International defender in? Chamakh on his way out? Striker ruled out for tomorrow….

Before anything else and I know we all talked about it yesterday but, the world of football truly lost a really nice guy in Gary Speed, may he find peace and may his family and friends find strength as they try to come to terms with such a loss.

Ok, onto the post…..

First up its Chamakh and despite Arsene Wenger trying to convince the player and all us Arsenal fans that the player is very much in the future plans of our boss, the amount of appearances he makes suggests a whole lot different.

Yet again PSG are in the news about wanting to save our Moroccan’s career and suggestion is that they are about to make a £10M offer in January. They can afford that amount; they are the French version of Man City or Chelsea.

Personally, if I was Arsene Wenger and this offer came in, I’d bite their hands off in a flash!

Chamakh breezed in, played his part when we needed him last season but something has happened to him, maybe similar to what has happened to Arshavin – both have lost all confidence they joined us with and now for the sake of our football club they need to be allowed to leave. More importantly though, they need to go for the sake of their own career and Arshavin doesn’t have too many more years left in the game, he deserves to be more than a bench warmer.

Next up is the mass sale that’s reported to be on the cards at the Etihad Stadium in January. Having recorded and reported a huge financial loss over the last few months, it would appear that they are planning to recoup a few pennies by selling off a few players. In fact as many as twenty-three players could be on their way out as they look to shape up ready for the introduction of the FFP……

Wonder if we could get a few bargins in their January sale? 😉

Staying with Citeh, Mario Balotelli saw red yesterday in their 1-1 draw with the Dippers so he won’t be available to face our young side for tomorrow’s Carling Cup fixture.

Nottingham Forest defender Jamal Lascelles is the latest young player being looked at by Arsene Wenger. Lascelles is already featuring for England at Under 19’s level and £2M sure be enough to secure the 18 year olds services as long as Chelsea don’t get in there first.

That’s about it for today, tomorrow the rich kids are in town……

Have a good one….

133 thoughts on “International defender in? Chamakh on his way out? Striker ruled out for tomorrow….

  1. Potter says:

    Morning all , Barry out as well , not that their squad will be that much affected., Still it will be interesting to see the players that they took from us in their campaign to improve themselves whilst targeting and weakening their nearest rival for fourth spot. United and Chelsea were less likely to be susceptible to their money, so they deliberately aimed at us.

  2. rico says:

    Morning all,

    I forgot about Speed Potter, we could have done with all eleven being shown red to give us a chance tomorrow, their squad is so deep… Just hope whatever happens the players hold their heads high…

  3. rico says:

    Wath, is very sad for his boys and his wife, who reports suggest found him…..

    why.. don’t suppose we will ever know…..

  4. Potter says:

    why.. don’t suppose we will ever know.

    Don’t worry after a suitable period (like tomorrow), our wonderful press will start digging and bringing up everything they can to try and keep the story going. Today he’s a great fellow with a mourning family , but then it will be every morsel of scandal they can find.

  5. W.A.T.H says:

    It’s very sad Rico also very selfish….! Nope am sure we will never know…! To do it at home as well with the family in the house..???? Something very wrong there, shame the family have to pick up the pieces….

    The manc arabs will still have a mega team out they have such a big squad, can see us getting turned over big time but I hope we at least compete…! Won’t be good for the kids to get a hammering, we saw that with the man ure fa cup drubbing the other year.

  6. gunnerpete says:

    Gary Speed was never my type of player, but from what I gather he was a very nice bloke . ..Just ask myself why?

    As for the above…City (the other team who can only buy trophies) will come with eleven internationals and play against a mostly second eleven AFC. I think our lads will give them a game and it will turn on who has the luck that night. I pray that Squilli is not fit and would love to see the team below.

    Flappyanski

    Yennaris Miqel Kossy Santos

    Coquhelin Frimpong Rosicky

    AOC Chamakh Arsharvin

    Yes Id make arsharvin work for his ridiculous wages although I think he knows he is out in Jan.

  7. W.A.T.H says:

    Wenger says Koz is knackered GP can’t see him playing… Jd in the middle with Miguel maybe..????

    Why waste a nice clean Arsenal shirt on AA…? rather a player who will at least put in a shift or we play 4-4-2 and he plays up front with Park or Chamakh least then we get to keep the midfield competative to give ourselves a chance…?!?!?

  8. gunnerpete says:

    Sad to say that evryone is right about our press…but equally sad to say that millions still buy the Sun, Mail, Express, who are the lowest of the low every day. One date the tribute, next day the dirty story. Yet you will still buy one of them?

  9. rico says:

    Wath, i am of the same belief re the suicide, very selfish…..

    Tomorrow worries me too, their squad is so deep and Mancinni will want every cup they are in, do we send out all the kids and say ‘don’t worry’ or put out a team that could fight well enough but still suffer another loss…..

    It’s a tough one but you never know on the night, nothing is impossible …

  10. goonster says:

    Is diaby injured? Lord God I hope not. We really need him during the run up. Intact we need all our players fit and raring to go…..even squillaci*winks* morning guys and hey RIP gary speed all great football and all round good guy.

  11. rico says:

    GP – can’t see Kos starting either, nor should we be playing santos but what option does AW have?

    Squilli is a gonner, can’t see him playing either…

    I have a feeling the side is going to be a very very young one…. with the likes of Diaby, Rosicky, Park, Chamakh, Yossi in there…

  12. W.A.T.H says:

    Agreed Rico, the kids can’t live with being told don’t worry if you get hammered it doesn’t work like that…! We still have enough players to mix and match and give them a hard game for me keep teh midfield solid and it will give us a platform to compete…! Lets not mention the word Squillaci…!

    I see Diaby is injured agian….! what a joke that is……….!

  13. rico says:

    Ten fixtures in the next five weeks, that is really going to take it’s toll on our squad…..

    Diaby injured?? What with this time??

    goonster, i just can’t see how we can..

  14. W.A.T.H says:

    Muscle strain apparently Rico……… what’s new… must of done that getting out of bed although thats more than what AA did on saturday lol….!
    Frim and Coq will bring some tenacity to the team and Yossi or Risickywill bring the guile and experience. I’d maybe “waste” AA up front with Park or Chamakh and play Ox as the wide man and see how we go..? Long as someone puts that greedy fucker Nasri into row Z i’ll be very happy 😉

  15. goonster says:

    Why don’t you guys just let us finish the damn game before giving up? They just played a high tempo game against pool yesterday didn’t they? They ll be tired. Am disappointed wath! We could as well not show up with this kind of attitude. No wonder the team haven’t won anything in years. Its eleven versus eleven players ain’t it? I believe in the boys and I know whatever team wenger puts out will get the job done. Come on you fucking gunners. Come on.

  16. W.A.T.H says:

    Well Stan we’ll agree to disagree on that one fella, I am realistic simple as that and blind faith don’t win games. See what wenger says and equate that to the team he’ll pick and the mancs can pick a 2nd string that full of experienced internationals…..! The only thing on our side it rotation on both sides may also work against the mancs…! I been around to many moons to look at any game these days and not be realistic and honest about our chances.

  17. goonster says:

    But we saw what home support did for a mediocre team like QPR. They almost shocked those arabian hordes. We can do the same guys. How ll the players feel if they accidentally click into HH and read our comments. How do you think they ll feel. The game is tomorrow. A whole lot of things can happen between now and then. Believe in the lads,guys. They need our support.

  18. W.A.T.H says:

    Can we win yes of course we can……..!

    Will we win……. thats hugely different from can we and i think no we won’t win I just hope we compete and give them a run for their money and the youngsters that play learn enjoy the experience and grow !!

  19. Lee says:

    Morning all, so AW moaning that RVP is running in the red…well buy a fucking quality striker so that you can rest him you stubborn man!

  20. rico says:

    I never noticed he had any to strain Wath 😉

    Frimps and Coq together would be a good move, Rosicky and Oxo in with them and Park, AA up front… ok, now the defence 😉

    I hope Nasri goes further than row z…..

  21. goonster says:

    Great news to all you mario goetze fans(am not by the way,am indifferent). It seems the german wants to play for either barckruptonia or us. Great huh?

  22. devilgunner says:

    Morning guys and chicks.

    I agree with Goonster. Let’s have faith in the lads. Even against the mighty millions of goliath. Maybe AA will find his shooting boots that he lost after that 4-4 at Anfield??? Time for a small payback on andrey’s part.

    We will win 3-1 with AA getting a hat trick.

  23. rico says:

    And denilson 😉

    Hi DG, until the final whistle we are in with a chance, however, we only need to look at the depth of their squad to realise it’s a near on impossible task ahead, especially with our second string…

    But, it’s cup night, and they are made for suprises 🙂

  24. goonster says:

    Morning DG…..that’s the spirit my man. A ball hasn’t been kicked yet we sound like losers. Where’s the never say die arsenal spirit. The spirit that got us through milan 08,madrid and juve06 and barca last season. In those aforementioned games the odds were heavily stacked against us yet we triumphed. We can do this guys. With a bit of confidence we can turn over the billionaire shower shit. Believe my good people believe.

  25. W.A.T.H says:

    Morning DG,

    Having faith is one thing being realistic entirely another 😉 that’s not knocking them either it’s being honest about our chances. We must be very careful with the rotation and the tactics and after Sat AA needs to be kept as far away from left wing as possible so play the fella in his best position and where he wants to play just off the striker…! Maybe then he may find those boots you refer too…!

  26. devilgunner says:

    Tomorrow I think we will play this team

    Fabianski
    Yennaris,Djourou,Koscielny,Santos
    Rosicky, Coquelin,Frimpong, Benayoun
    Arshavin
    Park/Chamack

  27. devilgunner says:

    VS Olympiakos I would play the following

    Fabianski
    Yennaris, Squilli, Miguel, Boateng
    Rosicky, Diaby,Coquelin,Benayoun
    Arshavin
    Park or Chamack.

    Now why cant we get Denilson, Bendtner and Vela for the Olympiakos game and then send them back.

  28. W.A.T.H says:

    DG, what worries me is wenger either doesnt rotate enough or seems to rotate far to much…! I think he stuffed up sat big time, knowing most would not play this midweek they would essentially have a week off so why was Gervinho on the bench..? We needed the width and when the game is won after 60mins you take him RVP and Theo off, bring on Chamakh, Yossi and AA….!
    IF he plays to many youngsters against Citeh we could get a thumping so I hope he does the mixing and matching carefully and changes the tactice to actually suit the players not getting the players to suit the formation. 442 or 4411 as you prefer would be how we should set up and keep the spine strong. We’ll see..!

  29. devilgunner says:

    Neither do I Rico…….but for the Olympiakos game you know they will take 3 places and that means that its 3 players less for injury

  30. Scott says:

    Barcelona got beaten!!!
    City are no Barca,and we are better than Getafe,so how you could give up already is beyond me.
    Where did Wenger whinge about RVP being on the brink of injury????
    He made a simple comment,yet some of you will intentionally misquote the man to emphasise your point.
    Typical narks.

  31. W.A.T.H says:

    Wenger should really shut up with this respecting our ex players bollox as well…….

    The fans are well aware of ex players that deserve respect and they always get it but when we have greedy tossers like Nasri who could not give a shit about Arsenal or more importantly the fans then he deserves all the grief he’s gonna get. Soon as the dollars were waved in his ugly face he was offski…! Respect is a two way thing Arsene when ex players show none then they can expect none back so kindly don’t stick up for shit bags like nasri etc etc..!

    Perhaps you need to read properly scott where are intentional misquotes….???

  32. W.A.T.H says:

    Ok Stan I’m with you……… whooo hooo we’re gonna beat Citeh ten nil……! there you go i have faith…….!

  33. rico says:

    Scott, with a full strength ffit squad yes, we could very well beat them, but wenger won’t play that side tomoroww, it’s being realistic that some think we will struggle against a side who has a squad as deep as the ocean….

    As for misquotes, i think you are muddling up HH with somewhere else, we all know that Wenger has said Robin needs a rest…. nothing more, nothing less….

  34. Adam2 says:

    Does anyone else find these comments on our players being physically ‘on the edge’ from Wenger – a bit tiresome? Fulham’s players had actually played 4 more games than our ones – so something is not adding up here. The real problem once again is that Wenger – with his youth obsession – and poor judgement buys – plus awarding long contracts and big wages to mediocre players who he now can’t get shut of – finds himself struggling to put out strong sides against even lower opponents -let alone mega-bucks City types.
    Personally I think that Wenger is still in big trouble in the league and in reality just making up the numbers in Europe – this despite the RVP super-show – that many cynically suggest is down to putting himself in the shop window for a move elsewhere next summer.
    Wenger needs to spend in January to help give us a better shout of a top 4 place – and to try and convince RVP and Walcott that there is some silver in those gloomy clouds that are hanging over us after 7 trophyless years.

  35. rico says:

    Yes Adam, similar to what Lee said earlier, if RvP needs a rest, get a striker so he can rest him…

    If the squad are tired, get a squad that is is deep enough to rotate properly…

    simples…….

  36. Gooner Sam says:

    Afternoon all, so I guess it wasn’t all that suprising that we got a draw on Sunday given how well the games before had gone…back down to Earth and all that.

    Rico – I hate to ban on the same point 🙂 but I just think he is not going to spend again. The squad does look OK but needs strengthening in certain areas…for me creative centre mid and striker…..but as we know cash is king for Wenger…he won’t spend on a player unless he thinks he will get a bargain and there arent to many of them about in Jan.

    I have noted some talking about Loic Remy of Marseille…..good player and would fit the Arsenal style quite well….but wouldn’t probably hit the ground running..

  37. Potter says:

    Scott, I think these comments are pretty comprehensive.

    Speaking after the game Wenger revealed that Vermaelen and Theo Walcott had picked up knocks while others including van Persie needed to be closely monitored with a Carling Cup tie against Manchester City coming up on Tuesday.
    “I will change my philosophy a little bit. We have a few players on the edge like van Persie, of course, and Walcott, who had a hamstring alert, and Ramsey. We’ll see how we go,” said the Frenchman.

    Don’t think anyone is making anything up.

  38. rico says:

    Hi Sam, until the 31st Jan, I’ll be hoping he will buy just two players, more would be better but….

    TT mentioned remy a few days ago – i think right now we need a PL ready one, however, i wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Henry signed on a short term deal…. Or, Brek Shea 😮

  39. agirlagunner says:

    Boo! Quiet old day. Where is everyone? I am excited to play the Mancs. Tomorrow would be as good a time to face them as any. We just may get a result!

    Our boys should be up for this one. Maybe Chamakaka would shine. Maybe AA would. 🙂 I hope we get some of the Mancs sent off.

  40. allezkev says:

    Obviously i want Arsenal to win every game.
    But if you gave the choice of a win over Arabia or 3 pts at Wigan, i’d take the points every time.
    With that in mind, i most certainly would not risk Santos and Kozzer tomorrow.

  41. allezkev says:

    As DG always says, you have to play 4 4 2 / 4 4 1 1 to get the best out of AA & play him in the hole.
    So Park/Arshavin is a no brainer up front imho.

  42. allezkev says:

    Nah Rico, for a Monday it’s been ok.
    Midfield has gotta be Oxo Frim Coq & Benny.
    Twll Frim to kick anything with Etihad on it…. 🙂

  43. agirlagunner says:

    Hey, AK. 🙂 I always feel like a nap after drinking some tea. Go figure. 😉

    rico, AA has dug himself quite a deep one, it would seem. 😀

  44. allezkev says:

    Agag? Explain yourself madam… 🙂
    The defence is gonna be the weak spot.
    I wouldn’t risk any 1st teamers except maybe Djourou.

  45. allezkev says:

    I suppose Yennaris Djourou Squillaci [eek] Miquel.
    In goal you can perm one from any of the three idiots we have in reserve…

  46. rico says:

    Glad to hear that AK 😉

    That would be my midfied too or maybe even have Rosikcy in there with Coq…

    Row z for Nasri in the 90th minute would do from Frimps 😉

  47. agirlagunner says:

    Just that I would probably crash my car if I drove after drinking tea. Which makes no sense since it has some caffeine, right?

    Tomorrow, our young ones will shine. It doesn’t matter how Citeh line up, it’s bound to be a strong one. I hope we nick a win!

  48. allezkev says:

    On the bench should be a case of ‘New Faces’…
    Ozyakup is good. Blimey, then i’m struggling.
    Ryo & Afobe both injured lessens the alternatives.
    Watt & Aneke out on loan.

  49. rico says:

    Hi agag, a deep one it seems, not that it needs to be so deep 😉

    😛 AK….

    Fab in goal is a huge concern, he needs a run in a side to get confidence, but preferably never in our side….

  50. agirlagunner says:

    Poor AA, but he does so little to help himself, football wise. 😉 As for height, haha; can’t be remedied, I guess. 😀

    If fab had had some games before this, it would be less worrisome…

    Speaking of Fabs, I just saw on Twitter that Cesc is reading Fever Pitch in Spanish. I swear he posts more about Arsenal than the stains. 😉

  51. allezkev says:

    Ah, he could play right~back Rico as he did in the team that won the Youth Cup.
    Just back from a broken leg isn’t he?

  52. rico says:

    AK, spot on but tomorrow is not a game for him to return, let him play in the reserves for a bit, then loan him and see if he’s good enough

    agag – if TR is fit, i’d pick him first over Frimps, if not then i reckon both Coq and Frimps in the middle – coq has a good footballing brain and a great workrate…..

  53. goonster says:

    Me too rico…..I have a feeling the resever lads ll turn up for this one. A lot of players ll wanna show the manager they deserve to be on the first team. We ll nick this one…2:1 to the arsenal. OX and arshavin with the goals.

  54. rico says:

    Totally agree that some will want to show wenger they are ready but i think we know who they are already, it’s the likes of AA, Park
    and Chamak that really need to put in a great shift….

  55. goonster says:

    Chamakh showed sparks of his old self against fulham hopefully he can translate that form into the city game. We ll win maam but we need the crowd to get behind the team. They should just leave nashit alone and we wont even notice he played.

  56. goonster says:

    We need frimpong to marshal that little prick all through the game. Pong hates him and will give him a torrid time. Maybe we could get him sent off. Tell the players to rile him up. He’s got a short temper that nasri. Rile him up a bit and he might lose it…

  57. alan b'stard M P says:

    Quote Potter

    “Today he’s a great fellow with a mourning family , but then it will be every morsel of scandal they can find.”

    Well, of course they’ll dig. Speed has given them reason. Let’s see

    happily married with children

    coaching Wales

    earning big quid

    Popular generally

    He kills himself

    Now why would a bloke like that kill himself? I wait with baited breath for the facts hidden in the coming gossip

    Speed was a great guy. He was also a selfish bastard doing this to those that loved him, especially his wife and child

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading