Daily Bits and Bobs

Joel Campbell – three matches to prove himself? Arsene Wenger wants fans to dig deep for a great cause….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Not a good one either is it?

Yesterday afternoon the newspapers reported that both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be out for a while. All being well, they’ll be back after the next international break which means they’ll miss the London derby and of course, the crucial fixture against Bayern next week if such reports are true.

Goodness knows who Arsene Wenger will play on the right now as we don’t have a lot in reserve. Yes, that’s a shock eh? Mathieu Flamini is an option I suppose but he was awful on Tuesday. Bellerin is another option with Debuchy at right back but again, the latter was dire against Sheffield Wednesday and I can’t see Arsene opting for that.

I hope the manager opts for Joel Campbell, and although he too had a bit of a shocker on Tuesday, at least he works hard and defends. As I said before that game, if he’s got anything about him, he’d stake a claim for that position and with OC now out, he’ll never get a better chance. We know he can play a lot better than he did against Sheffield Wednesday and perhaps playing in the first team will help bring out the best in him, if there’s a ‘best’ to bring out.

This really could be his chance if he starts and he’s got to take it. Never will he have a better opportunity imo.

Arsene Wenger has been singing his praises of late:

I like Joel Campbell very much for two reasons. One is that he has outstanding individual quality, but he is also a team player. He works very hard for the team.

Just what Arsene Wenger will need from him and everyone again on Saturday…

A few of our loanees have clearly not been working too hard, either that or things are simply not working out for one reason or another. Serge Gnabry is expected to return from his loan spell at West Brom after Pulis declared the young German is not good enough to play for his side. Not sure why Arsene Wenger sent him to West Brom in the first place, not with that horrible man as manager.

Dan Crowley is another expected to return to Arsenal as the Barnsley manager deems him not good enough for his League One side. Ouch! Then there’s Yaya Sanogo, the player Ajax were so sure they’d turn into a superstar, well his loan spell is reported to be cut short too! Isaac Hayden isn’t getting much luck at Hull either and reports in the local papers up there suggest he could soon be heading back to London.

Oh well, look on the bright side, there might just be another ‘Coquelin’ waiting in the wings….

Finally, from the official website:

Arsène Wenger will be one of the famous voices heard over the transport network on London Poppy Day.

The Arsenal manager and a host of other famous voices will encourage commuters to donate to The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal on October 29. Other celebrities include Brian Blessed, Danny Dyer, Jo Brand, Trevor Nelson, Ian Lavender, John Terry and Harry Kane.

The famous voices will be heard across the Tube network, at London’s biggest and busiest railway stations and also on London’s trams. Wenger will be heard across Arsenal, Finsbury Park, Highbury & Islington, Holloway Road, Caledonian Road and Tottenham Hale.

Brian Blessed should be fun….

Get your donations ready guys and have a good Thursday…..

rico

111 thoughts on “Joel Campbell – three matches to prove himself? Arsene Wenger wants fans to dig deep for a great cause….”

  1. allezkev says:

    Flamini or Campbell, now there’s a dog’s dinner…

    I’d go with Flamini…
    With no defensive duties he could bomb about and possibly turn up in the box to score, as he did at WHL…

    Good post Rico…

  3. allezkev says:

    Coquelin have a couple of fairly nondescript loans before he went to Charlton and the injuries and rest is history…

    So if Hayden,Gnabry, Crowley and Sanogo, well maybe not Sanogo, but the other three might just do a Coq…?
    Or at least one of them…

  4. allezkev says:

    Hector can cope Rico, he’s brilliant… 🙂

    Flamini can still defend, he just isn’t disciplined enough to play c/m…

    Can you see me clutching at straws Rico..? 😉

  7. Dublingunner says:

    Morning, I think Pires is available Saturday. Rico.
    Happy birthday to the great man,
    What would he worth these days.

  9. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    I would go for debuchy as RB and Bellerin infront of him. If not Its flamini in front of bellerin for me

  13. manamongst74 says:

    If Ramsey in chicken with head cutt-off mode can get practically a years shout at wing, then I think the least we can do is give Campbell 3 games to get a rhythm.

  15. Dublingunner says:

    It,s Not my Question, but it,s a good one, it came from the Arsenal news twitter.
    you would definitely have to try accommodate both players,
    Back to reality, a lot has been said about Wenger rushing Theo on to the pitch,without warming up, Tuesday night, as been very unprofessional, but with Ox pulling his Hamstring after 5 mins, what was he supposed to do.
    I don,t think it,s a good idea to start Campbell against Swansea, maybe Gibbs could play in an advanced position on the left with Alexis switching sides. either way, a gamble could backfire, not an ideal situation.

  16. rico says:

    Bobby on the left, Alexis on the right.. 🙂 They’d switch all game and bamboozle any defence…

    I saw that too re the warm up or lack of it, had no choice imo…

  18. bradster says:

    I would go for Bellarin and Campbell. Shut down the supply line on the right.
    Flamini for me is a has been no matter where he plays. even Gibbs on that wing could work and let him cut in and shoot on his left.

  19. Kel says:

    I’d go for Campbell on the right he’s the closest thing we’ve got for a replacement for the Ox…

    I think pushing Bellerin up and playing debuchy would leave us exposed against montero and Douglas costa imo.

    Maybe switching Alexis and playing Gibbs could work I just think we’d be losing a lot from Alexis game doing that he loves to cut in on that right foot and score.

    It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

  28. Kel says:

    Just adding my tuppence worth to the who we could or would like to sign… lucas moura from psg wouldn’t be a bad punt imo and someone said aubameyang I’d go with that.

  30. Dublingunner says:

    Aubameyang, someone said is the best gettable forward in the world at the moment,
    17 goals in 16 appearances already, He is said to Favour Spain after Dortmund. though.

  34. Dublingunner says:

    Dortmund are extremely unlikely to let him go without a fight,
    contracted till 2020, but with 42 goals in 75 appearances, surely it,s only a matter of time before the so called, big boys come Knocking

  37. Thulani says:

    The player I strongly believe can cope with the first team pressure is Reine Adelaide. But I think Campbell can surprise too many of us.

  41. Dublingunner says:

    I,d say a number of former players, later regretted their decisions,Rico. Adebayer, Hleb, Song etc.
    I,d say it still troubles Cesc and Robin too.

  45. Adam says:

    The only surprise is that Sanogo made it to Arsenal at all. Wenger must have seen something in him I suppose just as he did in RVP, Bellerin and Stepanovs. Football at this level is, by its nature, an unforgiving environment. Not everyone gets it right all the time. Not even the Portuguese prick himself. You succeed or fail with your own judgement.

  53. rico says:

    Campbell, Arteta, Flamini and Rosicky can all leave for free next summer….

    Surely AW will try and get a few pounds for them before then….

  57. Shanice says:

    The british core is affecting arsenal title challenge… Ox Walcott Ramsey welbeck wilshere all of English conditions all injured..

  59. Wavy says:

    Old Mersin with the silver locks has suggested Campbell or Iwobi, but dismissed the notion of Cazorla as he is too important centrally!
    So, Iwobi or the soup brand! Who to pick, aye that’s the question? It’ll be Flamini then! He likes to surprise.

    Afternoon all, really get here, warmish though.

  60. Wavy says:

    Merlin………not Mersin or even Merson!! I mean, Merson the wizard? Mmm, mind you he has a way with substances so, maybe!

  61. rico says:

    I looked him up Brad, at least he’s been playing.. Lol

    Shanice, what about Ospina, Arteta, Rosicky? And not forgetting Debuchy’s long run of injuries

    Evening all…

  62. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House.
    Very dull day down south and that reflects my mood.
    Like most I am not at all bothered at losing to weds, but the performance and the stick our youngsters(and the Academy) are getting I find appalling.

    I stated before the game that the only players who were any where near the first team were Kamara, Iwobi and Sheaf and I say now any of the others are out of their depth and Arsene should not even consider them.

    But who should we blame Arsene or Jonker ? or is the Academy crap like some of us are saying. I believe that while we continue to give development preference over performance
    we will continue to have set backs like the Weds game
    At the moment we have 36 players at the academy and with the exception of Macey Iliev Kamara and Iwobi all can still play for the U18 at youth level. The fact that we have won every game at U21 and U19 level tells me we are doing something right they are just too young to step up to the premier league.
    As for the game against Swansea give Iwobi another chance and play him on the left wing’
    .
    With Ozil and Monrel around him you will see a better player.
    Rant Over.

  64. rico says:

    Evening Rick, do you think it could be down to Jonker changing the way the academy now play? If so, was Arsene’s comment on the youngsters a dig at him? Just a thought….

  67. Rick says:

    I think there is something going on Rico.
    With Chippy coming back and with Theiry and Mikel becoming part of the set up it could be them against us. what ever it is they should sort it out because George and Harry will not be the last to leave.

  69. Rick says:

    Silver was doing very well at Bolton he picked up a injury and is now out until Xmas.
    I gather he is well liked by the fans.
    Isaac Hayden played the full 120 mins for Hull in the cup win and had a very good game as a D/m. Chuba scored a pen in the win..
    Dan Crowley is the only player on loan who is on a youth player loan.
    This type of loan allows the parent club to recall him .
    Now as he was included in the U19 squad at the start of the season his recall was always on the cards and I think he could play against Bayen next week(for U19’s)

  71. potter says:

    This is where the loan system breaks down .Pulis took Gnabry not to help the player but because Lambert , Sessegnon , Anichebe , McManaman have hardly played and prior to the season Berahino was playing up . Pulis took him for cover pure and simple.

  74. Adam says:

    I have a hard time envisaging Pulis as any sort of football purist despite his obvious attempts to reinvent himself as such. I assume he realises that he would only ever get job offers from bottom half teams who were looking to avoid relegation if he continued along the path of unpleasant thuggishness. In this way he rather mirrors the course of that ghastly man Sparky Hughes. I see Pulis as the architect of Ramsey’s shocking broken leg and detest him thoroughly.

  76. allezkev says:

    I’m not sure that any perceived clash of egos between Jonker and Wenger should be the top of any agenda tbh…

    I’m more concerned that a manager, as experienced as Wenger, could throw on a player, with a history of soft muscle injuries, without the said player being properly warmed up…

    If that rumour is true, then its amateurish at best and irresponsible at worst…

  77. allezkev says:

    Rick, could be that Jonker, behind closed doors, actually questions Wenger to his face, about his coaching methods and preparation…?

  79. allezkev says:

    It’s interesting to note that both Liverpool and Newcastle also have 8 injured players…

    Man City and Crystal Palace have 7 injured players

  82. Joaquim Moreira says:

    And we haven’t Diaby no more! ….
    Fortunately Swansea does not have a Portuguese coach.
    I think we will have Monreal and Gibbs (we play away …)
    Campbell? Probably on the bench but with a good chance to get into.
    Arduiz? Good player but old.
    I like Eder (Sampdoria) and is cheaper than Higuain

  83. Tai says:

    Morning Rico, All…

    Losing a COC match doesn’t give me any negative emotions…however, the manner of this one truly did.

    Starting with the line-up, I never believed Wenger could field Cech in that match…again, I was shocked Giroud started too. Then I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Walcott ready to replace Ox. It’s like Wenger has changed in everything…then definitely that could not be Wenger again!

    With Walcott or Giroud injured, any team we’re playing knows exactly what to expect…if Ox was not injured as well, Wenger can still tweak tactically by switching Sanchez to play centrally as top striker…but can Iwobi play on the left? And who plays from right of attack?

    I had firm belief that Arsenal would take four points off Bayern…with Walcott injured, that’s a very tall order now. With Giroud leading the line, we’re predictable…any team employing high line, like Bayern, has only Sanchez to worry about!

    On Debuchy and other senior players not living up to scratch, once you’re not playing regularly, confidence departs and performance level plummets. Give Debuchy five starts in the league and he’d get to the player we all know he’s been. But that would mean an injury to Bellerin…or Debuchy won’t ever get that chance.

  84. scottfromoz says:

    Tai, well said on Debuchy.
    When Gibbs played regularly most rated him.
    Most also said Monreal was crap when he played the odd game.
    Reverse the situation and suddenly Nacho is good and Gibbs is crap?
    Some players can hit form immediately after a break and some can’t.
    Morning all.

  87. allezkev says:

    “Oh what a beautiful morning,
    Oh what a beautiful day,
    I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
    Everything’s going my way” 🙂

    Morning Rico, how’s the chickens?

  89. allezkev says:

    Scott, after a bit of thought, I’ve changed my mind.
    I see you more in the role of a No.10, pulling all the strings from behind our striker…
    Less running about.
    Less chance of spilling your beer. 🙂

  98. Lee says:

    It all really stems from last night’s train journey home…. normally takes 45 minutes took 2 hours!

    So I went to my local pub and a 89 yr old lady that was dining in the restaurant had a minor stroke. God bless her…… put my crap train journey woes into perspective!

    Had a few Visors (quality Belgian larger) so now have a hangover, so am in a bad mood!

  108. Adam says:

    Brudder. The imminent return of Sanogo must be as exciting for you as it is for me. I know Kev has gone all tremulous at the prospect.

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