Arsene again confirms he wants a striker. 3rd it is then, for the time being….

Morning all.

Arsene Wenger was asked if it would be a risk if he didn’t sign another striker in January:

Yes, it is. That is why we are out there.

(In the summer) I looked for a striker that could play with Giroud and without Giroud. In my mind it was not absolutely to replace Giroud: it was to play with or without him. We could have taken someone who plays up front and play in a 4-4-2.

People want always new names. What is important for us is that Giroud is back. He was a bit tired recently but now he is refreshed, he is back, and I am sure he will have a major impact on the second part of the season.

He has qualities that the rest of the squad has not got. He always gives us that strength. We have small players who combine quickly, so to find someone who can hold it, keep the ball, make some room for other players, he does that very well. He gives us a very good balance.

Well, we have nineteen days left to get that much needed striker…..

The weekend saw us get knocked off the top of that league table..

Not only did we go down a place on Saturday but after Manchester City beat Newcastle yesterday, we dropped down to third but so what, that’s going to happen a lot over the next few months as it’s so tight at the top but as long as we keep winning our fixtures, we can’t be caught permanently.

A win tonight is essential, games like these will no doubt play a huge part in this seasons campaign and I know that sounds obvious but it means that should we only manage to draw the games against the other sides around us, it will not be too bad for us. However, I’d like to think we will beat both Manchester sides at home and there’s no reason why we can’t beat Chelsea away either.

By the time those awkward and tricky fixtures come around, we could very well have an injury list with just Theo Walcott’s name on it. And, we could see one, if not two players added to the squad.

I do wonder if this fixture would have been moved to Monday night had we not lost to Villa on the opening day of the season.

Anyway, Monday night it is and at least we will get to see the boys turning on the style live on television.

Neil Swarbrick is the man in charge of the whistle and I truly hope he has a far better game than the buffoon Anthony Taylor had at The Emirates. He was truly shocking on that Saturday afternoon back in August….

Tonight sees the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after having suffered a nasty injury during that opening day fixture. On Thursday, Arsene Wenger hinted that Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs might make the squad but Thomas Vermaelen won’t be ready for this one but he should be back for the weekend. Nicklas Bendtner remains on the sidelines for another three weeks at least but both Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud are fit and should start.

We should have more than enough in the squad to win this game tonight and we don’t like losing away from home.

So, down to 3rd we might be but get the three points tonight and we’ll be right back at the top again……

That’s it for another day….

COYRRG’s

0 thoughts on “Arsene again confirms he wants a striker. 3rd it is then, for the time being….

  1. kali says:

    morning Rico and all

    i just hope the ref tonight willn’t be the focal point ,enforcing wrong decisions and negative impact on the game…

    far too many wrong judgement of late…

    Tiote’s goal was a perfect one and city should have dropped points imo
    funny that one,the assistant ref didn’t flag for an off-side and the ref gave the goal initially,only to be ruled out!

  2. HenryB says:

    Rico

    FA Law 11 says a player is offside if he is interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

    FIFA’s interpretation now says that a player is only interfering with play if he touches the ball – and he is only interfering with an opponent if he clearly blocks his line of sight or challenges him.

    Goufran never touched the ball.
    He was no where near Hart’s line of vision and he was dodging away from the ball and not challenging the keeper.

    A rubbish decision by Jones he should be given a bollocking by the FA.

  3. TT says:

    It was not the Refs call but the lines mans. to be honest how he could determine that the player was obstructing the goal keeper is beyond me as he was in line with the two of them and could not have judged properly the location of the Newcastle player in relation to the goalkeeper. And my understanding has always been that if in doupt give the benefit to the striker.

  4. rico says:

    Morning Kali, goonster…

    Lets not forget Newcastle should have been down to ten men to after the tackle on Nasri…

    Enough of them, we need a much better ref tonight that’s for sure…

  5. Lexoshoke says:

    Good morning lady of the house, as always a spot on post that which I have come to expect on a daily basis.
    Always been on the sidelines of this awesome house, I’m more of the reading rather than the writing type and regarding that much needed and coveted striker we all crave for if we do get 1, fine but if not then we all have to stay behind the team till the end and hope the so called “injury list” bares down to the minimal… Would love to compliment the amazing contributions of tsgh, devilgunner, kev, HenryB, the ever optimistic Scott, Adam, Wath, agag, Steve and loads more(sorry if I didn’t include ya names) You guys are the reason I fell inlove with this blog, because your contributions are priceless. Thanks. COYG

  6. HenryB says:

    Rico,

    I have seen the original French twitter feed of the Ntep story, and the translation was cocked up.

    What was being said was that Rennes had made an offer for Ntep and Auxerre have said a deal was likely to sell him today or tomorrow for about £4m.

    Barring a last minute offer from Arsene, that is one deal that won’t happen.

  7. GunnerDNA says:

    Goon, I’m good bro, getting ready to hit the interstate. lol. What’s good with u, how is your old lady doing?

  8. HenryB says:

    By the way, Rico, that is a very good Post, and a lot depends on the result of tonight’s game and I do not share Scott’s confidence about an easy win.

    A win by 0:1 would suit me and that is because we need those three points above all else. 🙂

  9. rico says:

    Trouble is Hb, ultimately, each referee interprets the play on the day a different way..

    All too vague imo, should go back to offside being offside if a player is behind the last defender…

  10. rico says:

    Was it that long ago Lee….

    Thanks Hb, I don’t share Scott’s confidence either, a tight game but an away win…

  11. GunnerDNA says:

    Rico, there is a lot of changes need to be implemented in soccer, because diving have taken over the PL, they need to charge/ban players who try to deceive the referees in making bad decisions. Watching the way Sterling won the penalty yesterday was a disgrace.

  12. Scott from Oz says:

    Welcome Lexo…..kind words are much appreciated.
    Rico, last time you disagreed with me was about 3 minutes ago on a certain goal…will you never learn 🙂

  13. Scott from Oz says:

    DNA, i would honestly give a diver 12 months.
    Offer fair warning, then implement it.
    Yes, we lame refs, but realistically, players are too good at it.
    A few years back , a mate took a group of 14-15 year olds to Sth America and even at that age, the kids were training weekly on buying penalties.

  14. tsgh says:

    Hello Lexo…. very kind of you to be nice to Scott, no one else is btw. 😀

    A fine post Rico…

    I wonder when Henry will be linked to us as our summer signing?

  15. tsgh says:

    Where are… Mg and the twitter busters- Syg and Emma this morning? There must be a rumour to get me laughing my head off…

    Hiya Goonie… hope all is well?

  16. tsgh says:

    It looks cold in the good old US of A… I don’t envy you at all, apart from those on the best side i.e the West Coast as ‘Pac use to say. lol

  17. Lexoshoke says:

    Hahaha, that is duly noted Scott. C’mon Ging some1 as to be nice to him. Got a feeling Wenger as got a huge and massive surprise on the striker front, hopefully the surprise comes in the form of FALCAO. Yea Yea I know I know “All wishful thinking” + I am allowed to dream and wish.

  18. Scott from Oz says:

    Lexo, i reckon we will get one, but i’m more along the lines of thinking a Berbatov might be the one 🙂

  19. Lexoshoke says:

    Thanks kev.. No No to Berbatov please, we can definitely do better than that. Its either quality or nothing for me. Re sterling never ever a PK. But it seems that’s the world we live in, crappy and incompetent refereeing. I hope our game tonight goes okay.

  20. Scott from Oz says:

    Lexo, i reckon Berbatov would be better than nothing, but we could and should do better…agreed.
    Wenger…well, who knows what he is thinking.

  21. BrainwashedKev says:

    Listen ‘ere Digger, don’t start on me Cobber…

    Had enough of watching smiling ‘boat races’ under Baggy Greens to last me a lifetime, without you starting as well… 😉

  22. Scott from Oz says:

    I think i was a very, very gracious Aussie during the cricket, Kev…i barely mentioned it.
    Come to think of it, neither did you poms 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  23. rico says:

    I too would rather someone much young, fitter and better than Berbatov but, he’d be better than nothing if only for a few months…

  24. rico says:

    😆 Scott..

    Morning Syg, I read Cabaye will be able to move for £6 million in the summer. £30 million for him now wouldn’t make sense…

  25. tsgh says:

    I knew you won’t let me down Syg… how are you Sir?

    Hiya Kev… remember AW’s fave line’ the transfer window does not start for me until the last week’… 🙂

  26. tsgh says:

    Syg- they say S04 ‘cocked’ up Julian’s 40M euros clause… it only applies to the summer window.

    Allegedly Aw and AFC do not want another Suarez type ‘misinterpretation’ saga so they are sitting tight…

  27. TT says:

    Draxler wont be coming to Arsenal in January. He is EC bound for Schalke and besides he is not an striker which is what we need right now.

    If we get a stop gap striker someone like Berbatov to see us through the next months Draxler will definetly be on the radar in the summer.

  28. tsgh says:

    4-0 is the least we should be spanking them…

    Saying that their thrashing of us on match day 1 woke the players and club hierarchy up so…

  29. tsgh says:

    Le Squid against AV in December 2011 when Djourou got injured o still gives me the creeps anytime we are facing a below par Villa team…

  30. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Penalties / ref decisions generally even themselves out over the season….. generally ….. its the big games where the count i.e cup games, finals etc ….

  31. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I was there at the Emirates on day 1. It made a horrible atmosphere … but Gibbs being a nancy boy and the referee being a cheat didn’t help…..

  32. potter says:

    One for the stats men.

    Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday was their 200th London derby.

    Spurs are the first team to reach this milestone, with Arsenal and Chelsea both having played 199 London derbies.

    And it’s Arsene Wenger’s side who are currently top of the all-time London Premier League table, having accrued 364 points, closely followed by Chelsea who have 355 points.

    London derbies in the PL era as of 13/01/2014

    Full report and table at
    http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-lead-the-way-in-most-london-derbies-played-in-premier-league-era–but-arsenal-have-won-the-most-9056477.html

  33. tsgh says:

    syg- I thought Le Coq was your buddy? 😛

    Have you seen the latest assist list Cesc back to no.1; Ramsey 4 assist short of the top mark… I am certain he would have been number 1 if he was not injured…

  34. Wavy says:

    On random note, but sort of related to the weekend’s judgement errors by several of our revered officials. When is technology going to be introduced when game changing events occur? Eg disallowed goals, dangerous fouls leading to a red card, dangerous fouls that should lead to a red card, offsides that never were etc etc?
    I bet that opts Joe doesn’t have stats to show ‘ incorrect game changing decisions’ that the ref/Lino has got wrong and the subsequent events /outcomes materially alter the result.
    The answer offered is, the game is full of opinions and or interpretation of rules and where would we be and what would we talk about if all all decisions were right? I’d suggest we would all be far happier that the result was fair and was seen to be fair and just!
    I’m sick of being left feeling hard done to and I take no satisfaction from winning having seen an appalling decision going our way!
    It’s no wonder that the talk of bribery, fixing and other despicable acts of cheating are levelled at both officials and players alike.

    When is someone going to let football enter and use 21st century technology?

  35. tsgh says:

    I doubt it is true Syg… but you never know… it may be good for him…

    Just my view but I think Dench definitely deserves a chance and I would contend that he has not got it yet. When he has been injury free and he has had the chance to be selected, I have not been overly disappointed with what i have seen considering at 22 he has torn the ACL in BOTH knees . He gets a lot of unfair shit for being on Twitter/Instagram but I do HH daily at work and it has not affected my pdr yet that I know at least. 🙂

    From memory all the better attack minded players like Riquelme, Di NAtale, Lampard, Gerrard he ahs faced in the past have all said he was the strongest DM they have played against.

    Wolves fans thought the team would not have been relegated if he had not done his ACL when he was on loan with them…

    On his full debut in the CL he kept Udinese who were at that time the best team in Serie a quite; Against Liverpool in the same team as VP before Frimpong was sent off for a 2nd yellow card he was the best player on the pitch…

    Also in 2011 when we could not win a match in the league, Swansea’s Assistant manager who was in charge that day because Brenda’s father had passed away mentioned that Frimpong was one reason why they could not score plus the fluke AA23 goal gofted by Vorm…

  36. potter says:

    It’s the game time conundrum again. In Frimpong’s case he needs time on the pitch to establish himself , I have argued in the past that his over exuberance on the pitch was due to trying to hard to live up to his reputation as a tough tackling midfielder and Wenger’s reluctance to play him relates to that in two ways. The first because of the number of bookings he would get and secondly that style doesn’t exactly fit into the tippy tappy football He has been unlucky with the injuries that have curtailed his loans but he needs moree than kids football to develop.

  37. NashuaGunners says:

    Good afternoon All.

    T’s, Well said there @ 3:33PM. He has undone himself there by not also playing for England which could have helped his career.

  38. AndrewH says:

    Evening, catch up time, I hope! We should be fresh and ready to get at them!

    Is the January transfer window universal across all the major European Leagues?

  39. tsgh says:

    3-1 to the good guys… C’mon the Arsenal

    @MesutOzilStats 1h
    MATCH DAY – Mesut Özil has won 12 tackles in the final third in the Premier League this season. Only two players have won more.

  40. tsgh says:

    Hiya Kali,very true; have you heard about the sin bin trials about to be trialled?

    Yanited have lost £250M off their market value… phew!

  41. tsgh says:

    So Ronaldo wins the 2013 Ballon d’Or like we all knew he would…. finally!

    Anyone feels sorry for AC Milan?I do especially for Allegri…

  42. tsgh says:

    Rico should be pleased…

    Arsenal team to play Aston Villa: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Wilshere, Flamini, Cazorla, Ozil, Gnabry, Giroud

  43. tsgh says:

    Shame MA08 is injured… we need him back before the Saints imho… Ramsey will be forced back I guess..

    Subs:Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Rosicky, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ju-Young Park.

    One 45 minutes appearance against Fulham u-21 after 5 months out and Ox is on the bench… tsk

  44. tsgh says:

    Typical of a team like AV doing anuthing to get results from us…

    Lambert going 3-5-2 this evening…

    Hiya Rico…

    What was for dinner?

  45. Joaquim Moreira says:

    nigth all
    I must be ready in a hurry…
    Mata to bayern
    Matic to Chelsea
    Garay To Zenith
    Come on Arsenal

  46. rico says:

    I do too Mg, just been watching something else.. Sams been well and truly stitched up. Callum will get caught up…

  47. kali says:

    i agree re striker needed….maybe another enforcer in the mid-field

    just hope no injuries tonight forcing to change …we look a bit short on the bench ….COYGS

  48. BrainwashedKev says:

    1-0 would do Rico…

    3-0 would be luvverly

    Anything else for the Gunners would be a bonus…

    COYFRRG

  49. tsgh says:

    Matic went to Benfica as part of David Luiz’s move of €25 million to Chelsea under 3 years ago… idiots…

  50. tsgh says:

    He has to be a coach at youth level imho…

    I wonder why OG12 is not considered a threat with 3 defenders always around him? 😉

  51. tsgh says:

    Why is someone not telling our players to stay mobile and warm… we do not want a muscle pull when play resumes…

  52. BrainwashedKev says:

    We have to remember that our good season has been based around a solid defence…

    Opponents are gonna have periods when they threaten our goal …

    As long as we stay solid at the back and remember to defend as well as attack, we’ll be ok…

  53. BrainwashedKev says:

    Excellent, now finish them off before half-time…

    That way we can sit back in the 2nd 45 and pick them off on the break…

    Our fantastic defence still have a job to do, to gradually grind Villa down and to destroy them… No mercy…

  54. tsgh says:

    Let’s keep it ging… as I said yesterday and this morning our record playing Monday Nights is exemplary.

    Shame we can’t win at 12:45 on Saturdays…

  55. tsgh says:

    Giroud loses the ball but runs the length of the field back to try and win it. Apologises to fans & team mates. after winning it back… pure class.

    Per with 2 super tackles and interceptions…
    4-1-4-1 working perfectly… Flamster needs to up his game though, only 1 successive tackle won in first half…

  56. tsgh says:

    Sam Wallace ‏@SamWallaceIndy 4m
    Villa HT announcer just announced competition prize as ‘a season ticket for 5 years!’

    Booing from Holte End

  57. BrainwashedKev says:

    Still gotta be solid and concentrate at the back…

    Don’t give those Villa tossers any way back…

    COYFRRG

  58. rico says:

    Agree Lewis. This game should be dead and buried by now but we went 2-0 up and thought it was over….

    Too much fancy stuff and over playing…

    Just hope we can get one more…

  59. BrainwashedKev says:

    Pity we ain’t got Arteta or Vermaelen to come on…

    Just need to keep as much possession as possible…

    Concentrate lads, come on BFG, see us home Merts…

  60. tsgh says:

    Sub of Ox means no buying it appears…

    Its very unlike AW to introduce a young man after 5 months out so soon especially with Poldi available…

    Poldi swap for Draxler plus cash maybe…

    night all…

    3points

  61. Lexoshoke says:

    Giroud Shit!!!!… Wow that’s a new one, we weren’t @ our best but we got the win and that’s all that matters. Back on top

  62. Micko says:

    Don’t mind admitting I left the pub with 10 minutes to go, was on the verge of a nervous break-down, didn’t help being surrounded by loads of pikey Man United fans, goes with the territory i guess, bunch of gob-shites.
    Fulham on Saturday, would like to think their mascot ‘Billy the Badger’ will be their biggest threat to us but going on this 2nd half performance who knows…………still top of the league.

  63. BrainwashedKev says:

    Huh, don’t know what all the fuss was about?

    A walk in the park and 3 more points…

    Back on top… Now stay there for the rest of the season…

    Mick, you lightweight….

  64. Lexoshoke says:

    GDna he brings far more than just holding up play, I know his game could be extremely frustrating @times, I do scream most times on top of ma voice but well he aint perfect and I aint complaining. He is all we got so hate him or love him he is OUR’S. Sincerely hopes Monsieur Wenger Signs some1 up

  65. Gonerjoe says:

    Gdna you are entitled to your point of view but just because it’s your point of view does not make it right.

  66. BrainwashedKev says:

    Injuries seem to be piling up again, that remains my only concern…

    Rosicky will be ok in a couple of weeks, but a broken metatarsal could see Monreal most of the rest of this season, and that is a blow, given how fragile Gibbs can be, fitness wise…

    Ramsey & Bendtner coming back soon and Sanogo finally being close to being fit after 6 months at the club, will be welcome…

  67. BrainwashedKev says:

    Coquelin returning to the club might not be a total disaster, as he did show, awhile back, that he can perform pretty at ful-back and if we do lose Monreal, long-term, then Coquelin could do a job at left-back, in an emergency…
    It’s all-hands to the pumps as every game become a win win cup-tie!

  68. BrainwashedKev says:

    All the same, it would be encouraging to see a couple of new signings arrive this January…

    I’m not expecting mega marquee signings, but a couple of new faces, possibly in the same class as Monreal, players that can do a good job and add some more depth to the squad, is what I’m looking for…

  69. BrainwashedKev says:

    There’s rumours that Wenger, Sagna and BFG have all signed new contracts…

    That would be wonderful news and would add to the optimistic vibe and positive psychology surrounding the club this season….

    Both the Oilers and Gazprom are waiting and expecting to see Arsenal crack, but it ain’t happened yet, and maybe it’s the two Artificial Petro-Dollar clubs who’ll crack instead???

    Bringing a couple of decent signings would certainly increase the pressure them, whilst giving us another morale boost…

    Go get ’em Arsene!!!

  70. Scott from Oz says:

    So Giroud comes back and scores, and is shit.
    DNA, you crack me up 🙂
    It took me a while to understand your humour lol
    Great result.
    We will be better for the run.
    Fulham, watch out.

  71. Scott from Oz says:

    Kev, i just sent Rico a picture which goes a long way to explaining why we haven’t crack, and won’t crack 🙂

  72. rico says:

    Morning all…

    Best I get scribbling, shall I include that Giroud is s***e?? Nah, I don’t think so…

    I have it thanks Scott…

  73. Lee says:

    He’s no Aguero,Suarez,Cavani or Falcao BUT he certainly ain’t shit….
    All good this end Scotty, you ok mate?

  74. Scott from Oz says:

    Good mate.
    Back to work and it is killing me already lol
    Giroud is an absolute work horse who gives his all.
    To call him shit is simply wrong.

  75. malaga gooner says:

    We got the bfg,are we still top?

    What’s with all the giroud bashing,he cost us. £12mill,worth every penny IMO

  76. W.A.T.H says:

    Who exactly are we talking about I just said he is shit…………….

    How come YOU lot assume I meant Giroud…. Mother of all fuk ups is assumption…. Now you ALL need to say sorry…!

    Scott any more derogatory remarks about Grey Goose and your going into moderation for the rest of the month…!

    I’ll not have a bad word said about the stuff so behave or else…!

  77. Adam says:

    Lee. Perhaps it’s all a matter of degree. 🙂
    The debate will end up being spurious because someone will always pop up and say “But we are top, therefore all is ok”. Seems to me that we are either brilliant, like last week or extremely average and worryingly naive and complacent, like the second half last night.
    Villa had turned it in but we were so very under motivated that they thought they might as well give it a go.
    But we are top. That is true.

  78. Scott from Oz says:

    Aaaahhh, but Wath, i only brought up the GG comparison as it is all relative 🙂
    Maybe Giroud is shit when compared to Henry.
    Maybe GG is shit compared to this wonderful nectar i am indulging in right now 🙂

  79. Scott from Oz says:

    Adam, we can hang our hats on the fact we get the result though, and that is what it is all about.
    Playing pretty and losing….getting the job done…….easy pick…..love it….shutting experts up around the planet.

  80. Lee says:

    Agree Adam, but calling Giroud shit is way off the mark imho and obviously each to their own…as the site states!!We are crying out for a Suarez type of striker….

  81. Adam says:

    Scott. If they were the alternatives, then you would have a point.
    I am not suggesting that we play pretty and lose. I am talking about drawing motivation and being sharp enough to maintain our quality during games. We can be a lot, lot better. While we are playing rubbish and winning, the points will be the focus but Villa could have easily got a draw lat night and that’s not right, given our potential superiority. Performances like the second half would have people saying that we looked tired but we can’t be tired I think. Just complacent – as a team.

  82. Scott from Oz says:

    Morning MG.
    Neville just appreciates good football, played by a good club that has not sold it’s arse to the highest bidder, me thinks.

  83. BrainwashedKev says:

    Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner.
    That I love London Town.
    Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner.
    That I think of her, wherever I go…
    Etc etc….

    Boring Boring Chelsea….

  84. Scott from Oz says:

    Oh, i agree we can and should play much better, but again, 1-2 seasons ago we often played pretty and got nutted late costing us a win or even a draw, so there is another dimension to this group that has been missing for years….we are dropping very few points.
    No player, let alone team, can be motivated each and every game.
    If that were the case, sort squads out at the start of the season and just hand Citeh the trophy.
    I know we need a new striker, but to call Giroud shit is ridiculous…he has done a fantastic job this season, and though there are better strikers out there, it is not his fault they are elsewhere, so people should not take their frustration out on him.

  85. BrainwashedKev says:

    Morning Adam, you are correct mio amigo…
    But I doubt that Arsene will be able to secure the striker we desire.

    We’ll soldier on despite the obviously dodgy refereeing.
    And despite the favourable decisions going for the Oilers and Gazprom…

    And with some honest hard work and not a little skill, our Gunners will prevail…

    Morning All You Ravers…

  86. Lee says:

    That funny mouthed cnut abonglawhore is a horrible specimen….villa got away with lots of late challenges last night, again imo!

  87. BrainwashedKev says:

    Good to see Grumpy on here this fine morning… 😉

    How many years has it been, when we could say, that it an arsenal ‘defence’ that was carrying us over the line…

    Rock On Uncle Bouldy…

  88. Lee says:

    There was a late bad challenge on Sagna too,and those knuckle dragging brummie pricks were booing him?!?! Never liked those nasal voiced dickheads!

  89. BrainwashedKev says:

    Dentist appointment awaits, lata you Gooners…

    Adam, I will pop in soon for that wine and a chat, very soon amigo.

    Lee, I could murder some pie n mash in the near future…

    Lataissimo

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