I don’t know what’s boring, a third international break so early in the season or watching Arsenal FC in action. There’s a few World Cup qualifiers and playoff fixtures which needed to be played but why on earth do those not involved be given a break. Our league is crying out for a break during the season so why fill it with boring international friendlies? Clearly managers feel similarly, certainly here England as players here there and everywhere have been withdrawn from representing their country.
Not Arsenal though, many of our chaps have been jetting around the world with their international teammates. Oliver Giroud scored for France in their meaningless match against Wales and what did he get? Injured apparently and as much as he no longer seems to be Arsene Wenger’s first choice striker, we have a busy fixture schedule to get through between now and Christmas.
I took a peep at the Arsenal official site and Ollie is all over it. Anyway, there’s a quiz about the Frenchman. ‘How much do you know about Olivier Giroud?’ I got two out of ten questions right and I have to admit, the two I got right were guesses. How bad is that eh? Go on, you try it before criticising my score, it’s hard, it really is.
Talking of players no longer favoured by Arsene Wenger, Gabriel Paulista, who returned to La Liga back in the summer has yet to experience defeat with his new club València FC. Having missed the opening two fixtures through injury he’s gone on to start six of the nine further fixtures played to help València remain hot on Barcelona’s heels in the league. Just three points separate his team and the mighty Catalan club. Admittedly, València have conceded a few goals but the Brazilian was in the side which drew with Atletico Madrid 0-0 away from home. Ok, Antoine Griezmann was missing for that one. Anyway, he’s doing well so good for him.
Life’s not been so rosy for many others who left us in the summer though and according to The Mirror, that number was twenty five who were either sold or loaned out. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was probably the biggest departure but he’s hardly setting the world alight at Liverpool is he and I think I’m right in saying he was left out of the England squad for the latest couple of friendlies.
Mr Marmite, Wojciech Szczesny has had to settle for just four appearances for his new club but that’s hardly surprising as he’s challenging Gianliugi Buffon for a place in the Juventus team. But his time will come as the Italian keeper turns 40 years old in the New Year. The comments Szczesny made about his lack of improvement at Arsenal spoke volumes:
‘At Arsenal you’d just prepare physically for it but here you watch films analysing a specific opponent before the game and afterwards we’ll watch again to see what worked and what didn’t.’
Kieran Gibbs has endured a rotten start to life at West Brom. Tony Pulis has given him nine games so far but he’s yet to win one. Still, he’s playing and that’s what he wanted.
The rest who were sold back in the summer haven’t really hit dizzy heights, especially Yaya Sanogo who has failed to score in six league appearances for French club Toulouse but he managed one in a cup match.
More important are those out on loan and whether or not they are getting playing time which is whole idea of moving elsewhere temporarily.
Lucas Perez has made ten appearances for Deportivo, scoring four goals. Takuma Asano, although being involved in eleven matches for Stuttgart is yet to find the back of the net but again, he’s getting time on the pitch Whether either are back at Arsenal this time next year remains to be seen.
Moving to Getafe has not been good for Emiliano Martinez so far. He been selected just the once which will hardly help his career. Surely he’d have been better off staying in England and playing for a Championship side who will use him rather than watching on from the sidelines or at home. What a waste of a talented goalkeeper.
Joel Campbell, Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall have spent more time off the pitch than on it so far this season but Marc Bola and Stephy Mavididi are getting plenty of playing time in league one and the Championship respectively and finally, Kelechi Nwakali has been playing regularly for VVV-Venlo in the Dutch first division.
Of those listed above out on loan, there’s just one player I wish had stayed put. Such a shame he was treated so badly…
The transfer rumours have begun and they’re only going to get worse as January approaches. This one to kick off with is Wilfried Zaha being lined up to replace Alexis Sanchez. The Sun reckon £35m will see him become an Arsenal player.
I can actually see some legs to this one as I’m sure Arsene Wenger wanted him the summer he moved to Utd.
Finally, Eddie did it again for England yesterday. His goal secured a 2-1 victory over Iceland. At least one England team can beat them eh….
Enjoy your Sunday guys…
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Rico, i’d really love to know what happened with Perez.
The guy just looked a footballer and had so much going for him, a lack of game time is just a mystery!!
Morning all.
Perhaps the stories about Ivan signing him were true Scott. It’d be so Wenger like to sulk and not play him..
Morning all and thank`s Rico.
I`m guessing the one you wanted to stay was Perez ?…………………….agree, mind you I never knew what Campbell did wrong either !……………..both offer more than Theo imo.
Zaha`s a Gooner……………………….if Alexis does go in January I`d prefer it was PSG with a swap involved……………..they (PSG) have a few quality bench warmers !
Dont drink, take drugs or smoke, Kev……………………………..the endorphins of lots of execise are good though ………………which obviously you know about !
🙂
Bit blustery, but
😎
weather !
Indeed it was Lc. Agree re Campbell too, both players have been treated terribly by Wenger, especially when one looks at the others who seem to get a free pass.
Walcott goals keep him at the club I think, but neither he or Ollie seem in Wengers good books this season..
Has Kroenke still got a pulse ?………………………………….only reply if good news !
🙂
Could be right, Rico.
If so, Wenger should’ve been sacked!
Dont want to bore you Rico, so I`ll just say it`s time to release some endorthins !
🙂
How could it be proved though Scott? Wenger would probably find something else as an excuse for not playing him..
True, and I guess we know who Stan would back.
I doubt Kroenke would get to hear about things like that..
Scott
Talking to PAOK supporters when I was in Greece, Perez is a bit of a sook.
“Sook” ?? What’s that GG?
Morning all. Beautiful azure sky again today, could be in Italy! ( not Cornwall though!) but it’s bloody a cold wind the other side of the window pane.
There’s the payers Wenger could have signed and then we have a large contingent of players he has signed but for the life of him, he can’t remember why! Hence Campbell and Perez etc have been dumped and destroyed by the forgetful old fool! Careless, thoughtless and lacking in even, human kindness.
He has a lot to answer for.
He’ll soon be gone……..hopefully.
Morning Rico, interesting post.
Joel Campbell could have made a good wing-back I reckon, he’s good getting forward but isn’t afraid to put in a defensive shift. We need cover for a Bellerin and Nelson really isn’t a wing-back.
The problem is Le Genius has made up his mind about Campbell, so he’s toast.
I know that Perez was treated poorly by Wenger, but he seemed more interested in playing for Spain than playing for Arsenal, a bit like Debuchy, but that’s Wenger for you.
Funnily enough I can kind of understand why Southgate didn’t pick Wilshere after watching how quickly England moved the ball. It was all quick one-touch but always at pace and going forward.
Jack might have slowed things down?
Also, Wenger doesn’t care about England he cares about himself, that’s why he was pushing Jack for an England spot, baring in mind he wants Jack to sign a new deal and missing out on England might persuade Jack to leave.
I’m not sure if there’s any bad blood between him and Southgate, but Wenger wouldn’t like any other manager telling him who to pick so maybe Southgate got the hump about Wenger publicly pushing the case for Jack?
In Norfolk a Cromer sook is a female crab.But I believe it’s a slang term for a coward,,however I didn’t see him pulling out of much in his rather too rare appearances.
Afternoon Kev, all..
Do you reckon Jack will look to leave in Jan then Kev?
Thanks Potter. I didn’t know either of those definitions. I’ll try and work it in to a post, sometime.
Ha ha Wavy, just use lazy…
Mind you, like Potter , I thought Perez was a battler when he played..
Morning all.
In Oz, a person who spits their dummy, whinges when things don’t go their way or is petulant is known as a sook.
It has nothing to do with courage here.
I didn’t think Perez was any of those things though.
No sure Rico. I guess it depends on how much game time he gets in the EPL..?
I suspect that his agents are putting out feelers in anticipation of contract extension discussions, hence the Crystal Palace links that Hodgson shot down…
I’d imagine that Jack would want to stay, neither he or Wenger are in strong positions.
Jacks posituion is weak because of his fitness record and Wengers is weak as the nightmare scenario for him would be Alexis, Ozil AND Wilshere all leaving nex5 summer.
Evening Rico. Problem for Jack is whether he could get a move to a big club. Surely a move to West Ham or Palace would not be great for him. Personally I hope he stays.
So far then Kev, very little. Yep, I’d have thought he’d want to stay too…
Evening Adam. Agree, going to a mid table club wouldn’t be good for him at all. Until he proves his fitness I can’t see a big club coming for him..
I’m sure any new manager would want Jack at the club..
Thankyou Scott
And that is what he was like @ PAOK, apparently. The other definitions of a sook on here are all tourist to me!
Nor did I, Rico.
GG, strange to hear that, I must say.
Seems a battler to me.
The region of Cornwall of course is not tourist to me, It feel ‘local’ ?☠️??
I liked him as you know Scott, certainly not afraid to get stuck in. Unlike some in the squad..
……..& London for that matter. Still the Capital of the world!
Wonder where Oz Gunner is these days, he’s not been on here for a long time, Agag too…
Agreed Scott, but thats what I was told he was like when he was @ PAOK.
There used to be an Oz Gunner on Bergkampesque who from time to time wrote the best Pre-Match posts I have ever read, he was training to become a forensic medical examiner if I recall, a bit like Quincy, ME !……………….. great sense of humour like all the Aussies i come across !.
I Wasn’t questioning what you were told, GG, but as Rico said, he didn’t come across that way but we only see them really on game day.
On face value, I’d have had 11 of him on the pitch.
The Oz Gunner on here is a Brit Lc..
LC, except for me.
I’m a cranky fekker lol
You don’t have to explain yourself to me Scotty2Hotty, we speak the same language.
RICHMOND Premiers, Swans chumps! I’m sure you do not need an interpreter for that.
Oz Gunner is a Pom, probsbly from Cornwall rico.
Richmond-drug cheats hahahaha
As for Jack-What money is he on?
Who he cop a decrease, assuming he’s on big money?
You are Scott…. ?
I’m consistent hahahahaha
Subsidised Swans, paid for by Richmond raised revenue. Everyone knows that?
I see now where Stan is insinuating that he is hamstrung with his expenditure on The Arsenal until he controls the whole Club. Dear oh dear!!!
Night guys….
rico, Autumn internationals, world cup play off’s, a grand prix, throw in a bit of live snooker, indoor cycling and International rules football, yeah I really missed Arsenal like a hole in the head this weekend !
Bring on the scum !
GG, Stan’s the man hahahahaha
When you put it like that Micko…. lol
Morning all..
Morning Rico.
Morning all . Raining here and water levels are rising. The wind has dropped so will be ok. Hose pipe ban next spring no doubt.
Seems like we are collecting a group of not so walking wounded :- Giroud ,Koscielny , Ramsey plus a few we don’t know about yet whilst just up the 7 sisters they are all nicely rested and coming on fine.
We are an absolute shambles.
Morning all.
Morning all.
What`s it like here ?……………………………………………..here`s a clue !…………………….
😎
Is Kroenke still alive ?
Morning Adam, sorry, I nipped off as it was quiet..
I follow La Liga every week. Here, the TV broadcasts 6 to 7 games or more every weekend, in addition to the summaries. The performances of Gabriel and Perez have been good. Campbell rarely enters. In fact, the same happened last year, with Sporting.
Zaha is expensive. It’s very inflated.
For the same price, they get better players and more productive.
Arsenal continues to suffer from the same problem in the way they play: when they lose the ball, they are very exposed, because there are usually many players who do not have their DNA in their defense, leave a lot of space between the defense and the forward, they are poorly positioned, favors the counterattack of the opposing team. that’s why playing with Ozil and Iwoby at the same time, is wrong in addition to canceling out each other.
Keystone Kos is already looking to duck out of Saturday’s tete a tete with Kane and co . The hapless French centre back who makes ale house players look world class claims to have an Achilles problem and whines about being in pain and not not fit to train.He usually gets these sort of twinges during games when things are getting tough and limps off .Oddly enough he always remains fit when everything is going well ! Wenger is himself already predictably making excuses should things go the shape of an American football against Poch’s posers, well they keep posing as title challenges , no doubt the International break will be used by Wenger to claim a lack of sharpness by our players was to blame if things do go awry .At least Poch can’t use that excuse he has sensibly kept his England trio out of the International ‘friendly’ bore-fest. Old Wenger though always looks on the gloomy side of things and instead of trying to inspire some confidence among the players and supporters he moans about players getting injured Stan going on about money again ( yawn) though says where things are really at these days at AFC .
Rico. So did I. 🙂
Giroud out, Koscielny probably out, Ramsey possibly out, Mustafi not ready to return, Welbeck not ready to return, Alexis jet lagged, etc etc etc.
Hey presto, Wenger has his excuses all neatly folded up and ready to use after Kane and boys kick our arse this Saturday…
Just had a glance through NewNowBullshit and apparently Arsenal are going on a spending spree this January. ???
Yeah, yeah, fcuking yeah, too late Ethel, should have done your business last summer, but you fcuked up again didn’t ya Arsene…
All we’re lacking is Gazides coming on with all his warchest rubbish.
allezkev, this spending spree amount of cash will depend on who Wenger sells,probably at least one of those that he claimed last summer would not be sold.
Whatever happens whoever comes in or goes , the books will be balanced.
Yeah and I bet he’ll do all his business during the January sales. Bargains galore, mostly shoddy but very very cheap!
Spending spree, my arse!
Draxler for Sanchez would seem to be a fair swap. It won’t happen though! We’re talking skinflint Wenger here! He’s the living imbodiment of Scrooge.?
Still, we can live in hope! Actually he may well spend big, on one player if only to appease the fans. Like Ozil, whoever he buys, I’ll wager he’ll be a player we really don’t need who plays in the ‘wrong’ part of the pitch! Another goalkeeper, perhaps?
Woe is me.
Suns just poked it’s head out, nice. Still a cold harsh wind whistling though.
Afternoon all.
Afternoon all.
Ramsey is fit for the NLD then. Not sure if that’s good news or not….
Adam, I did it again.. ?
I see the Fekir deal is reported to be ‘almost done.’
Yeah right……
Bah humbug Wavy
See in an hour or two Rico… ?
See ‘you’ (Jimmy)
I’m home for the day Kev ?
It’s jolly cold out today, numb hands after walking the woofa, and that with glove season on…..
Rico is home, hooray!!!
It’s definitely getting a bit parky out Rico.
I think I’ll retire to my settee for the evening, watch a film perhaps?
Ha ha Kev..
Good idea, you not working?
Fekir a done deal !…………..what a lying load of fekir`s !
Tottnumb mascot Mike Dean is Reff on Saturday……………Gunnersaurus needs to take him out as soon as he steps on the pitch !
I welcome the cold as it`s too bloody hot here at the Cornish equator !
Mike Riley putting the boot in after Wenger criticising his officials, so he sends in Dean to really stitch us up…
Seriously Kev? Dean the ref for NLD…?
Night guys…
Looks like Allegri’s dream gig as national team coach has just fallen straight into his lap next summer !
Another one bites the dust lol.
Grosso dive in 2006 QF
Italy plummet from2018 ?
Fukk ‘me, hey GG 🙂
That diving bastard remains in our memories lol
You going 2morrow night S2H?
Not sure mate.
Waiting to see what happens at work-it’s a day to day proposition atm, so I can’t plan ahead more than a day or so.
Annoying, but I close for 3 weeks at xmas so I’ve got to take anything I can at this time of year.
I’d love to be there-could be a special evening.
Morning all.
Can’t believe Dean is the ref on Saturday. Second thoughts, perhaps I can.. It’s what Riley does..
New post up.