Wayne Bridge in Jan? Striker Out injured & RvP is better than Messi!

I’ll start with two footballing stories, the first is about Gary Cahill who is off to Chelsea next month so that will please most Arsenal fans other than me, the second is that Wayne Bridge could be joining us on loan in January after being told he no longer required at Citeh as the club are fed up with paying him £90k a week for him to play golf on match days.

Ok, this is most of the red tops making this assumption but if Gibbs is going to be out for a while yet, this kind of deal is right up Mr Wengers alley!

One other story to make you laugh and that’s Citeh are looking at Eden Hazard after Na$ri has failed to convince he is good enough, be funny if he got moved on so soon and for half the amount they paid us for him…..

The last one is Suarez, he’s been found guilty of making racist comments towards Patrice Evra and the FA have awarded him an eight match ban and a £40,000 fine, bet John Terry is a worried man…..

Anyway……..

Off to Villa Park then for our second away fixture in a just a few days, can’t you just tell it’s the festive period? It’s the time when games come thick and fast and as usual, injuries come with it for us.

For once though, we face a side who appears to be suffering in that department nearly as much as us. Our injuries are in defence, where as Villa’s are up front.

Long term Gooner, Darren Bent is out injured for tonight’s fixture, as is Emile Heskey and I’m glad, especially about Bent – he ruined our final day of the season earlier in the year with two goals in our defeat at The Emirates. Other injuries for them are Chris Herd and James Collins but the bad news for us is, Gabby Agbonlahor returns after serving his ban.

For us, Johan Djourou joins the ever-growing list of injured defenders and Alex Song has to sit this one match out having picked up his fifth yellow card against the rich kids.

History tells us that for the last 13 years we have dominated this fixture, in fact we have to go back to December 1998 for our last league loss at Villa Park.

From the six fixtures in which Villa have faced sides who sit above them, they have won just four points. Out of the last five played, they have lost three, so we face a side who truly are down on form and who have managed to score just two goals during that rotten spell.

Our goal scoring machine just needs the one goal to match Thierry Henry’s calendar year record set back in 2004 and if he could nab himself a hat-trick tonight, he’d be level with the all time record set by Shearer in 1995.

In fact, this year, RvP is more prolific in front of goal for club and country, than Messi!

Sundays loss was the first time we have failed to register a goal since the second game of the current season but I can’t see that continuing tonight.

Unless of course, Arsene Wenger see’s this as a game where he can afford to ‘rest’ our top scorer – I sure as heck hope he doesn’t, we need three points tonight and the best way to get them is with Robin van Persie up front causing all sorts of problems.

Despite scoring in this fixture last season, we don’t need this guy anywhere near the side tonight in my humble opinion, we need him to stay fit and ready to be sold off in the January cattle market!

The Pratt in The Hat......

Seriously, we have seen enough of him, let Yossi, Park, Chamberlain, anyone get their chance, this guy has shown he is no longer interested in being a part of Arsenal, so why carry on with him?

We need players who are prepared to turn out on a cold winters night away from home and give their all and we have them, but Arshavin isn’t one of them.

Tonight we need a good solid performance, get back to winning ways and put Sundays little blip far behind us…

Don’t worry about the rest, look after ourselves and head into this busy festive period thinking only about tonight’s first three points of many to come……

Have a good day all…….

250 thoughts on “Wayne Bridge in Jan? Striker Out injured & RvP is better than Messi!

  1. alan b'stard M P says:

    is Wayne Bridge worth it still?

    Cahill to Chelsea. Not good news

    Saurez has been treated badly. All this anti racism is getting out of hand. I hope Liverpool go to a real court to get a real result

    All this will only increase a dislike for the PC moaners and whiners

  2. rico says:

    Not the calendar year one alan, he has just the next three games, and he needs four goals, no wonder he doesn’t want to be rested…

  3. TT says:

    I’m getting very disillusioned with TW, he showed some signs of improvement but then inadvertently slides back to same mediocre performances. I would take a chance and flog him in Jan and along with AA and Chamak and go all out for Hazard and Gotse or Caviani. They are infinitely better and can use the latter stage of the campaign to climatice, this season is a write off anyway.

  4. ArsenalDK says:

    Walcott won’t show his true worth untill he’s played upfront. And what’s with Diaby? Wenger said 10 days untill he’s back, and it’s been almost a month now! Sell the crocks…

  5. rico says:

    Hi TT and ADK

    Theo had a blip against City, but other than that game, he’s been much better – I wouldn’t write him off just yet…

  6. ArsenalDK says:

    Rico, do you agree on Walcott? Isn’t it time for him to shine upfront?

    I really like Diaby, but he’s talent is wasted on all those injuries…

  7. rico says:

    Totally ADK, he’s a striker, not a winger and the sooner he gets moved into the middle the better imho, then if he is rubbish then so be it, sell him… But, i happen to think he’d score many goals.. 🙂

  8. alan b'stard M P says:

    But AW won’t place him in the middle or up front. He has a habit of playing people out of position

    A rugby coach would be hanged for doing that

  9. Arselicked says:

    If Suarez did it, then he got exactly what he deserves. 8 games and 40 grand. We can’t say Blatter is a prick and then cry that Suarez’s punishment was hash.

    I bet Terry is shivering as we speak.

  10. rico says:

    I know alan, i’d play Ox on the right, Theo in the middle with RvP, Gerv on the left of a four man midfield with Arteta, Coq/Frimps and Ramsey…

    The back five picks itself….

  11. alan b'stard M P says:

    Arselicked, I don’t agree. It should have been a private prosecution. All this legislated anti racism is dangerously stupid and will backfire on ” minorities “

  12. rico says:

    its all part of kicking racism out of the game alan, a ban like this has been on the cards for a while – some suggest the Terry case will be updated later today, can’t see how he can escape a court hearing….

  13. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all, nice one rico,
    Kick Racism out of football, what a load of crap that is. If grown men cannot take a rasist comment on the field after they give some one a wallop they shouldn’t be on the field, whats the diference being called a dirty B—–d to a black c—t its in the eye of the reciever, your a footballer not a diplomat, we slag german teams off spanish teams russian teams, that in itself is Racist. Just get on with what they get paid for, to kick a football. At a hundred grand a week you could call me anything you like

  14. rico says:

    Morning Steve – thing is, it’s against the law, i’m sure we all tell racist jokes at some stage but the key is to make sure you don’t tell them to someone who is likely to be offended – do that and you are in the mire…

    Thinks i’ll stick to worrying about three points tonight 😉

  15. stevepalmer1 says:

    Hi Rico put the players out there with selotape across their mouths just in case, Bloody hell they even get lip readers in now. I saw a chelsea game the other day and Terry was covering his mouth when he was talking bloody ridiculous.

  16. alan b'stard M P says:

    Rico

    so we are supposed to live in a world in fear of those who are ” offended ”

    I’ll tell you when Evra should be offended. when Shawcross or Barton throttle the prick, not being called a name’

    “Sticks & stones” etc

    It is legislation that can be abused by those claiming to be ” offended ”

    As the Americans say, ” I ain’t buying it “

  17. rico says:

    sadly it has gone that way everywhere steve, anything that ends in ‘ism’ and people are in trouble… i can understand why the country has gone this way, but it has all gone a bit too far these days….

  18. upgunners says:

    Morning gunners, i wish AW visits this site every once in a while, perhaps he’ll d learn a thing or two. we wouldn’t be where we are today [In spite of improvement] if the little obvious details we laymen have been screaming about are taken into cognizance.

  19. Rokabox says:

    knowing Wenger stubborn french garlic, he would probably plays Arshavin at one stage of the game tonight especillay if we are not winning by the 72 mins or so, still hopes for a miracle.
    Everybody needs to step up their game especially upfront, otherwise we doomed to loose this one.

  20. rico says:

    three matches alan, to get four goals if he wants to beat Shearer’s record – maybe that was on his mind on sunday….

    the fixtures look good for him though…..

  21. stevepalmer1 says:

    Theo Walcott was really bad on Sunday and should be dropped till he realises that he has to put a hundred% in every game . Oxlaid Chamberlain is waiting in the wings, When i saw him play last time he showed he wants to be out there ho showed commitment, How long must he remain hidden, Arshavin must be dropped also He should definitly not be used he gives nothing all the time.

  22. rico says:

    That’s not wengers way steve, not after just one game… what he should do is haul players off earlier if they are having a bad game and not bring players on who have played crap for the last couple of seasons…..

  23. stevepalmer1 says:

    What i think will happen tonight Rico, is that everybody will be trying to give the ball to Robin, big mistake, We are due a big win and are capable of getting one soon, we must bury our chances every time we get one.

  24. Marinello says:

    Hi Rico, Steve and all fellow Arsenal fans.

    Right, against Villa I would start with the Ox, in place of Theo. As Bill Shankly said “if they are good enough, they are old enough.” He is young, shows no fear and will run and go past defenders and shoot on sight. Why buy him, if only to wrap him in cotton wool. Shrek played for Everton at 16, remember his goal against us?
    I fancy a 0-2 or 1-2 win against Villa.

  25. stevepalmer1 says:

    Injured, Diaby Santos Gibbs Djurou Myaki Sagna Fabianski Manone Wilshere have i missed anyone, whats happening to us.

  26. rico says:

    Totally agree Steve, three points are more important than any personal records… the latter won’t win the club silverware…

  27. rico says:

    Hi Marinello., always said the same, good enough then you are old enough, Ox is due a start soon and wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not tonight either…..

    Jenkinson Steve….

  28. Marinello says:

    Hi Steve
    You missed off Pat Rice. He has chronic arthritis, finds it hard to get off the bench and shout encouraging advice……
    Excellent at laying out the cones in pre match warm up. What the f#c* do we pay him?

  29. rico says:

    😆 Marinello, i thought he was gone last summer, this summer though has to be his last, we need fresh blood and ideas on our bench…

    But yes, he will always be a fans fav….

  30. Marinello says:

    Diaby and Gibbs have had their fair share of injuries, we have been unlucky with injuries as a club. I never here of other teams with such a big ongoing injury list.

  31. ibrahim umar says:

    Hi ric, i think the best replacement for the left full back is for arsene to consider Taye Taiwo of AC Milan. He’s very strong going up and cab take those ballistic shots from set pieces, he could be useful when arsenal faces Milan.

  32. stevepalmer1 says:

    Wayne Bridge could be a good loan he knows what the Premier is all about and i’m sure he would enjoy the chance to show what he can do, i think he would fit in well. I would consider him better than what we have at the moment, and the way our centre backs are going down might be a good idea to save one or two, we could pay half his wage and city would pay the rest result all round. throw in a call back clause just in case they need him.which means we have him for as long as we want and he gets seen by potential buyers.

  33. rico says:

    Hi JM, trouble is, I think Wenger will only be looking to loan, unless he is thinking of selling Gibbs?

    Bridge is one of very few who are available, I think we should get Vertonghen as we still need a central defender….

  34. stevepalmer1 says:

    I don’t think we should buy one untill we offload some Rico, We are playing unbelievable well with all our injuries, we do not need anymore draining the system till we off load, i know a few that can go.

  35. rico says:

    Fair comment Steve but i’d still rather we loaned a player who is better than Bridge..

    Offload Squilli, get JV, and if Song doesn’t sign his new contract we have a replacement already….

    JV would be able to play left back until the season ends as Santos won’t be back and I doubt Gibbs will ever be fit enough and tbh, I’m not sure he’s good enough anyway….

  36. rico says:

    The other thing is – if we were to sign Vertonghen, when Santos is fit, he could play further up the pitch, then, we wouldn’t miss Arshavin, who I hope by then will be long gone…..

  37. stevepalmer1 says:

    I think your right about wenger and Vertonghen, But what do we really know about him, lets face it being lucky with TV doesn’t mean that we will be with Verts

  38. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Gooners.
    Afternoon Rico. Good post as per usual.
    After carefull discussions my Mssr allowed me to get my PC out again.
    Maybe stomping my feet swung it…. 🙂

  39. allezkev says:

    I remember Paul Davis getting a long ban after chinning Cockerill.
    Davo was a gentleman, so i wonder what was said to him?
    Met him a couple of times, a nicer guy you couldn’t hope to meet.
    Such a shame he left our coaching staff.

  40. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Steve: he has been out of competiiton a long time ago; when he was a loan to West Ham was a disaster; he is very slowly now; we has poor quality. He is a not a help and nothing improve to the team.
    I hope AW looking forward. For instance: he can watch to his team now and send AA to Zenith and going to “catch” the left back of Zenit 🙂

  41. allezkev says:

    Personally i’d stick with Theo. I know he’s a frustrating wally at times but this has been his best season for us so far, imho.
    As for an ‘ism’…. I believe in Ricoism…. 😀

  42. allezkev says:

    Rico, i popped into Carphone warehouse yesterday, and they said an iphone on pay-as ya-go is a cool 500 notes….. owwww
    Even a contract still costs about 350 notes…. 🙁

  43. allezkev says:

    I know you Joaquim, a bit of body-checking on the dance floor with one of those lovely Portugese fillies. 😀

  44. allezkev says:

    Ok, what do we think the team is gonna be tonight?
    Any suprises???
    Villa seem suspect at corners, so maybe Big Mert will break his duck…

  45. allezkev says:

    Don’t wanna see Arshavin or Chamakh on the pitch tonight.
    A total waste of time.
    I’d rather see one of our kids given a chance.
    Wonder if Yennaris will be involved tonight?

  46. W.A.T.H says:

    Least Yennaris is a natural right back…….

    Agreed re AA n Chmuk…… Never 2b seen again only at heathrow departures lounge..! Along with Amonia and Squilli

  47. allezkev says:

    Wenger is gonna have to a bit of rotation, maybe in the Wolves game.
    Otherwise our lads could run out of steam over the holiday period.

  48. upgunners says:

    just one step away from being the best team in the world and how easy it seems, still……..Gazides……Wenger…….wont sign………… i guess its part of being a gunner. UP GUNNERS.

  49. rico says:

    Agree AK re rotation but hope not too much tonight, this will be a toughie….

    upgunner, we have to hope he will, we def need too….

  50. allezkev says:

    Yennaris, not to start Rico.
    Agbonlahor has been a thorn in our side before.
    we need to deal with him as i reckon McLeish will play a defensive system & try to use Agbonlahor on the break.

  51. upgunners says:

    Ther’e some guys i cant bear in our team, Chamakh[Noodles], Ashavin,Diaby,Alumi, Manone, Squilli,Djuru. their presence in our team simply gives oponents the conviction that they’lld beat us and more often than not they do.

  52. Joaquim Moreira says:

    international press:
    Andrei Arshavin is close to return to Zenit. The Russian can leave Arsenal for a sum of around 16.5 million euros, revealed Wednesday that the newspaper “Sovietsky Sport.”
    “We are always interested in Arshavin, but I can not deny nor confirm that we have made an offer for it,” advanced the director general of the Russian club, Igor Korneyev.
    Zenit want to recover the former captain – who left the club to head to London in the winter of 2009 – and make it also the junior coach.
    The end of 30 years, which has been little used by Wenger this season ends contract with the Gunners at the end of this season.

  53. rico says:

    Agree there AK but hope he gets on the bench, just in case 🙁

    upgunner – they are all on the out list, hopefully Jan…. Not JD or Diaby though, can’t see AW letting either go…

    Whats happening with Berbytoff at Manure JM??

  54. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Berbytoff leave MU on January or at the end of the season.
    Ederzito probably goees to Porto next season

  55. rico says:

    Re Arshavin, am i right in how i read that, his contract is up in the summer 2012??

    If so, we will be lucky to get £5Million for him….

  56. rico says:

    Whether we can get rid of them though is another matter upgunners….

    Guess we’ll have to wait and see JM, Wenger likes a cheap deal 😉

  57. rico says:

    Wenger…

    With four full backs already sidelined, the manager intimated he might go into the market for a loan signing. However he has three games to negotiate before the window even opens.

    “I can use Squillaci, I can use Miquel and I can use Coquelin [as full-backs],” he said. “But let’s be frank and honest, no solution will be ideal because whatever we do, two players will have to play out of position. At the moment we are coping well with it and that’s why inside the team we have to work as hard as possible so we do not suffer in this period.

    Squillaci??????

  58. rico says:

    🙂 don’t thin k we can match any citeh offer for hazard, think its funny they are already fed up with na$ri 🙂

  59. upgunners says:

    so Wenger is thinking of buying, all thanks to injury, dont wanna sound like a doomsday ….. dont u think we need more injuries?

  60. rico says:

    Don’t think we can afford any more injuries….

    Reap what you sow Na$ri….. Maybe AC Milan would like him, he can keep Flamoney company….

  61. agirlagunner says:

    Booo! Looooong day. 🙁 I don’t want Bridge, he’s crocky. Hazard, I like very much. Na$ti deserves all the crticism he’s getting. Shame AA is going without having become a great with us!!

  62. rico says:

    Hi agag, i feel sorry for AA, he’s been ruined, bet he wish he’d never set foot in our club – bet he has a few things to say if/when he goes….

  63. agirlagunner says:

    Hey, rico. Howdy? They always have snarky things to say when they leave, rico. 😕 It’s not as if he hasn’t been given chances though.

  64. agirlagunner says:

    Nah, finished an hour ago. 😉 Caught up on my mail; other things infinitely more fun than work…

    Boo, AK!! A lot of ‘ism’s” there. 😉

  65. allezkev says:

    Agagism.
    Howdy doody.
    Read that about 900 ppl have been killed in the Phillipines.
    How are ya doing.
    Remember Visa card needs you….. 🙂

  66. stevepalmer1 says:

    That Arshavin goal and chamakh’s if you didn’t know better and if you had never heard of them before you would think they were a good player to buy, Thats why a lot of research has to be done on players that play abroard, as we don’t want to buy two more like them.

  67. agirlagunner says:

    And sooo many families displaced, AK. To think it’s Christmas in a few days. 🙁 Manila’s is used to typhoons and floods, AK. That typhoon-ravaged area is not. 🙁

    My best friend shall be well-used, not to worry. 😉 I see you threw a hissy fit and got your way with online access!! Hah.

  68. allezkev says:

    Terrible time of the year agag.
    You do suffer some awfull weather.
    We moan about it over here, but we are so lucky.

  69. agirlagunner says:

    Steve, they get to our stadium and suddenly the story gets to be little fishies, big pond. Sigh.

    Not to mention droughts and earthquakes, AK. 😉 You learn to grit your teeth and bear it. I always ask nicely. Means I almost always get. 😉

  70. allezkev says:

    Rico, i’m not too sure about JD myself.
    He can do a job for us this season.
    But overall?
    Just think that we can do better.

  71. stevepalmer1 says:

    Who’s this bloke Wilshere, he looks a good prospect, hope he’s not injury prone. Agag glad to hear your ok looks dodgy over there.

  72. agirlagunner says:

    Off to bed now, rico. I wish I didn’t have to go to work… 🙁

    Smart man, AK. 😉 😉 More of the male persuasion should follow your lead. Hah.

    JD gets another year for me 😉 I don’t think AW will be releasing him anytime soon though. Bendy and Denilson should be sold though. Or given away. 😉

    Catch you good people tomorrow. 🙂 Stay warm!

  73. rico says:

    I think we can do better – but I guess we have Bartley coming back soon and Miquel proving his worth, Wenger won’t think we need to bolster and JD will be pushed down the pecking order…..

  74. rico says:

    Team in full:

    Szczesny, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Frimpong, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie.

    Subs: Almunia, Squillaci, Benayoun, Arshavin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh.

    Coq at RB then…… bloody AA on the bench again but at least The Ox is there too…..

    Oh, so too is Squilli 😮

  75. goonster says:

    Hope we avoid injuries too. I ll take a clean sheet marinello. Thank you very much. Come on you fucking gunners.

  76. devilgunner says:

    We are not playing efficiently but we are playing effective football which in a nutshell is all that is enough to be winning. Its not attractive but if we get a 2nd it will be game over since we are spoiling Villa’s game. However we do need to calm down and concentrate especially in possession. And we should make it count in goals.

  77. goonster says:

    Wow meaning we could still come out of this tie without the maximum points. What’s your take DG? What do you think is wrong?

  78. stevepalmer1 says:

    Got to say Gervinho is holding the ball too long, Theo is the same as Sunday, were holding the ball in our own half most of the time, and seem to struggling to get the ball forward Villa look dangerous when they go forward and wouldn’t suprise me they don’t get one, Our midfield is not creating a great deal the ref seems to be getting a few decisions wrong if i didn;t know better i would say he’s bent, Dunn is steady as a rock we have to push more time for the ox and Benny.

  79. devilgunner says:

    The fact that bar the injuries we are one of the most fit teams in the premier means that as usual we will play the 2nd half better than the 1st. So expect an improvement like all the previous games. We need to pass better and do more triangles. However we be more direct.

  80. rico says:

    I’m offski guys, hopefully when my head leaves the pillow in the morning, 3 points will be in the bag…

    nighty night….

  81. goonster says:

    Hope you re right DG…hope you re right. We need to pick the maximum points available in this game. Then come home and smash wolves. Can’t afford to slip up any more. Come on arsenal…come on!

  82. devilgunner says:

    We seem to be wanting to pass sideways rather than direct football. RVP, Theo and Gerv are a bit anonymous in Villa’s half

  83. devilgunner says:

    That was a clear penalty. Should have been given, but instead RVP was booked for diving. That’s a disgrace

  84. agirlagunner says:

    To win when we are not playing our best… Whew! Not vintage AFC, but three points is all that counts. Yay!!!

  85. agirlagunner says:

    This victory should leave everyone in a good mood. 😉 goonster, you can breathe normally now. 🙂 Hahaha, JM, go get a drink. 🙂 🙂 You deserve it.

  86. stevepalmer1 says:

    We were asehole lucky, Arshavin on again i can’t believe it. Walcott ffing useless Gervinho gready and what midfield apart from workaholic Arteta and he needed to be I have seen us play a sight better but still 3 pts

  87. agirlagunner says:

    steve, I agree. 🙂 I think we’re playing AA more in hope than in expectation that he’ll do some good. 🙁 But that’s as good a Christmas pressie as one could want. 😉

  88. alan b'stard M P says:

    God. We need totts & Chelsea to drop point nd they play each other tomorrow, and Totts a game in hand

    would be nice to finally get over the top of them

  89. alan b'stard M P says:

    rico says:
    December 21, 2011 at 10:16 am

    its all part of kicking racism out of the game alan, a ban like this has been on the cards for a while – some suggest the Terry case will be updated later today, can’t see how he can escape a court hearing….

    Rico

    A court hearing is what is needed by the ” defendant “. With any luck he’ll get a jury, which I doub’t

    Best appear in a proper court than to be judged by the FA, but he must plead ” not guilty “. Courts are there to get the truth

    The evidence requirements will be higher for the court than the FA

    This matter aside, I know JT has a bit of a history and is considered by some to be a bit of a lowlife

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