Daily Bits and Bobs

Redknapp Shock Arsenal Admission. Szczesny Shows Off & A Day of Rest…

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

I’m still chuckling away having finally watched A League Of Their Own yesterday. James Corden is funny, very funny at times and he certainly doesn’t lack confidence when it comes to facing the challenges he’s set. He’s a bit of a tit at times, but entertaining….

Anyway, on the show was our very own Wojciech Szczesny and my goodness, what a funny guy he is – and did you know he is a trained ballroom dancer? Well I didn’t. He even displayed his dancing skills on the show which caused a giggle, especially dancing with Jack Whitehall.

Jamie Redknapp was given a bit of stick over his criticism of Arsenal and whilst shrinking in his seat, he admitted he loved the ‘big man’ and the club we all support….

Yeah right Jamie! He’ll be right back knocking Arsenal at the first opportunity, and Szczesny of course….

Top Gooner!
Top Gooner and IBF Super-Middleweight Champion!

Well here we are, the last game of this seasons league campaign takes place today and for once, we are at home not that that’s done us any favours recently.

3rd place is pretty much secured baring a hefty defeat today and a victory for Man Utd. An 8 goal swing would see us drop into 4th but I can’t see that happening, not really.

I’d imagine the players are already thinking about next weekend’s FA Cup final but for one more day, they have to be ready and up for todays game as we don’t want to go into that final on the back of a poor performance/result.

We’ve struggled to break down defences of late and that’s cost us 2nd place and in West Brom, it’s probably fair to say that we can expect another defensive master-class by Tony Pulis as since his arrival at the Brummie club, they’ve kept 10 clean sheets in 17 league games and they certainly won’t roll over for us today. Why should they.

History is on our side though as we are unbeaten  on the final day in each of the last nine seasons, the longest current run. In eight league meetings with West Brom, we have won six of them and one has to go back to 2010 to find the last time Arsenal lost this fixture. Oh, and Pulis has lost all six of his Premier League games as manager versus Arsene Wenger at the Emirates.

WBA don’t  concede many goals and they’ve got a few good attacking players who can cause problems. Well, they have Berahino. At the back though they have two oldies in Lescott and Dawson so this is a game where pace up front is very much a requirement.

I can see changes today as the manager protects his big guns (cough) for next weekend and that might be a blessing is disguise as whoever plays will want to do well and give themselves a chance of playing in the final.

Let’s hope the boys re-find their mojo, spank the Baggies and end the league campaign on a high…

If you can’t watch the game, you can follow all the action on the Europcar Live Blog.

Have a great Sunday, let’s hope it’s good for Arsenal….

COYRRG’S!!

rico

162 thoughts on “Redknapp Shock Arsenal Admission. Szczesny Shows Off & A Day of Rest…”

  2. Wavy says:

    Morning all. Final match day 2014-2015. It’s not been that bad despite a very dodgy start. At the end of September I thoughtWenger was going to cash in his meal ticket but by Christmas he’d more or less redeemed himself and now he has become almost irreplaceable, again. How fickle are we the humble, skint supporters?
    As for today, I reckon a draw is on the cards. I’m not sure our team will be trying to break their legs whilst I think Pulis’ IV will be full of venom! He has a point or two still to prove!
    We need one point to make third place indisputable and I think that’s what we’ll get! Don’t think the game will be too exciting either, probably about 7th on MOTD!
    I hope we all have a happy day and that the football is better than I have suggested. Oh and that Hamilton wins the Monaco Grand Prix!

  4. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Will Madley have a MEDDLEY???? lol. who is he??? Hope he is a homer and a gunner.

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Good post boss. I hope we do not loose today. I just want us to keep a clean sheet, even if we do not score. Of course i want a win, but the next best thing is a scoreless draw.

    my team for tonight……

    Ches
    Chambers, Per, Gaby, Gibbs
    Coquelin
    Rosicky, Aaron, Wilshere, Theo
    Ollie.

    So many changes you might ask??? imo its important.

    I would have given Ozil, Sanchez, Cazorla, Kos, Bellerin, Nacho a weekend break in Honolulu.

    😉

    as long as they hammer Villa in the cup final

  5. rico says:

    Thanks Devil.

    I wouldn’t play Coquelin, Giroud or Ramsey… Diaby, Akpom and Flamini could start, two can then say goodbye to the fans 😉

  8. Wavy says:

    I did say ‘almost’, Rico.
    It could start all over again as soon as August if we don’t make a decent start…..again!

  11. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico

    There are time when I definitely miss not having SkySports.

    Then I hear Adams critique of Sunday Suppliment and I find that I am quite pleased that I no longer have Sky…

    Bunch of cnuts pretty well sums them up.

  12. Brian Price says:

    Hi
    I think Santi and Ozil have looked a bit jaded recently, so I would start with Jack and Aaron in midfield and Theo on the wing – probably our best combo overall if Jack stays fit and Theo tries. Giroud is in a quiet spell but Danny isn’t ready and is Chuba back from loan? If so I would start him but I’m sure they won’t, and Theo and Giroud have combined well in the past.
    I don’t think the Baggies will park the bus so it should be an open game, a good one leading up to next week.
    Third place and no last-minute transfer shenanigans (my spell check sorted that one out) – heavenly start to next season.
    Brian

  13. Tai says:

    Bellerin, Sánchez, Kolscielny, Wilshire all on four yellow cards… one more today and they miss FA Cup final. I wouldn’t get any of them near the bench today.

  15. Tai says:

    Not me, Rico. I’d play Flaming and Ramsey behind Rosicky. Scz, Chambers, Gabriel, Per and Gibbs. Then Walcott, Giroud, Ozil.

    Sadly we can’t rest Giroud… no Welbeck.

  16. `Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House Just a short visit.
    The 5 yellow rule finished end of Feb, They can only miss the final if they are sent off today.
    The U16 lost to Benfica in the senifinal. more Later

  17. allezkev says:

    I wonder if anyone at the club are aware of the yellow card situation?

    Gotta say that I’m not too confident that even if any of the Coaching Staff or Administration Staff realise this situation, and told Wenger, that he would take any notice…

  21. Tai says:

    I wouldn’t risk Le Coq… any injury to him(as an Arsenal player he’s due one in my reckoning, sadly) and we have a very quivering final.

    But for Ospina guessing right all the time, we would have lost by three goals against Sunderland…a result of playing Wilshire and Ramsey to protect back four. When last were Arsenal that exposed in just one game?

  22. allezkev says:

    Leaving for Highbury, er, the Emirates in a few minutes….

    Good post Rico & lata…

    COYRRG

  23. Tai says:

    Oh, thanks Rick for that education…Wilshere plays with Flaming behind Rosicky then… then Ramsey takes the place of Ozil in my team.

    Rico, playing Flaming rb means bringing in Le Coq…I wouldn’t risk it. If it becomes a choice, I’d rather come 4th, win the FA Cup, than the other way round.

  29. rico says:

    Arsène Wenger has made three changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Sunderland on Wednesday.

    Gabriel replaces Laurent Koscielny at centre back while Francis Coquelin comes back in to parter Santi Cazorla in midfield, at the expense of Aaron Ramsey.
    Elsewhere, Theo Walcott replaces Olivier Giroud up front while Jack Wilshere makes his 100th Premier League appearance on the right-hand side.

    Team: Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ozil, Alexis, Walcott

    Subs: Szczesny, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud

    Copyright 2015 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
    24 May 2015

    Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150524/team-news-three-changes-for-final-game#8s8rFIkpZ0MGwzkq.99

  35. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Rosicky is being made to look like a total muppet imo. He has agreed a new contract and is not even on the subs bench. lol. a very big LOL

    Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.

  66. Wavy says:

    Rico, 2.40, a case of absolutely appalling management!! Whereas at the Ems where the team selection has shown us who knows best!!……..today!

  74. Wavy says:

    The last time one of our ‘squad’ players scored a hat trick at the end of the season, it was Jermaine Pennant! He didn’t play for Arsenal again.
    Just saying!

  80. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Dippers 0-5 down??? lol

    either the playes want Rodgers out or else they want to make sure the spuds are in the Europa league. 😀 but still I never want to be humiliated.

    not exactly what the spuddies want.

    The dippers are on +9 (-5 now) and the SPuddies are on +4 (+1) It does not need Einstein to make the maths…..the dippers DO WANT TO MAKE SURE that spuddies are in Europa league next year. even if they drew and dippers lost.

    I bet Kev is enjoying himself.

    4-1…..that is the first time I have seen Ospina coming out for butterflies. he should have stayed on the fekking line.

  82. andrewh1313 says:

    Just got to a bar in Algarve and thought my eyes were deceiving me as score rolled along bottom of screen! Thought we couldn’t score goals! What’s going on?

  85. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Coquelin I understand.

    but why Theo??? why not sub for Alexis and go for a 4-4-2 with Ollie and Theo up front??

    maybe Theo cannot take more than an hour???

    Surely today Theo deserves MOTM

  87. Micko says:

    Walcott definately won’t be starting the final next week after embarrassing Le Boss today, damned if you do, damned if you don’t !

    Afternoon all.

  90. andrewh1313 says:

    Stoke fans singing You’re Getting Sacked in the Morning to Brenda.

    Either Walcott becomes a goalscorer for us or hes added a few million to his price!

  91. allezkev says:

    Well I certainly did enjoy that Coach…

    BT, we gave them hell for 45 minutes, then coasted thru the 2nd 45.,.

    Theo’s first goal was simply Henry’esque in its execution and Jacks goal was a peach…

    Not how they both ran across to Shad Forsyth after scoring…

    I cannot recall, for many many years, when Arsenal have reached this stage of the season, with only one player (Welbeck) injured…

  94. rico says:

    Great way to finish the season and I actually got to watch the second half. So blame me for us conceding…. Lol

  97. Tai says:

    He doesn’t need to play upfront to score goals. He’s always done that from the flanks. Two of the goals he scored today he would have still done playing from the flanks. He’s an excellent finisher and has stunningly mastered the far post!

  100. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Kev, they say it was some other fitness coach they ran to, apparently he is join London Irish next season…. Hell indeed

  102. Adam says:

    A very nice day at the Emirates today. We were great for the first half and as Kev says, cruised the second. As the players walked round in their customary parade there wasn’t the familiar sense of trepidation that I usually feel.
    If only the fringe players move on, then now is the chance Arsene. Buy top, top quality players and next year could be our year.

  105. allezkev says:

    Agree Adam, I feel that we are very close…

    The fitness conundrum seems to be finally under control…

    As Rico says, signing Cech would be a serious upgrade, a bit like replacing Lukic with Seaman in 1990.

    A top striker and a top def/mid and we’d be ready to rumble…

    I thought that Gabriel had a very impressive game…

  107. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I feel the dippers lost 6-1 on purpose today. they did not want to go into the Europa league so they will not play on Thursday so they lost 6-1 to make sure they even loose on goal difference so that if the spuddies drew they will surely stay out.

  109. Hell Raising Devil says:

    yes it might seem far fetched Rico.

    But that conspiracy remains imo.

    we might never know. and probably we never will.

    however I dont think that Stoke are capable of beating them 6-1.

  113. Adam says:

    Me too Rico. I wonder if Brenda will keep his job? They are in a tricky situation and probably looking to the money they could get from Sterling.

  114. Micko says:

    No conspiracies, we win the FA cup next weekend and even Southampton will go into the Europa Cup.

    Have to say it’s great watching us on the last day of the season and still having a full head of hair !

    Think Theo made his point today…play me and I will score !

  117. Tai says:

    Chelsea’s Diego Costa scored just 19 goals for Chelsea to win the title…as a team Chelsea ended with 73 goals, just two ahead of Arsenal.Man City scored 83 but still ended eight points behind Chelsea.

    In Spain, Madrid scored 118 goals, eight more than champions, Barcelona.

    In fact, English, German, Spanish and Italian champions had one thing in common….they conceded the least number of goals in the 20/18-team table.Only PSG in France won with 3rd best defence.

    My point? We can’t win the EPL with that back four…One, I don’t trust Mertesacker…we need a monster of a CB…to pair either Koscielny or Gabriel…but always first choice alongside Koscielny. We need another monster of a DM…tbh I’m very impressed with Coquelin but I won’t bet on his playing 38 league games plus CL . He needs an upgrade to pair with in tough away grounds or rotate with at home and other not-so-tough grounds.

    In attack…I do greatly respect Henry but distance myself from his views on Giroud. Sanchez is already delivering playing off Giroud…Walcott will equally deliver likewise if he stays fit next season. Holding up play, feeding two of the fastest players in world football from either flank would do if we learn not to concede those elementary goals. Welbeck is growing and is a good back up. Carzola, Ramsey will add to goals definitely.

    Arsene should use every trick in his books to land Cech…otherwise, I don’t know of any top keeper better than Ospina that would wish to change clubs…perhaps only De Gea and we know where he’d end up.

    I’m confident that any season Arsenal ends with best defence we’d be champions.

    So, give me Cech, a monster CB, that DM and I’d start singing before this Christmas.

  119. Micko says:

    Having schooled the scousers today I hear Stoke have nicked their anthem as well re-naming it “You’ll Never Walk Again”

  120. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Evening to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Great game today. It is great to finish the season with almost all of our squad fit and none of our players seriously injured.

    I haven’t felt this positive at season’s end for many years. Win the FA cup next weekend, a few good buys in the summer, no preliminary qualifying matches in the UCL and we are ready to hit the ground running in August – Challenging for the league, both cups and the UCL. Come on you Gunners!

  121. rico says:

    Sorry Tai, but I’d like a striker, or a winger who will get goals. Giroud is ok, but to rely on him alone again would be stupid Imo..

  122. rico says:

    🙂 Micko..

    Hi Cg, no cl qualifier makes a real change….. Let’s hope Arsene does Arsenal proud this summer….

  124. Micko says:

    You have to ask if we had beaten Monacco would we still be 3rd today…..I think not !

    Adam, did you renew or is that a silly question, deadline Monday.

  125. Tai says:

    Stupid is a harsh word, Rico.

    One of the hardest jobs for coaches in the EPL is getting a striker who would instantly deliver.

    Baptista, and most recently Falcao come to mind. Ba, Remy, all looked good elsewhere but faded at Chelsea…same may happen to Benteke if he upgrades club..

    So, I don’t see Wenger risking greater part of his transfer fund on a striker that may not deliver…

    But certainly DMs and CBs are far less risky. We certainly would challenge with our strike force if we plugged the other the glaring loopholes in the defensive department.

  126. Canadian Gooner says:

    Micko – The Dippers couldn’t have given poor old Gerrard a worse sendoff than they have with their last two games. For a man that stayed loyal to that club when he could have easily moved on and won far more honours, they truly have done him a disservice.

  128. Micko says:

    Don’t think you’ll find too much sympathy for that chief mickey mouser on here CG lol !

  129. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Many tend to forget that if we win the FA Cup it would mean that Arsenal would have won the 2nd trophy out of the four available this year. We beat Shitty 3-0 remember.

  131. Canadian Gooner says:

    Micko – The statistics (where’s tsgh) show that the winner of the Charity/Community Shield generally fails to win the the league season following. We won it the August after we last won the league.

    It is a bit of a hoodoo we could do without. The only thing it gains you is the need for more silver polish. Let’s concentrate on the real prizes.

    Rico – Good night. Catch you in the morning.

  133. Canadian Gooner says:

    Micko – I wasn’t looking at it as sympathy for Stevie G, but just a lack of class and respect on the part of Liverfool FC. They are definitely a ‘force’ in serious decline.

    I doubt their owners will be willing to spend enough money this summer to put the team back on the tracks, If Raheem Sterling does engineer a move away, that will truly send the wrong message to any prospective players.

  136. Micko says:

    CG, can we at least agree on one thing before the nite is out, that we never see the time where we become a Liverpool, only talking about next year and the year after that year after year !

    Nite matey, Nite Gooners

  137. potter says:

    Micko my son and I renewed today , before the game . At half time we were smiling like Cheshire cats then the standard Arsenal foot off the gas in the second half took place and we were embarrassed by the lack of height at the back again.

  138. Micko says:

    Better be quick Adam, win the Cup and Stan will put the prices up, you know it makes sense, nite matey.

  140. allezkev says:

    BT, if this Declan Lynch has done such a good job, then why on earth are Arsenal allowing him to leave?

    And to a bloody rugby club!
    He surely isn’t gonna be on better wages at Bath…

  141. allezkev says:

    Wilshere, who operated on the right, and Walcott both shared celebrations with fitness coach Declan Lynch, who helped them through recent injury problems and is leaving for Bath Rugby.

    From the Daily Mail

  144. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Morning Lady.

    just read an article on Cech…..

    Cech………actually helped the young player fit in. That just speaks volumes about the kind of amazing human being that he is. This fact was further exemplified by Mourinho. “His attitude is amazing. Before the game he told the captain (John Terry) to choose a certain end if he won the toss because at 1:30pm it would be better to play in a certain goal because of the sun. And he was not playing, he was thinking of Courtois. With this attitude Petr deserves everything,” Mourinho said

    that alone shows how much he would contribute to our club.

    I am still a sceptic on his move to us, however I believe that if he comes our goalkeeping will go a couple of notches further. I still believe that AW will stop at Ospina and loan out Ches. If Cech came to us I would hate to think he will get all the games and Ospina jsut local cups. Personally I would get Cech and make him the number 1 and also the goalkeeping coach.

  145. rico says:

    As you know Devil, I’d love Cech to come to Arsenal. Not wanting to criticise Ospina at all but his height is a problem imo…

    If Cech by some miracle does arrive this summer, number 1 for me, every day of the week…

  146. Joe says:

    Thanks Dev enjoyed the lap of honour or what ever they are calling it these days.
    Morning all

  147. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. And all. You are becoming a size-ist where players are concerned Rico. Size doesn’t always equate with power or strength.

  149. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Bonjour Adam.

    Aye Rico is becoming a size-ist. Her superbly covered sizeist nature is slowly coming to the fore. we will have to make a referendum on abolishing sizeism and make it illegal in the same manner as racism.

    And our facts prove it……she constantly passes comments on Mourinho, poor sod, and that he is undertall. Now she has shifted her focus to Ospina. tsk tsk.

    😉

  151. rico says:

    I’m not size-ist at all Devil, just sometimes height matters in certain areas of the pitch imo of course.

    When it comes to defensive positions, I’d much rather see a tall, athletic and strong player in there. Especially between the sticks.

    Each to their own I guess…

  155. rico says:

    I know Devil..

    But considering ‘many’ Arsenal fans have over the last few seasons moaned about having a team of tiddlers, I’m surprised I guess….

  156. Hell Raising Devil says:

    you are right Rico. but we have to keep into consideration that with the exception of yesterday Ospina has rarely put a foot wrong. he is an improvement on Ches (the latter is like Bendy….mentally) but yes I believe that whilst he has a better positional sense and makes a good judgement, he lacks around 3 inches which would have made a difference at the back.

    Having said that I feel that if Cech comes Ospina would improve as well since he would learn from him.

  157. rico says:

    That’s all I was saying too Devil and I wasn’t criticising Ospina as he’s been great for us this year.

    Still, I doubt we’ll need to worry as I can’t see Cech being allowed to move to Arsenal..

  158. Hell Raising Devil says:

    with regards up front I have a feeling that AW will keep Theo.

    As it is we have…..Ollie, Wellbeck, Sanchez, Ox Theo for the three striker system. I feel that AW will go for Sterling but will not part with Theo. That would give us 6 players for the three positions. It would also allow Aaron, Ozil, Jack, Cazorla to play all the time inside in their favourite central role. Rosicky would complement them. Coquelin makes up the midfield three.

    That leaves out Arteta and Flamini and Diaby. Two of those will leave (imo). Arteta will be kept for a further season like TR07.

    So imo AW will get Cech (still sceptic though), a DM/B2B….Vidal???? and Sterling (wait and see)

    that would get the club to spend around 60 mill on the three of them. Free Flamini, Diaby and sell Campbell, Podolski and loan out Ches.

    And remember we have still Wellington to come back……maybe through the revolving door???? I feel that AW will use him for the preseason to see if he cuts the mustard.

  161. rico says:

    I can see Santi leaving for Spain Devil…

    Don’t worry, I don’t bite when having my leg pulled… I don’t dance either.. lol

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