Morning all,
First up, Tony Adams, is back in football having been asked to help England Under 19 coach Noel Blake prepare the squad to face Turkey on Thursday March 21. Hope that goes well for him, he deserves to be involved in the game he was once so good at.
The Daily Start link us to Isco this morning. They suggest a chunk of the so called £70 million “war chest” has been reserved in order to sign the Spanish star. Having done business with Malaga before in signing Cazorla and Monreal, a 3rd player from them, especially this one, would be great news.
According to Nikki B’s agent, every club in Russia wants to sign him up on a permanent deal in the summer. I haven’t a clue if there is any truth in that story, but I sure as heck hope so. The time has come to get rid of him, Denilson, Park, Chamakh and quite a few more.
Three more the press/media have targeted to be the main departures from us this summer are Vermaelen, Szczesny and Mertesacker. The first two come about no doubt after they were omitted from the Champions League victory in Germany, but the Mertesacker rumour seems to have come out of Germany. Wolfsburg being the club reported to be interested in him…
Now isn’t that the side who are currently employing Djourou? The same side who Mertesacker recommended he joined to gain confidence and experience? Well, 2+2= 22 again eh!
I’m not overly fussed on who is rumoured to be leaving this summer. Apart from a handful, they are all replaceable with better players, some at not a great price either I would imagine. More important, is who will be joining us and will it be players Wenger who signs them?
That will all come clear as the summer gets nearer I guess.
If Arsene is to stay, what he needs to do, and I mean really needs to do is look in the mirror!
Admit to himself that things aren’t right.
Admit to himself that some of our players aren’t good enough.
Admit that training/coaching could be vastly improved on.
Admit that he IS prepared to change for the sake of Arsenal FC, the club we all love and argue about!!
Because without any of those changes, OUR club will never improve.
We will never sign the players to make us a force against the best, and we will never ever win the one competition that Wenger really wants to win.
To win any Cup, Domestic or in Europe, we need to have 15 top players and another ten not far behind…
It’s about time this club won something again, and not just be left wondering ‘what if’ every season!
Finally, a big get well message goes out to Kenny Sansom who was rushed to hospital yesterday after collapsing in the street near the Emirates Stadium. I would make a joke about the pie shop he was outside but I think I’ll keep that until I know he’s safe and well and back on the road to recovery…
That’s about it really, Swansea tomorrow and that will be far more of a test than an under performing Bayern Munich side…
Have a good day all.
‘I’m not overly fussed on who is rumoured to be leaving this summer.’
Spot on and neither am i to be honest but if they are replaced by yet more average incomings, there will be trouble in the ranks. Let’s have a couple more league games to put the BM result into proper context eh?
Morning all…
Totally agree Oz, lets see if this side has balls now eh, and lets see if AW sticks by Flappy, and keeps Vermaelen on the bench..
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Flappy is the answer, but he seemed a lot calmer that Ches….
Good morning all..
Isco’s stock is rising, seeing as he is doing the biz for Malaga in the CL and La liga…He might be out of our £12m cap…
I agree we will see some £ coming back..
We should get £10m for TV5
Arsh=free
TR07=free
Park=write off
Squid=free
Chamakh=£1m
NB52=£3m
Sagna=£7m
Diaby=free
Denilson=free
Mannone=free
Fabianski=free
Chezza =£4m
Mertesacker=£6m
Djourou=free
Le coq=£2m
Afobe & Ryo out for a year then loaned Jan 2014 for a make or break
Gervinho=£5m
I make that £38m coming in give or take, I may be wrong on the free released players but I think their contracts expire in July…
Thats a lot of cash , free wages and this £70m warchest everyone goes on about which could be gas or even upto £117m cash -who do we beleive?
Million dollar question -will Wenger spend it or be allowed to?
He formed a pretty good partnership Cazorla I believe George, he is the kind of play we should be signing.
Other top clubs want him, but I hope he wants to join his old team-mates….
Aren’t there a few more you could add to that list George?
Don’t know about allowed to spend, he may very well get told to spend it…. Well he should be!
Morning all.
Good post Rico, I agree, big changes needed this summer. Pretty sure Arsene will still be with us next year, like you say he needs to change for the good of Arsenal Football Club. Some top signings, better coaching all over but especially defence and more accountability is needed. No more acceptance of mediocrity, if a player is out of form, don’t keep playing them until the crowd are on their back, drop them and give them a wake up call.
Just watched the Bayern highlights again, great result but bayern had a lot of chances, another night it could have been a hammering.
Arteta beginning to look a little off the pace recently.
Thanks Lewis.
I thought Bayern were well off their game, nothing like how they were at The Ems, but they were missing key players.
Arteta really disappointed me in the last 5/6 mins on Wednesday…
agree with you Rico – much of malaga’s success was linked to that pairing and considering their position they did ok
Isco would be massive for us.
Morning all.
George – More important question for me is ‘IS’ he the right guy to spend it, given all of those outcasts are his buys in the first place?
I never saw the game in full Rico and was amazed at all the Flappy plaudits, staggered actually – I see Wenger now declares he’s a new man all of a sudden – again like the rest given we’ve seen all this before lets see what he’s about 6 games from now assuming Wenger sticks with him. I am not so sure that will happen either. Hopefully he will show something over the coming months, Still think a cool experienced head in that position is vital
Morning Scott
Morning.
I am not fond of picking holes in other peoples work (specifically things I’m not good at e.g. writing a post) but I believe Djourou is at Hannover 96 not Wolvesburg.
4th place trophy…here we go again.
Rico, there are probably another 10 I could add..
Oz, you have a valid point…I think appointing Grimandi as a scout has steamed up his glasses. Also we lost Remi Garde as a scout who is doing well as a mgr.
Isco woudl be a massive for us Scott…
Perhaps cut our losses with Arteta as well Rico??
we also have a bunch of south americans than will never play for us:
wellington
Galindo
Campbell
Monteiro
to name a few
And look at them now Oz 😉
George – that was going to be a post i was going to make today mate regarding Grimaldi – there are some huge losses attributed to his ‘recommendations’ So i agree obviously
As for TA could you imagine him putting up with the ‘Wenger excuse trail for this lot’ – Wenger bottled it big time when Adams declared he was there for the club and not hard to see why it is? What Wenger misses is its the passion of lads like that (TH was another example) that this club needs to get it back on track IMO
Good Morning my Esteemed Fellow Gunners.
Do you honestly believe that Isco will join us Rico? I doubt it.
George…………are you sure that there will be so many clearouts? Do not bet on it.
Only Bendy, Arshavin, Chamack, Squilli and Park.
The rest will stay I feel
Gilles Grimandi-his 2 goals vs Leicester aside offered nothing to Arsenal Oz…
Remember Pal Lydersen? recommended via the George Graham Bung? do you think there is a few backhanders going on?
I mean Junichi Inamoto? wtf!
Grimandi & Wenger in on one of those OZ?
Morning all. So, a new contract for Arsene then?
Agree Scott, a great catch if we could get him…
Morning Devil, I think there will be a mass clearout. Those you mentioned are defo goners, plus we always historically “Can ” 2 superstars for good money and release 8 odd youngsters fringe players out of contract.
My money on the 2 is on Sagna and TV5
You can only have a clear out of players in contract if you can find someone to buy them surely.
I’d keep Arteta George, good squad players are hard to find…
Thanks Carpe, and so nicely corrected. Guess I am human after all…. 😉
Morning devil how are you?? I can hope re Isco…
Morning Adam. I think he’ll be offered one, but unless he is prepared to admit he is wrong and change he ways fast, I sure as heck hope he doesn’t sign it…
Hi Rico. If he doesn’t sign it then he will leave at the end of the season I think.
Arteta -30 years old valued at £4m max nothing spectacular..Pass sideways , tidy, but not a DM, pretty average prem player at best. His best years were at Everton Rico, sell him on I think. Coquelin could do his job.
And, I’m pretty sure he is far too set in his ways to change, he believes he can do no wrong…..
Fine Rico. up to my neck in work but when I have some time I will come in.
Inamoto did not come on Grimandi’s opinion. They were playing here together.
So, no new contract then Rico and he goes at the end of the season.
I think you are right Adam, but my own view is if we manage to creep into the top 4, he’ll stay on and sign..
Which, I believe is the reason so many fans want us not to get top 4…
I reckon you are spot on there but I believe he may stay anyway and sign.
But we need some experience George.
That’s my own choice Adam, although I will be sad to see him go. Just wish he hadn’t been so pigheaded over the years…
Hey ho I guess…
Pride comes before a fall Rico.
A lot could depend on what happens with Kroenke, if there is an offer and he accepts, then who knows what is around the corner…
That middle eastern group have gone quiet 😉
Devil, your right about Inamoto, but whoever recommended him needed sectioning
I know Adam…. I’m afraid that all that goes on is of his own doing, especially the last 2/3 years…..
George – I mean Junichi Inamoto? wtf! – hahaha
Inamoto was a shirt-selling exercise.
Rico. much as I want to see the back of Stan and his ghastly syrup I fear we may be stuck with him. Not a welcome proposition but the spectre of Josh Kroenke looms large. Until the fans really get the hump I can’t see things changing. Unless Usmanov has a cunning plan.
Glad all is well Devil….
And who suggested Bischoff 🙄
I am praying for that cunning plan Adam 😉
As was Park a shirt seller, not that I suspect we sold many …
Did you know people that not one Juve fan has bought a Bendtner shirt….
we’re close now, well those in support to the anti Kroneke are anyway, to those banners appearing. What was it PHW said “he don’t want his type around here”? By god he got something right!!
Bishoff – yeah what happened to him Rico? There was another midfielder claimed as the next best thing, what was his name, foreign lad uumm 2 maybe 3 seasons ago?
Champions lge draws…….
MALAGA-BORUSSIA DORTMUND
REAL MADRID-GALATASARAY
PSG-BARCELLONA
BAYERN MONACO-JUVENTUS
Bendy sold one shirt Rico………….honestly………….
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/drivetime/130308/audio-goughie-becomes-first-person-own-juventus-bendtner-shirt-193278
🙂 Oz, about the only thing he’s got right….
Devil: NB52 probably bought one for himself hahahahha
Good Morning to the Lady of the House and my fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – Good article. Yes, we need a major clearout of the deadwood and hangerson this Summer. At the very least, of the players currently in the squad; I think Arshavin, Diaby and Squillaci will be sold or released deprnding on their individual contract situations.
Of the twelve players currently out on loan; I can’t see any of Bendtner, Chamakh, Denilson, Djourou, Park or Santos returning to the club. If they are still under contract at the end of June and can’t be sold, the club should try and buy out their contracts. I haven’t seen enough of the six remaining loanees to form an opinion.
The only difference I have with the article is with Arsene taking full blame for the lack of great, not good, signings. I think he may be taking some or all of the blame for Silent Sam. Yet, in the absence of hard evidence of where the fault lies, it is all supposition and I’ll reserve final judgement. However, we DO need to invest some serious money in strengthening the sqad is indisputable.
Can’t think who that was Oz..
Devil, that draw makes it even harder, we’d have had a good chance against Malaga. One bloody goal, that’s all we needed!
Forgive me re Nik, one fool then it seems….
hello Devil – hows life me old bean – who brought the Bendy shirt then, you? 🙂
Hello CG – you are not suggesting Stan scouted any of these or brought any one of them without Arsene ‘i make the decisions’ Wengers approval are you good man?
Arsene Wenger insists that he intends to fulfil his contract with Arsenal, which currently runs until 2014.
The French manager’s position has come under increasing scrutiny in recent times, with some Arsenal fans growing frustrated with their lack of success in recent years.
Having bowed out of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, the Gunners have now gone eight years without silverware, although they have not finished outside the Premier League’s top four since 1996.
Wenger remains a highly-respected coach and he is continually linked with rival clubs, with Real Madrid and Paris St Germain among those mentioned in recent months.
But the Frenchman remains steadfastly loyal to Arsenal, and his stance does not look like changing.
“I still have desire,” he told beIn Sport.
“I am under contract until 2014 and I am used to fulfilling my contracts.”
Dg 11.21 – 1 shirt sold and what did do? He went on the pi**! And the rest is his story!
Good morning HH, not being negative but this is true.
By: Ant Sims
Another year, another empty trophy cabinet and the joke that is doing the rounds is that two Popes have now been in charge since Arsenal last managed to win silverware.
They bagged what would be termed as a consolation win on Wednesday night, when they beat a weakened Bayern Munich 2-0, but failed to progress to the next round of the Champions League on the away goal rule.
Even with their second choice ‘keeper in front of the posts, Arsenal’s back four looked, arguably, the most composed they have been all season. Of course, the win was remarkable, of course it was wonderful and the team should delight in their resilience. Or should they?
It’s been an issue for Arsenal for the last decade. They have found themselves in sticky situations and miraculously crawled their way out of it, even if it achieved nothing. That kind of badger-like grit would then lead them to celebrate mediocrity instead of getting out of denial and questioning their frailties.
Whenever they have bounced backed from being in dire straits, be it through one win where nobody gave them a chance, or coming back from being four goals down, Arsenal have always praised the comeback. While teams are unlikely to ever publicly admit that they are struggling, nothing speaks louder than taking action through strategic buys when the transfer window so allows and nothing whips somebody so complacent in their place into shape than a new recruit eager to impress.
Wednesday night will doubtless foster some more celebration of mediocrity. Despite an early lead and a Bayern team who looked terribly nervous , Arsenal couldn’t capitalise and by the time the second goal had come, the players themselves were so surprised that they had managed to score, a collective rush of blood to the head nearly resulted in a few handbags flying around.
While the away-goal rule might be something peculiar, the Gunners wouldn’t have deserved to go through if it didn’t exist and they managed to edge through in extra-time. Arsenal had just five shots compared to Bayern’s 23 and just two of those were on target. Just one shot was blocked, compared to six from Bayern. Statistics aren’t everything, but they are an indication of where a side has come up short. Without Lukas Podolski, Arsenal just looked flat and while their passing might have been quite pretty, even that was worse than Bayern with Arsenal having just a 76% successful pass rate compared to Germans’ 81%.
If they’re not lacking in the final third, they are struggling against it. Arsenal are not short on skilled players either, but Arsene Wenger has seemingly run out of ideas on how to use them properly, or how to motivate them properly. Once a masterful tactician, both in the transfer market and on the field, lately the Gunners’ boss far too often does the same thing, expecting a different result.
Arsenal have issues and even the most convoluted supporter will be hard pressed to deny that. Everybody except for Wenger and co seem to know that something is lacking and the North London club have gone from being Invincible a few years ago to becoming completely invisible.
Sure, Arsenal’s win in Munich was somewhat impressive, but it should leave them simply whelmed instead of overwhelmed and instead of celebrating a win, it’s time for introspection and they should be asking how they allowed themselves to concede three goals at home in the first place instead of getting excited about managing to slip a couple past a Bayern side who were far too complacent for their own good.
Unless, of course, they are simply content with being a mediocre club and if that is the case, for a club with their history, it would be a damn shame.
Ant Sims
Rico:
Amaury Bischoff is having a stormer in Germany
2012– 2012– Preußen Münster 22 (7r 22 apps (7 goals)
btw Preuben is 12th in the 3rd tier of German football lol…
George – Are you sure it wasn’t his agent/father?
how about vermaelen and szcesney in a swap with valdes and villa?
Hi CG, thank you…
I understand what you are saying about we don’t know how much money Kroenke has given Wenger to spend but,
Instead of buying two mediocre players, why not just but one much better with the joint money?
We have reserve players who are better than the ones we are fed up with, and as long as they are used properly, their bodies would cope….
11.39 = oh thank you for that Rico, i feel so much better now 🙂 First 10m pa manager in England? Wouldn’t bet against it
😆 George and Wavy……
Gdna – I too think Bayern were well off their game….
bc – what about stan and wenger in a swap for moyes and usmanov and they’ll throw in Dein as well? 🙂
didn’t BM struggle in the game against a low side just before ours? Was it a come from behind 3-2 or similar?
OZG10 – No, I don’t think Silent Stan knows much, if anything, about players, but he does control the purse strings. Have we not bought the great players we need because Stan wouldn’t sanction the prices, Arsene refefused to pay the prices, or a combination of the two? I don’t think Arsene has had the amounts of money available to him that has been rumoured. Peter Hill-Wood and the club have always said the likes of “money is available if required”. No amounts, at least in total, have ever been specified.
Sell the following
Bendtner 6m, ChuYoung 2m, Chamakh 3m, Wellington 2m,
Campbell 4m, Denilson 4m, Santos 3m, Djourou 3m, Mertesacker 8m and Sagna 8m …. totals 43mil and about 500k per week off wages
Free transfer
Arshavin free, Squillaci free, Mannone free, Galindo free, Shea free,Watt free,Henderson and Eastmond …. take another 200k per week off wages
Players Questionable
Gervinho … as unpredictable as the weather
Rosicky .. injuries
Diaby … injuries
Vermaelen … loss of form
Szczesny … loss of form (would still keep and bring in a number 1)
Sign the following
Dzeko 20m Manc
Sakho 10m PSG
Richards 10m Manc
Fellaini 20m Everton
Nkoulou 10m Marseille
SC Dzeko Giroud
LW Podolski Gervinho
RW Walcott Chamberlain
MA Cazorla Rosicky Diaby
MC Wilshere Ramsey Frimpong
MC Fellaini Arteta Coquelin
LB Monreal Gibbs
LC Vermaelen Sakho
RC Koscielny Nkoulou
RB Richards Jenkinson
GK Szczesny Fabianski
Why do we want to find excuses for Bayern?
Why are we unwilling to give our own club credit?
Did anone find any excuses for Arsenal when we lost the first leg??
We were missing Jack and Podolski two days back yet still gave Bayern a touch up.
I honestly do not understand it!!
Neither do I Scott mate. It is something that irritates me a lot.
There were moments when Bayern did not have a clue about what to do. We played very well.
The question is…….where Bayern off their nuts because they switched off or where they off their nuts because we forced it?
I think its the latter.
If we play like that for all the remaining games in the EPL we might steal even 3rd. Both the Chavs and the Scum have difficult games to come in the run in.
Scott – I think the high level of frustration of many of our fellow supporters and the lack of real communication/information from our club have us questioning anything and everything. When your emotions, negative &/or positive, are running high it makes it more difficult to think and express ourselves logically and rationally.
I knew that would please you Oz, I suspect Adam is arranging a party to celebrate too….
I agree with that CG. But credit should be were credit is due. Bayern were off their nuts not because they were switched off but because we were switched on. We fought tooth and nail last wednesday wherear in the first leg we decided not to turn up.
Had we gone through we would have faced Juve. And believe me, they are much more tougher than BM to face.
I don’t think that is happening Scott, not for one moment.
Most have said just how much better organised we were at the back, but had we been that good, we would have won overall.
Yes we were better and we totally deserved our win on the night, but I’m just keeping my feet on the ground before thinking it’s some permanent.
Swansea is the next step, see if we get the same kind of performance, and then take it to the next game etc etc….
We are known for one off’s, we need to string a few good performances together now….
I am off now mates. Got to collect the little one from school. And work beckons. Till next time.
Or was it, when Bayern rocked up at the Emirates they were as good as they were because they had injested some naughty supplements to their diets? At the allianz they had no energy or persistence, they didn’t hunt the ball or close us down in the manner in which they did in the first leg. Why not? I know we played well(ish) but I have seen. Our teams play much better football and lose!
A modern day mystery?
rico says:
March 15, 2013 at 12:10 pm
I don’t think that is happening Scott, not for one moment.
Most have said just how much better organised we were at the back, but had we been that good, we would have won.
The truth is that SB had the team for a couple of days since AW was elsewhere. That is why the team functioned better defensively.
Off now. Cheers
Unless Arsene starts negotiations for new player transfers early and has some deals in principal done early; this could be the longest and most frustrating summer in Arsene’s tenure. Let us all hope that it is, at the very least, an effective & productive one and we sign the four to six spinal players we need to be truly competitive.
Go steady Devil…
I said I hoped that would happen in a post Devil, when I read he was off to france to tie up a deal for a freebie 😉
Wavy, invariably it is down to our lack of composure in front of both goals …
On Wednesday, we had one, but not the other…..
DG – I agree, our team were not playing at their best, but they did keep at it and didn’t let their heads drop. They did lack and have lacked confidence for some time now. Hopefully the Bayern game will give them the boost they need for the remainder of our league games.
Well i reckon most have been saying we were lucky Bayern didn’t show p, whle i have said all along we didn’t let them into the game.
That, to me, is not giving our boys their due credit.
Our defence was fantastic, but our midfield were fantastic…..it was their work that forced Bayern to keep shooting from 20-25 yards out yet most focus on Bayern not having their shooting boots on.
I thought we were sensatioal, because we did exactly what we had to do to give ourselves a chance when nobody gave us one.
Hi all,
I understand getting rid of the loanies and the no performance bench warmers but the current first team/ squad players are needed. Top class prem experienced players are hard enough to find and forigners need time to adjust (take this season for example) but replacing many will be extremely difficult. When will they gel, 2-3 months into the season. barring no injuries.
I am off guys.
Have a great day, and our lads had better give us a similar effort. Swansea……no exuses now.
Night all.
Bradster – You make some good points, but i think we will manage to retain enough of the core of our current squad to allow us to integrate new players fairly quickly. If some, if any, of the Academy players are promoted; they shouldn’t have much trouble adjusting. All our teams have the same style of play.
Good Night Scott, sleep well.
Night Scott, agree re Swansea… No excuse.
Hi Brad. I don’t think we will see a huge clear out, just those who can leave for free and an odd one or two from the squad. Together of course with any reserve/youth who are not on Wengers list for the future.
It was a good performance by afc against BM, but this arsenal team can’t perform when there is pressure on, if the score line was 0-0 from the first leg, afc would have lost the game.
wow came home from walking the dog and power fuses blown – wonderful – oh well as you can see, we’re back now. “oh nooo” i hear the crowd cry” hahahah
Gunnerdna – you know what? I agree with you, the record is well in your favour here
Scott – my first comment on the site was “well done to the lads” I do think however a bit a reality is needed here – fact, they had over 20 attempts at goals to our 5. meaning we hit 50% of our shots, unusual you’d agree? – they had over 55% possession even though they actually played quite poorly as they had the game before. Yes we gave ourselves a real chance on 6 minutes but did we go with it? The result was no different to the Milan fiasco last year showing again surely, we are not moving forward.
Fact is, at this stage of the season, nobody will give the squad or Wenger any credit because they think doing so would justify keeping the majority of our current squad. Same reason many “arsenal fans” would rather us not qualify for the CL. Amazing.
Don’t think that is right at all Will – many on here have been singing the praises after victories this season and have gone along with the constant “our season starts here” rubbish from Wenger. There were some great posts after the BM results but you can’t hind from reality look at the table mate and tell me we’re moving in any direction other than backwards?
Pressure is back on tomorrow Gdna, lets see if you are right….
Can’t say I agree there either Will, I think most just ‘say what they see’….
Lets hope that the team carries the positives from the Bayern game forward to the Saturday’s game with Swansea. Only three points will suffice.
Anyway, dawns not far away. So, I will say good night from me and good afternoon and evening to you all. Till Tomorrow.
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/photo-arsenal-fans-mock-club-leadership-in-munich
Night CG, sleep well….
Rico honestly I don’t even care about the results for the remainder of the season because of the manager, did u hear his comments after the BM game. He was trying to deflect the afc and his 8 year failure on the other teams from the PL that got knock out of the CL, when all the teams above are still playing for a trophy. How can anyone be successful in life when they are so deluded and never seems to take not of their own actions.
Mediocrity is spreading through the entire AFC organization but I’m not picking it up.
Night CG
I get where you are coming from Gdna. But I always want us to win, the results of the club are more important than Wenger. What will be will be with him…..
He must know if he’s decided to stay or go by now…
Rico I totally understand, but next season will be the same shit. Old people don’t change overnight.
Gdna – Wenger only has one year on his contract, and despite him saying he will see it out, as Adam reminded us the other day that Wenger also said that a manager in his last season of contract is of no use.
Nothing is certain yet…
I will say something encouraging in Wenger comments. Not sure how many of you picked it but he commented on actually watching the BM first leg game video with his team. He actually studied the opposition, wow what a good idea 🙂
Rico knowing PHW and friends who are so incompetent, nothing is really not certain. If afc makes top 4 that’s AW contract renewal. They are all like the devil, I don’t like them.
😆 Oz, see – always a first time for everything …
You might be right Gdna, but you never know….
Off out Fido – won’t be long….
rico – good post rico.
Gdna – I have watched the video of the presser. Wenger was only asked what his thought were with no English team in the quarter. He only said its’ a wakeup call that other leagues have caught up with the english teams which needs to be addressed in upcoming season. The media only added their twist to it that Wenger said the english league is losing it’s status
I quite agree with rico we are going to see some bargain clearout this summer along with the freebies that are leaving.
Wenger has began whirling the hammer on his underperformers. The first casualties being TV5 and Szezesny. The more he does this and make other players feel that any position is dispensable the better. Some of our players are too comfortable and feel they cannot be displaced(Szezesny). TV5 errors and problems are well documented. Don’t understand after being played over and over again he just can’t get over his error tag. He is not comfortable in CB/LB.
I believe we are moving into a new era of changes. Just can’t wait!!!
I would be happy if that’s what happening or about happen Emma.
Gdna – Don’t worry things will be Ok.
Food for thought
https://twitter.com/JNorthcroft/status/312566554040627200
https://twitter.com/JNorthcroft/status/312566945843146754
https://twitter.com/JNorthcroft/status/312567633595756544
https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/312567875372195841
https://twitter.com/TheSunFootball/status/312572097538969600
Rico,Oz… He studies his team’s matches after every game(even the worst ones). That’s not actually studing the opposition. That’s analysing your team’s performance and seeing what you did write or wrong. That’s what determines what you work on in training.
Some weeks ago, i watched Tony Adams on an Arab tv just before an arsenal match and he was asked about our shambolic defending. He said that the invincibles also conceded cheap goals like this team but that they had the confidence in their ability to turn it around unlike this team. I think that’s the reason why AW is always talking about the confidence and mentality of this team. The stats midweek were unlike arsenal but we won without conceeding and managed to make bayern the team that is unable to break down defences. That’s the stuff champions are made of. Here’s to hoping the team can transform that win into many.
not at all sure i buy this confidence stuff – i would label many of our games as simply not being properly prepared – there is no fire showing in their body language – there is an apathy present much of the time and an over confidence they are so good they can turn it around whenever they want – only my opinion of course
Hi all Good post Rico.
Canadian Gooner your post 12.12. Arsens longest and most frustrating summer is behined him. This year he will achieve what he has been trying to do since the introduction of the 25 man squad rule.
When the transfer window opened in july 2011 he made it known that certain players were no longer in his plans and that he was prepared to listern to offers for them. Allthough there were offers made only Eboue left that window. Almunia left in June last year when his contract run out, the remainder will leave this year when theirs run out.
Under the present squade rule Arsen must create space within the 25 before he can buy in or promote one of our youth team players who have come of age. At the moment he has found this difficult but this summer things are about to change. He will finally say goodbye to players he he anted tto leave 2years ago.
Scott from Oz: Bingo, you are spot on. More positivity in a home for the manic depressive.
I echo your sentiments:
Hi all regular contributors. I see the strange comments from yesterday are being repeated today on here. I was out of the Country yesterday, so I have been unable to contribute my usual positive bits and pieces.
I predicted before the game even started that should Arsenal win, there would be Arsenal fans on forums and phone-ins refusing to eat their words and claiming the main reason we beat Bayern was because Bayern played poorly.
These same fans were saying before the game that Wenger was useless, the goalkeeper was a flapper, our defending was hopeless and that most of the players were average. These fans also told us that Wenger had thrown in the towel with his team selection, focusing on the Swansea game instead. Some said that we would be lucky to keep the score down due to Bayerns superiority and their record this season at home.
Other Gullable fans were outraged that the travelling fans were being treated with disresepect by Wenger with his team selection. (This was not the official team sheet but the one from the media – hello, they lie).
Others to be fair, said they had betted on 0-3 or 1-4 and there was some optimism.
From what I watched, the tactics were spot on, the defenders performed excellently, the goalkeeper was assured and vocal and there was good pressure on the ball. Bayern were limited to half chances from outside the penalty area, Fabianski had little to do, Bayern were becoming frustrated and could get no rhythm in their play. That was proved when they ended up resorting to falling all over the place ably assisted by a referee that was a homer.
So how could the prediction from the ‘experts’ on the forums and on the phone-ins be proven so wrong? How could a rubbish Arsenal, with a rubbish Manager,a rubbish defence, a rubbish flapping goalie and with such poor team selection beat Bayern Munich on their own ground and keep a clean sheet? After all the ‘experts’ don’t get things wrong, they know what they are talking about.
The only conclusion the ‘experts’ could come to, was that Bayern must have been even more rubbish. Seriously, experts that could not see what was happenning tacticly in that game. Arsene Wenger and Arsenal deserve more credit for that performance than some Arsenal fans are prepared to give.
Those boys represent us, we have enough people bashing us at the moment and much of those from inside our own fan base. Fabianski deserves better than the after match continual flappy barbs from Arsenal fans who seem obsessed with insulting our players. Leave those insults to rival fans or until those players wear another shirt.
Moan when the team or manager let you down by all means but have the grace to admit you are wrong and cheer when the boys do something that makes you proud.
You had the opportunity to enjoy something you have all be complaining about and when it arrives………. you complain!!
🙂 🙂
Kevin…spot on. That could well be tomorrowls post. We all want AW to admit it when he is wrong but we never do the same here and some never do in their private matters. Why the double standards?
Kevin…spot on. That could well be tomorrow’s post. We all want AW to admit it when he is wrong but we never do the same here and some never do in their private matters. Why the double standards?
Hello all, what horrid weather again today 🙁
What are you on Kj?
Most have said that Flappy played well, the defence looked so much better and Wenger actually did quite well…
But, it takes more than just one game to convince most fans that things are better.
KJ was probably refferring to my 3-0 and 4-1 bets…
I really could have done with £150 or £100!
KJ My sentiments as well .It really bugs me when i hear so could experts like Shearer Hanson Savage Merson Wright slagging Arsen/Arsenal off when they have not got the brains to do it themselves. They have all stated we cannot win ugly,I bet if whiskey face or GG had been the manager they would all be saying thats what they had done.
Thanks Rick. When that actually happens I’ll believe it. Sdaly we get fed so much spin, who is to say that things will be any different this summer?
If it is, I’ll be the first to eat my words….
Good to see Chelsea get a long distance fixture in Europe….
emma – thanks re the post and don’t know why one of your comments went into moderation…. its out now…
Kevin, thoroughly agree. An all round good team effort, with the right result at the end of the evening, shame it wasn’t 3-0, but que sera!
What I think we all want now is the same sapplication and determination on saturday against Swansea and then the same again and so on till thend of the season. A lot of consistency and positive results, 1-0s will do fine. We can then probably all rejoice because I suspect we will have dpne enough to win the 4th place trophy!
Will we be happy? Yes we will!
Tomorrow’s result………..1-2 Arsenal’s 3 points! Marvellous!
Rico… Check your inbox. It’s laughable how much bias is in the media this days. How the media figured out AW team selection and succeded in selling it to the fans is beyond me Or did the club leak it out so as to unsettle bayern. Stranger things have happened.
So what is the deal about this Isco guy ?
Everybody seems to be talking about him.
So we are not gonna get him them
This happens every season.
We get to Feb/March. We get knocked out of the domestic cups and we are either just about hanging on to 4th spot, or in with a chance of 4th sport.
Fans are cross because we sacrificed the domestic cups for the CL, and then we get knocked out of the CL and the fury gets stronger.
However, last year we came so close to beating Barcelona, we were a goal away and yes, we would have won had it not been for a corrupt referee who sent off RvP.
We played so well, so well and that gives fans hope, all because of one game…. a game we played well in, and could have, maybe should have, won…
The usual follows, a few hard fought victories are secured, others around us help by dropping points and we grab a place in the top 4.
Crikey, last season, we even managed top 3 thanks to one shocking display from a goalkeeper.
So we finish the season we CL footie secured and many fans are happy again, thinking ‘this will be the season the board/Wenger do the right thing and strengthen the squad.
Next season we will challenge properly….
Poppycock!
For so many summers I kidded myself that ‘this would be the one’ – summer came and went….
Nothing changed.
If everything stays as it is with the board, manager and coaching staff. I expect little change this summer…..
🙂 jeff. I just saw that mail and wondered ‘who the heck is this’…
Thank you …..
SD – he’s one of the hottest’s properties in Spain. He and Cazorla were pretty good for Malaga – actually, bloody good!
Hi Rico
I agree, it was just one game – that is the point Rico.
One game to be happy about. Enjoy it for heavens sake.
A missed opportunity to enjoy a great performance. Not missed by me and others who were pleased for those boys wearing our shirts. Missed by the sourpuss, misery guts that got ALL their predictions wrong, so to save face blamed the victory on Bayern playing badly. And then started going back to their favourite whinges, the ones we see every single day.
Judge the game. Post comments based on the game.
If you abused the players and the manager and accused them of things that were not true, why not admit you were wrong?
It may come as a shock to some ‘experts’ on here and in the media but we all get things wrong sometimes. Tough but true, all our egos take a knocking now and then.
It takes courage to say you are wrong.
And it is really good to say something nice.
Lifes hard, you can’t go through every day finding something to be miserable about. can you?
I think Swansea will get a thumping tommorow..They are due one…
Am I alone here?
I find your last comment rather patronising KJ!
I, like others said it was a much better performance, which part of that do you really struggle to understand??
Jeff – This is what I have been saying. You read stuff fans post on here and it has come straight out of the press, the media or another forum. The same with the financial situation, most of it is poorly researched poppycock. Try to explain and you have no chance because it does not fit in with their own pre conceived ideas or those spread around the media and on the forums.
The media have an agenda and most of what is written is factually incorrect.
But people will beleive what people want to beleive I am afraid and Arsenal are the victims of more untruths then any other club, in my opinion.
Are they playing Liverpool George?? 😉
Am with you george… They were let off the hook at the Fa cup replay and even in the league when they won with two late goals. Let hope our strikers bring their scoring boots….. Realistically, A one-nil win will do me.
many on here, including me said we would not qualify – we didn’t. What is there to celebrate Kevin and what damage is done to an ego that predicts the obvious? Have you thought back over this seasons lately, it is poor, very poor. No champaign bottles here for any of them, least of all Mr 7.5m man Wenger
Well, Ramsey is a die hard Cardiff boy, we might see his best game tommorrow Rico, at least we didn’t buy Joe Allen lol.
Liverpool are worse than us at the moment , so that gives me great comfort 😀
Jeff, your right, They have had the rub of the green those welshies…
And fair play to them, but, all those ifs we have had go against us , someone usually “kops” it , Newcastle , Everton a few yrs back…
I quite like them as a team , they play good football , but our shot shy crew , may just turn the screw tommorrow
@ Oz , another valid point…
And again KJ,
Are you suggesting that fans on here aren’t able to think for themselves??
I understand you are a positive fan, that’s fine with me, but again I will ask you to stop assuming that others don’t have a right to their own opinion and aren’t free to share it without your patronising responses.
If you think people here are so so negative, then maybe go and find another blog, one where all is rosy!!
But they battered Swansea 5-0 George…
I quite like their manager Jeff 😉
Rico – I struggle with the fact that Arsenal fans who actually watched the game and made ridiculous predictions credit the result to a poor Bayern performance.
I predicted it even before the match, I had no way of knowing how either team would play. But I said that if Arsenal win, the Arsenal fans slagging off the Manager and the Team would not want to be proved wrong and would blame Bayern for playing badly.
The credit I read seemed to be given with a huge ‘but’ finsihing off with Bayern played poorly. I didn’t read one apology for getting something wrong.
PS: It wasn’t meant to be patronising whatsoever and it was a generalisation not aimed at you personally. So I apologise if you took it the wrong way 🙂
I don’t mean to rub you up the wrong way Rico 🙂 We are both Arsenal fans but sit on opposite sides of the fence, that is all.
me too Rico – very impressed with what he has done and the overall club in fact. If i remember rightly we battered Milan and went and lost to Sunderland was it? Lets hope there is no repeat of that tomorrow – clean sheet and 2-0 would do me
KJ, I feared the worst, then around midday , thought, hang on we have a chance here, similar to AC last year, so I stuck on £2 and hoped for that bet to come in -die hard up and down gooner all the way.
I can see where you are going with your point too.
Id take 2-0 too, but prefer Rico’s 5-0…
RE :Michael Laudrup , he has got taste ,sorry to break your heart Rico
I didn’t take anything the wrong way, I took your comment exactly as you meant it KJ.
Just stop assuming fans aren’t able to think for themselves, and stop being so high and mighty about your own opinion/view.
Not everyone thinks the same. Most respect yours, and others who want to be positive, view.
Respect theirs, or go elsewhere please!
Kevin – so Arsenal won and Bayern played superbly? Was BM’s form not partly the reason for the result? No one on the net questioned they were not on their game, they admitted it themselves. The ‘buts’ therefore become an unbiased description of what actually happened surely and not a reason to join the moaners club or prove any points
Rico – Who said fans on here can’t think? I was making a generalisation on Arsenal fans and experts in the media. Not our friends on here.
Fans on HH are great, I think in the most there are some great exchanges. yes a lot of negativity, so you need fans with alternative views or it would just be boring 🙂
I have always thought highly of HH, and the lack of personal abuse and the swearing. (although Lee uses it slightly mispelled so he is either suffering with dislexia or your spam filter needs changing).
We will win 3-1 at Swansea and I may be going!
I like his way off the pitch too Oz, I know a certain Frenchman who could learn a lot, especially in defeat….
5-0 George, that’s not my prediction, if we get 1-0 in the 89th minute I’d be happy.
Read your offending comment KJ, then maybe you will see the answer to that question!
Here is the one:
Kevin KJ Downton says:
March 15, 2013 at 4:54 pm (Edit)
Jeff – This is what I have been saying. You read stuff fans post on here and it has come straight out of the press, the media or another forum. The same with the financial situation, most of it is poorly researched poppycock. Try to explain and you have no chance because it does not fit in with their own pre conceived ideas or those spread around the media and on the forums.
Afternoon. .
Celebrate getting knocked out of the CL????
0/2 was the 2nd worst result I could think of after getting hammered 5/nill..
We couldn’t make 3 passes together. .
Defence done ok ..most attributed to Bayern atrocious shooting. .
Even when we were 2 nill up couldn’t keep our hesds..amateurs behaviour. .
The result might have restored some pride but am l proud? Hell no..
As rico said deja vu situation again and again. .
The team and the manager are not doing enough and not good enough. .
Saying that I really hope I am wrong and we win the rest of our games starting this weekend. ..
Once again there seems to be a strange polarisation of views here. I thought that the team was good the other evening and that the win restored a bit of pride but I also realise that BM were nowhere near the level they were when they played at the Emirates a short while ago. To pretend otherwise is a bit silly. That’s football.
To get very up about the other evening and criticise fans who don’t must surely mean that it is ok to get very down when we lose games like the Blackburn and Bradford cup ties. The sensible person watches every game but sees the underlying trend and that is not positive or upward and hasn’t been so for some time in my view.
As I said the other evening, I believe to Scott, I don’t see why me believing that Wenger is no longer the man to lead Arsenal should be construed, in itself, as negative. I have reasons for my beliefs, that might be wrong, but they are my reasons. Using what you perceive as negativity in others to validate your own beliefs is unsustainable. We have all made our decisions as to whether the club is heading in the right direction and we all have our gut-feelings and bias. This is a forum to discuss those beliefs. Well, that’s how I see it anyway.
With Ashley Williams story in the press, Laudrup might drop him to keep his focus up…Could work for us. Furthermore I reckon Dyer and De Guzman must still have the penalty issue discomfort …
Well heres hoping they don’t have their usual good game and we keep up a spirited and clinical performance.
A Sunderland style effort wouldn’t go amiss with me neither..I’d take a win, but prefer a classy win:D
Hi Oz – No Bayern did not play superbly. Was that because of them or because of us though? or beacuse theyhad a couple of players missing, as did we.
I think Arsenal nullified Bayern and reduced them to what was largely long range shots. I thought defensively that was the first time for a while a team has not found it easy to get behind us. In many ways Bayern were like us, where we often play square in front of the opposition and rarely threaten behind. i was surpsised at their diving antics though.
I was impressed with our pressing, another thing that is often missing in our game. Jenkinson is coming into his own, I would give that young lad a run in the team he is a seriously great propsect and a true Gooner.
It was a one off and these things happen in games. Bayern are a much better team than us at the moment, we all know that and they are on a good roll. To win 2-0 away and not have to witness the usual defensive frailties is a start and something we should recognise. Hopefully that goes into teh next game.
ok thats it for me 1.27am and time for sleepies. See you tomorrow people!
Judge. I’m glad we won, glad we played better but all too little too late for me.
We could have won, but player quality yet again let us down. And I very much include Theo Walcott in that!
Afternoon Adam. I have to agree about what you say re Bayern and our performance – but, there are too many ‘buts’ to even begin to think anything is changing. Yet.
Night Oz, sleep well, just don’t think about Swansea 😉
Rico, Just Theo or Mikel as well.
Arteta was good most of the game, and Theo only played for the first 5 minutes..
One of those games I suppose
It’s still another year without a trophy AW fans. This ain’t new, lets forget the BM game. It’s 8 yrs and counting.
Hi Rico –
The team selection was a classic. Everyone believed it, I got texts from some of my mates livid with Wenger. I ws annoyed too. I think Talsksport had some Arsenal fans in Munich who were not best pleased. It transpired that it was poppycock.
PS: I qualified that statement with:
“The media have an agenda and most of what is written is factually incorrect.
But people will believe what people want to believe I am afraid and Arsenal are the victims of more untruths then any other club, in my opinion”.
Did you see the Kroenke salary article?
I don’t understand why anybody would listen to TalkSport or read the articles that they perceive as anti-Arsenal unless it is to fuel their burning sense of righteous indignation.
I didn’t think any of the midfield truly showed up George, we were a little bit ‘soft centred’….
Theo was shocking, apart form his assist (shot) 😉
Rosicky showed endeavour I thought Rico
Cazorla weren’t really firing and on the flanks we looked poor but our FB’s did a sterling job
Walcott’s a bit like that though isn’t he Rico? 🙂
And who is that ‘team selection’ bit directed at KJ???
If me on the post where I said about it, then I rectified that the next day in the post!
Why take a swipe about what fans other than on here say/think/type??
IF you want to have a moan about what other fans say, go and tell them on the blog they post on, not on here……
Hi Adam
We all know this isnt a great Arsenal team and some Arsenal players are inconsistent, since Theo signed that contract he wanted he looks disinterested to me.
I feel sorry for Wenger. He knew he had to make profits on player tansactions and it must hurt him to see players he made sold and him having to rebuild teams with ‘budget’ type acquisitions. No manager would want to join a selling club, as we were, so Wenger would not have eben happy but I guess he is an economist so he bought into the plan.
At least now we have the income to finance four or five world class players and I beleive we will. We have to because the current team is not string enough (or squad)
I believe with the money he has helped us to create for 2013/2014, wenger deserves the chance. We shall have to see because he will be honouring his contract.
Kevin which did player AW made?
Kevin which player did AW made?
George, in patches with Tomas, same with Cazorla, the latter by the way will hit the PL for six next season….imho of course.
Very much so Adam. He’s gone right off the boil since he signed his contract.
Talksport Adam. Do they actually know what football is??
And yes, why anyone would bother to take them seriously is beyond me. Unless of course it’s fans who have no ability to think for themselves….
Darren Gough, cricketer. Says it all really…..
Rico – In hindsight I may have given the impression that was aimed at HH, it wasn’t. I apologise unreservedly and will be careful next time 🙂
No blame can be attributed to you or anyone because the team selection was so well sold by various media outlets, I think we all believed it. The press at the moment are having a bit of fun at our expense, some of it deserved, but nonetheless we just have to be wary.
Im off peoples , have a lovely weekend . Cmon you Gunners!
Rico – Good point but unfortunately people do believe what Talksport spout. Don’t know if they still do it but they used to have a Daily Arsenal?
Darren Gough is a Spurs fan and Durham a wind up merchant who thinks Arsenal fans are like shooting for ducks. I know someone who workd there and he says Durham is a ‘tool’ who they all dislike. He really does hate Arsenal though.
Bye George.
GunnerDNA – RVP for starters.
Night George…
Shame about the smilie after you apology KJ, I nearly believed it to be sincere…
Good question Gdna…
That is my point KJ, read the HH folk, NOT ONE takes that channel seriously, so why bring it to the debate…
Maybe you should have read a lot more comments on HH before jumping in with both feet, because you have got this place totally wrong….
KJ. He doesn’t have to make a profit. If the board insist he does and he believes it to be incompatible with the progression of the team/club then he could always walk away and let the board see if they can find anybody who would agree to such stupidity. He is Arsene Wenger and he has enough clout to do what he wants. Nobody is holding a gun to his head to stay. The opposite in fact as they are paying him and Gazidis truly ridiculous amounts with no pressure on either of them to move the club forward toward sustained success. Where is the motivation coming from above?
When Thatcher was elected I remember her saying that the Civil Service had told her that her main job was to preside over the slow demise of the UK as an economic and political power in the world. This is what I believe is happening at Arsenal, only the fans, who are after all the lifeblood of the club have been conned for years now with all the same old misinformation about great players coming in and no more financial restrictions. I don’t think that Wenger’s utterances have done him any favours at all with regard to his personal reputation and it has all caught up with him this year. When I look at the competition in the PL I think it is scandalous that we are not competitive and have dropped behind Spurs. The spending power of Chelsea and Man City is a convenient Big Bad Wolf as neither team are unassailable. I think the fact that we have been left exposed by persisting with poor players and spent lots of money unwisely is dumb beyond belief. But where is the accountability? Where is the man who actually gets the bigger picture and steps in and says “Hold it Arsene. This just isn’t working. Arsenal cannot be losing to Bradford and Blackburn and why do our best players want to leave? Could it be because we are spending 100’s of thousands every month on players who are not good enough and who drink our resources?” Then he might even ask what the hell has happened to Arshavin and any number of other last minute buys that have bled the club and prevented us from investing in serious players who might actually win us something. And it isn’t like all this has just started to happen. It has been going on for years.
Kevin which RVP? Do you know which youth program RVP was a part of before he joined AFC.
Very good comment Adam….
Booooo!! If I didn’t know better, I would think rico and KJ were… flirting. 😛 😛 😛
I kid, I kid!! 🙂
Off to read all the comments again. 😉
I need to eat now – back in a bit…..
Thank goodness you kid agag…
Hello to you, be back soon if you are still around?
rico, you storming off? 🙁 😛 Ha ha.
Hi Agag. I hope you are well. 🙂
I’m here. Lots went on today, I see. 🙂
I was out all day Agag so you can’t blame me. 🙂
Kevin :- Durham , Gough , Brazil, Irani , Hawksbee , Jacobs.
3 Spurs , 1 Chelsea , 1 United & one idiot. Pinch of salt.
Although anyone with any sense realises that financially we are not in the same league as City , United or Chelsea. it doesn’t excuse the backward steps we have taken tactically over the past 5 years. It is undeniable that from a football perspective we have been mismanaged by both Wenger and the money men that hold the cheque book.
Arsene’s problem is that he has confessed to being the person that controls the running of the club. That means that the coaching , scouting , contractual situation , tactics and team/ player selection is down to him. In my view this is the problem, a more proactive board would be asking questions and pressurising him to come up with results . They are content with things the way they have been so far, it remains to be seen whether should we not qualify for Champions League they remain to be as silent as their leader.
I am well, Adam. Languishing in this type of weather. Ick. Sooo humid. And you? 🙂
About Bendtner, rico, he’s the only one who believes his hype.
As for AW, our club needs a revamp. Loved the big win at Munich, but that won’t count for anything now. We must replicate that spirit for the rest of our games if we are to have a chance at CL next year.
Devil agreed with a few of us that we did not allow Bayern to play well, and it was ot a case of them not showing up.
Devil is obviously losing it
Seriously, i is one game, one result.
Nobody is suggesting we should forgot about everything wrong with the club at all.
Morning everyone.
Rico, would you mind deleting those in moderation please??
Thank you.
Not bad Agag. Been doing a lot of writing but have a couple of days off now. Mrs Adam sends her regards.
I must agree with your 6.14 Adam.
I said after the game the result raised more questions than it answered, and it sill think that.
A lot will be answered v Swansea.
RVP was turned into a striker by Wenger when he, himself didn’t think it possible.
Did he “make” RVP, or did he make hime the player he is now?
That is for everyone to make up their own mind on.
Gunnerdna – Be careful. Been supporting this club since the sixties so of course I do. Just because you sign someone from another clubs youth system does not mean you cannot coach them and make them a better player. In fact, you can buy them older than that a great example is Thierry Henry who was a lost soul before Arsene coached and converted him into the great player he became. Need to have some natural ability though.
Agag – you little rascal. Not seen you for a while.
Hi Adam – I do agree with some of what you say, not all obviously. I guess next season will provide the evidence. Rico made a great point a while back when she said that the club is poor at communication. I believe that is true and one of the reasons why fans get peeved and assumptions get made. They are too standoffish and that for me has to change. They sorely miss David Dein, for me that was the biggest loss we suffered. Shame politics always seems to get in the way.
Boo, all full up now….
Scott – Shame we sold to Red Nose. luckiest manager in the world that bloke, got every advantage going.
Scott – your 7.02 says a lot.
Kevin that’s great bro, but being an AFC supporter from the sixties is irrelevant to the question i asked. I don’t think the year people start supporting AFC matters, not everybody share the same birth date.
Kevin, saying our club is poor at communication would suggest they actually communicate 🙂
Hi Rico……what to think?
Wenger showed he can get his tactics spot on.
Our guys all showed they CAN play.
Why so often does Arsene fail on the tactical side?
Why do our guys look so bad so often?
It is never dull being Gooner, that’s for sure.
Agreed Kevin.
He is lucky, but fortune does favour the brave mate.
Why should Gdna ‘Be Careful’ KJ?? What’s that all about!!
Next you’ll be saying that fans who live outside London don’t care as much as you…. Pfff!
“RVP was turned into a striker by Wenger when he, himself didn’t think it possible”. Which trophy is this?
Scott – my thoughts on AW are in today’s post, some days I think he still has it, others I don’t but in general, it’s the latter…
I truly wish he would change and get into 2013 football, but…
I just care about the clubs future, and right now, despite beating Bayern 2-0, it’s not looking good…..
Did wenger stumble on a winning team against the germans,
Did he rest the captain to save him for swansea,or
Did he drop him.
I’am not to sure if wenger’s got a clue anymore,
I think the players went out with the …we have nothing to lose motivational mentality.
It works you know Mr Wenger
Rico that was super funny, not every afc fan is from the sixties, so its just irrelevant.
Hi Potter, just seen your comment. Another good one imho.
“I think the players went out with the …we have nothing to lose motivational mentality”. spot on Fred, there was nothing more to it.
Dna, why be a goose?
Trophy??
Wtf are you on about??
You can’t bloody help yourself.
fred – just what someone else suggested. This team can only play when the pressure is off, well tomorrow the pressure is back on so lets see what happens….
I have my own thoughts on what will happen….
Scott!!!
Rico who would be in your starting 11 tomorrow?
Rico, my name is like a red rag to a bull with him.
My comment never said he was wrong.
if you read it, it merely offers up a question, and clearly says everyone can answer it for themselves.
Where the hell did i talk about trophies??
Sick of it.
Have a great night most of you.
Gdna
Fabianski
Jenks Merts Kos Monreal
Arteta Coquelin
Eisfield Cazorla Walcott
Giroud
In no particular order of course, but Theo and Santi to interchange…
The bench to follow …..
Gdna – Whom did Wenger made? I find that question so strange. kevin has rightly pointed you to RVP to start with. He came in raw and Wenger transformed him into the goal scoring machine he is right now. Is it fabregas, henry, etc.
Our problems have being documented over the years. What we are crying for is a change. I am not saying wenger should go but he should change as well (approach/tactics). I believe change is in the horizon. His summer and winter purchase tells a lot. What we just need is getting 4/5 top top players in for this summer and we are set to go
oz – your info on arsenal after defeating milan 3-0 in last season Cl going on to lose to sunderland is absolutely wrong. Arsenal afterwards won 3 consecutive games before losing to QPR
Hi agag enjoying the red nose evening 🙂
Scott – I read the trophy comment, it was asked of KJ I think, not you??
Rico
Fab
Jenks Merts Kos Monreal
Arteta Diaby
Walcott Caz Gerv
Giroud
I would go with this line up and hope for the best.
Give you those emma, Wenger, back in his better days, changed many a players career. Not only that, he gave many older players more years in their career..
Credit where it is due.
Sadly though, there is always a but, and yet again, for all his good he did back then, he’s undoing it with players like Gervinho, Chamberlain, Arshavin and a few more….
And that is why fans get upset…..
Emma i might be wrong but i don’t think AW made any player.
Gervinho, and Diaby Gdna???
Cripes!! 😉
Rico honestly to me Gerv is not a bad player, its a bit strange how players come to afc and looks totally different. AA is a great example.
Emma – spot on, that is what I am saying. We all know we need at least four quality additions to this side, on that every Arsenal fan agrees. Again I agree, we are now in position to buy the players we need. if we don’t I will have to hold my hands up and admit I misunderstood all the research I have done on the subject. (Boring but I work in corporate finance so it interests me!)
Gdna – are you being serious??
When AW signed Paddy, Pires, Henry, Overmars, Freddie, Petit, Anelka – had you honestly heard of them, and if so, were they known to be top top footballers??
Nah, never….. Give him credit where he deserves it….
And his regime helped Winterburn, Dixon, Adams, Keown and Bergkamp play on beyond their years…
They have all told us that….
Hello everyone from Cyprus…. inc KJ wjo’s been bollocked by rico lol…. Everyone does….. Me… it’s generally for threatening the mongs….
The BM game was a cracking result….. Really…. Absolutely fantastic result….
…We hit them mainly because we hit them early and hard…… British football of the 70-80’s…. They are technical… but we are aggressively technical…..and physical…that was british football… we beat one of the worlds top 3 teams in their own back yard ………
If we would have bombed them like men ….at the emirates the game would have been the same…… we did not, and we let them play us …
Walcott up front as our no. 9…. What a wank decision?… a bit like asking your grandma to twat someone with a baseball bat on your behalf…… he’s not up to it …. he’s more of a “i’d prefer to pass you the baseball bat” type of person….. REALLY.. most people are
Wenger proved that he can do it……. really.
Gervais missing the target?
He did everything right to get himself in that position.. but dragged his shot wide,,, It happens so I can’t blame him…. It doesn’t mean he’s not shit, because he is….. He’s a Fulham player – nor Arsenal…. but on another day he could have made the difference….
3-3 on agg. We were unlucky>
1-1 away v Bradford wasn’t a bad score but the result was….REALLY
We are a NEARLY team this season…..
We have a nice first 15 but the rest are shit and the manager is in denial….it’s not a major overall but he KNOWS what the problem is… It’s just that he has feelings for some of the turds that the club employs…….
Gdna. i think Gerv is awful. And AA, for all his talent is very lazy…
The latter though, has been played out of his natural position, that never helps a player look what its doing to Ramsey.
Hi to you in Cyprus Syg, and you’ll be heading for another telling off if you are calling me a mong!! 😉
We are always a nearly team. Isn’t that why we all moan…..
It’s about time nearly moved up a gear….
Rico u might be right but, if 90% of our current team/squad is managed by a different manager you would see a difference.
Rico – agree re AA but not the Ox. He is still a young lad and he has plenty of time. I think he could be a star. Gervinho at times looks unplayable. When he sorts his feet out and gets his head up who knows. At times he is like a shopping trolly with a wonky wheel but imagine trying to read him as a defender?
GunnerDNA I don’t know why you can’t say Wenger has not made any players? When he first came to the club he bought in some largely unknown players and made them into world class players. I remember a reporter called John Sadler writing a long article about the decline of Arsenal and this unfashionable manager and these unknown players we were signing. Included in the list of nobody’s was a player called Patrick Vieira. But the finest example of a player with talent being coached into a truly World Class player was Thierry Henry. It is one thing spotting talent and another coaching them, with the two examples I think both rules apply. Thierry was the ultimate in my opinion, when you consider he was a winger.
You know by now Gdna, that I think we would get a better performance from our side with a different manager… That is what usually happens…
Sure hope it does at Reading…
Hi SYG. Having a good time in Cyprus I hope, spending plenty of money helping the local economy out. 🙂
rico – There is never a guarantee that after spotting a player with raw talent you can transform them into fine gold. There are bound to be the Jeffers. Every club has Jeffers. The problem we had over the years was not getting adequate replacement after selling our best players or no replacement at all. We should count our losses and move on the Jeffers. We all know that if we had not being beating 8-2 by manure, players like Mert, arteta, park and benayoun wouldn’t have being brought in on the last day of the transfer market. They were all panic buys and a short term fix. These are the current positions that needs adequate replacement as well as the goalkeeping. We couldn’t get our target in (Mata) because we couldn’t afford to pay what the chavs offered to Valencia. I still think there is a player in Gerv and AW will be willing to give him one more season to prove himself. OX is still very young and raw and hopefully will turn out to be a fine gold in the future. I still think we are just 4/5 marquee signing away from being a world beater. I hope like other fans that we can get them in during the summer window
Off for the evening. Night Rico and all.
Each to their own KJ, but, my eyes have clearly witnessed Gervinho and Chamberlain’s performances decline…..
What they do in the future remains to be seen, but right now, neither player is as good as he was when he first joined Arsenal…
Night Adam, I won’t be far behind you….. 😉
Kevin my apologies mate. Do you think this squad has underachieve this season? And if so why?
I know emma, but both those players started so well, but dropped off.
I could moan on about playing side/central etc etc, but it’s boring….
So many have dropped off in performance after arriving, it does raise a few questions…. Well, to me it does…
Hi syg.
Hope you a having a great time. Like you, I like a beating every now and then from a woman. Anyway, it brings out lively debate.
Yep squad isn’t good enough and first team is missing a few world class players. I agree, not far away but far away enough. BM papers over the cracks but it was much better tactically and TV is going to struggle. Jenkinson was outstanding. Theo leaves me undecided, just not consistent enough and goes missing too much.
Don’t worry about us in the wind and rain, we’re all having a great time.
I’m off for the day folks…
Behave all, otherwise you’ll all be in the bin in the morning 😉
Have a good one. ‘Til tomorrow….
GunnerDna We all want the same thing, success for our club.
I don’t think they have underachieved. They aren’t good enough collectively. In fact, the last few years I think we have overachieved big time. Not quite sure how our rivals didn’t overtake us while we were selling our players. Only the Megabrand, Chelski and the Arabs finished above us, in fact we finished above Chelski which is mad. Oh and they all nicked our players! Where were Liverpool and Spurs. crisis?
We all know the squad is not good enough. Selling your best players is never going to help you be successful and Wenger must be pulling his hair out. Cant keep rebuilding a team.
The current team is missing players in key positions. I would buy an experienced goalkeeper, centre half, holding midfielder and a goal scorer. Problem is, that is the spine of the team. I am happy with Jenkinson but Gibbs is too fragile.
I don’t blame Wenger, I blame him for some things yes but he knows more than any of us about managing a football club and stayed loyal despite having to sell players. I manage a Sunday team and that is hard enough, especially when I don’t have enough players!
I agree that we have some very average players that was a gamble but most will be off the books this season. Trouble since Bosman, players rule the roost.
Kevin – ditto
Emma – What a great post. I couldn’t agree with you more. I am convinced that now the project is over and we have proper money available, the future starts now. When you consider a world class player is £30 million plus wages of £150k pw, you realise why we needed either the Emirates or a sugar daddy. The chavs and Arabs are a disgrace, nicking our players while we build our future with money they don’t have. I hate sugar daddy’s and the whole principal of buying trophies, just my opinion. I am proud of Arsenals stance.
So take a salary of £150k per week. That is just shy of £8 million per year in wages, totally mad but there you have it. That is before transfer fees. Add the £30m transfer fee, which you may be able to do over a two/three year basis. That is just one player. Highbury could never generate enough income to enable us to compete and have a large number of world class players. We can now and because of the way the finance deal was arnanged our loans are cheap. We have just joined, Bayern, Barca, Real and Man Utd as the top earners. That means we are now gong to be a major player again. I am very optimistic Emma. I just hope we spend the money wisely and on world class players, not prospects.
Good night all. KJ
Kevin – I couldn’t agree more. Things are about to take a new turn. I am optimistic about our future. Our purchase over last summer and the winter windows shows that Wenger is now going for the jugular next season. Add some marquee signing to that in the forth coming summer window and we are back to biz. Being ruthless to our underperformers(TV5 and Szezesny) by dropping them also shows that he knew the teams problem but what vexed me was waited too long to take actions. I know it’s b/s he doesn’t want to damage the confidence of these players but there is a time you need to draw the line. Hope his action sends a message to the rest of the squad that no one is dispensable.
Night kevin, rico and anyone out there
indispensable
As everyone seems to picking their team for the game at Swansea, I thought that I would have a go….
My team is :-
Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Adams, Pires, Petit, Vieira, Bergkamp, Henry and Walcott (to keep in with Rico)
😉
I think we might do well if Wenger takes my advice.
Night Gooners.
Good night Rico, t’morrow is another day.
@Emma, your 8:00 pm was spot on. Love it.
@Kev, I’ve his Cell phone # do you want it??? He might listen and take your advice. 🙂
yey Saturday match day and we’re going into a game with a win under our belt, we need consistency and others help now to salvage a season but wouldn’t be the first time would it, so fingers crossed
Emma, the financials had over 60m in the player accounts 3 years ago, what is it that inspires you that things are different now? What is interesting to me is nearly all were declaring we were one or two key signings off, now it 4/5 quality additions. Just saying…
Ramsey will bag a hat trick for sure today!
Get ya cash on!
There is more chance of Ramsey doing a Hat Trick than ever scoring one Scott….
Morning all…
New Post up….
morning all,
Nice to see KJ shoving positivity down our throats again.
Hopefully today Wenger tells Walcott he’s playing on the right and if he narrows the game and doesn’t help track back, Ox will sub for him even if that’s the 25 min.
Bayern might have underperformed but take nothing away from what was a great win, reagrdless of the circumstances. It could be easy to say that Swansea had not much to play for today and thus never really gave us a game. However, I think we have seen in our last 2 performances, in becoming only the 3rd team to beat the mighty Bayern all season and only the 3rd team to win at The Liberty all season, that the current Arsenal are prepared to do the dirty work and defend as a team.
What has gone on behind closed doors at London Colney, we won’t know but whatever has, lets stick to it.
“Now isn’t that the side who are currently employing Djourou?” – No, it isn’t. He’s at Hannover
That’s already been covered thank you Benster…