Morning all.
It’s the 1st of May today, the beginning of the final month in this 2014/15 Premier League campaign and Arsenal are on the cusp of doing something they haven’t done for a long time and that’s avoid an early Champions League qualifying fixture. Oh, and finish the season with a nearly fully fit squad. Even Abou Diaby is fit and that alone is a miracle.
Arsene Wenger told the official site:
Everybody is in good shape, apart from Mathieu Debuchy, who has a little hamstring problem. We don’t know how bad it is. Apart from that everybody should be available [for the Hull game].
Hull City, fresh off the back of a victory over Liverpool will be full of confidence and let’s not forget they are fighting for survival so Monday’s match could be tough…
But we’ve looked a lot better defensively and part of that is possibly, no, probably down to David Ospina bringing a bit of calmness to those ahead of him. But at just 6′ tall, it won’t be long before managers tell their strikers ‘just shoot high’ because the likelihood is, they’ll score. Well, they’ll think they will although I’ve not seen many high shots get by our keeper so far.
Does size really matter, after all, Szczesny is a lot taller but still has his critics, many of them too and it can’t be down to age as there’s just one year between them yet clearly, the Columbian is Arsenal fans favourite right now and rightly so imo.
So what to make of the’slightly taller than Ospina’ Iker Casillas rumours?
It’s fair to say he’s had a very good career over in Spain but now it seems he’s ready for a new challenge in England.
Casillas isn’t going to move to sit on the bench as he’s been doing that too often in Madrid but is there really anything to suggest that he’s better than David Ospina? No, not imo.
Is he better than Szczesny because I think he’ll be the one to be sold if the manager does sign another goalkeeper. Tough one to answer eh….
In other transfer stories, Arsenal are on the verge of completing a £14.6m move for Valencia left-back Jose Luis Gaya, who according to reports in Spain, has rejected a contract renewal offer from Valencia. If this story is true it begs the question, who departs, Monreal or Gibbs? Monreal will be 30 years old early next year but he’s playing so well right now and as Ashley Cole proved, a left back can play at the top of his game long after turning that age. I can’t see our Spaniard being cast aside just yet.
Lukas Podolski will be allowed to leave for free in the summer just to get him off the wage bill according to The Sun which makes perfect sense to me as does the reports that both Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo will be sold should any club make an offer for them.
With the transfer window not that far away now, we’ll soon find out what’s fact or fictional..
Arsene Wenger has been talking to the official site about how he’s changed over the years:
I was an absolute firebomb, I was absolutely mad! You learn to express your ideas better with time, to anticipate problems better that you [used to], so you are not so surprised as when you are young.
You take a bit more distance with what is happening. At a club like Arsenal you could not exactly behave like I behaved at the start!
I have learnt to dominate my devils. I am not sure I have mellowed in my resolute attitude, but in the way I express my feelings and beliefs, certainly I have changed.
Wenger’s assistant at Monaco, Jean Petit, says that while he may have mellowed in some regards, he remains a highly-competitive character.
He does not like wrong decisions. He just does not like losing, but he has calmed down with age.
At the start of his career in France, when things were not going well he tended to shout and get a bit too angry. But he was always measured.
When we used to come into the office, we were always looking for things to move football forward. We didn’t do anything crazy. That said, we liked to have a laugh and Arsène is a very nice and fun guy.
Arsene Wenger certainly moved football forward, he moved Arsenal forward too and not just on match days. The new training ground, new stadium and the quality of players we fans have been privileged to support since his arrival has all been down to his vision. With a little help along the way of course and after a few baron years and many a cheap or unsuccessful signing, he’s changed again. Now we are seeing a much much better quality of player signed and it seems the dark days are finally behind us.
As Wath said yesterday, out with a few of the squad and make the signings in the summer which will together we who we keep, take us up another level or two and then go at Chelsea, Utd, City and whichever other clubs who think they can win the league and beat them like they never imagined possible.
Who knows, we might even get further in the knock-out stages of the Champions League too.
But to do that, Arsene Wenger has to again move football forward, find a way through and around the parked bus, find a way past a keeper on form and with it, find a way to win the Premier League! And learn not to lose the big CL matches at The Emirates.
Big summer please Arsenal and a big and better new season ahead….
Have a good Friday……
Bang. 1st. nice read Lady
for those who think that AW will buy a new keeper.
He will not buy a keeper…..even if Ches leaves.
He will rely on Ospina, Martinez, Macey, Illiev.
——————
Arsene Wenger has distanced himself from speculation Arsenal will sign a new goalkeeper this summer by insisting David Ospina has been the Premier League’s best shot-stopper.
The Gunners have been monitoring Chelsea’s Petr Cech and reports in Spain this week suggested Wenger could revive his long-standing interest in Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas but when asked by Standard Sport if he was looking to sign a goalkeeper, the Frenchman replied: “No, not necessarily.”
Wenger instead chose to focus on his current crop and claims Ospina, who replaced Wojciech Szczesny as the club’s first choice at the beginning of 2015, has excelled since getting his chance.
No goalkeeper has a better win ratio having played more than ten games – Ospina has won 11 of his 13 League matches – although he has seven clean sheets compared to the 13 recorded by Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet and Southampton’s Fraser Forster and he is ranked 21st in terms of the most saves made this season, with Szczesny one place ahead of him.
“Look, I believe in the goalkeepers I have,” added Wenger. “I believe that Szczesny is a very good goalkeeper and Ospina has come in and done a fantastic job. You look at the numbers in the Premier League and who is top of all the goalkeepers and you will see it is Ospina.”
Thanks Devil – tbh, AW is hardly likely to openly say he has little/no faith in Ches, it’ll drop his value.. 😉
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/arsenal/story/2427268/vieira-disappointed-wenger-did-not-offer-him-arsenal-role
Even if you are 100% right with regards the keepers, I still will not see AW getting another keeper. Ospina will be the No1 next season.
Devil – I haven’t a clue what AW will do, but my hunch is the same as yours, Ospina as number one…
Rain is due here soon so i’m off out for a walk with Fido before it arrives..
Morning all.
All the talk of keepers is frustrating……Rico, that’s not aimed at you, as you’re reporting/repeating the rumours.
Ospina has been outstanding, has a wealth of experience but is still a good age so why are we even looking?
Szczesny will go, I believe but you know what?
I hope he stays and fights.
These ability is there, but it’s merely potential at this stage.
If he decides to stick it out, it will show he has the mettle to be as good as he possibly can be so it will be interesting.
I’ll be glad when the transfer window is open Scott… 😉
And even happier when it’s finished, hey Rico hahahahahahahahaha
No Scott as that will mean summer is gone and winter looms here… 😉
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
I don’t know if we will be getting a new goalie in the upcoming transfer window. A lot will depend on the face-to-face meeting between Arsene and Szczesny. If Szczesny shows the right attitude and is willing to stay and fight for the position, then no. However, if Szczesny wants to leave then I can see Arsenal buying a new goalie, especially with two world class experienced keepers like Cech and Casillas available.
Rico – Unlike you, I’ll be glad when the transfer window closes and we poor emotional wrecks of Arsenal supporters can then focus on the football. Here’s hoping Arsene and the club can complete their transfer business early and the team can have a good preseason without the distraction of transfer speculation. Ah the eternal wish of a Frazzled Gooner.
Rico – You’d better keep an an eye on those two fur balls or you’ll be up to your armpits in wascally wabbits.
Morning Cg..
I agree with you, if Szczesny wants to walk away for first team football, he’ll sign another… Can’t see Martinez stepping up just yet and ideally, Cech would come in..
I enjoy the summer transfer window… 🙂
Rico – I didn’t realize that you were a masochist. LOL Although not as bad as poor Goonster Stan, I find the pipe dreams, lies, rumours and sometimes pure fantasy of the transfer window a bit stressful. The period between the FA Cup final and the opening of the window is, by far, the worst.
I enjoy the summer, especially if accompanied by a very tall very cold gin and tonic, but not the transfer window.
🙂 Cg, they are not mine…
It’s all a bit of fun though really Cg and websites like this survive on it during the off season…
At last. I am still having trouble getting on HH and Kev too who just txt me.
Kev has told me Adam. I don’t understand why, just tried my ipad and iphone and accessing the is ok and pretty quick…
Adam, just had a thought and it might be a long shot but do you have a wordpress .com account or .org?
https://wordpress.org/support/bb-login.php
Could be worth creating a new .org account and see if that helps…
Dot com Rico.
Ok (he said nonchalently).
Just follow the link 😉
Happy mayday comrades, Ospina is playing well but I’d still like Cech in the summer.
Instead of Ches Joe?
Yep or let fight for he’s place I just want Cech.
I’d like Cech and Ospina to fight it out….
Ozil pfa player of the month…great way to start my weekend come on you gunners
Morning good people
Jose luis gaya is a cracking left back. He’s one of the best players in the la Liga hence my skeptism but if we end up signing him then Lord God in heaven what a player we have on our hands. Madrid chelshit and barfa have all been chasing him for a while now. What a player.
So quiet around this parts…..where is everybody??
Hi Stan..
Goonie, are you getting on to Hh ok now?
Yes maam but some adverts keeps popping up. It’s really annoying. Not today though it’s been fine today. How are u rico??? Are you doing alright?
Comments are really low on the blogosphere(spelling) even legrove seems lifeless. What’s going on? You ll think our season is over. We re in the finals of the fa cup you twits. Grrrr.
I’m good thanks Stan… How are you?
The man behinds the scenes changed the server last night so prob the reason it’s better today Stan. Glad it is..
Sure is quiet these days, not sure everyone has gone..
God in heaven….where is everybody?
Oh there you are rico. ..phew. what’s going on?? You ll think our season has just gone tits up. It seems folks only blog when we re doing badly. Boy I outta….
Kev once said Hh is busier when we lose… Lol
Even those Muppets on legrove have all disappeared. One bad result and you ll see them baying for blood like pack of lice ridden hyenas. God some people make me sick.
rico it’s everywhere fans thrive and leave off the negativity. Take that away and they are just a bunch of maggot infested brainless zombies. God am do angry.
*Live off*
That’s harsh Stan…. Lol
Maybe it’s because we don’t play till Monday rico Cause I just don’t get it.
Who’s the wise guy that scheduled our game on a Monday night? I mean who does that? ? I love watching the mighty arsenal on a Saturday not even sunday. Now I gotta get off work to watch the game. God in heaven Help me.
Just nipping off to eat Goonie, won’t be long…
It’s been quiet for a while Goonster, a real shame…
Bon apetite rico 😀
I’m back already Stan… Lol
Lol great to have you back rico am just watching the arsenal vs hull game at the emirates. Boy what a team we put out then. Monreal a center half Danny welbeck the center forward we also had wilshere and chambers on that team. little wonder we played out a 2.2 draw. They ll be facing a different animal this term 😀
We look much better since that drab draw goonie…..
Wonder what’s happened to Chambers, has he even made the bench of late?
You betcha…..ozil pfa player of the mon the says it all…wilshere on his day is a beast. If only….
Maam rosciky haven’t made the bench lol. The squad depth is frightening.
Am loving it 😀
Evening Rico and the House.
At last I have managed to come online I for one am glad to see the back of April ( It’s been shocking) and I’m looking forward to having a really great May
I feel rather frustrated at having missed some very good debates and would haved loved to be part of them. With a little luck I hope to be more active in the next few weeks,
.
Wilshere Stan??
Evening Rick.
Have you had problems logging into Hh or your own stuff has prevented you from posting? Fingers crossed for May, for you and Arsenal….
Yes rico wilshere…..i ve seen folks saying they ll bite off shitty’s hands for £40. Am sorry I won’t. Wilshere has been plagued with injuries all his career. You don’t go from bossing the game against barfa ro shit over night. There’s a player in there getting ready to break forth. I ll keep him no matter what. I ll hate watching him break forth in a shitty shirt. The media ll have a field day
We won’t hear the end of it.
He won’t be sold to City goonie….
My own problems Rico.
Had a bad fall over Easter and was very lucky to have no seriose injurys.
Lived on pain killers for 3 weeks. Ego very deflated and I feel a vey lucky guy.
We better don’t…
Sorry to hear that Rick. I doubt the under 21’s have cheered you up much either…..
Goonster, i don’t know where he fits into this current side though….
Rico that’s why we need a strong bench what’s with arsenal fans and selling players. A few years ago we were all crying for a strong bench now we have one and its hey let’s sell then off. Geez Lewis.
Rico for what it is worth I cannot see Arsene selling any of the English players.
As it is at the moment these players at at a premium and there is no way he will sell to City .
Spot on rick no chance in hell especially not wilshere….
I’d only sell the oldies goonie…
Rick, neither can I. I’d get jenks back too….
Good evening to you all…..
I ll keep everyone rico….the oldies ll come in handy when we need to keep a calm head. Remember the 2007/2008 team?? They fell apart after Eduardo’s injury. Had we a bunch of seasoned professionals like arteta or tr7 at that time maybe just maybe we might have won the league. Keep everyone and add a few newbies and let’s do this again. Come on arsenal.
Iwill say more about the U21’s later Rico thats a promise
Next 10 days are massive Rico . 2 big games 2 birthdays and the 70th anniversary of VE day. And I have heared the rumour something is happening on the7th .
Thats all for tonight see you over the wend Night Rico.
Hiya bt….
Howdy Gooonie,
Night Rick, sorry to hear about your fall.
PS, I have been told that Benik Afobi cannot stop talking about Arsene ( Arsene says this, Arsene says that). There is a hint there is a buy back clause.
Am doing alright bt just milfed we won’t be playing till Monday. Bummed out.
Rick is that a fact 😀 I ll gladly take him back.
Boring Boring Chelsea…
Rick, that’ll be one to keep a look out for….
Goonie, it’s a bit of a bummer, at least it’ll be something to watch on a Monday night..
How’s Brianna, have you stayed off the sauce?
Kev 😀
Why is it, that I cannot log on properly, during the day, but I can log on normally in the evening???
Evening All…
Is that you hovering around Stan?
Bt am am off the sauce for a long time mate. Brianna is doing great. She’s at her grandparents. Am all by myself this weekend. That’s why am so pissed the game is not till monday. She ll be back by then and throwing tantrums. Grrrr
Hiya Stan, BT, Rick
King Kev, has broken through, how you doin’?
Evening Bt, Kev….
Goonster, I get your point but they take up a place in the squad, one which could be filled with younger players like Alexis who have enough about them to settle others….
Rick, I was listening to the Arseblog Arsecast earlier and Jeorge Bird was on there talking about the Stiffs etc…
According to JB, he thinks both Gatting and Laraman are gonna get the old tin tack.
And that a couple more Dutch coaches will be brought in by Jonkers…
Tbh, they couldn’t do any worse.
JB also thinks that it’ll be 3-4 years before we’ll see any benefit from the changes…
Rick, hope that’s true re Afobe.. Goodnight to you and chat again about the young guns. Sleep well….
Hi BT, all is good mate, moving home tomorrow so I’ve had a lot on my plate.
How’s things with you?
Evening Rico…
Got some more ideas for a post, will work on it next week… 😉
Goonie, don’t let those idle hands get you into trouble, this weekend…..
Evening My Lady. have you started housing wabbits?
Buy back clause, sell on clause as well I guess…
That would be brilliant Rick, I always rated Benik, but his injuries just caned him…
Jeorge Bird also said, Rick, that Crowley and Zelamen could be the next youngsters to make an impact…
Strangely enough he didn’t say anything about Akpom or Hayden, which I found surprising…
Pretty good Kev, thanks.
Moving house is a right royal pain in the arse, good luck with it, are you moving far?
As for Gatting and Co, it would be justified going on performances….imo
Great news Kev re the post… I wonder if 3G/4g is overloaded during the day?
Bt, no chance. Too much flying fur which I’m allergic too. Love them but I prefer guinea pigs….
Got bit by a guinea pig called George in my youth, Rico….lol
Ha ha Bt, stick to girls, they don’t bite…. Lol
Now you know where my gravatar comes from….
Not so sure about that, two or four legged…lol
Not too far BT, only a couple I’ve miles to be exact…
I’m really looking forward to it mate.
Yeah, guested that, bet you never lost with it in goal…..
Just been catching up on comments…
Rick, sorry to hear about your fall…
Stay safe matey..,
We had a lot of them Bt, all free running – 3 v 3 in footie so I never lost… Lol
RIP Ben E King….
You might have a point there Rico about 4G 3G etc…
My InterNeg connection always goes to pot when I’m ranking at Llndon Bridge, the Shard and all…
What I can’t understand is that this has only happened to me for the last two weeks or so?
It’ll be worth it Kev, if it makes for a happier life…
It’s funny.nthis place is more busy later in the day than it is during the day… Think I need to go to bed later…. 😉
Spelling is going to pot…
Night All
Night Kev, hope all goes well tomorrow….
It is strange re the day/night stuff and it’s timing, catch up again about that Kev….
Forgot to turn off there go’s my early night.
Kev loved your posts last w-end thought they were great.
Still saying that the Lady of the House is a great teacher is she not.
I have an idea for a post on the youth set up which I will try to send to Rico shortly. All I will say at the moment is that Gatting and Larriman should have been shown the Door last summer.
I’m off too guys, got the inlaws coming for lunch tomorrow so a busy and early start…
Night all…
Good night to you all…
night all
Night Rico.
Adam….
Morning all…. I hope Mayweather gets a slap! He’s nearly got as many cars as Adam did you know?
Morning Lee.
Adam has more cars than Jeremy Clarkson….
But he is a very decent driver who respects other motorists…
He would make a very good cabbie…
It’s all going a bit strange again…
Busy day…
See you all later this evening…
Good post Rico btw…
Hope we sign the young Spanish ful-back.,,
Just quickly…
Rick, maybe Jonkers didn’t want to sack Gatting and Laraman straight away.
Could be it was a political decision to keep them on.
To prove a point perhaps?
Then again, I could be talking rubbish…
Morning Mick, where art thou’…. ?
Laters… 🙂
You’ll never guess who I had in my cab the other day.
Morning Rico, Kev, Brudder and all.
Aidrian Durham?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/mayweather-vs-pacquiao/11577223/Manny-Pacquiao-is-an-Arsenal-fan.html
Good luck with the move Kev….
Good morning, to all in da house….
Morning Lee, Kev, Adam and all..
Good luck with the move Kev, mind your back with all that lifting… 😉
Yes, good luck with the move Kev.
Brudder. If it was Durham, he wouldn’t have got out. 🙂
Morning Bt..
Chelsea want Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and will offer Loic Remy plus £15million to land the 23-year-old (Sun)
I hope the Gooner batters Mayweather…
Don’t we need Lacazette?
New post up now…..