So Nikki B isn’t prepared to fight for his place by the sounds of it, he’d rather take the easy option and find another club if Wenger doesn’t start playing him. What is wrong with the lad? Does he think football clubs should only have two centre forwards who will play in every game and there is no need for a bit of competition?
Well back in the summer when Chamakh joined us he raved about how good competition within a squad, well now he’s got it, he seems reluctant to accept it and rise to the challenge. Walking away will not make things any easier for him either, every good club has depth in their strike force, unless of course his aim is so high he’s going to move to a cash strapped club that can’t afford to buy the depth. But what does it say about the player himself?
All that tells me is he doesn’t have fighting spirit within him and a great club like ours needs that fighting spirit if we are to start winning trophies again. If all the reports are true then we don’t need players like him, I’d take the cash and buy a centre forward who’s prepared to fight for his place. Nikki should shut up, get his head down and train hard and prove to his boss he’s good enough. Personally, I don’t think he is in any case, never have done.
Chamakh has been a breath of fresh air in my opinion, he may not be the perfect striker we all hoped Wenger would buy but he’s scoring goals in a difficult league, a league he’s played in for just over three months. Not many would adapt to the English game as well as he has, he’s has eight goals already this season in all competitions, how many did Nikki get last season?
One person who doesn’t doubt Chamakh’s ability is Arsenal old boy and fans favourite, Sir Bobby Pires:-
Marouane will be a big success at Arsenal, I am sure of that. It’s difficult when a player arrives from a league like the French Championnat. It is so different to the English football. It can take you by surprise.
The most difficult thing is the speed of the game, but then there is the physical side. You have to give people time to adapt. I’ve got to know him as I’ve been training with Arsenal. He has all the qualities that are needed to be a success in England.He has character, an excellent touch and technique and he’s already shown that he can score goals.
He knows he has to defend at times as well as attack and he is willing to do that.
That is why I am certain that he will be a big success at Arsenal.
Onto today, another trip up North to Goodison Park to face Everton, another really tough fixture. Everton had a dreadful start to the season and couldn’t buy a win, October was a better month but their last two matches have both been a draw 2-2 away at Blackpool and a 1-1 at home against Bolton.
When you look at their squad, they have quality all over, Cahill is often our nemesis and we know Pienaar and Saha have goals in them. Howard is a good keeper, Neville still gives everything and we know the quality of Arteta. They are a good footballing side who won’t give up until the final whistle blows and their 3-3 draw with Manure should be a reminder of that but that was a while ago and recently they have struggled to score, we cannot let that change today!
Marouane Fellaini got his marching orders in the last game so he’s one we won’t have to worry about!
Regardless of their quality, if we ‘turn up’ today, then we will nulify anything they have to offer. Look at the players we have. Fabregas, Nasri, Chamakh, Rosicky, Wilshere, Arshavin, Walcott, Song, Sagna, Squillaci, RvP…. do I need to go on?
So on to us, we know Koscheinly is suspended but there are no new injuries following the mid-week win against Wolves. One addition to the squad though is Kieran Gibbs who returns from injury. Will Wenger stick withe the winning side from midweek, or will he bring back Nasri and Walcott? I guess we’ll find out in a few hours….
Yesterday both Manchester clubs dropped points after draws and we must capitalise on that. I hope Wenger gets into this team today and lets them know just how important a win is. I also hope Wenger himself is on form, picks the right side and mixes things up a bit if it’s not going right.
Which Arsenal team will turn out today, the one that fights for every ball, plays with committment and passion for the shirt they wear and is prepared to run for everything until the final whistle blows?
Or the other one….
Finally, Happy Birthday to a regular contributor here on Highbury House, K-TR7, I hope The Arsenal give you what you want today, 3 points 🙂
Morning….
Dippers lost again then…..
Morning all.
Yes rico they did.how the hell are the mancs unbeaten?they have had lady luck on their side.the ‘unbeaten’ tag is flattering them but am sure they are due a spanking along the line hopefully by us.
Never been a fan of bendtner….he should be shown the door if he isn’t ready to fight for his place.
Moring K-TR7, i have’t a clue, Villa must be gutted after letting a 2 goal lead go… Mancs are poor and there for the taking….
What about Torres, he was dire…
Morning rico,kT…long time reader,first time poster.
RSD posted this on Facebook…
After making no attempt to go forward v David Haye, Audley Harrison will sign for Manchester City in January
😆
How many matches are the mancs unbeaten?…i bet they’ve drawn over half of those.
Morning 4bdul, glad you finally came on 🙂
I’m no fan of Nikki B either, if only he was good as he thinks he is….
Rico i hope you watched barça vs villareal.it was the best game i’ve seen all season in Europe so far.
Morning KT and Rico 🙂 nice piece Rico hope today will be a good day for us we have to want it bad coz Everton always play their hearts out
Hi 4bdul.you are welcome here.nik has never really convinced me as i think he is slow but he has a habit of getting in the right positions.
4bdul, 25 i think, they are jammy though….
KT, no i didn’t see that game, what was the outcome?
Rico Nikky is being a baby 🙂
Morning Erick, thanks…
I hope its a repeat of last seasons opening scoreline 🙂
rico, offload Bendy, buy Torres (terrible last night); I reckon El Nino just needs to be in a proper club. 🙂
Boo! It’s someone’s birthday today, eh KT? Have a good one.
Howdy Agag how are things by the way finished my internship 🙂 Happy birthday KT do enjoy mate
Hello, Erick, welcome 4bdul. 🙂
He sure is Erick 😉
Hi agag, i have updated the post 🙂
Thank you for the reminder……
Torres has to really unhappy to be playing so poorly agag, i’d bet money he leaves the dippers in january, along with a few others if they are still playing as bad…
How did that team beat the chavs…
Rico the stains won 3-1 but it was end to end stuff throughout.barça may be peaking abit early but the way they are playing now they’ll batter most opponents to submission.if madrid don’t go there in top form i fear for them.just watch messi’s first goal where he,xavi and pedro perfomed double 1-2s through 6 villareal players…
Its Thomas Vermaelen’s Birthday today aswell so you share your day with him KT,
Many Happy Returns to you, have a fab day 🙂
You’ve got to love Mancini.city were drawing he brings off Tevez for barry!
I’ll see if repeated somehere on Sky KT.. I can’t choose between madrid and the stains, joses comments annoy me some what..
Would be kind enough to check your email KT, it might be in spam as the new email address for HH..
Niki did say he wanted to fight for his place. I understand his frustration, he is behind, RVP and Chamakh with only 1 spot to fight for really. So he will be looking at his career, and why would he stay he gets nothing but stick from fans.
I like Niki and think he can be a top player for the Asernal in time.
COME ON THE GUNNERS
Thanks for the wishes,i appreciate although i really don’t celebrate them.all i want is 3 points and keeping coconut head off our sheet.
I laughed at that too, especially as the fans sang ‘you don’t know what your doing’….
Mancini must have his bags packed, just ready for when city book his flight home….
Happy b.day KT enjoy kabisa unaweza nunua peremende 🙂 Agag am great how is work 🙂
hi brdgunner, i think a lot of fans like him but consdiering how long he’s been with us, has he ‘really’ improved?
I’m alright, Erick. Hope you are less busy. Bendy’s being a baby. But I like him more than Diaby, and if he buckles up and lets his football do the talking, he’d prove his doubters wrong. We have quite a number of kids who moan moan moan, I am not surprised.
Another city coach means more spending 🙂 Red nose said they will spend to victory may be he was right
I remember when bendtner and lupoli used to tear up the reserves.he has come a long way but he has to learn to compete now that our treatment bay is clearing up.
I don’t like either agag 😉
Erick, City have players in name only, they have no team play about them, lardy must be loving it there… serves the greedy tinker right too….
KT, those and the other guy we sold, can’t think of his name now but i think he’s at Brum and whips in a great cross…young swedish player
Agag you really do not like our future ballon d’Or holder?i bet you rate randall more than diaby…villa has now scored 4 goals in 3 games for barça.barça are playing magestic football at the moment.iniesta has been imperious throughout with his ball magnet quick feet.i really want madrid to reign supreme but barca were marvelous to watch last night.at this rate i can’t see Mou getting even a single point at the Camp nou.
Sebastian larsson rico.
villa, don’t get me started on him KT, why oh why didn’t we sign him two seasons ago when cesc hinted he would have joined us….
Randall is better at the moment KT, he’s fit 😉 Talking of which, whats the latest on Diaby, i read the wenger said he could be back real soon…
I like Nikky as a player if he can add Chamaka’s attributes to his game he can be the best 🙂
Not celebrate, KT? But why?? You’ll be finding something to celebrate after our boys win in a few hours. Oh, and I’ll celebrate for you; sending you a shot of GG! 😀 (any excuse, yes…)
I’m grown impatient with Diaby, KT. I like Denilson more than him, tbh.
Good to hear, Erick. 🙂 When do you start working?
rico, Man City has so much in terms of resources, but no solidarity whatsoever. Good for us!!!
But think is Erick, if he doesn’t have the fight in him then he won’t improve, he should be saying to himself, ‘right wenger, i’ll show you how good i am’… not sulking over not playing….
Morning. 😉
a wee bit hard on pinky..
lets face it-hes probably 4th-5th choice striker at arsenal and he still gets more goals than berbatov..
ask chelsea and liverpool and villa and everton who their 4th choice striker is and ask them if they wanna swap for nikki
here we have a player who would be good enough to be first choice striker at most teams in europe..
hes got 100 million caps for his country
and hes what 22??
he wants to play..big deal..id be worried if we had a player who was just happy to sit on the bench..
feels good to have three strikers who can all lead the line and all want to play..
competitions high at arsenal at the minute..its natural for the good players to make noises about playing time and its not a bad thing either..
spot on agag, money doesn’t always have the answer…
AGAG I have to find a job first but after my last exam I will start looking for a job. Kt can this Arsenal side beat Barca home and away?
Agag im not much of a celebratory person.in fact i don’t celebrate any holiday…i hope we can reach barça’s level or even exceed it.after watching their game i realised how technically poor the top teams in England are compared to Spain.that being said id love to attend a Stoke training session to see what they actually do in training.
Morning JJ, how’s you?
but to say he’s going to leave if he doesn’t play?? bit silly of him really so early after coming back from injury…
JJ how are you mate 🙂 🙂 very true re Nikky but Rosicky seems to be calm when not playing and lets his game speak when he gets the chance Nikky can be a great player he needs to be patient
Erick barça are playing their best 11 at the moment.the core of the team has been playing together for the La Furia Roja.we have our players back now let them play together till Feb with no more injuries and then i can judge better.at the moment NO.
rico if i had a pound for everytime a player said give me a rise or ill leave or play me or ill leave id be a very rich man.. 😉
if he stays we have a good player who provides good competition to the forwards and if he goes its 15mil in the bank and we give JET his place 😉
hey KTR
rosickys just grateful to be still playing football at a big club after all the injuries..hes been through alot, this time two years ago he didnt know whether he would play football again for anyone..
sorry i meant erick..
abit blog rusty.. 😉
JJ, did you have any joy re avanshee/rose’s email address please?
JJ, hola! Long time… 🙂 Howdy? Pinky is losing the thumb war with Chamakaka. Bendtner should just put his pink boots where his mouth is. He has to show he deserves a starting berth. No repeat of Burnley, please; people are not likely to be as magnanimous.
I hope you land a good one, Erick! KT, life should be eat drink watch the Gunners and be merry… 🙂 Twice as much on your birthday.
As for Barca, Xavi really does repulse me. I used not to mind Iniesta, I think he’s a fantastic player, but after the Cesc to Barca saga, I have lost all respect for that team.
rico, I don’t watch Barcelona either, not even for Villa. 😉
JJ, i see your point, but he isn’t prepared to fight what’s he going to be like when he does play, he should be spitting chips but desperate to prove his worth, that would be the right attitude 😉
JET, he’s scoring for fun in the reserves but the big league is a different kettle of fish 😉
😆 agag
Morning Rico, Happy Birthday KT, hi Guys, Agag, the newbies, and a Special Hello to JJ! 🙂 .
Rico if you keep up the standards of these Posts you will be writing for the Times soon. (You don’t do you?) 🙂
Morning RA, you being cheeky again then, I know what you really think now 😉
Hi jj.
no sorry rico i couldnt find it..we had a clear up behind the scenes abit back and alot of the stuff has gone..
hey AGAG
it hasnt helped that hes been out injured, chamakh has had more game time
nikki wants the same but with rvp also back at the same time its gunna be hard and he knows it..hes just making noises but with the injuries we get he’ll get his starts and it will be all forgotten about soon
KT sad to hear that 🙁 🙁 JJ but his attitude has been spot on nikky groin was also kinda serious I say be patient Agag Thanks X
Thanks for trying JJ…
he wont need to be patient..
with all the injuries we get he’ll get his games
rvp wont be fit properly for a while now..he’ll pick up his customary niggles and before we know it he’ll be out for another 6 months after only making 4 appearances
we play with 3 strikers, especially at home..
nikki wants to be one of those stikers..he probably will be
it will all be forgotten about tomorrow..
RVP Injuries are so frustrating 🙂
JJ, Robin will no doubt pick up his customary injury while playing for the dutch this week…
hope Theo doesn’t….
Theo, Gibbs and Wilshere all in the England squad, finally a reason to watch England play…
Popping off for a bit, couple of things to be done before KO, catch you all in a bit….
yup
thats why we should be glad that we got both chamakh and nikki who can play his position 😉
chamakh is the obvious choice but he wont play every game..
wengers taking the domestic cups seriously now..thats 75 games a season..
nikkis outburst is immature..if he looked at the bigger picture its obvious he will play alot of games..but thats what nikkis like and to be honest i dont think wengers bothered cos he knows he’ll end up playing nikki
between sunderland in feb and spurs in april nik scored 8 in 11 games including a hat trick v porto and last minute winners v hull and wolves.
i don,t think this lad lacks spirit
i would take the word of an arsenal player fighting for his place over the gutter press digging up a story from an old danish newspaper
Erick the reason we can’t beat barça at the moment is because they have their best 11 firing while we are yet to see that.rvp10 is absolutely brilliant when on form but we are yet to see that.we have quality no doubt but we need to have our best team play together in a run of games.
Modern football is fluid especially the most technical teams.barça however have a basic formation of what looks like a 2-3-2-3 which is so fluid and a throwback to the old days.from that basic structure barça can adapt to different structures in a game that is beautiful to watch.this team will go down as one of the greats and am glad that i have the priviledge of watching them week in week out.
Good article. Got to agree with both points. If Bendtner doesn’t want to compete then let him go he’ll never be as good as he thinks he is. And if the side turn up with the right attitude at Everton we have every chance of scoring a hatful.
JJ, it must rankle, since Bendy performs particularly well for the Denmark NT. Robin should be raring to go, and I can’t wait to see him hitting top form just as the chavs and mancs are losing their players to injury.
KT, “… this team will go down…” Yes, Barcelona are going down; by way of bankruptcy, it is to be hoped. 🙂 🙂
I’d be careful about kissing Barca’s ass if I were you, since that club is so full of shit.
he performs well for arsenal AGAG..
last season in europe nikki scored 5 goals in 7 games..not bad for a cockey 4th choice striker who needs to keep his gob shut.. 😉
JJ he was pretty good last year rescuing us on multiple occasions.i also think big jack will be rested today and in his place denilson will start.
i hope not ktr
denilsons become a better player this year..but thats cos hes sat on the bench..jacks more tenacious and more creative..hes gotta play..bring denilson on when we are 2-3 up..
denilson keeps it tidy..but he doesnt create much..hes a grimandi type player in a sense
i think
———fab
sagna, JD, squidge, clichy
——-song,jack
—-nasri,cesc,AA
——–chamakh
bring theo and rvp on after an hr if we need a goal and throw den on after 80 to keep possession tidy
no point being negative at everton with two holding mids..make one more attacking and go after the toffees from the start..dont wanna get involved in a 0-0 pressure cooker for 80minutes..
wanna score early..make em open up and kill em off like last year.. 😉
Arsenal
Lukasz Fabianski
Bacary Sagna
Johan Djourou
Sebastien Squillaci
Gael Clichy
Cesc Fabregas
Andrey Arshavin
Jack Wilshere
Alex Song
Samir Nasri
Marouane Chamakh
Substitutes
Wojciech Szczesny
Emmanuel Eboue
Kieran Gibbs
Theo Walcott
Denilson
Tomas Rosicky
RvP
No Nikki B then……
Good team.bendy mouthed off about being in the starting 11.he is going to have to fight for a place on the bench.
No Vela on the bench either…..
Will be interesting to see what wenger says about nikki KT…
Rico thats what having an almost full squad does to you.competition is very stiff right now to even make the bench.
jonjons always right.. 😉
looks like wengers putting his foot down with kinky
His royal pinkiness should’ve kept his gob shut since he has just given Aw an excuse to drop him from the bench.
I think so too KT..
JJ, you are not, I am 😉
Wenger says Nikki has medical problems and may not play for his country…..
Anders Limpar is at the game…
I have a suggestion about our home form, remeber when we struggled at home before, Wenger used to get the team to stay together in a hotel overnight/or travel together on the bus before a home game, treating it like an away game…
Time to go back in time 😉
Why are we in yellow?…
Mr Ego Howard Webb, he better be fair, he hates us….
I love their tune, z cars 🙂
Don’t know KT, more to the point though where is Fabianski’s pink shirt 🙁
JD looked a monster amongst our players, 6′ 4″ of him 🙂
Heitinga is a dirty git!!
Sagna, what a cross… sorry, i mean goal 😆
Sagna!
Jack keeps going over a bit easy….
Come on guys, step it up….
Chamakh – well defended, hoof to row whatever, no messing….
Jack needs to stop falling down easily.
Fabianski was lucky it could of been 1-1 at HT luckily the ball hit him.
We need to step it up…
Hi Stef, didn’t he just get lucky, so did Song with another clumbsy foul, Webb missed that one…
We certainly do KT, we are too lethargic….
I’d soon replace Jack with Rosicky or Theo, its not one of his better days….
Denilso for Jack 🙄
Great play, Cescy baby 🙂 and well played Denilson
Thats rubbish, Distin studded Cesc not the other way round!!
Cesc should come off..
yellow card come on !!!!
how was that not a yellow for Coleman??
Oh Sami and Chamakh, should be 4 up….
Another Clichy error nearly gifted them a goal, great save by Song… mme, how did he get away with that…
good move wenger…. tomas for AA
get theo on, they are tired at the back….
great save….
Phew!!!…
The only contribution of Eboue was losing the ball at our own half.
AW isn’t brave enough, Walcott would of make a difference at 2-0.
(heaves a sigh of relief) I think I’ll die watching an Arsenal game. What a crazy last 10 minutes; we were inviting Everton to stage a comeback.
Stef, Chamakh scoring that third would’ve made the difference. :p
that too agag that too 😀
also the Samir Nasri strike.
wow, that was some nercous few moments at the end…
Stef, agree, Eboue was a daft sub to bring on…
AND, my internet crashed again 🙁
AA was off again, Chamakh defends well but how did he miss that sitter, thankfully it didn’t matter in the end, great result… hard fought aswell, just imagine how we will be when everyone is really fit and up to play….
Djourou is a huge lump isn’t he…he should play all away games.it was comforting knowing JD would gobble up anything above AA’s head.
My internet crashed too, ugh.
Nasri was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet. Some absolutely fantastic one-twos with Cesc. I can’t wait to see RvP firing. He and Cesc have always had a good understanding.
Denilson was bright today. Long may it continue. And I like that he tried to shoot from distance when the opportunity came; although the shot was well wide. We need players who take chances.
how annoying agag 🙁
KT, he really impressed today, i am so pleased he seems over his injury….
A few tried shots from distance today agag and i’m glad, yes they may have missed today but on another day who knows. we have all been calling for the shooting days to return, well maybe, finally they have…
Djourou had a good one. Oh, and rico even when Cescy is not at his best, there’s really no one in our team quite like him to spot/make chances. Well done done, Cesc!!
Did AA go off injured???
Sunderland are leading two-nil. If the scoreline stays this way, KT, you’ve had a very blessed birthday. 🙂
Cesc’s yellow was very harsh too agag, he didn’t touch Distin… he is so out of form though but still manages to do a bit here and there 😉
I think AA went off becuase he was rubbish 😉 😉
Agag it will…
sunderland are 2-0 up against chavs 😆
sorry, i should have F5 🙂
3-0 😆
It’s a rout. At Stamford Bridge, too!! Hahaha.
The link above is just for K-TR7, Happy Birthday my friend 🙂
Im watching the game rico.itr the best present and i may even start appreciating holidays/birthdays.
agag, its just wonderful and every other team should take heart from the Sunderland display, they maybe the EPL holders but they are not invinsible …..
Good on you KT, did you see you share your day with Thomas Vermaelen??
Good night, rico and KT. Go get a couple of stiff drinks, birthday boy. 🙂 🙂
Lovely, lovely day.
nighty night agag, you’ll sleep well now 🙂
I did rico.thanks for the info.you did that stat for me…
what you up tonight? watching the madrid game no doubt 😉
We are a team of battlers!song blocking a shot with his head was legendary!
Rico am watching it right now…
I am so pleased tonight, to win at everton through, grit and guts is just what we have all asked for..
that song block, well that again shows what a player he is, putting his body on the line, respect…..
Ok KT, i’m going to leave you in peace to enjoy your evening, take care and have a good evening…
Nighty night….
New post up