Denilsons days numbered as Rambo set to return?? Stoke up tonight….

December 18th 2010, Stoke were heading to The Emirates to face us in the Premier League but the weather put pay to that fixture.
We had not long found out that we had been drawn against Barcelona in the Champions League and near on everyone wrote us off as soon as their name came out of the hat. In fact back then I think the same people wrote off our chances of winning anything this season, let alone a home fixture against the so-called ‘best team in the world’.

So here we are two months later and things are a tad different – we have beaten Barcelona in the first leg of Champions League fixture, we are in the Carling Cup Final on Sunday, still in the FA Cup and sit second in the league only a few points behind the leaders.

Do those same people still write us off?

Of course they do, they sit around just waiting to be proved right about their judgement of this current Arsenal squad. Let them continue and let us concentrate on our job. Maybe then we will be able to shove it right back at them at the end of the season.

Tonight is another chance for us to gain some ground on the Mancs for a few days, a win will see us just one point behind the current leaders. Let them feel the heat going into their next game. We cannot afford a slip up, especially against a Stoke side who is responsible for you know what…

We may be without Robin van Persie and Koscielny but this is the time for those coming in to step up, show all us fans that they have more about them than we saw at the weekend. Chamakh, Bendtner or Arshavin will no doubt step in for Robin and Squillaci will probably play alongside Djourou at the back. All of those players stepping in for the injured/rested need to earn their wage tonight and not just strut around for 90 minutes on a jolly….

Sunday is on every Arsenal fans mind I am sure but tonight is equally important in a very different way, tonight is about maintaining the long haul in the league, Sunday is all about a one-off game which happens to hand out a trophy to the winners… (Who am I trying to kid 😉 )

Tonight is massive, not just for our Premier League pursuit, it’s not even about Tony Pulis, Stoke City and Shawcross, it’s about football and us maintaining our momentum!

I'm coming home Gooners and I cannot wait......

Let’s get three points off them just for Aaron Ramsey and let football win this game, nothing else.

Talking of Ramsey, how great was it to see our Welshman help Cardiff earn three points last night.

It was ‘Cracking’

Dave Jones had hoped to keep hold of Ramsey for the rest of the season but Wenger has other ideas:

He is on loan until Saturday. After that he comes back.

I intend to use him. I have had good reports from Cardiff. He could be available for the second game against Leyton Orient on Wednesday.

Great news for all Gooners, maybe not such good news for Denilson……

Have a good day all, three points tonight are a must…..

260 thoughts on “Denilsons days numbered as Rambo set to return?? Stoke up tonight….

  1. W.A.T.H says:

    Denilsons days numbered as Rambo set to return??

    Please please please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Morning 😉

    Well done Mr Holloway 😉

  2. simon says:

    “Do those same people still write us off?

    Of course they do, they sit around just waiting to be proved right about their judgement of this current Arsenal squad.”

    Sadly a lot of the people waiting to say I told you so are Arsenal “fans”. Joyless ba$tard$

  3. adrian says:

    The club is about to go into a most important section of the season. its also an important opportunity to peg manu back. I hope the gunners take the chance to win all their league matches whilst united have some tricky away matches. I hope that le boss’s decision not to reinforce the defence will not rebound on the club.

  4. Me says:

    We can only hope that Denilson is on his way out. I’ve back him to the hills in the past but I’ve had enough now, get rid and get Rambo and Lansbury back to replace him.

  5. Will says:

    I want to win this game for two reasons.

    1) We need the points, I am hoping for a man Utd bad patch but I am not seeing it happen.

    2) I hate Pulis and all he stands for.

  6. W.A.T.H says:

    Dan and Me, totally agree with you, diabolical I can handle in small doses as long as he has quality next to him but for the life of me I cant see a single thing that denilson brings to the team, he cant tackle cant head the ball slows the game down gets the wrong side plays 400 x 3yd passes and gets a perfectly good Arsenal shirt dirty…! Ramsey on one leg is better than him.

  7. W.A.T.H says:

    Mornin weedman 😉 Will, the prob is Pulis hates us hates Wenger and will make sure his lot are right up for this game 2nite, it’s gonna be very hard physical and I reckon could boil over very easily when they make the first norti tackle…!

  8. Am says:

    Denilsons days are numbered Yippee, cant wait till Ramsay gets back to his best.

    As for Diaby, he is always injured or suspended what a shame. Lansbury should fill in next season for his injuries.

  9. Will says:

    Wath, we need a strong ref. Not a ref that believes the hype that we don’t like it up us and that we whinge after every tackle.

    Yes, I really do believe that ref’s have been influenced the negative press about us.

  10. Erick says:

    GG man I watched Denilson vs Orient and to be honest he kept passing the ball side ways even when he had space to go forward. I want Ramsey in there Aw

  11. W.A.T.H says:

    We also still gotta go upto Blackpool……! Could be quite a high scoring game as they are not to clever at the back…! I did enjoy the result though 😉

  12. T-buzz says:

    Morning all
    A positive vib is what I’m feeling here todayand i hope our players are feeling that way too. we need to keep a clean sheet IMO and we need one of those imposing scorelines like 4-0 5-0 6-0 to show the Prem we mean business and have a superior goal difference in case this goes to the wire.
    Not too much to ask for, eh? LOL

    COYR!!!

  13. Erick says:

    Morning Stef T buzy, Lee….Wath I have been impressed with BP their attacking game is so daring and I can’t wait until we go there

  14. W.A.T.H says:

    T-bz, hows u fella…? A big scoreline against Stoke would send out strong message but i just can’t see it happeneing, hand on heart I just want a win don’t care what score..!

  15. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Arsenal-Barcelona (summary)
    The way both teams handle the ball is the best way to explain how the technique can be transformed into … tactic. Arsenal and Barcelona are the greatest prophets of filosofoa of possession in European football. There are two “end products” of this form of play. Face to face, on the lawns of Champions, only existed, but … a ball! Initially, both sought to play according to his philosophy. Inpôs to Barcelona. He grabbed the ball and hid it in his players’boots and walked the walk with her across the field. The victory seemed peaceful: 0-1.
    Until the middle of the game, Arsenal rethought and represented their philosophy, with an unusual capacity for change, no longer seeking to have the ball so long and went on to play in the purest counterattack. Instead of ownership, speed. And he turned the result: 2-1. Until fim.Guardiola remained true to his style. On the other side, AW did not hesitate to seek other weapons to win. The second leg will therefore also a philosophical duel “betray” the style or his “dogmatic fidelity”? What strategies will come out winning?
    Come to this purpose also the clear advantage of visiting teams in the games of Champions.
    Arsenal now has a more severe test. Again and again, only victory matters.
    apart: Inter still interested in Rolando (Porto). I believe it is a better alternative to Pepe (Madrid). Inter are willing to pay 30 million. Some reason, there have …

  16. Rocastle says:

    Morning all, big rumour that Connor Wickham will replace NB52 next season.

    Apparently he was given VIP treatment at the Grove for the barca game.

    NB52 SS18 and MC29 once again have a HUGE chance to stake a claim and impress tonight……does anyone think they will?!

    Hope springs eternal.

  17. T-buzz says:

    WATH, I’m good buddy, just hoping we can have a successful game without injuries today so we go into Sunday’s game all guns blazing!
    Erick, indeed we do have Ramsey and also aint it a good feeling that other loanees are doing well? Lansbury making waves at Norwich surely is signs of good things to come

  18. Erick says:

    Rocastle I saw that on twitter but Arsenal insiders claim he was a guest of an Arsenal player and Arsenal are not intrested.

  19. K-TR7 says:

    Hi all.what would we do without the spuds?if we win tonight st.Totteringham day gets closer.thank you olympic commitee for making them stay here.they are pure comedy.7 goals from their strikers…you can’t make this stuff up!

  20. T-buzz says:

    Erick, like I said a few weeks ago, I’ll be happy to drive Diaby to the airport for him to board a one way ticket to Barcelona. Iniesta, Messi and co had better watch their backs, Diaby is coming to take Barca by storm!! lol
    Denilson will be party of the luggage so there you go Erick, space created! 😀

  21. rico says:

    Manure fixture list

    Marseille – Away
    Wigan – Away
    Chelsea – Away
    Liverpool – Away

    I can see them dropping 7 points in those league fixtures 🙂

  22. Will says:

    I know this is a serious cliche but I feel this is a defining game for this team. Pulis will have his players up to kick the hell out of us and we need to be able to ride this to prove this team have grown up and the rough stuff no longer stops us.

    I would also like to see our players pointing out to the ref (politely) the kicks they are getting and ask if he is going to do anything because let’s be blunt here, ref’s NEVER protect our players.

    Rather than whine about it, I would like our captain to simply point out the fouls and remind the ref that cameras are watching the game.

  23. T-buzz says:

    And now, for your viewing pleasure….

    Rico, I hope they drop all points but it will mean nothing if we drop too… 🙁

  24. Will says:

    Just watching the SSN Pulis interview after the leg break. I want to punch Pulis hard and then explain it is because I was committed and I am not that kind of guy.

  25. T-buzz says:

    Will, every game gets bigger and more important than the previous so it aint no cliché, its reality if we intend winning something this season. Media is quick to remind us we still in all 4 competitions and we havent won a trophy for a million years….!! 😉

  26. Will says:

    T, it was more the fact we have to stand up to the bullies and at this stage of the season, I think it would show real intent to win this one.

  27. rico says:

    Will, its a massive game, but so is every one from now until the end of the season. In some ways this is better for us as the team will know thay are in for a game and not think its won before they walk onto the pitch…

  28. rico says:

    I know T-buzz, we need to just make sure we don’t – time for everyone to step up and make their mark and not just leave it to the big guns….

    the mancs have a few of their injured players coming back soon too

  29. oliver says:

    morning all. i’ll just be very, very happy to see ramsey back in the squad…someone will have to make way for him, and that will be arsene’s call. it would be great to see him start versus orient and at least be available from the bench from there on…

  30. rico says:

    I know T-buzz, we need to just make sure we don’t – time for everyone to step up and make their mark and not just leave it to the big guns…

  31. rico says:

    Arsenal is delighted to announce that young defender Elton Monteiro has signed his first professional contract with the Club.

    The Swiss defender, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Tuesday, has been a regular for Steve Bould’s Premier Academy League side, with 18 appearances to his name so far this season.

    Everyone at the Club looks forward to Elton’s continued development with Arsenal in the forthcoming years.

  32. T-buzz says:

    Rico, the clip was of Chessney’s celebration after AA’s goal against Barca…classic! My son loves the celebration so much it’s still on my Sky Plus!! lol

    Erick, you’re welcome to pay for gas. Every little helps 😆

  33. rico says:

    JM, i’m not sure where he’s from…

    T-buzz, that will etched on my brain for a while, that’s called commitment and caring…. that VT should be showed to a few like Nikki and Denilson….

  34. K-TR7 says:

    A year ago chesney was playing in front of crowds of 3000 fans.in a few weeks time he’ll play in front of 90000 fans.

  35. Will says:

    Do you think we still need a brutal bastard in the centre of midfield? Someone who will kick others when they kick us?

  36. rico says:

    I’m not sure we need a player to kick others, but we sure need a hard nut who will make those cruch but fair tackles….

  37. Will says:

    Song doesn’t do it and doesn’t instil fear (respect) like Vieira sis in the centre. I really think we need a player who opposition players know you can’t take the piss with.

  38. rico says:

    Agrre with that kind of player Will, and you are right, song doesn’t do it…

    there aren’t the Paddys and Keanes around much anymore though….

  39. Will says:

    Rico, we need a player where the Barton’s of this world know that as soon as they take the piss, they are slapped down.

    Can you imagine what would have happened to Barton after the latest Diaby tackle had Vieira, Pettit, Adams or Keown had be playing.

    Barton would never of done that as he knew he would have been in the stands every time he touched the ball.

  40. rico says:

    Trouble is though Will, had one of our players behaved like Barton they would have got a red… but oh how i’d loved to see the ‘attitude’ in the tunnel prior to the game, that would be enough to make little scumbags like Barton think twice…..

  41. agirlagunner says:

    Boo! Hello, all! 🙂

    I get in and no one’s around. 😉 Can’t wait to have Rambo back. I’d say my piece about the D&D twins, but it’s nothing I haven’t already said before!

  42. rico says:

    All good thats agag, apart from having the electricity board cut the whole village off from having any power all morning….

    How’s you, ready for a bit of Shawcross revenge…

  43. agirlagunner says:

    😆 re: AW reading.

    How awful about the electricity though. I hope you gave the persons responsible a telling off. 😉

    I’ve been wanting someone, anyone, really, to Shawcross Shawcross. He’d deserve it. 😀

  44. Will says:

    All I hate about these challenges like Shawcross’s is where they try and turn it around on our player and make out their’s is a sweet boy who would never hurt anyone.

  45. JonJon says:

    cracking post..
    bring on the stoke bitches..
    as for rambo..i cant wait for his return..
    he was showing glimpses of exceptional talent before his assualt..still got a lot of work to do but hes naturally gifted..very gifted..
    denilson has had 4 pl starts all season..and not appeared in the PL once in 2011..and thats without rambo even at the club 😉
    his days are already numbered..
    and with lans and pingpong in with a massive shout next season someones gotta make way..he wont even get in the cup teams next year so bye bye..

  46. agirlagunner says:

    I guess, Will, I we expect coaches to protect their players. It’s the media’s cavalier attitude when it concerns one of ours that’s galling.

  47. rico says:

    Thats what gets to me too agag, they are too keen just to say that it’s because we don’t like a physical game which is trash – it’s because we don’t like being on the end on late, leg breaking tackles….

  48. agirlagunner says:

    Exactly, rico. It makes my blood boil. I wonder whether they would act similarly were one of Rooney, or Gerrard, or Lampard, et al. were injured.

  49. rico says:

    That’s just it agag, had one of those you list been on the receiving end of a ‘shawcross’ tackle just before the WC, firstly the media would have been up in arms, secondly, Shawcross would not have been selected for his country to play even in a friendly…

  50. JonJon says:

    of course i did rico 😉

    im not too sure we need a ‘kicker’
    weve had our fare share of reds and yellows this season..we arent exactley top of the fair play league 😉

    sagna, jack, diaby, koz, squidge have all seen red..
    we seem quite dirty these days..
    like good old time 😉

  51. rico says:

    Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Fabregas, Walcott, Bendtner

    Subs: Almunia, Rosicky, Denilson, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh

  52. Steve Palmer says:

    Evening all,
    Alright you were all right Miquel is not ready for the premiership, and his not playing, i was wrong and you got it spot on, siht. but lets have a nice three points.

  53. rico says:

    😆 Steve, evening to you…

    its not that he’s not good enough, he’s possibly just not ready to face a side like stoke… the dirty gits…

  54. oliver says:

    rico, cesc looks like he did his hammy again…pulled up lame, nothing from any stoke player, then signaled he needed to come off….not what we need.

  55. rico says:

    thanks oliver, that is just what we do not need, hopefully he’s come off early enough not to have done severe damage, maybe just a tight muscle or similar…

    please please…..

  56. allezkev says:

    Didn’t look good Rico, hope they’ve got him off in time to prevent too much damage, please please please

  57. oliver says:

    we’ll have to see…we need him the rest of the way, and he should be leading this team out at wembley on sunday – hopefully he still can, but it did not look good when he first signaled to the bench…

  58. rico says:

    good question, its the game on here but i may just turn it off but even the radio is the manc game 🙁

    its off now and my book is open… 😉

  59. oliver says:

    ok, there is the half…we went a bit off the boil when cesc came off and allowed stoke possession and a couple of near opportunities in the last couple of minutes…we need to get another goal and try to kill this one off…

  60. allezkev says:

    With the notable exception of Cesc’s injury, i think the boys have looked very smooth and controlled. Need a 2nd goal to calm Will [ and me ]..

  61. oliver says:

    not yet lee…hopefully word will come out here during the interval…it looked like his hammy again…there are players in all sports who have chronic hamstring trouble – giggs is another good example for football.

  62. oliver says:

    me too, kev…we let them have the ball – after they had showed virtually no ambition previously – late in that half…we need to play direct again, and try and get more goals.

  63. allezkev says:

    Olly, we need to concentrate, concentrate, concentrate, at the back. Stoke are total shit…. [ sorry rico ]. The only way Stoke will score, is if we cock-up.

  64. allezkev says:

    Arsenal always drop their level a bit during games, nobody can keep it up for 90mins. As long as the defence DO THEIR JOB, we’ll be ok Olly, chill-out buddy

  65. oliver says:

    like will said, we need to be direct…once cesc came off, we slipped into a spell of aimless fannying about – and never really went at them like we did in the first few minutes…we need to come out, keep the ball and add to the score.

  66. rico says:

    did someone say squilli is good – that is just what we need, him to suddenly start playing well. good…

    kev – don’t worry, there is only one word i really hate and that will put you in spam anyway 😉

  67. oliver says:

    szczesny had to make that one good save from carew…they have not troubled us too much, but they have had the ball around our area more than i would like – often does not take more than a deflection…

  68. oliver says:

    walton has let stoke get away with some bad challenges here…now i am worried we will get someone seriously hurt…

  69. rico says:

    Theo will be ok kev, i reckon he’ll rest and be ready… twisted ankle…

    Otherwise, yes, cesc lifts it for theo and all of us 🙂

  70. allezkev says:

    Hope you are correctamondo Rico. The boys were nervous but kept it together, thought Arshavin had a good game. JonJon will be happy about that

  71. oliver says:

    phew. now we have to hope the cost of the win is not so high…i understand stoke has no chance if they do not get physical, but they crossed the line on more than one occasion in the second half.

  72. allezkev says:

    Now Oliver, i’m looking forward to your insightfull observations. Jacky boy, i just love him, what a great player, a real Arsenal man…

  73. rico says:

    i didn’t feel confident until Song intercepted theitr attack in the 94th minute, then i knew we had three points 😉

    I am looking forward to hearing AW talk about the tactics played by that dirty rotten bunch of people who profess to be a football team….

  74. allezkev says:

    i actually thought that Chamakh looked sharp when he came on. Hopefully he’s going to get his second wind and help drive us over the winning line

  75. oliver says:

    i’ll do the report at home tonight, rico…i was going to title it “no hard feelings”, but after some of the stuff that walton tolerated, i am no longer feeling so magnanimous…

  76. oliver says:

    i didn’t think they were that bad in the first…sure there were a few heavy challenges, but i didn’t think they were that bad. in the second, i thought walton completely lost control of things…whitehead could have been sent off twice.

  77. allezkev says:

    SP, Cesc has a calming influence on the team, we just looked very nervous at times, maybe the feelings of the crowd affected them?

  78. rico says:

    Steve – you are right – i think the team started to think about him being out for sunday – and then Theo didn’t help…

  79. Steve Palmer says:

    We are desperatly in need of another Playmaker, nazri although a very clever player he is not a Cesc, we will struggle without him i know that

  80. rico says:

    and i’m off for the day all…

    catch up tomorrow – one point guys and gals, one point…

    and now lets just wait to hear about theo and cesc….

    night all, be good and stay safe…

  81. Steve Palmer says:

    Still whatever, a blinding 3pts I had the utd game on as well, they looked crap as well going through dodgy times.

  82. W.A.T.H says:

    Could see Theo was stuffed Rico he went right over on it, now to get him fit for the 8th…..! Well one nil is as good as ten and I think most of our lot spent the 2nd half trying to avoid flying legs not wanting to miss a cup final on sunday…!

  83. W.A.T.H says:

    Be a right touch if Wigan can hold the mancs to a draw on sat but nirmally Wigan lay down n die when they play them…!

  84. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Walcott dragged on in part 2 … I wondered, because it replaces the 10 minutes before getting injured!
    Fabregas was the victim of “indigestion” games!

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