Morning all,
Arsene is full of praise for his latest defensive signing Nacho Monreal:
The first thing you want from your defenders is to defend well, so we cannot reproach him for that. You will see the other aspects of his game more when his confidence has settled.
He is good in the air for a guy of his size, has a quick leap and has looked good. Monreal is very strong in other areas too, his crosses for example, and his forward play you will see a bit later.
It happened with Kieran Gibbs too, the more confident he became the more efficient he was going forward.
It can take a bit if time to express that side.
Come on, when did Arsene Wenger ever do anything to suggest he’s really interested in what defenders do?
When did he last sign a truly top class defender?
My answer is Sol Campbell, and I bet that was because he was free. My goodness though, wasn’t he good?
Some may say Thomas Vermaelen, or Per Mertesacker and yes, they came with a good reputation but both players these days are full of mistakes at the back and those mistakes very often cost us dear. Apart from against West Ham, did Sol ever really let us down?
Back to Monreal, Wenger talks about the ‘forward play we will all see later’. I personally would rather he stuck to defending, just as I wish the rest of our defenders would. We have midfield and forward players to go in hunt of goals!
I know some of us have said this before but why do we so often see so many defenders going up for a corner? Especially when we seem to just hoof them into the box, (the corners I mean, not the players) no-one gets on the end of them and then the opposition break away, or play a long ball up field and time after time we are exposed.
If we do that on Sunday, we will get ripped to shreds! It’s not like we have a beast of a defensive midfielder to sit back and help out is it?
Talking of which, Lyon’s £12m-rated defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons is reported to be on the move in the summer and he’s interested in coming to the Premier League.
I like the English and the German leagues, When I see the pitch and that type of game, I feel it’s a dream.
Of course, 2+2 = 22 doesn’t it, so that means he’s on his way to Arsenal.
Kidding, but we certainly need one, not a player who could be good, a player who is good!
With all the stories in the newspapers about how Wenger will be making a number of signings in the summer transfer window, and of course that the club will pay a higher wage in order to attract a ‘better player’, if true, we could finally see some changes…
Who knows, this could be ‘that summer’ we have all been waiting to see for so long…
That’s it for another day, have a good one…..
it doesnt matter if we sign gotze,messi,ronaldo,with wenger in charge we will still be drawing or losing to likes of blackburn,norwich,bradford etc,,wenger is the problem,not the players
More so enough is enough, the management, the coach and to whom it may concern, the fans are sick & tired of your deceiving words and signing of under dogs & not professionals. This summer must change, we need to see our darling team shining again please!!!
Morning all,
We have been debating that for a while here irish, it would seem his mojo has gone, or rather has been gone for a while…
Morning all,
Good post Rico, Like you I wish Arsene would let the defeders concentrate on doig what they were bought for, defending! Not filling their heads with thoughts of sauntering forward out of position, leavig us exposed.
The potential signings and reports we’re about to pay top wages just rings of the annual drive to sell season tickets to me. I will believe it when I see it and won’t be getting my hopes up on any big team changing signings this summer.
dear sir,u a one of d best i always trust & count on,when it comes to basic facts and truth about arsenal fc. but do u send or present all these findings to d prof? or only for supporters to read & digest. for your information,this is d kind of team i do see all d time making d same mistakes & refuse to learn. maybe wenger doesn’t mandate it to each player to marshall his position. defender wanted to play like striker.
Thanks Lewis,
I totally agree, and until we see chance, I won’t be getting my hopes up either.
Until someone grows a pair though and tells Wenger to pull his socks up, no matter who signs, tactic won’t change will they…
Morning gentlemen..
I agree with Rico, Defenders should defend first, then the odd gallop like the good old winterburn dixon days and actually put in a good cross unlike the kak Sagna has ben putting in and expecting giroud to jump at the right time or beccome superman overnight..
Wenger has lost his way, but look at the bright side , I know we have some moany supporters but look at the grief Spansh waiter got after beating a trick Boro team! Unbeleivable! I actually felt sorry for Benitez for a a moment, and in all honesty he isnt that bad, not an Ancelotti but not bad. He went for th emoney , as have alot of the duds we have at Arsenal, yet they dont get ripped like Poor Basil.
The “we’ll sign top players ” won’t materialise and yes , like Lewis said, is just a smoke screen and promotion drive to sell season tickets. Unless Kroenke sells , we aren’t buying, merely replacing what we sell for a slight profit.
Morning people
I loved his recent statement “we have money now” like what, we just won lotto or something? Silly billy
Spin spin spin….
Lies, lies, lies!
Under Wenger Arsenal’s defence has gone to pieces. MU have beaten Arsenal 9 out of 11 times Make it ten when they next meet.It’s obvious Wenger doesn’t care about defence.If not ,why NU scored 4 times to equalise. I felt it was the last straw for RVP for he believed Arsenal could not win anything under the fm. This season has proved it.
Don’t for a moment believe Arsenal can beat BM 3-0 to advance.It would be ther greatest miracle ,exceeding even the 1999 cl final.Me thinks BM are too professional and seasoned to let slip a 3-1 lead.
Btw if Wenger doesn’t improve the defence forget about cl soccer.
Excellent read as always.
My only comment is, again Arsenal’s board are giving the impression of a summer spending spree. As an old Public Enemy lyric says “Don’t Believe the Hype” I say “Don’t Believe the Hype”.
With the current board and manager there is no way we are ever going to spend mega money on players i.e £20m +
What about the ladies George 😉
Agree Lee – A big yawn eh….
And Wenger is good at maths isn’t Oz??
Wavy, you old cynic 😉
Thanks Lawrence, and I say ‘Don’t believe the hype’ either…
As always with Wenger the problem is not obvious. There is nothing wrong with defenders going forward providing that midfielders drop in and cover. For far too long our defensive problems have stemmed from not having the players that think backwards as well as forward. Every team that has won the league in my lifetime has had at least one or two players who realised their duty was to look at the position of their own players as well as the opposition.
I’m not sure we have the right kind of midfielder’s to ‘drop in’ though Potter, like you say, they don’t think defence, everyone seems to want to score or create goals…
And yes, it’s been that way for far too long now. The day both Flamini and Gilberto left imho.
Why we didn’t keep the latter I don’t know….
Rico , ladies are still sleeping , where are they lol…
We’ve usually got a few on by now..
Arshavin and Rosicky won’t surely be with us next year will they?
On the subject of Defence: Does that mean 8 out 2 in?
Djourou. Squillaci,Miguel,Santos,Meade, Yennaris,Sagna and TV5?
2 random frenchies that slipped the Newcastle net?
Goalies ? the butter fingers and doormen off as well?
Defensive mids, Le coq and Ba Baracus being sold?
What about our sensations:Ryo and Campbell work permits?
Young guns:Eisfeld, Gnabry and Afobe will they get a sniff?
But I am one George and I have been up since quite early 🙂
Morning all, nice one Rico.
How to make our team a lot better, Ive been thinking about that for quite some time, and i think i have the answer. If we were to change our season ticket renewal date, i feel we could see a dramatic change in fortune for our club. Simple things like that could just show commitment from club and supporters just an idea 🙂
My own idea of who will/could go is:
Fabianski
Mannone
Djourou
Santos
Arshavin
Rosicky ?
Chamakh
Ryo
Denilson
Bendtner.
Park
And a few of the younger ones who are on loan like Wellington….
Thanks Sp, nice idea but it would only postpone the spin to the January transfer window 😉
I’ll keep thinking then. 🙂
Got to pop off folks, back later this afternoon….
😆 Sp…
Heard some truly shocking news, Diaby doubtful for NLD……
I bet if it’s possible, he’d ask the keeper to go upfield as well to join the attack.
Lewis…..Diaby is injured? No… half man half treatment table!
Diaby has a table booked at Toby Carvery 4pm Enfield…Thats why..
Sagna is out for sunday. Diaby maybe. i’m not confidence for sunday.
If our boys have their shooting boots on, we may nick it by a goal.
We need a performance from our own speed merchant. Sine he “signed da ting” he has done anything
got to admit Sunday worries me as well – we have had to face some real truths lately and a loss on Sunday will really set us back big time – Wenger will find a spin as usual but this really is one of those moments of truths. One of those games that can change a season
not sure how many of those are on contract run down Rico but i agree Wenger has to tidy up his mess big time – as history has proven if they have contracts to run, moving them other than on loans will be very tough
Afternoon Gooners…
Afternoon Rico…
No names mentioned, but I suspect, that there is some Herbert, in the Appold Street area of London, who could be nursing a thumping headache and hangover… 😛
Just let defenders defend? Hmm, interesting sound bite that sounds good. The modern way of football is to push the full backs on but that is largely irrelevant as defending is a team discipline. Having said that, you still need quality defenders and goalkeeper.
You don’t say you just want a striker to attack, their role is to be the first line of defence. The problem with Arsenal is that we do not know how to defend as a team. When do you see our front player harrassing and closing down the other teams defenders?
Rico is right, at times we get caught with too many players ahead of the ball and that leaves us exposed on the break. We are too gung ho and there is no disciplined holding midfielder to protect us. Again this is a team issue nothing to do with the defence.
There is no strong holding midfielder to protect the defence. It is far to easy for teams to get at us and that has been a problem for some time now. Arteta, Wilshire and Cazorla are classy players but too similar.
The goalkeeper situation is a big problem. Chezzer is a great prospect but inexperienced. The pressure gets to him. An experienced world class goalkeeper would make a massive difference to our team and our defence. He would not make basic errors, he would remain composed, he would be vocal and most importantly he would organise the defence. If they don’t attack the ball or do their jobs, like at present, he will sort it. The goalkeeper situation would spread much needed confidence through the team. Chezzer could learn his trade too, he is simply not capable to do what is needed, yet. A goalkeeper is much more than a shot stopper.
PS: In saying that, if we actually converted half the chances we create we probably wouldn’t be having this debate! 🙂
In my opinion, a world class goalkeeper, a world class defensive midfielder and a world class finisher would make a massive difference to our team. Any other players would be the icing on the cake.
In all honesty I can’t see us beating spurs without sagna or a real DM. Gotta agree with potter though. our defenders haven’t been anywhere near as bad this season as people make out, but too often we get caught on the break as a result of the failure of our wingers to track back. This problem is worsened by the fact that we don’t have a proper DM to drop into the gaps. Wenger will hopefully address this issue next transfer window though.
Afternoon all ……
North London derby …. history repeats itself …?????
The last time we drew at home to Liverpool and beat them away 2-0 was in 1972-73 … it’s the only time that has ever happened ….!!!
That season we drew away at Stoke 0-0 and beat them at home … beat west ham home and away, lost away at Norwich,.drew away against Everton, played Bradford in a cup and got knocked out of the FA Cup by a second tier side …
That season we beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane 2-1 …. and AC Milan beat a British team in a European Final ….
cool eh?
We were also robbed of European football by Tottenham …..
…..and we were also battered 0-5 by Derby and 1-6 by Leeds …….
Guys, we cannot, on one hand, suggest that Wenger has fallen behind the modern game, then in the next breath suggest that our wing backs stick to defending. Attacking wing backs are part and parcel of the modern game. If your team is unable to effectively and safely bring the fullbacks into the attack, you will not be able to beat the better teams regularly. Period. That’s what big teams do. Our long standing problem has been in defensive rotation between the midfielders as a unit, and between midfielders and our fullbacks. All it takes its defensive awareness, concentration and intelligence… That’s much more important to defending than technique, speed and height… Which are basically contingencies.
Hi Kevin – agree with plenty of that but also mindful of Wenger continued statements surrounding us making world class players, not buying them being his ‘stuck to regardless’ philosophy. Trouble is no good making them for other teams hence the huge bank account he’s collected and empty trophy cabinets lately
Will XL – Agree.
I think the Wenger comments on Monreal are sort of meant that at present he – Monreal is sticking to his immediate job, but once he finds his feet he’ll be galloping out of defence like the rest of them ……
ozgunner10 – I believe things are different for 2014. I am in the opposite camp but we all want the same and I think we agree personnel wise. I am very optimistic about next season, I think the landscape has changed. Just my opinion, i hope I don’t get loads of criticism for being positive 🙂
Coyg
we don’t shoot when we should and fancy dribble in our own area (Ramsey, Santos, Chezza anyone??)
Kevin Downton – I’m one of the few gooners that will agree with you here. Year after year we have been told that next year we will do something, so most of our fans have grown sceptical, to say the least. Next year the beginnings of FFP and new sponsorship deals should turn us into a team that at least look to achieve more than CL qualification. If nothing changes in 12 months though, I’ll readily join the wenger out brigade.
Kevin – i want to believe this is right – contrary to our opinion i think the press have given Wenger an easy ride in years gone by – buying his “we’re just kids” rubbish for years – now they are pressuring big time and long may it continue as it should produce that siege mentality we’re so clearly missing. Wenger has finally been proven to be hiding behind excuse for his ego trip and clearly the money has been there for some time and as the self declared decision maker, i hold him 100% responsible. As for 2014 i really hope the pressure forces his hand, my only concern is Wenger opinion of world class players has long proven to be well wide of the mark
Will be interesting to see who he brings in as from Rico’s list , I reckon we will see about 10 departures….
Profits will be up.
Cash there to spend
Wenger into his last year of contract…
We need the Invibles on the training ground, Bouldy is not enough
Bring in Lehman, DB10, Pires Henry etc..throw in a few blasts from the past, i.e Adams to freshen things up and work on that flamin mental strength we supposedly lack
Afternoon fellow HHers,
😀 Rico I see ‘you are the man’ again?
Afternoon “Lady” and gentlemen
tsgh, its awfully quiet today
Evening all, what’s news then other than Diaby is crocked….
Who Ak, go on, spill 😉
I’m sorry Rico, I simply cannot reveal his name…
The only clue I can give, is that he holds Gervinho, in very high regard… 🙂
Ah, I had a feeling it might be him Ak, does he get the train very early in the morning?
Rico, you are asking me to grass up my mate… 🙂
All I can add is that he likes a curry…
Actually Ak, that Gervinho clue, and liking a curry, could relate to many one here 😉
Does he have a friend called Dave??
Hi Rico.
Hello Adam, how are you this fine evening…..
I have felt a little unwell all day Rico. But I just watched 4 In A bed and it depressed me.
How about you? You are out and about a lot lately?
Kev. Is it SYG. He loves a ruby and I know he is a big fan of Gervinho and African footballers in general.
Oh no, I am sorry to hear that.
Had a couple of friends over for lunch today, so was busy chatting and putting the world to rights all afternoon…
I always knew you were a social animal Rico. 🙂
😆 Adam. Hardly though….
You are very warm Adam, but i’m not sure that SYG has a friend who sleeps on his bed, by the name of Dave…
Not that I am judgemental you understand…
Kev. Then I can’t think who you mean. 🙂
I am right then Ak 😉
I admit to a moment of weakness.
Yes, I couldn’t help myself…
I tuned into Talk Rubbish…
My God, what a pile of crap that mob are….
Why on earth does anyone listen to them?
It really mystifies me?
Why is a knob like Darren Gough allowed anywhere near a microphone?!
As for thay ginger idiot. I’ve got more sense laying in my lower bowel…
An insult to anyone’s intelligence…
I should have known better…
Not if Agag has a friend called Dave? 😉
* not sure *
Why do you do it Ak???
😆 re Dave….
I really don’t know Rico…
I must have been very bored… 🙂
Very Ak, very 😉
So is it true that Sagna and Diaby are out of this weekend?
Sagna yes, Diaby, late tests I think….
I’m done folks.
Another long day…
‘Til tomorrow, stay safe..
Night all…
Everybody gone…???
Jenkinson at right-back then?
As a Gooner, we can be sure that Sunday will not be just another game to him…
Doubt if Wenger will risk Diaby in such a high pressure game, even if he passes a fitness test, tbh.
Rosicky has done well in these kind of games before and it should be about who can do a job and win the game, not about who AW has the hump with…
We pay his bloody wages. Use him ffs…..
Night Gooners
Morning all…..
New Post up….