Morning all,
Well that was a funny old game yesterday and talk about ‘game of two halves’ – it was just that.
Seven minutes in and Carl Jenkinson had a disaster. Not really sure what his intentions were. He appeared to get caught between the devil and the deep blue sea when ‘defensive header’ ended up being the perfect ball for Lorenzo Insigne – he fired home, 1-0 to Napoli!
Hopefully Wenger made a mental note of that one! No, not so he can have a moan and groan at Jenkinson but to realise that some of our younger/less experienced players need more time and what we need now is an experienced addition to our defence.
17 minutes on the clock and a soft penalty was awarded to us by referee Kevin Friend after Napoli’s Valon Behrami fouled Kieran Gibbs. Up Stepped Lukas Podolski – but a soft shot was easily dealt with by Pepe Reina.
As 30 mins approached, 2-0 down we went. It was a dreadful goal to give away, not because of the scoreline, but the way in which we conceded. Marek Hamsik had all the time and space in the world to casually breeze through our defensive barrier (or lack of it) before setting up Goran Pandev who made it 2-0.
That’s what happens when a side doesn’t have a defence minded midfielder or pace in the defence.. Well, in Mertesackers legs really!
The second half was very different and we were the better side – bringing on Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave us so much more going forward. Bacary Sagna showed exactly why he needs to stay and keep the right back position. No way should he be relied on to play central in my humble opinion. We need a centre-half, sign one!
On the 73rd minute, Walcott sent in a corner which caught Napoli’s defence flat-footed and Olivier Giroud, in a fine athletic manner fired home with some sort of overhead kick. Yes yes, irony but he scored, with a little help from Sagnas shoulder without which, his shot would have gone wide.
There was one really ugly moment in the game when Napoli substitute Andrea Dossena was booked for a late, nasty tackle on Sagna, thankfully our right-back got up and walked away unscathed. In a ‘proper’ match, I would hope that such tackles result in a red card!
During the final fifteen minutes we well and truly knocked on Napoli’s door and eventually found an equaliser through Laurent Koscielny. There was just four minutes left on the clock when Mikel Arteta played in a cross which Per Mertesacker headed towards the goal. Reina saved it but could only push the ball up into the air rather than out to the side.
Thank you said our Frenchman, as he nodded home the equaliser….
Serge Gnabry did himself no harm at all yesterday as he fights for a place in the squad. He’s big, strong and wasn’t at all fazed by the Napoli players. Akpom was on on for minutes while Zelalem and Martinez were the other two youngsters on the bench who didn’t feature.
I’ll finish with the gossip.
According to John Cross, The Sun Newspaper claim that we have agreed a £6.1m to bring Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter to Arsenal. Bizare as that sounds as Cross writes for The Mirror, but he’s obviously read the other story and then used Twitter to relay this piece of news.
Of course he hopes it true as he broke the ‘rumour’ a few weeks back…
Finally, Sport 360 report that Omar Abdulrahman could be set for a move to Arsenal after the Premier League club approached Al Ain to take the talented playmaker/winger on trial. Abdulrahman has previously been on trial at Manchester City and the club were very keen on signing him but now it seems that Arsene Wenger could get in there first….
That’s about it for another day, enjoy the match against Galatasaray, let’s hope it all goes by smoothly..
Oh, and no booing Eboue, he’s not ours any more…..
Have a good one….
Good post Rico,
Your report on Ginter will get WATH to have a double on the house. llo
Morning again btw…
Morning all..
Thanks Ts. Yes, Wath is a fan of Ginter.
Be interesting if both these stories are true…
Good read rico.I hope the Ginter stories are true since he is a very good player and a good back up option to have.
If true Matthias, must have had firm assurance that he will play some games. Note he turned down FC Munchen before they went for Thiago.
Matthias is a very defensive play which is very different to any signings or players AW has been interested in recently.
Is it not interesting that we inquired about him in April but no deal has been struck….
Also, the ‘Gerv’ deal has taken over 1 month to get to this stage… it shows deals can take forever to conclude some times.
Thanks Kt, he’d be our only trued DM, i hope if he signs, he plays…
Morning Kt…
By the way is there a CB in world football faster than kos…?in the Arsenal squad i think only walcott and miyaichi are faster than him.this is the season when he’ll finally cement his place in the top class bracket of defenders.
funny thing is of all forwards kos faced last season only suarez seemed to cause him problems…
For sure deals take a while – wages, fees etc etc have to be agreed and Nik is living proof that when a club pays too high wages, other clubs laugh.
And in our case, we only have ourselves to blame…
morning ts/rico.
Its true Bayern were interested but he turned them down because they have kirchkoff/Boateng/Dante/Van Buyten already.
Kids took a 7-0 pasting yesterday. oops…
….And how the Soldado deal by the scums was delayed by a weak due to agent issues even though personal terms and agreement between the 2 clubs had been finalised… phew
Kt, i can’t recall at what time Kos pace yesterday was clear to see, but i thought a Napoli player was about to score, then Kos arrived with a perfectly timed tackle. Really good..
Unlike Merts for their second!
The type of signings we have come to expect and I would not be surprised at them . I read on my phone whilst I was out yesterday that someone made comment on my remarks and quoted a load of stats to prove that our defence is in fact solid and water tight.. I can’t remember who it was but I refer you to our first half hour yesterday . If Ginter is the man to shore up and protect the back four : so be it , bring it on.
Reports say that there was a little trouble at the ground and posters were being put up of Arsenal fans being stabbed in Copenhagen , I hope it doesn’t get out of control today ,although I fear it might.
Goodmorning all,
One sentence ‘Koscielny is the Bosscielny’
Watched the match over again. We had chances enough to have won the match. On another day we could have scored 5/6 goals. The best CB pairing at the moment is Kos/Bac. Both read the game very well. Wish we could get another RB with experience. What Jenk did yesterday was just schoolboy defending like the own goal he scored v Cologne 2 yrs ago.
Sorry to burst ur bubbles Wilshere shouldn’t be starting and if he does to be on the safe side AM role will be suitable where we wont have too much problem
Koscielny performance
http://www.youtube.com/embed/UDQ58i-nRkg
B-52 is just a disgrace…
I think it is a cop out if we blame his salary for him refusing to leave. MA08 took a pay cut to join us, B-52 can take a pay cut for a year or 2, re-establishment himself if he thiunks he is as good as he believes and a killing on his next move but…
Denilson and Santos have all taken pay cuts too… even CF took a pay cut to join Barca…
How can a player like him have 2 agents? lol
Who cares about the Totts ? 😉
Ginter is 19 years old. Do we really need another kid? I think not.
Morning Potter – I’m with you – our defence is far is far from water tight, and you know my view on stats..
I too hope it all runs smoothly today and I seriously hope those reports about fans being stabbed are false…
Morning Emma and Potter
Arsenal derseved a lose for wenger to get serious in transfer market
Hi emma, Jack obviously divides opinion, I am all for him starting alongside a defensive midfielder. It seems to go wrong when he and Ramsey pair up and I know which one I rather see give way..
He’s meant to be very good Adam, and a lot better than our options right now..
I haven’t seen him play but a friend has and he rates him quite highly…
As do Wath I believe
Heard of Ginter but never watched him play and so can’t really comment about him.
Adam if he comes he’ll be a 4th choice CB.You can’t convince an experienced international who is decent to join as 4th choice.a kid will do.
So was Gervinho Rico. There are stats that positively prove it.
DU – it shouldn’t take a loss for AW to know who he needs to sign, I’d like to think a manage who claims to be one of the best in the game, knew that long before kick-off yesterday.
KT. There is an obvious solution to that. Buy a top class centre back befitting of a club of Arsenal’s stature and let the cream rise to the top. As far as I can see it should be Kos, who seems to be coming on well and a first class CB next to him. Is Ginter a CB or a CM?
Fair enough Adam…
Rico as it stands Ramsey should start ahead of jack.we shouldn’t bring in someone to just to baby sit him there and do the defending for him.
Mind you, I’ve not seen any stats to prove that about Gervinho 😉
But since the Ginter story is from ‘The Sun’ I take it with a pinch of salt
Kt, it’s each to their own – I’d rather Jack start and sign a DM, and it’s not to babysit Jack as you say, its because we jolly well need one and have done for the last 3/4 seasons…
Emma, Pep said he knows several players in Barca B who are like JW and won’t make it… Barca then bought Song… hmm. It surely says something imho. lol
Ginter is young and the deal is not confirmed so it is not worth some people getting stressed about it. But a young player/defender who plays in the Bundesliga (which is now about as strong as the EPL) and only gets booked 4 times in 28 or so appearances is Lilliam Thuram or Cavanaro quality (potential) in my books.
The sun also reported MVila was signed and in the bag but… so I won’t stress there…
He is a CB but can play DM.
Adam thats how squad disharmony starts like in the case of man city.a kid with potential is fine for that role and most clubs do that bar oil run clubs.
I think we all take all newspaper stories with a pinch of salt…
Oh yes Rico. When he came he was statistically better than Hazzard. In the real world however we discovered that was a bit wide of the mark.
Ginter is 19. I doubt that Wenger will even be here when he comes into his own, if ever.
Someone mentioned Stan was at the grounds yesterday so at least he can force his employee to do what is good for some fans. 😉
KT. I hear what you say but we have been down the harmonious squad route for years now and it has resulted in very little. It also hasn’t prevented us from losing our best players year on year. If you are good enough, you play.
By the time Wenger took positive action last year and dropped the wobblers it was too late, but the results did improve even if the football was shit.
I don’t see that you can run a top club as a democracy.
Ginter is usually described as being a DM who can play in defence..
I must be wrong….
Fair enough rico but right now jack should earn his spot and not get handed one.Ramsey is performing better right now and no way can jack justify a spot on merit ahead of the welshman.he may be more talented technically but he has been a liability in a CM role for quite a while now and should be benched.
As Kev said to me yesterday, the top clubs would take Jack off of us now and play him in the right position.
We let Norviet go , who I believe is just as good with the same potential as Ginter.
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree adam.
Who is stressing??
Anyway…
I thought it was Hazard who said that Adam, however, eyes were all that were needed to know that was absolute bollox.
Yes Ts, it was Lee who said SK was at the ground… I wonder if he has grown a pair yet and had a word in AW’s ear about making our squad a stronger one…
‘The Running Man’ was also at the game, maybe Wenger could adopt that nickname as each transfer window opens….
Rico, He started off as a CB and moved to DM last season.
In the u-21 he played DM but was moved to CB for the first 90 minutes of the Germans last match… the manager then moved him to DM and brought on a CB in extra time and the sub was at fault for the Spanish scoring….
Even Robson said he has not seen a young defender reead the game so well since Rio Ferdinard at 19 y.o…
Kt, we’ll have to agree to differ, I think Jack is a world class player who get in nearly every other clubs starting line up…
So he’s currently a DM then Ts..
potter, we let him slip away didn’t we, still I bet he’s a lot happier where he is now. Good luck to him…
KT. Look at our results. They are really the only important things. How you get there is relatively unimportant but unless you have a man who is a winner and who knows how to win at the very top of the club the fans will indulge themselves in fruitless discussions over the minutiae of who should play where and in what shape. It might pass the time but it is of zero real consequence.Personally, it interests me little. I want an ambitious club run by a winner. Top players will always want to play for clubs like that.
The rest is just window dressing.
Adam, would you play Jack on the left side of a 4 man midfield?
Looks like Chamakh is off for at least six months.. Good luck with him Ollie 😉
I haven’t a clue Rico and wouldn’t want to start a debate on the subject. Personally I would ask Mourinho because that’s where he will be very soon I think.
I keep track of Havard( B. M’lach) and he is still very light weight but is still useful in a technical league… he may still be a ‘miquel’ if he was here so no regret
Ok, I’ll forget that then …
I thought only the other day you said he was one of the best DM in the German league ?
He is one of the best. That does not mean he may be suitable in this league Rico.
Forlan is one of the best strikers in La liga but could not score for Yanited… 😉
I define a world class player as a player who has been consistently performing for a couple of seasons and would as a result start in most top clubs in the world.jack to me isn’t one;he is a promising young player who has the talent to become world class.for example of all the teams in the CL semis last year he would not start for a single one of them.of all the really top clubs he would only start for man utd and that for me isn’t enough to class him as a WC player.he has a lot to prove imo.
Rico. You know how deep the Arsenal problems go. You know that, if we continue along our present path we will lose our best players year upon year. You can see the difficulty we have in attracting and buying the World’s best players. I believe we are viewed as a nice well-run club managed by a decent man who is prone to lying to the clubs fans and notoriously stingy and stubborn. But we are not viewed as an ambitious club or one where trophies are a high priority. Until this changes the status quo will continue. We all want to believe that things are about to change. That is natural and I am one of those who feel that way but I also look at things and ask what are they, what is their nature? We know that Arsenal are special but we are competing in an arena that has become removed from the real world. Wenger is right about the Bale fee. What is the right way forward for Arsenal in this World? That is, to me, a far more interesting debate than who plays where. That is the manager’s business. Get the right one and he will sort that and win games.
Rosicky performance
http://youtu.be/K2w-3kFQIq4
Kt I agree with you there. If JW was not English he won’t be at AFC. He was not even one of the best at youth level.
AW let a very good player in Ozyakup leave because JW is English and even VP was aware of it. Holby was not bought because he would have destroyed JW and so would Dembele…
I guess it’s all down to own opinion Ts, after all, you think Ramsey is a top class midfielder 😉
Maybe ‘world’ was a bit strong then Kt, but personally, I rate him higher than Ramsey and no-one will change my mind on that.
I won’t try and change your view either though 😉
Morning all.
Good match analysis Rico.
Adam you are on top form today 10.17, 10.34 …
I do however agree with KT, Jack wilshere should earn his place and not be expected to start because he is gifted. Ramsey gets the od over him as he is more responsible positionally on the field and is performing better through pre season. True Jack is only just coming back, but as you quite rightly mention ,Arsene should react earlier and be a bit more ruthless. If you are playing shit , you are benched and relegated to u21’s . If you don’t show signs of improving , move on.
As a fan of our prestigious club, I don’t want “the sort” NB52 Gervinho, Chamack etc…YEs they gave us something, but not our moneys worth. They can go Austrian 2nd Division or try their luck with Peterborough.
I admire a tryer, thats what Tomas Rosicky gave us yesterday. But if he starts to wane – then show him the door, say thank you and move on.
Otherwise we lose the respect as a club.
Thierry, bobby Pires, Parlour, Mad Jens, all can come back to the club, even though they could have stayed longer…and will always get a cheer.No hard feelings.
Chamakh though thinks its ok to waltz into the emirates to watch us with Nasri and expects a hard working fan like me to thank and applaud the c$%^$%…err no.
I liked Akpom’s directness and decision making so far this pre season…interesting player.
Hope he isn’t another JET.
Jenks and Gnabry need premiership loans-then we’ll see if they have matured.
Adam, yes I know – but as well as what you have said, have the right owner too. One who has ambition and who wants to get Arsenal to the top and most importantly, has the balls to instruct his manager to do so…
Mind you, the right manager wouldn’t need to be told..
Clearly though, Arsene Wenger does…
ktr – ditto 10:55
When he sorts his defensive side of the game he will become a hell of a player. I will give him the benefit of doubt that this is first pre-season after being sideline for 2years. Still feel Ramsey/Ox are ahead of him
Morning all.
My HH page or Ipad is playing up leaving it nearly impossible for me to read posts, or make any which i am sure plenty will be ecstatic about 🙂
Anyway, i am working on it with help and hope to catch you all asap.
Thanks George…
All this stuff about Jack and Ramsey is really getting us nowhere, it’s all personal opinion..
But I don’t know why fans are suddenly thinking Jack needs to prove himself any more than any one else does…
Morning George and Scott…
Scott, download Mozilla Firefox..
Hi Scott – keep trying….
What has jack given this team? lol
Nice one Emma. I enjoy your videos. lol
Football is a sport. Some people make it out like it is life or death… Geeeez lol
No one has ever said Gerv is better in this league than Hazard. Some people just enjoy twisting things to suit their needs….anyone who knows anything about football and not just about playing a lump in-front of a back 4 knows that when Gerv was bought he was better than Hazard. We could blame AW for his regression or blame the league or the style of play… sometimes things don’t work out. The player is moving on there is no point in some people crying over spilt milk.
Veron was a world class player and Rednose paid £25M for him but he could not fit into the league… Kleberson was better than Silva for Brazil in the world cup in ’02 but Silva became a club legend and Kleberson was next to useless for Yanited…
No top side have a PV04 in their side anymore… its about moving with the times.
I repeat, people claim to be life -long supporters and have the interest of the club at heart but will probably swap a tin-cup for top 3 or 4 so there we have with the ambition.
We are the 4th richest club in this league and most times we over achieve.
No one has ever said on here the squad is good enough. If people are so unhappy why don;t they excrside their rights as ST holders and life long supporters.
Anyway, enjoy the moan-fest… I will be back when some people decide to stop moaning…
And about Mauren-ho being ambitious? ha ha ha… let him build a team.
Apart from a select few in football and especially in England, no one rates Mauren-ho.
Almost all his buys at Chelsea, Inter and RM were flops and that can be proven with a lil’ google search…
Some good news then.
rico – Jack needs not prove himself. He needs to be positionally aware of where others are in relation to his movement before he starts dashing forward running into Rosicky channel
http://youtu.be/UDQ58i-nRkg
Morning Gooners.
Morning Rico, nice post…
Ah, the Wilshere Question?
Maybe it has something to do with the system we play?
Not sure I know the answer tbh.
But what I do know, is that if Arsenal put Wilshere up for sale, that ManUre, City, Chavs, Barca , Bayern, Madrid, et al, would be stampeding to our door.
Not sure that those same clubs would be as eager to take Ramsey or Rosicky or Arteta or whoever, off of our hands.
.
I am sure you have some stats somewhere to tell the answer Ts.
Rico technically jack is more talented than ramsey no doubt but on the football pitch you need more than that.Berbatov is probably as technically gifted a player as you’ll see but he plays for fulham.Welbeck hasn’t got even half of the Bulgarian’s talent but in top matches red nose will always favour welbeck.this is because application and taking responsibilty on the pitch is just as important.
Tactically jack leaves us wide open when he plays as a CM.If he doesn’t sort that out Ramsey will alwwys get the nod despite not matching jack technically.the 1st half yesterday was more than enough evidence of this.last season the same happened and AW shifted him to AM to mask this.however he is still not goor enough there since tomas and santi are better than him in that role.he has to buck up his ideas because he shouldn’t just waltz back into the team.its time to be ruthless and bench him until he starts performing.
Based on form from what I’ve seen on pre-season:
Chezza in goal
Right back Bac
Left back Gibbs
Centre halves BFG and Kozza
Rwing Theo
LW Ox
Central midfielders Tomas, Ramsey
Up top -Giroud and Akpom.
I know Poldolski and Jack are cracking players but they didnt look to good yesterday and are still getting up to speed. Decison making seems to the the niggly issue and it might have something to do with the positions they are asked to play. LP is a CF not LW, Whats Jacks position? Last season Ramsey was right wing right back centre mid…err..see what I mean.
Ginge , Emma does put up some wicked videos:D
Well said AK ,11:15
Ts – Your last comment was not really what HH is about, you like to try and defend players with stats, stats which mean diddly squit to most fans. Our eyes gives us an opinion, we don’t need stats.
After all, stats would say that Cazorla had a good season, but you wouldn’t think so reading your comments each game 😉
If you choose to defend AW and see no harm in what he’s doing then thats fine by me, but surely there is no need to ridicule others views because they dont..
rico its nothing personal against jack since i’ll say the same thing about anyone in the squad.for example vermy should also be on the bench on merit too.
He’s rubbish that Mourinho isn’t he? His lack of trophies proves it.
George, beware, Emma is a lady. 😀
Morning Kev, thanks and spot on re Jack…
Rico, when have I defended Aw this morning or during this window?
Good news is that England have avoided the follow on 🙂
ramsey, jenks, flappy nowwhere near good enough for arsenal fc, gibbs still not a great defender, deseprately need a great left winger, a dm, a cb, a rb, a goalie and of course a top striker, hope we get suarez but very worried we have no one else in case that doesnt happen
Ginge, you are funny.
She is spot on though at 11.13 .
Jack is a little rusty positionally. Perhaps its the system, or the fact that he has been out injured too long and was just over excited yesterday.
He did look arrogantly p’d off when he was subbed even though he played sht.
thanks George 😉
Broad has that belligerence that I like Rico. He will not go quietly into the night.
For Wilshere to be effective we need a quicker and positionally aware DM who can cover those grounds he has left wide open. Will Wenger be willing to get one thru the door? Yesterday it was like no defined role b/w Wilshere/Ramsey who will sit when the other push forward. It repeatedly happened in the first half
Wenger had this to say after the match yesterday:
“I think our defence in the second half played very well. Defensively in the first half we gave too much distance to their players, we marked them from too big a distance and we shortened up a little bit in the second half. Our distances between the lines was shorter and we played higher up and overall we did very well on that.
I feel overall during the 90 minutes that we played very well going forward. It took us some time to adjust defensively.”
Kt, re Jack 11.18 – surely that’s down to not having the right balance in the squad.. I know its not personal…
Out of curiosity, first 30 mins yesterday, who was captain?
Reason being , positionally the responsibilty should be reminded on the pitch by the captaion. Verm was out, MA08 came on after..
re-distance between midfield and defence
Ts, I meant re transfers, you truly believe that its not down to him don’t you.
Merts George
Form is one thing but a manager must back himself when he believes in a player. This might mean playing him through a patch of bad form. It’s all about judgement I guess-and faith.
On SC19, I said from day 1 that he was not a no.10; Aw finally moved him to the flanks and we went almost unbeaten from February.
If I say Santi does not deserve to be the player to the season does does not mean he is crap or I do not rate him…
All i say is that he never turns up in big games… and the Spainish team in the Confed cup showed that too when Del Bosque only played Santi against Thiati… if people think I am being biased then its their issue imho…
For instance I always defend Theo for being a big game player but maintain he is lethargic in other games… if some people think I don’t know what I am talking about then, to be frank I don’t care..
Emma, when Song was with us he covered for JW like Vidal does for Pirlo and Kheidira does for Alonso but a lot of fans think a DM should be sitting in front of the back 4… and there lies the problem.
Made me laugh when he walked though Adam…
emma – thats all i was trying to say earlier, if we sign a proper defensive player for midfield, everyone benefits, including Jack…
Right now we seem to have a whole bunch of midfielders who AW is turning into Jack of all Trades, yet Masters of none.
There is no doubt that if jack was put up for sale the top clubs would come in for him since he is immensely gifted.however if he does go and show the same naivety in midfield they’ll not be afraid to bench him.he can be a hell of a player but he must be willing to learn from his mistakes.for example i hope he took a video of yesterday’s game to see his mistakes and to improve on that.Rvp does that and you can see the trajeoctory of his improvement.what disappoints me is last season he was making the same mistakes and he seems not to learn.when Ramsey plays there we look more solid because he is better tactically than jack.
then responsibility, lies with him. If Jack goes bombing fwd, he should have called back Rambo and vice versa. Should either decide to “diss” him , then as a real captain(like good old Adams) should give it to them verbally and fire them up.
They are both younger, and as a BFG, he should be scarier lol
When you are too nice on the pitch… well…
Something I like about Kozza , his aggression- perfect balance yesterday…possible captain material??
Had a morning making my garden look like the Emirates pitch well almost. Got to disagree with your interpretation of Jenkinson’s defensive mistake. He was marking a very clever player and a horrible ball up in the air and try as he might to get to the ball first , only for the ball to fall very kindly for a tap in Jenks was on his own or thats the way it looked from the screen. Personally i think Wengers Million pound man is a steal and worth ten times that.
Yes Rico. He was on his way before the umpire got his finger up wasn’t he? Is it me or has the commentary this series been ropey from Bumble and Atherton in particular?
Still hoping for rain myself.
Ditto Ts, I couldn’t care less what people think of my opinions, I just see things the way I do..
But I would like to see us with a proper squad with players playing in their strongest position instead of being shunted around everywhere where there is a gap..
And I strongly suspect that doing that to Gervinho when AW expected him to play as a lone striker, was the beginning of the end of his career with us…
Rico… I work on the principle that if Stan or the board members did not like what AW tells them after a failure then they won’t be offering him a new deal…
The man has 11 months left on his contract OFFICIALLY, if they did not want to disgrace him they would let him walk away gracefully without a contract extension but that is not the case… AW may have signed a contract already without us being aware. Maybe that is why Stan is here…
I also state that reading from what IG says every decision the club makes is considered by so called experts first.
I have slated AW for tactics in my post and even if you remember when we signed OG12 I told you that he will get the goals but he has a habit of scoring 3 goals and then going 6 or 7 games without scoring.
Last season in my post after the Everton game, I even questioned how AW could insist on OG12 when he knows how the guy plays.
My point is always consistent… I do not slate Kos or Sagna and then after 2 good games say he is a good player unlike a lot of people… 😉
Morning Steve. I like the look of Jenks but this season will be a biggie for him. I am glad we still have Sagna myself.
Rico, i think he thought Gervinho would be that Kanu type of player we luxuriously could afford to have in our squad.
SP1, re Jenks-we have got a good player there, and yes he didnt look to clever yesterday, but he’s worth more than a million and can only improve.
Sp, fair call, I love Jenks as you know so wasn’t picking on him 😉
George, that understanding should already be there, they should walk onto the pitch knowing that that they both cover each other..
Does AW work on this? I doubt it…
tsgh – The problem Song had the same problem Arteta is having when paired with Wilshere. I believe that’s why Arsene moved Wilshere into the AM role in the last couple of matches before he had another lay off. This he(arsene) did to reduce damage limitation. But with Rosicky’s form it will be unwise to drop ‘little mozart’ for Wilshere. Maybe with more game time in the CM role he will get there as he has being out for a long time
Thank you George, great minds eh?
To me, the signing of Ginter signals that Wenger doesn’t think that Aneke can do the job, therefore Chuks will go.
Also it kinda means that Frimpong is also surplus to requirements, sadly…
But I am happy to see us sign another German.
I can see both Gnabry and Zelalem as big players for us.
Now all we need is a German Coach…
Bumble has been ok for me Adam, but Ather’s is such a pompass snob imho. I like Nassa, Beefy, Strauss and Holding..
Rain is due later and tomorrow I think…
Rico, this is what I posted about Aw last night..
tsgh says:
August 3, 2013 at 8:31 pm
The u-21 performances are really troubling. We don’t have a striker from u-9 to u-100 level.
Almost every player at Arsenal is playing in an unnatural position. Even Akpom was a midfielder until last August.
———————————————————————————
We all know the issues; I just believe I do not have the power to influence Aw other than not buying ST or going to the ground as many times as I would…
We all come on here to vent a lil bit but when people are going to insult peoples intelligence because we do not all believe in moaning and mourning about a game of sports then…
Problem is when jack bursted forward Ramsey covered for him but when ramsey did join the attack jack wasn’t willing to hopd his position.there is nothing wrong with the system because when ox/arteta/ramsey form the double pivot there is no issue of big gaps between defence and midfield.the issue arises when jack plays with anyone of them.he has to take responsibility when he is played there.
It reminds me of the film Magic when Burgess Meredith challenges Anthony Hopkins to keep his ventriloquist’s doll Corky schtum for 5 minutes.
He doesn’t make it
Hiya Adam George and of course the luvly Ricolicious didn’t think for one minute you were digging him out Rico you know what we have there the same as Adam and George 🙂
That’s the thing though Ts, stuff has leaked from the club saying that is not the case and its AW being the stubborn git. I believe it because I know exactly where this news has come from..
Anyway, onwards and upwards..
emma i agree with your 11.45.i said the same.thing 11.18.
Oh, and the words ‘statistic’ or any other form of the word is going into spam the next time they are used to suggest a player is either good or bad.
A statistically sound decision Rico. 🙂
George, I don’t think we can afford any luxury’s to be honest, not until we get a stronger/deeper squad and then I’d rather have Rosicky or a Benayoun kind of player….
I thought so Adam.
Talking of Gerv, deal has been done and he’s having his medical. Will be interesting to hear what he has to say once he’s gone…
So, we have battered Jack and Arron, oh, and Ginter as he’s too young 😉
What about the winger who is reported to be coming on trial, would we all be happy if he signed?
Ditto- ktr7 says:
August 4, 2013 at 11:18 am
Rico technically jack is more talented than ramsey no doubt but on the football pitch you need more than that.Berbatov is probably as technically gifted a player as you’ll see but he plays for fulham.Welbeck hasn’t got even half of the Bulgarian’s talent but in top matches red nose will always favour welbeck.this is because application and taking responsibilty on the pitch is just as important.
That is why AW said Darren Fletcher was the most important player for Man U after they beat us 2 or 3 years ago whilst fans thought Wooney should be considered so.
People underestimate football intelligence and tactical aware.
3 of Napoli’s starting XI yesterday could not make it at Boltonand WHU but play for a CL team now… why?
Reason why Italy play with the likes of Alessandro Diamanti but we have all our players playing for Chelsea and United but finish no where in tournaments… there are other reasons too including good players being considere world class..
Omar Abdulrahman will make us the UN team instead of Barca… lol
Rico, the rumours may be true but if IG wants Hig but AW thinks Suarez will be better does that make AW stubborn? Just being hypothetical here.
That is why AW said Darren Fletcher … Alex Ferguson instead of AW even…
Morning all you happy bunnies.
Is it still tsgh or Frank, it needs clearing up and quickly !
Amoory, do me a favour.
Such a shame about scott………..
Frimps and chucks are gone AK, echo that…They are good enough,but upstairs might have little between their ears…They will make careers and hopefully good ones re Larsson and Muamba.
Adam, you do have a way with words mate lol @11.47
Rico, I think the backroom staff shale up is reflecting our performances.
Our U21’s getting a hiding by Luton…shows Liam Brady’s importance.
We were lucky to have had Pat Rice, Bob Wilson, and other good coaches throughout the years. The re-shuffle may work, but maybe we shouldve made changes gradually rather than shake the whole pack. some of those players, even Jack Wilshere have been coached for 5-10 years in their development, and to suddenly ask them to do it different is a culture shock..
nice to see him acknowledge Jack and Rambo positionally not working out and change things quicker than at 70 minutes like he always does and give a fair account in his after match interview re -distance and defensive adjustment.
He usually says”great mental spirit”, and “i didn’t see it”. or “I don’t know”. “We are getting there”
Looking forward to our young Sanogo’s Debut this guy could be very good. I had written him off as a player for the future but, now i have seen a few clips of him i am very hopeful he shines and fits in well.
An 87 y.o was reportedly robbed in Bolton at knife point yesterday… disgrace
I don’t think IG or AW wanted Higuain after Real Madrid moved the goalposts – the deal was done up until RM tried to take the mickey and we walked away..
Rightly so imho.
£50 m for Suarez, a proved EPL goalscorer or £35 for a player who was deemed not good enough for Real, and reportedly slowish, I know which one is better value for money…..
Rico. Ginter for me. Every time. 🙂
Whats Maureen doing in Bolton
Pennant brothers in Bolton?
11.47 Sp 😉
Hi Micko, no booing Ebooie later please, I know you’ll want to.
In the ‘real world’, that report is horrific….
Back to the Arsenal and football world though…..
https://twitter.com/footballitalia/status/363979487811088387
I’d rather Aneke actually Adam as per my post the other day, but if this story is true it could spell the end of his Arsenal days..
The two are similar, to have them both in the squad in the seasons to come would be pretty good though..
However, Fellain would be quite a good interim solution.. …
And a dream come true for us as well, a poor man’s Hazard, that’s what you get when you penny pinch Arsene.
Syg has not shown his cyber face since he heard Roma were nearing signing Yao Gerv… lol
I hope he has not drank too much after hearing that.
What is Micko saying again… I heard you and Eboue shared a tune in the Irish/Ivorian club last night… lol
Ts if i were to come here and start a debate on the best attackers in world football Thomas Muller would probably not get even a mention.in my opinion he is one of the most intelligent forwards in the game especially tactically and interpretation of spaces in the final 3rd.he is not flashy and is unorthodox but i’d love him in my team.before kroos got injured muller kept robben on the bench for this reason despite the latter being more gifted technically.football intelligence is really underappreciated in modern football since it cannot be portrayed on youtube like them silky skills.
I’ll lay a penny to a pinch of sh-t that Wenger has his money covered.
Micko at least we got some money back. We were well and truly bumped when we signed tosh like Santos for £6.2m…
Barca really wanted Aneke 4 years ago and he was playing in the same team as JW… 😉
Hi Kev do you know anything about Pleguezuelothe signing from Barca. JB said he was very good but lack of communication/language barrier between the Algerian CB caused the problem..
Micko. I think Wenger fancied Hazard but wouldn’t pay the money that Chelsea would. I like Hazard a lot.
Ginge , Aneke going back to Crewe either shows 1 of 2 things.
He is either being humble and wants playing time and experience
or he has gone down in Arsene’s estimation, and Barceleavemyarsalona is far far away now for Chuks
He deserved the same chance imo
I agree about Muller… he is a dirty player of untold proportions though. lol
Him and Robben like tag teaming on RB and LB’s…
The 6 months loan is interesting George… Crewe wanted him for longer.
Adam/ Micko;
Wenger went for Gerv instead of hazard becuse he had a bigger Spam
Gerv tells porkies then….
All footbalers do… when he was scoring at the beginning of last season he said he supporter Barca and Arsenal… now he supports Roma… Geeeeeez
Wasn’t he one of the panick buys George ? Could see a couple more brought in later this month at this rate.
We might need a Crane to get rid of Bendtner 😉
A crane? lol
His ego is bigger than that I suspect.
Morning HH, any truth about a board meeting at AFC yesterday after the game.
Syg and Gerv 😛
http://gossip.ladyarse.com/arsenal/2013/08/04/gervinho-in-rome-photo/?
Hi Dna, possibly…
The BFG said all the players and staff woulkd watch the Gala’ray match afterwards so…
Can’t blame a bloke from taking a 50% pay cut Emma, especially when your as good as him. 🙂
I thought we’d be first on today but we are not, 4pm ko again. And I am at a BBQ 3.30 onwards. How cheesed off am I… 🙁
Oh dear oh dear. The reds think we are their rivals… denial is the first symptom of dillussion.
Reds will not sell to a club they hope to rival for a top four place next season according to Liverpool’s former managing director Christian Purslow.
off for a few hours peoples …crap jobs …
Not good
Gdna, not sure, but Kroenke was at the Ems…
Ts i don’t want u to mess with the British core u know mate. lol
Keep your head up George… the hard work will pay off soon.
Is that a veggi BBQ rico, blow it out girl. A pint and a bag of pork scratchings Luvly 🙂
What does that old fart know Ts, funny enough I just read that too on the BBC…
😀 Dna, I wish
Rico i hope its was a meeting to improve the squad. Because stan might be asking AW advice on the next Denver Nuggets coach. lol
Ts the debate was interesting, i’m happy because they both play for AFC, young players with potential. lol
Gervinho loves Roma??? A dream come true??? 😆
Barefaced cheek??? His arse speaks ???
Touch of the sun???
Or was he banged with one of my legendary saucepans and suffered amnesia??
I cant stop laughing.
Good Morning Lady, Sir, Gentlemen and Ladies.
Nice match report Rico.
I saw the game in fits and starts so I cannot really comment at all. But from the little I saw Koscielny, Ramsey, Rosicky, Sagna and Giroud did well. The rest were a bit off colour.
Jack on the left side of attack?? Not a bad idea. It might work out.
🙂 Sp, it’s not veggie, but I’m taking our own burgers, wish I’d said no now though 😉
Lee, in an unforgettable post of the day yesterday, described Gervinho as a “Star Trek extra”.
Good interview on 5livesport with Damien Comoli 15mins ago. He claims a clause does exist for Suarez to leave. Suarez wants out but Liverpool trying to block it. “Luis is extremely ambitious and with all due respect to Liverpool, they’re a top 8 side not top 4 like Arsenal
Linda McCartney Mozzarella burgers Rico?
Gdna, maybe he could go manage those nuggets… 😉
Surely if a proper buy-out clause does exist, he will have to be sold but didn’t I read that lawyers in this country found the opposite?
Your going to miss Ya Ya I reckon he is the one 🙂
Nassa is a gooner Adam 🙂
No, not today as I don’t want to share them, Sainsbury soya burgers…. 😉
Rico lol. U might be surprise that AW can do it, listening to him sometimes u can tell he has wisdom.
Adam – that was a made up story by one of the mirror-scouser journos
Does all your family eat rubbish Rico or is it just you. Dont mean that disrespectful.
Hi Devil, thanks. Jack the new Brady 😉
what about 45 mil and NB52 for Suarez?
In economics maybe Gdna…
You cheeky toad Sp, no, the woofa eats meat 😉
Gdna – 😆
Rico Liverfool better make the deal happen early or that’s going to b their only option if they leave it late.
Yeh fair doo’s Rico, i read that again and it wasn’t ment honest. 🙂 luv the dog tho
I thought the dippers wanted around £50 million Gdna, that would be like adding another £20K
https://twitter.com/simonafc/status/363993779914551296
Was pulling your leg Sp.. 😉
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
As Kev said……if AW put up Jack for sale there would be a stampede for him.
The thing is that Jack is a throwback to the old style midfielder. Not that much technical and tactically aware as for example Cesc, but more determined. The typical British bulldog spirit.
So he is essential for the team.
However, he leaves too many spaces behind him especially when running with the ball, which he does so often. Imo he is like a man caught in a cross road…..he does not know the next option. Cesc for example was always two to three moves ahead.
And as Kev said……….if AW cannot find a way to accommodate him then he should face the consequences.
Talking transfer rumours, I do hope the Bale saga drags on and on and he moves on 2nd Sept 😉
Rico 45 mil plus adds on of 10 mil if we win the EPL, CL and the FA Cup. lol
That’s the clearest sign he could be on his way then emma, if our clubs bold statements in the past are anything to go by 😉
rico 😉
rico – Looks like bale has gone on strike. Skysports news just reported he is unhappy with the comment that AVB made he is not for sale and so won’t be training this week 😉
devil, but surely that is down to AW to ensure the balance is the side is right and when Jack makes the runs forward, another player drops to cover him…
Didn’t Paddy and Manu do that week in week out?
Just seen that too emma, its fun when its happening to another club, especially that one….
Just seen the penalty awarded to Eboue yesterday, what a cheat he still is…
If Jack Wilshere is not a world class player then the world is definitely square..
He is the best youth player this country produced for long long time..
Who run the show for Arsenal an England few years back..
Ask Liam Brady.. ask any sane football fan
It’s wengers fault that he overplayed him at young age that he has been on /off
treatment table..aso England management team..
Or maybe the injury excuse applies only to Aaron, who is only a squad player in my opinion
Don’t care how many acres he covers..
same stories we used to hear From AKPs when wenger stuck with Bendtner,
Arshavin, Diaby….. and BFG..
We all know if we added one or two decent players every season from 2006 we wouldnt have become to this..
I admire and respect Arsene wenger, but you can’t just agree and defend his decisions
every time and try to deviate the blame on something else. err.. board, pitch, weather, media, players
recession, etc..
Listen to yourselves…
Afternoon, good post..
Just watching Napoli’s second again, when they picked up the ball in midfield there was Jack, Ramsey and Gnabry nearby, the only one who showed any real desire to track back was Gnabry. Jack and Ramsey both just jogged back slower than Denilson used too…
Shocking.
Hi Judge, thanks – I’m with you on Jack, he’s one of our best imho, if not the best.
In fact, I pretty much agree with your entire comment…
Hi Mr Dev… are you still swimming around the med?
It might be a conspiracy theory. I think Jack and Ramsey had a beef on the pitch as both looked displeased when they were substituted.
Emma, you believe in conspiracies too? lol
Emma will you welcome Damien Comolli to AFC again?
Maybe I should add the word conspiracy to statistics in the spam folder? 😉
😀 you filter will be overloaded then…
Damien Comolli to Arsenal, not he he instigates signings like he did at the Dippers…
re: Comoli – I am split on that 😉
Back later
Not at all Ts, it’s an auto page which deletes with one touch of a button…. 😉
Owen says that Higuain had a great record at Real Madrid, a true goal scorer etc….
Why didn’t they play him that much then, Owen is a twit! He’s only saying that because we didn’t sign him…
I didn’t realise you were a tech savvy …. lol
The rain is coming Adam 🙂
… according to his stats he was Rico, but my eyes told me differently. 😛
I’m not, w/p have it all ready for tech idiots like me… 😉
Hoorah, that’s more like it Ts 😉
Right now I think that AW should not sign anyone except Shrek since Giroud is on fire. AW would do a very big mistake if he benched OG. I would daresay that at the moment he is more of use to the team than the little boy who went to Manure ever was.
Owen has one of the most annoying tone for commentary..
The same man who decided to stay at yanited and take a huge pay home for his horses instead of playing weekly at a ‘lesser’ club…
It will take me more than a few goals against under strength sides and a deflection yesterday to convince me Giroud is on fire devil 😉
He’d never have managed to play every week Ts, he was finished before he even went to Manure, don’t blame him for taking the money if they were willing to pay it. Same with Stoke…
Can’t stand the squirt though 😉
At the moment from what I have seen is that the team is more in need of a proper DM but one who has the technical skills to be a midfielder. Is Ginter the answer? Maybe yes maybe no. However we do need to have another one so that Aaron and Arteta can be rested.
And we do need another defender who can cover all the positions.
Boateng of BM anyone???
DM, keeper, CH and striker for me devil…
Its not the goals only Rico. Its more with the overall team play and being the focal point of attack. He brings others into play and fights more. I am not referring to the goals scored during preseason Rico. I am referring to all that he does. Imo we dodged a bullet in not signing Higuain.
But, I don’t think we’ll get a keeper.
I agree Rico. We do need an experienced GK, a defender and a DM surely.
But at the top of the priorities I would put a DM and a defender.
I’m not knocking him devil, just think there is a lot more to come…
Dev, imho Ginter is not the answer. He is a very defensive player who can read the game and plays in a traditional 4-4-2 formation for the black forest club. A good squad player maybe but you never know.
I like Benat or Camacho for the DM role if we can get them or even Mulumba.
If we are buying purely for size and presence then MF is the iea candidate but he is not a DM.
Boateng struggled at $hitty so I do not think he is the answer.
My priority would be DM, CH & goal scorer.
Striker/Giroud/Sanogo with Akpom on loan for the first half of the season at least.
Anthony Taylor has awarded a penalty against Porto…
Benat has recently moved so out of the equation…
imo Capoue should be the player AW signs
Rico. Just back from lunch. Will it rain all day tomorrow then?
I am surprised AW has not gone back for him after trying in January; then again AW tried with Villa but did not try this summer…
Dev are you a fun of Matic of Benfica? A left footer like AW likes them for his no.6’s.
Morgan Schneiderlin is still available after Wanyama joined the Saints. We use to have a good relationship with them in the past.
Afternoon all. Rico, Ginge, DG, Adam etc.
Four wins out of four on the Asian tour and the club “are” all quoting a “Mr. Wolf” from “Pulp Fiction”.
Versus a proper side, things are slightly different.
Asian tours are nice for the overseas supporters and making money, but playing against shite opposition gives you a false sense of security or a false sense of supremity.
However, the game was a “friendly” so we cannot be too hasty in our opinions. When we had the best side in England in 2002-ish we got lumped 1-4 against some mid-table Turkish outfit over in Germany or Austria.
Disgraceful re: violence from Galatasary fans at the Emirates.
You gotta love our Ginge: “when Gerv was bought he was better than Hazard”.
Love it !!! Which Hazard is this, Eden Hazard, Mickey Hazard or the Duke of Hazard?????
From what many here have said about Capoue Devil, I’d have to agree, him or Fellaini..
Surely we could out bid Cardiff for Capoue?
Hi Adam, that’s the forecast, it’s very dark at OT and the lights are on.. Few more wickets though and we might be thinking about sneaking a win… 😉
Hi Syg, love that, has to be the two Dukes 😉
😀 Syg… I thought you followed your best friend Gerv to Roma… its is dream after all.
Hamsik’s hair cut is to attract suitors surely… lol
Hiya kidda – my most trusted stat-man !! Hope you’re having a great weekend…
Hi SYG. 🙂
😀 Not too bad Syg. How about yours. I spent my whole day on here yesterday thinking my friends wedding was next weekend instead of yesterday.
I blame my love of AW for that major slip…
Syg you love stats more than me…. you even have stats from 1960’s…lol
So if we beat the Turks by a few goals, we’ll get a trophy 😉
On that note, I must depart and get ready to go out..
Enjoy the game, I’ll be back around 6.30ish I hope..
Laters all…
Later Rico… don’t drink too much San Miguel…
What agoal by Porto 1-1 now
Afternoon rico and all.
Hey Ch howdy?
Sound Ginge. Watched over the gym yesterday, copped a curry with the missus in Scunthorpe last night and just dossing around today …..
Sound Ginge. Watched over the gym yesterday, copped a curry with the missus in Scunthorpe last night and just dossing around today …..
‘m fine Ginge, u? Not in Texas though. 🙂
I’m looking forward to seeing if the BFG and Kosser can handle our nemesis Drogba…
Does Drogba still carry that tag, our nemesis?
Porto 2-1 up
He bullied Porto’s defenders yesterday…
Only saw our game yesterday.
3-1 porto… they have 6 points now.
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Walcott, Sanogo
Subs: Martinez, Miquel, Koscielny, Zelalem, Podolski, Giroud, Akpom
If Porto remain as they are and we win 1-0 or more we take the trophy. That would make it 6 points for Porto, and for us would give us 7 since it would be 3 points (2gls+1pt) from Napoli, and 3 points plus 1 goal from Galatasaray. That would give us 7 points.
Didn’t Porto lose yesterday Ginge?
Even a 3-3 draw will give us the Ems Cup
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta (C), Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Walcott, Sanogo
Ooops. a 3-3 draw would give Gala the cup.
Higuain will not fit into Napoli style of play. Napoli are playing a counter-attacking style of football and higuain is not the quickest of strikers. Wenger dodged a big bullet there. Thanks Perez for saving our bum
Emirates cup…. Ignore my question Ginge.
Sorry Dev… you have already posted the team sheet
😀 Emma… but IG wanted him instead to save face I am hearing.
I can’t believe Napoli have only won 1 trophy since Maradona left them…
Sagna and Mert partnership is crucial for the cL qualifier imo…
No JW at all… I guess he just back back from injury so…
Hopefully we will have an idea of our starting XI against $hitty next weekend.
Diaby back in Nov. like a new signing
https://twitter.com/lequipe/status/364037209303048192
Excellent post….
20mins to kick-off ……AFC vs GAL
just noticed landsbury scored for forest yesterday
In rehabilitation after rupture of the cruciate ligaments in his left knee in late March in training, Abou Diaby could return to run from the end of August
Something to look forward to!
What a pass from Ramsey and a first touch by Theo but oh dear…
that should have been 1-0 up from Theo.
Fantastic goal from Aaron. Xaviesque pass.
so diaby next injury is between the end of august and november. i wonder which november that’ll be could be 15 months before the new signing
The problem today is that we are allowing their defence to regroup. We build up fantastically then in the attacking third we take too many touches.
Is Sanogo playing? havent seen him yet.
We need a striker.. a false 9 striker really.
No Ginge. This team only needs one player. Drogba in his pomp.
Oh Ramsey… what a drive
😀 Dev
Nice ‘ goal’ by Theo Rico.lol
what a cracker. even Theo was surprised by himself.
Sometimes we do need some luck.
1-0 up.
Drogba in his pomp is as deadly as a sniper. Just one aim one shot… and you are down.
Good play from Sc19.
I say it here………SANOGO is an INTELLIGENT alternative to the togolump.
He has a good first touch and makes good runs.
I agree Dev. He wins the 50-50’s too which is crucial in this league.
Its interesting how improved we are compared to yesterday defensively.
Gala’ are no mugs either they beat RM last season and beat Porto who beat Naples earlier; albeit Yilmaz, Drogba and the lazy Dutch boy are not playing now but…
Ts Sanogo did not cost 50 mil but he doesn’t look all that bad. lol
We can all see how Arteta/Ramsey compliments each other. If wilshere can do that with his technical ability we will be OK. Sanogo knows how to run the channel. Bacary solid as ever. Jenk is still not out of his rustiness
Dna, He will cost us 7.8M over the duration of his contract though… lol
Ts who is the guy wearing #16, because i can’t identify him. lol
Emma, That partnership is not popular but with those 2 even CJ25 and Gibbs are playing better and contributing more going forward because Ramsey covers either Fbs when they go forward.
We will need Bac and the BFG for the CL qualifier so it is crucial CJ25 improves asap. Its too late to get a CB or RB to replace Kos for Sagna to play at RB.
Dna, I know you do not rate AR16 at all but you got to admit he is at least decent…lol
Its the welsh Bender and he cost us only £5M Dna.lol
Hi guys….my posting problem remains.
Still, a much better start to this game.
Ramsey is going great guns…as always 🙂
Sagna is as well, and Jenks is on song today.
Sanogo….well, i don’t know what you guys think, but he has plenty to offer,to my eye.
If he can manage to bang one in, it will give him a massive confidence booster, but i like what i see.
Anyways….still trying to sort the issue out, but will be back soon enough to keep you all honest 🙂
Scott, I miss you mate… hope all is well?
Ts honestly he is playing darn good, u have to give him credit. lol
Ts unless its u selling him for 5mil, if its AW u know its the market rate 35mil. lol
Hiya Rammers.
For the first 20 minutes Sanogo was not there. He was a tad invisible. But then he started to come into his own.
Now is the conundrum for AW. Will he leave him on the pitch and get in Giroud if we are chasing, or does he sub him now during half time?
Depends if he wants the Ems cup.
Sneiyder and Drogba are on now.
All good Ginge.
Tried your suggestion but my Ipad won’t allow me to download it.
We will get there
Zelalam and Giroud soon on.
And incredibly its the 60th minute.
Cazorla and Sanogo off
that is the fourth time Jenks has done the same run past the opposing winger and fullback.
He is getting composed now.
Miguel instead of Gibbs.
That should have been a penalty on the OX. He is not one to fall easily and his balance was taken out.
What a cheat Drogba was, is and will remain.
Cheating piece of shit
Drogba is a wanker to the highest order… always has, always will be..
Whybis Miquel a member of the first team?
Miguel won’t make it at arsenal
He may be a wanker of the highest order………..but I wish AW went for him instead of trying to go for Villa last January.
Wesley Snieder made the difference , a class above everyone else on the pitch.
What a disaster. The BFG is still on holiday…
It seems Sagna and Kos are our no.1 CB pairing. We need a RB asap plus a DM.
Again our DM allowed Sneidjer a no.10 to run the show between the hole…
Wesley has shown us how no.10’s should play not the one’s we have when TR07 is not playing.
Yes Potter. Sneijder made the major share of difference. But Drogba could have given us at least 2 and a half years. His physical strength is awesome.
He is still a sniper of the top stuff.
Dev, he said he won’t play for any other EPL team apart from Chelsea…
If AW flouted the cash he would have done so Ginge.
Sneijder is on 175k a week with Gala.
Gervinh-GO
ts – ditto 6:14
Arsene should have unleashed Koscielny on Frogba.
175k a week? WoW
Finally gone… at least he did not do the B-52 or AA23
I like Mertesacker but he’s got no pace. He reads the game beautifully but damn too slow. Same caused us the 2nd goal v Napoli yesterday
He is a slow starter unfortunately Emma. He has been poor in pre-season too…
Evening folks, so now you all finally agree, Merts is slow and is our weak link in defence 😆
At least AW has guaranteed he will buy quality so… it just depends on if it is Santos quality or Lewandowski quality.
Robben scored a similar goal against BVB09 last weak with Hummels and Subotic culprits… so it does happen to the best of them. We need cover and alternative in key positions asap…
We really need a player that excels in between the lines.its no wonder we are creating so little.
Statistically he is our best defender Rico.
Bollox to stats Adam 😉
That’s more like it. 🙂
Wenger just confirmed that Chamakh to Crystal palace is permanent and Gervinho to Roma as well.
He also confirm that he spoke to cesc and he will be staying with farcelona one more season
Ha ha Adam…
That’s good news emma, shame he’s not able to confirm we have signed anyone…
He’s working on it Rico.
I’ll believe that when we get 2/3 in the door Adam…
Emma, i think that call to Cesc is the most important call he has made this summer. My reason is that now the club know they do not have to leave aside at least £35M to get CF04.
The club can now increase their bid for Suarez if they choose to and bid for plan B midfielders…
An, now that might take some time although there are a couple of young Moroccans that could be World-Class in about 8 years.
rico – 😉
Am waiting for ‘Diaby is like a new signing line’…soon.i don’t trust a word the man says anymore.
I think we are underestimating how much we need an AM.Sneijder in a couple of minutes showed.exactly what we lack.
ditto ts
Denilson(50), Arshavin(85), Squillaci(50), Mannone(40), Santos(50), Chamakh(60), Park(40) and Gervinho(50) out. Hopefully bendtner folllow suites soon. That’s a massive wage bill we’ve just recovered
KT. I can’t imagine why you feel that way.
Were any goats ritually slaughtered before the game?
Adam regarding what?…
Not trusting “the man”. I hope you don’t mean Uncle Arsene.
Wenger on Sanogo, Drogba and transfers
Arsène Wenger faced the media following the Emirates Cup game against Galatasaray. This is a transcript of his press conference:
on the performance…
We had a contrasting performance. In the first half we had a good performance, we were in control, they didn’t look dangerous, and we were not capable of maintaining physically that pace and that rhythm. In the second half we dropped. It’s a long time since I’ve seen two such different halves. Then I believe we were not capable of keeping the ball and we were punished. But it’s a good preparation for us.
on Yaya Sanogo…
Yes [I was pleased with him]. Considering he just came back from holiday and only had three or four days of practice, what he did is encouraging.
on Didier Drogba…
He did well when he came on. He still has the resources, you could see that yesterday as well. He has kept that physical strength and his intelligent game and he finished well. But I must say we were exhausted in the end, especially Mertesacker who played the two full games and was just back from Asia. He [Drogba] took advantage of it. Honestly the penalty was very, very, very, very, very, very soft! It was classic Drogba.
on the Champions League draw on Friday…
We just want to be ready. We have only 90 minutes now before we start the championship and it is important that we recover a little bit from the two days and prepare well for our next game against Man City, a friendly in Helsinki. Then it’s important that we start strongly in the championship because that will have an influence on our performance in the Champions League.
on the prospect of a difficult draw…
It’s difficult, it’s a stressful situation, but we did fight very hard to be in that situation and now it’s time to take advantage of the fact we finished fourth and we have an opportunity to qualify. Of course it’s always a very tricky period but we have the experience, we have done it before.
on getting players in before the European tie…
Let’s count first on what is here, and if we can add something then we will do. It’s very difficult to predict that that will all be sorted out before we play in the Champions League qualifier. I think we have enough quality to achieve it with the players we have at the moment, if we can bring more in before that it is even better.
on Cesc Fabregas…
I haven’t heard that comment [that it is reportedly up to Fabregas if he leaves Barcelona]. I haven’t read it so I’m always a bit cautious to answer what a manager is supposed to have said. I don’t know. What I know is that Fabregas will stay one more year at least in Barcelona, that’s the information I have. If that changes, I don’t know, but I have been told that.
on Arsenal’s approach to Suarez…
We try [to act properly], we always try to act properly. But the transfer is always an agreement between three parties. We have always done that.
on Gervinho and Chamakh…
Gervinho is on a good way to Roma, and Chamakh is on a good way to Crystal Palace.
on Ryo Miyaichi…
He is injured. He has a crack in the rib that he got in Japan in the first game. He hid it from us because he was desperate to play in Japan. At the moment he is injured for two weeks.
Now now Adam 😉
Kt, neither do I, not after all the empty promises we have had in years gone by..
So was there no personal phone call to Fabregas?
Dev, is that match report for the game meant for tomorrow… You should have emailed that to Rico… lol
Devil, I’ll always call a central defender a CH, it’s just me 😉
on getting players in before the European tie…
Let’s count first on what is here, and if we can add something then we will do. It’s very difficult to predict that that will all be sorted out before we play in the Champions League qualifier. I think we have enough quality to achieve it with the players we have at the moment, if we can bring more in before that it is even better.
What a bloody joke, he has had two months to get players in, all that tells me is it will be a last day mad panic buying session…
He better be lying!!
I agree devil, that would have saved me watching the game and thinking about something to write.. 😉
Adam am with rico on this one.he has made so many empty promises that i choose not to believe what he says anymore.i’d rather wait and see but it isn’t looking good on that front.
Ha ha Chamakh to Custard Palace, that’s made my day, poor ole Eagles.
Potter made a very good point the other day, the transfer window should shut before the season kicks off, this is a stupid carry on.
Couldn’t be arsed to watch the match meself, maybe we oughta invite the Asian boys over for the competition next season, just a thought.
use whatever you want from it Rico.
Guess it would ensure we won a trophy Micko, Asia was a breeze but the real thing seems to challenge us a bit too much.
I’ll take it all then devil and delete your comment 😉
Cant stop laughing my arse offffffffffffffffff!!!!!!
As Arsenal’s Gervinho gets closer to sealing a deal with Serie A side Roma, his agent has spoken about the club’s chase for the player.
Travelling to Rome today to undergo his medical, the deal is expected to be finalised tomorrow after Arsenal and Roma agree on payment terms, and his agent Pascal Boisseau told reporters
Gervinho came to Roma strongly desired by the club, not only by Rudi Garcia [who manager Gervinho when they were both at Lille].
The Giallorosssi have been after him for years, even since Daniele Prade’s time.
The deal is said to be worth €8m plus €2m in performance-related bonuses, quite the achievement from Arsenal who wanted €10m for the player and Roma opened their bidding at €3m.
Gervinho, who was only with Arsenal for two seasons, will sign a four year deal with the Italians worth between €2.1m and €2.7m per year [reports vary].
Speaking at the airport, Gervinho said
I’m very happy, it’s a dream.
you are welcome to do so Rico.
But that is just my opinion regarding the players. SO you have to do your bit about the game how it finished etc etc.
KT. I know what you mean. Rico had convinced me that he would strengthen the squad but now the doubt is creeping in. Uncle Arsene speak with forked tongue. I must confess that his words bring little comfort to sane supporters these days and the problem is that it really doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would you not want to bring in great players when you can afford it? If the answer truly is that he believes this squad can win the PL and the CL this year then abandon hope all ye who enter The Emirates.
There are of course alternative answers to the great riddle. But I am sure we all have our own ideas on those.
That was kinda my point rico !
This team will win zip.
Merts has never had pace but was excellent for us last season, let the bashing begin.
Gervinho mate. Quite honestly, it’s a dream for us too.
Hey Micko. we would have won our second trophy this summer if you had watched the game… I blame you for that.
Oh no I don’t Devil 😉
I knew Micko, I knew 😉
I agree in patches Merts was our saviour, especially when both Kos and TV were having a bad time but he really looks slower this season than last and this week alone his lack of speed has cost us dear.
But I still maintain that if we sign a DM, it will go a long way to stopping all the attacks that simply breeze through our midfield..
Ginge we WON a fekking trophy.
We WON.
Yes.
Top four trophy in the Emirates Cup.
😆
I am a DEVIL I know.
……..and a cynical one at that.
tsgh, fair play for sitting through it, I just can’t get meself up for it at the minute, I should be back for Villa.
Were there many there for it, wasn’t it 25 quid for the two days.
We did beat The Indonesian Arms and The Thailand George & Dragon. Convincingly too.
I reckon we could be a top two side in Thailand.
There I have given you a title for tomorrow’s post Rico.
ARSENAL WIN A TOP FOUR PLACE TROPHY IN THE EMIRATES CUP.
you will have some nutcases throwing some shit here then.
Adam, Scott and I will have a field day. 🙂
Devil. I have compiled a 16 page statistic sheet that will prove we should have got at least a runners-up spot in the Emirates Cup. But Rico has banned such things.
And who was the 3rd side Adam?
Night Rico, Dev and Micko.
Signings tomorrow. I am convinced.
But we came 3rd devil, that’s an achievement 😉
The 3rd side?
Night Adam, have a good one….
Ah! Well, 3rd is as good as a trophy.
Night….
Nite Adam, 8.21, so cruel, hehehe.
Didn’t we play 3, not including the international side 😉
So we have won 3 out of 6 Emirates Cups.
If we see the game as getting everyone tuned then it was a good run out. Players played and it was a good work out for everyone who took part.
But I believe that the cup was there for the taking. So that should have been the aim. To take the cup.
but no. AW is above such frivolousness for the greater good (whatever that may be).
But I am not downbeat. Even if we loose against Shitty in the next friendly. Why do we get to play them for the 2nd year running? Shouldn’t we have chosen to play a top European team like Barca, Juventus. Or Napoli at their own ground? Or Roma so that we can see Gervinho falling over his front office curtains for the umpteenth time?
Good night Adam.
May the hair on your toes never grow grey
A testimonial is planned for Gerv soon…
on Didier Drogba…
He did well when he came on. He still has the resources, you could see that yesterday as well. He has kept that physical strength and his intelligent game and he finished well. But I must say we were exhausted in the end, especially Mertesacker who played the two full games and was just back from Asia. He [Drogba] took advantage of it. Honestly the penalty was very, very, very, very, very, very soft! It was classic Drogba.
That is why you should have bought him you TWAT.
A testimonial?
What for?
Does he need new curtains??
😆 devil re Drogba …
I’m off for the day too folks, catch you all tomorrow..
Night Micko, Devil, Ts and anyone else reading…
Have a good one…
I am off now my dear Lady.
Need to get some sleep. Tomorrow its going to be a looooonggg day.
Good night everyone.
Off to dream that I am in the Alps again.
Night all. Its been fun
Nite guys, bank holiday here, that means only one thing, I’m outta here before kev surfaces for air !
Good Night Rico, T’s… T’morrow is another day.
Kev said “But I am happy to see us sign another German.
I can see both Gnabry and Zelalem as big players for us.
Now all we need is a German Coach…”
Seriously Kev??? 🙂
Ginge re: 12.17,
Nope, I don’t know anything the Spanish kid with the impossible name.
Lets call him Pete’.
As far as the cock-up vs Luton, yes, they may have been at fault, but why not play Boateng, who whilst may not have a future at AFC, can actually speak English and communicate with his other defenders and midfield….
Was Gatting acting under orders???
Also, there were 9 other players on the pitch at Luton, so I wouldn’t lump all of the blame on the centre-backs….
Maybe the result was symptomatic of a general malaise at the club?
Just saying….
Coach :1.12,
To me Jack Wilshere should not be concerned with defensive duties, more than is minimally necessary. He should be playing behind the striker in the position that Carzorla could not cope with as he is not physically strong enough.
That’s why Santi plays on the wing.
Jack on the wing is laughable, you play him where he can do the most damage and he ain’t no winger.
Defensive-midfield is a waste of his talents…
Maybe the reason thag we’ve not seen the best of Jack, is because (despite his injuries) that he has been fcuked about and not played correctly…
Just saying…
You can run Mick, but you can’t hide….
Nasher, re: German Coach….
Yes mate, seriously… 😉
Adam, I have discovered a fantastic restaurant in East Dulwich…
I shall give you the info later today, but the grub was superb…
Rico, I think it’s time to stop procrastinating… 😉
Hand over that Fiver… 😀
Morning all,
I see the discussion has been about where to play Jack. I personally don’t see us having the personal anymore to complement Jack’s game. I think that season he was great when we had Song to do the donkey work in midfield with Cesc and Nasri to create and RVP that could play striker, #10 and target man. So that gives him no responsibility to do either roles except drive the midfield and pop up in space. Our defence was a seive then due to the formation but the attack was good.
So now it’s a new formation, Giroud is not RVP, creativity is only from Cazorla who plays on the left.
Morning HH,
Mauren-ho vs Fake Ronaldo
‘So, at that time, I was not the manager, I was just an assistant but I was feeling that I had, in my hands, some potential and after that I start my career in the year 2000 and after four years I won my first Champions League and, after that, everything comes as a consequence.’
He also criticised the philosophy at his former club Madrid. During the interview, he declared: ‘Madrid is politics. Madrid is not about football, Madrid is not about sport.’
Asked what he had made of his former coach’s comments, Ronaldo responded: ‘There are some things in life that don’t deserve any mention. This is one of those things and I won’t comment on it for obvious reasons. I always respect my coaches and try to learn from them.
‘As we say in Portugal: “I don’t spit on the plate I eat on.” That’s how I feel. I prefer to try and remember the positive side [to Mourinho].’
The Ginter rumours are still around…
Howz this for South Africa. Yesterday a Premier League game was delayed for an hour because they needed replacement refs as the ones for the game was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle.
That is more like it. The authorities never caught Alex Ferguson or Graham Poll though…
Morning Brad, Ts. That’s funny re the refs…
New one up now..