of traditional masculine gender norms. And it appears to make them more prone to violence than men who feel comfortable in their own skin.

    They analysed responses of 600 US men aged between 18 and 50 in 2012 to an online survey about their perceptions of male gender, their own self-image, and behaviour such as drug taking, violence and crime.

    The men who considered themselves less masculine than average and who experienced male discrepancy stress were nearly three times more likely to have committed violent assaults with a weapon or assaults resulting in injury to the victim than those who didn’t worry about it.

    There was no association between discrepancy stress and daily use of alcohol or drugs, but men who felt less masculine, and who were not worried about it, were the least likely to report violence or driving while under the influence.

    “This may suggest that substance use/abuse behaviours are less salient methods of demonstrating traditional masculinity in contrast to behaviours related to sex and violence, perhaps due to the potentially private nature of the habit,” suggest the researchers.

    They conclude that less masculine men who experience discrepancy stress may be at risk of perpetrating serious violence.

    “These data suggest that efforts to reduce men’s risk of behaviour likely to result in injury should, in part, focus on the means by which masculine socialization and acceptance of gender norms may induce distress in boys and men,” they conclude.

    Last year at study by Oxford University concluded that feeling smaller makes people feel paranoid, mistrustful and more likely to think that people are staring or talking about them.

    The research was published in the journal Injury Prevention.

  99. rico says:

    Devil, it’s all too easy to tell people to calm down but how long has this been going on now?

    Far too long imo and we have a manager who doesn’t appear to be doing anything about it….

  100. Micko says:

    I’d even go as far to say we’re only one game away from seeing the return of Brainwashed Kev again !

  101. rico says:

    Sorry re the Andy Carroll comment, another misleading headline from The Express. He’s not heading our way… Thank gawd….

    I know Micko, you are the HH saint… lol

  102. Micko says:

    Of course they can Dublin, he was dropped the weekend cause his head wasn’t right, happens all the time, usually ends in tears.

  103. Dublingunner says:

    Your right Rico, what would we do without you. AS, linking Arsenal with a loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva. I suppose we,ll be linked to everybody in the next few days.

    Arsenal,s last 6 home games,It,s worrying, why can,t we score at home.
    Arsenal v Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal v Swansea 0-1 Arsenal v Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal v West brom 4-1 Arseanl v West Ham 0-2 Arsenal v Liverpool 0-0

    George graham saying today, what we already know, Arsenal can,t win the League until they buy a 25 goal a season striker.

  104. Lee says:

    It’s like Wenger wants to do the polar opposite to what he should be doing…… “I did it my wayyy!!!”

  105. Dublingunner says:

    Micko I always thought once a player hands in a written transfer request, the club were all but powerless to stop the move. obviously not. cheers.

  106. rico says:

    A blind man enters a bar and find his way to a barstool.

    After ordering a drink, and sitting there for a while, the blind guy says to the barman,

    “Hey, you want to hear a blonde joke?”

    The bar immediately becomes absolutely quiet. In a husky, deep voice,the woman next to him says:

    “Before you tell that joke, you should know something. The barman is blonde, the bouncer is blonde and I’m a 6′ tall, 10 stone blonde with a black belt in karate. What’s more, the guy sitting next to me is blonde and he’s a weightlifter. The woman to your right is a blonde, and she’s a pro wrestler. Think about it seriously, mister. You still want to tell that blonde joke?”

    The blind guy says, “No, I’ll give it a miss if have to explain it five times.”

  107. rico says:

    Dublin, there’s plenty of choice on NN…. 😉

    I’d take a loan for a player if that was the best AW can manage. Is Silva any good…? 😉

  108. Adam says:

    TS. The crash of the Chinese stock exchange is a very sore point for me right now. 🙂
    On the back of the Grexit thing it has well and truly mullered me. No more new cars for a while.

  109. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    Two quick points.
    1. I think Arsene’s arrogance is that because he is more intelligent than most people, then he can’t possibly be wrong and he’ll prove it by only doing it his way.

    2. I did say this last night but I thought Giroud was playing like a man who knows his days are numbered. He had complete lack of enthusiasm or effort. Two things that we can normally rely on from him. His body language and demeanour was different. So, unless he was ill, my guess is that he either knows someone is coming in to replace him or the rumours about trying to replace him are true and he has copped the right hump!

  110. Adam says:

    Micko. Yes mate. The financial blows have been coming for a while but, as for Arsenal, I think I am more or less resigned to whatever happens. It’s a shame if supporters get the hump with each other though. The vibe inside the ground last night was like “Oh no, not all this again”.
    I just have so many serious questions though Neville saying all that last night has helped focus a few.

  111. tsgh says:

    Adam- you are not the only one Sir…

    The likes of Brzezinski, Kissinger,Sassoons ‘bigging up’ China was curious in hindsight.

    if all fails Mike Ashley and Micko’s PLC will lend to me a special HH rate of 1000% APR. 😉

  112. Dublingunner says:

    I thought it inciteful, last night when Neville put it to Henry, why Wenger changed from Vieira, Petit, Gilberto type players to Arteta, Flamini, Cesc (no physicality). Henry said “Cesc changed Arsene’s mentality. That’s why he signed those players (Hleb, Rosicky, Reyes). He wanted to build the team around Cesc”, So have we Cesc to blame for changing Wengers whole approach, from powerful physical players to the lesser non-physical type player.

  113. rico says:

    I picked up on that too Dublin and to this day I don’t understand why AW switched from power, height and pace, to short and soft players in midfield especially… Barring Coquelin of course… Lol

  114. arsenal11730 says:

    Lovely Post Rico – Unfortunately I agree with Neville – Its called High Societal French Arrogance.
    I love AW for what he has done for Gooners. I remember the Neil, Howe and Graham days clearly.
    We stepped up because of AW.
    AW downfall is stubborness to make adjustments with his philosophy which is recently flawed. Guardiola & Mourinho have expanded the competition. With the advent of tele money, success is purchased due to the spending exploits of Chavs and Sheikhs.

  115. arsenal11730 says:

    A novice like me can see that AR16 is a super player who does not belong on RW. Listen to AR pre match comments where he states AW gives him license to move central. Last night we had no RW until OX came on. I wish I had the solutions but my pre season optimism is quietly fading into the night. Nothing a star NUM9 and DM signing could not cure….
    Lets keep the faith even though the blue sheikhs look formidable, with Yaya looking interested for first time in ages, and a gap at top is seperating us already with 3 games in.

    Cheers

  116. tsgh says:

    Adam- I think I might apply for Defoe’s PA job myself… 🙂

    I heard Kev advises/consults boris on his transport policies. 😉

  117. Micko says:

    11730, spot on, against West Ham the same thing unfolded, Rambo kept coming inside and as a result Giroud more often than not found himself playing on the right wing just to get a touch of the ball, unbalanced the team.
    Think most of us got taken in by all the pre-season talk, didn’t take long to come down with a bang !

    Bob John, only last week Giroud said he would welcome competition,but there again what else could he say, can’t see a striker coming in myself.

  118. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Alex must play in the middle and not in the wings;
    Without Pedro (….) try that player from Monaco, the left winger who had destroyed us last season. He only plays at the left side, maybe at the right, and let the middle to all those who wants to play there (and theirs performances are higher there: Alex, Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla). Of course, we can’t play with all at the same time.
    yesterday, when OX came in, to the rigth side, Liverpool made quickly a sub… two left defenders.
    Obviously: many players in the middle, much more easier to defend. therefore, without Giroud working like a pivot and replaced by TW (he wasn’t those characterits), the danger were finished.
    We need more players then a DM an a center forward. Even without the two central backs, Rosicky (will be in the squad or not?), Welbeck (much time injury), we haven’t many solutions special at the bench.

  119. arsenal11730 says:

    Its 70/30 against, AW spends the dosh. Maybe Gazidis will force his hand as per Welbeck episode. The Great Arsenal Football Club should not be run as a dictatorship, but more democratic with majority vote rule. NOBODY is bigger than the Club.
    This season the gap between Mid table and Top 4 has narrowed dramatically, we can see after only 3 games.
    My only explanation tele money is allowing these teams to compete for good players as previously it was limited to Top 5. If we do not get our act together swiftly, we will be out of title race and fighting for 3rd or 4th, which will be harder than seasons past and possibly 4th spot may have a surprise name.

  120. arsenal11730 says:

    Bob John – I did not pick up on OG12 body language being different. He seems a perfectionist to me, when a move fails or he often misses a chance Aguero would bury he oftens looks disgusted and bangs the pitch. I think he is a solid number 2 striker, all he misses is clinical finishing. Interesting Lee Dixon said last night that we could win title with OG12 as number 1 striker – I disagree.
    For 140k per week why does TW not hassle the keeper on passes back or harry defenders. He just casually jaunts around. Heavily frustrating- Was hoping AS17 work ethic rubbed off on him. AS17 is not on form yet as we were forced to rush him back with no pre season preparation – Desperate. This tippy tappy around the box drives me beserk, as much as i like a beautiful goal – I just want a goal.Ricochets often results in a goal or chance.Lets start Ox next game and see what happens.

    Cheers

  121. Tai says:

    I admire Wenger for all he has genuinely given to Arsenal and football… but believe me, signing players is not our problem.

    Our real problem is where Wenger prefers to play them. His overwhelming love for technically gifted players makes him unbalance the team by overloading everywhere on the pitch with pas-pass pass tactics. Keeping both Walcott and Ox on the bench yesterday made Arsenal easy and simple to play against.

    I value Ozil but believe me, with Coq holding, Ramsey b2b and Carzola in 10 role… then Walcott and Sanchez wide with Giroux as pivot, we’d score more goals and goals win matches. We should always play to win, not play not to lose. Wenger has suddenly gone too conservative.

  122. rico says:

    I think most Arsenal fans respect AW for what he has done but it’s what he’s doing now which is causing the problem…

    I choose not to cite players as its harsh because it’s not their fault. Square pegs, round holes is to blame imo

  123. Joaquim Moreira says:

    rico, Martial.
    Monaco probably is out of the CL.
    one more point: Will we pay after, the points dropped when we play a game a week. I posted yesterday: it’s difficult to understand this: a team with ambitions, knowing before the beginning will be on the Champions league, the League and Cups, waiting for the 31th august for sign someone, under the risk, those players can’t play in all competitions, not be the first choice and had played 4 games (12 points…) in League. (this is a different scenario from the last years…). nothing change.
    This team is tired. Soon, we will play two games a week

  124. allezkev says:

    That’s just what we didn’t need Rick…

    How can we go to that shit-hole with a second string team…

  125. allezkev says:

    The Scum are at home to Crystal Palace on the 20th.

    We play Chelski on Sat 19th…

    Following that tie, Arsenal are away to Leicester and the Scum have Man Cith at home….

    Interesting

  126. allezkev says:

    Rick, did you notice the mixed fortunes of our loanees…

    Toral not involved for Birmingham.
    Maitland-Niles on bench for Ipswich and didn’t come on.
    Martinez played for Wolves.
    Gnabry started for West Brom.
    Hayden played for Hull, but no Akpom.

    Not sure if any of those that missed out were injured?

  127. Gavo oz says:

    Good post as usual Just read on Wikipedia arsenal got Alexander kokorin for 15m pounds.Never heard of him,Wenger out but who will replace him,will he ever leave before his contract is up.I think he will get a DM we have never heard of.

  128. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Have you calmed down after sleeping all night??

    There is a good healthy breakfast waiting for you…….a salad plate made up of……Kokorin, Kurzawa, Krychowiak, Blastitoffski (the polish geezer who plays for Dortmund. Add some Benzema chips and Cavani sauce and you have a healthier plate than an English breakfast made up of Rooney bacon Terry eggs (yuuukkkkkkk 🙁 ) Lampard Chips and Gerrard’s Beans.

    We have got the scum for the LC. And dont worry about playing a second string……they are all out on loan.

    I think that the line up for the LC will be…..

    Ospina
    Debuchy, Gabriel, Chambers, Gibbs
    Krychowiak, Wilshere
    Theo, Aaron, Ox
    Kokorin

    hardly a 2nd string line up. All of them (bar Kokorin and Krychowiak) have a 25 plus EPL game experience.

    I am banking that AW signs Krychowiak and Kokorin. Did not put DW23 as I still have my doubts whether he will be fit for the game.

    I bet the spuddies will still put out their top 1st 11 whatever that may be. Kane and all. I guess that when they saw the draw Pocchettino farted with fright while AW smiled a wry smile.

    the good thing is that usually when we draw them and go through we end up winning the cup.

  129. Lee says:

    What about the Benders (Kev’s favourites) I read somewhere that their pass completion % was not good….
    As for the striker, do you know much about Kokorin?

  130. Adam says:

    Morning Brudder. I saw Kokorin in The Man From Uncle the other day. I didn’t think he was as good as Giroud myself. And the whole architecture of his Quiff was far inferior too. Pace-wise I would say there is little between them.

  131. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Seems that the next game might still see Gabi/Chambers combo.

    Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will continue sweating over the fitness of centre-back duo Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker ahead of their weekend clash against Newcastle United, according to reports from the Mirror.

    The pair missed the Gunners’ last fixture against Liverpool on Monday, with Mertesacker taken ill while Koscielny struggled with a back injury.

    Koscielny is almost certain to miss their upcoming game with Newcastle on Saturday, but Mertesacker still has a chance of recovering in time from his sickness.

    WANT MORE? >> Arsenal Transfer News | Latest Transfer News

    However, Wenger may need to once again deploy January signing Gabriel and have young England U-21 ace Calum Chambers on standby in case Mertesacker is deemed unfit.

  132. Lee says:

    Another sloth up front? Super smashing great! Morning Brudder, I see the happy clappers aren’t about spouting bollocks about transfers are hard to make these days or they take months & months to complete!

  133. Adam says:

    Still, don’t worry, I just read that we are sending scouts to watch a Bruges player. Personally (and this is just an idle thought), I would have thought that we should probably know who we want to buy by now. Bearing in mind the late hour.
    I get a feeling that the club realise that the days of excuses are long gone now. Whether they can brass it out for another season I am not sure.

  134. Lee says:

    Morning Lewis.

    Yaya is the tip of the proverbial iceberg….Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic there,s boat loads more too!

  135. Adam says:

    Talking to a fellow inmate last night he made the point that there isn’t a single player who has moved this window that we couldn’t afford. I told him that we didn’t actually need any of them. That shut him up alright.

  136. Lewis says:

    Denilson tearing back busting his gut to cover his defence when we were getting hit on the break.

    I remember it well……

  137. Adam says:

    Lewis. Like me you have such fond memories of the Brazilian.
    Yes, Pogba would be quite lovely Brudder. But where would he play? I see him wide right myself.

  138. Adam says:

    Yes, imagine the kudos if Arsenal could field the most diminutive midfield ever seen in Association Football for the rest of the season. They could walk the ball into the net.

  139. Lee says:

    Theo’s tenacity in the tackle would be a massive plus….. I nearly forgot to put a ‘ in Theo’s!!!!

  140. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Acc to NN it is probable that Kokorin and Krychowiak who will be signed. That will give AW 2 players for every position with Arteta and Flamini and TR07 as extra bodies. That will give us a 25 man squad.

  141. Lee says:

    Ronnie Corbett, Warwick Davis or Verne Troyer to compete with Coquelin in the DM position…..make it happen Arsene!

  142. Lee says:

    “Brudder. Are we sending scouts to watch him at the weekend?”

    We’ve scouted him since he was a glint in the milkman’s eye!!!

  143. Tai says:

    Back problem! I’ve heard that before and it took more than three months. Hope Kos will not be out till January!

    Morning All…

  144. Lewis says:

    Morning Rico.

    I’m sure we’ll get our act together around December and go on a strong run back up to that 4th place trophy.

  145. Wavy says:

    40 points are the first priority. Avoid relegation and the table is our oyster!

    Morning all, and what a dreary morning it is too, for high summer!

  146. Rejoice says:

    I completely disagree with Neville’s use of the words ‘arrogant and naive’. That sounds disrespectful to come from someone who has no coaching experience with an EPL team. Neville is not an authority in the ART of coaching and club management. To think that his OPINION is reality is nothing short of the arrogance and naivety that he accuses Wenger of.
    Football analysis , which I do for a radio station here in Nigeria, is mostly a matter of opinions which may or may not be true or happen on the pitch of play. For Gary Neville to call someone neck deep in the business of coaching and management ‘Arrogant and Naive’ because Wonga won’t work with what everyone thinks shows more arrogance.
    This is not about only Wenger. Gary Neville and his gang of ex-players turned commentators , analysts etc with no coaching experience talk down on a lot of EPL managers with brazen disrespect.
    The likes of Harry Rednapp, Curbishley, Big etc, who know what it means to manage teams would not have used such words in trying to pass an opinion about a colleague.
    The most annoying part is fans of Arsenal accepting such crap and agreeing with Neville, then tomorrow turn back and tell you the media hates their club.
    Gary Neville has the right to express his opinions, but he must do it with respect. The best way for the likes of Neville to show the ineptitude of Wenger is by using his opinions to manage an Epl team and let’s see how better he does. A man who has never done my job cannot claim to know it better than me by talking theories in a swinging chair. Criticism is cheap work is expensive. If he does my job better I will listen.
    I don’t usually pay attention to pundits, ex-players turned analysts etc and fans . I prefer to listen to coaches.

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