Morning all.
No idea what kind of team Arsene Wenger will select tonight but I suspect it’ll be a bit mix and match, especially as a few younger players were left out of last nights under 23’s 5-0 battering by Everton. Matt Macey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Krystian Bielik, Chris Willock, Gedion Zelalem, Ben Sheaf, Stephy Mavididi, Marc Bola and Josh DaSilva all missed out as they joined the first team squad in training ahead of our trip to Nottingham Forest.
Lining up for the home team will I suspect be two former Arsenal employees, Nicklas Bendtner and Henri Lansbury and you can bet your bottom dollar that Nik will be out to beat us. A player who once looked like he could be the real deal, let his ego ruin what could have been a great career at Arsenal. Mind you, being asked to play out wide rather than central certainly didn’t help his cause either as so often he’d go off on international duty, nab a few goals, only to return and be played wide…. He’s certainly one for our central defenders to watch, not literally of course!
This time last season we were battered 3-0 by Sheffield Wednesday and as much as the League Cup is probably not very high on Arsene Wenger or the fans agenda, Arsenal need a win tonight as it’s all about gathering momentum and building confidence. A hefty loss, or any kind of loss, regardless of who plays would do no good whatsoever.
I know nothing about tonight’s opposition other than they’ve had a mixed start to the season as far as results go but they do score goals. They concede plenty too and often struggle to hold onto a lead. (sounds familiar) Forest sit 13th in the Championship, one place above Sheffield Wednesday on goal difference.
For Arsenal, Ollie misses out as his big toe hasn’t recovered, Ramsey remains out injured too but Gabriel is back.
On paper we should romp this fixture but I said the same about the away trip to Sheffield last year so nothing is guaranteed. Tonight will be a chance for the squad players like Gibbs, Debuchy, Holding and Akpom to prove their worth and for Xhaka, Elneny and Perez to get more playing time under their belts which so far this season has been limited and perhaps one or two youngsters will get a feel of first team football too. Even Yaya Sanogo could make an appearance….
Whoever plays, I just hope they are up for the fight because Forest certainly will be in front of their own fans…
Over to you Arsene to ensure they are…..
Is the game on telly by any chance? Nice write as usual Rico
What is a Sanogo?
1st! off to the post
Thanks Mabo, I don’t think so..
‘Pat’ to us fans Marshall…
Morning all.
When is his contract due?
Bendnter was ok but didn’t see him reaching the heights which him and his ego thought he could. At Wolfsburg is where I thought he’d flourish but then he became a squad player and well his off the field antics..
Which contract, with Arsenal or Royal Mail?
Marshall, he showed what he could do consistently for Denmark.
He played some fantastic games against the very best, so it’s no fluke.
The article was fine until the name Sanogo came up I was hoping we would move him on in the transfer window, (but then who in their right mind would take him?). Arsene Wenger can pick out some really good players but now and again he puts his faith in a right turkey. When he went to Crystal Palace on loan he was crap , can anyone tell me what Wenger see’s in him
Lol he’ll forever be postman Rico.
Scott, true he could have. But we had lot’s of our forwards (Arshavin) doing good for their countries too only to falter back at the grove. As put in the post probably it’s cause he played from the flanks. In Germany though he had the chance to redeem himself…and he didn’t.
trugun, trust me, his name was tongue in cheek. Why he is still taking a place in the squad goodness only knows.
You’re right, Marshall, he had his chances, no question.
Ballerina to Barca will be the transfer topic for the next two transfer windows. I hope he stays…Knowing (I think) Wenger 40m will have him packing the bags for the lad himself.
Apparently Barca made an enquiry in the summer for Bellerin and were, funny enough, quoted £40 million. Barca deemed that too much and signed another right-back who according to a Barca fan who is a friend, is very good..
We don’t need to sell, so unless the player wants out,mi doubt we will, to be honest.
Haha typical of us Rico. Why quote a price? They’d have simply said he isn’t for sale…
We sure don’t need to sell, we are done with the selling phase. The press are the ones who are making sure we don’t forget Bellerin ‘belongs’ to Barca. I think Bellerin likes arsenal, the lure of playing with the MSN however could be too strong to turn down.
He’s said he’s happy hasn’t he? I reckon it’s all about his agent as Kev said yesterday, pay rise due… 😉
Agree Marshall, just tell Barca to do one… lol
Afternoon Rico, just give Hector a nice pay rise and sign him up until 2022, with the promise of the captaincy to sweeten the deal.
Give his agent a bung as well, that usually works…
Morning all
I don’t think this competition is very high up Arsene’s agenda but I would use reserve psychology and play The Ox, Walcott and the very poor Gabriel,Gibbs and Debuchy need a run out and maybe the third choice keeper will be in goal. Rene whats his name is due a run to make up the numbers and then sprinkle that lot with a few first team regulars and you have The Anglo/French bake off with one eye on Chelsea and the other eye that no one gets injured.
Belleruin will eventually go to Barca but not for at least a couple of seasons.He still is very young, will improve and his value will go up which will suit the Arsenal way.
Afternoon Kev, like Ali you mean… lol
Last night on both Radio 5 and Talksport they were discussing late night crisis meeting at Chelsea after the liverpool game and that Mourinho has the wrong players to suit his system.Not a word about us which suits fine.I woudn’t be surprised if either Conte or Mourinho don’t last the season.
Don’t think I’d play Walcott again Kelsey, he’ll be needed for the Chavs.
With Gibbs, Debuchy, Holding and Gabriel in defence we’d look solid at the back. Upfront partner a regular with a kid and we are good. I think Theo would be deemed too much a risk for such game. Have Ox and Reine on the flanks. Elney/Zelalem and Xhaka/Coq in the midfield, Cazorla in the hole and Akpom upfront.
Perez in the subs.
Would love to see Sanogo as our striker.Remember he scored against Bayern and i do not see what is all the negativity around this player.Admitedly his first touch is not silky but tell me if is not a presence in the opposition box.
Immagine the amount of time that Walcot and The Ox has been given so far and what a return ?
Please lets support Sanogo and not demoralise him.After all it did not cost hundreds let alone millions of pound.
There are other passengers in that squad that needs really to be more scrutinised than Yahya Sanogo.
My theory Rico is that Theo needs to string a certain amount of consecutive games where he is an influence,but you are most probably right.
Don’t you think they’ll sort their situations out Kelsey?
I’d leave Santi at home tonight, his little legs could do with a rest…
Alex, I love you optimism… 😉
Alex, you made some good points, though most won’t agree.
He definitely is a handful for opposition defenders, no matter what people say-the Fa Cup final proved that.
Abramovich wants perfection and Chelsea have only wabbled a bit but as you know he has sacked title winning managers before.The italian style of conte will take time to adapt.
SAF in the stands and now on manager number three.Mourinho we have found out is not immortal, who knows.most journalists thought before the season mourinho and united were a perfect combination but they have been given a wake up call.
Early days but the pressure is on.
Sanogo is a hard one to call.Been on loan already three times and that tells me he may go down the same route as Campbell,Wellington Silva and Gnabry which isn’t a good omen.
Kelsey, I don’t think Sanogo will make it with us.
It’s a shame he isn’t a little better on the ball as he really does make life hard for defenders.
As Alex said though, other, much more expensive guys have been given a hell of a long time to show their worth, so it’s interesting to think exactly what Wenger will do.
Long may it continue for both clubs I say Kelsey… They will struggle to find a manager soon as between both clubs, they’ve tried most…. 😉
Just think about the Bayern win.
It is Sanogo that created Chaos among the Bayern defence and Santi take the opportunity.That chaos is an assist in my book.Aerial duels whit the like of Dante was perfect.He made my night .
Question is he did not get opportunity lie the others.
Take Walcot as an example or the OX they being given plenty of run and still with little return.Considering how much they earn what is wrong with Yahya Sanogo ?
You said it for me Scott.You don’t throw a complete novice into a vital CL game,what was Wenger thinking.
Trouble is Sanogo, even out on loan he’s seriously failed to impress and that’s regardless of how much he cost which for me, doesn’t really ever come into the equation…
Hi All,
I think Wenger saw traits of Adabawhore in Sanogo and thought he might become a gem like him.
I think we need to buy players with the full set because they don’t seem to develop with us.
Bradster, Bellerin has developed 40 million or so 🙂
Sorry mate, it had to be said lol.
In saying that, he’s the exception, of late.
True Scott, I forgot we got him at 16.
I also think the rules of needing English players gives them more opportunities than Sonogo.
Afternoon all,
I think sanogo was and is a big mistake made by wenger..
He might have brought in free, but he is costing the club millions in wages.
actually occuping a place in the squad that others like akpom and Co should have been considered for.
You could field in squad of horses and camels and they would cause havoc for any defence!
I don’t see any footballing prospect in him.and he is always injured.
Even if you are the most optimistic person on earth and think he would be a decent player you would come to reality when you check his injury record.
I used to think that Darren Bent was a vastly underrated striker…
I always thought Man U’s Hernandez was underrated and especially good with his head.
Berbatov didn’t get the applause he deserves.
He was good Marshall and a great capture by Fergie. Hated that he often scored against us.
Brad, he’s the only player from Utd I’ve ever liked. And he’d played at Sp*rs! Very skillful and calmness. He always thrived with our defense being all over.
Bellerin for 40m….huummm. As good as he is I will consider it. 40m for a RB. Bellerin major attribute is his speed, to date he has yet to improve on other facet of the game: vision, crossing, anticipation. And why do we have to make concessions about making him captain, really. Small wonder that we continuously have temporary captains. Alex at 12:52, I agree with you 100%.
Why are we applying different rules to Sonogo? Coq failed on multiple loans, RVP stayed injured most of his arsenal career but 1 season, Walcott is going on 11 years and we are still waiting, Ox is at stand still, Jenkison is still on the books, we are still hoping on Chambers, Wilshire is on loan. My point is that all these guys got years to show someting or nothing. Sometimes it get to the point that we are blaming players for being injured, really – as if they wanted to be injured. And to those who question whether Sonogo has talent watched his youth level games. If am not mistaken I believe he won the golden boot – or game behind the kid from Ghana- when France won the U20 Fifa Cup.
Lots of big kids are good at youth level but when they get to play against men they suffer. Big defenders can’t jump because they don’t have to and forwards can’t bully their markers. .It’s another step up .Many don’t make it.
Is Sanogo even injury free these days?
Afternoon guys..
Golden Boot award or Golden Boy award Obi?
Holding to score on his birthday? – not an own goal though 🙂
Evening all.
Sanogo is injured and has had an MRI scan to try and find some talent………come back negative !
He is now the richest postman ever and has an office at Arsene`s home just to open up the mail and read the french letters !.
Love the stress free League Cup, would love a performance like the 6-0 Vs Sheff Utd when the average age of the team was nanana nineteen nanana nineteen……….old enough to play for Arsenal, so old enough to go to war in Vietnam !.
The 1969 Football Leage Cup Final and Don Rodgers is forever etched in my memory. You have to remember we hadn.won a trophy since 1952/3 season. The Cup Final and in those days the European Cup wwas only for The champions of each country,so the trophy had a lot more meaning than today.We lost to third division Swindon Town on a mudbath of a pitch.We all thought we only had to turn up to win and for me it was my first Arsenal Final.Look back at our team that day that went on to win The Fairs Cup the next year and the Double the year after.The basis of that defeated team remained the same those 2 and a bit years.
Blame the horse of the year show for that one Kelsey !
?? LC….
I wasn’t even born then Kelsey…. 😉
Rico, is actually Golden Boot and it did go to the kid from Ghana. I Can’t remember his name now.
Lol the MRI must be faulty! Le Coq you won’t be receiving your mails!
Potter @3:23, I agreed …point taken. But to have people tell it, Sonogo has been an Arsenal players for less than 3 years, he’s only 23 years years old, came free and its on low wages. Some acts as though he’s AFC’s biggest problem.
I read up on it Obi, could only find the golden boy award nomination….
http://www.ronaldo7.net/video/sports-live/sport-live-stream.html
This stream usually works as the game isn’t being televised in the UK but FOX have it.
Thanks Kelsey. I use an app from Apple..
Martinez in goal as I thought a weak team and practically unheard bench. Perz and Granit play and Rene and The Ox.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Team to face Nottingham Forest: Martinez, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Gabriel, Gibbs, Elneny, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Akpom, Lucas.
Subs: Macey, Bielik, Sheaf, Mavididi, Willock, Zelalem, Dasilva.
Now hands up those who have heard and seen every player above.:)
Who is Dasilva?
http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/josh-dasilva
Have heard of them all Kelsey but not a right back among them!
Bob, don’t we have a right back coming through, one who’s meant to be pretty good and has not long signed a pro contract?
Rick and Kev might know more….
Chiori Johnson Is his name…
Sounds like number 32 on a takeaway menu.
Looks like Maitland-Niles is right back but as we know he is an attacking midfielder with a questionable attitude
Night guys, hope we get a good result….
What a cracker! 1 up to the good guys
Rico, you’re sleeping when it’s getting interesting.
Memo: Xhaka dropped for next match. Has not followed instructions and disobeyed me again. Scoring from distance is NOT part of the Arsenal way. I’ll knock this bad habit of scoring long range goals out of him. He just won’t play again until he is assimilated into playing tikka taka like the rest of the team.
If I have to write myself another memo about ziss player I shall be forced to place him on zee transfer list.
Memo look for an obedient midfielder of some quality.
I will not tolerate disobeydiance, not from any of my players.
Disobedience
Paulista with a possible injury
Another cracker by Xhaka ?
Double or drop, Kev?
Clean sheet for Martinez I reckon Wavy
Liverpool winning 3-0 at Derby ?
Perez puts the penalty in! 2 nil to the good fellas
Lucas Perez from the spot, the 1st of many, 2-0
According to the radio, it was a very well taken pen…
Perez on the double!
That’s laid to rest all that No.9 nonsense….
It was never a problem for
John Radford, Malcolm MacDonald, Frank Stapleton and Alan Smith…
Perez won’t be playing Saturday either. Scoring two goals in one game is just not the Arsenal way
Memo: don’t pick two goal hero. He’ll inflate his ego to a point greater than Niklaus. So bench for him next game.
Wavy, I sense a cynicism that I never saw with you before…. ??
I’d let Xhaka take goal kicks and tell him to shoot lol.
What a left peg!
Morning all.
I’m stuck watching the Chavs and Scousers games.
Chelsea to extra time and they have a bloody near first team line up.
Ox with the fourth. It had been coming for him.
Ft. N.forrest 0 Arsenal 4. Goodnight guys. It was a good game.
Morning Scott. Xhaka should be the first to hit the ball at kickoff…!
Wavy, don’t under estimate Arsene, I can see him utilising Girouds pace this weekend with lots of over the top balls against the Chavs !
Happy days…quarter finals here we come !!! Delighted, really couldn’t call it tonite.
It’s a latent thing….it comes and goes! A bit like Wenger’s tactics!
Stuck in the foot of Italy ‘watching’ this via BBC text and enjoying the goals. But thee past keeps jumping over my shoulder and reminding me of failures past!cill get over it but it may take a while. Wenger has injured my optimistic outlook. Twelve years of relative lack of success have taken their toll!
4-0, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, assisted by Perez….
Clean sheet for Martinez.
90 minutes for a Perez, Xhaka, Elneny and Paulista…
No injuries, thank heavens…
A good job done by our fringe players and youngsters….
Now let’s have a home draw in the next round…
Off to You Tube to find the goals
Night All
Night Wavy ?
It’s a real weapon, Marshall, No question.
To see it twice in a matter of days is what I am excited about, as its obviously no fluke.
Surely Arsene couldn’t have a quiet chat about it…..but then again, this is Arsene lol.
Let the kid have a crack.
I’m not one for distance shooting for the sake of it, but if there no other option, the guy has time and space, it’s a no brainer, especially when the player in question hits them like that.
Park the bus against THAT lol
Night Kev., and all. It’s been a crackerjack!
Ox’s goal is an absolute ripper.
Night Wavy.
Work beckons-have a great night everyone.
good goal by Ox.
Xhaka the left footed no.6 AW has needed since Edu left. And an English centre back…. the stars spell potential champions.
fibreglass had a good game against #leicester. I hope Coq and santi can keep him quiet next weekend.
Ts you are assuming he will play, he will be back on the bench.
I know is early but I told your……the boy Perez is a special footballer. That goal showed the qualities pace, strength and finish. Rico, remember when I said he will put Giroud on the bench and I have nothing against Giroud.
Pleasantly surprised.many good things including the grit and determination of Perez for his second goal and he knows how to take a penalty and Granit scoring yet another bullet.We might get competition for places.I didn’t see the game so perhaps others can point out any other positives.4h goal not shown for some reason on you tube.
I always give credit when it’s due.I could have said that AW will give Granit a bollocking for trying that shot two games running as it’s not the Arsenal way and who does Perez think he is as a new boy just taking the penalty without permission 🙂
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10586635/nottingham-forest-0-4-arsenal
Morning all..
Didn’t see the game – good win it seems… 🙂
Competition for places, a great motivator…
Not sure how good Nottingham Forest actually are, but I can’t see them being involved in the promotion battle based on what I saw of their defence…
At least our youngsters will get one more game in the League Cup, maybe more if we get lucky with the draw?
Arsene will probably stick with this squad in this competition so if we get Liverpool or Chelsea or ManCity or ManUre we’ll lose, but it’s great experience for the youngsters and good match time for the new guys/players returning from injury…
With the size of our squad, Arsene should have the option of using a few senior players in this group. So it’s all good…
Morning Rico
Morning All
Interesting to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain used in this game but not Alex Iwobi, maybe in tells us where they both are in the food chain?
No Debuchy?
Is he injured or is Wenger sidelining him?
Ainsley Maitland-Niles had a steady game at right-back, and is probably more reliable atm…
Kev, they have Lord Nik, and you dare ask if they’re any good?
Shame on you 🙂
Morning all.
Morning Kev.
Fingers crossed City and Utd go out tonight… 😉
Morning All
Good to see our stiff’s excel last night:
Granite run the game.
Keeper solid
Back four in charge.(Holding 2 footed).
Jeff could be anything..Talented.
Ox 1st half Disappearing up his own Harris
better 2nd half.
Akpom drifting to the left flank
looked a nice player..Maybe.
Perez..Trying allsorts of (Trying to impress balls)
2nd half showed what I read about him from a player
aggressive a nuisance..Handful.
All good for us IMHO.
Good point on Debuchy, seems odd he didn’t play if he’s fit…
Question…….is last nights game evidence that we do have a stronger Squad than in recent years, and more quality?
We probably all saw it as a potential banana skin game ,yet won decisively.
In recent years, we’ve struggled when playing weaker sides.
I am not getting over excited as we have a long way to go, but I truly believe the potential is there to be bloody good.
I think we do have a stronger squad Scott, it’s a joint belief between the players that they can up their game as a unit,
Last night and at Hull we played two teams who naturally don’t want to park the bus, open flowing football and that always suits us.
Martinez looked confident in goal and is Perez two footed as both goals were with his left foot .The second one would have thought he would have used his right.
Last night the boys were bloody good. They fought for every ball and were sharp with the passes, N.Forest let us play though, would like to see how they play against a bus parking team.
Chelski tells us plenty, but so far, I think the signs are pretty encouraging.
Can’t wait for the Chelsea game. This is perhaps the best chance yet for us to beat them.. If of course we get a fair and honest referee…. 😉
New post up now.