Morning all.
Just what we all wanted to hear, Aaron Ramsey is likely to be back for the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan and Mesut Ozil could be back then too. Massive boost for the team! As is the return to full training for Abou Diaby tomorrow. The likelihood of him not suffering another set-back is slim but maybe it’s finally his turn to be fit and and start playing again. It happened to RvP and Tomas Rosicky after long periods of time out injured, fingers crossed it’s Diabys turn.
We have gone from sitting at the top of the tree around Christmas to being in a very tricky situation in fourth place.
How that has happened is hard to understand but I think we all know why it’s happened…
Lack of signings, lack of player grit and determination and of course the injuries to key players have hardly helped our cause.
Getting a point against Manchester City was very very important to Mathieu Flamini:
It was important for every single player in this team because it was difficult after what happened at Chelsea. We wanted to find a victory but it was important to find something from the game.
It’s a great feeling and it gave us the possibility to come back in the game. We were looking to score another one to win the game but we’ll take the point.
We wanted to win of course but we tried until the last minute and we were unlucky. Now we have to rest and focus on the next game. It’s very difficult now but we have to take it game by game.
Just four points are now between us and fifth place Everton and they are up next for us on Sunday. The Toffees eased past Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday afternoon, winning 3-1 and they will be tough to beat but if we can perform to the level we did in the second half against Man City, there is no reason to believe we can’t win the game or at least come away with a point.
We certainly need to if we are to cement a Champions League spot and I know it’s not something the club should be satisfied with on it’s own, but if we can get the FA Cup with it, this season will have been one of our better ones for a few years.
Of course it wouldn’t take away the ‘what if’ or ‘if only we’d signed….’ thoughts but, it would be an improvement on years gone by.
Talking of years gone by, it’s quite hard to believe that thirteen years ago today, David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle was cruelly taken from this world having suffered and finally lost the battle against that evil disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
No Arsenal fan needs to be reminded of what a fantastic man and footballer he was as we all know don’t we……
David Rocastle had Arsenal in his veins, he had everything in his heart for our club which we seriously miss these days, from the owner to a number of players..
He was never one to give up, and right until his last breath he never did but sadly, that final battle was taken out of his hands…
A True Legend………
Gone, but never forgotten. RIP David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle…….
True legend!
RIP Rocky, never ever forgotten always in our hearts…!
What a great time to spend over here…..3 games then the anniversary of Rocky.
I’m on the train out to Heathrow as we speak, and am sure when you all read this, the collective sigh will be heard far and wide 🙂
Someone get the flags out waving him a big goodbye…. Also a big good riddance…..
RIP Rocky, a wonderful man robbed of life….
Scott, when you back in Oz, Friday…?
Legend… !
I can hear it from here Scott 😉
You drank us dry Scott… the folks in parliament house noticed the increase in revenue since your arrival…
safe flight bud…
Morning Rico, Wath and all btw….
Morning Ts..
Apologies……
Morning all….
They won’t put beer duty up in the budget due to increased revenues the last 10 days on booze sales
I bet they will Wath… lol
Morning everyone
Rico can I borrow your picture of Rocky?
I’ll use it as a coverphoto on my facebook 🙂
Morning Adk, of course you can, I borrowed it form someone else 😉
I’m surprised there’s been no Diaby comments this morning 😉
O Rocky,Rocky!! Rocky,Rocky,Rocky Rocastle!!! Legend in every fans mind. The embodyment of everything,that was good about Arsenal!! RIP Rocky. Gone but never forgotten! Safe home Scott,the beer restrictions now lifted in the London area.
Diaby
Diaby is a living enigma Rico…
A true fighter though, I hope he can come in and help us make 3rd or 2nd…
He is another player who had to change his style of play to curb te injuries imho…
Like JW he holds onto the ball a tad too long attracting serious tackles…
Morning all.
May i also join you all in respect for Rocky.
Safe journey home Scott.
Looking through the financial reports this morning, and although i am not a financial man, i did pick up on some interesting facts. Numbers have always confused me, as somebody said to me years ago a mathmatition can always balance the books, you clever guys will probably know what that means.
I noticed that with loan players, depending on how many games they play we have to pay the loaning club a fee, and from what i can make out of it, it doesn’t matter if its Europe League or cups i also believe it could be friendlies as well.
Knowing how we seem to look out for every penny, i wonder if this is the reason that some of our loaners have hardly been seen. Now i looked back to the start of the season, and i looked for the chance of our Italian goalkeeper Playing, and in all fairness, Wenger would only use him in an emergency, seeing how we haven’t had the need, speaks for itself really. I may be daft but registration fee’s are quite high as well, as of Agents fee’s as well.
Anyway enough about that, Nice post Rico it seems that a half decent weekend has nulled everybodies mood a little. I just hope that we can continue that till the end of the season.
Many have seen the games over the weekend Chelsea Losing us drawing and Liverpool thrashing the Yids. Wenger knew what he was doing trying to secure Suarez, for a man that cannot see talent he certainly saw him. Fair doo’s to Liverpool for keeping hold of him.
Many believe that Wengers offer was a derogatory offer, but i believe he had been informed that Suarez contract was negotiable if an offer of £40 million was offered, why offer more before you know all the facts.
Suarez was on a ban he had been diciplined by his club, had a very bad reputation and looked like he was angling to get out. I don’t believe What Wenger offered was derogatory at all, he just wanted to get the ball rolling, also many will say what does he know, but he didn’t make the offer in the last few hours, he started precedings very early indeed.
Granted many would say we had no chance, personally i felt Wenger was very shrewed but in the end the papers and media as usual make him out to be a plank typical.
Indeed BT62..
Morning Kev, it had to be you….
He’d certainly give us something more in midfield Ts however…..
Morning Sp and thanks re the post…
For me personally, nothing has changed. Still believe it’s the right time for changes.
Rico, you are of course entitled to your view, and by all accounts many others views as well. I know i am outnumbered by the vast majority and if you all get your way, change will inevitably happen. Personally i see that as disasterous for Arsenal, but Hey what do i know.
Sadly Sp, we seem to have an owner who has his head firmly in the sand so I strongly suspect things will just carry on as they are. How exciting that will be eh!
Mind you, I suppose if it all goes belly up and we finish 5th and don’t win the FA Cup, AW might actually think ‘enough is enough’…
Just having a feed at Heathrow before boarding.
I arrive In honkers app. 13 hours from now, and back in Oz Thursday evening…..mid morning UK time.
Had a blast.
I will be back at the request of London brewers.
Be safe Scott.
Have a safe flight Scott and enjoy honkers……
Rico, Doom and Gloom eh.
If that were to happen we have to remember the other fifteen clubs that have struggled as well, after all its not all about the top 4. Be a pretty shit league with only five teams in it.
Of course nobody gives a damm about the cannon fodder, shit stadiums in the middle of no where shit managers who struggle to hold there clubs together.
Winning trophies means the world to me, but not just me Millions and Millions of supporters in every corner of the world want success Arsenal make up the numbers the same as the Fulhams of this world they will try their hardest but what chance do they stand against the very best.
A competitive league is a must, but a fair league should be for all and when its not its a joke.
Cheap the type of aircraft and tell me Scott…
Back again at the request of London brewers? Hope the Mrs did not read that… 😛
cheap=check even
Safe flight Scott and don’t hide you Visa when you get to honkers 😉
You say I’m doom and gloom Sp, well I say you have your head well and truly in the sand…..
Sp, funny enough, as a huge Arsenal fan, I don’t give a flying one about the other sides in the PL…
Let those clubs and their fans worry about them……
I guess your right Rico, If you never look at the other clubs struggle you would never realise just how well off we are.
On paper it does all look rosy….semi final of the F.A cup and 4th in the PL but imagine if he’d strengthened when he’d had the opportunities! For me this was his big chance to win the PL and he’s blown it big time!
Diaby is back…
Praise the Lord
That’s us sorted then Kev….
Losing losing Chelsea!
We are well off Sp, very well off, but that money is no good to anyone who loves Arsenal, with it sitting in the bank…
Absolutely Lee, my sentiments exactly…
Hallelujah….
Lee, for a lifetime supporter you give up very easy.
While its Mathmatical doable i will never give up.
Football mirrors life really, imo……
I haven’t given up I’m just a realist SP….we’ll get the coveted 4th spot but surely we should be setting our sights higher! But we’ve all been indoctrinated…………
£120m last count….
I’m starting to doubt getting 4th….
Had we spent half of that, we be celebrating the league by now….
Lee, Wait till the end of the season, you could in all fairness be very supprised, And I am out of order for even thinking that you had given up.
No offence taken SP…. just with a bit of foresight we could of won the PL this season, I know we still might but imagine if AW had added two quality players!?!?
Lee, Don’t you think i don’t know that. I know how you all feel we just have different views why we haven’t thats all. If it works out that i am wrong you will all have my appologies.
If only…
That’s why we’re on here! 😉
Off out, catch you all laters.
Yes Lee, to fight 😉
Have a good afternoon Sp…
Is it a bird???
Is it a plane???
No!!!
It’s SuperDiaby…
Here to save the planet…
He’ll solve Global Warming.
Feed the starving.
Bring about World Peace.
Teach Adam how to play a clarenet.
Win France the World Cup in Brazil.
And manage 5 games a season for Arsenal…
Afternoon Rico, great post about a great player.
Rocky Rocastle…
Afternoon Lee…
Afternoon Kev, thanks…
5 games in this season? Never….
Lethal injection….
If we had to choose between fa cup or 4th, what would yous prefer??
4th for me imo.
Pie n Mash 😀
FACup every time
FACup for the fans….
4th is for Kroenke
FA Cup for me kel…
If Arsenal wins the FA Cup and secures champions league football, the season would have been a good one for most fans.
FA cup, with the guarantee of Thursday night football, marvellous!
Actually I want both, FACup and 4th or better.
On the return of Diaby the Broken. I hear that the new football loving Pope is to canonise him, (pun intended). He will will become the patron saint of all those who are permanently injured and in need of constant medical attention.
5 games! You’re having a laugh!
It would be nice to see him back, though. Good player, when fit!
Welcome back Rico. How was your bucket and spade experience down Weymouth way?
Cherry pie n custard
We need the FA Cup for the fans and to shut the media pricks up who go on like we the only club who not won a trophy for a while. The easy target vanished then.
As for 4th it’s a very minimum surely……. We need to play to nick 3rd.
As for Diaby a very good player when fit unfortunately he had his career ruined by a neanderthal from Sunderland and despite the loyalty shown to him by Wenger he really should of been replaced years ago.
Thanks Wavy, agree, at least 4th and FA Cup would be best…
Bucket and Spade was a break to forget…..
Hmm Saint Abou of Archway has a certain ring to it Wavy…
Holidays from hell?
Syg will probably have a fit when he hears Diaby is coming back… lol
It certainly was Lee. Never again…
Welcome Golly, I think so too, but it could have been so much better, if only…..
Couldn’t agree more re your comment Wath…
Booooooo! Hello, rico. Howdy? 🙂
“Lack of signings, lack of player grit and determination and of course the injuries to key players have hardly helped our cause.”
Couldn’t agree more. I’m quick to complain about Theo, but man, do we miss him. Or at least the version of him who was playing out of his skin while negotiating his contract extension. 😛
RIP, Rocky.
And hello, all!
Hi agag, long time no hear from, another vacation?? 😉
🙂 re Theo, we miss him big time and Ramsey…
Off for an hour or so now… Laters..
And Ramsey, of course!! rico, hd to get internet guys back in my house to get my probs sorted. Grrrr.
I’m still on my extended vacation, haha. Planning a proper vacation from my vacation though. 😉
Bwk, I like St Abou of Archway has a certain biblical charm. I will advise the Head Cardinal forthwith! However to receive his Saint hood he will have to undergo the pain of death torture, as meted out by D Smith, as you know this is usually fatal! Can we afford to sacrifice so great a talent?
Mmmmm, tricky one.
Rico, any candy floss then?
Just seen the goal that Benik Afobe got for Sheffield Wed last weekend.
Given some luck with injuries and a run of games, that kid could be a half-decent striker.
Shame that injuries have buggered his development at Arsenal…
It’s surprising to see some of the names among the dozen players, who Arsenal currently have out on loan…
Park, Djourou and Coquelin, all past Arsenal 1st team squad members.
All likely to be gone by next July…
Fagen, Vickers, Boateng and Miquel are likely to join them, as none of them have excelled whilst on loan.
Wellington is under contract for another couple of years and will probably see it out before leaving, as was the case with Botelho…
Martinez whilst not getting masses of exposure at Sheffield Wed, might be retained as one of the back-ups to Szczesny, following Fabianski’s departure.
Aneke and Campbell have done well whilst on loan, so they have a chance, albeit a slim chance…
Afobe will probably have to rebuild his career elsewhere, much the same as Frimpong…
🙂 agag, where to this time..
Wavy, no, but I did have a ’99
Kev, I like Aneke, he looks like he has something about him…
Evening all…
Afternoon guys…what’s new?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/david-rocastle-tribute-universally-popular-3304915
Hi Stan. Nothing 😉
Aneke is an interesting one Rico, like Afobe, I thought he’d missed the boat, but he’s certainly been among the goals at Crewe…
All the same, from Crewe to the EPL is a massive jump.
But if he manages it, then I’m sure that Wenger will give him a chance…
Aneke reminds me of Diaby Kev, fingers crossed he can show he has what it takes, same with Afobe.
It’s such a shame that so many who look like they may have what it takes, fall by the wayside….
Off to get dinner now….
Everyone gone now?
Guess that’s a yes then…
Night all…
Oh, Martin Atkinson is the ref for Everton 🙄
Night Rico…
Night All and Mick
rico, now the albatross has flown the nest, our chances against Everton look much better !!!
No offence Scott, but your not here to defend yourself.
4th place will probably pocket Kroenke another 25 mill, winning the FA cup another 10, that’s Wenger sorted for the next 3 years, triffic.
13 years, where does the time go, RIP Rocky.
Evening Micko, how u fella..?
Nite Kev !
I’m good wath, had no idea Abou even played the clarinet, you learn something new on here everyday !
Going back to what you were saying the other nite wath, the feel of the club has changed over the years, but it’s in our blood, we just wanna see the club back where it belongs.
Nite matey.
Sorry Micko had unexpected visitors…….
Spot on mate when it’s in your blood it hurts even more when they take the piss out of you and expect you to fall for all the old excuses like we can’t see what’s going on.
Nite mate n take it easy.
Another lost in U-21
brrrrr
Morning all.
Pinch, punch and all that jazz….
Morning all…
R.I.P Frankie Knuckles!!
59 is far too young…. RIP
I met him in Ibiza back in the day….really nice geezer!
I’ll be honest Lee, I’d never heard of him.
youtu.be/rd0Zo1WAk5I
Hi guys
First time on!
Joining the debate, its the FA Cup for me.
Getting a piece of silverware will hopefully kick us on to better things next season.
ThoughtI would ask a question and sorry if its already been heavily debated recently.
Our injuries:
Are they down to bad training methods or has Wenger gotvit wrong in following the Barcelona way – small, agile players who are technical and skillful which suits the Spanish league but not the robust EPL?
Mike
Its now playing in the background, but don’t recognise the song….
Alison Limmerick “Where love lives” all time classic……
I need to get out more 😉
Your ears must of been burning last Thursday!
Prefer that one to the other…
Morning you 2,
RIP Frankie knuckles…. As said 59…. Way to young.
Welcome Mike.
I wish I had the answer about the injuries, something isn’t right somewhere…
Morning Wath…. Sorry, Mr Wath it seems….. lol
New post up now….
This is why Im so proud to be a 71 year old Gunner….we never forget any person who loved the club as much as Rocky did. GG made a few mistakes but letting Rocky go was his worst by far. Great player and very nice bloke.