Morning all.
Rob Holding back in training is a huge boost to the squad. I don’t think anyone could underestimate how important he was to our defence before he suffered injury thanks to that horrid bloke Marcus Rashford. He might be a really nice guy in real life but as a footballer, horrid. But that’s Utd for you and it’s not the first time their players have shown a nasty streak against us and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Would VAR have led to Rashford receiving his marching orders? I’d like to think so, not that it would have made a difference to Rob Holding’s season which was ended that very moment.
A year ago, I never thought Rob Holding would be as important to our back line as he proved he was. We’d seen glimpses of him, enough to know the potential was there, especially in ‘that’ FA Cup Final alongside Mertesacker. Emery clearly liked what he’d seen after taking over and Rob Holding was in from the start. Out ten matches later and a big loss. No doubt he’ll be buzzing ahead of his potential return to the game as we head out to the USA.
Unlike Laurent Koscielny who has refused to travel with the squad.
Laurent Koscielny has refused to travel to the US for our pre-season tour. We are very disappointed by Laurent’s actions, which are against our clear instructions. We hope to resolve this matter and will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
I admire the club for telling us about this instead of leaving to the media to make out it’s all their fault. I bet they’re cheesed off about that. Not that won’t try and add stuff to the story which is a big one really but as said, I’m glad the club have made it official. I can see only one way this will end and that’s with his departure but not for free I’d imagine.
I’m sure as the days and weeks go by we’ll hear and read more about this but regardless, I think it’s a disgraceful way for our club captain to behave.
Nice to see Bellerin in the squad, a lot of the younger players too.
See you in the comments guys…
Rob should be in our starting line up
Agree on Koscielny. We pay him a very good wage, hes captain of Arsenal and gets all queeny because he wants a free transfer I’m thinking. Transfer fee will be minimal at his age even by Arsenal standards so strip of the captaincy, fine him 6 months wages and let him rot.
Hard to disagree Chrispy.
I’ve just read he might buy out his contract.
he suffered injury thanks to that horrid bloke Marcus Rashford. Even Holding admitted that it wasn’t Rashford’s fault but oh well whatever you say eh.
I suppose Shawcross wasn’t to to blame for Ramsey’s injury either…
So it looks like Koscienly is on his way out. Getting rid of his wages is understandable but to me Mustafis should be first out the door.
Both imo Limey. I’d only keep Sokratis and Holding.
Aussies 224 all out. Well done England. Now let’s see an equally good batting per for to complement the bowling.
I hope England don’t collapse as they often do against Australia
Performance!!!
England moving smoothly towards the final.
Sunday is going to be an amazing day for sport. British Grand Prix, Cricket World Cup Final, Wimbledon Finals.
Shame about Kos he looks like he is now ruining his good record with Arsenal, and will lose his testimonial now I am sure. Great news about Bellerin & Holding, even if they cannot play the fans over there will love to see them, perhaps get autographs or selfies. Great publicity. Good on them both they could have cried off injured . This is EXACTLY what we want at Arsenal players that want to be there…one little thought though, does this mean Mustafi will stay ????
Kev
Ben Sheaf joining Doncaster on season loan.
I gather Beilick is saying no more loans , he will not play for u23 team
and wants to play every week . He states if he can not get with us he will leave
this window. Shades of David Bently
Don’t forget Saturday too Cicero 😉
Shame re Bielik Rick, he’s missed a good chance to push into the first team by not travelling to the States
shh! don’t tell Scott but Australia were annihilated by England. Roll on the Ashes.
That was one heck of a good performance Cicero. Roy has to make the test side surely. Buttler’s run out was incredible. The appeal for Roy leaves a bitter taste in the mouth though…
I’m not going to gloat at Scott’s expense, that would be a very unkind thing to do and it’s really not the decent thing either and actually not very British….
Well, not until we’ve played the Kiwis…. 😉
Rick, I was hoping that Emery might take Sheaf on the tour, especially as he’s been training with the seniors, but I reckon he’ll leave after this loan.
Bielik has had an injury ravaged time of it at Arsenal and hasn’t once before been shirty about anything.
Now, after his first successfully injury free season he starts to make demands, we’ll sell him and be rid of him, this situation with players like Musah, Koscielny, Amaechi, Bielik giving it large is all part of the institutional weakness of this club created by Wenger.
It’ll take awhile to cast it off but it has to be done…
You bastards hahahaha
Na, no excuses, outplayed and unfortunately we chose the wrong day to have our worst performance with the bat but so be it.
Im not sure who I’ll support in the final lol
Very disappointed in the situation with Kozzer.
WTF is going on??
When did contracts start meaning nothing???
Bad batting or great bowling Scott? I’d say the latter. Sometimes the opposition is just too good and yesterday, everything went right for England unlike in the last match, you guys had Lady Luck on you’re side in the first ten overs.
Contracts have meant little for a long time now. The only person they protect imo is the player.
If players/agents can agitate a move in any way they can then I think the rules need to change. Clubs need to be able to sell a player to any club regardless of whether they want to move or not imo. That might bring a bit of respect for contracts back.
Morning all.
Morning Rico and all. Scandalous behaviour from Koscielny. When he was getting sent off and giving away own goals, the fans stood behind him. When he was injured and still getting paid ridiculous amounts of money, the fans stood behind him. Arsenal’s considerable investment in recuperation facilities and staff were entirely at his disposal. Essentially the club saved his career after an injury that would have ended most players. He was welcomed back last season with genuine warmth. But now he sees the twilight of his career away from Arsenal he has essentially gone on strike and decided that some absurd pouting and petulant stance will force the club into letting him leave.
I doubt that, even his few remaining fans will be bothered if the club play a bit of hardball with him, to make the simple point that contracts need to be respected, something that Laurent seems to think doesn’t applies to him.
Morning Adam. Well said.
Players forget it’s a two way thing so easily. Pogba wants out of Utd it seems but at least he’s gone on tour. Koscielny should be ashamed of himself.
I’m already looking forward to Federer – Nadal !
I wish that could have been the final..
Rico. It seems obvious to me that there is more going on behind the scenes than we know. Kos might even feel let-down by the club in some way or another. All players have their gripes and grievances, some born from an irritating sense of entitlement. But, as Ozil has amply demonstrated, the contract (agreement) between club and player simply has to be respected. If it isn’t then anarchy reigns. Personally, I am all for a bit of anarchy every now and again but this feels like another virtual nail in the coffin of the impending season, before it’s even begun.
If Arsenal are to be competitive then I think that they should have had plans insitu to replace him anyway as I doubt we could count on him being remotely injury-free but, such is the general turgid state of our management and owner, that this seems far too much forward-thinking and makes way, way too much sense to be Arsenal.
If Raul has a plan and there is scant evidence to suggest he has, now might be the time to get it to bear a little fruit because, as the days pass, the image of Mustafi and a few others wearing the colours for another season, looms larger.
It’s not hard to envisage various scenarios playing out over the first half-dozen games is it? It might be that the Emperor (s) really aren’t wearing any clothes.
Sine I read Kelsey’s post a couple of days ago, with him saying that Torreira didn’t like Emery and two others players ( not Ozil) don’t like him either, now this rigt with Kos I have been feeling a little unsettled about Emery’s relationship with some of our players. In fact I haven’t seen any signs that any of the players actually LIKE him( which I know is not essential but desirable) City , Liverpool & Spurs, you know their players love their managers , but I am beginning to worry about Emery . I was very happy when he came and he seemed to be just what we needed, but now I am not sure. He got the sack from PSG for not getting on with certain players( I thought then that the players were at fault) but now I am wondering. What do you guys think ?
Adam. I’ve just taken this as an isolated incident. A player who feels he’s owed a free transfer out of the club so he can secure his last big contract, or as big as he can. Also, my guess is he wants to return to France which is fine by me but he shouldn’t expect any special treatment imo. If he wants to go, be transferred like every other player has to be. The club deserve to get some money back from a player they’ve treated rather well I’d have thought.
I’m sure too that things are going on within the club, I just hope it’s positive rather than negative.
Sohara. I’d imagine if Emery is pissing off many of the players, he won’t last much longer but until there’s something factual about any rift, I’m not going to speculate.
The media kick us enough…
You are just SO SENSIBLE Rico, of course you are right , Thanks
Rico. It maybe an isolated incident but I think the malaise goes deeper. I’ve always liked Kos but he’s nearly 34 I think and though he’s been good, he has never been an elite player for me. He’s also not really a natural captain and certainly has had bad injury problems. His situation, at properly run club, should be irritating, but just a blip and not part of the bigger picture for the future. This whole thing merely serves to put where we are as a club and competitive force under the spotlight.
Someday, perhaps soon, someone is going to have to press the reset button at Arsenal. It might not be pretty but deep down many of us feel it as an inevitability.
What do you suggest Adam?
😂 Sohara
Adam, I think it was Kev who said about previous players walking away for free because they could under Gazidis and Wenger. This surely shows that Raul and co aren’t going to a soft touch so for me that’s a big positive.
Maybe I’m being too optimistic but I think things are going to improve but perhaps not just yet. I’ve always believed Emery was just a stop gap rather than the long term guy. Steady the ship which was on the verge of sinking, sort the ridiculous contracts etc out and then go again.
I know people will think I’m naive but I just can’t see a multi millionaire like Kroenke letting his club lose value. He’s a useless owner imo, but he’s not stupid surely?
Yes Kronke did have the wrong Manager in before so we are all hoping he has got it right this time, I think he has & I like the team in charge now. They say he and Josh phone the club every day. I believe that Josh is actually an Arsenal fan now , who knows Kronke may become more of a fan in time, especially as ‘Soccer’ grows more successful in USA ( Womens as well) Worldwide Arsenal has a bigger impact than any of his US teams. We have the Billionaire owner, now all we need is for him to love Arsenal as we do, then who knows where we could go then
Sohara. A new vision.
Rico. Who knows? We wait in some sort of anticipation. I suppose. 😃
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico.
Great comment Adam.
Whatever we may think of Emery, there can be no excuse, Laurent Koscielny is the club captain and that comes with certain standards of behaviour attached, I could never imagine Mertesaker acting in this way for example, but then I wouldn’t have expected it from Kozzer.
Is he still bitter at missing out on the World Cup and thinks that Arsenal owe him something as he got injured playing for us in the Europa League – who knows?
To me it’s all part of the laisser – faire atmosphere generated under Uncle Arsene, the players loved the easy come, easy go, no blame, no responsibility feel of London Colney.
It’s different now and they don’t like it, but if they want to leave then good riddance…
Yes, Emery had issues at PSG, mainly with the cult of personality Brazilian disco king, but I don’t recall reading about any issues at Seville and Valencia. I’m sure any disaffected players from his time there would have scooped up by the press by now!
Emery may not last at Arsenal, in fact no future coaches may last anymore – 5 years max, but at least he’s set in train the work that has needed to be done and will be taken on by future coaches to rid our club of the easy easy soft reputation bequeathed us by Uncle Arsene.
We do indeed Adam. 😆
So pleased to see Holding and Bellerin well on the road to recovery, I’m not sure if Hector is ready for competitive football yet but I’m hopeful that Rob will get some minutes on the pitch.
Freesports on Virgin TV, channel 553 have all the games in the US, full 90 minutes, a few days after they play. That’s good enough for me… 🙂
I did hear that Koscielny was prepared to buy out the remaining year of his contract so he can move back to France, that’s cool, go for it mate, you must be minted…
Morning Kev. Very well said.
I read that too about Koscielny, good. He can bugger off ASAP now and if that means buying out his contract, then so be it. He’s not our captain anymore and as far as on the pitch goes, he never was…
Rico, Koscielny’s decision and Arsenal’s reaction shows to me that the Gunners were intending to keep him and use him this season, therefore buying time and allowing Raul to target other areas for improvement with our meagre resources, but now that might all change as we may need to divert money to sign another centre back, although Mustafi staying must be a certainty now! Could this scupper the Tierney deal? It could surely end our interest in Zaha?
A year of wages for Koscielny are what £5.2m approx?
That buys you bugger all in the Kroenke era of austerity, but it might open up opportunities for Calum Chambers and Zach Medley as we’ll have no choice?
Basically it’s no choice or Hobsons choice…
Jensen has joined Arsenal, he’ll be our Scandinavian coach according to reports.
Kev, perhaps but they could have told him a while ago he was going but he assumed for free rather than a fee. Either scenario is a possibility.
It’ll be quite interesting to see what happens over the next 3/4 weeks, that’s for sure…
Seems likely that Amaechi could be leaving. He’s not travelled to the US and his removed Arsenal from his Instagram account. Lol
Amaechi, he’s good Rico, very good, but he has a wretched attitude and Saka is better than him anyway.
Even though I’ve bigged him up over the last couple of years, his surliness has worried me, but so be it, it’s a big harsh world out there Xavier and you’re about to find out what it’s all about…
Is this the Per Mertesaker effect? Isolating the big timers and focusing on those young players who want to make it at Arsenal?
Some might feel unsettled by all these playing staff issues, I just see it as a necessity, to finally get us back on track and back to being a proper football club and not a social club…
I’ve seen a bit of him online Kev and agree he’s very good. Think it’s a massive shame he has issues and if he has them now, good luck to him in future I say. He won’t go very far if he carries on in the same way.
Rico.
Morning Kev.
As I write at this time of year, every year actually. The proof is in the points column. This season we have the dubious bonus of the press sharpening their alcohol-sodden wits while preparing their post match hysterics over the final year of Emery’s contract. Add to this the turgid brand of sideways football we produced last season and the unpleasant realisation that the usual suspects are likely to still be wearing the shirt and for Unai I sense the potential for a perfect storm.
A bad start will see all eyes turning West toward the ghastly Kroenke mega-ranch where a syrup’d figure with an unreasonable moustache sits astride a stallion, aloof from it all like some sort of latter-day John Wayne.
The rumours of the players not liking Emery are coming to a head . However maybe it’s not just Emery , perhaps the new regime at the club is putting the noses of the cosseted ones out of joint.
Throughout the Wenger era we became soft touches to the desires of the players , we allowed too many to leave with barely a whimper . Cesc to Barcelona at a knock down price , Cazorla allowed to go home following his injury and now back in the Spanish international squad are just two .
I think the club are starting to re-assert themselves , it’s been a holiday camp for too long . It’s time the dog regained control of it’s tail .
I feel sure if uncle Arsene was in charge Koscienly would have been allowed to leave for free. Why should that happen now? Even if we only get a small fee, the last I heard Arsenal are not a registered charity. Ok Koscienly has been our best defender, but that has been a very low bar indeed. I’ve never been a Kos the boss fan, he’s good but as Adam said, never elite.
Potter. I think you may be right.
‘I think the club are starting to re-assert themselves , it’s been a holiday camp for too long . It’s time the dog regained control of it’s tail.’
Put much better than I tried this morning… lol
Morning all.
A few points on the current situation.
Firstly, something is drastically wrong at the club that ANY player, let alone a captain and to this point a very bloody good servant is pulling this stunt!
Who is advising him to take this course of action-player agent, surely, the scum of the earth, and no, that’s not watering down his own responsibility but still……
If the club stated they will now sell players who wind down their contract, why haven’t they tried to offload him?
Why offer him a year long contract after stating we won’t allow players to stay once their contract gets down to 2 years??
It’s farcical!!!!
Emery will not see out his contract,
Imo.
The club seems to spiralling out of control, and he’s not handling things at all well-again, just my opinion.
The place is an absolute shambles and yet Stan STILL DOES NOTHING!!!
We can not blame the media for tearing us apart, as we don’t need their help because we are doing a more than adequate job ourselves.
Other fans are laughing at us and feeling sorry for us.
Aaahhhh, but thank goodness for the Aussie Women cricketers who are spanking the arse of you lot 🙂 🙂
Rant over, and I do feel better lol
The club have now started official disciplinary action against KoS, I do agree with Scott I do feel there is more going on that we all know
How do you know they haven’t though Scott? I think it’s more likely they have but Kos simply wants to leave for free instead of a fee.
Ornstein reckons Toots are going to gazzump us for Saliva.
Nice post rico.
As the transfer window will soon come to an end this could be our starting eleven away to Newcastle.
Leno
Jenkinson…..Mustafi…….Sokratis…..Kolasinac…
Torriera……Xhaka..
Ozil..
Mihkatarian…..Lacazette……Aubameyang…
Relegation material if ever I see it.
AMN at right back Vcc, but I get your point… thanks re the post.
If we lose him to that lot Sohara, I think I’ll be done with the club…
No you won’t …it’s in your blood. It hurt BIG TIME but you’ll brush yourself off and go again..we all do
I’m not so sure…
I just saw that re Saliba as well Rico, surely we can’t lose out on him to Spurs , the fan base will go crazy if that happens…I’ve heard he is brilliant youngCB
Have to agree there Rico @ 5:57pm………………………….pathetic transfer negotitions so far, then Kozgate, then Amaechigate and now if our owners allow Spuds to gazzump us on Saliba then I will not follow this club I love whilst Kroenke is the owner, for as to compete on the field we need to compete off the pitch and do I really have to put up the amount Kroenke has invested in this team since he bought his first shares ?……………………………oh bugger it I will …………..£0
We are a joke and other clubs are laughing at us !
I feel numb again, the last time I was this worried about our club was when the Spuds were in the CL final………………….actually, the thought of them winning the CL was worse, but this is pushing me to the edge.
I knew from the beginning and always said it would be no good, that Kroenke would ruin this club on the field !……………………please do not let that cunch of bunts down the road gazzump us, please Kroenke for once in your life do whats best for our Arsenal and please dont tell even if could put the money in the team he couldn`t because of FFP as there are ways and I bet any accountant could tell us how.
Sad sad day if the guzzumping is true and for once I hope Ornstein is wrong.
Lc, he can’t use his own money to buy players. FFP dictates that I’m sure.
Asda could sponsor us for £ 100,000 or so
Ways and means eh… lol
Left off a nought
Rico and others,
Are we the only club actually following FFP rules, or are we just hiding behind them to justify the lack of spending?
I’m asking this without any real knowledge of the finer details of FFP, but when we see large clubs spending a fortune, smaller clubs spending bloody decent money and we are spending SFA, surely the question is relevant.
Good question Scott. I don’t know the answer either. I read the rules the other day and from what I could make out, we’re simply sticking to the rules as far of owners spending their own money on players. City, Liverpool and Toots have Tv money and CL so they’ve plenty to spend. I think we earned over £100m on tv income so in theory we could spend that. Or that’s how I see it anyway.
It’s the wages hurting us I think.
Smaller club spending is a mystery to me but I suspect that if one was to calculate their spending against tv income alone, they’d not be over spending. Add in ST and ticket sales, merchandise etc and they have a fair amount of money. They don’t spend big fees though in general, very few £30+ million signings etc.
Morning, Rico.
It seems we aren’t acting like a large club, more the smaller/medium clubs.
We are acting like the Arsenal, and either we are sticking to FFP to the letter, and UEFA will catch the rest out, or we simply aren’t spending because we choose not to.
Who’s our resident expert?
Morning Scott, all.
You have to remember that newly promoted clubs receive a huge windfall and other clubs might buy many, but not big fees. Plus, some haven’t always spent big money etc so perhaps they have more stashed away or the deals they make are paid in stages so next year they might not sign as many. I think lots of factors need to be considered before just looking at how much on paper they spend.
Unless someone works inside the club or has a very close contact, is anyone expert? Even if they are, they wouldn’t be broadcasting it on the internet I’d have thought because of potential repercussions.
New post up now