Match review

First Signing Close? Reid Up For Sale? A Sunday Afternoon Stroll…..

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

That was a bit of a mixed bag wasn’t it.

Moments of sheer magic going forward, great passing, great movement but the finish didn’t match the build up. Joel Campbell had a super chance and only a lucky boot from Harper prevented him from giving us an early lead.

I thought Joel was good from start to finish and just like Alexis, he’s always keen to track back and defend. Surely Arsene Wenger will have seen that and finally play him more, he deserves it, he’s part of our future!

Merts excelled himself by not only heading home a corner, although I’m not sure he knew too much about it as his eyes were closed but after all the stick he’s been in the end of recently, that must have made him feel good. Mind you, you wouldn’t have thought so by his celebration. Not only did his feet leave the ground to open the scoring, he managed to repeated the same in the defence a short while after to head away a really good cross from a Hull corner….

Hull caused little problems really, they had a few flashes at goal here and there but nothing that troubled our defence and certainly not David Ospina who looked calm and confident in goal. I think every cross he went for he gather with a pair of safe hands. Either that or he punched the ball clear. Did he do enough to convince Arsene Wenger to play him – I hope so.

Theo Walcott managed 76 minutes and once he shakes off the rustiness in front of goal, his return will surely bring goals. He had a few good chances but his finally touch let him down.

Alexis Sanchez, well what can be said that hasn’t already, he was superb yet again and he deserved his goal, in fact he deserved more than one. The one he did score was simply magical – control, turn, shoot, goal! Awesome!

Game over!

Campbell, Ospina, Chambers and Bellerin all had a good game. Coquelin made a bad tackle or two and got booked eventually as did Alexis although I’m not quite sure why. McShane got booked too for a nasty one on Monreal and rightly so!

The downside was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming off of the bench only to pick up an injury, he looked sharp and busy and very direct in his play. Hopefully, he’s injury is nothing serious although it looked like it might be.

Overall, that game was pretty easy and it was the kind of game we needed after a poor performance at Southampton but all the time it was 1-0, the nerves were there. The game went flat and Hull were still in with a chance of nabbing a draw. But for once, the players didn’t look nervous, they remained steady and kept Hull at bay and of course, once the second went in it was over. A good win but they’ll be tougher tests ahead, much tougher.

Talking of which, Stoke up next!

I hope Arsene Wenger signs a defensive player or two by then……

Transfer Gossip:

French defender Loic Perrin has confirmed that Arsenal have spoken to him. Talking to Le Progres he said:

I was contacted personally. Arsenal are interested. But for now, there is still no contact with Saint-Etienne.

Somehow I doubt that’s true, that’s not the way Arsenal do things is it?

And Big Sam has confirmed Winston Reid will be leaving West Ham in the summer. Well if that isn’t telling clubs to come and get him this month, I don’t know what is….

Go on Arsene, you know you’re tempted….

That’s it for today, have a good one…

rico

117 thoughts on “First Signing Close? Reid Up For Sale? A Sunday Afternoon Stroll…..”

  1. tsgh says:

    Good morning Rico and all…

    well Loic and St Ettiene have a solid defence but with the player opening his mouth we can all hazard a guess that it is BS. lol

  4. bripriuk says:

    Hi Rico
    Excellent post as usual. Chambers was is his proper position – we should forget about playing him anywhere else and rotate him in with Mertz, Kos and whoever else we buv (??). David Ospina really gave confidence , I didn’t realise how much I worried every time Szzzzzzzzzzzny touched the ball. I wonder what would have happened if Joel had played instead of Sanogo earlier on, and if Theo had had a few 20 or 30 minute run-outs as a sub over Xmas.
    Keep the faith, two tough ones coming up.

    Brian

  6. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Rico – Nice summation of the game. It was a good run out for some of our ‘fringe’ and returning players. The only major downside being a possible injury to The Ox.

    As for Loic Perrin, if the rumours are true that is, he hasn’t done himself any favours by blabbing the press before official contact has been made. Sounds more like a player and/or his agent putting him in the shop window.

  8. Canadian Gooner says:

    Headline: Sales of HP Sauce have plunged in the UK.

    Is this a sign of the end of the British Empire or are the British just developing more cosmopolitan tastes in food?

  10. Canadian Gooner says:

    I see the rumour mill is running in overdrive with some very tasty ramblings, but I’m not counting our chickens before they are hatched; nor Rico’s for that matter. She’s very protective of her chooks. Still, it is nice to dream.

    Arsenal News: Sissoko deal close, SHOCK Cech move, HUGE Cavani boost, Schneiderlin’s hint

    http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/418374/Arsenal-News-Petr-Cech-Moussa-Sissoko-edinson-cavani-morgan-schneiderlin

  12. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    I’ve been away camping and almost totally out of contact with the world, but just a quick hello today as I’m knackered.
    Catch you all tomorrow 🙂

  13. Canadian Gooner says:

    Potter – Cache? I almost choked on my banger with that. I`ll have to watch about posting and eating at the same time.

  14. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott communing with nature at his mud hut in the outback? Any revelations from the Sage of New South Wales?

    Enjoy your summer Scott. The rain here is getting more than a little depressing and tiresome.

  16. scottfromoz says:

    CG, catching sharks and 4 wheel driving up the beach meant it was Aussie a holiday as is possible lol.

  20. bradster says:

    Afternoon all,

    I’m so jealous of you Scott, first day back at work for me.
    Ox’s injury was his own fault. He left his leg trailing way out to “win” the free kick.
    Nice to see Walcott getting into the right positions and not disappearing from the game. still will always be one dimensional to me and will never be a great player like his Idol.

    Will Giroud be back after Stoke? That’s 3 games right?

  25. bradster says:

    Hey ts,
    It’s ok, back at work. The weather’s been great and had an awesome holiday down at the coast.
    Hear that it’s a bit chilled there up North, you doing well?

  27. allezkev says:

    Quite suprised that there hasn’t been any comments on here today, following the news that our Absent Owner is investing $millions in moving the St Louis Rams to Los Angeles…

    Apparently no ‘Tax Dollars’ are involved, or in other words, government subsidy, in plain English.

    So where is Syrup gonna source the funds???

    Another Mega-Million loan?

    Or is gonna cream a bit more off of Arsenal?

    Selling Arsenal would be a great idea Stan???

    Afternoon All
    Afternoon Rico

  32. Joe says:

    He is multiple billionaire no problems he wont have any problems getting bank loans looks like he will be moving the Ram’s to LA.

  35. potter says:

    There’s going to be a retail area so no doubt the wife’s family will have a super Wal-mart and a branch of Dick’s sporting goods , but it will be a major outlay let’s hope he isn’t using The Arsenal as collateral.

  39. allezkev says:

    Kroenke is like a fcuking virus, leeching off of Arsenal, thanks to the likes of Fiszman, Hill-Wood and Lady Nina…

  41. rico says:

    Isn’t he just Kev and he doesn’t care one bit about the club!

    At least Nina admitted her errors, too late to do anything about it though…..

  42. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House
    The U 21’s are away to Villa tonight in what I consider to be a must win game.
    The team isMacey Johnson O’conner Ajayi Smith Kamara Maitland-Niles Iwobi Zelalem Crowley Akpom.
    Disapointed no Gnarby or Hayden both must still be not fit.
    8 of the team trained with the first team last week.

  44. Adam says:

    Sport in the US is vastly different to the way we think about our football clubs. The PL in this country has been hijacked by TV and billionaire owners. The trickle down of money is proving to be disastrous for supporters. I agree with Kev, Kroenke is a leech.

  46. rico says:

    I agree with Kev too!

    At least Roman made a difference at Chelsea, ok, I don’t agree with throwing mega money around for fun but the system allowed and he was prepared to do for his club..

    If only Alisher had taken over back then……

  47. Adam says:

    Rico. Looks like were stuck with Stan now. Although the bad attendance figures must be concerning someone I would have thought.

  48. allezkev says:

    Does anybody on here seriously think that that contempt able little shit Mourinho is gonna rubber stamp the transfer of Petr Cech to Arsenal???

    Even if it’s true?

    That miniature shit would simply drag it out to January 31st and then block the move…

  51. Rick says:

    Rico re your 6;22 you are not alone its all way above me.

    Can you not persuadesomeone to write apost so we can understand it all.
    How about it Adam.

  53. Joe says:

    I have no great dislike or like for our owner but just a thought the only way he will sell Arsenal football club is if he is forced. The only way this will happen is if he does put Arsenal up as collateral and the deal goes wrong and he forced to sell by the banks.

  55. rico says:

    Joe, how can you not dislike a man who allows Arsene Wenger so much freedom and control?

    How can you like an owner who is happy to watch such dross each week and us always having a sub standard squad?

  64. rico says:

    Well, it seems he’s quite happy to let Wenger continue on our downward spiral song guess you’ll be happy Joe…

    But, if this squad isn’t sub standard, who is to blame for the dreadful performances?

    Ah, must be the manager then……

  69. frednerk says:

    Wonder if wenger will get up to his old tricks
    this window and leave it late.
    Hope his not putting us through
    The big poker game crap again.
    He bangs on about how hard it is to sign a player,
    all this three party stuff.
    Yet he tells the world Podolski’s going nowhere,
    two days later Podolski’s licking an icecream in italy,
    with a milan shirt on.

  70. rico says:

    Fred, if Wenger doesn’t sign a player or two in the next ten days, surely it tells us he has no plan whatsoever?

    There will be someone who will say ‘whatt if the club won’t sell’ and yes they have a point but surely, talks would have begun with a respective club ages ago, just like they did with Barca and Alexis…

    If it all goes to dd then it just proves what many think, he’s lost it!

  71. Joe says:

    Maybe you should ask Jack Wilshire who is responsible for he’s current injury. For a team in decline we have increased our points eared each year over the last four years and we won an FA cup.

  72. Wavy says:

    Hi I all.

    Akinfenwa is 5′ 11″ tall and 161/2 stone. Tiny for a cf in the lower leagues!
    Sign him up Arsene! Or just sign a couple of proper players!

  74. Micko says:

    rico, who says you can’t have your cake and eat it, he’s a big lad.

    Think the draw for the next round is up at half time, anyone at home will do us.

  76. rico says:

    Joe, I think I need some of what you are drinking…. Or smoking.. You carry on thinking and believing what you as long as it makes you feel good about the Arsenal… 🙂

  81. Micko says:

    I keep telling you about the time difference over here rico but you don’t believe me !!! Brighton away, gotta be happy with that.

  82. rico says:

    Joe, because no matter what crap gets dished up by Wenger, I will always support Arsenal FC!

    But I don’t support Arsene FC or Kronke FC. That is the difference between you and me….

  86. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Emirates could grow up in capacity for 80.000….
    I think the third Chelsea (the australian keeper) will be on loan…
    How long is Gnaby injury?

  89. rico says:

    Chesney caught having a crafty fag in the showers!!

    According to the Mirror he’s fined £20,000!

    Thanks for the update Rick…

    Morning all…

  101. bradster says:

    Morning all,

    So the message Wenger is sending out is that it’s ok for Giroud to gallivant the night before a game, disappointing for Wilshere to be caught twice smoking, a learning experience for Giroud to almost cost us the game due to his stupidity but Schezny gets fined?

  104. bradster says:

    So going on past history, Wenger will say Coq is the new DM and doesn’t want to interfere with his progress.
    He will say we have enough strikers in Wellbeck, Giroud, Walcott and Sanogo and can’t find better quality as well.
    In the midfield with Ramsey and Ozil returning he will say there’s 8 players vieing for 5 places.
    So that leaves the defense where I’m sure he’ll get some crock on loan and will be injured most of the season.
    Vidic is unhappy, perhaps he should look there.

  107. rico says:

    Sanogo is going out on loan Brad…

    If AW suddenly sees Coq as the midfield solution, he really has lost the plot. This is a player who could barely get a game on loan in the Championship – also, he’s no kid any more, at his age he should be the real deal if he’s ever going to be…

    But imo, he never will be…

  108. rico says:

    I just looked Brad, seems he was set to be fined £230k but the club bottled it after Giroud denied the incident..

    Perhaps they should have changed their mind when he went onto admit it…. Agree re his sending off too, the club needs to start throwing a few fines at players who step out of line…

    I agree with the £20k fine for Ches…. He deserves it.

  111. bradster says:

    I totally agree, unfortunately Wenger either doesn’t have the money to spend or not willing to.
    I also agree fully with the fine Schez got but I feel other players need rolickings and fines too.

  112. rico says:

    That’s gone over my head Lee..

    Brad – me too, fine them for sending offs or anything else which brings bad publicity to the club…

    Wenger has the money surely, he just hates spending too much of it on defensive players…

  116. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Morning all…..
    Just a quick word on the Syrup, I think he’s joining forces with a another consortium who are already involved in the vicinity in LA.

  117. tsgh says:

    Bt… have you forgotten the amount of free dollars (subsidy) Walmart receives from the Federal government? lol

    Stan is a freeloader…

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