Morning all.
Granit Xhaka’s goal against Hull City has won the goal of the month for September on the official site. I thought Koscielny might nick it for his scissor kick against Southampton bearing in mind it’s importance but perhaps a scorcher from distance is so rare for us fans to see, it was bound to win. Granit’s goal is up for the Premier League goal of the month award too.
Shock, horror! Theo Walcott is amongst the players nominated for the Premier League player of the month award but it’s highly like Son Heung-Min will beat him to it but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, after all, we don’t want or need Walcott getting carried away and slacking off. He needs to carry on with his current form for the entire season. Yes, he’ll have off days, no doubt they all will throughout this campaign but from him especially, they need to be few and far between.
The third award up for grabs for an Arsenal man is Arsene Wenger as he, along with Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Alan Pardew and Mauricio Pochettino are all hoping to be awarded Manager of the month. My money is on Klopp or Pochettino as I think both managers were unbeaten during the last month and despite us matching that feat, everyone seems to love Klopp and Poch these days don’t they….. Poor old Arsene…..
Yesterday main talking point was about Hector Bellerin and whether or not Arsenal should cash in on him if City or Barcelona come calling in the summer. A big fat no is my view, we need him, he’s ours until 2019 at least and why would he want to leave a club which is looking good. (At the moment) In any case, just a few days ago he was raving about playing behind Theo Walcott.
We’ve been playing together in the right side for the last few weeks and it’s a partnership that we both enjoy. We understand each other a lot and I think that shows on the pitch. It’s great fun to play with him.
Playing football should be fun, yes they want to win at all costs and the way Bellerin sprinted to get back and stop Pedro from possibly scoring for Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, shows how determined he is, and a tackle like that will make him smile when he sees it again, and again. The same (at last) can be said of Walcott on Sunday, as who’d have expected him to be back in defence preventing Burnley from taking the lead? No, me neither but clearly he’s a happier person this season, and right now, a much better footballer.
I still hold great hope that instead of turning his back on the club who took a chance on him and played him from a young age, he’ll sign a new long term contract and stay put for a long time yet.
Same with Alex Iwobi, who today is reportedly in line for a new long term contract with a pay rise. Like Bellerin, his name is hitting the headlines for all the right reasons and there’s little doubt that some day soon, his name will be linked to the rich clubs who think money can buy anyone.
The only contracts left to sort out are Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to stay at Arsenal when there’s players like them in the squad, not forgetting so many other great players too.
Don’t be a silly old Hector…….
Morning all.
Hector to stay, and Theo to continue his form.
I don’t think it’s a run of form so much as a new attitude, and it’ll stay.
As do I Scott, a much better approach, albeit a few years too late….
Morning. Walcott explained a better approach. But that doesn’t really explain what his approach was before that needed changing? We can see more chasing back, but what was he thinking before then, leave it to others, save energy, when he could see Sanchez giving everything?
Good question Andrew, maybe he wasn’t told to track back before..
Walnut/Son Heung-Min Premier player of the month.
Reminded me of a Korean Joke
A Korean goes to a doctor named Dr. Sin. “Doctor,
………I can’t get a date,
no one will go out with me!”
In a very thick Korean accent, Dr. Sin says,
“Take off clothes and get on all four’s hands and knees.
” He does.
“Now crawl to wall.
” He does so and looks back at him.
“I know what wrong.”
“What is it Doctor!
……..What do I have?”
“You have Ed Zachary disease.”
“Ed Zachary disease?
What is that?!”
“You face look’s Ed Zachary like you ass!”
Competition for places is a great motivator.
Morning Rico, good post…
Morning All…
Yep, Theo could see the writing on the wall, TBH he’s just cruised through the last few seasons. Now he can see that he isn’t as crucial to the squad as he used to be and that he needs to work to earn his place in the team, and the club…
I’ve heard that one before Fred, still makes me chuckle…
Morning Kev. OC is going through the same I reckon. Big season for him imo..
Totally agree Rico…
A bit more effort on the training ground and in matches and a lot less on social media for Master Alex
Agree Kev.
I doubt he’ll be given the kind of time Walcott was given, not now…
Good Morning Guys,
I don’t know if anyone remember Squallachi (?) and others before him saying that the winger were instructed not to track back, it was a “team philosophy” based on offensive football. Theo wasn’t the only one not tracking back they all weren’t. Even in Sanchez’s first year he would press and track back imploring others to do so and they didn’t and he kept throwing his arms in the air…lol. On EPL games here they have an optional called tactical camera that shows different angles and tactics. I have notice that Bould is more vocal with AW on the bench and there is a 3rd guy who’s always in Boulds ear. That was not the case last year, so the change is tactical and also the Sanchez effect.
Imho, if form and competition for places met anything at Arsenal Campbell would’ve played more, Ramsey would’ve sat more and Giroud wouldnt have gone all that time without scoring.
Ashavin never knew of the grass was greener in our defensive 3rd.
Sanchez work rate rubbed off the team. Am glad we signed that workaholic son of a mule!
Interesting interview of Iwobi with 4-4-2. He names Gabriel as the hardest to play against, Sanchez as the hardest worker, Welbeck as a ” beast” in the gym, Santi as the player he likes to have on his team because of his ball control and the amazing things he can do with the ball, but the KICKER was, the OX as the player who’s always late for training. That explains it, go figure, you would think he would be the first one there considering he needs to work on his game a lot.
Pure class act, Santi on His contract:
Cazorla is out of contract next season and has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid.
“I am happy here. I am trusted by the manager and my team-mates,” he said.
“I am feeling important here, and if they’ll offer me a new contract, I’ll sign it because I am very happy with this great club”.
Evening guys…
Surely Santi will be offered a new contract?
When Walcott joined Arsenal bellerin was ten 😉
I believe Santi is a crowd favourite though like wine he doesn’t always travel well but I also believe he has got better with age. I never quite understand the over 30 rule as AW appears to have a different rule for each player.Santi states he wants to stay, and I agree he can still be very beneficial to the side. Your thoughts,please.Hello by the way to one and all.
Not sure there is an over 30 rule anymore Kelsey…
Merts hinting at leaving apparently….
Evening all
My over 30 rule is simple……….. as long as they have the body of a fit under 30 year old then OK !…………………..I mean !………..I`m 60 and my sons 24 year old mates wish they had my body !……………my body is my temple !………..and them fcukers are not entering it ! hahaha
Just back from cutting my St Ives holiday short !………..my pup sprained his leg somehow on the beach and cant walk, he was the major reason for a holiday to go on walks…………..plus the neighbour in the next holiday villa looked like Fred West and he had his curtains closed all the time !……….must have been a carpet salesman or fitter as he kept taking lumpy groaning rolled up carpets in !……………..plus I didn`t like his repeated gag of………………” would your missus like a shag………………….pile carpet ?”
Fcuk Santi !………..what about Sanogo ? hahaha
😉 cockie at his best.
Hope your pup is ok LC….
Night guys.
Santi deserves an extension, we kept Arteta who couldn’t play and if we let Santi go I won’t see the logic. My guess is Arsene wants to create space for his favourites- Ramsey and Wilshere. They should earn a spot not being given on a plater.
Ox is the last to training….not committed much? It clearly shows.
Fred West….he wasn’t knocking on ya door in the early hours of the morning looking to borrow a shovel was he Le Coq !
Liked today’s theme rico, if Arsene renews I’ll have a face like Bagpuss !!
Thank goodness someone did Micko… 😉
Morning guys, you’ll have to carry on here this morning….
Can’t believe RvP chose his goal against Villa as his best. The one for Arsenal against Charlton was better…. 🙂
Catch up later..
Busy day on here then…. 🙂 🙂
Darn international footie!
Afternoon Rico and all. Quiet day at the office?
Afternoon Adam, it certainly is…
Quiet day < fun story …………………http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/arsenal-old-boy-andrey-arshavin-gets-his-own-back-on-loudmouth-blogger-video/
Should have given him clippers….
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico, great post…
Have you ever had deja vu…? ?
Afternoon Kev, maybe tomorrow… 😉
Afternoon
My mate Dave has !…………………….he has a fantastic view of the countryside from his lounge window, yet mysteriously every morning he would walk into the lounge and on the window seal outdside would be an empty jar !……..he would take it down and the next morning it would reappear spoiling his view of the countryside !. He asked me what I thought about it and I said it was just a case of Dave`s Jar View !
Ha ha LC..
I’ll catch you guys tomorrow….
TTFN all..
https://www.facebook.com/ChrisWheatleyGoal/photos/a.1761021400796822.1073741828.1758776531021309/1835358763363085/?type=3
Morning….
Morning
Morning Rico
I have put the following up as this might be the main reason (not money) that we might not win any trophies.
“Have been told on very good authority that the training pitches have been built on surfaces that have no give and this is why there are so many injuries. The club know about this and don’t do anything about it. Quite unbelievable really”
Morning Adam and Kelsey..
Who said that about the training pitches?
You watching the cricket Adam?
Been querying that for a couple of years , apparently they are too hard and too flat. My physio at Watford always said that running on slightly uneven surfaces strengthened the ankle and it was best to jog on grass than tarmac or pavement.
Incidentally reports coming that Bellerin has picked up an ankle injury and went off for Spain’s under 21’s last night in a top important thriller against San Marino. .
Not good news re Hector….
I will do Rico.
Reading the match reports, Bellerin carried on. A muscle injury apparently..
Potter, i was told that the same, running on tarmac and pavements was harder on the joints etc..
Yesterday i was talking to a neighbour who had done his knee in on a 3G pitch, he said he never had problem until he started playing on a 3G pitch,
On Hector, think he is having a scan but initial they don’t think it’s to serious.
I hope it’s not serious BT. Debuchy really doesn’t fill me with confidence….
As a runner I can confirm that what potter says is true. I researched the benefit of running outside against using a treadmill and it`s similar.
If you run outside, particularly if you go off-road, there is inevitably going to be more variety. Each step will be different from the one that went before, simply because you are running on an uneven and varied surface. Research suggests that this constant challenge not only strengthens the ligaments and activates a greater variety of muscles, but also improves your sense of balance.
I only use my treadmill for when I`m coming back from injury or theres` a hurricane outside !.
WoW !!! makes a change to get something right.
No more getting it right for a while potter !……………….lets leave that to the women !. 🙂
New post up now…
🙂 LC