Morning all.
Not fit enough to play for Arsenal in the first three fixtures of the season but that didn’t stop Didier Deschamps selecting Olivier Giroud for his French team and as the big fella scored a fine goal, Arsene Wenger must be regretting his decision not to play him against Leicester. I’m sure Wenger was tempted but as we all know, had he suffered an injury as Aaron Ramsey did, the manager would have been heavily criticised. Can’t be easy but then again, had our squad needs been addressed at the beginning of the season rather than at the end, Ollie being match fit or not would not have mattered. But we’ve been there, done that, and nothing now will change. We have who we have and now it’s down to Arsene Wenger to get them playing good football. No, very good football.
Here’s who we have, pinched from Jeorge Bird’s fine website:
Arsenal Premier League squad:
Senior list
Gabriel, Cazorla, Cech, Coquelin*, Debuchy, Elneny, Gibbs*, Giroud, Jenkinson*, Koscielny, Macey*, Martinez*, Mertesacker, Monreal, Mustafi, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain*, Ozil, Perez, Ramsey*, Sanchez, Sanogo, Walcott*, Welbeck*, Xhaka.
*= homegrown.
U21 list
Akpom, Ballard, Beckford, Bellerin, Bennacer, Benson, Bielik, M. Bola, T. Bola, Burton, Chambers, Crowley, Da Graca, DaSilva, Dragomir, Eyoma, Fortune, Gilmour, Hinds, Holding, Huddart, Iliev, Iwobi, Johnson, Kamara, Keto, Maitland-Niles, Malen, Mavididi, McGuane, Moore, Mourgos, Nelson, Nketiah, Nwakali, O’Connor, Olowu, Omole, Osei-Tutu, Pileas, Pleguezuelo, Reine-Adelaide, Robinson, Sheaf, Smith-Rowe, Tella, Thompson, Toral, Tormey, Virginia, C. Willock, J. Willock, Zelalem.
Enough in there to win the league? Time will tell but the squad certainly looks stronger than it was this time last year, that’s for sure. We may have had more senior players last season but far too many were out injured and for a long time. Arteta and Rosicky hardly featured, Flamini was in and out, Welbeck missed most of the season as did Wilshere, and Cazorla, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott all had time out through injury.
Keeping the players fit this year is key to the season but years gone by suggest it’s only a matter of time before the same old problems occur. We’ve already suffered by losing both Mertesacker and Gabriel long term but wouldn’t it be great if they turn out to be the only major injuries any of our players experience. Of course there’s bound to be the odd injury or knock which will keep players out of action but when Arsenal get injuries, they are usually big ones and they hurt the team.
We all have our own theories as to why Arsenal suffer so many injuries in comparison to other clubs but with rest and rotation throughout the season, perhaps that might finally change.
I actually think we have the squad to allow that now, and Arsene Wenger doesn’t need to rely on certain players all the time. And when Merts, Gabriel and Welbeck return, the squad his options will be greater.
If Arsene Wenger uses his squad wisely, this may turn out to be a very good season.
Buongiorno lovelies and hunkies.
I saw the match yesterday and Ollie lead the line well besides scoring a fine goal. He needs more crosses rather than passing movement on the floor. Hopefully this season he concerts more chances.
Morning all.
Yes, get some decent crosses in and watch him fly.
If we want more crossing then we have to teach players to look up before they cross. Too often we hit and hope.
Blimey Potter….we are talking g players who get paid bucks…..do they need to be taught how to look up and cross?
Agreed Potter, but why aren’t kids being taught that?
Even taking corners is a rare talent these days.
Quite silly, really, as both are such dangerous attacking weapons.
How often do we see players at the far post and the ball is cut out on the floor at the near. Crosses like Sanchez to Ozil are the rarity not the norm.
Potter, how often do we hit the nearest defender?
One of my bug bears Scott. I remember Bobby Charlton talking about the time he spent hitting a moving ball at a wall and sprinting for the rebound. That was before players needed an endorsement before talking to kids.
I also remember Johnny Haynes who could drop a ball on a dustbin lid from 40 yards.
Gary Player said …the more I practice the luckier I get….good advice for young players.
Agreed, Potter.
It’s a basic skill, or should be.
Kids today want to practice juggling and tricks.
Dennis said it-when his mates were juggling, he was practicing his first touch, and he had the best I’ve ever seen.
Hi all,
Totally agree on crosses. Saw a video of Beckham on the beach hitting bins from far out. He was the best crosser for me from anywhere on the field. With whip and bend.
Sean just told me he does plenty of practicing crosses at his school……maybe we should send the coaches over 🙂
Or the players Scott.. 😉
Morning again all..
🙂 Rico.
Night all…..early start at work tomorrow.
Enjoy your day.
Judge me in May, but we regret not having signed Sissoko.
Hope I will be wrong
JM, I agree with you 100%. When Newcastle got relegated I told another arsenal fan and also posted it here that AW should bid for him before the Euro. Have you also noticed that he always has good games against us?
Ditto re Sissoko, really think he’d have added something to the squad, but apparently he’s quite lazy…
Just think back at those few Geordie fans that came on here and said that he was the laziest player ever last season for them and played when he felt like it and it we would be better off without him…!
Time will tell..!
Rico, re Sissoko – I know he’s suppose to be professional but I guess it was hard for him to get motivated for Newcastle. Did you hear his comment, something to the effect that it feels good to go from let’s just try, to we can win. So if he can be motivated by the totts, imagine playing for a real team…. the ARSENAL.
I’m agree with Obi.
For me, he gave another depth, speed, joy and irreverence to attack.
Consciously, I think that AW knew it would lose Gnaby had “attacked” Sissoko. AW was overtaken by the time…
Wath, he was bloomin good at the Euros though. Just hope the Geordies are right and the Totts have a lazy player on their hands… However…
I did Obi, as Wath says, time will tell but I think we’ve missed one with him.
Sissoko will not be lazy in the NLD…
Afternoon Rico & All
The time to have got him Rico, was 12 months ago…
£30m is just a stupid price…
Kev @ 4:42, or when they put the 12m valuation on him at the end of the season.
Afternoon Kev, or before the Euros as only his performances in France put his price up…
I have a Spanish friend staying with me for a few days, one who loves football and knows a lot about the game. Perez is a grade b or c player apparently….. But, could do much better when playing in a good team…
Interesting, not a C. Every time I saw Perez he was impressive. I liked the fact that he showed up against the big teams, not just the goals but his work rate, like the assist against atletico and splitting the two real cbs, determination and class. Rico Ozil, Sanchez and Xhaka will make him an A yet.
potter …..”Gary Player said …the more I practice the luckier I get….good advice for young players.”
You wouldn`t believe the amount of practice of having sex with myself I have, but still fail miserably with women !……………..obviously I wont pass on this bit of advise to youngsters as I dont want them going blind !…………………….and I dont want to be arrrested ! hahaha
and evening all !.
This thing about Sanogo being great in the french youth set up, I have a theory about it and I think his success there might be to do with maybe him being a a well built specimen at a young age !…………I remember Kevin Campbell being prolific as a youngster for the youth teams and he was built like a middle weight boxer !…………….some of these players are ahead physically compared to other youngsters and it`s a bit like men playing against kids, but when they move up to the next level, they are playing against big fully formed men, not kids anymore !. Campbell was never prolific after going up a grade against men……………….I was playing against my 3 year old Grandson on Wednesday and even though he had his full Arsenal kit on he`s not developed enough to take me on ! ………I destroyed him !…………he went in and cried to his Nan, got a hug and some ice cream and I`ve been red carded and again practicing sex with myself !.
And I thought I needed help lol.
We all know Giroud is a scorer of fine goals, just not a great goal scorer, 16 last season in the league which included 3 on the last day against poor ole Villa, how can he not improve this season.
True rico, if he does choose to use the squad wisely we won’t have so many tired players which equates to less injured players, only loser will be Ozil who won’t get so many mini breaks away this season !
Kevin Campbell….the Rottweiler.
Micko…………………..I saw the video earlier of Giroud and he has definately improved !……….the beard is more shapely and longer !……….better than when in the EURO`s !.
Honestly, we will really be up against it for not buying the so needed quality strker and I blame Sanogo !……………..only because Obi is being paid some serious dosh as his agent !. hahaha
Manshafter, Mansour City and Chavs have out spent us again and not only have they already got a 5 point gap on us, but are they especially Manshafter and Chavs going to suffer from fatigue and tiredness ?……………no !……….Chavs no CL or EL and Maureen is not stupid enough to play strong teams in the EL !……………….we are not pissing in the wind, more like pissing against a hybrid Typhoon Hurricane Tornado thats just ravaged a piss lake in Pissland ! hahaha
Rico …..can we have one of those yote/poll things on whether Sanogo is any good ? 😆
Let’s hope so Obi…. Lol
Catch up sometime tomorrow guys, night all…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CotUGlAVIAAWYMV.jpg
LC, I wish I was his agent, wouldve pushed for the loan…. lol. But you are right on point. He has always been bigger than than his peers, I remember he and Pogba just bullying, “little kids”.
Morning all
I was reading through the comments and agree especially at corners how ofter they don’t beat the first man.
With crosses we saw an unusual site at Watford in that a class intelligent player (Sanchez) looks up and sees the other class intelligent player moving towards the penalty area and a precise cross gives a great but rare goal by Ozil.
Last time I saw that was about 5/6 years ago at Wolves were Song did the same thing and the one and only Chamakh headed in.
The other point was about Ollie.He scored a good goal against a proper defensive team in Italy and generally our players performed much better in The Euros than they did in the league last season.
Food for thought.is it our system, or are they actually being played in the right position for their respective countries ?.
Morning all.
‘Food for thought.is it our system, or are they actually being played in the right position for their respective countries’ ?.
Good question Kelsey and I think a lot is down to our system, after all, Nikki B used to score for fun for his country but at Arsenal he was mostly played out wide…
Don’t agree with me Rico, I am not used to that 🙂
Ha ha Kelsey…
If we went into the last window and were told that we were buying a striker that scored 1 goal every 2 3/4 games at international level we would probably go fair enough. If you said we were buying 1 goal every 4 1/2 games at club level you would say WHY ?
Thats Bendtner’s record , seriously misused by Wenger.
Agree Potter..
IMO, Wenger often buys a player who is good in one position and one position only, but then wants this player to play in two or even three different positions,which to me is totaly illogical.He still doesn’t know the best formation or players to play in attack.Perez might change that.
Buongiorno Lovelies and Hunkies
Kelsey….that is not only food for though….actually you are right on all counts regarding crosses and players being used in their right position for their country.
Let’s take Ollie….in his last 10 games for France he has scored 8. That means one thing….he is surrounded by players who play in the right position and do what they are good at to maximise what he is good at. That also means that Ollie may thrive in one system but struggle in another.
There is one difference though…..when he plays for France he does not play against teams which park the bus. But in the EPL he plays against teams which park the bus to escape with at least a point. At international level teams try to win the game but at EPl level its grinding one point here, one point there and if you are lucky escape with three.
How to wear them down???
It all begins with AW vis-à-vis his players.
With my teams I show them not to mess with me during pre-season. I don’t expect any nonsense and if you play up or you are lazy you are frozen out. That transfers itself to players…..they play games and its up to them to show the opposition not to mess about with them. I kick my players (not in the literal sense) so that in turn they kick the opposition. When they get the reputation that they are hard the opposition react differently than if they realise that my team is a bunch of softies.
In the EPL its the first 7 games which count most. Show the first 7 teams that you are not to be messed about with and show them that you are a hard nut to play about with. That puts a marker and Mourinho knows that….his style is not pleasing to the eye….but he uses it to lay down a marker and he pushes on from there. And he gets the right players to do the job he wants. That is why he is successful.
Kelsey….a couple of years ago I pointed out that AW’s plan was simple…..have five defensive footballers who can play in multiple positions PLUS five attacking footballers who can exchange positions at will and still be effective. He is still pursuing that dream……and its hindering the team’s progress
Cheers Digger, they look great mate…
Is Scott sending you cheap lingerie again Kev….. getting worried about u 2…! Wait til Micko hear’s he’s gonna have the right hump..!
No worries Kev.
Wath, you won’t send me pics back so none for you 🙂
PS, the wrong sizes were sent over to me, Wath.
None big enough for you-I never ended up with one, myself lol
Did it fit, Kev??
Kos and Cazorla’s contracts are up at the end of this season….June 2017.
imo both should have the contracts extended….what do you all think???
Devil, without question, IMO.
Unfortunately I can see Cazorla wanting to go back to Spain to finish a great career and a 1 year extension would scupper his chances , maybe this is the long term view on the Wilshere loan. If he comes through pretty much unscathed then his return to us would allow Santi to go . Kos is different he is still doing all right and his fitness will dictate . We will need his experience to bring Holding and the other young defenders through and I believe Monreal is close to the end of his contract also.We talk about the squad but it is going to need a minor overhaul soon when you look at the ages of some of the players , Cech, Giroud, Monreal are too at the wrong end of their careers.
Forgot Mertesacker so that makes 4 of your back 5.
Fans loving seeing The legends.More atmosphere than at most recent Home games
Why isn’t Sanogo playing 🙂
Kanu scores and Wenger smiles (is he feeing alright 😉 )
Agree potter, at least half to two thirds of the defence will need replacing and all the best teams are built on a solid, well organised defence that play together week in week out.
Ours at the moment still looks a bit of a mess,carved open far too often even at Watford in the second half, where cech saved us more than once.
Kel… I told my client not to risk any injuries playing recreational games, stipulation in the contract. We are chasing the ballon d’or just in case you dont know…lol.
Always thought we got rid of Gilberto far too soon.An unsung hero and so important to the team.
Kanu has scored more than Giroud this season….:)
Gilberto had a bit of a TA TA with the Wenger, so he had to go and did. A great,shame and a real waste of talent!,he,got,lumped,off,the the Greek league, if memory serves…..
Makes you wonder if Jack didn’t have a terminal conversation with old intractable, Wenger?
Although Jack may be doing a reccy of the south coast retirement homes for old Arsene, as he will be needing one shortly!
IMO Jack won’t be back with us.
Enjoyed the game immensly.Nearly a full house.No pressure was the difference.We want big players like these today,the fans demand it to an extent.
Buona sera Lovelies and Hunkies
What a great experience seeing Gilberto and Petit playing in the centre of midfield together. My two favourite defensive midfielders bossing the centre. That was awesome. even if it was only for a legends match.
Great to see Winterburn play. Pity Dixon is waiting for a knee replacement….otherwise he would have played.
Romfors Pele managed 2 minutes before getting injured but all in al a great day oufor those who went.
Hola….. 🙂
Just catching up with the legends game, must be the best game Hoyte has had in an Arsenal shirt…. Lol
Nwankwo Kanu has more goals for Arsenal in 40 minutes than Yaya Sanogo in 3 years.
? Kelsey, sad but true…..
Goodnight Rico et all
Mark Halsey says PGMOL told him to lie in situations like the Aguero one . Untold will be all over this.
Night Kelsey..
Potter, I have his book, going to read it real soon and I bet that info is in there…
Night guys..
Yeah, it’s all good thanks Digger
Wath, the spandex you asked for, is in the post…
Morning all.
Thanks for my parcel too Scott, I need to get eating so I can grow into it…. 😉
Hahahaha Rico, maybe you got Kevs lol
You could get me and Kev in mine Scott… 😉 😉
How delightful was that.Fantastic crowd suppot wishing for those days to return.Would Walcott have scored that Pires goal.Was David Dein there,bet Kroenke wasn’t. Never seen Wenger so happy, must have taken those happy pills which he last took twn years ago.
I love wtching an Arsenal game where there is no pressure,a rarity these days.
I loved it too Kelsey, wish I could have gone…
Bugger, sorry Rico.
I’ll see if I have anything smaller here….
Please don’t Scott, it’s all more money for you…
A hot wash and five minutes in the tumble drier and it’ll be perfect… 🙂
New post up now.