Daily Bits and Bobs

Wenger wants Drogba & Juve want Theo! Diaby hope & Santi Cazorla gets Player of the Month

Posted on by rico

Morning all,

We all know that no matter what any player actually says during an interview, the anti Arsenal journalists will so often give their words a little tweak or print only the negative answers, usually ignoring anything positive.

Arsene Wenger goes through a rough time too when facing the press and it does really make me wonder why he ever bothers. Ok, it’s all part of the Premier League rules that he speaks to the press before after a game and should he refuse, he will receive a hefty fine.

When Fergie refused to speak to the BBC, it was reported that Manchester United paid the £90,000 fine each year to support him in his decision. That’s not that much money is it, not when in return you get peace, quiet and no stupid questions.

Players though are a different proposition, and as far as I know, they are under no obligation to talk to any of the media or the mischievous men/women employed by the red tops.

Just recently there were a few reports about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and how he was set for an offer of a new contract, together with a pay rise.  So what did the press/media do, hunt him down when he was away with England and bombard him with questions about his future with the club.

I strongly suspect they wanted a few comments about the departures, hoping he would give them a juicy story to write which they could twist and turn and then change it to him possibly being the next player to leave.

However, our young man answered like a man twice his age:

I am here to play for England this week. That is the only thing I am concentrating on.

There was a but though, a very positive one:

But if Arsenal want to sit down and talk about that, it is really good because I am loving my time there.

How could they twist that?

Answer is, they couldn’t!

Whilst on the subject of our young Englishman, there is a very good article in The Daily Mirror this morning written by Steve Stammers. It’s about Stuart Pearce and why he shouldn’t be looking to play Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the Under 21’s.

Go back to all the rubbish over our x-captain, contract talks were not resolved in the summer prior to the World Cup so rather than the player facing numerous questions about his future, the club and the player agreed not to discuss his future with the press/media.

It worked didn’t it.

My point?

Loaded questions will always be aimed at our manager and players, but there is nothing set in stone to say they have to answer them is there? So maybe it’s time to say no, when all the lazy idiots want is a snippet of bad news, don’t oblige.

There will always be a great cross or two into the penalty area but if it’s not converted its forgotten.

There will always be a question, but without the answer someone is looking for, it’s nothing…..

Don’t feed them, then they have nothing to write…..

Unless you are Arsenal’s Player of the Month Santi Cazorla of course:

They have paid an important amount of money for me and the role they’ve given me is the one I like. I love the style of the team. Wenger’s philosophy is to control the game and I like to be on the ball. Furthermore, the boss has put me in a position, second striker, with all the freedom I want to have.

He told me to be at ease and that he’d play me where I could most help the team. It surprised me in pre-season when he put me as the second striker.

I’ve come to play on the wings with the freedom to move inside, but Wenger has immediately put me in this position. With (Mikel) Arteta, (Abou) Diaby, (Tomas) Rosicky and (Jack) Wilshere, who is recovering from injury, we’re going to have a lot of the ball.”

And then Santi spoke about Mikel Arteta:

Arteta has advised me a lot, he told me football is much faster and less tactical than Spain. It’s more give and go, Mikel has helped me to learn to see the game and said that if we play rapidly with the ball we’re going to create a lot of danger and we’ll beat most teams.

Wenger wants him (Arteta) now as a defensive pivot and he’s doing it very well. He gives real balance and he can win the ball back and play it out because with the ball he’s spectacular.

That’s the way to speak to the press….

Internationals are finally done and dusted and as far as I can see the only two concerns are Walcott and Diaby. Wenger has played down the injury to the latter, suggesting it is not too serious and there is a small chance he could face Southampton. Sadly, we have heard that before only to find out it’s worse than thought. Hopefully not this time, Diaby has started the season really well and he needs to carry on in the same fashion if he is to finally win over his doubters.

There are a few reports around this morning about Didier Drogba, he’s having a few problems at Shanghai and could be available and it’s suggested that Arsene Wenger is trying to get him. Also Juventus are reported to be ‘stepping up’ their chase for Theo Walcott, well in my opinion, neither will happen….

That’s it for today, have a good one, Saturday is not far away now……..

rico

0 thoughts on “Wenger wants Drogba & Juve want Theo! Diaby hope & Santi Cazorla gets Player of the Month”

  3. rico says:

    Thank goodness the internationals are over and nice that we don’t have to be the ones sweating over the injury to RvP…

  4. Potter says:

    I am sure the famous “” I did not see it “” was an attempt to starve the press of subject matter but it just served to help them deride him and set him up as a media punch bag. It’s not in his nature to ignore questions but I think he has learned to be more circumspect in his replies.

  5. Adam says:

    Morning all. Nice post. Can’t see Drogba coming but he always liked Arsenal and is an awkward SOB to play against.

  6. rico says:

    Or, he just didn’t/doesn’t want to make a comment until he’d seen a replay which I don’t think is unreasonable Potter..

    My own view is that managers shouldn’t be interviewed straight after a game, especially when decisions haven’t gone the right way, the ref has had a shocker etc – it can’t be easy.

    We only have to see the comments that fans leave when so many decisions go against us, or a player is on the end of a dreadful tackle which goes unpunished…

  7. Elfab says:

    Great post!!! Players should be advise on how to approach the media/press during international break mostly the ones looking for cheap publicity and make-believe headlines,not running their mouth when asked unnecessary questions.as for transfer rumour they never tend to go away!!!

  8. Adam says:

    Hi Rico. The press feed off controversy so the interview straight after the match is Mana from Heaven for them. Sky should take the lead and change their interview policy but I doubt they will as they seem to think that all we want to know about is aggravation and confrontation. Oh, and odd-looking women in dresses that are one or two sizes too small.

  9. Elfab says:

    Great post!!! Players should be advise on how to approach the media/press during international break mostly the ones looking for cheap publicity and make-believe headlines,not running their mouth when asked unnecessary questions.as for transfer rumour they never tend to go away!!! Time to let go of RVP…let it be man utd‘s problem no lets extinct his name from our blog plsssss

  10. rico says:

    Welcome and thanks Elfab..

    The press/media are clever though, I suspect they start with a friendly question first to get them comfortable and then slip a low baller in with players realising and before they know it, it’s in the papers the next day and quite different to what was actually said.

  11. JW says:

    When it comes to speaking to the press, Ivan Lendl is the master. When asked, prior to Andy Murray’s win at the US Open, if he knew what tactics would be used his answer was “Yes and the next question?” The journo was left looking like the muppet he really is..

  12. Potter says:

    Totally agree about the timing of interviews however to my knowledge he really only said it once some 15 years ago , but it is replayed on the radio on a regular basis and every monkey trying to make a point will quote it and it’s lapped up by whichever presenter happens to be in control of the mike. My advice to all Arsenal supporters is not to call these programmes and starve them of the reaction they desire.

  13. rico says:

    JW – Lendl had to face a few tough questions during his own playing days, the most popular of course being ‘why can’t you win on grass’?

    The fact that he battered everyone on clay went out the window…

    But yes, great answer and a lot to be learned…

  14. Adam says:

    JW. That is a good point but, in football, the broadcaster always gets the last word and if Arsene adopted that approach he would be lambasted. His latest attitude seems to be to smile slightly benignly and talk to the journos as if they are children who really can’t help themselves. It can come across as arrogant to Arsenal fans but I don’t think he is talking to us. I also think he enjoys the battle of wits.

  16. rico says:

    I think the idiots asking the questions just stopped asking AW his view on a particular incident, they learned that he would say he didn’t see it and they didn’t like it.

    What they wanted AW to do no doubt, was to get all huffy and slate the players/ref, anyone, just to give them something to write…

  17. rico says:

    Morning Adam, thank you…

    I’d love to see him at Arsenal too, but just can’t see how we’d get him… But can’t see him going back to Chelsea either, Torres is better now that he has gone…

  18. rico says:

    Romford, but if his current club want him gone, won’t they have to pay off his contract?

    If so, he may take a drop in wages….

  19. Adam says:

    Agreed Rico. But unfortunately that has spawned a thousand Clouseau impersonators saying “I did not see it ” in a pathetic faux French accent and thinking we are laughing with them and at their comic genius when in fact we are laughing in embarrassment, at them. The crisp-munching moron being a case in point with his recent hilarious and definitely-not-racist outburst.

  20. JW says:

    If Wenger refused to answer the hack’s questions they would simply make up the answers, as they do with most of their “scoops”.

  21. Lewis says:

    Morning all. Good post. I have been really impressed with the way the ox deals with the press, like every aspect of his blossoming career he just takes it in his stride and is fully at ease. The press have their own agenda, towards us it seems to be a very negative stance and players need to be aware of this whenever giving interviews. Like RICO said, really glad to see the internationals over and must say had a smile on my face hearing about utd’s new forward.mhopefully it’s the start of things to come for him. Watched 25 mins of the England game and then turned off as it was terribly boring.

  22. rico says:

    There is that side of it of course Adam, but as the old saying goes, ‘he who laughs last….’

    £7 million a year, I think I’d be able to dismiss those kind of comments.

    As for the CMM, how he is allowed to continue as a football presenter beggars belief…. but I bet he doesn’t ridicule AW in such a way again after all the complaints lodged to the BBC

  23. rico says:

    JW – they couldn’t, too many would know that it’s fabricated and if they start lying, I am sure there would soon be a litigation lawyer sat in AW’s office….

  24. Adam says:

    I agree and after all the knuckle-scrapers at Stoke dressed their kids up with Wenger masks and no doubt fuelled by fine nutritional foods, got them to imitate the CMM recently.

  25. Adam says:

    Yes, but Rico, they can slant stories so they are virtually lies. An alcoholic journo asks if Diaby’s injury is serious. Wenger replies that it is being assessed by the medical staff. The headline read “Diaby Set For Lengthy Spell On The Sidelines – Again. Wenger’s Transfer Policy In Shambles”.

  26. Lewis says:

    Last comment lost in cyber space somewhere….
    Morning all. Good post. Have been impressed with the Ox’s handling on the media so far, like all facets of his young career he has taken it in his stride, long may it continue along with his progression into a top top player.
    The press it would seem have an agenda against Arsene and Arsenal, Wenger knows this and it would be prudent for the players to be made perfectly aware of this before giving any interview. Interviews are part of the game so I don’t think players should refuse them.
    Good to see an early season international repay the favour we were eternally cursed with to a certain new utd signing. Chortle.

  29. rico says:

    Trouble is Adam, Tony Pullis is as silly as the fans, he see’s little wrong in what his fans did and won’t intervene.

    Credit to Fergie, he pleaded with the Man utd fans to stop the vile chanting and to my knowledge, they have. Albeit a few years too late.

    Pullis could easily follow his example.

    JW, which countryside? Have a lovely day….

  30. rico says:

    Hi Lewis, thanks.

    AOC has a good man by his side, he’s been there, done it and been a true pro. His father makes sure his feet stay firmly on the ground….

  33. rico says:

    Haha Adam, I can’t write what I truly think of them, I’d be as bad as the CMM….

    I only ever believe what has been said by AW when it’s on afc.com within a quote.

    But, I still don’t believe most of what he says 😉

  35. Lewis says:

    Hopefully diaby’s injury is just a knock but it would probably be a good idea to give him a rest this weekend. Rambo or le coq to replace? Or Henderson after that ripper?!

  36. rico says:

    Thanks Wyg

    Lewis, AW said there is a small chance he could play Saturday, i’m with you, any doubt, leave him out.

    I really hope Ramsey doesn’t start, there are calls for him to be dropped from the Wales team, he is playing poorly by all accounts..

    What has happened to him I wonder…

  46. Scott from Oz says:

    On the Juventus interest in Theo…should we be worried?
    We have spent enough time complaining about our recent sales,but should se really be so concerned??
    We had Sagna,Theo,RVP,Fabregas,Clichy,Song and Nasri all at the same time and one jack shit,so why do we get so upset when we lose them??
    Really,did these guys get too comfortable playing at Arsenal….this may or may not be their doing,but it isn’t the point i am making.
    Look at who we have brought in recently….BGF,Arteta,Cazorla for starters are hardened,professional footballers with steel…..they know how to win!!!
    We simply must be better off with the attitudes these guys bring to the club.

  47. Scott from Oz says:

    Might need to try it Wath!
    I thought i had one to get through an entire winter unscathed….spring starts and i cop this…bugger.
    Lee,they attempted to play.
    Very disappointing,but it has been coming.
    We will qualify for the WC,but we wll struggle over there.
    We have the same basic core group of players we have had for 8 years.
    5 years ago,there were plenty of Aussies playing top grade football in England,Scotland,Germany and Italy,and playing very well.
    Not now!
    We are ten years away from continually producing top class players,imo.
    We had a “golden era” but it is coming to an end.

  48. rico says:

    Can’t see Theo leaving England Scott….

    But if he wants to go then we shouldn’t force him to stay, but he will certainly need replacing…

  49. rico says:

    One thing though, if AW knows TW has no intention of signing a new contract, why didn’t the club sell him in the summer….

  51. W.A.T.H says:

    The whiskey, lemon and honey works Scott, it will burn it out of you mate… take one of those before kip and wrap up warm and you’ll be sorted..!

  54. Scott from Oz says:

    Funny Lee…wife has just finished indoor netball,rings five minutes ago and tells me she is bringing me red curry and noodles!!
    True story.
    Wath,i will try your remedy,also.
    Rio,it is certainly a strange situation…again.

  55. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    The press fall in to the same category as referees and ex-pro’s with their little englander mentality living in this misguided world where ‘proper football’ is played by ‘proper english teams’ like Stoke making ‘proper tackles’. Arsene is still referred to as Wenger despite being here for 16 years, whereas its Fergie, Harry and Big Sam, etc. Imagine what the press would have done if Arsene had spoken to that interviewer the way Twitchy did the other season when the spuds lost at home to Wigan! Telling him to f-off, etc. Was all conveniently ignored by his mates in the sewer press

  56. rico says:

    That’s why I expect him to soon sign Scott..

    BJ – i forgot that, same as the players, all referred to by their surnames but Gerrard, Rooney and Lumpard to name a few are all referred to by their first names….

  58. rico says:

    Hi b127,

    from afc.com on the twitter section..

    You can follow the match with our updates from Athens starting at 5.55pm (UK time). Kick-off is at 6pm.

  64. W.A.T.H says:

    Diaby having played 4 games on the trot which is more than he’s done in 4 years needs a break… let his body recover and don’t push to hard and maybe just maybe we can nurse him through a season and get plenty of games out of him.

  66. rico says:

    Very Wath, strange….

    Agree re Diaby, and we ‘should’ be able to cope against Southampton at home, after all, we have coped without him for long enough….

  68. allezkev says:

    Quite busy for me Rico.
    Bit of a late start tbh.
    Up gassing last night, as ya do, or I do… 🙂

    As for Diaby, i’d save him for Man City (a) on the 22nd.
    We should have enough for Soton, without him.
    And he could also rest out the CL game on the 18th.
    Shittie is the tough one, we must be at our strongest up there.

  70. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Arsenal oficial web site have the team for next match at Athens for NetxGen competition, but we only play with 10 players? !!!!! 😉

  71. Will XL says:

    Dear Mr. Wenger,

    Please do not start Aaron Ramsay this weekend. Please send him to the reserves and replace him with Thomas Eisfeld. I would appreciate if you could start Alex Chamberlain in Diaby’s place for the Southampton match.

    Warmest regards,

    Will XL

  73. Will XL says:

    How’s Thierry doing these days? I haven’t seen him in the news recently. I hope we won’t need him in January, but I’d love to see him back. I would love if he would get into Olivier’s ear also.

  78. allezkev says:

    How are the Youths going?

    Chatting to my cousin Rico…
    Only see her a couple of times a year, so plenty to talk about.
    But no footy, which is unusual for me… 😉

  81. allezkev says:

    Coincidence???
    The year of Hillsborough 1989
    The year the conspiracy was exposed 2012

    Arsenal win 2-0 at Anfield…
    Wonder if we can repeat a title success?

    Lata

  86. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good evening Rico et al.

    Good article Rico. I agree, Wenger should continue to avoid questions where he might be goaded into questioning his own players or the officials. There is nothing to be gained and they will only selectively edit his reply for theit own purposes.

    If he doesn’t reply the media may well make up their own story, but with no quotes to support it . With the pre and post match press conferences being audio and video taped it would be obvious to all if someone to invent one.

    Many fans are savy enough to weed out the made-up stories. You could see that during the transfer window. If the article didn’t contain actual quotes from an assigned source (‘unnamed’ doesn’t count), many just ignored the content.

  89. allezkev says:

    Would also like to see Conor Henderson in the squad.
    He seems to have started off this season in a fine vein of form.
    Keen to make for last season’s ‘lost year’…

    Wenger seems to rate him.

  91. nigel tufnel says:

    I like ramsey as a high energy sub, id start coquelin – but id make sure he doesnt think its a reaction to his statement about playing time.

  99. rico says:

    Hi Scott, how are you feeling today?

    I haven’t read the entire details yet Adam, but from the snippets, it’s an absolute disgrace.

  102. Adam says:

    Rico. It’s just yet another appalling incidence of a massive institution like the Police being totally corrupt at the highest level. Falsifying statements just to avoid blame. That was a terrible, terrible day, made worse by what happened subsequently.

  103. Adam says:

    The other big news is the iphone5 and the fact that actress Denise Welch is addicted to sex and wanted to sleep with Ken Barlow.

  105. rico says:

    Couldn’t agree more Adam… I watched a Tv programme about it the other day, how on earth their could ever be a ‘cut-off time’ to treat victims is incredible…. It was reported that many who died were still alive at that cut off time but were given up on…

    Shame on all those involved…

  106. Scott from Oz says:

    Worse today,Rico.
    Send This Denise Welch over to see if she can get some life into me!!
    Is she a good sort??

  107. rico says:

    My post is about AW today funny enough…

    Why Denise Welch would want to sleep with Ken, I’ll never know… Not with his track record….

  109. rico says:

    That’s not good Scott 🙁

    DW is a sexaholic who talks too much, you wouldn’t get a word in Scott, guess that wouldn’t bother you though 😉

  110. Adam says:

    Scott. I am afraid Ms Welch will not get those Aussie pulses racing. Quite the opposite in fact. And I thought everyone had already slept with Ken. I have. 🙂

  113. Scott from Oz says:

    I will suffer in silence and loneliness then!!
    Wifey will not come within ten feet of me…not sure that it’s due to illness though lol.

  116. rico says:

    You old tinker you Adam, didn’t hear him mention that conquest when talking to the ever delightful Piers Morgan….

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading