Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsene issues one month warning. Will Arsenal do what other clubs haven’t done at Norwich?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Certainly have to tip your cap to Jamie Vardy. Eleven goals in consecutive games is quite an achievement, in fact it’s a PL record. Well done to the guy I say, a player who 3/4 seasons ago was lighting up the Conference League. Leicester took a chance on him back in 2012 and after two up and down seasons, he’s absolutely on fire. He looks the real deal.

One month, that’s what the papers say and if after then, certain players haven’t proved they have what it takes to play for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger will sign players who will. If that really is the thoughts in Wenger’s mind then good. About time!

Those players must be Campbell, Flamini and even Chambers should he been thrown into the midfield.

Let’s hope all three step up because as much as we’d all like to see a couple of signings in the New Year, we don’t need a string of losses to be the reason we get them as by then, we could be too many points behind the leaders.

It’s a big game today but saying that, every game is a big one now and we have to get back in a winning run. A draw against the neighbours at home followed by a loss away to West Brom last weekend has the media believing we are about to drift and fade away from a proper league challenge as we have so many times before..

Not sure I buy into that theory, not really and certainly not yet.

Aaron Ramsey is back, as is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott isn’t far away. He could be back in time for our trip to Greece, if not before, so the injuries are starting to ease off a bit. Today the biggest issue is how Arsene Wenger deals with the loss of Francis Coquelin.

Ramsey won’t be that option as he’s staying put on the right. The manager has said he’s too keen to attack during matches and I’m with him there. We need a player who will be disciplined and protect the back four. It’s going to be either Chambers or Flamini to fill the void. Arsene Wenger played Chambers in the role for ten minutes on Tuesday, it was planned he said as he wanted to see how he faired. Not sure ten minutes against Zagreb will have told the manager much but you’d like to think this has been worked on in training ever since Coquelin was ruled out for three months.

“We will be regarded as one of the smaller teams in the league, but even when so-called bigger teams come to our place, they have been happy to sit behind the ball, soak up pressure and hit you on the counter attack – and that sort of surprised me.

“You would have thought that some of them would have come here and tried to impose themselves, go toe-to-toe, but that has not been the case.”

Not Arsenal Alex Neil, not Arsenal.

I reckon this Arsenal team will go all out to impose themselves today, just like we did away at Leicester and to be fair, against West Brom too but the shooting boots had been left at London Colney!

Norwich might be sitting a long way below us in the table but looking at their results, no-one has really given them a good hiding, well not since Newcastle put six past them back in early October and Man City, with all their superstars could only manage a 2-1 victory at The Etihad a couple of weeks ago so we need to be focussed, disciplined and take our chances.

Should be a good game on paper, should be three away points on paper but football is played on grass and on days like today in the wind and rain, anything can happen..

COYRRG’S!!

rico

361 thoughts on “Arsene issues one month warning. Will Arsenal do what other clubs haven’t done at Norwich?”

  1. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning rico, horrible and grey! Your comment that’s its windy and rainy doesn’t fill me with confidence with our flair players. Please surprise me, we really must win after 1 point out of 6.

  6. potter says:

    Wet and windy doesn’t cover it , the trees are really bending and even the ducks and swans on the river have gone into hiding . Don’t know where I will watch it because my Sky keeps going off due to the high wind apparently and the local pub will be yellow and green still 3 points and I can go out tonight with impunity (whoever she is ) a draw and a loss will make my life a misery for the rest of the year. So come on gunners ……… You owe me.

  10. allezkev says:

    Good post Rico….

    Might have to settle for a draw…
    This game has banana skin in flashing lights, all over it ?

  11. rico says:

    Alexis has been swimming to relax hasn’t he.. 😉

    Bob, they’ve only won the once haven’t they?

    Kev, they’ll attack us won’t they? Could be ideal for us if they do..

  14. joaquim Moreira says:

    ok, but we haven’t a game in the middle of the next week.
    So, we must play and fight desperately for a win today!

  16. foereverinourshadows says:

    Same old Wenger, same old Arsenal, after so much promise, will we win th PL, no it will be groundhog day again with Wenger, he had the chance to buy in the Summer but he refused, to rely on Giroud and Walcott, not good enough to have Flamini and Arteta as back up to Coquelin, complete joke, but we are use to it, nothing surprises us with le fraud

  18. Allan Michaud says:

    I’m looking for 5-0 and top of the table. It’s about time we murdered someone… with Sunderland and Villa up next we should be able to improve the goal difference somewhere along the line. Currently enjoying watching Spuds and Chelsea both dropping points. COYG!

  19. rico says:

    Welcome forever, sorry for the delay in letting you out of moderation…

    We can only hope this season turns out differently and there’s no reason why it can’t if AW gets a couple of Jan signings. Good thing is that no other club is running away at the top unlike seasons gone by…

  24. goonster says:

    Morning housers important game today. Hope the lads turn up. I know ozil will just wonder if the rest will. Am going for a routine arsenal win. 2.0 to the arsenal and cech to finally break David James’ record. Come on you gunners 😀

  27. goonster says:

    Howdy rico. I think we ll do them. Like I said last week against west brom we didn’t do badly. Luck just wasn’t on our side besides we need to keep up with shitty till January when all our players ll be back then we can really show them what we re made off.

  30. goonster says:

    When’s the game rico?? Don’t want to miss a second. We need to be on them like ticks on s dog from the get go. No time for pussy footing. Hit them hard and where it hurts. If the real arsenal show up I see no reason why we can’t smash them but the question is how often does the real arsenal show up?

  31. goonster says:

    Rico the team that actually still scares me is chelshit. This shitty side is hot and cold. They re just like us. One minute they are world class the next they are shite. If that cnut maureen get his players playing for him again and they run into a bit of form they might threaten us for the title. We need to keep a great distance between we and them. Boy I hate that cry maureen. Grrrr.

  33. rico says:

    Can’t see Chelsea getting top four right now, let alone win the league but it’s down to us really, get back winning and stay winning and the league can be ours. But injuries will have a big part to play too, Wenger needs to sign a couple in Jan regardless imo, even if it’s a couple of loan deals….

  35. goonster says:

    Rico I don’t want to get involved in that transfer window bullshit. I won’t get my hopes up knowing wenger he won’t sign squat. I believe we have a good squad barring any major injuries to the key 7 cech bellems monreal kozzer Santi ozil and sanchez I think we can’t still nick this title. It’s there for the taking. Chelshit is in disarray, manure are pants, shitty is as inconsistent as a Mike dean’s erection. Liverpool is well liverpool. We can do this maam. I believe we can. Players or not. We just need to show up every game and smash it.

  40. rico says:

    goonster, none of us would be talking about January very much had our deficiencies been addressed in the summer but seeing as Coquelin is out for so long, he simply has to sign at least one player…

    Wonder what the odds are on Alexis hamstring going later…..

  44. goonster says:

    That’s why I don’t want to get my hopes up. He won’t sign anyone so why put myself through it again. If we can keep all the players healthy we can have a crack at the title. I believe we can.

  51. goonster says:

    I hope wenger persists with campbell. Him and ozil are on the cusp of something great. I see a patnership brewing there that ll be catastrophic to any opposition. Unlike aoc whose game is built on power and pace. Campbell has other ammunition in his locker. His passes on Tues were world class. Like I said if gundogan or reus had made such passes we ll all be kreaming our pants. Keep him in the team arsene. No need to rush rambo or oxcham yet. Come on you gunners.

  58. Adam says:

    I didn’t bother to watch the highlights Rico as I doubted there would be many. A opportunity lost though. Blow it today and….well.

  59. rico says:

    Sensible Adam, so many chances missed that day. Could easily have been so different… But it wasn’t.. Don’t want to think about a loss today, other than this place will be busy tomorrow… Lol

  60. joaquim Moreira says:

    Hope we win today.
    For the League: we have 5 games on December and a decisive game for the Champions League. Normally, we will be concern only with the League in December. The match for the Champions, in my opinion, will be the pendulum for our performance in December.
    but, today I’m only concern with Norwich and finish the usually bad November month with a victory.

  73. Wavy says:

    It seems Koz has an ‘airline’ fracture, he’s twisted his wing as well!

    Afternoon all 1-2 to the Arsenal,cit would’ve been 0-2 but we ars almost certain to concede now Kazza is a gonna.

  88. rico says:

    All very similar to last weekend at the moment…

    Wind behind us this half, Ruddy is having a tough day, need to shoot more. On target!

  90. BT62 Gooner says:

    Rico, i would add that probably applies to the 3rd strip on show today.

    I always thought the change of strip depended how much it clashed with the home teams strip.

  91. andrewh1313 says:

    Just like last week. Could easily be 2-1 down. Where was a DF snapping into them instead of giving space before they scored.

    After Debuchy shoved off pitch and out for months I would have given a red as Sanchez could have broken a leg.

  92. Gdna says:

    Arsenal need a CM and a DM. SC and MF should not be starting for Arsenal. What’s purpose does OG serve. Arsenal basically playing with 8 players.

  95. BT62 Gooner says:

    Certainly seems a strange choice,Rico..

    I suppose being out off the League Cup reduces the opportunity for exposure for marketing..

  113. Lewis says:

    We’re so average. Arsenal genius decision to sign zero outfield players was just a really great idea.. Sigh….

  125. Kel says:

    Bottled it again. 3pts from 9.. Shit performance more injuries as expected and imo puts an end to any title challenge.

  127. andrewh1313 says:

    Everything AW deserves, running our important players, Sanchez and Coq into the ground. And to think during the summer and on TDD some defended him, while most of us were furious. Well, I’m more than furious now, another season wasted. Two points from nine. And our best defender, DM and attacker out.

  129. Gdna says:

    There is no player in the world to improve AW Arsenal. When is this club going to realize they are just existing because most teams in the EPL is garbage?

  130. joaquim Moreira says:

    two more dropped points!
    Kos and Alexis injuries
    Campbell only defend with his eyes
    Bellarin is out of form
    Ramsey and Ox aren’t fit.
    Like all those years before, we lost the league in November/December. Last 3 games, just two points

  131. goonster says:

    That’s why the emirates was half empty on Tuesday. This guy is fucking killing my arsenal mojo. Why does he still have a job? Somebody please tell me?

  134. goonster says:

    Imagine what klopp ll achieve with this same players. It’s heart breaking because the cnut don’t give a hoot about us fans. Sad day in goonerdom.

  139. goonster says:

    Coq out kozzer out for God knows how long. Sanchez out for at least 2 weeks and we have to play olympiacos and shitty in a month??? Great. Good job arsene only you can sink a Styrofoam. What a cnut.

  140. goonster says:

    Dna pep ll never ever manage a club without ambition. He’s way beyond our reach. Maybe a rudi Garcia is within our range. Time for change even hardcore wengerites can see that he’s shit. Time for a change.

  141. goonster says:

    The look on ozil’s face at the final whistle says it all. I doubt if he ll renew his contract with us….Sanchez even. Poor bugger.

  145. goonster says:

    Next year it ll be 20 years since he swarm the English channel. 20 years in one club is enough. Time for a younger vibrant hungry manager. Right now I ll take anyone. Even pardew!!! So fucking distraught.

  147. goonster says:

    Lewis it’s mind boggling that we have a board who’s fine with finishing 4th yearly. Now my question was were they the same board members when we still ripping the league or did maggot infest their brains to the point that they can’t reason for themselves. Men am fucking livid.

  148. joaquim Moreira says:

    Alex 3 weeks out and one more for be completely fit
    Kos I don’t know the extend of injury. Maybe just a week…

  150. goonster says:

    At this rate Lewis finishing 4th ll be a blessing. Dele alli and Eric dier look the part. They are so fucking hard to break down. Plus they actually have a striker who knows where the goal ism what do we have?? A flamini who’s past it? Or an arteta who can barely run by miles before crapping himself. Sheesh somebody shoot me. Shoot me now.

  151. joaquim Moreira says:

    We wre first in something:
    THE 50 ARSENAL INJURIES IN 2015

    Alexis Sanchez – Hamstring November 29

    Laurent Koscielny – Hip November 29

    Francis Coquelin – MCL Knee Ligament November 21

    Mikel Arteta – Calf Muscle Strain November 21

    Laurent Koscielny – Hip/Thigh November 4

    Hector Bellerin – Groin Strain October 31

    Theo Walcott – Calf Muscle Strain October 27

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Hamstring October 27

    Per Mertesacker – Illness October 23

    Mikel Arteta – Ankle/Foot October 22

    Aaron Ramsey – Hamstring October 20

    David Ospina – Shoulder October 14

    Laurent Koscielny – Hamstring September 29

    Mikel Arteta – Thigh Muscle Strain September 26

    Mathieu Flamini – Hamstring September 26

    Francis Coquelin – Knee September 19

    Mesut Ozil – Knee August 27

    Laurent Koscielny – Back August 22

    Per Mertesacker – Illness August 22

    Hector Bellerin – Hip/Thigh August 7

    Jack Wilshere – Calf/Shin August 1

    Mikel Arteta – Calf Muscle Strain July 14

    Tomas Rosicky – Knee June 12

    Olivier Giroud – Calf/Shin June 9

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Hamstring May 10

    Aaron Ramsey – Ankle/Foot May 4

    Danny Welbeck – Knee Injury May 2

    Mathieu Debuchy – Hamstring April 28

    Per Mertesacker – Ankle/Foot April 18

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Groin/Pelvis April 6

    Laurent Koscielny – Groin/Pelvis April 4

    Wojciech Szczesny – Rib April 1

    Danny Welbeck – Knee March 27

    Mesut Ozil – Illness March 20

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Hamstring March 9

    Tomas Rosicky – Illness March 7

    Gabriel Paulista – Hamstring March 4

    Nacho Monreal – Back March 3

    Wojciech Szczesny – Illness March 3

    Jack Wilshere – Ankle/Foot February 24

    Mathieu Flamini – Hamstring February 15

    Hector Bellerin – Ankle/Foot February 11

    Alexis Sanchez – Knee February 10

    Aaron Ramsey – Hamstring February 10

    Alexis Sanchez – Hamstring January 26

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Groin/Pelvis January 18

    Mikel Arteta – Ankle/Foot Injury January 14

    Mathieu Debuchy – Dislocated Shoulder January 11

    Calum Chambers – Illness January 9

    Kieran Gibbs – Ankle/Foot January 3

    (Source: physioroom.co.uk)
    .

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3338431/Arsenal-injury-scare-Laurent-Koscielny-goes-10-minutes-against-Norwich.html#ixzz3suJ77pUk
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

  152. goonster says:

    What really breaks my heart is that the league is there for the taking. We can actually win it. 2 players during the summer and maybe just maybe we ll be 6 points clear at the top but what did he do??? Sit on his ass twiddling his thumbs. Gosh someone needs to smash that grin off his cnutish face. Am beginning to physically hate this geezer and trust me I don’t hate!

  153. Kel says:

    Fight for 4th as per usual…It’s so fucking boring and predictable.

    And with the injuries we all knew were coming and have now suffered we will drop more pts and fall down the league a few places imo. Maybe this is the yr we miss out on CL.

  154. Malaga gooner says:

    200m on the bank
    60m from the Emirates and puma
    96m from new TV deal

    That’s enough money for PEP

    Go get him

  156. goonster says:

    How long MG before the sponsors move on??? Who wants to be associated with mediocrity??? Fuck you arsene wenger for ruining my weekend. You twat faced flaccid prick. Grrrrr.

  163. Kel says:

    Don’t let it annoy yous to much guys because wenger doesn’t give a fuck about yous.

    The club is gutless from the owner Down to wenger. They lack ambition and don’t give a toss about the supporters.

    Arsenal needed a new manager s few seasons ago imo but wenger likes his 8m a yr to much.

  174. allezkev says:

    The funny thing is, if Arsenal had won, then we would have been joint top, so it ain’t that bad, considering our injuries…

    Yeah, we could have gone top today, but I’d rather go top in April and stay there.

  179. goonster says:

    What difference ll it make kev?? We re 2 points behind the worst shitty team in 5 years. We could and should be ripping this league now but as always lecnunt has the last laugh. Like MG said well never win another title with that turd in charge. Afternoon guys.

  181. Wavy says:

    Well, that was a bag of crap!
    Positives?
    We are on the cusp of Nocember! Another bad month, in fact a dismal November, again. Still, December should be a different kettle of fish!
    Ever onward. Ever upward!
    Well I can dream can’t I?

  182. allezkev says:

    Well Stan, a few weeks ago all the pundits were predicting that ManCity would walk the EPL this season, then they lost 4-1 at home to the Scousers and now their mugs….
    It’s wide open Stan, I mean even the Scummers are up there…

  183. Micko says:

    rico, looks like tomorrow has come early.

    Kev, if we’re top in April I’ll buy you half a shandy…….you can hold me to that, sod the expense !

  185. allezkev says:

    Wavy, thankfully everyone else has been pretty uninspiring, so with poxy November out of the way and Walcott almost ready to come back we might have a change of luck.

  190. rico says:

    I’d say we’ve had none Kev.. Yes, shame Milner didn’t slip but I guess he wasn’t harassed as much as Santi was last weekend…

  191. allezkev says:

    Rico, as a team we’re too nice, and with Coq missing it’s even worse…

    We could do with a couple of nutters like Costa in the team…

    Night All

  192. Micko says:

    rico, I don’t think it’s a saving grace, we’ll only be looking back in May rueing the chances we spurned over the season like always, it doesn’t matter who we bring in January, we’re a top 4 side at best.

  195. rico says:

    Micko, I honestly believe that with a fully fit squad, we are capable of winning the league. But as always, we never have a fully fit squad and that’s always the problem, as is AW thinking we will…

  196. Micko says:

    Lewis, I’m sure I read somewhere that Alexis has played something like 120 games in the last couple of years if you include Internationals, he’s getting a well deserved break.

    Kev, Costa got dropped today and threw a right strop…..nite matey.

  199. Micko says:

    Malaga, before you knock the great man, please tell me the name of any other football manager you know who has acquired his footballing badges while still in the womb, even if it was 66 years ago and a little bit out of date !!!

  201. Lee says:

    Gross mismanagement of the squad yet again……..

    2 points from a possible 9….

    The stark reality is we are “just” a top four side under Wenger……

    If he had anything about him he’d be lining up a DM and a wide player/striker to help the squad out…..fuck the expense, it’s not your money!!!!

  202. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and Brudder. Spot on Lee. After a disastrous transfer window that made no sense whatsoever only Arsene and a few weirdos in red hats thought this squad was anything like equipped. We knew that we would get costly injuries that could cost us dearly. Not because we know more than him but because we always do. Gary Neville described it as arrogance and Wenger got all hissy about it, claiming he is not arrogant. But Neville was referring surely to the act of not strengthening while Arsene chose to take it personally. Now, we are up shit creek with 7 points dropped for the last 3 games and Wenger makes startling observations like our defending wasn’t good enough or we look jaded and low in energy. Bang on Arsene but these things are your responsibility and nobody else’s. It’s why you get the big bucks. You have left the squad far, far too shallow and carrying way too many permanent-crocks and that has meant you have felt no choice but to run top players into the ground even though they are carrying injuries that could become vitally serious for us. You talk about the performances as though you are an observer and not responsible. You have cocked up royally and have no excuses this time and all these poor managerial misjudgements, many stretching back a decade, surely only point to one thing.

  203. Lee says:

    Brudder, it’s not like it’s happened before is it? This season was Wenger’s big chance to win the PL and he royally fucked it up by not strengthening in the summer!

    My interest in Arsenal is waning at the moment….well until we get a new manager.

  204. Lee says:

    “Nobody is scientifically developed enough to predict when a guy will be injured”

    “I must say with all humility that we are not in a position to predict. Despite our tests he looked alright.”

    “We checked it and he had no problem.”

    “The players are there to play football , not be rested.”

    Wenger.

    This is where the problem lies….

  205. Adam says:

    I have felt curiously detached since the summer Brudder. I still do and I get royally pissed when we lose but, as I think I said months ago, this is most definitely his season. I am along for the ride but I have watched the past few seasons believing that we are playing out the longest series of encores ever seen in football. I don’t like where football is or where it’s heading myself but, unless we adapt to the times by moving the whole culture of the club forward, then this stuff will just go on and on.
    Surely the board must be considering the future.

  207. Lee says:

    You’d like to think they are considering the future…..but we’ll achieve top four and that falls in line with the Syrup’s game plan.

  209. Marshall says:

    Morning Rico, was getting a ‘403 forbidden’ all day yesterday which might be a good thing cause I’d have ranted!

    Kos and Alexis were the standout class next to Ozil in the pitch. Now am looking forward to a very average arsenal who cannot win a title even if they were the only team in the league. I hope Wenger is very proud of himself. That c*nt!

  214. Marshall says:

    We are the only club that harbors players based on sentiments. What the hell are the likes of Rosicky (i love him btw) Arteta, Flamini, Sanogo doing in the club books while they are just ride alongs? Ramsey imbalances the play and JC will never be top quality material. Giroud has the agility of a pregnant mammoth which most people fancy it up by calling it hold up play. Sanchez, Auba, Lewa don’t hold up when they are 20 yards to the goal.

    We keep mediocres, we get our value for money. Good luck fighting spurs and leicester for number 4

  217. Lee says:

    I think he’d be more useful used as an impact sub, when we are chasing a game….. he just isn’t efficient enough in front of goal to be our no1 striker!

  218. Marshall says:

    Scott, no. The two guys will be doing all the work. I’d prefer a striker running with others. Creating space and unsettling the defense.

  221. scottfromoz says:

    Ok…fair comments.
    I asked this of some mates…………do kids learn how to cross a ball anymore?
    I’ve thought about it, and even at Sean’s school, it’s all about ball at feet, being comfortable in possession which is great, but when do kids learn that a cross, well delivered, is lethal.
    Nacho overlapped brilliantly yesterday, but his delivery was pathetic, and undid all his great work.
    Bellerin was average.
    One decent cross is all I counted, and that was from Ox.
    How often do we see opposition players kill us with well delivered crosses?
    Why can’t we do it?

  222. Gdna says:

    I don’t think it matters which players the club buy, AW management is too predictable. The “I told you so” moment AW and his followers were waiting for seems to be in doubt.

  223. Lee says:

    Someone delivered a good cross, right on the money and Giroud cocked it up. More worried about his facial expressions, poking his tongue out, slapping the ground in disgust with his woeful efforts and messing his Barnet up!

    Can we call Sanogo back?? Purely to fill the comedy gold moments that have not been filled since Gerwanko was playing for Arsenal.

  225. Lee says:

    I bet old pig’s head, the fat fuck Ham Allardyce is licking his lips with Sunderland’s trip to the Emirates….. more rough and tumble with Defoe putting a nail in our coffin….

  227. rico says:

    Morning you all…

    Marshall, not sure what happened yesterday, haven’t had any problems since the ads were taken off. Hopefully it was just a blip, or the wind, or internet fatigue, or regardless of the tests I’d run, HH was fit…

    Can’t be arsed to write about that pile of poop, or the injuries, or Wenger, or squad depth. Or anything really……

  228. Marshall says:

    Yeah, Monreal crossing was amateurish. It’s like we don’t train how to cross. Per as usual ducked/pretended to fall when Wes Hoolahan fortunately for us missed the chance. Same set piece mistakes, same crossing blunders. Baffles me.

  229. Lee says:

    I fully understand Rico!

    You could just post a picture of a pile of steaming horse manure with the title “This is what I think of Arsene(al) right now!”

  230. scottfromoz says:

    A great cross is where a striker doesn’t have to break stride when shooting.
    We don’t do it well at all.
    The best we’ve had for years was a guy who was bloody average at everything else….Andre Santos.
    That could really could deliver a cross.
    Maybe it’s Wengers obsession with beautiful football…ball at feet.

  231. scottfromoz says:

    Marshall, I’m really disappointed in Merts this season.
    He’s terrible, in general.
    Even the goal we conceded….plenty blamed Gabriel but Merts was ball watching…..this from a massively experienced international?
    Terrible stuff.

  234. rico says:

    Royally pissed off Lee…

    But then I know I’m not alone.. I’m always one to try and see something positive but there’s little left to be positive about. Well, other than we are two points off the top but the way things are going, it won’t be long before that gap increases.

    Looking forward to seeing a few of the under 21’s play though, won’t be long before they are all playing…

  235. allezkev says:

    When I read, and I know that you can take a lot of this with a pinch of salt, but when I read, that Lionel Messi could come to Arsenal for £600k per week, which is fantasy.
    And then Messi could go to Man City for £800k per week, which could happen in this crazy world, then Adam, me old mate, that’s where I see football going.
    And then we can pretty much see that the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

    Yeah, it ain’t perfect at Arsenal, and yes Lee and Adam, Wenger really fcuked up in the summer with his transfers, or lack of…

    But we’re halfway through the season, 2 points off of the top, still in with a great chance of the title, despite the injuries, and 12 points in front of Chelsea despite Abramovitch spending about a billion on players….

  236. rico says:

    Scott, I agree re the crossing yesterday, it was woeful. It’s often woeful but to honest, the movement in the box is equally as bad by Ollie. One great cross came in, from OC I think, or Bellerin and it was fired into the near post from the right. Where was Oliie, static in the middle…

    But it’s not just him, especially from set-pieces…

    Merts, for all his height is dreadful on corners…

  239. Adam says:

    Kev. The PL has sold out for the money and we are caught in a world of escalating prices and values. As fans, we will also face the spectre of our club challenging us to dig deeper and deeper and unless we get a few footballing evangelists in positions of power within the game the cycle will continue. There will be many more casualties along the way. Fans priced out of going to see their club for purely financial reasons as player’s wages escalate alongside transfer fees and the price of a bag of chips at the ground. Do I take the kids on holiday or renew my season ticket for another predictable season?
    But, regardless of what actually happens, the future of the game in this country seems to lie with the rich foreign businessmen, TV revenues and sponsorship deals. Our manager is old school and I see the value in that but he is banging his head against the wall at the moment. Nobody likes it, but he is like Arsene Canute trying to stem the creeping tide of commercialism and big money laundering from wetting his toes. His response is to carry on carrying on like he has always done. Most of the stuff I hear him about these days is nonsense and embarrassing.
    I think the club and most of the fans are scared about what happens next. You see it here and on other sites every day. It’s Kismet.

  242. Adam says:

    I’ve got all day Rico. 🙂
    I believe I did see him break into a trot at one stage. It was immediately prior to him being flagged offside I think. 🙂

  251. rico says:

    Can’t see Ches coming back tbh…

    You’d think so but I bet he thinks he does. But all the time the top 4 is achieved and the money comes rolling in, I suspect Kroenke is happy…

    He’s too stubborn to change, so someone else has to make the change but that someone else, doesn’t appear to care…

  253. allezkev says:

    Yes I agree Adam, there is a large group of fans who are worried about change..,

    Personally it doesn’t bother me because as long as Stan Kroneke is in charge, we ain’t getting Guardiola or Ancelotti or any other of the big names often linked…
    We will get a Terry Neill type manager and it will be the same as it is now…

    You only have to look at Kroenkes other franchises to see what we have in store!

    Unless Arsenal are taken over by some Arab, Russian, Indian or Chinese oligarch, nothing will change imo…

    Yes, English football has sold its soul, it’s doesn’t belong to us anymore, it’s a global entertainment and it ain’t going back anytime soon….

    We had some great times, especially when George Graham was at his peak. But that’s history now, it’s all about TV deals, Internet deals, Inglewood, sponsorship, naming rights, and somewhere down the bottom of the pile is the bloody infantry (season ticket holders) who can’t even get a Cup Final ticket ffs…

    Wenger is a relic of times past, but for all his stubbornness, arrogance and typical Frenchness, I am gonna miss him when he goes.

    Will our next manager take us into that mythical next level?

    Or will we in 3 or 4 years time be recalling Wenger with a more kind sense of what we had and what we have at that time?

    But as you know, I don’t disagree with most of what you say mate… ?

  255. Lee says:

    I mean the lack of activity in the summer is a fucking embarrassment and he’s got the fucking nerve to moan about injuries!!

    He’s a highly paid manager that surely could’ve seen this happening, because it happens every fucking season!!!

    Get shot of him at the end of the season and replace him with a proper manager…he has had enough of a crack at it. We just make the numbers up in the PL and CL and have done for fucking ages…

  261. Adam says:

    Brudder. I am at a loss to understand the business plan over there. I know they used Bayern as their model but that obviously only goes so far.

  262. Lee says:

    Ah the old “Take the piss out of thousands of fans, financially and emotionally by fobbing them off with the false hope that we might actually win a major trophy, whilst top four is all you really want!?!?”

    Well something like that…..

  263. Lee says:

    Kev, maybe Spectrum or Rectum or whatever his name was showing great foresight with his “in Arsene we rust???” 😆

  272. Lee says:

    Shitham and Tiptree are indeed two of Essex’s worst carbuncles….however Jaywick has surpassed both of them imho.

  274. Lee says:

    Wonderful beaches there, but it’s inhabited by cheap cigarette smoking, cheap cider drinking, multiple children owning, ESN fucktards.

  276. tsgh says:

    Afternoon Rico and all,

    Unfortunately supporting Arsenal places one in a position of moral fait accompli…

    When our best player has been playing in the red zone for over 6 weeks but the manager is either too soft or nonchalant about the situation all one can do is ride the November storm until we are able to get bodies back fit…

  277. rico says:

    Afternoon Ts…

    Has anyone else taken AW’s comments to mean he’s trying to shift a little bit of blame towards Alexis for his injury?

  278. potter says:

    Unfortunately Wenger will shift the blame wherever he can , in his own mind he has hands of teflon and nothing sticks to them. Both of our worldie players will get fed up with him and when they go he will brand them as ungrateful. Really it is time for him to go.

  285. Lee says:

    It’s all too cushty under Wenger no wonder all these players re-sign…..all aboard the good ship Wenger!!

    First stop is top four!!

    Second stop a good cup run…

  286. rico says:

    Not at all Ts, just seeing his comments for what they are….

    Thankfully, it’s only one and a half seasons and baring in mind AW’s comments about the last year of any contract, he might just go in the summer…

    Of course, I’d rather he signed 2/3 cracking players in January, all the injured return and we won the PL and FA Cup in May.

    However……

  288. Lee says:

    “Of course, I’d rather he signed 2/3 cracking players in January, all the injured return and we won the PL and FA Cup in May.”

    Now that would be a fitting way to leave a football club wouldn’t it??

  290. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House.
    Is tonights u 21 team a hint of the Future
    G/K Macey Back four Kamara Chambers Bielick Bola
    D/M Plegues and Sheaf
    Front Line Iwobi Mavididi Willock and Jeff
    Should be a few goals there.

  292. Rick says:

    Certainly will Rico.
    I am hearing he is playing D/M next to Sheaf
    Mavididi injured before the game started Replaced by Malan

  294. scottfromoz says:

    I reckon if we had another 6 top players, we’d have another 6 on the injured list.
    It’s all good and well to bang on about a lack if squad depth, and we all know we suffer it, but why so many injuries?
    It’s only November…….don’t tell me fatigue is an issue already due to squad depth, because that’s rubbish, IMO.
    If we had this problem in March/April, then I reckon the lack of depth playing its part theory has merit.
    It’s only November….and Sanchez started later than most.

  296. potter says:

    Sanchez started later with us because of the Copa America , truth is he shouldn’t have played for a couple of weeks after that.but he came on as sub because he was needed to try and save us from a lacklustre performance in our first match against West Ham. Since then he has been pretty much ever present . It was a ticking time bomb and the fact that Wenger knows his replacements are not capable of standing in for him even against lesser opponents just exposes the standard of the squad once you drop below the four or five top performers .

  299. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, he did have a decent break though……World Cup players had less break last year.
    My point is our players shouldn’t be copping fatigue related injuries but they are, and have for years.
    We don’t buy broken down crocks, but we turn players into them.
    No question that our guys get kicked out of games, but soft tissue injuries are because of fatigue…….that can’t be simply from game time.
    Are they over trained?

  300. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, some players will remain injury prone, no matter where they play, but I just can’t see how they should be gone this early in the season…..unless they are killed on the training track.

  301. rico says:

    Scott, we didn’t see the German players for a while after the WC, Merts was the only one I think and that’s because he didn’t play much and then retired.

  303. rico says:

    Scott, someone on tv this week or last said the players aren’t ever over trained. Not sure who it was but could have been Winterburn or someone else who has an insight to the club..

  304. rico says:

    I think so Scott, even Podolski was left out and he barely featured…

    🙂 re Merts, I gave up on him long ago, I know Gabriel had a dodgy game yesterday but I’d play him now and watch him improve…

  305. potter says:

    Scott we are like two cheeks of the same arse. I agree with you there is something not right about our training and we have a terrible injury record and seemingly no clue how to cure it.

    joaquim Moreira
    November 29, 2015 at 6:42pm. Showed the list and what worried me from it is the regular recurrence of the same names . There are players that have hardly kicked a ball for us this year yet they are long term injured . How many players get injured in training ? How many times do we hear that a player on the verge of returning suddenly has a relapse and is out for a longer period than first thought. ? How often do we hear that things are not too serious only for 6 weeks later the player goes to hospital for an unforeseen operation. It’s to regular a pattern , something has to change.

  306. scottfromoz says:

    Lol Potter…….am I the right, or the left Hahahahahaha
    Rico, then I’m stumped totally.
    Maybe they’re undertrained then and that can have the same consequences.
    Something is seriously wrong, either way.
    I just can’t see how so many are gone so early in the season.
    Anyway, work beckons…….night all.

  314. allezkev says:

    Arsenal signings (01.10.14 – 30.09.15): Petr Cech, Gabriel, Krystien Bielik, Yassin Fortune, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Ismael Bennacer, Vlad Dragomir and Donyell Malen.

  316. allezkev says:

    Contract extensions: Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Chuba Akpom, Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky + various youth level contracts.

  317. potter says:

    Pariahs on the game. If I need an accountant I have to reach into my back pocket , it’s the player’s agent so let the player pay him.

  318. Rick says:

    Finished 2-1
    Bit strange with Mavididi Kev came on as sub after saying he was injured
    Youth cup V WBA on friday i wonder how many of tonights team will play.
    I am hearing some very good reports on Donyell Malan, looks like D/B put us on to a really good one.

  319. allezkev says:

    Potter, make no mistake, if and when Arsenal renegotiate new deals for Alexis and Ozil, you can bet a few million will go into the skyrocket of their agents…

    It’s the way of modern football…

  321. allezkev says:

    Rick, the game this Friday is at Borehamwood…

    I think it’s free admission…

    Shame they don’t play it at the Emirates, as I’d probably go, but being so close to the Sunderland game and Wengers precious pitch and all, I suppose it was impossible…

  323. Rick says:

    I was going to ask if you were going Kev,
    The only other date that it could be played is the same time of the ManC game.
    Night all.

  324. Lee says:

    “I reckon if we had another 6 top players, we’d have another 6 on the injured list.”

    Scott, we’ll never know but I do know that relying on players that always pick up injuries was always going to bite us in the arse plus injuries to Welbeck/Wilshere!

    Wenger over plays certain players because the squad isn’t strong enough and lacks depth. He has had plenty of opportunity to address this but chooses to ignore it.

    Wenger simply has to buy in January, whether it’s expensive or not that’s because he fucked up big time in the summer.

    Let’s hope Kim Kallstrom has retired from football….

  326. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, you’re right, and ive said for months we should’ve bought players, but it still doesn’t solve the problem, it just a masks it, I reckon.
    Morning all.

  331. Adam says:

    Why would any manager continue with a player who was effectively “Playing with one leg”? Only a couple of weeks ago against Spurs Arsene admitted that Arsenal played with 10 men for the first half because Santi was sick. Am I missing something here, perhaps misinterpreting some spoken words, or is that just pure incompetence?

  335. Lee says:

    He’s got a history of it Adam, he just doesn’t believe in the understudies so he over plays his favourite players…..I mean who assembled this squad?? Fucking joker!

  336. Adam says:

    Scott. Desperation is not a great trait in a manager though is it? Especially as he could have subbed Santi in the Spurs match quite early. If you recall he looked totally off colour when he nearly gifted them an early goal by losing possession after only a couple of minutes. If the bloke is sick then why start him? If Alexis has hamstring concerns and is in the famous red zone and you tell the press that, why start him? Too much strangeness there I’m afraid.

  339. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, again, he’s put himself and the club into a position where desperation is there for all to see.
    He’d have been better off not playing Alexis and play not to lose.
    Hindsight makes us all smart, but why play a guy ready to bust……who knows?

  340. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY AFC. Back in 1886 on Dec 1st, the initial discussion took place at Dial Square. So we can rightly say we were born, or conceived on that day. 129 years of glorious history.

    Seems we are going to get another DM by the name of Neves…….no not Denilson of Brazilian nature. But Ruben Neves. MAybe AW will get one Neves right after all.

    Yesterday I read an article that maybe AFC might have a transfer embargo. Well, nothing will change as AW has had the foresight last summer when he did not buy an outfield player, and shopping seems to be a rarity nowadays.

    I missed you a lot mates.

  344. rico says:

    Morning Adam.

    Scott – I’m amazed too but AW had used all his subs. For any manager to admit after the game that one of his players played the second half on ‘one leg’ beggars belief – playing with ten would have been better than Santi suffering further damage…

  346. Adam says:

    I get that Scott. No he doesn’t, but some of the responsibility must rest with him. The big decisions are often hard ones but surely, as a top manager, you need to give yourself every chance to succeed. Nothing is happening this season that hasn’t happened many times before. None of this stuff is exactly new is it? The recurring problems are crippling injuries and a lack of quality in the depth of the squad. It’s been like that for a long, long time now. Will it be allowed to continue? That’s the question that must be vexing those with the power at the club. Including Arsene himself.

  347. Lee says:

    Whoever the new manager eventually is, I just hope that they aren’t allowed as much power as Wenger has been given during his tenure.

  348. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, I’m not defending him.
    Not at all, on this topic.
    He left us short.
    I’ll defend him when I think he’s copping unfair criticism, but on playing players in that situation due to his own failure to buy, not a chance.
    Yes, I do think we have an issue at the club that leaves us open to so many injuries, and that may well go on with a squad of 100, but at least we’d have cover.
    That’s all on him.
    Lee, that’s the best comment I’ve read from you…simple, but brilliant…..I don’t mean that as a knock, either.
    How gutless people who should be above him allowed this situation to arrive is a disagree.
    He’s an employee who tells the bosses what to do…it’s crazy.

  349. Lee says:

    Scott we all probably feel that way mate…

    Anyone know anything about us getting an alledged Barca type of transfer ban, for underhand transfer tactics involving young players???

  351. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Now I might be mistaken here, but wasn’t Cazorla the recipient of a nasty foul, a kick to his knee, early in the game…

    A foul that was ignored by the referee – no surprise there…

    Could that have been the reason he was playing on one leg…?

    Of course that doesn’t fit in with the media theme that it’s all Wengers fault…
    I’m surprised he hasn’t be blamed for IS…

    Every team has injuries, that’s a fact…
    Another fact is that Arsenal are the most fouled against team in the EPL…

    Wenger fcuked up by not strengthening last summer, but that doesn’t explain fully the reason we have 10 players out injured, of which 3 could teturn this weekend….

  355. Hell Raising Devil says:

    How many players can one buy? I mean…..buying just for the sake of it??? As Kev pointed out…..10 outfield players out with injury.

    So this is the first 11…..Cech, Bellerin, Nacho, Per, Kos, Coq, Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Aaron, Theo…….with the rest…..Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabi, Chambers, Wilshere, Flamini, Arteta, Ox, Campbell,Ollie.

    That is 22. Now I agree that some of the 2nd string leave a lot to be desired, but to blame AW on predicting that 10 players would be out injured is insane. Yes we know that injuries will happen, as much as shit happens, but you cannot have a squad of more than 25 players. Out of those 22 hardly anyone is a teenager now. So they are all seniors. That leaves three more……and you can fill them with young ones.

    I do not blame AW with not buying. I blame him for not rotating enough. Usually the team comes to life in the 2n half. Well, why begin with Sanchez when we know that usually he is better in the 2nd half than in the 1st? So begin with Campbell in his place and then introduce him in the 50th minute in certain games. that way he is keeping him fresh…..as we know that players exert themselves more in the first 35 minutes than they do during the rest of the match.

  360. potter says:

    I’ve been reading the Spanish press where the story seems to have originated but can’t find too much. There seems to be something surrounding the Chambers transfer but that seems to be purely domestic.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading