Morning all…
Good Friday here and that means the start of a very long weekend of rest for many.
My injury theory was blown out of the water yesterday.
Arsene Wenger held his pre-match press conference yesterday and it hardly gave us much to celebrate on a weekend which deserves celebrating.
First up was the news around Jack Wilshere.
Regarding Jack? I think two weeks on Sunday. Not the next game, but the game after. We deferred his rehab and gave him an extra week’s rest. Medically, it was wise to do it.
That’s fine, sensible I would say, although it’s a great shame but with so few games left, it’s not worth taking a risk on the health of one player, no matter how good or how popular he is.
Then there is Theo Walcott, he’s been ruled out of tomorrow’s game against Reading after picking up an injury whilst away with England but he should be back soon, very soon.
Then, if that wasn’t enough.
Late in the afternoon, the official Arsenal website broke the news that Abou Diaby had injured his left knee during training on Wednesday and scans have confirmed the worst. He’s torn his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo surgery in the very near future.
Diaby is expected to be out for around eight to nine months and no doubt, as he strives for fitness, he hopes that he still has a career in the game.
BUT, that career can no longer be with us, and as sad as that might be for the player and his many supporters, but our club can no longer afford to carry so many injured players.
Look at this season alone, we’ve had:
Fabianski
Rosicky
Diaby
And that’s all without carrying the players like Sagna,Vermaelen and even Gibbs to a degree, who seem vulnerable to injury.
In theory that FIVE players who could at any time, or even all together, be out of our twenty-five man squad!
Doesn’t that speak volumes.
Maybe this happening to Diaby at this time of the season will be the final injury which makes Arsene Wenger realise that he can no longer rely or expect him to be the midfield man he hoped he would be.
Maybe now he will finally accept he needs to sign a ‘replacement’ this summer.
I’m sure sure there is one thing we will all agree on and that’s to echo the best wishes passed to Abou from the club. I truly wish him a speedy recovery and sincerely hope that the operation is a success and he still has the chance of a career in football. But I don’t think that can be with us, or even in the Premier League.
According to Italian football agent Guido Di Domenico, Stevan Jovetic is set to join us in the summer having already agreed terms.
Jovetic was among the possible options for Juventus, but my information is that the boy has already given the go ahead to move to Arsenal.
He seems fascinated by their project.
Wasn’t it around this time last year that the stories started to leak about us signing Podolski?
Robert Pires has had a little dig at the manager he once played under:
The difference between Arsenal today and my generation is that we had a backbone of English players. I’ve said this for years. Arsenal’s identity during the time they still won trophies was that spine of Englishmen.
During my time they had Tony Adams, Martin Keown, David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour and Nigel Winterburn – all very important players. Our strength was the mixture of Englishmen and talented arrivals from Europe.
Now the club has some very good youngsters but they still lack experience. To my mind the only solution for Arsenal is to buy some English players.
Arsene Wenger has talented players, but the team lacks a solid base. I think it would do Arsenal good to rediscover some of the identity they had in the past…
I actually believe that is just what Arsene Wenger is trying to do. He’s given the young British players that he thinks will make it, new contracts but now, maybe we need to sign a couple more older English players. Get that steel back into the team….
Finally, later on this afternoon, the under 19’s will be up against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the NextGen series.
Television coverage is on Eurosport and kick-off is a 2pm Uk time.
COYG’s – You can do it!!
That’s it folks for another day, enjoy the day all…
Morning all.
Off to the outlaws so back a bit later..
Enjoy the game later, good luck to the under 19’s…
Have a good day all….
Which older english players would you sign and how old?
That’s the million dollar question bc… which ones would improve us and give us the quality that we need…?
Diaby is lemon.
English players are the last thing we need he’s talking rubbish..how many english players were in the invincibles
What about Gazza he’s looking to keep fit, and he’ll be at our price range. Might need an interpreter though. We had the ideal time to buy Englishmen when we needed them badly, Cahill and Parker could have done a job for us but we knew their names and had seen them play, and lets face it Wenger likes the unheard of. And that all important essence (cheap) Oh morning all nice one Rico.
*a
Morning SP, I would def of taken Cahill for sure… Not so sure on Parker though as he was a bit of an injury concern and we have enough of those..! To be fair any other decent English players for the most part are totally over priced..!
Morning Wath, I would take Parker even now, sure at his age he may have a few niggles but the way he tackles he deserves them
The one I thin we really missed out on was Xabi Alonso.. If only we had got him when we tried, he would of done us spot on…!
Wath you could write a book on the types we should have brought but we have a sealing of 15 grand Max Wenger wants a team for that amount. 🙂
Ur getting more and more cynical the more GG you drink SP pretty soon you’ll be sounding like me 😀
Got a ways to go yet Wath, Your the daddy. 🙂
I’m trying to mellow in my youff………….. 😉
Morning all,
A fine post Rico… Fiorentina will be coming after you for merely reporting daily fails news… 🙂
Hi WATH… alcohol free?…. including alcohol free mouth wash…. 😀
Hey Bobby… our English spin will have Jack Jebb in the mix soon…
It is the fact that we missed out on Maradona and RedNose that still hurts me… lol
SP1 just picture you being a chairman of an English club and you answer your phone and the other man and the end of the phone has an American/ Texan accent and introduces himself as Dick… Dick Law… lol
I always suspected Rico was Lady/Maid Marian…. of Sherwood…. enjoy your visit to the outlaws…
Morning all & remember to fast as it Good Friday! These Willian guy from Swansea… Is he English? & Jovetic news, any positivity in it news???
He is Welsh…. Santy.
A very good read:
http://www.lifesapitch.co.uk/opinions/five-common-arsenal-myths-shot-down/
7 past three tomorrow , the old “Rocky , Rocky chant to ring out to remember our Mr Rocastle who died twelve years ago.
Shame that most of the people there probably never saw him play and many won’t understand what it’s about.
To true Potter Rocky is gone but never ever forgotten mate not by the ones that know what he meant to us and what the club meant to him…! A true gent and proper Arsenal man….
I am still bitter about us missing out on Ruud Krol Ts…!
It would be nice if for only a few minutes it could bring the whole stadium together in one voice. Knowing a few I would not be surprised if the Reading fans joined in as well.
It would indeed Potter and it would not surprise me if the whole ground does indeed get involved and shout his name out loud and proud….. Would be very fitting for one of our own…!
Thanks TSGH… Have heard a lot about the Williams guy & am beginning to like & want him in our club as he will form a water tight central pair with Koscielny. However, Jovetic will be a good addition in our attack as Giroud is too slow & not a box to box attacking player to Jovetic who is. sharper…
Good Afternoon All.
Good read Rico, thanks for raising our hopes up.
@tsgh, please if you know the writer of that article, tell him that any time I stop by in London I’ll buy him a beer.
What I really don’t understand we Arsenal fans and long time supporters, think we should just roll-out the punches to other teams just because we’re Arsenal.
Why is it that millions around the globe are watching the BPL??? Because you don’t take your opponent for granted. There is that element of surprise until the end of the game; not like RM and Barc, whom dominate their league.
Dan
I think we had:
Campbell,Cole,Parlour and Keown.
Love to have Um in this squad.
It is easy for fans and ex players associated with a club to exaggerate how good a player, manager, coach etc. actually was after their death.
It is a “respect” thing.
It is sad when an ex-player goes who you supported throughout your childhood. But there are different types of player; some poor, some average, some good and some great. We have them now.
Although David Rocastle played in a completely different era -he was everything the team is currently lacking.
David Rocastle was nearly everyone’s favourite player and played on the right side of midfield, but was as equally comfortable playing centrally. He was quick and skillful and possessed a nice shot, but unlike most gifted players who play out wide – he was also defensively minded and never shirked a tackle – ever. His play also had a purpose. He was an 110 percent Arsenal lad and was distraught when he was sold to Leeds.
George Armstrong was an Arsenal lad and is always held in affection, but as good as we like to think he was – there was no way these two players could ever be compared….
David Rocastle was really THAT good and he played in one of the best Arsenal sides ever – 1990-91.
When you hear his name sung in the ground, it is not just because he died so young – it is also because he was an extremely talented player.
Hi SYG. Well said.
Thanks Adam. It’s easy to get lost in sentiment, but the lad had it all.
I agree. How were things in Cyprus? Looks sticky on tv
Goodmorning all
Good post rico,
Arsenal v Chelsea NextGen series is on Eurosport 2 on tv
You can watch HD online here:
http://www.bollebal.com/?name=Eurosport2
http://cricfree.tv/euro-sports2.php
Kick off 2:00pm or 14.00GMT(just 7mins away)
Sorry folks. Online HD links to the match has gone into moderation. Hope rico is available to post it soon. On TV you can watch it on Eurosport 2 Enjoy 🙂
We are in the middle of negotiating for a house in Frenaros at the moment Adam…… For us in the UK to just go over its fine – so long as you have a wallet full of Euros….
…I feel a sorry for the ex pats who have sold up to move out there and who have their “house money” tied up in the Cypriot banks… to get robbed of 40% …
Hope we get a good match. Pitch doesn’t look good
Boo!! Was waiting for you or Dutch, emma. :
I’m not so sure about the English spine, if I’m honest. I look at the NT of England, and it’s no great shakes. I mean, there are some really dodgy characters in there. 😉
That was a smiley there, emma, 🙂
Hi Adam, Emma, Agag, SYG …
Everytime I watch Nico play, I say life is unfair… only if he was at least 2 inches taller…
yes… great goal.
Bellerin what a player…
Nico’s reading of the game is exceptional…
Hope you are watching the boys Ak?
How big are the chavs…
Oh no, I’m missing it. 🙁 🙁 Hiya, Ginge.
Well said Potter and SYG…. a true legend Rocky is…
NG those who know, know… 😉
Is Hadjovic… Luhzny in disguise… lol
Hi lady Agag… its a good match on a bubbling pitch. Its a disgrace really…
I am very impressed with Olsson’s defensive work rate… I always thought he was only brains and no brawn because of his stature
If Yennaris was at Barcelona they would’ve filled him full of growth hormone like they did to the micro human – Messi! Thing is we are honest in this country!
the turf is a career threatening pitch…
where are we playing Ginge?? Poorly kept pitches really get to me.
Hey watch it Wavy… 😉
good point though… and he is a true gooner.
Bellerin… what a buy
Dev’s back garden in Lake Como… lol
The ref is a joker…
clueless officials… whenever the chavs dive he awards a foul…
Messi’s treatment was fairly well documented at the time I think. He was only 12 when they started the treatment. The result is clear to see!
Good match that. Bellerin is a future RB, what a player, Hjravoic is a beast at CB. Olsson looks like Cesc in disguise. Akpom looks like a potential CF if he continues to develop the right away. He’s got no similarities to Afobe. Yennaris deserve some credit. I see a future for him in arsenal and like tsgh said only if he is a bit taller
Serge is not having a great season as compare to last year… the injuries have affected his fitness…
If only Theo had Eisfield’s tactical brains…
If you are big enough you are tall enough!
tsgh – Ditto on serge
Stewart robson is a complete dirt. He said chelsea has better technical players than arsenal in the final third. Olsson has being cutting them open now and then. We could have being 3 goals up already.
I agree Wavy … if you mean Nico… he plays as a DM so I think the usual guys who call for big lumps will not be happy… if he was a winger or from a different league then it wouldn’t be a problem but against the likes of the Aussie rule football team from Stoke… 😉
I meant tall enough. I think Yennaris is a class act. He needs his manager to show a little faith and trust in him. At least he doesn’t seem to have too many fitness issues!
Robson can’t even give credit when it is due with AW in charge of Arsenal.
What he is forgetting is that none of our back 4 are defenders… last year they were all playing in midfield…
Wavy… Nico has had major health and fitness issues this last 3 years… reason he has not broken into the team yet…
I meant “good enough” !
Good save Iliev…but what were the defenders doing ball watching… 1-1
Nice Angha and Olsson… just almost 2-1
this 4-4-2 is not working against the chavs 5 man midfield..
oh no a flappy moment 2-1 down
2-1 against now , a lot of pitch in that goal I reckon
Mistakes from next gen boys
Time for change we have lost the midfield.
The ref is giving us nothing… 3-1 down
its the 4-4-2 we are getting over run…
Nearly 70 mins we need to step up and change things.
At least AW would have made a change on the 70 min mark… these old school coaches stick to the 75 minutes mark for subs…
Nb. 67 minute substitution!
I like Ottewill… good potential.
I hate 4-4-2…
Yennaris needs to work on his fitness.. he struggles to play a full 90 minutes…
Bummer, and we started out so promisingly, it seems. 🙁 🙁
I know… Agag… the formation is rubbish…
Typical Arsenal only 5/6 players are defending…
Not just the formation they are quicker to to the ball and are getting too much room on their right wing.
3-2… akpom and Ansah
Burton is surprising me… where is the midfield?
Serge world class… 3-3
Goal!!
Bellerin.. is he the one who is half English or Toral?
The ref is a joker… that was a sure penalty…
Gnabry too honest should not have centred and gone down
Come on, you gunners!
Robson seems too sad that we came back to 3-3…
I like what Burton did in the last 10 minutes by switching Olsson and Nico’s position so that Nico can win the ball further upfront in the chavs half…
Stuart Robson – Legend eh Ginge? lol
Legend in his head SYG…
west ham legend …….. buggered us off in Sept 1985.
Could tie Rocastle’s boots ….
The ref has given us nothing all match…
couldn’t not could……..
Seems like we only play when we are behind
😀 SYG…good point… he is a hammer true and true but then he likes the chavs… a truly confused man he is…
Potter the central midfield is porous like swiss cheese…
How is Papoe still on the pitch?… I bet if it was our player playing so dangerously we would be a man down already…
Hackney Marsh would have been far better than this pitch…
Bellerin looks sound
Only an Arsenal player will help an opponent… 😉
A classy team from top to bottom…
Oh no… that is it. Typical
Blew it.
Robson seeing things his own way…
what an anti-climax…
Shame
shame.
SKYBET to sign for before 1st September 2013
We are favourites to sign no-one !
David Villa
Manchester City 7/4
PSG 3/1
Arsenal 5/1
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich 4/7
Manchester Utd 6/1
Chelsea 16/1
Manchester City 16/1
Arsenal 20/1
Edinson Cavani
Manchester City 9/2
Real Madrid 9/1
Barcelona 12/1
Chelsea 12/1
Bayern Munich 14/1
Manchester Utd 14/1
PSG 14/1
Juventus 16/1
Tottenham 16/1
AC Milan 20/1
Roma 20/1
Atletico Madrid 25/1
Borussia Dortmund 25/1
Inter Milan 25/1
Anzhi Makhachkala 33/1
Arsenal 33/1
Martin Skrtel
Zenit St.Petersburg 2/1
Manchester City 12/1
Arsenal 20/1
Jack Wilshere
Barcelona 6/1
Manchester City 16/1
Real Madrid 16/1
Marouane Fellaini
Chelsea 6/5
Manchester United 5/1
Arsenal 6/1
Xabi Alonso
Liverpool 9/4
Bayern Munich 10/1
Arsenal 12/1
Angel di Maria
Manchester United 13/8
Arsenal 12/1
Samir Nasri
Monaco 2/1
Paris St Germain 4/1
Chelsea 8/1
Barcelona 12/1
Arsenal 14/1
Rio Ferdinand
West Ham 10/1
Crystal Palace 12/1
Q.P.R. 16/1
Arsenal 20/1
Christian Eriksen
Liverpool 2/1
Manchester City 9/1
Manchester Utd 12/1
Arsenal 28/1
Thomas Ince
Liverpool 15/8
Tottenham 5/2
Reading 11/2
Swansea 11/2
Arsenal 12/1
Victor Valdes
PSG 3/1
Arsenal 10/1
INTERESTING ONE HERE – Right Back – no Arsenal odds
Sam Byram (Leeds United)
Manchester City 4/1
Everton 6/1
Liverpool 12/1
West Brom 20/1
Robson is a twat. Arsenal were very weak on the left hand side. Disappointed with Agha before he was replaced and Ebecilo. CB were ok but let down by the lads on the LHS. Eisfeld is not match fit. Gnabry got better on the wing. He should have gone down to get the penalty in the dying min of the match. Ansah and Akpom are two players to watch out for.
Just watched our youngsters give the game away. First team goalkeepers are not good enough and judging by what i have just seen our reserves are no better, The Arsenal Players have very little ball control and i felt they gave this game away. Goalkeeper saves a penalty gets both hands on the ball only to push it out to an incoming forward when a catch was the easier option . Then he watches a weak shot come in only to completely miss it.. Gnarmby whatever his name is showed promiss but wasn’t that impressed with the rest.
sp – keeper did very well on the penalty. Our defenders should have gotten first to it but were ball watching. Keeper should have done better for the 2nd goal. 3rd and 4th goal our LB should have done better. Apart from Gnabry there were other class players (Olsson, hjraovic, bellerin, Ansah, Hayden, Yennaris) etc. All in all its a learning process. That pitch was a disgrace
Agree with the pitch Emma, Bloody disgrace, but in all honesty i cant see many of them making the step up. You may prove me wrong of course but as i said, i wasn’t impressed. They appear to me to be trained the same way as the first team and that is just not good enough.
True the pitch didnt help , but after the first half hour Chelsea looked sharper all over the pitch. To me only Bellerin and Gnabry look like they might make it on today’s showing.
🙁 🙁
Poor old young uns…
Evening fine folk….
sp – We can’t write them off just yet. Most still got years(time) to develop. Most are within the age of 17-19. The youngest was 15
these guys are u-19… most are 16 and 17 y.o… playing against seasoned thugs… come on guys… I thought the formation was very naive… and I thought we were not outclassed but outmuscled in key areas such as central midfield…
One point I agree on though is that it seems like Liam and Steve are doing exactly the same as AW do… they never sign natural defenders… if there is a thing as that… only Hadjrovic can be considered a defender… everyone of those players are converts…
I watch a lot of these young guns and I believe 4 can at least play for us in the next 2 to 3 years… Olsson is barely 17 y.o and he looks under developed but he has the brains and the brawn to match… they all need time.
What this seasons u-21 and u-19 tournament has shown is that apart from Aneke, Miguel, Nico,Serge and possibly Eisfield the rest are not quite ready…
But Angha looked much better against Olymoiacos in the CL than at this u-19 level
Never knew Szczesny was in goal in Escape to Victory 😉
Haven’t watched the match yet but sounds like it was very much like watching the seniors…
tsgh – We needed an extra body in the midfield at the start of the 2nd half. Chelsea were playing 4 to our 3 and so had the edge in the early part of the 2nd half. The Chelsea CB who looks like 30yrs old shouldn’t have completed 90mins on the pitch. Referee was a bit lenient on the part of chelsea. Should have won it if ref had awarded Gnabry the penalty instead of playing advantage. All the same a good performance
I understand what your saying Emma and perhaps you have a good point there. But i look at what has come through and i am not impressed by them, plus the ones that have left us and gone to pastures new, haven’t heard much about them. don’t think the academy thing is going to work for us seems a wast of money to me which we could be spending that money on an upgrade to what we usually buy.
Hi Rico… it was like watching Arsenal this season…. 😉
Lack of fitness/muscle in key areas of the game but all in all I was very pleased with the effort. Personally, I would have expected Hayden to sit next to Nico with Eisfield/Olsson at the tip of the midfield 3… but he decided to go the traditional 4-4-2 but Serge is not very good with his back to goal…
Sp1 good point but it is all part of the money making scheme…
even Barca and Dortmond are lucky to have 1 player come through each season from the reserves…
Emma- I kept thinking I was watching Wimbledon in the early 90’s again at some point… Burton is a no.2 full stop imho… tactically he was naive… the fact that Serge is not good in the air or with his back to goal and he decided to go direct and move him from the flanks especially in extra time shocked me to say the least but hey…
Hi Ts, from what I have read back, seems we only fought hard when behind.
Strange eh….
I’m going to watch the match at some stage, not tonight though, it’s been a long day with the outlaws 😉
tsgh – Don’t know why he made the same mistake twice. He should have left Gnabry on the wings in extra time.
😀 in Sherwood forest?
They played with the foot brake on… 😉
Emma-ditto
How are you with Portuguese football… I have not seen JM on here this week… The goalie we are meant to have bid for…
Not too familiar with the portuguese league
I watched a few minutes of this afternoon’s game. What was that pitch all about?
ankle breaker… uefa cost cutting…
If you did like I would be wondering when you got time to put on the Liverpudlian tan… 😉
Very quiet around here again.
I’m here Adam 🙂
Hi Rico. I suppose it’ll all kick off again after the game tomorrow.
tsgh – 🙂
Catch you all tomorrow
Hi Adam – maybe, maybe not but i think many are feeling quite downhearted….
Night emma, have a lovely evening…
Rico. Probably.
We need the season to end imho Adam and see what changes are going to take place….
There’s always next season.
Sounds familiar somehow.
To be honest Rico I tuned in after we were one up, and i was pleased to see the score but what enfolded was blatent give away. Firstly our keeper made a very good guess on the penalty which i felt he fumbled it and it went to a player coming in fast, Emma was right that the keeper did well initially but he let himself down in my opinion, our defence was slow on the uptake but still keeper error in my view. we hardly ever managed to look comfortable on the ball our first touch was hurried and went astry. Keeper had a fairly weak shot aimed at the goal and although it took a very low bounce the keeper missed it completely. I felt our heads went down with that mistake and the next Chelsea goal came from a good bit of dribbling bad defensive mistake where the attacking play passed easily and fored a fierce cross which richohet off a body and went in. we did rally and press but Chelsea changed two good midfielders for two lesser ones and for a short spell we pressed and got level. I felt we could have scored on several occasions but bad ball control and wayward shots and giving the ball away didn’t help i always thought Chelsea would win as the Arsenal boys seem very much the same as the first team they have no idea how to win.
I’m talking more than players though Adam. i look forward to seeing how we finish this season, where we finish and what we hear from AW about his contract and how much Kroenke is going to invest.
Most importantly though, I wait to see what Mr U has on his mind….
Hi Sp. A friend texted me as the game went on and pretty much said the same about the way the goals were conceded.
And by all accounts, we should have had the game done and dusted in the first half..
But like you say, don’t we say that often about the first team….
We lack killer instinct and that won’t change until we get a trophy imho and build on the squad that wins it, not sell them off….
We need a new driver Rico the one we have will steer us in the same direction we have been going in for the last eight years.
I can’t see many clues that much will change. If Wenger is going to stay for the last year then all everyone will be talking about from the opening day of the season is who takes over the following year. Any potential last minute bargain buys will probably ask the same question,
But a Lewis Hamilton Sp, or the company that builds his car??
I’m not so sure Adam… 😉
Nor am I Rico. 🙂
There has to be a time where change takes place Adam. Too many summers have been ‘this is the one’ – none have ever been.
But this summer is different, if for no other reason than Wengers contract. Maybe even a failed top four finish.
Who knows but something has to give….
I think that “something” is the fans Rico. They have given handsomely but there are no longer the same amount of believers as there used to be. Top 4 or not, the issues may go a lot deeper than that. I can tell you that there are many, many ST holders who are having serious doubts about next year. The club won’t mind I suppose as long as they get the money in. Short term thinking though.
When are the ST renewals out Adam and when is the deadline day?
I still think that many fans are hanging on to this ‘FFP will be the big change’ this summer.
Just how many are ST holders is the question..
But, I still believe that if we finish outside the top four, Wenger will leave this summer…
Usually 1 st June is the cut off time for the ST renewals. That means after all the press leaks on targets but before anyone has been bought.
It’s going to be very very interesting imho.
Adam, I am done for the day, going to make a cuppa and have an early night…
Nighty to you and anyone else reading….
Evening folks
Morning all…
It’s going to be chilly at The Emirates…
New Post up…