Daily Bits and Bobs

Wenger Press Conference – 24 hours to make a decision and no January signings if the squad is fully fit..

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Arsene Wenger has been talking to the official site about his options available after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Aaron Ramsey on the injury list. In his eyes it’s a straight fight between Campbell and Iwobi. No mention of Flamini – phew and although Santi Cazorla is an option, the manager recognised that he’s far too important playing centrally.

I must confess to having totally overlooked Iwobi in yesterday’s post when writing about the options open to the manager and to be honest, there’s not a lot between the two mentioned above. Campbell will defend but imo, Iwobi might just have the edge when it comes to creativity. You might disagree, that’s fine.

That was yesterday.

This morning though, reports suggest Kieran Gibbs could be used as an ’emergency winger’ which I guess makes sense as even when he’s tasked to defend, he’s often caught too far up the pitch and when coming off the bench last weekend to ‘shut up shop’ against Everton, he was bombing forward in usual style.

Then in the manager’s interview, he remains undecided. Either that or he’s just not prepared to reveal his plans: start:

My options are Campbell or put another defensive midfielder such as Flamini or put Cazorla on the flank. I still have 24 hours to decide.

As the interview went on, the inevitable question about signing players in January was put to him and his answer won’t please all Arsenal fans. He said if everyone is fit, they’ll be no need for additions. Well I guess the chances of everyone being fit are slim to none as both Welbeck and Rosicky aren’t expected back before the end of January. I’m not sure when Wilshere is expected to return but I don’t think it’s any time soon.

Arsenal have scored 1,999 goals under Arsene Wenger. He was asked what his remaining objectives are.

His reply:

I want to continue to develop our results and the way we play football and the club as well. I want to play football as close to perfection as possible.

Odd question I thought…

Back to something sensible after being asked about the goings on at Aston Villa, although Wenger did say Remi Garde should take the managers job there.

Joel Campbell?

I have been very impressed with him. His desire to improve has been fantastic. He can play centre-forward as well. I think he can be a big help in the next two or three months.

I guess if Campbell takes his chance, he’ll be another ‘like a new signing’ and he’d lessen the need for a January signing…

Then a question about Garry Monk, a manager whose career is under threat according to the footballing know it alls, aka the Press:

I think he has done extremely well. I’m surprised that he has been questioned.

Considering Swansea beat us both home and away last season, I’m not surprised by his answer. But this season, things haven’t be quite so good for Monk so hopefully they’ll be no repeat of those awful performances or results.

Serge Gnabry won’t be recalled despite Tony Pulis saying he wasn’t good enough, Arsene wants him to stay, change his view on the West Brom manager and learn from his experience in the Midlands. (I think that is meant to be, he wants Gnabry to play well so that Pulis changes his view, although…… lol)

After what sounded like a cow mooing in the background which caused a bit of a giggle, Arsene Wenger asked whether a dentist was in the building and made a fun remark about more injuries. Dental ones….

Finally though, some good news, as after the international break, Ramsey, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arteta should all be back fully fit.

Three matches for everyone to dig deep and work hard to keep this good domestic run going and grab at least a point in Germany. Then things should get a little bit better.

That’s it for Friday, have a good one…

rico

44 thoughts on “Wenger Press Conference – 24 hours to make a decision and no January signings if the squad is fully fit..”

  4. allezkev says:

    Now here’s a thought…. 😐

    Walcott seemed to trouble the Bayern defence last week, and although they dominated possession for long periods, they couldn’t push up too much in case Walcott caught them on the break…

    With Giroud that isn’t going to be the case and would make us more predictable and easier to contain…

    So a bit of pace and trickery up front could be the answer and playing Campbell through the middle won’t be what the Jerries will be expecting…

    If it don’t work, we bring on Giroud and go long ball again…

  8. Lee says:

    Ah Sanogo what a terrible excuse for a footballer…..
    I also forgot to add Rosickly to my list of perma crocks that need farming out….

  13. Wavy says:

    Everyone seems to have forgotten Sanogo’s greatest quality, he cost the old skin Flint zero pounds! A genuine bargain. I long to see him return………to France that is!

    Morning all. Dull, grey and windy here but the wet has stopped.

    We’re short and he knows we are! Time for a chant?

  16. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Gibbs will be the nexy injury player. In four games he is fit one. If he play next Saturday, then he will be out 3/4 games.

  17. Tai says:

    Good post Rico…and afternoon…

    We can always manage Swansea, especially when they’re the only team that beat Arsenal home and away last season.

    it’s Bayern that is giving me sleepless nights since Walcott hobbled off against Wednesday.

    I’ve read people saying Theo didn’t warm up enough. Hmmm…come on, Arsenal is a completely professional club…such minor cock-up isn’t possible.

    Theo, with everyone that started and those on the bench, had a full warm-up before they went back to the tunnel…In less than five minutes, Ox got injured…Theo is exactly at same level with those that started the match then. Let’s find another excuse for his injury.

  18. Tai says:

    Sanogo…seems every Gunner’s pot of endless jibes. But one day, one day, I’d take real delight in reminding everyone here of his/her comments regarding Sanogo…one day!

  19. andrewh1313 says:

    Good report rico, afternoon all.

    I can’t believe I read during the week that Wenger said ‘he made a mistake playing too many first teamers against Sheffield’. I believe that was just an attempt to deflect attention to the fact that the squad was run down in the summer with departures and loans, saving tons of wages, and no one coming in.

    No way could this squad compete in four competitions, and personally I think the League Cup was our best chance of silverware. Not the most glamorous but then we are not up with the big spenders, and the supporters deserved a better squad at Sheffield, look at the names all the other big teams put out, at least seven regulars. I believe he played far too few first teamers as his hands were tied, the truth is he should be honest and admit he had a very bad summer.

    Was Wenger so naïve not to expect our usual injuries and think it’s bad luck? It happens year after year but our squad gets thinner. But he finally admits to a mistake that no one can blame him for, as you can never foresee a particular injury in any one match. Very clever of AW don’t you think?

    Lets just hope we have enough for Swansea, Munich, Spuds ……

  21. Micko says:

    Wenger speaking out of his bottom again I see, we signed Campbell 4 years ago, he plays him in some 10 odd games, we all saw what he was capable of at the World Cup, loans him out again, obviously doesn’t fancy him, now we’re down to the bare bones and we hear he has outstanding individual quality, someone needs to check Arsene’s bowel movements…….he’s full of shite.

  22. Malaga gooner says:

    Afternoon Rico and the house
    Good post
    Micko be nice to wenger or the AKB’s will be after to you..

  25. Micko says:

    Hi rico, think the International break in November is a friendly one, a lead up to the Euro’s, a bit daft really.

    Did you see David Dean on Sky earlier, wasn’t pulling any punches re his thoughts on Fifa, said it like it is !

  26. rico says:

    Hi Micko, seems an odd thing to do really. I bet many clubs pull players out through injury. Well, an ingrowing toenail or something similar…

    Haven’t seen David Dean so best i get the TV on and have a peep…

  27. potter says:

    It seems that the plot is thickening :- Wenger is quoted by Sky Sports as saying:

    “I still believe the quickest back will be Alex. Theo might be out of action longer. The gut feeling will be one will be 20 days and one will be a bit longer.

    “It is always disappointing but we are equipped with the quality of the squad but mentally as well. (Per) Mertesacker was sick for the Everton game but Gabriel came in and did well, so we are ready.

    “We always have to answer the question of whether it is more than being unlucky when we have injuries, but we analyse every single case and every exercise.

    “We have to not over-analyse when players are injured – this has always happened. It’s post-international games we always get injuries. Is it linked with that? I don’t know.

    “We have two kinds of injuries, the ones coming back for or after Christmas; [Tomas] Rosicky, [Jack] Wilshere and [Danny] Welbeck. Then we have the short-term; [Mikel] Arteta, [Aaron] Ramsey, Chamberlain should be back after the international break.”

  29. Wavy says:

    RE Theo. And some Rico ‘nd Potter, the new year at the earliest. He ‘popped’ his calf muscle, with Theo that means a long term muscular injury. He doesn’t seem to mend quickly as history will testify?

  30. Malaga gooner says:

    Hi Rico
    This is wengers biggest test, was he right, that this squad has what it takes to be winners
    Giroud has the chance to show us what he’s worth

  34. Micko says:

    rico, just seen Sky are playing their 2 jokers tomorrow lunch-time, Klopp will wanna stay unbeaten, Jose will want us to believe he’s under no pressure, as for us we’ve got bigger fish to fry, nite Gooners.

  35. rico says:

    Micko, annoyingly I’ll miss the lunchtime fixture as have to go and see the in-laws. It is Halloween after all… 😉

    Morning all..

  40. allezkev says:

    Wenger seems to be bigging up Campbell…

    I suppose it’s what you have to do when the cupboard is bare?

    At least we have Ozil, Alexis, Kozzer, Gabriel, Bellerin and Monreal to come into the side, but it’s gonna be a rough ride down there in sheep-shagging land…

  42. rico says:

    I reckon he’s bigging him up before the January transfer window. Don’t want to lose him on a freebie next summer… 😉

    Yep, 27 which would be lovely. Get the grass cut and the garden tidied ready for the snow… lol

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