Morning all.
Today is deadline day for Arsene Wenger. I wonder what the FA will do, after all it’s not long ago they highlighted how referees and their little helpers should be shown respect by publishing John Sheridan’s disgraceful outburst which resulted in a five-match ban and a massive fine. On top of that, he was then sacked by Notts County for his actions, that and the fact his team were on a terrible run of form.
‘Three yellow cards’ Graham Poll thinks that the ‘FA now have the opportunity to reinforce their support at all levels by correctly dealing with the Premier League’s longest-serving manager.’
The two incidents are totally different though. Sheridan repeatedly swore at fourth official Matthew Donohue and also threatened to “knock him out” – Arsene merely pushed Anthony Taylor in a way which suggested he should get on with overseeing a match which was still being played out. Yes, he swore, but so do many many players during a match and if the officials get so upset with a few naughty words, why aren’t sending offenders off during a match? One doesn’t need to be a lip reader to know that referees are often being told to f**k off during a match after yet another bad decision has been made.
Weigh all that up and any punishment Arsene certainly shouldn’t get the same type of ban/fine as Sheridan.
But even if he does, so what. He’s been banned for a total of six matches in the Champions League and we won five of those….
Just saying….
Onto other things…
Call me selfish but I was hoping Egypt would lose yesterday and other results didn’t go their way but no, they top their group which means Mohammed Elneny remains absent for us for a few more weeks yet. Maybe they’ll do an Arsenal and get knocked out at the first knock-out stage and he’ll be home real soon.
I certainly hope so as our midfield, which looked very strong at the beginning of the season, is now looking fragile to say the least. Just Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey are left and one of those two hardly fills me with confidence, certainly when it comes to defending as he’s far too keen to try the fancy flicks and tricks up front.
Their first test will come at Southampton on Saturday night and the home team will be full of confidence having knocked Liverpool out of the EFL Cup last night. They don’t have a huge squad and Claude Puel has already said that he’ll field a mixed side:
“It is important now to play against Arsenal, another opportunity for my players and a mix between experienced players and young players and this is very interesting for us to develop the academy players.”
They’ll also be without Virgil van Dijk as he’s injured which is good news for us.
I strongly suspect Arsene Wenger will use a few squad players for this match too but these days Southampton appear to be a thorn in our side so whoever plays, it’s going to be tough. A last minute penalty from Santi secured us three points in the league but away from home in the EFL Cup, they battered us.
Let’s hope we can make amends on Saturday….
Have a good day guys…
Arsene Wenger has jumped to the defence of Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka is facing a four game ban after his sending off against Burnley and is also accused of racially abusing an airport worker at Heathrow.
But Wenger, who confirmed he has requested a personal hearing to his own FA misconduct charge, says Xhaka denies the airport incident and also told his midfielder to improve his tackling.
Gunners boss Wenger said: “There’s two incidents – the sending off was harsh. It was not a dangerous tackle, it was a clumsy tackle.
Unfortunately we will lose him for four games.
“I don’t think he’s a natural tackler. He doesn’t master tackling, I’d encourage him to stay on his feet. You can improve it but it’s better to stay up.
“He denies completely what happened at Heathrow. I’ve spoken to him about it and he completely denies it.
“He’s been absolutely marvellous to handle on a daily basis – commitment, dedication. I’ve never had a problem with him.”
Two match ban and a fine – me thinks.
When is Santi due?
Yonks yet annoyingly…
Am not fussed about the airport incident. Hell, the third party could have been a spud agent!
Sounds like it’s all poppycock doesn’t it..
I hope Xhaka follows Wengers advice with his tackling…
Morning and thanks Rico
Nothing to disagree with there, just wonder if Arsene swore at the 4th official in French ?…..and then said pardon my French !
Cant say I have or would ever be worried about a touch line ban for a manager !…………bans on players who do the work on the pitch that matters worries me !…cant say I`ve ever listened to one whilst playing, too concentrated on the game and like any player ( apart from FB and winger) are going to hear him through the deafening roar of the library crowd !
So Arsene is giving away secret`s to the oppo` !………………………….Xhaka cant tackle !……..now all the other teams will run at Xhaka knowing he cant tackle !……….why did Wenger give out this guarded secret ?………….Kroenke will be livid and demand Arsene`s resignation !.
Walcott is back on Saturday.. Doni dare suggest we’ve missed him? I think we have…
If Arsene gives away any more secrets………………..like say…..”Walcott cant tackle”………….well, then he`s dead to me !
Seems ike Walcott is in the news from the last two comments ! 🙂
I missed his tackling !………..can we ever have Theo and Granit in the same team if they both cant tackle ? 🙂
haha LCM Pep gave his team away by saying he doesn’t train tackles. I don’t think they ever won a match since! I’d rather Kroenke cashed in his chips..not the chairman Chips…
God forbid we ever have them two in the same team as Sanogo !…………..two that cant tackle and one that cant hit a barn door !
Don’t think it needed Wenger to tell the world Xhaka can’t tackle LC, it’s quite clear to see…
hahaha…………….Forgot about that Marshall………………and plenty wanted Pep on here including myself………….what do we know ! 🙂
Walcott has been tackling this season though and defending quite well.
We’ve certainly missed his pace and energy up front and I bet Alexis will be glad to see him return, and Ozil…
Rico. Where did we miss Walcott? Imo had Perez had more game time, Walcott could of been at the sidelines blending juice for the team.
Unusual for Arsene to “see it” though, Rico…. 🙂
True Rico !……….he does make some intelligent runs imo…………..and not just to the juicer, Marshall ! 🙂
I feel strangely confident about Saturday`s game……….just a feeling, but a good one !
Maybe it’s just me who missed him then Marshall.. lol
I really don’t understand why Lucas hadn’t been given more playing time…
Gym, so catch you later from a cold and windy Cornwall……………..going on the treadmill as I cant stand running in the wind !……snow, rain, heat cold, anything but strong wind ! 🙂
Lol, he must have really liked a blender cause he upped his overall game. Now his wife should use another weakness of him to win the league.
I thought it was a coffe machine? 😉
Oh was it? What else do you think he’d fancy. I’d text Melanie…
One of my best memories of Walcott was our 5-3 win against the chavs. Hope he picks that form soon.
He likes a VW apparently…
Seriously, he was pretty good before his injury, different player this season. Overdue I know…
Afternoon All…
Afternoon Rico…
Good post, I’ve just heard that Wenger has accepted his FA charge…
I reckon a big fine and a 3 match ban, the FA will be aware of the Chelsea game and how that will affect AW…
Whatever punishment is handed out you can sure that the Portugese Prick will comment on it ad nauseam…
This transfer window is flying by with hardly anyone taking any notice, think of all those poor starving agents out there, desperately trying to engineer a transfer to top up their own disgusting bank accounts…
Just goes to show, from an Arsenal perspective, if the medical staff do their job and Wenger does the business he needs to in the summer, that everything is a lot calmer around the club and fan base.
Southampton are going to be on a high this weekend. Puel will send out, probably, a team consisting of young and squad players, but he’ll tell those squad players that they have the opportunity to earn a place at Wembley, so it won’t be easy…
I think that Wenger should go with his strongest team, as the FACup could just save his arse…
Afternoon Kev, I reckon he’ll get more than three games, depending how he manages to convince the FA that there was no malice in his push…
I’m hoping Saints will be knackered after last night, we certainly need a win so yes I’m with you there Kev, strong team and get through to the next round…
Arsenal U23`s V`s Chavs U23`s is live on Arsenal Player tomorrow @1pm……….chance to look at our new signing !
Thanks LC, might tune into that if I remember…
Interesting comments by AW today:
On Serge Gnabry coming back – “At the time it looked like Bayern Munich were behind it. I don’t really know. But at the moment no, we do not re-sign him.”
Wenger then discussed the fates of full-backs Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson. On the former, he said that updates have “gone quiet” because he has not “closed the door” on him.
“There is a lot of competition on the right flank, now Gabriel has been convincing on the right side as well,” Wenger added. “So I don’t close the door, but he is fully fit now, so he’s available to play.
On Jenkinson, whose move to Crystal Palace collapsed recently, he said: “Only he has to agree personal terms but at the moment he has not managed to do that.”
I really hope there is a buy back clause on Serge, he looked to be a proper explosive winger.
Evening…
So do I Marshall re Serge..
Debuchy is back in the mix then, guess he’ll play on Saturday….
Chambers is injured apparently- stress fracture to his foot..
Rick/Kev – Ben Sheaf has signed a new contract…
M’baye Niang has signed for Watford, and there was me thinking he was heading to Arsenal having read he was most days in the papers… ??
AfterNoon..Rico and all….
I agree the midfield is depleted but ………the Ox could/could`nt.
Evening Alex, no Ox in midfield for me, he’s as bad as Ramsey when it comes to defending…. 😉
Indeed is very bad at defending.
By looking at the incident of Wenger on the ref on sky video seems that ref was kind of instigating the thing.
Why he has to come in his face ?
Why he cannot shout his order without sticking to his face ?
I bet had he was confronting a muscular 2 meter long man would not acted that way.
Arsene i am with you on this.All the way
The more I look at the replay, the more I think it’s been blown out of proportion but at the end of the day, AW shouldn’t have shoved Taylor…
dropping 2 points at the 93rd min ….hmmmm is not an easy
No, it’s not…
Anyway, it’s time I switched on the box to catch up on the planner- night Alex and all..
He will be Tuesday no doubt.
That’s good news Rico re: Sheaf…
So he’s not off to Cyprus after all…
Apparently he trains with the seniors most of the time…
Happy Australia Day everyone, grew up with Skippy the bush kangeroo, he had so much more going for him than Flipper, he could pick out a crook from an identify parade just from the string vest he wearing, he’s up there with the best of them imho.
I used to like an Aussie series about doctors who parachuted out of planes, into the bush, to rescue Aussies with corks on their hats…
I think it was called Ripcord…
Ah, it was American…
Oh well, back to Cell Block H..,
Who can forget “The Sullivans” every week day lunchtime.
Oh well you can’t turn back the years, nite Gooners.
Morning all.
We might be seeing Jesse in the PL if his loan deal is successful. I really thought he’d be a good striker cause he leant from/with the best. Let’s see how he performs.
Who is Jesse Marshall? Having a blonde moment…
Morning to you and all..
Hi Rico. Hah the cold has frozen your memoirs? Jesse Rodriguez. former Real player now at PSG – not doing so well atm. Read m’boro are interested in a loan deal. I have been following him closely.
Oops, silly me Marshall… 😉
We could do with another striker….
He covered well in the wings the few matches he deputised in Cr7’s absence. Seems there is a curse in calling a player ‘the next CR7’.
In two seasons we might need him. When OG12’s time is up and Theo slows down.
If Wenger is serious about winning the league, we could do with another striker now imo, especially as it’s around this time of the season Ollie’s goals dry up… 😉
Morning Rico and the
Another very cold day down South.
the U23 game against Chelsea has been postponed frozen pitch.
Back Later
Rico and the house
Morning Rick, I’m surprised as the ground is thawing now, ready for the rain…
Rico we have a ‘new signing’ in Welbeck. We don’t need another striker. And January is hard to get a prolific talent. Unless it was Draxler who we didn’t bat an eye on.
Doh, I forgot about him too Marshall, maybe I need to go back to bed… lol
Catch up later guys…
What time is Wenger’s court case? And has he got a ‘hanging’ judge or have the FA flown in the poison Pygmy to adjudicate? Bet they’ve been in touch!
Morning all turned out dull again!
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico…
Blimey it’s non-stop on here today…. ?
Afternoon all!
any important news?
Afternoon Kev, just why I didn’t bother with a post…. lol
Catch up tomorrow- night all..
Wenger, 4 match ban in hearing…
I thought it would be worse…
4 game for brutality lol.
As someone said, Shawcross copped 3 for breaking someones leg, but that was a farce, this seems reasonable enough, for mine.
It was a non event but you can not touch officials.
End of.
Morning all.
Morning rico1 & all,
Now I know this might be just a bit off topic, but none the less, it is very important to all things Arsenal going forward. The future of Alexis Sanchez.
Everyone outside of The Arsenal hope he leaves, in fact some Italian journo has reported that The Club has already lined up a replacement. This may not be true (unlike silly Maureen, the Deluded One, refusing to accept that Man Utd’s unbeaten run is over after 2-1 defeat to Hull City), & I’m hoping its not
But, whatever transpires we should remember that all negotiations between Club & player go through his blood sucking, money grabbing, ‘faceless man’ agent who couldn’t give a rats arse about the concept of Club & loyalty. Well apart from loyalty to commissions received in the pursuit of making Alexis & his bloodsucker agent happy & wealthy.
I want him to stay. If you have seen the movie Apocalypto (came out when Mel was in the bad books) you will be familiar with Jaguar Paw. Cor blimey Alexis Sanchez has that same desperation/desire on the pitch & I love him for that. So on this sunny Saturday morning this one goes out to the Jaguar Paw of The Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez baby…… please don’t go!!!!!!
GG, player agents piss me off even more than Joe Say, because at some point, he will be gone when those pricks will always be involved.
Scott
I reckon Arsene would be pissed of more with the £25,000 fine 🙂
Listening to Talksport now as I work, Is that actually live radio, or just ads plus replays of previous segments. Its awful, I’m going back to SEN!
25,000 is an hours wages hahahaha
Morning all.
I’m surprised at the small fine and ban. I was convinced the FA were going to make an example of him…
How’s your chance Bouldy…..
New post up.
Bloody iPad, here’s your chance, not how….!