Morning all.
It’s always about the fee of a player with Arsenal isn’t it? The club clearly want Valencia’s centre-back Shkodran Mustafi but no fee has yet been agreed between the two clubs. The players agent suggests personal terms with Arsenal which is great but until Arsenal stump up the right money, Mustafi will be going nowhere. If we are to believe whats been in the newspapers over the last few weeks, this potential deal has been rumbling away for a while now but still, nothing has been finalised. Considering our defensive frailties, I’m more than surprised the club haven’t yet got this deal done.
The German has a £42m buy-out in his contract reportedly but as Valencia need to settle their finances, £30 million is suggested as being enough to get the player but I strongly suspect Arsenal are trying to get that figure down a bit. It’s what they do. Heck, didn’t they even squabble with Bolton over a £2 million price tag for Rob Holding! I’d imagine most other clubs wouldn’t faff around so much, certainly not if they had no experienced centre-backs ahead of the ahead of the opening day of the season which for us, against Liverpool on Sunday, will be tough! We needed Mustafi last weekend, if not before and I still think we need another experienced defender too but it won’t be Jonny Evans as apparently, Tony Pulis has said no… A sigh of relief all round….
There’s still no hint of a striker deal in place though. Lacazette was tipped to be the man but it seems Lyon are playing silly beggars and have now upped the price for him, which no doubt means Arsenal will walk away. Maybe Arsene Wenger has other plans, maybe he wasn’t really interested in the Frenchman at all and all the rumours are just smoke and mirrors as he goes hunting for someone else, someone better!
Perhaps it’s Griezmann, Lewandowski or Mahrez. Perhaps it’s no-one and he’ll make do yet again, but he’d be daft to do so. Ollie isn’t getting any younger and he’s certainly not going to get any quicker and after him, what other real options are there? Alexis, Akpom, Walcott and then, Sanogo!! No, not even old Ebenezer would trust those to get enough goals to make Arsenal Premier League Champions would he?
After all, they didn’t last season but in this mornings press conference, when asked how many players he thinks they need to sign, he replied:
I don’t count in numbers as squad too big.
I am looking at no other areas apart from centre back, it’s about quality.
He’s got to be kidding right? Didn’t he say he wanted an experienced forward?
But he did go on to say:
If we find top quality, we’ll strengthen our squad.
Lewandowski or Griezmann it is then……..
In the gossip, Arsenal have made an inquiry over the availability of Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu, according to reports in France. Major French television channel SFR Sport suggests the Gunners have approached the Catalan giants over Mathieu, 32, as Arsene Wenger scours the market for defensive reinforcements.
Would he be a good signing? Experienced, he’s won trophies, he’s just under 6′ 3″ tall and he can play left-back or centre-back………
Mind you, so could Pascal Cygan. Apparently!
1st
“If we find top quality, we’ll strengthen our squad.” what a fucking joke we are!
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
I would prefer Lewandowski to Griezman. tbh I would prefer both. but if forced to choose its the former.
Why would Mathieu be a better option than Evans??? I prefer the latter to the 32 year old.
So we have been active in the market , it’s just that we forgot our wallet and a carrier bag.Couldn’t get who we wanted so now , we don’t need anyone because our squad is too big..
Contradiction follows contradiction someone should tell him ,that just because he doesn’t remember what he said yesterday . Other people do !
I would be surprised if Wenger sign anyone before the window close.
He can’t be serious about only getting a centre-back, he really can’t…
Dev, you reckon and think we’ll start both Holding and Chambers on Sunday, I think you’ll see by the team selection that Wenger is always going to air on the side of caution which means he’ll go with one of those and Nacho to in his mind steady the ship with experience. The whole mind set can be judged by the Sunday side picked, does he trust the players to play in their right positions or does he “make do” and paper over the cracks…! I’d be very very surprised if he don’t go the safe route like he normally does…. As is the norm take off forwards and replace with defenders and midfielders when protecting a lead with ten mins to go… he’s done it for ever and how many times does that bite us in the arse…!
Rico, to be fair he said he doesn’t look to strengthen in one particular area it’s all over “IF” the quality players come up hence he didn’t say we needed a striker..!
I tell you what Rico, Klopp would have been a good choice for us.The man has energy, is the right age and shows passion. Oh by the way the kick off is 4.p.m. not 3 p.m. as shown in your widgets.
I have come to the conclusion that whatever wil be will be. Pers gets injured, AW panicks and starts a rather strange way of negotiating.If we get Mustafi so be it, but AW never went after him initially. So predictable on and off the field is our Mr Wenger.
Don’t rate that spare part from Barcelona either.Maybe a change of policy.New condition=must be over the hill and over 32.;)
.
Exactly Potter, I’ve never known anyone contradict themselves as much as Wenger does…
It’s that old Arsene PR machine whirling into action, like a Dervish.
Darn Mirror Wath!! That sounds a bit more promising…
His time was up quite a few seasons ago, he really is a deluded, out dated old man and extremely rich one to boot!
Please make this your final season, I’ve really had enough of your antics!
Sign somebody Wenger and stop being a punk
Kelsey, Klopp or a few others…
Morning Adam…
Did he actually say that he isn’t going to sign a striker?
Seems not Adam, just The Mirror quoting he did..
Oh yes he can!
The pantomime horse says so.
He should be saying something along the lines of, “if we can buy a good player we can turn them into something exceptional?
Is he admitting defeat and conceding the title already? And all for the lack of a pantomime horse!
Morning all and a happy new season to everyone.
Rico. I can find his press conference online. I see he has had another pop about the big spenders.
Brudder you must be ecstatic about renewing, actually if we procure the coveted “top four” slot, the final home game with all the squad taking selfies around the Emirates (like we’d actually won something relevant) must be worth the financial outlay?
Ohhh to be a Gooner!
I read the Mirror transcript Adam, best I don’t any more… 😉
It should be on afc.com shortly..
Now why didn’t he do it??????
mauricio-pochettino-admits-he-wanted-to-kill-tottenham-players-after-finishing-below-arsenal-6063352
Brudder. I am, literally over the moon. Especially if we don’t sign a striker. 🙂
WENGER is the God of AFC…..ARSENAL FANS ARE SO FEEBLE MINDED TO BE DRIBBLED YEAR AFTER YEAR…WITH WENGERS TOSSLING YOU ALL WITH LIES UPON LIES….HE GOES TO PRICE CHEAP FISH PLAYERS….PRETENDING HE IS IN THE TRANSFER MARKET, WHEREAS HE IS DOING NOTHING…..HOW LONG WILL WENGER FOOL THE MOST DULLEST FANS IN EPL YEAR AFTER YEAR ?
This must be definitely his last seaon if he does WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE CUP !
Arsenal will never WIN EPL AS FAR WENGER IS THE MANAGER….,WENGER ERA MUST END THIS 2016/17….
What’s with the caps John?? We aren’t blind you know!
WeLl SaId JoHn!
enough is enough.no more going backwards.wenger out,we need to move forwards again. A.F.C was great before wenger,but hes going to ruin our club
As one of the most dullest, used to tosling, cheap fish players and being dribbled, I say No More!
I think you’ve said quite enough Adam! Even if it was on behalf of ‘another’!
But he has a point, when you ‘read between the lines’
Marvellous, really cheered me up.
Excuse me but are you avy who used to be ACLF if not apologies.
Wavy I meant.
Wavy. There is very little new or unexpected where our club is concerned. Very difficult to believe anything other than we need a change. For me anyway.
Morning guys. Nice post…
Sanogoals it is then, I’d also take Evans over mathieu a lot of people making Evans out to be a cygan he ain’t that bad he’s more experienced than chambers and holding so for a penny pinching club like Arsenal he’s perfect.
As for the Liverpool game imo if we start with the two kids at centre half we lose simple as that. Knowing each other at u21 doesn’t cut it.
I thought pantomime season was around XmasThis is becoming a farce and a great way to get the fanbase behind you
————————————————————–
Arsenal have been heavily linked to Valencia’s Skhodran Mustafi in the last few days, after injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel.
The Gunners reportedly haven’t placed a bid yet, and Valencia aren’t too keen on selling Mustafi either. However, it turns out Arsenal have been offered an opportunity to sign another defender from Valencia.
According to Valencia based website Super Deporte, Valencia’s director of football, García Pitarch, is trying to find an English club for Aymen Abdennour, and had offered the player to Arsenal last week.
Super Deporte say Pitarch had several meetings in London, and is actively looking for a club who will buy Abdennour. However, it’s been reported there have been no offers or interest from any clubs for Abdennour, which isn’t really helpful for the Spanish club.
The Tunisian international signed for Valencia last summer in a €22m deal, and has another four years left on his contract.
If Gabriel hadn’t got injured do you think Wenger would be looking (being the operative word) at buying a CB???
I really don’t think so…
The arrogance of the man is unbelievable imo.
I’m starting to think we won’t get Mustafi…..
It could end in tears brudder.
Asano and Akpkm are our new strikers…
It’s Arsenal, it’s what we do….
Predictable
Probably not Lee.
Good read Rico… as usual
unfortunately the club has no rudder when it comes to transfers and retaining key players.
Allowing Sagna to leave and buying Debuchy for £10m and paying Debuchy more than Sagna earned just goes to show how clueless we are strategically…
Saying that most fans were happy with Debuchy being signed…; it made no financial sense given as Sagna could play superbly in all back 4 positions whilst Debuchy was a clueless tactically inept attack minded RB who looked good in a leaky NUFC defence but…
Morning all btw
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160812/wenger-s-latest-es-on-transfers
Here’s his interview in brief..
Don’t forget Sanogo.
In all seriousness what the hell does Wenger think he is doing even if we buy at the death of this window.
We should be making a statement of intent not become a laughing stock to some others.
I still feel and it hurts me to say it that the magnet of playing for us isn’t there and many players just don’t want to play for Wenger.
Was Vardy the first to snub us this season when IMO it should have been an honour that we wanted him.others will say he would rather be a big fish in a small pond I presume he meant leicester not us 😉
Milner and Sturridge are out of the team for the game.
Kelsey, no. I’ve always been Wavy, for as long as I can remember. Don’t believe in reinvention. I am who and what I am! (Sadly!)
Wenger and Mustafi all wind and p*ss. It’s old grey beard’s way of stringing the supporters along. Filling them with hope only to report, “we tried our hardest but we just couldn’t get the deal across the line. We will have to go with what we’ve got.”
It was destined never to get very far! And hasn’t……..yet!
Kelsey, Wenger won’t take advice (it seems) and basically does the polar opposite of what should be done!
We’ll probably buy a diminutive technical skilful injury prone midfielder…………just what the squad needs right now!
AW has basically confirmed that Chambers and Holding will be the CBs against the dippers.
So the team will be as follows…..
Cech
Bellerin, Chambers, Holding, Nacho
Xhaka, Cazorla
Ox, Aaron, Iwobi
Alexis
When asked about Mustafi AW refused to comment. So that means he is coming. Otherwise he would have said something
Oh Wavy I meant is Wavey 😉
Wasn’t it nice when football was simple,Now it’s a huge money machine and everyone wants a slice of the cake.
Arsenal’s move for Valencia ace Shkodran Mustafi appears to be in doubt, with Super Deporte claiming that the player’s dad has revealed that there’s no deal between the clubs or with his son.
The Gunners have been heavily aligned with the German World Cup winner over the course of the past few days as Arsene Wenger reacts to an injury crisis at centre-back in north London, with claims that a move could be done within ’48 hours’ doing the rounds.
WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Latest transfer news
These suggestions follow comments from Mustafi’s alleged agent, Ali Bulut, that, although no arrangement is in place, talks are at an advanced stage.
However, Super Deporte have dropped a massive bombshell, revealing that Mustafi’s dad has called the club to discuss the situation, with Bulut NOT his son’s representative.
Further to this, the player’s father is understood to have claimed that there is no deal being worked upon with Arsenal and that the defender is happy to stay at Valencia.
If true, it appears that the Gunners are facing a real battle to snap up the EURO 2016 ace, and it may explain recent links with Barcelona’s Jeremy Mathieu.
My God, Coach, how the fcuk are Xhaka and Santi going to protect Chambers and Holding…
Hung out to dry!
you are right Kev. so it must be Xhaka and Coquelin in front of the defence. but then one of Santi or Aaron must drop out. And believe me….both can do big damage to the dippers.
Hold on a minute
You lot don’t have a clue.
It takes three things to get
a transfer over the line
(1)The Selling club
(2)The Buying club
(3)The Player
Why do all you think
money is the problem?
No Caps Please.
Cappsie has no place here on this blog.
Tbh Coach, I would have started Elneny, but how to fit him in..?
You know that Wenger is gonna start Xhaka and Ramsey, so it narrows down the options…
Is Jeremy Mathieu older than Mertesaker?
Mathieu is 32 years old. 6ft 3. and has played regularly for Barca. But when Barca played against the other two big guns he was found wanting. Against the rest of the teams he was ok.
And he’s cheap I guess..?
Hello All:
Judging from AW comments for the past month, it makes one wonder if he’s losing his mind. He’s so full of contradictions is really a shame – he’s losing credibility. Didn’t the same man made a bid for Vardy because he needs a striker?
Btw, Mathieu? Please I will take my chances with Holding and Chambers or for that matter bring back Cygan….what a joke?
Actually Fred you have forgotten the agent and his cat wants the best Whiskas none of this Aldi own brand rubbish.As I see it there’s too many fingers in the pies and that’s where it all goes wrong for us at least.
Potter
Arsene never mentions agents
Hey, stop moaning about Arsenal not signing anyone…
Look at this:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160812/free-programmes-for-supporters-on-sunday
Hey Potter, a free programme has gotta be worth the round trip….
Some people have all the luck….
Still no Mustafi then. Don’t suppose it matters really, as he can’t play on Sunday. Maybe another a few days and Arsenal might finally get the deal done… Then again…….
Afternoon guys.
tickets are sold , however if they put the programmes on the seats they will be hoovered up long before the regulars get there.
We have received notification from the Premier League that the following games have been rescheduled as a result of TV selections:
Burnley v Arsenal
Sunday, October 2 (originally Saturday, October 1)
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Live on: SKY SPORTS
Sunderland v Arsenal
Saturday, 29 October
Kick-off: 12.30pm (originally 3pm)
Live on: SKY SPORTS
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday, November 6 (originally Saturday, November 5)
Kick-off: 12pm
Live on: BT SPORT
Manchester United v Arsenal
Saturday, November 19
Kick-off: 12.30pm (Originally 3pm)
Live on: SKY SPORTS
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Sunday, November 27 (Originally Saturday, November 26)
Kick-off: 2.15pm
Live on: SKY SPORTS
The ‘standard’ TV selections have now been made up to the end of November 2016. Ordinarily, fixtures up to this date will not now change. However, as ever, all fixtures remain subject to change and circumstances may yet arise which result in further fixture changes.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160812/five-matches-chosen-for-tv-coverage#sjj0b5ZyXwado5uv.99
Pity the poor Sunderland supporters , they will have an early morning start. at least 5 1/2 hours drive and pint before the match ?
Sh*t we are away , it’s our lot that’s got shit on.
Darn TV deals,they’ve ruined football….
Good day all.
Real football starts tomorrow.
Let me throw you all a curve if Wenger will play a 3-5-2 Negative Football.
Klopp knew our rookie defence and will attempt to gegenpress the rookie CB pair with Frimino and Origi running directly at them.
Klopp will also instruct his players to pounce on any of our players with the ball immediately to stop the passes, and to close off the passing channels such that the players with the ball will be instantly tackled to win back the ball.
And with their pacy players, Liverpool can launch instant counter-attacks directly at our throat.
Midfield battles will determine the winner of this game.
Will Arsene Wenger surprises Klopp be fielding 3-5-2 or 4-6-0 to dominate midfield and stop all Liverpool counter-attacks in midfield?
Taking a leaf from Mourinho Negative Football, fielding 3 defensive mdifielders, that beat Barca in 2010 with only 19% possession?
…………………………Cech
… Bellerin ……..Chambers… Monreal
…Ramsey….Xhaka……Coquelin….Elneny
………………………Cazorla
…….. Walcott………………….Alexis
Bellerin-Ramsey-Walcott will be protecting the right-flank.
Monreal-ELneny-Alexis protecting the left flank.
Xhaka-Chambers-Coquelin protecting the centre.
When under attack, it will be 4-6-0 with Coquelin slipping into Back-4 and the 6 midfielders will slug it out in the middle to win the ball. A solid defensive wall to avoid any of our 3 defenders having to face a 1-on-1 situation.
The idea is to compress plays in a narrow 25 or 30 yards in the middle to stop Liverpool counter-attacks. And we will narrow down the pitch to prevent Liverpool from attacking down our flanks.
And after winning the ball in the middle, a rapid transit to counter-attack with Walcott and Alexis speeding towards goal with Cazorla and/or Ramsey dictating plays and release the ball early.
The key is Xhaka-Coquelin-Elneny protecting the middle and shield Back-3 from quick counter-attacks in the middle. Having Cazorla as the 4th DCM putting in a defensive shift playing deep to win back the ball is vital to transit rapidly to from defence to attack.
And we have 3 attacking outfield players in Ramsey, Walcott and Alexis ready to transit rapidly from midfield to swift counter-attacks.
In counter-attack from a deep defensive position, it will be from 3-5-2 or 4-6-0 to a 3-4-3 with either Walcott-Cazorla-Alexis or Walcott-Ramsey-Alexis.
Most interesting to watch our players on 14-Aug transiting rapidly from defence to swift counter-attack to beat Liverpool at their own game.
With Wenger, there’s little point in guessing his lineup imo… He’ll pick his favs and then see which holes he needs to fill….
Let’s not get our hope too high on Wenger signing another CB as he had not sold a single player in our 2015/16 25-man squad.
Wenger always believed in promoting youngsters from within, giving every chance from August to December to cement their places in the senior squad and to vindicated his policy of not buying players who are no better than his current crop of youngsters, albeit lacking experience.
Look at the current option for CB in our squad:
1 – Koscielny
2 – Gabriel
3 – Mertesacker
4 – Chambers
5 – Holding
6 – Bielik
7 – Monreal – emergency CB
8 – Debuchy – emergency CB
9 – Coquelin – emergency CB
10- Xhaka – emergency CB
Arsene Wenger may tough it out and wait till summer 2017 to buy another CB.
After all, when Koscielny and Gabriel return in August/September, and Chambers, Holding and Bielik proved they are capable, it will vindicated Arsene Wenger was right not to buy another CB.
Remember Flamini was all but written off in summer 2007, and Wenger was willing to sell him to BRUM then? But he stayed and had a scintillating 207/08 season.
Remember Coquelin was written off and had a horrid time in Germany and then loaned to Charlton, waiting for a buyer? Well, came December 2013 and all is history now.
We shouldn’t write off our youngsters prematurely as they can surprised us as well.
Oh yeah, remember a teenaged “Donkey” Adams destroyed by Rudi Voeller when playing for England, ridiculed by the tabloids? And TA became an Arsenal legend.
Merlin if you are right we might just miss out on The Europa league.;)
Re Debuchy bought for 14 or 11 million depending what you read and believe,three times we have been in negotiations to sell him for 3 million and no takers at present.Another success story.
It’s the fourth criteria when buying a player. “His improved potential value when selling a player on!”
Debuchy has not quite worked out then Arsene? Another cock up on the transfer front Mr Wenger?
The only transfer policy we have is the one written on the packet of 10 No 6. Now they were/are players?…….boom boom!
I’ve got me coat……?..
Merlin, that would be stupid of him. Merts is out until Christmas probably with Gabriel not far behind and neither are that good anyway, not now. He needs one, if not two defenders. Making do with Monreal or Debuchy, especially the latter, is utter madness…
🙂 Kelsey, if we do, at least we know AW would probably walk away….
Ha ha Wavy.
Evening Rico and the House
Tonight is the start of Premier League 2 u 23 competition, and tomorrow the start of the U18 league.
At the moment there is no news of the type of teams that we will play in both games but I feel certain players must be used in the U 23 team.
Bielik,Zelalem ,Jeff ,Niles and Chris Willock in my opinion must start tonight for you can take it for granted that the Reading will play players who are over 23 something we have not got.
Afternoon Rick, do our boys play tonight?
Rico, that’s Arsene Wenger for you.
Remember last season?
Welbeck injured, Alexis exhausted after Copa Cup with no rest from 2014 to 2015, Giroud lost form even in August 2015 with Wenger having full trust in Walcott and started him as central striker in August/September till he got injured again?
Wenger refused to buy another striker claiming he had 4 world-class strikers in Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck and Alexis.
CB?
Fans were screaming at him to buy CB in summer 2015.
DCM?
Fans were screaming at him to buy Schneiderlin which later he claimed he is too expensive at 25-mil.
And he just bought one player in 10-mil Cech last season.
That lack of depth in the squad cost us dear in losing the title to Leicester City in January 2016.
We fans will just grin and bear it as long as Wenger is still around.
My philosophy is that when Arsene Wenger served up a lemon, I will make lemonade out of it.
In May if you’d told even the most pessimistic fan that Arsene would go into the new season without a new striker (after our goals dried up after the turn of the year) they wouldn’t have believed you.
It’s a shit show am not even mad at all. Am numb and since. Let’s sit on our hands and watch Wenger ride out his time. He really can’t offer anything more than he is/did.
I know Merlin, I’ve sat and watched it all unfold…..
Yes Rico we are at home to Reading, They stated it was going to be a big launch but no one is talking about it, and every thing is very low key
Well Kelsey, I agreed with you … just that we will still qualify fro CL Cup! 😀
Anyway, I am an eternal optimist that in every August, I will expect Arsenal FC to win the title until proven it is mathematically impossible …. say from November to February when Wenger’s Arsenal team had a death wish to go down the table faster than Christmas dressings.
Supporting Arsenal FC since 2005/06 is an emotional roller-coaster ride from exhilarating height, and the next instant down to the pit.
Is it live on the player Rick. Surprised there’s not been more publicity….
Walcott one of my favourite subjects.I am convinced Wenger would have sold him this Summer as he was a 110K a week bench warmer and Liverpool and West ham seemed initially interested,then it went very quiet so back comes Walcott who isn’t a CF or a winger.He isn’t really a footballer of consistency as proven and I have always said his character is too nice to get stuck in.Having speed and the ability to beat one man is his only attribute and at 27 his value will decrease as the months roll on and we all know money is always in Wenger’s mind first and foremost.11 years at the club and even allowing for countless injuries has he improved,I think not.
Rico, if Raineri can do it, so can Arsene Wenger learning from his 2015/16 mistakes.
Raineri was branded a loser, “never” won anything, Leicester City was ridiculed for hiring Tinkerman Raineri and pundits made Leicester City the hot favorite relegation candidate.
Now, all pundits had written off Arsenal and ridiculed Arsene Wenger for not buying a striker and CB now. We are also everybody favorite to drop out of Top-4.
Wenger said we are on a 10 league games unbeaten run and we should continue this unbeaten run with the same 2015/16 squad, but strengthen by Xhaka.
Keep the faith.
Anybody can recalled when was the last time that Liverpool beat us at Emirates Stadium?
Kelsey, Theo is a player everyone likes to talk about, and not for the good……. Lol
Merlin, no chance. Why? Because Wenger has never learned from his mistakes!
Kelsey, I detected a change in Walcott’s attitude once he realized that his career at Arsenal will be over this season if he still failed to live up to his potential. Plus being dropped for Euro2016 really knocked the stuffing out of him that he had been complacent and needed more hard work to improve further instead of riding on his “past glories” to carry him forward.
Last season was his worst season with Arsenal, lacking confidence and poise in the box.
Worst, he was proven a coward by skipping out of all 50:50 balls.
But during a pre-season game (against VIking or Abu Dhabi City?) I saw him went in for a 50:50 ball in the box; which I never saw him did in a league game.
A player who once scored 21 goals in a season cannot go back else Wenegr would have sold him eons ago before he signed his new contract last year.
A few little tune-ups wil see Walcott scoring double-figure league goals this season:
– He must regained his confidence and self-belief – a sport psychologist will help.
– He must learned to have that split-second of calmness instead of hurrying his shots.
– He msut learned how to angle his shots instead of playing “percentage football”by just shooting accurate at the goal-mouth regardless of the position of the goalie.
Remember those bunch of Swedish clones, playing baseline tennis whose only aim is to return the ball back to the court, gridning down oponnents with 100+ ground strokes like a 5 to 6 hour tennis match at French Open clay-court? That is what I menat by Walcott shooting at the goal-mouth in “percentage football”.
That season thqat Ramsey went into double-figure goals, he revealed that Wenegr told him not to hurry his shots but to have that split second of calmness and composure before shooting.
Walcott was so bad in previous seasons was simply due to him beingmentlaly fragile, a loss of self-belief and confidence in his ability resulting in him shooting tentatively instead of remaining calm, finding that split-second of composure to score.
Let’s hope a 2016/17 Walcott had his head straightened by a sport psychologist and fulfilled his potential.
I dearly love to see the Brit Pack comes good this season.
I’d like to see the Arsenal fans boycott that midday ko at Sunderland…
It’s just a piss take…
If fans act like a mat, then it’s no surprise when they get walked on…
Rico, there is always a chance as long as we do not lose more than 3 matches and remain unbeaten against Bottom-12 teams … plus a large dose of luck like Leicester City 2015/16! 😀
Remember how ManUre fans laughed at Arsene Wenger in 2003 when his comment was taken out of context by claiming we can be unbeaten? ManUre fans went to the extent of wearing “Comical Ali” T-shirts to mock Wenger? Who had the last laugh?
Pundits had consistently written off Arsenal chances to retain Top-4 status for the past 18 seasons, Let’s hope Arsene Wenger will prove his critics wrong (again) and manage to pull another rabbit out of his well-used hat to win us the title.
Kev, where is Black Scarf Movement to initiate any boycott?
Any organized anti-Wenger protests on 14-Aug?
What if Arsenal fans decided to walk-out en mass at 20th minute to “celebrate” Arsene Wenger 20th Anniversary with Arsenal FC?
So would I Kev. It’s so so wrong!
No it is not being shown Rico.
I understand that BT are showing some the games live from Sept .
I am hoping to get updates.
Thanks Rick..
I’m off guys, catch up tomorrow…
Night all…
Wellbeck,Mets,Gabriel,Wilshere out for several weeks and only tomorrow is the kick off!
Our squad is not complete and is not deep enough.
It is not an evidente? Se can win on sunday (?) but those are ours real problems !
H/T at boring Wood goal less .
Ben Sheaf playing C/H having a very good game and holding the team together
Sheaf at C/H… what the fuck are they doing to that lad……
Lost 2-0 Physical game make shift defence very poor.
Its going to be a very hard season
Make shift defence, wonder how often this season we going to be saying that Rick… through out the club…!?!?
In some respects, the Arsenal academy is shambolic…
We should be beating a team like Reading at youth level, what the hell are our scouts doing and if we can’t sign up any decent youth defenders in the London area then bloody well look further afield, it’s a poxy joke…
There does seem to be an air of complacency around the place . Then again if you believe the rumours anyone that tries to change the way things are done gets removed or finds a horses head in their bed.
So the 2016/ 201/7 Season finally kicks off today and I would say that the majority of us on here and elsewhere are upset and frustrated and in some cases angry as to how our transfer dealings in and out have been conducted.
Yes I know there are still over two weeks to go until the window closes and in all probability something or someone will drop into our lap.
There really are no excuses this Summer.We didn’t finish in the dreaded forth spot so as to qualify for the CL which interupts pre season, we have more money than ever to purchase quality players,we knew twelve months ago the key places that needed reinforcing, the TV deal will help us and all the other PL clubs but one must point the finger at the whole Board and manager for as a business up to now has been a very poor show, laughable and in some cases embarrassing.
I have no idea how the season will pan out but most of the media have written us off before a ball has been kicked, but lets see if we progress or regress.Oh Good Morning.
Debuchy is this seasons Chamakh.
He was doing well until losing his spot through absolutely no fault of his own, but as is the way with Gooners, he’s now being turned on.
Staunch lot, and especially loyal, aren’t we lol.
Kelsey, spot on-there is absolitely no excuse to not bring in the players needed to make us a true contender.
None.
I’ll have a friendly wager with anyone that Leicester will not finish top 8 this season…..well, unless they are gifted 15 penalties again-a luxury we are never afforded, but we can’t mention that 🙂
Anyway, regardless of favourable decisions, Wenger doing right in the TW can take it out of the officials hands.
Of course, Stan could demand Arsene do something.
Mmmmm lol
Morning Kelsey, Scott and all..
You two still moaning then… 😉
As much as Wenger needs to sign at least two players, he’s got to something much better with them all. More of the same stuff we saw last season and we’re doomed to fail, again!
Morning Rico and all.
I agree. The team has to be much better this season if they are going to be contenders.
We don’t need to improve as much as most clubs 🙂
Morning guys.
Morning Adam. Tough to think much will change though really…
We do Scott.
Aim for the sky Rico.
Rico, Chelski finished where?
Utd?
No, we don’t.
Indeed Adam…
What we need is a world class unknown non english speaking injury prone french player who is valued at 30 million but we will pay a top price of 8.Hopefully he will have three brothers all of a similar age who can all play in at least 4 or 5 different positions, and then add a further discount to the total price..Sorted
Fair enough Scott if that’s what you believe, but I think you might change your mind after todays post…
But I disagree – maybe that’s because I look at Arsenal, not other clubs in order to judge our own performances..
Who do you have in mind Kelsey? lol
Rico 😉
It all started to go wrong with that stupid Suarez bid.We would have won the league with him once or even twice, even with a non perfect defence.
Rico, I never said we don’t need to improve, and I didn’t say other clubs jacket improved, but the fact remains we finished second, so those behind us last season MUST improve more than us.
Kelsey, it was a sensible bid and I’m sick of people saying otherwise.
That bid triggered the right for us to negotiate with the player, yet Liverpool ignored that.
The wankers at the FA did nothing, and that little biting shit didn’t put any pressure on his club.
I wish people would use their brains and stop using every bloody chance they get to rip into Wenger, even when they know it’s based on bullshit!
The offer was genuine!!!!!
That is all fact, and saying it was a silly offer shows how bloody stupid or biased Arsenal fans are.
That was silly wasn’t it, even if they’d offered £41 million it wouldn’t have been as insulting. But tbh Kelsey, I think things were going wrong before then…
So you all think when a 40 million trigger is in place, we should offer 50 million??!
Why?
Tell me why!!!!
That’s bullshit!
If 40 million triggers the clause, then that’s all that needs to be offered.
What a ridiculous attitude.
You all say Wenger is too tight with money?
If he shared most fans attitude, we’d be broke in one season.
Incredible stuff.
All the clause dis was allow us to talk to the player, so get that straight.
Offering another 20 million guaranteed NOTHING.
Would you offer 50,000 for a car advertised for 40,000???
Don’t don’t think so!
Chill out Scott… Adding £1 to a transfer bid is insulting imo. Just imagine what we’d all be saying had another club done that to us??
I still think finishing ten points behind Leicester is what Arsene Wenger should be focusing on, because as much as coming second is good, there’s a much bigger picture to be seen…
It’s all in the passed now Scott but perhaps the club should have loooked at all angles and had preliminary discussions with Liverpool before making public a bid.It’s not an argument just my opinion as with many other things at the club that I posted an hour or so ago, that you agreed with.
Is there really a need to be so aggressive with your comments Scott?
Signing a footballer is very different to buying a car – let’s keep things real….
I think Suarez only ever wanted Barcelona and Arsenal were just a pawn in the entire move. No doubt once he agreed to stay at Liverpool for one more season, he was assured that a move to Spain would be permitted the following summer.
I agree Kelsey, Arsenal – whoever was responsible for that extra pound, should have talked to Liverpool before putting the bid in.. Perhaps then, they would have known what was what with his alleged get out clause. If there was one..
Surely you either meet the buy-out clause or you don’t. I think the £1 thing was a light-heated thing that the press we’re delighted with as it gave them something to write about.
As per the impending season. We certainly need to add consistency and some shrewdness to our play. What conclusions other clubs arrive at is their business but we threw the PL away last year and that mustn’t happen again.
Scott would you offer £40,000 +£1?…lol
Adam, do you think there was ever a get out clause?
Morning Bt.
Morning Rico and all…
Morning All
Morning Rico
Scott, nobody was digging out Debuchy for nothing, he’s an international full-back who wax playing like a park player, also he had an attitude problem, and remember he’s a proffessional…
Are you just being pedantic Digger? ?
Morning Kev.
And one who went running to the press moaning about not playing….
IMO debuchy was a bad buy be it 11 or 14 million depending what you read. Why are we getting rid of him 2 years on after only 12 PL appearances and he has been out on loan last season, and as of now a couple of enquiries but no takers at 3 million. Bad business or just unlucky ?
Rico, for two years or so I’ve read the comments on the Suarez bid.
For two years I’ve read insulting Wenger for making it.
For two years I’ve read one or two people say it was a legitimate bid that triggered the clause.
I have no issue with criticism of Wenger, but when it’s ridiculous, as is this topic, then sorry, but I’ll not do what most Gooners do, and say what’s popular-I will speak the truth.
The bid triggered a clause that was legitimate and allowed negotiations to begin-that is all, and that is fact.
It was not disrespectful, because Suarez and LIVERPOOL SET THAT FIGURE!!!!!!!!
They said to all clubs “offer 40 million plus, and you can negotiate with Suarez”.
We did that, yet people abuse Wenger?
Sorry, but that is complete crap.
Kev, before he was injured by a disgraceful Rugby tackle, Debuchy was going well for us.
When we were “stuck” with Bellerin, people were abusing Wenger.
Now, it was pure luck on his behalf.
Gooners turn on players in an embarrassingly quick manner, imo.
Scott. I ‘m not going to bother answering all the time you feel you need to use capitals.. I like to discuss things without shouting at who I’m talking to…
Rico, 4 words in capitals letters.
4.
4 too many!
New post up.