Portuguese Ace to be signing number Five? Four places up for grabs…..

Morning all.

Remember Ray Kennedy?

Of course you do, just like you all remember the goal he scored at WHL which won us the league back in 1971…

Legend....
Legend….

Happy 63rd birthday Ray, we’ll always love you for that moment alone.

Arsene Wenger has been talking about our 4th new signing Calum Chambers:

Chambers is only 19 & can play at CB, RB & CM. I hope he will give us competition for the players in those 3 positions.

He’s forgetting Chambers has played right wing, so as said before, this boy is a very versatile player but let’s not forget he’s still young.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola suggest that Arsene Wenger will approach United with an €11million bid (£8.7m) for the 27-year-old winger. Somehow I doubt it…

Alexis Sanchez won’t be joining the squad for the trip to Austria as he’s yet to get his visa. No problems are anticipated in getting it, but it means he’ll be in London training on his own. Not the best situation for our new man.

From bad to good, Kieran Gibbs believes his injury problems are finally over:

I feel like I’m over the injuries now, last season was definitely my best and I played the most amount of games I have in a season.

So to finally show I can play regularly, I just want to build on that. And I want to play for England again, obviously.

So, all positive stuff again this morning…

Talking of positive, here is Kev’s post:

The signing of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina and Calum Chambers, is a very welcome change the the usual and recent Arsenal transfer policy of Last Minute.Com which has been the norm since the move to Ashburton Grove. More so, since the demise and departure of David Dein.

Wenger has replaced the excellent Bacary Sagna & Lukasz Fabianski, whilst improving the squad in general.

As August dawns on us and the World Cup far behind us, we have a lot to look forward to with the way the squad is evolving.

Debuchy and Ospina, arrived under the radar, whilst those idiots in the Press ranted on about higher-profile targets that ‘Arsenal’ were interested in, according to their sources. Some of those ‘targets’ are still available, mainly because the rules of the 25 man squad is having the desired effect on the ersatz clubs…

21 of Arsenal’s 25 places, are filled. That leaves Wenger with plenty of elbow room to be able to bring in 4 more players. Miquel, Miyaichi, Martinez and Coquelin could fill those places, but I suspect that Martinez is the only one of that four, who can be confident of doing so.

Vermaelen, if he stays, would take one of the four spots. Or maybe Arsene has his replacement earmarked for a place…

Sanogo, Afobe, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ajayi are still a year away from having to be named in the 25 and I’m not sure about Matt Macey.

All the others promising youngsters like Bellerin, Akpom and Calum Chambers are still two years away, although Wenger has hinted he’s ready to challenge in three positions as mentioned above.

That gives Wenger so much scope to give our squad the strongest look it’s had in the Emirates era.

On the surface, it’s looking as if Joel Campbell is going to be part of the Arsenal 25, at least up till January.

There are still a couple more areas where Arsene could strengthen (isn’t there always), but there is also the possibility that he may go with what he has, using a few of the youngsters like Hayden, Olsson or even Zelalem, to fill-out the squad.

I personally think that it would be a risky course for Arsene to take as recent experience has left us gnashing our teeth as a few injuries to vital players has left the cupboard more bare than Old Mother Hubbard’s…

I still harbour hopes that crafty old Arsene has one or two more really decent players, up his sleeve to bring in, a centre-half being one of them if TV leaves and of course a DM. Relying on Abou Diaby is not a sensible option. His role, should he retain his fitness, should be as an occasional starter but more realistically as a regular off of the bench. Sadly, past experience has taught us that Diaby’s inclusion in the 25, does in fact mean that we are going into the season with a squad of 24..,

Campbell, if he remains, and Sanchez, will give the Arsenal attack more variety and much more speed and mobility. They will present our opponents with a whole raft of new and interesting problems.

A fit AOC could be set for an impressive campaign if those pre-World Cup glimpses were anything to go on.

A fit and rested Theo Walcott will give us even more options and pace up front for Mesut Ozil to feed. Ozil must be licking his lips at all the new opportunities that are suddenly going to be in front of him, where he can slide through all those lazer guided passes.
I predict that all those lazy pillocks in the Press, who have been rubbishing him for the last seven months, will soon be made to look the cretinous fools that we know then to be.

So another centre-back and maybe a defensive-minded midfielder are all that is needed and this squad will begin to look really tasty.
Maybe an experienced striker on deadline day as the cherry on the cake, and Arsenal will be ready to rumble.

The transfer window closes at 11pm UK time on September 1st, that’s plenty of time for Arsene to do some more business.

Thanks to Rick, for some help in this post….

Written by Allezkev.

479 thoughts on “Portuguese Ace to be signing number Five? Four places up for grabs…..

  1. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Post Mr Kev 🙂

    But why no mention of Darren Bent? Cant he take up one of the 4 remaining places??

  2. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Morning all…..

    Ray Kennedy …. At times it just goes to show you the man who Bertie Mee really was ….

  3. Scott From Oz says:

    Nice post guys.
    Morning all.
    This has been our most impressive transfer window for a long time, and more to come, I’m sure.

  4. rico says:

    Morning all..

    Good post Kev, thank you. 🙂 re lastminute.com. A thing of the past it sure seems…

  5. Nickie says:

    Morning,

    Good post. I’d still like a last minute buy though 😉 hehe keep deadline day exciting 😉

  6. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I would rather we did our signings before the season begins.

    Last minute.com deadline day excitement is not good for our hearts. I prefer the 25 man squad to be ready by 1st week of August.

    At least we will be settled while others are still trying to reach a fruit and wasting their energy until they say that it is sour.

  7. Joywedsjeff says:

    Morning all
    Today is Debuchy’s birthday as well.
    Kev, I agree with your sentiments re Diaby. Not that it is rocket science anyway.
    Watching Carzola and his merry band of Midfielders on saturday, it was plain to see that their minds were moving faster than their bodies.
    Ozil and his German band will suffer same fate which scares me. Infact Ozil will not have had a meaningful pre season for the second year running.

  8. fatgun-ug says:

    Goodmorning all HHers, and Rico.
    Hav bn religiously reading HH daily but enjoying reading comments from the very informed bloggers about the Arsenal. This site is the closest I feel to the club interacting with people who actually watch the mighty club live.
    Thanks Rico for bringing together such an incredible bunch of gooners and also letting in some of us.
    Happy time to be gooners

  9. Sukky says:

    Maybe Vermaelen is leaving I guess.If we sign Nani,Joel campell may not get many chance to prove himself and don’t forget about OX and gnanbry.Morning all.

  10. Hell Raising Devil says:

    What a shit rule in the EPL…..no club can have more than two players on loan from an English club. But they can loan as much as they want from a foreign club.

    Arsenal offered Gnabry and Jenks on loan to Southampton. And the latter can take both but cannot loan other players from English clubs due to this rule.

    We could have loaned out 3 or 4 to Southampton if there was not this rule.

  11. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Morning Rico, Kev, Dev, Syg, Scott, all…,

    Great post, Kev…

    You and I aligned on what we truly need. Get the Dm, get CB if Verm goes. Any other signing is luxury, which will only improve our chances though.

  12. Nickie says:

    Agreed Dev,

    But what happens when Southampton play Arsenal, their team would be depleted giving us an “easier” game lol

  13. Sukky says:

    I think carzola won’t play much this season if walcott come back early.It will be a front 3 of Alexie-Giroud-Theo,with Ozil †̥ђƺ number 10.

  14. Hell Raising Devil says:

    It does not mean that as only …….

    It means that Southampton cannot loan from other EPL clubs if they have 2 players on loan already.

    Ex…….Southampton get Gnabry and Jenks on loan……they cannot go to Manure for example and get one from them and on from Shitty if they want.

  15. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Forbes was the last surviving player from Arsenal’s 1950 FA Cup Final winning team.

    Now he has joined the legends.

  16. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    I think deadline.com is very necessary…when you tip your hand with all your players that early, other teams might flood the market to keep up with your pace. If we sign say Khedira and Cavani this week…I’m sure Mourinho will go back to the market, and others …FFP or not.

    As loans out …ever since City signed Adebayor and gave to Spurs, gave Barry to Everton,…then Chelsea followed with distributing Lukaku, Bethrand etc all over the place, I’m for cancelling loan deals or permit players on loan to face parent clubs.

  17. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Factoid. Did you know that although we beat Liverpool in the 1950 FA Cup Final, we got turned over by them twice that season, both home and away….

  18. bondex says:

    Morning all . Good post Kev. IMO, I think every area has been covered except for the DM , we get that and i think we are done till January.

  19. adam says:

    Nice post Kev.
    RIP Alex Forbes.
    Morning Rico and all and well done Ivan Gazidis for sorting the transfers, well the ones so far anyway.

  20. bondex says:

    So Remy fails his medicals at Lilipool ….. Guess the press will soon come up with somethinh like ” Arsenal helped remy fail his medicals “

  21. Scott From Oz says:

    I can’t say Alex Forbes was a name familiar to me, so I did a little research.
    It’s incredible to think he signed for us for the princely sum of £15,000.
    Times have most certainly changed.
    RIP.

  22. rico says:

    And the striker bondex…

    Morning again Adam, well done Ivan indeed.

    Who said it’s difficult to sign players in a WC summer? I know, Arsene Wenger… lol

  23. rico says:

    Some naughty journalist has tried to suggest it was Remy’s historic heart problem which was behind the failed medical….

  24. Wath says:

    Morning you lot….

    RIP Alex Forbes, absolute top man, Had the pleasure to be in his company on quite a few occasions and he was Arsenal through and through and told many a great story. A true gent and Arsenal legend.

  25. BrainwashedKev says:

    Factoid: Bob Paisley played in both the a League victories over Arsenal in 1949-50.

    He was left out for the FA Cup final, that Arsenal won 2-0 with two Reg Lewis goals…

    Reg Lewis, is the only Arsenal player, to score more than one goal in an FA Cup final.

  26. Sukky says:

    We are selling jenk?That’s a great news,at least we will free some space and earn some cash.Let’s face it,Jenk is not arsenal quality.

  27. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    I reason that…

    The box-to-box midfield seems our biggest problematic area , injury wise. We now got three great players in that department – Diaby, Ramsey, Wilshere. All three are healthy right now and will hopefully be till season kick off. They all started pre-season too.

    It is Wenger’s duty to rotate the three appropriately. I doubt if our team would drop in quality significantly with any of the three starting any match. If Wenger manages to rotate them appropriately, they’d all finish the season healthy and dear Gunners will be happier for it. I never want to see ant two of them playing together in any match!

    Already, Ozil, Carzola, Rosicky are our CAMs…these three can be rotated but any two can play together depending when Theo gets back…of course there’s OX and Gnabry to deputise for Theo…

    The DM has only Arteta and Flamini…if we get Khedira(something tells me as events unfold now that the German WC winner will be that DM)…the three should be rotated, with Khedira taking the chunk especially with most important matches. Waiting till players got injured before bringing in others has always been our Achilles heels over the years.

  28. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Factoid. I never knew that re: Paisley Kev…… I knew that Billy Liddell scored both goals against us on either New Years day or New Years Eve up at Anfield in front of over 50,000 that season …. I know that because I wrote it as part of a book ….

  29. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Again Tai – Diaby is not great ….

    Ramsey is as good as you’ll get….

    ….With Wilshere …. he could be, but it is a case of where the heck does he fit into the team?

  30. BrainwashedKev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico, thanks for sub-edit…

    RIP Alex Forbes, a tough tackling half-back, who my Dad used to speak of fondly, as he did about all the Arsenal players of that generation…

    His favourite team was the 1947-48 title winning side.

    Suprised to read that Forbes was the last surviving member if the cup team of 1950…!

    That team, was the first, and up to last season (I believe) the only London team to win the FACup, without leaving London…

    Of course the 2014 cup winners emulated that feat last May…

  31. kel says:

    Nice post kev. Was just wondering how much have Arsenal spent this summer? Factoring in the few quid we got from the cesc deal and vela clause..??

  32. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    If we sell Jenks, that means Wenger and the board know something about the lad we don’t know and that must border on non-footballing reasons. Jenks has done any negative thing on the pitch to warrant being replaced with Chambers. Remember Jenks has an Engish cap to the good! It’s completely unWenger to throw Jenks outer the door.

    When players like Djourou, Miquel, Bellerin, Coq, Miyachi are still there!

  33. BrainwashedKev says:

    SYG, in those days, Liverpool used to be called Liddlepool, reference to them being a one-man team….

    They won the title in 1946-47 and gradually deteriorated until they were relegated in the late 1950’s…

    Hard to imagine Liverpool in Division Two.

  34. BrainwashedKev says:

    Rico 😆

    I am ok, as it goes, it’s just that I feel like I have a wooly hat on, inside my head. 😉

  35. Lee says:

    Wish it was Diaby being sold!! Jenks may not be Arsenal standard at the moment but ffs give him a crack! Sirnogoal gets a shot why not Jenks? Put him out on loan is a better option, imho.

  36. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Good morning all, always sad when someone, woven into the history of Arsenal passes on. RIP Alex Forbes. Kev, good post, still believe we need a striker. The squad appears to be taking shape nicely, though the fragmented pre season squad preparations, is slightly concerning. Onwards and upwards.

  37. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Jenkinson is an Arsenal lad.
    It is sad that he is leaving (or probably leaving), however every Arsenal supporter who knows football should know that Jenkinson – for as much as he is liked – is just missing that extra something from his game to take him that one step further.
    In football never let your heart rule your head.
    If he isn’t up to scratch, then he needs to play his football elsewhere.

    Debuchy is the finished article and is the French No 1 right back and Jenks trying to usurp him, isn’t going to happen. Especially as Wenger has reportedly bought in a reserve No. 2 in Calum Chambers.

  38. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Rico, that’s why I said buying Chambers makes no sense…at present, and for Arsenal next season, nowhere Chambers could offer more than Jenks…if Chambers was bought to replace Jenks…that borders on the absurd, and I’ll say it many, many times!

    I haven’t truly watched Chambers but he has to truly show potentials of Lilian Thuram presently for me to accept him as Jenks replacement. But Chambers hasn’t even been related as upcoming English great before, or did I miss it?

  39. BrainwashedKev says:

    Jenkinson on loan is ok.

    Jenkinson sold, is not ok. IMHO…

    I don’t think there can be any other reason other than Wengef doesn’t think he can improve up to the level he wants…

    Adam has often commented on his tactical deficiencies, but I’ve never seen it myself.

    All the same, if Wenger had come to a similar conclusion to Adam (smarty pants) then that can be the only explanation that I can think of…

    I’ll be sad to see him go, if it’s true….

  40. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Sukky. You have more chance of growing another arm than it being Diaby’s season.

    In fact, Wayne Rooney has more chance of being voted the most beautiful man on the planet, than you growing another arm or 2014/15 being Abou Diaby’s season.

    Mate, its a very, very long shot.

    Arsenal winning the double is a much better bet.

  41. Nickie says:

    Rico, looks better than the green one! plus the kit certainly suits Ospina more than Scz :)..

    Tai,

    Chambers does offer more than Jenks. More first team experience, more versatility (rb,cb,cm,rw) and he’s England u19 captain so he had leadership qualities. Great buy….I don’t want Jenko gone though. In 5 years time our back line could have been all English lol Jenko – Chambers – Hayden – Gibbs

  42. southyorkshiregunner says:

    The only way Diaby won’t get injured is if he doesn’t play….. And even then he’ll trip over and pull some muscle while he’s hoovering Wenger’s hall carpet or pruning his bushes or whatever it is he actually does for Wenger that manages to keep him at the club….

  43. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Syg,

    Any player who stays 90% of the time on the treatment table and uses the available 10% starting for Arsenal and France is a great player. Diaby is a great player. He’s still with us because of that injury monster or he would have long been prized away by Madrid or Barca…he’s far better than Lassana Diarra.

  44. kel says:

    Nickie has anyone seen chambers play all these positions? jack of all trades master of none comes to mind.

  45. Sukky says:

    Speaking of Djourou,I think he should have left by now.I know jenkinson got many fans here but am not 1,this guys make mistakes every match.I wouldn’t trust him with that RB. Position.

  46. Nickie says:

    I have seen him play CB at under 18/19 level and CM. RB first team for Southampton. After Schniederlin and Lallana last season Chambers impressed me the most. We are going on as if he’s a bad signing, the kids 19 and versatile. 12m initial fee up to 16m depending on clauses, 12m for a young english talent isn’t expensive. Shaw 30m is expensive, Chambers is also better defensively than shaw.

  47. rogerbij says:

    Rico, break out the poll mate! Who wants which DM?!

    ps why not steal Remy now for a sneeky season loan (paying his 80k wages for one year).

  48. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Brilliant comment Tai…..

    I’m in complete awe of you ….

    Now I know your real identity……. I’m dead impressed

    YOU ARE ABOU DIABY ….

  49. emma says:

    rico – me too re: Jenks 😉
    Should be sent out on loan. What he needs is regular playing time for him to develop. Hope we put a buy-back clause if it’s permanent

  50. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Rgb,

    Call it whatever…I wouldn’t sign a Liverpool reject.

    Syg…you can ‘kill’ Diaby for his injury woes, no problem…everybody would…me too. But don’t touch his football. He’s class! If there’s anything close to Yaya Toure in EPL, it’s Diaby!

  51. Hell Raising Devil says:

    As a supporter I am gutted to see Jenks leave.

    But we must not be sentimental. Mind over heart in these matters.

    Good luck to the lad. Hope that his price goes up to 5million if more than one club want him.

  52. Nickie says:

    out of the 21 games Jenkinson played in this season(including sub appearances) we won 15. Around 71% chance of victory when he has played. Maybe this goes against someones comments about him making mistakes every game lol

  53. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Nickie,

    Thanks for that insight on Chambers…let’s hope he grows positively while with us…but you got to be taller than 6 feet or really have springs in your feet to play CB in EPL, not u19 or whatever junior level.

    Still how did Jenks ever debut for England if he was that ‘useless’?

  54. Nickie says:

    Tai

    I like Diaby and think he’s a good player. I also hate Toure. But I think until Diaby has consistently performed at the highest level for 2-3 years only then can we try to compare him to Yaya

  55. kel says:

    I think the chambers signing has taken Arsenal transfer spend to roughly 56m,i never thought I’d seen the day the gunners spending that type of coin lol long may it continue.

  56. rico says:

    Couldn’t agree more re your earlier Lee about Jenks and a few others who should be out the door before him….

  57. Adam says:

    How much have we bought in from Vela and Cesc and saving that cretin Bendtner’s wages must be positive too.?

  58. Nickie says:

    Adam,

    Someone had it worked out on twitter yesterday that including transfers in and out we’d still have around 60m to spend if we had a 100m to begin with

  59. Bob John says:

    RIP Alex Forbes. Good to converse on a site where people appreciate the history of our great club. My dad was a regular in the 40’s/50’s/60’s so I was brought up on tales of the great players of that era. We had a cine film of the 1950 cup final which we watched regularly and Reg Lewis used to drink in a local club in his later years. Very modest man

  60. kel says:

    I doubt it was 100m nickie, i think around 70m is more realistic, but hey that’s just my opinion hope it was 100.

  61. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    I don’t think there’s any player in history that had to deal with Diaby’s troubles with injuries and still played at the top level…that tells of what he truly has as a player. You just imagine his form at start of last two seasons before he hobbled off against Chelsea. On the basis of his man-of-the-match performance at Anfield, do you think if he was since on his feet that Yaya could be doing better?

    And he turned into such freak while playing for Arsenal…that Smith tackle! Maybe I’m a bit like Wenger, I never wave off a player for just one mistake or two. I really feel whoever reckons Diaby is not a good player has the sentiment of his poor injury record guiding him. And such fella needs to come out of it and be realistic for once!

  62. Nickie says:

    True Micko, Diaby can be absolutely class when he plays. Start of 2012 season he looked great, we looked solid until he got injured against Chelsea 4th game in. I just don’t think it’s right to compare him to Toure yet. When fit I believe him to be better than Arteta, Flamini and Jack in that CM role.

  63. kel says:

    Adam i asked that earlier no one seemed to know searched about there i think Arsenal got around 10m back in to the kitty from cesc and vela deals… that would put are transfer spend around 46-48m.

  64. Adam says:

    Wath will tell you how much we had in the bank. Surely we need to spend what we need to spend to be truly competitive. Anything less, in this climate, would be daft.

  65. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Don’t forget Micko about the way he scored the winning goal versus Man Utd or how he helped level the game at St. James Park when the scores were at 4-0.

    And for the Statisticians – check out his statistics versus Tottenham Hotspur….

    Complete Arsenal legend.

  66. Nickie says:

    Hopefully Adam, would be amazing if a chunk of that was spent on a recognised CDM.

    Tai

    No one is denying Diaby is a good footballer. To suggest he’s stayed at Arsenal because he’s this great player is silly, it’s a matter of no one wanting to go near a proven crock, THE proven crock lol. Realism is being cautious that Diaby will have another injury.

  67. bondex says:

    @ tai 12:19 Call it whatever…I wouldn’t sign a Liverpool reject.

    Syg…you can ‘kill’ Diaby for his injury woes, no problem…everybody would…me too. But don’t touch his football. He’s class! If there’s anything close to Yaya Toure in EPL, it’s Diaby!…… are you really serious ? or is this a prank. I honestly dont see where you’ve drawn your conclusions from.

  68. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Nickie, that’s what I said…all his mates are gone…for money. People think he stayed because he wasn’t good. No. It’s because he’s always crooked. And I won’t even bet on Diaby finishing a warm up without hobbling off. That’s why I started by having three of them in one position. For a season, it’s always two. But again, RVP was near to Diaby until his last season….until he was 28…Diaby is 28! Anything can still happen!

    And, Nickie, it is even more silly to suggest he’s crap just because of his ill luck!

  69. bondex says:

    As much as i’ve hoped that Diaby comes good for Arsenal he has in no way impressed me . even when he was fit (very very rarely to play he was never that spectacular.

  70. rico says:

    Tai, Diaby is crap, not because he’s always injured but because too many times when he has played, which to be fair, are very difficult to recall as they have been so few, apart from the Liverpool game, he’s hardly stolen the show….

  71. Adam says:

    That’s a thought Rico. My blackcurrent and apple crumble of yesterday was astonishing for its taste but also it’s megalithic mass.
    Terrible decision against Ballance. Shocking really.

  72. kel says:

    Lol its ok Adam. 🙂 bt62 yeah forgot about eisfeld. Imo I would say Arsenal have around another 25m to spend this summer,i believe are budget was about 70m… As Adam said earlier we still have a lump of dish available 🙂

  73. rico says:

    Nickie, re the kit, I prefer the bright coloured ones, even green is better than black imo… (better late than never lol)

  74. rico says:

    🙂 Adam, I did think of your crumble….

    Just waiting to see the replay, there’s a guy here fixing my cooker and he doesn’t shut up!!

  75. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Hiya Ginge…. Where have you been all morning? I hope you’ve not been checking out my mates website !!!! LOL

  76. Adam says:

    Rico. I believe that crumble has the potential to become a historical artefact in the years ahead. It seems clear that nobody will ever eat it. 🙂

  77. tsgh says:

    Tai, couldn’t agree with your 12:41 any better…

    The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

    Loads of folks get their knickers in a twist when their favourite player’s ability is remotely put under the microscope…

    To me money will not be motivation enough to pick yourself up from such adversities…

    ha ha ha Syg… I had a look as you would expect… its been filed for a special day. lol 😉

  78. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Well, any day here is going to be throwing out ugly words about just because you’re disagreeing with someone, I can always borrow a dico or two. But to get knocked off the pack just because someone believes only he/her watch Arsenal is not a tactic any Nigerian Arsenal supporter could be intimidated with. We fight bigger wars with Chelsea fans all day.

    Next time I get shoved, I’ll truly kick!

  79. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I’ve not told him about you yet Ginge …… When I do he’ll be asking you if you fancy some part time work, lol.

  80. tsgh says:

    ha ha ha… Syg. It depends on what job it is 😉 😉

    Unfortunately, I am not coming to your patch this summer as my old mate has now been posted with 1 signals from 2 Sig reg in york but when you are next down we should definitely meet up…

  81. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Rico…if we did not defer, how could here ever be lively? But using words like ‘bollocks’, ‘dick heads’ to refer to other people’s statements goes beyond disagreeing…

  82. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Good to hear, Nickie…and I never said he stayed with us because he was a great player either.

  83. rico says:

    Tai, if you look back, you will see Syg was pulled up for that…

    Nickie, sorry, all over the place today… lol

    Adam, I’m not sure but wouldn’t be at all surprised…

  84. rico says:

    Don’t do it Adam, you’ll be inundated with mail and phone calls, especially if you forget to click on the ‘don’t share my info’ box… lol

  85. Adam says:

    Nickie. I shall do that right now. The surprise to me is that it’s a hundred quid a year cheaper if I put my wife on the policy. The idea of my darling wife with her foot on the throttle of my car is incompatible, to me, with a reduction is the policy cost. I say this without wishing to appear remotely prejudicial to women drivers and a I say that in anticipation of an earful from Rico. 🙂

  86. potter says:

    Yes we do Adam and that’s why we suffer the crap that’s written about us because they all know it’s the most profitable way of getting hits.

    Alex Forbes :- I reckon I might have seen him play , he finished in 1956 and that was when I started going to Highbury. However at 8 years old not a lot of individual things have stuck in my memory.

    Anyway if you want a player that dwells on the ball , takes too many touches , misplaces passes , runs into blind alleys and gets caught in possession , has the ability to give the ball way in dangerous places and has a track record of getting wound up and sent off ,letting players go by without tracking back and lastly scores spectacular costly own goals.

    Ladies and Gentlemen :- I give you = ABOU DIABY !!

  87. George says:

    Hi all,

    Nice post.

    Jenks needs to go out on loan , I see TV5 bolting for somewhere sunny, sirnogoal going on loan, as will the other youth players hayden, iwobi,bellerin and akpom. Joel campbell will get a chance but i fear he will be gone by january. Afobe and Miyachi will join Coqulin and be offloaded. Miguel won’t cut it either.

    Chambers is a good prospect, but 16m for a player who isnt there yet… bit on the high side…

    As for Diaby…nope. , he will get injured in the charity shield and be released after 20 minutes football in january 2015.

  88. tsgh says:

    Not sure how CC is better than CJ25 all of a sudden?

    Chambers has only had 1 season at senior level… no UCL experience etc…

    This reminds me of something I once read somewhere , ‘why is it that any player we are going to be bought is deemed a world beater even though most fans may not have seen the said player play before’?… but then when that same signed player does that meet their aspirations they turn on him quicker than US of A turned on Nixon…
    Man city’s Michael john was once purported to be an England star of the future, one injury later he had his local kebab shop on his speed dial. 😉

  89. rico says:

    Hi George. Agree re Jenks, and sadly, I can see you being right about Diaby. Fingers crossed he stays fit though, as long as he’s not being relied on as doing so by the club as Kev says in the post…

  90. gonerjoe says:

    Tia
    Stick to your guns mate Diaby has always had my support I have got in to a few discussions with Rico and other poster’s 🙂

  91. potter says:

    Comparing CC with Jenks is nigh on impossible with the little we have seen of either of them. If we are cutting our ties with Jenks it’s like we are getting rid of one toy to get a nice shiny new one.

  92. potter says:

    gonerjoe ? Tai :- I have no problem with people backing Diaby if that’s what they believe although I would like to know exactly what they base their beliefs on. I know that every time that I have seen him live I have not been impressed mainly for the reasons stated above.

  93. BrainwashedKev says:

    Adam, I got a valuation from ‘We buy any car.com’ and they keep on and on and on, even after you sell your car to someone else….

    Bloody pests…

  94. NashuaGunners says:

    Good Afternoon Rico and All

    Kev. Good read and I’m really enjoying the good vibs this transfer window has offer. But reading through your post history teaches us to take caution and wait till the window closes.

    ” There are still a couple more areas where Arsene could strengthen (isn’t there always), but there is also the possibility that he may go with what he has, using a few of the youngsters like Hayden, Olsson or even Zelalem, to fill-out the squad.”

  95. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    It pains me so much how some Arsenal fans take things most of the time. Referees and the FA openly do Arsenal in…but our fans will turnaround to blame our players instead. How could you blame Diaby for that 4 – 4 score line? Or the red card? Joey Barton should have been sent off too? Diaby, who was having a good match was tackled badly. .. knowing his injury record, he had every reason to be infuriated. Barton conned the ref and got Abou sent off.

    We were 4 -0 up….odd 20 minutes left, who on enter would have imagined that even if Szczesny had gone out at same time with Diaby and the team played nine men with Rosicky in goal that we weren’t going home with three points? The ref manufactured two ‘ghost’ penalties and the rest is history…

    If it was all about Diaby, then it only proves how important a player he is. Just him going off and we crumbled!

  96. rico says:

    Hi Ng

    Tai, imo, Diaby should have known better than to retaliate, just as Gervinho should have against Newcastle, Paddy many times during his career too.

    4-0 and cruising, had he stayed on the pitch, we would no doubt have won that game…

  97. Rick says:

    Good afternoon Rico and the House.
    Rest in peace Alex Forbes sad to hear of his passing.
    Watched him play in a number of games .
    I can recall a game against Pompy. (1949?)
    Alex and Jimmy Scouler (spelling) went for a loose ball and the impact and the sound of the tackle was heard and felt by everyone watching. A really tough guy and was loved by everyone during thst period.

  98. NashuaGunners says:

    Diaby Diaby Diaby. Good team player if stayed fit but it about time to cut our losses and move on. To me this is suppose to be his last season, if not fit, move on. But we should cut him the same slack we cut RVP.

    Tai. I couldn’t agreed with more on Diaby. He’s all right to react the way he did. Even AW said the same thing as you just did. Joey Barton did almost the same thing to Gervinho causing him to be sent off by grabbing his shirt and pulled him up forcefully when he fell in the penalty area. Thinking that Gervinho was diving.

    My question is, would he’s done that to Wooney or Rio if the same incident had happened? And remember that was the very first game Gervinho played for Arsenal.

    Joey Barton, what a fantastic player, I wonder why AW never bought him even though few were suggesting it. 🙂

  99. BrainwashedKev says:

    You know, sometimes I do scratch my head with bewilderment…

    12 months ago Arsenal, Gazides, Wenger, Law, Kroneke and co were getting hammered for being tightwads (I also joined the criticism)….

    It was a criticism that in most part, was deserved…

    This summer, all the above have done some really good business.
    Brought in four quality players…. That’s four!!!!

    And yet I’m still reading grumbles and complaints…

    Come on now people, we’ve still got about 34 days of this window to go…

    Credit where credit is due…

    I think the club have done really well….

    IMHO….. 😉

  100. George says:

    ginge -sadly havent been able to locate the owner of my old porsche…

    Rico, you know i’m going to be sadly right about diaby… As long as he gives us 1 game 3 points its the best we can hope for.

  101. Adam says:

    Potter. Not that I look at other club’s sites too often but it does seem that we have an extraordinary number of supporters from all over the world. Personally I think that we get a little over-sensitive where the press are concerned. As I have mentioned before, they are largely a rather pathetic lot, more deserving of pity than out and out resentment. Most of them are chronic alcoholics with stained trousers and excruciating BO, reared on a diet of junk food and free beer. Except of course Henry Winter, the posh boy who likes football and knows everything, but understands the passion of nothing.
    I have a well-known footballing journalist who lives just a few hundred yards from me. I often see him staggering towards the local greasy spoon after a televised game that he will pretend he was at. Sometimes he is with his wife. Put it this way, when that pair move into an area, the local Pizza shop’s takings go through the roof as they waddle in and out (in single file of course) on a twice daily basis. You and I and Kev and Rick and Fred have been around long enough to have seen and heard it all. We know that Arsenal are an easy target and that most of the press are complete tossers.

  102. rico says:

    I’m thrilled so far this summer Kev, room for ore though… 😉

    George, let’s all hope he stays fit and brings depth to the squad. He’d be good for certain games….

  103. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Know your football, Nashua.
    I told you three seasons ago when you were tipping Abou Diaby for the “Ballon D’Or” and blowing his trumpet live online, that he would be injured on Sept 5th and that would be it for his season……. I was 24 days out, and he’s played only 16 games since – and in the majority of those he was sub or shite …
    Check back and see ……..

    As for Barton there’s a much bigger picture.

    Barton knew our weak links. He exploited them and earned his side points…
    He knew after beating up the much-bigger, taller, heavier .. and the man he described as a bully that was Man City’s journeyman D’bo, that Arsenal’s French-Africans would be out to do him …. Nasri was the first and got booked…. Diaby was sent off … Gervais was sent off … Song was banned for 3 games ….

    As I said – Know your football and look at the bigger picture.

    It’s a brilliant game and dead simple to understand.

  104. rico says:

    Hmm, not sure that’s quite fair Syg, it’s all about opinion and Ng, like all, is entitled to it.

    Let’s not go down the ‘I told you so’, it’s not nice and not how HH works.

    Ts get’s a ribbing for commenting in such a way, it’s now your turn, no more please….

  105. Sukky says:

    That tackle from essien was horrible.I just saw that tackle.Poor diaby,he’s good on his fit day but injuries got their way of finding him.Poor poor diaby.

  106. NashuaGunners says:

    Rico. Maybe he did. But Barton had no right to put his hands on another player when the ball is not on play. Yes, Gervinhno should have known better. But, would Barton grab Wooney if he suspect him of diving?

    Most of the time you could see Arsenal players been bully; JW is one of them that refused to accept that on the pitch. Chelsea vs Arsenal in Stamford Bridge. Ozil and Ivanovic

  107. rico says:

    Who said AW wouldn’t sign more than three players as it upsets the balance of the team???

    Oh, I know, Arsene…. lol

  108. Rick says:

    Very good post Kev
    If you remember I have been saying for along time that because of the squad rule Arsene would have some serious decisions to make in this T/W and your post sums it up perfictly.
    I thought he was very astute in his team selection against New York.
    Looking for fourth C/B he played Hayden Miquel and Monreal to give them all a chance to show what they could do.
    I think the Emms Cup will give us an idea of what he thinks.

  109. Gunnerdna says:

    Welcome to AFC Calum Chambers, you have joined the best football club on the planet. All the best son!!

  110. rico says:

    Ng, I know Barton is a horrid little player and cheats all he can as long as he thinks he can get away with it.

    But equally, our players should know what a s***e he is and not rise to the occasion….

    Play football I say, and give the ref nothing to give against us….

  111. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I agree Rico – everyone is entitled to his and her opinion, whether it is wrong or its right.

  112. tsgh says:

    The man in the middle of all of that on that day…ref Dowd! well enough said.

    It was one of those fluke games with Tiote only scoring his only professional game against us…

  113. NashuaGunners says:

    Syg. If i’m not looking at the big picture I most be missing something. But please explain this to me, how come after Barton left NC and QRP, no other managers in EPL never went for him if he was that brilliant in the pitch?

  114. agirlagunner says:

    rico, I see you’ve had your hands full today. 😀 😀 You getting your referee badge soon? 😛

    Kev, good stuff! As usual. 😉 I get the feeling that Chambers will replace Verm, and that Jenks will stay.

  115. rico says:

    Hi Agag, I have the red cards but they are kept in my pocket.. For now… 😉

    Hope you are right about Jenks…

  116. NashuaGunners says:

    Syg said, “I agree Rico – everyone is entitled to his and her opinion, whether it is wrong or its right.”

    Now you get me cracking up. Btw, Sgy is always RIGHt.

  117. tsgh says:

    Rico, sometimes in the heat of things even the most upright citizen of society can lose his/her head… the crush for me is how often one loses it…

    I consider myself someone who is fairly thick skinned but a few years ago whilst I was running the Yorkshire marathon someone chucked a banana at me and for some reason I lost it… the police got involved and all; if it wasn’t for my work and stuff maybe I would have hard a criminal record and all by now…

    It was just one of those things as I know within myself that if I was not all pumped up running I won’t have reacted…

    Not suggesting I am a model citizen btw. 😉

  118. agirlagunner says:

    Well, the Verm to United rumors just won’t stop. And AW did say last week that Jenks will compete for his spot. I feel there’s enough promise in him for AW to want to persevere a bit longer. When it comes to letting players go, AW has shown time and again that his patience is long enough; sometimes too long, tbh (Abou, Bendtner, Denilson et al.)

    I think he has sort of laid the basis for Chambers replacing Verm by emphasizing his “versatility”. 🙂

    Plus, I really do not want Jenkinson to go. 😉

  119. NashuaGunners says:

    Hi T’s and agag.

    Anyone whom knows there football will not recommend Joey Barton for a club with class. I was not surprise all the top clubs in the top ten Never went for him.

  120. Gunnerdna says:

    Ts, the person who chucked the banana at you deserve whatever you did to them, that’s a disgraceful behavior.

  121. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I’m not being a smart arse here Rico, so forgive me if it sounds like I am ….
    Opinions do fall in the category of wrong or right – it is just a case of who you direct the opinions to, and how the people they are directed at perceive them.

    Ginge/TSGH and myself are often a million miles apart in our opinions, but I think the guy is one of the most thoughtful people I know (always texts to ask how we all are)…. and one of the most insightful bloggers on HH with statistics upon statistics upon statistics upon statistics to back it up………

  122. tsgh says:

    Dna. as I said though normally I wouldn’t have reacted…

    with the adrenalin flowing I guess I saw the rest mist…

    it was really not worth it; I could have lost my commission and actually it was still on a tarnish on my records…

    As the saying goes ”Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” lol

  123. tsgh says:

    Cheers Syg, was that a dig with the ”with statistics upon statistics upon statistics upon statistics to back it up………” bit? 😛 😉

    joking of course… 🙂

    As I always say I like me a debate and can take a lot of stick…
    What I can’t stand is when people name call when they don’t agree on something or take things personal and then play victim when it suits them….

    If folks want to dish it out they have to be prepared to take it imho….

  124. agirlagunner says:

    GDNA, Jenks is staying, I bet you a pair of Air Jordans!!!

    Ginge, if that banana thing was meant to be a racial slur, then good for you for “losing it”. 🙂

  125. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Ts, mate, if it was a racial slur, he got of lightly, love your 3:53 ending,must remember that if we ever meet..lol

  126. tsgh says:

    Agag, can I get one of those air jordan’s too? lol

    No one knows Agag… he and his brother/uncle said they thought I needed energy so they thought I could do with a banana.. 🙂

    Its all in the past.. just brought it up to try to show that most people can be pushed some how…

    Whilst driving in to work this morning I was listening to the radio show discussing domestic violence and this lady called in to say a few days ago she struck her husband of 14 years so hard her husband needed eye surgery…

    I guess her button was pushed but if it was the other way round it wouldn’t be remotely funny… 😉

  127. tsgh says:

    Bt, I am not hard to find mate… anytime you are down here and its convenient for us we will definitely meet…

  128. tsgh says:

    Rico, is always up to get me with any comment I make… lol

    Was making a general comment; why do you think it is aimed at anyone…?

  129. rico says:

    Syg, I have to disagree re the ‘opinions’.. and we’ll have to agree to differ.

    As for your views on Ts, well that’s between you and him, and I’m glad you have both found a good friendship from HH.

    However, just because you think he is the most insightful bloggers on HH, others may think some of the other bloggers are.

    It’s all a matter of opinion.

    HH, well, I don’t condone laughing at other peoples comments just because they don’t suit our own.

    Bloggers here have a choice, play by the rules or go elsewhere.

  130. rico says:

    Ts, you brought the subject up, yet you won’t let whoever it is your referring to have the chance to defend him/her self.

  131. Hell Raising Devil says:

    you and I give it to each other ehh Ginge????

    and we do not hide dont we???

    Just like me and Goonie really.

    deep down we love each other.

    Tell you what …… we meet at a restaurant and have a dinner …..chicken and octopus will do!!!! 😉

    Rico can you cook them for us??? 😛

  132. tsgh says:

    Agag- I know a lad who claims to get loads of designer stuff falling off trucks in front of him ;)…including some ‘exclusive’ jimmy choos within my budget … can’t guarantee where they came from though. 😉

  133. agirlagunner says:

    ginge, I meant that if I’m right, I’d get some Jimmy Choos. 😉

    Yes, Bt! Tomorrow, there is no work. 🙂 Yay!!

  134. tsgh says:

    lol Micko.. I will try to limit my post to small doses now…

    I think I irk off the lady of the house too much too often…

  135. Adam says:

    BT. It could be a corruption of ” It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool than open it and remove any doubt”. From the pen of the mighty Mark Twain.

  136. agirlagunner says:

    Ginge, are they Jimi Choose “Made in Ilaty”?? 😀

    Hey, Dev. 🙂 I agree, octopus is yum when prepared well.

  137. tsgh says:

    😛 😛 Agag…
    You know him then?
    Syg, you flogging your dodgy stuff again? 🙂
    Dev, I will try most things with chilli even your 8-legged friends 😉

  138. NashuaGunners says:

    Opinions… How many of us here at HH called for AW to loan Ramsey or sell him, that he would have never make it or has space in The Invisible? me included, How many came back and said they were wrong? I don’t remember many. If at all Diaby don’t make it we should sell and cut our losses. But, if he made it, I would love to see how many would come back and say they were wrong…

    We can only predict the next big thing in soccer, even AW cannot 100% certain because, if he is,C. Ronaldo and Z. Ibrahimovic would be playing for Arsenal.

  139. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Well, it is easier said for one to keep his cool…wait till you’re that person! Diaby was tackled at the ankle…the same right ankle he just recovered from…a very bad tackle at that and you’re blaming him for reacting? If he didn’t react at 4 – 0 up, when would he ever have done?

    Yeah, Rico…I talked about Wenger not signing three starters, not three players. For all we know, he has only signed two – Sanchez and Debuchy…even Ospina is not an outfield player!

    If he signs a supposed DM now, that’s three starters and I don’t see him signing a fourth. My worry – if he signs a starting striker, then he must believe he doesn’t need a DM!

  140. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Calum chambers has been given the #21 shirt, making it the first time an outfield player has worn it since 2004.

  141. Adam says:

    Tai. I agree. It is often harder not to respond though because that is what people like Joey Barton want. You have to be bigger than them in so many ways.

  142. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ok dear Lady….we will behave. Promise.

    We always behave except when someone is naughty. And than we give him an ALMIGHTY WHACK with a frozen chicken.

    So behave Ginge. otherwise I will eight leg you faster than you can slurp spaghetti.

    lol

  143. Hell Raising Devil says:

    the signing of Chambers can afford Debuchy a good longer rest period as he has not been on WC duty.

    So expect Chambers to begin the season as a CB in the Charity shield, and then go RB when the CL qualifier 1st leg is played. I suppose that in the first 6 games he will feature in at least 3 of them.

  144. agirlagunner says:

    SYG, I struggle with deliveries from the UK since they go to the local post office, and they charge me crazy taxes. 🙁 🙁

    Hiya, Adam. 🙂 Howdy?

    Hello, Nash. 🙂 I was one of those who knew Ramsey would come good. 😉

  145. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Dev…, you’re the coach, do you see Wenger ever starting a game with four outfield new signings before January?

  146. potter says:

    Tai , I have been kicked from pillar to post on the football pitch and believe me that revenge is best served cold. Take your time think about it and do it later when you get the chance. It’s when you react immediately that you get into trouble. Most referees are myopic and if they have missed the first one they will notice the retaliation . However chances are that if they missed one they will miss the next one too.

  147. Gonerjoe says:

    See we signed new media contract with BT sport seems they are changing their ads on Thursday. To show us beating Liverpool in FA cup and winning the cup. I wonder did the complaints of Arsenal fans make a difference.

  148. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Since none of the first choice 11 have left, except Sagna, I think that August and September will see the team which finished the last EPL season continuing except for Sanchez maybe and also Debuchy. But from October onwards then yes……I can see AW beginning a match with four outfield signings….because by then they would have bedded in.

  149. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ok Kev……….you draw first blood. I am covering you………

    dishhhhh bannnnnggggg wallllopppppppp

  150. potter says:

    Ts another version on the same theme.

    Do not argue with an idiot they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

  151. Hell Raising Devil says:

    That was a comment by Einstein Ginge. I always liked that comment. I use it when I am faced with idiots.

  152. Gonerjoe says:

    Potter
    This is my first chance to reply to your post earlier on Diaby I have always thought that he was a good player but that’s just my view.
    There is no argument that he is injury prone but for me the clinching point is that Wenger thinks he is worth the trouble and i am willing to go with that.

  153. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Nash, good point you raised. A lot of people forgot Ramsey was the nearest player that could do a Fabregas before that nasty leg break …calling for his outright sale. They forgot that injury was enough to have ended his career(it ended Eduardo’s)…that the boy needed to psychologically get that off his stream…what if we had sold Ramsey before last season and he turned out for that club the way he did last season? The same our fans would have slammed Wenger for not using Ramsey well.

    Today, Diaby battles the psychology of … if any game was going to be his last any time he enters the pitch, wonders if any tackle was coming from behind any time he was holding the ball, fears any long lay off could get him retired…yet manages to still play good football. Instead of encouraging the big guy for bravery, we’re here cursing him as if he ever intentionally hit his leg on a post. It pains me not to try to be in somebody’s shoes…and that is why we blame Wenger all the time but he comes out he knows better better times than not.

    We can’t blame RVP and co for not staying, then blame Wenger for having too much patience with players. Diaby deserves our love!

  154. choy says:

    66mill spent already.. Hah! who would’ve thought that?!Apparently we’re close to Douglas Costa now! Did anyone hear about that?

  155. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Hi KEv……

    you like the signing of Chambers???

    I am. But I am gutted because of Jenks.

    I did want him to succeed at AFC

  156. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Potter, I’m not saying Diaby did right by retaliating…it’s against the rule, so Arsenally, he shouldn’t have tried that…However, I’m only implying he’s also human…having gone through what he had, he could be pardoned for losing his cool. And I pardoned him that very moment. I never played professional football but I got my own dose of kicks and injuries while playing at my level too.

  157. agirlagunner says:

    Southampton might as well sell Schneiderlin, too. They have sold just about their entire team. 🙂 Come on, AW.

  158. BrainwashedKev says:

    Coach, I am very happy about Chambers’ signing Habib.

    Last season Southampton were the most dangerous and impressive team I saw at the Grove….
    I can’t remember if Chambers played, but alm their players were disciplined, technical and well-drilled…

    We have a good knack of signing very good footballers from Southampton…

    Steve Williams was one of my favourites.

  159. BrainwashedKev says:

    Agag, I am pretty much 7 days a week atm…

    No holiday for me this year.

    I might try and take a couple of weekends away.

  160. tsgh says:

    Another midfielder who has injury issues and can’t tackle.. typical! if true what a waste imo…

    Another Grimandi influence…?

  161. potter says:

    Diaby deserves to play regularly to find his way to perhaps develop to the player you seem to want him to . I would suggest this might be served best in another league which is less physical and less demanding. I can’t help feeling that one reason for Wenger sticking with him is because being the pragmatist he is , he knows that Diaby is unsaleable . Two or three injuries ago he should have gone on loan to France where he could have recuperated in his own time without the likes of Dan Smith Joey Barton and Oops bit late ( got there as quick as I could )Paul Scholes kicking him every week.

  162. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    I got you, Dev…

    Will Wenger sign a big striker, then wait till October to blood him? Or DM?

  163. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Diaby doesn’t deserve my love – not at £20M+ outlay for three decent games …

    I’ll be honest Ginge, apart from Wenger slinging in a bid for Grenier the other year and the odd highlights on TV, I don’t know a deal about him …. Maybe you could statisticise him?

  164. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Soon off on a 5km run.

    Only 5k today I hear you ask???

    Oui mes amis. But today it will be special…..the little one will do it as well for the 1st time.

    Hope it will turn out ok.

  165. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    potter,

    Diaby’s fitness is not the debate…it’s his football ability. None of us made his bones…he could stay fit all through this season ala RVP and surprise us. And if he stays fit till October, he’d be our first choice box-to-box, that one I’m pretty sure.

  166. agirlagunner says:

    Wow, Kev. 😯 That’s many days too many!! 😉 No holidays for mem this year, either. 🙁

    Dev, good luck to the little prince. 🙂

    If we’re getting a DM< we might as well go for the best one out there. You know who. The one at Juve. And Sanchez's compatriot. Lol.

  167. potter says:

    As I posted earlier Tai unless he has changed his ways and his thought process has quickened exponentially I sincerely hope not.

  168. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Ok, we wait…if Diaby stays fit of course…for this debate, whatever God he worships should come to his aid.

  169. NashuaGunners says:

    An Opinion…

    AW, Sir AF and Ramsey

    AW: I want you to play for Arsenal. And I promise you I’ll make you the player you’re suppose to be; world class.

    Sir AF: You’re the next big thing in world football. ManU is world brand. I’m going to take you to the next level. Come join me.

    Ramsey: AW is well known for turning no-name player to world class, I think I’ll play for Arsenal. He’s done it Cese. When push comes to shove AW will stick by for high and low times.

    After the Injury:

    AW: Son I thought you could be the next big thing but I’m sorry for what happened to you, it not you fault but It time to move on.I hope you find another decent club. Good luck son.

    Sir AF: You could have chose ManU instead you went to french fool. I’m like a father to all my players. When was the last time a player retired from Arsenal without that frenchman selling him first to the highest bidder? Do you know how I win games, because I know the ins and outs of this league. Even the referees are scare of me. Look at Ronaldo, I made him a star. Look at Paul, he’s now retired but England still wants him.

    Ramsey: AW really surprises me. Now that I’m injured he sold me. I wasn’t injured riding bike or climbing a mountain. I was injured in the pitch. All that promises he made to me and my parents about not letting them down. He did even give me the opportunity to recover properly. What a shame. If I were a frenchman it could have been different. 🙂

  170. tsgh says:

    hmmm/
    Cazorla: “Atletico are good example to follow. Atletico and Arsenal have to play the same way, but everyone is looking to win titles.”

  171. NashuaGunners says:

    T’s. Did he played against Arsenal when we played OM? Never heard of him. Is he that good?

  172. NashuaGunners says:

    T’s. My message to Cazorla is simple; you can run the marathon and play football all year around, if you don’t have something to show for it, you’ll be like a story in the back of a news paper.

  173. Gunnerdna says:

    Ag, u know i don’t want the regular J’s right, it got to be Air Jordan Retro 3 “white cement” or some concords. lol

  174. rogerbij says:

    Wow, just catching up… Chambers! Ok good signing for the long term. Not against this at all – as long as its seen as a luxury signing. Priorities (as repeated ad nauseum): DM + striker. Carry on Wenger! One thing I cant criticise is the quality of any of the signings so far. Im pretty damn sure they will all prove themselves 🙂

  175. tsgh says:

    hi roger, still not sure why we spent too much on him..

    he played 22 games all at rb so how will he just switch to cb/

    not a criticism… just a question…

  176. Hell Raising Devil says:

    We jogged but when he was a bit short of breath we walked briskly. I was amazed as well with the time achieved. His next time is next Friday now since he needs to recover. So twice a week is the norm for him atm.

  177. tsgh says:

    perfect buddy… needless to say make sure he has the right shoes to protect his young knees if you are jogging on hard surfaces. 😉

  178. AndrewH13 says:

    Evening HH. Good post, things moving so fast its hard to keep up. Strange strange summer. Just bring in the DM we want and I’m going to pay another £12 a month for BT, just to celebrate the loosening of the purse strings.

  179. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Look at the team now……

    Keepers….Chez, Ospina
    RB………….Debuchy, Chambers, (Jenks)
    CB………….Per, Kos, Verm (Chambers)
    LB………….Gibbs, Monreal

    Midfield…..Arteta?, Flamini?, Wilshere, Diaby? Ramsey, Gnabry

    AM…..Cazorla, Ozil, Rosicky,Chamberlain,

    Forwards….Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Campbell, Akpom, Sanogo, Podolski.

    That is already a strong team……if all are fit. However the midfield is a bit short….I put a question mark against those who have problems with fitness.

    We still need a CB or two….if Verm leaves. And a bloody Holding midfielder.

  180. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Of course mate……..we go out along the promenade…..it stretches around 7km. So today we jogged 2.5km and then back….to make it 5km. But the surface is hard. So he must have the right shoes.

  181. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Evening Lady.

    See, we did not fight and behaved well.

    You must be proud of us. 😉

  182. rico says:

    Evening Adam and Devil… I haven’t looked back yet Devil, at least now I don’t need to 😉

  183. rico says:

    He is Joe, at the end of the day, I guess we all would love to see him over his horrid injury problems and to be playing.

    My only hope is that AW isn’t expecting too much from him…

  184. rico says:

    Ts won’t like this…

    Tottenham are apparently closing in on the double signing of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez.

    Reports suggest Mauricio Pochettino has stepped up the chase for his former charges with a deal for the pair believed to be close.

    The news comes just hours after the sale of Calum Chambers to Arsenal and will come as a hammer blow to Saints fans.

    The right back became the fifth high-profile St. Mary’s departure this summer after Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana all joined Liverpool and Luke Shaw moved to Manchester United.

    And now it appears two more could follow with Press Association Sport suggesting the duo could be Spurs players very shortly.

    Midfielder Schneiderlin is believed to have been interesting Arsenal too but favours a switch to White Hart Lane and a reunion with his former boss.

    England international Rodriguez enjoyed a splendid campaign last season netting 15 goals before his World cup dreams were shattered by a late season ACL injury.

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-close-morgan-schneiderlin-jay-3926774#ixzz38nBzHniz
    Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

  185. Hell Raising Devil says:

    With the squad as it is right now, AW can afford to chop and change one or two player in every game in the EPl till December…allowing them time enough to rest and recover. There is no need to begin every game with Sanchez for example, when the flanks can easily be manned by Cazorla, Chamberlain, Theo (when he returns) and Podolski. If Costa arrives (I have my doubts) that will mean that Ozil, Costa and Cazorla can interchange between the centre and the flanks. TR07 can also rest them as well. For example….in the very first game against CP Tr07 can begin the game with Cazorla and Sanchez in the AM/W positions.

    Against Burnley, Southampton, and teams of that level TR07 can start games, thus allowing for others to rest.

    Time for AW to show us that he knows how to rotate the team. Now its not a case of not trusting them…..he has good players (except Holding Midfielder) so lack of trust is not an issue.

    I hope he stops fiddling with his zipper this year.

  186. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Almunia for Cagliari.

    Geeeee Wiizzzzzz. That means I see him every week then!!!!

    Yipppeeeeeeeeee

  187. rico says:

    I still want a striker too Devil…. But, I actually can’t see one arriving unless Sanogo/Campbell go on loan…

  188. BrainwashedKev says:

    Rico, I still think that Arsene will have a suprise for us on September 1st…

    Darren Bent is still available… 😉

  189. rico says:

    I’d rather he was sold Micko, but I can’t see that happening. Suggestion is that he didn’t get paid last season so if he get’s paid as he plays then at least we aren’t wasting money.

    Unless he’s offered a new contract, he’ll be gone this time next year anyway…

  190. Hell Raising Devil says:

    maybe yes and maybe no Kev. As I told Nickie….I hope that our team is settled by Sept 1st. Its not good for our health to be on tenterhooks all day. I want to be calm.

    Then again………if we get a surprise marquee signing I will not complain.

  191. BrainwashedKev says:

    Schneiderlin & Rodriguz to the Scummers is a bummer… 🙁

    I wouldn’t mind those two at Arsenal…

  192. rico says:

    Neither would I Kev, let’s hope it’s media bollox…

    Just off to shut the chickens, back in two ticks…

  193. BrainwashedKev says:

    Wonder if the new fitness coach will have an effect on Diaby…?

    If we got 15/20 games out if him, Wenger might offer him a new contract.

  194. Micko says:

    You know my thoughts on him rico, not fit for a skip.

    Watching sky sports southampton have sold 4 of the 5 British record breaking teenagers, we’ve now bought 3 of them.

  195. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Theo, OX and now Chambers.

    Should have added Bale with that list as well.

    He alone would have sponsored this season’s spending spree.

  196. BrainwashedKev says:

    567 for 7 is a good effort by our batsmen…

    Down to the bowlers now…

    That’s me done…

    Night Rico, night Coach, night Mick…

  197. Micko says:

    On Ray Kennedy, we let him go far too early, went on to win a stack load of trophies with the mickey mousers.

  198. Micko says:

    Nite kev, hope they’re not giving you the runaround rico, might need to get yourself a bigger broom, over and out.

  199. rico says:

    Seems like everyone has gone so I may as well too…

    Night Devil, sleep well, and anyone else reading….

  200. Scott From Oz says:

    Morning all.
    SYG, on Jenks…..any Arsenal fan who knows football should know he’s not good enough…….are these the same Arsenal fans that know football and said ramsey was shit?????
    Sorry mate, but that really needed to be said because it’s fact, and claiming to know football, but making the right calls and showing it are two different things.
    Wenger gets it right a hell of a lot more often than we fans who think we know football.
    Anytime comments like this are made, Ramsey’s name should and will be brought up because it proves how little we fans really know……leave it to the experts, I say.

  201. Scott From Oz says:

    Is anybody else concerned Wenger is going to send us broke with all these signings?
    Wenger out 🙂 🙂

  202. Sukky says:

    Jenk is not good enough IMO.When you ask those who love him why he should say a gunner?they say’this lad bleed Arsenal’,well whose actually give a fuck when he make 2,3 mistakes in a game.

  203. potter says:

    Yet others that make a similar number get defended. The sort of mistakes Jenks makes can be cut out with regular playing and decent coaching . The first he has never had and the second is open to discussion.

  204. Nickie says:

    Sukky…what player doesn’t make mistakes? please tell me.

    Jenks is young and decent, he will go away get first team football and become a better for it. The fact he tries hard and loves Arsenal is why us fans are tied to him. Through videos and games you get connected to the players. Jenkinson was involved in 21 games last year, we won 15. A lot of mistakes in those wins I guess

  205. Nickie says:

    I’m not suggested he is Arsenal quality or will ever be. I’m merely suggested that there’s no need to slate the lad lol. He gives it his all for the Arsenal shirt, that’s all we can ask. It’s not his fault he wasn’t scouted properly. You don’t turn down Arsenal, it was a dream come true for him

  206. Scott From Oz says:

    Sukky, so I don’t give a fuck?
    Really?
    Go to my previous post……..were you defending Ramsey two years ago, or were you with the 95% that said he was shit and those that “give a fuck” know it??
    Don’t talk shit because people disagree mate!

  207. Gunnerdna says:

    Wayne Veysey @wayneveysey

    Morgan Schneiderlin has turned down a move to Arsenal. Wants a guaranteed starting role.

  208. Joywedsjeff says:

    If Morgan really chose the Totts then good riddance! If he can’t take on Arteta for a starting berth then…. Nuff said

  209. Adam says:

    If you are spending over £20 million on a player and are going to pay him millions per year wouldn’t that suggest that you both want him and are going to play him? The story seems a bit daft. Perhaps he just wants to work with the same manager again.

  210. Scott From Oz says:

    All is well here, Adam.
    Xmas just came with Sean and my kits arriving, so we are happy.
    The boss lady couldn’t give two hoots 🙂
    Weather is good group winter….work is busy and we are all in fine fettle….I hope you and yours are as well.

  211. Adam says:

    Scott. I remember chatting to Sean when you were here. I am glad he is doing well. Especially football wise. We are doing ok just waiting for the new season now. There’s a slightly different atmosphere with the new signings I think.

  212. Scott From Oz says:

    I must say, people are buzzing here, Adam.
    We still need one or two more to strike fear in the other big clubs, buts so far, so good.

  213. rico says:

    Morning Adam, Scott, Choy, Jeff and all..

    Seems Jenks is off to West Ham on loan for a year. Big Sam could teach him a lot about defending…..

  214. rico says:

    Gdna

    ‘Wayne Veysey @wayneveysey

    Morgan Schneiderlin has turned down a move to Arsenal. Wants a guaranteed starting role.’

    I’m not convinced because out of Schneiderlin, Arteta and Flamini, surely the Southampton player would get the nod….

  215. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. What a pile of..
    If you are good enough you will start. Does he expect it to be written into his contract? Perhaps he thinks Arsenal will pay all that money for him and then leave him on the bench.

  216. rico says:

    Hi Adam. Couldn’t agree more….

    Seems he wants to join up with his old manager which is a shame..

    I don’t believe the tweet holds much truth though…

  217. tsgh says:

    Wath/Rico my stats are being massaged to show Morgan was shite after all if he chooses sperds. =P
    Micko you leave Kimg Abou Doha alone..he leads a clean life. 🙂
    Scott,as you had been saying for over 3 years Fergie did Fergie only…
    Lvg is moaning yanited is broken.Shaw has been told to train on his own as he is not fit enough. Who would have thought so?
    Morning mes Ami…

  218. Adam says:

    Rico. The days being guaranteed a starting place are over, if they ever existed in the first place. Surely no sensible team or manager would operate such a system.

  219. BrainwashedKev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico, Adam, Scott et al…

    Schneiderlin going to Scummers…

    Am I gonna slit my wrists?

    Nope, shit happens…

    We’re gonna sign 3 more players, so take a chill pill… 😉

  220. rico says:

    I know Adam, there’s more to success than one, or even eleven players. It’s about having a deep squad, rotation and rest and getting the best out of everyone.

    Who starts though is down to the individual… Expecting to start is very wrong, one earns that privilege by proving their worth…

  221. Scott From Oz says:

    Ginge Fergie was one very selfish, egotistical man whose love of himself far outweighed that of his club, IMO.
    Absolutely opposite to Wenger.

  222. Scott From Oz says:

    As for Schneiderlin, if the rumours are true, he can bugger off.
    Show some ticker pal.
    Jenks would give his left arm to play….that’s the type of player fans love 🙂

  223. Adam says:

    Scott. You’re right. If that story is true then what does it say about him as a man? Character is obviously important to Wenger and we don’t want another Bendtner or Arshavin pouncing around the club.

  224. Scott From Oz says:

    Character is everything in a player for me, Adam.
    Ability……there are plenty who have masses of it, but never, ever make the grade.
    Conversely, there are players whose character has made them ten times the footballer their talent dictates they should be.

  225. BrainwashedKev says:

    Yep Rico, I reckon that Wenger (Gazides/Law) will bring in at least three more players to fill-out his 25 man squad….

    Who knows, he might bring in four? 😀

  226. tsgh says:

    Hi Rico, the stats will come in due course… lol

    On Morgan, if true this will be the second time a French DM has chosen the sperds over us… not forgetting Gustavo last summer too..

    I know Aw rates Arteta and Mikel is the true specimen of a tactical playmaker imo but with the European cup coming in 2 years I expected Morgan to at least be prepared to step up and learn and take Mikel’s place next season…

    the phrase ‘F…. bottler’ comes to mind. 😉

  227. tsgh says:

    one of Potter’s post last night reminded me of my submissions and view of Bould’s purported coaching ability…

    As I use to say when Santos was with us, SB sat 4 yards away and made Santos look like a headless chicken without giving Santos and input on Andre’s positioning…

    The argument then was that AW was a dictator and was not allowing SB to do any talking on the line…

    To me the fact that SB could not coach CJ25 to improve tactically is another nail in the coffin for me…

    As I use to say 2 season ago when Sagna was brought in for CJ25 after his recovery from injury and folks were not happy with CJ25 being dropped , CJ25 was lacking in the tactical part of the game.. the reason why Ramsey was played on the rhs when CJ25 was played as a RB. Also Theo and Cj25 were hardly ever played together due to that reason…

    CJ25 had almost everything in his armoury but its a disgrace that we could not improve him tactically considering the resources we have in the squad…

  228. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Two legged friends and Multitasking people.

    Schneiderlin to choose the spuddies then……let him enjoy himself. Hopefully we will sign a French defensive midfielder who takes his place in the France 1st 11. Now that would be two larfs and a half.

    Bongu habib. 3 only??? I think 4 will come.

    Good day Rico and Ginge.

  229. tsgh says:

    [Remy] has never had a problem with his fitness – you couldn’t meet a fitter lad” – Harry Redknapp

    lol…

  230. tsgh says:

    Now Dev, that is the type of isea only the devil can come up with… 🙂

    How are you buddy and the lil’ Prince after his ‘beasting’?

  231. tsgh says:

    harris2011_s stephen Is today the day we get rid of BFS ?? @davidgold fingers crossed.

    Damn, that is harsh by Gold…

    I am still waiting for the pundits to say Aw was right after all to sign OG12 over Andy Carrol. 😉 lol

  232. snaparse says:

    morning all…….was reading through the comments and I agree with scot re character you can’t buy that and that is why even though he is talented benzeama has so many critics the invincible squad had plenty character in them and they were excellent footballers also………hi Rico I have been having problems posting please can you check it out? thank you

  233. rico says:

    Ts, re Jenks. I honestly believe he’s a player who needs to be playing regularly and the more he does, the more he improves but he was never going to keep Sagna out imo, because I think the club were trying to get him to stay.

    Just hope this loan move is true and he’ll get his chance with us in time..

  234. Hell Raising Devil says:

    The prince is ok mate. He went to Summer school this morning and he seemed ok. but it will still be Friday before his next 5km. Atm he still lags behind me but I expect him to overtake me by February/March if he continues in this manner.

    Then it will be me LEGGING behind. lol

    but that is the way it should be.

  235. Hell Raising Devil says:

    GJoe…..I think that your idea has legs…..and more than eight it seems.

    Is it AFC who want Schneiderlin or is it Schneiderlin who wants AFC.

    Like you I am beginning to think its the latter.

  236. rico says:

    Ts, re Capoue, hard to answer that because he’s barely played for a year – what his level of game is at is anyone’s guess…

    LG suggested we were in for Pogba a few days ago btw, would be heck of a signing if we got him…

  237. rico says:

    Morning Devil, Joe and snaparse..

    Sorry about the posting problems, hopefully all will be resolved soon…

  238. tsgh says:

    True, Capoue is just coming back from injury as well.. AFC fans may see it as taking the sperds left overs… lol

    Vidal or Pogba… hmmm I know what I would prefer…

    Hi Gj, Snap.

    Good to hear Dev…

  239. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Should it be Vidal or Pogba?

    My choice would be……………………..BOTH.

    And release Flamini and Diaby.

  240. tsgh says:

    And he will be cheaper too Rico but Aw likes flashy players so… 😉

    Snap. spot on re Benzema… my argument has always been that I don’t rate him because he always bottles it when it matters and he is lazy…

    That does not make him a poor player.. it just means he is not worth over £20M even if he plays for RM… imho

  241. tsgh says:

    Dev.. re my 8:55 would appreciate you view too…

    Didn’t want to appear like I was being critical of a legend like him.. merely asking a question. 😉

  242. Gonerjoe says:

    Morning all not working this Thursday night so no new signings this week sorry. 🙂
    If I had a penny for every player that has been linked to us ie signing, snubbed us, in negotiating with us and my favorite having he’s medical I’d have a lot penny’s.
    I could afford to buy everyone a 99 today. 😀

  243. tsgh says:

    The boy wants to stay in London. Gj…

    He is going to make the same mistake Lansbury made. imo Steve Bruce would have improved him as a defender imo…

    But I guess with the club looking to sell him he would prefer stay in London so…

  244. Gonerjoe says:

    Sky are saying Arsenal don’t want to sell him they only want to send him out on lone which is good news.
    Off out to bring car to the garage it’s getting close to the time I need to find a gap in a hedge and park it. 😀

  245. rico says:

    I actually think Sam knows a bit about defending Ts, he even out thought the boring Jose with his defensive tictacs…

  246. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ginge I agree with you on your 8.55am.

    imo if SB was allowed to work with the defence we would have one helluva team, defensively wise. And it would stop us leaking in goals we should avoid.

    With my teams I always worked defensively first. Once I had an under 19 team of midgets. Literally 8 small frame players. They were all technical but whenever they came against big bruisers they always were whacked. not beaten. WHACKED.

    from day one we started working on a system. we trained tactical shapes ad nauseam. Imagine the tallest player being 5 ft 7. At under 19 level that is murder.

    So we trained tactics and defensive shapes all day long. By December we had managed to look solid. We did not win the league due to the dropped points in September to November.

    the same with AFC I feel. If SB is allowed to work and give advice to the defence we would achieve better results.

    Ask the 2006 CL team….when Keown was working with the defence.

  247. tsgh says:

    So true Rico… ha ha ha.. the game that made Jose complain that someone had beaten him with his own tactic

  248. snaparse says:

    no problems Rico I don’t usually have much to contribute Lol so its better I read more insightful contributions anyway

  249. snaparse says:

    ts part of benzeama’s problem is that he was taken out of his comfort zone at Lyon too early much like ozil they didn’t get to learn how to dig deep when the going gets tough in Madrid they won’t teach you that he moved too early imo

  250. Sukky says:

    Spur sold bale and buy bunch of craps to replace him and AVB was sacked.Now Liverpool sold Suarez…..History repeating?

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