Morning all.
Typical isn’t it, yesterday evening I thought I’d be smart and write today’s post as there was little news other than our Champions League draw and then earlier today, Thierry Henry makes his big announcement.. Too late now though so tomorrow will be about the great man!
Back to the draw and what a surprise – UEFA dealt us a pretty good deal when they drew Monaco out of the pot. Not suggesting it’s going to be a walk in the park to progress further in the Champions League but sure as heck it gives us a better chance than if we’d been paired against the Spanish sides or Bayern Munich.
It’ll be an emotional occasion for Arsene Wenger no doubt as he returns to the place where it all really began for him….
Ok, he had a spell at Nancy before then and it wasn’t a particularly good one as his side ended up being relegated in his final season there and funny enough, Aldo Platini, the man who encouraged his appointment in the first place, said “It wasn’t his fault. He had no money to spend”.
So is that why Platini Jnr still has a axe to grind with Arsene Wenger?
Anyway, following relegation, Wenger was allowed to leave, heading off to Monaco for a new challenge. In came players like Glen Hoddle, apparently for free and Patrick Battiston who also cost Monaco nothing. Mark Hateley moved to France from Milan, linking up with his fellow countryman Hoddle. Arsene Wenger made an instant impact as Monaco won the league after his first season in charge.
Goerge Weah joined up with Wenger the following season but there was no second season success for the club but they came close…
The 1989-90 season was better. Despite finishing third in the league, Monaco beat league winners Marseille in the Coupe de France final through a last minute goal from substitute Gérald Passi.
In 1991–92, Monaco finished the league in second place and lost the 1992 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final 2–0 to Werder Bremen despite by then, having signed German striker Jürgen Klinsmann.
Arsene Wenger was then sought after by Bayern Munich but Monaco refused to let him leave and Wenger chose to stay, but a poor start to the 1994–95 season resulted in being sacked on the 17 September 1994 according to reports. Monaco sat 17th in the league…
Arsene Wenger left France and headed off to Japan, a decision heavily influenced by the impact of bribery and corruption with French football. Something which was perhaps confirmed when Marseille were found guilty of match fixing in 1994.
Arsene wasn’t in Japan for long as David Dein finally got his own way in 1996 when he became our manager…
The rest as they say is history….
Arsene Wenger soon led us to trophies and signed some truly world class players. Perhaps one of the best, if not the best was Thierry Henry. As said earlier hes confirmed he’s set to return to London and join the Sky Sports Panel after not only leaving New York Red Bulls but leaving his football playing days behind him for good.
Another making an emotional return could be Gilberto Silva as he’s been offered a coaching role at Arsenal and he’s more than interested:
“I have had an invitation, yes,” he told Globo Esporte. “Anything is possible. It makes me happy when you have these invitations, people see you with a different profile, you can contribute.
“It makes me happy and motivated and it makes me want to learn from others, seek knowledge and develop my own style.”
Even though the 38 year old wants to carrying on playing, he’s without a club right now and a return to Arsenal very soon could well be on the cards.
I wouldn’t bet against Thierry Henry being there with him either some day soon but in the meantime, I hope he carries on taking the mickey out of Carragher, Neville and Redknapp off the pitch, just as he did on it……
Transfer gossip:
The Express report that Arsenal are ready to sell Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell in January to fund a sensational Serie A double swoop for Roma’s Mattia Destro and Napoli’s Marek Hamsik.
Somehow I doubt there’s any truth in that……
Have a good day folks…
“Brilliant player, brilliant. Lightning quick, athletic,” said Neville while Redknapp was slightly more creative adding: “He could run through a puddle and wouldn’t even make a splash.”
Great comments about Mertsacker!! 😉
BFG is a weapon 🙂
Great post, Rico.
Morning all.
Ha ha Lee
Thanks Scott, anyone would think it was AW retiring eh lol
Rico, if that happened, we’d be over 400 posts already, and that would just be Lee 🙂
🙂 Scott, double that once Adam gets going…. Lol
Lee got me cracking my ribs.
Can’t stop laughing!
I just want the old Wenger back, and if not he should leave quietly at the end of the season…… he “has” undoubtedly been brilliant for Arsenal F.C and I definitely wish him no malice. Statue to follow!
Top post Rico
GFG maybe it was Santos???
Me too,in really wish he’d wake up one morning and be the Arsene Wenger of old…..
Thanks Ts..
Lee, you are on form this morning.. I thought Denilson, or the ref who overtook him….
Good morning rico and all..
You forgot to mention his smoking habit in his heydays in Monaco….. lol
That was hilarious video..
Well done to TH14 what a player he was..
It’s a great privilege to have seen and watched a true legend live at his best..
At one stage we have him, RVP, and Adebawhore in the same team.. With cesc pulling the strings behind.. Shame that team didn’t achieve anything, though the football was electrifying..
nostalgia and all..
Back to reality..
Laters..
Hamsik? Another attacker who is neither a striker nor a winger…
Destro well another 1 season wonder
Morning Judge – I read about that earlier, no wonder he’s never too tough on Jack..
Nice to see a more positive vibe on here today.
It’ll all be poppycock Ts, we need a Cdm and defender….
Indeed Rico.
Hamsik is good but we have welbz and AS17 now so a gsm like Morgan,strootman,hernanes or Vidal.Lol
Definitely no khediea as he is now 4th choice and injury prone.
It’s usually positive here Adam… Lol
Two for me in Jan Ts, fingers crossed….
So true Rico. 🙂
Unless you and Kev get going Adam… 😉
What an ungracious remark Rico.
Just pulling your leg Adam… 😉
Afternoon all
Afternoon Rocky, all well?
can’t complain (too much) thanks Rico! You?
All’s good thanks Rocky…
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
I must echo Adam’s sentiment “Nice to see a more positive vibe on here today.” After Rico’s riposte of “It’s usually positive here Adam… Lol”; she must have a bulge in her cheek like some of the National Hockey League players with the mumps. Wish that it ere so.
Rocky – Have you adjusted to fatherhood yet?
Good luck to TH14 in his new career. I just hope he doesn’t end up talking out of his Arse’nal like Mr. Wrong Wrong Wrong often does.
Morning Cg.
Both my comments were very tongue in cheek, we all have our day, especially after a bad transfer window or result/performance. I certainly do…
Perhaps the Christmas spirit is and a fine win last weekend is the reason for the positivity, that and a much kinder CL draw….
I think TH will be honest but quite reserved about his old club, after all, he wants a job there in the future.. 🙂
Liverpool should sell Mario Balotelli in January to help team spirit, says former Red Paul Ince
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-should-sell-mario-balotelli-4816305
Arsene and Arsenal certainly missed the bullet there. After having been heavily linked to Mario in the summer, I’m very relieved that we got Alexis instead.
Hi CG. Yeah, all going ok at the moment thanks!
We defo dodged a bullet with Mario. Never wanted him in the first place so glad he’s not producing anything worthwhile (no doubt bang in a hat-trick on Sunday now)
Regarding TH… I’m sure if Wenger was going to be there for 5 years or so, TH would be on his way to us as a coach. But with us being so dire this season, and the possibility of Wenger going t the end of the year if we don’t get Champs League, TH didn’t want to commit. Maybe he knows something about AW that we don’t.
Ditto, and Welbeck, for the same price we sure got the much better deal….
If I’m honest, I think Wright speaks perfect sense most of the time. More so than Robson.
Rico – No argument with there. After some of our November results I avoided visiting the House as I was so angry I could spit nails.
The all to common Jekyll and Hyde syndrome of the team of late drives me to distraction. With an almost fully fit squad and what should be an easy game, they play like a Sunday pub league team. Then when when we have what should be a tough game and forced to play first team players out of position and field some teenagers, they have a stroll in the park and make it look easy.
It’s a wonder that Arsene and most of the fans don’t have bald pates like Uncle Bouldy from ripping their hair out. If they can continue the recent positive run through the holiday season and most/all of our injured players return on schedule (as if) things could be looking up.
Wright and Neville make the most sense to me, and Keown too…
Cg, don’t blame you, November was simply embarrassing. Hopefully things are on the rise a bit now, just need to get Arteta, Kos and Ozil back and suffer no more key injuries..
Need a big three points at Anfield next….
Christmas Market for me so catch up later…..
Rocky – I can’t agree with you about Wright, but even the ‘village idiot’ would make more sense than Robson. If Ian wasn’t so enamoured with his own voice he might think a bit more about what he wants to say.
Neville is usually impartial and Keown and Smith are usually good. For the last 10 to 20 years the most biased, senseless, and worst pundits have been former Liverpool players.
Just so happens Sky and the BBC are long on Ex Liverpool players. The bias is ridiculous.
Rocky – I think it’s a variation of the ‘old school tie’ method of recruitment. Just when we breathe a sigh of relief when one the old fools retire, they scrape the bottom of the Liverpool barrel again and out pops another court jester. Step forward Michael Owen.
Owen is Dross. Plain and simple. Dross. BT Sport are a joke. Owen, David James, Steve Mcmanamanamanamanamanan… Who gives a shit what these plebs think? They are so boring and self important.
Rocky – No argument there, but when the team is having a bad game, they are just one more source of irritation. It is unfortunate that the newspapers don’t have pundits ratings for the weeks games like they have for players. The network executives are obviously not football fans. Otherwise most of these so called pundits wouldn’t be allowed within the range of any microphone.
Even the game officials have to face regular assessments. Why not the pundits?
Well the sun will be up in a few minutes and I haven’t had any sleep yet. So, I;m off to bed.
Have a great day everyone. Keep The Faith!
Rocky – Hang in there. The first few months are the worst and the first 6 months to a year are mother and baby time; then the fun begins. The early years are some of the most enjoyable for a parent.
In defence of Wrighty I see a black kid bought up in South London in the 60’s and 70’s which was not easy, in a broken home with the crap education that came with the situation. He is mentally bright but not well educated and speaks from his heart rather than his head. He wants The Arsenal to do well and I will make allowances for him when his mouth runs way with his brain.
Frank De Boer to Liverpool… That would be a great shame if true…
Evening folk…
Reading have appointed Steve Clarke as their new manager. Being a local girl, I’m chuffed to punch, a great appointment….
Sincerely hope not , Our board should be lining him and Dennis up for you know who’s replacement. Let them bring Overmars and now Campbell back with them.
Couldn’t agree more Potter…..
I’d take them over Pep any day of the week….
His brother Ronald is no idiot either. And that’s the point , we should be planning instead of just treading water.
Perhaps they are Potter – both the De Boer’s should have been Arsenal players back in the day…
By the way Potter – re your earlier link, I have sought advice and there is no need for concern as the site didn’t crash because of that, it was simply a server problem… The security on HH is top notch so no need for password changes etc….
Thanks for that , I ran all my safety stuff but just thought that I would mention it for the benefit of all.
I’m glad you did, thanks Potter – I passed the link to the chap who looks after the site and he said there is no need for any concern….
All quiet here so I’m off…
Nighty….
Big day yesterday, and it told….I fell asleep early which is unlike me 🙂
What a legacy Henry leaves, and let’s all hope he is back at Arsenal one day, In some capacity.
As most know, I had my first Arsenal trip earlier this season, but I missed 3 things every Gooner dreams of seeing……Highbury, Thierry and Dennis.
Still, at the very least, I saw the Stand and two brilliant statues, so not too bad, I guess.
Enjoy your retirement!!
Morning…..
Hi Rico.
Hi Scott, a quiet morning….
Still in shock about this Pakistan thing…… those cxxts beheaded 20 children! FFS!
I just don’t get it Lee, I really don’t. Evil evil bastards!
Lee, how do we even try and understand it?
It’s impossible.
Rico, it’s a shame sieges and mass murders are on the agenda….the world is really In trouble at present.
It is Scott and it’ll only get worse.
That type of shit will start happening all over the world, imho. Terrible state of affairs….
Glad I’m not being born today….
In 10,000 years it would seem we, as a race have learned absolutely nothing about how to co-habit peacefully with our neighbours. We are still uncivilised savages, or at least some sub-human beings are! Where will it all end? Total destruction of the whole planet I shouldn’t wonder.
Morning all. Not a good start to the day.
Goodness knows where it will end Wavy….
Wavy, it appears the smarter we get, the dumber we get.
New post up now…