Morning all.
It’s always good to go into an international break after a victory but even a quality performance on Saturday still irritates. Not the performance but the fact is that had Arsene Wenger got this team playing in such a way all season, we’d all be thinking ‘the PL is in the bag’….
Seven games left, five of which are home, it so should have been ours….
Arsene Wenger was right in a way, this current squad is perhaps good enough to win the Premier League but what it’s not been strong/deep enough to do is to compete in all four competitions, not under the very man who believes in his squad.
Look at Leicester flying high. No European distractions to halt their charge for the title and they don’t have a big squad, nor is it that deep. They do have a manager who is highly motivated, desperate for success and one who is clearly doing most things right but should they become Champions, don’t bet against it being a one off. I don’t think they went very far in either of the domestic cups.
Similar could be said of Liverpool a couple of seasons ago. No European football to worry about and they came the closest they have in years to winning the league. But for slippy G, maybe they would have.
One could cite the neighbours for doing well in their challenge for the title and their squad isn’t that deep but I think I’m right in saying, their manager didn’t always field his strongest side on a Thursday night in Europe, certainly not against Dortmund in both the home and away fixtures and again, their domestic cup challenge was over, certainly earlier than ours.
So I guess the moral of my story is, if Wenger is to stay as manager for a few seasons yet, perhaps it would be better to drop out of Europe altogether and maybe then, Arsenal will win the league again. Either that, or just don’t take the Champions League as seriously as he does. By that I mean team selection as we’ve never really been a serious challenge on the big stage have we?
There is a plan b of course but that means spending some money and with a few out of contract and others who might want out as they go in search of regular football, the recruitment team should be quite busy this summer.
With the manager away at the Euros telling the world his views, maybe they’ll get a few great deals over the line.
Have a good Monday guys…
Morning all.
Wrote this as last remark on the Ozil thread. All speculation of course but……..?
No Rico I haven’t but it doesn’t surprise me. It supports the fiction that I wrote earlier about Ozil and Sanchis delaying re-signing.
I know Ozil rarely looks happy but recently, after yet another defeat, his body language seems to have suggested his total disgust and despair at what he has just been party to. To be fair to him he is way in front, in terms of ability and football brain than virtually all of his team mates. I’m not surprised he sucked off! For him the fault obviously lies with the Manager. A manager who promised him success and adulation as well as world class players to support him. Wenger has not fulfilled his promises has come up well short on both counts. I guess if the manager doesn’t go then Ozil will have to find a new guru at a better club, Spuds? Perhaps!
Morning all.
Wavy, I think it’s just made up media rubbish and just because both he and Alexis are in talks over new contracts.
Good Morning Chips and Chops.
Ah yes Rico……if only….
…pigs can fly
…mosquitos do not bite
…wasps do not sting
…I am a billionaire
…I coach Arsenal
…I am married to Shakira
so many ifs……or buts
anyway.
we have seen a shift. SUDDENLY. No not NAsri stating he would play for AW, or that Eboue sees AW as his father, or Adebayore claiming that he would kiss the very ground AW walked on
suddenly we have a new piece of news stating that if AW is to remain at the club he would leave.
hmmm. talk about sticking the knife in, or the final nail in the coffin, or the kiss of death.
yes it may be media rubbish Rico………….but it can equally be true.
Maybe Devil, but as said on the old post, even if it was the thoughts of Ozil, why on earth would he speak to the Spanish press about it and there’s no actual ‘source’ in the story.
Is the agent sending out a few feelers. Perhaps he’s short of wonga and needs an injection of cash by moving Ozil on? Perhaps.
Really?How come they cant beat the likes of Swansea and Watford?
He is delude and the sooner he goes asap,Arsenal will start playing football to win .
Wolfgang, we played to win on the weekend lol.
Ozil has too much class to be talking crap like that, IMO.
the Hosay stories are gathering legs.
can there be smoke without fire??
Dont know……but I would love to see how he is welcomed if he is AFC manager, when he goes to stamford bridge……the fans will be like a bunny in headlights
lol
anyway……I doubt it and would not want it. yes we will win…..but they will all be bittersweet wins. especially if we play boring football.
will the board have the balls though
I would be amazed.
Jose is heading to Utd isn’t he?
who knows Rico. that is what we suspect…..but we never know do we???
if he comes i guess the fan base will be split even more……the …..
AKB brigade
AWO (out) brigade
JWB…..(Jose welcome brigade)
JSB……(Jose shit brigade)
BBAG……Bring back Arsene brigade
BHNC…..board have no class brigade
lol
Were Chelsea really that boring to watch though during his last spell?
Only when Jose didn’t want to lose did he play boring tactics and how many times this season would doing something similar enhanced our chances of winning the league?
I’d have thought Pep would like Arsenal to hijack his move to City. Bet he didn’t think Europa would be waiting for him…. 😉
Morning, Great Caption Rico, Luv it..
Devil If Wenger stays, i might leave too,
thought hard last night about using my Gravatar as a “Thanks for the Memories Arsene etc” but said better not, could be accused of being as Beckham put it, “an attention seeker”
Rico interesting that AW did say the team were good enough to win the title, but in my eyes they failed or will fail and that in a year when you could argue, was the easiest premier league to win, So I can,t say we are good enough quite yet, Maybe the question should be would we of been good enough under a different manager,
I think we have debated that though,
One thing we cannot argue about is that Jose is a winner.
I think even during his first time in England…..he played boring football as well. but as you said Rico…..when he did not want to loose he played boring football
hmmmmm……remember BC telling the leeds players they were crap???
I can almost imagine JM in his first meeting with some players…..lol.
“Listen guys I need someone very fast”
Theo….Yes boss.
JM….you are a good lad Theo……I have just farted. Can you go and catch the fart. Keep on running till you catch it though.
Thought you might Dublin.. 😉
Exactly my point too, the squad is good enough, however…..
But as you said, we’ve been over that one. Many times..
Hello again Rico. I did see that piece about Ozil but have no idea if it is true. When you have a bad season, as we have and you underachieve then the club and the manager will always be open to these type of stories. I would also imagine that both Ozil and Sanchez were promised that better players were on their way. If so, they probably feel rather let-down.
The whole club has an uncomfortable feel about it at the moment and the more vocal fans and the blokes with the banners are making this real news.
With players like Walcott, Ramsey and Giroud on the bench and Ox and Jack out through injury we do seem to be more competitive. It will be interesting to see which way Wenger goes from here because it looks to me as if we might be looking at a team rebuild. That is going to take a while.
I do think, The Jose story is Made up, that can,t happen surely,
The United story definitely has legs or some other reports linking Blanc to united, to which Jose would surely end up at PSG, but Arsenal, can,t see that happening
I,m still 100 % sure our beloved manager will be with us till he,s contract ends.
Ozil and Sanchez are weakened by the players around them, and I would imagine they will soon start to look elsewhere. Ozil is already stalling on a new contract. Their careers are stagnating and they’re not getting any younger. Neither joined Arsenal to win the FA Cup.
Perhaps those better players will arrive this summer Adam… 😉
Always reminds me of an inscription I once saw in a bar which said ‘Free beer tomorrow’….
DG…I think so as well. The Jose story is made up.
How galling would it be if Jose won either the EPL or CL with practically the same players has at his disposal. I can imagine him saying again that AW is successful in failure.
The only thing that gives me hope that AW will walk away this summer is his comments about being in a final year of contract.
Surely the club wouldn’t be so stupid to give him yet another contract… Would they?
Is Ozil stalling over a new contract though or is it just media stuff being made up? I don’t know…
Perhaps he’d be justified with such comments if ever Jose did win the PL/CL with the same group…
Can’t see Mourinho being Stan’s kind of guy though….
Not exactly with the same group Rico…..TR07, MF, MA will surely be gone. Maybe/hopefully Sirnogoals as well.
Whatever happens I hope that if AW goes he goes on the last day of the season plus if he is to stay he gets in their replacements immediately and not wait till the end of January 2017 transfer window
even though it seems certain Jose might go to Manure, Mourinho’s silence and the fact he has not sold his house in London is unnerving.
And silence is usually Arsenal’s style.
Deep down that suspicion lurks with the coldness of a marine eel in the shadow of a crevice under the sea
They haven’t been in the group this season Devil, so won’t make a lot of difference… 😉
Off out for a while, have a good day guys..
I think Ozil and Sanchez,s agents could be putting it out their, that contracts are stalling, to see what other clubs will show interest, if none are bigger than Arsenal, they,ll sign new deals.
The Wenger deal would make total sense for him not to break it and see out his final year, why after saying all these years that he would never break a contract, would he do it now, just can,t see it.
He has already said about Ibra, “He is not a target, at the moment” shows that he is already writing up his targets for next season. to me anyway.
Laters…
“I just think I give my best. I built this club over 19 years with the quality of my work, not with resources from outside the club,” he said “Not with big money, but by caring about every pound that I spent”
You can borrow my trumpet if you want Wenger…
Good day all.
That quote from Wenger says it all Lee.
He honestly thinks it is Arsene FC.
This squad was easily good enough to win the title, the manager sadly was not.
Yes Arsene was right. LC is most likely going to win the PL and the Arsenal squad is better position by position….. so its not even a debate that they are good enough to win the league, if coached, motivated and managed correctly. On Ozil, given his charity work, imho, hes not entirely motivated by money so I can see him bailing. Alexis on the other hand, I think will stay because I don’t see him going to any of the bigger teams since he wants to play all the time – no matter the form and only Arsene allows that – he doesn’t even sub the guy. Btw, I have notice that nearly all of the teams that Arsenal gets an unavailable results against either lose or draw their next game…. go figure, I guess beating Arsenal takes a lot out of a teams?
Imagine doing this to Adams or Vieira. lol
More like a trombone needed Lee… 😉
Afternoon guys.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3502971/Arsenal-track-2m-Ligue-2-striker-Anthony-Koura-amid-Stoke-Newcastle-Sunderland.html
😛 😛
Night all, catch up tomorrow…
Evening Rico and the house
So the truth has finally come out
Wenger really does think arsenal is his club
Will we ever be free from this tyrant
Are in prime position for a golden future?
Yes.
Why?
Because, like it or not, there is plenty of truth in that statement from Arsene.
We can easily forget the very reason we have that 200 million in the bank, can’t we?
Morning all.
Devil 3.42, red faced and pants around his ankles, who does he think he is, Arsene Wenger lol !
I thought we were built in 1886 and I’d say there’s few managers that had more than a helping hand in shaping The Arsenal…..
There was plenty of life in Arsenal before Wenger and there certainly will be after him.
TOP STORY: Wenger told it’s time to spend, spend, spend
Here’s something to make Arsenal fans sit up and take a whole lot of notice, and maybe even stand up and cheer: Arsene Wenger has been ordered to get spending in the summer — or else, according to the Sun.
The paper says Arsenal’s powerbroker types have told the manager to “go on the biggest spending spree of his career” after a season that promised so much but now seems increasingly likely to fizzle out without a trophy.
So who could be on the way in if this mooted new era of frenzied cash-lashing gets under way in the red half of North London?
Well, how about this lot for starters? Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Gonzalo Higuain, John Stones, Toni Kroos … they’re among the big names in the frame, according to the Sun’s report.
Giddying stuff, with the paper even going so far as to claim that Arsenal “will not consider giving Wenger a new deal until he starts competing in the transfer market.”
It’s not as though the long-serving boss won’t have loads of money to play with, given that the club’s cash reserves are reported to stand not far short of £160 million — but he isn’t a man who is likely to take kindly to being told what to do in the transfer market. Is there trouble ahead?
And there could be another sort of trouble ahead, with the report claiming the Gunners face the prospect of losing maestro Mesut Ozil back to Real Madrid after the disappointment of the club’s fading challenge for the title.
It says he has “asked his agent to plot a return” to Madrid if Wenger stays on as Arsenal manager beyond this summer.”
But if Ozil ends up being a midfield farewell, Napoli’s Jorginho could be incoming, according to London’s Evening Standard.
It reports that the player’s agent has said he would be open to holding talks with the Gunners if they feel like making an offer once the window opens again. That’s not a possibility out of nowhere, given that they were linked with him during the January window.
Season tickets up for renewal?????
Shocking news Brudder. 🙂
What Brussels airport being bombed?
I’m intrigued who is going to tell Wenger to do anything???
Stan will, Lee.
After all, he’s the boss 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
Morning All…
Great story Lee, it’s always good to start the day with a good laugh…
If there is any truth to that story then it tells us the utter contempt that Kroenke and Co hold the fan base…
If anyone goes out and renews their season ticket on the strength of such utter crap, then they should be given a lobotomy…
And then keel hauled…
Morning Rico and Adam…
Shutting the stable door, horse, bolted, etc
Kev,
If, and it’s one MASSIVE if, there’s any truth to this, why now?
Why haven’t these tools taken action over the last 3 years, since Ivan told us we could finally compete with the other big clubs?
Strange.
I imagine it will be the board who will tell him brudder. Personally, I believe every word of it.
Robeto Mancini…???
Scott, if there is any truth in this rumour, a big if, then it’s obvious to me that fan discontent and anti-Kroenke chants, have had an effect on the PR sensitive KSE…
Alternatively the story could be a croc of shit…
Who knows?
Anti Kroenke, it has a ring to it 🙂
Anti Wenger better…
Let’s get Joe Say lol
Tuchel, Loew, Koeman, Simeone or a strategically shave primate would of done a better job than Wenger of late.
Morning Kev, Lee, Adam, Scott and all.
Terrible goings on in Brussels, ten dead and counting. Awful…
I fully believe that story from The Sun too, so much so, I’m going to see if I can get my name on the ST list…. 😉
Rico, makes the Wenger debate seem small, either way.
Just watching Sky News, Rico…
Not good…
Sure does Scott but football lives in a world of it’s own really….
Awful Kev, these people really are bastards, evil bastards…
Two explosions at Brussels airport and four train stations attacked………..
Rico, that’s true….it should be an outlet from the real world.
Very sad stuff.
Agree Scott.
New post up now.