Daily Bits and Bobs

The forgotten man. Is Szczesny up for the fight?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Poor old Emiliano Viviano, he’s been a little bit forgotten amongst all the hype of Mesut Ozil..

Viviano says he is ready to fight for the No 1 spot after completing his “dream” move to Arsenal.

It feels good [to sign for Arsenal], it is a dream for me, I am proud to be here and I want to say thank you to the boss [Arsène Wenger].

It is easy [to choose Arsenal], it is one of the best clubs in the world. It is a club with a fantastic story, with a boss who is one of the best in Europe and for me it is a dream. It is special.

I think it is a good thing that there are other great goalkeepers here. It is a positive fight. We are at work every day together and I am sure there will be great friendship.

I know Fabianski has been a little bit unlucky last year with some injuries. I always see Szczesny play and he is a good goalkeeper, a great goalkeeper. I will work hard with them to [compete].

Italy have five goalkeepers in their current squad:

Gianluigi Buffon – 35 years old

Federico Marchetti – 30 years old

Salvatore Sirigu – 26 years old

Michael Agazzi – 29 years old

And our man, Emiliano Viviano – 27 years old.

It’s World Cup year, well the actual competition is next year but all five will be desperate to be in the squad for their country and the only way they will do so is by playing each week and proving to Cesare Prandelli that they are good enough to warrant selection.

That won’t happen if a goalkeeper is sat on the bench for his club.

Of course, the same thing can be said of Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski, they all have a chance of playing for their respective countries but the only way that will happen is if they play but 3 into 1 doesn’t go.

I strongly suspect that Arsene Wenger will use either the new man or Fabianski for the domestic cups but which one? Did Fabianski do enough last season when he played to prove it should be him, or will the new Italian 6′ 5″ keeper automatically take that spot in the cups?

Emiliano Viviano was the first choice goalkeeper in the Italy U-20 team at the 2005 U-20 World Cup. In 2007 with the Italy U-21, he took part at the U-21 European Championship. He also took part at the 2008 Summer Olympics with the Olympic team.

He made his debut for Italy senior team on 7 September 2010, in a 5-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in Florence. He became the second choice goalkeeper for Italy, only after veteran Gianluigi Buffon and ahead Salvatore Sirigu.

Of course, I had to look that up as I know nothing about the player but playing second fiddle to Buffon is no shame, as Buffon is a world class goalkeeper but playing second fiddle to Szczesny isn’t in his plans. He wants that number one spot. His deal maybe only a years loan but we do have an option to make the deal permanent next summer so he’ll be out to make that happen if we really are his ‘dream move’.

Had we signed someone like Begovic, I think the message would have been clear and he would have been Arsene Wengers first choice but I doubt that will be the same for Viviano.

What his signing will do though is bring on a real fight for the right to be the number one keeper and that’s something only the team will benefit from.

Many of us here have called for real competition for the young Pole and now I think he’s got it…

Where this all leaves Fabianski though is anyone’s guess.

That’s it for another day, only nine more days of international football………..

rico

0 thoughts on “The forgotten man. Is Szczesny up for the fight?”

  2. Adam says:

    Morning again Rico. The addition of Viviano must be positive. Certainly Ches looks more focused at the moment though I always feel that a moment of madness is never far away.

  4. Joywedsjeff says:

    Very concise post Rico, good job. Methinks our young pole has been very comfortable for the past two seasons. I loved his facial expression when he sat out last season’s run in. If he picks up one of those imaginary injuries again he find it tougher to regain his place. While Amuniano is no Buffon but from the little i’ve seen of him, he is better than both mancs keepers who are slightly overated imho. As for Fabianski, he is off in January at the earliest.

  5. bradster says:

    Morning Fans,

    Good read up Rico. Let’s hope he has a cool head, good organisation skills , authority in and around his box and no flappy moments.

  6. stevepalmer1 says:

    Nice one Rico, We all say that players should all be fighting for a place in the team, and we now have competition for the goalkeepers Jersey. Just how Wenger will pick the best is anyones guess. Szezesney has a mad moment thats plain to see that could cost us not only a goal but a sending off as well. Fabianski has times where concentration leaves him and a flap could cost us. Viviano is a blank canvas to me as i know nothing about him at all. But i will have a comment once i have seen him play a couple of games in an Arsenal Jersey. I also leave my comments on Ozil till i see him in an Arsenal shirt. I often think that reputations can be made to look good but to actually see a player can tell you a lot more. Wenger has seen these players play he has the experience that i dont have in foreign players i know what i like and just hope Wenger has pulled off a couple of good deals.

  7. c2hills says:

    Morning all.

    Very good perspective, rico. Twas as if we had all forgotten there were two signings on TDD. Nine days isn’t only. Can’t wait to see us play. Good read as always.

  8. Woody says:

    9 more days to go and even then we’re away…17 days to go until we get to (possibly) see Ozil run on out to the Emirates turf!

  10. rico says:

    Morning Adam & all, thanks for your comments..

    Like you Adam, I always fear a moment of madness lurks in Szczesny – we saw that against Fenerbache.

    I reckon he got wind of a keeper being signed as he has certainly been a little better in the last two PL games…

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  15. Lewis says:

    Morning all,

    Nice post Rico. Viviano is an unknown entity to me but international calibre so hopefully a decent addition. Chezzer must now be feeling the competition, his last few performances have been good and I truly hope that continues, but if not we have goal keeping options. Can’t wait for the Sunderland game, the interlull has come at a good time for me as I’m off on holiday for a few weeks on sat and wont be tempted to watch the bore fest.

  17. Mohammed Bhayat says:

    I’m just happy to see competition for Sez because hes had it far to easy, and I was glad to see him dropped at the end of last season, I know he had a bit of a shocker against Villa but most other games since he has been quite good, and I’m thinking talk of a new keeper on the way has helped raise his game.

    However I strongly feel that Sez will be a class act once he develops and these next few season will be key to his development and if he is dropped I hope he doesn’t run off in search for 1st team action and sticks with us as Arsene has shown a lot of faith by playing him so young and giving him game time after all the shockers hes had I couldn’t have seen Fergie or another manager do the same and show the same level of faith. I can’t really comment of the new guy never seen him play or heard of him but lets hope that who ever is picked they play well.

    As for Fabiniski I just feel this guy has had more than enough time to prove himself and he has hardly made a real claim to be number 1 so I think he needs to accept that Arsenal is as good as it will ever get for him and if he isn’t happy being 3rd choice then he needs to move on and get a taste of reality

  18. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to the Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Rico – Nice summary of the goalkeeping situation.

    I think having competition in a World Cup qualifying year will keep Szczesny focused. I’m still mystified why we, or anyone else for that matter, didn’t sign Julio Cesar. He was talking to numerous clubs and is a very experienced keeper.

    His current wages weren’t a problem. So, I’m guessing either he was asking for a substantial wage increase and/or a guarantee he would be first choice. Anyone else have any information on Cesar?

  19. tsgh says:

    Hi Cg,

    JC wanting a 4 year contract at his age was a major turn-off, there were rumours about some of field issues too 😉

    I heard we spoke to him again but he was not willing to settle for less than a 4 year contract and wanted guarantee of a starting place…

    Personally, I did not really rate him as highly as he was made out to be…

    At the beginning of last season he made some excellent saves and committed howlers that led to QPR falling behind and never recovering.

    Post January, he was displaced by Rob Green too but ‘arry ‘gold plated’ is as a means to give Rob Green a chance as he was certain JC was leaving…

  21. Gtid says:

    Isn’t Szczesny Poland’s No 1 ?
    Off topic
    why are some people suddenly saying we’ll be a 1-man team with the arrival of ozil??

  22. Gtid says:

    Plus I read somewhere that our new GK made the GK of the week a staggering 15 times in serie A. So I think he’s good since he’s a backup to the legendary Buffon

  23. ktr7 says:

    Good read.I hope that extra competition makes Szczesny take it a notch higher like De Gea did last season.

    CharlieGeorge (1995 after we signed
    Bergkamp) – “We need a goal scorer don’t
    we? If Wrighty gets injured we are
    SCREWED!”
    (1995) – “What is
    Rioch up to? He signs a creative player
    when we have bigger problems than
    creating chances.”

  24. emma says:

    Good post rico,
    Like I said when the emilano deal was done, he is a very good keeper. I watched fiorentina a couple of times as a result of our reported interest on Jovetic. He will keep Scesny on his toes or gazump the No 1 spot if he has opportunity presents itself. I think he is already No 2. We may have to let Fab go when his contract expires at the end of the season

    https://twitter.com/101greatgoals/status/375563582093545472

  25. ktr7 says:

    -Which CL opponent you’re happy about
    the most? Reus: Arsenal because my idol
    Tomas Rosicky is playing there.

    cheeky bid next year?… 😉

  26. emma says:

    I hope NB52 put his body and soul on the line for us this season and push OG12 for the striker position. I still think there is a player in there. He could have gone several notch up if not for his egoistic behaviour. Probably realize the £52k is coming to an end in 9months and it’s a world cup year.

  27. c2hills says:

    Afternoon all.

    Kt, Ginge and all, it seems arsen(e)al can’t win. Some people keep repeating that our new number 11 goes missing in big games and lacks defensive nous. If I recall correctly, CR07, until about a year ago, could also be tagged with the goes-missing-in-big-games name yet, he has always been a darling. Also, I don’t remember Cesc defending. This transfer, it seems to me, is about a player who didn’t want to play second fiddle to a newbie (Isco); kind of like Rooney and the little Dutch kid. Whether Madrid made the right decision or not, only time…

  28. Gtid says:

    C2, your right w(he) can’t.
    Thep say we don’t need him, i am still wondering if we had gotten Fabregas instead, would they still be saying we don’t need him?

  29. c2hills says:

    Damn right Gt, re cesc. You see, we need a big bad, CD and DM. Forgetting we had the second best defence last season and, MF may look small but you can’t push him around.

  30. ktr7 says:

    CH I agree.just look at chelsea.they have 3 CBs in Terry/Luiz/Cahill.their 4th choice is Ivanovic who is their starting RB.we have the same scenario with Mert/Kos/Vermy and Sagna but the media won’t point it out.we are going to shock the league this season because our squad is underrated because it didn’t cost millions.

    They say we have no DM.we actually don’t play with one but still we have Flamini who showed in the NLD what he can contribute.however since he was free they don’t count him as one.he has played in this league and knows our system therefore doesn’t need to adapt.if he had cost £20 mil it would be all over the media.

    Again they say we don’t need Oezil…i’ve used so many words to explain why he is just what we need.i’ll even post a video to explain it later.also last year when the Mancs signed the little dutch boy they praised him to the heavens despite them having kagawa/rooney/welbeck/chicharito to play there.

    Rvp gave them that belief.even when they were 2 nil down the players kept going because they knew he could turn it around for them.Oezil will have the same impact…just watch.

  31. ktr7 says:

    I am also tired of the same old cliche that we have a poor defence…since that spurs game we have conceeded 8 goals if am not wrong.we did it without that DM they say.

  32. c2hills says:

    Kt, “I’m sorry he didn’t cost 20million”, said Arsene of MF. Sometime ago you or Ginge mentioned Özil and I thought it was a case of building castles in the sky. How things change! I really can’t wait to see us play.

  33. ktr7 says:

    At the time CH it was only a pipe dream and thats why am so excited.i hope you stick around because i’ll post a vid that will show exactly why Oezil is needed and also why Wenger preferred Rosicky over santi as our #10.

  34. c2hills says:

    Its as if they(media) don’t realise that if you have the ball, your opponent can’t score. Add our possession footy to our new counter-attacking game, the season might just turn out to be very interesting.

  36. ktr7 says:

    German wonderkid Marco Reus has called Jack
    Wilshere ‘ perfect ’ and waxed lyrical over the
    Arsenal midfielder ’ s technique .
    In a Guardian interview with @DonaldMcRae he
    also spoke about how he ’ d modeled his game
    on former Dortmund star , and Arsenal player ,
    Tomas Rosicky .
    “A perfect player, ” he said of Wilshere. “Boy ,
    he ’ s fucking good . He’ s so quick and skilful
    with the ball at his feet .”
    And having grown up at Dortmund, Reus cites
    Tomas Rosicky as his inspiration and idol,
    claiming that injuries have robbed him , and
    Arsenal , of a truly great player.
    “My idol was always Tomas Rosicky , ” he said .
    “He used to be phenomenal . He had such a
    good eye for an opening and knew where his
    team – mates were , and he was so quick .
    “Rosicky had great technique and was so
    intelligent and mature even though he was still
    young at Dortmund. I copied everything about
    him – right down to his sweatbands.
    “He was so unlucky he had bad injuries at
    Arsenal because , otherwise, he would be one of
    the world’ s best players. ”

    If there is a player with the potential to be the new Henry its him.he is an immense talent.

  37. tsgh says:

    Hi CH, Kt, Emma and Gtid.

    Well I am very pleased with Ozil and MF. Chuck in Arteta, Frimpong in the CoC against west Brom and we have a decent squad.

    CoC- line-up:
    Flappy/Alumviano

  38. ktr7 says:

    Podolski “This is exactly what Mesut gives
    us – with a super pass or a solo
    move”

    Podolski “We already play wicked football.
    The only thing that has been missing for
    us is the last punch, the element of
    surprise.” [Bild]

  39. ktr7 says:

    Reus: “I think everyone has their favourite
    club from youth and I was always a fan of
    Arsenal, I appreciate the culture of their
    game.”

  41. tsgh says:

    Kt- Hoffman is the new guy at BVB… he will be far better than Muller in my opinion.

    I wish Serge would get the games to show his talent too…

  42. c2hills says:

    Anytime my mind goes back to the NLD on Sunday, I remember Rosicky’s gait and movement just before releasing Walcott for the goal. It was a joy to behold.

  43. emma says:

    hi ts,

    The midfield battle for position is going to be interesting. Everyone will need to step up their game. AM – Ozil, I see Ramsey has established himself as one of the pivot. It’s going to be an interesting battle b/w Flamini, Arteta and Wilshere for the 2nd pivot

  45. tsgh says:

    Kt- Do you know AW tried to sign Reus too but he had already verbally agreed to joinBVB from Mong’bach when we enquired and BVB is is local and former club. At that time he thought he was too young to make that jump to the EPL.

    His contract expires in 2017. I suspect it will take another £40M plus bid to prize him away…

    Emma- It will be suicidal for AW to play Arteta?JW and Ozil plus SC19 in the same line-up imho… at least not yet.

  46. emma says:

    I would have prefered Rosicky as the second pivot along with Ramsey. He is quicker, and intelligent in his movement.

  47. ktr7 says:

    With Oezil and wilshere/ramsey from deep wenger is basically going back to the invincibles blueprint.against Fenerbahce Ramsey scored from such a move.it could be lethal even without an elite forward.

  49. Gtid says:

    That line-up is not bad.

    Ts, we have Samuel Galindo, Wellignton Silva, Joel Campbell, C. Akpom, what’s going to happen to these players when we sign another striker and let’s not forget Y. Sanogo too. I don’t see all of them making it to the first team. what do you think?

  50. tsgh says:

    AW will persist with JW though for obvious reasons… its not a bad thing.I doubt Flamini will be playing much in game where we need to be dictating play… I know the NLD was just one outing but I was very intrigued to see how much faith AW has in AR16 now that in the last 25 minutes of the game he swapped MF and AR16’s position.

    This ensured we could play the ball from the back a bit more with Flamini playing further up like Gattusso to try to win the ball back in their own half. When Tr07 went off it was interesting to see SC19 and AR16 playing as the pivot without the ball with Flamini chasing and hurrying the spuddies midfield 2 of Sandro and Paulinho.

  51. Mohammed Bhayat says:

    ktr7 thats a great point you made about Chelski defense never thought of that and I know we will be a big surprise our defense is no where near as bad as people make out even against Spuds when they tried at the end to throw everything at us we still kept them out and they created hardly any clear cut chances.

    We will be a surprise package this season and Wenger knows we are strong its funny how all the jornos thinking our team is a crap but so many players and some managers have said how getting Ozil makes us title contenders and how good our team looks now.

  52. emma says:

    My preferred Arsenal XI will look like this

    Giroud

    Cazorla Ozil Walcott

    Ramsey Rosicky

    Gibbs Mert Kos Sagna

    Scesny

  56. emma says:

    Arsene has quietly fix the GK, defenders positions(CB, DM, RB) still the media can’t see it. Just because he didn’t spend 30m on flamini and £15m on GK. He was wise enough to pull the plug on NB52 deal as it will take Sanogo 1yr to acclimatise to the rigours of the PL. I still think NB52 can do a job for us. Sanogo needs to go out on loan probably to the championship

  57. ktr7 says:

    In the video i’ve just posted Oezil thrives in such spaces.he is that incisiveness Neville is talking about.Rosicky tries but he isn’t as good as Oezil at it.Santi prefers ball to feet and thats why he was shifted wide to act as that extra playmaker.

  60. Gtid says:

    Samuel Eto’o

    “I’d rather sell groundnuts in my village than to play for a pathetic team like Chelsea.”

    thid got me laughing. Funny if it’s true

  61. rico says:

    I want to repeat something I have posted on here before and it’s to do with ‘they who think we don’t need Ozil’

    No-one on Highbury House has said that, if anyone is reading that kind of comment elsewhere, then please go and challenge them where that comment is, because here, the comments are pointless because everyone is happy that we have signed the German…..

  62. tsgh says:

    Gtid- W. Silva is back on loan. J Campbell moved to Greece with a view to a permanent move. Akpom will definitely get a chance imo.

    Galindo I thought had been sold to a Bolivian club…

  63. ktr7 says:

    Adam the media aren’t convinced because our squad did not cost £300 mil like city to buy duds like javi garcia.The Dortmund team in the CL final cost just as much as Oezil alone.they have quality and spirit in abundance and thats what Wenger is trying to build.

    Ts Reus has a £30 mil release clause that becomes active in 2014.

  67. tsgh says:

    Kt- Neville talks a lot of sense… it is a shame he is from England in FOOTBALL sense…

    He should be up there with the likes of CoCu and De Boer as one of the up coming managers…
    I wonder if Hodgson takes any of his views in?

  68. Adam says:

    KT. I obviously don’t read the same media you do and anyway, who gives a shit what they think. you don’t need “them” to make your point. FFS Ozil hasn’t kicked a ball for us yet.
    I really have no idea what you are talking about half the time but that is probably because I don’t see or think about football in the way you do. Perhaps you sit in a more advantageous place in the stadium. For me, it is played on grass. Formations, tactics and statistics just don’t turn me on like they do you but I think I know a decent player when I see him.

  73. ozgunner says:

    we have badly needed a ‘key to the door’ man for some time – how many times do we dominate and not be able to find the key – this key is what Ozil may well bring to Arsenal. As I posted the other day “there is not a team in the world that doesn’t need Ozil” His vision and that unpredictability is exactly what we need when trying to find a way past 10 defenders.

  74. rico says:

    According to reports, AFC have now made £1 million on Ozil shirt sales….

    Funny really, that’s nearly as much as old Ebenezer likes to pay for his players… 😉

  78. c2hills says:

    Rico, tis the guardian I read sometimes and other pundits. I brought up the issue here because, though I may read other blogs and papers, I can’t be arsed to comment. HH is my blogging home so I thought I should bring up the issue before the experts of the house.

  83. rico says:

    But Ch, people who are being referred to as ‘they’ or ‘some’ can’t defend their view if they are not here.

    This site is about expressing our views, not that of a perceived minority or majority..

    As soon as I see ‘some people’ or ‘they’ in a comment, I usually skip it as it’s not a view of the person posting it, so I seldom see the point…

  84. ktr7 says:

    rico am pissed by what i’ve heard elsewhere i agree.maybe the way i put it wasn’t right so f**k the media but i wanted to explain why we have no one like him in the squad and his contributions to our play.i thought it would be a wortwhile discussion.

    Adam no problem.everyone views football differently and that is why its such a great sport 🙂 am an Engineer and most of the time i deal with numbers stats and analysis so thats maybe why i view footy the way i do.in the end of the day we all want Arsenal to succeed and Oezil is a good step in the right direction.

  85. rico says:

    I just knew that would go over your head Adam 😉

    2 B12 tablets each morning, good for the brain apparently, not seen much of a result though I have to say…

  87. rico says:

    That’s different though Kt, that is your view about why we are much better off with him in the squad, that’s not really my point..

    But why do you worry about what the media say? As you say, stuff them, let them carry on the way they do, that’s what they do..

    I am sure that Ozil will soon show them all just what he’s about.

    We have to just hope and pray that Giroud & Koscielny/Merts/Sagna don’t get injured…

  88. Adam says:

    KT. No problem. I know that you and a few others think about football in that way and if it pleases you then that’s great. We must wait and see how Wenger slots Ozil into the team. It will be fascinating, but I have found that great players are very good at making it up as they go along and being where they need to be, when they need to be there. For me, it is one of the things that singles them out from good players. Gary Neville-type dissections are giving greater credibility to pre-game tactics then is warranted I think but he has to earn his money I suppose.

  89. ktr7 says:

    Oezil seems to really rate Wenger…he is such a draw for him.lets hope we build on him.right now we are such a draw to any Germans that aren’t Bayern bound.#Germancore

  90. tsgh says:

    Vitamin B12, it seems is also useful for regulating the nervous system and busting chemicals that help to reduce depression. To qualify as an AKB brigadier you need to overdose on it. 😛

  92. rico says:

    Honesty at last Micko 😉

    I’m glad we did, gave me another post to write, wrote three in about 40 mins the other night when I was one a roll. Last one tomorrow…

  96. arsenal11730 says:

    Happy we signed Emiliano as Scez needs to be kept on his toes.
    Scez is a great shot stopper but keeps parrying the ball into dangerous areas, rather than out for a corner.
    Scez is arrogant. I believe he needs to quieten down, and respect the crest. He is clueless how privileged to be our number one at that age.
    The Ozil euphoria seems justified, give AW credit, we had the signing of the window when Bale set a WR.
    It seems apparent Ozil could have made more dough at PSG and Manutd but chose us because of AW, Mert, Poldi and our style of play. I believe Ozil wants to be the main man and have the pressure of leading the club forward like DB10 in 95.
    I have not seen Gooner Land so estatic since 2006 Paris CL Final.
    Fully deserved as we have had our share of challenging times.
    Things are on the up for our club and us personally, lets enjoy it and ride the cloud.
    Let Manutd RVP start squabbling.

  97. c2hills says:

    Rico, I get your point but, its not so much about them defending themselves than of me wanting to get the views of those who may have seen him (Özil) play more than I have. I gather devilgunner is a coach.

  98. tsgh says:

    The question I have for Micko is ‘how the heck a family called the Glazers managed to balls up this window’?

  102. ktr7 says:

    If there is one aspect of Szczesny’s game that has drastically improved is his playing the ball at the back instead of booting it upfield all the time even under pressure.
    at the start of the season it looked likely that wenger was contemplating replacing him but it seems Szczesny did something right for the boss to change his mind.Viviano will give him that push.

  105. rico says:

    Kt, just don’t start telling us how many millimetres of ground the players cover 😉

    My father-in-law in an engineer, all I hear about from him is mm’s this, mm’s that, maybe that’s why I dislike stats etc so much…

    Well, that and I personally think they tell very little really, Denilson is just one who proved that….

    Look at Ches, he could make 3 top class saves yet have moments of madness or rush off his line and nearly concede goals. Stats don’t tell things like that but the human eye does….

  107. arsenal11730 says:

    Even Myles Palmer is turning bullish.
    Credit AW for splashing the cash on a proven well liked star.
    Ozil11 fits nicely into his dressing room as a leader who practices a clean religious life.
    There are times to be bullish and bearish.
    People see the change and the majority are turning positive. Some have issues with AW that are personal.
    I support AW as he proved his stubborness can be adjusted.
    Realistically he saw the Gooner faithful starting to question him, and knows he has it made at AFC – Complete control that he would not command anywhere else. Also 7.5 mill helps.
    Lets now support our team and roar them to glory.COYR

  108. ktr7 says:

    I fully don’t rely on stats that much rico…stats are like miniskirts… 🙂 I only try to argue with stats i feel relevant.

  110. rico says:

    A117, I agree, he’s a bit too big for his boots sometimes, but he has calmed down a tad of late thankfully and his game has improved. Long may that remain..

    Ch, put your own view across, that’s what the idea is, but if you don’t agree with comments from people who are not here, then please go where those comments have been left, rather than use HH to have a moan..

    My point about Ozil is, not one person on HH isn’t happy we have signed him, so what’s the point of comments saying ‘they’ wish we hadn’t signed him or don’t need him??

  111. ktr7 says:

    For those of you that don’t read elsewhere…you have no idea how riled up rival fans are that we signed Oezil 🙂 🙂 🙂

  116. multiple says:

    Heard that talks for contract extension for rosicky,sags nd BFG are starting next week…hope we can offer all of ’em extension and they will sign to it..

    Tomas rosicky must retire at arsenal..he’s such immense

  117. tsgh says:

    Micko, I don’t know much about him really…

    To me all keepers can be made to be look good or bad…

    Buffon has had howler’s in the past and in his last few games too; People questioned why he was the world most expensive keeper but on other days he could win you 3 points easily…

    Dida was another who was rated world class but looked equally Alumia like when Milan were struggling…

    Schumacher once said of Kahn that he did not rate him… he thought a title winning team could have a keeper look world class; the same way a team who have bad defence may have a keeper appear world class too.

    He thought it was the teams in the middle who always struggled to have keepers considered world class.

    To me he was the greatest keeper ever and I totally agree with him on that one;

    As an example when a goalie like Cesar or Begovic concede goals it is due to his defenders because he plays in a poor team;

    Hart was conceding similar goals as Scez but to the pundits Hart was far superior because he was playing in a winning team…

  118. tsgh says:

    To me the fact that AW did not go for Gomis or Kalou on deadline day was enough to respect him even more and assume he is a changed man and that some of the mediocre players he signed in the past were to do with financial constraint..

  119. c2hills says:

    Rico, everybody moans at some point in their life, except your a monk or a sister. Worse still, tis mostly done at “home”. As for views, I’ll support any human in our red and white.

  120. tsgh says:

    Hmm, people may not like stats but will repeat Ozil has the same number of assists as Messi?

    If their life depended on it will they admit they have seen Ozil play less than 15 times in the last 3 years?

    We are all swayed by stats if we like it or not… the Bank of England sets interest rates assuming stats.

    Battles are won or lost on how stats are interpreted…

  124. rico says:

    Ts, assists and goals are facts.

    Stats can be misleading, eg, they can say a player has completed a 99% pass rate, yet watching the game, majority of those passes have gone backwards or sideways – even I could do that.

    But if others love stats, and make judgement on players by them then hey, who am I to suggest they do otherwise.

    I just don’t want HH to be a site full of stats and I guess as the owner of HH, I am at liberty to stop that from happening.

  125. rico says:

    Ts, your 3.48 is spot on, thank goodness we didn’t see some old has been signed up just for signings sake.

    I’d rather see one of the better reserves get playing time and let them learn, than see us pay some old reject a vast salary..

    And, seeing all the ‘dross’ leave one way or another is something that many here on HH suggested needed to happen and it did..

    Now we are left with good-very good players and AW needs to build on that, not look to those who other clubs have cast aside as they are deemed to be of little use…

  127. c2hills says:

    Which means I’m lost Rico, completely. Anyways, I did recognise your comment was a general one, couldn’t resist…

  129. tsgh says:

    Rico, I totally agree about assist and goal stats…

    On the other hand when I say Ramsey has made the highest number of tackles across European leagues and so he is better defensively than most of the DM’s out there but you claim Fellaini is still a better DM then it gets quite confusing or just choosing to dismiss the good works of a very good and promising young player who can only improve touch wood… 😉

  130. tsgh says:

    Bacvk to the topic of goalies- Neuer had not conceded a goal at home for several months ie all season prior to us beating the Bavarians.

    It will be interesting if it was possible to work out how much of that record was due to his world class saves and communication or his defenders ability or the rest of his teams scoring goals at crucial points in a game and all round work ethics.

    In my view, Neuer is more big headed and makes similar erratic decisions as Scez in my view.

    Lloris decisions can be questioned too but he is considered far better than any keeper we have had since David Seaman.

    Last week BT sports panel including calamity James were trying to prove how poor our goalkeeping situation was by showing stats that showed Seaman conceded 0.89 goals per game whilst Scez conceded 1.12 goals per game…

    The question is how attacking was the AFC team back then and how poor were the opposition he faced…

    I guess Stats can rightly or wrongly be used to back up any theory.

  133. rico says:

    As I have said numerous times Ts, I just go by watching a player, what he does to the opposition. Fellaini is a player I really like and he, practically single single handed, earned Everton a point towards the end of the season…

    He was everywhere.

    I know you always go on about Ramsey, but you do so in a way to suggest I don’t rate him. I do so you are wasting your time, I just think he and Flamini give something different to a side.

    Fellaini is a bully and we need a bully in our side. Imho of course..

  137. rico says:

    Who are ‘they’ Kt 😉 The Spuds reckon Eriksen is better, well you have to admire them for supporting their own..

    That’s a good idea Kev, one like Girouds? You going to start sucking your thumb and poking your tongue out too? 😉

  138. tsgh says:

    It is interesting that not a lot of the FC Bayern players were considered world class before they won the treble last summer? In fact when Drogba nailed them at the last minute pundits across Europe said they could never come back to that same heights again as they had stumbled at 2 finals and lost to a relatively poorer/cheaper BVB team on 2 occasions…

    So was FC Bayern’s win on the Bundesliga due to Bayern improving or the brilliance of Manager Jupp (who had gone 15 years and spent £220M without winning a single trophy) or more to do with the fact that BVB were less of an opposition in the league due to losing Sahin, Kagawa etc and they had to rebuild their midfield which took time for them to gel…

  141. rico says:

    No idea Ts, I’m not a follower of the German League, obviously don’t have the free time you have to watch so much football…

    I feel sorry for your family, you must always be sat in front of the television 😉

  143. tsgh says:

    When I get kicked out can I lodge up in your hen coup? 😀

    I have followed Bundesliga for a while and in particular BVB 09 as I did a short stint in Germany

    I don’t watch football all day like you may think…

    I just choose to watch football instead of Eastenders or X-factor 😛

  144. rico says:

    BT Sport are scheduled to show the England match tonight, yet on the Beeb website, they are listed to play tomorrow??

    Mmm, someone has goofed..

  145. tsgh says:

    Anyways I shall be off for the weekend early tomorrow to do a bit of plane spotting with my lil boy on his b’day…

    I will check as always… 😛

  147. rico says:

    It does Kev, it does 😉

    For sure Ts, my chickens would love something different to poop on 😉

    🙂 re E’enders, it’s only on for 30 mins you know…

  148. rico says:

    If that time goes as quick as the last 117 days, it will be here before we know it 🙂

    Lars or Sven in Jan then Kev? Left cheek or right?

  151. arsenal11730 says:

    LP comments today on Ozil11:

    ‘Definitely Mesut and I will rock Arsenal. It is our great goal to have success in London. We already play awesome football. The only think that has been missing was the last punch, that surprise moment. That’s exactly what Mesut can give us, with a super pass or a solo move.’

  156. potter says:

    I just hope he is not being built up too quickly , comments that he is the best ever signing the club has ever made ignore players like Wright , Henry , Pires and especially Bergkamp . When he has got to the levels they reached and has a similar effect to the club , I will start to believe it.

  157. rico says:

    Same here Potter, I think he’s perhaps the biggest name we have signed since Bergkamp, but there’s a lot of work to be done yet to justify his value..

    I’m sure he will but he probably needs to be given time…

  162. Scott from Ozil says:

    On paper, and reputation, he is the biggest signing since Bergkamp.
    What is the problem with saying it, because it is the truth.
    Of course, it is up to him to do what he is paid for, but Ozil is not hyping himself up so i don’t have an issue.

  163. Scott from Ozil says:

    Martin, well said.
    When our defence was good, Szczesny was still questioned because he was “being made to look good” by those in front.
    Of course, not many wanted to concede he was made to look bad by those same players when we were conceding goals.
    Arguments can be twisted to suit an opinion.
    Szczesny is going great guns, has done bugger all wrong since Xmas but still people criticise?
    Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but i reckon people will question him even if he went on a streak of ten clean sheets.

  164. BrainwashedKev says:

    I’m still coming to terms with the shock news….

    No, not Mesut Ozil….

    No not Mick’s obsession with International football.

    Not even the fact that Rico’s dentist is a Chav…

    Nope, it’s the news that Abou Diaby and Park Chu Young are not in Arsenal’s Champions Lge Squad….

    What on earth does Wenger think he is doing? 😉

  165. BrainwashedKev says:

    Looking at both the CL and EPL squads, they look quite strong, just maybe, well not maybe but certainly, lacking a class alternative to Giroud.

    Chelsea definately stitched us up, but more fool our transfer team for trusting those shitbags….

    Not sure how I feel about Bendtner, he maybe isn’t as bad as we all think, it’s definately an attitude problem.

    As long as he only has to fill in for the odd game, we should be ok.

    Not really seen enough of Sanogo to make a judgement.
    If he is as good as Wenger seems to think, we’ll probably not see, what he can see, until next season.

    As for Park Chu Young, my only thoughts concerning him are, whatever did Arsene see in him???

  166. BrainwashedKev says:

    That’s an interesting point you make Scott, regarding questioning Wojciech Szczesny?!

    Mind you, some could say that the signing of Emiliano Viviano is Wenger posing a question or three???

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