Morning all.
Much has been made of the body language, outbursts, sulking etc etc of Alexis Sanchez after Tuesdays match against Bournemouth. He stormed off the pitch after the final whistle, not shaking any players hand according to some. He was angry, that was visibly clear, and not for the first time since he joined Arsenal. There’s been all sorts of stuff on social media etc, telling Ramsey to ‘F**k off’ was just one of a few things being written….
Some of us don’t like to see such things on the pitch yet others think the opposite as it shows Alexis cares but regardless of what are views are, maybe the Chilean has just lit the touchpaper….
It’s quite clear to see that all is not perfect at Arsenal and to be fair, it’s looked that way for a few years now but for once, we have a player who couldn’t give a toot about making his feelings clear.
What’s behind the Alexis ‘stuff’ runs deeper than just a little outburst with Ramsey imo and I’m sure that off the pitch they are good chums. This is more likely to be born out of months and months of sheer frustration and now it’s ‘out there’ for all to see. The back pages are full of negative Arsenal news, stuff which even Arsene Wenger can’t hide from, not anymore. Stuff which the board and Stan Kroenke can’t ignore either.
There’s been all sorts of rumours relating to the new contracts for both the Chilean and Mesut Ozil but perhaps the one which nears the truth more than others is – it’s Arsene or them and not all three who can remain at the club beyond the end of this season.
For me it’s simple, Arsene goes, he has to and not just so that our two ‘big’ players stay, but because Arsenal need to move forward. The club isn’t just stagnating, it’s going backwards and at the same time, other clubs are employing younger managers with new ideas and flexibility whereas Arsene Wenger does the same thing week in, week out, season after season. He is rigid in his approach, substitutions and style of play. He doesn’t appear to approach the game with any thought about an oppositions weaknesses or strengths, he just plays the same old way, regardless. Sometimes it works whereas other times it fails badly. Like us fans, the opposition managers know that if their players get at us from the off and give us no time on the ball, we have no answer. If they defend well, we have no answer and unless this Arsenal team are at it from the start and focused, we wilt away like a flower as summer turns to autumn, just as each season does….
One might argue that the team showed grit and determination to come back from 3-0 down against Bournemouth to draw and yes, we did but why did it take so long for Arsene Wenger to react. 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and he did nothing other than to make a forced changes through injury in the first half when Coquelin suffered injury and then again later in the game when Koscielny hobbled off with cramp. The final change was Lucas around the usual time, yet once he came on we looked more lively, helped too of course by Bournemouth going down to ten men. The question as always is why didn’t he come on sooner?
But it’s not just about what happened on the south coast, it’s about what’s been happening season after season, after season and all we can do is sit and watch it all unfold just the way we expect it to. Because that’s how predictable this Arsenal has become. It matters not really who Arsene Wenger has in his squad because give them a few months at the club and they’ll soon realise it’s going nowhere.
I’m sure at the start of every season Arsene Wenger’s ambition is to win the league and this time he’s certainly built a squad which is more than capable of doing so and I suspect he believes he can. But there lies the problem, he can’t, not even if he was given a squad full of world class players would he do so because imo, he’s lost the players belief and once that happens, there’s no going back. It happened at Chelsea last season with Mourinho, it happens often at other clubs too but more importantly it’s been happening for several years now at Arsenal.
All the time the Frenchman stays put, it’ll only get worse because it’s clear for all to see that life at Arsenal is perhaps not as attractive as it once was and unless the board, owner and Arsene himself decide it’s time for change, by the time the Frenchman walks away, many of our better players might already be gone….
Some of you might tell me that no player is bigger than The Arsenal and you’d be right. But no manager is bigger than The Arsenal either, especially one whose better days are far behind him.
Maybe now that our problems are clear for all to see, Arsene will for once see it too and he’d have to be blind not to. He says he loves the club and I doubt that’s untrue but if he loves it as much he would have us believe then he has to do the right thing. See this season out and then walk away. Leave this really good squad of players for someone else to take forward and thrive.
And I’m sure they will….
PS – Seems like the deal for Cohen Bramall from non-league Hednesford Town is done. £40,000 apparently which is a real bargain, especially if he turns out to be good. Arsene has apparently likened him to Ashley Cole but I’m not sure whether that’s in looks or playing style. Fingers crossed it’s the latter. Let’s see what he’s like before knocking him, after all, he looks as if he has a few tricks up his sleeve on Youtube…
Have a good day guys and gals, not long until May…..
Rico. An excellent post.
A very passionate post
Good morning Rico, Adam, Scott and all
Morning TS.
From previous page…
I can honestly understand folks wanting change and a new perspective but imho no one can categorically state that a new manager will guarantee us the EPL title.
its only ‘heresy’ that we are under achieving as in all cases across the 4 or 5 top leagues in Europe and also in South America the wage bills of each club defines where they finish at the end of the season. Those are hard facts that anyone with a computer can check…
Obviously Leicester city blew up the blueprint last season but where are they now and where will they be in May?
The same can be said of Valencia under Rafa, Montpellier with OG12 winning the French title and BVB under Klopp for one season and maybe Simeone at Ath…; none could replicate the ‘wonder’.
Coming back to this league we have the 4th highest wage bill and finish in the top 4 and in some cases we actually over achieve. With Stan being a sensible/business man with no emotional attachment he can see that and so he will never get rid of AW.
Morning again Adam, Ts and all..
Thanks Adam.
Ts, just seen you last comment. I said yesterday that for me it’s not all about winning silverware, it’s about what we do on the pitch and that’s pretty bland and predictable. A new man would inject more energy into the team imo, more passion and certainly more organised in the way we defend…
Oh, and should that happen, there’s far more chance we’ll win the league than now…
EPL wage bill table Finish last season
1. Yanited 5th
2. City 4th
3. Chelsea 10th
4. Arsenal 2nd
5. Liverpool 8th
6. Scums 3rd
11. Leicester 1st
Now if City’s wage bill is £20m pounds more than ours and our wage bill was £140m more than Leicesters last season; then I guess the mathematicians should be working out how much a point is worth in millions in this league
Up Seven Sisters Road there is a much smaller club, with a smaller wage bill and a young manager who is, painfully for us, tearing up the stats book and producing a side that could win the PL. I wonder if Stan knows about that.
I agree Rico, re. a new manager ‘injecting’ energy into the squad.
On the other hand, we have to be prepared for whatever consequences that might transpire…
It appears there are 2 major school of thoughts…; those who believe AW is the problem and any other manager will do wonders with this squad; whilst they also complain the squad is not strong enough
On the other side are those now minority I suppose who are fearful of change.
From my perspective a change is needed just to remove the back cloud hanging over the club as history has shown that the longer a ‘successful’ manager stays at a club the harder it becomes for the replacing manager.
As said Ajax, PSV, Milan, Inter, Barca, BM, Juve, RM, Psg and even Monaco went through similar issues.
Kel- made a comment about Chelsea not struggling to replace a manger but maybe Jose was not there for 10 years and also Chelsea’s financial power has not change in respect to their rivals during that change.
Morning all.
I think the dressing room is divided, as I’ve got no doubt plenty of players adore Wenger.
I’m not suggesting that’s even close to being the ideal situation, but Mourinho lost the lot of his players last season, so it is a different situation for mine.
Still, something must change.
Ginge, good stats and a valid point, but is it Stan or Arsene….or both…..maintaining the stance on lower wages throughout the squad?
They worry me….
Chelsea and Liverpool both have a big advantage over the other ‘big’ clubs, not being in the Champions League…
But hang in there people….
Bayern will soon even things up for us Gooners.
Then Arsene will have to find another excuse…
You are right Adam, re the scums under Pocchetino considering our wage bill is almost £80m more than theirs; saying that their wage bill has hovered around £40m above Everton who almost always finish below the scums.
My view about wage bill is coming from the perspective of IG saying Arsenal under AW are overachieving when fans, media and pundits are always stating the opposite. Saying that if Liverpool or the spuds do better than us come May following Leicesters’ success then obviously Stan will have to start considering his position
I do hope no other manager stays for as long as Arsene Wenger has Ts… Or if they do, they rotate the backroom staff regularly…
🙂 Kev good one.
Scott- we can only judge a man by habits…
Stans’ model can be verified by looking at how he operates his other ‘franchises’.
Also considering Stan hasn’t got the same financial clout as Roman or the Shieks’ I gues sthere is no incentive for him to increase wage bills or overall expenditure when the return is not great.
The point I am making is that Spurs are moving forward in precisely the way that we are not. Painful though that might be.
We’ve lost Coquelin for over a month…
🙂 Kev, you old cynic…. lol
Ginge, financial clout aside, the guy doesnt buy clubs to win anything…….we are doomed with him involved, no matter what happens on the management side, but as you said, to get rid of the black cloud, a change of manager is required.
That’s just it Adam, and clearly the Totts players can see that which is why they have all opted to stay put….
Rico. Appointing a new manager always carries a risk but then again the club could always sack him and get another. Fans that I know believe that we may have to suffer before things get better.
That’s true Rico. They seem to have bought into his ideas.
Lucas is injured too…
I agree Adam, it is a risk but it’s one worth taking. Just as the next manager might be a flop, he might be good too.
I’m a glass half full kind of person and can only see change doing the club a world of good…
Rico. I think that is true and ‘has’ to be the case. But, then again, I think we have had this discussion for a few seasons now with the same arguments being trotted out by all of us. 🙂
Morning All
Good post Rico from the heart.
Amazing Arsene still has a bit of support on here,
all the old gooners I bump into want him
out of the club,none want him to go upstairs
anymore.
The old chestnut Syrup is here to stay,even if
one of the old Arsenal cranks managers to get
their hands round his neck,we still have his little
brat running about.
Sanchez……
In Chile he is a World Superstar.
In North London he is a Squad player.
Pound for Pound he’s been worth every penny
we payed for him……Surely everyone agree’s with that.
He has every right to piss off when his contract is up
if his not happy,Same for Season Ticket Holder’s if
not happy,and thats exactly what my friends and family have done.
We watched our players jumping around 3-3 the other night
celebrating as if we won the League.
Then we see….The Little Chilean………..Spitting Feather’s,
looking at our players giving it the large after dropping 2 points.
So who’s a winner?
No one can categorically state that a new manager will guarantee us the EPL title.
Ts…
If you look at the Chav’s it’s been through change that has guaranteed the EPL.
There is no life without change. The real tragedy is that we are always fearful of change and resist it vehemently……..Debasish Mridha
We certainly have Adam, just our voices are getting more raised… 😉
Morning Fred. Very philosophical, but true. 🙂
Morning all and thanks for a great post Rico.
I did put something up a while back that we are puching above our weight because we are the 4th highest wage payers and we always get 4th or above (EPL era), so in theory we cant argue with that, although it doesn`t make me happy !………………plus, we are now 5th and punching below our weight !……….
That`s why I keep banging on about Kroenke being the biggest evil, he hasn`t invested a single penny….sorry …dollar of his own money into the running of the club and can anyone see him changing ?……nope !……………self sustainability it is and that`s why we will never win EPL or CL under his “ownership”…….unless there`s a “Leicester” moment !……….we cant compete with the big 3, regardless of what Gazidis say`s and it wont get any better when WHam and Spuds are up and running eventually with their Stadiums………..Jehovah forbid their owners sell out to Arabs/Chinese/whoelse…………………….honestly !……………I know you may think I joke about Kroenke, but I seriously want him to die !……..it`s not just football club to any of us, it`s a love, a way of life, 60 years of loving this club and that cnut is ruining it for me, why would I want anything nice to happen to him ?
Wenger going is the short term solution, no way of knowing if will work or not, but he has to go to give it a chance, as Rico says…….it`s stagnation.
Thanks Fred. I wouldn’t blame either Ozil or Alexis if they left in the summer IF AW stays on for another two years. If they do go, others might just want to follow and that’s worrying…
Arsenal should be attracting the best players and managers out there, steeped with history, great stadium and training facilities, It’s location, everything is perfect…
Just need the Frenchman to call it a day…..
Thanks Lc.
But didn’t the board say that the club will support Arsene Wenger in every way, right down to how much money he wants to spend in a transfer window? We have plenty of money in the bank so really, Kroenke doesn’t need to invest does he?
But regardless, AW just doesn’t seem to know what to do with the players he does have…. This squad/team should be sitting top of the table imo…
Arsenal’s billionaire owner Stan Kroenke has purchased a prestigious French vineyard that has been family-run for two centuries.
Publicity shy Kroenke, 69, who has an estimated personal wealth of $8bn, has bought a majority share in Bonneau du Martray, a history-soaked wine grower in France’s Burgundy region.
‘Silent Stan’, as he is known by Arsenal fans, also owns American football team the Los Angeles Rams, basketball’s Denver Nuggets, as well ice hockey side the Colorado Avalanche.
On the other hand, some rumours are that the reason that Sanchez and Ozil won’t sign i is both money and uncertainty about Arsene’s future. They reckon he is the attraction, and the main reason they signed in the first place.
You wouldn’t think so in the UK, but Arsene is highly respected and would be sought after by foreign clubs. Thing is, his heart is with Arsenal.
I just wish he’d retired on a bit of a high a couple of seasons ago. I don’t want him to leave without his dignity after 20 loyal years.
Morning Adam
I bet that the grapes will wither on the vine now.
Hi Rico…………..it`s a point that none of us really know about….the money front !…………..someone did put something up recently about Bob Wilson saying on a programme that we have nothing to spend !…..and others saying we are bulging at the wallet !……even if we are cash rich, can we ever compete with the big 3 ?…………….then there`s the unkown curve ball of China in the future, if they are offering £100M per year to Ronaldo as a tester, what are they going to offer when they start to get serious ?
Yes, Like most on here I would love the ball to start rolling with Wenger gone and it needs to be sooner than later so that someone can come in and get us ready for next season, who knows what will happen, but at least a change will make it exciting what ever the outcome against the current flogged to boredom routine !……………….Spuds and Bindippeers may not win the EPL, but they are sure on an exciting ride with fresh young managers !.
Meerkat, if he’d had any sense, he would have straight after winning that first FA Cup for a while… But I have to hold my hands up as I thought from there he would move us forward again. How wrong was I…
🙂 Adam.
Lc, a new manager would also answer the question about money. Someone ambitious would want to know he has a good transfer budget before he agreed to sign for us. Also, he’d probably generate some cash of his own by getting rid of a few of the passengers….
I bet we could all list 5/6 if not more who could be sold and easily replaced…
A young cynic, if you don’t mind Rico ?
Ha ha Kev, ok, a young cynic….
Danny Welbeck might be back on Saturday….
Am in support of Alexis venting. He is just expressing how us the fans vent, on the stands, behind our boxes over here at HH. If anything that shows me his hunger and passion.
Diego Costa at Chelsea is always animated when the team is slacking. Why is Alexis’ instance taken differently? He just wants to win, and feels there are people who are standing between him and a win. Worse of all they are his own teammates.
LC. That’s absolutely right. None of us really know about the money thing. China will probably become a big player and more and more top players will go there at a younger and younger age, simply for the vast amounts on offer. I have little doubt that this is currently vexing those that run the PL.
From what I can see, the older, long-term Gooners, many of them North London-born, are a vanishing breed. Folks who sit near me travel surprising distances to come to the Emirates and watch the games and I have huge admiration for their commitment both personally and financially. Those that travel to the away games are simply incredibly loyal. For a lot of them, Arsenal is a major part of their life. The crowd are a mixed bunch now and the prices that Arsenal charge means that, at some, level, the games are treated as an entertainment rather that any sort of life-enhancing experience. The crowd is changing and football is changing. This is surely the natural order of things.
Here’s a thought……..if/when Arsene goes, I wonder how many staff at the club are worried they’ll suddenly be expected to do their jobs…….will Stan, himself, then need to take more of a hand in decision making, as well?
It surely isn’t just certain fans scared of change.
Marshall, abusing your teammate if they aren’t putting in is fine, but having a crack at them when they make mistake is bullshit, especially as Sanchez makes his fair share…….not through lack of trying, granted, but that’s my point.
Fred- top post…
One small clarification though; I am not fearful of change especially when Arsenal’s success or lack of does not pay my bills…; At least I think I am not fearful of change as I am an IT contractor and change jobs always every 6 months… 🙂
As mentioned, it is time for a change which will open a new chapter in the clubs history and remove the impression of the club stagnating…
Ultimately a new manager will as Rico mentioned ‘answer the question about money’
Rico – an insightful and passionate piece. Alas, so much of what you have said rings crystal clear true. Arsenal are in our heartbeats and no matter how much we try, that love and passion will never wane. Unfortunately, we have become stale, predictable and even though I hate to admit it are falling behind our nearest rivals. We are the Sony Walkman of football – at its creation it was stellar and had no rival. We basked in its glory and took the plaudits. Sadly, we rested too long on our laurels, forgetting that the game grows, changes and advances year on year. Now, we are an ageing classic that because of the lack of investment and naivety have seen our competitors overtake us.
We need new ideas, new tactics and the swagger and arrogance that a young, hungry manager brings. Don’t get me wrong – Arsene Wenger’s contribution to Arsenal cannot be quantified, I just feel that he should bow out with grace and dignity. Even this season he has built an impressive squad – albeit maybe still a couple of players short, but his ideas are not new. The frustration seen in Alexis’ face is that of a winner who cannot fathom why we have so many talented starters yet are currently 5th in the league. Time for change.
Scott, I doubt Stan is at all ‘hands on’ – he has others in place to keep an eye on the club whilst he’s busy doing whatever he does across the waters…
My hope is that once AW goes, Gazidis has more of a say in things which he clearly doesn’t have today…
I like that analogy Db… 😉
Scott- Apart from Jose, Simeone and Pep how many managers do we believe actually put winning above their pay check?
Obviously winning guarantees their employability. 😉 Everyone is in for themselves but obviously the fans with emotional attachment are the ones who suffer.
The likes of Pocchetino (spelling) and Klopp imho are using their current clubs as stepping stones.
Cynical BVB fans thought Klopp should have sold Lewandowski like AW sold RvP to Yanited. Their reason at least from the very few I spoke to knew we had no chance to win the Bundesliga but the £30m or so we could have gotten for him would have helped BVB financially but Klopp thought otherwise.
Apparently even Lew’ski even asked to be sold because he did not want to leave for free as BVB did him well…
Rico, I hope Ivan is up for it.
We all have scouting, coaching, transfer negotiations, accountants etc etc etc to consider lol
Ginge, when on massive money, managers ought not worry about anything but winning.
The Spuds man will end up at REAL or the like soon enough.
Ginge, don’t give me all that old guff about being an IT contractor…
You blew your cover months ago…
We all know that your ‘Our Man in Havana’, or Vauxhall Cross… ?
Scott, He might have called him out for both. I would imagine he felt Ramsey wasn’t even worthy of being on the pitch at that time. But hey he’s not the one to decide. It was a heated moment, he got frustrated and swore at him. Ish happens.
And like I said, between AS and AR it’s clearly one player wanted to win it more, and the other was in the way.
The club can’t even sign players without AW sweetening the deal… 🙂
IG is not up to the job
🙂 Lol Kev… That was in the previous incarnation
Even if Spuds and the Scum scouscers don’t win it, they’ll be proud of their teams as they’ve faught and entertained them to the last game of the season.
We look like we gave up last month.
Kev- all this Aw issue will be sorted if we can get Goldman Sach’s or George Soros’ to buy Stan out… 😉
Marshall, sorry, but as badly as Ramsey is playing, suggesting he isn’t trying is ridiculous.
Again, Sanchez makes his share of errors but is untouchable.
He is acting like Schoolgirl on occasions and should be leading, not showing petulance.
How will players look up to him when he carries himself in such a manner??
Would you?
Marshall- the scums have very low expectations whilst our expectations are different.
maybe we have the expectations of a WAG. 😛
An the bin-dippers have been the same since Dalglish was first moved on…
When they had owen and Fowler under Houlier the media always said they would finish above us;
They said the same with Brenda in charge.
Saying that John henry has spent more money than silent Stan; maybe because the northerners would not stand for getting fleeced whilst our fans accept it…
Scott- perception is everything but odd how Sanchez is not the longest running player in Arsenal this season or last season…
Then again folks will say stats mean nothing so…
So if it appears Ozil looks lazy but in reality covers a lot of ground and does not give the ball away but another player appears to be running and remonstrating like Flamini then… 😉 who is more important
Ginge, I know, and Ozil consistently runs more kilometres in a game than anyone, but he’s lazy lol
Without seeing stats, I’d bet Sanchez is doing lesss of late than a few months back.
To my eye he’s nowhere near as enthusiastic.
Even v Bournemouth, it was only when he scored and we were back with a sniff that he was really putting in, IMO.
Ginge, you are right, Goldman Sachs, George Soros and Adam, these are the people who could save our club…. ?
Talking of natural order of thing`s, Adam !……………Spuds must finish below us !…….It`s always the first wish in footballing matters . 🙂
Kroenke will never be hands on !…………..if he was, he`d be picking grapes at his newly aquired french vineyard, but why bother when he can just lay back and watch Arsene do it for £8m per year !.
LC, he will need to find a replica of Arsene, then 🙂
Send Sir Les Patterson over then Scott ! 😆
Kev- Soros. Sach’s, Koch Brothers yes… even Putin will do but we don’t want the likes of Adam owning the club. 🙂 He knows too much about football… he might walk into the dressing room at half time and change the formation. 🙂
Scott- Bellerin is the player who has covered the most ground…
TS. I’d certainly have Rico as my assistant and Brudder Lee as a motivational speaker. Kev’s role would be multi-faceted as I know he will not tolerate complacency.
An interesting read; albeit old news…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/11/17/is-running-worth-it-how-the-furthest-travelling-premier-league-t/
🙂 Adam- you are not convincing me…
You can’t compound the issue by putting forward Rico…
I like the idea of Rico being your assistant though.so that I can slate her if we don’t turn up in Stoke. 🙂
Will Lee use Uday Hussein’s motivational skills? 🙂
TS. 🙂
Lee is a powerful advocate of the spoken word and I feel that his message would be loud and clear.
Interesting stuff that TS, although it will be more clarified at the end of the season with final positions against the stats.
What it tells me is we should field a team of our fastest players (although I have been going on for a while now about my revolutionary 4 wing back formation which sort of matches the article……they`re all fast ! )……..so….. Ox, Theo, Chuba, Hector, Alexis, Koz, Gabriel, Gibbs, Welbeck, …..Bring back Ryo Miyachi and Cech in Goal !…………………no place for slow DM`s or the Rolls Royce of Ozil !……………………………….I feel the need…..the need for speed !. 🙂
Actually, that is a bloody fast team and would probably have got a medal in the 4X100M relay @ The Olympics………………………….
Oi oi Ts… 😉
I would pay, to see Lee do a teamtalk…. ?
Me too Kev…
Football is really fickle. So now the Spud Man is a hot item again, funny how many had their doubts 2 months ago when they were struggling and got bounced out of the CL and couldn’t score goals. Funny how L’pool went to B’mouth and was 2-0 up and lost, and how City struggled with them for most of the game…..B’mouth is a very talented team.
Alexis petulence is no different he did that at Barce, Unidese, with Chile and now at Arsenal. It comes with the package, we can’t be critical of Ozil not being passionate and critized Sanchez. People just have different approach to things. It’s
interestung how Messi doesn’t do that but still has as much desire to win as anyone. Interesting how Pirlo never runs around but was almost always the best on the pitch… running around without an end product means nothing.
Having watched most of these players at other clubs/ National teams and how effective they were/ are: Ozil, Sanchez, Xhaka, Elneny, Mustafi, Kos, Perez, Holding, Gabriel, Santi, Monreal, Cech and yes LC Yaya. It is really hard for me to believe it’s the players’ fault collectively. This leads me to think that AW must go.
Nice vid Lc… 😉
Hahaha Obi…………..but if Arsene goes he has to take Yaya…………………well someone has to hold the ladder whilst Stevie Bould picks the grapes !.
I don’t think anyone is criticising Alexis Obi…
I agree with your last sentence though… 🙂
Looks a Million pound player doesn`t he Rico and at half the price !…………..just need Obi to watch it and compare him to Yaya !. 🙂
He’s certainly got pace and gets height on his crosses Lc… I suspect he’d be better when not playing on a ploughed field… 😉
🙂 LC . Rico can be Flo Jo
I see Everton have snapped up a young English winger/striker from Charlton…. £7.5 million…
Obi- Just to be fastidious, Pirlo did cover a lot of ground. He was always 2nd in Juve team after Vidal. 🙂
I get your point though; pirlo did things effortlessly; same can be said about Arteta when he was with us, even though fans thought he looked like he was running in quick sand. lol
I was looking at the stats of Arteta’s for his last 2 games where he played the full 90 mins. He covered more ground than Xhaka has in his last 2 games and Coquelin
LC Yaya is miles better than the Kid…lol. AW was not kidding, the kid even runs like Ashley Cole.
It’s not how far you run, it’s what you do with the ball surely?
My bad Obi- Lichtsteiner was second to Vidal; Pirlo 3rd. 😉
Interesting stats for you if you are interested…sprints per game for Arsenal players i.e above 25.2 km/ hour
1) Bellerin- as you would expect as he is a defender averages; he averages 8 per game
2)Ramsey 6 per game
3) Nancho & OG12- 5 per game
4) Sanchez – 4 per game
Eriksen is the fittest player in London this season; 4 spuds players feature in top 20 in the whole league; only Bellerin features.
Psg has finally completed deal for Draxler…
Ts, anyone will be behind Vidal. That’s football on steroid… I love that guy; I don’t care if we are kicking rocks, I want him on my team….lol. But the point as you point out earlier is that of perception, players like Arteta, Pirlo, Rosicky, Ballack, Ozil, Aránguiz, Marchisio understand the geography of football. For an example, Ozil never stand in one spots for more than 5 seconds.
Rico @ 2:55 I was commenting on Scott referring to Sanchez acting like a “schoolgirl” lol. And basically that how he is…. watch when he’s sub, again part of the package.
He’s just passionate Obi and doesn’t like not playing. He just loves the game…
West Ham have made a £20m bid for Dembele. Thought we might have gone for him….
How about this !……………………trouble is, when I try and click on to the vid`, it comes up with…….”The media could not be played”………so no idea if it`s kosher !
http://www.101greatgoals.com/101ggvideos/arsenal-boss-has-received-verbal-agreement-with-alexis-sanchez-mesut-ozil-on-new-deals-video/
Could you believe that Celtics only paid 500k to Fulham for Dembele? And this was after Arsenal had watched the kid for over 2 years. Unbelievable.
Great Post Rico, and fine contributions all round.
You’ve pretty much nailed it, Cornwall, Stan Kroenke is a football lovers worst nightmare.
The day he became Arsenal’s majority share-holder was the day Arsenal’s footballing soul died.
Our club was taken from us and moved from a proper football stadium to a shiny new arena built for the corporates. The Arsenal that we all love with a passion has virtually disappeared and re-branded before our very eyes.
Essentially we’ve gone from Norris and Chapman, who made Arsenal the best and biggest football club in the world, and whose only ideal was footballing success, and flipped it right over to the new model where money is paramount, and whilst football success would be ‘nice’ it’s not essential.
There is absolutely no drive or desire from anyone at Arsenal to make them the best, and for all his wonderful early success, Arsene Wenger is just as complicit as our Board of Old Etonians for our current decline.
Couldn’t make it up Obi. Slipped through the net with many others…
Thanks Herb. I really don’t know why your comments are going into moderation, it’s annoying….
LC it is more of a self preservation for AW…. Can you imagine the fans uproar if he lets them walk? I think he let them walk only if he’s not coming back.
Rumour is we are getting Carlito (in 2 years time) to replace AW.
Remuneige wants AW on BM board when he retires
Good comments all round but to be honest Rico and all I agree with your strong worded post and got more enjoyment and entertainment watching The World Darts and love the Toure song. I can’t be arsed anymore to even watch our lads.Sanchez will leave as per usual with our better players. It suits kroenke to have Wenger as his chief cashier and if and when he goes Kroenke will appoint another to work under his instructions.
Carlito Ts? Who is that?
Eastenders and Emmerdale has been good too Kelsey 😉
You would think with his arrogance and total control of everything at the club he loves, he would walk away at the end of the season to save grace and because he loves the club..
We all said Arsene who when he was appointed so why be afraid of change.the problem is that IMO kroenke would want a clone of Wenger to take over.
Kelsey, as I said earlier, I reckon people at the club are more scared of change than fans are.
Arsene, even??
Sounds all well and good, but we are talking Wenger here and I dont like the …” If we cannot go further we cannot go further”, also it`s from a man who said we cant be considered a top club if we let Nasri and Cesc go !……we know what happened there !
Arsene Wenger says that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez tell him they want to stay at the club, and that Arsenal are prepared to give them big money and a lot of love.
However, he also warned that there is a limit to what the club can offer – something that’s not true of certain others – but feels that they’re both ready to stay onboard the good ship Arsenal.
Speaking to beIN Sport, he said, “They tell me they want to stay, after that we negotiate. It always starts with money, it ends with money and inbetween the players want to stay.
“When they want to stay it’s easier to find an agreement. We’re certain we’ll find an agreement, but as well you cannot put the club in jeopardy for the players.
“I think no matter what we’ll try to keep them, and at some stage we’ll go as far as we can, and if we cannot go further we cannot go further.
“That’s basically it, because that’s the way you have to manage a football club.”
Asked specifically about Alexis, whose frustration was apparent in midweek, he continued, “Alexis Sanchez is a committed player who wants to stay. I’m convinced we’ll find an agreement.
“We are not scared to spend the money, and we are not scared to show the players we love them.
“We want them to earn big money, but we as well have to have a line of conduct.
“I’m convinced that when a player finds his needs [at a club] he has the luxury to say: it’s not 500000 more or less’ that should be decisive.”
At the moment the air of uncertainty is certainly a worry for fans – what a boost it would be if we could get them signed up.
Hey Kelsey…………..do you think that Kroenke is doing some kind of ….Clone Wars ?…………..that big ranch he bought with 500,000 acres, I reckon he has some underground facility where he`s cloning Wenger……………………..fcuk !………………..Star Wars is becoming real !……………….”The Mental Strength in this one is strong Stan !”………………………
There’s a contradiction there Kelsey. Perhaps it’s his arrogance as you put it, is exactly what keeps him at the club..
He said plenty without saying a thing, as usual, LC 🙂
Scott, if we are to believe all that’s said about Arsene and the control he has, which I do, how can the club move on when he decides what’s to be decided?
Hadn’t Arsene said similar before LC? RVP rings a bell….
Rico, with strong leadership……Shame we will not have it lol.
That’s when we will see the damage Stan has done, IMO.
On RVP, wasn’t it Stan who decided he be sold-Wengers part was getting us a better fee for him.
I dare say it’s the same with Nasri and others.
Scott, but once Arsene goes, that’s the time to change so so much within the structure of the club…
With the right editing you can put together a video to make Sanogo, Stepanovs, Gervinho, Bendtner and the like, look absolutely world class, so I’m a bit suspect about seeing wonderboys on some You Tube special.
All the same Cocker, young Bramhall has some interesting qualities, not least his pace and crossing whilst on the run, not sure about his passing and tackling although I’m sure with the right coaching that he could develop into a promising player…
Funny that Arsene should compare him to Ashley Cole, baring in mind that Le Prof almost flogged the said Cole to Crystal Palace, until the Silvinho crisis blew up in his mush…
Curious !……………………if Wenger went tomorrow and lets just say we got ?….Simeone (as an example )…..how long should he be given to change our fortunes before we get………In Simeone we Rust !………….? 🙂
LC, it would take long, IMO.
Rico, Ivan will have to step up.
Kev…………………I actually liked Gravitational Pull Head………….worked his socks off, could dribble and was fastish…………..just couldn`t finish !…………………………didn`t Hazard say he was the best player he had played with ?
Good points Kev…
Scott, at least he’ll be given the freedom to do so…
I’m off guys, night all..
Agreed, Rico, which proves Stan is to blame 🙂 🙂 🙂
Nah it’s interesting times now, but ahead, even moreso.
I’d like to fast forward 5 years and see where we are at.
Cocker, I think that Hazard was just being kind…
Either that or he was stoned….
Night Rico
Interesting piece in the Evening Standard…
Harry Rednapp puts his name to headlines that state “Champions don’t celebrate a draw at Bournemouth” with a picture of Giroud doing his silly dance…
Maybe Harry, you could have a point, but wouldn’t your opinion carry more weight if you yourself had managed a title winning team..!
Harry may not be an expert in winning a league title, but there’s nothing he doesn’t know about avoiding paying income tax.
The little tinker… ?
Giroud was celebrating a goal after us being 3-0 down.
ANYONE would celebrate.
Did Sanchez celebrate his goal that had us 3-1 down???
Hiya Kev.
Gervinho always seemed Intimidated by RVP I reckon.
So many times he could’ve taken a shot but offloaded to that bastard even though RVP wasn’t in a better position.
Didn’t Sanchez just pick the ball out of the back of the net and run back to the centre circle with it under his arm????
Scott Gervinho was just a shit footballer imo.
“I can honestly understand folks wanting change and a new perspective but imho no one can categorically state that a new manager will guarantee us the EPL title.”
This is true BUT I can categorically state that we won’t win the EPL or CL with Wenger in charge!
Lee shows different mentalities. Giroud was happy to settle for a draw/point while Sanchez wanted the maximum points. I can bet if Sanchez scored the 3rd he’d have taken the ball at the centre for kick off just like he did with his first.
I wouldn’t expect the next manager to win us the title, hell even our special Wenger hasn’t but a fresh energy and 2-3 seasons to bed in fine. Or just 8 games like Conte!
I get the point being made about Giroud, still time to get a winner, but no, waste it by celebrating…
Morning Scott, Lee, Marshall and all..
It’s a white morning here….
Morning all.
Lee, on Sanchez, it was a genuine question A so didn’t notice what he’d done, but I’ll take you word on it.
Still, I can’t condemn Giroud, and can’t forgive abuse or fellow teammates…..especially when Alexis makes his share of clangers and nobody has a crack at him.
On Wenger or the next guy winning anything, we can not categorically state anything, really, though we can offer opinions.
My opinion now is Wenger had his chance last season.
On Gervinho, he’s done well in France and Italy.
Morning Rico and all. Kev. I saw that Harry Redknapp piece too. I would suggest to Redknapp that intelligent people don’t run over their own wives. What a Pratt!
Morning Adam. 🙂
Good morning Rico and all..
How can you folks diss the legendary Gerwanko… 🙂
If Gervinho carrys on as he is doing in China he could come back and buy Arsenal. 😛
Rico- Carlito is Anccelotti
Morning Ts. I did wonder if it was… Thanks
I think there is a bit of inconsistency coming from our fans as usual…
How many times have we slated the players for going for the kill when they could have held on for a point.
I remember how we slated the boys after a UCL against BM when we could have kept it at 2-1 but we went for the kill and ended up losing 1-3 which then made the away game even more difficult
On the renaissance of the spuds and Liverpool, after looking at their points tally after week 20 over the last 5 seasons it does not look like they have improved at all; Obviously Liverpool is doing better at this stage of this season than they did last season and the season before but their points tally is not much better if you go beyond that.
The down side is that we have not been able to capitalise on the poor form of Yanited and City although we are a point better of…
Ginge, it’s all relative, but we really have only played very well once, which is the biggest concern.
Bournemouth were down to ten men, defending for their lives and the momentum was with us… Not only that, their heads were down and were all over the place…
Amen to that Scott..
You have a point Scott. But it is no surprise ereally as a midfield of Coquelin and elneny plus the likes of Ox are not going to give fans the calibre of football the likes of Santi or Cesc or even Arteta would give us…
Saying that when the season starts lets stop all the bickering and give the team the 12th player. We make the medias’ job too easy for them.
Majority of fans may think AW has gone past his useful days but, we fans have to wonder why we have had the worst home record in nearly 9 seasons.
Is it as simple as there being too many casual visitors?
Oddly, I am seeing less and less familiar away fans. I can speak for my friends and myself but I am not going to many away games anymore because the trains are shite and too expensive.
Also for an odd reason or possibly for security reasons when the team travels back to London after an away game on the train; they get the whole plush virgin train to themselves and the train operators also seem to cancel the proceeding trains to possibly ensure the fans do not heckle the players at Euston or Kings Cross.
2 or 3 years ago it only use to happen when we went to the difficult away places like Yanited and Stoke where we were more likely to lose; but it seems it is happening at almost every away game.
Rico- You have a point but how long were they down to 10 men? I think Francis was dismissed after the 82nd minute
How many times have we noticed how difficult it is to play against 10 men not forgetting there were ahead and had something to defend against.
If they went down to 10 men in the first half or earlier in the second half then maybe we could have take all the points.
Ultimately, we should never have gone 3 goals down or should we be conceding 3 goals when we are considering ourselves title contenders.
saying that the bin-dippers lost a 2 goal lead over there so…
Ginge, I agree that too many fans have a defeatist attitude before a balls been kicked in anger.
Here’s a very interesting article……something is never this guy of or seen discussed.
https://www.facebook.com/afcbanter/posts/717577641732603
My 9:35 should have read *worst home record amongst top 4 apart from the season Rafa joined Chelsea. At one stage last season Watford had a better home record than we did…
Yanited even with the bad atmosphere under their previous manager was in the top 2 positions at home
We can not expect to win the title with an average home record
Should read “something I’ve never thought of or seen discussed”.
Bloody IPads have a warped mind of their own!!!
Very interesting link Scott
Odd how fans say AW does not change thinks tactically but they have over looked the fact that we are playing counter attacking football at home to negate teams packing the bus.
Saying that when managers like Fat sam visit the emirates and decide not to play football; then the team has no choice but to tikka takka.
One has to wonder why pep the so called best tactician is struggling to beat the poorer teams who pack the bus.
How many times has Barca struggled against Celtic in the UCL?
In my view, when teams lime up in 2 ranks of 5 only luck and moment of magic can beat that in most cases.
Perhaps if we were less predictable in our set-up and style we might improve our results at home?
8 mins and injury time Ts, plenty of time for a winner…. 😉
To be honest, we are clutching at straws imo, we were rubbish that night…
Scott- who wrote that article/
he knows his stuff imo…
Ginge, never question that Pep is showing how different the League is compared to what he’s used to.
He will show his true worth if he can adapt to it.
If not, he will be gone mid next season.
Rico, we didn’t deserve a point the other night.
We got one so on some level can claim it’s a point gained.
Adam, seems to me that over the last 5-6 seasons, we’ve always looked more dangerous when playing 2 up front.
The trouble is, it only happens when we are desperate.
Ginge, Clive Palmer on a site called Gunners Town.
A mate posted it in my FB group….I’d not heard of the man, nor that site before.
Adam- my comment about home record was not a ‘slant’ at the home fans at all…
I also mentioned the away atmosphere is not the same…
Reason I said there is a dark cloud over the club that needs lifting ideally through AW winning the title which it appears it wont happen and so he has to go…
I haven’t supported Arsenal as long as yourself, Kev, potter, fred, Micko and co have but we can all conclude that the club has become very much us vs them…
A sort of metropolitan elite if I can coin the phrase used against the current labour party
Adam, Ginge just called you old.
Cheeky little fekker 🙂
Possibly a little more fluidity in our tactical responses would be nice. Like scoring more goals.
🙂 Scott- sh*te stirrer
Hahahahahaha
TS. I know. 🙂
And away from home Adam..
I didn’t want to hope for too much Rico.
The Adam I knew-pre walking stick days-would’ve had Ginge for breakfast 🙂
What irks those I speak to when I go to away games is that these days, you have to dedicate the whole day;
I don’t know how fans from other teams feel or are treated but there is nothing more annoying than rushing to get to a train station after a game and then finding out your network rail timetable is defunct for that day or the train station has been closed because your millionaire underperforming team has been given free access to the station.
🙂 Scott
Ginge, that’s a sad situation all round.
The team/players become to far removed from the fans yet the fans are expected to worship them????
Where’s the positive??
🙂 Adam..
Quite a post from that link Scott. Everyone could see we sometimes need to switch formations. 4-2-3-1 is tedious…for me.
Good link that , brings up the need to find a different system to release another forward.Our squad is overloaded by too many identical players which is why our substitutions are mainly like for like changes. We have no game changers on the bench , we have a system and that’s that.He cites the need for a Kante , I have long wanted a clone of Ray Parlour a less talented workhorse that made the Vieira / Gilberto system work . The reason Bellerin got caught out was because of the lack of midfield cover , this would not have happened had Parlour been there.He is right about ego based attitudes , it seems too many of our players believe that it is their right to be the creator either with flicks , runs ,or hollywood balls but going the other way is always down to someone else . Maybe we need a couple of defensive full backs to do just that defend and let the pacey wide men do the attacking set ups with a tight midfield to supply the forwards.
I wonder if this has ever been considered.
Marshall, all but one 🙂
Nah, he changes but as I’m sure we all agree, Arsene has too much faith in the players and tactics at times, even when we are being outplayed, not making a change until we’ve conceded and it’s often too late.
#afc need more like Alexis Sanchez who was hurt at dropped points. Runner-up culture under Wenger doesn’t sit well with a winner like Sanchez.
Henry Winter.
Potter, you mention the Hollywood flicks and rightly so.
I said it on here years ago, when I was backing Rambo who was playing dreadfully at the time that for him to show his worth that he needed to get back to basics, and when he did, magic happened and he was just superb.
The fancy crap is back, and the performances are below average.
If he can manage to simplify his game again, he can get back to his best.
I’m not saying he can, and I can’t say Wenger is demanding it, but he’s shown what a top class footballer he can be, and can be again, but discipline is missing, big time.
Reactive and not proactive…
All the managers above a certain age make substitutions around the 70 mins mark…
Pellegrini, carlito, Del Bosque,capello ranieri etc all make changes after 65 minutes.
I guess it use to work when the gulf in fitness between the better teams and the average teams was vast. these days injecting a bit of energy in the latter stages of games does not offer much improvement unless the substitution changes the formation or style of play.
Ginge, changes need to be made for tactical reasons now, as pretty much all players can run out 90 minutes so you’re right.
On several occasions in recent years, changes could have and should have been made at half time, or even earlier when things were obviously going wrong.
Re’ the ineffectiveness of substitutions even the younger Pep wants more than 3 subs to be allowed..
http://www.football365.com/news/pep-wants-four-five-six-substitutions-to-save-players
Football imho has become less enjoyable; teams are not coming back from behind to win games as it use to be in the past. Who recalls Middlesbrough game with Merson at Highbury were we came back with 10 men to win; looking at the data 82% of teams who score first in a game do not lose the match.
A.W knows that that is why he always says that in the big games we have to score first…
Ginge, out of interest, did Pep have that attitude before coming to England?
There’s no doubt the game is harder on players there than it is elsewhere.
Easier games are a regular occurrence in other Leagues, without an Xmas break as well.
What he says makes sense in the English game.
We’ve managed to lose games this seasons after scoring first, so knowing that’s an important stat and making it work for us seems to be two very different issues 🙂 🙂
Scott- I have no idea re’ Pep.
I always said before Conte arrived that Emery, Conte and Carlito were my favourite managers and one of them should be replacing AW if I was making the decision. My reason was always simple, Pep and Jose had never built a team in their lives.
Pep and Jose are both gold plated versions of Fat Sam. 🙂
Fat Sam comes in to prevent relegation when someone has built a squad; When he is given the chance he never moves the team forward.
Your link referred to Psg who is managed by Emery; when he joins a club he never slates the previous manager or make wholesome changes. Same as the 2 aforementioned.,
Pep has not diss any manager…btw
Morning All, just catching up…
Morning Rico, I sense a great post, in my water… ?
Morning Adam, yes mate, why do those planks at the Standard imagine that anyone, with half a brain, is going to be the slightest bit interested in the ramblings of an alcoholic soaked tax avoider like ‘Arry anyway?
The Standard really is a load of shite these days, it used to be a half-decent rag, not anymore…
Fergie won titles making late changes not forgetting those dubious ‘fergie’ injury time.
He even won the UCL against BM making late substitutions.
Mancini won a title against QPR making a late change.
The difference was that Fergie could take out Berbatov or Yorke and bring on Sheringham or Owen or Hernadez. Different types of players…
our bench or squad is just not deep and the players we have are too similar as mentioned by Potter.
Ginge, imo, Pep can’t be criticised, but he can be questioned at this stage.
If he does get Citeh up and firing next season, I’ll be the first to admit he’s a world class manager.
Ancelotti is class and would do me-he could mentor Dennis 🙂 🙂
The desire to allow players the total freedom to express themselves is often our biggest mistake. Wilshere at Arsenal indulges in 1 yard wall passes trying to run through packed defenses and repeat his goal against Norwich , Bellerin runs into blind alleys at breakneck speed and gets caught out of position , Ramsey like Song before him over does things and gets caught up in his own hype and the Ox over runs and often runs out of pitch. Someone needs to be telling them to keep it simple. They are superior skill wise than most of their opponents but when they over do things they get beaten.
As I said. subs are like for like and nearly always pre ordained unless there is an injury, Pep wants more subs but with Wenger he only needs the three as he knows as well as we do what he will do around 70 minutes for the first two and 80 for the last one. A midfielder like Gilberto to just patrol the space infront of the back four is badly missed , Le Coq started to do it but now has joined into the lets get forward brigade and spread the long diagonals. It’s all about the tactics , we have the players , it’s just about adapting and thinking on your feet to get the best from them in differing situations.
Morning Kev, I had a few chores to do this morning, no time for a post…
I had my rant yesterday… 😉
Bellerin tweeted the whole squad was disappointed they did not win that match…
There is no doubt the squad needs kicking up their back side but there is no iota of proof that Sanchez is the hardest working player in the squad.
Again folks will diss stats but when was the last time we saw Sanchez coming back to help defensively with the same enthusiasm when he was not the one who lost the ball.
Sanchez is the highest paid player and so he should ‘appear’ to work harder
I am not saying Sanchez is Flamini but his attitude is beginning to remind me of flamster flapping his arm around when he could be defending.
Henry Winter is another bandwagon journo’ from the disinformation club.
Morning kev btw
Potter, great post.
I had to laugh when Pep said he doesn’t teach players how to tackle. Don’t think AW does either…
Agreed Scott. re criticizing pep.
All I am saying is until he has built a team and sustained it his superiority will be questioned by most people who look beyond trophies.
Well said Potter.
Ginge, I’m a massive fan of Alexis, even if my recent posts suggest otherwise.
I’m adamant his work rate has decreased of late.
Rico, should players at the top level really need to be shown how to tackle, though??
Should the need to be taught to pass?
I’m always amazed at how few players can deliver a decent corner or cross-two basic skills that are missing in action.
My last posts shows that maybe players DO need to be taught the basic skills 🙂
Sean and his mates aged 10/11 have a better first touch than we see from most players running around in our A League, and I’m being absolutely honest there.
So true potter.
One small point is that Coquelin was always a box to box midfielder.
I believe he was on his last chance and so he made a conscious decision not to over complicate stuff in the beginning.
Scott- you might recall me always arguing it was Santi who was making Coquelin look good.
Tactically he has not changed at all; in my view the only difference is that there is no one behind or around him to clean up the mess.
Ideally we would have a Kante or have a proper talking CB who will shout at the CM to hold their positions. per use to do that but Kosser and Gabriel are not talkers.
Yeah Ginge, you did say that about Santi, but that shouldn’t be taken by people as a criticism of Coquelin, as the pair just compliment each other beautifully.
Scott, they shouldn’t… That’s why I laughed, and from the look of his defence, and ours as a unit, they aren’t coached much on defending in general…
I work with a gentleman who is a Reading season ticket holder; he tells me football outside of the EPL is worst than play ground football.
he reckons most lower league teams up their game when they are playing better teams especially on TV.
Did we not score first against Everton and Man City?
Also we scored first against the Scum at the Slum last season and lost, so I ain’t sure about Wenger and his emphasis on scoring first in the big games Ginge…
How about scoring first and then defending properly?
That works for me…
Rico…. ?
Rico, I coached a women’s All Aged side last year.
I said to them that at their age, I can’t reach them how to play, but I can teach them to play together.
I reckon that’s relevant to any adult athletes, though, of course, little tweaks can be made, here and there.
Ts, I’ve watched some of the Championship matches this season, many have been very good. Proper football…
Ginge, a Sunday pub side would rise if on TV lol
I did watch Doncaster v Portsmouth this morning and it was pretty decent.
True Kev.
Back to topic of substitution, even Jose had a default substitute, He always use to take off Robben and go defensive when he was in the lead;
Most recently he use to take out cesc in the latter stages.
Scott- like in all walks of life no one trains anyone at the highest level anymore…
If you an electrical or aeronautical engineer and get a job at BAe system etc as an example I doubt they will teach your Ohms law or newtons laws on aerodynamics…
I doubt teachers are thought the basics once they qualifier as well..
Latest btw…
Long drive home
That would be novel Kev…
Later, Ginge.
I guess that’s it’s assumed if you reach the elite level, you’ve earned it.
As I said it’s all too fast ,if we do cross we don’t look up before and our delivery is poor,
” Look, receive, pass” was always drummed into us. Know where your players are before you pass. How many times do we put a ball into the box on the floor 5 yards away from Giroud . Gets cut out by the first man. How I wish Geordie Armstrong was still there to teach them a logical skill.
Same with corners – how many actually get past the first defender?
Best crosser we’ve had in recent years was Santos!!
Shame he was so unfit lol
Rico. Don’t start me off on corners. 🙂
Ours frustrate the heck out of me Adam.
So many clubs in the PL make them count but we really are wasteful. I loved the one Williams scored against us because of the way he made the late run before showing so much power and determination to score..
Who does that for us…. No-one..
He scored because of the Zonal system , the trouble with the way we play it, nobody tracks runners and nobody attacks the ball.
But he still had to get there and get his head to the ball…
Afternoon All
Oliver can you please pick the ball up and bring it
to the centre circle so we can try to get another
goal and beat this lot…In Chilean of coarse.
I know what Big Tony would have said:
You look like Eric Morecambe doing
……………..Bring me Sunshine…………….
……………..You effing Knob……………….
Let’s be fair Eddie thought the game was over.
Imagine Roy Keane watching that.
We can debate players/tactics to the Cow’s come Home,
what has changed in 11 year’s.
Our squad is strong.
From what the media were saying last season
most of the top managers would like to have been
the next Boss of The Arsenal.
What you think of Ustinov ploughing money
into Everton’s training ground.
Everton’s training ground will be renamed USM Finch Farm after the Blues revealed a multi-billion-pound Russian holding company as one of their lucrative new sponsors.
The five-year naming rights deal will begin this month and will also see the USM logo advertised at Goodison Park.
USM is one of the world’s largest private holding companies and was founded by Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov, a close friend of Everton majority investor Farhad Moshiri.
Their latest financial results saw the company generate revenue in excess of $6.3bn (£5bn).
At the Blues general meeting on Wednesday, chief executive Robert Elstone said the deal with USM, and an as yet unnamed new shirt sponsor, will be worth £75m to the club.
Businesses within USM Holdings include Metalloinvest, the largest mining company in Russia, and CIS the leading global manufacturer of hot briquetted iron.
USM founder Alisher Usmanov is a close friend of Farhad Moshiri’s
They also own Baikal Mining Company, which owns one of the largest copper reserves in the world, and MegaFon, one of the major telecommunications operators in Russia.
Ivan Streshinsky, Member of the Board of Directors of USM Holdings said: “The naming of Finch Farm, and the extensive package of marketing rights, provides USM and the businesses within our group with unique year-round global media exposure.
Greg O keefe.
I wish he’d give me some dosh. 🙂
That’s not good new Fred, in fact, awful news re the big guy….
It won’t be long before he and his mate take them over 100% and then we are stuck with the septic….
Afternoon Rico and the House.
The u23’s have made a winning start to 2017 by beating Derby 2-1 in the game that has just finished’
Mourgos scored after 6mins Derby equalised after 53 and Eddie Nketiah scored the winner on 75 mins.
Interesting team selection The C/H’s were Ben Sheaf and a 16 year old first year scholar.
Chuba Akpom made his return from injury but the following players were missing.
Chriss Willock
Reiss Nelson
Jeff
Maitland Niles
Da Silva and Eyomi
I gather that they could have trained with the first team
Ben Sheaf I heard, is seriously considering an offer from a Cypriot team…
Any insight on that Rick..?
http://arsenalanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/arsenal-18-year-old-set-to-leave-for.html?m=1
Afternoon Rick, I guess they’ll be heading to Preston tomorrow..
Shame Akpom isn’t, especially as Perez is a doubt… Guess Ollie will lead the line as Alexis is being rested…
Thats the first I have heared of that Kev.
I really hope it is not true because i think he has a great future and I rate him a better prospect then Belick. just my opinion.
I can see where your coming from Rick, but frankly Arsenal as a club seem incapable of coaching and developing defenders these days, not sure where if all went wrong or if there is too much emphasis on pretty football and defending is a lost art…
How much would a 20 year old Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, Steve Bould or Tony Adams be worth today?
Or Nigel Winterburn/Lee Dixon…?
The pretty football coaching of the younger players isn’t much good either Kev. How many initially look like they have a chance before we eventually wave goodbye to them…
Maybe Sheaf has grown frustrated, he’s been turned into a centre-back then seen Bielik and Holding parachuted in, in front of him Rick…
I mean you’re Ben Sheaf and you look at your situation…
In front of you is Koscielny, Paulista, BFG, Holding, Mustafi, Bielik, in an emergency both Monreal and Debuchy would also be in front of you, what is the point?
Better he moves on to get a game…
I haven’t got a problem with technical coaching and an emphasis on the passing game, as long as it’s going somewhere and not passing for passings sake Rico..
I do have a preference on defenders whose primary role is defending, that’s why I liked Gabriel when he first arrived, he looked a right animal, then he wrongly got sent off at Chelsea and something went out of his game. Not sure if Wenger tried to change him or not?
Rico Perez had a full training session today as did Niles Nelson Da Silva ( a left back) and Eyoma (a right backIt would be great to see Niles and Nelson get some playing time
Kev Zelalem played for the u23’s today as well and I think his time with us is coming to an end.
By the looks of things he is even behind Nelson in the pecking order.
Another oustanding goal from Nketiah today he can score from anywhere ( dare I say it) in Alexis style.
Nelson and Nketiah could be big players for us next season Rick, both English youngsters, so beneficial for the 25 man squad and the English players we’ll need to register…
Does that change next season?
Will EPL clubs be required to have more English players in the 25..?
My hunch for the XI at Preston NE, depending on fitness of course…
Ospina,
Jenkinson, Gibbs, Holding, Paulista,
Maitland-Niles, Xhaka,
Ozil, Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain,
Giroud…
Just my point Kev, with this Arsenal team, one day it works, the next, back comes the tippy tappy stuff….
Agree re Gabriel…
Good re Lucas Rick, I really like the look of him from the little we’ve seen. At some stage, soon I hope, he’ll be one of the first names on the team sheet….
If Sheaf is frustrated at 18 years old, doesn’t it sum up today’s footballer?
What’s happened to self belief and pushing your way to the top? Cyprus for goodness sake, why go there?
Nelson looks like he has huge potential
Considering Bendtner and Aladiere are the most successful strikers who hve come from the ranks the odds are against Nketiah.
Happy new year and all that Rick.
http://arsenalanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/arsenal-18-year-old-set-to-leave-for.html?m=1
Could be a change in policy, that is scouting domestically and at the lower leagues…
The Jamie Vardy effect I guess…
I think he’d be mad to leave just yet….
Rico I can understand Bens frustration.
He is being treated the same way as Hayden Niles and others have been in the past He is a very good Mid fielder but this season he has been played as a r/back o/right and now at C/h, and why. I think ther are 2reasons
1. To make room for Zelalmen and Reine-Adelaide.
2 De Gracia and Bielik as a C/H pairing are very poor and are the reasons why we have shipped so many goals this season
But as you say Cyprus ???
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/new-arsenal-signing-cohen-bramalls-12415300
Sorry I meant the above link to accompany my last comment ?
ManUre have apparently turned down a £15m bid from West Brom for Morgan Schneiderlin…
Worth a cheeky bid for the 27 year old..?
Rick, I’ll never understand Hayden, he’s doing really well at Newcastle and I hope we have first dibs when he moves on….
I guess I just always believe that if you are good enough, stay and prove….
Kev two legends have been helping out with the training at colney,
yesturday it was Sir Mo, today it was the bearded geezer the one and only Sir Bobby.
Plenty of fun and laughs even Arsene had a laugh.
As far as I know there is no change for the 25 man rule for next season and at the moment I can see no probleme for us.
Ginge I think Kev is right . This coming year could be massive for both Nelson and Nketiah and as young as they I think they will play for the first team before the year is out ( as will Niles)
Night guys…
Night Rico…
And with West Ham losing 0-3 at home to Man City, its night night Hammers…
Night All
Re :- Usmanov the ostriches in our board room had their chance and blew it.
Just saw a report that Jon Toral’s loan to Granada was for 6 months and that he is returning to the club just as Elneny went away.
Couldn’t be pre planned in any way could it ?
Albeit Arsenal .com said year long at the time
Late news Niles Willock DaSiver Perez have all travelled to Preston
Potter, a mate over there just said the Granada loan looks like being cancelled so he can head to Scotland.
Morning….
New post up now..