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Surprise Call Up. Pep Guardiola To Replace Arsene Wenger? The Clarets In Town….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Please bare with the running of the new site. There was always bound to be teething problems but most have been solved by the very kind man who has set up this new place. The main issue is logging on and your details being stored but all being well, that should soon be sorted out.

The Metro, you have to love The Metro. They report:

Arsenal are ready to make a move for Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola at the end of next season as they plan for life after Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman’s future with the Gunners has been subject of speculation this week with both Carlo Ancelotti and Paul Clement being eyed up as potential successors.

But the Evening Standard says Guardiola has emerged as a more serious option and Arsenal will look to move for him in 2016.

That’s when Guardiola has apparently ear-marked leaving Bayern for a new challenge, with the Premier League looking his obvious destination.

If only!!

Having been knocked out of the Capital One during the last round, our players have had a whole seven days of rest and recuperation so no excuses today. Each and every player who is fit and healthy should have oodles of energy and that’s just what we need today.

We’ve witnessed too many draws at The Emirates and it’s time to start notching up a few wins, coupled with a few much better high energy performances!

With Kieran Gibbs out injured, young Spaniard Julio Pleguezuelo was training with the first team yesterday. Not sure what to make of that, if anything really. Doesn’t he look like Hector Bellerin? Anyway I digress….

Surprise Call Up?
Surprise Call Up?

I know very little about Burnley other than they are struggling to get any favourable results. Pundits/Media suggest they have been playing well but they can’t turn those performances into points. With just four points, all from draws, they sit bottom of the Premier League.

Head-to-head

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five top-flight matches against Burnley.
The Gunners have lost only one of their last 12 top-flight home matches against the Clarets (1-0 in September 1974).
Burnley were the first lower league side to beat an Arsene Wenger Arsenal team when they won 2-0 in the 2008-09 League Cup.

Arsenal

Arsenal have been behind in each of their four home league games this season.
Arsene Wenger’s side are unbeaten in their last 22 home Premier League matches, winning 14 and drawing eight.
However, they have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 league games at the Emirates Stadium.
They have won just three of their nine league matches this season. The last time they won only three out of their first 10 league matches was in 1981-82.
Arsenal have scored four 90th-minute goals this season, two more than any other team in the Premier League.
They are unbeaten in their last 14 league matches against promoted opposition.
Alexis Sanchez has scored eight goals in his last 11 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions.

Burnley

Burnley have conceded 12 goals in their last four league games after keeping clean sheets in their three previous matches.
The Clarets are the 12th side to fail to win any of their opening nine matches of a Premier League – seven of the previous 11 teams were relegated.
The last time they went longer without a win from the start of a season was in 1970-71 (14 games).
Jason Shackell is the first Premier League player to make over 100 clearances this season.

Without being disrespectful to todays opposition, this really is a game that Arsenal should win with ease, even with the injuries we have.

The right eleven, the right attitude, the right approach and of course, the right work ethic should earn us all three points.

But take Burnley lightly or believe they only have to turn up to get the win, then The Emirates faithful could go home frustrated again.

Personally, I can’t see that happening. Alexis has by all accounts made it clear to his team-mates that he wants them all to raise their level of commitment to match his, so maybe, just maybe, we’ll see a much better performance come 3pm today.

COYRRG’s, go and raise the roof on The Emirates Stadium, it’s long overdue…..

Have a good Saturday all….

 

rico

171 thoughts on “Surprise Call Up. Pep Guardiola To Replace Arsene Wenger? The Clarets In Town….”

  1. Rick says:

    Morning Rico and the House
    “Just a Quickie”
    Nice sunny day in the south as is the new foremat .All my info is being stored so every thing is normal.
    Re Julio he has been injured for most of the season and I think he will needed for the U19 next week if fit. Maybe they were taking a look to see how fit he is .
    See u latter.

  2. rico says:

    Morning Rick and all..

    Thanks re Julio, didn’t know he’d been injured. Thought for one minute he was set to be on the bench today with Gibbs being out…

  3. BrainwashedKev says:

    Rico, I think so re: WordPress, when I use AK.
    When I post as BK I just use the boxes provided and it goes straight thru

  6. BrainwashedKev says:

    The onl slight difference is that you have to enter your email address in the top box an your username in the middle box…
    I think they were the other way around before?! 🙁

  9. BrainwashedKev says:

    Must have been that pasta I had late last evening, but I’m quite optimistic about a good result today….

    5-1 I reckon…

  11. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. I normally despise the rubbish that The Metro spews forth but I am taken with the Guardiola rumour. If the board could make that happen it would go some way toward restoring my faith in their ambition.
    It’s lovely and bright at the moment here so I am looking forward to the game today. Anything other than a decent win will be hard to stomach though.

  14. Adam says:

    Rico. As you know, I am a big Guardiola fan myself. Though it does seem far fetched I admit. 🙂
    I will send you my customary pic from the ground when I arrive. I have been saving all week so I can afford a cup of tea for myself and Mrs Adam at the Emirates. 🙂

  18. BrainwashedKev says:

    Although, I suspect his agent had chucked Arsenals name into the pot to secure his player a pay rise…

  19. Wavy says:

    This morning I sat in my usual place at the kitchen table eagerly awaiting the email postman to deliver his a.m. Mail from HH, but nothing arrived, and it still hasn’t!
    I eventually found today’s post lurking on a link near the Leave a reply box. It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting…..a treasure hunt!
    Have WordPress or the ‘new site’ broken the links to the previous ‘subscribers’, or are we back to teething troubles?
    Not really a problem, if I know I have to renew the previous day’s mail in order to find the new one, then so be it, but if the old delivery system can be re activated then that would be much better. I mean what are mail boxes for?

    Today’s game – should be 5-0 to the Arsenal, but for Sky Super 6 I’ve gone for a conservative 3-0 with no hint of a draw!

    COYRRGS

    Ps just re-filling the my email address and name in the log in box, scrub that it seems I just have to hit my icon. Life is just one round of self indulgent pleasure. Hit the icon I shall!
    Well that didn’t work! So I’m filling in again!

  24. Marinello says:

    Afternoon all.
    I am going for a conservative 3-0 win and a clean sheet for a change.
    If the rumour about Pep taking over from Arsene is just that, what about going for Ronald Koeman.
    With him in the driving seat maybe Dennis Bergkamp could return to the club in some shape or form.

  26. rico says:

    I think so too Scott…

    Hi Marinello, thanks re the site. I’d like to take the credit by it’s someone elses doing…

    All well thanks as I hope you are….

  28. BrainwashedKev says:

    The sun is shining down on South Kensington.
    Only spoilt by the Glory Hunters in Chelsea colours/shirts milling about…

  29. Joaquim Moreira says:

    yes, is Cedric…. I read it the day before yesterday.
    Isa young player from sporting.
    Is international and have been the right back of Portugal in last two or threea games

  34. BrainwashedKev says:

    Same starting XI.
    Gibbs plays.
    Sanogo on bench.
    Plenty of goals among subs (except Yaya of course)

  37. rico says:

    Full team:

    Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Flamini, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Cazorla, Welbeck

    Substitutes:

    Martinez, Bellerin, Rosicky, Ramsey, Walcott, Podolski, Sanogo

    I had to jog my memory on the 11 from last week… 😉

    Liverpool lost 😛

  42. tsgh says:

    Still no Abou Diabolic… the longest wait since I was told by my dad I would be taken to disney many years ago… 🙂

    Come on… SC19 needs a goal today… the metro paper was bashing him ..

  53. tsgh says:

    Same here Dev.. I dont even have time to watch footie… what a life eh?

    Well possesion without purpose.. we hold rating AAA.. 🙂

  58. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Its useless turning on the screw if we cant make it count. yes we weave the nice patterns and keep possession…..but we have to murder teams like these.

    Granted….they are putting banks of players in the penalty area but we should be able to turn them over.

  62. Lewis says:

    Good day all.

    Familiar performance so far. We can make the worst teams look decent.

    Another fabregas assist.

  63. BrainwashedKev says:

    Radio says nailed on handball in Burnley box…
    Of course, the referee missed it.
    Following Mike Riley’s instructions to the letter…

  66. rico says:

    Afternoon all..

    Nice to see a few ‘old’ faces back and glad you all like the new site..

    So, we are pretty average again then? Not watching so no idea….

  67. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Comments: the core of the problem
    Played with Arteta-Flimini the ruler and square. Two players for the team, have identical characteristics.
    chelsea-Matic plays with Fabregas. The first play by ours two; the second, organizes the entire game, defends, plays and does play.
    Ask the AW, he meant him because we had Ozil, etc. With this player on the field, we can have another footballer player able to attack and unbalancing the game, and not such Arsenalar, that we have the idea that we always misses a player.
    In addition, play against Burnley with this duo is coming to sacrifice a replacement later (and sooner possible…)

  69. BrainwashedKev says:

    Hiya Coach.
    Habib, if, the radio say it’s a pen, given their antipathy to all things Arsenal, then it has to be nailed on…

    I Fcuking hate Riley.
    He is like a poisonous virus infecting all things refereeing…

    How that useless cheating cnut got to be head of the PGMOL is a total scandal…

  75. Hell Raising Devil says:

    yes Rico its all Burnley unfortunately. They have had 70% possession. 10 shots in all. Arsenal have only 30% possession and just two shots off target. Burnley have had 8 corners to Arsenal’s 1.

    Aye its all Burnley.

    Whoever said that we were pass masters needs to have his eyes tested.

  78. Lewis says:

    What a shit show. It gets worse every game. Le Clueless still doesn’t make a change, he’ll wait till the 70th minute.

  83. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Cazorla hadn’t strong legs!
    why we didn’t play more or less with this team since the beguinning?

  100. mog says:

    2-0 to the arsenal
    bbc live text commentary
    arsenal shots 23 / 7 on target
    corners 12
    burnley shots 4 / 0 on target
    corners 1

  121. AndrewH says:

    Relief, if we hadn’t won this one, it would have been desperate. Great for TW to get back, lets hope he can be the player he was just before injury, no guarantee.

    PS – anyone get the HH email today?

  122. scottfromoz says:

    Evening all.
    Aaron is back.
    They never left, and his pace is there.
    Sanchez is obviously unhappy, and based on that performance, let’s hipe he stays that way.
    Chambers is a future world class player.
    Gibbs remains the best LB in England.
    Ox gives us speed and directness.
    Nacho is a bloody good footballer.
    Anyone I miss???
    We were good.

  123. Joaquim Moreira says:

    rico: Podolky have 2 chances (and try others): one, was a tremendous shot, hits the keeeper; the second, was a tremendous shot and hits the bar (probably , still waggling)

  127. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Aye we were good. but we have to keep in mind what Kev said…..we play against 15 guys all the time…..11 players and 4 officials.

    if it was all fair and square we would be murdering teams.

    but then its one law for Arsenal and another for the rest of the league when they play us.

  134. Joe says:

    The site has given me a new name good game today I am starting to wonder who I have to sleep with so that Arsenal will eventually get a penalty.

  138. Rick says:

    Evening all.

    I thought we had a good game today.
    It was a pen and should have been a 2nd yellow and red forBoyd.
    How the Burnley keeper saved Poldolskis first shot I will never know.
    I think he saved them from a very heavy defeat.

    I have watched the highlights of last nights game and thought our boys were very good . Now I will repeat what I said after the Stoke win if Santi could shoot like the youngsters he would have scored a hatfull in the last 3 games.

  140. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Rick, seems that Cazorla has forgotten how to shoot. But at least he is getting in the right places. So I feel that the goals will eventually come.

    Yet I would like to point out something…..remember how Manure seemed to be slow starters under SAF? When in the first 10 to 15 games they seemed to trudge along and scrape a few lucky results with SAF chopping and changing his teams? And we all thought they were a spent force. Then they would go on a run and steam roller everyone in front of them whether it was by 1-0 or 5-0.

    We are not playing well. We are missing quite a number of players. Yet we are getting results and we have only lost once.

    Maybe AW has learned to be like SAF? A bit late imo. But late is better than never.

  150. potter says:

    I thought today we could be suited to playing Keeper then 4-2-3-1. We need a proper midfielder to go along side Ramsey , then Theo, The Ox,Sanchez as the three with Welbeck up top gives us pace direction workers and goals. The missing link as it always has been is the deep lying midfielder that protects the defence and links it to the front players.

  151. scottfromoz says:

    Sometimes, we must simply give credit where it’s due.
    We were good.
    Burnley parked three buses, and their keeper was superb.
    Then There was the missed penalty call for an obvious handball.
    We did the job very well IMO.
    My phone changed Theo to They earlier, but he has lost none of his pace at all.
    He looked very sharp, and his touch was very good.

  153. Bradster says:

    Morning Rico and HH’ERS,

    I missed the game but we looked really good in the highlights and their Keeper was on fire.
    Scary thought of Welbeck, Sanchez, Ox and Walcott. Insane pace and direct play.
    I thought Cazorla has been unlucky with the shots blocked and just just wide of the post. At least he’s getting into these goal scoring positions.

  156. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. We were very professional yesterday. When the goal didn’t come we turned up the heat and it did. After that we could have scored more. Podolski’s second cannon left the whole goal shuddering. Alexis was superb, but no-one had a bad game. Santi is searching for confidence/form and Monreal is doing great in an unusual position as Per looks slower and slower these days.

  159. potter says:

    Bt John Mayall whoa . All those nights in 60’s pubs watching the Bluesbreakers . Some really good bands on that London circuit at the time with top musicians . I suppose Clapton became the most famous but without people like Mayall and Alexis Korner would those people ever developed.?

  161. potter says:

    Friday was the 35 year anniversary for Arsenal Norway at The Gunners Pub in Blackstock Road .Saturday we will be to meet some good English comrades at various pubs then Arsenal – Burnley at the Emirates stadium.

    The boys had a good time ,we met them at the Auld Triangle after the match . I am posting this on their Facebook , trying to get them to post or at least read this site.

  164. Wavy says:

    And not to forget Jack Bruce who played with the Bluesbrealers, briefly. (Rip).

    Good result yesterday, stats say so! But we should have wrapped it up by half time. Thereby hangs Arsenal’s problem. More often than not we don’t finish lethally enough. We make the opportunities but too frequently are thwarted. We are just not clinical enough! Presently we are missing the goal making machine, Ozil! When he is back, when he is 100% fit perhaps we will see a few more incisive balls played in to the danger area and perhaps our excellent forwards will take their chances more effectively!
    But 3 points are 3 points and we haven’t won many Epl games yet this season. We need to go on a ‘run’ then we will give ourselves a chance,

  165. rico says:

    Wavy, I thought their keeper had a great game, some of the saves he made were outrageous. From the highlights I saw, i’m opting for giving Burnley a little credit for their defending and their keeper…

  167. potter says:

    It was a terrific time for the breaking blues scene around London , So many groups that spawned artists that today are icons of their genre. Mayall had Clapton , Bruce, Peter green , Stevie Winwood. he had members of Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Davenport , Mick Fleetwood. . Next week you would have Graham Bond with Ginger Baker and after that The steam Packet , Long John Baldry , Julie Driscoll and a little Scot’s geezer Rod Stewart playing. Just over London to the west was the Eel Pie with the Stones , Pretty Things , Music and football was my life until girls got in the way. They all wanted marriage,Tamla Motown and just didn’t get the football bit at all. it’s good that they now have a greater appreciation of the better things in life. It was a great time to grow up in London ,lots going on and I might just check things out and see if I can take the wife to Cambridge for his 80th birthday concert. It would make my birthday treat.

  169. Adam says:

    Potter. No, he had a goat as a pet. You must remember the Steam Packet then? John was a nice guy. He and I shared a love of old movies.

  171. potter says:

    Yes Adam it was quite my scene , I was working near Manette Street when I left school and used to see a lot of top people getting their sheet music, Often there were trade demos in the 100 club or Ken Collier’s jazz rooms and I got to see Buddy Rich and Louis Belson demonstrating Premier Drums , Ben Webster and Gerry Mulligan and Jimmy Witherspoon who gave me tickets to a set at The Gate House in Highgate . But as much as I loved their Sax playing , guitar music was my preference . The best gig I think was at the Saville theatre when Jimi Hendrix and Cream played together .i am still deaf today and I blame them , it was to say the least ” LOUD “.

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