Morning all.
So much for the transfer window opening on the 1st July, Pep has only gone and made the first move with a £40m plus signing of Monaco midfielder Bernado Silva. Wow, that’s what you call ambition and a sign of a manager who knows what he wants. I bet he’s the first of a few heading to The Etihad this summer.
I wonder how Arsenal and Arsene Wenger will do their transfer business over the next few weeks. According to Sir Bobby, Arsene’s new closest ally, he knows he has to spend big and he knows he needs to make changes:
I hope he will extend his contract. This is the man for Arsenal. I know a lot of Arsenal fans don’t have the same opinion as me. I understand the fans because I agree, the players agree — the unique obsession is to win the Premier League. But sometimes you can and sometimes you can’t, because Chelsea is better than you.
Arsene knows that if he extends the contract he needs to change something — spend a lot of money and to build a new team. He knows. He also knows that it will not be that easy.
I’d imagine Bobby knows exactly where Arsene Wenger will be next season and I strongly suspect that will be at Arsenal.
Anyway, that will all become clear as the next few days, weeks pass by.
Meanwhile, we’ve an FA Cup Final to take part in, the last fixture of what been an utterly disappointing season. With arguably one of the best squads Arsene Wenger has had to hand over the last few years, we simply haven’t been good enough. Well, more like organised enough.
After we battered Chelsea quite early in the season, Antonio Conte saw the light. Four at the back wasn’t the way for his team to play so he changed it and you don’t need to me to tell you how that unfolded.
Arsenal however, or should I say Arsene Wenger ploughed on through the season doing the same old thing regardless of who we were up against. It wasn’t until we went on an awful run of both performances and results that he thought he needed to do something else. Our customary top four place was under threat, so he went with three at the back too. It’s kind of worked and has improved things, certainly as far as results go but he’ll probably be scratching his head whilst wondering why on earth he didn’t switch his system earlier as if he had, maybe we’d be playing champions league football next season rather than Europa. But that’s the Wenger way isn’t it.
Four at the back at Stamford Bridge saw us ship three goals and lose. We really were quite average that day and that wasn’t the only day either yet here we are today, facing Chelsea again with a chance to get revenge. It won’t be easy that’s for sure but if we can repeat the determination we showed back in 2005 and even against Man City in the semi-final, then anything can happen.
There’s a few headlines which suggest Petr Cech is injured and David Ospina will start in goal whilst others suggest Arsene Wenger has simply decided that the Colombian is his choice. I hope neither are true as if Cech is fit, he has to start. As for the rest of the team, well we’ll see later this afternoon who is entrusted by the manager. The defence is our biggest concern with both Koscielny, Gabriel and and possibly Mustafi missing so unless the latter recovers, its likely we’ll be seeing our captain lead the team out. Rob Holding might be a busy man! Lol
Unless Chelsea have overdone their celebrations after winning the league then I fully expect a really tough game and if I’m honest, I don’t expect us to win it but it’s a cup final, a one off and anything could happen.
Stan Kroenke has apparently flown over for this match so he’ll be able to experience with his own eyes and ears exactly how the fans feel because I suspect he’ll be on the receiving end of some tasty stuff later, especially if we go a goal down early in the game. I hope he’s gets a lot of stick if we go 1-0. Sell up to Alisher Usmanov should be the message driven through to him!
I’d really hope we can win this match regardless of the fact we need changes within the club and after all, who would begrudge Arsene Wenger yet another and perhaps final, FA Final victory.
Then he can drive off into the sunset to find a new challenge….
Great post Rico.. let’s hope we can fluke a result today… ? if im honest i dont expect anything other than defeat…
I really hope the fans let that prick kroenke know exactly what we think of him….
But regardless of the result today, come tomorrow Wenger better get his arse in gear regarding transfers.
Morning Rico and all…
I expect AW to sign a new contract no matter what the outcome of today’s final is….
Nice post boss…
Conjecture, press BS and ridiculous lies surround the Wenger in/out waffle. Stay or go – who really knows any more. We are not ready to replace him as we as a club are so disorganised and behind the times. Where is our statement of intent? Who is going to step forward and demand change? As usual, no answers and the same old story of ‘when will he let us know?’ Bored.
As for the Cup Final – I would love us to show up and kick their money stained arses. We have the attacking flair to do it. Defensively…omg!
Debuchy?
Jenkinson?
Anybody?
Paper thin at the back, hardly a defensive player fit or available?
Underdogs? Certainly!
What a win it would be then if the Arsenal pull off a miracle result!
As LC would say, ‘heart says YES, Head says, NOT A CHANCE!’
Ospina in goal is Wenger’s game tactics in a nut shell. Shut up shop for 120 minutes and then win the penalty shoot out. As someone pointed out yesterday Cech is hopeless at saving pens!
Really muggy here and the clouds have rolled in. We’re going to have a right Royal tempest before the day is done.
Afternoon all!
I expect for the final.
Bernardo Silva in but Clichy, Sagna, Zabaleta, Navas,… out
Did you watch Ajaz-M United? Hope AW (or the next) learn something for the next season
I post something about this later
Hi there, just watched wenger comments on fans on tv. He disrepects us fans, he is a joke. We have put up with 13 years of shit, he seems to forget who pays his wages. I have no heart in today match, wenger has sucked this out of me. If it meant us losing the final today and wenger gone, I would take it with a heart beat. Wenger and kroenke out.
Problem with the Wenger / Kroenke out protest at Wembley is that it will be dwarfed in the stadium where a good half of the Arsenal support will be Wenger supporters . Could be interesting on the Kroenke front though.
Just pray we don’t get humiliated !
Potter, hopefully the foot soldiers will make their presence felt today.
Probably in the pubs and clubs where Kroenke will not go.
Today is a day to get behind the team for me.
Afternoon all…
Correct Adam…
Can’t wait to it’s over tbh….
Kel, is your offer regarding Flawless still open?
It’s on Facebook BT… flawless hosting just join/add as friend. Tell them what ya need.. ie I’d like to try the service for a month etc.. think you can get a day pass..
Read the pinned post on their page to see instructions on whatever device you’re using.
Afternoon Rico and the house… Good post Rico
Don’t know, but I fancy us today
Hopefully Wenger will tell us after the game that he’s going
Holding per and nacho then… ? one ball over the top and we’re snookered.. .
Thankfully cesc isn’t on as imo he would slice us open….
Hopefully a red card to a Chelsea player lol… ya never know
In the pub in Dulwich, had a delicious mixed grill with loads of meat and a couple of beers. Now just waiting for the game.
If the players are true to their words about Wenger then they won’t leave anything on the pitch.
I think we’ll go the extra- time and then it’s in the hands of the gods.
I do not trust this referee, he is a fcukinv cheat…
Afternoon guys..
I’m going for 3-1.. Not saying which way though… 😉
During the game Adam, yes, get behind the team.
We look all over the place …thats before the game.
The chavs look bigger and stronger..Helllllllpppppp.Please.
Fingers crossed..Come on you reds.
Nurse
Great start…
Get in there
Good officiating too…
Hi Fred. Thought we were going to be denied then..
Costa is in a spikey mood. Wind him up…
I hope we don’t regret these misses. Could easily be 3-0
Great surprise so far…
Why no booking Pedro
This game should have been put to bed. So many chances
Boys have done well apart from not finishing chances…
Agree Bt.
Next goal is biggie…Rico
I
Same old Taylor. He’s certainly setting us up to go down to ten…
Sure is Bt…fingers crossed.
Another great chance goes begging…
That’s a shock from Taylor…
What do you think of Taylor now Rico?..lol
Ask me at the end Bt… 😉
Snap Rico.
Here we go..
Yes Bt, here we go ???
RamSSSSSSey..
Brilliant from Ollie too..
Watching Holding, it just dawn on me why probably AW wasn’t playing him earlier in the season. When I saw Holding in the championship he reminded me of the prototypical English CB, the boy is nasty but not dirty don’t let the look fool you. AW was probably coaching the nastiness out of him. I see Holding being Arsenal’s John Terry if he’s handled right.
I ain’t got no finger nails left !
Micko, put the wife’s on….
GET FOOKIN’ IN….
Unbelieveable !???
Awesome, bloody awesome!!
Well done Wenger, whatever you said or did, you got it spot on!
Bfg- well what a great performance from him…
?????
Arsenal wins
Fantastic performance. Really pleased for the boys and for Wenger. Really happy for them all.
Great, great end to a horrible season.
Gnarley Knows!
Well I’ll admit it I thought we would get beat and I didn’t bother to watch the game until 10 mins ago… lol..
Congratulations to The Arsenal.. ??
Bt, the answer is I love him…. 😉
“All things bright & beautiful, all creatures gr8 & small, Arsenal won the FA Cip?
& Tottenham win fuck all?
Never in doubt!!!
Amazing performance, kudos to Wenger for having faith in Merts and Ospina. Terrific first half from Sanchez, Merts showed he is a world cup winner. Brilliant all round.
What a game! Everyone put in a shift. This’ the Arsenal I’ve known and loved good stuff!!
Great win full 90mins from all the players
Man of the season..BFG..That was amazing from him.
Well done Arsene…Go with your head held high mate.Please.
Yep, perfect time to bow out. Go on a high Arsene…
But I don’t think he’s going anywhere, I think he’s accepted there needs to be changes and he’ll fight on for another season yet.
Why the heck can’t this team play like that for most of a season…
Typical arsenal, any time I get behind them they let me down, any time I give up on them they surprise me, outstanding performance from all, thoroughly deserved.
Although reports earlier that Wenger will sign for 2 yrs with structural changes. Kind of takes the gloss of it a bit.
There ya go, the man who can’t turn on a dustbin lid, won the cup.
A captains performance by Per Mertesaker.
I can’t recall the last time every single player gave 100%, even Mesut was getting stuck in, well, apart from the gaff which started the move for their goal… (I think) lol
Maybe the protests the abuse at times and the all round criticism this season has finally had a positive effect on Wenger and some of the players..
They fought today they actually stood up and competed…
So well done enjoy this evening but the real work begins tomorrow investment needed and a few players need moved on.
Shame it had to come to that Kel, if that’s the case… just as it’s a shame that he didn’t try something new so much earlier than he did…
Nice to feel enthused with the team again. Good old Anthony Taylor. I have always liked him. 🙂
For once, he was half decent…
He let a lot of Chelsea fouling go in the first half and booked Nacho for nothing. Still…we won. 🙂
Agreed Kel, first thing tomorrow Alexis needs to be shown the door !
rico, makes you proud to be a Gooner.
Agree, a bit soft on Chelsea but when it mattered, he got his decisions right.
Ha ha Micko, for one night only… lol
I can’t stand him Rico.
Neither can I Adam. But credit where it’s due I guess… lol
I’m off guys, have a great evening…
Night all.
You watching the Spanish cup final Rico?
Missed you.
Nite all.
Last week, undermanned, they made Everton chase shadows. This week against all odds, they made Chelsea look absolutely ordinary…… this prove the point I been making all year, this is a very good team, in the hands of a proper manager, they challenge for the title. I hope AW, goes out now with his head held high.
Replaced Sanchez one minute to the end means the bye bye to Arsenal…
Or he could be showing Sanchez how much the fans love him.. lol who knows hopefully the club is doing all it can… first player to score 30 in a season since RVP.
Re replacing Sanchez: Or because it was the tweak of the hamstring that had him leaning over…..
Evening all !
Just finished watching the recorded game “live” after a hard day at work !…………to a man everyone was magnificent……………said to the chef in Charlestown`s Pier House today that we should throw a curve ball and play Ox and Bellerin as the Wing Backs, but Wenger wont listen to me !……………well he did ! hahaha……………………been saying it for ages now about Ox and Bellerin and if we play 3-4-3 next season then keep it that way with those two !……..never rated Gibbs, so glad he missed the final and forced Wenger to listen to me !
No “Outs” for me today or tomorrow as it`s a weekend and bank holiday of celebration !………let`s see what happens after the board meeting, but for now lets savor the moment !………aaahhhhhh…………mmmmmmmmm 🙂
BFG was amazing today and he said he`d never played in a 3-4-3 set up before !
Oh and thanks Rico for the post !
Sanchez should think carefully before going to Citeh. At Arsenal he is top man, but at Citeh he would be just one of many. He hates being on the bench, but he would be up there half the time.
Still abroad (Spain), on extended holiday, but watched the game today. Brilliant, so pleased and relieved.
There’s a Spanish bloke we see most mornings when we walk the dog, who wears a Chelsea shirt. Can’t wait for tomorrow morning!
We watched the build-up to the game, and I felt embarrassed and sad for Le Prof, when he said that some of the abuse will stay with him forever, he will never forget it. Made me feel kinda small and ungrateful for all he has done, and his undeniable love for the club.
When you consider all the mercenary merry-go-round managers, I think he is a different class. However, times change, and the team need a new motivator IMO, he didn’t change in time when all the other top teams moved on up a notch.
I hope the win will make him proud again, but that he decides to call it a day and go out on a high.
R.I.P. Gregg Allman..
The Ramsey curse strikes again BT!
Kev I bow to your superior footballing knowledge, you’ve always maintained that BFG is a good defender…… whereas me I thought he was a ?!!
FFS 2-1 was a really flattering score line to those chav fucks!
That win will lead to another 2yrs of Wenger imo….it begs the question why the fuck we couldn’t of played to that level for most of the season!?!
Always nice to win a trophy at the spud’s stadium too!!! ???
The diggers have been excavating at shite heart lane for over a week now and they’ve still not unearthed a single trophy!!!
Well done The Arsenal.
Evening Lee,
The reason IMO they played like they did in the Final was down largely to fan pressure. Like a rocket up the arse(nal) if you like. Well done the ’12th man’!
Score line of 6-1 would have been a true reflection of the game.
I really don’t think the chavs new what hit’em ?
When does the fixture list come out?
Morning all. Nice to wake up after a win.
Morning all and yes……nice to not be able to remove the smile on my face, it`s stuck on like The Joker ……..hahaha………………..perfect timing for one of our best performances of the season !
This says it all for me………………..
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/868540899076169728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2017%2F05%2F27%2Fyes-we-can-win-the-fa-cup-final%2F
Especially one as nice as that. However it is just more baffling as to what happened throughout the grind of the league programme . Having blown away the Champions you just ask WHY ?
Morning all.
Still can’t believe how well we played. That final victory was easier than the one against Hull City… 😉
The million dollar question Potter.
A question Wenger should be asking the players.
A question the board should be asking Wenger.
Is there any kind of accountability within this club?
Nice to have to argue over the man of the match . For me BFG ( 100 plus caps ) marshalled the defence and had a magnet in Holdings shirt and pulled him where he wanted him to be for 100 minutes. Stones £50 million Holding £2 Jagielka needs to watch out for his England shirt.
And to have beaten the League Champions to lift the FA Cup for a record 13th time on Tottnumbs new home ground makes it even better ! 😆
😆 😆
rico
There is accountability now, since the robust fan response after the Watford loss.
Also, about when does the fixture list come out?
Usually June GG. Season tickets beginning and where you are meant to be going before T.V changes it at the end.
Cheers potter
Maybe you’re right Gg, certainly seems to have woken a few people up and not just Arsene Wenger and the players.
New post up now.