Morning all
Teams news is not good, perhaps worse than feared yesterday:
Our main problems are still defensively because Laurent Koscielny (calf from Southampton match) looks like he will not be quite ready, Nacho Monreal (foot) is not back and Calum Chambers is suspended. Mikel Arteta (calf) is not ready and Theo Walcott (groin) is out. Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) will be checked today and tomorrow, so we’ll see.
Well, Ramsey has now had that check and he is deemed unfit to play.
Theo Walcott shouldn’t be too far away from a return as he’s has had two days of training, now he just lacks competition and fitness to come back to what Wenger describes as a ‘good level’.
The suggestion that Jack Wilshere has suffered a setback are poppycock and he’s doing very well. He’s on crutches so how any setback could have already occurred is rubbish. Arsene said:
I don’t see how he can have a setback. It’s frustrating because it’s hard enough for Jack to be injured. He doesn’t need the negative news on top of that. It’s always frustrating to deny things that are not true.
That’ll be that then, expect a few rookies in the side tomorrow for a tough match against a Newcastle side who of late, have been playing a lot better and earning a few good results. None more so than last weekend against Chelsea.
Ahead of the fixture, Arsene Wenger has had some unlikely backing from Alan Pardew who says Arsenal fans who abused Arsene Wenger last weekend should “ashamed.” He believes that 99% of Arsenal would not agree with what happened last weekend after the Stoke game.
The incident at the train station was totally disrespectful. I think 99% of Arsenal fans would have been ashamed of that.
That stadium should be named after him. The job he did in that move across [from Highbury], when they had all that debt and he had to be very careful with the transfer budget, it was a miracle that he kept them in the Champions League.
I think everyone at Arsenal knows that he’s done a magnificent job. But all of us managers are on a six-game, seven-game period (of judgement) – we have to accept that.
Can you imagine that ‘The Arsene Wenger Stadium’? No thanks, not now, now ever, not even if he won us the double again……. And that’s very unlikely to happen again..
I have a sneaky feeling Alan Pardew is playing mind games as we all know there is no love lost between the two of them and I bet he can’t wait to bring his side to The Emirates tomorrow!
Gossip:
The Mail report Arsene Wenger is heading into a January battle with Man City for the signing of Paul Pogba. £40 million apparently!
Imagine that eh, Paul Pogba in an Arsenal shirt. Sadly, I think that’s all we can do, imagine although he’s just the kind of player we need though isn’t he…. Also, Arsene Wenger has said that if the squad is fit, he won’t be making any January signings.
Well the squad is never fully fit so his comments mean little and surely the best thing for him to do is to keep quiet about anything he has planned next month after all, he doesn’t want to sound desperate for a Cdm and a defender does he? Also, not too many days ago he confirmed that the club had plans for next month…
Have a good day Friday and hope you’ve all got your letters sent to Santa by now as time is running out………
1st
Nice Post Lady.
Morning Devil and all…
Thanks…
I don’t believe a word AW says about transfers….
Sick of him and sick of the constant lies. Win draw or loose I just want him out of my club and if he can take the board and owner with him the better.
The day we have even three quarters of a full squad will be the first in nearly 4 years. If Arsene does not buy the two desperately needed players ( CB & DMF) we will sink to about tenth this season and deservedly so. I hate writing this but we need not look further than the terrible mistakes AW has made re; our defence since the Invincible’s.
I’m taking my 13 yo to his first game tomorrow. With flights and hotels + tickets this is going to cost me close to 500 £.
I booked this before the predicteble happened and we collapsed and I’m bitterly regretting it now. Should have waited and seen if the would do the honoreble thing and walk. I’d love to see what a manager with a trace of tactical awarness could do with these players, full time or interim, between now and may.
Problem is that the team is proplably good enough to get the manager and the board/owner the coveted 4th place trophy, regardless of how usless wenger has become.
And as for Pardew, its all mind games. Remember this is the manager that played Wenger like a fiddle when he was at West Ham and got him to loose his rag and push him, so there is no love lost there.
How awfully cynical of you Rico. 🙂
Pete, our injuries are awful. Agree re the Cdm and CB, both desperately needed in January…
I bet that Napoleon would sign a Def/Mid and a C/B, this January….
He was also very good tactically and had a high regard for Southern Region trains…
Adam 😉
Can’t think why Adam…. 😉
Ten players out tomorrow, staggering…
Good post Rico….
Wenger is depressingly repeatitive…
The same old shit prior to a transfer window.
Why doesn’t he just saying nothing?
🙂 Kev…
Welcome Old Times..
You reckon we’ll get 4th? I’m not so sure….
Thanks Kev, same old b*****s, just a different transfer window..
But at least he said if Kos fitness is a doubt he will think about signing someone….. 😉
I’m staying hopeful, only because it’s stops me from being depressed about it all. Well, until around 7.30 tomorrow evening…
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – Situation normal then. All holding our breaths to see who trots out of the tunnel.
Kev – Sorry I missed your birthday. So, a belated Happy Birthday to you. Did Wath have the fire brigade on standby in case all those candles set the house afire?
I’m going tomorrow as we Rico…
It’ll be nice to go to a game with my son and his good mate Bill, other than that I’m not really looking forward to the game or the probable atmosphere (or lack of)…
Take away the social aspect of meeting friends at the game and the whole experience is a frustrating waste of time and money…
Morning Cg, it sure is..
Will Debuchy play CB or will AW draft in one of the young guns I wonder…
Good luck with that Kev, are you sneaking a banner in with you…? 😉
Thanks CG
Kroenke Out, Rico 😀
That’d be mine too Kev… 🙂
Yea I recon we get 4th rico. The players are too good not to and nomatter how usless the manager is they will see the club through.
It does all feel rather stale doesn’t it?
Adam – Yes! We have all been here before, too many times. Stale is a very polite way of putting it.
Morning all. How very, very depressing the presser was.
No defence
No midfield
We have strikers!
No new buys in Jan
No new manager
No new tactics
No f***ing hope!
Had the lunatic fringe not booed him last week he may have gone and bought a player or two during the TW but, now they’ve shown him how they feel, the stubborn old git has dug his heels in, taken his ball home and resolved not to buy any new players at all! The basis of his resolve is his determination to show the ‘doubters’ that they are completely wrong! Even if they are not he will DO IT HIS WAY how would a supporter know how to set up a team? When they haven’t had 30 years experience?
The arrogant old sod!
Kev I hope you have a really good treat and that the result is positive but, given present circumstances I can see us being mullered!
If we do the crowd will go mental……disrespect? It’ll be murderous!
Happy days!
I hope you are right Old Times, I know 4th place is far from where we should be, but CL football is key for many reasons…
Morning Wavy, in his defence, AW didn’t say he wouldn’t sign any players in January, he said that if the entire squad is fit, he wouldn’t look to sign anyone.
But we all know, as does he no doubt, that all the time we have Diaby and Wilshere, the squad will never be fit at the same time….
Hi all
Defence is looking really tasty for tomorrow! Debuchy just back, Merts flogged to death, A N Other? and Gibbs also not fully fit! Ajayi maybe?
Instead of A N Other they include A Triallist? He’s very popular in Scotland!
Ffsake!
Hi Bob, my guess is Debuchy but Ajayi would surely be the better option….
Strange seeing a lot of comments on here saying we wont get 4th or better. Ill take that bet. I win every year.
Obviously there is a lot of frustration but Im confident we will come through the year ok. And hoping that finally in the summer we get that top DM and CB (pushing Merts to the bench/cover).
Funny thing is, the squad (by my reckoning) is certainly better than last season, when we were still leading at this point. Thats why I say we will come right and finish top 4. Maybe we have a cup run in us…
But seriously, as soon as its feasible, the defence and defensive midfield need an overhaul. We need to be right at the top this time of year, and with the resources to get to the end of the season. We need to count on injuries happening, and not just curse them when they inevitably do!
The sky is not falling.
We seem to be forever scraping together sides to put out, asking players to do things they are not suited to, battling against poor refereeing, buying the wrong players, not buying the right players, protesting, being ignored, being financially exploited, promised jam tomorrow, told we should be careful what we wish for, made to feel ashamed if we dare criticise anything that Wenger might come up with.
To me the whole thing has a really unsettled and unpleasant taste. We are a club in denial I think.
Roger, I base my comment on where we are now, how we are playing and also looking at our forever growing injury list.
Debuchy is only just back yet he’s now going to play again because he has too but I suspect AW would not have started him again had he had a choice. I hope it’s not too much for him and we lose him again…
I have no confidence at all that’ll we’ll get top four but in this case, I really hope I turn out to be wrong…
Well said Adam….
Catch up in a while….
I could pick on a few comments today, its getting a bit hysterical.
Like if I take Adams comment (nothing personal mate, just the example above)
– Asking players to do things they are not suited to – half of us on HH keep saying to try players in other positions or ‘play the kids’. That Wenger should be more brave to do this
– Battling against poor referees – not our fault, nor are we the only ones.
– Buying the wrong players – of recent purchases who is the wrong player: Ozil, Sanchez, Chambers, Welbeck, Debuchy, Ospina
– Not buying right players – we all agree with are light at the back and missing a DM. Needs addressing
-Being ignored – by who?
-Being financially exploited – I presume you mean ticket prices? High, but include CL games right, and early FA cup games are cheaper than most… Im not lucky enough to live in London so guess I dont feel this financial exploitation personally…
– Who makes you feel ashamed to criticise Wenger? We do it all the time! As long as its constructive Im listening. When its a list of whinging grievances I switch off.
Anyway, like the tagline says its ok to disagree…
Cheers Wavy, after a few beers I won’t really care mate…
Rodger, re: tickets…
As I mentioned the other day, if those cup tie tickets, that the club so ‘thoughtfully’ include on the season tickets and charge top dollar for, were put instead on open sale, as are the League Cup tickets, then I wonder if all those games would be sold out and if the club would have to offer some kind of discount to sell them…?
Would Andetlecht have sold out?
Or Galatasaray?
Would even the mighty Hull in the 3rd round of the FACup, also sell out…
Don’t be under any illusion that the club are doing the fans any favours?
See how many disappointed ST holders there would be, if by some miracle, Arsenal got to the CL final this season?!!!
It was a big enough joke getting a ticket for the 2006 Final…
Imagine how difficult it would be now that Arsenal are playing in the Syrup Bowl….
Afternoon Rico and the house.
Sorry I missed your birthday yesterday Kev belated greetings mate.
I hope you enjoy tonight and the game tomorrow, it looks like you may be seeing some of the youngsters.,
Hayden(fully fit ) Niles Ajayi and Coqline (recalled from loan) all trained with the squad this morning.
Probably fair calls on the tickets Kev, Im not the best person to comment since I dont live in country even, Im happy when I can get to Mecca once a season, so I dont feel it (even though I follow the games on TV religiously wherever I am).
Thanks Rick….
Rick that is great news re: Hayden, I will defo enjoy the game now, watching that lad…
Miles, Ajayi and Coquelin…
League Cup squad!
Yeah, I can appreciate that Rodger…
Afternoon Rick and all..
Hayden fit and training, ding dong, get him in the side Arsene…
Boooooo!! rico, that makes for unfun reading. 😉 I don’t recall ever being this frustrated about Arsenal. And while I tend to go easy on AW, I’m finding it harder by the day to defend him.
Happy 30th birthday, Kev. 🙂 🙂 I must ask that all-important question: what present did you get yourself??
Roger – re the playing players out of position etc. I too am all for playing one or two of the younger players, players like Hayden and Ajayi for example as I’ve watched then play for the under 21’s, albeit only on Afc.com – but when a manager sells a CH and doesn’t replace him as he said he would, I think it’s a disgrace to go into a new season with one CH who is ageing and slow, another who has an Achilles problem and a rookie who was fundamentally signed as a right back. After all, why would Carl Jenkinson be allowed to go on loan if he wasn’t?
So when we see Monreal filling in, Chambers shoved right to centre and then back to right back again, it’s no wonder the frustration spills over…
And let’s not forget we have no Cdm because Arteta isn’t one and never has been and Flamini is like a French Traffic Cop on acid!
Last summer AW really mucked up and now it’s costing us dear….
Afternoon Rico.
Boo to you Agag, how’s things in your country?
Hi Agag.
I thought Jenks could play left right or centre? So why was he ever se tout on loan? Answer, he was deemed not good enough and needed to play games as he was never going to break into the first team with what we’ve got! However, with marvellous ans sensitive judgement, gleaned after 30 years in management, Wenger with the foresight of a visually challenged bat could never the injuries we have had, but we’ve had them, haven’t we? Apart from the hamstring he pulled, out for 6 weeks he has put in ever increasingly impressive performances. So Mr Wenger what possessed you to part with him?
Even his strategic planning is flawed. And skit goes on! The man needs help because on his own he seems to be making one disastrous decision after another.
Tomorrow is likely to be a car crash, unless………….it’s not! Hahahahahahaha!
Afternoon all
Wavy. Agreed. Hindsight is 20/20 for sure but we have always had critical situations. How Wenger could ever have gone into this season with such a thin defence is a mystery to me. When was the last time we had a few games with a full squad available?
Hi folks , here we go again the purpose of a season ticket is now all but gone. When the club were desperate at Highbury they offered a discount if you paid up front , that has gone .They they guaranteed a cup final ticket , that has gone , most games were at 3.00 Saturday and quite easy to plan your life round , now games are at any time the T.V companies decide and now the 3rd round of the cup is a 5.30 start on a Sunday, that means out of the ground 7.30 and to Liverpool street for a 9.00 pm train that is lucky to get to Norwich by 11-00 pm if there are no works on the line or alternative bus services . Then drive back to home by about 11.45pm. . Great for those that sit at home with a beer and a sandwich but not for those that follow the club..
Totally agree Rico, I said it earlier today and have said it often – we should not be a CB short, and we miss strength and quality in the DM position. (side note perhaps, since Vermaelen went to barca he has been injured – I think he is still yet to play a game?)
Potter. Though my journey is much shorter and easier than yours, I do admire you for putting in the commitment, in every way and totally agree about the TV schedule. Tomorrow’s game is at a really bad time for everyone who goes to the games and we have another to look forward to on Boxing Day at the same time I believe. Oh for those days of the 3 pm Saturday kick-off. I couldn’t get a Cup Final ticket last year as I missed out on the lottery for them.
Wavy, to be fair to AW re Jenks, there were very few fans believing he was good enough last season so it would be harsh now to say the decision to loan him out was wrong…
I just hope he’s coming back in the summer…..
Re the FA Cup Final, I was told that tickets were allocated to ST holders who had attended two away matches….
Rico. I agree re Jenks but surely you can only let a player like him go on loan if you have ample cover in place in that position. Debuchy looks decent if he can now stay fit and part of the defence and Bellerin might come good, but he is raw. Arsene never seems to factor the injuries in though. 🙂
Rico. Re the FA Cup. I don’t know if that’s the case but I didn’t attend any away matches so that might have been the criteria. I do know lots that did go who hadn’t been to any away games too. Wembley is a bloody nightmare anyway. 🙂
I know a family of three two parents and a 11 year old girl , she got a ticket but mum and dad didn’t , the club refused to exchange the ticket as it was for a junior. They suggested that they took her and waited outside.
Good point Adam on Bellerin – does Wenger (do we?) consider that there is not much between Bellerin and Jenks as a backup? Does Wenger have a legitimate case for blooding the Arsenal youth, while at the same time sending Jenks out to accelerate his PL development, and find out if the lad really will make it as an Arsenal player?
Potter, I too admire your commitment to Afc, it’s something I would and could never do, even if we were winning each week and winning trophy after trophy…
The kick off times are the same as football in general. Ruined by Sky Sports, Bt Sports etc etc….
Adam, why though? Why when fans think Jenks isn’t good enough and when the manager plays him both the player and manager get slated for playing him and that happened on here last season when Jenks was played…
I don’t see the right back position as such an issue personally but that’s just my own opinion, what i would have done though is having thrown Bellerin in at the deep end against Dortmund, I’d have stuck by him and made sure the guy playing ahead of him, protected him….
Rico. Jenks came in when Sagna was injured and as a sub and he was just ok. It must be difficult though in that situation. Like many fans I was hoping that the quality of the squad was upped and that we would buy players from a higher level. My point is that loaning Jenks, selling TV and not replacing them has been unacceptable and placed far too much pressure on Chambers who should be playing less and not used as a utility player. The result of a lot of bad decisions or inactivity over the past few seasons has bought us to this bits ‘n pieces team where there is always a problem somewhere or other.
Afternoon all.
Re Jenkinson, He spent last season as understudy to Sagna and only played when he was not available , If he had remained at the club he would have been in the same position with Debuchy. Just like a number of our young players Jenks wants to play (or be in cotention) every week so this loan is very good
in giving him what he wants.
Kev I really hope that that Hayden is given playing time tomorrow.
I think it was March or April last year that Ginge and I exchanged our opinions on the lad and we both agreed he had the ability to make with us. Like you I will enjoy watching him play and as Rico put Ding Dong puy him in the team Arsene.
Adam, I get what point you were making, honest. I just think that Jenks was given a hard time when he did play and quite a few here thought he was rubbish so how can loaning him out be now questioned regardless of who we did or didn’t sign?
After all, had he stepped in for Debuchy whilst he’d was injured, those same fans would still be moaning about him..
Yes, selling TV and not replacing him was a crazy decision, but Jenks had never been played at CH by AW so I don’t see where the two cross…
Re Chambers, as you know from our conversations, neither you nor I believed he should have been played week in week out.
I’m not defending AW as I know that just two more signings last summer would have ensured we wouldn’t be where we are right now. As long as they stayed fit of course… 🙂
Now Hayden is fit, surely he must be played….
As Rico put it Ding Dong put him in the team.
Probably all true Rico.
I liked it when Usmanov said that the team needed improving in all positions because I also believe that.
Rick, I would in a heartbeat… He’s got everything bar playing time and experience. He could and I think will, be an absolute gem. In fact I’d go as far to say, he might just turn out to be one of the best player in years who has come through the academy….
Adam, I don’t entirely agree with Usmanov, but what I do think is he should start talking with his money and make Kroenke an offer, one he’d struggle to turn down because until then, his voice is no bigger or better than ours or any of the pundits…
But Rico. You don’t know that he hasn’t done that.
Adam, I’m sure we’d have heard if he had. That kind of stuff would have been leaked by someone…
Off to get dinner now….
I doubt it.
Things like that get leaked though Adam, someone would know and would be more than willing to sell the tale for a for pounds to the press…
As if often the case, it’s not the player leaving that’s the problem, it’s failing to adequately replace.
Jenks loan is a brilliant move, and I’m sorry, but I can not fathom why anyone would say otherwise.
He’s getting regular football, which he needed, and his performances show it’s working.
We needed someone to come in on loan, and Micah Richards could have been the answer.
If we’d bought another RB, then Jenks loan would have been a waste of time.
Wenger keeps getting things half right.
Morning all.
Hi Scott, I don’t understand the Jenks stuff either. But I’ll be mighty cheesed off if he stays at West Ham, which I think he will…..
Hi Rico,
If that happens, then Arsene will lose me for good!!!
Seriously, every time Jenks strung games together for us, he improved, but Sagna would come back and he’d be on the bench again.
Fair enough as Sagna was a quality player but the kid showed what he could do,
He’d better get him back!
Scott, I always believed that Jenks got better and better the more he played, just like you and a few others..
We’ve lost too many young Arsenal boys/men and as much as money might buy a big name, a true Gooner will always have a big heart and I think that’s what we miss….
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/i-hate-them-gervinho-slams-4799570
Agreed, Rico…..you can not make a Gooner 🙂
Gervinho….he had every opportunity, IMO.
Just wasn’t good enough.
Agree too Scott, those misses against Bradford said it all, let alone the rest….
He always looked anxious to me…….nervous, and even scared to just play the game.
Fumbled a lot too… Guess the PL was not for him, but at least he’s doing well now. Funny how he forgets that playing for us probably gave him the career he has now….
So many do….
Scott, you need to get a few more of your Aussie gooners on here to keep the place alive overnight 🙂
I’m done for the day..
Night Scott and all..
’til tomorrow…..
Whilst I am being selfish what about the Hull fans . If they are quick and get the last train from Kings cross that leaves 45 minutes after the match they get home at midnight. Btw. Now tv want Friday night football from 2016 another nail in the season ticket coffin.
Potter, if the FA have half a brain, they’ll make local derbies the Friday night game.
Rico, I’m always talking the house up 🙂
One for Adam , Lee , Wavy and many others . What a sad state this club has got into.
http://goonerholic.com/2014/12/a-guest-tale-in-the-club-and-out-the-door/
Potter. It saddens me to read that sort of stuff but I am not surprised really.
Potter, incidents like that leave me fuming and disgusted but like Adam i am not at all surprised…
Just read AW is contemplating using Debuchy as a CB against Newcastle, stating he’s never played there and has had 24 hours to prepare for the role.
AW said “The solution i have to decide will not be ideal.It will be a gamble. There is not a massive difference between right-back and centre-back”
” It will be a gamble”…..No shit Sherlock…..
I’ve got a simpler solution. Buy a proper CB when you have the chance.
Potter – just read that link. The club/board etc should hang their heads in shame. Disgraceful way to treat their own fans, but then I doubt they care. I doubt they even know what went on either…
I’m not surprised by it all though.
Morning to you, Bt, Adam and all….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2871994/Arsenal-s-amateur-medical-staff-destroying-players-slams-fitness-coach-Raymond-Verheijen.html
Morning all.
Morning everybody everywhere.
Just read the Fails article. It’s all a bit short on facts and evidence! Typically! RvP was mostly seriously and long term injured whilst on international duty, so where does that leave this rather curious and superficial accusation?
Yes, we do have far too many muscle injuries but to blame it solely on methods used at Arsenal training ground and not impact crashes etc etc is both misleading and somewhat vacuous.
Let’s hope our new back four are all fit and capable of withstanding the Geordies onslaught this afternoon!
Morning Rico and all. I’d rather believe Mein Kampf than the Daily Mail. 🙂
Not that they are that dissimilar.
Wavy, do we have a back 4 🙂
Morning Scott..
Morning Wavy..
🙂 Adam…
New post up now….