Morning all.
Granit Xhaka seems to have hit the self destruct button. Having been sent off on Sunday, apparently he headed to Heathrow airport with a mate the following evening and got involved in another naughty incident. According to media reports, his mate checked in late for his flight and wasn’t allowed to get on the departing plane which didn’t please our Swiss midfielder. ‘You f*****g white b***h’ he supposedly hurled at the lady who insisted his friend wouldn’t be departing on his flight which if true, is all rather stupid. He denies the allegation of course but unlucky for him, witnesses heard his outburst.
A Metropolitan Police statement read:
“Police were called at 19:29hrs on Monday, 23 January following an allegation that a member of staff had been racially abused at Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five.
“The allegation was made by a third party. Officers attended and spoke with a man in his 20s. He was not arrested. He voluntarily attended a west London police station where he was interviewed under caution Enquires continue.”
As quick as Xhaka arrived in the summer, if he isn’t careful, he’ll soon be departing. As much as Arsene Wenger lost it with Anthony Taylor on Sunday, away from the pitch he appears to be a gent and the Frenchman likes his players to behave the same way I’m sure so this incident will not have gone down well with him. That is of course if it’s true as there’s always a chance that this ‘third party’ realised it was Xhaka and strayed somewhat from the truth.
No doubt this will roll on for a few days yet, as will the incident involving Arsene Wenger at the weekend, especially now he’s been charged by the FA with ‘improper conduct.’ The Frenchman has until 6PM tomorrow to respond.
So it’s all go at Arsenal, Xhaka will be out for the next four matches and his manager could join him as those media darlings call for him to have the book thrown at him. Back in 2012, Alan Pardew pushed an assistant referee to the ground and was subsequently given a two match ban and a £20,000 fine so why should Wenger receive anything more than that, especially as his reaction on Sunday was far less aggressive than Pardew’s.
Anyway, whatever happens, I’m sure Steve Bould will do just fine in his absence and who knows, we might even see a few proactive substitutions and a change in tactics during a game if things aren’t going well…
Finally, Arsenal ladies have made a third signing this month and that’s Beth Mead from Sunderland. The 21-year-old striker has scored an incredible 77 goals in 78 appearances.
Oh, and we are being linked to Alvaro Morata… Again.
Have a good day guys…
Morning Rico and all.
Let’s hope Xhaka is innocent of this accusation, else I’d get rid of him.
It’s just not acceptable.
Arsene-20k and two weeks seems fair, I reckon.
I don’t believe it was as bad as plenty of other abuse and intimidation I’ve seen of officials, but he deserves a penalty and I hope it’s fair, and accepted by him.
Hi Scott.
The only problem could be that I think the FA have toughen up the rules regarding officials and Arsene could get a bigger fine and ban..
Xhaka, I think Adam is right, he’s a liability and Wenger has a challenge on his hands with him…
Morning Rico. Granit came with a bad-boy reputation and it seems well deserved, so far anyway. Watching him on the pitch he seems to be finding it difficult to bring his obvious talents to bear. He has a great left foot and is always looking to get the team moving forward. In this respect at least he is virtually unique amongst our midfielders. I figure Wenger will give him another chance but he has, rather stupidly, put himself under the microscope and he may find it’s a long way back. I hope not, because I like him as he seems a free spirit.
Evening all,
Tottenham Hotspurs are that far down the food chain here, more people have heard of Synchronised Swimming than them.
I say this not as a barb, but England are desperate to win something, yet those in charge pick Spuds. History shows they are duds, just a band of bitter & twisted fools that are more reactive than proactive, who have lived in the shadow of a proactive Red & White Club for, well, a generation to be honest. But that makes no difference to those in charge it seems. When it comes to picking an England squad for a tournament, They chose Spuds & more often or not, England & their long suffering supporters are home before the postcards ?
Their highest player is able to be paid £100,000 a week apparently, coz they are so lightweight. If they don’t win it this year they will fall apart as their players are enticed to greener pastures. Arsenal should do a Sol Campbell win Harry Kane to illustrate how insignificant they are.
……….& if The Arsenal win the title, well………….???
If Granit wins the title with The Arsenal he can call me white, just not with blue shorts?
You could well be right, Rico, and Arsene could hardly expect any favours.
Xhaka needs to get things right off the pitch to help him on it.
The quality is obvious, and in time he could be superb.
Let’s hope he hangs around to find out 🙂
Morning.
Isn’t Xhaka white himself? Don’t look black on my TV! Maybe I need to adjust the brightness and contrast :0)
Morning Adam, agree with you re Xhaka, he has everything in his locker to be a great player, just a dodgy temperament. I don’t mind his aggression, just channel it in the right way…
Andrew, I’d have thought so, and that makes it a little suspect.
Let’s see if it’s true first Scott, could all be a pack of lies.
Absolutely, Rico.
It’s a third party report so perhaps that person was Black and took offence..
Or it’s just garbage from start to finish…
The truth will come out at some point.
GG, they all certainly flopped last summer…
GG, they’re manager won’t be there next season-there’s my tip.
Barca….
Morning all from the smaller of the two Launceston`s, but it is brilliant sunshine and warm out of the shade…….honestly it`s like little Australia……or Tazmania…..in Cornwall ! 😀
Xhaka !…………..love him, he will come good and agree with Adam that he is unigue among our midfielders, although with his range of passing and shooting ( when allowed by Arsene) I liken him to Gerrard and Alonso !……and a plus is that he is probably the best Yodeler we have had since Senderos and Djourou…..a must when the peaks of London Colney are covered in grouind frost !
LC, don’t overestimate the size of our Launceston 🙂 🙂
Does anyone think Wenger will sign a player to cover for Xhaka, Santi and Elneny?
I`m not Scott !…………it`s that our one is so small !……space is at a premium…….we`ve just got planning permission to convert Launceston Castle into flats for Tazmanian refugees ! 😀
You on drugs Rico ?………..we`ve got enough midfielders to populate middle earth !…………..and spend money !…………………..cold , icy and dark in your neck of the woods is not an excuse for not thinking straight ! 😆
But only one who defends Lc….
Mustaffi could play there or Gibbs or another defender at a push !………………..even Olly could do a job, his handsomeness would lower his opponents self esteem with one nonchalant look ! 🙂
I wouldn’t split the Mustafi and Koscielny partnership…
Shit LC, it must be small lol.
Good morning Rico
Good post must say….
XAKA innocent as not found guilty yet of anything.
The media love it and with his red card …..what a combination .
If wenger is suspended for what ever time …..honestly is not going to be missed on the pitch.
Why he should be missed …….after all the only time i notice that is during the 73 minute mark.
Other than that he is not Conte or Pulis or Klop that goes up and down shouting orders and make changes/subs .No
All i see from Wenger during matches is struggling with his jackets zip and the occasional flapping his hands.
Sorry i dont miss someone who is already absent.
Gabriel as DM??
Debuchy worth a try?
Dont get me wrong Rico, I`m all for buying………….the more the better, but we are talking Arsene here……………actually, I reckon Koz could do a good job there too !
Right !….. Gym work and Grandaughters 9th birthday……….lots of sweets/cakes etc`………..yes !
rico, spend money on a midfielder, With Wilshire maybe back in 7 months? !!!
Scott, you’ve been looking!
LC
We all loved Poldark down here on Tele, especially our Sheila’s, but when Richie Porte wins the Tour de France this year he will replace old Poldsie as Launceston’s finest?
Xhaka has gr8 potential, he is now just a rough diamond waiting for Le Gaffer to shape him like Edu. Well that’s my opinion, & yes The Old Frog will get another 2 year gig, there is no use getting flustered over it!
Before I go ! 🙂
http://www.101greatgoals.com/101ggvideos/lolz/olivier-girouds-hilarious-answer-better-looking-arsenal-team-mate-video/
Alex, I saw an interview with Wenger, and some of his ex players.
He maintains that if he’s yelling and showings stress, players will pick up on that, and it will have an adverse affect,and he also thinks he really can’t get any message through until halftime anyway, so waits until then.
I understand his theory, and his explanation was thorough, so don’t think he just sits there not worrying and not thinking about the game, and don’t think for a second it’s because he is overwhelmed as it’s not the case.
Whether you and others agree with his thinking is another topic, but they are his thoughts behind it.
Hello and goodbye GG9 🙂
Morning Alex, thanks.
We might not miss AW but perhaps the team will…..
GG, I’ve spent plenty of time checking out real estate down there, believe me 🙂
Scott, Debuchy was a good player before arriving, keeping other good defenders out of the French team. I don’t think we have seen anywhere near the best of him since he was slung over that hoarding. Its another case like Welbeck, join Arsenal and turn into a crock! Agree, maybe worth a punt as DM if he gets fully fit.
Scott, the interviewer should have come back to AW, and said ‘sounds good theory, has it worked these past 10 years?’
Andrew, seems an opposition player did the damage this time.
Trouble is, through lack of options, we tried a young, inexperienced kid and he became a star.
Poor old Debuchy didn’t handle it well though.
Scott, are you a Sydney Westie? My brother in law was one!
I never said I agreed with him, Andrew 🙂
Sometimes, players need to see a manager having a hissy fit, imo.
GG, originally, but I saw the light and moved as soon as I could!!
Central Coast-about 1 1/2 hours north of the place, now.
Night LC, geez I’m just getting warmed up!
That’ll be a no then Andrew… 😉
Nice! Mariner?
Go, I follow them a little….go to a few games a year as my son loves watching any football.
They’re on the Improve, at least….bloody woeful last season!!
Sorry, GG….
I have a place about a km from the MCG, so I’m sort of a Victory supporter. Was ❤️ but that ended once man city purchased the Club. Naturally Tas don’t have a team? I guess I’m Arsenal till I die!
Yes it’s Arsenal for me, first and foremost, GG.
Someone asked my boy if he’d like to play for the Mariners one day.
He said he hopes he is better than that bahahahahahaha
I’m off guys, so have a good one!!
Anyway, I’m off to watch some tennis I’ve recorded. Thanks everyone for allowing me to be apart of HH, it means a lot to be amongst proper pommy & paddy Gonners, etc
Up the Arse!!!!!
…….& Oz Gooners as well?
Enjoy GG, hope it’s not the Murray game…. 😉
Morning all.
I have the solution for Wenger’s impending disappearance. A cardboard cut out!
The players will never notice the difference. His calm, motionless body will still seem to be on the touch line not speaking to big Stevie! I’m sure an engineer could fit up the mock Wenger and get it to try and simulate the zip attempts. The droid will not succeed, so no change there either!
Sorted!
Blue skies but cold here. Was going to wash the car but I think the car shampoo may freeze to it!
Hi Scott….Rico
The notion has an advers impact on players not a gòod argument…..as everyone of us are different so the 11 players on the pitch.
I am not expecting Wenger to jump up and down like the other young managers but a bit of enthusiasm is not a lot to ask i guess.
To me even Arsene stays in Paris during the game does not change much as it is all programmed .
The sub will come at the 73 min.Period.Things to change here are near to impossible.Change Subs and tactics during game is a what football is .There is no change in that department under Wenger.
Basically his presence or his ghost are same.
His presence if is not reflecting the dinamic of the game…….then what ?
Wenger is an absolute failure in footballing issue and that reflect the trophiless years.
Ha ha Wavy, I like that one…
Calling Wenger an absolute failure is innacurate.
With every thing at his disposal Failure in a sense that he do not win the league of course is.
Agree, how can he be a total failure when the club is in such a good place and he gets top four every season.
Might not be enough for us fans, but I bet Kroenke is more than happy…
As a foitball manager his first duty is ?
To win the league.Perood
The rest are just argument that gas nothing to do with winning or loosing the game.
With more there is more chance to win it true but Leicester with a fraction that Wenger had at his disposal ygey made it .
Wenger might have good side non footbaling things but his big time failure on winning the league
Re Xhaka being white himself….most Kosovan or Kosovar, especially if they are Muslims do not consider themselves white.
Re: AW managing methods, interestingly Bill Walsh, Popovich, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Billichek, all great coaches each with several championships all say the same thing. Popovich always says that it’s important not to panic. On the other hand, AW inherited a team of leaders who managed themselves, the same can be said also for these coaches. So the point become knowing the type of team you have.
Sorry for my typo.. meant with more money
I hope some fans calm down about Xhaka. For years we have complained about the team being soft. Now that we have some fire it’s a problem. Viera was not a saint neither was Lauren. In the words of Ljundberg, I don’t mind going forward or kicking anyone because I know Lauren is behind me to kick the fcuk out of them. I loved the guy, yeah we are short at the position atm, but if everyone was there this wouldn’t be an issue.
Totally disagree Alex as if that was the first and foremost thing for a football manager, 18 managers would be sacked at the end of the season…
None of know what the board and owner ask of Arsene Wenger. I’m sure he does all he can to try and win the league each season, it’s just he can’t…
Failure, no, not imo.
I would say he’s passed his sell buy date though…
I agree Rico. Most of us on HH believe that he was great but isn’t any more. Abusing him diminishes the quality of intelligent debate.
Hi
failure in my opinion are not related to what the board gave him or not.
Take a look the case of Walcot. A sprinter that he tried to convert into footballer.for 10 years and counting.Paying astronomical wages undesvedly.
Ramsey another wannabe Ozil or Messi
Completely no disciplined entity he run riot the field.
Injury sutuation that in no other club is equivalent.
His own weak personality is to be attributed otherwise an open rant about trying to fake injury ala Mourinho reduces the treatment room to near zero.
We may or may not agree about slaughtering individual on to the open but if that what it takes to clear this primadonna so be it.
It has to do more his attitude and appriach than anything else….
Agree there too Adam..
Alex, regarding the players, what you think of them is your opinion only, not everyone…
To criticise is right to abuse no
HH doesn’t do abuse…
In a thousand years time when my brain is wired up in some kind of robotic woman pleasuring machine I will look back whilst my parts are being oiled and think of Wenger as the man who changed Arsenal for the good !………….same wont be said about the robotic Kroenke who is in the next bay to me having his syrup serviced !……bastard !
PS
I wont ever properly abuse Wenger, but I take it it`s OK to abuse the bastard Kroenke !……please let me know Rico as I dont want an angry visit from RoboRico ! hahaha
Opinion is not fact although my opinion that Sanogo is rubbish is fact and Obi`s opinion that Sanogo is a footballing messiah is rubbish !…..fact !. 😆
https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/823839673587998721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Can’t say I’m overly keen on Kroenke myself either LC, but it’s not his fault Arsene is past it… lol
Hi all, it’s not right swearing/cursing at people – Xhaka needs anger management – but how is it racist a white Xhaka calling another white person white (with another descriptive). Racial charges are serious and the media would like to label him racist which am sure he’s not (he’s cuddling with Sanogo in the dinner pic!)
Oh atleast Sanogo is available during dinners. It’s not right how he treated that lady. And to think with Sczeczny *sp in Rome and Wilshere at the coast we’d be drama free.
LC, my opinion is Sonogo is better than DB10….. that’s the reason they didn’t give him a chance at Ajax…Lol.
Rico, re AW as a failure. I was trying to find a quote by AW in 2009, I came across it the other day, but I can’t find it now. But to paraphrase…. We are business people, the business is football. Why am I been vilify for running the business soundly and why are others been giving credit for losing money, that’s not how you run a business…..So with regards to your point about the board and SK expectations of AW, he’s a businessman and not a manager charged with winning trophies. And in this case I agree with LC, SK is the problem and as long as the business man Arsene is making money for SK, he will never be passed his sell on date….sad but a reality.
Isn’t that what I alluded too Obi? 🙂
Rico @ 4:36, Yes…. Just agreeing with you with some back-up from AW himself.
? Obi, just being ironic
Catch up tomorrow guys.. nighty..
Morning all.
Some good debating guys……..well done, it was a great read.
Sanogo is just misunderstood-by Obi bahahahahaha.
Kidding mate.
To me, he has little control over his own body.
The funny things is, it makes him unpredictable, and every time I saw him play, defenders had troible with him.
Still, if he hasn’t made it now, he won’t, imo.
Stan…..investor.
Enough said.
Hahaha…………………….Agree with all that Obi……..well apart from the first sentence and talking of sentence….Sanogo needs to be sentenced to one ! 🙂
You`re absolutely though re-Kroenke, Wenegr aint going anywhere, any time soon if he wants to stay, he could probably write his own contract as in Kroenke`s business eye Wenger is doing a superb job and you cant blame him !………………however us fans dont give a toss about business Arsenal and only want us to compete on the trophy front not the brimming bank balance account front and to compete as a team we need to spend big, simple as that, it`s not Rocket Salad !
Love to know how much Kroenke`s shares are worth now and how much he would make by selling ?……………..anyone know this info` ?
LC,
Arsene is too comfortable because of the Stan situation, imo.
It’s a culture that drops down through the club and it’s hard to reverse.
Damn, I’d give a lot to see us win the league this season and Arsene retire.
He’s been phenomenal, and I still believe he does a very good job but maybe that edge is gone-well, it is, to be honest.
Let’s hope that, like a champion older boxer, he has one great fight left in him.
The man deserves to retire on a high, imo, but it serves absolutely no purpose to him or the club and its fans to see him treading water for another few years.
AFC Share Price GBp
1700000p today
this link gives some info
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/12/lady-bracewell-smith-arsenal-shares-salehttps:I haven’t worked it all out as diferent times he paid different prices. However suffice to say that he’s done alright.
Potter, I’m sure he’s pretty happy with his investment 🙂
It’s a no loss situation for him.
Bastard lol
Morning all.
Morning all…
Nice to see the Dippers fail last night…
Rico, the silence has been golden from Scouser fans 🙂
It’s a joy Scott…
Morning all.
And to think the scouscers bought half the Soton’ team! They got the wrong players haha
Marshall, the joke was that the Soton second 11 beat the Soton first 11 🙂
Rico, joy doesn’t begin to describe it lol
Evidently Klopp’s Gegenpressing tactics are taking a toll on the team. They can’t maintain the tempo all season long.
Unfortunately up next for Southampton is us.
Our bogey team in tournaments it seems.
Whatever the reason, Marshall, I hope it continues!!!
Potter, let’s hope our boys make a statement of sorts, and put a few past them.
Same sentiments here Scott, the scouscers are one of the overrated bunch. They loose a player to AFCON and all of a sudden they are the mid-table team they are.
Any news from Arsenal? Am thinking when will the board see it fit to drop us the Wenger extension bombshell? My guess is March, when we’ll be having a good run of games.
🙂 Marshall, so did we… lol
New post up now..