Morning all.
Any plane crash makes dreadful news as seldom are there any survivors but when the majority of a football team and its coaching staff lose their lives it somehow feels different. Man Utd suffered such tragedies many years ago and last night, Chapecoense, a football club from Brazil, suffered in similar fashion.
South America is in mourning, football is in mourning and my thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones in this tragic accident.
With the January transfer window looming, should Arsene Wenger be looking at adding to the squad?
Right backs – Bellerin and Jenkinson. (Debuchy injured)
Left backs – Monreal and Gibbs.
Central defenders – Koscielny, Mustafi, Gabriel and Holding. (Mertesacker injured)
Midfielders – Ramsey, Xhaka, Elneny, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jeff and Ozil. (Cazorla injured)
Forwards – Alexis, Giroud, Iwobi, Perez, Walcott, Akpom and Sanogo. (Welbeck & Akpom injured)
Lucas Perez is expected to return tomorrow night for our EFL match against Southampton so he’ll be another option for Arsene Wenger on the left up front and Danny Welbeck should be back in January if he doesn’t have any setbacks but Chuba Akpom is reported to be heading out on loan with a number of clubs interested in snapping him up. Cardiff, Fulham and Brentford are three clubs linked but surely at this stage of his career, a Premier League club would be better for him, if he’s going to get playing time that is.
Personally, I can’t see Arsene adding anyone next month, not unless we suffer anymore long term injuries between now and the 1st January. But as big as our squad is, I think it could do with a fresh face or two coming in. New signings put pressure on the players already at the club, work-rate goes up as competition for places increase and let’s be honest, there’s a few who really need to up their own game.
Nacho Monreal has been struggling this season, partly because he’s getting little protection ahead of him and no doubt his confidence has dropped as many times he makes a tackle, it results in a free kick or as on Sunday, a penalty when majority of the time, he’s done little wrong.
Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and even Mesut Ozil have struggled at times but the Ox seems to be getting better the more he plays and Mesut Ozil, well he’s pure class and it’s only a matter of time before he’s firing on all cylinders again. Ramsey, we’ve all seen what he’s capable of so all he needs is a kick up the jacksie and hopefully his good form will soon return.
With Bellerin out, is Carl Jenkinson good enough to fill the void until the young Spaniard returns, not that Arsene Wenger do much if he’s not, other than continue with Gabriel in that position because by the time the 1st January arrives, Bellerin will be back.
Attacking wise, is Perez, Giroud and Alexis enough?
In which position do you think Arsene Wenger should strengthen in January, if any?
[yop_poll id=”10″]
Morning all.
Absolutely tragic news from South America.
Terrible stuff.
Isn’t it just Scott….
Morning Rico, Scott and all. I agree. Really tragic news. Desperately sad.
Lots of young lives lost, and plenty of families affected….very sad.
On the January transfer window, am I right in thinking Mertesacker could be headed out and possibly replaced??
He will be down to the final few months of his contract, yes??
Morning Adam, dreadfully sad…
Not sure on Merts contract but if f he goes, I can’t see him being replaced. Not with Kos, Mustafi, Gabriel, Holding and Chambers all in the squad..
What’s the status on yaya sanogo, is he injured.
I don’t think he’ll be off in January because, he is still injured and isn’t due back before March. Ask Kev, he’ll know when. And, I think if he does leave in the summer he’ll go out with a fanfare final appearance at the end of the season. After all he is club captain this year!
Shocking news from Colombia. Flying is a most unnatural form of travel. I know it’s deemed the safest form of transport but, when accidents occur they are always devastating.
I’ll stand corrected but I think in the aftermath of the Munich air crash many football teams were separated and they flew in two aircraft, just in case! At least only half a team would be lost!! Little wonder Bergamp would never fly, one near miss was enough for him.
Morning all. Still white over, here. Don’t think I’m going to venture far today!
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico – glad I could help ?
I voted none, I think our squad is strong and unless a fantastic player or a promising youngster becomes available, I don’t see the prospect of Arsenal doing any business…
Now, Arsene will go out and probably sign 3 players…
Players like Gabriel, Holding, Jenkinson, until recently, weren’t getting any game time, Xhaka can’t get a regular game, nor can Ox and Iwobi is out of the picture now, bringing in more players could have a negative effect imo.
Giroud looks grumpy, Debuchy was in a strop, Wenger has to be careful how he manages the atmosphere at the club and morale of the players…
He needs to encourage the likes of Jeff, AMN, Bielik, Holding, Malen and co, he needs to give them hope that they’ll get a chance, it’s a fine balancing act and probably why Akpom will go out on loan in January.
As Mr Adam and I were discussing on Sunday evening, a young left-back would be a good move, someone to understudy Monreal and Gibbs, especially as there isn’t anyone in the Stiffs who I can think of who looks like pushing on into the senior squad anytime soon…
BFG is due back in early January, so I’ve seen Wavy…
Like you I can’t see him leaving before the summer, also not sure if Chambers will return, if Arsenal got a good offer for him they might be tempted to cash in…
The other Arsenal players out on loan are;
Pleguezuelo,
Szczesny,
Nwakali,
Campbell,
Asano,
Total,
Kamara,
Moore,
Crowley,
Huddart,
Wilshere,
O’Connor.
White here too Wavy.. Brrr
Morning Kev…
Have we got enough fire power up front?
12.08 Kev, good point…
It’s obvious we need a new dynamic left back.if available.& supposedly we’re after him.a superb aquisition would be “David Alaba of the Bayern munchers.however,Maureen is up to his old tricks & sniffing around our targets.so I doubt it will happen.
Rico 12.29;
Probably not Rico, but who is there out there (?) who is available..?
Welbeck will be back soon, so we could, by January, have Giroud, Perez and Welbeck all looking for a game with Alexis and Walcott in situ…
That’s not a bad state to be in…
We have a strong squad, all they need to do is play to their potential.
Rico, have you got snow?
It’s very cold out here in Essex, cold enough for snow, but it’s a beautiful sunny day.
Keep all the snow out your way, lol ?
Hi Rico,all.
It’s terribly sad loosing young people who had a whole life to live ahead of them. Very sad news from Colombia- it could be anybody/team….
I don’t see a slot that needs addition imo. Every spot has 2 players in he squad. Even injuries aren’t affecting us as much. Players like Iwobi, Elneny, Ramsey, Gab to name afew are barely getting playtime. Rotation and keeping the squad afresh is what Wenger should embrace.
Giroud doesn’t celebrate goals anymore. I’d imagine he’d walk out if a forward was added.
If Alaba is actually available then I say, sign him.
I think Arsene will add at least one player in the Santi mode, there are couple out there like Gomez from Atalanta or he may finally pull the trigger on Demebele. He’s been following the kid since he was at Fulham.
I strongly believe that the title is between Arsenal and City, by January it will be apparent and AW will not make the mistake he made last season again by not adding. Sure Santi will come back but he could get injured again.
There is always space for Griezmann and Reus in my wishful arsenal team.
Alaba is 24, that’d be perfect.
Sorry Kev. Went off to visit a poorly friend..
No snow but a really hard frost which hasn’t really gone all day.. It’s bloomin cold out there now, going to be another white morning tomorrow..
Evening guys.
Alaba, yes please but if he’s available, Pep would go for him surely…
Griezmann for me too Marshall….. Love him, and perfect for Arsenal.
Giroud is out for tomorrow’s match so who will start up front? Alexis could do with the week off.
Sanogo?
Monaco’s left back (mendy) I think his name is good choice for consideration. .22 yrs old he is strong, athletic, good dribbler and excellent crosser of the ball. .he was man of the match in their game against the spuds.
Very impressive display from him,
I doubt if he will be available in January though, with monaco through to the knock out stage.
Kk, anyone is available for the right price… 😉
Thanks Rico and evening all.
Hard choice Rico …..as you know I want 4 wingers who play at FB, so is that attack or defence ?. 🙂
Alaba has already said he`d rather Arsenal than Manshafter and if I remember correctly said he loves Arsenal………………………..mind you so did Mkhitiryan………..whatever his name is !………..it`s the money you know, doesn`t matter that you love a club when you are offered a fistfull of dollars…….whar whar whar…………whar whar wharrrr………..whar whar whar……………whar whar wharrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Come on !, dont say you dont know what tune I was singing there ! 😆
Or was that…..the good the bad and the ugly ?………………………am I getting my spaghetti`s mixed up ?……………..lets not split hairs you know what I mean !. hahaha
So Keown reckons Wilshere is better than Xhaka and loaning him out was a mistake….
Boyhood Gooner apparently !………………tried to copy and paste the article but it gets lost somewhere !
Who LC?
Alaba, Rico. 🙂
Really LC?
One of many articles on it !.
http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/11/27/13755518/david-alaba-transfer-news-arsenal-manchester-united-bayern-munich-gunners-red-devils
Ha ha, I googled it and got this one…
http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/06/david-alaba-initially-wanted-arsenal-transfer-over-bayern-munich-5798245/
Trouble is he likes PV4 !………………..so us or other Mancs !…………………….money wont come into it ! 😉
Or Jose v Arsene… only one winner… lol
Night guys, catch up tomorrow….
Morning rico & all, Do you go to bed early over there in Blighty? Anyway rico, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lionel Messi has Arsenal DNA, so Old Frenchy should sign him in January 🙂
Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott, Elneny, Xhaka, Holding, Iwobi, Martinez, R-Adelaide, Monreal, Gabriel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson all trained 1 hour ago
Maitland-Niles, M. Bola, Mavididi, Bielik, Bennacer all in first-team training today. 1 hour ago
That was on Jeorge Birds Twitter this afternoon…
I’d be amazed if Wenger started Ozil, Walcott, Alexis and Xhaka, but maybe that’s in his mind?
Morning all.
Jolly cold here this morning, plenty of defrosting of water having to be done… 😉
George, I don’t go to bed that early, just give my eyes a rest… lol
Morning Rico and all. Very frosty here too.
Morning Adam, lovely isn’t it….
Rico. Yes, lovely. Sitting here in the warm, listening to music, looking out the window anyway. 🙂
Morning
Very similar to me Adam………….except I`m licking the window ! 😆
🙂 Adam.
I love days like today, makes winter more bearable…
Wish we could get Alexis and Ozil to put pen to paper…………fed up with all the rumours of them leaving .
Latest one is Ozil regrets leaving Real Madrid !. 🙁
This sunny but cold frosty weather reminds me of a few yers ago when I built my own house and lived in a caravan whilst building it……………….mornings like today the windows were frosted on the inside of the caravan !…………..no insulation in them them days and single glazed.brrrrrrrrrrrr !
LC. Don’t let that tongue get frozen to the glass. 🙂
that Ozil story is bollards Lc…
I`d like some snow Rico…..we have a few acres of sloping north/east facing fields which which make great snow boarding !………shame we`ve only had proper snow twice in 14 years !. 🙁
You can keep the snow Lc… 😉
Too late Adam ! 🙂
Probably is Rico, but the longer the contracts are not signed the more stressfull rumours we have to endure ……………….if it`s £250K per week each, then in todays market with TV money etc` is it too much for just the two top players to be on such money ?………………………..sort it Gazidis !
It’s only Marca being their usual selves Lc… I reckon he’ll stay, he loves Wenger… lol
New post up now.
Interesting stories about the Leipzig manager though.
Ozil has just spent 10 million on a house in London, it’s just the Red Tops at it gain. I don’t think either he or sanchez want to leave,Sanchez now speaks English and they like the idea that they can go out in London and not get harrassed,
Tonight we we will get a mish mash of youngsters and the od first teamer and by all acconts Perez ,but IMO Wenger doesn’t have this as a priority and could well do without it especially with the top 4 being more competitive than ever.