Morning Gooners,
Carl Jenkinson is yet to make his mind up about who to represent at International level.
We all know his choices are England or Finland and if Roy Hodgson has any sense, he’ll call our right-back up pretty sharpish and sort that issue out! He really is going to be a super defender, maybe better than England have seen in a long while.
The player though, he knows what matters most, and that’s the club he has supported all his life, one who he now plays for on a regular basis:
I’mΒ just concentrating on my club football, thatβs my bread and butter,Β I’mΒ just focused on the here and now and the next game against Olympiacos.Finland have contacted me. I told them,Β I’mΒ focusing on my club footballβ so thatβs all there is to it. You can read into that how you want.
I’mΒ going to have to make a decision at some point. AsΒ I’veΒ said many times, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Until thenΒ I’mΒ just concentrating on each game as it comes.
I am really enjoying my football and I think thatβs a big part of things, I think confidence is a big part.Β I’mΒ feeling good at the moment and hopefully Iβll just keep building on my game and my confidence will grow with it.
Concentration and focus and the here and now followed byΒ Olympiacos because they are the here and now, tonight!
Any other player who isn’t already, needs to start thinking the same way from now on, especially the concentration and focus, with a bit more of it, we wouldn’t have lost on Saturday.
The defending of set-pieces needs to be improved greatly, the sloppy fouls given away in areas which set up those set-pieces, need to be stamped out and equally, those guilty of missing great goal scoring opportunities, need to shape up and start burying them into the back of the net!
If that doesn’t happen, then we are in for another season like so many that have gone by in the last seven years and we’ll remain a ‘nearly club’.
We have two important fixtures before the International break, and tonight we face a side who are no strangers to this competition, this will be the 14th timeΒ Olympiacos have participated in the UEFA Champions League.
Olympiacos are the most successful club in Greek football history, having won 39 League titles, 25 Greek Cups and 4 Greek Super Cups, more titles than any other Greek team.
They are one of four teams that have never been relegated from the first division; in European competitions, they have reached the quarter-finals twice, in the 1998β99 UEFA Champions League and the 1992β93 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
They won’t be a push over!
As we all know, Diaby is out for a minimum of three weeks as isΒ Szczesny. Rosicky, Sagna and Wilshere are not quite ready yet and Mikel Arteta faces a late fitness test this morning.
Talking of Diaby, he’s blaming the French International management for his latest injury:
I said many times that if France wanted Diaby in Spain for the World Cup qualifier on October 16 they should not take him for the qualifiers against Finland and Belarus.
They could have taken him but not played him because the guy has been out for a year, played four or five games.Β You have a breather, give him two weeks to recover completely. I think it was a mistake to play him with the French national team.
Maybe it’s time the players took a little bit ofΒ responsibilityΒ for their own health and start thinking a bit more about the hand that feeds them!
We need a big performance, a convincing victory and a whole bag of confidence to take with us to West Ham…
That’s it for today, have a good one…
Good morning.
Nice post as usual. Your posts are now like my morning coffee to kick start my day.
Morning all,
Thanks Tsgh….
AW serving is 2nd touch line ban today. I would like to see Steve Bould being a bit more proactive this evening.
I didn’t like his laid back look at the Stade de la Mosson a few weeks ago.
Many think tonight’s game will be a stroll in the park, but I am not so sure…
I didn’t realise just how experienced our opposition are, nor did I realise just how successful they are in their own league.
Ok, Greece might not be the toughest of leagues, but……
I’m not overly keen on his laid back approach full stop… I know some will say ‘that’s how AW likes it’ but I really thought he’d be more of an ‘up and at them’ kind of guy.
Maybe its this modern Sport psychology rubbish.lol.
Even Old Pat Rice seemed more energetic when he was in-charge last year against Udinese in the qualifiers.
Re Olympiacos, they always seem to beat us on their patch.Albeit with a weaken team but ….
I would not underestimate them one bit. Most of the fans are doing that though. We always seem to do that and then when the players pick up that vibe and not perform as they should we slate them for being pants.
Last years game against the greeks
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xldd9z_a2-1o_sport
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico
Interesting points by Will and Scott yesterday.
Yes, for a player, maybe there is great pride in representing your country.?!
Whether International football is the ultimate, is a moot point.
I personally believe, and have done for a long time, that International football is rubbish.
The ultimate is Champions League, and some of that is dire!
Arsenal playing at Anfield and Wastelands has to be more of a test than some of France’s games?!
And I wonder how patriotic Diaby and co would if they had their wages docked if they missed domestic games due to International injuries?
At the end of the day, it’s all about money…
Good morning all,
Just because Wenger is not on the bench doesn’t mean that Bould has a free hand.
Wenger will pick the team, Wenger will decide the tactics, Wenger will have put in place a plan to deal with injuries, substitutions etc. Wenger’s thoughts will, somehow, be passed on to Bould throughout the game.
The players will know the game plan and the captain should be able to ensure that they stick to it.
I would rather see a cool, calm, collected coach than whirling dervishes like AVB and O’Neil.
Players will take more notice of the coach if he stays calm and only starts getting animated when something serious happens.
That said, if at half-time we are not a couple of goals up I sincerely hope Bould is prepared to give the whole team a kick up the arse. π
Just noticed Rico, ‘Finnished’, very good play on words boss…
But where is KT..?
Apparently Boro Primorac has a lot of influence,tactically…
Maybe it’s his fault that we’ve conceded 3 from dead-ball situations???
Too pink and fluffy for my liking Tsgh π
Morning Ak, we think alike re the international stuff. My view is if a player gets injured whilst on duty, then they should pay his wages until he is fit again.
We suffered with ‘you know who’ for so long and now it looks like Diaby will suffer the same.
Time for players to speak out and say, ‘my body isn’t up to this’…
Glad you spotted it, have been waiting for the spelling police to correct me π
Not sure re Kt, he’s not been on for a while. Maybe he’s fed up with the football….
Interesting re Primorac, he’s been to blame long before now π
Just read that France will be including Diaby in their squad for the next match despite him being injured…
Doesn’t that just about say everything….
Boro Primorac does the attacking midfield and forward tactics whilst Banfield does the DM training.
Boro Primorac was solely responsible for the whole midfield previously whilst AW was incharge of the forwards. Old Pat was responsible for the defensive side with AW but this year, with the 3 first team coaches everyone has their responsibilities with AW acting as an overseer. He does however seem to concentrate a lot more on offensive side that is why he is almost always seen talking to Gervais (with his hands in his pants) in the training photos.
Morning JW,
I like to see a bit of emotion and passion of the side lines..
But yes, AW will everything bar sit in his seat. I wonder if the subs will already be decided before KO off too. It wouldn’t surprise me as we seem to have those set in stone regardless of the way the game is going….
Rico,
I would rather the manager sat in the stands all the time, he would get a clearer picture of what was happening on the pitch. In fact he should be in a box with full access to TV as is the case in Rugby Union, he could communicate with the bench via telephone and be better prepared for post match interviews, having seen replays of every contentious refereeing decision.
That’s something i’d never thought about JW and not a bad idea π
At least AW couldn’t get sent off then….
Hi TSGH, yeah mate, but I believe, that during matches, that Primorac sits in the stand and studies the game from a tactical standpoint.
Then at half-time, or even during games, he can advise Wenger, who may not have noticed something at pitch side…
Therefore, you would have imagined, that when he saw the way we conceded at Wastelands, that there would have been some work on the training ground to rectify those errors.
And if that work was not carried out, it could explain how the defending at City was compounded by two errors at The Grove.
Just saying, I could be wrong… π
Offski for a bit.
morning all
doing a recruitment interview for my assistant this morning….. will have more time for the house… π π
Off for a swim now, later all.
Won’t be a bad idea… but what are the rules… the fact that even UEFA don’t really know what the rules are could make it difficult for AW to go up in a box.
Morning all,
Interlulls are UEFA/FIFA money printing machines. Different sponsors rotating keeps the cue stable and contract deals high-end. More and more companies go global, brand awareness breeds local market penetration. UEFA/FIFA offer rich media distribution first, frequency of exposure second and relevant competitors last.
There is a reason countries receive ranking ratings and earn points for friendlies as well as qualifying matches. It’s al meant to classify sponsorship performance and put a price tag on each single match. The A-list countries always face dwarfs so the corporate machine has access to underdeveloped and upcoming markets.
Morn’ all i see us scoring six again tonite
A Giroud brace too
I like him (giroud) hes like a left footed dzeko
AK,there are way,way too many international games,but that is another argument.
I would be horrified,and have been in the past,at players choosing NOT to come home and represent Australia!!
Players lose a hell of a lot of credibility in my eyes.
Again,i will touch on one point i made.
Naional team managers should use common sense when selecting players,and anyone with half a brain could see selecting Diaby would have repercussions,but the problem is these uys can just pick a replacement where the club is left to pick up the pieces.
Again,do not blame the player for FIFA staging too many games,nor for their manager selecting them.
An arsenal superstar in the make
allezkev very true on Boro’s influence. In my opinion tactics go as far as it can go. It is up to individuals to take the necessary responsibility when it matters. I have never been a football manager but I am basing my comments of my past experience as someone who was responsible for devising or enforcing tactics in very dangerous environments in my previous job.
We may have have conceded on set pieces but I don’t ever think they were due to tactics. For example we had 5 or 6 corners at $hitty but conceded on the 2nd corner kick. So why did we not concede on the others when the delivery were equally as good or better? In my opinion it was due to Poldi picking his nose.
Against the chavs on both goals no onesaid to themselves that I am not going to allow the ball to go past me. On the first goal Ox could have headed it away. TJudging from AW comments this morning that was meant to be Diaby’s area of responsibility but with Ox being smaller and maybe 2 minutes into the game he was not as switched on as he should have been.
On the 2nd goal we all know Gibbs was fouled by Ruiz but the fact is that he allowed himself to be fouled before the ball traveled to Kozzer.
The finest defender in my opinion Franco Baresi of AC Milan who was 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1β2 in) tall once said that, it is not about height when it comes to set pieces. He said that if your opponent is bigger than you then dont make him jump to win the first ball. If the opponent gets the first all then make sure you get the second ball.
Wasiu I would not be that corky. They are a decent side who should not be underestimated. I will take 2-1 tonight
I really think Kozzer made too much effort to manhandle Torres with the first goal.
Attack the ball…..make first contact and problem solved.
2-0 for me.
Anyone knows why poldi is always subbed, is fitness issues? He’s great at tracking back, awesome at anfield
Good to hear bondex, just give him/her the job regardless π
Wasiu,anyone who puts that much effort into every game will burn out,so probably just precautionary.
Hi Dg, Wasiu, Scott…
6-1??
I’d settle for 1-0 right now….
TSGH
I concur with the tactics assessment. But don’t forget Mannone’s anticipation error on the Shitty corner. Running backwards to fingertip a high ball is a bad thing, especially if you need every inch of your stretching to reach for it. Falling backwards in the attempt he came up short as he came under an angle losing critical inches.
Why do i keep reading about Fernando Llorente coming to us in January??
A…..why at this time of year is the rumour mill already starting??
B…..why so many different sources stating the same thing??
Either way,he’d be a decent acqusition.
A keeper must commit one way or the other.
Vito seems to be in two minds when a set piece is playing out.
Either come out,punch the ball or take out the player,or stay back.
Nothing in between.
Llorente: if chamakh finally leaves
Scott I agree with you at 11:01 am. But what is the likelihood of Torres scoring in the same scenario. I believe it is very low. On another day I would say that was intelligent defending because he got goal side of Torres. The ball at the level of flight should never have got to Torres in the first place. So one should have cleared that ball.
In my opinion both free kicks were poorly taken. The issue is that no on dealt with it until it was in the back of the net.
Just popping off for an hour, the Dyson needs a spin π
Besides I think he gets exposed at his far post much too easily. Three recent goals prove this point. He is either rooted on his line or misinterpreting the trajectory. Work on it I say.
Scott see my comment on interlulls it connects like Lego on yours.
DG, that is why I am saying players have to do their individual jobs well.
If you are a soldier and you are assigned to give covering fire for your colleagues and you decide to pick your nose or have a fag at a critical time then that is being very unprofessional. That applies to football. Why should a player no matter how young you are. If you are being paid to play for Arsenal then you should be able to clear a ball coming in at moderate height. Just my humble opinion.
Hard to leave that chelsea game alone, we conceeded twice, but mannone didn’t have to make any decent save their goalie was busier i still think they were lucky even when many think we didn’t play well
morning all
great read Rico..
i like Jenko’ s …the here and now….bread and butter…awesome !
many other players should take note of that..Theo …etc..focus & concentrate..this where you eat your bread and butter from…
give your %100 everytime you are out there on your DUTY.
great approach from the young man ..it can only serves him
for the better .
Beg to disagree talkshite the second fk was excellent
Its played in inviting a touch from anyone, thus confusing the keeper
What going on with Ivan Gazadis salary Β£2m?
TSGH true, just don’t like or rate Vito’s choice of positioning that much. In battle you sometimes have to be up and ready to correct mistakes of your compatriots in an split second. Those kind of interventions could swing the result. Time to debate such actions is none. You are either prepared or waiting for a warning that someone cocks up. In which most cases you’re too late for damage control.
Morning HH people.
Hoping for a few goals tonight, a clean sheet would be a bonus. Giroud has to start tonight and the next 3 after, he needs a good crack of the whip and a show of confidence from Wenger. Tonight I reckon 3-1, giroud to bag the first, first trip up the ems this season for me.
COYG’s!!!!
Regarding the article, Jens has been a breath of fresh air in the team this season, initially I think we were all a bit worried that he wasn’t up to the task but he has so far been brilliant so fair play. England don’t have a better option than him at right back so it should be a fairly easy decision for Woy. Sagna shouldn’t get straight back in the team either, bring him back slow to compete with jenks for the RB spot and let the best performer win.
Afc is joking IG getting salary increase from players sale, I hope he starts as a DM in the game this evening, they r showing thier true colours.
Lewis may it be a night to remember. Hold up a banner Highbury House sits here!
Isn’t that causing a conflict of interest for a business man like IG??
Did IG decide his own pay rise?! They go on about the current economic crisis and then pay themselves more than any other person in their position in the league. Laughable really.
Fergies influence on refs appointments is the talk of the town, cause foy who did not give enough added time for a manu equalizer on saturday will ref a ligue 2 game this wknd
Lets hope so DG my last few trips have been fairly tepid affairs.
Says it all really wasiu.
The last time he worked that league was 2001/02
Wasiu very interesting observation. That is my line of thought. The moment Red Nose retires a scandal will be revealed involving refs I bet you. If not when he passes away several years time.(Not wishing anyone harm by the way)
I would welcome a premierleaguepoli right now and i bet it would cost manu at least five titles and a stint in ligue one
Carabinieri will do a better job in my opinion.
And on that depressing note am outta here see y’all tomorrow
Looking at our October fixtures and no disrespect to the opposition, we should be winning all of these games. The 3 league games are the ‘bread and butter’ of the season, the games against the big teams can go either way but against the ‘smaller’ teams we have to be taking maximum points.
Two great prospective assistants… can’t separate maybe affinity to AFC should be my final assessment criteria …..
Lewis only fair that you respond with a tipid applause if it happens again. Or bring your rabbit foot key hanger more often. π
Crisis argument aside, doesn’t it reward going against Wenger’s wishes? Compromising on field success. Also is that the reason Bendtner wasn’t sold cuz a IG bonus couldn’t be skimmed of the top? Over-asking potential suitors? Anyway these antics leave many open ends for questioning. Bring on the next AST meeting. π
Wasn’t it against olympiacos that mannone had that terrible performance and made that silly mistake! Also why is the media not all over this story about foy? If it was Wenger. They would rip right in to him! I personally don’t get red noses complaint foy added on3 mins at the end of the first half, then 4 mins at the end off 90!! 7 mins. Fs
Gazidis receiving a wage of 2 million is fair enough based on the business he runs.
Whether he is good at his job is another discussion.
You must separate the two issues.
Afternoon all,
Lewis, I agree with Dg, I want to see that HH banner flying in the breeze π
Scott – I say ‘out’ with the man who pays him that money. His wage should be based on our success, not how much the club squirrels away in the bank.
I’m all for a sound business model but when there is money to spare which could strengthen our squad and he doesn’t do it.
That’s neglect…
Scott mate, if it’s conform job description why is it a pay rise and not a starting fee?? What has changed in his responsibility?
Ha, not one for banners me, but if I was ;).
Kel
I wish Old Red Nose makes up his damn mind. Last season he complained about too much Fergie-time.
Ohh wait…….that was Man Shitty on final day. π
π Lewis….
Scott, regarding your point about Aussie players not returning to play Internationals, maybe that could have something to do with the opposition?
Maybe the attraction of travelling thousands of miles to play some minnow, pales into insignificants against a possible big game in the EPL.
I’m not saying that that is right, just saying?!
And I still maintain, that it’s all about money…
No wages if you get injured playing for Togo, for example, and maybe you don’t play for Togo.
Ask Ryan Giggs what he thinks?
I’d love to know what Gazidis does, Law/Wenger sort the transfers out don’t they?
Great to see Red Nose get a dose of his own medicine. Just a shame the spuds benefitted. Looking forward to playing both of them this season, couple of leaky defences there!
Everything is ruled by money in football Ak, it’s ruined the game….
There are high roll sponsors that only do the national team for it’s exclusivity. They want their ROI and media exposure (Return On Investment).
wish football could go back to the good old days when people where truly interested in playing football…. money has stolen everything.
Afternoon all,
rico, didn’t you post an article recently showing Gazidas picked up a 500K bonus last year, talk about taking the pish !
3-1 tonight.
The England players donate their money to charity, they can afford to so it’s no all bad, some good comes out of the Internationals.
Afternoon Micko, don’t think it was me, could have been LG, they are usually spot on when it comes to the finances… especially AW and Gazidis wages π
That idiot on talk shite will be rubbing his hands together in ecstasy. I bet he is at work already even though he starts at 4 because of Ivans news.lol
No goonster since the lose
I remember you put a link up last week rico, you must have headed too many balls in your youth, it’s coming back to haunt ya !
Kev, your going tonight aren’t you ?
Quite obviously we the bums on seats, sorry fans, have no conception of the complexity and difficulty involved in being the Chief Executive of a top class football club.
No doubt Stan Kroenke is constantly fighting off offers for our highly esteemed CE. He probably gets calls all day long from owners all over the world begging him to let them have permission to speak to our Ivan.
We obviously cannot let him go or we will be seen as a selling club, so we have to pay him what he thinks he is worth.
I wonder why this applies in the boardroom but not in the dressing room.
Micko are you suggesting a promiscuous past of Rico. Shame on you this a family site. π
Interesting
Hello all. Hoping for 3-0 today. I was thinking 3-1 as a realistic score but i hope we do not concede.
will XL,
very interesting!
JW well said.
Tsgh – I bet he is….
Micko, your memory is good – think you might re right re the balls π
π JW, for a minute there I thought you were being serious…
Hiya Mick.
I did have the offer of a ticket tonight, but I need to work mate.
Going to Upton Park on Saturday and Carrow Road on the 20th, and, tbh, I’d rather spend my dough and have time off for the away games.
Got the bug for them back since I did West Brom at the end of last season…
Hi Will, that is very interesting….
So are you going tonight then Mick..?
Rico,
Are you sure I wasn’t? :-I
:-i
Get off that smiley page JW π
No, I’m not JW
Hmm, interesting, but not quite as interesting as yesterday.
Now last week was very very interesting.
In fact, it wasn’t just interesting, it was absorbing.
Smiley trouble!!! Never mind.
π
Wrighty has been mouthing off about the calling of Sterling to the full England squad.
He has a point to an extent even though some will say Sterlings inclusion was to stop him representing Jamaica. (Yeah right like Jamaica will be a very difficult call-up to turn down.)
This basically summarizes the state of our national team. Reus and Gotze are not even starters for Germany but Sterling is potentially a starter ahead of ‘Walnut’ if the manager ever decides to player a real player on the RM instead of ‘the miner’.
My point is TW is falling down the pecking order and so he should sign the contract or basically be put in the reserves.
I need an airport job… π
What is Ak?
Rico, I really don’t know.
I’ve not seem any Olympiarkos fans in London today.
Ha ha, just seen Tom Watt walk out of the front of St Pancras hotel, to have a fag…
I cant see him signing now Tsgh….
I need an airport and onto some sunshine Ak π
Who??
Ah rico, you seem to have lost your patience with him.
i guess that is why Gnabry is being fast tracked.
He was never a gunner anyway.We have players who seem to want to be with us now like Dench, Yennaris, Miguel, your son Jenks, JW.
I would rather sell him and add to it to get any decent striker like Remy or Nelson Oliveira
Carefullly… Olympiakos is very strong!
Hope we win
TW 14 signed yet?….. i bet its all about money too.
I’m not the club are doing the best thing to convince him to stay really Tsgh.
We can’t score goals yet he scores two crackers against Coventry but then back to the bench.
I just don’t get why he isn’t starting, Gervinho is hardly setting the world alight.. Chelsea would have been the perfect game for him, their defence isn’t the quickest…
From LadyArse; Domenech former Le Blues coach goes digital in 140 characters, tweeting:
Be brave, DΓ©dΓ© [Didier Deschamps], we all know ArsΓ¨neβs views regarding national team team selections. You are the boss!
Can’t escape the notion this is a old grudge middle finger. Wenger should have opted to influence the player instead of the French FA and keep it hush hush all the same. We don’t need the attention Arsene.
Hi JM, i think so too, no push over as some think….
He says not bondex….
We won’t get anything for him now though Tsgh, if he really is about money, he’ll hang on until the summer and walk fro free….
Oh dear Dg……
The press will have a field day….
Rico I understand but he was very poor on the far east tour.His first touch was back to 2009 standard.Based on those performances he was behind both Ox and Yao Kouassi.
Even though he scored 2 goals his performance was not that great especially in the first half.
On this occasion I will back AW. We have to think about the medium to long term. We can not wait for him to leave before we give someone a chance.There is no reason why a boy who was next to useless and with 2 shoulder injuries at one point be holding the club to ransom. His type of players come 10 a penny.
Personally I take what AW says with caution. This is the same man that tells the footballing world he wants NB52 back but everyone knows he is trying to up his sale price by a couple of millions.
Funny that Nick already conceded his selling depends on international meat prices, gaining a few pounds in the summer. π
Theo getting a chance upfront tonight, substituting Giroud, if the scoreboard permits it??
I understand where you are coming from Tsgh but I just think he can finish and possibly, maybe even probably better than Gervinho and on what we have seen so far, Giroud and Santi – do I dare add Podolski too?
I just say give him a chance up front and then if he is still rubbish then yes, let him go in the summer….
Still no squad news?
I mean if we’re are selling in January we can’t kill capital by benching him till the TW opens. We need to squeeze some performance outa him to maintain value beyond acquisition/development costs.
TSGH only a rumour Le Cog getting a starting berth.
I’d love to see Giroud and Theo up front together Cg, Giroud wins the ball in the air and lays the ball off well. Theo could take advantage of that…
I know many won’t or don’t agree but until we try, who knows…
Gotta go!
Hoping for a good result tonight.
C’Mon The Glorious Gunners!!!!!
So, AW took a risk on Diaby’s fitness, now he’s ready to throw Jack in at the deep end…..
Another risk??
ArsΓ¨ne Wenger admits Abou Diabyβs latest injury is βa blowβ – but says it also represents an opportunity for another player to stake their claim.
The France midfielder sustained a thigh strain in Saturdayβs 2-1 defeat to Chelsea and is expected to be ruled out for three weeks.
Wenger is disappointed to lose the midfielder, but believes he has the necessary cover in his squad.
“It is as an opportunity for somebody else to stand up and play, but it is a blow,β he said. “Not only because we lost a good player but because he has qualities that the other players haven’t got.
“We have better balance size-wise and [in terms of] strength [when he is in the team] because he has power.
“We also have Ramsey, Coquelin, Chamberlain, Wilshere, it depends on if you want to be more offensive. We have plenty of players who are in between higher up and lower down in midfield.
“Arteta can play higher and deeper as well. So we can put a deeper midfielder in like Coquelin and then Arteta can move forward.β
I didn’t like the personal image risk to suggest it Rico but now you are prepared to commit and share the banter I’m locking arms with you. π Like to see that as well.
I wouldn’t say we are struggling with goals but I get your point.
Contrary to what the ignorant pundits may say SC19 is not Cesc. We do not have a player currently fit who can create a clear goal scoring chances.
The last such player was Song to an extent with his defence splitting passes. Therefore we can not have a player who waits to be offered a goal scoring chance. Players have to have the brain to make space and room to score.
As much as we love SC19, if we are to be honest he slows our game down. Many will disagree but just my opinion. Unfortunately the 3 defence splitting passes that has happened this season have fallen to OG12.
TW14 has score 3 times this season but what were the significance of those goals. Example the 6th goal against the saints for instance.
I agree lets wait and see but if it were up to me he will not be starting any games until he signs.Maureenho is doing the same with 2 of his contract rebel players.You may say he has quality to replace them but RM are several points behind Barca.
π Dg, even though I am a tad confused…
Tsgh – I have to disagree there. How many chances did we miss against both Citeh and Chelsea?
A striker who knows where the back of the net is would have had a field day against both sides and we’d be 5 points better off. Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting Theo would/could be that man but unless we try, we won’t know.
Does the significance of the goals matter?
Surely it’s more about the fact that they are going in, regardless of who against or a what time in the game….
The more players score goals, the more they get into the routine, habit of finishing well. With goals comes confidence to score against any club….
He’s got 3 goals in how many minutes, 100/110?
Surely it’s worth trying….
Have a good evening JW, don’t know why but your last went into spam π
Rico we will have to agree to disagree.lol.
In my opinion a player has to get into a good position first to create a have a goal scoring chance.That is why many people have no worries for OG12.
Apart from the Gervais chance at wastelands which you could possibly say if TW14 was playing in that position he may have scored. However, can we honestly say TW first touch is better than Gervinho’s? You know my answer.lol
The media like to bash none english players especially of african origin in most cases. The media will like to see TW14 playing so that they can say his first touch is rubbish or his final ball is rubbish.Does that sound familiar?
Example is on the weekend they said how Gervinho was always caught in offside position but he has only be caught off-side 4 times this season.3 times on sunday. TW has been caught off-side 3 times having played less matches.
Will theo have been in Gervinho position to score against the chavs hell no is my answer.
π Tsgh.
I seem to recall Podolski, Cazorla and Giroud all blasting shots high over the net against the Mancs.
Re The Gerv chance, I wouldn’t bet against TW’s first touch not being as heavy a Gerv’s, would be hard not to have been π
And I am sure we missed a few chances against the Chavs… Giroud was one of a few who was guilty from what I remember….
Rico
Just mocking we might get slated for pairing Theo&Giroud as a starter tonight. Many will say it may be not the right match for test tubing. A win is a huge step towards qualifying for the next round. 10 points is the average to secure it. Changing the formation will not be everyone’s cup of tea until proven in matches of lesser importance.
If played up front, as Gerv was against the Chavs, then TW may have got himself in Gervs position…
He may have got himself in better positions at other times…
We’ll never know all the time he is stuck out on the wing π
Walcott Walcott Walcott Walcott, sign da ting, sign da ting!
Arsenal are in a position where we can’t take any competition lightly. This leaves very little room for experimentation. If you get your tactics or squad selection wrong it can easily cost you the points or the chance to advance. That would be terrible, especially when u know u have the right players on the bench. The only hope for real exploration in regards to Theo up front, is if we put some games away before the hour mark. I’m hoping for that tonight…Well i hope for that every night, but i have to be realistic don’t i?
You old tinker Cg π
But yes, I can see why tonight would not be the best time to try something new. We could wait until we have a four goal cushion or something.
But then if Giroud and TW score 2 each, their goals were insignificant π π
Just teasing Tsgh….
If TW14 is not signing,I dont think we should be saying much about him…players who love a team as much as he has confessed won’t mind playing anywhere as far as he is playing.
Poldi and Cazorla in particular missed chances they would have scored if they were playing with their previous teams. Maybe the arsenal kit man puts some strange stuff on the players boots because when aplayer is good at long range shots such as TR7, Poldi and Carzola they seem to forget how to shoot.lol.
SC19 should have scored at least 2 times but again I doubt TW14 will get into that position if he was playing.
Poldi had a great header saved whilst last season cech allowed 2 near post goals to be scored against him by you know who.
I think the OG12 injury time shot was saved.Finger tips.
We sure need three points and a clean sheet Will, get the ko place secured asap….
Ok bondex, what about AA, why isn’t he getting a game either π
π Tsgh – great players can score whoever they play for…
Just hope we start scoring a few more goals soon, and of course, get the set-piece problem sorted asap….
Off for a bit, back later….
Evening all, nice one Rico,
Any news on the team yet
evening all
still now squad news?
Zenith2 – Milan 3
Manone;Jenkinson,Kos,Vermaelen,Gibbs;Arteta,Cazorla,Coquelin,Ox,Gervinho,Podorlsky
SP1
No team news just a streaming link. Scroll down till the clock and find 3 fresh links. Have used this regularly myself. (Ignore the url name please the streams are there) π
http://www.ronaldo7.net/live/barcelona-vs/watch-barcelona-live-stream.html
Well not having that there isn’t a player rotation tonight.
Lets just get the result as early as possible and then make changes before 20 minutes to go.
COYGs
Kev, your clocking up some milage this season, Carrow Road sounds like a good day out to me, should be fun.
I have to settle for the Shoe-Makers this evening, they do a lovely pint of guinness.
C’mon Arsenal.
evening all gooners
again no Giroud ?…as long as we score !
looking for 3points and a display to restore confidence back
3/1 COYGs
Evening guys and gals….
3 points please Arsenal and a few goals….
Why the heck no Giroud π
No devil today, his back must be really bad…..
Fancy showing Wenger with his toothpick …. what next eh….
COYG’s
Doing match report.
Kos is a very very lucky man, that was a straight red card imho….
Thanks devil, you little star π
Montpelier vs Schalke 1-1
ΖΞ΅Μ²Μ£Μ£Μ£Μ₯Ξ¬Π½ he’s very lucky to escape red there…
Oh dear….
TV is out of form.
No penetration from anywhere on the field. Very poor performance thus far.
Has theo ever worked this hard in his career?
well well
average so far…..so many individual mistakes..
Vermo is having a shocker so far…needs to wake up !
Giroud is a must up front..we can’t seem to have any penetration
what a poor midfield, we r going to b lucky to come away with anything if we dont improve in the second off, so far ox is rubbish
Tv is definitely out of form Tsgh, spot on…
He’s not on his he π
very poor. The defense / midfield cover is bad. No attacker depth or presence in the area. Not yet realized the function of Podorksky on the pitch. Not shots.. We do not create danger. The game is complicated and even more now.
What we want to do with this team?
rico – the defence is not getting any help from the midfield, defenders will never look good if they r constantly exposed
1st half report sent.
off for a drink.
Podolski is very quiet too…
Jenks first little blip gifts a goal, no pressure on the guy who crossed, too much time and space given. Mind you, Gerv could have put some pressure on the player too.. π
What is Le Coq adding to this game? Why are we not giving Yennaris a chance?Santos was awesome at central defence pre-season why dont we try him there?
As I mentioned earlier at 3:19pm , SC19 is good but he hardly ever creates any goal scoring chances or am I being harsh on him?
team selection again is letting us down..
now change it early and don’t wait to go trailing like Vs the chavs.
our shape needs to be fixed this second half..
we could have been down to two goals at least
come on gunners…fire up please
JM – you really want me to answer that ?
I know gdna, I’m watching…. π
Thanks devil…
Tad harsh I’d say Tsgh…. π
We really have very little goal threat don’t we….
I have always said Le Coq has never been a DM but most people do not agree with me. He talks the talk but does not walk the walk.
I rather we give one of us a chance Yennaris or Dench as Le Coq will be off soon anyway if he ever becomes a star
Why is stebe Bould sitting down?
Why no BFG…?
Is he injured?
Flu or the Theo bug
Gev works very hard no matter what.That is what I like to see.
Hope he’s alright for West Ham.
Have we kept a clean sheet with Koz in the team???
Gervinhooooooooooo. Can theo ever play 1 2’s?
Top man Podolski.
How well is that nervy,non finishing,bad haircutted overrated dude named Gervinho going?
It has taken im and Merts a season to come into their own,so next time anyone posts something negative on Giroud….THINK ABOUT IT!!!
Morning all.
that’s better
come on yuuuuu
Schalke – Montpelier 2-1
Morning evening Scott.lol
Wrong question AK.
Maybe it should be have we kept a clean sheet Without Mertesacker.
Dortmund 1 up over Citeh.
Better from Coq
$$hi££y
Apparently the Germans are destroying Citeh….Hart is keeping them in it.
Yes they are.They asre getting found out
Great to see.
TW14 offering no support to CJ
Seriously,this referee is ridiculous.
What does Giroud need to do to score?
Incredible.
He is having plenty of luck..all bad though lol.
Get that into ya!!
What a sensational finish from Ramsey!!!
That is a finish and a half
And what have i been saying about running off Girouds shoulder…..perfect example.
Great result.
Well we made hard work of that one but good result.
Nice final goal, great knock on by Giroud and super finish by Ramsey …
Le Coq looks like he is out for a few weeks….
Tsgh – that part of TW’s game really naffs me off, gentle jog back and no support at all for Jenks…
2nd half match report ready.
look into your inbox Lady.
did you get both emails???
Thanks devil, got them both π
I hope not because of WHU. He seems to be a tad Santos-like (lack of stamina) for my liking.lol
good thing I was concentrating on the match report….otherwise I would have smashed the screen to grab Theo by the neck. no support to Giroud or Jenks. Shit little bastard!!!
Giroud is such a good player, i cant see why people think he is chamack.
wait till he start getting some good luck. he will soon be on fire.
Great result. We were much better in the second half. Coq didn’t do badly. Can’t say anyoe had a bad game, but no one was really great either. Giroud has to get some starts. He will score for us. He moves well, reads well, looks for the ball and he’s a handful for the centre half. COYG!
Merts is being rested i hope, ready to batter Carroll….
Jenkinson may not be the finished artical yet but tonight has done him no harm at all, if Roy Hodgeson doesn’t want him he’s a mug
Frimmy starts at the hammers?
Great result… not good performance.
It’s easy to see Gervinho his much atronger on the sides then in the center.
Podolski must play more in the center…
TW needs to play and have a place in the first eleven or at least much come in on tje last 20-25 minutes
Cazorla always has a good 1st half but disappears on the second half
Diaby is very important in this team
We need a good AA ready to play
Gibbs and Jenkinson were again the best players today
Phewww that was a hard earned win. OG12 again superb on the arial lay off. And a late lucky equalizer from Montpelier ( Schalke-Montpelier 2-2). Great result tonight all together.
Devil hope your back problems are going easy on you.
congrats …oooh
we made hard work of it though..
Giroud should start or come earlier on….
he give us something nobody else in the team does.
mannone giroud ramsey…bang
gervo had a good game..run his socks off..
bring on the hammers now….
there is nothing the missus’ hands cant cure mate. What can I do without her???
off to bed now.
cheers my Esteemed Fellow Gunners.
gdna, does anyone really think that?
Will, good result but room for improvement, especially from TV, he needs to stay back a bit more and concentrate…
Hi Steve – well said, and spot on… Hodgson was having a chat with Aw before the game, maybe thats just what they were talking about..
Night devil and thanks again, hope your back is better…
Great result Dg, we top the group then, now to beat the Hammers….
On that note, I’m off to bed..
Night all, stay safe….
JM- theoshould start instead of who?his heart is not in it.no effort at all.
I will take a hard worker over a lazy, egoistical boy like him.
Night coach looking forward to the report. Ahhh gentle female hands what I wouldn’t give for a caring treatment right now.
That flick on OG12 did to set up Rambo, he did the same vs Montpellier but Theo had no brain to pick up the ball
The limit is the sky for Jenks. I think he has succeeded in making the step up from potential to a qualified full back. And all credit to him for putting in the work and obviously absorbing his lessons. Now the world is wide open to him from here on out. He has the opportunity to begin working on the things that turn a good full back great. And at such a young age, it’s incredible.
Night madam sleep tight with 2 thumbs up.
Will XL Credit to Wenger as well for yet again spotting an obscure talent.
TSGH I take it you don’t like Theo that much? π
Rico, definitely room for improvement. Until we start being a constant threat, possession after possession, while keeping proper defensive shape for 90 minutes, there is room for improvement.if give this performance a 6.5 out of 10 based on those requirements.
Dutch, AW definitely gets credit there. Pulled a rabbit out the hat there.
Night fellow Gunners.
Kev if you’re reading late on the job, drive safe.
Upton Park is gonna be like an artillery barrage, a succession of high balls pumped into our box.
It’s not gonna be a game for tidlers, so, depending on fitness of course, I’m hoping that Arsene has it in his mind, to pick BFG & Giroud.
West Ham don’t, I believe, have any whippets in their attack, so it’s gonna be a long hard midfield slog…
Maybe Ramsey has been earmarked for that game as well?
Hopefully Arteta won’t suffer any reaction to playing tonight as we’re gonna need his cool head…
Dutch, thanks my friend, quiet day, evening etc…
Good to have you back. We all missed your considered contributions…
Pity KT couldn’t have joined us. I always enjoy his input on European nights.
A bit off topic, but what about Sagna in defensive-midfield???
He’s too good to be out of the team, but how on earth does Wenger leave out Jenkinson…?
Put simply, he cannot..!
So Bacary Sagna following the footsteps of Peter Storey???
From right-back to midfield anchor????
What do you think Coach???
Where the devil is the ‘Queen of the Vids’ Emma????
I was depending on you young Em, for a vid of the goals… π
Seems as if there is an undercurrent of anti-Theo’ism on here…
I cannot say that Walcott enthused me in the Coventry game, despite his two goals.
The longer this impasse continues, the more certain I am of Walcott’s eventual depature.
It’s becoming almost inevitable…
With the only doubts being whether it’ll be January or next Summer…
I also wonder if many among the fans really care that much…
Which, in a way, is a little sad…
Coquelin seemed to garner a mixed response on here.
I still like the kid, and, after all he is still only 21…
He is, a Jack of all Trades at this time, Wenger seems to use him as an emergency replacement for whoever is injured.
He needs a run of games, but with Yennaris knocking on the 1st team squad door and with Frim, Jack and TR07 close to a return, a run of games for Le Coq could prove elusive…
Hi Kev, have to admit I spent most of the evening watching the Citeh game down the pub, both games were on, Dortmund were brilliant, Gotze, Hummels, Bender, Lewandowski, Reus would all be great additions, especially any one of the latter two.
Probably our worst performance of the season but 3 points in the bag, top of the group and Shalke to come at home, looking good.
Sagna coming back is great news, it’s a long season, maybe 60 plus games, Jenks has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Our central defenders are coming in for a bit of stick but Jenks and Gibbs look the business, who would of thought that at the beginning of the season.
Giroud has to start on Saturday otherwise i’m gonna pull all my hair out.
Emma’s probably been nicked by the fashion police for wearing a dodgy shell suit.
Amoff to me bunk, catch ya tomorrow.
Cheers Mick, it was a bit late for you…
Yes Dortmund were the best team I saw last season.
Great football and great players…
Emma, shell suit???
You mean to tell me she’s got shot of her tank tops???
Rico still wears tank tops, platform shoes and tartan bell-bottoms. π
Night Gooners
Early afternoon here in Oz…home,sick,bored.
On Theo…..i think everyone loves Theo as a guy,and see the talents he has.
The trouble is he has the same basic prolems he had three or four years ago….he has not improved his overall play at all.
There is a line of thinking that he is a work in progress,but the progress just isn’t there.
What troubles most is his attitude lately……he is sulking.
If Wenger played him at le back,he is still a professional footballer being very well paid to play a game,so should at least put in every ounce of effort he has.
I would still advocate him being given his chance as a central striker,but mainly to allow Theo himself to realise he can’t carry our attack.
His best chance would be playing off Girouds shoulder,but he has shown recently he doesn’t read play well eough to do that…..one or two opportunities have arisen,and he has either stopped or run the wrong angle.
Theo,if you are reading π ,mate,put in every time you play,regardless of whether you are playing enough minutes or in your favoured position.
It is what your employer deserves,and definitely what we fans deserve.
Morning,
Good points there Scott, Theo seems to be a very good footballer but lacks the passion he does as you say seems to be sulking, but his fighting and working is below par, Theo will probably get his chance up front but a central striker who doesn’t fight in the air is not going to be much use to us. Podolski looks to me to be the man to lead the line but he is asked to play deeper a waste in my eyes the Gerve well what can you say about him, i have to say he comes as a strange package he frustrates me one minute then suprises me the next, He wants to take on everybody when a one touch pass seems the best option but then finds a moment of magic and fires a goal out of nothing. Jenkinson and Gibbs again were the two players that graft for their lives passion comitment and just outstanding play, defending and then attacking makes you wonder why we need Theo as they seem to be the full package. We have been caught out a few times now from crosses Kosi and Virmin seem to be Zonal marking instead of player marking this seems to be the problem this needs to be sorted and steve Bould mentioned that last night. The Ox seemed to have a night off he wasn’t at the races Hodgson being there last night may of been the reason i felt he was trying to impress but tried to hard i would of had him off sooner. Getting back to Theo he has started to anoy me either he signs his new contract and knuckles down to working hard or he must move on. My own view of Arsenals play is that we are over passing i watched time and time again last night deep into their half we passed our way back to our own goalkeeper in my opinion we are going the wrong way slow build ups will always be like bashing your head on a brick wall we have the talent but are not using it to its full potential.
I would just like to add that Arteta and Cazorla were again outstanding, Theo could learn a lot from watching the comitment that these players put out for small guys they are definitly punching above their weights. We missed Diabys forward runs Le Coq is Mr fill in and for me he seems to try hard wherever he is asked to play with Diaby and Jack missing for the next few weeks we may have to adapt but i feel we have the players to fill in, in fact we are getting a squad that are on the way to glory.
Morning all, bit late sorry π
new post up…