Match Preview

RvP Could Reach 100 and Midfielder Contract Clause could see him at The Emirates Next Season….

Posted on by rico

Marvin Martin may have signed a new contract but we could still be in with a chance of signing him next summer:

The officials made a promise. Indeed to let me leave. I will remain at Sochaux until the end to the season.

You all know I love these rumours, the above came from the ever unreliable L’Equipe but if it’s true, our regular here Goonster, aka Stan will be very happy if is us he joins…

Enough of gossip, on to today….

At lunchtime in the UK, we face a Blackburn side who sit bottom of the league with just one point from their opening four fixtures. They are a club with very unsettled fans who are really not happy with life at their club right now and suggestion is that a protest is to take place to voice such concerns.

What they want is a change of manager, a change of direction and certainly a change in results.

Many Arsenal fans will say they want the same, but, just like Arsene Wenger, Steve Kean has the backing of his clubs owner!

I say, now is not the time to think about that for Arsenal, let alone make that change. Now is about moving away from all the hostility and continue to support our club, be loud and proud – proud to be a Gooner….

A few little stats for you all:

Robin van Persie loves playing Blackburn; he has scored eight goals in ten Premier League fixtures against them.

The little Russian Andrey Arshavin, well he has scored three goals in five PL matches against today’s opponent.

We have beaten Blackburn nine times at Ewood Park – a record not bettered by any other side.

One stat both sides share today though is this is the worst start to the season that both Blackburn and us have ever suffered….

I think it’s safe to say that the biggest talking point for this game is Christopher Samba, the big strong centre half who was linked with a move to us last January and again in the summer just gone – I strongly suspect he will be linked with us again during the next January transfer window.

I still believe he wanted to move to London and I think he still does, but right now he’s trying to make amends with his own set of fans, he is desperate to prove his loyalty to his current club and he’s out to show that today.

The cynic in me thinks he is more likely to be out to prove a point to Arsene Wenger and show exactly why Arsenal should have snapped him up….

But today is about our side showing exactly why we didn’t need to…

Robin van Persie needs two goals to notch up a long deserved 100 goals for our club and he just loves to score against this side, I hope he gets to that magical number today.

More importantly, today is about taking the next step up the league ladder, the next step in the confidence rebuild and most importantly getting three points. A fast flowing, exciting game of football would be wonderful along the way but like I said yesterday, it isn’t always going to be pretty and fixtures like today could very well be ugly.

Who cares?

How many times were the Mancs outplayed last season? How many times did they sneak a draw or a win in the dying moments of their matches?

Too many to mention is the answer but they fought to the end of each and every game and in the end; they won the Premier League title.

We could do with that same never say die attitude….

If what we witnessed in the week out in Germany is to stay, I think we are not far off – we got battered but we were not bruised – they threw the kitchen sink at us and we didn’t drown.

If we play for ninety minutes today as we did for the second half in Germany, we will win and win well….

Of course the good news is that Gervinho, Song and Jenkinson are all back, the downside is that Ramsey, Rosicky and Miyaichi are all doubts.

Regardless, we should have enough in the tank today to ensure three points are bagged and our steady climb up the table continues…..

Have a good day all……

rico

271 thoughts on “RvP Could Reach 100 and Midfielder Contract Clause could see him at The Emirates Next Season….”

  3. goonster says:

    Finally got the recognition I deserve! Petite xavi is on his way. Now I can die happy. Morning troopers a 2:0 ll do it for me. COYGs.

  4. rico says:

    Hi Osi – I’m really looking forward to this game, i think we’ll see what we are made of, or not…..

    I read that Rosicky is fit and in the squad….

  6. ne says:

    morning, wuuu seems like we have another player want to be part off arsenal. Better get him then mvilla, coz his more dedicated and willing to be a gunner.

  8. goonster says:

    Heard our little Russia might finally get his desire to play in the hole behind the striker…..about time too. He’s made for that role. Unpredictability, explosive in the final third and shoots well. Let him rip arsene. Come on!

  10. JB212 says:

    Blackburn aren’t a team to be underestimated. They can cause trouble with their physicality.

    The best squad we could put out today would probably be:

    ———————Szczesny——————-
    Sagna—Mertesacker—Koscielny—Gibbs
    —————-Song——–Arteta————–
    Walcott————Arshavin——–Gervinho
    ———————van Persie—————–

    I would prefer to see Santos start instead of Gibbs, but it’s obvious that Gibbs will start. This just makes me wonder why him (Santos) and Park were signed if they’re not gonna start or they make 5 minute cameo’s in Santos’ case.

    I believe the only players we currently have that could fill the role behind the striker (restraining from calling it the Cesc role) are Rosicky, Arshavin or Wilshere. Maybe Arteta could be added to that list but I enjoy watching his efficiency at pulling the strings and his defensive contribution in the same manner Wilshere did last season.

    In terms of substitutions for this match I’d like to see:

    Santos come on for either Walcott or Gervinho (that’s if Wenger doesn’t surprise me and start him).

    Frimpong for Arshavin if he’s having a bad game. If Frimpong comes on then obviously Arteta moves forward whilst Frimpong slots into his position.

    Lastly, I’d like to see Park come on for van Persie for the last 15-20 minutes of the match.

    Our squad’s cogs aren’t turning as fluid yet, but when they do, this team can be a VERY strong force.

    So…….

    COME ON YOU GUNNERS !!!

  13. goonster says:

    MM will soon kick nashit out of the national team. Am so excited. He’s a gooner too according to reports in france. Just like Oliver kahn did our own jens. If mm succeeds in sending nasri to an early retirement then that’s almost like a trophy to me*wink* better than 4th spot if you know what I mean.

  14. goonster says:

    He loves playing them Rico….he ll tear them a new one. Watch out for junior toilet…..he’s pacy and good with the ball on his feet. A worry for the MERT.

  18. goonster says:

    You talking about MM rico…..of course he is? Arteta is a stop gap kinda player. MM ll eventually take over from our spaniard.

  22. rico says:

    Hi JB212 –

    Santos for Walcott or Gervinho??

    I don’t think anyone will underestimate any team we face these days, we are not excatly oozing confidence but as the post said it’s about taking each game and giving our all for 95mins…

    Not a fan of all this 4-2-3-1 stuff, over complicates the game of football – our players just need to know their role and get on with it…

  23. rico says:

    Because i haven’t seen him play enough in the PL goonster – to be fair, Gibbs does not fill me with confidence so if Wenger goes with Santos, i would not be disapointed….

  24. goonster says:

    No way rico…wenger won’t buy a cb anymore he’s got mert. Verm kosser JD and miquel and bartley as back up. M’villa I think is out of our reach now. We dilly dallied and lost him. He ll probably be on his way to madrid man shitty or barca. No chance.

  25. goonster says:

    I have and he’s a better left back than gibbs. Stronger and more experience. We ll be bombarded with long balls so gibbs is a no no for me.

  26. Osi says:

    one player I think can hurt Blackburn is Gervinho; it’s gonna be a lot of one-on-one situations in this game and Gerv’s gonna win them.

  27. Red Arse says:

    Excellent rallying Post Rico, and good morning! 🙂

    Blackbum is always a difficult place to go because of their physicality and ‘get in their faces’ attitude.

    I hope we fight fire with fire, bring on Ping Pong if needed, and he will sort them out! 🙂

  28. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Santos isn’t in shape?
    Gibbs is so bad…
    I have a marriage today but only go there after watch Arsenal win 🙂

  30. ike@Ghana says:

    We certainly need to bounce back. We need to win by not less than a margin of 3 goals, to reduce our goal deficit. Samba can cover every grass on the pitch but we will stop him and bang in the goals.
    Sczy,Sagna,Per,Kos,Gibs,Song,Frempong,Gervino,Andry,Arteta,RVP

  31. rico says:

    goonster – i think he will, and it will be Cahill – wenger has let him know he wants him and i truly believ a cheap deal in jan or a freebie in the summer will happen… 🙂

    Fair enough on Santos, i’ll take your word 😉

  33. rico says:

    Osi, that’s why i hope Gerv plays up front with RvP but we all know he’ll be stuck out wide as usual, with Theo on the other wing….

    Morning RA – thanks, do they still play that ‘in your face footie’? I think we have learned to play that way too, so should be a cracker, whi is the ref, any idea??

    Morning JM, enjoy the wedding and catch you later

  34. rico says:

    Santos fitness was in question a couple of weeks ago because he’d played in the summer – but he’s been on the bench and made a cameo appearance in germany, could be his now fit and ready in wengers eyes….

    Maybe he is more likely to start on Tuesday, at home in the CC, with Park, Oxo and Ryo also starting….

  35. goonster says:

    Sorry rico but wenger is not a defensive minded coach. The game against manure is an example. He went gung ho and we suffered for it. This is a man that bought mert only after realizing verm might be out for an extended period. Am afraid I don’t buy it. MM yes but m’villa and cahill, no chance!

  37. rico says:

    goonster, wait and see 😉 😉

    I do Osi, i’m sick of watching RvP struggle on his own, back to basics for me, 4-4-2 – Song can protect the back four if the game goes that way, just like he did against BD in the second half…

    But BB are not Dortmund, I doubt they will be moving the ball around with the same style or speed…

  38. goonster says:

    No Rico…theo needs to sit this one out and come off the bench if required. We need to start with ball players since we ll be denied time and space. Theo ll be ineffective against BB.

  40. goonster says:

    Well you are still oweing me 50p from the last bet. You wanna up it. We won’t get a CB for years to come. Bartley and miquel ll soon take their place as 4th and 5th CBs. You think cahill will wanna come and sit on the bench for us. No chance. Wenger’s sees kozzer and vermaelin as his first choice pairing not even the signing of mert ll alter that. Cahill is not coming he ll probably be on his way to the chavs to replace alex!

  41. rico says:

    goonster – you and i and others might think that but i am saying how wenger will probably play it – we know he’ll play 4-5-1 with Theo and Gervino out wide…

    RA, thanks for that, I was hoping for Clattenburg 😉

  42. rico says:

    I forgot that goonster, what was that for again 😉

    You will have to email me your address so i can send you the cheque 🙂

    or

    Double or quits on Cahill….?

  43. Osi says:

    rico the problem we have at the moment is not putting teams under pressure when attacking as we did in the past. I think our players are lacking confidence and start passing backward and don’t move to demand the ball.

    Good football is all about movement; it’s about demand and supply. If there’s a problem in the demand side of things; if they players don’t make themselves available for a pass then that will affect the supplier. On the other hand, if they supply is slow and don’t match the demand then we have problem as well.

  46. rico says:

    Trouble is Osi, when we have so many in midfield, where can thay go? RvP gets isolated and heavily marked, leaving only a sideways or backwards pass as the option…

    imho, RvP needs someone to feed and be fed off, he is so creative but seldom is a player there to help him out… certainly not centrally…

  49. JB212 says:

    The reason I stated Santos for Gervinho or Walcott is because if Gibbs starts, he won’t be subbed off for Santos. Against Dortmund Gibbs could of easily came off with such an appalling performance but Rice/Wenger decided to bring Santos on as a winger.

    Another reason why I stated Santos on for Walcott or Gervinho is because of his attacking ability. He may not be as quick as either of them, but his technique, attacking ability and ball control is certainly better than both of theirs and is a stronger crosser of the ball than them both.

    I really just wanna see him on the pitch to be honest and I fully believe he’s better than Gibbs defensively and DEFINITELY believe he’s better than Gibbs going forward.

    There’s reason behind the madness LOL

  51. rico says:

    JB212 – but if we are going to take off Walcott or Gervinho, why not replace them with Park or Chamberlain?

    Don’t know if you read here the other day, we were talking about Wenger bring off Walcott/Gerv for a defensive player and straight away we defended too deep allowing the oppo to attack more – we had no outlet when clearing form the back…

    Who is the better defender, Gibbs or Santos?? Forget their attacking for a minute…

  52. JB212 says:

    Very good counter-comment LOL

    I would say from what I’ve seen maybe, just maybe Gibbs might edge it, but then I haven’t seen much of Santos defensively although Goonster said he’s better due to actually seeing him play.

    BUT

    The way I see it, we could use Santos and Sagna in a similar manner to how Barcelona use Alves and Abidal. This would require Song to sit on the left hand side of the double pivot that Wenger uses to cover Santos surging runs whilst Arteta could be the deep creative outlet whilst covering for the more defensive Sagna.

  56. rico says:

    JB212 😉

    I am in the same situation as you, i haven’t seen him play and we certainly dodn’t know how he will adjust to the PL, not yet. He may have been good before but the PL is very different and maybe that’s why BB away would not be the best time for him to start.

    But – that’s only my own view, doesn’t make it right. 😉

    Is Song quick enough to be covering for our left back? His lack of pace is sometimes the cause of his silly tackles which result in free kicks in dangerous area… I think that could be a risk, should we lose the ball on the break, Song would be exposed and so would the whole defence – again, it’s only my own view….

  57. rico says:

    thats late enough goonster and i once read a cracking comment by someone on a football blog (can’t recall who it was)

    They said no matter what time you have a beer, it’s never too early as there is always pub open somewhere in the world 😉

    something similar anyway 😉

  59. EastSidePaul says:

    Looking forward to getting to see the match later. I think we will win, we have to. We can’t be a big club and drop points to the likes of Blackburn.

    Want to see Walcott sit this one out.

    Anyone back for today?

  60. henry says:

    walcott sucks..yes at times he gets good games..but his presence is barely felt.he now feels too big.argueing with officials as if he were christiano ronaldo..he cant be compared to his mates like lennon and maybe his junior ashley young.which footballer can say his not a good crosser.then ask me why is there training..U LEARN..even strikers know how to cross talk less of a winger..he wants to play a central role when he doesnt have strength..can he cope with vidic..ivanovic an d oter strong centre backs..i think wenger keeps starting him bcos he’s an english player.he’s best used as a super sub..dats wat he ws born to do.arsenal style of play gives every player the oppoorunity thats just his luck cos its not all about pace.Ill say Arshavin,RVP and Gervinho..but honestly i want wenger to go back to 442..so park can start wit RVP..using arshavin and gervinho as our wingers..and arteta and song centrally…the team will be invicinble..with surplus replacements in benayoun,ramsey,wilshere,walcott,frimpong,chamakh,this will make squad rotation alot easier…

  62. goonster says:

    I think arshavin might start in the hole behind VP….happy days. We might finally see the ashavin that terrorize defenses during Euro 2008. Come on.

  64. JB212 says:

    LOL, a lot of Arsenal fans seem to have a very negative view of Walcott.

    He has good attributes, just not being used efficiently is my opinion of him.

  65. rico says:

    hi henry, you should have popped on the other day, you missed a good debate about our englishman….

    Gerv, is that the team, or your selection?

  66. EastSidePaul says:

    -JB212

    I think Walcott has had more than his fair share of chances and isn’t going to make it at this level. I think he would work wonders at a club like Wolves or Everton maybe, but he is not good enough to play for Arsenal, neither is Ramsey in my opinion.

    Rosicky back, I would stick him in the middle with Arteta, or maybe Arshavin, would love to see him play up alongside RVP. See how that would work out.

  67. Ahmed says:

    Its high tym we played Rvp and Park together jst lyk Rooney and hernandez in manure. Trust me rvp can play that free role to perfection. It may weaken our midfield in a way bt again considering most Epl teams only play long and non-creative footie, it could just be time we did. Can’t wait 4 it 2 happen. Up guns!

  68. rico says:

    Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Santos, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Gervinho, Arshavin, Van Persie (c)

    Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Benayoun, Coquelin, Walcott, Chamakh.

  70. EastSidePaul says:

    Why is Ramsey back in the team…. ugh.. More turning on the ball, puling out of tackles and slowing play down..

    Arshavin on the left I guess?

    Park not even on the bench? And is miyachi still injured?

  72. rico says:

    ESP, i am too surpised at no Park on the bench, when is he going to get a chance…

    No Rosicky or Chamberlain either which suggests they are all in for Tuesday’s CC match…

  73. JB212 says:

    Will definitely look at that link, will be interesting to see the other opinions from fellow gooners on Walcott.

    The Line Up pleases yet annoys me.

    Finally Santos starts, can see what this Brazilian can bring to the Arsenal team.

    I was finally hoping Arshavin gets to start in the role behind RVP.

    Was hoping to see Park come on or at least be on the bench too.

    Nonetheless, the team does look strong enough to beat Blackburn, hopefully Ramsey has a storming game and his confidence returns and he becomes that dynamic player he was before his injury not this sluggish reincarnation of Denilson.

  75. rico says:

    JB212 – AA might with Gervinho on the left?

    ramsey needs a stormer and we need Song to play like he did in the second half against BD…

    BB will be tough nuts, today we need our ‘football’ back….

  76. rico says:

    Ireland did really well JM, was a good game..

    I’d rather Park on the bench than Chamakh, he is no good as sub, and Miquel in place of JD….

  77. Micko says:

    RVP a centurion…………ooh suits you sir.
    Hope steve keane didn’t forget to book himself a taxi to the game today.
    C’MON ARSENAL, we gotta do those northern monkeys.

  84. Micko says:

    Played some great stuff at times, we just need to stay focussed in defence, we switch off and teams score against us.
    We need to come out 2nd half, get an early goal and put this game to bed.

  85. EastSidePaul says:

    We should have put this game to bed already.

    Please no more high lines and zonal marking, its crazy.

    Blackburn are a deplorable team, why bother with midfielders? How about 6 defenders and 4 strikers to stay in the box at all times. All they are playing for is free kicks so robinson and come to the half way line and lob a ball in… that is not football. I really want to see him slip and pass it to an Arsenal player who puts it in robinson’s net from the halfway line.

  86. rico says:

    Being critical:

    Santos should have stepped up for their goal

    Gervinho too selfish twice, which could have created two more goals

    Gervinhos ball to AA was dire, Theo would be lambasted if he had played that…

    Song sloopy tackle again gave away a free kick in a dangerous area…

    Not so critical:

    Great strikes by both Gervinho and Arteta – two very out of character goals, great to see…

    Some periods of really good pacey football but also some periods where we look all at sea and disorganised….

    More of the good bits please boys….. 🙂

  89. rico says:

    Not yet Micko, if we get to the end and have won, then i will be 😉

    How bizzare is it that all three goals have been scored by summer signings, so second half, Merts and Santos to score then bring on Yossi to finish it off 😉

  91. EastSidePaul says:

    I still don’t understand how footballers who play every day at a pro level can make such poor mistakes, like Gervinho’s awful cross field pass to arshavin, every day that ball has to be played on the ground, I saw Ronaldo do it last week for madrid was a text book breaking pass across the pitch.

  93. Micko says:

    I’ll be happier with merts keeping samba in his back pocket.
    RVP can steal the show if he wants, we may have to get an extra ball for gerv though.

  94. goonster says:

    Come on rico….santos wasn’t a fault for the goal….I don’t know who did but I don’t care. I love him already. Sheesh stan what’s up with the man love…..hey rico make sure AK doesn’t see this*winks*

  109. agirlagunner says:

    Hey, rico. 🙁 How very angering. They’re defending like they have an unassailable lead, when they only have a slim one goal margin. And now, we’re losing. Just absolutely pathetic.

  113. agirlagunner says:

    One too many, rico. 🙁 Let me amend what I said. We’re not pathetic. We are super pathetic. Let’s go on now and set the record for the most own goals in a game, now, shall we??

  115. rico says:

    I’m stunned, absolutely stunned agag…

    BB have been more committed in this second half, they have more passion, more desire to win this game for their underfire boss……

    Maybe Kean has a good H/T talk…..

  119. goonster says:

    This is not funny anymore you guys. What is the problem? I just can’t figure why we make every player look incompetent

  120. agirlagunner says:

    Oh, don’t hold back, rico. 😉 I know HH is a largely cuss-free zone, but let’s make an exception tonight. I’m so angry, I can’t even think.

  122. rico says:

    hi af, it is horrible…..

    goonster – for kos o/g – why on earth is his body shaped towards his own goal? any contact will always follow his body shape, and so it proved…

    why on earth did he not make a bit more effort in his defensive ‘jump’ in attempt to clear for the goal before….

    Kos has really been exposed today…… imho

    Mind you, he’s not alone…..

  134. allezkev says:

    As much as i try, i am beginning to despair of this team, it’s coaching [laugh] staff, manager and owner….
    It just fucking goes on and on and on and on and on ad infinitum….
    I am so pissed off……..

  136. allezkev says:

    Mind you, no suprise that that useless excuse for a footballer Alex wanker Song started the ball rolling.
    He’s right outta the Eboue/Denilson/Diaby/Bendtner/Vela, school of crap footballers

  138. EastSidePaul says:

    So that confirms it for me ARSENAL ARE A SMALL CLUB. End of.
    No “big club” will go there this year and lose like that, we are exactly where we deserve in the league and that is where we will remain.

  139. allezkev says:

    Do they ever do any defensive work during training????????
    Because if they do, then whoever dreams up the defensive work should have his pay docked… Talk about working under false pretences…..
    I am so utterly pissed off……

  141. agirlagunner says:

    I’m tired saying we are “unlucky”- with injuries, with poor officiating, with inexperience, with limited funds, and with whatever else it is we grasp at to defend, no scratch that, exculpate, our players, coach, management.

    Grrrr.

  142. allezkev says:

    ESP, the size of the club isn’t the issue mate.
    A lack of preparation.
    A lack of discipline.
    A lack of proffessionalism.
    A lack of intelligence.
    Try that lot Paul….

  145. allezkev says:

    12 goals conceded in two games in Lancashire.
    It is simply unacceptable.
    Oh, and i still hate the Press. That won’t change…

  146. agirlagunner says:

    We were playing quite well in the first half, and in typical Arsenal fashion, we fudge everything up. Unbelievable!!!

  148. allezkev says:

    Our defence was shambolic again.
    But once more wishy-washy finishing in the 1st half has really cost us….
    It’s like 4-4 at St James’ Park all over again.
    They’ve learnt nothing. absolutely nothing.

  149. JB212 says:

    I don’t know how Wenger’s let this happen.

    Last season we conceded 43 goals in 38 games and lost 8.

    This season we conceded 14 goals in 5 games and lost 3.

    We are officially fucked.We’re currently set to concede and lose a lot more goals/games then last season whilst Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and obviously United are set to reduce their goals conceded and amount of games lost.

  150. goonster says:

    I wouldn’t want to be an AKB at legrove now….those guys are spitting fire and I don’t blame them. Our defense is in shambles. We need an organizer at the back but we don’t. How long till verm comes back. Oh what I ll give to have tony Adams reborn! Guys this is one of my saddest days as an arsenal fan. That team was there to be taken yet we foul couldn’t. They weren’t even physical!

  152. EastSidePaul says:

    I agree with you Kev, I am sick of this crap, how can we defend so poorly.

    I have always said you get what you pay for, 6m for Mert….. you’re getting a player worth 6million.

    First own goal came from poor coaching = zonal marking, no other system would have those idiots standing there marking no one for a ball to come and hit them,

    3rd goal was offside, I could call it, you could.

    2nd own goal, cam from JD, a defender who can’t defend. how do you slide in and no win that ball???!?!? That guy should be let loose, no need for him to play from Arsenal ever again.

    There is STILL no leadership, they don’t care pure and simple? Where is the captain screaming at people to do their job, he is up top of the pitch… RVP should never be captain,

    How many chances do Arsenal need?

    And can someone please find stats from how many corners we win compared to those we score from?

    The coaching team NEEDS to be replaced not tomorrow, but today! If they had any pride they would step aside….

    You can not begin to imagine how annoyed I am!!

  154. rico says:

    Look at Song and Kos positioning for the OG’s – both were facing their own goal, WHY??

    We need one signing to change this shamble at the back, and that is Keown….

  157. rico says:

    ESP, top comment but I know how annoyed you are, i really do….

    Basic simple errors made and basic simple errors cost us, both in defence and up front….

    WTF is all this bloody zonal marking all about anyway…..

    What ever happened to man to man marking….

  158. Micko says:

    Just when you think it can’t get any worse, this is an horrendous start to the season, its gonna be a long rocky road ahead.
    We were all saying at half time that we have to stay focussed in defence, and the 1st thing we do is give a goal away.
    Conceding 4 goals to the team that was bottom of the league at the start of the day, we’re become a real soft touch.

  161. rico says:

    Could have Kt, bloody should have if not further ahead and yet a goal scoring machine we bought isn’t even on the bench…

    Gervinho cannot last 90 mins, and as well as he plays, he’s bloody selfish, too selfish….

    Top Four, more likely Top Fecking ten……

  165. Adam says:

    Wenger has become very unlucky and this is being compounded by schoolboy defending and a whole lot more. Today’s defeat was ridiculous. How many more ways can this team devise to shoot themselves in the foot? I am speechless with anger at the crap we are watching these days. FFS Arsene, get a defensive coach in and you just worry about the money.

  166. allezkev says:

    Well, Arsene Wenger does like to create records.

    And now he has almost matched Billy Wright.

    Arsene Wenger………conceded 14 goals in opening 5 games 2011-12
    Billy Wright……………conceded 19 goals in opening 5 games 1963-64

  168. K-TR7 says:

    Wenger said 8-2 was a one off result…on this evidence nasri can’t wait for our match to even better the scoreline.Wenger said 8-2 was a one off result…on this evidence nasri can’t wait for our match to even better the scoreline.

  169. rico says:

    Adam – he won’t, he had Keown in the setup in 2006, why did he let him go?? I strongly suspect they clashed with their views….

  171. Micko says:

    There’s a certain defender with loads of premier league experience who’s been available all summer who would love to be playing for us, we all know who he is………why oh why, we need TV5 back as soon as possible.

  172. JB212 says:

    As much as Wenger frustrates me, he’s the best option we have as a manager right now. Say he was to pack up and leave, who’s gonna replace him ?

  173. rico says:

    And rightly so Kt….

    Can’t think who you mean Micko…. 😉

    Sorry but Kos doesn’t do it for me either – for me he is a 3rd choice CH, maybe even 4th – and that is not a knee jerk comment, i’ve always said that about him…

    TV & Cahill

    with Kos and Merts behind them, that’s my wish……

  174. allezkev says:

    Despite the 8-2, i was still confident that Arsenal would finish top-four.
    Well that confidence has now evaporated…

  175. Micko says:

    Kevin Davies will be rubbing his hands together right now, we’ve got a week to sort this defence out, it can’t carry on like this, its unacceptable.

  177. rico says:

    I don’t mean right now JB212 – i’m not a wenger hater but nor am i n ‘akb’ as they are called – but i’m a realist… and things are severely wrong at the club….

    Personally, i cannot see what he can do now, i think as a manager he has been a fantastic one but he’s stale, he hasn’t moved with his tactics as the PL has moved – If Keown was available and willing to take on the task, i would love him as our manager, with Bould, Bergkamp or any other Arsenal man helping him….

  178. allezkev says:

    Notwithstanding, 1963-64. This is the worst defensive start to a season [5 games] since:

    1946-47 when 14 goals were conceded and Arsenal finished 13th

    1922-23 when 14 goals were conceded and Arsenal finished 11th

    1909-10 when 15 goals were conceded and Arsenal finished 18th

  179. rico says:

    kev – i don’t think we will be in europa, let alone top four, as for winning the league, we might do if we get into the championship…….

    Micko, how though, how can we sort this out, unless TV comes back or wenger gets some help in, we are stuck with the same old sillyness at the back…

  180. allezkev says:

    Mick, i gave up on that after OT.
    In fact i didn’t ever think we could.
    But i thought we were good enough to finish 4th as i don’t rate Liverpool or Scummers.
    But now, the Europa Cup or worse is becoming a strong possibility.

  181. Adam says:

    I said earlier in the season that things will get a lot worse before they get any better. There is a tidal wave of hurt coming people and it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

  183. rico says:

    But it shouldn’t be that way Adam – and if we are to believe reports, there is £50M in the transfer kitty…

    In fact did you guys read Pedro’s post on LG the other day, if all that was written is true and I have no reason to believe it’s not – we are deep in the mire…..

  184. allezkev says:

    I still don’t blame Wenger for the transfer shambles we saw this summer.
    But i do blame him and his intransigence when it comes to changing, refreshing, modernising, or whatever was needed to upgrade the coaching.
    Mind you, he does all or most of the coaching, so it would mean sacking himself…..

  185. rico says:

    But what Micko, what will change??

    Wenger is a stubborn git, he won’t change his ways nor will he change his philosophy – he is his own worst victim but if any of us behaved tht way in our workplace, we would be sacked by now….

    Sorry but i still think he is hell bent on saving money……

  186. EastSidePaul says:

    We’re looking at Europa League as the best case senario at the moment… Dark dark days everyone.

    I do have problems with Wenger, but I have bigger ones with the coaching and medical staff. How they have remained at the club is beyond me.

    Some positives from today, Arteta never gave up and hounded he opposition which I never expected from home, did very well. Santos looked good, at fault for the first goal but it is his first game, better option than gibbs I think. Yet again Chezzer was not at fault for any of the goals, with a great save thrown in, although…. did anyone see the Almunia moment?

  187. allezkev says:

    Silent Stan had better get his finger out of his arse and start acting like an owner, before his investment goes down the shitter…

  188. rico says:

    kev – i blame him – he controls everything, he says jump, the board says how high…

    I just think he has taled himself into believing what he says and does is right….

    Check your emails kev 😉

  189. allezkev says:

    Rico, Europa, Watney, Texaco, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got Arsene for this season and next i reckon, whatever the results….
    His legacy is going down the plug-hole, and i don’t think he has a clue how to stop it.
    As for The Board? They aren’t fit for purpose, never were, never will be.
    Come in Ursmanov, we need a proper investor, someone who is ambitious…

  198. allezkev says:

    Rico, Stan has changed absolutely nothing.
    He’s like Nero, he’s fiddled while arsenal has burned…

    I hope Oliver knows where he lives, so he can round to his mansion and give him a bollocking…

  199. Micko says:

    I dunno rico, maybe he needs to bring in eileen drury, we’re desperate, she can’t do any worse !
    Always remember that story where she put her hands on ray parlours head at the england camp and he said he’ll have a short back and sides please, the shit hit the fan and hoddle blew his top !

  200. rico says:

    kev, stan has sent us backwards….

    and gazidis, the man who should have sorted out nasri’s contract is just as bad, if not worse…..

  201. rico says:

    🙂 Micko, but Parlour did have short back and sides after that, all his locks went 😉

    seriously, i don’t think wenger has it in him to change thigs around…

    Look at the BD game, we started as Wenger would have dictated and we were all over the place, but something happened at H/t and it wasn’t down to wenger was it….

  202. allezkev says:

    Rico, the players need direction, and yes, they also need a bit of hairdryer.
    Our players don’t seem afraid to lose…

  203. rico says:

    I think Rice gave them a bit of hairdrier kev, chesney suggested that 😉

    spot on re the losing attitude, but where and who has that come from?

    beautiful football is not the priority right now, winning is ..

  205. allezkev says:

    Rico, it’s come because the players don’t fear Wenger….

    He treats them like small children.

    It’s about time he treated them like men, and bollocked them!

  208. rico says:

    Pampered kev, that’s what they are, over paid, over protected, over hyped….

    and who’s fault is that…..

    My mum is on the staeady road back to normality thanks 😉

  209. rico says:

    Wenger:

    on concerns about Arsenal’s defending…

    You cannot say you are not worried when you see the performance we put in today. It’s just not defensively solid enough. When you are 2-1 in front against Blackburn and you know that you are solid defensively, we will score goals.

    on a disappointing afternoon…

    It was not all negative today, that is the frustrating thing. There were a lot of positives as well, we just didn’t bring the focus to get anything out of the game. At the moment we do not have the capability to focus defensively for 90 minutes to win games. It is important you do not give cheap goals away like we did.

    CHEAP GOALS…. Well do something about it man……

  214. Doc Brody says:

    Well, one must admit that we are a creative team… creative in finding new and interesting ways to lose. This time it was 2 own goals. What will it be next?

    Kidding aside, I’m still hopeful for this team. 2 goals from new players. A stunning assist from RVP matched by a quality header by Chamackh. Promising creative play from Santos on the right.

    We have a lot of scoring options. Now it’s down to the defense. I think we’ve got the players to build on, but the communication was off. Mertesacker trying to play the offsides while Santos lingered back. I’m going to chalk it up to the lateness of these signings and hope/pray that in a month or 2 it will all gel.

    Stay positive people. I know it’s frustrating, but until we are unequivocally mathematically eliminated, then I choose to believe we will win it all.

  220. allezkev says:

    KT, if our attack had done their job in the 1st 45, then the 2nd half shambles wouldn’t have occured.

    I saw a video of some of RVP’s best approach work the other day.
    And what struck me was how wastefull our players are in front of goal.
    Chance after chance frittered away.

  222. K-TR7 says:

    AK i was talking about creating chances.we haven’t been doing that since the season started bar today.either way scoring 3 goals away from home is supposed to guarantee 3 points.

  223. allezkev says:

    Yeah i know what you mean, but even so, we still create enough and waste even more….
    Yep, the defence is shaky, but they need help from the rest of the team.
    Having said that, they’re still a right shower.

  226. agirlagunner says:

    rico, just delete that comment awaiting moderation. A friend used my PC. Grrr. I am annoyed by every single thing now it seems.

    Hello, KT, AK, STV. We are a laughingstock now, aren’t we??

  233. rico says:

    Hi STV – i think the players we bought mean little, they are good dditions but it’s who we didn’t buy that is glaringly obvious to all of us…

    And that for me is a defensive coach would have been a good start….

  235. K-TR7 says:

    Agag go put on your catwoman costume and swoop for Torres from the roofs of stamford bridge…oh and leave 50p as compensation 😉

  237. Micko says:

    If it makes anyone feel better I have just spent the last hour making a voodoo doll of mr wenger and have been sticking pins in his arse, I hope he’s sitting comfortably !
    The defence don’t seem to have any confidence in each other, they should all be playing as a unit, they don’t seem able to concentrate for the whole 90 minutes and as a result keep giving away soft goals.
    Tottenham away in 2 weeks time, we need to show some pride.

  238. rico says:

    Kt, Torres will not sort out our defensive problems, he can’t even score these days….. he is not what we need….. 😉

  239. rico says:

    Micko – i think once Sagna went off, the defence were exactly as you say, four players as individuals rather than one unit –

    In fact, I think Sagna is the only defender who knows what his job is and goes about it each and every week to a very high standard…

    The rest, they are no better than 2nd 3rd 4th choice defenders….

  240. Micko says:

    Rico, I think mertesacker is a good buy, would also have liked cahill as well, there was room for both, its just penny pinching, wenger should remember he’s paid to win football matches, something he hasn’t been doing very well lately.

  241. STV says:

    ..and the way kos beats szcny it’s more than a an own goal. (remembr jenkinson’s fantastc og on preseason!). Only Ramsey got an excuse. The rest were blundeous stupidous sloppy defending.

  242. allezkev says:

    The way were going we’ll not only finish outside the top-four, we’ll finish below Spurs. and that would be a disgrace.

    Mick, you coming over for Bolton?

  243. rico says:

    Cahill and TV – first pairing

    3rd and 4th Kos and Merts

    JD 5th and cups

    yep, that would make Merts a good signing Micko…

    I am stunned how such a big man can be so ineffectual (spelling) in the air, i really am shocked…..

  245. agirlagunner says:

    Torres 🙂 🙂 🙂 There’s an idea, KT. We should’ve bought him from Atleti. He just wasted time at Liverpuddle.

    I was expecting to see another OG, rico. That’s how little I rate Djourou now.

    Micko, it would be nothing short of a disaster if the tiny Totts were to beat us. Watching how our players love to self-destruct… I won’t be surprised.

  246. rico says:

    STV – you and me both, i backed him all the way last season, he was really good – then he got injured and since then, he is tryly pants……

  250. allezkev says:

    Hey Agag. I was walking through shopping heaven last Wednesday… Westfield at Stratford. the biggest shopping Mall in Europe.
    You would have passed out with excitement… 😀 😀

  251. Micko says:

    Agag, getting beat by our poor relations up the road, gawd forbid.

    For me this zonal marking isn’t working, take today, mertesacker should have been all over samba for the set pieces, instead he was marking thin air, who’s bright idea was that.

  253. agirlagunner says:

    I will file that away for future reference, AK. 😀 I needed to let off steam just now after that debacle, and got silly with those “Buy Now” buttons shopping online.

    This team will not only send me to an early grave; AFC might very well bankrupt me, too. 😉

  254. agirlagunner says:

    Micko, AFC seem intent on proving all the doomers and gloomers right. No other team collapses in as spectacular a fashion as ours.

  256. Micko says:

    Well its that time of the day, I need some alcohol strictly for medicinal purposes you understand, to help dull the pain, till tomorrow.

  257. rico says:

    i’m off to watch x-factor – at least that makes me smile….

    night all, another s***e day in the life of a gooner….

    horrid, just bloody horrid…

    stay safe all, nighty night….

  261. agirlagunner says:

    Night, rico and Micko. 🙂 I pity Oliver who has to write about that dross…

    You need something stronger than that, AK. 🙂 you need my fair feathered friend of a drink. 😉

  264. allezkev says:

    Agag, you don’t mean GG by any chance???

    KT i don’t even Saint Cesc would have made any difference today.

    Remember when Arsenal used to have resiliance….

    Ah, that seems like another era…

  266. K-TR7 says:

    We are breaking all sorts of records.last season we lost a 4 goal lead,failed to win a game that we took the lead in the 98th minute…i thought we couldn’t beat that but my was i wrong! 2 own goals in 1 game 😮

  270. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Considerations about the game:
    a) Today we played 11 against 11 and lost
    b) We were the better team, we have created many more opportunities, shots on goal over there is a great difference in class between the two teams, but lost.
    c) There is an offside goal and how in a second goal, if the defense is synchronized and worked, the strikers are quickly put off-side.
    d) would be next to the players and free poles at the corners / edges. It is a mistake because when attacking the ball, if necessary, they attack it head on and have their backs to goal. Without these cases, any rebound or failure will not be difficult goal
    e) As in previous games to the expulsion, the team that was statistically oportunides had more possession. Even against Manc, if we had scored the reason percentage number of opportunities / goals, the result was very balanced.
    F) There are more questions …
    Endnotes:
    a) a) The League is lost.
    b) At the end of this journey, we will be in the last three places.
    c) I wish that we are not a new River Plate …
    d) While not turn away from all the “ghosts” of lack of confidence, concentration, we cringe when attacked., playing poorly with adversity, discredit, etc., we will have little chance to assert ourselves.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading