Daily Bits and Bobs

Ignacio Camacho coming? Another trophy bagged & season opener doesn’t always go well…

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Well done to the under 19’s who yesterday added another trophy to the Arsenal cabinet. Great result for them and the club.

The players out on loan also had a good day yesterday, Akpom and Toral scored for their temporary clubs, Hayden though managed to pick up a booking. Good to see them getting playing time, that’s what they need.

Bit of gossip, and that’s all it is, gossip.

Jake Humphrey, BT Sports presenter has waded into the ‘Arsenal to sign a big player’ stuff. He’s written on Twitter:

A source who is rarely wrong tells me Arsenal are close to the signing that would make them genuine contenders. We shall see…

We shall see and there’s still plenty of time before the transfer window closes. Suggestion is Arsene Wenger wants Ignacio Camacho from Malaga – he’s a defensive midfielder who has played for Spain and according to the media, we’ve been keeping an eye on him for a while now. Back in February, and amid all the speculation linking him to us, the the player was quoted as saying:

I have a contract here but if anyone wants to come in for me, then they will have to negotiate.

Apparently, that’s just what we are doing…… Time will tell…

Arsenal v West Ham!

Today sees us kick off the new league campaign and I’m quite excited for once. We have a good squad although not quite a deep enough one imo, not yet but as said, that could and I suspect, will probably change before 1st September. We’ve had a very good pre-season and the boys look sharp.

Preparation breeds confidence so we can go into the season in a good shape. Now it’s about points, about performance, about efficiency, about togetherness and about heart. – Arsène Wenger

I don’t know anything about this current West Ham side, other than they have a new manager, a few new players and they’d just been dumped out of Europe after Slaven Bilić rested many first team players during the week as he clearly thought the league was more important.

One of the visitors new players is Dimitri Payet. The Frenchman arrived from Marseille where last season he created 135 chances on goal, the most of any player in any of the top five European leagues. Best keep him quiet then..

We are without Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Tomas Rosicky. All three should be fit to play real soon, although I still think Tomas could be off, same for Campbell who I doubt we’ll see today either.

Match Facts:

Head-to-head

  • Arsenal have won their last 10 league and cup games against West Ham, including nine Premier League matches.
  • The Hammers did the double over the Gunners in 2006-07 but since then are winless in 15 league and cup games (D2, L13) against them.

Arsenal

  • The Gunners have lost their opening Premier League game just once in the last 14 seasons (W9, D4) – a 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa in 2013.
  • However, they have begun with a victory just once in the past five years, albeit against Crystal Palace last term.
  • Arsenal have failed to score in three of their last four home league games.
  • Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in five top-flight games against West Ham, while Theo Walcott has also scored five times against the Hammers.

West Ham United

  • The Hammers have lost nine times on the opening weekend of a Premier League season – more than any other club.
  • They won nine of their first 17 Premier League games last season, but just three of the subsequent 21.
  • West Ham are winless in 12 Premier League away games (D5, L7) since a 2-1 victory at West Brom on 2 December 2014.
  • Dimitri Payet, who has joined from Marseille, created 135 chances in 2014-15 – the highest figure in the top five European leagues.

So, the opening day of the new season hasn’t always gone well for Arsenal according to the stats, but for some reason, I expect things to be very different today. The boys will be up for it, the fans should be too, the sun will be shining and nothing other than a comfortable home win is in my thoughts.

COYRRG’S, star this season as you mean to go on…..

rico

289 thoughts on “Ignacio Camacho coming? Another trophy bagged & season opener doesn’t always go well…”

  1. Tai says:

    Morning Rico, All…

    Great post.

    Perhaps, we’ll see new Arsenal…but it’s usually when everything is in their favour that they disappoint big time. Seasons ago, I’d have entered a bet for a draw…but hopefully, this is new Arsenal

  6. Dublingunner says:

    Morning, unfortunately won,t see the game today, i think we should be fine, a hard fought win, against a team that rested their players mid week, will it pay off for them ?.
    Interesting link over on newsnow, from the sunday supplement show
    Winter: Cech move extraordinary, sky sports
    always an inciteful show.

  8. retsub1 says:

    Morning Rico and the House
    We should be fine today as long as we are patient. Class will tell in the end.

    Anyway, cheers everyone here’s to a great season

    COYG

  12. Bt62 Gooner says:

    I might even do a bet on Arsenal today, something i have not done in years, then again i may not…

    Scared of putting the jinx on them…..lol

  14. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Interesting match preview Rico. I like the fact that AFc are after Camacho. A solid player who is also a team player and I believe can cut it in the EPl. But I have not read anywhere we are after him. This morning I asked Drake from where the info comes as in NN I did not see anything.

    Any links???

    I hope we win this afternoon. and keep a fekking CLEAN SHEET.

  15. Bt62 Gooner says:

    No worries Rico, just seen the odds over on Paddy P. not worth it, bloody Bayern are 80/1 on, away from home…….lol

  16. eduardo says:

    I expect Alexis will be a sub today

    Cech
    Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal
    Ramsey Coquelin
    Oxlade-chamberlain Ozil Cazorla
    Walcott
    Subs
    Ospina Debuchy Gabriel Gibbs Arteta Alexis Giroud

  17. rico says:

    Thanks Devil, I’d like to know Drakes source too but clearly he’s keeping it close to his chest. Don’t believed we pay as much as he’s suggesting for Benzema though…

  19. tsgh says:

    Rico,good read.
    you mentioned Camacho and Emma has not popped around.Hope she is well?

    camacho use to play for Pelle’ and played the double pivot with Santi

  21. retsub1 says:

    I see the Chelsea fans are blaming Cesc for their failings yesterday, it was Ramirez last week. I sense all is not well on the good ship Stamford Bridge. Now is the time to build up a healthy lead on them.
    3 – 0 to the Gunners today

  22. Hell Raising Devil says:

    i expect the team to be the same as you wrote Eduardo. But I believe that AW will go for Ollie up front with Theo as reserve.

    Camacho from Malaga or Silva from Real would do fine as team players. Both are skillful and solid. I tell you what……we are supposed to get Benzema for that amount of money. Would it not be better if we get Silva, Camacho and Cheryshev and still have lots of money??? That would be three players in and would give us a good depth.

  24. rico says:

    I so wish they’d lost yesterday and had Gomis had his shooting boots on, they would…

    Fabregas seems to have acquired a nasty twitch…. lol

  25. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Retsub….i made the same observation on Cesc last Monday. He is not the player he once was with us. not even at Barca did he replicate his best form on the same level he did with us. I feel about it as I liked him a lot and still think that he would have made it with us again. however atm I feel we dodged a bullet. Cesc is fast going downhill. and he has been found out.

  26. tsgh says:

    OG12 has a superb record against the hammers. I expect a goal from him when and for him to start too..

    He scored his debut goal against team away at Upton park…

  34. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All…

    Afternoon Rico, a winning post…

    Interesting selection poser, Walcott vs Giroud…

    I got a hunch it’ll be Theo…

  36. retsub1 says:

    Dev
    You may well be right. Unlike Van Pursestrings, Adebayor, Cashley and the Chinless one (nasri) I still like Cesc. I.’d like to think that under that scummy blue shirt a red heart beats. Maybe I am just a big softy though.

  37. allezkev says:

    I’m finding all these Benzema rumours a bit of a drag…

    But if Ted does have some information about Arsenal paying 70 million for him, then that could well be €70million…

    Which equates to just over £49.5million…

    Only about £8milliln more than what Arsenal paid for Ozil…

    And that seems to be the ‘going rate’ for players of his quality….

  38. eduardo says:

    WEST HAM UNITED: (4-4-2) Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Oxford, Noble ©, Kouyate, Payet, Zarate, Sakho
    SUBS: Randolph (GK), Collins, Poyet, Nolan, Jarvis, Lanzini, Maiga

  42. eduardo says:

    reports that Bellerin has a thigh injury

    Reece Oxford in the WHU starting line up is a surprise, he is expected to play in midfield, but is a CB, all the top clubs, including Arsenal tried to persuade him to leave west ham a few months ago, but the lad decided to stay and sign a contract with them.

  43. andrewh1313 says:

    Afternoon Goooners. Sure Bellerin must be injured otherwise Chambers wouldn’t be ahead of him as a sub. Not with Paulista also there. Come on……..

  56. eduardo says:

    very poor from Cech, got no where near the ball in, WHU take the lead with 2 minutes of first half left

  59. eduardo says:

    Arsenal’s passing has been poor today, especially the final ball. Ozil not in the game enough, Ox spending too much time in the middle of the pitch.

  62. Micko says:

    eduardo, they’re snuffing out our midfield, definately need to tweak ours at half-time, agree re Cech, should have stayed at home for the goal.

  75. eduardo says:

    oxlade-chamberlain loses the ball far too easily on edge of the area and cech seems to get caught by surprise by the shot and its 2-0 to west ham, self inflicted on both goals

    walcott on for coquelin

  80. Hell Raising Devil says:

    And buy who Rico?? a whole team on this performance. I would not give a rating of more than 5 to anyone. Passing piss poor and departments disjointed.

    Yes people are pummelling Cech, but what about protection from the rest of the team? how the hell Kouyate was left with a free header?? And what about the lack of proper service in the WHU box? we seem to be playing in their hands.

  82. andrewh1313 says:

    Wake up for Wenger. He’s been so complacent letting players like Sneid get away. We ended up so far behind Chelsea last year, and suddenly friendly wins mean we are that good? Same old.

  84. Hell Raising Devil says:

    do we deserve to be loosing 0-2???

    imo….YES.

    we are 2nd best in every moment of the game. we loose the ball easily and are out of sorts. even on 2nd balls we are fuffing it.

    and some of our control is bad.

  91. Dublingunner says:

    Can,t see the game Rico, is our spectacular f**k up down to us, or are we just unlucky. i,m sick, after bigging them up all week.

  97. Lee says:

    Fuck Mourinho he’s a cnut!
    Wtf is wrong with this team? Our best player was the ox in the first half lets play him at right back? We shouldn’t be losing to WH at home….fucking embarrassing!
    No one rallying the team…

  103. Dublingunner says:

    I said on thursday, Bilic was either mad or a genius, for playing the side he did,midweek, that answers that question. I wont panic yet, but Wenger needs to sit this team down, and seriously question themselves.

  105. tsgh says:

    Coquelin & Mertesacker drop before the rest of the defence and play everyone onside.

    Arsenal had failed to score in three of their last four Premier League games at the Emirates prior to today.

    we have lost 5 of the last 6 PL matches with him as referee.

  111. tsgh says:

    Micko, for AW to let Payet, Kouyate, Morgan Schneiderlein to join other teams its a massive worry.

    I defend Aw 99.9% of the time but his signing(s) this summer is a serious worry.

    Tai- can you check the win ratio of us when Debuchy starts/ it will surprise you…

  112. eduardo says:

    ratings

    Cech 3 – piss poor on both goals

    Debuchy 5 – solid, added nothing in attack
    Mertesacker 4 – made no effort to close down the shot for the second goal, just stood still
    Koscielny 5 – had a tough game
    Monreal 5 – tried his best to make something happen in attack

    coquelin 5 – good first half but his passing was poor
    Ramsey 4 – took wrong options too often

    Oxlade-Chamberlain 4 – good first half, but with little end product, once again lost the ball needlessly that led to a goal
    Ozil 3 – so little impact
    Cazorla 4 – sideways passing for the most part

    giroud 4 – battled but had not impact

    subs
    Walcott 3 – little impact
    Alexis 3 – got involved

    right from the off it looked like the entire team was just waiting for something to happen, instead of making it happen, passes slow and behind players way too often, four or five times the ball was put out of play with careless passes. then the give away first goal, followed up by a second give away goal. not up for the battle at all.

  113. andrewh1313 says:

    The way West Ham played six Europa games I thought they were best team we could play. But we had to turn up. We had to defend. We had to pass sharply not kick ball out off the fuc+ing pitch five times instead of to team mate.

  114. Kel says:

    Painful to watch today… passing absolutely terrible we have basically lost every 50/50 tackle.. well done West ham out played and out fought Arsenal.

  116. Bob John says:

    Not sure where to start. Fourth home game in five that we have failed to score. Outfought and outmuscled all over the pitch.West Ham looked far quicker and hungrier. Performances like this are why we are still miles away

  117. tsgh says:

    ”Oxlade-Chamberlain 4 – good first half, but with little end product, once again lost the ball needlessly that led to a goal” spot on mate!

    if I say Ox is not ready I get slated…; he hardly has end product for all his excitement.

  119. tsgh says:

    FT Stats Arsenal v West Ham Shots 22-8 On target 6-4, Fouls 12-9 Duels Won 54%-46%, Pass Accuracy 86%-71%, Possession 62%-38%

  120. tsgh says:

    Lee- only 6 times out of last 20 community shield winners had gone on to win the EPL that year. We were handicapped already going into the season especially having PEAKED in pre-season.

  123. tsgh says:

    Will Scez have saved that shot… most probably.

    Check in the last 3 seasons has saved only 24% of shorts over 20 yards. Scez 43%

  126. Micko says:

    To be honest tsgh, I don’t think throwing the Community Shield would have helped our cause any today !

  129. Nashua Gunner says:

    Hi Rico and All.

    Ts. If you can recalled, from the very first day AW bought Ozil we all said he should have got a striker.

    This a lesson learned. But kudos to WHU.

  130. Drake says:

    At home we should killing teams not to toy them,theo should have started the game, with ramsey and carzola in midfield we are at home for god sakes

  131. tsgh says:

    Ng- who are the striker though?

    benzema is on paper only 2% better than OG12.

    We can’t afford Aguero, Suarez, Lewandowski. We should have bought Vieto or Benteke

  132. rico says:

    Records are their to be broken Lee… Lol

    Still, you didn’t want Morgan so maybe best to strike him off your comment… Lol

  133. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Ts, i was talking about having peaked in pre-season, don’t think there is any excuse for that performance today…

  134. allezkev says:

    Well, I gotta say, that that is what is called, an anti-climax…

    Never saw that coming…

    Complacency perhaps?
    Arrogance maybe?

    Were some of our players already believing their own publicity?

    There’s no easy games in the EPL.
    And if our players didn’t realise it before, I think they defo do now.

    It’s not the end of the World and we all know that our team is a lot lot better than this, and there’s 37 more games to go…

    But I am majorly pissed off…

  138. tsgh says:

    The good news is that the last time Arsenal lost their opening day fixture against AV, they won eight and lost none of the next nine PL games.

  139. allezkev says:

    Tbh Mick, with our schizoid team, they’re just as likely to win at OT, the Bridge, Anfield and the Eithad, whilst losing at Bournmouth and Watford

  140. rico says:

    Neith did I Kev, neither did I… Must be the sun.. Lol

    Out of interest, what happened after Villa beat us on the opening day of the season guys?

  141. tsgh says:

    Bt- maybe ‘Peaked’ is the wrong word. But as Kev has alluded to above; i get nervous when we are playing teams of the field like we did in pre-season. We always go on playing like we just have to turn up.

  142. joaquim moreira says:

    Which team had played in middle week?
    We were very arrogant, with presumption, convinced that with time, would win the game. We were just humble, against a very well organized team, full of physical freshness. with good players who understand how costs have been eliminated from European competition.
    Low speed, tired team without ideas, to worsen with substitutions and with time passing.
    Major setback in the objectives. Even the injured if Campbell does not enter choices, we need a center forward and a DM. We can not wait for August 31. Someone said that with Cesc we will win more 12 points… we must win now 15 points for be well balance…

  143. allezkev says:

    I always prefer to start a season with an away fixture anyway…

    Everton 70-71
    Leeds 97-98

    Spring to mind.

  144. tsgh says:

    Theo is meant to be the alternative. Ng

    He is on a fat pay package having spent 10 years as an almost player.
    Then again 50 goals out of 209 games is probably decent. Averaging 5 per year.

    Theo gets a testimonial this year. lol

  152. tsgh says:

    Lee- I just checked. Man Utd won the Premier League in 2012-13 after losing their opening Premier League game.

    If Yanited can do it we can also do it…

    I still think we will finish 2nd, chavs 4th or 5th and city first

  153. Micko says:

    It’s a vicious circle Kev, we’ll only end up in the Community Shield again lol, we’ll never win the league !

  154. rico says:

    Monreal did ok Scott..

    Ts, didn’t see your comment about Villa, just what I was thinking and we have a better squad now. Allegedly….

  156. tsgh says:

    Rico- Man Utd have in the past lost their first game of the season on three occasions and still won the Premier League – 1992-93, 1995-96 and 2012-13.

  159. Micko says:

    I refuse to let these bunch of selfies get me down hearted, I’m off for a feed of pints, laters guys.

  161. joaquim moreira says:

    a default in the first game is always very important for the rest of the season and we can forget that will be weeks then will have more then one game a week (champions league, cups, atc). Dropped points with a entirely week for preparing it, with in the higher physical indexes (?), without games in the same week and in theory, with all the players, will be very important for the counts at the end.

  163. Adam says:

    Just got home from the game and what a jolly time was had by all. West Ham were fitter, faster, more powerful and more focussed than us and totally deserved the win.

  164. andrewh1313 says:

    When we lost to Villa, we had a fair amount of excuses. Sending off, Penalty, diabolical refereeing. Can’t think of much today, that’s the worry. Always need a fresh face or two at start of season. But so far, apart from Cech, who will be great signing, we seem more concerned with farming everyone out on loan. If we don’t buy youknowwho, can’t believe Akpom gone for season.

  165. Silky says:

    Morning/Evening all!!
    Had a mad busy morning trying to make time to watch wat was supposed to be the start of the EpL challenge!

    Kinda sorry I bothered but gotta say best team won, but we sure as hell allowed them to play their game! I mean come on a 16 yo was candidate for MOM! Inconceivable!!

    Kinda shocked at Cech so not gonna go into that hornets nest!
    I can safely say I don’t feel at ease with debuchy n per side by side, quite slow and always likely to get caught out by a thru ball!
    I should think Le Coq is unnecessary in a game like today, Ramsey n Santi deep ozil ahead n start theo!
    No stats to back this up but I can recall a few games where a ball given away by the ox results in a goal.
    A striker a must I think, a guy who can create something out of nothing or even just a different option to the quiff!

  166. Wavy says:

    Same old, same old! Said with a sigh of inevitable resignation,
    “Wenger out”!
    What a shambles of a start! Goals from all over the team? I wish! Perhaps Benzema may be part of the answer, but only another cog in the wheel! Where was Akpom when he was needed? Holidaying in Hull,
    Ffs!

  170. Silky says:

    Who have we got in the squad upfront?
    Walcott is not a striker yet IMO!!
    Ffs must be Campbell haha it’s scary

  171. arsenal11730 says:

    Well played WHU deserved win. My bubble popped Cech performance shocked me. This team must now show mental strength to prove it is not the same old. Lost for words yet still very hopeful.

  176. Drake says:

    I just hope wenger get the camacho deal done too,have him and benzema ready for our next game.ts have you seen the best so called best dm COQ showing what he does best?for he still someone better than him to learn from

  178. Drake says:

    Poeple should not worry too much about this game we lost move on we can still win the bpl all wenger need to do is to play a balanced team next time.next week i hope we play real wingers and it about time gabriel starts.debuchy got roasted today well that confirms bellerin is a starter now,hope he is also available next week too

  179. tsgh says:

    Rico- he was found out in the UCL but he is better than Le coq. lol

    Drake- lol… I still maintain Le Coq is a decent back-up CDM player.

    I have always argued that I can’t see le coq and JW playing together against a top 10 team with us. that to me shows he is not ready to be a first team CDM for a club like ours.

  180. Drake says:

    Rico i cant tell and i dont make stories up all will come out soon…didnt i said turan was going to barca when you said chelsea?

  181. potter says:

    Just getting back. After 20 minutes Chambers started warming up .reckon Debuchy had a muscle tweak. Team was as lacklustre as the crowd. It was too easy apparently.

  182. rico says:

    No chance Ts… Lol

    Drake, ok, we’ll see but not sure I predicted Turan to anywhere really, I just only ever post the newspaper gossip, although I maybe wrong..

  183. tsgh says:

    Drake I thought AW would have signed camacho around the time Monreal was signed.
    He is a player who will give us 6/10 every game. imo

  187. eduardo says:

    I don’t think there is a top team more reliant than Arsenal on scoring the first goal, even against the lesser teams.

    I can’t remember a game where all of our team played so poorly, not one player put in a top performance today. Ox was doing well to a point, great at going past opponents but his passes/crosses are too deep/shallow, too far in front/behind intended target, then to cap it all off he once again needlessly loses the ball in a dangerous position leading to a goal against us. Cazorla and Ozil passed the buck today, neither wanted to know, No one wanted to get into the WHU area, not even Ramsey whose normal game is to get in there, Giroud went out wide too often too. The cross put in by Giroud that the goalie spilled with Ozil reacting too, showed everything that was wrong with out game in an attacking sense today, Ozil was the only Arsenal player in their box, no one else came close to getting in, and we were chasing the game at that point, too many today wanted to pass the buck, took the easy option.

    The lack of organisation at the freekick that WHU took the lead from was disgraceful, and as Wenger pointed out, the youngest player in our back five is 29, so experience was not lacking, just a bit of gumption. Ten yards too far from our goal, then no one even challenged the scorer compounded by Cech coming flying out of his goal and getting no where near the ball.

    On the second goal Ox lost it far too easily, but then 3 Arsenal players make no effort to get to the scorer, Per and Kos basically stood still and let the guy shoot. Lazy defending.

  191. tsgh says:

    Barcelona and Man United met yesterday to discuss Pedro. Deal was close but could now be postponed due to Neymar having the mumps

  195. tsgh says:

    Rico. aside from my supposedly bias against Le coq…;having watched Morgan s. playing for Yanited it makes one only wish he was playing for us

  203. potter says:

    An atrocious performance. Had we played a top team the natural ability of our 10 internationals would have seen us through. But like we often do our attitude was all wrong. It hurts to say but the crowd don’t help from the day that player wages exceeded gate recept the importance of the crowd lessened. TV rules and everything is designed to satisfy it’s wishes. The stadium is full of people who are there for the entertainment and there is little or no passion in it. The team could not be raised and apart from a few the crowd could not be bothered. To see the fire drill after the second goal was symptomatic of the whole experience. I really fear for football soon it will become so sterile that it will be on a par with WWE.

  205. rico says:

    Yes Ts, in the last post you wrote, you said Morgan had dipped in form since he hit the headlines and you said AW should steer clear…..

  207. Drake says:

    Lol so pre season trophies were a reason why we lost god help this squad it true…i know this wont make sense but i dont want ox close to our defence,i mean the guy has costed us many times now lol

  211. tsgh says:

    lol… Rico. Agreedd there. i thought we could do better with Kramer, or Ander or even Gonalons.
    but i started talking about morgan s. the first time I saw him play against us in their 7-1 loss

  215. eduardo says:

    some reports that Wenger went mad at the team after the game, said to have kept them 45 minutes in the dressing room. Now these reports might be coming from the fact that Wenger kept the journos waiting 45 minutes longer than normal before turning up for the after game presser. Could be any number of reasons for this.

  217. rogerbij says:

    Afternoon all, sorry Im late. Excellent post rico, and then the game happened. Guess I dont have to say much more…

    except I will. Wtf on the first goal, super dangerous position, and I can count 3 errors in that a) why make the line so high so there is more space for them to run into?? b) Monreal at least start goal side!! c) Cech, if you cant get there dont come

    Second goal I count 2 errors: Chamberlain if you cant pass it out kick it into space but dont lose it on the edge of your box! b) cech, that really was saveable…I hope you were unsighted.

    But then again, we didnt score a goal, so we couldnt have won anyway.

    Crashing back down to earth.

    ps some excellent comments above and disection, I enjoyed reading in a machochist kind of way.

  219. eduardo says:

    allezkev just a little tip, twitter is where the really reliable people are, especially the ones with agent in their name, metro will never be as accurate as them.

  221. rico says:

    Hi and thanks Roger…

    At last, Cech not solely to blame, but the gap between him and the defence. And the second, well I don’t blame him either, as I think he, like all of us thought the ball was safe. That was until OC fluffed his lines….

  222. allezkev says:

    Just seen the goals…

    The first was just rank poor defending.
    Koscielny totally lost his player, who scored, and Cech was damned if he stayed on his line and damned if he came for the cross.

    And the second, it wasn’t just the fact that Oxlade-Chamberlain have away possession, it was his pathetic attempt, well actually no attempt as all, in winning the ball back…

    Mr AOC on the bench for me, for a few games…

  225. allezkev says:

    You know what Eduardo, I take all this transfer speculation with a massive pinch of sodium…

    I never read the Metro, it’s full of shit, in fact most of the newspapers who publish transfer speculation on line are just advertising whores.

    As for Twitter, well I used to look at the Arsenal stuff, but other than the odd comedic picture, the rest I found was just as unreliable as NewsNow…

    Just like any other fan, I am still drawn to it, but reading and believing it is another level.

    I know that there are supposed to be a few Twitterers who can be taken seriously, but I am sceptical about the majority….

    It’s all good fun though, and I’m always up for a larf…

  228. rico says:

    Ts, you sound like Drake… Lol

    Why is it no-one who claims they know something, never spill their sauce?

    I think I know the answer…..

  229. allezkev says:

    Rico, I was listening to TalkRubbish and the commentators on there couldn’t wait to dig out and criticise Cech…
    Strangely enough Stan Collymore defended Cech…

    You’ve just gotta ignore the media, they have their own agenda…

  231. Micko says:

    rico, it’s in the tea leaves, if I see the face of Benzema in my cuppa tomorrow morning you’ll be the first to know !

  234. Micko says:

    Said last week after our win against Chelsea we still look vunerable at set pieces, nothing has changed my mind !

  236. allezkev says:

    Mick do you read people’s palms as well as the tea leaves…

    Am I gonna meet a tall dark stranger?
    Am I going on a journey?
    Will I come into money?

  245. Lee says:

    Really looking forward to work tomorrow an office full of hammers!
    Maybe Wenger should try putting 45 minute rockets up the team’s backsides before the game?
    Can’t even blame the ref today we were totally shite! Curvature of the earth was apparently bad today!
    Where was all the “cohesion” Wenger was spouting about?

  246. Tai says:

    Hmmm…what a day! Didn’t watch…busy all day. Surprised? Not me…unless you didn’t know Arsenal…they’d send you to the grave that moment you bought a Christmas dress.

    However, one swallow doesn’t make a summer…they’ll bounce back next weekend…that one is certain.

  248. Micko says:

    Lee, Wenger knows best, its the majority that are wrong, why bother integrating a player into the squad pre-season when you can do it with 10 minutes to spare on September 1st.
    Don’t envy you tomorrow matey, best cock a deafen !

  250. Gdna says:

    GE, I’m gonna say it again Arsenal is 70 mil away from challenging for the PL. Without a world-class striker and a midfielder it’s almost impossible.

  251. ScottfromOz says:

    Our guys played like they had never played football together.
    How many passes went to people in the stands??
    I’ve never seen us pass to the bloody lineman so often.
    It was embarrassing.
    Benzema…..I’m sick of his bloody name already.
    Shit, he’d have made no difference today.
    Two soft goals, and they were TOO soft.
    Terrible performance, and there’s no way we should not be beating that lot, especially at home.
    What pissed me off the most was Sanchez coming on.
    Seriously, the guy busted his arse as always, but his touch was terrible…..not claiming him as he’s only just back in training!
    It was a desperate call.

  252. potter says:

    Shows a problem Scott , our midfield is still terribly unbalanced. As desperation crept on there was the choice of Sanchez ( unfit and not ready ) or Arteta ( just back from injury ) slow and not really known for scoring goals.

  253. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, fair call.
    Why was Sanchez even on the bench, though?
    Why didn’t Bellerin start…..was he injured?
    I like Debuchy but Bellerin is simply better, IMO.
    To see our guys passing twenty yards and missing the target by five was simply disgraceful and Wenger can’t be held accountable for that.
    Formation and selections, yes.
    Poor basic skills, no.
    The entire club is guilty on this one.
    Anyway, off to work.
    Need money to fund the next trip to watch that shit hahahahahahahaha.
    Night guys.

  254. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and hunkies.

    Rico….you have the league table the wrong way. Why are we bottom?? we should be top.

    I doubt that come the end of the season it will still look like that.

    yikes…..we are below the spuddies. Tsk Tsk

  255. rico says:

    Morning Devil and all…

    I wonder if that will make AW realise we need a couple of players. One with proper leadership qualities I hope….

  256. Lee says:

    Someone put on Twitter “You know when you walk into work on Monday and get abused because your team lost…… Now imagine Carl Jenkinson’s morning!

  263. Lee says:

    Arsenal defensive lapses I’m not having that….. no one organizing no leader on the park for Arsenal! Boring really…

  264. Drake says:

    Morning all, As an arsenal fan i know i should not be saying this but im one of those who were praying that we do not win(now that includes next weeks game) unit wenger sees that we are two signings away from being a great side.i know it hard to sign a wc cf nowadays,but as for a dm i think there so many who are better than COQ who should have been signed.and scott giroud is the only real cf we have that why we are trying for one to be signed

  265. allezkev says:

    What makes me really laugh, ironically, was the reaction of Proffessional Scousers like Micky Quinn.
    Listening to TalkRubbish this morning (yes Ginge) and that fat idiot Quinn was on there giving it large after a scratchy 1-0 at Stoke.
    Then taking it for granted that his mob are gonna win their next game, home to Bournmouth, and be top of the league!

  266. scottfromoz says:

    So no lapses, Lee?
    What was I watching lol.
    I agree we have no leader, but those lapses were there…..they may be cause and effect though.
    When was our last true leader of men?
    Vieira??
    Gee, that goes a way back.
    I know they’re not easy to find, but a decade or so is way too long.

  268. scottfromoz says:

    Drake, I could never hope we lose, but I hope you’re bloody right and we are actively chasing players.
    Giroud isn’t good enough to win us a PL title, but we shouldn’t be relying on one player anyway.
    He’s good at what he does, but good old option B would be nice as well.

  269. Lee says:

    I was being ironic Scott wake up mate! It was my fucking birthday yesterday, what a cracking present that was….

  270. rico says:

    If AW isn’t planing to make further signings which I sure hope is not the case, why did he let Akpom, Gnabry and Hayden go on loan…

  271. Tai says:

    Well…we all know the team we support. They have a way of making you lose sure bets…

    Though I didn’t watch live and not interested in replays of such poor stuffs, nothing is wrong with our team…one or two signings will be welcome but if what we have now can’t get us in contention by January, no amount of additions can.

    I can bet anything that we’ll be smoking at Palace…and coming home with a comfortable win. Bring on the bet, Micko…

    Good morning All…

  272. Adam says:

    Happy Birthday Brudder.
    Rico. We’ve won the Asia Cup and the Emirates Cup so, only one left.
    After sitting through the game yesterday it is really hard to be even remotely objective. That sort of stuff can always happen but, with the pot piled high with money, there will be no excuse if we don’t strengthen. Once again Arsene is walking that thin line between total loyalty and stark realism. Yesterday was a total shambles that left excellent players looking like mugs but we’ve been here before.

  274. tsgh says:

    Lmfao Kev… I too also listened to Quinn this morning whilst making my 2.5hrs journey to work.

    It was like every other sentence Arsenal’s loss had to be mentioned.What a humpty he is… lol

    Scott- keep making the money mate; seeing as you owe me a nice sports car next time you are down here… 😉

    We have over hyped players. Once we all accept that we won’t get disappointed.

    Morning Rico, and all..

  275. BT62 Gooner says:

    Emirates Cup, Community Shield add FA Cup/League (whatever it’s called) Cup, we are two thirds of the way to the treble already…..

    Morning to you all.

  276. tsgh says:

    Scott- you are sounding like George Graham with all this leadership talk… 🙂

    You and I know, professionals do not need to be told to switch on…

    My simplistic view is that this team thought the had beaten a jet-lagged Chelsea and so they thought all they had to do was turn-up…

    That was one reason why I was not really joyous when we beat the chavs…; We are a big team and the club has to think like one from the owner well down to the punter all the way in a village in a tropic country who watches Arsenal by way of streams…

  277. rico says:

    I wish I shared your optimism Tai…

    Adam, you forgot the Charity Shield… 😉

    Not one player had a good day did they, the chances of that happening is rare but something was clearly wrong – over confident, early kick-off, or something deeper I wonder…

  279. Tai says:

    Ts…don’t honestly think our players are over hyped. Arsenal will always be Arsenal…

    I made the first comment on this post and tried to warn of what to expect but nobody took me seriously. I was even magnanimous in suggesting a draw. This is the way I know Arsenal…never bank on them when every thing favours them for victory!

    That is not saying we have a bad team…we lost to tradition, Arsenal’s tradition, that is.

  280. tsgh says:

    🙂 Bt. have you been drinking that dark stuff again this morning?

    Then again it could be worst. we could have M’villa who head-butted an opponent on his debut leading to a red-card and his team conceding 6 goals…

  281. potter says:

    Palace will be more of the same , Puncheon, Jedinak and Bolasie will chase down our back four and they have power in Cabaye in the middle and trickery with Zaha. Pardew loves to put one over Wenger and they will be well up for it. Yesterday’s performance ( or lack of it ) gives me no confidence that we will end up with the points. The league has changed , the TV money has enabled teams to invest in players and now they all have followed the big powerful fast midfield model. Only one team has maintained the small skillful route , teams no longer will tire to be taken in the last 20 minutes our possession stats will not be the deciding factor . Despite the money spent on Ozil and Sanchez it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal’s pattern of play will be run off it’s feet and whether it has in fact run it’s course.

  283. tsgh says:

    Lol… Tai agreed; but on the other hand you can’t disagree players like JW and Le Coq are grade B players at best just because we like them as players and say the players are not overhyped…

    Its like spare the rod and spoil the child matra applied in ‘our’ sub-Saharan culture…

    Just because one might like or even love someone does not mean that should they are free from criticism imho…

    I have always defended OG12 and MA08 but I am honest about their limitations.

    A player like Debuchy has added nothing to this team in a year since he joined us. As I asked yesterday guess how many times he has been in a winning team playing for us.

  286. tsgh says:

    Potter- you have forgotten about cabaye…

    Arguably a player we should have bought even though he falls into the Arteta bracket (Rico 🙂 ) in age and speed, but has an amazing technic.

    Cabaye scored on his palace debut too…

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