Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsenal targets have stinkers, should we walk away?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Both Aubameyang and Evans were on show last night and as far as I’m concerned it’s a good job both already have a good reputation in the game because if either were judged on last nights performance alone, there’s no way would any club, or rather negotiating team cough up 60 million euros for Auba or £25 million for Evans. They had stinkers and that’s being polite. Auba was turned on by his own fans as he played out a dreadful performance and Evans made error after error in dangerous areas.

But isn’t that what you’d expect from a player who knows he’s on his way out of his club. In some ways no, as you’d expect them to be taking the last opportunity to prove they are worth their worth before Wednesdays deadline day, but then again, pick up an injury and any potential move could flush down the toilet. Evans appeared to suffer just that when he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury. £25 million? No chance Baggies, no chance.

There’s talk this morning that Sean Dyche was Rob Holding on loan for the rest of the season which I think would be a great move for the player, in fact Calum Chambers could benefit from a loan to Burnley as well but of course, unless we sign and experienced central defender, both leaving would be a disaster. I always thought Holding might overtake Chambers in his progress but already he looks to have lost a bit of the confidence he arrived with. A really strong game alongside Merts in the FA Cup Final seems a long time ago now recently at Chelsea, in the first leg of the League Cup I think it was, he looked more assured.

I guess we’ll know by midnight on the 31st just what’s happening with them, and others who might be coming or going. I won’t as there’s no way I’m staying up until that late hour just to find out we’ve signed no one.

VAR, the topic on many people’s minds today after WBA beat Liverpool last night. Personally, I thought the conclusion the reviews came to were spot on, albeit it took a while to get there. The one which stood out was the penalty eventually awarded to Liverpool after Salah was tugged over, mind you, he certainly made the most of it the way he went over. How I laughed when Firminho blasted his spot kick into the woodwork before the baggies cleared the ball. Justice!

WBA held on and dumped the Dippers out of the Cup but as usual, they escape criticism because VAR has stolen the headlines. In any case, being knocked out by a Premier League Club isn’t as embarrassingly as being battered by a Championship side is it? Should have been worse for the neighbours but they got lucky when late in the game, Kane secured a replay. Good for Newport though as the money they’ll earn from the replay will be most welcome I’m sure. As would being in the draw for the next round and they might if they play like they did last night.

Three and a half days left for Arsenal to make our squad stronger, our attacking play more dynamic and our defence/midfield more solid.

Don’t hold your breath eh…

rico

43 thoughts on “Arsenal targets have stinkers, should we walk away?”

  1. potter says:

    For me Johnny Evans was always a non runner. £25 million for another Stepanovs ,ok with time and space but prone to making silly errors when under pressure. We have had plenty of those over the years and really is he any better than the two we are considering loaning out.?
    As for the other guy Auba , we know he’s moody and we can be certain that he is looking at the green grass at the Emirates and not putting in a shift for Dortmund so we have to judge him on his past record. The question is how long does he take to get disenchanted and how long will it take for him to see that despite the money things at the Arse are not all they are cracked up to be. I am not sure about the signing but I am sure that the divide on value will probably add his name to the list of might have beens.
    So we go into January and the rest of the season with what we have got. Lets hope that nothing serious happens to Lacazette or Giroud and how about playing them up front together . Could Wenger think outside his box and try something a little different ? who knows ? but I doubt it.

  3. Goonster says:

    Lol I am underwhelmed Rico but if he does the job I won’t be complaining. Great post ma’am. Am all for the VAR guys if we had it in place in 2004/2005 maybe just maybe the 49 unbeaten would have been 50 or 60 but hey that’s an argument for another day. Fergie got away with murder back in the day. He got so many decisions in his favor hence why I don’t rate him as a manager or maybe because I hate his guts. Lol

  11. Le Coq Monster says:

    I do because as like everyone else,I appreciate your hard work, skill and knowledge amongst a list full of other things I probably dont know about………….. it`s the least I can do .

  12. Dick Tresidder says:

    Was that whenone of the Robledo brothers broke our tight back’s leg )he was am England regular).

  14. Wavy says:

    Wally Barnes. Later a BBC sports reporter of some note. Never,saw him play but as a welsh international he can’t have been that bad, in fact I believe he was an excellent right back.

  15. rico says:

    Pep is not a happy man, Sane could be out for months after a nasty tackle by a Cardiff player today….

    Perhaps he’ll want Giroud… ?

  16. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House.
    LC Cardiff City won the over the Line cup final in 1932
    it is the only time the cup has been outside England.

    The Newcastle final was 1952 when we lost 1-0
    Wally Barnes was carried off on 10mins with bad knee injury , no other player was envolved.
    One of the best full backs that has played for us.

  18. Rick says:

    Rico There is talk that both Chambers and Holden could be going on loan ,but I think that if we do not sign a defender that could be a big mistake.
    At present we have 4 defenders not fully fit and with a heavy fixture list in Feb that could be fatal.

    I am not a fan of the Loan system and what has happened to Ben Sheaf tells you why.

    Ben had a bad injury at the start of the season and is just getting back to his best form
    Last Thursday he joined Stevanage on loan and on his first days training he has picked up another injury.
    Dont know how bad it is but the manager said he is not our player he belongs to Arsenal ,in other words let them sort it out

  19. rico says:

    Rick, I agree re Holding and Chambers, one But not both if we don’t sign anyone. Trying to get a defender now though could prove tricky as it leaves the selling club short.

    I didn’t realise Sheaf had picked up an injury, surely if it’s serious, he should be back at Arsenal…

  20. Rick says:

    Rico with the excepition of H/H I do not read a great deal

    This morning our U23’s beat Sunderland away 3-1.
    The goals were scored by Smith Rowe and John Jules (2).

    Rico the goal by Smith Rowe is out of this world and is as good as anything D/B ever scored.
    I have allready watched it 3times and I just cannot beleive what the boy has done.

  21. Le Coq Monster says:

    Rick……………………..Cardiff beat us 1-0 in the 1927 Cup Final, correct it was and still is the only time the FA Cup has left England, but I`m right that the over the line ball out was when Newcastle beat us in 1932, it was their equalising goal !

    Clearly the ball was out !

    https://i.imgur.com/OJBIfnR.png

  25. Le Coq Monster says:

    1952 Final lost because we were down to 10 men, no subs in them days, unbelievable really !
    I`ve always said if I could change one rule it would be that every game was always 11 vs 11, even if someone gets sent off, they would get a bigger ban, but a sub should be brought on………..yes outrageous, but I hate it when one team is at a disadvantage, it should always be 11 vs 11 imo.

  28. Rick says:

    LC sorry you are right.
    I have always thought it was Cardiff in 1932 my mistake.

    LC do me a favour if you can
    Look for that goal that Smith Rowe has scored today and post a link
    so every one can see it

  31. potter says:

    You cut across the ball with your instep , I used to take corners like that especially up hill . Park pitches always had their foibles , overhanging trees were handy too.

  33. micko says:

    rico, PEA, he’s clearly not playing ball, it could still happen, as for Evans, if he’s the answer what’s the question……..to be avoided like the plague !

  34. potter says:

    I was going to post a picture if I could of the pitches I played on at Primary School with the trees but sadly where there were 13 pitches on Hampstead Heath there is now just 1 and a plastic one . School holidays Parli hill would be packed with games, now I bet the keepers keep the kids off the grass unless they have paid up some exhorbitant amount of cash.

  35. rico says:

    I wouldn’t want him Micko.

    Breaking news is a deal for Auba is very very close, Sky, Ornstein and all are reporting it…

    Time to put my book down and sleep… lol

  36. potter says:

    All togetherr now boys ……………Get excited ………..Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Arsenal close to £60m deal for Borussia Dortmund striker

    By David Ornstein

    BBC Sport

    8 minutes ago From the section Arsenal

  37. rico says:

    We’re lucky around here Potter, all the footie pitches remain. Three matches being played where I walked the woofa today with another few spare…

  38. allezkev says:

    Great goal by Smith-Rowe, I remember Charlie George bending one like a banana around the wall at Highbury vs Coventry I think.
    Problem was he immediately rolled over onto the pitch injured, as he’d turned his ankle as he struck the ball…

  40. rico says:

    I’d ask for more Kev, if WBA want £25M for a defender, Ollie should be worth at least £40m. It’s not like Chelsea don’t have the money.. They’d struggle to find a better target man style striker in the PL I reckon.

    Morning all..

  41. Kk says:

    Good morning rico and all..
    Get in Auba….
    Exciting times. .sweeter if we managed to move Giroud on..
    Have to say what an exquisite strike by Young Smith-Row ..
    Seems like we are doing well at the academy. .

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