I’ll get the stories and player gossip out the way first…
The Sun report, unless we get battered by the Mancs, Wenger won’t be spending any money this month! What a joke if it’s true, nothing like being pro-active eh!!
He might be making money though as Lazio are reported to be on of three clubs who want to sign Arshavin, £6 Million is the fee suggested.
Onto todays post, the curse of the wretched number 9 shirt in recent years:
John Radford, Alan Smith, George Graham, Joe Baker, Charlie George, Frank Stapleton, Malcolm MacDonald, just a few of the quality No.9’s in my time as an Arsenal fan, although I never saw Baker play in the flesh.
Nicolas Anelka was the last one who really led the line like a true centre-forward but since ‘Nasty Nick’ left for a whopping £23.5 million to Real Madrid in the summer of 1999 the No.9 shirt has taken on something of a jinx…
Davor Suker succeeded Anelka that summer, bringing with him a rich reputation garnered from his successful Euro 1996 campaign with Croatia. I liked Davor but maybe he came to England a bit too late in his career to recapture his best form and to truly adapt to the English game. He left after barely one season to go into semi-retirement at the Upton Park Home for Old Footballers.
In the summer of 2001, David Dein was engaged in some serious transfer business. Sol Campbell, Junichi Inamoto, Richard Wright, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst all arrived.
The first new face through the Highbury door was Francis Jeffers from Everton for a reported £8million. The ‘Fox in the Box’ that we needed. At Goodison Park, Jeffers had been hailed as the Toffees, Michael Owen and he certainly looked just the quick, sharp, goal-hanger we’d all been longing for to snap up those half-chances made and spurned by our more exotic forwards.
Unfortunately a few niggling injuries and the enormous task of getting in front of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu and Sylvain Wiltord took its toll on his confidence. That and some rumoured off-field problems saw Franny eventually sold to Charlton Athletic for £2.6 million in 2004.
Was the No.9 shirt cursed?
January 2004 saw David Dein in hot transfer business again [ are you reading this Ivan? ]…
Over in Southern Spain, playing for Seville was the hottest property in Spanish football, Jose Antonio Reyes – and Dein got him for a reported £10.6 million…
I liked Jose Antonio Reyes, yes he was a bit flake, but he scared the life out of defenders with his raw pace and enthusiasm.
Two FA Cup goals against Chelsea seemed to set him up for a long Arsenal career and despite some weak refereeing in the 2004 FA Cup semi-final allowing Scholes and Gary ‘rat-face’ Neville to kick him out of the game and then getting sent-off in the 2005 FA Cup final, he seemed, on the field at least, to be doing ok.
Off the field, it was another matter, and that’s where his problems lay. The Spanish family from hell did their best to undermine him and may have affected his relationship with his team mates and it all gradually began to go sour for Jose at Arsenal.
An unsuccessfull loan period at Real Madrid led to his eventual transfer to Madrid, where he joined the ‘Noisy Neighbours’ Atletico for £6 million in the summer of 2007.
The curse of the No.9…?
While Reyes was on loan at Real Madrid, in exchange and also on loan, Arsenal took Julio Baptista. His 4 goals at Anfield in an amazing 6-3 League Cup win plus a brace at The Slum in the Semi-Final 1st leg was all i can really recall from him, except that he was slow and must have learned his Brazilian skills at the same Academy as Denilson.
Nobody mourned when his loan transfer wasn’t made a permanent deal and he returned to Real Madrid.
That damned No.9…..
In the summer of 2007, the ‘Real Deal’ arrived in the shape of Eduardo da Silva. A Brazilian goal-poacher who plied his trade in Croatia, and who he played for Internationally. I’ve never met any Arsenal fan who didn’t like Eduardo and he looked a real steal at £8 million from Dinamo Zagreb.
Unfortunately a visit to Small Heath in Birmingham and the reckless tactics of Alex McLeish, saw him lucky to retain his leg and walk again. His loss has been one of our most costly in many many years.
Miraculously Eddy made a come-back, but his confidence never fully recovered from the assault in Birmingham and he left to join Shakhtar Donetsk for £6 million in the summer of 2010. He went with the best wishes of every fair-minded Arsenal fan.
The curse?
This August Ju Young Park joined us for £3 million from Monaco.
He was given the No.9 shirt.
Watch this space?!
Written by Allezkev
1st………
😛 😛 😛
Ok I’ll get me coat and leave now……………………
Morning all,
Another cracker SAK 🙂
It’s certainly not started well for our new number 9, but we’ll never know if he’s any good until he plays…
That could come sooner rather than later as it’s suggested Henry picked up an injury yesterday in training….
Malcolm McDonald was one of my favs, old bandy legs 😉
Smudger for me Rico, shame his injury caused him to retire early….. Proper all round centre forward…! tap in to headers to shots from outside the box and boy did he lead the line well…!
Ak will prob say Radford…!
I loved Smudger too Wath, i have lot’s of favs 😉
A proper striker, MM was a good old fashioned goal scorer, goal hanger they used to call them didn’t they 😉
Just seen your earlier 😛 😛
Get your coat indeed ….
Sorry…………
I’ve already left the building….! 😀
Ha ha, reckon we are going to sign someone today then?
Someone might sign an autograph……….
Yep, that’s about it i guess…
Henry prob out then for sunday so maybe Park will finally get some playing time – so wish we’d go 442 with he and RvP….
On paper we shouldn’t win, the bookies won’t be expecting us to win, but if you’ve got aspirations to win a cup then these are games you have to win.” On paper we are as good as Arsenal. Apart from RVP they are a bunch of overrated nobodies. I don’t like our manager saying this and if this is his attitude then there is absolutely no wonder we are languishing where we are. It’s all about expectations and the manager should set the bar. Our keep is better tha theirs. Our defence is as dodgy as theirs. In midfield we have just as much guile as them – in fact, in Ireland I would argue we have the best player. Up front we have players who can destroy them…in fact Bent did last season. Aston Villa should always be capable of giving Arsenal a good thrashing and nothing changes that now. Man for man we are more than a match for them. Eck, you are not managing Blose now. I couldn’t give a monkeys what cockney media pundits and bookies think. Villa should never be thinking of anything other than victory against clubs like Arsenal. Lose the small-time, low expectations attitude. A win is expected.
donegalvillan
Read more: http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7511139#ixzz1jnS5JF00
Sorry to be negative but look what this villa fan thinks about Arsenal now.How the mighty has fallen.
Hi Mr Arsenal, i don’t think that Villa fan is alone in his thoughts about us…
I wouldn’t say we are only about RvP, he’s wrong there, we have 8/9 quality players, sadly most of them are injured….
But yes, we have fallen and a long long way….
I dont agree with what he say’s at all,but that’s what other fan’s and club’s think of us.There is no fear of playing us anymore.We need to win that fear factor back and that comes from winning.
Our board and esp. peter hillwood should step down,He’s comment’s wind me up more than anything and just show’s a total lack of respect of how the fan’s are feeling.We will never win another thing with this attitude from the top.
Arsenal’s aim should alway’s to be the best and not see 4th place as a golden ticket to more millions.
Mind you, we beat them didn’t we, 2-1 with a late Yossi header 😉
Sead Hajrovic to join Barnet on loan
Switzerland youth international Sead Hajrovic will today join Barnet on loan until February 18, 2012.
We know that Rico but it was really just to highlight the way we are seen around the football world now.We have become a bit of a laughing stock.
I even had a Qpr fan try digging at me for not winning nothing for 7 years??? 😆 Even thou they havent won a thing in donkey’s years.
I realised Mr Arsenal, and we have fallen way back, it’s hard to stomach when we all know it wasn’t that long ago when sides really feared us, especially at Highbury, oh to have those days back again….
Will we under this current management??
Good morning guys and chicks of the Gunners’ faith.
Open your arms and heart you people of the little faith. And stop doubting the supreme lord of the Emirates. He knows what he has done, what he is doing and what he is going to do. In the palm of his hand our tired players will find relief from their daily troubles and body niggles, and his forefinger will show them the way of light in the midst of your doubting darkness.
😆 😆
Sermon over. Let’s get down to business.
Just read an article about how some of the present players can be part of the 2004 invincibles. And I just asked myself….how the hell did this thought manage to enter the corridors of the author?? I mean that is a no brainer really. Even if some of you might agree that Sagna might make it I would say that Lauren was an invincible while Sagna is not. Hell, not even the present Henry would be able to make that starting line-up.
BDW….good article amigo. But I do not think the number 9 is cursed. Its the manager who curses it. Should go and get Torres. AND PUT THAT FECKIN NUMBER ON IT.
Devil… 😆
Not with people like Hillwood stuffing he’s pocket and happy to watch us go to the dog’s while the money keep’s coming in.
I thought the future was bright and that we had so much talent we would be at the top for years.When we moved to the emirates i thought we would be fighting for those players you can only dream of buying.I thought we had worked our way up to be in the top 5 clubs in the world and that all the big players would want to come and play in wenger’s team.I feel for the spill and i feel i have just woken up to one big day dream.
I love what Arsene has done and for the first time i feel him and the board should just walk away.
Morning devil,
Torres, now that would cheer us up….
Devil i feel your wrong about Sagna.Him and Rvp are the only two players i would call world-class in the Arsenal side.
Who is a better defensive rightback then Sagna??? Anywhere??
Totally agree Mr A, and the stuffy old fart has again talked about the CL not bein the bee all and end all, does he think we are all stupid?
I respect Wenger for what he has done to but all the good he has done, he is undoing fast, if he were to walk away today i would be sad but not that sad 😉
Sébastien Squillaci was a laughable signing at the start of last season, and the signing of Park is even more comical. This player will leave at the end of the season on loan because nobody will buy him. There are serious problems at the club, on and off the pitch. Most of the players know Wenger’s past it, but a change of manager is not the sole issue. Gazidis and his crew have proved inept. We’re on a rocky road to mediocrity.
I don’t think we can compare the two in all honesty, it’s easier to look fantastic in a winning side, but standing out when the chips are down is what makes a better/stronger player and Sagna does that most weeks…..
But not only Torres Rico.
We need other players who are equally adept at playing 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 or whatever formation AW’s brain decides to play.
In my opinion a successful team should have two quality full backs and two good backups. 5 centrehalves. 5 quality box to box midfielders, three tricky winger/lateral strikers and 3 quality forwards.
Some of the players we already have at the Emirates. but sadly I fear that AW will never do as I say or feel
Natty that’s what scares the hell out of me.How far does this have to go to end.And the only people getting hurt from all this is the fan’s.
I feel so sad sometimes that it hurt’s me like as if a family member is i’ll and nothing else matters.I love the Arsenal with and passion and they are killing me right now!
Mr Arsenal I was comparing this team to the 2004 team….THE INVINCIBLE ONES. And I told you that not even the present day Henry can get into that team. Neither RVP nor Sagna can eclipse Bergkamp and Lauren.
natty, haven’t a clue what is going on with park, i’d like to see him get a few games before i write him off…
regardless, we are definately on a rocky road…
devil, i won’t disagree, especially re the quality CH’s – imho we only have three and that is never enough….
devil, disagree on Sagna 😉
Mind you, he would have been too young 😆
Morning all.
Another fine post Sir, a lot of thought went into that, well done.
Centre forwards has always been very close to my heart. Having played that position myself for many years, i can understand some of the problems modern centre forwards have. I always believed that a centre forward should be a greedy player with only one thing on his mind, scoreing goals. If i came off the field without scoring, i would feel a failure. I must admit, that a centre forward today is expected to do his bit defensivly as well, while in my day i very rarely came past the halfway line, Having said that we did have five forwards in those days. I look at a centre forward today and see what we used to call inside forwards, which today is probably attacking midfielder, and though we have changed i don’t think its for the better. An out and out centre forward used to be a fairly big guy, his nemesis was the centre half, i had fights and battles with mine in those days, many a time a punch would be thrown, and a warning from the ref in those days was, Anymore of that and your off. I did used to pass but usuall when my option of scoreing had gone. Of course i was not a patch on the guys today, their fitness and ball skills far exceeded mine at the time, but i allways believed why juggle a ball when you can smash it in the goal, And that is my view now. A goal was a huge target, how can you miss it by ten yards from twenty yards out, or am i just out of touch.
Some of the players that arre there are already on a highly good level………..Chesney, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Frimpong, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ox, Arteta, RVP, Gervinho among others. But we need a solid spine…..like Samba in the defence, Torres (even drogba for 18 months) in attack.
Morning Sir SP.
you played as a centreforward and you rarely got past the halfway line???? Blimey man….where you always defending then. 😉 and what the hell were you a striker for??? or did you always defend in 11? 😆
Joking mate. in today footballing terms, getting past the halfway line means you are on the attack. So for you to say you rarely got past the halfway line meant you never attacked.
You said would not get in the team then 2004 and i said,
I believe now the form they are in the would both get in the team.
Yes Dennis is one of the best players we have ever had,but look at that squad and look at the one now and just see how good Rvp is.
yes Mr A.
But I doubt if they would get in. That team was a tight knit unit. Maybe as subs but that is as far as they would go.
Ralphy was great going forward,but bacary does he’s defensive work much better and that’s what i rate more than the attacking sense.
who would you drop for RVP???? Bergkamp, Henry????
Again, as a sub yes but not at the expense of dropping one of them.
Sorry Mr A….its the other way round. Lauren was more sound defensively while Sagna has more knowledge on the attack bar the crossing.
Imagine The Rvp now up top with the Henry of old!!!! That’s the stuff of wet dreams 😆
Morning Steve, if we were stronger in midfield and defence, our centre forward wouldn’t have to get so involved in defending – ok on set pieces/corners yes but in general, i would suggest not…
Sorry i disagree,Bacary has always been a solid defender first and maybe need’s to work a bit more in a attacking sense.
We will have to agree to disagree because i saw it that way.
tight knit = mainly french 😉
So you suggest that RVP would get into the 2004 team at the expense of Bergkamp???
PHW has yet again shown how completely out of touch and clueless he is about how fans feel. Not qualifying for CL won’t hurt us? It’ll hurt the fans! He demonstrates yet again the mentality at the hierarchy of the club, it’s all financial implications, no sporting ones. He did say it would be ‘nice’ to qualify though – that’s the kind of inspiring, motivational words we need! Unbelievable!!
exactly Rico. When we had English backline we were solid. When the backline spoke mainly french we were tightly knit. Right now we have a plethora of nationalities who do not know English as a common language.
On this form yes and that’s not a easy thing to say.Because dennis is in my top 3 legend’s of all time.
Any one seen that picture of the big german in a Arsenal shirt age 11??
Jekyll you just want to grab that cigar and poke him in the face with it.Maybe he will feel like what it’s like being a fan and being stabbed in the heart by our very own board.
Jekyll – ‘nice’ what a patronising old buffoon he is eh….
Morning Devil, You got me mate, a slip of the tounge, but i’m sure you got the message. Tactical talks in those days were Get out there and win, Tactical plays of 4.4.2 and the rest was never even thougt of. 5 forwards 3 half backs And 2 Defenders the emphasis was getting goals where todays game is saveing goals. We expect a centre forward to score when he’s up there on his own, where you know as well as me that it will only come back in attack. Goals mean wins score more than your opponents and you win.
well you cannot Mr A. For the simple reason that RVP does not drop deep if there is Henry. And it will mean a flat 2 in attack. RVP does not have the nous to unlock defences but to be on the end of a move. Neither does Henry. Both are finishers. So if someone had to be dropped it would have been Henry. And the 2004 team was built on speed of legs and of thought. RVP does not have the speed of legs that TH had nor the speed of thought of DB10. Does ever RVP attack space??? No he does not simply because he does not have speed of legs. TH used to attack even the 1 yard space (see the game vs Inter 5-1 when he attacked just one yard and scored). DB10 used to see the pitch from the above not from the way you and I see it. So he had a map of where the players were. RVP is an impact man. He scores regularly and is a good leader of the line. He is a deep lying centreforward. But TH and DB were complimentary of each other. Drop one and the other does not function properly.
And can’t we tell devil…
Why are we comparing RvP with Dennis??
Right now RvP is the goal scorer, Dennis was the creator so many times, he was the finisher, he was everything a footballer could be, he did stuff that most would only dream of and when he did what he did, it was over by the time anyone else would have begun to wonder if it was possible to be done…
He was and for me still is the best player in his role to have graced the game……
He would never be dropped for anyone, not in my humble opinion 🙂
Morning Rico, Set plays, free kicks, corners, what the hell are we doing letting Van Persie take them and moveing Merts up he couldnt head a ball if i tossed it to him
DG your spot on with what you say and it really was a telepathic understanding between Henry and Bergkamp.I see where your coming from in terms of that start 11,but with all 3 on top form who’s to say they couldnt have changed tactic’s and played rvp and henry up top with bergkamp behind.
The way Rvp has played this season has been remarkable,even in 2004 at this level he’s playing i feel he would be too good for the bench.
yes Sir SP. I got you immediately. Just wanted to pull your leg.
Incidentally I had a similiar experience around 6 years ago when I had the pleasure of speaking to Sir Geoff Hurst. He was on a visit to my country and he happened to be near my ground while I was training 15 year olds. He waited politely till the session ended and then as I was going out he beckoned me and asked me what the session was about. I was a bit taken aback being talked to by a man who towered over me (I am only 1.65m) and I told him that we were doing the transition from defence to attack using the wing channels. During this moment I was not aware to whom I was speaking to and listened to his questions and to the points he was making to me. And he said something similiar to going past the halfway line. He told me that in his days centreforwards only came down to the centre circle (maximum) or dropped off a little bit to get breathing space. He pointed out where should a centreforward should drop off and also lay the ball so that it would be safe.
Then the headcoach came and when he went up to him to shake his hand my jaw dropped as he called him by name. As you can imagine……I shitted in my pants.
so you can imagine whether or not I was chuckling when I read your comment. But thanks…..you bought back a wonderful memory.
Were not comparing rico,were debating team selection 🙂
😆 Steve, baffles me too, both Ramsey and Arteta can take corners, leave your in form striker where he may get a chance to score – sure has heck the big fella isn’t going to…..
Few chores for me to be doing, back in a while….
Great story Devil. You Know more about tactics than i’ll ever know, but i still think the game is simple, we just make it hard. We changed rules and complicated the game and i don’t believe it solved problems, just made a lot more..
As you rightly say Sir SP. The game is simple. But people make it complex and this complicates matters. I have always played it on the ground but I always go for the direct balls. I rarely play the tippy tappy football or the long ball. With me what you get is direct football using the wingers and fullbacks (that’s where I used to play). And I do have the tendency to play playes in their rightful positions. And in that way I do not agree with AW…..where he fits players to a different position. Especially the speedy ones. Some of the rules which were changed were good (example the back pass) but sometimes I stil go on soccer legends to see a game from the 60’s and 70’s to see what they used to get up to. And I can tell you that I learn a lot from them.
Seems as if Arteta and Henry will be unavailable for Sunday’s match vs Manure.
Something fishy is going on with all these injuries.
Thats where we differ Devil i dont like that rule. I would have put a time on a keeper, and kept the rule the same. there were several changes the three step rule which was hopeless and i believe the one we have now is also the same, it has speeded nothing. what it has done is it makes goalkeeping a joke. after all a goalkeeper is the only person allowed to handle the ball on the field. thats the nature of his position. how that has speeded the game up i dont know. Most keepers roll the ball out to a defender and a dozen passes hapen before it crosses the half way line, where before a keeper would punt it down the field and into an attacking position. The odd rushed kick from a keeper hasn’t helped the game at all but that is just my view. catch you all later.
Afternoon good people. Rico, I Read this article with same headline before on HH 😉 (whem dudu was on poor form). But sucsessor Park is even worse am afraid 🙁 ..
Mr A, Henry & RVP up top and DB10 behind now that’s wet-dream material! 😉
Afternoon gooners.
Afternoon Rico.
Gotta be Dennis Bergkamp & Thierry Henry…
Lauren vs Sagna, hmm that’s a tough call.
Stevo, your style sounds more in the Baker/Radford rampaging leader of the attack to me…..
Gotta say, that Frank Stapleton was the first, of the modern type of centre-forwards that i recall in an Arsenal shirt.
I thought he was the complete centre-forward.
Great in the air, powerfull shot in both feet, never gave up lost causes, as much a creator of goals as a taker of goals.
I was devestated when he left to join ManUre…..
But on reflection, he could the lack of ambition at the club, i.e The Board.
Shortly after he left, David Dein joined the Board, promising that Arsenal would never again meekly allow it’s star players to leave.
And it didn’t under Dein’s watch.
Under Edelman and Gazides it’s 1981 all over again…
I wasn’t saying Rvp is better than DB just to make that clear.
My point is Rvp would have had to be in that team on this form.
But i also loved big Johnny Radford, what a great centre-forward he was, in an era when strikers/forwards could actually head the ball properly.
One of the best headers of a ball was George Graham.
Not only great timing, which in turn generated more power, but wonderfull accuracy.
When i watch BFG i just cringe.
But what kinda coaching does he get???
Mind you, there was a guy on here, think he commented about 9.26.
Who i’ve been told is the senior citizen of this blog.
And can actually remember Jack Lambert…..
Mr A;
It’s always difficult comparing players from different eras, not least the fact that tatics change and certain players compliment each other….
Like Vieira and Petit for example.
To me, without question, the finest pair of central midfielders i’ve ever seen in an Arsenal shirt….
Was gutted when Manu left….
Jeykll 11.40;
Mate, what Peter Hill-Wood says really isn’t worth taking any notice of.
He is employed to divert attention away from Kroenke.
Now what does Stan think about no CL football in 2012-13?
That is the question i want asked, and answered…..
Does Absent Stan even KNOW what Champions League football is…???
He probably thinks it’s something to do with the NBA..!
AK who did you give that goal too in 1971??? kelly or Graham 😆
Mr A 🙂
I was up the other end, and tbh it looked Graham’s goal all the way….
Even on TV at first watch it looks Graham’s goal…
What about 1979….?
Was it Sunderland’s or Talbot’s goal…?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16601927.stm
Luton have a great record of unearthing gems for their Academy.
I believe that LJWilshere started off at Luton…
I recall the Futcher twins, who both moved to Man City back in the 80’s.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16610337.stm
Sead Hajrovic…
http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/
Some more going out on loan….
So you liked that song then “he’s blonde,he’s quick,he’s name’s a porno flick emmanuel” 🙂
For me growing up,it was all about anders limpar,merson,thomas,paul Davis(who i think was so unrated at the time) that used to sizzle my bacon.
But under wenger,i saw players that were just another level to anything i have seen in my time as a Arsenal supporter.Vieira,petit,Pires,overmars,ljungberg are the one’s that stand out for me and you can’t forget the impact players like romford pele had and even edu had.I forgot gilberto silva aswell.
Wow we have been truly blessed when you think about it!!!
Hiya Sir AK. jsut a short pop before I go gallivanting over a pitch with the wee lads.
Good points. But as I have already said. The number 9 is not cursed. ITs AW who puts them in it and plays them.
How are you mate???
The family???
Did you read the leg pull I gave to Sir SP??? was chuckling all the time to myself.
Afternoon, have we signed anyone 😉
Stv, sorry about the headline, i forgot the Dudu post 😉
Righto. I am Squilling offski to training. c ya all later lads.
AK, I’d take Lauren over Sagna i think, if your on a walkabout down the swamp you’d want Lauren next to you all day long….! Hard as iron that man…..! Def one you want in the trenches with you and a very good underated player.
Vieira n Petit……. Still remmeber Manu coming on against shef weds in 98 with 20mins left as he was coming back from an injury…. we were one down or 1-1 and he came on straight to the centre circle high 5’s with PV as if to say come mate lets sort this lot out… crowd went up a notch place was buzzing and we won 3-1….. IF ONLY we had players like that now….!
Mr A;
We truely have been blessed my friend.
That’s why watching some of the present mob, is so painfull.
Yeah i loved Manu, a fantasic footballer, who Wenger converted from a left-back into a World Cup winning midfielder.
So he didn;t always get it wrong when he moved players into different positions….
Loved Paul Davis as well.
Met him briefly a couple of times, and he’s an absolute gent.
Massive Gooner as well.
Tragic that he left our coaching set-up imho….
GG reckons Samba is the perfect partner for TV, i make him not far wrong there 🙂
Looking back we have been very lucky fan’s.
I just wish that in 2004 i would have just realised how lucky we was at that time and soaked it in more.I think i expected us to win much more than we have now and thats because it raised everyone’s expectations.I honestly thought we would be the best team in the world right now under wenger.
Put em thru their paces Devil….
Your after an autograph eh Rico……??
We’re all good Devil, thanks.
You won’t upset Sir Steve.
Solid as a rock…. 😉
Re Davo, FA offered him more money AK aint that a surprise…….
AK, i thought you were 79 😉
When we had real CAPTAINS and TEAM PLAYERS.
Kind of brings tears to our eyes when we compare it to the rubble we have today.
Righto. This time off for sure.
Sure am Wath, and not GG’s 😉
hi!
I’m commit to sunday match.
If we lose, we are relegate to 7th. We can’t speak no longer more about CL and think about getting a place for the Europa League (which ranked 7th can not give). We are in a very delicate position.
I do not know which players are available. The team is very fragile. Pat Rice will be the right full back?
Advise the Arsenal players began to play with the new shin guard: http://www.sakproject.com
Wath, yeah mate, Lauren was a warrior alright.
Not scared of anyone.
Another who Wenger moved positions btw…. 🙂
Great memories re: Petit, what a lion….
The whole ground rumbled when Manu launched himself into a tackle.
Thought he was unfairly picked on by our useless referee’s, hench the move to Barca.
Rico…. 😕 😀
Wath, re your 1.40, who fears our midfield players now??
How has it come to this….
How many times did Paddy slide into a tackle in our own half, win the ball, get up and break with the ball at pace and the move ended with us scoring??
Too many times to mention…..
Rico, even after Petit left, Wenger brought in some other really powerfull midfielders like Edu and Gilberto, two other big favourites of mine.
But then he went down the Barca lite avenue, and we’re still recovering from that error of judgement…
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/7439922/Djourou-out-for-United-revenge
What a laugh…..
Rico, your 1.40 so does FM!!!
Totally agree AK, and to be fair, petit didn’t do a lot after us, apart from score against us i think when we beat the Chavs 4-3 😛
I too liked Gilberto and Edu, Edu another allowed to leave for free but the injury curse hit him after he left, shame, great footballer….
Talking about the Chavs, what about Kanu’s hatrick to win us a game, especially his last goal through the puddle and in from a crazy angle….
Oh those days 🙁
Arteta still out..?
Henry out..?
Sagna still out..?
Vermaelen???
We are so going to get our arsed kicked, i’m sorry to say!
Yeah Rico, that was a classic at the Bridge.
Chavs 2-0 up, but when we pulled one back you could feel the anxiety spreading through the whole stadium from the CFC fans.
A bit like us now… 🙁
I’m not surprised by that lee….
What a shame the man that matters doesn’t think so and we all know as soon as the likes of FM & GG suggest a player, Wenger wouldn’t even entertain it out of stubbourness…..
AK – i think so too and JD is out for revenge, what a flippin joke….
Its fine rico 😉 Authur,content all different. Sadly story is same even after edu. why would they give no.9 to park in that case!. Is’t that some sort of disrespect to our past greats who wore that shirt. !!!
Just a thought…….. SP, you playing golf sunday ?? If not fancy a kick about….. 4pm kick off over the park it’s called emirates park, big gaff we’re a centre forward short…!
WATH, can you round up a couple of full backs too?
I know Stv. bit of fun, we need it right now eh 😉
i hope we see park play soon, he may just surprise us all, it will be like a new signing 😉
Had a ring round Lee, fullbacks sorted,a decent left winger and I’ll manage an hour in central midfield…… That ok with you..?
2.41 Rico…… New signing pun is NOT, i repeat NOT funny….! 😛
Thats the one AK, sad days now eh, we are a laughing stock…..
Off out with Fido, laters all……
You old grump wath 😉 😉
Getting in the mood for sunday Rico 😉
Realist… Rico!! 🙁
http://www.footballfriendsonline.com/blogs/2012/1/18/same-old-arsenal-financial-facts-prove-that-the-directors-ar.html
On the junior gunner’s site..
http://www.arsenal.com/juniorgunners/news/spot-the-ball-?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29
Maybe AFC.com could do spot the new signing??
According to the London Evening Standard, both Vermaelen and Arteta should be fit for the weekend……
It’s a shame that Djourou leads Arsenal’s revenge against Man Utd.. Djourou !!!!!!!!!!
am waiting for a day when this punk thrown away from d team!
Do you believe Arsenal claim a CL spot this season? I don’t. 4 teams, in next CL: Mancs, chelsea and Totts. And in Europe League? Probably not. The 5t (Liverpoll or Newcastle), the winner or the opponent League Cup (a 2 divison team) and the winner of FA cup (one of the 5 leaders or the opponent). With this scenario, the wages much decrease and we must sell many players and probably promote others. So we are quit calm now but probably, very busy on Summer window.
JM but will we get people to sign for us as we’re not in the CL? Or are you talking about us selling players in the summer? 😉
thats where we are normally busy 😉
You know guys, i hear some of us, from time to time, talk about being out of the Champions League, and what the repucussions will be.
Some say it will allow us to rebuild , with so many less games.
Some say it will make Wenger focus more on the domestic cups with the hope that we win something.
But what has being out of the Champions League done for Liverpool?
Are they stronger?
Have they won any silverware?
Have they successfully re-built, with the benefit of more games?
Do the Scouse fans enthuse about the prospect of the Europa League?
And bear in mind, Liverpool get a very easy ride from our Liverpool ‘kiss-arse’ media/press.
I think that if and when Arsenal, finish outside of the top-four, that we’re going to feel a very cold worrying blast of realism.
We might be out of the CL party for a long long time.
Just ask a Liverpool fan……
Benefit of LESS games……
Peter Hill-Wood is a fool….
Everyone at Arsenal knows it.
He stays in the Boardroom because it suits Stan’s agenda to have an old buffoon attracting all the attention away from what ‘He’s’ actually doing…
Which is fcuk all…..
Hill-Wood also retains his position because of his family connections.
He is an 18 carat cnut….
And i wish he would just piss-off.
Other than that, i’m having a good day… 😀
AK, but the europa has lots of games in far away places on thursdays etc…a drain on our squad!!
Ak, hilldeadwood’s comments show how far from the fans the board really are, they have no concept what so ever what it means to us that we want to finish as high up the league as possible and aspire to be in contention to win it yet this prick says it would be nice to finish top four… Is he really for real…? what kind of ethos does this give out to the players…? shows the lack of leadership and drive directly from the top, shows why wenger is never held accountable and responsible for poor results an not buying what we need. Board are a f’kin disgrace to our club and us the fans and us as fans have to put up with this shit…?!?!?! or do we………………?????????????
allez, is really like that. Out of the CL, we will be like Aston villa or Everton now. And of course,exceeded by tots and chelsea.
Nice rant AK….no beers with PHW before the Villa game then? 😉
It’s impossible to know now if we qualify 4th or not for sure !
After 5-10 games or after observing our upcoming performances we will get an idea..
we cant rule out it already unless we continue our current great form..
btw the euefa cup is crazy !!
Lee, if we are lucky enough to qualify for the Europa League, then Wenger should use it like the Carling Cup [ he probably will ]….
JM, as we currently stand I would say we are a 5th to 7th placed team….! Injuries aside we really don’t know when half of them are going to come back or what their form would be and is that the way to try and get the team back into the top four..? No would be my answer….! If we need players then buy them, if everyone is fit then we have big competition and if players sulk sell the one who is the worst out the lot, doesnt that make us stronger..?
Well Wath, both you and Lee have sold your tickets this season….
So, in a way, you have done something.
But you can’t leave it alone guys, just as i cannot either…
As Sir Steve put yesterday, the club treats us like mugs.
But tbh, they always have done.
Hill-Wood is not a real football fan. In fact i’m sure i read somewhere, that he’s actually a rugby fan.
He has no concept of what it means to us. He’s a toff.
But he’s an irrelevance really, Stan is the problem….
That made we wonder last season that the dippers lost 2 piss easy games at the end of the season and missed out on the europa……spooky!!
JM, that’s what i’m saying amigo.
We’re all in for a nasty shock, with the prospect of reading about the Yids in europe for a few years.
You see how all those mates of the Yids, in the Press, suck it up, rub our noses in it and be prepared to read all the Arsenal-hating bile those journo cnuts have been sitting on for the last 15 years….
AK, makes no odds to me if deadwood is a toff or not plenty of those are proper Arsenal but the bloke is an insult to all arsenal fans with his senile blabberings….! He needs to be told by the club to shut the fuck up… again we have an owner who’s invisible and who could not give a shit so geriatric gets to blab away to the ever brilliant daily star….
Prob is AK the club is still getting the money from the ST’s i have it’s just not my money is that enough….?? No would have to be the answer…!
Lee, 4.22;
I honestly think, that if i saw him at the Grove, that i would lump the complaicent cnut.
STV, i try my best to be upbeat, but i really think that our holiday defeats have cost us a top-four finish….
He’s a pompous prick AK and we just keep him in brandy and cigars week in week out….! spoon fed wanker…!
Boo, what’s occurring 😉
Signings signings anyone want an autograph….?
Ooops sorry Rico didn’t want to get you all excited….!
Wath, 4.31;
Does anyone really believe, that once our injured players get back, that that’s it, no more injuries.
Imagine our situation if Chezzer got injured…….??????
Doesn’t bear thinking about does it?
I been saying that for months AK, it’s bad enough RVP gets injured but worse than that is if Chez gets injured we’re is shit street…!
I know it’s not much but didn’t renew my red membership either, two of them….!
Samba’s having a medical Rico……
Only joking Rico…. 😀
Not with us though AK, QPR??
Where would be the question AK cos it won’t be Colney 😀
Bad bad AK 😉
Don’t blame ya Rico, your not going to get a ticket from the club if your a red member.
It’s a con-trick by the club.
Gives them the leverage to frighten existing season-ticket holders into re-newing their tickets.
That from PHW was shocking. for him champions league just means 25m !! He is a disgrace to arsenal ‘football’ club.
WATH we may be the only club in the planet which have a chairman coach executive (or what ever) all talking only about bussiness & money all the time !!
You know Wath, i have two season tickets.
My eldest son and his best mate use them.
But if, next summer, they both said to me, that they didn’t want them anymore, then i’d blow them out, honest i would.
If i needed a football fix, i know people at the supporters club.
Also, i could go to a few away games.
Better atmosphere anyway…
What if bot RvP and Ches got injured, and Kos, let’s get really depressed 😉
And all afc.com want to do is tell us all about the up and coming kids, our so called generation – first one i clicked on earlier said his best friend in football is one of the coaches at Barcelona, thats him soon gone then!!!
I did once AK, but that was by luck i think, the other times i have used a friends season ticket….
It’s close AK i could indeed let my go but i cling to the hope things will change and we’ll get our club back but I think I am a delusional mug…!
Do I dare Wath 😉 😉
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/283795/20120118/arsenal-transfer-news-mario-gotze-set-contract.htm
http://www.arsenalnews.co.uk/pundtis-evaluate-declining-gunners-as-wengers-decisions-are-questioned/link/109772/
I’m going to have a read of those AK….
The Goetze story, sadly i can’t see us ever signing him, he’d cost to much and he’ll aim higher than us…..
Whinge, whinge, whinge, that’s all people do on this blog, if i ever get like that just slap me.
I think it’s high time someone other than the pundits looked into wengers decisions, and if we had an owner with intent and with passion for our club in a similar way as we fans do, he would have done so by now…..
Nevermind about Hill-Wood.
The question bugging me, is ,does Micko believe in Leprechaun’s???
Are there any arsenal fans out there surprised to hear wenger say he won’t be buying this transfer window ? Me thinks not.
Hi Micko, back home now?
Cyber slap heading your way 😉
Kev, to be sure, to be sure.
I’m back in Ireland again, my probation officer gave me the all clear to return.
Hi rico, I heard a good one in England last week, Thierry Henry is temporary but Chamakh is permanent, thought was quite good, sorry if its old news.
Can any of us believe anything Wenger says?
What he says, is it for us, the fans?
Or is it for agents/clubs/players, in his game of bluff and double bluff.
Well i believe in them Mick…..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/18/jack-wilshere-return-arsenal-ankle?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Kev, there’s gonna be so much pressure on JW shoulders if he returns early, I think we’re all better off being emotionally detached from arsenal these days, its seriously doing my head in !
Ha ha Micko, Henry is def temporary, he’s injured now 🙁
AK, no, its not and this time when he says he won’t spend, i believe him – some suggest he still has the money from the summer and it’s his choice not to spend it… What a fool…..
We rush Jack back and its going to muck him up long term, let the kid recover properly….
I think we are all better off getting to the ground and making a lot of noise!
Then, as KO approaches, we all go to the pub and watch the Eastenders omnibus 😉
The problem, as i see it Mick, is that Jack feels the pressure and expectations lumped on him by so many frustrated Gooners.
But he can’t turn it around all on his own, and Wenger would be a fool to bring him back too soon.
I know exactly how you feel mate.
Wath, tbh, none of really know what those dorks at the club have planned.
None of us for saw all that transfer activity last Aug 31st.
Was it planned?
Was it a reaction to the club worst start for almost 60 years??
We’ll never really know mate….
Have the Martians landed yet Rico…? :P:
Dirty Den would be turning in his grave at this carry on !
rIco, wenger holds all the cards, if it goes tits up (excuse my french)he can’t be blaming anyone else this time up, i’ve been saying it since last summer, its probably time for a fresh challenge for both parties come the end of the season.
They landed in Corrie AK, what Martians are due in Eastenders ? 🙁
Was Dirty Den a Gooner 😉
Tits up, thats quite tame considering how we all feel Micko 😉
I’m inclined to agree with you, new broom and all that, we have a lot of really good players but everything sems to be getting very stale, i’m sure another manager would get (demand) more from Theo and a couple of others…
But, as AK pointed out the other day, some join us right now for Wenger alone, devil and deep one but for me, something needs changing….
FAST!
Wenger is a busted flush surely. What is the point of continuing with him? He’s not gonna change now is he and he is so lost in his own history it is a joke. He is just re-living the same season over and over, making the same mistakes, fixating on the same rubbish and making himself look silly. Hill- Wood is his understudy in silliness. Who can honestly see a future for either of them at Arsenal?
Wonder if Sanchez Watt will be on the bench this weekend?
Hi Kev. Diaby won’t.
Hi Adam,
i like to think its down to those above him but the longer this goes on, i am unsure 🙁
is Watt back AK??
Diaby should be on the bench, a park one….
Hiya mates. IIIIII AAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMM HEEEEEEERRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Back again.
lets see who have we signed???? Ah yes.
Its been reported that AW has just done a triple signing in one fell swoop. A centre forward who is a no nonsense lad. Palmer’s the name. A midfielder who is not afraid of running after bouncing balls…..someone who’s known as S Goon and a tricky winger who many say is the devil in disguise. They cost nothing and will willingly play for the club voluntarily. Its been said that they will surely play better than the rabble we have.
K-TR7 has just emailed, he says hello to all, exam time for him so very busy but he’ll be back real soon 🙂
😆 devil, you left me out, the ray parlour in my playing days…..
on that note, off to cook dinner, and of course eat it 😆
They are still discussing with you. According to the latest report they are not agreeing on the number which you will be wearing on your back. Seems as if you want the number 1 but AW does not want to upset Almunia. 😆
where the hell is Goonie???? he makes the HH world go round!!!!
I think it is him Rico. He spends his time talking nonsense these days and not addressing the way forward. Just how many times have we all ended up staring blankly at yet another transfer window watching Wenger’s lack of activity and hearing his embarrassing mutterings about conspiracies to get people sent off, TV schedules, the length of the bloody grass, mental strength, the economy, the efficiency of Arshavin etc, etc? He fiddled all the way through the summer, poncing about trying to pretend that Nasri and Cesc were staying, got caught out as everybody, literally everybody, knew he would and left himself at a club with a single decent striker. Oh well we all thought, he will address that in January. Now he seems to almost relish telling us that he won’t buy anyone because they will not be committed. Like Theo is committed? He won’t play Oxlade-Chamberlain for some unknown reason and just who is Park? I hope that Stan sees that CL isn’t going to happen this year or any year in the future with this deluded Wenger in charge and sells out to the Russian who get’s Wenger out and a new manager in. Where we are at is nowhere and where we are going is even worse.
Devil, if Almunia jumped out in front of a bus on the motorway it would go under him !
Boo, thats better 🙂
Sorry Adam, had something to do……
Hello to you mate…..
Diaby, who???? Never heard of him…!
Hello Devil….. good training session?
Adam, 7.07;
Blimey mate, get it off your chest…… 😀
Don’t agree totally mate, but i definately have a lot of sympathy for your view……
In fact it’s becoming more and difficult to disagree at all.
It’s just, as long as i’ve been an Arsenal fan,[ almost as long as Wath 😉 ], the overriding obstruction to an Arsenal actually dominating, has been our Board of Directors.
They are useless now, and have useless for as long as i can remember [ Dein excepted ]…..
Now i’m off for the evening.
Mrs has to be at the hospital at 7.30 tomorrow morning for her knee op.
7.30…. 🙁
Lata Gooners…
Hiya AK. oui had a good training session.
Good luck to the Missus……we will all think of her in our prayers of that I am sure. It will pass. But she will need you for a few days. So be near her.
Laters Kev, I’m sure rico told me you and wath were seperated at birth.
Adam – re your 7.07
I get really cheesed off listening to AW blame everything other than the team or him for a defeat, it’s boring now.
Also, I believe that he lacks bottle with his substitutions and tactics, he doesn’t seem to want to change in his approach and this is not helping any of our players and certainly not our results.
Why AW has kept Ryo from going on loan and not playing him is beyond me, and with Theo struggling a bit, i’m surprised Chamberlain hasn;t had more playing time, his body is strong enough, he can take playing more.
As for Park, goodness knows why we bought him if we are not going to play him, doesn’t really backup the fact that ‘we as a club won’t spend on any old player’ theory…
A lot is down to AW I am sure, but also Stan/Ivan need to portion blame – all three together make a very bad combination.
Unless we know the whole story, all three for me have a huge part to play in ruining our club….
Nighty AK, hope all goes well for Mrs AK….
In a few moments, Madrid-Barcelona 🙂
Arsenal is a case study.
What will be the line-up for sunday? We have so many injuries, more Chamack and Gervinho out.
I’d like a revanche next sunday, bur will be impossible. Moreover, we can fall to the 7th place…
I am squiling offski.
Nighty to you all.
c u all tomorrow.
take care friends
News: 🙂
Cissokho is almost correct his transfer to Arsenal. The side, which, in Portugal rose by Vitoria Setubal and FC Porto, after the siege of Newcastle, Arsenal is almost guaranteed, according to press imglesa.
Injuries to Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos, forcing the English club to seek a new option during the winter market, one of which passes through the Gallic side. The agreement, it seems, is a loan with a purchase option by the end of the day
I know this player!
Nighty devil, have a goiod one
Hi JM – you saying we are about to sign Cissokho??? 😛
🙂
Center Stage for Major River project hosts Ian Wright
The Center for Internships and Training Sport Rio Maior will host the Academy of Talent “Vision Pro Team,” a project sponsored by the English former footballer Ian Wright.
Rio Maior will receive the training school that was based in La Manga, Spain, and the company “mother”, the English VisionPro Sports Institute Ltd (VSI), spares no praise for the infrastructure of the district of Santarém.
“Rio Maior, located an hour’s drive from Lisbon, offers sports facilities and first class accommodation in perfect harmony with the cultural ambience of the city,” says the VSIPro site on the Internet.
The English company stresses the fact that Rio Maior is commonly used by the Portuguese football teams, the Olympic Committee of Portugal and as center stage of international athletes.
At this time, Rio Maior is already used by athletes of the Brazilian Triathlon Federation Russian and still in the game.
On the premises of the Center for Internships riomaiorense will now be hosted over 21 players (15 British, five Spaniards and one Hungarian), aged between 16 and 18, and the “staff” of the project managers Vision Pro Team.
The public presentation of the project will take place next Tuesday, but in statements to Lusa news agency, the administrator of slumping, the company managing the municipal complex, stressed the importance of the project.
“It’s a very interesting design point of view and respond to economic challenges facing the country right now is the need to attract foreign investment,” said Carlos Coutinho.
The former England international Ian Wright will be in the public presentation of the project, as well as one of the bridges for fixing the Vision Pro Team in Rio Maior, the Luso-American entrepreneur Mark Francis, honorary president of the United Soccer Leagues (USL).
Seems like i have missed out on a fine debate guys, and a kick about with Highbury house legend Wath, i could probably manage the warm up Wath thats about it nowadays. Just noticed someones comment on Hillwood, i must admit this board and Management has started to stick in the throat now, todays Rag has stated that Wenger will miss this window out. We have the worst team i have known in years and he doesn’t think we need to buy, I’m sorry they are really begining t piss me off.. And i am probably talking to myself
rico, in Portuguese press…;-)
That’s all Wrighty is good for these days JM 😉 😉
Trouble is Steve, we all see what is wrong, well, bits and pieces but nothing changes…..
Its not like we want five £30Million players, we just want three who cost about £8 Million each…. Is that so much for us to be asking?
Vertonghen
Samba
Striker
Simples 🙂
That would do me Rico, as you say Simple.
Arsenal fans Peru, published in Facebook, a photo with Mets with 11 years old, with an Arsenal shirt. 🙂
I’m off for the night,And heh, be careful out there 🙂
I hear ya SP………. your warm up will consist of you putting in more effort than half that lot manage in 90mins SP….. 😉
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1473/25/hleb-admits-he-wasted-his-career-after-leaving-arsenal?
Nah bollox to that I want Messi, Gotze, Ramos, Torres and M’vila
Simples……… 😉
Night SP, night all….
Nighty Steve, you be good too 😉
Night SP,WATH,AK,Devil and good luck Mrs AK!!!!
ansenal fans uruguau, latin americaa too. I’ve published it in HH facebook 🙂
Now, Madrid-Barcelona. Come on Barça 🙂
S***e happens Hleb!
Reap what you sow….
Wath – and you men say we women are hard to please eh 😉
What about me lee 🙁 🙁 Nighty to you too 😉
I’m also off, have a good night all…
Nighty night
😛
M’Vila and Gotze this window…….. Your alarm clock is going off Lee!!!!
I thought you were lurking, as if I’d be that rude to the lady of the house!! 😉
😆 lee – now go and get back to that dream…..
Nighty……
El Classico for me now…… Tell you what there’s a few players on show in this game that we could do with right now!!!!
Nighty night all…..
1-0 ronaldo!
Sorry AK missed ya out, best wishes to the Mrs mate hope the op goes well…!
Kev. Just checked back in before bed. Best wishes to your wife with the op tomorrow mate.
Morning all,
Sorry Sir Kev, Missed your comment on your Mrs Yesterday, Best wishes, and hope everything goes well.
Speady recovery Lady AK.
Morning
New post up