Daily Bits and Bobs

Maybe the last six years wouldn't have been barren if…….

Posted on by rico

This man had been able to stay fit for longer….

If only Robin, if only....

As we entered the first International break of the season, our dear friends in the Press/Media had a field day at our expense following a nasty result or two – players went off, no doubt feeling low and down on confidence but two weeks later, they came back stronger, more determined and didn’t we notice the difference.

Since that break, the same gutter press/media haven’t had any disappointing Arsenal results/news to report and gloat over, no  ammunition to bash Arsenal with which has left Wenger and his coaches to continue working in peace to recover from the worst start to an Arsenal season since 1953-54.

The six points against Sunderland & Stoke stopped the rot and gave the squad something to build on and with it gain some much-needed confidence. In between, the win in Marseilles which was against the odds, certainly had the effect of creating some badly needed team spirit and the Carling Cup victory over Bolton kept the pot bubbling! Park Chu Young scored a corker to set up interesting next round meeting with Arabia City.

October was certainly a strange month, beginning as it did with the debilitating defeat at The Slum, then concluding with one of the most satisfying and gratifying results in recent seasons at The Bridge of Sighs. Everything in the garden is blooming following that 5-3 victory over the Chavs which seems to have gone a long way in transforming the atmosphere around the club and amongst the fans.

The optimistic of us Gooners are now predicting a top-four finish, some even suggest a top three is possible.

Who knows, maybe even the winning of a trophy this season to end 6 barren years at Ashburton Grove isn’t out of the question???

Arsene Wenger has spent the last 3 or 4 years claiming that a top-four finish is like winning a trophy and I think most Liverpool and Spud fans would agree with him, even if the Press and many Arsenal fans met such claims from our manager with derision.

I can understand the frustration’s of Arsenal fans, but I also feel that a stark new realism has hit many of those same Arsenal fans this season. The realisation that the Champions League we’ve all taken for granted during the past 14 years, isn’t a ‘given’, it is in fact quite an achievement in its own right, especially considering the inequality of the financially doped clubs we’ve found ourselves competing against since ‘Roman the Unshaved’ first drew his chariot up at Fulham Broadway.

The form of Robin Van Persie has been tinged with a certain feeling of regret and possibly the question most Gooners are asking themselves is, What if Robin had stayed fit for more of these last 3 or 4 years?

What could Arsenal have achieved with a fit and firing RVP..?

Maybe those barren six years wouldn’t have been?

It’s frustrating for all of us to think:

‘I wonder what might have been had our Number 10 not suffered so so many injuries….?’

Well, maybe this season will be the one when we find out and if our boys come back from this current International break with even more fire in their bellies than they did the first one, it could be good…..

Written by Allezkev

rico

116 thoughts on “Maybe the last six years wouldn't have been barren if…….”

  1. rico says:

    Morning all…

    Good post Kev, goodness only knows how many times i ask myself that question, just look at the form he has been in this calendar year – i’m sure we would have won a PL title had he been fit. Two seasons we had great chances but faded when it mattered.

    Had he been firing in the goals, we could have been home and dry by April 😉

  4. devilgunner says:

    Morning all you guys and chicks of the the never ending faith.

    Good points AK. Food for thought. But we must remember to add also some other what ifs……..like for example what if Cesc’s head was in its place? Or the ratster wasn’t motivated by Flamoney. Or if the togolump’s head should have been in its rightful place instead of stuck up somewhere in the clouds.

    There are many issues but as AK rightly pointed out maybe if RVP had managed to stay fit much more than he kissed the pillow then we may have won more.

  5. allezkev says:

    Morning Gooners.
    Morning Rico.
    Thanks for tidying it up… 😉
    Good news re; KT. I’ve missed his pearls of wisdom.
    Had a text/mail from Lee.
    He’s ok and everything else is kinda ok… 😐
    Any chance of putting up the Ox..?

  7. devilgunner says:

    Truly and truly I say to you, AK, that there is so much to write about our beloved club that it would take to Forever and ever. Amen.

    lol. I was just pulling the leg of a working mate and at the moment I have the muse to be a bit of a cheeky devil.

  8. rico says:

    Hi DG and Kev

    Good points made DG, it’s not only about one man however, this one man is still our, the others had little/no intention of staying around to win things with us…

    Kev, I’ll go find it…

  10. devilgunner says:

    I have just read ANR written by MP and I just cannot stop laughing. One reader asked MP whether or not he had spoken to Cesc or AW since he was still speaking in his master’s voice. You should read it to believe the crap that people come up with.

    Now if he took the luck that Arsenal have had in the last six years with him to bARSElona now would’nt we enjoy that. As it is they are already second to RM. Will Cesc have a sense of dejavu come next may???

    Now “DONT I LIKE THAT?”

  12. allezkev says:

    Cheers Rico. I’ll have a butchers.

    DG, that is a discussion that could employ us all day…

    Rico, still think that a fit RVP would have had a similar effect as Henry had on the earlier generation.
    Now to read about Oxo

  14. devilgunner says:

    AK, when we die, and die we shall, we will have all eternity to discuss everything regarding Arsenal.

    I only hope that they sell beers and vino in heaven. Or should they be free there????

    Goonster would surely spend all his time after pink dressed angels!!!

  15. allezkev says:

    Blimey, there’s some power behind those shot’s.
    A centre-forward or what..?
    An English-Henry even..?
    As long as he stays away from Darren Dein!

  17. devilgunner says:

    Now this is a good laugh mates……….

    For six long years it has irked me. Long days and longer nights pondering just what had happened that fateful day and would the mystery every be solved. I am not afraid to admit it left me discombobulated at every turn. No longer, though. The news is out. The children can smile again.

    For we are told that our former hero Lauren (Ralph) has been reunited with his £6,000 Rolex watch stolen in a burglary during his time at Highbury. Oh the relief, eh, Arsene? And it gives us a chance to publish the snap of Lauren demonstrating his negotiating skills during a game against United – apologies for the rat being in the image as well.

    For the record, we have been treated to an inspirational piece of wisdom from the Met’s DS Richard Grove, who said: “We are delighted to be able to reunite Lauren with his watch.” Hour upon hour to write that one, guv.

    Six years without a trophy? Six years without the watch? It’s a sign I tell ya…a sign. The curse has been lifted.

    Saw this in an article. This made me chuckle a bit.

  18. devilgunner says:

    The Curse of the Stolen watch.

    It should be a good article for you AK. Over to you….the ball is in your court.

  19. rico says:

    i don’t read MP anymore DG, wonder why 😉

    Morning Lee

    Kev, I agree with you, him being around the training ground a lot more than he has over the years could have made things so different, look what it seems to being doing now. Also makes me realise that maybe, Cesc really wasn’t the best man for the captains job…..

    Bit of a me me me kind of guy….

  21. rico says:

    Oh, and Real Madrid are going to offer £30M for Jack, dream on Jose, 1) he is going nowhere 2) He’s worth £100M…

    see you in a bit…..

  22. W.A.T.H says:

    Morning you lot…….. Nice post AK your def getting better, before your 80th birthday your gonna come up with a corker 😉

  23. devilgunner says:

    TBH I simply hate Maximux Pulcinellus. Although his articles have mainly negative vibes (and that says a lot about the man’s character) sometimes he puts forward salient points which are worth discussing and can prove to be food for thought.

    Good point Rico……..a me me me me guy. Do the birds of the same feather flock together at bARSElona??

    AK……is Phuket really heaven???

  24. devilgunner says:

    W.A.T.H. you made my day. I would like to see AK come out with a CORKER before he is eighty. AK we are waiting to see this corker.
    Now be a kind sport and deliver.

  36. devilgunner says:

    they play around 15 a year AK. But remember that he had ACN every two years and their qualifiers help. Plus their leagues are not as intense as the EPL or the bundesliga

  48. W.A.T.H says:

    So not long til the transfer window, means the stories are all going to start up yet again…!

    More utter drivel from the tossers in the gutter press…!

  49. devilgunner says:

    Its simple W.A.T.H. DO NOT BUY THEM. DO NOT READ THEM. Their sales will drop. And they will sack the authors of the shit stirring.

  50. W.A.T.H says:

    I don’t buy or read anything DG, i dont give a fuck what they write its the gullable masses that are the problem who then make it worse by discussing the utter crap…!

  51. devilgunner says:

    I agree mate. But those who discuss the utter crap are not supporters who have been supporting AFC since time immemorial. They are the present generation who have seen the success of Manure and the cups by AW between 98 and 2005 and always want it no matter what. Can we forget what the big man has done for us? No. And I am not an AKB. I am one of his fiercest critics as AK can testify. I would like to win cups. Who would’nt. But I can keep a level headed perspective in this situation. Not expect a cup at all costs.

    I always wanted to have a strong dad who would take on the world for me and help me out. He did. But now he is 70 years old and getting weaker by the day. That does not stop me loving him for I still remember all the sagrifices he made for me. I am independent now. But I love him more than I used to do when I was dependent on him. I still tell him when I do not agree with him. But it stops there. He will still be my dad.

    The same with AW. I can criticise him. But at the end of the day….where would we be if he did not come along in 1996?

  52. W.A.T.H says:

    Sort of two sides to that DG, we were apparently very close to signing Fungusbum….? so in all honesty where would we of been if no wenger in 96 is far to hyperthetical to answer as we would never know one way ot another.

    The JCL’s want success but I know a lot of old skool who don’t want success but do want honesty and wenger is as much to blame for the lack of that as much as the board are, he is happy to earn his 7million a year while we get stitched up with ST prices and increases and yet we have not bought the quality players we needed when the club has earned a fortune at our expense. I dont care if we win lose or draw but don’t try pull the wool over my eyes with garbage…! tell me whats going on and dont lie about a new ground and competeing and then spend 2p the next 5 years…! What he has done has been great but its also in the past and you can’t go on living on your reputation for to long.

  53. devilgunner says:

    I agree with you there W.A.T.H. But while I want honesty I also respect the man. Some of the drivel that has been thrown at him is way beyond belief and unacceptable.

  54. W.A.T.H says:

    Yep I will criticize him all day long where it’s warranted but I will not call him names or be rude about the man…!

  55. Joaquim Moreira says:

    hello
    Another international friendly games and crucial games. I hope Rosicky,Aw, Vermaelen… will be good. Anyway, norwich is just saturday…
    rico, but Mourinho is just? Just look what spanish sport press says:
    Munian, Hazard, Gotz, Rafinha Wilshere and even under the sharp eye of the coach of Real Madrid.
    The diary revealed some brand names that Real have an eye on players who are the future of world football, to name some of them already done, despite not yet having completed 20 years.
    At the head, Muniain, 18, Athletic Bilbao playmaker that incorporates the claw typical of the Basques (contract until 2015 with the termination clause of 40 million euros). Hazard, 20, Belgian gives magic to Lille, and Gotz, 19, Dortmund player that can make all the offensive positions in midfield, “the greatest talent in recent years in Germany,” according to the German coach, Joachim Low , are closely monitored, almost under the microscope, both with termination clauses 20 million euros.
    Wilshere, center-English Arsenal midfielder, 19, in the process of molding Arsene Wenger, is another of the wonders watched closely as Rafinha Alcantara, 18, brother of James, who must renew soon with Barca.
    Mostly of the names (or all…) are our target too.

  56. W.A.T.H says:

    Amazing how all these other clubs try to buy the young players that we are linked with JM…. least RM wont get all of them for sure and they are all very similar kind of players as well so maybe two for RM and we get Goetze….? Don’t want Hazard seems like a bit of a problem child to me and we’ve had enough of them, no thanx…!

  58. W.A.T.H says:

    Shit Lee thats like trying to second guess what hair colour Song is gonna come up with on Saturday……. I think we all know we’re still 2 quality players short of being really competative……….! If he buys another top quality striker and ball winner in midfield I think we’d give anyone a run for their money, still aslo need to get rid of a good 5/6 players as well and thats prob the problem we’re gonna have.

  59. devilgunner says:

    W.A.T.H. personally I prefer to have Reus and Grosskreutz in our line up than Hazard. Gotze is another level headed player. Success has not gone to his head right now. But he could play in the hole. Some players need to go and others need to come in. The problem is wages. Cannot see clubs paying Almunia, Squillaci, Bendtner and Chamack the money they are earning at highbury. So we are stuck up with them until they bugger off. The thing is they will end up like Gallas boy who refused 90K a week at AFC stating he was worth much more and since no one signed him he had to go to the scum and was paid much less.

    And at the moment as I said in my article……….players should come from Germany, Belgium and Holland besides England. Nothing more nothing less.

  62. stevepalmer1 says:

    Hi all, nice one AK, didn’t realise you were that old mate!!!
    Robins fitness is neither here or there he is one player a very good player but there are another ten. Lets face it we haven’t been good enough and the line ups that other teams are amassing are really impressive, its about buying quality and having to spend the money to get them. what ever the reasons for not spending is whats holding us back, AW spends very little on medioca players and tries to make them better, he does fairly well at that but not enough to win anything, we spend enough to keep us challenging but thats about it untill the purse strings are loosened quite considerably, we will keep coming up short. but as quite a lot of you have said we don’t have a bad squad, and who knows.

  63. W.A.T.H says:

    Sorry DG had a few things to go sort out, I agree with you I like the kraut, dutch and belgian players normally their attitude is spot on their technically very good and they not normally playboys…!. A few of the players you mention are free at te end of the season so at least will be gone and off our books but still afew who we cant get rid of so at least loands to help pay the wages helps until they also leave for free and what a waste that is because we overpaid them in the first place, so much for financially well run club who then pay average players far to much money and great players only slightly more….! Plainly a flawed system…!

  65. W.A.T.H says:

    Typical woman always having to take the trolley up EVERY isle and looking at 20 different shops before going back to the first to buy that 1 thing……….. 😛

  68. rico says:

    I’m trying a new one, Tiger Bread – 🙂

    Anyway, enough of my boring tales, what’s in the news of Arsenal…

    Tonight is the internation matches again isn’t it?

    Afternoon Steve…

  69. Micko says:

    Afternoon all,

    Kev, 92………… really, when you were a boy the dead sea must’ve still been alive !

    As an arsenal fan one of my biggest “if only – what if’s” and there’s been a few has to be the legend that is dennis bergkamp missing the penalty in the last minute against man united in the fa semi final back in 99, they went on to do the treble, we missed out on the cup final and lost the league by a point, that season could have turned out so differently, it took a long time to get out of my system but i’m over it now, ok it still irks me.

  70. rico says:

    Hi Micko, would any other keeper, bar the big dane have saved that one?

    I still wish one of our players had hacked Giggs down when he went one ‘that run’….

  71. Micko says:

    Hi rico, its hard to get it out of the system isn’t it, wiltord scoring the winner at old trafford for the title a couple of years later was a real tonic though.

  72. rico says:

    But so many times have we lost out because of ‘one’ moment Micko, even last season in the CC…

    They stay for ages and grind away, but yes, the Wiltord winner was a bit of a tonic…. We need a few more of those moments…

    You team playing again tonight? A win will see you through won’t it??

  73. Micko says:

    Yeah, ireland won 4 nil last friday so its pretty much in the bag tonight, just gotta go through the motions, it won’t be the prettiest but fans will be partying too much to even notice, Dublin will be rocking.

  74. rico says:

    Do you need a win or will a draw do, same oppo tonight isn’t it? Estonia?

    As they say in the Euro Song contest – estonia, nil points 🙂

  75. Micko says:

    Devil, these people that go around stealing rolex watches, its makes you wonder what makes them tick………they’ll eventually get caught and end up doing time !

  78. W.A.T.H says:

    I was there that night Micko…. It was a very very defining moment when DB10 missed that penalty….. We would of won the double and them f’kin kuntz would never of done the treble……!

    I’m not bitter about it at all…..!!!!!

  79. Lee says:

    jimmy saville has left money in his will to set up a buddhist institute.

    It’s to be called “now zen now zen”…

  83. rico says:

    Lee, that’s bad 😉 Taxi indeed, talking of which, Evening Kev 😉

    Wath, you, bitter and twisted? Surely not and your spelling is shocking 😉 😉

  84. devilgunner says:

    Pension AK??? Now why did you go and tell him you are over 65? Even Micko gave the game away when he told you that the dead sea must have still been alive when you where a young un. I am still cracking my side with laughter with that comment.

    Great one Micko.

  85. devilgunner says:

    And there I was doing my damned hardest to convince him you were 41. Now that’s a shame.

    I want Podolski, Reus and Grosskreutz. Get rid of Arshavin, Chamack amd Bendtner. Sell Diaby and Denilson and buy Goetz. Sell Song if he does not want to sign and get M’Vila. If only life was that simple.

  88. rico says:

    DG, I echo Lee, simples and then we’d show the others just why you don’t always need to break the bank…..

    Don’t forget Squilli and I’d even sell JD and add Cahill to your list…..

  89. rico says:

    Hi steve, i couldn’t see that article, other ones but not the one about paying players on international duty….

  90. stevepalmer1 says:

    sorry wrong link, can’t find the one i wanted but the gist was that barca’s president wanted fifa or eufa to pay the players wages when playing for their countries.

  92. rico says:

    that could very well naff fifa/uefa off then Steve – Good….

    Evening goonster, i thought you were the oldest on here??

  93. devilgunner says:

    You lot are all like ladies who do not like to state their age.

    I am 43 and proud of it. And I was born on the best day of the year.

    Goonster!!!!! What did you do today if I may ask????

  94. rico says:

    DG – I am proud of my age too, it’s only a number..

    So, your birthday has to be December 25th, or did the day become the best day because you were born 😉

  95. devilgunner says:

    No not December 25th although that is my favourite day of the year.

    It is the best day of the year simply because it was MOTHER’S DAY

  97. devilgunner says:

    Thanks Rico.

    However the months leading up to Christmas have to be my best time of the year. All year round my family live simply for Christmas.

  102. rico says:

    Forgot to grease the tray kev, too busy concentrating on the bloody paste for the top 😉 Nice though, if slightly not looking as if it came from Teso or JS 😉

    Mind you, the best TB is from Morrison, it’s just wonderful….

  110. rico says:

    Hi JM.. Hope Merts doesn’t get injured…..

    Guys, i’m off for the day, catch up tomorrow for a DG post… 🙂

    Stay safe all…

    Nighty night….

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