Morning all.
Thankfully, Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi are back fit again and will be in the squad which travels to Stoke at the weekend. Francis Coquelin is back too and Jack Wilshere is not far off although whether he’ll be moved on before the end of the transfer window remains to be seen. Arsene Wenger has said that all Jack now needs is his match fitness and he could feature again for the under 23’s on Monday evening. Alexis Sanchez is training hard and should be back for our fixture against Liverpool which is good news.
The last thing we need is to play against Stoke City and a 6′ 17″ Peter Crouch, with a makeshift defence which last weekend was all at sea so the return of the BFG is most welcome. Perhaps we’ll see him and Holding lining up together and a repeat of what was an excellent showing at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. The old and the young, the teacher and the pupil with the latter learning fast. Yes Rob Holding has made a couple of mistakes recently but let’s not batter him, he’s still learning and there’s no better defender than Merts to learn from. Ashley Cole learned from Tony Adams, not Wenger, Merts can do the same with the Englishman. Somewhere in the squad there’s a guy called Callum Chambers, although we’ve not seen him much, if at all. He was away with the England under 21’s in the summer and was given the nod over Holding yet for Arsenal, his career appears to hit a brick wall. There’s been plenty of rumours which suggest he could be on his way out but now that Gabriel Paulista seems to be heading off to Spain with Valencia, that could all change. Unless both go and Wenger finally signs a strong beast of a centre-back. Wishful thinking I know, but it’s what our team lacks imo. Just as it lacks one in midfield too. As often has been the case, we have a glut of midfielders and defenders to an extent but none have that ‘over my dead body’ attitude like Adams had, or Keown, Vieira, Petit, Gilberto etc etc. Our midfielders, although good, are all very similar, again, that’s in my opinion.
I’d have thought Southampton’s Virgil would be a good option in defence. Strong in the air and does bottle challenges. Heck, I bet he wouldn’t turn his back on a free kick if it was heading his way, unlike some of ours who we’ve seen do exactly that. Wimps!
Anyway, two weeks to go, window slams shut and we’ll know what the squad looks like.
Although perhaps we do already….
Finally, there’s an interview with Thierry Henry on the official site, it’s worth having a listen to.
Have a good day guys….
Good news rico
The BFG’s eye brow must be better. I look 4ward to him teaming up with Holding?
Morning Rico and All
Not sure I’m convinced BFG is the answer to our
defence rico.
I watched him standing around in big scores at W/Bremen.
I have nothing against him as a person,but to win the league
you need to perform 3 days a week.
Whats worrying me as if Arsene ain’t enough to put with is,
all these germans on our coaching team.
Is Arsene trying to replicate what B/Munich have done.
Looking at our defence I hope we keep Chambers and play him
sparingly as with Holding..23/25 is when we may see better players.
Elneny at the back..Is Arsene trying to copy what Barca have done
with Mascherano?
Morning Fred.
I don’t think he’s the answer to our problems either Fred, but I’d rather see him than Monreal etc in the defence. For one night only as the saying goes, he could be our saviour… 😉
Re the coaching staff, I really don’t understand why Wenger ignores our old English lot like Adams, Keown, Dixon, Winterburn etc etc. Or Paddy, ones who know what the club means to it’s fans..
Read this please.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155591307697974&set=gm.1377229359060622&type=3
If Arsene feels the BFG is goner tidy up the back
and thats all I can see..Lets hope he sticks to the
back three.
Surely Wenger should have sorted all this stuff months ago.
How on earth can he know what his squad will
be..Its no secret who he wants out.
He can’t get a defence together after 2 months
off…..It really is ludicrious.
BFG played how many games for Germany?
What would German coaches now hahaha
Rico, you’re spot on.
Mertesacker has no pace, and very little natural talent, yet represented his country more than but a handful of backs did.
To anyone who watches the game, this screams out loud that the man made the very, very best of what he had and his football brain is the reason.
Yes, he’s a great mentor for the likes of Holding.
Of course, missing Merts, Mustafa and Kozzer from the Leicester game is no great loss, apparently lol
Still, It’s a shame Gabriel is going, imo.
I believe Wenger asked him to tone down his aggression and he lost his edge, and with it, his confidence.
Morning all.
Hi Fred, I’m not sure that a Koscielny could play three games a week without breaking down.
Even two games a week could be detrimental especially with his well documented ankle issues.
I mean players can, in theory play three games a week, they’re fitter now than at any other time in the games history. The game is also more demanding than at any other time.
So if you want an optimum performance you need to manage your players, rotate them, you know red zone and all that fcuking jazz.
So yeah, players can play three games in a week, but by the third game they’d be wrecked, long term.
Scott it looks like Gabriel is going, that’s fine as long as Chambers stay, he is after all English and we need to keep up the percentage of ‘home’ players.
Interesting that Bielik hasn’t gone out on loan yet, makes me wonder if Wenger is going to keep him at Arsenal and use him in the cups?
Maitland-Niles has played two ‘nightmares’ in the U23’s at centre-back, another Mascherano experiment perhaps?
Bielik? Wenger knows best Kev, Wenger knows best! Lol. He is becoming like Dr Frankenstein, always experimenting and creating monster oust errors! Time and time again. He got lucky with the Ox and now thinks he can do it again and again, by turning a sow’s ear into a,silk purse! I’m telling you he can’t.
Stupid old duffer, Wenger that’s is.
Lucky with the Ox, not sure about that Wavy, he’s had almost as many injuries as Wilshere.
I’d sell him if we can get in excess of £40m, maybe push Chelsea to pay nearer £50m…
Reiss Nelson can cover for Bellerin, he might only be just 18 but that kid is quality.
Wenger leaving the squad two/three players too short and still littered with over paid dead wood?? Really, I’m not having that…
Keystone management yet again…
Scott as you display on here every couple minutes
you dont know much ..Do you…
You must have a little group of ozzo’s cheering you
on mate.
Anyway I go by what I see….What about then.
Do me a favour.
Off down the gym to get at that
punchbag..Later gang.
Afternoon all and thank`s Rico.
I see Africa`s richest man…Mr Dangote…..said he will sack Wenger when he buys the club !, just has to build his oil refinery first then will make an unrefusable offer to Kroenke and Uzzy !………………have I cheered you all up with that rumour ? hahaha
Let me put Wavy and Kev` right !……………………………Ox`s new position was down to me ! hahaha
https://twitter.com/TerryAFCx/status/897217502664687616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2017%2F08%2F17%2Fnow-we-play-stoke-city-in-the-potteries%2F
Afternoon all.
Nice to see Aneke back and staying in England with MK Dons, hopefully his career will kick off again…
I thought Aneke was going to be the dogs doohdahs !…………………..even I get it wrong sometimes !…………………..Reiss Nelson will be the dogs doohdahs ! 🙂
Anyone speak Spanish/Portugese as he could be saying anything like he`s only here for the beer !
https://twitter.com/DepCOPEValencia/status/898187587072008192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.squawka.com%2Fnews%2Farsenal-defender-gabriel-paulista-filmed-arriving-in-valencia-ahead-of-expected-10m-move%2F981403
Surely Wenger is going to sign a central defender. Merts and Kos are injury/fitness concerns, Holding and Chambers young and with just Mustafi as the other experienced defender, we could be in a right old mess if he doesn’t..
Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista is on the verge of a £10million move to Valencia, according to Sky sources.
The Brazilian defender joined the Gunners from Villarreal in January 2015 but has fallen behind Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding in the battle for a centre-back place.
Valencia could make the announcement today.
He still could be Lc, he’s only 24 and last season suffered a nasty injury. He’s one to watch I reckon…
Lacazette is getting cheaper by the minute !………………..Sir Chesney £10M?……………..Gabriel £10M?………………….Debauchery……, two onions and a baguette ?
Lc, translates to:
DeportesCOPEValencia
@ DepCOPEValencia
Follow
More
# LAST MINUTE
Gabriel Paulista is already in Valencia. He says he will be ready in a week and could debut against Real Madrid (2 day)
Any HH in the island of Malta next week?
I speak Portuguese and spanish
Aneke`s a big unit, Rico, I thought he was going to be our Yaya !……………..that`s Toure, not Sanogo ! hahaha
That’s Wenger isn’t it, balancing the books yet again. Unless he plans a few late goodies, yet again our spending will be virtually nothing…
Funny how he can get a freebie deal done rapidly but not when he has to spend some money….
Bloody Hell !………………….it`s like London Busses !………wait for one then 2 interpreters turn up together ! hahahaha
Tell you what Rico….Lemar at £50M+ looks a bargain when you hear Leicester want £40M for Drinkwater !………..Drinkchampagne more like it !……………………………………………Wenger is behind again in the price going rates !
I did too Lc, really liked the little I saw of him on the official site..
Are we still in for Lemar though. I read Mourinho now wants him..
All along we`ve been after Lemur !…….
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01666/lemur-balls_1666839i.jpg
Shame the club don’t try a bit harder for him then, or had got him before Monaco so many of their players…
Fred,
Smile-it aint that bad lol
What’s an Ozzo, by the way?
Apparently, allegedly and reports suggest Asensio wishes to talk to Arsenal about a possible transfer.
A few on here have mentioned him here, and I wonder if he’s to join a long list of players who’ve used us to better their current situation.
I think he’s already said he wants to stay at Real Scott.
Maybe, Rico-he’s probably just blowing hot air to get himself a better deal.
Should we talk to him and see what happens, or ignore it?
That was mentioned, I even wrote it in a post… 😉
What, that we should or shouldn’t talk to him?
Neither, that he doesn’t want to leave Madrid..
Scott
An Ozzo is a glass half full, & a Pomo is a glass half empty?
Don’t think your glass has been half full much Gg… lol
Wenger never does enough always leaves us short. Sadly getting use to it now.It’s like he wants to have an excuse to fail.Joke of a manager who we are stuck with for another 2 year but probably 4 years. Don’t think we will sign anyone of note. Just sell a few probably Ox and Sanchez .
I’m a Tazzo, its like England here rico
And when I’m @ Stamford Bridge on the free sauce, I’ll be a glass full person 😛
……..& if Alexis Sanchez leaves this TW I’ll be a smashed glass against a rigid object 👿
Stevey, I reckon he’ll be gone next summer, if not before..
I see Mustafi is now linked with a move to Inter…
Seems weird that Wenger signs his contract extension and no player signs a new deal….could they of been waiting to see if a new manager was coming in? The draw of playing for Arsenal under Wenger must be dissipating surely?
Are we going to hear the line about there not being enough time to find replacements for our want away players? Or will it be another supermarket sweep again? For a supposedly big football club the level of forward planning is amateurish to say the least.
Oh to be and all that….
Morning Rico, Brudder and all. The whole situation seems incomprehensible. Perhaps Mustafi will leave and Elneny or Montreal will be our new CB’s. And didn’t I hear Wenger say, the other day, that he had been working solidly on transfers since the close of last season?
Morning Lee, Adam and all..
I don’t want to go ott but I think the club is in a mess… ?
Unless there’s a big plan in place which we are yet to see unfold… lol
Dreadful stuff in Barcelona and Cambrills… 🙁
Rico. That was sickening stuff. I really don’t have the words to describe how I feel about this world any more.
As for Arsenal? You might be right. The pieces of the jigsaw could begin to fall into place I suppose. I must confess to having my doubts.
Adam. Ditto, such a beautiful City too..
I too have doubts re Arsenal, what a dreadful summer we are having and the season will be the same as always no doubt.
IF that is the case then Wenger will fully and richly deserve what is coming his way and no amount of ex-players and managers popping out of the woodwork to complain at how appalling Arsenal fans are, or banging on about how we don’t know how lucky we are, will help him this time round. There was a kind of unspoken agreement when he signed that new contract that he would really go for it this season, endorsed by his own admittance that he messed up big-time last season with his contract situation. I thought when I heard him repeat this that it was a supreme arrogance on his part. But, he obviously believes that our contract rebels are so enthralled by the idea of his continuing in the job that they lost their sense of loyalty to him for a while. The fact that they haven’t yet renewed would seem to negate that view but, hey, when you are dealing with an ego like that..
I can’t see how it won’t be the case, not unless something serious happens in the transfer window in the next two weeks. I agree too, whatever comes his way will be all of his own making and utterly deserved.
Whatever is going through that mans mind goodness only knows..
Rico. I cant imagine Rico. There remains a lot to be said but probably after the window shuts and we see the full extent of his master-plan as far as the squad goes.
Agree again, 1st September and see where we are…
Do you know? This could be last year’s and the year before that x 10 blog. Just nothing has changed has it? We had the same old lines from the aged one when he was still a comparative young man as we are getting yet again this year! Same old guff, same old outcomes same old lack of signings, same old……
I can wait, patiently for Sept 1st, but I know fine well that where we are now is where we will be on that date. NOTHING WILL CHANGE. He’s just too old and stuck in his ways, as is the team, as are his tactics(?) as is the future!
It’s just so depressing seeing the same scenario being re enacted yet again. All his big talk about ‘going for it’ how he could ‘adapt’ to the modern game etc etc. What a load of horse poo. I mean how gullible does he think we are? And just to round off with an old saying which I think is quite apposite:
“There’s no fool like an old fool”.
He should have it written as his epitaph, when the time comes!
Top of the morning to you all. Nice and sunny here, unlike my darkening mood!
Spot on Wavy.
He’d want to surprise the hell out of us all, else he will be at the wrong end of constant abuse, and with nobody to blame but himself.
Oh well, grab your popcorn, sit back, watch it all unfold and enjoy the show lol
Morning all.
Enjoy the show Scott? It’s a car crash in the making and there’s nothing to enjoy imo.
Wenger is a parasite…
Your popcorn dare I say is Ozzo Scott, half full!
Parasite? I reckon he is more a despot rico, & deluded that he thinks only he is the right person for the job. Anyway, the game against Stoke will be a good guide as to whether Arsene is actually in control or clutching @ straws so to speak!
He does my head in Gg..
New post up now.