Diaby is to blame! Two young keepers have a great future!……

David Seaman has been talking to our official website and he believes that our young Polish keepers have “great futures” and both have taken massive steps forward this season. Seaman is no fool and he was certainly one of the best goal keepers we have ever had, he must know what there is to see in our current two.

His view is shared by Bob Wilson too so I cannot see Wenger thinking any different to them so personally I belive that unless the injury to Fabianski doesn’t heal properly,we won’t be signing a goal keeper.

This season Fabianski was in far better form, so much so he had started to shake off the ‘Flappianski’ label he had rightly earned. He still looks vulnerable on crosses and the goal Andy Carroll scored against us in their 1-0 victory at The Emirates highlighted that weakness. Not a good weakness to have as a keeper really 😉

Szczesny is still learning and if he starts next season as number 1, I’m sure he’ll make an odd error or two but even the best of keepers can do that. Reina and VDS have both made plenty throughout this season but because on another day they perform so highly, their errors soon get forgotten.

We at Arsenal however have been a comedy of errors between the posts and most of us are used to waiting for the token blunder each game, sadly we are seldom denied one either. But, we don’t just suffer through keeper errors, we suffer through general defensive errors – our defence is a unit and our unit has a cog or two that breaks down too often…

Anyway, Seaman reckons there is a lot more to come from these two men and time will show us how good they are:

Fabianski and Szczesny are great goalkeepers, I’ve seen them in training and I just want them to show people what they can do. At the moment, obviously, with Szczesny it’s very early and Fabianski hasn’t shown what he is capable of.

They are two goalkeepers with great futures.

My only question is, Can we afford that time??

In front of the keepers is where Wenger believes we are getting it wrong – shock horror you all say!

It has been a problem, we cannot deny that because we conceded more goals from set-pieces than other teams. But you have to consider as well that we conceded 17 penalties.

Wenger suggests that Thomas Vermalen would have helped to reduce the goals conceded from set-pieces but he also suggests that Diaby would have made all the difference had he played in matches such as Stoke.

I feel certainly a little bit, but I feel it is more about the size of our whole team in some games like Stoke,” he replied.

When you go out of the back three, after that we are quite short, especially when Abou Diaby wasn’t there for big games. When you have the defence plus Diaby and  Alex Song, and you go to places like that, you can of course fight.

Sometimes we’re one or two men short.

Well, if Wenger honestly believes that Diaby can make such a difference then I am stunned – surely Wenger is just using any old excuse in attempt to justify losses like we suffered against Stoke. Diaby back defending in our area worries me, that own goal against the Mancs still keeps me awake at night and that was back in 2009. In any case, how can you rely on a player who is injured more than he is fit?

From his comment we can expect at least one defensive signing, maybe a few more too:

Wenger – We’ll look to strengthen everywhere

It is down to availability and quality, we don’t rule out any position and we don’t target any special position before the transfer market.

We look to strengthen every year of course. But first we look not to weaken because we want to keep all our players, and then we try to strengthen.

It’s not about the number of players, it’s the quality. I don’t want to give out a number we’ll go for.

I promise you that if we sign a player we will inform you and when we sell a player we will inform you as well. I would like to keep out of all the other speculation before that.

‘We don’t target any special position’ – What’s that all about, more square pegs for round holes then??

Other snippets, we have not only been linked to Lorient’s striker Kevin Gameiro but also Morgan Amalfitano from the same club. The latter is 26 years old, just under 5’10” short, French and plays in midfield. There’s not a lot of information about the player other than he is ‘likened’ to Patrick Vieira.  ( Mme, so was Diaby!!)

This chap is free in the summer and we know Wenger likes the free ones……..

That’s it for another day, have a good one all…..

154 thoughts on “Diaby is to blame! Two young keepers have a great future!……

  1. K-TR7 says:

    Wenger effectively ruled out us signing a winger yesterday when he said we have AA,nasri,bendtner and theo to play there.

  2. rico says:

    Morning all 🙂

    Kt, I don’t believe a word he says, if he tells the journos he wants a winger, prices increase.. I also don’t believe he ‘doesnt target positions’ – he’ll be doing whatever he is going to do in private…

    all we can hope for is that he’s doing something…

  3. Steve Palmer says:

    Morning rico,
    another nice write up.
    Try for the life of me, i can only see one maybe two signings. a definite will be at the back central and another left back position, and if a free comes up, DM forget up front.

  4. gambon says:

    Diaby is a fucking melt.

    I really hope wenger actually signs some decent players this time round.

    Benzema & Parker would be a start.

  5. rico says:

    Morning Steve and Gambon

    I’m not as confident as I was, I know Wenger tells porkies in his interviews but i also believe he will get defensive signings only…

    Gambon, can’t believe Wenger believes he would have helped us concede less from set-pieces, i can’t recall the lsat time he was defending in our area…

  6. rico says:

    What a joke – Bendtner is hardly a proper striker., let alone a winger…

    whinger maybe, but not a winger 😉

  7. gambon says:

    Rico

    The last time i remeber Diaby having any impact from a set piece was when he put one in his own net at OT. Laughable.

    Steve Palmer,

    I think we need 30 year olds across the pitch.

  8. Steve Palmer says:

    So we can whittle it down a bit a defender 6ft plus no older than 28 with lots of experience and a tough nut who is an expert header and probably French any one spring to mind

  9. JonJon says:

    we concede 17 pens cos we play such a high line we leave massive gaps and the oppo are in and we have to make rash, last ditch, panic defending and bad tackles..

    not only this but we cant deal with deadballs

    we have improved when we defend from open play but if we tightened up and got the basics right like tackling properly and putting your body on the line we would be a balanced side..a better side

    i had a chat with a buddy of mine about gks the other night..we discussed how gks with excellent reputations get away with alot more errors with the help of refs..
    if an average keeper fluffs a catch and there was abit of a push before, the ref will know hes a bit dodgy so he will have second thoughts on blowing the whistle..
    we seen vds drop a catch other night and he wasnt hardly touched and he got the foul cos he is vds..
    solid keeps with better reps will get you decisions in pressure situations and keep clean sheets

    i have nothing else to sat about the comments on nikki and diaby..

  10. rico says:

    The same here Gambon like i said in the post, it still haunts me – i’m glad when he’s not in there….

    Steve – he is exactly the right kind of age and signing we need to improve but, we all know wenger and the over 30’s.

    Saying that though, Squilli was just 30 years old we Wenger bought him, maybe his ideas are changing….

  11. JonJon says:

    weve also been awarded about 17 pens so the pen count levels itself out

    those set pieces are killing us

  12. rico says:

    Steve – Emir Spahić, just 30 years old, cheap and has played in france albeit he is not french… 😉

    I hope i am very very wrong……

  13. Jekyll says:

    Wenger’s comment regarding Diaby was bizarre even by his standards. If he believes Diaby playing more would improve our defensive organisation and weaknesses then he’s reached new levels of delusion.

    What it certainly demonstrates is he intends to persist with Diaby next season. Indeed the ‘big games’ comment shows he’s still a first choice, when fit. Amazing really.

  14. Steve Palmer says:

    Gambon, incoming players like contracts longer than a year, your probably right but Wenger won’t change habits of a lifetime

  15. JonJon says:

    it hapened to us v liverpool

    different position but same theory

    if thats sagna instead of eboue the ref might not have give that but cos it was eboue and hes a clown it makes it look more of a foul

    morning guys

  16. rico says:

    Don’t get on to Eboue jj, i hope he trots across london and signs for the totts…. he can join his old mate Ade….

  17. rico says:

    Parker is also pretty injury prone, remember how we all thought Joe Cole would be a good signing?? And he was free – he’ll be on his way again this summer….

  18. rico says:

    So we should forget Parker as he doesn’t fit the Wenger bill, and forget Benzema as 25M is far too much for Wenger to spend…

    Takes us back to Lorient’s striker Kevin Gameiro and Morgan Amalfitano to replace Nik and Denilson… (Amalfitano is free)

  19. rico says:

    i read something the other day about how he’s often suffered injury jj…

    One of his knees ….

  20. Steve Palmer says:

    I would settle for a Cahill, Samba, but will end up with a notradamiss from god knows where, but he’ll be cheap

  21. JonJon says:

    i think we should get usmanov to ‘sponser’ us
    i think we should kick our current sponsers in the bollox and get one of the uzbeks companys to buy the shirt deal for 30mil over a 5 year period..
    that guarantees 150mil investment in finances and flexibility to buy players..

    we would have to keep the wages in check though and follow the fair play model

  22. rico says:

    How nuch would Parker cost anyway?? Four years left on his contract?

    Add a goal scorer Steve and I’d be happy…

    As long as we see the back of a few too and bring in Lansbury and Frimpong…

  23. Steve Palmer says:

    I have said it before we could do a deal with Wes Ham for a year, and if they get back n Premier he could go back there, if not year by year, a sort of rent, allows Parker Premier and a chance to play for England

  24. JonJon says:

    i dont think parkers a crock..
    for his age he dont have a lot of pl starts but he spent 5 years of it being sat on the bench at chelsea and resurecting his career at newcastle…

  25. amband says:

    quote”

    It is down to availability and quality, we don’t rule out any position and we don’t target any special position before the transfer market.”

    He’ll ignore what’s available

  26. rico says:

    I don’t buy Wengers comments though Steve, Nik has three choices, play on the wing, be sub if RvP stays fit or leave…

    He has said he doesn’t want to play on the wing and at his age he should be looking to play regular, and he only plays on the wing from the bench..

    I think he’ll go….

  27. rico says:

    I think the list is right for all comps..

    Erick, I want Samba too 🙂

    jj, Parker had knee injuries in 08, medial ligament problem..

  28. rico says:

    One thing though, WH’s owners have said Parker can leave if they go down, a few others will be allowed to go too, if they ask to…

  29. Steve Palmer says:

    Nic bothers me rico Wenger has said himself that he has not had the starts he should have had. Makes me believe he will give him more, just a gut feeling but i hope i am wrong

  30. Erick says:

    Steve re Samba we had a great chance Aw bottled it and people say we can’t criticize him *SMH*

  31. rico says:

    Look at that from the other side Steve, he hasn’t had the starts he should be getting because he’s not good enough when he does get his chance..

    Wenger speaks a different language to us 😉

  32. Steve Palmer says:

    Eric, re Samba, as you say we had our chance the same as we had our chance with Cahill, i thought Charly Adams could have been an addition as well, Wenger never does what i’de like him to do but i cannot knock his achievements, top four cup final another year in CL he just frustrates the life out of me

  33. gambon says:

    Rico

    Of course we wont. We’ll sign a 13 year old midget from Tanzania, and a few shit french players.

  34. rico says:

    Chris Samba said he nearly joined us in January, maybe a deal was secured but BB wouldn’t let him leave until this summer??

  35. JonJon says:

    everyone has injuries at some point
    i broke my arm in 2009 but that doesnt mean im a crock

    unless your diaby and have medial brain damage then im not bothered when and where you were injured years ago..
    as long as your doing it now

  36. ArsenalDK says:

    Hello everyone! I haven’t read the post, i’m off to play a local soccer match with the boys, but I fell over this piece on arsenal.com:

    “I will not give you any names,” he (Wenger) said. “We are not specially buying on the flank. We have Walcott, we have Nasri, Arshavin and Bendtner.”

    That really made me furious! Bendtner on the flank? Walcott? They’re BOTH strikers! I gotta let off some steam.. see ya!

  37. rico says:

    gambon,

    i think he’ll sign a few, won’t be big names, but as long as they have big hearts they will be a massive improvement on some we turn out each week…

    I don’t want some Balotelli brat in the camp, or another Ade in the making either… What we need is players who know they will never be bigger than OUR club but will put in performances as big as our club deserves…

  38. Steve Palmer says:

    I wonder if Chamakh had his wrists smacked for his misdemeanour’s in vegas and has been under orders to toe the line i would be surprised to see him go, i believe he figures in Wengers plans

  39. rico says:

    jj – all i am trying to say is at 30, wenger won’t take a risk on him – you know that, we all know that…. i’d love us to sign him or a player like him but….

  40. rico says:

    See you later DK

    Chamakh and RvP is Wengers idea, but the concern is the fitness of RvP, when he’s out who steps in??

    Nik and Chamakh just doesn’t work…

    He must have been up to no good at all in Vegas, you don’t get a super injunction without good reason….

    Was Vela out there with him 😉

  41. gambon says:

    I have been to vegas 4 times, and got up to all sorts, but i didnt come back and lose the plot.

    Footballers make so many excuses its unreal.

  42. steveo says:

    When I see we’re linked with Cahill I always get excited as the first Cahill that springs to mind is Tim Cahill. Would love him at Arsenal, great in the air, total commitment and likes a bit of a fight, sounds good to me.

  43. Steve Palmer says:

    That’s some speech rico love it, should have had you doing the team talk before the final

  44. Steve Palmer says:

    Vela may of been the one he was doing it to, seeing how they have been kept apart, just sermising.

  45. rico says:

    🙂 Steve

    I’m just fed up with seeing our lot strolling around the pitch during games like it’s an after lunch walk having eaten too much pud, right up until the last couple of weeks we could have won the league, but no, our lot think different and treat each game like a training session, no respect for the oppo, no commitment and certainly no passion in their game…

    Just shocking and I still cannot forget the way they turned up for the CC final, absolute disgrace…

  46. rico says:

    I’m still not really sure what he got up to Steve, agag said it was something to do with naughty videos etc…

  47. Steve Palmer says:

    The question on Parker is quite simple you don’t run through walls with passion like he does without an injury or two, I love him and would welcome a Parker and get rid of that Bottler Diaby, but deep down I don’t see it happening

  48. rico says:

    I echo that Steve….

    jj is right, one or two injuries don’t make a crock, i guess i just think we have seen too many…

  49. Erick says:

    Thanks guy re Chamaka but in my humble opinion the guys plays with his head, cant shoot may be just incase Rvp breaks down

  50. Erick says:

    People complain Nikky get less time on the pitch but Chicharito has walked straight to the starting eleven from the bench

  51. rico says:

    He did well when he first arrived Erick and didn’t take long to start scoring, good job as we had no rvp or nik to begin the season…

    said before it can’t be easy adapting to the PL, next season is the one for him to be judged imho…

  52. Erick says:

    Rico but Nikky has to go, give Chamaka another season and get a great striker with the Cash but Aw will keep them all

  53. rico says:

    Erick, thats because he is a top player and is doing what he gets paid for – Nik could have got every fan on his side with one good touch this season, followed by a goal….

    He couldn’t even manage that…..

  54. Steve Palmer says:

    rico understand your thoughts i think everybody feels the same, but we have a very good team, a team that will win things i have no doubts but a season is a long time and when you are competing in every comp a very long season it is. a good team is not enough, we need a squad of the same quality as the team so rest can be had throughout the season, eight changes in a winning team is not the way to do it with substandard players, i said it at the time and people disagreed and said the players needed the rest, had we played a first team in the qualifying rounds in the CL we would have been in a different group maybe still not have won but while a team is winning they are up for it. little disappointments along the way build up and starts to tell, the Leyton orient game should have been a walkover but another game in a busy period doesn’t help, rest players yes but no more than two at a time and keep the momentum going.

  55. rico says:

    That is what i hope for too Erick, keep Chamakh and sell Nik, Denilson, Rosicky, Diaby and Eboue – Hoyte and Randall can go too….

    Simples 🙂

  56. steveo says:

    True Rico, but a decent offer, with the player well aware of such offer etc(think that’s called a tap up but there you go) and you never know..and I’m sure he’s quite sick of never in with a chance of winning anything at Everton

  57. Erick says:

    Steve I thought we had a great second eleven bv they let us down really bad, Cesc had to come in and win it for us thats where Aw need to improve

  58. rico says:

    And I agreed with you Steve – too many changes to a team is wrong and it proved so as you say, not only the LO match either – Leeds and Ipswich…

    I think we have all realised that after our first choice 11 or 12, the difference in quality is much less…

    Lansbury, Frimpong, Coquelin should help that change a little as I would rather see any one of those three come on instead of Eboue, Denilson or Rosicky…

  59. Erick says:

    Rico, Diaby you are in for a rude shock..he is Aw’s son never in a mil years, SteveO Barca do it all the time, why not

  60. rico says:

    I know Erick, he’s going nowhere, i can hope though 😉

    but if its between him or denilson and one has to stay… i think it would be diaby for me…

  61. Steve Palmer says:

    rico, let me run this past you, Spuds will probably let Crouch go this year how would you feel about him in red and white

  62. steveo says:

    yeah but Rico, who the hell would want to tap Davies or Johnson up? they can stay right where they are….just think that being constantly linked with Parker, who by the way I’d take all day, I find it strange that somebody like Tim Cahill has never been mentioned.

  63. rico says:

    Bloomin heck Steve, that’s a low baller 😉

    I don’t see him as an out and out spud though, it wouldn’t bother me if he played for us, but is he good enough??

  64. rico says:

    No Erick, I think or maybe just hope he goes….

    A few sides are rumoured to be after him, fingers crossed….

  65. rico says:

    Have to go walk the muttley before the rain comes, back a bit later…

    Wonder who will win the FA Cup, I don’t really care in all honesty but maybe a Stoke victory would be funny 😉

  66. Steve Palmer says:

    I have watched all the spud games this year, on tv of course, and i watched Crouch before that as well, and although he has a strange playing style he is a right grafter he has impressed me with the way he goes about his business and also aware who is about him he is blinding with his head and causes all defences with his aerial dominance, against Real he was pumped up and would have run through walls, a couple of crude tackles which is not common with him and i think a trier he also has that knack of scoring and seems a nice guy, i have liked him for a long time but more when i read an IV he gave when he was asked (What would you have been if you hadn’t made it as a footballer) and he answered ( A virgin )

  67. Joaquim Moreira says:

    How many penalties we had?
    Data I heard today on a TV show:
    They set up goals in 998 Premier League tie now
    There were 16 hack-tricks
    Was Spurs team that scored more away goals in the area: 12

    The goalkeeper of the MU is also Polish. From the first failure of the goalkeeper, was affected the whole team especially the two central defenders. Lesson: When there is no confidence in a goalkeeper, distrust is reflected throughout the team.
    NB spent playing or wanting to play a position that is not his. Another player untapped.
    Wallcot needs space to start and put the game speed. This is your big weapon but has short-lived. It will never be an advanced player center. Reminiscent of the Lennon of Tottenham. When his speed and ability is gone, enter when defenses are more worn. But not to play as center forward.
    Extremes in the real sense of the term, is something extinction in modern football. The extremes are now the full backs, just like these, some were mean right / left midfiels in the past. There are players with good dribbling skills, crossover, and fast, which can generate other alternatives solutions to attack.

  68. rico says:

    Hi JM, whats going on in the Manc game, i’m watching Stoke get battered by Citeh – by battered I mean fouled left right and centre, Toure should be off the pitch….

  69. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Touré for Arsenal ! 🙂
    Another team, was building a new stadium and start to win titles..

  70. Steve Palmer says:

    Well what can you say, MANKS are happy and I sit here and worry about Villa.
    Well done Mancini money does make a difference, that’s how you win a final.
    Well done Red Nose, you have won the Premier with a shit team but you are a quality manager and with authorities behind you the Champions League should be within your grasp as well.
    As for us depends what team turns up if anybody cares, but i think its going to be a nice day for a walk, pity the Management need a white stick to walk.

  71. rico says:

    Just been writing about that for tomorrow Steve, well, just a few lines of ‘well dones’ 😉

  72. rico says:

    Heres a thought about tomorrow…

    We are on Sky, as our the Chavs…

    But – Wigan play West Ham, a match that will surely determine one of the two clubs future in the PL, why the heck is that not being shown on TV???

    If it was, i think i’d be watching it, it will be a cracking game, bit like todays Blackpool v Bolton….

  73. allezkev says:

    Chuks Aneke has Tweeted Conor Henderson: Good luck tomorrow??? Is Conor having a Driving Test? Or could he be in the squad/starting XI vs Villa?

  74. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Abou Diaby (calf) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) are both ruled out for tomorrow. Djourou also.Nasri and Fabregas will see.
    Denilson come back to thwe squad? 😉

  75. Steve Palmer says:

    Just noticed your earlier comment rico A Young be wasted in our side you have to have people in the middle with him

  76. rico says:

    Steve, but if we got him, we could start playing like we used to, get the likes of theo and chamakh in the box…

  77. allezkev says:

    Rico, hi, Ashley Young, 1 year left on his Villa contract, so how much would he go for, baring in mind that in 12 months time, he could name his own price?

  78. Steve Palmer says:

    Rico i think you should travel to london tomorow and deliver this to our players before the game. I wrot this for you in 1940.

    “I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

    At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation.

    The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

    Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

    We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
    we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
    we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
    we shall fight on the beaches,
    we shall fight on the landing grounds,
    we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
    we shall fight in the hills;
    we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

    you may have to change it a bit Though.

  79. allezkev says:

    Frimpong, Lansbury, Henderson, i’d like to see a couple of them on the bench.
    Thought De Jong was massive for City today, now that’s what you call a defensive-midfielder, loved the way he thundered into the Stoke players, great to see them on the recieving end.

  80. rico says:

    kev, 15M will get Young, and that is from Villa…

    a snip for a young english player who has a big future ahead….

  81. rico says:

    😆 😆 Steve, i don’t think that is for me, i’d add a few naughty words…. Like it though, very much…

  82. allezkev says:

    The thing is with Young, the longer it goes through the summer,without any offers for him close to Villa’s asking price, maybe Villa will get cold feet and drop their asking price? So it could be a case of who blinks first?

  83. rico says:

    Is anyone watching Euro??

    Blue were shocking…. In fact they have all been dreadful so far…

  84. rico says:

    But we need to set the summer standards and show we mean serious business – get in there and get him, give others a good reason to stay and others a reason to leave…..

  85. allezkev says:

    Yeah Kompany and Lescott both had good games, but i thought De Jong broke up Stoke before they could create anything, a case of City having a strong spine, in stark contrast to Arsenal.
    Stevie P, very inspiring.

  86. Steve Palmer says:

    Can’t knock city they won, hope our boys was watching and learnt how to win, in case we ever get in that position again that is.

  87. allezkev says:

    Steve i can’t see us getting as close to the EPL as we were this season, not for a long long time, and not under the present manager, not unless he spends seriously this summer. And we all know he won’t.

  88. allezkev says:

    Steve, i am lumbered with ‘You Know What’ on TV. Mind you, it’s very quiet on here, Wath must be watching it…

  89. allezkev says:

    Yeah Rico, it was a leg breaker… Pity he didn’t do it to Shawcross! Got to say, i don’t give a toss if Stoke players get kicked, in fact i really enjoyed it…

  90. rico says:

    I cannot stand Stoke or their manager but they robbed by a player who should have been sent off – i cannot stand citeh either though….

    for every shawcross there is a de jong….

  91. allezkev says:

    Rico, you’ll be disliking them even more next season, because this win is gonna catapult them onto the next level & i can see them really going for the EPL in 2011-12, and in the meantime they’ll pass us on the way…

  92. rico says:

    I’m not so sure kev, they may have plenty of stars but they are also going to have a few unhappy players….. i’m not totally convinced they have the right managaer either….

  93. rico says:

    I didn’t see the Huth one kev, spoken like a true wenger, except i’m truthing 😉

    Euro has never been as bad as it is tonight – what ever happened to the likes of Clodagh Rogers, Bernie Flint, Dana, Cliff Richard and Abba????

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading