Arsene Wenger confirms he will spend in January! Ramsey back fit but a doubt tonight..

Morning all.

Darn and triple darn!! We didn’t want to hear that from Arsene Wenger about Francis Coquelin did we?

He will be out for two months but we will know more once he has had the scans.

I’m gutted for the team, even more so for the player as he’s waited a long time for his Arsenal career to kick off and now he’s out for a long time. He’ll be back, that’s for sure. He’s young and he’ll recover well hopefully…

The manager went on to say:

We don’t know yet. [how big a blow it is to lose Coquelin] It is of course a disappointment to lose him on the longer term but we have players who can compensate. We have lost a player of quality for a while and we know this can happen during the season.

We have players who play in this position, like Flamini. We have players like Chambers [too], because he has been educated as a central midfielder.

Sometimes this is a good opportunity for other players to turn up and show they can do the job.

So it seems it’s a straight fight between Flamini and Chambers for the central spot. Neither option is ideal, far from it and a club like ours shouldn’t be in this position. We should have enough depth and strength to cope with an injury to Coquelin, we said it in the summer and now we are in the mire.

I sure as heck lady luck is looking over Arsene Wenger and whoever he plays in midfield does well, because if it doesn’t, he’s in for a rough ride. At least the manager has said he ‘will do what’s needed’ in the January transfer window. Shame he didn’t do what was needed back in the summer!!

Aaron Ramsey is back fit but might not be risked tonight as he’s only had one training session. Good, the last thing we need is him being rushed back only to breakdown again.

Alex Iwobi, Chris Willock, Julio Pleguezuelo, Donyell Malen and Jeff Reine-Adelaide all trained with the first-team yesterday but I doubt any will feature from the start as we are not quite down to the bare bones….. yet.

We need a win tonight, that’s all there is to it. Anything other than maximum points means we are out of the Champions League, we could be anyway if Olympiacos get something from their game against Bayern.

We should win shouldn’t we?

After all, Dinamo Zagreb have not won any of their last eleven away games in this competition. Heck, they haven’t even managed to score a goal in eight of those matches but if we go on history, we haven’t managed to win two consecutive Champions League fixtures at home since 2012.

I reckon it’ll be a good night for the boys in red and white and we’ll get back to winning ways.

Have a good Tuesday guys….

235 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger confirms he will spend in January! Ramsey back fit but a doubt tonight..

  1. Kel says:

    Nice post rico, Glad Ramsey is back and I certainly wouldn’t risk him tonight. I’d go for chambers in that DM let’s give him a chance we did pay 16m for him which tbh still shocks me.

    We also need to be very careful with Giroud with Theo being wks away and Danny months.

  2. Simon Ngulube says:

    Good afternoon all .

    I hope we win….it is always painful at this moment that year after year we always go through the same ordeal…..lose players to injuries and consequently lose games…and then we are out of one or two or sometimes three competitions and Mr. Wenger doesn’t see that…and always hopes somehow things will work out.

    Insanity isn’t it?

    I hope he will tell us a different lie now…. We are tired of his old stories….

  3. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. I cannot muster much enthusiasm for tonight at all I am afraid. Damp, cold, injuries, extra security so we have been advised to get there early, apathy, risk of further injuries.
    Still, we will be active in the January window I hear.

  4. Wavy says:

    Good post Rico.
    From a confidence point of view we need to beat Dinamo Dopers. The proper B team need a run out to give the A team players some respite care. You never know we may find a player or two who can make the step up, that would be a bonus!
    A draw would see us out of the competition too, even for the Thursday cup. Probably no bad thing, given that we can hardly field a fit 11 players on a Saturday!
    I’ll watch the game but I shan’t be terribly upset if we draw or lose. I think it may be a blessing in disguise.
    And, Cronky can brag to his mates that his English franchise has just failed, like all his U.S. possessions!

    Morning all.

  5. BT62 Gooner says:

    Adam i was for doing the same, until a mate said he had the Blaster unused in the box for years, the reason, it had a euro plug…..lol

    I’m in the middle of a rather large project at the moment.

  6. rico says:

    Having heard AW say he’d take the Europa Cup very seriously, should we draw or worse tonight, I really hope we don’t end up being in it….

  7. potter says:

    We need to be careful with sendings off tonight . This is the ref that removed Arteta in Naples and although we might win tonight with ten men the impasct on Olympiakos away might create to big a hurdle to get over.

  8. Bob John says:

    Morning all
    I do find it amazing that whenever this sort of injury situation arises Arsene can suddenly find a player in the squad who ‘has played this position’. Chambers in midfield smacks of complete desperation! What next when Giroud gets injured? “Petr Cech enjoys playing up front in training and it will be easy for us to pick his helmet out in the box”!!!

  9. Bob John says:

    Spot on Potter. Considering we are one of the least physical teams in Europe, the amount of red cards we get is ridiculous! As was Ollie’s in the first game which meant he missed the Olympiakos fiasco.

  10. Joaquim Moreira says:

    I watched yesterdat at TV a schedule about Arsenal games in November month in last ten years.
    What a shock!
    I thik was published in a daily english newspaper.
    Had everyone see it?
    They also showed the sum of injuries of Arsenal players during that time and the causes of them….

  11. rico says:

    Kel – re your earlier. AW will move Alexis central if anything happens to Ollie imo, either that or play Campbell which would be slightly worrying… 😉

  12. allezkev says:

    I wonder what kind of performance enhancing drugs that Zagreb will be on this evening….?

    One thing is for sure, UEFA don’t give a flying feck…

  13. allezkev says:

    Prior to losing Walcott and Oxlade at Sheff Wed, entering the Europa wasn’t something I dreaded, it kinda reminded me of our entertaining UEFA Cup campaign in 2000.

    But now, following another injury cull of our squad, I couldn’t give a shit.
    Hope we draw tonight and Wenger plays the Stiffs in Greece…

    To me, Norwich is all that matters in the short term…

    Afternoon Rico and All…

  14. allezkev says:

    Yeah, play Chambers at Def/Mid, experiment in this game, it might pay off?!

    I’d rest Giroud and Alexis….

    Campbell at centre-forward…

    It won’t happen, but it should…

  15. allezkev says:

    Rico, what exactly does “Do what is needed” actually mean???

    It means nothing, fcuk all, it’s a comment to satisfy the Press hounds…
    And now all those ‘click-bait’ sites will be churning out the empty rumours hand over fist, taking the piss, as they always do….

    Every day the Metro – Adams favourite – will be heralding another ‘Deal Done’ load of cobblers, to suck us in…

    That Bdazillian permacroc, Pato, is being linked with us for the umpteenth time…
    You gotta hand it to his Agent, he sure is persistent….

    It’s all bollocks and I’ll believe it when it happens…

    Jamie Vardy for me… ?

  16. Allan Michaud says:

    I hate to say this but to be quite honest I won’t lose any sleep if we decide to put out mostly reserves tonight and lose the game. With players dropping like flies I think we would be better resting all our key players. If we put out our best team tonight we run the very real risk of more injuries to already tired players like Alexis and Santi, which would be catastrophic. Failure to win with our best team would also be more costly in terms of confidence, which is already looking a bit shaky.
    My line up
    Cech
    Debuchy, Mert, Gabriel, Gibbs
    Chambers, Flamini
    and some combination of
    Campbell, Ozil (is Sheaf available?)
    Renne Adelaide and Iwobi

  17. allezkev says:

    Yeah, I know what you mean about Campbell, but I really don’t care about this game Rico…

    This game aside, Campbell has no long term future at Arsenal, he proved his quality with that Hackney Marshes quality miss at the Hawthorns…

  18. rico says:

    Kev, wait until the end of the month and welcome Coquelin back, or Jack to play there when he returns is my guess…

    However, he actually do something useful and sign a DM….

  19. rico says:

    Allan/Kev.

    I’m not bothered about it either but we need a win after Saturday imo… Just like winning breeds winning, losing again might knock the confidence…

  20. goonster says:

    Hmmmmm rico washing her car 😀 what a sexy picture that paints this cold dreary morning 😀 but you could have uploaded a picture too maam 😀 morning good people. Arsenal 5 Zagreb 0 but it won’t really matter because olympiacos ll go through.

  21. tsgh says:

    Lol the spin master is at it again; If I didn’t like Aw I would be wondering if he sees fans as fools…;)

    When was Chambers ever educated as a CM?
    I guess CDM will be the best position for him to pull opponents shirts when he is dribbled past.:-)

  22. Adam says:

    If they play the reserves will the ticket prices be reduced for the game? I think tonight’s ticket, on the ST, is about £50 each, Plus all the travelling etc. For me it’s a £150 evening.
    Just saying…

  23. Lee says:

    Surely Ozil, Sanchez and Cech will of been given assurances that we will add more quality to the squad? Strive to win major competitions?

    We’ve got too many injury prone and mediocre players, if this is addressed we can add more quality…..it’s not rocket science is it?

  24. dublingunner says:

    Afternoon don,t fancy Chambers as a D,M replacement at all, Didn,t he play there against Stoke when they tore us a new one in the first half,when we went 3 -0 down, before we pulled it back to 3-2.
    I think Flamini will get a run in the side, now, but i would like to see AW try Gabriel there or Bielik. could do worse.

  25. potter says:

    I can’t make London tonight and it never sold out so my son and I could not exchange them , therefor I lose £100.00 and a cup credit for our next glorious run to Wembley for staying at home .
    As for Norwich , the locals are feeling confident they fancy the 3 points and they are planting sugar beet as we speak.

  26. Adam says:

    Well Rico. There’s the travelling costs and the parking charges, perhaps a cup of hot chocolate. None of these incurred in front of the TV of course. Not moaning, just pointing out the realities of going regularly. 🙂

  27. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House.
    Looking at the U19 squad for this afternoons game, Jeff and Kamara could be in tonights squad

    The U19 team is Keto,Eyoma O’connor Pleguezuelo, M Bola, Iwobi, Tabi,Hinds Nelson Willock Malan
    Subs Huddart Sheaf,Bielik, Bennacer, Robinson, Mavididi Fortune,
    11 0f the 18 are English
    see you latta.

  28. BT62 Gooner says:

    My mate went to the Bayern away game, his flights, accommodation and match ticket combined, were less than my match ticket for the home leg….

    Funny old world…..

  29. rico says:

    Wasn’t he in defence that day Dublin? Let the ball go over his head for the first goal….

    Adam, just kidding really… But I do have to pay a TV licence fee… 😉

  30. BT62 Gooner says:

    Adam, does not surprise me either, got another friend a ticket for the last NLD, £127.00 and thank you for your support..

  31. BT62 Gooner says:

    So true Rico, even more reason for a good old booze up…lol

    Kev, you can x3, two others went with him…….

  32. tsgh says:

    £150 for you Adam? WoW

    I thought my trip to WBA was expensive. I am beginning to wean myself off oing to games nowat least not when its 2 degrees on the terraces ; Defintely no more risque flights to watch BVB games for this season as the Bundesliga is already over.

  33. Adam says:

    TS. I think it comes to us all. 🙂
    Going to The Emirates almost seems like a tourist-type thing these days, when all the real fans are sitting at home shouting at the TV.

  34. dublingunner says:

    I think we had Monreal and Kosser out at that time, Rico, most probably started in defence so, still I think a loan deal would really benefit him at this stage, his confidence has taken a few knocks.He has found the step up hard going.
    Gabriel could probably do a job there.

  35. tsgh says:

    Epiphany underpinned by the police state we live in now… 😉
    A man I struck a conversion with last saturday mentioned something similar that struck a cord; he said that in the 40 or so years he has been to football games in his adult life, all he cared about when going to games was the unlikely possibility of losing his wallet or train ticket or his phone or a bad fart … these days, most fans spend time on their phones or on their long lense cameras…
    He was wondering when stadiums like the erm and the lane will start having sniffer dogs at the gates…

  36. potter says:

    Adam that’s where I stand on the subject , I am loathe to give up my season Ticket but I find it harder and harder to motivate myself for the 250 mile round trip and often on the way home wonder why I bothered.

  37. tsgh says:

    Sorry Bt..

    I missd your question.

    Yes indeed…; BVB home games cost me £23;if its a late kick-off I can catch a flight from LGW to ZUR, then connect to Dusseldorf then a short train journey to Iduna…

    It cost me more travelling from my home to LGW on the 15 minutes journey than the cost of the 1 hr clean train journey from Dusseldorf International to Dortmond…

  38. tsgh says:

    BT- WBA game was not too bad cost wise; apart from the stupid gate that causes away fans to detour through the residential area to the Smethwick End East stand…

    £16 off peak travel card from my area to Long Kings Cross; then £40 return from Kings Cross… then £6 baggette, plus £2×2 water; £3.50 hot chocolate after the game because it was extremely cold even compounded by the loss…
    Oh and ten I had to give my pal £50 approximately for ticket for the game…

  39. Lee says:

    Potter the trains are fucked, massive delays between Chelmsford and Witham might not be resolved until 7.00pm ce soir…………..

  40. allezkev says:

    Ah £5.50 return to Blackpool on a midweek football special to watch the League Cup, seems like another world…

  41. allezkev says:

    Interesting to see that FIFA’s Ethics Committee ( lmao) want a lifetime ban for Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini…

    I suppose they could always, with their connections, become ticket touts..?

  42. potter says:

    Still I chose to move from London to Norfolk and I knew I wouldn’t give up football so it’s my choice. Frustration is that every game is away apart from Norwich and I can’t get a ticket.

  43. allezkev says:

    These are the return dates of our injured, according to Physioroom.com

    29th Nov…. AOC
    5th Dec….. Walcott
    13th Dec… Wilshere
    2nd Jan…. Rosicky
    12th Jan… Welbeck
    February… Coquelin
    No return date… Arteta

  44. rico says:

    Might make it easier if when you got there, you were watching a much stronger team! Same for all the fans who pay out to go and watch the boys both home and away….

    Still, good to know the club has plenty of money in the bank…..

  45. allezkev says:

    Potter, they are so hilariously ridiculous…

    They are shameless, and lack any fragment self respect. They would do and say anything to cling onto their positions of influence and corruption….

    What makes me truely sick, is that there is nobody of substance at the head of world football, who will just fcuk them off…

    It says a lot about the human garbage that is leading the world game…

  46. potter says:

    It says a lot about the human garbage that is leading the world game…

    Drop the word game and it sums up the whole of this crazy planet.

  47. Marshall says:

    Bayern are doing us favors already and yet we can’t help ourselves. Trust arsenal to bottle when it matters the most.

  48. Micko says:

    Marshall, you can take your foot out of your mouth now if you like !

    Evening all, gonna be 4 or 5 goals tonite.

  49. Marshall says:

    Lol Micko, am always hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. We need lots of goals when it comes to going head to head with the Greeks.

  50. Micko says:

    Kel, isn’t Merts our emergency centre forward, nice being in cruise control for a change, we should do it more often.

  51. Micko says:

    We should be filling our boots !

    rico, it’s one of the 10 footballing commandments……Thou shalt not question Arsene Wenger.

    That’s more like it !!! Get in there Alexis.

  52. tsgh says:

    Barca’s Rakitic, busquet, Roberto killing S Roma.

    Micko do you know your friend Gervinho has 7 goals in 13 games this season? we could do with him upfront on a night like this. 😛

  53. allezkev says:

    After 3 or 4 games on the trot, we should have an idea if Campbell is up to it or not, personally I have my doubts, but I hope I’m wrong….

  54. allezkev says:

    Well 6 games on the trot should be enough for him to show if he has what it takes Ginge, I’m not sure that he’s done enough, but God knows what Arsene sees at times, Sanogo and all that jazz…

    Night Rico

  55. Madhav - Indian Gunner says:

    Campbell had a decent game today… Some of the key passes provided by him made difference tonight… Hope he gains confidence from this and improve from here on… He still have to work on his finishing though… We have a nice schedule of lower table clubs to give a run for Campbell and Flamini to bring in Adelaide & Chambers after 65 mins based on our score level…

  56. tsgh says:

    lol Ng.. they must have lost their password to the internet. 🙂

    Kev- my bd our goal difference is -1 whilst theirs is -4; I got it the other way round. Yes any win taakes us through

  57. Micko says:

    I could be talking bollox but on tonites results I think a 2-1 win in Greece will see us through.

    Nite Gooners, keep it real.

  58. tsgh says:

    Kev- a win puts us on equal points and better goal difference but I believe we need to score at least 2 goals because of head to head me think…
    Knowing our luck we will just come out short anyways so…

  59. allezkev says:

    Not sure Mick, remember head to head results come before goal difference and I thought we lost 3-1 at home to the Greeks?

  60. potter says:

    As I see it :- Here are the actual tie breaker rules :
    If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings (in descending order)

    a) higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question
    b) superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question
    c) higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question
    d) superior goal difference from all group matches played
    e) higher number of goals scored
    f) higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons
    a) If we win points are the same
    b) They are 1 goal up so a 2 goal difference sees us through.
    c) if the goal difference is only 1 then to go through it has to be a 4-3 win. but
    d) currently our gd is minus 1 , theirs is minus 4
    e) we have 9 they have 6
    f) I think we are safe here

    Clear as mud really, a 1 goal win we have to score 4, a 2 goal win and we are through.

  61. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, that explains it bahahahahahahaha
    Morning all.
    How was the performance?
    I can’t watch CL here now…unless I buy yet another upgrade for my pay TV which I won’t do…..we get screwed on it enough here!

  62. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. A strange and subdued atmosphere at the ground last night what with the extra security and all, outside and in. Lots of empty seats too. But the team lifted the crowd this time and played well, but within themselves. Ozil was magnificent and Alexis’ energy is a thing to behold. Flamini did his job with discipline and focus and in fact everyone was pretty good really. We have a chance in Greece now

  63. Lee says:

    “I don’t see all the critics after such glorious performance tonight.” ????

    Yeah it was a wonderful performance against a really shit side, if weren’t so shit in Croatia and against the Greeks we may of won the group!

    Let’s perform like that in Greece in 2 weeks before the love in starts?!?!

  64. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, fair enough but it works both ways…plenty have a “hate in” after one poor performance.
    Morning gents 🙂 🙂
    All I’ve seen is the goals and the feisty touch of sorts from Alexis where he used his back to control the ball.
    The guy is just incredible.

  65. George says:

    Morning all from the desert

    Some good performances against a crap outfit really.

    Campbell, Ozil and Sanchez were very good.

    Norwich could have put 3 past that lot last night, so lets not get carried away.

    Weekend’s game will be tougher, depending on which Norwich side turn up ; the collective effort where they play as a team and play for a draw or a set piece 1-0 or as individuals and get thumped.

    I would stick with Campbell, give the guy a chance. We gave more playing time to the postman, at least this lad can actually play.

  66. George says:

    Scott, THe problem with Campbell is his teammates don’t really pass to him, as there is a lack of trust, especially when he fluffs a golden chance from 6 yards.

    Consistency will gain the trust of his team mates. . The next few games he needs to add a goal or two and a few more assists.

  67. scottfromoz says:

    George, I feel a little sorry for him…..he’s had barely any football, yet is expected to walk in to the side and find his best.
    Tough gig, for mine, and he’s not the only one.

  68. Lee says:

    I thought Ozil, Campbell and Sanchez were great…..Campbell with more confidence might be this season’s Coq????

  69. Lee says:

    Also Gerrard saying Arsenal don’t have the squad to win the PL………kindly comment on something you or your former team have won! You scouse cnut!

  70. scottfromoz says:

    Who is Gerrard 🙂
    Lee, before we signed Campbell, Australia played Costa Rica.
    Ok, it wasn’t a sensational clash, but damn he looked good.
    He really did look a serious footballer and I was happy we signed him.
    Let’s hope he does find his best and if that’s not good enough, then so be it.

  71. George says:

    Scott, at international level Cambell looks the part.

    He can be an asset, but with just over 18 months left, i fear we will cash in before we benefit from the years we put into him. I see another Carlos Vela scenario where he does the biz for another team while we persist with others less deserving.

    Gmornin Rico

  72. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico and all…
    The usual culprits on the radio are sweeping our win under the carpet because apparently Zagreb are a shite team…;seeing as Celtic beat Barca a couple of years ago.
    I am not sure that there is any bad team in the UCL;there are definitely greats and ‘happy to be theres’ I suppose…

  73. Lee says:

    Arsene Wenger has invited anyone who questions his spending ability to join him on a night out.

    The Arsenal manager was clearly in a relaxed mood after watching his team’s convincing Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.

    The victory kept Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive following Bayern Munich’s thrashing of Olympiacos.

    But the mood at Arsenal has been dampened somewhat this week by news that Francis Coquelin will be sidelined for at least three months, with a knee injury sustained in Saturday’s defeat against West Brom.

    Coquelin’s absence brings into question Wenger’s reluctance to buy any outfield players over the summer, and when a reporter started his question last night with: “I know you don’t like to spend money…” Wenger quickly replied:

    “No, I don’t agree with you. If I invite you one night, you will see that I like to spend money. It’s you, the press, who gave me this reputation. But my friends don’t think that.”

    ITV.

  74. allezkev says:

    Yeah, thanks Lee, Bender eh, typical Metro.
    I think he’ll end up at Liverpool…

    Morning All
    Morning Rico
    George of Arabia. ?

    Poor Adam…

  75. rico says:

    I saw that too, great reply to the interviewer but i wish he’d spend money which isn’t his!

    Morning Kev. You could be right, together with a few more from Germany…

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