Strong Team For Tonight Confirmed. Diaby Set For Start….

Morning all.

Mathieu Debuchy will be out for at least three months after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle. Dreadful news for Arsenal, dreadful news for the player.

He has had surgery and will be out for three months. A reasonable delay is three months.

It all went well, but it can be a week or two earlier or a week or two later, but it will be around three months.

It is a blow of course, how big it will be we will only know afterwards because it will be down to how well we replace him. We bought Calum Chambers for that.

Funny that, I thought Calum Chambers was signed to replace Thomas Vermaelen! Silly me, no-one was signed to replace our captain!!

Gutted for Debuchy though, he’s slotted in so well and wham, injured! We really don’t get much luck do we……

Still, now we will have two new signings around Christmas time, him and Olivier Giroud!

Some good news though re Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry:

Theo is doing very well, and Gnabry is doing very well too. They should be available after the international break for full training.

Southampton in the Capital Cup tonight and we can expect a few changes tonight if the squad details given out by Arsene Wenger are true.

Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin, Isaac Hayden, Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi are all included, as is David Ospina.

Arsene Wenger has been talking about Akpom:

I’m happy that he has developed as a goalscorer, because when he was a younger kid, his problem was finishing. That has gone now. He’s a very good finisher and he has now to learn the tactical side of his game. Then he will be ready, because he is a huge talent.

And about Isaac Hayden:

He’s a ball winner, he’s a good central defender and a good central midfielder. Technically he was working on his game a bit, but now he is ready for that level.

We all saw Hector Bellerin make his Champions League debut and he far from let himself down and he was certainly nowhere near being any worse than most of our players that night. I think he’ll start.

We could finally get to see Joel Campbell too and to be honest, him playing has been long overdue and at least we’ll see him getting back to help out our right back!

Nacho Monreal and Yaya Sanogo remain injured so won’t feature. Sanogo injured, now there’s a shock!

But a bigger shock is Abou Diaby, he’s set to make his 2014/15 season debut tonight after playing a couple of matches for the under 21’s and have being a substitute at the weekend.

40 injuries Diaby has suffered during the eight years he’s been with us and now at 28 years old, Wenger hopes his future is a good one:

He’s a giant mentally. To do what he has done, with the severe injuries he had, he comes back every time, is dedicated and he deserves a lot of respect.

I’m a huge believer in his quality and I’m sad as well that he couldn’t show it more. If there is some justice, the future will be much better for him.

I hope the future will be much better for him too, I really do as to have suffered the way he has is rotten. How he’s still with us though I’ll never know but that’s a different issue. I hope for our sake and his, he stays fit and can offer the team something different in midfield.

At least he brings a little more height into the team as will Isaac Hayden..

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has promised the 5000 travelling fans that he will field his strongest squad tonight:

Okay, it’s a difficult match, it’s the League Cup. But what I said before, in the League Cup against Millwall, we like to win everything.

If a player’s in good shape, he’s able to play. We don’t take risks, but normally we like to play our strongest squad for Tuesday.

I think it’s going to be a tough match if too many changes are made by Arsene Wenger but in this competition, that’s what he likes to do..

Fingers crossed whoever gets the nod, has a bit of fire and passion in their bellies…

COYRRG’s – let’s get through to the next round…..

Have a great day all……

 

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Lewis
Lewis
11 years ago

Morning all.

Nice post rico. Hope to god diaby can stay fit this season, more for his own sanity!

Interested to see the squad tonight, koeman has said he’ll field his strongest 11 so it will be a stern test for our second string. None of our first 11 should be anywhere near this game IMHO. Rest them.

TONYBEE (@TBINJ)
TONYBEE (@TBINJ)
11 years ago

we need a bit of exp in that team like other teams do

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

morning all!
Not Zelalen tonight. He played yesterday for U-21 (1-2 defeat).
The problems is in back. We haven’t 4 fresh players. Monreal is out. Gibbs need a rest. Kos and Mets need a rest too because they played international games. Play with Chambers is a risk.

potter
potter
11 years ago

It will be the same problem all season , when we have the ball , no real problems but when they have it :- Cover your eyes and think of England.

Tai Emeka Obasi
Tai Emeka Obasi
11 years ago

Morning rico, All…

Nice post.

There’s no better time than now to blood and examine players that must step up to cushion our inadequate summer business as well as our usual unlucky spell with injuries. Ospina, Hayden, Bellerin, Diaby, Campbell are all just one injury to relevant first team players to be called to action. The COC should forever be used to help the main team. Rosicky may captain the team.

Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Hayden, Coq, Flamini, Diaby, Rosicky, Campbell, Akpom, Ox…my preferred line-up.

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

yes Bellarin, Haydn, Ajahi and Coquelin? (the left back was played yerterday and was the cap…)
Ospina gk; Flamini,Diaby,Rosicky,Ox?, …. Akpom and Campbell or Podorslky

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

or Podorsky left back, Coquelin in the middle…

Gonerjoe
Gonerjoe
11 years ago

From the the last post Rico if you could see Giroud’s injury coming a ball breaks a bone or Debuchy jumping up with no one around him and both out till January .
Rico can you email next months lotto numbers 🙂

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

Poldoski left back?that’s a joke huh?what I love about †̥ђis moment is how we fans are guessing/predicting †̥ђƺ line up,its kind of interesting.

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

Joe seems obsessed with lotto

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

How’s the erection going Rico?

Gonerjoe
Gonerjoe
11 years ago

Sukky it’s the only way I am going to be able to afford a season ticket

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Kev, i was afraid to ask?..lol

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

BT, there’s nothing more disappointing than an erection that flops….

Gonerjoe
Gonerjoe
11 years ago

Injuries every season never a truer word but boy do we get some strange ones and they are always long term.

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

†̥ђƺ question is why always arsenal?injury,injury,injuries every season.I’ve been blaming it on bad luck for a very long time but last season,I got †̥ђƺ answer.Wenger is †̥ђƺ problem.I will tell you why if you ask….lol

Gonerjoe
Gonerjoe
11 years ago

Yep sukky Wenger goes out on the pitch and kicks crap out of our players. 🙂

Gonerjoe
Gonerjoe
11 years ago

Rico it seems to me that jenk’s should be brought back

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Gj, if that’s true, i wish he would stop it…lol

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Good post Rico, i’m looking forward to tonight, the return of the King…..should you not be supervising the “big…..”..?

Gonerjoe
Gonerjoe
11 years ago

F west ham 🙂
It’s also not fair to Arsenal Jenks is our player and we are down a couple of 19 year old ‘s.
I know he’s on a year long loan but the should be a call back clause for injuries.

Wavy
Wavy
11 years ago

Morning all.
Rico you mention both Debuchy and Theo in the post. They are both out with self inflicted injuries, serious injuries at that. They were both hurt chasing an almost uncontested ball and, correct me if I’m wrong but they were both in nearly the same spot on the Emirates turf! Coincidence or just chance? I wonder if beneath that piece of turf lies the “cursed” spuds shirt, allegedly planted by one of the ‘builders’ during the Emirates erection!! Or is it just a myth. But strange, very, very strange. The similarities may be worth investigating!
Or am I just off on one……?

Tonight we should win and our shadow team should display their class and efficiency. 2-1 to the Arsenal.

COYRRs

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, i just knew you would be “hands on”…lol…getting mee coat…

Bob John
Bob John
11 years ago

Hi all
I’d like to see
Ospina,
Bellerin, Hayden, Ajayi, Flamini
Coq, Diaby
Campbell, Rosicky, Podolski
Akpom

Subs; Bould, Rice, Wilson, Gatting, Primorac, Brady, Gazidis

rogerbij
rogerbij
11 years ago

You know what, I bet we’ll see Sanogo tonight…

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Well I did offer to help Rico.

Even with a bad back… 😉

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Roger, hope we see him sitting in the stands……

kel
kel
11 years ago

Nice post, imo we shouldn’t play chambers per kos or gibbs…. wenger has left us criminally short at the back, we must prioritise… If we lose so be it, we quite simply do not have the depth for premier league, champ league and carling cup. Imo

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Just checked for streaming of the game, plenty of links…yipee!!!!

Nickie
Nickie
11 years ago

I’m going tonight so I hope to see the strongest (within reason) team out lol

roundleather
roundleather
11 years ago

So much injury worries,bt We have a pretty strong ‘non-starters’ team.I wnt mind risking Kos,as CB pair of Calum & Hayden/Ajayi wld be a big gamble.

Ospina,Hector,Calum,Kosc,LeCoq-
Flamini,Diaby,Jack,Tomas-
Poldi,Joel.
Sub: Ajayi,Sczc,Hayden,Akpom,Zelalem,Gibbs,Oxld.

George
George
11 years ago

Bould on the subs bench looool .Afternoon all

We will have a mixed bag tonight.

Ospina
Gibbs hayden ajayi bellerin
diaby rosicky
Sanchez ox Campbell
Podolski

Subs: wilshere, Chambers, Akpom, Martinez, coquelin,Ramsey

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, define dodgy?

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

George,I think that team is a risk.We have spud and chelshit on †̥ђƺ door and we are using our best players for less important match.Ozil,kosser,mart,Gibbs,Rambo,JW10,alexie,welbeck,CC21 and WS01 shouldn’t be seen tonight not even on †̥ђƺ bench.

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

I will remove OX and alexie from your starting IX @ George

snaparse
snaparse
11 years ago

hi Rico and the house I would like us to rest as much first team players as we can…..don’t want anymore injuries time to give the youth some game time and see who Is ready for the step up….should be a good game diaby vs Morgan……..let’s hope he comes out injury free…..nice post between

George
George
11 years ago

Sukky I think we should rest Ox and sanchez, but i think the boss will start them or at least play them 45 mins….

Reason i left flamster out is because he plays his best game always vs the yids and could be vital vs chelsea

Something tells me Diaby wont make 45 mins

Wavy
Wavy
11 years ago

I read somewhere that Wenger reckons he’s got at least 10 players, yes 10 players who want to play in defence but he just can’t make up his mind who to play or where!
There’s talk of Cazorla and Bellerin playing CB! They can run through the oppositions legs and bite them en route!
Criminally short of defenders has to be the understatement of this season so far. We are bereft of any quality cover at the back. It’s dereliction of duty, sackable in most other forms of employments! But not at the Arsenal!
The starting eleven will be interesting, to say the least! Full or nearly full of first teamers shows intent, but it is risky from an injury point of view, or a second eleven that may well lose and then we will find ourselves overstocked with silver polish! Mix and match, we should win.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Is it up yet Rico?

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Builders dinner time…Rico

potter
potter
11 years ago

At least they are there Rico :- I am waiting for a delivery of some racking , it should have been here yesterday , all I can get from the tracking number is that they are out for delivery today up to 9.30 tonight. I phoned YODEL the carrier and the company that dispatched them and can get no further information . If they turn up when the match is on they can bring them back tomorrow. 2 wasted days , not that they care, they have my money.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, builders are a hungry lot….lol

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Potter, sounds all to familiar…Hermes is another quality outfit.

Micko
Micko
11 years ago

Bunch of shed-heads rico !

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, Kev and myself, would have had it up by now, knocked back a few chilled ones and admired our good work…

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Micko. King of The Kingdom, have you stopped yet?

Micko
Micko
11 years ago

Some session sunday Bt, had to take the day off yesterday, think I might have had an outer body experience at one point !

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Just as suspected Micko…lol
Did you have a ticket for the game? Wasn’t on live up here for some reason.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, between Kev and myself, we’d have started with one good back and ended with none, but the erection would have been finished..lol

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, ref streaming , have being using for years, keep security updated, never download anything, the one i use mainly seems to contain adware. Go to full screen seems to negate having to close down each one…Though checking out a box at the minute which gives all sport, at a yearly fee…Will keep you informed, if interested…

Micko
Micko
11 years ago

No chance Bt, they were rarer than rocking horse shit !

It does make me laugh being linked to players in Jan when the transfer window has just shut, all the decent players will be cup tied, we’ll no doubt be linked to Khedira again he’ll end up going back home for free in the summer, don’t want him now anyway, it was this summer or never.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, at the moment, i mainly stream through First Row Sport, Vip Box and Wiziwig…Though FRS has become really ad happy, Dortmund game on WW was good, when working, which was unusual for it..My mate’s son recently got a box of Amazon, £60 odd and i think £35 for the year, i’ll check it out with him..

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Micko, i thought you were in the Know…..

Wavy
Wavy
11 years ago

I’m a bit troubled by Kev’s avatar! Especially when it has its tongue out, seemingly smacking its lips and saying, “is it up yet, Rico?”
It reminds me of dark wet nights and old men in dirty raincoats!
Lol

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, no i’ve never downloaded anything to my knowledge, just went to site, clicked on link and away you go, have you used the other 2 in the past?

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Wavy where do you hangout at night? i’d be very worried….lol

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, Arsene loves a joke….

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, exactly isn’t always we who suffer… I’d be very weary if anything told me to download Java, a lot of fake exploit Java downloads, knocking about. Java in it’s own form, i’m led to believe is bad enough, though not to be confused with Java Script, which is a different thing.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, does it come up in pop up form and have you been sucking strawberry liquorice ? lol

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

BT & me would have had it all done by now Rico.
A couple of beers and a bowl of soup (correct spoons of course) is all it would have taken

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Nevermind about my tongue Mr Purple Mush… 🙂

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Not sure about Mick being ‘In the Know’…

More like ‘In the Saloon’….

Best place to be as it goes…

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

OK, that’s me tea break over, a couple more jobs then mosey on down Liverpool Rd to find a parking space…

Some of the finest people you’ll ever meet originate from Liverpool Road.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

COYFRRG

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, have you tried it recently?

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Kev, always thought Micko was a bit of cowboy….A very happy one after Sunday.

potter
potter
11 years ago

Still waiting for the stuff , better have a good result to cheer me up.

potter
potter
11 years ago

Ospina , Bellerin , Chambers , Hayden , Coquelin, Rosicky , Diaby , Wilshere , Sanchez , Campbell , Podolski.

Chances to shine for some, strong enough ??????

Tai Emeka Obasi
Tai Emeka Obasi
11 years ago

Pretty strong squad…without Ramsey to duplicate things, this will be Wilshere’s chance to claim MOTM. Hope Diaby gets through 90 mins. With Schnederlin and Wayama…the 28-year old won’t get any favours.

southyorkshiregunner
southyorkshiregunner
11 years ago
southyorkshiregunner
southyorkshiregunner
11 years ago

cricfree is easy rico. You are just pressing the wrong ‘X’. Look closer

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Syg.correct you need to watch the x’s…

southyorkshiregunner
southyorkshiregunner
11 years ago

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? I think there’s 3 x’s – two will kick other wensites up – the other will let you watch it in whatever language it is … Russian, Turkish or Iranian or something …. He mentions Wenger rather a lot …

southyorkshiregunner
southyorkshiregunner
11 years ago

website not wensite

southyorkshiregunner
southyorkshiregunner
11 years ago

Off hand Rico – the dead little one – top right….

southyorkshiregunner
southyorkshiregunner
11 years ago

Jesus Christ – defence all over place

AndrewH13
AndrewH13
11 years ago

Evening all, big match for a lot of our players. Now we know why Sanchez was dropped, save him for tonight! Our midfield going to be in a tough battle tonight. If Diaby gets through this well, could be very useful. I have my doubts against Shned but let’s hope for best.

AndrewH13
AndrewH13
11 years ago

Already syg, doesn’t bode well?

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago

Morning, afternoon, evening all.
I have no bloody idea what time it is hahaha
In Hawaii, it’s 9am.

AndrewH13
AndrewH13
11 years ago

Sounds a great free kick!

AndrewH13
AndrewH13
11 years ago

Sanchezzzzzz

scottfromoz
scottfromoz
11 years ago
AndrewH13
AndrewH13
11 years ago

Listen on five live Rico?

potter
potter
11 years ago

Go to wiziwig go to the match find one with flash player and press live. It will say play download but ignore that and find the tiny x in a little box in the square not the normal one . do this for a few adverts and you will get a half screen of the match

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Why am I in moderation Rico?

Have I been a naughty boy??

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

difficult game.
Cline is good rico

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico,…….Patsy hit a corker

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Kev, with your back…lol

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Like Hayden, he looks very comfortable on the ball…

Bellerin lacks a bit of strength but he never gives up, I like him.

Diaby started really well ax did Wilshere, but maybe Southampton made a tactical change, as their influence seemed to fade.

Schneiderlin is a dirty shit.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, it did move towards the end, did give him a bit to aim at..

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

BT, my back is a constant problem, I need a pair of Micks, Foster Grants. 🙂

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Kev, i feel your pain mate……

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

We are not well in the game
Schneiderling is dirty shit???

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

We are always very expose!
Why we not shoot outside area?

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

Podolsky much play and appear much more !

Lewis
Lewis
11 years ago

Poldi needs moved on.

Lewis
Lewis
11 years ago

Not surprising. Strong saints team. Annoyed Akpom didn’t get a proper run.

AndrewH
AndrewH
11 years ago

Best chance of a trophy but too thin a defence

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

and we are out.
The first one.
We were very predictable, expose and nervous with the score.
however, there are players, that the deadline were arrived very quickly and we must think that what we were doing for instance, not will come more, One of them is Rosicky. He is not the machine that was.
Think about it, but the speed of execution is no longer the same.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Rico, no bottle for me, something more organic me thinks….

potter
potter
11 years ago

It was on the cards , not a night for experimentation with the way they approached it . They are near the top but realistically they know their chances of winning the league are slim so they are concentrating on the cups . Can’t blame them if I were them I would do the same . By resting our first team we gave them the opportunity to use their strength to just hold us off.
Bellerin and Hayden looked good but I think it’s time for Coquelin to go gracefully as for the Diaby I thought he wanted to stroll through the game but Wanyama and Schneiderlin wouldn’t let him. Podolski like Rosicky looked stale , they both need games and now that we are out of this they will not get them.

Bt62 Gooner
Bt62 Gooner
11 years ago

Night Rico, i’ll have the info on the box 2morrow,

emma
emma
11 years ago

Impressed with Hayden. Got the same attribute as Calum. He is calm, composed and intelligent. Diaby our new DM? He was impressive as well. Bellerin looks great. Just gutted that Akpom wasn’t picked from the start.
We played 10 v 11. Has anyone found Podolski?

Joaquim Moreira
Joaquim Moreira
11 years ago

Podolsky is there but where? He never be where the ball is and never be “on the horizon” of the player who has the ball

Judge me in May
Judge me in May
11 years ago

Evening rico and all,
I think Rosisky had the worst game in arsenal shirt.. He definitely
looked out of sort and conceded unnecessary penalty.
Poldsky squandered the only chance he had and then disappeared into oblivion..
Sanchez great free kick, but that all..
Midfield of Wilshere and Diaby did ok I think except they should have closed down Clyde superb goal..
Defensively Arsenal didn’t have to do much imo..
I thought Campbell was excellent and needed a better movement in front of him..
Ox was magnificent when he came on..
To me Arsene should have substituted the ineffective poldi and the out of for Rosisky.. But I guess he was the captain and was too big a call for Wenger to make..
Le coq did ok as made shift left back.. Miles better than monreal imo..

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

I love that match….so much that A̶̲̥̅♍ smiling as A̶̲̥̅♍ typing right now.Diaby is classy,calm and very intelligent.If he can remain fit,he will displace arteta without a sweat.I love Isaac,he’s compose and calm.Bellerin is great too while campell is electrifying.Poldoski was a passager,he just keep watching.Rosicky need games to be back.Ospina is okay as back up.Le coq is good as ever(lol)

GunnerFromGhana
GunnerFromGhana
11 years ago

I’m hurt with this loss!
Can’t sleep !

potter
potter
11 years ago

We all asked what the 3% was for , well here we have it .
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/23/stan-kroenke-arsenal-dividend-fans-anger

Sukky
Sukky
11 years ago

Lol,you can’t sleep?A̶̲̥̅♍ happy we lost

Wavy
Wavy
11 years ago

Clyne = Danny Rose = same result!
Shame we probably won’t see much more of Hayden, Campbell, Bellerin, Akpom, Podolski, Rosicky, Ospina, etc. when will they get any game time now?
Not sorry that the
Eagle cup will not be cleaned with our shiver Polish, a small but significant saving. More money to spend on a new defender or two, maybe?

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Agree with Judge, easily the worst performance I’ve seen from Rosicky.
I know it was his first game of the season in the 1st team.
But I was still expecting more from him.
In fact it was the first start for seven of our starting XI, a risk that showed how little Wrnger thinks of this competition…

Now it’s the FACup or bugger all for us this season…

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Yeah Potter, I read that….disgraceful behaviour IMHO!
At least we know where we stand!

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger remained firm on his decision to field an inexperience defence, but revealed that his injury struck back-line finally took its toll on the squad following his side’s 2-1 lost against Southampton in the Capital One Cup, Skysports.

The loss saw the Gunners get knocked out of the domestic competition for the first time in 12 years as an on-form Saints squad registered there first ever win at the Emirates.

Wenger refrained from blaming his defenders as he believes his opponents were the better side and deserved their win.

“It’s disappointing because we had a good start and we made two unneeded errors on the two goals – and big ones,” he said.

“We lacked a bit of experience at the back, but overall they did well. We gave a lot and it’s frustrating not to be able to score in the second half.

“When you look at the amount of possession we had, we have to give credit to Southampton, they played well and were well organised.

“They abused a bit the fouls in the middle of the park, but they are a good side and they played well tonight. Overall it is frustrating because we gave a lot.”

The French boss decided to field Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Issac Hayden, and Francis Coquelin in the back four, in order to allow his first-team players to get back to full fitness.

“We are a bit short, yes, because of the injuries we have,” Wenger added.

“You sit there and think: (Kieran) Gibbs had a little hamstring problem and we could not play him, (Per) Mertesacker is a bit on the edge, and then we have no choice.

“I think if we lost the game tonight, it’s not because of Hayden, not because of Chambers and not because of Coquelin. You have to be realistic.”

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Beggar’s belief….
Morning Rico and all…..

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Syphoning……….

Lewis
Lewis
11 years ago

Morning all. Not that bothered about last nights result. We haven’t got the squad to compete on all fronts, we all know who’s fault that is. Now our squad gets a rest when the Carling cup(or whatever it’s called) come round.

Adam
Adam
11 years ago

Morning Rico and all. I never saw the game but am not surprised at the result. Whenever I hear a Wenger press conference these days and hear him going on about the enormous amount of players he has to pick from, I know we must be short handed. He is the master of deception, or so he thinks, but the fact is that he has come up short when it comes to equipping the squad adequately for the 4, make that 3, competitions we are supposed to win and that surely must be one of the main parts of his job description. I see he reckons he has bought Chambers as a right back and will use him to replace Debuchy? Who did he buy to replace Vermaelen or recently departed captain? Am I wrong in believing that I heard him say that, should TV go, he would replace him?
Still, the Happy Clappers will be along soon to prove me wrong with their heat signature stats.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Stan may have pocketed only £3million, but that’s only the beginning…

He was hoping that only a small amount would escape notice, but that greedy bastard will be back for more…
A parasite is just that, a parasite…

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

Morning All,
I remember when tommy went,being told on here from one of the regulars that it was good business for the club,can your believe that,
would love that one explained to me.
Other than that we got a chance to see Issac,love this lad,
him and jack front up the oppisition….Arsenal Boys.
Just not enough of them yet.
Thought all the second tier lads done well…………………..
Poldoski and little tommy lacked fitness.

Wavy
Wavy
11 years ago

Morning all

But there was a time when he could send out the second eleven and we would have won 6-2!
So where have all the players gone? Where are the crop of talented youngsters itching to play first team football? Where has the Arsenal mojo gone?
Gone to Kronke, every one, or rather another 3m extorted from the club we love! Gone to Texas all of it! When will we ever learn? Not until the yanks we spurn. When will we ever learn?
To the tune of Peter, Paul and. Mary’s famous song gone with the wind.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

I wonder what Wenger has to say on the matter?

He sets himself up as an economical genius, saving the club money so that it is in a good state when he eventually leaves. Well there ya you twat, Syrup just helped himself to £3m, what do you have to say?

“I did no zee it”…..

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Wavy, the answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.
The answer is blowing in the wind.

Morning All btw.

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

The best way to rate a player rico is consistency,at his level and thats very good,
The top football finds players out…so not sure yet.
Look at Chambers the boys amazing.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Hayden is the real deal Rico, morning btw, he’s big, strong, puts his foot in, at one point he surged forward, a couple of Southampton players bounced off of him, and instead of looking for another infernal pass, he actually had a shot…

As Fred so pointedly said, an Arsenal lad who ‘feels it’ like the fans.

I’d be happy to see him playing more regularity and it may explain Wenger’s inertia in signing a replacement for Verm.

BrainwashedKev
BrainwashedKev
11 years ago

Not signing

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

Wenger takes 8million a year……………………Every year.

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Worth every penny in my book! I’d give Wenger a Morecombe & Wise if it were up to me…… did you see his heat map whilst aboard Dein’s gin palace off of the cote d’azur? Unfucking believable……

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

He was playing Ozil on the starboard side to start with, then the port side…..travesty!

kel
kel
11 years ago

With the defence being so thin, it really is time to priortise we have 14 PL fixtures until the January Tw opens. Imo mert kos gibbs should only be played in these.

Forget the champions league fixtures, zero chance of winning it, no depth to compete in it….

Last night’s result disappointing yes, surprising no.

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

Lee……Bring me sunshine.

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

It’s not like this shit has happened before is it Fred?

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

Bring me sunshine in your smile
Bring me laughter all the while
In this world where we live
There should be more happiness
All the joy can give
Te each brand new bright tomorrow
Make me happy through the years
Never bring me any tears

Let your arms be as warm
As the sun from up above
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love

Bring me sunshine in your eye
Bring me a rainbow from the sky
Life’s too short to be spent having anything but fun
We can be so content if we gather little rainbows
Make me happy all the long
And I’ll keep singing my happy songs

Let your arms be as warm
As the sun from up above
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love

Make me happy all long
And I’ll keep on singing my happy songs

Let your arms be as warm
As the sun from up above
Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love

frednerk
frednerk
11 years ago

The season ticket holders,the fans that go every game,the fans that have been taken to games and now take(family) to games,and the fans that just cant give up the ticket.
Thats what stans banking on.Lee

Lee
Lee
11 years ago

The sceptic has them (fans) over a barrel……….. the sooner he fucks off the better!