Arsene Wenger says ‘No’! £40M for a teenager? Arsenal need to be careful, Burnley like playing top sides….

Morning all.

Just one silly transfer story this morning.

Arsenal ready to splash £40 million on Benfica forward Goncalo Guedes (O Jogo)

He’s 18 years old! Arsene doesn’t sign kids for £40 million!

No jetting around the world for the players this summers pre-season. Arsene clearly wants to look after the players and give them chance to prepare well for the next campaign. Arsenal will now play just two Barclays Asia Trophy games in Singapore in July outside of Europe – having also considered visiting India and Malaysia – before returning for the Emirates Cup.

If we are not in the Community Shield, the boys will play a friendly in Europe on the weekend before the start of the season.

Arsene Wenger said:

No, we won’t do it. A post-season tour is a nightmare.

In pre-season you have the players under pressure with the focus of starting the season well.

A post-season tour? I always feel people come along to watch, but the players are half on their holidays. From a purely football point of view, there is not much meaning – let’s be honest.

Good.

Burnley today, a side who are doing well at home of late. They have lost just one of their last four home games, including a victory over Manchester City and a draw with the Toots. I’m sure they held Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge not long ago too. It’ll be a tough one, a physical one and the manager knows it.

You have to be at their level of physical performance, because they will be there.

Burnley is a tough test for everybody. You shouldn’t look at the table because they started slowly but recently they have played very well against all the big teams in the league.

We started slowly too and like Burnley, it cost us dear but we are in a good place right now and as long as the boys roll up their sleeves and put a shift in, we should be ok..

This will shock you:

There is more to Arsenal’s good run than just momentum and confidence – the likes of Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Francis Coquelin have emerged to play a key role, the whole team has improved and they have injured players coming back all the time too.

That’s from Mark Lawrenson – who’d have thought eh….

But he’s said nothing that Arsenal fans haven’t been saying – well most and today, not only the three above mentioned players need to continue their good form, they all do.

Barring Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, we have a full squad. Even Abou Diaby is back fit, healthy and ready to play. Just who Arsene Wenger will play remains to be seen but I doubt he’ll make too many changes..

Mike Dean is in charge of the whistle!

Burnley:

  • They have only won once in 10 league games (W1, D3, L6) and scored one goal in the last five.
  • However, the Clarets have earned four points from their last two home games and kept clean sheets in both of them.
  • Half of Burnley’s 26 points have come against clubs currently in the top 10. Crystal Palace and West Brom are the only sides in the bottom half to have a better record.

That last point is one to be aware of, they clearly don’t stutter when playing top ten sides, they rise to the occasion so Arsenal can’t afford to be complacent. Burnley are fighting for PL survival and that often brings out the fighting spirit. A bit like us chasing the top four spot as the season comes to a close.

But this time, it’s slightly different, we aren’t chasing a pack above us, we are chasing just one club and if by chance they slip up, we have to be there, ready to pounce and take advantage and of course, we can’t let any of the teams below us, get a sniff of second spot.

We are on a good run, we are playing good, solid football and the confidence should be high.

Burnley will be a tough nut to crack but Arsene Wenger and the players need to make sure they do….

Three points needed today and I personally don’t care how they arrive…..

COYRRG’S!!

213 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger says ‘No’! £40M for a teenager? Arsenal need to be careful, Burnley like playing top sides….

  1. goonster says:

    Morning HH…a brand new day. 3 points is all am asking for. Don’t care how we get it. COYFGS FOYS.

  2. goonster says:

    How bad is that burnley pitch though? A mate just told me it’s appalling. haven’t watched burnley this season. Didn’t have to until now.

  3. goonster says:

    Ahh there you are rico….yes maam 3 points by nook or crook like my ma ll say. How are you this morning maam??

  4. goonster says:

    Have you seen burnley play?? What is the state of their pitch?? I have no idea. A Friend just texted me saying it’s like a potato patch. Yikes it’s gonna be a loooooooong 90 minutes then.

  5. goonster says:

    49 49 undefeated 49 49 I say 49 49 undefeated playing football the arsenal way……Gosh somebody give me the away lads any day. I ll fit right in. God help me I must see an away game before my time is up. I love those beautiful bastards. Come arsenal.

  6. potter says:

    Watched Spurs play Burnley last week , they are a very organised team and they completely made Totts look out of sorts . It was possibly the most boring match that I have seen in a long time. Their pitch is not good for passing football but where Spurs went wrong was in trying to pass through for Kane to run onto the ball and most of the time it never got to him. We however have different ways of getting past the line of attrition Sanchez can run at them and they will have difficulty with Welbeck/Walcott’s pace plus Giroud is a much more powerful animal than Kane . It will not be an easy match but I fancy us to win either by the odd goal or possibly if we go on a blitzkrieg by quite a few.

  7. goonster says:

    Am doing fabulous. Brianna is away with her grand parents. I don’t have to work today so hey life is good. Bring on the Clarets.

  8. rico says:

    I never like to guess the starting 11 – and don’t know enough about Burnley’s strengths. Only than Ings can be a tricky striker when on form but he’s been through a bad run..

    One thing we can expect though is a tough battle, they’ll be up for it so we can’t afford passengers..

  9. goonster says:

    Ospina Bellerin Mertsacker Gabriel If Kozzer Is Not Fit Le coq ramsey ozil sanchez welbeck and giroud. Santi needs a rest. He looks knackered lately. What about yours maam?

  10. goonster says:

    Danny ings ll be a handful maam but our defense have handled some mean center forwards this season. Danny ings won’t get much against us today if we show up. 2.1 to the arsenal.

  11. goonster says:

    Yikes I forgot to add a left back….monreal has been a beast lately but for this I ll start with keiron.

  12. rico says:

    I’d go for Kos and Gabriel at the back…

    Ramsey if fit… The rest the same as you probably. Although I would play eleven players… 😉

  13. goonster says:

    Nope I ll start with mertsacker maam. Burnley play a lot of long balls. We need the BFG’s presence ro neutralize them. Plus kozzer needs a rest.

  14. goonster says:

    Am delirious maam. Can’t believe we have ozil sanchez in our team. That combination havent been explored yet. Wait till next season when alexis gets to know the league better. Remember most players tend to have a better second season. We have mesut ozil somebody pinch me. To think we were playing with gerwanko Santos Denilson and lord pink boots just a few seasons ago. God in heaven talk about transformation.

  15. goonster says:

    Maam I ll take kramer or shniedrlin(spelling ) and a goal keeper. keep theo and don’t touch sterling with a 70 inch pole. We don’t need him. Oxcham is a better player and more rounded. We ll be killing it this time next season. Plus we ve got the most important signing ever. Shad Forsythe. What a legend.

  16. goonster says:

    Shad has succeeded in keeping everyone fit since 1989 lol…only oxcham is in the sick bay now. He even got diaby kicking again. Yet you wonder why am excited. Come on you gunners…..Yeeeeeeaaaaaah

  17. potter says:

    Hi Goonie , How’s tricks. I’ve been propping up the coffee bar at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital lately having a bionic hip fitted. Glad to hear things are good with the babe but a week off is probably very welcome for you. Great people grand parents I know as I speak as one of them. My little bundle of joy is 19 months old now and getting quicker and quicker and a lot more mobile fortunately we get to give her back at 6pm every Friday , fed watered and ready for sleep.It’s a chore but we love it.
    I am not good at pre match predictions but I am reasonably confident about today. Perhaps a difficult win will be good for our team as a kind of grounding excercise and a reminder to keep concentrating. No so good for us watching but that’s the life of a football supporter.

  18. goonster says:

    Potter you re a man after my heart…I have nothing but love for you mate. Matter of fact I love all gooners. Wish there’s a gooner heaven somewhere. Thanks for your support when I lost cassie and didn’t know how to handle it. I appreciate you brother. Thanks a lot.

  19. goonster says:

    If sanchez learns to release the ball earlier and play a quick one two he ll score more goals. I just finished watching his clip on YouTube most times he tends to hold on to the ball too long. Where a simple one two ll have been a better option. Oh well trust arsene to coach that out of him 😀

  20. goonster says:

    Rico we ll smash them…am feeling expansive this morning. 5.0 heheheh the liquor is working huh?? I ll take a 2.1 routine win rico. OG with both goals. I so want him to win that golden boot.

  21. goonster says:

    I can’t wait for the game rico….when does it start. The anticipation is killing me. Come on already. God help me. Arsenal ll be the death of me.

  22. Dublingunner says:

    Afternoon, 3 points, No injuries, Rocky Creek to win the National and a glass of whatever goonster,s drinking That,ll do me today ,Lol.

  23. goonster says:

    Howdy Dublin been drinking since 5am it’s 7.45 now. Can’t wait. Have no life outside of arsenal. Have lost my “adonic persona” God help me.

  24. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Stan…

    Most of the people I know are a bit groggy today….

    Afternoon All
    Afternoon Rico…

    Doubt that it will be a match for the purist today, but as long as we win…

  25. goonster says:

    Hiya kev tell me about it… hey 3 points us all that matters right now. I ll even take a half to nothing scoreline. In arsenal’s favor that is 😀

  26. Joaquim Moreira says:

    mike Dean refere? brrrrr…
    Burnley it’s a difficult team. I’ve watched last match against Totts..

  27. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Goonie, sorry mate it was a horse running at Aintree called Mertesacker that was injured….lol

    Genuine mistake no BS!!! lol….BFG is fit and ready…

  28. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Adam, it’s an album by Alex Harvey, i had it years back but lost it, finding it hard to obtain a copy…

  29. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Spot on Adam, the same AH though i think it was with The New Band…

    Plenty weird about the Sensational Band…lol

  30. rico says:

    Afternoon all…

    Must say that at this moment in time, the only injury list I worry about is those poor horses. Hope all came through uninjured….

  31. Adam says:

    Kev. I remember you sitting inside a bass bin with dilated eyes, shaking your head like a Dervish as Zal thumped out a heavy riff. 🙂

  32. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, i’m sitting with two ladies at the minute and they’ve nearly necked a litre bottle of Morgans Spice…lol

  33. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies

    Team…….Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

    Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Chambers, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck

    No Gaby???? why???

  34. goonster says:

    Leicester city won Sunderland lost hence burnley ll be fired up. God help us. all of a sudden I don’t feel that confident anymore.

  35. goonster says:

    Hahahahahaha I love the away fans….they probably know the final score between the toots and villa. Oh lord I love those guys.

  36. goonster says:

    Hahahahahah enough with the bonnie ts…sheesh
    Don’t let dev hear you. We won’t hear the end of it.

  37. Hell Raising Devil says:

    the fact that you are Boonie is GOOD.

    its the fact that you have been drinking that is NOT GOOD.

    For heaven’s sake mate…….DO NOT DRINK. you have a little child to take care of. And remember you are a fekking role model.

  38. goonster says:

    Gee dev she wasn’t even home….she’s with her grand parents. I haven’t had a drink in ages. Cut me some slack.

  39. potter says:

    There’s a strong wind blowing into the face of their keeper and we have reverted to tippy tappy unnecessary passing. 1 may not be enough.

  40. Hell Raising Devil says:

    even is she is not there mate. do not revert to drink. Socially I agree, but come on mate, you are intelligent enough to occupy yourself with something besides drinking. Try to do something which will please her when she comes home to you. maybe even creating something or drawing something. children do notice a lot of things and even if she is a toddler her eyes will take in many things.

    I am not slacking you mate. I am concerned about you and her.

  41. ScottfromOz says:

    When will that bald headed little prick pull out his card????
    Greetings from Thailand, fellow Housers!!!
    12.20am.
    15 or so whiskey’s down the hatch, and more to come.
    Aaron has two more in him 😉

  42. ScottfromOz says:

    Hello Devil.
    I missed Sean’s first game of the season so am a little upset.
    Two weeks away, home tomorrow and though I’ve had a ball, I miss my family.

  43. goonster says:

    Hey scotty oz….Thailand ffs what are you doing in the land of mystery. Gosh I love phuket. Lucky bastard 😀

  44. potter says:

    Far and away the better team but over playing and letting them get close to us . Dean is taking the chance to get them a few free kicks on the edge of our area and they are not out of this yet. We need more pace to get behind them.

  45. HenryB says:

    It’s odd, but I am delighted by the score and the game is not bad – and yet I am still a bit disappointed that we are not making more chances.

    COYG

  46. ScottfromOz says:

    Thanks Rico.
    Stan, I’m in Pattaya.
    It’s an eye opener, to say the least!!!!!
    Great place, but danger lurks at everywhere corner lol

  47. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The game is 50/50 now.

    Only one goal seperates the sides.

    we need to get another …..and how.

    but you got to give credit to Burnley. they are giving it all and are not letting our team play.

    Our players need to scrap hard and go and get another.

  48. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I woud sub Aaron for Thomas. He would complement Coquelin and link midfield and attack. we need a triangle passer/mover big time.

    He would offer more than Aaron imo.

    Theo for this game???? 100% a big NO.

    Even if Alexis was to be subbed I would put in Gibbs on the left wing in front of Nacho.

    Danny will come in only if there was an injury to Ollie.

  49. potter says:

    We don’t seem to have an out ball, Giroud is double marked and Ramsey is not doing enough to support I would have him off for Welbeck.

  50. ScottfromOz says:

    It’s a result.
    3 points are pure gold at this point in time.
    So is another whiskey, so on that note, talk to you all later 🙂

  51. goonster says:

    Like I said earlier I ll take a 1.0 scoreline. The lads showed up. Shitty chavs and the toots have all dropped points there. Good job guys good job. Bring on reading.

  52. ScottfromOz says:

    Ginge, we did exactly what was needed, and our defence stood tall.
    That was a fantastic result and should be enjoyed.
    Onwards and upwards 🙂

  53. ScottfromOz says:

    Still going lol.
    I’m in some bar near Pattaya and am pretty much pissed but fly home tomorrow.
    Actually, I’m looking forward to it!!

  54. rico says:

    Ha ha Potter, I guess that’s one of those things which comes around about this time of the season…..

    Good result today at a very tough ground. I’m happy….

  55. allezkev says:

    Great result,
    pragmatic performance,
    plenty of rotation for Reading,
    hangover for Wavy… 😀
    Night All

  56. allezkev says:

    Morning All
    Morning Rico…

    Yeah, we have Flamini, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky or Ramsey who can fill in for Le Coq….

    And we want to have him available when we take on the Mancs as well…

    So get his suspension out of the way…

  57. rico says:

    Suspensions are automatically imposed for accumulating 5, 10, or 15 cautions in a season. There are cut-off dates for receiving a sanction as a result of accumulated cautions. They are:

    CAUTIONS CUT OFF DATES (Inclusive)

    5 31 December (Premier League only)
    5 30 November (FL to Step 4 only)
    10 2nd Sunday in April
    15 End of Season

    For example, a Premier League player earning their fifth caution of the season on or after 1st January would not earn any ban. However, if they received ten cautions by the second Sunday in April, a ban would apply. Players who receive 20 or more cautions in a season shall be required to attend a Regulatory Commission.

    No ban if Coq picks up a 5th booking then?

  58. allezkev says:

    So he can basically stay in the team for the remaining matches as he need six more cautions to earn a suspension….

    Hooray!

    Nice work Rico.

  59. potter says:

    Question is how much , We could pick a team with 11 changes that should be able to see off Reading ,leaving yesterday’s team to go against Chelsea. By rights it should not upset continuity and would keep the fringe players involved.A gamble , but how serious are we taking the chase of Chelsea . Is the cup the proverbial ” Bird in hand “.
    Sczcesney , Debuchy , Chambers , Gabriel , Gibbs.
    Flamini , Wilshere, Diaby , Walcott , Rosicky Welbeck. The bench can be truly strong if needed but if not they can put their feet up for a week.

  60. rico says:

    Reading are struggling in the league Potter, this match is their chance to get a break from all of that and just go for it…

    I would play a very strong side if I was Arsene…

    New post up now…

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