Rabiot and Khedira deals on. Podolski off. Time to Stop the Rot!

Morning all.

Gossip:

Goal.com report that Lukas Podolski could soon be a gonner with both Galatasary and Besiktas showing an interest although a return to Germany could be favoured.

Adrien Rabiot has turned down the offer of a new contract at PSG and the 19 year old will now be sold. The Express believe for as little as £5 million as his contract expires next summer. We have been linked with the midfielder over the last few weeks so it’s no surprise that Jose Mourinho now has an interest in the player. That’s how he works, anything he can to in attempt to get one over Arsene Wenger, he will try his hardest to do so. The same newspaper believe that it’s a straight fight between us and Chelsea for his signature.

The same goes for Sami Khedira. Real Madrid don’t want their player to walk for free next summer and according to reports, he’s up for grabs for just £8 million. Mourinho wants him too strangely enough, so if he’s a player that Arsene Wenger wants, another battle with the under tall one will take place.

Per Mertesacker has called time on his International career. Good, Arsenal will benefit.

Winning the World Cup was the best possible end to 10 years in the national team. I’ve moved aside to let younger players take over.

We don’t have to fret about the future, we are better equipped than ever before. I’m happy that I’ve been able to play for so long, happy that people have trusted in me.

I’m still hungry for more titles, but I want to win them with Arsenal – to win the league, perhaps have a go at the Champions League. We’ve got a taste for silverware now, after winning the FA Cup.

I’m a world champion but you can’t let yourself go because of that. There are new challenges. I’m vice-captain at Arsenal and I know that I have more responsibilities now. I want to achieve big things with the club.

Having more time off for your legs and your head is not a bad thing in that respect – especially at my old age.

I’m still unsure why both he and Podolski aren’t back and ready to play today as neither were heavily involved in Germany’s campaign. I think Tomas Rosicky needs to do the same…..

Football is a funny old game isn’t it.

Over the last couple of years, many fans have called for Arsene Wenger to be sacked, some of us were less cruel and merely hoped he’d walk away gracefully when his contract expired, always believing that a new broom would sweep clean…

But, that situation didn’t materialise. Arsene Wenger signed a new three year contract, Ivan and his merry men have since been reasonably busy in the transfer window and we are looking in good shape. Yes we still need 2/3 more signings but fingers crossed at least two will arrive before the transfer window closes.

Meanwhile, Tony Pulis, the man who almost single handedly, not only saved Crystal Palace from relegation last season, but secured his side 11th place in the Premier League and was voted manager of the season by many, has walked out on his club. Apparently he made the decision after a breakdown over talks for a new contract.

Don’t get me wrong, Pulis is far from ever being on my Christmas card list, but I’m not stupid enough to not see just what he achieved last season and Crystal Palace may have just made a huge mistake.

Like I say, football is a funny old game, or rather football club owners are a funny old breed….

The odds are stacked against Palace today, with a roll over predicted by many. This time last season we all thought the same on the opening day of the season and none of us need reminding of what happened. We cannot start the same way again, we really can’t. The Emirates is our home and this season we have to make it our fortress. We’ve had a pretty good pre-season and last weekends victory should give the players a lot of confidence.

The fans should be up for the new campaign too and they need to make the stadium a much more hostile place to visit. Get behind the boys from the off and don’t let up all season regardless of how it unfolds. The players need us, 100% in every game.

Team news:

Our three German World Cup winners all sit this one out but Laurent Koscielny should be fit after an Achilles problem and David Opsina is still a couple of weeks away from a return so young Emiliano Martinez will be our reserve keeper. Diaby is tipped to be included in the squad too….

Calum Chambers, Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debucy should all make their Premier League debut and is there a better place for them to do so?

No, we are at home, we’re at The Emirates and we are The Arsenal!

We haven’t won our opening fixture for the last four seasons so it’s time to change that horrid record today.

Go kick this season off with a massive three points Arsenal…

COYRRG’s….

 

315 thoughts on “Rabiot and Khedira deals on. Podolski off. Time to Stop the Rot!

  1. dublingunner says:

    morning, great fighting talk, rico, Here,s to the season ahead and hopefully no slip ups today. AS you say the players need us a 100% every game, but of course that works both ways. some idiot sporting journalist on tv this morning, when asked for his top 4 predictions, Said chelsea, man city ,liverpool and man utd in that order. They should show the players them quotes before every game.

  2. BruisedBanana says:

    Morning, great post…even more wound up and excited for the big kick off!! It should be a cakewalk really but they were quite strong defensively and may prove hard to break down, still it should at least be 3-0!!
    Wins for Swansea and West-Ham would be an added cherry on top today too! With regards the transfer rumours I really like Rabiot and he’d be stupid not to come here over Chelski with their youth-development record!! Khedira seems to have a touch of greedy-bas**rd-itis to him and I’d rather we didn’t go for him if this is so!! Podolskis a massive fan-favourite and it would be such a wrench to see him go but would be fine if it was to make room in the squad for a world class player….please be Reus, please be Reus!!!
    So all prepared for a full day of footy viewing pleasure. COYG!!!!

  3. Nickie says:

    You made a cross breed between to keepers emiliano viviano and Damien Martinez :p lol cool though!

    Great fighting talk lets get this show on the road!

    Morning all

  4. rico says:

    Morning all, thanks re the post comments.

    Nickie, you win the prize for spotting today’s deliberate error, have to check you folks read… 😉

    Seriously though, check out Afc.com, I copied and pasted his name from the sqaud details and they have it wrong too… 🙂

  5. Vonnie says:

    Hi Rico and everyone, Damien Martinez has changed his name, Emiliano is his middle name and now that’s what he wants to be called. Hoping for a big win this afternoon, enjoy the match Nickie, COYG!

  6. AndrewH says:

    Morning rico, morning house. Good post to remind us that we were not feeling so good last opening game, with next to no transfer dealings. And we know what happened and the gloom. Now winners, well it took us nearly 10 years as we have been reminded, but that is only to deflect from the fact that Maureen won zilch last year,

    Cant understand why Merts can’ be a sub? Say Kos goes down injured and has to come off with 15 remaining. Surely he could slot in for that time?

    Roll on 5.30, really looking forward to it.

  7. AndrewH says:

    Karen’s Brady’s favourite joke:

    Rio played in Rio
    Valencia played in Valencia

    and Danny Shittu …… played for Spurs

  8. potter says:

    You won’t see the German’s until Wenger’s stats tell him that they are at optimum. As discussed on yesterday’s thread he is all consumed by them ,nothing will make him do the logical thing unless his figures tell him to do so.

  9. rico says:

    Morning Andrew, thanks. I don’t know why he can’t be either. Mind you, I don’t know why we haven’t replaced TV as AW knew he was going a long while ago…

  10. AndrewH says:

    Potter, cheers missed that. Makes you wonder how he dealt with the not-winning stat for 8 years 🙂

    Sorry, I’m sounding like Mourino!!

  11. rico says:

    We aren’t the only club though, I think LvG and Pellegrini has said a few of their WC players aren’t ready to return..

  12. AndrewH says:

    rico, if we sold Podolski and recouped alongside TV and Vela deals, a good wedge of what we have actually outlayed this season, would not be a happy bunny

  13. kene says:

    Sanchez to open his account today. Sanogo and Wilshere will score. Something tells me that Wilshere will shine this season.

  14. AndrewH says:

    Hope you right kene, just made a late change and put Sanchez in my Dream Team in place of Lukaku and cheapened the defence to do so!

  15. kene says:

    Andrew my money on it. We have a bench that’s almost as good as our 1st eleven… oh we don’t even know our 1st eleven.

  16. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Muchkins and Chipmunks.

    Nice day today. How is the weather up there??? Still stormy, cloudy, darky and drippy???

    Andrew H….Karen’s joke….massive mate. you had me in stitches.

    Rico…..at the final whistle will tell you if the post is a great one or not. 😉

    Merts off the national team radar then. good. that means he will get good ample rests during the breaks.

  17. AndrewH says:

    Cheers HRD, she’s got great taste. Apart from being at Hammers!

    Bit young at 29 to retire? Great way to bow out though with winners medal.

  18. Nickie says:

    Haha I stand corrected!

    Bt using the good old tube, may stick around after, have a beer and wait for it to all blow over ;).

    Thanks Vonnie, on our way out now for a day in London/Arsenal.

    Enjoy the game everyone

  19. Hell Raising Devil says:

    not only a winners medal Andrew. But a full coaching ‘A’ Uefa coaching licence as well.

    All the players in both the German and Argentinian squads will receive a full coaching badge as well. Its been like that since 1974 world cup.

    That means that our three Germans have coaching badges….good to have on the pitch.

  20. rico says:

    I’ll change it if we sign another striker Andrew, but just have a feeling Sanogo is going to get games…

    Wonder why no subs bench in the Telegraph FF league..

  21. Hell Raising Devil says:

    aye Rico.

    but we care. 😉

    we always want you to do the best articles possible. That is why I want us to win.

    It will mean writing the match report with a smile. Different than writing it with a frown.

  22. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Rabiot will be a good addition Kene. Remember that both Arteta and Flamini are over 30 now. Getting in a 19 year old in their place would be future thinking.

  23. Scott From Oz says:

    It’s game day.
    You bloody beauty!!
    Our Germans…..ease them back in……let’s make sure they have some legs at Xmas time.
    Morning all.
    It’s game day 🙂 🙂 🙂

  24. rico says:

    Think it all depends on the manager and players a lot more than it does my post Devil… 😉

    kene, Sami would be a great addition and would stop Ramsey being overplayed. We’d still need a DM though surely?

  25. rico says:

    Guys, I have to pop off again, be back late afternoon.. It’s one of those days…

    Catch up later..

    Hi Scott…

  26. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Afternoon Kev.

    how is life in the cab today???

    any news from the cousin of the friend of the neighbour or the uncle of the tea lady’s son???

  27. BrainwashedKev says:

    It just so happens Coach, that there is bugger all news.

    But as soon as I’ve heard, I will let you know… 😉

    Afternoon to you mate, busy as usual…

  28. Nashua gunner says:

    Swansea has there lead back just after Wooney equalised.

    Good Afternoon Rico and fellow gunners.

  29. Luznic says:

    I thought scholes said Lvg is a mad genius……… now what is this? the genius or the madness my day is made anytime man utd looses…….their fans taunted me the most

  30. Hell Raising Devil says:

    3-5-2 will not keep him long in the EPL. It can be used against certain teams. but only between the months of December and March imo…….not today on the first day. The difference between the teams can be minimal, especially if many of your team have been on WC duty while the opponents have only a couple.

  31. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Spuddies will be playing the new formation then. 3-4-2. An adaptation from LVG’s 3-5-2.

    Pocchettino will want to be avant garde according to Levy

  32. Hell Raising Devil says:

    half time and the spuddies 0-0. Good or bad?

    imo the hammers should have been leading. as it stands now the spuddies will go 4-4-1 and it would be difficult to break down. If they had been 0-1 down they would have had to come out. as it is a point for them is better than risking it.

    Pocchettino knows.

    Or does he???

    the 2nd half will tell us where he stands

  33. ozgunner says:

    really expect the hammers to fighting relegation this year but be nice to see them nick this and as you say three good chances gone

  34. rico says:

    Afternoon folks…

    Man Utd result was a bit of a shock.

    Hope Wenger and the boys are focussed for today and don’t think a manager-less side are just going to turn up to be rolled over…..

  35. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon mother hen.

    we enjoyed that result.

    we really did.

    now we hope that the the spuddies will be hammered up.

    and we crystallize our opponents today.

  36. Hell Raising Devil says:

    tbh I would like to see that Kev

    Him, Sanogo and Sanchez up front for the first half at least

    then bring on the OX and Giroud

  37. rico says:

    I like the idea of Sanogo and Campbell, a bit of pace would be quite refreshing up front.

    Alexis on the left and maybe OC on the right….

    Pace, directness and perhaps a few goals…

  38. rico says:

    This is really cheeky of me, but, has anyone here purchased Microsoft Office and still have a spare download going begging?

    We can negotiate a fee of course… 😉

  39. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Just pulling your leg Rico. I dont have one. Just wanted to see your reaction for the payment. lol

  40. tsgh says:

    Afternoon all,

    Arsenal XI to play Crystal Palace: Szczesny – Debuchy, Chambers Koscielny, Gibbs – Ramsey, Arteta, Wilshere – Alexis, Sanogo Cazorla

    3-1 to the good guys…

  41. tsgh says:

    Crystal Palace team v Arsenal: Speroni, Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward, Puncheon, Jedinak, Ledley, Bolasie, Chamakh, Campbell.

    Dev- fat chicks… now you are talking

  42. tsgh says:

    David Moyes was on Bein sport earlier telling Van Gaal what he needs to do for the 2nd half. Damn!!”! 😀

  43. Gunnerdna says:

    Morning all, good post Rico. Can’t believe Sanogo starting for Arsenal in the opening game of a EPL season.

  44. Scott From Oz says:

    And waking up to news Yanited got whooped is music to my ears.
    Ginge, I hope he has an off day.

  45. tsgh says:

    who needs sleep indeed… lol

    I feel jealous when folks can get 7 or 8 hours sleep a night.

    I did the German supercup mid-week.. got home about 3 in the morning; woke up for work at half 6… still not had a proper sleep since…

    ditto- Jedinak comment btw

  46. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Oyyy Scott.

    Good morning

    Tasted some Aussie wine today.

    Good but not enough near our wine or the Italian one mate.

  47. Scott From Oz says:

    Ginge, that is my life for app. 8-9 months a year 🙂
    Devil, hiya mate.
    What sort of wine was it?

  48. Hell Raising Devil says:

    According to our colleagues at RMC, PSG have allowed central midfielder Adrien Rabiot to enter discussions with Arsenal.

    Arsenal are long term admirers of the player and Arsene Wenger has held talks with Adrien Rabiot personally to inform the French youth international that the North London club is absolutely interested in acquiring the player.

    PSG have an asking price of €7m, but Juventus and AS Roma are also very interested and have both been informed by the capital club that they may negotiate with the player’s agent and mother Veronique Rabiot.

    The player has historically declared his appreciation for Juventus as a club.

    PSG have no interest in letting Adrien Rabiot go, but they have already held three rounds of unsuccessful contract extension negotiations with the player, whose current deal runs out in 2015.

    More undoubtedly to follow.

  49. Scott From Oz says:

    Devil, there is wine, and then there’s wine, as you know, and not all Aussie wine is good 🙂

  50. Hell Raising Devil says:

    we have an overall 75% possession and they score.

    now they will park the bus

    yes Rico…..nothing has changed

  51. AndrewH13 says:

    Wouldn’t hangeland have been useful reserve CB? We were after him years ago, surely now would have been a useful buy?

  52. rico says:

    We can do better than Hangeland Andrew and we need to….

    I hope we don’t have to wait until 70 mins for changes.

    Sanogo is really struggling to get into this game…

  53. Scott From Oz says:

    Bloody disjointed first half.
    I can’t remember a half of football where we passed it so often directly to an opponent.

  54. AndrewH13 says:

    Rico he knows where net is! And he’s tall. And a free!
    Kos would have mesmerised anyone with that mazy run.

  55. goonster says:

    Oh well at least we leveled it before the break. OG and Aoc to come in for sir4goals and santi. We need to move the ball faster. I see us nicking this one 2.1.

  56. tsgh says:

    2 or 3 more signings…

    1 won’t do in my opinion…

    still time to score 2 more but… was AS17 signed to play midfield or as an attacker?

  57. Gunnerdna says:

    Quality was always the problem, not quantity. The arrogance of AFC training staff is at maximum levels.

  58. tsgh says:

    Bt- a few clubs are looking for CB’s. You don’t happen to be a CB. I could be your agent. lol

    Pep iwas this afternon moaning about lack of Cb’s… 2 has lost 2…l Van Buyten and Martinez…

  59. agirlagunner says:

    it doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence when our team struggles v. the likes of Crystal Palace. 😕

    But yay, for Koz. 🙂

    Hello, all!!

  60. goonster says:

    What were you expecting DG. That palace ll go gung ho on us? Yeah right. They didn’t last season with us acquiring sanchez I doubt they ll ever come out of their 18 yard box. Most teams wont. Get used to this. Lol

  61. rico says:

    Hi agag.

    Same old eh, we can keep the ball against Palace but in the final third, we seriously lack something…

    Giroud and OC have to come on soon surely…

  62. Hell Raising Devil says:

    It is irritating that Palace are not winning the ball…..we are loosing it or giving it to them through negligence and arrogance

  63. arsewhale says:

    I’m not happy with the way we’ve played so far. Even if we nick this one, we’ve not shown attacking prowess or instinct and that’s worrisome. Good evening HH…

  64. rico says:

    Phew. That was awful in the final third, but just how assured was Chambers…

    Great result when we were below par….

    Wait until the Germans return and Theo….

    😛

  65. agirlagunner says:

    Gotta say, rico, Rambo really is getting quite extraordinary. So-so for nearly all of the match, then boooom! Gooaaaallll!

  66. tsgh says:

    very true Agag- he looks good…

    I just think during his NUFC days he went forward too early and did not offer as much aerial presence defensively but he is very good technically and is younger so has good engine…

  67. agirlagunner says:

    Oh, and may I also just say– and you will like this, rico— that match was begging, just begging for….

    Theooooo.

  68. goonster says:

    Now we frantically wait for Gibbs prognosis. God help us that boy is made up of glass. We keep talking about diaby but Gibbs too have suffered his own fair share of niggling injuries. Poor fella.

  69. rico says:

    agag, all joking aside, I think you are right. We lacked an injection of pace and someone to get at their defence. Alexis will do that but he’s raw to this league….

  70. agirlagunner says:

    ginge, the thing about Debuchy is that he looks like he means it when he said it was his dream to play for Arsenal. Always ready to take the ball forward, but he flies into his tackles, too.

    Or maybe, I’m just partial to the Frenchies in our team. I reckon I always have been. Hee.

  71. rico says:

    I will just mention again that if anyone wants to write the game up, feel free to mail me… 😉

    I’m off guys and gals, been a long old day…

    Night all, great 3 points but things have to improve.

    Ivan, go get us a DM, CDM and Reus…..

    😛

  72. goonster says:

    I ll rather tr7 than Wilshire in games like this. We need to release the ball quicker. Why wenger persists with the same team and formation for 80 something minutes kills me. Hey arsene be pragmatic you french turd. Lol. Chuffed we won though.

  73. rogerbij says:

    Geez couldnt find a channel here at the end of the world. Slowly streaming highlights on a dialup connection, what the hell on the first goal? At least put a man standing on the inside of each post to shrink the goal. Even if you are beaten to the header that shouldve been easy off the line!

  74. tsgh says:

    night Rico…

    true Dev re JW… I still think he and Sc19 amd capito should not be starting together imo…

  75. arsewhale says:

    Chambers was just absolutely brilliant for me. My o My, I fear for BFG. I hope he can wrestle his place back from this boy…MOTM

  76. tsgh says:

    lol DublinG…

    balo’ last minute or Akpom on the wings..

    Our CB situation scares me.. another Le Squid to be unearthed? 😉

  77. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Mates……in a way thank God we laboured and huffed and puffed.

    why???

    Had we won 4-0/5-0……..

    ……would AW have bought new players???

    so in a way……we should thank God that it turned out this way.

    At least we won without being at our level

  78. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Evening Rock

    yes boring game

    but I would prefer to win in a boring way at the moment

    it would give AW food for thought

    players keep their feet on the ground

    it will keep other teams interested as well

    if we had won 5-0 we would have been playing teams with a 6-4-0 formations

  79. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Absolutely right mate. A stroll wouldn’t have benefitted us. At least an early graft may put us in good stead

  80. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I liked his calmness Ginge

    AW should buy two CB’s and let him play/alternate with MF and MA in the CDM pposition

  81. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Palace got what they deserved….nothing.

    they came to defend and it was undone at the end

  82. rockyrocastle07 says:

    I do like it when a keepers ridiculous time wasting tactics backfire! Happened against Newcastle a couple of years back too!

  83. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Arsenal have seen their bid for PSG teenager Adrien Rabiot accepted according to the Daily Star.

    Emirates Stadium boss Arsene Wenger has apparently been pursuing the 19 year old midfielder for some time and the north London club’s opening bid of £5.5m has been accepted according to this source.

    The French Under 21 international has turned down advances from PSG, with the Ligue 1 side having been keen to tie the youngster down to a new contract, but with a year to run on his current deal the Parc des Princes side may look to cash-in on his services.

    Rabiot made 27 appearances in all competitions last term and is rangy midfielder who is tough in the tackle and could be a very wise addition to the Gunners squad.

    With Mikel Arteta clearly in the latter stages of his career and Mathieu Flamini not seen as much more than able support Wenger would do well to bring in Rabiot, who is rightly considered one of the hottest prospects in European football.

    Though PSG have supposedly accepted Arsenal’s bid there is also said to be interest in Rabiot from Serie A sides AS Roma and Juventus.

  84. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I am at a loss about one incident during the match though…..when the ref sprayed vanishing spray on Santi’s face how come his face did not dissapear????

    answers on a post card

  85. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Rabiot is good imo. And he will compliment AR and JW till he takes over from MA/MF

    That is why I said AW should buy two CB’s so that CC will go to CDM

  86. Hell Raising Devil says:

    today we cannot criticize JW except for three occasions when he held the ball in positions which he should not have done

    He had a good game as well

  87. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I was impressed by Chamack today as well. He dropped many times in midfield to help especially when AFC had the ball. he was by far their best player.

    Happy for him. Because I always resented the fact that he was shunned aside to accomodate Judas…..who nevertheless left. MC was an honest bloke. And he never opened his mouth against Arsenal.

  88. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Chamack and Almunia are two top gentlemen.

    I am not saying anything about them as players but as real Men they are up there with the best.

  89. rockyrocastle07 says:

    He always has an expression of someone about to cry…. And that hair!!! But you’re right, he never has slagged us off at any piont

  90. Adam says:

    Went to the game. Ground looked great. Crystal Palace were an insult to football. We were all over the place through midfield. If Wenger thinks Sanogo is the answer then what is the question? Chambers was motm. Sanchez was ok but probably tried too hard in many ways. The stench of Pulis lingers. Three points. That’s it. Off to get groggy. Night Rico and mates.

  91. tsgh says:

    lol Chamack getting praise on HH… get Syg back on here. 😛
    I too thought Chamack did an honest job for his team…

    At this stage I rather have MC than Yaya Sir-now-goals…

    Also Le Coq was cover for midfield and FB today.. that is how our quality drops from 9/10 to 6/10 so quickly when we have injuries…

    I wonder if Miquel will e on the bench mid-week?

  92. Hell Raising Devil says:

    be careful of Aussie wine Adam. Dont get groggy on it mate. 😉

    thanks for your info about the game.

    I thought that Ches was off colour today although he was not at fault during the goal…..but he faffed about on a couple of occasions.

  93. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Not sure if it has already been mentioned in the last week, but does anyone else think it unfair of the abuse Sagna got from some fans last weekend? He wasn’t a contract rebel, always gave his all (even if sometimes it was nowhere near good enough) and always showed passion. OK, the tweet about the city players winning the league wasn’t his finest moment, but he was a pretty loyal subject in my eyes. Fans never give Kolo stick. Why Sagna?

  94. Micko says:

    Adam 9.19, a bit harsh, Custard Palace a team with a chairman who refused to spend over a million quid this summer compared with our 60 million plus, their aim survival, ours to win it, we’ve seen it all before at the Emirates, our grit shone through at the end !

    Gotta agree with you re Sanogo, is there any other premiership side that would start with him up front….. I think not.

    A lot of rustiness today, not afraid of Betiskas midweek, gotta take the battle to everton next weekend.

    Up the Gooners.

  95. Micko says:

    How do rocky, just in from a long day out on the lash, last time Palace beat us in the league 1994, it was never in doubt was it !

    Good to see Chamakh has finally got his confidence back after being dropped for rvp, that was a classic on here wasn’t it !

  96. potter says:

    3 points but the frailties are still there. Poor defending of set pieces with incredible marking, how was Sanchez marking Hangeland who ran across the box whilst Sanchez was blocked off. Having fallen for it once , we did it again afterwards. I am surprised that people are saying that Wilshere had a good match . I left the ground wondering how much we could get for him. He lost possession too often and seems unable to withstand any type of physical contact and even when he gets past a player he seems to have lost the pace to get away. Perhaps we could cash in whilst his reputation is high. Giroud is a good substitute striker but we need better, against an aging back line Sanogo was less than useless and a mobile box to box is needed to supplement Ramsey. Sanchez looks a lively acquisition but his signing is not enough. Lastly Oxlade Chamberlain and Debuchy need to go out for a drink together and get to know each other.

  97. BrainwashedKev says:

    Kieran Gibbs with a hamstring (usually 3 weeks) and Koscielny with an Achilles injury (usually needing an operation if not rested) are just the start.

    Shand Forsythe is gonna have his work cut out…

    The arrival of Kostas Manolas cannot come quick enough.

  98. BrainwashedKev says:

    Great to read how well Chambers played today…

    Gotta hunch that he’s gonna be a busy lad this season, filling in at 3 or 4 different positions.

  99. BrainwashedKev says:

    Good to read Wilshere getting some positive feedback today…

    I ignore the cnuts in the Media, their raison d’être is to undermine Arsenal in whatever way they can.
    And Wilshere is just another stick that they use to try and beat us…
    Wankers all….

    Wenger knows this and his defence of Jack said it all…

  100. Lee says:

    I thought Wilshere had a poor game, Gibbs another perma crock, Chambers, Debuchy and Sanchez had good PL debuts…..sanogo shouldn’t be leading our attack for that matter nor should Giroud! Buy a proper striker Arsenal FFS! Still three points in the bag, onwards and upwards!!!!

  101. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Well, well, the dust has settled on that one, 3pts in the bag, a big wake up call, almost a carbon copy of some of, last seasons’ uninspiring games. CC21 played well, Sanchez was decent enough, as was Debuchy, but the lack of vigour and drive, was all to apparent. Sanogo is a trier,but no way is he good enough to lead the line, at the moment.Shad it seems, is about to earn his ‘corn’, if reports are true about, Kosser and Gibbs. Could have been worse, Manure springs to mind.

  102. bradster says:

    Morning all,
    Wenger needs the attackers to train against the defenders in a 60m square space.
    need to learn how to be more clinical in a compacted space because we control all the other space on the pitch whenteams play 2 banks of 4 in their own half.

  103. bradster says:

    These lower end teams seem to suit Giroud. I’d play Sanogo against the bigger teams that offer space to run in behind and with pace.

  104. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. I have to agree with Potter. Our defensive tactics just go to pot when the game is on. The look on Bould’s face after we conceded told me that.
    Yes, we weren’t great but we were playing against a team who mustered two shots in the whole game including the goal. Palace are another anti-football team who are content to foul their way through games while time-wasting on an epic scale. In John Moss, if that’s his name, they found a willing accomplice as he let them and Chamakh in particular commit foul after foul with no consequence. It got so bad that Wenger bollocked the player personally from the touch line after about his 7th scything assault and why the ref let Speroni take so much time out of the game I cannot imagine. He was fat, weak and a complete disgrace.
    Chambers and Debuchy were excellent and I think it’s tough to criticise individuals too much after one game but I would say that, unless Wenger addresses the squad with the considerable money he has with a DM, CB and most specifically a CF, it’s going to make things awkward. I really cannot ‘get’ Sanogo at all.

  105. rico says:

    What a pile of poop that was, but 3 points on the opening day of the season were most welcome..

    Morning all….

  106. rico says:

    Jamie Redknapp:

    How many of those Man Utd players would get into Arsenal’s squad? Not many he answered himself…

    😛

  107. rico says:

    Morning Scott, I have and replied, thank you big time..

    Morning Adam, Bt, Lee, Bradster and anyone else reading…

  108. rico says:

    I think Sanogo isn’t all that bad, just against 10 defenders, he struggled to find a way through, just like many of our players did.

    The ref was awful, the Palace tactics were sly and boring but that’s what teams like that do and all the time the man in the middle doesn’t shape up, more sides will follow the Palace way when they come to the Emirates…

  109. Adam says:

    Rico. The bloke cannot take a ball and control it at pace. He has a really poor first touch. His composure is zero and his positioning and reading of the game and where the ball is likely to end up seems non-existent to me. I am not being overly harsh I think but, leading the line, for Arsenal? Absolutely no way. Not his fault but this was supposed to be the season when this stuff ended once and for all. We have been here so many times haven’t we, with so many players? At this moment he is plainly nowhere near good enough.

  110. rico says:

    Adam. I get what you are saying, I really do. I’m just not going to write him off yet…

    I was very surprised to see him start though and especially as a lone striker….

  111. rico says:

    Also Adam, I think Tuesday’s game was very much on AW mind, wrong I know, but he was clearly keeping Giroud for the CL game.

    If I had my way, we’d have a world class striker signed and sealed by now, perhaps we will by the end of the month and Sanogo will go out on loan.

    But then if I had my way, we’d have a DM, CB and Khedira signed by now and a few shipped out…

  112. potter says:

    Whilst the PGMOL produce refs like yesterdays English football will remain in the dark ages.The fouls yesterday would have been punished in European and World Cup football but Moss let them go without censure . Sanchez has come from a league where fouling is an art but the type of fouls there are more cynical , the look on his face as the physical lumping went on was one of amazement. Thankfully he just picked himself up and fought back but you wonder how long before he snaps and falls foul of our neanderthal refs.. As for ( which way do I point an aerosol) Moss , a truly hopeless oaf that seemed out of his depth and 5 yards behind play. Howard Webb to be the ref’s technical advisor :- God help us.!”

  113. frednerk says:

    Morning All,
    The way the game was going and wengers comment beforehand of another weeks break,we have to be happy with 3pts.
    We have 3 games in a week,think it was Kev who said,Chambers will be over used,he must be the first name down for wenger each game now.
    And we all thought he would be the deputy rightback.

  114. tsgh says:

    Good morning Rico, Bt and all..

    the debate rages on? lol

    I ditto, Potters views above…

    Judging from the views of the gentlemen who were at thegame, it seems like we have a long season ahead of us…

    So we have Monreal to cover LB and CB unless we find another CB;
    Can Per play on the lhs of CD with CC21 playing on the rhs? Does Aw have trust in Miquel? Le Coq could not get games for a very attacking team who finished in the bottom 5 of the Bundesliga last season.. in fact he was never used as a CDM or CM but was played on the wings as per his days at Lorient…

    Has Aw addressed our striking options? Without wanting/tending to slate AS17 or be misconstrued, AS17 scored the same number of goals as JC21 in the world cup…

    In his first season with us should teh pressure be placed on him to provide the bite we need up front immediately…

    Yes AS17 had his best season in his career since arriving in Europe last summer playing from the lhs… is he really our answer to bridging the 40 goals City scored more than us?

    AW’s original intention allegedly was to get cover for Ramsey this summer but he has instead decided to throw caution to the wind and rely on his prodigal son Abou… 😉 talking about forgiving 77×7 times.. 😉

  115. Adam says:

    Potter. I couldn’t agree more. New season, new financials, new anticipation and certainly a new hope. Then this little fat fucker rolls out and is so grossly incompetent that you realise that in the PL, some things never change.

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