Morning all.
Two bits of news this morning. One most us already know and that’s Alexis Sanchez won’t be involved in tomorrows FA Cup match against Sunderland, the other being Chelsea are sniffing around Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Can’t say I’m overly fussed about the Alexis news as it’s better he makes a return when he’s 100% fit rather than to come back only to break own again. In the past, Arsene Wenger has been accused of rushing players but it seems there’s no chance of that happening with our little Chilean. Good. Shame he’s going to miss the trip to Anfield too.
Mikel Arteta is back though and having played for the Under 21’s in midweek, he’s good to go. For how long though is the question….
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – a player who on his day can cause all sorts of problems to any defence but recently, those days have been few and now he finds himself on the end of a lot of criticism from the gutter media and his own fans. Not all, probably not many but it hasn’t taken long for the ‘over-rated English players’ jibes to come out.
According to a few headlines, Chelsea want to sign him and that’s one of a few questions Arsene Wenger was asked about during his morning press conference. Apparently Guus Hiddink believes he’s the perfect replacement for Eden Hazard. If true, then why not say to Chelsea: ‘If you want Alex, we want Hazard included in the deal’?
Of course Chelsea wouldn’t even entertain such a deal would they as Hazard is a super player who also on his day can destroy an opposition on his own and as much as he might be a diving little cheat, Arsene Wenger would soon get that out of his game and he’d be great for us. Roman would know that too I’d imagine so there’s no way he would agree such a swap. And that’s when I personally would tell Chelsea to take a hike.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is only 22 years old, he’ll improve, his game will become more consistent and I’m sure he’ll be a great player for Arsenal.
So no, I wouldn’t like to see the young Englishman leave Arsenal, in fact there aren’t too many players I’d like to see leave Arsenal, apart from those who are out of contract in the summer plus one or two of the other fringe players but not yet, not until the summer as right now we need them all for our League and FA Cup campaign.
As for the rest of Arsene’s press conference:
He was asked if Oxlade-Chamberlain to Chelsea is rubbish and being interested in Tom Deeney was rubbish too?
Yes.
Finally, Danny Welbeck should be back in 3/4 weeks time and Elneny should be confirmed in 3/4 days….
Still, it’s good to know that Arsenal are busy in this transfer window……
Have a good Friday guys….
Imagine if dear old Arsene wasn’t going to be busy this window?!?!
Good read,
Ox should not be sold; but he should learn his trade like most players and maybe learn to respect senior players on the pitch…
In an interview a few years back he said he idolised Iniesta/Xavi and Pirlo, well Pirlo was a next to nothing no.10 at 22 y.o until carlito moved him into a more deeper role and the rest is history.
I guess the difference is that the greats learn their trade and don’t get over hyped by the media and fans.
Perhaps ‘busy’ means something different in French…. 😉
Who is responsible for concluding the deals though?
Surely IG and Dick with his multi-lingual skills can conclude a sub £10m deal and get a ‘lowly paid’ adminstrator to fill in the home office work permit forms…
Good post Rico…
I was a bit surprised to read that Joel Campbell was talking to a Turkish club about a possible January transfer…
He’s been quite useful to us during the recent injury hit period and I’m not sure we can afford to let him go. But with his contract due to expire in the summer, there’s obviously the Bosman effect to consider…
Can’t rush a work permit Ts… 😉
Seriously though, after the way AW spoke ahead of this window, you’d have thought the club would be working on more than just Elneny…
if only you were low paid Ts you could of sorted it out…. Have a word……………. 😀
Ditto re Campbell Kev, I’d have thought he’d done enough to get another couple of years at least and considering he said he wanted to stay and win things with us, perhaps it’s the clubs decision to move him on which would suggest someone else could be coming in…
PEA…. 😉
I am tiered to listen about AW busy, during the time of transfer. But not yet.
Rico, it’s a carefully constructed plan…
It’ll all fall into place on January 31st…
You should know the way we do business by now…. 😉
Morning all.
I’ve totally given up spending any time stressing over transfers.
It’s funny…..I used to get filthy when people would roll out “until it’s on Arsenal.com, I don’t believe it”, but now, that’s how I feel.
1st Feb Keb… That’s when it shuts… 😉
Stressing Scott, who’s stressing… 😉
The one I don’t get is Debuchy going which Wenger has said is possible, seems daft to me….
Don’t think anybody will be signed until the last minute. Reason, they’ll save at least three weeks wages! Tight wads!
Morning all. Bright and sunny here, sodden under foot!
Rico- maybe we can hire Old fergie as a consultant to sort out all our Work permit issues.
I had to laugh, when Fat Sam started going on about a midweek EPL coming so close on the heels on this weekends FACup tie. And that he was going to be ‘forced’ into playing a weakened team – horseshit!
Then we had all those stupid websites on NewsNow saying that Sunderland would be starting up to 5 youngsters as Fat Sam rested his first choice players – more horseshit!
Wenger sussed it and stated this week that he planned to pick a side very similar to the team that played Newcastle…
And now we read that Sunderland will probably only play one youngster, their highly rated England U21 goalkeeper…
There’s a shock…
Nah Rico, I meant I used to but never again 🙂
Rain coming in Wavy…
Even Fergie would struggle with the new rules Ts…
Calm down Scott 🙂
Kev, who is coming through the under 21’s at right-back, any idea?
I guess because his country is not a top-10 FIFA-ranked nation he must have played in 30 per cent of their games in the past two years; that means he should have played over 75% ofcompetitive A team matches of which he was available for selection, during the two years preceding the date of the application.
Egypt is 58th on FIFA ranking so if he has meant criteria thenit should be a breeze.
The time to get stressed is when it shuts Scott… 😉
I read that too Ts, there was a good article in the Guardian which explained the new ruling…
More rain? Well, it’s good for the garden! And the ducks that have moved in to swim on the lawn! (Not really!)
Transfers? Believe it when I see it on Arsenal.com!
met*
Freddie CK pants has confirmed his role as a coach with academy…
I’m cool as a cucumber, Kev 🙂
Rico, hopefully when this one ends, we can all celebrate.
Right-back?
Not a lot Rico, nobody who I’d have thought was ready for the 1st team…
Debuchy should play, we still pay his wages!
Rico- we dont have a proper CB at the youth level currently as far as I am aware…
With Beilik moved to CB, Bola has been playing the RB position even though he is a CB.
Let’s hope so Scott..
Offski as things to be doing….
Sorry LB as he is left footed.
Its normally Moore. I guess Rick and kev will correct me…
Sheaf is a winger but playing RB now…
Kev, makes it even more odd that he should be allowed to leave, fingers crossed he won’t. Either that or AW has another coming in….
Laters..
http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/tafari-moore
http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/julio-pleguezuelo
http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/chiori-johnson
Kev- why do you think pleguezuelo is so under rated?From he sems to read the game very well when I saw him play…
Is Isaac Hayden available, could he play full-back?
Kev- He played FB several times when Diaby, Frimpong or JW came to play for the u-21’s…
Ginge, I’ve never actually seen him play, so it’s difficult to have an opinion…
From what I’ve read, he’s a bit on the small side for a defender, well in this country, a bit like Miquel for example…
Not sure if he’s quick enough to be a full-back, but you never know?
Not sure pleguezuelo plays FB, he plays CB with Beilik now; before that he played with Bola…; he started with hayden and then the Algerian we got…
You are spot on though… too similar to Miquel; a ball playing CB; but his natural position is CDN apparently.
I guess his injuries last term has slowed his development.
12:07 was talking about Hayden. Has he been properly recalled?
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/arsenal-isaac-hayden-set-continue-loan-spell-hull-until-end-season-after-transfer-breakdown-1536757
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
I can’t see the Ox being sold unless another club offers us silly money, The Ox is much like Campbell in that he needs a good run in the team to get back into form. It was was only a matter of weeks ago that Campbell was being slated and now he has come on leaps and bounds.
Ginge – Do think Freddie can talk Calvin into designing and supplying the kit for the U15’s? Just think a whole team with red Mohawk hair and fancy CK uniforms.
I must have scared everyone away. So, I’m off to bed.
Night CG.
Arsenal are freezing ticket prices for next season tickets are getting cheaper. ?
Sorry to have missed you Cg..
Evening guys….
Evening, not much happening this evening are we playing tomorrow
I know, really quiet Joe…
Liverpool 1 down
1-1
Come on Exeter…
Night a
Evening yoi two….
Evening Bt…
Sorry Rico, i am enjoying a rather large lemon muffin…..
Have we signed anyone yet?…lol
Time for me to say goodnight too…
Catch up tomorrow…
Night guys
🙂 Bt… And no…
Night Bt…
Goodnight Rico,Boss, Gaffer…..
Slip not so sure.
Tom Nicholls looks a bit of a player.
Just what the doctor ordered, a replay for Liverpool…. ?
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
3 years ago today King Arthur came back to save the day for his kingdom……..
Morning Devil and all…
New post up now…