Morning Gooners.
Russia played on Friday night and no sign of Andrey Arshavin, I think I am right in saying he didn’t even make the make the bench.
What has happened to this Russian, the second most expensive player Arsene Wenger has bought, the player who scored four goals against Liverpool at Anfield? The player who used to stand out in the Russian team with his tricky, pace and skill, their captain and possibly one of the first names on their team sheet.
It’s fair to say that his game has done nothing but go downhill since he joined us in January, 2009.
He’s now 31 years old, surely he wants to finish his career playing the game he once loved so much, rather than as a viewer week in week out?
It can’t be fun!
Lukas Fabianski, our number two goal keeper under Alumina, and technically remains in that position today under Szczesny but over the recent weeks/months, he has seen Mannone move ahead of him. He was injured during the summer but I thought he regained fitness before heading off with Poland but returned with another injury.
Speaking on September 13th , Arsene Wenger said:
Lukasz Fabianski is out with a shoulder problem. He has come back from Poland with a shoulder problem.
Surely his shoulder has recovered by now so why is he not playing?
Just like Arshavin, Fabianski isn’t a bad player, he just lacks confidence and he won’t get that by sitting watching week in week out, nor will he ever be Poland’s number one keeper if he’s not playing and he’s always said that is his aim. Before this season kicked off Lukasz made it clear he was out to be our top keeper but it seems Arsene Wenger doesn’t agree. He’s 27 years old, still young in goal keeping years and it’s time he did what is right for his career and his future.
We need to either let him move on, or loan him out to a club where he is going to play every week, get his confidence back and then just maybe his future could still be with us but I suspect he’s fed up with waiting……
Finally, we can’t talk exit’s without Marouane Chamakh’s name appearing and it seems Bordeaux want him back as we all know but will he go?
In his forty appearances for us since joining in 2010, he has managed just eight goals, most of which came in his first months and credit where it’s due, he did us proud back then when he was virtually the only striker we had but as we all know, you are only as good as your last game and his last few really have been poor.
He’s a bit like the previous two mentioned, he’s low on confidence and he won’t get it back from watching us play. Nowadays, he doesn’t even make our squad, let alone the bench and at 28 years old, he’s another player who needs to be playing.
Many a rumour is doing the rounds that come January, Wenger is going to sign another striker. He’s given up on Park and it seems he’s ready to give up on Chamakh too and I can’t say I am sorry about either.
At the moment, Chamakh is still being called up by Morocco but that won’t carry on being the case if he’s not playing. Morocco now have a younger and more ruthless striker in Yassine Salhi who has scored nine goals in just eleven appearances compared to Chamakhs’ seventeen in sixty-one!
All three of the above players need to go and that isn’t me slating them, it’s for the good of the player, their career and even their country.
Oh, and of course, for the good of Arsenal!
I could easily have added Johan Djourou to the above list. At 25 years old, surely he wants something better doesn’t he?
Get well soon Theo, you won’t get looked after this well anywhere else. Just bloody sign your contract!
There are mixed reports over Theo Walcott. Some suggest he has returned to Arsenal after his overnight stay, others say he is still in hospital. Either way, he won’t be playing against Poland on Tuesday, in fact if we are to believe what is written, he won’t be playing for another two weeks at least.
The full extent of his injury is yet to be disclosed but the Sunday Newspapers ‘report’ that he has a bruised lung.
Finally, a word on Santi Cazorla from his Spanish manager:
Del Bosque believes moving abroad has worked wonders on our little man:
It makes them grow on many levels; intellectually, because you have to learn a new language and adapt to another culture, and on a footballing level too.
For example, I’m delighted Santi Cazorla has left to go and work with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
He will become a better footballer and a more complete man.
I’d say he already has…….
That’s it for another day, have a good one…
Good morning..
A nice little sum up of footballing news Rico.
It has to be said again, international breaks are becoming more and more useless. And we have to go through this again next month what a joke.
Some sort of good news is that the Senegal Vs Ivory Coast game was abandoned after the chav diving legend Drogba converted a penalty he won dubiously. At least Kouassi should be fresh for us.
Djourou running his mouth again according to the sunday papers.
Morning Tsgh and all..
It was a struggle I’ll tell you 😉
JD has been shooting his mouth off, but can we be surprised. He should have gone in the summer, he is damaging his own career by staying.
I’d like us to sell him, Squilli and any other defender who is not up to it and sign a good one, Mbiwa would do 🙂
The next international break isn’t until the new year i think Tsgh…
Drogba cheating, surely not? Unusual to see a match abandoned for such things..
Ah you are right there.re international break.
Miquel neds a chance and he kisses the crest too not bad for a potential Barca DNA boy. 🙂
Morning Rico and all. Considering the lack of anything new to write about that was an excellent post Rico. Arshavin is the one that I can’t figure. Has he lost the energy or the will to compete? Too many roubles flowed under the bridge? He was always something of a luxury in that he seldom pulled his weight defensively but still….you would think his pride would have kicked in. Chamakh is a write-off and Wenger obviously decided that Park wasn’t good enough which does beg the question of why we bought him in the first place. Bendtner? Reality check time for him I think.
Personally I still believe that, looking at the competition, our squad is light. Some will agree, some won’t. But this is HH, where it’s OK to disagree, right?
I was going by the fixtures to my right, they all are 7 days or less apart 😉
Maybe JD know Miquel will be the one to come in should we suffer injuries and that’s why he’s thinking about leaving in Jan?
Wonder if he has learned anything from Banfield/Bould…
Morning Adam, thank you…
I’m actually with you re the squad and imho, we still lack 2 players at least, but 3 would be ideal.
The current squad is good but as Ak pointed out on the last post, keeping everyone fit is a must.
Reality is though, this squad will not go through the whole season without picking up an injury and we always seem to be just that one injury away from trouble.
Imho we definitely need a mature GK.
But what happens if Cazorla gets injured?
Worse still, Cazorla AND Arteta.
Or Merts?
I must get Fido out whilst the sun is shining, back in a couple of hours…
Its funny how the $hitty fans are still moaning that they are 2-3 players short. Have they forgotten of the Paolo Wanchope and Goater era?
Good morning all,
Nice one Rico, I guess that was a back-of the-drawer post. One of those kept for an international-waste-of-a-week-no-interesting-football-stories kind of time.
I couldn’t agree more about Chamakh and Park, add to them Squilacci, Djourou and Fabianski and we may then be able to see the trees beyond the deadwood.
Szczesny needs to play regularly and receive a better level of coaching. I’m not yet convinced by Mannone, he doesn’t exactly exude confidence and his distribution is poor.
It’s reported this morning that Wenger will be handed a £35 million kitty in January, will this be enough to buy a new striker and perhaps the German ‘keeper Neuer?
Neuer would not move from Bayern JW. He only moved there last year. Buying anyone from the Bavarians is like squeezing water from a rock…
I am sure Schwarzer can do a job for us and he at the right age not to stunt Szcez.
Right it’s bright and suuny outside, time to try a three-miler. Back later….I hope!
morning all nice one Rico 🙂
Good comment there jw, and the word deadwood aptly names the players you have mentioned. Its my view that if offers had come in for anyone of those they wouldnt be classed as deadwood now they would be ex’s and if you had to ask yourself if any of them should play in the first team and your answer to yourself was no then they should be off loaded as quickly as possible. Wenger hates to lose money on any player transfer he would rather loan out playes which i find a little anoying i feel we should cut our losses and move forward we all make mistakes Wenger is no diferent. These players i am sorry to say do not cut the mustard and need to be released i keep having nightmares that one day Denilson will come back that should never be allowed to happen.
Afternoon guys, what a lovely walk. Unlike with JW though, no public house at the end of it 🙁
Thanks Steve & JW.
I started the post last night, and finished it off this morning.
I don’t count Squilli, he’s past it 😉
Hi rico, unlike JW, the public house is in your dinning room. 🙂
Ha ha Tsgh, not mine 😉
Wish it was though….
Darren Bent could be out of Villa in Jan….. wonder how much he’d be…
I will take bent as a decent backup. I know some people dont rate him highly but he will be willing to be a sub
So would I Tsgh, another Gooner in the camp…
This must be one of the quietest days ever on HH 😆
Good post rico,
So many questions, not enough answers.
Bendtner wants to make his move permanent, the feeling is mutual, why hasn’t it happened already.
Walcott has a bruised lung you say, that’s gotta hurt, still he’s got another one to breathe with ! Needs to man up eh SteveyP.
Bent could definately do a job for us, will it happen, I very much doubt it.
Off for an hour or so too….
Hi Micko, didn’t see you there 😉
Thanks re the post Micko, is Bendtner actually playing yet, thought he was still ‘too fat’…
bendtner has his pension sorted as a playboy model.lol
Hi rico, you need to put up a ‘Is Wenger the right man for Arsenal’ post tomorrow, that we have em spitting feathers !
I think the next International break is usually Feb/March time, having two this early into the season is driving people bonkers.
hi micko
Ha ha Tsgh…
Funny that Micko, it’s a post by Tsgh, the headline is not too far off…
The international break is dire, that is two in as many months, thankfully the one we had just as the season begun won’t take place again at the same time in the future…
Most football blogs are dead too.
Manure sites are filled with people touting replacements for Vidic and Scholes.
Another one by Tsgh, talk about favourtism, she still won’t post any of mine Tsgh, it better be a good’un, look forward to it.
Will be back in 30 mins
Hi Micko- ‘Arry Brown Envelope told me a lil secret about Rico. If you call Red Nap he will tell you too to get your post posted.lol
You’ve either got it or you ain’t Tsgh……laters.
You cheeky one Micko… I’m still waiting for yours 😉
Squilli could fill in for Vidic
Eastmond for Scholes
🙂
Steady on where you send Squill Rico. He’s staying. 🙂
I knew Squlli would get you out from behind the sofa Adam 😉
Quite right. I am always on Squillster watch to avoid his name being taken in vain by those who don’t appreciate him as I do. 🙂
Micko I know you will be easy to please. Especially after having breakfast served by the Red Noses’ chef with Caorunn and Tonic for afters. lol
Just imagine the squid goes to the manure farm and turns into Jaap Stam.
Reporting from a wet Boston! Thank God for free WiFi at Starbucks. At least I’m sure i won’t miss out on anything.
I’m still puzzled at the Park situation. Did he even play in reserve team matches? Just one champions league match where he scored. Very puzzling situation that was. Chamakh never seemed like he had the confidence to play in a side where expectations were so high. The same expectations that caused us gooners to give arshavin such a hard time. Quite an enigma that fellow. I think chamakh loves the club, i just wish he’d focus on enjoying the game and try to influence it instead of trying to not make mistakes.
As for the goalkeepers… How did these more experienced goalkeepers (that most of us seem to want in) develop in their earlier years? Were the to a more experienced keeper or were they #1s since their really playing days? I’m not sure i want someone who we see as a future #1 playing behind anyone. Age alone is not a teacher. Sitting on a bench is not experience. Isn’t Jens still a part of the club in some capacity? Or was that temporary? Well let’s get the experienced people to come in as teachers and not players. Almunia was certainly more experienced but that certainly didn’t make him better. Keep Chez in the starting lineup. Taking him out will do him no good.
Totts wants Michel Bastos (Lyon) 10 millions
Adam I always suspected you are a dodgy football agent. You lying to Arsene that the Squid is as good as Italian legend Toto Schillaci. 😀
Hi Will. Wet Boston Ah?
Park played for the reserves on a number occasions and even scored playing along side Chamakh West Brom in March. I thought he was always good. He didn’t deserve that at all.
Ha ha Adam, you are on your own there…
Tsgh – there is more chance of my lotto ticket holding all six numbers…
Hi Will, how is Boston apart from wet?
Jens is doing his coaching badges with us I think..
Ha Ha Rico. Squid can only be appreciated playing alongside Luzhny, Stepanovs and Slyvestre as part of a back 3, with Tomas Danilevicus playing upfront.
The funiest thing I have read for ages.
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/914525-emmanuel-adebayor-pouts-his-way-through-energy-drink-advert
Hi JM, they want Zaha too…
Don’t Tsgh, those names will haunt me forever….
I too thought Park was hard done by with us, i’d rather have seen a goal scorer on the bench as he was than a rabbit in headlights like chamuck…
Afternoon Gooners,
I hereby solemnly swear to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth and the naked truth only. So, help me God.
Will we ever get the impartial exactitude from our board/club officials outside a public court hearing? Or do we accept the corporate speak as truthful accounts on a need to know basis?
I mean our prized assets have been annually sold at their own request claiming profound self-esteem and the threat of career inflation. Yet, the fringe players, the people under the stairs still remain or send backpacking all over the globe. Seemingly with London Colney as their permanent postal address. Where lies the management priority each transfer window? The inescapable that always receives denial or clearing out the arguments that cause it?
For example. Would it be sensible business to hand Theo his preferred central position now while Chamack, bought as a CF, doesn’t even gets a sniff to warm our bench?
In terms of market/sell on value I think it’s not. It would devalue the Moroccan irreversible beyond a cut price deal for not making the squad. As long as the extra striker option stays vacant he maintains some degree of status. Same principal applies if you replace the name of Chamack with Bendtner. The fact he’s currently on loan at Juve and by his own deeds or words isn’t likely to return, hasn’t stopped Wenger stating – as much as recently – he still considers Bendtner a viable option. Nothing suggests Arsene or the board wants the discussion of holes in the squad to be closed. Theo in contrast doesn’t need such asset protection he’s already worth a big bag of coins as a winger.
Conclusion. It’s widespread common believe, even in retrospect of foregone seasons, we are always 2 players short to be serious trophy contenders in any competition. Yet we keep a surplus of deadweight for strategic negotiations and reasons such as the inability to redeem our financial loses or the asking price isn’t matched. Inevitably turning every other factor or aspect of the fans best interest into secondary. I have come to acceptance of this policy for as long as Arsenal is part of Kroenke’s investment portfolio. Therefore my hopes of a substantial clear out are non-existent.
Hi DG10.- a different perspective.
Talking of deadwoods what about Terry Mancini in the 70’s I am told he was that bad he went from Arsenal to Aldershot
Now there is another man who must be enjoying his football down the road….
“Drink Power Horse and you’ll never be onside again”.
Mind you, we have our own power horse. Don’t we Rico? And his name is Squillaci. 🙂
Now I like that comment Dg, well most 😉
We are always full of players we need to offload, yet at the same time, short of 2 or 3… So, sell the rubbish, buy the 2/3 players we need and we are set…
Simples 🙂
There was a man who left the plushest of environments to allegedly win trophies else where after he claimed his maker has given him a second chance of life after he had a near death experience in central africa.
four years later that man is still feeling bitter even with all the proceeds of earning 160k a week. Isn’t life a bitch?lol
Rico Who have we sold aside the steep profit profilers? This year only Vela and some youth to make way for a new batch. I wish they kept it as simple as we regularly discuss here on HH.
I thought he was quite good Tsgh?
Neigh Adam…..
Back very shortly, going to have a bite to eat….
I am not that old to remember him play.lol
Happy forking Rico. Just finished mine, won’t mention ingredients for the comfort and stress levels of the henhouse. 😉
My point was, we keep the deadweights around to either get the ins cheap or sell the ‘backbone’ outs at a hard-to-replace price.
TSGH 😛 re the Togo lump. I guess all the money in the world can’t make up for a lost soul.
Hello….
Me neither Tsgh, Adam told me 😉
Cheeky once again Rico. 🙂
Hi DG10. And worse still he is glued on the spuddies bench, talking about falling from grace.
You know you are finished when a 5f 9′ Defoe is ahead of you
Adam didn’t realise you were more ancient than …lol
Dg, I am glad you made that decision 😉
Always Adam, always ….
Adebayor will get his chance, after all it’s panto time soon…
TSGH/Rico
I’m absolutely a 100% positively sure the spuds only bought Adebarndoor to hand Defoe his socks from the top drawer.
TsGH. ‘Fraid so. Rico never misses a chance though. 🙂
tomorrow guys and lady
haha DG10
😆 Dg, I like that….
It was only 1971 wasn’t it??
Night Tsgh…
I too am off for the day, Strictly and X-Factor results night followed by Downton Abbey.
I sure know how to live on a Sunday night…
Have a good evening, Night guys…
Night madam. Night TSGH.
Change of heart Dg 😉
Rico??
X Factor doesn’t need my full attention Dg, so thought I would pop back for a short while, plus doing something else on internet…
Ok, going now… TTFN 🙂
Ahhh so. On a different matter. I have been looking at the requirements for a new website. Problem is I need to work it out in a clear cut draft. Details of advertising management, site and page interface, social media possibilities and such.
One idea I like to share is this, a top bar above each post but under the main navigation which shows the upcoming match and the result of the previous one. Added with secondary navigation to view match fixtures for the season, goal scorers, yellow/red carts, etcetera.
Find an example in the link. Only I intend to design it much simpler and easy to manage as an editor.
It’s the bar with our logo in it.
http://www1.skysports.com/news-wire/11670
*cards
Dutch, you may need to run that by me one more time, I’m not the brightest bulb in the shop.
Gervinho will be out on January and half February….
How about this Rico…
‘Falcao agrees to join top London club’
That should generate a few million hits 🙂
It hardly seemed worth it, loaning out Ryo Miyaichi to Wigan. The lad never plays!
You have to question the decision making that led to some of the clubs our loanees end up at..?
Campbell has a great season at Lorient, 12 months later it’s another waste of a season in bloody Spain…
He won’t be getting a work-permit anytime soon..!
Dg, that is all way above and beyond my level of computer knowledge 🙁
Nice one Ak, is he off to Fulham 😉 Re Campbell, I think he already qualifies for a permit, we just didn’t bother trying for one…
It’s the same old thing re the loans, and in the end it ruins the player. Vela didn’t play much, Lansbury didn’t play much, Ryo isn’t playing much…..
Just one of the reasons that Coyle was a good manager, when he loaned one of ours, he played them….
How rude of me, good morning all….
Have to pop out now, will be back in an hour(ish)
New Post up