Morning all.
The squad is in the US of A, the friendly against the MLS All-Stars takes place in the early hours of Friday morning and Sky Sports are covering it. I think that’s one for recording before viewing at a sensible time of the day….
Arsene held his press conference yesterday and inevitably he was fired plenty of questions relating to Lacazette and Mertesacker after Lyon rejected our offer for the Frenchman and Merts suffered injury during the game in France. The big German tank headed to his homeland where he’s undergone surgery on his knee. The operation was successful but he’ll be out for a long time. Months says Arsene Wenger.
So now it’s fair to say we definitely need a central defender snapped up before the season starts and for once, Arsene agrees:
We have to look for an option to get a bit more experience. We will see some of our young centre backs on Thursday as well. With Per being out, we are a bit short on the experience front and we are looking to bring somebody in.
Please Arsene, don’t go down the Squillaci route, get someone who will make a difference for the right reasons, and not for the wrong ones.
Lyon issued a statement on their official site saying Arsenal had offered a miserly amount for Lacazette, an offer which according to them, was lower than what West Ham offered and one which they flatly refused. He’s not for sale according to the club, but I bet if Arsenal go back with a better bid, somewhere around the £40 million mark, he’d soon be on his way to the Emirates. But if Arsenal aren’t quick, another club will get in their first and knowing Mourinho, it would be Utd, just to piss off Arsene. It’s what he does!
I really don’t know why the club faff around in the transfer window, offering the bare minimum for a player in hope that it’ll be enough. If Lyon really did tell Arsenal that £40 million would get the player then why not just pay the money, get the deal done and move on? Lacazette is 25 years old and £40 million is a good price for a striker, especially when one considers Arsenal received £22 million for RvP back in 2012 when he was 29 years old and with a history of injuries. And back then, there wasn’t so much money in the game, not like there is now anyway but that’s Arsenal isn’t it, they want the premium rate for their own players, but are all too often reluctant to spend big on the right player.
Wenger was asked about the bid for Lacazette:
Lyon is responsible for their own statements. On the transfer front, I think the best [option] is always to keep as secret as possible. If we sign somebody, we will announce it. But I cannot tell you much more on that.
At least the club are clearly still trying to sign a striker and a central defender so as long as they do that as a minimum, we’ll have a much stronger squad than the one which huffed and puffed it’s way through last season. Then it’s down to the manager to great things with it and that’s where it gets tricky.
On the rumour front, it’s quite busy for Arsenal.
Arsenal are preparing to battle north London rivals Tottenham for the signature of Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Yedder according Canal+. And there was me thinking he was set to choose between us and Seville… Doh!
Over in Spain, Jesé Rodríguez could be on the move away from Real Madrid and yes, you guessed it, Arsenal are already linked, as are Liverpool. Spanish outlet Marca say Los Blancos will listen to offers, although they would still prefer to send Jese out on loan.
Lyon have told Arsenal they will have to pay £40 million plus bonuses to sign striker Alexandre Lacazette.
The French club set out their terms before Arsene Wenger moved for the 25-year-old with a bid of just £29.3m (€35m), writes Mirror Football’s Darren Lewis. Surely not??
Fingers crossed we get some positive news soon….
Does Wenger have the power of Voodoo,4 days ago Mertesacker says ” we were lucky to get 2nd and need to strengthen the squad , then he befalls a long term injury and disappears for a few months.
http://paininthearsenal.com/2016/07/26/arsenal-wissam-ben-yedder-the-best-kept-secret/
Morning again all…
One of the problems with at line of thought comes when he says that, “Without Per we are a bit short on the experience front”.
Personally I think that, even with a fit Per, we are ‘short’ on the defensive front anyway.
Ha ha Potter..
I resisted writing something like that Adam. 😉
I’d worry more with him in the defence than out of it….
City in talks to sign three players!! Wake up Arsenal…
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
Rico….I prefer Yedder to Jese. Why??? because Yedder has no RM DNA and the paraphernalia that goes with it. Plus Yedder is faster.
I know nothing about Yedder Devil, nor Jese. But I like Lacazette… 😉
Yet again, another day of rumour and speculation. Bottom line – if we are really serious about winning titles then we would have put up the cash and already pulled in 3-4 quality signings. Sadly, we seem to prefer to penny pinch and make ourselves the annual transfer window laughing stock. Take a look at Juve’s signings and there you will see a club with ambition. We behave as if we are a small club, and as such, over the years have scared off potential players who must question our real intent. If we aren’t careful, Ozil and Sanchez will look elsewhere when they are up for renewals.
Instead DB, we have one quality signing and two who might be good one day and that’s it…..
And yet we as a club, probably needed players the most…..
As we have for the past 5 seasons…
Yes, but dear old Arsene thinks otherwise…
Good Morning One and All…
Morning Rico, a really good post…
Lyon are going to be left with a very unhappy player and maybe that is part of the ploy, to disrupt him and make his agent agitate for a move?
Despite the juvenile reaction of Aulas I can see Arsenal maybe upping their offer to around the West Ham mark and hopefully we’ll get him..,
Maybe the Yidder link is Wenger working on an alternative in case Aulas does a Mourinho (Demba Ba)….
Manolas has to be an option for Wenger now, there’s been no links recently but with our past, reported, interest I guess he has to be a serious alternative…
Total, I don’t necessarily disagree with you mate, not at all, I think you make and always make valid points. A different view adds to the debate, if we all thought the same there would be no debate and that would be boring… ?
I like your team TA, and as someone said on here earlier Xhaka is going to add a lot, a new dimension, to our team, maybe the long raking passes I loved from Manu Petit, now wouldn’t that be refreshing…
Still time for Walcott???
It’s all about the strength in depth mate, we have it in midfield, it’s in other depts where that needs addressing, because of injuries and suspensions…
Adam I read your post again last night, mate it deserved more than 112 or so, comments…
Let’s hope that Ivan read it…
Ivan’s to busy to read such a poignant post Kev, he’s telling everyone who’ll listen how we can’t compete in transfers with the big boys…
As for looking for a centre half due to the BFG being injured it’s madness we didn’t already have a short list to be looking to add quality there in the first place..!
Good post Rico…. 🙂
Morning Kev.
Wonder what happened to Rugani… Weren’t we looking at him not long back?
Thanks Kev & Wath… 😉
As a football man
I would never wish an injury
to a player even if his a spud.
But…..The way wenger works.
I hope the The Quiff
pulls a muscle in his Big-Toe.
Good summing up Rico.
Lacazette ??? Giroud keeps him out of the French team, but, we should bid £40 mil for him, something wrong with that to my mind. Always seems to be the same twisted logic with Arsenal fans, don’t care what a player costs, or if he fits, or if he’s better than what we have, spend big money for a big name, NOW, regardless.
Hello Peoples !.
I love Arsene, but just think his time is up, but the same cant be said for Gazidis and Kroenke !……………just like someone abusing my family, if anyone abuses my love of Arsenal then I fcuking hate them with every bone in my body !
Gazidis now saying that we cant compete with Chavs and Manshafter clubs is him at his lying best !……………..short fcuking memory !……….jsut wish him and Kroenke would do whats best for Arsenal and not theirselves and……………………..fuck off !
There`s plenty out there who would love to own The Arsenal !………..The Arsenal !…..there`s no The Chelsea or The Man City !………….we are one of the cherries on top of a football cake that is begging to be picked by any mega rich intelligent person in the world and we have two cnuts of the highest order……………..where did it all go wrong ? hahaha
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20220153
Thanks Fred, he might do whilst mucking about in the sea on holiday… lol
They are different types of players Trugun, perhaps that’s why Lacazette doesn’t get into the French. Maybe it’s not Ollie keeping him out, but another forward player…
Trugun. I doubt that represents the feelings of fans on here and in putting forward that rather blanket condemnation aren’t you falling into the same trap that you accuse others of doing?
What a stupid thing for Ivan to say LC…
Thing is Rico, I take people at face value and if they tell me something then I believe them and for these people in high places of office etc` to blatantly lie all the time tells me of their character and personality as a person.
It`s amazing how these people (MP`s etc`) on such high salaries and privileged positions are the scum of the earth !…………….I`m a normal working class person and you could trust me to always be honest and never knowingly lie and I would expect the same of you all ………………………I`m afraid there is us and then there`s them !………………..I`m sick of the bullshit lies, mismanagement and the £8M per year naivety !.
Hi Trugun
Accept what your saying man for man
But..The Quiff is only Ok for deep minded
teams and dead balls.
Anyway we need a box player who
can turn better than a Bottle of Milk.
I tend not to believe a word which comes out of the mouth of either Wenger or Gazidis LC, in fact anyone at the club, they all talk a load of rubbish…
Mind you, I don’t tend to trust many people really, not until I really know them… 😉
I prefer animals, they never lie…..
DB10…..please refrain from comparing Juventus to AFC.
First….Juve are the only team in a corrupt Serie A.
Second….they always take the highest prize money every season since they win the lge every time
Third….Juve always get the highest sponsorships in Italy since they are the most favourite club.
Fourth ….if Juve competed in the EPL they would finish 6th at the highest. The refs always favour them. A stonewall penalty against them gets denied while a slight sniff at a Juve attacker gets them a penalty.
Fifth…some clubs in Italy should never be trusted with transfers…..as a lot happens under the table.
Better=quickier
Dead balls Fred, would that be the ones fired into our own box? lol
Juve are at least spending some money to improve their side Devil, regardless of what’s going on in their league..
And didn’t Arsenal earn the most from the TV deals last season, £100 million give or take a few pounds, but what have they done with it I wonder….
The link was from 2012. Goes to show that the world turns but things stand still
There`s nothing like the unconditional love of your faithfull pup !………………even as I`m typing he`s looking up at me with that loving look that I`m the center of his world !. 🙂
It was potter and he say`s in 2 to 3 years time…………………that`s already now and your right………..nothing is moving…………Goonerhog Day !.
The Quiffs not bad with
The Loaf of Bread and near post tap-in’s
But he just ain’t quick enough.
As long as Arry(Dead-Ball)Kane
ain’t taking them..Rico
Wath, I’m sure that Arsenal have discussions with agents all the time, to find out salery and agents commission etc…
Of course there’s a few super agents who are so corrupt that Arsenal just avoid them I would suspect, but overal I would think that it’s an ongoing thing…
Of course having discussions and following through with a concert offer is two entirely different things. But maybe this is where a lot of those empty rumours come from?
Arsenal talk to an agent, don’t do any follow up and so the agent goes public, saying that we’re in for his client etc and then NewsNow pick it up and then Twitter and yawn zzzz
If I`m honest……………I wouldn`t have wanted us to pay £79M for the 29 year old Higuin and am gobsmacked that Juve have paid that, but it does show that if that is the going rate then £40M is not over the top top for Lacazette !…………………………Wenger just has to get his head around the new prices !……………………………….as I said weeks ago………. £60M is the new £30M !…………….hesitate and we will miss out and start our opening game with half a first choice eleven !
Read somewhere last night that we are in the most dire position playerwise ( injury….euro returns etc`) than any other club !…………………we never learn and for such a supposedly intelligent man, Wenger is the most niave man going !.
It`s amazing how many so called intelligent I know personally who have not a common sense bone in their body !…………………my neighbour, the glory hunting Manc has a head like brainiac, but asks me over all the time to sort out all sorts of problems……………..I`m beginning to think he is not a finacial manager of a massive company, but fucking thick !. hahaha
It doesn’t help when the super agents have managers as clients .Mourinho and Mendes come to mind.
Kev….I think like you that AFC talks all the time with agents. I don’t believe that they talk to them only when they need a player or the other. I feel that they have a person who is all the time in contact with agents. That is why AW once said…we get offers of players wanting to play for us or for a trial all the time.
And I feel that sometimes when we don’t sign a player its because of agents demands or underhand tactics. The Norris story of the 20’s/30’s and the GG situation hits AFC every time there is something which goes under the table.
Kev
How is is your taxi trucking, buddy?! 🙂
You are right re Xhaka, I reckon, although he may need to time to settle in. I can see him pass from deep quickly and accurately, especially those Beckenbaur/Koeman like diagonal crosses are Swiss gems to get very excited about. It may well be music to Theo’s, Ox’s and Iwobi’s ears. He should add another dimension to our game both in attack and in defence, and possibly see us release Rambo’s b2b potential to the full.
That is what I get excited about, with or without a new signing up front. I expect a lot from Iwobi and Gnabry this season and they will both be competing for the attacking position that is still up for grabs.
Reading some of the comments on here and other respected blogs, I do hope Wenger buys at least one more player just to settle the mood a bit. 🙂
I wonder if, on the morning after the window closes we will be on here saying that, with our squad, we have a great chance of the title.
Keeping ’em coming Adam lol.
Fred, I seem to remember Giroud hurting his big toe and missing a load of games only a couple of seasons back.
I would love to see Schaar (Switzerland) at AFC.
Either him or Shkodran
Micko. I like to give you a laugh about this time of day. 🙂
Hope against expectation Adam, we need to blow the dust off the war chest !
Arsene Wenger and silly buggers, you can’t have one without the other !
Yeah Coach, interesting that you should mention Norris as if reminds me of ManUtd and Liverpool fixing their game at the end of the final FL season before football was suspended during the First World War.
I think that Norris used his knowledge of that to engineer Arsenal’s election the Division One in 1919…
At the expense of some small team in Middlesex if I recall… ?
What a glorious day that must have been.
Hi Total, I’ve been quite busy these last two days, yesterday was like sliding doors, but very good for me…
TA, I was chatting to a mate of mine a couple of days ago, and he has a feeling that Arsene could pull a rabbit out of a hat, that’s not to say that he’s gonna start wearing a fez and do a Tommg Cooper turn on stage, but sign a really big player…
I kinda saw where he was coming from and we all know, or experience seems to point towards a deal done late next month to prevent one of the petrodollar clubs gazumping us…
I hope he’s right, and tbf, he is quite reliable, well most of the time… ?
Gnabry is an interesting one TA, I mean could he be this season’s Coquelin?
ahhh yes. A glorious day that was I think.
I still think that those underhand tactics which happened in the past are influencing today’s decisions. Yes Norris may have been an astute politician but I believe that even though the club’s directors are different people today, they still try to work by the book while others bend, twist or do whatever it takes to get what they want.
Hi All:
If it’s true that AW bid 30m for Lacazette, who imho is overrated, then why not bid half that for Yedder who is a Gem. If anyone can just watch Yedder in game action not utube stuff, his talents are exceptional. At the price AW will still have money for a CB an a winger. All under 75m less than Huigain.
Micko. Where Arsenal are concerned hope always comes a distant second 🙂
It does make me wonder what on earth the club are going to do when a new manager has to be sorted. Looking at the way Gazidis is carrying on I would say that particular episode has disaster written all over it. Either way, I think fan-power is going to find its voice this season.
Afternoon all..
Adam, I thought we could have won it with last seasons squad… 😉
I have to agree with Rico , we already have good players , man for man better than Leicester but they won the league and we didn’t . Quite why that’s my question.
Good to hear it, Kev. ?
Do you let your customers know you are a Gooner or keep schtum about it?
Gnabry is a super talent but so was Ox and it remains to be seen whether either can make it at the home of football. Still there is real excitement about the German. I have high hopes for Iwobi who is exceptional for his age and a joy to watch.
I don’t think we will get a super signing this season (on top of Xhaka) but your mate could be right…lets hope so. ?⚽️
I think you know the answer to your own question Potter. He’s tall, French and getting on a bit….
http://talksport.com/football/premier-league-clubs-201617-league-hate-results-most-despised-teams-englands-top-flight?p=19
We are even out of the top 4 in this table.
I’m surprised we are as high as 5th….
I`m not having that !……………….The Spuds are more despised than us…..well in London they are !…..I have a lot of Hammer relatives and their hate of The Spuds is second only to us !……………..The Chavs hate them as well and The Spuds are the butt of jokes between the three of us !
Rico. Of course we should have won it but, the way things are shaping up and on the back of this preposterous interview that Ivan has given, I am beginning to get a bad feeling about this season. Honestly, are we really relying on Gnabry and Iwobi? No top team goes not a season banking on players like that. If Iwobi comes good and shows some consistency then great. It’ll be a bonus but what has Gnabry actually done? Can for see Pep or Mourinho standing for the cobblers that is going on at the club? I can’t. As I said a while back, January is going to be Wenger’s time-up and the fans will really let him know it this season.
The Metro was a bit slower than me on Gazidis`s contradiction !…………and I went back a year earlier than them !…………they maybe a newspaper dealing in stats and scoops but I`m a van driver..no contest !. hahaha
http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/27/ivan-gazidis-said-arsenal-could-afford-wayne-rooney-transfer-just-three-years-ago-6032692/
Ches is gone then, a loan deal with an option to buy…. He won’t be coming back….
I love Gazidis getting all this stick as it makes him look a fraudulent mug who needs electrocuting !……………even better if he is hold Kroenke`s hand whilst having sex in a bath !…………I hate the cnut !
http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/social/arsenal-fans-angry-ivan-gazidis-tweets/
LC. The discrepancies in Ivan’s cobblers tells me that he is talking to the fans and trying to dampen their expectations.
Adam, I’m going to wait for the transfer window to close and see what’s what. If on Sept 2nd or whatever date it shuts comes, and the squad is as it is, then as I so often say, Wenger will reap what he sows. Actually, make that the start of the season..
When did we last we our opening game at home by the way?
Probably because Ivan knows what Arsene is like LC/Adam….
But odd really considering the day after Ivan did his first odd interview, Wenger came out and said different about transfers.
But, unless Wenger has a new game plan, little will change regardless of who he signs, unless the players just get on with it themselves…
We’ll see soon enough Rico. In the points column. 🙂
I wonder Adam if he would be trying to dampen fans expectations if he was CEO of The Chavs or Mansour City !…………….he`s a City fan anyway !.
I remember he passed me once in the Arsenal Museum !……….my only chance to kill the fcuker and I blew it…..apologies, I`m a rubbish hitman !.
Hi Rico and the House.
How’s it going ‘Cornwall’? It seems an age since you, Terry and VCC were cheering everyone up with your comedy routines and hilarious video’s on ‘BK’. Fast-forward a few years, and absolutely nothing has changed at Arsenal.
Did anyone ask Ivan why the club moved to the new stadium, and why they aren’t making good on their promises? Surely there’s a legitimate legal challenge in there somewhere?
I doubt it LC. Ivan has let himself down badly.
Being an Arsenal fan during the transfer window is like watching Japanese Kabuki theater; everyone knows whats going to happen, but just sits there expecting something different. We get one “high” ticket transfer each summer, and its done. I just hope that I am very wrong.
Obi. We all do mate. Every bloody year. 🙂
Szczesny has gone then Rico, any info on the fee if Roma want to keep him?
Good luck to him btw, he just lacked that something to be top top quality, but he hated the Spuds so good on him…
I wonder if Ospina has agreed to give us another year or will Wenger go with Martinez as his No.2 keeper?
Hi Adam,
the lack of accountability is staggering.
The ‘Sports Bar’ on ‘Talksport’ dedicated it’s first 75mins last night chatting to disgruntled Arsenal fans, because anyone who follows football must be amazed at what’s happening at Arsenal. In all the calls there were only about two defending Wenger, but he is only part of the bigger poison currently eroding the club.
It doesn’t help when your CEO contradicts himself, saying the club need to win major trophies but can’t compete financially with the super-rich. Has anyone notified Forbes’ and Deloitte so that they can omit Arsenal from their list?
Maybe the whole Arsenal franchise should just be re-named KSE Holdings PLC, because it hasn’t felt like a community-based Football Club for a long time.
Hiya Herb !.
Yes it was fun on BK, but that`s the past and dont want to put risky stuff up on HH and upset the governess !….If I want to be rude, I go on GunnersoreArse as `69er has no censorship whatsoever !……….the arguments and language between Kelsey and GN5 on there make even me blush !……..seeing two old guys having a fight is hillarious ! hahahaha
Hi Kev
Thanks for your complimentary words the other day. Football used to be fun, didn’t it?
There used to be a buzz of excitement, nervous uncertainty but full of hope leading up to every new season. I can’t remember the last time I felt like that about Arsenal. Everything seems to be so sanitised and dull, no surprises, and the excitement killed stone-dead.
And all that has emerged from our brave new dawn at The Emirates is confusion and deep vitriolic divisions between life-long fans, some which may never be healed.
I think we sing from the same hymn sheet as far as Gazidis and Kroenke are concerned, Herb !………dont know about you but I honestly have a deep hatred for them both, although I`m beginning to think they are one and the same person !……….it`s easy to confuse the public when you are bald and have an upper lip syrup aswell as a head one !…………………………syrup off he`s Gazidis…………syrup on he`s Kroenke !. hahaha
Hi Herb. I know mate. Compared with some fans I know I have rowed against the tide and tried to defend, first Wenger, the Stan and then Gazidis but I think there is an unstoppable tide against the whole management of the club now. It got a bit hairy last season but this one really is make or break I think.
Apologies to any follically challenged heads on here……………..I`m not insinuating that you all have schizophrenic tendencies when syrup wearing !
€16 million or just under £13.4 million for Szczesny, if the reports are accurate.
I’m not sure if that includes any loan fee that Roma have paid for this season?
Seems cheap for a smoking goalie to me Kev.
I too try not to get vocal about Wenger inside the stadium as I support the players on the pitch , albeit often through gritted teeth.. However the atmosphere is changing and the numbers anti are growing. If things are going as normal with a poor start , a hesitant 2nd period and then once we are out of everything a complete turn around . I think things will get very ugly down there.
I often think GN5 misses the bigger picture, Cornwall. His is a more holistic approach, and he firmly believes Arsenal and Wenger’s values are intertwined. But he’s happy with the status quo, and anyone who isn’t is part of the ‘TrophyHuntersAnonymous’ group, which perfectly illustrates the confusion and division amongst Arsenal fans everywhere.
Personally, if Arsenal showed an intent to challenge and fell short having give it their best shot, I’d be happy. But they don’t, and they’ve been coasting along for years with the same failed strategy with absolutely no urgency to address it. Finishing 10pts behind Leicester isn’t giving it your best shot when they’re working on a tenth of Arsenal’s budget.
Hi Herb, your comments are always worth reading mate…
Yes, a lot of the fun has gone out of it for me Herb, maybe I’m becoming a bit of a misery guts, you know, like Wath… ?
I’m still interested in the youngsters and seeing any talented Kids progress from our Academy, but the 1st team definitely tested my enthusiasm last season, I mean as Adam said the quality of football in the main was quite poor. So we haven’t even got that anymore…
Last season Bayern, ManUtd and Man City were the highlights for me at the Emirates…
I only saw about 9 games so 6 I’ve forgotten about, which says it all…
Evening Potter. I agree.
Adam, I won’t tolerate smoking goalkeepers… ?
Loan with option to buy I think Kev / Adam
That’s it Potter, I just wonder if the fee includes any loan fee Roma have paid for this season..?
Anyway Adam, I’ll be around to yours about 11.50pm tomorrow night as I’m sure you’re gonna sit up and watch the game…
COYG ?
Kev. I’m already making plans and have ordered snacks and a belly dancer to keep you entertained during the build-up. 🙂
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/marcelo-allende-joins-malen-and-nelson-in-arsenal-u19-squad-for-durban-international-cup/
One for you Rick
Adam ?
I’ll turn up early then mate… ?
I’ll be laying in wait on the sofa Kev. 🙂
We will Adam, and I don’t think it’ll be good…
Hi Herb, always good to read your views….
No idea re Ches Kev but yes, I think he’s a gonner…
Rico. Mind you, we say the same every year. 🙂
@ 6:42 Herb: “Personally, if Arsenal showed an intent to challenge and fell short having give it their best shot, I’d be happy. But they don’t, and they’ve been coasting along for years with the same failed strategy”.
Herb, I reckon that about 90% of all Arsenal fans feel the same way…just show ambition, then maybe that will lead to a trophy. Again imagine how the good players (Cech, Ozil, Sanchez, Kos, Santi) feel knowing that they cannot compete adequately against their peers because of management lack of ambition/ stubbornness. Small wonder that Arteta left to City.
We do Adam, just as Arsene does…. 😉
Night all..
Nite rico, just a matter of time before our secret targets are unveiled matey ! Keep the faith.
Thanks Kev and Rico, I think the same could be said of the two of your posts/comments too.
There are quite a few on here with a good knowledge of Arsenal, where they have come from and what they represent historically.
Night Rico.
Obi – I was never a fan of Arteta, he symbolised everything about Arsenal’s cautious, safety-first approach. One of Wenger’s £10m ‘specials’, he was bought directly after the 8-2 at OT, but not to drive us forward, simply to steady the ship and calm the stormy waters. Very similar circumstances to the purchase of Mesut Ozil.
Don’t get me wrong, Ozil is class and is exactly the quality of player Arsenal should be signing, but sadly this isn’t reflected in other key areas of the side. Wenger knew full well we needed a striker because he tried and spectacularly failed to buy Luis Suarez, but because of the fee involving Ozil, he brass-necked it, believing that a big-money signing would appease the baying mob.
And it bought him time, because there were those who were positively stunned that a player of Ozil’s global standing would turn up at The Emirates. But equally it magnifies the Jeckyll and Hyde nature of Wenger’s Arsenal. He always buys technically gifted footballers and gives himself too many options in midfield, but fails repeatedly to fill the urgently required level in defence or attack.
What he has done very skilfully is present the perception that because Arsenal are in and around the top four most of the season they are seen to be ‘challenging’, which nullify the media asking awkward, direct questions about his obvious short-comings. The same line is trotted out every year – ‘Judge me in May…’ But he casually tossed away the PL title in 2014 and was rewarded with a bumper new three-year contract, so clearly Arsenal aren’t bothered about winning the PL.
Wenger’s record in Europe is atrocious when you look at what Atletico Madrid and Sevilla have achieved on much less resources.
It’s almost as though we’re living through some alternative paradigm, whereby before Wenger, Kroenke and Gazidis came along, Arsenal were some piddling nothing club in danger of falling into insignificant obscurity.
How ironic that they’re doing exactly that whilst lining their greedy pockets.
Spot on Herb, Ozil / Sanchez, both marquee signings that have had us fans licking our lips pre season only to have the doors slammed in our faces, to think a further 2 or 3 grafters might have got us over the line, the money is there, what’s it all about ffs !
Knocking Arteta, rather you than me mate, tsgh makes Jason Bourne look like a right pussy lol.
Hi Micko
There’s a reason Arteta spent the best years of his career at Moyes’ Everton. Do you ever recall him being linked with a move to a top club? I don’t.
It’s not Arteta’s fault, just Wenger settling for a middle-of-the-road model professional.
And since leaving he has deleted his five years at Arsenal as though it was an experience he wants to forget as quickly as possible.
The fact that he was Wenger’s club captain shows how much contempt they have for Arsenal and their fans.
Too true Herb, we should have signed Arteta 5 years earlier when he was in his pomp !
As for dear ole Arsene he must be the only manager in world football where win or lose a 3 year contract is on the table ready to sign………sums up all that is wrong with Arsenal.
Nite Gooners.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jul/27/crazy-transfer-fee-gonzalo-higuain-theatre-absurd-football
An interesting point of view in the mad mad world of football
Just to add to that Herb
We sold the grey badger
so alex could win the league
If he stayed we would have won
the league.
That to me was the biggest snub
to gooners everywhere.
I will never forgive our club
for that.
Every time he scored
I wanted to punch the TV.
Had we had Arteta at the same time as Cesc instead of Denilson things would have been different. Barca ruled the roost with Xavi and Iniesta the two Spaniards could have done very similar for us.
Had Arteta been played in the same position he did at Everton, he may have been appreciated.
The absolute obvious is so easy to overlook-Ramsey was in the same situation last season.
Fans were screaming he’s shit, arrogant and cocky, yet played in his best position for Wales, suddenly he remembered how to play???
Please.
Some of the tripe Gooners write is laughable.
Arteta was on a hiding to nothing, and through no fault of his own.
Yes, Fred, the ultimate insult.
You have a point there, Potter, which makes you wonder why Arsenal didn’t buy him from Rangers.
You seem to imply that Arteta had no say in his playing position, or the responsibilities he was asked to take on in that role, Scott. He was club captain, and fully embraced Wenger’s philosophy. Unhappy players do not play in positions they don’t want to play.
It’s merely a personal opinion that when he was bought for £10m in 2011, it was a make-do and mend type buy, rather than addressing deep-rooted issues, and I thought back then that Arteta’s best years were behind him. But as I said at 10.31pm it isn’t Arteta’s fault. Deleting the last five years of his playing career is his fault, and shows complete disrespect towards Arsenal and their values.
Arteta and Ramsey are at very different stages, Arteta finished his playing days here, Ramsey gets a lot more leeway because of his horrific leg-break, his age, and possibly because he cost half the fee paid for Arteta, but I’ve never questioned Ramsey’s ability in the right set-up. It’s not as though Chris Coleman showed Arsenal fans something they weren’t already aware of, it’s just that Wales went to France with a swash-buckling, nothing-to-lose attitude and he allowed Ramsey more freedom to express himself by pushing him further up the field into the Ozil role. But because Arsenal have Ozil, Ramsey tends to be more shackled in what he does, or is allowed to do in an Arsenal shirt.
The same argument could be made for Olivier Giroud. France showed in the 2014 WC and this recent Euro’s that played in the right system he can make a significant contribution. He was paired with Benzema in Brazil and Greizmann in France, and had two decent tournaments.
He clearly isn’t a lone striker, he doesn’t have the pace or skill-set to carry it off over a long period, but when he’s paired up with another striker he benefits greatly, and it’s clear to see what he offers.
Herb, it’s irrelevant whether or not he was happy playing DM…..it had no bearing whatsoever, and I never implied, nor said he wasn’t happy playing there.
He wanted to play for a big club so the move suited him and he’s won a few trophies.
On Giroud, I’ve defended him for quite a while saying he’s absolutely made for a 2 up front set up, yet he still cops criticism.
Players cop criticism, then the same critics say Wenger doesn’t play the right system to suit them which is a tad confusing, to say the least.
Good Morning dear Lovelies and Hunkies.
Morning Rico boss
I know I might cop a few on my head…..but IF we DO NOT GET one of Schar or Shkodran….do you think Caulker is not worth a punt??? He is 6′ 3, English, he is not slow, knows the EPL well and is not bad. And he might not cost more than 7mill.
What do you think Hunky lads and Lovely lasses??
Scott…like you I have always defended Ollie. Simply because I see beyond the scoring amount. He gets his quota and share every season.
As I have always said…..he does a good job in difficult circumstances, playing with his back to goal and trying to bring others in the game. What many people fail to see is that he is the focal point to the team system play. He is supposed to bring others in the game and he does…..its not his problem that those behind him do not score enough. I expect 15 goals each from lateral strikers plus around 8-10 from those who play in the hole. Did they come?? No…..so its not fair to lambast Ollie for the lack of goals from Ozil, Theo, Ox, Aaron and to a degree Alexis.
I always say that it does not matter if we do not have a 25-30 goal a season striker IF the goals are split around.
I expect a CF to get anything between 16-20. Then I expect 15 goals each from the lateral positions while I expect around 8-10 from the ‘hole’ position. That makes it a minimum of 53 goals and a maximum of 60 goals. from the most advanced positions. Add to that the goals scored by the rest of the positions and those scored by subs or those who rotate and that would add around 25 more.
All of that in the league.
Anything else is a bonus.
Yesterday I mentioned that Norris was a bit to blame for the way that the board and directors act now…….lo and behold today an article by UNTOLD ……..on Henry Norris.
Funny world aint it???
http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/54773
Morning Rico and all. Kev. Anyone who has done business in Italy will tell you that money appears from nowhere, as if by magical design.
Or by printing machines Adam.
many underhand tactics take place there mate.
Morning Adam.
Hi Devil.
Morning Devil, Adam and all…
Scott, I don’t blame Arteta or Giroud, I blame the idiot who signs them and then plays them out of position. Ramsey was dreadful for us last season but he wasn’t alone but that’s what happens when players are shunted over the pitch just to squeeze them into the side.
As many of us have said over the last few seasons, the squad is not balanced, 100’s of midfielders, but seriously lacking in defence and up front.
And whilst I’m at it, what other football manager would allow his only half decent backup at right-back to leave on loan in January?
That’s true Rico. When Ramsey played in CM for us last season he looked a liability. For Wales, in a freer role in that position he was excellent. The midfield conundrum is going to be interesting but I hope that Wenger leans toward the defensive myself as I am very concerned about our flaky central defenders, if we have any left after the customary pre-season injuries happen.
From the uninformed outside it does look as if the club is sleepwalking toward the coming season to me.
I agree with you Rico……when players are shunted over the pitch just to squeeze them into the side.
However I feel that if AW rotates the players then many issues can be resolved. Aaron is not in our side to play as a B2B but he should be there to rotate with Ozil. Likewise the midfield……we have Coquelin, Xhaka, Cazorla and Elneny for the two Pivot positions. Why not play Coquelin and Elney together and Xhaka together with Cazorla? Its damn easy for me.
Imagine having a midfield/AM of Xhaka, Cazorla, Ozil for some games and then Coquelin, Elneny and Aaron for others.
Team 1……
Cech
Bellerin, Kos, Gabriel, Nacho
Xhaka, Cazorla
Alexis, Ozil, Iwobi.
Ollie
Team 2
Ospina
RB, Chambers, Holding, Gibbs
Elneny, Coqueliln
Campbell, Aaron, Theo(?)
Danny (when fit)
did not put a name at RB since Debuchy is off while Jenks is injured. I used the players we have now.
where does that leave Jack??? Aye he is a wonderful player. but either he is injured or something. And he could be bought in during games as a sub in every game except when he starts a game.
Rico there are enough players to rotate and use properly. The problem lies with AW trying to please the favourite ones. Personally I would not play Aaron on the right just to squeeze him in….but during certain games to rest Ozil. We play on weekends and midweek. There are enough games for everyone. Yes today I will play Ozil but next time I will play Aaron.
Gives the opposition something to think about.
Wenger is a wanker for the simple reason that he allows his passions to make his brains fuzzy. He accuses others of making 1+1 making 3 while in his fuzzy mind 1+1 makes 5
Agree Adam. I’d have thought two of Santi, Elneny, Xhaka and Coquelin would be our central pairing, if not three of them in certain games…
Wenger doesn’t do rotation Devil. He picks his favourites first and foremost.
Just where Jack fits in I really don’t know…
Eddie Howe as the next Arsenal manger, according to that font of truthfulness and insight, the Daily Star.
Must be true then Brudder….
Just read that headline Adam, I did smile…
Morning Lee, how was Ibiza?
Good thanks Rico….. great to not read any Newsnow bollocks or any rumours of pipe dream signings! I reckon we are fairly done in the transfer market probably add another African embryo and that’ll be it!
I’m so bored of Arsenal’s lack of ambition and short sightedness, yet another transfer window will pass by and we’ll be left short………deja fucking vu!
It’s good to get away from it all eh, and in any case, you just know when you come back, little will have changed Lee.
Totally get you being bored with Arsenal in a transfer window, after all, it’s been the same for a good few years now, still, he might spring a couple of surprises yet I guess.
Brudder. I agree. Wenger will do what he has always done.
Or not done… 😉
Coquelin taking part in training as a CB. Beggars belief.
Anyone would think we were skint the way we carry on…… I’m seriously losing interest!
Losing?? I’ve lost interest….
Think HH might explode if Wenger gets a new contract… 😉
New post up now.
As I said, guys, we criticise the performances of players, then we blame Wenger for playing them out of position.
Yes, it beggars belief, constantly lol.
Gooners always have their “favourites” to blame our woes on…….whose turn is it this week?
It’s been a while since everyone hated Nacho, so he’s due for his place on rotation.
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/arsenal/story/2919203/arsenals-francis-coquelin-playing-at-centre-back-after-per-mertesacker-injury
now this takes the biscuit.
http://www.footballinsider247.com/arsenal-looking-to-bring-turkish-star-back-to-the-emirates-must-meet-16-8m-asking-price/
with our overcrowded midfield from where the hell did they manage to invent this???