This is what I love, an honest young player who tells us just how good he is, how happy he is in England and just how happy he is at home with the Arsenal.
Yes, some may suggest he’s very young to be saying, “I play like Gerard Pique from Barcelona,” but maybe he does?
Ignasi Miquel followed in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida in leaving Spain for Arsenal, Cesc has become a hero already, Fran Merida got impatient and left us Miquel talks as if he’s in for the long haul!
England is now home for our Spanish defender and loves it here as he grows in stature day by day which has made the decision to make him captain an easy one for Neil Banfield. Banfield says he is a high quality defender and a natural leader!
I remember when I came here I couldn’t talk and I was lost. But now I’m trying to talk and tell people what to do. I’m trying to help them when they are playing. I’ve adapted now to life in England. It was quite hard but now I feel comfortable and I feel like it’s my home now. I’m happy to be here and now I just want to keep working hard and maybe one day get the chance to show that I am good enough to play for the Arsenal first team.
Miquel, still only eighteen years old compares himself to Gerard Pique saying The same happened to him as it did to Pique when he was young. Both players left home early to move to England, they are both quite tall and both like playing the ball out from the back.
I like to play the ball and go in strong for challenges. I just want to win. I think I’m a winner, I always give 100 per cent for every game.
As for being made captain, he doesn’t take the role light-heartedly,
I’m so happy that Neil gave me the chance to have the armband and I’m not going to disappoint him. I’m going to keep working and show that I can make it. I know that I have to work 100 per cent every day and give everything when I play. I just want to get into the first team. I’ve had the chance to train with the first team to show the boss I can be there and if he gives the me the chance I’m going to show what I can do.
From one man very much on the up, to another who is already on the fringe of the first team.
Henri Lansbury has been talking about ‘that’ goal! You know the one, it was the opening goal at WSL when we whipped their hides in the Carling Cup. For so long we have missed a true Arsenal fan who also happens to play for us play against the Tiny Totts down the road. Henri Lansbury was ‘that’ man that night.
When he scored you could see what it meant and he has relished the chance to claim bragging rights over his Tottenham-supporting friends.
When Lansbury returned to the dressing room after that extra-time triumph, the banter was flowing.
I got a bit of stick from the lads about the celebration, I didn’t know I could jump that high, but it was at Tottenham and I just didn’t know what to do!
I got loads of text messages but everyone was good to me about it. I gave them a bit of stick because I’ve got more Spurs mates than Arsenal. So it was good to rub it in.
It was obviously a big thing for me to start. I had all my mates on the phone saying ‘Are you starting? Are you starting?’
The answer he gave was course ‘yes’ – and he added a goal for good measure. Good Man!
Finally, Cesc, Theo and Nikki are all back in training and could be in the squad for Saturdays game, suggestion is that Robin will soon be back too which is great news.
Have a good day all…
Morning all
Morning all.
Morning KT, see Jack didn’t play last night…
Capello did us all a favour.it would’ve been no good for jack with balls flying over his head to kevin elbow davies…
I’m glad he didn’t play too KT, but what good did it do him, he should have been left with the under 21’s and been part of the side that qualified, Capello is doing to Jack what Sven did to Theo…
But yes, we gain as he will be fresh for saturday, as will theo, Cesc and Nikki 🙂
Mannone had a mare as italy U21s crashed out.diaby was impressive in their match vs luxemborg.
Thats not good for the Italian then, good for diaby though..
RBS have won their court case…. 🙁 🙁
What’s happened to Fran since he went back?
It looks as though we may have all our players bar ramsey and sagna for city match.hope we have a run of games together without many injuries.also rosicky has been very good for the czechs in the qualifiers bagging two assists in their two wins.
Thats not good rico.
Hope same thing doesn’t happen with Miguel like Piqué and end up at Farca at last.
Morning. . . . .
Nice post Rico
Andy, not a lot i think, subs bench mainly… no better than had he stayed with us..
Morning WATH, thank you 🙂
See Attwell has been given the hoof after his few dreaful performances, no doubt if Wenger had been the ref’s boss he would have stuck with him for another run of games 😉
I’d add a couple more off that list as well Rico…! He ain’t the only useless one thats for sure
Hi Gurkhaligunner
That is always the concern when signing young players from overseas, i guess if he gets into the first team and we win a few trophies there is little reason to move home… At least he seems settled now…
WATH – is there really a great ref in the EPL, Webb is meant to be tops but he’s dreadfully bias towards the mancs and chavs…
Webb detests us and the feelings I must say are mutual I can’t stand the bloke arrogant pig…! Always wants to be centre of attention..!.
Arrogant Pig is spot on WATH, I think he thinks he’s doing his daytime job when he refs!
Seen him pump his body up just before the photo shoot? what an idiot and pompass git he is!
Agree with every word of that Rico…………..
Just seen the first goal Mannone conceeded last night, it was shocking, he’s just blown any chance of taking over from Fabianski this weekend…
In all honesty never rated Mannone either Rico…. One lucky game v Fulham…!
Typical WATH, he signed up for us until he’s 90 isn’t he? Where as Chesney will get to walk for free in the summer…
Mind you the way Schwarzer speaks its looks like he could still be heading our way… 🙁
Schwarzer just trying to sell himself thing the boat has left the harbour on that one……
Morning Rico,
A very nice Post. I mentioned Ignasi, the first time I blogged on AR, and said I rated him after watching him play for our youth teams. Tall and skilful!
Hi WATH, and KT.
Good news if Theo, Cesc and Bendy are available this weekend. 🙂
Rico thats why szczesny has gone above mannone in the pecking order.mannone’s only outstanding feature is his frame.
RA i have seen you piece at AA.it was very good as usual and i loved the headline.
RVP10 has returned to training according to sources.if thats the case we’ll now have 3 CFs again.The CC game at St.James Park will have so many first teamers to a point they’ll say Aw is cheating.imagine:Szczesny;eboue,kozzer,djourou,gibbs;denilson,landsbury,jack;bendtner,nasri,rosicky.that squad w/out cesc,diaby,song,chamakh,rvp10,clichy,sagna,ramsey,theo,AA,vermy and squillaci.and they say we have no depth!…fingers crossed!long may it continue…
Morning RA, i have to echo KT’s comment re your post 😉
morning all. fabianski is our number now – i don’t think anyone can take the jersey from him, i think he will have to lose it.
Hope your right re Schwarzer WATH, if Wenger is going to buy a keeper it’s got to be a younger one who is proven, not one that’s soon to be ordering his zimmer 😉
KT, i am not surprised, he gafted at WH and that seemed enough for wenger, strange though how he was offered a new contract, us and keepers, eh!
Hi oliver, i think you are right re Fabianski, it’s his now to lose, sadly though i and many others believe it won’t be too long before that happens. Trust me though, I want Fabianski to prove me wrong…
Off subject, the Chile rescue is fantastic, 24 to go…
Thank you Rico, and you KT for your kind comments. 🙂
KT weren’t you going to come up with some stats for us a little while ago? I tell you what, if you write another of your excellent Posts for Rico, then I will write another one too. 🙂
Hi oliver. 🙂
he has had two solid games – not eye-popping, but solid – i think he needs that more than a “wow” performance. that said, i have yet to be convinced – the memories of prior mistakes always linger, and i just wonder what will happen the first time he commits a blunder which results in a goal. can he shake it off, and get on with the job? or will it linger with him – as we have seen previously – and lead to more mistakes?
mistakes are inevitable at that position – he will make them, just as any other keeper. how he responds when it happens will tell us more than a clean sheet with little to do.
what worries me is that he will make mistakes, will not shake them off, will take a confidence hit, yet arsene will still persist with him. i am starting to think there is no proverbial “line in the sand” with fabianski and even repeated mistakes will not force a change. i really hope i am wrong here, but i feel that nothing short of a gun at his temple will compel arsene to make a change here.
that said, i should not worry about it now. just hope that fabianski has really turned a corner and will become the top-class match-saving goalkeeper we have needed for several years now.
RA its a deal.
oliver, i think it was important to be solid rather than spectacular for him when he took the gloves from almunia. had he been spectacular it would have been labelled lucky possibly, solid will build his confidence, spectacular will come if it’s in him….
I absolutely agree with everything you say Oliver.
Arsene will put Big Al in goal this weekend then! 🙂
Got to go, lunch date! Lucky me. 🙂
morning ra…cliff lee = money
Enjoy your lunch RA, don’t eat too much 😉
I have been awol for the past few days but i know most of you laughed your heads off about denilson being scouted by barca.i won’t say its solid interest but isn’t far fetched.Frank Rijkaard wanted him for barça a few years back.he keeps the ball very very well which is what they like most in a player.im not going to rule out the possibility that they may actually be interested in signing him.
KT re- Denilson……….. have you be smoking mind enhancing drugs KT…?????????????????????????????
lol 😉
Its good to hear from you too WATH.The speculation of us being after Irazioz the Bilbao gk is refusing to go away.he is in the last year of his contract though.we are also being touted to being after Torino’s U21 Italian but Nigeria-born defender Ogobonna.
who’s been smoking what 😆
back in an hour 🙂
See u in a bit Rico, I was the bilbao keeper specualtion KT but so much gossip and papertalk I tend to not take any notice, Seen that Torino fella he is a right lump too if it’s the one I’m thinking of…!
As in a saw the bilbao keeper speculation KT… my fingers not working today 😉
WATH, which is it, your 2:13, “I was the Bilbao keeper” or your 2:16 “a saw Bilbao keeper”?
I always knew you were a keeper. Refer to Agag, she likes keepers. 🙂
I’d save more than those two doughnuts we have at the moment RA 😉
WATH
Until Vinkie Wenger moves his bum and buys someone, this blasted rumour mill will continue.
He is being v. stubborn, and I suspect Big Al will be with us until next summer, though Flappy shades it for me. 🙁
RA, you’d be amazed how great a keeper I am lol. . . .
I’m the keeper of the Inn……! The GG Inn…!
We’re splitting hairs if we down to saying who shades who when it concerns flappy n the waiter..!
Have you seen Les Miserables? There is a great Keeper of the Inn in that.
I think you would fill that part to perfection! 🙂
WATH, got to go for a while. Rico is likely to return soone with the wind up her kilt, but don’t mention the Guinness! 🙂
Gonna rename her windy miller
Oi, wind up me where 🙂 🙂
talk about ears……………….
I am around today but doing some houes work, so i caught you tinkers 😉 now of for a quick walk with the mutts, back in a bit….
More wind in the area then…………
Oi, no wind in this area 😉
It’s pretty quiet on here…………….
Sshh, you will wake the kids, (nanny goats, that is)! 🙂
Its quiet everywhere I think, thats what international football does and of course the thousands of blogs out there 😉
ramsey is training with the first team today. good to see!
well, perhaps not today. but he is back in training with the team – from the official site. projected first team action next month. i think i heard that somewhere else as well.
Oi oi oliver, i did a post on the return of Ramsey in November…. 😆 😆
it was only 2/3 days ago 🙁 🙁
i believe arsenal are lacking a winger at the moment…….all our wide players except theo don’t give us any width……ibrahim affelay(psv/holland)set-up for huntelaar and scored himself last night….his contract is running out next summer…..could he solve our width problem????????
i will bw happy to see your reaction rico about the width
i believe arsenal are lacking a winger at the moment…….all our wide players except theo don’t give us any width……ibrahim affelay(psv/holland)set-up for huntelaar and scored himself last night….his contract is running out next summer…..could he solve our width problem????????
i will be happy to see your reaction rico about the width
i believe arsenal are lacking a winger at the moment…….all our wide players except theo don’t give us any width……ibrahim affelay(psv/holland)set-up for huntelaar and scored himself last night….his contract is running out next summer…..could he solve our width problem????????
i will be happy to see your reaction about the width rico
that’s where i read it earlier…i was pretty sure this wasn’t the first i heard it…
Wow sczesney, three comments to get your point accross… 🙂
SSBIG – Spot on, our wide layers are not wingers at all hence why they all wanna cut inside noone wants to take on the defenders on the outside..!
oliver, good answer 😉
add to that WATH/SSBIG, all our strikers keep buggering off out wide leaving no-one in the middle. in the days of bobby and freddie we had width and they knew when the right time was to cut in – and funny enough wasn’t that when we were winning…. ?
i wanna see a winger joining arsenal come january…..afellay/michel bastos anyone will do
we should have bought adam johnson 🙁
don’t know whether the arrival of wellington silva will solve that problem…….hope it will
ssbig, i think we would have struggled to pay what city offered him, he’s struggling at club level isn’t he? but for england he has been playing really well. the way city spend i can see him getting fed up if he isn’t played, just liek a few did when they took the wages that the chavs offered…
also, wenger won’t pay silly money for a player just because he’s english…
As for Wellington, Think he plays wide right but also through the middle
do you think silva will play straight away?
He also plays as a second striker, built like AA….
reports say he will join the first-team straight away…….but i don’t know what is in the mind of the boss
ssbig, i hope he does and bring a bit of brazilian magic with him, i guess a lot depends on where we sit in the table at the turn of the year…
when sanchez watt was playing in the emirates cup last season i thought he will provide that extra determination on the flanks but now he is not even getting enough playing time with leeds…..even in our youth setup there is no one who is a ronaldo type of winger…..all my hope is with wellington because wenger will never buy a established winger
ssbig, the Japanese kid we signed is an out and out winger…!
we have wingers in the youth/reserves ssbig, the question is whether they have what it takes, didn’t we buy a winger, cant remember his name??
i can’t wait that long for the japanese kid to develop…….hope the answer will be wellington silva
rico……..are you talking about luke freeman????
No ssbig, not Freeman..
good night guys got to sleep now
see you again i hope ssbig, sleep well…
I’m offski all, til tomorrow…
night night, stay safe
Nitey nitey Rico. 🙂
Morning all, new one up