Wenger true to his word, for once……

Morning Gooners,

Arsene Wenger was true to his word, he said he would not be partaking in this January’s transfer market and didn’t.

He made a deal for a young lad of eighteen from Dortmund but as he is yet to play first team football for any club so no doubt he won’t for us for a while.

Wenger had stated that he believed this January window should be axed so he would probably have looked a fool if he had bought.

However we perceive his actions, we are left with what we have.

Players who some would have liked to have been sold are going to be with us for the rest of this season but as the Russian Transfer window doesn’t shut until much later this month, Arshavin could still return home but I suspect he will stay now until the summer.

Were we desperate to sign new talent?

Hard to say as a supporter but Wenger has made the decision that was not the case so we see out the rest of the season with what we have. Wenger may be looking at our situation and he knows who is coming back to fitness, he must have calculated that we are not in such a bad position that many supporters had feared.

Jack Wilshere’s setback may have irritated Wenger but I believe he feels that the midfield is well covered without adding anybody new.

Bacary Sagna who has been injured since the start of the season with a broken leg has now recovered and came on as a sub in our last game against Villa. No problems/setbacks were reported after the game which is great news, now he will only need to gain his match fitness, which he will as he plays more games.

Kieran Gibbs is also back in full training with the squad so he  too should be back in very soon. Both of these players have been out for some time now and their return should strengthen us quite a bit in defence and certainly add a bit of venom to our attack. As far as our back up full backs go, in Santos and Jenkinson they too must be nearing full fitness.

Many supporters were worried about a possible injury to our Captain and striker Robin Van Persie, but up to now Robin has shown remarkable resilience and at the end of the day should anything happen to him whilst Chamakh and Gervinho are away, we still have Park and Thierry Henry as back up.

Chamakh is soon to return and with the inclusion of Chamberlain, who has shown in two games more commitment than many, will certainly strengthen us no end.

Many would have liked Wenger to have brought a play maker in midfield but had he done so, he would have to drop Alex Song, Arteta, Rosicky or Ramsey. Not forgetting that we have others that could also fill that position as well and some out on loan that could always be called back if need be.

As far as our central defenders are concerned we have four that we have been using regularly and although they have been asked to play in fullback positions, they have in general, have handled it quite well.

Fabianski came in for Chesney in the Villa game and handled himself very well as time went on although Wengers belief in him has often made me wonder but then Wenger watches him train a lot more than me.

I still would have liked a marquee signing but I can understand why Wenger was reluctant to spend money when we have an abundance of players in all positions, maybe not to everybody’s liking but players have to be sold before players bought and when player and club are bound by contracts it has to be understood that we can only have so many.

I feel we can only replace players when contracts come to their end unless offers come in which are acceptable, so until then we have what we have and personally, I don’t think they are too bad.

We are getting stronger every day so we can only get better, after all we are sixth in the league and if we win tonight which we should, we will go fifth.

COYG

Written by Steve Palmer

288 thoughts on “Wenger true to his word, for once……

  1. Mohd Isa says:

    Saha and the ex Fulham striker were available. Well judge him in may when we will find out if the gunners can get the cl berth.Actually he failed to act in the summer until the debacle forced him to a knee jerk reaction.
    I still believe the GG is an accident waiting to happen.Of course if the gunners finish fourth,Wenger will be vindicated .If not he must pay the price and move on. He has been given more than enough time to turn the guuner round and failed to do.
    At any big club, the turnover of manager is fast and high. I believe Wenger would not have survived at any other club for three yrears of under achieving.

  2. devilgunner says:

    Good morning guys and chicks of the Gunners Faith.

    With the unnerring timing instinct of a deadly marksmen and the lethal finishing of a poacher, Arsenal announce that Jack is out for the rest of the season as soon as the transfer window is shut.

    Unbelievable.

    Is it a conspiracy?????

    I believe we have already had this load of tosh……when Vermaelen was injured the whole season. And before him Rosicky.

    So I do not presume that its all been planned. I am pointing out facts.

  3. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Morning all. Good post Steve, although I don’t necessarily agree with it all. But hey, it would be boring if we all agreed, right?

    I don’t think Chamakh strengthens us at all. He doesn’t make us weaker (unless he comes on for someone playing well as part of Wengers bizarre substitution rituals) but certainly doesn’t add much. He offers very little. Maybe a confidence thing, may be as he doesn’t get many games, but the fact is that when he comes on, he does very little.

    That said, I’m in agreement with what you say about not signing people for the sake of it at the expense of someone who has been playing well. Although I’m sure Ramsey has breathed a sigh of relief, as he’s been pretty disappointing of late.

    Tonight we have (in my opinion) our strongest back 5 playing. Looking at their possible line-up, there’s no way we should be losing tonight. But I thought that about Fulham. And Swansea.

    All in all, I was still a little disappointed with yesterday’s window. Not sure if anyone follows the excellent Hayley Wright (Gingers4limpar) on Twitter or Youtube, but for me, the below link last night summed it up perfectly!

  4. alan b'stard M P says:

    morning/evening all

    oh well. I suppose the best thing to happen is to completely collapse and that will force them into action

  5. Potter says:

    Morning Steve and thanks for the case for the defence. The problem is that gradually the club is losing the confidence of large sections of the crowd. It lost quite a few in the summer window and all our little run really achieved was to quieten the rumbles of dissatisfaction they were however never salved and the lack of action during this window will only serve to raise them again. The reappearance of long time injured will only be seen as progress if they hit the ground running but I fear that for Gibbs and Diaby the first time they are out of position, misplace a pass or get caught in possession the invective from the terraces will be worse than anything endured by the hapless Eboue. There was an opportunity to lift the feelings but once again the club has spurned it. The board seem to obsessed with the global financial situation and are using it to hide behind a spending inertia . Time will tell but I fear that even the usually placid “”Emirates “” crowd will be disappointed and despite Gazidis deluded comments that we understand , I think it will not be a happy place to visit unless we win out the season.

  6. rico says:

    Morning all

    Thanks for the post Steve, had all sorts of probs with the internet this morning and you saved my day…

    That must have hurt to write that, trying to be positive when ‘what we have’ for the the rest of the season has sometimes been woeful to date.

    Chamakh and Park can’t hit a barn door and unless a miracle happens, I can’t see that changing if RvP gets injured…

    Henry, well we have him for a few more weeks then he’s gone..

    I’m far from happy with Wenger and the board, we needed two players, thats all and they failed…

    The new boy, well until he plays, no-one knows, as for his injury, that was back in 2009 so I’m not going to judge him until the day he is laying alsongside Diaby, hopefully he is fit and healthy and gets played….

  7. rico says:

    The other thing about the new boy, there will be a few pissed off reserve players who are desperate for their chance to play, if he walks straight into the side and doesn’t perform well….

  8. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all.
    Rocky, i know how you feel mate i am gutted as well, but i ask myself is it because i just wanted Arsenal involved or did i really believe we needed anybody. We are used to seeing the players that we have, we have our favorits and the ones we see as week links, but at the end of the day we are not in bad position CL FA cup and 6th in the league, win tonight and we move up a place, then just one more position to be in the top four, its not all doom and gloom. Players coming back and hopfully no more injuries could see us flourish, about time we had a good run in and i believe it could happen. We have a reasonable team and playing as a team we are as good as any.The filth may be a long way ahead but at the end of the day all the teams above us are catchable and i honestly feel we can pull them all back, starting tonight fingers crossed.

  9. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Agree Rico. Arshavin still being here (possible for another month) pisses me off. We’ve had ample time to ship out the dross. But still they remain.

  10. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico,we don’t actually know what Park can or can’t hit yet.
    Good post Steve…….not just for the positivity,but some bloody good points.
    All of our big name targets(rumoured targets,that is) were all agreeing they’d not be moving until summer,so any signing really was going to be a form of compromise.
    2-0 tomorrow???
    PS…..love the fact Ryo is at Bolton……. I can’t watch Arsenal reserve games here in Oz,but Bolton get a run on tv!!!!!

  11. rockyrocastle07 says:

    I hope you’re right Steve. But I’ve given up hope of catching the scum above us. This season, and I harte admitting this, but I’ve gone the same way the board and Wenger seem to think….. A Champions League spot will suffice. And that REALLY pisses me off. Are you happy with “Reasonable” though Steve? Or was that just a bad choice of word in your last post? How do we go from “Invincible” to “reasonable” and no-one be held accountable?!

  12. rico says:

    Same old though rocky, who wants them and who will pay them what we do, thats the stumbling block…

    In the summer, the club really have to cut their losses and sell them at bargain prices, otherwise they will just stay on our wage bill and then leave for nothing when their contracts are up….

    Why is it, we are always having to look to the next transfer window and hope that this will be the one??

    Did Nelson join Arrys gang??

    devil, the jack rumour hasn’t been confirmed has it? Wenger said his setback wasn’t as bad as first thought? Mind you, transfer window spin no doubt….

  13. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Nelson apparently DID join them!! I was chuckling for a good few minutes when I thought of him turning out for them!!

  14. rico says:

    I think we can assume Scott, otherwise he’d be playing and certainl ahead of Chamakh when he’s here… His absence speaks volumes about how little Wenger must think of him, what have we got him for, two seasons? Well one is nearly up….

    Steve, i am far from a happy rico this morning…..

  15. Jack says:

    Very good article (much better than any of the tripe in the print press ATM). We have a fantastic 11 with solid back-up for most positions. Perhaps we need to switch out Arshavin and chamak, but seriously what players can you think of that are good enough, available and willing to be squad players? Answers on the back of a postcard

  16. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning Rico glad i could help, wrote that late last night after many vodkas so thank you for making it readable, I was in a sombre mood and started to visulise us actually coming good i felt i may feel different this morning but i still feel upbeat, A good result tonight will only lift everybodies spirit and can only be good for the team.Mind you i need another bottle 🙂

  17. rico says:

    😆 Steve – that’s really funny, i knew there had to be a reason for the belief, you feel the same way this morning, or just a sore head 😉

  18. rico says:

    I did wonder Scott 😉

    But i’m on one this morning, i am so furious with what is going on at afc, why Gazidis and Wenger can’t be more proactive…

    how many strikers were snapped up by other clubs yesterday, just how many of them would have made us that much stronger up front..

    And Samba, desperate to leave Blackburn, look what he could have done for our defence? In fact he could probably player up front and score more goals than our whole side put together excluding RvP 😉

  19. Scott from Oz says:

    If,if,if……….if we happen to win the FA cup,finish top 4 in the league and progress a bit further in the CL,how much more attractive would we look to Hazard,Gotze and the like in summer????
    Ok,I may be guilty of wishful thinking,but its distinctly possible two or even three of these scenarios eventuate.

  20. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. Wenger’s only real job is to win football matches and equip Arsenal with the means to do that. This obviously means having a squad with enough depth to cope with the injuries and suspensions that will crop up during the season. Forgetting for a moment our appalling catalogue of games missed over the seasons through what feels like a disproportionate level of injuries but bearing in mind that Wenger certainly knew the bad news that suggests we forget about Jack for this season (at least), what are we to make of this transfer window? Is there a supporter who believes that relying on Robin as a sole striker is either reasonable or fair on him? Chamakh? Please. Park? Who knows? Wenger hasn’t exactly shown great faith in him has he? Surely the lessons of recent seasons past show us that this “bare bones” approach is folly and actually very, very dumb. The transfer window is a chance to introduce quality and experience to the team for what I believe will be a very tricky run-in to the end of the season. Once again Wenger has failed to address the obvious shortcomings and behaved as if we are a club bereft of finance. This was of course why we moved to the Emirates, to give us the financial clout to compete but Wenger has played fast and loose with the squad and the Jack situation has put further pressure on Ramsay, Song and Arteta who, we must pray, stay injury and suspension free. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you will certainly repeat them. This is a weak PL with Chelsea and Liverpool not really “at it” and a very average Man Utd and a wobbly Man City. This is why Spurs have stepped into the void we have created through our terribly organised summer. I think that Wenger owes the club and it’s fans more than he is delivering at the moment.

  21. rico says:

    😆 rocky

    Scott, they suffered about four last night didn’t they? Ade being one of them…

    Jack – it’s about competition for places, strength in depth which we don’t have, FA Cup, CL, PL to fight for, we need more than 11 very good players…..

    And, Henry goes real soon…..

    It isn’t quite as rosy as it may appear…

  22. eddie says:

    We lack depth as a team, and as long as we dont replace the quality players we have lost, and persist with this failed youth project, we will continue to fight for fourth place!
    I wont blame RVP if he decides to jump ship and we will struggle to attract big names to our team because we certainly lack ambition.
    Slowly I am beginning to agree that our TRUST is turning to RUST!

  23. stevepalmer1 says:

    You may be right Rocky, but with FFP rules coming in i am sure the division will soon level, i too am sick of the Scum but its not the end of the world they too will be in Shit street when building starts on the marshes players will be sold to help finance the build and the lower divisions await them.
    Rico a smile will come across your face later today i guarentee.
    Thank you Jack, we have got a good squad and i see us getting better and better.

    Scott from Oz, one season wonders thats all

  24. rico says:

    morning potter and alan, i missed your comments….

    i think The Ems will be very noisy on saturday, especially if we don’t get three points tonight…..

    alan, a complete collapse and the whole lot should get out….

  25. Scott from Oz says:

    Adam,like it or not,Wengers job ie exactly what the board tell him it is.
    Winning games,squad depth etc,etc are all obvious targets,but jf they come with riders as to how much can be spent on transfers,and wage limitations,then he isn’t in a great situation.

  26. rockyrocastle07 says:

    We WILL beat Bolton tonight Rico… Been a good day for me so far, so for once, Mr Pessimistic if in a fairly bouyant mood!

  27. rico says:

    How many seasons have we been saying ‘If’?

    If only Wenger/IG had replaced quality players with quality players., we would still be looking like the right club to join..

    Speculate to accumulate…..

  28. Merlin96 says:

    Well then, it is a re-run of 2005/06 season where we made it to CL Cup FInal and 4th spot during last match of season.

    My Dream:
    S*CUMS finished 4th spot and we won the Cl Cup :mrgreen:

  29. rico says:

    Morning Adam, good comment….

    They battered the dippers recently though rocky, they are getting some confidence back – so so hope you are right ……

  30. rico says:

    Deep Joy 😛

    Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Marouane Chamakh will rejoin the Arsenal squad by the end of the week.

    The striker has spent the last three weeks away with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations but will return to Emirates Stadium after the Atlas Lions made an early exit from the competition.

    Speaking ahead of Morocco’s clash against Niger on Tuesday, Wenger told Arsenal Player: “Marouane is playing his last game today, then he should be back in 48 hours.

    “He played in the first game, and for the second game he was in hospital because he had a stomach bug, but he should play tonight.”

  31. Gunner-Mac says:

    Great news about the kid Eisfeld joining the club!
    That ONE player in this window means we beat our points total for the month of january!!!
    “Way to go” Arsene….or should i say Time to GO Arsene.

  32. rico says:

    Adam – Wenger tells the board what he is doing….

    Hi Merlin, long time no see, hope all is well, i like that thought…

  33. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Dismal news re Chamakh. So we all hoped he’s go away, get a bit of form, maybe score a few goals and get his confidence up… But no. He plays one game, than gets the shits. Perfect.

  34. Adam says:

    If anyone hasn’t listened to Alex Fynn’s insightful interview last week I suggest they seek it out. Few have such a knowledge of Arsenal, Wenger and the board plus the ” real” financial position as Alex. Sorry to flag up the opposition Rico but it is more than interesting an a must for Arsenal supporters.

  35. alan b'stard M P says:

    Adam says:
    February 1, 2012 at 10:24 am

    Morning Rico and all. Wenger’s only real job is to win football matches and equip Arsenal with the means to do that.

    I doubt that. He’s roll is to promote and defend board policy. Buy low sell high. Nothing to do with winning

  36. stevepalmer1 says:

    Adam, understand your frustrations but if Robin stays fit, a marquee signing would only be used as a sub, and we would have players sitting about getting paid for F.All give them till the end of the season and i believe you will be plesently surprised.

  37. rico says:

    Welcome Gunner-Mac – its sure heading that way isn’t it!

    I recall the one he hit passed us last season rocky, mind you, Almunia was in goal so not a tough task 😉

    Talking of which why is he still with us?? Wenger probably wants him to be the new GK coach!

  38. Adam says:

    Steve P. sorry mate but you will never convince me that having another world-class striker at the club is a negative. People have been telling me to wait ‘tail the end of the season for several years now.

  39. rico says:

    Steve – if we had that signing, the pressure is off RvP, he can play more freely and he and another top striker could play up front together rather than just having RvP up top alone….

    We’d score more, win games easier, less pressure on the defence, build the confidence and what does that bring….

    Results and a CL place and maybe the FA Cup…..

    I’m not in for marquee signings, just players who can do their job properly and put in all that they have in them….

  40. Adam says:

    Yes Steve. But with only one real striker at the club we have dropped nine points from our last three league games.

  41. rockyrocastle07 says:

    I kind of agree with both Adam AND Steve. Currently, I agree with Steve. A world class striker would either be played out of position, or would be warming pine each week. However…. If Wenger changed formation from the 4-3-3 he seems to have a permanent hard-on for, we could easily accommodate another striker to play alongside RvP. It worked with Wright / Bergy etc so why not again?

  42. Scott from Oz says:

    Adam,guess you’ve seen his job description…….he’d be the only manager in the world not answerable to the clubs board.

  43. Adam says:

    I have never asked for a marquee signing. When we were great we had Thierry, Dennis, Wiltord and Kanu. Each could do a good job and the variation in formations they offered, coupled with their intelligence was very hard to cope with. All I know is that Chamakh and Park are not good enough. Wenger won’t play Park and my eyes tell me all I need to know about Chamakh who, next to Eddie McGoldrick is the worse player I have ever seen wear an Arsenal shirt. If you are bothered about buying a great striker because of Robin then I must disagree.

  44. rico says:

    that’s the thing rocky, we would have to go 442, and wenger would be too stubborn to do do that…

    worked with DB and Henry though 😉

  45. Scott from Oz says:

    Adam,if you reckon Chamakh is that bad,I’d get new eyes.
    Actually,get a guide dog!!!
    Fair dinkum,you’ve been sold short lol.

  46. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Also Adam… Did you ever see Glenn Helder marauding down the wing?! I think McGoldrick was better than him! There’s been some shockers, but on the evidence I’ve seen from the (little) matches he’s played, Chamackh is indeed, awful.

  47. Scott from Oz says:

    Chamakh was very good early on,then lost his spot……then all confidence.
    Anyone saying he is a bad player forgets what he did early on,imo.

  48. Gunner-Mac says:

    @ Adam+Rockyroc:
    squillachi,stepanovs,silvestre,eboue,cygan,sendross, are running glen helder close for me too!!

  49. Scott from Oz says:

    Rocky,i reckon I’d score more lol.
    Summer time….Podolski up front…..maybe,maybe not…….. Wouldn’t be bad.
    His left foot is just a weapon.

  50. stevepalmer1 says:

    Don’t get me wrong guys but i would love top strikers up front i am just trying to explain my interpretation of Wengers actions, i am trying to understand why a top class Manager refuses to buy when we clearly can afford it. He has put in place a youth program and i can only assume he will not give this idea up, he adds to that on a regular bassis and we will have to put up with his ways untill the idea fails, up to now we have had fifteen years at the top and CL football every year to me we have not failed yet, we could have and should have had a cup last year, and untill we fail get used to it as i don’t think it will change.

  51. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Fair enough SFO, but he was never prolific when he was playing was he? He’s always had the touch of a baby elephant, and more than a couple of his goals were completely flukes. Wenger sees him day in / day out….. And clearly doesn’t have faith in him. I’d honestly, and I may get slagged off for saying this, prefer Bendtner than him up front. But that’s just my opinion.

  52. Adam says:

    I believe Wenger has more autonomy than any top manager in world football. Alex Fynn agrees. What Wenger wants, Wenger gets. The old question of is it him or is it the board has been answered. If he went to board and said that he wanted to buy 3 top player for £15 to £18 million each they would probably suggest that he moves out some of the deadwood, but they would give him the money. Apparently andaccording to Fynn again, the only stand they have taken was with Nasri. Wenger wanted to keep an uncommitted player for his last season, pay him £5 million and loose £25 on the transfer fee. Meaning that he would have cost the club £30 million for one season. The board asked him to think again and he reluctantly agreed to sell him.

  53. Adam says:

    Scott. I would suggest that you keep your comments about me the other side of insults, especially with the guide dog thing. We all know you rate Chamakh and keep harping on at how good he was when he first came. Highbury House is not a place where we sling crap at each other.

  54. Adam says:

    Rocky. He is a highly respected football writer who has interviewed Wenger on many occasions, is a neighbour of his and has co-written a book called Arsenal- the Making Of A Super Club. He is also a very highly regarded authority on football finances. One of the few excellent football journalists around. Google him.

  55. Scott from Oz says:

    Adam,i was responding to your insult.
    I made a comment…. You said that’s a laugh……was that meant as a compliment???
    Don’t start,and I won’t…..pretty simple.

  56. rico says:

    Scott – how many times re the insults??

    Not on here, express your opinion without the snide jab at the same time please!

  57. stevepalmer1 says:

    Rocky, personally i think his idea’s are the way forward, but in my opinion he could include some experience as well, but i believe he see’s that as detrimental to the youth he is trying to bring through. His way of thinking in my eyes is the only way to survive in what is a money mans business. He is a forethinking man who is also very stubborn, but i think that it will succeed in the long term, and other clubs will eventually be forced to copy.This is not somthing that happens overnight and there will be a spell which is what we are having at the moment before this idea comes to fruition. As you rightly said he will not give up on it and i have to say i agree with. You take apprentices on to better your business for the future and i believe this will eventually work.

  58. rico says:

    I think we will struggle rocky… However, if the players and Wenger have finally learned from the Villa game, we could just batter them 😉

  59. Jekyll says:

    On the face of it, it is bemusing that another striker hasn’t been bought, given that we have just one regular scorer in the entire squad. But perhaps there has been a slight shift in club policy – they have decided that the cost of really going for the top 4 outweighs the CL money you get for that, that it makes more economic sense to keep the cash and finish midtable rather than spend it on transfers to maximise the chance a top 4 place. We’re clearly run on monetary concern only lines so it’s a thought.

  60. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Hope so Steve. Everyone loves it when a youngster breaks through and takes his chance by the scruff of the neck. I just fear we don’t have enough that can do that, and are holding on to players that just won’t make the grade. Again. I hope I’m wrong about that. Time will tell. Just depends how much time AW has left with us.

  61. Micko says:

    Abandon ship…….swim for your lives !

    Will someone please tell me why we paid an extra 6.5% on our season tickets, only Gazidas said it was necessary to help us compete in the transfer market and help pay the electricity bill amongst other things !
    The money isn’t going into the team, anyone can see that, the club is taking advantage of the fans, plain and simple.
    If ever there was a time to strengthen it was now.

  62. Adam says:

    Micky. Wait until this summer’s season ticket hike. Everyone is gonna be real happy with that one. The Diaby Stretcher Fund perhaps?

  63. rico says:

    Jekyll – i think AW truly believes that Chamakh, Park and Henry are the answer, and Gerv when he comes back….

  64. stevepalmer1 says:

    Wenger will be with us as long as he wants to Rocky. He helps make huge profits and keeps the costs down to a minimum, his job is as safe as Buckingham Palace, he knows it and so does the Board. Champions league for fifteen years has done much to help pay for our rebuild it has made us financially stable and has made Us a massive force in world football don;t expect to many changes i certainly don’t

  65. rico says:

    Hi Micko – i have my armbands on….

    No justification in the ST hike, not last season and definately not next….

    Move to compete, what a joke that is eh….

  66. Micko says:

    Adam, I’ve lost all respect for you, what about eddie’s goal against Standard Liege in the 90’s, it was a blinder !!!

  67. rico says:

    same old arsene eh devil, why pay when he can get them for free, does he not realise that inbetween times we drop points….

    Adam, did you have to remind me 😉

  68. Scott from Oz says:

    I unreservedly apologise to anyone who may have been offended by my,though obviously not literal,very,very offensive comments to Adam.
    I accept that though he insulted me first,I have certainly not been posting here long enough to expect a right to reply.
    Adam,I truly hope I didn’t cause yourself or your family any distress with my heartless and downright nasty remarks.
    I only hope I can emulate the esteem in which you are held here,so I too can someday insult newbies at will!
    I deeply regret the shame brought on my family by my comments,so to them too,I apologise.
    Oh,and if I missed anyone in my apologies,i am very sorry to you,too.

  69. Adam says:

    Micko. You know what. You have me there. I am still recovering from that. I maintain it was meant to be a cross though. Overall though and taking all things into consideration I must stick with Eddie. I remember I was at a testimonial at Highbury ( we don’t see many of those these days do we) and old Eddie was booed by the Arsenal crowd when he came on in the second half.

  70. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Scott – You don’t help yourself with posts like that one! Althgough I must admit I’ve written something very similar on an American aquatic forum in the last week. Mine was in the same sarcastic tone, and I got chucked off the site for it!

  71. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Poor old Eddie! His ‘tache was worth the entry fee alone! (although thinking about it, he may have got rid before he joined us)

  72. stevepalmer1 says:

    Scott from Oz, you are fast approaching legendary status, we are all Gooners and we all get the hump, we all have our opinions and yours is just as important as everybody elses, we have tried to keep this site a gooners only site but we do encourage new people to the family your comments now and in the future will i’m sure be welcomed by one and all but we do look after our own and if you get stick in the future i’m sure you will be backed to the hilt.

  73. rico says:

    Scott, you just can’t resist can you….

    The ‘tache was the rage in his day wasn’t it rocky, bit like the curls on Keegan 😉

  74. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Speaking of curls (and getting back to Glenn Helder) can anyone else not think of Helder whenever they watch Coming to America?! Has anyone ever seen Helder and the Darryl from the film in the same room together?! I think not!

  75. Adam says:

    I think he kept the ‘tache in a glass jar and later gave it to Joey Barton who sports it with some aplomb these days.

  76. Scott from Oz says:

    Rocky,i,amongst others,was called a toerag here the other day,Rico was nowhere to be seen.
    Adam made a bitchy remark,Ifired back,he has a whinge,i cop it.
    If you want a little happy community with no outsiders,say so and I will go elsewhere,but if any smartarse wants to have a crack,I am not going to sit back and cop it.
    Rico,make your call.
    Say the word,im gone.
    Otherwise,get off my back and be bloody fair!!!!

  77. rico says:

    Talking of Barton and i asked this the other day but no response, did nayone watch the programme about justin fashanu on monday?

  78. Adam says:

    Wasn’t Helder’s barnet a crude forerunner of the creation that sits upon the head of Chamakh? It’s called the Las Vegas Slick these days.

  79. rockyrocastle07 says:

    I did respond Rico… I told you I still thought he was a c***. I only saw a few minutes of it to be honest.

  80. DutchGooner10 says:

    Harrrr harrrrr me cyberspace pirates,

    SP I see gleaming rays through the cracks but by no means have we broken out of our cocoonic egg shell. We’re still vulnerable and the nest is poorly protected.

    Anyways people the circus has left town but never despair it will be back next week when the emergency loan market opens. Sigh. Maybe AW hooked Jack Sparrow, out for the season, to haul his sails to compass according to FIFA rules. We know he likes to leave it late until the faintest moonlight and has cited previously a loan deal was his preferred option. Savvy?

  81. Scott from Oz says:

    I appreciate your comments Steve.
    The fact remains though that Adam fired first.
    Not sure why he gets backing and i get shit.

  82. rico says:

    Scott – we have a happy family and that is because we don’t feel the need to insult be suggesting someone’s opinion is so wrong they must be blind…

    being told you must be ‘having a laugh’ is not in the same bracket…

    coming back with sarcastic comments is just a recipe for disaster and then it all gets tit for tatt and rather silly….

    You are not an outsider, you have come on HH and stayed, thats what we have all done, no more no less, just all of us know it’s not a site where we just sling mud at eachother, there are plenty of others arsenal sites that do and I just wanted HH to be different…

  83. rico says:

    😳 rocky, sorry i missed your comment, and yours Adam, I really must keep up 😉

    He is a little s***e i agree, but he shocked me with his ‘grown up’ attitude towards the interviewer, shocked me a bit, as Lilly Savage did in Strictly 😉

  84. stevepalmer1 says:

    Scott from Oz, we all have a dig at one another at times and you guys have had your digs, but enough of all that, if anyone wants a barney then log onto a spuds site and upset them, lets keep the harmony of the house and just hate Yids (am i allowed to say that Rico) 🙂

  85. rockyrocastle07 says:

    No-one’s backing anyone Scott. I couldn’t care less if you both think the other is a c***. But personally, I chose this site over others to come on because of the vibe I got from everyone on here. It’s a relatively friendly place to be on. Of course everyone has differing opinions, but sniping at each other doesn’t help. Unless you’re both going to meet up and slug it out, it’s pointless. Everyone is brave sitting behind a computer screen! I don’t have a problem with you at all Scott, and I actually remember backing you in a dispute a week or so ago. Steve’s right what he said. But there’s no need to get so aggressive with everything. Fair enough, you think you’ve been a bit harshly treated, and if I’m honest, I’m inclined to agree with you today. But so what? We’re all adults here. No need for anyone to throw their toys out of the pram for something so petty. And I’m pretty sure Rico doesn’t pick and choose who she wants to chastise….. I’m guessing it was maybe just missed.

  86. Adam says:

    Yes Rico. There’s a real human there albeit one that beats people up and stubs cigars out in team-mates eyes. It must be a social experiment he is engaged in.

  87. rico says:

    Can we all just draw a line under this please, kiss and make up and lets all move on 🙂

    rocky, don’t start on me 😉

    Hi DG

    ‘SP I see gleaming rays through the cracks but by no means have we broken out of our cocoonic egg shell. We’re still vulnerable and the nest is poorly protected.’

    Cracking way of putting it….

  88. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico,give me one reason its acceptable to you for some to be called a toerag,yet not acceptable for me to make an obviously tongue in cheek remark to poor Adam.
    Adam,seriously,how precious can you be?

  89. Mohd Isa says:

    One point from four games is very poor,repeat very poor.How Wolves can be beaten 3-0 is easily explained. Liverpool did not enegage in marathon passing in front of the box. if there is a gap or chance they choose to shoot.That’s why they won.
    Wenger throws his water bottle in anger when Arsenal failed to score or conceded a goal. He has no one but hmself to blame for the gunners continued failure to wrap up matches they are leading. This is not a new problem.Rememebr Wigan 2goals down and NU 4 goals down. There are many more,more such games if fans want to find out.The FM must change his attacking mantra and put some focus on defence.
    If they can’t win against Bolton, the cl berth will ,imho,be 90 % gone . Wengr maydisagree. The writing is on the wall.The thing is he wants to play Barcelona style. This is the epl where robust tackles are overlooked by refs and 100% no 300% clear cut penalties are not given depending on the team.

  90. rico says:

    Scott – i think your irony is being missed and maybe i too am guilty of missing that today – that’s why i use the smiles, it makes it clear…

    and i think this has all gone far enough, can’t we just move on??

  91. rockyrocastle07 says:

    We still love you Scott, don’t worry….. Just noticed….. What time is it there?! Should you not be asleep?!

  92. Micko says:

    Yeah scott, you can’t help being an Aussie, it was the hand you were dealt, we’re just have to make allowances for you.

  93. Clockendjim says:

    Yes I am sure StevePalmer1 we will easily make up the 18 point gaps between us Man City and Man Utd, not to ignore the mere 13 points we are behind Spurs. It’s this kind of self-delusion that is allowing our great club to slide into an ordinary one.
    We desperately need a goalscorer; the next highest PL tally after RVP is Gervinho with 4 and Walcott with 3. Players like Rosicky, Song and Ramsey with just 1 each is just not good enough, they have had the chances but their shooting is abysmal.
    Remember when Pires, Llunjberg, Viera, Bergkamp etc all used to add considerably to Henry’s amazing scoring. RVP just cannot continue to do it on his own; the signing of someone like Dempsey would have made us so much better, but the money stays firmly in the bank.
    And I am gobsmacked that finishing 4th (which I do think we will) would be regarded as a successful season. Just see what a season without Champions League football will do. The revenue lost will far more than if Wenger had just signed a couple of good experienced players. Please show me some sand I can bury my head in, I cannot bear to watch our decline much longer

  94. rico says:

    Hi clockend – i still don’t think we will get 4th, even if the chavs fail, i see the dippers or even newcastle having a better chance, and to write that makes me feel sick to the stomach, as does that lot down the road finishing above us…..

  95. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Gooners

    Wow i can feel the heat of debate…..

    Afternoon Rico…

    Sir Steven, another fine piece of journalism, certainly the equal of anything you could care to read in the Press today.

    Adam and Scott…. Afternoon guys…
    It’s great to know you both care so much, that’s why i enjoy the craic on here despite the disappointing performance, in so many ways, of my football club…

  96. allezkev says:

    And Scott, please don’t go. I enjoy your comments as much as i enjoy Adam’s, in fact the only person who has pissed me off on here , was a guy called Spectrum, he was a complete arse…

  97. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Good morning all
    So, Bolton tonight. Now in 6th place with 8 (!!!) games lost. The fist three places are given. Unfortunatelly, I think we don’t reach the 4th place.
    Like I said since the beginning, we need a midfield. It’s a important a new striker, maybe a full back, but we nedd a new midfield player. AW got him. He is not the answer for the moment, but wait and see.

  98. rico says:

    Afternoon AK, i don’t think Scott has gone, just maybe off to bed, i hope its that way anyway….

    Hi JM – he could be a huge suprise, and if so, a very cheap one 😉

  99. allezkev says:

    No yet Devil, but i’ll have a look in a minute.

    It wasn’t anything to do with someone joining Barca, was it????

  100. allezkev says:

    Typical…..

    Arsenal have made preliminary moves to sign combative midfielder Claudio Yacob from Argentina’s Racing Club, and could snap up the player on a free transfer in the summer.

    An enquiry over the player’s availability was made at the end of last week, with manager Arsene Wenger thought to be in the market for an inexpensive option to help bolster his midfield.

    Yacob, 24, is out of contract in June and the Buenos Aires club would be willing to offload their high-earning captain in an attempt to trim down the wage bill as they look to cut costs.

    Comparisons with former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano are inevitable given their similarly snappy, confrontational approach to the position known in Argentina as the number 5 role.

    Despite helping his country to glory at the Under-20 World Cup in 2007, Yacob has made just two appearances for the full squad, scoring one goal, although any bid for a work permit should be aided by his Italian passport.

    Arsenal’s current campaign has been derailed by long-term injuries to the likes of Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere.

    And with the latter pushing to take part in both the European Championships and the Olympics this summer, where he could be joined by Aaron Ramsey, Wenger will no doubt be keen to bulk up the numbers ahead of next season.

  101. allezkev says:

    Rico, does this mean that we have to call you
    ‘The Big One’……. 😆 😆 😆

    El Gordo….. 😉

  102. rico says:

    Oops, the story about Jack, i’m not sure if its true, the club feared he had suffered a stress fracture but wenger said a couple of days ago it wasn’t as bad as first thought….

    The Yacob link was what Devil posted earlier, another freebie could be on his way then, thats if he doesn’t go elsewhere….

  103. DutchGooner10 says:

    You guys know El Gordo is seven billion light years away and with two million billion times the mass of our Sun, right?

    Talking astronomical numbers. Overall Europe football made a staggering 1.3 billion loss, not debt,LOSS!!

  104. Micko says:

    Dutch, did you know that one astronomical unit is the average distance between the earth and the sun 92,000,000 odd miles, just slightly longer than wengers trouser pockets.

  105. Micko says:

    And what about ” I will only buy a player if I think he can improve the squad”
    Enter Eisfeld, a 19 year old from Dortmund who plays for their 3rd team.
    It don’t make sense, i need to go and have a lie down.

  106. rico says:

    Isn’t this the kind of attitude we all ask for – so glad he’s signed on the dotted line recently…..

    Coquelin – I’ll play anywhere for this team

    Francis Coquelin is trying to get as many first-team minutes under his belt as possible – irrespective of where he plays.

    The 20-year-old Frenchman joined Arsenal almost four years ago and played a starring role in the Youth Cup-winning side of 2009. He usually operates in central midfield but made his first-team debut at right back and impressed in that position while Bacary Sagna was injured.

    Coquelin has even been deployed at left back in recent times but the player himself is happy to do a job anywhere.

    “I want to play as much as possible,” he said. “At the moment it’s at right back, even if I’m usually a midfielder, but it’s not a problem. I’m doing everything I can to play.

    “It’s only really at the start of this season that I have started playing with the first team. I played against Manchester United at the end of August. Since that, I try to get as much time on the pitch with the first team as possible, whatever the position.”

    Coquelin arrived at Emirates Stadium a year after Thierry Henry left the Club for Barcelona and the young Frenchman has relished the chance to link up with his famous compatriot since the 34-year-old returned on loan.

    “Thierry brings all his experience to the team,” said Coquelin. “He has done a lot of great things through his career. He brings something more to the team and to the club.

    “He doesn’t need to play to bring something to the team. He talks a lot in the dressing room for example and when he comes on, he adds value to the team.”

  107. Shaun the Yank says:

    Its actually beautiful here right now… 60 degrees F. Almost like spring, makes you wonder “how bad could global warming actually be?” 😆

  108. Shaun the Yank says:

    Sorry about that rico, all of our pollution keeps the heat in over here…. Adam, no unfortunately I don’t live anywhere exciting, I live in Kentucky…. No I am not a hillbilly.

  109. Adam says:

    Spoke to a friend in Toronto earlier. He said they were expecting a mighty 8 degrees today. Very warm for there in January. Never been to Kentucky. Isn’t that in the deep south?

  110. Shaun the Yank says:

    The wife and I are desperate to move to the UK, it is without a doubt our favorite place to be. I actually got a guy looking at a job for me over there. Fingers crossed.

  111. Shaun the Yank says:

    Adam, I live in Northern Kentucky on the border of Ohio. The further south you go in Kentucky the more teeth you lose and you start looking at your sister with a come hither look and you don’t feel the need for shoes….

  112. rico says:

    Thankfully not Adam, although getting to the matches would be a peice of cake ….

    Shaun, -34o’s in Kentucky Jan 1963, bit different than the temperatures of these days…

  113. Shaun the Yank says:

    you’re right rico, i was selling myself short. hell, what am i thinking??? I am an american, that in and of itself means i get a team in the epl!!! well i don’t know, i actually know something about football and i actually care about AFC and the EPL unlike the rest of those bastards over there.

  114. Micko says:

    Nothing left to do now but get behind the team, if we blow it tonight things could really start to get ugly from here on in at the emirates.
    Time to roll the sleeves up and get stuck in.

  115. rico says:

    Spot on Micko, spot on …

    This lot should have learned so much from the Villa game, and i know we have said that before but one day, the penny has to drop and it has to start tonight…

    Otherwise, just as you say, its going to get ugly…..

    And i wouldn’t want to be Arsene Wenger……

  116. Micko says:

    rico, I really do think it will get nasty,very personal, hopefully it won’t come to that.

    Agag, word on the street is that if you moved to Kentucky you will save yourself a fortune.

  117. stevepalmer1 says:

    Don’t worry about Agag Micko she has bundles probably cost her a fortune carting all her shopping to the fried chicken capital.

  118. rico says:

    Did i miss agag coming on??

    Evening steve, none yet but wait for the team news 😉

    I truly hope it doesn’t come to that Micko because that would mean we are winning but if we carry on this month like we were in January the it will be horrid…

    But, for Stan and his merry men, they will reap what they sow….

  119. stevepalmer1 says:

    Why does everybody give me the impression that were going to go down the pan again. I have high hopes for our team and i will be happy if i see a team play that gives it their all. As i asid before we still have a good team nothing has changed, we just have to work together to get the results.

  120. Shaun the Yank says:

    “In Arsene we Rust”…….good God that was bad. Game starts at 7 over there right? Because I believe I have my cable set to record at 3… Now who is moving to my beloved backwater, trailer park, toothless state of Kentucky????

  121. DutchGooner10 says:

    Bolton Team

    Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Wheater, Ricketts, Eagles, Muamba, Reo-Coker, M Davies, Petrov, Ngog

    SUBS: Jaaskelainen, Tuncay, K Davies, Klasnic, Pratley, Boyata, Riley

    Arsenal Team

    Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Arteta, Ramsey, Song, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie

    SUBS: Fabianski, Rosicky, Park, Henry, Arshavin, Benayoun, Coquelin

  122. allezkev says:

    Hey, Evening Gooners….

    Do i spot a Johnny Reb over there in the distance?

    Sorry guys n gals, all i see is a draw tonight… 🙁

  123. Micko says:

    Hello Shaun, it’s an 8 o’clock kick-off.

    We could do with some double hard hill-billies in our centre midfield tonight.

  124. devilgunner says:

    I do not know why but today’s team fills me with confidence. Good to see Sagna and Arteta back and to see the Ox playing again.

    Hope that all the team turns up today.

  125. allezkev says:

    I’d rather see Ozyakup on the bench, instead of Arshavin…

    Hell i’d rather see El Gordo on the bench…. 😕

  126. DutchGooner10 says:

    Devil

    Luv to have a good larf mate. I have been trying the previous sky links you posted. My mobile just won’t load the darn thing. 🙁 🙁

  127. devilgunner says:

    You will enjoy it DG10.

    But I did want to shake a couple at training today……..El Gordo this, El Gordo that. In the end it was worth a good larf.

  128. DutchGooner10 says:

    AK

    The podcast was at Zimmer frame pace. 🙂 But a well spent hour of little insights that make Goonerdom a bit more complete. Thanx fella.

  129. allezkev says:

    Dutch, your welcome mate….

    I thought it was interesting and i don’t think that Fynn has a axe to grind with Wenger…

    Hope not anyway…

  130. DutchGooner10 says:

    AK the most telling remark was at the beginning.

    Wenger is a hostage of his fortunes. And later about how he isolated himself.

  131. allezkev says:

    Dutch, he’s become more and more insular since Dein left….

    It’s what i dreaded tbh, when Dein left.

    That was a terrible day for me….

    And for Arsenal.

  132. devilgunner says:

    except Coqueling AK. He can play anywhere simply because he is a footballer not a player. I have a hunch that if AW might try him in attack he will do better than Theo, Chamack or Arshavin.

  133. devilgunner says:

    Whenever any player left I never felt that much gutted. But when DD left it seemed that half of my strength sapped immediately.

  134. Shaun the Yank says:

    Just don’t call me hillbilly…. 😆
    I was born in Ohio but moved here to be closer to work…. so even though I live in Kentucky, I have never had sex with my sister, I have all my teeth, I can read and I love wearing shoes…. GO GUNNERS!!!! 3-0 AFC all scored in the second half. 2 for VP and 1 for OX

  135. Shaun the Yank says:

    gotta go guys i am recording the match and i dont want to know what happens… GO GUNNERS!!! See ya!!

  136. DutchGooner10 says:

    AK Le Cog is backup to Le Sagna. Could count as defender.

    The team will be on high alert, given their lackluster concentration of late. If they convert their marathon passing to deadly sharpness in the final third I see a 4-1 glory hunt.

    The squad needs a up lift.

  137. devilgunner says:

    Seems as if the Villa wheels have come off……they are 0-2 down. Or they would like to do like us?????

  138. devilgunner says:

    Those were two cracking runs by Kozzer and the Ox. Pity none ended with a goal. Would have made it to the top 3 goals of the season.

  139. devilgunner says:

    Not bad Rico. We are having the lion’s share of everything bar score. We even had a header cleared off the line. But we do need to score……either before or exactly after half time

  140. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico what Devil says. 😉 🙁 🙁 🙁

    Henry for the Ox on hope he can help to break the deadlock.

  141. rico says:

    i’m watching the text on bbc –

    devil – same old same old – no end product 🙁

    Let’s hope so DG…..

    one point or none is not needed…..

  142. devilgunner says:

    Arsenal hit the bar again… and, again, it is Robin van Persie who is unlucky. This time he dinks a Bergkamp-esque lob over Adam Bogdan but sees the ball come back off the bar with the keeper beaten. Theo Walcott follows that up with a Walcott-esque effort… he screws his shot wide from about six yards out.

  143. devilgunner says:

    A legend he might be, but what is the point of TH out there on the pitch?? He cant run and does not contribute much to team play

  144. allezkev says:

    We’re paying for the lack of proper business in the summer.

    We needed a goal.

    Park stays on the bench.

    That speaks volumes!

  145. rico says:

    Another draw, more points dropped…

    And we didn’t need a goal scorer Arsene……

    Beggars belief…..

    Night all, catch up tomorrow……

  146. Rokabox says:

    Poor poor 2nd half, TH12 contribution should be in the dressing room only, as he is not fit to run or play. Taking the ox off was a mistake sgain. Ramsy was poor going forward and all the tream can’t finish a part from RVP who was unlucky. Wenger will say all the same shit again include the clean sheet. Where do we go from here!?

  147. DutchGooner10 says:

    See ya AK. Pay a visit to the Ems when you’re over and put up the finger on my behalf, will you. Make that a double.

    Offski as well. Later Gooners and Goonerrets

  148. Joaquim Moreira says:

    AW wants to drop points.
    TH comming in to the pitch and the game turn on…
    We have more possession, more corners, more goal attempts, more opportunities and in the last 15th minutes Bolton almost drew all those points. It’s difficult to understand we atarted to play with 10 men, our left side disappear and Bolton won a new life…
    Song is very lazy and Ramsey run kilometres for what? He is not a number 10, he is never when must be,he has no ideas… and the consequence, it’s absence of cohesion and link to the front.
    We are now in the 7th place and in this year, for the league, in four games just two points.
    CL?? ok… but on TV!

  149. Joaquim Moreira says:

    We played in a very predictable, slow and shallow. Remove players that can add some irreverence, something different and especially speed, is a mistake.
    Catch you tomorrow

  150. alan b'stard M P says:

    Face it, the personalities, some anyway, are not up to it. Wenger is a failed puppeteer

    We need good solid English players who can defend and score goals. Basic simple requirements

    Well, that’s my opinion anyway

  151. alan b'stard M P says:

    rico says:
    February 1, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    i’m watching the text on bbc –

    devil – same old same old – no end product 🙁

    that’s it. All possession in the world and bugger all to show for it

  152. Scott from Oz says:

    Just caught the last half hour of the game……..a few things stood out.
    Firstly,great to have Sagna back…..I think we take for granted exactly how good he is,I certainly have done.
    The late call for a penalty to Bolton was simply a brilliant call by the ref…..Szczesney got a good touch…enough said.
    Ramsey……I think he tries too many “magic” passes.
    Sometimes its best to take the easy,safe option and retain the ball.
    Aaron,if youre reading this,I really like you as a player,but you are NOT Fabregas,so forget the comparsions,the thoughts of being his replacement and play YOUR game.
    Actually,a few players seemed obsessed with winning the game with the perfect,defence splitting pass.
    I would push Arteta up the field more and see if his creativity can do the job,and rake some pressure of Ramsey who,plenty seem to forget,is 21 years old.
    The game really,really emphasised the fact we need another goalscorer…………striker or attacking midfielder,whatever,but someone with class and skill,and who is confident in front of goal.
    Still,we could have won 3-0,and nobody would have thought it was harsh on Bolton.
    Forget the defensive lapses,we just do not score enough goals eelative to our chances created!

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