Stalemate! Malcom, Evans & Pavon rumble on but does Arsene Wenger have a Plan B?

Morning all.

Not the most entertaining of games as far as Arsenal go but to stop Chelsea from scoring should be applauded, especially considering the defensive unit Wenger had to deploy because of injuries so well done to them and Ospina for keeping a clean sheet. This is a two legged tie and so many times over the years, certainly in the Champions League, a 0-0 result away from home would have been most welcome.

Chelsea had plenty of chances though, too many but yet again fluffed their lines. For us though, chances were few and far between.

I still don’t understand what Alex Iwobi brings to the team. For everything he might do well which isn’t much imo , he holds the ball too long or tries one extra touch and ends up losing possession. Add to that his partying incident prior to the Notts Forest defeat, he should be firmly plonked in the naughty corner, he really should. Iwobi is set to be fined for the incident apparently and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s £40,000, enough to cover Wenger’s own fine by the FA.

The second leg is straight forward. Keep a clean sheet and score a goal, then we’ll be heading to Wembley to face either Man City or Bristol City. City are no way guaranteed to go through, not with Bristol being at home and with an away goal in the bag. Anything could happen there. City do have relatively easy League fixtures before and after that second leg, certainly on paper and both Chelsea and we do too although I think the West London outfit have one more fixture to fit in during the time between now and then.

For us, getting to Wembley could turn out to be important as if City win the league, regardless of whether they beat us in the final if we both get there, it could be our best chance to ensure we stay in Europe next season, albeit the smaller of the two European competitions. No, I don’t expect us to finish in the top four, nor do I believe we have a hope in heck of lifting the Europa League Cup. We might though finish in a Europa spot, that’s if we don’t have a further drop in our performances and that can’t be dismissed imo.

The big disappointment last night was watching Jack Wilshere suffer an injury. The ball hit his leg/ankle with some force but hopefully it’s nothing serious. He’ll be a huge miss if it is. Chambers too looked like he suffered a nasty injury but thankfully he was soon back up on his toes.

For us now it’s a trip to Bournemouth on Sunday lunchtime and goodness knows who’ll be fit for that one. Added to the injured who’ll be missing, Francis Coquelin will be gone by then after Arsenal and Valencia have agree a £12 million deal which will take the Frenchman to Spain where he’ll join up with Gabriel again. Good luck to him I say.

Walcott, Sanchez and Ozil are still linked with a move away this month although my hunch is Ozil might yet decide to stay in North London. It’s just a matter of time before Alexis is seen flaunting himself in a light blue shirt I think and it seems Big Sam wants Theo. Strange that as I don’t recall him picking Walcott for England.

On the ins, we’ll it’s all speculation and media rubbish I know but we’re linked with one or two and who knows, for once, there might be some truth to them…..

Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira, simply known as Malcom (not surprised) is rumoured to be heading to Arsenal if we and Bordeaux agree a fee or we meet his buyout clause – not sure which it is as I got bored reading. Anyway he’s supposed to be seen as a replacement for Alexis.

The Gunners also like Argentinean giants Boca Juniors’ forward Cristian Pavon, 21, and are watching developments with him closely. The fee there is likely to be around £30m. (Mirror)

Jonny Evans is sat playing Rock Paper Scissors whilst trying to decide whether to join us or Man City apparently. Well I think it’s a simple choice for him. If he wants to play football, choose Arsenal but if he wants to win trophies whilst watching from the bench quite often, choose City. Alternatively, stay where he is. City have held talks with him according to The Mirror.

If Evans chooses City though, I wonder if Wenger has a plan b…..?

49 thoughts on “Stalemate! Malcom, Evans & Pavon rumble on but does Arsene Wenger have a Plan B?

  1. kelsey says:

    CdS and other sources report that #AFC and Ancelotti have verbally agreed a €10m per year contract, with his job at the Emirates Stadium set to begin in the 2018/19 campaign.

    True or false, and what implications if true.

    It is clear AW is out of the loop more and more with the back-room stuff going on, it is said he didn’t even know we were bringing in Mavropanos, the board sanctioned that due to Diamondeye and don’t expect heavy spending this window at all.

  2. rico says:

    That could just be the rumour gathering pace Kelsey for hits.

    I’d love it to be true though.

    I think Wenger admitted Mavropanos was a Sven spot but IF his arrival was done behind Wenger’s back or without his approval, it does suggest that changes are not far off.

  3. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all from a sunny but cold Launceston, thank you Rico for another fine post.

    I still cant get over the FA Cup debacle and have no feeling whatsoever over last nights game take it or leave, dont really care as it`s a competition that runs our European exploits of direness a close second or does it beat it ?………………………2 League Cup triumphs and 2 European triumphs…………..basically we`re shit at both, so you can see why I love the FA Cup so much and am so upset by the Forrest loss and it`s all down to one man……………please go asap.

  4. Goonster says:

    Hmmmm things are shaping up ma’am wow are we really gonna rid ourselves of this French twat?? Oh my I can’t contain my excitement. ancelloti will make us great again then in a few years arteta and titi could take over.

  5. Le Coq Monster says:

    I`d take Arteta now as he knows Peps secrets ……………………………and a curve ball of Santi Cazorla and Cesc Fabregas as his assisstants …………………….Santi can work on the defense !……hahaha

  6. Le Coq Monster says:

    I`m off to the gym to work on my six-pack !……………………I have a tattoo on each one……………Wenger, Kroenke, Gazidis, Sir Chips, Lord Harris and my Mother in Law !…………………………..makes me work them harder with pain !

  7. Goonster says:

    Well LC from what we gathered behind the scenes arteta is well versed and knowledgeable. Even while with us. Pep saw that and recruited him. Wengker didn’t. He ‘ll make a great manager someday. Would rather have him with us than against us. As for santi working on the defense? that’s all you.

  8. rico says:

    Thanks Lc. I don’t think Arteta is ready yet, give him a few more years of learning from Pep.

    Henry?? Well I once thought it would be good to have him back at the club but the way he’s been on Sky Sports, no thanks…

  9. Goonster says:

    Rico who ‘ll blame titi Wenger is a idiot. He made his most loyal acolyte apostate. That old crone alienates everyone he comes into contact with. We all know Tony Adams paddy v and merson can’t stand him.

  10. Goonster says:

    A proper arsenal man? Lol Rico you won’t find any bigger than titi. I see what you mean I love DB10 would take him in a minute but he’s settled at Ajax don’t think he ‘ll want to leave. Titi is and has always been arsenal poster boy for more than a decade now. He ‘ll have the pulling power Wenger had back in the day. Oh wait why not titi DB10 and arteta then ????

  11. Goonster says:

    Wenger ‘ll never to Maureen. Plus would alexis really want Maureen and manure??? Nah he’s city bound. I ‘ll rather see him in city blue than manure red.

  12. Goonster says:

    Nah Rico he wants England and his heart is set on city. Funny cause pep sold him once and might do it again.

  13. rico says:

    SS’s reckon both City and Utd have made us an offer for Alexis, now it’s down to the player…

    Twitter

    Kaveh Solhekol

    @SkyKaveh
    Sky in Italy: Manchester United want to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal & ready to include Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of deal

    12:41 PM – Jan 11, 2018
    214 214 Replies 1,607 1,607 Retweets 2,409 2,409 likes
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  14. Goonster says:

    He ‘ll choose pep ma’am. Maureen is a fading force much like Wenger. Nobody wants to play under that short cuss any more.

  15. rico says:

    I’d have thought so goonie, but only Alexis knows for sure.

    He’d probably get more playing time at Utd, but we should be asking for Martial or Rashford…

  16. Goonster says:

    Alexis know city at a cusp of something great.emulate the invincibles. He ‘ll want to be part of that history plus Maureen might not be at manure next season. The storms are gathering against him at old toilet too. Sanchez ‘ll want stability and a chance to win a few trophies with shitty. No chance he joins manure.

  17. Le Coq Monster says:

    If Alexis goes to Manshafter forget the decent swap like Rashford and Martial…………..we will get Sylvestre again !
    😆

  18. rico says:

    But Alexis demands to play, sulks when subbed etc etc, as Adam said a few weeks ago, will he accept that he possibly won’t be the star attraction at City?

    All speculation I know but we’ll soon find out where he’s going. More important for us imo is Arsene Wenger or better still, Sven, going to find us a proper CDM and defender before this window closes….

    Nipping out, laters..

  19. Goonster says:

    Rico anyone ‘ll sulk at arsenal.we are shit. Why won’t he sulk when he’s been replaced by dross. Imagine giving your best only to be subbed for sanogo!!! Come on rico?

  20. Kk says:

    Jose putting his nose in for sanchez might put his price up a little bit.
    He does that all the time. .he took Mata right from under our noses, and gazumped Willian from the scum after he had his medical there.
    I don’t know how Mekhatarian feels right now!

  21. rico says:

    Just saying Goonie… lol

    Afternoon guys, good point Kk, fingers crossed eh, although it might backfire if Pep is prepared then to wait until the summer.

  22. kelsey says:

    If we lose them both and Everton reported in The Telegraph are offering us 20 million for Walcott and matching his wages and Ancelotti is coming in we are just clearing the decks and we won’t see any major signings.
    Perez might come back as he is on loan, the greek kid is not going on loan.

    There must be something happening so I wager AW is off in May, hopefully to manage the national French team and get a statue or bench in his honour at our place,but please not to go upstairs.

    I never want us to lose but realistically we could lose out on top 4 or in the Europa League and two year out of CL will have an effect financially on the club IMO

  23. Goonster says:

    Hey AK thanks mate yeah am back in Arnhem for a few weeks. Brianna loves it. Learning new words everyday. How are you kev? Was rooting for you when uber got kicked out of London. Lol ?now you can go back to ripping unsuspecting tourist off. Lol

  24. Goonster says:

    Am getting giddy at the news seeping out of arsenal. If Wenger really leaves in May it ‘ll be a massive boost to us all. We must keep ozil at all cost. Sanchez is gone but ozil is noncomital so we could still persuade him to stay. Exciting times ahead huh?? COYGS

  25. Le Coq Monster says:

    CL money is dwarfed by EPL TV money nowadays after what 20 years of CL money you would think they put some of it away for this rainy day season and another possible one.

    Anyway if the coffers are low maybe our owner can put his hand in his own pocket just like CFG and Chavs owners do, it`s surprising how many trophies they have won by doing so !……………………..just in case you`re thick that last sentence was sarcasm ! hahahaha

    Good gym workout Kev`…………..touch wood I`m getting back to peak fitness after a year or so of constant injuries which all seem to coincide with running !……..so i`ve stopped running to leave my calf muscle time to recover long term, they are bastards calf muscles, takes a lot more time to heal than you would think…………………..also according to some sports experts, we were not made as humans to run silly long distances like a marathon or even 10K, as hunters and like some wild animals lions etc`, they only run so far to catch their pray, not 6 miles !, also high intensity weight training burns off more calories than running and is more beneficial for all the body !………….fcuk Im` going on a bit ! hahaha.

  26. Le Coq Monster says:

    Here`s an exercise that if any of you can do then I will take my hat off to you………………….I do 3 sets of 20 reps of it every day, great core strength exercise.

  27. allezkev says:

    Stan, I’ve been ripping off tourists all day mate, taking them on the scenic route and the long way, it’s brilliant… ?

    As for Uber, there’s too many big investors in them for them to go quietly, but a few more sexual assaults and peoples bank details getting stolen and you never know. ?

  28. allezkev says:

    Cocker, I do hope that your not one of those vain types who after every exercise goes and looks at himself in a mirror, I’ve seen a few of those when I used to do the gym.

    But I don’t need it now Cocker as I’m now at peak fitness and just need to keep myself ticking over with a cheese sandwich and a cup of tea.

    It’s good to be me… ?

  29. micko says:

    Don’t really see the point of exercising, it’s only a matter of time before some-one discovers it bad for you anyway !!!

    I know we have a singing section at the Emirates but we may have to add a save our arse section if we don’t get our house in order this transfer window, officially sick of this shit !

    Ancellotti, can he speak 4 languages as well, if so I say get him in tomorrow.

    Nite rico.

  30. Le Coq Monster says:

    One flaking old mirror in the gym Kev !………………it`s cold and no music…………..I call it ..The Groan Zone……. I miss a cheese sandwhich more than anything in my diet, but it`s probably one of the worst things for high collestral…………….

    Hahaha Micko……………………..I must say I do get more injuries now I exercise more than when I just did less.

    Ornstein saying Alexis will move in this Transfer Window if we can get a replacement !
    🙁

    The rumour of Mourinho in for him makes his selling price rise………………theory(conspiracy) of mine is Wenger is making the rumour !.

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