Before I discuss last nights events, permit me to wish our erstwhile former midfielder-cum-right back, jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none all the best in his new gig at Galatasaray S.K.
I know Eboue is not everybody’s cup of tea; indeed, some of his theatrics and histrionics irritated me to no end. With it all, however, I always saw a player that I felt genuinely loved Arsenal and tried his best when he put the shirt on – more than I can honestly say about a few players who have worn the shirt in recent seasons.
Part of it may have been that none of us knew what to expect next from Eboue: we had some good moments with him, such as the counter-attack goal at Bloomfield Road last spring; and we had some “What the hell is he thinking?” moments as well. But as his minutes and role diminished more and more, I never saw the guy sulk, pout, or make himself a distraction. He always smiled, encouraged his team-mates and applauded the supporters.
I’ll miss the guy. Best of luck, Manu!!
As luck would have it, our first post-Eboue match was a rather important one: the first leg of our critical Champions League qualification tie against Udinese Calcio. In hindsight, this is a tie we did not need: a difficult opponent at a time when we are facing defections and injury crises.
But we are in this situation because we fell completely apart down the stretch of last season, slumping from Manchester United’s heels to fourth place; indeed, if it wasn’t for Spurs’ own wretched run of form during much of the same period, it might have been them hosting Udinese this evening.
It is what it is.
This was also an opportunity to get some match minutes in – hopefully finding our scoring range – and clear the Arsene/Robin/Nas suspensions from the docket. I suspect the latter will mean little in the grand scheme of things but it is pretty important that we have the manager and our captain available for the second leg in Italy, a week from tomorrow.
There were no surprises in Pat Rice’s starting eleven:
Szczesny, Gibbs, TV (Captain), Kos, Bac, Ramsey, Song, Rosicky, Theo, Chamakh, and Gervinho.
Our bench consisted of Fabianski, JD, Jenks, Frimpong, Arsh, OC and Nik.
A quick start was imperative, especially considering Udinese were still in their pre-season. We set about them in a brisk and direct fashion and duly opened the scoring after only four minutes. Bac, just over the halfway line on right flank, played the ball over the top for Ramsey to run on to.
Theo burst through the middle and Ramsey crossed for him to volley into the net. Cue immediate, palpable relief from a noticeably tense Arsenal support. This should have been the cue for us to run riot, and we dominated early proceedings. Gervinho made some excellent runs down the left; but, as with Saturday at Newcastle, he either held on to the ball a bit too long, or did not cross well enough to pick out anyone else.
Udinese began to settle and started to cause a few problems of their own.
About a quarter of an hour in, Udinese captain (and danger-man) Di Natale rattled a free-kick off the crossbar. That seemed to wake Udinese and they put us under some pressure for the next several minutes. We gradually regained the upper hand, but, as with so much of last season, could never find the telling pass to make our possession and pressure count.
Our only other shot on goal was another Theo effort, this time straight at Handanovic. Despite holding their own for much of the half, Udinese’s only other notable chance was an Armero breakaway shot which Szczesny saved. Gibbs was booked right before the half, but we made it to the interval without too much trouble.
Arsene…err, Pat, made an injury enforced halftime change. Gibbs did his hammy during the first half, and with his deputy Traore not in the squad (also injured?), TV had to move to left back, with JD coming on in the center.
Udinese started the second half brighter, took the game to us, and had a long spell where they looked likely to equalize. Our side looked nervous and sloppy with the ball; where we passed crisply earlier and attacked with pace and intent, we now looked tentative and could not retain possession.
We suffered a second injury blow only ten minutes in, as JD had to limp off with a hamstring complaint; so TV back to the center and Bac’s deputy, Jenks, moving into the left back position. Two more injuries to add to the growing list – this after only two matches played…
At this point, Udinese were well on top; but for all their possession and attacking, they struggled to create many clear-cut chances. We defended resolutely and always had someone in the right place at the last moment, to clear the danger.
With 20 minutes to go, we had a great chance to extend the lead as Ramsey played a great ball to Theo; this time, the latter completely mis-hit it and the chance was gone.
We made our final change with 15 minutes to go, with Frimpong replacing the anonymous Rosicky; an obvious move to shore up the midfield and keep possession. Unfortunately, Frim’s first contribution was a foul which gave Di Natale a free kick some 30 yards out; he drove the ball around our wall but Szczesny was on hand to tip the ball around the post.
In the final ten minutes, we started keeping the ball more and spent more time in the Udinese area. In the first minute of stoppage time, Gervinho combined with Theo and the latter produced a stunning save from Handanovic, on a curling shot which was headed in all the way.
Udinese did not threaten again and we held on for a slender lead…
It wasn’t quite what we wanted and may ultimately not prove to be enough but our players deserve a ton of credit for holding on to an early lead, defending resolutely, withstanding the injury loss of two defensive players, and ultimately keeping a clean sheet.
There was plenty not to like – Chamakh in particular – about our performance but sometimes you have to win ugly. I would say we absolutely did that; but regardless of how we accomplished it, we bring a lead to Udine next week. The trick will be to make that lead stand up. We will likely have to do it without a couple of our defenders, but we will have our captain and top goal scorer back.
Unfortunately, we may not have our manager back. During the first half of the match, he was observed communicating with the Arsenal bench from his seat in the stands – a clear “no-no” for a manager under suspension. As I understand, he and the club were warned they were in violation of UEFA regulations and it needed to stop. Yet, it clearly continued through the second half.
In fairness to Arsene, it’s nothing I have not see Mourinho or Red Nose do while serving suspensions but I am not sure if either of them persisted with it after being directly warned by a UEFA official. I have heard he may face an extension of his ban; that would be a shame. I personally think his suspension for what happened at Camp Nou was unjust but if he was actually warned and continued to communicate with the bench in an open and obvious manner, then UEFA are likely to view this as a direct challenge to their authority and further sanction him.
Losing our manager for what promises to be a tense, nerve-ridden second leg is not a good thing. As I have said before, the stakes in this tie are absolutely huge and we can ill afford to place ourselves at any disadvantage…
On the other hand, perhaps it is all a fuss over nothing – I hope that is the case, we’ll have to see.
Arsene declined to talk after the match but I am sure we will hear something from both the club and the governing body in the next few days.
Pat Rice is now 2-0 as Arsene’s stand-in, so perhaps a further suspension is not a big deal after all…
However you look at it, the second leg was always going to be a difficult task. Udinese had chances to nab at least one away goal, and I expect they will fancy themselves back on their patch. We lost two more players to injury, our attack looks generally disjointed, and our midfield is clearly not what it has been over the past few years. Still, it wouldn’t be our Arsenal if we were headed into the second leg without these kinds of issues, would it? We won this leg, and we need to go into the second leg thinking we can win that one too. Another early goal will be a huge help; resolute and determined TEAM defending will help even more.
I was disappointed, but not surprised; to hear boos this evening at the Emirates. If supporters choose to express their frustrations in that fashion, that is their right. I personally think there is a time and place for it: and a weakened team facing a critical game is probably not a worthy target – if there even is such a thing.
As I understand, more ire is directed at the likes of Arsene, Nas and the just-departed Eboue, than most of the players who lined up tonight, so I doubt the booing accomplished much other than to show that supporters are upset about something and to fuel more Arsenal-in-crisis stories…
We can put Udinese to one side for the moment.
Liverpool visit this weekend and we already look close to bare bones. I will be surprised if either Gibbs or JD recover from their hamstring tweaks so quickly; add Jack’s continued absence, and suspensions for Song/Gervinho and we are pretty severely depleted. I was concerned that our depth was inadequate for a European and title challenge, and what we are seeing at the start of the season is far from encouraging. Arsene will be back in charge for this one, and hopefully we’ll have a bit of good news on the injury front before the weekend. Reinforcements via the transfer market would be most welcome, but I am not holding my breath there…
That will take care of itself.
For now, we can reflect on a halftime lead, a clean sheet and a chance to book our place in the CL proper next week. How we arrived at this point may not be pretty, but wouldn’t you take this situation?
I certainly will and I shall cheer our players on to finish the job a week from tomorrow.
Written by Oliver
Gervinho will be a useless clown
Morning all
Great write up oliver, thank you…
I’ll support them in a weeks time, i’ll support them each time we play and in between too but right now with the squad we have, we are in trouble.
Already we have lost Gibbs and JD, both with hamstring injuries which don’t heal quickly. I dread the visit of Liverpool and I personally feel we are deep in the mire….
Hi alan, that’s harsh on the player – he’s got something, he’ll get better…
Chamakh concerns me more, when he first joined he carried us for goals, has he changed or has Wenger changed him??
Something has happened…
Morning Rico. I too wish Eboue good luck. He was never my favorite player but I agree, he gave his best even though that was never going to be good enough. In many ways he was representative of how so many fans have lowered their expectations because of the general dross Wenger has bought over the past few years. After we scored last night our shape went to pot. Gibbs seems to have been given a roving role which is not the smartest thing for a Left Back. He was outside left and right, back-up striker, central midfielder, everything but a LB. this was why Udinese had so much joy down that flank. There is no discipline whatsoever in this squad and very, very little in terms of organisation. And what can I say about Chamakh? If Wenger really has turned down a bid for this bloke from PSG, then I would suggest that alone is worth a visit by the men in white coats. He was worse than useless last night and even Bendtner, yes even Bendtner would have done a better job. it looks like we enter our season once again without a proper centre forward at the club. Anyone who witnessed last night and who is not concerned will probably say well, we won and we didn’t concede and that is 2 games and no goals conceded. This is very true but it only really tells a tiny fraction of what is happening to Arsenal at the moment. Rico says we are deep in the mire. I think he is right, if a little mild in his assessment.
Morning HH, Adam I was there too last night, one of the red tops quoted an attendance figure of 58159….more like 45k!!!
Hi Lee. And not a smiling face amongst them. The pre-match chat among supporters greeting each other after the summer was somewhat muted. Most said to me they had to think long and hard about renewing this year. At half time the talk was that they already regretted it and if nothing changed the season ticket waiting list was going to be very short indeed next year. I have never known such a feeling of resigned complacency among our supporters. I am talking though about those who actually go to the games. I think you will discover over the next few hours that those who don’t have a much rosier view of things. Strange that!
Morning adam
rico is a she – I thought you knew 😉
I couldn’t believe the empty red seats, was their much booing before and after ko?
Fans are going to say that we didn’t concede and in places we looked good but i can’t see it like that…
I too at one stage was wishing Nik was on the pitch instead of Chamakh, I also wanted chamberlain to come on…
It was then i truely realised how desperate things had become
Rico. You are confusing me now. Are you Mr or Ms Rico? No, not booing. In fact I thought the fans were benevolent and quite kind last night. They could see that Ramsay, Sagna, TV and a couple of others were giving their best but the enthusiasm was muted. Most people I saw seemed locked into a textfest on their iphones. The lack of enthusiasm is somewhat creeping and insidious and I found myself constantly trying to shake off the cloying apathy that clung to the crowd. So, Richard or Rebecca? Which is it? At least make that clear to me.
Morning Lee
58159 – is that the number of empty seasts 😉
Good read oliver.i’ve said this before Gervinho is very quick and direct but is let down by his decision making.if he can improve that he’ll be one of the best in his position.let down by his decision making.if he can improve that he’ll be one of the best in his position.
good result for us, udinese will fancy it back at their place, which will mean they will be more attacking – which will suit us when we can hit them on the counter attack
such a shame that it wasnt 2-0 – a world class save!!!
we must sign some new players – hazard, juan mata are the type of attacking midfield we require
we do need a new striker, chamakh can not be relied on – i dont know what has happened but we must react – rvp injury history aint great!! people talk of signing benzema – but surely we will have to change formation????
and of course we must buy a left back more than a centre back, but if we need both lets go and get vertonghen!!!
Vermaelen and sagna are just beasts.frimpong makes essien look like a toddler 😉 😉
Mrs Rico 🙂
Good, I don’t think the fans are angry with the players, they are angry with the lack of spirit shown by the board and AW – we keep harping on about we knew, the club knew that cesc was going, i just don’t get why they didn’t spend the money they knew was soon to be in the bank.
had they done that early june, they would have shown us all they have intent. They could have aslo saved themselves being victims of all the boiing and discontent…
@ Oliver – Where were you in the ground as i was relieved not to hear any booing at the game last night. Although the sound doesn’t carry well in the ground.
@ rico – regarding Chamakh, just google Chamakh Vegas injunction. It might fill in some blanks.
Morning Kt, agree re Gervinho…
Hi Stu, we need a LB, CH a DM with one/two seasons left in him at the top and a goal scorer…
Or, No LB and two CH’s, DM and a goal scorer 🙂
Then – if Nasri goes, another creative midfielder…
Hi Bob,
I know all about that stuff with Chamakh, you reckon that is what has changed his game? We should seroiusly think about moving him on if his game is going to remain effected…
Rico is it Yann M’Vila, that WATH rates highly??
Eboue – I’ll not miss him. Shite.
If Barton is the amateur dramatic, then this square-headed prima donna who has been Wenger’s “pet” for the last 6 years must be Sir Laurence Olivier…
I just wish Diaby, Almunia, Bendtner and Song would follow him out the door…
Gervinho? Typical African signing. Looks the part with all the speed and the fancy frills but no discipline to find an any product… Maybe it will change. I hope it will change.
The plus side. 1-0 is a sound result as Arsenal can get a result anywhere. SZC looked good and the central pairing did ok.
2 games and no goals conceded. Hope it stays the same after 10.
God help us all….am really terrified of playing manure next weekend..liverpool on the other hand we always seem to handle….morning good people
Yes Lee,
and Fellaini and the german LB who’s name i never remember, begins with ‘S’
What makes you ask?
Well, Mrs Rico. I think the reasons for the seeming complacency are probably deep and somewhat psychological. The scenario that seems to fit to me suggests that the board and Arsene are at odds. There is no way that Kroenke is going to make his first decisive action at the club the sacking of the great Arsene Wenger. This of course puts more power into Wenger’s hands. But he has been so wrong about just about everything for the past few years that, in any other walk of life, he would certainly have got the last card in the pack by now. I see the problem as running incredibly deep into the club’s relationship to the fans who, after all, are their very lifeblood. You loose the fans and you are nowhere without a complete sweep clean. A bit like Dalgleish at Liverpool but even more so because of Wenger’s undeniably great past. I hate the fact that we show no ambition or real intent as a club. I hate the fact that Wenger is so fixed in his ways and cannot constantly re-new himself as Ferguson has done. I hate the fact that he talks total rubbish to the fans through the media with whom he is obviously locked in some bizarre psychological battle of one-upmanship. We have all supported him in the past and all realised that we had a great manager. But this man is a shadow of that. I feel no personal animosity toward him and nor do I base my feelings about our club on his worrying and curious statements. I simply look at where we are now.
Schmelzer – that’s the LB
Hi SYG,
yes it’s time for Eboue to go but he’s done a bit for us in years gone by, he used to be a very good RB and i suspect he will be for Galatassary…
morning goonster, i don’t relish seeing our defence up against Carroll….
Schmeizer? Isn’t that when two men whip each other with birch twigs in a Turkish Bath? That brings us back to Chamakh. Oh, don’t go there.
Well I enjoyed Gibbs bombing forward yesterday….the end product is way better than what we ve been used to over the last couple of seasons…..I must state without any fear of contradiction that Gibbs is a better player than clichy……my opinion by the way.
We’re linked with him again Rico….cant see it tbh, actually struggling to see any signings…fingers crossed!
😆 adam, he’s a LB that plays for Germany
He might be better in certain aspects of his game goonster but his fitness is a great concern, how long will he be out now and as oliver says, no Traore so TV will have to play at LB..
Then, with no JD now, we look as if Squilli could come in against Liverpool, just what no-one wanted…
We need at least one CH and before the weekend imho….
Also, we so little up front, why has Vela gone out on loan???
Thanks Lee, so are the Chavs, with essien out they are on the prowl….
I’m in the same camp, Wenger talks about buying players, how he will only buy if someone will bring something to the club…
Well, we all know there are plenty of players out they who can do that and they won’t all break our bank….
It is probably easier to list the players that we haven’t been linked with. I just hope we are not looking at “The Squillaci Solution” at 11.50 on August 31st and the importation of some bargain basement 30 odd year old French has-been, followed by the golden nuggets of how “close” we were to signing a great player or two. If Wenger blames the protracted situations of Cesc and Nasri, that will really be scraping the bottom of an already pristine barrel.
Hi Rico, good post as always. I also don’t agree with booing (as I don’t think it helps) but I as you do feel that paying customers have the right to show their displeasure and that it was more aimed at Arsene than the players on show. However it seems clear that a lot of the fans are unhappy with the manager and ther board so e4lse do they express this?
wow so many typos….hope you understood my question though!?
Nice chatting Rico. I must go and try to earn a living
adam,
Nasri has spoken out about the suggestions of him leaving because of the fans, is he about to backtrack and sign a new contract i wonder…
Hi GS, not my post today, it’s olivers… 🙂
I think the fans absence is showing the board exactly what they think, a lot of empty seats, the tickets on open sale before the game says a lot…
Stan won’t like that….
Catch up soon adam, have a good day…
with the money at our hand and with sum really talanted young players available wenger should make his move for 2 amazing players.
gotze and mata for a combined fee in the reign of 45m.
let nasri go if possible sell diaby.
gotze is really a special talent and will be way better than hazard man his skills are very close to those of messi.
Yes it is Lee, and yep I seen the story……. I don’t wanna see the story I wanna see him in an Arsenal shirt…! him and two centre backs and a striker and we’ll be not far off…!
Whoops…well the my comment stands in relation to the blog anyway 🙂
Two questions:
1. What positions do we need players in?
2. What do you think we will get in ?
terry, i want to see defensive signings before anything else….
Ditto WATH, morning…. 😉
Thanks GS 🙂
2 CH’s, or one and a LB
DM
CF
Playmaker/winger is Nasri goes….
Morning WATH….nice to dream!!
Morning Lady of the House…. 😉
Dreams is all we got to cling to at the moment Lee til we see some action mate…. that or the proverbial excuses from wenger… whats it to be i wonder……..??????
What team has been lambasted as much as The Arsenal over the summer?
Which manager has been abused and ridiculed by the press more than Wenger this summer?
Which team has been under such intense speculation of falling apart other than Arsenal this summer?
Which team has lost their captain and had more utter shit written about them other than The Arsenal this summer?
Who has played a game losing two defenders and having players banned yet still won this season other than The Arsenal?
No time for more excuses WATH, action is what we need…
Lee, I’m in the same dream 😉
Mathieu Valbuena is another linked today, Marseille say they are ready to open talks with Arsenal – another midget 🙁
Will, but who’s fault is that??
Had Wenger not said he would be busy early in the transfer window, so much would not have been expected…
Will I admire your half glass full attitude but Wenger has brought this on himself. I agree that the press are making things worse, as they would if it was any team in our situation but more importantly Wenger is alienating the fans with his actions and words.
He has to remember that press conferences are not just to answer the media but also to reassure the fans and all I ever hear at the moment is stubborness leaning towards arrogance..
Wenger is getting a bashing on SS’s by Winterburn and Groves…
Totts in talks with Citeh for Adebayor….
Morning everyone,
I’ve been very hard on wenger this year and i have questioned where is taking the club,but all the hate and biastness coming from sky and the media is a absloute joke.It is nothing but pure hate and they are just trying to make things even worse than they are.
I’m gonna lay off Arsene’s back and support what he does and then if it all goes belly up,i will then let them know my frustrations.
I think all i’m doing by showing my emotions is giving the media more ammunition to write this crap and make Arsene’s job even harder than it already is.
Well said, Mr Is!!!
Hi Mr Is,
I totally agree re the media bashing, it’s wrong..
But, I just wish AW hadn’t made promises, then i’d be hanging on with a lot more hope right now…. Yes he still has two weeks but as Winterburn/Groves are saying, now clubs know AW has money, they’ll put the prices up and that will put him off…
What to you guys think about Nasri now, do you want him out, or to sign a new contract and stay??
Whether you choose to believe me or not,Arsenal brought Scott Parker in for a medical last month and he failed.
No bulls***,I can’t say how i know but that’s what i’ve been told.
I was one of thoose screaming out for Parker to sign and it just goes to show that we are looking at the right sort of players.They should bring him in for another one after last night’s showing 😆
Perry Groves would spend £50 m on
Cahill
Mata
Jadson
Parker
How did the club keep that quiet I wonder…
What do people make of philippe auclair saying about Kronke has been having more of a say at the club and is apprantly holding back spending money until he know’s were in the champions league??
That’s very worrying if true and for me it looks like it’s being backed up by making a loan move for Lucho Gonzalez??
Maybe Wenger’s hand’s are tied after all,just a thought??
Mr I’s completely agree on the bashing….maybe you are right, I just feel that I keep giving him chances and he keeps f**king it up!
Interesting on Parker…however he does have quite a few injury issues….almost as many as Diaby! 🙂
Wenger needs to get in 4-5 players in the remaining days for us to challenge this year but considering how long it takes Arsenakl to do deals I just can’t see it happening….
Westham do not want people thinking they have a crocked player at there club,so the value of him would diminish rapidly.West ham wanted this all hush hush.
Goonersam ask anyone on here my thought’s about Wenger,
But i do think all the negativity is becoming very damaging to our club and we all do need to unite,even if we don’t agree what’s going on right now.
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Madam Rico.
Morning Oliver, good, well considered post….
Now to read all the ‘positivity’ on here……. 😯
Mr Is,
i can’t think that would be right, if we don’t get through surely Stan would want to ensure we get top four next season, it’s his money that would be at risk….
I bet perry groves has never seen jadson play,he loves jumping on the sky bandwagon,just the same way as merse does.
Mr Is. Interesting news about Parker. I would suggest they bring Chamakh in for a similar test. Daiby would fail any fitness assessment devised I would think.
Rico,
I thought that,but why are we trying to loan a player rather then just go out and buy him if they want him??
Afternoon Kev..
I think that’s all WH are prepared to do with parker, they won’t sell him, just loan him and Parker is the bit of Brit we could do with in the side, also, he’s getting on a bit so a season would give chance for others to learn and develop…
Smart move that would have been, shame he failed his medical….
Just seen Wenger on SSN saying he will spend £40 million on the right player. Also and rather ominously he said that if the club is not united, they have no chance. A realistic judgement I would say. So, it seems we have lots of money which puts a spoke in the wheels of those who maintain that the board have put financial shackles on Wenger. What happens next will be interesting.
Adam 😆
I thought the exact thing,when i got told.
I’d still take Parker over diaby anyday of the week.
Whats the problem with Chamakh ? If its not working its not working. He came on a free so sell him on and make a bit more profit to sit in the Barclays savings account.
Or we can keep him at the club for eight years, a replacement for Aliadierre, because the manager can’t ever admit to himself he might have been wrong and there is no-one at the club with the authority to tell him otherwise.
Stu: 10.03. Vertonghen. A great call…
Nah Mr Is, he said he’d seen him play and would be a very good addition and has a very good assist rate…
Hey I enjoyed Wenger not being there last night – no bottle throwing tantrums, no ridiculous after match comments. I think UEFA should extend his ban – a couple of years would be fine.
Gooner Sam, If anybody doesn’t need defending on here it’s Will.
But what i think he’s trying to say is look at the media witch-hunt and lets compare, say with The Yids…?
They failed to get back into the Champions League.
Have made only one signing, a veteran goalkeeper.
Are on the point of selling their best player, Modric…
But what are the Press/Media saying…..? A big fat nothing!
Why is that Sam?
Mr Is, 11.39, well said Gooner…
Very satisfied with the result last night. The strength of our position is reflected in the Udinese manager’s disappointment. We kept the clean sheet, we scrapped, the defence worked hard and communicated well.
The forward midfield was our main problem last night (apart from Chamakh of course), and that’s the one area we know we’ll strengthen with Fab, Nasri, Jack and Diaby all out.
Well done to the boys – a significant win that gives us a platform to improve.
No-one expects more from the Tiny Totts though Kev 😉 😉
I think Keown summed it all up the other day, Arsene breezed in, won us the league and FA Cup, went a whole season unbeaten and got us into the CL final….
Fans were on a high, we saw great players, big players, strong players…
I think what has turned fans is seeing sub standards like Denilson, Nik, Eboue, Silvestre, Squilli etc etc…
A few seasons ago when he signed Cygan, Stepanovos (spelling) and a few others who you all know I mean, it didn’t matter so much as we were winning…
So, his success is now the cause of all the moans and groans….
Wenger still has two weeks, I hope he shuts all his doubters up, make them eat humble pie and let them grovel on all afc blogs…
Yes, that includes me 😉
Steve, the players won’t want that though, they will want their manager in the dugout and if that’s what spurs them on, that’s what we fans need to….
So, there was about 45,000 at the ground eh?
Didn’t take long for all the ‘johnny come lately’ glory hunters to disappear…
Buying the sub-standard players in itself, isn’t the problem Madam Rico ;), even Red Nose does that, and quite a lot….
The problem is sticking with them for too long…..
Twitchy’s bunging them 47! 😉
I think it will soon be evident whether the players still believe in him.
More and more fans seem to have made their minds up.
That’s what I mean Kev, 1996-2005, it didn’t matter, they didn’t play much and we were winning, now some of the dross AW stands by are our backbone…
That’s such a waste of money to keep paying them big money and for such an intelligent man, that is one of the things that surprises me about Arsene Wenger….
Yes Steve, the fans but the players, i don’t think so – and that has to be the priority, especially right now…
Then, if in the next two weeks, we buy the right 3/4 players, the fans will soon change their view…
I’m not a glass full fan right now but all the time there is time, there is hope and we have two weeks….
Rico, there are a lot of ‘doubters’ out in the blogworld, [although thankfully not on here], who i suspect, want to see him fail, so they can say ‘i told you so’…..
When i read the concerns that Gooners have on here, i can share their concern, because they don’t come on here, ranting and raving, or giving it the ‘In Arsene We Rust’ nonsense.
I haven’t got a problem with differing views, and i’ll debate with anyone, after all, how boring would it be if we all agreed… 🙂
Lee… 😆
Yann M’Vila is a monster, he’d be a great signing.
I’d move Song into defence and use Frim as the C/M back-up.
Im laying off wenger for now.im sure he sees our weakness and i’ll give him time to sort it.no more negative vibes from me.
Kev, I am one of those doubters, I seriously worry for our future if AW doesn’t get busy in the transfer window before Sept 31st, but trust me, I want to be proved wrong, very wrong to have my concerns and views…
I have always maintained that i only want the old wenger back, not the one we are seeing at the moment…
I can’t waith for you and a few others to rub my nose in my doubting words 😉
When i say, move Song into defence, i don’t mean permanantly….
To me, the problem, from what i’ve seen, is up front….
Wenger doesn’t seem to rate Vela, Chamakh is an enigma, RVP is one Holland game away from 6 months off, Bendtner is ‘will he won’t he’ at the mo, Campbell is not a cert to get a permit yet.
I think we need a quality striker folks………
Rico, i only want, what every other Gooner on here wants…
I don’t read the Press, watch SS or listen to Talkshite….
I go with my gut feeling, the BBC and my lucky socks… 🙂
morning all…thanks for taking the comments, ricco…
Rico. Isn’t the deadline on August 31st? As for Chamakh being an enigma Kev? I suppose that’s one way of saying it. But you are essentially right I think. We haven’t had a proper CF since Adebaoyor left for a big club. I would dearly love us to buy a player who is a deadly finisher and play RVP just behind him. Tevez would do.
Hi oliver, all my pleasure…
Kev, I know – and I have to read all the cack to do the posts 😉
Midnight 31st August, hence if we get to 1st sept Adam 🙂
Wenger is not afraid to spend 40m? Where have I heard that before? Not on this side of judgment day! No chance in hell…
Goonster remember this quote from arsene…’There is only 10 players in the world we can’t afford.’ 😉
Adam, i felt, as much as the defence was a problem, that it wasn’t the main problem.
Adebayor was great, it’s so tragic that it all went pear-shaped for him. He was, as you so rightly say, a proper centre-forward….
We really need a quality alternative to RVP.
That’s why i was banging the drum for Kevin Gameiro and Karim Benzema a couple of months ago…
Oh and Gary Cahill….. But Arsenal never buy the players i want them to…
arsene says he is not afraid to spend 40 million on the right quality, but…”i will not spend on average players”…
i don’t quite see how we can define the likes of rosicky and chamakh – two of last night’s starters – as anything better than “average”…that particular charecterization might even be generous…
i think it is a fallacy that every player we bring needs to be “super quality”…i don’t know any squad that has super quality in every position…but winning teams generally have great players supplemented by competent, experienced professionals…
as goonster says, we have head this from him before – usually prior to a period of transfer market inertia…
i don’t know how anyone can look at our squad and say we don’t need to strengthen. “super quality” would be nice, but a few levels below that will still improve certain positions in our squad.
But Adam, if it come down to it, i’d also ‘slum it’ with Tevez, i suppose.. 😉
You know what Oliver, i think that Wenger really wanted to bring in EPL experienced players this summer, but the prices/wages/add-ons etc, have probably put him off.
Hench i expect more arrivals from Ligue Un during the next fortnight…
Tell me about KT…..are you guys really starting to freak out? I am. After watching the team yesterday am filled with dread. All the gooners around me are filling me with negative vibes..am really terrified. When henry left I was devastated but with cesc am about losing it…spend some fucking money.
Im beginning to think it would be best if nasri committed to a new contract soon.away to udinese we’ll need him,someone that can keep the ball.hopefully jack makes it too.
Stan, go and lay down in a darkened room with some soothing music….. 😆
It’s only two games, [oh ok], ‘Goonster’, 🙂
If AW doesn’t make at least one significant signing, then i will begin to worry, but i think he’ll bring in two and possibly three…
Hey Lee, you agree, yes?
kev, i am starting to think nobody will arrive before the 31st. ligue un players are not particularly cheap either – and not everybody over there is quality. surely there are reasonably priced prem – even championship – players here, who while they may not be super quality, will still represent an upgrade in certain positions. and will add some experience to a squad that is starting to look desperately short on it…
No KT we don’t need nasri….we need committed players…..players that want to stay with us…..players that will die for the shirt…players like jack RVP Lansbury sagna the verm etc
KT, what’s the chances of Nasri turning his back on £185k pw….?
But i do hope you’re hopes re: Nasri, come to pass.
Two I think, 47…needs to be three imho though!
I asked the question about Nasri earlier Kt, personally, and although he has narked me, i hope he signs a new contract, then sell him in Jan or next summer to the higgest bidder….
Lee – i have just sussed out 47 😉 jeez i can be so so thick sometimes…
Oliver, if you think that, then i am worried buddy…
But tbh i simply cannot believe that Wenger has spent the whole summer and not been in discussions with other clubs, just to set wheels in motion etc.
i would imagine, and it’s just a gut feeling, that Arsene has had discussions with anything up to 10 clubs… when the time is right, and we might be near to it, he’ll just take those tentatives discussions onto the next level.
Wish I had your resolved kev…hope you are right though cause I slept really late last night pondering about what would have been if TR7 never got injured back in 08..if we still had edu with us if the flamster had signed a new contract…nothing keeps me up like the arse over the years..am beginning to bug people around me with my constant worried expression….Lord help me.
rico… rat-a tat tat…. 🙂
oliver – i am beginning to think we will get 2/3 signings, not big stars but whole hearted players…
My guess is:
Cahill, Dann & Jadson
i’d move nas on now…at this point, i don’t think any good will come from keeping him in the squad and around our dressing room…
earlier this summer, i supported arsene’s decision to hold on to him. now i think that bridges have pretty much been burned, and a change would be the best thing for all parties.
Goonster, it’s age mio amigo…..
I’ve spent too many years fretting.
But you enjoy it mate, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.
It shows your alive… 😉
i hope so ricco…arsene’s comments from this morning, however, implied that he is not willing to spend on anything other than exceptional quality. i would not classify any of the three you listed as exceptional, but i think all can improve our squad overall…
i am concerned arsene is digging his heels in again…
Rico, that’ll do just dandy for me.
Maybe the hold up with Dann is because Brum are working on his replacement..?
Oliver, Dann fits your description, not an international, but a good hard-working pro, who would look at a move to Arsenal as like winning the lottery, and not a stepping stone to the next mega-move,,,
Therefore he would give us everything and more…
kev, i think dann would do a job for us…some may scoff because he was part of the birmingham city defence, but that does not mean he cannot improve our defence. i think he would – if nothing else, he would provide experienced cover…
but i am skeptical arsene would go for him. he cannot be that expensive, considering his club has been relegated, and brum are in a flux with their owner sitting in a hong kong clink…
SS’s reckon Nasri is very near his move to Citeh….
Oliver i think, and i hope, that we’re all gonna get the reinforcements, that we need before Aug 31st…..
They may not be the glamourous names touted in the phone-hacking Press, and that’ll probably bring down more criticism on Wengers head, but 2 or 3 new faces plus an end to our fcukin injury jinx, and we’ll be fine & dandy….. 😉
Wow how do you guys do it? How do u stay calm? Please throw some of that calmness towards my direction cause I could use a few.
good…this has dragged on long enough…
oliver, i thought he was saying he is not afriad to spend 40m on exceptional quality but he wants players he buys to be judged on their talent rather than the price tag…
I just took as sticking his fingers up to those who suggest he won’t spend big and i agree with him, we don’t need to be spending 40 million on one player – just 40 million on getting three 😉
£7o million ish in his hands soon, that’s plenty for what we need…. he might even be able to bank a fiver 😉
£35M for Fab
£20-£23M Nasri
£4 M Eboue
£7 M Clichy
kev, i don’t think anybody is clamouring for glam signings – i think most of reasonable supporters understand those type players are more or less still out of our reach…but we need some solid, experienced professionals to come in and improve the squad…
a lot of my personal frustration over this is how arsene often characterizes this argument in extremes: arsenal fans want super signings, we cannot afford that…and if i cannot bring someone in who can significantly improve the squad, then there is no point…putting things in those terms – with no allowance for middle ground – serves to justify his not spending in the transfer market, but does not accurately reflect the sentiments of most reasonable fans…
we can improve this squad without spending huge money on super quality…
ricco, that’s fine…but then he uses the price tag as a reason not to make certain investments…
Stan, a Moroccan Woodbine helps!! 😉
Stan, Lee is your man for that.
I believe that he has quite a large shed/greenhouse… 😉
Oliver, i know where your coming from….
AW shows a distinct lack of common sense with some of his utterings to the phone-hacking Press.
If those remarks are meant for us, then someone in the media dept at AFC should lose their job….
cahill,m’vila and benzema…how much that little lot?
Lee, i don’t think we would get much change outta £45mill.
With Benzema, i think a major problem would be wages…
speculate to accumulate, no?
I don’t know why gooners think Benzema will come.he is sparkling with madrid at the moment.no way is he leaving.
Its not funny you guys am really delirious here…..why did wenger and IG wait this long to sell fab and why wait till u sell him before getting his replacement…it just doesn’t make no sense…why not flog him along with nashit all those months ago and build over the summer..I just can’t comprehend this….its beyond me. Who runs a club like this?
Maybe he’d be honoured to play for the only football team with “The” in their title.. 😉
i see where you are coming from oliver, we’ve heard it all before haven’t we…
but, i’m hoping he gets 3/4 who will really bolster our squad… Not confident he will, but hoping….
Just wishful thinking KT….
Wenger said he will buy 1 or 2, and I think he means it. 1 CB and 1 midfielder. And if Nasri goes, another winger/midfielder.
A really good listen:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/14516217.stm
Some happy memories…
We are being linked to zarate.top player imo…
KT, i think that Benzema might have been gettable earlier in the summer.
But the more i thought about the financial package needed, the more i came down onto your view….
Mind you, who thought that we’d ever get Bergkamp, or Campbell?
“top player” – sarcasm or genuine? I know very little about him… please tell me…
Yeah, i saw that KT, don’t recall him pulling up any trees when he was over here.
What was his record in the EPL..?
Sav, KT is a big fan of Kevin Doyle….
We’re linked with him again?
Rico will be pleased… 🙂
Drogba, we should make a cheeky bid for Drogba 🙂
Doyle, who mentioned Doyle 🙂
Great post Oliver.
My only nit pick is that I happen to be of the school of thought that booing our own team is never, ever acceptable. Full stop.
goonster,
no-one knows the answers to what you are asking, maybe he hoped he’d convince cesc to stay…
I’ve said all along that we need to sign more than defendeder. We don’t need to nessisarily sign starters, but we need depth so that we can rest, rotate, and god forbid if injury occurs, replace defenders. Well 2 or 3 injuries have occurred.
I should have mentioned that we need to sign at least 2 if not 3 defenders… to provide the depth we need. Not just the 1 CB everyone talks about.
Zarate was brilliant at lazio before he fell out with the coach.he is a very good dribbler and takes mean free kicks.i like him alot.he is accused of being abit selfish but thats not necessarily a bad attribute.i believe arsene can make him even better.
Hi Doc, iv’e been saying we need two all summer 😉
It’s a view…
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,,16426_7107756,00.html
Are we seeing a more defensive Arsenal evolving???
He barely played a full season with b’ham AK.he was signed in jan 08 but b’ham got relegated and he left to lazio that summer.
Got to pop off for a bit… Laters all…
Cheers KT, thanx for the info.
I’m offski now.
Keep The Faith…..
good day everyone, i hope some of the calmness and positivity will come may way as well. all i can think is look at what ah-sen / the board has done to the club. to say sky et al is blasting the club is sad but its all the powers that be at the club doing, they backed themselves into a corner. persons spoke out about this but we are labeled as haters, plastic fans etc.
its too late to get good players now much less super quality ones. not many club would sell their best players this close to the start of the season, it wont be easy or cheap.
Is it just me,i just cant stand barry silkman.
You can’t be a defensive team without organization and we don’t have any.
I’d love to have a couple of signing’s before the liverpool game,
Think how much of a lift it would give everyone and we would smash that liverpool team.Liverpool are the prime example of why we shouldnt waste money.100m spent and they ain’t all that.
Think of the players you could have bought with all that doe.
Zarate failed at brum,do you think he could really cut the mustard at a club like Arsenal??
Afternoon, anyone around, any news???
Arsenal fans are a bunch of prawn sarnie munching helmets … discuss
Not me Lee, I can’t afford the prawn ones 😉
Cheese and Pickle me 🙂
On a serious note Lee, if the empty seast last ninght were just the JCL’s not turning up then good, I hope they seel their ST’s to fans that want to be there to support Arsenal…
Anyone positive here and willing to actually get behind the team we have?
Er we all have, all day Will….
Evening all,
Interesting read oliver,
Blinding night last night, i thought i would add that.
After EUFA had banned our top scorer and vice captain and Manager, we go and win absolutely blinding, coupled with a few injuries, and Arsenal still managed a result.
The Fa think its there turn now, don’t like to be left out do they.
Song and Gervinho been banned for three games each, and now i hear that EUFA are retaliating by trying to get Wenger banned for our return leg, Does anybody smell a rat or are we just unlucky
Evening Steve
The Arsene thing with UEFA could be interesting, not sure they made it clear what he could and couldn’t do, i’m sure he wouldn’t have taken a ‘risk’ otherwise, he’s not stupid…
Sorry Rico, been away all day so not up with what has been said.
I thought we were magnificent last night and this could be a case of us against the world.
Evening rico, i think they think were stupid, and some supporters actually think its our fault.
This is getting to be a farce
Uefa told Wenger what he could do, he did it and they changed their minds.
Hello everyone. Nasri will be announced as a new man city player within 24 hours it is being reported. The fee is around M22 £
Thats about right Will.
Doe’s that mean that he is banned for his first Champions league game for them
Hi guys am feeling a little bit better….just hope we ll do some business before we face manure
Exactly, that’s what i said, Wenger is not stupid, he would not breach the rules ….
Hi ADK, good then if he wants to get splinters, he can go – lets use the money….
Perry Groves reckons Jadson would be a really good addition… He’s watched him….
Ignore my 5:06, that was the twat that sits next to me at work….
I think we should put a bid in for Sneijder, just offer what United offered and agree that they would pay him what he is asking for, Just to shake Rednose up
Finally…..nashit on his way out
And the fuck supports West Ham….
Him and RVP hate eachother, don’t they?
rico, do you sincerely think, wenger will spend the money? if we have earned 60M on fab and nasri, surely we can buy some serious quality in defence?
😆 Lee, i thought that was you …..
And Cahill 54mill
Steve, Inter said he is going nowhere….
Nasri and RvP Lee? I didn’t know that…
ADK, not all of it, but i think he’ll get us a couple of players…
well if he could just use 16M on cahill…
Who Lee? Who supports West ham? Perry groves?
ADK, Id’d settle for that, couldn’t we find a place for sneidjer
They want his wages gone rico, 200 Thou a week but he has said he will drop 60 grand
were loseing 120grand cesc and 80grand nas
steve.. i have just been wondering.. He said that he is not afraid to spend a lot of money on a player if the player can add quality, so if he is reluctant to buy chill for 16-17M , does that mean that he doesn’t rate cahill?
Steve, Inter have said, he’s not for sale at any cost… yes, i am sure we’d find a place on the bench for him but he’s not for sale 😉
he wants to join the Mancs, shame really, be good for a fellow dutchman for rvp…
ADK I think he rates him , I am thinking that the money he has got for Cesc is being drip fed, Barca don’t have the dough so a nas deal with wealthy city may just give us our spending money
ADK, do you honestly believe all that from Arsene, he’s taking the pee out of the press/media as they always label him as being tight….
No way would our boss spend 40M on one player…
Nor would I either, i’d rather three players for that kind of money…
Cahill, Jadson/Mata and Dann… 🙂
We have 34Million in cash for the cesc sale, the other 5M is being paid annually over five years (from reports)
excuse me if it is a dumb question, but what does it mean that the money are being drip fed? I certainly hope, he will invest in some defensive quality…
Just tell me we ll sign someone soon…..
If he’s fooling the media, he has also fooled me rico.. but i’m hoping that he will spend at least 30-40 % of the money from the sales.. and not just on one player, but 2-3..
Balague reports that Valencia are expecting a Chav bid for Mata….
🙁
The way i understood it, they would pay by installments But maybe rico could be right, i do know by reports that Barca are strapped for cash
Drip fed – ADK, that means that we are getting £1 Million each year for five years, that is being paid from Cesc….
Re the fooling, AW admitted a while back that he doesn’t tell the truth in his interviews… he’s fed up with the media and plays games with them..
I’d just rather he said nothing, tlk about the game ahead and make no comment to all other off the wall questions he gets asked by the idiots in the press/media..
that way, he can’t be mis-quoted, which he has been so many times….
Steve, the bit i wrote was from reports from barca.. in effect, yes they have paid under 30M but Cesc has made up the rest…
whether it’s true, your guess is as good as mine 😉
GB was quite clear that we got just under £40 M for the sale…
No Rico…..please tell me you are kidding…..Mata to chelski. Lord help me.
Thanks for the explanation rico.
Spot on about the interviews, if he boycotted the press, it would be much easier for him to defend something that has been written about him..
Do you reckon, we will beat liverpool this weekend?
No no goonster, it’s just rumour right now, i cant see why they’d need him…
Phew that’s a relief…..hope you are right though
Thank you rico, i must have read it wrong, i had read that Barca was struggling to get the cash and assumed, and you know thats wrong to assume
Rico, tell me we hav’nt got anyone left to get sent off this weekend will you, just to make me feel better
Hey it makes perfect sense Rico…they ll be losing ben ayoun and kalou to the swampies for modric…so there you have it.
Sneijder and RVP, I thought hated eachother…those fickle yids, you know the adebayor song they sung, theres an email with the revised lyrics…his dads an accountant and his mum studies law…….WANKERS!!!
I also read it’s no a lump up front…..
😆 Steve, we have no more due to be missing
Lee don’t bother with the lot down the road…..they are not even with a mention on any arsenal blog……don’t forget….THEY ARE FOREVER IN OUR SHADOW.
I din’t know RvP and Welsey hated eachother although something is now ring a bell…
We don’t need an over paid player, what we need is big hearts and big passion, that’s what will make us stronger.,…
goonster 🙁
No Mata then……
Lee – Lardy won’t last there, he’ll do what he always does, start well then want to move, he’s a money egoed t**t…. he’ll upset their changing rooms and thats good news……
No Rico don’t even say it….I might get a seizure….No mats? That’s inconceivable
goonster, you do make me chuckle 🙂
For real…..I don’t want to even think of mata playing for those freaks in blue…..I want in arsenal…..make it happen wenger. They ll ruin him like they did shevchenko crespo et al
I’m off for the day guys – i’ll catch you tomorrow – let’s hope for some news eh 😉
goonster, you mind you don’t have nightmares about that 😉
Nighty all….
i thought the support was pretty darn good last night and showed me that much of this arsenal in crisis stuff is media driven bollocks.
also talk of empty stadia was overexagerated.i remember the standard liege game going to general sale in 09/10 and we still had 59,000.i,m sick and tired of the media bumming up the northern clubs support without ever mentioning what a fantastic loyal supported club this is
Lee…….. prawn munching helmets……?
Morning all….
Morning guys.
How are we all today?
New Post going up…
See you there…
morning will…