Arsene Wenger is not to blame for the failure of Project Youth/Arsenal Academy…..

Not when it come’s to playing for England, that’s for sure!

Arsenal currently have around 11 players out on loan, with many more youngsters earmarked to join the temporary exodus at the turn of the year as the Arsenal Academy has made it his policy to loan out many of our young players. I understand that the funds made from this is ploughed back into the Academy, therefore making it something of a self-sustaining model. That could partly explain why Arsenal retain so many youngsters who are clearly not going to make the First Team.

The club is therefore earning an income from these loanees and that is then reinvested back into the Academy.

The loan system is still hugely beneficial to the development of our youngsters and has helped produce some real gems, Ashley Cole [ C.Palace ], Johan Djourou and Nicklaus Bendtner [ both Birmingham ] and the shining star that is  Jack Wilshere [ Bolton ].

Last season Benik Afobe enjoyed a very successful spell at Huddersfield Town, Ryo Miyaichi became a bit of a hero at Feyenoord, Francis Coquelin became a regular in the Lorient team and Aaron Ramsey’s recuperation was helped greatly by spells at Notts Forest and Cardiff City.

The experience gained by these players at those loan clubs will help Arsenal in the near future and I expect to see a few more repeat the experience post-Carling Cup. Already, the promising midfield duo of Oguzhan Ozyakup and Chuks Aneke have spoken of their wish to go on loan and to further their football education in a more pressurized environment than the reserve league.

Liam Brady runs a very efficient Academy, one that produces some of the most technically proficient players developed by any club on these islands. Arsenal youngsters are much sought after, and not only by domestic clubs wishing to take them on loan but also by foreign associations keen to ensure that many of our youngsters represent the countries of their parents rather than the country of their birth.

This I feel, is the fault of the English Football Association.

It makes me question if these youngsters are made to feel welcome and a part of the English set-up?

Maybe they find the England coaching inferior to what they are used to at Arsenal?

A lack of urgency by England, has already seen Emmanuel Frimpong snapped up by Ghana.

Congo were sniffing around Benik Afobe before he committed himself, fortunately, to England.

Losing Chuks Aneke to Nigeria could be seen in 2 or 3 years time, to have been an enormous blunder by the English FA.

Alban Bunjaku is a highly skillful and very technical midfielder, with a great range of passing. He was born in Romford Essex but could end up playing for Albania if the English FA don’t get their act together.

Conor Henderson was born Sidcup Kent but now represents Ireland, Samir Bihmoutine was born in Newham East London but could end up playing for Morocco.

What are the English FA doing..?

Do England really have that many highly talented youngsters that the FA can afford to let some of the best from Arsenal to slip through our national net?

Written by Allezkev

171 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger is not to blame for the failure of Project Youth/Arsenal Academy…..

  1. rico says:

    Morning all

    Good post AK, thank you

    Maybe Theo and Jack have told them that AFC players aren’t really welcomed by this current crop of players and has chosen alternatively – just a thought, as how many times does Theo play but never gets the ball….

    Another case of ‘not liking the arsenal’…..?

  2. Leon Kingsford says:

    Wenger is never to blame for anything is he ? Always someone else to point the finger of blame at and now it is….wait for it…the English FA. Dear God – what does this clown get paid £6 million to do if its not to take responsibility. No wonder Arsenal are a pile of shit when there is no accountability…

  3. Chico Guerrera says:

    What income do we earn from these loanees?

    AFAIK they are loaned, not rented out, with the host club paying their wages and expenses.

  4. stevepalmer1 says:

    Blinding post Ak,
    We have as you say a blinding accadamy, and hopefully a lot of new talent coming along, i like the idea of loaning youngsters out as it shows them how different clubs operate they comeback with a different attitude, but that also has a downside, a lot of our youngsters are getting games at their loaned clubs but when they come back wait what seems a life time to get their chance with us and that is usually in the cups, we buy players in, youngsters for good money then sit them in the stands to wait for their chance Chamberlain for one he needs to play, the same with ryo and park, if we are buying players and not playing them, i believe that sends out the wrong signals to our loaned out youngsters.

  5. Red Arse says:

    Excellent Post Allezkev.

    There are a bunch of really talented kids in the pipeline, and all clubs, at least those with good youth set ups, would deem it a success if only 1 came thru’ every season or so.

    Well thought out and well written! 🙂

  6. stevepalmer1 says:

    In all honesty AK, i believe the problem with the England set up is that the manager is under pressure to acheive and will only play a new player after he has established himself and is playing every game for his club, our youngsters are in their mid twenties by the time they are noticed and that is the reasons that they plum for their parents countries, as they have more chance there to be seen and further their development, Wilshere is one in a million and lets face it only got his chance after injuries to key players.

  7. timao says:

    the England manager is utterly incompetent. he talks about the players being affected by ‘fear’ when he’s clearly paralysed by it himself. the man is a joke in so many departments, and to think that an Italian should give a flying monkey’s fart about the long term future of the english game is pure fantasy. is it any wonder he doesn’t want frimpong in the england set up when he might have to play against him in a euro championship in couple of years?

    the fa has been a joke for so long i have long since found it impossible to care about national football. we had fantastic english coaches in venables and hoddle, both of whom were pushed out early for ridiculous non-footballing reasons. ever since we’ve just looked ridiculous on the national stage.

    fa is in charge of refereeing as well and they are beyond incompetent at doing that. good luck to all academy youngsters who shun them!

  8. Dave Highbury says:

    Our Youth squad is AWESOME. Wilshire, Ramsey, Gibbs, The OX, Ryu, Mikel, Afobe, Aneke… undisputable

  9. rico says:

    I blame the FA entirely, they pressure the manager, whoever he is to play players from their favourite clubs, and we are clearly not one of them. I agree Steve re Jack, he is one in a million and any manager who didn’t pick him would be a baffoon….

  10. alan b'stard M P says:

    of course the academy is a fucking failure. The whole idea of an academy is to have them play for their local club, unless, the academy is set up to train anyone. That means bugger the local kids

    Dreadful, criminal board

  11. allezkev says:

    Thank you Steve, yes we have some fantastic kids coming along
    I think Devil gunner made a good point yesterday about the lack of qualifications many of the people coaching kids in this country have.
    No wonder ‘long-ball’ is king, still at so many levels….

  12. allezkev says:

    Cheers Red Arse…
    As you say ‘In the pipeline’, there are some really talented 16/17 year olds, coming along.
    Jeffrey, Jebb, Siemann, Hayden, Fagen to name but a few.

  13. rico says:

    In his book he says we offered 20m for him but hicks and gillette blocked the move as they thought it would hinder any sale….. can’t see him wanting to make that one up…

    but we got ches now eh 😉

  14. allezkev says:

    Timao, one of the major problems in English football has always been the ‘suits’ and ‘freeloaders’ at the FA.
    But Timao, replicate that a thousand times for UEFA and FIFA. A total bunch of ponces.

  15. allezkev says:

    That’s right Rico. I understand that there still quite a lot of fans not 100% convinced by Szczesny.
    And he will make mistakes…
    But he’ll do for me.

  16. rico says:

    Hi alan, we can’t blame arsenal or arsene if players choose another country to represent, that’s down to the player and his family….

  17. allezkev says:

    Chico G.
    I’m not 100% sure, but i think you’ll find that Arsenal do get a fee of some size, when a player goes on loan for a season.
    Thus Botelho, Wellington, Galindo, Campbell.

  18. rico says:

    Every keeper will make a mistake AK, when lady luck shines on a side the keeper gets away with it, but when the chips are down on a side, like it is with us right now, mistakes can prove costly as proved last weekend.

    It’s all too easy for some to look at the one error but forgetting the outstanding saves he made to keep us in the game prior to then… I still blame the midfield for that walker goal, they should have not given him so much time and space to shoot…

  19. rico says:

    Who actually pays a players wage when on loan? I’d hate to think we are still paying Almunia, Nik and denilson 😉

  20. allezkev says:

    News of the World, yeah Rico, always good for a bit of scandal… 🙂

    Don’t think it’ll be much longer before we all get The Sun on Sunday….hooray… 😕

  21. allezkev says:

    Dave Highbury, you’re right mate.
    I know it’s been a difficult and frustrating last few years. But like you, i am really optimistic about this crop of youngsters.

  22. allezkev says:

    Alan MP.
    If you can drag yourself away from the House of Commons for a moment, have a look back to some of Arsenal’s past Apprentices, Trainees, Scholars etc.
    You’ll see they didn’t all come from North London.
    The limitations in being able to source players hasn’t, imho, been a success.

  23. rico says:

    Dave Highbury, I just hope Wenger doesn’t sell any of our next crop coming through, i commented yesterday that just as we think one or two are going to get their chance, they are let go and I still wonder what the longterm is for Lansbury when to be honest, we could do with him …….

  24. allezkev says:

    Spot on Rico.
    Seaman was a great goalkeeper, the best i’ve seen in an Arsenal shirt [ Jim Furnell being the first i saw ].
    But even Safe Hands made mistakes, and he did have a half-decent back-four in front of him… 😉

  25. allezkev says:

    Absolutely Rico, did you see the swerve on that shot as he dived to stop it.
    Our midfield let him down. It’s called a ‘team’ for a reason… 😉

  26. allezkev says:

    Rico, i’m not 100% sure about payments for loanees.
    I think it varies depending on wages, amount of time on loan, a return clause etc.
    I would imagine that West Ham paid us a fee and are paying Almunia’s wages. Likewise Bendtner, Denilson, Vela etc.

  27. rico says:

    I ddi AK, even that worm Neville said it took one heck of a swerve but then said he should have been out just a little futher from his line….

    Oh, then what woul;d he have said had Ches been lobbed 😉

  28. rico says:

    What about call back terms AK, is there any website which gives all details included in the loan agreements?

    I’m hoping that Bartley and Lansbury can be re-called and Nik can’t play against us….

  29. allezkev says:

    Not sure about call-back Rico.
    Depends on the player involved i suppose.

    Maybe Arsenal have to pay some form of compensation if they recall a loanee early?

  30. rico says:

    I think they can include a call back AK, and if its in the deal i guess no penalty should be incurred and you know our club won’t risk losing a penny or two.. 😉

    Unless it’s from failing to qualify for the CL of course… according to IG ( Ignoramus Git! )

  31. allezkev says:

    I suppose every loan deal is different depending on the needs of both clubs and the player involved.
    Also Rico, as Vela discovered, the agent has to stick his greedy oar in!

  32. K-TR7 says:

    I’ve stayed away from the internet since Sunday last week.i took time off from Arsenal by playing FIFA 12 which is damn difficult but am better at it now.at first i couldn’t defend for a toffee,even bendy looked like messi against me 😮

  33. rico says:

    Crikey, I forgot we still have Carlos Vela – what a waste for him to be on loan, i’ve even forgotten where he has gone… shame on me eh 🙁

  34. K-TR7 says:

    Its about time AK.but you can’t believe how realistic FIFA 12 is.in my first season rvp submitted a transfer request but i refused to sell.the board overruled my decision and rvp was sold in the final hours of deadline day.i was f***ed.i also scored 3 goals at Blackburn from 16 shots but guess what?blackburn scored 3 goals of their own from 4 shots 😮

  35. rico says:

    I’m going to leave you boys to talk FIFA 12, I have to go clear up in the garden whilst the rain stays away…. Back an a little while….

  36. allezkev says:

    My lads loves it KT, they have X Box…

    Blimey KT, getting stitched by the Board on PS3 and in real-life…

  37. Potter says:

    Back to subject :- One of the reasons that Arsenal boys escape the England net is because of the abilities of the youth England coaching staff. Most of them right up to Pearce want players to run the channels and receive balls over the top from 25-30 yards. Simply passing football is not in their comprehension and consequently Arsenal trained players do not fit and are not encouraged to think that they belong in the English set up.

  38. K-TR7 says:

    I remember AK when i played Bolton the game was tied at 1 all in the 90th minute.Bolton had a corner that i cleared.Vermy then hit a sublime through ball from the edge of my penalty area to Gervinho who was just past the halfway line.it was a devastating counter and suddenly i had theo,rvp and gerv against Jaaskalainen in a 3 v 1.but guess what?i missed 😮 and it was 2 points dropped.does that remind you of anyone in real life 😎

  39. allezkev says:

    PS3 mirroring real life KT…. 😆
    You should hear my lad shouting at the TV when he’s on his X Box….
    Too much stress for me mate… 😉

  40. allezkev says:

    Potter, it’s all down to the coaching the coaches have had and their experience.
    How many of them have coached abroard and tried to gain from different cultures and environments..?
    Not many.

  41. K-TR7 says:

    AK that game has given me so much stress this week as its damn hard but now am winning.im 3rd in the league 🙂

  42. allezkev says:

    Potter, if i recall correctly, Arsenal had 3 players in the England squad for the Euro u 19’s finals in 2009.
    Think it was Lansbury, Hoyte.G and Murphy.
    In an interview, one of our lads commented that the three Arsenal lads were all technically superior to the others in the squad. And that the coaching they got with England, wasn’t up to the standard at Arsenal.
    But that doesn’t suprise me.

  43. K-TR7 says:

    Potter the good old running down the channels and hitting ’em up to the big man up front.its true what you are saying.thats why you hear the media raving on about the likes of Wickam while forgetting the likes of Afobe who have much more to their game than just being target men.

  44. devilgunner says:

    Bongu to all. Good post AK. KT stay away from Fifa 12 or whatever electronic gadget you have and go and have a kick about (if its possible for you)….I can assure you its lots more fun and more realistic. Plus it removes a bit of tyre rings and beer bellies. lol

    Regarding youth set up I find it hard to believe that youth teams are still playing with the ball over the top method. I watch a lot of youth teams in action from all over the world, England under 21 teams being one of them, and cant help comparing Spanish/French/Italian/etc teams and England. Naturally all countries and their respective teams have their own playing styles and its to be admired and respected. But to still continue playing long ball over the top and only direct football at youth level is criminal. I expect teams such as Stoke and those who fight relegation to be up to it, but even so I still prefer to play real football especially the short passing game to the long ball. With the long ball over the top the players do the running but with the short passing game its the ball which is doing the running.

    It goes without saying that for the senior England team to change all the change must be from the bottom to the top. And with all coaches in the national set up as well. But vision has to come from the top. The FA Chairman. Not the coaches. If the FA want to act then it has to act no matter how many asses it kicks. It follows then that all the others will do so……like the dominoes effect. One falls and the rest will fall with it.

    Unless the top persons change, we can all write how many posts and comments we like. It will stay the same.

  45. Joaquim Moreira says:

    good morning…
    The press news about Reina and Kalu are true?
    We are not in July. We are in October with a season in front of us.

  46. stevepalmer1 says:

    I would agree that running the ball is much better to the eye than the long ball over the top but that has surely buggered up our team for the last few seasons, we should be in a position where we can mix it up and use all the different ways to overcome the opposition, i must admit we seem to pass pass pass and a lot of the time in our own box not somthing i like to watch, Utd have an approach that i like fast forward passing moveing the ball up field in just a couple of passes men flooding the box and guys that can cross from what seems impossible positions catches defences out all the time. the slow build up game we play tends to let the opposition defence pack their defence and makes us pass sideways and backwards more and more, Theo with all his pace seems never to be in a position to recieve the ball Sagna is given the chance to take up Theo’s spot and theo just runs off straight at the defence where he will never recieve the ball. The art of supprise is rarely seen in our game now and thats why our scoreing is scarce, The England team will struggle for years as the people that run the FA have no forethought at all, they stick with players that have been in the squad forever and have now started introducing 30 year olds, may do us for now but the future looks grim.

  47. Micko says:

    We’ve always had promising youngsters at arsenal but not many make the grade, players like stuart taylor who looked a great prospect, the same with steven sidwell, there was also seb larson, fab muamba and anthony stokes to name just a few, all these players got a few games for arsenal at some stage but weren’t deemed good enough, were shipped out on loan and eventually made permanent moves away from the club and they’re all making a decent living for themselves today just not at arsenal.
    I think the same will apply to the next batch coming through now, not all of them will make it but you would hope players like coquelin, lansbury, frimpong and afobe go on and do really well for us, only time will tell.

  48. devilgunner says:

    Steve, there is a tad of difference between a long ball over the top, where usually its a hoofed ball, to a long pass with intention. Yesterday I saw the under 18 game between Liverpool and Everton and the number of hoofed balls was amazing. The problem is that they were always intercepted by the defence, thus making the run of the forwards in vain. The Liverpool number 9 did around 5 or 6 runs before he managed to touch the ball. A couple of seasons ago I saw Fabregas give a 45 yard LOFTED PASS which caught the defence napping, and Bendtner had all the time in the world to control it on his chest and score. The pass was so precise that when Bendtner had shot half of the defence was still turning. A lofted or chipped pass over the defence kills the defence whereas a hoofed ball is usually intercepted.

  49. rico says:

    Afternoon devil, best i stick to english, i struggle with that sometimes 😉

    I am in shock having read your last comment…

    ‘ A couple of seasons ago I saw Fabregas give a 45 yard LOFTED PASS which caught the defence napping, and Bendtner had all the time in the world to control it on his chest and score.’

    Surely not 😉

  50. devilgunner says:

    It is true Rico. I am still amazed by it. But I cant seem to remember against who it was. I was more amazed by the fact that Bendtner controlled it perfectly but the pass itself was awesome. That was not a hoofed ball, but a precise pass with the intention of killing the defence.

  51. Potter says:

    I was not decrying the lofted pass, the point I was making is that boys coached Arsenal style rarely use it and so do not fit into the pattern that England’s coaches want . Therefore they don’t get their chance in the various age groups and ultimately choose the countries of their parents as opposed to England where they were born.

  52. rico says:

    Afternoon Lee..

    😛 devil, the words control, chest it down and score, just don’t go together with NIk 😉

    Mind you, saying that, I still wonder if he would have done a lot better in a 4-4-2 and as a proper centre forward….

    Same with Chamakh now….

  53. devilgunner says:

    That pass would have been coltrolled by any one since it was a peach. Remember the goal controlled by TA6 against Everton from a Bould pass?? obviously TA6 is different to NB52 but I just wish I could find it on youtube.

  54. stevepalmer1 says:

    Has anybody noticed that when a ball is kicked into the opposing half we never win a header infact we jump but never try to reach the ball is this me or has anybody else noticed this

  55. stevepalmer1 says:

    Today i have spent my time surfing other Arsenal Blog sites and i must admit i have had ny eyes opened. I was begining to think that it was just the press and media and pundits that were against our manager but i now realise that this is a lot bigger than that .There seems to be what i consider as a web propaganda but what i have noticed is that there are normally 2 or 3 bloggers that are talking everybody that tries to talk positive about our fine club and rubbishing everything that Wenger does, there still seems to be a big contingent of pro wenger fans but as soon as they comment they are shouted down straight away. Now this of course could be what a lot of supporters are actually thinking but when people are not really getting much chance to say to much before a derogatory comment comes back has made me feel that there maybe an agenda against Wenger, On one blog i went on an anti wenger blogger was stating that his mate was responsible for a banner the intend to use as a protest at one of the games, an arsene supporting blogger said that he hoped the chap would pose by the banner to let other gooners know who he was he went on to say that a lot of gooners would’nt let the sizable banner into the ground where the other blogger said that if anybody had a problem with his mates banner to go up and tell him what he thought of it and he would tell them in so many words which sounded quite threatening, has anybody noticed a difference on the Arsenal blogs or is it just me.

  56. allezkev says:

    steve, have you noticed that when we get a corner the same applies…
    I don’t want arsenal to be like Stoke RFU, but the odd long ‘pass’ and the ability to control the ball and head the bloody thing wouldn’t go amiss.
    btw, Afternoon Gooners.

  57. allezkev says:

    Steve, i read ACLF, Arsenal Arsenal, Le Grove, Untold Arsenal & a couple of Youth sites.
    Le Grove is the only anti-Wenger site, but the posts i find interesting, even if i often disagree with them.

  58. allezkev says:

    But there are a lot of loonies out there.
    I just wonder how many of them go to the games and are they mostly from the EPL generation…?

  59. allezkev says:

    I have to say that the atmosphere at The Grove has been good at the two games i’ve been to [ Swansea & Bolton }…
    What i do know was that my Lad, whose ticket i’m using at the Sunderland game, now wishes he was going, in order to confront those bringing a banner to the game.
    The silent majority at the ground, are i believe, sick and tired of the snipping

  60. agirlagunner says:

    Boo! Great post, AK. We have some great talent at the academy; and hopefully, the cream of the crop make it to the first team.

    Hello, rico and Steve.

  61. devilgunner says:

    You will never make a good fisherman AK. seems as if you miss the real fish whenever you are on site.

  62. stevepalmer1 says:

    thanks for your comments ak, and a great post mate, i must admit i don’t follow the youngsters as much as i should and rely on good posts like yours to keep me up to date. I would of course like to see a bit more of our new signings do you know of any reasons why he seems to be leaving them out. these guys seem to be in form for their countries and i would have thought we should be useing them before an injurie to one of our mainstay players

  63. devilgunner says:

    Incidentally, I agree with you regarding other blogs. There were two which I used to write upon but got fed up since my opinion was never respected and we finished yelling abuse at each other. You know AK, the tit for tat type and you know me enough that when I get wound up I react. But I do agree, that when you disagree with their view you get shouted down. And its catching up. We may not agree with all that Wenger does, and we do know that his time may come sooner or later, but we do not forget easily all that he has done for the club.

  64. allezkev says:

    Hey, the gangs all here….
    Hiya Agag, DG and StevieP.
    Fishing is not my forte DG.

    Not sure about AW’s team selection Steve.
    He’s under a lot of pressure & maybe he’s playing it a bit safe mate.

    Where’s Rico…?

  65. allezkev says:

    DG you won’t get shouted down on here mate.
    Rico runs a tight ship… [when she’s here 😉 ]
    But you get some interesting and differing views, but even when we disagree, it always stays respectfull…

    Agag hows things in your neighbourhood?

  66. devilgunner says:

    Wenger has always been under pressure AK. Its a pity that he does not transfer some of that into his players. Anyone pass him a hairdryer by any chance????

  67. agirlagunner says:

    Steve, it’s typhoon season. Rain, rain, more rain. But still hot and humid. 🙁 Is it already cold where you are?

    Hello, DG and AK. Some other blogs are too fueled by testosterone. 😀 Too fighty. This place is just about right. 🙂

  68. stevepalmer1 says:

    evening Devil, we may not agree on some things but respect for a fellow gooner cost nothing. i feel that if i dissagree with a supporter i would just like to agree to dissagree, i to get a bit het up and rather than upset some one would rather move on

  69. devilgunner says:

    Testosterone is found in real men AGAG. Those types are fueled by hatred, idiocy and uneducated levels.

  70. allezkev says:

    Steve, i think i recall seeing you comment on LeGrove a couple of months ago, and some of the replies you got was well OTT.

  71. devilgunner says:

    There you are AK, she has managed to hook us. That’s a good fisherlady…….ain’t that what they call the female version of a fisherman. 😉

  72. stevepalmer1 says:

    I would say Agag that the weather has started to change after a week of Indian summer to a drop in tempreture and grey skys a little drizle to day but i’m sure i saw a glimps of sun, you make sure your covered up

  73. devilgunner says:

    Incidentally I have read this AK egarding J. Campbell…..

    Lorient coach Christian Gourcuff has hailed the ability of Arsenal forward Joel Campbell, proclaiming that the Gunners would not have loaned him out had he gained a work permit.

    And I do hope that we get him sooner rather than later.

  74. allezkev says:

    Agag, it was 21c on the South Coast today, quite warm for this time of year in this part of the world.
    No typhoons for us fortunately.
    What’s the weather like in the Med DG..?

  75. stevepalmer1 says:

    I am a pro Wenger man, so i always get shouted down AK, i miss my old pal Will he had the same views as me well some of them and Will said it as he felt . I loved his passion and miss his comments Maybe he will come back when things get better, whether Wenger stays or he goes we will still be supporters i just hope he gets enough time to turn it round

  76. allezkev says:

    Dev, if he plays a few more times for Costa Rica this season, then i reckon we’ll get a permit for him…

    Not so Wellington or Galindo i feel.
    Saw Galindo at Stevenage, he looks quite a good player, typically Arsenal.

    Not sure Botelho is gonna join up with us…

  77. devilgunner says:

    the weather here is rainy today. And its very windy. But I do like rain, I hate summer. Its freaking hot in summer.

  78. agirlagunner says:

    DG, there are far too many blogs of the testosteroney sort. HH is just fine.

    steve, it seems perpetually cold in England. 🙂 How do you guys manage?

    What’s for dinner, Mistress Chef? You would have approved of my dinner. Pork 😀 and shrimp. 😉

  79. allezkev says:

    Yeah Steve, Will seems to have done a disappearing act…
    Don’t know why?
    Do you know if he comments on another blog???

  80. devilgunner says:

    bdw did you see the under 18 game between PLC and wolves??? PLC were winning 2-0 and in the 2nd half Wolves thumped them for 6 to win 6-2. And many balls were over the top type. but its still good to see PLC get a spanking

  81. devilgunner says:

    I get to see around 5 to 7 games per week at under18 level. And I do prefer those games to the senior types.

  82. allezkev says:

    Agag, we went to a pub in Old Romney for roast beef and all the trimmings. It was blissimo…
    Chocy pub for ‘afters’…… hmmmmmm.
    Gotta go to the gym tomorrow… 🙂

  83. agirlagunner says:

    AK, I gather the plastering went well? 😀

    It would be good to see more of Ryo, he was getting rave reviews at Feyenoord.

    Will ought to be back, Steve. I should imagine he still reads.

  84. stevepalmer1 says:

    Makes you smile that when a talent like him comes along we always struggle to get work permits, perhaps we should smuggle him in on the back of a lorry an d give him another name seems to happen ok for lots of others

  85. allezkev says:

    DG, do you ever see any Arsenal games?
    What do you make of Alban Bunjaku??
    He’s a very interesting midfielder, all right-foot, but very technical, a bit in the Ozyakup mould i thought.

  86. devilgunner says:

    Off to eat a bit…..see you in 15 minutes time AK. The stomach’s rumbling, the lady’s calling and the prince is nearly yelling his head off that my plate is getting cold. Will be back with a glass of wine in my hand and typing with the other. Cheers

  87. agirlagunner says:

    Ak, that does sound blissful. rico will definitely approve of our food choices. 🙂

    DG, I wish I were able to watch more of our youth matches. These days, it’s not much fun watching the senior team.

  88. allezkev says:

    Funny isn’t it Steve.
    I never see Man Ure or Liverpool or Chavs getting a knock-back for a work-permit..!

  89. rico says:

    Oven done Fish and Chips tonight agag, had a day of cooking yesterday so went for the easy option 🙂

    Pork and Shrimp :mrgreen:

  90. stevepalmer1 says:

    Not noticed him on other bloggs but he may of changed his name, Will still reads he’s all Arsenal but i reckon he can be stubborn too, he must be gagging at times to join in i know i would

  91. allezkev says:

    Agag, i have had a veggie pie in that pub, and it was very very good…
    Rico would approve i think… 😉

  92. allezkev says:

    Rico, i couldn’t disagree at all with those sentiments.
    Wath stays away as he is frustrated, that’s the grown-up way, not waving some dopey flag, that’s just gonna give ammunition to ‘those’ who want to damage us…

  93. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening rico spoiling yourself fish and chips brain food typical womens food . i reckon thats what the Arsenal Ladies are on

  94. agirlagunner says:

    I am off; I hope everyone has a good dinner. 😉 Fish and chips, yum yum.

    rico, you really are a vegan. you turned green. 😀

    Good night, AK and steve and DG. AK, hae fun at the gym tomorrow, muscleman. 😛

  95. stevepalmer1 says:

    Watching football the other night on tele and who have they got on there as an expert pundit none other than Joey Barton sorry he had to go

  96. rico says:

    Barton is a w*****r – of the highest degree, but, you have to ask yourself, would we be where we are right now had he been in our midfield?

    And yes, it pains me to say that….

  97. devilgunner says:

    Back again after a good chicken and some vegetables. I agree with the Barton statements you said Rico. Taking away his nutcase brain which is devoid of all intelligentia in the world and has the cultural awareness of a pig, I would find it very painful to accept that he is not playing for us. We did need his playing style big time, maybe he would have kicked some of the lack a daisiacal as*****s we have currently in our team. And yes JB is right about PHW. If I were a chairman of a club I would make it a point to visit the players at least twice weekly. They will realize that I care and will also know that I AM THERE. The example has to come from the top.

  98. rico says:

    devil, the only place PHW would regulaly visit is his cellar….. I think hois days of caring about what goes on are well and truly over – imho, get rid of stan, get rid of the old fogies and bring fresh blood in, men/women who support The Arsenal…..

  99. allezkev says:

    As Pedro wrote on Le Grove.. PHW doesn’t know what century he’s in….
    The guys an embarrisment.

  100. stevepalmer1 says:

    Every thing about Barton is a mile away from what Wenger would look for in an Arsenal man many have crossed swords with Wenger and have gone i doubt Wenger has thought twice about him since the Newcastle game. Peter hill Wood may or maynot have said anything but Wenger would not entertain him .Nte all

  101. devilgunner says:

    Does he know where his fag is??? Fact is, AK, no one is kept on his toes at AFC. We do need someone who is accountable. From the very top. How I do wish I was chairman of AFC. I would give it back to the supporters and have elections every three years.

  102. rico says:

    Both X-factor and Strictly are recording AK, I’m off very soon to go and watch them both….

    I love them and seeing Mr Barlow on the panel is much more pleasing to my eye than Mr Cowell 😉 😉

  103. devilgunner says:

    Good night (il-lejl it-tajjeb) friends. I will be awake when all of you are still kissing the pillow tomorrow. Early raiser for me at 5.00am. Then its off to work. Its nice to have found a bunch of nice people like you. Thanks to AK. Sahha

  104. rico says:

    In fact, just the mention of Mr Barlow makes me think I should go and catch up now, you can watch Tulisa and Kelly and i’ll ster clear of Louie 😉

    I’m off guys, you all have a good evening and hopefully we’ll all be back tomorrow…

    Thanks again for today’s post AK….

    Nighty Night all…..

  105. rico says:

    Night devil…..

    AK, I have to be honest, I read their post everyday, it’s where I started and I have great respect for both Geoff and Pedro… And Pedro helped me to set up HH…..

    I don’t think they are anti Wenger, they just tell it as it is, maybe some of the bloggers want wenger out but so do some here, that is sadly the way things have gone 🙁

  106. allezkev says:

    Le Grove was my first blog also Rico,
    i still read it every day,
    some of the comments are too much,
    Now it’s X factor time….. 😀
    lata boss

  107. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Campbell is playing good in France. Our Sport Tv channels broadcast french football and a short film of the round every week. Eurosport channel do the same on Monday or Tuesday.
    Vela and Botelho are not playing a lot. Well, spanish football is everyday 🙂 on tv, press, media, interviews, matches, trainnings…

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