Morning all.
Did you ever the joke? The one about Danny boys father being part of a bomb disposal team? His name is Stan…..
I know, I know, it’s bad but I liked it.
Anyway, he, Francis Coquelin and Mesut Ozil are reportedly back fit. No idea if Arsene Wenger intends to start with any of them at Watford but perhaps Welbeck has the best chance. Just a few days later we travel to Serbia for our next Europa fixture so it’s good to have these players returning to the squad.
Not sure Ozil would fancy the away trip though. Martin Keown reckons the player has already left the building, mentally anyway. Arsenal have been stupid with him imo, he should have been sold back in the summer if he doesn’t want to be at the club, same goes for any other player who doesn’t want to play for Arsenal. Ship them out and get players in who will wear the shirt with pride and give their all each match day.
That’s what happens at most other clubs, a whiff of discontent and they’re out the door. When Wenger sold RvP to Fergie, it’s fair to say we Arsenal fans were pretty cheesed off but what’s worse, selling him back then or the likely scenario of Ozil ending up at the same club but for free?
Same with Alexis who could very well be heading to the blue side of Manchester in the summer and again, for free. Two top class players gone, and for nothing! Terrible terrible management, management that in any other business would probably end up with the person responsible losing his job, or being asked to resign in order to spare a compensation payout.
Just how Arsene Wenger, if he’s still at the club once the transfer window opens next summer, replaces the quality both players bring to the team will be a seriously tough thing to do. One is irreplaceable imo.
Arsene Wenger could try and recoup some of the money he spent on the two players in January of course but as we know, players of their quality are rarely available during the winter transfer window so replacing them then would be difficult . That is unless they’re in a similar situation contractually of course but even so, most players will hold on until their contract expires so any deal they do secure is bigger and better for their bank account. I don’t blame them when they do either as I’d do exactly the same. Wenger can’t moan if they do either as he’d be a hypocrite if he did.
Arsene Wenger is up for the September manager of the month award, not that he’s likely to win it imo. He’s up against Pep, Poch and the under tall one at Utd and the football they’ve been playing has been marginally better than what we’ve been doing. Yes yes, I jest…
At least the results have improved I guess and after all, isn’t that the most important thing? Sometimes, yes I’d say, certainly when playing away from home at places like The Etihad, Anfield, WHL, OT etc etc, but the reality is, we don’t win at places like that. We don’t often even manage to nick a point either.
Perhaps that’ll change this season, especially having seen the team work hard at Stamford Bridge for their point. Can’t see it myself though as Utd and City especially are a totally different opposition than the current league champions.
We go to The Etihad on the 5th November so well soon find out. Mind you, Everton away might give us a clue before then, and so might Watford this coming weekend.
Have a good Sunday guys.
Morning all and thanks Rico.
Not changed my mind………….Alexis and Ozil would be in my greatest ever Arsenal team, so with all the hundreds of players to have worn our iconic shirt you can imagine how I feel when both walk away for nothing and probably play for our biggest rivals…………….someone needs shooting and we all know who are responsible……………….the top three at our club, dont even want to say their names !.
I just cant see who will replace such quality, not at todays prices. Rumout that if Mansour lot get Alexis, then Aguero will be off to Italy !……if true, how come we wont get him, I mean, as previously mentioned we are now because of last shares sold, the 5th most rich club in the world and not one from Italy is close to us…………..only Manshafter are worth more in this country than us !………………..amazing really when you consider Syrup`s total investment so far is £0…………..imagine how well we might do trophy wise…..keep our best players etc`…. if he actually put some money in ! 🙂
Cant wait to watch England play later !……………….yeah, right ! hahaha
Are England the international equivilent to Arsenal ?…………………….Always qualify, but dont win anything big apart from a long time ago !………sounds familiar doesn`t it ! hahaha
Good post rico, morning all.
Sometimes rico, the shoe is on the other foot. Take Sead Kolasinac, I would say he is worth at least as much as Xhaka? But we got him for free, so deals like this, as AW says, are more likely in the future.
Rico picking up from the previous comments I agree wholeheartedly with you re international footballer….I hardly ever bother to watch it. Cheering a team on with Rooney,Gerrard or Cole in it or nowadays Alli, Kane or Cahill….nah not for me!!!
Just think our back five was England’s back five and how bloody good were they??
Wenger has built a powder puff team with no leaders and no bollocks…. I think he just doesn’t like confrontation or anyone to question his way! If they do they get benched or jogged on…pathetic really.
As for Ozil, I like him as a player but Wenger fucked up (there’s a shock) by not complimenting him with a proper DM and a pacey striker….you can afford to have luxury players if the balance of your team is spot on. Guess if ours was right when Wenger bought Ozil??
Exactly Andrew, he was in my mind when I wrote about it…
Our back line was one of the best Lee. Throw in the free Campbell and unbeatable imo.
Totally agree re Ozil.
Lc, Ozil wouldn’t get in mine… Like for like, Bergkamp gets my vote…
I`d have both, Rico!………………….my team would not be like for like, it would consist of all attackers ! hahahaha……………..Alexis, Ozil, Bergkamp, Henry, Wright ! 🙂
No Ozil for me sorry because DB10 pisses all over him…
Someone put that a fit Wilshere is better in every department than ozil, obviously people are entitled to their opinions but I just totally disagree with that statement. Basing his performances against relegation fodder and a Eastern European pub team hardly constitutes him being a top player imo. Let’s see if he can put performances against top sides and for a full season before him being labelled a Messiah…
Amazing that Ozil cops so much stick, but then when the attention is turned to Wenger, Ozil’s lack of success is blamed on the manager.
I’d leave it to the experts to make it work, but I’d demand Dennis and Ozil be in the side.
Alexis wouldn’t get near it as he slows down the attack way too much for a “best of” Arsenal side.
We all agree that too often our attack lacks energy and direction, yet the guy who stops it quicker than any one else is apparently our only top player.
So many things that don’t add up.
Morning all.
LC that attack might score a few goals!!! ?
Must say I`m with Lee in that how can I cheer on Kane, Alli etc`(spuds)………….think a little while back they had 5 spuds in the team for one game !………..Rose, Walker, Dier, Kane, Alli………..I was supporting the opposition ! hahaha
As for Kane the little boy with red hair and Arsenal kit on photo !!!…..what a fcuking traitorous cnut !
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/06/football-biggest-issue-boys-rejected-academies
Bringing is back down to grass roots, the above it an interesting and revealing piece on academies.
All the defenders would be attackers as well, Lee, I`d even have Giroud in Goal as he`s quite tall ! hahaha
You sound like Wenger Lc… 😉
Judging Ozil by playing for Germany rather than Arsenal, Jack is miles away.
But, I do hope he can stay fit and finally fulfil his potential. Southgate will probably take him to Russia and then he’ll get injured.
If we are looking for play makers I think I may include Alex James ( by reput) and or Liam Brady, not to mention Joe Baker. All very good Arsenal players, top top players! And none of them under the influence of the old wrinkly one!
Morning all. The sun has just put its hat on, where I am! Hip, hip, hip hurray.
Tbh, comparing Wilshere with Ozil gets us nowhere as Jack hasn’t been able to stay fit long enough, it’s like comparing Diaby and Petit.
Mind you, I’ve never seen Ozil dominate one of the big teams like Wilshere dominated Barcelona back in the day. That day gave a glimpse of what a player a fit Jack might have been for us…
I’m too young to remember those players Wavy. Well, apart from Brady and his incredible left foot…
Joe Baker , not a playmaker but an out and out goalscorer , my first Arsenal hero and for goal scoring only rivalled by Wright and Henry.
Interesting that Arsenal are being strongly linked with Anthony Martial, as if Martial is the answer to the departing Alexis and as if Mourinho would sanction his sale to another English club particularly one managed by Wenger!
It’s all shit. I’m fed up with the January Window already and it’s 3 months away.
Welly was like Ozil a panic buy bought to try and placate disgruntled supporters without thought to the bigger picture. As for Ozil ( yawn) if he was as good as some claim then why did Real Madrid get shut of him>? I don’t see any of the World’s top clubs queuing up trying to buy him either and if one did then Wenger wouldn’t be able to offload him quick enough. As for the patronising view that English supporters can’t appreciate how clever Ozil is then that must also apply to foreign ones because they are not clamouring for their clubs to sign him. These top sides all have quick strikers who like defence splitting passes played to them to latch on to so in theory there should a clutch of top clubs fighting like rabid dogs over a bone to sign Ozil – however they are not doing so. I can see Ozil ending up playing in Turkey .RVP will love him !
Agree re Martial, no chance of signing him…
Born in Liverpool, he grew up north of the border with his Scottish parents and began life at Hibs where he scored 102 times in 117 games, including 42 in one season. Torino paid £75,000 for him and he shared a flat in the city with fellow new boy, Denis Law.
He began well, scoring twice on his home debut, though his proudest achievement was definitely bagging the winner against Juventus in the Turin derby.
It endeared him to fans, but his fondness for nightclubs brought unwanted attention from paparazzi and in one argument with a photographer, the snapper ended up in a Venetian lake.
However, Baker’s time in Italy came to a horrific end when he and Law were involved in a serious car crash that hospitalised him for a month.
Arsenal paid a club record £70,000 for the 22-year-old – following a string of intense medical tests – and it was here where he regained the prolific form which had initially earned him a move abroad.
Strong, skilful and quick, Baker was deadly in the box and scored on his debut against Leyton Orient and finished as top scorer in all four of his seasons. Having been used to the tight marking of Italian defenders, all of a sudden he had space to play and he certainly made it count by scoring 100 goals in 156 games for the Gunners.
At 5ft 7in, he was a fearless striker, who in addition to goals, made sure his opponents knew he was not to be messed with. Liverpool’s 6ft 2in Ron Yeats found that out when he was floored by Baker during a game at Highbury, which saw both players sent off.
He also had a running scrap with Law at Highbury that started in the North Bank penalty box and ended up over the halfway line as they traded punches all the way.
Funny how Wenger is telling everyone that Wilshere has to prove his fitness before he gets a new contract, something he never said to Abou Diaby….
Yes, maybe Wenger is playing a clever game with Jacks agent, lowering his expectations before discussing a deal?
Yep, Wenger is great at that, anything to save money, so we’ll see Jack leave as well then.
Rico, didn’t Demba Ba teach Wenger anything?
Obviously not…
Jeff, if Ozil ends up at Utd, I see that to be a move from Mourinho just to get one over Wenger.
Good point re Jack Kev, he’s not said that before about anyone has he? Perhaps he’s preparing for him to walk free and then he has an excuse ready made.
I don’t reckon there’s truth in Martial, could you see Wenger parting with the kind of money he’d go for? In any case, as you say, Ba was a lesson for Wenger…
I suppose as with Cech, that it might be out of Mourinho’s hands Rico, but if he kicked up enough fuss it wouldn’t happen, I suppose it’s down to who United want to sign and balancing the books etc.
Maybe a swap deal with Ozil in January is possible, but why would Ozil pass up a massive signing fee to move before the summer?
Wenger has royally fcuked up again as he always does over contracts, because the prat can’t make a fcuking decision, I can’t wait for him to fcuk off.
The whole place reeks of mediocrity and sameness.
But Cech was coming to the end Kev and they had a better keeper. Cech in his prime would never have been sold imo and certainly not to us.
Totally agree re your penultimate sentence… 🙂
Read on newsnow yesterday that Jack said he`s fitter than ever !…..I thought we wanted a fit Jack, so play him against Watford if he`s fitter than ever and he`s the sort like Alexis who`s only happy with lots of game time !…………….play him `till he gets injured !.
🙂
Rico, Maureen claims to be a fan of Ozil and he has managed him before so that is not an impossible scenario but it looks like a season too far now with Ozil’s age factor and wage demands kicking in.The Portugeezer does like winding Wenger up though .Ask Cashley about it !
Agree Jeff, but he’s also moaned about his work rate. Didn’t they have a bit of a bust up at Madrid?
Mourinho is jealous imo, he hates the fact that Wenger is still in a job at Arsenal. Mind you, so do I!
Hi everyone.
It was MEEEEEEE! LOL!
I said that a fit JW would be better than Ozil in any team, and I stand by that. Not based on his recent games of course, but on past displays. He has a much better attitude and loves the club too.Ozil doesn’t and never has.
I think we/Wenger need to play him now, in every game, before we just lay down to demands for another fat contract.
Can you imagine the vitriol if, like he did with Theo, he gives him a lottery win then he’s out injured all season? Ooooooh hell would have no fury compared to what fans would aim toward Wenger.
Who wouldn’t want a fit, fired up Jack in their team? But he needs to prove he can play without injury for a consistent period. He will be first name on my team sheet as well as on Gareth Southgate’s if he stays uninjured.
Meerkat, play Jack in every game and he’ll soon be crocked again, just ask Santi. I wouldn’t play him in the PL for a while, not until he’s much stronger and ready to face the gits who target his weak areas.
Keep him for Europa as they come every two weeks roughly and that’s possibly enough for his body right now and the Cup games, depending on we face of course…
Rico, it’s not just playing him in the EPL, it’s where in the team he’s played.
Play him alongside Xhaka and he makes tackles, gets tackled and gets injured, play him in the hole and his quick feet and quick mind create opportunities, of course he can still get kicked, but maybe the year at Bournemouth allied to new ideas have given him techniques he can use to avoid the thugs?
I’d have him on the bench and bring him on giving 15/20 minutes at the end and slowly bring him up to speed.
But yeah Rico, give him all the Cup ties this side of the New Year.
I get what you are saying Kev, and agree but I wouldn’t bring him on from the bench. He’s better off starting a game after he’s warmed up properly id have thought? Sit on the bench for 70 mins and his muscles are cold..
But don’t the subs wear warm clothes, almost sleeping bags, but I see your point and you may well be right.
Might be Jack gets a start over Christmas/New Year?
I guess they would in winter but so far just shorts and a top of some kind I think..
I reckon Jack is wrapped up inside Wenger`s puffa jacket, that`s why Arsene`s always fiddling about with it to check Jacks not having a sly ciggy !
Ha ha Lc..
Nighty guys, catch up tomorrow..
Jeff, you have your wires crossed.
I never said fans don’t appreciate how clever Ozil is, I said imo he’s too clever for our players.
Slight difference there 🙂
Starting Jack allows him to gain fitness, and Wenger can judge when to take him off as e blows out.
66th minute or so 🙂
Mustafi injured, probably out for 3 to 4 weeks and that’s being optimistic!
Koscielny, is he fit, is he ready to return?
If not then it’s gonna be the FACup final defence of Holding, BFG, Monreal at Watford…
Kev, lucky we are so well stocked 🙂
Not good news re Mustafi. Makes selling Gabriel seem so much more sensible now eh…. Pff!
Morning all.
Morning Rico. Not great news about Mustafi.
Morning Adam. No. I wonder if Wenger regrets not signing a CB in the summer…
Upper harps he’ll turn to the U21 first choice cb, young Chambers? Or does he rank with the rest of Wenger’s spoilt players?
What a shambles!
I’ve no idea of the answer to this but, how many of the first team squad are out of contract at the same time as Wenger’s expires? We’ll see the soft and smelly hit the fan when they all leave to play elsewhere.
Morning all. Another gloomy morning.
Hi Wavy, I reckon AW will be gone before the contracts expire.. Not Ozil and Sanchez though sadly..
I doubt it Rico. He has Debuchy who can play there. 🙂
Or Elneny Adam… 🙂
Of course. I forgot about Elneny. Can’t imagine why. 🙂
On a serious note, surely he’ll play Kos and Merts if both are fit, or Merts and Holding?
As long as Laurent’s recent injuries are fully healed I reckon he might.
Is Chambers still injured? I have lost track.
Youre not the only one, dont reckon he knows either.
Afternoon all.
Eevr since Wavy said Cornwall has shit weather I`ve noticed how many times he says it`s not too pleasant where he is……Obviously he`s somekind of sunshine jinx !……………….lovely here again !
🙂
Crying out for a CB we were, everyone knew it except Wenger and he sells Gabriel…………….who I quite liked !
Injured i think re Chambers..
Rumours of Overmars making a return………………….yes, I know he is still probably quicker than Merts, Giroud and Xhaka, but come on !
🙂
Scot our players must be rather dense then because Ozil doesn’t come over as being the sharpest knife in the draw. I suspect that Wenger’s lame duck predictable tactics that are all about passing the ball 40 times and walking it into the opponents goal are the most likely reason that Ozil doesn’t fit in. Jack’s legendary goal against mighty Bournemouth awhile ago personified these Wenger training ground running around traffic cones tactics .Wenger waited 16 years for that goal to arrive and will have to make do with it because opponents have Wenger well sussed out. Perhaps a little route one now and then should be employed instead of always taking the slower scenic route. As Rico pointed out Ozil had problems at Real Madrid with his lack of work rate and he has never looked like a player suited to playing in teams that do not provide him with a lot of physical protection of the sort that he had in the German national side. He would do better in England at West Brom. I stick with my view that if he really was as good as some claim then he would be playing with a top continental side instead of going around in circles on Wenger’s yawn inducing magic roundabout to nowhere.
Will be interesting to see where Ozil goes to then (if he doesn`t stay), Jeff,……………………if you are right, then it wont be to a bigger club than Arsenal and if that is the case why would he want to leave ?……………………….thanks, I now feel more confident he will stay !….
🙂
Le Coq, a case of Hobson’s choice then your scenario for Ozil ! I reckon that he will end up playing in Turkey when his contract runs out there is no way that Stan is going to cough up the sort of wages that Ozil is demanding and for once I make the greedy cretin right on that score. So Wenger’s prediction that players will just have to go once their contracts run out because the amount of money involved in giving them a new one is too high will be proven right in the wizard of Oz’s case .Of course it would make more sense if these players were not given long contracts in the first place and Wenger – who has created more millionaires than Chris Tarrant did – dished out long big buck ones to rather a lot of ordinary players like a drunken Scotsman tossing around confetti at a Glaswegian wedding.
Two pissabolities where Ozil is concerned, either he knows already where his destination lies next June or he does not know! Yep, you heard it here first! However, if the latter,statement is true it may well be that no club in the world,has shown any interest in him! So, if he can’t find another club to go to will he stay at the Arsenal?
Stranger things have happened. I mean we can’t get rid of Wenger and it’s possible we will not be able to lose Ozil! Arsene will doubtless offer him a new contract probably with a pay rise, too!
LC the sun came out here, it was glorious when I visited the tip with my garden droppings! Gone now though, it’s back to grey. (There’s a sort of song title in there somewhere.)
Thanks lads for the reply…….I do like the term “Greedy Cretin”………and “pissabolities”.
🙂
Wasn`t it said that there were no enquiries about Ozil in the TW ?……………as an Ozil fan I hope you are right Wavy about the pissobolities of Ozil staying !………………………I made it clear the other day that I think Lacazette will benefit Mesut`s vision !.
Been on my ride-on-mower last coulple of days, Wavy, that`s how nice it`s been !………………………….will the bloody grass ever stop growing in the sunshine state of England ?…
😆
I’d eat my hat if Ozil or Sanchez are still at the club next season. Well, that is unless Wenger leaves before then which is about as likely as Christmas being on the 31st October…
Afternoon all..
Wouldn’t that be great rico, you could take the nite off !!!
As for all the Wegner bashers out there I still believe he can do a job, Strasbourg are struggling in Division 1, that’s about his level these days, didn’t he play for their second team when he turned pro, sounds like a match made in heaven.
I`m really afraid that Wenger will copy the current trait of all our top players ………………. see out his contract and leave for nothing in just under two years time……………………..I know, I`m not the only one who worries about it …………
Night Micko, the rest of the season more like.. good to see you back, I’ve missed your humour ?
As for Wenger Micko, The Halifax would be his perfect destination. Other banks are available of course…
Just been watching the new Star Trek series…..Star Trek Discovery……on Netflix……….I give it my seal of approval…..energise !………….love a bit of Star Trek………………..
Wengers comments about a manager in his final year of contract would suggest he may go in the summer.
I think he wants to beat Fergies record and then go. After all, he is all about him.
If that is going to happen then surely there must be a plan or list of possibilities concerning what comes next.
Maybe there is. If Ivan had is own way there would be imo.
Gee, Ivan has plenty to live up to if/when Arsene finally leaves.
It’ll be nice to see him earn his keep, at last.
We all better hope up for the challenge.
Jeff, maybe you’re right about Ozil being not much chop, but he rarely misses a game for Germany and they’re hardly England or Australia 🙂 🙂
He has been wasted to an extent by Wenger as he hasn’t been surrounded by players he needs around him to let him just do his thing.
Is that the players fault, as we should leave known exactly what we were buying.
I am sure that there is Rico. It would be daft not to have contingencies.
It’s a two edged sword Scot . Ozil should have done his homework before signing for a manager who has never won a pot in Europe and who possesses all of the tactical nous of a dead duck. I never bought into the Ozil will take us to another level claims as I said before if he was that good he would be at a club who actually challenge for top titles and he is not because he was at one and they off-loaded him.I can’t recall him ever putting in a match winning performance against a top[ side in Europe for us.
It would Adam. But of course, Ivan is useless. Just like Kroenke ?
Jeff, I reckon Ozil could have been awesome for us, had Wenger built a team around him. However, he didn’t and probably, no, never will…
jeff, lets get this clear, you don’t rate Ludogorets Razgrad as a top european side then…..unbelievable !
? Micko, I hope knows you’re being cheeky…. lol
Reunion time for me.. with my duvet..
Night guys..
Jeff, as Rico said, we should’ve built around him.
We bought him, then Alexis but then what?
A few years go by and we get Lacazette-a few years too late, IMO.
Imagine we’d signed all of them at the same time 4 years ago?
We can dream.
Rico, since you and others keep saying Arsene makes all the decisions, don’t you believe it’s a fair call that we should hope Ivan can step up, or does everyone want it both ways, depending on the debate?
We know the answer, don’t we lol
People asked why I defend Wenger.
Well, on occasions, if you can’t find reason to, then you’re just not being open minded.
I criticise him often enough, so it’s hardly one way traffic, is it?
If we choose to say Ivan is overruled by Wenger, and Arsene makes all the major decisions, then how can we pretend to know Ivan is good at his job?
For everyone’s sake, let’s hope we find out soon enough, and he is up to the task because god knows, we will need him to be.
With the lack of support around him, he will just about be a one man band.
LC I spent a happy half hour or so chasing after my ‘ ountfield’ on Sunday and, do you know what? It didn’t rain! Well, not until at least ten minutes after I’d finished. I did feel blessed!?
Cornwall? Pah! Wet suit heaven.?
so, no central backs for 3-4 weeks. Good. I’m not fit too.
Irish eyes are smiling
Come on you boys in green
Ramsey is a sheep shagging gremlin
JM, just stand in the middle of the park-it works for plenty of CB’s 🙂
JM are you saying that you’re the Diaby of HH..?
Over mars as DoF, well that’ll be an interesting relationship. Young Marc telling the old wrinkly one who he can and can’t buy! Or will he be employed to sort out the club”s contract issues? Or both or will the old control freak see him off??
Ah, questions, questions and no answers yet. Will the old man hobble off or will he obstinately carry on?
Questions without answers …….YET!
If BFG can only play one game a week and Kozzer is out for a couple of weeks whilst Chambers is still unfit, then who does Wenger rotate for the League Cup and UEFA Cup?
Debuchy?
DaSilva?
Sheaf?
Some 15 year old from Hale End?
Wavy, we always have more questions than answers 🙂
Kev, lace up mate!!!
Our team being hit with injuries and the squad too thin….wow who could of imagined that??? Totally out of the blue that one eh?
Morning all.
Summer of rest for Ramsey then… 😉
Just couldn’t envisage that happening Lee..
It’s called foresight 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
New post up now.