Morning all.
According to reports this morning in the Daily Star, Arsene Wenger is still on the trail of Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender and a £20 million bid is being planned for January.
The Daily Mirror report that Per Mertesacker is set to be offered a three year contract extension. Deserved I’d say on the last 10-12 months performances.
I never really get why fans simply boo and abuse other club players without some kind of justifiable reason. I get why Shawcross was booed because what he did to Ramsey was awful but for the Swansea fans to boo Ramsey for the most of the game was simply stupid in my opinion.
All because he once played for another Welsh team, tsk, how juvenile…
Anyway, our ‘in form’ midfielder had the final say when he fired home our second. Prior to that, Serge Gnabry scored his first goal for the first team and somehow, I don’t think it will be too soon before he gets more…..
The man who trusts in him deserves a lot of credit for giving him his chance too and right now, if Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were fit, Arsene Wenger would no doubt, find it very difficult to drop the young German in the place of either.
Talking of the manager, what a way to celebrate seventeen years to the day that he signed his first contract. He’s had his critics over the years but right now, on the pitch, he’s getting things right. Very right and yesterday, his half-time words paid great dividends.
The first half was a strange one, to use one of the managers favourite sayings, we lacked urgency in our play, we also lacked pace and directness. Only Serge Gnabry appeared willing to run at the opposing defence. We seemed to look for the safe pass which was a bit too often sideways, backwards or on occasion, to the opposition. Swansea were’t a lot better to be honest and surprisingly, neither keeper had a save to make which speaks volumes.
Mertesacker and Giroud had the best chances but the big German headed his chance wide and the Frenchman somehow shot wide when you’d have expected him to do a lot better.
However, something clearly happened during the interval because we picked up our game.
Just after the 50 minute mark, Gnabry brought out the first save from Michael Vorm, albeit from a soft shot straight at the keeper but at least he was prepared to shoot.
The same player didn’t waste the next chance though which cam just minutes later. Giroud played the ball back to Ramsey just outside the penalty area, he then played a lovely weighted ball into the path of Gnabry who fired home along the ground, past Vorm and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. Super finish from the youngster.
That woke the boys up that’s for sure. Ozil was next to get a chance and he looked a certainty to score but it wasn’t to be as Vorm saved well.
We weren’t kept waiting too long for the second. On 62 minutes, Jack Wilshere looked to have been sold short on a pass but he wasn’t letting the ball get away from him. After a strong challenge, he won the ball, played it to Giroud who then played it onto Ramsey. A touch took the ball to the right of the Swansea player and then he blasted the ball into the top of goal.
This boy just can’t stop scoring.
I was quite surprised to see Bony on the bench as the game started but after going 2-0 down, on him came and he played a huge part in Swansea’s goal. Davies was gifted far too much space down the left and his ball to Bony was chipped back to him over our defence and neither Mertesacker of Szczesny could prevent the Swansea playing from kneeing it home.
That left for a nervous finish but apart from a stinging shot from Nathan Dyer, we coped well with anything else the home side tried….
Gnabry was replaced with Arteta on 77 mins. Ozil and Wilshere were replaced with both Monreal and Wilshere just in time to hear the final whistle and of course to waste a few seconds….
All in all, a very good afternoons work……
Next up is Napoli on Tuesday…..
Have a good day all….
New post up now….
Munchini back into football management with Galatasaraay
Flamini vs the diving italians will be a spectacle in midfield tomorrow. lol
Insigne the magician…
ask*-> as
Morning all,
That is excellent news to wake up to re Nico, Kev.
Micko, you know resistance is beautiful… as Mugabe and Idi Amin. 😛
Good point Micko, about the sheep 😉
Kev, agree re Flamini, it certainly wasn’t ever Chamakh eh 😉 3 years eh, thanks, I didn’t realise, why’s he talking about returning to France already then I wonder.. Keeping his home sweet no doubt, just hope his country don’t call him up any time soon..
Rosicky back in full training today, could make the bench tomorrow but I hope he and Cazorla don’t feature until the weekend at the earliest, if not, after the internationals..
Morning all by the way…
Rosicky must be close to a return also.
Could do with him retiring from International football, but it ain’t gonna happen with a World Cup in Brazil next year…
Arteta can see us thru the Napoli/West Brom games, then Cazorla and Podolski return for Norwich after the Interlull…
Cazorla, fit for Napoli…???
Or will Arsenal hold him and Podolski back for a couple more weeks, thus avoiding the International break?
Makes sense to me.
Flamini, fast becoming our best Bosman signing since Sol Campbell…
Rico, I believe Flamini signed for 3 years and not 2…
He has 3 yellows in his locker already, so I guess he’ll soon be having a rest…
Arteta took a yellow @ Swansea so they’re beginning to add up…
I suppose we’re gonna have to expect a few suspensions this season, given the new (old) pragmatic approach to an organised defensive unit as opposed to more recent times of tiki-tacka rubbish..,
The Uncle Bouldy influence perhaps???
Yennaris back soon Ginge, I have heard/read…
rico, sheep out number people by 3-1 in Wales, Ramsey won the lottery the day wenger came calling, he owes us big time and he’s finally paying it back in spades.
tsgh, Flamini every day of the week and twice on a sunday, you know it makes sense, resistance is futile.
Scott, I’m glad Gervinho fcuked off as well, must have been hard picking up 60 grand a week, no wonder he never complained, that was dedication beyond the call of duty, I wish him all the best as well.
Ginge, i am glad for Gervinho.
So he never worked out for us.
He seems a good guy who never complained….i wish him all the best.
Morning all.
Gerv scores another stunner… AS Roma; Totti desrves it a modern day 1 team man.
Oh well, it’s X Factor and Strictly so I’ll head off and get watching..
Night folks, ’til tomorrow…
Anyone home?
Good question that Paddy, but i think you answered it yourself when you said you had sent your own son off. Throughout a game as you know the referee hears many comments mixed up with gestures and sware words, i honestly feel that referee’s have to have thick skins but even so they remember the worst ones . Whether you are or were a supporter of certain clubs i like to think that they are honest people and play the game as its supposed to be. The way the game is officiated with 4 officials i would think it was odd if all 4 had supported the same team. Personally i think the referee’s committee are bent anyway but thats just my view but untill its proved i just hope we don’t get paired with certain ones.Supprisingly enough i have noticed that when an artical of certain refs have been written that has conotations of certain refs to certain teams, the referee has rulled against the team that he has been linked with or perhaps thats just my view.
Off to get dinner now, catch up in a bit..
Paddy, I was told by an amateur ref a few years ago that he put down he supported Milwall when he actually supported the Scums… that is the scary issue. I know from watching a documentarya few years back where one of the big refs at the time said he was a Tranmere fan;
Most refs claim to support smaller clubs when in actual fact they support a bigger club.
As an example Barnet fans like us but hate the scums so… we just have to live with it I believe.
My biggest gripe is not with the refs but with TV stations involved with betting too…
They are humans as you say; as long as they don’t do it openly and delibrately for all eyes to see. But some of them do anyway.
🙂 Ts, thank you…
When are we playing the bin dippers this season?
Paddy, I once wrote a post about exactly that topic, and I couldn’t agree more. But it goes deeper than that. Say a ref supports Everton and we are playing Liverpool who need just one point.
It’s 0-0 and Giroud goes over in the box but it’s clearly not a penalty, would a ref who is an Everton fans award us the penalty just to stop Liverpool from winning the title?
Paddy, Rico wrote an awesome post about refs. last season…
Fellaini isn’t having a good time at Man Utd, I sometimes believe certain players don’t suit certain clubs and he at the Mancs is one but it’s early days…
If we don’t beat Man utd when we play them, I’ll be really disappointed and quite surprised..
On the topic of referees I would like to hear some comments:
Referees are human(!!!!!!) and when growing up presumably they supported certain teams (as I assume they were involved with football). So say, if a referee has supported Chelsea all his life and the crunch comes and Chelsea are playing any team and need just one point to take the title. With 4 minutes to go and Chelsea losing 1-0 (at the Emirates), and there is a challenge between 2 players which is just two players coming together. Does the referee play on allowing the Gunners to clear the ball or does he gi ve a penalty allowing Chelsea the chance to take the point they need and therefore the title. I firmly believe that when referees pass their course, they should be made to declare the team they supported as a boy/man. They should then never (or hardly ever) referee that team. I have refereeed at a very low level and have often had to referee my own team when the ref did not turn up (a toss up of a coin between the two managers decides who referees the match). I can assure you it is very difficult to give a free kick (or indeed a penalty) against your own side. I like to think I am an honest broker (I once sent my own son off in a match because he punched another player – so it was a red card) but it was not easy to do. So do you think that Howard Webb should not referee Manure (I am making the assumption that Howard is a Manure supporter
Ts, he got the better of Arsene at The Ems Cup 😉
We’ll see, but it should be a cracking game of football…
A narrow 1-0 home victory would do me and I don’t care if it’s an own goal either 😉
Napoli, I think we can take them to the cleaners; I’m worry about Dortmund. Since we last played them with Kagawa in their squad, they have improve IMO. They took RM to the cleaners in last CL.
Didn’t the media once say Raheem Sterling was better than Theo after 5 games last season? 😀 😀
Now I have a BIG question for Micko;… Fellaini or flamini?. 😛
Someone paid £20M for Henderson?
I guess it depends on how it is analysed; is he worth 2 Gervinho’s or a half of Ozil? 🙂
You are right again Rico… Italian teams are very difficult to break down; but I think AW verse Rafa stats are promising.. as always a win for the good guys from north London… 😉
🙂 re your assessment of Gerv Ng, I happen to share the same view….
I strongly suspect they will Ts, but Napoli will be harder to beat that any other team we have faced so far this season. I dread Dortmund…
Hi Ng.
Hi Rico
tsgh, both TW and Gervinho can frustrate the living hell out of fans. Both, in most games are/were our outlet, pass defenders with pace. TW, can showup and score just when you least expect him, but with Gervinho, you will think the side netting is all he sees.
Rico-I think BVB will cause us a sterner test… Hofmann, Jakub Blas…ski, Lew, Reus, Pierre Aubameyang, Groskreutz are far superior than Hig, Hamsik, Pandev, Zapata. Naples biggest threat wil be Dries Mertens/Hamsik who is underrated imho…
What BVB will struggle against with is who turns up on the day re. Hummels/Subotic; whilst Naples have a solid defends in Cannavaro and Maggio…
Saying that Naples have been playing 2 upfront which we struggle against especially with HAmsik’s speed plus Martens vs Gibbs will be exciting…
Was it a chelsea team under Jose that a fan was snoozing during play? lol
JM, Napoli will be our toughest game of the season so far imho..
Thanks Ng re the post…
Me too Ng… but I guess you knew that already 😛
I was reading Rednoses input/advice on a good manager and he talked about the fact that a good manager had to have complete control of every thing.
I never heard any pundit say Fergie was a control freak; and considering Fergie’s relationship with most of his former players are sketchy and Aw has players like Hoddle,VP, Klinsman and Weah still discussing AW whenever they can I know who I prefer…
I guess maybe the world judges a footballer/managers success with the trophies he has won.
But in all walks of life if we were judged on how much we had in our back accounts then majority of adults will fail…
Suarez at it again.
Andy, re your 2.15 – I don’t think we would…
Evening peeps..
Put Mourinho in charge as Arsenal manager, we’ll file for bankruptcy in less than 3 years time.
tsgh, AW is not perfect; just like any other human, and he does make some mistakes and learn from it. But I will take him as Arsenal manager any day of the week.
Spot on Ng re Song but most fans complained Song was very indisciplined because some of us including the media did not understand that some DM like him and Khedira were not the sitting type…
But I would say that Poldi has more of a work ethic than AA23 and Theo.. Ozil may not tackle but he closes the angles down superbly making it difficult for opposition to settle etc…
Liverpool scored but with the arm! Fault!
Zaha verse Serge… both of Ivorian heritage.
Both profuse to be Arsenal and AW fans.
One cost approximately £15M and the other less than £500k. I know the one I prefer and again AW has saved the club serious cash…
@JM, I really like Adam Johnson. I do believe he hasn’t fine his right club yet.
Did you watch Gervinho goal last Wednesday?
Gervinho is completely integrtae in Roma squad
tsgh, re: Gervinho, I’ve only watched him once or twice. Roma is more of Toni.
afternoon all!
Sagna was imense yesterday when Gnaby was done his defend work.
Arsenal, finally has defend now like a group.
Naples will be a very interesting game. They have a good team (better then that one at The Emirates cup)
Larson hit the bar!
Sunderland has a team to climb up at the table
tsgh, what you’re saying might be true re: Bould/Banfield, but when Song was with us and JW wasn’t injured, we had the same effect in M-field. He (Song) was doing all the tackles and once in a while making all those killer passes ( as Adam would called it). Bould/Banfield wasn’t with us then.
Ng, have you seen the new AS roma side? Gervinho is playing like Reus.lol
Most fans won’t believe it… I guess some players are not suited to the none tactical game in this league.
Afternoon Ng,
The whole team are putting in a shift which is the most important thing. In my view between 2008 and February 2013, our physical input was very average compared to the other bigger clubs.
The team had a visible split between defenders and attackers in terms of responsibilities on the field. We never defended as a unit but attacked as a unit thereby making us prone to the ‘sucker punch’.
I guess the Bould/Banfield influence is being felt now and seen by results too; the whole team bar one or 2 players put in the necessary shift as a unit.
Personally, I think Banfield’s influence on the midfielders is the biggest but his effort is not truly being appreciated by the media and fans alike. He is the one who has come in and allowed our midfield 3 to keep the triangles and distances in games; albeit we have players who are developing their technical and tactical awareness.
I can’t stop imagine RVP leading the front line at this current Arsenal squad. Boy oh boy, it could be another double.
btw, I’m watching Adam Johnson for Sundayland. 🙂
Good Afternoon Folks.
Rico, nice write up. ” This boy just can’t stop scoring.” I admit I was wrong and never saw this coming. Who could have predicted that comes 2013 Ramsey could be on fire? Some of us said negative things and he proves us wrong.
Begovic is not afc quality. Lol
Giroud looked lazy at times but still involved with both goals, holding up the ball and linking the play nice. If he was right footed I think he would have blasted it at goal but instead chose to cut it back to Ramsey to tuck away, that’s great awareness and team play.
He did not score but I’d say he had a solid game.
About the booing for Ramsey.. I’m not sure how fierce the rivalry is between Swansea and Cardiff but say if we draw Real Madrid in the knockout rounds of the CL, would Arsenal fans boo Bale and Modric because they was ex spurs players ?
Don’t get the time Ts 😉
Hi Dna..
I’m off out with the woofa, back in a couple of hours…
hi Dna, its fine here re player
Good morning HH, the Swans highlights on afc.com is not authorized in US, is anybody having the same problem?
do you watch nat geo channel?
re OG12, on the plus side he is not a starter for Le Bleus so he will get a nice break on the bench.lol
Exactly Ts, and I suspect that deal could become permanent in the summer when Fabianski leaves.
He’s knackered Ts..
I think the Italian is happy to get a good salary from us too… probably 10k more than what he was on in Italy… in the mean while both Flappy and Scez will have someone to learn from instead of rookie Martinez.
I am also concerned that AW is not taking out OG12 to save him from injuries… B-52 could do with more 5 to 10 minute cameos…
Have to agree there Ts, signing the Italian seems to have done the trick 😉
OG12 has started on his habitual 7 game ‘non scoring’ run. Lets hope he has improved enough to make it just 4 or 5 at most during his barren spells… 😉
It seems the full Naples team are available to face us…
Napoli squad for Arsenal: Rafael, Reina, Colombo, Albiol, Britos, Cannavaro, Fernandez, Armero, Behrami, Dzemaili, Hamsik, Inler, Mesto, Radosevic, Zuniga, Callejon, Mertens, Higuain, Insigne, Pandev, Duvan
Spot on. even Scez has been magnificent thus far…
We also have a squad of very good players who have played a huge part in what we are achieving so far this season.
Arsene Wenger has been very quick to point that out too….
Ramsey is on fire, but let’s not forget the others….
To much Jack and Cider!!! We ARE ARSENAL!!!!! FUCK THE LANE!!!!!
Behind the team in front of the sofa!!!! WE’VE GOT ARRON RAMSEY!!! Never booed always believed!!! RAMBO!!!!
Night Scott.
Talking about Serge…my only concern is that he is another no.10 going through the AW refinery mills with the expectation of being a winger…
How long will he be contend to playing on the wings?From what I have seen from him at international and reserve level he does not mind playing on the lhs but he is clearly effective from the middle…
Its also interesting that Aw seemed to instruct JW to stick to the lhs in the 2nd half to help Gibbs out defensively.
Sp1, I think you are spot on about Serges football brain…unfortunately most of our English players develop that side to their game later than our continental rivals.
As Dev always says the youth coaches are dinosaurs or are using prehistoric methods thereby deterring most English players from matching their talent with acheivement.
One reason why I always thought Ramsey might acheive more in the short to medium term than jack…
Night Scott.
I am off guys.
Have a great day.
KT, word as it Ozil asked how long Ramsey was contracted for.
He did not want to join the club only to see his favourite player leave soon after 🙂
Yanited fans have asked Apple to make the next Iphone longer so they can see where the club sits on the table 🙂
Ramsey is top scorer top assister and top tackler in the league so far… Mesut probably never knew who rambo was prior his arrival.
scott – u re welcome 😉
Celtic will be pleased, Messi is out of their CL tie, injured..
Nothing to do with his court case I suspect 😉
Emma, thanks for that.
Damn, he is in great form.
Cheers Kev. Remind me to show you my Royal Enfield when we meet.
Wrong link. Sorry here it is 😉
http://youtu.be/UmxBxgQnLoM
Emma, is Kozzer a DM waiting to be discovered 🙂
Another Ramboski performance to salivate 😆
http://youtu.be/TFtYyCUvqjM
what is scary is that mesut isn’t even at 60% yet…when santi returns he will improve drastically.if we can get all our players back…
http://youtu.be/TFtYyCUvqjM
That’s what worries me emma, no doubt the manager will keep an eye on that and make sure he gets any ban before we play the so called ‘big teams’…
Yes Kev, pre-Christmas 🙂
You have more than one if’s it’s on my behalf 😉
rico – I think he will get one 🙁 but hope he doesn’t miss the big matches
If Gnabry was still on the pitch Davis wouldn’t have scored because he kept tracking back and made Sagna job easier. Walcott should learn from this kid ‘How to defend and attack’
The one thing i love in a young player is composure.
It is something you can not teach.
Gnabry has it in spades.
That finish was as cool as you could hope for from a 200 game player.
That kid has one massive future.
I have to say Adam, that I was very impressed, the last time we met, with your very own quiff, grown no doubt in honour of Le Q himself…
I could almost imagine you at a 1950’s revival evening… 😉
http://youtu.be/xiK7yZxvKBQ
I’m not sure TW will walk back into this side once fit Sp, AW this season isn’t changing a side that’s winning….
But Gnabry is still young and can’t play every week so sooner rather than later the change will be made no doubt
Maybe Theo will come out of his 5 week recovery a centreforward!!!
Messiesque any one???? 😉
On the wagon?
Really…. 😉
Ok, I’ll drink one for you then Rico.., 😀
Steve i like how you have analysed Gnabry.he seems to think a lot more when on the pitch.his defensive work rate was outstanding.
🙂 Adam.
Are we away to West Brom next weekend?
Then it’s the Interlull again, right???
Lots of games to play, plenty of players to choose from….what bloody crisis lol.
This is a very different position we find the squad in to the last several seasons.
Yes emma, I know. Just hope he doesn’t need to do that too often though as his yellows will soon equal a ban..
🙂 Kev, you can have the cheesecake, but no Peroni for me thanks, I am being good on the wagon 🙁
Scott. I believe it is the weight of Giroud’s quiff and it influence on the aerodynamics of his head that means he pulls his shots wide.
I think Theo will be straight back in myself though my clairvoyance isn’t that good really.
emma/ts i watched athletico beat madrid last night.they do miss Mesut.Isco is a fantastic individual but Oezil had selflessness to his game that allowed the attack to click.Ronaldo was the main beneficiary to this.he made all sorts of decoy runs to aid him not to forget direct assists.as a result madrid’s attack isn’t cohesive as a unit.
I agree on Gnabry replacing TR07. But I still feel that the latter should not be shunted aside as I feel he has a role to play in this team. Obviously not whole games but can help a lot.
Theo Walcott has it all in his locker, pace tecnique and he can score as well, he probably does that better than anyone else in the frame but where he falls down for me is his teamwork and his brainwork. Walcott can be frustratingly watchable and at one time i would have replaced him without loseing a heartbeat, but the lad has it all but his lazy, Gnabry isn’t as exciting to watch as perhaps Oxlaid chamberlain but what i like about him is he is a team man he is a thinker and he is a work horse for someone that young he is defo one for the future. Theo will walk back into the squad but if i am wrong about his brain, he will realise that if his workrate does not go up he could end up a sub.
Rico, I will swap you a Peroni for a lemon cheesecake, yeah?
rico – That’s what you expect a DM to do ‘Break Up Play’ and ‘Get Your Hands Dirty’. That’s why we all have being crying for a DM specialist over the years. Like you said I wasn’t happy with the way he left but he is turning out to be our best signing of the season. I doubt Arteta would have stopped that move all b/s he wants to play neat. It will take an injury for Arteta to get his place in the squad. That’s another wannabe capt back on the bench with Vermaelen
hi ts.i like how pragmatic wenger is nowadays.we end up with 4 FBs in most games.to conserve leads.it isn’t pretty but it works.with BFG at the back we finally have a commanding presence to help us see out games.i love this team.
Good points Andy, Flamini’s influence on the field has probably surpassed Ozil’s…
Ozil’s influence has been mainly psychological.
We are now a big club again.
The fans are beginning to believe it.
The players defo do…
The Media are scant in their praise, which is good. Keeps things low-key.
So far do good eh?
Thanks Ginge and Emma…glad it is not my imagination.
Something to work on, but a fairly easy one.
It could make all the difference to him, and to us in a big game.
I reckon he fact we kept Nico goes a long way to suggesting he has a future at the club, considering the players we let go.
I hope so.
It’s funny how when our top side are playing well pur kids look better.
It makes a massive difference bringing them into an in form side rather than using them because we are playing crap or have mass injuries.
Timing is everything with kids.
Crikey, I refreshed my page and thought it had flicked over to a Spanish football league review site…. 😉
Scott spot on re: Giroud
He did same at sp*rs and chavs last season
I was quite envious Kev, just at the thought of one 😉
Welcome Andy. I wasn’t too happy when Flamini signed but he’s turning out to be the best ‘freebie’ of the summer.
Loved it yesterday when he took a booking as Swansea looked to break. Had he not, who knows what may have happened…
Hmm Rico, I thought you might… 🙂
ts – coq was substituted b/s of the red card given to their CB.
Costa is on the roll. Madrid are now facing reality of life without Ozil who makes CR7 job easier. That was a huge win for Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone is doing a pretty good job. I like him
Yeah Ginge, I just hope that he doesn’t ‘miss the boat’ a la Frimpong/Afobe, because of his injuries…
I still see him more in a full-back role myself…
He has, IMHO, more opportunity to carve a career at Arsenal in that role rather than midfield, where the competition is fierce…
Hi kt..
🙂 Kev, I just thought……..
Spot on Scott.Everton at home in April comes to mind.he had the opportunity to makeit 1 nilnto us and did thesame.
Devil, good, that’s what this team and especially players like TW need – a fight for their place. Look at last season when TW was dropped at the start of the season, when he finally played he played some of his best football.
As soon as Ox got injured this season, TW has been far too laid back because he knew he would start. Now things are very different, which will hopefully shake him up and we’ll see a different player when he returns…
Hi Coach, 800 kids, blimey that’ll keep you busy..
Emma, costa buried rm last nite.he is on fire…
Question on Giroud.
Actually, it is an observation of mine, and could be way off the mark.
When he misses when in a one on one situation and from relatively close range, it seems to me he shoots across the keeper.
He rarely goes to the near post.
Am i right, or imagining things?
I like your 10:37 kev.dont forget deov’s boy yennaris who has been unluvky with injuries,
Whats your opinions on Flamini so far ?
For me I thought when he signed, that if he played as good as he did in his last season he had with us then he would be a very good signing.
The 5 years in Italy has without doubt improved his tactical awareness and positioning and has come back an even better player than before, a work horse a talker always organising trying to keep the defensive shape and pointing to who needs to be marked.
Top stuff, he has already surpassed my expectations.
My head Rico…??? 😉
Is surprisingly clear, a rare occurrence indeed… 😛
It also seems to me that Wenger has gone back to the invincibles blueprint.we sat back soaking pressure in the 1st half without allowing them a sniff.in the 2nd half we cranked up the gears in a period of 15 or so minutes to tear swansea apart to win the game.some of the link up was sensational in those minutes not forgetting the lethal counter attacks.the fab era deprived us of such quality with their one dimensional play.this team can play tiki taka or counter attack just as well while holding onto leads.
Thanks Kt..
Tbh, as much as I rate Bender, and would be delighted if we signed him, I’d like to see Olsson and Hayden given the opportunity to replace Arteta…
Gnabry will probably replace Rosicky, in fact that transformation is already in operation.
I was highly impressed by Gnabry. He had a good game and I felt that when he came off to be replaced by Arteta we lost a bit of balance.
Theo has a fight on his hands. mark my words.
Gnabry is here to stay. He gives a good balance to the team.
Wait till you see an AM of Cazorla, Ozil and Gnabry backed by Wilshere and Aaron.
🙂 Scottt…you could be retiring on his signing on fee.
kev, I like me a Bender or 2 and as Rico says AW is surely a fan too but I think if Ramsey continues in this form then we would need a younger box to box to replace Diaby instead.The benders do not score goals like Gundogan and he has told bvb he wont renew his contract..and bvb have sahin and Sven as cover.
Reus is a different fish though..he was like Suarez yesterday.he was the reason le coq was subbed at half time as Coq was playing on the lhs and he had a mare…
Thanks Sp, your comment has made me chuckle, they should give that 4th official body armour 😉
emma – we need to be thinking about replacements for Arteta, Diaby and Rosicky imho. Lars could be that man.
Maybe the better option would be Lars and Reus but then I am known to be greedy 😉
Morning Kev, how’s your Peroni head?? 😉
Doubt if we go in for Lars. We’ve got that midfield covered
Morning Kev. Cheers Scott. I would suggest, judging by the evidence, that great sportsman are usually just that. When you look at the role call of drunks, wife-beaters, scumbags, bigots, morons and deviants that adorn the media, who could argue?
Morning Adam, thanks.
Totally agree re the Sunday Supplement crew, I haven’t seen it this morning but how they bleat on about what they think will happen during the season can only be laughed at.
They need to put their crystal balls down and see what is happening right now and maybe they’d speak a be more sense…
The striker situation really worries me too, I’m not sure how much longer Giroud can go on, he looked shattered yesterday. 2/3 weeks ago he would have buried the chance he had yesterday..
We could do with getting a ‘little niggle’ next weekend and not going away with France.
Good read rico.fantastic game yesyerday from the team.Ramsey is doing exactly what Vieira used to do.he drives the team forward while also being excellent defensively.he made 7/7 tackles yesterday in addition to scoring and assisting and setting up a clear cut chance for Mesut.he is a complete midfielder at the moment.Diaby was meant to be the one to replace vieira but at the moment it seems it will be Aaron.
Goodmorning all,
Timid 1st half but we roll it in the 2nd
The final piece to complete the Jigsaw in our squad is REUS. He was instrumental to Dortmunds 5-0 win v Freiburg yesterday
Rico, the pundits you mentioned are, in general, a laugh.
I truly believe there are more knowledgable people posting regularly on here than plenty of “experts” being paid to give opinions.
Morning all, nice write up Rico,
Was watching the tv this morning a football program, and they were talking about how much stick the forth official takes during a match. If this is such a problem why doesn’t he go to the other side of the pitch and sit in peace. What a load of rubbish they all talk.
Haha Ginge…the kid has a loooooong way to go mate.
Adam, well said.
It has always appeared to me that the media love to see ex players names under an article more than a decent article in their paper.
Where did the presumption come from that great sportsman just must be intelligent?
I do not get it.
Anyway, Arsenal seem much more comfortable defending a lead now than they have for quite a while.
Let us hope it continues.
Morning Rico, just off to read your post.
Thanks Ts.
Seems AW likes Bender though..
Totally agree Scott – we are beating sides we ‘should’ beat and that’s all we can ask for. Not many pundits think we are a serious challenge and that’s good. Let them worry about reporting on the Mancs and Chavs troubles and leave us to quietly go about our business…
Morning Ginge, ah a Bender in the midfield..
Lars or Sven, I rate them both.
But I’d take Reus before either if I am honest…
Adam, good morning to you buddy…
Morning Scott…
All I wanted the club to do, was to show ambition, the kind of ambition that any football club, that has pretensions of being a major European power, should have…
The signing of Ozil was just that….
It has changed the entire mindset of our club, at every level, and of how we are perceived abroad…
As Lee so succinctly puts it, ‘showing some fcuking intent’…
Sentiments that I totally concur with…
Hence the change in my mood… 🙂
Morning Rico, Devil and all.
Good report Rico. We really have become a one-half team after moving toward this mode for quite some time. We now seem better able to contain other teams until the quality we have gets a chance to create something – like a goal. Perhaps we are not as easy on the eye, but we are certainly more pragmatic and organised.
I am still concerned about the paucity of our striking options though.
Usually I never watch The Sunday Supplement but I did catch some of it today. The level of football journalism is shockingly poor, as the weekly clairvoyants prove. Each one intent on making and justifying his own visions of the future with crass and childish predictions or drowning in a sea of pompous affirmation that some idiotic thing they said some time ago has, in their eyes, come true. Simultaneously forgetting the utter crud they spewed that didn’t.
No wonder people like Mourinho are able to flourish.
Scott, arrange a trial for your boy when you are up here…striker role for him…lol
Gundogun will be cheaper…a german turk like Ozil.I wanted lars last year but he was unwilling to leave Germany and he is going through an indifferent spell just like his brother…
Ginge, we DO ned another striker.
Ramsey will be playng striker soon 🙂
Morning guys.
Another professional performance…the kind that can go a long way towards winning a league.
We are racking up points against sides we should be beating, and that is what league winners do.
A long way to go, but we have had a sensational start.
Ah, the dev himself…howdy mate?
Good read…I am not sure we need another midfielder but…
Morning Devil, thanks and good to see you back..
A word on Bender – I actually believe this one could have some legs in it and would be a very welcome addition by me personally.
Rosicky and Arteta are not getting younger and Flamini is only with us for 2 years I believe.
Bender is only 24 years old, he’s a perfect replacement and another German added to the team, especially of his quality would be just what our club needs…
As for Merts, if the new contract offer is true which I strongly suspect it is, then I am sure he’ll sign it as soon as he can…
tbh I used to rush through the articles these last week and a half and then grit my teeth to continue working around the clock to meet the deadlines.
Thankfully the worst is over. Still got a lot to do but now I am taking a breather.
Good Morning Lady, Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good match report Rico.
Smiling a lot today. Top of the league alone. We are above those who sported a banner saying they are the Pride of NL (sic). If they consider themselves so fine.
We are London’s Finest though and there is no denying that.
Hello all bdw…..I missed you all but every year its like this at the start of the scholastic year for me. Lots of paper work. And this year I have over 800 children to take care of and do their profile.