Well that’s it then, Senor Cesc Fabregas has passed his medical, kissed the badge, posed for the photos in front of that tawdry Barcelona Badge, said the right PR comments and is now probably house-hunting in the posh suburbs of the Catalan capital.
He was the captain of Arsenal for four years, the leader on the field, the fans hero. But were those years glorious years? There were some memorable moments of course, my personal favourite was the Cesc inspired thrashing of Middlesex Hotspur’s in 2007-08, when Adebayor got a couple of great goals and Cesc thundered one in from distance at The Slum. AC Milan of course was also memorable, but they were fleeting.
Unfortunately though, the team constructed around Fabregas by Wenger was fated to ultimately come up short. Wenger switched from his standard and successful 4- 4- 2 to 4- 3 -3 to suit Cesc and also the other players Arsene had recruited, all in order to play to Cesc’s strength’s.
That was all fine when Cesc was 100% fit and firing on all cylinders but often that wasn’t the case and the team, carefully constructed to get the best out of Fabregas, weren’t able to perform consistently and at its optimum when he was missing. Losing Cesc is therefore a body blow to Wenger, possibly his biggest or at least equal to when Anelka engineered his departure.
Arsene is a fighter though, he’ll soldier on but I wonder if that same old appetite is still there?
Having invested so much time in trying to keep his captain, and the fulcrum of his team, he now has barely two weeks in which to bring in reinforcements, to conclude, any contingency plans he may have set in motion whilst Barcelona were faffing about looking for some Euros.
I like the business he’s done so far this summer, Gervinho, Jenkinson, Ryo, Chamberlain are all valuable additions to the squad. But he needs to lift the fans right now; he needs to bring in one or two new faces to get us excited again.
They’d also disappoint the vultures in the Press/Media wouldn’t they…
I believe he will, Keep the Faith Gooners….
Written by allezkev
On to tonight which see’s us face a tough opposition in the Champions League Qualifiers 1st Leg, we are at home and we need to make that count. We must not concede at any cost so a great defensive display is needed.
Up front we have no RvP, he’s banned following his farcical sending off against Barcelona last time around. Nasri is also banned as is his French compatriot Arsene Wenger, both for saying a few too many things in the same game.
So it’s all down to Pat Rice tonight, he hasn’t got to just sit there in the dugout and lend his ear to a moaning boss for a change. 😉
Rosicky faces a late fitness test but he’s in the squad…
Wenger has reassured us by suggesting Bendtner could be in the squad tonight but then with RvP out he has little choice as our attacking options are limited…
We mustn’t forget he is still an Arsenal player and remains so until he finds another club.
I’ll be honest, I know very little about tonight’s opponent Udinese, so I won’t guess – all I know is they are Italian and like us, finished 4th in their league last season to secure this fixture tonight.
Suggestion is they have sold a few key players during this transfer window but regardless, I think we are in for a tough night, we need goals and I’m not sure who is going to get them for us…
Personally I think we should play 4-4-2 against them, put Bendtner and Chamakh up front together, whip the crosses in and hope one of them or both have their shooting boots and heads on. 😉
They both might surprise us…..
Enjoy the match, a 4-0 victory would be nice…..
Morning all
Nice bit on Cesc Kev, he’s certainly scored a fe crackers for us and saved our bacon a few times. But, I think we have played too much around him, the focus being too much on him and now its time to change….
Back to the good old 4-4-2 and starting winning again 🙂
should add no support
g clarke, you saying that because the tickets for tonight are on open sale??
Morning Rico. All that really matters is the future and where Wenger takes the club from here. Everyone wants to give him the benefit of the doubt. He has certainly earned that, but him blaming the press for disillusioning the fans is a very poor start to re-establishing the confidences that have been shattered through his inability to dictate the club’s close-season agenda.
Morning Adam
Who is blaming the press about the fans – Wenger? I haven’t seen that article, not the best move then in attempt to build a few bridges and give us confidence…
Bets thing AW can do is sign the players we need and sharpish, that is what will get any doubters back on side, well, it will certainly be a step in the right direction….
I’m wondering if we’re going to have home ground advantage tonight? If I were one of the players, I’d be freaking out at the prospect of playing in front of the boo-boys. It’s not a healthy situation.
I understand people are frustrated, but Wenger is right about getting behind the players, because the booing is only going to make the situation worse, not better.
I will say we wil have a run of maybe 3 or 4 0-0 games.
After watching St James Park, I have more confidence of the team keeping a clean-sheet with a mean and solid defence rather than our lightwieght attack which struggled to score goal.
Knowing Van Persie, he is a slow starter and needs a run of maybe 4 to 6 games before he starts to score regularly.
SImilarly, Arshavin is as usual desperately off-form and out-of-tune with his team-mates and Walcott is suffering from a crisis of confidence and lack that self-beleif when he first arrived. When did you last him beating defenders with hsi blazing pace. He looked so slo-mo at St James Park.
Udiense will play catenaccio football and will try to hit us on the break especailly at left flank where any astute manager will notice when our attack broke down, Gibbs does not have the quickness nor CLichy Engine to run back but insetad, just jogged back. Arshavin being Arshaivn will just stay put in opponent half.
That is, whole left flank wide open to coutner-attacking football.
Gervinho is just eye-candy, all flash and no substance with no final ball or assist and can’t create a clear opening in Newcastel defence.
he needs at east 6 to 12 games to settle down into the team.
I see tonite as 0-0 with us struggling to score and Udinese contented to sit back and hit us on the break. Udinese has a greater chance to go through via penalties rather than beating Arsenal in open play.
I see tonite team as:
…………………………..Szczesny
…Sagna…..Koscielny………..Vermaelen…….Gibbs
……………….Song……………………Rosicky
……………………………Ramsey
…Walcott………………Gervinho……………..Arshavin
Udinese will be very difficult tonight, There is depth to this Udinese team. While Sanchez and Inler may have gone, Asamoah, Benatia, Armero, Handanovic and Di Natale still remain and they have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with after destryoing Bordeaux in France 3-1 and Marseille 2-1 in recent days. Impressive results again two of the three last French Championship winners. Even more impressive when you think that Ligue 1 will kick off much sooner that Serie A. Udinese however have business before then of course in the Champions League preliminary rounds and while many believe that they will struggle to get through that phase they have shown so far in the pre-season that they can take their game to big foreign sides and win. Now they just have to do it when it matters, and recent results will give them the confidence that they can do so.
Does ANYONE know why we waited untill now to sell cesc for the same money as offered 2 months back. I know its done and we should move on but nobody seems to be able to answer this. Just before a MASSIVE game that will hinge on whether we can lure big players with champs lg, we sell our best and have no replacement.. Why this timing? My mind is litteraly boggled
I think frustrated fans are startign to turn against Wenger and those suits, especially that 6.5% price increase.
Wouldn’t surprise me attendance is hovering aorund 50,000.
The clearest message that Arsenal fans can send to those penny-pinching policies of Wenger is to boycott those midweek matches.
A 40,000 attendance will send shockwave into Stan that he better spends like John Henry and Glazer Family to protect his 750-mil investments.
The formation isn’t the issue in the grand picture, but I agree that we should be more flexible in some games and use a 4-4-2 in some home games where we expect to dominate.
If there are concerns with Rosicky and Jack then a 4-4-2 of Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Verm, Gibbs; Walcott, Ramsay, Song, Gervinho; Bendtner, Chamaka should see off Udinese
Savage,
I don’t expect the fans to be booing form the off, maybe at the end if we are dismal….
It’s Wenger fans are angry with and he won’t be in the stadium, he’s got to stay out the way….
When do we get to see Ryo play, deploying him on the left would mean Gorvinho strikes an Walcott on the right, that would a good attacking pattern.
Wenger should do the right thing and go for Hazard and Cahill and Ribery this will only cost him the money he has made from the transfer period
@ g clarke l quite frankly – if “no support” means that the moaners will not be at the game , then I say Thank God!
We need a good result tonite!
Hi Thorny, i don’t think Barca offered the same amount before did they, we sold him now for just under 40 million Euros…
Hi Merlin
I hope any booing doesn’t take place before KO or during the game, we need this side supported throughout…..
Terry, he should be back to be in the squad for the dipper game this weekend…
I definitly agree that tonight will be a test for the Arse. I have absolutely no faith in AW spending any cash at all unless another teeny bop’er comes along that we’ve never heard of?? Long season ahead 7th place ‘ere we come
Agreed rico on the money – I very much doubt that this is the same deal – Le Grove just made that up.
At the end of the day, I think Wenger was giving Fabregas the humane treatment. If he was going to play the cold businessmen he would have auctioned him as he suggested, but Wenger “the father” gave Fab his heart’s wish, which I respect. Either way, 35m should buy us a very good player … and we’re all agreed: we need one.
Wenger is suggesting it might not be a big money signing – I’m okay with that, but if he’s going to go cheap, he better get it right! I’m an AKB but if he doesn’t get it right, I’ll be in with the boo boys.
Good morning everyone. Nice post kev. You forgot to mention Campbell, who has signed, and is waiting for a work permit. So Wenger probably wont buy an attacker, as we have Bendtner, Chamakh, Campbell, Abofe and Van Persie.
Luckily the game is on television here in Denmark, so i’m really excited to watch the boys.. Play as good defensively as you did against Newcastle, but a lot more effective in the final 3rd please 😉
Hi Sean,
You could have told me all that about Udinese before 😉
Their season hasn’t kicked off so hopefully they are not match fit eh 😉
Savage, i’m sure its not, cesc has only recently offered his own money, but i am not one to suggest LG make anything up, reality is, I don’t know for definate…
Morning ADK, Joel Campbell won’t feature this season according to Wenger
Barcelona described the negotiations as very tough – not sure how that could be the case if they got him on the cheap without any hassle apart from time.
I think the new report about the buy-back clause plus 50% sell-on fee make a lot of sense. I’m pretty sure we don’t know all the issues about the deal up front.
He wont? Does that mean,we can hope for an attacker rico?
What’s with the nasri situation? Any news yet?
I’m afraid wenger won’t replace neither nasri nor fab..
But let it be said: all of us in Cesc’s position would have made the same decision – choose to play in front of a crowd of angry fans in a team that never wins anything, or play in front of your loving home supporters and win just about everything. Not a hard choice, even if you don’t play every game.
Rico. Yes, yesterday he was talking about a difficult period etc and I think we can all agree with that but he then said that the fans had to get behind the club. I say, we would all like to. Then he cited the negative press for disillusioning the fans and I thought that he was doing a quite good job of that himself.
has anyone read nasri’s twitter updates? He says that the arsenal fans are disrespectful for turning against him, even though he hasn’t even left yet..
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, Lansbury on standby then.. 🙂
Cheers ADK. Afobe and Traore hurt their groins playing for the Stiffs yesterday.
Yeah, i forgot Campbell. Any news on a work permit Rico?
morning
Morning Rico.
Will it be a good thing that Arsenal ending up playing in the Europa League and we field only our Reserves and youngsters?..:D
just joking…lol
Lansbury?
ANy news yet he had signed his contract extension?
I don’t think Nik will feature as Wenger will field Chamakh instead.
Perhaps, I agreed with this 4-4-2 formation with Chamakh-Walcott leading the attack.
Not forgetting Vela is still with us???
………………………………Szczesny
….Sagna……..Koscielny…….Vermaelen……..Gibbs
….Lansbury……….Ramsey…….Song………Gervinho
……………………Walcott………Chamakh
I was quite interested listening to the commentators on Saturday talking about Newcastle…
I vividly remember when Robson was in charge and they were coming 5th, and one supporter was being interviewed. He was screaming into the camera: “We are one of the biggest supported clubs in the world and this is not good enough.”
They sacked Robson, went through a succession of managers, got relegated and are now scrapping in the mid to lower half of the table and losing their best players consistently.
The commentators said: what would the fans give to have that 5th place back again? Interesting. Powerful thought.
Our attacker will be Nikki B ADK 😉
😆 adam, he is the one man who can change the view of the fans, we all know how he can do that …
Morning Kev and rsd
Nice peice about Cesc 🙂
I guess Lansbury will come in for rosicky if he doesn’t pass a fitness test today, or if enyone else drops out..
No news re Campbell but I think someone suggested that he won’t be with us this season, i’m surprised at that as he’s 19 and already playing for his country…
Have to keep an eye on YG’s or JB’s site
No rico.. anyone else but him! 🙁
Merlin,
😆 re europa
What about AA, surely he’ll start tonight…
ADK, i’m just getting that feeling after what AW said but, he does say IF Nik finds a club he can go….
Got to go off for a couple of hours, back in a bit…..
Boo boys….what a bunch of wankers they are. Seriously,you would have to be a halfwit to buy a ticket just to boo your own side. Supporters my,arse.
Agreed Scott – what the boo boys don’t realise is that they’re part of the problem.
lets go back to 4-4-2
lets go back to basics!!!!!
put theo upfront with chamakh alongside him
lansbury on the left, gervinho on the right, song and ramsey in the middle
A NEW ERA AT ARSENAL TONIGHT!!!!!
I’m arsenal til i die
I’m arsenal til i die
I know I am, I’m sure I am
I’M ARSENAL TIL I DIE!!!!!!
cesc may have left but arsenal will always remain!!!!!
That’s the spirit Stu…
Hey ADK how did your move go..?
Also, how is Bendtner viewed in the Danish media?
How do they think he’s being treated at AFC..?
Hey kev, I was off for a while. It went well thank you. Bendtner is regarded as the star in the national team, and the biggest striker talent since Michael Laudrup. Morten Olsen, the danish national coach, is discontent with Bendtners current situation and lack of playing time, and bendtners future as a starter in the national team is in doubt..
Re the treatment, the only thing I could read, is that his father, Thomas Bendtner, has said that his son has agreed terms with many clubs, but that we we’re unwilling to sell him as the offers i general haven’t been high enough…
It will be interesting to see if he will remain with us..
The problem with booing is defining exactly where the boos are directed. Personally I am highly critical of the directors of the club who I believe have long hid behind Wenger’s skirt and let him kop the blame for all the problems their policies have caused. if you write to a director , you wait a month and get a pre printed reply cut and pasted from the most recent press release. So I ask how do people so inclined voice their displeasure , it’s hard to boo and say this is for the board, the manager or the player or the whole team.
Be prepared for a whitewash. FFP is dead in the water:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14490740.stm
hi guys good post……
bring on udinese….
The New Club Captain:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11670_7105882,00.html
Afternoon guys and gals 🙂
Any news??
AK, well I wont be booing…I’m looking forward to it few light ales in the Whitehouse near Clissold Park…
It’s sooooo quiet……. 😕
TV the new skipper then, RvP will be injured 😉
Two good appointments there Mr W….
Hiya Riz. My boy goes in a pub on the corner of Holloway Road and Liverpool Road.
You going to the Swansea game, as that’s gonna be my first visit of the season?
Wenger out!
Rico, i think he made the only two logical appointments that were available.
Gotta say that i like both choices.
Eboue has gone then……
Lee, is that the big pub opposite Blackstock Road???
rico, has eboue been sold to Galatasaray?
I wondered about Sagna Kev…
Eboooie ain’t gone til its on .com Rico……. don’t get excited yet..!
fab has been sold, now we still need eboue, almunia, bendtner and nasri.. thats a lot of money coming our way…
Hi WATH, SS’s say he’s gone 🙂
Afternoon guys, not read the comments yet but anyone who boo’s from the start of the game should have their season ticket taken away and banned from any game involving Arsenal.
Yeah, i luv Sagna, a real fighter. But maybe, as Steve said the other day, communication with referees is an issue Rico.
Tesco calls… see ya lata.
ADK, looks like it’s two down, 3 to go 😉
on the corner of riversdale road and green lanes opposite clissold park…highbury quadrant-ish
old meeting point for highbury…
Will, the only thing is…you’re up against people that have supported Arsenal for 15 seconds….
i’m more worried about wenger not buying quality, rather than selling those worthless players rico…
Kev, isn’t that good news re the BBC article??
ADK, you and me both 🙁
Hi Will – i hope they don’t boo from the off, at least give the team a chance tonight but as i said earlier, it’s wenger the fans are cross with and he won’t be there 😉
ADK, according to SS’s Eboue has agreed a four year deal with Galatassary…
Lee, are you talking about The Robinson Crusoe?
Or The Brownswood Tavern?
Lee – did you ever eat at the Mexican just down the road from Highbury? On a sat evening the food was half price and bloomin good – nice way to wait for the tube station to quieten down 😉
i hardly think we will sign hazard ,in wengers words it will stop the development of ryo
i’d rather a couple of defensive signings af and a goal scorer ….
Nah Will, coming from Manor house down green lanes it’s inbetween Brownswood tavern and Robinson crusoe…roughly halfway opposite clissold park near highbury quadrant…no Rico the food thing used to pass us by… 😉
Have you guys seen the stories linking us with Joe Cole…. hope they are up to the usual rubbish standard….
Eatin’s cheatin on match day then Lee 😉
I used to eat at a pie and mash shop on Holloway Road before the game.
Wenger out !
SACK THE BOARD !!!
Mine was a toastie and liquid, not too much though as i’d be having to pop out too often 😉
Then the mexican after the game – very nice 🙂
morning all…i see that the club has officially announced the captain and vice captain – no problem there. i am curious who would be deputy vice, should both robin and tv be unavailable? tv will have the armband tonight, obviously…
i imagine it would be situation dependent – no permanent second vice, rather choose from who is available and in the starting eleven for the specific match…
if i had to appoint a second vice, i think i would go with sagna, with rosicky or arshavin other options.
i see that dot com lists joel campbell with the first team squad – he was not included yesterday. al still with the number one jersey and eboue still present without a squad number…at least the number four is now vacant…
joe cole? he couldn’t even get a game with liverpool last season…he has west ham written all over him – that is where he started, anyways…he’s not what we need…
Hi oliver, i think that would be Rosicky but then he’s not always fit either, as long as it’s not Almunia i’m happy…
We have a few who could fill in though, same thoughts as you, Sagna, Rosicky, AA….
Interesting about campbell, i thought he wasn’t in the plans for this season as he doesn’t have a permit yet…
Far to many pubs not enough time…………!!!!!!
spot on, we do not need joe cole, not now, not ever…..
Good job WATH, i wouldn’t want to have gone in them after you, they’d be dry 😉
ghost,
Not sure that would be wise right now……
hi ricco…i’m pretty certain that arsene said that campbell would not be involved with the first team this year…perhaps he (arsene) took a look around and realized how short we are on options…robin and nas (who is of little use to us at the moment anyways, as i don’t think arsene will select him until either he commits or from september 1st onward) suspended…song and gervinho facing three match league bans,jack’s return uncertain…
we shouldn’t look depleted and short of options this soon – and for such a critical tie – we just shouldn’t…
But i don’t think Campbell has a Visa oliver…..
WATH, there’s never too many pubs….
If we sign Joe Cole, I will lose my happiness.
I don’t think we will Will, its just a crazy story, wenger would have got him last season if he really wanted him i’m sure….
we need parker now….
Cant think what we do without robin 🙁
Hi STV, i hope rvp has a fit season, we need him……
surely rico more than ever perhaps.. by the way how do you do
It’s official, afc.com confirm that Eboue is a Gonner…..
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/club-agrees-terms-with-galatasaray-for-eboue
I’m very well thank you, how’s you? Long time and all that…
I wish he’d quit Holland now….
I would push AA in the Robin role and play Vela off of him.
Fine here too rico.. just that books and stuff…
How disappointing that wenger say ‘no mata’ ‘no benzema’ and all that. we need good replacement for the traitor and former captain.
Vela could be agood player this season
Vela needs to be given a chance this season, he is the most instinctive striker we have in the squad.
sadly, i think Vela will go on loan, especially if Campbell is going to feature this season – i think it’s sad though as the player hasn’t been given a fair chance as yet….
Good to hear that STV, not so good to hear all the players dismissed that we are linked with though…
Fifteen days left for Wenger in the transfer window, hopefully get this game out the way and we’ll get some positive news….
How you can give Nik B all those chances but give Vela not even a half.
The problem is Lee when there ain’t enough time to fit in all the pubs mate….!
Can we not somehow give the waiter to Walthamstow Avenue …? The fact him and Bendy are still Arsenal players and earning a fortune for nothing is yet another example of wenger loosing the plot. Overpaid very average players on long contracts.
Will, that’s our wonderful manager for you…..
My village team need a reserve keeper WATH 😉
Would they want him…?
No ….. Unless he can make the sandwiches 😉
Back on the chef duties tonight for the patient so off again for a couple of hours, hope to be back for K.O…
have a good evening guys…..
Arsenal’s Gervinho has had his three match suspension for violent conduct confirmed today.
The player was sent off during Arsenal’s fixture against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Arsenal subsequently lodged a claim that the standard punishment of three matches was clearly excessive.
A commission heard the claim today and dismissed it, meaning the player must serve a three match suspension with immediate effect.
Phew, no additional game added onto the ban
Laters all….
What a joke the FA is.
Rooney, forearm smash last season…..
Just learnt something new – Hazard is the cousin of Vermaelen. Hmmm.
Any complaints if we bring Hazard in as Fab’s replacement?
Exactly Lee and we don’t get treated differently?
Savage, I would have no problem with that.
TalkSport say Lille want 30 million euros – I’m thinking … if they’re willing to sell, let’s go and get him!!
I would take him but if he another young player in his very early 20’s?
I hear you, but sometimes potential is pretty obvious and you grab him before he gets more expensive.
Some young players are simply ready to go, just like Ozil and Khedira at Madrid.
I like that Hazard and Gervinho would know each other, so you’d be buying in experience in that sense. My only question is: can Hazard fulfill that central role?
What about Gourcuff?
Vela has been loaned out to Real Sociedad Will..
Vela should leave.
Evening all, nice post AK,, Cesc has been told to keep quiet about the transfer deal while it was going on, I bet he would have loved to have made a statment as i know he has been a good servant to us, I believe he would have apologised to the fans for leaving as he was a key man here, i would like to remember him as you described. As for another couple of signings to get our spirits up, I believe had Wenger brought a decent defender at the start, fans would have felt a little easier, taking nothing away from Jenkinson whom i believe will turn out a good un but hardly well known. His other signings look to be on the money for me, althoug i must admit i hadn’t heared of any of them, but my spirits are on the up, Barcelona have been shitbags over this Cesc deal, intentionally holding up the proceedings and i honestly believe that is why we have had fits and farts with our other signings, i didn’t believe we had loads of money to spend in the kitty from the off, and i believe i may have been proved right. The Nasri deal will also be held up to the last minute and it will probably be too late to get everything in place. It looks like we are the team to stop, in the eyes of the world, make sure we start our qualifyer without our manager and Nasri and Robin, and then have the next three games without Song and the Germ, everybody believes its our own fault, but i believe the powers at be know exactly what their doing. Your bit was lovely as well Rico x
Cahill, The German fella and a top class striker.
Evening Will , sounds good mate.
Would i be right in saying this is the first year in three that were not starting off without a broken leg
will, i agree completely on vela…disappointed – although not surpised – he is spending another season on loan…
if not now – when we seem to have limited options up front – then when for him?
I think you are right.
Makes a change.
Evening Oliver , i would have thought this was a perfect time for Theo’s Initiation to the frey, what say you.
He is for me, the best striker we have.
will, i think he is the best finisher we have. not sure about his all-around game, but i strongly feel that a sharp, confident vela would bury chances that chamakh and nik routinely fail to convert…
afternoon steve…i think theo can make a difference, provided he is focused and goes straight at udinese’s defence…
my thoughts on tonight is the worst we can afford is a scoreless draw…a scoring draw, or narrow win with a goal conceded leaves us in trouble for the second leg…something along the lines of 5-1 or so is welcome, but i do not realistically expect that…even without the likes of sanchez, inler and zapata, i think they are going to be very difficult opposition…
i know folks are frustrated – believe me – i am too…but can we not all see that confidence is fragile? just…shelve the boos for 90 minutes, at least – and try and push the team on….other than cup finals, ecl semi-finals, this is arguably the biggest tie the club has faced in a long time…high stakes and a potential catastrophe if things go bad. we’re under-strength, the mood around the club is sour – i think we, as a club, are in pretty poor shape coming into this match…it comes at a bad time for us, as well…
so why not be part of the solution, instead of contributing to the problem? maybe, just maybe, encouragment will help the players dig deep and get a result…
arsene and nas are both suspended for this tie anyway…eboue has been transferred…almunia has not been seen in public since may…so who is there left to boo? what’s the point? what will it accomplish on tonight of all nights?
Oliver, imagine Vela running in behind the defence onto a through ball from AA tonight.
I understand what your saying Oliver and completely agree, I must admit that over the tears i have got the hump with results but to be out in public and boo my own team, i think not, any fan that admits to that should look at himself and ask what the fuck am i doing.
and either delicately chipping it over the keeper (his trademark finish), or drawing the keeper and blasting it across his body and into the corner…
unfortunately, he is in san sebastien, not north london – tonight…
hope for the best…i have no doubt we have players that are capable of getting a result…but i am really concerned about form and confidence throughout the squad…add what will probably be a toxic atmosphere to the mix, and we can all see the potential for a cropper…
Exactly both Steve and Oliver.
i don’t agree with it either steve…individual fans support how they see fit, and i cannot impose my personal values on others…and i will freely acknowledge that arsene and the players have given us little to cheer about of the past several months – and arsene has caused me particular frustration…with that said…
what, excatly, will booing change? is arsene going to suddenly compromise on certain views and principles because he does not like what he hears from the crowd? will he, heck…i think we can already see that supporter discontent is making him even more stubborn and entrenched…
squil has generally not played well for us…but as maligned as he is, does anyone honestly believe he has not tried? or that he does not genuinely feel bad when he twice lets darren bent get the wrong side of him to score?
if someone has to boo, save it for those who don’t care and are clearly not trying…i have been dissatisfied with performances and certain attitudes over the past year, but have more or less felt that our players have tried to win their games…some of them have been thrown in over their heads, others have nobody to look to when things get tough…that is not the players fault…
I must say that we have a player who can lift the atmosphere with his Jinking runs, hopfull The Germ can get some decent crosses and nice passes and whoever plays up front is there to slot them home nothing better to lift a crowd than a good goal, and watch their confidence rise then
and…by the way…look around at general football reporting and commentary. we are fast gaining a reputatation as a supporter base that is not shy about booing our own players. i don’t think that is in any way, shape or form, a reputation to be proud of…
how has it ever come to this?
Thats nothing Oliver, i watched City last night and they turned their backs on the team and no one said a word, and they were winning 4.0
true…
here is our lineup for tonight…
Szczesny
Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs
Rosicky, Song, Ramsey
Walcott, Chamakh, Gervinho
SUBS: Fabianski, Arshavin, Chamberlain, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Bendtner
a recall for nik, i see
if we are winning comfortably after 60, i expect jd and/or jenks to be the first subs off the bench…
if we are deadlocked, or…i don’t even want to say it, after 60, i think he will go for arsh and nik as the first two subs…
of course, pat rice is in charge tonight…remember that he was manager for our league cup, extra time 4-1 win at the spuddies last season…the team looked vibrant, energetic and determined that early-season evening…
i notice there is no place in tonight’s squad for one of the heroes of that evening, a certain henri lansbury…i am starting to doubt he actually has a future under arsene, which i think is a shame…
The question you asked there Oliver, is all down to building and moveing to a new stadium, with little funds. I think the term is speculate to accumulate, but i’m afraid a venture like that does not Produce results overnight. Many fans expect Arsenal FC to maintain the high standards of the past. In my opinion Wenger has done fantastic with what he’s managed to acheive, the trouble is the fans have been spoilt and expect everything now, In years to come when many of the so called fans have left and are now watching City or Chelsea or whoever is winning, they will creap back and again start supporting the great Arsenal FC. Wengers foreward thinking is for now and for his predecessers
if some supporters want to send a message of discontent to arsene, then how about cheering pat rice as loud as you possibly can, when he is introduced? i am sure the message will be noted by many, and it will have been accomplished without the negativity of booing…
Wrong word there Oliver, but you get my meaning
steve, i disagree slightly on arsene…this has certainly been a difficult period for the club, and arsene has steered the team remarkably well through what is certainly a lean period, but i think he has also been his worst enemy in some instances…i think there have been opportunities to supplement the squad with experience and quality, but he has failed to take them…he often comes across as condescending and disdainful towards all supporters, and i personally don’t appreciate that…
the mixed messages (yes, there is money to strengthen’ no we don’t have much to spend) coming out of the club do not help things either…
i agree we should not expect success instantly…life does not work that way…however, there is no guarantee of future success either..however lean this period has been, we have had at least two great opportunities to win trophies and blew them both – spectacularly in the last season…the longer we go without breaking that particular duck, the harder it will be for us to do so..
Oliver, The supporters must realise the financial difficulties you don’t have to be an Einstein to realise that, but to players outside of this country he has to try and convince them that we are a big club with plenty of money, surely fans realise that
Youngsters and unknowns is all we can afford, but things must be getting better because we have got three players this window with perhaps a fourth coming
Catch you all later
steve, i know we have financial difficulties, and i acknowledged that in my response…however, having financial difficulties does not mean (to me) that we can only purchase kids for the future or one/two players from ligue un per season…
regardless of financial constraints, we play champions league football every season (which i think arsene deserves huge credit for and responsible for that more than anyone else) and have won with arsene…if he needs to convince players we are a big club, then i suggest he is looking at the wrong players…
this subject will always be debated and polarizing. many think our move and incurred debt have completely hamstrung us for the immediate past and new few years…others feel that it has been a significant handicap, but perhaps not as much as arsene and our board make it out to be…i fall into the latter…
here we go…
THEEEEEEEOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
ugh…dinatale off the woodwork – that was close..
Just got in, what have I missed?
30 mins in, early goal, clean sheet so far…
playing with energy and tempo, but udinese have threatened on more than one occasion and look dangerous. this is not over by a long shot…we’ll need more than 1-0…
I am watching now, seems there will be a few humble pies eaten regarding Gibbs.
chamakh looks tentative, almost scared of the ball…i want the guy to do good, but how long can we afford to persist with this?
What fouls does this ref see?
other than chamakh, the team overall is playing good. a lot of it is the quick tempo we are playing at…song has put us in trouble a couple of times with sloppy giveaways, but szcz, tv and kos have all been solid at the back.
will, he booked like three players in the first 15 minutes…now he is letting a lot go…
I am not being funny but is the ref Italian?
Every 50/50 is going there way.
a few shaky moments here…but we’re still holding firm.
from the netherlands, i think…
Damn it, lost my stream.
Hi All, nice goal 😉
I know I am the most biased bastard on the planet but this ref is taking the urine.
How was that defender 10 yards away/
we’re under some pressure here…almost at the half, but udinese are finishing strongly.
Quite a few empty seats ins’t there……
And Vela has gone on loan again……
With help Oliver, with help.
phew…made it to halftime unscathed…i got plenty nervous during those last ten minutes…
we’re going to need more than just this solitary goal.
Right, we need another one here and to keep a clean sheet.
Gibbs injured again……. 🙁
Well done JD….
We are so vulnerable at the back…..
Way too casual.
I pop on this site now and again, but get a bit bored reading a lot of negativity. Come on lets be positive and get behind the team. I realise you all may have more knowledge and experience of watching the team. But I luv THE ARSENAL with a passion. Just be grateful you dont support that lot down the road!
Thanks CESC for your wonderful football – i luv you. xxx
Gibbs has pulled a hamstring!!
And Wenger may have breached his touchline ban!!
Hi DJ, i’m trying to be positive … honest 😉
Uefa are as big a joke as the FA.
Chamakh needs to stop the flicks and tricks and just play football….
Why Will?
Bloody heck JD has pulled his hamstring……
Oh dear oh dear, I feel a busy two weeks ahead in the transfer window……
Jeez, what is it with us and injuries.
So,
That’s Gibbs and JD out long term…..
We now need to buy two CH’s and a LB….. Oh, and a bloody goal scorer….
You can hear the players, how many people are in the crowd?
Rico, they said one thing, we did that thing and then at halftime, Uefa have changed their minds and said oif they found out we have done what they said we could do, they will ban Wenger even more.
I am watching, asking the screen, how is that a foul but that not a foul at the ref, not a good sign.
Ah, get you re the changing of minds re wenger, idiots they are…
We are not good this half, not good at all…..
3/4 full i’d say…
Sorry, but this side is going to struggle this season… big time….
Can we even keep the ball.
I am sorry but this ref is not helping at all.
You can’t blame the ref for us keep losing the ball, over hitting a pass, first touch being heavy……
I don’t actually think the ref is that bad….
Oh, and the shooting being rubbish….
frimpong is lucky not to be booked, 2nd foul in two mins….
You are right Rico, in fact you are 100% right but what I can blame him for is saying that every Arsenal tackle is a foul.
But to be honest Will, most have been….
Jenkinson back to the keeper from the half way line?
No they haven’t Rico. not considering the Italians are doing the exact same tackles and being allowed to.
I guess i am just tired of blaming everyone for our results other than ourselves….
Every game the ref seems to be to blame for something…..
I like the golf swing by Theo, is that an ‘up yours Capello’…..??
We do seem to be on the end of more than our fair share of dodgy decisions.
You are right, we are not good tonight. To scared, to hesitant but as I said a few days ago, this could be because the guys are scared of making a mistake and starting the boo boys off.
Now that hould have been a foul on theo….
How is that a goal kick?
No free kick but one given anyway. Now do you see what I mean?
I don’t buy that Will, they are pros…
It’s Wenger and the board the fans are angry at, not the players….
No Will I don’t….
Never mjind then Rico, enjoy the game and I will shut up.
Pro’s or not, it is not nice hearing boo’s all the time and gets you down.
Ok Will 😉
I hope the board are looking at the empty seats…
phew…huge sigh of relief…
Time to finally get the cheque book out Arsenal……
credit to the players for hanging on to the lead…in the first half hour or so, it looked like we would destroy them…then udinese took control…i did not think we would keep them out in the second half, but we did and the players should take huge confidence from that, especially with losing two players to hamstring injuries…
this result alone won’t be enough, but we will have robin back for the next leg…
Hi oliver, and Nasri 😉
But, what worries me is no Gibbs or JD for 4-6 weeks…… Yet again, we are one injury away from seeing Squlli and that does not bode well….
Jenkinson did ok once he settled his nerves, baring in mind he was playing conference football last christmas…..
Did that ref give us anything, our boys defended well and ran all night very hard when your playing twelve men
agreed ricco…we are already down to bare bones in defence, it’s quite amazing that both left back are apparently injured, and jd has done his hammy…
unless traore makes a quick recovery, we may be looking at tv at left back…unless arsene moves bac to left and starts jenk on the right…that would mean kos and squil together in the centre…no matter how you slice and dice, we are weakened…
shame frimpong had to make his competitive debut in these circumstances. he could easily have cost us a goal. the fact that we had to bring him on in such a situation says everything about our lack of depth in the squad…that is on arsene…
If you actually came to me and told me that Marouane Chamakh never played a game of football in his life before signing for arsenal I would be hard pressed not to believe you… I can’t believe this guy plays football for a living.
So Arron Ramsey is going to take over from Cesc Fabregas? No thanks, I think I we will have to buy in a quality midfield player. Not one who gets a free pass because he is a welsh captain.
Who in the pools had Gibbs down for second game of the season??
We were awful tonight, nothing short of awful. Empty seats were unbelievable, you think that will waken the board up? No? I didn’t think so either.
Sagna had a cracking game, yet again.
Here here oliver…
I also worry big time about Chamakh, i really don’t know what has happened to his game – sad….
Clean sheet, that was the priority.
RVP and Jack back for the 2nd leg…..
Didn’t see game, listened to the radio. Frim sounded good
Gibbo and Johann, they said hamstrings on BBC….
Aren’t we just so lucky.
Is anybody going to congratulate our team tonight, you know what, we won, Theo scored an absolute blinder and they worked their socks off, give them a bit of credit.
Evening Gooners btw…..
Arsene will have to buy now… we’re running outta defenders…
Traore, Gibbo, Djourou…. I fear the return of The Squill….. 😯
esp, i don’t think we were awful…we were great at the start, but couldn’t build on it…as udinese came more and more into the game, we faded and became ragged and dis-jointed…the second half was particularly painful to watch, but at the end of the day, the guys hung in there and kept a clean sheet. as ugly as it was at times, i think our players deserve credit for keeping a clean-sheet at halftime.
chamakh gave us nothing again…he is fast approaching the “lightning rod” status the likes of al and denilson have previously achieved. we effectively played with ten men out there and i don’t think he deserves to be in the squad for italy. at this point, i think arsene has to bite the bullet and restore nik – he cannot be worse than chamakh has been…
rosicky was poor as well…on this evidence, we are a significantly weaker team than we were a season ago…but we should be encouraged that the players did not give up and knuckle under…they at least showed grit to defend the lead.
i just did…
Lee, i know the pub mate. I used to park on the Quadrant, when you could….
Oliver, do you sense more of an emphasis on the defensive side…
If so, then that isn’t such a bad thing.
What was the attendance?
kev, i think there is…one problem – for me – is that the midfield is still a bit too sloppy…there were too many loose passes that udinese picked up…that is going to put any team under pressure…
overall, i thought our starting back five were excellent, particularly bac, tv and kos…the central partnership looks quite good, based on early returns.
no doubt we will hear someone say that if udinese weren’t still in pre-season, they could have won this…perhaps…i’ll argue that if we had robin available, we could have this tie close to wrapped-up..
Oliver, i know it’s early days, but from what you’ve seen, can you see Frimpong supplanting Song?
How did Ramsey do?
I personally think that Aaron will benefit from the return of Jack..
Oliver, from what i heard, Chamakh was fairly ‘ordinary’….
Wonder if it won’t be long before Gervinho replaces him as the 1st change to RVP..?
ramsey supplied the pass for theo to finish…he provided another good one later on, which chamakh managed to fluff…some good moments, but i thought he drifted in and out of the game…rosicky did not have a good game in my opinion…creativity from midfield is clearly a problem…
i don’t think frim is ready yet…ready for squad minutes, but on this evidence i don’t think he is ready to supplant song…i have always thought we need someone experienced in this position, not younger…
with that said, i would like to see frim operate alongside jack, who has shown he can pick up defensive duties when necessary…
Hi kev, steve
yes they did well steve but our frailties showed and thats what worries me…..
Frimpong won’t dislodge Song just yet kev, he was lucky not to get booked if i’m honest….
Gotta say 1-0 to the Arsenal has a nice comforting ring to it…
A classic european performance. Short on style, the result all that matters…. George Grahamesque….
When Gervinho settles in and gets used to the english game, i think he’ll be pretty darn good…
😆 kev, i’d take the same score in italy too, for us of course 😛
kev, i would “ordinary” a very, very generous description of chamakh’s contribution this evening…i imagine arsene will continue to stick with him, but this funk he is in is coming up on a year and his performances seem to be getting worse and worse…i like the guy – i think there is a good player in there – but there has to be a point where we say “enough”, drop him from the first team, and send him to the reserves to rebuilt his confidence and game…
kev, on tonights display, if psg really want chamakh, i’d sell him….
Early start in the morning for me, so i have to go….
Night all, here’s hoping the injuries are not as bad as we think….
Night all….
Yes Rico, Frim is still very raw, but i think he’ll come on a bundle this season, probably get a few cards, but nobody is gonna mess with the Frim…
Oliver i wonder if Ramsey has still recovered 100%, his dip later in the game could be due to a lack of time on the pitch…
Goodnight Rico, sleep well boss.
Wenger said,”Seeing how i was suspended from the touchline he would not be giving interviews” Good on you son, fuck em
Evening rico
Oliver/Rico, not good news re: Chamakh….
I agree Oliver, how can you change so dramatically from ‘Harry Champion’ to a total wally in just half a season.
There’s gotta be more to it than we know?
Steve P, that was superb by Arsene. Wish he was bloody minded all the time with those Press tossers..
Nte rico
He will probably be banned for the return as well, who cares
Roy Hodgeson said ” One thing Arsene Wenger has done in fifteen years, is not waste to much of Arsenals Money and produced some great players”. a proper football man
BTW AK great post today, brought back some good memories, i loved the man but it was he’s time i suppose
nte all
Cheers Stevo, see ya 2moro mate….
Just got back from the Emirates. Wish I hadn’t bothered. Shocking performance, equally bad atmosphere. Chamakh had probably the worst game I have seen from an Arsenal player in many years. What is going on at our club is scandalous, but above all, very, very sad indeed.
Adam, i didn’t see the game, so i can’t really debate with you….
Suffice to say, we got a clean sheet and we’ll have RVP and Jack back for the 2nd leg…
Two games and no goals conceded….
Maybe we can see a pattern emerging?
AK, more by luck than judgement we didnt concede mate I can tell ya…! Only to say RVP and Jack were missing sums us up as a very average side mate…! A win is a win grant you that but they had more shots than us….! wenger has two weeks to sort our season out…!
Wath….. It’ll be alright on the night…… 😉
Good night Wath/Gooners
Kev. I am totally uninterested in debating the game with anyone. I was there and I know what I saw. The current state of our club is heartbreaking actually and every fan around me felt the same. No-one needed to boo. They couldn’t be bothered because they understand football and can read the writing on the wall. Evolution of the most excruciating kind has bought us her and I fear only revolution will get us on the road again. At the moment we are on the road to nowhere and we are going to get there quickly unless things change.
Well your all asleep so unlikely to ever see this, but I’d remind those disappointed by our play that Man U ground out many an ugly victory like this last year and their fans didn’t seem to complain.
There is much to be happy about. The Fabragas soap opera distraction is behind us. Walcott got a great goal. Van Persie, a man with spirit is our captain, assisted by the equally deserving Verminator.
Ramsey got a nice assist. Rosicky may turn out to be an unexpected bonus this season, though he looks like he needs to get a little more fit. Gervinho shows glimpses of great potential.
We’ve two clean sheets, the defense held, in no small part thanks to an even better young keeper.
We may be the most underrated team in world football right now. Even our awful, negative, unsuportive fans may be working in our favor by causing the players to draw closer together.
And the transfer season isn’t over yet…
New Post Up
Doc Brody thank fuck a comment that lifts me, thank you