According to Arsene Wenger the next two weeks are crucial for Thomas Vermaelen. The player is very close to returning to training with the rest of the squad following his Achilles injury. He’s been ‘close’ before but has suffered setbacks, this time though should he break down again, Wenger has got to find cover for him in the transfer market. I hope that if Vermaelen is to suffer another setback he does it before the two-week mark; we cannot afford to be scraping around trying to find a cheap/free replacement with only days left in the transfer window.
I have a sneaky feeling though that he already has a player in mind, he was coy when asked who he would by, usually he says ‘we are not close’ to finding a player, this time though he just said he ‘wouldn’t name names’.
Surely he has to buy a centre half in any case? Even if Thomas Vermaelen does return, it won’t be until the end of January, more likely February so taking a chance like that could cost dear and Wenger cannot afford to take that chance, not when we are doing so so well in all competitions. The only question is who will it be, a cheap Mexes, an expensive Cahill or someone in between like Agger or Samba?
Twenty four days and we’ll know for sure….
The next two to three weeks are very important for other reasons too, these are our fixtures:
08 Sat FA Cup H Leeds
12 Wed CC A Ipswich
15 Sat PL A West Ham
22 Sat PL H Wigan
25 Tue CC H Ipswich
Manchester United have an FA Cup match against Liverpool, a league fixture away to the Tiny Totts and a home fixture against Birmingham followed by an away day in Blackpool.
By the time we go into February, we should (on paper) have totted up nine league points, be in the next round of the FA Cup and have a date with Wembley turf.
If all that goes to plan, we should still be on the tail of the leaders, giving whoever that is great cause for concern. All we need to do is stay focused; take one game at a time, the results will follow.
After all, I doubt we shall play against such a negative side again for the rest of the season…..
Aaron Ramsey is back as we all know and Wenger has hinted he will play tomorrow against Leeds. Not only is that great news for Ramsey and all Arsenal fans, I think it’s good news for Jack Wilshere. He needs a rest every now and again, his young bones need to be given time to grow and finally we are able to do that now without detriment to the team.
The Leeds fixture will see us field a totally different first eleven I’m sure but the highlight for me will be seeing our young Welshman back in a red and white shirt, if he plays….
Finally, what a great night for every English Cricket Fan, yet again we beat the Aussies by an innings and many runs in the final test match. England winning the series 3-1, the first time they have won on Australian soil for many many years.
Well done England and the Barmy Army….
Roy Keane has been sacked, not sure if that’s good news or bad just before our league cup semi-final, looks like Paul Jewell will replace him…
That’s enough from me, have a good day all….
Morning…
nice to se that thug being sacked! i think that these are relatively easy fixtures, and it’s a great opportunity to rest many first teamers like robin, nasri, cesc, sagna, wilshere´, song a ánd so on..
rico you were a second too fast 😀 where is everybody? 🙂
morning DK, i’m glad he’s sacked just not now, could have done with beating them first, often a new manager injects hope and belief…
DK, 😆 re being to quick…
Wenger says 10-14 days will sort TV’s short term future, i can’t see him being match fit and ready before the middle of Feb if he’s only just started training and if we rush him back it could do more damage…
Morning all
I see Micah Richards wants a move, i know his a Right back but we could fit him in as a center half, i’m sure he would make a good cover player in other positions as well only the price and wages to think about but not a bad player to have.
Rico, forget Virmin i think we have probably seen the last of him for this year, all the signs are not good reading between the lines i think he is still long term.
i too was looking forward to beat them with him as manager, but i’m not afraid of the “new manager-new belief” thing.. it’s only ipswich for gods sake 😉
SP i would love to see richards play for us.. He’s a beast! Strong, tall, good tackler.. and loves to bomb forward every once in a while.. oh and he’s english! 🙂
Morning Steve, I’d love Richards too, he’s a gooner… but, he’s a party animal and i can’t see wenegr every making a move for him…
Steve, i’m not too confident of his return either, it’s a mystery one – thats why i truly believe wenger will buy a CH – thats all we really need but in an ideal world a DM too…
Don’t under estimate Ipswich DK, it’s a cup and they’ll be up for this one, big time…. 😉
Hodgson to be the next manager sacked today then….
many a rumour about Agger wanting out of ‘pool, wonder where he’s off to…
Would be nice DK, but old Scrooge would have a heart attack.
rico,
heared Paul jewel is in the frame, if so another packed defence
Yeah, i remember all the fuss there was a couple of years ago when Gallas was caught with a cigaret in his mouth. Richards would kill Wenger i guess :P. Slightly off topic: Why can United, Barcelona etc. be in so massive debt, and still use hundreds of millions on new players? I read an interesting post on Le Grove some days ago, where it was pointed out that such big clubs never go bankrupt… Aren’t we one of those clubs? It kills me to see great players wanting to join us, but wenger doesn’t want to bye, because Denilson is better than Hazard.. sigh…
rico,
read in the paper this morning that Nas and Ledley King met up in a night club sat on different tables and ordered loads of champers to entice the crumpet, Micah would fit in well
i read about jewell too, another bus parked indeed…
DK, i’m not much good on football finance but i know there is a new rule in soon to curb the spending, then we will be the ones without worry, others though will find it difficult..
That’s why wenger won’t spend mega bucks, i just wish he would find a happy medium, Hazard is desperate to join us and we should go get him before someone else does…
Richards wouldn’t go to the spuds surely, he’s a gooner…
that’s more than enough explanation for me Rico! 🙂 i just hope that wenger tight purse is gonna pay dividends in the end…
Twitchy wouldnt care about the finance, he’s not there for the long term
😆 DK, good – what narks most though is that we always seem to be one/two big players short every season. Theres’ being careful with money and not sending the club into massive debt but then theres just being tight and putting the finances above winning.
Over the last few seasons Wenger has done the latter, if AFC came out after we moved and said it would be that way for a few years because of x,y,z reasons we could understand but such conflicting come out from the club. The board so often say there is money so if thats true, wenger is being stubborn by not spending..
And thats because he’d have to admit that his youth project is not quite as good as he thinks it is…
You reckon Twitcher will get the England job??
Or, will he go to Liverpool…..
rico,
Twitchy would sell his old woman for the England job, everything he does everything he says is all aimed at the FA, and he has the backing of all the media as well, make no mistake he will be installed sooner than later
Hi all.Goo post rico as usual.im very excited to see ramsey back as i believe he is still ahead of jack in terms of development.i really hope he is back to his old self.
Steve, too right he would, is he still under investigation by the police or was that dropped?
Morning KT, thanks
must admit, i can’t wait to see rambo back,could take him a while but he’s on the right track, i’m not sure jack would have been playing as much had ramsey not been injured but now both can be used and at no cost to our performances…
looking around NN i noted an increase in the number of manc blogs talking about us calling us all sorts of names.they seemed to be obsessed with us and red nose has started sniping at Aw…I smell FEAR!!!Even Hansen has backed us to push them all the way.
They do it for hits too KT and to try and provoke an arguement, i don’t bother with them, well not until we pip them for the title 😉
This is definately our best chance for a couple of seasons, its crucial that wenger gets cover for TV though, if we another CH, we will be fragile…
There is one site mainly that is tearing into our players when they express any confidence of us winning the title.they were even convincing themselves that Anderson is better than Fabregas and that rafael is better than sagna.
That has to be joke of the day KT, Anderson better than Cesc… and as for Sagna, he’s possibly the best RB in football at the moment….
Let them dream….
Or go tell them Nikki is better than Rooney 😉
Anyone want Beckham to score the winner when the Tiny Totts play the mancs 🙂
cricket is really awful,i can never understand why people like it,,who cares about anyway REALLY?ashes this 1million test run series that,i mean come on what kind of sport stops for dinner,takes 6 months to play and is as exciting as watching x factor?
Irish, each to their own 🙂
Here is a prediction:
1. At the end of Jan Wenger will declare Verm is fit so there is ‘no need’ to buy.
2. At the beginning of Feb it will be announced Verm has had a setback.
3. Wenger will say it is not a problem as we have Song who can play there.
Jekyll, that is exactly my concern too – he cannot afford to take a gamnle on TV, he’s not fit now and even if he suffers no set backs, he won’t be ‘ready’ until the middle of feb at least….
Jekyll, your prediction has history written all over it, and im backing you in your prediction.. the thouhgt it self is so familiar it sends shivers down my spine…
I just can’t see wenger taking a chance this time around, i really can’t – we need another CH in any case and thats regardless of TV’s fitness – our current best CH cannot play every week, we can’t take a risk on another one…
My honest thought is, not whether he will buy but who….
Hi Rico,
Nice read, and I agree with your views. 🙂
Arsene has decided to pursue a policy of building the club/team by investing in youth. Trouble is, that can be blown off course by vias and other problems.
ADK, Arsenal could spend big bucks, if they wanted, but they do not want to buy players with someone else’s money, i.e. debt funded.
vias = visa too many fingers, so to speak! 🙂
Hi RA, thanks re the read…
Talking of which, any news re Wellington? Are we still appealing the visa or have they decided where his loan will be?
Rico,
I believe we lost the special exemption appeal re Wellington boot, and have accepted he will have to go out on loan to Spain, perhaps Ossasuna.
As the deal had not been completed, I am wondering if Arsene is now trying to off load him? Who knows?
I thought the deal went through and we signed him RA?
RA, we signed him in December 2009
On Thursday 9th December 2010 it was announced that FIFA had backtracked on its initial decision to award Wellington Silva his “Special Talent VISA” and therefore leading to many theories such as him being loaned out for 3 to 5 seasons to a number of Spanish Segunda teams. On Friday 10th December 2010 it was announced on Arsenals official website that Arsenal planned to send him out on loan due to the fact he couldn’t get a work permit and Arsenal will now loan out Wellington to a European club and nurture his talent from there.
Rico,
We had agreed a deal, that’s true. We paid a deposit and the final tranche was due at the bieginning of Jan, when he signed for us.
What I meant was that the deal may have been dependent on his obtaining a visa exemption. As that did not happen, it may have been deemed a material breach of the contract. (I am only surmising, but it might explain the dearth of info coming out of Arsenal about Welly).
Ah, sorry, I thought you meant we hadn’t done the deal. seems its just another vela situation and maybe we’ll see him in the summer. wonder why FIFA went back on their word…
Talking of signings,
Big question is, will Ryo Miyaichi be in the squad tomorrow i wonder….
Rico,
Nothing about FIFA surprises me anymore.
It seems that Welly upset some of the hierarchy at his Brazilian club, and in the murky world of footie politics anything can happen.
I am prepared to stick my neck out and say No! 🙂
The last I heard, just after Christmas, was that he turned out for his first game after injury at an inter school game in Japan. He did not last the full 90 mins, so playing in an FA cup game, even as a substitute, does not compute Mr Spock. 🙂
It would be nice if I am wrong tho’!
Hi all, would like to see Ryo tommorow, any rumors about new signing.
RA, FIFA need sorting out big time…..
Ryo (we must think of a different name to call him) has played for our reserves i think since his return from injury, we could be in for a surprise 😉
was that christmas game in 2009 😉 😉
Hi Stef, plenty of rumours but none that are believable 😉
Got to pop out for an hour or two, catch up later…
Rvp/kozzer/nasri/jack out of leeds clash.ramsey/vela/gibbs in the squad to face leeds-Aw.
Zabaleta has won his red card appeal.
The successful appeal means Zabaleta will now be available for City’s FA Cup clash against Leicester City and former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson on Sunday.
here comes CHALKY!!!!!! 🙂
What time is the game on saturday
12:45 UK time or GMT
we play first tomorrow probably will be shown on TV too.
Boo 🙂
Thought he would KT….
Stef 12.45 UK time
The game against Leeds will be shown at 1:45(UK or GMT) on ITV (a terrestial channel, also transmitted via satellite).
Quite right Stef! 🙂
yipee !!
am offf see yah all 🙂
if you are wondering , it is Friday
Rico,
I’m sure Arsenal staff read your blog.
After we discussed Welly Boot earlier, AFC have just released a statement regarding his loan to a Spanish 2nd Division club. 🙂
RA, its not on at 1.45 here…. 😉
RA, that is so spooky 😉
And Wenger has mentioned Arsenal fans loving the Ashes in his interview today 🙂
1:45 pm but in CET(GMT+1) that is most of Europe 😛 RA
Rico now be careful what u post Le Boss might reaad it 😆
Tiny Totts have signed a centre half, Bongani Khumalo for 1.5m….
😆 Stef, he must have read by now then that we all want a CH and a DM 🙂
Arsene, we are happy with the keepers now, as long as you sell Almunia 🙂
Aw has been named coach of the decade (2001-2010) by IFFHS.He narrowly beat red nose who had 148 points compared to le boss’ 156.he is set to be honoured at a FIFA gala on a later date.
Bloomin heck KT, i am surprised if i’m honest…
Rico the IFFHS take into account several factors including success with youth players and consistency in perfomances over the decade.Aw may have never won best coach award but he has always been among the best.its in todays Daily mail.
Rico,
Oops, just got back and saw your timing correction. Typing error boss, missed out the “2”, 12:45, not 1:45.
Can I blame Stef? I was agreeing with him when my fingers went wobbly! 🙂
KT, just been reading, maybe it’s a good time for one of you posts on our boss??
RA, you cannot blame Stef, it’s funny 🙂
Seems Almunia is definately offski…..
and i reckon we’ll get Hazard in the summer after Wengers comments….
It will be hard to get Hazard rico but it may happen if AA’s form doesn’t improve.
hi all…not much going on. hoping our second-stringers can beat leeds at the ems tomorrow.
Wenger said they are monitering him KT, I reckon the summer for him and he also said he has the quality to play for us and the player wants to join…
if we see AA go this month, that could mean Hazard is on his way to the Arsenal 🙂
Ah, boo oliver, i didn’t see you come on, so sorry….
i think it will be 2nd/3rd stringers v leeds….
it should be. as much as i want us to do well, i don’t think we are going to have an opportunity to give our first teamers an extended rest again. ideally, this kind of break (cup games in quick succession) would come in early march, but we have to take advantage of it when it comes up. i think our second/third stringers can still do the job. i haven’t read any simon grayson comments regarding tomorrow’s fixture, but i should think that their focus is promotion…the had that huge cup win at old trafford last season – beckford got their winner – and then promptly went on a losing run, one which dropped them from the automatic promotion spots. they are in the mix, and i would think that premiership football next year is the goal for them.
Mancini has been awarded the PL manager of the month….
Nasri, player of the month..
oliver, i hope we don’t under estimate leeds at a cost, my post tomorrow is all about leeds and their views…
you do it every time 😉 😉
i wonder if they would have voted for mancini after seeing his team on wednesday night? samir should have gotten it for november as well…
I’m off now, night folks..
til tomorrow…..
i wouldn’t have thought so, they were awful, but to be fair, he came with a plan and it worked, he just didn’t want to lose….
have a good evening oliver, got to go now….
I have a very bad feeling that Man u will make a move for Hazard now that wenger has confirmed he wants him but is wasting time. Shoulda signed him on a pre-contract
new post
Am late it seems Coward Webb has just done what he does best