Morning all.
Back in the summer of 2000, Arsene Wenger signed Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer for just over £7 million. Two years later, ‘Lauren’ had been key to our double winning season.
Replacing Lee Dixon was a tough task but he did it and very well, in fact many Arsenal fans I know believe he was one of the best right-backs the club has ever had, a sentiment shared by Arsene Wenger. Lauren wasn’t a right-back when he arrived and the manager had his work cut out trying to convince him that he could be:
He was, for me, one of the best full backs in the world, not only because of his quality but he was a character, a real character. He was scared of nobody and when you needed the nerves you could count on Lauren.
When he arrived here I had many discussions with him as I needed to convince him that he can become a right back and an outstanding right back. For a while, because he was a strong character, he didn’t accept it.
Suddenly he understood that and I think that in Lauren and Ashley Cole, we had the best two full backs in the world.
That’s what Arsene Wenger does a lot isn’t it?
Calum Chambers, signed as a right-back but is believed to be heading for a central position one day. Aaron Ramsey, a central midfielder being played on the right or left. Santi Cazorla, a creative midfielder turned more defensive these days and the same for Jack Wilshere when he plays. In fact the latter has played left, right, attacking and defensive, just so he fits in somewhere. Mesut Ozil too, especially when he first arrived and it took the manager a while to play him where he plays best. Now he’s having a great time.
There are many more examples of course, in fact too many too mention but whilst talking about world class right-backs as Lauren was, we have another in the making with Hector Bellerin.
A right-back, who until arriving at Arsenal, was a winger. A smart move but one that only Arsene Wenger would make eh…..
Who’s your best/favourite Arsenal right-back?
That’s if for Monday, not long until we are back….
Morning Rico, good post…
Morning All
Lauren was a great player, just got with his job and loved a punch up with the Mancs…
I used to like Viv Anderson, shame he didn’t stay around longer…
Ah ‘Ralph’ Lauren its always great to reminisce on some of our exceptional players…; I think Lauren was hugely under rated; he could have represented Spain too I read.
Personally, i like Lauren even more for standing up for Reyes; Its a shame he left the club under awkward circumstances but I guess AW was right AW to release him at the right timeas Ralph did not get back to his best at Portsmouth…
Interestingly Bellerin selected Sagna at RB amongst te best players he has played/trained with from Barca to Arsenal…
Great post btw…
Morning Rico and all
Morning all.
Bellerin could well end up an all time great if he stays….I hope he does 🙂
Morning Kev..
Dixon gets my vote… Loved Lauren though, especially him and Keown that year… 😉
Morning Kev…; Lauren loved a punch up with PV04 too apparently…
Morning Ts, Scott and all…
How rude of me… 😉
Rico- how can you mention best right backs and not mention Oleg Luhzny ‘the horse’? very naught you are.. 🙂
Ts, I had to laugh when I read ‘Lauren leapfrogged Oleg into the right-back position’ 😉
Shame Oleg defended like a donkey when he signed for us.. I recall him playing like football great Djalma santos against us at wembley in the UCL..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CmrS4BjZuQ
🙂 Rico
He was s**t! 😉
lol Rico… he did a decent job at CB though; cut him some slack.
No chance Ts, him and Cygan were shocking signings…
Rico- My fave back 4 is:
Oleg(RB), Cygan(CB), Stepanovs (CB), Slyvestre( LB)
Even squillaci can’t make this list… he will have to contend on the bench…
AW and the club made loads of money by selling Cygan to pellegrini at Villareal… lol
Do you need the Samaritans phone number Ts? 😉
lol Rico…; the salvation army will do…
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
Nice one Rico. I enjoyed going back in time.
My favourite RB??? It has to be Dixon. Yes Lauren was great. But I prefer Dixon.
My favourite all time team????
Hmmmmm. Difficult. But here goes. in a 4-2-3-1
Cech
Dixon, Adams, Gabriel, Winterburn
PETIT, Gilberto
,Pires, Bergkamp, Brady,
Henry
Kev knows why I put PETIT in capitals. I wasn’t shouting. lol
As long as someone helps you swerve away from that back four Ts…. lol
Cech over Seaman Dev? I’m surprised at that one…
I’d have to seriously think about Jennings too, another great keeper, or Big Bob…
Tough call….
Ginge…..my worst ever 11???
Wright (Richard)
Luzhny, Stepanovs, Cesar, SILVESTRE
Hillier, Mendez
Inamoto, Bischoff, Hankin
Hawley.
those who remember Hankin and Hawley might have a quiet old chuckle.n One was supposed to replace Stapleton. lol
Almunia for me…
On a bad day Manninger.
Dev- On a serious note, i like Petit too; he was always sturdy and reliable.
I feel he edges it Rico. I still have to find fault or a chink in Cech’s armour. Seaman was lobbed more than once from a distance. And Ronaldinho tried it again last weekend. and nearly succeeded.
Agreed with your worst XI but stepanovs…
I think if he was given time he would have been as good as Bould as AW said when we signed him… 😛
He even scored on his debut.. lol. That 6-2 lose at Old Trafford was just a bad day in the office. A CB pairing of Grimandi and Stepanovs could only end in one way… lol
Morning all.. exciting and refreshing post Rico. Lauren had a really great time with us.Its really difficult for me not to see him has the best right back we’ve. had
Seaman should have been replaced ages ago; I think in his last 4 years he was only first choice for being Seaman… he was as bad as his dancing skills…
if AW had shown his metal Manninger would have saved us from years of Almunia imho…
Manninger penalty save…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PHvL8XwnRE
I love Cech too Devil, maybe once he’s lifted the PL with us I’ll change my view… lol
Bondex, it was either this or ‘Messi to Arsenal’… 😉
hi bondex
Morning all. Bright and sunny here, for now!
Surprised Terry Neill (or, club foot as we affectionately called him) didn’t get a mention in the worst back four team!
Best right back, mmm, Don Howe? Wally Barnes? Peter Storey? My best, for what it is worth was Dixon, especially after he ‘looked after’ Ginola during his Toon years! And got him sent off for retaliation after the handsome David had been severely assaulted on innumerable occasions by Dixon, who should, in fairness have joined the early bath brigade, that day!
Lauren, as cool as a cucumber. Ruthlessly efficient and seemingly unflappable, but second to Dixon. One of Wenger’s more inspired buys.
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – I hope you enjoyed your family day. As for today’s post you certainly have sparked debate.
Ginge – That back four of yours is truly atrocious. Sylvestre being the worst of the worst. The others were stinkers on their day, although Cygan did have a few decent games and was sold for a decent fee. Stepanovs was one of Arsene’s hopeful bargain basement buys that just didn’t work out. As for Luhzny, like detergent, he never lived up to the advertising and probably wouldn’t have beaten the BFG in a foot race. Squillaci was an utter disaster.
As for best right back, my vote goes to Lee Dixon. Young Hector may knock him off his perch very soon, but not just yet. I also liked Lauren and Sagna. However, Bacary lost my respect when he left for money, just like Ca$hley ‘ole. I wonder how he enjoyed riding the pine on the subs bench.
Agree Wavy, Lauren has to be up there among some of AW’s best signings. He’s made a few too, just not enough of late…
Morning Cg, I did thanks. Nice to have lunch cooked for me for a change… 😉
Agree re Sagna but I guess out of something bad came something good in Hector. Very good…
Old Safe Hands was never the same player after he had those ribs broken. He didn’t command his box like he used to and was reluctant to come off his line to challenge the breakaway. You could see him thinking it through instead of just reacting like he used to. He either remained rooted to the spot or left it too late to be effective and occasionally made himself look a real prat.
He went to ground too soon at times, the Giggs goal sticks out, although why someone else didn’t hack him down before then I don’t know….
His best must be the one Sheffield Utd (or Wednesday lol) in the Cup…
Messi to arsenal 😀 Hahahahah yeah right wake me up when this boils over. Plus the metro and sun are both running with the story. Says so much don’t it 😀 morning guys Lauren etame mayer shades it for me. He was a beast. Tough as nuts and has eyes that ll make me shit myself. Plus he could actually play. I remember one game against united when he kicked the living shit out of ronaldo 😀 the portugues prick had to run over to face Ashley Cole 😀 Lauren for the new arsenal manager 😀
https://youtu.be/BqdVI_wUXxk
Men I miss having a big brawny bastard in our team 😀 hopefully Gabriel ll pick up the mantle.
Goonster – you do have a way with words….
Lol morning rico 😀 it’s all adam’s fault maam. I learned from the best 😀
Jack is back rico am duper excited 😀 he ll be fresh and raring to go. The run ll be a close one between us and shitty. Hopefully those fuckers ll slip up more often. We are due a title guys. The emirates needs the league title. Jack welbeck and rosicky ll be a welcome sight on our bench cause if I see iwobi one more time I ll have a cow.
*super duper
Morning Goonster. I’m sure Adam will be thrilled to know that… 😉
Jack’s not back yet though, not until after Christmas… Same for Welbeck and Tomas..
Rico Christmas is just a few weeks away maam. He’s back I saw a clip of him training. He is like a new signing. LANS 😀
Afternoon Rico and all. Stan, you silver tongued wordsmith. 🙂
It irks me when our own fans ridicule our players. If jack were to be a shitty or manure player heck even chelshit I ll bet folks ll be queueing up to lick his ass. Jack is the nearest thing we ve got to iniesta. If he could get over his injuries he ll be worth 130 million in a few years time.
Adam 😀
Six weeks is a long time in football Goonster…
Afternoon Adam.
How are you my man? Cold in London town??
Six weeks rico!!!!! How’s that? How did you come up with six weeks maam? Am confused.
Good post rico, afternoon all.
My vote goes to Dixon, well worth his 20 plus England Caps. Also chipped in with 25 league goals for Arsenal which would be nice these days. l have high hopes with Bellerin if he can improve season on season.
Six weeks until Christmas Goonie…
6 weeks???? Yikes I totally forgot. Thought we re already in December. Damn.
https://youtu.be/wCjn6czRmsI
Andrew, I often wonder why Dixon didn’t get more caps for England..
We play our best footie when Jacky boy in the team. He’s integral to how this team plays. If he didn’t succumb to injury after his first full season. We ll be talking about top 10 players on earth now. This kid has the heart of a lion and the touch of a serial rapist. Watch him move rico. I could grab a beer and watch wilshere all day. I ll say a prayer for him to have a full season injury free. A whole lot of people ll be eating agag size humble pies. I can’t wait to be Vindicated 😀
I wouldn’t go that far Goonie… 😉
Cg- they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder… for me the look between Igor and Grimandi when yanited scored their 4th goal is just a classic… lol
Goonster, whatever you have been on… ship some over; JW is a decent squad player end of.
was*
Ts I ll be waiting to force feed you those pies. You just wait.
In your opinion Ts… 😉
Rico remember how ts wrote off santi and ozil 😀 it came back and bit him on the ass. I ll be waiting ts 😀 you predictions never come true. Lol you re just as bad as me and Malaga when it comes to transfer. I ll be waiting for your excuses then when Jacky boy rips it.
I remember that very well Goonster….
afternoon rico and the house
good subject on the post
dixon for me
goonie never put ginge and myself in the same sentence,he couldn’t lace my boots…
Lol 😀 ts you be found out mate. I ll bet you ll take Barkley over wilshere 😀 rico ts cracks me up. He drools over other teams players even shit ones but knocks down every arsenal player. This is the same ts that said Diego costa won’t cut it in this league and santi won’t excel through the middle 😀 ts you need to know when go quit my man 😀
Lol MG 😀
Plus ts I ll take xavi’s word over yours 😀 lol
Rico – Dixon was never one of those showy players. Much like Gilbert O’Silva he was calm, efficient and hard when it was required. He did his job and didn’t stand out. He got he ball and quickly cleared it or passed it off.
goonie ginge has done a runner you wont hear from him again today
he hates being told when hes wrong
great pass by dixon to smudger at anfield 89
its up for Grabs nowwwwwwwwwwww……
Lol he ll be back. Trust me he will. He’s probably off to gather some stats to prove wilshere is shit 😀 lol
Malaga what about Justin hoyte 😀 lol he was arsenal through and through. Shame he didn’t make it. I loved how he celebrated his only arsenal goal against Charlton all those years ago. Lol where is he now?
Ginge – Yes! Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but if your putting those forward as your ‘favourite’ back four, lord knows who you would have in the other positions. If you were manager and making team selections like those, Arsenal would be falling down the table quicker than Chelski has done.
You’ll make an AKB out of me yet. He has made some duff buys and team selections, but never any as daft as that, at least not when other players have been fit.
Afternoon Mg..
Cg, same could be said of Winterburn…
lol Mg. I am always hoovers… I am like ‘the hidden hand’. 😉
Lol Goonie, know I know you are losing the plot by saying I slated Ozil…
Justin was the 1st Englishman to score at the Emirates
Ts I could get rico to repost it 😀 remember she’s got all our comments stashed away 😀 don’t make me get rico 😀
:Cg…
I see I can’t convince you today…
Ufortunately, I can’t find any stats to back this debate up so… i concede. 🙂
Justin Hoyte is at Dagenham & Redbridge. Hard to believe he’s 30 now….
Nah MG couldn’t be!!!! Are you serious??? Wow.
goonie, justin plays at dagenham and redbridge
Yikes he’s 30!!! Blimey
lol Goonie. this is how urban myths start you know…; I think the person you should be calling out is yourself…
JW is over rated period imho… I must add before rico gets hold of me… 🙂
Ox is over rated and I will take Barkley over JW, as you know I was calling out Barkley when everyone and media thought Fellaini will get signed by Arsenal… 🙂
ginge the last time rico went looking for 1 of your posts you had a dozen eggs on your face.
hoovering*
You bragging again Ts, or at least trying…. 😉
Lol you use that word “overated ” ts but the thing is xavi knows a player when he sees one and I fir one ll go with xavi on thus one 😀 plus I can’t wait to pick up your lower jaw when wilshere morphs into iniesta and David silva 😀
i have to agree with ginge regarding the OX, dont rate him at all
Ox is overated yet maureen wanted him as part of the deal that saw cech come to us. Come on ts quit when you re ahead 😀 sheesh. Lol
no Mg… that was an anomaly… it happens from time to time.. but me slating Ozil. Never. 😛
I was the one posting stats defending Ozil saying he was not lazy as he covered more grounds than all our players but sagna, Arteta and TR07…
Oh and re. Sc19, I was the only who said Sc19 played better as a no.6 not as a number 10 or no.11 as he was played before…
Interestingly when Sc19 was moved to CM he regained his form…
😀 rico…
Mg andgoonie don’t need referees against me.. 🙂
Lol ts you re like a slippery eel. One can’t get hold of you. You ll always find a way to slip off. Lol when did you ever say anything good about santi? ? Alright rico get him 😀
Goonie- i like Ox a lot; I just argued Sterlig was better and that Ox needed to prove himself some more…
I still maintain as i have always done, he is an important squad player who plays better when he comes on than he starts…
slippery eel… I have to be mate… seeing as you have gone all the way to dublin to get Malaga to back you…
Malaga where is the loyalty? I back you all the time mate… 🙂
ok Rico, Goonie- i admit I said Sc19 and poldi were lazy and could not track back. 😉
Wilshere is 23 and the OX is 22. I ll be waiting for you in 3 years time. What ll be your excuse then? Lol
Lol ginge begging for a back up. Now I ve seen everything 😀
ahh sorry ginge the milk tray is in the post
You know I will make an excuse up Goonie… 🙂
The excuse will read something like this- ‘JW is now older and he has changed the way he plays’; he is not holding onto the ball longer than necessary and keeping the game simple’.. 😛
😀 mg too late bud… now you are on my hit list.
Ginge – I accept you your concession with grace. LOL,to do otherwise would be like putting a target on my back the next time I misspeak or fail to produce statistics of sufficient accuracy and robustness to make my case. You’ll be kicking me in the arse….nal.
Anyway I’m off before Rico bans me for using her second least favourite word (statistics). Have a great day everyone. Till next we meet.
Night Cg, you’re safe, honest… lol
Night Cg
I’m off for a walk so catch up later….
You boys be nice…. 😉
Dont worry rico- worst that will happen is a Cyber UFC tag team between Mg and Goonie vs lonely Ts… 🙂
I thought I told you ts am a lover not a fighter 😀
Lol at arsenal play best with wilshere looooooool joke this early in the morning lol..
Wilshire is average gooner.. First option is bench . bench warmer.. Hug that up
I forgot you were the blond adonis Goonie…
Shanice- Goonster will be after you with that comment..lol
Lol
where is Mg hiding now?
LMAO….lol……..
Joey Barton tweeted….I dont believe in a God…..I dont believe in organized religion. I may well be proven wrong over this. But as of yet no proof exists.
The answer was simple, yet hilarious………..Briggsy wrote…..70K with your football ability….I would believe in God if I was you.
Cant stop laughing.
im getting ready for the big game tonight
how ever hard i try, cans of heineken dont get up and walk to the fridge on their Jack Jones..
lol mg.
What prompted joey then Dev re. that tweet?
Shanice, hope you mind me asking but are you male or female? I’m assuming from your name you are female but just wanted to check…
Evening Rico and the house
Big night Micko, im going for a 2-1win
Evening Mg, I reckon your boys will win too. Sure hope they do. Just to stop you and Micko moaning…. Lol
Evening, Jeez Messi wants gunners move, United to line up a 53 million bid for Sanchez, the worlds gone mad.
Might be something to do with the news that Arsenal are set to offer new increased contracts to Ozil and Sanchez. Sooner the better imo,
Sanchez a doubt for chile tomorrow due to fatique, hopefully he won,t play. Feel he,s already in the red zone. AW must be worried, I know I am.
Mg, good to have Walters back, hopefully Long is fit too.
I,m hopeful but cautious.
Spot on Dublin, the world has gone mad. £600k a week, no chance!
Agree re the rest too, got to snap both up and make sure we have the best chance of keeping them and really hope Alexis sits tomorrow out… And Kos, Santi, Ollie etc…
do you reckon Usmanov would pay his wages Rico, if let, Lol
Or Flamini can buy the club now and bring Messi to Arsenal.
Mathieu Flamini has revealed that his energy firm GF Biochemicals could now potentially be worth “up to £20billion”.
only seen this story earlier, but what a story,
Fair play.
DG i have a good feeling for tonight
The boys will be up for it
Bring on France
France wouldn,t be the same without us Mg.
Sorry Dublin, nipped off to eat. I doubt Usmanov would though….
£20b? I thought it was £20m… Lol
Good on him either way I guess….
Come on ROI just one change in our team from Friday night not sure why Walters not starting
Just 20m not sure its worth getting out of bed for. ?
Evening Rico and the House.
In tonights big game England have beaten Switzerland 3-1.
Akpom scored the 3rd goal . Chambers had a good game at c/h.
lol.
Evening Rick, good news for the Arsenal boys and England…
Hey Rick, I see that Harry Donavon has joined Millwall…
Rico Last week Scholes stated the probleme with Englands team is you do not see a English
face in the Arsenal and Chelsea acadamy’s.
In the u19’s it was Niles and Crowley tonight Akpom and Chambers and on friday (u17)
we could have 3 players.
How many from Utd Nill lol
Ha ha Rick, what does Scholes know, eh…
Hi Kev
I gather he has stated the reason he joined them was to get a pro contract.
Sorry to see him go to be honest I liked his style a l bit like Romford pele.
I’m off guys, night all..
Very good post today Rico.
Being one of the older generation I am spoilt for choice as to naming the best r/back
Sott Barnes Howe Rice Anderson are all up there but I must go with Lee Dixon.
Night Rico Night Kev.
Dixon for me too .
Watch out France, the boys in green are on the way
Seems Walters did start ??
What took you so long, we are already on the way weeks ago….better late than never, i suppose….lol
Well done.
What was the final score Joe, stopped watching at 2-0?
What a fantastic night, all the boys deserve great praise, Spirit, Character, guts, all heros.
Congrats and roll on France 2016.
Sorry BT just seen your request it ended 2-0 but you probably know that by now ☺
Thanks Joe, hadn’t bothered checking,.at 2-0 it looked done and dusted.
Sorry I missed you Rick…
It was interesting and rather ironic, that following the criticism of Paul Scholes, that, in particular Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s academies are full of foreign kids to the exclusion of the English kids, to see Arsenal and Chelsea players in the recent squads of the England U19 and England U21 teams.
And not a single player in either squad from ManUre..!!!
Why does anybody take any notice of what that ginger twat rambles on about?
Morning All
Morning Kev and all..
Who is this ginger t**t you talk about…. ? 😉
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
Bonjour Kev le cab
What do you make of my favourite 11 and my worst 11??
How’s things my dear chap.
Morning Rico, kev, Dev and all…
Scholes- great player but as a pundit he is more bitter than a 2 bob tax man..
bt- I always sussed you were not a proper irish man… even I watched your boys. 😛
New post up now..
Morning Rico and all. Always makes me laugh when I hear the views of a retired good player spouted for the media and presumably some money. Why do people assume that ex-players have anything to say that is worth listening to when there are so many, currently employed and earning lots, who are living proof that most of them really don’t?
Paul Merson, Robbie Savage and Michael Owen anyone?