Morning all.
What is about football that seems to raise the temperature of us all, especially around this time of the year when the transfer window is open?
Well I guess we want Arsenal to be competitive, really competitive and make sure we start the season with a squad that be truly competitive! Heck no, we want a squad that can finally win the league again under Arsene Wenger… Don’t we?
I do and yes, give me the PL over the Champions League every year as I’m English, Arsenal are an English club and I want them to rule England. The PL is about ten months of football being played in dreadful weather at times, on a rugby pitch during others, dirty tactics some weeks and managerial astuteness. That’s why it’s the best, just ask Thierry Henry.
The Champions League is great for one major reason, to be in it earns money and the further a club goes in the competition, the wealthier it gets but it’s also about luck. Luck of the draw, luck of the referee, the fixture before and the fixture after….
The media were delighted when Chelsea won the CL a couple of seasons ago but what did we all say? Lucky lucky Chavs! Not so lucky Roberto Di Matteo….
Liverpool won it too but that was quite a few years ago now and to a degree, they had a bit of good fortune along the way too but you build your own luck eh….. What have they done since? Nothing, in fact they have lived off that one trophy for a while now…..
The likes of Barca, Real, Bayern and Utd under Fergie were able to win the CL but seldom has that been at the expense of winning the domestic stuff and that’s how I see the CL, a hindrance for our battle to win the PL.
But I know not everyone will agree with me as we all have different priorities and being honest, all the time we are so ‘gung ho’ when playing at home in the CL, we’re highly unlikely to win it anyway.
Nor will we imo without a strong and deep squad, which brings me right back to the transfer window and perhaps the reason why football fans and not just Arsenal ones, get so animated at this time of the year….
Gossip:
The Express reckon we will have signed Spain’s ‘Peter Crouch’ Fernando Llorente on Monday. I’m not sure if they made the story up or some other ‘rag’ somewhere.
Juventus have had a £15.6 million bid for Julian Draxler turned down so now of course it means we are ‘clear to snap him up’ That’s from…. yep, you guessed it, The Metro!
Finally, the poison dwarf has had a dig at Arsene Wenger for spending more money than him last summer… Poor chap, is Roman not feeding him enough pennies? Well what about the millions he spent when he first arrived at Chelsea, has he forgotten that?
I reckon he’s getting a bit concerned that his side might not be able to defend their league trophy and he’s right to be too, just one or two more signings and it might just be Arsenal who stop them!
Mind you, Arsene Wenger may have some other idea up his sleeve like Isaac Hayden to cover for Francis Coquelin and Chuba Akpom to be the striker craved for by many..
Or what about butting in on the neighbours chase for Saido Berahino? English, quick, cheap and young…..
That’s your lot for Tuesday….
Morning Al.
I thought Disco Dave claimed he was a Villain, in every sense of the word! When he was asked during the hustings who supported he forgot their name until he was reminded by one of his press officers. I believe he only supports them cos Prince William does! Furthermore more, I should hate him to be a goner, not a good thing at all, almost as bad as having to put up with Piers the knob!
Adam, or should I say Flashman, I look forward to it… 🙂
Don’t worry Ginge, under that posh spiv, David Cameron, this government wants to increase the membership of the Lords from 800 odd, to over 1,000…
Jobs for the boys ( n girls)…
A nice little earner for doing fcuk all and living off the State in their subsidised restaurants and bars…
Its awful… re. dentist
I wonder how he managed to ship his kill as a trophy through customs.
New post up now
TS. At least it looks as though we will be spared Sol Campbell as Mayor though. Mind you, him over Livingstone every day.
Yes Kev. Naturally. 🙂
Maybe Mugabe was half right when he said the difference between western politicians and the government of a dictatorship country was the western politician wearing a suit whilst the others wore military gear.
Still believing in democracy is delusional.
I guess Mark Twain was right if votes mattered politicians wouldn’t allow us to vote. 🙂
My resentment of him and his ilk is dwarfed by my feelings for the sick bastard dentist who killed that magnificent Lion though. What an absolute scumbag. He kills animals for sport and then says how much he “loves” doing it. As a peace-loving man generally I would like to see something awful happen to that disgraceful shithead.
Morning Ginge…
Adam, just like in Tom Browns Schooldays I hope…
lol Rico. I feel sorry for Disco Dave. I blame Wath. 😀
Adam- As you know Lord Sewel is a man of high integrity; He even helped establish the code of conduct for the House of lords. 😛
Amazing how he can’t be stripped of his title but if one was a doctor, scientist or chartered member of any professional society and you were busted you would lose the acquired title for bring the institution into disrepute
You have to stop knocking Disco Dave Ts, he’s a Gooner… 😉
TS. 🙂
What has happened to the bloke who was caught snorting coke from some girl’s breasts? He seems to have vanished. I bet he’s holed up in Dolphin Square along with Lord Lucan.
Most of the men look like people one couldn’t trust their kids with either…
When you get the peerage don’t forget to claim VAT on the red spandex. 😉
the great Westminster Rip Off
TS. I have. It’s infuriating isn’t it? Many of them live near The Other Place too.
When I receive my peerage I shall get Kev to drive me to and from work. 🙂
If he refuses I shall thrash him.
Adam- have you seen the faces of some of the ‘peers of the Elm’ claiming £8k+ in expenses for attending parliament 30 times only…
I bet disco Dave gets less than that, but the media ‘dupe’ us to believe that the likes of Disco dave (with shorter life expectancy) are the ones draining the nations coffers.
Serge, Bellerin are still u-23 but fall under home grown rule.
Morning adam, kev
Morning Kev, Adam, Tai, Ts and all…
Hi Tai. I imagine that is the fear that haunts him and fuels his unpleasant and confrontational nature. One of the things the sociopath cannot abide is the thought that they are being ignored. It’s the first step on the road to manipulation and in the British press he has found many willing to be manipulated. It is shameful how dumb most football writers are in this country. Alcohol dependency will do that to you though.
Morning Adam
Morning Adam….
I’d treat Mourinho as if he didn’t exist.
Morning Rico, TS, Kev, Tai and all. I do like it when someone else has a pop at Jose.
Morning Ts,
Thanks…never knew Coq has been with us for eight years…how time flies!
What about Bellerin and Gnabry? Are they still u-20 for this season?
Again, where does Gnabry belong?
Tai- le Coq is home grown.. and so was Scez (assumingRoma deal happens)
Morning All
Morning Rico
Morning Tai, Rico and all…
Scott, I suss you are ‘skulking’ somewhere. 😉
There is nothing quite like waking up to Jose slanting someone else’s wife.
How many home grown do we have….Martinez, Gibbs, Chambers, Ramsey, Wilshere, Chamberlain, Walcott, Welbeck…eight!
Will Wenger keep any of these out of the squad? Not likely unless there’s a home grown replacement.
How many senior non-home grown? Cech, Ospina, Debuchy, Kos, Per, Gabriel, Monreal, Coq, Carzola, Arteta, Flamini, Ozil, Rosicky, Sanchez, Giroud…15…don’t know exactly where Bellerin will belong this season…will he be 21 soon?
23 players without counting Bellerin…if Flamini goes, we’ll have 22. Is Wenger likely to start an EPL challenge without filling the extra two/three slots? Don’t think so…so, hold it yet…Le Prof seemingly has an ace up his sleeve!
Morning to anybody around…,
So quiet this morning!
Ginge their playing Barcelona,
Solid test for the chavs tonight against Psg
I’m off guys, night all….
Eduardo, that was my point. Both will be with the first team but will play for the under 21’s. Unless called upon…
Just like so many others named as first team squad players…
I doubt it Mg, but you never know I guess…
I know that rico, what I’m saying is that it looks like the will be officially named in our first team squad, like Hayden, Zelalem, Bielik, Akpom etc last season. Many young players train with the first team squad, some on a very regular basis, but don’t get named in senior squad and when in training have a slightly different way of numbering the tops, first team players have their number under the Arsenal crest, non first team members have their number under the puma
I think so Rico, do you think he has a future at the club
Eduardo.
Arsene Wenger has already confirmed Iwobi and Jeff will train with the first team but play for the under 21’s this season.
Yes Mg, saw that earlier. Loan deal isn’t it?
Evening all
Campbel is of to Palermo
Iwobi had Campbell’s no.28 kit at training today, as food a sign as any that Joel is leaving and Iwobi will be part of the first team squad this season. Rene-Adelaide also had a change of number from the weekend, he was in the 30’s today
Just pray Flamini won’t be an arsenal player by sept 1st Dg… lol
For sure Adam…. Have done for years… Lol
Kev, I can’t wait to read, thank you….
ye Campbell,s better off, I wasnt aware he was on loan, the last i heard of flamini was, gala, were supposed to be in talks with him. then went quiet.
Rico. Do you have Skype?
Rico, you have mail… 😉
Adam, you have to very careful with those Skype calls, they can be literally exhausting… 🙂
Campbell is apparently of on loan Dg, some stuff about a president popping over to sort a deal out gas been in the news..
Flamini, well I just keep hoping…. Lol
Any word on Flamini or Campbell, rico, I thought they were supposed to be off.
Evening Adam. You never Skype me…. 🙁 😉
Evening Rico and all.
I am now Kev, after a long Skype call rather wore me out. 🙂
Pulis nearly got his man, not quite !!!
Evening all..
Good luck Abou Diaby, you need it and you certainly deserve it……
Jeez Madrid quick to respond to todays Benzema,s instagram pic, by saying “Real Madrid say Karim Benzema still with squad in Shanghai before next game against AC Milan. Private jet pic? Believed to be from holiday.”
Abou Diaby has signed for Marseille on a two-year contract. a pay-as-you-play deal.
Tsgh doesn’t it say it all when Arsenal have fans who want to see our players injured playing for the club or the team loses on the off chance the manger might get sacked.
They really have no idea how Arsenal is run or the history of the club.
Dg- Oh I love Busquet too… That is my ideal CDM.
Arsenal fans want a proper DM though from what I read.
He will be a big name signing. Is he any different to Arteta or Sc19 though in that role.
Like Carrick, Busquet does not tackle much but recycles the ball superbly
Rakitic is a fab player, but I think we have more than enough players that can do what Rakitic can, but have we got enough players that can do what Busquets can, He could be the reason Wenger pulled of the schneiderlin deal, oh, wouldn,t ye love to know, what the sly old fox is up to.
I would prefer Rakitic myself Dg.
Definitely not a CDM but he can do the job and also score goals (big ones) when needed.
The away games before the transfer window closes is always so intense.
Half of fans wanting us to win regardless and others thinking if we get thrashed then Aw will get sacked or will go out and spend big. lol
I think the last such away game was the 0-0 game verse stoke where Abou Diaby played … a midfield trio of SC19, Arteta and King Abou.
One fella was like he wanted Abou Diaby to get injured so we can go out and buy a CDM
With Barca said to be favourites, to sign pogba, they,ll need funds for such a bid. Maybe Wenger will test the water, with a bid for Sergio, could make sense. Or maybe “he knows something we don,t”
I wonder what Agag will do if Busquet was to join us.. 😀
No mate.
I fell out with my chav neighbour.so I didn’t get an invite. lol
Very nice man but he is becoming to paranoid for my liking…
I’d never give you any grief tsgh, you going this weekend ?
The 42-year-old football boss – whose properties are said to be scattered around the UK – had a conviction for neglecting a rental property quashed in April.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3177331/Brendan-Rodgers-divorce-goes-Court.html#ixzz3hCn4h8cW
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Micko, hit me in future if you want to roll with an AKBer for an away game…
I am doing NUFC on 29th Aug. Depending on how transfers go it will be an interesting train ride home. 😉
MVila, Postiga and Pallicios. lol
Who would have thought Brenda had a buy to let portfolio of 102 homes…
What a numpty?
Going to keep my opinion to myself before Micko tells me I am beginning to sound like Ed Milipede… lol
I think he just likes the spotlight at the end of the T.W. I,d gladly wait till the last 48 hrs, if we were to be told we,ve signed Busquets and a W.C striker.
Would like to do a couple of away games again this season kev, maybe a home game around Christmas all going well.
Hi Mick, you coming over for any games in the near future?
C’mon kev, everyone knows Adam has a sofa-bed !
Wouldn’t it be great if for just one summer we could watch the transfer window unfold in reverse !
Dublin, we’ll only find out in the last 48 hours…Arsene knows.
Benzema, Busquets, Bender, Bender, Bent.
The dream ticket…
Adam, are you on the settee? 🙂
Gdna. I really have no idea. Honest. 🙂
Just trying to find news to stimulate the brain on what has to be one of the quietest summer T,W in Arsene,s tenure, which posed another question, when was the last time we had a summer T.W where we brought in none or only one player. I think it was 2009/10, I think we only brought in Vermaelan. Couldn,t happen this season, could it.
*Cash and David de Gea for Benzema.
Adam – I know you have a connect. lol. Benzema AFC new CF or Benzema and Cash for David de Gea???
DG. One never knows. Arsene moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. 🙂
think it was sport.es that broke the busquets first, adam, likely to be bo***x, be nice to know where Benz was going to, could be just compassionate leave, but seemed all smiles in his pics aboard his flight.
Yep the hell of the transfer window a Benzema picture on plane and he’s not with Real team add some cryptic words and hope goes in over drive Dublin I hate this time of year.
Busquets and Benzema in one day?
Utterly amazing and it must be true because it is in The Bleacher Report.
Afternoon , A few interesting titbits doing the rounds today, Benzema putting pics of himself on Instagram on a flight to where, nobody knows, but he is not with the team, and is said to have a small injury. Someone just said that the hashtag Benzema used “Turfu” is slang for “Future direction”. Confirmed
Yes, it’s a french slang which means “future” and before that, he said “Leave the past in the past”
Also Reports coming in, Wenger has asked the board to buy Busquets, it,s said he see,s him as he,s DM. Barca, however, don’t want to sell and it’s not thought Busquets wants to leave, but the Gunners will put together a financial package to change minds.
I would take that £ 200 million with a pinch of salt. It reminds me of the quotes from Edelman , Fiszman , Hill Wood & Gazidis in the past. The money has been there most of the time but it’s a case of how you choose to spend it or not as the case may be.
All im saying is they will be a monster player signed…we have 200m and we are taking our time,can i name the player?no!,can the media name him?no!all we can do is wait until he is on arsenal.com
Ts i dont have stats,but i do know that if wenger can improve giroud what would stopping him from getting lewo or benzema.and plz dont tell me about higuan,he is very similar to giroud the guy has cost messi and co. A world cup and copa lol.
Guys we are linked linked with busi of barca,they wenger has asked about him.i dont which position the player we will sign but all i can tell he will shock many people and including our rivals
I take Mourinhos snide remarks as a compliment, and how worried he is, of the current Arsenal…
Now if Arsene just holds his tongue and lets his team do the talking, I’ll be delighted.
Night Cg, sleep well..
I too am off, walkies time for me…
Have a great day everyone. Only five more sleeps until the community Shield game kicks off a new season. HOORAY!!!!!
Keep The Faith!
Ts, even I had started to warm towards him becoming an Arsenal player… lol
Cheeky Joe.. lol
Arsene Wenger: My response to Jose Mourinho’s Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd jibes;
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/456302/Arsene-Wenger-Arsenal-press-conference
lol Joe.
Drake – do you have Benzema, Lew and Higuain stats at hand?
Looks like the Brazilian footballer Fred failed a drugs test in recent Copa America test on B sample on going.
The above post contains no stats 🙂
Drake
Giroud’s goal record
19 goals -2014-15
22 goals 2013-14
17 goals 2012-13
True he has not been a 20 goal a season in two of the three years but it’s fair to say he hasn’t been far off.
I also feel that if it wasn’t for the injury last season he would have beaten the 20 goal a season. But maybe the more important fact is that he has moved in to the group of strikers who score a goal in less than one in two games.
Rico- Interesting move for Aranguiz. I am pleased for him. He deserves to make some Euros’ too.. 😉
I would have preferred him as our player but…
Adam- I think Tuchel is making his own path. Based on how Mainz play I would say he is more of a Beckenbeur or fergie than AW. from what I read and hear from those who watch German football(youth) he is very good at coaching.
He had a very disappointing playing career like most top managers.
Klopp did very well for BVB winning the title 2 times when Bayern were in some sort of adjustment. My issue with him a the very minute few BVB fans I meet when going to watch BVB is that, players like Bender and a few of the youth did not quite accomplish what fans expected.
The also disliked Klopp putting his needs above the clubs by keeping Lewandowski when he was not going to renew his contract.
The BV fans I knew hated S04 having younger players come through
Adam, you’re slipping lol
Charles Aranguiz looks to be heading to Bayern Leverkusen..
Ts won’t be pleased…. lol
Welcome RwinnerB89, no need to be nervous… 😉
I’m a DM and a left sided winger fan myself, but if it’s a CF, then so be it, I’ll cope… lol
Just dropping by can’t stay. Le Coq was tiring to the end of the season and the league is the target cups are just a bonus
Adam, that’s what’s up. lol
GDNA. They also serve who sit and watch. Cheers. 🙂
Adam, I hope Arsenal win the PL this season, I admire how Arsenal fans support them by spending their hard earn bread. The turnout on Sunday was impressive. My respect Sir, hope this season give you another your wife another reason to renew next year. Hold it down bro! You know I be following it from the sofa, I’m plastic but a good one, but I will be watching. lol.
Scott. That is worrying. 🙂
Twice we agree in one day then, Adam.
I’d take Barkley in a heartbeat.
I think there’s a super player in that kid.
No, no CS for me. I hate Wembley but am gearing up for the new season after renewing the STs-again.
Seems Sky Sports have looked into Mourinho’s claims and found them to be quite wrong. Again.
Adam, sup Boss? Charity shield Yes or No. lol
Hi GDNA.
Tai, I hope Coq replicate his form from he had in the last 19 games of last season, if u re-watched the games Coq was asked to do a specific job beside SC and it worked, how can anyone be sure if it will work with AR or JW operating in CM?
AW on Coq – ‘He has analyzed well what he is good at,’ said Wenger. ‘Defending in midfield. He was in between the playmaking position and the box-to-box player and he is not that. He is a sitting player who can win the ball.
‘He has restricted his game to that and you make success in life with what you’re good at. You don’t have all the qualities but you have to express what you’re good at and he’s good at that. I think he can do that job. He is doing it now.
Afternoon Everyone
The main reason I would choose the Champions league over the Premier League is because we have never won the Champions League and I for one would like to get that monkey of our backs and be crowned the best in Europe. would be great!! :-).
I think we do need a CDM and a CF but I doubt Arsene will spend plus I would like to see Hayden, Akpom and even Bielik get a chance to prove them self, we need to take a risk now that we have a well balanced squad. Playing youth now will be different from playing youth when we had to because of the financial strain. Don’t get me wrong I would love to see Lars Bender at Arsenal but then that means Coq (sounds so gay when you say it out loud), Hayden and Bielik get pushed down the pecking order and could hinder their progression. Give them until January and then buy if we need to.
P.S. Didn’t know I would be nervous while writing a comment but it is my first one so go easy! Lol.
Ts im starting to like tuchel too,bayern will have to fight harder to win next season
TS. Is Tuchel of the Wenger or Mourinho or Klopp school of management?
Or does he tread his own path?
Thanks Mg..
Indeed Adam, and sharpish… 😉
Sorry imean canadian gooner
Drake- It found it funny how the media loved Klopp so much; Klopp had charisma big.
I think Tuchel will be a super name very soon.
So may say I act like I know it all, but I always said BVB’s successes was hugely due to the then fitness coach. I was hounded for that by Goonie and few on here…
I think Kev, let me know that Le Grove wrote a post highlighting that same point last season…
Or the new Kaba Diawara? 🙂
Rico – I wouldn’t worry about the Petulant Portuguese Pygmy or his mind games. He is much like Sir Anal Fergusmoan was. As one manager was quoted as saying; if your team was no threat to his, he was gracious. However, if your team was a potential challenger; all you got from him was bile and malevolence.
Me thinks that Maureen views Arsenal as true competition for the championship.
Rico. Sign him up then. :). The new Defoe?
Tia we will buy someone who is better but similar to giroud,someone like benzema or lewandoski
Nice post Rico
The conversation over the last couple of weeks was do we need cover for le coq or do we need to sign a world class dm.
I want a word class dm to come in. I don’t want a 2nd rate back up
Kev, he got a bit impatient didn’t he and arrogant?
Adam, Berahino would certainly suit the way we play. Cheap too.. lol
Morning Cg, thanks – a little be heated but healthy I’d like to think… lol
You have a valid point Tai.
Scott- that is my expectation too on Le Coq’s fitness.
Kev- Wiki tells me Ollson has formaly signed for the club he was sent on loan for…
The conspiracy in me says he was shipped out for voicing his opinion on twitter.
Funny how AW tried so hard to get him when we had competition from Chelsea and RM and then wasted him…
Db that what im trying to say too
As for Le Coq, I think he has great potential, but one good season does not make him a great player. We have all seen players, for Arsenal and other teams. who have burned brightly for one season or one tournament, but could not replicate it.
George Graham bought Jon Jensen on the strength of his performance for Denmark at the European Championships. Jon played well for Denmark and helped them win the tournament, but rarely, if ever, played as well for The Arsenal.
Le Coq does not need a backup, he needs real competition for the CDM position. While Mikel Arteta is a good squad player he is not true competition nor a long term alternative.
I’m with you Rico and Scott. The PL title all day every day over the CL. It’s a much harder trophy to win and a stiffer examination of the squad. Many say that the PL is the toughest league, so winning it is a great thing. Unless of course it is Chelsea and then it is devalued and leaves a rather unpleasant odour around the place. The presence of vile racist Terry and sociopath Mourinho ensures that.
Drake,
How many goals did Giroud score last season despite being three months off? And by how far was Costa better? But Giroud doesn’t just score goals…he’s the ricochet for Walcott, Sanchez, Ramsey, Ozil, Carzola…no team is structured like that in the EPL and Wenger is not likely to change that now it’s about to explode!
A friend of mine who spends a lot of time around WBA suggested Berahinho to me last season. He reckons he is quite skilled and not just a goal poacher. It is so critical that quality young players get the right manager at the right time. Look at how Ross Barkley has stalled under windbag Martinez. Under Wenger I feel he could be quite something.
He will if we sign another striker Drake.. 😉
Akpom was superb, he played wide, then in the hole and then ad centre-forward…
I remember seeing Olsson and Akpom in a preseason game at Borehamwood a few years ago…
Olsson looked a very accomplished player and seemed earmarked as the eventual successor to Arteta.
Wonder where he is now?
Good Morning to the Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – Another great article. I see it got a little feisty in the House yesterday, after I left.
As long as we continue to qualify for the UCL, I’d rather win the UCL than the BPL. It is a truly international game these days and players are more interested in the UCL than any parochial league. If we want to continue to buying world class players, we must be able to compete in the UCL. At the least, making it beyond the group stages.
Tai how funny that you name all classy players for chelsea…but for us it giroud?i want someone better than him or play theo then sign a winger is that too much?giroud will never be a 20+ goals striker maybe theo can…ts how about those who say coq is better than matic?lol off topic have you seen how good is kalmp now under tuchel?im impressed
Joel Campbell has reportedly agreed to join Palermo on loan from Arsenal, with the Italian club’s president arriving in London to finalise the deal.
Despite impressing for Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup, Campbell was once again unable to force himself into Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans, and spent the second-half of the season on loan at Villarreal.
And according to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 23-year-old is now set for another temporary move, this time with Serie A side Palermo.
Campbell is understood to have agreed to the move, with Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini flying into London to seal the deal.
David Moyes is believed to have made an attempt to bring Campbell to Real Sociedad, but now appears to have lost out on the forward.
Hi Mg, isn’t that the same thing?
Did Mourinho bring Falcao to compete with Costa? Certainly not…just to fill in for Costa as the Spaniard is known for incessant injury spells. Will Mourinho go for Falcao if he had Welbeck? Don’t think so…
I know rico but theo will be a winger next season,plz dont ask me where did i get that lol
Drake
Every team has players that are untouchable….Chelsea has Courtois, Matic, Hazard, Fabregas, Costa, Terry, Ivanovic…only injuries or rotation would make Mourinho change any of those! In Arsenal, be prepared to see Cech, Per, Kos, Coq, Ozil, Sanchez…to always start once fit.
Ts,
Don’t you think that because Arsenal was running a close call that Wenger was afraid of Coq getting injured, hence pulling him out late in games?
Walcott might though Drake if he’s to play centrally. If Theo starts scoring goals every game, AW will find it hard to not play him..
A big if I know but it’s not impossible…
Ginge, Coquelin has a proper pre season behind him.
An uninterrupted few months of preparation, which he didn’t have last year.
Give him time.
Tai ozil has carzola,cech has ospina,for rasmey it wilshere,for gibbs it monreal and for debuchy it bellerin.giroud need competion you cant tell me that welback can bench him.it three seasons now and we have not signed a player to compete with.the guy is having a easy ride than all the players we have
It’s natural progression, for mine.
2 FA Cups were huge on the grand scheme of things.
A 3rd would be nice, but we crave more, and can achieve more….a League title.
I just don’t see the point in running 4th in the League and winning the CL…..it doesn’t prove a thing for mine.
I want Arsenal to be the best in England and Europe, of course, but you can’t be the best in Europe when 4th best in your own country.
I also believe CL should be open only to the Champions of the Leagues, but that is another topic 🙂
Tai- Agreed.AW will give him that confidence.
AW has always given the French boys more chnces than they needed.
How many times has he been on loan before his recent break.
Some will argue that if those who were presumed to be good were good they would have made it else where..
If that was true, Le coq won’t have gone on season long loans 2 times and flopped big time at both…
Even at Charlton he was struggling…
It!’s obvious…we need another coq!
It funny how the mirror went on about Le Coq being the best CDM or tackler by comparing him to Charlie Austin, Hazard, Ashley Young, Barnes and other attackers…
I collect stats for reputable sites and even Sc19 made more tackles than Le coq from April onwards. I agree Le Coq was exception for about 8 games up to the Yanited game but following that he was hunging big time in second halves.
How many times was he subbed? apart from the Fa cup final he was subbed 4 out of the last 7 games.
Ts,
I’ve always respected your opinions for obvious reasons…but believe me, Coquelin contributed greatly to our second half blitz. Against Man U in the FA Cup at OT, he proved beyond all doubt he had come of age.
At 24 he can only improve…giving him the confidence of holding onto that position for season’s start is the biggest psychological boost he could get as a fast-growing footballer. I’m willing to place a bet, Coq will only get better, barring long term injuries, of course.
Tai, I never said the PL is superior……just more important and certainly more achievable, at this point, IMO.
Once we win it, THEN we chase the CL.
Tai, we are agree on a lot but I must say Ozil has competition from TR07, Sc19 and JW.
cech may appear not to have competition to us fans because of his name but in actual fact Ospina did a sterling job. Also goalie is a one man job, unlike a CDM role where a missed tackle may not lead to a goal being conceded.
Even Per was dropped for Gabriel one or 2 times…
AW did not rush Ozil back because he had those said players.
Thanks Gdna..
With you there Scott, i really hope we can get the PL this season…
Morning rico and all
We don’t need a back up for le coq we need someone to compete with him
Hmmm…Scot, for once of late, we have different opinions…I wish I could ever come to terms that PL is a superior title to CL…that will be the day!
Drake- Le Coq has always been loved. I remember when he played 18 minutes at left back for us 3 or 4 years ago before he got an hamstring injury. fans were raving.
I know Rico would not like this ‘I told you so’ stuff. 🙂 but before the season started I wrote a post last summer saying I was concerned we might not start the season well even though we had had a very good pre-season. My reason was that Arsenal has always struggled after every world cup or European cup year because our core players normally play very well and stay later into the competition.
The only exception was 2002 when France bombed in Korea/Japan and so TH14, Pires, Vieira came home and had a proper pre-season. The rest is history…
I have also heard Pep, Klopp, Redknapp, Rafa comment on why they think we failed in the early part of last season and they all said similar…
Our best players had tournament hangovers…
So imho, when fans make assertions that Le Coq is the reason why we played well from February onwards when as a fact the whole team started to play well and OG12 also got back from injury I find it a tad worrying…
I rate Coq but I think he was covered tactically by TR07 and SC19 big time. Like Potter and a few would admit, le Coq struggled in the second half of games and make silly tackles he wouldn’t normally make as he got tired very easily imho when in actual fact his distance covered stats is below Ozil, SC19, Ramsey…
but its all for debate… respectively hopefully. 😉
Morning all.
Any competition that finds us the best team in Europe, yet that same team is 6th in its own League, is just a lottery, for mine.
PL any day of the week.
Once we are dominant, or at least ultra competitive in English, then the CL can be a realistic and logical target, IMO.
Morning all, good post Rico.
🙂 Lee, glad you added the second bit…
No Devil, neither would I..
We are the blazing gunners watch out for my guys this season we are going for every title this time around no one can stop the moving train.
Drake,
Coquelin is not being overrated…I’d say the contrary even…
Ozil has no competition…neither does Sanchez…Cech neither…it doesn’t stop them from giving in their best.
And the hardest competition Coq has is daily convincing Wenger that Le Prof doesn’t need another DM…that, to me, is the biggest competition yet!
Dev- before the major clear out 2 years ago, Yennaris, Olsson, Zelalem was ahead of Hayden in CDM.
Hayden played CB, RB, no.10, RW as required.
Whenever Frimps, or JW or Le Coq came back from loan or from injury Hayden was moved in CB or another position, He was that versatile.
I must admit I haven’t seen the youth play much since my fave players Afobe, Miquel, Frimps were dropped or released, but in the times when I saw Hayden played he was always at CB or RW…
Saying that AW has played him 2 times at senior level at CDM and 2 times at CB. Then again Chambers had never played CDM before he joined us but AW used him there…
Lets not forget Hayden is 20 y.o and in truth as much as I would like him to make it has not played as many games as he should have when compare to other 20 y.o such as Cole, Serge, Miquel, Gibbs, Frimps, JW etc …
Hopefully he will be a late bloomer like Le Coq.
Well, I wouldn’t swap the unbeaten tag for any other thing in football…but I’d swap the other Wenger trophies for one CL.
Wasn’t the problem in 2004 the fact that Wenger got greedy tried to win an FA cup semi-final and a CL quarter-final against Manu and Chelsea within 3-4 days?
Morning all,ts competion is great,the thing is some people here care too much about some players…you cant tell me that arteta is a great competions for coq,even coq too knows that no one is better than him at arsenal.i find it as overrated how some fans hype coq,the only thing i know is that he only showed us that we could play good football with a better dm only.
thanks Eduardo. I though it was today. but I was not sure.
Morning Rico, good post is Sanogo Not as good as Berahino ;).
Morning to the rest of the house still can’t understand why Scotts not banned after posting a video of a spurs jersey it’s beginning to look like you can post anything on this site. 🙂
hell raising you are wrong about the Bergkamp match, it was on the 22nd of july 06
Not with Wenger at the helm though…..
No because we are going to win the CL soon!
Swap the 2004 Invincible season for a CL trophy???
Are you mad? touch of the sun??
Not even for anything else in the world.
That season will forever be immortal. and I would love to see it again.
Why can’t we have both PL and CL it’s going to be our year 🙂
Oh and the FA cup for third year in a row.
Youth team wins carling cup or what ever it’s called? 😉
Poor old Maureen! He has had complete memory failure and forgotten the £903m spent as a manager since 2005. He is a typical spoilt brat who cannot stand it now that the other kids have new toys too! What an odious twat!
In an ideal world Ts, I suspect we’d all prefer that….
I see former West Brom manager Alan Irvine has said Berahino is not ready yet for a top four club, in fact he said he is not ready to be the main striker for a club like tottenham
difficult*
Dificult question rico…
but since in my dreams I normally zip up Aw’s jacket for him I would say AW will like to have won the title plus UCL and gone beaten imho….
🙂 Ts.
You make a very good point, like all, Coquelin needs a challenge for his place in the side… That’s healthy..
Out of interest, who would swap the 2003/04 season for the CL trophy that same campaign?
Thanks Tai, Devil…
I mentioned Austin before Devil, didn’t go down too well… 😉
Tai, I don’t see the CL as the ‘ultimate’ though, ten months of beating PL opposition means more to me.
Very good read…
Ok I lied. I never read it. 😛
Morning again folks.
Tai- shouldn’t Coquelin earn his place like everyone else in the team? Coquelin still needs to improve big time imho.
Dev- I agree with Kev, Rick is the man to ask about hayden. But also having seen Hayden a few times last season and half a dozen times over the last 3 years or so, like Rick has also agreed Hayden is more suitable as a CB imo.
All his best games for the club came when he played CB with Miquel at CB.
Imo, he is not ready yet but he has the legs and the exuberance to contribute if required. I know Aw tried to fast track him 2 seasons ago as a CDM because he was not happy with Frimps and Poldi’s attitude in the dressing room.
And saving a thought for Mourinho…the Portuguese is the only one I know who starts a fight in an empty room. Most times he should be completely ignored…by Wenger, of course.
As for PL over CL…you’re on your own.
Give me one CL, keep 5PLs…if you believe in football and trophies then the ultimate club trophy must interest you.
Today in 2006 we played our very first game at the Emirates……and said good bye to DB10. (if I am not mistaken)
Morning All,
Good post, Rico…
At least we have agreed on one thing…that Coquelin should be first choice DM…and just as well, for Coq is Wenger’s proof that he has been right all along… Solutions to deficient departments do not necessary mean buying…you can generate one within.
I believe we are now concerned with who steps in should Coq get injured long term. Go back to our pre-season matches and watch Carzola deeply. Something tells me that Carzola will hold with Ramsey beside him should Coq be absent…Carzola’s brain can do it.
Berahino I like. Maybe Charlie Austin as well. but they will only add depth. they will not improve on what we have.
Good post boss.