Morning all.
Nacho Monreal is the latest player to talk about how happy life is at Arsenal:
When I was offered the chance to come here, I was in the best moment of my career. I had a lot of confidence, I had [manager Manuel] Pellegrini’s trust, I felt that I played a key role at Malaga and with the national side, and I think I came here at the right time.
The players’ confidence [is different this season]. You can tell that they are very enthusiastic, very happy, the results are going our way and logically that makes everything easier. We have a happy group and that is very important to playing football well.
Happiness is always the key to playing well and it sounds like we have a very happy camp right now. Monreal is one of a number who has had to accept life on the bench and it’s certainly doesn’t seem to be fazing him too much. That’s the sign of a true professional and clearly when he has played, he’s done enough to remain part of the Spanish national side.
Roberto Rosales is on Arsene Wenger’s wanted list, the 24 year old Twente right back who can also play further up the pitch, is reported to be the replacement for Bacary Sagna should he decide to leave according to The Daily Mail.
A number of reports suggest we have offered a second trial spell to Danish youngster Mads Dohr Thychosen. The 16 year old striker is currently at Vejle BK.
Talking of transfers, Arsene Wenger or if not him, someone within the club were seriously interested in signing Luis Suarez and we all know about his on-field antics, but he’s hardly alone when taking a tumble in the penalty area is he. Ok, he has had a bit of extra naughtiness to his game with the odd bite or two.
Not so long ago, our own Robert Pires was quite guilty of taking a dive during our Invincible season and I know there have been a few others who have been prepared to take a dive, or should I say an easy fall in order to con a referee into awarding a penalty or even a free kick in a dangerous area.
Luis Suarez has hit the headlines again after winning a penalty in Tuesday’s 3-2 victory against Argentina. This was on the back on another controversial tumble last month when his country beat Peru. Thankfully, Tuesday nights antics didn’t cost Argentina a place in the World Cup as they had already qualified, but on a different night, in different circumstances, it could have cost a country a chance to play in the biggest international competition there is.
But as already said, Suarez is not alone, Ashley Young will always be around to challenge Suarez on ‘dive of the season and one only has to watch Match of the Day to spot a few more dodgy decisions each week. I’m sure those who watch the Spanish and Italian league would agree that they are equally as bad, if not worse.
Luis Suarez is a world class player, there is no doubt about that but should Arsene Wenger, when looking to sign him or any other player, be put off by any kind of reputation that player has, whether that be cheating, or anything else that goes against the way in which the game of football should be played or the way in which our club should be represented?
If that player was as good as Luis Suarez, I’d like to think he’d take a chance…
That’s it for another day..
To be fair , I am not sure about Suarez , good player no doubt , an Ian Wright type striker. Do we need one ? :- YES. However he is trouble , we have players coming forward saying how the dressing room is a happy place , so I ask would a disruptive force score goals but upset the harmony in the group ?. Would that be a positive or a negative. Personally I think I would prefer to see him go to the National circus in Madrid and weaken Liverpool but let us find another striker that would have a less detrimental affect on our squad.
morning rico,I realy like this guy nacho monreal..he is a true professional unlike TV5 who went complaining about playing time, he is telling us what we dont know about the group, the unity n happiness of the team,as for suarez I think he needs a manager who will tell him what is acceptable and what is unacceptable, lets all urge Arsene to extend sagna’s contract.
Morning Rico and all.
Potter, that is a very good point and something that has been on my mind with him too.
A good post Rico…
A very good point by Potter earlier…
One of my motto’s in life is ‘they who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.’ – Benjamin Franklin,Feb. 1775.
This famous saying always influenced my views/outlook when discussions over the last 8 or so years of ‘drought’ came into play.
Having read and listened to interviews of great managers such as Saatchi and Cruyff on their great teams, team harmony/spirit plus work ethics are cited as important ingredients above the name of the players. or the talent of the squad.
Some argue success breeds team harmony whilst others disagree, I guess it is a chicken and egg scenario….
Hi Tim,
You know TV never complained about his playing time… it was just the way the media/blogs reported it out of context….
TV could have left to join Barca the season Song and PV left us but he stayed… yes he has had an injury plagued year or so and he looked dejected when his best friend who he dined with in Gilgamesh left to join Fergie but I am such he was concerned about the direction of the club like most of us when he most probably knew VP was never going to force a move in his final year but we decided to sell him instead without any ready made replacement…
On the other hand, I would say TV has been very important to us since he has joined us…As a defender he has won us more matches than some of our well-liked players according to ‘stats’.lol
Morning all.
Hi again Scott
https://twitter.com/DarrenArsenal1/status/390771945387872256/photo/1
It may be announced today that AW has agreed a 2 year contract extension…. 😉
Morning all,
I’m not sure Suarez is that disruptive in the dressing room. I’ve never heard him cause any disruptions other than wanting to leave in the closed part of the season.
I would still take a game changer over the possibility of ruining the harmony of the dressing room.
Harmony changes when you lose and needed a game changer.
Also heard on the news that flights from England to Brazil during the world cup has shot up 7 times more due them qualifying.
Good morning all, good post rico.
Suarez is a world class striker but his habits are not arsenal like, look at the incident he just being ban for and look at what the guy did in the game against Argentina. Cheating is in his veins.
Hi Brad, are the Bafana Bafan still in the WC play-off’s?
I agree there are no obvious evidence that Luiz is disruptive, however, a lot of evidence show that Luiz in any squad does not achieve as much as they should.
Uruguay have their best squad in over 20 years but are falling short of qualifying for Brazil; records show that the dippers win up to 7% more matches without Suarez….
We are playing much better without an out and out super star in the squad…
Barca went 8 years without winning when they had the likes of Rivaldo and Ronaldinho fighting over the limelight…
Its all theoretical I guess…; Suarez will always divide opinions so I guess it will depend on how much Arsene or AFC want him in the end…
Hi Dna…
When we got Ozil, it eliminated…or at least diminished….the need for a Suarez type player.
I thought we needed Suarez as we had nobody who could create something out of nothing…we lacked a midfielder with that killer pass.
When we got Ozil, we instantly made our forwards better, as he CAN put a guy through by slicing apart any defence.
Hi ts,
No, they lost out in the group stages because they are useless. Can’t even beat Ethiopia and only had a chance because Ethiopia were docked points for fielding a suspended player.
The football officials blame Appartheid for Rugby been the number 1 sport in the country and better developed. Pay the football players almost 3 times as much as rugby and the officials are only less corrupt of the sports than the athletics board.
But hey, we can maybe host World cup 2018 if Russia eff it up.
Re-host the WC again? impressive if it comes true… at least you still have the facilities from 2010
Morning all -thanks re the post which was inspired by Gdna yesterday when he commented on Suarez cheating…
It made me think and i’m leaning strongly towards the view of potter…
Personally re Suarez I am not bothered about his ‘non politically correct view’ as reported by the press; but as a man who cheated Ghana from going through to the Semi finals with a minute to go… I do not know what to feel about him but hey… win at all cost as they say.lol
Hi Rico,
I know the media like to refer to Bobby ‘diving’ several years ago but if I remember correctly; both Henry and Bobby MESSED UP the awarded penalty in the end… so Arsenal did not gain from the spot kick.
Secondly Bobby did it only once; Most players chance diving to win a penalty… whilst Suarez is a habitual diver to the degree that he even argues with the ref when a penalty is not awarded even though it was never a foul in the first place.
YAnited’s Ashley comes to mind too for his antics….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3UCKco-5to
Matters not to me Ts, he still took a dive – were the two incidents in the same game though?
But like I said in the post, many footballer dive, Rooney ended our 49 run by doing so…
Wasn’t the dive v pompey and the penalty gaff against man city?
Ban divers for 12 months…it would end very quickly.
Sure would Scott but it’ll never happen, not enough players would be left each week..
Morning Adam…
I don’t see why it can’t be reviewed by television by a panel after the game. I reckon 3 game ban
Neither do I Bradster, but I guess it comes under the ‘ref saw it and dealt with it’ rule….
Silly if you ask me.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Jay-Z-targets-place-on-Arsenal-board-as-he-and-Beyonce-plan-investment-in-Gunners-article578015.html.
No Jigga Man, no more american, stick to basketball. lol
Gdna, that’s an ancient story…
Afternoon Rico.
Good post rico
Good point made Potter @10:08
Still think Ozil will develop into that Suarez-type player with Wengers help just like he turned the greedy dutchman into what he is today
Enjoy rambo display v Belgium 😉
http://youtu.be/yr8kjjNu28U
‘Suarez-type player without the bad attitude’
🙂 Adam, so it is…..
Thanks emma…
Off out with Fido…
Interesting comparisons between Arsenal and Bayern…
A question???
Did Bayern have to finance their new stadium, or did government finance it???
Bkev – I find that poster offending. Like I always say BSM/AST do not represent me. They are there for their own egoistic interest. They should do a research before coming up with such flyers. Bayern stadium was financed by the Govt. and handed over to bayern after the 2006WC just like the Olympic Stadium is about to be handed to W.Ham
Arsenal had to build her ‘own’ stadium without any help from the council/govt or sugar daddy. Bayern Munich are monopolizing the german league why we have 4 sugar daddy’s club to compete with in the english league with our self generated finances.
For Arsene to have kept us in the top 4 all thru this period we were offsetting the stadium payment is a miracle otherwise we would have being struggling in middle table or relegation. The fact he sticked with us despite knowing he won’t be getting enough finances to purchase the players he really wanted is a testament to his loyalty
I got this fron an Allianz insurance site, it appears to be a groundshare arrangement although I believe TSV have now either moved out or made plans to do so.
“”Of the 280 million euros invested in its construction, 90 billion were invested by the insurance firm Allianz, which will keep the rights to the name of the stadium until the year 2021. The rest was shared by the two Munich clubs, while the city and the state of Bavaria were responsible for the infrastructure (roads, accesses).””
The Allianz bit is equivalent to our Emirates deal , so I suppose it was self financed although I can’t find out the percentage share or whether a buy out fee was paid to get sole use of the stadium.
According to The Swiss Ramble BM are still repaying the debt of €346 million for their stadium.
Interesting that Arsenal have consulted very closely with Bayern over their business model and the two clubs are very close.
Emma, Bayern were also given the old Olympic stadion, new at the time, following the Munich Olympics in 1972…
Two free stadiums in 24 years is pretty good going eh?
potter – Both Bayern and TSV had 50% share on the ground as both teams make use of the stadium but bayern with her monopolized power bought TSV 50% share to become sole owner of the stadium. Don’t know if TSV munchen still play in the stadium though
More from Wiki:
Owners
The arena was commissioned by the Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH, founded in 2001, and was owned in equal parts by the two football clubs that call it home. The GmbH’s CEO was Karl-Heinz Wildmoser, Jr. until the unraveling of the stadium corruption affair (see below). Since then, Bernd Rauch, Peter Kerspe, and Walter Leidecker have led the company. In April 2006, FC Bayern Munich bought out TSV 1860 München’s 50% share in the arena for a reported 11 million Euros. 1860’s managing director Stefan Ziffzer stated that the deal prevented insolvency for the club. The terms of the agreement gave 1860 the right to buy back their 50% share of the arena for the price of sale plus interest anytime before June 2010. In November 2007, TSV 1860 München resigned that right. In advance, the income of two friendly-games both clubs shared equally instead of having that money going to Allianz Arena GmbH. Due to financial turbulences of TSV 1860 München, FC Bayern Munich took over all the shares and now owns 100% of the Allianz Arena.
Looking further on wiki:
Owner of alliance arena: Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH
Owner of Emirates stadium: Arsenal F.C.
Reading thru wiki you will understand the pains we went through:
Finance and naming
Financing for the project proved difficult as Arsenal was not granted any public subsidy by the government. The club therefore sought other ways to generate income, namely by adopting a policy of buying football players for a low transfer fee and selling high as well as agreeing sponsorship deals. Arsenal recouped over £50 million from transfers involving Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid and Marc Overmars, in a joint deal with Emmanuel Petit to Barcelona.[32] The transfer of Anelka in particular helped fund the club’s new training ground, Shenley Training Centre in London Colney, which opened in October 1999.
Link here if you are interested in reading all about the emirates stadium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Stadium
Seems that they got a good deal out of TSV albeit in the original deal was there a 50/50 split ? But whichever way it went it seems the stadium wasn’t a freebie.
So people should do research before printing some stupid flyers. Gmbh built alliance arena and 2 clubs bought shares in it so they could make use of the stadium. One of them flexed it’s financial muscle and bought the shares of the other club.
The U17WC has started, Brazil 3-0 up at HT. There is a decent guy who has scored 2 goals for brazil with a decent name ‘MOSQUITO’ 😉
Re Fc Bavaria, I was always delirious listening to pundits, disgruntled and ex-players etc trying to compare us to Munchen by saying Bayern always spent big when they moved stadiums whilst we didn’t…
As someone who has followed Bundesliga for a very long time, it is interesting to note that BVB 09 is the most supported club in Germany and probably Western Europe but do not have half the finances of FC Munchen… BVB although very well run have come cross to adminstration on a few occasions due to the monopoly of FC Bavaria.
So, imagine Islington/Camden council giving PHW 90 million in 2005 to help build our stadium… that will never happen
Additionally, when ticket prices are being compared no one looks at how much English teams especially London clubs pay to the police force whilst Bayern pay not to nothing from their pocket as the local government foots most of the bill.
Adam, have you got your dancing shoes on today…?
Re 2:39 Emma, that is why AW will always be a genius to me…
We should not even have been flirting with top 4 let alone asking to be champions… my humble opinion of course.
I have Kev. I have been mixing plaster in them.
I find it helps with my disillusionment at the human condition.
Today’s AGM: Stan- “The reason we got interested in Arsenal [after years of approaches from other teams] was… the tradition, the image and the success of the Club and that to me has been established by none other than our manager.
“In our opinion, with the values he stood for and the things that we value in sport, they were evidenced through him and through this club. So we are very pleased to be here and I couldn’t be more honoured to introduce our manager Arsène Wenger.”
I wonder where/how this view: ‘ most big global corporations are governed by very different personages from those who act as frontiers…- G.Buffet’ applies at Arsenal? 🙂
I wonder how Usmanov is feeling? Mixed feelings of happy we’re doing well and disappointment because we’re doing well.
AW- “I believe that our future is very positive. Of course the Premier League is tight again this season. We will need your support and we had some moments where at the Emirates we did not always feel that, but I can understand that, because it is up to us to give you the belief and it is not for you to give us the belief.
Brad, AU will be fine… he is big enough.lol; without appearing a conspiracy nutter, these investment from investors from the East is mainly aimed at securing a footing in this great country; financial returns is secondary and last the love of the game imo…
Arsenal ladies 8-0 up can’t find it any where to watch.
Why is it not on Arsenal player?
Don’t worry Emma , I lived through the Emirates build, saw the way the local council and transport for London pushed the club up against a wall and screwed us rotten. All the while our board managed to bring our stadium to term on time , Wembley was going pear shaped and costing way off estimate.
Our club deserve praise for the way they achieved to build a stadium and juggle the budget but it was at a cost which has been borne by the supporters who have and still are paying over the odds for their football fix. The unrest that is derided by Wengerphiles relates to the way promises were made to supporters groups ,season ticket holders and in fact bond holders from Highbury that have not been kept by the club. We were promised that we would remain at the top of English / European football and that the stadium would be the catalyst for this to happen.. What we were not told was that it would hit the pockets of the fans whilst the club ferreted away the money and would not spend to remain where they promised we would be. They of course compounded this by selling out and trousering personal fortunes whilst supporters that had been regular attendees found themselves unable to afford to enter the new stadium. Just because it is situated in London does not mean that everyone there earns a fortune and many old time supporters have been hung out to dry. These are the reasons that the fans groups want dialogue with the club and just because we have made one major purchase and currently sit at the top of the league doesn’t hide the fact that the club could and should go the extra mile to support those that support them.
It’s now 9 why o why is this goal fest not been broadcast on any platform?
Afternoon all,
Love this from wenger talking today.
“Then, the third part of our development and ambition is to scout and buy recognised world-class players. This season for example we have bought Ozil. You don’t need any scout to buy Ozil. You just need money!
All change at the Arsenal
Arsenal Woman 11-0 winners
Excellent point re. 3:32
But it can be argued that the few who understand the system, will master those who are so interested in it’s favours…
Hi Gj who are we playing re the ladies?
Wait for it tsgh
It’s WFC SSHVSM Kairat but it’s in the Last 32 of the Champions League.
3.32 Potter – top top comment…
Bradster – I hope Usmanov is sat feeling quite happy, safe in the knowledge that when he does finally take over, we could very well be a better side on the pitch, as unlike Stan Kroenke, that is what he seems to care about….
Afternoon all…
Great result Gj…
🙂 Gj… there must be more to the name?
Classic. lol
Gazidis took a dig at Spurs.
He said: “Yes there is a poster of [Gareth] Bale in Times Square, but he no longer plays for Tottenham – he now plays for one of our rivals.” Real talk.
Gj- you could have said the team is ‘the sperds ladies’ playing out of Borats country. 😛
Looks like Kairat scored last min goal to make it 11-1 but Arsenal player did not include that score and are still not.
I didn’t know but I don’t know where spurs come from is it London or Middlesex.
The question is about Block 16 Lower Tier, and how rain gets seats wet….. Ivan”at this stage we cannot put a full roof in. If it’s any consolation Arsene has same issue, when the zipper allows it”,
IG acting like Kevin Hart. lol
Middlesex Utd
If it’s any consolation Arsene has same issue, when the zipper allows it”,
Big difference is that Wenger is paid whilst getting wet , the customer has paid a lot of money for the pleasure.
Gdna, those aren’t his actual his words about Bale, that’s a twitter twist to his statement…
The nicest AGM Stan must have had in the last 10 years of fronting franchises.lol
Have a good evening everyone off to work.
Later Gj
Go steady Gj..
Later for me now too, got to start the looong drive home.
Arsène Wenger has revealed the following team news ahead of the Premier League game against Norwich City:
on Mesut Ozil, who was substituted for Germany on Tuesday…
He is alright. He came back with a knock on the knee but it was just a kick. We’ll have a test tomorrow to see if he is fit enough for Saturday or not. When you have not played, there is always a little doubt but not a major one.
on Sagna and Cazorla…
Sagna is 80 per cent fit and he will have a test. Cazorla is available in training but he is not match-fit. It is just about competitiveness with him. There is a possibility both are in the squad for Saturday. I have not decided whether they will start or not.
on Rosicky and Walcott…
Rosicky is back in the squad and available. Walcott is still two weeks away.
on Sanogo, Podolski, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain…
All of them are out for a longer period.
You go steady too potter..
I’m off to the vet. Later..
Anyone home?
Just home time for eats, no-one else about ? figure I’ve upset them all.
That was a long journey Potter, best you get some dinner…
The truth, that’s all you told…..
I am here Rico.
Hi Adam, it’s very quiet…
At home or on HH?
HH Adam, home is always buzzing with a woofa around…
Glad to hear the woofa is well Rico. I just got home after visiting an injured friend. It’s been a funny old week, but there’s some football in a couple of days. Interesting times at our club. Usmanov moves above 30%. Stan cashing in on the general goodwill. Arsene might sign a new contract or has already, according to some. Sagna and TV futures uncertain. Plus a difficult November ahead…..
Has been a funny old week here too..
Looking forward to the football being back, just hope we can carry on our good run…
AU reaches 30%? Well that is good news.
Nov is a very tough month, ending with another break I believe…
I’m wrong, it’s after the trip to Old Trafford in the middle of the month…
These days it appears to be a symbolic achievement but things can change quite quickly as we know. I do wonder if the general dissatisfaction of the fans and the rather stale atmosphere at the Emirates for a while coupled with some pretty bad Internet vibes did anything to drive the signing of Ozil.
I guess we’ll never know
Yes Adam the plot is certainly thickening. As we get back to a bit of football this weekend it will be interesting to hear the conversations in the pubs beforehand.
Perhaps, as you say we’ll never know but the board couldn’t have been happy to see what was before their eyes…
As we know, fan power can have such a huge affect/effect ( 😉 ) on what happens to both manager and owners sometimes, in fact, quite often.
Just found out my workmates places if safe.
It was burning every house along her street but got 2 doors down and the wind changed direction.
Brilliant.
Morning all.
Not being a pub goer I will be unable to report those Rico but you can sense the general atmosphere in the stadium and on the major Arsenal sites. It’s something in the air.
Sorry for those who didn’t realise, but Sydney and other parts of the state are having massive bushfire problems…..
Morning Scott. Good news.
‘Effect’. I think…..
Hi Scott, I saw the news about the fire, sounded pretty awful…
Pub goer Adam? I was talking more about the fans with The Emirates.. I don’t go to the pub either 🙂
Is it my imagination or are these fires more regular these days? California nearly burnt away this year too.
Global warming-dry conditions-tinderbox etc…
Cheers Adam.
She is a great girl but i guess mother nature doesn’t discriminate……hundreds of homes lost already attests to that.
Off to work….later guys.
We need a game to watch 🙂
Ah, you meant the AU shares… Tsk, keep up rico.
You mentioned conversations in pubs Rico.
I have been into a pub with you. 🙂
See you tomorrow Scott, have a good day and hope that things get better over there soon…
That was potter Adam 😉
Once and that was probably enough for you 😉
Not at all Rico. It was an unforgettable experience. 🙂
Oh yes. Sorry. It was Potter. My apologies. Being at the top of the table has affected my equilibrium.
I had better check out for the evening. Goodnight everyone. 🙂
🙂 Adam. Night to you….
It was me that mentioned the pubs Adam, they are a good sounding board to get the views of both the ones going to the game and the disenfranchised that stay in the pubs and watch the games there.
Sorry Potter. I mistook you for my friend Rico a while back. Night to you.
Gone now. 🙂
Good night.Adam
Think I’ll call it a day too. Night potter and all….
Rico, just read your 5.06…
Good grief, haven’t you got a GP….???!!!
I know there’s a shortage of dentist’s, but surely you can register with a doctor out there in the ‘sticks’….. 😛
🙂 Kev, when the going gets tough and the waiting lists get long, there’s only one place left to go…
Morning all…
Morning Rico and all.
Morning Adam. Just been reading the story about the Nasa joke at half-time during the England game. How this has been blow up by the press is simply wrong…
I know Rico. There are so many crass idiots around these days, as we know.
If only more people baked, the world would be a nicer place. I have some Choux pastry on the go as I write. 🙂
Beggars belief Adam, or is that me being ‘beggarist’?
Glad to hear the bake off programme is wearing off on you… 😉
It is Rico. If someone doesn’t enjoy my Profiteroles I hug them before bursting into tears.
At the moment I am building a model of a cab from sponge in honour of Kev. I have tempered some dark chocolate to cover it and designed short crust models of Rocky and Lee to sit in the back though I am having difficulty in sourcing the right colour blue food dye for Lee’s piercing eyes. 🙂
Morning guys.
Not long to go now.
Rico, check your email please 🙂
Bloomin internet crashed!! grrr
Classic Adam, I look forward to see that little gem, don’t use the dark chocolate though, you know now that it will crack when cutting… 😉
Will do Scott, morning to you.
New Post finally up!