According to Jack Colback of Sunderland, we are the best he’s faced this season and one of those sides is Chelsea.
Obviously we played Chelsea at home but I don’t think they move it around as quick as Arsenal they make the pitch really big and they’re constantly rotating so you don’t really get a chance to have a breather.
But while it’s hard work and tough, these are the games you want to play in and its great experience for me to play and start the game.
That’s high praise, ok Colback may not be the biggest football name in the Premier League but so what, he is a PL footballer and he caused us a few problems at times during the game on Sunday.
I don’t entirely agree with him, yes at times we did move the ball around and quickly too but all too frequently it was without an end product, without even a shot on target, which is worrying and as we keep saying, what happens if Robin doesn’t play, who will get our goals.
I guess we will find that at as and when Robin is rested.. Not injured I hope…
Gazidis came out a few weeks ago with the most stupidest of comments about how not making the top four this season would not be catastrophic, nope, we are such a wealthy club we can carry on without playing Champions League, well the players don’t agree, good!
It’s vital that we reach at least the top four in the league, but at the moment we don’t have the points to speak about that,
Says Merts
It was a very difficult start for us but the season is very long and I don’t feel it is impossible for us to finish in the top four. Every game is very difficult and you have to fight hard, there are so many points to play for.
Says Rosicky
Obviously, we want to prove the critics wrong, but I don’t think it is about proving people wrong, as it is more important to prove to ourselves that we can do it.
The luck will change soon and if we can put together a good run then I’m sure that people will start rating us again rather than writing us off.
Says Benik Afobe
There are more but you get the gist – these players don’t want us to fail, they don’t want us to finish outside the top four, they want us to build on every, or any win we get…
Just like all of us fans, we all want OUR club to build on Sundays result but one day at a time though eh….
What we don’t need is negative vibes coming from the board!
It’s tough enough right now isn’t it?
Oh, and for those who doubted Rosicky’s movements on the Sunderland free kick by Larsson and his supposed laugh, he’s reacted:
That wasn’t a laugh – it was a desperate laugh that such a screamer would be scored again. I don’t have to turn around.
When I see his face and he is celebrating, why should I turn around? I have been here six years and anyone who thinks I would laugh at that, for people to take it that way is frankly unbelievable.
Maybe he is right, we have had many scored against us in that kind of fashion, we have only got to look back to the fixture at Old Trafford to realise that…
So why do we continue to give free kicks away in such an area…
Who knows eh, it certainly doesn’t seem to be Arsene……
Talking of our illustrious leader, he’s had a few things to say, one of which is a little dig at Na$ri:
If you compare what Arsenal have won and what Manchester City have won you don’t go to City to win titles. The players go to City because they pay much better.
Wenger has also revealed that back in the summer nearly half the squad wanted to leave, he doesn’t reveal which players made up that half he just says they believed that an earthquake was hitting OUR club and it was maybe time to quit. I’m guessing that Clichy, Nik, Na$ri, Eboue, Almunia and Denilson make up some of the numbers, as for the rest – maybe we will find out in January.
The final Wenger words I’ll leave you with is some you may have heard before:
We will be judged on the level of our game throughout the season. We are on the way up, we will tell if we get there in May.
Have a good day all, tomorrow it’s Champions League….
Good morning guys and Chicks.
Morning all
The players, apart from Cesc and Nasri, that wanted away where so highly paid and equally so useless that few clubs where interested. Denilson Benthner and Almunia all wanted starts and first team places…..does anyone miss them?
morning all….
So half the squad wanted to leave. Does not take Einstein to work out who……..Bendtner, Denilson, Vela, Almunia, Fabianski, Squillaci all wanted to leave due to knowing that they have limited first team opportunities but we found it difficult since no one wanted to buy them.
Then there are those who are not giving it all like Walcott, Arshavin
Then there is Fabianski who relises that he will not eventually get games since there is WS. Probably also Mannone.
Hoyte must also have been one of them since he never gets a look in.
That makes it 11.
And I do not think I am far off the mark.
Morning all
We should have sold any player who wanted out for whatever we could have got for them and sold them early and rebuild with players who wanted to play for our club….
As for waiting until May, I think we will know far sooner than that how our season will be…
Does anyone else think that Wengers comments are a bit crazy? Why tell the press? And why now?
Morning All, so what’s the point in judging in May if there is no accountability when you get there? He knows it doesn’t matter what happens his job is there ‘for as long as ge wants one’ so why leave? Any respectability went out of the window years ago, just keep banking that 7mil.
What’s the bet that we finish 6th and he says ‘we were so close’ but this time to a CL place, expectations on the decline…
devil,
i think TT is also right, no other club wanted them either, i’m surprised that both denilson and nik were only loaned after their comments…
and according to nik, many clubs wanted him but no doubt they laughed at his wage demands
Morning Rico.
I did not include those who have already left like Eboue, Nasri, Clichy etc. Fabregas I do not think he left for the money….he left for emotional reasons. Infact he was willing to agree that Arsenal have first option on him and he does speak well of us.
Maybe that is why Wenger has turned his sights on players from the lower division like Jenks, Oxo and maybe one or two others like Hoban (he is good) etc since for them its a great step up and they will love Arsenal not like the foreign merchenaries who come only for the money.
Hi Sam
If the i/v in the paps is to believed, wenger hints that a few more shocking results could see him quit as he would no longer feel he is the best – for the sake of our season, i hope we don’t get the shocking results…
We call these players mercenaries but if someone offered you a job for more money with better career opportunities what would you do? I think the majority would say tada
Morning devil, who is Hoban?
Is it Tommie at Watford?
On a different note I fear that we will not see as much of Ox as we had hoped. When Sagna broke his leg Ox’s chances for starts and sub appearances greatly diminished. you can play a naive 18 year old with little experience in front of an established full back but not in front of a inexperienced 19 year old or a converted CB. And I don’t think that Ox is ready to play anywhere but on the wing for now, putting him in front of Gibbs or Santos would possibly be better but not by much.
But if a few more shocking results means Kroenke leaving as well I’d take it
So two revelations in one day……..Half the squad wanted to leave and shocking results can see me quit.
That means one of the following…….
1) Arsene is paving the way for himself to leave.
2) Arsene is realising that Kroenke and Gazidis are giving him enough rope to hang himself with so that he will go out of his own accord.
3) Arsene is realising that he no longer master of the dressing room and cannot control it.
4) Arsene realises that he is no longer the man for the job and wants to go without damaging the club.
5) The board want Arsene to go and are making his position an impossible one.
7) He may have received a better job opportunity from somwhere else (PSG ??) and does not seem that he wants to walk for the money.
Yes Rico…..Tommie Hoban at Watford. Saw him play and he is good……Bouldesque type of player but with more skill and bigger frame and height
Sam
The problem i see is that players like Nasri say they want to join another club as they want to win things, i agree with wenger in this, if nasri wanted to win things he’d have joined Utd instead of Citeh or even the Chavs, Barcelona etc
..
We know players won’t say, i want to join citeh as they will pay me more but we all know that is the only reason most have gone there…
I’d leave for more money, but only if i knew i’d be happy and i’m not sure all those over ego’d players are truly happy…
Agree Devil my money is on 7 but he’s definitely to late for 4. Anyone see PHW open his big fat mouth, wow I really dislike that man
He was on our books devil, we let him go to watford in 09, is there suggestion he could come back or is he just on loan?
Had Shitty offerred Fabregas 1 million a week he would still have taken a pay cut to join Barcelona.
Good point TT, that’s a bit of a bummer though, maybe when TV is back, Kos will play on the right with Ox in front of him?
I know Rico. But we let him go and he has developed differently than they rated him.
I saw him play and he was good……albeit against inferior opposition. But then so were Jenks and Oxo.
Just a question……if Jenks is to play in the proper games since Bak is injured who gets to take over in the League Cup and the FA Cup???
There is always that Sam 😉
devil, you could be right with the points above, i’d rather an 8) The board realise they are useless and have told wenger they will leave 😉
cesc always said, it’s Barca or nowhere other than Arsenal, he would never have left us for any other club, i’m sure….
Yenarris i think devil, he’s been training with the first team
But, is he now back on wengers radar devil?
He’s a defender isn’t he, is he a big un??
Personally, I think that Arsene knows that he can walk any time he wants in the PSG job. So he will remain till end of December. If results will not have improved then he will step down so that the next manager will have enough time to shape the team in January. If he goes now the new manager will have his hands tied down since there is two and a half months till the next transfer window. And he does not want to damage AFC. He is too much of a gentleman for that. Then he will rest till next August so that he can get in the PSG job fresh, rested and with a clear conscience.
In the meantime maybe we will see a revolution at AFC and start afresh.
That is my hope and my present feelings.
It is sad and I feel for AW and AFC but that is the way it goes. At least we would still remember Arsene as the greatest Arsenal Manager…….until the next one comes along. Maybe we will be lucky in our lifetime to see even greater managers……just like we did see with Wright and then Henry breaking Bastin’s records. The world is like that my friends. Hope we are lucky enough and humble enough to remember that the present manager is laying the foundations for a future great Arsenal. Hope is the last to die………..
Hoban is 6 feet 5 inches. He has developed well physically since he left us. And he has put all that he has learned at AFC to good use by improving on it. And he would have no difficulty in joining us….all he needs to do is jump over the hedge.
I think AW has always known he can walk at anytime but i think this current board will do all they can to keep him, he saves them money, big money…
Any new manager would no doubt demand money to buy his own players and that would/could cost the club a lot of money…
Stan must be twitching in his boots at that very thought…
But his latest comments do make me think he’s thinking of his future being elsewhere…
Wenger is caught between two stools. On one hand the board/Kroenke prefer status quo and they are a bit stingy with the money. So he cannot do anything.
On the other like the supporters and players he is itching for success.
So he would like to walk knowing well enough that he can show the club and those who villify him that he is good enough to win again.
Wenger’s comments don’t add up regarding us and Man City. Yes, we have the greater history, but players will look at the money on offer AND the future at Man City, and judge them a better bet for trophies. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.
Wenger may say we have the ‘same ambitions’ but it’s patently clear we don’t by looking at the squad and hearing the kind of comments that have emanated recently from Gazidis, Kroenke and Wenger himself.
joys of being a manager on £7m eh devil….
Oui Rico. But I do feel for him. I should know as I have been in this job (albeit part time) for the past 18 years. At the end of the day he is human, and while its easy to criticize him it is a difficult situation. But then again its what he gets paid 7 million for. Wish I could see that money for at least a year.
Hi Jeckyll – do you think city will win anything this season?
what i see happening there is they get nothing, the manager gets the sack and the new one buys players that he wants – just like what happened at chelsea – ok, the chavs won a couple of league titles etc, but roman wanted the CL and Jose got the heaveho for not winning it, they have since got through how many managers…
Question is who would come in to replace gim? I’m not of the belief there is none out there that couldn’t do a better job at the moment but the choice still has to be right. I don’t feel safe with the idea of Pat in charge for too long. How about Hiddink with Bergkamp as assistant and Keown as defensive manager?
I feel for him too devil, i really do but, he has been hoist by his own petard – if there really has been no money for him to buy players he should heve been honest and said so, instead of all this belief in the youth etc etc, and ‘this is the best squad etc etc, when it’s clearly not been…
It’s all coming back to bite him on his butt and yes, that’s what he gets paid 7m a year for…
Add that to his comments about players following the money, is he not doing the same with us, i think he’s the highest paid manager in the PL, even Fergie doesn’t earn as much, and look at how successful his side have been….
Don’t know if City will win anything, all I know if they’ve got one of the best chances in the league of doing so, and frankly, a much better chance than us. So Wenger pointing to their history is irrelevant to the argument. Players go there for the money, yes, but can also see they’ve a better chance of winning trophies.
I’m sure if Cashley Cole looks at the last 5 years and the fortunes of his old club and present club respectively, he doesn’t regret leaving, regardless of the amount of managers he’s had and the lack of a CL.
Sam, that is the biggest question…
I’d like Keown as Ass manager, Bould promoted to the first team and Bergakamp to join the training staff…
Manager – well if they were in place, maybe Wenger would listen 😉
Hiddink, he certainly ticks all the boxes
Off to walk the woofa, back in a couple of hours….
Sam……there is Ancellotti, Spalletti, Cappello, Hiddink, Van Basten, Cruyff, Guardiola, Prandelli etc. All of them would do a good job. And I hope no one comes out with the crap that he/she hopes that Mourinho should not be allowed at our club. He is a successful manager and at the moment we crave success so much that we can put up with him for around 3 to 4 years. Whoever it is must work on the defence first.
Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Thomas Vermaelen has signed a new long-term contract with the Club.
The Belgium international has been a star performer in Arsenal’s defence during his 54 appearances for the Club and has now put pen to paper on a new contract.
Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
So very soon we might see my favourite team
Chesney
Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs
Wilshere, Song, Coquelin
Oxo, RVP, Gervinho.
Maybe with a Cahill and M’vila in there with Goetze and hazard it would look like this
Chesney
Sagna, Cahill, Mertesacker, Vermaelen
Mvila, Song, Wilshere,
Hazard, RVP, Goetze
about the last two I am a tad sceptic but Cahill and M’vila I feel optimistic
Arsenal could be set to make a surprise move for Manchester United youngster Paul Pogba, according to the Metro.
The 18-year-old midfielder has struggled to push his way into the United first-team squad since his move from Le Havre, making his only appearance off the bench in the 3-0 League Cup victory over Leeds.
As such, the Frenchman is reported t be interested in a move if it means he will play first-team football, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is thought to be a big admirer.
Pogba’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season, and so an agreement could be made between the two clubs as early as January.
For me that’s a no banker. Unless he does not see him as Vieira mark 2. But I doubt it.
Fergie won’t let it happen…unfortunately as he really rates the kid.
Keown as Assitant could def work and I agree Bould is wasted there.
So at least we don’t have to worry about Verm now next summer 🙂
Now we just need RVP and Walcott to sign…
I also have this feeling that Arsh will do well this season and get back to close what he was in 2009…but is he worth a new contract…?
Hi!
I love win but I don’t understand those kind of news after we win a game.Or it’s a kind of lament or something frustating for not be upper. It’s also good for the speculation.
M city won the FA Cup last year. Probably will be the beginning
I think that Arsh will stay. But Theo will be sold. Both will go if we get Hazard and Goetze.
But Theo will go for sure.
Hmmm yea RvP for sure but Theo? I’d sell him in a flash if the price was right. Use the money towards Gotze or Hazard. Not so sure that a central defender is a 1st priorety anymore. With Kozzer Merts and Vermalien we have 3 very good CB IMHO. i think our priority now is in the creative side of the team and that’s where Gotze and Hazard would be a huge lift to the club.
Verm signs??? Yipeeeee! Heard he’s even back to training with the first team. With him returning we could mount a serious challenge for that 4th spot and maybe a cup. Yeah its possible you guys. Alright that’s it back to work. See ya rico. Blog later.
So in January what is the no.1 priority? Another CB, a DM a creative mid or a striker?
For me it is a creative player, although a Goetze would be good I don’t think he would come. More realistic is Montolivo or Baglia…but would they be good enough / better than we have?
We need someone to come in and perform straight away. I doubt we will be in the CL positions by Jan so would someone like Hazard join?
Wenger has his work cut out to save the season thats for sure
Afternoon guys and gals….
Fantastic news re Thomas, now come on RvP, follow suit….
fantastic news re manuel, he wants to extend his loan now come on denilson follow suit.
Top one mog, that’s funny 🙂
Yes mog…if only….apparently Denilson has upset everyone at Sao Paolo too….justbwhat is his problem
Squad for tomorrow….
Wojciech Szczesny
Lukasz Fabianski
Carl Jenkinson
Andre Santos
Per Mertesacker
Laurent Koscielny
Johan Djourou
Tomas Rosicky
Mikel Arteta
Alex Song
Theo Walcott
Gervinho
Yossi Benayoun
Francis Coquelin
Andrey Arshavin
Aaron Ramsey
Robin van Persie
Marouane Chamakh
No Park, No Chamberlain…..
He wont play Chamberlain in front of an irregular RB rico. Its to risky. Regarding Park, he must have eaten the managers dog….
gooner sam
talking of upsetting people, looks like welly bob silva is back in january. minus a special talant visa has’nt started a game for levente, but got a big pat on the back from pizza hut thow.
I know TT, but he could play him in the middle if we need a goal, chamakh won’t get us one 😉
He’ll never cut it in the prem mog. That’s why the manager will go all out and get him a visa play him in every game for 3 years just to prove us all wrong…
Afternoon Gooners.
Hiya Rico. Fantastic news re; Verm.
I bet that news will see a shroud of depression decend over
Fleet St, or wherever those Press wankers hang out.
As for Wenger. Hia contract runs until the summer of 2013 & i expect to see him finish it, unless Arsenal go into a really serious dip. I think we’ll recover from the present poor start. Imho
Hi AK – i hope you are right….
Great news on TV indeed…
No Park in the CL squad..? Hmm very strange.
Wonder if Oxo has picked up a knock?
I did hear that Gibbs is out for 2 weeks with a muscle injury.
Seems to be a physiological problem with him. Maybe the training he currantly gets doesn’t do him any good?
Pat7 is the guy to ask..!
Interesting post Rico.
2 hours to walk Fido….. Phew!
You must be ultra~fit…. 🙂
See ya lata boss.
Yeah good news re TV5, hopefully his injuries are behind him now.
Kev, I think your find its mutley that takes rico for a walk.
It’s Fido that’s fit AK, not me 😉
Micko 😆
Hi Mick. How did ya visit to the big island go..?
You going to the Stoke game?
We huffed and we puffed and eventually got our reward, thought arshavin changed the game when he came on, shame he can’t do it for 90 minutes, next up Fulham for me.
Micko, i thoght Yossi helped change it too – he did well when he came on…
I dunno about Yossi rico, i’ve seen healthier faces on a pirates flag, he’s still to win me over, sure he has a lot of experience so that may rub off on some of the younger players hopefully.
i just thought he was calm on the ball, didn’t panic, and that’s down to experience – sure he’s not my fav, never will be but like you say, if he can give his experience to others then he’s not so bad for a loanee…
For sure, i’d have rather Hazard 😉
That’s what I was getting at, just thought we could have bought better in, I wasn’t that excited at the time and still aren’t now, but if he can come on and make a difference late on that’s great.
Thought gerv, walcott and arteta didn’t have great games either on sunday, we need all our players on top form if we’re gonna win games this season.
Rvp stood out, some great moments and Mertesacker didn’t miss a header all afternoon, jenks like to whip a ball in the box doesn’t he.
Gerv started well but after 20 mins he was all out of ideas, i think he’s a goal scorer, not a winger Micko, walcott and arteta were shocking, agree ..
Merts had a few shocking moments though, one should/could have seen us conceed…
I got a front row seat rico just up from the dug out so I don’t have the best view, probably would be better off 5 or 6 rows further back, we all see things differently, at least we can agree on RVP, the guy is class.
Popping off for dinner, back in a bit….
Good point Micko, i also think that you see more off the ball at the game, than the television shows…
But RvP – no matter what view we have, he is something different, just a pure genius with the ball, love him….
Sign Robin, bloomin well sign… 🙂
all is quiet here…
Just popped in to say Good night all.
Happy days might follow. Hope to see you all tomorrow.
Hope we win tomorrow.
Night devil, rest well…
I’m off too, nighty night all,
Catch you all tomorrow….
Vidic tackle bad? I haven’t seen it, I’ve heard it wasn’t great!
Evening all, or good morning.
Sorry got in late, good read rico, I wondered if I.G.said what he said to try and ease the pressure on Wenger and the players, good to see that the players still think that it matters, maybe that comment has spured the team on. I think we all knew deep down that some players wanted to leave, a shame that we lost Clicky Fab and Na$, Plus a few players trying to push for first team places and realising that wasn’t going to happen, they can upset the apple cart as well. You all know my views but we have been forced into rebuilding the squad, alot of you said that this should have been sorted earlier and you are probably right, but maybe after building a team around one man, he probably thought he should fight right up to the last minute to try and keep him. In hindsite i would now say he was wrong and this should have been sorted earlier. We are still a long way off from being at our best, but with the good news of Vermaelen being with us long term and with his iminent return some of our problems look as if it may ease the pressure, if we can get them all back soon maybe we can make Ivan eat his words.
Keep missing you Wath, fair comment about Czezsney and i know he’s young, the guy makes some unbelievable stops so i am going to keep quiet about him, but he must position himself better or have some one on the post.
New post up