Match Preview, Silly Gossip

Podolski Strop, Sanogo To Villa & Campbell To Get A Chance?

Posted on by rico
To One And All....
To One And All….

Morning all.

Gossip:

The Daily Star reckon we have had a £5 million bid for Marcelo Brozovic turned down!

Aston Villa lead the race to sign Yaya Sanogo on loan according to the newspapers…

Lukas Podolski is rumoured to have thrown a tantrum over the lack of playing time and the fact that he wants out this month. He stormed out of training yesterday after feigning a groin injury but whether that’s true or not is anyone’s guess.

We face a strong Southampton side today, one which looks like it’s recovered from the little blip in results suffered a a while ago and one who managed to hold the poison dwarfs side to a draw at the weekend. In fact I’m sure I read that Chelsea had just one shot on target!

No doubt we’ll find breaking them down equally as difficult but good news for us is both Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne will be missing. Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Serge Gnabry remain sidelined for us but Tomas is back in with a chance to start, as is Theo. Mesut and Aaron are very near a return. Diaby isn’t, he never is! Neither is Mikel Arteta.

More of the same as we witnessed at Upton Park could, perhaps should be enough to earn all three points but we really need to bury our chances. We had loads of in the second half against West Ham. We must start taking them and put sides away. If we can get a great result tomorrow, we’ll leapfrog Southampton and get into the top four and really put pressure on the current three above us…. Ok, Utd for 3rd! 😉

Danny Welbeck hasn’t travelled South so up front it looks like Alexis will lead the line, unless Joel Campbell finally gets his chance.

Anyway, whoever plays today need to be focussed from the off and don’t let Southampton come out of the traps quickly. It’s a big game and we need a big performance..

COYRRG’S

Have a good day folks…..

rico

172 thoughts on “Podolski Strop, Sanogo To Villa & Campbell To Get A Chance?”

  9. kel says:

    Just read a post from podolski on his instagram… saying the story about him storming outta training is bollocks….

  12. scottfromoz says:

    Podolski has fired a shot at the Mirror for printing blatant lies…..he was never even on the training pitch, so asks how did he storm off it?
    He was in the hands of the medical staff for the entire session.

  14. kel says:

    Very tough game today for the gunners rico, i think we might need a bit of help today from the ref… lol I know I know…. I’m thinking a red card for a saints player 10 mins inn … 🙂 we’re fighting for 4th anyhow so imo a draw wouldn’t be a bad result.

  20. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Good afternoon yawl and welcome to 2015…..

    3pts and nothing else will do, time for a winning mentality to be the order of day….

  23. Bt62 Gooner says:

    He referred our match against Burnley, he’s handed out 4 reds and 49 yellows apparently..

    Officiated 15 games so far this season and hails from Sheffield.

  25. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Matthaus said last week something interesting about Podolsky when we played in Bayern and went back to Koln.

  27. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Matthaus:
    The German international Lothar Matthaus former launched harsh criticism compatriot Lukas Podolski, who expressed his unhappiness with the little use it has had this season at Arsenal, for which he signed in 2012.
    At a time when it is speculated that Podolski will be close to strengthen the Inter Milan, Matthaus says it’s time for the advanced stop thinking only in himself.
    “What Podolski want is not important. What matters is what Arsenal want. He has a contract to fulfill. Bayern Munich, he ran away. The only club where he played regularly was Cologne. You can not always be to blame others if things go wrong. There are other players who are simply better, “Matthaus said in statements to the Hamburger Morgenpost.
    I think Pod missed yesterday training and he not will be at Southampton game.

  30. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the house and a very happy new year to you all.
    Todays teamChessny dubuchy Merts Kossy Gibbs. Coq Chambers Ox Cazola Rossicky Alexis.
    Subs Martinez Monreal Bellerin Niles Campbell Wallcott Akpom.
    No Flamini or Podolski

  31. Hell Raising Devil says:

    A happy and a blessed year to the family of HH

    Good afternoon Chicks and Ducks

    that team is either a 3-5-2 or it is simply geared to loose. knowing AW its 4-5-1 with a collection of individuals from the DM upwards. Le Coq and Chambers DM while the rest form the AM and Sanchez as lone forward.

    Not good imo.

  34. Wavy says:

    Afternoon all
    If we win today I think the TW will be shut before it is even open. You can hear the old geezer already, “we have defended well, where would I find exceptional players who would improve today’s performance”, end of…..
    But,
    If we lose we may well see the odd new face of a defensive nature!

    Don’t hold your breath though!

    Still think we will win 1-2.

    Conclusion?
    Little or no action during the next 4 weeks to add to or improve the ‘settled’ squad.

  38. Judge me in May says:

    Rico Southampton attacking in numbers and defending in numbers, in contrast to us we defending in numbers but only one or two in their box when we counter attack.
    We are also very slow in the build up..
    The game was in the balance until that moment of poor judgment from schezny.. excellent finish nonetheless..
    Santi had a good chance to score before that but was easily saved by their keeper
    Scezney made a good save afterwards, other wise could have been 2 nill.
    Chambers and coq doing ok but too slow or indecisive to release the ball and always going backward
    Will be interesting to see what tactics or changes Wenger is going to do to get us back on the game..
    Afternoon all..

  39. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ches was awful but the worst culprit is Kos. How the hell did he not press Mane is beyond me. He dropped off while Ches tried to get back to goal. Kos should have continued to press Mane from behind and force him towards the corner flag.

  40. bradster says:

    Hi all,

    More Kos fault for not following his man and letting Schezny chase him.
    surely it’s either Chambers or Coquilin. Both have no pace, creativity or directness. Prefer Coq to Chambers as he looks for a pass instead of the easy one backwards.

    I’d like to see Campbell or Walcott on for Chambers but that’ll only be on the 73 min or later

  42. Judge me in May says:

    Guys I think you kos backed off because schezny came out of his goal trying to block mane.. totally unnecessary imo, otherwise kos would have it covered

  43. Joaquim Moreira says:

    kos so bad in the goal!
    Chambers is not a Dm…
    Sanchez must built the game and try to score…
    Witj Th, Campbell adn Akcom (is he good? Isn’t he faster? ) on the bench why we havdn’t put one of them since the begginning? TW maybe out of form; Campbell, AW doesn’t like him (?) but if Akcom is faster play with him. Probably is fresh too and fonte and the other central aren’t faster and prefer the aerial balls.

  46. Joaquim Moreira says:

    no, Kos must press Mane. He is anywhere! Mane turns, and can shot or pass in a easy way. He must be between the goal and the forward with his eyes on the ball and not wat. Moreover, he must give time for Szesc be in the goal and the right psition again

  47. Micko says:

    On a serious note Ches should think about taking up butterfly catching in the summer, beats having to punch or kick the ball away, got away with it against QPR on Boxing day, bet he didn’t get a bollocking either !
    Looks like it’s all down to Sanchez to save the day again.

  48. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Same thoughts here Bradster. I think had Ches not charged out of goal then Kos would have covered it. However I think that even so, Kos should have gone in as well to pressurize.

    but I still think we will get something out of this game. We are matching them in all departments. However, Chambers needs to come off. Coquelin is better and with another body (Theo/Campbell) in attack it would be different. I used to think Chambers could do a job in DM…..but on this showing I am afraid…..its only CB or RB (and in that fekking order)

  63. Lee says:

    Still only another 2.5 years of this shit show!

    Wenger is finished, a spent force! We need new ideas not this mediocre groundhog crap we keep getting served up. We need a serious overhaul from top to bottom!

  66. kel says:

    Ya have to wonder why wenger played chambers and coq in the dm on jan 1st…. is he looking for a reason not to spend? ?

  75. Judge me in May says:

    We already lost the game and have given up.. Might as well give the kids a chance.. Ffs
    Only Wenger who thinks like that..

  81. Lee says:

    The team has no bollocks but nor has the manager……so what do you expect? Cracking start to 2015 it really bodes well for the rest of the year!

  85. Wavy says:

    F**k me sideways!
    Will he buy now he’s seen what a lot of shite we’ve got?
    To lose to Soton whose team contains many unknown players some of whom are little more than children is an absolute disgrace.
    Come on Mr Wenger get a grip and do something dynamic to change this shameful mediocrity! You can do it if you really try!!

  86. Judge me in May says:

    actually scezney at fault for both goals.. Two big fuck ups and we collapsed like ebola ridden little files..
    It doesn’t matter who’s fault, every time someone fucks up and nobody’s going to do anythings about it..
    It is all down to one man..
    Depressing really..
    Over to you..
    Enjoy the rest of the evening..

  87. Adam says:

    With such obvious needs, with tens of millions available and the window opening tomorrow, I await developments.
    I won’t hold my breath though. 🙂

  88. kel says:

    Another big game and we don’t show up… Not surprising tbh that’s Arsenal being true to form. We’re lucky the other teams in and around us dropped pts today, that is the only positive there is today…

    I hope there is another positive and that is wenger has now got the idea of coq and chambers as def mids. .. rammed right down his throat.

  90. Joaquim Moreira says:

    what’s the backs waiting for shot the ball in the second goal? the GK couldn’t block it and did what they must do. Two big mistakes for our defenders in the gals and not only!
    Kos was very bad today!
    TW was in the pitch?
    We only have a chance playing on the pitch not aerial balls. Our opportunities came from this way of playing. We played all the second half with aerial balls…. since the beginning the line-up was a maistake.
    One of the conclusion of the day: we have minus 12 points then last year in the some stage.; second: we can only fight for the 4th place third: Southampton has a best team then us.

  92. Wavy says:

    Nope. I’ve thought about it and come to the conclusion that, even if the old goat tries really hard, nothing absolutely nothing will chane. His leopard sports are too indelibly ingrained.
    Time for a change I think. I’ll write this season off as can the manager and then we’ll all say our fond farewells at the end of the season.
    We will judge him in May! It’s not going to be pretty though. There will be plenty of. The soft and smelly to wade through before the end comes.

  96. AndrewH says:

    Depressing thing is, we knew this would happen before season started. Briefly we get deluded because of Sanchez moments, but you can’t last with the quality and quantity of our defensive spine. Goaly, CB, DM, how many times does it need ramming down AW’s throat?

  101. Nashua Gunner says:

    Sometimes I feel sorry for him. Why Arsene, why? With so much you’ve done for Arsenal, why flush everything down the drain that you’ve worked so hard for? Disentangle yourself from some of these players. Too many let downs that will be very hard to erase from many supporters’ minds.

  107. Lee says:

    I’d like to choke the fucker with it!
    Apparently long shore drift in the Solent played a major factor in our defeat today according to Arsene!

  109. Wavy says:

    Not to mention the grounds that slow down the sandy drifts!
    He gives me a pain in my groin motto mention the pain in my ar*e. He causes that too.
    From the interview he just gave i think he was a bit u set that the Soton team had the temerity to turn up at all!
    How long has this been going on?? ( another pop song title) I’m going to try and include one every time I post, just to relieve the monotony of writing so much doom and gloom!

  110. Wavy says:

    New Years resolution, reread posts before I send them! Tired of all this ‘return to sender’ for amendments and iPad corrections.
    Grounds should read, groynes, the wooden barriers that go from shore to the sea’s edge!

  124. allezkev says:

    Blimey I never saw that coming…

    What’s the chance that Mourinho will change things at H/T and the Chavs get a draw or even win…

  132. potter says:

    His stupidity didn’t help , I don’t know what sanctions he got from the club but he deserves to have the book thrown at him.

  134. kel says:

    Fair play to the totts, They got stuck in and got there rewards.
    5th and falling for us… let’s hope ozil, Ramsey and (new signing) sort us out.

  138. Micko says:

    Think a little perpective is needed on here, we’ve only lost something like 2 in the last 8 games, started the season in fine form as well, only got beat by an average team in October and somehow went on to our worst start in 30 odd years, I say we should all be getting behind Arsene, fcuk the doomers and that includes you as well Lee !!!

  141. Joe says:

    Oh well it’s the first time in ages we get to pick our first choice back five and they play like they’d never seen one and other before.

  143. tsgh says:

    2 out of our first team back 4 should not be starting for us…
    The fact that AW (and IG )spun the lie that Debuchy was a top RB since he started ahead of Sagna for the Les Bleus was a disaster waiting to happen….

    Hey BT Happy NY… have some respect for the saints they only sold us a young player who after playing well in 3 pre-season games was believed to be better than TV and Sagna… lol

  144. kel says:

    I hope he makes me eat my words bt sign’s 2 players and the gunners push on and have a good season maybe beating utd, city or Chelsea on the way… but tbh that’s a pipe dream imo… We’ve been defensively weak for the guts of a decade now and I don’t think he can change it.

  145. Lee says:

    Micko, when you put it like you did in your 7:46 PM everything is fine! We’ll get the coverted 4th spot, beat Monaco then get ironed out by a European powerhouse someone like Schalke and have a good run in the FA Cup. Season tickets will increase and Arsene will ignore the squads needs and buy Isco. You’ll see!!

  148. Joe says:

    Tsgh happy new year
    But I think your being a bit hard on Dubuchy not much blame left after the performances of Kos and our goalkeeper.

  152. Micko says:

    Your not wrong Lee !

    As for Sagna, a great player for us in his day but Debuchy pishes over him all day long now ……..

    Is it Hull up next this weekend, should be fun.

    How’s the head Kev ?

  153. Judge me in May says:

    Its clear that Wenger is the problem..
    Players not good enough we can argue about players makes the same lasy mistakes and get unpunished by the manager is more worrying imo..
    And the goofs he is making are just beyond joke..
    How can a competent manager chasing a game 2/nill down bring on a player who hasn’t played for a whole year and a kid who has never featured in the first team..
    These players should be introduced gradually in comfortable games.. Which we never have these days..
    Sanogo, Mertasacker, Diaby etc…
    Well done spuds..

  154. allezkev says:

    Mick, my head is just clearing, it’s been fuzzy all day…

    Gotta say that I agree with you on the Doomers.
    That Lee, he’s never satisfied…

    Right, where did I put my red hat…

    Night All

  155. Lee says:

    9 wins in 20 PL games :- appalling statistic
    Conceding 10 more goals than Southampton so far this season! That was our starting back 5, arguably it’s been ages since they’ve played together but FFS! Maybe oh maybe our midfielders that are supposed to help protect them aren’t up to the task….see not on £8m pa and I worked that out! Either equip the squad properly or piss off Wenger.
    I really can’t put up with this shit show for much longer….
    Rant over, morning all.

  158. Adam says:

    Morning Rico, Lee and all.
    I was more pissed off with the QPR result myself. I see what is happening as a total inevitability and am mildly curious to see what, if anything happens next.
    I imagine Kroenke fancies more of the same.

  159. rico says:

    Morning Adam.

    I’m cheesed off with a few players too, they are seriously letting the club down, I’d get rid of a few that’s for sure…

  160. Adam says:

    I doubt the problems could be eased by player changes Rico. I think one of the most positive things happening at Arsenal is what Pochetino is doing at Spurs. If the board need an incentive to end the current charade then they have only to look up the road.
    Wenger’s grip on the club still seems absolute at the moment. His treatment of Podolski, shameful lack of urgency in the TW and his continued support of Giroud despite his appalling lack of consideration and professionalism is, for me, symbolic of our current plight. The man has his favourites for sure. He just isn’t a winner any more. As George Harrison said, All Things Must Pass. The trick is to understand that and even anticipate it.

  161. ozgunner says:

    Morning all interesting scouring the pages – general line of thinking, as per usual with the Arsene faithful on many of the sites – When we win Arsene has given us everything and is indeed close to god like status and we should be honored to have someone so wonderful. When we loose however its the players (he choose) it’s the ref’s, its the fixture list, anything but Arsene’s fault – really can’t work this one out. So clearly out thought tactically again yesterday by a manger with little EPL knowledge and a team worth a tenth of ours. Ah life’s little accidents

  164. rico says:

    I think a change of players would help Adam, wouldn’t solve all the other ‘stuff’ but a couple of leaders on the pitch wouldn’t go a miss….

    But just my opinion and not trying to defend Wenger but he he’s staying and with this squad, we’ll be right down the table…

    Re Totts, it’ll take more than a win over the Chavs to convince me things are on the up over there…

  165. Adam says:

    I don’t see it myself Rico. Leaders must be allowed to lead and I don’t think for one moment that Wenger will allow that. As for the Totts, I think they have been quietly on the up for a while because they have a decent manager and he hasn’t bought any of ‘his’ players in yet.
    I think that the ‘should he or shouldn’t he stay’ arguments are very old and stale now. The future is not Arsene and he should really have been smart enough to see this a good while ago. But, eventually, he will go and it’s the choice of the new manager that people should be thinking about. What’s happening now is just a sideshow to the end-game that is being played out.

  166. rico says:

    Morning Oz – I blame the players for yesterday too… I blame AW for the bigger picture and Kroenke of course but yesterday, the players at the back were shocking.

  167. ozgunner says:

    and who brought and trains them Rico? – the apathy starts firmly at the top in this club IMO – there is a unfounded arrogance in this club, a belief by many we are far better than we are and we all know who started those remarks and suggestions don’t we?

  168. Adam says:

    But we are constantly coming up against teams that have lesser players than us and we struggle just about every time. QPR are the worst team I have seen at the Emirates in a while and yet we had a man sent off for sheer stupidity and we struggled big time and got very lucky with a penalty that would probably have resulted in a draw. Yesterday Southampton had a better team that us and it is the manager who makes the team, regardless of the quality of the individuals. A couple of top signings might make an immediate difference but the current Arsene Wenger seems to iron individuality out of players with alarming regularity and certainly seems unable to motivate young millionaires any more.

  169. rico says:

    I differ with my view Adam, on the pitch I think AW will allow leaders to lead…. But he doesn’t have any, not true leaders.

    The stay or go debate will always remain, it’s clear to me that AW has long seen his better days but after a performance like yesterday, with experience international defenders and a goal keeper performing like they had just been given a pair off football boots for Christmas for the first time in their life, they have to take the blame surely…

    Like I said, I blame AW for a lot, but not yesterday, not 100%..

    The Totts, well time will tell what Poch does when he has little money, and he didn’t do quite as well as the Saints man seems to be doing at Southampton…

  172. Lee says:

    Which one of the back five will be reading from the Arsenal manuscript after that embarrassing show? We’ve learnt from our mistakes….blah fucking blah! The squad is littered with perma crocks, overpaid substandard footballers and gaping holes within the squad all managed by someone that hasn’t moved with the times! That coupled with Arsene’s zero accountability is a recipe for where we are…. sad but it is what it is!!

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