Podolski staying, Jovetic could join him & Gnabry secures a Chelsea semi-final…

Morning all,

After the stories during the last couple of weeks about Lukas Podolski and a move to Juventus, the player has finally put the record straight whilst away with Germany:

I want to say two things.

Firstly, I cannot help it that clubs are interested in me. And there are always people behind the scenes who want to float something in this business.

Secondly, any interest makes me proud because it is a recognition of my performance in London. It is unlikely [that I will leave] because, at the club and in the town, I feel really comfortable.

As a player you have peace and quiet. I appreciate that very much. Therefore, I can honestly say: I am not preparing for any change.

Well that’s cleared that up, he is staying, well, it’s likely that he’s staying as he’s comfortable where he is, and he has no plans to move.

Why don’t players just keep it simple and make it clear rather than leave comments open for ambiguity.

Stevan Jovetic has read all the newspaper stories linking him to Arsenal and he’s pretty happy about them:

I’ve heard about Arsenal’s interest, It’s a big pleasure for me to be on the radar of such a big club. I am happy about that.

 I’ve always had an affinity with Arsenal. It’s a major club with a big tradition, one of the biggest in Europe. It’s not easy to replace Van Persie, who scored a lot of goals.

 Arsenal have plenty of players who don’t score like Van Persie, but are also very good. They are still very strong.

I have to disagree there with the Montenegro forward, who will be on show tonight against England, our players have been scoring goals of late, whereas RvP is struggling. This is story that I hope comes true, it’s been rumbling on long enough now. Again though, if he really is in Wenger’s summer plans, make the right offer and very early because if we don’t, another club will.

Finally. What a fantastic result last night for the young guns.

In the first half, Serge Gnabry saw his header go into the Moscow keepers arms, and over the line but the goal was not given. In the 56th minute though, he made sure there could be no doubting his finish.

He burst into the box, played a one-two with right-back Hector Bellerin and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. 1-0 and that’s how it stayed.

It was no more than we deserved though and the score-line didn’t reflect the game at all, something which sounds very familiar doesn’t it?

The semi-final against Chelsea takes place this Friday in Italy at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia  at 4pm GMT.

That’s it for another day, fingers crossed we suffer no further injuries tonight in the final international fixture of this break…

And don’t forget to watch England, well, Montenegro, well, Stevan Jovetic really…

Have a good day all….

0 thoughts on “Podolski staying, Jovetic could join him & Gnabry secures a Chelsea semi-final…

  1. rico says:

    Reading have appointed Nigel Adkins as there new manager…

    Hope he doesn’t inject too much life into them…

  2. John kodomuk says:

    Yeah, as an Arsenal fan,i appreciate willings of jovetic who inspire to replace RVP.So may u come to arsenal with that insight & meet your fulfilment.

  3. potter says:

    The next gen game is live on Eurosport I believe. Last nights was on Arsenal player but I only got to see the second half in which we were totally dominate. How many of them will develop into first teamers remains to be seen but there appeared to be a lot of promise there.

  4. W.A.T.H says:

    I echo your thoughts Potter that’s exactly what I was thinking last night as I watched… How many will push on and fight for a 1st team place and want it enough to go with the quality that they have…! There were a few with the potential that’s for sure.

  5. George says:

    Good morning all,

    From the next Gen lot, Yennaris, Eisfeld and Gnabry will get playing time. The rest loans and we will release after a few years.

    Yennaris Eisfeld and Gnabry won’t make it though and will end up with good careers elsewhere, like Vela, Merida Larsson, Muamba

  6. George says:

    W.A.T.H , its sad but true… They are good players but don’t eat enough potatoes… Most of them would bet chopped up at Stoke away on a cold night.

    I like some of these players, but will Akpom or Afobe play upfront for Arsenal, probably not.

    Will Yennaris feature as a RB in Sagna, Jenks or Kozzys place, err no (Shame)

    Will Eisfeld play ahead of Le Cq Ramsey, MA TR Diaby at all? Nope.

    Miguel , ahead of the Centre halves , nope.

    Meade ahead of Gibbs and Nacho nope..

    Gnabry ahead of the ox, Theo sign da ting?..

  7. W.A.T.H says:

    George, I hear what your saying but a few of them are actually pretty well built…. They also still have a year or two to develop and bulk up, they have the technique for sure and in fairness had plenty of commitment. I say a few could be knocking on the door if not rushed and yes I can see them outing a few that you have mentioned to be honest.

  8. tsgh says:

    Morning all,

    Nice post Rico… good to see you wouldn’t mind Reading winning all their matches after they lose to us… lol

    The next gen match was beautiful…

    Its interesting to note that some of the folks on LG have finally realised it is not AW who is responsible for player signings….

    Merida’s career has nosedived since leaving us… I do not think playing for Hercules and the likes makes you successful

  9. tsgh says:

    I believe Serge would have featured several times this season if he had not been having the reoccurring ankle injury… He has had 3 such injuries since last summer…

  10. W.A.T.H says:

    Morning Ts, Miguel, Serge, Eisfeld and Nico have all had injuries which I think have kept them out of the 1st team.
    As for Akpom I am very impressed, a big lad who is deceptively quick great control and very good feet who not afraid to put himself about either…!

  11. tsgh says:

    Hi WATH… hope you are well…

    I totally agree with you… when it comes to Nico, what he has can’t be thought. The position he takes is genius-like… like Dev I see him as our cheap Xavi but, the fans want a lump in the centre of the park instead…

  12. tsgh says:

    I have only seen Akpom once so I can’t comment much but, the fact that he is not sure what position he can play makes me concerned about his future…

    Its Olsson I rate the most… he reminds me of Laudrup during his playing days

  13. potter says:

    There are games where a lump is required , where you can’t rely on possesion alone. There are other games mainly at home where guile is required to break down packed defences. Horses for courses and the purpose of having a squad.

  14. afc says:

    Akpom just reminds me of Daniel sturridge a player I really hate. to much show and tricks. Gnabry will break through. maybe eisfeld I think he better than Le coq, ramsey, rosicky and diaby

  15. George says:

    @ potter, spot on.

    Hi Tsgh, Merida is in Brazil’s top flight with Atletico paranese I think..

    WATH, Nico is the one, whose versatility might be most useful as a squad member.

    They all possess technical ability, but some will be Abu Ogogo’s and others will go the way of Larsson.

    Anyone know if Joel Campbell will get a chance and if Ryo will get a visa extension as he hasnt played enough games I fear?

  16. tsgh says:

    I agree to a point but again, we are trying to rely on only a few players doing the hard work and the primary job of a footballer which imho is chasing after the ball especially when your team doesn’t have possession.

    I do not remember Manure ever having a lump… the best teams I have seen have not really had a lump in the centre of the park. What they have had is 8 to 10 hard working players like D. Fletcher doing their best to hurry the opposition so that they are forced into errors…

    Even at RM Maurenho deploys Alonso/Sami Khedira and Modric as DM… and at chelsea Makele was 5’6 but in that team only the ‘diver Robben’ was ‘lazy’ but even he managed to track back for at least 55 minutes until he was subbed.

    Its the effort that the current Arsenal team lacks to win the ball back when we lose it that troubles me…

  17. tsgh says:

    George… Ryo is on a special talent visa which he can’t lose by default…

    someone asked on here last year why AW did not use that visa on J Campbell instead of Ryo?… I think J Campbell can get an EU passport in 2 years time playing in Spain and before that he has a chance to get a normal permit if he plays another 4 matches…whilst Ryo has no chance in the next 2 years…

  18. allezkev says:

    To just write off 17 and 18 year old lads, making their way in the game, isn’t what i’ve come to expect from Arsenal fans…

    Arsenal have a tradition of producing it’s own players.
    Most of us have grow up with that, and are proud of that fact…

    Now i’m not digging anyone out, and your opinion is as valid as mine or anyone else’s on here…

    And i understand fully the frustration’s that many fans have, i share those frustration’s, but lets have some perspective people…

    By the end of this season, and with a summers break and good pre-season, many of these lads can suddenly grow and develop from the callow youth’s you watched last night, into men, able to handle the rigours of 1st team football….

    I recall almost two years ago, many wrote off Carl Jenkinson as ‘Not good enough’…
    Some still hold that view.

    Good luck to ya, you may well be proved right in the end…

    But only the most stubborn fan could deny the progress Jenks has made in barely 18 months….

    Gibbs is constantly written off, but that lad has great quality, and brings a dimension to the team that Monreal has yet to…
    Fitness is his problem, not his quality…

    I will reserve my judgement on many of those that played last night, as i believe that 3 or 4 of them can, and will, progress into the Arsenal 1st team squad….

  19. rico says:

    I totally get where you are coming from their Kev. I haven’t seen enough of them yet but I sure as heck will be recording Espn on Friday..

    I read the write up of last nights match in the Daily Mail and the journalist was very impressed, in fact so much so, the only cheap shot he could take at Arsenal was the amount of overseas players in the squad…

  20. rico says:

    The question in my mind though is not will most of the players make it with us, but.

    ‘Will Arsene Wenger give them a chance to prove they are good enough’?

    I know I constantly moan about Wenger signing average players and we do, why though when we may actually have players in the reserves who could give us the same, maybe more?

  21. allezkev says:

    Hi Rico…..

    Isaac Hayden is a very talented and versatile midfielder/defender…
    He isn’t as high profile as Gnabry or Olsson or Eisfeld, so has developed a bit, under the radar, but he has talent and could well suprise a few in 12/18 months time….

    Nico Yennaris is a little gem, who, if he can avoid all the bloody niggling injuries he’s had this season, develop into a very valuable player in our squad….

  22. George says:

    AK , Yennaris is othe one who stands out. HE kep Nani very quiet in that 8-2 mauling remember…now thats ready

  23. potter says:

    Eurosport I was told Rico. Don’t record ESPN who knows what you will get, probably downhill ski jumping starring Gareth bale.

  24. tsgh says:

    Hi Rico…

    Hi Kev good point made- I think when it comes to Arsenal youth players… only 2 things normally hinder them… injuries-Frimps, Eisfield and attitude/hunger- JET, Frimps, Vela and Gilbert to name a few.

    Players like Larson and Muamba left because they did not want to be understudies or played in the wrong positions…

  25. allezkev says:

    I can see your point Rico, and agree totally….

    He does have a blind-spot for some of his less successful signings, but hopefully most of them will be gone by next season, or loaned out to some team in Kazakstan or wherever….

    A few of these kids plus 2 or 3 quality signings should fill their places in the squad….

    Also with FFP and the need to have more domestically developed players in your squad really kicking-in to satisfy UEFA regulations, Wenger will have to integrate these lads….

    That’s if they are good enough of course…

  26. rico says:

    Hi Kev.

    And who is Iliev? I have never heard of him. Angha dealt with everything with ease too didn’t he?

    I’m really looking forward to watching the game on televison, I saw some on the link emma posted but took me a while to bypass the ads…

  27. allezkev says:

    Hi George, yeah, Nico is a good lad, injuries have slowed the progress of him, Gnabry, Afobe, Eisfeld and a few others this season…

  28. potter says:

    T.S. :-Petit , Vieira, Keane ,Obi Mikel, De Jong, Gerrard , fellaini none of them shrinking violets all had skill and protected their back 4.

  29. tsgh says:

    Rico… he is the goalie we signed on the last day of the summer window that most people thought was Bender… a very promising goalie…

    He was the one I was saying 2 or 3 weeks ago had been dropped to allow Flappy to get match fit…

    I feel sorry for Shae… he even had the luxury of traing with England but I doubt he has a future with us in the immediate future…

  30. allezkev says:

    Iliev Rico???
    Not seen him play, but the club was after him for a long time…

    Patience Ginge, that’s always gonna be a problem for some youngsters….

    You can criticise the club for not giving some of our youngsters more of a chance, but how many of those that have left, have gone onto bigger and better things…?

    Lupoli anyone?!!!

  31. tsgh says:

    I think Nico suffers from bouts of reoccurring type of fever ( yellow or Glandular)… he has had it every December over the last 3 years…

  32. CARMELO PACE says:

    seeing our younsters for the first time last night,i could’t help saying to myself,why the heck ARSENAL supporterts wants mr wenger to buy any tom,dick,and harry ?,that springs on the transfer scene when there is such a wealth of talent in this team,honestly give these lads 3 more years together and they will dominate the premier,and i am rareley wrong.well done lads that was a super performance.

  33. rico says:

    😆 Potter, thanks – I meant Eurosport, but you never know with me..

    Kev, my own view is use the younger ones to replace the likes of Nik, Denilson, Chamakh, Park, Squilli, Arshavin, Djourou etc..

    But I reckon 4 maybe 5 top players are what we really need, a keeper to replace Fabianski and Mannone.

    A top CH, DM/HM and striker….

  34. rico says:

    Summer last year it seems Kev.

    ‘Arsenal have snapped up 17-year-old Macedonian goalkeeper Dejan Iliev from FK Belasica’.

  35. tsgh says:

    😀 Kev… you know I believe in the youth project… I happen to watch more youth matches these days than the first team…

    Reason why I was happy we did not buy the ‘young Gerv’ from Crystal Palace so that Serge, Eisfield or Olsson can be given a chance instead of spending 15M on an unproven youth…

    Even Conor is a big talent who was rated higher than JW10 2-3 years ago but as always injuries have stunted their progress….

  36. tsgh says:

    For certain Rico? re Conor…. it will be a shame especially after Henri Lansbury… the difference is Henri like Bartley thought they were ready…

  37. tsgh says:

    CP… a few of us on here had the privilege to be given a video link by Emma and we saw our youth dismantle the manures last week…

    Manure had one shot on target and scored whilst we had all the possession and looked world class but barely managed to score the 2 winning goals…

  38. rico says:

    CP, that’s just it. We don’t want any old tom, dick or harry, we have seen enough of those signed.

    Top experienced players mixed with a few younger players would be ideal…

  39. rico says:

    Ts – Henderson said a few weeks back that he’ll be leaving …

    I just don’t understand why our young players seem to suffer so many injuries, there has to be a reason. Training, diet, or something surely…

  40. rico says:

    I think Bartley has shown as Swansea that he’s ready. And I reckon Lansbury will end up at a top half of the table club before too long…

  41. tsgh says:

    Rico… that is when patience is needed by some of the young talents…Henri could have been a good utility player this season…

  42. allezkev says:

    Just warming up for Saturday Ginge…

    But, beware the new-manager syndrome…………..

    A 1-0 win will do me mate….

    It’s not gonna be easy….

  43. potter says:

    TS :- that’s why you have to buy experience in that area , I am sure that in a few years Frimpong will get the playing time to replace Essien another one who relied on a bit of power to be succesfull.

  44. rico says:

    Great clip Kev, I had a tear in my eye 😉

    Ts, do you think it was Henri’s choice to go? I don’t….

    We should have kept him, him over Diaby for me, any day of the week….

  45. tsgh says:

    Rico… he wanted a guarantee in the first team…

    from the rumour mills… the none hale end guys think they are not given the same chances as others..

  46. George says:

    I think Henri Lansbury was pushed to be fair. He would have been a cracking player and as for Bartley, he was ready to be a 4th choice CB. He is Swansea’s 3rd choice anyhow. He was good, but I always felt that Luke Ayling was the better player but he didn’t have the frame and sold himself short by going to Yeovil.

    Lupoli – what a waste, bigger than Merida infact.

    I always rated Kerrea Gilbert, but I heard his attitude was poor

    As for Conor Henderson, I think he is already good enough to be a squad player, but his injuries have taken their toll.

    The kids gets impatient, when they see Kyle Bartley picking up a trophy at Wembley, Lansbury pushing Forest towards the premier league and Anthony Stokes score for fun in Scotland…

    Sanchez watt will be released I fear, along with Eastmond, Meade,Philip Roberts, Wellington, Monterio

  47. rico says:

    Did he Ts or is that just the story going around?

    That’s the problem, we don’t know the truth. But i have a feeling he was pushed, possibly because of Ramsey. Crazy to let him go imho.

    Just like with Jenks, Jack and Gibbs, you always know he’ll give 100%

  48. tsgh says:

    Bartley would have stayed if Le Squid had left… he could have gone for a one year loan as initially agreed between us and the Swans…. he chose to leave.

    Same as Larson and Muamba. In Muamba’s case he had Silva, Cesc, Flamini ahead of him… and he was a grafter not a skilful player… something most fans do not value as highly…

  49. rico says:

    Ts, probably because he was in the side the previous week when they got battered 5-0 by the Dippers…

  50. rico says:

    He may have done, we’ll never know, bit like with the Lansbury situation. Had we offloaded Diaby, I bet he’d have thought that was his chance…

  51. allezkev says:

    Not sure about Meade, George, i think he has a chance, he was unlucky to be injured when Gibbs got his last injury and the club brought in Monreal…
    If Meade had been fit, then maybe Monreal might not have been signed…

  52. allezkev says:

    Are they Rico???? 😯

    I think ‘Wor Jackie’ is gonna play an important part in the remaining fixtures…

  53. tsgh says:

    Rico… the Premier League’s player quota rules may have something to do with the decision to let Lansbury leave.

    It’s all a bit complicated, but in simple terms, if you’re a ‘homegrown’ talent at Arsenal but not a regular first team squad member as you approach your 22nd birthday you’re in line for the chop.

    What happened was the players felt they are in no mans land and based on the fact that he was not even a regular for WHU the previous season… he could not expect AW to guarantee him a spot on the 25 man squad. Considering he had an injury so did not travel to the Far East… his only option was to go on loan but I insist the players chose to leave….

    Miguel had an opportunity to join Barca B last summer but said he would rather play in the reserves under AW…

    Even Pellegrini wanted him as part of the deal for SC19 but chose to leave…

  54. allezkev says:

    I have heard that Hale End rumour before Ginge…

    It wasn’t a Stewart Robson rumour by any chance?

  55. tsgh says:

    Meade has a future but not at LB either with us or another club… AW said in this league it is difficult for ‘such players’ to be expected to play against the bigger striker… ‘size-ist’… lol

  56. allezkev says:

    Meade actually started out as a winger…
    A la Gibbs and Cole…
    He was converted into a full-back at Arsenal…

  57. tsgh says:

    You bet he had something to do with that…

    JET started that after a bunch of the FA cup winners were released…

    As I said before at Arsenal they are given enough robe to hang themselves with…

    He bought a DB09 at 19 y.o… how stupid is that…

    A young guy works in my company who comes from that part of town and hangs around with some of our young players… he was dropped by the scums because he got injured on a motor bike accident on holiday…. he was allegedly had a pro contract and all…

    He said in hind sight he should have been like some of the foriegn players who hardly partied… he says he knows how some of our players get up to all sorts of crap that a pro should not be doing as it invalidates the insurance but they still do…

  58. tsgh says:

    You are right Kev re Meade… I think he would be a useful LW in 4-4-2 but not in the modern 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 variants most teams play

  59. allezkev says:

    Ginge, i would take those sorts of rumours with a huge pinch of sodium…
    Disaffected players/parents/agents, love to muck spread when they’re son/client is released…

    Lansbury could return, just as Keown and Campbell did…

    Larsson had a chance to come back when he left Birmingham, but choose Sunderland….

    Work that one out?

    If he thought he was good enough, why not take the opportunity to prove Wenger wrong???

    Maybe Sunderland was the easier option?!

  60. potter says:

    I think I have implied before that there is more to the Brady situation than meets the eye. I too have heard that it’s because of the home grown players not getting the same chances.

  61. tsgh says:

    I totally agree Kev… especially since it normally surfaces when a player with a bad attitude like Bothroyd leave….

  62. rico says:

    I’m not sure re Meade. I’d love him to stay but Gibbs having signed a new contract suggests that it’s he and Monreal.

    And Meade isn’t young, soon to be 21 isn’t he…

    Yes Ts, I know that re the squad, but it begs the question why any manager would let an unfit, constantly crocked player take a squad place in midfield and we had two.

    Also, why keep a player like AA when it’s clear he isn’t going to be played.

    I understand the squad rules, but I sure as heck don’t understand how Wenger sometimes uses them….

  63. tsgh says:

    Potter… you are free not to believe me but I think it is rubbish with that rumour… AW,Brady and Rice were spotted the next day together at Barnet the next day after the announcement was made…

    … And AW listen to Brady so much he bought and played a teenager who had only played 6 games 2 divisions below the EPL in the first team when a year ago lost of the fans now claiming AW is stupid to be playing Sagna instead of him were saying he was not Arsenal quality because he came for less than £1m…

  64. tsgh says:

    That is a curious one Rico… on Diaby in defence of AW I would say AW thought he would do a ‘VP’ and go uninjured one whole season… and he knows this is his last season if he does not contribute until the end of the season…

    On AA23… he wants to play but his Mrs who allegedly wears the trousers in their marriage wanted to stay in the greatest capital and experience the fine things Adam and Kev experience so often… lol

    There was no way even a free release would entice them to leave us…

    Same as Le Squid… like Gilberto years before were all offered opportunities to leave on the cheap or free but decided to stay instead…

    Le Squid said he wanted a 2 year deal in Athens as a free agent whilst no team wanted to….

  65. allezkev says:

    Potter, i have heard those stories as well…

    Now if we could point to 5, 6 or 7 ex-Arsenal Apprentices (showing my age 😉 ) who were playing for say Everton or Tottenham or Liverpool or one of the bigger EPL clubs, then i would also smell a rat….

    Sidwell, Larsson, now i’m struggling…..

    How many of the youngsters we released are now Internationals???

    Larsson……..

    Ogogo?
    Dunne?
    JET?
    Bunjaku?

  66. allezkev says:

    The two who i regret leaving, in recent times, were Lansbury and Bartley….
    And Henderson, who i like a lot….

    But do we honestly think that any of those three, would be currantly pushing for a 1st team squad place, let alone in the starting XI…

    They needed senior games and unfortunately none of them are up to the Wilshere, Gibbs, Jenkinson standard…

    Well not yet, but would it be fairer to keep them and let them rot…

    Joining other clubs, lower down the pyramid, is the best thing for them…

    Imho…..

  67. rico says:

    I’d be more inclined to suggest that maybe Wenger was praying Diaby would stay fit for the entire season Ts, history told most of us that it was very unlikely to happen.

    When the pounds, shillings and pence lit up for Song, he prayed harder.

    Just because RvP came back for one good season, should not mean every player will do the same. Wenger got it very wrong and the team have ultimately paid the price.

    Plus, it would appear he thought the same of Rosicky.

    What are they costing the club a week for doing little/nothing, £120K??

    Yes some things Wenger gets right, but he gets an awful lot of things wrong too.

    Arshavin could have played, Fulham wanted him but he said no, according to reports. He turned Reading down too, a place just 30 miles from London.

    Gilberto did leave for free the year Flamoney left…

  68. tsgh says:

    I think Kren wants to be a PM next… when she does you may have a new office set-up for you to run… Hon MP and Secretary of State for Showing Ambition (Arsenal Transfers )…

    Kev… does Song count… lol

  69. tsgh says:

    Rico… Emma and I both said Capoue should have been bought last summer but back then his pass completion was about 67% whilst M’Vila the hot cake was nearly 82%… one reason why Capoue was not selected for the euro’s…

    Unfortunately, a lot of fans have been made to think like AW when it comes to DM position… they want Messi in that position whilst a lump of a DM is always going to be very poor at dribbling and passing… unless you want Leon Britton… 😉

  70. allezkev says:

    Song, Ginge?

    Nope, i forgot about him as soon as he left…..

    Yeah Rico, Lansbury was a real Gooner, but he needed to grow up….
    Give him a couple of years at Forest and there’s no reason why we couldn’t have him back if he’s maybe up to the standard of say Cleverley, who is a regular for England and a key player for both club and country….

    Henri has the ability to do the same…

    Does he have it between his ears???

  71. rico says:

    I think he’s in shock over Carol Kev, maybe too upset to be here 😉

    Wasn’t just you both Ts, there were many crying out for Capoue, especially on here. If not Capoue, someone similar, someone who would finally block that gaping hole we so often have in midfield.

    I’m not sure you are right re the way fans think either. Most want a fit and strong HM/DM, one who can get front and back quickly and break up the opposition.

    A Diaby kind of player would do, as long as he was fitter and had feet which worked together with his brain!!

  72. tsgh says:

    I didn’t know that…but from her dealings with Liam Brady whilst at Birmingham you could be right…

    Then again lots of Essex Wanderer fans hate the scum as much as we do so… 😀

  73. tsgh says:

    Diaby type would have been M. Sissoko but he joined the french navy up north…

    Re Capoue… most bloggers not necessarily on here thought Capoue was another of AW’s cheap option for M’Villa…

    Most preferred M’vila because they had heard he was an excellent DM even though he was not really a DM in the form of G. Silva or even Edu

  74. tsgh says:

    No Rico… Henri left on bad terms I heard… he was crossed he was not taken to the far east even though he came back from holiday injured…

  75. frednerk says:

    Afternoon All
    Good comparisen cleverley and lansbury,
    at 21 level lansbury was in front of cleverley
    was’nt much between them,
    until last season when I thought cleverley kept going,though the game,
    and lansbury was dropping off.
    Sad to see,
    I thought Henri would go on but he stopped.

  76. emma says:

    rico, tsgh – has capoue signed? 🙂
    kev – ditto comments at 12:30
    There are loads of quality in this current crop of arsenal u21, that if harnessed properly will make it into the first team. I believe our academy has the best raw talents in the country at the moment. I have watched a couple of their matches and really impressed. What we need to do now is getting the 4/5 players in that will make us competitive next season and gradually integrate this academy players into the first team. Not all will make it but there are potentials in there.

  77. rico says:

    Seriously Ts, I never noticed that anywhere. Certainly not once he’d played a few games for France.

    But what is to say M’Vila wouldn’t settle and knuckle down with us…?

    I am sure there are others in the game who could slot in just as well, hopefully Wenger’s scouts are watching a few of them tonight…

  78. rico says:

    Well I didn’t know that, again though, is that a story written by the mischief makers in the press about Lansbury. He’s certainly never made his feelings public.

  79. tsgh says:

    Hi Fred…because like Vela… he chose to join WHU so he can go clubbing instead of going up North for footballing reason…

    How many games did he end up playing for WHU in their promotion year?

    The same way Frimps is finished too because he could have gone to Crewe or somewhere and gotten match fit but chose to stay in London…

    That is why I think it is very unfair that AW is being blame for them not staying but …..

  80. tsgh says:

    Fair enough but Capoue only started playing for France senior this season… he has 5 caps for france and all came after August 2012…. so I am not sure where or when some fans saw him playing for France before August 2012…

    I am not asking for credit here but just facts… if you wiki LG’s post when we were linked to Capoue last summer… the majority said that he was a cheap AW signing…. they mostly preferred M’Vila… a lot of bloggers did…

  81. rico says:

    I hope not in a way emma, and that’s nothing to do with England. If he plays really well, we won’t stand a chance of getting him…

    🙁

  82. tsgh says:

    I know Dev likes Jovetic but I think like Hazard we have missed the boat again… he should have joined us when he was with Partizan but work permit…. last year he was rumoured to be 20M but now 32M…

    Personally I prefer Pastore or Verrati… I do not think he works hard enough of the ball and he would be using us as a stepping stone….

    The pressure and expectation playing for Fiorentina is I guess lower than at Arsenal…

  83. rico says:

    Funny how we haven’t heard much about Jacks injury, and nothing about Theo’s on the official site….

    Now where is that rat….

  84. tsgh says:

    Not really Rico… I still think Sissoko was a huge miss… but then again maybe AW wanted him on the free but he joined the French B team instead…

    Imagine Sissoko sitting or interchanging with Young Jack…

  85. tsgh says:

    That I have to blame you and Agag for that…. he read your comment about him looking like a woman… he thought a crocked nose will make him look fierce… lol 😉

  86. frednerk says:

    Hoping wengers being polite about jack,
    I thought he tweeked the other ankle,and was just resting.
    But………..you never know with our lot.
    It could end up life threatening,by saturday

  87. rico says:

    I can’t comment on Sissoko – how’s he doing at Newcastle?

    He won’t be there long if he’s that good 😉

  88. tsgh says:

    he’s doing ok… not spectacular but steady… he gives them options… he was brilliant in his first match but since then…

  89. frednerk says:

    Gone through our games and the spuds.
    and I think we could finish on a roll,
    and should at least get the 4th place trophy.
    Looks on.

  90. rico says:

    And Walcott Fred 😉

    I think he used them to get into the PL Ts.. Just like Nasri did us..

    Popping off for an hour… Laters

  91. emma says:

    Rosicky putting in a man of the match performance against the armenians in the first half but still goalless. Into halftime now

  92. rico says:

    I did think of you when the news broke Adam..

    I’m well thanks, cold, but well… Mustn’t moan though, not when there are so many far worse off in this dreadful weather..

  93. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all, nice one Ricolicious. 🙂

    England are a bit like Arsenal at the moment, full of talent but struggle to put everything together. Not going to comment on new players, too far away, Wenger would never be looking now anyway, he’s always late not early. Look for cheap players available late on in the window and thats where Wenger will be.

  94. Adam says:

    Ah, yes. That’s what you get for wearing a size 10 when you are in fact a size 16. No wriggle room in those foundation garments. High heels too? A recipe for disaster.
    Carol isn’t really my type though Rico. I am more a Seven Of Nine kinda guy myself.

  95. rico says:

    Thanks Sp, I think he looks, just seldom buys 😉

    😆 How did I know Adam…..

    I must get something to eat now, so that I am ready to watch our summer signing Jovetic in action. Won’t be long…

  96. emma says:

    Correction: Rosicky completed d entire match as d wrong substitution number was raised & I switched off immediately thinking he was being sub

    rico – hope you pass the meal around 🙂

  97. emma says:

    Glad Podolski, Cazorla, Giroud and Koscielny are on the bench. Keep them fresh for the visit of Reading

  98. emma says:

    How Milner starts ahead of the OX beats my thinking or how he even gets called to the NT. Hodgson is going defensive v Montenegro. I guess this will end in a draw.
    I would love rooney to prove me wrong but I think he will go hiding today
    Lescott and smalling CB’s ‘cough’
    Hope they get enough protection from Carrick

  99. rico says:

    Sorry emma, all mine 😉

    I thought Cazorla, Giroud and Kos would all start, big game for both France and Spain…

    Good that they aren’t though….

  100. rico says:

    I’m glad OC isn’t starting either, the more who are rested the better…. And this game for England will be tough…

  101. rico says:

    Hi Scott and Lee..

    Me too re Jovetic…. our summer signing 😛

    emma – that’s annoying re Kos, just hope he picks up no injury..

    Anyone know if Merts/Pod are starting for Germany??

  102. Scott from Oz says:

    I watched Arsenal play last night.
    Dominated possession, gave p a soft goal on the break, gave up an own goal in the oppositions second foray to the penalty box, fired up in the second half and scored two cracking goals.
    Ok, so it was Australia in their WC qualifier, but same shit, different day 🙂

  103. rico says:

    And Holtby who says he ‘isnt scared of Arsenal’….

    That was a shock for Wellbeck, a yellow for simulation. Doesn’t happen with the Mancs does it….

  104. rico says:

    I’m done guys and gals, enjoy whichever match you watch, just pray for no injuries to the good guys…

    Stay safe, night all…..

    ‘Til tomorrow

  105. emma says:

    England so predictable. I should have wager a tener. They almost threw it away in the 2nd half. MIdfield collapsed in the 2nd half. Without Wilshere England midfield has nothing to offer

  106. potter says:

    6 United players on the pitch for the second half and you would have thought they had never met each other. Midfield disappeared Carrick was non existant ,Rooney and Welbeck too far away and completely nullified , Young and Milner wastes of space. Nothings changed then.

  107. allezkev says:

    Only saw brief highlights…
    Jovetic did ok, but is he a £20/£25 million striker???
    Some of these guys are so hyped-up by agents, that you kinda expect them to be Maradonna, Cruyff, Messi and Superman rolled into one…

    Of course, we don’t want him playing like Superman, or else we’ll be priced out, like we are with Cavani & Gotze.

    Anyway, glad that that International rubbish is finished.
    Back this weekend, to the good ol’ EPL…

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