Morning all.
Arsene Wenger has been giving an update on who is fit or not for tomorrows fixture against Fulham, a Saturday 3pm kick off for a change.
Good news for the home fans of course but not such good news for those of us who aren’t lucky enough to be going as viewing means back to some dodgy old stream on the internet.
Bad news is including Abou Diaby and Yaya Sanogo and they are included in our squad numbers, we have nine players back on the injury list..
On Theo Walcott’s surgery:
It went very well. The damage was real in the knee so he will have to take the needed time, so let’s not be hopeful that he will go to the World Cup – that is not possible. But overall his long-term future is very positive. It’s about being fit for next season now.
On Monreal and Rosicky…
Monreal looks a doubt for Saturday, a big doubt, because he twisted his foot on the kick. It is not the bruise, he turned and twisted the ligament. Rosicky had surgery with a general anaesthetic for a broken nose in two places. With a mask he may be available, but we have to monitor it closely.
On Arteta (calf), Vermaelen (knee) and Ramsey (thigh)…
Ramsey and Arteta are both out for this game. Vermaelen too. I personally believe the three will miss the Coventry game as well and will be available after that.
On Bendtner (ankle)…
He has a little chance to make Coventry. But in all probability it will be after that.
Having read all week that Aaron Ramsey would be back for this game, it’s quite disappointing to hear otherwise from the manager and the same with Arteta and Vermaelen, especially the latter as this might have been the ideal game to rest the big friendly one, or even Laurent Koscielny. Still, hopefully one or both will get a good rest during the week of the FA Cup.
The injuries sustained by both Tomas Rosicky and Nacho Monreal aren’t the best of news either but I guess it could have been a lot worse and we are fortunate that we have the run of fixtures we have and not those scheduled for February, that’s a horrid month for us…
Nikki B is clearly quite close to quite close to a return and I have a horrid feeling that that might just tempt Arsene Wenger to keep his chequebook closed this month.
I seriously hope I am wrong….
Back to a bit of good news and that’s the successful operation which Theo Walcott has undergone but it’s clearly next season now for him. Shame.
As for the tight bit, well despite Man City scoring a few goals against us, we still have the meanest defence in the Premier League. If we can keep that up all the way until May, this will be one of the best seasons for us in a long while for goals conceded.
And who knows what that could result in…..
That’s it for another day….
Morning all.
Rico….just paid for my tickets to the Citeh game through an Oz supporters group….very confident i will get them.
Your chooks are safe 🙂
Hope so Scott, you have to get to the Ems..
Just kidding you 😉
Nice one Scott… 😉
Good read as always but dire news on the injury front;I still think we still have enough cover in the key areas so fingers crossed we smash ‘Fergie’s number 2’ up…
I seriously hope Aw has a plan for Sidwell and Parker in midfield.. he can’t allow JW to get clattered into for another 90 minutes… considering…
we should have more than enough to deal with fulham tomorrow. Coventry up then so another day of rest. Southampton in two weeks and most of the players should be awileble bar Theo and Diaby who is like a myth at this stage anyway.
I’m sure we’ll just be ok. The players available should be able to take care of business against Fulham and Coventry . COYG!
morning Rico and all
bad news re injuries…..not our usual curse all over again please..
dare i say we look thin though…i worry about CBs pairing..,i know Bac can deputise there but he is doing awesome at right back, make do again!
good news though he and Per about re-sign…
Vote Uncle Lionel…
Thanks Ts. Did you see the Morata story…
Throw Frimpong in???
He can handle those two, Ginge 🙂
Boring Boring Chelsea.
Morning All, and Mick
Morning Rico, good post…
Morning Toads…
This will be the last month that Wenger can rest any players, so no need to rush them back…
February and March will be full-on, every game a must-win…
Sanogo should be fit for Coventry…
Wenger still needs to buy a couple of players.
A bit of depth for the squad.
And great for morale…
Morning Kali..
I too think we should be ok for tomorrow, like I said in the post, just glad this isn’t next month and fingers crossed all bar TW will be back..
Oh, and Diaby of course..
Vermaelen is probably out for Coventry too. So we have no one to play instead of Mertesacker or Koscielny.
Ok, if anyone can help out, i am after a ticket v boring,boring Chelksi at the bridge for the weekend of the 22nd.
Morning Kev, thanks you toad 😉
And Kev, i need a lift from Heathrow 🙂
All HHer’s….drinks are on me if we meet up.
Except that Grey Goose shit….word has it i’d need to sell my kidney to buy it 🙂
You’ll need to sell your other kidney to afford the cab fare from Heathrow Scott… 😀
Welcome James, AW maybe tempted to look at the younger defenders..
Scott, I’m sure there will be a Hh get together when you are over, someone will turn up 😉
Less for cash Kev??
Hiya Rico, I read the one you posted earlier on Morata… very interesting and probably better for all parties- RM,Morato and Italian clubs imho…
Agreed Scott maybe a 20 minute cameo to help MF20 in the later stages of the game; I think Frimpong will feature against coventry and Frimpong knows Sidwell and co from his loan spell last season with them…
Yennaris needs a contract extension and so if needed he can play RB/LB too against Coventry…
Rico, i may be lucky 🙂
Positive presser from Wenger. Monreal/Rosický should be fit, Per & Sagna could soon sign new deals & another classic quote- Wenger on if Draxler has toured the #afc training ground: “That’s like with the UFO’s. Some see them everywhere.”..
Wenger says he rates Berbatov highly but says no approach and nor will there be…
Wenger says Ramsey and Arteta will miss next 2 games “but they should be back for Southampton”, he says
AW has signed a new contract 😉 😉 😉
Wenger on a new his new deal: “There’s a point where you decide and a point where you make it public. You can take that sentence how you want.”
nice read Rico…,..I’m getting tired of the injuries…..just hope they all make on time for the February run in
AW will have the same 18 for tomorrow if TR07 and Nacho pass the fitness test…
I’ll be there Scott so very lucky 😉
Good news if AW has signed a new deal, now maybe he’ll announce a top class striker to go with it…
And Merts and Sagna…
Scott 10:10…….
Tight bastard, mines a triple……!!
don’t really have a problem with arsene signing a new deal…..I have always wanted him to win the UCL with us
Thanks snaparse…
If AFC announce AW, Merts and Sagna have all signed new deals, this has to be great news surely as both players will have wanted assurances on where the club is going…
They wouldn’t sign extensions if they really didn’t believe they have a great chance of winning something with us….
Just saying 😉
Scott are you hosting a bbg when you are down here… an Oz style bbq? 🙂
On the injuries that is why Aw should have rotated earlier imho… but still we sit top of the tree… hooray!
This January script is well rehearsed by AW …
We won’t sign another one imo unless OG12 or Ozil or a CB gets a long term injury before end of January…
It’s always the same with the club; we announce contract extensions 5 or so days before the window closes to appease the disgruntled ‘masses’…
Like last January Aw knew who he wanted if needed but waited until Gibbs got injured and then he activated the agreement he had with Malaga for Monreal…
When JW got injured he made a last minute and unsuccessful bid for Capoue; he even tried to recall Frimpong back from loan… thanks heaven Ramsey stepped up and played the DM role superbly to take us 4th…
Ginge, whatever we do, just get yourself along to it 🙂
Wath, surely a bottle is cheaper than a bottle lol
Rico, looking forward to it.
Together with the rest of the squad who raised their game of course Ts.
Of course Rico… .
What I meant was we needed a DM and he ‘skulked’ for whatever reason from buying one… maybe he was more interested in Bender who was not available plus Cabaye too…
God willing; Scott…
Likewise Scott and it will be here before you know it…
Morning all.
Arsene holding a few of the injured lot back a bit so they are fully rested and fit for the next few months onslaught of games?
Maybe.
Funny, i got a massive chill down my spine actually ordering the Citeh ticket…..kind of made it real.
Scott, the traffic out West to Heathrow, is the pits…
I hate going out there unless I have a job in the back…
In all honesty, the best way into London, from the Airport, is by train.
The Heathrow Express. It’s overground and takes you right into town, dropping you at Paddington…
From there it’s easy to get around….
Could be Lewis..
You won’t be able to sleep as March approaches Scott 😉
i feell positive of us getting 1-2 players in …. lift the morale of the squad even more….
hi Ts,Scott…and all
I know i risk being left at Heathrow, but did you guys just see the finish to the cricket??
That was incredible.
No probs Kev….just revving you up 🙂
Rico, i won’t sleep tonight 🙂
Morning Kali.
Ginge, agree on Frimpong, Yennaris, and maybe if he has returned, Coquelin can play as well?
Jenkinson RB, Yennaris LB, Sanogo, Fabianski, Miyaichi, Gnabry, Arteta if fit, Park, Olsson perhaps, a n other?
Scott – just watched the cricket, great innings by the guy at the end helped by some shocking bowling by England..
If we are to believe what AW had to say in his press conference, we won’t be signing anyone this month…
That was some clean hitting, Rico, but yes, the bowlers cracked a little under pressure.
We can never believe Arsene 🙂
Rico. If he doesn’t up the squad depth and quality and we don’t win the PL there will be a number of disappointed fans. The alternatives are obvious too.
Hit and hope and it sure paid off, superb batting..
I seriously hope this isn’t the time he’s telling the truth Scott..
Relying on Sanogo to come good is totally wrong…
Agreed, Rico/Adam
He simply must bring players in……
Bit of a parallel between Arsenal and the England cricket team. Poor squad quality , playing only 4 specialist bowlers meant that we were always carrying one . One necessary player short.
Yes Adam, I know…. I just hope he’s keeping quiet for the right reasons..
Potter, Arsenal haven’t lost their last 7 though 🙂
I believe the coming days will be vital to what the team do or don’t achieve this season Rico. Not to throw the kitchen sink at it, after such a good first half, is asking for trouble. The Summer window was both excellent (Ozil) and poor as we didn’t make signing a quality striker the priority it most certainly was. Lo and behold, we have a second chance, from a position of strength. Last season at this time we were aiming and struggling for top 4. Wenger’s time seemed to be playing out to a predictable conclusion. This season is a whole different ball game and requires extraordinary measures I think. If you are gonna go down, then go down blazing, not with a whimper.
I thought England had enough, just the bowling was very average.. They seriously need to look at who they are selecting on the bowling front.
Also, their belief seems to have disappeared where as Australia ooze confidence..
Agreed once again, Adam.
Have a crack.
Rico, winning is certainly a habit, as is losing.
Can’t really argue with that Adam. I’m sure AW isn’t really believing Sanogo is the answer, otherwise he wouldn’t have tried for Ba..
I’m quietly confident someone will come in, but possibly just a loan..
Agree with your statement too Scott, hopefully another one for us tomorrow…
I am off guys….have a great day everyone.
We’ll sit back and watch as usual, Wenger is looking for outs and reasons why he doesn’t spend to me (so what else is new) Ozil was not the start of a new era IMO but an 11th hour decision forced move that saved his ass with the fans. I think come may we will once again be pissed at another opportunity missed. I so hope I am wrong here
Night Scott…
But Ozil wasn’t for sale until the 11th hour was he Oz, so he couldn’t have been signed before then….
I still believe Ozil wouldn’t have signed if we as a club didn’t make it clear to him where we are heading….
Oz. Sadly, I make you right here. I have never been able to see the argument that making the squad stronger by buying a great player somehow weakens the squad. The whole psychological aspect of football and team dynamic is fascinating and yet makes little sense to me. I think the transfer window has been a distraction from some worrying performances too. Yes, against Spurs in the cup the team was great but I think we have also been quite lucky recently.
Yes, I know we are top and that ‘playing badly and still winning is the mark of champions’ but I would really like us to play the quality of football I know we can and not scrape through. Tomorrow is a great chance to ram it home.
still there is plenty of time….2 new faces are coming in..
fill your barrel of wine to ease blood pressure…i know i did
Kali. Who are those players please?
Who Kali?
Adam, we often see things similar and again I take your points. We’ve had 4 games against our real title contenders and Wenger has won not one of them, in fact has one draw only. Those are the real facts. Supporters cry, you don’t have to beat the big teams to win, rubbish. Loose to your competitors often enough, as Wenger has done for years and its hard to believe you’re good enough, regardless of the twitter rants. We’re top and getting it done and are making the most of things at present but if Wenger sits back and says there is no one who can add quality to what i already have “a famous line of his for years” he needs a fire ball up his ass (again) I do not believe he has a big winning club mentality and its held us back for years IMO
Adam, AW answered the Draxler question straight face, maybe it’s him… 🙂
hi Adam….just feeling positive about it….
AW must know like many of us do,we are in a marvellous position and it will be suicidal to throw it away…i keep the faith till the eleventh hour.
kali – we’re top of the league, you are right to feel positive, not sure the future is quite as bright as some would have us believe mate. Again, so hope i am wrong but history is not in Wenger’s favour here TBH is it?
Buying players obviously guarantees nothing and squad harmony is critical. But, as evidenced by the arrival of Ozil, it can really give the club a big boost, lays down a highly positive marker and encourages the fans and particularly the stadium crowd, that the club means business. It also sends a big fcuk-you to your opponents, especially those like Chelsea and Man City who have developed a sickening sense of entitlement and belief that top players will always be there’s because of their sheer spending power. Getting the confidence of the supporters can’t be underestimated.
not a time for negativity, i apologise. Let hope we get the job done in style tomorrow and the January window sorts out the summer oversights. 3-0 tomorrow and Ozil needs a big game
Adam, would you be happy if we signed Draxler and Ntep?
Oz, if won all our matches 1-0 from now until the end of the season and not all were fantastic on the eye, I’d be very very happy…
No-one mentions how crap the Mancs have played season after season when they won the league…
Rico. I only know both of them from YouTube clips but I would have thought that a proven striker would be the priority myself.
Adam, I honestly can’t see us getting a top class striker though, not this month as I can’t see players who are doing really well right, risking a move which could jeopardise their world cup place..
Our performance against Cardiff the other week without Ollie upfront was a joke,unless wenger was playing with his zip and never watched the first half,I could perhaps think he was trying to bullshit the media…with the same squad minus walnut and the invisible man from france now ..why did he make a bid for Demba Ba.
Second half was better though fred….
On that note, catch up later….
All the top sides have a top striker….we don’t at the moment and that’s why will come up short!
Oz, whilst I appreciate your views, as I always do with Adam, I think there were special circumstances around those four games you mentioned regarding our ‘rivals’…
The game at Old Toilet saw a sick Arsenal team lose by a single goal…
The game at Wastelands saw us stitched up by an appalling display by the Linesman…
6-3 was not a fair reflection on the game…
Losing the League Cup tie to Gazprom was disappointing…
Gazprom are shit and play shit football…
Mourinho won’t last as Abramovitch WILL get bored once more…
The 0-0 draw was more a reflection on both sides.
Arsenal have beaten Liverpool, quite convincingly and the Scum twice, also convincingly.
Wins in Dortmund and Napoli beaten well at the Grove are other notable wins…
Not many teams go through a season without losing occasionally…
And Arsenal are no different…
Mendez is Mourinho’s agent, he doesn’t like Wenger, so we ain’t gonna get Costa…
Sad, but true…
Don’t blame Wenger, blame Mendez for being a cnut and Costa for not having a mind of his own…
For the last three years I have, as have others, craved for the club to show intent and be competitive….
We have to compete in a very skewed competition, where we are up against a club that is financed by a rich country whilst another is financed by a dodgy Russian….
There are pros and cons to our situation and there is, of course, room for improvement…
But legs wait until May until we condemn the club…
Agree about the circumstances for coming up short against or rivals this season Kev, but it’s been happening for the last 8yrs.
Kev, do you think AW would try and sign Costa?
The last Spanish striker he signed got home sick 😉
It’s raining here 🙁
I know Lee, and I cannot argue the point about 8 years mate…
But we have seen an improvement this season.
I honestly think that we can win the league.
Even if Wenger signs nobody this January.
Because of our defence….
Is he Spanish Rico? ;/)
😉
On a lighter note, I wish I knew how to sort the playlists on ipod, Driving Home for Christmas playing away just doesn’t seem right…. 😉
Kev- I concur on your 1:34 pm… re Mendez.. the same man who shafted Aw on Ronaldo in 2003…
Oops, he is isn’t he Kev?? 😉
Oops, Brazilian 😆 😆
I did say I don’t know much about him, well change that to ‘very little’, other than he’s s***e… 😉
Are you a Michael Buble type if gal Rico…
Apparently, he wears nice shoes… 😉
hi kev ..i agree
we have the same squad from last season -(Ozil+Flamini) same structure ,but the changes are huge and to the better
i honestly believe some of our squad are reaching to that level AW saw in them all these years back..
apart from mancity’s defeat ,we conceded 13 goals in 20 matches
awesome
😀 Rico…
Kev- also Mendes received €3.6 million of the €9 million fee from Bébé’s transfer to Utd even though Fergie admitted he had not seen Bebe play before…
Jorge always takes or adds a 3rd on any transfer deals…
Some very dubious agents in football…
Another point about those last 8 years Lee…
I think we are gradually seeing the benefit of Steve Bould’s influence.
During most of those 8 years, our defending was, at times, laughable.
Now there is a touch of the ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’, ‘They will not pass’ look about our defence.
More importantly Lee, when are you up for some pie n mash??? 😀
Kev- Ajayi , Afobe and Zelalem trained with the seniors today…
Ginge, we tend to underestimate how many complete and utter shit-cnuts there are among football agents…
Arsenal have to deal with them, but it isn’t easy at the top level.
The better the player the more bent the agent it seems….
That’s interesting Ginge…
Maybe in preparation for the Coventry game?
Maybe a seat on the bench for one or more of them this weekend?
Ajaya*
😀 ‘The better the player the more bent the agent it seems….’ that is the civil way of putting it if you ask me… lol
No Michael Buble in this house Kev 😉
I am pleased for Ajaya i.e being from Charlton and initially signed as a stop gap for the u-21… he has the ball reading abilities of Per ok, maybe the potential to be I should say…
AW on title ambition… “That [beating the bottom-half sides] gives you consistency. After that you want to make some special results against the direct contenders as well.
“Of course that is the target but let’s first be consistent.
“We want that consistency against the lower part of the Premier League but as well produce some exceptional results against the top level teams.”
Interesting bit of news on Costa
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article3977732.ece
Funny how the game has changed regarding agents,
I can remember the days when the manager and the coach would keep going round to promiseing players houses and asking is your mum or dad in.
ha ha fred… well, parents have no say now.lol
Rico- Sky Italia: Arsenal’s loan bid for Vučinić was this morning rejected by Juventus. Dick Law met with his agent
Some have ts and we know who they are.
ha ha ha 😉
Next week Kev…
afternoon all
Betrand (Chelsea) to a.villa
Who had watched Fulham in the middle of week?
They play now much better then a couple of weeks ago
Vucinic’s parents probably already have a washing machine which used to be the going rate for a signature.
@ Potter 🙂
The other one potter was making the dad a scout.
Gordon Cowans Dad was enticed out of the Pit to go and be Aston Villa’s kit man, if memory serves me right! Gordon was then 13!
His mum already had a washing machine!
Dib , Dib , Dib.
‘Ere Potter, were you in the Cub Scouts by any chance?
I don’t believe them in Italy Ts 😉
Evening folks..
Evening Rico.
Evening Adam…
Rosicky looks like the Lone Ranger in his protective mask…
Kev. I’ll be his Tonto. 🙂
I thought you might Adam….. 😆
Pie n mash next week Adam?
Hi Ho Silver…..
I was going to say I wouldn’t mind being his horse 😳
Although I have a huge respect for Uncle Lionel…
I also have a huge, er, respect for Luisa Zussman… 😉
Why not Kev?
Rico. I will stifle my temptation to comment after that one Rico. 🙂
Does Tomas have huge thighs then Rico??? 🙂
Not as powerful as Lee’s though, 🙂
Adam I will try and sort something out with Lee then…
Adam 😆
🙂 Adam, you surprise me…
It’s not the thighs I was thinking about Kev, rumour has it he doesn’t weigh too much 😉
It’s the eyes not the thighs Rico. 🙂
I meant Silver Adam, not Lee 😉
‘Ere Potter, were you in the Cub Scouts by any chance.
Sure was many years ago , lost my woggle when I was 17.
Anyone home or time to say goodnight?
That will be a goodnight from me then…
’til tomorrow…
Night all…
Morning guys.
It is all positive for me….i am struggling to find any negatives atm, but that is nothing new 🙂
Ozil….well, whatever the circumstances, we got him.
Massive money, and we got him.
Personally, i believe Wenger had an arrangement of sorts for a while with Real, but again, who knows?
Yes, we MUST sign a striker now.
If we don’t, and fail to win A trophy, Wenger can only blame himself.
Uncle Lionel has been voted out…
Adam will be beside himself…
Be strong buddy… 😉
Poor Uncle Lionel.
Rico
Just had a coffee with James Faulkner’s father, he lives 4 doors down. Very proud dad, I had to shoo the paparazzi away 😆 it’s going to be another long 17 years for Ingerland.
Anyway, 3 points up for grabs now, Up the Arse, or like that old cry from the North Bank, Come on You Rip Roaring Reds!!!!!!!!
Why is there not a George Graham statue outside the emirates
Every manager was taking a few pound
Live and let live,forgive and forget
The Fulham game is live on setanta,,channel 424
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not at all keen on Moyes or his Manc side but just how low will Jose go to try and win the mind games. He really is a horrid little man and I am so glad he never ever became the manager of Arsenal.. Nor is he ever likely to…
Morning all..
GG, enjoy it while you can 😉
Morning Rico I agree,he’s a prat
Addey-by-whore thinks the spuds can win the title.
Whats he smoking
RIP mikael
Morning Mg..
Ade just has a good sense of humour, he must to have joined that lot…
The Mikaeel Kular story is a very very sad one, poor little lad…..
The Fulham manager believes the way we play is very predictable and offer no surprises..
He has a point.
Now let’s go and batter them, that might surprise him!….
5-0 today
Bfg to score a brace
Bring back hanging
New post up.