Daily Bits and Bobs

Big day for Arsene. Decisions, decisions, decisions……

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Time to fight back but does this group of Arsenal players have the fight in them under Arsene Wenger, a man who seems to conjure up more and more excuses for his failings each time he opens his mouth? But I don’t expect him to need excuses after today’s match because the odds are stacked against Bournemouth getting anything from this game today according to www.thebookiesoffers.co.uk.

Trying to justify his lack of efforts during the summer transfer window is laughable. Well, it would be if he was muttering his excuses whilst managing a different club. But we’ve been there, done that and I’m bored of writing it, just as I am reading it. There’s nothing to be done now, that is until January when clubs come a calling again for Alexis and maybe even Mesut. No one seemed to want the latter in the summer but I bet they do when his price is slashed in January or next summer when he and the Chilean can pick and choose where they go for free.

In the meantime, Wenger has a decision to make. Prepare for their departure by concentrating on our future players or run the pair of them into the ground? Not that there’s much chance of Ozil doing that eh! Lol.

We’ve all commented on how good Ramsey plays for Wales so what about dumping the German on the bench and giving the Welshman the ‘free role?’

Alexis. Well his season has hardly got off to the best of starts. Labelled overweight, fat even by an ex Chile coach, which I thought was a tad harsh, he struggled at Anfield and for Chile in both of their World Cup qualifiers. He might just be knackered after a long and hard season last term or the reality of having to play another ten months of football under Wenger might just have kicked in. Spare a thought eh….. lol

I’m not sure we have anyone who can do what Alexis can when he’s on form so dumping him on the bench is not really an option. At least he looked all smiles in training yesterday so fingers crossed he’s at it today and for the remainder of his time at the club. I think Wenger still hopes he’ll have a change of heart and stay on. I think Wenger is kidding himself.

With Oxlade-Chamberlain jumping ship, the door has opened up for someone else said Wenger. Whether that’s Reiss Nelson, Matthieu Debuchy or David Ospina at right back is anyone’s guess although I’d have thought Hector Bellerin would be best suited, especially if Wenger reverts back to four at the back which has been mooted. It’d be funny really if he did, especially after switching to three pretty much saved his job. Desperate times back then and no one will convince me that making the change was all part of a cunning plan.

Young Nelson played for the under 23’s last night so his chance won’t come today but maybe Thursday when we play our first Europa fixture of this campaign. He scored a peach of a free kick last night by the way and finally it looks like we could have a real star in the making. I love him already, so much so I might get his name on the back of my new shirt. Ok, just kidding!

Our midfield conundrum goes on. With Wenger turning a blind eye to such an important position in the summer, he’s left with a big choice to make. Ramsey and Xhaka doesn’t work. Elneny and Xhaka is better imo but even that pairing is far from perfect. Santi isn’t back for a while yet so perhaps it’s a straight battle between Coquelin and Wilshere with the latter being the closest we have to the little Spaniard. Well, they’ve similar in height. I’m not sure where Jack is with his fitness but he and Xhaka together could work. One thing we’ll get from Jack is fight and we’re certainly in need of some of that. Coquelin could work too, if only he’d curb his tendencies to get forward, just as they all do.

Another big decision Wenger has to make is up front. Surely he won’t leave Lacazette on the bench again as he did at Anfield? He starts for me. You don’t sign one of Europes most prolific strikers then leave him on the bench do you? Not unless your name is Arsene Wenger as only he would do that. Just as only he would leave our left back on the bench and play a right back instead….

You know what, just going through my mind wondering who the old man will select makes me realise that we have an awful lot of quality in this squad. Yes it lacks a specialist in midfield and defence, it has done for a long time but a few tweaks here and there, especially in the defensive discipline department, we could be good.

What’s French for tweak?

In case you’re wondering, it’s ‘ajustement.’

Still, what do I know eh, I’ve only ever coached a Sunday Pub team….

A big day for Arsenal, certainly for the manager. He needs to turn our season around and fast, otherwise it’s all going to get a bit nasty…..

rico

54 thoughts on “Big day for Arsene. Decisions, decisions, decisions……”

  1. allezkev says:

    Morning and great post Rico, pretty much sums up today’s game.

    Morning All, Lacazette to start and have a great game.
    Alexis to start and have a great game.
    Our defence will concede.
    Our midfield will fail to protect the back-four.
    Kolasinac will have a great game.
    The atmosphere at the ground will be one of anxiety.
    But I think we’ll win by a couple of goals, 3-1, 4-2, 5-3…

    I can’t wait…

  5. potter says:

    Actually that’s not such a poor shout. Lacazette’s movement could finally convince Theo that his best asset is as a winger. A player coming to the ball in the area might actually give him a string of assists . Straw clutching maybe but worth a try.

  6. rico says:

    Plus he must be desperate to get a start. We can’t forget how many goals he scored last season either. A good return from a winger despite how much he frustrates…

  11. Obi says:

    This is a good laugh.. .”Arsenal’s principal transfer negotiator Dick Law has decided to step down from his position at the end of the month.” I didnt know we had one; was he getting paid or volunteering.

  12. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House
    Todays team is
    Cech, Mustai, Kossy, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Granit, Kola, Ozil Wellbek, Laczetti

  13. Geziah says:

    Good afternoon Rico. I know Ozil gets a lot of stick for his perceived lack of work rate but Ramsey is nowhere near his class. Putting Ramsey as an attacking midfielder rather than Ozil will take this Arsenal team down a level.

    Do you realise Ozil has created the most chances this season and also every season since he has come to the premier league (402 chanches)? He also has the most assists since in that time too (42 assists).

    Do we blame Ozil or blame the lame strikers he has had in front of him during this time? Namely Giroud, Walcott and Welbeck.

    English pundits seem to think football is all about graft because quite frankly English players lack technical ability and skill.

    Ozil’s job is to create chances which he has been doing to a superior level. It’s other players who aren’t doing their job and also the manager.

  23. rico says:

    I thought Everton were going to be a strong side. Too many players signed at one time maybe. Still, they’ll probably pick up after playing us…. lol

  32. Le Coq Monster says:

    Evening all and a fine post El Rico………………

    I predicted a record score, not so, but a record none the less, our first clean sheet and best goal difference win of the season !…………..Dick Law will come back thinking it`s all OK !.

    This was one of the games I wanted to go to, but my mate (who went) said he would not hold up the other end of my …………….Wenger and Kroenke Out banner…………….he loves Arsene !
    Personally I`m still pissed off because of Wenger`s lies……………………he promised Ox and Alexis would stay………….Ox went….and Alexis only stayed by the skin of his teeth because Lemar backed out of the transfer !……so technically Wenger didn`t lie, but I wont forgive him and will never trust his word again !

    Not a great win today considering the oppo, but a win and it was a must win !…………………looking forward to the EL game on Tursday, but unless I get a stream somewhere I wont see it as I only have BT Sport 1……………………….should be youngsters and fringe seniors as we have the Chavs up next and for Wenger to redeem himself in the eyes of other supporters (I say other supporters as my earlier remark that I`m pissed off with the lying C##t) he needs to take that game more seriously and save the 1st team eleven.

  33. Le Coq Monster says:

    I then look on newsnow and there`s a quote from Wenger saying he`s going to take the EL seriously !…………………………”We want to do well in Europe and we will put out a team that can win the game on Thursday,” …………………………..I`ll wait `till Thursday as I dont believe a word he says and it hurts as I always said I would not abuse him, but he is testing my patience and I cant stand people who tell lies !

  38. Meerkat says:

    But all managers lie LcM.

    It’s not that which has made me turn against him, it’s the fact that he stay’s working for Kroenke that does it for me. If he had any principles, he would walk, telling everyone the truth of the behind the scenes lack of commitment to stay at the top. Arsenal fans deserve better. Now I know how Leeds and Newcastle fans must feel.

    As a fan, you can only support your team and hope that owners, management, and board of directors are singing from the same song sheet. When they are not, then a manager worth his salt should tell the owners and board to stuff the job. The fact that Wenger justs stays and takes the money, knowing the fans are getting a raw deal, really pisses me off.

    Our lack of ambition was shown in the TW when we ended up in credit, not having spent nearly enough to improve.
    Then we hear how he offered Ox a fortune to stay! That shocked me.

    I guess I’ve lost my respect for him, and just wish he’d walked after the FA cup win in May.
    We will probably have a fair season, win some lose some, draw some, but we will only be mediocre, and to me that is unacceptable.

  39. ScottfromOz says:

    Meerkat, that lack of ambition starts with Stan, as he’s said so.
    That attitude flows down through the entire club, imo.
    It’s hard for a manager or players to be ambition when the owner isn’t.
    Rico, so many times I write a comment then delete it because I’d be saying the same thing I’ve said before, but we are all guilty of that.
    There is nothing fresh at the club to discuss, unfortunately, so no point in having the same old argument we often end up in 🙂 🙂

  40. Meerkat says:

    Yes it does Scott, Kroenke’s attitude to Arsenal is unacceptable. He just sees the club as a cash cow. However, that is what Capitalists do, so we shouldn’t be surprised, it’s just another business venture to him. The board are just cronies who are puppets taking money for old rope.

    Arsene though, I thought better of him, and would have expected him to walk rather than sink to their level. The fact that he doesn’t walk, means he must go along with it all, sod the real fans of the club. He is a poor manager now, and I feel he has lost the respect of many of the players by rewarding mediocrity with big salaries, not trying to get better players to compete at the top. To think that he and Stan believe we could be like Leicester, and overcome the money teams to win the league just like they did, is ridiculous. We shouldn’t try to emulate the Leicester’s of the league, we should be competing with the two Mancs and the Chavs. Wenger should resign and Bould et al, should be sacked. None are fit for purpose.
    Like I said, and like Kroenke wants, we shall hang in there getting a few good results along with a few humiliating defeats, after all we do have SOME good players. C’est la vie. But, IMO until Kroenke sells up we are doomed to fail ultimately.
    Still, we at least got the three points today;-)

  41. Le Coq Monster says:

    The thing I dont get and maybe someone knows something I dont…………..which isn`t hard hahaha…………….so please explain……………………..Kroenke doesn`t take his £3M no more and gets paid just a pittance in comparison to all the moeny flying about………last salary I found was £25k p a in 2015………………so it cant be a cash cow for him unless he sells the club…………………what does he get out of it apart from his egotistical power ?

  42. ScottfromOz says:

    Meerkat, Arsene should really have gone 3 years back, imo.
    We haven’t progressed at all in that time-I give him a pass before that as I believe financial restrictions were affecting us longer than plenty do, but that’s just opinion.
    In the time since the ’14 Cup final though, absolutely no excuses.
    LC, the share prices keep rising and that obviously is beneficial to him.
    How does a man make a fortune without putting a cent of his own money in-its genius!!

  43. potter says:

    Collateral I think.Remember his company Kse uses the Arsenal as part of his portfolio and our profitability helps him with the Los Angeles project.

    Still 3 points , Thursday’s line up should be interesting.

  44. Meerkat says:

    No doubt he (and his son) has a BIG expenses account at the club Le CM;-))

    He admits he doesn’t like ‘Soccer’ it’s just a business, that could be held as a guarantor against funding needed for his USA clubs.

  45. Meerkat says:

    ps I just pasted some links to articles about Stan taking the £3 million raised by putting up ticket prices, and not being interested in winning any trophies with AFC, but they have been edited out of my post.:-(

  47. Marshall says:

    Hi Rico, all.
    Nice win but I wouldn’t get too excited as we’ll revert to type next week. Missed the game so I can’t comment about it.

    Rico, your header is not responsive when I scroll down/up (HH logo) or is it intentional? Being a techie, it has been keeping me up at night!

  51. ScottfromOz says:

    Dick the phantom 🙂
    Yes, I’d love to get the facts from him and, at some point, Wenger.
    It’d be an interesting conversation.
    Hazard……..an ever present danger, no question.

  52. rico says:

    Morning all. Not seen the game yet, just the goals.. Nice strike from Lacazette..

    Marshall, not being technically minded, I’m lost… lol

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