Morning all.
Dennis Bergkamp is 46 years old today so a big happy birthday to him. I wonder if he’ll ever return to Arsenal in a coaching role, I sure hope so….
Man Utd got all three points at Palace yesterday, leaving them just two points behind us and City. Our job is simple as we need just five points from four games to secure third place. Three of remaining fixtures are at home so one would think we’ll get the job done.
Swansea, Sunderland & finally WBA.
On paper – simples, in reality, all three could be tough, as will Utd at the old toilet next Sunday.
Sunderland are fighting for survival and yesterday they beat Everton at Goodison Park which really was unexpected. I watched some of the game, which was pretty awful imo and Sunderland were quite fortunate to say the least and I doubt we’ll be as wasteful in front of goal as Everton were.
WBA – well that’s Tony Pulis so we can expect him to borrow the Chelsea bus for 90 minutes but hopefully by the time that fixture comes around on the final day of the league campaign, CL football will have been secured, the pressure will be off and Arsenal will hit them good and hard.
Before all of those tough comes Swansea at home and there’s been no nastiness, no bad words and nothing but praise from both managers for each other before the game kicks off.
Garry Monk:
Things in football can change very quickly, and Arsenal have not had a group like this for a long, long time, maybe since that ‘Invincibles’ side. They have always had a great squad, but they look like they can really do something now. I am sure Arsene will add quality to what he has already during the summer.
I am sure their aim is to compete better than ever and they have the players to do it. They will be a big threat next season. You can see what Arsene wants. They are gearing up to being a real force if you look at their performances since the turn of the year.
You can never call Arsenal soft, they are nowhere near being a soft touch. The reality is at the top end of the league the fine margins between the top teams are very small.
Maybe they have come undone with different aspects of the game at times, but since the start of 2015 they have been so strong and it will give them huge confidence going into next season.
I think they have a real chance of competing. I am sure that what’s they have in mind.
Arsene Wenger – well all he’s done is vote for Garry Monk to be named manager of the year. Allegedly.
The Arsenal manager has hinted that he could rotate a few players tomorrow by telling the official site that he’s not afraid to change things around as Walcott, Wilshere and Gibbs are fighting fit and at the top of the game in training but I don’t think we’ll see much change if any, other than forced ones as there’s too much at stake.
Swansea will be no pushover as we witnessed earlier in the season but as Garry Monk said, we are a lot stronger now and hopefully the home advantage will see us tot up another crucial three points.
Arsene Wenger is clearly doing all he can to convince Theo Walcott to stay on at Arsenal for a few years yet:
Being 26 to 32 is the best age as a striker and I wouldn’t like to miss that golden age.
I think his position will be striker. I work with him in both situations, as a striker and as a wide player. But the quality of the runs is so fantastic with the pace he has. When he was younger he was rushing his finishing but he is a good finisher now.
He can be transformed. He is naturally gifted to play in this position but he has different qualities. Olivier Giroud has a physical presence, back to goal, can head the ball. Theo is more a guy who is a runner, who goes behind.
He loves the club and I think he wants to stay.
Either Arsene Wenger hopes that hinting Walcott will play as a striker will convince him to stay as the player has always said he wants that role, or the manager really is going to move him off the wing and unleash Speedy Gonzalez through the middle….
Maybe we’ll find out tomorrow……..
That’s it for Sunday, have a good one all…
first…
Good morning!
Morning JM and all…
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/09/francis-coquelin-arsenal-king-counter-bling
Always on point rico
morning to the house of HH
Drake, I keep meaning to ask, what made you change your name from McRaymonds?
Morning All
Morning Rico, good post…
Decisions to be made this Summer Rico regarding Miyaichi, Campbell, Wellington & Podolski…
Can’t see more than one of that lot remaining Arsenal players…
COQ is a great story for wilshere to try to follow,because i do not think he has it him the will to be a success
Morning rico, all. Good summing up of where we are at. Starting to take it for granted, but at xmas we would have given a lot for this. Good that every match still matters for us, bad that its horrible waiting till Monday. Oh well, at least my ‘local’ team playing in play-offs tonight.
Morning Kev/Andrew, thanks..
Kev – I’m not convinced any of those will be at the club next season – how’s Wellington been doing on loan, any idea?
Who’s your local team Andrew?
Rico what makes you think im mcraymond?
Wellington hasn’t been setting the world alight, but he is featuring more for his club.
You can’t really tell though, a player can be a supposed flop on loan, as with Coquelin at Frieburg, and then turn out to be just what we’re looking for.
Campbell was a big success at Olympiakos, had a great World Cup but didn’t impress Wenger, so who knows?
Wellington could be a revelation in pre-season and turn his career around?
But like you, I suspect that all four will be at other clubs next season.
Same Ip address Drake..
Come on Drake, come clean, are you really Harry Harris in disguise… 😀
Kev, did you read that Guardian article? Interesting how the manager at Frieburg clearly disliked Coquelin. Sounds like a nasty manager…
😀 rico I won’t want to cross you maam you re some kind of detective ain’t ya. Lol. Morning cookies and creams. No arsenal this weekend makes my skin crawl. Grrrr
Yes, it was a really good article Rico, but Coq dealt with his situation in as positive a way as you could, given the circumstances.
I think it made him a stronger person.
Morning Stan….
🙂 goonster – too many blonde moments for me to ever be a detective… lol
Agree Kev, reading that made me realise how mature he was when in France, many other players would have sulked and threw his toys out the pram…
Great post rico Like I said previously if we keep our players fit we are a handful for most teams even the Madrid and barfas. Nobody ll be coming in or going out. Maybe flamster tr7 and chesney. No one else. Martinez ll be promoted to second choice keeper that’s it. Lol sorry to rain on your parade rico . lol
Morning, Rico, all,
Missed the very interesting post yesterday. Good one, Rico. And another good one today.
We have a great squad…we may need just two additions…which, imo, shouldn’t include a striker.
When we talk of a fast, mobile finisher, I ask myself…what is Sanchez? When we talk of a player that could benefit from Giroud’s hold-up play and excellent flick-ons, I ask who then is Walcott?
If Shad Forsyth is worth his money and it appears he truly is…then keeping Giroud, Welbeck, Sanchez, Walcott, Ox, Ramsey, fit throughout next season or at least 80% of the time all together is the most important transfer deal.
Like I believed last season, Wenger wouldn’t have signed Welbeck if Giroud hadn’t broken his leg at Everton. It will take another leg break by same striker within transfer window for Wenger to go for your ‘top top striker’. He trusts Ollie and I trust him too.
With Ozil, Carzola, Ramsey, Wilshere behind them, Arsenal’s attack is good enough for any title. What is required is just two beasts – one CB and a DM. Le Coq is good but he needs another to play/rotate with.
CB because I don’t really trust Per to lead us to EPL or CL trophies. I’m not yet convinced Gabriel is that monster to partner Koz.
DM because in big away matches we should think of defense first and play Coq and Shneiderlin(if we get him) together. Arteta should only play cup matches if we’re truly interested in bigger things. And I want Flamini gone…I shouldn’t have re-signed him in the first place.
I’ll keep Ospina as my number 1 … still keep Scz to battle for his lost spot with the South American..
All we need is a pre-season without bothering about CL qualifiers!
Howdy AK am so livid. No arsenal just ruined my whole weekend.
You re not even blonde maam. lol
I was chatting to a mate yesterday…
He got a cup final ticket, 3 rows from the front, through his away credits, £85…
Bloody £85 to go to that God forsaken dump!
Thanks re the post Goonie..
Martinez is out of contract at the end of the season according to ‘transfer.market’ – hope that changes as he’s looked pretty good when played…
Kev, what was that you posted about him the other day please?
Yeah Stan, know what you mean, Monday night football really is a drag..,
Again, why do Gunners pray for their own players’ fitness but wish others injured?
May God keep all Vila and Arsenal players fit for the final. I won’t enjoy that match without Benteke running at and terrorising our defence. Agbonlahor too. When we win it, it must have been worth it.
Hahahahahahahaha have you guys seen totscum position on the log? Oh my those coonts have scored something like 55 and conceded 52 hahahahahahahah. They make it too easy. Ooh poor totscums.
Ah yeah Rico, the manager at Rotherham, Steve Evans, where Martinez is in loan, said that two La Liga clubs were interested in him…
Morning Tai – thanks..
It’s funny isn’t it, in an interesting way, how we all watch Arsenal play yet differ on opinions about where we need to strengthen. If AW is truthing about Theo, there’s our striker.
The first signing through the door, as we all seem to agree on, is a CDM… Just hope AW is thinking the same…
Ak there’s no way we ll get cech from the chavs. The poison dwarf ll do his best to send him abroad. That twatfaced prick ll rather sell him to loserpoop or manure than us. He hates us. No chance in hell. Martinez to battle it with ospina next season if chezzer leaves.
Holding onto Shad Forsyth and the influence he could have on our squad next season, could really make the difference…
Compare the fitness and conditioning of our players now, with how they were in Aug/Sept/Oct….
Never serious ones though Tai, I’ll take any help we can get to win the Final…
£85 Kev, that’s cheap isn’t it… 😉
Goonie – sadly not, grey is more like it… lol
I never thought that Wenger would get Cech from Chelsea, Stan…
Tbh, I think that Wenger and Arsenal realise this….
Mourinho will play a game, as he did with Demba Ba and Nuri Sahin….
If there is a chance of taking Cech, then you have to be prepared, but Wenger needs to focus elsewhere.
I believe so much in Walcott…besides Podolski, he’s the best finisher in the team. But Theo is younger, faster and homegrown! The biggest asset of the ex-Soton player is his ability to time his runs to perfection…hardly ever gets caught in an offside position!
Well Rico, I know that Lee and Adam move in the kinds of circles where £85 for a cup final ticket is loose change…. 😛
But it’s out of my range…. 😉
Frankly j wouldn’t give the FA my money anyway….
That’s why I was thinking maybe it’s time to tick the scummers off again. Let’s nick lloris off them 😀 he’s perfect. Lol. We really need a world class keeper in between the sticks. the difference between manure making top 4 or playing out a mid table scrap this season is de gea. He’s been immense. What a player. Best in the world? I think so.
Steve Evans was full of praise for him too wasn’t he Kev?
adam and lee??? Really kev?? I thought only wath sold weed?? Oh my I got to make my way over to hampton. Time to make some money 😀
Morning all.
A big few weeks coming up but I’m confident we will take between 9-12 points from the last 4 games.
Im not mcraymond and that truth because im 7 months on HH
Tai – I like Theo too but he’s got to start putting a shift in when he plays as all the others do. I suspect that’s why he’s not being played much…
🙂 Kev, out of my range too, especially when adding travel expense to the cost. No thanks, I’d rather watch on television…
Scott I ll go all out and say we ll take all 12. These lads smell blood. It’s time to lay down a marker for next season and what better way to do it than whoop manure twice at old bog. We ll get all 13 points. Am willing to bet $200 we will 😀
I don’t think Ospina is much distance behind De Gea…though the Colombian was lucky he wasn’t between the sticks those months Chambers was our Mr Versatile while Monreal played CB, sometimes even partnering Chambers. These days, even Chelsea couldn’t get more than one decent shot on target in 90 mins.
Don’t laugh at the Totts goonster, we couldn’t beat them… 🙁
Tai don’t start mate. Ospina is miles away from de gea and ask rico I stick up for all our players including flamster but when I see quality I always hold my hand up and admit it. De gea right now is the best keeper in the world. don’t think manure ll hold on to him much longer. That kid is a beast.
Hi Scott, let’s hope you are right..
Drake, it’s no problem honest, just interested re the ip address…
That’s what makes it sweeter rico 😀 plus come om maam we beat them 3 times last season. Would you rather we beat them home and away and lose the league or lose scandalously against them yet win the league? Well I know what I ll choose.
De Gea’s height gives him a huge advantage over Ospina. I much prefer Ospina to Szczesny but De Gea gets my vote all day long…
Rico agreeing with me again 😀 i must be doing something right 😀
Stan, we are a massive chance of taking all 12, so I’m not betting against you 🙂
We haven’t won the league though goonster… lol
I reckon they are trying to avoid the Europa places, Southampton too..
🙂 Goonie…
Ahh come on scott. What’s a few hundred quids to you 😀 come on mate make my day.
Well rico we ve got a chance for another trophy and champions league participation. 20 years maam 20 years since the scums finished above us. Yikes so I was 9 when those scums last finished above us. Heheheheheh I ve never seen totscum above us on the log. Nice. Am proud to say that. COYFGS FOYS 😀
Stan, Rico may take you on 🙂
De Gea is best keeper in EPL … no argument. Best in the world? Give me Manuel Neuer any day. Ospina? He’s good, very good despite his lack of inches…I’d still retain him no 1.
Scott you know rico don’t gamble right?
If theo is going to be a cf then we need to sign a world class winger.so many people forget that next season the first few games we wont have sanchez
fair enough tai let’s agree to disagree. Manuel is the best keeper in the world currently but not for long. De gea is not too far behind and I hate manure. *spits*
rico, don’t go all Columbo on us !
I’m gonna say we’ll take 10 points as well, two wins at Old Toilet in the same season and we’ll all go bonkers, when was the last time we done that.
Goonie, I’ll be really happy if we get 2nd and the FA Cup trophy…
Scott, no I won’t… 😉
Micko is the man after my heart. How about a few pints of guiness brudder? Your treat 😀
Thierry Henry seems to have changed his mind about Giroud…
‘Arsenal must sort out this injury situation,’ said Henry, who missed only one of Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run.
‘I honestly don’t know why they get so many. Arsenal would have won the title within the last four or five years but for all these injuries.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3075492/Arsenal-won-Premier-League-five-years-without-injury-problems-claims-Thierry-Henry.html#ixzz3ZjQLWqip
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
And that’s what we ll get maam. Shitty will drop a few points. You just watch.
Stan, Rico lost a bet and that’s why I’m still allowed on here hahahahahahahahahaha
Drake, we all know Alexis will be missing – as will Opsina and Gabriel. But as potter pointed out, other clubs will also be missing many of their players too…
‘Just one more thing’ Micko…
Draw at OT would do but I reckon we’ll beat them again…
Really scott?? Do tell 😀
You reckon goonie? Have you seen their remaining three fixtures? lol
Scott, I’ve forgotten that, what was it again?
Tai – Neuer would look great in an Arsenal kit…..
Oh please rico. The same shitty who lost at burnley??? They are so inconsistent they make wath look like the London underground 😀
Ok, Goonster…Courtois is there to give De Gea a run for his money next season.
Stan, I’ll treat ya to a few Guinness’s if your ever this way, just make sure you bring a change of mud guards with you !
Alright micko….nice. hey about a trip to the old Hamptons?? Kev and adam won’t take me
Lee is too busy and you know how wath is. Lol
Rico, I figured you must keep me on here as the result of a bet…..it can’t be because I offer anything useful 🙂
I don’t see any difference between 2nd and 3rd .When you miss the title, just don’t come 4th.
Yeah, Rico…who wouldn’t want Neuer in an Arsenal shirt?…but right now that’s crying for the moon.
Curthois is a cracking keeper tai don’t get me wrong but he has never been under the kosh like de gea has this past season. Some of his saves are out of this world. He’s miles ahead of curtois imho.
Sure, Goonster…I rate De Gea very highly too. He’s the reason Man U are coming back to CL football…he’s excellent. Give it to him…
That’s why I don’t think manure can hold on to him much longer. Madrid ll make an offer they can’t refuse. Plus who wouldnt want to play for the biggest club in the world. Not me.
Tai, 2nd is better than third, no question.
Even psychologically, if nothing else.
🙂 Scott, that’s not quite true….
Comedy relief?
🙂
Sure, Scot…but I won’t throw in the kitchen sink to come 2nd…but I’d give a limb to avoid 4th as long as it’s 3rd.
Goonster, the fact he’s Spanish makes it even tougher for Man U…
Rico gabreal is not selected.do you know that?
Exactly tai Plus he’s a Madridsta howbeit from the other half. They ll get their man sooner rather than later. With casilas doing his barthez impression weekly you just have that feeling it won’t be too long.
Sorry i mean gabriel
I know Tai, sadly, re Neuer…
That’s more like it Scott – and your ‘end of’ comments of course… 😉
Drake – squads aren’t announced yet are they? Isn’t it June 1st they have to be in?
We need a few more goals, then if we lose at OT, we still come second on goal difference IF City win their last 3 matches….
City still have to face Swansea away and Saints at home. Goonie, you might be right, they could drop points… 😉
We just have to make sure we don’t….
Well spotted Rico. Le Chef always plays the diplomat when dealing with the contracts of the players he has a few doubts about but whom he would rather keep than let go. Walnut is one of those cases, he wants him, has invested loads of money in him but has yet to see the best of him. Last year in the games before he was injured TW14.was probably the first name on the team sheet. I felt he was our most unpredictable bit dangerous forward, he was always likely to make something from nothing, going forward. However, defending was never his fortè, although he did his best.
Back to Wenger’s negotiations however, I wouldn’t trust him any more than I would trust a politician, from any party, none of them tell the truth if a half truth will let them slip by! And here we are witnessing a bit of PR from the grandee as he plays cat and mouse with Theo. I think he’ll stay and re-sign, but I don’t think he’ll get many starts until he learns how to defend like Santi Cazorla has! (He was a lazy git up to half way through last season, when the penny finally dropped. A harder working more talented player you would have to go a long way to find!) and so it will be with the boy wonder!
Morning all.
Maam am always right. Shitty winning all 3 us a tall order. They ll nick a few draws and just win one but we don’t need to rely on them dropping a few points. We ll win all our remaining games. Watch this space.
My apologies Drake, just seen the Brazil squad. Good news re Gabriel then…
Off out now so catch up later…
Hi Wavy..
Must dash, laters…
Wavy your comments is always a post within a post. Lol I look forward to it each day. Great read again.
Great Gabriel is not in Brazil squad…he shouldn’t be though. He needs pre-season more than any player we presently have.
F1 not going well, city 2-0 up looks like a big win on the way for them
Thanks Stan. I’ve dried out now! No more single malt in my system so I’m thinking less fuzzily! Well………..?
3 – 0 City…
Shitty running riot. Qpr are a disgrace. So glad they are going down. They don’t deserve to be in premier League.
That does it am done watching this show of shame. qpr is hands down the worst team ever to play in the pl. No wonder they re going down.
Aguero hat trick all but confirms him best striker. Makes stupid of team of the season with Costa, doesn’t it?
I must admit I do like as few London teams as possible in the PL it’s now 6-0
5 – 0! If it ever gets to goals we come 3rd!
Yeah. 6 -0!
Burnley, QPR relegated. Who completes it? Hull certainly! Sunderland to survive yet again!
I hope hull escapes. Will swas them for those lousy magpies. Hill is a Class team plus I ve always had a soft spot for Steve Bruce unlike most managers in the pl he shows respect to our club and manager. Hull to stay up and get poldi and akpom on loan next season
I don’t care who gets relegated as long as villa can’t rest players for the last game of the season.
Cesc should have been sent off for that tackle
1-0 Chelsea
Guys, be nice to Qpr, the HH manager, the man who sorts out all the problems the site has is a Qpr supporter. You don’t want him to ban you….. 😉
I was actually hoping they’d beat City and do us a favour….. That 6-0 has just increased City’s goal advantage over us by loads….
Rico they are shite 😀
I’m saying nothing Goonie… 😉
Tai – not sure I agree about Gabriel, I think he’s very good and has been superb when he’s played… Next season he’ll be starting imo as Merts is only going to get older and slower.
Let’s see him after pre-season, Rico… hope he vindicates your trust.
I’m confident he will Tai..
He’s quick, good in the air, strong and looks like an old fashioned cb to me… A no nonsense kind of player….
1-1…
Just pray Liverpool beats Chelsea.
Why Tai?
Who is the 8′ geezer playing in midfield for the Chavs?
Dippers should have made it 2-1 then…
Two seasons ago, Arsenal players mounted a guard of honour for RvP. Four games to go… Arsenal still battling to overtake Spurs for 4th. Then with nothing in it, RvP nearly knocked us off Champions League football. He played as if possessed , won the penalty and stepped up to equalise Walcott’s early strike.
I almost shed tears… then promised RvP roles would one day be reversed sed while he’s still at Man U.
If Liverpool wins… our match with Man U will see them fighting for at least a draw… then we do everything to beat them!
I get it now Tai…
Liverpool won’t catch Utd though, not Imo…
If they beat Chelsea and we beat Man U for them… they’ll stand a chance, Rico.
Slim one Tai with just two games to go after this one….
Off the through window now… 1-1.
Game over?
Now Chelsea start losing players to injury and start dropping points 🙂
I doubt they’ll care Joe…
I’ve got lots of stuff on my planner which needs viewing so I’m off for the day…
Night guys, have a good one… ‘Til tomorrow…..
I think you could be right Rico, I see Campbell scored today.
Hey Tai, I really wish Man U get fourth and then fail to qualify for champions league and get Europa. That would make me happy 🙂 and I bet will make you happy as well.
Hi HHousers….. long time. Work has kept me busy but iv been getting on to read as and when I could. If we finish 2nd and retain FA Cup I will be happy. Next season we kick Maurinhio’s Arse….
How is that 🙂
I was chatting to someone yesterday, who reckons that Barcelona have a buy-back clause attached to Bellerin..,
Not sure of the validity of this as they said that they read it in the Mirror…
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Morning all.
Morning Scott and all..
Not read anything about that re Hector Kev…
Hi Rico,
I would put money on the fact Barca would be vocal if there was such a deal in place.
I also hope Hector appreciates what Arsene has done for him.
Good point Scott but they might be quiet right now as they have a transfer ban until January… lol
Bellerin has said he’s really happy so hopefully he’ll stay put for a long time yet…
New post up now..