Morning all.
Having been totally overwhelmed by our performance against Watford on Sunday lunchtime, I forgot to mention a few things. As the kids say, ‘my bad!’ Those things were worth celebrating too, well, for some. Like Petr Cech for finally reaching the grand and record breaking 200 clean sheets in the Premier League. I bet The Ritz has beaten that. If that wasn’t exciting enough, then how about Mustafi scoring our 1000th Premier League goal? It doesn’t stop there either as Mesut Ozil notched up the fasted 50 assists recorded and finally, Arsene Wenger secured his 700th victory as Arsenal manager. 700 which I’ve worked out to be an average of around 33 a year. I’d imagine the first ten year average was marginally higher than the last eleven. Anyway, it matters not, we’re still pretty average in what we’re doing on the pitch.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan won the player of the month award for February on the official site which no doubt was down to his three assists in the defeat of Everton, followed by a couple more in Sweden against Ostersunds. The goal of the month though went to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his cheeky little chip over the Everton keeper Jordan Pickford. Who cares if he was offside eh…..
Sky Sports clearly want to capture more goodies dished up by the Arsenal team as they’ve waded in and moved our entire April fixtures just so they can broadcast them. This is how they now look, that’s if you didn’t know already.
Arsenal v Stoke City
Sunday 1st April – Kick-off 1.30pm
Arsenal v Southampton
Monday, April 9th – Kick-off: 8pm
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Sunday, April 15th – Kick-off: 1.30pm
Arsenal v West Ham United
Monday, April 23rd – Kick-off: 8pm
Manchester United v Arsenal
Sunday, April 29 – Kick-off: 4.30pm
At least we ‘non real’ fans will now be able to watch the boys from the comfort of our armchair, unlike the ‘real’ fans who were in attendance on Sunday. Well, that’s what the paps are suggesting Mkhitaryan said after our victory over Watford. If that’s true, he’s got no chance of winning the March player of the month has he? He’s been quoted by beIN Sports as saying:
We’re always playing for the fans, it doesn’t matter if they could have come today or not. We’re always playing for those who come and support us; [those] who are really coming and supporting us are real fans.
“[To those] who are coming to the stadium just when we are winning we have nothing to say. Just thanks to the fans who were supporting.”
Seriously, I can’t believe for one minute he’d be as daft as to make such a statement. Media mischief I’d imagine. A twist of words can make a lot of difference to what someone says.
We’ve just the one fixture left during this month and that’s Thursdays home tie against AC Milan. Winning that one and going through to the quarterfinals of the Europa Cup would be a nice way to head into the international break and Charlie Nicolas reckons that within a few days of this fixture, Arsenal, or rather Arsene Wenger will make a big announcement. Whilst previewing this weeks European fixtures for Sky Sports, he dropped this:
However, I also have a feeling that there might be an announcement by the manager either on Friday or over the weekend to confirm that he is going to step down in the summer, perhaps going upstairs, easing the tension and allowing the team to have a go for the Europa League without the same strain.
He knows the fans don’t hate him, they’re just angry with him, but it was the first time I’ve heard him use the word ‘hate’ and I just think he’s realising he needs to do something to ease the anger. I think when he looks up and sees 25,000 fans in the stadium he created that he’ll come to a decision that something has to change.
If only Charlie, if only……
Thanks Rico………..didn`t know there was a new post after until I commented, so here`s my edited last comment !………
I`ve heard Eastbourne has it`s own Zimmerframe League !………………………and have the worlds best player, goes by the name of Zimmerdine Zidane !
Never heard of .The Herd !…………………..The Film Green Street summed it up for me when one character said………………….West Ham have a great “firm”, but a shit team……………………….Arsenal have a great team, but a shit firm………………………………Totnumb have a shit firm and a shit team !…………………………….deserved an Oscar for best screen play imo ! hahaha
Why Charlie would make such a comment without some inside info is beyond me………….is it info or just an opinion ?…………….looks silly if Wenger is still here at start of new season !
People/pundits should all say before they speak whether it`s an opinion or they have it from a reliable source when making such comments
I shall look up Ornstein !
🙂
A very big statement to make Lc, I’m just hoping he knows something we now do. Mind you, he did just say he had a feeling…
Morning Rico and LC. I just re-read in your opener what CN said. It’s a strange thing to say ‘ I have a feeling’ we all have those. I have a feeling we are gonna trounce Milan at the Ems 3-0, doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen.
If however his ‘feeling’ is really inside info, it would be a relief for everyone I imagine.
Lol LCM, luv it. I am gonna quote that to my two nephews later. Both spud u lights I’m afraid. ‘ I have a feeling’ they ain’t gonna like it. Bovvered.
If AW was to announce he was leaving, every fan of the club should stop with the Wenger bashing, and let the old chap leave with dignity, knowing the fans don’t hate him.
‘I have a feeling’ some still will though.
He’s right bunch of fair weather fans who use the same pathetic excuses.Could you please post something about Gazidis especially what he said at the AST meeting about funds being held back because of the mortgage on the stadium.
“Keswick said the ‘self-financing’ model will continue & Arsenal has to cope with the challenges it brings. Mokbel reports the club is looking to boost the transfer budget (AST estimated £70m with EL qualification) with couple of sales starting with Bellerin”.What the fuck is Allegri or any other manager going to do if City keep on spending 250 mil per summer?
Hi Meerkat, fingers crossed he’s been told something by someone who knows eh. As we’ve all said though, it’s just a hunch..
Bzm, I take it you were singing ‘there’s only one Arsene Wenger’ at The Emirates on Sunday then?
No my friend I’m from Malta and can’t attend every weekend of course but if I did I would sing one arsene wenger.I hope there ins’t a problem in doing so or do I have to sing negative crap left,right and center in order to be understood now?
Well said bib zobbi, take no notice of rico, she’s as contrary as myself.
No bib, no problem at all, each to their own.
Most of us whilst agreeing that there is only one Arsene Wenger, would like to see him retire now and leave all this to someone younger. I beieve part of the problems stem from him being too paternal with players instead of giving them a rollicking when they deserve it.
I too worry about how a new man will manage on limited funds, but Wenger has to leave at some time, and now he is losing a lot of fans who are demanding a change of management. Best he walks rather than be hounded out.
Personally I find the thought of a new manager exciting for the club. Whether this board can find a good one however, remains to be seen. Would they even know one if they tripped over him?
I hope that they and AW have a plan to implement this, because if not we are all in for a rough ride and real trouble.
There are very few top ( Pep) managers who would want the job if they are aware of the financial restrictions. There is a chance that we end up like Newcastle, no shortage of fans but an awful owner who never allows a manager money to buy the very best.
We probably need a good, young, enthusiastic coach, but where is he?
Not at all Bib, each to there own eh. I reckon you might feel different though had you been spending vast amounts of money on an ST over the last few years to watch the dross we play..
Micko, you old hoot.. ?
Meerkat. Exactly why I’ve always suggested Wenger must go before Kroenke because only then we’ll see who it is that doesn’t spend money. I’ve a sneaky feeling a new manager will spend the right money on players we need…
As for Pep, he wanted Arsenal over Man City but Wenger stood in his way. Kind of suggests money wouldn’t have been an issue..
Hope we fight for the 6th place.
The one that got away. Tbh, I doubt it actually got down to talking money. Pep was just putting his feelers out to see who might appeal to him.
I don’t doubt that he would have preferred London. Who wouldn’t?
The board would have come over all unnecessary and started having the vapours once money talk began in earnest.
No, I’m convinced, but really hope I’m wrong, that an ambitious manager like Pep, would not get his foot in the door.
I’m still hoping they have even heard of Simeone.
Jm, I reckon the league might take second place whilst we’re still in the Europa League..
We all know of Wenger`s best ever team/squad of players he could have signed……Messi/Ronaldo/Ibra etc`, but is the one we could have had in management ep) the biggest loss of all ?…………and yet again down to Wenger !………………..the man has a lot to answer for !, but as I still say, the bigger villain is Kroenke, he should have sacked Wenger as soon as Pep was available and putting out feelers to join us !………………….and Gazidis too, if Pep wanted us then Gazidis should have used his position as Wenger`s manager to act in the best interest of the club !
Too many bad decisions for too many years, but us fans only hear of the gross incompetence after the horse has bolted.
The only forward thinking act the club has made was the stadium move, but since then it has been backward thinking, too much was made of us becoming The Invincibles . we sat on our laurels thinking we had made it and slowly slid…………………………….
Good to see Napoleon humbled tonight.
22.51….. I smiled!?
Morning Rico and all.
A lot to enjoy at Old Trafford last night as the Portuguese Pulis got just about everything wrong.
N’Zonzi though, was imperious, As was the Seville defence.
Morning Adam and all.
Funny wasn’t it.
New post up.