Daily Bits and Bobs

Wenger ready to show his hand? Did you spot the Chopper….?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Yesterday saw a few odd results in the PL. West Ham, yes, the side we lost to so easily on the opening day of the season were beaten at home by newly promoted Bournemouth. Totts were held 1-1 by Leicester and Utd drew 0-0 at home against Newcastle. Swansea dropped two points at Sunderland too which was a bit of a surprise.

I saw some of the Utd game and they were awful and perhaps quite fortunate to nick a point against Newcastle who’ll be a tough opposition for us next Saturday lunchtime as we don’t travel well that time of day… The highlights of the West Ham game was entertaining. Really, how did we lose to that lot?

The surprise results should be a warning that other clubs have improved. Maybe they don’t have the talent this Arsenal side has but what they have is determination and the willingness to dig in deep and give their all from start to finish and players don’t need to be world class to do that.

We could do with a couple more players like that…

The transfer window count down is now into double figures and having watched so many clubs, including Utd, City and Chelsea strengthen in numbers, Arsene Wenger is feeling the pressure:

Of course, there is pressure to keep up with them. All of them have spent more money but only one can win the title. It’s not just the consequence of the money they spend in how successful you are.

That is why you have to keep your nerve and not buy just because the others buy – but buy because you have found a player that can really give you a plus.

It is difficult because there’s more money in football, more clubs with big resources, and less players available.

The funds are there more than the players who could strengthen the squad. That is a big problem.

There is always time to take a gamble and we are not against taking a gamble. But what you want is to take a gamble in a market where the opportunity is there.

I believe this squad is ready to fight for the title and has a chance to do it given that we are continuing to develop as a team. That is the first thing. Internally we have the resources to do that and it is also important that we don’t have too many major injuries like last year.

A gamble is throwing money at a roulette table when the odds of winning are stacked against you, popping a pound coin, or is it a two pound coin these days into a slot machine, hoping the jackpot will drop, or sitting around a table with others hoping your hand of cards is better than theirs.

Being proactive, doing the homework and finding solutions for our deficiencies is not a gamble, it’s a requirement, an obligation and a necessity if Arsenal are serious about winning the league this season. Not doing so before September 2nd will lead to pressure on the manager, certainly from the fans as soon as something goes wrong because it won’t be a hiccup or a one-off as we’ve been there too many times before…

We don’t need much, we just have two areas in which we are weak imo, two areas which if not addressed could be the difference between success and disappointment. Failure even, as for the last two seasons we have won the FA Cup, and the only way up from that is the big one, the Premier League and boy don’t we fans want that again?

As we keep saying, we are getting closer, but we are still a way off having the strength, together with depth which can really mount a challenge to Chelsea and City. And those two clubs haven’t finished spending yet. Neither has Utd.

Yes you can only field eleven players at one time but what you have behind those eleven is the key…

What happens if Alexis get’s injured, or Coquelin?

Expecting them to be fit for entire season. Well perhaps that’s the biggest gamble……

Did anyone spot Benzema in a helicopter over London Colney yesterday? No, me neither…

Have a good Sunday folks….

rico

159 thoughts on “Wenger ready to show his hand? Did you spot the Chopper….?”

  1. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Why dont you send such a good post as an email to AW Rico???

    Incidentally I managed to get a glimpse of a cab near London with quite a big fella behind the stearing wheel and at the back there were Benzema, Cavani, Rabiot, Krychowiak, Verratti, Cheryshev, Bender twins, Kroos, Gotze, Draxler andIllaramendi all cooped up.

    The cabbie was not too pleased as it seems they will be dividing the fee between them to save money.

  2. rico says:

    Thanks Devil, he wouldn’t read it, not from someone like me who hasn’t been in football management for as long as him… 😉

  3. Brian Price says:

    Hi Rico
    Great post. You’re right about cover for Coq, but I think we have cover for Alexis with Danny, the Ox or Iwobe – there’s no-one we can buy who will do what he does.
    Old No-hair was at his worst on MOTD last night, explaining how every game should have ended 0-0. He even came out with ‘the attacker should be given the advantage in a tight decision’ – total rubbish and not in any rule.
    Big Sam was on and did a decent job. He reminded me of a quote from Tommy Docherty. Someone asked him if he was actively looking for a managers job, he said ‘no – I’ll just wait for the sacking season to start’.
    I still hope we get the Benz.

    Brian

  5. Rohan says:

    During Arsene’s tenure at Arsenal the club has bought the likes of
    Henry
    Vieira
    Pires
    Gilberto

    Alexis
    Ozil

    To name a few

    Why do us fans fall prey to these media lovies and start questioning the credentials of the club or the manager in the transfer market

    Keep calm – The right player will come along !

  6. Ken says:

    Great post Rico.
    In my own view,I wish AW can strengthen the Centre Forward area.I personally cant believe in Giroud firing us to the Premiership glory.Let AW buy either Benzema or Cavani.

  8. rico says:

    Rohan, time will tell but you’d have thought if AW had ‘the right player’ in his sights, he’d be in the door by now..

    Welcome and thanks Ken.. The central midfield worries me more than our striking options…

  9. eduardo says:

    spending £40M or £50M on a big name player is a gamble, ask utd about ADM, or their outlay on Falcao, two big money gambles that did not pay off, every signing is a gamble, regardless of cost, it is just a matter of the size of the gamble. If AFC took a hit like Utd did with ADM and Falcao it would have a major impact on next summers transfer prospects, for AFC to waste £30M or £40M would have an impact down the line, we can’t do what utd done with ADM and Falcao, or what CFC have done with Salah, Cudrado and Pedro, just throw money at it and hope one works out eventually.

  11. rico says:

    Why use other clubs disasters to defend our lack of spending Eduardo, after all, we are talking about Arsenal.

    Would it not be better to look at the £35m signing of Alexis, the £40+ million on Ozil, the £22m (ish) on Cazorla in order to justify why spending money on top quality is a good thing?

  14. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I don’t think Eduardo used it as a defence, just an exmple of how spending doesn’t guarantee anything.
    So many Gooners say spend, spend, spend………call Wenger a tight arse……Eduardo merely highlighted the fact spending guarantees nothing and I agree with him…..I know you hold the same belief.
    I agree we must buy some players, but the right ones, not merely the expensive ones.
    Morning guys 🙂

  15. eduardo says:

    Cazorla was more like £12M. the point on ADM and Falco is that it is not easy to get the right player, that if AFC get it wrong, unlike CFC and Utd, it will impact us big time.
    The fact is that signing both Alexis and Ozil were big gambles, thankfully both have worked out. And I’m sure if we can get in players of that quality, even at higher prices then Arsenal will do it, but if you take the cases of both Alexis and Ozil it shows exactly what one of the biggest problems in buying quality is, we needed barca to sign Suarez so that Alexis was available, and we needed Real to sign Bale for Ozil to be available, but even knowing this Gooners complain that we have not completed another similar signing yet this window (need I remind you “if AW had ‘the right player’ in his sights, he’d be in the door by now”
    I’d gladly wait till the last minute of the transfer window for another Ozil or Alexis quality signing. If we don’t get in reinforcements then by all means complain, but why is there all this non stop whinging over transfers, especially when no matter who we sign, some will just move the goalposts and say 1. we got the wrong players, 2. we still need a new (whatever positions). We have already seen Cech signing blasted.

  16. rico says:

    Scott, I’m not for spending money on big names just for the sake of it, but I do believe in addressing the needs of the squad and that means spending some money..

    It’s easy to cite failings by other clubs but surely it’s better to look at what Arsenal have done, not someone like LvG etc etc who just behave like kids in a sweet shop…

  17. eduardo says:

    spot on scott, spend spend spend, now now now, its that easy, seems to be the mantra of so many gooners, they seem to think that it don’t matter if we get it wrong, they look at utd, cfc and city, see them spend spend spend and if they get it wrong they just spend spend spend some more, and so many of our fans fail to understand or admit we just can not do that. As I stated AFC can not do what CFC have done with Salah(£11M and give him 13 league games), replace with cudrado (23M and again 13 league games), and replace with Pedro (£22M, will he get 13 league games before he is sold and replaced),

  18. rico says:

    My £22m for Santi was an error, I meant to type £12m ish..

    How on earth can £35m on Alexis be considered a gamble? Or Ozil, even though that was a lot of money. Both are proved top top players….

    Eduardo – I do not need your smart arsed comment like ‘need I remind you’! Thank you!

  19. rico says:

    Oh, and if Arsenal fans want a moan about lack of signing on here then they are free to do so Eduardo, if you want to dictate the conversation about Arsenal, go and start your own website up and don’t try controlling fans on here!

  21. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had an excellent debut for the visitors following his loan move from Arsenal, capped by a brilliant double save. Good.
    12m for Santi? Tomorrow, he will be not in Arsenal
    any new signs?
    i’m not agree Zulalen move to Rangers. He has potencial for playng in the Leagur one ir in another league (Ex: Portuguese)

  24. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, your 12.29 backs what I said…..I know you feel that way.
    I just think you took Eduardos post the wrong way.
    Van Gaal…..how the hell did he get a gig at Utd, much less so much to spend??

  26. rico says:

    No Scott, I didn’t.

    Too many times other clubs failings etc are used to defend our inactivity during a transfer window. Some fans want big players which cost big money, others see things differently and both view is fine – after all, it would be boring if we all thought the same.

    Reality is, our squad is short, there’s 9 days left in the transfer window and as it is right now, nothing seems to have changed with the way we approach the season, yet here we are with loads of money in the bank….

  27. rico says:

    Big Sam on the transfer widow still being open.

    ‘It is what it is and we all have to deal with it. The best thing is to get all your dealings done early and then just be glad when it shuts. Then hope for no injuries’.

  28. scottfromoz says:

    I’ve read it a few times and don’t think he meant we shouldn’t spend, Rico, but anyway….
    Wenger has never spent massive money on a wasted talent, so maybe the truth lies somewhere in between, anyway.
    He gets it right.

  29. eduardo says:

    rico of course the big fees we paid for Alexis and Ozil were a gamble, I know you don’t like me to mention ADM, world class talent, massive fee and he failed, and he is far from being the only top talent that has flopped, all transfers are a gamble, it can be argued that the bigger the talent the less of a gamble it is, but that is evened out by the higher fee paid, and if anything the bigger the fee paid the bigger the gamble, as you are risking so much money.

  30. rico says:

    Try a few more Scott… 😉

    But as you say, anyway……

    I think AW has wasted money over the years. And quite a bit of it…

  32. rico says:

    Where have I ever said you you have Eduardo.

    All I said was that you cited other clubs failings for AW not taking any ‘gambles’ as you put it.

  33. rico says:

    And re your 1.09, they were not a gamble imo, it was clear how good both players were before coming to Arsenal.

    Have you ever thought that Angel Di Maria wasn’t a gamble, just managed by the wrong man? He was pretty good for Real wasn’t he?

  34. Adam says:

    Every incoming transfer carries risk surely. Even Silvestre, Squillacci and the usual suspects were risky buys.
    We were onto Sanchez before the cup final win and just as early with Suarez.
    Proactivity is the way and if you have big money, like Arsenal, be prepared to pay through the nose. I remember when Aguero was signed by Man City. Seems a lot of money at the time. Not now though.

  35. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Jenkinson was sent off yesterday. We was not lucky yesterday…
    Pedro plays today. I think Chelsea will play in a different way today…

  36. rico says:

    Perhaps those two were even more risky Adam as they were past their best.. Lol

    What to give to have Aguero in this current side….

  38. Hell Raising Devil says:

    just a question.

    Imagine first that we win against the dippers and the barcodes. that would leave us3 points or less than the leaders whoever they are.

    now comes the last day and AW gets us Benzema for 28 million. And Verratti for around 22mill.

    that would mean 2 players for 50mill. the fee that AW was quoted just for Benzema alone these last few weeks.

    now getting 2 players for the price of one and just 3 points off the top.

    sounds good business for me.

    Geddit????

  46. Lee says:

    Who gives a fuck about manure or the chavs or any other club?

    Arsenal is the club I care about and at the moment we need to spend some money. We need at least two top class players to be real contenders and you’re one of those “deluded” Gooners if you think differently. We have the money but again we’re dithering in the transfer market while our direct competitors have strengthened. But we get this bollocks about is the player available, will he move, will his club sell? Blah blah bollocks that hasn’t stopped anyone else signing players has it?

  48. eduardo says:

    in first team training today

    Cech, Ospina, Macey

    Bellerin, Debuchy, Monreal, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Chambers, Gabriel, O’Connor, Pleguezuelo

    Coquelin, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Cazorla

    Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis, Reine-Adelaide

    Giroud, Walcott, Campbell

  52. Dublingunner says:

    Afternoon, that post made a lot of sense, Rico.I do agree with your analogy of what a gamble is, as opposed to just being ( to quote your words, Rico) “proactive doing the homework and finding the right solutions for our deficiencies, as it is a required necessity if Arsenal are serious about winning the league this season”. If you don,t spend you become static imo, sure, you will always get the odd so called flop but that is the business there in, more often than not Wenger does gets it right, but he is a major ditherer and has lost players by faffing rather than bidding. It amazes me how other managers get transfers over the line but not our Arsene.

  56. Lee says:

    There’s no contradiction at all if the other teams can sign players why can’t we? We’ll just roll out the Arsenal spiel blah blah….
    So where’s the contradiction?

  67. rico says:

    Afternoon Dublin, spot on. I know we have signed Cech but the onfield squad remains static as it stands today…

    Proactive – I don’t think Arsene Wenger knows the meaning of the word. You build not stagnate…

  70. Adam says:

    Time to trot out a few old favourites I think. I will start with ‘Always strengthen from a position of strength’. How about ‘He who hesitates is lost’.

  71. Hell Raising Devil says:

    wba pull one back. 1-2

    Morrison.

    wba first shot on target.

    if the chavs attack all teams and never park the bus then they would finish behind 7th place totts. Their defending when they do not park the bus is terrible.

    so much for Mourinho being a master tactician

  74. Adam says:

    I know Rico. I have been slipping lately. As you know, English is not my first language so I appreciate the slack you cut me. 🙂

  80. Adam says:

    That’s true Brudder and her wrath is indeed terrible. A bottling is not out of the question if a semi colon is inadvertently substituted for a colon.

  83. eduardo says:

    I see the usual Wenger/Arsenal can’t get signings done sort of stuff, its true that this summer 15/16 – 1 signing that has played for the first team, is all that has been made so far, but over the previous 4 years we signed 22 players that played first team games,
    14/15 – 6 signings
    13/14 – 3 signings
    12/13 – 4 signings
    11/12 – 9 signings
    so since summer 2011 AFC have signed 23 players who have gone on to play first team football for us, that is only 2 short of a complete 25 man squad.

    I would say roughly ten of those have done well, some like Jenkinson, Sanogo and Campbell have a lot to do if they are not to be considered flops – although the combined cost of the 3 is something like £1M, I’m not sure how to rate Podolski’s(£11M) time here, the biggest flops in that time were Gervinho(£11M) Park(£3M) Santos(£6M) and Eisfeld

    For me I think Arsenal sign a lot more players than most think we do, and the vast majority are experienced players, here is a team of experienced players and 6 subs signed in the last four years

    Cech
    Debuchy Mertesacker Gabriel Monreal
    Arteta Cazorla
    Alexis Ozil Welbeck
    Giroud

    subs: Ospina, Gervinho, Flamini, Park, Santos, Podolski

    the young signings that have done well in that time are Oxlade-chamberlain and Chambers

  85. frednerk says:

    Hold on a minute.
    What’s all this not spending Beloney
    where are we going if we don’t
    keep up with the jone’s.
    Most of the world class players are with the big clubs
    you know the ones that win thing’s.
    Lets hope wenger’s not reading Rico.

  87. eduardo says:

    Lee, 1:47PM

    the contradiction is that you say who gives a fuck about manure, chavs or any other club then go on to reason that what they have done in the transfer market is a reason why AFC should be making signings. So clearly you do give a fuck about what manure, chavs and others are doing.

  90. eduardo says:

    Gdna only a couple of them are WC, is it WC you suggest we need, if so, who are the WC players we should sign, which WC players are available, oh no I’ve suggested that WC players have to be available first for us to sign them, oh no what can i do. Ah feck it lets pretend availability does not come into it, feck Arsenal, feck Wenger, why have you not signed the two world class players I want

  93. Gdna says:

    Every player in world football is available for the right price. Not everything AW said is gospel. You mention Di Maria was a gamble but what about Ozil? The mentality that everything at Arsenal is right is the wrong one.

  95. Hell Raising Devil says:

    had Di maria signed for Arsenal we would be having another WC player on our hands. I can assure you that under AW he would have flourished.

    LVG destroys players as much as he used to make them.

  96. Dublingunner says:

    Adam, “a bird in the hand, spoils the broth” re 2.11 Lol
    A gamble to my mind is an unproven player,
    Eduardo I do think sometimes you get on here with a chip on your shoulder, and try to prove everyone wrong, Just my 2 cents,
    Good day.

  98. Wath says:

    “A grey goose in the hand makes one smile” One in each hand even better…!

    Dublin, I’d say a chip on each shoulder just to contradict every other persons thoughts and disagree with everything that everyone writes…!

  99. Lee says:

    Eduardo I’m not saying that, I’m say they can get transfers done so why can’t we? Surely you can grasp this? We need to strengthen and my point was who gives a fuck whether ADM or whoever flops elsewhere ,Arsenal need to strengthen. But we get these pathetic excuses from Arsenal/ supporters/Wenger why we haven’t done so…….

  101. Lee says:

    Also because they are or so called competition and they are strengthening while Arsenal sit on their hands!

  103. Lee says:

    Players have been transferred so far this window that would of made Arsenal a stronger team. I’m still fairly positive that we’ll sign the necessary players…… only time will tell.

  105. andrewh1313 says:

    Very good post rico. Can we expect any new signing that as AW says, must be better than what we have, when we are led to believe that he considered £25 million too much for Sneid? A proven premier player that was no risk. Sneid for 25 or Benz for 45, what would be the best bit of business?

  106. andrewh1313 says:

    Lee, agree with you one, two, three times. The condescending tone, when our outlay has been about 5m this summer? Maybe in credit if Campbell leaves. And as for wages with 8 out on loan.

  109. Gdna says:

    Adam, that player Pedro we talked about few days ago, from FCB that CFC bought is useless, he would never improve AFC. He is not PL proven and doesn’t get stuck in (whatever that means) lol.

  114. rico says:

    Evening all…

    Mines a Guinness then Micko, not sure why though…. Lol

    Thanks Andrew re the post…

    City winning again then, can’t see why they need De Bryne (spelling)

  115. allezkev says:

    Margate was interesting….

    What’s this, turn my back for 5 minutes and a riot breaks out…

    Mick upsetting everyone again I see…
    Bless him…

  119. allezkev says:

    Man City look good Rico, three wins on the spin, no goals conceded, 7 different goal scorers in 3 games.
    Title winning form

  120. rico says:

    They sure do Kev… It’ll take a lot to stop them winning the league if they carry on like they are…

    Their squad is incredible…

  133. Micko says:

    That’s right rico, tomorrow is match day.

    Eduardo, you could have told me you were taking an early bath lol.

    Kev, down to Margate, you can keep the Costa Brava, I’m telling ya mate I’d rather have a day down Margate with me family.

  138. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Nice post Rico, Better than the one you posted yesterday morning. 😛

    The team as it stands right now……

    Cech
    Ospina

    Bellerin………Per……….Kos……..Monreal
    Debuchy….Gabriel…Chambers…Gibbs

    Coquelin…….Cazorla
    Arteta….Aaron

    Ox………Ozil………Sanchez
    Welbeck….Wilshere…..Campbell

    Ollie
    Theo

    Extras……TR07, Flamini and Campbell since I put him there as cover.

    So in essence we are covered in every position.

    Hence AW reasoning that we do not need to buy. however, let’s be honest…..TR07, Flamini and Campbell plus Arteta (I hate to say it) are just taking places. A few days ago I said that we need two more WC players plus two more squad players. And if you take out TR07, Flamini, Campbell and Arteta that is what is needed for AFC to have a complete squad.

    If Benzema comes than Campbell will surely go and Theo drops to the wings. and the above team points out to another midfielder who should take Arteta’s place. but with Arteta signing an extension I do not see it.

    If a midfielder comes in than expect Flamini to be paid off.

    but honestly…..I am a bit sceptic that anyone will come in.

    then again….AW always surprises us except when he is predictable.

  140. allezkev says:

    Benzema has his medical today, doesn’t he???

    Well that’s what the Star, the Express, the Telegraph, the Metro and all the click bait sites reported last week….

    And they wouldn’t dream of making it up.

    Would they???

    Morning All

  144. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico, Potter, Kev,Dev and all,
    I was in Bavaria over weekend to see FC Ingolstatt (spelling), apparently we had a scout in the stand

  145. allezkev says:

    Bloody hell, just had a butchers on NewsNow & the Star is contradicting itself so much that it must be tying itself into knots.
    What a scabby rag it is…

  148. allezkev says:

    Hi Coach, another week before Arsrnals transfer window opens…

    Hi Ginge, was he wearing his woggle?

    Lee, pie n mash this week, your call.,,

  149. tsgh says:

    Henderson is missing tonight and so we have a chance.

    A pivot of Allen and Milner will be smooth for us.

    Can and Milner will be a tad tougher.

    RM struggling against a lowly side last night goes to show how teams are struggling for top strikers.

  150. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. The transfer tedium continues. Having watched the games yesterday it looks like Man City will be formidable opponents for anyone this year if they can keep their key players fit and remain in form.

  155. allezkev says:

    Ginge, if you still have to be scouting the same players, at this stage, then your scouts must be shit…

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